BT Lens On

The countdown to Singapore Budget 2025 has begun, and expectations are running high. Lens on Singapore hosts Claressa Monteiro and Howie Lim sit down with experts Nicholas Fang and Dr. Mathew Mathews to discuss what Singaporeans can expect from PM Lawrence Wong's budget debut. From cost of living to sustainability and AI, we examine the biggest issues facing Singapore today, and what the upcoming...

US governmental changes under President Trump, currency market movements, and international relations involving Singapore. Highlights market trends, focusing on specific stocks and gold prices. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Produ...

US-Panama Canal fee waiver, France’s budget-related no-confidence votes, US-China trade disputes, and Malaysia’s stance on Gaza. In Singapore, defense ties with the US are reaffirmed.  Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Montei...

Trump says the US would take over the war-shattered Gaza Strip; he is also in no hurry to speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping to try to defuse a new trade war; Australia bans DeepSeek from all government devices and the new Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act is passed in Singapore. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Clar...

Confirmation of Chris Wright as US energy secretary, EU defense spending, US tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, Australian household spending, and updates on Singapore's racial harmony. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Produced b...

Global tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, effects on markets, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's remarks, Australia floods, and Singapore's new Workplace Fairness Bill. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts,...

Tragic US air disaster; Brexit developments; SoftBank's potential investment in OpenAI; India accelerates its AI initiatives and in Singapore, updates on Woodleigh bus interchange. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Po...

US maritime strategies in Panama, Australian business activity, and political concerns in Asia under President Prabowo Subianto. Also highlighted is the upcoming Jurong Region Line in Singapore. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Prod...

US President Trump suggests Palestinians should move to Jordan and Egypt; Perplexity AI revises merger proposal with TikTok's parent ByteDance; South Korea's President Yoon faces insurrection charges and Singapore’s Changi Airport forecasts growth after missing full recovery. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Clare...

Trump wants to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible to secure an end to the war with Ukraine; Palestinians in northern Gaza prepare tent encampments for displaced families and US lawmakers want to revoke China's preferential trade status with the United States. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Clare...

Mexico preparing shelters for possible deportations, European Union's stance on aid to Ukraine, South Korea's economic performance, Japan's export growth, China’s response to US tariff threats, and a Singaporean voucher offer from FairPrice. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )...

US tariffs on Europe and China, Putin and Xi's discussions, Malaysia's investment strategy, Myanmar’s deportation of scam suspects, and Singapore's housing affordability. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcas...

Donald Trump claims the US presidency and begins imposing his will; Pope Francis dissolves a Catholic religious community; an Indian court hands down a life sentence and a childcare centre in Sydney was set alight in another antisemitic attack. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )&nb...

Hamas-Israeli prisoner swap during a new ceasefire, President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming second inauguration, China's education initiative for 2035, a deadly Myanmar airstrike and Singapore's strong budget framework. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited b...

Ever wondered how Singapore's national budget comes together? From grocery vouchers to retirement savings, budgeting for a country is incredibly complicated. Just imagine the size of their Excel spreadsheet.  In this episode of Lens on Singapore, host Claressa Monteiro sits down with Andrew Blazey from the OECD and associate professor Terence Ho from the Singapore University of Social Science...

Israel's delayed Gaza ceasefire deal, a Space-X rocket failure, China's economic rebound, Taiwan's controversial execution and Singapore's robust key exports. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business T...

Ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, US sanctions on Russia, Australia's employment surge, Taiwan's maritime security measures, and new app store regulations in Singapore.  Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT P...

Negotiators are near a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza today; firefighters hold the line against two massive wildfires in LA; South Korean authorities attempt to arrest the impeached President again and U.S. VP Harris calls PM Wong. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced an...

Peace negotiations in Gaza, climate change litigation involving major oil companies, the potential sale of TikTok's US operations, massive protests in Manila, and employment trends among Singapore's polytechnic graduates.  Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and...

US sanctions on Russian oil producers, California wildfires, and significant updates from Asia-Pacific nations. Singapore faces heavy rainfall due to the monsoon surge. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The...

Trump's sentencing, Los Angeles wildfires, anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney, Johor's economic growth and heightened security in Singapore. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media --- F...

Trump's interest in Greenland, global bond market volatility, Taiwan-China tensions, Indonesia-Qatar housing agreement and Singapore's new workplace discrimination bill. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Recording engineer: Joann Chai Pei Chieh Produced and edited by: Clares...

President-elect Trump’s controversial foreign policy proposals, the death of French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, a significant earthquake in the Himalayas, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and anti-discrimination workplace laws in Singapore.   Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro...

US congress certified the election victory of Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau stepping down, China's anti-corruption efforts, India's new virus cases, and Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Recording engineer: Joann Chai Pei Chieh Produ...

Ukrainian President Zelenskiy seeks US security guarantees, the dollar steadies amid economic data anticipation, South Korea requests police help in arresting impeached President Yoon, Japan's service activity expands and Singapore sees increased mortgage refinancing. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro (...