Bitesize News from Thursday, July 16th, 2026
The news stories here are written for radio and designed to be read in under a minute.
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Warning to stay off the Matterhorn
Switzerland's mountain guides are now telling climbers to stay off the Matterhorn entirely, as the heatwave makes conditions there dangerous.
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Valais most at risk of flooding
Valais is the canton where residents face the highest flood risk, with 24% of the population living in a hazard zone.
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ABB launches takeover of UK company
The Swiss/Swedish engineering firm, ABB is preparing the largest acquisition in its history, launching a takeover bid for British engineering firm Rotork.
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More killed in Valais this year than the whole of 2025
Valais has already lost more people to accidents this year than in the whole of 2025 — 77 lives by mid-July, against 69 last year.
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Heat alerts ease
Vaud and Valais have called off their heatwave alerts as thunderstorms move in and temperatures drop.
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Two killed on Mont Blanc due to the heat
Two climbers have been killed by a rockfall on Mont Blanc as an early-summer heatwave leaves the standard route dangerously dry.
