Latest news with #NationalTaskForce
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SC's task force to hold consultation meet with medical students in Delhi after surge in suicides
NEW DELHI: In response to the alarming rise in student suicides in higher education institutions, members of the Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force will meet medical students, recent graduates, and postgraduates in Delhi next week to gather first-hand accounts and develop a preventive action plan. The closed-door consultation is scheduled for July 26 from 2 pm to 4 pm and will be facilitated by members of the task force. Participants are required to register in advance, with the venue to be disclosed only to those invited. 'We are planning a stakeholder consultation meeting on July 26 in Delhi. It will be facilitated by members of the National Task Force. Please note that due to the nature of this meeting, participation is only by registration and invitation. Venue will be informed to the registered participants,' read a message circulated by task force members.
South China Morning Post
17-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Philippines weighs legal action against China over US$194,000 coral reef damage
The Philippines has publicly accused a Chinese vessel of causing more than 11 million pesos (US$194,000) in damage to protected coral reefs near Thitu Island in the South China Sea On Monday, Manila released the results of an environmental survey showing that a Chinese ship had ran aground near Thitu Island in June Investigators found that the vessel dragged a parachute anchor across the sensitive marine ecosystem, scarring at least 464 square metres (4,994 square feet) of reef less than 3km from Thitu – one of the Philippines' main outposts in the disputed waters, known locally as Pag-asa Island. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea presented the findings, which were based on dives conducted by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, Western Philippines and the Philippine coastguard. The vessel, identified by hull number 16838, was stranded on June 7 for nearly three hours before freeing itself and being escorted away by the China Coast Guard and two other Chinese ships, the report found. Before departing, the ship reportedly left behind the parachute anchor, which dragged across some 30 per cent of the reef area and was later found resting atop 307 square metres of coral, blocking sunlight and further threatening marine life, according to representatives of the council.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Turning tariffs into triumph: How South Africa can turn Trump's 30% blow into a global jobs advantage
Dr Nik Eberl is the Founder & Executive Chair: The Future of Jobs Summit™ (Official T20 Side Event) .He will be writing a regular column in Business Report. Image: Supplied Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 30% tariff on all goods imported from South Africa, citing "unfair trade practices" and a lack of reciprocity. While the decision has rattled exporters and drawn sharp criticism from Pretoria, it may well be the catalyst we need to rethink our economic destiny. Rather than respond with indignation or fear, South Africa should view this challenge as an opportunity: to accelerate innovation, create new export markets, and, above all, build jobs for our youth - both at home and abroad. We've faced shocks before. From sanctions during apartheid to the 2008 global financial crisis, from Covid-19 to greylisting - South Africans have shown resilience in adversity. This tariff shock, while painful, could become a turning point, especially if aligned with the outcomes of the recent Future of Jobs Summit™. The time has come to build a youth-powered export economy - not reliant on old trade patterns, but on bold new industries and global opportunity. Here is a 10-step national response strategy - a roadmap to turning Trump's tariff into opportunity for the next generation. 1. Launch a 'Jobs Through Exports' National Task Force The government must move fast to establish a Presidential Jobs and Exports Task Force, composed of trade negotiators, youth employment leaders, industrialists, and tech entrepreneurs. This task force should develop job-led export policies tied to global growth sectors - digital services, AI, agritech, green energy, and creative industries. The goal? To link every trade decision to job outcomes. 2. Expand Global Business Services (GBS) to Absorb Displaced Workers One of South Africa's most promising job creation stories is the GBS sector, which has already created over 150 000 youth jobs by servicing global clients. The Future of Jobs Summit™ referenced the plan to grow this to 500 000 by 2030. Now is the time to double down. Redirect displaced workers from tariff-hit industries like citrus and wine into customer support, legal process outsourcing, and tech support roles targeting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. 3. Establish Export Zones for Youth-Owned Businesses Create Export Opportunity Zones (EOZs) in townships and rural areas, where youth entrepreneurs can produce goods and services for global markets, supported by tax breaks, seed capital, and global mentorship. Focus on e-commerce exports, fashion, crafts, digital goods, and virtual services. These zones can become global brand ambassadors for South African creativity. 4. Fast-Track Youth into High-Growth Export Sectors The sectors of the future are borderless: AI, coding, data science, cybersecurity, climate tech. We must ramp up public-private bootcamps, leveraging platforms like SAP's Educate to Employ and Young Professionals Programmes. These jobs can be delivered remotely from South Africa to the world. 5. Negotiate Tariff Off-Ramps in Exchange for Youth Empowerment Commitments Use the upcoming trade negotiation window not to beg for mercy - but to offer bold solutions. Propose a phased tariff rollback in exchange for youth-focused trade reforms, including reducing red tape on US imports that create jobs here (e.g. agri-tech, solar kits, education tech). 6. Diversify Export Markets with a Youth Lens The US is important - but not irreplaceable. We must move faster into Africa, the Middle East, India, China, and Latin America. But not just with commodities - with young entrepreneurs offering services and solutions. Government trade offices should target youth buyers abroad - young consumers, startups, digital platforms - and match them with SA youth suppliers. 7. Global Youth Placement Programme: Export Our Talent Why not treat our talented youth like our avocados and wine? Launch a Global Youth Work Placement Programme to partner with allies (Germany, UAE, Singapore, Canada) and place 50 000 South African youth per year into global internships, apprenticeships and service opportunities. 