Animated films, smart cities and Switzerland’s first diplomat
Here are some of the stories we'll be following the week of September 17:
Monday
Animated films have experienced a surge in profile since the success of My Life as a Courgette, but Swiss filmmakers still face an uphill struggle to secure financing and distribution deals, as producers at the recent Fantoche animation film festival in Baden told swissinfo.ch.
As part of our Eyes on the Multinationals series, we answer a reader’s question about the consequences of Nestlé’s takeover of Blue Bottle and examine whether the local roaster and coffee chain has “lost its soul” as critics feared.
Tuesday
Our science reporter travels to Geneva for a ride on the city’s e-bus, part of “the first 100% electric large-capacity bus system”, and talks to experts about what else Switzerland can do to create smart, highly efficient and sustainable cities.
Wednesday
We go back 370 years in history, to the peace conference that followed the Thirty Years’ War, and evaluate the achievements of one Johann Rudolf Wettstein, the first Swiss diplomat and unsung hero at the negotiating table.
Thursday
For some firms, using cryptoassets rather than francs to cover start-up capital is the perfect antidote to banks refusing to open business accounts. swissinfo.ch talks to some of the Swiss entreprises that have taken the plunge, and uncovers both the risks and rewards associated with this strategy.
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