It’s a special episode today, where Alvin Tan, Minister of State for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and the Ministry of Trade & Industry, dropped by the YLB studio for a frank conversation that went deep. He opened up about his struggles with his A-level exams, why he left his private sector career behind to enter politics, and the secret MP’s book club…

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• Unnecessary Inventions

Ex-employees of Twitter Singapore have come forward with accounts of how the layoffs at their office were handled, and it’s not a good look for the social media giant. How did the process compare to other recent Big Tech layoffs? Elsewhere, buskers are lamenting the restrictions on performing at Orchard Road, which were implemented to control crowds during the holiday season. We debate the merits of such restrictions, especially after what the world witnessed in Itaewon.

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Twitter Singapore layoffs

• 'Zero empathy', 'total upheaval': Inside Twitter's layoffs in Singapore | CNA

Orchard Road buskers not allowed to perform during holiday season

• Buskers riled by year-end restrictions on performing at Orchard Road due to crowd control | CNA

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• The Mockingbird (@mkbdnews) • Instagram photos and videos

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• 19 McDonald's S'pore outlets to screen all 64 FIFA World Cup 2022 matches | mothership

A British expat recently took to social media to blast his condo security guards as “racist” for their differential treatment of his migrant worker colleagues who were invited to his place for a party. He even added that Singapore needs to “grow up”. We examine if there is merit to his complaints. Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo dropped a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, in which he criticised Manchester United’s coaches, ex-players, senior management, and even the club facilities. What led to such an uncharacteristic outburst from one of the GOATs of football?

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Expat blasts ‘racist’ condo security guards

• 'Singapore, you need to grow up': Expat claims 'racist' security guards stopped friends from entering condo | asiaone

Ronaldo drops bombshell interview

• Is Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United? Piers Morgan interview fallout and what happens next | sportingnews

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• Rowan Atkinson visual comedy

The crypto ecosystem experienced another massive shakeup this week when one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, FTX, unexpectedly went bankrupt. We discuss how Singapore is linked to FTX’s collapse, and what lessons can be learnt from this debacle. Elsewhere, as Qatar gets ready to welcome World Cup 2022, its appointed football ambassadors have not been doing the host nation’s image any good with their media appearances. Why is there such angst about Qatar’s hosting of the competition?

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The collapse of FTX

• ‘It’s all gone’: FTX bankruptcy has retail traders bracing for losses | CNA

Qatar World Cup ambassador calls homosexuality 'damage in the mind'

• Qatar World Cup ambassador's interview halted after calling homosexuality 'damage in the mind' | mothership

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• How badminton champ Loh Kean Yew unleashes his winning smash | The Straits Times

This past week, a new law that will require social media sites to block harmful content 'within hours' was passed by Parliament. Furthermore, if the platforms do not comply, the IMDA can get Internet service providers to block access to the content. We discuss why these sweeping changes are, unfortunately, necessary. Elsewhere, the 3 female hosts of a local podcast were slammed for allegedly justifying cheating on one’s partner. Were their comments really that out of line?

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New SG law to block harmful content on social media

• Online Safety Bill passed in Parliament to protect S'poreans, especially the young, from harmful content online | Mothership.sg

Podcasters slammed for justifying cheating

• 'This clip is making my blood boil': Netizens flag local podcast for saying cheating is sometimes justifiable | asiaone

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• Huun‐Huur‐Tu - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)

Last week, IPS released the results of a survey of 1,002 food delivery workers that highlighted the vulnerabilities of delivery work; low pay, long working hours and lack of medical benefits were just a few of the issues that came forth in the paper. We dissect the findings and discuss what can be done to better support platform workers. In the wake of Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, the company’s co-founder and ex-CEO Jack Dorsey has publicly shouldered responsibility for the mass layoffs that are now taking place. Why is he doing so?

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Survey exposes downsides of food delivery

• Fewer than 4 in 100 food delivery riders earn more than S$5,000 monthly: Study | CNA

Twitter ex-CEO Jack Dorsey apologises

• Jack Dorsey apologizes for Twitter growth after Elon Musk bought company | The Washington Post

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• YLB TikTok post about paying for Twitter verification

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• The Business of Drugs | Official Trailer | Netflix

In the past week, the tech world has been shaken by Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and his first actions as CEO. We go through the sequence of events leading up to this momentous week, and speculate on what’s to come for the social media giant. Elsewhere, IKEA sent a cease and desist letter to the person behind the horror survival game “The Store Is Closed”, triggering an outpouring of support for the indie game developer. Why the strong reaction?

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Elon Musk takes over Twitter

• Elon Musk’s Takeover of Twitter: Everything You Need to Know | Yahoo

IKEA threatens to sue horror game developer

• IKEA Asks Horror Game To Change So Folks Stop IKEA Comparisons | Kotaku

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• All those IG stories that share our podcast - keep 'em coming!

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• Emotionless Singaporean: A fun day at a Kopitiam | YouTube

This past weekend, over 150 partygoers perished during a crowd crush that happened during Halloween festivities in the Seoul clubbing district, Itaewon. We discuss whether the authorities should be culpable when an unfortunate freak incident like this happens. Closer to home, thousands of people in Singapore got to see the skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex up close before it heads for auction in Hong Kong. However, the auction of this giant fossil has been criticised in scientific circles; is this criticism justified?

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Halloween tragedy at Itaewon

• South Korea mourns, wants answers after Halloween crush kills 153 people | CNA

T-Rex in Singapore before “harmful” auction

• T-rex in Singapore as experts decry 'harmful' auctions | Yahoo

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• @hayama.mensfashion IG account

A recent study by women-first dating app Bumble revealed that 3 in 5 Singaporean singles have ghosted or been ghosted in their dating history. The differences between Millennials and Gen Y respondents in attitudes towards ghosting also surprised us, and we examine why. Elsewhere, “Milkshake” singer Kelis recently shared a video of her braids being fondled by 2 women in a Singapore coffee shop, which led to some angry reactions online and international news coverage. Why is this such a big deal? 

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Our Sponsor!

And this episode is brought to you by the Total Defence Sandbox, organised by Nexus, MINDEF!

Singaporeans ghosting while dating

• 56% of S'poreans have ghosted others due to 'lack of connection': Dating app survey | Mothership.sg

"Milkshake" singer Kelis gets her hair fondled

• US singer Kelis posts video of women in S'pore caressing her hair | ST

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• The Technium: 103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known

Coinciding with Deepavali festivities around the world, Rishi Sunak won the race to lead the Conservative Party, and therefore to become the UK’s first ever British Asian PM. How are Indians around the world feeling about this watershed moment in international politics? Closer to home, the Ministry of Home Affairs have officially invited UK billionaire Sir Richard Branson to Singapore to debate the country’s drug policy and death penalty with Minister K. Shanmugam. What led to this strange situation?

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Rishi Sunak becomes UK PM

• Indians delight in Rishi Sunak's rise to UK PM on Deepavali | CNA

Richard Branson invited to debate with Shanmugam

• Singapore invites Virgin Atlantic’s Richard Branson to death penalty debate with minister K Shanmugam | SCMP

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• AJOOMMA 《花路阿朱妈》 | Trailer