In the first session of the Singapore Bicentennial Conference held on 30 September, with the theme of ‘War & Wealth’, Associate Professor Peter Borschberg (NUS Department of History) notes that Singapore has always occupied a contested geopolitical space, in view of the tensions between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific region today. To […]

On 1 October, the final day of the two-day Singapore Bicentennial Conference, University Professor Wang Gungwu (NUS Department of History) delivered a session on the divergences between Singapore and Hong Kong – despite their similar histories as British colonies. Prof Wang argued that Singapore has since been successful in forging a national identity after a […]

In September 2019, Singapore’s Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading reached the ‘unhealthy’ level – the first time since August 2016. Forest fires in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan were reported to have contributed to Singapore’s hazy conditions, which was facilitated by wind patterns and spells of dry weather. Professor Syed Farid Alatas (NUS Department of […]

The International Day for Older Persons is celebrated worldwide on October 1st to raise awareness about the issues affecting the elderly and acknowledge their contribution to society. The day’s 2015 theme, “Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment”, ties in well with “Geographical Accessibility of Community Health Assist Scheme General Practitioners for the Elderly […]

World Tourism Day, marked every 27th of September, recognises tourism as a key sector of the global economy, contributing to 10% of the world’s GDP and providing one in ten jobs. A key part of a tourist’s travel experience is their chosen place of stay. Whether you see yourself as a penny-pinching backpacker or a […]

According to the Household Expenditure Survey (HES) in 2017/18, Singapore households spent S$1.4 billion on tuition, up from S$1.1 billion in 2012/13. The tuition industry has expanded over the years, with an increase of tuition and enrichment centres from 700 in 2012 to more than 950 today. In an editorial in the Straits Times, Dr […]

Not many Singaporeans may remain unaware of Kumar and his position as an iconic local drag comedian, with Kumar sharing his personal journey in his memoir, From Rags to Drags (3-Monkeys Cafe, 2011). Kumar’s success, in his adoption of drag as part of his performance, reveals the stark contrast between society’s prejudice against sexual and […]

The formation of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) in August 2019 suggests that the 14th General Election (GE) will be held soon. In an editorial in Yahoo! News, Associate Professor Bertha Henson (NUS Department of Communications and New Media) presents the pre-elections landscape in Singapore, past and present, and the implications of the EBRC’s […]

Seeking to create an intimate narrative of working lives in Singapore, Associate Professor Gerard Sasges and Ms Ng Shi Wen (NUS Department of Southeast Asian Studies) explore in their new book, Hard at Work: Life in Singapore (NUS Press, 2019), the real-life stories of those who fuel Singapore’s development and progress. Together with a group […]