General

The spine is a marvel of human anatomy. It ensures both flexibility, as well as stability, to a person’s body. But it’s not immune to the effects of ageing and degeneration over the years. Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Singh takes us through the parts that make up the spine, and what age does to it.

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In 2031, a significant portion of the global population will live a financial lifestyle that's free of banknotes and physical cash. But while cashless societies are on the rise, cash isn't going anywhere so soon. How will this dual ecosystem function as more and more governments, tech industries, and even financial institutions move towards reducing physical money? We peek into the future with Matthieu Favas, finance correspondent at The Economist, and discuss the social divide that comes with going cashless, the potential of surveillance states, and the ascension of China in the next 10 years. 

Feminism, according to Oxford, is the advocacy of equality of the sexes and the establishment of the political, social, and economic rights of the female sex. But in recent years, there seems to be a negative connotation to “feminism.” Not only do some actively push back against feminism, others, even some who support gender equality, do not like being labelled as a feminist. But why? On the first episode of Today I Learned, we explore feminism with Sivananthi Thanenthiran. What exactly is it? And why do some see it as a dirty word.

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Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is now underway. In this ongoing series, senior citizens who have gotten their jabs share their stories, to allay fears and concerns about getting the vaccination. This episode features Mdm Ham Swee Kim, 84, from Malacca.

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As much of the world continues to battle against COVID-19, the situation in India has dominated headlines in recent weeks as they battle a deadly second wave. Reports of hospitals running out of beds, people fighting over limited oxygen supplies, and mass crematoriums burning day and night are harrowing to read about, to say the least. We speak to Leena Menghaney, Regional Head (South Asia), Médecins Sans Frontières Access Campaign to find out what led to the situation that India is facing now, and what can be done to help India make it through this second wave, including the role of an IP waiver.

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Disney+ Hotstar has finally announced a launch date here in Malaysia, and it comes bundled with a few very interesting strategies to capture the local market. They’ve also penned multi-year deals with major regional studios that will allow them to create an exclusive platform for local content and Asian content.

Financial institutions have accelerated adopting digital services over the course of the pandemic; have their strategies been effective? Are these services consumer-friendly? And what should come next?

Sure, we live in stressful times today. But does stress have to affect us negatively? On this episode of Psychology@Work, we discuss the “Magic of Stress”; why stress doesn’t have to be a bad thing, it’s potential for personal and career growth, and how to make workplace stress work for you.

Pet insurance isn’t popular here in Malaysia, yet many people with dogs or cats in the family often find themselves burdened with expensive vet bills. Oyen, Malaysia’s first digital pet insurance, plans to close that gap in the market with affordable insurance that covers a wide range of pet-related medical issues. We speak to Kevin Hoong, CEO of Oyen, about creating awareness for pet insurance locally, foreseeing competition, and expanding the brand in the coming months.

DAP tasted power for a brief 22 months but is back in opposition. What are their next steps as Malaysia heads towards the next general elections? Is this party with the most seats in Parliament reconsidering their coalition partners and will they even join hands with UMNO? Questions answered by former Transport Minister and current National Organising Secretary Anthony Loke who perhaps might be the future Secretary-General of DAP.