Headline news for June 18, 2026: President Trump signs the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding at the Palace of Versailles and the Strait of Hormuz reopens instantly, all sanctions are lifted and the war that began February twenty-eighth is formally over. The Federal Reserve holds rates under new chair Kevin Warsh but nearly half of policymakers now expect a hike by year end.

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.

Written by: Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Headline news for June 17, 2026: Singapore's exports surge thirty-eight-point-four per cent in May on AI-driven demand. Reuters reveals a three-hundred-billion-dollar private reconstruction fund is embedded in the US-Iran framework with over half already committed from companies across four continents. President Trump meets President Zelenskyy at the G7 and says Russia should make peace with Ukraine.

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.

Written by: Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Headline news for June 16, 2026: The Bank of Japan is set to raise rates to one per cent today — the highest in nearly thirty years. The U.S. and Iran have signed a preliminary agreement extending the ceasefire by sixty days and reopening the Strait of Hormuz but a permanent deal remains to be negotiated.

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.

Written by: Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

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Headline news for June 15, 2026: The U.S. and Iran announce a peace deal to end their war. President Trump says it is "complete," ordering the naval blockade lifted and the Strait of Hormuz reopened, with signing set for June 19, in Switzerland. Oil falls to its lowest since March, gold rises two per cent, and Asian markets surge.

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.

Written by: Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

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Headline news for June 12, 2026: President Trump says a "great settlement" with Iran could see the Strait of Hormuz reopen this weekend, though Tehran has not confirmed. SpaceX prices the largest IPO in history, putting Elon Musk on the verge of becoming the world's first trillionaire. Asian markets rally and oil falls to two-month lows.

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.

Written by: Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Lens On Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btlenson

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt

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Headline news for June 11, 2026: SpaceX prices the largest IPO in stock market history today with trading on Nasdaq beginning Friday evening Singapore time under the ticker SPCX. Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice after a second consecutive day of U.S. strikes. Asian stocks fall and gold hits a six-month low.

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.

Written by: Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Lens On Daily and rate us on:

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt

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PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work, but what does that actually mean for jobs in Singapore?

In this episode of Lens on Singapore, Claressa Monteiro speaks with Dean Tong, head of group human resources at UOB, and Victor Chua, deputy CEO of NUS-ISS. From workforce redesign and reskilling to hiring priorities and the rise of "AI bilinguals", they discuss how organisations are adapting, the skills employers are looking for, and why standing still may be the biggest risk of all.

Highlights of the conversation:

03:46 UOB's Better U Pivot Programme

06:07 How academic institutions and the private sector collaborate

13:44 Firms are looking for these crucial skills

16:51 Predictions for the future of work in 5 years

19:35 Companies should build the right culture

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Now, we want to hear from you! Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to btpodcasts@sph.com.sg. We’ll look into it for future episodes.

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Written and presented by: Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg)

With Dean Tong, head of group human resources at UOB, and Victor Chua, deputy CEO at NUS-ISS, National University of Singapore

Executive producer: Claressa Monteiro

Producer: Nicole Teo

Coordinating producer: Chai Pei Chieh

Video production: Studio +65

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

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Headline news for June 10, 2026: The US strikes Iranian air defences after Iran downs a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliates with drone attacks on US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait. Japan's three biggest banks announce joint stablecoin issuance. Singapore and Indonesia launch a joint technology study for the Batam-Bintan-Karimun region.

Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.

Written by: Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Lens On Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btlenson

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Website: bt.sg/lenson

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt

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PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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