Singapore has been shrouded in haze this week due to high air pollution. EPA
It's not just the haze that has polluted the air in Singapore, it is a sense of hopelessness too. The small island state has become a beacon for development and advancement across Asia, its model exemplified and copied by other countries, particularly in the GCC. The government's use of technology has won it global accolades, but there is little technology can do to prevent the haze coming in from Indonesia where illegal forest fires conducted by companies after palm oil have become a yearly event.
A combination of pictures shows Singapore's haze, above, and what the city is like on a clear day. Roslan Rahman / AFP
Outside of diplomatic talks between foreign ministers the government is still keen to make the most the technology at hand by providing its citizens with hourly Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading, which recently hit an all time high, through it's e-government portal.
Singapore's small population is adept with the government's technological offerings. Besides providing a platform for information, each resident has their own government email and inbox where they receive their bills, can enroll their children at school or update local authorities if something goes wrong in their building or area.
And satisfaction levels are high at more than 95 per cent. It is a shame that a firewall cannot keep out the haze.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Young women have more “financial grit”, but fall behind on investing
In an October survey of young adults aged 16 to 25, Charles Schwab found young women are more driven to reach financial independence than young men (67 per cent versus. 58 per cent). They are more likely to take on extra work to make ends meet and see more value than men in creating a plan to achieve their financial goals. Yet, despite all these good ‘first’ measures, they are investing and saving less than young men – falling early into the financial gender gap.
While the women surveyed report spending 36 per cent less than men, they have far less savings than men ($1,267 versus $2,000) – a nearly 60 per cent difference.
In addition, twice as many young men as women say they would invest spare cash, and almost twice as many young men as women report having investment accounts (though most young adults do not invest at all).
“Despite their good intentions, young women start to fall behind their male counterparts in savings and investing early on in life,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, senior vice president, Charles Schwab. “They start off showing a strong financial planning mindset, but there is still room for further education when it comes to managing their day-to-day finances.”
Ms Schwab-Pomerantz says parents should be conveying the same messages to boys and girls about money, but should tailor those conversations based on the individual and gender.
"Our study shows that while boys are spending more than girls, they also are saving more. Have open and honest conversations with your daughters about the wage and savings gap," she said. "Teach kids about the importance of investing – especially girls, who as we see in this study, aren’t investing as much. Part of being financially prepared is learning to make the most of your money, and that means investing early and consistently."
