SYDNEY: Australian endurance swimmer Chloe McCardel is planning to create a slice of history with a 35th crossing of the English Channel after being given a special exemption to travel during the coronavirus pandemic. Considered one of the greatest ultra-swimmers of all time, she has so far tamed the treacherous
BEIJING: China on Monday reported its highest number of coronavirus cases in three months, part of a worrying swell of second and third-wave infections that are hitting Asia and Europe. Australia has been rocked by its deadliest surge since the start of the pandemic, Hong Kong is experiencing record daily
LONDON: Sixteen rescuers were called out to save a St Bernard dog stranded on an English mountain, in an embarrassing episode for the member of a breed more famed for rescuing stricken humans from the icy dangers of the high Alps. The pooch named Daisy collapsed while descending from the
HONG KONG: Gold hit a record high Monday as investors rushed into the safe-haven on concerns about China-US tensions, a spike in virus infections around the world and a lack of progress on a new stimulus Bill in Washington. After months of healthy rallies across equity markets — fuelled by
Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: More than 633,000 dead The pandemic has killed more than 633,000 people worldwide since it surfaced in China late last year, with more than 15.5 million people infected, according to an AFP tally at 1100 GMT on Friday based on official
COPENHAGEN, Denmark: The World Health Organisation Friday expressed concern over a coronavirus resurgence in Europe as Britain and Austria tightened restrictions and China stepped up testing. Europe accounts for a fifth of the world’s more than 15 million cases and remains the hardest hit in terms of deaths, with 207,118
PARIS: The Grands Prix in the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Canada have been scrapped this year but three races in Europe have been added to the coronavirus-affected season, Formula One said Friday. There will be an F1 debut for Portugal’s Portimao track and a return for Germany’s Nurburgring and
OSLO: Norway on Friday reimposed quarantine on arrivals from Spain over a spike in virus cases, but also said such restrictions would not apply to the team behind the latest “Mission: Impossible” blockbuster. Star Tom Cruise and the rest of the crew will be allowed to enter the country in
ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined thousands Friday in the first Muslim prayers in Hagia Sophia since the Istanbul landmark was controversially converted back into a mosque. Massive crowds gathered inside and outside the Unesco World Heritage site, some draped in Turkish flags and others waving Islamic banners. Erdogan
NEW YORK: Global equities took a beating Friday as China-US tensions intensified, while stalled stimulus talks in Washington fuelled fears for the economy as the dollar fell further. Lingering worries about the impact on businesses of fresh coronavirus outbreaks helped trigger major profit-taking, overshadowing a batch of bright data in