From the Editors: Motorists must respect school bus stop signs in the UAE

MOTORISTS MUST RESPECT THE SCHOOL BUS STOP SIGN: Abu Dhabi Police have warned motorists of hefty penalties if they do not stop for the school bus when the ‘stop sign’ of the vehicle is raised. A Dh1,000 fine and 10 black traffic points will be imposed on motorists for not respecting the school bus ‘stop sign’. The sign is raised when a bus makes a stop in order to allow students to board the vehicle or disembark from it, and it is designed to ensure students’ safety. All road users must take extra caution while driving pass school buses, give them way and respect the ‘stop sign’ to ensure safety of students. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

FOR THE TALIBAN, HARD PART IS ONLY BEGINNING: By most accounts, the Taliban is now in total control of Afghanistan, after the fall of the Panjshir Valley. They have Afghanistan in a vice-like grip. But with total power, comes full responsibility. The Taliban are yet to finalise their new government, three weeks after their astonishing military victory. The challenges ahead are too numerous to mention, but the main ones involve the precarious situation of an economy close to collapse, and rights of individuals. They even need to work out something as basic as the handling of the international airport. For the Taliban, the toughest phase might only now be starting. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

INDIA ON THE THRESHOLD OF A RARE TEST SERIES WIN IN ENGLAND: Lionised one moment, only to be ripped apart at the next - the Indian cricket team has moved between one extreme to other in the ongoing Test series in England. However, a resilient allround performance in the last four days at The Oval saw Virat Kohli’s men go ahead in the series 2-1, ensuring that they cannot lose the series from here. With the final Test to go at Old Trafford in a few days’ time, India are well-placed to win a rare Test series in England after 2007. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

A TRAGIC PASSING: Tributes have been pouring in for ‘The Wire’ actor Michael K Williams, who was found dead in his New York City apartment from a suspected drug overdose. His death comes less than two weeks before he would have learned if he had won his first Emmy Award for the series ‘Lovecraft Country’ after being nominated four times prior. It’s a devastating loss for fans of the talented star and for his friends and colleagues who remembered him for being a kind and gentle person. The tragedy also highlights his silent struggles with addiction, mental health and a troubled past.[COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]