Swiss local news - Helvetica Times

Migros Denies Report Of Imminent Merger Of Regional Cooperatives

Will chief executive Mario Irminger unveil a “New Migros” plan at an event in Zurich-Oerlikon on 27 October?

Switzerland Tightens Social Media Rules For Minors, But Stops Short Of An Age Ban

The Federal Council wants large social media platforms and search engines to do more to protect children and young people. It has decided, for now, against a minimum age for social media use.

Lifestyle · Yesterday

Swiss Low-Cost Gym Market Consolidates As PureGym Buys NonStop

In Zurich, the deal is likely to be felt mainly through PureGym, whose network is concentrated in German-speaking Switzerland.

Sport · Oct 14

FIFA’s Infantino Received $1.76m From World Cup Company Not Disclosed In Annual Report

US tax filings show FIFA president Gianni Infantino received $1.76 million in 2024 from FWC2026 US Inc, the company running the 2026 World Cup, on top of his publicly declared FIFA salary. FIFA denies any breach of its transparency rules.

Crime · Oct 12

Ricardo Data Breach: Scammers Now Using Leaked Details In WhatsApp Phishing Messages

Personal data from about 890,000 Ricardo accounts has been exposed, including names, postal addresses and phone numbers. Three days after the breach was disclosed, users are receiving convincing WhatsApp messages that appear to exploit the stolen information.

Expat · Oct 12

Swiss Home Prices Accelerate Despite Rising Mortgage Rates, Raiffeisen Index Shows

Single-family homes rose 2.0% and condominiums 1.7% in the third quarter, as tight supply continues to outweigh higher borrowing costs. Zurich and western Switzerland led the annual increase for houses, while tourist resorts drove condominium prices.

Health · Oct 12

Switzerland’s Doctor Shortage Is Already Reshaping Healthcare Access

A quarter of Swiss doctors are over 60, and one in three general practices is no longer accepting new patients. The shortage is most acute in primary care, paediatrics and psychiatry.

Business · Oct 12

Viac And Neon Move Ahead As ZKB’s Frankly Stays Confined To Pillar 3a

Zürcher Kantonalbank’s digital pension app Frankly remains limited to retirement savings, while Viac and Neon now offer free investing alongside pension products. Speculation suggests a “Frankly Invest” launch may be coming, but ZKB will not confirm it.

Politics · Oct 12

Bern’s Unauthorised Anti-Imperialist Demo Ends Peacefully, One Year After Violent Gaza Protest

Around 1,000 people joined the demonstration in Bern on Sunday, but police prevented a march through the city centre. The rally marked one year since a Gaza demonstration descended into hours of rioting.

Breaking News · Oct 11

A Party That Turned Violent: Zurich Police Clear Illegal Hardplatz Gathering

A party at Zurich’s Hardplatz escalated into a night of violence, with police pelted by fireworks, bottles and paving stones. One officer was injured and around two dozen containers were set on fire before police regained control at about 3am.

Business · Oct 10

Rolex Allocation Claims Linger As Bucherer Removes Head Of Its Central Lucerne Flagship Store

Unresolved Rolex allocation allegations hang over Bucherer as the head of its central Lucerne flagship store, Beat Schmid, leaves immediately after nearly a decade. The company has appointed tourism-sector newcomer Jessica Ternes amid reports of staff departures.

Politics · Oct 10

US Midterms Could Decide How Far Trump’s Tariffs On Switzerland Go

The 39% Trump’s Tariffs On Switzerland, which took effect in August 2025, was one of the most significant trade shocks Switzerland has faced in recent years

Business · Oct 9

Switzerland Tops Global Innovation Ranking For A Seventh Straight Year

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) again names Switzerland the world's most innovative economy. The same index shows weakness in patent filings and venture-capital deal counts.

Business · Oct 7

Zurich’s “Stable” Jobless Rate Masks A 9.1% Rise In Unemployment

The City of Zurich recorded 8,225 unemployed people in September, while the number of registered job seekers rose by 11% year-on-year. Foreign nationals and men experienced the sharpest increases.

Business · Oct 7

UBS Plans Large Job Cuts In November, With Senior Private Bankers Among Those At Risk

The bank's costly senior private bankers over 50, who manage client books worth CHF 1 billion to 2 billion, are particularly at risk apparently.

Breaking News · Oct 7

UBS Faces Potential Reshaping As Switzerland Pushes Tougher Capital Rules

Could UBS separate its Swiss businesses from its international operations?

Business · Oct 7

Former UBS Technology Head Paul McEwen Joins Citi

McEwen leaving the bank was already a news running in the Swiss circuits.

Breaking News · Oct 6

Switzerland India Sign Agreements During Parmelin Visit: Migration And Young Professionals On Table

Trade, investment, AI and global conflicts were discussed as Switzerland's President met Indian Prime Minister Modi.

Politics · Oct 3

Former UBS Banker Céline Amaudruz Weighs Bid To Succeed Guy Parmelin

The Geneva SVP politician is among several possible successors to the departing federal councillor. Her banking career has drawn attention, but there is no evidence that UBS is backing her candidacy.

Health · Oct 3

Switzerland’s 2027 Premium Rise Comes As Parliament Reworks Electronic Health Record

Health insurance premiums will rise by an average 5% next year, while Parliament is debating a replacement for Switzerland’s troubled electronic patient record system.

Lifestyle · Oct 1

Want To Experience Oktoberfest In Zurich? Here’s When And Where To Go

Zurich’s 29th Oktoberfest will run from October 8 to November 7 at Bauschänzli, with Bavarian food, beer and live music.

Expat · Oct 1

Why Did ETH Zurich Slip To 12th In World Rankings? China’s Tsinghua Climbs

ETH Zurich Falls to 12th Despite Higher Score as Tsinghua Moves Ahead.

Breaking News · Oct 1

Zurich Ad Agency Wirz To Cut Jobs As Migros Reduces Work

The agency says its long-standing client relationship will continue, but with less work. Wirz has not disclosed how many employees will be affected.

Business · Sep 30

Lindt Chairman Ernst Tanner Under The Microscope After Sales Forecast Cut

"An unprecedented heatwave this summer additionally weighed on sales in Europe," said Lindt CEO Adalbert Lechner.

Climate · Sep 30

Zurich Has Met Only 8.3% Road-Space Target for Walking, Cycling, Public Transport

The city credits a new park above a covered motorway for much of its first-year progress.

Health · Sep 29

Zurich Sets Aside Around CHF 1.4 Billion For 2027 Health Insurance Premium Relief

About CHF 800 million is earmarked for individual premium reductions. Eligible residents will see provisional support deducted from their insurance bills from January.

Breaking News · Sep 29

FINMA Finds Serious Failings At Julius Baer Over Benko-Linked Loans, Russian PEP Clients

Swiss regulator says Julius Baer exposure exceeded CHF 1 billion and orders continued oversight despite closing its investigation.

Breaking News · Sep 27

Self-Driving Cars Hit The Road In Zurich On Monday

Travellers will be able to book rides through an app, but a safety operator will remain behind the wheel throughout the car trial.

Technology · Sep 26

Zurich Says AI Could Double Productivity Growth, But Jobseeker Rise Raises Questions

In insurance, banking and financial services, and information and communications, AI could add between 1.7% and 1.8% points to annual productivity growth.

Crime · Sep 25

Eight Arrested After Two Violent “Attempt To Homicide” Attacks In Zurich

The victims were attacked without warning and assaulted with objects, including glass bottles and kicks to the head, while lying defenceless on the ground.

Breaking News · Sep 25

UBS–Morgan Stanley Merger Talk Emerges After Swiss Capital-Rules Setback

Is UBS Senior Leadership Again Considering Options For Leaving Swiss Jurisdiction?

