Latest news with #YP
South China Morning Post
21-06-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Write to Win (Final Round): Describe a job that doesn't exist today – but will in the next 50 years
Do you love a challenge? Don't miss the chance to win great prizes by taking part in our next writing contest! Click here and fill out the online form to apply. The entry question is: What is the most important quality in a teacher? The deadline is 11.59pm on Monday, August 4. We will notify the new contestants chosen on Friday, August 8. Read the responses to this week's Write to Win prompt and choose the answer you like most on this form. We have prepared some exciting prizes for our top three contestants: • Winner: Kindle, City'super voucher and a YP certificate • First runner-up: Instax camera and a YP certificate • Second runner-up: City'super voucher and a YP certificate Hong Kong I believe space travel and exploration will become more and more prevalent in the future, with Mars possibly becoming a hot and exotic destination. Hence, a cool future career that may emerge within the next 50 years is a space governing officer. This person would be responsible for overseeing matters such as trade and regulations for human settlements throughout the universe. I believe their job will be to ensure smooth and lawful travel between different planets and space habitats in the large Milky Way, as well as handling immigration and trade management. I mean, after all, someone has to patrol and see what is going on outside Earth to ensure all of us are able to travel and explore the Milky Way safely. Furthermore, I believe another crucial part of this job will be policing irresponsible behaviour committed in outer space. For example, littering can cause problems like damaging satellites and crucial space infrastructure. It could also harm other travellers. Although this idea may sound a bit far-fetched, given the space exploration industry's immense growth, I believe that space governing officers will become quite important in the next 50 years. Write to Win (Round 6): If everyone's thoughts were public, what societal laws would be necessary? London Scientists have already started to work on ways to control rainfall. As research continues, we may have total control over the weather in the next 50 years. As a result, a group of people will be needed to help manage the weather in different cities. Therefore, allow me to introduce – weather managers! Weather managers should have degrees in geography and mathematics, as well as sufficient knowledge of climate, as these skills are crucial. They will have total control over the weather; their job will be to choose a time slot for specific weather to occur and adjust it according to cities' needs. For example, if a city's temperature is above 25 degrees Celsius, a weather manager should allow rain to fall to cool the region down and irrigate plants. Or suppose a competition is going to take place at a sports ground. It will be a manager's duty to create suitable weather conditions to prevent delays. As we can see, if managers could control the weather correctly, it could benefit citizens, animals and even greenery! Weather managers could even significantly affect the quality of life in cities, making their jobs essential for society. As global warming worsens year by year, extreme weather events are predicted to become more frequent and intense. This would make weather managers even more important as they could ensure the safety of all living things.
IOL News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
KwaZulu-Natal Youth Parliament calls for curriculum reform to meet global job demands
Deputy Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Mmabatho Tembe, has called on the youth of the province to rise to the challenges of the present by equipping themselves with skills, strategy, and innovation when she officially opened the 2025 Youth Parliament. Image: KZN Legislature Speakers at the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Parliament (YP), held on Friday, called for the education curriculum to be revised to meet the current global employment demands, such as digital technology. The theme for the Youth Parliament 2025 was: Skills for the Changing World: Bridging the Gap through Education, Skills Development, and Entrepreneurship. Mmabatho Tembe, the Deputy Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, called on the youth of the province to rise to the challenges of the present by equipping themselves with skills, strategy, and innovation. Tembe said: 'This Parliament is not just a date on the calendar; it is a platform for voices that are often sidelined. It is a space for the youth to express, engage, and demand accountability from those entrusted with power. 'Our generation must now rise not with stones, but with skills. Not with slogans alone, but with strategy. And that begins with transforming how we educate and empower our youth.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Youth leagues representing several political parties expressed their views. Lethani Ndumo, of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), said that equipping people with the relevant skills will contribute to the economy of the country. He said there was limited access to quality education, limited job opportunities, and skills were not matching employment demand. According to Ndumo, the lack of jobs led to frustration and high levels of crime. He stated that for 30 years, the government has consistently mentioned inadequate budgets to address challenges facing the youth, yet has spent millions of rand on renting buildings instead of investing in its infrastructure. Ndumo said there were challenges facing students in higher education systems, including not being accepted into universities or being allowed to receive in-service training. Zandile Ndlovu, of the IFP, called for a curriculum review that is substantial and in touch with the needs of the social and economic demands. 'It should be transformative and progressive, equipping young people with skills that are of national importance and meet global demand. We see the need for innovative learning and entrepreneurship as a valuable career path. Incorporating entrepreneurship into the curriculum can foster creativity and innovation,' Ndlovu said. Representing the Democratic Alliance, Daniel Mea said the YP is meant to be a platform of serious engagement, and young people were not a tick box exercise to be acknowledged once a year. 'Graduates stay home while their qualifications gather dust. Enough of the ceremonial forums and youth formations being silenced after a photo is taken. If this Parliament can meet weekly, why does the Youth Parliament meet once a year?' he asked. Nkokhelo Msomi, a National Freedom Party (NFP) member, said the world is changing at a fast rate with technology, climate change, and a global shift in economies, and yet South African education and training institutes remain stuck in the past. He stated that the bridge to the future must be built on three strong pillars: education, skills development, and entrepreneurship. 'This has left many of us, especially in rural areas, unemployed, underqualified, and overlooked. Education must evolve, and we need to learn what is relevant. Rural youth are leaving school with certificates that cannot connect them to the economy. We need clear guidance and digital literacy introduced from Grade 8 and more colleges in rural towns like Nongoma,' he said.
