Sultan Al Neyadi set to walk into history books, SMEs get helping hand in the UAE, Lampard a surprise choice for Chelsea, and more, Gulf News Editors comment on the top stories on April 7

UAE’S ASTRONAUT SULTAN AL NEYADI SET TO MAKE HISTORY: Emirati Sultan Al Neyadi is set to make history by becoming the first Arab astronaut to perform spacewalk on the International Space Station. April 28, 2023 will a historic day for the Arab world -- the UAE will become the first Arab and the 10th country in the world to achieve this milestone. Al Neyadi will be part of the 262nd spacewalk in support of assembly, maintenance and upgrades on the space station. Astronauts selected for spacewalks on the ISS undergo a rigorous selection process based on their skills, experience, and adaptability to the challenging environment of space. Al Neyadi’s selection for this historic moment is a great honour for him, the Arab world and the UAE’s space programme. (By Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor)

LOOKING OUT FOR THE UAE SME: The UAE Ministry of Finance has come out and done more to settle the nerves of small and mid-sized enterprises as they factor in what their corporate tax obligations would mean to their cash flow and other financial equations. Setting the upper revenue limit at Dh3 million for Small Business Relief and offering a more than 2-year tax-free window effectively means that these businesses get that valuable commodity – time – to better prep themselves for the CT regime. For businesses in the UAE, starting June 1, it’s going to be a brand new landscape they are getting into, when every facet of their operations made CT-compliant. It’s more on for SMEs and their owners. The latest Ministry of Finance move is more than a helping hand…(By Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

LAMPARD A SURPRISE CHOICE FOR CHELSEA: Frank Lampard has been named as Chelsea’s caretaker manager in what is perhaps one of the strangest appointment in years. The Blues sacked Graham Potter and instead of finding a permanent replacement, they have given Lampard – who previously managed the club – a short term deal. The 44-year-old had disastrous spells in charge of Derby and Everton and many felt his chances of leading a top club were over. He failed at Everton and had been out of work since January until Chelsea came calling. Many felt the club would rope in Luis Enrique, the former Spain and Barcelona boss, but they have turned to Lampard in a bid to steady the ship but it has left many in football wondering if it is the right move by the Premier League strugglers. (By Imran Malik, Assistant Sports Editor)

SHAH RUKH KHAN SHOWS US HOW CRICKET CAN MIX WITH BOLLYWOOD: When the Indian Premier League began and leading Indian actors made a beeline for franchises, the purists asked if showbiz would mix with cricket — and whether it would be palatable. But Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan has shown how the two can make for a good combination. Yesterday, the actor walked out to the cricket field after the IPL game between Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore ended and interacted with players of both sides. An ordinary interaction turned into a spectacle, with even yesteryear great Sunil Gavaskar exchanging pleasantries with the 'Pathaan' star. The highlight was cricketer Virat Kohli learning to twirl from King Khan. If anything, the IPL has shown us that showbiz can coexist with cricket without stepping on each other's toes. (By Rajagopalan Venkataraman, Assistant Editor-Features)