<p>The coronavirus pandemic changed thousands and thousands of lives across the world as it caused deaths, slowed down economies and shook the general tendency of people and policymakers to take public health for granted. Strict lockdowns meant that travel, tourism and hospitality sectors took a hit. In US, the government helped businesses across the country stay afloat by offering monetary help, large and small.</p>

<p>Dana McIntyre (59), a pizzeria owner in Boston has now been handed a two-year prison term for taking relief money from the government and then using it to buy a farm, some vehicles, an alpaca farm and more.</p>

<p>“This was no momentary lapse in the fog of the pandemic,” Joshua S. Levy, the acting U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, said in a statement as mentioned by The New York Times (NYT).</p>

<p>“He stole from the American taxpayers and the many small businesses which truly needed those loans to survive.”</p>

<p>He told NYT that he was to report to prison in January. He claimed that he had viewed the money he got from the government as a loan which he would eventually pay back.</p>

<p>McIntyre received more than USD 660,000 from the government. The court has now ordered him to pay back $680,000.</p>

<p>He owns Rasta Pasta Pizzeria in Beverly, a Boston suburb. He also has a podcast show “The Dana Crypto Show.”</p>

<p>New York Times reported that after getting the money, McIntyre bought a farm in Vermont. He also bought a USD 14,000 pickup truck and a vintage car worth USD 8500.</p>

<p>He also made payments totalling to $6500 to broadcaster of his podcast&nbsp;and spent some money on home improvements.</p>

<p>“It wasn’t this mastermind programme to steal money from the government and go up and start this alpaca farm,” he said. “No, it unfolded and it took on its own life form.”</p>

<p>McIntyre has now become one among more than 3100 Americans who face charges of using pandemic relief funds for purposes other than related to pandemic-era survival. Federal prosecutors are scrambling to recover billions of dollars from people who falsely obtained money from government.</p>

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The coronavirus pandemic changed thousands and thousands of lives across the world as it caused deaths, slowed down economies and shook the general tendency of people and policymakers to take public health for granted.

The coronavirus pandemic changed thousands and thousands of lives across the world as it caused deaths, slowed down economies and shook the general tendency of people and policymakers to take public health for granted. Strict lockdowns meant that travel, tourism and hospitality sectors took a hit. In US, the government helped businesses across the country stay afloat by offering monetary help, large and small. Dana McIntyre (59), a pizzeria owner in Boston has now been handed a two-year prison term for taking relief money from the government and then using it to buy a farm, some vehicles, an alpaca farm and more. “This was no momentary lapse in the fog of the pandemic,” Joshua S. Levy, the acting U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, said in a statement as mentioned by The New York Times (NYT). “He stole from the American taxpayers and the many small businesses which truly needed those loans to survive.” He told NYT that he was to report to prison in January. He claimed that he had viewed the money he got from the government as a loan which he would eventually pay back. McIntyre received more than USD 660,000 from the government. The court has now ordered him to pay back $680,000. He owns Rasta Pasta Pizzeria in Beverly, a Boston suburb. He also has a podcast show “The Dana Crypto Show.” New York Times reported that after getting the money, McIntyre bought a farm in Vermont. He also bought a USD 14,000 pickup truck and a vintage car worth USD 8500. He also made payments totalling to $6500 to broadcaster of his podcast and spent some money on home improvements. “It wasn’t this mastermind programme to steal money from the government and go up and start this alpaca farm,” he said. “No, it unfolded and it took on its own life form.” McIntyre has now become one among more than 3100 Americans who face charges of using pandemic relief funds for purposes other than related to pandemic-era survival. Federal prosecutors are scrambling to recover billions of dollars from people who falsely obtained money from government. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Man gets two-year jail for buying alpaca farm with Covid relief money

<p>A new coronavirus (COVID-19) variant, BA.2.86 (nicknamed 'Pirola' on social media) has been reported in the United States and some other nations. It is said to be highly mutated from more recent versions and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added it to it watch list after it was added to the WHO's SARS-CoV-2 variant monitoring list.</p>

<p>Covid may have subsided, but the fear among people still resides with the emergence of variants and sub-variants of the deadly virus. The first known case of Covid was reported in China towards the end of 2019, and when it started to spread, it was declared a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020.</p>

<p>The outbreak became a pandemic just a few weeks later, and caused havoc on mankind, killing millions of people and leaving many more reeling with long-Covid.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-map-claiming-regions-beyond-its-border-is-aggression-shows-beijings-character-630176">China's map claiming regions beyond its border, including India, shows Beijing's 'aggressive character'</a></strong></p>

<p>Different variants such as Delta and Omicron, led to deadly Covid waves, and experts have raised concerns over this new variant also. As per reports, seven confirmed cases of the 'Pirola' variant were reported by CDC as of August 19.</p>

<p>The variant has been detected in other countries as well, such as Denmark, Israel, South Africa, Portugal and the United Kingdom.</p>

<h2><strong>What is 'Pirola' variant of COVID-19?</strong></h2>

<p>BA.2.86 (or the Pirola) has caused concerns among some virologists as according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's August 23 risk assessment, some said that it has a large number of mutations, and it may be able to bypass immunity from the vaccine or recent infection with a different variant.</p>

<p>A report by The Wall Street Journal mentioned that the positive cases include people who haven't travelled recently. It indicates that there is community transmission. Concerns have also been raised as the variant has also been detected in wastewater in the US.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/geetika-srivastava-appointed-as-indias-1st-female-diplomat-to-head-mission-in-pakistan-630121">Geetika Srivastava appointed as India's 1st female diplomat to head mission in Pakistan</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, &nbsp;one case of BA.2.86 was detected in Washtenaw County, and reportedly impacted an older adult who showed "mild" symptoms that didn't immediately require hospitalisation. So far there's no update on the health of the person.</p>

<p>The WSJ report stated that scientists are not aware of the origin of the variant as it contains so many mutations. But they believe it developed over months in an immunocompromised person with a chronic infection.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A new coronavirus (COVID-19) variant, BA.2.86 (nicknamed 'Pirola' on social media) has been reported in the United States and some other nations. It is said to be highly mutated from more recent versions and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added it to it watch list after it was added to the WHO's SARS-CoV-2 variant monitoring list.

A new coronavirus (COVID-19) variant, BA.2.86 (nicknamed 'Pirola' on social media) has been reported in the United States and some other nations. It is said to be highly mutated from more recent versions and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added it to it watch list after it was added to the WHO's SARS-CoV-2 variant monitoring list. Covid may have subsided, but the fear among people still resides with the emergence of variants and sub-variants of the deadly virus. The first known case of Covid was reported in China towards the end of 2019, and when it started to spread, it was declared a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020. The outbreak became a pandemic just a few weeks later, and caused havoc on mankind, killing millions of people and leaving many more reeling with long-Covid. Also read: China's map claiming regions beyond its border, including India, shows Beijing's 'aggressive character' Different variants such as Delta and Omicron, led to deadly Covid waves, and experts have raised concerns over this new variant also. As per reports, seven confirmed cases of the 'Pirola' variant were reported by CDC as of August 19. The variant has been detected in other countries as well, such as Denmark, Israel, South Africa, Portugal and the United Kingdom. What is 'Pirola' variant of COVID-19? BA.2.86 (or the Pirola) has caused concerns among some virologists as according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's August 23 risk assessment, some said that it has a large number of mutations, and it may be able to bypass immunity from the vaccine or recent infection with a different variant. A report by The Wall Street Journal mentioned that the positive cases include people who haven't travelled recently. It indicates that there is community transmission. Concerns have also been raised as the variant has also been detected in wastewater in the US. Also read: Geetika Srivastava appointed as India's 1st female diplomat to head mission in Pakistan According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, one case of BA.2.86 was detected in Washtenaw County, and reportedly impacted an older adult who showed "mild" symptoms that didn't immediately require hospitalisation. So far there's no update on the health of the person. The WSJ report stated that scientists are not aware of the origin of the variant as it contains so many mutations. But they believe it developed over months in an immunocompromised person with a chronic infection. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

What is 'Pirola' variant of COVID-19? Experts say it may bypass immunity from vaccine

<p>China will soon lift the requirement for incoming travellers to present a negative COVID-19 test result. On Monday, (August 28) China announced that starting Wednesday (August 30) inbound travellers to the country will no longer be required to take up a pre-departure antigen test for COVID-19.</p>

<p>This move marks a significant step as Beijing slowly moves to ease its stringent Covid-related restrictions that have been in place for over two years — since early 2020.</p>

<h2><strong>Zero-Covid no more</strong></h2>

<p>This announcement was made by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin during a regular press briefing.</p>

<p>China's strict zero-Xovid guidelines remained in place for more than two years and were only abandoned in December 2022. These measures severely affected the nation's economy and also led to a number of social disruptions.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-condemns-extremely-regrettable-harassment-calls-from-china-amid-fukushima-water-discharge-629938">Japan condemns 'extremely regrettable' harassment calls from China amid Fukushima water discharge row</a></strong></p>

<p>Tourism accounts for a significant portion of China's economy, with the comeback of Chinese tourists being crucial for regional economies.</p>

<p>Just a few months back, in April, China dropped the PCR test requirement for inbound travellers and replaced it with a COVID-19 antigen test result that had to be taken within 48 hours before boarding flights.</p>

<h2><strong>Post Covid growth</strong></h2>

<p>The stringent Zero-Covid regulations had quite an impact on China's economy. Even after they were dismissed, the nation's post-Covid growth has witnessed a slowdown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Due to this, on Monday (August 21st) China's central bank cut a key interest rate — the People's Bank of China cut the one-year loan prime rate, which serves as a benchmark for corporate loans, from 3.55 per cent to 3.45 per cent — to counter the slowdown in world's second-largest economy.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/china-halves-stock-trade-stamp-duty-in-bid-to-revive-slumping-market-629880">China halves stock trade stamp duty in bid to revive slumping&nbsp;market</a></strong></p>

<p>As per AFP, in China, the activity has been dragged down by uncertainty in the labour market and a weakening demand for Chinese goods globally. Economic sluggishness around the world has also contributed to this.</p>

<h2><strong>Zero Covid and deaths</strong></h2>

<p>As per a recent US study, China's abrupt dismantling of its zero-Covid regime could have led to nearly two million excess deaths.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our study of excess deaths related to the lifting of the zero-COVID policy in China sets an empirically derived benchmark estimate. These findings are important for understanding how the sudden propagation of COVID-19 across a population may impact population mortality," said the researchers.</p>

<p>The study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle found that the number of excess deaths far exceeded official Chinese government estimates in January.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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China will soon lift the requirement for incoming travellers to present a negative COVID-19 test result. On Monday, (August 28) China announced that starting Wednesday (August 30) inbound travellers to the country will no longer be required to take up a pre-departure antigen test for COVID-19.

