German prosecutors have launched an investigation into whether Switzerland's Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) has been spying on Germany's tax authority.
Citing "trusted sources", Suddeutsche Zeitung reports that the federal prosecutor's office has quietly begun looking into accusations that earlier this month the NDB tried to indentify investigators working on a tax crackdown targeting Swiss banks.
Switzerland's banking secrecy laws have long made it a refuge for tax dodgers and "led to a long-running fiscal dispute with Germany", says Deutsche Welle.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The German tax authorities have obtained disks and USB drives containing stolen private data leaked from Swiss banks, "which have then been used to identify German tax cheats", says The Independent. This has led the Swiss authorities to issue arrest warrants for German tax inspectors.
One Swiss national, known as Daniel M, has already been charged with espionage after he was arrested in Frankfurt while apparently procuring personal information about German tax authorities for the NDB. It is believed the subsequent investigation has uncovered at least two other Swiss spies who are the focus of the prosecutor's case.
German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel described the episode as "incredible" and warned it could "wreck" the two countries' relationship.
-
Starbucks workers are planning their ‘biggest strike’ everThe Explainer The union said 92% of its members voted to strike
-
‘These wouldn’t be playgrounds for billionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The 5 best nuclear war movies of all timeThe Week Recommends ‘A House of Dynamite’ reanimates a dormant cinematic genre for our new age of atomic insecurity
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
