Talkback

Investigations are being conducted into an incident involving a pet groomer along Tanjong Katong Road, following the death of a dog that was allegedly left unattended. Could more be done to prevent similar tragic outcomes from reoccurring in future, and are new tech to enhance grooming services risky? Daniel Martin discusses further with Natalie Chan, Deputy Executive Director, SPCA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Traffic Police has been testing new mobile cameras that can detect offences like illegal U-turns, crossing double white lines and stopping in yellow boxes. The aim is to now fully operationalise the system in the first quarter of next year, following a trial which saw over 6,000 traffic violations across 11 locations detected during the first month alone. But will these mobile cameras deter reckless driving and make Singapore’s roads truly safer, or simply prompt drivers to play “cat and mouse” with tech? Daniel Martin discusses further with Thanaraj Ramakrishnan, Director, TR Consultants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

F&B closures have dominated Singapore’s headlines this year. The Monetary Authority of Singapore has projected uneven growth next year for the sector. Yet, there have been more openings than closures in the F&B industry, with around 3,100 F&B services businesses formed this year (as of 1 October), while about 2,290 ceased. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss further with Dale Thia, Co-Founder of Wunderfolks and Tan Hsien Wei, Domain Chair, Lifestyle & Consumer Experience, Temasek Polytechnic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon Web Services, the world’s largest cloud computing platform, experienced a massive outage on Monday (20 October), sparking connectivity issues around the world – impacting banks, financial platforms, and social media apps to name a few. The incident has raised the vulnerabilities of businesses’ heavy reliance on cloud computing. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss further with Sarbojit Bose, Director of Training, Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Singapore Chapter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least four endangered species were among 16 animals seized in a series of raids targeting illegal wildlife trade in Singapore two weeks ago. The operations targeted those suspected of engaging in the illicit activities through online platforms, including Telegram where one group had close to 12,000 members. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss further with Kannan Raja, President, Herpetological Society of Singapore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan has elected its first female prime minister in a landmark moment capping three months of political uncertainty and wrangling in the country. Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaichi made history, after a resounding win in both houses of parliament. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss further with Associate Professor Kei Koga, Head of the Public Policy and Global Affairs Programme, NTU.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singaporean students continue going to the U.S for tertiary studies, unfazed by uncertainties introduced by the Trump administration. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss further with Dr Chan Khai Leok, Managing Director, theRightU.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember the video showing an individual filming on the train tracks between Simei and Tanah Merah MRT stations? More recently, a man filmed himself drinking water next to a “No Drinking” sign, while travelling along the East West Line. Why are people so reckless to publicise themselves breaking the law? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss with Dr Annabelle Chow, Clinical Psychologist, Annabelle Psychology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 29 per cent of teachers in Singapore said they intended to leave teaching, 2 percentage points more than the OECD average. Meanwhile, the amount spent on tuition has risen over the years. Families spent $1.8 billion on private tuition in 2023. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss with Yvonne Chen, former MOE teacher-turned tutor with Future Academy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of a plan to lower temperatures in parts of Sentosa by at least 4 degrees Celsius without the use of air-conditioning, Sentosa Development Corporation will be implementing a network of 10 cool zones and nodes across the island resort. Do we also need to look at cooling the streets of Singapore? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss further with Djoko Prihanto, Director, DP Urban.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.