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By R. Suryamurthy India’s student mobility crisis is no longer a question of data, it is an indictment of a system that has refused to reform while the world moved on. The new NITI Aayog paper does not so much analyse this imbalance as expose it. The numbers are brutal: for every foreign student who […]

The article India’s Higher-Education System Is Driving Students Out — Not Bringing The World In appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

First Abu Dhabi Bank has mandated a group of global and regional banks to arrange investor calls on Wednesday, 19 November, signalling the preparation of a benchmark USD-denominated Additional Tier 1 capital issuance. The Abu Dhabi-based lender, rated Aa3 by Moody’s and AA- by both S&P and Fitch, is targeting a fixed-rate, resettable perpetual instrument with a non-call six-year structure, expected to be rated Baa3 by Moody’s, subject to market conditions.

FAB has appointed Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Barclays, Emirates NBD Capital, itself, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank as joint lead managers and bookrunners for the issuance, reflecting a strong syndicate backing. According to institutional-market briefings, the period of investor calls is intended to gauge pricing, demand, and issuance size ahead of launch.

This move marks FAB’s first benchmark AT1 issuance in approximately five years and comes as the bank seeks to bolster its capital buffer amid evolving regulatory expectations. Market-specialist commentary notes that such securities serve a dual purpose: providing permanent capital that counts towards Tier 1 regulatory ratios while offering issuers the flexibility of a call option after a set period — in this case six years — to redeem, subject to certain conditions.

FAB’s prior issuance of a senior green bond earlier this month — a €850 million deal priced at mid-swaps plus 70 basis points after opening at plus 100 basis points — underlined its readiness to access capital markets. That deal illustrated investor appetite for the bank’s funding instruments and the bank’s willingness to tap diverse instruments and jurisdictions. The proposed AT1 issuance broadens FAB’s capital-raising toolkit further.

In assigning an expected rating of Baa3 by Moody’s for the proposed issue, the bank is effectively targeting the lowest investment-grade category from that agency for this level of instrument. Such ratings reflect the subordinated nature of AT1 securities; they rank lower than senior debt in the creditor hierarchy and often incorporate features such as coupon discretion and loss-absorption mechanisms — factors that carry higher credit risk for investors compared to senior bonds.

Emerging-markets commentators note that demand for Gulf-region AT1 securities has been relatively scant over the past year as investors have weighed macro-economic headwinds, rising interest-rate environments and regulatory adjustments. The Gulf region’s total primary issuance of bonds and sukuk for the first quarter of the year was reported at USD 51.5 billion, down from USD 55.5 billion in the same period a year prior; within this, financial-institution capital instruments formed a subset of activity. Nevertheless, select banks continue to tap issuance windows that align with investor sentiment.

For FAB, the timing appears strategic: the bank’s common equity Tier 1 ratio stands at 13.7 per cent — a figure comfortably above its internal threshold of 13.5 per cent but lower than the 14.3 per cent recorded a year earlier. This suggests room for issuing capital-absorption securities like AT1 to reinforce buffers without triggering market concern. Regulatory changes also loom: UAE banks are due to face a 50-basis-point increase in the counter-cyclical buffer next year, which will raise total capital requirements and heighten the capital-management imperative.

Investor calls scheduled on 19 November are expected to cover structuring options, timing of launch, target size and investor syndication. Initial market commentary anticipates that FAB may aim for a headline size in the region of USD 750 million — consistent with its last AT1 benchmark in 2020 — although precise sizing will hinge on demand and market dynamics.

The joint bookrunners assemble a strong global footprint: Barclays, HSBC and Standard Chartered provide global investor access while Emirates NBD Capital and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank offer regional distribution strength. That reflects FAB’s dual aim of tapping both GCC-based and international institutional investors. Market observers believe that if oversubscription builds, pricing could tighten relative to initial guidance and the syndicate may consider increasing sizing accordingly.

US-based artificial intelligence firm Luma AI has secured a $900 million Series C funding round led by Saudi-backed HUMAIN, the AI venture owned by the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund. Participation also came from AMD Ventures and existing investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Amplify Partners and Matrix Partners. The funding is part of a broader strategy to advance multimodal artificial general intelligence capable of generating, interpreting and interacting with the physical world.

Luma AI’s valuation following the round is estimated at over $4 billion, underscoring the intense competition among frontier AI firms. The company specialises in “world models” that integrate video, audio, image and language to drive applications in robotics, simulation, advertising, gaming and personalised education. CEO Amit Jain described the aim as training systems on “a quadrillion tokens” of multimedia data to move beyond current large-language-model architectures.

HUMAIN, having positioned itself as a global full-stack AI player, will use the funding partnership to anchor its compute infrastructure ambitions. The joint roadmap includes the rollout of what HUMAIN terms “Project Halo” — a super-cluster targeting up to 2 gigawatts of AI compute capacity in the kingdom. Luma AI will become a key customer of this infrastructure.

The funding and infrastructure build-out reflect a strategic shift in Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification efforts. Under the leadership of Mohammed bin Salman, the PIF is deepening commitments to AI and high-performance computing as pillars of its wider Vision 2030 agenda. Luma AI’s partnership becomes a vehicle for exportable AI capabilities and for strengthening the kingdom’s position in the global tech ecosystem.

From Luma AI’s perspective, the capital infusion and access to sovereign-scale compute represent a strategic lever to accelerate development of next-generation models. In entertainment and creative industries the company already claims traction: its Ray3 reasoning video model has been embedded within major platforms. The new funding will allow expansion into simulation, robotics and immersive media. Jain asserted that only by integrating systems and infrastructure at scale can models “understand and simulate the universe”.

For HUMAIN the deal accomplishes several objectives: securing a marquee US AI partner, anchoring compute commitments, and beginning commercial deployments of its planned AI infrastructure. The first phase of the accompanying joint venture with Cisco Systems and AMD will deliver a 100-megawatt data-centre cluster in Saudi Arabia, fully subscribed by Luma AI, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026 and renewable energy powering the facility.

The global implications are significant. With Asia, Europe, India, the Middle East and Africa identified as target markets-worth an estimated 4.5 billion people-the infrastructure build-out promises to reshape the geography of AI training and inference. HUMAIN’s model seeks to challenge the dominance of US- and China-based AI supply chains.

Challenges remain. Developing multimodal AGI is widely acknowledged as highly complex, with technical risks, high compute costs and uncertain commercial timelines. Critics highlight concerns about geopolitical dependencies in AI infrastructure and the ethical implications of deploying models trained on vast multimedia datasets. The Saudi-US dimension adds further scrutiny given strategic sensitivities around data, export controls and digital sovereignty.

Dubai-based upstream operator Dragon Oil has announced a major new oil discovery offshore Egypt’s Gulf of Suez, a development that industry watchers say could underpin its ambition to boost production significantly by 2026. The company, a unit of Emirates National Oil Company, made the find at its North-East Ramadan Concession, reaching a total depth of 13,425 feet to intersect the Crystal NER-1X reservoir in the Honey Sand formation. Initial wireline logs confirmed a 224-foot hydrocarbon column, indicating meaningful commercial potential.

The well was drilled under the company’s commitment agreement in the NE Ramadan concession in partnership with Egypt’s Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and the Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company. The pair of state-owned Egyptian entities jointly operate with Dragon Oil in the concession. The flow to production is projected at around 3,000 barrels per day once the well is tied into existing infrastructure. Final wireline logging, core sampling and reservoir evaluation are underway before full integration into the production grid scheduled for July.

The discovery supports Dragon Oil’s longer-term plan to raise output from its current base of more than 140,000 barrels of oil per day and achieve an aggregate target of roughly 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2026, according to the company’s investor materials. The Gulf of Suez investment follows earlier gains from assets in Turkmenistan, Iraq and Algeria. Additionally, the firm signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with PETRONAS in late October to explore upstream growth opportunities in Asia-Pacific and other frontier regions, signalling a willingness to pursue both organic and acquisition-driven expansion.

In Turkmenistan, Dragon Oil expects production to rise to approximately 200,000 bopd by 2030, leveraging digital-technology programmes such as artificial-intelligence-enabled reservoir modelling and real-time monitoring. The company has invested more than US$11 billion in the country’s oil sector since the production-sharing agreement began in 1999 and has added more than 200 social-development projects in local regions. That upstream base remains a pillar of its global growth model.

Analysts say the Egyptian find is particularly significant because it taps an under-developed offshore domain using advanced Ocean-Bottom Node seismic technology that identified the Honey Sand formation. The drilling from the existing Al-Fanar platform avoided major new infrastructure investment, improving cost efficiency and time to tie-in. The fact that Dragon Oil already holds the working interest via its GUPCO joint venture means it can fast-track upstream investment and production.

Nevertheless, a number of risks remain. The Egyptian concession still requires commercial validation of reservoir behaviour and sustained flow testing; many wells encounter initial signs of hydrocarbons but fail to deliver long-term viability. The broader upstream industry is also under increasing pressure from the energy-transition agenda and environmental-regulation developments. Investors and stakeholders will watch closely how Dragon Oil balances growth ambitions with the demands of sustainability, given the global shift away from fossil fuels.

Company leadership emphasises that the teamwork between its Dubai and Cairo operations, together with EGPC and GUPCO partners, reflects a mature technical capability that bodes well for further exploration success. Chief Executive Abdulkarim Ahmed Al Maazmi said the technical result “demonstrates the strength of our technical partnership and underlines our vision to unlock new opportunities across our assets in Egypt.”

