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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
Coffee Meets Bagel's Singpass check: Why I'll swipe right on that
Find out what's new on ST website and app. On June 9, Coffee Meets Bagel started using Singpass authentication to verify its local users. I knew I would probably have to kiss many frogs before I found my prince, but I did not expect to have to scrutinise if the frogs were real in the first place. Roland looked and sounded like a dream – 39 years old, a corporate lawyer with a start-up on the side, pictures of him in a fancy car and at a yacht party enjoying cocktails, and a bio so polished it could have been written by a branding consultant. But the scripted perfection felt off. In our text conversations, his responses were stilted and unnatural. His favourite food was chicken rice, and his favourite place to catch a sunset was at Marina Bay Sands. His poison of choice at a bar? The Singapore Sling. In the four days I chatted with him, every day on the dot at noon, he would ask if I had eaten. Every night at 10.30pm, I would get a good night message wishing me sweet dreams. Days later, his profile was quietly deleted. Had I been romanced by an artificial intelligence-generated Romeo? I would never know – but I had a strong suspicion that I was. Profiles like Roland's are becoming more common – and more deceptive. With the rise of generative AI, it is no longer far-fetched to wonder if I am flirting with a bot. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore 2 weeks' jail for man caught smuggling over 1,800 vapes and pods into Singapore Singapore Jail for man who fatally hit his daughter, 2, while driving van without licence Sport 'Like being in a washing machine with 40 deg C water': Open water swimmers brave challenging conditions Singapore Primary 1 registration: 38 primary schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2A Singapore ComfortDelGro to introduce new taxi cancellation, waiting fee policy Business Cathay Cineplexes gets fresh demands to pay up $3.3m debt for Century Square, Causeway Point outlets Singapore Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo One dating app has moved to stamp out fake dating profiles. On June 9, Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) started using Singpass authentication to verify its local users. The one-time verification process involves the CMB app retrieving users' NRIC number or Foreign Identification Number, date of birth, marital status and gender from government records. With Singpass verification, users like me gain rare certainty in a world of fakes: that the person I'm chatting with is who they say they are – not married, not lying about their age, and not some bot. That can only rebuild trust in an increasingly complex digital world, where tricksters with nefarious purposes have more advanced tools to obfuscate their identities. A Bloomberg story in 2024 found that fraudsters are using AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini to create fake dating profiles. In recent times, it is also becoming increasingly common to see profiles with pictures that are either a little too perfectly edited or look AI-generated. I hesitate to swipe on such profiles – I am not sure if someone is leveraging AI to bolster their attractiveness; or if a scammer or bot is behind such accounts. Even without AI, fake and misleading accounts have been a problem on dating apps. When I first downloaded dating apps three years ago after I was fresh out of a decade-long relationship, I was ready for awkward first dates, rejection and even ghosting. Instead, I found married men with blurred profile pictures looking for a one-night stand, scammers impersonating popular local influencers, and supposed rich Chinese businessmen a little too eager to promote their investments. My friend was shattered when she eventually discovered that a man she had been seeing from a dating app for three months was in fact six years older than he claimed, and was married. A YouGov survey published in February 2024 found that three-quarters of Singaporeans have never used a dating app before. When asked why, 27 per cent said that they were concerned about fake or misleading dating app profiles. Apart from CMB, other major dating apps commonly used in Singapore have some way to go towards addressing this concern. OkCupid, Hinge and Tinder will match a user's recorded video selfies along with their profile pictures. But this only proves a person's identity, and does not verify age or marital status. As at June 10, Bumble has allowed for identity verification with Government-issued IDs in Singapore, but the move is optional. In contrast, CMB users who choose not to verify their identities with Singpass authentication risk losing out on connections because verified users have the option to filter out unverified profiles. This elevates CMB above its competitors, further bolstering its reputation as a dating app for those looking for a serious relationship. The benefits of CMB's move go beyond restoring trust and confidence in dating apps. More crucially, it helps to promote safety. CMB's head of trust and safety Rachel Tee previously told ST that with government-backed verification, the