China will soon lift the requirement for incoming travellers to present a negative COVID-19 test result. On Monday, (August 28) China announced that starting Wednesday (August 30) inbound travellers to the country will no longer be required to take up a pre-departure antigen test for COVID-19. This move marks a significant step as Beijing slowly moves to ease its stringent Covid-related restrictions that have been in place for over two years — since early 2020. Zero-Covid no more This announcement was made by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin during a regular press briefing. China's strict zero-Xovid guidelines remained in place for more than two years and were only abandoned in December 2022. These measures severely affected the nation's economy and also led to a number of social disruptions. Also read | Japan condemns 'extremely regrettable' harassment calls from China amid Fukushima water discharge row Tourism accounts for a significant portion of China's economy, with the comeback of Chinese tourists being crucial for regional economies. Just a few months back, in April, China dropped the PCR test requirement for inbound travellers and replaced it with a COVID-19 antigen test result that had to be taken within 48 hours before boarding flights. Post Covid growth The stringent Zero-Covid regulations had quite an impact on China's economy. Even after they were dismissed, the nation's post-Covid growth has witnessed a slowdown. Due to this, on Monday (August 21st) China's central bank cut a key interest rate — the People's Bank of China cut the one-year loan prime rate, which serves as a benchmark for corporate loans, from 3.55 per cent to 3.45 per cent — to counter the slowdown in world's second-largest economy. Also read | China halves stock trade stamp duty in bid to revive slumping market As per AFP, in China, the activity has been dragged down by uncertainty in the labour market and a weakening demand for Chinese goods globally. Economic sluggishness around the world has also contributed to this. Zero Covid and deaths As per a recent US study, China's abrupt dismantling of its zero-Covid regime could have led to nearly two million excess deaths. "Our study of excess deaths related to the lifting of the zero-COVID policy in China sets an empirically derived benchmark estimate. These findings are important for understanding how the sudden propagation of COVID-19 across a population may impact population mortality," said the researchers. The study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle found that the number of excess deaths far exceeded official Chinese government estimates in January. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China relaxes entry rules: No more predeparture COVID-19 tests for inbound travellers

<p>The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with a surge in the cost of living, have driven approximately 70 million more people in developing Asia into the grips of severe poverty last year, a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report has revealed.</p>

<p>According to the Asia and the Pacific 2023 report, an estimated 155.2 million individuals in developing Asia and the Pacific — equivalent to 3.9 percent of the region's population — faced extreme poverty in 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Without the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, this figure would have been smaller by&nbsp;67.8 million people.</p>

<p>As per the ADB, state of extreme poverty&nbsp;entails living on less than $2.15 a day, adjusted for purchasing power and inflation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Asia and the Pacific are making gradual strides towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the mounting cost of living is eroding progress in poverty alleviation,"- said&nbsp;Albert Park, Chief Economist at the ADB.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The increased cost of living has emerged as a critical concern as individuals in developing Asia -- forty-six developing economies of Asia excluding Japan -- find themselves less capable of coping with elevated prices for essential commodities such as food and fuel.</p>

<p>The surge in prices of basic goods and services has not only impacted people's savings but also strained their ability to afford other necessities like healthcare, education, investments, and growth-enabling opportunities.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><b>Poverty's costly toll: ADB's call to action</b></p>

<p dir="ltr">Report also highlighted a concerning trend: individuals grappling with poverty often pay a premium to access essential goods and services.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Take the example of low-income households, which frequently find themselves purchasing goods in smaller quantities — a costlier endeavor than buying in bulk.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Additionally, they might reside in informal settlements, exposing them to heightened health risks and subsequently increasing healthcare expenses.</p>

<p dir="ltr">While emerging economies in Asia and the Pacific show signs of progress against poverty, projections suggest that by 2030, around 30.3 percent of the region's population—equivalent to over 1.26 billion individuals—will still be economically insecure.&nbsp;&nbsp;This category is defined as living on $6.85 per day in 2017 prices.</p>

<p>To counteract the escalating cost of living, the report has urged governments across Asia and the Pacific to bolster social protection systems, amplify support for agricultural development, enhance access to financial services, prioritize strategic infrastructure investments, and foster technological innovation and human capital development.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These measures, the ADB argued, will help alleviate the strain on individuals facing economic vulnerabilities.</p>

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The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with a surge in the cost of living, have driven approximately 70 million more people in developing Asia into the grips of severe poverty last year, a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report has revealed.

The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with a surge in the cost of living, have driven approximately 70 million more people in developing Asia into the grips of severe poverty last year, a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report has revealed. According to the Asia and the Pacific 2023 report, an estimated 155.2 million individuals in developing Asia and the Pacific — equivalent to 3.9 percent of the region's population — faced extreme poverty in 2022. Without the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, this figure would have been smaller by 67.8 million people. As per the ADB, state of extreme poverty entails living on less than $2.15 a day, adjusted for purchasing power and inflation. "Asia and the Pacific are making gradual strides towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the mounting cost of living is eroding progress in poverty alleviation,"- said Albert Park, Chief Economist at the ADB. The increased cost of living has emerged as a critical concern as individuals in developing Asia -- forty-six developing economies of Asia excluding Japan -- find themselves less capable of coping with elevated prices for essential commodities such as food and fuel. The surge in prices of basic goods and services has not only impacted people's savings but also strained their ability to afford other necessities like healthcare, education, investments, and growth-enabling opportunities. Poverty's costly toll: ADB's call to action Report also highlighted a concerning trend: individuals grappling with poverty often pay a premium to access essential goods and services. Take the example of low-income households, which frequently find themselves purchasing goods in smaller quantities — a costlier endeavor than buying in bulk. Additionally, they might reside in informal settlements, exposing them to heightened health risks and subsequently increasing healthcare expenses. While emerging economies in Asia and the Pacific show signs of progress against poverty, projections suggest that by 2030, around 30.3 percent of the region's population—equivalent to over 1.26 billion individuals—will still be economically insecure. This category is defined as living on $6.85 per day in 2017 prices. To counteract the escalating cost of living, the report has urged governments across Asia and the Pacific to bolster social protection systems, amplify support for agricultural development, enhance access to financial services, prioritize strategic infrastructure investments, and foster technological innovation and human capital development. These measures, the ADB argued, will help alleviate the strain on individuals facing economic vulnerabilities. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Covid-19 pandemic, inflation pushed 68 million Asians into poverty in 2022: Asian Development Bank

<p>After a hiatus of three years post the extensive COVID-19 curbs, the first North Korean international commercial flight landed in Beijing on Tuesday (August 22). This comes after North Korea reinstated its international commercial flight operations, marking a significant shift in its stringent border policies, media reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The resumption of international travel came as North Korea's state airline, Air Koryo, successfully landed at Beijing's Capital Airport at approximately 9:17 am local time (0117 GMT), the first flight since early 2020. The flight's departure from the North Korean capital took place at&nbsp;around 8:30 am local time (2330 GMT), as per Flightradar24.</p>

<p>The flight designated as JS151 was seen as having arrived by an arrivals board observed by an AFP reporter at the airport.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-air-defence-intercepts-and-downs-two-attack-drones-near-moscow-627704">Russian Air Defence intercepts and downs two 'attack drones' near Moscow</a></p>

<h2><strong>China gives nod for flights resumption</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>China announced on Monday (August 21) that it has granted approval for the resumption of commercial flights between Beijing and the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-threatens-thermonuclear-war-over-camp-david-summit-and-us-south-korea-drills-627702">North Korea threatens 'thermonuclear war' over Camp David summit and US-South Korea drills</a></p>

<p>During a regular press briefing, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, said, "During the summer and autumn flight season... the Chinese side approved flight plans for passengers such as the Pyongyang-Beijing and Beijing-Pyongyang routes of Air Koryo."&nbsp;</p>

<p>As Air Koryo was set to return to the Chinese skies on August 21, there was an abrupt cancellation of flights.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>North Korea's diplomatic engagements</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Foreign officials from China and Russia attended a military parade in Pyongyang, marking the first visit by foreign dignitaries in years.&nbsp;Additionally, North Korea allowed a delegation of athletes to participate in a taekwondo competition in Kazakhstan. These developments signify a departure from North Korea's isolationist policies that had been in place since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Beijing's fruit diplomacy turns sour as China bans imports of Taiwanese mangoes</strong></p>

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<p>Looking ahead, Air Koryo is reportedly scheduled to operate two flights between Vladivostok, Russia, and Pyongyang on coming Friday (August 25) and Monday (August 28).&nbsp;</p>

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After a hiatus of three years post the extensive COVID-19 curbs, the first North Korean international commercial flight landed in Beijing on Tuesday (August 22).

After a hiatus of three years post the extensive COVID-19 curbs, the first North Korean international commercial flight landed in Beijing on Tuesday (August 22). This comes after North Korea reinstated its international commercial flight operations, marking a significant shift in its stringent border policies, media reports said. The resumption of international travel came as North Korea's state airline, Air Koryo, successfully landed at Beijing's Capital Airport at approximately 9:17 am local time (0117 GMT), the first flight since early 2020. The flight's departure from the North Korean capital took place at around 8:30 am local time (2330 GMT), as per Flightradar24. The flight designated as JS151 was seen as having arrived by an arrivals board observed by an AFP reporter at the airport. Also Read | Russian Air Defence intercepts and downs two 'attack drones' near Moscow China gives nod for flights resumption China announced on Monday (August 21) that it has granted approval for the resumption of commercial flights between Beijing and the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. Also Read | North Korea threatens 'thermonuclear war' over Camp David summit and US-South Korea drills During a regular press briefing, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, said, "During the summer and autumn flight season... the Chinese side approved flight plans for passengers such as the Pyongyang-Beijing and Beijing-Pyongyang routes of Air Koryo." As Air Koryo was set to return to the Chinese skies on August 21, there was an abrupt cancellation of flights. North Korea's diplomatic engagements Foreign officials from China and Russia attended a military parade in Pyongyang, marking the first visit by foreign dignitaries in years. Additionally, North Korea allowed a delegation of athletes to participate in a taekwondo competition in Kazakhstan. These developments signify a departure from North Korea's isolationist policies that had been in place since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch | Beijing's fruit diplomacy turns sour as China bans imports of Taiwanese mangoes × Looking ahead, Air Koryo is reportedly scheduled to operate two flights between Vladivostok, Russia, and Pyongyang on coming Friday (August 25) and Monday (August 28). WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

North Korea's first international commercial flight lands in Beijing after 3-year COVID-19 hiatus

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated BA.2.86 as a "variant under monitoring" because of the numerous mutations it carries. The CDC announced on Twitter(X) that the new lineage of the virus, known as BA.2.86, has been found in Israel, Denmark, and the United States.

New Covid variant BA.2.86 found in Israel, Denmark and US

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidOtsufml2MTxU" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US health authorities said on Friday (August 18) that there were closely monitoring a new variant of Covid. The WHO has classified the new variant BA.2.86 as the one under surveillance because of the large number of spike gene mutations it carries. Till now, the variant has been detected in the US, Israel, Denmark, and the United Kingdom (UK).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sharing a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed it was monitoring the variant.</p>

<h2><strong>Only 4 known sequences of the variant: WHO</strong></h2>

<p>According to WHO, there are only four known sequences of the BA.2.86, and the United Nations health agency pointed out that the potential impact of the variant's mutations is presently unknown and undergoing careful assessment.</p>

<p>The WHO is monitoring upwards of 10 variants and their descent lineages. On Thursday, the WHO said that only a few sequences of the variant have been reported from a handful of countries.</p>

<h2><strong>UK detects first case of the variant</strong></h2>

<p>On Friday, the UK detected the first case of BA.2.86 in a person with no recent travel history. In a statement, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said, "There is currently one confirmed case in the UK in an individual with no recent travel history, which suggests a degree of community transmission within the UK."</p>

<p>"The newly identified variant has a high number of mutations and is genomically distant from both its likely ancestor, BA.2, and from currently circulating XBB-derived variants," the statement added. The UKHSA designated the variant as V-23AUG-01 for monitoring.</p>

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The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US health authorities said on Friday (August 18) that there were closely monitoring a new variant of Covid. The WHO has classified the new variant BA.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US health authorities said on Friday (August 18) that there were closely monitoring a new variant of Covid. The WHO has classified the new variant BA.2.86 as the one under surveillance because of the large number of spike gene mutations it carries. Till now, the variant has been detected in the US, Israel, Denmark, and the United Kingdom (UK). Sharing a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed it was monitoring the variant. Only 4 known sequences of the variant: WHO According to WHO, there are only four known sequences of the BA.2.86, and the United Nations health agency pointed out that the potential impact of the variant's mutations is presently unknown and undergoing careful assessment. The WHO is monitoring upwards of 10 variants and their descent lineages. On Thursday, the WHO said that only a few sequences of the variant have been reported from a handful of countries. UK detects first case of the variant On Friday, the UK detected the first case of BA.2.86 in a person with no recent travel history. In a statement, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said, "There is currently one confirmed case in the UK in an individual with no recent travel history, which suggests a degree of community transmission within the UK." "The newly identified variant has a high number of mutations and is genomically distant from both its likely ancestor, BA.2, and from currently circulating XBB-derived variants," the statement added. The UKHSA designated the variant as V-23AUG-01 for monitoring. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WHO, US tracking new Covid variant BA.2.86; cases detected in 4 nations so far

<p>US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday (August 17) that it was keeping an eye on a new, highly mutated lineage of virus that causes COVID-19. The lineage is named BA.2.86. It has reportedly been detected in the United States, Israel as well as in Denmark. The CDC has said this on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).</p>

<p>"As we learn more about BA.2.86, CDC's advice on protecting yourself from COVID-19 remains the same," the agency said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">CDC is tracking a new lineage of the virus that causes COVID-19. This lineage is named BA.2.86, and has been detected in the United States, Denmark and Israel. CDC is gathering more information and will share more about this lineage as we learn it.</p>
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<p>Earlier on Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a post on X that it was considering BA.2.86 as a "variant under monitoring". It said it was monitoring it due to large number of mutations it carries. The agency said further that only a few sequences of the variant have been reported from a handful of countries.</p>

<p>The new lineage, which has 36 mutations from the currently-dominant XBB.1.5 COVID variant "harkens back to an earlier branch" of the virus, explained Dr. S. Wesley Long, medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist. Dr Long was quoted by Reuters.</p>

<p>He said it remains to be seen whether BA.2.86 will be able to out-compete other strains of the virus or have any advantage in escaping immune responses from prior infection or vaccination.</p>

<p>Reuters quoted \virologist Jesse Bloom, who said that early analysis indicated that the new variant "will have equal or greater escape than XBB.1.5 from antibodies elicited by pre-Omicron and first-generation Omicron variants."</p>

<p>Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 is the strain that's targetted by vaccines in upcoming Covid booster shots.</p>

<p>Bloom's slides note that the most likely scenario is that BA.2.86 is less transmissible than current dominant variants, so never spreads widely, but more sequencing data is needed.</p>

<p>"My biggest concern would be that it could cause a bigger spike in cases than what we have seen in recent waves," Dr. Long said. "The boosters will still help you fight off COVID in general."</p>

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US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday (August 17) that it was keeping an eye on a new, highly mutated lineage of virus that causes COVID-19.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday (August 17) that it was keeping an eye on a new, highly mutated lineage of virus that causes COVID-19. The lineage is named BA.2.86. It has reportedly been detected in the United States, Israel as well as in Denmark. The CDC has said this on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). "As we learn more about BA.2.86, CDC's advice on protecting yourself from COVID-19 remains the same," the agency said. CDC is tracking a new lineage of the virus that causes COVID-19. This lineage is named BA.2.86, and has been detected in the United States, Denmark and Israel. CDC is gathering more information and will share more about this lineage as we learn it. — CDC (@CDCgov) August 18, 2023 × Earlier on Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a post on X that it was considering BA.2.86 as a "variant under monitoring". It said it was monitoring it due to large number of mutations it carries. The agency said further that only a few sequences of the variant have been reported from a handful of countries. The new lineage, which has 36 mutations from the currently-dominant XBB.1.5 COVID variant "harkens back to an earlier branch" of the virus, explained Dr. S. Wesley Long, medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist. Dr Long was quoted by Reuters. He said it remains to be seen whether BA.2.86 will be able to out-compete other strains of the virus or have any advantage in escaping immune responses from prior infection or vaccination. Reuters quoted \virologist Jesse Bloom, who said that early analysis indicated that the new variant "will have equal or greater escape than XBB.1.5 from antibodies elicited by pre-Omicron and first-generation Omicron variants." Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 is the strain that's targetted by vaccines in upcoming Covid booster shots. Bloom's slides note that the most likely scenario is that BA.2.86 is less transmissible than current dominant variants, so never spreads widely, but more sequencing data is needed. "My biggest concern would be that it could cause a bigger spike in cases than what we have seen in recent waves," Dr. Long said. "The boosters will still help you fight off COVID in general." You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US: CDC keeps eye on new lineage of virus that causes Covid

<p>Moderna, a prominent name in COVID-19 vaccine development, announced on Thursday that preliminary data from an initial study showed that its updated COVID-19 vaccine was effective against the "Eris" and "Fornax" sub-variants.</p>

<p>The company, as per a Reuters report, said that it anticipates the availability of the updated vaccine in the upcoming weeks for the fall vaccination season. However, its release hinges on approvals from health regulators across the United States, Europe, and other regions.</p>

<h2><strong>Tackling Eris</strong></h2>

<p>With this, Moderna joins other key players in the field such as Novavax, Pfizer, and BioNTech SE, who have all created versions of their vaccines to tackle the XBB.1.5 sub-variant.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/who-designates-new-covid-strain-eris-as-variant-of-interest-amid-surge-in-cases-globally-624194">WHO designates new Covid strain ‘Eris’ as 'variant of interest' amid global surge in cases</a></strong></p>

<p>EG.5, or Eris, as per Reuters, is similar to XBB.1.5, the sub-variant nicknamed 'Kraken' and is a sub-lineage of the dreaded, still-dominant Omicron variant.</p>

<p>As per the latest government data, Eris accounts for more than 17 per cent of coronavirus cases in the US. Additionally, infections from Fornax or FL 1.5.1 are also spiking across the country.</p>

<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified EG.5 as a "variant of interest." The designation indicates that compared to other sub-variants, Eris needs to be carefully monitored due to its mutations, which might contribute to making it more contagious or severe.</p>

<h2>Other anti-Eris vaccines</h2>

<p>Pfizer has also announced significant progress in its updated COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed in collaboration with BioNTech. In a study conducted on mice, this new version exhibited neutralising activity against the Eris sub-variant.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/england-has-entered-another-covid-wave-professor-warns-626281">England is likely in the grip of another Covid wave, UCL professor warns</a></strong></p>

<p>COVID-19-related hospitalisations in the United States have surged by more than 40 per cent from the low figures recorded in June. However, despite this spike, the current hospitalisation numbers remain over 90 per cent lower than the peak levels observed during the Omicron outbreak in January 2022.</p>

<p>Globally, in July, reported cases of COVID-19 rose by 80 per cent. In its last week's update, WHO reported that between July 10 to August 6, nearly 1.5 million new cases — an 80 per cent increase compared to the previous 28 days — have been reported globally. As per the health agency, in mid-July, more than 17 per cent of all reported cases were EG.5, up from 7.6 per cent a month before.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Moderna, a prominent name in COVID-19 vaccine development, announced on Thursday that preliminary data from an initial study showed that its updated COVID-19 vaccine was effective against the "Eris" and "Fornax" sub-variants.

Moderna, a prominent name in COVID-19 vaccine development, announced on Thursday that preliminary data from an initial study showed that its updated COVID-19 vaccine was effective against the "Eris" and "Fornax" sub-variants. The company, as per a Reuters report, said that it anticipates the availability of the updated vaccine in the upcoming weeks for the fall vaccination season. However, its release hinges on approvals from health regulators across the United States, Europe, and other regions. Tackling Eris With this, Moderna joins other key players in the field such as Novavax, Pfizer, and BioNTech SE, who have all created versions of their vaccines to tackle the XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Also read | WHO designates new Covid strain ‘Eris’ as 'variant of interest' amid global surge in cases EG.5, or Eris, as per Reuters, is similar to XBB.1.5, the sub-variant nicknamed 'Kraken' and is a sub-lineage of the dreaded, still-dominant Omicron variant. As per the latest government data, Eris accounts for more than 17 per cent of coronavirus cases in the US. Additionally, infections from Fornax or FL 1.5.1 are also spiking across the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified EG.5 as a "variant of interest." The designation indicates that compared to other sub-variants, Eris needs to be carefully monitored due to its mutations, which might contribute to making it more contagious or severe. Other anti-Eris vaccines Pfizer has also announced significant progress in its updated COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed in collaboration with BioNTech. In a study conducted on mice, this new version exhibited neutralising activity against the Eris sub-variant. Also read | England is likely in the grip of another Covid wave, UCL professor warns COVID-19-related hospitalisations in the United States have surged by more than 40 per cent from the low figures recorded in June. However, despite this spike, the current hospitalisation numbers remain over 90 per cent lower than the peak levels observed during the Omicron outbreak in January 2022. Globally, in July, reported cases of COVID-19 rose by 80 per cent. In its last week's update, WHO reported that between July 10 to August 6, nearly 1.5 million new cases — an 80 per cent increase compared to the previous 28 days — have been reported globally. As per the health agency, in mid-July, more than 17 per cent of all reported cases were EG.5, up from 7.6 per cent a month before. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine effective against emerging subvariants Eris and Fornax

The Dutch economy has fallen into recession. The economy declined by 0.3% in the second quarter. This came after the economy shrank 0.4% in the first three months of the year.

Why did the Netherlands fall into recession after a strong COVID rebound?

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<p>A leading professor in England has warned that Covid is on the rise again, adding it is reasonably certain that United Kingdom has entered another wave of the pandemic.</p>

<p>There are very few ways to track the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in England since the end of wastewater monitoring in March last year, the end of the Office for National Statistics COVID-19 Infection Survey in March 2023, and the gradual reduction of SARS-CoV-2 testing in hospitals since August last year, said&nbsp;Professor Christina Pagel from University College London (UCL).</p>

<p>"However, all indications are that prevalence reached its lowest level this June/July since the summer of 2020," Pagel wrote in&nbsp;an op-ed published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on Tuesday (August 15.</p>

<p>"Weekly deaths with Covid on the death certificate from that period are at the lowest recorded level since the start of the pandemic," Pagel said.</p>

<h2><strong>Daily hospital admissions increasing</strong></h2>

<p>Since the beginning of July, daily hospital admissions due to Covid have&nbsp;more than doubled as on August 4 compared to a month earlier, according to the professor.</p>

<p>She added that the number of patients in hospitals primarily due to the virus also doubled at that time. "</p>

<p>Secondary indicators such as the Zoe Symptom Tracker app and Google Trends of searches for Covid&nbsp;symptoms have also been increasing since early July. So it is reasonably certain that we have entered another COVID-19 wave," she said in the article.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/who-designates-new-covid-strain-eris-as-variant-of-interest-amid-surge-in-cases-globally-624194">WHO designates new Covid strain ‘Eris’ as 'variant of interest' amid global surge in cases</a></strong></p>

<p>The professor pointed out that variants currently increasing in the United Kingdom are still the XBB Omicron substrains "and on their own, there is no reason to think they will cause a large wave."</p>

<p>Almost all people under the age of 50 have not had a vaccine dose for 18 months, and most under the age of 75 have not been inoculated for a year.</p>

<p>"Protection from previous infection will also be waning in the absence of a large wave for several months," Pagel said, adding it is likely that this wave is hitting a more susceptible population than the last few.</p>

<p>"Given protection from vaccines and past infection, it is unlikely that this wave will cause a large surge in hospital admissions or deaths," she said but highlighted that any increase in hospital burden is bad news.</p>

<h2><strong>The two major concerns</strong></h2>

<p>Professor Pagel mentioned two major concerns regarding the current situation. First- a repeat of last winter’s unprecedented National Health Service (NHS) crisis of Covid, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus hit all around the same time.</p>

<p>And second, another Omicron-like event where a new variant emerges, very different from previous strains.</p>

<p>"Given few, if any, mitigations worldwide and much lower surveillance, such a variant could spread a long way before we realised it was a problem," Pagel added.</p>

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A leading professor in England has warned that Covid is on the rise again, adding it is reasonably certain that United Kingdom has entered another wave of the pandemic.

A leading professor in England has warned that Covid is on the rise again, adding it is reasonably certain that United Kingdom has entered another wave of the pandemic. There are very few ways to track the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in England since the end of wastewater monitoring in March last year, the end of the Office for National Statistics COVID-19 Infection Survey in March 2023, and the gradual reduction of SARS-CoV-2 testing in hospitals since August last year, said Professor Christina Pagel from University College London (UCL). "However, all indications are that prevalence reached its lowest level this June/July since the summer of 2020," Pagel wrote in an op-ed published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on Tuesday (August 15. "Weekly deaths with Covid on the death certificate from that period are at the lowest recorded level since the start of the pandemic," Pagel said. Daily hospital admissions increasing Since the beginning of July, daily hospital admissions due to Covid have more than doubled as on August 4 compared to a month earlier, according to the professor. She added that the number of patients in hospitals primarily due to the virus also doubled at that time. " Secondary indicators such as the Zoe Symptom Tracker app and Google Trends of searches for Covid symptoms have also been increasing since early July. So it is reasonably certain that we have entered another COVID-19 wave," she said in the article. Also read | WHO designates new Covid strain ‘Eris’ as 'variant of interest' amid global surge in cases The professor pointed out that variants currently increasing in the United Kingdom are still the XBB Omicron substrains "and on their own, there is no reason to think they will cause a large wave." Almost all people under the age of 50 have not had a vaccine dose for 18 months, and most under the age of 75 have not been inoculated for a year. "Protection from previous infection will also be waning in the absence of a large wave for several months," Pagel said, adding it is likely that this wave is hitting a more susceptible population than the last few. "Given protection from vaccines and past infection, it is unlikely that this wave will cause a large surge in hospital admissions or deaths," she said but highlighted that any increase in hospital burden is bad news. The two major concerns Professor Pagel mentioned two major concerns regarding the current situation. First- a repeat of last winter’s unprecedented National Health Service (NHS) crisis of Covid, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus hit all around the same time. And second, another Omicron-like event where a new variant emerges, very different from previous strains. "Given few, if any, mitigations worldwide and much lower surveillance, such a variant could spread a long way before we realised it was a problem," Pagel added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

England is likely in the grip of another Covid wave, UCL professor warns

According to the most recent estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EG.5 is responsible for roughly 17% of new Covid-19 cases nationwide, compared to 16% for the next most prevalent lineage, XBB.1.16.

