The wettest and rainiest night of the year proved to be both a bad omen and a huge hindrance to the Woodland Christian football team as the downpour that made its way through the area washed away any chance the Cardinals had to repeat as section, regional and state champions. Amid gusts of wind, a muddy field and rain that never let up, the Cardinals’ bid to repeat as champions ended Friday night at the hands of Sonora, who were able to thrive in the wet and wild environment to get back on the bus home with a resounding 28-0 win, advancing them to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI Championship game. Unfortunately, the weather elements that seemed to magnify the visiting Wildcats’ biggest strength—running the ball up the gut with authority—held the Cardinals’ usual high-octane passing attack in check as they faced a battle on two fronts. “I was not expecting us to be unable to throw or catch the ball,” Cardinals head coach Mike Paschke said. “Having the passing game taken away from us was really unfortunate. That’s how we won a lot of our games this year. The weather really made us one-dimensional. The rain made both teams one-dimensional, but everything Sonora likes to do is hand the ball off under center and run. I thought we had a good game plan, but for whatever reason, it just didn’t work out. There wasn’t anything we could have done differently. “Last year, we were more run-heavy, and this year, we were pass-heavy, so we just couldn’t throw the ball in these conditions. We struggled right out of the gate with turnovers and were immediately behind the Eight-ball.” The Cardinals came into the semifinals knowing how hard the jump up into D6 playoffs was following a tough, battle-testing 21-7 win over No. 7 seed Liberty Ranch last week. Two late touchdowns from star senior Devin Herrera and a stout defensive performance sealed the deal for the Cardinals, who advanced to the section semifinals for the fourth year in a row. No. 3 seed Sonora came into the showdown following a 64-7 beatdown over Calaveras last week after also enjoying a first-round bye alongside the Cardinals the week before. The Wildcats earned the No. 3 seed after a 9-2 season overall, going 4-2 in the Trans Valley League, finishing in second place behind Division V No. 1 seed Hughson. “They were good and very well coached,” Paschke said. “One of the best-coached teams we have seen all year. Their tailback just churns and punishes people for even trying to tackle him. Sonora beat the No. 1 seed in Division III in Oakdale and will now take on Bradshaw Christian, who are just as good. That is going to be a heck of a game.” The Wildcats jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after getting the ball back on an interception on the defense’s second drive, which eventually led to a 46-yard rushing touchdown by running back Tommy Sutton. After trading punts, the Wildcats pounced on another throw from Cardinals quarterback Isaiah Hunt for the defense’s second interception of the night. This led to Sutton doubling his touchdown total via a 3-yard run to make it 14-0. With the field now looking like a demolition derby arena, the Cardinals had the monumental task of not only battling back from a 14-0 deficit but also battling the elements and field conditions. After another stalled drive and trading of possessions, both teams went into halftime with completely different priorities. The Wildcats received the second-half kick and mounted a nice drive, highlighted by a 40-yard-plus play to set them up inside the red zone. Once inside the 5-yard line, they’d punch in a 2-yard run to go up 21-0. The Cards’ next drive ended on a turnover on downs, which then directly led to another long Wildcats drive, topped off with a 2-yard touchdown from Brody Speer to make it 28-0. While there were still 11 minutes in the game, the Cardinals found it hard to get going on offense before punting the ball back to the Wildcats. They were able to recover a fumble with about seven minutes left in the game to give the home crowd something to cheer about, but with limited time left and half the playbook actually feasible due to the conditions, the game felt like a foregone conclusion. “I didn’t think the rain was going to affect us as badly as it did,” Paschke recalled. “It’s my fourth year here, so I guess I haven’t seen it all. We prepared a lot this week to throw the ball because that’s where we thought we could attack them. To have that taken away is really tough.” After a few more possessions were traded off, the Wildcats got control of the ball and ran the final few minutes off the clock before composing themselves for the traditional handshakes and then gleefully sliding into a mud patch near midfield. “After the game, it was really about the seniors,” Paschke said. “I’ve been with a lot of these kids since they were 9 years old. I came up and learned with them. This was a great group of young men. This group of men will be successful in life beyond football. I’m so grateful they won a state championship last year. As a coaching staff, we are really close to them and pour everything we have into the kids. They are godly men who will be really good fathers someday. “It makes it easier for us when the kids are policing themselves,’ he continued. “We set the rules, but they have to want to follow them. We can mold them, but they shape themselves. When you have it good at the top, it’s easy. From top to bottom, we had great leadership this year.” Sonora will meet D6 No. 1 seed Bradshaw Christian next Friday for the section championship. That game is set for Friday, Nov 29, at 11 a.m. at Sac City College.Syrian government forces withdraw from central city of Homs as insurgent offensive accelerates BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastically-arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors returned to the Hawaii military base on Saturday for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.
