Consumers can put pressure on haze-linked firms by buying green-labelled products: Experts

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Singapore residents affected by the haze cannot directly douse the flames in Indonesia causing the pollution, but they can exert pressure on errant firms behind the fires by voting with their wallets,

the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) issued Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) a Notice of Temporary Restrictions on the company’s green label.

Green labels are a supply-chain tool, and consumers can pressure the companies by using these labels

But Tan noted that purchasing decisions are still influenced by factors such as price, availability, convenience and trust in the certification.

Qn: To what extent has consumerism improved people’s quality of life? (NYJC 2026 Prelim)

‘Sportswashing’ or investment? Rwanda F1 stirs debate and doubts

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A landlocked country still widely associated with a horrific genocide in 1994, Rwanda has used sport to revamp its image, attract tourists and impress investors with its organisational efficiency.

accuses Kigali of “buying into the world’s biggest sports to polish its image and deflect from its appalling human rights record”

an “investment in Rwanda’s future” that would bring “jobs, skills, tourism and new business to our country and our region for decades to come”.

Critics question whether the hundreds of millions of dollars required to build a modern race track might be better spent on healthcare or education – not to mention the tens of millions of dollars F1 grand prix organisers typically charge host countries for the privilege of holding the event.

The economics of hosting F1 in Rwanda will not be for everyone, but for a tiny percentage of the already rich

Qns:

1. To what extent has the commercialisation of sport undermined its values? (ASRJC 2026 Prelim)

2. Assess the view that sport has suffered due to commercialisation? (MI 2026 Prelim)

3. Considering the money involved, should developing countries be allowed to host major sporting events? (Cam. 2016)

Mobile clinics battle Mongolia’s childhood dental ‘disaster’

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Securing funding is “constant hard work

Qn: To what extent is charity able to solve the problem of poverty? (TMJC 2026 Prelim)

NEA has sent legal notices to 7 companies under haze law, will take further action where warranted

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The National Environment Agency (NEA) has sent these companies preventive measure notices under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA), which targets those responsible for causing or condoning fires.

Can we please be rid of haze by 2030?

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The centrepiece of ASEAN efforts in combating the haze is the 2002 Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), which seeks to prevent and monitor transboundary haze pollution through concerted national efforts and strong regional cooperation.

seeks to facilitate cross-border exchanges of firefighting technology, expertise and resources, and to manage requests and mobilisation for regional emergency assistance.

But cooperation seems to have stopped there and has not extended to the critical phase of bringing the perpetrators to justice. Without cross-border legal mechanisms to hold polluters accountable, national laws are toothless.

Singapore, which has enacted its own laws, can achieve only so much without the cooperation of neighbours. A key piece of legislation is the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA), enacted in 2014. It asserts extraterritorial jurisdiction to prosecute entities – foreign or domestic – whose offshore burning causes hazardous smoke at home. Yet more than a decade after its enactment, there has been no prosecution.
For issues on cooperation btw nations......

Will the US really go through with its outlandish public execution plan?

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Unhealthy air quality in S’pore enough to trigger haze pollution law; NEA is monitoring situation

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the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act can serve as a deterrent to companies, but can be challenging to enforce.

The Act can impose fines and allows for damages, but it would matter only if the errant entity had physical assets or subsidiaries in Singapore. Oftentimes, they may not.

Olympic freestyle skiing champion Eileen Gu discusses sport, success and uplifting others

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Gu was exposed to a wide range of interests from a young age. She took up ballet and piano, and even tried archery at one point when her fascination with dystopian novels convinced her that it would be a good skill to have. There was also basketball, football and skiing, as well as maths and science camps. Dispelling the notion that her mother is a “tiger mum”, Gu said: “She really gave me the freedom to find out who I am and to really support me and guide me in ways that make sense

It’s not about beating other people, but uplifting the entire community so that every single person ends up being better in the way that a rising tide raises all ships

Qn: ‘Adults should give teenagers more freedom.’ What are your views?

What China sees in Jane Eyre, which is now required reading for ninth graders

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Hegseth’s call for public execution a sign of moral decay

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The joys of solo driving: Leave me alone to cry

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Research into human well-being suggests that people need a “third place” – a refuge beyond home and the workplace. This is especially true in a dense city-state like Singapore. And this is where they can mentally reset and reduce stress.

While neutral spaces such as community gardens or hawker centres offer brief moments of relief, the car cabin gives you far more control over your environment as your mobile third place. You control the air-conditioning, the playlist and the sound volume. Or you can simply switch off the infotainment entirely. The silent cabin of EVs seems particularly useful here.

Qn: Assess the view that privacy is no longer a realistic expectation. (YIJC 2026 Prelim)

New third space opens for young people in Yishun to form friendships and connections

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Third spaces are places where young people can hang out, pursue their hobbies and interests, and take part in activities.

Fam said Chop was set up amid growing concerns around youth social isolation in Singapore.

building meaningful relationships takes time, and having a familiar space where people can keep showing up makes it easier for these connections to grow

For issues on loneliness....

Social media: What if children could grow up with no one watching?

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Queenstown, Marine Parade to pilot more inclusive spaces for people with disabilities

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make spaces such as parks and hawker centres more disability-friendly, while public education efforts will encourage residents to interact more confidently and respectfully with PWDs.

working on “finer details” such as ensuring pathways are wide enough to accommodate two wheelchairs.

focus on creating employment opportunities for PWDs. SG Enable will work with mall operator Lendlease and its tenants to identify suitable jobs, with on-site job coaches.

Inclusion should not mean creating separate spaces for persons with disabilities,...PWDs and their caregivers said living well was not just about having access to services, but feeling accepted and understood in everyday spaces

Qn: 'Not enough is being done for people with disabilities in your society.' Discuss. (ASRJC 2023 Prelim)

US v China: What if an AI system started a war that no one wanted?

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At the start of the US war against Iran, the US Air Force used intelligence synthesised by Project Maven to select targets in deadly bombing raids. Project Maven is led by Palantir and supported by American technology behemoths like Amazon and Microsoft. Its use led to the bombing of the Minab school in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, which killed more than 150 people in an incident described by experts as a war crime.

Meanwhile, militaries around the world are also quickly trying to acquire and adapt Ukrainian drone technology, which this year marked the first use of a lethal autonomous system in battle.

Outside of military conflict, AI models pose a threat to national information systems and critical infrastructure. The recent breach of Australia’s Medicare system exposed a new threat vector in critical systems: that a hack is no longer just the domain of foreign intelligence services or cyber criminals. A hack can now happen accidentally, without human control, emerging from a friendly country. This raises the possibility that such an accident might happen between the US and China, which together control 90% of global AI capacity.

In the first documented instance in which OpenAI hacked Australian government servers, OpenAI itself was unaware of the breach for two months and then waited another month to inform the Australian government via a public e-mail.

Qns:

1. To what extent should governments regulate the development of emerging technologies? (RI 2026 Prelim)

2. To what extent should governments regulate artificial intelligence? (NYJC 2026 Prelim)