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Straits Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Why ‘haze' and ‘trash' are becoming earth's new seasons
Climate change and pollution are playing havoc with our longstanding understanding of seasonal patterns. Climate change and pollution are playing havoc with our longstanding understanding of seasonal patterns. Throughout history, people have viewed seasons as relatively stable, recurrent blocks of time that neatly align farming, cultural celebrations and routines with nature's cycles. But the seasons as we know them are changing. Human activity is rapidly transforming the earth, and once-reliable seasonal patterns are becoming unfamiliar. In our recent study, we argue that new seasons are surfacing. These emergent seasons are entirely novel and anthropogenic (in other words, made by humans). Examples include 'haze seasons' in the northern and equatorial nations of South-east Asia, when the sky is filled with smoke for several weeks. This is caused by widespread burning of vegetation to clear forests and make way for agriculture during particularly dry times of the year. Or there is the annual 'trash season', during which tidal patterns bring plastic to the shores of Bali, Indonesia, between November and March. At the same time, some seasons are disappearing altogether, with profound consequences for ecosystems and cultures. These extinct seasons can encompass drastically altered or terminated migratory animal behaviour, such as the decline of seabird breeding seasons in northern England. Climate change is also calling time on traditional winter sport seasons by making snow scarcer in alpine regions. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Sota parent portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore Five teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore Local buyers are key to recovery of prime district condo market Singapore Ex-Tanjong Pagar United footballer charged with assault after Singapore Premier League match in Feb Singapore COE prices for cars mostly unchanged; premium for commercial vehicles up 2.9% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him Nature's new rhythms Perhaps more common are 'syncopated seasons'. The changes are akin to new emphases on beats or off-beats in familiar music that capture the listener's attention. Syncopated seasons include hotter summers and milder winters in temperate climates, with increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather that exposes more people and ecosystems to stress. The timings of key seasonal events, like when leaves fall or certain migratory species arrive, are becoming more unpredictable. We coined the term 'arrhythmic seasons', a concept borrowed from cardiology, to refer to abnormal rhythms which include earlier springs or breeding seasons, longer summers or growing seasons, and shorter winters or hibernating seasons. Changing seasonal patterns throw the interdependent life cycles of plants and animals out of sync with each other, and disrupt the communities that are economically, socially and culturally dependent on them. In northern Thailand, human activity has reshaped nature's rhythms and affected the supply of water and food in turn. Communities along the Mekong River's tributaries have relied on the seasonal flow of rivers to fish and farm for generations. At first, upstream dams disrupted these cycles by blocking fish migration and preventing the accumulation of sediment that farms need for soil. More recently, climate change has shifted rainfall patterns and made dry seasons longer and rainy seasons shorter but more intense, bringing fires and further uncertainty to farmers. Let's rethink time How we react to changing seasonal patterns can either worsen or improve environmental conditions. In South-east Asia, public awareness of the 'haze season' has led to better forecasting, the installation of air filters in homes and the establishment of public health initiatives. These efforts help communities adapt. But if society only uses adaptive fixes like these, it can make the haze worse over time by failing to tackle its root causes. By recognising this new season, societies might normalise the recurrence of haze and isolate anyone who demands the government and businesses deal with deforestation and burning. Powerful institutions like these shape narratives about seasonal crises to minimise their responsibility and shift blame elsewhere. Understanding these dynamics is crucial to fostering accountability and ensuring fair responses. The shifting seasons require us to rethink our relationship with time and the environment. Today, most of us think about time in terms of days, hours and minutes, which is a globalised standard used everywhere from smartphones to train timetables. But this way of keeping time forgets older and more local ways of understanding time – those that are shaped by natural rhythms, such as the arrival of the rainy season, or solar and lunar cycles, rooted in the lives and cultures of different communities. Diverse perspectives, especially those from indigenous knowledge systems, can enhance our ability to respond to environmental changes. Integrating alternative time-keeping methods into mainstream practices could foster fairer and more effective solutions to environmental problems. Seasons are more than just divisions of time – they connect us with nature. Finding synchrony with changing seasonal rhythms is essential for building a sustainable future. Felicia Liu is an associate professor in sustainability at the University of York. Thomas Smith is an associate professor in environmental geography at the London School of Economics and Political Science. This article was first published in The Conversation .
