The World Health Organization's Europe unit is reporting that about one in 10 people who contracted COVID-19 continue to show "persistent ill health" 12 weeks after infection. Dr. Hans Kluge, the head of WHO Europe, says much about so-called "long COVID" remains unknown, but the "burden is real, and it is significant." In a policy brief released on Thursday, WHO Europe urged policymakers to do more to acknowledge and treat long COVID, which can bring severe fatigue, chest pain, heart inflammation, headache, forgetfulness, depression, loss of smell, recurrent fever, diarrhea and ringing in the

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has the ultimate white elephant, a Boeing 7-87 presidential jet that he's been trying to sell since he took office three years ago. Ever since he took office on Dec. 1, 2018, the president has vowed to sell off the plane because it is too luxurious. Lopez Obrador has tried to lure corporations and businessmen, and even pledged to raffle off the plane that was purchased for 200-million-dollars US because it is too luxurious. It has been difficult to sell because it's configured to carry only 80 people. It also has a full presidential suite with a p

Golf star Tiger Woods suffered leg injuries today in a vehicle rollover in suburban Los Angeles and was undergoing surgery. Authorities and his manager say his condition wasn't yet clear. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says in a statement that Woods was alone in the vehicle and had to be extricated from it. No other cars were involved in the wreck that injured the golfer. The vehicle sustained major damage, and Woods was taken to the hospital by ambulance. A KABC-TV helicopter over the wreck showed a car on its side, with its front end heavily damaged just off the side of a road

Perseverance pays off. The NASA robotic rover named Perseverance landed on Mars. A NASA rover has landed on Mars in an epic quest to bring back rocks that could answer whether life ever existed on the red planet. The space agency says the six-wheeled Perseverance hurtled through the thin, orange atmosphere and settled onto the surface Thursday in the mission's riskiest manoeuvr yet. Mars has long been a deathtrap for incoming spacecraft. Perseverance will collect geological samples that will be brought back to Earth in about a decade to be analyzed for signs of ancient microscopic life.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is sending his best wishes to Prince Philip. The Queen's 99 year old husband was admitted to a London hospital last evening on the advice of his doctor because he wasn't feeling well. Prince Philip is under observation in London's King Edward the Seventh Hospital. Buckingham Palace calls it a precautionary measure and says Philip is expected to remain for a few days of observation and rest. His illness is not believed to be related to COVID-19. Lockdown permitting, the royal household is planning celebrations to mark Philip's 100th birthday on June 10th.

The Senate has acquitted Donald Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, bringing his trial to a close and giving the former president a historic second victory in the court of impeachment.Trump is the first president to be impeached twice, and he is also now twice acquitted as the majority of Republicans defended his actions. The Senate voted 57-43 that Trump is “not guilty” of incitement. Two thirds of the Senate, or 67 votes, was needed for conviction.House Democrats argued that Trump caused the violent attack by repeating for months the false claims that the election wa

Responding to queries on Twitter suspending nearly 500 accounts after receiving orders from the Indian government, the US reiterated its commitment to supporting democratic values including freedom of expression."What I would say generally, is that around the world, we are committed to supporting democratic values including freedom of expression. I think when it comes to Twitter's policies we would have to refer you to Twitter itself," said US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price, when asked on his comments on the situation.This comes after Twitter on Wednesday informed that it has taken

A human rights defender who graduated from the University of BC has been freed from prison in Saudi Arabia. Loujain al-Hathloul has been in a Saudi prison for the last three years and says she was tortured, assaulted and abused while in custody. She returned to Saudi Arabia after graduating from UBC and was charged with spying for foreign parties and conspiring against the kingdom when she spoke up on behalf of women and demanded an end to the male guardianship system there. Although she has been released, al-Hathloul is still prevented from leaving Saudi Arabia and Amnesty International is c

The Oscar-winning Canadian acting legend, Christopher Plummer, whose storied career encompassed stage, television and film, has died. He was 91. Plummer's wife Elaine says he died "peacefully" at his home in Connecticut after suffering a fall two weeks ago. He was perhaps best-known for portraying Captain Georg von Trapp in "The Sound of Music," a part he never liked because he considered it wooden and one-dimensional. Plummer won his first Academy Award at the age of 82 for his supporting role as a widower who comes out of the closet in "Beginners." After the win in 2012, Plummer dismissed t