‘We have built a strong foundation for future generations’: PM Lee in his last major speech

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A good read on the latest on Singapore context.... 

“In Singapore, unlike in some other countries, your postal code does not determine your destiny,” 

Qn: To what extent does social class determine an individual's success in your society? (TJC Prelim 2023)

Chinese zoo starts ‘panda dog’ enclosure with dyed chow chows

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Relate also to the 2019 AQ on zoos....

Qn: To what extent is authenticity valuable today? (ASRJC Prelim 2023)

What if your child wants to be an artist or a magician?

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Qn: ‘Parents have no right to impose their own values and beliefs on their children.’ Discuss. (Cam. 2015)

China’s online influencers under scrutiny after fake story sparks public outrage

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Note the (same) example used in the opening and closing when crafting conclusion....

Michelle Yeoh honoured as pioneer by Biden with Presidential Medal of Freedom

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for decades Yeoh has “shattered stereotypes and glass ceilings to enrich and enhance American culture

her efforts to advance gender equality, conservation issues and global health have been felt around the world

Qn: Evaluate the claim that equality of opportunity for females is a desirable, but unrealistic goal. (Cam. 2016)

More can be done to make training courses available to people with disabilities: Social service agencies

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One major move to ensure people with disabilities have better access to learning opportunities was the launch in 2022 of the Enabling Academy, which offers courses targeted specifically at the group. The academy is run by SG Enable

A misconception exists that considerable resources are needed to tailor or modify courses to accommodate this group, which may be why some training providers are hesitant to take the step

making course modifications to be more accommodating towards learners with disabilities, such as providing closed captions for visual materials, or ensuring text is compatible with assistive technology used by the visually impaired, like screen readers that convert text to speech.

learners who are hard of hearing or have vision loss may benefit from speech-to-text or text-to-speech software, respectively. However, the material must be in a format supported by the software

Qn: 'Not enough is being done for people with disabilities.' Do you agree?

Counting the cost of digital trust

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AI can also remove foreign accents from callers’ voices, making them sound more like a local representative. Most alarmingly, AI is used to create deepfake voices, images and videos. A scammer can grab as little as 30 seconds of someone talking on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram to create an AI version of that person’s voice. 

Another complaint is that social media companies do not govern the misuse of their algorithms, which prioritise news feeds that reinforce existing interests or beliefs, to amplify inherent biases and promote misinformation, hate and polarisation. The Brexit vote in 2016 leading to Britain’s exit from the EU, and Donald Trump’s election as the president of the United States in 2016, are widely believed to have been aided by bots amplifying biases and misinformation to target undecided voters.

Inclusiveness, equal access to resources: Education leaders reflect on Singapore’s education system

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There is that equality of funding as a baseline, so there’s no constant worry about whether you are going to have enough teachers or support,

Here, your zip code does not determine your destiny,

that a student’s financial background should not determine his or her destiny. “Instead, the methods and focus of our education system can and should be the determinants of the outcome,” ...“We must ensure that students in Singapore, regardless of background, are able to rise beyond their lack of family support

Our brand of meritocracy is with Singapore characteristics, which will allow each and every child to go as far as they need

Qn: To what extent does social class determine an individual's success in your society? (TJC Prelim 2023)

Stabbings, riots and misinformation in Sydney prompt concerns about social cohesion

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concerned about the role of social media, which allowed people to quickly mobilise and “take the law into their own hands”. “We assumed that things were normal and that resources for education and other measures were no longer required,

a wave of misinformation spread on social media about the attacker, including speculation about his skin colour and beard and claims that he was a Muslim terrorist. Others spread claims that the attacker was Jewish – a fabrication that was even reported by broadcaster Channel Seven.

The spread of misinformation during both incidents has prompted a proposed crackdown on social media. The federal government will introduce legislation later in 2024 to enable the media authority to fine social media companies that fail to take adequate steps to combat harmful misinformation and disinformation.

We need regulation to save kids from mobile device addiction

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Many parents are indulging or even engendering their children’s online habits without realising they are actually providing children the tools to be exposed to undesirable content from a young age

It was reported that there was a 30 per cent increase in the number of youths arrested for sexual crimes in 2023 compared with the previous year. It’s telling that the two reasons cited were early exposure to sexually explicit materials and access to inappropriate or inaccurate information about sexual behaviours and relationships.

China has passed laws that limit the amount of screen time for kids, and restrict their access to online gaming and social media. Children under eight are allowed to use digital devices only for a maximum of 40 minutes a day, and, even then, the use is restricted to approved content deemed beneficial to the development of a child. Youth under 18 are not permitted to use their smartphones for social media or online gaming between 10pm and 6am each day.

New study bolsters idea of athletic differences between men and trans women

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Note how science is used to both fight and justify discrimination against transgender in sport...

For qns on sport and science

Barcelona is throwing tourists under the bus

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For qns on tourism...

Malaysia plans to roll out more women-only coaches on trains to curb sexual harassment

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Singaporeans should learn more languages, not settle for just being bilingual

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Speaking another person’s native tongue – even if struggling or with a strange accent – does help one to click and connect with him or her instantly. If we delve a little deeper, the language can even help us understand and appreciate the other person’s culture, heritage and values.

Multilingualism opens doors to new markets and opportunities. “In today’s globalised world, mastering foreign languages is increasingly important for success in international trade and business

even more so in a troubled world marked by geopolitical tensions. Effective communication across languages and cultures is essential for building bridges, fostering cooperation, and finding shared solutions.

Qn: Do you agree that it is important to know a foreign language today?  (NYJC Prelim 2019)