Latest news with #economicinstability
Zawya
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Southern Youth to United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL): Improving the economy and security are priorities
Thirty-four youth from across the south of Libya joined Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary General Stephanie Koury in an online youth consultation Wednesday to discuss their opinions on the Advisory Committee's recommendations. The event is part of broader consultations to gather feedback from the public on the next steps of the political process. UNSMIL has also launched an online poll inviting Libyans to share options on the Advisory Committee's recommendations and contribute to shaping the way forward in the political process. Participants stressed the need for representation for the south in any mechanism or institution, highlighting that they suffer through economic instability and insecurity across borders and do not benefit from oil money. The youth all agreed that the deteriorating economic situation was closely linked to the security situation and one could not be solved without addressing the other. They highlighted that they wanted stability and security and their voices to be heard in representative forums. 'We suffer from weak infrastructure with power cuts during 50-degree heat,' said one participant from Ghat. 'We are deprived of basic services. We need to focus on these things, not a constitution.' The economic situation is so bad, another participant from Ghat said, that it's impacting the security situation. 'This is why people are making their livelihoods from selling weapons,' they said. 'We need to have a clear economic plan,' said a participant from Sebha. 'We need to end the sources of corruption.' A participant from Ubari called for transitional periods to end. 'Through the years and different governments, our divisions have only increased,' said a participant from Sebha, adding that the best way forward was to have a referendum. When discussing elections, the youth expressed distrust in the national authorities' ability to oversee elections and in the democratic process overall. One spoke of how votes had been bought; people he knew sold their voter cards in the previous elections. DSRSG Koury briefed participants on the four options put forward by the Advisory Committee in May. As outlined in the Executive Summary of the Advisory Committee's report, the options include: Conducting presidential and legislative elections simultaneously; Conducting parliamentary elections first, followed by the adoption of a permanent constitution; Adopting a permanent constitution before elections; or Establishing a political dialogue forum, based on the Libyan Political Agreement to finalize electoral laws, executive authority and permanent constitution. Many of the participants who joined favoured option four saying that this was the only option that ended the current cycle of entities that they felt did not represent them or the people of Libya. UNSMIL stressed that youth voices were crucial to the political process and that it intended to continue with its YouEngage outreach efforts. All participants were encouraged to complete UNSMIL's online poll [link] and share it with their friends and families to ensure community voices are heard. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
ABC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Why the RBA held rates
Mortgage-borrowers across the country have been left shell-shocked by the RBA's decision to keep the cash rate steady at 3.85 per cent. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says "it's not the result millions of Australians were hoping for." But while the Government has been at pains to stress the RBA makes decisions independently, with global instability continuing, is this a sign there are more rough economic waters ahead of us? Patricia Karvelas and Tom Crowley break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@
Entrepreneur
02-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Affordability & Broad Distribution Keeps TWS Brands Afloat In India
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The global TWS market's sales volume is expected to increase by 3 percent YoY in 2025, according to Counterpoint's latest Global TWS Market Forecast. However, economic instability may further slow market growth. At the same time, TWS devices continue to sustain steady replacement demand, having become everyday essentials like smartphones. New demand remains, particularly for low-end models (priced under $50) in emerging markets. As a result, the market is expected to maintain moderate, steady growth through 2028. Brands such as Xiaomi and JBL are set for double-digit growth in India. Xiaomi is benefiting from affordable pricing and broad distribution, while JBL is benefitting from product diversification and mid-tier success in India. Additional factors, such as longer device lifespans and a lack of groundbreaking innovation, are also contributing to the slowdown. For instance, boAt is facing headwinds as India's TWS market matures beyond price-led competition. Its core audience – first-time users – has been primarily captured, while repeat buyers are upgrading to feature-rich alternatives. The brand's slow entry into AI-led audio and lack of ecosystem integration have made it vulnerable to erosion. Despite a strong offline presence, boAt is struggling to compete with the growing offline presence of Chinese brands. On the other hand, JBL, backed by decades of audio expertise, is likely to continue appealing to its loyal customer base with its signature deep and rich bass sound. By offering a wide range of products across various price points, from entry-level to premium, it aims to attract a broad spectrum of consumers. In Q1, JBL showed notable growth in the Indian market, where premiumization has started on the foundation of its affordable offerings. The brand is growing rapidly in the country's mid-price segment, driven by demand for trusted brands and high-quality audio. Competitive pricing and seasonal discounts further boost consumer appeal, stated the report.
Fast Company
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
How to understand the new work expectations of Gen Z
Each generation of employees is shaped by its times. In today's era of 'perma-change,' Generation Z is exhibiting distinct professional traits. Having come of age during a period of economic instability and a global crisis, they're less likely to hang their hats on a single career identity. They're less focused on salary and more drawn to balance, but they're also highly pragmatic. The latest Gen Z workplace trend, adopting a standard work uniform, is just one example of that pragmatism. It also shows that while they value work-life balance, they're also open to clever ways for achieving it. Leaders stand to gain—or lose—a lot by making the effort to understand Gen Z. Because if they're not satisfied, they'll move on. According to the a 2024 workplace survey by EY, 38% of respondents said they were likely to quit their jobs in the next year—a rise largely driven by Gen Z. Understanding their work habits and expectations is essential to retaining top talent. As the CEO of a company with over 750 employees and a growing percentage of Gen Zers, I've had the opportunity to observe generational differences firsthand. Here are the strategies I use to address the habits and expectations of our youngest cohort. Promote an automation-first mindset I've written before about the virtues of lazy employees. While that adjective is usually pejorative, I use it to describe something powerful: a professional who looks for the easiest, most efficient way to get something done. In my experience, Gen Z tends to share this superpower. These days, that often entails using the latest tools and apps on the market. Indeed, Gen Z expects tech tools at work to match the ease of use of social media apps they use in their personal lives. If there's a new project management platform that matches the intuitiveness of TikTok, chances are they'll be proficient in hours. Promoting an automation-first approach in your organization empowers Gen Z employees to tap into their digital fluency and find the most efficient ways to complete tasks. At my company, for example, we encourage employees to set aside time to stay informed about the latest tech releases relevant to their job functions (with the help of sites like G2) and share their favorites with the team. Crucially, leaders should emphasize that tools like AI are meant to enhance, not replace, human work. This approach naturally fosters multigenerational collaboration. While older generations might impart important lessons in leadership and management, younger employees can bring their innate tech literacy to the table. This not only breaks down unnecessarily rigid hierarchies, but it also helps to engage Gen Zers and boosts their feelings of investment in the company. Offer personalized training and development In the past, employee training was fairly linear. For professionals in a given role, the progression from entry-level skills to management typically followed a similar path. Today's requisite skill sets look different on a conceptual level. Deloitte has called it the return of the Renaissance figure —someone with multidimensional talents, interests, and knowledge. That means building skills in tools and technology, data and analytics, as well as in management, creativity, and people leadership. The onus is on leaders to ensure employees receive the training they need. Don't assume they already have the necessary skills, especially since younger employees may sometimes overestimate their abilities. In addition to traditional (and irreplaceable) person-to-person training and mentoring, I'm a big proponent of AI platforms to offer employees personalized, scalable training, including both 'hard' and 'soft' skills. Companies like BetterUp, for example, offer employees actionable professional development skills, like how to handle a sensitive work conversation. What's more, as your company grows, AI tools are a cost-efficient solution for continuing to offer employees at all levels the training they need. To bring it all together, create a training pipeline that gives younger employees hands-on opportunities to apply the skills they're learning and build the ones they aspire to develop. Present flexibility on your terms It's no secret that Gen Z is more accustomed to flexibility than any other generation. Many of them entered the workforce when working from home was the norm. For younger professionals, a flexible workplace is a priority. According to ZipRecruiter 's 2025 Annual Grad Report, 82% of college students hope to work remotely at least one day a week. However, just 33% (of the class of 2023) want fully remote workplaces. Some companies are already on board with offering hybrid work arrangements. I happen to believe that working in the office is important for collaboration, training, and doing our best work. Striking a balance can be tricky. To address the needs of Gen Z without overthrowing your organization's goals and values, leaders can offer flexibility in intentional ways. For example, a structured hybrid schedule—like a few days of their choice each month to work remotely—can give young professionals the breathing room they need. You could also offer work-from-anywhere weeks once a quarter, allowing employees to work where they feel best able to focus in that moment. Even if the norm is to work within the office, leaders should make it explicit that employees can request time away if a personal need arises—whether it's a mental health day, a family obligation, or just space to recharge. You can also reinforce the idea that your organization values its employees' rich, full lives outside of work. Gen Z employees who feel free to share their full selves, including their unique interests and hobbies, are more likely to feel engaged and committed to their organization.
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Strategically Managing Health And Wellbeing Costs In 2025
A new survey reveals that effective leaders are transforming how they think about managing health ... More and wellbeing costs amidst rising health system usage, economic instability, and employees demanding more support and benefits personalization. WTW's 2025 Global Medical Trends Survey reported that increases in medical costs are projected to remain high at a double-digit global average, continuing the trend of recent years. A new WTW Benefits Trends Survey reveals that effective leaders are transforming how they think about the issue amidst rising costs, economic instability, and employees demanding more support and benefits personalization. These leaders are spending smarter, recalibrating programs, sharpening their focus and using benefits as a strategic tool to drive employee engagement, retention and company purpose. Several major factors contribute to continued high medical costs beyond general inflation: Increased use of new medical technologies and pharmaceuticals globally. Overwhelmed public healthcare systems worldwide from high demand and limited available resources, leaving members to rely on private medical providers. A surge in healthcare utilization, with a growing trend in utilization of mental health services. Effective boards and senior leadership teams take the following actions to optimize benefits and drive better health and wellbeing outcomes: Effective leaders are rethinking benefits by doing what matters most and doing it better. As they manage the challenges of 2025, one message is clear: the old rules are changing, and effective leaders use benefits as a strategic tool to drive engagement, retention and purpose.
