INTEGRATION THROUGH COMMUNICATION FREE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Suisse Romande N°0 Place your bets What a gem! Swiss–US tensions A luxury new casino Diamonds set record How will Obama’s second term opens in Neuchâtel prices at Geneva impact Swiss banks? auctions 3 5 12 Geneva civil servants on strike In protest at planned cuts in 2013, around 1,000 civil servants took to the streets of Geneva on Thursday. SWISS returns Amy Macdonald concert illness to Geneva Amy Macdonald’s concert planned for next week in Geneva is in doubt Cointrin to regain its status as SWISS Chief Executive Harry Geneva management will have after the Scottish singer suffered a an international hub Hohmeister said the carrier “wants to greater autonomy to adapt services in seizure. be the airline for the whole of Switzer- ight and on the ground. For example, In response to increasing international land, not just Zurich”. He added that onboard catering will focus on Avalanche danger rises air trac, Swiss International Air Lines SWISS wants “to stress our ongoing products and specialities of the region. commitment to our Geneva base”. In an apparent reference to competi- decided this month to further expand 135cm of snow fell last week and e news will likely be greeted tion from easyJet, which has increased its presence in Suisse Romande by police warn that a further 20-30cm favourably by expats and Swiss living in its ight destinations from Geneva, hiring more French-speaking employ- is expected. “Ski on the piste. The French Switzerland who for years were Hohmeister said SWISS “has no ees and creating a new unit with 160 avalanche risk is too high to go off cabin crew and 90 pilots. forced to go through Zurich when intention of launching a price war”. travelling internationally. piste.” The soul of sculpture DISCLAIMER This 0 edition of Le News is a prototype purely for illustrative purposes. The information within should not be taken as factual. This prototype is given to you on condition that it is not made public and it must be destroyed or returned on our request. No responsibility or liability is accepted by Le News or any person for any errors, omissions or misstatements. 2 is Week in Switzerland Health insurance premiums are to Some 50,000 signatures each have rise by 1.5 percent on average next been collected for referendums year – the second-lowest increase against the government’s tax since 1996. Although children’s accords with Germany, the United premiums will fall by 1.4 percent, Kingdom and Austria. If there are those for young adults will rise by an enough valid signatures, referen- average 2.9 percent. Health Minister dums on the tax agreements will be Alain Berset regretted the increase held. e campaign was launched but said families would benet from by a cross-party group including the lower children’s premiums. the Young Socialists and the Young Swiss People’s Party. Swiss President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf has attended the 67th United Nations General A worker who allegedly stole data Assembly where she called on the from the Federal Intelligence Security Council to refer the situation Service apparently wanted to sell it in Syria to the International Criminal abroad, the Oce of the Attorney Court. General said, referring to “a serious case of economic espionage”. According to the Swiss Economic Federal Prosecutor Michael Institute (KOF), the outlook for the Lauber said the data leak had Swiss economy remains positive. e possibly endangered Switzerland’s advert KOF economic barometer reached security. 1.67 points in September, continuing the positive trend of recent months, e number of foreign workers in albeit with decelerating pace. Switzerland rose in the second Three Clis Bay quarter of the year to 1.36 million. Swansea, Wales e number of Swiss employed persons was constant at 3.40 million. At the end of November there were 170,000 people without a job in Switzerland – 8,000 more relax than in the same period last year. and what about you? 14 destinations to the UK leaving from Geneva starting at ree members of a Swiss family have been sentenced for breaking the law on war materiel. Friedrich Tinner and his sons Urs and Marco were involved in a nuclear smug- gling ring, illegally supplying centrifuge components to the Libyans. All three received condition- A work said to be an earlier version al jail terms. e men, who admitted of the Mona Lisa painting by their guilt, had struck a deal with the Leonardo da Vinci has been Oce of the Attorney General, unveiled in Geneva. e Mona Lisa thereby shortening the legal process. Foundation said 35 years of research had proved the work’s LARGE SPACES authenticity. e painting shows La Pharma group Merck Serono has Joconde