Switzerland Today

Hello from Bern!

Let’s assume for a moment that the Swiss football team hadn’t crashed out of the World Cup tournament last week, instead it had gone on to defeat Portugal and then Morocco. It would now be gearing up for Wednesday’s semi against France and….

But before we dream on about lifting the trophy at the weekend, here are the latest news and stories from Switzerland on Tuesday.

© Keystone / Alessandro Della Valle

In the news: Humanitarian research, sign language and Nestlé’s plans in Ukraine:

• The Swiss multinational Nestlé says it will invest CHF40 million ($42.9 million) to launch a new production facility in western Ukraine. The world largest food and beverage company is one of very few international companies to announce new investments in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in February. A senior Nestlé manager described it as an important move in a challenging situation for Ukraine.
• Parliament is pushing for the legal recognition of the three sign languages used in Switzerland. The government will have to present a bill for discussion in parliament at a later stage to promote sign languages, equal opportunities in the fields of information, communication, political participation, services, education, work, culture and health. There are around 10,000 deaf people in Switzerland who use one of the three Swiss sign languages as their first language.
• Researchers from Switzerland’s top two universities have developed a precision AI tool to estimate population density in countries where the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is active. The tool can help reconstruction or crisis management efforts according to the Federal Technology Institute in Lausanne. The programme uses data gleaned via remote sensing concerning factors like building density and size, road network density, and levels of lighting at night.

Keystone / Jean-christophe Bott

Fondue and the choice between ready-to-eat and homemade

Some can’t stand the smell of it, others can’t get enough of it – Swiss Fondue, the traditional dish of melted cheese. A report in the Tamedia newspapers takes us to a factory where two thirds of about 2,700 tonnes of ready-to-eat fondue were produced last year.

The factory is based in the deepest Emmental region and its director doesn’t want to speculate about what the ready-made cheese soup (versus homemade varieties) tells us about a certain risk-adversity of many Swiss consumers.

It might be important to know that many families cherish their own recipes – white wine or beer?, what blend of cheeses?, how much garlic? and what about a splash of kirsch? The dish is easy enough to prepare but there’s always the risk that the fondue is too thick or that it might curdle.

A famous chef from Geneva and chairman of the jury at next year’s cheese world championship doesn’t have to think twice when the journalist asked him whether he’s ever tried the ready-to-eat fondue. “No, never!” he says. And he firmly believes that the best cheese comes from Switzerland. “I say this not only because I’m Swiss, but because I’m a professional.”

Keystone / Martin Ruetschi

Mountain train that jumps rail tracks

It was a historic day for Switzerland’s Golden Pass Express, which links three important tourist destinations Montreux, Gstaad and Interlaken. Last Sunday, the newest panoramic train started its service on a special route made possible by revolutionary new technique which allows for trains to change gauge of their wheels.

It’s a dream come true for many travellers and engineers: “We have been waiting for such a train for 100 years,” train company director Georges Oberson told the public broadcaster SRF.

The unique design of the new trains makes it possible for passengers to remain in their comfortable seats throughout the journey from Lake Geneva and the Bernese Oberland. It follows a trade route that has existed since the Middle Ages.

Experts point out that it takes just a few seconds for the trains to switch from the meter-gauge to the standard gauge of 1,435 millimetres, eliminating the need for passengers to change train en route.

The switch is nothing new, but the Swiss trains have an added level of complexity that makes them a world first, we learn.