platform will be able to significantly reduce the number of scam profiles that require manual moderation. This means that CMB will have more bandwidth to deal with more serious cases such as harassment, inappropriate messages or even offline misconduct. I have heard many anecdotal accounts from friends who have received unsolicited nude images from people they met on dating apps. Another had to deal with constant calls and messages from a man who could not handle rejection. There are also more serious cases that have gone before the courts. In August 2024, 25 year-old Terrell See was jailed for threatening to distribute intimate videos of a woman he had received while they were chatting on a dating app. In November 2022, 25-year-old Sim Bing Rui was handed a jail term after he threatened to distribute explicit content of a teenager , after he created a fictitious persona on OkCupid and used it to trick her into engaging in a sex act with him. In cases of offline misconduct, victims may not have crucial information about their perpetrator, like their full name or NRIC, especially if they are meeting for a first date. With such information, CMB will be able to assist the police in their investigations. While some users may find the move excessive and have legitimate privacy concerns, they should keep in mind that the application is asking for four fields of basic information. CMB does not have access to all information about a person in government records, including address, educational qualification, or income level. This is a good balance struck between ensuring user safety and maintaining privacy. Of course, the platform must also do its part to ensure data privacy and cyber security to guard against data leaks. CMB's Ms Tee said the company employs robust cyber security measures and partners with cloud computing service Amazon Web Services to ensure that all information is stored within a secure, encrypted infrastructure. In an era when deception is easier than ever, holding users accountable is not just helpful – it is essential. For that alone, Singpass verification is a green flag. 10/10, I'd swipe right.
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Govt watching job situation for fresh graduates closely, exploring further support: Gan Siow Huang
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Minister Gan Siow Huang also said that by and large, the Singapore economy is still resilient. SINGAPORE – Amid a challenging hiring outlook, the Government is watching the employment situation of fresh graduates closely, said Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Trade and Industry, on July 9. The institutes of higher learning are stepping up to help graduates having difficulties in their job search, she said. These include providing career coaching, networking opportunities and upskilling courses, and organising career fairs. Ms Gan was speaking to the media after an engagement session at Republic Polytechnic with about 20 fresh graduates and final-year students from the five polytechnics in Singapore. The latest annual graduate employment surveys conducted by the universities and polytechnics show that fewer of their fresh graduates secured full-time employment in 2024. For fresh graduates from the universities, 79.5 per cent of them secured full-time job s in 2024, down from 84.1 per cent in 2023. Employment outcomes for polytechnic graduates also declined, with 54.6 per cent of them in full-time permanent jobs in 2024 , down from about 60 per cent in 2023. Ms Gan said that by and large, the Singapore economy is still resilient, even though graduates are facing a tough job market due to both cyclical and structural factors, such as artificial intelligence (AI) impacting the availability of jobs. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore COE prices rise for all categories Singapore Tough questions lie ahead as Singapore accelerates push for driverless vehicles Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student Singapore S'pore's open trade system, trusted regulatory framework a draw for chemicals sector: Tan See Leng Singapore Goodbye fraudsters? Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel rolls out identity verification Encouraging the graduates to remain optimistic and broaden their job search, she said: 'For now, the job market is still quite steady. We've still observed companies continuing to hire our fresh graduates across different sectors.' Ms Gan added that Workforce Singapore and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute e2i are working closely with education and career coaches to support fresh graduates who need more support, especially those in certain sectors. The Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong, is studying ways to further support unemployed graduates, she said. She acknowledged the anxiety and concern among fresh graduates this year, compared with previous cohorts. 'I think the anxiety that our fresh graduates are displaying is understandable. After all, we know that the US tariffs will be affecting trade and also the economy worldwide,' she said, adding that some companies may be more cautious about hiring during this period. Pioneer MP Patrick Tay, who has spoken on this issue of graduate unemployment and underemployment, said that institutes of higher learning can do more, beyond regular curriculum updates. 