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How younger social workers and social service entrepreneurs are exploring the use of music in the eldercare space.  Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. In this special edition of In Your Opinion - filmed in front of a live audience at The Foundry - a social service entrepreneur and social worker share how music can transform the eldercare space. Be it for their loved ones or as part of their advocacy, youths can now find more avenues to reach out to seniors, using the powerful tool in music.  When it comes to engaging the elderly, music can reinvigorate and empower them - all while closing the gap between different generations.  Studies have shown that music can amplify connections between the brain’s auditory and emotional regions, encouraging memory encoding and recall.  In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - STNow reporter Christie Chiu - speak with two guests who are harnessing

Why our expert guest speaker draws parallels with the chaotic Cultural Revolution in China in 1966. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 40 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests. In this episode - recorded on March 4 - Ravi speaks with Wang Xiangwei, the eminent Hongkong-based China scholar and former editor-in-chief of South China Morning Post. Mr Wang, who currently teaches at Hongkong Baptist University, offers a Chinese perspective on the vast changes being brought to the United States by President Donald Trump.  He draws parallels with the chaotic Cultural Revolution ordered by foundational Chinese leader Mao Zedong in 1966, and discusses what strategic openings this could present China.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 Comparisons with Mao’s chaotic Cultural Revolution 5:30 ‘The enemies are within’ 9:00 Trump popular despite chaos unleashed 14:40 China too needs to drain the bureaucratic swamp 17:50 China gains as Trump undoes Bid

Are we talking enough about health checks and the possibility of cancer for young adults? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. When she was about 35 years old, stay-at-home mother Hannah Seow discovered she had breast cancer after a self-examination. Her diagnosis came about two years after her youngest child, Caleb, died. For Samuel Ng, a month-long on-and-off fever was a sign that there was a deeper issue. In January 2024, after a blood test, he got the dreaded call. His report was “unfavourable”. Soon after, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. While dealing with cancer, he was laid off from his job. In this episode, Natasha chats with Hannah, now 37, and Samuel, 35, about how it feels to get cancer as young adults, their mindsets through their journeys, and if they want to be known as cancer survivors. According to the Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2022, while cancer remains largely a disease o

Combating loneliness with a mindfulness trainer. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Loneliness – that social pain of not feeling connected, is widespread. Inadequate social connections or social isolation is also a growing problem today. Social isolation and loneliness have significant, yet often overlooked, consequences for our health and longevity. The health risks are comparable to smoking daily, excessive drinking and obesity, said the World Health Organisation.  Social isolation and loneliness are also associated with anxiety, depression, suicide, dementia, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, said WHO.  Why do we feel lonely? Can we stop feeling lonely? What can we do about it? In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo finds out why we feel lonely and gets tips on how the young and old can combat loneliness from a mindfulness trainer. She is Adjunct Associate Professor Angie Ch

In a divided world, environmental treaties are still worth fighting for. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. President Donald Trump has pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement for the second time, prompting other countries to ponder about their involvement in the multilateral climate treaty. At the same time, other environmental agreements are running into speed bumps. Talks at the UN plastics treaty in December 2024 fell through; while the COP16 biodiversity conference, postponed in November 2024, reached a deal when talks resumed in February 2025.  In such an increasingly polarised world, are global environment treaties under threat? Do they still matter and how can they be strengthened as the impacts of climate change, nature loss and pollution worsen?  Green Pulse podcast hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty discuss why treaties still matter, some of the key problems they f

CDC vouchers are welcome, but young people also want more housing, jobs and childcare help. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Budget 2025 has come and gone - the time we Singaporeans look for some free money and vouchers.  This year, a big theme was around helping to alleviate the cost of living especially with inflation in the last few years.  But exactly how much did the Budget have for us young people in our 20s and 30s,  and what are the remaining problems that are untackled?  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at what the Budget gave and what young people might want from it in the future.  Her guests are young financial literacy expert from DBS Shawn Lee, and investment strategy managing director Vasu Menon from OCBC.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:39 What were the top three Budget goodies for us? 6:15 Help for young parents and families 8:58 Feeling the cost of living pinch 12

The relationship may not necessarily be purely competitive only. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times will now analyse the hottest political and trending talking points, alternating between its Malaysia and China bureaus. For February, host and deputy foreign editor Albert Wai and assistant foreign editor Chang May Choon connect with colleagues - Magdalene Fung based in Hong Kong, and Joyce Lim in Shenzhen. They wonder if Shenzhen has indeed eclipsed Hong Kong today, and look at how the two cities’ roles have evolved in recent years. Once a rural backwater that looked up to its richer, savvier neighbour across the border, Shenzhen underwent rapid development in the past four decades and flipped the power dynamics. But within the Greater Bay Area (GBA), the reality is that both cities will need each other in order to have sustainable growth going forward. The GBA refers to the region comprising the semi-autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong, including

The Aljunied GRC MP chats about his first term as an elected MP and being from an opposition party. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Also, in the lead-up to the expected general election that must be held by November 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves.In this episode, Mr Giam, who is an Aljunied GRC MP looking after the Bedok Reservoir-Punggol division, chats with Natasha about his journey to becoming a WP member, the challenges of being in an opposition party, and how his first term as an elected MP has been. The episode was filmed on Feb 14.Highlights (click/tap above): 2:10 “Sports is very much like politics in many ways.”7:50 The most difficult speech Mr Giam made in Parliament14:57 Is there a myth of opposition parties that he would like to debunk?22:00 Will screening candidates deter people from stepping forward29:43 What Mr Giam thinks will be different in the upcoming GE

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.On Feb 18, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered the Budget 2025 that has been called a “Budget for all Singaporeans”.Among the goodies were SG60 vouchers, CDC vouchers, and grants for parents who choose to grow their family beyond two children. Businesses and workers also received support in the form of credits, allowances and tax rebates, among other things.In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha sits down with three guests to dissect Budget 2025 - what it delivered on, what it means for Singaporeans, and what comes next.Her guests are: 1. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Second Minister for Finance and National Development Indranee Rajah 2. Singapore University of Social Science Associate Professor and labour economist Walter Theseira 3. Singapore Business Federation (SBF) chief policy officer Musa Fazal Joining Natasha as a co-host is Claire Huang, senior business co

Making sense of the domestic and foreign policy agenda of Trump 2.0 – and the implications of a new world order for Asia. Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times gets its US bureau chief to analyse the hottest political and trending talking points. In this episode, The Straits Times’ senior columnist Lin Suling, US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar and assistant foreign editor Clement Tan discuss the first month of Donald Trump's second term, focusing on his foreign policy in Europe, in the aftermath of the Munich Security Conference and the implications of the muscular reshaping of the US federal government, led by Elon Musk.   Highlights (click/tap above): 0:36 Trump's foreign policy and European relations 6:37 Domestic policy and government efficiency 16:23 Media relations and the Trump administration 28:50 Looking ahead: coverage and insights from Texas Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo  Read Lin Suling’s articles: https://str.sg/nnEQ  Follow Lin Suli

