Dubai's Dh750 million mansion, RTA’s renewable push, Hardik Pandya as white-ball skipper? Gulf News Editors comment on the top news on June 14

DUBAI'S PROPERTY MARKET REMAINS IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Whether it is the Dh125 million land sale on Jumeirah Bay or record Dh420 million Marsa Al Arab penthouse sale in Jumeirah – Dubai surpassing real estate market expectations and setting new standards every day. The latest buzz revolves around a mansion located in Emirates Hills, with a staggering price tag of Dh750 million ($204 million), positioning it as the most expensive residence available in the emirate. Spanning an impressive 60,000 square feet, the mansion boasts remarkable features, including a 15-car garage, indoor and outdoor pools, two domes, and a breathtaking 70,000-liter (15,400-gallon) coral reef aquarium. Situated within a gated community overlooking a sprawling golf course, this property offers additional luxuries such as a power substation and panic rooms. Despite global uncertainties, Dubai's property market continues to defy expectations, outshining its global counterparts amidst the pandemic frenzy. (By Nivetha Dayanand, Web Editor)

RTA’s RENEWABLE PUBLIC BUS TRANSPORT: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recently signed deals with three manufacturers — Volvo, VDL and Daimler — to test the viability of electric and hydrogen-powered buses in Dubai’s conditions. The first agreement, signed with Daimler Buses, calls for the trial of an electric and hydrogen-powered bus. The second, with Volvo Bus Co., will see the deployment of experimental electric buses. The third, with VDL, provides for sharing knowledge and experience in managing and operating electric buses. It follows the proven success of similar trials in Europe. These strategic collaborations will help usher in Dubai’s drive towards eco-friendly and carbon-free modes of transportation. (By Jay Hilotin, Senior Assistant Editor)

IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE IN INDIAN WHITEBALL CAPTAINCY: Captaincy of Indian cricket team is one of hardest jobs in the country. It is very difficult to stay from criticism, especially after a loss in an ICC event. More often than not, the fans along with the former cricketers, call for the head of those involved in making those decisions that was the reason for the loss. After two successive failures, India losing the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals and then the World Test Championship final, calls to remove Rohit Sharma from the captaincy has gathered steam. The Indian opener’s lack of runs have made these claims to get even louder, asking for the return of Virat Kohli as the captain. Ideally, instead of going back to Kohli, Indian selectors need to move forward and pick Hardik Pandya as the white-ball skipper, starting from the West Indies series and that will give him enough time to settle down before the World Cup, which will also enable Rohit to focus on his batting. It is time for a change in Indian whiteball captaincy. (By A.K.S. SATISH, Sports Editor)

AI IS NOW COMING FOR OUR MUSIC. SHOULD WE BE WORRIED? Paul McCartney, as a member of the Beatles, was involved in many a stirring classic such as ‘Hey Jude’, ‘Let It Be’ and ‘Strawberry Fields’. Alone, his productions comprise the title track for the James Bond movie ‘Live and Let Die’, which remains a hot favourite till date. Thus, when McCartney says he utilised AI to create the last track of the Beatles, featuring the voice of the late singer John Lennon, the world of music should sit up and take note. Should we, as musicians, be happy that the voice of one of the most beloved singers has come back to life? Or should we be worried that this will remove the need for human creativity, as imagined by many sci-fi movies over the decades, most notably ‘The Terminator’? A nuanced debate is the need of the hour. (By Rajagopalan Venkataraman, Assistant Editor-Features)