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 It's a well-known fact that a combination of very hot weather and heavy traffic can increase local temperatures. Now a Geneva politician has a plan to bring relief from both heat and road congestion to Switzerland’s second-largest city. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260723/swiss-mp-seeks-to-change-traffic-patterns-during-heatwaves Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:40:04 +0200 swiss-mp-seeks-to-change-traffic-patterns-during-heatwaves Faced with a combination of summer travel and new EES border checks, Swiss airports are advising that passengers prepare for longer queues and leave extra time to deal with delays. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260703/swiss-airports-advise-travellers-to-get-ready-for-long-queues-over-summer Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:25:33 +0200 swiss-airports-advise-travellers-to-get-ready-for-long-queues-over-summer Authorities in the canton of Geneva are considering making access to air conditioning devices simpler, as the region, along with the rest of Switzerland, has been hit by a record-breaking heatwave. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260626/geneva-could-ease-requirements-for-air-conditioning-for-private-homes Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:29:47 +0200 geneva-could-ease-requirements-for-air-conditioning-for-private-homes Protesters in Geneva threw stones and firecrackers at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons during a demonstration Sunday against the G7 summit in nearby Evian. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260614/thousands-protest-in-geneva-ahead-of-g7-summit-in-france Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:55:38 +0200 thousands-protest-in-geneva-ahead-of-g7-summit-in-france France and Switzerland are imposing tight security for a looming G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, with a demonstration to be held Sunday in Geneva serving as their first test. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260611/france-and-switzerland-impose-tight-security-around-lake-geneva-for-g7-summit Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:13:09 +0200 france-and-switzerland-impose-tight-security-around-lake-geneva-for-g7-summit Geneva residents have been warned about disturbances to expect in mid-June. They concern visitors to the Swiss city as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260522/the-disruptions-in-and-around-geneva-you-need-to-be-aware-of-in-june Fri, 22 May 2026 11:34:38 +0200 the-disruptions-in-and-around-geneva-you-need-to-be-aware-of-in-june There are some great one day hikes within easy reach of the Swiss city of Geneva but some are easier than others, writes Monty Pierce Jones. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240411/the-seven-best-hikes-around-geneva Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:32:24 +0200 the-seven-best-hikes-around-geneva On June 14th, voters will have their say on a hard-right’s proposal to limit the number of foreigners allowed to settle in Switzerland, in order to prevent further population growth. Approval of this initiative would present challenges not only to the country as a whole, but especially to the canton of Geneva. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260413/how-would-switzerlands-anti-immigration-vote-impact-geneva Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:46:24 +0200 how-would-switzerlands-anti-immigration-vote-impact-geneva Only 276 kilometres lie between Switzerland’s two largest cities, but distance is not the only thing that separates Switzerland's German and French-speaking hubs. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191031/swiss-city-differences-updated Thu, 31 Oct 2019 16:15:22 +0100 swiss-city-differences-updated Geneva voters will have to decide on a law that would ban any speed limit below 50 km/h on major roads of the Swiss canton. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260403/geneva-residents-to-vote-on-speed-limits-in-bid-to-reduce-jams Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:49:20 +0200 geneva-residents-to-vote-on-speed-limits-in-bid-to-reduce-jams A new global report ranks three Swiss cities - Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne - among the world’s ‘smartest. What exactly does this mean? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240409/what-makes-zurich-a-smarter-city-than-geneva-and-lausanne Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:39:16 +0200 what-makes-zurich-a-smarter-city-than-geneva-and-lausanne Funding cuts by the United States resulted not only in job losses within Geneva’s UN sector, but they have impacted Geneva airport - Switzerland’s second-largest – as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260325/how-job-cuts-in-international-organisations-have-hit-geneva-airport Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:50:28 +0100 how-job-cuts-in-international-organisations-have-hit-geneva-airport A new scheme aims to encourage residents of the Swiss canton of Geneva to give up their cars for a month and use alternative modes of transport instead. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260310/why-are-geneva-residents-being-paid-to-give-up-their-cars Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:50:04 +0100 why-are-geneva-residents-being-paid-to-give-up-their-cars Geneva has Switzerland’s highest naturalisation rate, but not everyone who applies makes the cut. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260219/how-many-foreigners-are-refused-swiss-citizenship-in-geneva-and-why Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:36:52 +0100 how-many-foreigners-are-refused-swiss-citizenship-in-geneva-and-why The new European biometric registration regime, the Entry/Exit System (EES), has been causing major delays at the Geneva airport, as thousands of tourists flock to Switzerland's ski slopes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260213/foreign-tourists-faced-interminable-queues-at-geneva-airport-due-to-ees-rollout Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:35:13 +0100 foreign-tourists-faced-interminable-queues-at-geneva-airport-due-to-ees-rollout Whether you are a new arrival, or have lived in Geneva for a while, knowing where to turn for support is essential. These groups can help you navigate the twists and turns of life in Switzerland’s most international region. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260209/integration-to-language-the-geneva-organisations-foreign-residents-find-valuable Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:02:44 +0100 integration-to-language-the-geneva-organisations-foreign-residents-find-valuable As construction sites are multiplying throughout Geneva, the streets of Switzerland’s second-largest city are continually congested, with residents and local businesses complaining about this “untenable situation.” https://www.thelocal.ch/20250603/why-has-traffic-in-geneva-become-a-nightmare-for-residents Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:10:20 +0200 why-has-traffic-in-geneva-become-a-nightmare-for-residents A man has been jailed and given a deportation order following his conviction for the rape of an American tourist whilst she was visiting Geneva. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251219/geneva-court-jails-man-over-rape-of-american-woman Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:50:45 +0100 geneva-court-jails-man-over-rape-of-american-woman The Geneva branch of the hard-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) said it will launch an initiative to abolish the right of foreigners to vote in municipal referendums and elections. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251204/new-proposal-seeks-to-scrap-genevas-voting-rights-for-foreigners Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:46:47 +0100 new-proposal-seeks-to-scrap-genevas-voting-rights-for-foreigners Due to funding cuts by the United States, Geneva-based UN organisations and NGOs have had to dismiss hundreds of their employees - with more job cuts still on the horizon. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251120/in-numbers-how-many-jobs-have-been-lost-in-genevas-international-agencies Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:39:50 +0100 in-numbers-how-many-jobs-have-been-lost-in-genevas-international-agencies