Evening Edition

The Samsung Electronics board Chairman Lee Sang-hoon was sentenced to 18 months in jail for carrying out various attempts to sabotage union activities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we await the much anticipated release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, we chew(bacca) the fat with Malaysia's biggest fan about all things Star Wars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look through the major headlines that affected the economy this year, from policy to development and infrastructure, and how things will shape up in the new decade.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That's how long it will take to achieve gender parity at the workplace, according to a report by the World Economic Forum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the arrival of new patriotic tunes like Malaysia Bersih, we take a closer look at how government songs are used as instruments to shape a nation and its people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A viral Facebook post claims that the newly-renovated Taman Tasik Titiwangsa had been vandalised just hours after it was reopened. We discuss how civic-mindedness can be cultivated in the public.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We kick off our look back at the year that was by going through the news that dominated local headlines in 2019.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hong Kong government took a full-page advertisement in Monday's edition of The Australian newspaper, assuring readers that it remains stable after months of protests and clashes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss an article on Vox that looks at the emergence of high-end Star Wars merchandise - things like Adidas sneakers inspired by Obi-Wan Kenobi - and explore the special relationship that the movie franchise shares with its merch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at a growing trend at concerts, theatrical performances and even art exhibitions where attendees are prohibited from accessing their mobile phones.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A report by a coalition of international environmental NGOs found that Malaysian banks were among the top lenders to companies linked to the forest fires in Indonesia this year. We look at how banks can strengthen Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies in financing companies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an increase of RM400 from the previous year, according to the Statistics Department.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a closer look at what's at stake, and what's next for the UK, as voters make their choice in what's been dubbed "the most important election in a generation" for the nation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

98% of Bougainvillans voted in support of becoming an independent nation, in a referendum that is linked to a peace agreement 20 years ago between them and Papua New Guinea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Dato' Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof announced that special select committee meetings will be made available for live-stream to the public starting next year, to improve transparency.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The deaths of at least eight tourists due to the volcanic eruption in New Zealand have raised concerns over how safe volcano tours are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a closer look at the ubiquity of personality tests, to understand their value and mass appeal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the World Bank Group's report, low-income Malaysians and millennials are piling up debts and risking bankruptcy by getting loans and using credit cards to fund their lifestyle choices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Hannah Yeoh stated that any bureaucracy should be removed if possible, to encourage participation from the youth. We look at how these barriers prevent the youth from getting involved in dialogue and decision-making, and what can be done to overcome them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Indonesian government is hoping that civil servants with more than 500 social media followers can play an active role in disseminating information on its programmes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The two tech giants failed to make it into Glassdoor's annual rankings of the Top 10 best places to work; and instead the number one spot was claimed by HubSpot, a cloud computing software company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Italy has come up with plans to make the study of climate change compulsory in schools, making them the first country to do so. Would Malaysia benefit from a similar move?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The SEA Games has led to an increase in sex trafficking in the Philippines, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. We look at the preparation that countries and cities take in anticipation of surges in tourist arrivals, and whether or not any measures are lacking at the moment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emir Research's National Worry Index has found that Malaysians are "marginally maximum-worried" - we find out what that means and what the specific concerns are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tesco has reportedly received bids for their businesses in Thailand and Malaysia, which analysts value to be around 7 billion pounds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss a growing movement in South Korea where women are rejecting the traditional expectations of the country's male-dominated society, by embracing the Four Nos: no dating, no sex, no marriage, and no children.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We go through the drama at the PKR national congress, and take a look at the key takeaways from the Umno general assembly and Amanah's national convention which also concluded over the weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Bank's Malaysia Economic Monitor shows despite the fact that median income is outpacing inflation, income growth rates for low-income Malaysians and younger workers have been stifled over the years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to rationale, increasing salaries would reduce motivation to engage in corruption; but does that actually happen in real life? We discuss with Alex Tan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a look at how corruption and bribery have been an impediment to Sustainable Development Goals, and whether the UN's global blueprint are a priority when it comes to shaping policy in our country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We honour the work of Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street as well as Kamaruddin Ismail, the co-creator of local animation Keluang Man and Usop Sontorian.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finland is popularly known for setting the gold standard on education. We hear from someone who has helped shape the country's education system and curriculum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As drones are growing in its use and popularity, there have been calls for current drone laws to be updated. We look at what the issues of concern are, and how these laws can be updated to meet future demands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses are expected to do better in terms of social responsibility and environmental protection. Kelvin Yee speaks with Martin Rich, co-founder of a sustainability benchmark for businesses about how companies can do better for the world and humanity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday marks the last day of this year's NATO summit in London. We examine what's next for the alliance, which sees its 70th anniversary this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sensors, cameras, smart cars and GPS - we discuss whether technology has made us better or worse drivers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at the value of ticketing people to enter the national park, and what impact this increase in revenue will have on Taman Negara and the state of Pahang.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mercer's 2019 Malaysia Total Remuneration Survey found that salaries for next year are expected to increase at 5% across all industries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the last day of Parliament for 2019, some of the highlights include Dewan Rakyat Secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah's retirement, allegations of a deep state, and PKR politics on the weekend of the party's national congress.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz has suggested we rethink the use of GDP, as it may not be the most adequate indicator of economic performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The move by the Water, Land and Natural Resources to merge both bills aims to ease payments for consumers and increase collections for Indah Water Consortium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A survey in the UK found that smartphone betting is fuelling addictive behaviour among adults, particularly with the aggressive push towards online gambling sites and apps.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at how other countries are grappling with the safety hazards of pedestrians who cross the road while using their mobile phones or other electronic devices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the highlights today include a protest by estate workers for permanent housing, PSV licence for e-hailing drivers, and Malaysia taking action against the EU for new measures that limit palm oil imports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has asked the civil sector to guide the poor on getting out of poverty; but structural issues need to be addressed more urgently, according to Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We try to find out what politicians are talking about when they mention the "deep state", which some suggest are undermining the government's efforts for institutional reforms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A survey by Mercer LLC found that despite headwinds in the country's economy, companies in Singapore are set to announce salary increases next year to prevent brain drain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some highlights from today's session include inappropriate comments made by the Pasir Salak MP, and the tabling of an constitution amendment that could prevent lawmakers from holding the position of Prime Minister for more than two terms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The practice of begging still continues, despite begging and giving money being prohibited by Indonesian laws.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aiman speaks with Apot anak Saat, former VAT 69 trooper who fought against the communists and was renowned for his tracking skills in the jungle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.