From the Editors: Our never-say-die spirit triumphed in 2020

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GETS GOING: 2020 has been a very difficult year for most people around the globe. And yet, there are so many examples of those who have turned a seemingly hopeless situation to their advantage and made the most of one of the worst crises in the history of mankind. UAE too has had many such instances of people who have started new ventures that are far removed from their usual professions. From a marketing professional taking to fashion designing to a corporate communications expert turning an entrepreneur in the education sector – there are so many examples of people who have explored the brighter sides of life instead of “brooding and wallowing in misery”, as one such braveheart said. This is the never-say-die spirit that has seen humanity trump many a natural and man-made disaster through centuries. The COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

MORE TO LIFE THAN COVID-19: As we stand on the cusp of moving into the New Year, the focus is now on a new strain of the coronavirus that seems to be spreading fast around the world. It’s not the best way to ring in 2021, but safety takes precedence. Pause for a minute and take your mind off COVID-19. There may be so many things that we can be thankful for in the past year. It’s time to look back and relive some of those moments of joy and happiness that we spent with family and friends. Yes, there is much more to life than COVID-19. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

CAN THROWING CASH AT PEOPLE BEAT RECESSION: During the ‘Great Depression’ John Maynard Keynes proposed, as a job creation measure, the government should pay people to dig holes in the ground and then fill them up. Today, much of the economic stimulus across the world, either fiscal or monetary are essentially the same. The whole point is about getting people to spend when the future is uncertain. How much is the right amount is debatable as is the case of the current controversy in the US on if support should be $600 or $2000 per person. If the objective is to get people to spend, a smaller amount for a longer period could work better as a higher hand out could prompt people to save. [COMMENT BY: Babu Das Augustine, Business Editor]

Barcelona manager Ronald did himself no favours by leaving wantaway star Lionel Messi on the sidelines on Tuesday night, as the Catalan side were held to a 1-1 draw against Eibar. The Dutchman admitted it will now be “very difficult” for his side to win this season’s La Liga. “I am realistic, it will be very difficult to be champions. Nothing is impossible, but you have to acknowledge the gap. Atletico look very good to me, very strong, they don’t concede many goals,” Koeman said, who refused to blame the absence of Messi on the dropped points. “You cannot say Barca play better without Messi. He is a different player. In general terms we played well. But individual errors cost us the points,” he said. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

HARRY, MEGHAN AND A PODCAST TO REFLECT ON 2020: With one more sunrise before 2020 finally fades into the history pages, prodigal son Prince Harry and wife Meghan ended the year with a podcast that paid tribute to the hardships and sacrifices made by people world over in the wake of the pandemic. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex kicked off their podcast, as part of their deal with Spotify, to thank “health care workers and front care workers.” Special audio snippets by tennis star Naomi Osaka, singer Elton John, talkshow host and actor James Corden shared personal tales of hardships and resilience that 2020 brought to their doors. Perhaps what struck a chord for many was John’s vulnerable confession in his audio diary where he revealed he had to attend weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings over Zoom since the pandemic began. The singer hoped for healing in the new year, saying: “I hope after this awful pandemic has passed, and we can go back to some sort of normality, that we have become better people – and I hope for healing.” Here’s hoping for a brighter 2021. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai Entertainment Editor]