Trump’s legal woes escalate, Dubai rents stabilize, Free parking for select users, and more, Gulf News Editors comment on August 15 trending news

TRUMP’S LEGAL PROBLEMS MOUNT: Donald Trump and 18 associates have been indicted in the US state of Georgia, facing charges linked to their endeavors to overturn the 2020 election results. Utilising a statute associated with organised crime, prosecutors allege a "criminal enterprise" orchestrated by Trump, his legal team, and aides to maintain his hold on power. The indictment details actions such as pressuring officials to secure votes, targeting election workers, and attempting to sway lawmakers. Notably, the indictment involves a diverse group of defendants, including Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. The charges add to a series of legal cases against Trump, emblematic of efforts to hold him accountable for undermining democratic processes. (By Sadiq Shaban, Opinion Editor)

RESIDENTIAL RENTS IN DUBAI STARTING TO STABILIZE: Residential rents in Dubai are witnessing stabilisation after three years of upsurge. While new rental contracts and renewals come at higher lease rates, landlords are becoming more flexible in negotiations, resulting in some contracts being signed below the asking price. This trend is noticeable across various communities and popular residential locations in the emirate. If this pattern continues, it could indicate a levelling off in rental prices, which would bring relief to both current and new residents. The increase in housing supply, particularly in areas like Meydan, the Arabian Ranches 3 and Al Furjan, also seem to be impacting rental growth. According to Asteco, the property services firm, 11,000 residences were delivered during Q2-23 and forecasts a further increase in supply, which could impact the overall rental trends in Dubai. (By Nivetha Dayanand, Web Editor)

FREE PARKING FOR SELECT DUBAI USERS: From August 20, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will no longer require senior Emiratis and People of Determination to print and display parking permits as part of its smart service offering. As only one car can be active at a time, the smart permit has a new function that allows the user to add up to five vehicles to each permit: one primary vehicle and four subsidiary vehicles. The system uses the latest technology to allow any of the secondary vehicles to be activated for up to an hour, with the option to renew through RTA’s website or smart app (the authorised licensee should be on board the vehicle). By giving these select customers greater flexibility without the need to visit a customer care centre, it manifests the agency’s capacity to utilise the latest digital technology to level up its services, boost customer happiness and transform the future of Dubai through innovation. (By Jay Hilotin, Senior Assistant Editor)

INDIA'S BATTING DEPTH IN T20S A CONCERN: India lost the five-match T20 series against West Indies 2-3. There's no need to press the panic button given that there's a year left for the T20 World Cup in West Indies. Moreover, India chose to experiment by trying out new players and resting the experienced ones including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. India did find youngsters who performed exceptionally well including batters Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma and bowler Mukesh Kumar but as coach Rahul Dravid pointed out that it was the depth in batting that needed to be addressed. He said: "Within 10 months' time, India will be playing the World Cup. This cannot be the template. The batting needs to come till No. 8, possibly nine, somebody who can tonk the ball. And obviously, the bowlers, need to start getting their batting a little bit better. At least their six-hitting or four-hitting ability. We need to look at guys who can bat and bowl. Shivam Dube comes to my mind. Venkatesh Iyer, Washington Sundar, those are the guys that come to mind and we need to groom them," he said. (By Jai Prasad V Rai, Assistant Editor)

LEONARDO DICAPRIO HAS A BEEF WITH THE CATTLE INDUSTRY IN THE US: Trust Leonardo DiCaprio, actor and activist, to back films with a worthy cause. His latest documentary, Patrol, exposes Nicargua’s beef industry and their dirty secrets. It looks into how these large companies clear rainforests to raise cattle meant for US markets. The issue of “conflict beef” resonates globally especially among major beef importing nations like the US. The film highlights the paradox of U.S. sanctions against Nicaragua's regime while supporting its beef trade. Ultimately, his production underscores the complex interplay between economic concerns, governmental policies, and environmental preservation. Here’s hoping that more actors step forward to take up causes that aren’t often spoken about in our mainstream conversations. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment Editor)