Switzerland Today
Dear Swiss Abroad,
Finally I can write: sunny regards from Switzerland! Many of us here in Switzerland are holding out hope that the sunny weather holds longer than a few days.
Families like yourselves, who may be looking to travel back home to Switzerland for the school holidays, are surely also hoping for pleasant summer temperatures for family trips. However, the weather is not the only roadblock standing in the way of a smooth start to the holidays…
More about this later – but first let’s look at the news headlines coming out of Switzerland.
In the news today: flooding, accidents, exercise and a new generation of satellites
- Air traffic at Geneva Airport resumed after flooding: Air traffic at Geneva Airport resumed on Wednesday morning, according to an airport spokesperson. Airspace in the Geneva area had been closed for two hours on Tuesday evening due to flooding in the basement of Skyguide’s control centre.
- UBS CEO sees functioning competition in corporate banking: Swiss industry plays an important role in UBS’s business model. This is what UBS chief Sergio Ermotti emphasised on Tuesday during his appearance at an event called, “Industry Day” in Bern. Industry is a key factor in the success of the Swiss economy and also of UBS.
- Missing man found dead at Giessbach Falls: a man who went missing at Giessbach Falls near Brienz was recovered dead amidst difficult conditions on Tuesday morning. According to the police, a small child is still missing.
- Zurich and Bern to provide better care for prisoners in pre-trial detention: they are focussing on more conversation and better stress management.
- One in five people in Switzerland do not get enough exercise, according to the WHO: according to a report by the World Health Organization, people around the world do not get enough exercise. This has significant consequences for people’s health and creates a significant financial burden on the healthcare system, the WHO reports in the scientific journal The Lancet Global Health Journal.
- Wisekey to put a new generation of satellites into orbit: Swiss cyber security company Wisekey is planning to launch a new generation of satellites. Its subsidiary, Wisesat.Space, will launch the so-called Pico satellites in California in the fourth quarter of 2024, which are designed to offer improved performance.
- Federal Council to invest CHF3.5 billion in regional transport: The federal government wants to support regional public transport with almost CHF3.5 billion ($2.79 billion) from 2026 to 2028. This is an average of 1.7% more per year than before. The additional money would go towards rolling stock and the further expansion of services.
Bad start to the summer?
As predicted by the Böögg this year, this summer has not gotten off to a sunny start.
But now that the sun is finally blessing our little Alpine country, there may be another roadblock on the way to the school holiday season.
Swiss public television, SRFExternal link, is reporting on a risk of a huge summer traffic jam.
Due to the severe storms and heavy rainfall in the past few weeks, a major north-south motorway connection in canton Graubünden is closed. Sections of the motorway crumbled away with the heavy flooding.
SRF asked Director of the Federal Office of Transport Peter Füglistaler what his first thought was when he saw the images of the eroded motorway: “My first thought was: No, not again!” said Füglistaler. “Recently there was a railway accident in the Gotthard Base Tunnel, various tunnels with access abroad are closed, there are many construction sites, we have problems with north-south traffic. And now the A13”.
The closure is expected to last several weeks after which it is said that only one lane will be opened.
However, while this major motorway will remain closed for several weeks, Füglistaler does not believe more people who are driving would rather opt to take the train. “Drivers are more likely decide drive anyway and take the risk with traffic jams than make the switch to taking the train,” he said.
This means that the roads are at risk of being heavily congested as many families begin their holidays for the school summer break.
So, if you and your families were planning on returning to Switzerland this summer and hoping to have a road trip around the country – plan accordingly.
Entrepreneurial endeavours in the valley of Ticino
Speaking of summer trips in Switzerland – Have you heard of Corippo, a village nestled in the Verzasca Valley in canton Ticino.
Corippo was once the smallest village in Switzerland. Its secluded location has helped preserve its rural charm.
To help the hidden and hard-to-reach village regain visitors, a residency scheme, much like those which have been trialed in Italy, is under way. The so-called Albergo Diffuso model is trying to connect the existing buildings which are close to each other, with the aim of creating entrepreneurially managed hotel services for visiting guests. This model of hospitality hopes to shine a spotlight on the enchanting ancient village and transform tourists into temporary residents.
Italian-language Swiss public television, RSI,External link spoke to a couple who have taken on the challenge: Chef Jeremy Gehring and partner Desirée Voitle who has a background in hotel management spoke about their hopes for their new endeavour.
RSI spoke to the couple on the terrace which adjoins the stone houses typical of the region. One of the guesthouses behind them Voitle has remodelled with attention to detail while staying true to the regional charm.
The couple strongly believe in the project and are committed to offering a peaceful, authentic retreat for visitors complete with cuisine made from regional ingredients. Gehring says his kitchen “transforms what nature offers us into generous and gourmet cuisine that goes straight to the heart”.
Hear their story in Italian and take a peek into the guesthouseExternal link.
Summer season solutions for stress in French speaking Switzerland
The summer months usually mean a more relaxed pace at work, with many in Europe sending month-long OOO messages.
But for individuals struggling with burnout, a restful summer vacation is not enough to help the daily mental and emotional struggles.
“In situations of burnout, even the slightest additional task can be difficult,” says Sandra Manini, director of Kerma to French-language Swiss public television, RSI.
In Switzerland, nearly one in four people are stressed at work, with an increased risk of burnout, warns the Federal Statistical Office.
In Morges in canton Vaud, The Kerma prevention center is aiming to prevent burnout rather than treat it after it has already happened.
Bruno, a 59-year-old working in the gastro-industry, is one of those who decided to ask for help. “I was tired, I had pain in my neck, I wanted to do nothing in the evening (…) I had to do something,” Bruno said to RSI. At Kerma, he was able to walk in without an appointment and get advice on how to manage his stress.
Many people are avoiding the news due to stress. Fewer and fewer people read the news these days, a new global report shows. Around four in ten (39%) now say they avoid the news sometimes or often, the latest Digital News Report by the Reuters Institute says.
Are you trying to avoid news? If so, why? Join our debate:
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