WORLD

Washington, United States | AFP |  The US Supreme Court delivered a landmark victory for the gay and transgender communities Monday when it ruled that employers cannot discriminate against workers because of their sexual orientation. In a blow to the administration of President Donald Trump, the court ruled by six votes …

Washington, United States | AFP | The United States on Monday withdrew emergency use authorizations for two antimalarial drugs favored by President Donald Trump to treat the new coronavirus, effectively shutting the door on the politically charged treatments. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) were authorized in March after they were found …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | While the British government insists it has been “guided by science” and has taken “the right decisions at the right time”, the toll of 42,000 coronavirus deaths has fuelled criticism. Here are some of the reasons offered to account for Europe’s heaviest official toll. – …

Washington, United States | AFP | The United States expressed outrage Monday over a Russian court’s conviction of American Paul Whelan on espionage charges, saying he was deprived of a fair trial. Whelan, a former Marine arrested in December 2018, was sentenced Monday to 16 years of hard labor after being found guilty of receiving …

Amman, Jordan | AFP | UN agencies warned Monday that the coronavirus pandemic could lead to the deaths of an additional 51,000 under-fives in the Middle East and North Africa by the end of the year. The World Health Organisation and United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said the disruption of essential health and nutrition services …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The UN’s top rights body Monday agreed to a request from African countries to urgently debate racism and police brutality this week following unrest in the US and beyond over George Floyd’s death. As the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council resumed after breaking …

Hong Kong, China | AFP | Equities tumbled Monday, extending last week’s losses on fears of a second wave of virus infections around the world that could put the brakes on the easing of lockdowns and a budding economic recovery. While European nations press ahead with their reopening after months of …

Washington, United States | AFP | The fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer in Atlanta has poured more fuel on the raging US debate over racism, prompting another round of street protests and the resignation of the southern city’s police chief. The death of 27-year-old Rayshard …

Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | Nuclear powers continue to modernise their arsenals, researchers said Monday, warning that tensions were rising and the outlook for arms control was “bleak”. “The loss of key channels of communication between Russia and the USA… could potentially lead to a new nuclear arms race,” said Shannon …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was setting up a commission to look at “all aspects of inequality” following race protests across Britain. Writing in the Telegraph newspaper on Monday, Johnson said there was “much more that we need to do” to tackle racism despite …