From the Editors: Worshipers must follow safety guidelines in the UAE

WORSHIPPERS MUST FOLLOW SAFETY GUIDELINES AS UAE MOSQUES OPENED FOR FRIDAY PRAYERS: Opening of mosques for Friday prayers across the UAE is a great news for Muslim worshippers who have been waiting for the decision to fulfil their religious duties. While precautionary measures are taken during daily prayers at mosques, it is utmost important to follow guidelines when people gather in a much larger numbers for Friday prayer congregations. It will be a challenge to maintain the 30 per cent capacity because mosques are normally full of worshippers for Friday prayers which cannot be performed at home. Now, it is the responsibility of the worshippers not to lower the guard and strictly follow the safety guidelines to prevent COVID-19 spread. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

FOR REGIONAL STABILITY, IRAN’S ATTITUDE NEEDS TO CHANGE: Even as reports have emerged that the Joe Biden’s administration could re-engage with Iran on the nuclear issues, the attitude from Tehran remains one of defiance and stubbornness. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said past talks with the US over sanctions had been a failure because they didn’t ensure “lasting relief”. Tehran must realise the only way it can achieve peace and prosperity for its citizens is by becoming a force for good in the region, by ending its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programme, and halting permanently interference in the affairs of other states in the region. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

BE CAREFUL EVEN IF COVID-19 CURBS ARE EASED: COVID-19 cases have come down in some parts of the world. Australia's most-populous state New South Wales (NSW) has started easing social distancing curbs and removed requirements for companies to allow employees to work from home after nearly three weeks without any local transmission. France, too, has announced shops could reopen on Saturday and nationwide stay-at-home orders would be lifted from December 15. Will we see better days soon? It is better to be safe now than sorry later. Easing of curbs does not mean behaving irresponsibly. With more than 1.4 million deaths due to COVID-19 we need to play our part in staying safe and keeping others out of harm’s way. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

VACCINES BOOST MARKET’S RISK IMMUNITY: The discovery of effective vaccines against COVID-19 seems to be improving the risk resistance of global markets along with the hopes of an end to the pandemic. Clearly, investors are looking beyond surging cases and renewed lockdowns to the prospect of a vaccinated population achieving herd immunity in the near future. Consequently, risk assets, particularly equities and commodities are surging. Many market pundits have begun rooting for COVID-beaten shares of travel companies, airlines and hotels. The vaccine and the increasing prospect of a sizable fiscal boost by Biden administration is scaling down dollar’s strength. The trend of a shift of global funds towards riskier assets calls for rebalancing and diversification of individual portfolios. [COMMENT BY: Babu Das Augustine, Business Editor]

FOR THE RECORD: HAALAND IS ON HIS WAY TO GREATNESS: Erling Braut Haaland is on his way to usurping a decade of dominance by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as he broke yet another record in the Champions League on Tuesday. His brace fired Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 win over Brugge, reaching 15 goals in the competition in fewer games than any other player in history. The Norwegian, 20, hit the milestone in just 12 appearances, smashing the mark of 19 held by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Roberto Soldado. The youngster has already hit 16 goals in all competitions for Dortmund this season in only 11 games this season and — with anything up to 15 more years in the game — is on his way to legendary status. [COMMENT BY Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

Canadian rapper The Weeknd has hit out at the Grammys for snubbing him in the recently announced nominations. Anyone who’s tuned into current music and pop culture would be shocked that the talented artists, with one of the most popular albums this year, failed to get included. According to the data-tracking firm BuzzAngle, ‘After Hours’ has sold 460,000 copies and has racked up more than 1.7 billion streams. Every year when nominations are rolled out, the Grammys are criticised for being out of touch with the times and for denying pop artists their due. This year doesn’t seem to be much different. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]