Geneva - The United Nations has ousted three non-governmental organizations from the Durban Review Conference on racism, an official said Thursday, citing disruptive actions and the propagation of racist material.
Rupert Colville, the spokesman for Navi Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the "unacceptable behaviour" by the two Jewish groups and one Iranian organization, had prompted the rare move by the UN.
Geneva - The Swiss drug maker Novartis said Thursday its first quarter profits were down 14 percent, to 2 billion dollars, but still better than expectations that the fall would be worse.
The Basel-based company said its net sales stood at 9.7 billion dollars, down 2 per cent, but if valued in local currencies, this was an 8 per cent increase.
Basic earnings per share were at 87 cents in the first quarter compared to 1.02 dollars in the same period in 2008.
Geneva - Banking giant Credit Suisse Group reported Thursday a net profit of 2 billion Swiss francs (1.71 billion dollars) in the first quarter of 2009, in part owing to a recovery of its trading unit.
Last year's first quarter saw the bank lose 2.15 billion francs.
The investment banking segment reported income before taxes of 2.41 billion in the first quarter of 2009, compared with a 3.42 billion loss last year.
Geneva - Two European Jewish student groups have been "particularly" disruptive during the Durban Review Conference on racism in Geneva, a United Nations official said Wednesday.
Rupert Colville from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that so far 46 people have had their accreditation revoked since the start of the conference on Monday, mostly from non-governmental organizations and one from the media.
Geneva - The United Nations Durban Review Conference on racism entered its third day Wednesday with delegates having already adopted by consensus the outcome document which calls upon all states to fight racism, intolerance and discrimination.
The declaration was adopted Tuesday afternoon after no state attending the conference in Geneva voiced objection to the text, which was drafted over several months and included compromises to satisfy as many governments as possible.
Geneva - Nestle Group announced Tuesday its first quarter sales dropped 2.1 per cent from the same period last year to 25.2 billion Swiss francs (21.56 billion dollars).
The company said it achieved organic growth of 3.8 per cent in the quarter and was on track to meet its goals of "at least" 5 per cent organic growth this year.
Organic growth, which does not take into account currency effects and acquisitions, was nearly 10 per cent in the first quarter of last year.
Geneva - The United Nations has ousted three non-governmental organizations from the Durban Review Conference on racism, an official said Thursday, citing disruptive actions and the propagation of racist material.
Geneva - The Swiss drug maker Novartis said Thursday its first quarter profits were down 14 percent, to 2 billion dollars, but still better than expectations that the fall would be worse.
Geneva - Banking giant Credit Suisse Group reported Thursday a net profit of 2 billion Swiss francs (1.71 billion dollars) in the first quarter of 2009, in part owing to a recovery of its trading unit.
Geneva - Two European Jewish student groups have been "particularly" disruptive during the Durban Review Conference on racism in Geneva, a United Nations official said Wednesday.
Geneva - The United Nations Durban Review Conference on racism entered its third day Wednesday with delegates having already adopted by consensus the outcome document which calls upon all states to fight racism, intolerance and discrimination.
Geneva - Nestle Group announced Tuesday its first quarter sales dropped 2.1 per cent from the same period last year to 25.2 billion Swiss francs (21.56 billion dollars).
