OM Japan Tsunami April Update

Since it was announced publicly that OM Japan were ready to receive volunteers, many people wrote to express interest and requested for more information. This past week (23 - 27 May), OM Japan took their first volunteer group, consisting of 3 foreigners and 4 Japanese to Miyagi prefecture to help with clearing up rubble and bringing encouragement.

At a recent event to build relationships, OMer Chris guides participants through the process of making juggling balls before teaching them how to juggle.

Responding to God’s call to reach out to survivors of the 2011 tsunami in the Tohoko region, OM Japan starts a ministry called 4 Friends Network.

At present we reward quantity, not quality. The door could be opening for that to change, argues Johan Fourie.

Our freedom, and fortunes as a nation, lie with the likes of the independent and professional men and women as those at the head of the SA Reserve Bank, and very much unlike those at the NPA.

SARS continues to deny amaBhungane and the Financial Mail's requests for access to former president Jacob Zuma's tax records despite the seminal judgment of the Constitutional Court handed down in May 2023.

SAA now remains firmly in state hands - a state that it insists it can no longer provide the type of capital support it desperately needs. Who should feel vindicated? asks Khaya Sithole.

In the latest Auditor-General report, what stands out is persistent underperformance and the level of desperation in local governments. Reliance on consultants who don't solve the underlying problem is no longer sustainable, says Khaya Sithole.

Countries that score highest on an international measure of student achievement tend to have these three things in common when it comes to professional development for teachers.

Education groups filed a brief expressing concern that excluding undocumented immigrants would affect census numbers used in several federal education funding programs.

While the number of principals running for office has been dwarfed by teachers, school leaders are hoping to change policies in statehouses and in Washington that they say impact their students and families.

The swirl of attention around Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren’s story of being forced out of a teaching job when she was pregnant intensifies the spotlight on her background and K-12 credentials.

Both the AFT and the NEA vowed to engage their members more deeply this year in deciding who to back for the White House. How well have they done?

Two run-off elections could decide how the Senate addresses the coronavirus pandemic and a new education secretary, among other issues.

Kacey Harper, a third-year corporate communication major at Penn State Schuylkill, discovered her passion for the field after initially considering marketing. She honed her skills through various leadership roles on campus and a hands-on internship with Schuylkill United Way. Harper is eager to pursue a career that allows her to make meaningful contributions, and she encourages others to gain as much professional experience as possible through Schuylkill’s Co-Op program.

Emily Weider, a third-year student at Penn State Schuylkill, has always been drawn to business, growing up involved in her family's trucking company. Her Co-Op experience at Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association provided valuable hands-on learning, from managing databases to enhancing marketing efforts with Canva. The welcoming environment and the skills she gained have solidified her confidence in pursuing a future in business.

On Sept. 27-28, Penn State Schuylkill hosted the 84th annual Pennsylvania Communication Association (PCA) conference for the first time, welcoming over 80 participants from more than 40 colleges. Valerie Schrader, professor of communication arts and PCA president, organized the event, with Penn State Schuylkill faculty and students presenting 17 projects. Several students and faculty received top paper and presentation awards.

Penn State Great Valley has unveiled a mural depicting the Penn State Nittany Lion, created from upcycled plastic bottle caps by mosaic studio artist Judith Hokky.  

Join Penn State Great Valley at the campus' Conference Center in Malvern on Oct. 24 for an electrifying evening in the vibrant world of Bollywood, where the magic of Indian cinema will be celebrated.

A student-centered approach to teaching mathematics enables students to develop conceptual understanding and to grow as confident mathematicians.

A coalition of education organizations wants Congress to waive a provision in federal law requiring districts to keep special education funding level from year to year regardless of budget pressures.

Gold remains at record highs, but there are various ways to get exposure to the metal that are less cumbersome and more investor-friendly than holding physical gold.

Managers are taking different views on their exposure to offshore equity, to credit and to private equity.

Complaints about denied claims often concern the treatment the scheme will cover for a prescribed minimum benefit.

