COVID-19: Expat community groups make a difference in the UAE

EXPAT COMMUNITY GROUPS MAKE A DIFFERENCE: While the UAE government handled the COVID-19 situation well by taking measures to prevent the spread of pandemic from creating awareness to providing free vaccination, the role played by the expatriates’ community groups during the last one year cannot be ignored. The community groups took care of residents regardless of their nationalities. Their volunteers ensured to provide all possible help including food, flight tickets for repatriation, school fees for those who lost jobs, and even gave shelter to visitors who were stranded due to flights suspension. Hats off to volunteers who risked their lives to help those infected with COVID-19. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

NETANYAHU’S FUTURE HINGES ON A FAR-RIGHT JEW, AND AN ARAB ISLAMIST: After its fourth election in two years, Israel’s veteran right-wing leader and political survivor Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself in a bit of a pickle. His hopes for coming back to power rely on support from the unlikeliest of duo: Extremist Jewish politician Naftali Bennett and conservative Arab Islamist Mansour Abbas. Netanyahu and his known right-wing allies command 52 seats, 9 short of the 61 needed to hold the Knesset. Abbas’s Raam party won a surprising four seats. Netanyahu has managed to come back from behind in the past on several occasions. But will he be persuade some of his far-right Jewish allies to accept support from an Islamic party? [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

VACCINATED ELDERS EMERGE FROM COVID-19 NIGHTMARE: It is extremely encouraging to see vaccinated elders emerging from their COVID-19 hibernation. Having been locked down and adhering to all manner of restrictions for a year, seniors – once the most at risk people from the virus – are beginning to move forward with their lives. With 45 per cent of Americans 65 years and older fully vaccinated, they are again frequenting shops in towns and meeting extended family. Health officials were concerned that those living in states such as Maine, Arizona and Florida - known for their older populations - would be hit hardest by loneliness having been isolated by the pandemic. Mental health has been a big concern during these testing times and although we are not out of the woods, there does appear to be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

SAEZ DELIVERS ON THE BIGGEST STAGE: A year after riding Maximum Security to win the $20 million Saudi Cup at Riyadh, Panamanian jockey Luis Saez proved that he is a man for the big occasion with a highly professional display of riding aboard Mystic Guide to claim the $12 million Dubai World Cup in its Sliver Jubilee year at Meydan Racecourse yesterday. Saez’s performance was all the more remarkable as Mystic Guide appeared spooked before the start as Great Scot and Military Law played up and were withdrawn from the race. “I was a little worried, as he was sweating,” said Saez. “But he’s a professional and did what he had to do in the race. Today he proved he is a champion and I know he is going to get better and better. This was my dream as a little kid and I can’t believe I’m here now. It’s a dream come true.” [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

BOLLYWOOD MARKS A MUTED FESTIVAL OF COLOURS: It was in 1981 when a dashing, young Amitabh Bachchan voiced the lyrics to ‘Rang Barse’ that would forever be remembered as the essence of a big fat Bollywood celebration of the festival of colours. Holi, which traditionally has been a larger than life carnival to explode on the big screen, has taken many forms on celluloid through the decades, be it a village fete in the 1975 western ‘Sholay’ to Bachchan once again recreating the magic in 2003’s ‘Baghban’. Those songs would go on play from boom boxes to towering speakers as millions around the world celebrated Holi in true Bollywood style. Today, as another year of celebration rolls by, the festival remains muted with the pandemic still a part of our daily lives. Bollywood, and the rest of the world, may have hit pause on the merriment but the songs serve as a reminder that life won’t remain black and white forever. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]