Hi there, this is Michelle. One of the last guardrails on the US-Russia nuclear arms race is set to expire tomorrow, with no clear plans for what comes next. The New Start treaty, crafted 15 years ago in Geneva, may soon join the growing list of relics from a fading world order.
Following news of a Swiss bid for Geneva to host the UN’s newest science panel, Switzerland is pressing ahead with its quest to keep the multilateral hub competitive – with a major AI summit slated for next year. Plus, as the Epstein files roil the political and business elites, UN and Geneva-linked figures are also caught in the fallout. |
US president Barack Obama and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev during a joint news conference after signing the treaty on further reduction of strategic arms, Start. The ceremony took place in the Spanish Hall of the Czech president's residence in the Prague Castle. (Keystone/Sputnik/Dmitry Astakhov)
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UN taps new pension fund’s finance chief.
Dutch diplomat Robert van der Zee was appointed by UN chief António Guterres on Monday to oversee investment of the UN staff pension fund’s assets in New York. Van der Zee has been acting in the role since last summer, following the sudden resignation of the former investment chief, Pedro Guazo, whose move to the fund’s master record keeper raised concerns over potential breaches of UN employment rules.
Van der Zee has held a range of senior finance posts at the World Food Programme since 2005. His confirmation comes amid intense pressure on UN finances and staffing structures. In December, member states invited the pension board to conduct a sweeping review of the $108 million fund with aimed at cutting costs, fuelling staff concerns about the long-term impact on benefits.
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Here's what else is happening
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🤖Geneva to host major global AI conference in 2027.
The Federal Council reaffirmed its commitment to organise an AI summit next year, an opportunity to showcase Swiss innovation and research, as well as discuss the challenges posed by the technology.
Le Temps🔐 (FR)
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👀Swiss foundation watchdog looks into WEF salaries.
Swiss-German newspaper NZZ am Sonntag revealed frequent exchanges in recent months with the World Economic Forum about its future governance, following the ousting of its founder, Klaus Schwab.
Le Temps🔐 (FR)
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📩WEF president apologises for meetings and exchanges with Epstein.
A trove of newly released files linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein reveals ties across the political and business elite in Norway, naming World Economic Forum president Børge Brende, a former Norwegian diplomat to the UN, and a former UN envoy.
Blick (FR)
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🏝️Swedish UN official resigns after contact with Epstein revealed.
Joanna Rubinstein, chair of the Swedish fundraising arm for the UN Refugee Agency, stepped down after documents showed she visited the private Caribbean island of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2012.
Anadolu Agency (EN)
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⚕️Days after US leaves WHO, Israel warns it faces pressure to withdraw.
Claiming the UN health agency had become “too politicised”, Israel called at the Executive Board to engage in an “honest, urgent dialogue” on its future to avert a cascade of exits.
Health Policy Watch (EN)
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💰WHO cuts appeal for health emergencies by a third to US$1 billion in 2026.
Its health emergencies chief said funding would target 36 crises, including Ukraine, Gaza and Ukraine, while insisting the UN agency wouldn’t fully withdraw from any context despite shrinking operations.
Reuters via The Business Times (EN)
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