Social conditions and trends

IPS study calls for earlier intervention, redesigned shelters to tackle long-term homelessness

ST20260107_202650300278 Kua Chee Siong/ sssleep09/ EMBARGOED TILL JAN 9, 2026.
Generic pix of the transitional shelter, Transit Point@Yio Chu Kang, on Jan 7, 2026.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) will be releasing the 2025 Report on the Street Count of Rough Sleepers and the Report on Ending Long-Term Homelessness, respectively.
The MSF report will highlight trends since the first street count of rough sleepers in 2022, whilst the IPS report will present findings on the multiple pathways into homelessness from their study conducted from 2021 to 2024.
Together, these reports provide insight into the current state and underlying causes of homelessness in Singapore.

Slightly fewer people recorded sleeping rough last year; new fund launched in S'pore to trial solutions

MSF announced a new $450,000 fund that would provide grants for organisations to trial solutions that address the underlying causes of rough sleeping.

The first meme of 2026 is about not explaining yourself. And buttons

Opacity has become a hallmark of popular memes online.

Life List: 10 trends to look forward to in 2026

Cities go for ‘heartware’, not just bricks-and-mortar

Providing a platform for bonding and social support at home.

Welcome to the office. Now take off your shoes

Some start-ups, blurring the lines between home and office, are embracing a “no shoes” policy.

Letter From Tokyo

Japan has a shrinking population of kids and a tepid economy. But its toy market is booming

The International Tokyo Toy Show, an annual four-day event held from Aug 28 to 31 with the first two days for business stakeholders and the other two for members of the public, draws a bustling crowd eager to check out new toy releases.

From MSG to microchips: The lesser-known side hustles of Japanese legacy brands

The dominant narrative suggests that Japanese brands are losing their lustre to regional challengers such as China and South Korea.

As Hong Kong’s ‘king of umbrellas’ retires, a vanishing craft takes a final bow

Mr Yau Yiu-wai, 73, is one of only five umbrella repairmen still in business in Hong Kong.

Trend v tradition: Matcha’s revival takes hold in Indonesia

The drink, with its iconic deep green color and frothy foam, has taken the internet by storm by popping up on social media such as Instagram reels or TikTok videos.

Jeju tourism jumps as Netflix K-drama draws foreign visitors

Jeju Island alone recorded a 17.5 per cent year-on-year increase in overseas visitors.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.