From the Editors: Solicit beggars at your own risk

SOLICIT BEGGARS AT YOUR OWN RISK: Authorities and the police across the UAE have repeatedly cautioned the public to refrain from soliciting beggars. Yet, there are people who still do not take these warnings seriously. Begging is illegal in the UAE and those who solicit beggars must realise that the act of helping a beggar actually aids and abets an unlawful activity. There have been several instances when those trying to help a beggar have actually ended up being robbed or cheated in some form. The problem is particularly rampant during Ramadan, with some even using social media platforms for begging. We must always remember that offering to help a beggar is not a long-term solution or a lifeline. If we really want to offer meaningful help to someone in distress, then we ought to approach legitimate charitable organisations to make contributions. Offering alms to a beggar will encourage a malpractice, which, in the long run, can only be detrimental to society. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

INDIA SUCCUMBS TO FALSE SENSE OF CONFIDENCE IN FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19: India has registered an all-time global high of 314,835 new daily COVID-19 cases. As if this was not bad enough, experts say the cases will peak only by mid-May. An acute shortage of oxygen, a healthcare system that is unable to cope and not enough vaccines for the people have made the situation desperate. How did the country get here? Many reasons have been given – a new variant, election rallies, and religious gatherings. Ultimately, when the people let their guard down the coronavirus struck with ferocity. This has been true with all countries with a second and third wave of the virus. One lesson that all of us can learn is that we have learnt very little about the virus. A false sense of confidence in overcoming the coronavirus has resulted in cascading cases and deaths in India and around the world. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

CHENNAI LOOK STRONGER; WELCOME BACK KANE WILLIAMSON: The spring in their steps seems to have returned for Chennai Super Kings after an unusually dismal run in the IPL 2020. A mammoth total, followed by some world class swing bowling paved the way for their third win in four outings on Wednesday night – and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is smiling again. In a weekday of double-headers in IPL – it was earlier heartening to see Sunrisers Hyderabad log in their first points on the table and the affable Kane Williamson playing his first game this season after the elbow injury. May be, this is just what the doctor ordered for SRH! [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

Just as we thought that Bollywood was finding its own unique voice of storytelling by tackling bolder and greyer themes, we have Indian superstar Salman Khan who is determined to take us back in the world of bombastic Bollywood films with all-conquering heroes at its core. His Eid release trailer ‘Radhe’, revealed on April 22, is studded with his usual studied histrionics and swagger. The most wanted ‘bhai’ (as he is fondly called) has arrived, the trailer proclaimed. But has he? Khan, with all his clout and resources, has refused to take any creative gambles in the last one decade. What is it that stops a privileged actor like Khan, with an army of devoted followers, from taking creative gambles? Forget pushing the envelope, this brawny hero who loves to go shirtless and romance women half his age, refuses to think out of the box. While his ardent fans will be appeased by his turn in ‘Radhe’, the rest of us are hoping that seasoned actors like Khan show some spine in their future projects. [COMMENT BY: Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor Features]