From the Editors: Another milestone for Dubai Police

ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR DUBAI POLICE: When it comes to adopting new technologies for the safety and security of the city, there is no match to Dubai Police’s innovative approach. Dubai Police has now announced the introduction of Drone Box platform — another artificial intelligence service, which aims to reduce response time from 4.4 minutes to just one minute for criminal and traffic emergencies. The Drone Box is an automated system that can make a drone move to wherever it needs to be deployed to tackle any emergency efficiently. It goes without saying that Dubai is the safest city in the world with more than 300,000 cameras installed around the city. We are proud of our security forces. [COMMENT by Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

CLIMATE CHANGE TARGETS - EU SET TO BECOME GLOBAL LABORATORY: The European Union has rolled out an ambitious climate plan that will force every industry to accelerate its shift away from fossil fuels in order to cut pollution by at least 55% from 1990 levels by 2030 — a step towards “net zero” emissions by 2050. To achieve that, the bloc will bring new industries such as shipping into what’s already the world’s largest carbon market; ban new combustion-engine cars by 2035; impose new costs on dirty home heating; and force the aviation industry to emit less and pay more. It also set out a blueprint for a levy on imports from nations with softer environmental rules. The battle has just begun and it could last for years. However, Europe will become a global laboratory for deep decarbonisation and the world will have an opportunity to learn how to achieve climate targets. Interestingly, the package arrives days after heatwaves across the globe. [COMMENT by Stephen N.R., Senior Asociate Editor]

INDIA HOCKEY TEAM HAVE GENUINE CHANCE IN TOKYO, SAYS CAPTAIN SINGH: India’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh says his side have a genuine medal chance in Tokyo however he believes the current crop have a long way to go before they can be mentioned in the same breath as the squads that won gold medals at eight Olympics. India are ranked fourth in the world and their last medal came all the way back at the 1980 Moscow Games when they topped the podium. 29-year-old Singh believes they have narrowed the gap on their rivals and that they are now ready to restore some pride. "We have a very good chance of a podium finish in Tokyo. We are fitter than ever and fiercely competitive,” said the skipper. India begin their Pool A campaign against New Zealand on July 24. [COMMENT by Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

TELLING FRESH STORIES: Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu is known for starring in hard-hitting and progressive movies such as ‘Pink’ and ‘Thappad’. Now, the star is launching her own production house so she can tell stories that she believes in. Pannu is not the only young female actress from Bollywood who has decided to form a production house, and it’s indicative of a wish to tell richer and more inclusive stories that aren’t your typical Bollywood fare coming out of the older and more traditional production companies. Audiences are longing for something different and it seems they’re going to get it. [COMMENT by Jennifer Barretto Assistant Editor - Features]