Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

TODAY IN SWITZERLAND

Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Wednesday

Switzerland is trailing other countries in use of technology to alert public about impending disasters; Zurich seeks to make its public transport 'more efficient', and other news in our roundup on Wednesday.

Published: 3 July 2024 07:32 CEST
Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Wednesday
Swiss public will not receive warnings about extreme weather on their mobile phones. Photo: Pixabay

Switzerland lags behind EU in sending out disaster alerts

Unlike many European countries, Switzerland does not use the Cell Broadcast technology to warn the population of impending natural disasters.

The Federal Office for Civil Protection (OFPP) had already tested this system in 2014, deciding, however, not to adopt it, as most cell phones did not support Cell Broadcast at the time.

Since then, authorities have been saying that this system “requires considerable investment in infrastructure and day-to-day operations. These costs must be weighed against the benefits and urgency.”

Though a number of MPs have been calling for Cell Broadcast to be put to use, government counters that Switzerland already has an efficient alert system, with its network of sirens covering the entire territory, as well as the Alertswiss application. 

The new ‘Plus’ public transport subscription has been a success

The new bonus-based half-fare Plus model is attracting “strong interest” among commuters, according to SwissPass Alliance. 

More than 100,000 subscriptions were sold between its launch in December 2023 and mid-June of this year.

Initial expectations are “clearly exceeded,” SwissPass said.

To use this formula, subscribers pay a set amount — for instance, 800 francs, and receive a 200-franc bonus in return.

This link from Swiss national train compane, SBB, explains, how this scheme works. 

And speaking of public transport…

Zurich tests contactless door buttons on a tram

The city’s transport company, VBZ, has converted one of its trams into a guinea pig of sorts: it is being used to test various innovations and see which ones could be developed and used in regular operations.

The ones that have sparked most interest are radar sensors which detect approaching hands, so pressing a button to open doors (as is currently the case) would no longer be necessary.

In addition, a new sun protection film is being tested as well, intended to reduce the temperature inside tram in summer.

“Such innovations are needed, so that Zurich can offer a modern and efficient transport infrastructure,” said city councillor Michael Baumer.

It is not yet known when these new features will be introduced. 

Initiative launched to ban nuclear weapons

Switzerland must join the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), according to the initiative’s instigators, composed of a broad alliance of elected officials as well as NGOs.

The committee has until January 2nd, 2026 to collect the 100,000 signatures needed for this issue to be brought to the ballot box.

If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

TODAY IN SWITZERLAND

Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Friday

Roads damaged by rain and flooding reopen today; a new assisted suicide invention to be put into use soon; and other Swiss news in our roundup on Friday.

Published: 5 July 2024 08:21 CEST
Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Friday

Closed sections of the A13 motorway and Simplon Pass to reopen

Recent massive thunderstorms unleashed a landslide of mud and rubble, which destroyed a part of the north-south axis of the A13 motorway.

Authorities also had to close the Simplon Pass for the same reason.

But on Thursday the Federal Roads Office announced that both are repaired and ready to reopen for traffic: the A13 from today at 5 am, and the Simplon also from today at 6 pm.                                                                                                                                                                   

‘Suicide capsule’ to be used in Switzerland ‘soon’

Under Switzerland’s uniquely liberal assisted suicide law, people who choose to end their own lives in one of the country’s ‘suicide clinics,’ typically do so by opening the valve on an IV drip which contains lethal medications.

But soon another ‘dying method’ will also become available in Switzerland.

As reported by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) on Thursday, the Sarco ‘suicide pod’ provides a “calmer death experience.”
 
This would happen when the person lying inside the capsule pushes a button to release nitrogen, rapidly reducing the oxygen level and consequently dying.

Though this may sound terrifying, Christian Jackowski, director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Bern, told the NZZ that “the lack of oxygen is perceived as pleasant in the body.”
 
Exit International assisted suicide organization, the creator of this capsule, said it will be put into use “soon” but did not specify exactly when this will be.

Switzerland tries to flatten out peaks of Alpine visitors

Switzerland’s tourism agency said Thursday that it was trying to even out the flow of holidaymakers throughout the year to protect the Alpine country from the risks of excessive tourism, the AFP reported.

Switzerland Tourism said it would seek to highlight the off seasons and promote destinations off the beaten track.

Officials told a press conference in Zurich the agency wanted to direct holidaymakers to “the right places, at the right time”.

There is “no problem of general over-tourism in Switzerland”, said the agency’s chief Martin Nydegger, though there are “temporary and localised bottlenecks.”

Ahead this weekend:

Assistance system in cars

From July 7th, some safety-relevant assistants will soon be mandatory in Swiss cars.

In line with the EU, every newly registered vehicle in Switzerland must have certain systems. However, there is no obligation to retrofit older vehicles.

For example, an emergency braking assistant must now be installed. This constantly monitors what is happening in front of the vehicle and automatically initiates emergency braking if an obstacle is detected. This can either avoid a collision altogether or at least reduce its severity.

In the future, cars will also support the person at the wheel when reversing. Warning sounds and/or reversing cameras should make obstacles or people behind the vehicle quickly recognisable.

Art collection in Lausanne ‘seen in a new light’

The Langmatt museum  in the city of Baden houses a prestigious collection of Impressionist masterpieces.

Now it is being seen in a new light, literally, after leaving the museum in northern Switzerland on loan for the first time.

Around 50 paintings, including works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, are being shown in brighter surroundings at the Hermitage Foundation in Lausanne while the Langmatt undergoes renovation.

The collection has never been seen outside the cocoon of the Langmatt, where the artworks are displayed under the light of crystal chandeliers and latticed windows — an environment that is different from Hermitage’s.
  
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
 
 

SHOW COMMENTS