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United Nations Trump pushes for UN reform at New York meeting

By

Simon Bradley

Switzerland is backing a US-sponsored meeting and declaration on UN reforms. But observers in Geneva remain dubious about its impact.

Tumbling mountains High-tech protection from rockslides

When every minute counts, advanced warning systems are a matter of life and death for people who live in rockslide danger zones.

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Have your say How would you vote in the Swiss referendum?

You might not have a vote on September 24, but how would you vote if you could? Take part!

in depth

in depth Vote September 24, 2017

A look at the issues on the ballot sheet for the September 24 nationwide votes.

Latest News

Booking.com & Co Swiss tourist industry wins support from parliament

Occupied territories Swiss review product labels from Israeli settlements

Understanding the brain Swiss team deciphers fruit fly brain’s visual network

Lukas Bärfuss ‘Foreigners must have a cabinet minister’

2 There are 2 comments on this article.

Stay or go? Belprahon and Sorvilier remain in canton Bern

Bloomberg business

• 23:06 This content was published on September 18, 2017 11:06 PMMcKinsey, KPMG Targeted as South African Graft Scandal Widens

• 19:46 This content was published on September 18, 2017 7:46 PMMenendez's Jury Sees Luxury of Dominican Resorts He Enjoyed

• 12:54 This content was published on September 18, 2017 12:54 PMCanada Goose Bypasses Saks With Sales Pitch for the Amazon World

• 10:54 This content was published on September 18, 2017 10:54 AMGeneva Police Confiscate Euro Bills Clogging Up Toilets

• 10:38 This content was published on September 18, 2017 10:38 AMRace to Make Robots for China Spurs ABB Plan to Double Capacity

Reuters International

• 22:20 This content was published on September 18, 2017 10:20 PMIn first visit, Trump urges reform so U.N. can meet full potential

• 12:42 This content was published on September 18, 2017 12:42 PMKorean peninsula draws range of military drills in show of force against North Korea

• 10:56 This content was published on September 18, 2017 10:56 AMRohingya refugees tell of new violence; call for Myanmar sanctions

• 13:41 This content was published on September 18, 2017 1:41 PMU.S. and Iran argue over inspections at nuclear watchdog meeting

• 17:50 This content was published on September 18, 2017 5:50 PMPutin watches as Russia intensifies war games that have rattled West

Direct democracy

#DearDemocracy

swissinfo.ch’s international portal for people with a passion for politics

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Reformation stories: The Strauss Affair A professor’s appointment wreaks havoc in Zurich

By

Regula Bochsler

In 1839, the election of a reform-minded theologist to Zurich’s education council caused an uproar that split the canton in two.

See in another language: 1

• Portuguese (pt) A seleção de um professor instala o caos em Zurique

Good offices Switzerland keeps US and North Korea talking

By

Balz Rigendinger

Switzerland has been negotiating between the United States and North Korea without fanfare but with success.

1 There is one comment on this article.

See in other languages: 4

• German (de) Die Schweiz behält USA und Nordkorea im Gespräch
• French (fr) La Suisse maintient le lien entre Washington et Pyongyang
• Italian (it) La Svizzera mantiene il dialogo tra Stati Uniti e Corea del Nord
• Portuguese (pt) Suíça oferece discrição para americanos e norte-coreanos conversarem

Tenants' market Swiss apartment glut puts pressure on landlords

It's a good time for people looking to rent a flat in Switzerland, as there are many empty properties and landlords are slashing rents in some places.

Take a look Picture of the week

In this series, swissinfo.ch picture editors choose an image highlighting a news event of the past seven days.

US-Swiss double taxation ‘I prefer to fight to change the system’

By

Jeannie Wurz

The fifth in our series on US expats in Switzerland features cross-border financial planner and residency-based taxation advocate Jonathan Lachowitz.

3 There are 3 comments on this article.

Jura question Accusations of fraud frame final Jura votes

By

Marc-André Miserez

Two small Bernese municipalities are deciding whether to join the canton of Jura amid voter fraud accusations after the last such vote.

See in other languages: 3

• German (de) Betrugsvorwürfe bei letzter Abstimmung
• French (fr) Derniers votes sur fond d’accusations de fraude
• Italian (it) Ultime votazioni sullo sfondo di presunte frodi

Citizen participation How long before all Swiss expats can use e-voting?

The use of e-voting in Switzerland has been making slow progress. The Swiss Abroad want online voting to be established by October 2019.

See in another language: 1

• French (fr) Tous les expatriés pourront-ils voter en ligne en 2019?

International Day of Democracy 2017 My vote counts: having a say around the world

By

Ester Unterfinger (Picture editor), Renat Kuenzi (Text)

On the International Day of Democracy, a look at how people vote around the world. 

