From the Editors: Dubai named in top 100 places to visit in 2021

A MATTER OF GREAT PRIDE: Dubai being named among the top 100 places to visit in 2021 by Time magazine hardly comes as a surprise. For Emirati and expat residents alike, the city is the best place to work and live in. The reasons they cite are many: From being a land of opportunities with visionary leadership and state-of-the-art infrastructure to ensuring safety, security and freedom, Dubai provides it all. It is all the more creditable that these achievements have been realised in a short span of five decades. With the EXPO 2020 Dubai round the corner, there is so much more in the offing. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

ANOTHER GRIM MILESTONE: GLOBAL COVID-19 CASES EXCEED 200 MILLION: The global caseload of COVID-19 infections has crossed 200 million, with more than 4 million new cases reported in a week even as the Delta variant threatens areas with low vaccination rates. More than 130 countries have now reported cases of the easier-to-spread Delta variant, first identified in India in December 2020. The US, UK and Israel are among the most fully vaccinated countries in the world, yet all have seen surges in cases and hospitalisations linked to the Delta strain. Israel has called on employers to switch to work-at-home and warned that it may have to impose new lockdowns and Britain is offering shots to all 16- and 17-year-olds. As experts suggest, vaccines targeting the Delta variant may now be needed. Also, the World Health Organisation must at least ensure frontline workers in poor countries are vaccinated. It’s disturbing to know that only 2% of people in Africa, where COVID-19 rates are escalating, have been vaccinated. [COMMENT BY: Stephen N R, Senior Associate Editor]

11 PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR RACIST ABUSE TO ENGLAND’S BLACK PLAYERS AT EURO 2020: Following the racist abuse several of England’s football team players faced on social media after losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy, Police have now arrested 11 people as they continue a hate crimes investigation. Sadly, there was a wave of racism aimed at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after they each missed their penalties in the shoot-out last month at Wembley. The abuse was condemned by the Football Association, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and England manager Gareth Southgate. The UK Football Policing Unit received 600 reports of racist comments sent to England's black players after the defeat and judged 207 to be criminal. 123 of these messages were posted by people living overseas and 34 were from the UK. Clearly, if people think they can hide behind social media accounts and spread hatred and racism they need to think again. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

WOMEN HELPING WOMEN: Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, marked her 40th birthday by launching an initiative to help women. With the 40x40 project, she is asking “40 friends to donate 40 minutes of their time to help mentor a woman who is mobilising back into the workforce”. Her buddy Priyanka Chopra Jonas has also attached her name to the venture. This concept is brilliant in its simplicity and reach because it can be done by anyone at any time. It’s sure to bring about profound change and act as a booster for women who might be struggling in their work life. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]