This week on Viewpoint Friday (May 8), we connect the dots across developments shaping Asia and the global economy.

Japan’s expanding defence ties — alongside the ASEAN Summit — point to shifting regional dynamics, even as tensions in the Gulf and ahead of the Trump–Xi meeting highlight how fragile stability remains.

What do these shifts mean for costs, confidence, and everyday life?

Vishnu Varathan, Managing Director and Head of Macro Research for Asia ex-Japan at Mizuho Bank, joins us to unpack what this week’s developments are really telling us — and why the world may be entering a more uncertain phase.

 

This week on Viewpoint Friday (May 8), we connect the dots across developments shaping Asia and the global economy.
Japan&rsquo;s expanding defence ties &mdash; alongside the ASEAN Summit &mdash; point to shifting regional dynamics, even as tensions in the Gulf and ahead of the Trump&ndash;Xi meeting highlight how fragile stability remains.
What do these shifts mean for costs, confidence, and everyday life?
Vishnu Varathan, Managing Director and Head of Macro Research for Asia ex-Japan at Mizuho Bank, joins us to unpack what this week&rsquo;s developments are really telling us &mdash; and why the world may be entering a more uncertain phase.
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Take a step back, refocus, and Reset with Lynlee.

Airing weekdays from 1pm to 4pm, the show brings clarity to the stories shaping Singapore and the world — from current affairs and global developments to business trends and industry shifts. Through insightful conversations and fresh perspectives, Lynlee explores what’s driving the headlines and where things are heading next.

Featuring segments like Viewpoint, Industry Insight and Suite Talk, Reset goes beyond the noise to offer thoughtful analysis, real-world context and ideas that help you recalibrate for the rest of your day.

Take a step back, refocus, and Reset with Lynlee.
Airing weekdays from 1pm to 4pm, the show brings clarity to the stories shaping Singapore and the world &mdash; from current affairs and global developments to business trends and industry shifts. Through insightful conversations and fresh perspectives, Lynlee explores what&rsquo;s driving the headlines and where things are heading next.
Featuring segments like Viewpoint, Industry Insight and Suite Talk, Reset goes beyond the noise to offer thoughtful analysis, real-world context and ideas that help you recalibrate for the rest of your day.

Reset with Lynlee

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore’s first and only Business and Personal Finance station. MONEY FM is a 24-hour English talk format station featuring local and international business and financial news. We provide you with financial market and currency updates and insights from analysts, economists, policy makers, industry experts and business owners.

In the lighter hours, listen to discussions on social issues and features on topics that include health, education, arts and music.

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore&rsquo;s first and only Business and Personal Finance station. MONEY FM is a 24-hour English talk format station featuring local and international business and financial news. We provide you with financial market and currency updates and insights from analysts, economists, policy makers, industry experts and business owners.
In the lighter hours, listen to discussions on social issues and features on topics that include health, education, arts and music.

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore’s first and only Business and Personal Finance station.

MONEY FM 89.3

Take a step back, refocus, and Reset with Lynlee.

Reset with Lynlee (1pm – 4pm)

Viewpoint Friday: Japan’s defence shift and Asia’s rising uncertainty

Singapore's economy grew 6% in the first quarter, but are workers actually feeling the benefits? On this week's Viewpoint Friday, Lynlee Foo speaks with Manu Bhaskaran, Founder and CEO of Centennial Asia Advisors and Senior Research Fellow at IPS, about what lies behind Singapore's strong growth numbers, why wage satisfaction remains a challenge, and whether the current AI-driven boom can be sustained.

They explore rising tensions in the Middle East, the risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, and what volatile oil prices could mean for businesses, consumers and the global economy. With the Shangri-La Dialogue taking place in Singapore, Manu shares his perspective on China's lower-level representation, US-China competition, and what smaller countries should expect in an increasingly uncertain world.

As Manu puts it: "We have to build buffers and improve our ability to respond to shocks, because the shocks will come."

Singapore's economy grew 6% in the first quarter, but are workers actually feeling the benefits? On this week's Viewpoint Friday, Lynlee Foo speaks with Manu Bhaskaran, Founder and CEO of Centennial Asia Advisors and Senior Research Fellow at IPS, about what lies behind Singapore's strong growth numbers, why wage satisfaction remains a challenge, and whether the current AI-driven boom can be sustained.
They explore rising tensions in the Middle East, the risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, and what volatile oil prices could mean for businesses, consumers and the global economy. With the Shangri-La Dialogue taking place in Singapore, Manu shares his perspective on China's lower-level representation, US-China competition, and what smaller countries should expect in an increasingly uncertain world.
As Manu puts it: "We have to build buffers and improve our ability to respond to shocks, because the shocks will come."

Viewpoint Friday: Singapore growth, oil prices and Shangri-La — What's next?

Maybe right now, you’re working the job you once dreamed about.

On paper, it looks like everything you wanted, but instead of feeling fulfilled, you feel drained, stuck, or disappointed.

On Is It Just Me?, Lynlee Foo and producer Alexandra Parada explore why achieving the career you've always wanted doesn't always bring the satisfaction you expected and how to know whether you need a change in mindset, a change in environment, or a completely new path.

Featuring insights from Aurelie Eltvedt, French Organisational Psychologist from Counseling Perspective.

Maybe right now, you&rsquo;re working the job you once dreamed about.
On paper, it looks like everything you wanted, but instead of feeling fulfilled, you feel drained, stuck, or disappointed.
On Is It Just Me?, Lynlee Foo and producer Alexandra Parada explore why achieving the career you've always wanted doesn't always bring the satisfaction you expected and how to know whether you need a change in mindset, a change in environment, or a completely new path.
Featuring insights from Aurelie Eltvedt, French Organisational Psychologist from Counseling Perspective.

Is It Just Me? : I got my dream job, but why do I still feel dissatisfied?

Justin Chen, CEO of Arcc Spaces grew up helping his parents run an enamelware factory in Mali, West Africa, one of only four Chinese families in the capital. It's not where you'd expect the story of one of Asia's most recognised workspace brands to begin.

On Suite Talk, Lynlee Foo talks to the second generation leader about growing up between worlds, what fifteen years in a family business really costs, and what it took to find his way back to himself.

 

Justin Chen, CEO of Arcc Spaces grew up helping his parents run an enamelware factory in Mali, West Africa, one of only four Chinese families in the capital. It's not where you'd expect the story of one of Asia's most recognised workspace brands to begin.
On Suite Talk, Lynlee Foo talks to the second generation leader about growing up between worlds, what fifteen years in a family business really costs, and what it took to find his way back to himself.
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Viewpoint Friday: Japan’s defence shift and Asia’s rising uncertainty

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