From the Editors: UAE summer camps are a big hit

SUMMER CAMPS GALORE IN THE UAE: Like everything else in the UAE, there is a wide variety of options available for children when it comes to summer camps in the country. From those offering creative, sports and entertainment activities to those educating them about security patrols, life situations and basic values, there’s something for everyone. What’s more, all age groups of students are taken into consideration by people with the required expertise while planning these activities. True, some of the camps can be expensive, but as many parents would say, they are well worth the spend. (By Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor).

UAE’S DEVELOPERS MUST HELP OUT END-USER BUYERS: UAE developers have some work – critical at that – ahead of them. They have to, at the earliest, come up with ways to override concerns genuine end-users will have about buying a home given the hike in mortgage rates. Even a Dh1,000-Dh2,000 addition on their monthly mortgage payments will burden a lot of buyers, who are also busy combating the vestiges of inflation in its various forms on the cost of living. So, can developers do anything? Sure, and some of these are tried and tested ways, such as offering low down payment and paying off the bulk post-handover and spread over 3-7 years. And developers must be ready to absorb additional costs, such as those that have to be paid to the Land Department authorities. This is not a moment to wait before taking a decision. Decision times are right now. (Manoj Nair, Business Editor).

ENGLAND WOMEN CREATE HISTORY BY WINNING EURO 2022: The England women’s football team have created history after winning their first major tournament in a dramatic Euro 2022 final. They beat their old rivals and eight-time champions Germany 2-1 at a full house at Wembley. It was substitute Chloe Kelly who grabbed the winner from close range in extra time which sent the record crowd of 87,192 into a frenzy. The men’s team came close during Euro 2020 but were beaten on penalties in the final by Italy but the women showed how to do it. It is a monumental moment in English football history and the scenes at full time of jubilation in the stands and an outpouring of emotion by players on the pitch was a joy to see for English fans all over the world. (By Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor)

SALMAN KHAN IS ARMED AND READY? This morning, news broke that Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has been granted a gun license for self-protection. The original bad boy of Bollywood, who is known for his several brush-ins with the law such as his alleged hit-and-run accident and hunting down endangered black bucks, is now on a fiercely defensive mode. Khan and his father and lyricist/screenplay writer Salim Khan have been receiving threats from the same gang who shot down Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala. And they are taking those threats seriously! Word on the street is that Khan – who enjoys immense popularity -- has also made his vehicles bullet-proof and has beefed up security around him. Here’s hoping he will never face the need to utilise that gun permit. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor Features, Gulf News)