Cyber Punk

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1907891/saudi-arabia The economical single-step, multi-use RT-PCR kit is hoped to assist in efforts to combat the spread of virus JEDDAH: Since the onset of the pandemic, Saudi Arabia’s research labs have been working nonstop to curb the spread of COVID-19, including developing reliable and sensitive testing kits. As one of the essential factors in tackling the spread of the disease, rising global demand for testing in 2020 put significant pressure on laboratories producing reverse transcriptase, an enzyme used to generate DNA from an RNA template and polymerase. The technique known as RT-PCR can detect as little as one virus particle in one swab from the mouth or nose. PCR tests are specific, sensitive and samples can be readily processed, providing results within hours to a day or two at most. But with increased demand, home-testing kit manufacturing is also on the rise to overcome the bottleneck to wider testing, especially given the rapid spread of the delta variant. Since the onset of the pandemic, the number of daily PCR tests in the Kingdom has risen from a few thousand to between 75,000-110,000 a day. Demand is growing as many now recognize the symptoms of COVID-19. Dr. Samir Hamdan, a professor of biological sciences, and his team at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology’s (KAUST) Rapid Research Response Team, have, like many researchers around the world, recognized that diagnostic bottlenecks are one of the main obstacles to fighting the virus. The high cost of the tests and scarcity due to airport closures and shipping restrictions has left public health initiatives in many countries vulnerable. To address this problem, Hamdan and his team decided to produce the main components of the RT-PCR test kits locally. A year since the project began, their in-house toolkit was publicized to expand testing capabilities in several Saudi cities. To adapt its work to the new crisis, Hamdan’s group set out to develop reagents for SARS-CoV-2 virus tests for use in biomedical and clinical laboratories. Since patents protect most of the chemicals used in the RT-PCR test kits, the researchers’ first challenge was to develop accessible and economical ways to produce custom-designed, unpatented versions of these chemicals. Once a stable and large-scale supply of nonpatent reagents was secured, the next step was to design a virus detection kit within the university’s laboratories. The RT-PCR test kit developed by KAUST was then subjected to rigorous testing in laboratory environments in cooperation with laboratories from the Ministry of Health and then in the testing facilities of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center and the Saudi Public Health Authority (Weqaya). “Our virus test kit is especially important because we provide manufacturing details that are not protected by patents,” Hamdan said. The results were promising, as the group could routinely detect at least ten copies of SARS-CoV-2 RNA structures. Most importantly, the group successfully detected COVID-19 in clinical samples of broad viral loads with similar reliability and selectivity to commercially approved groups. Within a few months, Hamdan and his team, in cooperation with the Kingdom’s Food and Drug Authority, obtained regulatory approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). “Now the kit is being employed for a large-scale study led by NoorDx, a KAUST-based diagnostics startup, in collaboration with US scientific instrument manufacturer Thermo Fisher, a strategic partner of the university’s core laboratories,” he said. “The economical single-step, multi-use RT-PCR test kit is hoped to democratize diagnostics, over time, and assist in efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19,” Hamdan said. SFDA CEO Prof. Hisham bin Saad Al-Jadhey said: “Our authority strongly supports the development of local biotechnology and innovative medical devices, including laboratory diagnostic devices such as the new COVID-19 test kit developed by national laboratories and research centers. Our support extends to all biotechnology applications developed locally and abroad, by evaluating their compliance with the safety and efficiency requirements approved by the authority.”

DUBAI: Emirati menswear label Qasimi is re-issuing its signature “Don’t Shoot” T-shirt in a charitable effort to raise funds for Lebanon via humanitarian organization Save the Kids International. During the months of August and September, the brand has pledged that all proceeds from online sales of the shirts will be donated to the charity organization. The “Don’t Shoot” T-shirt is a semi-replica of one originally worn by journalists in Lebanon during the 1982 war. Journalists were given a white shirt bearing the text “Don’t Shoot” in English, French and Arabic in bright red lettering to make journalists easier to identify, offering protection. It’s not the first time the T-shirt has been used to raise money for the Lebanese cause. Following the deadly port explosion in Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020, the Emirati label pledged all proceeds from the item would go to the Lebanese red cross. The cotton garment was first released in the London-based brand’s Fall 2017 collection. In 2019, Georgian designer Demna Gvasalia’s Spring 2020 collection for Vetements garnered attention in the Arab world for featuring the same T-shirt in its offering, with many critiquing the brand for seeming to appropriate the issues raised by the conflict. Qasimi was founded by the late Khalid Al-Qasimi in 2015. The brand is now spearheaded by his twin sister Hoor Al-Qasimi, who took over the reins following his death at the age of 39 in London in July 2019.

The New York Auto Show, poised for a post-pandemic comeback, has been canceled for the second year due as it becomes clear that we are still more mid- than post-Covid. The California-based Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and Monterey Car Week events, kicking off this weekend, appear to be proceeding as planned. This Week in Sheetmetal Porsche announced the super-limited-run 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25, a race car with a 690-hp twin-turbo flat-six engine, an adjustable racing suspension, carbon-fiber bits on the exterior, and a massive rear wing. Porsche is only building 30 of the cars, which commemorate the 25th anniversary of Porsche's partnership with Mathey-Racing. Only six Clubsport 25s will make their way to the U.S. They'll cost $620,000 apiece. McLaren unveiled an even more exclusive project this week in the one-off edition of its Speedtail grand tourer, already a limited-run model. The Speedtail Albert features a mesmerizing striped paint scheme that took 12 weeks to apply. The car was commissioned by the McLaren Beverly Hills dealership Acura will send the NSX off with a hotted-up Type S for 2022 model year, which will be the last model year for this generation of NSX. All 350 2022 NSXs will get the S treatment, which includes an "enhanced" version of the base car's twin-turbo V-6 hybrid system that we expect to top 600 hp. There will also be tweaks to the suspension, wheels and tires, and brakes. Toyota has no such farewell planned for the Avalon sedan, which will leave production in 2022. The Era of Big Government Is Not Over It appears that President Biden will get his infrastructure bill, after months of negotiations and a few political fumbles that threatened to doom the package. The bill the Senate is expected to vote on this weekend is the result of bipartisan negotiations and will provide $550 billion for infrastructure projects, including $15 billion for EV-related projects and $110 billion to build or upgrade roads and bridges.

