From the Editors: MBZ-SAT yet another milestone in UAE’s spectacular space journey

STELLAR SUCCESS: UAE’s announcement of an advanced satellite on Wednesday is yet another milestone in its spectacular space journey. MBZ-SAT is the second satellite after 2018’s KhalifaSat to be built completely by Emiratis and the fourth Earth observation satellite so far – with DubaiSat -1 and DubaiSat -2 being launched in 2009 and 2013. But MBZ-SAT will be four times faster than them all. It will also provide images within two hours and arrange images which can be used commercially anywhere in the world. Great going, we wish the team working on the satellite all the very best. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

NO DULL MOMENT IN ELECTION CAMPAIGN: Election campaigns never lack a dull moment. So whether they are in the US or in India’s Bihar, the statements by political leaders can be surprising or just disgusting. So, on the one hand a leader in Bihar says people should not cast their votes for candidates who have ‘8 or 9 children’. On the other, President Trump in far off USA paints an apocalyptic picture of American life if Biden gets elected. Do politicians really mean what they say or do they just play to the gallery? [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

Barcelona and Lionel Messi finally turned on the style for new boss Ronald Koeman to show the European giants are not quite done as they put Juventus in their place in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Barca played some of their best football of a patchy season against a Juve side shorn of star man Cristiano Ronaldo due to coronavirus isolation. Messi may have missed out on a clash with his great rival, but he still made a statement as he turned in a brilliant show and converted a late penalty in the 2-0 win. “I believe it was the most complete match since I arrived,” Koeman said. Barcelona now lead of Group G, three points above Juventus. [COMMENT BY: [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

WHEN FACT IS STRANGER THAN FICTION: There is a repugnant regressive wave in India that’s been exposed by violent acts. Every day there are stories of rape and murder, of spurred advances met with stabbing – like in the case of actress Malvi Malhotra – or shootings – such as in the case of Nikita Tomar. Bollywood is speaking up about the grossness of these acts and others must too. For while it may make for a great plot for a fictitious work, in real life, it’s a reminder of how we have devolved into little more than a mass of flesh, bone and base instinct. Where did the human go in humanity? [COMMENT BY: Karishma Nandkeolyar, Assistant Online Editor]