From the Editors: Affordable medicines to low-income expat patients in UAE

A humanitarian gesture: The ‘Hand in Hand’ initiative by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) with global healthcare majors to widen the coverage and provide affordable medicines to low-income expat patients must be lauded. The aim is to bring relief to those whose insurance does not cover the cost of treatment of diseases like pulmonary arterial hypertension, multiple myeloma, active ulcerative colitis and psoriatic arthritis. It is a great humanitarian gesture for which many deserving patients and families will be thankful for. (By Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor).

'Biggest war in Europe since 1945'? British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stunned many by warning that Russian plans for Ukraine entail the biggest war that the continent has seen since the end of World War II. According to intelligence reports he is privy to, Russia intends to completely encircle the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Russia has, of course, rubbished all such suggestions. However, there's no arguing the fact that there are about 150,000 battle-ready troops and armour on the border. So where do we go from here? What until recently looked like a case of brinkmanship is slowly turning into something much more serious. At this stage, only one dire warning can stop events from reaching a point of no return: the sheer, inevitable cost in human lives. But is anyone listening? (Omar Sheriff, International Editor)

Sense and sensibility prevails in Bollywood: With the pandemic still very much a reality of our lives, Bollywood appears to have scaled down the theatrics keeping COVID-19 in mind. It is with that prevailing sensibility that two top stars of Bollywood got married over the weekend, with Farhan Akhtar tying the knot with Shibani Dandekar and Vikrany Massey getting hitched with Sheetal Thakur. Skipping over the week-long Bollywood wedding institution, the couples chose to go relatively low-key and surround themselves with loved ones for their special day. Here’s hoping the rest of Bollywood is watching and taking notes. (Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor)

Time for Khan and Brook to call it a day after epic bout Kell Brook and Amir Khan had been trading words for more than 17 years and finally the two former world champions traded blows last night. It was one of the longest-running and most bitter British boxing feuds and the contest, at a packed Manchester Arena, had to be stopped in the sixth round with Brook coming out on top. The 35-year-old Sheffield man displayed awesome timing and power and forced the referee to stop the fight. Over the years the two boxers have never hidden their hatred of one another but it was great to see them embrace at the end of the thrilling encounter. Bolton-born Khan, also 35, admitted that he does not feel any love for the sport anymore and that “maybe it is a sign I should be calling it a day” while Brook also said he has retirement on his mind. It would be a smart decision by both. All too often we have seen boxers end up with serious injuries as they try to prolong their careers, therefore the time would be right for both men to now hang up their gloves having settled their fierce rivalry. (Imran Malik, Assistant Editor)