20 Minutes. Those employed at the United Nations in Geneva are worried their salaries could be cut. Inflation has eroded the purchasing power of salaries paid to UN employees in New York, so a salary reduction of 7.5% is needed in Geneva to bring the purchasing power of UN employee salaries in Geneva into line […]
Swiss federal tribunal refuses to help French tax authorities
Tribune de Genève. The French tax authorities will not get Swiss help to investigate tax payers identified in data taken by Hervé Falciani from HSBC private bank in Geneva. HSBC, owner of the private bank in Geneva, which became part of HSBC in 1999 when it was acquired from Republic National Bank, a group run by Lebanese-born financier […]
Geneva is marching for science. Here’s why it matters.
On Saturday 22 April 2017, Geneva marches for science, one of hundreds of marches taking place around the world. But why would anyone march for science? Thank you science! There is a children’s book that encourages kids to say thank you for houses, the clean water that flows from the taps, cars, telephones, planes, radios, electricity and […]
A tiny Swiss group of lawyers takes on war crimes and crimes against humanity
The International Criminal Court at the Hague was created in 2002 to hold individuals responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The concept was good, but the international tribunal was almost immediately paralyzed by politics. As William Dowell writes, Alain Werner, who created Civitas Maxima has a different idea: represent the victims and fight […]
Some UN consultants thought their income was tax free. They were wrong.
20 Minutes. Some United Nations consultants haven’t paid taxes on their income, thinking it was exempt. When the tax authorities catch up with them they’ll risk paying back taxes and fines. As a general rule, foreign UN functionaries are not required to pay local taxes on their income. On the other hand UN consultants must. Over the […]
On meeting Bin Laden – former Le News editor tells his hair-raising story
When the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan in February, 1989 after nearly a decade of failed occupation, most Red Army soldiers were already gone. In their stead, they left a demoralized force of Afghan soldiers and militia to protect the communist ‘Khalqi’ regime in Kabul. With their backs to the wall, these would continue fighting […]
Knocking it all down: French property developers dictate Lake Geneva’s urban vision.
Special Investigative Report Part III: Early last year, the London Sunday Times ran a two-page spread on how Paris law and local governments are enabling ‘promoteurs’ – property developers – to destroy France’s historic village centres. Largely ignored by the local press, but shared on social media, this article triggered an extraordinary response among thousands […]
Where Geneva’s new gondola might go
Le Matin. Grenoble, Medellín, Caracas, and Rio all have gondolas, and New York is planning one. Now Geneva wants one too. Last week Geneva’s Grand Council accepted a plan, put forward by the Greens, to investigate the feasibility of a cable car transport network. Geneva’s department of transport (DETA) has already looked at several gondola proposals, which […]
Report shows risks of “low cost” terrorism in Switzerland
Tribune de Genève. The Swiss government recently published its third report on how to combat attacks by jihadists. The report, named TETRA, opens with a description of the terrorist attack in Berlin where a truck was driven into a crowded Christmas market killing 12 people. It then set outs the concerns experts have about the emergence […]
Geneva Motor Show wishes women a beautiful and sweet day
Today is international women’s day and the theme is Be Bold For Change. As the Geneva motor show prepares to open, we noticed they had posted something on their Facebook page to mark the day: “Women are honored today! We wish them a beautiful and sweet day!” The car industry has traditionally been male dominated. […]
