From the Editors: UAE’s call for global cooperation to fight COVID-19 a timely intervention

UAE’S CALL FOR GLOBAL COOPERATION TO FIGHT COVID-19 A TIMELY INTERVENTION: The UAE has issued a timely call for global coordination in ramping up the efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when India is mired in probably its worst humanitarian crisis since independence and with the rest of the world also struggling to find ways to check the spread of this dreaded virus, it is absolutely essential for nations to come forward and join hands in a concerted effort to ensure vaccines, medicines and necessary health-care paraphernalia are made available to the most vulnerable across the world. That is why the call for global cooperation aired through the Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed Ramadan Series on Monday should serve as a clarion call for international cooperation and solidarity in the face of a humongous crisis. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

LEBANON’S NARCOTICS PROBLEM AN INDICATION OF STATE FAILURE: Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari has said that quantity of drugs and psychotropic substances smuggled from Lebanon is enough to drown not only Saudi Arabia but also the entire Arab world. That is a powerful statement to make but one that is, unfortunately, true. For years, it has been known that a series of criminal networks, sometimes backed by political factions, thrive in Lebanon - growing hashish openly in the fields or producing the amphetamine drug known as Captagon. Many of these drugs are then smuggled to other countries in the region, causing havoc and destroying families. The ease with which these drugs are produced in Lebanon is just another example of the pathetic nature of the Lebanese state - unable to provide basic amenities or security. The state has failed in every aspect of governance. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

COORDINATED EFFORT NEEDED TO FIGHT PANDEMIC IN INDIA: India's armed forces are stepping in to tackle the COVID-19 crisis and other countries like the US, UK and France are pitching in with much-needed medical supplies. All this is good news. But much more needs to be done to alleviate the pain and suffering of the people who have been turned away from hospitals due to shortage of beds and oxygen. Vaccine demand has outpaced supply in India, with companies struggling to boost output. Many states have imposed some kind of shutdown. A coordinated effort involving the centre and the states is needed to fight the pandemic and bring the number of cases down to manageable levels. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham Senior Associate Editor]

CHANGE OF VENUE BRINGS LUCK FOR KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS: Eoin Morgan, captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, must have heaved a sigh of relief when he and his team lived to fight another day with a five-wicket win over Punjab Kings in a low-scoring game last night. A lean spell of four losses on the trot ended with a change of venue at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which puts them in fifth spot now with two wins out of six games. The England captain was back among runs with an unbeaten 47, while the KKR bowlers were also on the money. However, the purple shirts can ill afford another loss if they want to nurse any play-off chances. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

BOLLYWOOD STEPS UP THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19: Mere days after being called out for flaunting their privilege through glossy vacation pictures while India was battling an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, Bollywood is coming together to step up the fight against COVID-19. Celebrities such as Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Bhumi Pednekar - each of whom have successfully fought off the coronavirus – are using their fame and social media reach to amplify appeals by users on Twitter and Instagram who are in desperate need of medication, oxygen and hospital beds. Akshay Kumar has stepped up in donating Rs10 million in COVID-19 relief, while Salman Khan is providing meals to frontline workers in Mumbai and Sonu Sood is doing what he does best, helping anyone who is reaching out. At a time when India is facing a catastrophic health crisis, it is heartening to see a united front. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]