From the Editors: Moment of pride for Dubai

MOMENT OF PRIDE: When Dubai’s Supreme Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management met for the 100th time yesterday and acknowledged Dubai’s readiness and teamwork that helped overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing life back to normal, it was a moment of great pride not only for the UAE’s visionary leadership and frontliners, but also for residents. Together, we had fought the battle and won. Sustaining this win is now in our hands as we must not let our guard down and do all that is required of us to move on.[COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

FRANCE COULD HAVE RENDERED A FULL APOLOGY: Sixty years ago today, something terrible happened in Paris. The Parisian police brutally attacked a rally being held by 12,000 Algerians in France against the French war of occupation in their homeland. Police shot untold numbers of people, and threw many of them into the chilly waters of the Sienne, where most of them drowned. Hundreds are said to have perished though the exact numbers have been disputed. The man mainly responsible for the brutality, police chief Maurice Papon, was later found to have collaborated with occupying Nazi forces in World War II in sending Jews to Nazi death camps. French President Emmanuel Macron issued a statement on the anniversary saying that the 1961 march had been repressed "brutally, violently and in blood" and that crimes had been committed. He must be commended for going further than any other French president in acknowledging the massacre. But, he stopped short of a full apology, leaving many descendants of those killed and injured disappointed. It is a truism that in cases such as these, for full closure, a full apology is needed. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

ONE BIG CRICKET TOURNAMENT ENDS AND AN EVEN BIGGER ONE BEGINS: We have just had the conclusion of another thrilling Indian Premier League season but there’s no time for cricket to take a break as the T20 World Cup begins today with matches being played in Oman and here in the UAE. The tournament had been delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic and was initially to be held in India. However due to the rises in COVID-19 cases there, it was moved, much to the delight of fans in the UAE which will stage the final on November 14. Crowds inside the stadiums will be capped at 70 per cent but that will be plenty to ensure a great atmosphere – just like we witnessed during the IPL. West Indies won the last edition but they will face a tough challenge to retain the trophy what with the likes of England, Australia, Pakistan and India all looking strong. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

THE ENTERTAINMENT SCENE IS BACK WITH A BANG IN DUBAI: Dubai knows how to throw a good party and last night we were witness to a prime example of how this glittering city hasn’t lost its edge. The special screening of sports docu-feature ‘Haq Se India’, chronicling the Indian cricket team’s iconic 2007 Twenty20 World Cup win, at a plush hotel saw Dubai’s well-heeled with deep pockets attend. After the screening, a swift auction of that historic match’s memorabilia – a bat signed by all its players who brought home the cup -- went for a whopping Dh50,000. We saw the who-is-who of the UAE attending in a bidding war. Agreed the guest lists were tight and a glittering mask is now our latest facial accessory, but there was no denying that this glamourous gig signaled the revival of Dubai’s famed party scene. Here’s to partying with caution and knocking it out of the park. And did we tell you that pacer S Sreesanth – who sealed India’s World Cup win by taking Misbah-ul-Haq’s catch – turned up at the auction to regale the social set about tales of how he was petrified that he would drop the ball. He didn’t and nor did Dubai last night when it came to throwing a good party. [COMMENT BY: Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor Features ]