From the Editors: Dubai’s move to cut fuel surcharge is welcome

DUBAI’S MOVE TO CUT FUEL SURCHARGE HARBINGER OF A GREENER TOMORROW: Dubai Supreme Council of Energy’s decision to reduce the surcharge on electricity and water consumption in the emirate is in every sense a sign of the times. With Dubai having set an ambitious target of sourcing 75 per cent of its total energy requirements from clean sources by 2050, the decision to reduce fuel surcharge is in sync with that thought. It is truly heartening to note that clean energy already constitutes 9 per cent of Dubai’s total energy consumption and as the dependence on cleaner energy sources increases, the cost of producing energy through conventional sources will decline, the benefits of which can ultimately be passed on to the end-user – the consumer. That is precisely what Dubai has done by reducing surcharge. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

GOOD NEWS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19: There is good news in England with regard to COVID-19. Infections have fallen by 30 per cent during the month-long national lockdown and the virus is in retreat, a new study has shown. While prevalence of the disease is still high, there is a sharp decrease in several areas of northern England. But this is not the case in the US where top scientist Dr Anthony Fauci warned that America should prepare for a "surge upon a surge" in coronavirus cases as millions of travellers return home after the Thanksgiving holiday. The battle against the pandemic is still on, but how successful we are depends much on us. Warnings of non-essential travel and use of masks must be heeded. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

SMITH THE SUPERMAN TURNS INDIA’S NEMESIS AGAIN: It seemed a different Steve Smith in the first two One-day Internationals in Sydney to the one who was anxious and fell to poor shot selections in the recent IPL. He capped his 105 (off 66 balls) in Sydney with a 104 (64 balls) yesterday, helping Australia pile up a record total and shut India out of the game - and series. He has become Australian cricket's golden boy once again - and that's bad news for India for the rest of the series. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

Oscar-winning actor George Clooney is known for his classic fashion sense and acting chops. He’s a veteran in the industry and probably leads a very lavish lifestyle. But there’s one thing the star isn’t spending money on – his haircuts. Clooney has said he’s been using a strange device to cut his hair for years, not just through the pandemic. So many people have resorted to trimming their own locks during the time and it’s increasingly seen as a good skill to have– not just something to do when you’re having a nervous breakdown. I wonder what other skills will become important during this crisis. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]