Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

On What's Trending, McDonalds in Japan will release a limited edition dessert menu on June 5th, featuring Asian sweet treats that reflects Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino cuisine, with options like mango sauced sundae and banana caramel pie. Also, Qatar Airways has been named the World's best airline for 2024 by Australia-based aviation safety and product rating agency AirlineRatings.com.

Truffles can cost as much as US$300,000. Thus, there is fierce competition. There are some jealous hunters who get upset when other crews with truffle dogs score big and poisonous traps have been laid out in Tuscany. 

Now what do you think of when we talk about internships? Chances are you think of two words - overworked and underpaid. But what if an internship surrounded two very different words…and that is Formula One! That’s right, two very fortunate Singaporeans have been selected from thousands of applicants for what’s being described by most as an “opportunity of a lifetime” - to work as interns at Red Bull Racing’s headquarters in Milton Keynes, England! Zia-ul Raushan caught up with the two NTU undergrads - Charis Chua and Heng Yi-Hsin - ahead of their plunge into the fast lanes! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

Today we’re going to bring you an inside look into the B2B merchant services and fintech arm of Razer, Fiuu.  Established back in April 2018 as Razer Fintech, Fiuu has grown to become the one of the largest O2O or Offline to Online digital payment networks in emerging markets and has processed over billions of dollars in total payment value.  For one thing, Fiuu recorded a Total Payment Volume, or TPV of over US$6.6 billion for FY 2023, positioning it as one of the largest payment processors in Southeast Asia.  Its business encompasses two verticals namely payment services and reload services. In terms of payment services, the firm supports global scheme cards and over 110 payment methods to power online and offline payments for global and regional blue-chip merchants in Southeast Asia.  On the reload services front, the firm has built the region’s largest offline payment network with over 1 million physical acceptance points. This includes cash-over-counter services like the fulfilment of e-commerce purchases, bill payments and telco reloads and merchant acquiring services for third party e-wallets.  Why are we talking to Fiuu you might ask? Well, the firm was rebranded from Razer Fintech to Fiuu in March this year to reinforce its intentions to become a leading force in the future of digital payments.  But how far does the rebranding initiative allow the firm to move away from its gaming heritage?  Meanwhile, a report by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company noted that digital payments now make up over 50% of transactions in Southeast East Asia. But what opportunities does this provide to Fiuu and Razer? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Limeng Lee, Executive Chairman, Fiuu, and Chief Strategy Officer, Razer.

Singapore stocks started the day on a softer note, after US markets closed overnight mixed. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) dipped 0.1 per cent to 3,326.72 points after 51.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Singtel.  That’s after two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the telco is part of a consortium poised as a frontrunner to buy a minority stake worth US$1 billion in STT Telemedia Global Data Centre (STT GDC), one of Asia’s biggest data centre providers. Elsewhere from Vietnam’s inflation hitting an 11-month high to Apple opening its first retail location in Malaysia next month, more international and corporate headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Carl Ashton, Investment Counselor, Citi Private Bank.

The Peak released an article titled “Hungry for Hansik: Why Korean temple cuisine and fermentation are gaining popularity”, where Korean cuisine, also known as Hansik has been rising in global popularity, ranging from its unique elements like temple cuisine to fermentation. On The Peak Special on K-Wave, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Kenneth Goh, Digital Editor, The Peak Singapore, to find out more.

On this month's edition of The Business of Learning, Neo Zhizhong, co-founder and CEO of Geniebook, was featured. Neo is reinventing the education sector through AI through Geniebook, which uses AI to personalize learning, helping students achieve their best with minimal time and stress. On The Peak Special on R.I.C.H., Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani speaks to Zat, Editor-in-Chief, The Peak Singapore, to find out more about his key takeaways from his chat with Neo. Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Watches and Wonders 2024 has caused quite a stir within the watchmaking community. Watches and Wonders is the place where artistry and luxury collide, and watches become more than just useful instruments. On The Peak Special on Culture Club, Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani speaks to Yanni Tan, Style & Watches Editor, The Peak Magazine, to find out more about this year's event. Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

On What's Trending, tensions on the Korean Peninsula have risen, with North Korea sending 90 balloons filled with propaganda leaflets and rubbish to the South. Also, a house in Illinois, known for being the location of the movie "Home Alone," is now up for sale at a price of $5.25 million.

L’oreal is one of the companies that have contacted their suppliers about an investigation which reveals that a key ingredient in their products is being picked by minors. Also, the wages that the pickers do earn is less than ever before, and they are often living below the poverty line.