Front Page

Vote September 23, 2018 Ethical food proposals brushed off the table

Swiss voters have snubbed proposals to improve food quality and protect local farming but agriculture issues remain high on the political agenda.

Vote September 23, 2018 Bikes coast into Swiss constitution with clear voter support

By Domhnall O'Sullivan

Almost three-quarters of Swiss voters have approved a proposal to enshrine cycling, and cycling infrastructure, in the country’s constitution.

Vote results: September 23, 2018

See in other languages: 9

Democracy Labs

Making democracy more democratic? Young researchers explain how they’re trying to do that in our video series.

in depth Vote September 23, 2018

What was at stake in the nationwide votes about food production and bicycle promotion in Switzerland?

News in Brief

Niger Delta Pirates kidnap 12 crew from Swiss vessel in Nigerian waters

Wage demo Thousands demonstrate in Bern for equal pay

Bern, Brussels, Brexit EU ratchets up pressure on Swiss to clinch new treaty

Science Saturday New method more than doubles sugar production from plants

Scandal PostBus to reimburse more than CHF200 million

Bloomberg business

This content was published on September 23, 2018 4:00 PMOil Traders Suffering Dismal Year as Easy Money Deals Vanish
This content was published on September 23, 2018 4:00 PMThe Global Economy Is Vulnerable and Central Banks Aren’t Ready
This content was published on September 23, 2018 12:01 PMSwiss Canton Backs Ban on Public Face-Covering in Referendum
This content was published on September 21, 2018 8:26 PMU.S. Stocks Weather Witching to Post Weekly Gain: Markets Wrap
This content was published on September 21, 2018 8:18 AMSwiss Bid for Sustainable Food May Run It Into Trade Trouble

Reuters International

This content was published on September 23, 2018 7:40 PMIran's Revolutionary Guards threaten to avenge military parade attack
This content was published on September 23, 2018 7:52 PMAccuser of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh to testify on Thursday
This content was published on September 23, 2018 6:33 PMTanzania ferry death toll rises to 224, ship's managers detained
This content was published on September 23, 2018 12:53 PMTrump expected to tout North Korea progress, but concrete moves lacking
This content was published on September 23, 2018 7:12 PMNigerian maritime agency identifies nationalities of 12 abducted ship crew

#DearDemocracy

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

Facial awareness Voters approve ‘burka ban’ in St Gallen

Face coverings have been banned in public in canton St Gallen in northeastern Switzerland.

the week ahead Bolivia, Syngenta and getting into a Swiss university

Here are some of the stories we'll be following the week of September 24.

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.

See in other languages: 9

#swisshistorypics Annemarie Schwarzenbach: Winter's journey to the Near East

By Catherine Waibel

The Swiss writer and photographer, Annemarie Schwarzenbach, was considered a pioneer of travel photography.

See in other languages: 2

Week in Numbers From CEO salaries to alleged Russian spies

Almost every article published by swissinfo.ch contains a percentage, an age, an amount of money or some other figure.

Elections Why expatriate Swiss seldom vote

By Sibilla Bondolfi

More than half of the Swiss electorate do not take part in federal elections. Turnout among the Swiss Abroad community is particularly low.

See in other languages: 3

#DearDemocracy Globi: the cartoon character explaining democracy to kids

By Luca Beti

Consensus government, division of powers, federal constitution: all frightening words for children. Until Globi came along.

See in other languages: 9

Niklaus Meienberg Swiss journalism icon took his own life 25 years ago

By Olivier Pauchard (Text), Ester Unterfinger (Photo editing)

Renowned Swiss journalist and intellectual Niklaus Meienberg ended his own life 25 years ago. We look back at his life in photos.

Child marriages When children forced to marry stay married

By Katy Romy

Marriages involving minors must be annulled, according to Swiss law. Exceptions are permitted if it seems to be in the child’s best interests.

See in other languages: 4

mass tourism When it comes to day trippers, Lucerne tops Venice

A report on the problems of mass tourism in Lucerne. The tourism industry is cashing in, but local people are losing patience.

