From the Editors: 150 reasons to visit Dubai Miracle Garden now

SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS: The opening of the Dubai Miracle Garden yesterday is yet another emphatic statement about the city’s return to normality with the 150 million-plus flowers speaking out in full bloom. As the first day held out, both residents and tourists lost no time in visiting the place to soak in the beauty. The sprawling floral spaces give visitors, who have long been confined to their homes during the pandemic, a refreshing break as they can walk around in a safe and colourful environment. Several new features that have been introduced offer them that many more reasons to be there. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

AID FOR AFGHANISTAN CAN’T COME A MOMENT TOO SOON: On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is said to have made a request to donors to do something about desperately needed aid to Afghanistan. But the vexing question facing the international community is how to deal with the new Taliban rulers of the country. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi seems to have come to the rescue. Unconfirmed reports say he will assist the UN in setting up a system to route aid payments to Afghanistan. He was at pains to say this would not amount to recognition of the Taliban government. For ordinary Afghans, geopolitical calculations such as these hold no meaning. Even before the Taliban took over after the crushing defeat of the Ghani administration, more than 50 per cent of Afghans were reliant on aid. That number is sure to have increased since the new government came to power. Aid for ordinary Afghans cannot come a moment too soon. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

WHY SHAH RUKH KHAN DESERVES OUR RESPECT: As the King Khan of Bollywood celebrates his 56th birthday today, he has already received the best gift he could have hoped for – having his son Aryan Khan home again after a gruelling 28-day ordeal that will go down as the darkest chapter in their lives. A lot has been said about Shah Rukh Khan in the media these past few weeks, critics questioning his ability as a parent, debating whether he prioritised work over his family and even speculating whether his career could ever recover from the drugs scandal that enveloped his son. Yet, through this media squall, Shah Rukh presented a sea of calm, maintaining a dignified silence that has grudgingly earned the respect of some of this harshest detractors. The storm maybe far from over but Shah Rukh is a man at peace for now and that is all one can ever hope for. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]