GCC healthcare: Transforming the region and impacting the world
PwC forecasts that AI could contribute US$320 billion to Middle Eastern economies by 2030, with healthcare predicted to see some...
Science
Improving healthcare in the intelligent age requires cultural change and collaboration
Leaders can utilize AI tools to streamline this challenging process by efficiently identifying individuals who are qualified matches to participate...
Science
Iraq witnesses dust storm that lands dozens in hospital
Iraq is particularly vulnerable to climate change, having already witnessed record low rainfall and high temperatures in recent years.
- The storm erupted in the north of the country on Thursday, leading to cancellation of flights serving Kurdistan’s capital Arbil
- As the storm swept south, it shrouded the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and cities as far south as Nasiriyah in a ghostly orange
Business
Vaccine factory to come up in Khazaen City with $52m outlay
The first phase of the project is expected to be set up on a total area of 37,000 square meters.
- The agreement was signed by Khazaen CEO Salim Al Thuhli and Opal’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sa’ad Moosa Al Junaibi
- Al Thuhli was quoted by the official sources as saying that the project would be the first vaccine factory in Khazaen Economic City
Geostrategy
Vaccine supply outstrips demand, inequity remains
Many richer nations are now approaching oversupply. European Union and G7 countries had a surplus of 497 million doses at...
- More than 13 billion doses have been produced since the pandemic, 11 billion of which have been administered.
- Countries like South Africa and India have long called for the WTO to suspend intellectual property rights for vaccines and anti-Covid treatments, so they can boost production.
Science
Omicron lasts three days less than Delta for boosted: Study
People who are vaccinated and have had a booster shot against Covid-19 recover from symptoms from the Omicron variant more...
- The study also found that people with Omicron are significantly less likely to lose their sense of smell, and confirmed previous research that it is less severe
- People who had two doses but no booster shot saw Omicron symptoms clear up in 8.3 days, compared to 9.6 days for Delta
Science
KSA: Third Covid wave saw one death per 100,000 infections
The first wave of the pandemic spanning April to the end of November 2020 witnessed 267 deaths for each 100,000...
- The first wave of the pandemic spanning April to the end of November 2020 witnessed 267 deaths for each 100,000 cases
- During the second wave between March and August 2021 the death rate lowered to 99 cases for each 100,000 infections
Science
Climate-related health emergencies on the rise in Africa: WHO
Floods, water, and vector-borne diseases have been worsening the health crises in Africa, said WHO's regional director for Africa.
- The WHO has said health emergencies caused by climate change are increasing in Africa
- The UN health agency has called on governments to implement WHO air quality guidelines
Economy
Lebanon central bank not bankrupt, says governor
Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh al-Shami claimed on Monday that the country and its central bank had gone bankrupt. The...
- Lebanon is in the third year of a financial implosion, which is widely blamed by experts on decades of corruption and bad policies
- These have led the currency to crash in value by more than 90 percent since end-2019, and banks to lock most savers out of hard currency
Arts & Culture
First World Cup in Middle East will be healthiest ever: FIFA President
Several measures will be implemented at this year’s FIFA World Cup Qatar in a bid to promote healthy lifestyles. Senior...
- World Health Organization, Qatar's health ministry and FIFA agree to implement several measures to promote healthy lifestyles at the mega event.
- The three entities will leverage the global power of football to help people lead healthy lives, said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Business
GCC pharma industry: Leaders and innovators
GCC countries have a highly dynamic environment characterized by growing populations, a broad diversity of patient demands and increasing healthcare...
- The number of drug factories in the UAE has risen from four in 2010 to 23 in 2021, while its drug market is expected to grow up to $4.7 bn in 2025.
- More than $400m worth of Saudi pharmaceuticals are exported each year. The kingdom aims to double the percentage of local pharma manufacturers.
Science
‘Hybrid immunity’ is best Covid protection
Two new studies have highlighted the importance of getting jabbed for those who have natural immunity after recovering from the...
- For people who have already had Covid, Pfizer and AstraZeneca's vaccines offered 90 percent effectiveness against hospitalization and death
- Meanwhile, China's CoronaVac had 81 percent and Johnson & Johnson's one-shot jab had 58 percent effectiveness against these occurrences
GCC healthcare: Transforming the region and impacting the world
PwC forecasts that AI could contribute US$320 billion to Middle Eastern economies by 2030, with healthcare predicted to see some...
Science
Company News
Latest News
Immunologist wins ‘Breakthrough Prize’ for cancer treatment
The Breakthrough Prize awards "the world's most brilliant minds" in fields including life sciences, fundamental physics and mathematics
Science
ChatGPT diagnoses ER patients ‘like a doctor’
During a study in Netherlands, the chatbot outperformed doctors in some cases. At the same time, it showed some limitations.
Science
Gulf countries witness alarming increase in early-onset cancer cases
A recent study in BMJ Oncology 2023 has highlighted an alarming increase in early onset of cancer cases in the...

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Science
AlNeyadi conducts over 200 research experiments on board ISS
ABU DHABI, UAE - Over the course of a six-month space mission on board the International Space Station (ISS), UAE...
- These research experiments were held in collaboration with 10 international space agencies and 25 esteemed UAE and global universities.
- The experiments covered a range of topics including the cardiovascular system, back pain, protein crystallisation growth, epigenetics, immune system,
Sudan refugees stranded without healthcare in Chad
The new arrivals in Adre may now be safe from the gunfire, but they soon learn they are still in...
- The risk of disease soars in the absence of clean water, for which people "begin lining up ... at 2:00 am" amid shortages in some camps, MSF reported
- In Sudan, even before the current conflict began in April, 78,000 children under five died every year "from preventable causes, such as malaria", UN says
Geostrategy
EU okays updated Pfizer and BioNTech’s anti-Covid vaccine
Adults and children over five require a single shot "irrespective of their Covid-19 vaccination history" while younger children may get...
- The European Medicines Agency said it "has recommended authorizing an adapted Comirnaty vaccine targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant".
- Known as Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5, the mRNA vaccine is to be used to prevent Covid-19 in adults and children from six months.