New Covid cases, hospitalisations rise, is coronavirus spreading?

<p>Since January, 'cat island' Cyprus has lost hundreds of thousands of its feline population to a fatal strain of coronavirus called the Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).</p>

<p>While the coronavirus strain is not transmittable to humans, it has wrecked havoc on the nation's cat population.</p>

<p>Now, to save the beloved cats that roam the island, unused coronavirus vaccination meant for human use will be made available to the furry residents of Cyprus, announced officials on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Human vaccines for felines</strong></h2>

<p>As per an AFP report, the government has given the green light to this vaccination use after receiving a recommendation from the nations'&nbsp;agriculture ministry.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-strain-of-coronavirus-turning-cyprus-into-island-of-dead-cats-can-the-virus-infect-humans-614427">Explained: Strain of coronavirus turning Cyprus into 'island of dead cats'. Can the virus infect humans?</a></strong></p>

<p>"Stocks of preparations that were used to treat human coronavirus cases and are no longer used can be made available," said Cyprus' cabinet in a statement.</p>

<p>It will be supplied through veterinary services in the form of anti-Covid pills.</p>

<h2><strong>The death toll</strong></h2>

<p>Animal advocates claim that an estimated 300,000 cats have been lost to the coronavirus strain since January.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the southern part of the island, Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice-president of Cyprus Voice for Animals, estimates that a third of the cats have succumbed to the virus.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-identify-248-million-year-old-lizard-like-creature-that-survived-what-dinosaurs-couldnt-623945">Scientists identify 248 million-year-old lizard-like creature that survived what dinosaurs couldn't</a></strong></p>

<p>However, the island's veterinary association argues that this number is an exaggeration and has put the number at under 10,000.</p>

<p>As the FIP outbreak continues to spread, animal rights organisations have raised the concern that Cyprus may soon come to be known as "the island of dead cats."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)?</strong></h2>

<p>As per the Cornell University website, Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease in cats caused by certain strains of the feline coronavirus.</p>

<p>While most feline strains of coronavirus, known as feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV), are found in the gastrointestinal tract do not cause significant disease, in some cases it can become the dangerous disease known as FIPV.</p>

<p>As per the website, in about 10 per cent of FeCV-infected cats, the virus can mutate, infecting white blood cells and spreading throughout the cat's body. This triggers an intense inflammatory reaction, often in the abdomen, kidney, or brain, leading to the development of FIP.</p>

<p>Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Since January, 'cat island' Cyprus has lost hundreds of thousands of its feline population to a fatal strain of coronavirus called the Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).

Since January, 'cat island' Cyprus has lost hundreds of thousands of its feline population to a fatal strain of coronavirus called the Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). While the coronavirus strain is not transmittable to humans, it has wrecked havoc on the nation's cat population. Now, to save the beloved cats that roam the island, unused coronavirus vaccination meant for human use will be made available to the furry residents of Cyprus, announced officials on Thursday. Human vaccines for felines As per an AFP report, the government has given the green light to this vaccination use after receiving a recommendation from the nations' agriculture ministry. Also read | Explained: Strain of coronavirus turning Cyprus into 'island of dead cats'. Can the virus infect humans? "Stocks of preparations that were used to treat human coronavirus cases and are no longer used can be made available," said Cyprus' cabinet in a statement. It will be supplied through veterinary services in the form of anti-Covid pills. The death toll Animal advocates claim that an estimated 300,000 cats have been lost to the coronavirus strain since January. In the southern part of the island, Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice-president of Cyprus Voice for Animals, estimates that a third of the cats have succumbed to the virus. Also read | Scientists identify 248 million-year-old lizard-like creature that survived what dinosaurs couldn't However, the island's veterinary association argues that this number is an exaggeration and has put the number at under 10,000. As the FIP outbreak continues to spread, animal rights organisations have raised the concern that Cyprus may soon come to be known as "the island of dead cats." What is Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)? As per the Cornell University website, Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease in cats caused by certain strains of the feline coronavirus. While most feline strains of coronavirus, known as feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV), are found in the gastrointestinal tract do not cause significant disease, in some cases it can become the dangerous disease known as FIPV. As per the website, in about 10 per cent of FeCV-infected cats, the virus can mutate, infecting white blood cells and spreading throughout the cat's body. This triggers an intense inflammatory reaction, often in the abdomen, kidney, or brain, leading to the development of FIP. Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Cyprus to use human Covid vaccine to save cat population from fatal coronavirus strain

<p>A new strain of coronavirus has been labelled as a 'variant of interest' by the World Health Organisation, although the officials have predicted a low public health risk.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The variant, which is known as EG.5 or “Eris”, is connected to an Omicron subvariant called XBB.1.9.2, and has been increasing its prevalence globally, and countries like the UK, China and the United States are emerging as the most affected.</p>

<p>However, the WHO has further stated that the variant is not posing any particular threat. “Based on the available evidence, the public health risk posed by EG.5 is evaluated as low at the global level,” said the agency, stating that the risk looked to be at part with other circulating variants of interest.</p>

<p>“While EG.5 has shown increased prevalence, growth advantage, and immune escape properties, there have been no reported changes in disease severity to date,” the WHO stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-variant-eris-on-rise-in-uk-as-experts-say-country-flying-blind-on-infection-622835">Covid variant 'Eris' on rise in UK, as experts say country ‘flying blind’ on infection</a></p>

<h2><strong>Variant better at evading body's immune system: WHO&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Professor of operational research at University College London, Christina Pagel, said that although the variant has been increasing in prevalence and seems to be better at evading the body's immune system which permits it to outcompete other variants, there is a lack of evidence that it can cause more severe disease.</p>

<p>“It will probably cause a wave of more cases and all the problems that brings – [such as] more hospitalisations and Long Covid – but [there is] no reason at the moment to think [that will be] worse than previous waves this year,” she stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pagel stated that the waning immunity due to previous infections or vaccinations may mean that the wave of EG.5 took longer to peak and hence, it may be larger.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) last week published an update which suggested EG.5, and more specifically its subvariant EG5.1 accounts for around 15 per cent of sequenced COVID-19 cases in England.</p>

<p>Deputy director of UKHSA, Dr Meera Chand, said that the new variants' emergence is not unexpected. “UKHSA continues to analyse available data relating to Sars-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad. EG.5.1 was designated as a variant on 31 July 2023 due to continued growth internationally and presence in the UK, allowing us to monitor it through our routine surveillance processes," she said.</p>

<p>“Vaccination remains our best defence against future Covid-19 waves, so it is still as important as ever that people come to take up all the doses for which they are eligible as soon as possible," added Chand.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: New Covid variant 'Eris' spreading across the UK</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>US sees rise in EG.5 cases&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Cases of new COVID-19 variant EG.5 are on the rise in the United States and are leading to around 17 per cent of the new coronavirus cases in the country in comparison to 16 per cent for the next most common lineage, XBB.1.16, as per the latest estimates presented by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, reported CNN.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Professor of microbiology and immunology Dr David Ho has been carrying out tests of these variants in his lab at Columbia University to understand their resistance to the antibodies&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Both are only slightly more resistant to neutralising antibodies in the serum of infected and vaccinated persons. It basically has some more immune escape compared to the ones that were precedents in this XBB series," stated Dr Eric Topol, a cardiologist at the Scripps Translational Research Institute. "It has an advantage, which is why it's getting legs all around the world," he added.&nbsp;</p>

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A new strain of coronavirus has been labelled as a 'variant of interest' by the World Health Organisation, although the officials have predicted a low public health risk.

A new strain of coronavirus has been labelled as a 'variant of interest' by the World Health Organisation, although the officials have predicted a low public health risk. The variant, which is known as EG.5 or “Eris”, is connected to an Omicron subvariant called XBB.1.9.2, and has been increasing its prevalence globally, and countries like the UK, China and the United States are emerging as the most affected. However, the WHO has further stated that the variant is not posing any particular threat. “Based on the available evidence, the public health risk posed by EG.5 is evaluated as low at the global level,” said the agency, stating that the risk looked to be at part with other circulating variants of interest. “While EG.5 has shown increased prevalence, growth advantage, and immune escape properties, there have been no reported changes in disease severity to date,” the WHO stated. ALSO READ | Covid variant 'Eris' on rise in UK, as experts say country ‘flying blind’ on infection Variant better at evading body's immune system: WHO Professor of operational research at University College London, Christina Pagel, said that although the variant has been increasing in prevalence and seems to be better at evading the body's immune system which permits it to outcompete other variants, there is a lack of evidence that it can cause more severe disease. “It will probably cause a wave of more cases and all the problems that brings – [such as] more hospitalisations and Long Covid – but [there is] no reason at the moment to think [that will be] worse than previous waves this year,” she stated. Pagel stated that the waning immunity due to previous infections or vaccinations may mean that the wave of EG.5 took longer to peak and hence, it may be larger. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) last week published an update which suggested EG.5, and more specifically its subvariant EG5.1 accounts for around 15 per cent of sequenced COVID-19 cases in England. Deputy director of UKHSA, Dr Meera Chand, said that the new variants' emergence is not unexpected. “UKHSA continues to analyse available data relating to Sars-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad. EG.5.1 was designated as a variant on 31 July 2023 due to continued growth internationally and presence in the UK, allowing us to monitor it through our routine surveillance processes," she said. “Vaccination remains our best defence against future Covid-19 waves, so it is still as important as ever that people come to take up all the doses for which they are eligible as soon as possible," added Chand. WATCH | Gravitas: New Covid variant 'Eris' spreading across the UK US sees rise in EG.5 cases Cases of new COVID-19 variant EG.5 are on the rise in the United States and are leading to around 17 per cent of the new coronavirus cases in the country in comparison to 16 per cent for the next most common lineage, XBB.1.16, as per the latest estimates presented by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, reported CNN. Professor of microbiology and immunology Dr David Ho has been carrying out tests of these variants in his lab at Columbia University to understand their resistance to the antibodies "Both are only slightly more resistant to neutralising antibodies in the serum of infected and vaccinated persons. It basically has some more immune escape compared to the ones that were precedents in this XBB series," stated Dr Eric Topol, a cardiologist at the Scripps Translational Research Institute. "It has an advantage, which is why it's getting legs all around the world," he added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

WHO designates new Covid strain ‘Eris’ as 'variant of interest' amid global surge in cases

A new Covid variant 'Eris' is spreading across the UK. How lethal is the variant? What is the rate of transmissibility? Should you be worried? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: New Covid variant 'Eris' spreading across the UK

The threat posed by Covid-19 is still present. Covid instances are on the rise once more worldwide, from the US to the UK. Currently, infections are surging throughout nations.

UK: Covid hospitalisations among elderly rise

In this global news, COVID-19 pandemic is long gone but it looks like the virus is still continuing to haunt the United Kingdom.

