World Trade Organization slightly raises 2024 goods trade forecast but wary of potential setbacks

GENEVA (AP) — The World Trade Organization raised its outlook for global goods trade this year slightly, but cautioned Thursday that increasing geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over economy policy pose “substantial” risks to its forecast. The Geneva-based WTO projected...

Saudi Arabia loses bid for a seat on UN's premier human rights body

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Saudi Arabia was defeated for a seat in the U.N.’s premier human rights body Wednesday after a campaign by rights groups that accused the Saudis of serious rights violations. The 193-member General Assembly elected 18 new members to serve on the 47-nation...

Mysteries of universe revealed? Hardly. But CERN still fascinates, discovers on its 70th anniversary

GENEVA (AP) — The research center that is home to the world’s largest particle accelerator is celebrating its 70th anniversary on Tuesday, with the physicists who run it aiming to unlock secrets about dark matter and other mysteries to promote science for peace in today's conflict-darkened...

US opts out of running for reelection on UN Human Rights Council

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has decided not to seek a second consecutive term on the much-maligned U.N. Human Rights Council, the State Department said Monday. The administration had made U.S. membership on the Geneva-based council a priority when it took office in...

Top Hamas commander killed in Lebanon was UNRWA employee placed on administrative leave

GENEVA (AP) — The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said a top Hamas commander killed in Lebanon Monday was one of its employees but had been suspended since allegations of his ties to the militant group emerged in March. Fatah Sharif's connection to Hamas appeared set to ratchet...

Who will replace Kishida to become Japan's new prime minister?

TOKYO (AP) — The governing party of outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida holds a key vote Friday that will establish a new national leader. The vote is limited to the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party's parliamentarians and dues-paying members. Because the party's...

Swiss police say several people are detained in connection with suspected death of a person in a new 'suicide capsule'

UN experts decry worsening repression in Venezuela after contested election

GENEVA (AP) — Independent U.N. human rights experts said in a new report Tuesday that their findings show Venezuela's government has intensified the use of “harshest and most violent" tools of repression following the disputed July presidential election. The official results of...

Swiss appeals court convicts Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan of rape, overruling a lower court

GENEVA (AP) — A Swiss appeals court has found noted Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan guilty of rape and sexual coercion nearly 16 years ago and sentenced him to a year in prison, overruling an acquittal by a lower court. In a written ruling made public on Tuesday, the court in Geneva...

UN rights chief urges voters to beware 'strongman' politicians who 'throw glitter in our eyes'

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. human rights chief on Monday urged voters to be wary of “strongman” politicians and personalities "that throw glitter in our eyes” as more elections loom in a busy electoral calendar this year. Volker Türk didn't mention leaders or countries by name,...