Independent digital newspaper of Italian-speaking Switzerland
Climate and energy
Air conditioning protects against heat, but increases emissions and electricity demand. In Switzerland, its spread remains limited, while cantonal authorities impose conditions on new systems.
Employment
Staff at the shops that closed in May were meant to remain on full pay during their three-month notice period. A former employee at the Lausanne branch says he has received no wages for two months.
Weather
MeteoSwiss is forecasting a new heatwave alert from Wednesday 29 July. Level 4 applies to low-lying areas of central and southern Ticino, while a level 3 is expected in the valleys of upper Ticino, until Wednesday 5 August.
Plant health
Cantonal monitoring records a decrease in adult beetles in the infested area. The precise assessment of the infestation and any damage will depend on the next end-of-season report.
Cultural policy
A cross-party inquiry asks the Locarno Municipal Council to turn the Locarno Film Festival into a permanent driver of training, innovation and economic development. The signatories ask which projects exist and how they could be funded.
Environmental policy
From 2027, funding to help Swiss forests adapt to heat and drought would no longer appear in the Confederation’s financial planning. The Conference for Forest, Wildlife and Landscape has criticised the move.
Immigration
Net immigration into the foreign permanent resident population fell by 10.5 per cent in one year. Most newcomers came from EU/EFTA states and arrived in Switzerland to work.
Direct democracy
The federal threshold now represents just over 2% of eligible voters, roughly half its weight in the 1970s. Raising it could reduce ballots while favouring larger and better-funded organisations.
Scientific research
The Large Hadron Collider produces 40 million collisions per second. This amount of data cannot be handled in full. At CERN, artificial intelligence is used to filter events and could also contribute to the design of the future accelerator.
International protection
The treaty adopted in 1951 remains the reference for international protection, while wars and persecution are forcing millions of people to leave their homes. UNHCR denounces growing obstacles to asylum and calls on states to uphold their humanitarian commitments.
Humanitarian crisis
Nine months after the ceasefire began, Gaza’s population continues to live in extremely difficult conditions. Humanitarian organisations report restrictions on supplies and a growing funding shortfall.
Financial markets
The Bank for International Settlements highlights the risks linked to high valuations and substantial investment in artificial intelligence. The key question for investors is whether earnings growth will be able to keep pace with spending.
Currency
According to economists consulted by AWP, the Swiss currency should continue its upward trend. A strong franc remains a challenge for an export-oriented economy, especially with rising tariffs.
Rail industry
The CHF755 million investment will gradually replace the Bellinzona workshops. Operations are due to begin in mid-2028, followed by about a year in which both sites will run in parallel.
Cinema
The 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival opens on Wednesday and runs until 16 August. The programme includes 233 films, a retrospective on McCarthyism, and events with several guests in Piazza Grande and at the Forum @Spazio Cinema.
Cinema and festivals
The artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival rejects the idea of a festival for insiders only. He defends an open programme that also pays attention to the changes brought by artificial intelligence.
Cinema
The Locarno Film Festival will present the award to Isabella Rossellini on August 5, during the opening ceremony of the 79th edition. The actress will also present some works she directed.
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