Yah Lah But

TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi was grilled by US senators on his personal ties to China; one senator even asked pointedly about the status of his Singapore citizenship. Some decried the line of questioning as “racist”, but was it really? Elsewhere, the Singapore Repertory Theatre recently announced that it is changing its name to Singapore Theatre Company, to the consternation of some in the local theatr...

Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information and for Health Dr Janil Puthucheary said that young LGBTQ people should “stand up for what you believe in” in Singapore instead of leaving the country, in response to a question from Pink Dot SG spokesperson Clement Tan at a conference. Why was this response not particularly well-received by online commentators? Elsewhere, some migrant wo...

The fallout from the revelation of the CEO’s fake credentials at the AI startup Vizzio continues, with an interim CEO being appointed to take over. But who were the real victims in this web of half-truths and lies? Elsewhere, TODAY journalists uncovered that some massage parlours were accepting payments in CDC vouchers for “special services” of a sexual nature. Is this a big enough problem that wi...

A self-radicalized Chinese teenager was detained by the ISD for his white supremacist views. What caused this strange turn of events? Elsewhere, queues formed for new and fit-for-gifting notes for CNY; but why does this practice still persist? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Folklory V-DAY Alert! If you’re looking for a meaningful gift, we’d love to help you create a pers...

The U-turn that came out of nowhere! Fresh from being sworn in as the Minister of Transport, Chee Hong Tat announced that the plan to transition fully to SimplyGo by 1st June would be shelved. Does this show that the authorities are listening to feedback, or is it just delaying the inevitable? Elsewhere, a viral TikTok showed that an Old Chang Kee sardine puff from the Trafalgar Square outlet sell...

A free umbrella sharing service for Joo Chiat residents to use in the event of sudden downpours was stopped because people did not return the umbrellas after using them. After deploying more than 1,180 umbrellas, the program became unsustainable, which begs the question: are Singaporeans really just an inconsiderate lot? Elsewhere, people took to social media to ridicule the CNY Dragon decor at Ch...

S Iswaran resigned from his cabinet position as Transport Minister and MP, in light of being formally charged for 27 offences including corruption on Thursday. The list of charges included details about concerts, football matches and even a private jet to Doha. What happens now? Elsewhere, a Bukit Timah resident’s fish pond was brutally ravaged for the 2nd time in just over a year by a group of ot...

This week, Donald Trump cemented his frontrunner status within the US Republican party as President Joe Biden’s most likely opponent. Why does this matter for the rest of the world? Elsewhere, the Singapore government’s BudgetMealGoWhere portal allows the public to search for budget meal options at nearby HDB coffee shops. Why did this leave a bad taste in people’s mouths? Find us here! YLB Subred...

The recent announcement that all adult commuters will have to use the SimplyGo platform for public transport payments by June sent the public into a frenzy, with many lamenting the confusing nature of the transition. Of course, it didn’t help that the SimplyGo app was overwhelmed by downloads not long after the announcement, bringing the robustness of the system into question. Why the big hoo-ha?...

In Parliament this week, WP MP Jamus Lim called the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s proposed loss-sharing framework for phishing scams “fundamentally unfair”, and suggested that scam victims should bear no more than $500 of the cost. Many rushed to call him a populist and other names, but is there any merit to his suggestion? Elsewhere, some numbers were revealed in Parliament to explain why Bus...

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...