From the Editors: A laudable rowing effort from the UAE

A laudable rowing effort from the UAE: The UAE Arabian Ocean Rowing Team’s partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Clean Seas campaign will help complement ongoing efforts to save the ocean in the UAE. With the team promoting initiatives such as #BePartOfIt and visiting schools and businesses across the UAE, awareness on the dangers of plastic pollution will be reinforced. Every little step by every single individual counts in the mammoth task of saving the planet. After all, oceans are not merely the lungs of the Earth but also its largest carbon sink, and thereby a vital buffer against the impact of climate change. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

A small step towards curbing gun violence in US: President Joe Biden has signed into law a bipartisan gun bill intended to prevent dangerous people from accessing firearms in the US. Passage of the legislation comes a month after a horrific mass shooting at a school in Texas left 19 children and two teachers dead. Though the Bill has broken through years of stalemate over whether to toughen the gun laws, it falls far short of sweeping gun control measures. However, it is a long awaited measure and a small step towards ensuring safety of Americans against mass shootings the frequency of which has increased dramatically over the years. While the Bill does not include tougher restrictions such as a ban on assault-type weapons and background checks for all gun transactions, it is the most impactful firearms violence measure from Congress since enacting a now-expired assault weapons ban in 1993. [COMMENT BY: Stephen N.R., Senior Associate Editor]

Manchester United star Ronaldo linked with Chelsea move: This would be the biggest transfer story of the summer - Cristiano Ronaldo joining Chelsea. The Portuguese superstar is known to be unhappy at Manchester United and he has been rumoured to be wanting an exit. Several clubs around Europe have been linked with the 37-year-old but the latest reports of a possible move to Stamford Bridge would be huge news to say the least. His agent, Jorge Mendes, has already held discussions with new Blues chairman Todd Boehly. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has one year remaining on his United contract and if he was to leave Old Trafford it would be a huge setback for new coach Erik ten Hag who has said on several occasions that Ronaldo will play a big part in the team next season. Chelsea are looking for a striker having loaned flop Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan and Ronaldo, who scored 18 goals in the Premier League last season, could be the man they turn to. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor]

Shah Rukh Khan – a star for all seasons: Few actors have achieved the kind of legendary status that Shah Rukh Khan commands in Bollywood today, with a 30-year career as a leading man. The 56-year-old actor, whose very name is enough to set the cash registers ringing during the opening weekend of a film at the box office, is returning to the big screen next year after a five-year hiatus with ‘Pathaan’. While fans eagerly await his action-man avatar in the upcoming thriller, Khan’s following has barely waned in the years he’s been away from the screen. Perhaps filmmaker and close friend Karan Johar is right when he says that there are no superstars remaining in Bollywood today other that Shah Rukh Khan. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]