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S U B S C R I B E
Feature Stories
Record highs possible in next three days
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012Temperatures are expected to hit highs in the 20s with some areas hitting 26 or 27 degrees Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to the nation’s forecaster MeteoSwiss. The warm temperatures are a departure from the gray, rainy April we’ve experienced across most of the country—and could hit a record for the month. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Lionel Peyraud from MeteoSwiss about the weather for this weekend:
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012Temperatures are expected to hit highs in the 20s with some areas hitting 26 or 27 degrees Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to the nation’s forecaster MeteoSwiss. The warm temperatures are a departure from the gray, rainy April we’ve experienced across most of the country—and could hit a record for the month. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Lionel Peyraud from MeteoSwiss about the weather for this weekend:
Amnesty International: Switzerland needs anti-discrimination law
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012A new Amnesty International report denounces discrimination against Muslims in several European countries, including Switzerland. It calls on governments to take concrete steps against negative streotypes that fuel discrimination in places of education and work. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Alain Bovard, legal advisor for Amnesty International Switzerland:
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012A new Amnesty International report denounces discrimination against Muslims in several European countries, including Switzerland. It calls on governments to take concrete steps against negative streotypes that fuel discrimination in places of education and work. WRS’s Alex Helmick talks to Alain Bovard, legal advisor for Amnesty International Switzerland:
An app for when even Swiss need help decoding dialect
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012The struggle to understand the many different Swiss-German dialects is something a lot of expats are familiar with—but the Swiss can run into difficulties too. One word can have roughly 20 variations that can be extremely different and that’s where an “idioticon” can come in very handy. It’s a special dictionary for dialects and WRS’s Jo Fahy has the details:
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012The struggle to understand the many different Swiss-German dialects is something a lot of expats are familiar with—but the Swiss can run into difficulties too. One word can have roughly 20 variations that can be extremely different and that’s where an “idioticon” can come in very handy. It’s a special dictionary for dialects and WRS’s Jo Fahy has the details:
Study highlights gap between NGO reality and image
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012NGOs spend lots of energy building up their image to get money from donors in wealthy countries. But what’s their impression on the people they serve? Doctors Without Borders is publishing a study on the perception of humanitarian action and their own organization around the world. Caroline Abu-Sada is the head of research at Doctors Without Borders in Geneva. WRS’s Jordan Davis asked her why the organization embarked on the study in the first place:
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012NGOs spend lots of energy building up their image to get money from donors in wealthy countries. But what’s their impression on the people they serve? Doctors Without Borders is publishing a study on the perception of humanitarian action and their own organization around the world. Caroline Abu-Sada is the head of research at Doctors Without Borders in Geneva. WRS’s Jordan Davis asked her why the organization embarked on the study in the first place:
Sudan satellite technology 'at a pivot point'
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012A humanitarian observer mission that started life as a UN project run at CERN in Geneva is focusing on the highly volatile border region between Sudan and South Sudan. The brainchild of George Clooney, the Satellite Sentinel project aims to monitor images from commercial and scientific satellites to watch for military or civilian movements that could be a sign of violence. So, what’s the impact of the project—at a time when the leaders of both countries seem to have ruled out negotiation? To find out more, WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Nathaniel Raymond from the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, who’s directing the Satellite Sentinel project:
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012A humanitarian observer mission that started life as a UN project run at CERN in Geneva is focusing on the highly volatile border region between Sudan and South Sudan. The brainchild of George Clooney, the Satellite Sentinel project aims to monitor images from commercial and scientific satellites to watch for military or civilian movements that could be a sign of violence. So, what’s the impact of the project—at a time when the leaders of both countries seem to have ruled out negotiation? To find out more, WRS’s Catherine Allen spoke to Nathaniel Raymond from the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, who’s directing the Satellite Sentinel project:
Merck closure a 'great loss for Switzerland'
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012It’s been a rough 24 hours for the Geneva-based staff of pharmaceutical company Merck-Serono, following the announcement yesterday that the group will close its Serono headquarters in Geneva. In a statement the company says it will move 750 jobs to Germany and 580 will be dissolved. The news comes as Merck bosses restructure the company that has been hit by pharmaceutical setbacks, including a dip in sales of a best-selling multiple sclerosis drug and a rejection of its lung cancer drug by the European Union. The company’s chairman, François Naef, told WRS the decision was tough—and inevitable:
