UN agency: Innovation continued even as coronavirus emerged

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.'s intellectual property agency said Monday that innovation marched forward last year despite the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Technology, pharmaceuticals and biotech industries boosted their investments, even as hard-hit sectors like transport and travel eased...

The Latest: American Samoa reports first case of coronavirus

PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA -- American Samoa reported its first case of coronavirus on Friday. The U.S. territory’s acting governor and health officials said the islands’ first case of COVID-19 was of a resident who returned to America Samoa from Hawaii this week. ...

While urging vaccination, WHO declines jab data on its staff

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations' health agency, which has repeatedly urged the world to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and other illnesses, on Friday declined to say how many of its own staffers have followed that advice. “We won’t have that because it’s...

UN urges moratorium on use of AI that imperils human rights

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. human rights chief is calling for a moratorium on the use of artificial intelligence technology that poses a serious risk to human rights, including face-scanning systems that track people in public spaces. Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High...

Donors pledge $1.2 billion in emergency funds for Afghans

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations drummed up more than $1.2 billion in emergency pledges Monday for helping 11 million Afghans facing an escalating humanitarian crisis in their homeland and millions more elsewhere in the region as the U.N. human rights chief voiced concerns about the...

The Latest: UN says $1.2B pledged to help Afghans in need

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. humanitarian chief says $1.2 billion has been promised to help Afghans facing a growing humanitarian crisis in the country and millions in the region, calling the pledges “an important step” toward helping the needy. Undersecretary-General...

Olympic power broker Sheikh Ahmad found guilty of forgery

GENEVA (AP) — Olympic power broker Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah of Kuwait was found guilty on Friday of forgery linked to implicating his political rivals in Kuwait in a coup plot — a verdict that puts his long career in global sports politics at risk. Sheikh Ahmad,...

Olympic official Sheikh Ahmad of Kuwait found guilty of forgery in Geneva court

The Latest: UN chief to hold meeting on Afghanistan funding

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations chief will convene a ministerial meeting in Geneva on Sept. 13 to seek a swift scale-up in funding to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where nearly half the country’s 38 million people need assistance. U.N....

Documents show US investigation of 2 Kuwaitis in FIFA case

GENEVA (AP) — Two senior Olympic officials from Kuwait, one reputed to be the “kingmaker” of IOC elections and another who is president of swimming’s international governing body, have been targeted by the U.S. Department of Justice for suspected racketeering and bribery related to...