Switzerland Today

Dear Swiss Abroad,

try and imagine how people in the 16th century perceived the world. Explorers had managed to map some parts of the globe but the New World was pretty much a blank space. Oceans were dotted with sea monsters and angry sea gods as if to highlight the risks of embarking on a voyage to discover new lands.

This is probably also why the St Gallen Globe, completed in 1576, is considered one of the most important cultural-historical objects in Switzerland. A new and improved online version of the globe is now available to access online.

Keystone/Alessandro Della Bella

St Gallen Globe: Rediscover the past through a national treasure.

The famous St Gallen GlobeExternal link with its sea monsters and legendary islands from the 16th century can now be viewed even better on the internetExternal link. The free online version has been supplemented with animated content and numerous explanations. The online platform now offers entertaining explanations of the voyages of discovery undertaken at that time. And thanks to a greatly increased resolution, the earth and sky, as they were imagined from a Western European perspective in the 16th century, can be explored in great detail.

Keystone / Christian Beutler

In the news: Murder enquiry, nuclear shutdown, Brienz evacuation and bodycams on trains.

An external investigation has been launched following a murder committed by a patient at the University Psychiatric Clinic in Basel. The suspect, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and personality disorders, was arrested on Friday afternoon. He is a repeat offender, which has raised questions External linkabout how he was allowed to leave the institution unaccompanied.

Reactor number one at the Beznau nuclear power plant was disconnected from the grid after an automatic shutdownExternal link yesterday afternoon. The shutdown was caused by a malfunction in the non-nuclear part of the plant. Due to the rapid shutdown of the reactor, steam was temporarily visible above the plant.

About 70 people were evacuated from their homes to a school due to the storms yesterday in Brienz in canton Bern. Two people were slightly to moderately injured and a mudslide damaged buildings, parked vehicles, roads and public transport infrastructure.

From September, the Swiss Federal Railways will be introducing bodycams for transport police officers External linkthroughout Switzerland. They are intended to de-escalate conflicts and contribute to the safety of travellers and employees. Each railways police patrol will be equipped with at least one bodycam.