Latest news with #10
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Saudi Arabia and UAE rank among top 20 AI talent hubs globally
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have emerged among the world's top 20 countries by AI talent density, highlighting their growing appeal as global AI workforce hubs. According to the Global AI Competitiveness Index , published by the International Finance Forum and Deep Knowledge Group, Saudi Arabia holds 0.7% of the global AI talent pool, while the UAE holds 0.4%, ahead of advanced economies such as Russia and Italy. This recognition comes as both nations accelerate investments in AI education, research, and workforce development. In Saudi Arabia, national strategies under Vision 2030 are fuelling a transformation that aims to create 200,000 high-tech jobs, generate $235.2 billion in AI-driven GDP impact by 2030, and position the Kingdom among the top 10 countries globally in AI research and implementation. To build local talent, initiatives like the 10,000 Coders programme are providing young Saudis with advanced AI skills, while partnerships with global institutions, including Stanford University, have helped King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) become the highest-ranking Middle Eastern university in AI talent production, now among the global top 150. The UAE, meanwhile, is consolidating its role in AI governance and regulation while nurturing a robust innovation ecosystem. Both nations are supported by sovereign funds and fast-track approvals, with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund recently launching a $1.5 billion AI-focused fund. Strategic projects like Neom, where over 30% of the $500 billion budget is allocated to AI infrastructure, are also reshaping the regional AI job market. Together, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are redefining the regional AI workforce landscape, combining investment, education, and strategic vision to cultivate globally competitive AI talent ecosystems.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
IAS Medha Roopam education: How this St. Stephen's economics grad and shooting champion became NOIDA's first woman DM
Medha Roopam becomes NOIDA's first woman District Magistrate. On a July night when Uttar Pradesh shuffled its bureaucratic deck, a historic headline broke at dawn: Medha Roopam had become NOIDA's first woman District Magistrate. For a district used to concrete, cranes, and power corridors, the news carried a different kind of weight—a glass ceiling quietly shattered by a young IAS officer who had built her life on precision, grit, and an unflinching sense of purpose. Medha Roopam: An IAS in the making Born in Agra in 1990, Medha grew up in a family where public service wasn't a career choice, but almost a genetic inheritance. Her father, Gyanesh Kumar, an IAS officer from the 1988 batch and later India's Chief Election Commissioner, embodied the quiet dignity of governance. Family gatherings were less about small talk and more about how policy decisions altered lives on the ground. Her schooling began in Naval Public School, Ernakulam, later moving to St. Thomas School, Thiruvananthapuram for higher secondary education. The south Indian ethos of rigour and discipline left its mark. But it was at St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, that her worldview sharpened. As an Economics (Honours) student, Medha dissected fiscal policies, growth paradoxes, and the chasm between planning tables and poverty lines. She cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2013, bagging an All India Rank 10 with Psychology as her optional subject—a blend of data-driven analysis and human understanding that would become her leadership style. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Medha Roopam: The markswoman's discipline Long before the corridors of power, Medha mastered another kind of focus—the kind that comes with holding a rifle steady. She trained in the 10-metre air rifle event during her school years and rose to win three gold medals in the Kerala State Shooting Championship, representing the state in national-level tournaments. The sport taught her precision, patience, and an ability to filter out chaos—all qualities that would later serve her well in districts where governance was often a high-stakes balancing act. Medha Roopam's career: A path of precision, pressure and balance Medha Roopam's administrative journey has been less about polished boardrooms and more about rolling up sleeves in Uttar Pradesh's toughest districts. She started out in Bareilly and Meerut, learning the real grammar of governance—not from textbooks, but from chaotic field offices and public grievances that arrive faster than solutions. As District Magistrate of Hapur, she wasn't one for token announcements. Under her watch, the Ayushman Bharat scheme didn't just sit in files; more than 1.3 lakh golden cards reached real hands, and immunisation drives stopped being