Ireland taking 2 Guantanamo prisoners as US-EU diplomacy to shut Cuban prisonDUBLIN — Ireland’s agreement Wednesday to take two homeless Guantanamo prisoners demonstrates that patient diplomacy between the United States and Europe is starting to play its part in shutting down the notorious U.S. prison. Former Guantanamo detainees launch group to help released, current inmatesGENEVA — Former Guantanamo Bay detainees have launched an organization to help released inmates return to normal life and to lobby for the release or trial of those still held at the U.S. military prison, one of the founders said Wednesday. EU files trade complaint at WTO over Philippine taxes on imports of European spiritsGENEVA — The European Union filed a trade complaint against the Philippines on Wednesday over taxes the southeast Asian country charges on imports of distilled spirits such as Scotch whisky and Spanish brandy. UN: Thousands of Somalis on north coast, hoping to flee across Gulf of Aden to YemenMOGADISHU, Somalia — Thousands of Somalis are preparing to cross the Gulf of Aden to Yemen after fleeing fighting around the capital of Mogadishu, the U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday. Geneva on a budget: Dips in the lake, concerts and free local transportation for visitorsGENEVA — This city on Lake Geneva with a view of snowcapped Mont Blanc is one of the world’s most expensive cities, with famous shops selling exquisite jewelry and luxury watches. But window-shopping is not the only option for those on a budget. Explore the medieval center of “the city of peace,” its parks and the lake. Take advantage of free transit passes offered to visitors. And enjoy the city’s international ambiance, with residents from 180 countries drawn by the U.N. and other organizations. UN allows gay, lesbian organization to participate in formal meetings; bans Arab groupGENEVA — The United Nations granted official status to a gay and lesbian organization from Brazil on Monday, allowing it to participate in U.N. meetings ranging from health to human rights. US, Russia hold round of Geneva talks on a new nuclear arms reduction treatyGENEVA — The United States and Russia met in Geneva this week to build on the commitment by Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev to replace the expiring Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, a U.S. official said Friday. UNHCR says 536,000 chased from homes in eastern Congo since beginning of the yearGENEVA — The U.N. refugee agency says 536,000 people have been chased from their homes in eastern Congo this year as a result of clashes between government forces and rebels linked to neighboring Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. Doha round: G-8 pledge to get a deal meets reality of negotiators struggling to make processGENEVA — The G-8’s pledge to complete a new global trade pact by the end of next year has been met with caution and skepticism by negotiators who have seen a string of similar promises fail to deliver over the last eight years. UN health agency’s flu chief: safety of swine flu vaccine ‘cannot be compromised’GENEVA — The World Health Organization’s flu chief says there must be no doubt over the safety of swine flu vaccines before they are given to the public. AP Interview: WHO flu chief: World still ‘relatively early’ in swine flu pandemicGENEVA — The global swine flu epidemic is still in its early stages, even though reports of over 100,000 infections in England alone last week are plausible, the World Health Organization’s flu chief said Friday, Roche says half-year profit down 29 percent with Genentech buy, but boosted by TamifluGENEVA — Pharmaceuticals maker Roche Holding AG on Thursday posted a 29 percent drop in six-month net profit because of costs related to the takeover of California-based Genentech. However, sales were strong, helped by the popularity of antiviral Tamiflu in the face of the swine flu pandemic. US, Russia hold new round of START talksGENEVA - Delegations from the US and Russia began a new round of talks Wednesday on replacing START, the nuclear arms reduction treaty that is set to expire at the end of the year. Officials say Obama administration largely wins WTO dispute with China over CDs, DVDs, booksGENEVA — The U.S. has largely prevailed in a trade dispute with China over restrictions on the sale there of American CDs, DVDs, books and computer software, two officials familiar with the ruling have told The Associated Press. Global health officials debate how to slow spread of swine flu until vaccine becomes availableGENEVA — Some Muslim countries are advising pregnant women not to attend the hajj pilgrimage. China is quarantining any visitor suspected of having a fever, while priests in New Zealand have been banned from placing Communion wafers on worshippers’ tongues. UN says it still needs $4.8 billion to provide all humanitarian aid required in 2009GENEVA — The U.N. says it still needs $4.8 billion for the rest of the year to bring food, shelter, medicine and other aid to 43 million people who have fled fighting, suffer from droughts and disasters around the world. Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef among 28 finalists for ‘7 Wonders of Nature’ competitionGENEVA — The Grand Canyon, the Matterhorn and the Great Barrier Reef are competing with 25 other spectacular natural landmarks in the final phase of the global poll to choose the “New 7 Wonders of Nature.” Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef battle 26 other finalists to be in the ‘7 Wonders of Nature’GENEVA — The Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef are competing with 26 other spectacular natural landmarks in the final phase of the global poll to choose the “New 7 Wonders of Nature,” organizers said Tuesday. WHO: global death toll from swine flu now over 700, school closures may be recommendedGENEVA — The worldwide death toll from swine flu has doubled in the past month, reaching over 700 since the start of the outbreak last spring, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. Auditor fired after probing corruption at UN weather agency awarded damages for harassmentGENEVA — A U.N. labor tribunal ordered the global body’s weather agency to pay damages to a former auditor fired in 2006 after clashing with the organization’s top official over a corruption probe. Countries talk phase-down of HFC greenhouse gases for first time, but far from agreementGENEVA — The first talks among governments about how to limit the use of hydrofluorocarbons, a class of powerful greenhouse gases commonly used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, have been promising, officials said Friday. UN accord on pollution registers to enter into force in OctoberGENEVA — The United Nations says an international accord requiring governments to publicly identify sites of environmental pollution will come into force on Oct. 8. Taiwan joins WTO government procurement pactGENEVA - Taiwan has joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement that opens up government contracts to international competition, an official said Thursday. WTO’s chief warns against ‘excessive optimism’ on recoveryGENEVA - World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Pascal Lamy Monday warned his agency’s member-states that they should avoid “excessive optimism” for an economic recovery. UBS, US file to postpone client data caseGENEVA - Authorities in the US and the Zurich-based bank UBS AG Sunday filed a motion with the backing of the Swiss government to have their court case on client data postponed to allow for further negotiations. Philippine rebels free Red Cross worker after 25 weeksGENEVA/MANILA - An Italian humanitarian aid worker for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was freed Saturday, 25 weeks after he was kidnapped by Muslim militants in the Philippines. UN says Somali insurgents, government troops committing torture, possibly war crimesGENEVA — The U.N. human rights chief says Somalia’s insurgents and government troops are committing torture and other atrocities that might be war crimes. Archaeologists claim discovery of Africa’s oldest ceramic in eastern MaliGENEVA - Archaeologists from Geneva University in Switzerland have discovered what they claim is Africa’s oldest ceramic, dated at around 9,400BC, in eastern Mali. US demand for handguns driving 28 pct jump this decade in small arms trade, survey saysGENEVA — American demand for handguns has fueled a 28 percent jump this decade in world exports of pistols, rifles, shotguns and other small arms, a global report said Thursday. UN rights official calls for restraint in ChinaGENEVA - The United Nations top human rights official said Tuesday she was alarmed by the ongoing ethnic violence in China’s north-west and called on community leaders to act with restraint. |
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