UK: Health agency report shows slight increase in hospital admission

<p>Dharmendra Shukla, a&nbsp;man from Indore city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh recently received a massive reply to his Right to Information Act (RTI) plea related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reply was in the form of a staggering 40,000 pages of information, reported PTI news agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dharmendra Shukla had submitted an RTI plea requesting details about bill payments towards materials procured during the COVID-19 pandemic period.</p>

<p>"I had submitted an RTI plea with the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Indore seeking details of tenders and bill payments connected to procurement of medicines, equipment and allied materials during the COVID-19 pandemic period,” Shukla said on Saturday.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/melting-swiss-glacier-coughs-up-body-remains-of-hiker-who-went-missing-in-1986-620545">Melting Swiss glacier coughs up body remains of hiker who went missing in 1986</a></p>

<p>However, the information he sought was not provided within the stipulated one-month time frame.</p>

<h2><strong>Approaching the appellate officer</strong></h2>

<p>Due to the lack of response within the specified time, Dharmendra Shukla approached the first appellate officer, Dr. Sharad Gupta.</p>

<p>Dr. Gupta accepted the plea and directed that the information should be given to Shukla free of cost.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asian-masalanomics-for-spice-trade-spiced-up-in-vietnam-2000-years-ago-reveals-study-620534">Asian masalanomics for spice trade spiced up in Vietnam 2000 years ago, reveals study</a></p>

<p>To deliver the enormous amount of information, Dharmendra Shukla had to use his sports utility vehicle (SUV). The 40,000 pages completely packed the vehicle.&nbsp;"I took my SUV to ferry the documents and the entire vehicle got packed. Only the driver's seat remained free," he reportedly said.</p>

<h2><strong>Information granted free of cost</strong></h2>

<p>PTI news agency said that upon being contacted, Dr. Sharad Gupta, the appellate officer and Regional Joint Director of the state health department, confirmed that he ordered the information to be provided to Shukla without any charges.</p>

<h2><strong>Action against delay</strong></h2>

<p>Even though Shukla got the RTI response, it was not received within the stipulated time period of one month.&nbsp;Dr. Gupta said that an action will be taken against the personnel responsible for the delay in providing the information.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Rains soak Northern China as Doksuri makes its way to Beijing</strong></p>

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<p>He directed the CMHO to take appropriate measures to address the situation, as the delay caused a loss of Rs 80,000 to the state exchequer.</p>

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Dharmendra Shukla, a man from Indore city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh recently received a massive reply to his Right to Information Act (RTI) plea related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dharmendra Shukla, a man from Indore city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh recently received a massive reply to his Right to Information Act (RTI) plea related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reply was in the form of a staggering 40,000 pages of information, reported PTI news agency. Dharmendra Shukla had submitted an RTI plea requesting details about bill payments towards materials procured during the COVID-19 pandemic period. "I had submitted an RTI plea with the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Indore seeking details of tenders and bill payments connected to procurement of medicines, equipment and allied materials during the COVID-19 pandemic period,” Shukla said on Saturday. Also Read | Melting Swiss glacier coughs up body remains of hiker who went missing in 1986 However, the information he sought was not provided within the stipulated one-month time frame. Approaching the appellate officer Due to the lack of response within the specified time, Dharmendra Shukla approached the first appellate officer, Dr. Sharad Gupta. Dr. Gupta accepted the plea and directed that the information should be given to Shukla free of cost. Also Read | Asian masalanomics for spice trade spiced up in Vietnam 2000 years ago, reveals study To deliver the enormous amount of information, Dharmendra Shukla had to use his sports utility vehicle (SUV). The 40,000 pages completely packed the vehicle. "I took my SUV to ferry the documents and the entire vehicle got packed. Only the driver's seat remained free," he reportedly said. Information granted free of cost PTI news agency said that upon being contacted, Dr. Sharad Gupta, the appellate officer and Regional Joint Director of the state health department, confirmed that he ordered the information to be provided to Shukla without any charges. Action against delay Even though Shukla got the RTI response, it was not received within the stipulated time period of one month. Dr. Gupta said that an action will be taken against the personnel responsible for the delay in providing the information. Watch | Rains soak Northern China as Doksuri makes its way to Beijing × He directed the CMHO to take appropriate measures to address the situation, as the delay caused a loss of Rs 80,000 to the state exchequer. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Indore man's SUV fully loaded with 40,000 pages with COVID-19 Right to Information reply

<p>The lingering effects of COVID-19, commonly referred to as "long Covid," continue to pose a significant challenge to the affected individuals even after two years since their initial infection.</p>

<p>A <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00263-8/fulltext">study</a> conducted by King's College London delves into the impact of COVID-19 on memory and cognitive function, highlighting the prevalence of brain fog symptoms in people experiencing prolonged Covid-related symptoms for more than three months, reported the Guardian.</p>

<h2><strong>Cognitive impairment lingers for years after infection</strong></h2>

<p>The research involved over 5,100 participants from the Covid&nbsp;Symptom Study Biobank, who were recruited through a smartphone app. The study measured cognitive function through 12 tests, evaluating factors like working memory, attention, reasoning, and motor control during two distinct periods in 2021 and 2022.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-deleted-mortality-data-that-couldve-revealed-heavy-death-toll-report-617253">COVID-19: China deletes mortality data that offered a peek into impact of its pandemic policies</a></p>

<h2><strong>Brain fog and its severity</strong></h2>

<p>In the initial cohort of 3,335 participants examined in July and August 2021, individuals who tested positive for Covid&nbsp;exhibited lower cognitive scores, with the most significant deficits observed in those experiencing symptoms for more than 12 weeks.</p>

<p>The impact of these deficits on cognitive function was found to be equivalent to ageing approximately 10 years or experiencing mild to moderate psychological distress.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-positive-but-no-symptoms-it-could-be-in-your-genes-heres-how-617597">Covid positive but no symptoms? The reason probably lies in your genes. Here's how</a></p>

<h2><strong>Comparing the effects</strong></h2>

<p>While the cognitive decline associated with long Covid was noteworthy, it proved to be less severe than other factors like lower educational attainment or persistent fatigue levels beyond the threshold.</p>

<p>This observation highlights the complexity of long Covid's effects on different aspects of an individual's well-being.</p>

<p>The study revealed a concerning trend where individuals who tested positive for&nbsp;COVID-19 and experienced symptoms for more than three months displayed the highest cognitive impairment.</p>

<p>These cognitive difficulties persisted even nine months after the initial infection, indicating the long-lasting impact on mental faculties.</p>

<p>A glimmer of hope emerged from the research, as individuals who reported a full recovery from COVID-19, regardless of the duration of their symptoms, did not display any cognitive impairment.</p>

<p>This finding suggests that complete recovery from&nbsp;COVID-19 could be associated with restored cognitive function.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;What causes asymptomatic COVID-19 infection?</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Addressing the challenges</strong></h2>

<p>Despite significant advancements in understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19, more research is needed to comprehend why some individuals continue to experience brain fog and cognitive difficulties even two years after their initial infection.</p>

<p>Researchers emphasise the necessity of monitoring individuals with the most affected brain function to provide targeted support for their recovery.&nbsp;</p>

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The lingering effects of COVID-19, commonly referred to as "long Covid," continue to pose a significant challenge to the affected individuals even after two years since their initial infection.

The lingering effects of COVID-19, commonly referred to as "long Covid," continue to pose a significant challenge to the affected individuals even after two years since their initial infection. A study conducted by King's College London delves into the impact of COVID-19 on memory and cognitive function, highlighting the prevalence of brain fog symptoms in people experiencing prolonged Covid-related symptoms for more than three months, reported the Guardian. Cognitive impairment lingers for years after infection The research involved over 5,100 participants from the Covid Symptom Study Biobank, who were recruited through a smartphone app. The study measured cognitive function through 12 tests, evaluating factors like working memory, attention, reasoning, and motor control during two distinct periods in 2021 and 2022. Also read | COVID-19: China deletes mortality data that offered a peek into impact of its pandemic policies Brain fog and its severity In the initial cohort of 3,335 participants examined in July and August 2021, individuals who tested positive for Covid exhibited lower cognitive scores, with the most significant deficits observed in those experiencing symptoms for more than 12 weeks. The impact of these deficits on cognitive function was found to be equivalent to ageing approximately 10 years or experiencing mild to moderate psychological distress. Also read | Covid positive but no symptoms? The reason probably lies in your genes. Here's how Comparing the effects While the cognitive decline associated with long Covid was noteworthy, it proved to be less severe than other factors like lower educational attainment or persistent fatigue levels beyond the threshold. This observation highlights the complexity of long Covid's effects on different aspects of an individual's well-being. The study revealed a concerning trend where individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 and experienced symptoms for more than three months displayed the highest cognitive impairment. These cognitive difficulties persisted even nine months after the initial infection, indicating the long-lasting impact on mental faculties. A glimmer of hope emerged from the research, as individuals who reported a full recovery from COVID-19, regardless of the duration of their symptoms, did not display any cognitive impairment. This finding suggests that complete recovery from COVID-19 could be associated with restored cognitive function. Also watch | What causes asymptomatic COVID-19 infection? Addressing the challenges Despite significant advancements in understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19, more research is needed to comprehend why some individuals continue to experience brain fog and cognitive difficulties even two years after their initial infection. Researchers emphasise the necessity of monitoring individuals with the most affected brain function to provide targeted support for their recovery. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Covid's 'brain fog' equals 10 years of ageing: Study reveals long-term impact

<p>A major breakthrough has been attained&nbsp;in UK's Partygate scandal as experts cracked the password to Boris Johnson's old phone and gained access after the former prime minister was not able to recall his password, UK's local media reports said citing a spokesman&nbsp;of the ex-PM.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The unlocking of the device is a crucial development as the UK police reopened the probe into the Partygate political scandal recently.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is important to note that the phone is believed to possess important Covid-era communications which Johnson had with ministers. The former prime minister stopped using his old mobile phone in May 2021 after he was advised to do so due to security reasons during his tenure as the PM.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-threatens-to-target-indias-foreign-minister-jaishankar-home-minister-amit-shah-618078">Terrorist threatens to target India's foreign minister Jaishankar, home minister Amit Shah</a></p>

<p>A spokesman for the former prime minister quoted by UK's Metro media portal said that experts have unlocked the phone and recovered ‘all relevant messages’. The former PM's representative also added that the recovered data will now be handed to the Covid inquiry ‘unredacted'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Boris Johnson seems to have taken the news in positive spirit. Johnson's spokesman said that the former PM was "pleased that technical experts have now successfully recovered all relevant messages from the device".</p>

<p>He added that the "inquiry process requires that a security check of this material is now made by the Cabinet Office."</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/manipur-women-paraded-naked-was-spontaneous-act-say-authorities-618069">Manipur women paraded naked was 'spontaneous act', say authorities</a></p>

<p>As per Johnson's representative, the timing of any further progress in the Covid-inquiry depends on the Cabinet Office’s control. "It was always the case that Boris Johnson would pass this material to the inquiry and do everything possible to help it be recovered." the spokesman said adding, "A careful process approved by the Inquiry has been followed to ensure that this was successful."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, a report said that the experts were wary that any attempts to crack into Johnson's iPhone could potentially end up in the deletion of its key Covid-era communications data. It was also discovered that Johnson's number was freely available online for 15 years.</p>

<h2><strong>House of Commons Privileges Committee report&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, a report by the House of Commons Privileges Committee, published on June 15, found out that former UK prime minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled the parliament over the Partygate scandal.</p>

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<p>However, even before the committee had published its report, Boris Johnson formally submitted his resignation as a Conservative Member of Parliament.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Viral Partygate scandal video</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Amid the controversy that plagued Johnson and surrounded many UK lawmakers,&nbsp;a video surfaced which showed workers on Bailey's 2021 London mayoral campaign dancing while the capital was under Tier 2 lockdown. This event was a birthday party held for Baroness Jenkin, wife of senior Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, in Parliament on 8 December 2020.</p>

<h2><strong>UK police reopen probe&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The British police have decided to re-open two new investigations into 2020 lockdown-breaching parties after finding a new video that was not previously provided to the officers. However, they said that no further action would be taken against former prime minister Boris Johnson.</p>

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A major breakthrough has been attained in UK's Partygate scandal as experts cracked the password to Boris Johnson's old phone and gained access after the former prime minister was not able to recall his password, UK's local media reports said citing a spokesman of the ex-PM.

