Covid-19: US sues Chinese firm over half-million ‘fake’ N95 masks

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The US Justice Department sued a Chinese company for selling nearly a half million fake and substandard N95 respirator to US buyers in April as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country. In a complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, the department…

Global race protests mark George Floyd’s death

WASHINGTON, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Taking a knee, chanting andignoring social distancing measures, outraged protesters from Sydneyto London kicked off a weekend of global rallies Saturday againstracism and police brutality. The death during the arrest of George Floyd, an unarmed black manin the US state of Minnesota, has brought tens…

Biden clinches Democratic nomination for 2020 race against Trump

WASHINGTON, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Joe Biden said he had secured the delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination and face Donald Trump in November’s US presidential election. “Folks, tonight we secured the 1,991 delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination,” the former vice president said on Twitter. “I’m going…

US Pres Trump threatens EU, China tariffs over lobster duties

BANGOR (Maine, US), June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs against the European Union and China in retaliation for duties imposed on imports of US lobster. At a meeting with fisheries representatives in Bangor, Maine, Trump instructed his hawkish trade advisor Peter Navarro to look into…

US shows surprising employment recovery in May despite pandemic

WASHINGTON, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US economy regained 2.5 million jobs in May and the unemployment rate dropped as coronavirus pandemic shutdowns began to ease, which President Donald Trump said was a sign the recovery from the crisis is underway. The all-important Labor Department data showed the largest increase…

Covid-19 could hamper Africa’s climate change response: IMF

JOHANNESBURG, June 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that coronavirus could further weaken sub-Saharan Africa’s ability to adapt to climate change, as measures to contain the pandemic stretch limited resources. A recent study on the impact of rising temperatures and extreme weather events on growth suggests sub-Saharan…

Nine Syria government fighters killed in Israeli air raids: monitor

DAMASCUS, June 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least nine fighters loyal to the Syrian government, including four Syrians, were killed during Israeli air raids late Thursday in the Hama province a central region controlled by the Syrian army and Iranians, a monitor group said. Those killed were either “part of the…

Covid-19/US unrest: US likely suffered ‘heartbreaking’ unemployment in May

WASHINGTON, June 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Even as the world’s largest economy begins to reopen, the scale of the job losses in May will be devastating, and economists fear it will take many months to recover. More than 21 million jobs disappeared in March and April as the unemployment rate surged…

Philippines: Pres Duterte renews threat to kill drug dealers after big bust

President Rodrigo Duterte MANILA, June 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte renewed on Friday a threat to kill drug dealers after police seized 756kg of methamphetamines, a haul he said proved the Southeast Asian country had become a transhipment point for narcotics. The crystal methamphetamine, with a Philippine market…

Covid-19: Fiji declares itself coronavirus free, says ‘answered prayers’

Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama SUVA, June 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fiji announced it was COVID-19 free on Friday after the island nation’s last known infected patient was given the all-clear, continuing the Pacific’s remarkable record of success against the virus. There was panic among Fiji’s 930,000 population when the…