Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Singapore is introducing a three-month, 13% fare revenue support scheme to stabilise school bus and care transport operators amid rising fuel costs driven by geopolitical tensions. While the move is expected to keep fares stable in the near term, questions remain over whether such short-term subsidies address underlying cost pressures or merely delay inevitable adjustments. On The Big Story, Debbie Yong speaks to Terence Fan, Assistant Professor of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship at the Singapore Management University, to examine whether this policy offers meaningful relief or simply defers deeper structural challenges within the sector.

HNWIs in Singapore are increasingly questioning whether their wealth is sufficient to sustain retirement in a high-cost environment. Rising living expenses, longer lifespans, and market volatility are reshaping how portfolios need to be constructed, shifting the focus from accumulation to income generation, resilience, and long-term sustainability. On The Wealth Tracker, Debbie Yong speaks with Lionel Lee, Money Expert at The Better Foundation, on how HNWIs can reposition their investment strategies to generate sustainable retirement income, manage downside risks, and preserve wealth across generations.

Have you ever had a dream so real, it actually came true? Well, a NASA astronaut’s old tweet about orbiting the Moon has gone viral, and years after he actually made that journey. Also, Singapore is getting its first-ever cake rave, where DJs, desserts, and dance floors collide. On What’s Trending, Debbie Yong and Alexandra Parada unpack dreams coming true and cake-fuelled raves.

Singapore shares nudged higher today as investors continued to monitor the situation in the Middle East and mull upcoming US-Iran talks to be held over the weekend.  The Straits Times Index edged 0.13% higher to 4,983.64 points at 1.39pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.00B seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have the Singapore Exchange, given how the local bourse’s total securities market turnover value increased 78 per cent year on year to S$52.8 billion in March.  Elsewhere, from how traders questioned the durability of this week’s US-Iran ceasefire, to how China’s factory-gate prices rose for the first time in 3-1/2 years in March, more international headlines remained in focus. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Benjamin Goh, Head of Research and Investor Education, SIAS.

Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian reports from Jakarta, Indonesia in this “On the Go” special episode of Under the Radar, as she covers the key highlights of GrabX 2026.  That’s the Southeast Asia superapp’s annual product showcase, where the firm unveiled the latest innovations to be rolled out progressively this year. Themed “Your Everyday Guide”, this year’s event features 13 new AI-powered product features and seeks to highlight Grab’s evolution into an intelligent guide that supports users and merchants seamlessly from living to travelling, in Southeast Asia and beyond.  From a Group Ride solution that helps sequence a trip among several passengers efficiently, to a virtual store manager that uses existing CCTV hardware to monitor store operations and hygiene standards using AI, Tian Tian brings you a sneak peek at the firm’s new offerings.

Blind boxes: adorable, collectible… and unexpectedly addictive. What began as a niche hobby for toy enthusiasts has exploded into a mainstream phenomenon, popping up in stores, fast food chains, and online platforms. But this popularity comes with a downside. Concerns over compulsive spending have prompted Singapore to consider regulations aimed at curbing the gambling-like risks of blind boxes. If rules are introduced, can strategies like ‘demarketing’ actually help curb addiction? And is it even possible to make a product designed to be irresistible truly safe without killing its appeal? On The Big Story, Debbie Yong speaks with Dr. Nurhafihz Noor, Senior Lecturer in Business (Marketing) at James Cook University Singapore (Singapore Campus), to find out more.

Jewelry is increasingly being repositioned from a luxury purchase to a tangible store of value, as wealthy investors seek alternatives amid market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. From record-breaking auction sales to strong resale demand for maisons like Cartier and Bulgari, high-end pieces, especially rare colored gemstones, are attracting capital alongside assets like art and watches. On The Wealth Tracker, Debbie Yong speaks to Danilo Giannoni, Founder and Director of Arte Oro, about how investors are allocating into jewelry today, from gold versus gemstones to resale value, liquidity, and where the strongest opportunities lie.

A recent wave of departures, from Enhypen’s Heeseung to NCT’s Mark and Ten, has fans questioning what’s next for the industry, and whether individual ambition is starting to outweigh group identity. Plus, would you pay hundreds of thousands for a drink? Well, a Japanese brewery just sold a US$700,000 bottle of sake which was brewed in space. On What’s Trending, Debbie Yong and Alexandra Parada discuss idol departures in K-pop and whether space-brewed sake is innovation or just another hype.

Markets are flashing red across the board with Singapore slips 0.4% to 4,977, mirroring broader weakness across Asia and US futures. With sentiment turning cautious, the question now is: are we in a “buy the dip, sell the rip” environment? Meanwhile, strong earnings growth in the US continues to underpin optimism, driven largely by tech and financials. But with recent market pullbacks, how crucial is sector rotation in sustaining that momentum through the rest of 2026? On Market View, Sean Cheong speaks to David Chow from Azure Capital, to discuss the latest market movements.

St Andrew’s Secondary School are the B Division rugby champions...at last. On Sports Minutes, captain Joshua Kee and out-centre Wesley Choo relive their nail-biting win over arch rivals Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in the National School Games. A remarkable story of redemption and coronation, after years of heartbreak. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/schools/redemption-for-wesley-choo-as-saints-defeat-acsi-in-b-division-rugby-final?ref=top-stories Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg