Podcasts by Heart of the Matter
You know the headlines. Now take a deeper dive into the Heart of the Matter with CNA each week as we talk to newsmakers and experts who give us their take on the some of the most talked about news developments.
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Best of: How does a young person become radicalised? from 2023-12-07T23:00
In the first of our top three episodes from the archives, we ask - why are teenagers as young as 14 interested in extremist religious content? What do online games have to do with this trend and...
ListenAre country clubs becoming irrelevant in land-scarce Singapore? from 2023-11-30T23:00
With its lease not renewed, Raffles Town Club is the latest in a line of private clubs whose land is being repurposed by the government for other uses. Aside from land restraints, is there a fut...
ListenOnline grooming of kids: What stronger safeguards are needed? from 2023-11-23T23:00
A recent CNA investigation showed that it is easy for kids under 18 to go on dating apps and chat with strangers online, making them more vulnerable to sexual predators. Should there be greater ...
ListenDo high cost of living concerns in Singapore affect everyone the same way? from 2023-11-16T23:00
From groceries to electricity and water prices, many Singaporeans are feeling the pinch as inflation stays stubbornly high. Is the sandwiched generation hit as hard as those in the lower-income ...
ListenInconsiderate behaviour on public transport: Why do some act this way? from 2023-11-09T23:00
In a recent CNA Commentary, Dr William Wan from the Singapore Kindness Movement argued for some regulation in dealing with inconsiderate behaviour on public transport which drew some strong reac...
ListenIf we don't want the 5Cs, what's the new Singapore dream? from 2023-11-02T23:00
According to the Forward SG report, people want more than just material success in life. Has the idea of a good life evolved? What impact will that have on the way the country is governed? Steve...
ListenBank outages: Are there gaps in the system? from 2023-10-26T23:00
The recent DBS and Citibank outage in October left many people unable to pay for their transactions and draw money from the ATMs. What goes on when critical banking infrastructure goes black? Ho...
ListenWhy people struggle with mental health issues in Singapore from 2023-10-19T23:00
Young people aged 18 to 29 and the elderly over 70 are two groups who are showing the greatest signs of mental health distress in Singapore. What are the triggers, and what is the journey to see...
ListenCan Singapore kick its addiction to delicious but unhealthy food? from 2023-10-12T23:00
Nine in 10 Singapore residents exceeded the recommended salt intake and daily calorie intake is also up, according to the latest National Nutrition survey. The findings also show that more peopl...
ListenChild abuse deaths: Are there gaps in the system? from 2023-10-05T23:16:15
In the last decade, child abuse cases involving neglect and physical or sexual abuse have gone up from around 300 in 2012 to 2,141 in 2021. Several high profile cases before the court involved t...
ListenHigh COEs: Can families do without a car? from 2023-09-28T23:00
With premiums on Certificate of Entitlement (COE) soaring to over $140,000 for larger cars, should people simply give up on the idea of owning cars? What about those who need the convenience of ...
ListenScam losses: Who should bear the responsibility? from 2023-09-21T22:30
The scourge of scams continues unabated in Singapore with nearly 23,000 people falling victim in the first six months of this year. With increasing sophistication from the fraudsters, is public ...
ListenKinderland saga: How can preschool educators get classroom management right? from 2023-09-14T23:00
The preschool sector has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, after videos of Kinderland teachers allegedly mistreating their young charges went viral. What are the challenges teachers f...
ListenPresidential Election: What do voters think about politics in Singapore? from 2023-09-05T09:01:55
When Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam ended his presidential race with a landslide victory of 70.4 per cent, political analysts expressed their surprise, calling the win "unthinkable" and "remarkable"....
ListenMoney laundering busts: Regulators have to constantly play catch up from 2023-08-30T23:00
Since news broke on the billion-dollar money laundering case in Singapore, there have been questions on how bad actors operate. How do property agents and bank staff separate a legitimate transa...
ListenNew BTO framework: Will moving up the property ladder get harder? from 2023-08-24T23:10:04
New HDB flats will be classified under Standard, Plus or Prime from next year - dropping the decades-long mature and non-mature categorisation. With increased subsidies and tig...
ListenWhat will it take to attract and retain good nurses in Singapore? from 2023-08-17T23:00
The attrition rate for nurses has stabilised post-COVID but with a fast greying population, the hunt for a solid pipeline of nursing talent continues. Aside from better salaries, can concerns ov...
ListenWorkers' safety on lorries: A system of many moving parts from 2023-08-10T23:19:13
It has been described as an “intractable” problem: The transportation of migrant workers to and from their worksites. Why is this issue so complex? How can safety and business realities find com...
ListenWhy are parents still gunning for brand name primary schools? from 2023-08-03T23:00
The annual Primary 1 registration season is back and parents are strategising how to get their children into choice schools. Despite tweaks done to the system, brand name schools are still being...
ListenWhy is it so hard to get concert tickets in Singapore? from 2023-07-06T22:58:12
When global music acts arrive in small Singapore, there's a mad scramble for tickets. Should seats be reserved for residents? Can resellers who charge exorbitant prices be taken to task? How doe...
