Safe drive campaign for e-scooters and bikes, Xi's Russia visit - our editors comment on top stories of March 18

DUBAI DRIVES HOME SAFETY MESSAGE FOR RIDERS: In this age of ‘micro-mobility’ means such as electric scooters, it’s vital for riders to know the safety and traffic rules. E-scooters and bicycles are becoming more popular, and Dubai has laid out the infrastructure for them, such as dedicated lanes. To increase riders’ awareness about safety, police and transport officials recently held a campaign. Prior to the safety drive, they had found many riders still aren’t wearing the right gear or failing to follow the road rules. These frequent reminders from authorities – instead of just imposing fines for violations – are getting traction in ensuring safe and smooth two-wheeler trips in Dubai. [By Faisal Masudi, Assistant Editor]

XI’S RUSSIA VISIT TO FOSTER PEACE: A little over a week after brokering a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Russia, raising hopes that Beijing will try to get Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table. China on February 24 war anniversary released a 12-point proposal for ending the conflict that included calls for talks, a ceasefire and an end to unilateral sanctions. On Xi’s upcoming three-day state visit starting Monday, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Beijing’s proposition can be summed up in one sentence, which is to persuade peace and promote talks. “China will uphold its objective and fair position on the Ukrainian crisis and play a constructive role in promoting peace talks.” That’s good news as it gives the world hope of resolving more than a year-old conflict through dialogue. [By Stephen N.R, Senior Associate Editor]

EXPERIENCED HODGSON WOULD BE RIGHT CHOICE FOR PALACE: Having sacked Patrick Vieira as coach of Crystal Palace the Premier League strugglers could now tempt former boss Roy Hodgson back into the Selhurt Part hot seat. Vieira was shown the door after a 12-match winless run and the team just 3 points off the relegation zone. It would be a remarkable return for former England boss Hodgson, who was replaced by Vieira in July 2021. Even though he is 75, he would be the best option for the South Londoners. He knows the club inside and out and would not need much time to settle back into the role. He knows the players too and may be able to get an improvement out of them. It could be a risk to bring in an unknown face to the club at this late stage which is why the former Liverpool manager appears to be the safe bet. [By Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor]

BOB ODENKIRK IS BACK IN COMEDY: As the lawyer who is in cahoots with a cartel, Bob Odenkirk dished out career defining performances in the TV sitcoms ‘Breaking Bad’ and its spinoff ‘Better Call Saul’. And he’s back, in a new avatar. Fans and critics alike hailed Odenkirk’s character, Saul Goodman, and his wicked sense of humour. Thus, it was no surprise when binge-watchers felt a near-existential crisis as the shows came to an end. There’s reason for cheer as Odenkirk returns to comedy in AMC’s ‘Luck Hank’. Let’s not forget that Odenkirk’s forte is comedy: he auditioned for the lead role in ‘The Office’, which went to Steve Carrell. The makers of the show ultimately had him playing a cameo in the sitcom about a dysfunctional yet vibrant workplace. [By Rajagopalan Venkataraman, Assistant Editor-Features]