From the Editors: A huge cheer for gender equality in UAE

A HUGE CHEER FOR GENDER EQUALITY: Khawla Al Balooshi, 28, and Hakima Ghaith, 38, became the first Emirati women to take part in a camel-ride marathon in Dubai on Friday. As the nation continues to celebrate its Golden Jubilee, these two women achieved a first in the world of sports for a country that has always accorded the maximum possible honour and importance to women, thereby emerging a shining case study of a country promoting women empowerment. Al Balooshi and Ghaith took part in the camel marathon organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) at Dubai Camel Racing Club’s Al Marmoom Race Track. Both of them had earlier successfully completed the 4km preliminary race that saw both male and female Emirati riders compete against each other. Though this happened in the field of sport, its significance shall certainly not be lost on a wider canvas as this yet again highlights how much of an importance the UAE attaches to the cause of gender equality. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

US TEEN SHOOTER'S PARENTS RIGHTFULLY CHARGED: In a rare case in the US state of Michigan, parents of a teen were charged with involuntary manslaughter in a high school shooting in which four teenagers were killed. The prosecutor’s message was clear: The charges are intended to hold the individuals who contributed to the tragedy accountable and also send a message that gun owners have a responsibility. The gun used by 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley to kill four of his schoolmates was an early Christmas gift from his parents. "My new beauty," the teenager called it. When a teacher reported seeing their son searching online for ammunition, his mother did not seem alarmed. "LOL I’m not mad at you," Jennifer Crumbley texted her son. "You have to learn not to get caught." Four innocent lives have been lost because of parents’ irresponsible and outrageous behaviour. The teen has been charged as an adult and his parents are on the run. [COMMENT BY: Stephen N.R., Senior Associate Editor]

AUSTRALIAN OPEN - NOVAK DJOKOVIC COY ON PARTICIPATION: World No.1 Novak Djokovic is still non-committal on whether he will take part in the 2022 Australian Open but will soon make a decision, he said after Serbia's 2-1 defeat by Croatia in the Davis Cup semi-finals on Friday. A known member of the anti-vaccine lobby against COVID-19, Djokovic has repeatedly declined to reveal whether he has been vaccinated with his father Srdjan telling last week that he would probably pull out of the tournament. "I know what you want to ask but I am not going to give you an answer tonight," Djokovic said. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

KATRINA KAIF AND VICKY KAUSHAL IGNITES WEDDING FEVER: Bollywood loves a big fat Indian wedding, but a Bollywood movie fan loves a star-studded celebrity wedding even more. As the incredibly handsome couple Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal get ready for their destination wedding in Rajasthan on December 9, cameras are trailing them everywhere in Mumbai. The wicked voyeur in you is likely to be appeased as the paparazzi pictures of the two keep popping up on our timelines. The word on the street is that their wedding festivities will begin on December 7 with sangeet followed by Mehendi and the actual nuptials on December 9. A day later, the couple is likely to host a reception on December 10th for their Bollywood colleagues and peers. But here’s the deal. Not a single detail of the life-altering event in the couple’s life has been confirmed by them. In fact, they have not even confirmed their relationship to the media. Understandably they want to keep their private lives private, but there’s no escaping the prying and adoring eyes. In the next week, be prepared to see the most mundane details such as what’s on their wedding feast menu being splashed all over. Even if you are not invited, you are still a part of the circus. [COMMENT BY: Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor Features]