From the Editors: Robotaxi on Dubai roads is the next smart mass transit option

ROBOTAXI ON DUBAI ROADS IS THE NEXT SMART MASS TRANSIT OPTION: In the next four-five years, around 4,000 driverless taxis will be deployed in Dubai, in keeping with the government’s objective to make 25 per cent of all trips across the city autonomous by 2030. Dubai’s Roads and Transport authority has signed an agreement with Cruise, a US-based self-driving vehicle company, to launch the first international robotaxi service, as it is called, outside the United States. For a city that already holds the record for operating the longest driverless Metro and tram services in the world, robotaxi is a natural extension of that zeal and determination to make mass transit as safe and seamless as it can get.[COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

WORLD SLOWLY MOVES TOWARDS ‘NORMAL LIFE’ Countries around the world are slowly opening up again and lifting quarantine requirements, in a move that shows confidence in tackling the coronavirus. This is good news. Denmark has said that it is going back to ‘normal life’, the Philippines will re-open to fully vaccinated tourists from most countries on February 10, and India’s capital Delhi has lifted a weekend curfew and allowed restaurants to reopen on Friday. Tourism has taken a hit in the wake of the pandemic, and these steps will bring confidence back into the sector. However, the onus will continue to be on the people to take care of themselves and ensure the safety of all. [COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor]

A HANDOVER IS ONLY A START FOR AIR INDIA: Strip way all the emotions from the transfer of Air India’s ownership from the Indian government to Tata Sons, and that’s when cold reality shows up on the historic deal. This is the point where Tata will have to start taking decisions, immediate and those for the longer term, about how to drastically cut down on the losses the airline continues to spew forth. Even without the many COVID-19 created disruptions, Air India was in a precarious position, kept flying because the government had to keep on footing the bill to keep it running. Injecting fresh funds into Air India by the Tatas will be the easy part, but will not deliver the turnaround that the airline desperately needs. Because if fresh funds was the answer to Air India’s woes, the many cash infusions from the government over the decades would have resolved its problems. That hasn’t happened. What Air India needs are surgical changes, and these will be painful. Thankfully, the 9,000 strong workforce will be insulated for a 12-month period as per the assurances the Tata officials have given the government. Air India will not be the only airline in the country requiring a strategy that will keep it flying. SpiceJet, the budget carrier, has just received some help from the Supreme Court against an order to wind it down. Other carriers are in not much better shape either. So, if the Tatas can make best use of their acumen to set right Air India, a legacy would have been set right - even if has taken 70 years. [COMMENT BY: Manoj Nair, Business Editor]

2022 WORLD CUP: ASIAN PUZZLE CLEARS UP AS IRAN FIRST TEAM TO MAKE THE CUT: The jigsaw for 2022 World Cup finals is falling into place as Iran became the first team from Asia to qualify with a 1-0 victory over Iraq on Thursday as Japan and South Korea, continental powerhouses, also moved a step closer to earning a pride of place. Iran consolidated top spot in Group A with 19 points from seven games, two points ahead of South Korea who are on the brink of qualifying after a 1-0 win over Lebanon in Sidon. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, are in third position, eight points behind the Koreans - who are missing injured Spurs star Son Heung-min after a 2-0 win over Syria. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

SHILPA SHETTY STANDS UP AGAINST AGE SHAMING: Indian reality show ‘Bigg Boss 15’ is no portrait of quiet dignity as fading celebrities who are lumped in a house together indulge in vile verbal sparring every week. Recently, things hit a new low when contestant Tejasswi called her in-mate Shamita Shetty ‘aunty’. It was a dig at Shamita’s advancing age and calling her aunty was meant to destablise Shamita from her game. But that vitriolic remark hasn’t gone unpunished. Actors including Bipasha Basu and Gauahar Khan took to their social media to blast Tejasswi for taking potshots at a woman for her age. Shamita’s more-popular sister Shilpa also hasn’t let the snide age-shaming remark slide. And such collective censure isn’t always a bad thing. Age-shaming – even on a reality show that derives its eyeballs from stoking controversies – shouldn’t be tolerated. Here’s more power to women who will call the petty culprits out. [COMMENT BY: Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor – Features ]