Politics · Sep 25

Zurich Reports 41% Postal Voting Ahead Of Swiss Neutrality Referendum

The dispute is over how much freedom the government should retain to cooperate with security partners and respond to conflicts.

Business · Sep 25

Zurich Tops Global Property-Bubble Risk Ranking As Housing Shortage Deepens

Zurich and Tokyo are the only markets in the highest risk category.

Business · Sep 24

UBS Faces Parliamentary Setback As Capital Rules Tighten

Ermotti’s campaign fails to shift vote as UBS suffers a clear setback.

Business · Sep 24

Bitcoin Suisse’s Layoffs Turn Bitter: “Good Leavers” v/s “Bad Leavers”

Group CEO Andrej Majcen has publicly framed the restructuring as "an offensive play rather than a defensive one."

Climate · Sep 23

ETH Zurich Study: Switzerland’s Worst-Case Climate Scenario Now The Most Likely One

Because Switzerland warms faster than the worldwide mean, a 3°C global scenario would translate to roughly 4.9°C of local warming.

Breaking News · Sep 23

Swiss Market Index: Stocks Gain Monday, Pause Tuesday, Climb Again Wednesday

The Swiss Market Index opened 0.336% higher at 14,000.25 points on Wednesday.

Business · Sep 23

Switzerland Raises 2026 Growth Forecast To 1.7%, Warns Of Iran-Linked Energy Risks

The Federal Council expects a further pickup in global demand in 2027, with the rest of Europe.

Local · Sep 22

Large Fire Breaks Out In Buchs Zurich, Sends Smoke Plume Visible From Oerlikon

According to Alertswiss, the fire is producing a strong, unpleasant odour and is disrupting traffic in the surrounding area.

Business · Sep 22

Swiss Re Shifts CorSo IT Jobs To India, Mexico And Slovakia As US And UK Cut Roles

Did Managing Director Florian Maurer accelerate the India/overseas outsourcing shortly before his own departure?

Expat · Sep 22

Who Speaks For Zurich’s Foreign Residents? Meet The New 25-Member Council

Of the 124 people who applied, the City Council selected 25.

Breaking News · Sep 22

Sunrise Confirms 450 Job Cuts, Far Exceeding Earlier Speculation

Sunrise cut 147 jobs already earlier this year.

World · Sep 18

Is Switzerland Really The World’s Most Expensive Country?

A family of four can expect to spend upward of CHF 5,000 a month on basic expenses alone, excluding housing.

Health · Sep 18

One Dead As Wetzikon Legionella Cases Reach 33, Source Still Unknown

Investigations so far point to a connection between the illnesses and the presence of Legionella bacteria found in shower-water samples in several cases.

Local · Sep 17

Zurich Scraps General Begging Ban: Bars It Only Where Aggressive, Organised

A ruling by the European Court of Human Rights has made it necessary to adapt this blanket begging ban so that it remains compatible with fundamental rights.

Breaking News · Sep 17

PwC Switzerland To Halve Bonuses As AI And Weak Economy Squeeze Consulting

PwC's Swiss bonus cuts follow similar cost-cutting moves across the Big Four and major consultancies over the past year.

Expat · Sep 16

13th AHV Pension In 2026: Why The CHF 1,580 Average May Not Be Yours

Someone who arrived in Switzerland at age 30 and contributed faithfully until retirement, for example, would reach only about 80% of the maximum pension.

Crime · Sep 16

Swiss Authorities Warn Of Surge In Callback Scams Using Fake Migros And Bank Alerts

The scam typically begins with an email or text message claiming that a suspicious or unauthorized transaction has occurred on the recipient's bank account.

Business · Sep 16

All Regulators Clear Zurich-Beazley Deal; London Court Has Final Say

Zurich Insurance Clears Final Regulatory Hurdles, Set to Complete Beazley Takeover October 2026

Breaking News · Sep 16

Fresh Off A Data Breach, Revolut Applies For Swiss Banking Licence

"Revolut is already Switzerland's leading fintech," said Julian Biegmann, bank's GM for Switzerland.