A smart remote-controlled cart was specially brought in from Belgium to transport the boat without dismantling it The boat will be displayed in a special area of 1,400 sq. m in the outer courtyard around the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) CAIRO: In a solemn procession, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) received King Khufu’s boat at dawn on Saturday, 48 hours after the start of its transfer from its current display. More than four centuries old, the boat was in a special museum located at the southern side of the Great Pyramid of Khufu on the Giza Plateau. Streets and bridges overlooking the GEM, as well as archaeological and engineering equipment, were prepared for the transportation of the boat. The project will preserve what experts have described as the largest, oldest and most important organic relic in human history. A smart remote-controlled cart was specially brought in from Belgium to transport the boat without dismantling it. The process took about 10 hours, covering the 8km from the boat’s location to the GEM. The boat will be displayed in a special area of 1,400 sq. m in the outer courtyard around the GEM. Atef Moftah, GEM chief supervisor, said the process of transferring the boat was “one of the most important and complex and unique archaeological engineering projects,” stressing that the task force did not leave anything to chance. “It is the result of effort, study, planning, preparation, and serious work that spanned nearly a year,” he added, noting that the process was undertaken with great accuracy. He said the special vehicle that carried the boat could overcome any obstacles on the road, maneuvering through tricky curves and absorbing any vibrations. Mostafa Waziri, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said the process was approved by the Permanent Committee of Egyptian Antiquities, following the Antiquities Protection Law. Al-Tayeb Abbas, assistant minister of tourism and antiquities, said that before the transfer, a radar survey of the rocky ground was conducted to ensure its ability to withstand the weight. He said a distinguished team of restorers from the GEM conducted a laser scan of the boat to document its most accurate details and package it for transportation. On May 26, 1954, archaeologist engineer Kamal Al-Malakh announced the discovery of two pits for the boats of King Khufu, called the sun boats, on the southern side of the Great Pyramid. Known in the media as the solar boat, it was made of cedarwood, imported from Lebanon. Many have said that the ancient Egyptians made this boat for the king to use on his daily trips with the sun god Ra, while others have claimed that the boat was used to transport the king’s body from the eastern bank of the Nile to the western bank where he was buried. The museum housing the boat was not equipped to preserve the wooden artifact, with the organic structure starting to decay. The transportation of the boat to a new venue was imperative. Many ideas to move the boat were studied. All of them involved dismantling the boat and reconstructing it at the GEM, but they were discarded due to risk. Moving the 42-meter-long and 20-ton boat in one piece was the only suitable solution, like the transportation of the Ramses II colossus from Ramses Square to the GEM. In preparation for the transfer, the work team at the GEM and the SCA conducted three simulations using the remote-controlled vehicle. The boat was then packed with special scientific foam and put inside an iron cage for protection.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1906596/middle-east Hezbollah says it hit “open fields” near Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa farms area, with “dozens” of rockets BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Hezbollah fired a volley of rockets into Israel on Friday, prompting retaliatory shelling, in a major escalation between the Iran-backed Shiite movement and the Jewish state. A flare-up along the border this week has seen Israel carry out its first air strikes on Lebanese territory in seven years and Hezbollah claim a direct rocket attack on Israeli territory for the first time since 2019. But following Friday’s exchange Israel said it did “not wish to escalate to a full war” after the United Nations peacekeeping force in the border region, UNIFIL, warned of “a very dangerous situation,” and called on parties to “cease fire and maintain calm.” Hezbollah said it fired dozens of rockets at open ground near Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms border district. It said the attack came in response to Israeli air strikes on south Lebanon Thursday which were the first since 2014. An AFP correspondent in south Lebanon said he heard several explosions and saw smoke rising from around the Shebaa Farms. Israel said 19 rockets were fired, six of which hit Israeli ground. Three fell short while the others were intercepted by air defenses, it said. The Israeli military released video of multiple vapor trails in the skies, and said it was “striking the launch sources in Lebanon” but did not elaborate. UNIFIL reported an “artillery response from Israel in the Shebaa Farms area,” following the Hezbollah rocket attack. An AFP correspondent in south Lebanon reported artillery fire by Israeli forces on the Shebaa Farms and outside the town of Kfarchouba. Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television channel also reported Israeli shelling. The Shebaa Farms district is claimed by Lebanon but the UN regards it as part of the Syrian Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied since 1967 and unilaterally annexed in 1981. Israeli army spokesman, Amnon Shefler, played down the prospects of all-out war with Hezbollah. “We believe that neither Hezbollah wants a full-out war, and we definitely do not wish to have a war,” he said after Friday’s exchange. “We do not wish to escalate to a full war, yet of course we are very prepared for that.” He said life continued as normal on the Israeli side of the border. In the south Lebanon district of Hasbaya, Druze villagers stopped a truck carrying a multiple rocket launcher used by Hezbollah during Friday’s attack, a military source told AFP. A video widely shared on social media showed angry residents blocking the truck’s passage and accusing Hezbollah of endangering civilian lives by launching rockets from close to residential areas. Hezbollah said the truck was stopped after the group conducted Friday’s attack, but said the rockets were fired far from residential areas to ensure civilian safety. The Lebanese army said it arrested the four people who had launched the rockets and seized the rocket launcher after it was intercepted by villagers. A series of rocket attacks have been launched from Lebanon toward Israel since Wednesday, but with the exception of Friday’s salvo, they have remained unclaimed. Before Thursday, Israel’s last air strikes on Lebanon dated back to 2014 when warplanes struck territory near the Syrian border. They had not targeted Hezbollah’s south Lebanon strongholds since the militants fought a devastating conflict with Israel in 2006. Lebanon condemned Thursday’s strikes by Israeli as an “escalation” that could mark a change of tactics by Israel, while UNIFIL urged restraint. The strikes on Thursday were seen by some as a violation of rules of engagement set between Hezbollah and Israel following a 2006 war between the two sides. Hezbollah has repeatedly vowed to respond to attacks Israel carries out on Lebanese territory. For its part, Israel has repeatedly warned it will not allow a power vacuum and a deepening economic crisis in Beirut to undermine security on its border. The Israeli military said it “views the state of Lebanon as responsible for all actions originating in its territory, and warns against further attempts to harm Israeli civilians and Israel’s sovereignty.” Lebanon is grappling with an economic crisis that the World Bank says is one of the world’s worst since the mid-19th century. Despite mounting international pressure, political leaders have repeatedly failed to form a government since the cabinet of outgoing premier Hassan Diab resigned in the wake of last year’s monster port explosion.

DUBAI: Victoria’s Secret model Josephine Skriver is the latest celebrity to be spotted toting a design by Dubai-based accessories label L’Afshar. Each of L’Afshar’s covetable box bags and clutches are meticulously handcrafted by Esmod graduate Lilian L’Afshar in her Dubai-based studio. The label’s handmade lucite clutches are instantly recognizable by their unique, structured designs and use of marbled resin and intricate mirror-work. The brand’s clutches have been sported by everyone from Kylie Jenner and Bella Hadid to Beyonce and Alicia Keys. The British-born Iranian designer founded her eponymous label in 2014. She discovered her flair for bag design accidentally while making a last-minute black and red, transparent acrylic clutch for her graduation collection while studying at Esmod. Today, her mini-bags are a constant on international red carpets. Skriver, 28, attended the 2021 Sports Illustrated issue release celebration at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, and for the occasion wore a metallic feather-trimmed mini dress, which she paired with L’Afshar’s Elle bag in silver mirror. It has been a busy couple of weeks for the Danish model. Shortly after the Sports Illustrated issue release event, Skriver touched down in Croatia with fellow models Shanina Shaik, Sara Sampaio, Lais Ribiero, Romee Strijd and Taylor Hill to celebrate close friend Jasmine Tookes’ upcoming marriage with Snapchat’s Juan David Borrero. The stylish friend group attended the future bride’s bachelorette party this week in Hvar, an idyllic island in Croatia. Tookes and Borrero got engaged in September 2020 and are set to get married in Borrero’s home country of Ecuador, but due to COVID-19 the exact wedding date is yet to be announced. Tookes is set to tie the knot in a wedding gown by Lebanese The model originally teased the news following Murad’s Fall 2021 couture show in Paris, where she was sat front row. “Ten years ago, I used to walk his couture shows and now I wear his dresses on almost every red carpet. Something even more special is coming very soon,” she wrote on Instagram. More recently, the model revealed via Instagram that she got to “see and try on my finished wedding dress. It is beyond everything I ever imagined.” The Raas Balbek-born couturier simply commented with three red heart emojis.

G20 Digital Economy Ministers’ Meeting 2021 underway in Italian city of Trieste Abdullah Al-Sawaha highlights NEOM as blueprint for future global development ROME: Government organizations in charge of innovation will need help to keep up with the pace of economic digital transformation, a Saudi minister said on Thursday. Speaking at the G20 Digital Economy Ministers’ Meeting 2021 in Trieste, Italy, Abdullah Al-Sawaha said “bridging the digital gap globally is the way to achieve the prosperity of societies.” The meeting was chaired by the Italian ministers for innovation and economic development, Vittorio Colao and Giancarlo Giorgetti. Al-Sawaha said Saudi Arabia had topped the list of leading countries in the field of digital innovation, and highlighted how the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform program had also contributed to making it a leader at an international level in sustainable development. This had been achieved through qualitative global efforts, such as the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as large investment in new, environmentally friendly industries and markets, he said. Al-Sawaha cited NEOM as the largest global platform for innovators and creators, and he called it a vivid example of harmonizing regulation and innovation, to achieve well-being for societies, and preserving the environment through the use of technology. NEOM is a planned cross-border city in the Tabuk Province of northwestern Saudi Arabia, which will incorporate smart city technologies and also function as a tourist destination, with an estimated project cost of $500 billion. Talking about digital policies and regulations in Saudi Arabia, Al-Sawaha cited the Kingdom’s recent adoption of rapid digital payment methods and expressed “pride” in the levels of digital entrepreneurship in the Kingdom, which represented the “ideal model on the ability of young men and girls to contribute to supporting the economy and building an innovative future, considering innovative solutions in digital health, online education, digital payments and digital government.” In his speech, he expressed confidence that the forthcoming G20 Summit, under Italy’s presidency, would make a significant contribution to “human empowerment, preserving the planet and shaping new horizons, ensuring prosperity and sustainable development.” He also highlighted the efforts made in digital transformation under the Kingdom’s G20 presidency last year, and said the Italian presidency would maintain the same direction. “Following up with the path created by Saudi Arabia on those sensitive issues is, for Italy, a natural choice, as results of innovation in every field could not be more evident in that country, especially in the field of artificial intelligence,” the Italian undersecretary for economic development, Anna Ascani, told Arab News. “The Italian presidency placed the issue of the digital transformation of productive activities towards sustainable economic growth at the heart of the debate, with a particular focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, social inclusion, governance, and the development and application of innovative technologies. “We are doing this by building on the achievements and commitments of past presidencies, beginning with Saudi Arabia’s,” she added. The G20 member states signed a declaration in Trieste, which identified 12 actions needed to accelerate the global digital transition while remaining committed to sustainable growth.

Size of stake down from 6.5% in November after shares diluted Quantumscape backed by Bill Gates and Volkswagen DUBAI: Sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) holds a 4.69 percent stake in Quantumscape Corp, which is developing batteries for electric cars, a Securities and Exchange Commission filing by the company showed. QIA was an early investor in the company before its IPO and had a stake of 6.5 percent as of November last year, based on a previous filing. However the new filing does not show any change in the number of shares it owns, but a dilution in its stake due to an increase in the number of shares outstanding. QIA’s stake in Quantumscape is worth around $446 million at the company’s current market value of $9.5 billion, according to Refinitiv Eikon data on Monday. Quantumscape was listed last year after a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Shares of Quantumscape are down over 70 percent year-to-date. It closed up 0.7 percent at $23.08 on Monday. Volkswagen AG is the company’s biggest shareholder with a 26 percent stake. San Jose-based Quantumscape is a 2010 spin-out from Stanford University whose early investors included Bill Gates-backed venture funds. It formed a joint venture with VW to produce solid-state battery cells, starting in 2024, for VW’s electric vehicles, and eventually for other carmakers. Gulf sovereign funds have stepped up investments in electric cars, new technologies and renewables, as they diversify their investments away from fossil fuel. The Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of neighboring Saudi Arabia, recently made huge gains through the listing of Lucid Group after it initially invested in the company in 2018. PIF owns 62.7 percent of Lucid.

