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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
How can we cope with rising temperatures? Share your ideas at The Fashion Pulpit with ST Podcasts
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Titled 'Heat Stress & Us', the dialogue is part of The Straits Times' Green Pulse podcast. SINGAPORE - Temperatures are rising due to climate change, and the need to help people - especially those from vulnerable communities - cope with the heat is becoming more urgent. But with warm temperatures being something that many people living in tropical Singapore are already accustomed to, at what point does the heat become a public health risk? And how is Singapore taking steps to protect people with high exposure to heat, such as outdoor workers? Join us for a timely dialogue with experts on the issue at the fourth ST Podcasts Live event on Aug 12, which will be held at local swapping boutique The Fashion Pulpit in Jalan Besar. Titled 'Heat Stress & Us', the dialogue is part of The Straits Times' Green Pulse podcast, which provides a South-east Asian perspective on climate change and environmental issues. New episodes are aired every first and third Tuesday of the month. ST deputy foreign editor David Fogarty and assistant news editor Audrey Tan, who co-host Green Pulse, will be speaking with Associate Professor Jason Lee, director of the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore Online platforms have halved time it takes for Singaporeans to be self-radicalised: ISD Singapore 3 taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat Singapore ICA inspector obtained bribes in the form of sex acts from 6 foreign men in exchange for his help Singapore Doctor who forged certificates for aesthetic procedures gets 4 months' jail Life Alone but not lonely: Tips from seniors who live solo and like it Asia Extreme weather turns Beijing into rain trap; 30 killed, over 80,000 evacuated Prof Lee is also the lead principal investigator of Project HeatSafe, a research initiative that studies the threat that heat poses to human health, wellbeing, and productivity in South-east Asia. ST Podcasts Live on 12 Aug will address the pressing environmental issues of heat stress and human-wildlife conflict. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES The dialogue will also involve Ms Jaime Lim, director of the major hazards and the occupational safety and health specialist departments at the Ministry of Manpower. The Manpower Ministry had in 2023 rolled out new measures that required employers to take steps to protect outdoor workers from heat. Employers, for example, had to provide hourly rest breaks for workers when it gets too hot . Following the discussion on heat, a second podcast recording will take place. The second dialogue will touch on the reasons behind the increasing encounters between humans and wildlife in urban Singapore, and how such interactions should be managed to reduce conflict. One of the recent cases of human-wildlife encounters involve long-tailed macaques spotted within a once-forested area in Punggol that is now a residential area. The Straits Times earlier reported that the authorities had received over 200 reports of these monkeys over a seven-month period. The animals were spotted rummaging through bins and breaking into homes in search of food. As Singapore embarks on greening initiatives to infuse the urban landscape with more vegetation, experts have warned that encounters between humans and wildlife will only increase. A key point of the discussions will be how Singapore can achieve better co-existence between humans and the native wildlife that call the country home. ST correspondents Shabana Begum and Ang Qing, who were the co-hosts of ST's award-winning experiential podcast series Green Trails , will helm the second discussion. They will host Mr Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, the co-chief executive of wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres), and Ms Jasvic Lye, the campaign manager of Our Wild Neighbours, an initiative to educate the public on wildlife etiquette. Passionate about animal welfare, Mr Balakrishnan carried out Acres' first reptile repatriation in 2017 and was instrumental in ensuring that the wildlife rescue group continued to help animals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms Lye, a fine arts graduate, started her ongoing 'Death By Man' photo series in 2017 to shed light on the devastating effects of urbanisation on wildlife. Guests who sign up will be able to experience a live podcast recording session, and engage in a Q&A segment with panellists. Those interested can sign up at ST Podcasts Live is a series launched this year to commemorate The Straits Times' 180th anniversary. The first ST Podcasts Live, on the topic of historic buildings, took place on Feb 12 at The Foundry. This was followed by the second event on April 15 at The Projector, which discussed diverse definitions of success. In the third event on June 3 at Raffles Place Rasa, panellists spoke on how to build a fulfilling career. The live podcast on 12 Aug on environmental issues is the fourth in the series. ST Podcast Live at The Fashion Pulpit
