Latest news with #PIXABAY
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- General
- Straits Times
‘Adulting 101': Canadian uni offers classes for Gen Zs to learn basic life skills
Swathes of Gen Z-ers are enrolling in 'Adulting 101' - a course designed to teach students day-to-day life skills. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: PIXABAY Which is harder - coding an app from scratch or grocery shopping? Surprisingly, some Gen Zs might argue it's the latter. Gen Z, or Generation Z, refers to those born between 1997 and 2012 . While some are already full-fledged adults, many say t hey still lack essential life skills. To make up for this, the University of Waterloo, a top-ranked institution in Ontario, Canada, has launched 'Adulting 101' - a course designed to teach students day-to-day life skills. On the university's website, the course description reads: 'From managing your finances, grocery shopping, keeping your laundry whites... white, staying organised - there are a lot of important life skills you might have wished you learned sooner.' It is structured around three key areas: prioritising mental and physical well-being, adapting to new responsibilities, and fostering personal growth. There are no reports on the number of students who have enrolled in the course. 'I don't know how to change a tyre. I don't have a car at all. I don't know how to sew. I don't know how to do a lot of things, other than cooking,' Mr Aldhen Garcia confessed on The Current, a radio programme produced by Canadian news outlet CBC News. The freshman at Canada's Toronto Metropolitan University is among many in his generation who share the struggle of navigating adulthood. But why do young people these days need a crash course on what previous generations might deem common sense? According to experts , overprotective parents who are excessively involved in their children's lives may be partly to blame, reported American news outlet CBS News. Gen Zs are also living with their parents for longer periods, taking on lesser responsibilities as their parents manage the household. This prolong s their adolescence while delaying their development, researcher and psychology professor at San Diego State University Jean Twenge said on The Current. 'Kids are growing up less independent. They're less likely to learn how to do adult things as high school students. Then they get to university, and they still don't know,' she said. Her sentiments were echoed by netizens worldwide. Commenting on CBS' TikTok account, one said: 'If someone is 20 and can't do laundry, personally, I blame it on the parents.' Beyond household chores, financial literacy is also a major concern for many in that generation, and one of the key skills they hope to gain by enrolling in the course. 'Within the school curriculum, I think it is so important that children are taught financial literacy. A lot of stuff involves money,' Mr Garcia said. While some praised the students for recognising their shortcomings and taking steps to improve, others were quick to point out that these skills should be taught earlier on in home economics classes. 'We learned how to sew, cook, use tools and other stuff in school. It is sad they took those classes away,' one user commented. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
US proposes 60-day Gaza ceasefire, hostage swap plan
The 60-day ceasefire, according to the plan, may be extended if negotiations for a permanent ceasefire are not concluded within the set period. PHOTO: PIXABAY Listen to article The US plan for Gaza, seen by Reuters on Friday, proposes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 28 Israeli hostages - alive and dead - in the first week, in exchange for the release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 dead Palestinians. The document, which says the plan is guaranteed by US President Donald Trump and mediators Egypt and Qatar, includes sending humanitarian aid to Gaza as soon as Hamas signs off on the ceasefire agreement. The aid will be delivered by the United Nations, the Red Crescent and other agreed channels. The White House said on Thursday that Israel had agreed to the US ceasefire proposal. Israeli media said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted the deal presented by Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The prime minister's office declined to comment. Hamas said it had received the Israeli response to the proposal, which it said "fails to meet any of the just and legitimate demands of our people" including an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Hamas official Basem Naim said the Israeli response "fundamentally seeks to entrench the occupation and perpetuate policies of killing and starvation, even during what is supposed to be a period of temporary de-escalation". However, he said Hamas' leadership was carrying out a "thorough and responsible review of the new proposal". The US plan provides for Hamas to release the last 30 of the 58 remaining Israeli hostages once a permanent ceasefire is in place. Israel will also cease all military operations in Gaza as soon as the truce takes effect, it shows. The Israeli army will also redeploy its troops in stages. Deep differences between Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March. Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely, be dismantled as a military and governing force and return all 58 hostages still held in Gaza before it will agree to end the war. Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the war. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack in its south on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 Israelis taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, Gaza health officials say, and has left the enclave in ruins. Mounting pressure Israel has come under increasing international pressure, with many European countries that are usually reluctant to criticise it openly demanding an end to the war and a major relief effort. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday that Israel is blocking all but a trickle of humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, with almost no ready-to-eat food entering what its spokesperson described as "the hungriest place on earth". Witkoff told reporters on Wednesday that Washington was close to "sending out a new term sheet" about a ceasefire by the two sides in the conflict. "I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution, temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution, of that conflict," Witkoff said then. The 60-day ceasefire, according to the plan, may be extended if negotiations for a permanent ceasefire are not concluded within the set period. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Thursday the terms of the proposal echoed Israel's position and did not contain commitments to end the war, withdraw Israeli troops or admit aid as Hamas has demanded. Aid distribution The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private group backed by the United States and endorsed by Israel, said it had distributed a total of more than 1.8 million meals this week and it expanded its aid distribution to a third site in Gaza on Thursday. GHF plans to open more sites in coming weeks. The group, heavily criticised by the United Nations and other aid groups as inadequate and flawed, began its operation this week in Gaza, where the U.N. has said 2 million people are at risk of famine after an 11-week blockade by Israel on aid entering the enclave. There were tumultuous scenes on Tuesday as thousands of Palestinians rushed to distribution points and forced private security contractors to retreat. The chaotic start to the operation has raised international pressure on Israel to get more food in and halt the fighting in Gaza.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
