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 If you happen to glance around while driving in Switzerland and see a person whose hands are not on a steering wheel, don't be alarmed. From March 2025, it has become legal — but in some situations only. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241216/self-driving-cars-to-hit-swiss-roads-next-year-but-what-are-the-rules Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:14:15 +0100 self-driving-cars-to-hit-swiss-roads-next-year-but-what-are-the-rules Generally speaking, Switzerland’s income tax rate is the lowest in western Europe, but this doesn’t mean that, in terms of tax burden, residents of some cantons are not burdened more (or less) than others. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250204/in-which-swiss-cantons-will-residents-pay-the-most-tax-in-2025 Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:11:55 +0100 in-which-swiss-cantons-will-residents-pay-the-most-tax-in-2025 Whether you already have a job in Switzerland, or are looking for one, you may have many questions relating to employment and salaries. Here’s an overview of the main points. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250102/what-to-expect-in-switzerland-in-2025-for-work-permits-jobs-and-wages Thu, 02 Jan 2025 16:48:34 +0100 what-to-expect-in-switzerland-in-2025-for-work-permits-jobs-and-wages With the new year underway, Geneva residents will experience some positive developments in their city and canton, including a rise in the minimum wage. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250102/the-major-changes-you-can-expect-in-geneva-in-2025 Thu, 02 Jan 2025 16:45:16 +0100 the-major-changes-you-can-expect-in-geneva-in-2025 If you are planning to purchase a home in Switzerland in the new year, you should be aware of some new trends and developments in the country’s real estate market. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241230/price-boom-and-second-homes-swiss-property-market-changes-in-2025 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 12:12:58 +0100 price-boom-and-second-homes-swiss-property-market-changes-in-2025 Switzerland’s national railways (SBB) will be operating a number of special trains to take the public to and from special events planned throughout this year. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250107/switzerland-to-lay-on-hundreds-of-extra-trains-for-special-events-in-2025 Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:27:56 +0100 switzerland-to-lay-on-hundreds-of-extra-trains-for-special-events-in-2025 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 Switzerland has many official public holidays at the national, cantonal, and regional level. So get your 2025 agenda out and mark the days you will get off work. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241129/calendar-the-days-youll-get-off-work-in-switzerland-in-2025 Fri, 29 Nov 2024 11:20:27 +0100 calendar-the-days-youll-get-off-work-in-switzerland-in-2025 Whether you travel to, from, or inside Switzerland, new rules and changes will be in effect in the new year. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241218/plan-ahead-learn-about-the-big-travel-changes-in-switzerland-in-2025 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:12:45 +0100 plan-ahead-learn-about-the-big-travel-changes-in-switzerland-in-2025 New laws and regulations will be introduced in the new year, including some related to driving on Swiss roads. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241217/10000-franc-fine-switzerland-to-bring-in-new-driving-rules-in-2025 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:33:53 +0100 10000-franc-fine-switzerland-to-bring-in-new-driving-rules-in-2025 Swiss universities have been popular destinations for international students, but some new developments are in store for 2025. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241220/what-changes-for-international-students-in-switzerland-in-2025 Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:21:24 +0100 what-changes-for-international-students-in-switzerland-in-2025 We have compiled the main changes and big events that are set to take place in Switzerland in 2025 so get planning. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241119/key-points-what-to-expect-in-switzerland-in-2025 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:40:21 +0100 key-points-what-to-expect-in-switzerland-in-2025 Switzerland's finance ministry on Tuesday cited economic and political uncertainty in Europe and beyond as it trimmed its 2025 growth forecast to 1.5 percent from an initially forecast 1.6 percent. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241217/why-switzerland-is-pessimistic-about-economic-growth-in-2025 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 13:24:52 +0100 why-switzerland-is-pessimistic-about-economic-growth-in-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 If you are wondering what lies ahead for Switzerland — as well as for you and your family — in 2025, here are some answers. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241205/outlook-what-will-happen-to-the-swiss-economy-in-2025 Thu, 05 Dec 2024 15:45:17 +0100 outlook-what-will-happen-to-the-swiss-economy-in-2025 The mountainous Swiss canton, Valais, is among the top-10 ‘best regions to travel’ in a new international ranking. Here’s why. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241024/why-valais-is-one-of-the-worlds-best-destinations-for-2025 Thu, 24 Oct 2024 17:37:20 +0200 why-valais-is-one-of-the-worlds-best-destinations-for-2025 While it is impossible to accurately predict the future, we do have some clear indications of what Switzerland will have to tackle next year. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241120/cost-cutting-and-immigration-the-challenges-switzerland-will-face-in-2025 Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:08:30 +0100 cost-cutting-and-immigration-the-challenges-switzerland-will-face-in-2025 The low-cost airline easyJet is expanding its route network from Zurich Airport, offering five additional destinations from the 2025 summer flight schedule. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241129/easyjet-to-launch-flights-to-five-new-destinations-from-zurich Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:53:46 +0100 easyjet-to-launch-flights-to-five-new-destinations-from-zurich 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