Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Following the breakdown of rare high-level talks between Washington and Tehran, US President Donald Trump has unveiled a significant escalation: a naval operation aimed at restricting vessels linked to Iranian ports. This development comes despite a ceasefire reached on April 8 intended to temporarily halt weeks of fighting. In remarks shared on social media, Trump framed the operation as an effor...

Markets are being jolted after the US moved to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, sending Brent and WTI sharply higher following failed talks between Washington and Tehran. But here’s what’s really catching attention, beyond the headline rally, there are signs of a deeper strain, with a growing disconnect between what’s happening in the physical oil market and what’s being pric...

On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh look at how Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival went from a 1990s protest-era experiment to becoming one of the world’s biggest cultural festivals. What started as a risky desert show eventually grew into a global stage for iconic performances and … skyrocketing prices?  Then we dive into “Bieberchella,” wher...

Singapore shares slid today after no agreement was reached between the US and Iran in peace talks held over the weekend. The Straits Times Index was down 0.21% at 4,978.89 points at 2.45pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$855.70M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Katrina Group, after the Catalist-listed company on Friday said independent auditors from EY...

Today we turn our attention to look at renewable energy as companies around the world look to decarbonise and reduce their consumption of traditional fossil fuels.  Founded in 2008 with a mission to address the challenges of climate change, our guest for today is pure-play renewable fuel producer EcoCeres.  Backed by international investors Bain Capital and Kerogen Capital, the company t...

Singapore is introducing a three-month, 13% fare revenue support scheme to stabilise school bus and care transport operators amid rising fuel costs driven by geopolitical tensions. While the move is expected to keep fares stable in the near term, questions remain over whether such short-term subsidies address underlying cost pressures or merely delay inevitable adjustments. On The Big Story, Debbi...

HNWIs in Singapore are increasingly questioning whether their wealth is sufficient to sustain retirement in a high-cost environment. Rising living expenses, longer lifespans, and market volatility are reshaping how portfolios need to be constructed, shifting the focus from accumulation to income generation, resilience, and long-term sustainability. On The Wealth Tracker, Debbie Yong speaks with&nb...

Have you ever had a dream so real, it actually came true? Well, a NASA astronaut’s old tweet about orbiting the Moon has gone viral, and years after he actually made that journey. Also, Singapore is getting its first-ever cake rave, where DJs, desserts, and dance floors collide. On What’s Trending, Debbie Yong and Alexandra Parada unpack dreams coming true and cake-fuelled raves. See o...

Singapore shares nudged higher today as investors continued to monitor the situation in the Middle East and mull upcoming US-Iran talks to be held over the weekend.  The Straits Times Index edged 0.13% higher to 4,983.64 points at 1.39pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.00B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have the Singapore Exchange, given how the loc...

Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian reports from Jakarta, Indonesia in this “On the Go” special episode of Under the Radar, as she covers the key highlights of GrabX 2026.  That’s the Southeast Asia superapp’s annual product showcase, where the firm unveiled the latest innovations to be rolled out progressively this year. Themed “Your Everyday G...

Blind boxes: adorable, collectible… and unexpectedly addictive. What began as a niche hobby for toy enthusiasts has exploded into a mainstream phenomenon, popping up in stores, fast food chains, and online platforms. But this popularity comes with a downside. Concerns over compulsive spending have prompted Singapore to consider regulations aimed at curbing the gambling-like risks of blind b...

Jewelry is increasingly being repositioned from a luxury purchase to a tangible store of value, as wealthy investors seek alternatives amid market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. From record-breaking auction sales to strong resale demand for maisons like Cartier and Bulgari, high-end pieces, especially rare colored gemstones, are attracting capital alongside assets like art and watches. O...

A recent wave of departures, from Enhypen’s Heeseung to NCT’s Mark and Ten, has fans questioning what’s next for the industry, and whether individual ambition is starting to outweigh group identity. Plus, would you pay hundreds of thousands for a drink? Well, a Japanese brewery just sold a US$700,000 bottle of sake which was brewed in space. On What’s Trending, Debbie Yong...

Markets are flashing red across the board with Singapore slips 0.4% to 4,977, mirroring broader weakness across Asia and US futures. With sentiment turning cautious, the question now is: are we in a “buy the dip, sell the rip” environment? Meanwhile, strong earnings growth in the US continues to underpin optimism, driven largely by tech and financials. But with recent market pullbacks,...

St Andrew’s Secondary School are the B Division rugby champions...at last. On Sports Minutes, captain Joshua Kee and out-centre Wesley Choo relive their nail-biting win over arch rivals Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in the National School Games. A remarkable story of redemption and coronation, after years of heartbreak. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/schools/redemption-fo...

US President Donald Trump has announced a two-week suspension of attacks on Iran—a tense, last-minute pause in a conflict that has already rattled the Middle East and global markets. The ceasefire hinges on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint carrying one-fifth of the world’s oil. With talks set to begin on April 10, key disagreements remain over nuclear enrichm...

Singapore has introduced a fresh round of support measures worth close to $1 billion as rising energy prices and global instability threaten to push inflation higher. At the same time, a newly announced ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran offers a brief window of relief for global markets, but uncertainty remains. So how far can these measures go in cushioning the immediate impa...

According to CNN, Singapore’s Le Freeport—a climate-controlled vault usually reserved for extreme wealth — is now home to a 66‑million-year-old Triceratops skeleton, standing just feet away from billions in gold and priceless contemporary art. Dinosaurs, gold, and masterpieces, all under one roof? Behind the spectacle lies a complex story. Families holding these alternative asset...

Move over dating apps, South Korea has found a new hotspot for singles: bookstores. On What’s Trending, Debbie Yong and Nadiah Koh dive into Seoul’s Kyobo Book Center, where young romantics are turning the aisles into matchmaking grounds, complete with viral videos of people holding books and ‘waiting for love’. Then, they hop over to China, where a teahouse in Hainan learn...

Energy markets remain a key concern. After weeks of heightened focus, the question now is whether prices are entering a more stable phase or if volatility will persist. For Asia, potential shifts toward alternative oil sources such as the US raise structural questions, particularly around the mismatch between heavier crude exports and the region’s refining configurations. Apple also comes in...

Starting April 15, a new rule out of Singapore could catch many travellers off guard — you’ll only be allowed to carry two power banks in your hand luggage. Any extras? You’ll have to throw them away before boarding. The move, announced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, follows updated global safety guidelines from the International Civil Aviation Organization aimed a...

Stablecoins are no longer just a niche experiment, they’re a rapidly growing cornerstone of global finance. In 2025 alone, these digital assets processed $33 trillion in transactions, far surpassing traditional platforms like PayPal. From fintech startups to financial giants like BlackRock, Visa, and JPMorgan, companies are racing to stake their claim in this new frontier. How will they resh...

Would you let your partner plan your wedding convoy? Well, one groom in China did exactly that and showed up with nine septic tank trucks on his big day. Plus, if your partner takes terrible photos, don’t worry, it might actually earn you a free trip to Iceland worth S$68,000. On What’s Trending, Debbie Yong and Alexandra Parada talk about a viral septic truck wedding that’s divi...

Market activity held relatively firm, with S$1.45 billion in value turnover, but sentiment stayed fragile as attention turned to ongoing discussions around a potential 45-day ceasefire involving the US, Iran and regional mediators. With no clear outcome and a tight 24-48 hour window, markets, particularly oil, are bracing for possible volatility depending on how events unfold. Oil prices have so f...

After Albirex's stunning comeback to defeat Tampines Rovers, could the past weekend in the Singapore Premier League prove to be pivotal in the title race? Plus, with Tanjong Pagar suffering yet more misery...do good players necessarily make good coaches? Plenty of questions, Sports Minutes has the answers in the company of Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits Times. READ MORE: https...