[Post 686] Chinese Exchange Students Are Staging Their Own Kidnaps: An Emerging Scam Trend | Undercover Asia

Summary

Six months after 17-year-old Chinese student Kai Zhuang arrived in the United States, he disappeared. His family in China received a series of ransom demands, alongside a photo of him in distress. 

Four months prior, a 22-year-old Chinese female student was reported missing in Australia. Kidnappers sent photos of her bound and bloodied, with threats made against her life via social media platforms. She was found within 24 hours in a hotel room, alone and unharmed.

Across the globe, a disturbing trend has emerged in cyber scams – cyber kidnapping. Unlike traditional kidnappings where physical abduction occurs, cyber kidnapping leverage digital means to extort financial gains. Unravelling the trail of digital extortion, we uncover why Chinese students have become easy targets and how cyber criminals employ sophisticated tactics to coerce people to stage their own kidnaps.

[Post 685] Launching My Floating Farm: What Will The Locals Think? | Growing Wild: Project Castaway - Part 3/3

Summary

11 months ago Chris came up with an ambitious idea of constructing a floating farm at sea.

Travelling to different coastal communities globally, he and his team of students from the National University of Singapore and Institute of Technical Education talked to fisherman, farmers, marine ecologists and environmental scientists. 

From pen to paper, ideation to fabrication, they refined their design over and over again. Now it’s make or break time - in 30 days, they have to construct and launch Project Castaway in the waters off Bum Bum Island in Semporna, Malaysia. 

And launching it is not the biggest test – convincing the locals in Bum Bum Island to take it on is!

[Post 684] Why Thailand is seen as a haven for Chinese retirees

Summary

Chinese silver tourism has been on the rise and some retirees have adopted a “migratory bird” lifestyle, heading south to warmer destinations to escape China’s harsh winters.

CNA speaks to some of these retirees who have chosen Chiang Mai, Thailand as the place to spend their golden years. 

[Post 683] How will Trump’s tariffs affect jobs, wages and prices in Singapore? | Deep Dive podcast

Summary

The sweeping Trump tariffs are a signal that a new world order is taking shape and one that may affect wages and jobs in Singapore. 

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing tells Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards what the government plans to do and why he doesn't lose sleep over things he cannot control.

[Post 682] Asia Addresses Ageing Population Issues: Singapore, China, Taiwan | CNA Correspondent

Summary

Asia has some of the world’s longest life expectancies but living longer is not always a blessing. Loneliness and illness among the elderly are problems facing society. Can new technology offer the answer? 

From Singapore, Krystal Chia examines the rise of longevity clinics and how the region’s rapidly ageing population has accelerated the development of the longevity economy. In Shanghai, Tan Yew Guan looks at the issues of loneliness among the elderly and what unique challenges China faces with its ageing population following rapid urbanisation in recent decades. In Taiwan, Victoria Jen finds out what the island is doing to deal with worsening labour shortages as it becomes a superaged society this year. 

[Post 681] Thai Street Hawker Makes Restaurant-Style Omakase For As Cheap As US$0.60 | Lunch With Us: Bangkok

Summary

Cancer patient Chuntana introduces us to a one-of-a-kind street hawker in Bangkok, who serves not only humble pork noodles, but also restaurant-standard omakase meals from his van.

Customers name the price – anywhere from 20 baht (US$0.60) to his most lavish order yet,10,000 baht (US$298) -- and Chatree Suksumit, better known as Chef Ah, creates his special menu. It’s all cooked out of his humble modified food van, and can be tailored to special dietary needs.

Chef Ah was at Suphapong Alley 1 in Nong Bon when we met him – but the metropolitan authorities’ clean-up of Bangkok’s streets is threatening hawkers like him, who have been forced to move. 

[Post 680] How Do You Know When It’s Time To Quit, Stay Or Switch Your Job? | Money Mind | Career

Summary

How do you know when it's time to quit, stay, or switch your job? Sona Remesh is joined by Shulin Lee, founder and managing director, Aslant Legal; Felix Tan, co-founder and CEO, Skilio; and Rohan Sylvester, talent strategy advisor, Indeed. This discussion was filmed at Career Forward 2025.

[Post 679] Urban Farmer Vs Ocean: What To Grow On The Sea (& How?) | Growing Wild: Project Castaway - Part 2/3

Summary

When it comes to agriculture, urban farmer Chris Leow is in his comfort zone. But when it comes to aquaculture, he quickly realises that he’s a little out of his depth. 

“Project Castaway” - Chris’ ambitious plan to create a floating farm out at sea has gained momentum. He’s assembled a team of students from the National University of Singapore and Institute of Technical Education. 

Together, they’re starting to figure out what crops could survive on the ocean and how the floating farm should look like. Now they need to solve the question of aquaculture. What creature species do they rear underwater and why? They also find scout a suitable location near Singapore for the floating farm. 

[Post 678] Tips On Negotiating For A Raise: What You Should Never Say | Money Mind | Increment

Summary

How do you get paid what you're worth? Recruitment experts share some secrets.  

[Post 677] My Quest To Build A Floating Farm On The Sea | Growing Wild: Project Castaway - Part 1/3

Summary

Imagine a floating farm where vegetables flourish above water, while fish, seaweed, and shellfish thrive beneath. Imagine the Singapore coastline, full of floating farms in our future. 

Growing Wild: Project Castaway is bigger and bolder than anything urban farmer Christopher Leow has ever attempted. In one calendar year, he wants to imagine, design and build a floating farm that is climate adaptive. But first, he has to assemble a team. 

[Post 676] How To Land That Dream Job Interview: Recruiters' Advice On Crafting Your CV | Money Mind | Career

Summary

Do recruiters actually look at your resume? Should you "spray and pray" to get the job you want? And why is job-hunting a bit like using a dating app? Insider truths and more, as Sona Remesh is joined by Shulin Lee, founder and managing director, Aslant Legal; Felix Tan, co-founder and CEO, Skilio; and Rohan Sylvester, talent strategy advisor, Indeed. This discussion was filmed at Career Forward 2025.

[Post 675] Copy + Paste + Steal: Artists Battle For Copyright vs Generative AI | Undercover Asia | Full Episode

Summary

When visual artists discover strange copies of their work appearing online, they soon find that they have been made by AI. But just how does Generative AI mimic artistic styles in photos and paintings, and why is it so controversial? 

While some view AI as a tool for innovation, others see it as a threat to human creativity.  We uncover just how AI technology learns to generate images in the blink of an eye - and how many in the creative community are now fighting back against the AI onslaught.

With more and more people using Gen AI every day, our story explores the ongoing legal and ethical dilemmas in this evolving landscape.

[Post 674] The OG Papaya Salad From Isan? How To Enjoy Som Tum Like A True Thai | Lunch With Us: Bangkok

Summary

Som tum, or papaya salad, is all the rage these days - but did you know the version that the world is most familiar with, isn’t the original?  

Office workers Pare and Jent take us to their go-to Isan food stall, Larb Chareon, on Rama IV road in Khlong Toei, which serves 18 types of som tum - including in the original Isan style. Its husband-and-wife team serve authentic northeastern Thai cuisine in the heart of Bangkok. But urban development could be threatening good-yet-affordable stalls like theirs. 

[Post 673] This US$1.50 All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Is A Working-Class Gem | Lunch With Us: Bangkok

Summary

Motorbike taxi rider Sumruay directs us to a 50-baht all-you-can-eat Thai in Makkasan, Bangkok, where working class locals like him get their fill of up to 12 types of dishes – from green chicken curry to basil with pork - on a tight budget. 

The eatery is run by an elderly couple, Uncle Sert and Aunty Urai, who believe in feeding the community rather than chasing profits. They spend about 10,000 baht (US$297) on ingredients each day, and give away leftovers in the slums at the day’s end.

