Latest news with #KC
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
KC Concepcion embraces her 'wellness era'
Article Inside Page KC Concepcion is having fun embracing her "wellness era" and prioritizing her self-care. Actress and entrepreneur KC Concepcion is embracing her "wellness era" by taking better care of herself. KC is not only focusing on the physical aspects of self-care but also mental health and emotional well-being. She shared a series of photos on her Instagram account, detailing her efforts to maintain her health. KC continues to enjoy Pilates and is starting to get into pickleball thanks to her bestfriend. To help with recovery after working out, she does ice baths and sauna therapy with the help of retired football player and former Azkals team captain Aly Borromeo, her ex-beau who she is rumored to have gotten back together with. KC is also eating "clean" which means she is avoiding highly-processed food and is making an effort to consume whole fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. "Life lately looks like: "Pilates training + fascia release love w/ the one & only VZ @vivianzapanta "Homecooked clean meals that actually taste good "Recovery tools to keep my body in check "Ice bath + sauna therapy taught by @alybor11 "Pickleball nights just cuz bestie's obsessed @gingerserranilla "Pomeranian-powered 'welcome home' w/ Churro y Chica! "Love being in my wellness era, so let's goooo!" she wrote on the caption of her post. Last April, KC celebrated her 40th birthday in a luxury resort in Palawan with a few of her closest friends. Her mother Megastar Sharon Cuneta even surprised her by flying to the island unannounced to spend some time with her. CHECK OUT KC CONCEPCION'S 40TH BIRHTDAY CELEBRATION HERE: In 2024, KC restarted her fitness journey by getting back into Pilates and dancing.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- General
- NZ Herald
School curriculum rewrite had serious problems, managers considered using AI to help
They said they still had not seen a clear definition of the term 'knowledge-rich' as it applied to the New Zealand curriculum. The Education Ministry told RNZ content of the English and maths curriculum was 'consistent with knowledge-rich curriculum design principles' but it failed to provide a definition of knowledge-rich despite being asked for one. The latest leak followed a series of disclosures of internal documents that prompted the ministry to hire a KC to investigate where they were coming from. A 'programme status report' sighted by RNZ said the introduction of a new process for developing the curriculum posed an 'extreme' issue to the work. 'The new delivery process is adding complexity to both internal and external delivery and review procedures as we do not have a clear definition of a knowledge-rich curriculum and what it looks like in a NZ context,' it said. 'There is no international comparison we can pick up and use.' Elsewhere, the document said lack of an agreed definition was affecting all learning areas of the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (TMoA), the curriculum for Māori-medium schools. 'Both the NZC and TMoA curricula lack a clear design framework for defining a knowledge-rich curriculum. This absence of a design point is impacting the development of all learning areas, as continuous refinement and clarification are required,' it said. 'Options are now being looked at to bring in overseas experts to help us develop templates and frameworks for the curriculum which we can then apply.' The report said the programme was in red status for the month of February. It said the key challenge was the lack of a constant template for the work it was producing. The document said even if the ministry resolved that problem it still faced challenges including having to revise its work due to changing expectations, lack of a clear and consistent understanding of the term 'knowledge rich', and lack of a design framework. The status report warned that governance groups associated with the rewrite were ineffective because they provided conflicting advice and their feedback was not always followed. It said stakeholders had different expectations about the use of mātauranga Māori in the curriculum and contributing groups lacked skills and experience. The ministry told RNZ it was developing the curriculum framework, Te Mātaiaho, to be consistent with a knowledge-rich curriculum. It said since last year its work on defining a knowledge-rich curriculum was informed by several sources and a literature review had been commissioned. However, it did not provide any definition, despite being asked for one. The ministry told RNZ the curriculum rewrite was currently at red status after being in amber status in the previous two months. 'Due to the scale and complexity of this work, shifts between Amber and Red status are expected. The Ministry actively manages programme risks using its risk management framework, with mitigation strategies in place, regularly monitored, and escalated when necessary,' it said. It said the work had 10 high risks, 25 moderate risks and five low risks. Curriculum being 'built as the plane was flying' Post Primary Teachers Association vice-president Kieran Gainsford told RNZ teacher subject association leaders met recently and were worried about a lack of clarity about key terms such as the 'science of learning' and 'knowledge-rich curriculum'. Gainsford said teachers had been saying for some time it was critical that the curriculum was clear. 'If even officials aren't sure of what they mean by the terms of science of learning and knowledge-rich curriculum, knowledge-rich in particular, then it leads to the question of how on earth are schools and teachers supposed to know what they mean by that,' he said. He said the ministry was yet to publish a clear definition of the term knowledge-rich and it needed to be crystal-clear. 'At the moment we're trying to respond in many cases to stuff that's poorly defined and that leads to debate or discussion that isn't particularly fruitful,' he said. Principals Federation president Leanne Otene said it was clear to primary and intermediate principals the curriculum was 'being built as the plane was flying'. She said a knowledge-rich curriculum would define what needed to be taught at each level of learning, but the ministry had not delivered on that. Otene said parts of the published curriculums read like they had been cut and pasted from elsewhere. Association of English Teachers president Pip Tinning said the problems outlined by the ministry documents were not normal for curriculum development. She said the ministry had not explained knowledge-rich in terms of the English curriculum or its definition of the science of learning. Meanwhile, a separate Education Ministry document from December last year titled 'Options for change to the curriculum regulatory system' showed plans to allow the Education Minister to set different curriculum expectations for different types of schools. The document said the power could be useful to help schools better support their students. 