Is silver a safe haven for investors like gold and will its price rise due to war?

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a head start in your personal finance, career and life with The Straits Times.

Silver has had some exciting days, especially when the price of silver skyrocketed in 2025. However, there has been a pullback in early 2026.

So how does silver compare to gold and is it worth investing in for the long run?

In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at silver as a long-term investment and if it works for you.

Her guests are CMC Markets expert Daphne Tan and ST business reporter Timothy Goh.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:36 Is silver a safe haven like gold?

4:00 Will the Iran war drive silver prices up?

7:39 Tim’s experience of buying silver

10:30 Tech trends that could boost silver

12:00 Physical silver vs paper silver

19:24 How does silver compare to stocks as an investment?

Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

Host: Sue-Ann Tan (suetan@sph.com.sg)

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

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Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

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SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Do note: All analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast are for your general information only. You should not rely on them in making any decision. Please consult a fully qualified financial adviser or professional expert for independent advice and verification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, SPH Media shall not be liable for any loss arising from the use of or reliance on any analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast. SPH Media accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever that may result or arise from the products, services or information of any third parties.

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Discover how bhajan clubbing is transforming devotional music in India.

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.

In this episode, host Li Xueying discusses with Debarshi Dasgupta the recent surge in bhajan clubbing - the fusion of devotional Hindu music with contemporary styles like EDM and rock.

This cultural phenomenon, exemplified by recent concerts in Delhi and other cities, explores how young Indians are finding a modern form of spiritual engagement, stress relief, and social belonging.

It has received government endorsement from Prime Minister Modi and the BJP as part of a Hindu religious revival, which includes state funding for concerts and events.

This cultural shift also addresses social acceptance and generational changes in religious practices.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:18 How bhajan clubbing draws different age groups and its impact on faith practices

3:41 Influence of political figures like Modi endorsing this musical trend

6:35 The correlation between stress relief, youth identity, and spiritual needs

11:13 BJP’s promotion of Hinduism and religious revival through government policies

13:22 Political and economic motives behind government support for Hindu cultural activities

16:17 Future prospects of bhajan clubbing and its evolution into all-night raves

Read Debarshi Dasgupta’s article here: https://str.sg/qFYv

Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR

Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x

Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz

Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg)

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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If you have private medical insurance, April 1 would have been on your radar.

Private health insurers have put out new Integrated Shield Plan (IP) riders, which comply with requirements by the Ministry of Health (MOH) that were announced in November 2025.

This move was aimed at curbing rising insurance premiums and private healthcare costs. The major effect on policyholders? They will now be required to fork out more in deductibles and co-payments.

The upside is that new IP riders are more affordable than the previous ones. What does this move spell for private insurers, doctors and policyholders?

In this episode of The Usual Place, I speak with Mr Eddy Cheong, CEO at insurance advisory Havend; and Mr Yip Hon Weng, Yio Chu Kang SMC MP and the deputy chairperson for the government parliamentary committee on health.

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:18 Changes to IP riders and plans

8:01 What led to the ‘buffet syndrome’?

12:56 Doctors charging indiscriminately?

14:03 Paying more for your rider than the base plan

18:04 Delaying medical checks?

24:06 How medical inflation got to 16.9%?

26:00 Do you need to ‘insurance-max’?

30:36 Fewer insurers, fewer problems?

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)

Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://str.sg/8KNT

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Eden Soh & Hadyu Rahim

Executive producer: Danson Cheong

Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law

Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

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YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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