Latest news with #classmates
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Leaving Cert diary: ‘My short story was story set in interwar Italy when communists and fascists battled it out'
For the past few months, I have been all about 'the zone'. The zone is a flow state that – if you're lucky – you get into when studying. It's a place where you think of nothing else but the task in front of you. You're barely conscious of anything going on around you, because you're so locked into what you're doing. Some of my classmates have different techniques, including one where they study intensely for 20 minutes and break for five. That doesn't work for me – I like to stay focused on one topic for longer. I find that it is more efficient and delivers better results. It's a space I have always been able to access, but I've only ever needed to be there for exams. READ MORE It's now been over two weeks since our graduation and final day of school and, since then, I've had little mental bandwidth to do anything much besides study. I've been putting in five or six hours a day, with the intensity ebbing and flowing. English paper one finally gave me a chance to put some of this to use. Funny thing about English paper one, though: it's not really a paper you can study for like other subjects. Instead, because the focus is on comprehension and writing, it is more of a skills test, and the only real way you can prepare is practice, read and plan. The paper itself was fairly standard, and there was nothing off the wall. Every year, the format is the same, with a choice of three comprehension questions based on a text, and a written section B where we have to respond to a particular prompt, like 'give a talk' or 'write a speech.' As for the personal writing, I always go for the short story, so I responded to the prompt about an ambitious but reckless character that causes a disaster, writing a story set in interwar Italy when communists and fascists battled it out. Most professional writers would do several drafts of a story to make it perfect. But, for English paper one, I have long since realised that the story doesn't have to be perfect. We have about ten minutes maximum to plan it, and less than an hour altogether to write it, so I focused on keeping the plot simple and not overly complicated, and focusing on key aspects like descriptive language and characterisation. The comprehensions were straightforward enough, while I also tackled a reflection about changing your mind and opinions on a topic. As for the rest of the exams, I got lucky with the spacing, as I have a four-day gap before chemistry, and then another seven-day-gap before applied maths, which is one of the final exams on the timetable. This will give me plenty of time to prepare. Then, just two days after I finally wrap up, I head to India on a family trip. I will barely have time to catch my breath. But, sure, I'll have plenty of time to sleep on the plane. Shreyash Shukla is a Leaving Cert student at Athlone Community College
CNA
4 days ago
- General
- CNA
Jail for man who filmed obscene act with 'close' female friend as she slept
SINGAPORE: He was her close friend for more than a decade. But unbeknown to the woman, the man had been taking photos and videos of himself baring his private parts near her sleeping face, even touching her hair on one occasion. The man, now aged 26, who was her classmate in a higher tertiary institute, had also been taking photos of her cleavage without her consent. The victim, now aged 27, learnt of the incidents only after her friend was reported to the police for walking naked along a corridor. Obscene photos and videos, including those with the victim, were recovered by the police from the accused's mobile phone. The man was sentenced to five months and one week of jail on Tuesday (Jun 3). He pleaded guilty to one charge of molest, with one charge each of voyeurism and appearing nude in a public place taken into consideration for his sentencing. Both the accused and victim cannot be named to protect the latter's identity. The court heard that the pair had been close friends since 2011 and were classmates in a higher tertiary institute at the time of the offences in 2023. While in a classroom on May 11, 2023, the victim had been sleeping with her head laid on a table. The man then exposed his private parts, which he used to touch victim's hair for around 30 seconds. He recorded the act with his mobile phone but stopped when the victim woke up. During a trip to South Korea in April 2023, the accused took photographs of his private parts positioned above the victim's sleeping face. On another occasion, he took a photo of his private parts above her back while giving her a back massage. The accused also attempted to take photos of her chest on three occasions without her knowledge. On Jun 28, 2023, someone lodged a police report against the accused for walking along a common corridor naked. The obscene photos and videos involving the victim were discovered during investigations. When the victim learnt of the acts, she felt disgusted and uncomfortable with her friend. The accused was arrested on Sep 20, 2024. The prosecution argued that the accused should receive a sentence of seven to eight months' jail, citing a high degree of sexual exploitation in the case. Deputy Public Prosecutor Janessa Phua said the accused had exploited the victim at her most vulnerable, when she was asleep, and took advantage of his closeness to the victim to commit the offences.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Guess Who! Popular Married at First Sight star looks unrecognisable in throwback primary school photo
A popular Married At First Sight bride has been spotted in a Sydney primary school photo from 1999. One MAFS viewer, who goes by the handle @boganbarbie1 on TikTok, shared her shock after realising she had attended Mount Annan Public School alongside the reality TV star. In the old class photo, the season 12 bride is sitting perched in the middle of the front row with her hands clasped together and a wide smile. Her brunette locks are pulled into a high ponytail and she matches her classmates in the primary school's blue and white checkered dress and red bow-tie uniform. In bold print writing at the bottom of the photo is the name Rhiannon Disljenkovic. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. A popular Married At First Sight bride has been spotted front-and-centre in a Sydney primary school photo from 1999. Can you guess who it is? 'Hang on a second. How is it that I only just found out today that Rhi from MAFS is Rhi Disljenkovic from f**king primary school?' she said in the video. 'I literally went to school with her!' she exclaimed, before pointing out herself in the class photo. The TikTok ForYou page algorithm quickly helped the post find several of Rhi's old school friends on the app. 