From the Editors: Dubai’s new road and transport infrastructure makes travel safer

‘SMOOTH AND SAFE TRAVEL FOR ALL’ IN DUBAI: Dubai Government’s Dh130 billion investment in the roads and transport infrastructure during 2006-2019, contributed to savings amounting to Dh193.3 billion in terms of time and fuel saved, according to a new study. It also contributed to reducing road accident fatalities from 22 cases per 100,000 of the population to 2.3 cases. Projects by Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have made traffic in Dubai more free-flowing than 10 leading cities with a comparable population, such as Los Angeles, Sydney and Rome. Now, it is the responsibility of all road and transport users to make the best use of the facilities to ensure smooth and safe travel for all. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

AMERICA NEEDS TO GET ITS ACT TOGETHER: Supporters of President Donald Trump and counter-protesters are clashing in the streets into the night at a time when the winner of the election has been clearly identified. Trump supporters are buoyed by his refusal to peacefully cede the presidency. This political farce comes at a time when coronavirus cases have spiked across the United States to record levels. More than 1,000 Americans are dying of COVID-19 every day on average. The mightiest nation on earth seems extremely weak in the face of the political, economic and health crises hitting it. It’s time for it to face the crises head on. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

MULTILATERALISM IN TRADE LIVES ON IN RCEP: China and 14 other countries have agreed to set up the world's largest trading bloc, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) encompassing nearly a third of the global economic activity. The pact includes the 10 nations belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, but not the US and India. Going beyond the powerful symbolism of resilience to the trade war with the US, China is clearly proving a point that multilateralism in trade is alive and kicking in Asia and has the potential to hasten the recovery from the shocks of the pandemic. [COMMENT BY: Babu Das Augustine, Business Editor]

MANCHESTER CITY WANT TO SIGN MESSI...Apparently Manchester City remain interested in signing Barcelona’s Lionel Messi when he becomes a free agent in the summer. An attractive retirement package with New York City could lure Argentine to Manchester. It would be a bold move, and would certainly put City even more so on the global map. But to get the ageing star (he will be 34 when contract talks begin) into the massively competitive English Premier League when he is on the wane may put a blot in his almost perfect copy book. Money aside, for the benefit of both parties this needs more consideration. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

THE BRUTAL REIGN OF COVID-19 CONTINUES… Indian cinema's iconic actor Soumitra Chatterjee succumbed to complications stemming from the coronavirus, leaving behind a rich legacy. Chatterjee was known for starring in the movies of Oscar-winning director Satyajit Ray and many more. He was a consummate performer and even at age 85 he was busy working. It was during a recent movie project that he caught the virus. His death is a tragedy for the film world and a grim warning that the threat of COVID-19 is still very real. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]