Latest news with #SkillsFuture
Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Residents in South West District get help to improve employability, find career opportunities
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Apart from the 14 training partners, the CDC is looking to expand the partnership and onboard more organisations. SINGAPORE – Residents in the south-west of Singapore looking for jobs or to upskill themselves for the future have access to a plethora of workshops, industry talks and consultations. T hey can receive one-to-one consultations with skills and training ambassadors from Lifelong Learning Singapore, and also with career coaches from employment agencies to help them work towards their career goals, like in mixed reality and urban farming. These opportunities are offered under a new partnership between South West Community Development Council (CDC) and 14 training partners supported by SkillsFuture Singapore . The organisers aim to reach 3,000 residents with these. Some of the training partners are Emarsity , which holds classes on how to produce videos using artificial intelligence; Tembusu Institute, which offers sewing classes; and Xprienz , which offers training on eldercare and caregiving skills . The tie-up was announced at an annual festival for career opportunities and professional development on July 18 by South West District Mayor Low Yen Ling. South West CDC, which covers areas like Jurong, Bukit Batok and Choa Chu Kang, is one of five CDCs in Singapore, including the Central, North East, North West and South East. 'With rapid changes in technology and the job market, our workforce has to continuously upskill and reskill,' said Ms Low at the SkillsFuture Festival. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore UOB awarded $17.7m in civil suit against Lippo Marina Collection over inflated housing loans Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Asia Lightning strikes kill 33 people in eastern India Apart from the 14 training partners, the CDC is looking to expand the partnership and onboard more organisations. The SkillsFuture Festival @ South West, taking place from July 16 to 19 at the Devan Nair Institute of Employment and Employability, is the first of five such events that will be held around Singapore in 2025. The next one will be held in Bedok Town Square on July 19 and 20 for South East residents. The festival at South West includes a community job fair and offers more than 50,000 job opportunities across different sectors to help job seekers gain skills, Ms Low said. Minister for Education Desmond Lee, who also attended the festival on July 18, said CDCs play an important role in reaching out to Singaporeans to tap on SkillsFuture offerings. These councils have strong networks and connections, and are keenly aware of the needs on the ground, he added. The SkillsFuture Advice initiative was launched in 2017 as a key partnership between CDCs and SkillsFuture to provide information on jobs and skills to residents and help them explore career pathways, he said. In 2024, around 80,000 individuals participated in 1,600 workshops that offered content tailored to the needs of specific industries. About 13,000 of these people later took action and enrolled in training with their SkillsFuture credits within six months of attending a workshop. The SkillsFuture Festival @ South West, taking place from July 16 to 19 at the Devan Nair Institute of Employment and Employability, is the first of five such events that will be held around Singapore in 2025. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Mr Lee, who is also Minister-in-charge for Social Services Integration, said: 'We live in an increasingly uncertain world, with rapid advancements in technology. The SkillsFuture movement is more important than ever.' Amid the global trade war and globalisation, people are concerned about their livelihoods and jobs, he said. 'In the next decade, we must go broader, deeper and higher with our SkillsFuture efforts, so that we invest more intensively in our people, and ensure that we can remain competitive.' This includes going broader in partnering different sectors of society, he added. Mr Lee also added individuals must take personal responsibility for their training, employers must do their part to invest in the skills of the workforce, and tripartite partners such as the labour movement and trade associations can reach out to individuals and employers to invest in the development of their skills. The festival on July 18 showcased the digital, green and care sectors. Booths provided simulations for participants who are interested in the manufacturing and engineering industries to learn more about industrial and advanced machinery, and sustainable urban farming workshops taught attendees about transplanting seedlings. A community job fair at the festival also provided opportunities for job seekers to be connected with more than 20 employers from industries like logistics and healthcare, with some offering on-site interviews.
