From the Editors: Tourists flocking back to Dubai

TOURISTS FLOCKING BACK TO DUBAI: Dubai continues to blaze the trail in the steps its has taken to revive the economy in the aftermath of COVID-19. Tourists from all over the globe are flocking back to the emirate to soak in its star-studded attractions. According to government data, more than 2.7 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted since flights restarted, of which a miniscule 0.7 per cent turned out positive results. A ‘Dubai Assured’ stamp ensures that all entities in the tourism sector are complying safety protocols. Altogether, these steps ensure that the revival of the economy remains on track. [COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

IRAN IS ENRICHING CLOSER TO WEAPONS GRADE. THIS IS ALARMING: The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that for the first time in eight years, the levels of enrichment of Iranian stockpiles of uranium are getting closer to weapons grade. The IAEA has taken a dim view of this alarming development. It has expressed to Tehran its concern at the lack of progress “in clarifying the safeguards issues”. The Iranian nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programme continues to stand in the way of any real rapprochement between Tehran and the international community. Its meddling in the affairs of its neighbours adds to this mistrust. The ball is clearly in Iran’s court. It needs to stop enrichment activities. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

COVID-19 SHOWS TROUBLING TRENDS: Germany is in the midst of a third wave of coronavirus, Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned. COVID-19 has not spared any country, even those that did well in staying relatively safe in the early months of the pandemic. In fact, every time scientists try to figure out why one particular country has done well in combating the coronavirus, it seems to come back with a vengeance. We have seen this in the case of New Zealand, Pakistan and India, too. For the past two weeks, scientists have been puzzled about why India’s cases were falling. It has now started rising again. The only way to tackle the virus for the moment is for everyone to stay safe and keep others safe. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

TIGER WOODS FACING TOUGHEST RECOVERY YET: Even for Tiger Woods, this could be one major setback he cannot come back from. On Tuesday, he sustained severe leg injuries in a single car crash in LA. While it could have been much worse, it is the latest setback for the 15 Major winner and one of the most recognisable sports figures in the world. The 45-year-old won the 2008 US Open on a broken leg. His personal life imploded in 2009 when he was caught having multiple extramarital affairs. He needed four back surgeries that kept him out of golf for the better part of two years, yet he still won the Masters in 2019 for the fifth time, a victory that ranks among the great comebacks in sport. Now it’s no longer a matter of when he plays again but if he plays again. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

REMEMBERING SCREEN LEGEND SRIDEVI: It’s been three years since the shocking death of Bollywood screen icon Sridevi, which marked a new low in the levels of sensationalist media coverage that news agencies could resort to. In technical terms, we call it yellow journalism. Sridevi’s accidental drowning in a hotel bathtub in Dubai became the subject of national debate with one journalist taking it upon himself to slip into a tub on live television in some bizarre experiment that tipped the scales from method into sheer madness. What many failed to remember at the time was that Sridevi was not only a screen legend, but she was also a beloved wife and a mother. It’s heartwarming to see that three years later, her daughter Janhvi Kapoor is fulfilling her mother’s acting legacy, while sibling Khushi Kapoor is waiting in the wings for her own turn in the spotlight. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]