GENEVA (AP) — Unseeded Nicolás Jarry raced past Grigor Dimitrov to win the Geneva Open final 7-6 (1), 6-1 on Saturday and is poised to rise to his best ranking in a career that was stalled by a doping case.
GENEVA (AP) — Grigor Dimitrov advanced to his first final on the ATP Tour in more than five years on Friday after beating Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (2) at the Geneva Open.
Dimitrov trailed by a set and 4-2 before rallying to win a semifinal for the first time since February 2018 when opponent David Goffin retired in their match at Rotterdam.
GENEVA (AP) — Casper Ruud’s run at a third straight Geneva Open title ended in a 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5 loss to Nicolás Jarry in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
The top-seeded Ruud had his serve broken at 5-5 in the third set after the 54th-ranked Chilean fired two powerful forehand winners.
GENEVA (AP) — Top-seeded Casper Ruud began his Geneva Open title defense by beating J.J. Wolf 6-3, 7-5 in the second round on Wednesday.
The No. 4-ranked Ruud lifted his career record to 9-0 at Geneva, where he won back-to-back titles in the past two years.
UN agency: 2M killed, $4.3 trillion in damages from extreme weather over past half-century
May 22, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The economic damage of weather- and climate-related disasters continues to rise, even as improvements in early warning have helped reduce the human toll, the U.N. weather agency said Monday.
UN migration agency elects American as 1st woman director
May 15, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The U.N. migration agency says Amy Pope of the United States has been elected as its next director general.
She will be the first woman to head the International Organization for Migration.
Swiss villagers told to evacuate over Alpine rockslide alert
May 10, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Authorities in eastern Switzerland ordered residents of the tiny village of Brienz to evacuate by Friday evening because geology experts say a mass of 2 million cubic meters of Alpine rock looming overhead could break loose and spill down in the coming weeks.
Helpful hand? Activist glues palm to podium on live Swiss TV
May 1, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — An environmental activist stormed the set of a Swiss television debate and glued himself to a podium while live on air, only to be extracted, heels dragging, a few minutes later.
Local station Leman Bleu had erected the red-carpet set in a historic arcade much frequented by tourists, near Geneva City Hall, with the public and passers-by invited to look on.
Geneva appeals court upholds conviction of Israeli tycoon
April 4, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — A Geneva appeals court on Tuesday upheld the conviction of Israeli diamond magnate Beny Steinmetz for corrupting foreign officials, in connection with lucrative mining rights in the West African country of Guinea.
Putin, Afghans among top gift givers to Bidens in 2021
February 23, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Russia’s president and the deposed leader of Afghanistan were among the top gift givers to President Joe Biden and his family in 2021, according to federal documents published on Thursday.
Man with explosives arrested outside Swiss parliament
February 14, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Police in Switzerland's capital evacuated Parliament and related offices Tuesday after a man in a bulletproof vest was arrested near one of its entrances and found to be bearing explosives.
UN rights chief concerned about Israel’s moves amid violence
February 3, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The U.N. human rights chief expressed concerns Friday that steps taken by the new Israeli government, the most far-right in the country’s history, could fuel further violations of human rights and humanitarian law in the wake of a recent spike in bloodshed in the region.
Experts seek investigation of Wagner Group, Mali forces
January 31, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Independent human rights experts working with the U.N. on Tuesday called for an investigation of possible abuses, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by government forces in Mali and the Wagner Group, a shadowy Russian military contractor.
Wawrinka back in Swiss team to face Germany in Davis Cup
January 23, 2023 GMTBERN, Switzerland (AP) — Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka is back in the Switzerland team for the Davis Cup next week, returning after a seven-year gap from a competition he won playing with Roger Federer in 2014.
FIFA boss Infantino questioned by Swiss special prosecutors
January 10, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with special prosecutors in Switzerland on Tuesday as part of their criminal investigation into his undisclosed meetings with the country’s attorney general during a wider probe of soccer officials.
Donors offer over $9B for Pakistan after devastating floods
January 9, 2023 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Dozens of countries and international institutions on Monday pledged more than $9 billion to help Pakistan recover and rebuild from devastating summer floods that the United Nations chief called “a climate disaster of monumental scale.”
Pakistan unsure flood aid conference to translate into funds
January 5, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani officials were increasingly concerned Thursday whether next week's U.N.-backed conference will succeed in raising the billions of dollars needed to help survivors and launch reconstruction efforts following last summer's devastating floods.
At top of opera, Yoncheva worries about classical music
December 30, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Sonya Yoncheva, a soprano at the top of her profession, worries about classical music.
Man gets 12 years in crash that killed 2 college students
December 13, 2022 GMTGENEVA, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty for his role in a street racing crash that killed two Judson University students last year.
UN: West Africa next in line for tied-up Russian fertilizer
November 18, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — A top U.N. official said Friday that West Africa is next in line to receive crucial Russian fertilizer that has been prevented from being exported from European ports to needy countries, largely over private-sector concerns about financing and insurance for such deliveries.
UN office urges Iran to free detained peaceful protesters
November 15, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The U.N. human rights office is calling on Iran's government to immediately release thousands of people who have been detained for participating in peaceful protests, faulting its “increasing harshness” as Western countries seek to ratchet up scrutiny of Tehran’s crackdown against demonstrators.
UN reports progress on Russia’s grain and fertilizer exports
November 11, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Top U.N. officials updated a high-level Russian delegation Friday on progress to facilitate Russia’s exports of food and fertilizer to global markets which have faced obstacles under an expiring wartime deal that has enabled Ukraine to ship over 10 million metric tons of grain from three Black Sea ports.
UN, Russians to discuss extension of Ukraine export deal
November 10, 2022 GMTUNITED NATIONS (AP) — Senior U.N. and Russian officials planned to meet in Geneva on Friday for talks on extending the deal that returned Ukrainian grain to world markets and was supposed to eliminate obstacles for Russian exports of grain and fertilizer.
WHO reports 90% drop in world COVID-19 deaths since February
November 9, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization chief on Wednesday said a nearly 90% drop in recent COVID-19 deaths globally compared to nine months ago provides “cause for optimism,” but still urged vigilance against the pandemic as variants continue to crop up.
Intel service: Swiss ready to block Russian spies if need be
November 9, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Switzerland's intelligence agency says a widening rift between Western democracies and autocracies like Russia and China has underpinned a rise in spying activities, warning that Switzerland will move to keep Russian agents off its soil if necessary.
18-carat pink diamond reaps $28.8 million at Geneva auction
November 8, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — A pear-shaped 18-carat pink diamond billed as a rarity sold at a Geneva auction for 28.4 million Swiss francs ($28.8 million), including fees and taxes, on the lower end of the expected range.
WHO head in Middle East ‘disturbed’ by abuse reported by AP
October 24, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean region told staff in an email that he is “very disturbed” by allegations reported by The Associated Press that the U.N.
Man pleads guilty in crash that killed 2 college students
October 21, 2022 GMTGENEVA, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago man has pleaded guilty to an intoxicated driving charge for his role in a street racing crash that killed two Judson University students last year.
Russian official says ‘practical’ issues delay visit to POWs
October 20, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The International Committee of the Red Cross has conducted at least five visits to Ukrainian prisoners of war since Russia invaded Ukraine, a Russian diplomat said Thursday while insisting that “practical arrangements” were holding up a trip to a prison where dozens of POWs died.
Teens tackle 21st-century challenges at robotics contest
October 16, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — For their first trip to a celebrated robotics contest for high school students from scores of countries, a team of Ukrainian teens had a problem.
With shipments of goods to Ukraine uncertain, and Ukrainian customs officers careful about incoming merchandise, the group only received a base kit of gadgetry on the day they were set to leave for the event in Geneva.
Anita Kerr, a key voice in the Nashville Sound, dies at 94
October 12, 2022 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Grammy-winning singer and composer Anita Kerr, whose vocal group the Anita Kerr Singers provided the lush backdrop to the Nashville Sound, has died. She was 94.
