NFTs get the thumbs-down from some artists
Some consider the trend elitist; others say it encourages 'bad art', triggers speculation frenzy and has staggering environmental costs.
The Business Times: As Singapore's only financial daily, BT covers corporate news in the Republic as well as the startup, wealth, property, and SME scenes. As part of the banking and finance team, I look at crypto, blockchain, banks, and sustainability.
Young lawyers find fulfilment, balance as they strike out on their own
They say they like being able to choose their own clients, set their own fees and structure a sustainable working environment.
Behind the exodus of junior lawyers
Unreasonable work hours, toxic environments are push factors; many are drawn by better prospects in up-and-coming sectors.
Cryptocurrencies have an inequality problem: A growing wealth gap
The crypto community is coming up with ways to deal with climate concerns and governance issues. But the growing wealth gap still need tackling.
Gaming for a living: Are NFT games a fair gig or low-wage exploitation?
This new profit stream may be comforting to those confronted with employment uncertainty due to pandemic. But that is just one side of the story.
VIDEO: BT Explains: The Flip Side of the Coin
Many are bullish about crypto, but investors should also take caution. In a two-part series, BT Explains look at the flaws and quirks of this digital currency.
VIDEO: Can Singapore grow into South-east Asia’s Electric Vehicle Hub?
How much growth can electric vehicles drive for Singapore? Beyond climate savings, its EV agenda comes with a host of economic and social benefits.
Crypto crackdowns could drive mainstream adoption
Fragmented rules currently hamper its global potential, but stricter system will raise confidence, say observers.
EV agenda draws various sectors vying for slice of the pie
While electric vehicles are widely seen as an environmental asset, their economic imperative must also be examined.
Things didn't smell right at Wirecard - then a whistleblower was stonewalled
It didn't take long for him to think something was amiss at what was then one of the fastest growing payments companies at the time.
Calls to guard against greenwashing as sustainable investing races ahead
While the applause gets louder for the rising interest in sustainable investing, calls for safeguards against greenwashing also grow.
Singapore is flush with crypto startups, but trails in funding
While far more firms have been formed in the crypto sector in Singapore than in Switzerland, the reverse holds in terms of value of deals.
The law's middleman
David Grief, chief executive of Essex Court Chambers Duxton, sheds light on his profession - the English world of barristers' clerks.
Rethinking mental health: wellness startups and apps on the upswing
After a year of stress and distress, mental health and wellness apps are on the upswing.
ESG is having its moment, and so are its female champions
Amid the ESG buzz, women are increasingly muscling into the traditionally male-dominated fields like finance and real estate.
Lower-income hit hardest by Covid-19, as better off still buying stocks, homes, cars
How has Covid-19 affected Singapore's less well-off? A data-driven look at how the virus is aggravating already diverging fortunes.
Lessons from a Crisis for Singapore
This National Day, BT looks at how lessons gleaned from Singapore's fight against Covid-19 thus far can fortify the country for future battles.
Singapore law firms find bliss in unions when seen as equals
Fresh cross-border partnerships are being knit in the legal circle, but in the same breath, they bring to mind recent unions that have unravelled.
Apart from my time with newsrooms, some of my most memorable pieces were covered as a freelancer, including over two years in the midst glitzy and gritty New York City'. Bylines in The Atlantic, VICE, South China Morning Post, The Diplomat, Southeast Asia Globe, among others.
As opposition makes inroads, is Singapore's political culture shifting?
Clad in T-shirts and flip-flops and swigging bottles of beer, Singaporeans near and far gathered to bear witness to the results of a landmark election.
As migrant mental health suffers in Singapore dorms, aid groups rally
Migrant workers are suffering under the psychological toll of isolation in squalid conditions and the threat of being infected.
South Asian eateries in U.S. distinguishing cuisine from 'Indian food' umbrella
The "Indian" label has overshadowed the uniqueness of different South Asian cuisines, say some restaurateurs.
Not All Accents Are Equal. My Singaporean Accent Apparently Sucks.
Unless we learn to listen well and be open to speech that sounds different, many among us will take a long time to truly be heard.
‘Satellite Babies’ Are Raised Abroad, Then Return to the U.S.—And Their Parents
With child care hard to come by, some immigrant parents in the United States send their newborns to East Asia to live with relatives.
Crazy funny Asians: the comics proving Western stereotypes are laughable
If you believe the stereotype about Asians being all work and no play, then the joke is on you.
Singaporean immigrants taking a bite out of the Big Apple
A new wave of Singaporean immigrants who miss the flavours of home are shaking up NYC's food scene.
Academics concerned Singapore’s fake news laws will stifle freedom
Academics around the world have written to the Singapore government expressing concerns over recently proposed laws against online falsehoods.
The future of the fight to preserve Uyghur culture
Amidst the crackdown in Xinjiang, Uyghurs abroad are making new efforts to preserve their traditions. Will they succeed? Some say a revival is possible.
Singapore-born siblings introduce kopitiam culture to New York
Chuin and Yeen Tham conceived Lion City Coffee in memory of their father, who died in February 2016 after a long bout with cancer.
Even China’s ‘Model’ Uyghurs Aren’t Safe
“All our lives we have lived as ‘model Chinese citizens.’ We studied Mandarin, my mother was a civil servant for decades,” lamented Isaac, who is now living in exile in Sweden. “And yet it has happened to us. Why?”
Bibles in a Bar? Churches in Bed-Stuy reinvent, consolidate, and move
Bible studies in a bar, car shows in the parking lot, tele-visiting services for the incarcerated – churches in Bedford-Stuyvesant reinvent to survive.
TODAY: TODAY was Singapore's first free commuter newspaper and second-most-read daily before it turned fully digital in September 2017. My work here spanned a range of beats, from local politics, law, health to manpower.
For some ‘eating disorder warriors’, social media is part of the recovery journey
While experts have flagged the role of social media in fuelling unhealthy fads, some recovering from eating disorders are turning to it to get better.
'Creative thinking' helped him fight and win High Court cases for migrant workers
He won three recent landmark cases, earning plaudits from at least one judge for meticulous work done.
Social stratification — a poison seeping into S’pore’s housing estates and schools
Social inequality has become a buzz phrase among national discussions, and the issue remains a work in progress.
Money, lies and manipulation — the dark forces behind fake news
Regulators worldwide rail against the spread of misinformation. A Macedonian partly responsible for the rise of fake news remains unapologetic.
Sunday Spotlight: Dumpster divers to the rescue of ‘ugly’ but edible food
On a recent Saturday night, a half hour spent digging through the trash bins of Little India yielded enough vegetables to set up a stall.
Specialists or GPs? Training review to get mix right is just what the doctor ordered
The medical fraternity has been engaged in much talk, occasionally cantankerously, on how graduate training can be improved.
How e-payment ended the long reign of cash in Beijing, and the lessons for S'pore
At a glance, it looks like any other wet market. On closer look, you'd notice the absence of baskets for notes and coins often seen at other markets.
Despite non-contest, PE2017 generated lots of heat – what's next?
A historic week for S'pore – which saw its first woman President and first Malay head of state in 47 years – was overshadowed by criticism of the election process.
The faces of Sungei Road market, and the stories they tell
Before the market opens at 1pm, many of the hawkers there have already started their day by foraging for goods to peddle.
Beyond a jobs boost, healthcare sector needs a new model of care, say experts
Singapore needs to transform its care model to make better use of existing manpower.
$64m question for S'pore: Will Trump double down on campaign vows?
The election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the US has sent ripples around the world. These, too, are nervous times for Singapore.
Grades aren’t everything, that's 100 Voices community group’s mantra
Mr Dean Yap got a reality check on the limitations of glowing report cards eight years ago, when he failed to start his own business.
Some ISA detainees were grateful when arrested: RRG
Counsellors said most detainees were open to being rehabilitated. Still, attending counselling is not a get-out-of-jail-free card.
At Singapore’s doorstep, a toxic cocktail of apathy and lax security
Suspected terrorists living in your midst who want to launch a "rocket" attack. Such news would typically rock a community, but not so on Batam.
Searching for the good life, miles from home
Many equipped with precious little except for a strong will to eke out a living for themselves and their families back home have come to Singapore.