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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
Tourist coins pose giant problem at N. Ireland's famous causeway site
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox In recent decades, visitors have pushed thousands of coins into fissures in the rocks. BUSHMILLS, United Kingdom - Northern Ireland's Giant Causeway draws close to one million visitors a year, but their habit of wedging tiny coins in cracks between the rocks – to bring love or luck – is damaging the world-famous wonder. Now authorities are urging tourists to keep their coins in their pockets to preserve the spectacular landscape. Some 40,000 columns mark the causeway, Northern Ireland's first Unesco World Heritage Site. Geologists say the natural phenomenon was created by an outpouring of basalt lava 60 million years ago. Legend has it that the causeway was formed by Irish giant Finn McCool. In recent decades, visitors have pushed thousands of coins into fissures in the rocks. The gesture is 'a token of love or luck', according to Mr Cliff Henry, the causeway's nature engagement officer. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors Business 29 Jollibean workers get help from MOM, other agencies, over unpaid salaries Singapore Geothermal energy present in S'pore, but greater study on costs, stability needed, say experts Singapore Driver arrested after 66-year-old woman dies in car crash at Geylang pasar malam But the coins rapidly corrode and expand, causing the basalt to flake and leaving 'unsightly' rust-coloured streaks, Mr Henry told AFP. He pointed to streaks on a rock and gingerly prised out a US cent with a set of keys. 'We get a lot of euros and dollar cents. But coins from literally all over the world – any currency you can think of, pretty much – we have had it here,' he said. A report by the British Geological Survey in 2021 revealed that the coins were 'doing some serious damage' and something had to be done about it, he noted. Signs are now in place around the site appealing to tourists to 'leave no trace'. 'Distressed' 'Once some visitors see other people have done it, they feel that they need to add to it,' causeway tour guide Joan Kennedy told AFP. She and her colleagues now gently but firmly tell tourists to desist. At the exit from the causeway, a US couple said they were 'distressed' to hear of the damage the metal caused. 'Our guide mentioned as we came up that people had been putting coins into the stones. It's really terrible to hear that,' said Mr Robert Lewis, a 75-year-old from Florida. 'It's kind of like damaging any kind of nature when you are doing something like that, putting something foreign into nature. It's not good,' said his wife, Ms Geri, 70. As part of a £30,000 (S$51,800) conservation project, stonemasons recently removed as many coins as they could – without causing further damage – from 10 test sites around the causeway. Mr Henry said the trial was successful and is to be expanded across the causeway. 'If we can get all those coins removed to start with that will help the situation and hopefully no more coins will be put in,' he said. 'If visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can maybe be solved. 'We know that visitors love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to it, so we want this natural wonder to remain special for future generations.' AFP

Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
US reality dating show contestant comes to S'pore to find love
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Participant of Match Me Abroad Harold Davis (right), who went on a date with "Cheezy" in Singapore. SINGAPORE – A repeat participant of American dating reality show Match Me Abroad, Harold Davis, has come to Singapore in an attempt to find his soulmate. In the reality dating series launched in 2023, expert matchmakers connect Americans with love overseas. Davis, a New Mexico native who previously introduced himself as someone on the autism spectrum, joined the show in its first season with the aim of finding a Czech partner. He grew close to a woman in Prague, but the relationship did not work out. The second season follows six Americans, including Davis, in pursuit of love. The 43-year-old, who lives in Texas and has become popular with fans of the show, said on Match Me Abroad that 'dating in America hasn't worked out' for him. He switched locations on dating apps and found that he had the most success in Singapore. 'I think because they see me as tall and cute. So I wish to go to Singapore to have my luck changed,' he said in a trailer for the show. Davis said he finds women in Singapore 'beautiful and sexy'. He also noted that many women in Singapore state on their dating profiles that they enjoy anime, and he has 'seen thousands and thousands of anime'. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors Business 29 Jollibean workers get help from MOM, other agencies, over unpaid salaries Singapore Geothermal energy present in S'pore, but greater study on costs, stability needed, say experts Singapore Driver arrested after 66-year-old woman dies in car crash at Geylang pasar malam He said it would be cool to 'nerd out on all the same things' with his future soulmate. Harold also went on a 'practice date' with an international matchmaker who goes by 'Dolly', who played a 'typical Singaporean woman'. Their date took place at Artyzen Singapore, a hotel in Orchard. On the practice date, he gave Dolly a hand-drawn flower, describing himself as 'an artist, inventor, and designer'. He later received feedback to 'loosen up a little', as he appeared to be both nervous and stiff. Davis also shared some of his experiences in Singapore on Instagram (@harolddavisii), including visiting The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, visiting a Toys 'R' Us shop, walking along Orchard Road, as well as visiting a McDonald's outlet. On July 5, Davis posted about a date with 'Cheezy', where they visited a cat cafe and enjoyed art together. He wrote in his caption: 'Art cafe with cats, modern dating, a little behind the scenes, exploring Singapore.' After the date, Cheezy noted that Davis was kind and gentle. His hands were clammy, however, which 'was not a nice feeling' for her. The show airs on HBO Max from August 15.

Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Modi wants more Indians to speak Hindi, but some states are shouting ‘No'
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pushed for the nationwide adoption of Hindi, the language of his power base in northern India. NEW DELHI – In India, the land of more than a thousand tongues, few things inflame passions more than language. Touching the hot button comes with political peril. Just ask the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. High-profile brawls have erupted recently over Mr Modi's push for the nationwide adoption of Hindi, the language of his power base in northern India and a symbol of his campaign to unify the country around the ideology of Hindu nationalism. Late in June , the government of Maharashtra, a state in western India governed by Mr Modi's party, was forced to retract a policy requiring that Hindi be taught in elementary schools. Opposition politicians, residents and others had called the policy an affront to Marathi, the region's native language. In Tamil Nadu, a southern Indian state with a history of rioting over efforts to make Hindi mandatory, the chief minister has raged for months against an education policy pushed by the Modi government, claiming that it is trying to force students to learn the language. Tamil Nadu sued the central government in May after it said that it would withhold education funds until the state implemented the policy. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors Business 29 Jollibean workers get help from MOM, other agencies, over unpaid salaries Singapore Geothermal energy present in S'pore, but greater study on costs, stability needed, say experts Singapore Driver arrested after 66-year-old woman dies in car crash at Geylang pasar malam 'It is common sense that pushing any one language will harm the national integration and unity of a linguistically diverse nation like India,' said Mr Niranjanaradhya V.P., an activist who studies how education affects childhood development. 'It is because of this imposition that there is so much resistance by people.' Central government officials have been careful to emphasise publicly that India's strength lies in its linguistic diversity. When they attack any of India's languages, their target is English, calling it a legacy of colonialism that must be de-emphasised to build a new India. In June , Mr Amit Shah, India's minister for home affairs, said at a book launch that Indian speakers of English should be 'ashamed' and that native languages were India's true jewels. But even as they publicly celebrate the country's polyglot nature, leaders of Modi's political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, have made the spread of Hindi a cornerstone of their overarching goal of remaking India into a Hindu-first nation. Hindi and English are India's two official languages, and Hindi is the mother tongue of the biggest group of Indians. As they work to forge what they call the new India rooted in a glorious Hindu past, Mr Modi government officials increasingly refer to the country as Bharat, a name derived from Sanskrit, the ancient language from which Hindi is drawn. The Modi government has steadily promoted Hindi across the nation by naming new public programs, such as for education, agriculture or development, in the language. In 2020, Modi's party overhauled India's decades-old national education policy to introduce more traditional, rather than Western, styles of teaching. It continued India's policy of teaching three languages in schools, but it gave states the flexibility to pick them, as long as two out of three were native to India. Tamil Nadu has refused to abide by that policy, which the state government claims is a way to force the teaching of Hindi. Its top leader, M.K. Stalin, has said that his state has no need for Hindi because it has achieved high literacy rates teaching in Tamil and English. Tamil Nadu and other southern states worry that the imposition of Hindi would wipe out their cultural heritage, including a family of languages with Dravidian, rather than Sanskrit, roots. Ordinary Tamils express pride in their language, which is rich in poetry and literature. While Tamil identity does not have much bearing on the state's politics, 'there is absolute resistance to Hindi', said Ms Nirmala Lakshman, the author of The Tamils: A Portrait Of A Community. It is a general and diffuse sentiment that can morph into outrage when there is a threat of imposition, she said. In Maharashtra, the trouble started in April after Mr Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister, issued a diktat that Hindi would be mandatory in elementary schools, in addition to English and Marathi. The blowback was immense. Mr Sushil Kedia, an investor, was trolled after posting on social media that he had struggled to learn Marathi despite being a longtime resident of the state. Vandals also attacked his offices. Mr Kedia later apologised for his comments. When the government's efforts to push Hindi create outrage, they often also generate political opportunities. The fight over Marathi reunited two prominent state politicians, estranged cousins who had a falling out nearly two decades ago and created their own political parties. 'Everyone here has forgotten party divisions for the sake of Marathi,' said one of them, Mr Raj Thackeray. 'We have come together; we will stay together,' said the other, Mr Uddhav Thackeray. The two marked their triumph over the weekend at a celebratory rally. The Thackeray reunion comes before important municipal elections and after Maharashtra's 2024 state elections, in which both of the Thackeray-led parties suffered major losses. On July 12 , Mr Stalin, the Tamil Nadu leader, congratulated the two on their 'victory'. In a post on the social platform X, he said the campaign to reject the imposition of Hindi had 'transcended state boundaries.' NYTIMES

