From the Editors: Green pass system for entry into UAE government offices a pragmatic step

GREEN PASS SYSTEM FOR ENTRY INTO UAE GOVERNMENT OFFICES A PRAGMATIC STEP: The UAE has adopted the green pass system for entering all federal government entities by employees and visitors in all the emirates across the country. According to the new rule, only fully vaccinated employees and visitors and those excluded from vaccination will be allowed to enter government institutions from January 3, 2022. Those excluded from vaccination will also be allowed to enter the premises of government entities, provided their status on the Al Hosn App is green. This kind of a uniform stricture that is applicable to every single individual across the country is a highly pragmatic step that will further boost the UAE’s fight against the pandemic and enhance people’s confidence in the steps taken by the authorities to safeguard the population against COVID-19. Right from the start of the pandemic, the UAE has been an exemplar in its fight against the virus with its proactive measures -- right from testing, contact tracing to vaccination. This new entry guideline for government offices is in keeping with that tradition. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

WORLD CANNOT ABANDON AFGHANS TO THEIR FATE: The summit of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation held in Pakistan was a major step in bringing to the world’s attention to the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The OIC has said it will play a leading role in the urgent delivery of humanitarian and development aid to Afghans. Also at stake is Afghans’ ability to help themselves - about $10 billion of Afghanistan’s cash is frozen in the United States, and the new Taliban government does not have access to these funds. Some have argued that as a result of this US policy, ordinary Afghans are paying the price. The new Taliban government has also urged Muslim nations to push the US to remove sanctions imposed on Afghanistan. The United Nations has said more than 50 per cent of the nearly 40 million people in Afghanistan are facing acute hunger and a million children could die as the winter sets in. These are sobering statistics. This cannot be allowed to happen. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

THE UAE UNVEILS THE FUTURE OF MOVIES: The UAE has closed the doors on censorship in movies and introduced a new age classification that will ensure fans will get to see the same content that Hollywood, Bollywood and other industries are producing in its entirety. More details by the Media Regulatory Office are sure to follow in the coming weeks, but the 21 years and up age rating, which will be used for films depicting mature content, is a step in the right direction for a country that has always been open to change and adopting new perspectives. This move also underscores the importance of movies and filmmaking in the country, which is striving ahead with projects such as ‘Al Kameen’. The only way is up from here. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]