Meet insurance boss Lucas Neo, who faced backlash over frank reviews of Michelin-listed hawkers

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food content creators and netizens who slammed him for affecting hawker livelihoods and even accused him of “breaking their rice bowls”

Related links:

HERE: Hup Chong Yong Tau Foo owner breaks down over negative review 1 month before closure, says it was 'worst Christmas ever'....The owner of Hup Chong Yong Tau Foo, located in Toa Payoh, has said that their family have been "deeply hurt" by an online commentary criticising its pricing, just one month before it closes down for good.

HERE: 'Be human first, influence later': Kampong Glam bazaar banner a 'lovely reminder' to food reviewers, says netizen.....The banner reads: "We strive for perfection, but we are only human. If you feel inclined to leave a negative review, we humbly ask for the opportunity to make it right first." "Kindness is not found in anything except that it beautifies it. Be human first, influence later," it added at the end.

Qns:
1. Do social media influencers and content creators have too much power in today’s world? (VJC Promos 2025)
2. Should social media influencers be held accountable for their views or actions? (NYJC J1 Promos 2025)

Imagine a Singapore without all that hyper-competition

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There’s a difference between healthy competition – good-spirited motivation to advance sustainably – and hyper-competition. The latter requires us to push others out of the way and operate from a zero-sum mindset, believing that a win for others is automatically a loss for us. 

the idea of “can’t miss out” or “me-first” is pervasive in so many areas of our lives. Zero-sum approaches to life result broadly in three losses, my research found: a lack of curiosity, generosity and risk-taking necessary for leadership.

If we believe that success is winner-take-all, we’re less likely to want to cooperate and collaborate, let alone “give away” any of our resources unconditionally.

The narrative around competition is often about how it drives excellence, but in practice, it often rewards those who conform most closely to a set standard. Competition makes us more risk-averse. Risk-taking – and the corresponding failure at times – is deeply necessary for growth, innovation and leadership.

Qns:

1. Is competition always desirable? (Cam. 2016)

2. 'Being very competitive is not always desirable.’ Do you agree? Why or why not?

India’s top cities can be a nightmare to live in

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Qn: Consider the view that city life is losing its appeal. 

It is timely for Singapore to work on climate adaptation

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In 2019, then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his National Day Rally speech that Singapore’s climate change defences 

were as existential for the country as its armed forces

.

But one area we could do better in is to help people understand that climate adaptation also requires action on their part.

Unlike neighbouring countries, Singapore has not yet faced severe climate impacts, so climate change can feel like a distant concern for many. And this sentiment could slow the urgency of preparing for climate shocks. The problem is not ignorance, apathy or a lack of moral concern.....the way climate impacts are framed could be preventing the masses from taking action. Climate impacts are often described as happening years later from 2050, elsewhere in the Arctic and deep rainforest, or at a larger scale. “These framings, while scientifically accurate, unintentionally generate psychological escape routes. Together, they form what I call a ‘Pandora’s box of excuses’ that allows people to care abstractly while postponing action indefinitely

Sport for kids can’t just be about winning. It’s first about having fun

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Qn: 'Being very competitive is not always desirable.’ Do you agree? Why or why not?

With AI translation tools, what’s the point of learning different languages?

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The belief that instant translation renders language learning redundant rests on the fallacy that meaning travels neatly across languages. But human language is far more complex than that.

Translation can provide surface meaning. It cannot automatically convey judgment, sensitivity or cultural awareness.

For years, doctors in the United States were advised not to say “I’m sorry” after medical complications because the phrase could be interpreted in court as an admission of liability, a concern significant enough that many states passed “apology laws” to distinguish expressions of sympathy from admissions of wrongdoing.

This is why language operates on more than an informational level. As Nelson Mandela observed, speaking to someone in a language they understand reaches their head. Speaking to them in their own language reaches their heart.

This is why tools designed to bridge languages can paradoxically widen the gap between speakers. They match words and sentences, but strip away the emotional and social frames that give language texture.

Students today have grown up with automatic translation at the click of a button. Tools such as DeepL and Google Translate are now routine fixtures. Increasingly, learners question the need to memorise vocabulary or practise grammatical structures when fluent paragraphs can be generated instantly.

confuses language access with language competence

AI can bridge words. It cannot fully bridge worlds. And that is why learning languages still matters.

Qns:

1. Assess the view that accurate translation between languages is always necessary. (Cam. 2023)

2. “Modern technology will mean the end of education.” Is this a fair statement of your society? (CJC Prelim 2025)

3. 'It is hard to say sorry.' Do you always find it easy to apologise?

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh cements legacy on Hollywood Walk of Fame

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I hope it also reminds someone, somewhere, that it is possible that where you begin does not define where you can go

Relate to this quote from PM Lee's speech in his last May Day Rally Speech in 2024: In Singapore, unlike in some other countries, your postal code does not determine your destiny.

For issues on geography is destiny....

