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- Belgian Evenepoel retains world title in 'toughest time trial'
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- Last-gasp Boniface gives Leverkusen victory over Wolfsburg in seven-goal thriller
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- Australia's Brown adds world title to Olympic time trial gold
- Russian strike on Ukraine's Kharkiv wounds 21
- UK's Starmer rules out austerity as Labour conference opens
- Swiss voters reject environment, pensions reforms: projected results
- Israel says 'landed blows' on Hezbollah as Lebanon violence intensifies
- Roma CEO steps down amid anger over club icon De Rossi's sacking
- Incoming French government under pressure on multiple fronts
- Hezbollah rockets strike near Israel's Haifa as UN warns of 'catastrophe'
- Haddad Maia roars back to beat Kasatkina in Korea Open final
- All-rounder Ashwin powers India to 280-run Test win over Bangladesh
- Failed Springbok 'gamble' sets up rugby championship decider
- Lebanon strikes send Israelis to shelters as UN warns of 'catastrophe'
- Far-right AfD eyes new win in east German state vote
- Tony Popovic set to become new Socceroos coach - reports
- All-round Ashwin powers India to big Test win over Bangladesh
- NZ chase 275 to win first Sri Lanka Test after Patel bags six
- Ashwin bags six wickets as India hammer Bangladesh in first Test
- Nascent French government under pressure on multiple fronts
- Angry French cognac makers see red over Chinese tariffs threat
- Protect the prosciutto: Italy battles swine fever
- UN holds 'Summit of the Future' to tackle global crises
- Marxist leader set to become Sri Lanka's next president
- From blades to pull-up bars: UK charity tackles knife crime
- Swiss vote on pensions and environment protections
- No pain, no gain: Chinese pro wrestlers fight for recognition
- UAE leader seeks to deepen 'strategic' ties in US visit during Mideast crisis
- Hezbollah takes heavy hits but still fighting Israel
- Floods, landslides hit central Japan months after major quake
- All Blacks coach Robertson demands better finishing
- Argentina edge South Africa to keep title hopes alive
Covid-19 variant maintains threat: WHO
Covid-19 remains a threat as a virus variant has been spreading steadily around the globe, the World Health Organisation said Tuesday.
"This virus, SARS-CoV-2, is circulating in every country right now and it still poses a threat," WHO expert Maria Van Kerkhove said.
"We have to remain vigilant because the virus is circulating, evolving and changing," she told a discussion on the WHO's social media channels.
Van Kerkhove was the WHO's technical lead during the coronavirus pandemic that struck in 2019 and is now the UN health agency's interim director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention.
There are currently three variants of interest (XBB.1.5, XXB.1.16 and EG.5) and six variants under monitoring -- a lower level of concern.
One of the six, BA.2.86, is being moved up to become a variant of interest.
"We don't see a change in severity" compared to other variant sub-lineages, Van Kerkhove said, but "we've seen a slow and steady increase in its detection around the world".
The new classification should help promote surveillance and research.
The WHO is also publishing a new risk evaluation for EG.5, which represents about half of the sequences shared globally, though the WHO has also not registered a change in its severity.
Covid-19 pandemic killed millions of people and wreaked economic and social havoc.
The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern -- its highest available alarm -- on January 30, 2020, and finally lifted it on May 5 this year.
Besides acute infection and disease, the WHO is also concerned about the long-term effects caused by the virus, known collectively as Long Covid, or post-Covid conditions.
"We do have evidence that vaccination with Covid-19 vaccines does reduce the risk of post-Covid condition," Van Kerkhove said.
She said 13.5 billion Covid-19 vaccines had been administered worldwide.
Noting that people can become infected with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza at the same time, she urged people in the northern hemisphere to get vaccinated against both as winter approaches.
L.Harper--AMWN