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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Forum: Seniors urged to prioritise getting hearing checked
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox We agree that the proper fitting of hearing aids and structured post-fitting follow-up care can lower seniors' risk of dementia and enhance their quality of life by giving them a better chance of remaining active, connected and independent ( Sumiko at 61: Hearing loss is linked to dementia risk. Here's why you should not ignore it , Aug 12). Aside from research that links the treating of hearing loss to mitigating the risk of dementia, social isolation, loneliness, depression and anxiety, increased fall risk and cognitive decline are some other health risks associated with hearing loss, which the World Health Organisation says can be 'broad and profound'. It is common for seniors to delay seeking help until their hearing loss significantly impacts their social interactions, relationships, well-being and even safety. Early detection and intervention are important and I encourage everyone, particularly those aged 60 and above, to prioritise getting their hearing checked. Of those fitted with hearing aids, anecdotal evidence from caregivers and hearing health professionals suggests that many hearing aids end up being put away rather than being used. There are over 100,000 seniors estimated to have disabling hearing loss in Singapore and that number is expected to rise with Singapore's ageing population, but 89 per cent of seniors prescribed hearing aids through the national functional screening programme do not take them up. There are several reasons. Some expect instant results, but hearing aids improve hearing; they do not restore normal hearing, and learning to hear more again is a gradual process, and can take up to a few months. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists Business New online tools by SkillsFuture Singapore help companies plan and curate staff training Life Chinese EV brand Nio to be launched in Singapore in first quarter of 2026 Asia 2 firefighters die in building fire at Osaka's Dotonbori tourist district Singapore Driver hurt after car turns turtle in Upper Thomson accident Sport National tennis player Shaheed Alam serves up charity event to benefit migrant workers Life New Blackpink album scheduled for November, YG Entertainment confirms Singapore Jail for driver of 11-tonne garbage truck that ran over cyclist in Woodlands Hearing aids may be uncomfortable at first, with louder or unnatural sounds, or they may not sit comfortably at first. They also have to be tuned and adjusted regularly. And hearing aids are not cheap. The Singapore Association for the Deaf helps to lower the barriers to good hearing health by offering: complimentary hearing tests to aid early detection; personalised fitting services and comprehensive post-fitting care with patience and skill to help seniors maximise the effectiveness of their hearing aids; the care of professionals to educate, explain and journey with seniors to encourage them to persist in wearing their hearing aids; and assistance in securing financial aid through the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund and the Assistive Technology Fund. Some may see hearing loss as an unavoidable part of ageing, but with early detection and proper care, caregivers, the community and hearing health practitioners can encourage seniors to take up and persist in wearing hearing aids so they can better enjoy their golden years. Sunil Kumar Senior Speech and Language Therapist/Audiologist The Singapore Association for the Deaf
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Straits Times
Forum: Spend time in green spaces to find calm amid life's pressures
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Green spaces have long been present in our lives, from vast nature reserves to manicured gardens to even greenhouses. Their importance is beyond question, offering a host of benefits, some obvious and others less so. Green spaces offer much-needed respite from the relentless pace of daily life. The stresses of work are rarely confined to the workplace. The time spent in nature provides a rare opportunity to step away from those pressures, reflect on our day, and recharge in a setting that stimulates us in different ways. Such moments can lead to marked improvements in mental well-being, leaving us refreshed and rebalanced. Singapore's vision of a garden city ensures that these benefits are accessible to all. Through careful urban planning, green spaces are scattered across the island, maintained to a high standard, and increasingly integrated into new developments through vertical and rooftop gardens. Even as housing demand rises, these efforts help preserve our connection to nature. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists Business New online tools by SkillsFuture Singapore help companies plan and curate staff training Life Chinese EV brand Nio to be launched in Singapore in first quarter of 2026 Asia 2 firefighters die in building fire at Osaka's Dotonbori tourist district Singapore Driver hurt after car turns turtle in Upper Thomson accident Sport National tennis player Shaheed Alam serves up charity event to benefit migrant workers Life New Blackpink album scheduled for November, YG Entertainment confirms Singapore Jail for driver of 11-tonne garbage truck that ran over cyclist in Woodlands Our lives can be hectic, but we should carve out some time to smell the roses and unwind in a healthy way. Shayan Bontha
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Zelensky dons more formal attire for high-stakes meeting with Trump
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr Zelensky's black-on-black ensemble, sans tie, wasn't exactly a suit, but it seemed to please Mr Trump all the same. WASHINGTON - The last time Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House, his dark military-style outfit drew scorn from US President Donald Trump, who wears suits every day. Mr Zelensky's garb at that February meeting featured in a disastrous session with Mr Trump in which the two leaders bickered and the Ukrainian president was escorted out of the White House early, without lunch. On Aug 18, with his country facing pressure to accept a peace deal to end Europe's deadliest war in 80 years, Mr Zelensky showed up for his talks with Mr Trump wearing more formal attire. The black-on-black ensemble, sans tie, wasn't exactly a suit, but it seemed to please Mr Trump all the same. A reporter who had asked Mr Zelensky in February why he was not wearing a suit complimented the Ukraine leader on the attire he chose for his latest Oval Office session with Mr Trump. "You look fabulous in that suit," the reporter said. Mr Trump chimed in: "I said the same thing." This time, Mr Zelensky got in a good-natured dig. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists Business New online tools by SkillsFuture Singapore help companies plan and curate staff training Life Chinese EV brand Nio to be launched in Singapore in first quarter of 2026 Asia 2 firefighters die in building fire at Osaka's Dotonbori tourist district Singapore Driver hurt after car turns turtle in Upper Thomson accident Sport National tennis player Shaheed Alam serves up charity event to benefit migrant workers Life New Blackpink album scheduled for November, YG Entertainment confirms Singapore Jail for driver of 11-tonne garbage truck that ran over cyclist in Woodlands "You're wearing the same suit," he told the reporter, drawing laughter. "I changed." The media-savvy Ukrainian leader had worn military-type outfits to show solidarity with the troops fighting Russian invaders since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion. But after the February meeting with Mr Trump, Mr Zelensky switched to a more formal wardrobe. When the two leaders met at Pope Francis's funeral in Rome in April, the Ukrainian president wore a heavy black field jacket and black shirt buttoned to the collar, with no tie. The negative focus on Mr Zelensky's attire at the White House was widely criticised at the time by Ukrainians, who have largely rallied around their leader since Moscow's invasion. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Zelenskiy says he's open to election in Ukraine, if safe
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gestures during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Oval Office of the White House, amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque WASHINGTON - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday said he was open to holding an election in his country, if the war with Russia comes to an end and it was safe to do so. Zelenskiy made the comments at a press briefing in the Oval Office ahead of a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, when the two leaders are due to discuss how to end the 3-1/2-year long war triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion. Asked about his willingness to hold an election, an issue raised several times by Trump, Zelenskiy said, "Yes, of course, we are open to election, yes. We have to do safety in circumstances, and a little bit, we need to work in parliament because during the war you can't have elections." Zelenskiy added that a truce in the war was needed to make it possible for Ukrainians to engage in a democratic, open and legal election. Elections in Ukraine are currently suspended under martial law. The two leaders were polite throughout their public remarks to reporters, unlike at their explosive Oval Office meeting in February, although the U.S. president put Zelenskiy on the spot at one juncture. Trump interrupted the Ukrainian leader, saying, "So you're saying that during the war you can't have elections?" Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists Business New online tools by SkillsFuture Singapore help companies plan and curate staff training Life Chinese EV brand Nio to be launched in Singapore in first quarter of 2026 Asia 2 firefighters die in building fire at Osaka's Dotonbori tourist district Singapore Driver hurt after car turns turtle in Upper Thomson accident Sport National tennis player Shaheed Alam serves up charity event to benefit migrant workers Life New Blackpink album scheduled for November, YG Entertainment confirms Singapore Jail for driver of 11-tonne garbage truck that ran over cyclist in Woodlands With a smile, he added: "So, let me just say that three and a half years from now - you mean if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections?" Zelenskiy quickly laughed, adding, "No, no." REUTERS
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Iran warns war with Israel could resume at any time
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Israel and the United States repeatedly threatened to attack Iran again should Tehran relaunch its nuclear sites and resume its nuclear enrichment programme. TEHRAN - A senior Iranian official warned on Aug 18 that war with Israel could erupt at any moment, describing the current lull after June's 12-day conflict as only a temporary halt. 'We must be prepared at every moment for confrontation; right now, we are not even in a ceasefire (agreement); we are in a cessation of hostilities,' said First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref. The fighting in June saw Israel bombard Iranian nuclear and military sites, as well as residential areas, killing more than 1,000 people, including senior commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes that killed dozens in Israel. The United States announced a halt in fighting on June 24, two days after it joined the war by bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. But there was no agreement formalising the ceasefire, only an undeclared pause in hostilities. On Aug 17, Mr Yahya Rahim Safavi, a military adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told Iranian media the country was 'preparing plans for the worst-case scenario'. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists Business New online tools by SkillsFuture Singapore help companies plan and curate staff training Life Chinese EV brand Nio to be launched in Singapore in first quarter of 2026 Asia 2 firefighters die in building fire at Osaka's Dotonbori tourist district Singapore Driver hurt after car turns turtle in Upper Thomson accident Sport National tennis player Shaheed Alam serves up charity event to benefit migrant workers Life New Blackpink album scheduled for November, YG Entertainment confirms Singapore Jail for driver of 11-tonne garbage truck that ran over cyclist in Woodlands 'We are not in a ceasefire now, we are in a war phase, it could break down at any time, there is no protocol, no regulations, no agreement between us and the Israelis, between us and the Americans,' he said in remarks carried by the Shargh daily. 'A ceasefire means ceasing attacks; that could change at any time,' he added. Since then, Iranian officials have insisted the country is not seeking war but is ready for another confrontation. Western powers accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons through its atomic programme, a charge Tehran strongly denies. Following the war, Israel and the United States repeatedly threatened to attack Iran again should Tehran relaunch its nuclear sites and resume its nuclear enrichment programme. The United Nations nuclear watchdog has warned that Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country that enriches uranium to 60 per cent – far beyond the 3.67 per cent cap set by a landmark international accord reached in 2015. The level is a short step from the 90 per cent enrichment required for a nuclear weapon. Last week, Britain, France and Germany, all signatories to the 2015 deal, threatened to reimpose sanctions lifted under the agreement. Iran has warned of serious consequences, with some officials in the country hinting at withdrawal of Tehran from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. AFP