How many minutes does a cigarette knock off the life of a smoker? By ELLA PICKOVER Published: 00:01 GMT, 30 December 2024 | Updated: 00:29 GMT, 30 December 2024 e-mail 5 View comments Stunning analysis of the health threat from smoking has revealed how long each cigarette takes off a person’s life. Men lose 17 minutes of life with every one smoked, while a woman’s life is cut short by 22 minutes per cigarette, experts have estimated. This is an increase on previous estimates, which suggested each cigarette shortens a smoker’s life by 11 minutes. The new figures are based on more up-to-date results from studies tracking the health of the population. Researchers from University College London said that the harm caused by smoking was ‘cumulative’ and the sooner a person stopped smoking, the longer they would live. The analysis, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, suggests that if a smoker who smokes ten cigarettes a day quits on January 1, then by January 8 they could ‘prevent the loss of a full day of life’. Men lose 17 minutes of life with every one smoked, while a woman’s life is cut short by 22 minutes per cigarette, analysis has found (file photo) Research found that harm caused by smoking is ‘cumulative’ and the sooner a person stopped smoking, the longer they would live (file photo) By February 20, their lives could be extended by a whole week and by August 5 they will likely live for a whole month longer than if they had continued to smoke. The authors added: ‘Studies suggest that smokers typically lose as many healthy years as total years of life. Thus smoking primarily eats into the relatively healthy middle years rather than shortening the period at the end of life, which is often marked by chronic illness or disability. ‘So a 60-year-old smoker will typically have the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker.’ The analysis, to be published in the Journal of Addiction, concluded: ‘The sooner smokers get off this escalator of death the longer and healthier they can expect their lives to be.’ Dr Sarah Jackson, principal research fellow from the UCL Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, said: ‘It is vital that people understand just how harmful smoking is and how quitting can improve their health and life expectancy. ‘The sooner a person stops smoking, the longer they live. Quitting at any age substantially improves health and the benefits start almost immediately. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. ‘It’s never too late to make a positive change for your health and there are a range of effective products and treatments that can help smokers quit for good.’ Read More Social smokers are at HUGE increased risk of a deadly type cancer Health officials have said that smokers can find advice, support and resources with the NHS Quit Smoking app, as well as the online Personal Quit Plan. Public health minister Andrew Gwynne said: ‘Smoking is an expensive and deadly habit and these findings highlight how important it is to quit. The new year offers a perfect chance for smokers to make a new resolution and take that step.’ Commenting on the paper, Professor Sanjay Agrawal, special adviser on tobacco at the Royal College of Physicians, said: ‘Every cigarette smoked costs precious minutes of life, and the cumulative impact is devastating, not only for individuals but also for our healthcare system. ‘This research is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address cigarette smoking as the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the UK.’ NHS Share or comment on this article: How many minutes does a cigarette knock off the life of a smoker? e-mail Add commentPioneer farmers in the Davis region largely made a living growing grains. A big challenge before the arrival of the California Pacific Rail Road in 1868 was getting their bales of wheat and barley to the market in San Francisco. If it wasn’t flooded or impossibly muddy, they could drive their harvested crops to Washington (West Sacramento). From there a barge would move the grain on the Sacramento River to the Delta, Suisun and Grizzly Bay, through the Carquinez Strait and San Pablo Bay before sailing to San Francisco. Unfortunately, most years, what we now know as the Yolo Bypass was impassable by land. So instead, teamsters would load up horse-drawn flatbed trailers and haul large stacks of grain southwest to Suisun or Vallejo. The railroad’s arrival changed all that. It also led to the demise of a few villages on the main road and the appearance of new towns on the rail line. If you travel south a few miles