From the Editors: Dubai continues to create world-class infrastructure

WORLD-CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE: Dubai Road Transport Authority’s announcement on Saturday that more internal roads will be built in three residential areas (Al Quoz 2, Nad Al Sheba 2 and Al Barsha South 3) in Dubai yet again demonstrates the ability of the authority to gauge the needs of the residents and provide solutions in right earnest. Dubai’s world-class infrastructure is one of the many blessings that residents can count. Where in the world do state-of-the-art roads and bridges spring up like they do here? And in no time, with little or no inconvenience to the public? Hats off to the leadership and those implementing the plans on the ground. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

IRAQ DRONE ATTACKS ARE IRAN’S WAY OF GETTING AT US: On Sunday, Iraqi air defences at the Ain Al Asad air base that hosts US forces shot down two drones, allegedly sent by Shiite militias in Iraq that are paid for and trained by Iran. The cat-and-mouse game the militias are playing with US forces in Iraq has a way of getting out of control, as was demonstrated spectacularly in the American drone attack on Gen. Qassem Soleimani in January 2020, in which a leading Iraqi militia boss, Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, was also killed. The militias in Iraq have become a law unto themselves, and are doing Iran’s bidding at the expense of Iraqi interests. The hapless Iraqi government is facing a situation in which its two chief backers - one a global superpower, the other a regional power - are facing off on Iraqi soil. But if Baghdad doesn’t get the militias under control, things could really spin out of hand. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

FEDERER MAY PULL OUT OF FRENCH OPEN: Swiss ace Roger Federer has said that he might need to drop out of the French Open due to his troublesome knee for the sake of his Wimbledon prospects. The 20-time Grand Slam champ, who had a double knee operation in July last year, struggled past German Dominik Koepfer 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 last night to reach the last 16 of the tournament but he lacked any fluency in his game. It was just his sixth match since surgery and from the looks of it, his knee is still giving him trouble. 39-year-old Federer is due to play Matteo Berrettini tomorrow but said that now could be the ideal time to “take a rest” and prepare for Wimbledon which is set to begin towards the end of the month.[ COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

FAWAD KHAN’S ENTRY INTO THE MCU IS A WIN FOR REPRESENTATION: In a huge win for representation in Hollywood, Pakistani actor Fawad Khan has reportedly joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The notable actor, who has also impressed fans in Bollywood with a brief stint as a leading man before the ban on Pakistani artists in India, has apparently joined the cast of the Disney plus series ‘Ms. Marvel’, which features the first Muslim superhero in the MCU. While details are still under wraps - as they usually are - the inception of ‘Ms. Marvel’ itself is a turning point in an industry that has largely employed leading men and women who conform to a certain physical type. Here’s hoping for more representation in Hollywood that go beyond the #SuperheroesSoWhite adage. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]