Podcasts about morning shot

Chinese President Xi Jinping has wrapped his high-stakes tour of Southeast Asia. From Vietnam to Malaysia and Cambodia, President Xi urged regional economies to stand together, after US President Donald Trump ramped up its tariffs against most countries - with its biggest targets on China, who has since hit back with tit-for-tat tariffs. Professor Lawrence Loh, Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability, NUS Business School, breaks down what this all means for the Southeast Asian region. Produced & Presented by: Audrey Siek Edited by Chua Meng Choon Photo credits: Reuters via The Straits Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To date, the Trump administration has reportedly revoked over 600 international student visas. The reason? These students have taken political stances on the Israel-Gaza conflict that the government argues is a threat to U.S. national security / foreign policy. It has resulted in them being arrested, detained (in weeks, for some cases) and deported. Free speech advocates have cited violations of the First Amendment, and warn that the crackdown could have ramifications for the wider population. On this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Lincoln Mitchell, Professor from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University shares his insights. Produced & Presented by: Emaad AkhtarPhoto credits: Reuters / Brian Snyder See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a dramatic change of policy, just hours after levies against roughly 60 of America's trading partners came into effect, US President Donald Trump made a tariff u-turn. Trump authorised a 90-day pause in the higher tariffs for most countries he announced last week - while maintaining a 10% baseline tariff across the board. But at the same time,Trump raised tariff rates on China to 125% after Beijing imposed additional retaliatory tariffs on US goods. On this episode of Morning Shot, Casey Mace, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Singapore shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heavy rains have added misery to Myanmar, which was recently hit by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. The worst-hit areas - Naypyidaw, Mandalay, and Sagaing - have suffered extensive damage to infrastructure, and a mounting official death toll now exceeding 3,000. The earthquake was the most catastrophic in Myanmar’s recent history, occurring amid a prolonged political crisis and escalating civil war triggered by the 2021 military coup. The overlap of a natural disaster with a governance crisis complicates relief efforts and raises questions about how aid can be delivered efficiently and equitably. On this episode of Morning Shot, Benjamin William, Secretary-General of the Singapore Red Cross shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The political and economic situation between the United States and Venezuela is growing increasingly tense - spanning domestic and international borders, involving deportations, oil tariffs, and geopolitical maneuvering. Even as questions arise in a legal challenge over the process to determine gang members, the Trump administration deported more alleged Venezuelan and MS-13 gang members to El Salvador over the weekend. On the trade front - US President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order declaring that any country buying oil or gas from Venezuela will pay a 25% tariff on trades with the US. According to the executive order, the 25% tariff to be imposed on buyers of Venezuelan oil will take effect on 2nd April and would be combined with any existing tariffs. On this episode of Morning Shot, we dig deeper into the constitutional debate behind the deportations, impacts of oil tariffs on Venezuela as a petrostate, and why Venezuela’s ongoing descent into economic and political chaos is a cautionary tale of the dangerous influence that resource wealth can have on developing countries. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: Maxwell Briceno/Reuters; Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/Handout via Reuters; Doug Mills/The New York Times; Atlantic CouncilSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mercury is set to rise, as Singapore transitions into the hotter months of the year - from April to June. According to an interagency Mercury Task Force, there is a lower chance of a heatwave during this year’s hot season, but above-normal temperatures are still expected. In response to that, authorities have mapped out a national approach to how various sectors should respond to potential heatwave situations. On this episode of Morning Shot, Steve Yim, Associate Professor at the Asian School of the Environment & Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at NTU, and Principal Investigator at the Earth Observatory of Singapore shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) & Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the recent two-week Exercise SG Ready conducted by MINDEF and the Singapore Business Federation, over 30 per cent of the phishing emails were opened, and about 17 per cent of over 4,500 employees clicked on phishing links in emails sent to them. These findings underscore the importance of agencies, businesses, and communities coming together to enhance cyber awareness. So, how challenging is it to discern a phishing email from a legitimate one? On this episode of Morning Shot, Liu Yang, Professor of Computing & Data Science at NTU shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey Siek & Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) & Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US and Russian officials have just wrapped up day-long talks, as part of a diplomatic effort that Washington hopes will help pave the way for broader peace negotiations. Among other issues, the talks focused on trying to reach a Black Sea maritime ceasefire deal. However, there was no immediate word on whether an agreement had been hammered out or progress had been