MONEY FM 89.3 - Prime Time with Howie Lim, Bernard Lim & Finance Presenter JP Ong

Public transport fares in Singapore will rise by 7% from December 26, with commuters paying up to 13 cents more per trip amid higher energy and operating costs. To ease the impact, the government is expanding the Public Transport Voucher scheme, with around 60,000 more households eligible and vouchers increasing from $60 to $80. But will the additional support be enough to offset higher commuting costs? And with energy prices remaining volatile amid the Middle East conflict, what could this mean for future fare reviews? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Lee Kwok Hao, Assistant Professor (Presidential Young Professor) at the Department of Strategy & Policy at the National University of Singapore Business School, about the fare increase, the impact on commuters and what to expect in the months ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a part of working life that nobody really teaches you. You learn how to write a CV. You learn how to ace an interview. You might even learn how to negotiate your salary. But then someone tells you: You should network. For a lot of young Singaporeans, that feels... paiseh. A new LinkedIn research has found that while 97% of Gen Z professionals in Singapore recognise that professional relationships matter for their careers, 64% aren't sure how to actually get started. So is Gen Z putting too much pressure on what networking is supposed to look like? And what do older generations actually think when a younger colleague or professional suddenly reaches out? On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks with LinkedIn Career Expert Serla Rusli, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So it all comes down to this. Singapore need a result against Malaysia in their final group game to stay alive in the FIFA ASEAN Cup, and Safuwan Baharudin joins Sports Minutes ahead of the crunch Causeway clash. He looks back on Indonesia, THAT red card and the subsequent win over Bangladesh, while discussing Gavin Lee, Perry Ng and the road to the Asian Cup. Will the Lions rise to the occasion once again?Got a story to tell? Get in touch!raushan@sph.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What would make you work harder... a bigger bonus, more time off, or tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix?On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada discuss how three migrant workers at Singapore’s Parklab Group earned F1 tickets after their Instagram video surpassed a 2,000-like target set by their boss. The feel-good story sparks a conversation about workplace incentives, employee recognition and what really motivates people at work, followed by a round of This or That.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electricity retailers are rolling out new plans and promotions as more households look to lock in their electricity rates amid higher energy costs. The proportion of households on fixed-price plans has risen from 36.6% in February to 38.4% in September, while retailers have introduced new discounts, rebates and longer-term fixed-price contracts. So what is driving this shift, what do the different plans actually offer and what should households look out for when deciding whether to switch? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Sung Jinseok, Research Fellow at the Energy Studies Institute at the National University of Singapore, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much should you have to compromise when living with someone else? And if you’re both paying for a shared space, should one person ever be able to claim it for themselves? On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada unpack the tricky realities of sharing a home, after one woman says her roommate has been taking over their shared home office for hours at a time for confidential meetings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many young Singaporeans, investing used to feel like something you started much later in life — once you had a stable career, a steady income and enough savings. But that mindset appears to be changing. So what makes someone want to invest so young? Is Gen Z becoming more financially savvy, or are rising costs, uncertainty and constant exposure to financial content changing the way young people think about money? On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Sim Swee Kee, who is a Republic Polytechnic student to find out why he began investing as soon as he turned 18 years old. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With AI reshaping the workplace, students are facing a new dilemma when choosing a university degree: which careers will still be viable by the time they graduate? As automation changes entry-level jobs and the skills employers value, can students future-proof their education by choosing degrees that are less vulnerable to AI? Or is it time to rethink what makes a degree worthwhile in the first place? On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Leslie Tam, Director of University Guidance and Counselling at XCL World Academy, about how students and parents can navigate university choices in an increasingly AI-driven job market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The news industry is facing mounting pressure, from political disputes over media access to sweeping newsroom job cuts. In the US, a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily restore access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, while the BBC plans around 2,000 job cuts as news organisations rethink how they operate and deliver news. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Nicholas Fang, Founder and Managing Director of Black Dot, Senior Advisor for The Asia Group, and a former journalist with The Straits Times, to discuss what these developments reveal about the challenges facing journalism today, how political pressure and financial constraints are reshaping the media landscape, and what it could mean for the future of independent reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What actually counts as unprofessional at work these days? Is bringing an iced coffee into a job interview really a red flag? And would you draw the line at bringing your parents along too? On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada unpack the changing rules of workplace etiquette, from the viral debate over iced coffee at interviews to new research showing one in five Gen Z candidates have brought a parent to a job interview. And as expectations around professionalism change, where should we draw the line between being yourself at work and simply being inappropriate?