Can young people revive Singapore’s old buildings? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.That was the question Natasha teased the audience with during the video podcast’s first live event. Held on Feb 12, the show was a part of ST Podcasts’ Live!, a series of six events this year to celebrate ST’s 180th-year anniversary.  Organised by The Straits Times in partnership with the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the event drew more than 80 people in an intimate setting at The Foundry in Prinsep Link, which was the former Elections Department building. The two guests on the show were SLA’s chief executive Colin Low and Mr Ng Wee Liang, a real estate university student, who creates social media content on Singapore heritage, arts and culture.As Mr Low sees it, buildings are not just physical structures. Instead, they are opportunities waiting to be unlocked, reflecting our past, present, and future, he says.But how do we get y

From keen pricing to guaranteeing the resale value of its electric vehicle, BYD is bent on staying on top. Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport. BYD has been in Singapore for more than a decade before it became the country’s biggest selling car brand among authorised distributors. Mr James Ng, the managing director for Singapore and the Philippines, is doubling down on efforts to ensure that BYD extends its lead, not just for passenger cars, but also for public buses and commercial vehicles.  Highlights (click/tap above):  2:44 BYD, the same company that made surgical masks during the Covid-19 pandemic 8:44 Eyes a fourth dealer to grow its retail network 14:00 Dealers are free to be creative with their services, but BYD prices are fixed 32:44 We will definitely not be starting a taxi company 34:41 Unsurprising if EV adoption comes up to 50 per cent in 2025 Read Lee Nian

UN Cali Fund aims to collect millions, and possibly billions, of dollars for the conservation of nature and to benefit indigenous people.    Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Nature’s bounty is vast and we all benefit from it. Think of the huge variety of plants and their timber, seeds and fruits – even the materials from them to make cosmetics.  The immense variety, the huge number of different species and traits in nature, comes from genetics. And this has long been an intangible part of biodiversity, one that is hard to put a price on.  But a new fund agreed at UN biodiversity talks at the end of 2024 is set to change this. Called the Cali Fund, the industry is expected to contribute money for making use of nature. Companies, such as pharmaceutical and cosmetics firms, will pay for their use of the genetic resources from nature. Money will flow based on either a sh

An expert shows how fresh entrants to the workforce can gain the prior experience employers increasingly seek. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. It seems paradoxical for prospective employers to seek prior experience even for entry-level roles. This reflects the rising bar expected of fresh entrants to the job market. However, employers are becoming more open-minded towards what constitutes relevant prior experience. ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest, a seasoned career expert who has worked with tertiary students from different backgrounds, on the help at hand. His guest is: Ms Sarah Neo, head of the career development office at the Singapore University of Social Sciences. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:55 Why are employers increasingly seeking prior experience even for entry-level roles? 4:13 The forms such experience can take, from internships to hackathons 9:05 Is it realistic to expect ever mor

Find out too, why the Rodrigo Duterte outreach to China failed. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 40 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests. In this episode, Ravi speaks with Don McLain Gill, a Manila-based geopolitical analyst, and lecturer at the international studies department at De LaSalle University. Dr McGill presents a primer on Filipino-China ties, the implacable nature of China’s approach to the South China Sea, why the Rodrigo Duterte outreach to China failed, and also responds to the question: Did Manila overplay its hand? Highlights (click/tap above): 1:40 State of play in Filipino-China ties 5:30 Marcos started out wanting to improve relations 11:20 ‘Appeasement emboldened China’ 16:00 Did America prod Manila to be tough? 22:00 Trump will not undermine Philippine interests Host: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]) Read Ravi's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP Follow Ravi on X: https://twitter.com/Ra

Why are some Singapore companies willing to bear the expense to implement pet-care leave as a form of benefit? Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. While fewer people are keen on having children, more are becoming pet owners, based on statistics from the Animal and Veterinary Service and an Euromonitor International report. But what happens if you have a full-time job and your pet is sick?  Instead of requiring their employees to take urgent leave, some firms in Singapore have begun rolling out pet care leave, for "pawrents" who need to take their furkids to the vet. Only a small number of firms have started implementing it, but the response from employees has so far been overwhelmingly positive.  In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - journalist Aqil Hamzah - ask their two guests whether having a separate leave category the caring of pets is ultimately a good thing, and whether it’d affect the mo

The choice of decor by a Tamil Nadu resident whose father was a bus conductor in Singapore speaks of the ties between both cities. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in. Trichy in southern India has no direct flights to the capital city New Delhi, but it has five daily flights to Singapore. The planes are packed, underscoring the rich flows of people both ways. It is a relationship that stretched back to the early 19th century, when migrants from Tamil Nadu settled down in Singapore. Today, there are some 200,000 Singaporeans of Tamil origins. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks to India Correspondent Debarshi Dasgupta about those from Trichy who continue to make their way to Singapore - and other destinations - in search of opportunities. Highlights (click/tap above): 00:55 Looking out from India  03:48 Bungalows, cars and lavish weddings 08:56 Reverse migration 13:5

Can excessive screen use cause your child to be easily distracted? Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Too much screen use can lead to a child having issues with sustained attention. Tasks like homework may become a challenge to complete.  Indeed, as more evidence emerges on the impact of excessive screen time on a child’s cognitive development and executive functioning, the authorities have updated its screen use guidance. It comes under a new health promotion strategy called Grow Well SG, which is currently aimed at supporting families of children up to the age of 12. In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo invites a clinician scientist specialising in developmental and behavioural paediatrics to discuss the impact and the rationale behind the changes.  She is Dr Evelyn Law, an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore, who is part of the research team for the Growing Up in Singapore T

From coal power to green power, China’s clean energy vision could put the world on the right climate path Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. As climate change impacts worsen, the world seems more divided than ever in tackling the climate crisis.  US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw, for a second time, from the United Nations’ Paris climate agreement is just the latest setback for global climate diplomacy. Trade disputes and tariffs on China’s green tech goods have also damaged global cooperation and so have bitter arguments over climate finance.  Is there a nation that can fill the climate leadership gap? Can China step up?  It has already been steadily increasing its leadership, says Mr Li Shuo, director of China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington. He tells Green Pulse that China’s dominance of the green energy sector, in t

Do your homework and hold for the long term - these are among expert tips for stock picking. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. There are so many different methods to invest these days - from buying roboportfolios, to exchange traded funds or index funds benchmarked to certain indices. But there are also investors who wish to pick their own stocks because they are convinced of their increasing value.  This particularly occurs when it comes to tech stocks that might be rapidly rising, or when certain industries show strong potential for growth.  But how does someone go about stock picking and what are the risks involved?  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at how people can choose solid stocks in the volatile environment of 2025.  Her guests are young investor Troy Cheng and ex-ST journalist and veteran market watcher Ven Sreenivasan. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:42 What is stock picki