Straits Times
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Straits Times
‘Teto' or ‘egen'? Young S.Koreans turn to hormone-inspired identity tests
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The teto-egen test from the personality test platform, Types, had attracted more than one million participants. SEOUL - Mr Bae Sung-jin, a 30-year-old office worker, says there's now one more way to check compatibility during blind dates. 'I get emotionally drained easily and tend to be very sensitive in relationships. So I make sure to check their MBTI and whether they're a 'teto' or 'egen' type,' he said. Twenty-two-year-old Lee, who recently got into so-called 'identity tests,' introduced herself as follows: 'I'm an 'egen woman,' so feminine clothing suits me well. But my personality is more like a 'teto woman.' — I'm bold and outgoing.' A new personality classification trend has taken hold among young singles in South Korea, with the rise of the 'teto-egen' test. The test uses analogies to testosterone and estrogen levels to analyse interpersonal styles and energy types. Social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube Shorts are awash with users sharing their results. The trend has spilled into pop culture as well. Young K-pop fans analyse celebrities based on the theory: Aespa's Winter is labeled a teto woman, Karina an egen woman, Suzy a teto woman and IU an egen woman. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors Business MOM, tripartite body, employment tribunals helping 29 Jollibean workers recover unpaid salaries Singapore Geothermal energy present in S'pore, but greater study on costs, stability needed, say experts Singapore Driver arrested after 66-year-old woman dies in car crash at Geylang pasar malam Countless videos and comment threads speculate about celebrities' personality types by combining their clothing style, speech patterns and dating histories. Hormonal archetypes go viral The 'teto' and 'egen' archetypes are derived from the hormones testosterone and estrogen, respectively. According to the typology, a teto man is masculine and athletic, while an egen man is gentle and appearance-conscious. A teto woman is expressive and extroverted, whereas an egen woman is reserved and traditionally feminine. The teto-egen test from the personality test platform, Types, had attracted over 1.16 million participants as of July 10 . The test, consisting of 28 questions, produces results such as gentle egen man or commander-like teto woman. One of the main draws of this test is its romantic compatibility analysis. Emotionally sensitive egen men are said to be attracted to charismatic teto women, while strong-willed teto men are seen as well-matched with caring egen women. The test gained even more attention after the final episode of SNL Korea season 2 on Coupang Play in June featured a skit titled When A Teto Man Falls In Love. In the episode, boy group BTOB's Yook Sung-jae, cast as an egen man, is dumped by his teto girlfriend for a more masculine partner. He undergoes a brutal teto transformation that includes growing a thick beard. The origin of the trend dates back to June 2021, when a diet content creator first posted about it on his blog. It gained popularity through a web cartoonist on Instagram, going viral soon after. For Gen Z, who seek quick ways to define themselves, the trend is a form of self-expression. Online content now covers dating, marriage, fashion, beauty and workplace behavior based on these archetypes. One beauty YouTuber posted a makeup tutorial titled Makeup For Egen women, featuring a clean and neat look. There are also countless videos on topics like 'The ideal woman for an egen man', 'How teto women talk to teto men' and 'How teto women date egen men'. History of typing the self Self-categorisation trends are nothing new. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, blood types were a popular personality metric in Korea and Japan. Statements like 'type A people are timid' and 'type B people are selfish' were commonly accepted, even though they originated in racially motivated studies by a Japanese eugenicist that have since been rejected by scientists. Later, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI, became the most popular personality clasification tool, dividing people into 16 types. People began using MBTI types to explain themselves in conversations and check compatibility on first dates. It even found its way into career planning and hiring processes. Professor Lim Myung-ho of Dankook University's Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy explains the popularity of such trends as rooted in a desire for self-discovery and understanding. 'The trend reflects the MZ generation's effort to understand themselves and build positive relationships with others,' he said. Curiosity or confinement In a nationwide survey by Embrain Trend Monitor involving 1,000 Koreans aged 19 to 59, 76 percent of respondents in their 20s and 71.6 per cent in their 30s said they 'want to understand themselves accurately'. The 86 per cent of those in their 20s and 87.6 per cent of those in their 30s said they were 'curious about who they are', yet only 22.4 per cent and 36.8 per cent, respectively, felt they had truly learned about themselves through experience. The results highlight a growing reliance on type-based classifications to explore identity and match behavior to social expectations. In essence, these tests are light-hearted forms of entertainment, but they also serve as tools for introspection, self-expression and social communication. 'In an anxious society, it reflects a desire to feel a sense of belonging and create intimacy in relationships,' said Prof Lim. 'As long as the intense competition among young people continues, these types of classification trends will persist.' However, some experts caution that such identity tests risk reinforcing oversimplified binaries. Framing behavior and traits in terms of gendered hormones can make stereotypes further entreched. 'Humans are wired to categorise and group things. Just like with MBTI or blood types, categorizing people into 'teto men' or 'egen men' is another attempt to simplify complex human nature,' said Professor Kwak Geum-joo, a professor of psychology at Seoul National University. She warned that while such classifications begin as curiosity, they can become self-restrictive if taken too seriously. Prof Lim echoed the concern. 'Blindly believing in these tests can lead to overgeneralisation and binary thinking. Identity tests should be treated lightly and used for reference only,' he said. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Vet Talk: Caring for a senior pet is like caring for an ageing family member
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Geriatric care means slowing down with your pets and recognising that your presence, patience and love are the greatest forms of care. As a veterinarian focusing on palliative and geriatric care, I have come to appreciate the universal truth shared by all living beings – be they dogs, cats or humans. Ageing is inevitable and with it comes unique challenges. While we cannot halt time, we can shape how our pets experience their later years. Geriatric care goes beyond managing illness. It is about preserving comfort, dignity and quality of life throughout the later stages of life. The subtle signs of ageing in pets often mirror those in humans, but unfold over a shorter period. As pets enter their senior years, they may sleep more, move more slowly and take longer to get up. Physical activities with them may become shorter, as they tire more easily and foods once enjoyed may no longer agree with their digestion. As our beloved pets age, it is natural to be concerned as their needs and vulnerabilities change. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors Singapore Geothermal energy present in S'pore, but greater study on costs, stability needed, say experts Singapore Prison school to NUS: At 36, former drug abuser finds it's never too late to get a degree Singapore Driver arrested after 66-year-old woman dies in car crash at Geylang pasar malam Mobility issues become more apparent and their senses, such as hearing and sight, may decline. Some pets develop cognitive dysfunction (dementia), causing behavioural changes or confusion. Chronic or terminal illnesses, such as organ failure or cancer, may also arise. These changes are not just physical and can be emotionally life-changing for the pets' families as well. Regular veterinary check-ups and screening tests Caring for a senior pet is no different from caring for one's ageing family members. Monitoring healthy senior pets through regular veterinary check-ups and screening tests every six months can help detect health changes early and support their well-being through timely care. Early detection is crucial in helping pets enjoy longer, healthier lives. For example, catching kidney disease early allows for dietary and lifestyle adjustments that will slow its progression. Identifying heart failure early helps families manage symptoms at home and extend their pet's life. In cancer cases, early diagnosis can determine if curative or palliative care is appropriate. When a cure is not possible, early diagnosis ensures comfort and practical support. The care of senior pets involves more than medical treatment. It is about spending intentional time, maintaining gentle routines and adapting to their environment. Small changes such as these can make a big difference: Shorter but more frequent walks that suit the pet's energy level Soft, supportive bedding for joint comfort Placing carpets or yoga mats throughout the house for pets with walking difficulties Keeping pets safe in public spaces by minimising rough play or overstimulation Providing small stepping stools or low furniture for cats so they can reach their favourite spots easily Geriatric care means slowing down with your pets and recognising that your presence, patience and love are the greatest forms of care. Quiet days at home, relaxing at a pet-friendly cafe or taking slow walks in familiar places can be just as meaningful and joyful as the more active days of their youth. What matters most Humans and animals alike will grow old one day. What matters most is not when we die, but how we journey there. It is about living a whole life in healthier years and receiving compassionate care in the twilight of life. To every pet owner navigating this stage or grieving the loss of a beloved companion, I hope you carry this with you: Remember the joy you shared, the warmth of your bond, the routines, playtimes and all the little moments that make up your lives together. Pets do not measure the quality of their lives by their lifespan. What stays with them is the love, comfort and steady presence of those who remain by their side. The bond you share with your pets is irreplaceable. Cherish them and the time you have during their golden years. These moments will become lasting memories that will stay with you forever.