From the Editors: Federal government employees reporting to work in the UAE

WELCOME BACK: Federal government employees reporting to work in person today marks a new chapter in the UAE’s stellar efforts to bring normalcy in the country following the pandemic. The authorities have ensured that all COVID-19 safety protocols are in place. The rules also require non-vaccinated employees to commit to conducting a RT-PCR test every week. It is now up to the public to ensure they take all precautions. Wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and observing hand hygiene must continue. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

BRITAIN TO EASE LOCKDOWN TOMORROW BUT NEW COVID-19 CASES STILL APPEARING: Britain is going to further reduce restrictions tomorrow with restaurants, cinemas and museums reopening but worryingly, it recorded another 2,027 positive COVID-19 tests. The total number of coronavirus cases now stands at 4,448,851 in the country. It also registered seven coronavirus-related deaths bringing that total to 127,675. Clearly, we are not out of the woods yet and the next stage of easing the lockdown will need to be treated very cautiously if we are to avoid another spike in cases. The concern is that most youngsters, who are very socially mobile, have still to be vaccinated and they could spread the new Indian variant which is more infectious. Hopefully, they will all be inoculated soon enough and by maintaining social distancing, washing hands and wearing masks, we will see the end of this dreaded virus once and for all. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

ARE CHELSEA IN TROUBLE? Leicester City beat Chelsea on Saturday night to clinch their first ever FA Cup title, signaling possible trouble ahead for Thomas Tuchel’s side. The 1-0 loss follows from Chelsea’s English Premier League loss against Arsenal on Wednesday, where they similarly conceded one costly goal and scored none. Tuchel took responsibility for Chelsea’s midweek loss to the Gunners without hesitation. “We did everything today to lose. I'm not happy with my line-up. It's easy to say afterwards. But it was too many changes, I should not have done it like this,” said the German boss. But will he have his squad selection sorted in time to conquer the Champions League final against Manchester City on May 29? Or is the other shoe finally about to drop for the Blues? [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

RAISE YOUR GLASS FOR PINK: The road to fame is often littered with naysayers and those who like to pull down those who reach dizzying heights. Pink’s recent statement about being pitted against Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera early on in her career says a lot about the negative culture that surrounds celebrities, which is often laced with misogyny. Here were three talented singers, each following their own paths to success but just because they were women, they became easy targets by the paparazzi. In 2002, when Justin Timberlake set forth with his solo career after leaving ‘NSYNC, he was never subjected to comparisons with Robbie Williams who had also quit Take That a few years earlier and signed a record-breaking £80 million contract with EMI that very year. Slightly off key don’t you think. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]