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Food rescue project: Smart fridges launched in Bukit Timah & Bukit Gombak

SINGAPORE: Food rescue has gone digital in Bukit Timah and Bukit Gombak, with the launch of two smart fridges to encourage food sustainability and active participation in combating food wastage in communities. The smart fridges are a project of the People’s Action Party (PAP) Women’s Wing activists from the two areas and are located at Toh Yi Drive in Bukit Timah and Guilin Estate at Bukit Gombak, the party said on Saturday (Nov 11).

Food distribution initiatives usually require beneficiaries to be present in particular places at set times, which can pose problems for those who wish to participate and the organizers of such projects. Having smart fridges addresses these issues as they allow people to collect food items when they’re available to do so. Meanwhile, due to the smart fridges’ digital inventories, organisers can keep track of the food items and communicate with participants more efficiently.

The fridges will be restocked continuously with food items before their best-by date, and residents from the two areas may sign up online to access as many as five free products per month. The project is supported by iJooz Pte Ltd and Ryan’s Grocery, partners in the smart fridge initiative.

“The PAP Women’s Wing wants to empower our constituents in making Singapore more sustainable, and that includes tackling food wastage. These smart fridges help make food rescue more convenient for residents and more efficient for organisers. We are encouraged that close to 500 residents are now members of our smart fridge community through word of mouth alone.

Although the project’s key objective is to reduce food waste and promote sustainability, the free food products also mean some savings for our participants. We will share this experience with more Women’s Wing branches and encourage them to serve their constituents in similar ways,” said Ms Sim Ann, Chairwoman of PAP Women’s Wing and Branch Chair of PAP Bukit Timah division (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC).

Food items nearing expiry dates are disposed of and added to landfills, pointed out Ms Low Yen Ling, Vice-Chairwoman of PAP Women’s Wing and Branch Chair of PAP Bukit Gombak division (Chua Chu Kang GRC).

“With the community fridge, we aim to rescue food from being wasted and, at the same time, raise greater awareness in Bukit Gombak about food wastage and how everyone, from retailers to residents, can play a part in mitigating waste. We can prevent and reduce food waste at the source by planning our supplies, purchases, consumption, and storage of food more thoughtfully and carefully.” /TISG

Read also: Beyond women’s wings: When will Singapore have its first woman PM?

PMET worker talks to Jamus Lim about difficulties of getting a job after being laid off

SINGAPORE: Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim (Sengkang GRC) said in a Monday morning (Nov 13) Facebook post that in the course of house visits in Compassvale and Anchorvale in the past few weeks, a conversation with a resident who had been working in the PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians) sector stood out to him.

The resident lost his job due to corporate downsizing and shared with the MP about the difficulties he experienced in getting another job after his office was shut down. Assoc Prof Lim wrote, “In my view (and one I’ve shared in Parliament), we can do more to have a pathway from redundancy-unemployment support-retraining-reemployment.”

The Sengkang MP underlined that the WP has called for redundancy insurance for some years now, adding that he’s “glad the government has finally indicated that some such scheme will probably be rolled out soon.”

On Sept 26, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said that laid-off workers would receive unemployment benefits under an expanded SkillsFuture system. These benefits, while not necessarily an insurance scheme, would help tide the workers over while they are unemployed.

Assoc Prof Lim added that he has proposed the SkillsFuture program be refined further to equip workers with practical and experiential skills necessary for jobs today. However, he wrote that what’s “sorely needed… is an assurance that the skills that one retrains in ultimately translates into a job,” with SkillsFuture going further “to provide a soft guarantee of a job.”

This can be done through the government building a database of types of workers needed and then matching trainees to these courses, “with an assurance that, post-reskilling, they would be absorbed into one of these new jobs for at least 6 months. To sweeten the deal on the employer side, the government can cover part of the retrained worker’s wages during this period.”

Assoc Prof Lim added that several Scandinavian countries are already managing unemployment this way. “As a wealthy country that routinely stresses the importance of human capital development, my hope is that we will steadily evolve our unemployment safety net toward those befitting a 21st-century economy and society,” he wrote.

At the Budget debate in 2020, Ms Sylvia Lim, Aljunied GRC MP and WP chair talked about the need for redundancy insurance, saying, “Today’s economic climate illustrates how such insurance could provide a stabiliser to workers, to soften the cliff-edge that they face with job disruption. If the anxiety of citizens is not taken seriously enough, the door to populism and nativism will widen.”

Earlier this year, in his Labour Day message, WP chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh again urged the government to implement a redundancy insurance scheme to provide greater assurance and protection for workers.

Read related: Workers’ Party again calls for redundancy insurance scheme in May Day message /TISG

How to Rebalance Your Investment Portfolio When Bond Prices Fall

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The recent broad selloff in world government bonds amidst anticipation that interest rates in major economies will remain high in the near future, has once again pushed bond volatility to an all-time high. If you are building an investment portfolio that comprises bonds, perhaps it is a good time to evaluate if you should rush to sell them off or put more money into investing in investment-grade bonds while prices are falling.

Related: Five Ways to Diversify Your Investment Portfolio

oil prices
Source: Unsplash

Factors That Affect Bond Prices

Most investors view bonds as a relatively stable investment that complements their portfolio diversification strategy. However, factors like inflation, interest rates and market activity can pose risks associated with investing in bonds.

Inflation

When investors expect higher inflation in the future, they will demand higher yields to compensate for the decreased purchasing power of future bond payments. This leads to lower bond prices.

Taking the current economic climate as an example, inflation continues to linger with rising gas prices, sustained demand for some goods and services and geopolitical issues. As a result, investors are rushing to sell off their existing bonds because the falling bond prices are bringing in smaller interest payments and lower returns on their investment portfolio.

Interest Rates

It is essential to understand that bond prices and interest rates have an inverse relationship. When interest rates rise, newly issued bonds offer higher yields, making existing bonds with lower interest rates less attractive. This naturally leads to falling bond prices. Conversely, when interest rates fall, existing bonds with higher fixed interest rates become more valuable, causing their prices to rise.

Investors who intend to hold their bonds until maturity have less need to worry about the movement of bond prices as they will be paid according to agreed terms. However, if your investment strategy favours selling your bonds at an earlier date for profit, you need to monitor fluctuation of bond prices and market interest rates more closely.

Market Conditions

General market conditions can easily impact the demand for bonds and how the prices move. For example, when the stock market is rising, investors tend to go in favour of equities instead of bonds which leads to falling bond prices. When the stock market is going through a correction, bond prices tend to go up because investors may prefer fixed-income products for portfolio diversification since they are regarded as low-risk investments.

A surge in new bond issuances can also lead to falling bond prices. The sudden increase in supply means investors have more options to choose from and issuers have to offer higher yields with lower prices to attract buyers.

Related: How Much Money Do You Need To Start Investing?

how to rebalance porfolio
Source: Unsplash

How to Rebalance Your Investment Portfolio When Bond Prices Fall

Rebalancing your investment portfolio is a proactive approach to realigning your investment strategy and risk tolerance to ensure your portfolio is achieving your long-term financial goals in the face of changing market conditions. Typically, an investment portfolio may need to be rebalanced when certain assets in the portfolio outperform or underperform due to changes in market.

The first sign that you may need to rebalance your portfolio is when your asset allocations start to deviate from the initial plan. For example, your portfolio which comprised 80% stocks and 20% bonds has recently shifted to 85% stocks and 15% bonds allocations due to falling bond prices. To regain balance, you may need to sell 5% of your stock holdings and use the proceeds to invest in additional investment-grade bonds.

Do note that the rebalancing process may incur transaction costs or taxes that may impact your capital gains or losses. Be sure to weigh these costs before executing any trades to realign your portfolio. At the bottom line, your investment strategy should balance out the overall allocations together with the costs associated with them.

Related: How to Do a Year-End Assessment of Your Personal Finance Portfolio

diversify investing portfolio
Source: Unsplash

How To Diversify a Portfolio Based on Different Risk Tolerance

Portfolio diversification is one method of creating an investment portfolio comprising different asset classes from different industries and countries to minimise risk and optimise capital for higher returns. This strategy favours spreading risk as opposed to putting one’s eggs (investments) in one basket.

Even if you are not a risk-averse person, exercising prudence is still a must amidst this volatile market condition when everything can change in just a matter of days. That said, if you are a light-weight investor who prefers to play it safe, the 60/40 strategy (60% stocks and 40% bonds) recommended by Javier Estrada, may offer decent upside potential and higher protection than more concentrated investment styles. Alternatively, a slight modification to 70/30 may also achieve similar results if the stocks and bonds are selected with due diligence.

For investors who do not mind taking higher risk, Warren Buffet’s 90/10 may appeal due to its simplicity and possibility for higher yield. Buffet’s personal recommendation goes to putting 10% of the cash in short-term government bonds and 90% in stock-based index funds.

However, do note that the bonds component which helps to reduce overall investment risks is very low. This means substantial research must be conducted during the selection of stocks to mitigate risks that may arise out of investing in stocks.

Remember that there are no guarantees of profits when you buy stocks. If Lehman Brothers could go under overnight, your best bet to selecting high-growth stocks should not be luck but meticulous research and fundamental analysis.

Related: 4 Low-Risk Investment Alternatives to Fixed Deposits

Conclusion

Ready to build an investment portfolio to grow your wealth? Check out our roundup of the best online brokerages. Our research analyst has compared the top trading platforms based on a range of factors such as commission fees, international market access and exchange rates to ensure you will find a broker that resonates with your trading philosophy.

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The article originally appeared on ValueChampion.

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Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for removal of Mayorkas

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Marjorie Taylor Greene

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga, pushed for an immediate vote on impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This move came in the aftermath of a tragic Texas collision that claimed the lives of eight individuals, including two constituents of Greene.

Finger pointing

In a charged social media post, Greene asserted that the fatal accident resulted from a human smuggler’s actions, steering a vehicle filled with undocumented migrants. Pointing fingers squarely at Mayorkas, she blamed the Homeland Security Secretary for what she termed a failure in safeguarding the southern U.S. border.

The collision, which occurred in rural Zavala County, Texas, invoked support from fellow Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Tex., who aligned with Greene’s resolution, decrying what he termed as the Biden administration’s lax approach to border security.

Pressure on House leadership

This strategic move puts pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La, who faces critical choices in the coming days. The resolution’s fate lies in the hands of House leadership, capable of either scheduling a floor vote, tabling it, or assigning it to a committee, all attainable through a simple majority vote.

Mayorkas, on his part, defended his position, citing the impracticality of the Secure Fence Act’s strict criteria, emphasizing the need for a more practical approach to border control. The Department of Homeland Security and congressional Democrats have labeled Greene’s resolution as an unfounded attack and urged a focus on vital legislative agendas.

An unwavering Marjorie Taylor Greene

Despite these pleas, Marjorie Taylor  Greene remains resolute, unwavering in her pursuit of impeachment proceedings against Mayorkas, prioritizing the border crisis as the foremost concern demanding immediate attention.

As the political arena braces for heated deliberations, the fate of Mayorkas and the course of action on border security remain in the balance, with Greene’s unwavering pursuit steering the discourse in the House of Representatives.

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Cover Photo: YouTube

The post Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for removal of Mayorkas appeared first on The Independent News.

Keke Palmer files restraining order against Darius Jackson, accused him of physical attack

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Palmer

Keke Palmer has taken legal action to protect herself from her former boyfriend, Darius Jackson, citing allegations of physical and emotional assault. The 30-year-old actress filed for a temporary restraining order in Los Angeles and also requested sole legal and physical custody of their 8-month-old son, Leodis “Leo.”

In court documents obtained by Page Six, Palmer detailed multiple instances of physical and emotional assault by Jackson, who is 29 years old. These instances include the destruction of her personal property, throwing her belongings into the street, preventing her from driving by taking her car keys, physically assaulting her in front of their son, using profanities about her in front of their child, threatening self-harm with a gun if she tried to leave, harassment, and other forms of emotional and physical assault.

Photo: Instagram/Keke Palmer

Physically assaulting Palmer

Although the couple officially ended their relationship last month after being together for over two years, Palmer claims to have security footage as recent as November 5, showing Jackson trespassing into her home without her consent, threatening her, and physically attacking her, including when she attempted to call the police, he grabbed her neck, struck her, threw her over a couch, and took her phone.

Palmer is requesting that Jackson complete a 52-week batterer intervention program. Palmer stated that the relationship ended for good in early October, primarily due to the physical and emotional attack she endured since June 2021. Her primary concern is the safety of their son, Leo, and ensuring that he grows up in a violence-free environment.

Unpredictable

Palmer expressed concern that ending her relationship with Jackson did not stop his harsh behavior; in fact, she believes he has become even more unpredictable and dangerous to both her and their son.

As of now, representatives for both parties have not responded to requests for comments. Jackson posted a photo with their son on social media, expressing his love for Leo. Palmer had previously been secretive about her relationship status with Jackson, suggesting that people should mind their own business. However, she appeared to be content with her life in earlier statements. Their relationship status had been a subject of confusion among fans, with some thinking they had broken up in August after Jackson publicly criticized Palmer’s attire at an Usher concert. The TRO was initially reported by Us Weekly.

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The post Keke Palmer files restraining order against Darius Jackson, accused him of physical attack appeared first on The Independent News.

Nicky Hilton condemns bullying of Paris’ son’s head size: “It’s so demented”

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haters, Nicky Hilton

Nicky Hilton expressed her dismay at the criticism people have directed towards her sister Paris Hilton’s son’s appearance. She finds it “demented” and believes that those who engage in such behavior have serious issues and need to reflect on their actions. The 40-year-old told Page Six this during the Glamour Magazine Women of the Year event on Tuesday night.

Paris Hilton also had strong words for those who commented on her son’s head size when she shared a photo of his first trip to New York City in October. Some comments were light-hearted, but others questioned if there was a medical issue, which deeply hurt her. People commented that he’s just got a lot on his mind and to leave the child alone. Others were genuine and concerned.

Nicky Hilton on Paris’s son

Photo: Instagram/Paris Hilton

Naturally larger

In response to a TikTok video, Paris Hilton defended her son’s health, stating that he’s perfectly fine, and they’ve consulted a doctor about his head size, which is naturally larger. She emphasized that targeting her child or anyone else’s is unacceptable, as she has worked to create an environment of love, respect, and acceptance. Paris Hilton hopes for more kindness and empathy among people. The 42-year-old mum shared that the doctor said that Phoenix has a large brain. She also said that living in the spotlight, it is inevitable to have comments but targeting her baby or anyone else’s is unacceptable.

Paris Hilton and her husband, Carter Reum, had their son, Phoenix, via surrogate in January, which was a surprise to many, even her mother, Kathy Hilton. Nicky Hilton, who has three kids of her own, mentioned that Phoenix has had playdates with his cousins and shared plans for a trip to Disneyland over the Christmas break. The conversation took place at the Glamour Magazine Women of the Year event, where several female celebrities, including Selma Blair, Brooke Shields, Mary J. Blige, Millie Bobby Brown, Quinta Brunson, Geena Rocero, and America Ferrera, were honored.

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The post Nicky Hilton condemns bullying of Paris’ son’s head size: “It’s so demented” appeared first on The Independent News.

Pursuing passions in midlife

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passions

Midlife has a unique set of challenges. Thus, you need to harmonize your career and family while pursuing your passions.

Is pursuing passions in midlife practical?

Yes, it is, however, you have to define your passions first. What sets your soul on fire? What endeavors bring you genuine joy and fulfillment? What makes you stay awake at night? Identifying your passions is essential to ensure that your pursuit is not merely a fleeting interest, but a lifelong source of motivation.

Time Management – Organize your days to ensure that each aspect of your life receives the attention it deserves. A well-structured schedule can make significant difference.

Support/Communication – Communicate your passions to your family and seek their understanding. A strong support system can alleviate stress and make the pursuit of your passions more achievable.

Be Realistic

It’s essential to set achievable goals that fit into your current lifestyle and responsibilities. Dream big, but also understand that patience and gradual progress are key elements in balancing your passions with your career and family.

Learn to Say No – Set boundaries and allocate time to pursue passions without overextending yourself. Sometimes, saying no to others means saying yes to yourself.

Flexibility – Be adaptable when navigating the inevitable changes and challenges without losing sight of your passions.

Make Time for Family – While pursuing passions is essential, it’s important to allocate quality time for family. Nurture your relationships and create meaningful memories together.

Seek Professional Guidance – Consult a career counselor or life coach who can provide valuable insights and help you navigate the changes.

Not a selfish endeavor

Balancing career and family while pursuing passions in midlife is a demanding but rewarding endeavor. Pursuing passions is not a selfish attempt; it’s an investment in your personal growth which can positively impact career, family life, and personal development.

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Cover Photo: Unsplash

The post Pursuing passions in midlife appeared first on The Independent News.

 Singapore Squash Open: Nour Al Tayeb replaces injured Joelle King as women’s top seed

SINGAPORE — Top-seeded women’s player Joelle King has withdrawn from the upcoming VITAGEN Singapore Squash Open 2023 due to a back injury. She will be replaced by world number 57 Emilia Soini in the competition. Egyptian Nour El Tayeb will now be the top-seeded player in the Professional Squash Association World Tour Gold event, which will be held from Nov 14-19 at the OCBC Arena, Singapore Sports Hub.

The highly anticipated squash tournament, which returns to Singapore after its resounding success last year, will feature 48 of the world’s top squash athletes vying for a combined prize purse of US$220,000 at the Singapore Squash Open. This tournament marks one of the first major competitions since squash was officially included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The updated women’s draw and schedule can be found below.

Photo credit: Singapore Squash Open

The Singapore Squash Rackets Association president, Patrick Thio said that they are thrilled to host the world’s top squash players, and aim to foster local appreciation for squash and inspire young athletes through high-caliber competitions like the Singapore Squash Open, especially with the 2028 Olympic Games in sight.

“We are delighted to welcome back the world’s best squash players to Singapore. We’re saddened that Joelle King will be unable to defend her crown and wish her a speedy recovery. Nevertheless, fans can expect thrilling on-court action from the world’s best who will be competing at the OCBC Arena,” expressed Thio.

“We also hope that the SSO 2023 can create a platform for local audiences to grow a fond appreciation of the sport. In addition, we hope that, by bringing high-calibre competitions like SSO 2023 to Singapore, we will inspire our next generation of young squash athletes to continue their pursuit of sporting excellence, especially with LA28 on the horizon,” added the Singapore Squash rackets Association’s president.

On Saturday, Nov 11, the organiser announced another withdrawal. World number 25 Aifa Azman from Malaysia has pulled out of the tournament, and will be replaced by her sister, 52-ranked player Aira Azman.

TEAM SINGAPORE AT SINGAPORE SQUASH OPEN 2023

Local squash fans will also be able to cheer on Team Singapore national squash players as Marcus Phua and Au Yeong Wai Yhann have been drawn in Round 1 of the competition as wildcard entries.

“I’m so happy to be able to return to Singapore for SSO 2023 and test myself against the world’s best women squash athletes. Coming home is always special, and playing in front of a home crowd always brings a buzz of excitement. It’s even more meaningful for me, as I will be facing off against Rachel, one of my best friends, in the first round. I know we’ll both be bringing our A-Game, and put on a show for all the local fans,” said Au, who will be up against Malaysian Rachel Arnold in the first round of the competition.

The Sport Singapore’s Sport Excellence scholar enters the Singapore Squash Open in a rich vein of form. The women’s world 87 just became the first Singaporean woman to clinch a PSA Challenger Tour event at the PSA Tour Schräglage Open held in Germany this September as well as winning a historic six successive Singapore Nationals titles in March this year. After her success in Germany, Au competed in the France’s Open de Couzeix and the Monte Carlo Classic. Her journey in France ended in the quarter-finals, losing to world number 98 player Lauren Baltayan. At the Monte Carlo Open earlier this month, although she failed to make it past her opponent in Round 2, she definitely gained valuable playing experience when she went up against 47-ranked player Grace Gear of England.

In the men’s category, Phua will take on 39th ranked-player David Baillargeon of Canada. 34-year-old Phua is a veteran of the local squash game, and was part of the four-man squad for the recent Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Singapore put up a strong fight against some of the best from the continent, including a narrow 2-1 loss to 5th seeds Kuwait, and wins against Qatar and Nepal in the group stage. The team bowed out of the competition in a respectable seventh place. The Singapore Squash Open 2023 men’s draw and schedule can be found below.

Photo credit: Singapore Squash Open

What is doomscrolling and how to cope with it?

SINGAPORE: In a world where triumphs and tragedies are just a click away, the constant influx of heartbreaking stories has led to a collective strain on the mental and emotional well-being of many people, one which is called “doomscrolling.” But what is doomscrolling and how can someone cope with it?

Psychotherapist and coach Tess Brigham, MFT, defined “doomscrolling” as “mindlessly scrolling through negative news articles, social media posts, or other content-sharing platforms,” as mentioned on Verywell Mind.

TechTarget also mentioned that continuously scrolling through bad news can affect not only the mental well-being of a person but also impact a person’s physical well-being. By doomscrolling, a person can have increased levels of anxiety, depression, stress, fear, isolation, anger, catastrophic thinking, hopelessness, and sleeping problems. Some people even have panic attacks while some have feelings similar to post-traumatic stress.

To combat “doomscrolling” here are some ways to cope according to mental health experts, as reported by Yahoo News.

How to cope with Doomscrolling

Dr Annabelle Chow, a principal clinical psychologist at Annabelle Psychology, offers a detailed understanding of the detrimental impact of doomscrolling on people’s lives. According to her, the constant preoccupation with distressing news can severely impair someone’s daily life.

“You become so preoccupied by it that you cannot function at all. You go to work, you’re thinking about it. Your hands are typing something else, but your mind is just thinking about it all the time, affecting your ability to go out and meet your friends. Or if you meet friends, that’s all you can talk about. It’s affecting your appetite and your sleep” explains Dr Chow.

She emphasises the importance of seeking professional help when doomscrolling disrupts daily life. Dr Chow suggests focusing and putting your energy on things that are within your control to improve your mental well-being.

Juliana Pang, an addictions therapist from Promises Healthcare, talked about the role of constant news updates on social media in fueling doomscrolling behaviour. She points out that the reward system, coupled with bite-sized information, creates a false sense of security. Ms Pang also highlights the influence of the fear of missing out (FOMO) in keeping individuals engaged in doomscrolling, triggering constant comparisons about what a person knows of the situation.

Discussing the impact on different age groups, Ms Pang notes that developing brains, especially in children and young adults, are more susceptible to repetitive patterns of behaviour reinforced by dopamine. Moreover, individuals with anxiety, depressive symptoms, or a predisposition to such conditions are more likely to feel the effects of negative news constantly bombarding them.

Ms Pang offers practical steps to regain control over media consumption, including:

  • removing time-consuming apps
  • turning off notifications
  • setting time limits
  • engaging in activities that don’t involve a phone

She underscores the importance of intentional social media use, focusing on positive and uplifting content.

Claire Leong, a counsellor at Sofia Wellness Clinic, stresses the significance of being mindful of the time spent consuming online content. According to her, there is no specific universal limit for the amount of time a person can spend on such content before experiencing negative effects, as it varies from person to person. Ms Leong recommends unfollowing accounts that do not add value or content that “make you feel bad about yourself or the world around you.”

Other things that can help manage or prevent doomscrolling according to TechTarget include putting your phone two hours away from your sleeping time, staying away from reading social media comments that will trigger negative emotions, and trying out cognitive behavioural therapy through a therapist. /TISG

Travel hack: Chinese influencer explains why she trusts Singaporean hotel reviews

SINGAPORE: A woman shared an interesting travel hack lately that she believes will help anyone in ensuring they book a good hotel. According to Ms Midi, an influencer from China, it’s a hack “everyone should know.”

“If you are searching for any hotel in the world, go for the one that has good reviews from Singaporeans,” she said, sharing that this is something she had learned from her Singaporean husband.

“And it works every time when I travel,” Ms Midi said enthusiastically in a video she shared earlier this month.

@midiforreal

And food review too 🤪 #travelhacks

♬ Just A Girl – No Doubt

 

Even when she’s gone to the “weirdest hotels in the weirdest places,” when there’s been a good review from a Singaporean, “NOTHING WENT WRONG,” she added emphatically.

The opposite also holds true, Ms Midi appears to believe, adding that it’s best to stay away from hotels with ratings of 4.5 stars but get even one bad comment from a Singaporean.

Read also: Effective Travel Hacks To Maximise Savings When Travelling & Shopping Overseas During The Upcoming School Holidays

“You run,” she said. And why? “Because Singaporeans… my husband… are pampered,” since they were “born to live” in a very clean city, where even if you roll on the street the whole day, your shoes won’t get dirty.

Singapore also has the best infrastructure, is safe, and has one of the best customer service standards in the world. “So you can trust their hotel review,” she pointed out.

Read related: Singapore Travel Tips For First-Timers

Her travel hack has since gone viral, with over 113,000 views. However, at least one commenter has asked her, “How to check if there’s a Singaporean review?” (The simple answer to this is that travel aggregator sites indicate the country of origin of the people who drop reviews, usually with a little flag beside their names.)

Others actually confirmed her hack, with one saying they had “used this logic in Korea & Japan.” Another wrote, “Same with me. I always look for reviews from Singaporeans.” Even people from Malaysia said that her hack is a trustworthy one.

Some added that her hack can also be applied to food reviews. And since Singapore is well known for its delicious and affordable food, this may well be the case.

A number of commenters also thanked Ms Midi and encouraged her to share even more tips and hacks. /TISG

Read also: Woman looking for cheap accommodation while travelling ends up checking into an “old folks home”