UN torture expert says there are credible accounts that Iran opposition tortured in prisonGENEVA — A U.N. anti-torture investigator said Thursday he has received credible claims that Iranian protesters detained after the June 12 presidential elections were abused in prison. UN chief on 60th anniversary of Geneva Conventions urges protection of civilians in conflictsUNITED NATIONS — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon marked the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions on Wednesday with a plea to all countries to take steps to ensure that civilians and other non-combatants are protected during armed conflicts. US, Swiss strike banking secrecy deal to find tax dodgers but don’t say how many to be namedMIAMI — The Swiss and U.S. governments announced a deal Wednesday to settle American demands for the identities of suspected tax dodgers, despite Switzerland’s vaunted bank secrecy. But they kept all details under wraps, including how many of the 52,000 names sought by the IRS from banking giant UBS AG will be revealed. Lawyers say US, UBS reach agreement in Swiss bank secrets case; no details releasedMIAMI — The U.S. government and Swiss banking giant UBS AG have reached an agreement in a case seeking names of some 52,000 suspected American tax evaders with billions in secret Swiss accounts, but details may remain under wraps until next week, officials said. Food and drink maker Nestle posts 2.7 percent fall in first-half net profit as sales slipGENEVA — Nestle SA, the world’s biggest food and drink maker, reported Wednesday a 2.7 percent fall in first-half net profit as the recession hurt consumer demand and divestments and a stronger Swiss franc weighed on sales. Chinese foreign minister criticizes US plans for missile shield, foresees arms race in spaceGENEVA — China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi called Wednesday for international diplomacy to avert an “arms race in outer space.” Red Cross says Geneva Conventions survived ‘difficult phase’ caused by US-led war on terrorGENEVA — The Geneva Conventions on warfare have survived a difficult phase since the 2001 attacks on the United States followed by the U.S.-led war on terror, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross said Tuesday. Swiss-based staffing company Adecco reports second-quarter net loss of euro147 millionZURICH — Staffing company Adecco SA reported Tuesday a second-quarter net loss of euro147 million ($209 million) as revenues continued to decline amid the global economic downturn. Credit Suisse says new AIG chief Benmosche stepping down from bank’s board after 7 yearsZURICH —Robert Benmosche, who starts this week as the new president and CEO of American International Group Inc., has stepped down from Credit Suisse Group’s board with immediate effect, the Swiss bank said Monday. Particle collider a year on: Black hole or crucial to understanding the universe?GENEVA —When launched to great fanfare nearly a year ago, some feared the Large Hadron Collider would create a black hole that would suck in the world. It turns out the Hadron may be the black hole. CERN: damaged atom smasher will restart at half energy, but a new repair pause is neededGENEVA — When launched to great fanfare nearly a year ago, some feared the Large Hadron Collider would create a black hole that would destroy the world. The world’s largest scientific machine, built at a cost of $10 billion, has worked only nine days and has yet to smash an atom. Judge gives US, Swiss governments more time to finalize settlement in UBS tax caseMIAMI — Swiss and U.S. negotiators need more time to finalize a settlement in a high-stakes attempt by the U.S. government to obtain names of suspected American tax evaders from Swiss banking giant UBS AG, a Justice Department attorney told a federal judge Friday. Thank you, Lord, that’s enough: Swiss near Europe’s largest glacier no longer pray it shrinksGENEVA — Villagers from deeply Roman Catholic south Switzerland have for centuries offered a sacred vow to God to protect them from the advancing ice mass of the Great Aletsch glacier. Swiss cheesemaker uses airport X-ray machine to find a spring lost in one of 7 cheesesBELP, Switzerland — Swiss cheese is supposed to have holes in it, not bits of metal. Iran arrests 3 Americans for illegally crossing border, lawmaker says spy charges consideredTEHRAN, Iran — Iran has arrested three Americans for illegally entering the country from neighboring Iraq and a prominent Iranian lawmaker said Tuesday that authorities were investigating whether to charge