From the Editors: Be patient with ‘delivery boys’ in Dubai for their safety

BE PATIENT WITH 'DELIVERY BOYS' FOR THEIR SAFETY: Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has issued new regulations for ‘managing and providing delivery services’ in the emirate. Heavy fine will be slapped on delivery bikers and their companies in case of any violations of the stipulated rules. This is, indeed, a good move to stop ‘nuisance’ and ‘rush’ of unruly bikers delivering food and other items across the emirate. They are often seen dangerously racing on the fast lanes or zigzagging on roads putting their lives in danger. Though, the delivery services sector plays a key role in supporting economic growth, especially during the pandemic, safety for the riders must come first. Customers should also be patient with the bikers if their ‘food’ delivery is delayed for a few minutes for whatever reasons. [COMMENT by Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

TESTING TIME FOR RAMAPHOSA: South Africa’s vaccination programme faltered amid widespread unrest and looting following the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma. Violent protests, which claimed more than 30 lives, have also dealt a body blow to country’s efforts to rebuild the economy and pose the sternest test yet to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s authority. Accounting for almost 40 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths in Africa, with 64,509 fatalities so far, the country is struggling to cope with growing cases. The violence erupted after Zuma was taken into custody on July 7 to begin a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. The turmoil has highlighted divisions within the ruling African National Congress and the tenuous hold Ramaphosa has over the party. The government, which has deployed the army in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, must rein in destructive elements and focus on the vaccination drive to win the war against COVID-19. [COMMENT by Stephen N.R., Senior Asociate Editor]

'KAPIL'S DEVILS' LOSES KEY MEMBER AS YASHPAL SHARMA PASSES AWAY: It’s been nearly for decades, but the romance of India’s first-ever World Cup triumph in 1983 under Kapil Dev still endures. It came as a shock when Yashpal Sharma became the first member of ‘Kapil’s Devils,’ as they were called, to fall as he passed away at his home in Noida. Not too many may remember that Yashpal the teamman held his own as a lower order batsman in a squad full of big names as he aggregated 240 runs at an average of 34.28 to return as the second-highest scorer for India behind skipper Kapil Dev in the tournament. RIP, Yashpal Sharma. [COMMENT by Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

HOLLYWOOD'S TRYST WITH SPACE: As the world sat riveted following billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson’s voyage into space aboard the Virgin Galactic yesterday, the images splashed across the world almost felt like a Hollywood movie unspooling in real life. Hollywood has long traversed the far depths of its resources to bring space expeditions on screen in a multitude of settings, with odysseys such as ‘Star Trek’, ‘Star Wars’ and films that include ‘Gravity’ and ‘Interstellar’ defying the parameters of human imagination. To paraphrase a famous quote by astronaut Neil Armstrong, yesterday’s flight was a small step for man, but a giant step for mankind in the quest for space travel. And even though the wait may outlive the lifetimes for some of us, until then, we have Hollywood to explore the far depths of its resources to launch