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Dubai: Dubai has retained its leading position in the MENA region on Kearney’s Global Cities Index, ranking 23rd globally and claiming a spot in the top 25 for the third consecutive year.

According to the report, prominent emerging hubs around the world, particularly in the Middle East, have seen incredible gains in their global city performance amid a changing profile of globalization—and a new distributed geography of opportunity is emerging. Abu Dhabi, for instance, climbed ten spots on the global rankings as it strengthened its position as a leading international hub.

The Global Cities Index (GCI) seeks to quantify the extent to which a city can attract, retain, and generate global flows of capital, people, and ideas. Cities are measured against five key dimensions: Human Capital, Information Exchange, Cultural Experience, Political Engagement, and Business Activity.

Average GCI scores have remained steady following several years of decline, with cities in the Middle East and Africa improving markedly. In particular, the capitals of the Gulf nations made major improvements in their overall scores, with Riyadh, Muscat, and Doha improving their overall rankings by nine, eight, and seven, respectively.

This growth was primarily driven by strong performance in the Human Capital dimension, as they capitalized on the return to pre-pandemic levels of freedom of international travel to attract large volumes of migrant talent and tourism.

Rudolph Lohmeyer, Kearney Partner, National Transformation Institute, commented, “As global trade returns to normalized levels, key cities in the Gulf have emerged as beacons of prosperity, resilience, and opportunity. Their resilient economic performance amid challenging global conditions, combined with a concerted focus on promoting liveability and talent attraction, has drawn ever-greater numbers of expats, making them a remarkable success story in the post-pandemic world. A strong commitment to delivering on ambitious national visions and maintaining a regenerative mindset is paying off.”

While the GCI captures the current state of global city leadership, the Global Cities Outlook (GCO) aims to identify those cities most likely to achieve global prominence in the future. Here, the emergence of a distributed geography of opportunity was also present.

The report added that the European cities maintained a strong presence in the top 30 rankings, while Asia’s global hubs, including Seoul, Osaka, and Chennai, made significant strides. In the US, second-tier metropolitan areas performed particularly well, having successfully attracted talent and capital over the turbulent past few years, positioning themselves as increasingly formidable rivals to more established global cities.

As the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies continues, the intersection of this trend with the already-underway shift toward remote work is expected to further reduce the significance of physical proximity in domains traditionally linked to major cities, potentially causing even greater disruption to global cities.

Brenna Buckstaff, Kearney Manager, National Transformations Institute, said, “In this shifting global landscape of distributed opportunity, top-tier global cities cannot take their positions for granted. The traditional hierarchy of leading cities will only become more fluid in the future as opportunities for growth and enhanced productivity become less concentrated during the coming waves of AI-driven innovation. Those cities that adopt a regenerative model—one that moves beyond resilience and thinks proactively—will have a competitive advantage.”

ANI/WAM

Mahendranagar: At the age of 19, Kalawati Panta, hailing from Pariphanta in Shuklaphanta Municipality-8, Kanchanpur district, embarked on her journey into the world of kabaddi when she was a ninth-grader at the local Dharma Janata Secondary School. Ganesh Dhami, the school’s sports teacher, served as her mentor and encouraged Kalawati to pursue kabaddi as her profession. Within three years of taking up kabaddi at school, Kalawati had already risen to prominence in the sport.

She played a pivotal role in the Nepali Women’s Kabaddi team during the recent Asian Games held in China, where the team secured a bronze medal. Out of the 12 players on the team, seven were from the Sudurpaschim province. In contrast, all other players, except for Kalawati, represented different departmental teams back home. She was the lone player selected from the Sudurpaschim province to participate in the Asian Games.

Kalawati shared her perspective, saying, “Players affiliated with departmental teams receive regular training and various facilities. However, for me, it is an exceptional achievement to have the opportunity to play in the Asian Games while simultaneously pursuing my college studies and managing household responsibilities.”

During her time in school, Kalawati served as the captain of the girls’ kabaddi team and took part in numerous school-level competitions, where her team often emerged victorious. Her debut in national competition occurred in Janakpur a few years ago, and she also led the Sudurpaschim women’s kabaddi team in the Ninth National Games held in Pokhara.

Currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree, Kalawati expressed her desire to continue her sporting career by joining a departmental team while also working for one of the country’s three security forces: Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force Nepal, or the Nepali Army. These sports clubs associated with the security agencies are referred to as departmental teams.

Reflecting on the recent Asian Games in China, Kalawati said, “It has shown us that significant progress in sports is possible when the government invests in it and provides consistent training to athletes.”

