Let's Talk, Singapore

Have you been to Phillip Island Nature Parks in Australia?  It’s home to the largest little penguin population - better known as fairy penguins - globally. They’re the smallest penguin species in the world.  But today’s focus is on another seabird - short-tailed shearwaters that use Phillip Island as their breeding grounds! From this week, four-month old fledglings are starting their migration and the Phillip Island Nature Parks is calling for individuals and businesses on the island to switch off their lights at night. Short-tailed shearwaters are mid-sized migratory birds that travel from the Southern to Northern Hemisphere each year, migrating from Australia towards Japan, then across to the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea to the north of Alaska. They manage this massive 16,000km journey in under four weeks, all before returning to the shores of Phillip Island (Millowl). Among the most vulnerable are seabirds, with shearwaters facing the greatest risk. In a series of studies by Phillip Island Nature Parks exploring the negative effect of artificial lights on shearwaters, light pollution is now at the forefront of negative factors disrupting the delicate balance of ecosystems.  On this episode of Climate Connections, Dr Duncan Sutherland, Senior Scientist, Phillip Island Nature Parks why the night lights are so detrimental to the short-tailed shearwaters during migration season, conservation efforts under the "Dark Sky So Shearwaters Fly" campaign and how you can do your part. Feature produced and edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Voiced by: Audrey Siek Photo/Sound credits: Phillip Island Nature Parks Music credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors

Sentosa Cove condos, once sold for premiums, have hit below $2,000 psf. At the recent relaunch of The Residences at W Sentosa Cove Singapore, the average selling price was below $1,800 psf. It is a bargain compared to new launches on mainland Singapore this year, including those in the Outside Central Region, with one development selling at over the $2,000 psf mark. With property values on the island showing a decade of declines and capital appreciation as a key factor, the question arises: is this an opportune moment for investment? We get more insights from Wong Shanting, Head, Research and Market Intelligence, ERA Singapore. Presented by Audrey Siek This podcast is produced and edited by Anthea Ng (nganthea@sph.com.sg) She produces Mind Your Business, Biz-How-To and Breakfast Special segments on the Breakfast Show. Do contact her for topics: C-Suite, SME, Startups, Healthtech, Sustainability, Property, Intergenerational Family Business, Industry Outlook, Fintech and trending businesses in town.

Willie Keng speaks to Vasu Menon, Managing Director, Investment Strategy, OCBC Bank, about how potential delayed interest rate cuts will impact the US commercial real estate sector and housing mortgages; how these rates will affect Big Tech earnings and margins; and how investors should manage their asset allocation in the current environment. Presented and produced by Willie Keng Edited by Emaad Akhtar

April 25th marks World Penguin Day! These flightless birds begin their annual northern migration around March and April each year, so we get to celebrate these special creatures and learn more about their plight. Audrey and Emaad chat about the different species of penguins, how they used to be human-sized (2 metres tall!), and why they're idolised for their relationships. Presented by Audrey Siek and Emaad Akhtar Produced and edited by Audrey Siek Music credits: Pixabay & its talented community of contributors 

David Martin, Founder & Chief Investment Officer at Martin Fund Management LP shares his insights on where else should investors be looking ahead of eventual rate cuts, whether tech giants like Meta Platforms and others will continue to see drops, and if defensive trading is the way to go in the current economic climate. Presented by: Willie Keng Producer: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)  Graphics credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors 

While landing on the parameters for a region-to-region free trade agreement is difficult, discussion has now shifted towards more specific areas of cooperation. Speaking at the EU-ASEAN Business Council’s 10th anniversary gala dinner, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat explained that the difficulty is due to differences in ambition and readiness between member states. He also highlighted that both ASEAN and EU share the belief that “connectivity and integration are enablers of growth and development” - a key factor underpinning the steadfast partnership between the two regions. On this episode of Morning Shot, Sujiro Seam, EU Ambassador to ASEAN shares his insights on where EU-ASEAN relations are headed against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainties. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: RSIS web

It's World Day For Animals In Laboratories, and a time for us all to commemorate the suffering of our pet friends subject to lab experiments. Emaad and Audrey talk about some of the more outlandish experiments scientists have conducted on animals for benefit of humankind. Think vibrating live earthworms, a chicken walking like a dinosaur, and magnetised cockroaches! Yes, you read that correctly! Presented by Emaad Akhtar and Audrey Siek  Produced and edited by Emaad Akhtar Music credits: Pixabay & its talented community of contributors 

Dave Sekera, Chief US Market Strategist at Morningstar Research Services shares his insights on whether the US stock market’s ‘bad breadth’ is making even stalwart bulls nervous, implications of market gains driven disproportionately by a handful of stocks, how investors can approach Magnificent 7 through a different lens, and what the running theme is across the Q1 earnings calls. Presented by: Willie Keng Producer: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)  Graphics credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors 

World Immunisation Week kicks off today! This year, the world celebrates 50 years since the World Health Organisation launched the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).  For those who might not know, EPI was first established in 1974 to target six high-risk infectious diseases - namely, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles and tuberculosis. The programme was inducted with a goal of providing universal access to lifesaving vaccines for children worldwide.  In just five decades, EPI has saved more than 150 million lives. People of all ages in every region have benefited from this, and the programme is now expanded to encompass older children, adolescents, and adults throughout the life course against a wider spectrum of diseases.  On this episode of Morning Shot today, Christopher Clarke, Director of Scientific Leadership at Moderna - the company that was at the forefront of vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic - shares his insights on immunisation progress around the world and how Moderna is advancing with their vaccine development.  Presented by: Audrey Siek & Emaad Akhtar Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors 

Swiss multinational corporation Sulzer has opened its first Innovation Technology Hub (InTecH) in Asia, based in Singapore. With investments over S$10 million, InTecH will explore new methods for recycling plastics, EV batteries, and lubricant oils, while also developing bio-based goods such as Polylactic Acid (PLA). This expansion cements Sulzer's position as a leader in sustainable technology and supports Singapore's goal of becoming a regional green manufacturing hub. We find out more about its plans with Toh Jia Ping, Head Process Plant, APAC, Sulzer. Presented by Emaad Akhtar  This podcast is produced and edited by Anthea Ng (nganthea@sph.com.sg) She produces Mind Your Business, Biz-How-To and Breakfast Special segments on the Breakfast Show. Do contact her for topics: C-Suite, SME, Startups, Healthtech, Sustainability, Property, Intergenerational Family Business, Industry Outlook, Fintech and trending businesses in town.