Planned change to Dubai’s Rental Index and Sharjah’s cultural push, our editors comment on the top stories of November 21

DUBAI THINKS OF A WAY TO REIN IN RENTAL DEMANDS: If a planned change to Dubai’s Rental Index comes into effect, landlords will no longer be able to jack up rentals just because others in the same area are doing it. No, the new way means landlords will have to earn their right to ask for more. Their building and the property within it will have to be part of the rating system Dubai has had for some years now. Based on what their rating is, they get to make the call on how much they can ask. No longer would it be about where that building is located – and all about how well that property and the building have been kept up with the times. Dubai’s tenants will get the transparency they desire – and where justified, landlords get to hike rents. (By Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

SHARJAH’S CULTURAL PUSH ON GLOBAL STAGE YET AGAIN: The selection of Sharjah as the Guest of Honour at the upcoming Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) in Mexico is indeed an honour. Besides being an emphatic recognition for the cultural initiatives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, it will also provide Emirati authors to showcase their works internationally. In fact, 57 Arabic books written by renowned Emirati authors have been translated into Spanish. The cultural programme will also feature a selection of cultural, literary, media and heritage activities, covering 27 sessions. It is yet another fine example of how Sharjah’s cultural push is finding a growing international relevance. (By Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor).

WALES BACK IN WORLD CUP ACTION AFTER 64 YEARS: England have only had to wait for four years since their last appearance at the World Cup. But for Wales, the wait has been quite a lot longer. It’s been 64 years since their first and only appearance at the world’s biggest stage. Both teams are in action today with Gareth Southgate’s side facing Iran while Rob Paige’s team meet the USA. The FIFA World Cup’s opening day featured just one match – Ecuador’s 2-0 win over hosts Qatar – but the action will be cranked up today. Senegal’s clash against the Netherlands means we will have three games in total. It is bound to be a fascinating day of action and there should be plenty of goals and lots of other talking points to set tongues wagging. (By Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor)

IFFI 2022 IN GOA KICKS OFF IN STYLE: The International Film Festival Of India (IFFI) is one of the largest film festivals in Asia and we are here on the ground in Goa to soak in all the action and fanfare. Last night, the opening ceremony was a star-studded one with the likes of Ajay Devgn, Varun Dhawan, Sara Ali Khan, Kartik Aaryan, and Mrunal Thakur throwing their weight behind it. The atmosphere here is electric as cinephiles and filmmakers from around the globe gather to celebrate world cinema and not just Bollywood musicals. And like Ajay Devgn in an exclusive interview told Gulf News today: "IFFI 2022 is proof of the magic of cinema." We couldn't agree more. For the next seven days, the guests here are going to revel in that magic. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment Editor)