made. Earlier, Russia had rejected a proposal by Trump for a full 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, and it has so far agreed only to a moratorium on attacking energy infrastructure. So, will Ukraine eventually have any say at the negotiating table? On this episode of Morning Shot, Cynthia Hooper, Associate Professor and Russian and Eastern European Studies Program Advisor at the College of the Holy Cross shares her insights. Presented by: Audrey Siek & Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) & Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: Reuters / Thomas PeterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than three weeks after a slew of intense hearings, South Koreans are still awaiting Constitutional Court's deliberation on the motion to impeach South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol. As deliberations drag on, protests have since intensified as hundreds of thousands of South Koreans take to the streets to rally. The decision could help bring an end to the months of political turmoil Yoon unleashed on 3rd Dec 2024, with his failed attempt to place his country under martial law. On this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Ryu Yongwook, Assistant Professor from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) & Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: Chang W Lee / The New York TimesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starting 20th March 2025, the National Heritage Board will be launching an open call for the new pilot SG Heritage Business Scheme - which will recognise and support exemplar time-honoured heritage businesses here on our little red dot. Through this new scheme, businesses like these can look forward to receiving brand campaign support, as well as access to business support such as consultancy services. On this episode of Morning Shot, Nasri Shah, Assistant Director, Intangible Cultural Heritage, National Heritage Board and Ana Fong, Chief Operating Officer, Tong Heng share their insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: Chinatown Business AssociationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Against a backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught, ASEAN may be out of the firing line for now, but it will not be long before Trump turns his attention to the region. But, what impact might ASEAN countries see, given the interwoven nature of supply chains? On this episode of Morning Shot, Professor Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the NUS Business School shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: Founder's GuideSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Ministry is working towards registering psychologists in Singapore, focusing on those providing direct care, involving higher-risk assessments and interventions. This comes as the presence of psychologists beyond traditional clinical settings grows amid rising focus on mental health. A committee comprising practitioners, regulators and service providers from the public and private sectors has been established to oversee the implementation of the initiative. On this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Shawn Ee, Clinical Psychologist & Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist and Director at The Psychology Practice shares why it’s so important to regulate psychologists. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: Lintao Zhang/Pool Photo via APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China has urged an end to "illegal" sanctions on Iran. In a joint statement issued after talks with Iran in Beijing, China and Russia has also said that they welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear programme was exclusively for peaceful purposes, and that Tehran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be "fully" respected. This comes just days after US President Donald Trump said there were two ways to handle Iran: by striking a deal or “militarily.” On this episode of Morning Shot, Ross Feingold, Research Director at Caerus Consulting shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: Lintao Zhang/Pool Photo via APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Latest out of America - the US Department of Education has announced plans to slash about half of its workforce, in what appears to be an intermediate step as President Donald Trump considers an executive order that would shut it down altogether. This follows just after Trump’s recent joint address to Congress, where he repeated claims about wasteful spending, touted divisive executive actions and said he’s “just getting started.” Is Trump widening the political divide between the Republicans & Democrats? On this episode of Morning Shot, Bryan DeAngelis, Partner & Head of Washington Office at Penta Group shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg) Photo credits: Erin Scott/Bloomberg/Getty Images; AFPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent data shows that Indonesia's consumer price index fell for the first time in more than two decades in February. What kind of spillover effects might this have on other Southeast Asian countries? On this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser of the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia & Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities in Singapore are exploring the use of technology to autonomously disrupt websites used for scams and malicious cyber activity. The country is also looking to ramp up its AI talent pipeline. This comes amid an increasingly complex threat landscape, with criminals exploiting technology, like artificial intelligence, to carry out more sophisticated crimes and target more victims. On this episode of Morning Shot, Benjamin Ang, Senior Fellow and Head of Centre of Excellence for National Security & Head for Digital Impact Research at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies breaks down the reliability of AI in disrupting scams, and challenges of