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S U B S C R I B E
Feature Stories
Women still lagging behind in Swiss labour market
Friday, 12 March, 2010There’s still a significant pay gap between men and women in Switzerland as well as an education gap. And while Switzerland ranks high compared to other countries in quality of life and economic competitiveness surveys, when it comes to gender, inequalities are rather high in Switzerland. To look for an explanation—and what could be done to improve the situation—WRS’s Mark Butcher calls on University of Geneva economist Jean-Marc Falter:
Friday, 12 March, 2010There’s still a significant pay gap between men and women in Switzerland as well as an education gap. And while Switzerland ranks high compared to other countries in quality of life and economic competitiveness surveys, when it comes to gender, inequalities are rather high in Switzerland. To look for an explanation—and what could be done to improve the situation—WRS’s Mark Butcher calls on University of Geneva economist Jean-Marc Falter:
Discounters Aldi and Lidl popping up everywhere
Friday, 12 March, 2010Exactly one year ago today, German discount supermarket chain Lidl opened its first store in Switzerland, following in the footsteps of its rival Aldi. Experts predicted a supermarket price war and the end of inflated prices for Swiss consumers. So just how has their arrival shaken up the Swiss retail landscape and what does the future hold? Vincent Landon reports:
Friday, 12 March, 2010Exactly one year ago today, German discount supermarket chain Lidl opened its first store in Switzerland, following in the footsteps of its rival Aldi. Experts predicted a supermarket price war and the end of inflated prices for Swiss consumers. So just how has their arrival shaken up the Swiss retail landscape and what does the future hold? Vincent Landon reports:
Tobacco giant eyes Geneva's international district
Friday, 12 March, 2010
Friday, 12 March, 2010
The French-speaking part of Switzerland hosts the headquarters or operations offices for the three biggest international tobacco companies in the world: British American Tobacco, Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International.
The area is also a public health hub with organizations like the World Health Organization and World Heart Federation located here. So will a new location for one of those tobacco companies cause a stir?
Reporter Alex Helmick has more.
Libyan ambassador calls Kadafi arrest 'racist', stalemate continues
Thursday, 11 March, 2010Libya continues to crow over the feud with Switzerland as the stalemate between the two countries remains. The Libyan ambassador to the United nations in Geneva has reaffirmed calls for an independent international body to investigate what he calls the illegal arrest of Hannibal Kadafi, Libyan President Muammar Kadafi’s son. He says the arrest was nothing but blatant racism on behalf of the Swiss. Libyan Ambassador Ibrahim Aldredi spoke to the media in Geneva, Thursday. Alex Helmick reports.
Thursday, 11 March, 2010Libya continues to crow over the feud with Switzerland as the stalemate between the two countries remains. The Libyan ambassador to the United nations in Geneva has reaffirmed calls for an independent international body to investigate what he calls the illegal arrest of Hannibal Kadafi, Libyan President Muammar Kadafi’s son. He says the arrest was nothing but blatant racism on behalf of the Swiss. Libyan Ambassador Ibrahim Aldredi spoke to the media in Geneva, Thursday. Alex Helmick reports.
Authors identify 'UN Ideas That Changed the World'
Thursday, 11 March, 2010The United Nations push for human rights for all is the most important idea ever sparked from the global body—that’s according to a the co-authors and co-directors of 17 volumes of work focusing on the concepts and ideas of the United Nations. Reporter Alex Helmick talked to Richard Jolly and Tom Weiss, co-directors of the United Nations History Project, at the launch of their last volume, called UN Ideas That Changed the World at the Graduate Institute Geneva:
Thursday, 11 March, 2010The United Nations push for human rights for all is the most important idea ever sparked from the global body—that’s according to a the co-authors and co-directors of 17 volumes of work focusing on the concepts and ideas of the United Nations. Reporter Alex Helmick talked to Richard Jolly and Tom Weiss, co-directors of the United Nations History Project, at the launch of their last volume, called UN Ideas That Changed the World at the Graduate Institute Geneva:
Executive pay takes center stage in Bern
Thursday, 11 March, 2010The Thomas Minder Initiative will take up much of the morning for MPs in the House of Representatives today. That’s the initiative to give shareholders say over executive pay. But given the intense politicking over this initiative, voters could end up with no initiative at all—or two. From the Federal Palace in Bern, WRS’s Jordan Davis explains both those scenarios:
Thursday, 11 March, 2010The Thomas Minder Initiative will take up much of the morning for MPs in the House of Representatives today. That’s the initiative to give shareholders say over executive pay. But given the intense politicking over this initiative, voters could end up with no initiative at all—or two. From the Federal Palace in Bern, WRS’s Jordan Davis explains both those scenarios:
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:
