Breakfast with Ryan Huang, Emaad Akhtar and Audrey Siek

Barnabas Gan, Senior economist, RHB Bank discusses why the Monetary Authority of Singapore may have decided to hit the pause on tightening after doing so for five straight times, and explores if Singapore's economy could be in for a technical recession in the first half of this year after contracting 0.7% q-o-q in Q1.

On Mind Your Business today, we look into how a fintech media company based in Perth, created an A.I. anchor to replace a news presenter who left for a rival company. The AI anchor, named Andy, presented its first story on Bitcoin in October 2022, before becoming the company’s dedicated cryptocurrencies reporter. So how will A.I. anchors or presenters transform the media landscape? Can an A.I. anchor actually do a LIVE radio interview? Lynlee Foo and Ryan Huang find out from Heidi Cuthbert, CEO of Grafa. This podcast is produced and edited by Anthea Ng (nganthea@sph.com.sg)

The International Monetary Fund is painting a pessimistic outlook, as it downgrades its real GDP growth forecast for both 2023 and 2024.  Selena Ling, Chief Economist at OCBC Bank weighs in how Singapore’s economy positions against larger economies amid that gloomy outlook and whether central banks will further tighten their monetary policies. This podcast is produced and edited by Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Presenter: Lynlee Foo

According a recent study, more people returned their trays and crockery after they finished a meal at a coffee shop or hawker centre in 2022. That accounts to 95 per cent of over 2000 people who were polled in that survey. Professor Paulin Straughan, Sociology Professor at Singapore Management University explains the reasons driving this social responsibility.

A cautionary word on China. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor & Senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, he chats with the Australian statesman Bob Carr, a long-serving Premier of New South Wales, Australia’s most prosperous state, and foreign minister to then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard.  The podcast was conducted against the backdrop of Australia’s soured ties with China, the surprise decision to form Aukus (which groups Australia with the United Kingdom and the United States) and the deteriorating situation in East Asia centred over Taiwan. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:24 Resolving the US for security, China for prosperity dilemma 9:00 Need to be restrained on Taiwan 12:00 The worries about Aukus 20:00 Is conflict with China looming? 23:15 Why Kevin Rudd is being sent to the US 25:10 Message to China: Correct your diplomacy Produced by: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Teo Tong Kai and Fa’izah Sani Follow Speaking Of Asia Podcast every second Friday of the month on our Asian Insider Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Ravi Velloor's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP Ravi Velloor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #STAsianInsider

One of the common challenges of a graphic designer is the constant demand to churn out designs based on clients' needs.  That can be exhausting and draining, leading to a sense of burnout and fatigue.  Feeling uninspired and in need of a change, one graphic designer decided to take a break from the industry and explore new creative avenues.  She discovered a passion for floral design and taught herself the art of flower hoop making, starting her own home-based business.  With the freedom to create and design without the constraints of client demands, she was able to rediscover her love for the craft and reignite her passion for creativity. Now, she runs a successful business, creating beautiful flower hoops for weddings and events, and has found a sense of fulfillment and joy in her work once again. On Mind Your Business, LynLee Foo and Ryan Huang find out more from Vanessa Teo, Twist The Willow Twig, the self-taught floral designer and business owner. This podcast is produced and edited by Anthea Ng (nganthea@sph.com.sg)

Rob Desborough, Managing Partner at Seraphim Space, discusses how investors can find opportunities in outer space, and how his fund looks for astronomical returns.

With its status as a renowned international financial centre. Singapore has long been a popular investment destination for rich businessmen, wealthy families and tech entrepreneurs from Asia and elsewhere.  Jimmy Zhu, Chief Strategist, Fullerton Markets explains what makes the nation a magnet for Chinese billionaires.

The Singapore Government is pushing for everyone to have the “right mindset”. Areas of focus include strengthening the culture of respect towards seniors, and avoiding stereotypes can be hurtful and self-limiting. But what else can we do as a society and are regulations to support the elderly sufficient?  Professor Theng Yin Leng, Executive Director of the Ageing Research Institute for Society and Education at NTU Singapore weighs in with her research. This podcast is produced and edited by Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Presenter: Lynlee Foo

Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Research, Singapore at Maybank Investment Banking Group, discusses how the Straits Times Index may actually outperform against a backdrop of slower global growth and rising interest rates.