Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

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Increasing number of poor people in Geneva

2017-12-31

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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 …

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Scaring off wild boar in their own language

2017-12-27

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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 …

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Life without a mobile phone

2017-12-26

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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 »

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Reindeer? No, postmen on skis!

2017-12-22

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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 …

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Jura farmers turn their hand to spirulina production

2017-12-21

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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 …

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Viva l’Italia!

2017-12-21

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week Tama talks to her Italian friends about what it’s like for them living in Zurich, and Italian cultural taboos. For instance, you should never cut your spaghetti or drink a cappuccino in the afternoon! (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch …

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Swiss train rides: punctual and beautiful

2017-12-16

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Trains, train, trains: Diccon Bewes packs his bag and heads off for a day out on Swiss public transport. Along the way he manages to hop on board almost every type of moving vehicle that Switzerland has to offer. It turns out it’s not the beautiful views that take his breath away, but the intricate train … Continue reading...

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When the going gets tough, get out of bed!

2017-12-15

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(To view video subtitles in English, click on the cc icon to turn captions on). Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. In this week’s vlog, she tells us how to stay motivated. She says, “When the going gets tough, don’t take a nap. Get out there and pursue your … Continue reading...

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How to reduce antibiotics in livestock

2017-12-15

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Antibiotics in meat are an increasing health hazard to people. Some farmers are treating their livestock using homeopathy or phytotherapy as an alternative to antibiotics or other drugs. (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 …

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YouTubers come in all shapes and sizes

2017-12-08

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week, she attends the Zug film festival, “Zuger Filmtage”, to accept an award for her Vlog. The festival provides a competition platform for YouTubers of all ages who have something fresh to offer. Tama meets some of the competitors. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is …

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Making fun of migration stereotypes

2017-12-07

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week she interviews Arman and Sascha from Austria, who have made a feature film (“Die Migrantigen”), poking fun at migration stereotypes. Omar, a former criminal, and his friends live in the fictional town of Rudolfsgrund. They all eat kebabs and they’re all broke, …

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Where there’s a will, there’s a way

2017-12-07

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week she talks to Ola, who’s 20, and fled the war in Aleppo, Syria, with her family a year ago. Since then, Ola has not only learnt German by taking free classes and practicing with friends, she has also set up and run … Continue reading »

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Apocalypse at Bern’s Natural History Museum

2017-12-01

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The story of the end of the world is man-made fiction, from both ancient and recent times. Now the Natural History Museum in Bern has dedicated an exhibition to the subject. It’s frightening and fascinating in equal measures, and shows how heavily apocalypse features in pop culture and religion. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss …

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Swiss schools offer training for a life on the stage

2017-12-01

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At the beginning of 2009 a professional qualification for stage dancers was introduced in Switzerland. It’s something that’s been attracting international students to the country, and to this ballet school in Basel. (SRF, swissinfo.ch) The three-year “Federal Certificate of Proficiency” for stage dancers is offered in Switzerland at the Zurich Dance Academy, where it was first introduced; …

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How one Swiss hospital slashed food waste

2017-11-24

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For a month, Lucerne Cantonal Hospital has weighed all of the food it throws away. The result was a real eye-opener for the hospital, and now the hospital chefs are introducing some drastic changes. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)  — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and …

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Manufacturing returning to Switzerland thanks to automation

2017-11-18

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Exactly how machines replacing human labour will affect the future job market remains unknown. But manufacturing making a comeback in Switzerland is one unexpected and welcome consequence. (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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Tamil street food, all chopped up

2017-11-17

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week, she meets up with Thileeban, who talks about his difficult start to life here in Switzerland. These days, apart from selling Sri Lankan street food, he’s also involved in film production. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). …

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Why Tama’s role models are all women

2017-11-17

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Her role models are all female: singers, stand-up comedians,YouTubers and Disney characters. Here’s why she thinks they’re heroes. (SRF Kulturplatz/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 …

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The grassroots fight for biodiversity

2017-11-17

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The spread of non-native plant species is one of the greatest threats to Switzerland’s biodiversity. In a pilot project, the Canton of Zurich is coordinating the fight against the 20 most invasive plants over a wide stretch of Reppischtal. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to …

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How Switzerland is affected by female circumcision

2017-11-15

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What is female circumcision and how much of a problem is it in Switzerland? 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 …

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