Global economy cannot afford an oil ‘under-investment’, New private school ratings, and more, Gulf News Editors comment on the top stories on May 22

GLOBAL ECONOMY CANNOT AFFORD AN OIL ‘UNDER-INVESTMENT’: The warning is stark enough. The global economy cannot slide its way into an ‘under-investment’ situation on oil and gas at any point in the near future. And certainly not when the harsh realities of geopolitics intrudes into each aspect of sustaining the global economy through a testing present. And a future that looks quite uncertain from this vantage point. This is the subtext of what the OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais had to say at an industry event in Dubai on Monday. Sure, it comes from a consummate oil industry insider, but that does not mean diluting the essence of what he had to say. The global economy cannot afford a hard reset of its oil and gas investments…(By Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

SHARJAH PRIVATE SCHOOL RATINGS, A REASSURING ASSESSMENT: With the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) announcing the results of its ‘Itqan’ programme, private schools in the emirate would do well to take stock of the ratings of their performance and make changes where necessary. In what is a reassuring assessment, the programme, which evaluated 110 out of 127 private schools in the emirate, found that 97 per cent of them provide “acceptable or better” education. But like learning itself, which is a continuous process, the schools’ performance also calls for a constant endeavor to keep the standards of teaching high while adapting to the dynamic changes around us. (By Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor)

MANCHESTER CITY ON VERGE OF HISTORIC TREBLE: Pep Guardiola has led Manchester City to a third consecutive Premier League title and the club is now just two games away from a historic Treble. This is clearly the Spanish coach’s best team since he has been in charge at the Etihad and the feeling is they can achieve more success this season. Their dominance and recent 12-game winning streak was too much for title-chasers Arsenal who buckled under pressure during the run-in. The Gunners dropped too many points on the home-straight while City continued to look a formidable force. Guardiola’s impact cannot be underrated – it is his 11th league title in 14 seasons. The upcoming FA Cup final against Man Utd will be a tasty affair and then comes the Champions League final against Inter Milan. Can City do it? Considering they have the best striker in the world – Erling Haaland – many believe they will, and in some style too. (By Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor)

JENNIFER LAWRENCE THROWS HER WEIGHT BEHIND WOMEN AT CANNES: Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence made a stir at this year’s Cannes Film Festival not just for her red carpet looks, but also for her work. She has co-produced a documentary entitled ‘Bread and Roses’ which follows the lives of three Afghan women in the aftermath of the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of US troops. The documentary aims to shed light on how women’s lives have changed dramatically with the change in political landscape. It’s impressive that popular actors like Lawrence, and Angelina Jolie, in the past are supporting films that give voice to the voiceless. Here’s hoping more actresses, who enjoy clout and immense fandom, follow suit. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment Editor)