Latest news with #CharisChan
South China Morning Post
11-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
The Lens: Japan's battle against elder scams focuses on ATM limits
If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Thoughts from last week Charis Chan, 16, Malvern College Hong Kong Charis Chan attends Malvern College Hong Kong. Photo: Handout Police in Japan have been considering limiting how much cash elderly citizens can withdraw from ATMs to combat scams. While I believe this strategy could reduce fraud against the elderly, it would only be effective to a certain extent. This is because elderly people can still withdraw large amounts of money if they take out the maximum limit from ATMs multiple times. To address this issue, the Japanese government should focus on the root cause by educating elderly citizens about common scams and how to remain vigilant. Alternatives could include informational programmes at senior centres and advertisements highlighting scams. One potential consequence of restricting cash withdrawals is that the elderly may stop depositing money into their accounts or withdrawing cash altogether due to inconvenience. This could lead to an increased risk of mismanaging or losing their money. They could also simply carry around cash instead of depositing it into their accounts, which could be dangerous. Furthermore, since elderly individuals constitute a significant portion of Japan's population, their reduced use of banking services may impact the financial institutions themselves. Reducing cash deposits or withdrawals could create economic issues. Additionally, elderly people might resort to borrowing money from family members, which could escalate existing familial conflicts or create tension among relatives. Therefore, alternative solutions, such as educational programmes, are more appropriate than restricting cash withdrawal limits. In conclusion, since not only the elderly fall prey to scam calls, the Japanese government should refrain from limiting cash withdrawals. Instead, it should consider other measures, such as public service advertisements, to address this issue effectively. Read up on this issue in last week's The Lens Read and observe Malaysia's childhood obesity crisis is deepening as sugar-laden diets and inactivity soar. Photo: AFP Malaysia's sugar addiction is fuelling a childhood obesity epidemic. A new health ministry report shows that a third of children are overweight, blaming it on a lack of exercise and high-sugar diets, short of fruits and vegetables. The food-obsessed nation has long been one of Asia's most obese countries, with half of its adults overweight and one in five people living with diabetes, according to official statistics. These preventable lifestyle diseases are draining Malaysia's healthcare system of billions of ringgit each year at a time when hospitals are overcrowded and doctors are overworked. The 2024 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), published by the Institute for Public Health, revealed that one in three people aged 5 to 19 were overweight. Only two in five are living a physically active lifestyle. 'The report found that 63.1 per cent of adolescents and 40 per cent of adults are consuming more sugar than suggested,' Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said. 'Half of this excess sugar comes from sweetened beverages.' Malaysia's fondness for sugary drinks has come under scrutiny recently. Health advocates are criticising influencers for promoting overly sweet drink recipes. This is despite the government imposing a sugar tax in 2019. The nationwide survey polled 5,400 randomly selected households. The survey also found that only a small proportion of adolescents consumed the recommended daily intake of two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables. 'This is also a question of affordability,' Dzulkefly said. The minister and the report pointed to Malaysia's culture of heavy late-night meals as a major contributor to the problem. Late-night dining has become a hallmark of Malaysian food culture, with 24-hour restaurants offering cheap, calorie-heavy meals. Acknowledging the social dimensions of obesity, Dzulkefly said a solution would require radical thinking. Staff writers Research and respond What methods is the Malaysian government currently using to lower obesity rates? Are they effective? Why or why not? What are some better solutions to address this issue? What could be done on a national level, and how could schools promote healthy eating?
South China Morning Post
09-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
The Lens: American woman killed by hippo during safari raises safety concerns
If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Thoughts from last week Charis Chan, 15, Malvern College Hong Kong Charis Chan raises questions over safety measures and guide qualifications at wildlife excursions. Photo: Handout There is currently an ongoing lawsuit against the safari tour company African Portfolio following the tragic death of an American woman in a hippo attack. I believe that African Portfolio should take some responsibility for this incident. First and foremost, they arranged the walking safari and should have been aware of the specifics of the trip, including potential dangers and the qualifications of the tour guides. Given the well-documented risks associated with wildlife encounters, African Portfolio should have provided the couple with thorough warnings about possible dangers and outlined the steps to take in case of an accident. However, it is important to note that African Portfolio is not solely to blame for this tragedy. As stated by Rodney Gould, the company's lawyer, they do not have full control over operations in Zambia. Their focus is to arrange lodging, and the owners of the lodging provide the guides. Being based in the US makes it challenging for African Portfolio to ascertain how tour guides are trained and how the animals and tourists behave. This lack of direct oversight complicates their ability to prevent such incidents. To minimise risks on future safaris, companies could make it mandatory for customers to remain in a safe vehicle while observing wildlife. If customers desire closer contact with animals, the company should provide protective gear to ensure safety from potential bites. Additionally, tour guides should possess proven skills in handling weapons to effectively address emergencies, thereby protecting customers from severe animal attacks. Read up on the issue in last week's The Lens Read and observe The US joined Russia in voting against a UN resolution that called for an end to the war in Ukraine and condemned Russia's aggression. Photo: AFP The administration of US President Donald Trump is temporarily suspending US military aid for Ukraine, the White House confirmed last week. The suspension was announced just days after Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. During his election campaign, Trump had questioned the necessity of US aid to Ukraine. Under Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, the US was Ukraine's largest supporter in the defensive struggle against Russia. The United States also split with its European allies last month by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three UN resolutions seeking an end to the three-year war. In the UN General Assembly, the US joined Russia in voting against a Europe-backed Ukrainian resolution that called out Moscow's aggression and demanded a withdrawal of Russian troops. The US pushed for a vote on its original draft in the more powerful UN Security Council, where resolutions are legally binding, and it has veto power along with Russia, China, Britain and France. The vote in the 15-member council was 10-0, with five European countries abstaining. The duelling resolutions reflect the tensions between the US and Ukraine after Trump suddenly opened negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict quickly. In the first vote, the General Assembly approved the Ukrainian resolution 93-18 with 65 abstentions. The result showed some diminished support for Ukraine because previous assembly votes saw more than 140 nations condemn Russia's aggression. The assembly then turned to the US-drafted resolution. The resolution acknowledges 'the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict' and 'implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia', but never mentions Moscow's aggression. Research and respond What is the role of the United States and President Donald Trump in the UN General Assembly? What are the implications of the US stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict?
