From the editors: UAE celebrates National Day with a successful satellite launch

UAE SOARS HIGHER The UAE’s successful launch of its fourth reconnaissance satellite, Falcon Eye 2, yesterday is yet another feather in the cap of the team spearheading the country’s space programme. It is no mean feat that Falcon Eye 2 has been designed for a 10-year mission to collect high-resolution images for downlink to the Armed Forces. The spacecraft ushers in an era of independent space-based surveillance for the UAE, with the data thus gathered being an important component for strategic planning. Well done UAE. (COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor)

OPTIMISM AND CONCERN IN FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 The news of Britain approving a COVID-19 vaccine came along with one from the US stating that daily deaths topped 2,700, the highest fatality rate since April. So while there is optimism about a vaccine helping stem the tide of deaths due to the coronavirus, there is also concern that in some parts of the world the pandemic is still on a rampage. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rightly warned that it did not mean "our struggle is over". The economy still faces restrictions and 70 per cent of the world’s population needs to be inoculated to break the COVID-19 chain. But the start has been made and we hope the new year will bring more good news. (COMMENT BY: Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor)

A CELEBRATION ON THE FIELD Andy Sullivan made National Day in the UAE his own as he fired a course record 61 in the opening round of the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The Englishman did not have his loyal ‘Sully Army’ following with him due to the coronavirus pandemic but he rarely looked like needing the backing as he set about recording his best ever professional score on any golf course to lead the way after the first round in Dubai. There are still three days to go, but even Sullivan could not have expected to be where he is right now, leading some of the best golfers in the world ahead of next week’s season finale DP World Tour Championship. (COMMENT BY: Matt Smith, Sports Editor)

DEATH OF A CONCERT? K-pop group Blackpink is the latest musical ensemble to go online to connect with fans. The troupe will be debuting songs and performances when they livestream a concert on their YouTube channel in December. But is it a way to connect or a path to forever being disconnected? Will the convenience of lying in pjs and discovering your favourite songs eat into the lure of physically-there concerts? There is the traffic of going to a gig consider and the discomfort. But there’s also something magical about being present on a ground with other fans sharing an experience. I guess it’ll boil down to a personal discovery – do you like people? (COMMENT BY: Karishma Nandkeolyar, Assistant Online Editor)