The MP for Punggol West SMC first joined the People's Action Party as a member 25 years ago after becoming a volunteer to help with Meet-The-People sessions. Synopsis: On Thursdays, The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Also, in the lead-up to the expected general election that must be held by November 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves. In this episode, Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Home Affairs, and Social and Family Development, chats with Natasha about her experiences from 25 years of Meet-The-People sessions since she first got involved on the ground at the age of 20.They talk about Ms Sun’s latest efforts to combat family violence and scams and why we should work together as a community to halt any family violence and child abuse in Singapore. She also highlights the challenges of tackling scams, which exploit human emotions like trust and greed, making it harder for authorities to

Insights on Asean's beachside pow wow, the Johor-Spore economic zone and ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times will now analyse the hottest political and trending talking points, alternating between its Malaysia and China bureaus. For January, hosts Lim Ai Leen and Tan Tam Mei kick off with ST's Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh, based in Kuala Lumpur. There are high expectations for Malaysia as it assumes the Asean chairmanship in 2025. But there are hard questions too. How will it navigate economic turbulence? And tackle Asean’s tricky issues from disputes in the South China Sea to unrest in Myanmar? Meanwhile, excitement over the freshly-signed agreement on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone continues to buzz among business folk on both sides of the Causeway. But what will make it work?  Teoh also lists the JSSEZ’s ingredients for success, and suggests a snappier acronym for it. He also tells us what’s in store if ex-PM Najib Razak wins

Making sense of the blitz of executive orders, announcements and rhetoric from the new US President - and what Asia should take away. Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times gets its US bureau chief based in the United States to analyse the hottest political and trending talking points. In this episode, The Straits Times’ senior columnist Lin Suling and US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar discuss the big announcements, power moves and ambiguous comments from the 47th US President - pulling the brake on the TikTok ban, the threat of tariffs and the outlook for trading partners among other pressing issues. Which will be policy and which are simply rhetorical opening positions? How soon could Asian countries be caught in the cross-hairs? And what’s behind Donald Trump's pronouncement of wanting to visit China in his first 100 days? Highlights (click/tap above): 2:50 What the moves say about Mr Trump’s communication style and policymaking preferences 5:00 Is there disagreement within th

If you’re toying with the idea of getting a pet, the first question to ask yourself is: Are you ready for the time, financial, and emotional commitment? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.On this episode of The Usual Place, host Natasha Ann Zachariah found out what blindspots first-time pet owners may have and what they should anticipate when getting a pet.Dibashini and TheAsianPawrent manager Jamie Wong dropped by to share their views about how to assess if you’re ready for a furry companion, the differences between adopting and buying pets, and the financial and emotional commitments of a pet owner.They also brought their furkids with them – Dibashini with her shiba inu, six-year-old Zuko, and Jamie with Yoko, a Bernedoodle (a mix of Bernese mountain dog and poodle), and Bowie, a kerry blue terrier pomsky.The starting point of a pawrent’s journey should start with deciding whether an animal’s personality, type and i

Can stereotypes of male pre-school teachers be reduced to ease more men into the profession that is seeing shortage in Singapore? Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. There is less than one man for every 10 early childhood educators in Singapore - surprising given that the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) estimates the need for another 1,500 more educators to support the sector’s expansion in the coming years.  As male pre-school teachers conventionally face more scrutiny, could MSF’s new set of guidelines spelling out appropriate boundaries help ease tensions?  The new set of guidelines for primary caregivers include expression affection, bathing practices and exposure to nudity.  Amid a spate of abuse cases at various pre-schools in Singapore being reported in 2024, these guidelines could help pre-school teachers and parents set their mind at ease, especially when it comes to male pre-school teachers, said guest

With global warming increasing heat risks across the world, early warning systems and early action can be a lifesaver, especially in densely populated Asia-Pacific. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. More than six billion people are now exposed to heat waves and this will increase in coming years because of climate change.  And the Asia-Pacific region is at great risk because of its high population densities and exposure to heat, says Dr Luis Rodriguez, lead for climate and environmental crises for the Asia-Pacific at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). He tells The Straits Times’ Green Pulse podcast the Asia-Pacific region has 66 per cent of the global population at risk of the impacts of heat waves. He explains why it is so important to have early warning systems and early action. Doing so can save many lives. Take a listen to the

Research on the serious brain disorder paves the way to new treatments. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to others. Some people may associate the disorder with just hallucinations or delusions, but it is more than that. Those with the illness can experience cognitive and motivational problems that have no pharmaceutical solution, though other strategies, like therapy, may help. Schizophrenia affects one in 116 people in Singapore, and is the most common disorder seen at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). With treatment, many people with schizophrenia can go on to lead fulfilling lives. In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to psychiatrist Jimmy Lee about the complexity of schizophrenia and the research that is being done to help individuals who hav

Conditions such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia, as well as the ways one lives with these conditions, can provide fresh ways of thinking. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Neurodivergence: A big word, but one imbued with the simple promise of progress. It means to recognise that brains may be wired differently between different people, causing perceptible differences in information processing and social relations, impacting both work and personal life. ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi, who was himself diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) aged 27, talks about the emerging consciousness of neurodivergence and the importance of supporting the neurodivergent to fulfil their potential with his guests. His guests are: Mr Rumi Mohd, associate director for sales and marketing hiring at Randstad Singapore, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child Mr Himanshu Chaudhari, a finance professional diagnosed wi

The Great Wall of China was built for protection, but now it's in need of guardians to preserve the 2,000-year-old structure. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in. When a part of the Great Wall section in Liaoning started to crumble in 2016, authorities paved it over with cement to keep it safe, sparking outrage. Other sections had been transformed into tourist attractions complete with cable cars. But China’s approach towards restoration has since been marked by a saying - “to go along with the layers, the slopes, the curves, the old and the dilapidated” - one tended to carefully by local villagers-turned-craftsmen. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks with China bureau chief Tan Dawn Wei about how China’s attitudes towards historical heritage restoration have shifted, and why.    Highlights (click/tap above): 0:45 Three men, one mission 2:58 Thinking about

Now that we’re in 2025, one thing’s for sure – a General Election is on the horizon. Synopsis: Out on Thursdays, The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. When exactly? That’s anyone’s guess. But political parties are already up and about, ramping up efforts to touch base with voters. And, judging by the recent episode between some volunteers of Progress Singapore Party and People’s Action Party in Bukit Gombak in Chua Chu Kang GRC, the political temperature is rising. In the lead-up to the polls, The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah looks at how MPs, and others involved in the GE, are preparing themselves. In this week’s episode, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Tan stops by to talk about his experience so far as a first-term MP. Mr Tan, who has been an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC since 2020, said he “won’t call it a job because... it’s an elected role that has no fixed job descripti

From parents of newborns to riders who dismantle their motorcycles to evade repossession, this man has seen them all. Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport. What happens when a hire-purchase car goes missing or when a marriage turns sour and the fighting parties want their assets back? They call on repossessors like Mr Jim Koh, who has been in the repossession-cum-towing trade for nearly 20 years. Highlights (click/tap above):  2:31 The difference between a towing service and repossessing a vehicle 5:10 Repossessing a vehicle can turn nasty 14:41 Job hazards of being run over or pelted with eggs 21:54 When Jim is compassionate when repossessing vehicles 27:39 Advice for those looking to join the trade Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC Host: Lee Nian Tjoe (niant

We look at what is happening on the ground with a Myanmar watcher. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 40 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests. In this episode, Ravi speaks with Pichai Chuensuksawadi, former group editor of Bangkok Post and observer of Myanmar affairs.  They discuss the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, the role of outside players in the conflict, prospects of the junta holding elections and the fate of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:50 Myanmar military won’t fall in 2025 5:00 Chinese pressure on Rakhine 9:00 Elections on the junta’s mind 11:00 Thai diplomacy 15:00 Where’s Aung San Suu Kyi? Host: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]) Read Ravi's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP Follow Ravi on X: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.Saudi Arabia, China’s Lijiang and Yunnan, and… Central Asia? Could these be the next big holiday destinations for 2025?This week on The Usual Place, Straits Times Life travel journalist Sarah Stanley and co-founder of The Travel Intern Hendric Tay share why they think these lesser-known spots might see more tourists this year.Drawing from industry conversations and their own observations, “new adventures in lesser-known spots” seem to be the 2025 motto of Singaporean travellers. Social media, Hendric explains, has nudged people to step out of their comfort zones. But, he cautions, “they also need to make the right preparations for it.”In this episode, the talk of travel dives into whether sustainable travel is just a gimmick for charging more and why solo travel continues to be a big draw for young adventurers. The discussion also goes into the complexities of group travel, whether

We take the pulse of the planet for 2025 with our key themes on climate, nature and nuclear.  Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. New year, new format, where we spice things up with a deeper look at the challenges and opportunities in the environmental sector, controversies and differing points of view. In this episode, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty dive into three key themes for 2025: Climate, nature and nuclear.  They examine key questions, including: After the hottest years on record in 2023 and 2024, what will 2025 bring? Will the worsening extreme weather jolt governments into action? Or will it be another year of missed opportunities? Will the resurgent interest in nuclear really take off? Or will the realities of high costs and long construction timelines cool interest? Is this the year for nature conservation – on land and the oceans – to finally get a big boo

A young start-up founder talks about quitting his job to take the path less trodden, and discuss with DBS the ingredients for success. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Gen Zs are embracing the entrepreneurial life. Instead of working for someone, they want to start their own companies, sometimes fresh out of school.  There are also more entrepreneurial programmes for them even in secondary schools. Online platforms also let them start businesses online and have a wider audience for their products and services.  But what exactly is involved in starting a start-up? Is it something only for the rich kids or is it within reach of everyone? In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at how people can start their own business even in their 20s, and what’s involved in the process.  Her guests are Accredify founder Quah Zheng Wei, who started his business aged 27, and DBS Head of Corporate and SME Ba

What are some of President Trump’s likely policy priorities after he takes office for a second time? Will he do exactly as he threatened? Synopsis: The Straits Times’ assistant foreign editor Clement Tan catches up with US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar to talk about President Donald Trump’s possible policy priorities in his second term. In this episode, they discuss the cabinet appointees President Trump has already announced, his China policy and the war of words that has already erupted between Trump’s “bro-in-chief” Elon Musk and Trump’s MAGA base supporters.  Highlights (click/tap above): 0:38 Trump's inauguration and immediate priorities 6:09 Internal conflicts within the Republican Party 12:32 Trump's approach to China 24:26 The future of TikTok in US and Trump's influence Follow Clement Tan on X: https://str.sg/uErS Read Clement Tan's articles: https://str.sg/Ep62  Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Clement Tan ([email protected]) & Bhagyashre

Finding meaning and purpose in life. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. In this New Year’s day episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo talks to Adj Assoc Prof Angie Chew about the importance of spirituality in our lives. They also discuss how to harness this source of strength to improve our mental health and find meaning, purpose, and happiness in life.  Prof Chew is the Founder, CEO and Mindfulness Principal of Brahm Centre, a mental health charity dedicated to promoting happier and healthier living. This podcast is part of the No Health Without Mental Health series. It is a special year-long series that The Straits Times started in October 2024 to normalise conversations about mental health so that people can get timely support. The December package on combating holiday blues was released on Dec 16.  Highlights (click/tap above) 2:24 What is spirituality? 6:08 Coping with irrational fears and jealousy 10:23 C

Political stalemate is diminishing Thailand’s international stature and economy Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Thailand, once seen as a rising middle power, is now stuck in political and economic stagnation that are affecting its international standing. Its years of political turmoil had caused its economy to underperform, with GDP growing by 1.9 per cent in 2023.  While economists expect around GDP growth at 2.7 per cent in 2024 and 2.9 per cent in 2025 - the growth is inadequate to satisfy demands and expectations.  Thailand is currently under the relatively new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 38-year-old daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. But its “old guard” institutions have not allowed the country to progress politically, which are controlling political outcomes through agencies like the constitutional court, the election commission, the anti-corruption commission an

As we inch closer to a new year, will you be putting “losing weight” on your list of resolutions - for the nth time?  Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Dropping the pounds is a classic New Year’s resolution for many people, but sticking to it often proves challenging.  Natasha wanted to find out what trips up our weight loss goals, so she turned to the experts, who have seen success stories and epic fails. On this episode of The Usual Place, she is joined by Mira Azman (@miraacurl), Senior Exercise Experience Coach at Virgin Active Singapore, and Jerome Simon (@jxmonxstar), Senior Club General Manager at Fitness First Singapore.  The new year usually brings them new clients - it’s a ‘New Year, New Me’ vibe, they both concur - but people have been known to drop out within weeks of signing up. Mira and Jerome highlight that people often come in with unrealistic expectations. Like one of Jerome’s clients who wan

Developing countries are in a vicious debt cycle with little relief in sight, undermining social progress. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Some 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on interest payments in their debt, than on either education or health. In 2023, a record 54 developing countries allocated 10 per cent or more of government revenue just to pay off interest on their debt - reducing funds available to provide basic services from schools to hospitals, for their populations.  Public debt thus becomes a human rights crisis, as well as an environmental crisis as most debt is denominated in foreign currencies. Countries then often have to export their way out of debt - which in many cases, such as in that of Laos, means exploiting their natural resources.  The crisis is worsened by the fact that for many developing countries, it is more costly to borrow than for rich countri

Is modern dating painful and how can those who want to find love in 2025 find love intentionally? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. On this episode of The Usual Place, host Natasha Ann Zachariah dissected the dating game with Andrea Tan, a certified sex, love and relationship coach and founder of Athena Rising Coaching & Consulting and Chia Wei Goh, founder of CGull, a dating consultancy for men. According to results from a Bumble survey that was released mid-Nov 2024, people here are still keen to date – four in five Singaporean singles interviewed are looking to find a long-term partner in 2025. (Bumble is a women-first dating and social networking app that was founded in 2014.) But what are some of the issues that get in the way of finding love? From treating dates as job interviews to having many deal-breakers, both Andrea and Chia Wei dove into the insights they gleaned from working with their clients. Natasha wanted t

“Money not enough” - not even raising fares can fix current school bus woes. Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport. School bus fares are constantly rising, and yet operators are saying that ferrying pupils to schools is a loss-making venture with little way out. Mr Darry Lim, 44, who grew his father’s bus company from eight to 38 buses, says that the troubles facing the industry are only worsening as a sizeable number of local drivers are leaving the trade every year.  Darry is the director of Hui Leong, a private transport company and serves as the transport officer of the Singapore School Transport Association which represents mainly self-employed school bus drivers. Highlights (click/tap above):  2:21 More drivers than buses are needed 4:11 Shrinking local driver population also means a cut in foreign drivers because of the allowable foreign worker quota, worsenin

Rich lodes of valuable metals lie on the seafloor. Will a global rush to mine them be allowed – and will doing so damage the world’s oceans? Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Scattered across the sea bed are trillions of potato-sized lumps brimming with lucrative metals vital to making electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, smartphones and much more. This is sparking a “blue rush”, as some countries and companies are eager to cash-in on them.  Yet the mining of polymetallic nodules remains banned and there are growing concerns that scooping them off the sea floor risks disrupting one of the most important, but still poorly understood, parts of the planet. In this episode, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty speak with The Pew Charitable Trusts’ project director of ocean governance Julian Jackson on the risks.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:12 T

Good leadership that inspires confidence cuts across age. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. It isn’t possible to draw lines along age, tenure, skill and leadership in the working world as neatly as previously. The image of top leaders has expanded beyond the notion of someone assuming their position after a long-drawn process. This is a convention upended, perhaps most prominently, by the heady proliferation of influential start-ups with precociously young leaders at the helm, one of whom journalist Tay Hong Yi spoke to in the latest episode of Headstart On Record His guest is: Mr Looi Qin En, partner at venture capital firm Saison Capital, who co-founded careers discovery platform Glints. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 How did Glints’ co-founders start a business that young? 3:20 How did Qin En grow both his technical skills and soft skills so quickly? 6:30 How to convince people to look past your age as a

Factors to watch are increasing population, workforce and productivity. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the Asian continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with James Cheo, chief investment officer for Asean and India with HSBC Group Private Banking, on the glowing economic prospects for Asean and India amid weakening growth in the ageing countries of North-east Asia. Mr Cheo is a former macroeconomist with Singapore’s central bank, Monetary Authority of Singapore.  They discuss what’s driving growth in South-east Asia and India, growth being led by productivity and not just investments, and the potential pitfalls investors into these regions need to look out for. They also discuss the likely impact of Donald Trump returning to the American presidency in January 2025. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:10 The ‘Triple Rs’ powering South-east Asia 6:40 The new AI is all about Asean and India 9:50 The middle class i

From unwanted Secret Santa gifts to guest etiquette fails, Natasha and her guests dive into the dos and don’ts of navigating holiday gatherings with humour and grace.  Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.The holiday season is here, bringing with it the fun - and sometimes the headache - of social gatherings. Whether it’s an office party, a house dinner, or a festive get-together with friends, the rules of holiday etiquette can be blurry. On this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha is joined by colleagues who are seasoned party hosts themselves - The Straits Times features correspondent Elizabeth Law and ST senior audience growth specialist Friday Farzanah.With tinsel on their mics and an adorable alt-Christmas tree, the trio dissect different scenarios of holiday etiquette, from navigating cheapo Secret Santas to guests who break your glasses. They debate whether “enforced fun” like icebreaker games should be, well, enf

It is safer to live near a nuclear power plant than to ride a plane, says an expert. Do we have a Not In My Backyard (Nimby) syndrome? Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Nuclear energy: Why not? That is the response from an expert on why Singapore is exploring it.  The radioactive release from the Fukushima meltdown in 2011 did not kill anyone, but thousands of workers at coal mines die every year, says Dr Alvin Chew, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in NTU.  Dr Chew’s research focuses on the usage of civilian nuclear energy. He was previously with the civil service, working on energy security and energy transition issues. “When you compare the (nuclear sector) to airline industries, there are more airline crashes and lives being lost. But yet, people are still flying,” he adds. Still, the horrors of nuclear disasters such as the meltdowns in Chernobyl and Fukushima a

Want a dress ironed? A facial? A shirt darned? Or perhaps a coffee freshly brewed, right on your doorstep? Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s global correspondents about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. More services are being offered by Indonesians on motorcycles and bicycles. Mr Subban has a sewing machine affixed to the table in front of his bicycle. Madam Desri Muliati irons clothes on a motorcycle, using a steam iron heated with a portable gas canister. They are among Indonesia’s formidable force of informal workers that drive the economy, accounting for nearly 61 per cent of the country’s total labour force. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks with journalist Aqil Hamzah about the services that these workers provide, and why they eschew jobs in the formal sector.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:10 Making ends meet 3:32 Finding them on TikTok, Instagram and on WhatsApp 6:07 Getting started during t

Hypertension is a silent killer; check it before it’s too late. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Do you know if you have high blood pressure or what's also known as hypertension? According to the National Population Health Survey 2022, about one in three Singaporeans aged 18 to 74 has hypertension. This condition puts them at risk of heart disease and stroke. However, a significant proportion remains unaware because the symptoms become obvious only when the condition is severe.  Hypertension is present when a person’s blood pressure is at 140/90 mmHg or higher. But a slightly lower reading doesn't reduce the risk. In August 2024, the European Society of Cardiology, an influential society among cardiologists, introduced a new high blood pressure or BP category of 120-139. This implies that even readings in this range are not 'normal' as doctors once thought. In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo talk

The implementation of developing countries’ climate targets hinges on the availability of finance and technology Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Despite the criticisms surrounding the UN climate conference COP29, which took place over two weeks in November in Baku, Azerbaijan, negotiators managed to reach an agreement on two key finance-related issues.   A new goal for annual climate finance flows was set at US $300 billion by 2035, a three-fold increase from the previous $100 billion target. Developed countries should take the lead in delivering this amount to developing countries to help them take climate action. An agreement on carbon markets was also reached at the summit, allowing countries to cooperate through the international trade in carbon credits to meet their climate goals.  But what do all these mean for Singapore and South-east Asia? In this episode, host