Regionally, the Gulf of Suez has been a mature producing basin, yet the new find suggests there remains untapped potential when combined with modern subsurface imaging and drilling techniques. Some energy-sector commentators believe the discovery could encourage other operators to revisit older fields or deeper formations, heightening competition.

By Dr. Gyan Pathak By the Day 9 November 18, the COP30at Belem (Amazonia) under the Brazilian Presidency recorded several achievements, but the two key issues still remain sticking points – financing the climate action, and clear roadmap for phasing out of fossil fuels. We have now three days to go until the last day […]

The article COP30 So Far Have Some Achievements, But Finance Remains A Sticking Point appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Dubai – GE Aerospace has secured two high-value engine agreements with Dubai-based carriers Emirates Airline and Group and flydubai at the 2025 Dubai Airshow 2025, underscoring the resilience and expansion of the UAE’s aviation sector. Emirates has committed to 130 additional GE9X engines to power 65 new Boeing 777-9 aircraft, bringing its total order for that engine type to more than 540 units. The contract includes spares and long-term service provisions. At the same time, flydubai has agreed to acquire 60 GEnx-1B engines with full support services for its first wide-body fleet of 30 Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Emirates’ deal with GE not only affirms its status as the largest global customer for the GE9X engine, but also reinforces its long-standing partnership with Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Emirates’ chairman and chief executive, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, described the transaction — valued at US$38 billion at list prices — as “a long-term commitment and testament to our partnership with Boeing and GE”. This investment aligns with Dubai’s wider ambition to develop into a major aerospace hub.

On the flydubai front, the selection of the GEnx-1B engine marks a strategic shift for the carrier, which has historically operated a 737-only fleet. The agreement is structured to support the airline’s entry into long-haul operations and buttresses its network expansion into new markets. flydubai’s chief executive, Ghaith Al Ghaith, noted that engine performance, durability and services will play a critical role as the airline moves into wide-body territory amid intensifying competition and growing demand for air travel through Dubai’s gateway.

The significance of these deals extends beyond fleet numbers. For GE Aerospace the twin contracts cement its dominance in the high-thrust engine market, particularly in a region with challenging operating conditions and high growth potential. The GE9X engine — developed exclusively for the Boeing 777X family — boasts a 10 per cent improvement in specific fuel consumption compared with its predecessor, the GE90-115B, and has been certified to run on approved sustainable aviation fuel blends. The GEnx-1B, likewise, powers a majority of the Boeing 787 fleet and is already deployed widely in long-haul service.

For Emirates, the 65 additional 777-9 airframes raise its total 777X orderbook to 270 units, making it Boeing’s largest customer for that aircraft family. With this deal, the airline has options to convert some of the order to the future 777-10 or 777-8 variants, signalling confidence in the production programme despite earlier certification and delivery delays. The carrier expects deliveries of the initial 777-9 aircraft to begin from the second quarter of 2027. Emirates’ fleet strategy centres on operating a young, modern wide-body fleet aligned with Dubai’s infrastructure expansion.

Flydubai’s expansion into wide-body aircraft, powered by GEnx engines, places the carrier at a pivotal juncture in its evolution. Having grown rapidly in point-to-point markets, reserving its primarily single-aisle fleet for short to medium-haul routes, the move to wide-body aircraft reflects a transition towards intercontinental services. The engine order includes spares and a long-term services agreement, highlighting the importance of lifecycle support and operational reliability in emerging growth trajectories.

The UAE’s positioning as a major aviation hub is reinforced by these developments. The engine orders strengthen the supply-chain footprint in the region, benefit maintenance-, repair-and-overhaul infrastructure, and support the country’s ambition to attract high-value aerospace manufacturing and engineering activities. GE Aerospace announced a US$50 million investment in a new “On Wing Support” facility in Dubai South alongside the shows, underscoring its commitment to local presence.

From an industry-perspective the deals reflect broader trends: airlines placing large long-haul orders amid intense competition for slots and access, engine manufacturers capturing value through integrated services and support, and the Middle East remaining a key battleground for aerospace OEMs seeking growth beyond legacy domestic markets. For Emirates and flydubai, the agreements mark purposeful steps in fleet renewal and network expansion, though execution risks remain — notably aircraft delivery timelines, engine certification, and global economic headwinds.

Analysts caution that while the headline order values are striking, actual transaction prices typically fall beneath list values, and aircraft-programme delays can erode carrier scheduling and capacity planning. For Emirates the 777-9 programme has been subject to repeated postponements, while for flydubai the challenge lies in transitioning from narrow-body operations to wide-body logistics, route infrastructure and long-haul network economics.

