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 Applying for citizenship in Switzerland has always required a lot of paperwork – both literally and figuratively. But from August 1st, the government is digitalising these processes for a quicker outcome. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260731/how-the-new-digitalised-system-will-improve-swiss-citizenship-process Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:44:12 +0200 how-the-new-digitalised-system-will-improve-swiss-citizenship-process Anyone who is preparing for a Swiss naturalisation test can hardly call the process ‘fun’ – quite the opposite, in fact. But a new app might change that. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260727/new-app-helps-applicants-prepare-for-swiss-citizenship-exam Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:34:55 +0200 new-app-helps-applicants-prepare-for-swiss-citizenship-exam AI watermarking and deepfake labelling will soon be required by law in the EU as the transparency part of the bloc’s sweeping AI Act comes into force on August 2nd. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260727/explained-eus-new-rules-on-ai-deepfakes-and-chatbots Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:38:09 +0200 explained-eus-new-rules-on-ai-deepfakes-and-chatbots From August 1st, the Federal Council will begin digitalising the processes for obtaining Swiss citizenship. What exactly will this entail? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260723/switzerland-set-to-begin-digitalising-citizenship-applications Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:13:23 +0200 switzerland-set-to-begin-digitalising-citizenship-applications Lawmakers in France are scheduled to vote on Tuesday to ban social media for under-15s -- one of 20 countries worldwide to have proposed or introduced such measures, with many of them in Europe. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260713/eu-to-limit-childrens-access-to-social-media Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:02:47 +0200 eu-to-limit-childrens-access-to-social-media The Swiss competition authority announced Tuesday it had opened a preliminary investigation into Google's removal of the "choice screen" feature on Android devices in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260714/switzerland-to-probe-google-dropping-search-choice-on-android-phones Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:43:32 +0200 switzerland-to-probe-google-dropping-search-choice-on-android-phones Though planned to be launched in December 2026, the long-in-the-works electronic identity won’t be introduced this year after all. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260701/why-the-introduction-of-switzerlands-e-id-being-is-being-delayed Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:26:18 +0200 why-the-introduction-of-switzerlands-e-id-being-is-being-delayed As Europe pushes for more tech sovereignty, social network W believes it has the X-factor to win users away from other platforms: it's European. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260618/forget-x-heres-w-the-new-european-social-network-to-take-on-musk Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:50:29 +0200 forget-x-heres-w-the-new-european-social-network-to-take-on-musk Cyber attacks are on the rise in Switzerland and there is a reason why criminals consider the country a valuable target. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260520/why-is-switzerland-now-a-prime-target-for-cyber-criminals Wed, 20 May 2026 13:22:52 +0200 why-is-switzerland-now-a-prime-target-for-cyber-criminals After standardising chargers for mobile phones, from Tuesday new computers sold in EU countries must also use the USB-C charging point, as the latest phase of EU anti-waste legislation comes into force. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260428/eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:16:33 +0200 eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers The daily use of digital technologies is a mark of a developed, forward-looking society. How is Switzerland doing in this respect? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260424/is-switzerland-lagging-behind-in-its-digital-transformation Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:49:25 +0200 is-switzerland-lagging-behind-in-its-digital-transformation After a failed referendum in 2021, the Swiss government’s push for the electronic identity card was finally approved at the ballot box on September 28th, 2025. What's next? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250930/qa-on-switzerlands-electronic-id-can-foreign-residents-apply-for-it Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:08:26 +0200 qa-on-switzerlands-electronic-id-can-foreign-residents-apply-for-it If you are like most people, you probably get rid of your broken appliances and purchase news ones. But, depending on where in Switzerland you live, there is a better way. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260311/how-you-can-get-money-in-switzerland-to-repair-your-old-appliances Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:23:04 +0100 how-you-can-get-money-in-switzerland-to-repair-your-old-appliances The European Union reacted sharply on Wednesday to US visa sanctions imposed on five European figures involved in regulating tech companies, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251224/eu-strongly-condemns-us-visa-bans-against-five-europeans Wed, 24 Dec 2025 15:36:22 +0100 eu-strongly-condemns-us-visa-bans-against-five-europeans The debate about the merits of not allowing children to use social media is gaining momentum in Switzerland. Will it be the next country to ban the networks for youngsters? https://www.thelocal.ch/20251010/will-switzerland-move-to-ban-social-media-for-children Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:14:36 +0200 will-switzerland-move-to-ban-social-media-for-children After having stirred controversy for a number of years, e-ID law was finally approved by Swiss voters on September 28th. What will it mean to you? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240911/what-you-need-to-know-about-switzerlands-forthcoming-electronic-id Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:33:01 +0200 what-you-need-to-know-about-switzerlands-forthcoming-electronic-id Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan beat the altitude record for a solar-powered electric plane in a flight that took him soaring to 9,521 metres, his team announced on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250813/swiss-pilot-surpasses-solar-powered-plane-altitude-record Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:58:59 +0200 swiss-pilot-surpasses-solar-powered-plane-altitude-record Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan on Friday made his first attempt of the year at setting a new aviation record: reaching an altitude of 10,000 metres in a solar-powered aeroplane. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250809/pioneer-spirit-drives-swiss-solar-powered-plane-altitude-attempt Sat, 09 Aug 2025 10:13:07 +0200 pioneer-spirit-drives-swiss-solar-powered-plane-altitude-attempt Scammers use every trick imaginable to find their prey. But you should use your common sense to avoid falling victim to these — and other — fraudulent schemes that have been circulating in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230919/the-common-scams-foreigners-in-switzerland-need-to-be-aware-of Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:18:07 +0200 the-common-scams-foreigners-in-switzerland-need-to-be-aware-of No longer involved in American politics, Elon Musk is planning to expand his SpaceX project into Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250611/elon-musks-spacex-wants-to-install-40-antennas-in-swiss-village Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:52:56 +0200 elon-musks-spacex-wants-to-install-40-antennas-in-swiss-village