From the Editors: Get your COVID-19 jab now

JUST GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE: The findings of a study that nine out of 10 COVID-19 patients hospitalised and admitted to intensive care units in Dubai are unvaccinated should serve as a wake-up call to those who may still be reluctant to go in for a vaccine. According to the health authorities in Dubai, the study also found that eight out of 10 people who tested positive for COVID-19 were also unvaccinated. All those who are eligible to get the vaccine must get themselves covered - it is the only way forward in the combat against the coronavirus. Of course, let us not forget our other responsibilities too: Wearing masks, regularly washing our hands and maintaining social distance are also essential. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

IT’S BYE BYE ‘BIBI’ AS NEW ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SER TO TAKE OVER: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year hold on power is set to end when the Knesset votes today on a new government. Naftali Bennett, a hawkish hi-tech millionaire, will take over as prime minister. But if he wants to keep the job, he will have to maintain an unwieldy coalition of parties from the political right, left and centre. The eight parties include a small Arab Islamist Party known by its Hebrew acronym Ra’am, which is making history by sitting in the ruling coalition. Often referred to by his nickname Bibi, Netanyahu’s place in Israeli history is secure, having served as prime minister for a total of 15 years — more than any other, including the country’s founder, David Ben-Gurion. The coming months will remain volatile as Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, remains the head of the largest party in parliament and is expected to vigorously oppose the new government. [COMMENT BY: Stephen N.R, Senior Associate Editor]

G7 MUST NOT SEE CHINA AS AN ADVERSARY: The Chinese embassy in London had some strong words for the G7 leaders. Beijing has made it clear the days when a “small” group of countries determined the fate of the world were long gone. This comes as US President Joe Biden urged Europe and Japan to counter Chinese influence by giving developing nations billions in financing for infrastructure projects, to reduce their dependence on China for new roads and railways. This is the first time the G7 is so directly challenging Beijing. But the fact remains that between US, Europe and Japan, there is no agreement on how best to counter China. Continuing to see China as an adversary may not be in the interest of a stable global order. Seeing it as a partner, on the other hand, will be in the long-term interest of all concerned. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

DENMARK VS FINLAND MATCH SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSTPONED AFTER ERIKSEN INCIDENT: Denmark lost the match but life won. Following a night of huge tension and fear in Copenhagen, there was relief at the news that Christian Eriksen, who suffered a heart attack and collapsed on the pitch, was going to be ok. It may not have been the case had it not been for the quick intervention of several Danish players and medical staff who saved the 29-year-old's life. The severity of the incident was apparent and millions watching on TV were fearing the worst but thankfully the Inter Milan star was given speedy treatment before eventually being stretchered off the pitch and rushed to hospital. News broke that he was stable and was talking and it brought relief all around but should the game have been postponed out of respect to what everyone had witnessed? There are more important things than football, but the game went ahead and clearly the minds of the players was elsewhere, many were still in tears at the final whistle. All we can wish now is for Eriksen to make a full recovery. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

BOYCOTT KAREENA KAPOOR IF YOU MUST, BUT SPARE HER SON: It’s been two days since the Kareena Kapoor Khan boycott has been trending on social media after news broke that the Bollywood actress was in the running to play Sita in a retelling of the Indian epic, the ‘Ramayan’. Some reports have claimed she had demanded Rs120 million for the role, while others state she was never in the running and this was all a PR-generated blitzkrieg as a counter to the news that her husband Saif Ali Khan was playing Ravan – the demon king who kidnaps Sita – in the upcoming film ‘Adipurush’. Irrespective of what the real story may be, what is distressing to see is people using this on social media to abuse and threaten Kapoor Khan’s son Taimur who is all of four years old. Resurrecting the brouhaha that had followed after people objected to the child’s name, while drawing similarity between Taimur and the 13th century warrior king Timur, is completely unnecessary and uncalled for. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]