From the Editors: A year on, memories linger over Dubai-Kerala air crash

A YEAR ON, MEMORIES LINGER OVER DUBAI-KERALA AIR CRASH: Today marks the first anniversary of the Air India Express crash at Kozhikode International Airport in Kerala, India, when Flight IX1344 from Dubai skidded off and toppled over the table-top runway. Nineteen passengers and the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash on August 7, 2020. Since then, the issue of paying out compensations to those injured in the crash and to the family members of the deceased passengers is sticking out like a sore thumb. As the wrangling continues between the aggrieved passengers and their family members on one side and the airline on the other, the lack of closure in this tragic accident is really unfortunate. One only hopes and prays that this matter is sorted amicably and at the earliest. [COMMENT by Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

NO REASON NOT TO GET VACCINATED: COVID-19 continues to throw up surprises more than a year after it was first discovered. The latest report from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has urged people who have recovered from COVID-19 to get vaccinated because this gives them a boost in virus-fighting immune cells. Getting the vaccine is still the best way to protect oneself and others around. Yet, this message is not taken seriously often, even in countries that have a surplus of vaccine doses. In many other countries, disinformation and scare-mongering have resulted in people staying away from being inoculated. The rise of the Delta strain is cause for concern. This same concern should motivate people to get vaccinated as soon as possible, keeping themselves and others from the coronavirus. [COMMENT by Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

IT HAS BEEN A CRAZY 48 HOURS IN THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL: Just what is going on in the world of football right now? First we had the shocking news from Barcelona that star man Lionel Messi would be leaving the Spanish Giants. Immediately after this rumours began circulating that their newly acquired striker Sergio Aguero was demanding to be allowed to leave the Catalans having just joined them two months ago, because Messi was leaving. And now we have Tottenham forward Harry Kane saying he did not refuse to train with the London club with many believing he was in Manchester trying to seal a move to Pep Guardiola’s City. Apparently, Kane will be reporting to training today with Spurs and many are speculating it is because his move to the Premier League champions has fallen through as City are not willing to meet Spurs’ £160m valuation. Interestingly, Tottenham start their season with a home game against Manchester City on Sunday, 15 August. Will Kane be wearing white or blue? It sure has been a crazy 48 hours or so and the Premier League hasn’t even begun yet! We can expect more drama as the August transfer windows draws to a close on the 31st. [COMMENT by Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

TOUGH LOVE: ‘Friends’ actress Jennifer Aniston is done with her anti-vaxxer friends. So much so that she has cut ties with them. “I’ve just lost a few people in my weekly routine who have refused or did not disclose [whether or not they had been vaccinated], and it was unfortunate,” Aniston had told a magazine. However, she has had to defend herself after a barrage of criticism. It’s only fair that a person take one’s health and that of their loved ones seriously. In the fight against COVID-19, each person’s actions has consequences. [COMMENT by Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor - Features]