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Latest Bern news and updates from Switzerland. AI-curated articles covering Bern topics.
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Bern police used rubber bullets after an unauthorised demonstration turned violent on Saturday night, with emergency services targeted by fireworks and other dangerous objects. No injuries were reported, according to cantonal police.
about 2 hours ago · 1 source
policing
The Swiss government is considering doubling the time police can hold suspects after violent unrest at a Bern demonstration last year. Human-rights groups warn that extending detention could weaken legal safeguards.
Le News
Switzerland
Zurich, Bern and Solothurn are facing a criminal complaint over allegations that their historical predecessors helped finance slavery in the 18th century. The Swiss Office of the Attorney General must now determine whether an investigation is warranted.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Switzerland
Several hundred people gathered outside the Swiss Parliament for the country’s fourth Mad Pride, calling for greater acceptance and inclusion of people living with mental health conditions. Organisers used a pink carpet to challenge stigma and promote visibility.
SWI swissinfo.ch
cybersecurity
A cyberattack on a software provider used by Bern’s pension funds has raised concerns about the possible exposure of sensitive information, even though there is currently no evidence of data theft.
SWI swissinfo.ch
migration
A Bern court has allowed an undocumented mother of four Swiss children to remain in the country, prioritising family life and the children’s educational needs over the absence of identity documents. Report the ruling’s reasoning and its significance for residence cases involving families and undocumented migrants.
SWI swissinfo.ch
asylum
Bern has abandoned plans to open an asylum accommodation centre for up to 120 people in Kandersteg after the building’s owner withdrew the offer amid local hostility. The canton says it still needs to find additional accommodation for asylum seekers in the Bernese Oberland.
SWI swissinfo.ch
invasive species
Authorities have confirmed a Japanese beetle population in the Interlaken region and ordered preventative measures to limit its spread through plants, garden waste and soil. The invasive pest has already been detected at several locations in Bern canton and can cause serious damage to vegetation.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Bern
CSL Behring has completed a restructuring at its Bern site that eliminated just under 10% of jobs, although more than 100 new roles were created during the transformation. The company says the changes are intended to strengthen the site’s long-term competitiveness.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Business
The Australian pharmaceutical group CSL Behring has completed a transformation process at its Bern site, resulting in a reduction of its workforce by just under 10%. The company stated the move strengthens its long-term competitiveness.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Crime
An investigation has been launched following a suspected arson attack at the Romanian embassy in Bern. A burning object was reportedly placed near the embassy fence, causing a fire that was extinguished by embassy staff. The incident resulted in property damage but no injuries.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Environment
The destructive Japanese beetle has been detected in the Swiss capital and the nearby town of Köniz, forcing cantonal authorities to implement immediate measures across 21 municipalities to combat its spread and protect local agriculture.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Social Issues
An incident where a trans woman was removed by police from a women-only section of a Bern swimming pool has sparked a nationwide debate on trans rights, public spaces, and the adaptation of Swiss society to accommodate its queer community.
SWI swissinfo.ch
LGBTQ+
The police detention of a trans woman in the women's section of Bern's Marzilibad public pool has ignited controversy, with supporters alleging disproportionate use of force and critics raising questions about access to single-gender spaces, prompting a wider debate on transgender rights.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Politics
In a landmark decision, the Bernese cantonal parliament has voted to include feminicide as a separate category in its crime statistics, a move aimed at making patriarchal violence against women more visible, as no Swiss institution currently documents this type of crime systematically.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Environment
The major project to clear a World War II ammunition depot in Mitholz, Bernese Oberland, has been delayed by two years to 2047. The setback is due to unexpectedly high levels of contaminated material, which complicates the excavation and treatment process and extends the required evacuation period for local residents.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Immigration
A 93-year-old Chinese woman must leave Switzerland, a Bern administrative court has ruled, despite being cared for by her Swiss-citizen daughter. The court decided her dependency on her daughter was not sufficiently proven, raising questions about compassionate grounds in immigration law.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Law Enforcement
The cantonal police force in Bern is launching a pilot project this summer utilizing 30 officers who possess an above-average ability to recognize and memorize faces, aiming to enhance efforts in tracking down violent criminals.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Law Enforcement
The cantonal police in Bern are set to deploy officers with exceptional facial recognition abilities in a new pilot project. This article investigates how these 'super-recognisers' will aid in criminal investigations and the debate surrounding the effectiveness and privacy implications of this human-centric surveillance method.
SWI swissinfo.ch
Politics
An anti-consumerist alliance in the Swiss capital has launched a people's initiative to ban all commercial advertising from public view, sparking a debate on urban aesthetics, public influence, and the city's multimillion-franc revenue from ad space rentals.
SWI swissinfo.ch