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What comes to mind when you think of the phrase “flamed-grilled” burgers, or even to “have it your way”? For over seven decades, Burger King built its identity around its freshly flame-grilled burgers and the iconic Whopper. But behind that familiar bite, is a giant food empire altogether. The brand is part of Restaurant Brands International, a company formed in 2014 following the merger of Burger King and coffee chain Tim Hortons. Today, the Toronto headquartered company owns four of the world’s most prominent fast food chains, namely Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs. It is more notably one of the world’s largest quick service restaurant companies with nearly US$49 billion in annual system-wide sales generated across over 33,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and territories. Restaurant Brands International is a company to look at not just because of the sheer scale of its operations, but also because of its recent efforts to rejuvenate APAC business in the past three years. In late October 2022, Restaurant Brands International’s subsidiary PLK Apac appointed Fei Siong Group to run the Popeyes fried chicken chain in Singapore after working with Malaysian restaurant operator Revenue Valley for over a decade. The firm also launched the Popeye’s brand in Indonesia and South Korea that same year, and announced a nationwide expansion in China the following year. Then came the year 2023, where its coffee brand Tim Hortons entered the Singapore market, and made a plan to open over 150 outlets in South Korea in five years. But perhaps what’s even more exciting was a move by Restaurant Brands International to buy Burger King China back from Turkish restaurant franchise operator TFI and global private equity firm Cartesian in 2025. Later that year, the company announced a joint venture with Chinese alternative asset manager CPE to reimagine the next phase of growth for Burger King, with the aim to expand the burger chain’s footprint from roughly 1,250 outlets to over 4,000 by 2035. So why is the firm aggressively expanding in Asia right now? On Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Daphne Kuah, Chief Commercial Officer, Restaurant Brands International APAC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From July 2028, organisations with more than 200 employees will need at least one HR professional certified at the IHRP-CP level or above, or an accepted equivalent. The move is part of wider efforts to strengthen HR capabilities and help businesses manage changes brought about by AI. What is behind the push to professionalise HR, and what could it mean for companies, workers and the HR profession itself?On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Aslam Sardar, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Human Resource Professionals, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TikTok dances, K-pop, makeovers and glittery outfits might not be what comes to mind when you think of senior activities. But at a recent event in Kallang, 19 seniors aged 60 and above got a crash course in becoming TikTok stars, with help from young volunteers from LASALLE and NAFA. They learnt how to film, edit and upload their own videos and some were already keen to do it all over again. So, why do activities for seniors so often come with a 'senior' label? Could giving older people more freedom to explore unfamiliar interests change how we think about ageing and what can younger people learn from them in return? On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Hasyna Neo, Founder of The WoW Movement, and June Lim, a Lasalle College of the Arts student, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Okay, I’ll see you at 7 lol'. Why do we keep adding those three little letters to the end of our texts, even when we’re not actually laughing? For millennials, 'LOL' has become less about laughing out loud and more about softening a message or signaling that we’re joking. But Gen Z has a problem with it and some are calling millennials out for ending practically every message with 'lol'. On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada find out if 'LOL' is officially a millennial texting habit. And if Gen Z wants us to stop using it, what are we supposed to say instead?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a child who once needed a safe space grows up to become part of the community that provides it? The answer to that question is 'Tak Takut Kids Club', which came from years of spending time with children and realising that what they needed wasn’t always another programme, activity or lesson. So how different are the needs of Gen Alpha children compared to the olden days? And in the process of preparing them for the future, could we have forgotten to let our kids enjoy being just children right now? On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Lin Shi Yun, Founder & Executive Director of 3Pumpkins, who also founded the Tak Takut Kids Club alongside Chen Yaxuan, Youth Leader at the Tak Takut Kids Club to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COE premiums have fallen across the board in the latest bidding exercise, but Category A is still at $131,890, just below its record high earlier this month. With changes to EV incentives and emissions-related charges on the horizon, and the COE categorization system under review, what could these developments mean for car buyers in Singapore? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Terence Fan, Assistant Professor, Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship, Singapore Management University, to find out what is driving COE prices, whether the market could see further changes, and what it might take to make car ownership more affordable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You find an empty table in a public space, but instead of a tissue packet, there’s a laptop, keyboard, headphones and bags occupying the seats. How long can someone claim a shared space before it becomes unfair to everyone else? A visitor to Our Tampines Hub reportedly spotted the same belongings left on a table over several months, despite a notice reminding users to limit their table usage to two hours. On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada discuss chope-ing culture, the limits of reserving public spaces, and whether stricter enforcement is needed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s households and businesses have sufficient financial buffers to weather potential shocks, according to the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s latest Financial Stability Review. But the outlook isn’t without risks. MAS says around 1% of borrowers could face negative cash flow under a severe stress scenario, while 32% of Singapore-listed companies were assessed to be at risk, accounting for 16% of overall corporate debt. With inflation proving sticky, energy prices under pressure and uncertainty around global growth and AI investment, how resilient is Singapore’s financial system and what should households and businesses be watching? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Chua Yeow Hwee, Assistant Professor in Economics at the Nanyang Technological University, and Honorary Secretary of the Economics Society of Singapore, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore may be home, but for some Singaporeans, retirement could be somewhere else.Penang is attracting growing interest as a potential second home and retirement base, with applications for Malaysia My Second Home from Singapore rising sharply and foreign patient numbers at Penang’s private hospitals climbing. But is the appeal really about retiring there or simply having the option to? On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Sam Kam, The Penang Realtor, about what’s driving Singaporeans to look at Penang, and what they should consider before turning a holiday destination into a potential home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Jurong to Jakarta - Haziq Kamarudin’s football journey has taken another major step. The FC Jurong midfielder has earned his maiden Singapore call-up for the FIFA ASEAN Cup. We get to know the man behind the moment. From his reaction to the call-up and that timely goal against Hougang, to the Japanese influence at Jurong and what he hopes to bring to the Lions.Got a story to tell? Get in touch!raushan@sph.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve paid hundreds of dollars for a concert ticket, found your seat, and you’re ready to watch your favourite artist. But what happens when the people in front of you decide their big romantic moment is more important than your view? At a Zhao Lei concert in Beijing, a couple’s elaborate marriage proposal reportedly left people seated behind them unable to see the stage for several minutes. On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada discuss when a romantic gesture turns into a public nuisance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s all about how an apparel maker is redefining that pair of jeans you’re wearing today. Finance presenter Chua Tian Tian was away for the past week attending “Levi’s Women Experience FOR EVERY ORIGINAL” series of pop-up events in Tokyo and Seoul. The pop-up experiences aim to celebrate the women who continue to redefine originality today, and is part of Levi’s ongoing efforts to drive growth among female shoppers, a demographic it sees great promise in. And at the heart of the campaign is the company’s global brand ambassador ROSE from K-pop girl group Blackpink, whose authenticity, creativity and self-expression Levi said embody the spirit of a modern female Original. ROSE made a special appearance at the pop-up in Tokyo prior to its opening. And in this “On the Go” Special episode of Under the Radar, Tian Tian shares what happened at the pop-ups she visited, including one with a media photo call with ROSE. She also spoke with Kenny Mitchell, Chief Marketing Officer; Gianluca Flore, Chief Commercial Officer; and Vicky Skelton, Managing Director for East Asia Pacific at Levi Strauss & Co. on how the firm is internalising consumer trends across markets, and utilising cultural moments, brand ambassadors, pop-culture as well as its heritage to capture the hearts of the next generation of female denim wearers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For generations, luxury has been closely tied to status — the brands we wear, the cars we drive and the places we stay. But younger consumers are changing the equation, placing greater emphasis on personal value, authenticity and experiences that feel uniquely their own. Gen Z is showing that luxury doesn't necessarily have to be something you can take home. With social media making once-exclusive experiences increasingly accessible, what actually makes something feel special anymore? On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Kevin Ou, Co-founder & Chief Experiences Officer, Amber Experiences to find out whether young Singaporeans still chase after luxury experiences today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s rules on how much floor space developers can build could be getting a rethink. The URA is reviewing its gross floor area guidelines to give developers more flexibility in how they design and use buildings, while also encouraging features that improve heat resilience and thermal comfort.So what could the review mean for Singapore’s property market, ageing buildings and the future of the CBD? And could greater flexibility make it easier to preserve heritage buildings while still making redevelopment commercially viable? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Sing Tien Foo, Provost's Chair Professor in the Department of Real Estate, Business School, National University of Singapore, to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From blasting TikTok videos without earphones to putting your feet on the seat, we’ve all encountered that bus commuter. But from September 23, some of these behaviours could actually land you with a fine of up to $500. On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada look at Singapore’s new rules for public buses, bus interchanges and terminals, what behaviours are covered, who can issue an offence notification, and where the line should be drawn between being inconsiderate and committing an offence. Could the new rules make public transport more pleasant, or will commuters end up policing one another? And what other bus behaviours do you think should be fine-worthy?