SINGAPORE - To tackle issues of media freedom, quality journalism and newsroom transformations, the head honchos of news organisations across the region came together on Tuesday (May 7) for the inaugural meeting of the World Editors Forum (WEF) Asia Chapter. Members of the new chapter elected The Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez, who is also editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holding's English/Malay/Tamil Media Group, as its founding chairman. Mr Fernandez said: "Newsrooms around the world are facing big challenges. These range from the need to transform to being multimedia operations, to maintaining the credibility and quality of our content, in the face of the welter of fake news out there. Quality content, however, takes a lot of resources, so we have to keep our newsrooms financially sound and sustainable, if we are to keep going. "Some newsrooms are further down the road and we can all learn from each other. We should also tap the wealth of experience and expertise that is … [Read more...] about Editorial leaders across Asia meet to tackle newsroom challenges
Internship
Skills shortages, labor curbs may hit Singapore manufacturing
Skills shortages, labor curbs may hit Singapore manufacturing SINGAPORE, Singapore — Singapore has attracted high-tech manufacturers with incentives and a well-educated workforce but growing demands for highly skilled labour and government moves to curb numbers of foreign workers may mean a tougher path ahead. The city-state is a major producer of products ranging from aircraft engines to medical equipment and oil rigs, and top firms such as Rolls-Royce and German industrial conglomerate Siemens have operations there. British appliance pioneer Dyson will open its first electric car plant in the city-state, with vehicles set to roll off the production line from 2021, and this year announced plans to move its global headquarters to Singapore. But a potential shortage of more specialised skills as firms shift into fields such as robotics and 3D printing, as well as moves to make it more difficult to hire foreigners in the space-starved country, may make … [Read more...] about Skills shortages, labor curbs may hit Singapore manufacturing
NP graduates shaking up male-dominated industries
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry is not easy but that does not faze Miss Cristal Ang Hui Xian, Miss Tuang Ting Yu and Miss Teo Swee Yin. The 20-year-olds are Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) graduates. Miss Ang aims to join the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps while Miss Tuang is aiming for an SAF scholarship. Miss Ang told The New Paper: "To me, it is my national duty. If I don't serve, I feel like I am not a Singaporean." Miss Tuang has a diploma from network systems and security in NP's School of Engineering. She does mixed martial arts and aims to join the air force. In October last year, she was a robotic process automation (RPA) project intern at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Said Miss Tuang: "I had no RPA background and I knew nothing about robotics. I could only code, so I had to learn everything myself within a month. I thought it was impossible." But she persevered and developed MHA's first bot which helps with administrative tasks. She told TNP: "I would … [Read more...] about NP graduates shaking up male-dominated industries
John Singleton’s first film, Boyz n the Hood, arrived like a thunderbolt
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/entertainment/movies/2019/04/30/john-singletons-first-film-boyz-n-the-hood-arrived-like-a-thunderbolt/cubachestnut.jpg)
By Sonaiya Kelley Los Angeles Times Tues., April 30, 2019 LOS ANGELES—The streets of South L.A. were marked and divided by gang warfare when Boyz n the Hood arrived in America’s movie houses, a violent and profane yet somehow deeply sentimental look inward for a troubled city. A coming-of-age story amid the destructive cross-currents of inner city life, the film marked the debut of a brash 24-year-old filmmaker, who had polished off the script in just 3 1/2 weeks during his senior year at the University of Southern California. In every sense, it was his story, his neighbourhood. The 1991 film, nominated for two Academy Awards, pulled John Singleton into the company of emerging Black moviemakers such as Spike Lee, Mario Van Peebles and Matty Rich. Relevant and thoughtful, Singleton remained prolific over the decades. On Monday, 13 days after suffering a stroke, Singleton died after being removed from life support. He was 51. In a statement, his family … [Read more...] about John Singleton’s first film, Boyz n the Hood, arrived like a thunderbolt
Bernard Dargols, French GI who fought at Omaha Beach, dies at 98
CAEN: Bernard Dargols, the only French soldier to fight in an American uniform as Allied forces stormed the coast of Normandy at Omaha Beach in a battle heralding the end of World War II, has died aged 98, the Caen Memorial war museum said on Tuesday (Apr 30)."We are deeply saddened by Bernard's passing ... surrounded by his loved ones, a few days from his 99th birthday. We will miss him terribly," the museum said on Twitter.His death comes just a few weeks before France is hosting ceremonies to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, which are to be attended by US President Donald Trump.Dargols had left France in 1938 for an internship in the United States, and after seeing France's Vichy leader Philippe Petain shake hands with Adolf Hitler, he enlisted in the US Army, later obtaining joint French-American citizenship.He was just 24 when he crossed the Channel from England to France on Jun 8, 1944, two days after Operation Overlord was launched to help wrest back … [Read more...] about Bernard Dargols, French GI who fought at Omaha Beach, dies at 98