photo-ops and started touching nearly every household. Then came Kasganj, where nature tested bureaucracy. Floodwaters swallowed roads and cut off villages, but Roopam ditched the SUV and rode a tractor through submerged lanes, coordinating rescue and relief on the spot. In a state where disaster management often means meetings and memos, she chose mud and knee-deep water. Later, as Additional CEO of Greater NOIDA Authority, she swapped flood zones for land deals and investor impatience. Jewar Airport and Film City projects brought their own storms—land disputes, community pushback, and deadlines that didn't care about bureaucracy's pace. Roopam learned to walk the tightrope between ambition and ground reality, keeping projects moving without letting promises sink in red tape. A new chapter in NOIDA Now, as NOIDA's first woman DM, Medha steps into a district where ambition runs faster than traffic, expectations are high, and every decision is under a magnifying glass. Yet, her journey—from economics classrooms to rifle podiums to disaster-hit villages—suggests a style of leadership that is grounded, people-focused, and unafraid to act when it matters most. For NOIDA, this is not just history being made—it's a chance to watch how a scholar, shooter, and civil servant might redraw the boundaries of governance in one of India's most restless cities. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
UAE and Saudi Arabia break into global top 20 for AI talent, surpassing Italy and Russia
Saudi Arabia and UAE climb global AI charts with strong talent growth/ Representative Image TL;DR The UAE and Saudi Arabia now rank in the top 20 countries for AI talent, ahead of Italy and Russia. Saudi Arabia is offering world-leading AI salaries, long-term research incentives, and building AI cities. The UAE is focusing on fintech, smart governance, and public services to grow its AI ecosystem. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have earned places among the world's top 20 countries for AI talent density, according to the Global AI Competitiveness Index, a report by the International Finance Forum and Deep Knowledge Group. The UAE holds 0.7% of global AI talent, ranking 16th worldwide. Saudi Arabia follows at 0.4%, ranking 19th. While their shares may seem small, these numbers put them ahead of countries like Italy and Russia, nations with much longer histories in tech development. What's clear is that both Gulf states are no longer just talking about digital transformation, they're making it happen by building ecosystems that attract, develop, and retain top AI talent. Saudi Arabia: Building an AI Powerhouse from Scratch Saudi Arabia is moving fast. Through Vision 2030, the country aims to become a top-10 AI nation, with $20 billion in investment and 200,000 high-tech jobs planned. Key moves include: Creating SDAIA, a central AI agency that fast-tracks projects. Funding 98% of AI initiatives directly, rare even in advanced economies. Offering unmatched packages: $420,000 median salary, $5 million bonuses, and 'Platinum Visas' for permanent residency. In NEOM, the Kingdom's $500 billion smart city, special economic zones relax cultural norms, allowing mixed-gender workplaces, civil law systems, and even alcohol, which is otherwise banned. This has helped attract top global talent, especially from countries where these freedoms are the norm. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo Today, 65% of Saudi's AI workforce is made up of foreign nationals. Saudi Arabia is also investing heavily in AI education. Its KAUST research university has partnered with Stanford and allocates $800,000 per researcher annually, more than MIT. Programs like '10,000 Coders' send young Saudis to Silicon Valley for hands-on training. Saudi Arabia's ability to host both US and Chinese tech players, like Microsoft's Azure AI center and Huawei infrastructure, also positions it as a rare neutral zone in the global AI race. UAE: A Focused, Nimble Approach The UAE has taken a more measured but equally determined path. It now ranks 16th globally in AI talent share, with 0.7% of the world's AI workforce, the highest in the Arab world. This might not make headlines like Saudi's megaprojects, but the UAE's AI strategy is tightly woven into its national goals. Talent density is one of the highest in the world, with over 2,100 AI professionals per million people. That's not just impressive, it's intentional. The country has focused on key areas where AI can drive real value fast: Fintech Smart governance Blockchain Public services Rather than trying to do everything at once, the UAE has built a lean, targeted approach, partnering with startups, investing in education, and developing AI-specific visa and work policies. While the UAE may not have the same oil-funded war chest as Saudi Arabia, it's positioned itself as a nimble, business-friendly hub. Companies see it as a place where AI projects can be piloted quickly, with fewer regulatory hurdles and easy access to regional markets. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are already known for their use of AI in government services, whether it's facial recognition for airport security or AI chatbots in customer service. And as digital identity, payments, and logistics increasingly depend on machine learning, the UAE is set to grow its footprint even further. Why This Shift Matters This isn't just about bragging rights. AI is expected to contribute over $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Countries that fail to develop and attract AI talent risk being left behind, not just in tech, but in healthcare, finance, agriculture, and even diplomacy. The UAE and Saudi Arabia understand this. Their efforts to climb the AI talent rankings aren't just about numbers, they're about shaping the future of their economies. By creating places where global talent wants to live and work, they're quietly becoming players in the next wave of global innovation. Where Other Countries Stand The United States leads the global AI talent pool with 32.6%, followed by Mainland China at 24.4%. India holds third place with 7%, while the United Kingdom comes next at 5%. Other top countries include Canada (3.5%), Germany (3%), France (2.5%), and Israel (2.2%). Japan and South Korea round out the top 10 with 2% and 1.8%, respectively. Also in the top 20 are Singapore (1.5%), Australia (1.3%), Netherlands (1.2%), Switzerland (1.0%), and Sweden (0.8%). The UAE, ranked 16th, holds 0.7%, ahead of Spain (0.6%), Brazil (0.5%), Saudi Arabia (0.4%), and Italy (0.4%).
The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Starmer hopes his ‘pathway to peace' will end war in Gaza. History suggests he may struggle
The former British prime minister Harold Macmillan once said that there was no problem in the Middle East because a problem has a solution. Keir Starmer is the latest incumbent in No 10 to try to prove Macmillan wrong through a plan that has been described by Downing Street as 'pathway to peace' for Gaza and the wider region. The record of Britain's previous interventions do not augur well. The famous commitment drafted by the then British foreign secretary Sir Arthur James Balfour, to 'view with favour the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people', was integrated into Britain's UN mandate over Palestine between 1923 and 1948 and paved the way for the birth of Israel. But the declaration contained a key qualification: nothing should be done to prejudice the 'civil and religious rights' of Palestine's 'existing non-Jewish communities'. Britain afforded Israel de facto recognition on 30 January 1949, in the last stages of the first Arab-Israeli war, and de jure recognition on 27 April 1950. For many Palestinians, the second part of the Balfour promise is yet to be made good. In the Arab nationalism of the Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, Britain saw a destabilising force that might subvert pro-western states such as Jordan. For Israel, Nasser was a threat for allowing Palestinian militants permission to launch attacks against it from the Gaza Strip, then controlled by Egypt. Matters were brought to a head when Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal Company on 26 July 1956. Under a secret agreement, Israel agreed to attack Sinai, the Egyptian peninsula between its western border and the canal. British and French forces would then intervene to 'separate the combatants', seizing control of the canal zone. The Anglo-French element was a debacle. The Israeli part of the plan went well. Israeli forces captured Sinai in its entirety, destroying three Egyptian divisions. From then on Israel was considered to be a major fighting force by the west. Britain exported arms to it from the 1960s in the belief that a strong Israel would reduce the chance of further war in the region. In the aftermath of the six-day war in 1967 between Israel and a coalition of Arab states, primarily Egypt, Syria and Jordan, Britain played a key role in drafting United Nations security council resolution 242. It embodies the principle that has guided most of the peace plans that have followed – the exchange of land for peace. The resolution called for the 'withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict', such as Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as 'respect for and acknowldgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognised boundaries free from threats or acts of force'. It would come to be criticised for being vague and for its depiction of the Palestinian people as lacking national rights, describing their cause as the 'refugee problem'. Britain's role as a key mediator was overtaken by the US when President Jimmy Carter brought the Egyptian leader, Anwar Sadat, and the Israeli prime minister, Menachem Begin, together at Camp David. The plan sought to set up a 'self-governing authority' in the West Bank and Gaza, leading to eventual 'final status' talks. The European and British perspective was voiced in the Venice declaration of 1980 issued by the then European Economic Community. 