From the Editors: Oscar winner AR Rahman takes one for the women’s team

CAMPING TIME AHEAD BUT KEEP THE DESERT CLEAN: It’s time for UAE residents to go camping in the desert as the winter sets in. Nevertheless, police have warned the fun-seeking wanderers to be mindful for desert environment. Sharjah Police have even adopted an innovative approach to monitor violations in the desert by using drones. Police patrolling will also be increased to check rash driving, which is a major cause of fatal accidents and loss of lives and property in the desert. Desert adventurers should also follow rules to keep the camping sites clean. They should not only adhere to the safety rules but also avoid dumping garbage at the campsite to protect the desert environment and wildlife. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

IS BIDEN'S FOREIGN POLICY BECOMING MORE LIKE TRUMP'S? America’s global adversaries, who had heaved a sigh of relief when Donald Trump was voted out of office, now seem to be watching the President Joe Biden with growing alarm. In his policies, countries like Iran and China, see an echo of the Trump era and his ‘America First’ stance. Had these just been concerns of countries like Iran, Washington could have brushed them aside. The problem for the White House seems to be that some of its traditional allies also seem to be thinking so. A case in point is France. Paris felt humilitated and ‘back-stabbed’ after its multi-billion dollar submarine deal with Australia fell through and Canberra decided to go with American nuclear subs. Whatever the case, it is a fact every country has a right to determine its own strategic national interests - and pursue them, with or without allies. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, Internatonal Editor]

WILL TUCHEL AND CHELSEA RECORD 4TH CONSECUTIVE WIN OVER GUARDIOLA AND CITY? Thomas Tuchel has gotten the better of Pep Guardiola in three successive matches. The pair will be on the touchline facing off against one another again when Chelsea host Man City in the English Premier League tomorrow. Can Guardiola stop it from becoming four consecutive defeats? Tuchel racked up the trio of wins in three different competitions last season with the most significant being the Champions League final. Many blamed Guardiola for overthinking his tactics and tinkering with the team too much. His side certainly was lopsided and Chelsea took full advantage. It will be interesting to see what Guardiola has up his sleeve if he is to finally get one over Tuchel. If Tuchel does make it four wins then City will find themselves six points adrift of the Blues and defending their title will only get harder. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

OSCAR WINNER AR RAHMAN TAKES ONE FOR THE WOMEN'S TEAM: Indian music maestro AR Rahman, who describes his daughter and singer Khadija as a proud feminist, is thrilled that he has won some precious brownie points with her by mentoring an all-women orchestra for Expo 2020 Dubai. “She doesn’t hate her dad,” quipped AR Rahman in an interview yesterday, alluding to grown-up kids who are often embarrassed by their parents. But it’s not just his daughter that he has impressed with this progressive stand. This ‘Mozart Of Madras’ -- one of the most busiest and in-demand music composers in the world -- set aside nearly two years of your life to promote music among aspiring musicians and that makes him incredibly tall in our eyes. His ‘Firdaus Orchestra’, which was formed after a wide net was cast across the Middle East to whet musical talents, has women from over 28 nationalities showcasing their musical prowess. They were mentored by the best in the music world and not many women can boast of such golden opportunities. Here’s a big shout out to an incredible talent like AR Rahman for taking one for the women’s team. [COMMENT BY: Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor Features]