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In Ethiopia, Swedish journalists handed prison terms
An Ethiopian court has sentenced Swedish journalists Johan Persson (left) and Martin Schibbye to 11 years in prison. (AFP)New York, December 27, 2011--In a highly politicized trial, two Swedish journalists have been sentenced in an Ethiopian court to 11-year jail terms after being convicted of supporting terrorism and entering the country illegally, according to news reports. Read this from the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

Facing realities in Afghanistan - The road to recovery goes through the countryside
The first Bonn conference on Afghanistan in December, 2001 to help put this war-torn country back on the road to recovery largely failed. Dominated by the United States, too many of those involved arrogantly sought to impose their own agendas. They also d

Alpine Cities Feel Heat From Climate Change
Swiss ski resorts are not the only ones experiencing high late fall temperatures and lack of snow. November has been one of the warmest and driest on record in the northern Alps. And even if snow is forecast for the end of this week, it has already affec

Book reading: Jonathan Leighton "The Battle for Compassion: Ethics in an Apathetic Universe" I
, Geneva. Wednesday 30 November 2011, 18:30-20:00 Synthesizing recent thinking from science, philosophy, psychology and economics with the author's own reflections on freedom, identity and morality, The Battle for Compassion offers a fresh, sweeping pers

Killing the Cranes - The book about Afghanistan that Obama needs to read
With the NATO Foreign Ministers Conference on Afghanistan coming up in December, Killing the Cranes: A Reporter's Journey Through Three Decades of War in Afghanistan is the book all those attending should be forced to read. They might not like what Swiss-

Letter from Radio Frontier - New Lake Geneva Station Expands Listenership
Radio Frontier has been on-air for four and half months now and is quickly expanding its outreach on both sides of the border. The station has already created a listening community of over 20,000 people in the region and we continue to grow each month. Wh

The Afghan Solution: the inside Story of Abdul Haq, the CIA and how Western Hubris Lost Afghanistan
The Afghan Solution is an important book and one that needs to be read by anyone wondering why American and British intelligence got it so wrong with the start of the October 7, 2001 war in Afghanistan. And how we could have avoided America's longest war

Shafqat Amanat Ali Concert
Swiss Pakistan Society presents Charity Dinner and Musical Evening with Pakistani Renowned Artist, “Shafqat Amanat Ali with his musicians, Live instrumental music, Danses, Mega hits of Bollywood songs:.

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Movers & Shakers

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As part of Webster University’s annual initiative, the Psychology and Counseling Lecture Series 2011, it will hold a special address: The relevance of HIV/AIDS counselling in an age of biomedical miracles on Tuesday, February 22nd. by Dr. David Miller, one of the world’s leading specialists on HIV/AIDS counselling. Read More...

Geneva -- Nicolas Hayek, who died of heart failure at the age of 82 on June 28, is generally credited with saving the Swiss Watch industry. To anyone who knows the business, that is something of an understatement.

Charged with interrogating those who collaborated with former Liberian President Charles Taylor and later listening to the voices of Khmer Rouge victims in Cambodia, Geneva attorney Alain Werner is one of the pioneers of an evolving international justice system. Carole Vann, an editor and writer with InfoSud , a non-profit news agency focusing on...

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Peripatetic Epicurean

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Anyone staying in any of the hotels near the United Nations in Geneva is always stuck for a congenial place to go for a drink (maybe a nice wine) or dinner with friends and colleagues. You want the food to be good, but not outrageously expensive. When one of our friends staying, as with many of the international aid crowd, at the Hotel Mon Repos called to meet for a Saturday evening drink, we scouted...

As with many of us living in the Lake Geneva region, finding a decent but affordable restaurant where they take cuisine seriously is a challenge. Many of the Swiss-side restaurants are often mediocre with steep prices and quite frankly, not worth what you pay. It is always a pleasure - albeit an all too rare one - to find a place that you can rave about as "good to excellent" and that will not destroy...

The Auberge du Lion d'Or is reputed to be one of the best restaurants in Geneva. The prices are stiff and more suited to expense accounts, but both the service and the food are impeccable.

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The Plaindealer

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As with other so-called budget airlines, such as Ryanair, Easyjet was broadly welcomed in the mid-1990s as the first real competition to the high costs of flying within Europe aboard mainstream airlines. We all remember the days when Easyjet took on Swissair here in Geneva with its cheeky deals and public relations coups, such as setting up a tent at Barcelona airport in order to abide with a rule...

This past September, journalist and author Edward Girardet published Killing the Cranes - A Reporter's Journey Through Three Decades of War in Afghanistan. Based on personal experience and reporting since first reporting its wars in October, 1979 - three months prior to the Soviet invasion - the book offers a sense of what...

The following article by Essential Edge co-editor Edward Girardet was published by the Christian Science Monitor on October 22, 2001, two weeks after the start of US and British bombing in Afghanistan. Despite warnings that military intervention would lead to new war, the Bush and Tony Blair administrations thought they knew best. Since...

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Rhythm & Cool

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, Geneva. Wednesday 30 November 2011, 18:30-20:00 Synthesizing recent thinking from science, philosophy, psychology and economics with the author's own reflections on freedom, identity and morality, The Battle for Compassion offers a fresh, sweeping perspective...

With the NATO Foreign Ministers Conference on Afghanistan coming up in December, Killing the Cranes: A Reporter's Journey Through Three Decades of War in Afghanistan...

The Afghan Solution is an important book and one that needs to be read by anyone wondering why American and British intelligence got it so wrong with the start of the October 7, 2001 war in Afghanistan....

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Kids

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Not sure what to do with the kids over Easter? The Lake Geneva Regional Tourism Office is highlighting a number of places which are organizing special Easter Egg hunts for children.

The Lake Geneva Region has an excellent reputation for private and state schools with an international emphasis. Nevertheless, there are both advantages and disadvantages with what they have to offer. There are well over 100 private pre-school, primary and secondary schools plus local or regional public institutions on both sides of the Swiss and French frontier. They welcome children and pupils from...