Switzerland Today

Greetings from Zurich! 

Davos has enlisted the help of one of Switzerland’s top negotiators to iron out the thorny issue of antisemitisim that has engulfed the local hospitality industry. 

Michael Ambühl used to thrash out differences between Switzerland and the European Union. Will his new posting prove any more challenging? 

More on that later in the events of the day that we have put together for you. 

Switzerland called a halt to new nuclear power plants in 2017 KEYSTONE

In the news: a proposal to build new nuclear power plants, how telecoms providers can cover blackouts and a train hostage opens up about his harrowing experience. 

• A popular initiative has been presented in Bern that calls for a reversal of the current moratorium on new nuclear power plants. 
• The Swiss government has received broad support for resuming talks with the European Union on future relations. 
• One of the hostages held at axe point by an asylum seeker on a Swiss train last week has given details of the harrowing incident. 
• Telcoms firms have objected to a proposed new law that would oblige them to keep their mobile and internet services running in the event of a blackout. 
• A parliamentary finance committee sees no need to intervene in the issue of military finances.

KEYSTONE/© KEYSTONE / Gian Ehrenzeller

The solution to a long running row? 

The latest antisemitism row that has gripped Davos has clearly rattled the alpine resort’s tourism industry. 

They have appointed former top government negotiator Michael Ambühl in an effort to solve problems that have been rumbling on for years. 

To recap, a Davos hotel recently hit the headlines for banning ski gear rentals to Jewish guests, before having to backtrack under police investigation.  

As my colleague, Jessica Davis Plüss reported, this isn’t the first time that the Davos hospitality sector has clashed with Jewish guests. 

Three years of mediation has failed to find an answer to the problem. So Ambühl, who used to negotiate between Switzerland and the EU, has been drafted in to head a new task force. 

“It was clear to us that we needed a solution at a higher level. We wanted someone with experience who could handle such a conflict. The aim of the task force is to develop solutions,” Reto Branschi, director of Davos Tourism told Swiss public broadcaster SRFExternal link. 

“It is an important topic for us and that is why we brought in one of the best in his field.” 

Resolving the deadlock is vital for Davos, which not only relies on tourism for a lot of its income but also hosts the World Economic Forum’s flagship annual meeting.