https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The new and expanded SBB timetable and more Swiss Alpine slopes opening for winter sports, are among changes that are happening in Switzerland this December. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251119/everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-december-2025 Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:39:15 +0100 everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-december-2025 New travel rules and consultation about the Swiss-EU agreement, are among changes you can expect in Switzerland in October 2025. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250918/everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-october-2025 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:44:29 +0200 everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-october-2025 Foreigners in a handful of Swiss municipalities and cantons are able to vote in some elections, but many of them don't. We look at the reasons behind this, and how the canton of Fribourg wants to change this. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250917/why-do-so-few-foreigners-vote-in-switzerland-even-though-they-can Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:18:56 +0200 why-do-so-few-foreigners-vote-in-switzerland-even-though-they-can Swiss voters will have their say on two issues during the second round of this year’s national referendums, to be held later this year. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250522/digital-id-and-second-home-taxes-switzerland-announces-next-referendums Thu, 22 May 2025 12:12:43 +0200 digital-id-and-second-home-taxes-switzerland-announces-next-referendums Switzerland’s flagship airline SWISS has announced plans to slash 1,400 flights until October 2025. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250519/swiss-airline-cuts-hundreds-of-flights-from-summer-schedule Mon, 19 May 2025 12:19:25 +0200 swiss-airline-cuts-hundreds-of-flights-from-summer-schedule From health insurance premiums rising steeply to cross-border shopping becoming less lucrative — these are the changes you can expect in Switzerland in January 2025. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241219/everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-january-2025 Thu, 19 Dec 2024 11:57:02 +0100 everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-january-2025 As is the case each year on the second Sunday of December, the national rail company, SBB, will change its 2025 schedule on December 15th. Here’s a preview of what’s ahead. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241118/what-will-switzerlands-new-train-timetable-change-for-passengers Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:30:30 +0100 what-will-switzerlands-new-train-timetable-change-for-passengers From hundreds of medications that will become cheaper to the inauguration of world's steepest cable car — these are some of the changes that will happen in Switzerland in December 2024. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241114/everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-december-2024 Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:55:06 +0100 everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-december-2024 The return of Donald Trump to the White House may be catastrophic for US democracy. It could be even more destructive for Europe, writes John Lichfield. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241106/opinion-trumps-win-spells-crisis-for-europe-but-it-could-save-the-eu Wed, 06 Nov 2024 17:06:36 +0100 opinion-trumps-win-spells-crisis-for-europe-but-it-could-save-the-eu New driver licenses, and the possibility to register names bearing foreign characters, are among changes you can expect in Switzerland in November 2024. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241023/everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-november-2024 Wed, 23 Oct 2024 18:33:23 +0200 everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-november-2024 The date of November 10th for the launch of the new EU border system, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), is “no longer on the table”, the EU s Commissioner Ylva Johansson announced on Thursday afternoon following a meeting of EU home affairs ministers in Luxembourg. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241010/launch-of-europes-new-ees-border-system-officially-delayed-again Thu, 10 Oct 2024 21:53:08 +0200 launch-of-europes-new-ees-border-system-officially-delayed-again Swiss police announced Tuesday that several people were taken into custody after the controversial Sarco suicide pod was used to end an American woman's life. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240924/breaking-swiss-police-make-arrests-after-use-of-controversial-suicide-pod Tue, 24 Sep 2024 15:09:07 +0200 breaking-swiss-police-make-arrests-after-use-of-controversial-suicide-pod On September 22nd, Swiss voters will weigh in on a variety of issues of national importance. But in some cantons, local matters are on the ballot as well. Here's a rundown. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240916/from-zurich-to-basel-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-cantonal-referendums Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:25:11 +0200 from-zurich-to-basel-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-cantonal-referendums A new, large-scale comparison of Swiss communities reveals where life is good — and where it leaves much to be desired. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240919/where-are-the-best-and-worst-places-to-live-in-switzerland-in-2024 Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:59:33 +0200 where-are-the-best-and-worst-places-to-live-in-switzerland-in-2024 The cost of Switzerland’s obligatory health insurance is a source of constant worry for the country’s residents, as the rates have been increasing significantly for the past few years. What can you expect to happen in 2025? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240910/by-how-much-will-your-swiss-health-insurance-premiums-increase-in-2025 Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:23:56 +0200 by-how-much-will-your-swiss-health-insurance-premiums-increase-in-2025 You might have heard that Switzerland is in the throes of a scandal involving allegedly forged signatures on voting petitions. What is this about? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240904/swiss-signature-scandal-have-switzerlands-popular-referendums-been-rigged Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:37:25 +0200 swiss-signature-scandal-have-switzerlands-popular-referendums-been-rigged From outlawed 'cold' calls to the re-opened Gotthard tunnel, these are some of the changes you can expect in Switzerland in September 2024. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240826/everything-that-changes-in-switzerland-in-september-2024 Mon, 26 Aug 2024 12:58:10 +0200 everything-that-changes-in-switzerland-in-september-2024 Basel will host the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest after being chosen ahead of Geneva on Friday to stage the glitzy TV extravaganza following Swiss artist Nemo's victory in this year's edition. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240830/breaking-swiss-city-of-basel-picked-to-host-eurovision-2025 Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:25:44 +0200 breaking-swiss-city-of-basel-picked-to-host-eurovision-2025 Businesses across Europe - including airports, airlines and other transport operators - have been hit by major IT problems caused by a rogue software update. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240719/breaking-european-travel-services-hit-by-major-global-it-glitch Fri, 19 Jul 2024 11:46:53 +0200 breaking-european-travel-services-hit-by-major-global-it-glitch From price hikes to disrupted train travel, this is what you can expect in Switzerland in July 2024. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240621/everything-that-changes-in-switzerland-in-july-2024 Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:34:28 +0200 everything-that-changes-in-switzerland-in-july-2024