The pandemic has killed at least 590,132 people worldwide since it surfaced in China late last year and more than 13.8 million have been infected. Image: Maridav/IStock.com via AFP Relaxnews
EU鈥檚 鈥榤oment of truth鈥�
Deeply divided European Union leaders begin their first face-to-face summit for months to thrash out the terms of a planned 750-billion-euro (P42 trillion) post-coronavirus economic rescue plan, in what French President Emmanuel Macron describes as a 鈥渕oment of truth鈥� for the economically battered bloc.
New record for US
The United States sets another record for new daily cases with 68,428 infections recorded in 24 hours, according to Johns Hopkins University. In that period the death toll also climbs by 974 people in the world鈥檚 worst-hit country, which is seeing a resurgence in the south and west.
Meanwhile, Brazil tops two million coronavirus cases, while India records one million, meaning they rank with the United States among the three worst-hit countries.
New restrictions
The regional government in Spain鈥檚 second city Barcelona urges residents to stay home after a rise in virus cases. It also orders the closure of cinemas, theatres and nightclubs and bans gatherings of more than 10 people.
And Israel鈥檚 government imposes new restrictions in the hope of avoiding a general lockdown further along the line. They include the closure every weekend of malls, stores and other venues.
More than 590,000 deaths
The pandemic has killed at least 590,132 people worldwide since it surfaced in China late last year and more than 13.8 million have been infected, according to an Agence France-Presse tally at 11:00 Greenwich Mean Time Zone on Friday based on official sources.
The United States has the most deaths with 138,360. It is followed by Brazil with 76,688, Britain with 45,119, Mexico with 37,574, and Italy with 35,017.
BA retires 747 fleet early
British Airways says it is retiring its 747 jumbo jet fleet of 31 planes, saying: 鈥淚t is unlikely our magnificent 鈥榪ueen of the skies鈥� will ever operate commercial services for British Airways again due to the downturn in travel caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic.鈥�
Meanwhile, Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific issues a profit warning, estimating it has lost 9.9 billion Hong Kong dollars (P63 billion) in the first half of the year due to the pandemic.
UN needs $3.6 billion more
The United Nations asks for an extra $3.6 billion (P177 trillion) for its Global Humanitarian Response Plan to battle the pandemic, warning developed countries of the 鈥減rice of inaction鈥� if poorer nations do not receive help.
Russia accused of vaccine hacking
The U.S., Britain and Canada accuse Russia of trying to steal coronavirus vaccine research from their laboratories, saying that a hacking group called APT29 is 鈥渁lmost certainly鈥� linked to Russian intelligence.
New China outbreak
The capital of China鈥檚 far-western Xinjiang region, Urumqi, curtails most flights into the city and shuts down the subway and public bus services after at least five coronavirus infections are detected there, government authorities and state-controlled media say.
Record rise in Melbourne
Australia鈥檚 second-biggest city of Melbourne reports a record rise of more than 400 new coronavirus cases despite a week-old lockdown of more than five million residents, with Victoria state鈥檚 chief health officer saying: 鈥淲e have not turned the corner here, worse than that.鈥�
Olympics face 鈥榥ew war鈥�
Athletes and the Olympic movement face their greatest crisis since the 1980s Cold War-era boycotts in the COVID-19 pandemic, which has become a 鈥渘ew war鈥�, long-time International Olympic Committee member Richard Pound tells AFP.聽CL
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