Latest news with #ALP
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Disabled children ‘denied' school support, Senedd hears
Senedd members considered a 1,454-name petition calling for a ban on the term 'universal provision' – which refers to the support available to all pupils. Parents warned councils are using the term to deny disabled children the person-centred, additional support they need in school to reach their full potential. As part of a 'transformation programme', the Senedd passed a law in 2018 to bring in an additional learning needs (ALN) system to replace special educational needs (SEN) support. The number of disabled children receiving support has fallen by nearly half since 2020/21 when roll-out began – with 40,000 fewer pupils receiving ALN or SEN support in 2023/24. In 2017, then-minister Alun Davies assured the Senedd's education committee that the cohort of pupils within the scope of the new system would be 'broadly similar'. Victoria Lightbown, who submitted the petition, wrote: 'Despite this clarification, local authorities and members of Welsh Government continue to allow this term to be used to refuse a learner ALN status and provide additional learning provision. 'There can only be one solution and that is that this term is banned from use. 'While members of the Welsh Government still use this term when discussing ALN including during media interviews, it gives local authorities opportunity to follow suit and continue to deny ALN to learners.' Lynne Neagle wrote to the Senedd's petitions committee in response to the petition, apologising for a near-three month delay in replying to correspondence. Wales' education secretary, who chaired the education committee as it scrutinised reforms in 2017, said: 'I want to be clear that 'universal provision' should not be a reason to deny ALN. 'However, I am aware that the term 'universal provision' is widely used by schools and local authorities when describing the provision… generally available to all pupils of the same age. 'Estyn's recent thematic review of the ALN reforms reports there is confusion in schools and local authorities around what constitutes 'universal' provision and what is ALP. This confusion is causing difficulties when determining whether a learner has ALN.'
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Disabled children ‘denied' school support, Senedd hears
Senedd members considered a 1,454-name petition calling for a ban on the term 'universal provision' – which refers to the support available to all pupils. Parents warned councils are using the term to deny disabled children the person-centred, additional support they need in school to reach their full potential. As part of a 'transformation programme', the Senedd passed a law in 2018 to bring in an additional learning needs (ALN) system to replace special educational needs (SEN) support. The number of disabled children receiving support has fallen by nearly half since 2020/21 when roll-out began – with 40,000 fewer pupils receiving ALN or SEN support in 2023/24. In 2017, then-minister Alun Davies assured the Senedd's education committee that the cohort of pupils within the scope of the new system would be 'broadly similar'. Victoria Lightbown, who submitted the petition, wrote: 'Despite this clarification, local authorities and members of Welsh Government continue to allow this term to be used to refuse a learner ALN status and provide additional learning provision. 'There can only be one solution and that is that this term is banned from use. 'While members of the Welsh Government still use this term when discussing ALN including during media interviews, it gives local authorities opportunity to follow suit and continue to deny ALN to learners.' Lynne Neagle wrote to the Senedd's petitions committee in response to the petition, apologising for a near-three month delay in replying to correspondence. Wales' education secretary, who chaired the education committee as it scrutinised reforms in 2017, said: 'I want to be clear that 'universal provision' should not be a reason to deny ALN. 'However, I am aware that the term 'universal provision' is widely used by schools and local authorities when describing the provision… generally available to all pupils of the same age. 'Estyn's recent thematic review of the ALN reforms reports there is confusion in schools and local authorities around what constitutes 'universal' provision and what is ALP. This confusion is causing difficulties when determining whether a learner has ALN.'
