Author: Gulf News Week
Olympic medallist Matthew Wells rows as hard as he can as his body begins to float up for 22 seconds.Instead of a boat and water beneath him, he is 8500m (28000 ft) above the ground on a plane maneuvering to create weightless space-like conditions.He’s part of a different kind of race, one to create the equipment to keep the astronauts of the future fit during space missions.The British invention he’s trialling is amongst others being developed across the world, competing with the hope of a place on upcoming moon bases and space stations. ESA/NovespaceThe equipment was tested on a parabolic…
Three Red Cross volunteers died in the Democratic Republic of Congo from suspected Ebola likely caught while managing dead bodies, the organisation has said.They are believed to have contracted Ebola on 27 March while working in the eastern region of Ituri on a project unrelated to the virus, before the outbreak was identified.The volunteers are among the first known victims of DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak, which has resulted in more than 170 suspected deaths and 750 suspected cases.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said they had died after serving their communities “with courage and humanity”.Health…
Nascar champion Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, his family has said in a statement released to The Athletic.A medical evaluation showed the illness resulted “in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” the statement said.Busch died suddenly aged 41 on Thursday after what his family had described as a “severe illness”.In a statement, Nascar described Busch as a “rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation”. He had won two Cup Series titles and 63 races.He had been expected to compete in an upcoming race this weekend, the Coca-Cola 600, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in…
At least 82 people have been killed and two are missing after a coal mine blast in northern China, officials have said.Rescue officials revised down the death toll in an update late on Saturday, having earlier said at least 90 people had died. The gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi province is the worst mining disaster in China since 2009.There were 247 workers reportedly on duty when the blast happened at 19:29 local time (11:29 GMT) on Friday, with more than 100 people said to be saved and hundreds of rescuers sent to the site.The country’s state…
F1 great Prost ‘injured as masked gang raid home’Four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost was injured when a masked gang raided his home near Geneva, Swiss media reports.2 hrs agoFormula 1
Thousands rallied in Taipei in support of higher defence spending after a US military official said Washington is pausing a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan to conserve munitions for its war on Iran. The protest comes as Taiwan faces growing military pressure from China, which considers the self-ruled island its own territory, with demonstrators urging stronger deterrence.
A French mother and her partner will remain in custody after allegedly abandoning her two young boys on a roadside in the south of Portugal, a court has ruled.The boys were found on Tuesday evening crying beside a road near Alcacer do Sal, about 100km (60 miles) south of Lisbon. The woman and her partner, identified by authorities as Marine R and Marc B, were arrested in Fatima on Thursday.As they were led into court on Saturday, the man shouted “I love you” in French and the boys’ mother sang.A judge ordered they be placed in pre-trial detention, French and…
French authorities have suspended extra EU border checks at Dover after thousands of holidaymakers heading to the port faced long queues in soaring temperatures.The port said they had escalated the “challenging situation” with border authorities, and the change would help clear queues at the terminal and congestion on surrounding roads.Travellers had earlier faced up to two hours’ delay reaching the port and up to a further two and half hours to complete processing at the terminal on Saturday morning.By lunchtime traffic was “slow moving” and the processing time at check-in was under an hour, the port said. Just after 14:00,…
Watch: Pitches, PlayStations and protein ice cream – A look inside Brazil’s World Cup base campBBC’s Brandon Livesay toured the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morris Township, New Jersey that will host the team in the coming weeks.34 mins agoWorld
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi as part of a four-day visit to the country.Rubio arrived in the eastern city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) on Saturday morning before travelling to the capital. He is also due to visit Jaipur and Agra.He extended an invitation to visit the White House to Modi during their meeting, US officials said. The Indian premier, meanwhile, said the pair had discussed “issues related to regional and global peace and security”.The visit comes as the two nations seek to reshape their economic relationship, and amid…