From the Editors: UAE’s self-reliance in food a critical issue

ACHIEVING SELF-RELIANCE IN FOOD PRODUCTION A CRITICAL ISSUE: Being self-reliant in terms of food production and reducing dependence on imports for regular supply of perishables are essential steps towards ensuring food security, particularly during times of exigencies such as the current pandemic sweeping the globe. The 14th Dubai International Food Safety Conference discussed these very issues in right earnest and stressed the need to boost food production based on lessons learnt from COVID-19. With only five per cent of its total land mass available for agriculture and 90 per cent of its food sourced from outside the country, for UAE, achieving self-reliance in food production is of paramount importance and the conference rightly focused on ways to address this issue. Being a major trading hub and a transit point for global commerce, UAE has tremendous locational and logistical advantage to tide over this challenge in the not-too-distant future. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

TURKEY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT EU SANCTIONS: In October, EU leaders had told Turkey to stop exploring in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean or ‘face consequences’. Now, there is a good chance that Europe will make good on its threat of sanctions. This issue must concern Turkey - it can ill afford the financial impact of sanctions at a time when its economy has been battered by a collapsing currency and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Turkey can undo all this and improve its tense relations with its EU partners and regional neighbours by changing its policies - both in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

WINTER RAISES FEARS OF FRESH VIRUS CLUSTERS: An outbreak of COVID-19 in one of Japan’s coldest cities has raised fears among health experts. Asahikawa on the northern island of Hokkaido is reeling from infection clusters at two hospitals and a care home, with more than 10,000 cases recorded. Researchers have warned that airborne transmission of the virus increase when people spend more time in closed-up rooms breathing dry air. So while the virus may be under control in some parts of the world, in others it is still raging. The vaccine may be on the horizon, but we need to see this winter through. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

CAN MOURINHO PRODUCE THE OLD MAGIC WITH TOTTENHAM? It’s still early days in the Premier League, but the fact that Tottenham Hotspur has been off to their best start since 2011 augurs well for Jose Mourinho, whose prefix of ‘The Special One’ has lost some sheen in recent years. A workmanlike 2-0 win against Arsenal on Sunday, which puts them on top of the table with 24 points from 11 games, was not pretty but just about did the job. Spurs had only 31% of the possession, but Mourinho had no qualms about it as he said: ‘’We controlled the game by being defensively solid.’’[COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

BOLLYWOOD GETS BEHIND FARMERS’ PROTESTS Bollywood isn’t exactly known to take a stand on burning social issues in India, so it is refreshing to see many celebrities speak up and voice their support in wake of the farmers’ protests in India. Following actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh, who not only attended the protests, but also reportedly donated Rs10 million to the cause, it is now the turn of Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and Priyanka Chopra Jonas who have thrown their star power behind the cause. Taapsee Pannu, Sonu Sood and Swara Bhasker have also urged the Indian government to find a solution to the growing unrest, while adding that farmers form the backbone of the society. Whether or not action is taken swiftly and progressively, it is commendable to see the Indian film industry unite for a cause other than their own.[COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]