Gitex 2022 gets off to a great start and why mental health matters, our editors comment on the top stories of October 10

DUBAI PUTS ON A FINE TECH SHOW – AND THEN A DEEPER MESSAGE: Gitex Global 2022 wasn’t only going to be about the tech on show across the 20 plus halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre. Early into the peak season for conferences and exhibitions, this Gitex proves a point of how Dubai and the UAE has been delivering in the high-octane world of MICE. And the season is only getting started. More than 5,000 companies and their exhibitors have turned up for Gitex, which will be on show until Friday. What the final visitor numbers are going to be is of extra interest this year. Whatever the tally is, it will speak of resilience – if it was the Covid shadow in the last two years, this time it is of foreboding for the global economy. Amidst all that, Dubai and the UAE’s messaging has been consistent – Open For Business. (By Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

KNOW THE SIGNS OF POOR MENTAL HEALTH, TAKE HELP IF NECESSARY: Today – the World Mental Health Day – should serve as an opportunity for us to take stock of our general train of thoughts and feelings. As experts repeatedly tell us, the first step to combating any mental illness, however dormant, is to recognise the signs of the problem, acknowledge it and then seek necessary help to deal with it. Besides ourselves, we owe it to our family members, friends and colleagues to look out for any of these signs and get them addressed. There is a very heavy price to be paid if we keep brushing any unpleasant emotions or behaviourial abnormalities under the carpet. They need to be treated and cannot be wished away. (By Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor).

ARSENAL LOOKING MORE CONVINCING WITH EACH MATCH: Arsenal are looking more and more like serious title contenders this season. They have faced tough challenges in Tottenham and Liverpool in their last two matches but won both to ensure they remain at the top of the English Premier League after 9 games. They are looking more convincing with each match and although the Reds pegged them back twice last night, the Gunners ran out deserved 3-2 winners. Mikel Arteta’s side are ticking along nicely in these early stages of the campaign and although there is a long way to go, the signs are promising. (By Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor)

KANYE WEST COURTS TROUBLE AGAIN: While all publicity is good publicity, you need to draw the line somewhere and that’s where our controversial rapper Kanye West seems to think differently. Earlier today, both his Instagram and Twitter accounts were locked after his series of anti-Semitic posts. Kanye seemed to suggest that rapper Diddy was controlled it was promptly deemed as hate speech. This is the second time this month that West has courted trouble and invited indiscriminate backlash. He was heavily criticised for wearing a ‘white lives matter’ T-shirt during Paris Fashion Week. Apparently, he was stating the obvious as a black man, but the humor was lost on everyone. Here’s hoping that West takes a good, hard look at himself before he launches another tirade. Being a controversy magnet isn’t a great shade on anyone. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan Entertainment Editor)