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Singapore launched the Smart Nation initiative on 24 November 2014, aiming to digitise Singapore’s government, economy and society. With lockdowns and work from home arrangements, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the pace of digitization. However, the pandemic has also exposed gaps in Singapore’s nationwide digitisation efforts. In ‘Making universal digital access universal: lessons from COVID-19 …
Making universal digital access universal: lessons from COVID-19 in Singapore Read More »
The People’s Action Party (PAP) was formed on 21 November 1954 and has governed Singapore uninterrupted for more than six decades. This enduring political stability is the product of a highly cohesive, effective, and extractive state and party apparatus. In ‘(Not) democratising through strength: core beliefs and the institutions of Singapore’s People’s Action Party’ (Contemporary …
In commemoration of the quarterly Family Day, workplaces allow employees to leave work early to spend time with their families. On this evening, families usually take the time to disconnect from work and reconnect with one another. However, not every family experiences the luxury of taking time off work. In particular, low-income families may be …
Hope in Low-Income Families – A Study of Family Hardiness in Singapore Read More »
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Ageing Population (IMC) was established on 14 November 1998, to ensure a concerted national response in deliberating and recommending relevant policy directions on ageing issues. The IMC marked a shift in approach when it articulated a vision of “Successful Ageing in Singapore”, which frames the issues of ageing in a …
In a speech on 13 November 2006, PM Lee Hsien Loong remarked that Singapore treats ‘welfare’ as a dirty word. Indeed, Singapore is not a welfare state. Although Singapore’s Gini index, a measure of income inequality, is lower than many developed countries, it becomes the word’s second highest after taking state taxes and transfers into …
Self-Reliant Wealth and Trickle-Down Welfare: The Singapore Story in 200 Years? Read More »
The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line first began operating on 7 November 1987 with five stations along the North-South line. It has since expanded to more than 130 stations that span across the island, with a daily ridership of over 3 million. It is undoubtedly the preferred public transport option for many due to its …
In ‘What MRT travel numbers tell us about work from home trends’ (The Straits Times, October 2022), Professor Ivan Png (NUS Business School, NUS Department of Economics, and NUS School of Computing) examines the question of whether professional workers are returning to the office or still working from home. Although it is difficult to gather …
What MRT travel numbers tell us about work from home trends Read More »
On 31 October 2019, GARAGE, a digital news portal initiated by the Business Times, was awarded the Gold for the Best Digital News Start-up at the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) Asian Digital Media Awards (‘BT’s Garage grabs startup gold at Asian Digital Media Awards‘ (The Business Times, October 2019)). GARAGE provides daily coverage …
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) commenced on 31 October in Glasgow. As extreme weather surges across the world, higher global temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns are expected to disrupt water supply in Asia, the Mediterranean, and many other regions. How households’ water and electricity consumption pattern will respond to rising temperatures is …
Electrical appliances moderate households’ demand response to heat Read More »
Diwali, better known as Deepavali in Singapore, is the Hindu festival of lights. It will take place for five days, starting from the 22nd of October this year. One of the major annual celebrations in Hinduism, the festival symbolizes the triumph of light and goodness over darkness and evil; an annual reminder to all Hindus …