From the Editors: Safety comes first

SEFETY COMES FIRST: Dubai Police’s warning against the illegal sale and use of fireworks ahead of Eid Al Fitr holidays is quite timely. Police have also launched an awareness campaign titled ‘Celebrate Safely’ to raise awareness among people about dangers of fireworks. The move not only targets those who illegally sell firecrackers endangering lives of children but also those who invariably opt to celebrate special events like Eid by using fireworks. Hefty fine of Dh100, 000 and jail term of not less than one year will certainly help curb this phenomenon. Nevertheless, it is also the duty of parents to educate their children and keep close watch to ensure their safety. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

KERALA LOCKDOWN WILL HELP CONTROL SITUATION: Kerala has imposed a much-needed lockdown from Saturday to fight the rising cases of COVID-19. From a state that was feted for clamping down and controlling coronavirus infections, Kerala has seen a spurt in cases over the past few weeks. The state has a good medical infrastructure, helping it keep tabs on infections and lending a hand to those in need. However, the recent rise in cases has resulted in the call for a lockdown. Although this will inconvenience the people, it is a good decision that will help control the situation. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

DID SOMEONE ORDER THE FULL ENGLISH? The Champions League final will be a face-off between two top-flight English teams after Chelsea sent Real Madrid crashing out of the competition on Wednesday night with a 2-0 home result (3-1 on aggregate). A night earlier, City achieved the same score at the Etihad with two goals from Riyad Mahrez, sending Paris St-Germain off goalless and desolate (4-1 on aggregate). Now it’s down to these two Premier League teams (who caused a ruckus but a few weeks ago as part of the European Super League and were being threatened with an immediate ban from the Champions League) to bring the title home. If Chelsea win, they add it to their single UCL title from 2012. But if City win, they’ll be making history. Never before have they reached the final, and if the players can keep their wits about them under the immense pressure of achieving unprecedented greatness for their club, who knows what they can achieve on May 29.[COMMENT BY: Marwa Hamad, Assistant Editor]

LENDING A HELPING HAND: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and the makers of his upcoming movie ‘Radhe’ have pledged to donate part of the revenue from the action flick to COVID-19 relief efforts in India. As the novel coronavirus rips through the nation, it’s imperative that every person do their part to help out – whether it’s as simple as wearing a mask or donating funds. In this case, it’s commendable that Khan and the production houses have made donation part of their priorities ahead of the movie’s release. This initiative might inspire other movie makers to pledge funds to such noble causes. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor]