The Afternoon Update with Lynlee Foo

At NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show Asia Pacific, the buzz wasn’t just about AI and immersive commerce—it was about how travel is reshaping retail. 'Live' from Marina Bay Sands, Industry Insight dives into the latest travel and retail trends in Asia Pacific with Mastercard's Chief Economist David Mann. From currency-savvy Singaporean travelers boosting footfall in Tokyo and Osaka, to the rise of wellness and purpose-driven tourism, discover why shopping no longer starts at the storefront—but at the moment a flight is booked. Plus, hear how FX shifts, digital wallets, and real-time personalisation are redefining retail strategies across Asia.

What does retail in Asia Pacific look like in 2025? 'Live' from NRF 2025 APAC at Marina Bay Sands, the region's biggest retail conference, George Pepes of APAC Vertical Solutions Lead for Healthcare and Retail, Zebra Technologies joins The Afternoon Update's Lynlee Foo to unpack how AI-powered mobile solutions, intelligent inventory management, and real-time workforce tools are redefining the customer experience across Asia. With Gen Z leading the charge as NFC-native consumers and expectations rising across the board, George explains why retailers must act fast to digitise, automate, and adapt. Listen to this conversation to stay ahead in one of the world’s fastest-moving retail markets.

Generative AI is reshaping legal practice — from how junior lawyers conduct research to what clients now expect from their legal advisers. But that’s just the beginning. On Industry Insight, Yeong Zee Kin, Chief Executive of the Singapore Academy of Law, joins Lynlee Foo to unpack the bigger shifts redefining legal careers in Singapore. Discover how AI is transforming the role of the lawyer, the rising importance of human judgment, and how structured training and cultural reform are becoming key to retaining talent. From new client pressures to the growing appeal of in-house roles and international opportunities, Zee Kin offers a grounded, strategic view of what the legal profession must do to stay ahead. Whether you’re a practitioner, policymaker, or just AI-curious, listen to this essential conversation about the future of law in a fast-changing world.

From Russia to Myanmar, the global sanctions net is tightening and Singapore based businesses are feeling the pressure. Recent headlines involving CCIC Singapore and Splendent Technologies show how even indirect exposure can lead to serious consequences. What is driving this increase in enforcement and how can companies here protect themselves? On Industry Insight, we speak with Haider Mannan, founderof risk intelligence firm BIGTXN to unpack the fast-evolving sanctions landscape, why traditional compliance is no longer enough and the practical steps all businesses should take to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

According to ACCA’s Global Talent Trends 2025 survey, 65% of Singapore finance professionals plan to change roles within two years, and globally, over half of respondents—and 37% in Singapore—view accountancy as a springboard to start their own business. On Industry Insight, ACCA’s Regional Head of Policy, Chiew Chun Wee shares more about the transformation of the sector in the AI era — accountants are evolving from traditional number-crunchers into strategic business partners and driving innovation with AI, sustainability reporting, and integrated thinking. Plus, the critical skills you need for financial leadership in Asia Pacific. A must-listen for accounting and finance professionals looking to stay ahead in a rapidly changing professional landscape!

How do you move from AI hype to enterprise impact? Why do some AI and cloud strategies scale while others stall? The Afternoon Update's Lynlee Foo sat down with cloud computing platform Amazon Web Services' Enterprise Strategist and former Coca-Cola Global CIO Miriam McLemore to unpack what enterprise leaders get wrong — and what the best get right. From decision velocity and culture readiness to workflow simplification and strategic cloud adoption, tune in to get a boardroom-level view of digital transformation done right.

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and AI-driven tools become mainstream, legacy security models are no longer enough. On Industry Insight, Sanjay Yadave, Vice President & Managing Director, Greater Asia at leading cloud security firm Zscaler, sat down with The Afternoon Update's Lynlee Foo to share his expertise on what real cyber resilience looks like in today’s cloud-first, AI-enabled business world. Learn more about why legacy security stacks are a liability, not a safeguard, what true Zero Trust implementation looks like at enterprise scale and how Singapore’s investments in AI and cloud can only succeed with the right leadership mindset and cultural readiness.

As Asia’s flagship technology event, Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) 2025 kicks off (27 - 29 May)Industry Insight's Lynlee Foo sits down with Kiren Kumar, Deputy Chief Executive at Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), for a sweeping conversation on how Singapore is scaling innovation—safely, strategically, and fast. From AI and quantum computing to digital sustainability and space tech, Kiren shares how Singapore is future-proofing its digital economy, supporting 240,000 SMEs, and preparing 3.5 million workers for the next wave of transformation. We also explore the rise of agentic and embodied AI, and why the real challenge isn’t just technology—it’s how fast we adopt, upskill, and govern it. Whether you're in finance, manufacturing, logistics or tech, tune in for a front-row seat to the digital priorities shaping Singapore and the region.

Imagine solar-powered clinics in remote provinces, AI-driven telehealth linking thousands of islands, and green hospitals cutting costs and carbon at once. On Industry Insight, Chris Humphrey from the EU ASEAN Business Council joins The Afternoon Update's Lynlee Foo to unpack the region's healthcare transformation - from financing innovations and digital health solutions to sustainable infrastructure and preventive care strategies.

What happens when crypto stops being the wild card—and starts becoming a serious player in portfolio strategy? On Industry Insight,Mark Wong, Head of Trading at Independent Reserve Singapore, unpacks the latest findings from the firm's Independent Reserve Cryptocurrency Index on how Singaporeans are navigating the digital asset space. Ownership is down, confidence is shifting, and stablecoins are stepping into the spotlight. From Bitcoin’s evolving role to MAS-led regulation, this is where sentiment meets strategy—and where professionals are rethinking how crypto fits into the bigger financial picture. Listen and find out how Singaporean investors are repositioning—why ownership is declining even as awareness remains high, how Bitcoin is increasingly viewed as a strategic asset, and why stablecoins are gaining traction in real-world use cases.