From the editors: UAE students set to head back to school; New Zealand verdict brings closure

UAE students head back to school next week, after almost six months’ closure due to COVID-19. However, while technological progress has allowed our children to continue studies and most of us to work without exposing ourselves to the virus, is it really all that good? Schools don’t just provide education, they are also places where our characters are shaped. How will that be possible now? Can a worker really switch off from work in reality even when his day’s work is done? These questions also need answers.[COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

NEW ZEALAND VERDICT BRINGS CLOSURE TO MOSQUE KILLINGS: Brenton Tarrant, the white supremacist who killed 51 Muslim worshippers in New Zealand, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Throughout the trial, Tarrant showed no remorse for his violent acts. "As far as I am able to gauge, you are empty of any empathy for your victims," the judge said. Although the verdict brings the curtain down on a dark chapter in the nation’s history, one must ask why such crimes are committed and why innocent people are targeted. Children must be taught at a young age that hate and violence have no role in society, and politicians must not use caste and creed for selfish motives.[COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL BACK WITH A BANG ALREADY: Already football across Europe is back up and running. The French and Scottish leagues are well under way and the first rounds of the Champions League took place last night. On Saturday, the season will see its first ‘big’ clash as the English Community Shield match takes place between Premier League champions Liverpool and FA Cup winners Arsenal, raising fears among top stars in the Premier League as the best players get back into competitive action after such a short rest. Whomever deals best with injuries will be off to a flying start in this campaign. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

Every shopper turning up at any mall in Dubai from 10am today is signing up for something much bigger than whatever they buy. By turning up at the entrance and exiting with purchases, that shopper is making a statement of intent – that he or she wants to be part of Dubai retail sector’s eventual return to form. Malls and retailers have made it easy for those returning, offering discounts from anywhere up to 90 per cent. Those offers are needed, because winning them back isn’t just about creating opportunities in a COVID-19 infected retail environment. It’s about ‘Old Retail’ using some of the strategies that has made online a compelling choice. [COMMENT BY: Manoj Nair, Business Editor]

HAPPY NEWS IS ALWAYS WELCOME: The world is a tough place to be in right now. So we’ll take our little rays of sunshine when we get them. This time it’s in the form of a pregnancy announcement from an Indian power couple – Bollywood actress and producer Anushka Sharma and cricketing superstar Virat Kohli. Their unique appeal comes not only from the fact that their fields of work are two things Indian are crazy about – cricket and movies – they’re also a really sweet couple. They’ve reportedly been together since 2013 and Kohli has fiercely defended Sharma when fans targeted her for his shortcomings on the field. Power couple, indeed! [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor - Features]