UAE to launch media age rating system to protect children
UAE to roll out media age rating system to protect children from harmful content, the Media Council announced Thursday. PHOTO: PIXABAY Listen to article The United Arab Emirates will implement a comprehensive age rating system for media content, aimed at shielding children and adolescents from inappropriate material, the UAE Media Council announced on Thursday. The initiative, which comes amid a surge in digital content consumption, is part of a broader framework launched to regulate and develop the media sector. While the council has not yet specified a timeline for the rollout, officials emphasise its critical importance in a fast-evolving digital landscape. Speaking at the launch, Maitha Al Suwaidi, CEO of Strategy and Media Policies Sector at the UAE Media Council, said the new age classification system builds on existing regulations covering films, video games, comics, and printed material. The expansion will now encompass a broader spectrum of digital and on-demand content. 'This system is crucial given the rise in digital content consumption,' Al Suwaidi said. 'It is designed to safeguard young audiences while creating a more robust and responsible media environment.' The system forms a central part of the UAE's recently introduced Media Regulation Law, hailed as the first comprehensive media legislation in over four decades. Mohammed Al Shehhi, Secretary-General of the UAE Media Council, described the law as a transformative milestone that lays a solid foundation for a future-proof media sector. Developed over two years through collaboration with federal and local agencies, media organisations, creators, and international experts, the new regulatory framework is designed to be dynamic and adaptable to technological changes, including developments in artificial intelligence, gaming, and digital broadcasting. A new resolution regulating social media advertising by individuals, aimed at enhancing transparency, building public trust, and improving the quality of digital content. Three-year permit fee exemptions for social media content creators, offering tangible support to the creator economy. A local content empowerment policy that prioritises Emirati talent and projects, encouraging media that reflects national identity and culture. Fee exemptions for select media services, aimed at supporting local producers, writers, and creatives. Al Suwaidi stressed that empowering national content is a cornerstone of the new strategy. 'We aim to create an enabling environment that nurtures creativity, supports local production, and positions the UAE as a competitive media hub regionally and globally.' The UAE Media Council says the initiative aligns with national goals to make the media sector a vital contributor to the economy, supporting GDP growth, attracting investment, and stimulating innovation. By introducing streamlined procedures, strategic partnerships, and incentivised exemptions, the system aims to unlock the full potential of the media landscape while ensuring content safety and cultural integrity. 'This is not just a regulatory shift,' said Al Shehhi, 'it's a strategic transformation that positions media as a key pillar in the UAE's sustainable development.'
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
What's in a name? Japan bans flashy baby names like Pikachu and Nike
The new rules come under a revised law, which requires names in the Japanese national family registry to include phonetic readings. PHOTO: PIXABAY What's in a name? Japan bans flashy baby names like Pikachu and Nike Japan has imposed rules to curb how parents want to pronounce their children's names, targeting a trend of what is known as 'kira-kira' - the Japanese onomatopoeia for 'shiny' or 'sparkly' - names. 'Kira-kira' refers to names that use kanji, or Chinese characters, but are read in ways that would make the names unusual, contradictory or unrelated to the words' meanings . This can include giving traditional names a misleading or foreign-sounding twist. For example, politician and former Olympian Seiko Hashimoto named her sons Girisha (Greece) and Torino (Turin) - after the locations of the Olympic Games held in the years of their births. 'Kira-kira' names - such as Pikachu and Naiki (Nike) - have been criticised for causing confusion in schools, hospitals and public services, or in some cases, embarrassment for the child. The new rules imposed on May 26 come under a revised law, which requires all names in Japan's national family registry to include phonetic readings, local media reported this week. Kanji often have multiple readings, giving parents some flexibility in choosing how to write their children's names. However, only widely accepted readings will be allowed now under the legislation. As a result, parents will no longer be able to give their children names with readings unrelated to the kanji meaning or standard pronunciation, Kyodo News reported . However, non-standard readings based on established usage are allowed. Residents across Japan will be receiving notifications by mail to confirm the phonetic readings of the names in their households, according to NTV News. Those who require corrections may submit a request within a year of receiving the notification. Parents of newborns may be asked to explain the pronunciations of their children's names, though cases deemed as unclear may be referred to legal affairs bureaus, Kyodo said. Other countries have also imposed laws to prevent parents from giving their children names that can be deemed inappropriate or embarrassing. For instance, Sweden has strict guidelines on what parents can name their child. Under Swedish law, parents much submit the proposed name of their child within three months from birth. It states that the name must not be offensive, cause discomfort to the child, or for some other reason be unsuitable as a first name. In New Zealand, there are guidelines that ensure that names are not offensive, at a reasonable length and do not unjustifiably resemble an official title or rank. As a result, names such as Justice and Prince are not allowed. In 2008, a young girl from the country made headlines after it was revealed during a custody hearing that she was named Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii. Her name was later changed. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Netflix raised prices again. But cancelling may be harder than you think
About one in three households in Singapore subscribe to Netflix, and many also pay for other streaming, music or fitness services. PHOTO: PIXABAY In the latest season of Netflix sci-fi series Black Mirror, there's an episode where a woman needs a subscription streaming service to stay alive. But soon, the basic service is not enough, and she has to continually upgrade to higher tiers – which get increasingly more expensive. It's a chilling parody of modern life – and how deeply embedded subscription services are in our day-to-day lives. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