'For example, there could be a pedagogy that only schools and kura with technology hubs must use, or a curriculum statement that applies specifically for kura kaupapa Māori,' the document said. The document said education sector groups were largely supportive of the plans, which would ensure the curriculum was reviewed and updated regularly. Manager raised possibility of using AI A document about the Science curriculum outlined shortcomings with the existing curriculum which the ministry said resulted in overcrowded lessons and few children enjoying the subject and continuing it at university. It said the curriculum needed to be revised to help students understand science in day-to-day life and other countries were changing their science curriculums for similar reasons. A senior manager's briefing to ministry staff raised the possibility of using AI to write some of the material underpinning the curriculum. The manager said they could use AI to synthesise the curriculums of countries such as Singapore, NSW, British Columbia, with New Zealand information almost instantly. They said it could also ensure the use of consistent language between curriculum documents. Asked about the use of AI, the ministry told RNZ: 'The ministry is exploring how artificial intelligence tools can support curriculum development, particularly by analysing and synthesising information from international curricula and related knowledge frameworks. AI is not being used to directly write curriculum content but may assist with background research and insights.' -RNZ
Gulf Today
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
China hails strategically valuable Russia relations
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed Beijing's 'strategically valuable' relations with Moscow as he met his Russian counterpart against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and turbulent ties with the United States. Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov was visiting Beijing after a trip to North Korea, where he received assurances of support for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Wang told Lavrov on Sunday that 'China-Russia are the most stable, most mature and most strategically valuable relationship between major powers in the world today', according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout of their meeting. 'The current focus is to... deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation, promote each side's development and revitalisation, and jointly respond to the challenges brought by a turbulent and changing world,' Wang said. The two ministers 'exchanged views on the Korean peninsula, the Ukraine crisis, the Iranian nuclear issue and other matters', the Chinese statement said. It did not mention ties with Washington, which Moscow said was also on the agenda. The Russian foreign ministry said Lavrov and Wang also discussed other 'burning issues', including the war in Gaza. China, a diplomatic and economic ally of Moscow, claims to be neutral in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, it has never denounced Russia's 2022 invasion nor called for it to withdraw its troops, and many of Ukraine's allies believe that China has provided support for Russia. Beijing regularly calls for an end to the fighting, while also accusing Western countries of prolonging the conflict by arming Ukraine. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Russia's top diplomat his country was ready to 'unconditionally support' Moscow's every effort to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, state media reported on Sunday, as the two countries held high-level strategic talks. Lavrov was on a three-day visit to North Korea, which has provided troops and arms for Russia's war in Ukraine and has pledged more military support as Moscow tries to make advances in the conflict. Kim met Lavrov in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan where the two countries' foreign ministers held their second strategic dialogue, pledging further cooperation under a partnership treaty signed last year that includes a mutual defence pact. Kim told Lavrov the steps taken by the allies in response to radically evolving global geopolitics will contribute greatly to securing peace and security around the world, North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported. 'Kim Jong Un reaffirmed the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis,' KCNA said. Lavrov earlier held talks with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui in Wonsan, and they issued a joint statement pledging support to safeguard the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other's country, KCNA said. Later on Sunday, North Korea's Defence Ministry said in a statement it stood ready to take military action to counter any security threat, in a warning against South Korea, Japan and the United States following a recent aerial drill by the allies. The warning followed a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber flight near South Korea flanked by the three countries' fighter jets in a defence exercise on Friday. The nuclear-armed North has previously issued similar threats. On Saturday, Lavrov described Russian-North Korean ties as 'an invincible fighting brotherhood' in his meeting with Kim and thanked him for the troops deployed to Russia, according to Russian media. Relations between Russia and North Korea have deepened during the last two years of the war in Ukraine, which started in February 2022, with Pyongyang deploying more than 10,000 troops and arms to Russia to back Moscow's military campaign. Agencies
Business Wire
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Westwood Financial Appoints KC Bills as CEO