A major breakthrough has been attained in UK's Partygate scandal as experts cracked the password to Boris Johnson's old phone and gained access after the former prime minister was not able to recall his password, UK's local media reports said citing a spokesman of the ex-PM. The unlocking of the device is a crucial development as the UK police reopened the probe into the Partygate political scandal recently. It is important to note that the phone is believed to possess important Covid-era communications which Johnson had with ministers. The former prime minister stopped using his old mobile phone in May 2021 after he was advised to do so due to security reasons during his tenure as the PM. Also Read | Terrorist threatens to target India's foreign minister Jaishankar, home minister Amit Shah A spokesman for the former prime minister quoted by UK's Metro media portal said that experts have unlocked the phone and recovered ‘all relevant messages’. The former PM's representative also added that the recovered data will now be handed to the Covid inquiry ‘unredacted'. Boris Johnson seems to have taken the news in positive spirit. Johnson's spokesman said that the former PM was "pleased that technical experts have now successfully recovered all relevant messages from the device". He added that the "inquiry process requires that a security check of this material is now made by the Cabinet Office." Also Read | Manipur women paraded naked was 'spontaneous act', say authorities As per Johnson's representative, the timing of any further progress in the Covid-inquiry depends on the Cabinet Office’s control. "It was always the case that Boris Johnson would pass this material to the inquiry and do everything possible to help it be recovered." the spokesman said adding, "A careful process approved by the Inquiry has been followed to ensure that this was successful." Earlier, a report said that the experts were wary that any attempts to crack into Johnson's iPhone could potentially end up in the deletion of its key Covid-era communications data. It was also discovered that Johnson's number was freely available online for 15 years. House of Commons Privileges Committee report Earlier, a report by the House of Commons Privileges Committee, published on June 15, found out that former UK prime minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled the parliament over the Partygate scandal. Watch | Rainfall in India and Pakistan × However, even before the committee had published its report, Boris Johnson formally submitted his resignation as a Conservative Member of Parliament. Viral Partygate scandal video Amid the controversy that plagued Johnson and surrounded many UK lawmakers, a video surfaced which showed workers on Bailey's 2021 London mayoral campaign dancing while the capital was under Tier 2 lockdown. This event was a birthday party held for Baroness Jenkin, wife of senior Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, in Parliament on 8 December 2020. UK police reopen probe The British police have decided to re-open two new investigations into 2020 lockdown-breaching parties after finding a new video that was not previously provided to the officers. However, they said that no further action would be taken against former prime minister Boris Johnson. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Boris Johnson's phone is finally unlocked, all 'relevant' messages recovered

<p>Around 20 per cent&nbsp;of individuals who contract the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus experience no symptoms of the illness.</p>

<p>Scientists have now made a significant discovery, identifying a genetic mutation associated with a higher likelihood of evading symptoms during a COVID-19 infection, according to the Nature Journal.</p>

<p>The identified mutation appears to confer an advantage to the immune cells of individuals who have previously encountered 'seasonal' coronaviruses, responsible for causing the common cold.</p>

<p>This advantage allows the immune system to more efficiently detect and eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus before it can trigger an overwhelming immune response.</p>

<p>Jill Hollenbach, an immunogeneticist from the University of California, San Francisco, who co-authored the study, told the Nature Journal&nbsp;that this mutation enables immune cells to act proactively against the pathogen.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-deleted-mortality-data-that-couldve-revealed-heavy-death-toll-report-617253">COVID-19: China deletes mortality data that offered a peek into impact of its pandemic policies</a></p>

<h2><strong>Acclaim for the research and its scope</strong></h2>

<p>Experts in the field have applauded the research findings.</p>

<p>Jean-Laurent Casanova, a paediatric immunologist from Rockefeller University, praises the study, acknowledging it as the most significant association between a common gene and COVID-19 to date.</p>

<p>While studies exploring the link between genetics and severe COVID-19 cases are essential, Hollenbach emphasises that most SARS-CoV-2 infections result in mild symptoms, making the investigation of asymptomatic cases crucial.</p>

<p>To identify individuals with asymptomatic infections, the researchers examined a database of bone-marrow donors, enrolling nearly 30,000 participants.</p>

<p>Of the 1,400 participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the 15-month study, 136 remained asymptomatic.</p>

<p>The scientists then focused on variations in HLA genes, responsible for encoding proteins found on the surface of cells that play a vital role in the immune response.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-cuts-off-funds-to-wuhan-institute-over-covid-stonewalling-report-617338?utm_source=flipboard&amp;utm_content=user%2FWIONews">United States cuts off funds to Wuhan Institute over Covid stonewalling: Report</a></p>

<h2><strong>Strong link between HLA mutation and asymptomatic infections</strong></h2>

<p>The study revealed a strong link between asymptomatic infections and a specific HLA mutation carried by approximately 10 per cent of the study's population.</p>

<p>Individuals with the mutated gene were twice as likely to remain asymptomatic compared to those without it, and those with two copies of the gene were eight times as likely. The researchers were surprised by the magnitude of this effect.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;WHO accuses China of under-representing COVID-19 death figures</strong></p>

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<p>The main analyses were conducted on participants who identified as white, as there were insufficient numbers from other ethnic and racial groups for a comprehensive analysis.</p>

<p>However, evidence suggests a link between the mutation and asymptomatic infections in Black individuals, though results for Asian and Hispanic individuals were less conclusive.</p>

<p>The discovery of this "smoking gun" variant opens new possibilities for next-generation COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines could not only reduce disease severity but also prevent symptomatic infections, potentially making a significant impact on curbing the spread of the virus.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Around 20 per cent of individuals who contract the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus experience no symptoms of the illness. Scientists have now made a significant discovery, identifying a genetic mutation associated with a higher likelihood of evading symptoms during a COVID-19 infection, according to the Nature Journal.

Around 20 per cent of individuals who contract the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus experience no symptoms of the illness. Scientists have now made a significant discovery, identifying a genetic mutation associated with a higher likelihood of evading symptoms during a COVID-19 infection, according to the Nature Journal. The identified mutation appears to confer an advantage to the immune cells of individuals who have previously encountered 'seasonal' coronaviruses, responsible for causing the common cold. This advantage allows the immune system to more efficiently detect and eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus before it can trigger an overwhelming immune response. Jill Hollenbach, an immunogeneticist from the University of California, San Francisco, who co-authored the study, told the Nature Journal that this mutation enables immune cells to act proactively against the pathogen. Also read | COVID-19: China deletes mortality data that offered a peek into impact of its pandemic policies Acclaim for the research and its scope Experts in the field have applauded the research findings. Jean-Laurent Casanova, a paediatric immunologist from Rockefeller University, praises the study, acknowledging it as the most significant association between a common gene and COVID-19 to date. While studies exploring the link between genetics and severe COVID-19 cases are essential, Hollenbach emphasises that most SARS-CoV-2 infections result in mild symptoms, making the investigation of asymptomatic cases crucial. To identify individuals with asymptomatic infections, the researchers examined a database of bone-marrow donors, enrolling nearly 30,000 participants. Of the 1,400 participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the 15-month study, 136 remained asymptomatic. The scientists then focused on variations in HLA genes, responsible for encoding proteins found on the surface of cells that play a vital role in the immune response. Also read | United States cuts off funds to Wuhan Institute over Covid stonewalling: Report Strong link between HLA mutation and asymptomatic infections The study revealed a strong link between asymptomatic infections and a specific HLA mutation carried by approximately 10 per cent of the study's population. Individuals with the mutated gene were twice as likely to remain asymptomatic compared to those without it, and those with two copies of the gene were eight times as likely. The researchers were surprised by the magnitude of this effect. Also watch | WHO accuses China of under-representing COVID-19 death figures The main analyses were conducted on participants who identified as white, as there were insufficient numbers from other ethnic and racial groups for a comprehensive analysis. However, evidence suggests a link between the mutation and asymptomatic infections in Black individuals, though results for Asian and Hispanic individuals were less conclusive. The discovery of this "smoking gun" variant opens new possibilities for next-generation COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines could not only reduce disease severity but also prevent symptomatic infections, potentially making a significant impact on curbing the spread of the virus. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Covid positive but no symptoms? The reason probably lies in your genes. Here's how

<p>Fresh allegations have been levelled against China and its intention of handling coronavirus (COVID-19) data. A report by Financial Times says that one of the most populous provinces in the nation has deleted mortality data that indicated the high death toll caused by Beijing's relaxation of Covid regulations at the end of last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the report published on Tuesday (July 18), FT referred to the statistics released by Zhejiang province on Thursday, which showed the number of cremations in the wealthy coastal region during the first quarter of the year jumped 73 per cent from a year earlier to 171,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The amount was much higher than the 99,000 and 91,000 deaths reported in the same time period in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Chinese social media was abuzz following the data report,&nbsp;after which&nbsp;Zhejiang took the&nbsp;numbers offline by Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/age-is-just-a-number-china-hotels-refuse-to-serve-customers-aged-35-and-above-617186">Explained | Age is just a number? China youth hostels refuse to serve customers aged 35 and above</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Ever since the start of the Covid, experts have called out Beijing for its dubious statistics of the pandemic. The first known case was reported in China towards the end of 2019, and when it started to spread, it was declared a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Covid wreaked havoc on mankind, killing millions of people. The world, to some extent, remained sceptical about the data coming from China as concerns were raised over the transparency and accuracy of information about Covid's&nbsp;origin, number of deaths, and more.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>China and its Covid data&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Since the start, China relied on strict Covid measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus. When it revised its pandemic policy last year in December, hospitals and crematoria were reportedly flooded with Covid patients, but Chinese officials have not disclosed accurate statistics that would allow experts to properly estimate the impact of the virus's spread across the population.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) even accused China of underrepresenting the severity of its coronavirus outbreak and the real number of deaths. When the Covid rules were relaxed, Chinese health officials vowed to study and help&nbsp;the public access death data. They dismissed concerns of under-reporting.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-change-threatens-ancient-chinese-artwork-and-statues-warn-researchers-616816">Climate change threatens ancient Chinese artwork and statues, warn researchers</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>Watch: China's 'full-time' children</strong></p>

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<p>The South China Morning Post (SCMP) in June revealed that China has not released the number of cremations held last winter in a quarterly report. Beijing withheld a key indicator of the pandemic death toll for a period of time when the nation faced the largest Covid wave.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But even months after that promise, the nation has not released any excess death data, besides local-level cremation data, which is the only publicly available statistic for tracking the country's death toll. But June's report by SCMP indicates that even that data is problematic.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Fresh allegations have been levelled against China and its intention of handling coronavirus (COVID-19) data. A report by Financial Times says that one of the most populous provinces in the nation has deleted mortality data that indicated the high death toll caused by Beijing's relaxation of Covid regulations at the end of last year.

Fresh allegations have been levelled against China and its intention of handling coronavirus (COVID-19) data. A report by Financial Times says that one of the most populous provinces in the nation has deleted mortality data that indicated the high death toll caused by Beijing's relaxation of Covid regulations at the end of last year. In the report published on Tuesday (July 18), FT referred to the statistics released by Zhejiang province on Thursday, which showed the number of cremations in the wealthy coastal region during the first quarter of the year jumped 73 per cent from a year earlier to 171,000. The amount was much higher than the 99,000 and 91,000 deaths reported in the same time period in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Chinese social media was abuzz following the data report, after which Zhejiang took the numbers offline by Monday. Also read: Explained | Age is just a number? China youth hostels refuse to serve customers aged 35 and above Ever since the start of the Covid, experts have called out Beijing for its dubious statistics of the pandemic. The first known case was reported in China towards the end of 2019, and when it started to spread, it was declared a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020. Covid wreaked havoc on mankind, killing millions of people. The world, to some extent, remained sceptical about the data coming from China as concerns were raised over the transparency and accuracy of information about Covid's origin, number of deaths, and more. China and its Covid data Since the start, China relied on strict Covid measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus. When it revised its pandemic policy last year in December, hospitals and crematoria were reportedly flooded with Covid patients, but Chinese officials have not disclosed accurate statistics that would allow experts to properly estimate the impact of the virus's spread across the population. The World Health Organization (WHO) even accused China of underrepresenting the severity of its coronavirus outbreak and the real number of deaths. When the Covid rules were relaxed, Chinese health officials vowed to study and help the public access death data. They dismissed concerns of under-reporting. Also read: Climate change threatens ancient Chinese artwork and statues, warn researchers Watch: China's 'full-time' children × The South China Morning Post (SCMP) in June revealed that China has not released the number of cremations held last winter in a quarterly report. Beijing withheld a key indicator of the pandemic death toll for a period of time when the nation faced the largest Covid wave. But even months after that promise, the nation has not released any excess death data, besides local-level cremation data, which is the only publicly available statistic for tracking the country's death toll. But June's report by SCMP indicates that even that data is problematic. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

COVID-19: China deletes mortality data that offered a peek into impact of its pandemic policies

China continues to operate under secrecy as far as the covid pandemic is concerned since the first outbreak of the pneumonia cases in Wuhan in December 2019 to China letting go of zero covid policy in January 2023, Beijing's handling of core data has been shrouded in mystery now.

China deletes its Covid mortality data

Here, we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: China's lack of transparency and cooperation has become a roadblock enough. A new report by the Financial Times revealed China is even deleting its Covid-19 death data.

China deletes data on Covid-19 deaths

China's lack of transparency and cooperation has become a roadblock enough. A new report by the Financial Times revealed China is even deleting its Covid-19 death data.

