What UAE’s borrowers should be thinking, and our astronauts inspire young minds, Gulf News editors comment on the top stories of Jan 9

UAE’S BORROWERS SHOULD BE THINKING ‘ASSET-BACKED’ – THEY COST LESS: It’s no longer a straight-forward process for UAE residents and small business owners thinking of taking out a loan. With all the rate hikes 2022 came up with and more likely to follow from next month on, loans will come with a higher cost. Not just the higher cost of a loan, there are other factors to consider such as job tenure, etc.. So, how can someone think of paying less? Whether for a student loan or to meet short-term cashflow needs for a SME owner, they should be considering ‘asset-backed’ borrowing, whether that’s gold or property. And there are more options opening up for these borrowers – think different could be a good way to start… (Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

INSPIRATIONAL INTERACTION WITH UAE’S ASTRONAUTS: The initiative by UAE astronauts Hazza Al Mansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi to interact with children at the Museum of the Future in Dubai ahead of Al Neyadi’s upcoming mission to the International Space Station will no doubt have been a huge inspiration for the young minds. Exposure to eminent speakers in a variety of fields at a young age goes a long way in shaping their aspirations and personalities as they are at an impressionable age. It was to the credit of the youngsters that they had many questions to ask the astronauts about their missions. It will only be a matter of time that some space enthusiasts among them will one day follow in the footsteps of the astronauts. (By Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor)

FA CUP THIRD ROUND DELIVERS SHOCKS APLENTY: The FA Cup third round always produces a shock or two and Aston Villa have become the latest Premier League team to bow out of the tournament at the early stage. They were knocked out of the oldest competition in the world by League Two side Stevenage who produced an incredible late comeback to win 2-1 at Villa Park with two goals in the last two minutes to book their spots in the fourth round. Villa have become the eighth Premier League club to have been beaten in this year’s third round and another top-flight elimination is guaranteed when Liverpool and Wolves meet for their replay. This will ensure the most top division teams to bow at the first hurdle since the 2007-08 season. That was also the last season when a team from outside the Premier League made it to the FA Cup final. Tonight Arsenal will meet Oxford and they will hope to avoid an upset but as we know, anything can happen in what is widely regarded as the best cup competition in football. (By Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor)

HARRY’S ROYAL DRAMA GAINS STEAM: There’s no better reality TV than watching Prince Harry’s life play out in the public eye this week. After his arresting tell-all memoir ‘Spare’, he’s still in no mood to let his family off the hook for perceived wrongs done to him. The Duke Of Sussex is now on a media blitzkrieg as he gets interviewed by his select UK and the US press. The much-hyped interviews, ahead of his book’s official launch tomorrow, is likely to create sparks. While it’s impossible to know the whole truth, there’s no denying that this fall-out has more drama than Keeping Up With Kardashians. Harry’s tale has all the ingredients. Family secrets: check; sibling rivalry: check. And the like. In all, there’s no better TV right now. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan Entertainment Editor)