Several MENA countries have experienced an explosion of infections linked to the highly transmissible strain Travel restrictions had to be reimposed once the severity of the threat posed by the spread of delta became clear DUBAI: Countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with low rates of vaccination against COVID-19 have been experiencing an explosion of new cases and fatalities linked to the spread of the highly transmissible delta variant. The variant has been detected in at least 132 countries, prompting new waves of infection, the resumption of travel restrictions, and mounting concern over the availability and effectiveness of vaccines. In the Gulf and eastern Mediterranean region, the variant has been found in more than a dozen countries including Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar. Although Saudi Arabia has not yet reported any cases, it has reimposed a raft of travel curbs in additions to bans and penalties for violators. Also known by its scientific name B.1.617.2, the delta variant of the coronavirus was first detected in the Indian state of Maharashtra in October but was only labeled a variant of concern by the WHO on May 11. Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, head of the infectious hazards management unit at the WHO’s Middle East and eastern Mediterranean regional office in Cairo, told Arab News: “It was very easy for delta to spread throughout the region due to the many migrant workers from South Asia living in the Gulf and North Africa.” The strain, itself the product of multiple mutations, is thought to be 60 percent more infectious than the alpha (or Kent) variant, an earlier mutation that emerged in southern England in November, and as contagious as chickenpox. According to a confidential CDC document, picked up by US media in late July, delta is more transmissible than the common cold, the 1918 Spanish flu, smallpox, Ebola, MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), has a longer transmission window than the original strain, and may make older people more ill — even those fully vaccinated. US health officials said people infected with the delta variant could carry up to 1,000 times more virus in their nasal passages than other strains, resulting in higher transmissibility. The WHO predicted there could be at least 200 million new cases worldwide in a matter of weeks. In many countries, including the UK, the delta variant has now become the dominant strain. In Israel, which has a very high rate of vaccination, delta makes up 90 percent of new infections. What is perhaps most alarming for health professionals is the number of young people, many of them unvaccinated, who are becoming seriously ill with the variant.

DUBAI: “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” is a new fashion exhibition coming to Doha, Qatar, later this year. Designed specifically for the Middle East, the forthcoming exhibition is a celebration of the Parisian maison, which is turning 75 in December. Mark your calendars, for the exhibition will take place from November 2021 until March 2022 at Doha’s M7 art center following successful stops in Paris, London and Shanghai. With special curation by Olivier Gabet, the Director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the hotly-anticipated exhibition will feature a lineup of memorable pieces that have defined the heritage fashion house, such as the iconic Bar Jacket, an iconic garment instantly-recognizable by its cinched waist from Monsieur Dior’s revolutionary 1947 collection as well as other objects that fashion enthusiasts will revel in. Also on display will be original sketches by the legendary designer for his couture collections, a baccarat blue crystal limited edition Miss Dior perfume bottle from 1947 and haute couture creations by succeeding Dior creative directors such as John Galliano, Raf Simons and Yves Saint Laurent.

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The National Aquarium (TNA), located in Al-Qana, Abu Dhabi, will showcase an astonishing biodiversity of species when it opens its doors later this year. The largest aquarium in the region, TNA houses more than 200 sharks and rays, representing 25 different species. Teaming with marine life, the aquarium will provide guests with a remarkable opportunity to delve into a submarine world and discover the awe-inspiring variety of species found within our oceans. It is also the only place in the UAE to house a school of iconic scalloped hammerhead sharks. Additionally, the bull sharks will also make their debut in the region and guests will be able to see first hand what is widely considered one of the most dangerous shark species in the ocean and rivers. Other species of sharks and rays will include sand tiger sharks, lemon sharks, zebra sharks, black tip reef sharks, eagle rays, shovelnose rays, cownose rays, and freshwater rays, among others. Sharks are one of the most misunderstood animals in the ocean with the misperception that they are dangerous, a narrative that has been reinforced by the film industry. With their numbers dwindling due to over-fishing, the team at TNA is seeking to turn fear into fascination and educate visitors around how well these apex predators can adapt to living peacefully. Guests will be able to observe how these beautiful animals interact with other species, including TNA’s team of world-class divers. An unmissable highlight will be the feeding demonstrations with both sharks and rays, as well as a one-of-a-kind public “Shark Encounter.” Guests will be able to hand-feed sharks as large as two meters long, which promises to be an unforgettable experience, especially for people who have a fear of sharks. Paul Hamilton, general manager at TNA, said: “We cannot wait for our opening this year, to reveal our array of animals and animal-related activities. In general, people have a fear of sharks and we want to celebrate these fascinating creatures that are so crucial to the health of our oceans. We are hoping that through personal interaction, the aquarium will help people overcome any fears and perceptions that they might have. Most importantly, we look forward to providing our visitors with an unrivaled and memorable edutainment experience on each and every visit.” TNA signed a five-year partnership with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi in July 2020 with the aim to help create rehabilitation schemes to protect and rehabilitate wildlife in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The partnership has resulted in a large number of animals saved until today, including 200 sea turtles being successfully rescued and released.

