New Virus Discovered In US Raises Pandemic Fears | iHeart

https://www.iheart.com/content/2025-02-04-new-virus-discovered-in-us-raises-pandemic-fears/

New Virus Discovered In US Raises Pandemic Fears

A new virus discovered in the United States is raising fears of another potential pandemic, the Daily Mail reports.

The Camp Hill virus was identified by scientists in shrews in Alabama, raising fear that it could expand beyond animal reservoirs and infect humans, leading to a massive outbreak. The new virus belongs to a family of pathogens called henipaviruses, which includes the bat-borne Nipah virus that has a 70% death rate among infected patients.

The Camp Hill virus, however, hasn't yet been recorded in humans, therefore, scientists are unaware of its symptoms or potential death rate. The Langya virus, which crossed from shrews to humans in China, was the closest thing to Camp HIll infecting humans and resulted in several symptoms including fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, liver dysfunction and kidney damage.

"This indicates that shrew-to-human transmission can occur," said Dr. Rhys Parry of the University of Queensland, who confirmed the Camp Hill virus' presence in Alabama shrews in a report released last month.

"The discovery of a henipavirus in North America is highly significant, as it suggests these viruses may be more globally distributed than previously thought."

Researchers wrote that they were concerned about that "given the high case-fatality rates associated with henipaviruses," detection of Camp Hill virus in North America "raises concerns about past and potential future spillover events," but specified that more research was needed to determine whether Camp Hill virus threatened humans.

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New Virus Discovered In US Raises Pandemic Fears | iHeart

https://www.iheart.com/content/2025-02-04-new-virus-discovered-in-us-raises-pandemic-fears/

New Virus Discovered In US Raises Pandemic Fears

A new virus discovered in the United States is raising fears of another potential pandemic, the Daily Mail reports.

The Camp Hill virus was identified by scientists in shrews in Alabama, raising fear that it could expand beyond animal reservoirs and infect humans, leading to a massive outbreak. The new virus belongs to a family of pathogens called henipaviruses, which includes the bat-borne Nipah virus that has a 70% death rate among infected patients.

The Camp Hill virus, however, hasn't yet been recorded in humans, therefore, scientists are unaware of its symptoms or potential death rate. The Langya virus, which crossed from shrews to humans in China, was the closest thing to Camp HIll infecting humans and resulted in several symptoms including fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, liver dysfunction and kidney damage.

"This indicates that shrew-to-human transmission can occur," said Dr. Rhys Parry of the University of Queensland, who confirmed the Camp Hill virus' presence in Alabama shrews in a report released last month.

"The discovery of a henipavirus in North America is highly significant, as it suggests these viruses may be more globally distributed than previously thought."

Researchers wrote that they were concerned about that "given the high case-fatality rates associated with henipaviruses," detection of Camp Hill virus in North America "raises concerns about past and potential future spillover events," but specified that more research was needed to determine whether Camp Hill virus threatened humans.

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Ong Ye Kung on not joining opposition like his father & regrets about his late parents not seeing him win an election - Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world

https://mothership.sg/2025/02/ong-ye-kung-father-opposition/?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ms

Ong Ye Kung on not joining opposition like his father & regrets about his late parents not seeing him win an election

"But I would think that both he and I, we chose the same path of public service," Ong said.

Why didn't Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung join the opposition party like his father?

This was a question posed to Ong by one of the "neurodiverse journalists" on the panel of CNA's documentary The Assembly.

Ong's late father, Ong Lian Teng, was a Member of Parliament (MP) in the 1960s, representing the opposition party Barisan Sosialis.

Answering the question without missing a beat, Ong explained that his father lived in a different time when there were "very divergent positions on where Singapore was heading."

Why didn't he join opposition like his father?

Ong described how his father was particularly passionate about serving and helping the villagers back then.

He recalled how the older Ong used his MP salary to fund the construction of a bridge or a road in their village.

With that, Ong said his father has influenced his view on how to serve the society and help people.

Ong became a civil servant and "naturally [he] felt the way to serve was to join the PAP (People's Action Party)".

"But I would think that both he and I, we chose the same path of public service," Ong said.

"The parties we chose might be different, but nevertheless, I'm following my father's footsteps in many ways," he added.

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Did he ever feel like he had betrayed his parents by joining the PAP? Another neurodiverse journalist asked.

Ong said that he had thought about this question before and had several conversations with his parents over the years.

