Latest news with #RacialHarmonyDay
Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Young Harmony Champions break down barriers in tough conversations on race, religion
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The TL;DR: With Racial Harmony Day activities taking place in July, TLDR looks at the Harmony Champions programme, which teaches students how to discuss sensitive topics like race, skin colour, or religious practices. Mr Jalen Goh (centre) was one of the facilitators at the YLCha3 Dialogue Event, teaching students how to chat effectively. When students from different institutions and ethnic backgrounds first gathered for the Harmony Champions programme, many were hesitant to speak up or ask questions. 'We were worried that bringing up sensitive topics like race, skin colour, or religious practices might accidentally offend someone,' said Mr Jalen Goh, 21, who was part of the 2023 cohort. 'Even asking simple questions about why someone wears certain religious attire or how certain festivals are celebrated feels risky. Most of us want to be respectful, but without knowing how to express ourselves appropriately, we often choose to stay silent.' Mr Goh said he hoped that through the programme, young people would overcome this sense of guardedness. Launched in 2023, the initiative trains young people to facilitate dialogues on interracial and interreligious issues. It is organised by Temasek Foundation and Roses of Peace, a non-profit organisation, for students from Institutes of Higher Learning. The three-stage programme takes place over 10 months and is conducted once a year. Mr Muhammad Hamizan M Jaffri, 27, who graduated from ITE College Central with a Higher Nitec in Events Management in May, recalled an uncomfortable experience in 2022 during a conversation with his friends. He said one of his friends asked why Malay people usually live on the lower floors of HDB blocks. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes into college campus Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Singapore 2 workers stranded on gondola dangling outside Raffles City Tower rescued by SCDF Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region Singapore NTU introduces compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026 Singapore Fine, driving ban for bus driver who hit lorry in BKE crash, causing fractures to passenger Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety Said Mr Hamizan: 'It felt offensive at first. It sounded like they were linking race with socioeconomic status.' But as he clarified with that friend, he realised it came from a place of genuine curiosity – the person had simply wondered if it might be a cultural preference. 'It made me confront my own biases. I had to reframe my thinking that not every question is sinister, and it might be an attempt to understand,' he said. Such difficult conversations are a core part of the training under the Harmony Champions programme. Participants, known as Harmony Champions, signed up for the three-phase programme via their school portals. To date, the programme has trained 120 students. Students from Singapore Polytechnic being appointed Harmony Champions by then-President Halimah Yacob during the Roses of Peace celebration on Feb 26, 2023. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROSES OF PEACE In the first phase, participants visit the Harmony in Diversity Gallery, located at the Ministry of National Development Building, which houses exhibits and interactive features that highlight the common thread among the different religions in Singapore. They also walk the Telok Ayer Heritage Trail to see how different faiths have coexisted since the nation's early years. The second phase gets the participants to engage in guided conversations about their lived experiences, with the focus on race and religious harmony. In the final stage, the students pick up essential skills such as facilitation and dialogue techniques, as they prepare to lead conversations on race and religion. One of the things the participants learn is Star, which stands for suspend judgment, talk sensitively, actively listen, and respect opinions. Ms Kumar Devadharshini, 22, a student from the Singapore Institute of Technology who attended the programme in 2024, said: 'Listening without judgment and talking about sensitive issues make us more conscious of our own biases and assumptions. I also learnt to read situations and act accordingly.' Students are also taught to recognise unconscious bias by reviewing real-life scenarios. One of the main facilitators from Roses of Peace, Ms Fahima Farha, said: 'Many of us assume we're already harmonious, but tensions can exist beneath the surface. That's why it's important to help young people recognise their own biases, learn conversations and dialogue techniques, and even understand how to navigate sensitive issues on social media.' She said that while Singapore offers many platforms for open discussions on race and religion – from small group dialogues to large public forums -- there are fewer initiatives that equip youths with the skills to lead or engage in these conversations effectively. 'That's the gap that the Harmony Champions programme is trying to bridge,' she added. After the training, the Harmony Champions gain practical experience by organising mini projects at their schools – such as setting up ethnic game booths or creating quizzes about different cultures – to promote understanding of multiculturalism. Mr Muhammad Hamizan M Jaffri (right) and his fellow Harmony Champions from ITE College Central organised a five-station roadshow, Rise Above Racism. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROSES OF PEACE Projects conclude with the distribution of roses – which could be to students or members of the public – with each stalk bearing an interfaith message from a religious leader. Mr Goh said the training came in handy when he facilitated a dialogue on how to chat effectively at the Young Leaders Cha-Cha-Cha event, where youth from different Asean countries gathered to discuss social cohesion. He recalled a girl sharing how a joke from her friends – 'We can't see you in the dark' – had hurt her, even though she never told them. 'I first acknowledged how she felt, and then guided the group to reflect on how jokes, even among friends, can unintentionally cause harm,' he said. 'I encouraged her to be honest with her friends and let them know it was hurtful, even if unintentional.' Mr Goh added: 'To be honest, if I hadn't been trained, I probably wouldn't have thought through my words before speaking. I might've just gone, 'Oh', and tried to awkwardly change the topic. 'The training helped me become aware of my own blind spots and gave me the tools to pause, listen and respond with more thought.'
Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Headstart On Record Podcast: Fending off procrastination: How to get started
Find out what's new on ST website and app. We put off work because work, for some reason, puts us off. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Procrastination: The frustratingly human tendency to postpone work we can and should get started on earlier. It may seem tempting to berate ourselves for being lazy, unmotivated or disorganised. Instead, procrastination is actually our brains trying to shield us from uncomfortable feelings, putting a hidden toll on ourselves. Our guest today is an expert on the psychology of people who work together in groups. She shares with us what research tells us about procrastination and other quirks of our mind that permeate our work and daily life. She also goes into the 'dark things' she relishes researching, such as why people are cynical at work, and the fallout from narcissist leaders. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi The guest was: Dr Ruchi Sinha, organisational psychologist and associate professor (practice) at Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 What is procrastination and what type of procrastinator are you? 11:06 What are some strategies to help you manage procrastination? 14:07 Procrastination is about misplaced priorities too 16:22 Is it any easier for Dr Sinha to beat procrastination, as an expert? 17:05 The 'pretty dark stuff' Dr Sinha studies, such as narcissism at workplaces 23:04 How does Dr Sinha translate research in her field to real life? Read more about procrastination here: Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: Host: Tay Hong Yi ( hytay@ ) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: Feedback to: podcast@ SPH Awedio app: Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: Get more updates: The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store:
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Japan PM's future in doubt after election debacle
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba meeting the media following upper house elections, at the Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on July 20. TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's future was unclear on July 21 after his coalition appeared to have disastrously lost its upper house majority in elections that saw strong gains by a right-wing populist party. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed almost continuously since 1955, and its partner Komeito had to win 50 seats in the July 20 vote but they secured only around 41, according to local media projections. Voters angry at inflation turned to other parties, notably the 'Japanese first' Sanseito, which made strong gains with its 'anti-globalist' drive reminiscent of US President Donald Trump's agenda. The debacle comes only months after Mr Ishiba's coalition also lost its majority in the lower house, suffering the LDP's worst result in 15 years. Mr Ishiba, 68, a self-avowed policy 'geek' seen as a safe pair of hands when he won the LDP leadership in September – on his fifth attempt – was tight-lipped late on July 20 about his future. 'It's a difficult situation, and we have to take it very humbly and seriously,' Mr Ishiba told broadcaster NHK. Asked about his future, he said only that he 'cannot speak lightly of it'. 'We can't do anything until we see the final results, but we want to be very aware of our responsibility,' Mr Ishiba added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi If he goes, it was unclear who might step up as the LDP's 11th premier since 2000 now that the government needs opposition support in both chambers. 'Ishiba may be replaced by someone else, but it's not clear who will be the successor,' Professor Hidehiro Yamamoto, a politics and sociology expert at the University of Tsukuba, told AFP. Rice price After years of stagnant or falling prices, consumers in the world's fourth-largest economy have been squeezed by inflation since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In particular, the price of rice has doubled, squeezing many household budgets despite government handouts. Voter Hisayo Kojima – one of legions of older people in Japan's falling and ageing population – said outside a voting station on July 20 that her pension 'is being cut shorter and shorter'. 'We have paid a lot to support the pension system. This is the most pressing issue for me,' the 65-year-old told AFP in Tokyo. Not helping is lingering resentment about an LDP funding scandal, and US tariffs of 25 per cent due to bite from Aug 1 if there is no trade deal with the United States. Japanese imports are already subject to a 10 per cent tariff, while the auto industry, which accounts for 8 per cent of jobs, is reeling from a 25 per cent levy. Weak export data last week, which showed plummeting US-bound auto deliveries, stoked fears that Japan could tip into a technical recession. Despite Mr Ishiba securing an early meeting with Mr Trump in February, and sending his trade envoy to Washington seven times, there has been no accord. 'Japanese first' The last time the LDP and Komeito failed to win a majority in the upper house was in 2010, having already fallen below the threshold in 2007. That was followed by a rare change of government in 2009, when the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan governed for a rocky three years. Today, the opposition is fragmented, and chances are slim that the parties can form an alternative government. Populist opposition party Sanseito wants 'stricter rules and limits' on immigration, opposes 'globalism' and 'radical' gender policies, and wants a rethink on decarbonisation and vaccines. Last week, it was forced to deny any links to Moscow – which has backed populist parties elsewhere – after a candidate was interviewed by Russian state media. 'They put into words what I had been thinking about but couldn't put into words for many years,' one voter told AFP at a Sanseito rally. AFP
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Racism has increased in women's football as the game has grown, says Bronze