U2 slam ICE agents in US, Russia’s Putin in new Days Of Ash EP

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Days Of Ash EP is “an immediate response to current events and inspired by the many extraordinary and courageous people fighting on the front lines of freedom”

The EP also sees U2 pay tribute to Renee Good, an American woman who was shot dead by a federal agent as she protested against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in January. In the opening track American Obituary, Bono sings: “Renee Good born to die free.”

U2 became one of the world’s most prominent rock bands through hits like With Or Without You (1987) and their vocal human rights campaigning. Bono, 65, is well known for his activism to eradicate poverty and fight Aids, and has been outspoken against wars in Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza in recent years. Song Of The Future honours a teenage girl who died while protesting in Iran in 2022, while One Life At A Time criticises Israeli settler activity in the occupied West Bank.

Qn: 'There is a lack of appreciation for the value of music.’ How far is this true in your society? (Cam. 2024)

Los Angeles sues Roblox over child exploitation claim

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social media giants, including Facebook, are being sued over claims that their addictive algorithms target young teenagers.

Roblox has a responsibility to keep kids safe, but instead it has allowed its platform to become a place where children can be exposed to grooming and exploitation

Why an AI video of Tom Cruise battling Brad Pitt spooked Hollywood

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See AI Clip HERE

Qn: To what extent is artificial intelligence replacing the role of humans? (Cam. 2019)

Forum: Singapore’s AI efforts must not exclude persons with disabilities

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AI, like other technologies, can reinforce discrimination and exclusion. For instance, many AI algorithms and tools are developed by being trained via pattern recognition and arrive at determinations based on typical or common patterns within datasets. Yet, due to barriers in our societies, persons with disabilities and disabled realities are often under-represented or excluded from spaces and organisations that contribute to the data and information that AI is trained on.

With somersaults, nunchucks, China’s humanoid robots thrill at CNY show – but can they make coffee?

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a shortage of data to help the robots understand and adapt to any given environment they are placed in...In the absence of this, they will need “a lot of hand-holding, a lot of fine-tuning” each time they encounter a new scenario, he added....So for now, humanoid robots still have some way to go

 before becoming a staple in homes, or even productive shopkeepers.

“Can’t it do cooking yet?” retiree Yin Xiaofei, 60, wanted to know. The answer was no, as the robot could not come into contact with water, the staff member said.

Qn: To what extent is artificial intelligence replacing the role of humans? (Cam. 2019)

Meta’s Zuckerberg denies at LA trial that Instagram targets kids

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Beyond the blockbuster: Shaw Theatres forges ahead by going into premium tiers

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For issues on whether cinemas still have a future....

NTU to counsel students after CNY lo hei event on campus draws flak over food waste

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Trump revokes basis of US climate regulation and ends vehicle emission standards

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Mr Trump has said he believes climate change is a “con job” and has withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement, leaving the world’s largest historic contributor to global warming out of international efforts to combat it. He has also killed Biden-era tax credits aimed at accelerating the deployment of electric cars and renewable energy.

RI, Hwa Chong record low cut-off points for entry in 2026; overall dip across JCs

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Qn: 'Being very competitive is not always desirable.’ Do you agree? Why or why not?

More seniors in China growing addicted to the internet; loneliness, boredom cited as key reasons

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their parents are hooked on buying low-priced health products online and spend hours watching paid mini-dramas on short-video platforms....indulging in “ridiculously unreasonable” mini-dramas or computer games and spending large sums of money on online purchases.

as at December 2025, China had about 1.125 billion internet users, with more than 80 per cent of the population having internet access.

Seniors tend to play less important social roles as they age, either in their families or in the job market, and they may feel a sense of loss. The internet becomes an outlet, offering a place to escape from the real world

As artificial intelligence advances and further blurs the line between real and fake content, experts warned that seniors addicted to the internet may face increased risks of online fraud.

It is very important to help seniors regain a sense of personal value, whether by taking care of grandchildren, raising a pet or building social relationships in the real world.

Qn: To what extent is technology an effective solution for human loneliness? (RVHS Prelim 2025)

Neighbour disputes: What if you, in fact, are the nuisance?

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Qn: 'Conflict should be avoided at all costs.' What is your view? (NYJC 2025 J2 MYE)

A love letter to Singapore’s disappearing past

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Qn: Assess the view that traditional buildings have no future in your society. (Cam. 2016)

Forum: HPB encourages more operators to join Healthier Dining Programme

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eateries also display healthier choice identifiers at storefronts or on menus, making it easier for families to spot healthier options that are lower in calories, sodium and sugar, and use healthier ingredients

To encourage more families to choose healthier dining options, we run regular activities through the Eat, Drink, Shop Healthy Challenge on our Healthy 365 mobile app. Consumers can earn Healthpoints redeemable for vouchers when they purchase healthier meals at participating eateries.

Qn: To what extent do you agree that enough is being done in your society to encourage a healthy lifestyle? (Cam. 2025)

AI-enabled CCTV trial ongoing at 14 construction sites in Singapore

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safety supervisors do not need to constantly monitor screens to keep track of workers’ safety. Instead, their phones receive instant notifications of safety violations whenever closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras augmented with artificial intelligence detect unsafe practices.

When the cameras are around, that becomes the permanent safety officer that is constantly watching, and that allows for the right behaviour that we want to see inside the worksites

the AI-enhanced system also reduces time spent on reviewing footage, which is “labour-intensive”

For issues on AI's benefits vs harms....and helping to provide solutions to problems

S’pore’s four major telcos came under attack by cyberespionage group UNC3886 in 2025

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Forum: Jail terms for careless driving can have lasting adverse impact

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Qn: “Harsh punishments create more problems than benefits.” Do you agree? (MJC 2018 J2 MYE)

Bad Bunny celebrates Puerto Rico at Super Bowl, angering Trump

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Qn: 'The Arts have lost their significance today.’ How far do you agree? (CJC Prelim 2025)

Book clubs and Gen Zs get swept away by Wuthering Heights ahead of movie release

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Qns:

1. 'Any adaptation of a novel for film, television or the theatre is never as effective as the original’. Discuss. (Cam. 2016)

2. The book has no place in modern society. Discuss. (Cam. 2010)

Education efforts on nuclear must begin with understanding Singapore’s energy constraints: EMA official

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Singapore now relies on natural gas, a fossil fuel, for about 95 per cent of its energy needs. Burning this fuel releases planet-warming emissions.

Singapore is an alternative energy disadvantaged country, with limited access to renewable energy options.

the continued use of natural gas, advancing solar deployment, importing clean energy and exploring emerging low-carbon alternatives.

nuclear energy could also help to bolster energy security....unlike natural gas plants, which require continuous fuel imports, a nuclear power plant can operate for several years without refuelling

nuclear energy plants may also offer more stable electricity prices as the lifetime costs of operating and maintaining such a plant are largely dominated by capital expenditure, such as building the required infrastructure

Qns:

1. 'Fossil fuels should no longer have a part in the production of energy.’ Discuss. (Cam. 2023)

2. Discuss the view that, with an increasing global need for energy, every possible source should be exploited to the full. (Cam. 2014)

Deepfake nudes inflict real harm despite being fake: Experts

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Global conflicts can be divisive, but S’pore can stay united: Edwin Tong

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If we, as a society, don’t learn how to navigate potentially polarising events, they can fracture even the most resilient of societies

Navigating potentially polarising events, however, will require finding the middle ground and the platforms to have discourse about issues, including divisive ones

Finding the middle ground involves people putting themselves in the shoes of others, learning to agree to disagree respectfully where necessary, and not taking offence when someone disagrees

Qn: Do global challenges divide more than they unite? (VJC Prelim 2025)

Singapore showcases first on-site 3D-printed childcare centre; exterior walls built in 2 days

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When phones are kept away, students in Singapore come out to play

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Qn: 'The quality of human interaction is diminished by modern communication devices.’ How far do you agree? (Cam. 2023)

‘Money being thrown around to buy votes’: Voters in Thailand want more than just handouts

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Qn: 'Democracy is the perfect form of government.’ Discuss. (Cam. 2025)

Robots are ushering in an age of casual war

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what makes these weapons more dangerous is that the lack of a human presence on board an aircraft, or within an infantry charge, enhances chances that people owning or controlling them might be tempted to deploy them with lesser provocation.

Political masters could then avoid the embarrassment of watching soldiers returning home in body bags, and the public anguish of watching widows weeping at the funerals of downed servicemen. Off camera, they make the use of force easier to conceal – and deny, when caught.

Cheaper drones not only facilitate what military experts refer to as the “democratisation of warfare” by making the application of force accessible to more militaries and hostile actors, but also increase options to make punitive strikes without fear of an excessive ascent on the escalation ladder

In this new era, there is another worrying development: the possible return of children to the periphery of warfare, both out of necessity in some man-short situations as in Ukraine, but also because of the sharper reflexes, agility and dexterity of the young when it comes to  handling electronic devices. ...reports out of Europe say Ukraine has been calling up children to help defend against the Russian invasion by operating drones from backstage and assisting in cyber defence.

Qn: Examine the extent to which expenditure on arms and the armed forces is justified in the modern world. (Cam. 2014)

Problematic gaming prevalent among young adults in Singapore, shows need for ‘third places’: Experts

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the findings point to a deeper need for connection and a “third place” – what urban sociologists call a social space outside home and school or work – with gaming increasingly filling that role for youth here

excessive online gaming marked by symptoms such as loss of control, tolerance and withdrawal

Males were more at risk than females

When people are stressed, they will look for forms of escape...adding that in some countries, this may take the form of alcohol or gambling. But in Singapore, these outlets are relatively costly or restricted

They may not have a good relationship with their family, but online, they may be able to have a different persona,” Ms Lee said. “This makes them feel needed, useful, and they want to continue to play that role

Games help youth with low self-esteem find purpose, he said. “(They) show them that they can learn, and have the potential to do more than what they think they can

Instead of demonising gaming, ... distinguish between healthy gaming – which focuses on mastery, teamwork and connection – and unhealthy gaming, which encourages players to keep playing, often by giving small, frequent rewards and which features extreme violence.

Qn: 'Video games are a threat to society and should be banned.' Do you agree? (NYJC J2 MYE 2025)