Swiss Stories

iPhone: Siri

The Swiss inventor of Siri

Science & Education
The man behind Siri, the Apple voice assistant used by hundreds of millions of people around the world, is a Swiss engineer who divides his time between the canton of Vaud and San Francisco. In his own words, this allows him to "keep his feet on the ground".
wormup home

Worm composting comes to Swiss cities

Environment
A new start-up in Zurich is developing worm compost systems for domestic use. With these systems, organic waste can be easily and practically converted into excellent fertiliser at home.
Cheese production by the Murith family on the Alp Tsermont at the foot of the Moleson near Gruyeres, FR. © Switzerland Tourism - By-Line: swiss-image.ch/Andre Meier

Swiss cheesemakers conquer the world

History
Gruyère, Emmental and Tilsiter. These Swiss cheeses are famous all over the world. Although the names of these cheeses and the recipes behind them are protected to assure consumers that they are made in Switzerland in accordance with strict standards, Swiss cheesemaking traditions are now thriving in some of the most unexpected places around the world.
Schwingen

Swiss wrestling sumo-style

Society
300,000 spectators are expected to attend the upcoming Federal Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival at the end of August in Zug. Nobody can tell you more about this sport than Gabriel Yerly from Fribourg, the top wrestler from the French-speaking part of Switzerland in recent years.

by Bertrand Monnard

West of Juba, camp of Dulamaya. A distribution of seeds and tools kits is about to start. Displaced families are starting to gather close to an ICRC vehicule.

The Geneva Conventions: 70 years old and as relevant as ever

History
Switzerland has long been famous for its chocolate, watches and idyllic landscapes – and also for its humanitarian tradition. A signal example was its key role in the adoption of the Geneva Conventions, which are celebrating their 70th anniversary this year. Since their adoption in 1949, the Conventions have saved countless lives in armed conflicts, but ensuring compliance with them remains a complex and long-term undertaking. Two Swiss Humanitarian Aid specialists share their insights from the field.
ICRC headquarters in Geneva

70 years Geneva Conventions

History
The Geneva Conventions, which are universally ratified, represent a unique commitment to a common humanity and constitute the core of international humanitarian law. Over the past seven decades they have saved millions of lives in hundreds of conflicts around the world.
Rocket body explosion: In addition to satellite collisions, the space environment can also compromise the integrity of a rocket’s mechanical parts. Wear and tear can trigger auto-ignition or an explosion generating thousands of pieces of debris. (ESA) RemoveDEBRIS 3: More than 7,600 tonnes of space debris are floating in or near the Earth's orbit at an altitude of 2,000 kilometres.

Swiss tech cleans up space

Science & Education
Since humans first conquered space, it has become a dumping ground for fragments of rockets and obsolete satellites. These millions of pieces of debris scattered in orbit pose a considerable risk. To tackle this serious problem, Switzerland has positioned itself at the forefront of the clean-up of space.

by Mehdi Atmani