
Vizag youth to represent YDN in Tokyo
Vikas, who is working towards promoting social justice, youth empowerment, and inclusive governance in tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh, will join emerging democracy leaders from across Asia and the Pacific to strengthen youth-led efforts to defend democratic values and civic participation.
Coming from a rural background and rooted in community service, Vikas has led several impactful initiatives in tribal areas, including the facilitation of welfare schemes, promotion of PESA governance, legal awareness drives, and youth capacity-building programmes.
Speaking on the occasion, Vikas said, 'I look forward to learning from fellow youth leaders and bringing those insights back to strengthen our grassroots work.'
The Youth Democracy Network (YDN) is a global platform convened by the Partnership for Strengthening Civic Democracies, a multilateral initiative that brings together democratic governments, civil society actors, and young changemakers. YDN empowers youth to take the lead in promoting transparency, countering disinformation, protecting civic spaces and building resilient democratic systems across the world.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Brazil requests consultations at WTO over Trump's tariffs
Brazil requested consultations at the World Trade Organization over tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump against the South American nation that went into effect on Wednesday (August 6, 2025). Mr. Trump has directly tied the 50% tariff on many imported Brazilian goods to the judicial situation of his embattled ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest. "The United States has flagrantly violated key commitments the country has agreed upon at the WTO, such as the principle of the most favored nation and tariff ceilings negotiated at that organisation,' Brazil's foreign ministry said in a statement. The most favoured nation principle is a cornerstone of Geneva-based WTO, whose aim is to get countries to respect trade agreements. The principle directs its members to treat each other equally in trade. WTO panels are set if no agreement is reached in disputes between members. 'Brazil's government reiterates its availability for negotiation and hopes these consultations contribute to a solution to the matter,' the Brazilian foreign office said. The U.S. government has not made comments about Brazil's move. WTO needs revamp: Lula Earlier, a Brazilian government official told The Associated Press that the case could drag on and there's no guarantee of success. The official, who wasn't authorised to discuss the matter publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has repeatedly said that the trade body needs a revamp to be enabled to mediate in conflicts. Brazil's government estimates that 35.9% of the country's goods shipped to the American market have been affected. That is about 4% of Brazil's total exports. Mr. Trump directly tied the 50% tariff on imported Brazilian goods to the judicial situation of his embattled ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest. Last month, Bolsonaro was ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor and to obey a curfew while the proceedings are underway. Lula is yet to speak about the move. On Tuesday, the leftist leader said he wouldn't call Mr. Trump to talk about trade 'because he doesn't want to' speak about it. Lula said that he might instead 'invite him to attend (November's climate summit) COP in Belem.'


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
US slaps 50% tariff on Indian goods; textiles, shrimp, gems most hit
Domestic export sectors such as leather, chemicals, footwear, gems and jewellery, textiles and shrimp will be severely impacted by the imposition of the 50 per cent tariff by the US, say industry President Donald Trump on Wednesday slapped an additional 25 per cent tariff, raising the total duties to 50 per cent on goods coming from India, as a penalty for New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian United States has imposed additional tariffs or penalties for Russian imports only on India, while other buyers such as China and Turkey, have so far escaped such measures. "The tariffs are expected to make Indian goods far costlier in the US, with potential to cut US-bound exports by 40–50 per cent," think tank GTRI the new tariff, it said, organic chemicals' exports to the US will attract an additional 54 per cent duty. The other sectors which will attract high duties include carpets (52.9 per cent), apparel - knitted (63.9 per cent), apparel - woven (60.3 per cent), textiles, made-ups (59 per cent), diamonds, gold and products (52.1 per cent), machinery and mechanical appliances (51.3 per cent), furniture, bedding, mattresses (52.3 per cent).The 25 per cent duty, announced on July 31, will come into force from August 7 (9.30 am IST).The additional 25 per cent will be implemented by the US from August 27. These will be over and above the existing standard import duty in the 2024-25, the bilateral trade between India and the US stood at USD 131.8 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports and USD 45.3 billion imports).The sectors, which would bear the brunt of 50 per cent duty include textiles/ clothing (10.3 billion), gems and jewellery (12 billion), shrimp (USD 2.24 billion), leather and footwear (USD 1.18 billion), chemicals (2.34 billion), and electrical and mechanical machinery (about USD 9 billion).Kolkata-based seafood exporter and MD of Megaa Moda, Yogesh Gupta said that now India's shrimp will become expensive in the US market."We are already facing huge competition from Ecuador as it has only 15 per cent tariff. Indian shrimp already attracts a 2.49 per cent anti-dumping duty and a 5.77 per cent countervailing duty. After this 25 per cent, the duty will be 33.26 per cent from August 7," Gupta Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) said that it is "deeply concerned" about the potential adverse impact of the effective 50 per cent US tariff rate for US is India's largest market for textile and apparel US tariff announcement of August 6 is a huge setback for India's textile and apparel exporters as it has further complicated the challenging situation we were already grappling with and will significantly weaken our ability to compete effectively vis--vis many other countries for a larger share of the US market," it urged the government to urgently take steps to help the sector during these hugely testing Shah, MD, Kama Jewelry, said this move is a severe setback for Indian exports, with nearly 55 per cent of India's shipments to the US market directly 50 per cent reciprocal tariff effectively imposes a cost burden, placing our exporters at a 30–35 per cent competitive disadvantage compared to peers from countries with lesser reciprocal tariff, he said."Many export orders have already been put on hold as buyers reassess sourcing decisions in light of higher landed costs. For a large number of MSME-led sectors, absorbing this sudden cost escalation is simply not viable. Margins are already thin, and this additional blow could force exporters to lose long-standing clients," Shah Growmore International Ltd MD Yadvendra Singh Sachan said the exporters should look for new markets to maintain export are hoping that early finalisation of the India-US bilateral trade agreement will help in dealing with the tariff negotiations between India and the US are still going on for an interim trade deal, though there will be no compromise on the red lines with regard to duty concessions on agriculture items, dairy, and genetically modified (GM) products, sources two countries are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). They are aiming to conclude the first phase of the pact by fall (October-November) this year.- EndsTune InMust Watch


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Opposition flays state for ‘faulty' roll-out of NEP
Porvorim: Opposition MLAs launched a scathing attack on state govt during discussions on education grants, criticising the rushed implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) and a significant decline in enrolment at govt technical institutions. Carlos Ferreira accused govt of implementing the NEP without proper planning, stating that despite claims of reducing the content load, 'they have increased the theory-based content' and failed to rationalise curricular activities. He highlighted considerable gaps, including the absence of NEP-based textbooks for classes IX and X, and the lack of semester systems for classes VIII-X as mandated by the policy. 'Any new system should be introduced gradually, not forced upon,' Ferreira said, pointing out that students are overwhelmed with assignments, giving them no time for recreational activities. The leader of the opposition, Yuri Alemao, said that the state was 'not prepared at all' for NEP implementation and pointed out that the academic bank of credits concept 'has been reduced to a joke in Goa' with no functional system in any college. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Milana's Photoshoot Left Fans in Awe - Take a Look Paperela Undo He expressed concerns over Goa University's capability to lead NEP implementation. Vijai Sardesai pointed to vacant seats at Goa College of Engineering and demanded the modernisation of technical education, criticising the lack of industry-academia collaboration. The opposition said that while govt institutions struggle with 70% seat occupancy, private colleges are 'mushrooming without adequate facilities.'