Boosting domestic consumption is set to be one of the key topics at this year’s Two Sessions - an annual gathering of China's political elite. This comes as stimulus policies introduced by authorities since September last year have yet to yield their intended outcome. So what is holding Chinese consumers back? CNA’s Tan Si Hui follows a resident in Beijing to find out why she is keen on downgrading her spending.
Ever bought an insurance policy, only to have your agent ask if you would like to add on a rider for an extra cost? In this week’s Money Talks Explains, Samuel Low from Income Insurance tells Andrea Heng what to consider before adding an integrated shield plan (IP) rider to your insurance policy.
Live events and niche film festivals are starting to revitalise local cinemas, which have been struggling since the COVID-19 pandemic. Some operators have attracted a tenth more customers since last year, as they battle changing movie-watching habits. Unique experiences are becoming crucial to the cinema's survival, with consumers increasingly preferring the convenience of streaming services. Muhammad Bahajjaj reports.
An AI model developed by a little-known Chinese hedge fund that reportedly rivals OpenAI's ChatGPT at a significantly lower cost has triggered a deep “freak out” among the global tech industry. Why was there a big reaction to DeepSeek and what are the implications for Singapore?
Dr Leslie Teo, senior director of AI products at AI Singapore and Jianggan Li, founder and CEO of venture outfit Momentum Works break it down for Steven Chia and Crispina Robert.
Singaporeans love to talk about property. Many subscribe to the belief that housing prices will only go up. Is this really the case? Sing Tien Foo, Provost’s Chair Professor at the Department of Real Estate at NUS Business School, gives his take. Read his commentary: https://cna.asia/4gsIq1S
From a new airport to an extended rail network, IN FOCUS takes a look at Bali's plans to transform the northern part of the island to attract more tourists.
From the SG60 package, to S$800 worth of CDC Vouchers and the new Large Families Scheme, here’s all you need to know about Budget 2025, announced by Singapore Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in parliament on Tuesday (Feb 18). #budget2025 #singaporebudget2025
Financial analysts will tell you that you need at least S$600,000 (US$444,000) in cash when you retire. But for most people with heavy financial needs in their adult years, what's a reasonable plan?
Andrea Heng asks OCBC's group wealth management head, Tan Siew Lee.
Budget 2025 tackles immediate challenges while laying the groundwork for a resilient future. Take a look at the measures that help with the cost of living. Find out what the SG60 package, CDC Vouchers and Large Families Scheme mean for you. How will you be affected by changes to SkillsFuture, investments in technology and innovation, and measures to help companies use AI?
The three young patients need to adapt as the disease continues to shift their realities.
Eugene Lim, initially responding well to ADC (Antibody-drug conjugates that uses an antibody to deliver a potent drug directly to cancer cells), is eager to regain his life before the diagnosis. He starts training for his first marathon since the diagnosis, hopeful that he’s on the road to recovery. But just when he thinks things are stabilising, his doctor discovers that his cancer has adapted—the treatment is no longer effective, forcing him to confront an uncertain future.
Joseph Nair, having endured the loneliness of chemotherapy, finds comfort in his father’s care. Now in remission, he should feel relief, yet his cancer is incurable—it could return at any time. With no way of knowing when or how it will strike again, fear of recurrence and financial insecurity leave him unable to plan ahead, trapped in uncertainty.
After four years of chemotherapy, Lee Hwee Ling continues to fight with her family’s unwavering support. But during a routine stoma bag change, she and her husband discover a new nodule. What will the scans reveal? She prepares for yet another battle, knowing the disease remains unpredictable.
‘Arif’, an environmental journalist, is investigating the shark fishing trade in Surabaya, Indonesia. He speaks to industry insiders to understand the business - from the port where fishermen sell many varieties of sharks, to a drying facility where sharks are processed before exporters pick them up.
Shark fishing is legal in Indonesia, and sharks bring in good money. Some species are highly sought after. For example, leopard sharks are prized for their special skin. A fisherman revealed that he gets requests for up to 600kg of leopard shark in a month, worth about IDR282 million (US$18,000).
The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is an ambitious project aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between Singapore and Malaysia while boosting regional growth. This CNA Correspondent episode delves into the opportunities the SEZ offers, including enhanced trade, investment and job creation, as well as its potential to develop cutting-edge infrastructure and technology hubs.
While the SEZ promises to create new industries and provide employment across various sectors, challenges such as infrastructure, rising costs of living and long-term viability present potential obstacles to the joint venture. This episode looks at some of the concerns of businesses and residents and how the authorities are managing them as the SEZ takes shape, to ensure a prosperous future for both nations and the Southeast Asian region.