Game-changing advancement at Abu Dhabi Airports and time for discretion on spending? Our editors comment on the top stories of November 3

GAME-CHANGING ADVANCEMENT AT ABU DHABI AIRPORTS: With Abu Dhabi Airports gearing up to launch advanced biometric technology, passengers can expect a very smooth sail through the airport. The technology not only uses the passenger’s facial features as the passport to clear him or her for travel, the same information is then used prior to boarding, thus avoiding the need to present any documentation again. That the first phase of the tech roll-out is being tested at the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility is also great news as it expedites travel formalities for long haul flights such as those to the US. (By Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor).

FOR UAE CONSUMERS, A TIME FOR DISCRETION ON SPENDING? The US Federal Reserve has had its say, hiking base rates by another 0.75 per cent and a fourth successive one at that. As residents in the UAE, those with (unfixed) mortgage payments, other loans, credit card bills will find a yet another increase on their outgoing payments. There is another hike in December, and whether it’s 0.75 per cent or 0.50 wouldn’t make much of a difference. Not after these successive increases. So, how will consumers here respond? A bit of discretion for those who find their finances are getting stretched would be the ideal sentiment to carry around. Because indiscretion on spending in these highly unusual times could prove costly, in more ways than at the point-of-sale. (By Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

ALL EYES ON DISCUSSIONS AT COP27: Unesco has warned that a third of the 18,600 glaciers across 50 world heritage sites that it monitors are set to disappear by 2050 due to global warming. This is shocking news, especially because the report adds that this will occur irrespective of the temperature rise scenario. Unesco has recommended that governments should make glaciers a focus of policy. These and other issues will be raised at the COP27 meeting being held from November 6 at Sharm Al Sheikh, Egypt. All eyes will be on the event and the world hopes that concrete measures will be taken to protect the environment. (By Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor)

EXCITING FORTNIGHT IN WORLD CUP CRICKET: The Twenty20 World Cup 2022 has been exciting with numerous twists, turns and stunning finishes. One of the main reasons for such close contests, which could go either way till the last ball, is because of low totals, which gives the other team a belief that they could chase it down. The ball and bat has an equal measure of domination on bouncy Australian wickets and the huge grounds make six-hitting a difficult task, in fact it ends up as a wicket, which puts more pressure on the batting team. It is time the International Cricket Council revise the playing conditions and push the boundaries further, at least a minimum of 80 metres for major part of the field. It will enhance the game of cricket and dissuade the slam-bang variety and, instead, develop the classical approach like inning building. In all, it has been an exciting fortnight for the cricket fans and there is more in store. (By A.K.S. SATISH, Sports Editor)

BOLLYWOOD STAR-KID JANHVI KAPOOR, A PORTRAIT OF PRIVILEGE? I have interviewed many Bollywood stars who belong to different leagues for more than a decade, but it’s not often that you come across a twenty-something rising Bollywood star who comes across as borderline aloof and -- how do I put this nicely – bratty. I am talking about Janhvi Kapoor, the daughter of late Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor. In an interview this week, Janhvi was in the danger of being stereotyped as this entitled star-kid who found fame, success, and stardom easy. She was on call to promote her survival thriller ‘Mili’ in which she plays the titular role of young woman trapped in a freezer. Interestingly, our strictly-timed seven minute chat was also bordering on cold and brusque. She was often reaching out for a tissue and seems to be having the sniffles, but it’s disheartening to see her put very little effort in talking up her film. In sharp contrast was an icon Shah Rukh Khan, who was in Dubai a few years ago battling high fever while promoting ‘Diwale’, but he didn’t let his discomfort get in the way of giving an incisive interview. Here’s hoping Janhvi’s film ‘Mili’ is better than her turn at promoting the thriller with us. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment Editor)