From the Editors: Dubai raises benchmark for quality of life

DUBAI RAISES BENCHMARK FOR QUALITY OF LIFE: Dubai remains the best place to live and work in the world as it continuously strives to take lead when it comes to quality of life and happiness of its people. Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan is set to provide a comprehensive future map for sustainable urban development in the city. The plan focuses on reinforcing Dubai’s competitiveness as a global destination by providing a wide diversity of lifestyle and investment opportunities for citizens, residents and visitors over the next 20 years. The plan aims to provide the highest standards of urban infrastructure and facilities. [Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

ALGERIA’S PROTEST MOVEMENT HAS SPRUNG BACK TO LIFE: Slowly, but surely, Algerian protesters are reclaiming the streets. This Friday, the area around the famous central post office in Algiers, which has emerged as a rallying point, was again full of those demanding change, rejecting early legislative elections announced on Thursday. Protesters of the Hirak movement, which broke out in February 2019 against then-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s bid for a fifth term in office, have been gathering every Friday. For a while, it petered out due to the COVID-19 threat. But small scale demonstrations continued. The political dispensation in Algiers now has new cause for concern, as the movement again seems to be gathering momentum. [COMMENT BY Omar Shariff, International Editor]

DON’T EASE RESTRICTIONS IN EUROPE TOO SOON: As soon as COVID-19 restrictions are eased, the number of infections jump up. We have seen this happen in several countries already - and now German health experts are witnessing the same trend. The number of cases have risen over the past few weeks following the relaxing of some restrictions. It seemed an odd decision when a more infectious variant - first detected in Britain - has been spreading rapidly in the country. Angela Merkel is under pressure to end the lockdown but she must first find a way to increase the pace of vaccinations. We must be fully on top of this virus and the number of infections must drastically fall before we can start to breathe easy again. But until that happens, it is imperative that we all wear our face masks, keep our distance and do whatever we can to help curb the spread. Easing restrictions too soon is not the right move. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

IS IT TIME TO BE WORRIED ABOUT VIRAT KOHLI’S FROM YET? The Indian skipper’s dismissal for a duck, his third in the last five innings against England, have raised murmurs in some quarters and the man himself tried to put things in perspective after India lost the first T20 International against England at Ahmedabad on Friday. Ahead of Sunday’s second T20, Kohli is now 32 and has stepped into the second decade of his glittering international career. Kohli said that such “ups and downs” are bound to be a part of life during a long journey in international cricket. It’s the right perspective to judge things, rather than be anxious, and Kohli can pick the brains of someone like Sachin Tendulkar to find ways of dealing with the pressure of expectations — especially in the light of such a high benchmark he has set for himself so long. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

IS BOLLYWOOD FACING A COVID-19 CRISIS? The alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in Bollywood has become a cause of concern as the film industry reopens for business after a year of shutdown. The past seven days has seen a number of notable industry figures test positive for the virus, including actors Ranbir Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ashish Vidhyarthi, along with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Reportedly Tara Sutaria is also battling COVID-19. The recent rise in cases in Bollywood also corresponds to a spike in numbers across India, despite a vaccination drive in full swing. While at one end, entertainment starved audiences are eager for movies to return to theatres, is the cost of re-opening too high? That’s certainly food for thought for Bollywood insiders. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]