Middle East Experience

Over the course of the pandemic, several COVID-19 strains have emerged, but a new and potentially more deadly version has now been spotted – the Lambda variant.Each time the COVID-19 virus mutates it has the potential to become more vaccine-resistant, more transmissible, and harder to stop. Recently, the coronavirus Delta strain, a highly-contagious variant of COVID-19 first identified in India, has caused governments around the world to begin reimposing lockdown and social distancing procedures.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The new Lambda COVID-19 variant, first identified in Peru in August 2020, has the potential to be even worse, however, with experts suspecting that it might be the most dangerous one yet. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that around 29 countries have logged cases of the Lambda strain, including Chile, Ecuador and Argentina.Lambda: ‘Variant of Interest’ The WHO categorizes variants based on their severity, and classifies them with letters from the Greek alphabet. The current variants of concern include Alpha (first identified in the UK), Beta (discovered in South Africa), Gamma (first discovered in Brazil) and Delta (identified in India) while variants of interest are Eta (identified in multiple countries), Iota (first identified in the US), Kappa (identified in India), and Lambda.The global health agency categorizes strains as variants of concern if it increases transmissibility, is a detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology, increases in virulence, changes in clinical disease presentation, or if it decreases effectiveness of public health and social measures, and currently available diagnostic, vaccine and therapeutic methods.The WHO categorized Lambda as a “variant of interest” in June, cautioning that it might have some mutations that could make it resistant to COVID-19 vaccines, and could be more infectious. But, it has not yet been identified as a “variant of concern”.“Authorities in Peru reported that 81 percent of COVID-19 cases sequenced since April 2021 were associated with Lambda. Argentina reported increasing prevalence of Lambda since the third week of February 2021, and between 2 April and 19 May 2021, the variant accounted for 37 percent of the COVID-19 cases sequenced,” the WHO noted.After conducting genomic sequencing in Chile, the WHO found that the Lambda variant made up 31 percent of samples taken. It was also found in 37 percent of the sequenced samples in Argentina, indicating an increase in its prevalence since February 2021.Some cases of the Lambda variant have made their way to the United States, according to online news media The Hill, accounting for a total of 700 diagnosed cases so far.It is also important to note that the United States’ Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) did not categorize it as a variant of interest, despite the WHO’s ruling on Lambda.“What’s going on here in the US is Lambda is competing against the Delta variant. And I think it’s losing the competition,” Associated Professor of Biochemistry at West Virginia University Peter Stoilov told online newspaper the Washington Post. “The question is how competitive this variant is going to be. I don’t see it spreading anywhere near as fast as the Delta.”Vaccines There is still not enough research on vaccine efficacy against the Lambda variant, but so far available vaccines have worked well against all major strains of the virus, Professor of Medicine at John Hopkins Hospital Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray told online academic news blog Houston Public Media.“Delta is clearly dominating right now. And so, I think our focus can remain on Delta as a hallmark of a highly infectious variant. And there’s some evidence that it might cause greater severity per infection, although that’s still a developing story,” he said.“We know that vaccination almost uniformly protects people,” Ray added.He advised that as variants continue evolve, more people will need to get vaccinated against the virus. This, along with mask-wearing and social distancing, will help keep vaccines effective, minimize the risk of severe COVID-19 infections, and reduce deaths and hospitalization, a study by researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria found.“We found that a fast rate of vaccination decreases the probability of emergency of a resistant strain,” the study stated.“Counterintuitively, when a relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions happened at a time when most individuals of the population have already been vaccinated the probability of emergence of a resistant strain was greatly increased,” the researchers added.Read more:Scientists suspect new Lambda COVID-19 variant might be most dangerousHard-won gains fighting coronavirus at risk as Delta variant spreads, says WHOCOVID-19 vaccines not strong enough to stop Delta variant alone: Study
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Explainer: Everything you need to know about the Lambda COVID-19 variant