[Post 672] Japan’s 9 Million (And Growing) Abandoned Homes: The 'Akiya' Phenomenon | CNA Correspondent

Summary

Japan has an unusual housing problem – more vacant homes than people wanting to move in. In fact, as many as 9 million of them. As young people move to the big cities to find work, their family homes are left to fall into ruin after their elderly owners die. But these empty houses – known as ‘akiya’ in Japanese – can pose safety hazards and impede redevelopment plans in crumbling rural towns. Increased media spotlight on Japan’s akiya woes is leading to growing interest in akiya - drawing foreign buyers eager to take advantage of the falling yen. 

Threatened by dwindling populations, more locals are also seeking to rejuvenate their communities by turning akiya into guesthouses, eateries and stores – often with generous government subsidies. CNA travels across rural Japan to find out how the country is trying to find solutions for akiya and restore its towns to their former glory. Are these vacant homes truly devoid of value, or are they an unexpected treasure trove? 

[Post 671] US-China Tariff War: What Will Southeast Asia's Manufacturers Stand To Lose? | When Titans Clash

Summary

With US tariffs on the rise, experts warn that ASEAN will face increased China exports, putting some factories out of work. Some ASEAN countries have already banned Chinese apps like TEMU and SHEIN, and updated its anti-dumping legislation, as pressure on domestic manufacturers mount.

On the other hand, US tariffs on ASEAN exports to its market, is squeezing producers. Entire industries- like the solar panel manufacturing industry- has been decimated due to US tariffs, in countries like Malaysia. ASEAN economies are being squeezed by both the superpowers- US and China, and an intensifying tariff war. In this documentary, policy makers and experts, discuss possible solutions, and how ASEAN will weather this storm

[Post 670] Why Japan's Young Digital Natives Are Spending On Vinyl Records | Money Mind | Vinyl Revival

Summary

Why Japan's young digital natives are spending on music created decades before they were born. 

[Post 659] How My Fully Remote Job Saves Money And Offers The Best Work-Life Balance | Money Mind | Remote Work

Summary

According to a recent survey, almost two thirds of young people in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong are willing to work a remote job. Work-life balance is a major pull - but are there any tradeoffs?

 

 

 

[Post 658] Falling T-Bill Yields: Where Can You Put Your Money Instead? | Money Mind | Investment

Summary

Investing in T-bills: are falling yields the only risk you have to be aware of? 

[Post 657] Young entrepreneur starts online pawnshop business in Hong Kong

Summary

Hong Kong has seen a steady growth in its entrepreneurship landscape over the last four years. In 2020, authorities say the city saw almost 3,400 new start-ups and that grew by 40 per cent to about 4,700 last year. In this first part of a two part series to look at Hong Kong's young entrepreneurs, CNA's May Wong spoke to one who decided to modernise an old industry - pawnshop services.

[Post 656] Nearly 6,400 resale flats sold in Q1, lowest volume in 5 years

Summary

The number of resale flats sold have fallen to a five-year low. Nearly 6,400 of such units were transacted in the first quarter of the year. This is down 7.7 per cent from the nearly 7,000 sold in the same period last year. Prices of these flats were up 1.5 per cent, lower than the 2.6 per cent jump in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, home prices in the private property market have moderated, growing 0.6 per cent in the first quarter. This is down from the 2.3 per cent in the previous quarter.

[Post 655] Cheap Vegetarian Food At This Hidden Food Court Under Temple In Chinatown | Lunch With Us: Singapore

Summary

How good can cheap vegetarian food really be? Office workers Ken and Yvette often make the 20-minute walk to a “hidden” vegetarian food court, Lian Xin Restaurant, in the basement of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, Singapore.  

The space used to serve as a dining hall for monks and devotees, before it was turned into a non-profit food court serving budget meals to the public. It runs on donations, and those who can’t afford a meal can eat for free. 

[Post 654] Why We Moved Into Malaysia’s “Ghost City”: Forest City's Growing Community

Summary

Forest City, Malaysia’s multibillion-dollar real estate project in Johor, has long been labelled a "ghost town”. Planned to house 700,000 residents, it is only 15% completed to date - and has just 9,000 residents. So, what fuels its residents' optimism towards the megacity’s future?

