Latest Geneva News
UN human rights body calls for halt to weapons shipments to Israel as concerns about Gaza war mount
GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.’s top human rights body called on countries to stop selling or shipping weapons to Israel in a resolution passed Friday that aims to help prevent rights violations against Palestinians amid Israel’s blistering military campaign in Gaza. The...
As conflict worsens in eastern Congo, 2 armed groups pledge to respect civilians
GENEVA (AP) — Under a crystal chandelier in a hall where the first Geneva Convention was signed in the mid-19th century, representatives of two armed groups in Congo signed solemn pledges this week to both their violence-wracked country and the wider world: We will do better to respect and...
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths is stepping down for health reasons
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths is stepping down for health reasons after nearly three years of trying to tackle mounting humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Gaza and Africa, the United Nations announced Monday. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres...
Chevron manager jailed in Venezuela amid crackdown on government critics
MIAMI (AP) — A former fighter pilot jailed in Venezuela in February for his ties to a prominent human rights attorney is an employee of U.S. oil firm Chevron, The Associated Press has learned, an arrest that combined with other recent repressive acts by Nicolás Maduro’s government is straining...
As election nears, Venezuelan government keeps arresting opponents allegedly tied to criminal plots
MEXICO CITY (AP) — As Venezuela’s government would have it, President Nicolás Maduro and members of his inner circle have been the target of several conspiracies since last year that could have left them injured or worse. Few details have been released about the alleged plots....
Sex trade to slavery: A UN agency says criminals reap $236B a year in profits from forced labor
GENEVA (AP) — Illegal profits from forced labor worldwide have risen to the “obscene” amount of $236 billion per year, the U.N. labor agency reported Tuesday, with sexual exploitation to blame for three-fourths of the take from a business that deprives migrants of money they can send home,...
UN-backed human rights experts decry new evidence of torture of Ukrainian POWs by Russia
GENEVA (AP) — U.N.-backed human rights experts said Friday they have gathered new evidence of “horrific” torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war by their Russian jailers, saying such practices could amount to war crimes. The Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said human rights...
Swiss rescue authorities search for 6 skiers missing in the Alps
GENEVA (AP) — Rescue authorities have launched a search for six cross-country skiers missing in the Swiss Alps in difficult weather conditions, police said Sunday. Police in the canton of Valais said in a statement that the search began on Saturday between the resort of Zermatt and...
UN rights chief urges end to 'repression' of independent voices in Russia after Navalny's death
GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. human rights chief called Monday for a quick end to the “repression of independent voices” in Russia and expressed concerns about the “persecution" of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison last month. Volker Türk, in a wide-ranging...
Geneva oil trader reaches $661M settlement with US, Swiss authorities over bribery in Ecuador
GENEVA (AP) — Geneva-based commodities trading firm Gunvor said Friday that it has reached a $661 million settlement with U.S. and Swiss prosecutors after convictions for bribery of foreign officials in connection with the petroleum industry in Ecuador. The Swiss attorney general's...
