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)

Fakes are good business, don’t expect AI to stop generating them

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S’porean boy, 14, who simulated ISIS terror attacks on Roblox issued ISA restriction order

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For issues on youth, video games, social media and terrorism....

What Singapore’s new disability task force must get right

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Qn: 'Not enough is being done for the disabled in your society.' Discuss.

Minnesota becomes ground zero for Trump’s America First

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Beware the crocodile: The challenge for small states

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[opening BANG!] A great power is like a crocodile: it can bring danger even as it looks benign. As Singapore’s first foreign minister S. Rajaratnam put it, when the crocodile shows its teeth, “one is never quite sure whether it is smiling or baring its teeth”.

economic and military coercion emanating from US President Donald Trump’s administration. The list includes 

abduction of the head of state of a sovereign nation, Venezuela

; threats to take over or intervene militarily in Canada, Greenland, Colombia, and Iran; and weaponising tariffs to force political submission and extract territorial concession.

the law of the jungle and like to quote Thucydides, “the strong do what they can, while the weak suffer what they must”

seeking out new like-minded partners. By coming together in new coalitions of the willing, the impact of our stance on principles is magnified, a strategy that combines both adaptation and mitigation

since Mr Trump’s push on Greenland, European leaders have become more vocal and united in their opposition to America’s “Might Makes Right” approach to foreign relations.

If ASEAN gets its act together, it can harness its collective strength to better withstand the pressures and counter-pressures from the two rival powers, even as it strives to build good relations with each. But to do that effectively, it needs to get its internal house in order and not allow bilateral issues or narrow national interests to stymie a coordinated approach.

[closing BANG!] As our founding foreign minister reminds us in another speech, “so long as we remember that a crocodile is dangerous even when it is friendly, nothing is lost by observing diplomatic niceties”.

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

‘I won’t have to trouble anyone’: NUS team launches AI headset to help visually impaired commute, shop

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For issues on how AI enhances the lives of the disabled...

‘So eager to show off’: Hong Kong official fired after boasting about free travel upgrades

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Relate to older examples like Amy Cheong and Anton Casey, where a seemingly innocuous post uploaded to social media can cost one their job or career....

Consider also the envy caused by social media that can lead to comparisons and low self-esteem....

 

Qn: 'We should not be afraid of social media.’ Do you agree? (RI 2023 Y5 CT)

S’pore in talks with X after its AI bot Grok creates sexually explicit deepfakes of women and children

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