Health

The WHO said it believes that the current numbers being published from China "under-represent" the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital admissions, in terms of ICU admissions, and particularly in terms of deaths.

There is growing concern over China's steep rise in Covid infections since Beijing last month abruptly lifted years of hardline restrictions, with hospitals and crematoriums quickly overwhelmed.

The United States, Canada, Japan and France are among the countries insisting all travellers from China provide negative Covid tests before arrival, as concerns grow over a surge in cases.

The rule requiring negative Covid-19 tests on arrival in the UK will come into force from January 5.

The hepatitis infections in Syria's Tartus province were due to the pollution and mixing with sewage of water used for drinking and agricultural irrigation in a village.

The pioneering treatment will offer leukaemia patients an alternative path for treatment.

WHO said the world is much closer to end the emergency phase of the pandemic. However, the danger of new variant still threatens communities around the world.

Egyptian prominent archaeologist Dr Monica Hanna has been in recent weeks leading efforts to repatriate the famous Rosetta Stone from the UK to its home by lobbying pressure groups in Egypt and the UK.

Excluding imported infections, China reported 35,800 new cases for Wednesday, of which 4,080 were symptomatic and 31,720 were asymptomatic, according to the latest National Health Commission data.

China recorded 31,454 domestic cases – 27,517 without symptoms – on Wednesday, the National Health Bureau said.