Latest news with #NATIONAL
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
AP EAMCET Counselling 2025: Final phase registration begins at eapcet-sche.aptonline.in, direct link here
Department of Technical Education and APSCHE has started the AP EAMCET Counselling 2025 final phase registration today, July 27, 2025. Candidates who want to apply for the final phase of counselling can find the direct link on the official website of AP EAPCET at AP EAMCET Counselling 2025: Final phase registration begins at direct link here As per the official schedule, the last date to make payment of processing fee cum registration is July 30, 2025. The verification of uploaded certificates will be done from July 28 to July 30, 2025. The web-options can be exercised by the registered and eligible candidates from July 28 to July 31, 2025. Candidates can change options on August 1, 2025. The seat allotment result will be out on August 4, 2025. Candidates can self-report to the colleges from August 4 to August 8, 2025. Candidates who have passed Intermediate / CBSE / ICSE / NATIONAL OPEN SCHOOL / APOSS with a pass percentage of marks obtained in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at +2 levels with >=45% for OCs and >=40% for reserved categories (BC/SC/ST) in qualifying examination in group subjects are only eligible for admission. AP EAMCET Counselling 2025: How to apply To apply online, candidates can follow the steps given below. 1. Visit the official website of AP EAPCET at 2. Click on AP EAMCET Counselling 2025 final phase registration link available on the home page. 3. A new page will open where candidates will have to enter the registration details. 4. Click on submit and login to the account. 5. Fill the application form and make the payment of application fee. 6. Click on submit and download the page. 7. Keep a hard copy of the same for further need. The processing fee for web counseling is ₹1200/- for OC/BC and ₹600/- for SC/ candidates are instructed to pay through online by credit card/ debit card/net banking etc. For more related details candidates can check the official website of AP EAMCET.
Scottish Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Grand National legend and ‘amazing woman' whose fairytale horse won a BBC SPOTY award dies at home aged 92
She leaves an untouchable legacy in the sport REST IN PEACE Grand National legend and 'amazing woman' whose fairytale horse won a BBC SPOTY award dies at home aged 92 A GRAND NATIONAL legend and 'amazing woman' whose fairytale horse won a BBC SPOTY award has died at her home aged 92. Tributes have poured in for Valda Embiricos, who co-owned 1981 Aintree hero Aldaniti with her late husband Nick. 2 Valda Embiricos, right, died at home aged 92 after a remarkable life in racing which included winning the world's most famous race 2 Aldaniti and Bob Champion's 1981 Grand National victory was one of the best sporting stories of the century Credit: PA:Press Association Aldaniti and jockey Bob Champion completed 'one of the greatest sporting stories' ever 44 years ago when they won the world's most famous race. Champion had beaten cancer and Aldaniti had miraculously recovered from a leg injury so severe vets thought he would never run again. Their unforgettable win at odds of 10-1 was turned into a film starring John Hurt. And Champion and Aldaniti even won the BBC Team of the Year award at the 1981 SPOTY bash. Nick died in 2018 aged 81 and Champion remembered them both as 'just the most lovely owners who were a lot of fun too'. The Racing Post reported Valda's passing, which came at her home Barkfold Manor Stud in West Sussex last Wednesday. Her daughter Alex, a former trainer and jockey, told the Post: "Mum was invincible, strong, fearsome, kind, patient, fair, stubborn, a fighter. "Her will to live and to give was relentless to the very end. "If mum was an elephant she would be the matriarch of all matriarchs. "She had a long, incredible and amazing life. "I beg that I can try to fill those bottomless boots but I fear an espadrille is all I will manage." Valda maintained a love of racing throughout her life and still had runners this year. The Good Doctor, running under The Aldaniti Partnership banner, is trained by Ben Pauling and they had a win together at Fontwell as recently as 18 months ago. The Cheltenham Festival-winning handler said: "Valda has been an incredibly special person to myself and my wife Sophie. "She lived a wonderful life and was an incredibly courageous lady." While a message from the racecourse posted on Facebook read: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Valda Embiricos at the age of 92. "A remarkable woman whose support and passion for jump racing left an enduring legacy at Fontwell Park and beyond." Punters were quick to pay tribute as well. One wrote on X: "Very sad… but what a life!" While another commented: "Very sad news." Valda leaves daughter Alex, sons Alastair and Euan, stepson Nick and four grandchildren.
