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 have lived in Switzerland for a while, chances are you have been asked to present this document in certain situations to prove that you don’t have a criminal past (or present). https://www.thelocal.ch/20221216/what-is-a-criminal-records-extract-and-what-do-you-need-it-for-in-switzerland Fri, 16 Dec 2022 15:22:13 +0100 what-is-a-criminal-records-extract-and-what-do-you-need-it-for-in-switzerland From dropping by unannounced to not mastering wine etiquette, here's how to annoy your Swiss friends (although we advise you not to!) https://www.thelocal.ch/20211203/eight-ways-to-annoy-your-friends-in-switzerland Fri, 03 Dec 2021 16:52:21 +0100 eight-ways-to-annoy-your-friends-in-switzerland For an orderly country, Switzerland is full of people who have seemingly never mastered the art of patiently waiting in line. Why is it and how to deal with this behaviour? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230426/its-just-their-way-why-dont-the-swiss-like-to-queue Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:03:54 +0200 its-just-their-way-why-dont-the-swiss-like-to-queue So, you've got a good grasp of an official Swiss language but still feel like there are some cultural references you don't quite get? Don't worry! We've compiled a list of TV programmes to get you up to speed with Swiss society. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230425/swiss-tv-the-shows-to-watch-to-understand-switzerland Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:30:43 +0200 swiss-tv-the-shows-to-watch-to-understand-switzerland Switzerland is home to 61,000 kilometres of rivers, many of which are perfect for fishing. But before you set off on your fishing adventure, it's important to familiarise yourself with Swiss laws and ensure you have the necessary permits. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230504/everything-you-need-to-know-about-fishing-in-switzerland Thu, 04 May 2023 12:21:53 +0200 everything-you-need-to-know-about-fishing-in-switzerland It used to be that Swiss chocolate, watches, cheeses, and other products were, well, 100 percent Swiss. But that is no longer the case. We unravel the mysteries of what is actually manufactured in Switzerland and what isn’t. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230307/cuckoo-clocks-and-toblerone-the-swiss-products-that-are-not-actually-swiss Tue, 07 Mar 2023 17:39:41 +0100 cuckoo-clocks-and-toblerone-the-swiss-products-that-are-not-actually-swiss You could be forgiven for thinking the Swiss have no reason to misbehave in their land of plenty. But they do, as crime writer Kim Hays - a Swiss-US dual national - has learned from her 35 years living in Bern.  https://www.thelocal.ch/20230301/the-swiss-arent-always-peaceful-meet-the-crime-writer-exploring-switzerlands-dark-side Wed, 01 Mar 2023 17:34:48 +0100 the-swiss-arent-always-peaceful-meet-the-crime-writer-exploring-switzerlands-dark-side The year is almost over, so now is a good time to look back and see what unusual — for Switzerland — events that happened in 2022, and how the country handled them. https://www.thelocal.ch/20221222/four-unusual-challenges-switzerland-faced-in-2022 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 16:06:57 +0100 four-unusual-challenges-switzerland-faced-in-2022