From the Editors: COVID-19 - Dubai fast transitioning towards normality

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY: With Dubai opening up most activities amidst the most stringent COVID-19 safety protocols, there is no mistaking the excitement in the air. After a long time, residents can be seen venturing out and making plans for the weekend like before. Yet, as things are fast transitioning towards normality, we must not let our guard down. We must abide by the rules that have been laid out for our own benefit. It’s better to be safe than sorry – isn’t that what the pandemic taught us? Now, it’s a matter of best practice [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

A HOLIDAY IN SPACE SOON? The race to space has just got more exciting. Four space tourists have blasted off from Florida for the first mission to orbit the globe with an all-civilian crew. After spending three days spinning around the planet, the four-person American crew will splash down off the Florida coast. The flight should remain fully automated, but the crew has been trained to be able to take control in the event of an emergency. At the same time, three astronauts who lived for 90 days on China's space station will soon return to Earth. Astronauts are expected to be brought on 90-day missions to the Chinese space station over the next two years to make it fully functional. We are closer to travelling to space as tourists than we thought of a few years ago. With more flights being available soon, space travel is likely to get less expensive. Fancy a zero-gravity holiday soon? [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

PSG’S BLOCKBUSTER CAST FAIL TO DELIVER ON THE BIG STAGE: Much is expected from Paris Saint-Germain now that they have Argentine ace Lionel Messi and for the first time last night the Ligue 1 giants started with their dream front three in the Champions League group game against Club Bruges. Messi was up front with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar and they were supposed to sizzle and slice their way through on goal at will. But, they failed to shine. The match ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw and fingers are being pointed at the most exciting front three in world football. PSG face English Premier League champions Manchester City in their next European match later this month and Messi and co will need to step it up to ensure they start delivering the goods.[COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

THE PROBLEM WITH NICKI MINAJ’S VIRAL TWEET: Laugh away if you like, but the reality of Nicki Minaj’s viral tweet is a sobering lesson in how misinformation about the pandemic is still a hurdle in reaching high vaccination numbers in many countries. Earlier this week, the singer drew mockery and criticism alike for claiming the COVID-19 vaccination causes impotence in some men; her source was ‘a friend of a friend….’ Minaj may have used this reasoning as her refusal to attend this year’s Met Gala, which required all guests to be vaccinated before attending the prestigious event, but to leverage her star power to spread misinformation in the midst of a deadly global pandemic is frankly, inexcusable. Even as the White House is taking one for the team and has offered to call Minaj and answer her questions about the COVID-19 vaccination drive, it may help if the singer uses her far-reaching resources to educate herself first. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]