From the Editors: Good news of COVID-19 vaccine amid row in Europe

ONE YEAR ON, COVID SURVIVORS AN INSPIRATION FOR ALL: It was on this day, exactly one year ago, when a Chinese grandmother aged 73, who had come to the UAE as a tourist, came to know that she had contracted COVID-19. She fought bravely and she recovered. So did millions of others the world over. As the UAE looks back at the first few COVID-positive cases that struck the nation exactly a year ago, it is indeed heartening to note that so many of those who had contracted the dreaded virus, fought on bravely and returned to normal lives. Think about that woman in the UAE who was infected with the virus twice, or for that matter the man who tested negative seven times, even as his condition worsened, before he finally returned a positive result with the eighth test. These are all remarkable tales of resilience, of bravehearts who took it all in their stride. Right from the time the first positive cases came to light until this day, the recoveries far outnumber the deaths and that is such a relief! [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

ARABIANS ARE UP AND RUNNING IN ABU DHABI T10: The Maratha Arabians sent out a strong message to kick off the Abu Dhabi T10 League that they will not give up thier title without a fight. The defending champions of the innovative cricket format got off to a perfect start when UAE’s wicketkeeper-batsman Abdul Shakoor Bangash hit a 28-ball 73 to help the Arabians register a five-wicket win over Northern Warriors in the first game of the day at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Friday. The Arabians were set a target of 128 by the Warriors. Although Javed Ahmadi fell early in the chase and Laurie Evans contributed only nine after coming in at No. 3, Shakoor launched a counter-attack and dispatched the bowlers to all corners of the park. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

MORE THAN AN ACTRESS: Veteran star Cicely Tyson, who has died at the age of 96, leaves behind a rich legacy in the arts. But beyond that she has left an indelible mark on the lives of Black artists, especially women. Tyson was a pioneer, breaking stereotypes and refusing to play roles that demeaned Black people. Her death has been deeply mourned by Hollywood not just because she was an amazing actress but because she inspired and uplifted others to battle racism and carve out a space in the industry. Tyson’s spirit will live on in those who come after her and who will hopefully create a more equal world. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor - Features]

GOOD NEWS OF VACCINE AMID ROW IN EUROPE: Amid the vaccine row in Europe, there was also some good news. Novavax said its coronavirus vaccine was 89.3 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 in a trial conducted in the UK. In order to break the chain of the coronavirus, at least 70 per cent of the world’s population needs to be vaccinated, and to achieve this one vaccine will not be sufficient. So when multiple companies release findings that their vaccines can protect us from the virus it is only a matter of time till people around the world are inoculated. Till then, we must be patient and continue to follow the safety protocols. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]