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
askST Jobs: How Gen Zs can apply smarter, not harder, in their job search
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Young professionals should make upskilling a priority, and stay informed on trends within and beyond the industry they are in, says an expert. In this series, journalist Megan Wee offers practical answers to candid questions on navigating workplace challenges and getting ahead in your career. Get more tips by signing up to The Straits Times' Headstart newsletter . Q: A recent LinkedIn survey of Gen Z job seekers found that 32 per cent struggle to highlight their skills during their job search, while 54 per cent wish they have a more efficient way to assess if they are a good fit for a role. Facing these challenges amid a competitive job market, how can young job seekers streamline the process? A: When it comes to job searching, young people are encouraged to approach it with intention, said LinkedIn Asia-Pacific's head of human resources, Ms Sumita Tandon. 'That means focusing on roles they're genuinely excited about and can see themselves growing in over the next couple of years – not just applying broadly,' she added. With companies increasingly employing skills-based hiring, she encourages young job seekers to focus on the core capabilities listed in the job descriptions, rather than the titles and number of years of experience needed. 'Many Gen Zs I speak to underestimate how much they've already learnt,' she said, explaining that many of them have subconsciously built valuable skills through school projects, co-curricular activities, internships, part-time jobs or volunteer work. These could include project management skills developed from organising a school event, people management skills from leading a student club, or problem-solving skills from volunteering. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 Ms Evan Loke, director of the permanent division at recruitment firm Persolkelly Singapore, points out that job descriptions often contain broad terms, with the true expectations hidden between the lines. For example, 'strong communication skill' is not just about speaking well. It requires translating complex ideas between diverse teams, negotiating the scope of work with stakeholders and delivering persuasive presentations, she said. Ms Tandon added that given how LinkedIn profiles are recruiters' first stop in learning more about the candidates, it is worthwhile for job seekers to make their profiles work harder. For instance, instead of listing skills, job seekers can demonstrate how they have used these skills by providing real, concrete examples. Separately, Ms Loke emphasises quantifying the results of one's experience, like how many team members one leads in a role. Job seekers can also enhance their resumes and profiles with the addition of brief testimonials from people they have worked with, such as professors, managers or teammates, she added. Given how quickly the demand for job skills is changing, Ms Tandon stressed the importance of demonstrating a willingness to learn and grow by highlighting one's adaptability. Ms Loke suggested that young professionals keep a list of their accomplishments, enable smart job alerts and use easy-to-update resume templates. They can keep an ongoing list of their key skills – each accompanied by a few real-life examples – which helps with matching job requirements to their skills. Setting up job alerts based on one's top skills can also make it easier to find suitable job openings and allow one to observe patterns in how employers phrase their needs in such listings. Knowing the pattern would allow job seekers to curate a flexible template structured around specific skill groups, so that they can easily rearrange or swop out points to adapt the resume to the language of each job posting. 'One of the best things Gen Z professionals can do early in their careers is to adopt a growth mindset,' said Ms Tandon. First, young professionals should make it a habit to reflect on what they have learnt from different tasks, such as leading a project, working cross-functionally or navigating a challenge. Second, young professionals should actively seek feedback from their peers, managers and even interviewers. 'Understanding your strengths allows you to double down on them, while feedback on growth areas gives you a clear road map for what to improve or develop next,' she added. Finally, young professionals should make upskilling a priority, and stay informed on trends within and beyond the industry they are in. She said: 'Career growth is about continually investing in yourself, staying agile and being open to what's next... 'When you lead with this mindset, everything else will follow.'