The Star
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Singaporean actress Sheila Sim takes hair-cutting course after giving daughter ‘awful' haircut
Singaporean actress-model Sheila Sim posted on Instagram on July 10 that she attended a four-day hair-cutting course following an unsatisfactory trim she gave her four-year-old daughter Layla. In the video, the Emerald Hill (2025) star appears focused as she trims a mannequin's hair, under the guidance of a professional. Sim said the course was 'sponsored by the Government' as she had used her SkillsFuture credits. The mother of two, whose younger daughter is two years old, wrote in her caption: 'I've always been cutting my daughters' hair since they were babies. But as they grow, their hair length and texture have become increasingly difficult to manage. 'With no formal experience, I attempted to trim about 5cm off Layla's hair... which ended up being more like 10cm.' She said that when Layla first looked in the mirror after the cut, the child said: 'I hate my hair.' While Layla eventually reassured her mother three days later that the hair was 'starting to look like hers again', Sim, 41, admitted the haircut was 'awful' and 'really bad'. This incident spurred Sim to search online for hair-cutting lessons, which led her to sign up for a four-day course at Kimage Hairdressing School. On July 10, she also posted a series of Instagram Stories, sharing an update of her hair-cutting skills after attending the course. She filmed a 360-degree video of a mannequin, and wrote: 'Excuse the face... but I think I did quite a good job with the hair.' Actor and fellow Mediacorp artiste Desmond Tan, who has a one-year-old daughter, commented, 'Next week, any available slots?', complete with a winking emoji. Other industry colleagues complimented Sim, with veteran actress Lin Meijiao saying: 'You are looking so pro.' – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Sheila Sim uses SkillsFuture credits for hair-cutting course after giving daughter ‘awful' haircut
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Sheila Sim said the course was 'sponsored by the Government' as she had used her SkillsFuture credits. SINGAPORE – Local actress-model Sheila Sim posted on Instagram that she attended a four-day hair-cutting course following an unsatisfactory trim she gave her daughter. In the video posted by Sim on July 10, she appears focused as she trims a mannequin's hair, under the guidance of a professional in a black top and jeans. Sim said the course was 'sponsored by the Government' as she had used her SkillsFuture credits. The model wrote in her caption: 'I've always been cutting my daughters' hair since they were babies. But as they grow, their hair length and texture have become increasingly difficult to manage. 'With no formal experience, I attempted to trim about 5cm off Layla's hair... which ended up being more like 10cm.' She said that when her daughter first looked in the mirror after the cut, the child said: 'I hate my hair.' While Layla eventually reassured her three days later that the hair was 'starting to look like hers again', the 41-year-old mother wrote that the haircut was 'awful' and 'really bad'. This incident spurred Sim to search online for hair-cutting lessons, which led her to sign up for a four-day course at Kimage Hairdressing School. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore boosts nuclear viability, safety research with new institute and $66m in additional funding Singapore More than 14,300 people checked during 7-week-long anti-crime ops Singapore Over 12,000 lower-income households to receive $60 in transport vouchers by end-July Singapore NDP 2025: Leopard tank transmission fault identified, vehicle to resume role in mobile column Life Anti-smoking advisory in new plaque for controversial samsui woman mural World Trump nominates 'alpha male' influencer to be ambassador to Malaysia Business CEO salaries: At Singapore's top companies, whose pay went up and whose saw a drop? Business Popiah king Sam Goi makes $123.5 million offer to buy rest of PSC On the same day, the My Friends From Afar (2017) actress also posted a series of Instagram Stories, sharing an update of her hair-cutting skills after attending the course. In one of the Stories, she filmed a 360-degree video of a mannequin, and wrote: 'Excuse the face... but I think I did quite a good job with the hair! Whee.' Fellow local star Desmond Tan, known for his work in The Journey: A Voyage (2015) and When Duty Calls (2018), commented, 'Next week, any available slots?', complete with a winking emoji. Other colleagues complimented her, with veteran Lin Meijiao saying: 'You are looking so pro.' Back in November 2024, Sim had undergone a two-day hair transplant procedure after receiving feedback that her hair was thinning. In June the same year, she turned 40, and had a polka dot-themed party attended by actors Elvin Ng, Romeo Tan, Chen Hanwei and Jade Seah.
The Star
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Singapore Idol winner Hady Mirza is now a property agent
Since winning the second season of local reality singing competition Singapore Idol in 2006, home-grown singer-songwriter Hady Mirza has juggled many side hustles. On June 27, the 45-year-old announced his latest venture on Instagram: He is now a licensed property agent. It took him two years and four tries before he finally passed his Real Estate Salesperson examination on April 17. The licence was issued on June 19. 'It's a big achievement for me,' Hady, who is with real estate company Era Singapore, says in an interview on July 7. 'It marks another chapter in my life. I'm already 45, and I believe that I must always challenge myself, even though I had a lot of doubts about whether I could study again,' he says, adding that he used all his SkillsFuture credits to finance part of his real estate courses and examination fees. And while his predecessor Taufik Batisah, winner of the inaugural Singapore Idol in 2004, made a similar move to real estate back in 2019 and is now a top agent at PropNex Singapore, Hady says he was inspired by his other friends who are long-time property agents. Still, when Hady announced his entry into real estate on Instagram, one of the most-liked comments was a congratulatory note from Taufik, who suggested they 'co-broke', a term used when property agents work together to facilitate a transaction. Why Japan and South Korea are on different paths in the latest US trade salvo United States President Donald Trump answering reporters' questions during a July 8 Cabinet meeting at the White House. 