Between January and September 15, 60 people died in fatal water accidents, the Swiss Lifesaving Society (SSS) saidExternal link on October 28. This compares with 36 drownings in 2021.
Around 80% of this year’s fatalities were men. Over 60% of the drownings occurred on lakes and almost 40% in rivers.
“Continued high temperatures this year have certainly drawn more people to the lake shores and to the waters, increasing the likelihood of drownings,” the SSS said in a statement.
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Men at higher risk of drowning in Swiss rivers
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The drowning of the son of an Indonesian politician has sparked international dismay and criticism against river swimming in Switzerland.
This year around 20 victims were aged between 70 and 85. The society said that while the causes of death cannot be clearly determined, it is assumed the victims “underestimated the dangers”.
This year the death of Emmeril Mumtadz, the son of a top Indonesian politician who drowned in the river Aare in Bern in May, sparked international dismay and criticism against river swimming in Switzerland.
In 2019, more than 236,000 people drowned worldwide which makes death in water one of the biggest public health problems in the world. Drowning is one of the top ten causes of death for people aged one to 24 across the globe.
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The rise of urban swimming in Swiss cities
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‘Swim CityExternal link‘ also looks at contemporary river-swimming projects from Europe and the US, such as ‘Flussbad’ in Berlin, ‘POOL IS COOL’ from Brussels, ‘Thames Baths’ in London, ‘Ilot Vert’ in Paris, ‘Charles River Swimming Initiative’ in Boston and ‘+POOL’ in New York. (S AM Swiss Architecture Museum)
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Online platforms and UBS in sights of Swiss price watchdog
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With over 800 cases processed, including just under 400 recommendations, 2024 once again ended with a record number of cases for the Swiss price watchdog.
Swiss federal office sees no reason to end deportations of asylum-seekers to Croatia
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Switzerland's State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) continues to deport asylum-seekers to Croatia. It thus rejects a demand from the Swiss Refugee Council in mid-February, which called for a halt to the returns.
ChatGPT responds to negative emotions and therapy, research shows
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Stressful information can also cause anxiety in artificial intelligence (AI). As scientists in Zurich have shown, it's even possible to calm the GPT-4 AI model with mindfulness exercises.
Mortgage benchmark fall paves way for potential rent cuts in Switzerland
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Switzerland’s national benchmark for mortgage costs dropped to the level it had before the global inflation surge, paving the way for potential rent reductions.
Switzerland ‘deeply concerned’ by Trump’s death penalty order
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Switzerland has told the UN Human Rights Council that it is "deeply concerned" by US President Donald Trump's recent executive order to strengthen capital punishment at federal and state level.
Blatter, Platini return to court for new fraud trial over CHF2 million FIFA payment
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Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and former UEFA President Michel Platini appeared in court in Switzerland on Monday accused of fraud - 2.5 years after they were cleared.
Israel criticises Swiss decision to host Middle East conference in Geneva on Friday
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Israel has condemned Switzerland for planning to host a meeting on international humanitarian law in the Middle East next Friday in Geneva.
Centre Party’s Franziska Biner elected to Valais government
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Voters in canton Valais in southern Switzerland elected Franziska Biner to the cantonal government in the first round of voting, beating off more established politicians.
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The drowning of the son of an Indonesian politician has sparked international dismay and criticism against river swimming in Switzerland.
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‘Swim CityExternal link‘ also looks at contemporary river-swimming projects from Europe and the US, such as ‘Flussbad’ in Berlin, ‘POOL IS COOL’ from Brussels, ‘Thames Baths’ in London, ‘Ilot Vert’ in Paris, ‘Charles River Swimming Initiative’ in Boston and ‘+POOL’ in New York. (S AM Swiss Architecture Museum)
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Swimming in rivers has become increasingly popular in Switzerland. But the trend means more swimmers are being saved from drowning. Over the last 20 years, rescue operations on the Rhine in Basel have steadily increased. Now a patrol cruises the Rhine for ten hours every day in summer. Fire brigades, border control and the police…
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