Switzerland today

Greetings from Bern,

here is the Swiss news of the day and a little linguistic titbit.

This content was published on October 18, 2022 - 18:00

2 minutes

I cover food and agribusiness and have a special interest in sustainable supply chains, food safety and quality, as well emerging players and trends in the food industry. A background in forestry and conservation biology led me down the path of environmental advocacy. Journalism and Switzerland made me a neutral observer who holds companies accountable for their actions.

In the news: punishing kids, trafficking adults, bug bounties and pricey cars

Do you beat your kids? That’s what the University of Fribourg asked over 1,000 parents in an online survey on household violence towards childrenExternal link. Spanking, shoving and shaking seem to be the most common methods of corporal punishment. But 77% feel guilty afterwards compared to only 46% five years ago.
Today is European Anti-Trafficking Day. The number of victims of human trafficking in Switzerland External linkhas increased by half in the last two years. They were coerced to work in private households, in restaurants, in nail salons, in construction, or forced to beg or commit illegal acts such as theft. The victims came from 55 different countries with Nigeria, Romania, Brazil and Hungary the main places of origin.
Offering rewards to ethical hackers to detect security loopholes in IT infrastructure is getting more common. The Swiss have used it to identify vulnerabilities in e-voting in the past. The latest attempt is an open test of the federal government’s central login infrastructure. A total of 28 potential vulnerabilities were identifiedExternal link, with 14 of them confirmed. The payout was a measly CHF5,700 ($5,733).
The Covid pandemic led to supply bottlenecks that are still having an effect. Waiting times for new car models are still high which has pushed impatient drivers towards the used car market. As a result prices have jumped by almost 30% since 2020. Second-hand electric cars buyers especially are paying dearly.

How many languages do you speak? Fluent enough to do university studies in all of them?

My colleagues examine an attempt by the University of Fribourg to offer bilingual courses in both French and German. It is the only university in Switzerland that offers students the chance to earn a bilingual degree. How is it done? What are the challenges? Have a read – even if you’re not a polyglot.