Commentary

As the commercial rollout of 5G begins in earnest this year, connectivity will undoubtedly increase, with more than 80% of residents owning a smartphone, and internet users spending more than three hours per day on mobile devices. The volume of data produced will also continue to escalate. These devices continually generate masses of transactional, demographic and behavioural data, which – if gathered and used correctly – can be harnessed by businesses to generate insight, get to know consumers, and deliver an enhanced customer experience.

Brand safety in digital advertising tends to be driven by big businesses, with 80% of agencies reporting that global brands prioritise brand safety more than their regional or local counterparts, according to IAB SEA+India research.

As 5G moves from concept to commercial reality for Singapore in 2020, a new world of possibilities will open up. Thanks to this next generation of mobile connectivity, artificial intelligence (AI) will soon be able to permeate more broadly than ever before and bring visions of truly smart critical infrastructure, connected cars and more to life.

New global links are needed in the food supply chain of the future.

UBI (Universal Basic Income) in Singapore has its advantages and viabilities. In this post, we will look at the challenges in implementing UBI, and our conclusion - is UBI viable, or is it just a pipe dream?

Universal Basic Income (UBI) or a "universal wage". This programme is essentially an unconditional payment made to all citizens (or residents) of a state or region or perhaps even a single city. Would this be a good time to implement a policy such as this? The intent behind a UBI programme would be to guarantee basic dignities with a sum above a territory’s poverty line. In this article, I’ll share why UBI is viable in Singapore, and how it provides many benefits that go beyond the monetary value.

The five new virtual banking licenses that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) intends to award this year promise to contribute significant enhancements to customers’ experiences with the country’s financial institutions. The companies that secure the licenses will likely introduce new services to spur fintech innovation from traditional banks and help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) reach previously unbanked consumers across Southeast Asia.

The coronavirus pandemic has proved a bitter pill for the world’s business leaders to swallow and one unlikely to digest any time soon.

Fintech flourished in the decade after the 2008 financial crisis, but how will the industry fare in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak?

Food, besides being the main source of energy for humans, is one of the best ways to propagate one’s culture to the rest of the world and unify people. Yet, with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we’re witnessing instead, how food can drive fear and disunity among people. In recent weeks, food security and the Food Value Chain have come under the spotlight following the ‘panic-buying’ and stockpiling of food and amenities in supermarkets in Singapore and globally.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. This news has sent shock waves across the world and has forced governments to implement swiftly several measures to contain the virus. For example, in Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has advised employers to use videoconferencing wherever possible, allowing employees to commute at off-peak hours and other social distancing measures. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has advised special work-from-home arrangements to be made for older and pregnant employees, and those with underlying medical conditions. As a result, many Singaporean companies now face challenges in managing their workforces remotely and stay productive at the same time.

Sentosa Cove was launched with much fanfare in 2005. Back then it was positioned as a destination for the rich and famous, and property prices were mind-blowingly high. To give you an idea of how high prices were, the most expensive landed unit in Sentosa was transacted at $39m in February 2012 for a 148sqm detached house along Cove Drive. In terms of highest $psf, the highest that was transacted was at $3,214psf in Oct 2012 for a 939sqm detached house along Ocean Drive. Clearly, the days of such astronomical prices are far behind us.

I have read articles, self-help books, and sought out every older working person to share with me their secrets to success. Beside the echoes of peers and superiors regaling their past learning experiences, the one thing they always recommended to me was to find a mentor.

Financial institutions around the world are facing greater operational and compliance risks with the emergence of the recent pandemic, Covid-19. Financial authorities and organisations everywhere are acknowledging these difficulties with the US Securities and Exchange Commission offering relief and guidance to registered funds and their investment advisers. In the EU, financial authorities have provided initial guidance to ensure continuity of business under financial stress.

The COVID-19 viral disease is officially a pandemic now. As of 15 March, there are over 153,000 confirmed cases globally according to World Health Organisation, with 121 active cases in Singapore according to the Singapore Ministry of Health.

The Singapore transport sector, more than any sector, contributes a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. As such, it’s no surprise that encouraging more people to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) is at the heart of the government's efforts to tackle climate change. Just last month, Singapore announced its ambitious targets for 2040 with a plan to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, paving the way for greater adoption of hybrids and EV’s that run on cleaner energy.