Day: October 16, 2024

People have started catching a new Covid variant that could soon take off and become the dominant type, according to scientists. 

Identified in Germany, in June, cases of the XEC variant have since emerged in the UK, US, Denmark and several other countries, say users on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

It has some new mutations that might help it spread this autumn, although vaccines should still help prevent severe cases, experts say.

For those more likely to become seriously ill from Covid, the NHS offers a free booster shot.

The vaccines have been updated to better match recent variants, although not XEC, which has emerged from earlier Omicron subvariants. 

Prof Francois Balloux, Director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, told BBC News that although XEC has a “slight transmission advantage” over other recent Covid variants, vaccines should still offer good protection. 

He says it is possible XEC will become the dominant subvariant over the winter though.

**🦠 Rapid Spread of New COVID Variant XEC**

The XEC variant, first identified in Germany in June, has now reached 29 countries, including the U.S. and UK. This subvariant of Omicron, which combines KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, spreads more quickly and shows typical COVID symptoms like… pic.twitter.com/NFgLI8H878

— 𝕏 (@AlertChannel) October 16, 2024

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North Korea blew up the northern parts of inter-Korean roads, amid rising tensions over the North’s claim that South Korea flew drones over its capital.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Pyongyang “conducted an explosive operation aimed at blocking the connection roads” on Tuesday.

As a response, the South Korean military said it “conducted counter-fire in areas south of the military demarcation line.”

South Korea’s military provided a video that showed a cloud of white and gray smoke emerging from an explosion at a road near the border town of Kaesong. Another video showed smoke emerging from a coastal road near the eastern border.

Although the roads and railways connecting the two countries have long been shut down, North Korean state media reported that the new measures were aimed at safeguarding national security and preventing war.

Earlier this year, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the South his country’s “principal enemy” and since then, the regime has laid fresh mines, erected anti-tank barriers, and deployed missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads along the already heavily fortified border.

Following the dual incidents, China called for both sides on the Korean peninsula to avoid a “further escalation.”

“Tensions on the peninsula do not serve the common interests of all parties,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing. “The priority is to avoid further escalation of conflicts.”

Beijing, which is North Korea’s most important ally and economic benefactor, said it was “paying attention to the development of the peninsula’s situation.”

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A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has been recorded in eastern Turkey, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center reported.

According to the organization, the quake struck 47 kilometers east of the city of Malatya which has a population of some 441,000. The epicenter was at a depth of nine kilometers.

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), in turn, reported that a magnitude 5.9 earthquake had been felt in three provinces of the country. According to the agency, the epicenter was located in the Malatya Province’s Kale municipality. The quake was also felt in the neighboring provinces of Diyarbakir and Elazig.

🚨 A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake just struck Malatya, Turkey 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/1TCyOcu4mq

— EUUnimus (@EUUnimus) October 16, 2024

A Turkish TV station captured the moment an earthquake struck the nation during their live news broadcast!

🚨⚡️ A Turkish TV station captured the moment an earthquake struck the nation during their live news broadcast! #Earthquake #Turkey #LiveTV #ShockingMomentpic.twitter.com/EomVoAkjIu

— 24/7WeatherPhenomenaObserver (@24weather24) October 16, 2024

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