Wednesday, 25 April, 2012It’s been a rough 24 hours for the Geneva-based staff of pharmaceutical company Merck-Serono, following the announcement yesterday that the group will close its Serono headquarters in Geneva. In a statement the company says it will move 750 jobs to Germany and 580 will be dissolved. The news comes as Merck bosses restructure the company that has been hit by pharmaceutical setbacks, including a dip in sales of a best-selling multiple sclerosis drug and a rejection of its lung cancer drug by the European Union. The company’s chairman, François Naef, told WRS the decision was tough—and inevitable:
Shock as Merck shutters Geneva HQ
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012Merck has announced that it will relocate the headquarters of its biopharmaceutical division, Merck Serono, from Geneva to Germany. The move will mean the loss of some 1,250 jobs in Geneva—though about 750 employees will be offered positions in other locations, mainly in the U.S. or Germany. The decision comes as Merck has been slammed by pharmaceutical setbacks, including a dip in sales of its best-selling multiple sclerosis drug and a rejection of its lung cancer drug by the European Union—but the company was still in the black. So was the move a surprise? Are more cuts on the way? WRS’s Alex Helmick hears from Merck Serono chairman François Naef, Helvea analyst Odile Rundquist and Thomas Cueni, head of Interpharma, which represents the Swiss pharmaceutical industry:
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012Merck has announced that it will relocate the headquarters of its biopharmaceutical division, Merck Serono, from Geneva to Germany. The move will mean the loss of some 1,250 jobs in Geneva—though about 750 employees will be offered positions in other locations, mainly in the U.S. or Germany. The decision comes as Merck has been slammed by pharmaceutical setbacks, including a dip in sales of its best-selling multiple sclerosis drug and a rejection of its lung cancer drug by the European Union—but the company was still in the black. So was the move a surprise? Are more cuts on the way? WRS’s Alex Helmick hears from Merck Serono chairman François Naef, Helvea analyst Odile Rundquist and Thomas Cueni, head of Interpharma, which represents the Swiss pharmaceutical industry:
Swiss Eurovision hopefuls Sinplus prep in Amsterdam
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012In just less than a month Switzerland will know whether it’s reached the grand final of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. Entrants from 24 countries gathered last weekend in Amsterdam to show off their songs and check out the competition. Sinplus, who are Switzerland’s hopefuls, were also there. They were the first artists to be chosen back in December and have been touring their song “Unbreakable” ever since. WRS’s Dave Goodman asked brothers Ivan and Gabriel ahead of the gig what they thought of the experience so far:
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012In just less than a month Switzerland will know whether it’s reached the grand final of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. Entrants from 24 countries gathered last weekend in Amsterdam to show off their songs and check out the competition. Sinplus, who are Switzerland’s hopefuls, were also there. They were the first artists to be chosen back in December and have been touring their song “Unbreakable” ever since. WRS’s Dave Goodman asked brothers Ivan and Gabriel ahead of the gig what they thought of the experience so far:
What Swiss People's Party can learn from Marine Le Pen
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012The big story of Sunday’s presidential vote in France was the barnstorming performance of Marine Le Pen’s National Front. The far-right party grabbed 18 percent of the vote with its anti-immigration and anti-Europe campaign. In many ways, it’s a similar discourse to that of Switzerland’s biggest party, the right wing Swiss People’s Party. But whereas the National Front clearly has the wind in its sails, the People’s Party was one of the big losers in last October’s Swiss parliamentary elections—though it still won 27 percent of the vote. So where is Switzerland’s right wing party going wrong? WRS’s Adam Beaumont put that question to Georg Lutz, a political scientist at Lausanne University:
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012The big story of Sunday’s presidential vote in France was the barnstorming performance of Marine Le Pen’s National Front. The far-right party grabbed 18 percent of the vote with its anti-immigration and anti-Europe campaign. In many ways, it’s a similar discourse to that of Switzerland’s biggest party, the right wing Swiss People’s Party. But whereas the National Front clearly has the wind in its sails, the People’s Party was one of the big losers in last October’s Swiss parliamentary elections—though it still won 27 percent of the vote. So where is Switzerland’s right wing party going wrong? WRS’s Adam Beaumont put that question to Georg Lutz, a political scientist at Lausanne University:
Swiss flock to Germany as a top tourist spot
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012According to a recent poll, Germany’s interest as a travel destination is booming among the Swiss. From 2010 to 2011, the number of their overnight stays is up 14 percent, the biggest rise for any European country. Why has Germany become such a big attraction? WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Urs Vagensail, head of tourism at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts:
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012According to a recent poll, Germany’s interest as a travel destination is booming among the Swiss. From 2010 to 2011, the number of their overnight stays is up 14 percent, the biggest rise for any European country. Why has Germany become such a big attraction? WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Urs Vagensail, head of tourism at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts:
Can the Swiss help reform the UN?
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012The last few months have left little doubt as to the gravity of questions addressed in the chambers of the United Nations. But recent events have also reignited discussions concerning one of the organization’s biggest questions: how to reform itself to make sure it corresponds to the challenges of today’s world? Despite its small size, and the fact it’s a relatively new member, Switzerland is stepping up its involvement in pushing ahead with reforms. It’s joined forces with Costa Rica, Singapore, Jordan and Liechtenstein to form the so-called S-5 group of nations—“Small Five”—to put forward 21 recommendations for reform. So what are they calling for and what are their chances of succeeding, given that calls for reform have led pretty much nowhere for nearly 20 years? WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to international relations expert Daniel Warner:
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012The last few months have left little doubt as to the gravity of questions addressed in the chambers of the United Nations. But recent events have also reignited discussions concerning one of the organization’s biggest questions: how to reform itself to make sure it corresponds to the challenges of today’s world? Despite its small size, and the fact it’s a relatively new member, Switzerland is stepping up its involvement in pushing ahead with reforms. It’s joined forces with Costa Rica, Singapore, Jordan and Liechtenstein to form the so-called S-5 group of nations—“Small Five”—to put forward 21 recommendations for reform. So what are they calling for and what are their chances of succeeding, given that calls for reform have led pretty much nowhere for nearly 20 years? WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to international relations expert Daniel Warner:
How Zurich flying robots see what we can't
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012How do you look inside a building that’s been brought down by an earthquake or a bomb—especially when it’s dangerous for people to go in, or entry points are very small? An international team in Zurich say flying robots that move by themselves are the way forward. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
Tuesday, 24 April, 2012How do you look inside a building that’s been brought down by an earthquake or a bomb—especially when it’s dangerous for people to go in, or entry points are very small? An international team in Zurich say flying robots that move by themselves are the way forward. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
Is Switzerland engulfed in 'economic warfare'?
Monday, 23 April, 2012UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti says Switzerland is “stuck in the middle of economic warfare.” UBS is Switzerland’s biggest bank, but Ermotti says tax disputes could weaken the country’s banks—costing thousands of jobs. Alex Helmick asks economist and journalist Beat Kappeler if Ermotti is overstating his case:
Monday, 23 April, 2012UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti says Switzerland is “stuck in the middle of economic warfare.” UBS is Switzerland’s biggest bank, but Ermotti says tax disputes could weaken the country’s banks—costing thousands of jobs. Alex Helmick asks economist and journalist Beat Kappeler if Ermotti is overstating his case:
FC Basel refuses Swiss League championship, for now
Monday, 23 April, 2012FC Basel is the best football team in Switzerland and many consider the squad the champions of the Swiss League. But it is the team itself that refuses to accept the title. The drama all revolves around FC Sion and owner Christian Constantin. Alex Helmick talks to Brian Homewood, sports reporter from Reuters, about the recent developments:
Monday, 23 April, 2012FC Basel is the best football team in Switzerland and many consider the squad the champions of the Swiss League. But it is the team itself that refuses to accept the title. The drama all revolves around FC Sion and owner Christian Constantin. Alex Helmick talks to Brian Homewood, sports reporter from Reuters, about the recent developments:
Sarkozy in uphill struggle as vote takes 'form of a referendum'
Monday, 23 April, 2012The first round of the French presidential elections are in. Socialist favorite Francois Hollande led conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy by about 29 to 26 percent. And far-rightist Marine Le Pen scored nearly 20 percent. To discuss get a bit of analysis WRS’s Pete Forster talks to François Nordmann:
Monday, 23 April, 2012The first round of the French presidential elections are in. Socialist favorite Francois Hollande led conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy by about 29 to 26 percent. And far-rightist Marine Le Pen scored nearly 20 percent. To discuss get a bit of analysis WRS’s Pete Forster talks to François Nordmann:
