Topics of the week 28

For the first time in modern tournament history, the Swiss national soccer team has survived a World Cup round of 16 on foreign soil. Following a previous 2-0 victory against Algeria, the team of national coach Murat Yakin also prevailed against Colombia in Vancouver, Canada. This generation thus equals the historic success of 1954, when Switzerland last reached the final eight teams during the home World Cup.

With this advancement to the quarterfinals, the World Cup campaign in North America reaches a sporting milestone, triggering widespread euphoria in Switzerland. The national team is now firmly established among the world's broader elite. In the round of eight, a prestigious duel awaits against reigning world champion Argentina. Regardless of how the rest of the tournament unfolds, this success is certain to go down as a significant chapter in Swiss sports history

The heat in Switzerland is making both humans and nature sweat heavily. Brief, isolated rainfall has had no impact on the severe drought. Zurich and St. Gallen have declared danger level 4 ("high danger"), and the canton of Zug is following suit. Strict fire bans are in place in and near forests (in St. Gallen, up to a distance of 200 meters).

The alarm ahead of the barbecue weekend awakens painful memories of historic forest fires in Alpine valleys: unforgettable are the fiery dramas in Valais at Leuk (2003, over 300 hectares of destroyed protective forest), Visp (2011), and Bitsch/Ried-Mörel (2023), as well as the devastating fires at Calanda (1943), in the Aletsch Forest (1944), in the Calanca Valley (1997), or in Gordevio (2002).

Highest awareness is therefore required for the weekend, as a single spark is enough to trigger a forest fire. A burning Swiss protective forest takes decades to recover from the scars of fire.

The number 45 dominates Swiss transport policy in two ways: as a current record construction launch and as a vision for the future. Federal Councilor Albert Rösti and SBB CEO Vincent Ducrot gave the go-ahead for the four-lane expansion between Zurich and Winterthur.

It is a "bypass at the public transport heart of Switzerland" costing one million francs per construction day. The centerpiece, the Brütten Tunnel, is intended to bring quarter-hour service by 2037. The scale of the project is gigantic: the excavation of 4.5 million tons of material corresponds exactly to 45 times the weight of Zurich's Grossmünster.  

At the same time, DETEC has launched the consultation process for the mega project “Transport '45”. The new federal forecasts up to 2045 show contrasting developments: while passenger traffic is growing at a slower pace thanks to working from home (+11 percent), freight and delivery traffic is exploding by a massive 31 percent due to online retail. While rail is painstakingly relieving today's commuter stress, the next logistics wave is already rolling onto the roads. The multi-billion battle over future funding distribution has begun.

The Lake Geneva Riviera is on fire: Since July 3, the historic 60th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival has been underway. Until July 18, this anniversary once again transforms the French-speaking region of Switzerland into the country's musical centerpiece.

While the legendary flair right on the lakeshore attracts tens of thousands, the packed lineup for the coming days is in focus: during the second half of the festival, music fans can look forward to absolute global stars ranging from Deep Purple and Lionel Richie to modern icons like Lana Del Rey, alongside the latest trends in jazz, pop, and electronic music.

The anniversary builds a perfect bridge between the present day and the festival's mythos. Visually stunning insights are guaranteed: the current impressions of the Montreux Jazz Festival 2026 as well as the nostalgic journey through the Montreux Jazz Festival from 1967 to 2025 are a must for every music enthusiast.