From the Editors: Yet another masterpiece in Dubai

YET ANOTHER MASTERPIECE IN DUBAI: The much-awaited Infinity Bridge opened as planned in Dubai on Sunday, proving yet again the city’s ability to create wonders. Neither the rains nor the weekly holiday deterred early morning commuters to take the new route as they gave a resounding thumps up to the bridge. When traffic peaks, the marvel can accommodate 24,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, besides pedestrians and cyclists. It would be no exaggeration to say that Infinity Bridge is a showcase of Dubai’s world-class engineering as much as it is an artistic and architectural masterpiece. [Comment by: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

DJOKOVIC LOSES BID TO STAY IN AUSTRALIA, WILL BE DEPORTED: World number one tennis star Novak Djokovic will be deported from Australia. The 34-year-old lost his last-ditch court bid to stay in the country today and the Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel the unvaccinated Serbian player’s visa. They argued he was a threat to public health and said his presence in Australia might risk “civil unrest” as he is a “talisman of anti-vaccination sentiment”. The 20-time Grand Slam champion will now not be able to defend his Australian Open title in Melbourne. It is a massive setback in his quest to win a 10th Australian Open crown and a record 21st Grand Slam title. [Comment by: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

AN IRAQI GOVERNMENT FREE OF IRANIAN CONTROL? As government formation talks are underway in Iraq, it could well be that for the first time following the US invasion on 2003, Iraq might have a government relatively free of Iranian influence. Most of die-hard pro-Iran politicians have been trounced in the October elections, with Shiite nationalist Moqtada Al Sadr - who opposes both American and Iranian hegemony in Iraq - emerging as the kingmaker. He ignored the pro-Iran bloc and, along with Sunni and Kurdish parliamentarians, pushed through the re-election of Mohammed Al Halbousi as Speaker. The pro-Iran bloc was opposed to Al Halbousi’s appointment. But Sadr should be alert, and not underestimate the pro-Iran bloc’s determination to get back in charge - by the ballot or the bullet. [Comment by: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

IN A BID TO GET CHEEKY, IS MISOGYNY REALLY THE ROAD TO TAKE? The cheek of it! It seems misogyny is really the road much travelled these days by politicians who feel driving a point home can only be effective when compared to a woman’s anatomy. In the latest cheek-y behaviour by an Indian politician, Jharkhand’s Irfan Ansari found it perfectly acceptable to compare his planned road improvements to Kangana Ranaut’s “smooth cheeks”. While the internet called Ansari out over his distasteful comment, he isn’t the first to make such comparisons, with actress-politician Hema Malini having to endure this for years, first by Lalu Prasad Yadav, the former chief minister of Bihar who made a similar statement in 2005, followed by Shiv Sena politician Gulab Patil last December. At a time when the #MeToo movement has given a voice to women around the world, such comments only underline how much further we still need to travel. [Comment by: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]