[Post 832] Malaysia’s VEP: All You Need To Know | Talking Point | Full Episode

Summary

Foreign vehicles from Singapore will need a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) to enter Malaysia starting from the 1st of October.

Amidst complaints over incomplete documents, deregistering old permits and slow administrative work, the Malaysian government has opened 3 new enquiry centres to cope with the increasing demand - 1 in Singapore and 2 more in Johor Bahru. Talking Point tracks the roll out of the VEP and finds out what are persistent issues that remain even after the Oct 1 deadline.

[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.

[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.   

[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.  

[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?