Axios
13-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Scoop: Tucker Carlson buys out investors in his media company
Tucker Carlson and his business partner, Neil Patel, recently bought out investors in their media company, Tucker Carlson Network (TCN), a source familiar with the deal tells Axios. Why it matters: The deal gives the pair complete independence and total control of the company they co-founded in 2023. "It's hard to claim you're independent when other people own your company, so we decided not to take investments or loans of any kind," Carlson told Axios in a statement, confirming the deal. "Our business is owned by the people who work there. You can disagree with our opinions but you can't say we're paid to have them, and we're proud of that." Catch up quick: Carlson and Patel raised roughly $15 million for TCN from a group of investors in late 2023 after Carlson parted ways with Fox News. The pair have a long history, having co-founded the Daily Caller together in 2010. Patel currently serves as co-founder and CEO of TCN. The bulk of the cash raised for TCN came from 1789 Capital, which was founded by banker Omeed Malik to invest in "anti-ESG" companies. State of play: 1789 Capital's investment is structured as a SAFE (simple agreement for future equity), Axios reported. The SAFE structure allowed Carlson to convert his investors' cash into equity if he later chose to raise more money at a set valuation. Yes, but: When TCN became profitable more quickly than expected, they became less inclined to raise another round. And with no plans to sell the company, a buyout offered liquidity for existing investors. Because of TCN's profitability, investors saw a positive return on their investment, according to one source familiar with the transaction. Between the lines: The success of product investments outside of TCN also gave Carlson and Patel the confidence to buy back their company. Carlson and Patel launched a nicotine pouch product called ALP last year as a joint venture with Turning Point Brands, a publicly traded smoking accessories company. TPB's share price has skyrocketed by nearly 30% since ALP's launch announcement in November, reaching an all-time high last month. Before launching ALP, Carlson was a supporter of ZYN nicotine pouches, produced by tobacco giant Philip Morris International. He created a rival product after criticizing PMI over political donations made by the company's employees. What they're saying:"We have had a great start at TCN. We have also started other ventures, including our ALP nicotine pouch brand which has really taken off," Patel said in a statement to Axios. "This strong start gave us no need for outside capital and gave us the ability to buy out all of our investors and achieve absolute independence. We are grateful to our investors for backing us at our start and happy to have provided them a strong return on their investments." What's next: TCN's business is primarily driven by consumer subscriptions, as well as some advertising.
The Age
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Let's consciously uncouple from unreliable America
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@ Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. AUKUS The AUKUS review is no surprise. We should review it too. AUKUS was a Scott Morrison thought bubble which resulted in a cost of $3.35billion to cancel the French submarines deal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese kept the AUKUS strategy, so the Coalition could not brand Labor as being soft on defence. The cancelled deal impacted our relationship with France whose presence in the South Pacific make it an obvious partner for Australia. The cost of AUKUS and the problems of nuclear waste, for which we have no infrastructure, were not considered. Since this decision, we have found the US under Trump is not a reliable ally. War in the 21st century has dramatically changed. The Ukrainians who have virtually no navy have destroyed a third of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. The economics of war has changed. Cheap drones can destroy multi-million dollar aircraft ships and tanks. It's time to get out of AUKUS and plan for a 21st century war instead. Peter Ramadge, Newport Time for Australia to finally grow up AUKUS: Absurdly Useless Kingsize Unrealisable Scheme. A more than 20 year gap before the highly questionable submarines could potentially arrive, with all their attendant risks, should alone alarm us. The change in military technology in that time is unimaginable. Submarines, nuclear or otherwise, could be obsolete by then. There is no plan B, and we will continue to pour huge amounts of money into a deal that America does not have to honour. The US, Trump or no Trump, is not interested in our welfare any more, if indeed it ever was. It's high time for Australia to finally grow up, especially in the current world's hostile environment. After looking to Britain last century and then to America since the second world war, we have never seized our own sovereignty. It's time to stop focusing on the US whether in our defence policy or in any other global matter, especially now as we watch it implode. Listening to our 'in denial' politicians, Richard Marles in particular, invites despair. Jill Toulantas, Clifton Hill Why didn't ALP review AUKUS? If, as Defence Minister Richard Marles says, it is normal for a new administration to review a big program such as AUKUS, why didn't he do that in 2022 when the ALP came into government? Denny Meadows, Hawthorn Trump is a symptom