Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

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The king of chocolate in Mexico

2017-09-28

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A rags-to-riches career straight out of a film script: as a young man, the protagonist emigrates to Mexico. Once there, he becomes the first ever manufacturer of white chocolate and goes on to become an entrepreneur worth millions. The life of Gianfranco Arnoldi. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) Arnoldi has always been in the confectionary business. He learnt his …

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How joining a foreigners’ club can make you stronger

2017-09-28

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. This week, she joins a club for foreign women called “Femmes-Tisch” in her home town of Langenthal, which provides members with different forms of training such as German classes, and helps them to integrate in Swiss society.   It’s run by the non profit …

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Why do honorary consuls work for free?

2017-09-28

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Honorary consuls are local personalities who represent foreign states in Switzerland, and they are not paid for their work. What motivates them? (RTS/swissinfo.ch) There are about 130 honorary consuls them in Switzerland. They are not professional diplomats, but people who work on a voluntary basis until their appointments are revoked. For instance, François de Coulon, who owns …

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Have young Swiss lost their rebelliousness?

2017-09-28

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In the 1960s, youngsters in the hippie movement triggered a social and cultural revolution, rebelling against Swiss society, which they considered conservative and capitalistic. 50 years on, young Swiss people still get what they want, but rebelling. (RTS/swissinfo.ch)  — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report …

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Lost Greek temple found by Swiss scholars

2017-09-26

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A Swiss-led team of archaeologists in Greece has made a spectacular find: the temple of Artemis, a famous open-air sanctuary of antiquity. (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 …

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Why do Balkan boys get a bad rap?

2017-09-26

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. She meets up with stand-up comedian, Sven Ivanic, who is Croatian, Serbian and “100 % Swiss”. They explore the prejudices against Balkan boys in Switzerland, and Sven defends his right to wear tracksuit bottoms. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)  — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the …

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Flat tops, braids and corn rows

2017-09-14

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Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. Max Urban, a rapper, was also born here, but to African parents. Because he is Afro-Swiss, he knows about Swiss politics and traditions, but also knows about the latest trends, hairstyles and dance moves that come out of Africa. (SRF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch)  — swissinfo.ch is …

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Atares: the first electric glider to be certified

2017-09-14

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The first ever first ‘Fly-In’ has been held in canton Solothurn, showcasing a range of electric or hybrid-powered aircraft. The Antares motor glider, made by Lange Aviation, was the first electric aircraft to be certified with an electric motor. Karl Olsen developed the software.  (Julie Hunt, swissinfo.ch)  — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation …

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Soaring with the birds in an electric glider

2017-09-14

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The first ever first ‘Fly-In’ has been held in canton Solothurn, showcasing a range of electric or hybrid-powered aircraft. Cornelia Ruppert presented the Archaopteryx , an electrified glider, especially adapted to land in a tight spot. (Julie Hunt, swissinfo.ch)  — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on …

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The first all-electric aerobatic trainer aircraft

2017-09-14

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The first ever first ‘Fly-In’ has been held in canton Solothurn, showcasing a range of electric or hybrid-powered aircraft. Frank Anton, head of electric aircraft at Siemens, flew in the Magnus E-Fusion, the first all-electric aerobatic trainer aircraft. (Julie Hunt, swissinfo.ch)  — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report …

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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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