Middle East Experience

Malaysian health authorities have identified that a new strain of the deadly COVID-19 virus, named D614G, is 10 times more infectious than previous strains, Deputy General of Health for Malaysia Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a Facebook post Saturday.Abdullah added that the finding might also mean that any vaccine under development currently would be ineffective against the new strain.The study is not the first to identify the dangers associated with D614G. US researchers have previously suggested that the difference in viral strains may correspond to which regions were more heavily hit by the virus – such as New York or Italy.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Older research has already noted that COVID-19 is muttering and evolving as it adapts to humans, but the D614G mutation has become of particular note by scientists as it is emerging as the most dominant mutation.Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the US National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said last month that D614G could be making the coronavirus spread much faster.“The data is showing there’s a single mutation that makes the virus be able to replicate better and maybe have high viral loads,” Fauci said in an interview with the Journal of the American Medical Association.The World Health Organization (WHO) has also said that it is monitoring the situation and tracking the genetic sequence of the coronavirus around the world to identify any mutations.Although D614G may be significantly more infectious than earlier strains, Fauci noted that this does not necessarily mean that the virus will become more severe.“We don’t have a connection to whether an individual does worse with this or not. It just seems that the virus replicates better and may be more transmissible,” he said.Read more:Coronavirus has mutated 590 times so far in Bangladesh, government research showsNew coronavirus mutation may make COVID-19 spread faster, says Fauci Coronavirus: Mutation in COVID-19 increases chance of infection, says a study
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: New coronavirus strain 10x more infectious, vaccine hopes dashed: Malaysia scientists

Chaos prevails in the West Bank amid the proliferation of weapons, which embarrasses the Palestinian Authority that seems unable to curb this spread of arms that upped crime rates.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Is PA doing enough to stop arms proliferation in West Bank?

Oman's minister of state for foreign affairs Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah spoke to Israel's foreign minister and in a separate call to an official from the Palestinian political group Fatah, Oman's foreign ministry said on Monday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Oman, which has maintained its neutrality in a turbulent region, has said it supports the United Arab Emirates' decision on Thursday to normalize ties with Israel. Speaking to Israeli foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi, Bin Abdullah said Oman supported a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East” and that negotiations on an Israel-Palestine peace process needed to resume. Bin Abdullah also spoke to Jibril Rajoub, secretary general of the central committee of the Palestinian Fatah group, and emphasized the depth of Oman's relationship with Palestinians. The US-sponsored UAE-Israel deal has been seen as firming up opposition to regional power Iran, which Gulf states, Israel and the United States view as the main threat in the conflict-riven Middle East. Oman maintains friendly ties with a wide range of countries and organizations involved in the region including arch foes the United States and Iran. Israel's intelligence minister on Sunday said Oman, alongside Bahrain, could be the next Gulf country to follow the UAE in formalizing ties with Israel. Oman has made no comment on the subject.Read more:Halting annexation top UAE priority in Israel ‘historic’ deal: UAE officialIsrael’s president invites Abu Dhabi Crown Prince to Jerusalem following agreementEight moments that led up to the UAE’s agreement with Israel
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Oman FM, Israeli FM discuss regional developments during call: Statement

To pressure Palestinians and force them to back down from their decision to stop security coordination, Israel is refusing to recognize more than 24,000 Palestinian newborns while preventing their movement through crossings as well as their travel abroad.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel denies travel to Palestinian newborns

Israeli companies in the fields of cyber, water management, defense and even diamonds are lining up for launching business ventures in the United Arab Emirates.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli companies enthusiastic on deal with UAE, target Gulf market

Lebanon’s investigation of the Beirut port explosion has so far been marred by political wrangling..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Political wrangling over investigation into Beirut port explosion

Ongoing budget disputes with Baghdad have fueled salary delays and a lack of business bailouts in the Kurdistan Region as KRG debt swells to $27 billion.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Intel: Unpaid salaries fuel protests in Iraqi Kurdistan

‘90% of the money invested in Israeli start-ups comes from other countries,’ CEO Ittai Ben-Zeev said on Sunday.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel’s stock-market releases TASE UP, a hi-tech investment platform

Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas made a surprise visit to the Libyan capital Tripoli on Monday and warned that a current lull in fighting was “deceptive”..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: German foreign minister warns of ‘deceptive calm’ on surprise visit to Libya

It is feared that in 2021 many middle-class families will be reduced to poverty and food aid.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Two million Israelis lose income during COVID-19, fear poverty