From the editors: Happy New Year

DUBAI METRO CHARTS NEW ROUTE The New Year brings additional cheer to thousands of commuters in the newly-developed areas of Dubai. Dubai Metro, which over the last decade has become the backbone of the public transport system in the emirate, has commissioned the first four stations of its extended route towards the Dubai Expo 2020 site. These stations — Jebel Ali (interchange station), The Gardens, Discovery Gardens and Al Furjan — are already home to thousands of residents, apart from offices. This vital addition to public transport will make the city even more attractive, with Expo round the corner. (COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor)

WRITE A GOOD PAGE Of the many New Year wishes that came my way, one stood out – ‘Today is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one’. Most of us are happy that we have seen the last of 2020. But how are we planning to use 2021? It will be a year of tremendous challenges – at home, in the workplace and in society as we try to inch ahead while keeping ourselves safe. The choices we make every day will determine who we are and how we take care of each other. Write a good page in your book and at the end of the year, regardless of how the year turned out, you will be happy to have done your bit. Happy New Year. (COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor)

STARTING OVER Actress Deepika Padukone has mysteriously had her social media wiped clean ahead of the New Year. That’s years of selfies, travel pictures and little pieces of digital history gone forever. Stars have done this many times over the years, but it’s no less shocking to see someone let go of what has become so normal these days. While it’s unclear why the mass deletion has taken place, it begs the question, what if there is a sense of catharsis to be had from starting over? It’s a cliché, but after the year we’ve all had, the phrase ‘New Year, New Me’ has never sounded so good. (COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features)

SOCIAL MEDIA WOES When will footballers learn to stay off social media if they cannot behave? Manchester United’s Edinson Cavani is the latest to be punished for inappropriate comments on the internet. The Uruguayan was slapped with a three-match ban and a £100,000 fine for a social media post containing an offensive Spanish phrase. Cavani — who pleaded guilty — sent the message after hitting the winning strike against Southampton at the end of November. Now the former Paris St-Germain striker must also go through a ‘face-to-face’ education programme. Somehow, I think it will be only a matter of time before the next foolish footballer will be attending such a course. (COMMENT BY: Mattew Smith, Sports Editor)