From the Editors: Biden makes a case for unity in politics

DUBAI GETS NEW TRAINS FOR METRO: Despite the severe economic impact of COVID-19 all across the globe, Dubai continues to look towards the future. Keeping this goal in mind, the Roads and Transport Authority has received 50 new metro trains. These new trains are to be used on the extension of the Red Line route to the Expo 2020 site, as well as augmenting the existing services. This shows how the emirate continues to build its infrastructure towards meeting the needs of the next generation. [COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

THE CASE FOR UNITY IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS: It’s all over now. In the grueling contest that was the US election, Joe Biden emerged on top. Nations of the world were quick to react and congratulate the President-elect. There is almost a palpable urgency in international diplomacy; there is no time to waste. The biggest immediate challenge is an insidious pandemic that shows no signs of abating. Besides, there are other shared priorities, from climate change to trade and global security on which urgent work is needed. And there is no question of tackling the world’s many problems without the leadership of the United States. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

DOLLAR TO TURN HUMBLE AS NEW PRESIDENT TAKES CHARGE: The US dollar which gained in the early days of COVID-19 outbreak as investors flocked to it as a safe haven has lost most of its sheen as fiscal stimulus and low interest rates took hold to support the faltering US economy. With Joe Biden set to become the 46th president of the US with or without majority in both houses of the US Congress, it is likely to further weaken the greenback. If the Democrats manage the Senate majority with the Georgia run-off, clearly they will have their way with a large fiscal stimulus. If they at fail at that, the Fed will be forced to step in with more monetary stimulus. In either case, the dollar will be punished and emerging economies with bulging dollar debt are unlikely to complain. [COMMENT BY: Babu Das Augustine, Business Editor]

For a high-profile team, the Royal Challengers Bangalore are yet to win the Indian Premier League. That’s strange given the resources and the world-class players in their ranks. It’s just that they never got the mix right. They could never put together a team that could bring success in a sustained manner. Much like the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings. Virat Kohli, the skipper for eight years, was confident that 2020 would be Bangalore’s moment in the IPL sun. Fifteen games later, the Sunrisers Hyderabad laid that claim to waste. A crestfallen Kohli was at a loss to explain the ouster. None of that will mitigate the disappointment of Bangalore fans. [COMMENT BY: Shyam Krishna, Senior Associate Editor]

Late music icon Whitney Houston is one of the inductees into the prestigious Rock Hall of Fame and her family said during the taped event that the honour was something she always wanted. Houston, one of the best-selling acts in music history, was a bright light in the world of music and her sudden demise in 2012 at age 48 still feels surreal all these years later. The fact that she’s being awarded now (some might say a bit too late) is a testament to her everlasting impact on the music industry and popular culture as we know it. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]