India’s workforce is entering a critical phase as artificial intelligence reshapes job markets and industry demands, with upskilling emerging as a non-negotiable necessity for both individuals and organisations. According to a recent assessment of the Asia-Pacific region, India needs to scale up its skilling efforts rapidly to avoid falling behind in the global AI marathon. A report by Asian Development Bank and Google. org warns that without accessible AI-skilling initiatives, large segments of the workforce risk being left out of the transition.

The country already boasts one of the youngest and fastest-growing workforces in the world, offering a potential advantage in the AI era. Yet the report highlights a mismatch: numerous workers in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, manufacturing and logistics perform roles with high automation risk — for example data-entry, scheduling and support functions — and these roles are disproportionately held by women and informal workers. With AI-driven automation advancing quickly, these groups could be among the hardest hit unless targeted training interventions are introduced.

Data published by NASSCOM indicates that India’s existing AI talent pool, estimated at around 600,000 today, must expand to more than 1.2 million by 2027 to fill expected demand—implying a shortfall of more than a million skilled professionals. This gap emerges despite the country producing hundreds of thousands of engineering graduates each year. Industry trackers indicate that more than half the workforce in technology services is already undergoing training in AI, machine learning and related domains, yet skills still lag employer expectations.

Business research from Microsoft found that across Indian organisations two-thirds of employees and four-fifths of leaders are now familiar with AI agents. Within the next 12-18 months more than half of these companies will place upskilling at the top of their agenda, and more than half expect AI training to become a core team responsibility within five years. These trends confirm that industry demand is ahead of the skill supply curve.

Beyond technical expertise, new job roles are emerging. Organisations are recruiting for “AI Workflow Designers”, “Software Operators” and multi-agent system builders. The most vulnerable workers are those in roles focused on infrastructure management, manual testing, and basic coding — positions that technology is already beginning to automate. This points to an imperative for current employees to acquire cross-functional, human-centric skills such as critical thinking, adaptability and collaboration with AI.

Educational institutions and vocational training providers are responding. For example, an initiative at Andhra University in partnership with NASSCOM integrates advanced skill modules into non-engineering streams and appoints department-wise coordinators to ensure student readiness. The move reflects recognition that skilling must extend beyond traditional tech fields to arts and sciences, and must address digital literacy gaps.

Nonetheless, major structural obstacles remain. A digital divide persists: only about one in five young adults in some South Asian regions has reliable internet access at home, limiting participation in online skilling programmes. Language barriers and low digital literacy further hamper effective engagement. Informal-sector workers, who often lack formal training and social protections, face a double risk of displacement without clear pathways into higher-value work.

The informal economy accounts for a large share of India’s employment, and workers in this segment are often overlooked in skill-development policies. Analysts warn that unless training programmes are redesigned for accessibility — offering tailored formats for women re-entering the workforce, rural populations and digitally disadvantaged groups — AI adoption may deepen existing inequalities.

Malaysia’s national utility firm Tenaga Nasional Berhad recorded losses of about RM 4.57 billion stemming from illegal electricity usage linked to cryptocurrency-mining operations between 2020 and August 2025. The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation disclosed that 13,827 premises were identified for unauthorised power use in bitcoin-mining setups.

The scale of the issue has triggered coordinated action by TNB alongside law-enforcement agencies, the communications regulator and the anti-corruption commission to shut down illegal crypto-mining hubs and recover mining equipment. Monitoring and detection systems have been upgraded, including the deployment of smart meters and a database of suspect premises created to track owner-tenant information.

The ministry emphasised that tampering with electricity meters or bypassing supply connections remains a breach of the Electricity Supply Act, even though crypto-mining per se is not illegal in Malaysia provided it meets regulatory registration, environmental assessment and energy-efficiency requirements.

Experts note that large-scale crypto-mining demands heavy and continuous power consumption, making utilities vulnerable to theft and grid stress. Analysts warn that if unaddressed, rampant unauthorised mining can undermine revenue streams, force higher tariffs for compliant users and increase risk of transformer or grid overload. TNB has reported that illicit mining not only deprives the utility of revenue, but often leaves behind damaged equipment, fire hazards and voltage instability.

TNB’s response includes launching a pilot “Distribution Transformer Meter” project that monitors usage at the transformer level to detect anomalies, and rolling out smart-metering at substations for real-time tracking of energy flows. These technical steps complement legal and enforcement action, with the utility and authorities conducting raids, seizing mining machines, and pursuing criminal charges under offences related to meter interference.

Regulators say the problem is acute because of Malaysia’s relatively affordable electricity and benign regulatory regime for data-centres, making it an attractive venue for crypto-miners operating on razor-thin margins for global digital-asset mining operations. Observers say tighter regulation globally of crypto-mining, along with rising power costs, have driven more miners to jurisdictions with weaker enforcement or cheaper energy. This trend adds urgency for utilities worldwide to bolster monitoring and enforcement frameworks.