Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

Whether you travel often or infrequently, it makes sense to know as much as possible about all the different options for accommodation out there. While many experienced travellers find themselves returning to aparthotels, other tourists and business travellers are less familiar with what an aparthotel actually is. So could staying at an aparthotel be an option for you for your next trip?  Roy Liang, Vice President of Operations for Dao by Dorsett & General Manager of Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore helps us understand the 'aparthotel' model better. 

Last month Russia pulled out of a deal that allowed Ukraine to export its grain by sea despite a wartime blockade, an initiative seen as essential to keeping global food prices stable. Now the United States has been told that Russia is prepared to return to talks on the Black Sea grain deal. How true is this and what will be the pull factor for Russia to renew a deal that they pulled out of in the first place? We find out more about this and other key headlines out of Europe from Dr Samir Puri, Visiting Lecturer in War Studies at King's College London and author of 'Russia's Road to War with Ukraine’.

Tiger Woods has joined the PGA Tour's Policy Board as a player director in a move which will give golfers a bigger say in major decisions. Woods' appointment follows the merger between the Tour, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and the DP World Tour in June that left players blindsided. The 15-time major winner becomes the board's sixth player director, joining Rory McIlroy and four others. What does this all mean for the game of golf? Timothy Low, international golf commentator, is in the hot seat to tell us. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

Singapore stocks opened weaker today, joining global bourses in the red. That’s as July data showed weakness in the manufacturing sector across China, the US and the eurozone. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) headed down 0.6 per cent to 3,353.92 points after 65.1 million securities changed hands in the broader market. Meanwhile, international headlines are in focus today with all eyes on markets in Greater China over expectations of more stimulus for the beleaguered property sector.  Also on the table today – what the recent downgrade of US sovereign debt means for investors and how they should be positioning their portfolios asset-wise.  On Market View, the Drive Time team unpacked these developments with Ken Shih, Head of Wealth Management, Greater China, SAXO Markets. 

You can tell a lot about a man by the way he dresses. While a solid shirt and tapered trousers may be versatile wardrobe essentials, a good suit is a timeless staple.  Javin They, Founder, Common Suits shares his views on what to look out for when investing in a suit. 

From Malaysia’s state election campaigning kicking off to Myanmar’s military junta reducing Aung San Suu Kyi’s 33-yr sentence by 6 years.  Dr. Felix Tan, Political Observer, Nanyang Technological University gives us an analysis of those headlines and more. 

Following Singapore’s launch of the AI Verify Foundation and the ongoing discussions about the Generative AI regulations, how can businesses safely and responsibly harness Gen AI in the workplace? We speak with Jeremy Lua, Dispute Resolution Lawyer, Norton Rose Fulbright The current generative AI landscape in Singapore to find out more. 

We’re going to bring you an inside look into a conglomerate investment company with operations and financial interests in resources, property and hospitality.  Founded in the early years of Singapore’s colonial history – we’re talking about 1887 here – The Straits Trading first started out as a company catering to the region’s growing tin smelting industry.  It become renowned for its tin smelting operations by the 1900 and accounted for two-thirds  of Malaya’s Tin output. Now, Straits Trading has evolved over the years to expand into sectors such as property, equity investments and hospitality. But which is the most important business vertical for the firm? Meanwhile, the firm posted a net loss of S$121.8 million for the second half of 2022, amid higher capitalisation rates and a reduction in the fair values of investment properties in Australia, China, South Korea and the United Kingdom. What are we looking at this year? How is the company walking the tightrope between revenue growth versus cost management in a high interest rate environment? And where do opportunities lie for Straits Trading? On Under the Radar, Drive Time’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Eric Teng, CEO, Straits Developments Private Ltd and Group COO, Straits Trading.

Premier League players have been warned they face harsher punishments for harassing referees as part of a raft of measures aimed at stamping out bad behaviour on the pitch. English football’s authorities aim to “reset” the attitude of players and managers towards officials in the coming season.  The new ‘Participant Charter’ empowers referees to take tougher action against unacceptable behaviour, backed up by stronger disciplinary action from the FA. Does this ruin the flow of the game? Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

The early days of parenthood can be daunting for new parents, but that's where confinement nannies come in. However, the cost of hiring one is not always affordable. NannyStreet, Singapore's first-ever Confinement Nanny Marketplace aims to simplify the process of finding and hiring trusted confinement nannies. We speak with Louis Looi, Co-founder, NannyStreet to find out how they are revolutionizing the way parents navigate the early stages of parenthood.