'Institutions must become more agile and proactive in anticipating future skill demands, especially in a new age of AI,' he told The Straits Times, adding that early and ongoing career coaching is crucial. 'What is clear is that a growing mismatch between graduates' skills, job expectations, and experiences, with evolving market needs, is becoming more pronounced.' This mismatch must be urgently addressed, he added. He called for more targeted measures, such as initiatives similar to the SGUnited Traineeships, which were launched during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide training opportunities for fresh graduates, and expanded access to quality internships, structured career pathways and better job-matching support. 'These efforts can go a long way in preventing longer-term issues of unemployability and underemployment. We should continue advocating for lifelong learning so that every graduate enters the workforce not only job-ready but future-ready,' said Mr Tay. When asked if institutions should fine-tune curriculums to address the skills mismatch faced by graduates, Ms Gan said that regular reviews are in place, and this needs to be done together with industries and business communities. On whether AI should be taught in greater detail to better prepare students for current and future jobs, she said: 'I believe the Ministry of Education is taking a serious study of this and will be ready to update in due course.' One of the graduates who attended the July 9 engagement session with Ms Gan was Ms Nur Farisya Fahrurazi, 20, who graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a Diploma in Business Studies in May 2025. During her job search, she was offered mostly administrative roles, though her interest is in marketing. Ms Nur Farisya Fahrurazi, a fresh business studies graduate from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, is considering pursuing a part-time degree in business administration while working. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG 'A lot of them require me to have a degree, or at least two to three years' experience, which I currently do not have,' she said, adding that she sent out almost 20 job applications. Ms Farisya recently accepted a two-year contract for an administrative role at a pharmaceutical company through a recommendation from her education and career guidance counsellor in the polytechnic. Still, she hopes to land a permanent job and is also considering pursuing a part-time degree in business administration while working. Unlike her, Mr Shaun Tan, also a fresh polytechnic graduate, will only start looking for a job in 2030. Mr Tan, who graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic with a Diploma in Social Work in May 2025, will begin national service in October before pursuing a social work degree at the National University of Singapore in 2027. Mr Shaun Tan, a fresh social work graduate from Nanyang Polytechnic, is optimistic about securing a job in the sector when he graduates from university in 2030. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG Though the current outlook for graduates seems bleak, he is optimistic about securing a job in the sector when he graduates in 2030. 'I think the worry is more about whether the salary can compete with inflation and rising costs. Fortunately, our line (in social work) is not as affected by trade wars,' he said.
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Poorer countries granted access to HIV prevention drug
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The agreement with Gilead would make it possible to reach two million people with the new drug. GENEVA - Lower-income countries will gain access to a 'game-changing' HIV prevention drug with a new deal signed between with US pharmaceutical giant Gilead and the Global Fund, the health financing group said on July 9. The group set up to battle Aids, tuberculosis and malaria, described the deal to procure lenacapavir for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as 'a significant milestone for global health equity'. 'This marks the first time in history that an HIV prevention product will be introduced in LMICs at the same time as in high-income countries,' the Global Fund said in a statement. The group said it hoped the agreement with Gilead would make it possible to reach two million people with the revolutionary drug, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in June. Drugs to prevent HIV transmission, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or Prep, have existed for more than a decade. But because they typically require taking a daily pill, they have yet to make a significant dent in global infections. By contrast, lenacapavir, marketed under the brand name Yeztugo, requires only two injections per year and has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99.9 per cent in adults and adolescents – making it functionally akin to a powerful vaccine. 