The Star
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Is Yinson's valuation justified?
PETALING JAYA: Yinson Holdings Bhd has once again found itself in the limelight. A recent Bloomberg report claiming that US-based infrastructure investment giant Stonepeak Partners was in exclusive talks to acquire the Malaysian energy infrastructure player sent its shares surging by nearly 14%. Though Yinson has denied any direct involvement in buyout talks, it did admit that major shareholders – including the Lim family, who hold a 26.6% stake – are exploring options with 'various parties'. But as the dust settles, a deeper question emerges: is Yinson truly worth the RM9bil valuation implied in the reported talks? At the time of the report, Yinson was trading at RM2.33 per share, giving it a market capitalisation of about RM7.17bil. The implied RM9bil buyout price suggests potentially up to a 32% upside. Such premiums aren't unusual in strategic merger and acquisition deals, but do the fundamentals justify this leap? The purported talks have brought to light the supposedly low valuations of the company. Yinson's price-earnings ratio (PER) of 6.5 times trails peers Bumi Armada Bhd 's five times and MISC Bhd 's 30 times. But looking at its forward price-earning of about 15 times, this is higher than that of MISC Bhd of 14.3 times forward PER and Bumi Armada Bhd's five times. According to analysts, while Yinson's price-earnings is among the lowest in the sector, this often reflects perceived risks. 'Its high leverage and ongoing capital expenditures for its floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) builds are the main culprits,' an analyst tells StarBiz. The company has a total borrowing of RM16.32bil or net gearing (including perpetual securities of RM1.94bil) of 1.8 times in the financial year ended Jan 31, 2025. 'Yet, return metrics like return on equity and net margins remain strong, hinting at robust underlying performance,' he adds. Yinson has positioned itself as more than just an oil and gas contractor. It boasts long-term FPSO contracts, offering stable cash flows. With over US$20bil in contract backlog, the company has visibility well into the next decade. Meanwhile, CGS International Research is not surprised by the news of a potential privatisation as this would mean the shareholders of Yinson should reap significant gains from the potential listing of its subsidiary Yinson Production (YP). The research house says Yinson's plans for the listing of YP in the United States equity markets in five years' time, which would be the key exit plan for Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation and RRJ Capital. 'We believe that the listing of YP could yield significant capital gains for Yinson, as it could also do an offer for sale of YP during the initial public offering. 'This is probably the rationale for the potential privatisation of Yinson,' the research house explained. The research house believes that the Lim family would likely at least maintain its 27% equity stake in Yinson if Stonepeak Partners comes in as an equity partner. Alternatively, Stonepeak Partners may provide a loan to the Lim family to privatise Yinson, in which case the Lim family may ultimately hold 100% of Yinson. Generally, analysts are positive on Yinson with 'buy' calls but some have lowered its 12-month target price from RM3.62 to RM3.41 due to short-term engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning weakness. However, consensus still sees substantial upside with target prices for Yinson ranging from RM3.12 (bearish) to RM5.05 (bullish), with a consensus of RM3.78 – implying a 62% upside from current levels. Maybank Investment Bank Research (Maybank IB) is positive on Yinson, backed by its robust prospects and to benefit from FPSO bids in FY26. 'We believe the FPSO market is currently in the 'Golden Age' due to a robust global tender pipeline with an expected 13 awards over the next 12 months. 'Yinson may be looking for one new job next year (FY26) in the mid-sized segment for bankable projects with high upfront payment from end-clients,' Maybank IB notes. As such, the RM9bil figure with hefty premium appears justifiable for a strategic asset with strong recurring cash flows, particularly in today's market of yield-hungry infrastructure investors. Yinson's valuation, at first glance, seems to reflect investor caution: high debt, negative free cash flow, and macro headwinds. But deeper analysis reveals a fundamentally solid business with long-term income visibility and expansion into renewables. If leveraged effectively, these factors could drive a significant re-rating.
Barnama
16-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Yayasan Peneraju Launches YPXLR8, Targets 1,000 Bumiputera In Tech Careers
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- Yayasan Peneraju (YP) today launched its latest strategic initiative, YPXLR8 (YP Accelerate), which targets the participation of 1,000 Bumiputera individuals in technology-based careers. According to YP, the programme provided an opportunity for those working in non-technology sectors to switch careers through a place-and-train approach to meet the country's demand for a skilled digital workforce. 'Each selected participant will receive financial support of RM1,500 per month for eight months throughout the programme. They will also receive a one-off training credit of RM9,000 to ensure they receive the necessary training,' YP said in a statement today. Economy Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Rafizi Ramli, in the same statement, said YPXLR8 was a proactive measure to empower Bumiputera talent and support national policies such as the Malaysia Digital Economy Plan and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) policy. He said that the launch of YPXLR8 was timely, as digital transformation had become the key driver of change in the global job market. 'If we want Malaysia to keep progressing in adopting AI innovations, the Bumiputera workforce must be equipped with the latest technology skills to meet market demands and remain competitive,' said Rafizi. Meanwhile, YP chief executive officer Ibrahim Sani said the programme created opportunities for Bumiputeras without a technology background to enter the digital economy through industry training and employment. 'Participants will undergo industry-relevant training through at least eight months of employment with a host company or in a permanent role, where they can develop essential skills through mentorship and hands-on experience,' he said in the same statement. YP is currently identifying industry partners across various sectors to serve as host companies, offering job and training opportunities to participants in fields such as digital analytics, cybersecurity, business intelligence, and related areas.
The Guardian
25-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Fortescue and WA government say traditional owners' $1.8bn compensation claim is worth $8m
Traditional owners in Western Australia are seeking more than $1bn in compensation for the Solomon Hub iron ore mine, but mining giant Fortescue Metals Group and the WA government say their claim is worth less than $10m. The federal court justice Stephen Burley is hearing final submissions this week in the long-running legal dispute between the Western Australian government, Fortescue (FMG) and the Yindjibarndi people over the multibillion-dollar iron ore mine in the Pilbara region. Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation is seeking a collective $1.8bn in compensation for economic, cultural, spiritual and social losses and harm since mining operations began almost a decade ago with state government approval, which it argues was given without its consent. In its most recent budget, the WA government estimates it will garner more than $9bn in royalties from mining with about a quarter of that coming from iron ore. It has been reported that the Solomon Hub iron ore mine has generated an estimated $80bn in revenue for Fortescue since 2013. Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation alleged that Fortescue began mining in 2013 without any permissions or discussions with native title holders but with state government approvals under the then Barnett government. Lawyers acting for the Yindjibarndi applicants told the court last week that complex relationships nurtured from birth until death, through marriages, funerals, lore and oral traditions, had been severely impacted through Fortescue's mining operations. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'This has made very strong emotions and created much, effectively, bereavement in the community, because it was so, so important,' Tina Jowett SC, said, referring to a detailed anthropological report conducted by Kingsley Palmer on behalf of the claimants. 'Relationships that should have been there very strong and enforced through birth, death, marriage, men making ceremonies have collapsed since 2007.' Fortescue argued in its submission filed last week that traditional owners are not entitled to compensation for any alleged discord, saying that disagreements and disputes arose from different views among Yindjibarndi and the mining company's activities on the land. 'Part of that dispute was about whether (and on what terms) the YP should agree with FMG to land access. Because different YP [Yindjibarndi people] members within the YP had different views about whether an agreement should be made, it cannot be said that FMG caused the alleged disharmony.' Fortescue claimed any acrimony within community was not within the purview of current legislation, with the mining company writing in court documents published last week: 'Such 'social division' or 'disharmony' is not compensable under the [Native Title Act]. 'A sum of no more than $8 million for the YP's non-economic loss would reflect Australian standards that are appropriate, fair and just. Such a sum involves a very generous assessment.' On Tuesday, Brahma Dharmananda SC, acting for Fortescue, argued that cultural and spiritual loss must be considered appropriately and in line with public sentiment in society. 'Value judgment, in our submission, should not be coloured by false questions about the preparedness of mining companies in other cases, to share a royalty percentage of their gains from minerals. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'Our submission, properly focused on the impact of the attachment to the land and or connection to Country, cultural loss cannot include a claimed loss if it does not show an impact on the Native Title holders spiritual connection to the land.' In its final submission to the federal court earlier this month, the WA government argued compensation for cultural losses under current legislation was not a 'mathematic equation' but should be in line with community expectations with the compensation valued at between '$5-10 million'. Compensation for economic loss of the land loss 'amounts to $92,957.31,' it said. The WA government, in its statement also argued that the arguments for compensation were 'fundamentally flawed', with compensation being sought under grounds that were not covered by native title legislation. The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation chair and lead applicant, Michael Woodley, told Guardian Australia that he believed the case was a landmark in that it had the power to reshape how mining's cultural, social and economic impacts on First Nations people are understood. Woodley said that mining companies could pay a far greater share of their profits to traditional owners if they were successful in their claim: 'If resource developments are coming on to our land, then they'll have to acknowledge that now the courts have established there is a certain percentage of royalties or resource benefit [to traditional owners].' But he said that as outlined in court, the impact on the once pristine lands, waters and hundreds of important cultural sites had taken a psychological toll on him and the Yindjibarndi people: 'The emotion of the land being picked up, blown up and exploited, impacted on … That's a heavy burden for us to carry, both in a physical and a spiritual sense.' The Yindjibarndi people were awarded exclusive native title rights to their land, including where Solomon Hub sits, in 2017. The final submissions were continuing this week with a judgment expected later this year.
