From the Editors: UAE’s naturalisation move seeks to attract brightest minds

UAE’S NATURALISATION MOVE SEEKS TO ATTRACT BRIGHTNESS MINDS: Major changes in the UAE’s citizenship law will not only open up the country to the brightest minds from around the world but also provides a golden opportunity to expatriate professionals including doctors, investors, scientists, artists and talented people to make the UAE their permanent home. The revised law aims at embracing them as members of the UAE society and ensure the social stability of expatriates. The decision also seeks to cultivate talent and support businesses. It also mirrors the UAE’s approach in preserving the diversity and tolerance in its society as a fundamental pillar. Expatriates who qualify to be naturalised must take this opportunity to be part of the UAE’s development process and secure future of their families. [COMMENT BY: Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor]

SORRY SAGA OF CHILDREN IN DAESH CAMPS IN SYRIA: The UN has asked countries to repatriate the 27,000 children stranded in Al Hol - a horrifically crowded camp in northeastern Syria. These children come from as many as 60 different countries. The issue is that many of these children are sons and daughters of Daesh terrorists - and that has dissuaded countries from repatriating them. However, many of them were infants or well below 16 years of age when the militant group was defeated in 2017. And the UN has said they must be treated primarily as victims. If they remain stranded in Al Hol, and are abandoned to their fate, they will be vulnerable to further indoctrination and radicalisation by remnants of Daesh. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]

WHEN INVESTOR RIGHTS ARE LOST IN FINE PRINT: Robinhood Markets Inc, the popular commission-free trading platform has been in at the centre of the recent controversies surrounding wild volatility in a few stocks triggered by an unprecedented fight between short sellers and day traders. Wall Street grandees including the hedge funds are bemoaning the attack by social media driven traders on their short-selling fiefdom. Robinhood is facing claims of betrayal for imposing abrupt trade restrictions amid a well-orchestrated ‘short squeeze’ that triggered a massive volatility in stocks such as GameStop Corp and AMC. As for Robinhood, it is likely to remain protected from lawsuits through a legal clause, which says it is not bound to carry out every trade, unless proved it acted on malafide intent. [COMMENT BY: Babu Das Augustine, Business Editor]

CASEY ON THE CUSP OF GREATNESS IN UAE: England’s Paul Casey is in line for a UAE hat-trick after he reignited his love affair with the nation on Saturday. The Englishman he shot a sensational 64 to take command of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club and could pick up his third major title here, having twice claimed the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Casey, 43, is just 18 holes away from adding the Dubai Classic to his trophy cabinet that already holds 20 top professional pieces of silverware. The former world No. 3 carded a brilliant and bogey-free eight-under — with six birdies and an eagle at the last — to lead by one stroke from Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre. [COMMENT BY: Matthew Smith, Sports Editor]

CELEBRITIES FIND A SAFE HAVEN IN THE UAE: Over the past few days, the UAE has witnessed a steady stream of noted celebrities reach these shores at a time when the pandemic has made it unsafe to venture far from home. Tom Cruise, Shah Rukh Khan and Telugu star Mahesh Babu, have reportedly moved their film shoots here, while Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeepa has landed in Dubai to promote his upcoming ‘Vikranth Rona’ on the glittering façade of Burj Khalifa, no less, on January 31. Even as the UAE facilitates this influx of stars, it also underlines the simple fact that all COVID-19 protocols are also firmly in place to create an environment that celebrities find attractive, and more importantly, feel safe to work in. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]