'This is not just a scientific breakthrough – it's a turning point for HIV/Aids ,' Global Fund chief Peter Sands said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore COE prices rise for all categories Singapore Tough questions lie ahead as Singapore accelerates push for driverless vehicles Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student Singapore Goodbye fraudsters? Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel rolls out identity verification Asia Malaysia confirms existence of document central to ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid, say reports 'For the first time, we have a tool that can fundamentally change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic – but only if we get it to the people who need it most.' Under the agreement, countries supported by the Global Fund can access lenacapavir for Prep, the organisation said, adding that it aimed for the first shipment and delivery to reach at least one African country by the end of 2025. This, it said, would mark the start of 'a transformational shift in how HIV prevention is delivered to communities with the highest burden of new infections'. There was particular urgency in countries like South Africa, where adolescent girls and young women are disproportionately affected by HIV. 'This is a game changer for South Africa,' South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said in the statement. 'Lenacapavir offers young women, and everyone at risk, a discreet, long-acting option to stay HIV-free.' AFP
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
S'pore's open trade system, trusted regulatory framework a draw for chemicals sector: Tan See Leng
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Minister-in-charge of Energy, Science and Technology Tan See Leng also said Singapore has 28 free trade agreements that give it access to markets representing over 85 per cent of global GDP. SINGAPORE - Singapore's open trade architecture is one draw for speciality chemical firms looking for a springboard into Asia, said Minister-in-charge of Energy, Science and Technology Tan See Leng on July 9. The Republic has 28 free trade agreements that give it access to markets representing over 85 per cent of global GDP, he said. World-class infrastructure, a pro-business environment and trusted regulatory framework are also its advantages. 'A pro-business and trusted regulatory framework makes it easy (for firms) to navigate, operate, to adapt, and of course, to scale,' said Dr Tan said at an event on Jurong Island marking a production milestone by French chemicals company Arkema. Singapore's commitment to tackling climate change is also attractive to firms who are serious about reducing their emissions, experts say. On July 9, French chemicals company Arkema announced that its facility on Jurong Island has since 2024 been able to ramp up global production of its 'green plastic' by 50 per cent s ince it opened in 2022. The €400 million (S$600 million) plant, which produces plastics made from castor oil , is the world's largest factory to produce bio-based, or plant-based plastics. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore COE prices rise for all categories Singapore Tough questions lie ahead as Singapore accelerates push for driverless vehicles Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student Singapore Goodbye fraudsters? Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel rolls out identity verification Asia Malaysia confirms existence of document central to ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid, say reports It is also one of the largest of Arkema's 157 factories worldwide. Arkema's castor bean plastic is called Rilsan PA-11, and it has been used in electric vehicles, medical devices and sports shoes. The company declined to reveal how much green plastic it can produce in a year, citing commercial sensitivities. Arkema's 12ha plant on Jurong Island is the world's largest for producing bio-based, or plant-based plastics. PHOTO: ARKEMA In 2026, the plant will also start a new US$20 million unit to produce a different type of bio-plastic made from Rilsan PA-11, ultimately tripling its global production of the material. This other material, called Rilsan Clear, is used in electronics and spectacle frames. Dr Tan added that Arkema's decision to anchor its PA-11 production facility in Singapore is a boost for the nation's broader ambition for a 'Sustainable Jurong Island'. The carbon footprint of Arkema's green plastic is over 80 per cent lower than fossil-based options, noted Dr Tan. Jurong Island is the country's petrochemical hub, responsible for a major portion of Singapore's carbon emissions. By 2030, the island is aiming to produce 1½ times more sustainable products, like Arkema's plastic, compared with 2019. Guests looking at the items made with using Rilsan PA-11 on showcase at Arkema's Singapore plant. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI As Jurong Island marks its 25th anniversary in 2025, Dr Tan said: 'We are focused on shaping its next phase – one where it remains globally competitive, but also low-carbon and future-ready'. Other chemicals companies have also set up large factories in Singapore over the past few years. Neste's Tuas South refinery is the world's largest facility to produce sustainable jet fuel made from used cooking oil and animal fats. In late 2024, a Saudi Arabian petrochemicals giant opened a new $220 million resin manufacturing facility in Pioneer, its second plant in Singapore. While Singapore has stricter environmental regulations compared with the rest of the region, this has not stopped large factories from setting up base here. Mr Kenny Gan, Arkema's regional vice president for South-east Asia, Australia and New Zealand, said Singapore's connectivity, political reliability and availability of talent convinced him to decide on Singapore. He had previously considered Thailand, India or Malaysia. 