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Minister Chan Chun Sing revealed that the Ministerial salary review due in 2023 has been deferred because of “other pressing issues”. What does this mean? Elsewhere, a tourist was accused of stealing disposable cutlery from a hawker stall, and took to social media to vent. Is there any merit to the tourist’s complaint? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Folklory If you’re lo...

In the first week of 2024, Lazada employees were welcomed back to work with the shocking news of company-wide layoffs. Even NTUC and the workers’ union expressed their “disappointment” at not being informed about the unfortunate turn of events. Is there anything that can be done to mitigate the situation? Elsewhere, the recent closure of a street soccer court has sparked debate about whether footb...

Friend and regular guest on YLB Andie Chen drops by the studio for the first time in a while to talk about his recent AACA acting award win, what he’s learnt about Singapore from living in Taiwan for 3 years, and how he stayed calm even while getting punched in the face. Oh, and he explains why he loves YLB as well. This was recorded on 20 Dec 2023.  (00:00) Intro (05:19) Moving to Taiwan (06:29)...

In an interview marking the start of the school year, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing gave blunt advice to parents of young children. Why is his advice prompting cynical reactions on social media? Elsewhere, a Singapore bride agency put up an advertisement for a 17-year-old Vietnamese lady seeking a husband earning at least $4,800. Some criticised the requirement set by the agency, while others...

It’s that time of the year again, where we look back at the Top 10 Trending News Stories as collated by Google Trends. In a year rife with political scandals, a Presidential Election and $50,000 Taylor Swift concert packages, what were Singaporeans really searching for? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Folklory If you’re looking for a meaningful gift, we’d love to help you...

People's Park Complex is being considered for conservation by the Government, a move which has been praised by heritage experts. However, some of the owners are not as happy, preferring complete redevelopment instead. Who’s right? Elsewhere, residents in Sembawang have reacted with shock to the announcement that a new columbarium might be built near their homes. Is this another case of NIMBY reari...

An Israeli folk dance class offered by the People’s Association online portal has sparked debate online about whether such an activity should be promoted at this point of time. Should the class be cancelled? Elsewhere, IKEA Singapore announced that it will be absorbing the upcoming GST increase and maintaining its current prices into 2024 to help alleviate inflation concerns of Singaporeans. What...

This past week, the Vatican said in a landmark ruling that Roman Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples. The Catholic Church in Singapore then came out to reiterate its stance against 'official blessings' of same-sex unions, drawing snide remarks from online commenters. Elsewhere, Tengah BTO residents have been facing challenges adjusting to life in their new town. Is there...

An Instagram ad for Prism+ air-conditioners was deemed to be “misleading” by Singapore’s advertising watchdog, and was forced to be taken offline. Is “greenwashing” an actual problem, or are people being too woke? Elsewhere, a Redditor ignited another debate on wedding customs in Singapore after she attended a wedding dinner, but harboured reservations about giving an ang bao. Why were people so t...

The Active Mobility Advisory Panel, in a proposal presented to the Ministry of Transport, has suggested limiting the use of personal mobility aids only to those certified with difficulty walking. Why the need to police the use of these devices? Elsewhere, several COVID-19 Resilience Medals were listed for sale on Carousell, leading the Prime Minister’s Office to issue a statement about respecting...

This week, DPM Lawrence Wong took to social media to dismiss rumours that the government is bringing back Circuit Breaker to curb rising COVID cases, as well as deepfakes of him promoting commercial products. What companies were using his image to promote their products?  Elsewhere, a video of an SIA stewardess spoon-feeding a 5-year-old boy on a long haul flight has sparked mixed reactions online...

Soh Rui Yong is BACK and shares his honest thoughts about being axed from the Asian Games and how he coped with it. He talked about his interactions with ex-SNOC chairman  Tan Chuan Jin and the double standards involved. He also spoke about the challenges facing local sports, his first year as a married man and his plans for the future. He doesn’t hold back, so it gets pretty spicy.  Heads up that...

This is our most “transparent” episode ever! In the spirit of the year end, we’re doing a review of our most “triggering” episodes from 2023 that covered cases where businesses, brands and even individuals were not as upfront as they could be. All of them led to backlash and claims of poor accountability, but what has happened since then? From MBS to DBS and Cai Png cafes to food bloggers, brace y...

