Asia First
You’ll wake up to understanding how developments in news and business across the globe overnight impacts you and affects your work day ahead in the Asia Pacific.
Weekdays 7am – 10am (SIN / HK)
Presenters:
Presenter
Adam Bakhtiar
Adam is CNA's business presenter. He helms Asia First, a flagship show that delivers the day’s biggest financial and international news.
Adam Bakhtiar
Adam is CNA's business presenter. He helms Asia First, a flagship show that delivers the day’s biggest financial and international news.
Since joining in February 2016, Adam has reported on key events like China’s National People’s Congress, Brexit and the U.S. Presidential elections, all of which had a profound effect on capital markets.
He has also moderated several high profile panels for The World Economic Forum, and several banks in Singapore, where he brings his skills to vibrant discussions that transcend the world of business and politics.
Before joining CNA, Adam was a 9-year veteran at CNBC Asia, covering all the top international markets, from equities to currencies to fixed income to commodities. During his time there he broke news during the Global Financial Crisis, and interviewed state leaders including Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak and infamous personalities such as Jho Low.
Adam also brings to the table much experience as a financial market practitioner, having started his career as a stockbroker with over 13 years of experience before moving to business journalism.
Adam graduated from Deakin University, Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) degree.
You can follow Adam on Twitter: @AdamBakhtiarCNA
Presenter
Julie Yoo
Julie co-hosts Asia First, CNA's flagship business & international morning news programme.
Julie Yoo
Presenter
Julie co-hosts Asia First, CNA's flagship business & international morning news programme.
Prior to this, she also hosted Asia Connect, a fast-paced half hour bulletin covering the latest news from the Asian region with "live" updates from correspondents in key capital cities.
Julie joined CNA in 2014 from Seoul-based Arirang, where she had a seven-year career, most notably as a news presenter for Prime Time News from 2012 to 2014, and as the presidential correspondent during the Lee Myung-bak administration from 2010 to 2011. She has also interviewed numerous heads of state and senior officials.
Since 1998, Julie has become a specialist in inter-Korean relations, focusing on North Korea’s nuclear programmes, the conflict between North and South Korea, diplomatic efforts between Pyongyang and the global community, and the impact the North Korean crisis could wield on Asia.
Julie has a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts from Royal Holloway University of London.
You can follow Julie on Twitter: @JulieYooCNA
Presenter
Avril Hong
Avril presents the business updates on CNA. She enjoys speaking to thought leaders to understand how they turn ideas into reality.
Avril Hong
Presenter
Avril presents the business updates on CNA.
She enjoys speaking to thought leaders to understand how they turn ideas into reality.
Stories behind the headlines of particular interest to her, relate to aviation and sustainability.
Avril’s career highlights include the Singapore General Election and, the June 2018 Trump Kim Summit.
She joined Mediacorp in 2013 as part of news radio 938LIVE (re-branded 938NOW).
Outside work, she can be found befriending marine life or exploring a foreign land.
Avril obtained her Bachelor of Communication Studies (Honours) from Nanyang Technological University's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.
You can follow Avril on Twitter: @AvrilCNA