See in another language: 1

Crypto Nation ‘You can’t buy coffee with bitcoin, but you can start a company’

By Matthew Allen

More and more blockchain companies are starting up their business in Switzerland using cryptocurrency start-up capital.

Cryptocurrency giant Swiss springboard for Bitmain’s European crypto expansion

By Matthew Allen

The world’s largest producer of bitcoin mining hardware explains why it has chosen Switzerland for its European 'fintech hub'.

True Talk Teen mum: I wouldn't change it for the world

"True Talk" puts people in front of the camera who are fighting prejudice or discrimination.

Christie's auction 2018 Swiss art sales set a steady, humble pace

By Eduardo Simantob

Christie's auction of Swiss art nets more than CHF5 million, bucking a downward trend of such sales in recent years.

See in another language: 1

Exotic plants Six trend foods that grow in Switzerland

By Helen James

Crops once exclusive to South and Central America are flourishing in Switzerland as the demand for unusual foods with specific health benefits grows.

See in another language: 1

DIPLOMACY Wettstein – the first Swiss diplomat had the city of Basel in mind

By Mattia Balsiger

He was the man of the hour in 1648: Basel mayor Johann Rudolf Wettstein faced a herculean task at the peace conference in Münster.

See in other languages: 9

Melting ice Parts of US plane wreck pulled from glacier 70 years on

Parts of a wrecked US military plane have been recovered from melting glacier ice 70 years after it made an emergency landing in the Alps.

See in other languages: 3

Energy innovation Why our cities aren’t as smart as they could be

By Celia Luterbacher in Geneva

Are low-consumption, high-efficiency ‘green’ technologies enough to create the kind of sustainable cities we’d like to live in?

See in another language: 1

Tax project 17 Linking corporate taxation and pensions: a risky compromise

By Marie Vuilleumier

This is an unprecedented political manoeuvre that may not go down well with ordinary citizens.

See in other languages: 4

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Search for all terms	Roger Federer	Results include "Roger" and "Federer"
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Front Page

Main content

Vote September 23, 2018 Ethical food proposals brushed off the table

Vote September 23, 2018 Bikes coast into Swiss constitution with clear voter support

Additional content

Vote results: September 23, 2018

Democracy Labs

in depth Vote September 23, 2018

News in Brief

Niger Delta Pirates kidnap 12 crew from Swiss vessel in Nigerian waters

Wage demo Thousands demonstrate in Bern for equal pay

Bern, Brussels, Brexit EU ratchets up pressure on Swiss to clinch new treaty

Science Saturday New method more than doubles sugar production from plants

Scandal PostBus to reimburse more than CHF200 million

Bloomberg business

Reuters International

#DearDemocracy

Follow-up material to accompany the main content

Facial awareness Voters approve ‘burka ban’ in St Gallen

the week ahead Bolivia, Syngenta and getting into a Swiss university

Take a look Picture of the week

#swisshistorypics Annemarie Schwarzenbach: Winter's journey to the Near East

Week in Numbers From CEO salaries to alleged Russian spies

Elections Why expatriate Swiss seldom vote

#DearDemocracy Globi: the cartoon character explaining democracy to kids

Niklaus Meienberg Swiss journalism icon took his own life 25 years ago

Child marriages When children forced to marry stay married

mass tourism When it comes to day trippers, Lucerne tops Venice

Crypto Nation ‘You can’t buy coffee with bitcoin, but you can start a company’

Cryptocurrency giant Swiss springboard for Bitmain’s European crypto expansion

True Talk Teen mum: I wouldn't change it for the world

Christie's auction 2018 Swiss art sales set a steady, humble pace

Exotic plants Six trend foods that grow in Switzerland

DIPLOMACY Wettstein – the first Swiss diplomat had the city of Basel in mind

Melting ice Parts of US plane wreck pulled from glacier 70 years on

Energy innovation Why our cities aren’t as smart as they could be

Tax project 17 Linking corporate taxation and pensions: a risky compromise