From the Editors: Expo 2020 Dubai is finally here!

EXPO 2020 DUBAI IS FINALLY HERE!: It’s finally here! After 2,864 days of relentless planning and preparations, the curtain finally went up on Expo 2020 Dubai last night. And what an opening ceremony it was. A perfect blend of culture and technology, human and artificial intelligence, tradition and modernity greeted the world community as Dubai spread out the red carpet in a manner that was truly emblematic of its global reputation as a hub for trade, commerce, culture, leisure and entertainment. For the next six months, the world’s eyes will be focused on Dubai and the UAE as socio-cultural and economic exchanges hold centre stage at the biggest event on the planet in recent memory that is as much an ode to ‘connecting minds, creating the future’, as it is representative of Dubai and the UAE’s epochal journey in the last five decades. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

NO ONE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR AMERICA'S AFGHAN DEBACLE: The top US military adviser to President Joe Biden has told lawmakers the Afghanistan war was lost as a result of a series of decisions made over a 20-year period. Now that America has admitted it lost the war against the Taliban, will anyone be held accountable? For the hundreds of thousands of Afghan lives lost, and the 2,500 Americans who were killed? For the untold billions spent propping up a corrupt and ineffective administration for two decades? For the Afghan army that collapsed like a pack of cards? It is highly unlikely that anyone will take the blame for America’s Afghan failure. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

RANGERS STAR KAMARA RACIALLY ABUSED BY SCHOOLCHILDREN: Racism reared its ugly head once again last night during the Europa League clash between Rangers and Sparta Prague which the Scottish giants lost 1-0. But what is really shocking is that the booing of black player Glen Kamara came from schoolchildren. The match was played in front of 10,000 kids and some accompanying adults after Uefa relented on a stadium closure following racist chanting by Sparta fans in previous matches. Every time Kamara touched the ball he was booed and his manager, Steven Gerrard, said that not enough is being done to tackle this issue. “I'm extremely disappointed - but not surprised. It needs to be eradicated but until the powers that be do more and treat it more seriously, we're going to be dealing with these questions for a long time,” said the former Liverpool star. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

MAKING WAY FOR THE NEW GENERATION: Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has confirmed that his oldest son Ibrahim will enter the movie industry — but not through an acting role. Ibrahim, 20, is set to assist producer and director Karan Johar on an upcoming movie. It’s notable that Ibrahim has chosen to get behind the camera instead of in front of it. The film industry needs fresh perspectives not just when it comes to acting, but also in the fields of direction, script writing and more. Bollywood could use young, budding filmmakers with new ideas.COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor]