From the Editors: Keeping up the Ramadan spirit during the pandemic

KEEPING UP THE RAMADAN SPIRIT DURING THE PANDEMIC: Charity is an integral part of the holy month of fasting – Ramadan. Hosting Iftar receptions for families and friends, and distributing Iftar meals amongst the less fortunate are part of the Ramadan spirit but these norms have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We all have to be mindful while giving charity or distributing food and strictly follow the new guidelines announced by the government. The government has clearly stated that the distribution of food or Iftar means in front of houses is prohibited. As advised, we should channel donations and food distribution through approved charity organisations following COVID-19 protocol. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

IRAN’S URANIUM ENRICHMENT RAISES SUSPICIONS ABOUT ITS AIMS: Iran has claimed it has boosted its uranium enrichment to 60 per cent, and that it “expects to accumulate the product next week” from centrifuges at Natanz. Such claims and indeed such actions on Iran’s part are alarming, and a clear violation of its commitments. Under the nuclear deal, Iran had committed to keep enrichment to 3.67 per cent, though it had stepped this up to 20 per cent in January. Iran must realise that such actions give further credence to already strong suspicions internationally that it’s nuclear programme is aimed at eventually producing nuclear weapons. It must stop enrichment. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

FOLLOW COVID-19 PROTOCOLS TO PROTECT ECONOMY: With a tight lockdown-like curfew Maharashtra is hoping to rein in COVID-19 infections that have surged across the state and India. New restrictions will force ‘non-essential’ shops, malls and e-commerce deliveries to stop operations for the next 15 days. There is no doubt that India let its guard down over the past few months, with campaigning for state elections and religious festivals going ahead. The results can be seen in the soaring coronavirus cases and deaths. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has acknowledged that tighter restrictions will have an impact on the economy and jobs, but ‘lives are more important than livelihoods’. This is a warning for people in other states, too. Staying safe and following COVID-19 protocols will help avoid harsh restrictions that will affect the economy and eventually all of us. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

SNATCHING DEFEAT FROM JAWS OF VICTORY, THE KKR WAY: A mid-innings madness by the Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen saw them letting go a fine opportunity to improve their dismal record against champions Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday. Captain Eoin Morgan, Nitish Rana and Shakib Al Hasan all fell to poor shot selection when a modest asking rate just needed them to play sensibly – with the Knights eventually losing the close match by 10 runs. Was it simply panic – or the invincible reputation of Mumbai – one will never know! [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

BOLLYWOOD COMES TO A STANDSTILL…AGAIN: Bollywood and the Indian TV industry was dealt with another blow yesterday when the Maharashtra Chief Minister announced a new lockdown that brought shoots to a halt and pulled the shutters down on cinemas for the next 15 days. Until this order, shoots in the state were operating with restrictions that included avoiding filming scenes with large crowds or background dancers. The blow may not be felt by the bigger players, but for an industry that requires an army of make-up artistes, costume designers and production crew, the news is devastating coming after a year-long lockdown and barely any income. For people like us, the cinema experience to watch your favourite Khan on the big screen will have to wait awhile, with Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Pathan’ and Salman Khan’s ‘Tiger 3’ being some of the shoots that are stuck in limbo now. As fans we could lament and raise our fists in rage, or we could simply follow suit and #BreakTheChain to curb the spread of the coronavirus that has brought the world to its knees. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]