From the Editors: Cyclists in Dubai must abide by traffic laws for their safety

CYCLISTS MUST ABIDE BY TRAFFIC LAWS FOR THEIR SAFETY: Dubai Police have warned commuters using cycles, electric scooter and motorcycles to abide by traffic rules strictly to ensure their safety. The warning comes after the police confiscated more than 1,721 motorcycles, electric scooters and bicycles in Dubai for violating traffic law and regulations. Police advised that cyclists and those using electric scooters must wear helmets, reflective jackets and use designated lanes to ensure their safety. While Dubai encourages commuters to use alternate mode of transport in the city, cyclists and e-scooters users must follow the guidelines as they are more vulnerable to road accidents if they use highways and the roads, which are not marked for cycling. If they do not follow the traffic laws, they not only endanger their lives but also the lives of other road users. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

DELTA IS DRIVING THE GLOBAL SURGE, WHO MUST ACT: The delta variant is spreading dangerously fast. First detected in India, the variant has now been recorded in 124 territories — 13 more than last week, World Health Organisation said. There were more than 3.4 million new global COVID-19 cases last week, a 12% increase from the previous week. The highest infections were in Indonesia, UK, Brazil, India and US. A small consolation: The number of deaths is continuing to decline. The increased transmission of the virus is driven by new variant, relaxation of protocols and the large number of people still susceptible to the disease, despite rising vaccination rates in some countries. WHO has urged countries to commit to vaccinating at least 40% of every country’s population by the end of the year. But it can only be possible if the UN agency makes sure vaccines reach the unreached. Until then, follow the protocols. [COMMENT BY: Stephen N R, Senior Associate Editor]

TOKYO OLYMPICS OPENING : EMPEROR NARUHITO, MACRON AMONG LIMITED VIPs: Japan’s Emperor Naruhito will be among the VIPs, along with just a handful of world leaders and senior figures including and French President Emmanuel Macron, US First Lady Jill Biden at the unusual opening ceremony of Tokyo 2020 which takes place in front of thousands of empty seats on Friday. Just 1000 dignitaries will be present at the 68,000-seat Olympic Stadium for the traditional extravaganza, usually a time of celebration for the host nation. Glimpses of rehearsals witnessed by Tokyo residents suggest a high-tech show including a drone display. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

STAR KIDS’ UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE: Aaliyah Kashyap, the daughter of famed Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, has opened up about the MeToo allegations that her father has faced and how it made her anxious. Aaliyah is not the first child of a popular celebrity who has faced this side of fame, without asking to be part of it or even actively participating in show business. Whether it’s Bollywood or Hollywood, the kids of celebrities are put under a microscope. Fans and audiences must respect boundaries and not hold star kids to the same standard as their famous parents. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]