From the Editors: We must act in a responsible manner

WE MUST ACT IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER: Dubai has already taken this highly pragmatic step of allowing eateries and restaurants to serve food during the daytime to those customers who are not fasting during Ramadan. However, the authorities have recently further clarified the provision, saying that serving food out in the open and in outdoor sitting areas during the fasting hours will not be allowed. This is very much in the fitness of things. Dubai and the UAE are loved and respected the world over for their business-friendly attitude and generosity towards residents and visitors alike, in keeping with the spirit of tolerance. Allowing food outlets to serve customers during the fasting hours is in keeping with that spirit. However, at the same time, we must not take any freedom for granted and must act in a responsible manner and that is why, we ought to spare a thought for all those who are fasting during Ramadan and must do our bit to show solidarity towards them and be discreet with our actions and attitude. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

LEBANON HEADING RAPIDLY TO POINT OF NO RETURN: The indicators are many. Pot-holed roads in Beirut with no working street lights, cars parked randomly on footpaths near non-functioning parking meters, farmers in the countryside abandoning potatoes or green beans to grow hashish as it’s cheaper to cultivate and brings in more, albeit often illicit, returns. Adding to all the misery is the COVID-19 crisis. As the value of the currency has plunged almost 90 per cent on the black market, Lebanon’s problems have multiplied. The venal and corrupt political class, meanwhile, still cannot agree on a formula for even forming a government. So we have a situation where a country that is sinking into an abyss doesn’t even have a government. And all foreign benefactors are tired of putting limitless amounts of cash into a state that refuses to help itself. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

TWO COUNTRIES, TWO COVID-19 SCENARIOS: More than 250,000 new COVID-19 cases in India, one in New Zealand. Both have made news. India is battling a surge in coronavirus cases forcing many states to impose strict new regulations, including lockdowns and curfews. New variants, scant regard for COVID-19 protocol and poll campaigns have been blamed for the rise in cases. Thousands of kilometres away one worker in Auckland airport has tested positive, a day after New Zealand opened its border to Australian residents for the first time in more than a year. Strict measures in New Zealand has helped tackle the pandemic and the country is cautiously reopening its economy. There are lessons to be learnt from both countries. A willingness to obey guidelines and discipline from the people can help cut down the number of coronavirus cases. There are many things beyond our control, but we can at least follow the law. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

FANS PROTEST BREAKWAY LEAGUE, BUT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING: The Super League — three words to make any football fan shudder after Monday’s events. Fans of the 12 teams that have committed to the controversial new ‘mid-week’ breakaway league in Europe have taken to the streets to protest, burning gaping holes into their memorabilia and holding up slogans like: ‘Created by the poor, stolen by the rich’. Greed at the expense of local leagues seems to underly most people’s concerns, as Liverpool, Arsenal, Man United, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan are meanwhile being threatened with bans from Uefa and Fifa activity, including the World Cup. And yet, waking up on Tuesday, it isn’t all a bad dream. The beautiful game is still fractured, fragile and far from familiar to what it was just a couple of days ago, when we were all blissfully unaware of this bombshell and our biggest concern was when fans might be allowed back into stadiums to enjoy reheated meat pies and nosebleed views. And now, the dreaded question... What happens next? [COMMENT BY: Marwa Hamad, Assistant Editor]

WHEN A PICTURE IN A PANDEMIC SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS ABOUT BOLLYWOOD STARS: Wearing your privilege on a sleeve during a pandemic can come back to bite you. At least if you happen to be a Bollywood star. Yesterday, at one end, even as world media was busy reporting on the horrific surge in COVID-19 cases in India, the local press was busy posting images of actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt arriving at the airport to catch a flight to the Maldives. Beating them to the punchline were rumoured couple Disha Patani and Tiger Shroff, who were already on a secluded island getaway and getting trigger happy, especially if the former’s Instagram account is anything to by. Yet, even as those images found their way online, celebrity talent manager Rohini Iyer took a moment to slam such frivolity, calling celebrities out for turning a pandemic into a photo opportunity. Whether you agree or not Iyer’s words have hit home with a lot of fans who are simply fighting to survive. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]