Latest news with #Jean
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Leaving Cert Maths Ordinary Level study tips with Jean Kelly
Study Hub guest Jean Kelly, from Dublin's Institute of Education, is here to share her expert knowledge with students preparing for Leaving Cert Ordinary Level Maths. In the video up top she runs through Paper 1 and 2 with Study Hub host Maura Fay. Jean looks at what might come up and the best ways for students to get set. Jean also shared six videos full of great advice and tips for Leaving Cert students sitting the exams with RTÉ Learn. Jean has a wide breadth of experience in teaching Leaving Cert Ordinary Level Maths to students of all abilities and has been teaching in The Institute of Education for over 20 years. Over that time, Jean has developed an unmatched track record in helping students through the Maths syllabus and brings a refreshing approach to the explanation, clarification and tuition of the Maths syllabus.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
North and South Korea are in an underground war - Kim Jong Un might now be winning
Listen to Jean read this article The border between North and South Korea is swamped with layers of dense barbed-wire fencing and hundreds of guard posts. But dotted among them is something even more unusual: giant, green camouflaged speakers. As I stood looking into the North one afternoon last month, one of the speakers began blasting South Korean pop songs interspersed with subversive messages. "When we travel abroad, it energises us", a woman's voice boomed out across the border - an obvious slight given North Koreans are not allowed to leave the country. From the North Korean side, I could faintly hear military propaganda music, as its regime attempted to drown out the inflammatory broadcasts. North and South Korea are technically still at war, and although it has been years since either side shelled the other, the two sides are fighting on a more subtle front: a war of information. The South tries to get information into the North, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un tries furiously to block it, as he attempts to shield his people from outside information. North Korea is the only country in the world the internet has not penetrated. All TV channels, radio stations and newspapers are run by the state. "The reason for this control is that so much of the mythology around the Kim family is made up. A lot of what they tell people is lies," says Martyn Williams, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Center, and an expert in North Korean technology and information. Expose those lies to enough people and the regime could come crumbling down, is how the thinking in South Korea goes. The loudspeakers are one tool used by the South Korean government, but behind the scenes a more sophisticated underground movement has flourished. A small number of broadcasters and non-profit organisations transmit information into the country in the dead of night on short and medium radio waves, so North Koreans can tune in to listen in secret. Thousands of USB sticks and micro-SD cards are also smuggled over the border every month loaded with foreign information - among them, South Korean films, TV dramas, and pop songs, as well as news, all designed to challenge North Korean propaganda. But now those working in the field fear that North Korea is gaining the upper hand. Not only is Kim cracking down hard on those caught with foreign content, but the future of this work could be in jeopardy. Much of it is funded by the US government, and has been hit by US President Donald Trump's recent aid cuts. So where does this leave both sides in their longstanding information war? Every month, a team at Unification Media Group (UMG), a South Korean non-profit organisation, sift through the latest news and entertainment offerings to put together playlists that they hope will resonate with those in the North. They then load them onto devices, which are categorised according to how risky they are to view. On low-risk USBs are South Korean TV dramas and pop songs - recently they included a Netflix romance series When Life Give You Tangerines, and a hit from popular South Korean singer and rapper Jennie. High-risk options include what the team calls "education programmes" – information to teach North Koreans about democracy and human rights, the content Kim is thought to fear the most. The drives are then sent to the Chinese border, where UMG's trusted partners carry them across the river into North Korea at huge risk. South Korean TV dramas may seem innocuous, but they reveal much about ordinary life there - people living in high-rise apartments, driving fast cars and eating at upmarket restaurants. It highlights both their freedom and how North Korea is many years behind. This challenges one of Kim's biggest fabrications: that those in the South are poor and miserably oppressed. "Some [people] tell us they cried while watching these dramas, and that they made them think about their own dreams for the very first time", says Lee Kwang-baek, director of UMG. It is difficult to know exactly how many people access the USBs, but testimonies from recent defectors seem to suggest the information is spreading and having an impact. "Most recent North Korean defectors and refugees say it was foreign content that motivated them to risk their lives to escape", says Sokeel Park, whose organisation Liberty in North Korea works to distribute this content. There is no political opposition or known dissidents in North Korea, and gathering to protest is too dangerous – but Mr Park hopes some will be inspired to carry out individual acts of resistance. Kang Gyuri, who is 24, grew up in North Korea, where she ran a fishing business. Then in late 2023, she fled to South Korea by boat. Watching foreign TV shows partly inspired her to go, she says. "I felt so suffocated, and I suddenly had an urge to leave." When we met in a park on a sunny afternoon in Seoul last month, she reminisced about listening to radio broadcasts with her mum as a child. She got hold of her first K-drama when she was 10. Years later she learnt that USB sticks and SD cards were being smuggled into the country inside boxes of fruit. The more she watched, the more she realised the government was lying to her. "I used to think it was normal that the state restricted us so much. I thought other countries lived with this control," she explains. "But then I realised it was only in North Korea." Almost everyone she knew there watched South Korean TV shows and films. She and her friends would swap their USBs. "We talked about the popular dramas and actors, and the K-pop idols we thought were good looking, like certain members of BTS. "We'd also talk about how South Korea's economy was so developed; we just couldn't criticise the North Korean regime outright." The shows also influenced how she and her friends talked and dressed, she adds. "North Korea's youth has changed rapidly." Kim Jong Un, all too aware of this risk to his regime, is fighting back. During the pandemic, he built new electric fences along the border with China, making it more difficult for information to be smuggled in. And new laws introduced from 2020 have increased the punishments for people who are caught consuming and sharing foreign media. One stated that those who distribute the content could be imprisoned or executed. This has had a chilling effect. "This media used to be available to buy in markets, people would openly sell it, but now you can only get it from people you trust," says Mr Lee. After the crackdown began Ms Kang and her friends became more cautious too. "We don't talk to each other about this anymore, unless we're really close, and even then we're much more secretive," she admits. She says she is aware of more young people being executed for being caught with South Korean content. Recently Kim has also cracked down on behaviour that could be associated with watching K-dramas. In 2023 he made it a crime for people to use South Korean phrases or speak in a South Korean accent. Members of 'youth crackdown squads', patrol the streets, tasked with monitoring young people's behaviour. Ms Kang recalls being stopped more often, before she escaped, and reprimanded for dressing and styling her hair like a South Korean. The squads would confiscate her phone and read her text messages, she adds, to make sure she had not used any South Korean terms. In late 2024, a North Korean mobile phone was smuggled out of the country by Daily NK, (Seoul-based media organisation UMG's news service). The phone had been programmed so that when a South Korean variant of a word is entered, it automatically vanishes, replaced with the North Korean equivalent - an Orwellian move. "Smartphones are now part and parcel of the way North Korea tries to indoctrinate people", says Mr Williams. Following all these crackdown measures, he believes North Korea is now "starting to gain the upper hand" in this information war. Following Donald Trump's return to the White House earlier this year, funds were severed to a number of of aid organisations, including some working to inform North Koreans. He also suspended funds to two federally financed news services, Radio Free Asia and Voice of America (VOA), which had been broadcasting nightly into North Korea. Trump accused VOA of being "radical" and anti-Trump", while the White House said the move would "ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda". But Steve Herman, a former VOA bureau chief based in Seoul, argues: "This was one of the very few windows into the world the North Korean people had, and it has gone silent with no explanation." Xi's real test is not Trump's trade war Channel migrants: The real reason so many are fleeing Vietnam for the UK Syrians have more freedom after Assad, but could they soon lose it? UMG is still waiting to find out whether their funding will be permanently cut. Mr Park from Liberty in North Korea argues Trump has "incidentally" given Kim a helping hand, and calls the move "short-sighted". He argues that North Korea, with its expanding collection of nuclear weapons, poses a major security threat - and that given sanctions, diplomacy and military pressure have failed to convince Kim to denuclearise, information is the best remaining weapon. "We're not just trying to contain the threat of North Korea, we're trying to solve it," he argues. "To do that you need to change the nature of the country. "If I was an American general I'd be saying 'how much does this stuff cost, and actually that's a pretty good use of our resources'". The question that remains is, who should fund this work. Some question why it has fallen almost entirely to the US. One solution could be for South Korea to foot the bill - but the issue of North Korea is heavily politicised here. The liberal opposition party tends to try to improve relations with Pyongyang, meaning funding information warfare is a no go. The party's frontrunner in next week's presidential election has already indicated he would turn off the loudspeakers if elected. Yet Mr Park remains hopeful. "The good thing is that the North Korean government can't go into people's heads and take out the information that's been building for years," he points out. And as technologies develop, he is confident that spreading information will get easier. "In the long run I really believe this is going to be the thing that changes North Korea". Top image credit: Getty BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Concern growing for missing woman last seen in Scots supermarket
She was last seen with a male companion in a Co-op store. Concerns are growing over the welfare of a woman last seen with a man in a Scottish supermarket. Jean Gasho from Cleveland, England is thought to have travelled to Jedburgh after she was last seen with a male companion in the Co-op in High Street, Jedburgh, around 5.50pm on Wednesday, 28 May. The 42-year-old is described as black, around 5ft 10 in height, of medium build, with mid-length black hair that was tied back. When last seen, she was wearing a gold-coloured dress, black leggings or tights, a brown coat and was carrying a light-coloured bag. Cops are asking the public to look our for Jean and report any sightings. Inspector Mark Gibson said: 'Jean is known to regularly wear bright-coloured clothing and if you have seen her, or know where she is, please contact us. 'It's possible she may have travelled to other areas, including Edinburgh. In that regard, we are liaising with local bus and taxi companies. 'Officers are carrying out searches of Jedburgh and the surrounding towns and woodland areas. 'If you have any information that will assist officers to trace Jean, then please get in touch. 'We'd also appeal to Jean herself to contact police. We want to make sure she is safe and well.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. incident number 0675 of Friday, 30 May, 2025, when calling.
The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
Ten technology changes that will transform your next holiday
Travel for good By collecting valuable research data, citizen science is a hands-on way for travellers to help give back to the destinations they visit. Not too long ago, expensive hardware made researchers reluctant to hand over the controls to inexperienced travellers, but advances and cheaper technology are opening new opportunities. Guests at Ritz-Carlton Maldives can aid turtle conservationists by piloting drones (after completing simulation training) to detect harmful ocean plastic and ghost nets, and at Tanzania's Usangu Expedition Camp they can help set up camera traps to monitor big cat activity. The iNaturalist app has also gamified conservation tourism by helping travellers collect wildlife sightings, much like Pokemon. Antarctic cruise operator HX encourages travellers to download the app once onboard to help document whale, seal and penguin sightings on a voyage to the White Continent. See GPS self-guided tours Elon Musk's SpaceX has ambitious plans to launch thousands of satellites into orbit, with a record number of satellites launched in 2024. More satellites armed with next-gen technology will lead to stronger GPS systems, which is making independent travel more accessible. Australia-based European adventure company UTracks now provides hikers with a GPS-enabled app designed to help them navigate the trail and alert them if they go off-course. Closer to home, Australian Cycle Tours has developed a similar app that gives cyclists turn-by-turn instructions and statistics, such as distance covered, while suggesting local sights, cafes and restaurants for a pitstop. See Hotel service goes digital One legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it forced companies, such as Hilton Hotels, to adopt socially distanced digital room keys that can be downloaded to your phone. That innovation has since diverted hundreds of tonnes of plastic cards, so expect it to become more widespread as hotels increasingly go green. Also on the rise are AI-powered concierges such as Jean, the digital butler recently introduced at Park Regis by Prince Singapore. Jean can be called on for room service or to help decide how to spend your day in Singapore. Marriott Hotels has also created Renai, which merges staff insights with ChatGPT and other open-source data to create local recommendations. See Smart gate tech rolls out Last year, Sydney's International Airport joined the rollout of SmartGate systems across Australia, joining Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth in the move to the new Gen 3 technology, reducing the time it takes to clear customs (in theory, at least). While biometric technology has been in airports for a while now, a push for frictionless travel will see automated electronic