The second Culture Ministerial Meeting (CMM) took place in Rome on Saturday, a Saudi-led initiative inaugurated in 2020, at the Italian G20 meeting.The G20 members are expected to soon adopt a Ministerial Declaration on culture which would ensure mutual agreements to strengthen rules combatting illicit trafficking of cultural property and give greater prominence to the role of culture as a driver of climate action and the preservation of cultural heritage.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.At the meeting, they were also expected to promise greater investment in education, training and employment related to the cultural sector and to provide greater access to culture online, according to a statement released by Saudi Arabia’s culture ministry.The CMM, which aims to tackle issues of critical importance to the global cultural and creative economy, was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud.A sector affected by the pandemic more than most, the cultural sector is estimated to be worth $2.3 trillion. Adding it to the G20 agenda was made in an effort to boost the sector through ensuring initiatives are developed by the Group of 20 countries which represent 60 percent of the world’s population and 80 percent of global GDP, the statement revealed.“For the last two years, G20 members have discussed the critical importance of culture – its preservation and development – as a driver of economic growth,” said Prince Badr.“Saudi Arabia is seeing the benefits firsthand as we undergo a cultural transformation across the Kingdom – from the addition of the Ḥimā Cultural Area as our sixth UNESCO World Heritage Site, to celebrating home-grown talent on the global stage at world renowned events, such as the Venice Biennale and Cannes Film Festival,” he added.Since 2016, the Kingdom has been undergoing a cultural transformation under Vision 2030. The country has made great strides in the cultural space, including the development of a world-leading center to preserve underwater cultural heritage in the Red Sea and the Gulf region, an initiative which was announced at last year’s CMM, and the establishment of new cultural festivals throughout Saudi Arabia, as well as the creation of a supportive ecosystem for Saudi creatives to explore more artistic ventures.UNESCO celebrated the expected outcomes of the meeting, stating that “Italy has taken important steps with a view to integrating culture on a permanent basis in the G20… This dynamic is in line with the historic advance achieved at the initiative of Saudi Arabia, which put culture on the G20’s agenda in 2020.”Read more:In pictures: Here are 6 sites in Saudi Arabia on UNESCO’s World Heritage listSaudi Arabia to welcome tourists starting from August 1Saudi FM assures Riyadh’s keenness on stability of Tunisia during visit
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi-initiated cultural talks take place during G20 meeting in Italy

Dubai-based carrier Emirates Airlines announced that it is offering complementary day passes to Expo 2020 for travelers arriving in Dubai between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, according to their website.The offer is also valid for travelers who have a six-hour layover connection with Dubai.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The one-day pass offered to each traveler will grant them access to the Expo 2020 site and will have no monetary value, meaning that it cannot be exchanged for a cash refund or sold.For travelers to claim the offer, Emirates passengers will need to provide their details on the Emirates website and the airlines will then email them the pass.However, in the event of a flight cancelation or change, the ticket will no longer be valid, although passengers could then claim a new one, the airline’s website said.With just three months left until the launch of Expo 2020 ‘The World’s Greatest Show’, tickets officially went on sale worldwide on July 18. The six-month event is set to take place starting October 1, 2021.One-day tickets cost AED 95 ($26), multi-day passes with unrestricted entry for 30 consecutive days cost AED 195 ($53), and season passes offering unlimited entry for the entire six months cost AED 495 ($135).For children under the age of 18 and student, tickets are free-of-charge provided they are holding a valid student ID from any academic institution in the world. People of determination will be given free tickets as well and their companion will receive a 50 percent discount on their pass.The Expo had been set to take place in October 2020, but was then moved to October 2021 as borders around the world began to close as governments and health authorities fought to contain the spread of COVID-19.Dubai Expo’s opening hours are between 9 a.m. and 1 a.m. on weekdays (Sunday to Thursday) and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends (Friday/Saturday).Expo 2020 will offer visitors an array of experiences and showcases, pertaining to a variety of sectors. There will also be weekly themes corresponding to current global concerns and human areas if study, from space travel to water and climate and biodiversity week.The six-month long mega-event will also feature pavilions and exhibits where visitors will e able to experience parades, festivals, concerts and showcases on art and culture as well as food and technology, among others.Read more:Dubai Expo 2020: Everything you need to know about the UAE mega-eventEmirates inaugurates new passenger service between Dubai and MiamiExpo 2020 Dubai event to explore the future of smart cities and sustainable habitats
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Emirates Airlines offers Dubai-bound passengers free Expo 2020 day pass

