Switzerland reaches the 9-million population mark — again

According to data published on Thursday by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the country now counts 9,002,763 inhabitants. 

You may remember that one year ago, it was reported that this mark had already been reached. 

This was not an error, just a different way of calculating: at the time, the FSO counted all the people registered in Switzerland, regardless of their status, which means refugees and asylum seekers were included in the total as well.

This time around, however, only permanent residents were counted, which explains the disparity in numbers.

Among the permanent population, 27.13 percent are foreign nationals.

Swiss government could ‘derail’ new night trains from Zurich to Rome and Barcelona

As the Swiss media reported on Thursday, there is good news and bad news concerning international night trains. 

The good news is that the national railway company, SBB, is committed to night trains connecting Zurich to Rome and Barcelona.

The bad news is that government funding is needed to get the project on the right track.

This money, however, could be difficult to obtain, because the Federal Council is looking into ways to cut spending, as Switzerland is facing a deficit of several billion francs.

Under Swiss law, no more than 30 million francs can be spent each year to promote international trains.

However, the law considers financing night connections as an optional provision, so the government is not obliged to spend any money on them.

Kyiv ‘outraged’ at Swiss showing of Russian war film

The controversial documentary “Russians at War” will be shown at the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) in October despite harsh criticism from Kyiv, the event’s director said Thursday.

The documentary has sparked outrage since it was first shown at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month, with some calling it a pro-Kremlin film that seeks to whitewash and justify Moscow’s assault on its neighbour.

Ukraine added Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova, who directed the documentary, to a national security blacklist on Monday, saying it spread “Russian propaganda” about Moscow’s invasion.

The ZFF acknowledged Thursday that the film had already “made waves”, and said it had received “protest letters”.

“We can understand that the film evokes strong emotions in Ukrainians, but we will maintain its projection, because we consider that ‘Russians at War’ is an anti-war film,” it said in a newsletter. (AFP)

Ahead this weekend:

Wage demonstration in Bern

Trade unions, left-wing political parties, and various associations are holding a massive rally in the Swiss capital on Saturday, to demand higher pay for Switzerland’s employees.

Organisers are claiming the demonstration is important because while the cost of living is climbing in Switzerland, salaries of many workers remain stagnant.

On Sunday, Swiss voters head to the polls

Two nationwide issues will be decided at the ballot box on September 22nd.

One calls for voters to decide whether the second-pillar pension (also referred to as ‘LLP’ and ‘occupational pension’) should be reformed.

The second initiative calls for more money and more protected areas for preserving Switzerland’s biodiversity.

READ ALSO: How will Switzerland vote in key pensions and nature referendums?

Cantonal referendums

There are also several votes taking place at cantonal level. You can find out what’s at stake in Zurich, Geneva and Basel in our roundup.