Switzerland News Highlights on Wednesday: Latest Developments and Headlines Summarized
Headline: The Government's Plans to Store your Flight Data, Explained
In a surprising move on Tuesday, the Swiss Government gave the green light to implementing a national Passenger Name Record (PNR) system, a practice already adopted in the EU and the US. Critics warn that if Switzerland doesn't follow suit, it might prove to be a 'loose cannon' in the heart of Europe. That's because potential terrorists and criminals could exploit this by taking a flight to Switzerland and continuing their journey within the Schengen area on land.
Additionally, an increasing number of countries are threatening severe financial penalties on Swiss airlines for failing to provide PNR data. Not adhering to this measure would also put Switzerland's continued eligibility in the United States' visa waiver program at risk. This program allows Swiss nationals to travel to the US without a visa for business or leisure purposes for up to 90 days.
Green Energy Powering Swiss Trains
Starting January 1st, all trains in Switzerland will run on electricity from renewable sources. The national railway company, SBB, made this announcement on Tuesday. The majority of the electricity will come from hydropower, with the remaining bit sourced through renewable energy purchased from the market.
Prior to this, 90% of the rail's electricity came from hydropower, with the rest derived from a stake in nuclear energy dating back to the 1970s. However, SBB will now discard this nuclear energy source, favoring renewable energy sources native to Switzerland or imported from Europe.
"The transition to 100% renewable energy is part of SBB's sustainability strategy," the company stated. "The aim is to contribute to the Paris Climate Agreement and to slash greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030."
The Grim Reality
In the year 2023, 71,822 Swiss residents lost their lives. Cardiovascular diseases continued to be the leading cause of death (28%), narrowly surpassing cancers (24%). Data published by the Federal Statistical Office revealed these findings. Cancer-related deaths were led by lung cancer (19.1% in men and 17.4% in women) followed by breast cancer in women (16.8%) and prostate cancer in men (15.1%).
The top five causes of death also included dementia (9%), respiratory diseases (7%), and external factors such as accidents and violent acts (6%). For the first time since 2020, Covid was no longer among the top five causes of death, with only 2% of fatalities attributed to it in 2023.
Edelweiss Expands Horizons for Summer 2025
Edelweiss, the sister airline of SWISS, is adding seven new destinations to its flight schedule from its Zurich hub for the summer of 2025. North America will see the inclusion of Seattle in the US and Halifax in Canada, with two weekly flights each.
Elsewhere, Tbilisi in Georgia, Bristol in the UK, Terceira in the Azores (Portugal), Zadar in Croatia, and Calvi in Corsica will also be served. These flights will operate twice a week (Tbilisi and Bristol), once a week (Terceira, Zadar, and Calvi), or on specific dates (Seattle and Halifax).
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- Despite the implementation of the national Passenger Name Record (PNR) system, critics anticipate potential terrorists and criminals could utilize Switzerland's location within the Schengen area for illicit activities.
- Switzerland's national railway company, SBB, is transitioning to 100% renewable energy by January 1st, with the majority of electricity sourced from hydropower and the rest from renewable energy markets.
- In the 2023 statistics, cardiovascular diseases remained the leading cause of death in Switzerland, narrowly surpassing cancers as the top cause of mortality.
- Edelweiss, the sister airline of SWISS, is expanding its flight schedule for summer 2025, adding seven new destinations to its roster from the Zurich hub.
- In the realm of finance, Switzerland faces potential severe penalties from other countries if it does not comply with the provision of PNR data, alongside risking its eligibility in the United States' visa waiver program.
- In the medical field, cancer-related deaths were led by lung cancer, breast cancer in women, and prostate cancer in men, according to the Federal Statistical Office's data.
- SBB's move to 100% renewable energy is part of its broader sustainability strategy, aiming to contribute to the Paris Climate Agreement and halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
- The political landscape of Switzerland might experience repercussions if the country fails to adopt the PNR system, as it could hinder Switzerland's status as a 'loose cannon' in the heart of Europe.
- In the domain of environmental science, the growing concern for the environment and sustainability permeates sectors beyond energy, with lifestyle, technology, and travel also prioritizing eco-friendly initiatives and practices.
