Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

Swiss camera set to capture life on Mars

In 2021, a European rover is set to roll over the surface of Mars in the search for traces of life. At its heart is a Swiss camera, currently being tested in (almost) Martian conditions. — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and …

Read More »

How to make friends with a Swiss person

Misinformed stereotype or stark reality? Whichever way round it is, how to make friends with the Swiss is a topic for most expats at some point during their time here. This animated guide lays out some ground rules for forming friendships with the Swiss – all with a heavy dose of humour. (SRF, swissinfo.ch) — …

Read More »

People in wheelchairs can drink and drive!

“True Talk” puts people in front of the camera who are fighting prejudice or discrimination. They answer questions that nobody would normally dare to ask directly. — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events. For …

Read More »

The making of a well-behaved sheepdog

As guard dogs have been a threat to the wellbeing of hikers, Swiss authorities have now committed to measures to better train the animals. (SRF, swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events. For …

Read More »

A Stradivarius sound thanks to fungus?

When creating new instruments, researchers and violin makers strive to reproduce the sound of a Stradivarius. Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, is trying to achieve this by treating the wood used to make violins with a fungus. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). …

Read More »

The latest horse meat scandal:

Horses in South American slaughterhouses are mistreated – and their meat might end up on Swiss plates. Nouvo brings you short videos about Switzerland, Swiss current affairs and the wider world. Keep up to date and watch the videos wherever you are, whenever you like. — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting …

Read More »

Swiss medical students follow their dream in Romania

It’s notoriously difficult to gain university places in medicine and veterinary science in Switzerland, so a growing number of Swiss are going to Romania to study instead. (RTS/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international …

Read More »

Swiss hospitals join forces in battle against cancer

In Fribourg, the cantonal hospital is joining forces with a private clinic to tackle prostate and breast cancers. This kind of partnership is a first in Switzerland and has earned international recognition. (RTS/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide …

Read More »

Getting precious metals from dry slag

A modern facility in the Zurich Oberland that sorts precious metals from dry slag has turned out to be a veritable gold mine, with some of its finds yielding millions of francs. It’s a great example of how valuable raw materials can be recovered from waste.(SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss …

Read More »

The secret life of a bunker

There is a place, in the Graubünden mountains, which remained top secret until 1994… Nouvo brings you short videos about Switzerland, Swiss current affairs and the wider world. Keep up to date and watch the videos wherever you are, whenever you like. — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its …

Read More »

Swiss ski resorts struggle under the weight of snow

The Alpine village of Zermat is under siege – not from tourists, but from the snow. And several other resorts have been cut off because there’s too much of the white stuff. (SRF/swissinfo,ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide …

Read More »

Simplicity on the skyline

Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron have visited their museum construction site in Hong Kong’s Victoria harbour for the first time. The 60,000-square-metre museum dedicated to art, design, architecture and film is scheduled for completion in 2018. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland …

Read More »

The radio course that helps refugees find work

Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week she visits the ‘Klipp und Klang’ radio school. The students, who are refugees, conduct radio interviews with managers of various enterprises to find out what sort of skills they need for different types of work. They also learn how to apply for jobs. …

Read More »

Telling the world about historic peacekeeping efforts

On 1 January, 1942, a document was signed by 26 states, coining the term “United Nations”. The Declaration of the United Nations external link pledged that their governments would continue fighting together against the Axis Powers. Swiss Public Television, RTS, takes a closer look at attempts to make historic documents like these available to a …

Read More »

Does limiting urban sprawl mean bad architecture?

The town of Schwyz recently tore down some medieval buildings with beautiful wall paintings in order to create space for some multi-storey buildings. According to the 2014 federal zoning law, Swiss municipalities are obliged to limit urban sprawl. However, building new, incongruous structures in historic town centres can often change the local character. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — …

Read More »

Increasing number of poor people in Geneva

Demand for food parcels in Switzerland has increased by more than 38% over two years, highlighting the issue of poverty in the country. One in four Swiss people experiences financial difficulties and has no money left over for food at the end of the month, especially in Geneva. (RTS/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of …

Read More »

Scaring off wild boar in their own language

Forget guns or traps, a researcher in Switzerland has been using terrifying sounds to try and scare wild boar away from crops. It’s hoped that the “scary stories”might help farmers, who suffer from destroyed fields and harvests thanks to the animals. The number of wild boar in Switzerland has been increasing for years. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is …

Read More »

Life without a mobile phone

It might be hard for some of us to believe, but there are people who choose to live without a mobile phone. Do you find yourself looking at an app to check the weather, rather than looking out of the window? This is just one example of a reliance on mobile technology that started to … Continue reading »

Read More »

Reindeer? No, postmen on skis!

The Swiss Post may soon be using drones to deliver Christmas packages in isolated areas, but 60 years ago, postmen used a good old analogue method: skis. Modern postmen have more to fear from aggressive dogs than sporting injuries. But last century, postmen in mountain areas of Switzerland risked breaking their necks to get the Christmas …

Read More »

Jura farmers turn their hand to spirulina production

A Swiss family business has branched out into the cultivation of spirulina, an aquatic microalgae that has become a much sought-after food supplement. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events. For more articles, interviews and …

Read More »