Her daughter, Kelley Kerr, confirmed to The New York Times that her mother died in Geneva on Monday.
Merkel praises others as she accepts UN refugee agency award
October 10, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel received the U.N. refugee agency’s top award on Monday and gave credit to the people behind the welcome of more than 1 million refugees, mostly from Syria, after she opened Germany’s doors to them in 2015 and 2016.
UN rights body agrees to appoint expert to scrutinize Russia
October 7, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The U.N.'s top human rights body voted Friday to appoint an independent expert to step up scrutiny of Russia's rights record at home as arbitrary arrests, a crackdown on dissenting voices and limits on free speech worsen during the war in Ukraine.
UN rights body rejects Western bid to debate Xinjiang abuses
October 7, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — In a close diplomatic victory for China, the U.N.'s top human rights body on Thursday voted down a proposal from Britain, Turkey, the United States and other mostly Western countries to hold a debate on alleged rights abuses against Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China's western Xinjiang region.
WTO predicts trade growth to slow next year amid crises
October 5, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The World Trade Organization is predicting global trade volumes will grow a lackluster 1% next year as crises and challenges weigh on markets, including high energy prices, rising interest rates and uncertainties about Chinese manufacturing output amid the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.
Merkel wins UN refugee agency award over welcome of Syrians
October 4, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday it's giving its highest award to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her efforts to welcome more than 1 million refugees — mostly from Syria — into Germany, despite some criticism both at home and abroad.
UN flood aid appeal jumps amid disease surge in Pakistan
October 4, 2022 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Alarmed by a surge in disease, the United Nations is asking for five times’ more international aid after deadly floods in Pakistan left millions of survivors homeless and at rising risk of waterborne diseases and other ailments.
Western push on China, Russia at UN rights body faces test
October 1, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Western countries are leading a rare two-pronged push at the U.N.’s main human rights body to better scrutinize the human rights records of two big world powers: China, over allegations of abuses during an anti-extremism campaign in western Xinjiang, and Russia, over its government's crackdown on dissent and protest against the war in Ukraine.
Turmoil at home swirls around Iran team ahead of World Cup
October 1, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Political issues are swirling around the Iran men’s soccer team amid turmoil on the streets at home just weeks before the World Cup where it will play the United States, Wales and England.
UN to seek $800 million more in aid for flood-hit Pakistan
September 30, 2022 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — The United Nations will seek $800 million more in aid from the international community to respond to soaring life-saving needs of Pakistani flood survivors, a U.N. official said Friday.
US candidate to lead UN telecoms agency after US-Russia race
September 29, 2022 GMTBUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Doreen Bogdan-Martin of the United States was elected Thursday to head the U.N.’s telecommunications agency, winning a U.S.-Russia face-off for the leadership of a global agency that sets guideposts for radio, internet, satellite and television communications.
Racist abuse of Richarlison shows FIFA still has work to do
September 28, 2022 GMTMANCHESTER, England (AP) — When FIFA president Gianni Infantino dashed from Geneva to Paris to watch World Cup favorite Brazil in its final warmup game before Qatar, he cannot have expected to be confronted by such visual proof of the racism that continues to infect soccer.
WTO joins FIFA in African project despite Qatar controversy
September 27, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The head of the World Trade Organization said Tuesday the benefits of working with FIFA to create more jobs in Africa outweighed concerns about the controversies around Qatar hosting soccer’s World Cup this year.
US, allies push for UN rights body debate on Xinjiang abuses
September 26, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The United States and several Western allies presented a proposal Monday for the U.N.'s main human rights body to hold a special debate over reported rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in China's western Xinjiang region.
Venezuela rejects UN report detailing torture, rights abuses
September 26, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Venezuela's government on Monday rejected a report by independent experts working with the United Nations’ top human rights body who alleged President Nicolas Maduro had personally ordered the detention of government opponents, who endured electric shocks, asphyxiation and other cruel acts while in custody.