formalising AI governance. Presented by: Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NTU researchers have uncovered evidence of a new high-potential geothermal energy site in Yishun. Leveraging advanced seismic imaging techniques to explore underground heat potential in northern Singapore, the team found a geothermal reservoir, sitting above a depth of around 4km. This comes on the back of Singapore’s ambition to develop green energy resources to meet growing electricity demands and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In the next phase of their study, researchers will be burying another 80 seismic sensors underground, spanning the north-east and south of Singapore. On this episode of Morning Shot, NTU's Associate Professor Tong Ping from the School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Asian School of the Environment, and Principal Investigator at the Earth Observatory of Singapore shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: NTU SingaporeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From stronger job support to more training opportunities, a slew of measures aimed at empowering workers at every stage of life with lifelong learning and career support were announced at Singapore’s Budget 2025. For example, mid-career workers (40 & above) who enroll in part-time training from early 2026, can receive a $300 monthly training allowance under the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme. For lower-wage workers (30 & above), the Workfare Skills Support scheme will also be enhanced, offering a training allowance of up to 50 per cent of their average monthly income for full-time training, and $300 per month for part-time courses. But, the one lingering question on many people’s minds - will I earn more after upskilling? On this episode of Morning Shot, Walter Theseira, Associate Professor, Economics Programme, Singapore University of Social Sciences shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey Siek & Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Lim Yaohui / STSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is keeping its eyes peeled as top lawmakers gather in Beijing to decide the policy direction during China’s annual parliamentary meetings this week. In the lead-up to the official opening of the “two sessions”, a new wave of optimism was sweeping through the world’s second-largest economy. Following last year’s market gloom, when stagnation seemed to be China’s inevitable future and international capital favouring other Asian markets such as India and Japan, analysts are now closely watching to see China’s next steps as it tries to reinvigorate the economy and China’s place in the global tech race. This comes as China swiftly retaliated against fresh US tariffs - a range of American agricultural and food products will face between 10 to 15 per cent hikes in import levies. On this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Chong Ja Ian, Associate Professor from the Department of Political Science at the NUS Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey Siek Produced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Chinese leader Xi Jinping, center, at a meeting in Beijing's Great Hall of the People during China's annual two sessions political gathering last March. Ju Peng/Xinhua/Getty ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump says that he doesn’t think a proposed investment deal to secure access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals is dead. This follows a heated argument between the Ukrainian leader, Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance, in front of the media in the Oval Office over the weekend. Trump’s comments come as his national security officials hold meetings this week to discuss next steps on Ukraine, including the prospect of suspending military aid. Meanwhile, Zelensky says that Ukraine is counting on US support “on the path to peace.” But, with Trump's assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a man of his word, where does Ukraine stand in negotiations relating to the war? On this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Lincoln Mitchell, Professor from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey Siek & Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Reuters / Brian Snyder See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even though median salaries rose last year, more fresh graduates remained unemployed six months after leaving school. Among those who found employment in 2024, 79.5 per cent secured a full-time job, a dip from 84.1 per cent the year before. Freelancers, meanwhile, accounted for 1.6 per cent of those in the labour force, up from 1.5 per cent in 2023. Are graduates & employers both expecting more than before? Where is the middle ground? On this episode of Morning Shot, Trevor Yu, Associate Professor of the Division of Leadership, Management & Organisation at NTU’s Nanyang Business School, and Co-Director of the Centre for Research and Development in Learning shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Lianhe ZaobaoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore will be injecting an extra $60 million to boost its space tech industry and research ecosystem, as part of the Space Technology Development Programme, which was first launched in 2022. This expands the total amount of government funding in the programme to over $200 million, following an initial investment of $150 million three years ago. This was announced at the 17th Global Space Technology Convention and Exhibition that’s currently being hosted in Singapore, with a focus on showcasing groundbreaking advancements across the space industry. On this episode of Morning Shot, Nicolette Yeo, Director of Innovation at Singapore Space & Technology shares her insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Singapore Space & TechnologySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Families will receive additional support of up to $16,000 for each third and subsequent Singapore