ListenSchool buses in Singapore: A dying industry? from 2023-06-29T23:00
Cancelled contracts, a critical lack of drivers and spiralling costs. Parents, schools and bus companies are now caught in a jam, with questions on how to ferry our primary school children. How ...
ListenWhat's causing all the ugly rage on Singapore roads? from 2023-06-22T23:07:53
It isn’t just the number of road rage incidents that make the news, it is the type of angry encounters that go viral on social media – punching, kicking, climbing on bonnets or ripping out licen...
ListenWhat do Singapore voters want from their elected president? from 2023-06-08T23:18:42
Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has announced he intends to run for the presidency which will be held within the next three months. What exactly is the role of the President, why is the b...
ListenWhen cash is no longer king for payments, who gets left behind? from 2023-06-01T23:00
Singapore's adoption rate of cashless payments is one of the highest in Asia. But there are pockets of the population who still struggle to adapt. And there's the ever present threat of scams an...
ListenCan Singapore football make fans roar with pride once again? from 2023-05-25T23:14:33
The humiliating 7-0 defeat of the Young Lions to Malaysia at the recent SEA Games has renewed calls for the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to get to the bottom of what ails the sport. I...
ListenWhy do young people think cannabis is a less harmful drug? from 2023-05-18T23:24:34
Recent statistics released by the Central Narcotics Bureau show a clear trend - over 60 per cent of those caught with cannabis use are under 30. Some perceptions of cannabis among the young are ...
ListenIs the cost of treating cancer in Singapore still too high? from 2023-05-11T23:08:04
In a bid to curb the cost of cancer treatment, the Singapore government announced an approved drug list where the most cost-effective drugs can be claimed by the national insurance schemes. Yet,...
ListenSingapore's latest property cooling measures: Who does it impact and how? from 2023-05-04T23:00
In the latest round of property cooling measures announced on Apr 26, what stood out was the 60 per cent additional buyer's stamp duty (ABSD) for foreigners looking to buy in Singapore. While th...
Listen18 and out of school: Who can help with lifelong support for special needs kids? from 2023-04-27T23:28:02
The options confronting parents of special needs children after they complete formal schooling in Singapore can be dismal - leading some to stay home and the burden on caregivers to increase. Wh...
ListenShould passing an English test be a basic requirement for Singapore citizenship? from 2023-04-20T22:00
To kick off Season 4, Heart of the Matter host Steven Chia gets to the heart of what it takes to be a Singapore citizen. Does being proficient in English matter? If not, what other markers shoul...
ListenNCID chief and vaccine expert on long days, missed meals and flying in a fog during COVID-19 fight from 2023-03-30T22:52:29
Caring for patients in the day, meeting global experts at night, racing against time to get a workable vaccine off the ground – NCID executive director Professor Leo Yee-Sin and Duke-NUS Medical...
ListenCan a bank go bust in Singapore? from 2023-03-23T23:00
It started with the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in the US and was followed swiftly by the emergency rescue of beleagued Credit Suisse by UBS. How does a bank go bust? What drives panic and ...
ListenWhy don't neighbours raise the alarm on family violence? from 2023-03-16T22:00
More cases of family violence are being reported in Singapore, but few are because bystanders called the authorities. Why do we complain about party noises but hesitate if we suspect someone is ...
ListenAre Singapore's cookie-cutter malls a bad thing? from 2023-03-09T23:06:24
In just a decade, the number of malls in Singapore has doubled and they usually have a set list of tenants - an anchor retailer, supermarket, pharmacy and several floors of eateries. Why do our ...
ListenHow does a young person become radicalised? from 2023-03-02T22:59:39
Recently, two self-radicalised Singaporean youths – aged 15 and 16 – were picked up under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Why are teenagers as young as 14 becoming more interested in extremist ...
ListenACS move: The start of dismantling closed circles? from 2023-02-23T23:00
Anglo Chinese School (Primary) is moving from Barker Road to the upcoming Tengah estate in 2030. Is this move the start of something significant? Will this reduce elitism and social inequality i...
ListenBudget 2023: A further rebalancing of Singapore society? from 2023-02-16T23:00
Did the Valentine's Day Budget give help where help was really needed? Steven Chia asks associate professor Walter Theseira, entrepreneur and mother of two Dawn Cher, and Kurt Wee, president of ...
ListenBudget 2023 wish list: A home, sooner rather than later, and help with healthcare costs from 2023-02-09T23:00
Budget 2023 will be announced on Tuesday (Feb 14) and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong dangled the prospect of it as his “Valentine’s Day present” to all Singaporeans. So...
ListenDo university graduates deserve to be paid double that of ITE grads? from 2023-02-02T23:00
Median salary figures show a large gap between those who graduate with degrees and those with polytechnic or ITE diplomas. In an era where skills are prized, why have salaries not kept pace? Is ...
ListenCan a food-loving nation consume less salt and sugar? from 2023-01-26T23:00
Singapore’s consumption of sugar and salt is above the recommended global limits and it is making us sick. The Government is introducing measures to curb this – from new labels to a drive to use...
ListenIs ChatGPT the start of a big revolution in education? from 2023-01-19T23:00
A resounding yes, say our guests. Its scale, accessibility and sophistication underline some fundamental problems with the current education system. How will it change the way students learn and...
ListenDeadly residential fires: Is stricter enforcement needed? from 2023-01-12T23:00
Overloaded sockets, cheap batteries and cluttered homes - these are some of the factors driving fires in homes. What's missing in our understanding of fire safety and who should be responsible? ...
ListenFrom YouTube to OnlyFans: Is making quick money a bad thing? from 2022-12-01T22:56:32
Young people are embracing a new way of working by making thousands of dollars as content creators on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or OnlyFans. Is this eco-system feeding a new generation who only...
ListenCPF for platform workers: Should customers foot part of the bill? from 2022-11-24T23:20:23
The need to increase social protections for platform workers is clear but things get complicated when it comes to who pays for it and how this will work in a way that is sustainable for all stak...
ListenShould Singapore regulate vaping instead of banning it? from 2022-11-17T23:20:30
From 2020 to 2022, the number of people caught vaping has more than tripled. The use of e-cigarettes has entrenched itself, not just among the young who are attracted by the lower costs and diff...
ListenCould the PAP lose power one day and if so, what then? from 2022-11-10T22:53:04
In his speech at this year's People's Action Party Central Executive Committee's meeting, PM Lee Hsien Loong said Singaporeans cannot "have it both ways" - voting in more opposition yet keeping ...
ListenWhy has cryptocurrency gone from rock star to rocky ride? from 2022-11-03T22:58:40
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued a fresh round of regulations to restrict retail investors from investing in what it calls "a highly risky" product. Why is cryptocurrency dan...
ListenWhy aren't young Singaporeans dating? from 2022-10-27T22:40:47
In the latest 2021 Marriage and Parenthood Survey, half of the singles surveyed said they were not currently dating, and among them, 38 per cent had never dated before. Is technology making thin...
ListenWhat will it take for the ambitious Healthier SG plan to work? from 2022-10-20T23:00
A nationwide health plan aims to fundamentally shift the way we look at healthcare in Singapore. But what burdens will general practitioners have to bear, will costs go up and will people's beha...
ListenCan Singapore’s red-hot property market be cooled? from 2022-10-13T23:01:24
The latest round of property cooling measures announced in Singapore has raised questions about affordability, and whether an HDB flat is for home ownership or an asset. Host Steven Chia is join...
ListenIs the mental health care system in Singapore overwhelmed? from 2022-10-06T23:00
Long wait times, the big difference in cost between private and public services and a lack of trained professionals are some critical issues facing us as we tackle mental health issues. Otelli E...
ListenShopee job cuts: Are tech companies in trouble? from 2022-09-29T23:00
Big names like Netflix, Paypal and Tesla have either shed jobs or cooled on offers. At home, the conglomerate Sea Limited has run into rough waters with management suspending salaries. What's go...
ListenHunt for global talent: Why can't Singaporeans fill top jobs? from 2022-09-22T22:39:17
The new Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) plans to draw rainmakers globally. How is it different from other visas? Why do we need such talent now and how will they help Singapore...
ListenRemoving parks for homes: Is land use in Singapore a case of conflicting needs? from 2022-09-15T23:39:15
When news broke that ORTO leisure park in Yishun will make way for housing, residents expressed sadness and disappointment. They asked: Why are we building so many flats? Why can't we keep space...
ListenWhy are students behaving so badly in and out of class? from 2022-09-08T23:00
Viral videos of students displaying poor discipline in classrooms or beating up fellow classmates have made the rounds recently. Have things gotten worse? How can teachers be better supported? S...
ListenSwimming against the tide on Joseph Schooling’s confession of cannabis use from 2022-09-01T22:40:37
When Olympic medalist Joseph Schooling and fellow swimmer Amanda Lim admitted to cannabis use, some said "go easy" on them because it's "just weed". Is Singapore's strict zero-tolerance approach...
Listen377A repeal: How could it become a messy affair? from 2022-08-25T23:42:45
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement repealing Section 377A during this year's National Day Rally was widely anticipated. Are matters about to get messier before they get clearer? What ...
ListenRising worker deaths: Is there a poor safety culture? | EP 6 from 2022-08-18T23:53:20
Workplace accidents have been in the news and the numbers have been climbing. What’s driving this trend? Are companies cutting corners? Or is there a deeper issue with the safety culture? Steven...
Listen‘Singapore is snobbish': Tommy Koh says confronting society's flaws is needed for new social compact from 2022-08-12T01:04:41
The Forward Singapore exercise was launched by DPM Lawrence Wong to review and refresh our social compact. As Singapore faces a new, post-pandemic future, what exactly should go into this social...
