The Causeway tells five stories set between Johor Bahru and Singapore, spanning over 100 years and united by the Causeway. From families fleeing the Japanese invasion in the 1940s, to a young athlete’s first race in the 1960s, and how a young man kept his love alive on train journeys, to a Member of Parliament finding ways to transport breast milk during the COVID-19 pandemic, these stories explore the unbreakable ties of love, resilience, and community.
An islandwide study has found that coffee shop toilets in Singapore have gotten dirtier over the past few years. More than nine in 10 Singaporeans said efforts to clean up these toilets at coffee shops and hawker centres are less than satisfactory. Over 1,200 enforcement actions have been taken for public cleanliness lapses at different premises between January and November this year. A government task force has been set up and it will release recommendations in 1Q2025 to cover key areas, including the design, cleaning and audit of public toilets. Alif Amsyar reports.
The Singapore Government says a lapse in coordination and a misunderstanding led to some people's full identity card or NRIC numbers being published on a new online portal.
Concerns were raised after the Bizfile portal showed full NRIC numbers for free in its search results. Apologising again for causing anxiety, it has clarified that the decision to move away from using masked NRIC numbers does not mean unmasking all currently masked numbers.
Macau will on Friday (Dec 20) mark 25 years since it returned to China in 1999, after more than 400 years’ rule by the Portuguese. The special administrative region, like Hong Kong, has been hailed by Beijing as the exemplary child of its “one country, two systems” governance. CNA's May Wong travelled to Macau to find out the challenges ahead for the city, and how it aligns itself to China's national development plan.
Can you get an MC and medication from a vending machine? We gave it a go with Dr Kart, a kiosk that connects users to a doctor or pharmacist. The first Dr Kart kiosk, which recently went viral on TikTok, is located at the Shell petrol station at 9 Tampines Avenue 2. Find out more: https://cna.asia/4feLOwN
Elon Musk is on track to becoming the world's first trillionaire by 2027, according to a report from Informa Connect Academy. The biggest driver of Musk's wealth has been Tesla stock and his ownership of SpaceX. Federal Reserve data shows the share of wealth controlled by the top 1% has grown dramatically, while the wealth of the bottom 50% has stagnated. Some feel that rising tides lift all boats, while others think wealth concentration can be harmful to society.
In August 2024, a federal judge determined that the online search giant Google is a monopolist that wields its power to stifle competition. The court opinion builds on years of investigation into one of the most valuable companies in the U.S. stock market. Some observers believe the raft of antitrust lawsuits could lead to a structural break-up of Google, which could potentially unlock value for investors.
When Amazon first launched its "Just Walk Out" cashierless checkout solution in 2018, analysts say it had the potential to revolutionize retail. But in April, Amazon pulled the tech from Whole Foods and its U.S. line of Fresh grocery stores. Instead, Amazon focused on selling it to outsiders and installed it in 200 third-party stores in NFL stadiums, arenas, colleges, airports and more. CNBC got the first on-camera tour of the lab used to develop the tech and its new "multi-modal" AI system.
Between 1979 and 2024, productivity in the U.S. soared by 80.9%, while hourly pay grew by just 29.4% during the same period. In June 2024, two-thirds of middle-income households reported that their income was falling behind the cost of living. This trend has often been referred to as ‘wage stagnation’. But more recently, economists have suggested that deliberate policy decisions have actively suppressed worker’s wage growth. So what exactly is preventing the middle class from earning a higher paycheck?
CNBC explores challenges currently facing U.S. tech workers, including mass layoffs, widespread cuts in company budgets, and threats of deportation for H-1B visa holders.
"The layoffs to the start of 2024 signal a dramatic shift in the tech industry," said Jeff Shulman, professor at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business. The number of tech sector layoffs in 2024 has been outpacing the number of terminations in 2023. So far, about 42,324 tech employees were let go in 2024, according to
Layoffs.fyi, which tracks layoffs in the tech industry.
While layoffs have put stress on the workforce, a booming artificial intelligence market is giving the industry a renewed sense of optimism. Generative AI startup deals announced or finalized in the first quarter of this year totaled more than $12 billion compared to about $4.5 billion invested in the space last year, according to PitchBook.
On July 16, 2023, Canada opened visa applications for a pilot program that would allow up to 10,000 H-1B visa holders in the United States to apply for a three-year open-work permit in Canada. H-1B holders are highly educated and specialized foreign workers that work in fields such as tech. After massive layoffs in the tech industry, this was a lifeline for H-1B holders who needed to find a new job or face deportation.
Men have been steadily dropping out of the workforce - especially men aged 25 to 54, who are often considered to be in their prime working years. About 10.5% of men in their prime working years, or roughly 6.8 million men nationwide, are neither working nor looking for employment, compared to just 2.5% in 1954. So what’s driving men out of the workforce? And if left unchecked, what impact will it have on the U.S. economy?
The Federal Reserve manages interest rates to influence financial conditions within the United States. But those decisions can also affect the posture of other central banks because many aspects of international finance rely on U.S. dollars. As the world moves away from a global round of economic tightening, central bankers in the U.S. are seeking to extend the economic expansion, which is among the strongest in the world.
For decades, Amazon has set the standard for fast package delivery. When Prime launched in 2005, two-day shipping was virtually unheard of. By March 2024, 60% of Prime items were delivered same or next day. Now Amazon wants to push that number even higher, using generative AI, despite concerns about energy and cost. CNBC got an exclusive look at Amazon’s use of generative AI to optimize delivery routes, make more intelligent warehouse robots, and better predict where to stock new items.
Critics say the European Union’s provisional tariffs on Chinese EVs could raise prices, reduce choice and slow the pace with which the EU meets its climate change mitigation targets. Some European automakers, especially those from Germany, oppose them. They also might not be high enough to actually stop the tide of Chinese imports. And yet supporters say these measures are necessary to offset the harm done by China’s pattern of generously subsidizing its own industries and subsequently crushing global competition.
At just 30 and 27 years old, Quinn and Brittney Sturgis, a married couple serving in the Air Force, are on track to retire in their early 40s — if they choose to. Both officers are stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, earning just over $263,000 in combined salary and paid military benefits, with roughly a quarter of it automatically stashed in investment accounts.
This story is part of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which details how people around the world earn, spend and save their money.
Starface World has exploded in popularity amongst Gen Z and Gen Alpha customers because of its Hydro-Stars. These star-shaped pimple patches are used as an acne treatment and an accessory. The business is on track to bring in about $90 million in revenue in 2024.
New Jersey mom Kim Vaccarella started a side hustle after deciding to create a suitable and easy-to-clean beach bag. However, after a botched shipment of over 1,000 bags for $30,000, Kim had given up on her business -- but then was given a lifeline three years later in the form of a $120,000 investment. Today, Bogg Bag is projected to bring in $100 million in revenue for 2024.
Cara West moved from Texas to Syros, Greece with her husband and two-year-old daughter in 2024. She now works remotely and brings in over $100,000 a year through her salary as a luxury travel concierge and through brand sponsorships she receives as a travel content creator. She says that, because of Greece's lower cost of living, her husband can be a full-time caretaker for their daughter. She also says that they're now able to put aside more money to pay down their $62,000 of credit card debt.
This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.
Meredith Tabbone purchased an abandoned $1 home in Sambuca di Sicilia, Italy in 2019. The condition of the property was "dire at best," Tabbone tells CNBC Make It: no electricity, no running water, asbestos in the roof and "probably two feet of pigeon poop on the floor."
Unlocked is a home tour series focused on how much people across the globe spend on their housing, what they get for the money and what they had to sacrifice to make it happen.
Isaac French, 27, and his family bought and transformed a $3,000 abandoned train car into an Airbnb in Deary, Idaho. After investing around $150,000 in renovations with his family, the 100-year-old train car now offers guests a unique stay for $325 to $350 a night. Take a look inside.
Unlocked is a home tour series focused on how much people across the globe spend on their housing, what they get for the money and what they had to sacrifice to make it happen.
In-N-Out defies the norms of typical fast-food chains. It doesn't franchise, avoids rapid expansion and sticks to a simple menu that's barely changed in 75 years. It has a cult following and lines that stretch down the block. Here's how it turned simplicity and consistency into a recipe for success.
Brooklyn Karasack, 27, creates and sells outfits for music festivals as a side hustle in addition to her $108,000/year day-job as an internal audit consulting manager. Since 2021, she has brought in over $10,000 from her sales.
This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.
On the 3rd of December, South Korea was plunged into chaos. President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in a shock move. Lawmakers scrambled to vote to lift the order, even as soldiers received instructions to stop them. In the end, South Korea was under martial law for six tense hours, before it was lifted. In the two weeks that followed, the country would struggle to deal with what happened.
Why did President Yoon invoke martial law? Were there legitimate reasons, or was this an attempted power grab? Insight explores what led up to the fateful night of 3rd December, how it echoed South Korea’s troubled past, and what happened in the weeks that followed.
Jenny Lei, 28, is the founder and CEO of Freja, a company that sells work totes, shoulder purses and travel accessories. The 4-year-old startup brought in more than $9 million in revenue over the last 12 months, including $2 million in profit. Here's how Lei built a trendsetting brand, despite her lack of experience in the industry.
American digital nomad Paul Lee, 28, is part of a growing trend of young, conservative Western men who travel overseas to find love or “traditional wives”. After moving to Bangkok four years ago, dating has never been easier for this passport bro, who says Asian women are more feminine and family-oriented than their Western counterparts.
Although some critics say these men are exploiting women from developing nations with their social and financial power, others like Lee argue these ladies are free to choose who they want to date.
Too Good To Go is on a mission to eliminate food waste on a global scale. Its app connects users to retailers selling surprise bags of leftover food at the end of the day. In 2023, the Danish company brought in about $162 million in revenue.
Steven Guo, 24, relocated to Bali, Indonesia, from Southern California in 2024. He currently makes $254,000 a year running multiple e-commerce businesses that are on track to bring in a combined $1.7 million this year.
This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.
Singaporean suspect Malone Lam shot to infamy after he was arrested for allegedly stealing US$230 million in cryptocurrency. The 20-year-old used the money for swanky cars, travel, luxury watches and parties at clubs. How did he pull off "one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts" from a private individual US history? Here's what we know. Read more: https://cna.asia/40MkBxK
From a ryokan-inspired Good Class Bungalow to a property once owned by former president Ong Teng Cheong, we take a look at seven homes in Singapore that are as much of a dazzling display of architecture as they are luxurious
In the last decade, online gambling has steadily grown in Southeast Asia. It is currently worth between USD800 million to 1.2 billion. Some countries, like the Philippines, actively pursued a piece of the lucrative gambling pie, legalising and promoting virtual casino operations known as POGOS. Yet, online gambling has left many punters in debt. It has also been associated with illicit activities like money laundering and human trafficking.
Now, Southeast Asia wants to kick its gambling habit. In July, the Philippines outlawed online gambling operations. In Indonesia, a new task force was set up to shut down gaming websites. Elsewhere, these virtual casinos face similar crackdowns. Is the game up for online gaming operators? Or will they simply move underground?
After three tense days of forced closure, the Stock Exchange of Singapore reopens. But the damage has been done - retail investors were left with scrips worth next to nothing.
While Conrad tries to find out more about Peter Tham and his brokerage firm, the CAID team begin their investigation of Tan Kok Liang and Tan Koon Swan. A breakthrough in the case allows them a warrant for the ever-evasive Peter: it appears that Peter has forged scrips to secure more bank loans.
But unknown to many, the company has been borrowing heavily from banks. To prevent widespread panic at the stock market and the loss of millions of dollars, the Stock Exchange of Singapore closes for three days in an unprecedented move. Who caused the stock exchange meltdown?
But how are passport bros received in the Philippines and Thailand, two of the top destination for these roaming Romeos? Are passport bros just an update of the sex tourists prevalent in Southeast Asia? Or are they simply lonely men looking for their shot at love?
Aggressive civilians, harsh weather conditions and high-emotion cases – these are just some of the challenges faced by the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) officers in the line of duty. Watch them react to real-life scenarios, share how they navigate these intense situations and how the public can assist the officers in their life-saving operations.
How do you save money on your shopping bills when you live in a small, crowded and expensive city? For an increasing number of Hongkongers, the answer is a trip across the border.
After 66 years at Bukit Timah Racecourse, Singapore Turf Club had to find a new home again, this time at Kranji Racecourse. Despite the challenges, STC prevailed and built a world-class racing and training venue that garnered international acclaim, becoming a global horse-racing powerhouse. Beyond the racetracks, the Club continuously contributed to society through its CSR effort and also helped the nation during times of need.
Hanoi resident Nguyen Van Lung and his family would like to buy their own home. With high property prices in Vietnam’s capital city, a mortgage is currently beyond their budget. So they are renting for now – but is renting a sustainable option in the long term?
NOTE: At 31:22, it is stated that Vivo Surgical had just completed its Series A fundraising. This is incorrect and the process for this is still ongoing at the time of this video’s posting. We apologize for the error.
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In 2024, Singapore and Suzhou city in China, mark 30 years of partnership through the Suzhou Industrial Park. How successful is the park today? Which are the Singaporean and Chinese companies thriving in Suzhou? As forces of fragmentation, decoupling, and geopolitical tensions threaten the existing world order, what lessons can the Suzhou Industrial Park, offer the world?
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About the show:
In 2024, Singapore and Suzhou city in China, mark 30 years of partnership through the Suzhou Industrial Park. How successful is the park today?
Healthcare costs are on the rise all over the world, including in Singapore, because of factors ranging from inflation to ageing populations. As of 2021, the government accounted for more than half of Singapore’s healthcare expenditure, while a fifth comes out of individuals’ pockets.
Some are asking: Why can’t healthcare be free, or why aren’t there more subsidies? The short answer: Sustainably financing healthcare requires careful balancing.
CNA Insider speaks to hospital frontliners, an economist and others to uncover what’s driving healthcare costs up — and how these can be managed. To ensure that healthcare remains affordable for all, the government is raising MediShield Life premiums from April 2025 to support higher claim limits and expanded coverage for more treatments such as cell, tissue and gene therapy.
(Video produced in partnership with the Ministry of Health.)
Have you seen these devices whizzing past you lately? Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs) are in the spotlight as Singaporeans await tighter regulations next year. Why are people increasingly seen zipping around on these devices? How accessible are illegal PMAs, and who’s enforcing the rules? In this episode of Talking Point, Steven Chia zooms into the misuse of PMAs and who these people are, while uncovering the risks posed by speeding PMAs through a speed experiment.
Steven also breaks down the confusion between PMAs, PMDs, and PABs, and meets an occupational therapist to find out how one could possibly qualify for a PMA next year. Finally, he sits down with a member of the Active Mobility Advisory Panel to ask the big question: Should able-bodied people be allowed to use PMAs if they do so responsibly?
Have you ever dreamt of escaping the crowded city for more space and less stress in the countryside? We meet the Casal family, who left city life and downsized to a tiny house in a forested area in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
How do you turn your passion into a successful business, and all without external funding? 12 years ago, Alicia Pan poured all her savings into her first yoga studio. Today, she has 11 in Singapore and Hong Kong. She tells Money Mind what she wishes she had done differently when she first started her business.
China’s economy might be slowing down but for its youth, there’ll always be time for tea. We meet 28-year-old Shanghai resident Tong Xiaodai. She loves milk tea so much that she spends up to RMB5000 or US$700 a month on the beverage.
Early retirement is a dream for many. In China, some young city dwellers are getting to live out their dream retirement lifestyle, a few decades early. We visit one such youth retirement village, where you'll find hardly anyone over the age of 40.
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