New York City is experiencing rapid growth of Covid-19 variants, Mayor Bill de Blasio and health officials said on Wednesday, showing the importance of a swift vaccine distribution campaign.
The UK variant and a new locally identified strain are spreading rapidly in the city and account for 51 per cent of Covid-19 cases.
A new variant identified in Washington Heights in New York is being investigated after two research teams in New York and California revealed they had found variants in late February.
The strain, B1526, has spread quickly in the city, which recorded a seven-day average of 3,640 coronavirus cases.
It accounted for 39 per cent of positive samples in the past week, up from 31 per cent the previous week.
"Our preliminary analysis is that it is probably more infectious than older strains of the virus," said Dr Jay Varma, the city's senior public health adviser.
"It may be similar in infectiousness to the UK strain, and our preliminary analysis does not show that this new strain causes more severe illness or reduces the effectiveness of vaccines."
Dr Varma said the findings he disclosed on Wednesday were "preliminary".
The UK variant accounts for a large portion of the city's case growth. It is present in 12 per cent of cases, up from 8 per cent the previous week.
The strains identified in Brazil, South Africa and the UK, declared to be "variants of concern" by the World Health Organisation, are also spreading in the city.
A new study found the UK strain could be up to twice as deadly as other variants.
"So far, thank God, what we're finding is that variants are not posing the worst kind of problems we might fear," Mr de Blasio said Wednesday.
"For example, a variant that is more deadly, we're not seeing that. A variant that is vaccine-resistant, we're not seeing that.
"What we are seeing is variants that are more infectious and therefore spread the disease more, and that's a real issue.
"But the good news is we have the strategies to fight back."
The city is advancing in its vaccination programme, which involves mass centres at high-capacity, high-profile sites including the Javits Centre and Yankee Stadium, some of which are operating around the clock.
About 35 per cent of the city's adult population has received at least one dose of vaccine, while 18 per cent of adults have been fully vaccinated, the Department of Health says.
All three approved vaccines in the US, including the newly approved, single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, are being distributed throughout the city.
New York City became the global centre for the pandemic last year in late March and early April, overwhelming hospitals and triggering an intense lockdown.
The city marked a year since its first coronavirus case on March 2.
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
Afro%20salons
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Francesco Totti's bio
Born September 27, 1976
Position Attacking midifelder
Clubs played for (1) - Roma
Total seasons 24
First season 1992/93
Last season 2016/17
Appearances 786
Goals 307
Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2
