Plan B

Everyone’s travelling this year-end, especially to Japan, where the yen has plunged to about ¥120 for S$1. But while Singaporeans are chasing cheap flights and exchange rates, PM Wong is on the move for a different reason. His recent trip to South Africa and the announcement of Singapore’s 1st East African embassy in Ethiopia may seem unexpected but they hint at something bigger: Singapore is quietly deepening its footprint and ties across Africa.

(0:33) Welcome back Darren!

(07:34) Travelling during the holidays

(10:57) PM Wong’s working trips

(16:30) Are Africans the next generation of content creators?

(19:05) Future trips

When influencer Simonboy launched the Forever Megan Charity in honour of his late daughter, some called it heartfelt while others called it clout. And leading the charge was the OG uncancellable content creator herself, Xiaxue. Her takedown earned her a cease and desist letter, and she’s firing back. In this case, do you think Xiaxue has a point, or do you feel sympathy for Simonboy?

(01:25) Feud between Xiaxue and Simonboy

(07:20) Opening a charity in Malaysia?

(13:13) POFMA on MalaysiaNow

(16:53) Future of censorship in Singapore

(21:45) Intruder at Wicked premiere

The job market is changing rapidly, and jobseekers are facing challenges like finding stability, balancing personal commitments, and adapting to AI. At Plan B, our hosts share insights from both employers and jobseekers on their shifting expectations. With programmes mentioned in this year’s National Day Rally like GRIT and SkillsFuture available, we explore how jobseekers can get ahead as they navigate their careers. For more related information, visit: go.gov.sg/2025ndr-planb

(01:00) Uncertainty of today’s job market

(07:38) What are GRaduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT)?

(12:30) Taking stock of your career

(20:15) Using A.I. for a leg up in the workplace

This week, headlines swirled around Ong Beng Seng keeping his PR status, a move that’s raised plenty of eyebrows. In a country where one's PR status can be revoked for criminal convictions, ICA’s decision to issue only a warning has sparked questions about Singapore’s “clean and fair” legal image.

(03:05) Possible Kyrgyzstan trip in 2026

(10:35) Under-the-table payment for Hajj?

(13:00) M’sian man bribed Sg’s traffic police

(19:08) Ong Beng Seng’s PR status

(23:35) Court of Public Opinion

(28:19) Ringgit strengthened

We’ve all seen the shocking videos of youths staggering like zombies, hooked on vapes laced with etomidate. As Singapore clamps down on vaping, we speak with Prof Anantham Devanand, Senior Consultant at SGH’s Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, on why vapes can be are dangerous even without etomidate - and share the real-life cases he’s treated.

For support to quit vaping, visit: gov.sg/quitvape

(02:20) What are the harms of etomidate?

(05:25) Is there such thing as secondhand vaping?

(07:10) Real cases of vaping harm

(11:00) Signs your child might be vaping

(16:00) Doctor’s take on current penalties

Videos of Pritam Singh going from court to Parliament, and taking photos with the public in between, have gone viral, and online reactions show his public image is still holding strong. But let’s be real: he’s playing the political game. With his conviction now under appeal, we ask: Should Pritam keep fighting, or is this the point to step back and be the Leader of the Opposition in peace?

(05:20) Pritam Singh’s convinction appeal

(10:25) Optics of Pritam

(17:58) Mandatory caning for scammers

(21:52) ACS vs The Straits Times

(24:55) Chick-fil-A coming to Singapore?!

The 47th ASEAN Summit gave us plenty of unforgettable moments, and we’ve ranked them from least to most memorable. But here’s the thing, Trump seems to pop up in almost every highlight, from dancing with Anwar to letting PMX ride in the Beast. Makes you wonder: was this summit a masterclass in bootlicking Trump?

(01:40) Our listicle of best moments from the ASEAN Summit

(08:40) Nominating Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

(12:30) Timor Leste in ASEAN

(16:55) Funny ASEAN Summit moments

(23:15) Trump “almost got” into prison

(27:12) RTM’s mistakes

As the Deepavali weekend winds down, the news cycle may be quiet but Singapore still has one major headline. The 3 women behind the pro-Palestine walk, Amirah Asrori, Annamalai Kolika, and Sobikun Nahar, have been acquitted. While many celebrate them as heroes of local activism, lawyer Rahman argues the real hero is the judge. Still, with the AGC appealing the decision, this case may be far from over.

(01:10) Is the holiday mood kicking in?

(03:47) Keeping up with international news

(06:00) Acquittal of the 3 activists behind Pro-Palestine walk

(14:22) Bad optics for Singapore

(18:10) Favourite Indian foods

The Israel-Hamas hostage exchange marks the biggest breakthrough in the ceasefire yet, and Trump’s taking the credit with his 20-point peace plan. But in Singapore, netizens don’t seem to care. Some are even calling out the media’s double standards: Israelis are “hostages,” Palestinians are “detainees.” So, the big question is: does Trump’s plan actually bring peace, or is it all just wayang?

(00:35) Singapore’s response to Trump’s 20-point peace plan

(05:05) What exactly is this peace plan?

(08:15) Indonesian President Prabowo’s ‘hot mic’ incident

(11:05) How Israel’s attack on Qatar led to this ceasefire

(11:45) Predictions for the future

Parliament got heated this week, and just like in GE2025, the Malay-Muslim community found itself in the crossfire. Shanmugam delivered a lengthy speech referencing Noor Deros and his meeting with Workers Party’s Malay-Muslim candidates, warning of the dangers of identity politics and the mixing of race and religion. But with little reaction online, do Singaporeans even care?

(01:10) Watching Parliament for 3 hours?!

(03:15) Why bring up the Noor Deros issue again?

(05:35) Malay-Muslim community during GE2025

(10:37) Identity politics in Singapore

(12:32) Conclusion of Parliament session