Ong eventually concluded that while he has chosen his own path, he is following his parents' footsteps in some ways.

His parents ultimately accepted his decision as well.

His regrets

Ong was invited to join politics in 2006, but he did not do so as his father needed time to process it.

"Because in some ways, he was torn and therefore asked for more time," Ong added.

After receiving his father's blessing and support, Ong contested in the 2011 general election as part of the Aljunied PAP team, which saw him losing to the Workers' Party.

"By then, my father had passed away, but my mother was around, and she saw me lose," he said.

When Ong won his seat in 2015, however, his mother had passed away.

"I'm sure, if they'd been around in 2015 and seen me win, they would've been proud," he reflected.

Top photos from Ong Ye Kung/Facebook

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Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu dies at 48 after catching influenza in Japan | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/taiwanese-star-barbie-hsu-dead-at-48-after-catching-influenza-in-japan

Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu dies at 48 after catching influenza in Japan

Actress Barbie Hsu was travelling with her family in Japan over the Chinese New Year period when she caught influenza-related pneumonia. PHOTO: REUTERS

Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, star of the seminal idol drama Meteor Garden (2001), who is also known by her stage name Big S, has died at the age of 48.

The news was confirmed on Feb 3 in a statement sent out to Taiwanese media by her family via the manager of her younger sister, famed Taiwanese TV host Dee Hsu, 46.

According to Taiwanese news outlet Star ETToday, the statement written primarily in Chinese read: "Thanks for all the concern. Over the Chinese New Year period, our entire family travelled to Japan for a holiday, and my most beloved, kindest elder sister Barbie caught influenza-related pneumonia and has unfortunately left us.

"I am thankful to be her sister in this life, and grateful that we have taken care of each other and kept each other company all these years. I will always be thankful to her and remember her. Shan (Barbie Hsu's nickname), rest in peace. We love you always. Together, remember forever."

The statement did not clarify when and where Barbie Hsu died. According to Taiwanese news reports, sources say the Hsu family is currently still in Japan, and Barbie Hsu will likely be cremated there before her remains are taken back to Taiwan.

The news came after a netizen implied on Facebook on Feb 2 that a Taiwanese celebrity married to a foreigner has died at age 48, sparking rumours that Hsu, who is married to South Korean musician Koo Jun-yup, 55, had died.

Many netizens initially thought the news was a hoax, as Hsu was recently at a homecoming banquet to celebrate the marriage of Taiwanese television producer Wang Wei-chung's daughter on Jan 25 and looked to be healthy and in good spirits.

She also appeared with the rest of her family in a New Year post made by Koo on Dec 31 and looked to be well then too.

But the rumours of her death intensified as messages sent to Hsu's family, including Dee Hsu, asking for clarification on the news were ignored.

Also, Barbie Hsu's former husband, Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, reportedly changed his profile photo on Chinese streaming platform Douyin to plain black, as if to indicate he was in mourning.

Taiwanese singer Christine Fan, who is good friends with both Barbie and Dee Hsu, posted a black background with no caption on her Instagram on Feb 3, shortly after the news was confirmed.

Barbie Hsu leaves behind two children – a 10-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son – she had with Wang, whom she divorced in November 2021. In February 2022, she reunited with her old flame Koo and married him. They would have celebrated their third wedding anniversary on Feb 8.

Hsu is also survived by Dee Hsu, their older sister who is not a celebrity and their mother.

Barbie Hsu had kept a low profile in recent years and had not acted in a long time. Her last role was a voice-acting gig for a dubbed version of the Pixar superhero movie Incredibles 2 (2018). Her last TV appearances were both in 2019 – as a commentator for Season 2 of Chinese reality dating series Dream Space, and in the Chinese travelogue series We Are Real Friends, in which she appeared with Dee as well as her close friends, singer Mavis Fan and TV host Aya Liu.

But prior to her retreat from the limelight, Hsu – who came to prominence in the 1990s as part of a pop duo with Dee Hsu called Asos – was a prolific star. She was known for being one of many hosts during the long run of variety series Guess Guess Guess (1996 to 2011) and entertainment news programme 100% Entertainment (1997 to 2024).

With the mega hit Meteor Garden and its 2002 sequel, she also found success in acting, and went on to star in period series Eternity: A Chinese Ghost Story (2003), thriller film Connected (2008) and romantic drama Summer Desire (2010).

