Bern is against Italy’s demand to take part in the Swiss fire investigation; Crans-Montana fire deaths are already reflected in mortality statistics; and more news in our roundup on Thursday.
Italy’s demand to take part in the Swiss fire investigation riles up politicians
The Italian government has criticised the way Valais authorities are conducting their investigation into the deadly fire in a Crans-Montana bar of January 1st, in which several Italian citizens had died.
They therefore want to be involved in the investigation.
However, nobody in Bern supports Rome’s demands.
Deputies from both the left and the right of the political spectrum are of the same mind on this issue: that interference of a foreign country in an internal probe is “unacceptable.”
“To suggest that our justice is poorly administered and that Italy should come and help us is insulting,” said MP Mauro Poggia, echoing the stance of his colleagues in the parliament.
Add speaking of the fire…
This tragedy is already reflected in Swiss mortality statistics
Every Tuesday, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) publishes the deaths reported by the cantons for the previous week.
The figures for January 2026 show an unusual picture: Excess mortality occurred this month for those under 64, which means that more people in this age group died during this period than would have been statistically expected.
As the FSO confirmed, the reason for this unusual spike in deaths is the fire disaster in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve, in which primarily young people lost their lives.
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Government wants to improve rail transport in several regions
According to Transport Minister Albert Rösti, the government plans to improve or extend several lines.
Foremost among them are the Biel/Bienne-Lausanne-Geneva route, as well as a direct Neuchâtel – La Chaux-de-Fonds line.
Plans also include quarter-hourly service between Bern and Zurich, half-hourly service between Bern and Lucerne, Basel and Zurich, and regional services in the Swiss Plateau.
Additionally, the Federal Council is also examining the expansion of regional services in the Geneva–Lausanne area, increased service frequency between Bellinzona and Locarno, and longer platforms on the Zurich S-Bahn to allow for longer trains.
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Massive increase in onboard incidents recorded in 2025
The number of unruly passengers on the country’s airlines (SWISS, Edelweiss, and Easyjet Switzerland) had reached a new record in 2025. With a total of 2,021 cases registered, the number increased by 17 percent compared to the previous year.
The spectrum of misconduct ranges from verbal abuse toward the crew to acts of violence and sexual harassment.
Passengers also frequently ignore safety instructions from the crew, and violate smoking bans and rules regarding alcohol consumption.
The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) issued 166 fines ranging from 400 to 1,000 francs, but identifying perpetrators residing abroad significantly hinders legal enforcement.
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