Before participating in the Ninth National Games, Kalawati underwent a three-month intensive training program at the Kabaddi Training Centre in Mahendranagar.

Hailing from a modest-income family, Kalawati’s father, Bikram Panta, serves as the sole breadwinner for his family, working as a daily wage laborer in India. As the youngest of three sisters among five siblings, Kalawati emphasized the importance of the government’s support for talented players from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

A Young Wandering Mudlark in Old Kathmandu

Peter J Karthak

Historical Fiction 

Set against the backdrop of 1968 to 1972, this riveting autofiction follows the life of John as he navigates the vibrant streets of Kathmandu, leaving behind his roots in Darjeeling. The lead guitarist of The Hillians, dubbed as ‘the Beatles of Sikkim’ by Time magazine, John finds himself transported to Kathmandu, a city yet untouched by the excesses of modernity but embraced by hippies in search of spiritual solace, often found in cannabis and Eastern wisdom. It’s within Kathmandu’s tapestry that John forges his new path, initially as a trainee croupier at Casino Kathmandu, the sole licensed gaming establishment between Beirut and Macao, all the while nursing his dreams of becoming a novelist. Through prose that dances with delight, the narrative paints an exquisite portrait of a city poised on the brink of transformation.

King of Wrath

Ana Huang

Romance | Fantasy 

Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant. Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally. The billionaire CEO never planned to marry— until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows. Vivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy. It doesn’t matter how beautiful or charming she is. He will do everything in his power to destroy the evidence and their betrothal. There’s only one problem, now that he has her, he can’t bring himself to let her go. King of Wrath is a steamy billionaire/arranged marriage romance. It contains explicit sexual content, profanity, and mild violence. Recommended for mature readers only.

Declutter Your Mind

SJ Scott

Self-Help | Psychology       

The truth is we all experience the occasional negative thought. But if you always feel overwhelmed, then you need to closely examine how these thoughts are negatively impacting your lifestyle. The solution is to practice specific mindfulness techniques that create more ‘space’ in your mind to enjoy inner peace and happiness. With these habits, you’ll have the clarity to prioritize what’s most important in your life, what no longer serves your goals, and how you want to live on a daily basis. And that’s what you will learn in Declutter Your Mind.

We will teach you the habits, actions, and mindsets to clean up the mental clutter that’s holding you back from living a meaningful life. Declutter Your Mind is full of exercises that will have an immediate, positive impact on your mindset.

Rijan Maharjan, music producer

Dashain, the most prominent festival in Nepal, is deeply rooted in tradition and family values. It involves family reunions, feasts, and the exchange of new clothes and gifts. The Nakhtyaa feast, popular among the Newar community, brings families closer through card games, kite-flying, and quality time. Cleaning and decorating homes are essential customs, along with the worship of Goddess Durga. Swinging on decorated swings and temple visits add to the festive spirit. Preserving these traditions is crucial for younger generations to maintain their cultural identity. I believe it’s important to celebrate Dashain responsibly while cherishing its rich heritage.

Bibek Waiba Lama, singer

Dashain is a time of great cultural significance, and it’s wonderful to be a part of the celebrations through music. I enjoy doing household chores, and helping my family with things that need to be done around the house. Dashain is also the time when I get to connect with my audience on a deeper level, invoking emotions and nostalgia through the power of music. I get to narrate the festival’s deeper meanings, emphasizing the victory of good over evil, through my songs. My role as a singer during Dashain celebrations is not just about singing songs; it’s about being a cultural ambassador. I aim to evoke emotions and nostalgia, educate the audience about our cultural heritage, and create an immersive experience that brings the essence of Dashain to life. It’s a privilege and a responsibility that I love.

Shakshi Singh Bhandari, actress

The festival begins with a collective effort to clean and decorate our home, creating an atmosphere of purity and festivity. I actively engage in the ritual of preparing Jamara, meticulously caring for the barley seeds, and ensuring their growth during the festival. The most cherished moment is the tika ceremony. I also love singing traditional songs and dancing with friends during this time of the year. The essence of Dashain lies in family gatherings, where I bond with my loved ones, and relish in stories, laughter, and the scrumptious traditional meals that are an integral part of the celebration. Throughout these festivities, I keenly observe and participate in various rituals, respecting their significance. Whether it’s the solemnity of worship or the joy of community gatherings, Dashain is a time when I can wholeheartedly embrace my cultural roots and showcase the diversity of our traditions.