Interest rates are up again, Ramadan rush hour driving alert, and more, Gulf News Editors comment on the top stories on March 23

UAE, AND GULF CENTRAL BANKS FOLLOW FED RATE HIKE: Yet again, the US Federal Reserve has raised its interest rates by 0.25 per cent, leading the UAE and other Gulf banks to raise their lending rates. A consecutive increase for the ninth time to slow down inflationary gains, there was some hope that the Fed would avoid a rate hike this month given the shakeup the global banking sector has been going through after troubles at the Silicon Valley Bank. However, the interest rate hikes are here, and for UAE businesses, the latest rate hike would mean they would have to be extra watchful of their expenses in the coming months. On the consumer finance front, interest rates on loans are expected to climb slightly, although the amount will vary by the borrower, and loan approvals would be based on borrowers' credit scores. (By Dhanusha Gokulan, Chief Reporter)

AVOID RECKLESS DRIVING DURING RAMADAN EVENING RUSH HOUR: Police have reminded motorists to drive with extra care while fasting during Ramadan. Motorists must give themselves extra time to reach their destinations and must avoid reckless driving during rush hours just before Iftar time. Police say that most accidents are recorded on UAE roads before Iftar. Drivers should adhere to the speed limit, maintain a safe distance and drive responsibly, especially during Ramadan. Motorists should know their limitation if they are driving while fasting and should expect the unexpected to ensure safety of everyone on roads. (By Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor)

SURYAKUMAR YADAV WILL RETURN TO HIGH SKIES: Sport, cricket in particular, is a great leveller. Only a few months ago, India’s star batter Suryakumar Yadav could put no foot wrong, scoring at will. The Mumbai batter raced to the top of the Twenty20 standings with some breathtaking knocks at a healthy strike rate. The way SKY, as he is popularly known, batted, he sent the bowlers into hiding, hitting them 360 degrees of the cricket field. However, his records in the One Day Internationals don’t match his Twenty20 performance. Though the 50-over contests are not so much of a different ball game, Suryakumar had to eat a humble pie in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, scoring three consecutive ducks and playing only three deliveries. It is a testing time for him now as his confidence will be at the lowest and self-doubts will arise. It is a learning curve for Suryakumar and the right-hander needs to trust himself, go back to the basics and a few good knocks for Mumbai Indians in the IPL will bring the swagger back to his demeanour. Suryakumar will return to the high skies. (By A.K.S. SATISH, Sports Editor)

ED SHEERAN COMES CLEAN ON THE LOW POINTS IN HIS LIFE: It’s not easy to talk about the dark phases in your life, but global pop icon Ed Sheeran didn’t shy away from talking about his battle with mental health and suicidal thoughts. Last year was a particularly tough one, he revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone. He had lost his best friends, Jamal Edwards and Shane Warne and his wife was diagnosed with tumour, so it was overwhelming on many levels. However, what we truly admire, apart from his music, is his ability to speak about his vulnerabilities. When you have talents like him normalising conversations about mental health and seeking help through therapy, he’s batting for humanity here. He even opened up about how people think it is weird when a privileged person talks openly about seeking therapy. We hear him, mental health troubles don’t discriminate and can affect anyone. So here’s hoping more idols like Ed Sheeran step out of their shadows and talk openly about their low phases in life. After all, perfection is overrated. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment Editor)