From the Editors: You can help Dubai become more sustainable

SUSTAINABILITY IS JUST A DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN AWAY: Dubai has yet again made it easy for residents and visitors to help protect the environment, this time by rolling out a total of 50 drinking water fountains across the city by year-end. This is on top of the existing fountains already in place in malls and other venues frequented by people, under the ‘Dubai Can’ initiative. Instead of paying for water in disposable plastic bottles, which are a threat to marine creatures and wildlife, we can easily carry our reusable bottles and refill them at the Dubai Can fountains with clean and cool drinking water, free of charge. There is no reason not to play our part to help Dubai become even more sustainable. (By Faisal Masudi, Assistant Editor)

‘CRISIS, WHAT CRISIS?’: Go over how Asian stock markets are performing today – and one wouldn’t even get the whiff that there is tension brewing over the Strait. All of the main Asian stock markets are in the green, which is quite a contrast to the red just 24 hours ago. Investors worldwide seem to be discounting potential market altering news at the first opportunity. Or by the next day. You see that playing out in the US, where bad news cycles don’t even have a 24-hour longevity. Are investors missing something amidst all this cheer? (Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

UNIQUE EUROPEAN FOOTBALL SEASON: Probably for the first time in the history of football this European season will have a pause for the World Cup, to be held in Qatar in November 2022. To accommodate the break, all the top European leagues are beginning this week, precisely today (August 5), which will increase the football frenzy by the time the World Cup starts in a little over 100 days’ time. Many plots and sub-plots will unfurl over the next couple of months with several players trying to manage their workload and stay injury-free to be in perfect shape for the showpiece. It will be make or break time for many while stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be eager to add the missing trophy in their illustrious cabinets. The fans of the most popular sport in the world will have non-stop excitement until the end of 2022-23 season. (By A.K.S. SATISH, Sports Editor)

‘NEPO BABIES’ GO VIRAL: Celebrity nepotism is a popular point of contention in Bollywood, where the children of actors often rule the roost. However, social media in the West has blown up over Hollywood nepotism, which hasn’t been talked about as much until now. Young actors such as Maya Hawke, Maude Apatow and Zoe Kravitz are being called ‘nepo babies’ on TikTok and elsewhere, as people have become more aware of their famous parents. Nepotism is an inevitable part of the film and TV industry, and it’s good to highlight that merit and ability should be the highest priority, not who your family is. (By Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features)