Citizen child, on top of existing Baby Bonus Scheme benefits. This was announced by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in his recent Budget 2025 speech. The move comes against a backdrop where couples with more children often worry about additional costs, because the demands grow with each additional child. But is that enough to encourage Singaporeans to have large families? On this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow. Institute of Policy Studies, NUS shares her insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Gin Tay/ST; Ministry of Finance, Joel Seah and Kristen KiongSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Singapore’s drug situation generally remains under control, 126 new drug abusers below 20-years-old were arrested in 2024, a 30 per cent increase from 97 the previous year. For two years now, more than half of the new abusers arrested were below 30 years old. Methamphetamine continued to be the most commonly abused drug last year, followed by heroin and cannabis. However, more than half of the new cannabis abusers arrested were below 30 years old, suggesting a growing trend of permissiveness towards cannabis among youths in Singapore. On this episode of Morning Shot, S B Viknesan, Council Member, National Council Against Drug Abuse shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Desmond Wee / STSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Studies on the potential deployment of nuclear power in Singapore are underway, as authorities look to better understand the technology. The move follows national assessments that emerging nuclear technologies could be suitable for the island state even if conventional ones are not. What kind of role could nuclear energy play in Singapore’s energy mix, what are the safety considerations to account for before any deployment? On this episode of Morning Shot, Professor Claude Guet, Visiting Professor at NTU’s School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leader of the Opposition and Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh has announced his intention to appeal his conviction and sentence. He was found guilty of two charges of lying to parliament over false testimonies he gave to a Committee of Privileges during its inquiry into former WP Member of Parliament Raeesah Khan's conduct, and handed the maximum fine of $7,000 for each of the two charges. What went down in the sentencing? Should the public expect potential legal proceedings with regards to WP MPs Faisal Manap and Sylvia Lim? And might there be potential domino effects on the Workers’ Party? On this episode of Morning Shot, Benjamin Joshua Ong, Assistant Professor of Law at Singapore Management University shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Azmi AthniSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From vouchers for every adult Singaporean, to personal income tax rebates as part of an SG60 package, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered a bumper SG60 Budget that will have something for every Singaporean. When delivering the Budget, PM Wong says that the Budget was shaped together with Singaporeans, and lays out the second instalment of plans on the Forward Singapore agenda, which seeks to keep society strong and united. On Part Two of our special Budget edition of Morning Shot, Professor Lawrence Loh, Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability, NUS Business School, Dr Gillian Koh, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies andPatrick Tay, Assistant Secretary-General, NTUC and Member of Parliament for Pioneer SMC share their insights. Presented by: Audrey Siek & Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Chng Choon Hiong, Adobe StockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Against the backdrop of a world that’s facing growing uncertainty, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong delivered his fourth Budget statement, but his first as prime minister. The broad suite of measures announced tally up to a record $143.1 billion, an increase from the $134.2 billion spent in the 2024 financial year. Key measures announced were aimed at helping Singaporeans tackle cost pressures, advancing the country’s growth, equipping workers through their lives, building a sustainable city, as well as nurturing a caring and inclusive society. Businesses and workers in particular can expect to benefit from a slew of subsidies and initiatives surrounding lifelong learning. Singapore is also pushing ahead with building a more resilient green economy. On Part One of our special Budget edition of Morning Shot, Professor Lawrence Loh, Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability, NUS Business School, Dr Gillian Koh, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies and Patrick Tay, Assistant Secretary-General, NTUC and Member of Parliament for Pioneer SMC share their insights. Presented by: Audrey Siek & Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Chong Jun Liang / STSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s Prime Minister and Finance Minister will be delivering the Budget in Parliament today. This will be PM Wong’s first Budget as Prime Minister, and also the last one for the current term of government, with an upcoming General Election expected to be held by 23rd November. Titled “Onward Together For A Better Tomorrow” - this year’s Budget is set to be a significant one, with expectations for it to cover both short and long-term challenges across four broad themes: economic strategies for the next bound; opportunities for skills upgrading and jobs for workers; support for Singaporeans across different life stages; and strengthening Singaporeans’ sense of solidarity and unity as the country marks SG60. In a social media post, PM Wong said that this year’s Budget will involve everyone and advances the Forward Singapore plans for a stronger and more united society. On this episode of Morning Shot, Ang Yuit, President of the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Lawrence Wong / FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US State Department has reportedly removed a statement on its website that it does not support Taiwan independence. The factsheet retains Washington's opposition to unilateral change from either Taiwan or from China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own. but dropped the phrase "we do not support Taiwan independence". And not too long ago, two US Navy ships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, drawing an angry reaction from China. This comes just after Taiwan's signing of a new missile deal with Washington to bolster the defence of Taipei. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co - or TSMC for short - also just held its first board of directors meeting in the US, but did not unveil any new US investments despite mounting tariff threats from Trump. On this episode of Morning Shot, Ross Feingold, Research Director at Caerus Consulting shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: AFPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During a recent parliamentary session, MP Liang Eng Hwa shared that he felt “very troubled” to see tuition centre staff members distributing flyers to parents outside a primary school in his constituency on the first day of school earlier this year. In response to that, the Ministry of Education says it is currently studying how to discourage tuition centres from using undesirable advertising practices. While many parents in Singapore spend a significant amount of money on sending their children to tuition classes, how critical or effective is tutoring? And are tuition centres playing to parents’ fear of missing out? On this episode of Morning Shot, Jason Tan, Associate Professor from the National Institute of Education’s Policy, Curriculum and Leadership Department shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: ST FileSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the very first time - Elon Musk, who is now a top advisor to US President Donald Trump, has just joined Trump in the Oval Office to take questions from the media. This comes as Trump signs a new executive order seeking to "significantly reduce the size of government" by instructing heads of federal departments and agencies to undertake plans for "large-scale reductions in force". In the first few weeks of Trump’s presidency, Musk has led an effort to dismantle federal agencies, buy out hundreds of thousands of federal workers from their jobs and take over payment systems within the Treasury Department and other agencies. This has sparked several lawsuits and pushback from Democratic lawmakers, state office holders and unions representing federal works. Unlike traditional government figures, Musk rarely holds news conferences or speaks to reporters, and instead opts to use his social media site, X to do so. What does 'Muskification' bode for the US government? On this episode of Morning Shot, Bryan DeAngelis, Partner & Head of Washington Office, Penta Group shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar Produced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Andrew Harnik / Getty ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Latest in a slew of Trump tariffs - a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States with no exceptions or exemptions. This comes just after the US introduced 10% tariffs on goods from China, which has hit back by announcing similar charges on some US products. Meanwhile, Trump has hit the pause button - for now, at least - on imposing tariffs against imports from US neighbours Canada and Mexico. EU goods could also face tariffs "pretty soon". What effects could these tariffs have on prices of goods? On this episode of Morning Shot, Sumit Agarwal, Professor of Finance, Economics and Real Estate, NUS Business School shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Drago / Bloomberg / Getty ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore attracted some S$13.5 billion in fixed asset investment commitments in 2024 - a 6.3 per cent increase from the S$12.7 billion secured in 2023. These investment commitments are expected to create 18,700 jobs in the next five years across services, manufacturing, and R&D and innovation, and contribute S$23.5 billion in Value-Added per annum. New areas of growth highlighted in the report include artificial intelligence, precision medicine and the green economy. Meanwhile, EDB says it will partner existing players to transform, such as through working with global enterprises to harness AI, digitalisation and automation to improve productivity. On this episode of Morning Shot, Jillian Lim, Executive Vice President of the Economic Development Board shares her insights. Presented by: Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: EDBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overall trust between racial groups in Singapore and appreciation for diversity have grown. That’s according to a recent study by the Institute of Policy Studies and racial harmony advocacy group OnePeople.sg, which also found a dip in reports of racial discrimination at work across the board compared with the previous study. However, stereotyping went up and an area of concern highlighted was the decline in cross-racial friendships from 2018 to 2024. On this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Mathew Mathews, Head of Social Lab & Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies shares more insights from the study. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Gin Tay / STSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent incidents involving fallen trees, both around the region and in Singapore, have brought into focus the challenges behind managing trees, especially in light of intense rainfalls in recent months. With climate change driving changes in weather patterns, as well as the frequency and intensity of storms, on this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Shawn Lum, Senior Lecturer from the Asian School of the Environment at NTU shares his insights on what can be done in order to mitigate the risks. Presented by: Audrey Siek & Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Shin Min Daily News; ST / Ariffin Jamar / Shintaro TaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major diplomatic exchange is set to take place between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping within the next couple of days. This follows Trump’s announcement of duties of 10 percent on all Chinese goods coming into the United States, along with a threat to further ramp up tariffs on China. Will we see a full-blown trade war between the world’s two largest economies, or is there a middle ground? On this episode of Morning Shot, Tan Dawn Wei, China Bureau Chief at The Straits Times shares her insights. Presented by: Audrey Siek & Emaad AkhtarProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Photo credits: Nicolas Asfouri / AFP / Getty ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the US, some 170 million American users of Tiktok saw their app go dark, when the app was briefly taken offline just before a law requiring its Chinese owner ByteDance to either sell it on national security grounds or face a ban took effect on 19th January.Soon after, President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to delay the enforcement of the law by 75 days, and has since revealed that Microsoft is in discussions to acquire TikTok and that he would like to see a "bidding war" over the sale of the social media app.Will TikTok’s gamble pay off as America’s biggest firms eyeball a deal, and will we see a bidding war play out?On this episode of Morning Shot, Bhagyashree Garekar, US Bureau Chief at The Straits Times shares her insights.Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Edited by: Dan KohPhoto credits: Getty ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Chinese New Year feasting gets into full swing, you might want to keep a mental note of what you’re eating and how the extra portions are adding up. Before you dig into those goodies this Chinese New Year, we break down the calorie count for you on this episode of Morning Shot, with Professor William Chen, Director of Food Science and Technology Programme and the Future Ready Food Safety Hub at NTU. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: Asian Inspirations, Michelin Guide, Giant, GeneraliSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump’s second term is off and running with a slew of executive actions signed in his first week and more promised in the days and weeks to come. Under the banner of his “America First” agenda, Trump repealed dozens of former President Joe Biden’s actions, began his immigration crackdown, and withdrew the US from the Paris climate accords. But, what hurdles might he face before his plans become reality? On this episode of Morning Shot, Bruce Ackerman, Sterling Professor of Law and Professor of Political Science at Yale University shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: Evan Vucci / AP PhotoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rapidly growing wildfire broke out some 80 kilometres north of Los Angeles, burning about 5.3 square kilometres. The Hughes Fire in the Castaic Lake area of Los Angeles County has forced mandatory evacuations with warnings of "immediate threat to life". Meanwhile, two major fires - the Palisades and Eaton Fires - which have been burning in the metropolitan area for more than two weeks, continue to burn currently but are getting under control. And much of Southern California remained under a red flag warning for extreme fire risk due to strong, dry winds. On this episode of Morning Shot, Stephanie Pincetl, Director, California Center for Sustainable Communities and Professor, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA shares her insights. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: Noah Berger / APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent high-profile Income-Allianz saga led to the Singapore government’s unprecedented intervention and a swift amendment of the Insurance Act. That incident also sparked widespread debates about the relevance and role of co-ops in Singapore. Ahead of Singapore’s co-op movement’s centennial milestone later this year, on this episode of Morning Shot, Ang Hin Kee, CEO of the Singapore National Co-operative Federation shares his insights on co-ops and their relevance in today's world. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Ryan HuangProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: BT FileSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s economy is projected to sustain steady growth in 2025 of above 5%, despite slowing in the last quarter of 2024, signalling risks ahead in the year ahead. Even with uncertainty looming over the impact of Donald Trump’s trade policies, analysts say that the newly launched Johor-Singapore special economic zone is poised to spark renewed interest on the business front. What are the potential gridlocks that lie ahead and will Johor Bahru’s transport system be able to cope with the projected surge in commuters? On this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Oh Ei Sun, Principal Adviser at the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia & Senior Fellow of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs shares his insights. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Ryan HuangProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: BT FileSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on 20th January at 12 p.m. E.S.T. While the president traditionally assumes his powers outdoors in front of the Capitol building, with a large crowd of spectators witnessing the ceremony, Trump has moved the event inside the Capitol Rotunda amid forecasts of extreme cold. In one of his first acts as president, Trump is expected to participate in a traditional signing of a number of executive orders to kick off the beginning of his administration. However, it is not clear what executive orders will be first up just yet. On this episode of Morning Shot, Bryan DeAngelis, Partner & Head of Washington Office at Penta Group and Suzanne Chod, Professor of Political Science at North Central College share their analysis on what Trump’s first 100 days could look like. Presented by: Emaad AkhtarProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: Daniel TorokSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discrimination often happens at the workplace and can take many forms. To better tackle that, Singapore has recently passed a landmark legislation, with provisions to tackle discriminatory practices in hiring, dismissals and appraisals. The Workplace Fairness Bill is set to strengthen protections for Singaporeans by making fair employment practices not just a ‘good to have’ company policy but a legal requirement. But can this Bill solve less visible discrimination? And how challenging is it to execute the legislation? On this episode of Morning Shot, Patrick Tay, Assistant Secretary-General at NTUC shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: ST FileSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prices of traditional bak kwa - or barbecued sliced pork - usually see increases in the lead-up to the Chinese New Year, with many people putting in their orders or buying them as gifts, as early as two weeks ahead of the festivities. Sellers are trying to keep it affordable for consumers, but what are the challenges behind trying to cut production costs? And what do the prices of bak kwa signal about inflation? On this episode of Morning Shot, Song Seng Wun, Singapore Economic Advisor at CGS International shares his insights. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: Yeo Kai TingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public consultations for Budget 2025 have begun, with discussions circling four broad themes: economic strategies for the next bound; opportunities for skills upgrading and jobs for workers; support for Singaporeans across different life stages; and strengthening Singaporeans’ sense of solidarity and unity as the country marks SG60. How are the aspirations of Singaporeans evolving and what are the areas of concern individuals and businesses hope the government will cover in the upcoming Budget for the year? On this episode of Morning Shot, Annie Koh, Professor Emeritus of Finance from the Lee Kong Chian School of Business at Singapore Management University shares her insights on those key themes. Presented by: Emaad AkhtarProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: SG60.gov.sg; ST FileSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation and intention to step down as leader of the Liberal Party, following mounting pressure from within the party. Ahead of elections later this year, Trudeau's personal unpopularity with Canadians had become an increasing drag on his party's fortunes. Meanwhile, to allow his party to choose his successor, a lengthy process that will involve campaigning, Mr Trudeau has suspended Parliament until 24th March. On this episode of Morning Shot, Andreas Schotter, Professor of International Business from the Ivey Business School at University of Western Ontario shares his insights on what’s next for Canada, with a general election set to follow and Trump’s inauguration. Presented by: Audrey SiekProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: Cole Burston / The New York TimesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former US President Jimmy Carter is currently lying in state in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington. The Georgia Democrat and 39th president died 29th December at the age of 100. Carter served as president from 1977-81, winning office as an outsider in the wake of the Vietnam War and Watergate. An official state funeral will be held for the late President in Washington, DC on 9th January, with President Joe Biden set to deliver a eulogy for Carter, whom he had called a “beloved friend”. Tributes have poured in from presidents, world leaders and many everyday people from around the world, who admired not only Carter’s four-year service in the White House but his four decades of efforts since leaving office to fight disease, broker peace and provide for the poor. On this episode of Morning Shot, Amber Roessner, Professor from the School of Journalism & Electronic Media at University of Tennessee, who had previously interviewed Jimmy Carter and wrote a book about him, and Charles S Bullock III, Richard B. Russell Chair in Political Science & Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor & University Professor of Public and International Affairs at University of Georgia share their perspectives. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey SiekProduced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: BBC, Mark Schiefelbein/Reuters; Bob Daugherty/Associated PressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigators probing the deadly crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 in South Korea have retrieved the initial data from one of the aircraft’s black boxes and are in the process of finalising the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder, which may hold clues to the final moments of the flight. 179 people died after the plane crashed into a structure and exploded, making it the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil. The Boeing 737-800 plane was travelling from Bangkok when it crash-landed at Muan International Airport and slid into a wall off the end of the runway, bursting into flames and killing everyone on board except two crew members. On this episode of Morning Shot, Najmedin Meshkati, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Industrial Systems Engineering, and International Relations at the University of Southern California shares his analysis on what's been reported so far. Presented by: Emaad Akhtar Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul AsrarPhoto credits: EPA ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.