[Post 653] Best Answers To Tough Hiring Interview Questions: Advice From A Job Coach | Money Mind | Employment

Summary

Best Answers To Tough Hiring Interview Questions: Advice From A Job Coach | Money Mind | Employment

[Post 652] Recession-Proof Investing: Timing, Opportunities & What To Buy During A Downturn | Money Mind

Summary

Can you make money during a downturn, and how do you know when the time is right?

[Post 651] When Will I Get My Home? | Singapore's Public Housing Revealed

Summary

Unlike most countries, nearly 80% of Singapore’s resident population live in subsidised public housing. And for many locals, getting a BTO – the Housing and Development Board’s Build-to-Order flats – has become a rite of passage. But as with most such rites, it comes with its challenges. A quick search on social media will throw up numerous stories about how frustrating the BTO balloting system is and how some are not able to get a flat even after multiple tries.

With new launches regularly oversubscribed, is it a simple matter of supply not meeting demand? Can a tiny nation ever sate its population’s hunger for public housing? We examine the push-pull factors the HDB and the government have to grapple with and look to the future on what public housing in Singapore might look like.

[Post 650] Has Housing Become Unaffordable? | Singapore's Public Housing Revealed

Summary

The Singapore public housing model has been lauded by near and far. It is a unique system that has undeniably been a success from the very early years since the Housing and Development Board’s founding.

But as Singapore’s housing needs and aspirations have grown and changed over the decades, has the system kept pace? It would appear not, as the affordability of HDB’s Build-to-Order flats has been hotly debated in Parliament in recent years, and complaints and commentaries about rising prices are commonplace. Is our public housing really affordable? We get to the root of the issue and pull back the curtains on how our BTO flats are priced, speaking to the HDB teams at the very heart of the question.

[Post 649] Why Corporate America Is Abandoning Remote Work

Summary

In the years following the pandemic, remote work became the new normal, but that's not the case anymore. Companies like AT&T, Amazon and Dell have brought their employees back into the office five days a week. What's causing the push for employees to return-to-office, and is it the best way forward?

[Post 648] I Moved To Oman 12 Years Ago And I Am Never Going Back To The U.S.

Summary

Nicole Brewer lost her market research job after the Great Recession and moved abroad to teach English. Sixteen years later, she still living abroad. Now she lives in Nizwa, Oman, earning $44,000 annually while renting a two-bedroom apartment, dining out, and traveling.

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.

[Post 647] I Bought The ‘Severance’ Building For $27 Million – Take A Look Inside

Summary

In 2013, Ralph Zucker and his firm purchased Bell Labs in Holmdel, NJ, for $27 million. After 10 years and $273 million worth of renovations, the two-million-square-foot mixed-use development is about 98% leased and home to over 100 companies. Apple TV+ chose the location to film much of its hit show Severance.

[Post 646] Why Costco Went All in on Kirkland — and How It Paid Off | WSJ Case Study

Summary

Costco went against industry standards in 1995 with the creation of its private label, Kirkland Signature. With $86 billion in sales last year, Kirkland is now a bigger brand than Proctor & Gamble and Kraft-Heinz. Compared with other mass retailers like Target and Walmart, which have multiple brands, club channels like Costco and Sam’s Club are winning the private-label food and beverage space by consolidating. 

WSJ breaks down why Kirkland is now the retail behemoth’s secret weapon

[Post 645] Can Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar Withstand Rising Costs and Competition? | On The Red Dot

Summary

As Singapore’s largest and oldest Ramadan bazaar, the Geylang Serai Ramadan bazaar is a well-loved cultural landmark for Singaporeans. But with numerous bazaars popping up all over Singapore, vendors face increasing competition. 

We follow the journey of four vendors at Geylang Bazaar and find out how they adapt to bring people back and the reasons for returning despite high rental cost. Can they survive the uncertainties throughout all five weeks and make a profit at the end of the day?

[Post 644] Singapore’s Public Housing Revealed: Building Big in a Small Country | Ep 5

Summary

At any given moment, there are more than 100 public housing projects being built in Singapore today. They will add to the more than one million public housing flats already constructed, that now house nearly 80% of the population. In this episode, we pull back the curtains on how one of the world’s smallest countries manages to build so big, revealing the challenges of construction within the tightest of land constraints.

[Post 643] Singapore’s Public Housing Revealed: The Secrets Behind BTO Balloting | Ep 4

Summary

Singapore may boast one of the highest rates of homeownership in the world. But it is a complex balloting system through which most people get their public housing flats. We demystify this closely

guarded process, and answer the question, can supply ever catch up with demand?

[Post 642] Singapore’s Public Housing Revealed: Is My Flat Affordable? | Ep 3

Summary

As prices for new public housing flats go upwards, the affordability of Singapore’s public housing is being questioned. How are the prices of new flats determined? We gain exclusive access to the Housing and Development Board’s valuation and pricing teams, and meet the people behind this price controversy.

[Post 641] Singapore’s Public Housing Revealed: A Promise That Changed Singapore | Ep 2

Summary

Singapore’s public housing is now envied all around the world. But in its early years, the city-state struggled with population growth far outstripping the number of homes available. The squalid slums were an issue that even the British colonial government could not solve. This is the story of how a young nation, guided by visionary leaders who made bold decisions, transformed its housing landscape in less than a decade.

[Post 640] Singapore's Public Housing Revealed: The Worst Construction Crisis | Ep 1

Summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, border controls, supply chain disruptions and a nationwide lockdown had a dire impact on the construction of Singapore’s public housing. A total of 92 Build-to-Order projects were delayed, leaving over 71,000 flat buyers waiting for their homes. This episode features key players then, who share what they lived through and what it took to tackle Singapore’s worst construction crisis.

[Post 639] Indonesian Gen Z Caters US$1 Meals For Muslim Students During Ramadan Fasting Month | Money Mind

Summary

How to grow your catering business during the fasting month.   

[Post 638] Teen Dropouts Try To Get Lives Back On Track: Will They Make It? | On The Red Dot: Dropouts - Pt 3/3

Summary

After a year of not attending school, 17-year-old Mohd Sulaiman Bin Mohd Lizam arrives for his first class at Project Starfish but finds his anxiety acting up upon seeing a class of 60 to 70 students. He tries to juggle this new routine of being a teenage dad, work as well as weekly classes and homework.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Christine Ng joins a six-month vocational training programme with YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) to learn skills and finds her passion. She decides to start a freelancing business in digital marketing and content creation but faces challenges in finding new customers. After months of waiting, 18-year-old Nurul Afiqah Anati Isa finally meets her new tutor. She then returns to the Singapore Girls’ Home, where she once stayed, for an emotional reunion with a mentor who always believed in her.

[Post 637] How Forever 21 Plummeted From $4B in Sales to Twice Bankrupt | WSJ What Went Wrong

Summary

Forever 21 was once the premier shopping destination for teens who wanted cheap and fashionable clothing. But now, the fast fashion pioneer is filing for its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy. After being bought out by licensing firm Authentic Brands Group and real-estate companies Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners, Forever 21 struggled against Asian e-commerce powerhouses like Shein and Temu.

WSJ breaks down how its own market toppled the fast fashion giant.

[Post 636] Intel Burned $16B Last Year. Can Its New CEO Save the Company? | WSJ

Summary

Intel is facing tough times after its stock plunged 60% in 2024 and it ousted its CEO Pat Gelsinger. Lip-Bu Tan has been tapped as new CEO for the semiconductor company as it has struggled with both chip manufacturing and chip designing. Unlike Intel, companies specialized in either designing chips–like AMD or Nvidia–or manufacturing chips–like TSMC. 

WSJ explains how a mistake Intel made in the mid 2000s has snowballed into an overwhelming obstacle for the tech company that Lip-Bu Tan will have to face. 

[Post 635] How to choose fresh fish in Singapore’s wet markets

Summary

Elliot and Kenny are not your average supermarket shoppers. They’re the founders of Pasarfish, an educational outreach initiative doing research and running wet market tours to encourage people to shop more at wet markets and how to do so best.

[Post 634] [ENG SUB] Why I quit my job at 40 and went into coding

Summary

"My salary was five figures before, but now it's halved. However, I believe I can slowly climb up from the grassroots and eventually reach my previous salary level."

After obtaining a master's degree in the UK, Fu Zixiang has been working in the advertising industry for 12 years. Although he had no digital professional background before, at the age of 41, he resolutely bid farewell to his comfort zone and devoted himself to the field of science and technology education.

[Post 633] Under US$120 A Month For Condo In Bangkok? Gen Z's Affordable Housing Dream | Money Mind | Thailand

Summary

Climbing the housing ladder in Bangkok - is home ownership an impossible dream for Thailand's Gen Z? 

[Post 632] From $50 To Over $14k In A Decade: Filipina Worker's Financial Literacy Journey | Money Mind

Summary

When Filipina Aiza Ramos came to Singapore a decade ago to take a job as a domestic helper, she only had $50 in her pocket. A decade later, she has multiplied her net worth and built a new life for herself and her family. 

[Post 631] School Dropouts As Teenagers: Find A Job Or Return To School? | On The Red Dot: Dropouts - Part 2/3

Summary

17-year-old Mohd Sulaiman Bin Mohd Lizam hopes to go to Institute of Education (ITE) to study and become a mechanic. With the encouragement of his social worker, he gives Project Starfish a try. But will he make it through the placement test and admission interview?

Nurul Afiqah Anati Isa, 18, finds herself getting rejected by more than 20 job applications. Spurred by the fact that her younger siblings are all about to take the N-Level, she's motivated to take the N-Level as a private candidate to become an accountant in the future.

17-year-old Christine Ng receives unexpected news about her mental health. She decides to return to school with the encouragement of therapist and friends but was confronted by the stark reality of returning as a dropout.  As she decides to officially withdraw, her school gives her two options.

[Post 630] We Dropped Out Of Secondary School: Here Are Our Stories | On The Red Dot: Dropouts - Part 1/3

Summary

Dropping out of secondary school was not an easy way out for these three teenagers; it was a decision forced by circumstances. Mohd Sulaiman Bin Mohd Lizam was only 15 when he found out his partner was pregnant. The choice was immediately clear—he had to take up full-time work to provide for his daughter. Now, two years later, he works 12-hour shifts, yearning for a better life and future.

Alienated by her peers, 18-year-old Nurul Afiqah Anati Isa left school in Secondary 2, despite her mother’s hopes that she would at least secure an N-Level qualification. Now, without a clear direction in life, her mother has urged her to find a job. 17-year-old Christine Ng faced similar struggles integrating into secondary school, despite her outgoing nature. As loneliness took hold, she turned to gaming, which eventually spiralled into addiction and exacerbated other mental health challenges.

[Post 629] Chocolate Finance Saga: What Happened? Will It Change The Way You Invest Your Money? | Money Mind

Summary

A liquidity crunch. Consumers worried about a possible bank run. And mixed messaging. What went awry at Chocolate Finance, and what are the takeaways for people looking to make the most of their money?

[Post 628] Home CCTV Cameras Hacked! How Secure Are Your Smart Home Devices? | Talking Point | Full Episode

Summary

With the number of smart devices we have at home, Steve Chia looks into just how vulnerable your smart devices could be. Why do people worry about them? Just how easy can they be to hack? What damage could a hacker do with access to your smart devices.

[Post 627] Inside A Japanese 'Resignation Agency': Why Japan's Workers Need Help Quitting Their Jobs

Summary

Too scared or anxious to quit your job? In Japan, you can hire a ‘resignation agent’ to quit on your behalf for 22,000 yen or US$147. 

Why is it so difficult for Japanese workers to resign? What is it about the Japanese work culture that makes quitting stressful?