From the Editors: UAE continues to open up to the world

DUBAI ADDS TO GLOBAL ATTRACTION WITH TOURIST APP: The UAE continues to open up to the world, easing restrictions that were put in place to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. At the recently-concluded Gitex Technology Week, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) launched the Al Saada Tourist Smart Card, a free application that can be downloaded on smartphones by all tourists in Dubai to avail special discounts during their visit. With the annual Dubai Shopping Festival round the corner, this initiative is sure to increase the emirate’s attractiveness to global tourists. [COMMENT BY: Somshankar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Editor]

MARKETS REMAIN HOOKED STIMULUS LIFELINE: Stocks ended lower on Wall Street on Friday as prospects for another aid package from Washington faded. As the vaccine news’ headline value has been diminishing over the past week, investors have been hoping for another financial lifeline to help cushion the latest blow from COVID-19. However, a potential $900 billion aid package has essentially collapsed because of continued partisan bickering. Even with widespread vaccinations, it will take months to tame the virus. Markets appear simply churning and consolidating following a strong November and all hopes are now on another significant dose of stimulus, failing which, a year-end sell-off can’t be ruled out. [COMMENT BY: Babu Das Augustine, Banking Editor]

HOLLYWOOD ACTOR CAUGHT UP IN ABUSE ALLEGATIONS: Even as details of the abuse allegations singer FKA twigs has levelled against Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf continues to shock fans and the industry, this is not the actor’s first brush with the law. The civil suit, which FKA twigs birth name, whose birth name is Tahliah Barnett, has alleged sexual assault, battery and emotional distress, with the singer alleging that he threatened to crash their car if she didn’t profess her love for him and even attempted to choke her. LaBeouf, 34, has had a checkered past in Hollywood, with multiple arrests in his recent past, which have included allegations of abuse, public displays of rage and stints in rehab for his alcoholism. The former child star even appeared in a 2019 semi-autobiographical film ‘Honey Boy’ about a young actor’s dysfunctional early years. While the actor has tendered an apology, which was published in The New York Times, the FKA twigs has also stated to the newspaper that her aim in coming forward ‘was to explain how even a critically acclaimed artist with money, a home and a strong network of supporters could be caught in such a cycle’. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]

US SUPREME COURT RULING ANOTHER SETBACK FOR TRUMP: The US Supreme Court has thrown out a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas to undo election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The lawsuit was backed by President Donald Trump and 18 state attorneys general and 106 Republican members of Congress. The ruling is a major setback for Trump, given that the Supreme Court is a conservative bastion. It is also the latest attempt by the Trump team to upend the election results which has failed. Where the president goes from now is anyone’s guess, but it is increasingly clear that legal avenues are closing one after the other. The writing seems to be on the wall. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

REED SET FOR DATE WITH DESTINY AT DP WORLD: Patrick Reed, the big American golfer, is just two short rounds from glory and history at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. The 2018 Masters champion is two strokes ahead going into the penultimate, and if he can hold off the pack — even a decent finish — will guarantee he will become the first American to with the European Tour Race to Dubai title — a season long competition to crown the best golfer — going all the way back to 1975 when it was called the Order of Merit. That’s some way to make history and bring the curtain down on the 2020 season. [COMMENT BY: Matt Smith, Sports Editor]