From the Editors: Dubai's timely travel advisory

TIMELY TRAVEL ADVISORY: The Dubai Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management’s advisory asking residents to undertake their summer travel only 14 days after receiving the second dose of the vaccine must be taken seriously. Those who are eligible for their booster doses should also take the time factor into consideration if they can help it. The rationale is that sufficient time must be allowed for the body to develop its immune preparedness against COVID-19, especially in the wake of new variants spreading globally. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

RUMSFELD’S DEATH REFOCUSES ATTENTION ON RUINOUS IRAQ WAR: The death of Donald Rumsfeld - the ruthless, polarising politician who was a key architect of the ruinous US invasion of Iraq in 2003 - has refocused attention on the situation in Iraq. The country has been in a continuous state of flux ever since. The fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime and the lack of any proper American plan for stabilising Iraq in the immediate aftermath meant that the country turned into a living hell for its inhabitants; more than a million Iraqis died as a result of the invasion and bloody insurgency that followed. Add to it the violent extremism that the situation bred, the shocks of which are being felt to this day. Eighteen years after the invasion, Iraq has still not stood on its own feet. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

HEATWAVES SHATTER RECORDS, DEATHS RISE: The heatwave that has shattered records across many parts of the world has resulted in the death of hundreds of people. Though it is too early to count the numbers, doctors say that a significant rise in deaths in North America could be attributed to the extreme weather. A UN report recently said that heatwaves could be the next big killer. This is cause for concern. Scientists have linked the rise in temperatures to climate change and we have been asked to play our role to put global warming in check. Even a small rise in global temperate can have catastrophic effects on human beings, animals and nature. It is time countries around the world work seriously towards making the world a better place for the future generations. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

STILL ENOUGH LEFT IN THE TANK FOR ANDY MURRAY: It’s perhaps too premature to say if a third Wimbledon crown could be around the corner, but Andy Murray showed there is still enough fire left in the belly on Wednesday night. After looking down and out at one point, the Briton was back doing what he likes best at his favourite slam, picking himself up and dusting himself down as he roared to a 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 second-round win over little-known German qualifier Oscar Otte. For the record, the win helped him to hold on to his streak of never losing a Grand Slam match to a player ranked as low as number 151 Otte - and never having been beaten before the third round at the All England Club. Keep going! [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

STYLE HAS NO BOUNDARIES: Celebrities and models have always been great influencers of style. By wearing certain clothes or accessories, they can kick-start massive trends around the globe. But not all trends are appealing to everyone. Case in point: Ranveer Singh. The Bollywood actor’s sartorial choices can be quirky and unusual to the average ‘jeans and shirt’ person. But the basis of fashion is to break boundaries and explore the creative, fun and playful sides of oneself. While we might not understand or appreciate his fashion sense, we can admire his ability to reinvent and take risks. After all, they’re just clothes! [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]