Swiss politics
A proposal to let collective labour agreements take precedence over cantonal minimum-wage laws is heading to a nationwide vote. Only a handful of Swiss cantons have introduced minimum wages through popular votes.
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UBS
UBS reported a third-quarter net profit of $2.7 billion and said it remains on track to complete the Credit Suisse integration this year. The bank also said strong client activity helped lift operating income by 5% and put it on course to meet its annual targets.
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Swiss business
Corporate bankruptcies in Switzerland could reach a record 15,000 cases in 2026, according to a forecast by Allianz Trade. The insurer expects a sixth consecutive annual increase and says the insolvency law introduced in 2025 is also contributing to the rise.
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social assistance
Just under 270,000 people in Switzerland received social assistance in 2025, a 4.5% increase on the previous year, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The social assistance rate remained at 2.9%, with children and young people recording the highest rate among age groups.
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Swiss tourism
Swiss tourism is forecast to grow modestly this winter after overnight stays fell 0.8% over the summer, the first seasonal decline since the pandemic began. Overnight stays in winter 2026/27 are expected to rise 0.9% to 18.9 million, although the war in Iran is weighing on demand from the Far East.
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Geneva
Geneva’s Jet d’Eau will close for nearly five weeks from Monday while crews carry out annual maintenance, including an overhaul of one of its pumps. The landmark is expected to return to operation on December 4, weather permitting.
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Novartis
Novartis reported third-quarter revenue of $14.5 billion, up 4% from a year earlier, as the impact of generic competition continued to ease. The Swiss drugmaker also raised its full-year outlook for core operating profit.
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artificial intelligence
A bestselling novel was removed from contention for France’s Goncourt literary prize after an online accusation, backed by an AI detector score, that it was largely machine-generated. The author denies using AI, while Swiss experts and artists are questioning what such tools can reliably establish.
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climate change
A Swiss experiment found that warmer spring temperatures caused hornbeams and small-leaved lindens to bud earlier and begin shedding leaves three to four weeks earlier in autumn. Researchers say the findings could help improve predictions of climate change’s effects on forests and the carbon cycle.
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Jura
Biel/Bienne
culture
Lindt
United Nations
health
Geneva
Migros
Swiss courts
Switzerland
Swiss politics