The Covid-19 variant first detected in Britain is now the dominant strain in Spain. Reuters
The Covid-19 variant first detected in Britain is now the dominant strain in Spain. Reuters
The Covid-19 variant first detected in Britain is now the dominant strain in Spain. Reuters
The Covid-19 variant first detected in Britain is now the dominant strain in Spain. Reuters

UK Covid-19 variant could be helping Spain by keeping other strains out


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The coronavirus variant first detected in the UK could be helping Spain by fending off other strains and keeping them at bay.

Fernando Simon, Spain’s chief epidemiologist, said the B117 variant was now the country’s dominant strain, responsible for 70 per cent of new Covid-19 cases in 11 regions and 90 per cent of infections in another five regions.

Dr Simon said the more contagious variant could be benefiting Spain by preventing other strains detected in South Africa and Brazil becoming prevalent.

“The Brazilian and the South African strains are the ones that interest us and worry us most,” he said.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday threw her weight behind a “short, uniform lockdown” as the country grapples with a high level of cases fuelled by the spread of the UK variant.

Ms Merkel's spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said Germany's hospital system was under increasing pressure.

  • Paramedics arrive with a patient suffering from Covid-19 at the hospital in Bochnia, Poland. AP Photo
    Paramedics arrive with a patient suffering from Covid-19 at the hospital in Bochnia, Poland. AP Photo
  • A medical worker in the Intensive Care Unit where patients suffering from the coronavirus disease are treated at Cambrai hospital, France. Reuters
    A medical worker in the Intensive Care Unit where patients suffering from the coronavirus disease are treated at Cambrai hospital, France. Reuters
  • People enjoy a sunny spring day along the banks of the canal Saint-Martin in Paris, France. Reuters
    People enjoy a sunny spring day along the banks of the canal Saint-Martin in Paris, France. Reuters
  • Police officers monitor people enjoying the Paris weather. Reuters
    Police officers monitor people enjoying the Paris weather. Reuters
  • A medical worker wearing an Easter themed headband gives Easter eggs to a patient suffering from Covid-19 at the San Filippo Neri hospital in Rome, Italy. Reuters
    A medical worker wearing an Easter themed headband gives Easter eggs to a patient suffering from Covid-19 at the San Filippo Neri hospital in Rome, Italy. Reuters
  • A nurse attends to patients with respiratory problems at the emergency ward of the hospital in Bochnia, Poland. Polish hospitals struggled over the Easter weekend following a surge in infections across Central and Eastern Europe. AP Photo
    A nurse attends to patients with respiratory problems at the emergency ward of the hospital in Bochnia, Poland. Polish hospitals struggled over the Easter weekend following a surge in infections across Central and Eastern Europe. AP Photo
  • People go through a preliminary examination before receiving a vaccine in Rome, Italy. AP Photo
    People go through a preliminary examination before receiving a vaccine in Rome, Italy. AP Photo
  • Barceloneta beach promenade is packed with people in Barcelona, Spain. EPA
    Barceloneta beach promenade is packed with people in Barcelona, Spain. EPA
  • Police officers disperse a group of youths in Barcelona, Spain. EPA
    Police officers disperse a group of youths in Barcelona, Spain. EPA
  • People social distance while waiting in a vaccination center in Cologne, Germany. AP Photo
    People social distance while waiting in a vaccination center in Cologne, Germany. AP Photo
  • Balconies of an empty apartment building near the beach of Cuxhaven-Duhnen, northern Germany. Due to the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases most seaside resorts have imposed strict lockdown measures for the Easter weekend in Germany. EPA
    Balconies of an empty apartment building near the beach of Cuxhaven-Duhnen, northern Germany. Due to the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases most seaside resorts have imposed strict lockdown measures for the Easter weekend in Germany. EPA
  • People walk under blossom in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
    People walk under blossom in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images

Ms Merkel and the leaders of Germany's 16 states in March agreed national rules including strict shutdowns and possible curfews in areas with more than 100 new infections per 100,000 people over seven days.

But under Germany's federal system, each state can ultimately decide its own rules. Some have failed to impose more restrictions in the face of more cases and even gone ahead with reopening measures.

Ms Demmer said the patchwork of rules was "not contributing to security and acceptance at the moment".

While the vaccines can cope well with the UK strain, a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was only 10 per cent effective in protecting against mild to moderate Covid-19 disease in South Africa.

Countries such as the UK stepped up border measures to prevent variant cases being imported.

Limited numbers of the South African and Brazilian strains were detected in the UK, where the B117 variant is dominant.

Dr Simon said Spain might soon offer AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine to people over 65.

“We have more solid evidence that in people over 65, the AstraZeneca vaccine will have the effect that we would like it to have,” he said.

Spain is something of an outlier in Europe by limiting AstraZeneca's vaccine to young people, while countries such as Germany and France are using the drug only in the older population over concerns about blood clots.

Marco Cavaleri, the head of vaccines at the European Medicines Agency, said there was a "clear link" between AstraZeneca's drug and rare but serious blood clots, with the regulator to make an official statement on the matter later on Wednesday.

The UK regulator is also expected to make an announcement on the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine in younger people this week.

SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%20Supercharged%203.5-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20400hp%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20430Nm%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh450%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Bio

Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind. 
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.

Day 5, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Given the problems Sri Lanka have had in recent times, it was apt the winning catch was taken by Dinesh Chandimal. He is one of seven different captains Sri Lanka have had in just the past two years. He leads in understated fashion, but by example. His century in the first innings of this series set the shock win in motion.

Stat of the day This was the ninth Test Pakistan have lost in their past 11 matches, a run that started when they lost the final match of their three-Test series against West Indies in Sharjah last year. They have not drawn a match in almost two years and 19 matches, since they were held by England at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2015.

The verdict Mickey Arthur basically acknowledged he had erred by basing Pakistan’s gameplan around three seam bowlers and asking for pitches with plenty of grass in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Why would Pakistan want to change the method that has treated them so well on these grounds in the past 10 years? It is unlikely Misbah-ul-Haq would have made the same mistake.

UAE tour of the Netherlands

UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match

Company profile

Name: Thndr

Started: October 2020

Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: FinTech

Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000

Funding stage: series A; $20 million

Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC,  Rabacap and MSA Capital

McLaren GT specs

Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed

Power: 620bhp

Torque: 630Nm

Price: Dh875,000

On sale: now

Like a Fading Shadow

Antonio Muñoz Molina

Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez

Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)

Story%20behind%20the%20UAE%20flag
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Bert van Marwijk factfile

Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder

Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia

Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands

Results

6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Major Cinnamon, Fernando Jara, Mujeeb Rahman

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m; Winner: Al Mureib, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Remorse, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Meshakel, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Desert Peace, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Sharamm, Ryan Curatlo, Satish Seemar

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
A little about CVRL

Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.

One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases. 

The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery. 

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 390bhp

Torque: 400Nm

Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

Company%20profile
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