Latest news with #SAST
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Staff at a Dorset school strike over restructuring plans for two schools
Staff at a state school are taking industrial action in protest at restructuring Sherborne Area Schools' Trust (SAST) said Shaftesbury School and Sturminster Newton High in Dorset had been facing a budget deficit of £1m between them so it was "looking to share some leadership roles across the two schools to reduce overheads".On 17 June, Shaftesbury School staff who are members of the National Education Union (NEU) walked out over the restructure, which the NEU said would "take teaching resource away from the front line."SAST said it continued to engage "in constructive dialogue with union colleagues". Jon Timbrell, who represents the NEU in the South West, said the restructure is "stripping half of the heads of curriculum out of the schools" and "prioritising retaining a large layer of executive management".He said a lot of the changes the trust had proposed "have been really unpopular within the community" and the turnout on Tuesday "was huge", with sixth formers, parents and other residents coming to show support."In negotiations with the trust, we raised the fact that the financial picture has changed quite significantly," Mr Timbrell added, referring to the 4% pay rise for teachers announced by the government and the investment in education proposed in the spending said the union was calling on the trust "to look again at the figures in light of that as well."More strikes are planned for next Tuesday and Wednesday. SAST said the plans were "designed to ensure long-term financial sustainability".It said similar issues were being faced "by many rural secondary schools, who are having to decide whether their sixth forms are sustainable".It had also commissioned an independent report in conjunction with the Department for Education, which looked at ways to reduce costs "whilst maintaining educational provision". The schools already share an executive headteacher and operate in a joint sixth form."We believe that sixth forms should remain in our local communities, and we are therefore looking to share some leadership roles across the two schools to reduce overheads whilst encouraging collaboration between them," the trust added there had been "a full consultation involving staff and union representatives"."We have listened throughout and made considered adjustments in response to genuine feedback, while keeping our focus on what matters most — the experience and outcomes of our students." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Ambuja Cements raises stake in Orient Cement to 72.66%. Details here
Adani Group stock Ambuja Cements has acquired a 26 percent stake in Orient Cement, pushing its total shareholding in the company to 72.66 percent. The strategic acquisition was executed via an open offer under SEBI's Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers (SAST) Regulations, 2011, and marks a major consolidation move within the Indian cement sector. In a regulatory filing dated June 18, 2025, Ambuja Cements disclosed the purchase of 5.34 crore equity shares in Orient Cement at ₹ 395.40 apiece. This acquisition—amounting to exactly 26 percent of Orient Cement's total share capital—was conducted through an open offer extended to public shareholders. Prior to this transaction, Ambuja held 9.58 crore shares or 46.66 percent stake in the company. With this latest round of acquisition, its total ownership has risen to 14.92 crore shares, accounting for 72.66 percent of Orient Cement's equity. The transaction did not involve any complex financial instruments such as convertible securities, warrants, or pledged shares. Ambuja acquired only direct equity shares with voting rights, making the deal transparent and compliant with regulatory guidelines. The acquisition is part of Ambuja Cements' long-term expansion strategy and dovetails with the Adani Group's broader ambitions in the infrastructure and building materials space. By crossing the 70 percent ownership threshold in Orient Cement, Ambuja is expected to gain greater operational control and the ability to drive synergies across manufacturing, logistics, and marketing. This move comes at a time when the Adani Group is aggressively scaling up capacity through both organic and inorganic routes. With Orient Cement now firmly under its control, Ambuja could leverage its distribution and production capacity more efficiently across regions. In a post-deal note, global brokerage Jefferies maintained a bullish stance on Ambuja Cements. 'We maintain our 'Buy' rating on Ambuja Cement with a target price of ₹ 700, implying a 29 percent upside from current levels,' the brokerage said. Jefferies also highlighted that management is on track to scale cement capacity to 140 million tonnes per annum by FY28, up from 100 MTPA currently. 'The company is focused on cost efficiencies and expects industry demand to recover to 7-8 percent in FY26,' Jefferies added. According to the management, recent pricing trends have also shown improvement, indicating a more favorable operating environment going forward. Despite the strategic significance of the deal, the market reaction has been mixed. Ambuja Cement shares traded flat on June 19, slipping marginally by less than one percent. The stock is down over 2 percent so far in June. Meanwhile, Orient Cement has seen significant volatility. After plunging over 16 percent in the previous session, the stock fell another 1 percent in intra-day trading today. For June so far, Orient Cement has tanked nearly 28.5 percent, likely reflecting investor concerns around valuation, open offer pricing, or future integration uncertainties. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Deccan Herald
28-05-2025
- Health
- Deccan Herald
SAST helpline to attend Covid calls too
Well-placed sources in the department on Wednesday confirmed that the SAST helpline 1800-425-8330 will be directed to receive Covid-related calls. This comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that a Covid helpline would be set up to support the public.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Utilisation of oncology procedures under AB-ArK see over a six-fold rise in last six years
