ETH screening students on spy worries

ETH Zurich

The federal polytechnic in Zurich, the ETH, is screening students from some countries to counter the risk of espionage.

The countries involved are Russia, Iran and especially China. 

Chinese students are accusing the university of discrimination. One said it’s sparked anger and fear among the Chinese students and that they’re being judged on where they come from – and not their accomplishments. 

It’s thought as many as 300 applicants from China have been rejected. 

The three main reasons are a degree from a university that has military ties, a scholarship from unclear sources and working in sensitive areas – that could be almost everything the polytechnic does.

More from Bitesize News

  • Hotter today than the weekend

    The heatwave is set to intensify today, with temperatures expected to climb even higher than over the weekend.

  • Heat melting the roads

    Traffic congestion on the autoroutes has reached a new record.

  • Govt wants war drones and fighting robots

    The military is set for a major overhaul, with plans to create a dedicated drone and robotics battalion by 2028.

  • Iranian talks cause Kloten shut down

    Preparations for expected U.S.-Iran talks at the Bürgenstock have caused major disruption at Zurich' Kloten Airport. An urgently introduced no-fly zone around the summit venue is being linked to a technical malfunction that affected radar displays at air traffic control provider Skyguide yesterday morning. The failure halted all departures from Zurich for more than an hour, disrupting dozens of flights. Take-offs resumed shortly before 8 a.m., but reduced airspace capacity meant delays continued throughout the morning as authorities worked to restore normal operations.

  • Congestion reaches new highs

    Traffic congestion on the autoroutes has reached a new record.

  • Govt looks to ban Nazi symbols

    The government wants to ban the public display of Nazi symbols, including swastikas, Hitler salutes and SS insignia.

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play