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S U B S C R I B E
Feature Stories
Zurich opens pricey new sobering-up cells
Wednesday, 10 March, 2010
Wednesday, 10 March, 2010
The city of Zurich has become the first place in Switzerland to set up custody cells for the drunk and disorderly until they have settled down. The 12 cells in the city centre will be open for business every weekend, starting this Friday.
If police think you’re a danger to yourself or to others, you’ll be held until they think you’re safe to let out. And you have to pay for the privilege. Less than three hours will set you back CHF 600. Go over and 120-minute mark and the bill mounts to CHF 950—that’s as much as a deluxe double room at the five-star Dolder hotel.
WRS reporter, Vincent Landon, was shown round the new facility:
Generous new paternity leave policy gives birth to controversy
Wednesday, 10 March, 2010The city of Lausanne is offering its employees the longest paternity leave in the country: 20 days off for new fathers. For left-wing politicians, it’s an important step towards a better life-work balance. For opponents on the right, it’s irresponsible and unfair, especially as workers in the private sector only get two to three days off on average. Lucas Chambers has the story:
Wednesday, 10 March, 2010The city of Lausanne is offering its employees the longest paternity leave in the country: 20 days off for new fathers. For left-wing politicians, it’s an important step towards a better life-work balance. For opponents on the right, it’s irresponsible and unfair, especially as workers in the private sector only get two to three days off on average. Lucas Chambers has the story:
Swiss waistlines expand with cheap calories
Wednesday, 10 March, 2010There’s been a significant increase in the number of people classed as “overweight” and “obese” in Switzerland, according to a new study by the University of Lausanne. Research shows the proportion of people who are overweight has risen by nearly 10 percent, for men and women alike, in the last 15 years. What’s behind these growing waistlines? WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Dr. Pedro Marques-Vidal, one of the authors of the study, who told her one of the main factors is food pricing:
Wednesday, 10 March, 2010There’s been a significant increase in the number of people classed as “overweight” and “obese” in Switzerland, according to a new study by the University of Lausanne. Research shows the proportion of people who are overweight has risen by nearly 10 percent, for men and women alike, in the last 15 years. What’s behind these growing waistlines? WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Dr. Pedro Marques-Vidal, one of the authors of the study, who told her one of the main factors is food pricing:
Google's stalemate with China remains, but so do other opportunities
Wednesday, 10 March, 2010Internet giant Google is not pleased with lack of progress in China, but happy with new opportunities in trade-restricted countries, according to a top Google executive speaking at a human rights and Internet freedom Summit in Geneva. Reporter Alex Helmick has more.
Wednesday, 10 March, 2010Internet giant Google is not pleased with lack of progress in China, but happy with new opportunities in trade-restricted countries, according to a top Google executive speaking at a human rights and Internet freedom Summit in Geneva. Reporter Alex Helmick has more.
GMO ban raises scientific, economic questions
Tuesday, 9 March, 2010The House of Representatives has voted to extend the moratorium on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in farming until 2013. The moratorium was originally introduced by popular vote in 2005 and was due to expire this year. Missed opportunity or sensible pause while we wait for the science to come in? Why even pursue research that’s so unpopular? What about nations such as China who are going full-steam ahead with GMO research? WRS’s Pete Forster invited Marianne Kunzle, head of anti-GMO and sustainable agriculture campaign for Greenpeace, and Professor Denis Monard, President of the Swiss Academy of Sciences to debate the issue:
Tuesday, 9 March, 2010The House of Representatives has voted to extend the moratorium on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in farming until 2013. The moratorium was originally introduced by popular vote in 2005 and was due to expire this year. Missed opportunity or sensible pause while we wait for the science to come in? Why even pursue research that’s so unpopular? What about nations such as China who are going full-steam ahead with GMO research? WRS’s Pete Forster invited Marianne Kunzle, head of anti-GMO and sustainable agriculture campaign for Greenpeace, and Professor Denis Monard, President of the Swiss Academy of Sciences to debate the issue:
New health cards already making doctors sick
Tuesday, 9 March, 2010They’ll be over a year late, doctors don’t trust them and so far they don’t even work. The new health cards we’re all supposed to receive next month are meant to meet European Union standards. They carry an electronic chip designed to hold a patient’s medical information, making it accessible to doctors with their own version of the card. But right now, tests on the two systems show they’re incompatible—and with only two months to go before the big launch, this has led to an unhealthy squabble. Lucas Chambers reports:
Tuesday, 9 March, 2010They’ll be over a year late, doctors don’t trust them and so far they don’t even work. The new health cards we’re all supposed to receive next month are meant to meet European Union standards. They carry an electronic chip designed to hold a patient’s medical information, making it accessible to doctors with their own version of the card. But right now, tests on the two systems show they’re incompatible—and with only two months to go before the big launch, this has led to an unhealthy squabble. Lucas Chambers reports:
Juliette Binoche has a dream for Africa
Tuesday, 9 March, 2010Oscar-winning actress Juliette Binoche hopes to inspire a movement to renovate and re-open cinemas across Africa. The “Cinemas for Africa” project is the brainchild of Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako. Binoche teamed up with him last year and the pair is currently on a fundraising drive to make their vision a reality. Their first challenge is to revive the Soudan Ciné in Mali’s capital Bamako, which has been shut for 15 years. WRS’s Marc Menichini caught up with the French actress in Geneva where she was speaking on the sidelines of the International Human Rights Film Festival:
Tuesday, 9 March, 2010Oscar-winning actress Juliette Binoche hopes to inspire a movement to renovate and re-open cinemas across Africa. The “Cinemas for Africa” project is the brainchild of Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako. Binoche teamed up with him last year and the pair is currently on a fundraising drive to make their vision a reality. Their first challenge is to revive the Soudan Ciné in Mali’s capital Bamako, which has been shut for 15 years. WRS’s Marc Menichini caught up with the French actress in Geneva where she was speaking on the sidelines of the International Human Rights Film Festival:
Globi the parrot swooping up new fans in English
Tuesday, 9 March, 2010
Tuesday, 9 March, 2010
In the English-speaking world, not too many people have heard of Globi. But in Switzerland—and particularly German-speaking Switzerland—the blue parrot with a yellow beak is a cultural icon and an indispensable part of childhood. The publishers say they sell over 150,000 Globi books a year. A new story appears in March every year, eagerly awaited by his legions of fans anxious to catch up on the cartoon character’s latest adventure.
The 78th book, Globi at the Airport, has just come out. And there’s an English version. Our reporter Vincent Landon was at the launch party at Zurich Airport:
UN expert: World Cup, Olympics can increase homelessness, debt
Tuesday, 9 March, 2010“Mega-events” like the World Cup and Olympics can lead to increased homelessness, unaffordable housing and debt for the hosts cities, according to Raquel Rolnik, the United Nations special rapporteur on adequate housing, speaking in Geneva after issuing her report on the topic to the UN. Reporter Alex Helmick has more.
Tuesday, 9 March, 2010“Mega-events” like the World Cup and Olympics can lead to increased homelessness, unaffordable housing and debt for the hosts cities, according to Raquel Rolnik, the United Nations special rapporteur on adequate housing, speaking in Geneva after issuing her report on the topic to the UN. Reporter Alex Helmick has more.
Women still lack economic, political power
Monday, 8 March, 2010Today is International Women’s Day and the World Economic Forum has released the 2010 Corporate Gender Gap Report. It’s the first study to cover the world’s largest employers in 20 countries and benchmark them against the gender equality policies. Saadia Zahidi is co-author of the report. WRS’s Carla Drysdale asked her about Switzerland’s ranking:
Monday, 8 March, 2010Today is International Women’s Day and the World Economic Forum has released the 2010 Corporate Gender Gap Report. It’s the first study to cover the world’s largest employers in 20 countries and benchmark them against the gender equality policies. Saadia Zahidi is co-author of the report. WRS’s Carla Drysdale asked her about Switzerland’s ranking:
Swiss teens go on trial in Munich
Monday, 8 March, 2010The trial of three Zurich teenagers begins today in Munich. The teens are accused of beating five passers-by during a field trip to Germany last summer—they were 16 at the time. If found guilty of attempted murder, they could face up to 10 years in prison. From Munich, reporter Tony Ganzer has the story:
Monday, 8 March, 2010The trial of three Zurich teenagers begins today in Munich. The teens are accused of beating five passers-by during a field trip to Germany last summer—they were 16 at the time. If found guilty of attempted murder, they could face up to 10 years in prison. From Munich, reporter Tony Ganzer has the story:
Voters reject pension cuts, animal lawyers
Sunday, 7 March, 2010By surprisingly wide margins, voters on Sunday rejected a proposed cut in second pillar pension payouts and an initiative requiring cantons to assign an attorney to represent animals’ interests—72.7 percent of voters said no to the changes to the pension system and 70.5 percent rejected the animal lawyer text.
Sunday, 7 March, 2010By surprisingly wide margins, voters on Sunday rejected a proposed cut in second pillar pension payouts and an initiative requiring cantons to assign an attorney to represent animals’ interests—72.7 percent of voters said no to the changes to the pension system and 70.5 percent rejected the animal lawyer text.
UN human rights body hammered over torture report
Friday, 5 March, 2010The International Commission of Jurists has strongly criticised a decision by the UN Human Rights Council to delay discussing a global study on secret detention and torture. The Geneva-based ICJ says the document reveals gross human rights violations and crimes carried out in the name of counter-terrorism by around 80 countries. But instead of being discussed during the current session of the UN Human Rights Council, the study has been taken off the agenda. WRS’s Carla Drysdale spoke to Gerald Staberock, who is responsible for anti-terrorism affairs at the ICJ.
Friday, 5 March, 2010The International Commission of Jurists has strongly criticised a decision by the UN Human Rights Council to delay discussing a global study on secret detention and torture. The Geneva-based ICJ says the document reveals gross human rights violations and crimes carried out in the name of counter-terrorism by around 80 countries. But instead of being discussed during the current session of the UN Human Rights Council, the study has been taken off the agenda. WRS’s Carla Drysdale spoke to Gerald Staberock, who is responsible for anti-terrorism affairs at the ICJ.
