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KNIFE ATTACK

Foreign gang charged over sabre attack

Seven foreigners are being judged for attempted murder for allegedly attacking a 25-year-old man with sabres and knives in downtown Geneva.

Foreign gang charged over sabre attack
File photo: Rama

In a court case begun this week that is expected to take 12 days, the men ranging from 23 to 32 years of age, are being charged with ganging up on the victim one night in August 2011.

The prosecution maintains the attack took place in Geneva’s Plainpalais neighbourhood after the group ambushed the man in a retail gallery.

They surrounded him and proceeded to kick, punch and strike him with knives and sabres, according to the allegation.

The victim fell to the ground but managed to get up and escape.

He suffered injuries including one to the face that left a large scar on his forehead.

Those charged are of Arabic origin, bachelors without profession and without a fixed address, according to a report from the ATS news agency.

Most of them are living in Switzerland without authorization, the report said.

Meanwhile, the victim, who was known to police for break-ins and illegal drug cases, has the same profile as his alleged attackers, ATS said.

The prosecution charges that the attackers acted with a “noticeable absence of scruples” while showing a “certain contempt” for the life of the man they injured.

The accused deny the charges, with one of them alleging that he was not even present when the incident occurred.

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GE

US giant GE to pay France €50 million after creating just 25 jobs out of 1,000

The French government announced Tuesday that US industrial conglomerate General Electric will pay €50 million ($57 million) after falling short of its goal of creating 1,000 new jobs in the country.

US giant GE to pay France €50 million after creating just 25 jobs out of 1,000
Alstom employees protest in front of the France's Ministry of Finance in Paris. Photo: AFP

GE had pledged to create the jobs by the end of last year as part of its 2015 purchase of the power and electrical grid businesses of France's Alstom.

But shortly after closing the deal GE unveiled a series of job cuts across Europe as slumping oil and gas prices crimped demand for its heavy-duty turbines and other equipment.

The company had already warned last year that it wouldn't meet the target, though the new CEO Larry Culp confirmed in October that GE would “fulfil its commitments.”

It had promised to pay €50,000 for every job not created over the three-year period.

The French finance ministry said after a meeting with GE officials Tuesday that the firm had created just 25 new jobs overall, meaning it would pay €50 million into an industrial development fund.

“GE underscored the significant of its continual investments in France during the period, and noted that despite the particularly difficult business climate, the group had done its utmost to create jobs,” the company said in a statement.

It pointed to a $330 million investment in offshore wind turbines in France announced last year, which it expects to eventually create 550 new jobs.

But union sources said last month that GE was planning to cut nearly 470 jobs, at its Alstom Power Systems GE Energy Power Conversion units.

Under Culp the company has been trying to get its power operations on more solid financial footing, with plans to cut costs further and reduce debt.

Last week it posted a $574 million profit for the fourth quarter, a welcome turnaround from the $11 billion loss a year earlier. 

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