France Antilles (France)
"Le LKP à nouveau en négociation"

France Antilles has a picture of union representatives negotiating with the mediators sent by the French government over strikes and unrest in the French islands. The union leaders are rather unconvinced by the proposals made. So talks will have to continue to reach an agreement.


Le Parisien Aujourd’hui en France (France)
"En Guadeloupe, l’heure des négociations"

Le Parisien Aujourd’hui en France has pictures that give you a sense of what’s going on. You can see young rioters throwing stones at the police in Guadeloupe. Police forces are mobilized day and night, with violence at its peak when night falls.


Libération (France)
"Sarkozy découvre l’Outre-Mer”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced yesterday a series of measures to address problems in the French Caribbean and said he will soon go to Guadeloupe but only when riots stop. As far as Libération is concerned, Sarkozy has only just finally discovered Guadeloupe. The left-wing French newspaper criticizes the president for waiting a month before taking up the dossier personally.


Tages Anzeiger (Switzerland)
"Bankgeheimnis: Nur noch ein Mythos”

Secret Swiss bank accounts could be under threat. Authorities in Switzerland have agreed to reveal to US investigators the names of 300 American clients suspected of tax fraud. The Tages Anzeiger has a cartoon on its front page showing a huge safe representing banking secrecy torn apart by a US Justice bullet. A spokesperson for UBS is standing in front of the safe and says that banking secrecy is not threatened. That's clearly not what Tages Anzeiger thinks.


La Tribune de Genève (Switzerland)
Opinion

For La Tribune de Genève’s editorialist, US President Barack Obama is using all possible means to defend US interests. The editorialist uses strong language, saying that Washington is conducting violent and unfair attacks, practically “declaring war on Switzerland”.


Le Figaro (France)
“Les paradis fiscaux dans le collimateur du G20 et de l’Union européenne”

Experts questioned by French paper le Figaro don’t believe it’s the end of banking secrecy in Switzerland yet, but these developments are paving the way for it. Washington’s move could be a source of inspiration for the Europeans. Tax havens in Europe are under pressure, though some states such as Austria have said they would veto any move to end banking secrecy.


The Moscow Times (Russia)
“Politkovskaia suspects walk free”

The jury has cleared the suspects in the Anna Politkovskaia murder trial and the family is actually relieved. Politkovskaia’s son doesn’t think the suspects are guilty and he’s pledged to find the true killer. The family is unhappy with the way the inquiry was conducted.