[Post 971] Package deal: A day in the life of a delivery driver

Summary

It is the season for gifts, parcels and deliveries. But to get the packages to you requires a job with long hours and a lot of heavy lifting. The Straits Times follows deliveryman Don Ng to learn the ins and outs of the job. 

[Post 970]Asia's Jobless Youth: How India, China & Indonesia Are Tackling Unemployment | Shifting Horizons

Summary

With nearly 700 million youth facing unprecedented levels of unemployment, the youth unemployment crisis in India, China, and Indonesia threatens not only individual futures, but the region’s economic growth. 

Seasoned journalist Sruthi Gottipati travels across these three countries to understand the scale of this crisis and find out what’s being done to resolve the problems.  From India’s youth entrepreneurship programme to China's rural revitalisation projects and Indonesia's informal labour force, Sruthi uncovers how systemic challenges, education mismatches, and economic stagnation are colliding with the ambitions of Asia’s youth.

But as Asia’s three most populous nations grapple with this generational challenge, bold reforms and grassroots initiatives are emerging to bridge the gap amid rising inequality and shifting regional dynamics. Will the next generation be able to fulfil their potential and realize the Asian century?

[Post 969] Where K-pop idols learn to dance: Inside 1Million, South Korea’s biggest dance studio

Summary

1Million is South Korea’s biggest dance studio and its choreographers have worked with acts such as Twice, Mamamoo and Itzy. Even cooler – anyone can attend one of their in-demand classes. CNA Lifestyle finds out more. (Video: Joyee Koo, Hazeeq Sukri)

[Post 968] Self-taught teen barber becomes viral sensation on TikTok

Summary

A horrible haircut at a neighbourhood barber in 2023 left Sujaish Kumar thinking he could do it better. 

“I told myself that six months from now I’ll be able to give my friends very good haircuts,” said the 17-year-old.

He now has clients paying for his barbering services in his living room and  takes 25 to 35 bookings a week on average. 

[Post 967] Why Amazon, Microsoft, Google And Meta Are Investing In Nuclear Power

Summary

Tech leaders are exploring nuclear power as a solution to the massive energy needs of their data centers, sustainability challenges, and the growing demands of their AI initiatives. SMRs, a new type

of nuclear reactor, are gaining attention for their ability to provide round-the-clock power with minimal emissions. As some of the largest energy users, major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta are investing in these reactors, which could play a key role in global energy transformation.

[Post 966] How Dungeons & Dragons Helped Bring In Over $1 Billion

Summary

Dungeons & Dragons, which turned 50 in 2024, has exploded in popularity over the last decade. In 2014, an edition of the game helped simplify it for new players. But also important was the rise of D&D web series on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, which introduced it to a new, younger generation of players. The surge in D&D's popularity has helped its publisher, Wizards of the Coast, bring in over $1 billion in revenue year-over-year since 2021.

[Post 965] How Amazon Haul Is Taking On Temu With Cheap Goods From China

Summary

In November, Amazon quietly launched Haul, a mobile-only section of its shopping app for items under $20. They take at least a week to arrive because they're largely coming from China. Haul is Amazon's answer to the soaring success of ultra-cheap budget online shopping apps like Temu, Shein and TikTok Shop. The space also faces concerns over forced labor, waste, and an uncertain future for the import tax exemption that keeps prices low.