'Jurong Island has a very smart set-up that helps us to distribute, ship the material and to serve our customers in the region much more efficiently and effectively,' he said. Experts say that with many other countries wavering on their climate goals, Singapore's consistent approach to tackling climate change would be attractive to firms who are serious about reducing their emissions. Such companies would want to remain credible to their customers who demand sustainably produced goods, they added. 'Singapore's higher carbon price and stricter environmental regulations can actually be a feature, not a bug, for leading global firms that are serious about sustainability,' said Singapore Management University associate professor of finance Liang Hao. 'In an era of greenwashing concerns, setting up base in Singapore enhances trust with investors and customers, even if it comes with higher upfront costs,' he added. Ms Marissa Lee, associate director at strategic advisory firm Global Counsel, said that economic pressure is preventing policymakers elsewhere from confronting the climate crisis. 'But Singapore has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the green transition through various policies and initiatives, and this gives companies the confidence to invest here for the long term,' she added. Dr David Broadstock, energy transition research lead at the NUS Sustainable and Green Finance Institute, said: 'A clean and sustainable net-zero future economy would not be one where no manufacturing occurs. We will still create and consume items, albeit with an increasing commitment to resource and waste circularity. 'It is therefore important to provide conditions where sustainable manufacturing is welcome, and sustainable investments nurtured.'
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Russia says it has evidence Ukraine has repeatedly used anti-personnel landmines
MOSCOW - Russia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that it has evidence that Ukraine has repeatedly used anti-personnel mines which have injured civilians and so Kyiv's exit from the Ottawa Convention would have no impact on the battlefield. Ukraine last month announced its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention which banning the production and use of anti-personnel mines. It said it was a necessary step in view of Russian tactics in their 40-month-old war. Russia is not a party to the treaty and Ukraine says Russia has used landmines extensively in the war. "The use of anti-personnel mines by the Kyiv regime against civilians is regularly recorded by our law enforcement agencies," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters. "Ukraine's decision to withdraw from the mechanism... fits into the general course of the collective West and its satellites to revise and undermine the international legal system in the field of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation." Zakharova noted that under the text of the Ottawa Treaty withdrawal during an armed conflict from the convention should not take effect before the end of the armed conflict. "The decision to withdraw from the convention comes into force only after the end of the said armed conflict," Zakharova said. "We proceed from the fact that this provision is fully applicable to the withdrawal process launched by Ukraine from this mechanism." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore COE prices rise for all categories Asia Malaysia confirms existence of document central to ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid, say reports Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student Singapore Goodbye fraudsters? Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel rolls out identity verification Asia Amid handshakes and familiar friends, Asean navigates tariffs and tension in KL "At the same time, the obligations of the Convention were not fulfilled by Kyiv even before the aforementioned decision," she said, adding that Ukraine had been obliged to destroy all stocks of anti-personnel mines back in 2010 but had not. Lithuania and Finland look set to start domestic production of anti-personnel landmines next year to supply themselves and Ukraine because of what they see as the military threat from Russia, officials from the two NATO member states told Reuters. The two countries, which border Russia, have announced their intention to pull out of the Ottawa Convention banning the use of such mines, and the officials said production could be launched once the six-month withdrawal process is completed. Russia dismisses claims that it will attack a NATO member as Russophobic "nonsense" spread by European powers in an attempt to convince their populations to accept soaring defence spending. REUTERS