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to make a name for yourself when your surname already carries so much weight? For Iman Fandi, growing up as part of one of Singapore’s most recognisable families has come with its own set of expectations. But as she has ventured into modelling, music and the world of independent artistry, she has also been figuring out what success looks like when the path is entirely her own. On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Iman Fandi to learn more about what it takes to be a young successful woman in Singapore today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet this week, after senior US and Chinese officials wrapped up talks covering trade, critical minerals and artificial intelligence. China’s global trade surplus is on track to top US$1 trillion for a second consecutive year, even as US tariffs continue to target Chinese goods. At the latest talks, both sides also discussed extending their existing trade truce and creating a new channel for dialogue on AI risks. So what can we expect from the Trump-Xi summit? Can the two sides keep their trade tensions under control? And could AI become an unexpected area of cooperation between the world's two biggest AI powers? What could this mean for Singapore and the wider global economy?On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Chong Ja Ian, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holidaying with friends sounds like fun until you realize you’re the one doing all the planning, booking everything, keeping track of expenses… and then chasing everyone for their share of the bill after the trip is already over. A new YouTrip survey of 1,000 Singaporeans found that one in three have argued over travel expenses after a group trip, with late repayments, incorrect calculations and unfair splitting among the common sources of conflict. On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada discuss how long is too long to wait for a friend to PayNow you? Would you actually confront someone over a $20 debt? And at what point does a holiday expense become a friendship problem?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re going to take you through a company that spent over a century building some of Asia’s most recognisable commercial properties, from the skyscrapers in Marina Bay Singapore to those in Hong Kong’s Central financial district and even the West Bund in Shanghai. With its origins dating back to 1889 in Hong Kong, our guest for today Hongkong Land is a major listed property development, investment and management group. The company, owned by Hong Kong conglomerate Jardine Matheson, has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and secondary listings in Singapore and Bermuda. The firm develops, owns and manages premium and ultra-premium mixed-used real estate in Asian gateway cities, ranging from Grade A office, luxury retail, residential and hospitality products with assets under management coming in at over US$50 billion. Hongkong Land is a company that we want to speak to given how it is now embarking on what’s perhaps one of the biggest strategic changes in its history. Instead of growing primarily by owning and developing properties on its own, Hongkong Land now wants to focus on investing in ultra-premium commercial properties in Asia’s gateway cities while recycling capital from assets that no longer fit into its strategy. All while bringing in third-party capital to recycle assets and fund growth. In a series of moves to better align the firm with its new strategy, Hongkong Land stopped investing in its build-to-sell segment while recycling capital from the business into new, high-quality integrated commercial property opportunities to drive long-term value creation. More importantly, the firm launched its inaugural private real estate fund called the Singapore Central Private Real Estate Fund or the SCPREF. The fund had an initial portfolio assets under management of S$8.2 billion and seeks to focus on ultra-premium integrated commercial properties in Singapore. But what was the one reason that led to the strategy shift right now? Is the firm simply reshaping its portfolio or do the moves fundamentally change the economics of the business? On Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Michael Smith, Group Chief Executive, Hongkong Land Holdings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 goals, six red cards...and after just two matchweeks, questions are already being raised about the standard of officiating in the Singapore Premier League. Speaking of standards, FC Jurong & Geylang International lead the way after 2 games, while Firdaus Kassim’s Young Lions remain winless (and frankly look listless), as they still search for a spark. Got a story to tell? Get in touch!raushan@sph.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could AI actually wipe out humanity? As AI systems become increasingly capable, some of the people who helped build them are warning that we may not fully understand what these systems could eventually do. From concerns about AI becoming harder to control to predictions of a possible extinction-level risk, just how worried should we be? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong explores what’s behind these warnings, how realistic the risks are, and what it means as AI development accelerates with Ian Tan, Lecturer at NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a young person falls behind the conventional path? Presslee Chng left the formal education system at just seven years old and spent nine years outside mainstream schooling. Along the way, he faced isolation, bullying and the challenge of finding his way back into education. But his story took a very different turn: he returned to school, graduated from Republic Polytechnic with a 3.61 GPA, and is now pursuing his goal of becoming a teacher. On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Presslee Chng, Full-Time Student-Teacher, to hear his story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if your next relationship didn’t come from a dating app — but from TikTok? One Singaporean woman has taken an unconventional approach to finding love after spending more than S$1,000 on premium dating apps. Instead of swiping through more profiles, she turned to TikTok and created a matchmaking form for men who are serious about dating, marriage and