Breakfast with Ryan Huang, Emaad Akhtar and Audrey Siek

As we approach mid-December, Audrey is all about the holidays right now. She quizzes the Breakfast crew on “December Trivia”; about all things Christmas, and  things around us this month. How did the Christmas Tree become a thing? Why are candy canes shaped like canes?  Find out and play along!   Presented by Audrey Siek, Emaad Akhtar & Ryan Huang  Produced and Edited by Audrey Siek Photo and music credits: Pixabay & its talented community of contributors

Jay Woods, CMT, Chief Global Strategist, Freedom Capital Markets shares his first-hand experience watching President-Elect Donald Trump ring in the New York Stock Exchange bell, after being named Time's “Person of the Year”. He also weighs in on whether the tech momentum is set to carry over into 2025, if AI will continue to be the story for investors what he'll be watching out for when the Fed meets next week, as well as sectors that might see some impact coming on the back of upcoming tariffs.  Presented by: Ryan Huang Produced and Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: AP Photo / Alex Brandon

Do you use your things for what they are worth before throwing it out? With a lot more focus placed on fighting the effects of climate change, the pace at which we’re using our planet’s resources has also come into the spotlight. According to the World Economic Forum, high-income countries use about six times more materials per capita and are responsible for 10 times more climate impacts per capita than low-income countries. So, how can overconsumption be curbed more effectively? And are you underconsuming what you have? On this episode of Climate Connections, Cheang Kok Chung, Executive Director, Singapore Environment Council and Michelle Lee, Associate Professor of Marketing (Education), Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University weigh in on how attitudes towards consumption are changing, and what consumers and businesses can do to play their part.  Feature produced and edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Voiced by: Emaad Akhtar Photo credits: Earth.com, pixabay & its talented community of contributors Music credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors

Tay Hwee Ling, Accounting & Reporting Assurance Leader, Deloitte Southeast Asia discusses why Southeast Asia saw a 9-year low for listings in 2024. She examines whether Singapore can rebound after being one of the worst performing in terms of IPO launches this year. Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang

Yussef Gheriani, Director of Investments and Operations, IHT Wealth Management shares his insights on the latest rise in US inflation as Americans' confidence improves, whether he's expecting a rate cut at next week's FOMC meeting and sectors that he's closely watching, and the key trajectory for oil prices in the coming months, especially with the tensions in Syria rising. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar Produced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: Kyodo / via Reuters

New reports from this week say that one of the most powerful ethnic minority armed groups battling Myanmar’s army has claimed the capture of the last army outpost in the strategic western town of Maungdaw, gaining full control of the 271-kilometre-long border with Bangladesh. Rakhine has become a focal point for Myanmar’s nationwide civil war, in which pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed forces seeking autonomy battle the country’s military rulers, who took power in 2021 after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. This follows just less than a week after a second major Myanmar ethnic rebel group says it is ready for China-mediated talks with the junta to end more than a year of renewed fighting that has ravaged areas along the Chinese border. On this episode of Morning Shot, we’ll be speaking with Dr Felix Tan, an independent political observer who lectures on International Relations and has published works on Myanmar shares his insights on what’s fuelling Myanmar’s civil war and whether there’s a realistic path to reconciliation and stability for the country. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: Wa Lone / Reuters

Big news for Southeast Asia! The iconic kebaya has sashayed its way onto UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Thanks to a joint effort by Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, this traditional garment is now officially a global cultural treasure.  Audrey and Emaad chat about its rich history and some iconic kebaya types we see around us. Presented by Audrey Siek & Emaad Akhtar Produced and Edited by Audrey Siek Photo & music credits: Pixabay & its talented community of contributors

With Singapore set to reach super-aged status as early as 2026, the nation’s vision centres around ageing-in-place. This brings into focus the importance of integrating medical, social and allied health services within the heartlands, something that PanCare Medical has built into its model, which adopts a more holistic approach, addressing not just medical but also functional, mental health and nutritional needs. On this episode of 2024 OCBC Emerging Enterprise, Dr Ong Guan Hong, CEO of PanCare Medical and Winner of the 2024 Emerging Enterprise Award shares how his medical group is transforming eldercare in Singapore, challenges behind expanding the slate of services for seniors, and gaps that they are working hard to fill. Presented by: Audrey Siek  Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)

2024 is drawing to a close but tensions between the US and China are nowhere near over. China has hit out at America’s latest efforts to block Beijing’s access to chip technology. This comes ahead of 2025, when Donald Trump is set to take office at the White House, and had earlier warned of an additional levy of 10 percent on Chinese imports. While a revived trade war would further destabilise China’s economy, economists and tax experts have also cautioned it would also harm the US economy by increasing prices for American consumers and could lead to supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and a currency war with China. On this episode of Morning Shot, William Ma, Chief Investment Officer at GROW Investment Group shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors

Kheng Siang Ng, Asia-Pacific Head of Fixed Income at State Street Global Advisors discusses how investors should navigate investing in Asia amid renewed signals of stimulus measures from China.  Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang