Technology, digital IPOs next in the UAE? Countdown to Sharjah Book Fair begins, our editors comment on the top stories of October 13

HOW SOON BEFORE TECH AND DIGITAL GET ONTO UAE STOCK MARKETS? The UAE’s stock market and IPO activity this year has been relentless. Each company that wanted to go public did so to an overwhelming response, including the latest two – Salik and Burjeel Holdings. Now, these two are quite interesting, in that they opened up the (road) transport and healthcare subsectors onto the broader stock market index. Will technology or digital entities be next? For an economy that’s so connected to all things tech, it’s still a surprise there isn’t much of a presence on the stock market. Of course, one could say that e& (formerly Etisalat Group) and du are as good as tech entities – and they would be right. Even then, a broader presence on the capital markets to give greater visibility for the buzzing tech scene here would be most in-the-moment change. And investors would be more than ready to sign up for it… (By Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

SHARJAH BOOK FAIR A CASE STUDY IN SUSTAINED SUCCESS: The much-awaited Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is back. From what has just been announced, this year’s edition will be the biggest ever, with 2,213 publishers from 95 countries showcasing 1.5 million titles. As in the past, the November 2 to 13 event will, no doubt, attract thousands of visitors, young and old, giving a massive push to reading and all that can be gained from it. It is noteworthy how the fair, in its 41st edition this year, continues to be a globally sought after event for authors too, making it a case study for its sustained success. (By Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor)

ALEX JONES VERDICT A WARNING TO GUARD THE TONGUE: US far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been ordered to pay nearly $1 billion in damages to families of eight victims of the Sandy Hook shooting after claiming that the massacre was a hoax. The damages, for the suffering caused by years of lies, will bring some closure to the case that has stayed in the public eye for a decade. Killings do not solve problems and families of victims live out the anguish for the rest of their lives. But things are made worse by people like Jones who circulate falsehood, not only making a mockery of what has really happened, but deepening the pain borne by family members. The verdict is also a warning to others to be careful before shooting their mouths off for prime-time viewership. (By Alex Abraham, Senior Associate Editor)

ENGLAND MAKE A HUGE STATEMENT AHEAD OF WORLD CUP: England, the current 50-over World Cup champions, have been targeting the shorter versions for a few years now and have been building their team towards winning the World Cup trophies. The move paid dividends with England winning the 2019 ODI World Cup at home beating New Zealand in a thriller. Now, they have underlined their Twenty20 credentials by defeating current Twenty20 World Cup champions Australia at home in the three-match series. And the English Lions managed to do that without the pace aces Chris Woakes and Mark Wood in the second match on Wednesday. The team is filled with power-hitters and quality all-rounders, which makes them the team to watch for in the showpiece. (By A.K.S. SATISH, Sports Editor)

PARIS HILTON RE-VISITS ALLEGED ABUSE AS A TEENAGER TO EMPOWER SURVIVORS EVERYWHERE: It takes incredible courage and grit to open up about sexual abuse as a teenager. But hotel heiress, serial entrepreneur, and socialite Paris Hilton continues to do just that as she re-visits the traumatic episodes she faced while she was at a reform school in Utah for troubled teens. In the latest interview with New York Times, Hilton spoke again about how she was forced to do non-consensual cervical exams by the staff members of the boarding school. The heiress was sent to Utah therapeutic boarding school for eleven months to tame her ‘rebellious partying’. But Hilton isn’t shying away from speaking up about her sordid experiences. She has been relentlessly campaigning for reform at such residential facilities. We know Paris Hilton as this poster-child for being an eternal party girl (and perhaps, she’s still one), but it’s time to rip those archaic and reductive labels and see her as a woman who takes a stand and is willing to re-open old wounds hoping for change. (By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment Editor)