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Strange Horizons: The giant spinning tops off Tampines Road | The Long and Winding Road

https://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/strange-horizons-the-giant-spinning-tops-off-tampines-road/

Strange Horizons: The giant spinning tops off Tampines Road

10 May 2013

What does look like two giant spinning tops from the bottom of a grassy slope along Tampines Road are actually two concrete inverted cone shaped storage tanks built to each hold 8448 cubic metres of NEWater – water recycled from waste treated to become drinking quality water. The elevated tanks which measure 43 metres in diameter at the top, make up the Tampines NEWater Service Reservoir maintained by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) provide storage for NEWater produced nearby for use by nearby electronic chip manufacturing factories which require very clean water.

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Why many people think having over $600k is enough to retire on | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/invest/why-many-people-think-having-over-600k-is-enough-to-retire

Why many people think having over $600k is enough to retire on

Insurer Singlife's poll is spot on in sounding the alarm that retirement planning is a long-term affair because most people usually need around three decades of working and saving to set themselves up right, says the writer.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

SINGAPORE - Many of us would be pretty pleased to have $612,000 sitting in a bank account when retirement looms, but believing that will be enough to see out your golden years would be a risky leap of faith.

That precise amount wasn't pulled out of thin air: It was the sum that came up in a poll of 3,000 people here who said they would feel financially free if they had this much cash at their disposal.

Go further. Broaden your horizons with The Straits Times.

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The power of an apology: Why 'sorry' is more than just about accepting blame - CNA

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/mental-health-matters/apologise-sorry-struggle-hard-4906416

The power of an apology: Why 'sorry' is more than just about accepting blame

Contrary to popular belief, the person who is first to apologise is not necessarily the one who is at fault. The act of apologising is more about bridging the gap between our intentions and how others are affected, counsellors said.

For some people, apologising may sometimes feel like "admitting failure", which can trigger fears of rejection or judgment, mental health experts said. (Illustration: CNA/Nurjannah Suhaimi)

It was New Year's Eve two years ago when a minor incident escalated into an unexpected conflict between me and my sister.

I opened a cabinet, unaware that her limited-edition tumbler was precariously placed inside. It bounced off the table, tumbled out of the kitchen window, fell 18 floors from our housing block and shattered on the ground floor. 

I hadn't intentionally thrown it out the window but my sister was furious. Her anger felt disproportionate and unlike other times when I might have instinctively apologised, this time, I defiantly held my ground refusing to say "sorry" for an unintentional act.

In hindsight, a simple and genuine apology might have resolved the situation.

Instead, we went through three days of "cold war" at home before I approached my sister and expressed regret at the situation. 

Since it was an accident and the situation wasn't entirely my fault, wasn't I justified in standing my ground? Would an apology suggest that I was taking all the blame?

It turns out that apologising involves more than just taking on the blame and it is about addressing the uncomfortable gap between what we intended to happen and the consequences of our actions.

Clinical psychologist Annabelle Chow from private practice Annabelle Psychology explained: "Apologising isn't solely about assigning blame – it's about acknowledging and addressing the emotional impact of your actions. 

"Even if the harm was unintentional, offering an apology shows empathy and care that helps the hurt party feel recognised and valued."

Apologies and apologising are crucial in any relationship, but why do so many people struggle with them? Also, does saying "sorry" suffice?  

Related:

APOLOGISING NOT ALWAYS ABOUT ADMITTING FAILURE 

Experts told CNA TODAY that apologising can sometimes be challenging because it requires "vulnerability" from the person dishing out the apology.

Additionally, many people have learnt to interpret apologies as confessions of wrongdoings. 

Ms Theresa Pong, founder and counselling director of The Relationship Room, which provides counselling and coaching services, said: "Admitting that one has done a wrong often stirs feelings of guilt and shame, which can be uncomfortable and overwhelming."  

She noted that apologising sometimes feels like "admitting failure", which can trigger fears of rejection or judgment. 

Agreeing, Dr Chow said: "(Apologising) requires self-admission to take responsibility for wrongdoings and put ourselves 'at the mercy' of the person to whom we're apologising."

She observed how some people worry that an apology might escalate the situation and lead to further accusations, vengeance or negative repercussions. 

"This fear heightens a reluctance to apologise or try and cover up the mistake."

Furthermore, apologising might feel like a blow to some people's pride, reputation and confidence, which can make them feel weak or inadequate, Dr Chow added.

"For them, it can feel like the self-image they uphold will be shattered if they admit they are wrong. This is particularly difficult for people who equate mistakes with weakness, failure or incompetence."

Ms Liew Shi Min, director and clinical psychologist of Heartscape Psychology Clinic, said that apologising could be difficult for some people because it can "trigger our core schemas". 

Schemas are mental frameworks that shape how we perceive, interpret and respond to experiences based on our past knowledge, beliefs and emotions. 

For a person with negative schemas, such as the fear of inadequacy or rejection, apologising might lead to negative thought patterns such as "I will be looked down upon if I apologise", Ms Liew added. 

"Even if some of us are objectively aware that we've done something wrong, our subjective thoughts and emotions could take control of our resulting behaviours, since we find more comfort in relying on our habitual patterns."

This is particularly true for people with unresolved attachment issues or insecure attachments, because offering apologies may feel overly vulnerable, threatening or even like an attack, she said.

Besides personal struggles, the mental health experts said that culture plays an important role in how apologies are expressed and understood. 

In some cultures, especially Asian cultures, hierarchy and respect for elders play a significant role, where apologising is associated with weakness, shame or a loss of status. 

"It is often uncommon for elders to apologise to juniors, because this might be seen as a challenge to their authority," Ms Pong said.

"Instead, they may choose indirect ways to express remorse, such as offering help or a gift."

Related:

HOW TO SAY SORRY 

Apologies are essential to maintaining good relations, but it is better not to be too hasty with an apology, the experts said. 

A quick apology to ease the situation without acknowledging the pain may seem insincere or dismissive. This is especially crucial in situations where the harm caused was unintentional. 

"Apologising can be counterproductive if we are too quick to apologise before understanding the situation and listening to the other person," Ms Liew said. 

After considering the other person's point of view, remember that the intent of the apology is just as important as the apology itself. 

"An effective apology is more than just saying 'sorry'. It's about showing genuine effort to repair the harm and rebuild trust," Dr Chow said. 

She added that an effective apology fosters understanding and healing, while a poorly delivered one may leave the other person feeling invalidated or angrier.

And a genuine apology should include not just remorse but also a clear commitment to change, if that is applicable to the situation.

"Start by naming the hurt caused, showing genuine remorse and expressing a willingness to make things right," Ms Pong said, adding that framing an apology with empathy is crucial for healing. 

For example, instead of saying, "I'm sorry", try instead to say, "I understand how my actions hurt you and truly regret that". 

When apologising, it would be helpful to avoid statements with "but" and "you", because "but" may imply a lack of responsibility for the situation and "you" could imply a personal attack on the other person, Ms Liew said.

For those who find speaking face-to-face too intimidating, writing a thoughtful text message or note can be just as effective. 

"What matters most is your effort to validate the other person's feelings and demonstrate your commitment to repairing trust, even if you can't say the words 'I'm sorry' right away," Dr Chow said. 

DON'T OVERDO IT 

There are people who would benefit from reflecting on why apologising is difficult for them, Ms Liew said.

Doing such self-reflection can help them become more aware of triggers and unhelpful patterns. 

"Being self-aware is the first step to minimising rash and automatic responses that may hurt us and the other person," she added.

In some instances, there is also the risk of getting used to apologising without understanding one's intent and then falling into the habit of over-apologising. 

Dr Chow said over-apologising dilutes the sincerity of one's words and may come across as not genuine or overly self-critical.

"Instead of criticising yourself entirely, focus on the specific behaviour." 

For example, say, "I'm sorry I missed our meeting", rather than "I'm sorry I'm so bad at everything".

Apologising doesn't mean agreeing to things that make us uncomfortable or appeasing others by sacrificing our boundaries, Dr Chow added.

"Instead, we can acknowledge and apologise for the disappointment or unhappiness that arise due to our boundaries, but we should not apologise for, give in or forsake our boundaries."

Over-apologising could lead to unhealthy relationship dynamics where "taking on blame" is the go-to approach to discomforting situations, Ms Liew cautioned.

"It may also reflect our people-pleasing behaviours, because we may think that apologising could quickly stop the conflicts."

Source: CNA/ma

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Japan sinkhole grows to almost Olympic pool length with truck driver still trapped - CNA

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/japan-sinkhole-truck-driver-trapped-rescue-efforts-4907701?

Japan sinkhole grows to almost Olympic pool length with truck driver still trapped

YASHIO, Japan: Emergency workers in Japan began building a ramp on Friday (Jan 31) to try and reach a 74-year-old truck driver who has not been heard from since his vehicle was swallowed by a sinkhole this week.

The incident has captured national attention since the sinkhole suddenly appeared in Yashio City in Saitama prefecture, just northeast of Tokyo, during the morning rush hour on Tuesday.

The sinkhole was roughly 10m wide and 5m deep but after it merged with another cave-in nearby, it expanded to 40m across, almost the length of an Olympic swimming pool.

The growing hole could be the result of corroded sewage pipes, according to authorities in Yashio.

"It is an extremely dangerous condition," local fire chief Tetsuji Sato told reporters on Thursday at the traffic intersection where dozens of rescuers have been working around the clock.

"We are planning to construct a slope (to access the hole) from a safer spot so that we will be able to send heavy equipment," he said.

He added that groundwater was leaking inside and that the hole was "continuing to cave in".

The truck driver was last heard responding to rescuers on Tuesday afternoon, according to Yashio fire department official Yoshifumi Hashiguchi.

Contact was lost after the truck became further buried under soil and debris, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

ERODING WALLS

The punctured pipes "potentially allowed the surrounding soil to flow in and the space under the ground to hollow out", Daisuke Tsutsui, a Saitama prefectural official, told AFP on Thursday.

Authorities hoped to complete the 30m on Friday, but a local official said it may take several days.

The operation has been aggravated by the inner walls of the hole - now around 10m deep - continuing to erode, preventing rescue workers from staying inside it for long.

As the sinkhole has expanded, heavy chunks of asphalt have occasionally fallen in, preventing rescue workers from going near the chasm. This has also made it dangerous to place heavy machinery nearby.

Television footage captured the asphalt road cracking and collapsing into the sinkhole, knocking down billboards. 

Authorities have tried to save the driver by lifting his truck with cranes, but they could only recover the loading platform, leaving behind the cabin where the driver is believed to be trapped. 

Officials have also tried without success to remove sediment and dig out the driver. They flew a drone into the hole to see if rescue workers could climb down, but no progress has been made.

About 1.2 million residents have been asked to cut back on showers and laundry to prevent leaking sewage from further complicating the rescue efforts.

"Using toilets is difficult to refrain from, but we are asking to use less water as much as possible," an official told AFP.

Some sewage water in the area was collected and released to a nearby river to reduce the runoff into the hole.

The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry has ordered a nationwide inspection of sewer systems. 

Most of Japan's main public infrastructure was built during the rapid economic growth of the 1960s and 1970s. The sewage pipe in Yashiro is about 40 years old.

Also read:

Source: Agencies/gs(mi)

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Ong Ye Kung on not joining the opposition, his language struggle and more, on The Assembly - CNA

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insider/ong-ye-kung-assembly-not-joining-opposition-language-struggles-4908401

Ong Ye Kung on not joining the opposition, his language struggle and more, on The Assembly

Singapore's health minister fields questions regarding whether he had betrayed his opposition-affiliated parents, his 2011 electoral loss and his biggest mistake in office, on CNA series The Assembly.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was the final guest on The Assembly. The episode aired on Wednesday. (Photos: John III Rosado for CNA)

01 Feb 2025 06:00AM

Read a summary of this article on FAST.

SINGAPORE: In his time in politics, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has faced tough questions on MRT delays, healthcare costs and Singapore's pandemic strategy.

But it took an 18-year-old, Durkeswaran Krishnan from CNA series The Assembly, to ask him what he does not recall anyone else ever asking: Why did he not follow his father into the opposition?

His late father, Ong Lian Teng, was a Barisan Sosialis Member of Parliament in the 1960s. "My father lived in a different time, (when) there were very divergent positions on where Singapore was heading," said Ong.

"And he (was particularly) passionate about serving the villagers."

That dedication to "serving society" and helping those around him had a subconscious influence on Ong. It set him on the path to the civil service, where he eventually "felt that the way to serve" was by joining the ruling party.

"The parties we chose might be different," he said in the episode that aired on Wednesday. "Nevertheless, I'm following in my father's footsteps in many ways."

His father did not accept his decision immediately. "In some ways, he was torn and therefore asked for more time. And I fully respected that. So (in) 2006, I couldn't join politics (yet)," Ong recounted.

