From the Editors: National Space Fund gives UAE space sector a big push

Big push for UAE’s space sector: The UAE Space Agency’s announcement of a new Dh3 billion National Space Fund will no doubt give the country’s space sector a big push. New programmes planned in space sector engineering, science and research applications will provide a competitive edge for the UAE, even as the Sirb project makes a mark as the first of its kind to develop a constellation of advanced remote sensing satellites. The satellites’ use of radar technologies in all weather conditions will also provide useful data and accelerate innovation in environmental sustainability. (Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor)

Do virtual in Dh: For UAE’s crypto enthusiasts – and there are many despite whatever Bitcoin has been going through – the announcement by RAKBank and the virtual asset trading platform should count as a big boost. What this means is they get to trade in their choice of virtual assets – and all manner of cryptos, of course – through their local bank accounts. And here’s the big deal, they can do so using dirhams. In one stroke, this removes the FX related volatility out of their transactions. This does count for something especially when currencies worldwide are going through one bout of volatility after another. There’s also one more thing that RAKBank-Kraken can do – reduce the time for transaction processing. All of which reduces the cost for the UAE buyers of cryptos. Now, if only the prices of these assets pick up… (Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

Brilliant Smith seals first major title: Australian Cameron Smith secured his first major title last night by snatching the 150th Open Championship by a solitary stroke from Cameron Young. The 28-year-old stunned St Andrews by carding a brilliant bogey-free eight-under-par 64 that featured five successive birdies from the 10th to win on 20 under par. Rory McIlroy, the four-time major winner, had pushed Smith hard all the way but in the end he had to settle for third place. Smith, the world number six, becomes the first Aussie to win the Claret Jug since Greg Norman beat Nick Faldo to claim his second Open all the way back in 1993. (Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor)

‘Bennifer’ forever: It’s taken them 20 years, two engagements and a multitude of relationships in between to finally write their ‘happily ever after’ with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez officially tying the knot on the early hours of Sunday morning in a drive-through Las Vegas chapel, with no Elvis impersonator, but a pink Cadillac at their side for a picture-perfect moment. Lopez, who has taken her husband’s last name, announced the news to her fans through her newsletter, calling it the ‘best night’ of their lives. Lopez, 52, and Affleck, 49, famously dated in the early 2000s, spawning the nickname ‘Bennifer,’ before rekindling their romance last year. It may have taken a lifetime to find their happy ending, but in the words of a certain Mrs Affleck: “Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient.”