From the Editors: A sail-through at Dubai Airport passport control

A SAIL-THROUGH: Journeying through Dubai airports is always a pleasure. The launch of a new biometric system at 122 gates in Terminal 3 has only added to the hassle-free experience. The service aims to create a contact-free journey, right from check-in and passport control to boarding the plane. This is especially significant amid the pandemic as it eliminates any fear of contracting the virus from any surface or person. The walk-in facility at immigration allows passengers to complete the procedure in five-nine seconds, which makes it a sail-through. Kudos to the authorities in Dubai for making this possible. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

END OF AN ERA IN FIELD OF OIL: Ahmed Zaki Yamani, the world’s most famous oilman, passed away today. Yamani was by far the most influential energy minister in the history of the world. Such was his influence, he represented four Saudi kings from the early 1960s to 1986. He became famous during the 1973 oil crisis, leading the Kingdom ably through the trying times. He also oversaw the nationalisation of Saudi Arabia’s state energy company and was even kidnapped by the global terrorist ‘Carlos the Jackal’. In his lifetime, Yamani came to symbolise the ‘new age of oil’, and he will be remembered for his services to the industry and indeed to his country. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

A COVID-19 MILESTONE THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN REACHED: In the early days of the pandemic, when then US President Donald Trump said that 100,000 people were likely to die of COVID-19 in the country, it was difficult to believe. How could the country with some of the best medical facilities in the world see such a high toll? And now with half a million people reported to have died of the disease, one must look back at the reasons leading to this. It is indeed a grim milestone, but for those who have lost a loved one, it is a milestone that should never have been reached. With a vaccine plan and stricter controls, the months ahead for Americans will hopefully be better than the year gone by. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

STERN TEST FOR MOTERA PITCH: Virat Kohli and his India side will be learning as they go on the untested pitch at the new Motera stadium when they face England in the third Test on Wednesday. Not only will it be the home side’s first match at the largest cricket stadium in the world, it will also be a pink-ball Test, adding more unpredictable factors into the mix. But it is how the pitch itself holds up that will be the key, as no multi-day games have been held at Motera since reconstruction work on the Sardar Patel Stadium was completed in February. Only seven T20 matches have been played on the new pitch and it will be in for a stern Test over the next five days. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC: The world grew a little bit quiet today as Daft Punk announced they were hanging up their helmets and splitting up after 28 years of lighting up the dance floor with their influential tracks. Musicians Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo were pioneers of house as they went mainstream with the French underground sound that gave us monster hits such as ‘One More Time’, ‘Around The World’ and ‘Da Funk’. While no official reason has been shared with fans, the split comes at a time when the world could really do with some good news. TV host and comedian Stephen Colbert summed it perfectly in his tweet, writing: “I feel like someone should tell Daft Punk this is literally the worst time to hang up your masks.” We couldn’t agree more. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]