Bachelor’s degree in Tolerance yet another feather in UAE cap

BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN TOLERANCE YET ANOTHER FEATHER IN UAE CAP: It is indeed in the fitness of things that the only country in the world to have Ministries of Tolerance and Happiness now has a university that offers a bachelor’s programme in Tolerance and Coexistence Studies. It was announced on Thursday that the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities (MBZUH) in Abu Dhabi had launched the world’s first Bachelor of Tolerance and Coexistence Studies to spread a culture of humanity and contribute to sustainable social development. This is a massive step towards presenting formal education as a stepping stone for the promotion of human values and a spirit of sharing and caring. When it comes to thinking out of the box, few countries have shown the kind of resolve and consistency that the UAE has – be it having the world’s tallest man-made structure or having the longest driverless mass-transit system in the world. Offering a university programme as innovative as Bachelor of Tolerance and Coexistence Studies is yet another feather in that cap of excellence. [COMMENT by Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE CHILDREN? There is an increasing number of migrant children arriving at the US-Mexico border and they are being held far longer than the legally permitted 72 hours after which time they are meant to be transferred out of Border Patrol custody. The reason for the delay is because shelter space in the US is limited. President Biden’s administration is struggling to deal with the situation with several officials saying options for these children are not great. The influx has come following the relaxing of former President Trump’s restrictive immigration policies. Questions are being asked if Biden changed these laws purely out of hate for the previous administration and if so, it may prove to be a bad move. With US foster care struggling to cope with the sheer number of minors due to limited bed space in state-licensed facilities, who will take care of them? Communication and collaboration with the Mexican government is urgently needed to help resolve this situation. [COMMENT by Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

AWARD BOYCOTT: Grammy-winning singer The Weeknd is taking a stand against the Academy and says he’s going to boycott the awards from now on. This decision comes months after he was snubbed in all the categories when nominations were being announced. The Grammys, which are being held on Sunday in the US, have often come under fire for alleged racism and favouritism. Its latest critic was singer Zayn Malik, who slammed the Academy’s nominations process. It’s ultimately a loss for the larger music industry when worthy artists are not given the praise they deserve. The Academy should be making more efforts to highlight diverse artists who are making great music. [COMMENT by Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor - Features]

INDIA VERSUS ENGLAND, A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR WORLD T20: All eyes will now turn to the five-match T20 series between India and England, two favourites for T20 World Cup to be held in October-November in India. The Indian team has given a break to a number of Young Turks on the basis of their performance in last IPL, while England’s white ball team under Eoin Morgan is a different kettle of fish altogether. Starting with the first match today, the entire series will be held at the cavernous Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. [COMMENT by Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]