The Afternoon Update with Lynlee Foo

As ASEAN accelerates its push toward net-zero, battery technology is emerging as the backbone of the region’s clean energy future. From EV adoption to renewable energy storage, batteries are set to play a pivotal role but can Southeast Asia realistically compete with giants like China? On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Dr. Chiam Sing Yang, Technical Director of the Singapore Battery Consortium and the lead for ASEAN Battery Safety Network. They discuss the region’s emerging battery ecosystem, the critical role of safety standards, and Singapore’s position as a high-value hub for testing, R&D, and recycling. Whether you’re tracking EV growth, renewable integration, or the future of battery innovation, tune to this conversation for an insider’s view of ASEAN’s opportunities, and challenges in the global battery race.

As Asia-Europe trade gains momentum, Southeast Asia’s role is shifting from that of a traditional transit zone to a more strategic and value-adding one. How are logistics strategies evolving? What’s driving demand across the corridor, and why is Southeast Asia no longer just a bridge?  On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks to Bianca Wong, Vice President Operations of FedEx Express Southeast Asia to find out more.

A new free digital tool called "myACP" is making end-of-life planning more accessible in Singapore by letting individuals document their end-of-life care preferences without the need for a doctor's appointment or paperwork. But how does this tech make conversations behind end-of-life planning more convenient and comfortable?  On Good Tech, Lynlee Foo speaks to Wong Wai Min, Deputy Director, Primary and Community Care Development Division from Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to find out more.

Cinemas across Singapore are shutting their doors, from Filmgarde’s quiet exit to Cathay Cineplexes facing collapse. But this isn’t just about the loss of movie screens. What does it mean for Singapore’s cultural real estate and creative ecosystem?  On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks to screenwriter-producer and Intercultural Theatre Institute Executive Director Justin Deimen, to explore the economics behind cinema closures, what’s next for cultural spaces, and why it’s time to rethink how we value the arts.

What makes Singapore feel like home - especially for those still waiting to be accepted? In this SG60 special of Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo explores the meaning of belonging with three guests who see Singapore from very different vantage points. Dr Mathew Mathews, a sociologist at the Institute of Policy Studies, reflects on identity and cohesion at the 60-year mark. Jake Low, a young filmmaker, shares how storytelling helps expand our national narrative. Amandine Honvault, creator of New to Singapore, opens up about being rejected for permanent residency - twice - and why she’s still building a life here. From hard questions about status and recognition to hopeful dreams for SG120, this conversation challenges us to think beyond walls and documents, to what truly makes a city home.

State-sponsored threat actors, ransomware gangs, and cybercrime brokers are joining forces - and they’re not breaking through your front door. They’re sneaking in through your partners. On Industry Insight, Teo Xiang Zheng, Vice President of Advisory at Ensign InfoSecurity, reveals why cyber supply chain attacks are escalating across APAC, how Singapore is becoming a testbed for ransomware variants, and what business leaders must do to defend their organisations from within.  

Singapore’s marine fuel sector is feeling the cash crunch. On Industry Insight,129Knots’ Co-founder Mahesh Kumar explains how embedded finance is unlocking liquidity, transforming trade credit, and fuelling Singapore’s ambitions as a global maritime and fintech hub.

As healthcare shifts from treatment to prevention, medtech companies are evolving beyond devices. On Industry Insight, Masanori Matsubara, Managing Director of OMRON Healthcare Singapore, joins us to discuss how connected health tools, personalised data, and step-up insurance coverage are converging to support better everyday health. Discover how this model is helping patients take charge of chronic conditions like hypertension, and what it reveals about the future of preventive care in Singapore and beyond.

Unpaid internships. Burnout disguised as passion.  In Singapore’s creative industry, these are increasingly common, driven by a mindset that values hustle as a pathway to success. But when hustle culture becomes a rite of passage what's the real cost? Pedro Aguirre, Community Development and Impact Director at social enterprise Make The Change, joins Lynlee Foo to unpack why internships have turned into a resume “arms race,” how it is filtering out diverse talent, and what a more sustainable and inclusive creative ecosystem should look like.

Singapore investors are diving into Japan’s real estate market, and boutique B&Bs in Osaka are leading the charge. In Part 2 of an Industry Insight Japan Special, Lynlee Foo speaks to Ruben Koh, Senior Director and Head of International Residential Sales at Savills Singapore, who shares more about the sell-out success of Metro City Osaka and what’s driving Singaporean demand for fully-managed, short-stay properties in Japan. From tourism tailwinds and favourable exchange rates to the appeal of plug-and-play models, we explore why Japan’s B&B market is booming — and what investors need to know before jumping in.