Original version

BBC World Service News Internet

From Our Own Correspondent

News

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

From Our Own Correspondent: Soul-searching in Switzerland

Magazines & Reviews

Protest in Lausanne, Switzerland, against the war in Ukraine

05/03/2022 GMT

Soul-searching in Switzerland

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Soul-searching in Switzerland

Switzerland adopts EU sanctions against Russia plus stories from Hungary, USA and Chile.

The Swiss debate the meaning of neutrality, Ukrainians find safety in Hungary, we're at the annual Republican conference in the USA and Moai Tau returns to Rapa Nui.

This week Switzerland, after much soul searching, decided to adopt all the European Union’s sanctions against Russia. It was hailed around the world as a huge step, a virtual abandonment of the country’s strict neutrality. But was it? Imogen Foulkes gauges the reaction of Swiss locals.

Over one million refugees have fled Ukraine in the days since the Russian invasion began. As the long convoy of Russian military tanks closes in on Kyiv, the rush to escape to neighbouring countries has become ever more frantic. Nick Thorpe is at the Hungarian border and reflects on a different invasion.

For the majority of those attending the annual Republican Conference in Florida, the crisis in Ukraine was a subject best avoided. Instead, President Joe Biden was cast as their greatest threat. Anthony Zurcher reports on the conference.

Thousands of miles off the coast of Chile, sits the Polynesian island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. The islanders are eagerly anticipating the return of one of their beloved Moai figures carved out of rock. It was first brought to Chile in 1870. Jane Chambers has been following the twists and turns of the great homecoming.

Presenter: Pascale Harter
Producer:  Diane Richardson
Editor: Emma Close

(Image: Protest in Lausanne, Switzerland, against the war in Ukraine. Credit: European Pressphoto Agency/Jean-Christophe Bott)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

From Our Own Correspondent

Soul-searching in Switzerland

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service News Internet

About BBC World Service