starting a family. On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Nazirul Asrar discuss this viral story and dive into modern dating, compatibility, deal-breakers and just how far you’d go to find “the one”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For generations, internships have been seen as a stepping stone for university students entering the workforce. But increasingly, teenagers as young as 15 or 16 are seeking out internships to gain experience and build their portfolios. So, what’s changed? Are Gen Alpha students simply more career-conscious than previous generations, or are they feeling pressure to get ahead? On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Pedro Aguirre, Co-Founder, Make the Change to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MOE will begin a pilot in January 2027 to explore smaller classes in six schools, with the aim of giving teachers more opportunity to provide individual attention and timely feedback. But will having fewer students in a classroom actually lead to better learning? And with teachers already facing significant workloads, could smaller classes simply mean more classes to teach? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Jason Tan, Associate Professor in Policy, Curriculum and Leadership at the National Institute of Education to discuss what MOE is testing, how smaller classes could change the classroom experience, and what needs to happen for the pilot to work for both students and teachers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you build a great football stadium? Singapore may soon get another chance to find out, with plans for a new South Stand at Jalan Besar. But could The Kallang be doing more? Zia-ul Raushan went behind the scenes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and sat down with Spurs commercial director Alex Scotcher to explore what makes a modern football venue, one that is regarded as Europe's finest, tick - and what lessons Singapore can take home.READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/jalan-besar-stadium-could-get-a-new-south-stand-additional-1500-seats?ref=latest-headlinesGot a story to tell? Get in touch!raushan@sph.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you could pay someone else to take out your rubbish, pick up your parcels or deal with other annoying little tasks? A growing 'lazy economy' in China is seeing people pay for exactly that, including rubbish collection from their doorstep. But is it really about being lazy, or are people simply willing to pay a little to save time and hassle? On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Nazirul Asrar discuss the things we’d happily outsource and ask: what are Singaporeans willing to pay someone else to do because we just can’t be bothered?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s haze situation appears to be easing, with four of the five regions returning to the moderate range after all five recorded unhealthy PSI levels yesterday, the first time that has happened since 2019. But does that mean the air quality is genuinely improving, or could conditions worsen again in the days ahead? And why has the Central region consistently recorded the highest PSI readings this season? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Professor Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, NUS, to find out what’s behind the latest readings, what could happen next, and what the changing PSI levels tell us about Singapore’s haze situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we talk about retirement, the question is usually pretty straightforward: have you saved enough? But the reality is a little more complicated. There are clearly Singaporeans entering retirement with significant assets, but having money and knowing how to use it in retirement are two very different things. At this year's National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the government is looking at giving seniors with healthy MediSave balances more flexibility in how they use those funds, while also making it easier for seniors to unlock the value of their homes while continuing to live in them. So how do you bring together CPF, property, investments and cash into a retirement strategy? And when should you start thinking about turning your wealth into an income? On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Zac Ng, Senior Financial Services Director, PhillipCapital, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the best way to deal with school stress was to literally eat your homework? Students in China are going viral for buying edible workbooks made from rice paper, with the snacks designed to look like textbooks, dictionaries, certificates and even scholarship cards. On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Nazirul Asrar look into why this bizarre trend has taken off, whether it could catch on in Singapore, and what piece of homework they would have happily eaten back in school. And because homework doesn't exactly disappear when you grow up, we also ask: if you could eat one stressful thing from your adult life, what would it be?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A student in the US was suspended after bringing a cup of coffee to class and refusing to throw it away. Both student and parent argue that this new rule was not properly communicated to them as there was no 'official' announcement. On What's Trending, Nadiah Koh and Nazirul Asrar discuss the incident, which has sparked a debate over strict school rules, discipline, and whether some rules go too far. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil prices have surged back above US$100 a barrel as attacks disrupt key energy and shipping routes across the Middle East. A drone strike has shut down part of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, threatening a route that can move Saudi crude without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, vessels have come under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, with tensions also rising around the Bab el-Mandeb, two critical chokepoints for global energy shipments. So how serious is the threat to global oil supplies? And if higher oil and shipping costs persist, how could this ripple through to Singapore? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Mukesh Sahdev, Founder and CEO of XAnalysts, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.