out of Davis, you’ll come to Tremont Road. There’s an extant church and active cemetery that date to pioneer days. Until 1868, Tremont was a village with a schoolhouse, a hotel, a general store and a post office. It served travelers and teamsters on the road to and from the Bay Area. Tremont faded away and Davisville emerged when the railroad was built on the north side of Putah Creek. The same fate struck Silveyville when the new tracks skipped that village and passed through land owned by Thomas Dickson, a few miles east. Mr. Dickson realized having a railroad station nearby would be beneficial to himself and his neighboring farmers. So he donated 10 acres to the Cal-P with the agreement they would build a depot and subdivide his land to establish a new town. The plat map laid out, the first resident — not counting Mr. Dixon and his family — was a man named W.R. Ferguson, who purchased 1 acre, built a stone house and opened a store near the railroad station. According to an 1879 book — “History of Solano County: A full and particular biography of its early settlers and principal inhabitants” — the first package to arrive by rail in the new town was addressed to, “W.R. Ferguson, Dixon.” But for that spelling mistake, the city eight miles from Davis would likely have been called Dickson. Taking its cue from the parcel, the California Pacific erected a sign on the depot reading, “Dixon.” That spelling was finalized when the city incorporated in 1878. Not long after Ferguson opened his store, a man named Bernard Greinburg built the Empire Hotel near the tracks; and following him men named Eppinger and Kattenburg opened new Dixon enterprises. The growth in business and residents was at the expense of Silveyville. Residents of the old town — centered around where Silveyville Road and Schroeder Road now meet — were rapidly relocating to Dixon. According to an online history article by Sabine Goerke-Shrode, “Whole houses, even the Methodist Church, were moved on log rollers, pulled by 40-horse teams.” It wasn’t long before the community started by Elijah Silvey was largely gone, and the place named for Thomas Dickson was thriving. Like many Californians in his day, Dickson was drawn to the West by the hope of making money mining gold. He was born June 4, 1800, in Pennsylvania. His family moved to New York state four years later. When Thomas was 19 years old, the Dicksons left for Indiana. In 1832, he served in the Black Hawk War in Illinois. One of his fellow soldiers in that conflict was Abraham Lincoln, who was nine years younger than Dickson. A year after returning home from those hostilities, Thomas met and married Jane Parker Hood, who was originally from Knoxville, Tenn. One year into matrimony, they started a family. Mrs. Dickson eventually gave birth to five boys — one died as an infant — and three girls. With their 1-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Francine, in tow, the couple relocated to Iowa and farmed there for 18 years. Thomas wasn’t quite a “49er.” The Dicksons didn’t arrive in the Sierra foothills until 1853, when Thomas was 53 and Jane was 39. They brought with them 12 head of oxen, three cows, three wagons and several horses. Mr. Dickson prospected for the elusive mineral for one year near Diamond Springs, south of Placerville, and decided that was enough. The family moved to Solano County in 1854. Mr. Dickson was impressed by the wild oats he saw growing near the town that would later be named for him. He farmed in the area around Dixon the rest of his life. Thomas started by renting 1 acre, and eventually he purchased land on what had been the Vaca-Peña property known as Rancho Los Putos. In 1855, he built a house that was still there, though larger, when he gifted those 10 acres to the railroad. Through the end of the 19th century, grain farming was the primary endeavor in the Dixon region. Growers relied on winter and spring rains and let their crops dry in the summer. Most farmers had no access to streams or wells for irrigation. The problem was the heavy clay under the topsoil couldn’t easily be penetrated to reach the aquifer below. That changed with new technology, and wells were dug all around Dixon early in the 20th century. Irrigation allowed farmers to grow alfalfa and raise cattle; and that turned Dixon into a hub for dairies and beef. Thomas Dickson never saw that change in his town. He died in 1885 and is buried at the Dixon Cemetery next to his wife (1906) and most of their children. — Rich Rifkin is a Davis resident; his column is published every other week. Reach him at Lxartist@yahoo.com .