WHO accuses China of under-representing death figures

<p>The authorities carrying out the UK Covid inquiry have not been able to access the WhatsApp messages that former prime minister Boris Johnson exchanged as he has apparently forgotten the password of his old mobile phone.<br />
<br />
As per media reports, Johnson is not being able to recall the passcode which was set to unlock the device, which is believed to contain crucial Covid-era communications which he had with ministers. The former prime minister stopped using his old mobile phone in May 2021.<br />
<br />
Johnson is unable to recall the passcode “with 100 per cent confidence”, according to a report published by The Times. The spokesman of the ex-Tory leader did not refute the report of him not being able to recall the code.<br />
<br />
The experts are concerned that any attempts made to unlock the iPhone may lead to the device getting disabled and deletion of its data, which included important WhatsApp messages from the pandemic, the reports stated.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-govt-loses-legal-battle-to-prevent-covid-inquiry-from-accessing-boris-johnsons-whatsapp-messages-612840">UK govt loses legal battle to prevent Covid inquiry from accessing Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages</a></p>

<p>However, Covid-bereaved campaigners have called the idea a “complete joke”, appealing to Johnson to work along with security officials to retrieve the information.<br />
<br />
Johnson's old mobile known as “Phone 1” in Whitehall has emerged as a thorny issue ever since multiple disputes blew up between his camp and that of Rishi Sunak’s government earlier this year.<br />
<br />
The former prime minister had to turn off the device and use a new mobile after a security breach took place. It was discovered that Johnson's number was freely available online for 15 years.</p>

<h2><strong>Breakthrough in Johnson’s mobile saga</strong></h2>

<p>An ally of Johnson has claimed that the government of Sunak has finally recovered the passcode to unlock the mobile phone, as per a report published by The Independent.<br />
<br />
Allies have stated that it is incorrect to say that Johnson doesn't remember his own passcode, because he was just not entirely sure about them.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Boris Johnson lashes out at Partygate investigation as he quits as MP</strong></p>

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<p>Johnson's ally said, “It is not true that Boris does not remember his PIN number, it is just that he does not have 100 per cent confidence he remembers it. Separately, the government has found its own version of the PIN.”<br />
<br />
Speaking about the possible technical difficulties in accessing the messages, Norwegian cybersecurity company Promon Andrew Whaley said: “This is a pretty lame excuse. Provided Boris’s WhatsApp is backed up, accessing the data would take minutes. As this is a diplomatic phone, the security measures may very well be different, but even still, It’s not an impossible task by any means.”<br />
<br />
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The authorities carrying out the UK Covid inquiry have not been able to access the WhatsApp messages that former prime minister Boris Johnson exchanged as he has apparently forgotten the password of his old mobile phone.

The authorities carrying out the UK Covid inquiry have not been able to access the WhatsApp messages that former prime minister Boris Johnson exchanged as he has apparently forgotten the password of his old mobile phone. As per media reports, Johnson is not being able to recall the passcode which was set to unlock the device, which is believed to contain crucial Covid-era communications which he had with ministers. The former prime minister stopped using his old mobile phone in May 2021. Johnson is unable to recall the passcode “with 100 per cent confidence”, according to a report published by The Times. The spokesman of the ex-Tory leader did not refute the report of him not being able to recall the code. The experts are concerned that any attempts made to unlock the iPhone may lead to the device getting disabled and deletion of its data, which included important WhatsApp messages from the pandemic, the reports stated. ALSO READ | UK govt loses legal battle to prevent Covid inquiry from accessing Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages However, Covid-bereaved campaigners have called the idea a “complete joke”, appealing to Johnson to work along with security officials to retrieve the information. Johnson's old mobile known as “Phone 1” in Whitehall has emerged as a thorny issue ever since multiple disputes blew up between his camp and that of Rishi Sunak’s government earlier this year. The former prime minister had to turn off the device and use a new mobile after a security breach took place. It was discovered that Johnson's number was freely available online for 15 years. Breakthrough in Johnson’s mobile saga An ally of Johnson has claimed that the government of Sunak has finally recovered the passcode to unlock the mobile phone, as per a report published by The Independent. Allies have stated that it is incorrect to say that Johnson doesn't remember his own passcode, because he was just not entirely sure about them. WATCH | Boris Johnson lashes out at Partygate investigation as he quits as MP Johnson's ally said, “It is not true that Boris does not remember his PIN number, it is just that he does not have 100 per cent confidence he remembers it. Separately, the government has found its own version of the PIN.” Speaking about the possible technical difficulties in accessing the messages, Norwegian cybersecurity company Promon Andrew Whaley said: “This is a pretty lame excuse. Provided Boris’s WhatsApp is backed up, accessing the data would take minutes. As this is a diplomatic phone, the security measures may very well be different, but even still, It’s not an impossible task by any means.” You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Boris Johnson 'forgets password' of phone with WhatsApp messages sought by Covid inquiry

<p>On 'cat island' Cyprus, a strain of coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the cat population. In recent months, the disease, which is a feline strain of the coronavirus has rapidly spread across the island. The island's cats, most of which are strays and are known for their human-friendly nature, have been severely affected by the coronavirus strain known as Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).</p>

<p>The disease has already killed a significant number of felines on the "island of cats" and as per an AFP news agency report, is spreading across cat populations in nearby Lebanon, Israel and Turkey.</p>

<p>Can the feline coronavirus impact humans? Should you be worried? Here's all you need to know.</p>

<h2><strong>What is Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)?</strong></h2>

<p>As per the Cornell University website, Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease in cats caused by certain strains of the feline coronavirus.</p>

<p>While most feline strains of coronavirus known as feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV), are found in the gastrointestinal tract do not cause significant disease, in some cases it can become the dangerous disease known as FIPV.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/bees-outgun-humans-in-making-swift-better-decisions-for-things-that-matter-to-them-study-614077">Bees outgun humans in making swift, better decisions for things that matter to them: Study</a></strong></p>

<p>As per the website, in about 10 per cent of FeCV-infected cats, the virus can mutate, infecting white blood cells and spreading throughout the cat's body. This triggers an intense inflammatory reaction, often in the abdomen, kidney, or brain, leading to the development of FIP.</p>

<p>Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal.</p>

<h2><strong>Can this strain of coronavirus infect humans?</strong></h2>

<p>It is widely believed that the COVID-19 virus which brought the world to its knees some time ago could've originated in bats and crossed the species barrier into humans.</p>

<p>Last year, the World Health Organization also warned that as climate change contributes to the rapidly changing weather, animals, humans and even viruses and pathogens are changing their behaviour.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/amid-monkeypox-outbreak-who-warns-about-rising-number-of-zoonotic-diseases-heres-what-it-means-484510">Amid Monkeypox outbreak, WHO warns about rising number of 'zoonotic' diseases. Here's what it means</a></strong></p>

<p>At the time, the international health agency's emergencies director Mike Ryan, who leads WHO's response to disease outbreaks, humanitarian crises and other public health emergencies warned that diseases that normally infect animals are now infecting people due to 'ecological fragility'.</p>

<p>So, could the feline coronavirus jump species and infect humans? Thankfully, no.</p>

<p>According to Cornell's Feline Health Center, "to our knowledge, coronaviruses cannot be passed from infected cats to humans." AFP too reports that the virus is not transmissible to humans. However, as per a Cyprus based animal lover it may soon turn Cyprus into "the island of dead cats".</p>

<h2><strong>Is there no cure for Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)?</strong></h2>

<p>AFP reports that to contain the spread of FIP, two treatment options are being considered.</p>

<p>One is molnupiravir, an anti-Covid pill that officials say cannot be authorised for use on animals in Cyprus. The other option is GS-441524, an antiviral tablet similar to the COVID-19 treatment remdesivir, which is approved for animal use in Britain but not readily available in Cyprus due to its high cost of 3,000 to 7,000 euros (about $3,300-$7,700) per cat.</p>

<p>Talking to AFP, Demetris Epaminondas, vice president of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association said that efforts are underway to obtain government authorisation for molnupiravir, which would cost a more affordable 200 euros per cat.</p>

<p>The Cyprus agriculture ministry said that is exploring various therapeutic preparations available on the European market to address the issue.</p>

<p>However, in the meantime, some desperate pet owners have reportedly resorted to purchasing medicines on the black market, risking legal consequences to save their beloved animals.</p>

<p>Speaking to AFP on the condition on anonymity, one Cypriot said: "We bought our medicines on the black market online, or from Facebook groups. But we keep our suppliers secret so that we can continue to treat our animals."</p>

<h2><strong>The danger to Cyprus's cat population</strong></h2>

<p>The official number of FIP cases reported by the agriculture ministry in the southern part of the island stands at 107. However, animal advocates claim that the actual number of cats dying from the disease is much higher, with an estimated 300,000 cats lost since January.</p>

<p>The contagious nature of FIP has made it challenging to diagnose and document, especially with the large population of stray cats on the island. Experts estimate that the cat population in Cyprus is equal to or even exceeds the human population of just over one million. In the southern part of the island, Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice-president of Cyprus Voice for Animals, estimates that a third of the cats have succumbed to the virus.</p>

<p>As the FIP outbreak continues to spread, there are concerns that Cyprus may become known as "the island of dead cats." Animal advocates and veterinarians are urging swift action to address the crisis and save the island's beloved feline population.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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On 'cat island' Cyprus, a strain of coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the cat population. In recent months, the disease, which is a feline strain of the coronavirus has rapidly spread across the island.

On 'cat island' Cyprus, a strain of coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the cat population. In recent months, the disease, which is a feline strain of the coronavirus has rapidly spread across the island. The island's cats, most of which are strays and are known for their human-friendly nature, have been severely affected by the coronavirus strain known as Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The disease has already killed a significant number of felines on the "island of cats" and as per an AFP news agency report, is spreading across cat populations in nearby Lebanon, Israel and Turkey. Can the feline coronavirus impact humans? Should you be worried? Here's all you need to know. What is Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)? As per the Cornell University website, Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease in cats caused by certain strains of the feline coronavirus. While most feline strains of coronavirus known as feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV), are found in the gastrointestinal tract do not cause significant disease, in some cases it can become the dangerous disease known as FIPV. Also read | Bees outgun humans in making swift, better decisions for things that matter to them: Study As per the website, in about 10 per cent of FeCV-infected cats, the virus can mutate, infecting white blood cells and spreading throughout the cat's body. This triggers an intense inflammatory reaction, often in the abdomen, kidney, or brain, leading to the development of FIP. Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal. Can this strain of coronavirus infect humans? It is widely believed that the COVID-19 virus which brought the world to its knees some time ago could've originated in bats and crossed the species barrier into humans. Last year, the World Health Organization also warned that as climate change contributes to the rapidly changing weather, animals, humans and even viruses and pathogens are changing their behaviour. Also read | Amid Monkeypox outbreak, WHO warns about rising number of 'zoonotic' diseases. Here's what it means At the time, the international health agency's emergencies director Mike Ryan, who leads WHO's response to disease outbreaks, humanitarian crises and other public health emergencies warned that diseases that normally infect animals are now infecting people due to 'ecological fragility'. So, could the feline coronavirus jump species and infect humans? Thankfully, no. According to Cornell's Feline Health Center, "to our knowledge, coronaviruses cannot be passed from infected cats to humans." AFP too reports that the virus is not transmissible to humans. However, as per a Cyprus based animal lover it may soon turn Cyprus into "the island of dead cats". Is there no cure for Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)? AFP reports that to contain the spread of FIP, two treatment options are being considered. One is molnupiravir, an anti-Covid pill that officials say cannot be authorised for use on animals in Cyprus. The other option is GS-441524, an antiviral tablet similar to the COVID-19 treatment remdesivir, which is approved for animal use in Britain but not readily available in Cyprus due to its high cost of 3,000 to 7,000 euros (about $3,300-$7,700) per cat. Talking to AFP, Demetris Epaminondas, vice president of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association said that efforts are underway to obtain government authorisation for molnupiravir, which would cost a more affordable 200 euros per cat. The Cyprus agriculture ministry said that is exploring various therapeutic preparations available on the European market to address the issue. However, in the meantime, some desperate pet owners have reportedly resorted to purchasing medicines on the black market, risking legal consequences to save their beloved animals. Speaking to AFP on the condition on anonymity, one Cypriot said: "We bought our medicines on the black market online, or from Facebook groups. But we keep our suppliers secret so that we can continue to treat our animals." The danger to Cyprus's cat population The official number of FIP cases reported by the agriculture ministry in the southern part of the island stands at 107. However, animal advocates claim that the actual number of cats dying from the disease is much higher, with an estimated 300,000 cats lost since January. The contagious nature of FIP has made it challenging to diagnose and document, especially with the large population of stray cats on the island. Experts estimate that the cat population in Cyprus is equal to or even exceeds the human population of just over one million. In the southern part of the island, Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice-president of Cyprus Voice for Animals, estimates that a third of the cats have succumbed to the virus. As the FIP outbreak continues to spread, there are concerns that Cyprus may become known as "the island of dead cats." Animal advocates and veterinarians are urging swift action to address the crisis and save the island's beloved feline population. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained: Strain of coronavirus turning Cyprus into 'island of dead cats'. Can the virus infect humans?

