Covid-19: Life-saving drug has been found, claims UK researchers

Researchers say the new drug cuts the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators LONDON, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A cheap and widely available drug called dexamethasone can help save the lives of patients who are seriously ill with coronavirus.UK experts say the low-dose steroid treatment is…

Covid-19: Clashes at protests as French medical staff call for more resources and funds

PARIS, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Across France, hundreds of medical staff have turned out in the streets of major cities to express their anger over a lack of government support. From Paris, to Montpellier, union leaders called for more resources and funding. But their efforts were overshadowed by the infiltration…

Swiss authorities search for person who left $191,000 of gold bars on train

The owner has five years to stake their claim GENEVA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — While many of us have left something on a train – a phone, a wallet, headphones – it’s highly unlikely you’ve wandered onto the platform leaving a bagful of gold behind. Well, one person in Switzerland…

EU says US move against International Criminal Court ‘unacceptable’

BRUSSELS, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union voiced grave concern about US President Donald Trump’s June 11 decision to authorise sanctions against the International Criminal Court, saying any punitive measures were “unacceptable and unprecedented”. The bloc, whose trade and security ties are intertwined with the United States, also said…

US ‘outraged’ as Russia convicts American of spying

US citizen Paul Whelan attends a sentencing hearing at the Moscow City Court on charges of espionage against Russia WASHINGTON, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States expressed outrage over a Russian court’s conviction of American Paul Whelan on espionage charges, saying he was deprived of a fair trial. Whelan,…

US Supreme Court backs protection for LGBT workers

The Supreme Court has issued a major ruling on LGBT rights WASHINGTON, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — America’s top court has ruled that employers who fire workers for being gay or transgender are breaking the country’s civil rights laws. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court said federal law, which prohibits…

Covid-19: US bank profits plunge 70% on coronavirus loss provisioning

The US Federal Reserve WASHINGTON, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US bank profits fell by 69.6% to $18.5 billion in the first quarter of 2020 from the year prior as banks felt the economic impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to new data from a banking regulator. The Federal Deposit…

US unrest/Police reform: Pres Trump signs executive order on ‘best practice’

WASHINGTON, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order introducing several police reforms while rejecting calls to defund or dismantle the police. His order offers federal grants to improve police practices, including creating a database to trace abuses by officers. The order comes amid anger…

Uganda to hold elections in early 2021, campaign rallies banned

Yoweri Museveni , Uganda’s President KAMPALA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda will hold a presidential election between Jan 10 and Feb 8, 2021, authorities said, introducing restrictions it said were aimed at slowing the spread of the new coronavirus. Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the election commission chairman, said the commission had…

Up to 17 infected, 11 dead in new Ebola outbreak in DR Congo

KINSHASA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded up to 17 Ebola cases in a new outbreak of the deadly virus in the western province of Equateur, and 11 of those infected have died, medical authorities said. The authorities had reported 12 infections last week in…