Sunday, 3 November 2024

[Post 831] I Left My Stable Job In The Air Force to Play Pro Baseball In Japan | On The Red Dot | Full Episode


Summary

Host Rozz Lee meets Eleazar Ng, the first Singaporean to sign a professional baseball contract in Japan, the world’s top-ranked baseball nation. 

After being scouted by the Saga Indonesia Dreams - a unique team with 70% non-Japanese players, Eleazar is chasing his dream of becoming a top baseball player. What does it take for Singapore’s ace pitcher to elevate his game?

[Post 830] Gen Zs & Millennials: Why Are We So Lonely? | Talking Point | Full Episode


Summary

Anyone anywhere will feel lonely at some point, but loneliness can be dangerous for those who feel it for extended periods of time. When you think of people most susceptible to being lonely, you might think of the elderly, or perhaps adolescents, but you would be wrong. A recent survey in Singapore highlighted that young adults need to be looked at too. In this hour-long episode of Talking Point, our team’s producer checks in on young adults across the island through a targeted campaign, and also looks inwards, on whether she herself is perhaps lonelier than she realises.

Saturday, 2 November 2024

[Post 829] I'm 29 Years Old, But I Live In A Granny Flat (And My Cat Likes It Too) | Money Mind


Summary

It used to be that a granny flat was a home within a home that allows for multigenerational living. But with ever-rising property and rent prices, granny flats are becoming increasingly popular with a new type of tenant. 29-year-old Rhod-Lee Mercado shows us around his granny flat in Sydney.   

Friday, 1 November 2024

[Post 828] Savings And Side Hustles To Achieve Filipino Millennial's Manila Condo Dream | Money Mind





Summary

How do you save up for your dream home when the average condo costs around 25 times median household income? Manila resident Mark Lorenzo Permalino strategises ways to climb the housing ladder, as he bides his time in his 22 square metre studio loft in Makati.  

[Post 826] What It's Like To Live In A Tiny Micro Apartment In Tokyo, Japan | Money Mind | Homes


Summary

The world’s biggest city also has some of its smallest homes. How small? We meet Kazuki Hirata, who lives in a micro apartment in Tokyo. It’s just 9 square metres, which is smaller than a car parking lot.  

Thursday, 31 October 2024

[Post 825] Why The US Wants To Stop China-Linked Shopping Apps Like Shein, Temu | Insight | Full Episode


Summary

With the ban on TikTok in the US imminent, are Chinese-linked e-commerce platforms next? The Biden administration is cracking down on de minimis shipments, closing a loophole that allows packages under $800 to avoid import duties and border scrutiny. Observers say this targets Chinese-linked companies, in particular Temu and Shein. 

But this is just one of the measures that could curb Chinese shopping apps. The US government is also investigating allegations of data collection and forced labour. Meanwhile, environmentalists say that Chinese shopping apps are responsible for waste and emissions. China, however, argues that these are just further moves by Washington to enact unfair trade protections, aimed at limiting the growth of Chinese companies. Is the US-China trade war gunning for online shopping apps?

[Post 824] Suzhou Industrial Park At 30 | CNA Correspondent | Full Episode


Summary

30 years ago, China and Singapore shook hands on an industrial park that would become a game-changer. Suzhou Industrial Park is a technology powerhouse with a magnetic pull for young talent, so much so that it has been ranked the top economic and technology zone in China for eight consecutive years. 

CNA Correspondent takes a deep dive into the zone’s sizzling innovation scene, the standard of living there that keeps workers happy and the surprising ways this park is boosting the economies of both China and Singapore.