From the Editors: ‘World’s coolest winter’ campaign to boost UAE tourism

‘WORLD’S COOLEST WINTER’ IN UAE CAMPAIGN SET TO BOOST DOMESTIC TOURISM: UAE has launched the ‘World’s Coolest Winter’ campaign to encourage residents and citizens to explore the hidden gems of seven emirates. The 45-day campaign, overseen by the Ministry of Economy in collaboration with local tourism entities and supported by the UAE Government Media Office, aims to highlight the major landmarks and attractions that distinguish each emirate and contribute to the UAE as a single destination. The new campaign will not only boost the domestic tourism but will also attract people to take advantage of attractive offers to enjoy the best winter in the world. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

VACCINES COULD NOT A COME MOMENT TOO SOON FOR US: Following the US Food and Drug Administration’s emergency authorisation, Americans will begin getting the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine from Monday. The first 3 million doses will reach different states through courier this weekend. High-risk health care workers will rightly be given the first shots. The vaccination campaign could not have come a moment too soon, given the shocking inability of the world’s only superpower to take control of the COVID-19 situation. Nearly 300,000 are dead, millions are infected and the rhythm of daily life has been turned fully upside down in the United States. One can only hope the first real steps towards battling this epidemic will be successful. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

BREXIT TAKES TOLL ON LONDON’S BANKING INDUSTRY: As UK and European Union appear headed for a ‘no deal’ Brexit, Britain’s most valuable industry, banking and financial services are wooed by suitors from across the Channel. The trend shows most investment bankers and traders headed to Frankfurt and Paris, while asset managers favoured Luxembourg, and back-office operations have gone to Dublin and Warsaw. In what has set off as a land grab between the EU and the UK for lucrative financial services and jobs, Frankfurt is seen emerging a clear winner. The Bundesbank estimates that non-German banks could move 675 billion euros ($817 billion) to Europe's largest economy. That’s indeed an irreparable loss London will be forced live with in the post-Brexit era. [COMMENT BY: Babu Das Augustine, Business Editor]

UAE SET FOR SUPER SUNDAY OF SPORT: Two sensational sporting season-enders are set to take place in the UAE on Sunday, with fans around the world tuning in see the curtain come down on the Formula One and golfing campaigns. Patrick Reed is pushing to become the first American to with the European Tour Race to Dubai title in the final round at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Sunday afternoon, before Lewis Hamilton will mark his seventh world championship title as the top 20 drivers in the world will do battle in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at sunset in the UAE capital, underlining the nation’s status as a true global sporting stage. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

ANOTHER LEGEND LOST TO THE PANDEMIC: The death of country music star Charley Pride comes as a blow in a year that has seen a spate of endless tragedies due to the pandemic. According to his publicist, the ‘Kiss an Angel Good Morning’ singer died of complications from the coronavirus. Pride may not have been the first country music singer of colour to make his mark in the late 60s through the 80s, but he was certainly a pioneer in overcoming racial barriers at a time when America lay divided. The one time rising star in baseball threw down his bat and took up country music as a career and there was no looking back for him since. In an interview in The Dallas Morning News, Pride was quoted as saying: “They used to ask me how it feels to be the ‘first coloured country singer’/ Then it was ‘first Negro country singer’ then ‘first Black country singer’. Now I’m the ‘first African-American country singer’. That’s about the only thing that’s changed.” [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]