Two avid travellers reveal their top hacks, where to sit on the plane and how to cut the budget while having fun. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Singaporeans love to travel. In a survey, people said one overseas trip a year is essential. But how do we travel well while still maintaining our budgets? Would you travel to Europe but eat cup noodles to save money? In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at the top travel hacks from experts, how people achieve “budget comfort” and upgrade the travel experience without splurging thousands of dollars.  Her guests are Youtrip chief operating officer Kelvin Lam, who once left his investment banking job to be a full-time backpacker, and youthful “budget comfort” traveller Prisca Ang.   Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 How Prisca spent $3,500 for seven cities in 10 days in Japan  8:33 Should I take a direct flight or layover; top travel ha

The US’ President-elect inherits a world different from that in his first term. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Tariffs - as a weapon to restore and rejuvenate American jobs and manufacturing -  will be back with a vengeance in Donald Trump’s second term. So will competition with China, in the course of which performative support for Taiwan by hawks in Congress and Washington DC security circles may end up provoking Beijing and thus hurting Taiwan.   Yet the US’ 47th President will inherit a world different from that of his first term in 2017 - one with more limits to American power. While some hawks in Washington see China as weak and advocate that the US should do everything it can to push it over the edge, realists understand the US can no longer do everything.  From the perspective of South-east Asia, it is imperative to defuse the zero-sum mentality of US-China competition. Faced wit

Unlike our school days where it was easier to find a buddy, making new friends as an adult isn’t something that we leave to chance. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.When you hit your adulting years, it is inevitable that someone will ask you “Have you found a partner?”. Interestingly enough, you rarely get asked if you have made new friends.The struggle to make new friends when you are older is real. Many don’t realise - or only learn when they drift apart from their childhood friends - is that friendships, like other relationships, take effort to thrive.In this episode of The Usual Place, host Natasha Ann Zachariah explores the complexities of forming - and keeping - friendships in adulthood. Joining her are Grace Ann Chua, 30, CEO and co-founder of Friendzone SG, and Jarel Low, 34, the co-founder of Offline Singapore, two individuals dedicated to creating events for meaningful connections.From how to step out of you

How Singapore intends to settle noise disputes more effectively. Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Settling noise disputes will be easier with mandatory mediation as the Community Disputes Management Framework (CDMF) is enhanced, under the Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Bill.  Involved with how the framework can be enhanced is grassroots leader Raymond Poh. In this episode, Lynda Hong and co-host Christie Chiu speak with him to hear about his 14 years of experience in dealing with noise disputes, and how mediation has been effective in resolving disputes between neighbours (with an 80 per cent success rate with voluntary mediation cases). Mr Poh also shares how the Community Advisory Panel’s (CAP) recommendations, along with the proposed CDMF enhancements, may help neighbours better understand one another and find middle ground.  If the dispute remains unresolved after mediation with the Community Mediation Centre (CM

While there is concern over trade policy, US investors remain bullish on business with Asean.   Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. With President-elect Donald Trump intent on using tariffs as a weapon - with the larger strategy of rejuvenating American manufacturing - there is concern that the US could retaliate against countries that have a big trade surplus with the United States. Within the 10-nation Asean bloc, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand could become targets.  But Asean's growth and competitiveness remains attractive regardless. From 2022 to 2023, for example, foreign direct investment (FDI) declined in all regions of Asia except Asean. More broadly, intra-regional trade in Asia is expected to rise by 65% to US$400 billion (S$535 billion) a year by 2030, which is a good sign for US and Asean investors. Growth opportunities include artificial intelligence, semiconductor production, digital

With more people conscious about mental health issues, is going to therapy the solution to deal with inner mind and emotional struggles? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. These days, conversations about mental health - and content about it - are everywhere. Within that space, therapy often comes up as a way to deal with mental health issues. People write about it in personal essays, it’s bandied around in memes, and on TikTok, there are therapists who create short-form videos about boundaries, trauma and coping mechanisms. But should everyone be in therapy? To answer that question, The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah speaks with Raquel Ang, 35, co-founder of telewellness platform IHearU App, and singer-songwriter Layyi, 28, who was featured on a song called Lovin’ Me.(The track, led by local singer-songwriter Haneri (Daphne Khoo) and also features Whylucas, is part of a youth mental wellness initiative by McDon

Improve your chances of getting a ride on a wet Friday evening with some hacks from this experienced cabbie. Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport. Mr James Quak is among the 89,000 qualified taxi drivers in Singapore. In this episode of Wheel Insights, the 49-year-old sheds light on how taxi drivers work out their share of the vehicle rental and how they decide which ride booking to take.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:35 The difference between being a taxi hirer and a “relief driver” 5:41 How much driving time makes up for daily taxi rental  13:59 Why taxi drivers don't look out for street-hailers 17:46 How much taxi drivers benefited during the East-West Line MRT disruption in September 2024 23:01 The reason why taxi drivers always seems to be changing shift during peak travel hours 25:39 Advice for those considering joining the trade Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles

While Singapore is transforming into a City in Nature, natural habitats have been lost to development, leading to more human and animal clashes. How can wildlife and humans live in harmony?  Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a four-part environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits the ground with experts. In this fourth episode, our trails won’t be entirely green. Instead of a nature park or a green space, we head over to an urban place surrounded by buildings and construction noise.  The new neighbourhood of Punggol Northshore recently saw some monkey business, with troops of long-tailed macaques spotted at construction sites and even eating at a void deck of an HDB block.   To find out how residents can responsibly live in a macaque hotspot, ST journalist Shabana Begum speaks with co-chief executive of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) Anbarasi Boopal, and president of the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) Andie Ang.  Strolling along Punggol

The amount, quality and access of climate finance among key issues to be discussed at COP29. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Expectations are mounting on negotiators at COP29, the UN climate conference, to produce an outcome on climate finance. The annual summit, from Nov 11 to Nov 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan, is shaping up to be a “finance COP”, where discussions on the new collective quantified goal for climate finance – or how much money should be channelled to developing countries to help them take climate action – are expected to conclude. In this episode, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Ms Illari Aragon, the climate policy justice lead at nonprofit Christian Aid.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:39 What do we mean by climate finance?  4:18 Why are discussions on the new climate finance target so contentious?  11:29 The situation on cl

The move may be difficult, but can be rewarding for both personal and professional development. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Talents with overseas exposure are coveted for their ability to help companies realise their global aspirations. There is also robust appetite among Singapore talents to work abroad. However, employers frequently find it challenging to convince talents here to take up overseas opportunities. Journalist Tay Hong Yi speaks to those who have navigated and are helping others to navigate this complex undertaking to work abroad to shed light on the dilemma. His guests are: Dr Nadir Zafar, chief experience officer at the Human Capital Leadership Institute and director of the Singapore Leaders Network Ms Cheryl Lin, a business analyst based in Copenhagen who moved there for further studies Highlights (click/tap above): 2:39 What are the pathways to working abroad? 5:23 What are some of the trade-