gates introduced at border crossings and ports. Testing is already under way in Malaysia, Singapore, Bhutan, India and Zimbabwe, with updated algorithms that can adapt to a growing problem with deepfakes and spoofing, such as fake fingerprints and facial masks. Power banks tighten up In April, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and other Asian carriers tightened their rules on carrying lithium-ion power bank battery packs due to the fire risk posed by overheating. Battery packs can still be taken onboard along with other carry-on items, but travellers won't be allowed to use it, charge it using seat-back power outlets, or place it in overhead lockers. South Korea has indicated it will also require battery packs to be stored in a plastic bag. Virgin Australia and Qantas now allow power banks to be used or charged onboard and don't plan to change their policies, though Qantas advises against using power banks during flights. Drones take flight Aided by AI and armed with specialist accessories, drones are now being deployed to do more than just capture sweeping beach panoramas. Case in point: New Zealand, Spain, France and the United States are trialling lifeguard drones to patrol tourist beaches and deliver life vests to struggling swimmers. Drones armed with bacteria-destroying ultraviolet light are being used to clean airports and aircraft cabins, while cities such as Dubai, Shanghai and Miami are embracing environmentally friendly drone light-shows instead of fireworks. Australia has joined in on the aerial entertainment with Wintjiri Wiru, a light show at Uluru that brings Aboriginal storytelling to life using 1200 drones. See Loading Emissions-free flights With the International Air Transport Association aiming to achieve net zero by 2050, the race is on to decarbonise Australia's aviation industry, which produces about 5 per cent of Australia's carbon emissions. Smaller Australian aviation companies are already retrofitting existing aircraft with green propulsion systems, such as Kite Magnetics in Victoria and Stralis in Queensland. But fleet manufacturers such as Boeing will need more time to adapt, transitioning to blended fuels made from waste by-products before switching entirely to electric. Perth-based FlyOnE is expecting to offer fully electric commercial flights later this year, with cheaper emissions-free air travel to be more widespread in the next five years. See
4 days ago
- Business
Mark Cuban and Wyclef Jean to headline Global Citizen's first Detroit summit on the future of cities
NEW YORK -- Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban, Grammy-winning musician Wyclef Jean of the Fugees and James Beard Award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson will headline Global Citizen's summer conference on urban revitalization in Detroit, the international anti-poverty nonprofit announced Thursday. Global Citizen is bringing its conference series to a U.S. location outside New York for the first time — and, with Detroit as its host, to a place not-so-long-ago considered the poster child for urban blight as the auto industry's decline pushed the midwestern city toward bankruptcy. The July 10 summit promises to drive commitments to sustainable development amid population shifts and technological advancements that are disrupting cities worldwide. 'That's such an important priority for me and for the organization because that's a place that's analyzing the future of cities. And what do cities mean and how do we invest in cities?' Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans told the Associated Press last month. "So, Global Citizen NOW: Detroit is going to be a huge part of our strategy.' The nonprofit aims to spotlight Detroit as an example of how investments in young adults spur economic prosperity, accessible infrastructure and food security. Presenting the conference is Bedrock, a real estate firm at the forefront of Detroit's redevelopment that's been buying up properties downtown and renovating many of them for years. With its blend of media personalities, athletes and artists, this edition resembles previous lineups that sought to rally audiences against poverty through recognizable cultural figures. It's also key to Evans' goal of growing the movement to 50 million 'global citizens' taking the platform's recommended actions by 2029. Global Citizen is expanding its footprint this year with additional sessions scheduled in Brazil, Spain and South Africa. Before the conference, Global Citizen plans a July 8 community service event around food access and youth empowerment as well as a free block party promoting Detroit nonprofits. The week's programming will end with live music at Jack White's Third Man Records, intended to celebrate what Global Citizen called 'Detroit's rich musical legacy and the power of culture to drive social change.' The city's contributions include the mainstream success of Motown Records, techno music, rap artists such as Eminem and a garage rock scene that birthed the White Stripes. Jean noted the city's pulse is "unmatched when it comes to music.' 'This ain't just about shining a light, it's about walking hand in hand with each other to get out the dark times,' Jean said in a statement. 'Real issues, real voices, real change.'
