Tatiana Valovaya, the newly appointed director general of the UN office in Geneva, wants to bring a new proactive approach to the work the organization does at its European headquarters. The Russian diplomat tells CNNMoney Switzerland why her background as an economist will help make a difference in achieving this.WATCH MORE
UNCTAD: Europe is falling behind U.S., China in digital economy race
Europe is struggling to make its mark in the digital economy, accounting for only 4 percent of the market value of the world’s 70 biggest digital platforms. The U.S. and China, on the other hand, have a combined 90 percent share, according to a new report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Isabelle Durant, deputy secretary-general, is calling on Europe to form new alliances.
Diplomatic economics: UN Geneva’s new head to bring fresh perspective
Tatiana Valovaya, the newly appointed director general of the UN office in Geneva, wants to bring a new proactive approach to the work the organization does at its European headquarters. The Russian diplomat tells CNNMoney Switzerland why her background as an economist will help make a difference in achieving this.
Making more female voices heard—and read—in global affairs
Find out about the solutions that Angela Merkel, Christine Lagarde, and 26 other female leaders in their field are bringing to the debate on global governance in a new book published by the International Trade Centre.
These women are bringing solutions to the global economy
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and incoming ECB President Christine Lagarde are among the 28 female policymakers offering solutions to global challenges in a new book by the Geneva-based International Trade Centre. A recurring theme? The need to restore trust, says Arancha González, editor of the book and the ITC’s executive director.
Would a higher tax on the world’s top earners make a difference?
According to a new report from the Geneva-based International Labour Organization, a worker in the top 10 percent earns 7,445 U.S. dollars per month, while a worker in the bottom 10 percent earns just 22 dollars. But as billionaires like George Soros and Abigail Disney call for a wealth tax on the superrich, the ILO’s Steven Kapsos argues that the wage gap is the real issue.
Dreifuss on Switzerland’s war on drugs: “We are at risk”
According to the research company Global Drug Survey, cocaine can be delivered faster than pizza in Switzerland. And yet former Swiss president and chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy Ruth Dreifuss says the country hasn’t failed in its war on drugs. She does, however, see the need to ramp up the fight against money laundering and criminal organizations.
“The WTO has lost a lot of standing,” says HSG professor Evenett
G-20 leaders are discussing ways to revive the Geneva-based World Trade Organization and ease trade tensions at this week’s summit in Japan. A new report by the Global Trade Alert at the University of St. Gallen says governments overall have lost over a trillion U.S. dollars in trade. One of the report’s authors, HSG professor Simon Evenett, addresses the WTO’s future and the role Switzerland can play to help improve global trade relations.
A new ILO treaty looks to solve global workplace abuse
On its 100th anniversary, the International Labour Organization says its work is as urgent and relevant as when it was created back in 1919. Greg Vines, deputy director general for management and reform, hopes a treaty to be signed at its annual conference in Geneva this week will tackle the most urgent workplace issues around the world.
MeteoSwiss: Money can’t buy climate change halt
Money can’t stop climate change and extreme weather events from happening in Switzerland, Peter Binder of national weather provider MeteoSwiss warns at the 2019 World Meteorological Congress in Geneva. “We will experience more hot nights” and “more frequent droughts.”
Space technologies to become more affordable, says pioneer Ansari
Anousheh Ansari, the first female private space explorer, believes that in the next 50 years, humans “will have a settlement on the moon.” At the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Ansari, also CEO of the XPRIZE Foundation backed by Elon Musk, says that she thinks space business will flourish.
Swiss banks absent from new UN sustainability initiative
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Finance Initiative looks to better embed sustainability in bank operations to help tackle global warming. There are already more than 2,000 global signatories representing more than USD 80 trillion in assets. But out of the 80 banks that have given their support so far, none of them are Swiss. Eric Usher, who heads the initiative, says he has “high expectations” that they will join the mix before its launch in September.
Why eco-friendly Switzerland needs to clean up its plastic trash
The European Union’s law to ban single-use plastic items will come into effect in 2021. But the Swiss government is reluctant to take similar steps to fight plastic waste. Bruno Pozzi, the new director at the UN Environment’s Europe Office, says the choice is ours.