An overview of the biggest business developments in SA and beyond.

This year at the sports and English camp in Bulgaria, the team noticed the fruit of building on relationships over time.

When the brain experiences an injury, it can be difficult to definitively diagnose a concussion as the trauma is often limited to inside the skull and cannot be accurately assessed, according Reuben Kraft, a professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State. Kraft's research team is using computational methods and tools — such as custom mouthguard sensors — to model and predict injury in the human brain. 

Two high-powered N.Y. officials have put out a blueprint for overhauling teaching in the state, aiming for more-coherent policies for the profession.

Education Week takes a close look at the obstacles and opportunities for American Indian children in finding success in school and beyond.

This interactive map offers a quick way to examine state-by-state grades and summary data.

A physical therapy clinic — staffed by students supervised by licensed professionals and offering free services to volunteer community participants in need — is planned for fall 2025 at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Alaina G. Levine, president of Quantum Success Solutions LLC, professional speaker, STEM career coach, and author, will give the fall 2024 A. Dixon and Betty F. Johnson Lecture in Scientific Communication at 7 p.m. on Nov. 21 in 100 Thomas Building on the Penn State University Park campus. The free public lecture is open to the Penn State community.

Poor sleep is linked to cardiometabolic disease, depression and anxiety, among other concerns. Sleep disturbances can begin in childhood, but insomnia symptoms in children aren’t always taken seriously — and how childhood symptoms develop into a persisting disorder remains elusive. Learn more from Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, professor at the College of Medicine, in the next Virtual Speaker Series from the Penn State Alumni Association from noon to 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 18. 

Penn State announced the recipients of the inaugural Commonwealth Campus Undergraduate Community-Engaged Research Awards, a new program designed for faculty who specifically support undergraduate student participation in research that aims to improve community well-being.

Penn State Hazleton's trick-or-treating is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on the Sports and Recreation Field at the campus. Children attending the event must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, was honored with the 2024 Leadership Award presented by the Penn State Ag Council at its fall meeting in State College. Also recognized were members of the Pennsylvania in the Balance initiative and undergraduate student Jessica Herr.

The latest episode of "Growing Impact" explores how a research team is using computer modeling and animations to visualize future flood and levee failure scenarios.

Viral country singer-songwriter and former reality-star contestant Sam Barber will bring his “Restless Mind” tour to Happy Valley at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

Penn State’s Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research has designated its inaugural cohort of Assessment Champions for 2024-25. This new program recognizes individuals who are deeply committed to enhancing student learning through learning assessment.

Dan and Robyn Ives recently made a $100,000 commitment to create the Dan and Robyn Ives AI Innovation Initiatives Fund in the Penn State Smeal College of Business. Their annually funded gift will give Smeal’s eLearning Design and Innovation Group $20,000 a year over the next five years to explore the challenges and opportunities that AI presents for Smeal students, faculty and staff and to expand educational and experiential learning opportunities around AI.

Penn State’s Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation has awarded its inaugural seed grants. These grants are designed to support interdisciplinary research projects that foster collaboration led by Penn State researchers, aiming to make a significant impact on the future of the built environment and real estate practice. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa met with Tesla and SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk in New York to discuss investment opportunities in SA, the Presidency said on Tuesday.

Trump's election as US president brings back a champion of the oil industry to the White House.

Michael Pittaro, director of corrections for Northampton County and associate professor of criminal justice at American Military University, shared stories about his experiences over his 35-year career in the field of corrections with Penn State Lehigh Valley criminal justice students recently.

Penn State Lehigh Valley criminal justice program adjunct instructor Corallys Fernandez's work in the juvenile probation field was recently recognized on a state level.

The pound stabilised on Friday after a volatile few sessions, but still headed for its longest stretch of weekly losses in nearly six years, as political and monetary uncertainty has prompted investors to favour the dollar lately.

The dollar softened on Tuesday as traders squared positions on the day of the US presidential election, after recent polls dented some market bets on a victory for Republican Donald Trump.

The latest investment insights and market developments.