From the Editors: Beware of professional beggars

BEWARE OF PROFESSIONAL BEGGARS: Dubai Police have alerted people against professional beggars operating in the country. The police have also warned beggars, particularly those involved in organised begging, to stop the practice lest they should face a fine of not less than Dh100,000 and jail not less than six months. Police said that begging increased during Ramadan as the professional beggars used different ‘scams’ to take advantage of the people who tend to give more charity during the holy month of fasting. People must report them to police in order to curb this illegal practice. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

INDIA PASSES 300,000 NEW CASES FOR 12TH DAY IN A ROW: For the 12th consecutive day, India has registered over 300,000 new coronavirus cases. This now takes its overall caseload to just under 20 million. These are huge numbers but what is really worrying is that scientists and medical experts have been saying that the real numbers across the country of 1.35 billion could be five to ten times higher than the official tally. But, there is a tiny glimmer of hope that things will get better as the health ministry today said that positive cases relative to the number of tests conducted fell for the first time since the middle of April. With hospitals filled to capacity, oxygen supplies running short and morgues and crematoriums swamped, India cannot afford to let this virus do any more damage than it already has done. [ COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

CELEBRITIES AROUND THE WORLD UNITE FOR INDIA: Never has the world seen such an unprecedented global collective of voices in aid of India as it battles a pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 200,000 people. Celebrities such as Katy Perry, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello and Reese Witherspoon join names such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas who are asking people to generously contribute towards fundraisers that will directly assist India in its hour of need. Ahead of the May 8 Vax Live global event that will bring together names such as Jennifer Lopez and the Foo Fighters who will lend their fame to raise funds for those affected by COVID-19, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex - who serves as a campaign chair for the event - perhaps says it best in his speech: “What we do in this moment will stand in history and we stand in solidarity with the millions of families across India who are battling a devastating second wave.” [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]