We examine the impact of the recent US presidential election result. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ associate foreign editor Lim Ai Leen and senior columnist Lin Suling meet up in the studio with Bhagyashree Garekar, The Straits Times’ United States bureau chief who covered the US presidential election all year long, and is back in Singapore for a short break. In this episode, they discuss how Bhagya arrived at her early prediction of a Trump win before the Nov 5 election, how Trump played to the male and minority voters, global anti-incumbency election trends and how they think Asian countries will shape to deal with the impact. Highlights (click/tap above): 5:12 How Trump appealed to male voters in this 'woke' age, why Trump beat expectations to win the minority vote in the US 15:50 Political lessons for governments in Asia and how they relate to voters; expected impact from incoming Trump administration 17:54 Dissecting the dynamics of the phone call between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and US P

The Labubu craze exploded earlier in 2024 thanks to Blackpink's Lisa. What's keeping the love for Labubu going? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Inspired by Scandinavian folklore, Labubu was created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung as part of his Monsters character series in 2015. How do you know when a toy is a big deal? When people are brazenly committing crimes to get it. And when hundreds of people queue overnight to be the first to get their hands on it. When fans get into shoving matches and the police have to be called. Bakers make cakes in its image, while enterprising sellers offer product customisations like braces, make-up and custom identity cards.Perhaps the true hallmarks of a product’s popularity are a hot reseller market and the existence of fake versions.In a nutshell, these events describe the months-long craze over Labubu – the fanged little elf that everyone around the world is going gaga over.Eve

Technology is advancing at such a pace as Chinese electric vehicle brand Xpeng is aiming to prove to the global market. Synopsis: In this special episode, The Straits Times' Lee Nian Tjoe meets Mr He Xiaopeng, the chairman and chief executive of Chinese electric vehicle brand, Xpeng. By 2025, Xpeng cars will bring the driver from door-to-door with barely any human intervention and in 2026, it plans to deliver its first flying vehicle.  Xpeng is using automated driving technology to make driving safer and more relaxing. The target, Mr He says, is to make the cars behave like “good drivers” on the road, adapt to local conditions and behaviours. Concurrently, the company is taking to the skies. Its first flying vehicle will reach customers in 2026.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:55 By 2025, Xpeng’s drivers will only need to step in to take control once or twice per 100km covered 3:45 Level 5 autonomous driving means that the vehicle can handle itself in all conditions, whether it is a typhoon or an ear

Should young people be talking about - and planning for - their deaths? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. In this episode of The Usual Place, three millennials under 35 get candid about mortality and what changed their perspectives on death.Ho Hui Sze, 30, a counselling psychologist and host of Being With Grief podcast, G. Kethlyn Gayatiri, 32, a freelance educator, and Muhammad Alif, 28, a financial advisor and content creator, are no strangers to talking about death. They feature on Let's Talk About Death - a five-episode docuseries by The Straits Times, which premiered on Oct 23, 2024. From choosing a casket to protecting their passwords for their online accounts, each of them explores different aspects of end-of-life planning and dying well.Kethlyn is filmed in Episode 2 with her mother, Irene Koh, while Alif appears with his wife Liyana (@financewithliyandlif), in Episode 4. As for Hui Sze(@beingwith.grief), she choose

Where is Singapore dementia research headed? Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. This episode is on a topic that affects millions worldwide: dementia. We will explore the differences between how dementia presents in Asian versus Caucasian populations, and what this means when it comes to early intervention and future treatments.  Professor Nagaendran Kandiah, director of the Dementia Research Centre (Singapore) at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at Nanyang Technological University is our guest. He also talks to Joyce Teo about Lecanemab and Donanemab, two drugs that can slow down Alzheimer’s disease by treating the root cause. Donanemab, for instance, has been approved, but not recommended for the National Health Service in England. Highlights (click/tap above) 1:05 Differences in the way dementia shows up in Asians and Caucasians 6:01 A blood test to pick up dementia 11:59 Lecanemab and Donanemab, two drugs that have

International carbon markets can help to channel funding to developing countries and help them take action to tackle climate change. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. What is the difference between carbon avoidance, removal or reduction? This question is one of a few key ones holding up global consensus on the establishment of a global carbon credit programme under Article 6 the Paris Agreement. At the UN climate conference COP29, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov 11 to 22, negotiators will be hammering out the details to enable this programme to be implemented. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement allows countries to cooperate with one another to achieve their climate targets, such as through carbon markets.  What are the differences between these three terms, and why are they so contentious? To find out more about the roadblocks hindering an agreement on carbon m

DBS’ sustainability chief reveals ways to get into sustainability and why sustainable finance matters. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. The warmer the weather, the more we feel the impact of human activities on climate change. But how do we make a difference? Should we find jobs that work on sustainability, particularly on the environment front? Or invest in more meaningful asset classes in the sustainability field?  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan examines why sustainability matters, how to get a job in the ESG field, and what we can do in our daily lives and with our investing to contribute to a more sustainable world.  Her guest, Helge Muenkel, also describes how his career started with a Masters in development economics, and the twists and turns he made before finally landing in his current position as DBS chief sustainability officer.  Highlights (click/tap above): 6:52 What skills

Its warren of underground bunkers and tunnels, which sheltered the city’s residents during the heavy bombing of the Second Sino-Japanese war, are turned into lifestyle destinations today. Synopsis: The Straits Times chats with ST’s global correspondents about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Chongqing bears a grim wartime history. As China’s wartime capital which Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang government decamped to in 1937, it was heavily bombed during the Second Sino-Japanese war. Bunkers - some 16,000 - were built into the city’s hills and mountains, sheltering terrified residents as the bombs rained down. Some eight decades on, the Chongqing government has given these underground shelters a new lease of life.  In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks to China correspondent Aw Cheng Wei about what it is like to be in those bunkers today, and why Chongqing is approaching its wartime past differently from other Chinese cities. Highlights (click/ta

Political upheaval in Japan as its snap elections see the ruling party lose its majority, reshaping its ties with the US and Asia.  Synopsis: Join The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the Asian continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with Tobias Harris, founder of political risk consultancy Japan Foresight on the fallout from the stunning electoral reverses suffered by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba following his decision to hold snap polls. They discuss what the results, which saw the long-governing Liberal Democratic Party and allied party Komeito lose their parliamentary majority, mean for Japan, its alliance with the US, and its ties with wider Asia. Tobias and Ravi also discuss how the results could impact on fiscal policy, and whether the government would now be forced to go in for further fiscal expansion. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:36 Japan’s political ‘earthquake’ 4:33 Anger, frustration in Japan  7:50 Dome

