Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

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Planning permission by popular consent

2017-09-11

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Have you ever come across a collection of metal pylons on a patch of grass next to a house and wondered what they were for? In this episode Diccon Bewes explains how democracy works when the Swiss build new homes. (Diccon Bewes for swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). …

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Glacier collapses near Swiss ski resort

2017-09-11

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An unstable part of a glacier in the Swiss Alps has now completely collapsed, without causing any major damage. The bulk of the ice tongue of the Trift glacier in canton Bern fell down on Sunday, the rest on Monday morning. The area affected is above the village of Saas-Grund, near the resort of Saas-Fee. … Continue reading...

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Is Switzerland accessible for the disabled?

2017-09-11

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Navigating your way around train stations, buildings and even websites might be easy enough for an able-bodied person, but how is it for everyone else? 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 …

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The last human right

2017-09-07

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Assisted suicide has been legal in Switzerland for decades, in fact it’s even seen as the last human right. 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 … Continue reading...

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The world’s steepest funicular

2017-09-07

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Switzerland has the world’s steepest funicular, able to surmount a 47-degree incline. Engineers in canton Schwyz had to develop a completely new sort of railway for it. Tests are currently underway to put the novel technology through its paces. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is …

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How to get along with sharks

2017-09-03

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Erich Ritter is one of the world’s leading researchers into shark behaviour and believes they have a reputation for being dangerous that they don’t deserve. He has devised a highly-sought after protocol for how humans can better interact with sharks. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is …

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Tama and the car freaks

2017-09-01

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week she visits a show organised by Tamils for auto addicts. For these collectors, the more souped up and tarted up the cars are, the better. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role …

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Skin lightening: why do Tamil women do it?

2017-09-01

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Box Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. She meets make-up artist, Kavi, and they discuss why Tamil women still try to make their skin lighter. Is it a hangover from Sri Lanka’s colonial past? (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). …

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When you cast your vote far from home

2017-09-01

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Why do the Swiss abroad vote differently from the Swiss at home? An expert takes a closer look at the political profile of the Swiss diaspora. Political expert Thomas Milic has researched the political profile of Swiss expats. He’s an expert on voting, parliamentary research and political psychology at the research centre Sotomo. He also regularly works …

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Re-visiting a refugee centre

2017-09-01

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. The family fled war-torn Colombo, and started life in Switzerland at the Roggwil refugee centre in Oberaargau, canton Bern. Tama and her older brother, Yathu, visit a similar centre for asylum-seekers, also in Oberaargau, and relive their own childhood. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is …

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Star photographers gather in Olten

2017-09-01

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Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiCaprio and Donald Trump – Marco Grob has taken pictures of them all. But what does it take to produce iconic photographs? To answer this and other questions, the star photographer has set up the first International Photo Festival in Olten. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) Born in Olten, Grob started his career in Los Angeles in the 1980s. …

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What does it take to feel Swiss in Switzerland?

2017-08-31

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Emily has Polish/Chinese roots but grew up in Canada and says she feels Canadian. Tama doesn’t feel terribly Swiss, even though she grew up here and speaks Swiss-German. We find out why.  (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)  — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting …

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Unspunnen festival: stone throwing for beginners

2017-08-31

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Beginnners are getting the chance to discover traditional Swiss sports this week at the Unspunnen festival in the Alpine resort of Interlaken. The week is dedicated to introducing folklore activities such as stone throwing. (Julie Hunt, swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland …

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The Swiss who sends satellites into space

2017-08-26

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Daniel Neuenschwander oversees the launching of rockets taking satellites into space. The 42-year-old is the first Swiss director at the European Space Agency, ESA. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) Since the foundation of the European Space Agency, ESA over 40 years ago, Switzerland has collaborated on developing rockets and research programmes, and contributes to ESA’s budget.  Since September 2016, ESA has also had a Swiss …

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Why language is not just about talking

2017-08-25

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week, she visits a summer camp for young Vietnamese people growing up in Switzerland and talks to camp leader, Tri, about the importance of language, not only as a means of communication but also as part of one’s identity. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch) …

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Have you heard of Unspunnen?

2017-08-24

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Every dozen years or so, crowds flock to the Unspunnen Festival that features the best of Swiss traditions: alphorn music, Schwingen wrestling, flag throwing and a feat of strength to see who can throw an 83.5kg stone the furthest. This year it’s in Interlaken. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation …

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Nobel prize-winning Swiss surgeon celebrated

2017-08-24

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Theodor Kocher, who died 100 years ago, was the first Swiss to win a Nobel Prize in medicine and was the founder of modern surgery. He was internationally famous, thanks to his research into the thyroid gland. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)  — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland …

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Japan’s Swiss-style nuclear bunkers

2017-08-24

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With nearby North Korea stepping up missile launches and nuclear tests, people in Japan are preparing for the worst by building private nuclear shelters using Swiss technology. (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. …

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Galaktische Karriere eines Schweizers in den USA

2017-08-22

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From a small village in Switzerland to the American space agency. Thomas Zurbuchen was raised in a small village in canton Bern, and is now head of research at NASA. He lives in Washington, but hasn’t lost any of his Swiss values. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its …

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A life-changing art project

2017-08-17

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week, Tama visits the Kidswest Association set up a decade ago in Bern, which introduces art to disadvantaged children and can even change their lives, as one former participant explains. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation …

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