From the Editors: Free parking at vaccine centres a boost to UAE immunisation campaign

FREE PARKING AT VACCINE CENTRES A BOOST TO UAE IMMUNISATION CAMPAIGN: In a bid to help UAE citizens and residents in the process of getting the COVID-19 vaccine, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority has launched free parking spaces at vaccination centres in the emirate. Around 50 spaces will be available near the Hor Al Anz, Al Barsha and Al Ghusais health centres and near Grand Hyatt Hotel Tent during working hours. This welcome initiative will help those seeking inoculation to get quick and free parking spots. This is another indication of the concern that the UAE government shows for its citizens and residents.[COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

IRAN’S NEXT PRESIDENT WILL BE A HARDLINER: Ultraconservative cleric, Ebrahim Raisi, is likely to be the next president of Iran. Even if that is not the case, when Iranians go to the polls next month, someone else from the hardline faction within Iran’s opaque political system will emerge on top as the list of candidates released is full of right-wingers. To be clear, even during the term of the relatively moderate current President Hassan Rouhani, the real power in Tehran resided with the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, when a hardliner takes the reins of the presidency in Tehran, the executive branch will be in line with other state institutions, like the judiciary, the parliament and, most importantly, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

PORTO PREPARES AS PORTUGAL STEPS INTO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BREACH ONCE AGAIN: After Lisbon last year, now it is the turn of Porto. Once again Portugal has stepped in to save Uefa by hosting the final of the Champions League, which for the second year running was forced to move away from Istanbul due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Portugal turned out to be the only real option to stage Saturday’s clash between Manchester City and Chelsea. It is unfortunate for Istanbul, which was initially supposed to stage the 2020 final only for Uefa to rearrange the latter stages of last season’s Champions League in Lisbon in August. The Turkish city was told it would host this season’s final instead, but that became impossible when the UK government put Turkey on its red list just after City and Chelsea ensured it would be an all-English affair. With English fans essentially banned from travelling to Turkey, the solution was the Estadio do Dragao in Porto, where a total of 16,500 spectators will be able to witness the showdown between two of the biggest clubs in England. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

AN UGLY BATTLE: The Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt divorce case has taken an ugly turn, with the actress criticising a judge who refused to allow their children to testify in the custody hearing. According to reports, Jolie said the judge declined to hear evidence she says is relevant to the children’s safety and well-being. Divorce in itself is a painful process and getting children involved means exposing them to more trauma. Add in the scrutiny that comes with splitting up in the public eye and things only get more complicated. The best outcome is the one that makes sure the children are the priority. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]