Utilisation of oncology procedures under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) has seen over a six-fold rise in the last six years. From 9,328 pre-authorisations approved under the flagship health scheme in 2018-2019, the number has shot up to 60,301 in 2024-2025, according to data from the Health Department. Karnataka has a high cancer burden with around one lakh new cases reported every year. The State has an estimated cancer prevalence of around 2.35 lakh cases, according to the Population Based Cancer Registry at the State-run Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru. The cumulative risk for developing cancer in their lifetime is one in seven for men and one in six for women in Karnataka, according to doctors.. The State is providing tertiary care for oncology procedures under the health scheme and a total of 109 hospitals, including 96 private hospitals, are empanelled under Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the nodal agency that is implementing AB-ArK. As many as eight government medical colleges and 22 private medical colleges are also empanelled for oncology specialty under SAST. However, empanelled hospitals for oncology are present only in 21 districts and people from Bidar, Yadgiri, Vijayanagara Koppal, Chitradurga, Chickballapura, Ramanagara, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar and Chikkamagaluru have to travel to other districts for cancer treatment. Pre-authorisations A total of 2.61 lakh pre-authorisations have been approved under the scheme for an amount of ₹1,301.92 crore from 2018-2019 when the scheme was launched. In 2024-2025, a total of 60,301 pre-authorisations for an amount of ₹271.72 crore have been expended under the scheme. Among the procedures covered under the scheme, 56% are medical oncology procedures (chemotherapy), 25% are radiation oncology procedures and 19% surgical oncology cases, according to data. Apart from Kidwai, Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute, VTSM Peripheral Cancer Centre in Kalaburgi, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in Hubballi and Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences in Ballari are the top five public health facilities with highest utilisation of oncology procedures. Since 2022-2023, in the category of government hospitals, Kidwai institute has done the highest procedures under the scheme (51,418). Among private empanelled hospitals, Bharat Hospital and Institute of Oncology in Mysuru has done the highest procedures at 6,204, according to data. Female cancers high in Bengaluru In Bengaluru, of the estimated 15,603 cases registered annually, 8,723 are female cancers. Of the 6,880 male cancers reported, lung cancer continues to be the most predominant site (9.7% of the total male cancers). Lung cancer is followed by cancers of the prostate (6.9%), stomach (6.5%), and mouth (6.4%). Among females, breast cancer is the most common constituting 31.5% of the total female cancers followed by cancer of the cervix (9.1%), ovary (6.4%), mouth (4.3%), and corpus uteri (4.2%), according to data.
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Navigating AI and PoPIA: Juta hosts expert webinar on ethical AI use in South Africa
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries, but how does it align with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA)? Join leading experts as we explore how PoPIA compliance can support the responsible and ethical use of AI. We'll examine AI governance, data protection, and global regulatory developments, including the EU AI Act and South Africa's National AI Policy Framework. Expect key insights on what PoPIA compliance means in the AI era, information officers' responsibilities, and updates from the information regulator, including enforcement actions and guidance notes. Date: 10 June 2025 Time: 3pm – 5pm (SAST) Platform: Zoom webinar Your fee: R700 incl. VAT. Book 10 or more delegates and qualify for a corporate discount. Contact seminars@ for more information. Who should attend? - Information officers and compliance professionals - Data protection officers and legal advisors - IT and risk managers overseeing AI and data security - Business leaders navigating AI governance - Privacy and security consultants Webinar topics: - Global trends in AI, data protection, and privacy laws - Regulatory developments, including the EU AI Act and SA's AI Policy Framework - The intersection of AI governance and PoPIA compliance - Information officer's role in AI-driven compliance strategies - Latest updates from the information regulator, including enforcement notices and guidance notes Included in your registration fee: - Two-week free trial access to Juta's PoPIA Portal - Six-month subscription to Legalbrief eLaw - One-month subscription to Contractzone PoPIA Library Register now. Ilze Luttig Hattingh – Novation Consulting Ilze is a regulatory compliance attorney with expertise in risk management and legal clarity. She holds a LLB from Stellenbosch University and co-authored Over-thinking the Protection of Personal Information Act. She is currently working toward the IAPP AI Governance Professional certification. Sarah Buerger – Novation Consulting Sarah is a legal consultant with expertise in intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and data protection. She holds a Master's in Intellectual Property Law and a Bachelor of Social Science in Psychology and Law. Her experience includes advising on contract negotiations, promotional compliance, and privacy law. Johann Steyn – AI for Business Johann is a human-centred AI advocate and thought leader. A prolific writer, speaker, and educator, he helps organisations understand and implement AI technologies responsibly. He is a working group member contributing to South Africa's national AI strategy development. Nerushka Bowan – AI author and founder of the LITT Institute Nerushka is a pioneer in AI law and legal innovation, helping professionals navigate emerging technologies responsibly. She is the founder of the LITT Institute, leading initiatives such as the #GenAI Legal Accelerator and Legal Innovation Accelerator courses. Host of the Brains, Bubbly & Beyond podcast, Nerushka is also the author of Generative AI for the Future-Ready Lawyer (Juta, 2025). Don't miss this essential webinar to stay ahead of AI regulations, understand your compliance responsibilities, and gain practical insights from industry experts. Contact us: Paula Whitaker 083 259 3452 or +27(21) 659 2408.