of America's decline Emma Shortis (Opinion, ″ For Trump, LA is just the beginning. Soon, he'll monitor every move Americans make ″, 11/6) joins a growing group of observers calling for a rethink of our relationship with the US. Breaking up is hard to do, and most former partners accept that there are no cost-free breakups, but it is still possible to maintain a reasonable relationship. Of course there would be costs in reducing our traditional, but hazardous independence on America for security. However, any competent risk analyst would surely find that they were modest compared with our present course. AUKUS submarines, expansion of Tindal airbase for strategic US bombers and upgrade of HMAS Stirling to host US nuclear submarines, for example, subordinate Australia to US foreign policy goals. A major goal is to contain China, our major trading partner, that has currently almost no incentive to attack Australia. If our experiences in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan have not demonstrated that today's US is not the country of the 1940s, then Donald Trump's reelection should. He is a symptom of US decline, not a cause—and damning evidence that warnings from leaders such as Malcolm Fraser of an uncritical US alliance were prescient. Norman Huon, Port Melbourne Aukus savings Perhaps Donald Trump might do us all a favour and kill the AUKUS agreement. It would free the government to invest in more conventional submarines for defending our coastline. Any savings could be used to mass produce and deploy missiles and drones. The Ukrainian war demonstrates how effective drones can be as a weapon of war. The government could also use any savings from the AUKUS cancellation to invest in cybersecurity as cyber attacks would have the potential to bring transport, comm12unications, finance and supply chains to a dead halt. However, I suspect these common-sense suggestions will be ignored by our political masters Andrew Ferrier, West Launceston, Tas THE FORUM Researching bias The Pew Research Centre polling has upset my assumption that almost no one in Australia would approve of Trump's presidency (' Australians on Trump: dumb, dangerous and dishonest ', 12/6. It is depressing, for example, to think that 28 per cent of Australian men have confidence in Trump. But probably fair enough. It confirms my own sampling. I don't have much confidence in 28 per cent of Australian men. Bronwen Murdoch, South Melbourne
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Solapur division promotes 220 employees as assistant loco pilots
In a landmark development for Indian Railways, the Solapur Division of Central Railway has successfully facilitated the promotion of 220 Level 1 employees under the Seventh Central Pay Commission to the post of Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) marking a significant step forward both in career progression and operational safety. In a media note, officers from the Solapur Division of the Central Railway said that the unprecedented achievement has been made possible through a one-time special exemption granted by the Railway Board. 'The Solapur Division is a major beneficiary of this initiative, following a proactive proposal by the Central Railway Headquarters, submitted at the request of the division. Ordinarily, departmental ALP posts are open only to employees serving at Electric Loco Sheds. However, recognising that Solapur Division does not have such a facility, the Railway Ministry made an exceptional policy relaxation. This allowed Level 1 employees, including Track Maintainers, Pointsmen, Technicians and General Assistants, to become eligible for the selection process,' the note said. It added that beyond personal career advancement, this addresses a pressing operational need of filling critical vacancies in the loco crew cadre. This development is expected to significantly enhance the safe and efficient movement of trains across the Solapur Division and the wider Central Railway zone. As per the details provided by the officials, a final panel of 220 successful candidates was formed after a rigorous selection process, which included a written examination, an A1-category medical fitness evaluation and an Aptitude (Psychological) Test. 'Of these, 185 will be deployed within Solapur Division itself, while 35 will take up duties under Pune Division. The 185 candidates from Solapur span a broad spectrum of departments, reflecting the inclusivity of the initiative. These include Civil Engineering, Operating, Track Machine, Construction, Carriage and Wagon, Electrical and Signal and Telecom. All selected employees will now undergo 122 days of intensive initial training at the Zonal Railway Training Institute (ZRTI) in Bhusaval to prepare for their new responsibilities,' the note said. On June 8, a farewell was organised at the Solapur Railway Station to mark the official relieving of these employees from their previous posts. A specially designated coach transported them to Bhusaval via Pune, symbolising the start of a new chapter in their Railway careers. The send-off ceremony was attended by Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Solapur Sujeet Mishra, along with senior officers, colleagues and representatives from all trade unions. In his address, Mr. Mishra shared words of encouragement with the newly appointed ALPs. He urged them to embrace the training with seriousness, to gain deep practical knowledge and to uphold safety as their paramount duty. He also called upon them to serve Indian Railways with the utmost dignity, diligence and integrity.