Observer
19-07-2025
- Business
- Observer
Employment: policies, progress, and prospects
Oman is currently going through an extensive national transformation as outlined in Vision 2040 which seeks to diversify the economy, reduce reliance on hydrocarbons, and promote sustainable development. One of the most defining features of this transformation is the integrated framework designed around the strategic goal of generating employment opportunities for nationals and increasing local content in all economic activities. Oman's development agenda also places critical importance on 'local content', which can broadly be referred to as the value added of the workforce, goods, and services employed in a specific industry. It is my intention in this article to examine the evolving landscape of employment in Oman, local content policies and laws, sectoral performance, the role of SMEs, skill development programs, as well as the impending challenges and prospects of the economic transformation. Oman's inclusive economic resilience vision is being supported by government programs and hard data, and this is what the paper seeks to present. NATIONAL LOCAL CONTENT POLICY (2024-2030) In 2024 the council of ministers approved the national local content policy (2024-2030) as a guiding document aimed at embedding Omani goods, services, and labor into the economy. Maximising the in-country value (ICV) generated from public and private sector investments is one of the main objectives under the policy. It also supports Oman Vision 2040 on economic diversification, social inclusion, and sustainability. The policy is built on four strategic pillars: • Supply Chain Development: Sponsoring local Omanis by both the government and private sectors as suppliers and contractors. • Workforce Development: Equipping Omanis through strategic educational programs, vocational trainings, and practical job placements. • Innovation and Technology Transfer: Improving the national capabilities through partnering in R&D and knowledge transfer as well as through licensing. • Entrepreneurship and SME Participation: Supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through finance, mentorship, and contract allocation. The policy requires the ministries and large corporations to embed the ICV framework into their tendering processes. This also includes provisions for workforce, procurement from Omani suppliers, and local subcontractor employment. To foster sustainable job creation, Oman has established targeted Omanisation goals tailored to particular sectors. OMANISATION STRATEGY Legal Changes: To boost Omanis' employment opportunities, the country introduced several new labor laws and ministerial decrees. The most impactful include: • Labour Law No. 53/2023: Introduces new rules on employment contracts, termination, and conflict resolution. • Ministerial Decree No. 501/2024: Broadened the scope of occupations reserved for Omanis and added fines for breaches. • Workforce Localisation Plans: Companies must file annual plans detailing the number of Omanis employed (or to be employed), their distribution by gender, salary, training, and outlined promotion pathways. Non-licenced firms may be penalised with fines, restricted expatriate hiring, or barred from public tenders. Omanisation Sector Goals: To foster sustainable job creation, Oman has established targeted Omanisation goals tailored to particular sectors. These depend on the strategic value and labor intensity of each sector: Banking & Insurance (60-70%), Manufacturing (35-40%), Retail/Wholesale (20-25%), Oil & Gas (40-50%), Tourism & Hospitality (30-35%), and Construction (15-20%). These benchmarks are met through mandatory quotas, regular audits, and integration into the licensing and visa issuance processes. The private sector is the backbone of Oman's economy, with a workforce of more than 1.7 million. Nevertheless, the share of Omanis working in it is very small in proportion to foreign workers. Employment in the Public Sector: As noted earlier, the public sector continues to be the biggest employer of Omanis, with more than 90 per cent coming from the local population out of a total of 195,902 employees. Focused on increasing the number of Omanis in the private sector, the government has also implemented new policies and training initiatives directed at the sector. LOCALLY DEVELOPED CONTENT AND RESULTS Key Initiatives: A number of local content initiatives have been started at the national level to achieve the intended objectives: • Majd Programme: Launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Energy & Minerals, this initiative mandates that 10-30% of contract value in the energy sector be allocated to Omani companies and SMEs. 12 contracts amounting to 172.5 million USD were granted in the first phase. • Taseen and Itqan Programs: These industrial development initiatives are aimed at decreasing the volume of imports, increasing local production, and advancing research and development activities. They also promote partnerships between local companies and foreign technology partners. Economic and Employment Impact: The economic impact of local content policies is visible on a much wider scale. • More than $33 billion has been injected into the local economy as from 2013 • Over 3000 direct employment opportunities in the private sector • Around 100 industrial facilities established with total investments of $400 million SME Participation in Local Content Small and medium enterprises are a cornerstone of Oman's local content strategy. The government has put in place systems such as Riyada and Esnad that enable SMEs access to government contracts, training opportunities, and funding options. Oman has committed itself to develop an education and training ecosystem that cultivates market-oriented skills among its youth. • Technical and Vocational Education & Training (TVET): Offers diploma and certificate courses in engineering, electronics, mechanics, and logistics. • Public-Private Collaboration: Employers work with polytechnics and schools to align course content with workplace expectations. • STEM and Digital Skills: Coding, AI, and renewable energy are national priorities. • Mandatory Training Plans: Expat employment mandates carry with them legal obligations to train Omanis for the role. SCULPTING VALUE AND PROFIT: • Value Retention: Offsetting capital outflows through local production and procurement. • Job Creation: Thousands of jobs created predominantly among women and youth. • SME Empowerment: Entrepreneurial opportunities from greater access to tenders. • Innovation: National competitiveness is enhanced through incentivised R&D and technology transfer. FURTHER ISSUES AND CONCERNS: Despite these developments, the following issues are still a concern: • Skill Gaps: Graduates not being able to fill available roles due to a lack of essential skills. • Compliance vs. Performance: Meeting quotas doesn't always result in hiring the best qualified candidates. • Misuse of SME Benefits: Larger companies registering as shell SMEs for contract access. • Investor Uncertainty: New companies might have problems with employment demands before they become profitable. • Expat Displacement: Rapid Omanisation may exacerbate the shortage of specialists in certain fields. CONCLUSION Oman is undergoing a tremendous shift within its socio-economic framework. With a blend of policy structural adjustments, strategic planning, inter-agency collaboration, and targeted investment, the country is working towards achieving an independent and more equitable economy. Moving forward, a perpetual fine-tuning towards prioritisation and market forces will be necessary, however, everything is now set. While policy is yet to be converted into action, Oman has excellent opportunities to realise its benefits and safeguard the welfare of its citisens as the Vision 2040 promises.
