An international eye on Swiss news collated by NuseReal
Tourism events in Switzerland — myswitzerland — (LINK)
News events in Switzerland — swissinfo — (LINK)
Loetschental, Valais: Blatten avalanche and aftermath summary (LINK)
Moving away? swissinfo's guide
July 2025
New Swiss 3D simulation tool offers better landslide forecasting (LINK) 7 July 2025
— The model, developed by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) and the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF), proved its worth during the landslides in Brienz and Blatten. It enables more accurate forecasts to be made of the course, height and propagation of alpine mass movements such as snow, ice and rock avalanches.
— After a first conclusive practical test in 2023 on the village of Brienz (Graubunden), which had been evacuated because of a landslide threat, the researchers carried out simulations in Blatten last spring. Their aim was to unofficially test their forecasting model in a more complex and unstable scenario than that of Brienz. At Blatten, in addition to the rocks and water, the ice also played a role and the terrain is very complex. As in reality, the results of the 3D simulation showed that most of Blatten was destroyed and that the hamlet of Weissenried was barely spared by the mass of collapsed rock and ice.
— The model also showed that the mass of the fall had spread by 1.2 kilometres on the south-west side of the valley and by 700 metres on the north-east side — very accurate values compared with the actual disaster. These results stunned the researchers at the time, but seemed rather implausible.
— Avalanche and debris flow modelling tools are generally based on two-dimensional "medium-depth" methods. They assume that the flow of rock and water is shallow and remains in constant contact with the ground, resulting in continuous friction. But the 3D model allows the particles to detach themselves from the surface, reducing friction on the ground and enabling the phases during which the material flies through the air to be accurately captured. This is a decisive factor in simulating the flow behaviour and propagation of flows in steep or complex terrain.
— Swissinfo: In the case of Blatten, the scientific simulations have not been shared with the Valais authorities, and are not part of the official studies currently under way, nor of risk management. The researchers' aim is not to replace existing 2D tools, but to offer a complementary solution when conventional models reach their limits.
Swiss federal prosecutors have indicted a Kosovar and a Swiss-Macedonian dual national on terrorism-related charges and spreading the ideology of the banned extremist group Islamic State in Switzerland (LINK) 7 July 2025
Meltdown: Swiss glaciers hit annual tipping point weeks early (LINK) 4 July 2025
Switzerland to close inactive Geneva branch of US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation because it has neither a Swiss address nor a representative in the country (LINK) 3 July 2025
— An officially private effort with opaque funding, the GHF began operations on May 26 after Israel halted supplies into Gaza for more than two months. Its operations have been marred by chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of mass casualty incidents. The GHF is based in the US state of Delaware, with a subsidiary registered in Geneva.
Ranked: 40 best countries in the world, according to U.S. News & World Report poll: top is Switzerland (LINK) 2 July 2025
— Survey respondents gave Switzerland high marks for business (#2), quality of life (#3), social purpose (#7) and cultural influence (#8).
How will women's Euro 2025 teams and fans cope with sweltering heatwave in Switzerland? UEFA's hot weather protocol may come into effect during games, with players allowed water breaks if the wet bulb globe temperature exceeds 32C on the pitch (LINK) 1 July 2025
— Like most of Europe, temperatures in Switzerland are expected to be about 10C above average for the time of year. Temperatures could rise to highs of 35C, while there's also the threat of thunderstorms causing heavy downpours towards the end of the week. For the earlier kick-offs at 18:00 CET (17:00 BST), it is expected temperatures will be between 27 and 30C. But it's predicted to be cooler — between 24 and 27C — for the later 21:00 CET kick-offs. The tournament begins on 2 July as Iceland play Finland in Thun in the 17:00 BST game, with the temperature forecast to be 28C. However, it's expected to be 29C when hosts Switzerland face Norway in Basel later that evening. The heatwave is set to last until Monday, when temperatures are expected to drop by 10C to highs of 23C.
May-June 2025
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