From the editors: Smart Bail system in Dubai; Brazil's COVID-19 toll continues to rise

SMART BAIL’ SYSTEM IN DUBAI A HIGHLY PRAGMATIC STEP Dubai’s Public Prosecution has taken this extremely pragmatic step of introducing a ‘Smart Bail’ system for cases that involve minor offences and misdemeanours, without requiring the suspects to deposit their passports with Public Prosecution. This, apart from reducing the load of confiscated passports on the legal system, also allows the suspects to retain their passports and use them for urgent documentation purposes while their cases are still subjudice. According to Dubai’s Attorney General, ‘Smart Bail’ or electronic bail helped reduce the waiting time for customers in the bails section of the courts by 83 per cent last year. This system is just one of the many examples of how Dubai has streamlined its judicial processes and thereby ensured an even faster dispensation of justice for one and all. (COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor)

BRAZIL COVID-19 DEATHS CONTINUE TO RISE While all eyes have been on India for the past few days because of its spiralling COVID-19 cases, Brazil has become the second country to pass 400,000 COVID-19 deaths after the United States. Experts have warned that the daily toll could remain high for several months due to slow vaccinations and loosening social restrictions. The coronavirus is not a respecter of country or economy. It has ravaged the west and east alike. Easing curbs when the numbers are down has had disastrous effects in many countries - especially those that did well to tackle the virus in the first wave. Coronavirus variants and a disdain for maintaining protocols have ensured that infections continue to rise. Stringent policing and self-discipline can help contain the threat of rising numbers. (COMMENT BY Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor)

PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS PROVES SHE’S A REAL STAR Raise your hand if you are tired of witnessing Bollywood stars post their decadent holiday pictures in lush islands or baking banana bread at home. But global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas doesn’t seem to be cut from that same cloth. The ‘Citadel’ star has been relentlessly throwing her celebrity for a worthy cause to pull her native India from the ferocious clutches of COVID-19. On April 29, she launched a fundraiser along with her musician husband Nick Jonas to cough up money to help India and its heaving healthcare system. The former Miss World may be in London filming for a new Hollywood project, but that hasn’t stopped her from going the proverbial extra mile and using her might and clout as a superstar, with an army of ardent devotees, to pump life back into her country. As always, her husband Jonas’ is backing her from the word go. Take a bow, The Jonas’. (COMMENT BY: Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor Features)

A DEMOLITION ACT BY PRITHVI SHAW FOR DELHI CAPITALS Prithvi Shaw, the pocket-sized opener, had been in irresistible form ever since he returned to competitive cricket after being dumped from the Test squad in Australia in December. On Thursday night, it was the turn of the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers to be at the receiving end as Shaw smashed a blazing 82 off 41 balls to put Delhi Capitals on course to another win – and at an awesome strike-rate of 200. With the T20 World Cup scheduled later this year, Shaw has now thrown his hat firmly in the ring. (COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor)