https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The economic cost of climate-related disasters hit $2.25 trillion over the last two decades, an increase of more than 150 percent compared to the previous 20 years, the UN said Wednesday October 10th in Geneva. https://www.thelocal.ch/20181010/costs-of-climate-related-disasters-have-more-than-doubled-in-the-last-two-decades-says-un-in-switzerland Wed, 10 Oct 2018 15:03:50 +0200 costs-of-climate-related-disasters-have-more-than-doubled-in-the-last-two-decades-says-un-in-switzerland For the past century, Geneva has been at the heart of global diplomacy. The city hosts more than a dozen UN agencies and has been the centre point of many colossal global moments. https://www.thelocal.ch/20181010/in-pictures-geneva-the-worlds-incubator-for-peace-and-policy-since-1920 Wed, 10 Oct 2018 13:05:04 +0200 in-pictures-geneva-the-worlds-incubator-for-peace-and-policy-since-1920 The UN peace envoy for Syria will host Iran, Russia and Turkey for talks on drafting a new Syrian constitution on September 11-12, a United Nations spokeswoman said on Friday August 24th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180824/geneva-set-to-host-talks-on-syrian-constitution-next-month Fri, 24 Aug 2018 19:12:35 +0200 geneva-set-to-host-talks-on-syrian-constitution-next-month Angered by "unfair" pay cuts, UN staff in Geneva are planning a half-day strike next week, as dozens of ministers and other dignitaries attend high-level events at the organisation's European headquarters. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180225/un-geneva-staff-plan-work-stoppage-over-pay-cuts Sun, 25 Feb 2018 18:28:35 +0100 un-geneva-staff-plan-work-stoppage-over-pay-cuts The United Nations on Friday slammed US President Donald Trump's reported description of African nations and Haiti as "shithole" countries as "shocking and shameful", and "racist". https://www.thelocal.ch/20180112/un-says-trump-slur-on-shithole-countries-is-racist Fri, 12 Jan 2018 13:10:42 +0100 un-says-trump-slur-on-shithole-countries-is-racist Negotiations in Geneva aimed at ending Syria's devastating civil war have started in a "professional and serious" atmosphere and will be extended another two weeks, the UN mediator said on Thursday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20171201/serious-syria-talks-in-geneva-extended-for-two-weeks Fri, 01 Dec 2017 09:36:41 +0100 serious-syria-talks-in-geneva-extended-for-two-weeks The United Nations will try to revitalize its flagging efforts to end the war in Syria this week, after Russia's emergence as the key dealmaker in the bid to resolve the six-year conflict. https://www.thelocal.ch/20171127/more-syria-talks-begin-in-geneva-this-week Mon, 27 Nov 2017 09:42:11 +0100 more-syria-talks-begin-in-geneva-this-week A UN panel on Thursday quizzed a Swiss government delegation about the country’s efforts to improve human rights in the past four years, urging it to work further on combating violence against women, racism, xenophobia and the discrimination of migrants. https://www.thelocal.ch/20171110/un-urges-switzerland-to-fight-harder-against-discrimination-and-racism Fri, 10 Nov 2017 10:21:49 +0100 un-urges-switzerland-to-fight-harder-against-discrimination-and-racism The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has hit a new high, the UN said on Monday, warning that drastic action is needed to achieve targets set by the Paris climate agreement. https://www.thelocal.ch/20171031/un-cardon-dioxide-in-atmosphere-hits-new-high-environment-climate-change Tue, 31 Oct 2017 09:27:12 +0100 un-cardon-dioxide-in-atmosphere-hits-new-high-environment-climate-change Marathon talks aimed at ending Cyprus's drawn-out conflict sputtered out early Friday without a deal, despite valiant efforts from the UN chief to jumpstart the process. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170707/swiss-talks-fail-to-reach-deal-on-cyprus-conflict Fri, 07 Jul 2017 10:36:45 +0200 swiss-talks-fail-to-reach-deal-on-cyprus-conflict A fresh round of UN-sponsored Syria peace talks will begin on July 10th in Geneva, the UN envoy said Saturday, amid slim hopes for progress towards ending over six years of bloodshed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170617/fresh-syria-talks-in-geneva-slated-for-july-10 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 18:12:10 +0200 fresh-syria-talks-in-geneva-slated-for-july-10 Sophia smiles mischievously, bats her eyelids and tells a joke. Without the mess of cables that make up the back of her head, you could almost mistake her for a human. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170609/humanoid-robot-is-star-of-geneva-conference Fri, 09 Jun 2017 10:33:19 +0200 humanoid-robot-is-star-of-geneva-conference A new round of Syrian peace talks opens in Geneva on Tuesday, overshadowed by a competing process in Astana and with rebels reeling from a major setback in Damascus. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170516/syria-peace-talks-begin-again-in-geneva Tue, 16 May 2017 10:21:29 +0200 syria-peace-talks-begin-again-in-geneva The Syrian regime and opposition have agreed a "clear agenda" to seek to end the country's six-year-old war, the UN mediator said on Friday at the end of sometimes fractious and slow-moving talks in Geneva. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170306/genevas-syria-talks-end-on-more-positive-note Mon, 06 Mar 2017 09:41:27 +0100 genevas-syria-talks-end-on-more-positive-note The United States will on Monday claim its seat at the UN Human Rights Council under the new presidency of Donald Trump, whose election has provoked deep concern over the body's future. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170227/america-first-trumps-us-prepares-to-talk-human-rights-in-geneva Mon, 27 Feb 2017 09:55:34 +0100 america-first-trumps-us-prepares-to-talk-human-rights-in-geneva UN-brokered Syrian peace talks resume in Geneva on Thursday, but hopes of a breakthrough are dim, clouded by persistent violence and deadlock over the country's political future. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170223/un-pessimistic-as-syria-peace-talks-resume-in-geneva Thu, 23 Feb 2017 09:25:22 +0100 un-pessimistic-as-syria-peace-talks-resume-in-geneva The Geneva-based UN refugee agency said on Monday it was "alarmed" by the consequences of US President Donald Trump's order barring refugee arrivals, describing those targeted as "anxious, confused and heartbroken." https://www.thelocal.ch/20170131/un-refugees-are-anxious-confused-and-heartbroken Tue, 31 Jan 2017 09:28:59 +0100 un-refugees-are-anxious-confused-and-heartbroken Nations should strive for a world where nuclear weapons are prohibited and where existing stocks are destroyed, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech at the United Nations in Geneva on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170119/chinese-president-ends-swiss-tour-with-un-speech-against-nuclear-weapons Thu, 19 Jan 2017 09:28:43 +0100 chinese-president-ends-swiss-tour-with-un-speech-against-nuclear-weapons Rival Cypriot leaders resume UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva on Monday billed as a historic opportunity to end decades of conflict on the divided island, but the outcome is far from certain. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170109/cyprus-peace-talks-resume-in-geneva Mon, 09 Jan 2017 09:33:35 +0100 cyprus-peace-talks-resume-in-geneva The UN's Syria envoy said on Monday he has planned peace talks for February in Geneva, as the UN Security Council voted to deploy observers to war-ravaged Aleppo. https://www.thelocal.ch/20161220/un-plans-more-syria-talks-in-geneva Tue, 20 Dec 2016 10:28:09 +0100 un-plans-more-syria-talks-in-geneva