From the Editors: Toll-free travel on Al Maktoum Bridge on Sundays in sync with new UAE weekend

TOLL-FREE TRAVEL ON AL MAKTOUM BRIDGE ON SUNDAYS IS SYNC WITH NEW UAE WEEKEND: There was some good news for commuters in Dubai as the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Tuesday that henceforth, motorists will not be required to pay Salik while crossing Al Maktoum Bridge on Sundays. Salik will, however, be applicable while using the bridge on Fridays. This has been done to further integrate commuter convenience and vehicular movements with the new UAE weekend on Saturdays and Sundays. As the UAE assimilates itself with the rest of the world in terms of workweeks and weekends, Salik-free travel on one of the major bridges in Dubai, connecting Bur Dubai and Deira, will ensure relief for motorists and offer yet another reason to step out and soak up the weekend fun. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT NORTH KOREA’S HYPERSONIC MISSILES: North Korea has started the year 2022 with a bang, quite literally. The Hermit Kingdom conducted another hypersonic missile test, under the watchful gaze of the Dear Leader.This is the third such test by North Korea, a deeply impoverished state that is armed to the teeth with conventional weapons but is also widely believed to be in possession of nuclear arms. State media said the "superior manoeuvrability of the missile had been strikingly verified through the final test-fire". It said the glide missile had made a 600 km "glide jump flight," followed by 240 km of "corkscrew manoeuvring" before hitting its target. As usual, Japan - one of the world's foremost industrial powers - and South Korea - a booming First World state - can only watch as their despotic neighbour threatens their security so blatantly. [COMMENT BY: Omar Sharif, International Editor]]

DJOKOVIC ADMITS BREACHING ISOLATION AFTER POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST: World number one Novak Djokovic is in the news for all the wrong reasons. The record-equalling 20 times men’s Grand Slam champion admitted in a lengthy statement on social media that he breached isolation rules after he tested positive for Covid-19 last month. The Serbian is unvaccinated but is hoping to defend his Australian Open title next week. On the Instagram post released today he described the breach as an “error of judgement”. He also admitted that he met a journalist for an interview just two days after testing positive. “I accept that I should have rescheduled,” he wrote. His activity has been scrutinised as the Australian government considers whether to deport him. He’s already had his visa revoked earlier this month after arriving in the country and this is certainly not the sort of preparation he needs if he is able to compete in the tournament. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

IT’S ABOUT TIME WOMEN RIDE IN TO SAVE THE DAY: The news about Zorro undergoing a gender swap for its latest television outing has been long overdue, especially at a time when juggernauts such as Marvel and DC have kept their female superheroes front and centre. The swashbuckling masked vigilante, which has been immortalised on screen with the help of Guy Williams and Duncan Regehr on TV and Antonio Banderas in films, has never been represented a female hero. Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez with his sister Rebecca Rodriguez, who are spearheading this new CW outing, should be credited for looking beyond the obvious to place women firmly in the saddle as they ride in to save the day. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]