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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ukraine says Russian strikes kills three in the east
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A man riding a bicycle beneath anti-drone nets in Orikhiv, in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, on July 15. KYIV - A combined Russian strike on the afternoon of July 15 killed three people in eastern Ukraine, local authorities said, after US President Donald Trump gave Moscow 50 days to reach a peace deal with Ukraine. Russia has been stepping up its summer offensive campaign as Washington-mediated ceasefire talks stall, claiming more ground in eastern Ukraine while pounding it with combined drone, artillery and missile strikes. 'Two dead and two injured: law enforcement officers recorded the consequences of another enemy attack in the Kupiansk district,' the Kharkiv region prosecutor's office said on social media, adding that the victims were 67 and 69 years old. Regional authorities in Sumy said a 50-year-old local resident had died after 'the enemy fired artillery at the outskirts of the Velykopysarivska community'. Elsewhere on the front line, Russian forces claimed two more villages in the Donetsk region, increasing the pace of their advance. A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's western city of Voronezh wounded 27 people, local officials claimed on July 15. Mr Trump said he had struck a deal with Nato to supply American air defence systems and weapons to Ukraine and threatened Russia with tariffs and sanctions, as he grows frustrated with Russian leader Vladimir Putin for rejecting a ceasefire and instead intensifying attacks. AFP
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Britain's Tara Moore handed four-year ban after CAS upholds ITIA appeal
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Tara Moore, Britain's former number one-ranked doubles player, ate contaminated meat but was not able to show that the doping violation was not intentional. LONDON - Britain's Tara Moore, who was previously cleared of an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), was handed a four-year ban on July 15 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld an appeal filed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). Moore, Britain's former number one-ranked doubles player, was provisionally suspended in June 2022 due to the presence of prohibited anabolic steroids Nandrolone and boldenone. Moore said she had never knowingly taken a banned substance in her career and an independent tribunal determined that contaminated meat consumed by her in the days before sample collection was the source of the prohibited substance. Moore lost 19 months in the process before she was cleared of the ADRV but CAS upheld the ITIA's appeal against the first instance 'No Fault or Negligence' ruling with respect to nandrolone. 'After reviewing the scientific and legal evidence, the majority of the CAS Panel considered that the player did not succeed in proving that the concentration of nandrolone in her sample was consistent with the ingestion of contaminated meat,' CAS said in a statement. 'The panel concluded that Ms Moore failed to establish that the ADRV was not intentional. The appeal by the ITIA is therefore upheld and the decision rendered by the Independent Tribunal is set aside.' Moore had previously said how she saw her reputation, ranking and livelihood 'slowly trickling away' for 19 months during her initial suspension. The 32-year-old had also filed a cross-appeal at CAS 'seeking to dismiss the ITIA appeal, dismiss the nandrolone result in the ADRV or alternatively confirm that she bears no fault or negligence'. However, CAS said the cross-appeal was declared inadmissible and her four-year period of ineligibility would start from July 15, with credit for any provisional suspension that has already been served. 'Our bar for appealing a first instance decision is high, and the decision is not taken lightly,' ITIA chief executive officer Karen Moorhouse said in a statement. 'In this case, our independent scientific advice was that the player did not adequately explain the high level of nandrolone present in their sample. Today's ruling is consistent with this position.' REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- General
- Straits Times
Forum: Do away with steps at ground-level walkways for easier access
Find out what's new on ST website and app. There is a matter that affects many Singaporeans daily, especially the elderly, parents with strollers, people with mobility challenges, and even travellers with luggage. Across the city, public walkways still contain unnecessary steps, sometimes just one or two, which act as daily barriers to easy access. These steps appear at the edges of MRT stations, entrances to wet markets and hawker centres, linkways between HDB blocks, and paths leading into malls. I am referring to ground-level facilities where a step could easily be replaced by a ramp. These include short kerbs, platform steps and elevated entrances that could otherwise be reimagined with stepless, smooth transitions. Removing such steps would be a small but meaningful change that reflects empathy in urban planning. Let us consider a future where every walkway from home to the MRT, wet market or coffee shop is barrier-free. I urge the authorities to progressively eliminate unnecessary steps at all ground-level walkways. Foo Siang Yian
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Forum: Managing school closure days remains a challenge for parents
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A s a working parent of three primary school-going children, I am grateful for the many ways Singapore supports families. That said, many parents, including myself, face challenges managing school closure days that fall outside official public holidays with our limited parental leave entitlement. Each year, schools close for days such as on Youth Day, Teachers' Day, Children's Day, the day after National Day, and PSLE marking days, which last for four days. In addition, there are occasional early dismissals and home-based learning days, where students stay home and often require parental supervision, especially for younger children. These can easily add up to seven or more working days a year, not counting regular school breaks. Currently, working parents receive only two days of extended childcare leave annually when the youngest child is between seven and 12 years old. This often falls short in meeting caregiving needs. Many parents cope by using annual leave or relying on family support, but this can be difficult for those with multiple children or limited help at home. Perhaps the relevant ministries can consider reviewing ways to better support parents. These could include increasing childcare leave and looking at ways to limit school closure days that require parental supervision. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Las Vegas Sands' new development part of S'pore's broader, more ambitious transformation: PM Wong Singapore Economic headwinds do not dampen outlook for new Marina Bay development: Las Vegas Sands president Business MAS records net profit of $19.7 billion, fuelled by investment gains Singapore Man charged with attempted murder of woman at Kallang Wave Mall Singapore CDL's long-time director Philip Yeo to depart after boardroom feud Singapore Ex-cleaner jailed over safety lapses linked to guard's death near 1-Altitude rooftop bar Life The Violinist, Singapore's first animated historical film, set for August 2026 release Singapore 'Nobody deserves to be alone': Why Mummy and Acha have fostered over 20 children in the past 22 years Such thoughtful adjustments would help working parents manage their responsibilities at home and at work, making it easier to raise families in Singapore while balancing career commitments. Low Wen Wei
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Nine Canadian First Nations launch constitutional challenge of major-projects legislation
Find out what's new on ST website and app. TORONTO - Nine First Nations have launched a constitutional challenge of recently passed legislation meant to fast-track major projects, arguing they violate the government's constitutional obligations to First Nations. The two new laws 'represent a clear and present danger to the Applicant First Nations' self-determination rights" and violate the government's obligation to reconcile with First Nations, according to a notice of application filed in Ontario Superior Court on Monday. The nations represented included Alderville First Nation, Apitipi Anicinapek Nation, Aroland First Nation, Attawapiskat First Nation, Fort Albany First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Oneida Nation of the Thames and Wabauskang First Nation. The federal law, passed speedily late last month, would let the government select projects in the "national interest' and then decide whether some laws apply to them. With the law, Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney aims to fulfill a campaign promise to speed up approvals of what he calls nation-building projects, potentially, including mines and oil pipelines. The Ontario law, passed in early June, allows the government to declare "special economic zones" that make some projects exempt from other provincial laws. Both laws have earned the ire of environmentalists, who say they elide legislation meant to mitigate ecological harms, and Indigenous groups who argue they run roughshod over their rights to self-determination and the government's duty to consult. The national law lets Canada 'unilaterally ram through projects without meaningful engagement with First Nations,' the court filing reads. Spokespersons for the Canadian government did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. A spokesperson for Ontario's Premier said the provincial government will continue to build consensus with First Nations on shared priorities. "We have begun productive conversations with First Nations who share our vision of unlocking economic opportunity and critical infrastructure in their community and will continue these consultations throughout the summer," they wrote in an email. REUTERS