His late mother, too, was "heavily involved in opposition politics". A passionate teacher, Ng Soo Lung had mentored student activists who boycotted the 1961 Government Secondary 4 Examination to protest against changes in the Chinese secondary education system.

"Did you ever feel that you betrayed your parents in some way?" asked Stephanie Fam, who has cerebral palsy.

"Yes," replied Ong to a question that had gone through his mind before. "They were on one side; I'm choosing the other side — am I in some way letting them down?"

After several conversations over the years, his parents finally accepted his decision, and he stood for election in 2011 with their blessing. But he lost in Aljunied GRC to the Workers' Party.

"By then, my father had passed away. But my mother was around, and she saw me lose," he said. "I'm sure, if they'd been around (in 2015) and seen me win, they would've been proud."

The loss stung, worsened by the regret of not having his parents see him elected eventually.

It was also "quite hard" to take because he was entering politics with batchmates such as Education Minister Chan Chun Sing and former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin. They had studied in Raffles Junior College together.

"How come I'm the only one who didn't get elected?" Ong recalled feeling as he sat down with The Assembly's neurodivergent journalists to unpack his mistakes, insecurities and achievements, in "probably the most honest interview" he has had.

WATCH: Ong Ye Kung's "most honest interview ever" with neurodiverse journalists (24:33)

MAKING THE MISTAKE OF OMISSION

After his electoral setback, Ong stayed on in the National Trades Union Congress before transitioning to the private sector in 2013 as Keppel Corporation's director of group strategy. When he returned to the political arena in 2015, he felt different.

"I don't think I (would be) who I am without the 2011 setback," he reflected. "(It) changed the way I feel (about) what kind of politician I am."

He does not see his 2011 loss as a failure. He has made a few mistakes, however, as a minister.

Asked what the biggest was, he said there were times when he was "in a position to make a change" but held back owing to what had been put in motion already.

"You don't want to crowd the agenda. You push it off, and then you miss the chance," he said without going into detail. "It's a mistake of omission, not a mistake of commission."

Joel Lee, 27, who has autism, asked if Ong — once considered a potential candidate for the premiership — ever aspired to the role.

"Not that you want to be (prime minister), but you're prepared to take it up," replied the minister. "Having … decided to enter politics, I think if you're entrusted (with the role), you have to try to take it up."

But it involves "a lot of sacrifices", which apply to ministers and MPs too, he said. "We have no weekends," he continued. "Your family ends up sacrificing as well, in terms of privacy … (and not) having enough time with you."

He now hopes his "old friend", Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, whom he has known since the early 2000s and who has "a very strong set of qualities", will be well supported.

On health policies, Ong talked about home palliative care.

His ministry is expanding the care capacity at home by 50 per cent to 3,600 places by this year, while also increasing inpatient and day hospice capacity. And personal experience has helped to shape his views on end-of-life care.

His grandmother who raised him while his parents worked ended up having advanced lung cancer. He was "very close to her" and recalled how she would complain in Teochew about staying in hospital: "Kiah jit meh kio kiah jit nee."

That means a night in hospital feels like a year.

Ultimately, she died in hospital. With today's standard of palliative care, however, he thinks she could have been cared for at home. "It would've been her dying wish," he said.

His mother also died in hospital, though in a more comfortable setting.

"One thing the palliative nurse taught me was that the organs will start to fail, but the ears are the last to go," he recounted. "Therefore (I should) talk to her and read to her."

So he read her a Christian sermon each day for some months, he shared. She died peacefully in December 2014.

"I find that the great majority of Singaporeans would like to go in a comfortable environment without too many medical interventions and surrounded by loved ones," he added.

"GRAMMAR IS TORTUOUS"

Perhaps what really surprised Ong's interviewers was how it took him "a long time" to pick up English growing up: He started reading in Primary 2 and only got the hang of writing when "forced to write essays" at university.

Did people make fun of him back in school because he could not speak English, asked Vincent Ng, who has autism.

The reason they did not, according to Ong, was that many of his schoolmates were in the same boat — from a Chinese-speaking background. They were just a quiet bunch who did not say much because English was a struggle.

Sometimes he still feels insecure about his command of English, he said in reply to another question, as grammar "doesn't come naturally" to him.

"If you hear me deliver a speech, and I make grammar mistakes, that was me (who wrote it)," he said with a laugh.

