From the Editors: Gov Games aims to boost fitness in community

GOV GAMES AIMS TO BOOST FITNESS IN COMMUNITY: The third edition of the Gov Games began on Thursday at Expo Village in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council. The first day saw highly competitive contests between teams participating in the ‘Community Games Category’ and the ‘Government Entities - Men’s Category’. Gov Games, an initiative of Sheikh Hamdan, aim to stir competitive spirit amongst government department employees. The event not only further strengthens Dubai’s position as a hub for sports tournaments but also supports the vision to make it the fittest city in the world. Residents must visit the venue to get inspired and appreciate teams competing with great enthusiasm. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

LEBANESE CURRENCY - AND LEBANON - ARE IN FREE-FALL: The Lebanese central bank raised the exchange rate for US dollar deposits held in the country’s banks - from 3,900 to 8,000 Lebanese pounds. But the impact was felt in the real world - away from the make-belief world of Lebanon’s officialdom - where the currency is in free-fall. What this means is Lebanese who have dollar accounts - which they are barely able to access - will now be allowed to take out some of those dollars, but at the Central Bank’s exchange rate of 8,000 pounds to a dollar. However, in the real world, the value of the dollar is more than 25,000 Lebanese pounds. News of the central bank devaluation had an immediate ripple effect on the black market, where the pound fell to 25,700. The situation now is bordering on a joke. And no one seems to be able to do anything about it. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff International Editor]

F1 ABU DHABI GP - FANS RETURN AS ANTICIPATION BUILDS UP FOR FINALE: The air of anticipation is building up for the F1 season finale at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, tied at 369.5 points at the top of Drivers’ Standings, facing off in a winner-takes-all race. The crowds will return at the Grand Stand after a year’s gap – promising to make the ambience an electric one in the only twilight race in the circuit. “It has been an incredible effort from everyone in the team and back the factory for us to get back in the race and catch Max,” seven-time defending champion Hamilton said while speaking to the media. Verstappen said: “What we have achieved has been amazing and we are ready to go one more time.” [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

A GRAND WEDDING TO REMEMBER: Bollywood stars Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal are official married and have received lots of love from fans and other celebrities. The happy couple had managed to keep their relationship relatively secret, making the first acknowledgement of their togetherness their marriage announcement. For the rest of us mere mortals, this has been a cheery way to cap off a year where Bollywood and the rest of the world faces some troubled times due to the pandemic. [COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor - Features]