'Aww there's me front and centre!' another person commented, writing: 'I was besties with Rhiannon. I don't watch TV so never knew about her being on TV lol. So cool to see this photo!' Meanwhile, the woman who made the video said that from what she can remember, Rhi was 'popular' in school and was 'a very nice girl with time for anyone.' Rhi and her MAFS husband Jeff Gobbels emerged from season 12 of Married At First Sight as the only successful match from the reality TV 'experiment' in 2025. The Melbourne-based couple, who moved in together after the series ended, even dropped some shock baby news during the final episode of the show. They were discussing their relationship with series expert Mel Schilling and confirmed children were in their future. Season 12 bride Rhi Disljenkovic attended Mount Annan Public School in New South Wales 'I'm on my way to falling in love. I would have never in a million years picked this, it is actually a cool story...' Rhi told Mel. '...To tell your kids!' Mel jumped in. Rhi agreed with her, confirming the pair were considering having children. 'That's it! I was about to say that,' she said. Jeff then thanked the experts for matching him with Rhi and said one of the secrets to the success was the great timing, which was 'everything'. In April, the pair were as loved-up as ever as they attended Daily Mail Australia's exclusive MAFS reunion dinner party in Sydney. The couple were by each other's side for most of the night, and held hands and stared into each other's eyes at the dinner table. Their fellow cast members collectively told Daily Mail Australia the pair are the 'real deal' and have loved seeing their romance unfold and prosper outside of the experiment. Rhi and her MAFS husband Jeff Gobbels emerged from season 12 of Married At First Sight as the only successful match from the reality TV 'experiment' in 2025 They added they are 'incredibly cute' and their chemistry is 'undeniable'. During an exclusive interview, Rhi and fellow bride Beth Kelly revealed which couple 'is most likely' to actually marry. 'Rhi and Jeff!' Beth said, while Rhi added 'Me!!' The couple, who melted hearts during their Final Vows when they chose to stay together, have revealed what's next for their blossoming relationship and shut down swirling engagement rumours. Rhi and Jeff – who were matched on the show by experts who had no idea they had previously dated each other briefly - said the key to their success was emotional maturity and good communication.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Teen accused in Maryland high school shooting testifies in his own defense before closing arguments
A teen accused of shooting and killing a classmate inside a Maryland high school testified during his trial Wednesday. Jaylen Prince, 16, is being charged as an adult after allegedly murdering 15-year-old Warrent Grant on Sept. 6, 2024, inside a Joppatowne High School bathroom. Prince took the stand Wednesday during the sixth day of his trial and outlined his version of the events from the day of the shooting. Prince claims gun went off accidentally Prince was the last witness in the case. He took the stand dressed in a black suit and glasses and swore under oath that he did not mean to kill Grant. Earlier in the trial, one of Prince's classmates testified that the shooting stemmed from an argument after Prince spoke to Grant's girlfriend. According to the student, Prince was told to stay away from the girl, which seemed to agitate him. According to Prince's testimony, Grant was the aggressor in the situation. Prince said Grant came up behind him in the bathroom and tried to instigate a fight over his girlfriend. On Wednesday, Prince testified that he told Grant, "My hand is broke. I ain't fighting nobody," referring to an injury that required emergency surgery months before the shooting. He then told Grant, "If you touch me, I will kill you," before he pulled a gun from his backpack to scare his classmates off. Prince told the jury that Grant shook him, and the gun fired. "I did not fire the gun. It accidentally went off," Prince said during his testimony. Prince said he purchased the gun to protect himself as he "was afraid of a lot of places," after losing at least five friends to gun violence. Prosecution questions firearm purchase, search history During cross-examination, State's Attorney Alison Healey, with the defense team, brought up several photos of Prince with a gun. The photos showed Prince with the gun in a car, at work and at his friends' homes. Healy pointed out that they were not scary or threatening places. She also questioned the search history found on Prince's phone about types of guns and bullets. Prince told the jury he searched those topics out of curiosity. He also said he tossed the gun outside of the school after the shooting because he panicked. The gun that was used in the deadly shooting was not recovered. Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said officials were hindered by a state law that limits interrogations involving minors. A county detective testified that he heard Prince say "Toss that f******* gun in the water" during a phone call that was captured on a Ring doorbell. Photos of gun match bullets from crime scene A digital forensics expert testified that Prince's cellphone proved that he bought the gun. An analysis of his phone revealed texts in which he and a contact named "Baby Face" arranged the gun purchase on August 12, 2024. Prince then sent the contact $700 through CashApp. Prince's phone also revealed photos of the firearm, a P80 Hornady 9mm gun that matched the type of bullets found after the shooting. The bullets also matched the ones recovered during Grant's autopsy. According to the defense, it does not mean that the bullets came from the pack found in Prince's home. Prince's mother says he had limited range of motion due to injury Prince's mother, Rykiech Prince, took the stand on Tuesday, arguing that her son had a limited range of motion in his right index finger due to the injury that required surgery. She told the jury that she often searched her kids' bedrooms and knew their whereabouts. During a heated exchange with Healy, Rykiech Prince was asked how she missed the ammunition under her son's mattress and why he missed so many days of school. Rykiech Prince said the missed days were due to her son's hand injury and several suspensions. She also recalled how Prince went to school on the day of the shooting to fix his computer so he could attend an online school, something Healy said the school was not made aware of. Closing statements in the Joppatowne High murder trial are expected to begin Thursday, May 29, before jury deliberations
NHK
21-05-2025
- NHK
High school stabbing: Suspect allegedly attacked seated students from behind
A 17-year-old girl in western Japan arrested on suspicion of injuring three classmates with a knife at a correspondence high school is believed to have stabbed them suddenly from behind as they sat in a classroom. Police arrested the suspect at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder at Ozora High School in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Wednesday morning. None of the three reportedly sustained life-threatening wounds. The attack took place during a break, when there were about 20 students in the classroom. NHK has learned from investigative sources that eyewitnesses told police and others that the student attacked her schoolmates one after another without warning. She reportedly didn't chase them when they ran away. A member of the school faculty who went to the scene confiscated the knife from her. She reportedly told police she carried out the attack because she wanted to kill the students and has admitted to the charges against her.
