Dubai keeps pushing the envelope to better its services and Salik sees off an IPO in style, our editors comment on the top stories of September 22

SALEM CENTRE, ANOTHER SMART MOVE BY DUBAI: The opening of the Smart Salem Centre at Dubai International Financial Centre on Tuesday is yet another fine example of how Dubai keeps pushing the envelope to better its services. The new centre goes above and beyond existing fast-track services because it is driven by artificial intelligence. This will no doubt hasten the process of getting medical fitness tests done and more important, procure results in 30 minutes. In effect, the entire process of getting a residence visa, for which a medical fitness certificate is essential, is expedited. (By Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor)

SALIK SEES OFF AN IPO IN STYLE ON A DAY OF INTENSE MARKET TURMOIL: The irony would not have been lost on anyone – Salik coming out and confirming a Dh184 billion over-subscription on a day when global markets were swimming in a sea of red after the US Fed kept to its message of beating inflation by raising interest rates. In fact, the DFM and ADX markets are among the few ones to trade at relatively parity, as the message from Jerome Powell started to sink in. Salik’s oversubscription tally would thus have comforted investors that companies with rock-solid fundamentals can still drive the numbers up, whatever be the risk-off profile of investors. Salik’s IPO has turned out to be a smooth drive for Dubai…(By Manoj Nair, Business Editor)

WORLD MUST DO MORE FOR REFUGEES: The situation with the world’s forcibly displaced is grim. As per the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, persecution, conflict, violence, human-rights violation or events seriously disturbing public order has put the world’s displaced population at close to 90 million. That is a massive number. At this critical juncture when the UN General Assembly is meeting in New York, there is an urgent need for world’s powers to open their purse strings and contribute towards alleviating the misery of refugees. (By Sadiq Shaban, Opinion Editor)

MORE UNIQUE ROLES FOR WOMEN: Popular Tamil actor Ajith Kumar is set to star in action movie ‘Thunivu’, and the first look of it shows him in powerful avatar. Like him, many actors over 50 in India have had the chance to do big movies with roles that allow them to showcase their acting prowess and play a range of unique characters. I wish the same could be said for women in the industry, who are often cast as just mothers and wives after a certain age. They too deserve to play a variety of roles that aren’t limited to societal expectations — maybe even roles that have shades of grey. (By Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features)