Abdul Aziz Taher Al-Hebshi aims to preserve the history of social and cultural life in Saudi Arabia Makkah in those days was a beacon for writers, poets and scientists MAKKAH: A Saudi agricultural engineer is spending his retirement years helping to preserve the Kingdom’s architectural and cultural history — in the form of extremely accurate models of important buildings and sites in Jeddah and Makkah. Now Abdul Aziz Taher Al-Hebshi has turned his house in Jeddah’s Al-Rawdah neighborhood into an exhibition space to showcase his models, which represent a fascinating record of daily social and cultural life in the cities in the early-to-mid 20th century. A good example of this is his model of a “writer’s cafe” in the Misfalah neighborhood of Makkah that was once po[CENSORED]r with writers, intellectuals and poets. Through it, he said, he aims to immortalize the role these figures played in the development of literature in Saudi Arabia and the country’s cultural history. “Knowledgeable people told me that the cafe where Makkah’s writers, poets and intellectuals used to go to was Saleh Abdulhay Cafe, located next to Bajrad Cafe,” 72-year-old Al-Hebshi told Arab News. “Similar cafes were found throughout Makkah’s Misfalah neighborhood in the past.” He said culture and literature thrived in Makkah in those days, along with the study of science and the quest for knowledge. The city was therefore a beacon for writers, poets and scientists, and the Saleh Abdulhay Cafe was one of the places where they could gather for intellectual and cultural discussions. “Among the cultural and intellectual figures that used to go to the writer’s cafe … was the Saudi Minister of Culture Mohammed Abdu Yamani,” he said, adding that such venues were the country’s first literary and cultural forums, where people could gather to discuss literary and intellectual issues. With his models and exhibition, Al-Hebshi said he wants to depict and preserve this history of day-to-day life and culture in Makkah and Jeddah in days gone by. In addition to the cafe, his models include typical houses and traditional shops that served fava beans, barbecued meat, kebabs and mabshoor, a traditional Arab dish of bread in a meat or vegetable broth.

TUNIS: Tunisia’s powerful labor union urged the president on Tuesday to rapidly announce a new government that should be small and led by an experienced premier, after he seized executive control in a move his opponents called a coup. President Kais Saied has defended his actions as constitutional and said he will govern alongside a new prime minister during an emergency period, but nine days after his intervention, he has yet to name one. “We can’t wait 30 days for the announcement of a government,” said Sami Tahri, a spokesman for the UGTT union, one of Tunisia’s most powerful political forces. UGTT chief Noureddine Taboubi said later on state television later on Tuesday that the cabinet should be small and headed by somebody with experience, sending a positive message to both Tunisians and international lenders. “We must speed up the formation of the government to be able to face economic and health challenges,” he said. Saied’s sudden intervention on July 25 appeared to have widespread public support but raised fears for the future of the democratic system that Tunisia adopted after its 2011 revolution that triggered the Arab Spring. On Tuesday Saied removed Tunisia’s ambassador to Washington, the latest in a string of dismissals of senior and mid-ranking officials over the past week including several ministers. He did not immediately name a replacement. He is also still to announce a roadmap to end an emergency period that he initially set at one month but later announced could be two months. A source close to the presidential palace in Carthage said earlier that Saied might announce the new premier on Tuesday. Sources have told Reuters that Central Bank Governor Marouane Abassi and two former finance ministers, Hakim Hammouda and Nizar Yaich, are contenders. Saied’s most powerful organized opponent, the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, has meanwhile been riven by internal splits over its response to the crisis and its longer-term strategy and leadership. Tunisians had over the past decade grown ever more frustrated by economic stagnation, corruption and bickering among a political class that often seemed more focused on its own narrow interests than on national problems. The coronavirus pandemic ripped through Tunisia over the past two months as the state vaccination effort crawled, leading at one point to the worst infection and death rates in Africa. Pandemic counter-measures last year hammered the economy. On Monday Saied replaced the finance, agriculture and telecoms ministers after having said last week that “wrong economic choices” had cost the country. On Sunday he said there were contacts with “friendly countries” for financial assistance. (Reporting by Tarek Amara, writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by William Maclean and Mark Heinrich)

