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 Despite claims that the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) border checks would be "fully operational" by April 10th, many airports have reported disruption and some Channel ports don't even have the technology for full rollout yet. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260411/full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:56:38 +0200 full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption When the topic of foreign residents is brought up, it usually relates to people from the European Union. But what about those who come to Switzerland from third countries? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260410/what-do-we-know-about-all-the-non-eu-nationals-working-in-switzerland Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:49:14 +0200 what-do-we-know-about-all-the-non-eu-nationals-working-in-switzerland A Swiss court said on Thursday it had rejected a request to recuse the regional prosecutors investigating a New Year's fire that killed 41 people in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260410/court-rejects-request-to-recuse-swiss-bar-fire-prosecutors Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:59:43 +0200 court-rejects-request-to-recuse-swiss-bar-fire-prosecutors Most international residents who set up a new life in Switzerland will testify to the fact that integrating in the country can be problematic, but the duo behind the podcast As Swiss as Possible have some key advice for how to overcome the inevitable obstacles. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260323/how-to-overcome-the-hurdles-everyone-faces-when-integrating-in-switzerland Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:47:51 +0100 how-to-overcome-the-hurdles-everyone-faces-when-integrating-in-switzerland A former fire safety official in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana remained silent when questioned Wednesday by prosecutors investigating a deadly New Year blaze, his lawyer said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260408/suspect-remains-silent-in-swiss-bar-fire-probe Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:59:09 +0200 suspect-remains-silent-in-swiss-bar-fire-probe In the past several years, the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) has identified nearly 950 high-accident zones on Switzerland's road network. What is being done to improve safety there? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260407/swiss-government-vows-to-improve-safety-on-countrys-most-dangerous-roads Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:45:25 +0200 swiss-government-vows-to-improve-safety-on-countrys-most-dangerous-roads From a ban on pyrotechnic devices to new travel regulations: these are the changes happening in Switzerland in April 2026. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260317/everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-april-2026 Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:56:26 +0100 everything-that-changes-about-life-in-switzerland-in-april-2026 The price of diesel fuel has rocketed by more than 30 percent across Europe since the start of the Middle East war highlighting the continent's dependence on imported energy and the lingering prominence of diesel on the car market. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260404/european-drivers-choke-on-rising-diesel-prices Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:17:02 +0200 european-drivers-choke-on-rising-diesel-prices The number of people acquiring the citizenship of a European country has increased massively compared to a decade ago. Experts say that the trend has accelerated in recent years due various factors. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260403/why-more-and-more-people-are-acquiring-citizenship-in-european-countries Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:09:12 +0200 why-more-and-more-people-are-acquiring-citizenship-in-european-countries For the first time, Switzerland’s residents over the age of 65 outnumber those under 20. The phenomenon could have serious implications on the country’s future as well as on government policy. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260402/what-will-switzerland-do-now-that-retirees-outnumber-young-people Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:18:44 +0200 what-will-switzerland-do-now-that-retirees-outnumber-young-people A landmark agreement has been reached by the European Parliament and Council on the reform of EU rules around customs that include new measures to tackle e-commerce from non-EU countries. What will it mean for consumers? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260402/shein-temu-why-european-consumers-will-pay-more-for-cheap-online-orders Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:38:55 +0200 shein-temu-why-european-consumers-will-pay-more-for-cheap-online-orders Despite cancellations of some flights, Switzerland's national airline, SWISS, will operate additional ones to a number of popular short-haul destinations. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260402/airline-swiss-to-add-74-new-european-flights-this-summer Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:12:44 +0200 airline-swiss-to-add-74-new-european-flights-this-summer The price of becoming a Swiss citizen in Basel-City will drop significantly - from 1,750 to 900 francs – on July 1st. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260402/basel-to-slash-cost-of-swiss-naturalisation-fee-from-this-summer Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:20:45 +0200 basel-to-slash-cost-of-swiss-naturalisation-fee-from-this-summer The Swiss government is considering dropping the agreed purchase of the Patriot air-defence system from the United States amid severe delivery delays, Defence Minister Martin Pfister said Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260401/swiss-government-could-drop-purchase-of-us-patriot-air-defence-system Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:41:35 +0200 swiss-government-could-drop-purchase-of-us-patriot-air-defence-system Switzerland's finance minister and former president has filed a criminal complaint over a barrage of sexist abuse on Elon Musk's X platform, her office confirmed Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260401/swiss-minister-files-criminal-complaint-over-sexist-abuse-on-x Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:30:02 +0200 swiss-minister-files-criminal-complaint-over-sexist-abuse-on-x European airports and airlines organisations issued on Monday the latest warning about the next implementation phase of the EU's new biometric border system, “as the transition phase comes to an end right in the travel peak of the Easter holidays.” https://www.thelocal.ch/20260330/european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:31:07 +0200 european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms Summer travel to and from Switzerland will become more expensive as SWISS and Edelweiss increase their fuel surcharges. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260330/switzerlands-airlines-raise-their-fares-ahead-of-peak-summer-travel-season Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:05:28 +0200 switzerlands-airlines-raise-their-fares-ahead-of-peak-summer-travel-season The UK government is set to further increase the cost of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travellers from Europe, coinciding with the implementation of tougher entry rules. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260207/uk-to-hike-price-of-electronic-travel-authorisation-for-foreign-travellers Sat, 07 Feb 2026 10:19:47 +0100 uk-to-hike-price-of-electronic-travel-authorisation-for-foreign-travellers A huge shipment of Nestle's crunchy KitKat chocolate bars was stolen in Europe, the brand said, warning that the heist risked causing shortages in stores right before Easter. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260329/over-12-tonnes-of-new-kitkat-chocolate-range-stolen-in-europe Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:14:52 +0200 over-12-tonnes-of-new-kitkat-chocolate-range-stolen-in-europe Switzerland's top court ruled Friday that plant-based drinks may not use the word "milk" in their marketing, rejecting an appeal from French dairy giant Danone. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260328/top-swiss-court-bars-milk-label-on-vegan-alternatives Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:20:44 +0100 top-swiss-court-bars-milk-label-on-vegan-alternatives