From the Editors: Early detection, travel curbs will help world check spread of new COVID-19 variant

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STAR-RATINGS FOR DUBAI EATERIES WILL FURTHER BOOST CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: Dubai Municipality recently launched a set of unique initiatives in areas of food safety and nutrition. These initiatives include Dubai Star, Green Path, Enhancing Knowledge Efficiency of Food Handlers and Enhancing Food Transport Systems and Logistics Services through integration with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Through these initiatives, Dubai is making sure that right from procurement of raw material, transportation of food items and up to cooking, presentation and preservation of the same, residents and visitors in Dubai will have access to a clean and hygienic diet – whether food is being consumed at home or at an eatery outside. Take, for instance, the Dubai Star initiative. Under this, all eateries will be star-rated by the municipality depending upon the quality of food served and the level of hygiene maintained. As a result, a customer can actually have a fair idea about the place he or she opts to have his or her next meal – even before actually stepping into the place. This, in turn, will help consumers make informed choices when it comes to food and nutrition. For a city that has never compromised on quality, it is only natural that it will leave no stone unturned to ensure that from farm-to-plate, what we consume is 100 per cent safe and nutritious. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor] Image Credit:

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EARLY DETECTION, TRAVEL CURBS WILL HELP WORLD CHECK SPREAD OF NEW VARIANT: As expected, the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant has sent a chill through much of the world on Friday, with nations racing to halt air travel. The World Health Organisation named the variant omicron and classified it as a highly transmissible virus of concern, the same category as the Delta variant. Early evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection compared to other highly transmissible variants, it said. The good news, however, is the world is now in a better position to tackle new variants than it was when the Delta virus emerged a year ago. Restricting travel to and from South Africa and other African nations is prudent and would buy scientists more time to answer key questions that could prevent another wave of deaths. The early detection of the new variant could also mean restrictions taken now would have a bigger impact than when the Delta surfaced. [COMMENT BY: Stephen N.R., Senior Asociate Editor] Image Credit: Shutterstock

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DJOKOVIC SHINES AGAIN FOR SERBIA IN DAVIS CUP: Novak Djokovic beat Denis Novak to help Serbia to a 3-0 win over Austria on the second day of the Davis Cup. The world number one - who has not lost a Davis Cup singles rubber since 2011 – needed just one hour to secure a 6-3 6-2 win which gave Serbia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match tie after Dusan Lajovic had earlier beaten Gerald Melzer 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-5. In the last match, Nikola Cacic and Filip Krajinovic beat Philipp Oswald and Oliver Marach 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 6-3. Defending champions Spain and Italy were also victorious on the second day of the competition. Today, Serbia will face Germany, Russia meet Ecuador and Great Britain come up against France. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor] Image Credit: USA Today Sports

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THE LEGEND OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM LIVES ON HIS WORKS: No person could ever hope to match Stephen Sondheim’s contribution to the world of theatre. As the prolific Broadway songwriter breathed his last on Friday, his five decades-long career is a legacy that speaks of determination and grit, which saw a young boy from New York City rise up the ranks to carve a place for himself in history. His major breakthrough on Broadway came with ‘West Side Story’ in 1957, followed by ‘Gypsy’ two years later, but it was his ‘Sweeny Todd’ that saw Sondheim explore a darker sound that truly gave flight to his versatility. As tributes pour in for the legend, Lin-Manuel Miranda perhaps sums it up best in his ode on Twitter: “Future historians: Stephen Sondheim was real…. Some may theorize Shakespeare’s works were by committee but Steve was real & he was here & he laughed SO loud at shows & we loved him…” [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor] Image Credit: AFP

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From the Editors: Early detection, travel curbs will help world check spread of new COVID-19 variant

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From the Editors: Early detection, travel curbs will help world check spread of new COVID-19 variant

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