Saudi Arabia home to 21.2 million gamers, has seen its gaming industry jump 4.1 percent this year, making it the world’s 19th-largest market JEDDAH: Out of the many growing industries in Saudi Arabia, the gaming industry is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, with developers taking standards to the next level in an exciting new territory. In 2020, the Saudi gaming market was estimated to be worth SR2.6 billion ($690 million), with various platforms being launched to give confidence to developers, entrepreneurs and investors so they can continue building the industry. The Kingdom, home to 21.2 million gamers, has seen its gaming industry jump 4.1 percent this year, making it the world’s 19th-largest market. Mohammad Waleed Hashim, a 30-year-old indie game developer, is currently producing a game the revolves around a player who needs to find his way through the deserts of Saudi Arabia, training herds of camels, befriending desert folk, fighting off predators and navigating the mysteries of the desert, just like his grandfather once did. “The Shepherd” is set to be released soon on the Steam platform for $10 with no additional in-game purchases, a plan he says will allow gamers to enjoy it more. Indie games are made by a small group of people, or in Hashim’s case, a single developer. Apart from occasionally hiring freelancers for the art and design, Hashim said: “The game focuses more on the mechanics and the story and less on the graphical aspects.” The developer said that the game was meant to be a small hobby, but it rolled into a bigger project and became the detailed product it is today. “The Arab touches were very important to me because I wanted something the players could relate to,” he said, adding: “I found a picture of my grandfather wearing traditional clothes and that’s where the inspiration for the character design started.” Abdullah Bamashmoos, founder of Jeddah-based game development studio Hakawati, said games that allow children to build their own in-game worlds — such as Minecraft and Roblox — can influence young children to jump on the bandwagon. “That opens the possibility of one day creating their own games in Saudi Arabia, the generation that grew up playing the games that enhanced their creativity are now learning to develop actual games,” said Bamashmoos. The 31-year-old developer said that there were a small number of gaming studios a few years ago, so he could not pursue his passion for developing games right away. He faced opposition from his community when he started investing his time and money into development. “What kept me going is that all crazy ideas start somewhere and although things like augmented reality were once believed to be science fiction stories, it became a profitable reality years later. So, I figured that the technology here in Saudi Arabia will advance far enough and I was able to foresee a future in what I was investing in.” Bamashmoos said that his journey was one of trial and error: “I would create files, scavenge the internet for solutions to some of the software issues, delete files, and start from scratch.” According to the developers, it is not just the software skills that aspiring developers need to work on, Bamashmoos said that they also need to work on their team-building abilities and finding efficient developers who are willing to work hard throughout the development stage of their games. “Another thing that Saudi developers need to do is keep practising and learning additional talents so they can gradually progress in the industry.” When the two developers started on their journeys over 10 years ago, the internet was not as rich with information as it is now, which has been a game-changer for developers. They can now find a treasure trove of information for free or very low prices, which Bamashmoos said could ease the production pipeline. “Developers in the country are also helpful since the community is small, the ones who are interested can get help from the professionals easily.” Despite Hashim’s struggle with the industry, he is hoping to build a small gaming studio. “I have so many ideas for more games after this one, seven to be precise. I look forward to hiring people who can work with me.”

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According to local media, the five-month-old lion was being held illegally DUBAI: Egyptian authorities on Thursday confiscated a lion after a man was seen parading the animal in the streets of Ain Sokhna. The man, carrying the lion on his shoulder, was subsequently arrested along with two other people. He was identified as a photographer from Cairo. According to local media, the five-month-old lion was being held illegally with the aim of partaking in a photoshoot to attract tourists to the area. The video caused uproar on social media, with users reminding that conditions at a residential home are inappropriate for a wild animal.

DUBAI: US social media star Chrissy Teigen and US-German supermodel Heidi Klum showed off gowns by Lebanon’s leading designers at the Luisaviaroma for UNICEF Gala in Italy on Saturday. Held in Capri, celebrities from around the world dazzled on the red carpet at the glitzy event, with Teigen opting for a gown by Zuhair Murad and Klum showing off an ensemble by Elie Saab. Teigen’s feather-fringed gown hailed from Murad’s Spring/ Summer 2021 Couture collection and featured a plunging neckline along with lashings of shimmering sequins on a blush colored background. The gala took place on Saturday and marked high-end retailer Luisaviaroma’s third year of partnership with UNICEF, with proceeds from the fundraiser set to go to “all children in need,” according to a released statement.