ZURICH - England defender Lucy Bronze said the growth of women's football had led to an increase in racist abuse towards players as the game draws more and more fans and the spotlight is amplified. Bronze, who was key to England's quarter-final victory over Sweden at Euro 2025 on Thursday, held an emotional press conference after teammate Jess Carter, who is Black, announced she had been the target of racist abuse since the tournament began. "The bigger the game gets, the bigger the noise becomes, the more fans there are, but the more critics there are," Bronze said. "We're obviously open to critics - that's why we love the sport - but we're not open to abuse. Especially in women's football, the online abuse seems to be getting worse and worse. "We see it more in the stadiums in men's football and online, but I think with women's football there seems to be a real target online. "It's something that we're very aware of. There is a way to make a change. There is a solution. I don't have the answer, but I'm sure that there is one." Bronze was asked whether the abuse Carter had received would make other young Black players think twice about playing for England. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi "I hope that those players know that no matter what they go through, they'll be supported by this team, that we don't condone these actions, that we want to stand up for change, not just in football, but in society, that those young players can grow up and be heroes and legends of an England team," she said. "We are creating an environment where those players can thrive, be who they want to be, you can come from any background, any environment, and you can represent England as the highest stage." England play Italy in the semi-finals on Tuesday in Geneva. REUTERS
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Unlocking higher offers: How company funds can boost prices for delisting
SINGAPORE – Over the past few years, companies that wished to privatise and delist have adopted one of three possible routes: a voluntary delisting, a scheme of arrangement, or a voluntary offer coupled with compulsory acquisition. All three have their advantages and disadvantages, and the rules have been tweaked to try and preserve minority rights as far as possible. Yet in most cases, there is the problem of 'low-ball' offers that are typically pitched to buy out minority shareholders – at prices that are seen to be exploitative and unfair. It stands to reason that offerors, who are usually major shareholders, would table low prices, since as buyers, they would quite naturally want to pay as little as possible to achieve their goals. But what if the funds to take the company private come from the company itself and not the offeror? Would this make a difference? Selective capital reduction as delisting method Enter a fourth delisting route, known as a selective capital reduction (SCR), which has begun to make an appearance in the local market, and deserves scrutiny. It was employed by beauty products maker Best World, which delisted in 2024 via an SCR. An SCR in a delisting involves cancelling a portion of a company's share capital, specifically targeting shares held by minority shareholders, while the shares of the majority shareholders remain unaffected. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi This mechanism allows the company to return capital to minority shareholders in exchange for their cancelled shares, effectively facilitating a delisting and privatisation. Like in some of the other delisting routes, a special resolution, typically requiring a 75 per cent majority vote of eligible shareholders present and voting (excluding the bidder and their related parties), is needed to approve the SCR at an extraordinary general meeting. Court approval is required, and the offer price has to be fair and reasonable. Also, as in the case of the other delisting methods, an independent financial adviser (IFA) has to be appointed to deliver an opinion on fairness and reasonableness. Could using this method mean better offer prices? On paper at least, going the SCR route has one major advantage – the money to buy out minority shareholders comes from the company and not the major shareholder, which might then in theory lead to a better offer price. There is a second important feature though, which is that in an SCR delisting, the action would have been initiated by the company and not the major shareholder – at least in theory. What minority shareholders should consider Herein lies the key issue which minority shareholders have to consider when presented with a privatisation-cum-delisting via an SCR – did the company arrive at the decision to use its cash to buy out and cancel the shares of minority shareholders independently, and is the action of going private truly in the company's best interests? A related issue, of course, is whether paying off small shareholders is really the best use of the company's funds. In Best World's case, for example, the company used $375.37 million, or 62 per cent, of its cash of $608 million to buy out its minority shareholders – which is a significant amount of money, no matter which way you look at it. A question to ask would quite naturally be: What was the degree of involvement of the controlling and/or majority shareholder in arriving at the decision to delist via an SCR? Was there any undue influence placed on the board by the controlling shareholder? Equally important would be how the offer price was determined. It should be close to net asset value (NAV) in order to be fair, since all shareholders are supposed to be equal, and in a liquidation, are therefore entitled to receive their pro-rata share of a company's assets. Implications for independent financial advisers Since an IFA opinion on fairness and reasonableness is required, going the SCR path has implications for IFAs. For instance, if the price is way below NAV, then the IFA would have its work cut out for it to justify the valuation method that was used to derive the price. Furthermore, finding comparable companies as benchmarks might prove challenging, given that the majority of delistings here have proceeded under the other three routes outlined above. Last, but by no means least, IFAs should note that an SCR is subject to court approval, which means heightened scrutiny and therefore added pressure to provide truly independent advice. To summarise, SCRs could become more common in future, given that the funds to take the company private come from company coffers and not offerors. While this holds the possibility of better offer prices, shareholders should be aware of the issues, the most important being whether the decision to go private was truly arrived at independently, and whether it really is in the best interests of the company.
