Japan’s govt creates first road map for bear population control

Click HERE

The government has said that the population of Asian black bears has grown too large, and it will cull about 20 per cent of these bears in the Tohoku, Kanto and Chubu regions, where human casualties have been especially high.

Compare with the current situation in Singapore where were are culling crows to curb their population...

Note the ethical concerns involved....

Similar animal intrusions that have caused inconvenience or even harm to us here is Singapore include: otters, wild boars. pigeons, snakes, macaques(monkeys).....

One argument that often arises is that in our urban expansion, we humans are the ones encroaching on their natural habitat instead of they encroaching on ours...so it's a case of the aggressors complaining that they are the victims.

In our quest to be 'A City in Nature', shouldn't we aim to strive for peaceful co-existence?

Do you think the Japanese would cull the bears if they were actually the cute adorable pandas?

 

Qn: To what extent are the rights of animals protected in your society? (Cam. 2012)

Japan goes on the offensive against cyberattacks

Click HERE

Qn: 'Technological advancement has made the world more dangerous than ever.’ Do you agree? (NYJC 2020 Promo)

Fewer matchmade marriages in Singapore, but tradition endures in Indian community

Click HERE

This is seen as a safeguard against what they see as their children’s immaturity, fearing that ‘blind love’ may lead to unsuitable matches.

Marriage is also viewed as a means of strengthening kinship ties. For those marrying within extended families, it can serve to bring the wider family closer together

higher among newer immigrants from India, where arranged marriages remain the norm. ...newcomers tend to follow the social norms they were raised with.

Qns:

1. How important is it for people in your society to retain a sense of tradition? (Cam. 2010)

2. Are social norm still necessary today?

S’pore studying restrictions on direct messaging, auto-play on social media to protect kids

Click HERE

the endless, automatic video playback used by sites such as Instagram and YouTube encourages addictive behaviour and excessive screen time. Direct messaging features embedded in some social media platforms, such as Instagram, also expose children and teens to sexual grooming, bullying or inappropriate content from unauthorised accounts.

In the physical world, we warn our children not to speak to strangers. But if strangers can reach children online, what is the parent to do?

Earlier in March, a US jury found Meta and YouTube liable for building their services in an addictive manner that caused harm to a 20-year-old plaintiff, who was awarded US$6 million (S$7.7 million) in damages. She began using Instagram at nine and YouTube at six. Her lawyer claimed that features such as auto-play and infinite scroll are designed to keep people on the apps and make services addictive.

Qn: ‘It is harder than ever to keep children safe in today’s world.’ Comment.

‘Why wait for a bus that won’t come?’: India has more graduates than jobs

Click HERE

India faces a graduate unemployment crisis, with nearly 40% of graduates aged 25 and below unemployed

Between 2004 and 2023, when India’s economy grew 6 per cent to 8 per cent, it added five million graduates every year. But only 2.8 million of them were able to join the workforce annually. Many new graduates do not find relevant or well-paying work for years.

An increasingly educated workforce is entering an economy that is not able to absorb them into high-quality jobs

For issues on the continued relevance of higher education....

Smartphones taking over the lives of Singapore’s seniors: When does heavy use cross into addiction?

Click HERE

the same device that keeps life running smoothly can, over time, begin to dominate it, blurring the line between having a handy helper and unhealthy dependence.

Digital platforms are built to maximise engagement by eliminating friction and encouraging continuous use...Users can slip into what Prof Calvert describes as a “looped state”, where attention narrows and external cues fade.

The combination of abundant free time, instant information and emotional reliance can turn casual use into compulsive patterns before they even notice. For some, that reliance gradually shifts from comfort to crutch: filling emotional gaps but sometimes crowding out other forms of connection and rest.

These devices provide connection and stimulation, but without moderation, they can isolate seniors from the real-world interactions that are crucial for healthy ageing.

For issues on the elderly, technology and loneliness....

Only biological females, determined by gene screening, will be allowed in Olympic female events

Click HERE

The new rules essentially stop transgender athletes from competing in female category events at the Olympics.

All athletes wanting to qualify or take part in female category events from the LA2028 Olympics onwards will have to undergo an SRY gene test to determine their eligibility.

At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat

So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.

Sports is where excellence, respect and inclusion meet

Qn: 'Traditional notions of gender are irrelevant today.' To what extent is this true in your society? (NYJC 2025 J2 MYE)

US jury finds Meta, YouTube liable in social media addiction trial

Click HERE

She told jurors that her near-constant social media use “really affected my self-worth”, saying the apps led her to abandon hobbies, struggle to make friends and constantly measure herself against others.

the case as a story of corporate greed, saying features like infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, notifications and like counts were engineered to drive compulsive use among young people.

found Meta liable for endangering children by making them vulnerable to predators on its platforms and other dangers.

For issues on the harms of social media....

She survived pneumonia. Living alone was the real risk

Click HERE

If we are to build a healthier Singapore, we must look beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics. We must invest in the spaces and relationships that sustain well-being in everyday life. Community connection is not an optional extra but a vital part of health.

Singapore has achieved remarkable success in health outcomes. With an average life expectancy at birth at 83.5 years in 2024, we now rank among the top in global life expectancy.

Purposeful interventions that guide behaviour through laws, incentives, physical infrastructure and social norms, mean that health-promoting choices become easier, or even the default.

Strengthening kampung-style social capital in our modern housing estates is key to encourage healthy ageing in place.

challenges healthcare professionals to look beyond medicine as the only panacea to health. It highlights the need for a shift from treating illness to understanding the whole person, and moving holistic care beyond the clinic to the neighbourhood. 

a reminder that health is not only about the absence of disease. It is about the presence of purpose, connection, and confidence.

Qns: 

1. Are social norms still necessary today?

2. Does your society have what it takes to care for the elderly? (HCI Prelim 2024)