From the Editors: GNICE – one-stop shop to answer all residency queries

GNICE - ONE-STOP SHOP TO ANSWER ALL YOUR RESIDENCY QUERIES: There was quite a buzz as the three-day Gulf News Immigration and Citizenship Exhibition (GNICE) opened in Dubai on Thursday. This is the first on-ground event post-pandemic dedicated to immigration and citizenship issues. From that point of view, the staging of the event itself is a sign of life gradually limping back to normality. As trade and commerce swing back to pre-pandemic levels all over the globe, the timing of this exhibition could not have been any better. Moreover, with Dubai and the UAE being home to people from more than 200 nationalities, seeking a second passport or looking for newer locales to set up base for residency, academic and professional purposes is only natural. The coming together of immigration and residency experts, including lawyers, is a massive boon for all those willing to explore possibilities of residency in some other country. That way, GNICE is indeed a one-stop shop to answer all your residency and citizenship queries. [COMMENT BY: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

ESCALATION DOES NOT BODE WELL IN SUDAN: In Sudan’s escalating turmoil, 15 people were killed in a day on Wednesday in deadliest security crackdown to date on protesters demanding the restoration of a civilian government. Activists on Thursday pledged to continue resistance despite repressive measures. This could deepen the divide between military leaders who seized power on October 25 and a large protest movement spearheading the demonstrations. Protesters described the behaviour of police on Wednesday as more aggressive than in the past, the latest sign that the military is looking to entrench its position. Despite pressure from Western states, which have suspended economic assistance, efforts at mediation have stalled, with military leader General Abdul Fattah Al Burhan moving to cement control with help from Omar Al Bashir-era veterans. The continued unrest does not bode well for the country whose economy has been battered by years of mismanagement and sanctions. [COMMENT BY: Stephen N.R., Senior Asociate Editor]

CONCERNS GROW FOR CHINESE TENNIS PLAYER PENG SHUAI: The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has said it could pull its tournaments out of China following the sexual assault allegations made by Peng Shuai. The former doubles number one has not been seen since she revealed on social media earlier this month that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli coerced her into a sexual relationship. Concerns are growing about her safety and whereabouts and the WTA has called for an investigation. Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka have retweeted the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai which has racked up over 32 million mentions on social media. The issue has emerged as the country gets ready to host the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) saying it will not comment on the matter. [COMMENT BY: Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

KIM KARDASHIAN IS MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, ONE PERSON AT A TIME: Even as Kim Kardashian’s dating life grabs headlines, the reality TV star and entrepreneur is using her name and fame to make the world a better place. With the help of a New York rabbi and a UK football club, Kardashian chartered a plane to fly members of Afghanistan’s women’s youth development football team to Britain on Thursday in a bid to start better lives and away from the Taliban rule. A plane chartered by the reality star carried more than 30 teenage players and their families towards a new future. If that wasn’t enough, across the pond, Kardashian was separately also spearheading a campaign that resulted in successfully halting the execution of inmate Julius Jones, who was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to die for the 1999 shooting death of Edmond, Oklahoma businessman Paul Howell during a carjacking. For two decades Jones had maintained his innocence. Governor Kevin Sitt finally stepped in to commute the sentence to life without parole and stopped his execution. [COMMENT BY: Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor]