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Straits Times
16 hours ago
- General
- Straits Times
The smartphones have not defeated us. Yet.
Over the last 15 years, as children began to receive these devices at ever younger ages, social media access followed inexorably. PHOTO: PEXELS Since the dawn of the television age, parents have struggled to limit or guide their children's screen time. But with the arrival of smartphones that can – and do – go everywhere and with social media apps that teenagers now use for an average of five hours every day, many parents feel a sense of resignation. The struggle has been lost. Parents who try to delay giving a smartphone until high school or social media until 16 know that they'll face the plaintive cry from their children: 'But I'm the only one!' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Police bust honey trap racket in Pindi
Dozens of men aged from 25 to 75 arrested in connection of pedophile activities in France. PHOTO: PEXELS A honey trap gang allegedly operating in Rawalpindi has been exposed, with a police sub-inspector and a government lawyer found involved in aiding the network. An FIR has been registered at Chakala police station against the gang leader and accomplices, including Sub-Inspector Azhar Iqbal Gondal and government lawyer Nadeem Sultani. According to the complaint filed by ASI Ehsanullah, the gang extorted large sums from citizens using women in honey trap schemes. Charges include extortion, threats, aiding crime, and violations under the Anti-Rape Investigation and Trial Act and Police Order. The accused, Nosherwan alias Niazi, Zil Shah, Qaiser Mehmood, Rashid Ali, Sub-Inspector Azhar Iqbal Gondal, former constable Mohsin Gondal, lawyer Nadeem Sultani, and fake lawyer Ali Gondal, allegedly lured victims through women, lodged false cases using forged IDs, and demanded hefty sums for out-of-court settlements after arranging fake medical and DNA reports. The gang, including officers, maintained regular contact with law enforcement and judicial officials. Gondal and Sultani allegedly received a share of the extorted money and facilitated the gang in police stations and courts. The gang leaders — Nosherwan alias Niazi and Afzal Bukhari alias Zil Shah — were arrested in Sohawa, Jhelum. Their arrest prevented the gang from producing forged ID holders in court. Authorities say the gang had filed multiple bogus cases across Rawalpindi and other districts, using deception and fraud to extort large sums under the guise of legal action. Investigations are underway.
Mint
4 days ago
- Science
- Mint
BRAINS AND BARK
German Shepherds are highly intelligent, trainable dogs widely used in police, military, and search-and-rescue roles due to their adaptability and strong sense of smell. Credit : PEXELS
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Want to file for divorce in China? You might need a booking agent
The slowing economy is piling financial stress on married couples and contributing to the breakdown of relationships. PHOTO: PEXELS Want to file for divorce in China? You might need a booking agent BEIJING - Chinese medical office worker Qin Meng has found a lucrative side-hustle: she wakes up before midnight, fills in her clients' divorce certificate applications on a government website, then hits the confirm button exactly at the top of the hour. Miss it by seconds and the daily slots are 'gone in the blink of an eye,' says the 30-year-old, who charges 400 yuan (S$71) for her service, bringing relief to couples who have sometimes spent six months trying for a slot. Demographers say the emergence of impromptu agents like Ms Qin, who advertise on Chinese social media, is another sign of how the slowing economy is piling financial stress on married couples and contributing to the breakdown of relationships. The 2024 divorce rate has yet to be announced by the National Bureau of Statistics, but Dr Yi Fuxian, a Chinese demographer and senior scientist at University of Wisconsin-Madison, expects it to hit 2.6 per 1,000 people, against a low of 2.0 during the Covid-19 pandemic. This compares with the most recent rates of 1.5 in Japan and 1.8 in South Korea. 'Poverty destroys marriage,' said Dr Yi, warning divorce numbers were inversely correlated with birth rates and could worsen the country's demographic crisis. 'China's economic downturn in recent years and the rising youth unemployment rate have reduced the economic capacity of families, exacerbated family conflicts, and thereby increased the divorce rate.' While the economy is expanding at about 5 per cent a year, Chinese households have been saving more because of concerns about job security and the impact of a prolonged property crisis. Much of the economic growth has relied on export competitiveness, but Chinese firms, hit by US tariffs, have cut jobs or lowered pay to reduce costs, while millions of fresh university graduates are struggling to find work. The rising financial pressure was thrust into the spotlight in 2024 after a driver rammed his car into a crowd killing 35 people in what was the country's deadliest attack in recent history. The court found that at the time of his offence, the driver was angry with his divorce settlement. He was sentenced to death. Soon after, the bi-monthly Communist Party magazine Qiushi re-published a 2016 speech by President Xi Jinping that argued 'harmonious families lead to a stable society'. Financial strain In a further sign that the rebound in divorces is driven by financial strain, demographers point at data showing lower divorce rates in affluent coastal areas and higher ones in poorer inner and northern regions. Thirty-eight year old Zhou Minghui booked her divorce appointment herself on the fifth attempt, after weeks of worry that her ex-husband might change his mind about their separation. Ms Zhou said her motivation for divorce was what she described as her ex's 'reckless financial investments'. He had lost nearly 4 million yuan in the stock market in the space of three years, forcing the couple to sell their home, she said. Even then they were only able to repay just over half of the debt he had taken to buy the shares. 'When the economy is in a downturn, people shouldn't be so eager to invest or consume,' said Ms Zhou, who works in the education industry in the southern city of Shenzhen. The Covid-era drop in divorce appears increasingly like an anomaly. Demographers say it was the result not only of the shutdown of non-essential public services, but also by the 2021 introduction of a 30-day mandatory cool-off period for couples seeking amicable divorce outside the courts. Couples need to get on the Civil Affairs Department's website twice - before and after that month-long breather - to book appointments to register their divorce. But the demand now far exceeds the available daily slots. The agents, people like Ms Qin, have figured this out and advertise their services for anything from 50 yuan to 999 yuan. Ms Qin has earned 5,000 yuan, nearly half her monthly salary from her day job, since she started the side gig 'for fun' in March. She receives multiple daily enquiries and expects to earn much more. 'The economy is not great, so there's more pressure at work and more conflicts in marriage,' Ms Qin said. 'Divorce rates will keep rising.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Mint
13-06-2025
- General
- Mint
FAITHFUL COMPANIONS
The Doberman is a loyal, protective, and intelligent family dog. With proper training and socialisation, they are calm at home and affectionate with loved ones. Credit : PEXELS
