From the Editors: Dubai makes public transport more attractive

DUBAI MAKES PUBLIC TRANSPORT MORE ATTRACTIVE: With the launching of dedicated bus and taxi lanes on congested roads in Dubai, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has made mass transit more attractive for commuters. Dedicated lanes for public transport make it faster for passengers to reach their destination without facing any delays in traffic jams on busy roads. The newest special bus and taxi lanes will open on January 21 on Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street, one of the busiest roads in Bur Dubai. Commuters in this area will definitely benefit from this new project. It is time for people specially living and working in crowded areas to ditch their own cars and use public transport to save money and time. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

IS FREE SPEECH DEAD? Following his ban from Twitter, US President Donald Trump is saying that free-speech is being taken away - but the fact of the matter is it is not. He can still speak, just not on the popular social media platform. Free speech has been around for quite a few more years than Twitter or social media in general. But by using the Presidential Twitter account - following his ban to try to have the last word - didn't work. His tweet was of course removed. Trump was an early adopter of Twitter, joining it in 2009 and gaining 88 million followers. It has been his favourite means of communicating but he’ll have to do without it from now. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

AN IMPENDING HARD CURRENCY DEBT MESS: Global debt has surged by over $17 trillion to $275 trillion last year, according to the Institute of International Finance. The rise has been driven largely by a sharp buildup in government borrowing. The liquidity deluge from lose fiscal and monetary policies have played a big role in rising demand for risk assets. On the supply side, hard currency debt issuances have picked up pace in emerging markets with corporates joining the party as they see the first Fed rate hike no earlier than 2025. Many seem to have forgotten the pangs of 2013 taper tantrum. Greater reliance on foreign capital could leave these borrowers exposed with heavy debt burden in the event of shift in in global risk sentiment and or policy. [COMMENT BY: Babu Das Augustine, Business Editor]

FA CUP MAGIC ALIVE AND KICKING: Despite the freezing cold weather and stadiums bereft of fans due to COVID-19, the magic of the English FA Cup is still alive and kicking, as the weekend served up some classic upsets and thrillers. West Brom suffered another embarrassment under new manager Sam Allardyce as they crashed out to third-tier side Blackpool, Carlo Ancelotti’s resurgent Premier League side Everton needed extra-time to overcome resilient Championship strugglers Rotherham. But the result of the round so far has to be non-league Chorley stunning Wayne Rooney’s Championship side Derby County 2-0. Granted, the Rams were shorn of players due to coronavirus, but the result and another FA Cup giant-killing act is what will be remembered in years to come. [Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

INDIAN WEB CONTENT CELEBRATES ORIGINAL STORIES: If there’s one major flaw in the Bollywood business model then it’s the absolute reliance on the star power to draw in the crowds at cinemas every weekend. This is perhaps where web shows have been able to gain an edge, with stories that celebrate the every man. This week’s release, ‘Kaagaz’, streaming now on Zee5, is one such tale of man who fought 19 years for the state to declare him alive. The true story has been packaged for web, backed by some brilliant acting by Pankaj Tripathi. The fact that Salman Khan’s production house has also backed the project says a lot about the tale itself. Had there been a conventional release planned for such a movie, with no big names headlining the cast, chances are, the project would have succumbed to the archives of Bollywood gems that never got their dues. If there is one thing the boom of digital content has taught us, it is that stories are finally the star of the show. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]