From the Editors: Rollout of five-year, multiple-entry Dubai visas a huge boost for all sectors

ROLLOUT OF FIVE-YEAR, MULTIPLE-ENTRY VISAS IN DUBAI A HUGE BOOST FOR ALL SECTORS: In what is being rightly construed as a shot in the arm for business and tourism, Dubai has started issuing new multiple-entry visas that are valid for five years, to professionals of multinational companies. Along with the Golden Visas and the Retire in Dubai initiatives, this new five-year visa is yet another example of how open and welcoming Dubai is to people from all over the world and how far-sighted the leadership of the country is in making sure that Dubai and the UAE continue to attract the best talents from all across the globe, who can work, live, make the most of their leisure hours and even plan for a meaningful, healthy post-retirement life here. The five-year, multiple-entry visas will allow skilled professionals a seamless access to Dubai and the UAE, boost further development and enrichment of human capital, and allow trade, commerce, tourism, retail, realty and hospitality sectors reap rich dividends. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

A MAKE OR BREAK ELECTION FOR LIBYA: Libya, which has been burdened with chaos since a Nato-backed revolt toppled the regime of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, will soon face its moment of truth. On December 24, Libyans go the polls to elect a government for the entire country. For years now, the nation, which has a small population and huge oil reserves, has been split between a government in the east, backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar, and another government in the west. Both sides rely on armed militias for support. The election is intended to make this a thing of the past. The animosity between eastern and western administration and their respective militias has been extreme. But for the sake of the nation, both sides have a duty to ensure the election is fair and, even more importantly, to the results. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

MERCEDES ADD FUEL TO RED BULL FEUD FIRE: As Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight it out — quite literally at times — on the track for the Formula One Drivers’ Championship title, the feud in the pit lane and stewards office between Mercedes and Red Bull is just as feisty. Late on Tuesday, Mercedes called for a stewards’ review of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix incident between Hamilton and Verstappen after new evidence emerged that was unavailable at the time. Red Bull’s championship leader Verstappen appeared to force Mercedes’ seven times world champion Hamilton off the track as they jostled for the lead at Interlagos last Sunday. Hamilton eventually passed Verstappen 11 laps later and took the win. Race director Michael Masi revealed after the Grand Prix that stewards had not had access to now-released forward-facing cockpit video footage from Verstappen’s car, with Mercedes particularly interested in the forward-facing video to see what steering movements Verstappen had made. With Hamilton now just 14 points behind Verstappen with three races remaining, you can be sure of more fireworks in Qatar this weekend. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

BOLLYWOOD TO BRING ON THE LAUGHS: Raise your hand if you are fatigued watching grim, dark, and violent films and web shows and are thirsting for some old-fashioned comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Sweat not, the perfect antidote may just be around the corner as Bollywood’s latest comic caper ‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’ rolls out into the UAE cinemas this Thursday. It’s the much-anticipated sequel to the 2005 blockbuster that starred Rani Mukerji and Abhishek Bachchan as a whacky and zany con-couple. While Saif Ali Khan has replaced Bachchan in the second instalment which is coming to us after a whopping 15 years, the sequel is likely to put a smile on our faces. With the year that we all had, a good dose of healthy and wholesome humour is always welcome. Have a great time at the movies this weekend. [COMMENT BY: Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor Features]