Minister Shanmugam has been serving as Minister for Law since 2008 and Minister for Home Affairs since 2015. On his YLB debut, he shares his thoughts on the complicated nature of the conflict between Israel & Hamas, the balance between policy and public sentiment in view of the political controversies seen locally this year. He also talks about why POFMA has been useful from his POV, and what...

The teen behind the RIver Valley High School death was sentenced to 16 years’ jail, prompting debates online about the term and severity of the punishment. Was it a fair result? Elsewhere, country clubs in Singapore have come under scrutiny when it was announced that Raffles Town Club’s land lease will not be renewed beyond 2026. Are country clubs still relevant in 2023? Find us here! YLB Subreddi...

Recently, the Economist Intelligence Unit released a report that revealed Singapore to be tied for the world’s most expensive city alongside Zurich. Is this global #1 ranking worth celebrating? Elsewhere, Sembawang Town Council sealed off a void deck in response to complaints about kids playing football, triggering angry responses from some residents. What should they have done instead to curb the...

The SG government announced that it is studying the feasibility of an ambitious new land reclamation project off the East Coast, named “Long Island”, which will change the face of East Coast Park forever. Do we really need that much more space? Elsewhere, a Chinese restaurant in Alexandra is facing backlash for charging for its cai png dishes by weight, leading to sticker shock from its patrons. I...

Last week, MAS moved to curb crypto speculation with a tightening of regulations around retail investors. Will this throw a spanner in Singapore’s plans of becoming a digital asset hub for the world? Elsewhere, 2 contestants from the reality TV show “Squid Game: The Challenge” are suing the Netflix production for inhumane conditions that allegedly led to them suffering hypothermia and nerve damage...

This past week, Parliament debated and ultimately passed a law that allows the President and Ministers to hold international roles in their private capacity. They even backdated the law to Tharman’s inauguration date, prompting questions from Opposition MPs about the urgency of the constitutional change. Why the rush? Elsewhere, a private-hire driver clocked 22 hours of driving within a day to win...

A recent Straits Times op-ed on the Israel-Hamas war, written by retired senior diplomat Bilahari Kausikan, triggered a response from Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, who disagreed with Bilahari’s views, and also directed people to read another op-ed with a differing perspective. Why was there a need for a Minister to come forward and push back on a paywall-blocked op-ed accessible only to S...

A Deepavali banner that asked revellers to clean up after themselves caused disquiet on social media, prompting the MP in charge of the area to remove the sign to avoid misunderstandings. Was it really necessary to get rid of the banner? Also, in-person social mixers are becoming popular among Singapore youth, in a strange reversion to a world before social media and Tinder. Why are we heading bac...

The Ministry of Home Affairs reminded the public that displaying or wearing symbols linked to the Israel-Hamas war is an offence punishable with jail time. Why the need for such strict policing? Elsewhere this week, a new law was proposed that would allow the President and ministers to hold roles in foreign and international organisations in their private capacities. Why has this come up suddenly?...

At a PAP Conference over the weekend, PM Lee revealed the timeline for PAP’s leadership succession plans. What was interesting about his announcement, and Lawrence Wong’s speech as the incoming PM? Elsewhere, people were up in arms over the inclusion of Japanese sex toy giant Tenga at Singapore’s largest anime festival, scheduled for the end of November. Why the commotion? Find us here! YLB Subred...

As part of the penalties for the recent outage of DBS’ digital services, MAS will disallow DBS from making new acquisitions for 6 months. Will this really help restore confidence in the bank? Elsewhere, it was first reported that a lucky Swiftie between the age of 13-35 will be selected to watch Taylor Swift in concert alongside Senior Minister of State Mr Tan Kiat How, as part of a youth festival...

We wade into the complex Israel-Hamas war, and talk about why opinions in Singapore are so charged and divided. Elsewhere, a photo of an Indonesian coffee shop that won an international photography competition was alleged to have been staged, calling into question the ethics of the photographer and the competence of the judges. Who’s wrong? Find us here! YLB Subreddit   YLB TikTok   YLB IG YLB You...