New Paper
5 days ago
- New Paper
Users who discard vapes at CC disposal bins will not be traced: HSA
Those who throw their vapes into designated disposal bins installed around Singapore can be assured their identities will not be traced, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on July 26. HSA said this in response to The Straits Times' queries about the "Bin the Vape" initiative, regarding concerns about possible repercussions if vape users surrendered their devices. Launched by HSA, the Ministry of Health and the People's Association (PA) on July 25, bins were placed at 23 community clubs (CCs) and one residents' network centre around the island. Possessing, using or buying vapes carries a maximum fine of $2,000, but the authorities said during the launch that no action will be taken against those who voluntarily dispose of their vapes. On July 26, HSA said: "We would like to assure members of the public that the Health Sciences Authority will not be tracing the identities of any persons who had binned the e-vaporisers. "We strongly encourage the public to dispose of their e-vaporisers, if any, using these disposal bins as they offer a confidential, secure and responsible disposal method." The red bin resembles a normal trash bin - but with posters of the initiative plastered on its front and top, promising a safe and confidential disposal of vapes. A CCTV camera aimed at the bin deters theft of the disposed vapes and tampering, but had sparked concerns among some about being watched or identified. Privacy issues involving the use of data came up during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, regarding data collected by contact tracing app and token TraceTogether. The authorities had originally said there was no intention to use TraceTogether data as a means of picking up breaches of existing rules, but later said it could be used for criminal investigations. This was because the Singapore Police Force is empowered under the Criminal Procedure Code to obtain any data, including TraceTogether data, for criminal investigations. HSA also addressed concerns about theft and tampering of the vape disposal bins. It said they are locked and secured to fixtures such as pillars. Once the vapes are dropped inside the bins, they will not be retrievable. Cases of tampering or theft will be referred to the police. HSA said vapes may contain illicit substances like etomidate or controlled drugs and should be disposed of properly in the bins. HSA added: "These designated bins ensure these items are properly contained and destroyed, preventing them from being retrieved and potentially misused." It added these bins will be emptied regularly, and the disposed vapes will be sent to the incineration plants for proper destruction under close supervision. The "Bin the Vape" initiative is meant to encourage vape users to quit before the law catches up with them. The authorities noted that etomidate, a listed poison increasingly found in vapes here, will be classified as a Class C illegal drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act in the coming weeks. On July 25, the authorities reminded vape users and those consuming etomidate to give up their habit immediately. Members of the public can visit to locate the nearest bin. HSA said the locations are not a reflection of rates of vape usage around Singapore, but were decided based on available and convenient locations island-wide and in consultation with the PA. The bins will be progressively placed in other locations, such as at institutes of higher learning. Since July 21, HSA has extended the operating hours for its Tobacco Regulation Branch hotline on 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 to report vaping-related offences. The hotline operates from 9am to 9pm daily, including on public holidays. HSA has also launched a new online portal to report vaping-related offences at
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Your Ultimate Guide to ST Podcast Live Events
Attendees of the third edition of ST Podcasts Live which includes two podcast recordings on June 3, 2025 at 9 Raffles Place, Republic Plaza. SINGAPORE - Worried about career longevity? Have you or someone you know been struggling with mental health? Are you a young person who feels caught up in the rat race, or are you curious to know more about Singapore's heritage and local music scenes? No matter what you may be interested in, everyone gets a say at The Straits Times' 180th anniversary live podcast events to celebrate the newspaper's milestone year. Those who are interested in learning how a podcast recording is done, or in mingling and meeting with like-minded people to discuss the trending topics of the day, have been invited to attend over six live podcast recordings held this year. Participants could gain insights into the inner workings of podcast production and even pose questions to the guests. Joining them was Money FM 89.3 