From the Editors: Women play critical role in UAE society

WOMEN PLAY CRITICAL ROLE IN UAE SOCIETY: We recently celebrated International Women’s Day, a day when we recognise their critical contributions to the growth of humanity. The UAE, with its visionary leadership, has always been aware of this, and has taken several steps since its inception to boost their role. Two recent developments highlight this fact. Sharjah recently inducted its first all-women SWAT team into the emirate’s police force, while Seha in Abu Dhabi announced that more than two-thirds of its staff are women. These show how the UAE is a trailblazer when it comes to boosting the role of women in society. [COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

WHEN WILL US GUN CRIMES END?: The US House of Representatives approved two gun control bills and they are desperately needed in the country which is riddled with gun crime. Every year, thousands of deaths and injuries occur because of it - in fact gun crime in the US is 25 times higher than 22 other high-income nations. The bills aim to expand background checks and close internet and gun show loop holes in a bid to make it harder for criminals - who clearly should not have such easy access to firearms - from buying weapons. But even by putting more obstacles in their way, they will probably still get their hands on them one way or the other. The new laws may not prevent anything, but at least the US is trying to find a solution for this very serious problem. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

CROWDS RATHER TO WITNESS T20 CLASH AT NARENDRA MODI STADIUM: World sport took another step towards recovery from the coronavirus pandemic as the largest crowd since the COVID-19 outbreak gathered for the T20 International between India and England at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday. As many as 57,000 people, including volunteers and police, attended the clash, which England won convincingly. The Motera stadium can hold 110,000 spectators, meaning the large turnout could enjoy the game while still following social distancing protocols the Gujarat Cricket Association said. The five-match T20 series will be held entirely at the Narendra Modi Stadium, before three ODIs in Pune. [COMMENT BY: Matt Smith, Sports Editor]

JENNIFER LOPEZ-ALEX RODRIGUEZ LOVE STORY COMES TO AN END: Another Hollywood love story has succumbed to the pressures of fame, with Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez reportedly calling it quits after a two-year engagement. The power couple, who were together for four years and had postponed their wedding twice on account of the pandemic, couldn’t survive an alleged cheating scandal that erupted earlier this year. Madison LeCroy told Page Six last month that while she messaged and spoke on the phone with the former New York Yankee, “he’s never physically cheated on his fiancee with me.” Irrespective of what served as the final nail in the coffin, the end of their love story has stunned insiders, following a painful 2020 that has seen many celebrity couples fall apart including Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas and Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]