Wokeness is in retreat, but its stench will be hard to eliminate. Consider the curious case of the bone-headed “Nasdaq diversity rules” — edicts by the stock market giant to force every company that “lists” there to choose a board of directors that stresses intersectionality — racial, sexual and gender diversity — as opposed to competence. Sure, diversity is a worthy goal, but demanding outcomes in hiring through practices such as Diversity Equity and Inclusion is the most counterproductive way to run a business that woke mankind ever thought of. Forcing it on corporate boards as Nasdaq has been doing since 2020 is particularly scary. And now it’s illegal. Boards perform a vital function of oversight of public companies, and the C-suite. Making sure the CEO isn’t robbing the place blind is what the law — established through the Depression-era Securities and Exchange Act — demands from directors. Nasdaq turned decades of corporate law on its head at the height of the so-called social justice movement. It came at a particular hysterical time in American history, when the left tried to convince the country it was inherently racist because of the police killing of an ex-con named George Floyd as he was resisting arrest. That was then. These days, sanity is returning and woke is in retreat. Courts are ruling that DEI is illegal. The Fifth Circuit federal court did just that, telling Nasdaq it will have to end the insanity. Yes, the ruling is a sign wokeness is dying. But it’s not quite dead. The rules will likely find an afterlife because of a quirk in the disclosure system, and the way the securities regulators might interpret the court finding, The Post has learned. Reminder: Nasdaq, like its main competitor, the New York Stock Exchange, is a stock market; it wasn’t created to serve as a lefty NGO. One of its functions is to make sure people can buy and sell shares, in an orderly fashion, of the companies that “list” to trade there. Another is to ensure that listed companies follow basic corporate-governance rules that protect investors, including hiring competent directors. Under CEO Adena Friedman, Nasdaq joined the social justice movement that was all the rage in 2020. She demanded that listed companies stock their board with directors who were not the target of progressive ire during that eerie time, aka straight white men. “Each Company, except as described below in, must have or explain why it does not have, at least two members of its board of directors who are Diverse, including at least one Diverse director who self-identifies as Female; and at least one Diverse director who self-identifies as an Underrepresented Minority or LGBTQ+,” the Friedman-led Nasdaq said in its edict. As I point out in my book on progressivism run amok, “Go Woke Go Broke; The Inside Story of the Radicalization of Corporate America,” the idiocy of this rule isn’t confined to the very real fact that it’s illegal by any fair reading of the securities laws or various civil rights acts. There are also very real studies with control groups, margins of error, etc., that show that there’s no link between performance and diversity. Plus, this rule doesn’t apply to all those Chinese companies that Nasdaq lusts for to pay its listing fees. Companies hailing from one of the world’s most oppressive regimes — that are literally controlled by the repressive Chinese Communist Party — get a free pass. No members of the persecuted Uyghur minority need apply, according to Friedman & Co. Chinese listings can get away with placing a couple of women from the CCP to be directors. Nasdaq has argued to me the rules weren’t totally mandatory — though it always reserves the right to reject a listing. It also stressed that the rules were about disclosure, which sounds quaint until you realize that companies are supposed to disclose stuff investors care about like earnings, not their social justice preening. On top of that, the disclosure part had an interesting compulsory element. A company board’s diversity data, listed in its public disclosure filings, could be easily downloaded on the SEC’s website known as EDGAR. This enabled powerful social activist groups with ties to the lefties who run the Biden White House — the Human Rights Campaign, the Center for American Progress — to jump into the debate and pressure companies to up their diversity game as a de facto woke enforcement staff of the Nasdaq. Then something brilliant happened. Someone sued. Not Nasdaq, but its regulator, the equally woke Securities and Exchange Commission, which approved the measure. The lawsuit argued that stock markets weren’t created as political tools of the left. A federal court agreed. Case closed, right? Not quite. The mandates could live on in a perverse way because of the disclosure system that each public company must comply with. The way the people at the Nasdaq explained it to me, the rules were legal until the courts ruled they weren’t. That means the EDGAR system likely continues to keep a record of thousands of companies that compiled the useless and illegal data the Nasdaq asked for, they tell me, even after the Nasdaq is supposed to vacate the mandates in early February. They could be around well into perpetuity for the likes of the Human Rights Campaign to enforce their brand of social justice, securities lawyers I speak to say. As one corporate lawyer told me: “Just think how dumb it was to have a stock exchange telling companies what slots you have to fill while giving the Chinese a pass. Then they will just sit there, which is even dumber.”Over the years, the courses offered in prison school have expanded beyond the national examinations. SINGAPORE – Nakarasan, 49, has been in and out of prison since his teenage years for offences such as robbery, vehicle theft and housebreaking. When he was handed a 10-year prison sentence in 2015, the extent of the time he would be behind bars hit him. “I wanted to change. I realised I was wasting my life,” Nakarasan, who did not want to give his full name, told The Straits Times. Determined to make that his last incarceration, he enrolled in a Nitec course in electronics and computer networking in prison school to give himself a goal to work towards. “I realised that education was my ticket to a new life. I wanted to break free, to live with purpose, and to truly embrace the life I was meant to lead,” he said. Nakarasan, who will be released in March 2025, is now in a halfway house for the last part of his sentence. He continued his studies in prison school in 2023, pursuing a diploma in business practice (administration and management) from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP). He completed the course in May 2024, and now works at a pharmaceutical company. “This job has helped me rebuild my life, and I am deeply appreciative of the trust and support I have received along the way,” he said. He is one of 300 people who studied while in prison in 2023. Classes are held on prison grounds in classrooms that – if one looks past the barred windows – resemble those in typical mainstream schools, with whiteboards and tables. Prison guards sometimes patrol the corridor outside the classrooms. Lessons can be held both in person and virtually. Over the years, the courses offered in prison school have expanded beyond the national examinations, giving inmates more chances at better prospects when they return to society. The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) collaborated with NP in 2018 to begin offering a diploma in business practice course for inmates. In 2020, a degree programme from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) was added to the prison school. The prison school also started offering the Institute of Technical Education’s Nitec in services course in 2021. The number of inmates taking the diploma course offered by NP has gone up from 16 in 2022 to 38 in 2023. The inmates pursuing degrees also doubled in number, from three in 2022 to six in 2023. SUSS told ST that it has plans to introduce more part-time undergraduate programmes to prison school students. SPS said that about 70 per cent of its inmate population have secondary-level education or below. “Hence, availing education and skills training programmes is important to help raise inmates’ economic capital and increase their employability upon release,” it said. “Ex-offenders who remain employed are at a lower risk of reoffending than those who are not.” The Ministry of Education has offered work attachment opportunities for teachers who are keen to teach at prison school since the 1970s. For the past five years, around 12 teachers have been seconded to prison school yearly, with the average tenure ranging from two to five years, it added. Madam Hernie Salleh taught English in prison school from January 2021 to December 2022. She was initially worried and anxious about teaching in the new environment, which she feared might be daunting. “I was particularly concerned about potential discipline issues and how best to handle or approach them if they arose,” she said. Madam Hernie’s worries were eased on the first day when she saw how excited the class was at meeting a new teacher. The students were respectful in their interactions with her and asked questions politely, she said. “They frequently asked questions about how to improve their English and what they could do to continue learning after class, despite having limited resources in their cells.” Many also shared their aspirations for the future with her, with some telling her they hoped to continue in prison school as far as they could. “Their drive and self-reflection made me pause and think about how much they valued education as a means to better themselves,” she said. “Witnessing the determination of students striving to excel, even under such constrained circumstances, was incredibly inspiring and reinforced the value of education as a tool for transformation.” Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
Son of state lawmaker gets nod for LaPorte County Council seat
( MENAFN - Jordan Times) Located in the hills of northern Amman, Theodor Schneller School (TSS) stands as a minaret of hope and opportunity. Founded in 1959 with the laying of its cornerstone by his majesty Late King Hussein, TSS has become a pioneering institution in Jordan's educational Field. It combines academic and vocational training, offering a variety of programs in many fields such as automotive mechanics, carpentry and blacksmithing. Moreover, TSS embraces inclusivity, creating a nurturing environment for orphans and underprivileged students and setting a model for its commitment to social responsibility. Bridging the Gap, vocational education in Jordan in the face of rising unemployment rates among university graduates in Jordan, TSS appears as a critical solution. Many graduates struggle to secure jobs aligned with their academic qualifications, while technical and vocational sectors face a shortage of skilled workers. This reality underscores the necessity of vocational education as a strategic approach for bridging the gap between education outputs and labor market demands. Vocational education: A global perspective Globally, vocational education has gained significant traction. The fourth industrial revolution and increasing reliance on technology have fueled the demand for technical and industrial specialists. Vocational careers often offer sustainable employment and competitive wages, making them an attractive choice for young people seeking promising career paths. Fields such as electrical engineering, technical mechanics and renewable energy solutions are seeing growing demand, both locally and internationally. TSS: A Role Model for Vocational Excellence TSS stands for the potential of vocational education to drive economic growth and social equity. By equipping students with practical skills and hands-on training, the school does not only enhance productivity but also empowers young individuals to build a stable and prosperous future. Its unique model bridges the gap between education and employment, making it a cornerstone of Jordan's Vocational Education efforts. The way forward: The success of TSS highlights the need for greater investment in vocational education across Jordan. Updating curricula, improving infrastructure and providing advanced training for teachers are essential steps to replicate the school's success nationwide. Moreover, fostering partnerships between educational institutions and industries is critical to ensure that the skills are aligned with real-world market needs. Theodore Schneller School's story is not just about the success of an institution but also about a nation's commitment to empowering its youth through practical education. In a world where traditional academic paths often do not guarantee employment, TSS proves that vocational education is not just an alternative - it is a necessity. Jordan's vocational education journey begins here, but the path forward promises even greater achievements. TSS is a shining example of what is possible when education meets opportunity paving the way for a brighter future for Jordan's youth. MENAFN28122024000028011005ID1109038315 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Mumbai: For the first time, private sector banks as a group met priority sector lending targets, including sub-targets for major heads in 2023-24, particularly in agriculture, according to central bank data. Although all bank groups managed to achieve their stipulated overall targets and sub-targets, private sector banks did better than their public sector peers. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for For the public sector, private and foreign banks, the target is 40% of adjusted net bank credit or credit equivalent of off-balance sheet exposure, whichever is higher. For small finance banks, the target is higher at 75%. One of the reasons for the private sector banks to achieve their priority sector target is that they are now allowed to invest in priority sector lending certificates (PSLCs). These are issued against banks' priority sector loans under various sub-targets and general categories. Banks use PSLCs to guard against shortfalls. The total trading volume of PSLCs climbed 26% in FY24, primarily led by PSLC-General. Among the four PSLC categories, the small and marginal farmers category registered the highest trading volume, partly reflecting specialisation by a few banks in lending to this category of borrowers and the inability of other banks to meet sub-targets through direct lending, the RBI said in its report on Trends and Progress of Banking. 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In FY24, they accounted for 49% of total sales as compared with 21% in the case of public sector banks , the RBI said. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 31, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
The suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson has pleaded not guilty to New York state murder and terrorism charges. Luigi Mangione, 26, appeared in court on Monday to be arraigned on 11 state criminal counts, including murder a crime of terrorism. As well as the state-level charges, he is also accused of federal (national-level) stalking and murder offences that could lead to a death penalty sentence. Prosecutors allege that Mr Mangione shot Mr Thompson in central Manhattan before going on the run. Authorities later arrested him at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. Mr Mangione appeared in court on Monday wearing a maroon sweater, white-collared shirt and khaki trousers. In addition to a long stream of journalists waiting for the suspect to appear, members of the public – almost all of them young women – were in court, some of whom told CBS, the BBC’s US partner, that they were there to show their support. Mr Mangione is facing 11 state criminal counts in New York, including first-degree murder and murder as a crime of terrorism. If convicted of all the counts, he would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Federal prosecutors have also separately charged Mr Mangione for using a firearm to commit murder and interstate stalking resulting in death. Both charges could make him eligible for the death penalty. He has yet to enter a plea on those charges. Prosecutors have said the federal and state cases will move forward parallel with one another. In court last week, Mr Mangione’s lawyer – Karen Friedman Agnifilo – said that the two sets of charges appear to conflict, with the state charges accusing him of seeking to “intimidate or coerce a civilian population” while the federal charges focus on crimes against an individual. Ms Agnifilo said that the overlapping cases were “confusing” and “highly unusual”. “I’ve never seen anything like what is happening here” in 30 years of practising law, she said. In court on Monday, she further told the judge that she believed that statements from government officials – including New York City Mayor Eric Adams – make her “very concerned about my client’s right to a fair trial”. “This is a young man,” she said. “He is being treated like a human ping-pong ball between two warring jurisdictions here.” She also accused state and federal authorities of treating Mr Mangione like “political fodder” and a “spectacle” by bringing him back to New York by helicopter, surrounded by officials and armed guards, in full view of cameras and journalists. The judge, Gregory Carro, said that he is unable to control what happens outside court, but vowed that Mr Mangione would receive a fair trial. In response, the state’s prosecutor said that he had never seen a case with a “higher volume” of quality evidence. The suspect is currently in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) Brooklyn after being returned to New York amid heavy security last week. Authorities believe that Mr Mangione carried out a targeted killing of Mr Thompson, pointing to evidence that he was angry at the US healthcare industry. The federal complaint notes that a notebook found in Mr Mangione’s possession expressed “hostility towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular.” Some on social media praised Mr Mangione’s alleged crimes, often sharing their own anger at the US private healthcare system. Speaking to CBS, the BBC’s US partner, on Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that the online rhetoric has been “extraordinarily alarming”. “It speaks of what is really bubbling here in this country,” he said. “And unfortunately we see that manifested in violence, the domestic violent extremism that exists.” (BBC News) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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