producer-presenter Dan Koh, who emceed for the events on Feb 12 and April 15, as well as Kiss92 presenter Shawnrick Hu, who emceed for the event on Jun 2. Events so far have featured ST Podcasts' The Usual Place, In Your Opinion, Health Check, Headstart On Record, and Music Lab, with more soon to come. In the inaugural live podcast event held at The Foundry in February, host of The Usual Place Natasha Ann Zachariah met with guests from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to discuss 'the narrative, resonance and stories behind' heritage spaces in Singapore. Colin Low, chief executive of SLA, and Ng Wee Liang, who creates content on Singapore heritage, spoke with Ms Zachariah on how millennial Singaporeans can play a part in reviving and preserving historical buildings and their heritage. Later in the evening, assistant podcast editor and In Your Opinion host Lynda Hong hosted a discussion with correspondent Christie Chiu on how music moves the mind and its transformative impact on dementia care. Guest Johnson Soh, founder of eldercare company SanCare Asia, demonstrated how an instrument called Crdl (pronounced Cradle) provides a sensorial experience for seniors, allowing them to translate their touch into sounds as a way of connecting with others, while programme executive at Fei Yue Community Services Amanda Soon also spoke about how music and sound can be therapeutic for seniors, and how young people can get involved in volunteering to make a difference. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day Singapore Etomidate found in blood of 2 people involved in fatal Punggol Road accident in May: HSA Singapore More students to get Smart Buddy watches; most schools have gone cashless Singapore Vape disposal bins at 23 CCs for users to surrender e-vaporisers, without facing penalties Business Microsoft Singapore managing director Lee Hui Li dies while on sabbatical Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly (From left) Event emcee Dan Koh of Money FM, In Your Opinion podcast co-hosts Lynda Hong and Christie Chiu, Mr Johnson Soh, founder of SanCare Asia, and Ms Amanda Soon, programme executive from Fei Yue Community Services, taking a group picture with the audience during the ST Podcasts Live! event held in partnership with Singapore Land Authority at The Foundry on Feb 12, 2025. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM At The Projector in April, In Your Opinion made another appearance where Ms Hong spoke with two youths about their experiences in starting up a business, and whether school grades would determine success at the workplace. Adella Yeo Rae-Nyse, who is currently an account manager at a software company, had co-founded MatcHub, a startup that matched fellow NUS students to find suitable job roles based on their personality. Meanwhile Nabill Shukry Johary, a part-time student with SUSS studying marketing, juggles school with a business he started up in 2021 with his father - Cheekies, a home-based delivery service of healthy meals for the Muslim market - in a bid to help his family move out of their one-room rental apartment in Tampines. Senior health correspondent Joyce Teo also hosted a session of Health Check, where she and guests Lee Yi Ping, the programme lead and principal Case Manager at Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health in Singapore, and Delane Lim, the founder and executive director of the charity Character & Leadership Academy, which runs youth development, mental wellness, and suicide prevention programmes for young people, discussed mental health. From left: Delane Lim, Lee Yi Ping and Health Check podcast host Joyce Teo. ST PHOTO: JASPER YU For a younger audience, June's event featured ST's Headstart On Record discussions regarding career health and wellbeing at club Rasa Space. The episode was hosted by correspondent Tay Hong Yi, speaking with guests Noel Png, a telecommunications system engineer at ST Engineering, and senior career coach Parameswari Seenivasa. Audience members also chimed with questions about their own careers and opportunities. Later in the night, Music Lab host Eddino Abdul Hadi hosted award-winning Singaporean composer, producer, and music director Evan Low to discuss the trajectory of a career in music in Singapore. A recipient of the National Arts Council's Young Artist Award in 2024, Low has worked on over 200 songs. He is best known for being a co-composer and musician on recent National Day Parade songs The Road Ahead (2021) sung by artistes such as Linying, Not Alone (2024) by Benjamin Kheng and the 2018 remake of We Are Singapore. Mr Evan Low @evanturetime Award-winning Singaporean Music Director & Music Producer at the third edition of ST Podcasts Live which includes two podcast recordings on June 3, 2025. ST PHOTO: Desmond Wee Three more podcast events are planned for the rest of the year. Catch full episodes on ST's podcast platforms and stay tuned for updates!
Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
The Fantastic Four: A legacy of first steps
SINGAPORE – The First Family of comics finally arrives in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which opens in Singapore cinemas on July 24. The Straits Times' executive artist Billy Ker and correspondent Yamini Chinnuswamy venture into the many 'firsts' of this ground-breaking superhero team. First Marvel superhero team Legendary American comic book creators Jack Kirby and Stan Lee introduced scientist Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), pilot Ben Grimm (The Thing) and siblings Sue and Johnny Storm (Invisible Woman and Human Torch) in Fantastic Four #1, published in 1961. The Avengers and X-Men followed in 1963. First superhero family ST ILLUSTRATION: BILLY KER The Fantastic Four are not just a team, but also a family with strong interpersonal dynamics: Reed and Sue: romantic partners Sue and Johnny: siblings Reed and Ben: best friends from college Johnny and Ben: antagonistic bros Reed and Johnny: surrogate father and son Ben and Sue: protective friendship First superheroes with extraterrestrial powers ST ILLUSTRATION: BILLY KER The Fantastic Four were the first superheroes to gain their powers directly from a cosmic event, during an experimental space mission gone wrong. Mysterious cosmic rays penetrated their spacecraft's shield, but instead of killing them, the radiation bestowed them with superpowers: extreme elasticity (Mister Fantastic), invisibility and force field generation (Invisible Woman), rock-like body armour (The Thing) and pyrokinesis (Human Torch). First Marvel wedding The wedding between Reed and Sue, portrayed in Fantastic Four Annual #3 in 1965, is considered to be the first to appear in Marvel comics. Nearly every major Marvel hero of the time pops up in that comic – the Avengers, X-Men and Spider-Man, to name a few. First introduction to the Marvel Cosmic Universe The Fantastic Four were the first Marvel property to introduce the 'cosmic universe' within the wider world of the comic book line. Seeds were planted with their space-based origin story, before expanding into full galactic mythology with the introduction of Galactus and the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four #48 (1966). First unreleased Marvel movie In 1994, a low-budget film titled The Fantastic Four was completed on a shoestring budget of about US$1 million. It was allegedly never intended for public release. Instead, it was produced primarily to help German film producer Bernd Eichinger retain the film rights to the First Family, which he had optioned from Marvel in 1986. The rights eventually went to American movie studio 20th Century Fox, which was later bought by The Walt Disney Company in 2019. First MCU film taking place in another universe ST ILLUSTRATION: BILLY KER The Fantastic Four: First Steps is reportedly the first film in the MCU to be set primarily on Earth-828, rather than the franchise's main continuity of Earth-616, where the preceding 36 MCU films have taken place. First Marvel radio special Debuting in 1975, The Fantastic Four Radio Series was a dramatic adaptation of early storylines from the eponymous comic book series. The 13-episode production featured narration by Marvel icon Stan Lee and voice work by American actor Bill Murray. First superhero team to inspire an animated movie franchise ST ILLUSTRATION: BILLY KER The concept behind Pixar's hit film The Incredibles (2004) and its sequel The Incredibles 2 (2018) is an unofficial homage to The Fantastic Four. The Incredibles movies are also about a superpowered family whose members have super-strength, pyrokinesis, hyper-elasticity, invisibility and force field generation. First appearances ST ILLUSTRATION: BILLY KER The Fantastic Four comics introduced multiple Marvel heroes and villains who would later play big and small roles in both the comics and the MCU. Here are some of them. Franklin Richards: Marvel's first superhero baby and the son of Reed and Sue. He will appear in First Steps. Black Panther: The heroic king of the fictional African country of Wakanda. He was played by late American actor Chadwick Boseman in the MCU movies. Kang The Conqueror: A time-travelling megalomaniac. He was last seen in Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and was played by American actor Jonathan Majors. Doctor Doom: A sorcerer-scientist and ruler of the fictional nation of Latveria. One of Marvel's most enduring villains, he is slated to appear in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and will be played by Iron Man (2008 to 2013) actor Robert Downey Jr. Honorary Fantastic Four members ST ILLUSTRATION: BILLY KER The Fantastic Four's 'core four' will always be family, but the team's roster has seen personnel rotations over the years. Here are some of the quirkiest.
