I hired a humanoid robot to help clean my home. An auntie did most of the chores

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

From hiking to hotpot, lonely consumers in China fuel a $9.5 billion companionship economy

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For issues on loneliness....

Singapore blocks online posts targeting Indian community; content likely from China-based platform

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Pursuit Of Jade’s Zhang Linghe and why women want an ‘unmanly man’

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A good read on evolving gender roles in the media....

Laurence Lien among Time’s 100 most influential people in philanthropy; only Singaporean on list

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For issues on philanthropy and charity....

Thai Singha beer heir’s sexual abuse allegations ignite rare public reckoning

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Thailand's Me-Too movement.....

public outpouring was unusual in Thailand, where victims often remain silent because of stigma and conservative attitudes towards sexual abuse. Thai society places strong emphasis on hierarchy, family reputation, and avoiding public shame or conflict....This can make disclosure especially difficult when abuse happens within families or involves respected figures.....many victims in Thailand do not come forward because of a “culture of victim-blaming

For issues on social media changing the status quo...

Qn: Are social norms still necessary today?

‘A minute’ to get around it: Australia’s social media ban still has plenty of holes

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For issues on social media and the effectiveness of banning as a solution....

Laughing matters – even when confronting your own mortality

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Qn: 'Humour is essential for an individual’s well-being.’ Discuss. (Cam. 2024)

K-pop’s robot gamble: G-Dragon’s agency bets on humanoids, but will it pass fans’ vibe check?

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Useful for opening/Closing BANGs....

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

Fatherhood, full-time: Why more Singapore men are staying home to care for their children

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reflect a broader rise in hands-on fatherhood in Singapore, driven partly by the normalisation of flexible and hybrid work during the Covid-19 pandemic

workplace norms remain less supportive of fathers taking up larger caregiving roles, and that mothers are still the primary caregivers in most families

The pandemic briefly made parents’ childcare roles more visible, helping to make male caregiving more acceptable both socially and in workplace settings...It also lowered psychological and practical barriers for fathers to take on primary caregiving – even if temporarily – as flexible and hybrid work became more common

Pragmatism is another factor...Dual-income couples are making decisions based on who earns more, whose job is more flexible and who can step back with less long-term penalty.

more individualistic norms mean couples are less likely to be driven by societal expectations and more likely to choose arrangements that suit their household

Mothers continue to form the vast majority of stay-at-home parents....and many working mothers remain the “default parent”

a comment on Instagram likening him to “chi ruan fan”, which directly translates to “eating soft rice” – a derogatory term used to describe a man who lives off a woman in Chinese

Relate to issues on social norms and tradition.....

Japan’s bullied children have found a new controversial avenue to get back at their tormentors

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Note the idea that social media can apply pressure on the relevant parties (e.g. company/govt/sch) to take action, or for the parties involved to be accountable or answerable for their actions... --- seeking justice via social media

Singapore’s recent decision to allow caning for boys aged nine and above in the most egregious of cases from 2027 has drawn some attention.

“Before considering the lifelong effects of corporal punishment on a child, one must consider the lifelong impact of failing to correct behaviour that results in the assault of others.”

Victims and their families who face official apathy are increasingly turning to a controversial new weapon: vigilante justice on social media....Rather than hiding in shame, some families are seeking out and leaking unredacted videos of assaults online, exposing the identities of the bullies to the court of public opinion.

public shaming is necessary to trigger the outrage to force negligent authorities into action.