Coronavirus Pandemic: Latest Updates

More than 832,000 dead

The pandemic has killed at least 832,336 people worldwide since surfacing in China late last year, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT yesterday. More than 24.5 million cases have been registered. The United States has recorded the highest number of deaths with 180,857, followed by Brazil with 118,649, Mexico with 62,594, India with 61,529 and Britain with 41,477 fatalities.

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Trump pledges to 'crush' virus

US President Donald Trump pledges to "crush" the coronavirus pandemic with a vaccine by the end of the year, as he accepts the Republican nomination for a second term. He speaks as the United States, the world's worst-hit country, passes the milestone of 180,000 coronavirus deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University's real-time tracker.

Pandemic to worsen: Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says coping with the coronavirus will become more challenging in the coming autumn and winter months, in her annual summer press conference. Germany has fared relatively well in its battle to contain the virus so far but like many other European countries has seen a new surge in cases in recent weeks.

Paris wakes up to masks

Outdoor mask-wearing becomes compulsory in Paris and near suburbs at 08:00 am yesterday as the government moves to stay a trend of mounting coronavirus infections. Non-compliance is punishable with a fine 135 euros ($160). However, authorities make a last-minute about-turn, exempting cyclists and joggers from the otherwise blanket outdoors obligation.

China arrests 5,800 for coronavirus crimes

Around 5,800 people suspected of killing health workers, selling defective medical equipment and lying about their travel history have been arrested in China for epidemic-related crimes since January, the state prosecutor's office says. One case involves a shopper who beat another customer to death for not wearing a mask in a supermarket, while another includes a person who deliberately mowed down medical workers with a car.

Protest against exams in India

Hundreds of masked protesters demonstrated in major Indian cities yesterday against a government plan to hold exams for millions of students during the coronavirus pandemic, as the daily tally of infections hit a record. The health ministry reported 77,266 infections, taking the nation's tally to 3.3 million, with a toll of 61,529 deaths. India, with the most infections in Asia, has posted the highest single-day increase worldwide every day since Aug. 7. More than 2.4 million students are set to take tests next week for admission to medical and engineering schools, which the federal government has declined to defer, despite growing pressure from students and opposition parties.