'We are friends, and we always support each other,' says Hady, who performed with Taufik and Sezairi, winner of Singapore Idol 3 in 2009, at Malay-language television awards show Pesta Perdana in May. The trio were also judges on Suria's reality singing competition Kaki Nyanyi (2024 to 2025). Hady has not sold any homes yet, but has been receiving calls from potential clients and has done several home viewings with the senior agents mentoring him. He admits that being a public figure can be an advantage in his new line of work, but insists that being a celebrity can get him only so far when it comes to sealing deals. 'It's still early days, and there are still a lot of things that my mentors need to show and teach me.' Being an agent also means his personal phone number is public, but he has no issues receiving calls and texts from strangers. 'Because of my other businesses, it has been public knowledge for about 10 years,' says the entrepreneur, whose previous ventures include food and beverage, as well as motor vehicle sales. In recent months, he has also taken on several other roles, including an ambassadorship for cancer support charity Ain Society, and started his own talent management company, NHM Entertainment. He has not turned his back on his music career, though. In May, he released his first new single in three years, Jika Masih Ada, a duet with popular Malaysian actress-singer Erra Fazira. It is also the theme song for Nikmat Hanya Sesaat, a Malay-language drama series on Malaysian broadcaster TV3 that premiered in May. While he also won region-wide reality singing show Asian Idol in 2007, it was only in 2019 that Hady made a major mark in Malaysia after being crowned co-winner of Season 6 of Malaysian television singing show Gegar Vaganza , sharing the prize with Malaysian singer Naqiu. It was his artiste management agency in Malaysia that offered him Jika Masih Ada in late 2024. When he recorded his vocal parts, he had no idea who his duet partner would be. 'I was shocked when I found out that they later got Erra to record the female vocals, someone who is so well-known and has been in the entertainment industry much longer than me,' says Hady, who has been married to Malaysian homemaker Nurjannah Nur Wahid, 33, for the past 11 years. The couple have no children but are hoping to start a family. Hady, who staged a solo gig at The Theatre at Mediacorp in 2024, has several performances lined up in coming months, including an Ain Society concert at the same venue on Aug 23 that features regional acts like Indonesian singer Hetty Koes Endang. He will also perform at the 2025 edition of the annual Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day Concert at The Meadow on Aug 3. He composed and will sing the show's theme song, Ties That Bloom . Hady has also set the next challenge for himself: to get a diploma in music and teach singing. Despite having decades of experience as a professional performer, he is also working on improving his vocal abilities and has been taking lessons at local music school Academy Of Rock. 'I'm always thinking: What other things can I do to better myself? In Singapore, there are always avenues for you to improve yourself. It's such a waste if you don't make use of the opportunities that are out there.' – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
White House launches fresh attack on Fed chief Powell, slams ‘gross mismanagement' of finances
In new front of attack on Fed chairman Jerome Powell, the White House accused him of "ostentatious overhaul " of the Fed headquarters. WASHINGTON - The White House on July 10 launched a fresh attack on Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, with a top Trump administration official saying he had 'grossly mismanaged' the central bank, chastising him for running a deficit and for extensive cost overruns for building renovations. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, in a letter addressed to Mr Powell and posted on social media platform X, said: 'Instead of attempting to right the Fed's fiscal ship, you have plowed ahead with an ostentatious overhaul of your Washington, D.C., headquarters.' The letter arrived as President Donald Trump and his aides kept up their criticism of Mr Powell for not lowering interest rates. 'While continuing to run a deficit since FY23 (the first time in the Fed's history), the Fed is way over budget on the renovation of its headquarters. Now up to US$2.5 billion, roughly US$700 million over its initial cost,' Mr Vought wrote in an X post accompanying the letter. 'These renovations include terrace rooftop gardens, water features, VIP elevators, and premium marble. The cost per square foot is US$1,923 – double the cost for renovating an ordinary historic federal building. The Palace of Versailles would have cost US$3 billion in today's dollars!' A Fed spokesperson was not immediately available to comment. The Fed is required by law to return any of its excess earnings to the Treasury, but for about three years it has run an operating deficit. Higher interest rates imposed by the Fed to combat inflation starting in 2022 led to its outlays to commercial banks for the reserves they deposit at the Fed exceeding the interest it earned on its large but shrinking bond portfolio and other fees it collects for providing services to the financial sector. As of July 9 that deficit had reached more than US$235 billion, Fed data shows. Meanwhile, the Fed has been renovating two buildings adjacent to its Washington headquarters, and Mr Powell was pressed by lawmakers about the cost overruns during his testimony in June to the congressional committees charged with Fed oversight. Mr Powell rejected reports that the project included lavish features but conceded it had run over budget, saying, 'the cost overruns are what they are.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties World Trump to use presidential authority to send weapons to Ukraine, sources say Opinion Whisper it softly, there's a new Japan rising Asia Tariffs overshadow diplomacy as Asean foreign ministers press on with meetings World The $12.8m bag: Original Birkin smashes records at Paris auction Singapore Up to 90% of air-con units can be recycled, including greenhouse gas refrigerant Singapore What 'skills first' really means: Panellists at SkillsFuture Forum talk culture, systems, mindsets Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses 'There are no new water features, there's no beehives, and there's no roof terrace gardens,' Mr Powell said in response to questioning from Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican and chair of the Senate Banking Committee. 'We do take seriously our responsibility as stewards of the public's money,' he said as he defended the need to upgrade the buildings. Mr Vought said Powell's testimony 'raises serious questions about the project's compliance with the National Capital Planning Act.' He gave Mr Powell a list of 11 questions regarding the project and changes to it. He requested answers within seven business days.
