From the Editors: UAE a beacon of universal tolerance

UAE A BEACON OF UNIVERSAL TOLERANCE: In a pioneering move, the Public Prosecution in Abu Dhabi ordered the arrest of four Arabs for offending an Asian resident. According to a report, the accused posted a video on the internet of making fun of the victim and abusing him physically. Such heinous acts are not tolerated in the UAE and the authorities’ swift action has ensured that justice prevails. The UAE remains a beacon of tolerance in today’s world, where close to 200 nationalities live in harmony with each other. This fabric of tolerance is what binds us together. [COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

CAN SAVINGS SABOTAGE STIMULUS: President Joe Biden on Friday ordered the faster issuance of stimulus cheques to needy US families while Congress negotiates over his proposed $1.9 trillion stimulus package. Undoubtedly, the new administration has inherited a badly damaged economy with 10 million fewer jobs. At the core of the Biden plan for economic revival lies the direct money transfer to households. Sceptics say the plan would fail, thanks to the previous stimulus measures, higher savings rather than lower income is the cause lower consumer demand. However, with job losses remaining elevated there is no alternative to income support to the affected households even if a portion stimulus is pilfered into savings. [COMMENT BY: Babu Das, Business Editor]

TWIN BLASTS EXPOSE WEAKNESSES OF IRAQ'S SECURITY APPARATUS: Thursday’s twin suicide blasts in Baghdad - the deadliest in the Iraqi capital in three years - have brought to the fore what observers had privately decried: The gaps in security in Iraq. With Iraq’s foreign backers concentrating their efforts on battling COVID-19, training has decreased. Then, there’s distrust between formal forces trained by the US, and Shiite militias that are part of the overall Iraqi security apparatus that have been trained by Iran. Besides, most of Iraq’s best forces are outside the capital, battling Daesh. That said, the fact that a bombing in Iraq has made top news is also a testament to overall, improved security situation. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

PSG BACK WHERE THEY BELONG: Paris St-Germain look to finally have ridden out their slump in form and restored their position as the dominant team in France. Last season’s Champions League finalists had a slow start to the season after they were hit by a series of injuries and COVID-19 cases and were reeling after a series of shock losses — a run that cost coach Thomas Tuchel his boss. However, replacement Mauricio Pochettino seems to have got them back on track and Friday night’s 4-0 thrashing of rivals Montpellier — with a double from star striker Kylian Mbappe — helped them move three points clear at the top of Ligue 1. Neymar and Mauro Icardi were also on target and they are now looking good for their seventh French league title in eight years. [COMMENT BY: Matt Smith, Sports Editor]

BOND FILM DELAY ANOTHER SETBACK FOR CINEMAS: Theatre owners that were counting on a tentpole production such as Daniel Craig’s ‘No Time To Die’ to boost ticket sales are facing a further setback as the James Bond film faces yet another delay in the wake of the pandemic. The film was to release in April last year, before being pushed to November 2020. Then the news came that it would roll out in April 2021, but the latest news confirms the new date locked in is October 2021. For cinemas that are struggling to stay afloat and rebuild their businesses crushed by the pandemic, this setback only highlights how dire the situation truly is. One can only hope there is an industry to salvage once the pandemic is behind us. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]