Singapore's lonely seniors: Why the super-aged feel isolated even when living with family

Seniors are increasingly feeling lonely. Learn why preventing elderly loneliness starts in your 20s.  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. The shift from open kampungs to closed-door HDB flats has left many Singaporean s…

A focus on one-child couples is an easier baby booster than large families 

Targeting one-child couples for a second child is lower-hanging fruit than pushing for a third under the Large Families Scheme, says a researcher.  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Stopping at one or two children is …

Deepfakes, $50 intimate photos amid new digital regulations

Singapore's new Online Safety Commission (OSC) rolls out to combat cyberbullying, deepfakes, and online harms. But will this law protect victims, or will trolls simply hide in darker corners? Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with …

P1 registration: How did the parent volunteer scheme become an arms race?

The scheme was meant to build closer ties between parents and schools. Has it achieved its intended purpose, or outlived its usefulness?  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Would you volunteer your time and effort to g…

‘The more you know, the more wonderful it becomes’: Brian Cox on science and awe

In an age where information is readily available and where we're fed an unending stream of content, have we lost our sense of wonder? Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. We live in a time where technology has made infor…

Think you're safe from cyber crooks? Why 99% of companies are exposed

As AI supercharges cyber threats, how can the "missing 99%" of small and medium enterprises protect themselves? Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Cybersecurity is undergoing a fundamental shift. For a long time, it wa…

Autonomous Vehicles in SG: Are we ready to surrender the wheel to AI?

In an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) crash, should AI save the young instead of the elderly? Germany banned this, but a pragmatist asks: why not let algorithms choose based on age? Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Traffic a…

12-year-olds in therapy - the silent rise in youth porn addiction

The dopamine trap: Is Asia’s conservative culture driving a porn addiction crisis? Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Asia holds the highest rate of problematic pornography use in the world at nearly one in five people…

What's the property agent's role in this age of AI?

As AI changes everything, can the property agents’ most valuable asset - trust - keep them relevant? Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at key issues of the day with newsmakers. Singapore's property market has transformed over the last few decades. From an opaque, relati…

Is chilli the most important ingredient in Singapore cuisine?

Is “not spicy enough” a legitimate criticism of a dish?  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at key issues of the day with newsmakers. Across Singapore’s diverse culinary landscape, chilli is a common accompaniment to almost any meal — think sambal belachan, chilli paste …