UN rights experts present evidence of war crimes in Ukraine
September 23, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — A team of experts commissioned by the U.N.’s top human rights body to look into rights violations in Ukraine said Friday its initial investigation turned up evidence of war crimes in the country following Russia’s invasion nearly seven months ago.
China envoy vows ‘fight’ over alleged Xinjiang rights abuses
September 22, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — An envoy from China's Xinjiang province said Thursday that Chinese authorities are ready for a “fight” with “anti-China” critics in the West and elsewhere over allegations of rights abuses in the anti-extremism campaign against Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic groups in the region.
UN-appointed expert says better sanctions on Myanmar needed
September 22, 2022 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — A United Nations-appointed human rights expert called Thursday for governments and companies to coordinate efforts to cut off the military-led government of Myanmar from its sources of revenue and weapons, saying life in the Southeastern Asian nation has become a “living hell” for many since the generals seized power last year.
China values UN relationship despite human rights criticism
September 19, 2022 GMTBEIJING (AP) — As world leaders gather in New York at the annual U.N. General Assembly, rising superpower China is also focusing on another United Nations body that is meeting across the Atlantic Ocean in Geneva.
EU nations seek to call out rights violations in Russia
September 15, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — All European Union nations except Hungary are moving forward at the U.N.'s human rights body to hold Russia's government accountable for a crackdown on media, arbitrary arrests, restrictions on free speech and other rights concerns after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine this year, diplomats said Thursday.
WHO: COVID end ‘in sight,’ deaths at lowest since March 2020
September 14, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that the number of coronavirus deaths worldwide last week was the lowest reported in the pandemic since March 2020, marking what could be a turning point in the years-long global outbreak.
UN: Israeli hit on Damascus airport stopped aid deliveries
September 14, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on the airport of the Syrian capital Damascus in June that forced it to close for two weeks led to the suspension of humanitarian activities during that period, the commission of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria said Wednesday.
Iconic French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard dead at 91
September 14, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Jean-Luc Godard, the iconic “enfant terrible” of the French New Wave who revolutionized popular cinema in 1960 with his first feature, “Breathless,” and stood for years among the film world's most influential directors, died Tuesday.
UN to EU: Don’t backtrack on climate goals amid energy pinch
September 12, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The acting U.N. human rights chief on Monday urged European Union member states to avoid “backtracking” on their efforts to develop renewables and energy-efficiency projects at a time when soaring energy prices have prompted some to ramp up use of and searches for fossil fuels.
China shuns cooperation with UN rights office over report
September 9, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — China can’t cooperate with the U.N. human rights office after it released a report criticizing Beijing’s policies against Uyghurs and other ethnic groups in western Xinjiang, a top Chinese diplomat said Friday.
UN approves Austria’s Volker Türk as new human rights chief
September 8, 2022 GMTUNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly on Thursday approved a veteran Austrian diplomat to be the global body's human rights chief and its advocate for adherence to universal rights at a time when the office is under harsh criticism from China for accusing Beijing of abusing Muslim minorities.
Russia’s Sberbank to sell off sanctions-hit Swiss subsidiary
September 2, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The Swiss financial markets watchdog said Friday that Sberbank, one of Russia's largest banks, is selling its Swiss subsidiary, which had come under pressure because of international sanctions on Russian interests over the invasion of Ukraine.
Swiss police nab 2 suspected of ties to Islamic State group
September 1, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Swiss police arrested two people Thursday in connection with a federal investigation into their suspected support for, or participation in, the banned Islamic State group, authorities said.
UN cites possible crimes vs. humanity in China’s Xinjiang
September 1, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — China's discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in the western region of Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity, the U.N. human rights office said in a long-awaited report Wednesday, which cited “serious” rights violations and patterns of torture in recent years.
UN experts warn of impact of abortion bans on US minorities
August 30, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — Independent U.N. human rights experts expressed concerns Tuesday about the adverse impact on the rights of racial and ethnic minorities from the U.S. Supreme Court decision that stripped away constitutional protections for abortion in the United States.