World Radio Switzerland

Finding safe places to swim in Switzerland

Alex Helmick — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:10:00 UT

At least four drowning deaths were reported yesterday as scores of sunbathers head to Switzerland’s rivers and lakes to cool off. The deaths occurred across the country with one in Neuchâtel, Vaud, Zurich and Bern. WRS’s Alex Helmick finds out where the safest places to swim are from Prisca Wolfensberger, a spokesperson for the Swiss Lifesaving Society:

Melting glaciers cause evacuation in Valais

Daniel Johnson — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:15:00 UT

Plenty of us like the heat, but it brings its fair share of safety issues—not least for one small village in Valais, where residents have been evacuated because of a serious landslide risk linked to melting glaciers. WRS’s Daniel Johnson takes up the story:

Shutdown of Greece's ERT prompts discussion over public broadcasting

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:40:00 UT

Greece’s top administrative court has ordered Greek public broadcaster ERT back on air after Prime Minister Antonis Samaras controversially shut down its operations last week, describing the corporation as a “haven of waste”. Greek journalists defied the shutdown and kept news services going with the help of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The Geneva-based EBU campaigned for the broadcaster to be properly reopened and distributed ERT transmissions through its Internet and satellite networks. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Annika Nyberg Frankenhauser, Director of the Media Department at EBU, and begins by asking her if ERT’s broadcasts are now fully restored:

How safe is your online data in Switzerland?

Dave Goodman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:10:00 UT

Recent revelations from Edward Snowden, the former American National Security Agency contractor about the extent of the data gathering operations in the U.S. has once again raised questions about where exactly our personal information ends up. So can there ever be national borders when it comes to data protection? WRS explores this question with Eliane Schmid, from the Federal Data Protection and Information Commission, and Mateo Meier from data storage providers Artmotion based in Zurich:

Catholic Church sex abuse victims speak out

Vincent Landon — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:15:00 UT

Victims of clergy abuse are in Geneva meeting experts from the United Nations Committee on the Right of the Child. They will be presenting their report documenting the ongoing worldwide sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. WRS’s Vincent Landon was at their press conference where Barbara Blaine, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), told her story:

More cases of violence against parents reported

Gavin Blackburn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:15:00 UT

The issue of domestic violence against parents by children is in the public spotlight. It comes after an 18-year-old was sentenced yesterday to 16 months in prison by a Zurich court for beating his mother. WRS’s Gavin Blackburn talks with Britta Went from Zurich-based parents support group Elternnotruf and started by asking if this high-profile case is an isolated incident or happening more than we realize:

Médiapart names, shames French tax evaders

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:47:08 UT

The media organization which precipitated the fall from grace of France’s budget minister, Jerome Cahuzac, says it’s got more sensitive information up its sleeve which could affect Switzerland. Médiapart, an online investigative news website, has sent shock-waves through the establishment in France—exposing several high profile people as having undeclared money stashed in Swiss bank accounts. On Friday, Swiss bank Reyl & Cie was also put under investigation in France. So what’s next in this long-running cross-border name-and-shame operation? WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Dan Israel, the journalist from Médiapart who’s been coordinating the investigations into off-shore accounts, including Switzerland:

Automatic info exchange vital to EU market access

Vincent Landon — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:05:54 UT

Switzerland is busy working out the detailed provisions of its clean money strategy. An expert panel has just submitted its report to the Federal Council saying Switzerland should be ready to exchange bank information automatically with the European Union in return for access to financial markets. WRS’s Vincent Landon spoke to the report’s lead author, Aymo Brunetti, former top Swiss government economist, and began by asking him to explain why:

Diving for litter in Lake Zurich

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:54:30 UT

Switzerland is famous for its natural beauty, but every day rubbish is dumped into the country’s lakes. One man decided the nation’s waters deserved better, so he donned a diving suit and started picking up rubbish. WRS’s Jo Fahy went to meet him and see how the idea has grown:

Plans to reform pension system could include rise in VAT

Daniel Johnson — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:15:02 UT

The Sunday press reported comprehensive details of plans to reform the pensions system here by Interior Minister Alain Berset, amid concerns that there’s not enough money to keep the pensions boat afloat. If correct, the minister’s proposals would see women’s retirement age extended to 65 and more encouragement for people to push back their retirement longer. Also mooted is a two percent rise in value added tax (VAT) between now and 2030. WRS’s Daniel Johnson takes up the story to find out what the chances are of the latest proposals to shore up the wobbling pensions system:

G8 discussions push for greater transparency in tax haven countries

Alex Helmick — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:15:01 UT

One of the items on the agenda for the upcoming G8 meeting in Northern Ireland is busting up tax havens. British Prime Minister David Cameron is pushing for low-tax jurisdictions in the UK to be more transparent—something Swiss bankers have pushed for every time their country is targeted in tax probes. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to John Christensen, director of the International Secretariat of Tax Justice Network, says tax haven countries may be trying a new tactic—cleaning up their own backyard before pointing at others:

'World has changed' as Lex-USA bank deal looms

Daniel Johnson — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:30:01 UT

Last week, the Council of States voted in favour of Lex USA—a deal for Swiss banks suspected by Washington of helping U.S. citizens avoid paying tax. And you might have thought that was the end of the matter. But in fact the draft bill is only half-way home as it needs the green light from the National Council, which will tackle the question tomorrow. But whatever the outcome of those discussions, it’s been an “annus horribilis” for the industry. WRS’s Daniel Johnson gets reaction from those for and against the deal:

more WRS coverage on tax. banks

How the Swiss are getting spied on

Lucas Chambers — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:30:02 UT

Are foreign agencies successfully spying in Switzerland? The question is hotter than ever after revelations from former American agent Edward Snowden at a time when tensions are high over banking secrecy and billions of francs. There’s a history of snooping in Switzerland. Leaders have taken more precautions, but can they really keep ahead of the game? WRS’s Lucas Chambers went to find out:

Quotas called for to guarantee equal pay

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:56:02 UT

The Federal Office of Gender Equality says women are underpaid on a massive scale in some cases—compared to men. The office says women in the same fields with similar experience and education make on average 677 francs less than men in the same jobs. This is despite gender equality being part of the Constitution since 1981. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Christina Werder, central secretary, women affairs commission of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions:

Hope for Geneva II Syria talks dim amid more slaughter

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:00:08 UT

This week the so-called Geneva II talks on Syria, designed to get a ceasefire, were to take place. Instead those talks seem to be postponed indefinitely, and the fighting looks set to escalate. The UN has published its latest analysis of the death toll in Syria since the conflict started. WRS’s Pete Forster talks to UN correspondent for the BBC Imogen Foulkes: