Swiss Identity

Killing off the death penalty in Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 22, 2015 Hans Vollenweider could consider himself unlucky. Not as unlucky as the three people he killed, admittedly, but as he was led blindfolded from his cell in Sarnen, canton Obwalden, to the guillotine at around 2am on October 18, 1940, he might have cursed Swiss bureaucracy. Two years earlier, 54% of Swiss voters had decided to…

Demographics

‘In the 20th century we had a humanitarian offensive’

This content was published on Oct 22, 2015 swissinfo.ch interviewed Meier 75 years after Hans Vollenweider became the last Swiss to be executed in peace time. He was beheaded by guillotine in Sarnen, canton Obwalden, on October 18, 1940, for murdering three people. swissinfo.ch: The death penalty was first abolished in Switzerland in 1874. Five years later voters brought it back, before getting…

Demographics

The Tour de France comes to Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 22, 2015 In the third and last week of the Tour de France the race will be heading to Switzerland with a first stage ending in Bern on July 18. After a rest day, the cycling race continues to the lower Valais village of Finhaut, with the finishing line at almost 2,000 metres above sea level. Bern’s…

Demographics

Millions face life-threatening diseases from deadly toxins

This content was published on Oct 21, 2015 The Environmental Toxin Report 2015External link, published on Wednesday, said the pollutants – lead, radionuclides, mercury, hexavalent chromium, pesticides and cadmium – collectively affect the health of 95 million people and account for over 14.7 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY). “These top six toxic threats clearly stand out among the others around the world,”…

Demographics

Beckenbauer targeted in FIFA ethics probe

This content was published on Oct 21, 2015 Both Beckenbauer and Villar – now serving as FIFA’s interim senior vice-president while President Sepp Blatter is suspended – have previously been identified by media as targets of the investigation into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Both men face sanctions for obstructing then-FIFA prosecutor Michael Garcia’s investigation, ethics committee spokesman Marc…

Demographics

Swiss climbers first to climb three Himalayan peaks

This content was published on Oct 21, 2015 Mountaineers Stephan Siegrist, Dres Abegglen and Thomas Senf were part of a pioneering expedition team that was drawn to the area by a mountain that bore a striking resemblance to Switzerland’s Matterhorn. They reached the top of this 5,900-metre peak on September 13 and called it Bhala due to its spear-like shape. According to Siegrist,…

Demographics

FIFA to set new presidential standards

This content was published on Oct 20, 2015 FIFA’s reform committee has recommended a 12-year term limit, and a 74-year age limit for future presidents of the world football governing body. The reforms come in the wake of the corruption scandal surrounding 79-year-old Swiss Sepp Blatter, who prior to his October 8 suspension had held the presidential post since 1998. FIFA has confirmed…

Demographics

Swiss population is becoming more diverse

This content was published on Oct 20, 2015 The term ‘migration background’ applies to those without a Swiss passport, those who have become Swiss and those who were born in Switzerland to parents who were born abroad. Between 2013 and 2014 the number of adults from a migration background in Switzerland grew by 3%, while the percentage of those without such a background…

Culture

The last time the blade came down

This content was published on Oct 19, 2015

Demographics

Recycling soap for a good cause

This content was published on Oct 19, 2015

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Swiss Identity

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Killing off the death penalty in Switzerland

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‘In the 20th century we had a humanitarian offensive’

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The Tour de France comes to Switzerland

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Millions face life-threatening diseases from deadly toxins

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Beckenbauer targeted in FIFA ethics probe

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Swiss climbers first to climb three Himalayan peaks

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FIFA to set new presidential standards

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Swiss population is becoming more diverse

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The last time the blade came down

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Recycling soap for a good cause

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