From the Editors: UAE Golden Visa eligibility for outstanding high-school students a significant step

UAE Golden Visa eligibility for outstanding high-school students a significant step: The UAE’s decision to extend Golden Visa eligibility to 2,036 students with outstanding results in Class 12 final exams, under the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum, will encourage more meritorious students to choose the UAE as their higher-studies destination. It is also heartening to know that even university students, both within as well as outside the UAE, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75, are also eligible to apply for Golden Visas. Along with outstanding professionals in various walks of life, who have already been made eligible for the Golden Visa, the UAE’s decision to extend the eligibility for this privileged category of visas to students is in keeping with the country’s reputation as a facilitator for enrichment of human capital and pursuit of higher learning. [COMMENT by: Sanjib Kumar Das, Assistant Editor]

WHO CAN RESCUE LEBANON?: The inevitable has happened. Lebanese politician Saad Hariri has abandoned his effort to form a new government. But during his quest to assemble a government. the country has descended into chaos. The World Bank has described Lebanon’s depression as one of the sharpest in modern history. The currency has lost more than 90% of its value in two years. Food inflation has skyrocketed to 400%. Hospitals are overwhelmed and the army can no longer afford to pay salaries to its soldiers. Poverty has spread and there have been crippling fuel shortages. The Unicef said more than 30% of the children went to bed hungry in the past month. No one knows what happens in Baabda Palace where negotiations are held with President Michel Aoun. The Lebanese are exhausted. And the politicians play the blame game. Now, who can rescue Lebanon? After nearly nine months, Hariri stepped down saying ‘God help this country’. Let’s pray for Lebanon. [COMMENT by Stephen N.R., Senior Asociate Editor]

MCGREGOR WAS INJURED BEFORE BREAKING LEG AT UFC 264: Conor McGregor suffered horrific multiple stress fractures to his leg during his UFC 264 fight against Dustin Poirier but the Irishman has now said he knew he was already injured before entering the ring. The 33-year-old, who was beaten by the American in Las Vegas, also says there had been talk if the fight would even take place in the first place. The fight was stopped by doctors after he broke the lower tibia in his left shin and McGregor says UFC officials knew about the issue before he got into the octagon last weekend. “Everyone keeps asking me at what point did the leg break?” he said. “Ask [UFC president] Dana White, ask the UFC, ask Dr [Jeffrey] Davidson, the head doctor of the UFC. They knew... I had stress fractures on my leg going into that cage.” Fighters must fill out pre-fight medical questionnaires when they compete in Nevada and if the UFC knew McGregor was injured it could face disciplinary action from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. [COMMENT by Imran Malik, Assistant Editor]

REMEMBERING SUREKHA SIKRI: Veteran Bollywood actress Surekha Sikri’s demise at the age of 75 has led to an outpouring of grief from the film fraternity. Known for her roles in ‘Badhaai Ho’ and ‘Balika Vadhu’, Sikri was a familiar face on the screen. In tributes, she was referred to as an extremely talented movie and theatre actress, and as a graceful and dignified woman. “So full of life and positive,” said actor Shashank Vyas, her ‘Balika Vadhu’ co-star. While Sikri has passed on, her legacy will live in the minds of the many people who admired and worked with her. [COMMENT by Jennifer Barretto, Assistant Editor - Features]