Latest news with #Hussain
Saudi Gazette
19 hours ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia's skill-based work permit system reshapes expat employment landscape
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's new skill-based work permit system marks a major shift in the Kingdom's labor market regulation, aligning directly with the goals of Vision 2030 to foster a knowledge-based economy, attract global talent, and boost economic diversification. Under the new classification, expatriate workers are grouped into three main categories — high-skill, skilled, and basic — based on a detailed assessment of qualifications, work experience, technical ability, wages, and age. The system, which came into effect for existing workers on June 18 and for new arrivals from July 1, is already prompting businesses across the Kingdom to adapt their workforce planning and recruitment strategies. Speaking to Saudi Gazette, Haider Hussain, Partner at Fragomen, called the system as a 'deliberate and sophisticated recalibration' of Saudi Arabia's human capital approach. 'This ensures the inflow of specialized expertise critical for developing emerging sectors while reducing reliance on traditional industries,' Hussain noted that the measure enhances Saudi Arabia's position as a global business hub by introducing greater transparency and meritocracy in the labor market, ultimately improving governance and supporting foreign direct reclassification already underway for the current expatriate workforce, Hussain urged employers to conduct immediate and thorough workforce audits.'Every expatriate must now be assessed against the new criteria—academic credentials, certifications, experience, wages, and age,' he said, warning that delays could risk compliance and operational second phase of implementation, beginning August 3, applies to new foreign to Hussain, HR departments must ensure all applicant documentation, including employment contracts and qualifications, meet the new requirements.'Recruitment strategies must now integrate these classifications from the outset,' he ahead, Hussain predicted long-term operational and financial shifts for expects reduced reliance on low-skilled labor, with companies re-evaluating workforce structures and potentially increasing investment in automation and the upskilling of local talent.'The focus will shift from hiring in volume to sourcing specialized talent with a strategic fit,' he said, adding that a more skilled workforce is likely to deliver stronger productivity and time, he noted, the new system will simplify immigration processes and speed up permit approvals for qualified Hussain warned that compliance may present challenges. Vague interpretations of terms like 'technical ability' or appropriate 'wage level' could lead to classification advised companies to establish internal mechanisms for regular assessment and reclassification to stay aligned with evolving roles and job market also stressed the importance of proactive internal communication.'Employers must explain the rationale behind the new system to their employees, reassure them of the company's support, and address any concerns about job security or residency status,' he system reflects a broader vision to build a future-ready labor market in Saudi Arabia—one that prioritizes expertise, encourages innovation, and strengthens the Kingdom's competitiveness on the global stage.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'You don't need 22 robots': Nasser Hussain defends fired-up Mohammed Siraj, sees shades of 2005 Ashes in India vs England series
Zak Crawley and Joe Root console Mohammed Siraj after India lose Lord's Test. (Getty Images) In a striking assessment of the ongoing India-England Test series, former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton have likened the drama and intensity of the five-match contest to the legendary 2005 Ashes. With England leading 2-1 and two Tests remaining, both cricket pundits believe the series is brewing into something special - tense, dramatic, and unforgettable. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Hussain didn't mince words: "You have got it as the next 2005 Ashes." The tight finish at Lord's - where India fell short by 22 runs despite Ravindra Jadeja 's heroics and Mohammed Siraj 's gritty resistance - brought back vivid memories of the Edgbaston epic from 2005. Then, too, the Test ended with heartbreak for the visitors and a quiet show of sportsmanship between battered warriors. Poll Who do you think will win the India-England Test series? India England It's too close to call Draw "Well, actually, there was a similarity that struck me when Siraj went down on his haunches at the end," said Atherton, recalling how English players, including Zak Crawley and Joe Root, came over to console Siraj. "There were some similarities," he added, pointing to that emotional Flintoff-Lee moment at Edgbaston two decades ago. Sachin Tendulkar's first international hundred: The Farokh Engineer connection, bbq and a swing! Hussain emphasised the "bit of niggle" and "evenly matched" nature of the sides, saying: "There's now a bit of tension in the series and still all to play for." One such flashpoint came during Day 3 at Lord's when Crawley and Duckett tried to slow things down before stumps. India responded aggressively, leading to an on-field flare-up that saw Siraj shouting in Duckett's face the next day after dismissing him. "I think Siraj is a better cricketer when he is fired up," Hussain noted. "You would love to have Siraj in your side. I didn't think he should have been fined. He went close to the line - but didn't cross it. It's a game of emotion. You don't need 22 robots." Tracing Moeen Ali's steps in Birmingham Atherton, meanwhile, believes this bubbling tension will only enrich the remainder of the series. "That's the beauty of a five-Test match series - it allows subplots, personal rivalries and animosities to develop. They wouldn't be forgetting what was said on the field." With matches at Old Trafford and The Oval still to come, the battle is far from over - but one thing is certain: the fire is well and truly lit. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Powys County Times
Boy who stabbed pupil to death tells jury why he took ‘scary' knife to school
A 15-year-old boy who stabbed a fellow pupil to death has told a jury he took a 'scary-looking knife' to school that day 'in case anyone tried to pull a knife out on me or try to hurt me'. The teenager told a court on Friday he did not want to go to school on the morning he killed Harvey Willgoose, also 15, because 'I thought I was going to get hurt that day'. The defendant was giving evidence for a third day at Sheffield Crown Court, where he is on trial for murdering Harvey during the lunch break at All Saints Catholic High School in the city on February 3. He told the court he 'ordered' the knife because 'it was a scary-looking knife and, if I pulled it out, somebody wouldn't try to pull out theirs'. Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, defending, asked the boy: 'We know you took a knife to school with you that morning, why?' The defendant replied: 'In case anyone tried to pull a knife out on me or try to hurt me.' Mr Hussain said: 'Did you want to start any trouble that day?' The boy said: 'No.' And Mr Hussain asked him: 'Did you want to hurt anyone that day?' The boy replied: 'No.' The barrister read a Snapchat message Harvey sent to the defendant before school that day, which said: 'Is it beef I what', which the boy said he read as meaning: 'Is it beef or what?' Mr Hussain said: 'Did you want beef with Harvey?' The boy said: 'No.' The defendant explained to the jury of eight women and four men how he met Harvey after arriving at school on February 3 and Harvey said to him: 'Is it beef between me and you?' He said he asked Harvey why he thought he had 'beef' with him but Harvey just asked him about his injured hand. The boy said they then started joking about boxing and started sparring in the corridor. The defendant said Harvey was laughing and he told the jury: 'I was thinking it was alright between me and him.' The boy said they parted with a handshake, but bumped into each later in the morning and Harvey said to him: 'Watch where you are f****** going,' in an angry way. The defendant said he tapped Harvey on the arm and Harvey said: 'Don't touch me. I'll actually juck (corr) you up.' The boy said: 'In Sheffield, juck means stab.' He said Harvey was 'angry in his face and said it quite angrily', telling the jury: 'I felt confused because we shook hands this morning.' The defendant then described an incident in a lesson he had with Harvey just before the lunch break. He said Harvey bumped into him and said: 'I'll smash you all over.' The boy said he backed off but said to Harvey: 'Do it then.' He said Harvey told him: 'I'll batter you. Let's take it outside.' The defendant has told the trial how he had no problems with Harvey until an incident five days before the fatal stabbing, which led to the school going into lockdown. According to prosecutors, two members of staff physically intervened in a dispute between two other students and the defendant had to be restrained as he tried to get involved. The jury has been told it was the defendant's claim that one boy had a knife that led the school to go into lockdown, although the police who responded never found a weapon. The defendant said he was off school for the next two days because he was so concerned for his safety. The jury has heard Harvey was not involved in the altercation but joined in a Snapchat group exchange over the following weekend. The defendant described how these exchanges left him feeling even more scared but his father made him go to school on the Monday morning – February 3. He said: 'I got a bad feeling about going to school that day. 'I felt like something was going to happen.' The jury has been shown CCTV footage of Harvey being stabbed in a courtyard at All Saints later that day. The court has heard that the defendant, who cannot be named, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder. He has also admitted possession of a knife on school premises. Addressing the jury last week, Mr Hussain said: '(The defendant) did not set out to kill or seriously hurt anyone. 'The defence say (the defendant's) actions that day were the end result of a long period of bullying, poor treatment and violence, things that built one upon another until he lost control and did tragically what we've all seen.'
ITV News
2 days ago
- ITV News
Boy who killed Harvey Willgoose tells jury why he took ‘scary' knife to school
A 15-year-old boy who stabbed a fellow pupil to death has told a jury he took a "scary-looking knife" to school in case anyone tried to "hurt" him. The teenager told a court on Friday he did not want to go to school on the morning he killed Harvey Willgoose, also 15, because 'I thought I was going to get hurt that day'. The defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, was giving evidence for a third day at Sheffield Crown Court, where he is on trial for murdering Harvey at All Saints Catholic High School in the city on 3 February. He has admitted manslaughter and taking a knife to school, but denies murder. The boy told the court he 'ordered' the knife because 'it was a scary-looking knife and, if I pulled it out, somebody wouldn't try to pull out theirs'. Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, defending, asked the boy: 'We know you took a knife to school with you that morning, why?' The defendant replied: 'In case anyone tried to pull a knife out on me or try to hurt me.' Mr Hussain said: 'Did you want to start any trouble that day?' The boy said: 'No.' 'Did you want to hurt anyone that day?' he was asked. The boy replied: 'No.' The barrister read a Snapchat message Harvey sent to the defendant before school that day, which said: 'Is it beef I what', which the boy said he read as meaning: 'Is it beef or what?' Mr Hussain said: 'Did you want beef with Harvey?' The boy said: 'No.' The defendant explained to the jury of eight women and four men how he met Harvey after arriving at school on the day of the incident. Harvey said to him: 'Is it beef between me and you?' He said he asked Harvey why he thought he had 'beef' with him but Harvey just asked him about his injured hand. The boy said they then started joking about boxing and started sparring in the corridor. The defendant said Harvey was laughing and he told the jury: 'I was thinking it was alright between me and him.' He has said he was the victim of racist bullying and taunts about a medical condition while he was at a number of Sheffield schools. The jury has been shown CCTV footage of Harvey being stabbed in a courtyard at All Saints later that day. Addressing the jury last week, Mr Hussain said: '(The defendant) did not set out to kill or seriously hurt anyone. 'The defence say (the defendant's) actions that day were the end result of a long period of bullying, poor treatment and violence, things that built one upon another until he lost control and did tragically what we've all seen.'
