From the Editors: Sharjah private schools returning to 100 per cent in-classroom teaching a positive indicator

SHARJAH PRIVATE SCHOOLS RETURNING TO 100 PER CENT IN CLASSROOM TEACHING A POSITIVE INDICATOR: The announcement that all Sharjah private schools will be allowed to return to in-classroom teaching from April 11 is indeed good news. In February, Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) had announced that all private schools in the emirate will be required to follow the distance-learning module in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation. In that sense, the latest decision to allow schools to return to in-classroom teaching is definitely a very positive indicator. At the same time, SPEA has clarified that schools will also be allowed to continue with the blended-learning module for some more time. This is quite a pragmatic step because it keeps the door open for all those students to continue to pursue their regular classes from home if in case they do not feel confident enough to return to in-classroom teaching yet. On the whole, the SPEA steps will go a long way in helping instil confidence in the minds of parents, students and the school staff, while also facilitating adherence to COVID protocol. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

END OF JORDAN RIFT MUST BE WELCOMED BY ALL: Jordan’s Prince Hamzah has pledged loyalty to the king, who instead has accepted family mediation. This bodes well for Jordan, and indeed for the Middle East. The Hashemite kingdom is a linchpin of regional stability. It has managed to avoid the turmoil that has roiled neighbours such as Iraq and Syria, and it’s security apparatus is seen as a major bulwark against threats to regional security. As a result, the country has managed to punch well above its weight due to it strategic importance in a neighbourhood that seems to be in a continuous state of flux. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

TRAVEL BUBBLE A RESULT OF TOUGH MEASURES: New Zealand and Australia have laid out plans to open a long-anticipated travel bubble soon. This is good news for families who have been separated by the COVID-19 pandemic and will also help jump-start the tourism industry. Both countries have been successful in clamping down on the spread of the virus, mainly because of the tough measures that they took. It may have been difficult in the early days, but the results have been good. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

KLOPP AIMING FOR BIG RESULT-NOT REVENGE: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not seeking revenge on Real Madrid and will have more interest in getting a positive result when they meet in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday night. The Spaniards defeated Liverpool in the 2018 final and Klopp was left raging at Sergio Ramos for the challenge which ended Mohammad Salah’s match that night in Kiev. Salah suffered a dislocated shoulder after being hauled to the ground by Ramos and Madrid went on to win a third consecutive European Cup. The sides meet again in Madrid on Tuesday night, but Klopp insists he has moved on. “It was for us a strange night, but it was long ago. We cannot get that feeling back or that anger or whatever so I don’t even try. What I try is to prepare my team for tomorrow to show we are a good football team.”[COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

THE PIERS MORGAN-MEGHAN FEUD CONTINUES TO RAGE: The Piers Morgan feud against Meghan refuses to die down with the TV host giving an explosive interview of his own nearly a month after the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry had that sit down with Oprah Winfrey. Speaking to Tucker Carlson, Morgan called Meghan “the delusional duchess”, while demanding she reveals names of the senior royals who allegedly refused to help her when she contemplated suicide while pregnant with Archie. Even though Morgan may have a right to an opinion, he perhaps also needs to take into consideration the fine line when a conversation slips into bullying. Meghan, who is currently pregnant with her second child, probably has enough on her plate already to be subjected on another trial by media. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]