DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Scientists have developed a drug that may cure Ebola, with research showing a 90 per cent survival rate for infected people if treated early.

Four drugs have been trialled in the country, where there is a major outbreak of the virus.

Health officials said Ebola may soon become a “preventable and treatable” disease after patients that took the REGN-EB3 and mAb114 drugs showed significant survival rates.

VENEZUELA: Four legislators have been charged with treason, conspiracy and instigation of insurrection that threatens the peace and sovereignty of Venezuela.

National Assembly members Juan Pablo Garcia Canales, Jose Angel Guerra Brito and Tomas Guanipa Villalobos face a hearing after a request was sent to the country’s highest court by the Attorney General’s Office.

Venezuela’s government faces an ongoing Washington-backed coup attempt led by opposition politician Juan Guaido, president of the defunct National Assembly.
 

IRAQ: Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim has condemned Israel’s involvement in US military operations in the Persian Gulf, warning that it will inflame regional tensions.

His Israeli counterpart Yisrael Katz revealed last week that Tel Aviv would join a US-led mission that it claims is aimed at securing safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

But Mr Hakim said Baghdad “rejects any participation of forces of the zionist entity [Israel] in any military force to secure passage of ships in the Arabian Gulf.”