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Westwood Financial, one of the largest privately held retail real estate investment firms in the nation, announced today the appointment of KC Bills as the company's new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment comes as the firm celebrates its 55th anniversary of owning and operating best-in-class retail centers across the country. Based in Los Angeles and founded in 1970, Westwood Financial's portfolio includes more than 125 top-performing grocery-anchored and service-oriented shopping centers, with a large concentration in high-growth Sunbelt markets. Effective July 28 th, Bills will lead the firm's national team of professionals to drive overall Shareholder value. 'I am honored to lead Westwood Financial into the future and thankful for the confidence of Steve and Howard, and the Board of Directors, whose vision and leadership have built an extraordinary platform,' said Bills. 'I look forward to working with the exceptional Westwood team to elevate the company even further. The opportunities ahead are tremendous; I am confident in our ability to grow and create lasting value for our investors, partners, and communities.' Prior to joining Westwood Financial, Bills served as Senior Vice President and President of the West Portfolio at Philips Edison & Company, Inc. (PECO), a leading owner and operator of grocery-anchored center retail. While at PECO, he was instrumental in enhancing the performance of a national portfolio through streamlined management processes, operational improvements, and strategic planning. His leadership supported the long-term value creation and positioned the company for sustained growth. 'We are excited to have KC lead our firm with his in-depth knowledge and experience in the daily needs shopping center asset class,' states Howard Banchik, Founder & Co-Chairman. 'I am excited that a new generation is taking control of this new chapter in Westwood's evolution,' states Steve Fogel, Founder & Co-Chairman. Westwood Financial's strategic adaptability and deep understanding of market dynamics have enabled it to withstand decades of change in the retail industry. It applies its operational expertise to each of its properties, enhancing asset value and investing in capital improvements that strengthen tenant retention and increase rents. In 2024, the firm increased its same-store NOI by 5.6%. 'KC's arrival marks an exciting new phase for Westwood,' said Chief Operating Officer Lauren Ball and Chief Financial Officer Juyuan Wei. 'We're proud of the foundation that's been built and are looking forward to collaborating alongside him as we continue supporting the team and growing the business.' For more information, visit its website and follow along on LinkedIn and Instagram. About Westwood Financial Westwood Financial owns, manages, and operates over 125 high-quality shopping centers in top U.S. metropolitan markets, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Orlando, Phoenix, and Raleigh. Top-tier grocers and leading service and experiential-based operators primarily anchor the centers. Established in 1970 by Howard Banchik and Steven Fogel, Westwood Financial is headquartered in Los Angeles, with regional offices in Atlanta, Dallas, and Phoenix.
The National
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Israel is planning a concentration camp, says former prime minister
Ehud Olmert told the Guardian Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank and plans for building a camp would mark an escalation. Israel Katz said earlier this month he has ordered Israel's military to prepare for establishing a camp, which he called a 'humanitarian city', on the ruins of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The project is backed by Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Plans would see Palestinians have to go through 'security screening' before entering, and once inside would not be allowed to leave. 'It is a concentration camp. I am sorry,' Olmert said, when asked about the plans laid out by Katz. READ MORE: BBC host takes issue with expert over 'Israeli concentration camps' Israeli forces would control the perimeter of the camp and plan to initially 'move' 600,000 Palestinians into the site, mostly people currently displaced in the al-Mawasi area, Katz reportedly said at a briefing for Israeli journalists. 'If they [Palestinians] will be deported into the new 'humanitarian city', then you can say that this is part of an ethnic cleansing. It hasn't yet happened,' Olmert said. That would be 'the inevitable interpretation' of any attempt to create a camp for hundreds of thousands of people, Olmert, who led Israel from 2006 to 2009, said. He added that after months of violent rhetoric, including calls from ministers to 'cleanse' Gaza, government claims that the 'humanitarian city' aimed to protect Palestinians were not credible. He said: 'When they build a camp where they [plan to] 'clean' more than half of Gaza, then the inevitable understanding of the strategy of this [is that] it is not to save [Palestinians]. It is to deport them, to push them and to throw them away. There is no other understanding that I have, at least.' Olmert described extremist cabinet ministers who backed violence in Gaza and the West Bank – where they have authorised major settlement expansions and control law enforcement with a view to expanding the borders of Israel – as the "enemy from within". Olmert did not consider Israel's current campaign was ethnic cleansing because, he said, evacuating civilians to protect them from fighting was legal under international law, and Palestinians had returned to areas where military operations had finished. READ MORE: Six children among 10 people killed by Israel at water point Last week, Baroness Helana Kennedy told the BBC that taking 'it to a level where you force people out of the places that they live in and force them into camps, a concentration camp, is absolutely not in accordance with law, but it seems that law doesn't matter anymore'. The KC said: 'We're seeing the unravelling of the international consensus around that rules-based order that was created after the Second World War." She said she wanted to see the UK be more vocal in its condemnation and "to call war crimes what they are". Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Katz's plans were a "sticking point" in ceasefire negotiations. Olmert spoke on the day funerals were held in the occupied West Bank for two Palestinian men after they were killed by Israeli settlers. He said the attacks were war crimes. "[It is] unforgivable. Unacceptable. There are continuous operations organised, orchestrated in the most brutal, criminal manner by a large group," Olmert said. He said attitudes inside Israel might start to shift only when Israelis started to feel the burden of international pressure, as he called for stronger international intervention. Olmert is working with the former Palestinian foreign minister Nasser al-Kidwa to push for a two-state solution internationally, and believes that a historic settlement could be in reach – an end to the war in Gaza in exchange for normalisation of ties with Saudi Arabia – if only Netanyahu was able or willing to take it. Over the weekend Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 32 people, including six children at a water collection point, while the Palestinian death toll passed 58,000 after 21 months of war, local health officials said.
