From the Editors: UAE - Where dreams come true

UAE- WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE: That the UAE is among the top five places to live and work in, according to a global expat explorer study is no surprise. Coming from different parts of the world, who would know the value of living in the UAE better than the expats? From the unfailing rule of law and state-of-the-art infrastructure down to the little things that make a difference to our day-to-day living, the UAE wins hands down. Residents have so much to thank the visionary leaders for. As any number of them would tell you, this is the land that makes dreams come true. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

WILL ELECTORAL PATH SAVE LEBANON? Amid deepening economic meltdown and myriad challenges, Lebanon will go to polls on March 27, ahead of the previous schedule in May, giving Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government a few months to try to secure an IMF recovery plan. Parliamentary elections are to take place every four years. However, in 2013 the parliament self-extended its elapsed mandate by 16 months, citing “security concerns” and an inability to agree on a new electoral law. Over the following five years, it did so again twice. So, surprises cannot be ruled out this time, too. Barring such situation, Lebanese citizens will cast votes in the first general elections since the October 2019 uprising, the financial collapse, Beirut port explosion and the worst street violence in the capital over a decade. With financial aid tied to reforms, timely conduct of elections is essential this time for Lebanon. [COMMENT BY: Stephen N R, Senior Associate Editor]

T20 WORLD CUP: SHAKIB AL HASAN REDISCOVERS HIS MOJO, JUST IN TIME: Shrugging off a major upset at the hands of Scotland in the first match of their qualifiers, Bangladesh beat Oman on Tuesday night to keep their chances of making the Super-12 alive – and they surely need to thank star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan for that. A big occasion player (don’t forget his prolific run with the bat in 2019 ICC World Cup), Shakib scored a brisk 42 off 29 balls and took three for 28 to stand out in what was an improved performance by his team. The revelation of the first stage, of course, has been Scotland who posted their second win in the group and are well poised to make it to the elite stage of the competition. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE FANS OF BRITNEY SPEARS: Hell hath no fury than scorned fans of Britney Spears. The posse, who played a large part in shedding light on the ‘abusive’ conservatorship that the singer had to endure for 13 years, have now turned their focus on all those who played a part in shackling Britney, including her sister. The ‘Toxic’ crooner’s sibling, Jamie Lynn Spears, who has borne the brunt of ‘Free Britney’ fans in the past, faced another embarrassing setback when a mental health charity declined to accept her donation amidst the backlash the singer’s family is facing for facilitating the controversial conservatorship for so long. Jamie Lynn had earlier revealed that she would donate proceeds from her memoir ‘Things I Should’ve Said’ to a non-profit organisation, which she later singled out as This is My Brave. But the charity would have none of it. In statement issued on Instagram, This is My Brave wrote: “We Heard You. We’re Taking Action. We are deeply sorry to anyone we offended. We are declining the donation from Jamie Lynn Spears’ upcoming book.” Over to you Jamie Lynn.[COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]