From the editors: Dubai shows the way by slashing COVID-19 test price

DUBAI SHOWS THE WAY BY SLASHING COVID-19 TEST PRICE: The decision by Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to reduce the cost of conducting a reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) for detection of coronavirus in the emirate’s government-run hospitals comes as a huge relief for residents and it paves the way for private clinics and health establishments to follow the example and act soon. Dubai and the UAE has always set new benchmarks when it comes to ensuring maximum benefits for the maximum number. A reduced price of Dh150 for COVID-19 test bears testimony to that. To fight an infection as widespread as coronavirus, conducting tests on as many people as possible is vitally important. This decision by DHA is a huge step towards achieving that end. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

IN LIBYA, WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR SMALL MERCIES: International pressure on both rival factions in Libya - the administration based in Tripoli and the eastern based Parliament - finally seems to have achieved a small victory. The United Nations said negotiations held in Egypt between the two sides have concluded with preliminary agreements to exchange prisoners and open up air and land transit. Libya has been in a state of flux since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed in 2011. A sparsely populated country, Libya is literally sitting on a sea of oil and has a long Mediterranean coastline. It should have enjoyed a high standard of living. It is a tragedy it instead finds itself in the grip of instability. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TURNS CHAOTIC: If one was looking for a diplomatic exchange of ideas at the first US presidential debate, it turned out to be very different. Bitter taunts and personal jabs, interspersed with heated clashes over major issues marked the debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Trump tried to control the conversation repeatedly, interrupting Biden and talking over the moderator, forcing Chris Wallace of Fox News to appeal to be heard. There were plenty of claims and counter-claims about the economy, coronavirus, race and healthcare, but how much of this had an impact on the audience? We will have to wait and see. {COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

PANDEMIC’S POSITIVE SURPRISES: Covid-19 is has brought some positive surprises to emerging economies. Among them, the most prominent is the sharp improvement in their current accounts.The current account records a nation's transactions with the rest of the world—specifically its net trade in goods and services, net earnings on cross-border investments and net transfer payments. Capital flows and trade data from Institute in International Finance for the first half of 2020 shows emerging markets’ import volumes fell sharply, so did exports, but manufacturing trade is making a V-shaped recovery with resilient capital flows. Thus, COVID-19 induced economic crisis is mostly a growth crisis for emerging economies with fiscal implications and less of an external funding crunch or currency crisis. [COMMENT BY: Babu Das Augustine, Business Editor]

‘NORMALCY’ RETURNS TO IPL AS HYDERABAD POST FIRST WIN: After two days of some insane power-hitting, normalcy was restored in the Indian Premier League when Sunrisers Hyderabad raised their game to beat Delhi Daredevils by 15 runs, their first in three games. Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain, played his first match this season and played a key innings of 41 off 23 deliveries while the opening combination of David Warner and Jonny also fired to take the Sunrisers to 162 for four wickets. Delhi’s chase ended at 147 for seven as Rashid Khan scalped three and Kumar took three wickets. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan boasts millions of fans around the world, so when he says or does anything, you can be assured it’s going to make an impact. On Wednesday, the star revealed that he has pledged to donate his organs. The 77-year-old had worn a green ribbon on his suit while on ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ to signify his stand. It’s impressive to see a star of his stature promote the cause of organ donation, one that literally saves lives. I wouldn’t be surprised if multitudes of his fans follow his lead and sign up to be organ donors themselves. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]