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
New York man charged over explosives on subway tracks, rooftops
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A 55-year-old man is alleged to have stored IEDs on apartment building rooftops in Manhattan's SoHo neighbourhood. NEW YORK – A New York man has been charged with making improvised explosive devices and throwing one onto subway tracks in New York City, US authorities said on July 22. Michael Gann, 55, allegedly manufactured at least seven explosive devices using chemicals ordered online and stored five devices and shotgun shells on apartment building rooftops in Manhattan's SoHo neighbourhood, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. The authorities said Gann threw one IED onto subway tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge and was arrested with a seventh device on his person early in June. 'As alleged, Michael Gann built explosive devices, stored them on a rooftop in SoHo, and threw one onto the subway tracks, putting countless lives at risk,' said US Attorney Jay Clayton. 'Thanks to swift work by our law enforcement partners, no one was harmed.' According to prosecutors, Gann ordered approximately two pounds of potassium perchlorate and one pound of aluminium powder – precursor chemicals to explosives – online in May, along with over 200 cardboard tubes and 50 feet of fuses. One of the devices placed on the roof of a SoHo building 'contained approximately 30 grams of explosive powder, approximately 600 times the legal limit for consumer fireworks', the attorney's office said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Sota parent portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore Local buyers are key to recovery of prime district condo market Singapore New online channel for public to report illegal ride-hailing services Singapore Ex-Tanjong Pagar United footballer charged with assault after Singapore Premier League match in Feb Singapore COE prices for cars mostly unchanged; premium for commercial vehicles up 2.9% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him On or about June 5, just hours before his arrest while carrying an IED, he posted to Instagram: 'Who wants me to go out to play like no tomorrow?' Before making the IEDs, prosecutors said, Gann posted a message on X on March 27 tagging the Potus account, the official handle for the president of the United States. He wrote: 'I'm thinking just now here in NYC that it's too bad that the wall wasn't built before the National Guard would have to come here for the Protests and Riotation or would you just drop a bomb on this place while and because they seem to be coming and coming?' Between May and June 2025, Gann also searched online for information on bomb-making, firearms, and 3D-printed guns, as well as background checks for firearm purchases, according to the indictment. Gann, a resident of New York City's Inwood neighbourhood, faces charges of attempted destruction of property by explosives, transportation of explosive materials and unlawful possession of destructive devices. The most serious charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and maximum of 20 years. NYTIMES
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
EU, Japan to work more closely to address unfair trade, EU's von der Leyen says
Find out what's new on ST website and app. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru attend a meeting at Prime Minister Office, in Tokyo, Japan, July 23, 2025. David Mareuil/Pool via REUTERS TOKYO - The European Union and Japan will work more closely to counter economic coercion and address unfair trade practices, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters on Wednesday. Von der Leyen's comments came after an EU-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as the EU struggles to conclude a trade deal with the United States and a day before potentially tough meetings with Chinese leaders. Japan struck a trade deal with the United States on Tuesday that lowered tariffs on auto imports in exchange for U.S.-bound investment and loans. Von der Leyen said the EU and Japan would seek to strengthen economic security. "We will also work more closely together to counter economic coercion and to address unfair trade practices," she said, adding later: "We believe in global competitiveness and it should benefit everyone." Ishiba told reporters that the EU and Japan would work to maintain and strengthen a rules-based, free and fair economic order. Ishiba added that the EU and Japan had agreed to work to strengthen the defence industry and to start talks for an information security agreement. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Sota parent portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore Five teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore Local buyers are key to recovery of prime district condo market Singapore Ex-Tanjong Pagar United footballer charged with assault after Singapore Premier League match in Feb Singapore COE prices for cars mostly unchanged; premium for commercial vehicles up 2.9% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him "In the field of security, we agreed to cooperate to launch a defense industry dialogue to strengthen the defense industrial base, which is a priority for both sides, and to begin official negotiations on a Japan-EU information security agreement," Ishiba said. REUTERS
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