The Chinese stock market is bracing for a potential shockwave. That's not because of the slower-than-expected post-Covid recovery. But because billions locked up in stocks-linked funds are about to mature after 3 years. In the coming days, about 28 billion dollars in funds will be freed and analysts feel that investors will be keen to move their money away from equities.

Huge selloff expected in Chinese stocks amid uncertain economy

<p>The UK government has been unsuccessful in its legal challenge to prevent the Covid inquiry from accessing Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages, diaries, and notebooks in their entirety. The Cabinet Office had argued that it should not be obligated to provide irrelevant material, but inquiry chair Baroness Hallett asserted that the determination of relevance should be within her purview.</p>

<p>Responding to the court's judgment, the government said that it would comply with the decision and collaborate with the inquiry team on "practical arrangements", reports BBC. The Covid inquiry said it was "pleased" with the verdict, and Baroness Hallett is expected to receive the requested material by a specified deadline of 4 pm on July 10th.</p>

<h2><strong>What the ruling means</strong></h2>

<p>The court's ruling as per BBC is likely to bolster the authority of the inquiry and its ability to demand evidence.</p>

<p>In its ruling, the court stated that inquiries should be allowed to seek out relevant documents, even if it means potentially acquiring some irrelevant material.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musk-expects-fully-autonomous-tesla-vehicles-later-this-year-612751">Elon Musk expects fully autonomous self-driving Tesla vehicles 'later this year'</a></strong></p>

<p>The judges also suggested that the Cabinet Office could directly present its case to the inquiry regarding the relevance of certain documents.</p>

<h2><strong>Will the data be available to public?</strong></h2>

<p>The court's decision does not automatically mean that the public will have access to the documents in their entirety. The inquiry may apply its own redactions or decide against their public disclosure altogether.</p>

<p>Deborah Doyle, a spokesperson for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, criticised the government's legal challenge, stating that it was a "was a desperate waste of time and money".</p>

<p>"A successful inquiry could save thousands of lives in the event of another pandemic, and it's a disgrace that the Cabinet Office is trying to obstruct it," she added.</p>

<h2><strong>The controversy: Inquiry vs government</strong></h2>

<p>The dispute between the Covid inquiry and the government, as well as Boris Johnson himself, was sparked earlier this year when the inquiry requested access to WhatsApp messages on Johnson's devices, including those from a group chat discussing the pandemic response. The inquiry also sought messages from other politicians, including current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, reports BBC.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-foreign-secretary-james-cleverly-warns-against-any-direct-attacks-on-indian-high-commission-in-london-612765">UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warns against any direct attacks on Indian High Commission in London</a></strong></p>

<p>During the case hearing, the government expressed reluctance in challenging the inquiry's request, citing concerns about the privacy and the personal nature of some of the messages. The Cabinet Office also mentioned confidential information related to "border incursions by one foreign state into the territory of another foreign state"</p>

<p>Representing the inquiry, Hugo Keith KC argued against allowing the Cabinet Office to determine relevance, stating that it would impede the effectiveness of this and future inquiries and likening it to the government "marking its own homework".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The UK government has been unsuccessful in its legal challenge to prevent the Covid inquiry from accessing Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages, diaries, and notebooks in their entirety.

The UK government has been unsuccessful in its legal challenge to prevent the Covid inquiry from accessing Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages, diaries, and notebooks in their entirety. The Cabinet Office had argued that it should not be obligated to provide irrelevant material, but inquiry chair Baroness Hallett asserted that the determination of relevance should be within her purview. Responding to the court's judgment, the government said that it would comply with the decision and collaborate with the inquiry team on "practical arrangements", reports BBC. The Covid inquiry said it was "pleased" with the verdict, and Baroness Hallett is expected to receive the requested material by a specified deadline of 4 pm on July 10th. What the ruling means The court's ruling as per BBC is likely to bolster the authority of the inquiry and its ability to demand evidence. In its ruling, the court stated that inquiries should be allowed to seek out relevant documents, even if it means potentially acquiring some irrelevant material. Also read | Elon Musk expects fully autonomous self-driving Tesla vehicles 'later this year' The judges also suggested that the Cabinet Office could directly present its case to the inquiry regarding the relevance of certain documents. Will the data be available to public? The court's decision does not automatically mean that the public will have access to the documents in their entirety. The inquiry may apply its own redactions or decide against their public disclosure altogether. Deborah Doyle, a spokesperson for the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, criticised the government's legal challenge, stating that it was a "was a desperate waste of time and money". "A successful inquiry could save thousands of lives in the event of another pandemic, and it's a disgrace that the Cabinet Office is trying to obstruct it," she added. The controversy: Inquiry vs government The dispute between the Covid inquiry and the government, as well as Boris Johnson himself, was sparked earlier this year when the inquiry requested access to WhatsApp messages on Johnson's devices, including those from a group chat discussing the pandemic response. The inquiry also sought messages from other politicians, including current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, reports BBC. Also read | UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warns against any direct attacks on Indian High Commission in London During the case hearing, the government expressed reluctance in challenging the inquiry's request, citing concerns about the privacy and the personal nature of some of the messages. The Cabinet Office also mentioned confidential information related to "border incursions by one foreign state into the territory of another foreign state" Representing the inquiry, Hugo Keith KC argued against allowing the Cabinet Office to determine relevance, stating that it would impede the effectiveness of this and future inquiries and likening it to the government "marking its own homework". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK govt loses legal battle to prevent Covid inquiry from accessing Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages

A Wuhan Institute of Virology researcher has claimed that COVID-19 was engineered as a bioweapon by China, revealing experiments and suspicious activities surrounding the pandemic's origins.

Wuhan researcher claims China engineered COVID-19 as a 'bioweapon' |

<p>Lorelei King, the widow of a former James Bond actor who died in a care home during the Covid pandemic, has expressed her refusal to accept an apology from former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock. During Hancock's appearance at the Covid Inquiry, King held up posters with pictures of her late husband, actor Vincent Marzello. The posters criticised Hancock for his actions during the pandemic and accused him of blaming everyone but himself for the failings.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Blame Game</strong></h2>

<p>Outside the Covid enquiry venue, Lorelei King was seen holding two A4 posters for Hancock to see.&nbsp;One of the posters highlighted a photo of Hancock shaking hands with her late husband during a visit to the care home and accused him of prioritising photo opportunities over protecting care homes.&nbsp;"You shook my husband's hand for your photo op," it said.</p>

<p>The other had a picture of her husband's coffin and had the caption "This was my photo op after your 'ring of protection' around care homes."</p>

<p><img alt="Lorelei King" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cab4865c-ddff-49fd-bd1f-7b6e628cd4de" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20%2844%29.png" /></p>

<p>Speaking after the hearing, King stated that she did not believe Hancock took responsibility for his failings and accused him of providing misleading information during the inquiry.</p>

<p>As per King, the former UK Health Secretary has been attempting to shift blame onto others, such as blaming systems and the World Health Organization, rather than acknowledging his own mistakes.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/profoundly-sorry-for-each-death-says-former-uk-health-secretary-over-covid-pandemic-609297">'Profoundly sorry for each death,' says former UK health secretary over Covid pandemic</a></strong></p>

<p>She emphasised that his repeated use of phrases like "I was assured" was met with scepticism by the bereaved families present at the inquiry.</p>

<p>"I heard the phrase 'I was assured' or 'I was reassured' so many times that when we heard it again… I mean, among the bereaved families, you could feel people reacting to that.”</p>

<h2><strong>Hancock at the Covid inquiry</strong></h2>

<p>As per the Telegraph, the former UK Health Secretary said he was "profoundly sorry" for every death caused by the coronavirus.</p>

<p>He also claimed to understand why for some it'll be difficult to accept the apology.</p>

<p>"I also understand why, for some, it will be hard to take that apology from me. I understand that, I get it. But it is honest and heartfelt, and I’m not very good at talking about my emotions and how I feel. But that is honest and true."</p>

<p>King and other bereaved families sat through two and a half hours of evidence. Speaking after the hearing, the widow said that she did not accept the apology and alleged that Hancock tried to steer the conversation towards areas where he felt confident, such as the success of vaccines.</p>

<p>However, she praised the Inquiry's counsel, Hugo Keith, for keeping the focus on track.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-in-uk-pandemic-inquiry-set-to-open-today-as-nation-suffers-one-of-the-worst-death-tolls-in-europe-603819">UK Covid inquiry set to open after nation suffered one of the worst death tolls in Europe</a></strong></p>

<p>"He kept trying to take control of the dialogue, and I thought that's where Hugo Keith, the KC for the Inquiry, was very, very good about keeping them on track."</p>

<p>Talking to the Telegraph, she expressed her lack of respect for Hancock and stated that talk is cheap, and actions matter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have no respect for him. Mr Hancock just seemed to be largely blaming everyone else. He blamed systems. He blamed the WHO. He was simply giving misinformation," said King.</p>

<p>"I don't accept his apology. None of the bereaved that I'm with accept his apology. Talk is cheap. Actions are what matter. I don't have a message to him. I don't believe he's capable of hearing the message. I wouldn't waste my time."</p>

<p>King concluded by saying that her opinion of Hancock had not changed, and she had little respect for him. She maintained that he was not truthful about the supposed ring of protection around care homes.</p>

<p>"My opinion of Mr Hancock has not changed. I don’t have a great deal of respect for him. I don’t believe he was truthful when he talked about a ring of protection around care homes, and I do not forgive him."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)<br />
<br />
​​​​​​​</em></p>

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Lorelei King, the widow of a former James Bond actor who died in a care home during the Covid pandemic, has expressed her refusal to accept an apology from former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Lorelei King, the widow of a former James Bond actor who died in a care home during the Covid pandemic, has expressed her refusal to accept an apology from former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock. During Hancock's appearance at the Covid Inquiry, King held up posters with pictures of her late husband, actor Vincent Marzello. The posters criticised Hancock for his actions during the pandemic and accused him of blaming everyone but himself for the failings. Blame Game Outside the Covid enquiry venue, Lorelei King was seen holding two A4 posters for Hancock to see. One of the posters highlighted a photo of Hancock shaking hands with her late husband during a visit to the care home and accused him of prioritising photo opportunities over protecting care homes. "You shook my husband's hand for your photo op," it said. The other had a picture of her husband's coffin and had the caption "This was my photo op after your 'ring of protection' around care homes." Speaking after the hearing, King stated that she did not believe Hancock took responsibility for his failings and accused him of providing misleading information during the inquiry. As per King, the former UK Health Secretary has been attempting to shift blame onto others, such as blaming systems and the World Health Organization, rather than acknowledging his own mistakes. Also read | 'Profoundly sorry for each death,' says former UK health secretary over Covid pandemic She emphasised that his repeated use of phrases like "I was assured" was met with scepticism by the bereaved families present at the inquiry. "I heard the phrase 'I was assured' or 'I was reassured' so many times that when we heard it again… I mean, among the bereaved families, you could feel people reacting to that.” Hancock at the Covid inquiry As per the Telegraph, the former UK Health Secretary said he was "profoundly sorry" for every death caused by the coronavirus. He also claimed to understand why for some it'll be difficult to accept the apology. "I also understand why, for some, it will be hard to take that apology from me. I understand that, I get it. But it is honest and heartfelt, and I’m not very good at talking about my emotions and how I feel. But that is honest and true." King and other bereaved families sat through two and a half hours of evidence. Speaking after the hearing, the widow said that she did not accept the apology and alleged that Hancock tried to steer the conversation towards areas where he felt confident, such as the success of vaccines. However, she praised the Inquiry's counsel, Hugo Keith, for keeping the focus on track. Also read | UK Covid inquiry set to open after nation suffered one of the worst death tolls in Europe "He kept trying to take control of the dialogue, and I thought that's where Hugo Keith, the KC for the Inquiry, was very, very good about keeping them on track." Talking to the Telegraph, she expressed her lack of respect for Hancock and stated that talk is cheap, and actions matter. "I have no respect for him. Mr Hancock just seemed to be largely blaming everyone else. He blamed systems. He blamed the WHO. He was simply giving misinformation," said King. "I don't accept his apology. None of the bereaved that I'm with accept his apology. Talk is cheap. Actions are what matter. I don't have a message to him. I don't believe he's capable of hearing the message. I wouldn't waste my time." King concluded by saying that her opinion of Hancock had not changed, and she had little respect for him. She maintained that he was not truthful about the supposed ring of protection around care homes. "My opinion of Mr Hancock has not changed. I don’t have a great deal of respect for him. I don’t believe he was truthful when he talked about a ring of protection around care homes, and I do not forgive him." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Widow of James Bond actor accuses former UK Health Minister of misdirecting Covid inquiry

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