From the Editors: Global health awareness on World Kidney Day

REALITY CHECK: It’s World Kidney Day today and thanks to the medical fraternity and media, there is a surfeit of campaigns out there that serve as reminders. But such red letter days and awareness drives mean very little if those that they are aimed at do not pause and take a look inward. Slipping into a sedentary lifestyle with a poor diet is perhaps the easiest thing to do. But as blood pressure and sugar levels go up, the repercussions on our kidney health cannot be escaped. So away from the rhetoric and the I-know-it-all response, we owe ourselves a reality check – and these occasions give us the perfect opportunity. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

DOS AND DON’TS A YEAR AFTER THE PANDEMIC: It is now a year since the coronavirus threat was declared a pandemic. Life around the world is still restricted to a great deal, but vaccinations have offered hope of a return to normal. COVID-19 has killed more than 2.6 million people and making a surge in some countries. Our struggle to figure out what we can and cannot do is illustrated through decisions made every day. In the US, the government has allowed nursing home residents vaccinated against COVID-19 to get hugs again from their loved ones. But in the Philippines, the police chief has warned against holding hands in public or kissing for fear of spreading the virus. How soon will the fight against the coronavirus come to an end? Scientists are still trying to figure this out. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

BARCELONA GUTTED AT FIRST EUROPEAN EXIT BEFORE QUARTERS SINCE 2006-07: Like all good things, Barcelona’s enviable record in the Uefa Champions League came to a grinding halt as the five-time champions made their first exit in earlier than the quarter final stages after 2006-2007 on Wednesday. Antoine Griezmann admitted they were gutted after going out as a 1-1 draw away to Paris Saint-Germain saw the Catalans lose 5-2 on aggregate. The Spanish giants were last knocked down in last 16 to Liverpool, with Messi aged 19. The Reds, who have slipped up on Premier League, kept their European hopes alive by easing past RB Leipzig. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

FREE SPEECH OR HYPOCRISY?: TV show host Sharon Osbourne has defended Piers Morgan and freedom of speech following the backlash over his comments about Meghan Markle. Morgan said on a TV show that he didn’t believe Markle when she said had suicidal thoughts amid issues with the royal family. However, Morgan didn’t seem to agree with the concept of free speech when he stormed off the set of his show after a colleague confronted him for his comments. He also didn’t seem to agree with it when he slammed Meghan and Prince Harry for speaking about their problems. It seems the argument is being used only when it’s convenient. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]