From the Editors: Abrahamic Family House opens in UAE, Premier League referee resigns, our editors comment on the top stories of Feb 18

The Abrahamic Family House is a true reflection peaceful coexistence: The Abrahamic Family House, a new centre for learning, dialogue and the practice of faith will open for visitors from March 1 in Abu Dhabi. The centre encompasses three separate houses of worship – a mosque, a church and a synagogue, as well as shared spaces for gathering and dialogue. The House embodies the diversity of Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE, home to vibrant multicultural communities of various faiths. The centre will be a platform for learning and dialogue, a model of coexistence set against the backdrop of the multiculturalism and diversity of the nation, where more than 200 nationalities live peacefully side-by-side. (Comment by Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor)

Premier League needs more competent referees: Following his huge mistake during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brentford referee Lee Mason will no longer officiate in the Premier League. The 51-year-old has left the referees’ body PGMOL by mutual consent after his howler cost the Gunners two vital points. Mason, who was a Premier League referee for 15 years and had overseen 287 top-flight matches, was the Video Assistant Referee during the clash at the Emirates Stadium and failed to draw the guidelines to check for offside on Ivan Toney’s equaliser. Coach Mikel Arteta was furious and said Mason failed to do his job properly. It was the second high-profile error he has made while working solely as a VAR official this season resulting in him being dropped from a round of Premier League fixtures. More competent referees are desperately needed otherwise we will continue to see blunders that cause teams to lose vital points which could be the difference of winning titles or surviving relegation. With so much on the line the referees must ensure they always make the right decisions. They are better equipped than ever to do so what with all the technology they have to check incidents but the fact that mistakes are still being made is simply not good enough. [Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor]

Sexism and Hollywood – a never-ending affair: First it was Pamela Anderson. Then Raquel Welch. Now, we have glimpses into how yesteryear Hollywood sirens felt about being slotted as “the siren”, in the face of rampant sexism. Take the Associated Press’ obituary piece for Stella Stevens, who died on February 17, 2023. The piece recounts how studio executives felt her bodily charms were more important than her acting skills. Welch, who started off as a glamorous actress, too, faced a similar situation. “They’ll say, ‘Raquel Welch wants to direct? Give me a break,”’ she said in 1993. Anderson’s memoir, which released early this month, has an identical story to narrate. She may have been the beautiful actress with no brains or agency on screen, but her memoir and documentary tears into this attitude. As the onion peels, we see a different persona—for which we are grateful. The joke’s on you, Hollywood! [Rajagopalan Venkataraman, Assistant Editor-Features]