Switzerland Today

Dear Swiss Abroad,

the weather has returned to its unpredictable ways again. After a spring-like start to the year, the Swiss capital Bern received a smattering of snow today. More snowfall is expected this week, especially in the Bernese Oberland and Central Alps. Time to bring out the winter gear again.

This content was published on January 16, 2023 - 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: Train defects, abused teachers, cartel boss and a dead elephant

A train accident near Bern last June triggered an investigation and the report was published last week. The report revealed that up to three trains a day were running even though they had known defectsExternal link to the automatic safety system that brakes when it senses danger.
Two out of three teachers claim they have suffered abuse from their pupils or their parents External linkin the last five years. The most common forms of psychological violence are insults, verbal abuse, threats or intimidation. In most cases, the violence comes from the parents. But there is also pressure from the students.
An alleged kingpin of a Colombian drug cartel External linkis on trial in Basel. He is accused of facilitating the transport of around nine tonnes of cocaine worth over CHF600 million ($647 million) on the street. A fruit trading company and a pineapple plantation in Colombia were allegedly used as a cover to transport the drugs.
Another elephant calf has died External linkat Zurich Zoo. The young animal was too weak and died despite the best effort of vets, the zoo said in a statement on Monday. The calf will be examined in the coming days to determine the exact cause of death, it said. Last summer several young elephants died as a result of a herpes infection. Whether the virus played a role in the current death is unknown.

WEF lite: World leaders conspicuous by absence

The World Economic Forum circus begins this week. Participants looking forward to hobnobbing with the global elite will be disappointed though. The usual heavyweights are staying awayExternal link as they grapple with problems at home. There will be no Biden, Xi or Putin this time, nor Macron, Sunak or Lula. Ukraine’s Zelensky will be attending via video but he’s done so many video appearances recently (including at the Golden Globes film awards last week) that it might not be as special anymore.

If you’re looking for a celebrity selfie, the best you can hope for is German Chancellor Olaf Scholz or European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Those attending WEF will have to shell out thousands for a night, even for a simple room at a three-star hotelExternal link. Being a Davos Man (or Davos Woman) is not what it used to be.