8. Create the SA Youth Export Accelerator Build a digital platform, backed by public and private funding, that matches youth-owned products and services with global demand. Think 'Shopify meets LinkedIn meets Alibaba.' Provide fulfilment, logistics, marketing and translation support—so our youth can export their skills, crafts, code, and creativity directly to global buyers. 9. Use the Future of Jobs Summit™ Blueprint as a Global Proof Point The recent Future of Jobs Summit™ generated a national blueprint for job creation through public-private action. This document must now become South Africa's economic diplomacy tool - used at the G20, World Trade Organisation, and Agoa renegotiations - to show the world we are not protectionist, but future-ready. 10. Rebrand the Nation Around Youth Potential Finally, South Africa must reposition itself globally - not as a victim of tariffs, but as a nation of youthful problem-solvers. Let's launch a bold campaign under the 'Made by SA Youth' banner. Show the world our coders, our storytellers, our green builders. Make every export, every service, every job part of a greater story: that South Africa is young, gifted, and open for global business. In Conclusion President Trump's tariffs may appear to be a heavy blow. But history teaches us: pressure creates diamonds. We have two options - retreat into victimhood or rise with purpose. The second path is not easy. But it offers something greater than avoiding a 30% tariff: a shot at economic self-determination, powered by our youth. If we play this right - turning this crisis into a coordinated, youth-driven export revolution - South Africa could emerge not just as a nation that endured Trump's tariff war, but one that outsmarted it and created a million new pathways into global world has thrown us a challenge. Let's answer it - not with anger, but with action, ambition and audacity.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Delhi gets its first brain health clinic; 10 more planned across city
'Delhi's first dedicated brain health clinic has been set up at the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka,' officials said. 'The clinic, inaugurated by Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh on Saturday (May 17, 2025), promises 'district-level access' to neurological treatment and rehabilitation within the next year,' they said. 'Set up under India's Brain Health Initiative with support from NITI Aayog and technical partner IHBAS, the clinic will offer screening and therapy for stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson's, dementia, migraine and other disorders, along with counselling and tele-neurology links for follow-up care,' a statement said. "This is not just a facility, it is a mission. Whenever you face a brain-related problem, come here. Don't hide or delay treatment. Similar centres will be opened in every district,' Dr. Singh said. 'Neurological conditions are already the world's second-biggest cause of death and the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs),' the statement said. 'Delhi plans to replicate the Dwarka model across all the 11 districts in the capital, combining clinics with lifestyle-modification counselling and caregiver support, while IHBAS will train the staff and monitor the outcomes,' the statement added. The initiative aligns with the recommendations of NITI Aayog's National Task Force on brain health chaired by IHBAS Director Rajinder Kumar Dhamija. 'It is backed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's commitment to building a 'future-ready' health system,' the statement said.
The Sun
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Brazen China plants flag on seized TINY 2,000sq ft sandbank in WW3 flashpoint sea…before Philippines' tit-for-tat reply
THE CHINESE coastguard has seized control of a reef near a Philippine military base, threatening to inflame tensions in the disputed region. Four Chinese coastguard officials dressed in black were pictured unfurling their country's flag on a reef called Sandy Cay. 6 6 6 6 This sankbank lies close to Thitu Island, also known as Pag-asa, which is home to a Philippine military outpost. The provocative stunt is the latest move from Beijing to exert influence over the South China Sea - which China claims as part of its territorial waters. However, this claim is not internationally recognised, and is hotly disputed with many of China's maritime neighbours. The picture was released by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, which claimed the country had "implemented maritime control and exercised sovereign jurisdiction" earlier in the month. In return, the Philippines said on Sunday that its officails had also landed on three sandbanks. They posed with their own national flag for a photo which mimicked that released by China - although it is unclear if this picture was also on Sandy Cay. "This operation reflects the unwavering dedication and commitment of the Philippine Government to uphold the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea," a National Task Force West Philippine Sea spokesperson said. China claims it also carried out "video-recording of illegal activity" by Philippines forces. But the BBC has reported there is little sign that China has permanently occupied the small island. Chinese coastguard officials are reported to have now left the 200 square metre sandbank. The Philippines has also strongly denied that China has gained permanent control of the sandbank, according to Al Jazeera reports. It coincides with a series of major joint military drills between the US and the Philippines. The drills are expected to involve up to 14,000 troops for 18 days of war games. China has accused the exercises of undermining "regional strategic stability". The White House has said that China's seizure of Sandy Cay is "deeply concerning if true." National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt told the Financial Times: "Actions like these threaten regional stability and violate international law. "We are consulting closely with our own partners and remain committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific." While the South China Sea has long been the subject of overlapping territorial disputes, the competing claims have intensified in recent years. Beijing claims the vast majority of the sea as its territorial waters, shown on Chinese maps via a "nine-dash line". This not internationally recognised, but China has undertaken island-building in the sea in a bid to reinforce its claim. Many analysts fear the seascape could turn into a major geopolitical flashpoint and potential conflict zone. Chinese claims in the South China Sea overlap with claims from Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. Some of the world's busiest shipping lanes run through the South China Sea, which has led to fears of dire economic consequences were a war to break out. 6 6
