From the Editors: Abu Dhabi school decision signals return to normality

Abu Dhabi school decision signals return to normality: In a significant move, the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has announced that the emirate’s children can resume in-person classes from the next academic year that begins in September. This decision follows the highly successful vaccination campaign in the emirate, which has inoculated 80 per cent of the school staff, educators and parents. As it is, the UAE’s highly successful vaccination campaign has covered a major portion of the country’s eligible population, with teenaged students also getting their jabs. All these measures signify that we are on the verge of winning the COVID-19 war. [COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

Juneteenth, a federal holiday in US, commemorates end of slavery: US President Joe Biden has signed legislation establishing a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery, saying he believes it will go down as one of the greatest honours he has as president. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas — two months after the Confederacy had surrendered. The act establishes the first new federal holiday in nearly four decades, and comes after more than a year of a national racial reckoning sparked by police killings of Black Americans. It’s the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983. Black Americans rejoiced but some said more is needed to change policies. Let’s hope this holiday will be a reminder to Americans about the way they deal with one another. [COMMENT BY: Stephen N.R, Senior Associate Editor]

Dumfries turns toast of the Dutch campaign in Euro 2020 so far: Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries has been certainly the toast of their first week’s campaign in Euro 2020. He has scored twice, set up another two goals and earned a penalty, all in two games as the Dutch earned their knockout stage spot with a convincing 2-0 victory over Austria on Thursday. The 25-year-old PSV Eindhoven defender, who made his professional debut seven years ago but did not come out of the youth system of any of the big Dutch clubs, was all over the park as the Netherlands looked for their first knockout spot in a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup. Keep it going! [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

Protecting privacy: Actress Sara Ali Khan has opened up about the joyous first meeting between her and her baby half-sibling, the child of her father Saif Ali Khan and his wife Kareena Kapoor. Of course, it was a sweet moment and she says the baby boy is “a ball of cuteness”. It’s to be noted that the famous Bollywood family have kept the boy’s name a secret from the public and haven’t released any pictures of him. It’s best for them to enjoy these special moments with their child without having to worry about what the public think. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor - Features]