Independent digital newspaper of Italian-speaking Switzerland
Zali affair
Ticino's cantonal government answered 63 questions in parliament about the affairs involving Claudio Zali. It unanimously criticised an email Zali sent to the EOC hospital group to back a hiring, but declined to comment on matters under ongoing judicial investigation.
Second homes
In Locarno, the share of second homes stayed just under the 20% threshold set by the Lex Weber law for years, partly because apartments rented on Airbnb were not counted as such. After the federal government corrected the calculations, the municipality can no longer build new second homes and must review building permits issued after it had already exceeded the threshold.
Attempted murder trial
The public prosecutor has requested nine years in prison for Vladimiro Bernardi, former municipal councillor of Bissone, on trial in Lugano for attempted murder. He is accused of assaulting his tenant and setting fire to his garage over unpaid rent.
Zali case
State Councillor Norman Gobbi issued a statement clarifying the contacts he had in 2021 with the woman found dead in August in Melide, whose audio recordings led to Claudio Zali's resignation from the Ticino government.
Political rights
On 27 September, the canton of Grisons votes on lowering the active voting age to 16. The experience of Glarus, the first canton to introduce it in 2007, shows that youth turnout has not increased.
Cancer prevention
The PRESENT-CRC study aims to tailor colorectal cancer screening to each person's individual risk level. It covers six cantons and hopes to reach 8,000 participants by the end of the year.
Cybersecurity
A study by the National Test Institute for Cybersecurity warns of risks linked to photovoltaic inverters, most of which are made in China and permanently connected to the internet. Experts fear a hostile actor could switch them off remotely and destabilize the power grid.
Plane crash
A light aircraft that had taken off from Lugano crashed on Tuesday in Valais, near Leukerbad. All three people on board died; Valais police only reported the accident on Wednesday.
Children and social media
The European Commission has presented the Kids Act, which bans access to social media for children under 13 and limits use to one hour a day for teenagers aged 13 to 15. The proposal must now go through the approval process in Brussels and face resistance from major platforms.
Sanctions on Moscow
The House of Representatives approved the bill, already passed by the Senate, which targets Russia's shadow fleet and allows tariffs of up to 100% on importers of Russian energy.
Privacy
An investigation by Gamers Nexus found that LG smart TVs scan home Wi-Fi networks and record audio even in standby mode, sending the data to the company's advertising division.
Nestlé in Russia
A decree signed by Vladimir Putin strips Nestlé of control over two Russian subsidiaries, which will now be managed by the Russian company L.E.V. Management. The Swiss group remains the owner but can no longer freely dispose of its stakes.
Interest rates
The Swiss National Bank has kept its policy rate at 0.0% for more than a year, while the United States, the eurozone and the United Kingdom keep raising theirs. Switzerland's debt brake and low inflation explain the gap.
Energy
A strategic Saudi Arabian pipeline will stay largely offline for weeks after an attack, as Houthi rebels advance in the Red Sea. An expert warns Europe has no alternatives and must prepare for higher energy bills.
Balzan Prizes
The foundation born in Lugano in 1957 has announced the winners of the 2026 edition of its prizes, worth 750,000 francs each. Among them is Italian researcher Elena Esposito, recognised for her work on the social science of digital technology.
Psychotherapy
Parents, partners or siblings invited into a session are not intruders: family therapy shows how personal problems are intertwined with our closest relationships.
Locarno Film Festival
The 79th Locarno Film Festival has come to a close: Piazza Grande recorded a 5% drop in attendance, while cinemas grew by 4%. Overall attendance remained stable compared to 2025, with more than 150,000 spectators.
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