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BANK

Swiss private bank aids US in tax probe

Swiss private bank Julius Bär said on Wednesday it was cooperating with a US tax evasion probe, alongside several other groups, after a US indictment of two men for consipiracy to hide $600 million
from US authorities.

“The bank is one of a number of Swiss financial institutions supporting the ongoing negotiations between the US and Switzerland and is cooperating with the US government investigation,” the bank said in a statement.

Julius Bär said it could not comment on the indictments nor give further information about the US probe after local reports and judicial sources said that the two worked for the bank.

On Tuesday, the US Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York charged Daniela Casadei and Fabio Frazzetto with “conspiring with US taxpayer-clients and others to hide more than $600 million in offshore accounts and to evade paying US taxes on those accounts.”

It did not name the bank involved, describing it simply as “Swiss Bank No. 1.”

According to the statement on the US Attorney’s Office website, the two bankers helped US taxpayers to open and manage undeclared accounts using fictitious names such as ‘Hydrangea’ and ‘Red Rubin.’

They ensured that mail relating to the accounts would not be sent to the United States, and required their clients to travel to Switzerland if they had business about the accounts, it said.

They also allegedly told their clients that the accounts would remain hidden because the bank “had a long tradition of bank secrecy and no longer had offices in the United States.”

Both bankers face a maximum term of five years in jail, and a top fine of $250,000 if convicted.

Switzerland has come under close scrutiny in the United States for its bank secrecy laws and has faced several tax evasion cases innvolving other banks.

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TRAVEL

Travel: Germany downgrades Covid-19 risk status of USA

The United States is no longer classed as a "high incidence area" by Germany - it has returned to being a "risk area".

Travel: Germany downgrades Covid-19 risk status of USA
People walking in New York in May 2020. Photo: DPA

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) changed the risk classification of the United States on March 7th.

The US was previously classed as a “high incidence area” by the RKI. These are regions where the incidence is over 200 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents with a period of seven days.

However, now it’s a “risk area” – which is used by German authorities to describe a region with an increased risk of infection, usually above 50 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in seven days.

Other factors are also taken into account, such as measures in place.

It means the travel requirements for people coming from the US to Germany have changed.

However, entry from the US is only permitted in a few narrow exceptions. Proof of urgent need to travel is required, German authorities say. You can find more information in the story below.

READ MORE: When are Americans allowed to travel to Germany?

What happens if I need to travel from the US to Germany?

If you are a German resident from the US, or fall into one of the exception categories, you still face strict testing and quarantine measures.

All travellers must have a negative Covid-19 test result at the latest 48 hours after they enter Germany. It must be presented to authorities if they request it.

Some individual airlines may however still say that travellers have to present a coronavirus negative test result before boarding is allowed. You should contact your airline before travel to check.

Both PCR tests as well as rapid anitgen tests are accepted if they meet the quality standards. Testing is still mandatory even if travellers are vaccinated or have recovered from a coronavirus infection. 

People returning from “risk zones” are required to self-isolate for 10 days after they arrive.

The quarantine can usually be ended with a negative coronavirus test result taken at the earliest five days after arriving in Germany.

However, states can differ on their travel regulations so check with your local authority before travelling.

Everyone entering Germany is also required to register online.

New “high incidence areas”

In the RKI’s latest travel classification list, Sweden, Hungary and Jordan are now classed as “high incidence areas” which means stricter testing and quarantine rules apply.

Areas of “variant concern” include Austria’s Tyrol region, the UK, Brazil, Portugal and Ireland. Even stricter rules apply for these regions.

You can find out more information about travel rules in our story below.

READ MORE: What you need to know about Germany’s latest rules on foreign travel

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