From the Editors: Sharjah Reading Festival - good times are here again

LET US DO OUR BIT TOO: The opening of the Sharjah Reading Festival in Sharjah yesterday is yet another development that demonstrates the UAE’s relentless efforts to return to normalcy following the pandemic. Besides the increasing coverage of people who have been vaccinated, stringent precautionary protocols have also been put in place to ensure public health and safety. The authorities are doing all they can towards this end. Let us, on our part, be responsible and do our bit too. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor

EU RULES TO EASE TRAVEL: The European Union has taken a major step towards encouraging tourism by allowing fully vaccinated visitors into the bloc. Travellers who have been inoculated using vaccines approved by the EU or the WHO will be eligible to travel to the EU. This is good news for those in the UAE as the vaccines available here – Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinopharm - are approved by the EU or the WHO. Although there is no precise date for reopening the borders, it is a first step towards easing travel, especially for those who have not been able to do so for more than a year. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

KANE‘S LIKELY GAME FOR SPURS ENDS ON A BITTER NOTE: It could have been the farewell game for their talismanic striker Harry Kane, but it ended on a bitter note as Tottenham Hotspur slumped to a 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa in their last game of the season in Premier League on Wednesday. The England captain’s uncertain future has left Spurs fans wearing a frown in the past week and their mood was hardly raised as they slumped to seventh in the league table. They now face the ignominious prospect of being in the inaugural version of Uefa’s third-tier Europa Conference League next season at best, after having reached the Champions League final only in 2019.[COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

BACK TO BUSINESS? Cinemas wants customers back in theatres. Musicians want fans back at shows. And Eurovision Song Contest wants the show to go on. However, the popular event has seen a glitch. Iceland’s contender will miss the live shows in Rotterdam after a band member tested positive Wednesday for coronavirus. Dadi og Gagnamagnid will not take part in Wednesday’s live rehearsal, Thursday’s semi-final or Saturday’s final. It’s a stark reminder about the threat of COVID-19 and how it can throw a wrench into plans. However, as long as regular testing takes place and precautions are put into place people can have hope for concerts, events and more. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]