"My brain is wired, from a very young age, for the Chinese language. So (English) grammar came later, and grammar is tortuous.

"Thankfully, there's now autocorrection."

Yet he has no trouble connecting with the masses on social media. Among the 4G ministers — other than the prime minister — Ong has the most followers, numbering more than 150,000 averaged across Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

It was not something he realised until Choo Jun Wei, who has autism, pointed it out.

Almost every social media video Ong puts out, however, is a collective effort. "I may come up with the idea, but then the team will give it substance," he said. "Sometimes it's the other way round."

His social media strategy is based on three rules: No "boh liao", or pointless, content; always include a health message; and post not more than once a week. Underpinning all that, the process should be fun, he said.

"People always say (to me), 'You're very hard to approach' (or) 'You always look a bit … unhappy, pissed off even,'" he said, blaming his "resting angry face". "Actually, I'm a jovial, gregarious and funny person."

But his daughters, who are in their 20s, may not find him "cool", he quipped. "I'm just Papa. And Papa sometimes is a bit square. Papa sometimes doesn't understand Gen Z and Gen Alpha. But I'm coping."

Whatever the case, he does not plan on losing his sense of humour — something he believes is the most important quality in life.

Watch this final episode of The Assembly here.

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Source: CNA/dp

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Reunion dinner emergency: Docs in family of 12 help save chef in TungLok restaurant | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/reunion-dinner-emergency-family-of-doctors-help-save-chef-in-tunglok-restaurant

Reunion dinner emergency: Docs in family of 12 help save chef in TungLok restaurant

The family helped perform CPR on the chef after his pulse stopped in a TungLok Signatures restaurant on Jan 28.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

SINGAPORE - A relaxing reunion dinner at Orchard Rendezvous Hotel for a family of 12 turned dramatic as three of them raced against time to save a chef who was having a severe asthma attack.

The family had finished their sixth course a little after 10pm on Jan 28 when medical student Alex (not his real name) visited the restroom of the TungLok Signatures restaurant and saw a chef, who looked to be in his 60s, crouched in a corner.

"He was gasping, short of breath, holding his throat and turning pale," the 23-year-old told The Straits Times.

The NUS medical student helped to sit the chef up and administer his inhaler, but his condition was not improving.

Two of the chef's colleagues had already called for an ambulance by then. "His situation was getting serious," Alex said.

At that point, his father, an orthopaedic surgeon, happened to enter the restroom. Alex said: "There was no other medical equipment, nothing much to do except to stay and monitor him."

While his father looked after the chef, Alex called his uncle, oncologist Siow Tian Rui, over. Alex said the chef's pulse was getting weaker, and it abruptly stopped at one point.

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"When a patient loses his or her pulse, it's indicative for the first-aider to begin CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)," he said.

For 15 minutes, his dad and uncle performed CPR on the chef before paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived.

Alex said he was unsure if the chef was conscious when taken to the hospital, but his heart was beating. "It's a dangerous situation to be in. Even after someone is resuscitated, he is not out of the woods yet," he added.

SCDF said it received a call for assistance at 9.55pm on Jan 28, and added that one person was taken to Singapore General Hospital.

It later said it will be reaching out to the members of the public who helped the chef, to commend them for their public-spirited act.

A spokeswoman for TungLok Group confirmed that one of the chefs had experienced a medical emergency and was promptly attended to.

"He is currently receiving treatment in hospital and is in stable condition. We appreciate the swift actions of those who assisted him and the medical team for their care," she told ST on Jan 30.

Dr Siow's brother, Mr Siow Jia Rui, who was also at the reunion dinner, said: "If there wasn't anyone around to intervene early, he (the chef) likely would have died.

"Everything turned out in the right place, at the right time. It was a good outcome."

In May 2024, an accident and emergency doctor was saved by his tennis playing partners, who are also doctors, after collapsing from cardiac arrest during a game.

A number of organisations like the Singapore Red Cross conduct courses for members of the public to develop emergency response skills.

They include the Singapore Heart Foundation, where people can learn skills such as CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) through the Restart A Heart Programme.

An AED is a portable medical device that delivers an electrical shock through the chest to the heart. If a bystander performs early CPR and uses an AED, it can increase a victim's survival rate by up to 50 per cent.

A report in 2023 showed that members of the public who had signed up on SCDF's myResponder app attended to 7,670 incidents over the last five years, more than half of which were cardiac arrest cases.

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