From the Editors: Preserving the bio-diversity of UAE

PRESERVING THE BIO-DIVERSITY OF UAE: The nomination of Wadi Wurayah National Park (WWNP) in Fujiarah for a UNESCO World Heritage Site status is well-deserved. As the UAE’s first mountain nature reserve, its value is priceless. It is home to at least 860 different species of plants and animals, including rare mammals like Caracal and Blanford’s Fox and the UAE’s only native orchid, the Helleborine Orchid. Preservation of wetlands such as these is critical to maintaining the bio-diversity of the UAE and its rich eco-system. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

UAE BUSINESSES TAKE ON THE TURNAROUND CHALLENGE: In a matter of days, two prominent UAE businesses got themselves into the investor and media spotlight – and they shared some similarities. On Friday last, Abu Dhabi-based hotel and clinic operator NMC Healthcare emerged from a tough two years under administration under a new ownership structure led by creditors such as ADCB. NMC had been undone by widespread fraud that led to billions of dirhams going missing from the books. Despite that kind of burden, NMC Healthcare remains operationally strong – and that’s what the turnaround has been all about. Now, the new ownership is going full on with getting back those funds lost to fraud. On Monday, Union Properties – one of Dubai’s most prominent developers – said it was coming up with a new recovery plan – and also going all out on getting back funds misappropriated by the previous management. UP said tough decisions will be made to stage the recovery. For the wider UAE business landscape, this kind of gumption and resilience is exemplary, and there are lessons to be learnt. [COMMENT BY: Manoj Nair, Business Editor]

ROOT CANNOT CONTINUE AS ENGLAND CAPTAIN: The pressure is mounting on captain Joe Root after England slumped to an embarrassing 10-wicket defeat on the fourth day of the third Test against the West Indies in Grenada. It meant the tourists lost the series 1.0 and Root - who has been the skipper of the side since 2017 - has now overseen four consecutive series defeats. It’s five if you include the unfinished India series which they trailed 2-1 before it was postponed due to COVID-19. Before this latest setback, they were thrashed 4-0 in the Ashes by Australia and their winless run now stretches to nine Tests. They are now also at the bottom of the World Test Championship table. This is unacceptable but Root says he wants to continue in his role and has no plans to step down, but it is hard to see him continuing. The team faces New Zealand in their next series in June and there may well be a new captain leading the side by then.[COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor]

EVEN WHEN THE JOKE GETS OLD, VIOLENCE IS NEVER OKAY WILL SMITH: ‘CODA’ may have won Best Picture on the biggest night in Hollywood, but all that everyone’s talking about is Will Smith marching up on stage at the Oscars ceremony and slapping Chris Rock across the face for making a joke at the expense of his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The moment, which stunned the Hollywood glitterati at the awards and audiences watching at home, immediately sparked frenzied chatter and viral memes on social media. Smith himself tearfully apologised to his fellow nominees and the Academy during his Best Actor acceptance speech for ‘King Richard’ but pointedly left out directly referencing Rock. His outburst though, has triggered a debate amidst fans and Hollywood friends who vouched for Smith’s Nice Guy image while referencing the mental toll on celebrities who are often abused and ridiculed on public platforms. And while there is a disturbing truth to this argument, one also cannot condone violence as a resolution. If Smith objected to Rock’s mockery of Pinkett’s medical condition of alopecia, he could have called him out privately or publicly and taken the comedian on. Raising fists is never the answer. It only adds to the problem. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]