The Sun
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Malaysia U-23 aims for comeback win vs Brunei in AFF U-23 2025
NATIONAL Under-23 (U-23) squad head coach Nafuzi Zain remains optimistic that Malaysia will recover from their opening defeat to secure a win against Brunei in the 2025 AFF U-23 Championship. The match will take place at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta tomorrow. Following a 0-2 loss to the Philippines in their first Group A game, Nafuzi said his team has moved on and is fully focused on securing three points to keep their semi-final hopes alive. 'The players are still in high morale and they regret the recent defeat but they promised to bounce back with a victory against Brunei,' he said in a video shared by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). Despite Brunei's heavy 0-8 loss to Indonesia, Nafuzi warned against underestimating their opponents. 'It is true that Brunei lost by a big margin to Indonesia, but my focus is only on the team's preparation. If we don't play well even against a weak team, we will not be able to win,' he added. Malaysia currently sits third in Group A with no points, trailing Indonesia and the Philippines, who both have three points. Brunei is at the bottom of the table, also without any points. - Bernama
Business Wire
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
RESA Encourages U.S. Energy Consumers to Shop on National Energy Shopping Day
HARRISBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA), the national trade association representing competitive retail energy suppliers, is marking the sixth annual National Energy Shopping Day by encouraging Americans to take advantage of their power to choose. Today is National Energy Shopping Day, which serves as an annual reminder to review your current energy plan, compare available offers, explore clean energy options and choose a gas and electric supplier that meets your individual needs. Share Recognized every year on the first day of summer and included in Chase's Calendar of Events, National Energy Shopping Day promotes consumer awareness and engagement in competitive energy markets. The day serves as a reminder for individuals and businesses in states with retail choice to shop for energy plans that reflect their personal preferences, whether that means seeking renewable options, locking in fixed rates or finding budget-friendly pricing. 'Shopping for energy is one of the most overlooked ways consumers can make a real impact on their energy bills, their sustainability goals and take control of their energy choices,' said Tracy McCormick, executive director of RESA. 'We believe that every consumer deserves more than one monopoly option. They deserve the right to choose.' Currently, 14 states and the District of Columbia allow consumers to select their own electricity and/or natural gas supplier. However, a national survey by Ragnar Research Partners reveals a significant disconnect: 74% of Americans want to choose their energy provider, while only 28% currently have the option. RESA offers free, easy-to-use tools at to help consumers: Determine if energy choice is available in their state Where to compare energy providers and plans How to shop for energy Understand key contract terms and rate structures Energy choice isn't just about shopping—it's about empowerment, competition and innovation. RESA remains committed to educating consumers, supporting transparent marketplaces and expanding access to energy choice nationwide. ABOUT NATIONAL ENERGY SHOPPING DAY National Energy Shopping Day is an initiative created by RESA to encourage individuals residing in states that offer retail energy choice in electric and natural gas suppliers to find the best provider tailored to their specific requirements. Consumers can select a plan that offers clean energy products or benefits, such as smart home integration or energy efficiency programs, for their homes or businesses. For more information, visit ABOUT RESA The Retail Energy Supply Association is a broad and diverse group of retail energy suppliers who share the common vision that competitive retail electricity and natural gas markets deliver a more efficient, customer-oriented outcome than a regulated utility structure. RESA is devoted to working with all stakeholders to promote vibrant and sustainable competitive retail energy markets for residential and industrial consumers. For more information, visit Follow RESA on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).