'The Palestinian people … must be placed in a position, by an appropriate process defined within the framework of the comprehensive peace settlement, to exercise fully its right to self-determination,' it said. It further added that the Palestine Liberation Organisation must be involved. This was controversial as the PLO was at this stage calling for Israel's destruction. It prompted criticism from the US. But even under the solidly pro-Israel leadership of Margaret Thatcher and John Major, British policy was to avoid straying too far from the European consensus. Major in 1995 became the first western leader to meet Yasser Arafat inside the Palestinian Authority area which had been created through the Oslo accords overseen by the US president, Bill Clinton. The second intifada, an uprising which raged from 2000 to 2004, took place after Arafat did not agree to the terms of the two-state proposals tabled by the-then Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, and Clinton. The intifada overlapped with the 'war on terror' that followed the 9/11 attacks. Tony Blair used his close relationship with the US president George W Bush to issue the 2003 roadmap peace plan that would resolve all issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by 2005 through implementation of a two-state solution. It failed. After leaving Downing Street, Blair was appointed as the envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East. The quartet consisted of the UN, the EU, the US and Russia. Blair sought to develop the Palestinian economy and improve governance but struggled to make headway. He resigned after nearly eight years in the role, with Palestinians criticising what they saw as his closeness to Israel. Britain's policy under the succeeding prime ministers – Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak – has been criticised for reciting the mantra that a two-state solution is the only way forward without expending energy or political capital on the goal.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Boeing (BA) Stock Is Falling Today
What Happened? Shares of aerospace and defense company Boeing (NYSE:BA) fell 3.8% in the afternoon session as investors focused on production delays and potential labor disputes despite reporting better-than-expected second-quarter revenue and a smaller loss. The company posted quarterly revenue of $22.7 billion and a core loss per share of $1.24, both beating analyst forecasts. However, positive sentiment was tempered by significant headwinds. Boeing announced that the certification for its new 777-9 and 737 MAX 7 and 10 models was delayed until 2026, a notable setback. Adding to investor concerns, workers rejected a new contract, raising the possibility of strikes that could disrupt production. These developments overshadowed the improved jet delivery numbers, as analysts had already been revising their earnings expectations downward prior to the report. The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks. Is now the time to buy Boeing? Access our full analysis report here, it's free. What Is The Market Telling Us Boeing's shares are not very volatile and have only had 9 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today's move indicates the market considers this news meaningful, although it might not be something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business. The biggest move we wrote about over the last year was 4 months ago when the stock dropped 10.1% on the news that China imposed a 34% tariff on all U.S. imports amid escalating trade war tensions. This was partly in response to the "reciprocal tariffs" announced by the Trump administration the previous day, with levies on Chinese goods estimated to be as high as 50%. Already facing increased competition from domestic aircraft manufacturers, Boeing risked becoming even less competitive. Also, China has historically been a significant source of demand for Boeing's commercial aircraft, and the new tariffs could delay or derail future orders. For investors, this development raised concerns about Boeing's ability to regain momentum in a market essential to its growth. Boeing is up 32.1% since the beginning of the year, and at $227.05 per share, it is trading close to its 52-week high of $236.41 from July 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Boeing's shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,368. Here at StockStory, we certainly understand the potential of thematic investing. Diverse winners from Microsoft (MSFT) to Alphabet (GOOG), Coca-Cola (KO) to Monster Beverage (MNST) could all have been identified as promising growth stories with a megatrend driving the growth. So, in that spirit, we've identified a relatively under-the-radar profitable growth stock benefiting from the rise of AI, available to you FREE via this link. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
