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S U B S C R I B E
Feature Stories
Afghani graffiti artist gets behind women's power
Tuesday, 11 June, 2013Street art, graffiti, tagging…love it or hate it, there’s a chance you might see it in a new light because of 25-year-old Afghani artist Shamsia Hassani, who’s been using the art form in and around the ruins of Kabul to push for equality and women’s rights. WRS’s Daniel Johnson went to meet her at the opening of a new exhibition of her work in the centre of Geneva. Here’s his interview:
Tuesday, 11 June, 2013Street art, graffiti, tagging…love it or hate it, there’s a chance you might see it in a new light because of 25-year-old Afghani artist Shamsia Hassani, who’s been using the art form in and around the ruins of Kabul to push for equality and women’s rights. WRS’s Daniel Johnson went to meet her at the opening of a new exhibition of her work in the centre of Geneva. Here’s his interview:
Art Basel begins with VIP previews
Tuesday, 11 June, 2013Art Basel opens to the public from June 13 to 16, bringing 300 international galleries to the world’s largest contemporary art fair. Today is a preview day, attracting VIP or “First Choice” buyers to the exhibition and typically registers the most impressive of the fair’s sales. It’s on this opening day that the press takes the temperature of the art market and of what the galleries are putting to the fore. WRS’s Jo Fahy speaks to art consultant Julia Heinen and asks her what to expect this year:
Tuesday, 11 June, 2013Art Basel opens to the public from June 13 to 16, bringing 300 international galleries to the world’s largest contemporary art fair. Today is a preview day, attracting VIP or “First Choice” buyers to the exhibition and typically registers the most impressive of the fair’s sales. It’s on this opening day that the press takes the temperature of the art market and of what the galleries are putting to the fore. WRS’s Jo Fahy speaks to art consultant Julia Heinen and asks her what to expect this year:
Voters reject motion to publicly elect Federal Council
Monday, 10 June, 2013On Sunday, an overwhelming majority, 76 percent, squashed a plan by the Swiss People’s Party to have all people to vote for the seven-member Federal Council. Currently the seven are elected by politicians in Bern on a relatively equal basis and a lot of political wheeling and dealing. WRS’s Alex Helmick asks Nenad Stojanovic, a political scientist at the Center for Democracy Studies Aarau at the University of Zurich, whether or not this is a humiliation for perhaps Switzerland’s most powerful party:
Monday, 10 June, 2013On Sunday, an overwhelming majority, 76 percent, squashed a plan by the Swiss People’s Party to have all people to vote for the seven-member Federal Council. Currently the seven are elected by politicians in Bern on a relatively equal basis and a lot of political wheeling and dealing. WRS’s Alex Helmick asks Nenad Stojanovic, a political scientist at the Center for Democracy Studies Aarau at the University of Zurich, whether or not this is a humiliation for perhaps Switzerland’s most powerful party:
Should English be an official language?
Monday, 10 June, 2013One MP in the Swiss parliament is all for it. Speaking in a debate last week on French-language radio RTS, Liberal Party politician Fathi Derder said he would submit the proposal during the current parliamentary session. WRS’s Jo Fahy asks him how he thinks people might react to this idea:
Monday, 10 June, 2013One MP in the Swiss parliament is all for it. Speaking in a debate last week on French-language radio RTS, Liberal Party politician Fathi Derder said he would submit the proposal during the current parliamentary session. WRS’s Jo Fahy asks him how he thinks people might react to this idea:
A look at human trafficking in Switzerland
Monday, 10 June, 2013Last week, federal police announced that officers in nine cantons broke up a criminal ring suspected of smuggling Chinese nationals with fake papers into Switzerland. The following day, politicians in Geneva sounded the alarm about reports that Hungarian women were being brought to the region and forced into prostitution under highly exploitative conditions. WRS’s Catherine Allen speaks to Boris Mesaric from FedPol’s national coordination unit, who explains that human trafficking into Switzerland is primarily for sexual exploitation, sometimes for labour exploitation and once in a while even for harvesting of human organs:
Monday, 10 June, 2013Last week, federal police announced that officers in nine cantons broke up a criminal ring suspected of smuggling Chinese nationals with fake papers into Switzerland. The following day, politicians in Geneva sounded the alarm about reports that Hungarian women were being brought to the region and forced into prostitution under highly exploitative conditions. WRS’s Catherine Allen speaks to Boris Mesaric from FedPol’s national coordination unit, who explains that human trafficking into Switzerland is primarily for sexual exploitation, sometimes for labour exploitation and once in a while even for harvesting of human organs:
UN $4.4 billion appeal for Syria its biggest ever
Friday, 7 June, 2013The United Nations has launched the largest humanitarian appeal in its history. It wants $4.4 billion dollars for aid to Syria and estimates that more than 10 million Syrians—that’s half the population—will need help by the end of the year. In addition, the governments of Lebanon and Jordan are asking for $800 million to help with Syrian refugees. WRS’s Vincent Landon was at the press conference in Geneva where the appeal was launched:
Friday, 7 June, 2013The United Nations has launched the largest humanitarian appeal in its history. It wants $4.4 billion dollars for aid to Syria and estimates that more than 10 million Syrians—that’s half the population—will need help by the end of the year. In addition, the governments of Lebanon and Jordan are asking for $800 million to help with Syrian refugees. WRS’s Vincent Landon was at the press conference in Geneva where the appeal was launched:
Could Sauber surge at Canadian F1?
Friday, 7 June, 2013Switzerland’s Formula One team has been a major disappointment this year. Sauber has scored just five points the whole season and is in a dismal eighth place. It sounds like we’re being harsh on the Hinwil-based team but 2012 was a great year where the team battled for an incredible fifth place overall in constructor points. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Swiss-German television SF’s Formula One commentator Michael Stauble:
Friday, 7 June, 2013Switzerland’s Formula One team has been a major disappointment this year. Sauber has scored just five points the whole season and is in a dismal eighth place. It sounds like we’re being harsh on the Hinwil-based team but 2012 was a great year where the team battled for an incredible fifth place overall in constructor points. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Swiss-German television SF’s Formula One commentator Michael Stauble:
How Chiasso solves its asylum crime
Friday, 7 June, 2013This Sunday, voters across the country will cast their ballots on the thorny issue of asylum—more specifically, how to process applications from people seeking asylum in Switzerland. They’ll be asked to prolong or cancel emergency measures passed by parliament in September. Supporters of the strategy say it’ll help deal with the so-called bad apples in the asylum process. But critics say the crackdown is misguided and puts vulnerable people at greater risk. One town being hailed as a success story in addressing crime attributed to asylum seekers is Chiasso. WRS’s Tony Ganzer went to find out what kind of measures had worked there:
Friday, 7 June, 2013This Sunday, voters across the country will cast their ballots on the thorny issue of asylum—more specifically, how to process applications from people seeking asylum in Switzerland. They’ll be asked to prolong or cancel emergency measures passed by parliament in September. Supporters of the strategy say it’ll help deal with the so-called bad apples in the asylum process. But critics say the crackdown is misguided and puts vulnerable people at greater risk. One town being hailed as a success story in addressing crime attributed to asylum seekers is Chiasso. WRS’s Tony Ganzer went to find out what kind of measures had worked there:
'You ride on the bus, you don't make a fuss'
Friday, 7 June, 2013How should the Federal Council be selected? It’s a question that’s come up repeatedly over the course of Swiss history, and this Sunday the nation will vote on it once again. The right-wing Swiss People’s Party is pushing for the people to vote in our seven Federal Councillors, who make up the country’s executive. But will the voters agree? Or are they happy with the current system—where Parliament chooses who gets those top jobs? For some insight into the implications of Sunday’s vote, WRS’s Lucas Chambers called up Jonathan Steinberg, professor of modern history at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of the book Why Switzerland? He began by asking how such a move would change the country’s political landscape:
Friday, 7 June, 2013How should the Federal Council be selected? It’s a question that’s come up repeatedly over the course of Swiss history, and this Sunday the nation will vote on it once again. The right-wing Swiss People’s Party is pushing for the people to vote in our seven Federal Councillors, who make up the country’s executive. But will the voters agree? Or are they happy with the current system—where Parliament chooses who gets those top jobs? For some insight into the implications of Sunday’s vote, WRS’s Lucas Chambers called up Jonathan Steinberg, professor of modern history at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of the book Why Switzerland? He began by asking how such a move would change the country’s political landscape:
1 in 4 hives wiped out this winter
Friday, 7 June, 2013They’re little, industrious and worth their weight in gold…bees, in other words. After a disastrous winter two years ago when around half the country’s colonies were wiped out, beekeepers are now reporting last winter was no easy ride for the winged wonders either. WRS’s Daniel Johnson reports:
Friday, 7 June, 2013They’re little, industrious and worth their weight in gold…bees, in other words. After a disastrous winter two years ago when around half the country’s colonies were wiped out, beekeepers are now reporting last winter was no easy ride for the winged wonders either. WRS’s Daniel Johnson reports:
Federal court turns down opponents of tax deals with Germany, Austria and UK
Thursday, 6 June, 2013The Federal Court has ruled against opponents of a tax deal with the United Kingdom, Germany and Austria. The group Action for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland wanted more debate on those accords, but failed to get 50,000 signatures turned in on time. In fact, there were enough signatures but some were apparently sent by B post, arriving too late at the Federal Chancellery. From the Federal Palace in Bern, SRF’s political correspondent Pascal Krauthammer explains to WRS’s Alex Helmick what this means for tax deals with those countries:
Thursday, 6 June, 2013The Federal Court has ruled against opponents of a tax deal with the United Kingdom, Germany and Austria. The group Action for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland wanted more debate on those accords, but failed to get 50,000 signatures turned in on time. In fact, there were enough signatures but some were apparently sent by B post, arriving too late at the Federal Chancellery. From the Federal Palace in Bern, SRF’s political correspondent Pascal Krauthammer explains to WRS’s Alex Helmick what this means for tax deals with those countries:
Vaud's controversial 'exclusion zones' in the fight against drugs
Thursday, 6 June, 2013A recent parliamentary vote in the canton of Vaud to get tough on drug dealers will give local authorities the power to ban individuals from so-called “exclusion zones.” The move follows similar measures in the cantons of Geneva, Solothurn, Zurich and Bern. Legislators in favour of the measures say it’s nothing more than another weapon in the fight against crime, while critics insist it’s unnecessary and a possible attack on civil liberties. WRS’s Daniel Johnson has the story:
Thursday, 6 June, 2013A recent parliamentary vote in the canton of Vaud to get tough on drug dealers will give local authorities the power to ban individuals from so-called “exclusion zones.” The move follows similar measures in the cantons of Geneva, Solothurn, Zurich and Bern. Legislators in favour of the measures say it’s nothing more than another weapon in the fight against crime, while critics insist it’s unnecessary and a possible attack on civil liberties. WRS’s Daniel Johnson has the story:
Federal judges order new Mühleberg nuclear plant assessment
Thursday, 6 June, 2013The Mühleberg nuclear power plant near Bern is under pressure again. Back in March, a Supreme Court decision to let it live beyond June seemed to have cleared the skies, but new clouds have arrived in the form of a request filed by locals to re-examine Mühleberg’s license to operate. The Federal Energy and Environment Department now has to step in. WRS’s Lucas Chambers has this story:
Thursday, 6 June, 2013The Mühleberg nuclear power plant near Bern is under pressure again. Back in March, a Supreme Court decision to let it live beyond June seemed to have cleared the skies, but new clouds have arrived in the form of a request filed by locals to re-examine Mühleberg’s license to operate. The Federal Energy and Environment Department now has to step in. WRS’s Lucas Chambers has this story:
Syrian peace talks in Geneva unable to take off
Wednesday, 5 June, 2013Talks in Geneva aimed at ending the fighting in Syria, and originally expected to happen next week, are now unlikely to take place before July. Speaking today in Geneva, the international envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, admitted no headway has been made in moving towards formal deliberations. Correspondent Imogen Foulkes followed these preparatory talks. She speaks to WRS’s Catherine Allen about how events unfolded:
Wednesday, 5 June, 2013Talks in Geneva aimed at ending the fighting in Syria, and originally expected to happen next week, are now unlikely to take place before July. Speaking today in Geneva, the international envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, admitted no headway has been made in moving towards formal deliberations. Correspondent Imogen Foulkes followed these preparatory talks. She speaks to WRS’s Catherine Allen about how events unfolded:
National Council rejects proposal for urgent bank data law
Wednesday, 5 June, 2013Last week, finance minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf asked parliament to pass an urgent law that would pave the way for Swiss banks to transfer key client data to the U.S. and to make individual financial settlements with American authorities. Wednesday morning, the National Council rejected this proposal. Reporter Michael Hollingdale gives WRS’s Alex Helmick an update:
Wednesday, 5 June, 2013Last week, finance minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf asked parliament to pass an urgent law that would pave the way for Swiss banks to transfer key client data to the U.S. and to make individual financial settlements with American authorities. Wednesday morning, the National Council rejected this proposal. Reporter Michael Hollingdale gives WRS’s Alex Helmick an update:
