From the Editors: Dubai’s ‘Bus-on-Demand’ in sync with city’s seamless connectivity modules

DUBAI’S ‘BUS-ON-DEMAND’ IN SYNC WITH CITY’S SEAMLESS CONNECTIVITY MODULES: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has revealed that its ‘Bus-on-Demand’ service has registered a phenomenal growth since its launch in February 2020. According to RTA, 603,052 riders have used the service from February 2020 until the end of last year. There are currently 13 minibuses deployed for this service in Al Barsha, International City, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Academic City, covering multiple Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram stations. The on-demand service is run via the ‘Dubai Bus on Demand’ app, which is available on Apple Store and Google Play. With their flexible routes and timetables, these ten-seater buses offer commuters the liberty to book the service, particularly when they are travelling in a group that is larger to fit into one taxi and yet small enough to necessitate the hiring of a full-on coach. The compact size of these buses make them easy to manoeuvre and they can easily access even the narrower lanes and by-lanes of neighbourhoods. This service is yet another example of Dubai’s firm resolve to ensure ease of access, affordability and comfort when comes to public transport, thereby offering seamless connectivity to all commuters. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

VIGILANCE NEEDED IN FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19: One of the dangers in the fight against COVID-19 is that of taking it too lightly. The fact that the Omicron variant has symptoms akin to common cold has resulted in many people thinking that it can be fought off easily. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against this. The four most common symptoms of the Omicron variant are cough, fatigue, congestion and runny nose with a recent study adding nausea and loss of appetite to the category. Several studies have shown that the infections caused by the variant are generally mild, with less hospitalisation required. But the fact remains that health systems could get overwhelmed. So, preventing infection can save lives and we need to be vigilant till we see the end of the coronavirus. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

A FAIRYTALE VICTORY FOR BANGLADESH: Less than two months back, the Bangladesh team faced flak all around when they came up with a pathetic performance in T20 World Cup. In a remarkable turnaround which will go down as one of their finest moments in cricketing history, the Bangla Tigers stunned world Test champions New Zealand by eight wickets at Mount Maunganui. ‘’I can't describe it, it's unbelievable. I couldn't sleep yesterday because of the pressure,’’ skipper Mominul Haque said after the game. ‘’This could be a sign of our improvement in Test cricket,’’ he added.[COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

CELEBRITIES AROUND THE WORLD TAKE ON COVID-19: The first week of 2022 has seen a spate of headlines naming celebrities battling COVID-19. This morning alone saw ‘Late Night’ host Seth Meyers cancel his show or a week over the same, while two other talk show hosts, namely Jimmy Fallon and Lily Singh, also tested positive. In Hollywood, Lupita Nyong’o also announced she’s battling the virus, while across the world, singer Sonu Nigam tested positive, while Amitabh Bachchan has COVID-19 knocking on his door once again after the actor and his family battled the virus in 2020. The only common thread tying them all is one – stay masked to stay safe. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]