From the Editors: Constant vigil on COVID-19 needs to continue

CONSTANT VIGIL ON COVID-19 NEEDS TO CONTINUE: As the UAE rapidly progresses in its mass vaccination programme, it is important for us to remember not to slacken our precautions and maintain all safety protocols to ensure curbing the spread of the pandemic. The authorities are doing their utmost to ensure our safety. Recently, Sharjah launched a large-scale awareness campaign to raise health awareness among community members, which involves broadcasting direct messages through police patrols and drones. However, such messages and campaigns will be fully successful once we pledge to follow them. We are all responsible in keeping the community safe. [Comment by: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

DONATING VACCINES TO POOR COUNTRIES: News that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to donate surplus doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to poorer nations is, morally, the right thing to do. The UK will not fall short for itself, not when more than 400 million doses were ordered for a nation of around 68 million people. With each person getting 2 doses, it only equals 136 million, meaning there is plenty left to spare. Hopefully, all of the G20 will follow suit because if we do not properly address the virus in poorer nations then aside from suffering the horrific impact, they will become breeding grounds for vaccine-resistant mutations. And these mutations could then be reintroduced back into wealthier countries, and then there will be more lockdowns and restrictions and we’ll be going around in circles. We have to assume that the virus will be around for several years to come, and we may need more vaccines in the future tailored to whichever strains are prevalent. Hopefully, big pharma will be up to the global supply challenges of the future. [Comment by: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

SLOWLY, BUT STEADILY, LIBYAN JIGSAW FALLS INTO PLACE: Another day, another cautious step towards Libyan reconciliation. Jan Kubis, the UN special envoy to Libya on Friday met with the country’s east-based military commander Khalifa Haftar. Following the recent intra-Libyan accord, efforts have gathered pace to unite rival factions in the country ahead of planned elections in December. Libya, with a relatively small and homogenous population, is blessed with Africa’s largest reserves of oil, and a long, pristine Mediterranean coastline. It’s people, who have been suffering instability and a total lack of security for years, deserve nothing less than a government that includes all factions and works towards the uniting east, west and south. [Comment by: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

MOURINHO HEADING FOR SPURS EXIT: The writing looks to finally be on the wall for Jose Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur, as he yet again suffers from second-season syndrome in the English Premier League, just as he did at Manchester United and Chelsea, getting sacked during his second campaign at the two clubs. It looks like we can make that three as things are looking bleak at Spurs. Chairman Daniel Levy has given him the dreaded confidence vote and claimed he will wait until the end of the season before determining Mourinho’s fate, but given the recent slump that sees them ninth in the table and 20 points behind leaders Manchester City having played a game more, it seems the outspoken Portuguese will depart sooner rather than later. [Comment by: Matt Smith, Sports Editor]

GOODBYE TO 'KIMYE': The Kim Kardashian-Kanye West love story has finally come to an end, amidst a media circus that saw the couple go through a tumultuous year of social media meltdowns and presidential bids. Talks of cracks in the marriage started to circulate as soon as West’s erratic behavior saw the American rapper accuse his wife and her famous family of trying to institutionalize him in the now infamous Twitter rant, followed by a failed US Presidential bid. Kardashian West later spoke out about her husband’s struggle with bipolar disorder and the strain it has put on their relationship. The writing appeared to be on the wall, but fans of ‘Kimye’ still hoped they would last the long mile for the sake of their four kids. But like many celebrity marriages, this one wasn’t cut out for the stresses of fame. [Comment by: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor, Gulf News]