From the Editors: Dubai Police redefine community policing with volunteers on horse-back

DUBAI POLICE REDEFINE COMMUNITY POLICING WITH VOLUNTEERS ON HORSE-BACK: From Smart Police Stations to smart helmets and supercars, Dubai Police have introduced several innovative ideas and technologies to ensure foolproof public safety and security measures. Latest in that long list of out-of-the-box thinking is the idea to rope in community volunteers to join Dubai Police’s mounted unit, used mainly for patrolling busy residential and commercial areas. This mounted unit had come in very handy in guiding and assisting people during the COVID-19 pandemic last year. The voluntary initiative titled ‘Ride with Dubai Mounted Police Unit’ attracted more than 1,000 applications from those who wanted to be a part of this drive. 261 volunteers eventually joined Dubai Police officers in spreading awareness at Al Khawaneej, Al Warqa, Al Bada’a, Umm Suqeim, Al Barsha, City Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residences and the Boulevard. While Dubai Police personnel are always there to guide and assist all residents and visitors on security issues, the idea to allow residents themselves to come forward and be a part of community policing is truly wonderful – something that befits Dubai’s stature as a hub of innovation and ideation. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

WORLD CANNOT ALLOW AFGHANISTAN TO FACE STARVATION: Aid groups say one million children could die this winter in Afghanistan of mass starvation. The UN’s World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation have said that 22.8 million people - more than half the population - could face extreme levels of food insecurity. Since the Taliban takeover in August, donors have suddenly become reticent and aid has drastically dried up. This has emerged as a huge problem as even before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan was largely reliant on foreign aid to meet its basic needs. The other issue is that Afghanistan’s foreign reserves - of up to $9 billion - are frozen in the US. The new government has no access to these funds. The politics of the Taliban takeover aside, the outside world must do more to stabilise the extreme humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Otherwise, it could have the deaths of a million on its conscience. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: XAVI PROMISES START OF A NEW ERA AFTER BARCA’S EARLY EXIT: The writing was on the wall as Barcelona, five-time champions, failed to make the knockout stages of Uefa Champions League for the first time in 21 years with a 3-0 defeat at Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Xavi, a member of Barca’s golden generation and now their coach, promised a turnaround for the Spanish giants when he said: ‘’I'm angry. I don't like that this is our reality now. We start a new era from here - to work hard and get back in the Champions League.’’ Barcelona had reached the last 16 in each season since 2003-04, when they did not qualify for the competition at all. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

A NEW KIND OF WEDDING COVERAGE: Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal’s wedding has been all over the news recently, and their fans can’t wait to see them get hitched. Their relationship has been the stuff of Bollywood legend because they’ve been extremely secretive not only about their dating phase, but also their Rajasthan nuptials. According to reports, the rights to their wedding footage has been sold to Amazon Prime Video. It’s a bit strange to have their milestone be uploaded to a streaming site, akin to a reality TV show. But in a way, it’s their way of taking control of the coverage of this grand event and getting paid for having all these eyeballs on them. They can’t escape it — like how many celebrities did when they got married abroad — so they’re playing along. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]