Article:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-society-technology-change-survey-4191971

Key highlights: Many believe that technology is changing too quickly and in some ways does not benefit them. Most of these people also believe that technology developments and innovations increases the risks of hackers and scam via technology advancements.

(L3): My country

Forum:

https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-push-to-use-technology-should-not-make-things-more-difficult-for-users

Key highlights: Technologies becoming user-unfriendly for those who are less tech-savvy, especially elderly citizens who are less educated or who might not have the ability or the hardware to successfully navigate QR codes, create PDFs, upload documents or use e-services without help.

Article: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/smart-cities/

Key highlights : Microgrid Gas Meter wirelessly send power usage rates to help cut down wasted energy use.

Article: https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/60941

Key Highlight:

over 13 million hectares of forest land are converted to agriculture, urban land use, and industrial forestry annually. (deforestation!!!)

leaky sewer lines and septic systems as well as the lack of sanitation systems contribute significant amounts of nutrients and organic contaminants (pollution!!!)

Ecologically, these stressors and contaminants significantly affect aquatic flora and fauna. Habitat loss is the greatest threat to biodiversity. (Endangerment!!!)

Article : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/new-social-compact-key-shifts-education-meritocracy-seniors-lawrence-wong-3422931

Key highlights:

"Many feel caught in a rat race from a young age – under pressure to get the best grades, get into what they perceive to be the best schools, so they can get the best university places,"

Redifining sucess ----> want to give Singaporeans who graduate from ITE and polytechnics stronger assurance: That their wages and career prospects will not be too far below their university-going peers

targeted remployment scheme ----> there has been a shift from social assistance to social empowerment.

EXAMPLE : An example is the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, which helps lower-income families buy a home of their own. Mr Wong said that Singapore wants to expand this approach to more forms of social support — to provide additional financial help to families who help themselves, such as by staying employed and sending their children to preschool regularly.

Article :

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/big-read-teenagers-social-media-addiction-cost-mental-health-3647121

Key Highlights:

1. Sucidie related to use of social media ---> social media "normalises" self inflicted harm + extreme inappropreiate contend

2. addiction leading to very violent behaviour ---> 17 year old addcited for 3 years. Pushed mother out of the house becasue she offed the wi-fi

3. the young are extremely vulnurable to be influenced ----> decision-making ability, impulse control and judgement are still being developed, excessive social media use could impact their brain development and potentially lead to long-term cognitive and emotional consequences

4. doom-scrolling ---> lead to addiction issues, as adolescents’ developing brains are particularly vulnerable to impulsive, dopamine-driven feedback loops

5. May lead to other addcictions ---> transference of the addiction from one substance or habit to another, such as alcohol, substances or gambling. This is beacasue addiction is usually a form of maladaptive coping. Until they find healthy coping skills, they are likely to fall into different types of addiction as they experience more stressors in life.

ARticle: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jan/23/its-the-opposite-of-art-why-illustrators-are-furious-about-ai

Key takeaways :

“As AI continues to advance, there is a risk that it may be able to synthesise images of inappropriate or illegal subjects based on existing content. In response to this, we have swiftly adapted our tools to prohibit the generation of any inappropriate or illegal content, including nude images of children and NSFW material. We are committed to ensuring the responsible and ethical use of our image-generating service.”

1. From the above quote, poses a threat to children ---> because children mau be exposed to explict contend

2. AI image generation has the potential to do away with smaller jobs that up-and-coming artists often rely on to build up portfolios ---> bye bye jobs

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/plastic-bags-supermarkets-sustainable-practices-awareness-4458731

• Key highlights: In July 2023, large supermarket chains were required to start charging at least 5 cents for each plastic bag at checkout. Since then, plastic bag usage has decreased drastically. However, there are still parts where plastic bag demand has remained the same, if not increased.

• It takes time for mindsets to change, especially since it takes a year for a habit to change. Despite this, Singaporeansare trying to take action to bring their own bags to plan in advance. 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/alaska-glaciers-may-hit-irreversible-melting-point-sooner-expected-study-finds-4452401

Glaciers in the Juneau Icefield in southeastern Alaska are melting at a faster rate than previously thought and may reach an irreversible tipping point sooner than expected, according to a study published on Tuesday.

• As the glacier thins and ice retreats to lower levels and warmer air, this will prevent further glacier regrowth.

• In the study, published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers found that the icefield's volume shrank between 2010 and 2020 at twice the yearly rate recorded from 1979 to 2010.

Article:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/victims-have-lost-67m-in-78-reports-of-tech-support-scams-since-january

keypoints :

• Victims have lost at least $6.7 million in at least 78 reports of technical support scams since the start of 2024, the police said.

• scammers would instruct victims to access websites or download software that would grant scammers remote access to their devices

Article:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/victims-turning-to-the-court-to-stop-harassment-such-as-cyber-bullying-and-doxxing

Keypoints:

In 2023, there were 526 protection orders filed with the Protection from Harassment Court, a slight increase from the 520 such orders filed in 2022.

Article :

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/600-students-in-their-40s-graduate-from-polytechnics-woman-59-moves-from-banking-to-education

Keypoints :

• About 25,000 students graduated from polytechnics in 2024, from full-time and part-time diploma courses. 600 graduates were above the age of 40, said the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Singapore scored C- for overall physical activity – not quite meeting the global recommendation of at least 60 minutes on average of moderate to vigorous exercise per day.

In 2021 and 2022, KKH launched 24-hour activity guidelines for children and adolescents, as well as infants and pre-schoolers, which aim to encourage healthy lifestyles.

(L4): Global - Finland

Finland has a national research-based programme which promotes physical activity in schools and ensures children remain active throughout the day. More than 90 per cent of Finnish schools are part of the initiative.