Dubai, Fujairah among safest cities to Abu Dhabi's new health initiative, our editors comment on the top stories of August 21

ABU DHABI’S INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING MUST BE WELCOMED: Abu Dhabi’s move to actively promote nutritious food choices by placing the “SEHHI” logo on menus is very useful. When a food item is accompanied by the logo, it means the dish is healthy, with low fat, sugar and salt, besides other nutritional benefits. SEHHI for Healthy Groceries and Supermarkets, likewise, will serve as a handy guide for shoppers when they buy their groceries. It is only when food purchases and eating become mindful that it can make a real difference to people’s health. [By Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

DUBAI, FUJAIRAH AMONG SAFEST CITIES: Fujairah, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai and Ajman have ranked among the top nine safest cities globally. The Numbeo index, which covered 465 cities, ranked five of the seven UAE emirates right towards the top. Only two European cities - San Sebastian in Spain and Zurich in Switzerland – were among the top 10. The UAE economy is already chugging along full steam after the pandemic. The surge in tourism has resulted in Dubai International hiking its full-year 2022 forecast to 62.4 million passengers from previous estimate of 58.3 million. This points to two things: one, the government machinery is going about its job with utmost efficiency; two, this efficiency has been recognised globally not just by governments but by people too, further cementing the UAE’s standing as a top city for tourism and residence. And it’s not just tourists. Businesses, too, have doffed their hats. Whether it’s FDI, shipping, government business efficiency or bureaucratic transparency, UAE cities are among the top three. UAE’s foresight and meticulous planning are something other countries can adopt and implement. [ By Anupam Varma, Assistant Editor]

SOMALIA NEEDS HELP: A deadly hotel siege by Al Shabab, an affiliate of Al Qaida, in Mogadishu has killed more than a dozen civilians. The attack on the popular Hayat Hotel was the biggest in Mogadishu since new President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office in June, and underscored the challenge of trying to crush the 15-year insurrection by the group. The attacks come a week after the UN announced that one million people were registered as displaced in Somalia amid worst drought in 40 years. The US and other western nations must not only send relief to the people, but do more to end the militancy to build a secure and prosperous future for the people of Somalia. [By N.R. Stephen, Senior Associate Editor]

BIG HOLLYWOOD WEDDINGS: Lavish, star-studded, multi-day weddings might be seen as a strictly Bollywood thing to do. But it seems the Hollywood crowd are also getting in on it. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck celebrated their love with a second ceremony this weekend, after first tying the knot in July. Recently, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker also got married twice — the big bash taking place in Italy with their families in attendance. But let’s keep it real. While these events are fun to watch as outsiders, they’re certainly not realistic for most regular people as many elements are sponsored by brands and the rights to images are sold to publications. [By Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor]

SANJU SAMSON NEEDS TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME ATTITUDE: There was no doubt that Sanju Samson was immensely talented, but is he possessing the right attitude to thrive on international stage? Not really, at least that is what was the message that has come across during these years. It seems that the Kerala batter has turned a new page in his chapter when he anchored the chase against Zimbabwe to give India the One Day International series win in Harare. If Samson continues in the same vein, putting in the hard yards and keeping his head down, he could play a long innings. The time is right. He could play the finisher role to perfection late in the innings, a role that Dinesh Karthik has been assigned now. Samson’s range of shots gives him the advantage and, he along with Hardik Pandya, could be a lethal combination for years to come. But before that, Samson needs to convince everyone and himself that he has the right attitude for the battle, within and outside. [A.K.S. SATISH, Sports Editor]