ListenI preyed on people's emotions: An ex-scammer on how e-commerce scams happen from 2022-08-05T00:10:56
Millions of dollars change hands every day over online platforms in Singapore. But there's an ugly side to the thriving e-commerce ecosystem as shown by a couple who allegedly cheated peop...
ListenSexuality education in Singapore: A tale of conflicting needs? from 2022-07-29T00:23:11
Recently a school staff was reprimanded for using discriminatory information against the LGBTQ community during a sexuality education talk. Why is sexuality education critical for a generation t...
ListenCOE at an all-time high: Is the system due for a change? from 2022-07-22T01:03:48
This week, the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premium hit a record S$114,001 for the Open Category. In this episode, we pop the hood to explore what's driving demand, whether the system remain...
ListenHigh inflation in Singapore: Why is it biting us harder this time? from 2022-07-15T01:24:29
In May, Singapore's core inflation hit a 13-year high and, many of the factors driving rising costs are out of our control. Could things get much worse for the average household with the impendi...
ListenIs the Workers' Party in crisis? Aftermath of COP report from 2022-02-17T07:26:22
The Workers' Party is facing its toughest political test yet. Will its reputation take greater damage from the Raeesah Khan saga than from other storms it has weathered? Yet, would it be prematu...
ListenGST, wealth and other taxes – why now and what impact will it have on businesses and families? from 2022-02-10T07:44
A big announcement is expected on Friday (Feb 18) - on when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be raised. It is a lightning rod but only one tool in the Government's revenue kit. What is its ...
ListenSAP schools and ethnic quotas in HDB estates: Are race relations in Singapore stuck in a time warp? from 2022-02-03T01:32
Do younger Singaporeans have stronger and different views from an older generation about race? Yale-NUS student co-host Adriel Yong and Lin Suling talk to Institute of Policy Studies' Mathew Mat...
ListenMental health and youth: Is something broken in Singapore society? from 2022-01-27T01:07:29
The struggles of mental illness among a younger generation has dominated discussions since COVID-19 hit. In this no-holds-barred discussion, guest co-host Jaime Han and CNA's Lin Suling speak to...
ListenIf Singapore contributes just a fraction of global emissions, what's the point of climate activism here? from 2022-01-20T01:17
Youth-led climate action has mushroomed in Singapore in the last decade and activists are unafraid to make their voices heard. But can they make a real, practical difference in what is their gen...
ListenSpamming employers with generic CVs, not negotiating salary – everything you’re doing wrong on the job hunt from 2022-01-12T06:00
Do you spam resumes or tailor each one? Should you negotiate your salary? Do having contacts help? Even as the economy finds its footing amid the pandemic, the job market remains tough for fresh...
ListenCOVID-19 vaccinations for kids aged 5 to 11: Unpacking the data, parental fears and social pressures from 2021-11-18T09:24
Singapore has already placed orders for paediatric vaccines, trials are planned for at KK Hospital and the multi-ministry task force will announce its decision soon. Yet, among some parents ther...
ListenGuilty purchases and packaging waste in huge Singles’ Day online sales from 2021-11-11T09:11:11
The rise of e-commerce has been nothing short of spectacular on the back of a pandemic. Yet, as the biggest climate conference COP26 takes place in Glasgow, how do staggering online shopping fig...
ListenProtecting food deliverers and other gig workers: Grab Singapore's managing director answers the hard questions from 2021-11-05T02:17
Their numbers are not small and they take us where we want to go and deliver us food and groceries. As more turn to gig work Listen
The great wave of worker unhappiness – why are we still languishing? from 2021-10-28T08:11
Is 2021 the year when employees take back control over work amid predictions of a great resignation wave, not to mention complaints of bad bosses, long working hours and unfair demands? Are our ...
ListenTravel hesitancy – is planning an overseas holiday just too stressful? from 2021-10-21T08:08
Is the launch of more Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) a turning point for travel and an end to restrictive quarantines? CNA’s Lin Suling speaks to sociologist at the Singapore University of ...
ListenHow Singapore hospitals are dealing with an unprecedented COVID-19 surge from 2021-10-14T10:45:58
In the eye of a storm, Singapore hospitals are fighting off a fresh wave of infections, after being on the frontlines of COVID-19 for 20 months. How have hospitals reorganised themselves to deal...
ListenCOVID-19 booster shots and the challenge of vaccine science moving at breakneck speed from 2021-09-23T08:56:08
The vast majority of Singapore residents are vaccinated and worldwide, nearly 6 billion shots have been given. Yet, barely nine months later, the first call for booster shots has gone out. But w...
ListenCOVID-19 vaccinations: Should they be made mandatory? from 2021-09-16T08:16
Singapore is one of the world's most vaccinated countries but the unvaccinated remain at risk with every infection surge. Is it time to stop persuading people and consider mandates especially fo...
ListenWhat are the challenges Singapore faces in shifting to living with an endemic COVID-19? from 2021-09-09T07:35
With one of the world’s highest vaccination rates and the ability to quickly test for COVID-19 infections, some questions were raised this week when the Singapore Government said it would not ru...
ListenInside the alternate universe of sovereign citizens: What's really going on in their minds? from 2021-09-02T09:18
Penalised for breaking COVID-19 rules and refusing to wear a mask, Benjamin Glynn and Paramjeet Kaur claimed rules are not for "living people" with "sovereign rights". Where did such ideas come ...
ListenMalaysia’s great game of coalition party politics and jostling for power amid a pandemic from 2021-08-26T08:25
Malaysian politics has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. With prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob now at the helm, ready to appoint a Cabinet, CNA’s Lin Suling asks ISEAS-Yusof I...
ListenThe future of Singapore film – but first, can it survive COVID-19? from 2021-08-19T07:21:55
Millions have downloaded and streamed movies, plays and sitcoms to survive the pandemic. But what is like on the other side of the screen? Has COVID-19 compromised what the big screen can bring ...
ListenOlympians Quah Ting Wen and Joan Poh open up on the pressures of elite sports from 2021-08-12T10:37
One has been a competitive swimmer since 11 while the other switched out her nurse's uniform to train for hours on the water. Swimmer Quah Ting Wen and rower Joan Poh talk to Lin Suling about ta...
ListenSchools and stress: A tangled web involving parents, academic pressure and so much more from 2021-08-05T09:51
Since the death at River Valley High School, mental health has become a key issue in Singapore. Education Minister Chan Chun Sing outlined efforts to enhance mental health literacy and recruit m...
ListenHave COVID-19 restrictions killed the passions of F&B owners and chefs? from 2021-07-29T08:53
Eateries are on their knees with the latest round of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) restrictions. What has it been like to be in the eye of the storm for more than a year? Have billions of dollars i...
ListenSingapore planned to live with COVID-19. So how are we back in Phase 2 (Heightened Alert)? from 2021-07-22T09:37
Do these curbs suggest Singapore is further away from a new normal? What will it take to get there? Why not differentiate between those vaccinated and those who are not? And does living normally...
ListenBattling baby blues: When do parents need professional help? from 2021-06-17T10:41
For new parents, particularly breastfeeding mums, the days and nights can become one incoherent blur. Why does postnatal depression happen? Might it start later and even affect dads? Lin Suling ...
ListenRealities of divorce: Why some couples want to attribute blame while others want to move on from 2021-06-10T09:08
The Ministry of Social and Family Development has floated “an amicable divorce option” for public consultation. Couples can jointly file for a dissolution of marriage without assigni...
ListenHawker food was never meant for delivery apps: Makansutra's KF Seetoh and Hawkers United's Melvin Chew from 2021-06-03T09:03
Since COVID-19 hit, the people who fed a nation for decades have seen their fortunes tumble. In a world dominated with food apps, online delivery and cashless payment, going digital should be th...
ListenPeople behind hotlines: Dealing with the silent mental health pandemic from 2021-05-27T08:56
During the circuit breaker last year, calls to mental healthcare hotlines shot up - Singaporeans were stressed, anxious, lonely and struggling. Who are the people on the other end of the line wh...
ListenWhat is a viable business model for the news industry in Singapore? from 2021-05-20T09:13
For decades, the news industry had a watertight business model until the Internet and social media swept advertising and other revenue streams away. How can news organisations keep afloat and fu...
ListenSingapore Taxi drivers: A front row seat to life in a pandemic from 2021-05-12T04:57
First it was the rise of ride-hailing. Then came COVID-19, wiping out tourists and reducing passenger numbers. How have taxi drivers survived the onslaught of change and continued to put food on...
ListenCOVID-19 variants: Will they mean new waves of infections in Singapore? from 2021-05-06T08:16
Singapore is back to tighter restrictions after the biggest rise in community cases in nine months. Lin Suling talks to Duke-NUS professors David Matchar and Gavin Smith about variants on the lo...
ListenSingapore residential property market: Are cooling measures due soon after year of rising prices? from 2021-04-29T09:11
Record prices have been set in the private residential market and HDB prices have been rising steadily over the past year. What’s behind these trends and who is driving demand? Significant...
ListenPictures on illicit chat groups: How do innocent victims end up as fodder? from 2021-04-22T09:04
Primary school girls posing with their friends, intimate pictures leaked by ex-lovers and even innocent personal Instagram videos. Thousands of images and videos were bartered in shady online ch...
ListenDPM Heng Swee Keat bows out: What happened and how PAP’s leadership transition can get back on track from 2021-04-15T07:11
The 4G leaders called DPM Heng’s decision to step aside a setback to succession planning. What’s behind the decision? What implications does this delay have for the ruling party, the...
Listen“Accidental ambassador” and Singapore female icon Chan Heng Chee gets personal about her life and work from 2021-03-18T07:57
She’s a distinguished diplomat with a string of honours to her name. Professor Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large at Singapore’s foreign affairs ministry and chair of the Lee Kuan Y...
ListenIntermittent fasting for beginners – and what you may not know from 2021-03-11T07:26
How effective can such diets be for weight loss, reducing your cholesterol or burning fat? Can they be dangerous? And what role does culture play in weight management? Lin Suling finds out from ...
ListenWild boar attacks in Punggol – averting the next dangerous encounter from 2021-03-04T07:55
As Singapore becomes greener, could there be more man-versus-wild episodes in places near forested areas? Lin Suling tackles culling, fencing and the feeding of wildlife with NParks' wildlife ma...
ListenFood delivery apps: How riders, consumers and F&B outlets have found them a year since COVID-19 from 2021-02-25T09:14
COVID-19 was a shot in the arm for food delivery platforms. One year on, have apps and restaurants gotten their systems in order? Why do we still hear of wrong, cancelled or late orders? And wha...
ListenBudget 2021: A clarifying moment for businesses and workers as Singapore shifts gears from 2021-02-18T09:32
Budget 2021 afforded huge support to businesses and workers in riding out COVID-19. But what must give as Singapore switches priorities from providing relief to preparing for a post-pandemic wor...
ListenElectric cars: When’s a good time to start thinking about buying one? from 2021-02-11T02:04
Ambitious targets in Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 on the adoption of electric vehicles announced on Wednesday (Feb 10) have signalled a bigger national commitment toward phasing out petrol ...
ListenGameStop’s roller-coaster: What really went down and could it happen here? from 2021-02-04T08:52
January 2021 will go down as one of the most bizarre months in Wall Street's 200-year history where a video-game company found itself in the middle of what some call a modern day David-versus-Go...
ListenCOVID-19 restrictions ahead of Chinese New Year: Rules, risks and responsibilities from 2021-01-28T09:21
Two weeks before Chinese New Year, what’s behind Singapore’s new restrictions? What is the outlook for the country’s COVID-19 fight amid a raging pandemic, new mutated variants and rising imported ...
ListenWhat’s so special about Dover Forest? When love of nature meets urban planning from 2021-01-21T09:14
In recent months, Singapore’s forests have been in the public eye after stunning drone shots of Clementi Forest went viral. Now, Dover’s lush corridor has seen residents and green groups petition a...
ListenChanges in WhatsApp terms and conditions: Cutting through the confusion from 2021-01-14T09:14
Singapore has been abuzz this week over updates to WhatsApp’s data policy with scores of users turning to alternatives like Telegram and Signal. What’s behind this change, how is it different from ...
ListenCOVID-19 vaccines rolled out at warp speed – safety, side effects and the big logistical challenges from 2021-01-06T21:54
Developed and manufactured at an unprecedented pace, how did authorities in Singapore ensure safety isn’t compromised amid Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Sinovac’s differing practices and company cul...
ListenPSLE results: Three working adults confront its impact and other surprising revelations years later from 2020-11-26T08:59
Every year, thousands of 12-year olds and their parents fret for days over a slip of paper they believe will seal their fate for the rest of their lives. But how much do Primary School Leaving Exam...
ListenThe Singapore property market: Is it changing for good? from 2020-11-19T08:05
In October, private home sales fell by 50 per cent. What does that say about the health of the Singapore property market? Have government curbs and cooling measures since 2013 come home to roost? A...
ListenHow Malaysians are getting through a never-ending fight with COVID-19 from 2020-11-12T08:19
Despite an early Movement Control Order and other restrictions earlier this year, Malaysia's infection numbers have surged this month. This prompted another round of restrictions, with schools shut...
ListenUS election: A bitter fight for the soul of the world's most powerful nation from 2020-11-05T06:23
A day after Nov 3, neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden has been declared the winner in what has been called the most polarised US presidential race in memory. How did America become this 50-50 natio...
ListenThe cautious opening of international borders: Will going on an overseas holiday be practical and safe? from 2020-10-29T08:41
Nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic and some countries are working out how to extend foreign travel to more people, with Singapore negotiating a travel bubble agreement with Hong Kong. But what ...
ListenIs it time to go after smokers who light up near the windows of their homes? from 2020-10-22T08:04
With more people confined to their homes, complaints about second-hand smoke have increased by 20 per cent. The divide is deep on this argument. On the one hand are those who suffer health issues o...
ListeniPhone 12 and Apple’s thinking behind advanced features from 2020-10-15T07:42
Apple has just launched the new iPhone 12 and fans are excited. We take a hard look at not just the latest phone Apple has rolled out but whether its playbook is looking tired, if 5G is all it is c...
ListenRaising wages of Singapore's poorest earners: A hard look at the Progressive Wage Model from 2020-10-08T08:13
OCBC's Selena Ling and NUS Business School's Professor Sumit Agarwal share with CNA's Lin Suling their thoughts on the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) and how it differs from a minimum wage. We discus...
ListenReturning to the office – can you say no? from 2020-10-01T07:32
With coronavirus community cases tapering down and with Phase 3 of Singapore’s reopening around the corner, is it time to reverse this biggest work-from-home experiment? Lin Suling speaks to Engage...
ListenSexual offences, quotas and serving NS: K Shanmugam speaks frankly about women’s issues from 2020-09-23T22:26
After launching a series of public engagements on women’s issues in a move towards greater gender equality on Sunday (Sep 20), Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam sits down with Lin Suling to...
ListenRethinking the role of national carriers while saving Singapore Airlines from 2020-09-17T09:22
Amid the latest round of layoffs by Singapore Airlines and other flag airlines around the world, aviation analyst Brendan Sobie and NUS Business School Associate Professor Nitin Pangarkar tell us w...
ListenCan foreign domestic workers do extra chores? The dos, don'ts and difficult areas from 2020-09-10T09:42
The relationship between foreign domestic workers and their employers has been in the spotlight. How do they and their employers navigate blurred boundaries and bargain the dos and don'ts of work f...
ListenPhishing scams and the sketchy tricks of the online crime trade from 2020-09-03T08:14
Banking-related phishing scams have spiked more than 2,500 per cent in the first half of 2020 alone in Singapore, with police warning of increasingly sophisticated tactics involving emails, texts a...
ListenThe conversation on race and multiculturalism younger Singaporeans want from 2020-08-27T09:17
In her speech at the opening of parliament, President Halimah Yacob said younger Singaporeans want to discuss issues of race and ethnicity more candidly. How distinct are the views of young people ...
ListenRecovery, restructuring and possibly rebound? The outlook for the Singapore economy from 2020-08-20T08:17
After seeing one of the deepest recessions in the second quarter, has the Singapore economy bottomed out? What’s the outlook after Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat’s latest...
ListenUnfair firing and hiring practices under scrutiny during Singapore’s worst recession from 2020-08-13T10:15
As Singapore stares down its worst economic performance on record, Lin Suling speaks to NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Patrick Tay and Managing Director of the Economic Development Board Chng Kai...
ListenWhat next for Malaysian workers stuck there and Singapore businesses who hire them here? from 2020-08-06T08:33
Singapore and Malaysia are ready to lift some entry restrictions and reopen travel via the Periodic Commuting Arrangement and Reciprocal Green Lane. Lin Suling speaks to Assistant CEO for Global Bu...
ListenThe COVID-19 vaccine will be the biggest product launch in history. Can we pull it off? from 2020-07-30T08:48
Moderna, Pfizer and over 100 pharmaceutical firms and research institutes are racing towards developing the first coronavirus vaccine. Lin Suling speaks to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Jac...
ListenRetrenchment: What is fair compensation, clear communication and empathy in letting people go? from 2020-07-23T08:04
As Singapore sinks into a technical recession, companies like RWS are among the latest to lay off staff, with some upset they were not told earlier. When they need to, how should companies manage t...
ListenGE2020: What it means for the PAP, the opposition and Singapore politics from 2020-07-14T08:47
Singaporeans awoke on Saturday (Jul 11) to find the People’s Action Party firmly in power with 83 seats but with a slide in their vote share and the loss of Sengkang GRC to the Workers’ Party. What...
ListenEntering Phase 2: What's behind rules on gatherings, dining, weddings and more? from 2020-06-18T08:56
Singapore's transition into Phase 2 of COVID-19 restrictions will see shops, restaurants and schools open once more. What’s the thinking behind all the rules for different activities and organisati...
ListenTraceTogether token and contact tracing apps: Privacy, data usage and other big questions from 2020-06-11T09:12
The TraceTogether token, a wearable contact tracing device will soon be rolled out. The government has said that it will not collect personal data, but why are some Singaporeans still unconvinced? ...
ListenSingapore's relationship with migrant workers: It's complicated? from 2020-06-04T09:37
In the midst of Singapore's battle against COVID-19, the Government has announced plans to construct new migrant worker dormitories and repurpose unused sites, with some potentially close to reside...
ListenHow Singapore businesses and workers can thrive in a post-pandemic new normal from 2020-05-28T08:31
The Fortitude Budget announced in Parliament this week brings the total bill of Singapore's COVID-19 packages to just under S$100 billion. Will payouts and other measures help businesses and worker...
ListenRepairing and recycling to reduce e-waste: A pipe dream in Singapore? from 2020-05-21T09:16
Many of us may not think twice about throwing away old gadgets and buying new ones. It's one thing to talk about Zero Waste and reusing, reducing and recycling, but are we wishing for something tha...
ListenWhy lifting lockdowns and easing restrictions may be the biggest COVID-19 test facing countries from 2020-05-15T02:48
As countries around the world begin to emerge from strict stay-home restrictions, there have been setbacks and successes. Lin Suling speaks to SMU Professor Paulin Tay Straughan, NUS Saw Swee Hock ...
ListenCOVID-19 – aviation and flying never ever the same again from 2020-05-08T01:59
The coronavirus pandemic has made ghost towns of airports around the world. Airlines have slashed flights. Crew have been furloughed. Berkshire Hathaway’s pulling out of investments in US airlines ...
ListenCOVID-19 and the outlook for Singapore’s residential property market in 2020 and beyond from 2020-04-30T10:28
There’s no let-up on the bleak projections for the Singapore economy this year and one big sector Singaporeans will be watching closely is the property market. What impact will COVID-19 have on the...
ListenHow many stars will you give Singapore's F&B industry this COVID-19 season? from 2020-04-23T10:39
During this pandemic, Singapore’s food and beverage sector has had to grapple with immense challenges from embracing food delivery and take-away fully, to meeting changing rules to stem the outbrea...
ListenDisruption 101: How COVID-19 is revolutionising work from 2020-04-16T08:09
As companies around the world make the leap to embrace digital transformation and remote working amidst a worsening COVID-19 outbreak, we break down the challenges and impact on personal productivi...
ListenHome-based learning: Good, bad, terrible ... but mostly good? from 2020-04-09T08:04
Singapore kicked off the biggest national learn-from-home exercise as schools shifted into home-based learning, one of the circuit breakers measures pulled to stem the COVID-19 spread. How prepared...
ListenCOVID-19 and safe distancing – why this can save lives from 2020-04-02T10:10
Safe distancing: A buzzword that has entered Singapore’s vocabulary this COVID-19 outbreak, but are we getting it right? With tighter restrictions, including limits on gatherings and calls to defer...
ListenSingapore's changing drug scene: The rise of new psychoactive substances from 2020-03-25T22:00
The Singapore Government recently highlighted a new drugs threat – the rise of rogue chemists producing new psychoactive substances, which mimic the effects of traditional drugs. What are the chall...
ListenWhat's behind the different approaches countries are taking towards COVID-19? from 2020-03-19T09:11
As healthcare systems around the world ramp up measures amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, Jaime Ho speaks to Hsu Li Yang and Natasha Howard of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health about how govern...
ListenBeyond COVID-19, how do we take Singapore's public hygiene standards to the next level? from 2020-03-12T06:58
The Government announced that it will be forming the SG Clean Taskforce to raise standards of public hygiene. Was COVID-19 the jolt we needed to make us rethink our hygiene habits? Is it true that ...
ListenResponsible pet ownership in Singapore's flats – it's not just about size from 2020-03-05T09:07
Larger local mixed-breed dogs can now be rehomed in HDB flats under revised rules. But why is there a size limit in the first place? Why not lift the ban on keeping cats? More importantly, what are...
ListenHow ready is Singapore for electric vehicles? from 2020-02-27T09:06
During Budget 2020, the Singapore Government unveiled an ambitious target to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040. Can technology and charging infrastructure catch up to support a ...
ListenSingapore Budget 2020: A report card from 2020-02-19T09:58
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat unveiled the 2020 Singapore Budget on Tuesday (Feb 18). How are businesses responding to the Stabilisation and Support Package to help with headwinds caused by the C...
ListenGetting to grips with DORSCON orange in Singapore's fight against COVID-19 from 2020-02-12T08:40
Last week, authorities raised the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) to orange, following several cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) with no links to other cases. How did organ...
ListenNovel coronavirus – the search for a cure (and a name experts can agree on) intensifies from 2020-02-05T08:55
On Feb 4, Singapore confirmed its first locally transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus, which has so far sickened over 24,000 people and killed 490 worldwide. Is the worst yet to come as the vi...
ListenWuhan virus – The WHO, Singapore's infectious diseases authority and a global outbreak expert answer your burning questions from 2020-01-30T10:04
The Wuhan coronavirus has infected close to 8,000 people, resulting in over 170 deaths. How is this outbreak different from SARS? Will it be an international emergency? How effective are masks in t...
ListenWill you give an e-hongbao this Chinese New Year? from 2020-01-23T09:52
As celebrations for the Lunar New Year begin, many of us will be preparing red packets to give out to family and friends. But will the rise of e-hongbaos and mobile wallets change this tradition? W...
ListenWomen earning less than men: Who bears the burden of change? from 2020-01-16T06:11
Women in Singapore earned 6 per cent less than men for similar work in 2018, down from 8.8 per cent in 2002. What are the obstacles to narrowing the gender pay gap further? How can employers adopt ...
ListenGoodbye brick-and-mortar, hello online shopping? from 2020-01-09T08:33
Big-name retailers have announced they'll be closing up shop in Singapore, all within weeks of each other. Do these exits reflect the slow death of traditional retail? How can brands and malls keep...
ListenHeart of the Matter: Talking about the Madrid climate talks, what happened and what’s next? from 2019-12-19T22:00
Two weeks of UN climate talks in Madrid left many wanting. Was it all doom and gloom? What can youth passionate about climate change learn from the latest round of negotiations? Jaime Ho discusses...
ListenHeart of the Matter: E-scooters – what’s happened with rules, riders and pedestrians and what comes next from 2019-12-12T22:00
A month after the footpath ban, the Singapore government announced new rules for e-scooters, including an age restriction and a theory test. Should regulations have been rolled out differently? Wha...
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