From the Editors: Big boost to coding community

BIG BOOST TO CODING COMMUNITY: The 10 new initiatives launched by the UAE Coders HQ in Dubai yesterday comes as a big boost for the country’s coding community as it they will empower at least 15,000 coders in the next six months, providing a host of employment opportunities. The number of programmers in the UAE will sharply go up and even help UAE achieve the highest per capita in this respect globally. Also, the coder-centric innovations will enhance the reputation of the country’s programming communities as the best in the region and beyond. [COMMENT BY: Sharmila Dhal, UAE Editor]

BRING OUT THE RAMADAN OFFERS – UAE SHOPPERS ARE READY: Retailers in the UAE are calling it the first ‘post-Covid’ Ramadan promotional blitz, and their expectation is that Holy Month will propel enough consumer activity to keep business activity humming. Because this year, there is another factor at work, with April being the first month without the Expo-created booster. Retailers have been testing consumer sentiments with the initial offers that will build to a nice crescendo from early April. Retailers are confident they have enough stocks to handle any rush that will be set off. And most important for shoppers – retailers are holding firm on there being no price increases despite the spike in shipping costs and commodity prices. So, the retailers are ready with their offers – and UAE’s shoppers will be turning up soon. [COMMENT BY: Manoj Nair, Business Editor]

TENNIS WORLD WAKES UP IN SHOCK AS ASH BARTY CALLS TIME: Barely two months after she won her home Australian Open, world No. 1 Ash Barty decided to call time from tennis at the age of 25 – joining the likes of super successful players like Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters or Justin Henin. “I’m so happy and I’m so ready. I just know at the moment in my heart for me as a person this is right,” she said in a video on social media as the tennis world grappled with the loss of a versatile talent who held on to the top spot for 114 weeks. Is it the burnout factor, or the stress of the bubble life over the last two years? We will know in the coming days. [COMMENT BY: Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor]

ARE CONSERVATORSHIPS TOO HARSH? Hollywood actress Amanda Bynes was recently released from a court conservatorship that put her life and financial decisions in her parents’ control for nearly nine years. Bynes gained fame as a teenage star who worked on TV and movies. However, she struggled with mental health, substance abuse and the law. Her case is similar to Britney Spears, who was also released from a court-ordered conservatorship. Amid this, many people have questioned the validity of conservatorships and whether people should be put into them for such long periods of time. Individuals should be allowed to take control of their own lives once they’ve proved themselves capable of doing so.[COMMENT BY: Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor – Features]