One dose or virus recovered must to attend events and enter establishments JEDDAH: The number of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Saudi Arabia has increased in the past 10 days with the arrival of the Aug. 1 deadline that means unvaccinated residents are prohibited from entering establishments. The acceleration comes as residents of the Kingdom are required to receive at least one jab or have recovered from COVID-19 to attend social, cultural, sports and entertainment gatherings, and enter private, government or commercial establishments. Health authorities have called on residents to register for the vaccine, and centers across the Kingdom have been urged to provide more time-slots to accommodate the growing numbers. So far, 27 million vaccine doses have been delivered at a rate of 77 doses per hundred. More than 8.1 million so far have received two doses and more than 77.5 percent of the Kingdom’s 34.8 million have been vaccinated so far. More than 1.46 million of the Kingdom’s elderly have been vaccinated to date. Health officials continue to urge residents to receive the vaccine, adhere to social distancing measures and take precautionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, a Saudi research team has successfully developed the first Saudi vaccine against COVID-19 and is ready to carry out clinical trials after receiving the required approvals. Led by Dr. Iman Almansour, the research team from the Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC) at the Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University in Dammam published the findings, “Immunogenicity of Multiple Doses of pDNA Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2,” in the Pharmaceuticals Journal on MDPI, an open-access publishing website for academics. On Saturday, 1,146 new cases were reported by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health, raising the total number to 525,730. Three regions reported numbers above the 100 case mark, Riyadh leading with 243 cases, the Eastern Province with 209 and Makkah with 196 cases. Jouf continues to be the region with the lowest count with only eight cases on Saturday. There are currently 11,404 active cases, 1,377 of which are in critical care, a decline of 18 in the past 24 hours. A total of 1,086 new recoveries were reported, raising the total number of recoveries to 506,089. The Kingdom’s recovery rate is currently holding steady at 96.2 percent. Riyadh led the cities with the highest recovery count as 232 recoveries were reported, Taif with 99 and Jeddah with 64 recoveries. A total of 11 new fatalities due to complications from COVID-19 have been reported, raising the death tally to 8,237. A total of 113,300 PCR tests have been conducted in the past 24 hours, raising the total number to more than 25 million tests so far. Meanwhile, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s control teams in Makkah region carried out 20,137 inspection tours in July on private sector enterprises, to ensure abidance by the precautionary and preventive measures against the coronavirus disease and compliance with nationalization and labor regulations. During the inspections, 3,755 violations of labor regulations and precautionary measures were found, and 813 warnings issued. The ministry urged owners of enterprises to abide by all precautionary measures at workplaces to curb the spread of the virus, and to abide by the ministry’s regulations to avoid incurring penalties. Inspection tours will continue across businesses in all regions of the Kingdom, the ministry addedd, calling on everyone in the region to report breaches and violations through its call center (19911) or its Ma3an lil Rasd app.

The Syrian brown bear lived in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Turkey but, due to illegal and non-organized hunting in Lebanon, the species became extinct BEIRUT: Two endangered bears who were living in poor conditions in a Lebanon zoo have been flown to an animal sanctuary in the US after they started to lose weight and suffered from other health issues. Rights association Animals Lebanon said it managed to persuade their owner that “the bears deserved better” given the creatures’ deteriorating condition. Lebanon’s economic crisis, considered the worst in its modern history, has affected animals as much as humans. Families have given up their pets, unable to feed them in light of sharp rises in the dollar exchange rate. Zoos have also been affected, with animals facing malnourishment and owners no longer able to secure their basic needs. Animals Lebanon said the two Syrian brown bears, called Homer and Ulysses, had been trapped for more than 10 years in a zoo in the southern city of Tyre. “There are six bears still waiting to be rescued in the north of Lebanon, Bekaa and Beirut,” the association’s director, Jason Mier, told Arab News. Previous attempts to get the bears to the Colorado Wild Animal Sanctuary had failed due to the pandemic, roadblocks, banks freezing assets, and the wait to obtain the sanctuary’s confirmation to receive the creatures.

DUBAI: The recent Paris Haute Couture Week brought with it an array of wedding dresses that brides-to-be – and even those not yet engaged – will surely have their hearts set on. For this year’s fall, Middle Eastern couturiers have presented a range of ethereal dresses for the big day. Here are the best wedding dresses by the industry’s top Arab designers from fall 2021 couture shows. Elie Saab The embroidered buds and petals that emerge and unfold across the princess-worthy gown are emblematic of rebirth and renewal. Rami Kadi Fit for royalty, Kadi’s couture bridal gown is delicately embellished with crystals, sequins, and beads in a baroque design. Georges Chakra The ethereal, pure white gown is adorned with symmetrical crystals and a cape nouveau pouring from the shoulders in white tulle with ribbons of satin. Georges Hobeika As with every Georges Hobeika creation, embroidery and embellishments played a big role in amping up the glamour on this off-the-shoulder gown.