‘YEAR OF SUSTAINABILITY’ – ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS EFFECTIVE CLIMATE ACTION: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced on Friday that 2023 would be the ‘Year of Sustainability’. The ‘Year of Sustainability’ will include initiatives, activities and events that draw upon the country’s values of sustainability and the legacy of its founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The initiative shows the UAE’s commitment towards taking effective climate change measures. It will also focus on environmental sustainability by inspiring collective action through a nationwide commitment towards sustainable practices. The Year of Sustainability has particular significance as the country prepares to host the COP28 climate conference. (Comment By Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor) 

LEBANON IMPASSE MUST END: Two Lebanese lawmakers are staging a sit-in in parliament to pressurise the members after they failed to elect a president for the 11th time. The squabbling is mainly between lawmakers supporting Hezbollah and those who oppose it — but neither side has a clear majority. The currency has collapsed to a new record low of 50,000 Lebanese pounds to the dollar. Almost two million people were food insecure in the last four months of last year. Amid all the turmoil, the country lost its voting rights in the UN due to unpaid contributions. It is a huge fall for a country that was once called the ‘Switzerland of the Middle East’. Will the politicians step up at least now before it’s too late and address the challenges? It is high time to bring the economy back on a path of recovery. (Comment by N.R. Stephen, Senior Associate Editor) 

SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT: ذاكرة مزعجة: اليوم هو ذكرى ولادة ممثل بوليوود Sushant Singh Rajput وقد مر ما يقرب من ثلاث سنوات منذ وفاته المؤسفة. ومع ذلك ، لا يزال محفورًا في ذاكرة عشرات الآلاف من معجبيه. أحد أسباب هذا الإرث الدائم هو أنه لم يأتِ بالأشرطة المعتادة المرتبطة بمعظم نجوم بوليوود. لم يكن لراجبوت أي صلات في صناعة السينما وكان خارج بوليوود. كانت لديه شخصية واقعية وتفاعل على نطاق واسع مع الناس ، وفاز بقلوبهم على الشاشة وخارجها. نظر إليه الجمهور على أنه شخص لم يدع النجومية تصل إلى رأسه. لا عجب أن قسمًا من المعجبين رأى نجم بوليوود كالصبي المجاور الذي يمكنهم التحدث معه عن أي شيء تحت الشمس. الأمر الذي يجعل وفاته أكثر إزعاجًا.