From the Editors: New penalty for jumping red light in Abu Dhabi a timely measure

NEW PENALTY FOR JUMPING RED LIGHT IN ABU DHABI A TIMELY MEASURE: Motorists who jump the red light in Abu Dhabi will now end up paying a fine of Dh51,000 and their driving licences will also be confiscated for six months. These new strictures, along with several other related punitive measures, are expected to enforce more discipline on the roads and make motorists more accountable and responsible for their actions. We must always remember that obeying traffic rules and following road-safety guidelines are non-negotiable and it is in the larger interest of all of us to behave in a responsible manner when behind the wheel. Safe driving should always be a priority and it is a collective social responsibility to ensure our own safety as well as that of the other road users – at all times. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

IN MYANMAR, ERA OF COUPS IS NOT OVER: The last time the Myanmar military carried out a coup was in 1962. After that, they didn’t need to as they were in direct control of the country for the next five decades, until they helped draft the 2008 constitution enshrining a permanent role for themselves. The military’s party performed badly in November’s election, while the party of Aung San Suu Kyi - who went from international democracy icon to someone who accepted the regime’s crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar - performed well. Too well, it seems, for its own good. Clearly, the era of military coups in Myanmar is not over, as the country looks again into the abyss. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

PATIENCE NEEDED IN DELIVERY OF COVID-19 VACCINES: The vaccine for COVID-19 is good news, but its delivery around the world is continuing to raise concern. First, enough vaccines need to be produced, after which people around the world must be inoculated. The European Union has been at odds with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca over supply of its vaccines. A deal has been reached, whereby the company has agreed to supply 9 million additional doses of its coronavirus vaccine to the European Union during the first quarter. The growing number of cases and deaths has meant that many countries are losing patience. Over the next few months, hopefully there will be more vaccines in the market, helping protect people globally and break the chain of the pandemic. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

RAMOS RUMOUR REIGNITES TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY: In one of the least eventful and most difficult transfer windows in English Premier League history, transfer rumours might be our only hope. It is transfer deadline day and clubs have barely lifted a finger to bolster their squads on what is usually one of the most frenetic times of the football season. The only eyebrow moment this week has been the rumour of Sergio Ramos to Manchester United. The Real Madrid defender has been with the team for more than 15 years, and his contract is set to expire this summer. United are supposedly showing interest again, after attempting to sign him back in 2015. The 34-year-old won 18 trophies over the past decade and a half. When he moved from Sevilla to Real for €27 million, it was a record for a Spanish defender. But those were simpler times [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor].

ANUSHKA SHARMA, VIRAT KOHLI BRING JOY TO THEIR FANS: Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Bollywood actor-producer Anushka Sharma have revealed the name of their daughter after weeks of speculation, naming their baby girl Vamika. What’s in a name, you ask? At a time when the world could do with some good news, it is moments such as these that brings a community together. Even as wishes pour in for the happy couple, the guessing game before Vamika’s name reveal had social media shift its focus from online trolling and negativity to celebrate a birth. Sometimes that’s all one needs to hold on to a little bit of hope. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]