Newsweek
2 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Rescue Dog Returned, Becomes Terminally Ill — Foster Carer Knows What To Do
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A rescue dog was left facing the bleakest of futures after being returned to the shelter and subsequently diagnosed with terminal cancer. Then something truly remarkable happened. When Macchiato the 75-pound pit bull terrier mix first came to Best Friends Animal Society in New York City in November 2024, she was in bad shape, emaciated and beaten up, roaming the streets as a stray. It was clear to everyone at Best Friends that Macchiato would benefit from a foster stay, and they knew exactly who to ask. Mo Hussain is a seasoned volunteer and foster with the national animal welfare organization. He also has a track record for helping pit-bull terriers find loving homes. "I've been told by Leah Cohn, foster manager at Best Friends in Soho, that she sees certain dogs and thinks to herself, 'That's a Mo dog,'" Hussain told Newsweek. "I suspect that I have become a reliable foster for larger dogs, perhaps breeds that have misconceptions like Staffordshire and pit-bull terriers. Macchiato was probably my fourth foster that year. They have all found homes, and it's such a great feeling." A foster carer can make a huge difference to a shelter dog. A 2018 study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science found just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting was enough to boost the well-being of a shelter dog. A foster stay serves as an extension of that idea, giving shelter dogs a chance to decompress, grow used to a domestic setting, and, in time, let their true personality emerge. Hussain saw that personality emerge early on with Macchiato. "I was completely impressed with how mild-mannered, elegant and ladylike she was," he said. "Macchiato had an unofficial nickname after a few days in my house. I started calling her Lady. She was emaciated and a bit battered, but carried herself with an Audrey Hepburn-like grace." Mo Hussain and Macchiato stop for a photo while out walking together in the streets. Mo Hussain and Macchiato stop for a photo while out walking together in the streets. Mo Hussain/Best Friends Animal Society Hussain got the sense Macchiato was "appreciative" of being in a home. "She would willingly go in her crate without being asked to and sit with her legs crossed," he said. "Her eyes are also very soft, and clearly she has a warm soul." Macchiato's size and breed sometimes made Hussain feel "self-conscious" when out and about in New York. However, he instead found himself being stopped by people taken by her eyes and how she seemed "so demure and clearly a gentle, loving creature." Hussain can still recall the conflicting emotions he had when he informed Macchiato had been adopted. "I was overcome with a bittersweet sadness that she was adopted so quickly and my time with her was brief. But I was obviously happy that such a sweet dog would have her permanent home," he said. Macchiato spent six months with her new family, but sadly it did not last. She was returned, with her adopters citing a busy work schedule as the chief reason for her return. There would be more heartbreaking news to come. Soon after her return, Best Friends staff noticed a mass on Macchiato's neck. A biopsy revealed devastating news: Macchiato had aggressive, inoperable cancer that had already spread to multiple lymph nodes. Despite the diagnosis, everyone at Best Friends felt Macchiato still had more life to live—and they were determined to make every day as special for her as she was to them. That was when Hussain stepped back in. "When I learned that she was back at Best Friends and in need of help, I was doubly sad for her. How could such a sweet dog be 'returned?'" he said. "Then, in the next breath, I heard that she was terminally ill and that the team would hate to have her spend any more time in the shelter than absolutely necessary, so I didn't hesitate to jump into service," he said. Hussain agreed to provide "fospice" care for Macchiato. "Part of me was just happy to have an opportunity to see her again," he said. "Another part of me was happy to help her have more comfort and dignity in her life, even if only briefly." It has been five weeks since Hussain agreed to take Macchiato home and she is living her best-possible life. She still enjoys daily walks in the park, playtime with her canine friends, and countless cozy moments with her foster dad. Together, they are making memories to last a lifetime. "She has higher energy days and lower energy days. It's always nice to see a gleam in her eye and a tail emphatically and excessively wagging. Some days, she lays around a bit more," Hussain said. "However, when we get her into off-leash hours at Fort Greene Park in the mornings, she comes to life, chasing a ball and running around with other dogs. But it takes a bit out of her, and she needs to rest up." From left: Macchiato plays with Mo Hussain; and relaxes in a park. From left: Macchiato plays with Mo Hussain; and relaxes in a park. Mo Hussain/Best Friends Animal Society Hussain said he hopes Macchiato's story encourages others to foster and also provide care to those dogs entering the final stages of their lives. "Sharing some time and space with a dog and providing palliative care can be deeply rewarding," he said. "I'd like to think that my dog, who went to doggy heaven 15 years ago, is looking down on me with approving eyes and is proud of what I am doing. "I hope people take away that fostering is a great way to help shelter pets and I hope that, by them reading this, I can inspire more people to foster."