them with spying. Swiss pick for America’s Cup showdown could be United Arab EmiratesThere’s a good chance that the America’s Cup grudge match between bickering billionaires will be sailed on the Persian Gulf. Dalai Lama encouraged by growing support from Chinese people, intellectuals for Tibetan causeLAUSANNE, Switzerland — The Dalai Lama said Tuesday that an estimated 4,000 people who were imprisoned during anti-Chinese riots in Tibet last year remain in custody, and he called for an international investigation of the violence. Drug company Novartis: Activists steal ashes of CEO’s mother, torch his hunting lodgeBERN, Switzerland — Drug maker Novartis AG said Tuesday that animal rights activists have stolen the ashes of its CEO’s mother and set fire to his Austrian hunting lodge. Drug company Novartis: Militants steal ashes of CEO’s mother, torch his hunting lodgeBASEL, Switzerland — Drugmaker Novartis says animal rights militants have stolen the ashes of its CEO’s mother and set fire to his hunting lodge. Xstrata posts 77 percent fall in first-half profit, still seeks merger with Anglo AmericanXstrata posts 77 pct fall in first-half profit GENEVA — Mining company Xstrata PLC said net profit fell 77 percent in the first six months of the year as a result of lower commodity prices, and reiterated that its merger offer to rival Anglo American PLC would be “highly compelling” to both sets of shareholders. Diplomats pressing Iranians for status of 3 Americans thought to have crossed border from IraqSAN FRANCISCO — Family members of the three Americans being held in Iran after they apparently illegally crossed the border from Iraq said they are concerned for the safety of the group. UBS posts 2Q loss of $1.3 billion, seventh quarterly loss in 2 yearsGENEVA — Hard-hit Swiss bank UBS AG reported another quarterly loss Tuesday while France’s BNP Paribas posted a 6.6 percent increase in net profit. Friend: Americans missing in Iran were hiking in wrong place; family asks for safe returnSAN FRANCISCO — Freelance journalist Shane Bauer planned to cover the elections in northern Iraq’s self-ruled Kurdish region. His girlfriend, Sarah Shourd, was going with him on a backpacking trip. Another friend stayed put, under the weather with a cold. Friend: American missing in Iran were hiking in wrong place; family asks for safe returnSAN FRANCISCO — Freelance journalist Shane Bauer planned to cover the elections in northern Iraq’s self-ruled Kurdish region. His girlfriend, Sarah Shourd, was going with him on a backpacking trip. Another friend stayed put, under the weather with a cold. Cold spares American from ill-fated hike, his 3 companions are reportedly detained in IranSAN FRANCISCO — An American linguistics student traveling in northern Iraq didn’t go on an ill-fated hiking trip because he had a cold — a twist of fate that prevented him from mistakenly wandering into Iran where his three friends were reportedly detained. Swiss ministry says diplomats have asked Iran about 3 missing AmericansBERN, Switzerland — Swiss diplomats are trying to find out what happened to three American hikers reportedly captured in Iran, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday. Swiss ministry says diplomats have asked Iran about missing AmericansBERN, Switzerland — Swiss diplomats are trying to find out what happened to three Americans reportedly captured in Iran, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday. From weddings to rescues, Niagara Falls pilot does it all with a spectacular backdropABOVE NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario — Up here, it becomes clear what helicopter pilot Ruedi Hafen has said on the ground: A helicopter offers a view of Niagara Falls like no other, and no one wants to leave without a picture, or 10. A timeline of the tax evasion probe against Swiss bank UBSAlong with the 50 million Swiss francs (about $45 million) that UBS AG lost during the financial crisis, the bank’s admitted assistance to U.S. tax evaders seriously damaged the financial powerhouse’s reputation. Here is a timeline of the most important developments: US, Swiss governments near settling in UBS tax evasion case; Fla. judge cancels Monday trialMIAMI — Days before a high-stakes trial with implications for bankers worldwide, the U.S. and Swiss governments said Friday they reached a hard-fought settlement in the U.S. effort to get names of thousands of wealthy Americans suspected of evading taxes by hiding billions of dollars with Swiss banking giant UBS AG. |
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