With college costs topping $200,000 and white-collar job security slipping, many Gen Zers are skipping four-year degrees for skilled trades. This path offers hands-on work, quicker entry into the workforce, and starting pay around $20–$25 an hour. From welding to landscaping, Gen Z is choosing practical skills over debt—and seemingly transforming the future of work in America.
What does it take to be an air traffic controller in Singapore? Air traffic controller Ilyana Nabilah tells CNA what it’s like behind the radar – from handling in-flight emergencies to staying calm under pressure and managing the skies safely. And no, she and most of her colleagues aren't based at the iconic Changi Control Tower.
India is quietly joining countries like China and South Korea in having the most stressed-out students. Competition in Indian schools is increasingly intense. Demand for places in top universities far outstrip supply.
As students aim for the best schools, many with notoriously low acceptance rates, a cottage industry of exam preparatory centres have emerged. Two-third of Indian students now take extra tuition after school for key exams. Meanwhile, mental health awareness and support remains low. The result? 8 in 10 Indian students say exams give them anxiety. More worryingly, student suicides have increased 64% between 2013 and 2022.
How is academic stress impacting young Indians? And will the proposed changes to the National Education Policy help relieve the strain or turn up the pressure?
What secrets lie within the walls of Goodwood Park Hotel? In this episode, Reuben Dhanaraj uncovers the rich and hidden history of this iconic building. From its origins as a German club to its confiscation during World War I and its crucial role during the Japanese Occupation, Reuben reveals the untold stories behind the hotel’s changing fate.
He follows the trail of a mysterious portrait tied to post-war intrigue, war crimes trials, and the shifting tides of history. As Reuben explores the hotel’s layers of history, he brings to light the forgotten moments and hidden remnants of a past that shaped Singapore’s legacy.
What secrets lie within the ruins of Singapore’s past? In this episode, Reuben Dhanaraj uncovers the turbulent history of the Pasir Panjang Power Station. Built under immense pressure to fuel the nation’s rapid growth, it became both a symbol of survival and a target in a political storm. From anti-colonial fervour, fears of communism, and rising racial tensions to foreign agents targeting the station to destabilise the country, Reuben discovers how workers at the station faced their baptism of fire – learning on the job while strikes and protests shook the foundation of this critical power source.
Reuben then journeys to the Shell Lubrication Plant in Woodlands, part of the first major industry to set roots in the area in 1963. He uncovers how Shell’s pioneering move set off a wave of new entrants, transforming the area from a quiet forest into an industrial powerhouse, paving the way for Singapore’s economic future.
What hidden histories lie within Singapore’s iconic landmarks? In this episode, Reuben Dhanaraj uncovers the secrets of the National Gallery Singapore, once the Supreme Court and City Hall. Behind its grand façade, hidden passageways and forgotten corridors lie stories of power, secrecy, and nation-building. From the exclusive chambers of the Chief Justice to the silent walls that witnessed Singapore’s first Prime Minister being sworn in, Reuben uncovers the untold moments that shaped the country.
He then ventures to Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall, where mysterious symphonies were performed during the Japanese Occupation and a pivotal moment in history was broadcast for the first time. With the help of experts, Reuben reveals the dark, hidden pasts of these landmarks
What lies beneath Singapore’s polished exterior? Real estate entrepreneur and history enthusiast Reuben Dhanaraj ventures into the abandoned ruins of once-mighty military strongholds. At Sentosa’s highest peak, he uncovers the secrets of Fort Serapong, from hidden ammunition vaults to crumbling barracks that housed soldiers from the late 1800s through to Singapore’s independence and beyond.
In Dempsey Hill, Reuben traces the wartime past of Tanglin Barracks, where heroism and tragedy unfolded. Along the way, he meets experts and veterans who reveal the forgotten stories of these lost fortresses – silent witnesses to a nation’s defence and survival.
