The Local Switzerland

Everything that changes in October 2019 in Switzerland

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 15:39:40 +0200

From winding back the clocks to preparing for (a possible) Brexit, plenty of changes are set to take place in Switzerland in October.

Switzerland expels French-Tunisian man over terror fears

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 18:30:22 +0100

Swiss police said on Saturday they had expelled a person facing criminal charges in Switzerland for suspected links to a terrorist group, over fears he poses a threat to national security.

European court: Switzerland violated law on torture

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:00:32 +0100

The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Switzerland to pay 30,000 euros compensation to a Sri Lankan who was deported from Switzerland and subsequently arrested and beaten in Colombo.

SVP threatens to pull out of federal government

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:19:08 +0200

The right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), the most popular political party in Switzerland, is threatening to pull out of the seven-person Swiss government unless it gains two of the seats.

Search continues in Chur River for missing boy

Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:45:01 +0200

Police and fire department officers in the canton of Saint Gallen continued searching for the third day in a row on Monday for Semere, a two-year-old boy who went missing over the weekend.

Swiss public transport smart card set for use

Tue, 09 Dec 2014 21:54:00 +0100

Users of public transport in Switzerland will have access to a smart card that serves as an annual pass or a half-price card starting late next summer.

Switzerland fetes 100 years for national park

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 11:51:00 +0200

The village of Zernez in the canton of Graubünden will lead celebrations for the 100th birthday of Switzerland’s only national park on August 1st, Swiss National Day.

Zurich nightclub killer given 16-year jail term

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 20:19:00 +0200

A district court has convicted a 22-year-old of murder and attempted murder in the case of two brothers attacked outside a nightclub in Zurich in 2012.

Nature ranks Geneva scientist among 'top ten'

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 12:19:00 +0100

Swiss astrophysicist Michel Mayor is listed among Nature magazine’s ten top scientists in the world who “mattered” for 2013.

Vaud plans tanning salon ban for users under 18

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 23:28:00 +0100

The canton of Vaud is planning to ban customers under the age of 18 from using tanning salons.

Gorbachev warns of Syrian intervention risks

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:10:00 +0200

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said in Geneva on Monday that US President Barack Obama was right to seek backing from Congress for military action in Syria, but he warned that intervening raised dire risks.

Swiss sailor takes lead in round-the-world race

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:11:00 +0100

Switzerland's Bernard Stamm has taken the lead for the first time in the solo, round-the-world Vendée Globe race ahead of France's François Gabart, Jean-Pierre Dick and Armel Le Cleac'h, organizers said on Friday.

Migros unveils monster Solothurn solar system

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:28:00 +0100

Migros, Switzerland’s largest retailer, is planning to build what it calls the biggest solar panel installation in the country in the canton of Solothurn.

Geneva swaps oil tanks for sun power

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:26:00 +0100

In a moment rife with symbolism, employees for the canton of Geneva’s state-owned utility SIG (Services Industriels de Genève) used blowtorches on Tuesday to cut into a massive steel oil tank.

Geneva unveils largest Swiss solar system

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:50:00 +0200

The biggest solar panel installation in Switzerland was inaugurated by officials on Tuesday at Palexpo, the Geneva exhibition centre.

New sex trade union targets price cutting

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:33:00 +0200

Switzerland’s first union for male and female prostitutes launched on Thursday following a founding meeting in Geneva’s red light district.

Parking stalls too small for XL Swiss cars

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:55:00 +0200

Swiss motorists are driving increasingly large cars but the size of parking places for vehicles hasn’t kept pace with the change.

Geneva sex workers set to form union

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:50:00 +0200

More than 150 prostitutes in Geneva are planning to form a trade union, in what would be a first for Switzerland.

Introducing... Doris Leuthard

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:50:00 +0200

Introducing... is The Local's new column giving the lowdown on a top Swiss personality. This week Lyssandra Sears looks at the woman who was recently voted Switzerland’s favourite politician and once got wellied at the Mountain Cheese Olympics.

Big brother is watching Switzerland

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:26:21 +0200

Swiss cities and national train operator (SBB) are planning a massive extension of public surveillance systems by installing more closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in public areas.