From the Editors: UAE Flag Day is a momentous occasion

UAE FLAG DAY IS A MOMENTOUS OCCASION: The UAE Flag Day today is a very special occasion and gives residents yet another opportunity to express their gratitude to the country and its visionary leaders. It is a moment of great pride as both Emiratis and expats celebrate the spectacular achievements of the UAE over the past 50 years. It is also a time for everyone to renew their commitment to take the country farther and higher in its developmental pursuits, showing the way to the future generations. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

TO RULE AFGHANISTAN, TALIBAN WILL HAVE TO DESTROY DAESH: More than anything else, the Taliban government in Afghanistan has staked its claim to rule the country on the basis of providing foolproof security. That assertion is being dramatically challenged by the ultra-violent Daesh affiliate in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-Khorasan. Such is the extremism of this group that it considers even the Taliban to be too moderate. The latest horrific attack by the terror group left more than 20 people dead on Tuesday, including a senior Taliban commander. This follows a string of major attacks - at the airport, in markets and at Shiite mosques, which have left hundreds dead, including dozens of Taliban troops. The Taliban do not have access to sophisticated ground intelligence and signals intelligence that the Nato forces in Afghanistan used against Daesh (and the Taliban) to help the former Afghan government stay in power. But the Taliban has the advantage of knowing the terrain, and tactics used by groups such as Daesh. If they have any hope of ruling Afghanistan and making the country livable for its people, they need to destroy Daesh once and for all. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

WHY RYAN REYNOLDS TAKING A SABBATICAL SHOULD BE APPLAUDED: Ryan Reynolds has done what few dare at the peak of their careers – he’s calling a timeout from the Hollywood spotlight to spend quality time with his family. Sure, he can afford it, so why not? That’s perhaps the question on the minds of most critics. But delve deeper and you understand that Reynolds, who has confessed to battling anxiety in the past, perhaps needs a break from the stresses of work for his mental health. Taking stress leave for one’s overall well-being is being advocated by more and more health experts. Reynolds deserves our applause for being brave about sharing his anxiety struggles with the world and stepping back when the situation demands. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]