See in other languages: 8

• Arabic (ar) Copy of Fast die Hälfte der Weltbevölkerung kann wählen, aber…
• Spanish (es) ¡Mi voto cuenta!
• French (fr) Ma voix compte!
• Italian (it) Quasi la metà della popolazione mondiale può votare, ma…
• Japanese (ja) １６、１７年の各国の投票を振り返る
• Portuguese (pt) Meu voto conta!
• Russian (ru) Планета отмечает Международный день демократии
• Chinese (zh) 我的一票也算数！

Alpine marmot Cute rodent appears on postcards and plates

By

Susan Misicka and Julie Hunt

Their fat faces grace postcards; their fat is used in salves. In Switzerland, the marmot is part mascot, part medicine chest and part meal. 

1 There is one comment on this article.

See in other languages: 4

• Arabic (ar) قارضٌ لطيفٌ يُزَين البطاقات البريدية والصحون السويسرية
• German (de) Tier des Monats: das Murmeltier
• Japanese (ja) マーモット
• Chinese (zh) 当月动物明星

Opinion Why International Democracy Day matters to Switzerland

By

Christian Schoenenberger, Swiss ambassador to Sweden

Modern direct democracy keeps citizens tuned in with Swiss politics. It enables them to make an informed judgement in popular votes.

Cheers to that UNESCO status boosts wine trade in Lavaux

Wine producers in the spectacular wine-growing region on Lake Geneva have enjoyed success since getting UNESCO World Heritage status a decade ago.

Transparency and democracy No Swiss state funding for political parties? Not so fast.

By

Renat Kuenzi

State funding for Swiss political parties does exist, despite popular belief.

See in another language: 1

• Russian (ru) Как в Швейцарии финансируются партии?

On track? Trains are taking the strain, even in Switzerland

By

Julia Crawford

Like in other parts of the world, Swiss trains are also struggling to cope with increased demand.

6 There are 6 comments on this article.

Tama's Tales Why do Balkan boys get a bad rap?

Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. She meets up with stand-up comedian, Sven Ivanic, who is Croatian, ...

3 There are 3 comments on this article.

Licence fee debate What’s the price of public broadcasting in Switzerland?

By

Balz Rigendinger

Parliament continues its debate of a people’s initiative aiming to scrap licence fees for the public Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).

7 There are 7 comments on this article.

See in other languages: 7

• Arabic (ar) المبادرة الداعية إلى إلغاء رسوم الإذاعة والتلفزيون في سويسرا
• German (de) "No Billag" kurz erklärt
• Spanish (es) Iniciativa para abolir canon sobre radio y televisión
• French (fr) L’initiative pour l’abolition de la redevance en bref
• Italian (it) Iniziativa per l'abolizione del canone radio-TV in breve
• Portuguese (pt) O preço e o benefício das redes públicas na Suíça
• Russian (ru) Чего требует законодательная инициатива «No Billag»?

Cryptic investment Swiss super-rich want slice of cryptocurrency boom

By

Matthew Allen

Who are the investors eager to bet on bitcoin, and what plans do they have for their newly minted digital assets? 

6 There are 6 comments on this article.

See in other languages: 9

• Arabic (ar) السويسريون الأكثر ثراءً متلهفون للحصول على حصة من العُملة الرقمية
• German (de) Superreiche in der Schweiz und der Kryptowährungsboom
• Spanish (es) Los ricos quieren sacar tajada del 'boom' de las criptodivisas
• French (fr) Les super-riches de Suisse veulent profiter du boom des crypto-monnaies
• Italian (it) I super-ricchi svizzeri vogliono una fetta del boom delle criptovalute
• Japanese (ja) 仮想通貨ブーム　便乗狙うスイスの「スーパーリッチ」
• Portuguese (pt) Suíços super-ricos querem uma fatia do boom da criptomoeda
• Russian (ru) Швейцарский инвестиционный бум в сфере криптовалют
• Chinese (zh) 瑞士超级富豪想在加密货币大潮中分一杯羹

Electric planes Silent aircraft soar through Swiss skies

By

Christian Raaflaub, Grenchen

Electric aeroplane enthusiasts recently met in Switzerland to show off the latest technologies that could influence the air travel of tomorrow.

See in other languages: 4

• German (de) Leise surren die Motoren
• Spanish (es) Cuando los motores susurran por los aires
• French (fr) Quand les moteurs fredonnent doucement
• Italian (it) Quando i motori ronzano invece di rombare

Vote September 24 Support for pension reform slips slightly

By

Urs Geiser

A controversial old-age pension reform has been losing ground ahead of a nationwide vote on September 24.

4 There are 4 comments on this article.

See in another language: 1

• Arabic (ar) تراجُـعٌ طفيف لنسبة المؤيدين لمشروع إصلاح نظام التقاعد 2020

Living in Switzerland Isle of the Blessed

By

Otto Lampe

Although I worked diligently, I look back at my time as German ambassador to Switzerland as one big party.

1 There is one comment on this article.

See in other languages: 5

• German (de) Insel der Glückseligen
• Spanish (es) La isla de los afortunados
• French (fr) Une île de bienheureux
• Italian (it) L'isola dei beati
• Chinese (zh) 我在瑞士的幸福生活