looking visibly younger easyJet.com found a solution for 500 of its than in the masterpiece which employees in Geneva, where it is hangs in the Louvre. fi à » cutting 1,250 jobs. A further 750 â à employees are still looking for work. LE NEWS 27 DECEMBER 2012 3 Regional easyJet continues upwards GENEVA Despite Europe’s economic crisis, Editor’s comment easyJet is maintaining its growth course, bringing Restricting lobbyists' rights jobs and investment to the region. hen the cabinet announced on Friday that it had adopted an ordinance restricting the Low cost airline easyJet has rights of lobbyists, many Swiss just shrugged announced the arrival of its Wtheir shoulders in mild accord or lack of interest. However, 13th aircraft in Geneva, the this belies the seriousness of debate in the corridors of the launch of its 58th route and Federal Palace. increased ight frequency for e Cabinet’s decision that only journalists working for 20 destinations. According to mainstream or general media organisations can have the economic institute BAK- access to the Federal Palace Media Centre is sensible given BASEL, the company generates that lobbying under the pretence of being a journalist is CHF 1.4 billion a year in The new A320 represents a potential of 250,000 extra passengers and just one subterfuge that some lobbyists have repeatedly economic benets for the Lake some 35 direct jobs. employed to allow them to meet politicians. Lobbyists will Geneva region. It has also now have to be accredited to access the centre. generated 1,800 direct and easyJet’s target for 2013 is to in the region. With the new ere is a role for lobbyists in the Swiss legislative system indirect jobs in Geneva, Vaud, sell 60 million seats on ights A320 operational from Decem- as they tend to focus on complex issues and frequently are and neighbouring France. to and from Switzerland. ber, easyJet's investment in masters of their subject. However, their access to parlia- Also operating out of Basel According to easyJet's North Geneva totals CHF 650 million. mentarians should be carefully regulated and transparent and Zurich, easyJet is the European sales manager, Placing Geneva rmly on the to avoid them having disproportionate and unaccountable second largest airline in omas Haagensen, "e European map, the carrier has inuence. is is what the cabinet’s decision seeks to Switzerland. is year the prospects are positive and we increased access to the city by achieve, however, there are profound aspects to this issue company has really taken o, still have a strong growth 30 percent in 15 years. Today which remain to be addressed. with a ten percent increase in potential in Switzerland." accessibility equals that of e Swiss parliament, like some other parliaments, relies passenger numbers, which Such condence is reected large cities such as London and upon part-time politicians to serve as the people’s equates to 5.5 million in in the airline’s total investment Brussels. representatives. Defenders of these civic minded folk Geneva alone. assert that they remain in touch with the electorate and bring to their work a broad range of expertise and experience that is vital to the democratic process. is may indeed be so, and we only need to look at countries Geneva to Place your bets where a degree in law or politics is viewed as a tacit re-submit 2013 NEUCHÂTEL A new casino in Neuchâtel has opened after several prerequisite for political success to see how dislocated months of renovation. It is expected to attract around 430 visitors legislatures can become from societies. But how does a budget a day, with annual revenue reaching CHF 22.5 million. Owners part-time politician who spends months every year Kongress + Kursaal Bern AG say that it will be donating a portion GENEVA Having had its rst running a business or holding down a job stay abreast of of the prots to a foundation which supports cultural, sporting, draft budget rejected, the city uid economic, social, military, diplomatic, commercial social and tourist events. Support will also be given to Neuchat- of Geneva has submitted a new and technological developments? Lobbyists here have el’s Passage eatre and the canton's tourism association. argued (with disarming candour) that they are able to budget proposal for 2013 to the ATS brief and indeed educate parliamentarians better than the Geneva cantonal parliament. political parties and the civil service. If this is the case is sees the decit reduced to then the pro-lobbying lobbyists must, clearly and openly CHF 191 million from CHF 278 demonstrate that the briengs and information they give million, thanks to a CHF 99 to parliamentarians are objective and accurate. If million improvement in tax lobbyists cannot demonstrate this, then they are in eect income.