From the Editors: More than half of the workers around the world are worried about losing their jobs

Everyone should join #Stopthewaste campaign in UAE: The UAE has joined forces with the World Food Programme’s #StoptheWaste campaign to support the efforts to prevent food loss and waste. On the occasion, Minister of State for Food and Water Security Mariam Al Mheiri give an explicit message ‘avoid putting any edible food in the bin.’ All of us will have to start from home as we can make a big difference by taking small steps to stop food wastage. We should not cook more than what is required and should not order more that we can eat. Before wasting any food, just think of those going to bed hungry. The simple fact is that if were to save all the food we waste, we could feed every undernourished person on the planet twice over. [COMMENT by Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

Pandemic and global start-up awakening: COVID-19 crisis has resulted in job losses of devastating proportions. More than half of workers around the world are worried about their jobs, according to a recent World Economic Forum survey. But the job insecurity has a silver lining too. Data shows Americans enduring high unemployment are creating start-ups at a record pace. Around 1.6 million companies were created from July to September according to the US Census Bureau. Clearly, business interruptions are becoming disruptions for opportunity. Job losses have made people take a second guess on what they are doing and or the pandemic has made the decisions for them to create their own livelihoods. Either way, start-ups are signaling the way forward. [COMMENT by Babu Das Augustine, Banking Editor]

At last, US is taking note of devastating Caucasus conflict: The increasingly brutal Azerbaijan-Armenia war finally seems to have registered on the radar of American policy-makers. The US is now taking serious note of the fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave with an ethnic Armenian that is a part of Azerbaijan, and internationally recognised as such. Armenia has used missiles while Azerbaijan has used drones to devastating effect. Thousands have died on both sides. This belated US intervention must be seen in light of increasing efforts by the Trump administration to score on the international diplomatic front as elections near. But, whatever the reason for the sudden US interest, this intervention is to be welcomed. [COMMENT by Omar Shariff, International Editor]

The Mumbai Indians may have won, but the Indian Premier League game on Friday night in Sharjah was more about the Chennai Super Kings’ fall. Chennai have been misfiring in the UAE, but the capitulation in Sharjah was beyond belief. Usually, MS Dhoni’s men are at their best when their backs are against the wall. They rally from impossible situations. But the 10-wicket rout is ominous. It signals the end of an era. A 13-year run which brought them three IPL titles, has finally ended. [COMMENT by Shyam Krishna, Senior Associate Editor]

Famed Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt has been hit with some salacious allegations by actress Luviena Lodh. She says he’s the biggest don of the film industry and “has destroyed many lives”. Bhatt has responded to her claims with legal action. Just when you think the drama in Bollywood has reached a fever pitch, another issue comes along. To the average Indian and/or movie lover, Bollywood is supposed to be about larger-than-life films, dancing and an escape from reality. But these days, it’s more about mud-slinging. When will the fun return? [COMMENT by Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor - Features]