Switzerland Today

Greetings from Bern!

The roads were pretty much empty in Bern this morning as many people “did the bridge” (took the Friday off between Ascension and the weekend). But that doesn’t mean nothing’s happening. Here are the latest news and stories from Switzerland today, including wild goings-on in Basel.

Keystone / Peter Klaunzer

In the news:  Switzerland will destroy more than 620,000 expired doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine as demand for the shots drops dramatically.

• “The aim is to protect the population in Switzerland at all times with sufficient quantities of the most effective vaccines available,” a spokesperson for the Federal Office of Public Heath said. Switzerland, which has ended public health measures designed to curb the spread of the disease, secured a total 34 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines for 2022 for a population of around 8.7 million.
• Opponents of Switzerland’s purchase of F-35A fighter jets from the United States say they have enough signatures to force a vote on whether the right type of aircraft is being bought. The CHF6 billion ($6.1 billion) F-35A contract was provisionally signed last year, after 50.1% of voters approved the credit to buy the jets. But another initiative was launched shortly afterwards on the specific choice of the F-35, which they claim is an attack plane unsuited to Switzerland’s modest air defence needs. The signatures must now be handed in to the federal authorities and checked before a date for the popular vote can be set.
• The second round of the first e-scooter World Championships starts in the Swiss city of Sion today, with two Swiss among the 30 competitors. The machines, which can reach 100km/h, will be hurtling through the centre of the cityExternal link.

© Keystone / Georgios Kefalas

This year’s Fantasy Basel, the most important trade fair for fantasy themes, computer gaming and comics in Switzerland, has opened its doors to thousands of elaborately dressed cosplayers.

At 70,000 square metres, Fantasy Basel, also known as the Swiss Comic ConExternal link, is a huge playground where many stands sell fantasy items such as masks, wigs, fairytale clothing, swords and other gaming items. An entire floor is devoted to computer gaming. Comics and fantasy literature are also on offer. Several tattoo studios offer their services for spontaneous inkings.

There are also organisations that you might not expect to find at a fantasy fair: the Swiss army, for example, has a stand with army vehicles, and the aid organisation Médecins sans Frontières has a game in which players have to defuse mines.

Actors from well-known series such as Game of Thrones and Vikings also take part, signing autographs (for a fee) and having their pictures taken with fans. Feeling tired? You can sit on the original sword throne from Game of Thrones for a few seconds for free.

Fantasy Basel has been linked to science for some time, and a number of universities are attending. “We have some researchers at the university who belong to the fantasy scene. We have learnt that many fantasy fans are also interested in the real universe,” said Susanne Wampfler, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Bern who gave a lecture on astrochemistry. Astronomer and Nobel Prize winner Didier Queloz will also make an appearance.