CNA938 Rewind

On today's (22 October) markets analysis on Open For Business, Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman speak with Homin Lee, Senior Macro Strategist at Lombard Odier. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From laksa to chicken rice and wanton mee, Singaporeans love the familiar flavours of their favourite hawker dishes. But with 95 per cent consuming too much sodium, hawkers are being encouraged to make healthier food. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman examine why reducing sodium is difficult for food businesses, whether healthier recipes can still taste good and what it will take to change Singapore...

When a cloud provider goes down, banking services can grind to a halt. A recent Google Cloud outage has exposed the vulnerabilities of financial institutions relying on just a few major technology providers. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman explore why backup systems may not be enough, who should be held accountable when services fail, and whether Singapore's banks are prepared for similar disrupti...

Pokémon cards have evolved from childhood collectibles into a thriving trading scene in cities like Hong Kong and Singapore, with enthusiasts spending thousands on rare and graded cards. Hairianto Diman and Andrea Heng explore what's driving the craze, how big the local community has become and whether rising prices are turning a nostalgic hobby into a speculative bubble with Darrell Tan, F...

A man was charged after allegedly using a concealed device to obtain customers’ bank card information at Mustafa Centre. Daniel Martin spoke to Professor Zhou Jianying, Centre Director of the iTrust Centre for Research in Cyber Security at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, about whether someone nearby can scan information from your wallet or phone, and how to protect yoursel...

On The Ask on Singapore Today, shares of Australian data centre operator NextDC have fallen sharply, raising questions about investor appetite for data centres. Daniel Martin spoke to Denise Cheok, Economist at Moody’s Analytics, about what’s behind the sell-off and whether it signals a temporary setback or a broader shift in data centre investment. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

In Business, Japan and South Korea report strong export growth, while the U.S. dollar faces pressure and oil markets remain sensitive to supply risks in the Middle East. Daniel Martin spoke to Denise Cheok, Economist at Moody’s Analytics, about these developments and the latest moves in Asian markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s air quality has improved slightly, but could the haze worsen again? Daniel Martin spoke to Dr Erik Velasco, Associate Research Scientist and Research Fellow at the Molina Center for Energy and the Environment, about the weather conditions that influence haze, the signs to look out for, and what it would take for conditions to improve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Would you know what “clean”, “natural” or “botanical” on a beauty label actually tells you? Cheryl Goh speaks with Patricia Wong, founder of Patrichory, who unpacks what matters when it comes to ingredients and safety, and hear how one founder started over at 55 to build a new chapter around purpose and wellness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

White lor mee, Hakka yong tau foo and fragrant ayam berempah are among the dishes bringing together generations of culinary traditions at ION Orchard. Cheryl Goh explores Food Opera's biggest makeover yet, the stories behind its heritage hawkers and how Singapore's food court experience is evolving with Andy Kiu, General Manager of Food Opera, and Chen Yiwen, Founder of Hakka Bond. See omnystudio....

AI is becoming a practical growth tool for smaller businesses, from automating accounting workflows to helping lean teams handle marketing and analytics. Cheryl Goh hears from two Singapore SMEs moved beyond experimentation, where AI delivered measurable gains, and what other businesses can learn from their approach with Ying Hu Tianying, Partner at Accountingbpo, and Lim Yi Ying, Founder of IYLA...

As the Australian Made logo marks 40 years, country-of-origin branding is taking on new weight in a market where consumers care more about provenance, quality and trust. Cheryl Goh speaks with Ben Lazzaro, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Made Campaign Limited to explore what the label means to Singapore shoppers today, and how Australian brands are building recognition in this region. See om...

With potentially high fatality rates and no approved vaccines, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever and Marburg virus disease are now receiving greater attention in Singapore. How dangerous are they, what symptoms should you watch for, and how can you protect yourself? Hairianto Diman and Andrea Heng break down the risks and explain why Singapore is strengthening surveillance with Dr Hsu...

Singapore's peak electricity demand is expected to grow from 8.2GW to 10.2GW, driven partly by energy-intensive industries. Hairianto Diman and Andrea Heng speak to Eugene Toh, Assistant Chief Executive (Energy Technologies), Energy Market Authority & Quek Swee Xian, Vice President, Asset Planning & Strategy, SP Group about plans to expand electricity generation, strengthen the power...

Raj Kumar is president of the Rotary Club of Singapore and founder of the travel company IPC Group, which marks its 30th anniversary in 2026. Raj shares how the sad discovery that a friend and Rotary Club staff member had passed away alone in her flat, motivated him to initiate a new programme, the Queenstown Legacy Project, to support the wellbeing and safety of vulnerable seniors living alone in...

On The Ask on Singapore Today, fintech firm Mynt has made its stock market debut in the Philippines, while Singapore-based Sea Limited is reportedly looking to list its financial services arm, Monee, in New York. Daniel Martin spoke to Adeline Gao, Research Analyst at FSM Global, about why major regional tech firms are choosing to list overseas and what it would take for the Singapore Exchange to...

A new SMU study finds that friendships play an important role in encouraging regular cancer screening among older Singaporeans. Daniel Martin spoke to Professor Paulin Tay Straughan, Professor of Sociology (Practice) at SMU’s School of Social Sciences and Director of the Centre for Research on Successful Ageing, about how Singapore can turn its ageing population into an economic advantage, f...

In Business, Asian markets face uncertainty over interest rates and geopolitical tensions, while China prepares new export controls on drone technology and oil prices remain elevated. Daniel Martin spoke to Adeline Gao, Research Analyst at FSM Global, about these developments and the latest moves in Asian markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore has served notices to three more Indonesian companies under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, bringing the total to 10. Daniel Martin spoke to Sharon Chong, Partner and Head of the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice at RHTLaw Asia, about how the Act works, Singapore’s jurisdiction over companies linked to transboundary haze, and how it can be enforced. See omnystudio....

Reaching out for help isn't always easy, especially when we're navigating mental health challenges, family relationships or difficult life experiences. Ahead of President's Challenge Night 2026, Cheryl Goh speaks with Sharon Ng, Cluster Head of Family, Counselling and Mental Health Services at REACH Community Services about how approaches to mental health care have evolved, what it takes to build...

From Teochew roe crab to Persian kebabs and fragrant stews, two new openings are bringing different cuisines to Dempsey. Cheryl Goh digs into the flavours and personal stories behind SHAO and SHIRAZI, and how they showcase these distinct culinary traditions with Chef Jack Ding, Founder of SHAO, and Chef Mohammad Hosseini, Co-Founder of SHIRAZI. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SMEs across Asia Pacific remain optimistic about growth, but financial stability and managing increasingly complex operations are high on their agenda. Mastercard's Dreamonomics Report examines how businesses are navigating digital tools, payment methods and cash-flow pressures. Cheryl Goh speaks with Anouska Ladds, Executive Vice President, Commercial and New Payment Flows, Asia Pacific, at Maste...

Shaun Low is the founder of Swords and Stationery, a learning centre catering to the needs of students with dyslexia. Shaun shares how his own passion for video games as a youth resulted in his love for language and later on, inspired him to use them as a tool to help students with dyslexia feel more engaged and confident about learning English. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cardiac arrest can strike without warning, but would your colleagues know what to do? As the Singapore Heart Foundation rolls out its Heart Safe Mark accreditation, Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng discuss why workplace emergency preparedness matters, the importance of CPR and AED training, and whether Singapore should make life-saving skills compulsory for employees with Geoffrey Ong, Chief Executi...

As Singapore continues to experience unhealthy air quality, the effects may extend beyond health problems. Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng examine the potential impact of prolonged haze on stress, anxiety, sleep and emotional well-being, and what Singaporeans can do to maintain their mental health while staying safe with Dr Timothy Singham, Clinical Psychologist See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...