From the Editors: New thrust to UAE-India ties

NEW THRUST TO UAE-INDIA TIES: Cultural exchanges between the UAE and India are nothing new. Yet, yesterday’s announcement of an India UAE Cultural Council at the Festival of Ideas in Dubai gives a new impetus to a centuries-old relationship. With a shared history in trade and other areas, it will take people-to-people ties to a new level, opening up hitherto untapped avenues for exploration. It’s as much about new opportunities as it is about new moments to cherish. [COMMENT: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

LEEDS AND MANCHESTER UNITED SERVE UP A CLASSIC IN PREMIER LEAGUE: We had yet another brilliant advert for the world’s most popular and most watched football league as Leeds United and Manchester United were involved in a six-goal thriller at Elland Road. It was a Premier League classic which the Red Devils eventually came out on top 4-2 but they were given a huge scare by the home side. Man Utd had stormed into a two-goal lead only for Leeds to hit back with two goals in 24 seconds. It was an unbelievable comeback and both sets of fans could hardly believe what they were seeing. However, Man Utd showed their class and grabbed two more goals to claim a crucial win as they battle for a Champions League spot. It was a fitting spectacle played under a thunderous atmosphere and it showed just why the Premier League is the undisputed leader in football.[COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

BOLLYWOOD PRODUCTIONS RETURN TO THE UAE: With one of the first major Bollywood productions currently filming in the UAE this year, the news is testament in how far we’ve come in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria are the first of many stars who have been spotted in Al Ain as the duo wrap up the last schedule of their action thriller ‘Heropanti 2’ in the UAE. While Abu Dhabi has always been a top draw for film shoots with its 30 per cent rebate on the production spent in the emirate, the pandemic had put a damper on celebrity sightings in the country, largely due to Bollywood shutting shop to ride out COVID-19 behind closed doors. With ‘Heropanti 2’ serving as the big Eid Al Fitr release on April 29 and a host of big ticket films lined up for 2022, keep those cameras ready as you don’t know who you will spot at a table next to you.[COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]