Man in Sydney charged for allegedly displaying fake ‘Poilce' sign on car, firearms possession
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Patrolling officers had found a car dressed up with the words "Poilce" on its bonnet. A Sydney resident was given eight charges on July 22, including falsely posing as a police officer and carrying prohibited firearms. Kunlang Li, 20 , was arrested by patrolling police officers on July 18, after they noticed a black Mercedes sedan parked outside a Sydney train station at about 2.50pm that day. The car was dressed with a radio antenna, and police badge insignia emblazoned on its sides and car plate, along with Chinese characters 'gong an' and 'jing cha' , meaning police. Notable to the bona fide police officers was also the sole English word notably misspelt as 'POILCE' on the car's bonnet. According to a July 21 Facebook post by the Burwood Highway Patrol, the man was nearby and identified as the user of the vehicle. Upon questioning, he allegedly gave the officers a false document claiming that the car was being used to transport Chinese consulate officials. He was also allegedly found with a fake disabled parking permit, reported 9 News. The police found a box of ammunition in the car's boot, and the man - who has a firearms licence - was arrested after he allegedly told the police he believed the boot was the best place to store the live rounds. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Sota parent portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore Local buyers are key to recovery of prime district condo market Singapore New online channel for public to report illegal ride-hailing services Singapore Ex-Tanjong Pagar United footballer charged with assault after Singapore Premier League match in Feb Singapore COE prices for cars mostly unchanged; premium for commercial vehicles up 2.9% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him The police then searched the man's Baulkham Hills residence, where they found and seized two gel blaster rifles, along with his registered firearms and ammunition. The man's firearms licence was also suspended, said the police . Police found that he had been issuing instructions to the public, which were followed, 9 News reported. Li was accompanied by his mother at court on July 22, Australian media reported. He required the services of a translator, but did not enter a plea to any of his eight charges. Outside the court, he did not respond to reporters asking him, 'What was it like facing the real police?' and also ignored requests to spell 'police'. His case will next be mentioned in court on Aug 11.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Denmark records highest number of white stork nestlings in decades
Find out what's new on ST website and app. COPENHAGEN - Once extinct in Denmark, the white stork is making a comeback with the highest number of nestlings in decades, sparking hope it may once again become a familiar sight in the Nordic country. Thirty-three stork nestlings were born to 13 nesting pairs in the Danish countryside in 2025, up from 15 last year and the highest number since the 1980s, according to Storks Denmark, a volunteer group working to support the species' return. The white stork population, once thriving with some 4,000 nesting pairs in Denmark in the late 19th century, saw a sharp decline due to the expansion of agriculture and the loss of wetlands, leading to its local extinction in 2008. The population rebound is primarily attributed to changing migration patterns due to warmer weather and conservation efforts, though challenges remain. "The way we have our agriculture is not leaving much space for the stork," said Hans Skou, a board member of Storks Denmark. In Danish folklore, storks are associated with the arrival of spring and good fortune and having a nest on your roof was considered a protective charm for the household. As climate change warms European winters, storks are increasingly wintering in Spain rather than South Africa, enhancing survival rates through shorter migration distances. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore Sota parent portal taken down for urgent patching following global cyberattack alerts Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore Local buyers are key to recovery of prime district condo market Singapore New online channel for public to report illegal ride-hailing services Singapore Ex-Tanjong Pagar United footballer charged with assault after Singapore Premier League match in Feb Singapore COE prices for cars mostly unchanged; premium for commercial vehicles up 2.9% Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him Denmark's Natural History Museum is tagging five additional nestlings this year with GPS devices to follow the storks' migration paths. Storks migrating up to Germany are also pushing further north into Denmark but face challenges in finding sufficient food for their young. Storks Denmark is spending around 30,000 Danish crowns ($4,700) annually to provide food, with nest owners supplementing by setting out chicken or fish daily to sustain the nestlings. Grethe Mortensen, who gave her husband a stork nest for their backyard as a birthday gift in 2023, expressed optimism about the species' long-term prospects. "I want them to keep coming here to Denmark ... and I hope that something is done for the storks so they can survive on their own," she said. REUTERS