Extroverted men who put their self-interests above others are most likely to ignore COVID-19 regulations, a new study published on Thursday found.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Researchers at the University of Sydney studied the behaviors and attitudes of 1,575 people in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States between April and May 2020.Out of the men interviewed, only 86 percent said they complied with coronavirus countermeasures during the first wave of the pandemic. In comparison, 92 percent of the women interviewed said they followed regulations.The study also found that across all the countries, those who did not comply with measures said they often put their own interests ahead of their moral obligations.Those who did not comply with the protocols were more likely to ignore stay-at-home measures to meet friends or family, for religious reasons, because they were bored, or because they wanted to exercise their right to freedom, the researchers found.The study also found that those who complied with COVID-19 countermeasures were more likely to find healthy ways to cope with regulations, such as taking up new hobbies to distract themselves. Meanwhile, those that did not comply were more likely to resort to “denial, substance use, and behavioral disengagement,” the report said.Non-compliers were also more likely to perceive restrictions as a threat to individual freedoms, according to the study.The researchers noted that since the study was conducted when the virus first emerged, attitudes may have changed since then.However, they said the study reflected the importance of rephrasing government messages about health protocols to target the people who are non-compliant.“Maybe the message to them should be how it benefits them: You’re not going to infect yourself and your loved ones.It’s not only good for society, exercising your moral responsibility, it’s good for you,” the study’s lead author, Sabina Kleitman, told UK-based newspaper The Guardian.An Austrian study published in Nature Scientific Reports on July 30 found that adhering to preventative measures was just as important as getting vaccinated when it comes to avoiding infection.COVID-19 vaccines alone are not enough to fight the more infectious variants, such as Delta and Lambda, that have recently emerged, but need to be used in conjunction with social distancing best practices and mask wearing, the researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria found.Read more:COVID-19 vaccines not strong enough to stop Delta variant alone: StudyExplainer: Everything you need to know about the Lambda COVID-19 variantCDC says Delta COVID-19 variant causes severe illness, spreads ‘like chickenpox’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Extroverted, selfish men most likely to ignore COVID-19 regulations, study finds

State-owned Electricité du Liban warned Saturday that Lebanon may face total blackout very soon if the authorities did not provide fresh U.S. dollars to buy fuel oil for power plants, purchase necessary spare parts and carry out urgent maintenance work on all the facilities..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: EDL: Lebanon to slip into total blackout if fresh dollars not secured

Both sides have much to lose if a delicate negotiation over limiting Iran’s activities in return for a lifting of sanctions falls short..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Biden Promised to Restore the Iran Nuclear Deal. Now It Risks Derailment.

Palestinian Authority leadership complains to the US, EU about Israeli "crimes."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Despite thaw in relations, Palestinians to step up ‘popular resistance’

The new decrees include those on the board of directors of British University in Dubai, Dubai Cares, Dubai Women Establishment and the Watani Al Emarat ….
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Sheikh Mohammed announces boards of various organisations

Republicans senators sent a letter to Biden this week, calling him to deny entry visas to Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi and other senior Iranian officials to attend the UN General Assembl
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Senators want Biden to deny Iran entry visas to attend UN General Assembly

The response to the explosion in August 2020 has been marked by chaos and paralysis in what is now a failed state..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: A year after Beirut blast, Lebanon sinks deep into mire of corruption