Davos Diary

The most gripping exchange during a session on Russia came when Bill Browder of Hermitage Capital once the biggest foreign investors in Russia and now a critic

Not confidence-inspiring

The most gripping exchange during a session on Russia came when Bill Browder of Hermitage Capital once the biggest foreign investors in Russia and now a critic asked the panel about the notorious death in police custody of Sergei Magnitsky,his lawyer and auditor. The response of Igor Shuvalov,the deputy prime minister,was (presumably) meant to sound reasonable and reassuring. He described the case as horrendous and said that some people had already lost their jobs and been charged over it. But it was very difficult to get to the bottom of the case,because the system was protecting some guilty people. The assembled business people did not seem impressed.

Mexican waves

President Felipe Calderón of Mexico,who is finishing his single six-year term this year,warned that the eurozone faced a timebomb which must be deactivated fast. He is particularly worried about the lack of growth amid austerity,particularly in southern Europe. That sounds very much like the warning David Cameron gave to the Davos VIPs,but it sounds all the more credible from a neutral Mexican leader.

Next years new year

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The absence of Chinese senior officials who stayed away from Davos this year owing to the forums clash with Chinese lunar new year festivities has been something of an embarrassment for organisers. Especially this year,when there will be the once-a-decade leadership shuffle in China,it made sense for senior Chinese officials to celebrate the new year at home,where they can be seen with the people during the festivities. Now it appears that the World Economic Forum is open to moving the annual Davos gathering to an earlier date,possibly in mid-January,to ease the way for Chinese leaders to attend.

Miles left to go

The Africa session in the Congress Hall was advertised as featuring Goodluck Jonathan,the president of Nigeria. But he hasnt shown up having pressing issues at home. Its still an all-star line-up. We heard from Jacob Zuma,Raila Odinga and Meles Zenawi,the leaders of South Africa,Kenya and Ethiopia. Mr Zenawi says he thinks the African continent is poised for rapid take-off,much as India was in 1990. A nice reality check from Gordon Brown,who points out Africa now has fewer miles of paved roads than it did 30 years ago.

Dressing up

Davos is feeling a little more formal this year,to judge by neckwear habits. A couple of male participants said they had scrambled to find a tie after initially opting for a Silicon Valley-style open-necked shirt. There must be five times as many people wearing ties as last year, said one.

2012 The Financial Times Limited