Latest news with #Oommen
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
47 Tamil medium students now will be part of midday meal scheme in Idukki
As many as 47 upper primary (UP) Tamil medium students of the Udumbanchola Government High School in Idukki will now be part of the midday meal scheme. According to officials, a lower primary Tamil medium school began in the tea plantation sector of Udumbanchola in 1999. The State government upgraded this school to a high school in the 2011-12 academic year. However, the upper primary section of the school was functioning here without a government approval. Therefore, the UP students were not eligible for the midday meal scheme or other government assistance. In February 2024, the headteacher of the school submitted an application to the Food Commission, requesting to include the upper primary students in the midday meal scheme. Based on this request, the Food Commission asked the Deputy Director of Education in Idukki to provide a report, which recommended to include the students in the scheme. Order issued The Food Commission had in November 2024 directed the State government to take steps to include the students in the scheme. The Director of General Education was recently issued an order to include the students in the scheme. State Food Commission Chairperson Ginu Zacharia Oommen said that the 47 upper primary students belong to the plantation sector and are from low-income families. 'The Commission had asked the State government to consider this a special case and to include the students in the midday meal scheme,' said Dr. Oommen. The midday meal scheme will be helpful to the students as well as their parents,' he added. According to officials, only students in government approved schools are eligible for the midday meal scheme (officially known as PM-POSHAN), a Centrally-sponsored scheme.
Campaign ME
4 days ago
- Business
- Campaign ME
Campaign to host awards clinic for Agency of The Year Middle East 2025
On Thursday, July 10, Campaign Middle East, will host a private-access awards clinic to help brands and agencies within the region sharpen their submissions for the upcoming Agency of The Year Middle 2025 awards. The free-of-cost session will offer practical advice on crafting winning entries, choosing the right categories, and avoiding common pitfalls. Campaign's Agency of The Year awards differ from others in the industry as they aim to highlight best business practices, celebrating performance, culture, innovation and diversity. This clinic will include a breakdown of each category and insights into the entry process. 'To answer a question that we get asked quite often, let's clarify: Campaign Middle East's Agency of the Year awards is not about campaigns or about creative effectiveness,' said Anup Oommen, Editor, Campaign Middle East. 'These awards evaluate agencies' business success, brand and business outcomes, financial performance and growth, workplace culture, and commitment to industry values such as diversity and inclusion.' Attendees can also expect top tips from jury members on what they're looking for as they score submissions. 'If your agency has set its sights on one of our coveted trophies, its not good enough to merely 'be the best' or 'believe you are the best'; you will also need to make the case for it well to a jury of client-side marketers,' Oommen added. This year, the Agency of The Year Middle East awards includes six new categories: Branding Agency of the Year Holding Company of the Year In-House Agency of the Year CSR Initiative of the Year Head of Agency Head of Network The awards clinic will explain in detail the clear objectives and tangible results submissions must include in a 20-minute long interactive webinar. This will include a Q&A session that offers an open forum to have specific queries addressed. To confirm your attendance, sign up for the awards clinic here.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Former Shell oil traders set up trading house with focus on Africa, sources say
London: Several former traders from oil major Shell have set up trading house Atmin , backed by Afreximbank , to focus on African oil trading , two trading sources familiar with the development said. The move takes place as oil majors and Western banks retreat from Africa and the continent is facing a decline in oil and gas production due to under-investment, while also spending $30 billion annually on fuel imports. Billions of barrels of oil and gas in Africa are at risk of being stranded as a race among global producers is heating up to extract as many resources as possible before the energy transition cuts demand for fossil fuels. Atmin, which stands for Africa Trading Minerals, will be run by Ajay Oommen , the sources said. Oommen worked for 17 years at Shell including as head of the low sulphur crude desk, which traded up to 1.5 million barrels per day of oil, including from Africa. Atmin will also hire Vikram Thakur, who worked for 18 years at Shell, including in business development, trading origination and structured finance, as well as Joseph Kanaan, a trader at Shell for 11 years. Dubai-based Atmin will have around 15 employees. It will start with crude and then expand into oil products and minerals, the sources said. Afreximbank will be a controlling shareholder at Atmin, while employees will own some 15% of the firm, the sources said. Afreximbank did not reply to requests for comment. In a statement on Monday, Afreximbank said: "Afreximbank-affiliated trading entity Atmin will ... participate actively in the trading and financing activities of the leading African oil trading companies with long-term relationship with Afreximbank." Afreximbank was set up in 1993 to fund and promote African trade and is owned by African governments, as well as private and institutional investors from inside and outside Africa. The bank said on Monday it had launched a $3 billion revolving trade financing programme to help fund purchases of fuels by African and Caribbean buyers, including from African refineries. (Additional reporting by Patrick Werr. Editing by Mark Potter)
TimesLIVE
29-04-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Former Shell oil traders set up trading house with focus on Africa: sources
Several former traders from oil major Shell have set up trading house Atmin, backed by Afreximbank, to focus on African oil trading, two trading sources familiar with the development said. The move takes place as oil majors and Western banks retreat from Africa and the continent is facing a decline in oil and gas production due to under-investment, while also spending $30bn (R555.97bn) annually on fuel imports. Billions of barrels of oil and gas in Africa are at risk of being stranded as a race among global producers is heating up to extract as many resources as possible before the energy transition cuts demand for fossil fuels. Atmin, which stands for Africa Trading Minerals, will be run by Ajay Oommen, the sources said. Oommen worked for 17 years at Shell including as head of the low sulphur crude desk, which traded up to 1.5-million barrels per day of oil, including from Africa. Atmin will also hire Vikram Thakur, who worked for 18 years at Shell, including in business development, trading origination and structured finance, as well as Joseph Kanaan, a trader at Shell for 11 years.
Reuters
29-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Former Shell oil traders set up trading house with focus on Africa, sources say
LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Several former traders from oil major Shell have set up trading house Atmin, backed by Afreximbank, to focus on African oil trading, two trading sources familiar with the development said. The move takes place as oil majors and Western banks retreat from Africa and the continent is facing a decline in oil and gas production due to under-investment, while also spending $30 billion annually on fuel imports. Billions of barrels of oil and gas in Africa are at risk of being stranded as a race among global producers is heating up to extract as many resources as possible before the energy transition cuts demand for fossil fuels. Atmin, which stands for Africa Trading Minerals, will be run by Ajay Oommen, the sources said. Oommen worked for 17 years at Shell including as head of the low sulphur crude desk, which traded up to 1.5 million barrels per day of oil, including from Africa. Atmin will also hire Vikram Thakur, who worked for 18 years at Shell, including in business development, trading origination and structured finance, as well as Joseph Kanaan, a trader at Shell for 11 years. Dubai-based Atmin will have around 15 employees. It will start with crude and then expand into oil products and minerals, the sources said. Afreximbank will be a controlling shareholder at Atmin, while employees will own some 15% of the firm, the sources said. Afreximbank did not reply to requests for comment. In a statement on Monday, Afreximbank said: "Afreximbank-affiliated trading entity Atmin will ... participate actively in the trading and financing activities of the leading African oil trading companies with long-term relationship with Afreximbank." Afreximbank was set up in 1993 to fund and promote African trade and is owned by African governments, as well as private and institutional investors from inside and outside Africa. The bank said on Monday it had launched a $3 billion revolving trade financing programme to help fund purchases of fuels by African and Caribbean buyers, including from African refineries.
