BT Lens On

Supporters of Israel, attacked a pro-Palestinian protest camp at the University of California in Los Angeles. In Asia, Eastern India experienced its hottest April on record and in Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he has prepared a leadership team to succeed him that deserves Singaporeans’ confidence and support, and asked that all Singaporeans rally behind it to make the nation succe...

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Hamas to swiftly accept an Israeli proposal for a truce in the Gaza war. In Asia news, Southeast Asia has been coping with a weeks long heat wave as record-high temperatures led to school closings in several countries and in Singapore, in the three weeks since the speed enforcement function was activated in red-light cameras, those cameras have detected m...

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that, France's nuclear weapons should be part of the European defense debate. In Asia news, China's coast guard confronted Japanese lawmakers in waters claimed by both countries in the East China Sea and in Singapore, Thirteen women and one man were arrested in connection with vice-related activities. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your...

Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction for sexual assault and rape overturned by New York's highest court. In Asia, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad is among individuals being investigated in connection with a graft probe involving his sons. And in Singapore, a new 255-room hotel under the boutique Hotel Indigo brand will open at Changi Airport’s T2 by 2028. Synopsis: A round up of glo...

TikTok's chief executive said that the company expects to win a legal challenge, to block legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden. In Asia, an armed ethnic group in Myanmar, has withdrawn its troops from a town along the Thai border, following a counteroffensive by the ruling junta. And in Singapore, the Singapore Red Cross announced an emergency humanitarian kitchen set up in Egypt’s N...

The United States is preparing a one billion dollar military aid package for Ukraine; two Malaysian military helicopters collided midair and crashed during a training session yesterday; a project to join the main road of Bidadari town to Bartley Road has restarted after a one-year hiatus. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times .  Written by: Lee Kim Siang...

President Joe Biden would celebrate Earth Day by announcing 7 billion dollars in grants for residential solar projects. In Asia, Taiwan’s capital was hit by a series of earthquakes overnight and Singapore has launched its final Invincible-class submarine, marking a new era in the Republic’s submarine journey. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times .  Writt...

EU ministers meet today to discuss bolstering Ukraine’s air defences and expanding sanctions on Iran; an Indonesian court will deliver its verdict today on challenges to the outcome of February's presidential election; a Russian man bought more than US$65 million worth of gold bullion held in Singapore in a money laundering conspiracy meant to fund Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Synopsis: A round u...

Pratibha Rai was just 27 years old when she was diagnosed with lymphoma. She never imagined this would happen to her. Why are more younger people getting cancer in Singapore and around the world? We hear from oncologist Dr Eileen Poon and cancer survivor Pratibha Rai about the challenges and triumphs in fighting cancer together. Plus, DBS’ head of financial planning literacy Lorna Tan explains wha...

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major powers warned that Ukraine risked being defeated by Russia. In Asia, Kazakhstan has declared a national disaster due to flooding and in Singapore, Marina Bay Sands has reported a record performance in the first quarter of 2024. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times .  Written by: Lee Kim Siang ( kimsiang@sph...

Nine people are facing charges in what authorities are calling the biggest gold theft in Canadian history; Indonesia issues tsunami warning; Cordlife board lodges police report over ‘potential wrongdoings’ of former employees. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times .  Written by: Lee Kim Siang ( kimsiang@sph.com.sg ) / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.s...

The United Nations human rights office has called on Israel to halt its support of attacks by West Bank settlers; Sri Lanka has rejected an international bondholders' proposal and in Singapore employers, must fairly consider formal requests from employees for flexible work arrangements from Dec 1, 2024. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times .  Written by:...

Jury selection begins in criminal trial for ex-US president Donald Trump in New York City; Pakistan declares state of emergency in the southwest of the country as torrential rains continue to batter the region; and in Singapore, political analysts expect a Cabinet reshuffle before or on May 15. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times .  Written by: Lee Kim...

Iran has warned Israel and the United States, of a much larger response if there is any retaliation. In Asia at least 14 people have been killed in landslides on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and in Singapore, Mo Batteries will not proceed to launch a battery swopping service for electric motorcycles. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times .  Written b...

In world news President Joe Biden, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, expected to announce a joint coast guard exercise. Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s autobiography to be released later this year. In Asia, tensions expected at Thai-Myanmar border and Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs and Law expressed a clear commitment to prote...

The United States and Japan have announced a joint partnership to accelerate development and commercialization of nuclear fusion. Exit polls in South Korea showed the main opposition party and its allies were projected to win a majority and in Singapore dengue cases continue to rise. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times .  Written by: Lee Kim Siang ( kim...

Iran’s foreign minister has accused the United States of giving Israel the “green light” for a strike on its consulate building in Syria, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said, that the Biden administration will push China to change an industrial policy and Singapore maritime start-up Pyxis and SP Mobility, a subsidiary of national grid operator SP Group has launched a trial for the first publi...

The idea that in shiny and successful Singapore, there might be citizens living in a cycle of poverty would seem preposterous to some. And yet the island does have low-income families struggling to survive amidst rising living costs. What is being done about it? Can DPM Lawrence Wong’s redefined Singapore Dream make things better for these families? And why should the average Singaporean even care...

Since over 80% of Singaporeans say their risk of burning out has increased, why is talking about mental health issues at the workplace, well, still an issue? Is caring for one’s mental health really an organisation’s responsibility? Howie Lim finds answers to these questions.  Synopsis: A monthly podcast series from The Business Times on current affairs, societal issues and government policies exp...

At the heart of upskilling and reskilling is staying employable. But what does upskilling and reskilling in the era of digital disruption and AI really entail? What are the challenges of upskilling and why is unlearning just as important? Claressa Monteiro finds out.  Synopsis: A monthly podcast series from The Business Times on current affairs, societal issues and government policies explored thr...

Degrees are getting more expensive to get, skills-based hiring is becoming more commonplace but tech graduates still command the highest starting pays. So is your non tech degree even worth getting anymore? And why are some economies experiencing qualifications-inflation? Howie Lim finds out.  Synopsis: A monthly podcast series from The Business Times on current affairs, societal issues and govern...

With frank clarity, Minister K Shanmugam, in conversation with Claressa Monteiro, shares his fears of the challenges that loom ahead for Singapore. A monthly podcast series from The Business Times on current affairs, societal issues and government policies explored through the lens of how it impacts us in Singapore and in the region. Highlights of the conversation: 01:06 Are we taking our success...

The Business Times Podcasts Team brings you “Lens on Singapore”, a monthly podcast which looks at the impact of global developments, changes in society and government policies. Many of the issues are not unique to Singapore but part of a wider phenomenon that will affect us and the region we live in. Hosted by Claressa Monteiro and Howie Lim.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore hasn’t been spared the effects of global climate change but we are getting hotter faster than some territories. What greener solutions are there we can adopt to stay cool? Howie Lim speaks to industry experts to find out. Synopsis: A monthly current affairs podcast which puts the lens on issues that impact business, money and liveability in Singapore. Highlights of the conversation: 04:4...

Singapore vs Hong Kong, is there a clear winner? Anchored by a conversation with Nathaniel Taplin, Asia editor, Heard on the Street, The Wall Street Journal , BT podcast editor Claressa Monteiro delves into the question in search of a definitive answer. Additional insights from Alfred Wu, associate professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS, Victor Mills, chief executive, Singapore Inter...