The war in Ukraine has forced Switzerland to reflect on its neutrality. Alongside rising pessimism is a growing willingness to cooperate with international agencies. A study published this week shows that 55% would like to see greater Swiss alignment with NATO. The study, published by the Military Academy (MILAK) at ETH Zurich and the Center […]
Switzerland joins UN Security Council for first time
On 3 January 2023, Switzerland began its first term as a member of the UN Security Council in New York, a position it will hold until the end of 2024. After a UN vote in June 2022, Switzerland was elected to the position after 10 years of preparation. Over the years there has been significant […]
Swiss airports almost at pre-pandemic passenger levels
Geneva and Zurich airports both have pre-Christmas passenger numbers close to pre-pandemic levels, reported RTS. On Friday 23 December 2022, more than 55,000 passengers passed through Geneva airport (Cointrin), roughly 3,000 more than the day before. According to airport management, this level is close to the numbers in 2019 before Covid-19 arrived. The highest daily […]
Franco-Swiss deal reached on taxing remote workers
This week, after two years of negotiating, France and Switzerland reached an agreement on the tax treatment of workers employed in one country who work remotely in the other, announced the Swiss government. From 1 January 2023, up to 40% of an employee’s annual working hours can be worked from home without having any impact […]
World’s most powerful particle accelerator now operating at record energy
On 5 July 2022, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle accelerator located just outside Geneva started operating at new higher record energy levels. After more than three years of upgrade and maintenance work the LHC is back online. Beams of particles have been circulating in CERN’s accelerator complex since April, with the LHC machine and […]
Switzerland to join UN Security Council for the first time in its history
On 9 June 2022, Switzerland was elected to sit on the 15-member United Nations Security Council with 14 other nations from 2023 to 2024. The result was largely expected. Only one candidate stood for each of the five regional seats available this year. Switzerland received 187 favourable votes out of a possible 190. Votes are […]
Russia’s UN political appointees silent on Ukraine
By William Thatcher Dowell Tatiana Valovaya, a political appointee who heads the United Nations Office in Geneva, represents one of the world’s most important humanitarian, trade and conflict resolution hubs. And yet, while the UN’s specialized agencies from UNHCR to WHO have denounced the carnage in Ukraine, Valovaya is silent. Valovaya’s uncomfortable situation highlights the UN’s […]
US diplomats in Geneva report suffering from Havana syndrome
Several US diplomats in Geneva appear to be victims of the Havana syndrome, according to RTS. The mysterious syndrome was first reported in Havana in Cuba in 2016 by US and Canadian embassy staff, but may have been occurring earlier. The symptoms include ear pain and ringing, nausea, disorientation, dizziness and cognitive difficulties. Brain scans […]
The West’s abandonment of Afghanistan: a story of arrogance, ineptitude, and little understanding
By Edward Girardet The collapse of Afghanistan has been a disaster in the making for two decades and even longer. America’s shared responsibility for this country’s ongoing war stretches back to the summer of 1979 when the Central Intelligence Agency first began militarily supporting the anti-communist guerrillas, some of whom later became the Taliban. Even […]
Afghanistan — “We Tried to Tell You”
Afghanistan’s war has lasted over four decades and not 20 as is often claimed, notably since the US-led invasion of October 2001. Mort Rosenblum, who has covered Afghanistan since the early days of the Soviet occupation of the 1980s, explores the current US disaster and the crucial role of good reporting in getting people to […]