Unless one candidate wins swing states decisively, a quick settlement is unlikely in America’s cliffhanger election. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. The United States’ presidential election, which polls show is currently in a statistical tie, is unlikely to be settled quickly unless one candidate decisively wins enough swing states - which remains a possibility.  Short of that however, both parties have armies of lawyers ready to file challenges to the result - with resolution potentially taking a long time, and concerns over instability in the interim.  While a Kamala Harris presidency would bring a degree of continuity to foreign policy - and possibly some push back against Israel’s conduct - a Donald Trump presidency would have echoes of his first term, in which he bristled against the traditional post World War II international order, bringing up issues even with American allies such as

Navigating the US election scene - from Trump's rise to economic worries and the shifting tides of masculinity in politics. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ assistant foreign editor Clement Tan catches up with US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar to share her insights into the US presidential elections on Nov 5, 2024. Clement Tan speaks with Bhagyashree Garekar, ST’s US bureau chief, about her experiences covering the US elections. They discuss the changes in American society, the rise of Trump, and the impact of inflation concerns on voter sentiment. In this episode, Bhagya shares memorable encounters from her travels across the US, highlighting the political landscape and the growing diversity in the population. The conversation also touches on the psychological aspects of masculinity in politics and the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming election results. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:51 Memorable encounters on the campaign trail 8:23 Changes in infrastructure and American society 12:33 The rise of Trum

Observing with empathy, asking the right questions and listening will go a long way to charting out how to give meaningful support. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Diversity, equity and inclusion are aspirational ideals that have permeated conversations of work life and good employment. Yet, there is still room for improvement when it comes to putting these aspirations into practice, if a survey on diversity issues commissioned by The Straits Times and release in August is anything to go by. In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi finds out how employers and employees both have their part to play in making workplaces more inclusive in meaningful ways without patronising those who benefit. His guests are: Ms Winifred Ling, a couples therapist and relationship coach who has lived with an invisible disability for close to two decades Ms Hsu Yi Peng, a young leader who helmed an initiative to provide students with

Unlocking new sources of financing for nature, ending harmful subsidies and benefit sharing among issues to be discussed Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. It has been two years since the Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted, and almost 200 countries are set to gather in Cali, Colombia, from Oct 21 to Nov 1 to discuss the way forward. The framework, touted as the biodiversity equivalent of the Paris Agreement that aims to help the world avert catastrophic climate change, wants to help slow, even reverse, nature’s decline.  The framework outlines four goals that the world hopes to achieve by 2050, including protecting and restoring nature and closing the biodiversity finance gap. The framework also outlines 22 targets, to be achieved by 2030, to help the world achieve the longer-term goals. Targets include the one to restore 30 per cent of all degraded ecosystems by 2030,

US trade policy and US-China competition concerns are high on the minds of South-east Asia observers. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Hardening strategic competition with China will remain front and centre of the foreign policy focus of the next US Administration in Washington DC. But while Asian countries have a mixed response to this superpower competition, most seek to stay on the right side of the United States and off the wrong side of China.  Ahead of the US presidential elections on Nov 5, South-east Asia would foresee more continuity under a Kamala Harris Administration, with the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF, launched in 2022 by the Joe Biden Administration) continuing - while a second Donald Trump regime’s approach would be more bilateral, with Washington’s relations with individual countries shaped by factors such as trade deficits.  Within the broader context of US-China c

The conversation in this episode dives into suicide prevention, stigma, and the changes needed to get to Zero-Suicide. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. In Singapore, suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people aged between 10 and 29.  A 160-page white paper report called Project Hayat (meaning ‘life’ in Malay) was launched in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept 10 by advocacy group SG Mental Health Matters. Project Hayat outlines a national suicide prevention strategy for Singapore, and laid out its own research findings and 23 recommendations for addressing the gaps in suicide prevention here.In this episode, host Natasha Ann Zachariah finds out how we could talk more openly about suicide matters among young people, and what more can be done to address the gaps in support. Her guests on the show are the project’s co-lead Dr Rayner Tan, 35, who is from the National University of Singa

The SkillsFuture JobSeeker Support aims to help the retrenched tide over financially, while between jobs, after tough talks with unions, employers and the Government.  Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. As the global economy changes more rapidly and unpredictably, workers may face more risk from job loss despite best efforts.  Yet, going out of a job can pose a hit to household finances. In an era of rising cost of living, lower- and middle-income workers are more likely to jump on the first job offer without considering their aptitudes.  To give these workers more time to find the ‘right’ job for them, the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme will be launched in April 2025, with financial support structured to spur an active job search without incentivising prolonged unemployment.  The scheme, estimated to cost the Government $200 million every year, comes as a result of tough talks among employers, unions and the Governmen

We don’t all have to live frugally and retire by 40 years old, but we need to be financially disciplined so we can retire meaningfully. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. FIRE in this context, stands for financial independence, retire early - a movement that points to the desire to retire earlier than the usual age range of 65 to 70, through a regime of aggressive investing, saving and frugality during one’s working years.  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan investigates if Fire is for everyone, and if there are other ways to sustainably achieve financial freedom and retire at leisure.  Her guests are Mr He Ruiming, 35, who as co-founder of the Woke Salaryman, talks about how he initially wanted to retire at the age of 32, and DBS financial literacy expert Lorna Tan, who feels that retiring meaningfully is more important to her.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:42 What are the different typ

Powering up: The world is warming up to nuclear energy as nations scramble for zero-carbon electricity. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. For years, nuclear energy has been reviled as an energy source over safety, cost and the time taken to build the power plants.  But with the world’s growing need for clean electricity to fuel everything from electric vehicles, heating and cooling to giant data centres, nuclear energy is getting its time in the sun again. Some countries, such as the United States, Japan and France, have committed to tripling nuclear energy capacity by 2050, while others, like Singapore, have said it is not ruling out its use. China is also making big investments in nuclear energy.  Compared to generators powered by fossil fuels, nuclear reactors do not produce any planet-warming emissions.  But will this be the silver bullet to getting the world to net-ze

Some are holding fast to their mother tongue, even with migration overseas, and are coming up with creative ways to spread the learning and use of Cantonese. Synopsis: The Straits Times chats with ST’s global correspondents about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Want to pick up Cantonese? Some Hong Kongers - from a software engineer to a playgroup teacher based in Britain - have created new ways of learning the Chinese dialect such as through apps, videos and social media accounts. This surge in a grassroots effort is coming at a time when many Hong Kongers are feeling unmoored by the political turbulence of the past decade. As more migrate to non-Cantonese speaking societies, they are holding fast to their identity and language in a foreign environment. There are also growing fears that Cantonese in Hong Kong and Guangdong is a dying language with people abandoning it for English or Mandarin. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks with Hong Kong corres

Your mother tongue can also be your super power - that’s what our three guests on The Usual Place tell us. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. In this episode, Zhang Xi Ying, a content producer at HeyKaki, C Aishwarya, a branding and promotions executive from Tamil Murasu and Rabiatul Adawiya Binhan, deputy audience and growth editor from Berita Harian, share their views on what it takes to be bilingual. Beyond acquiring another language, your mother tongue helps shape some sense of your identity, and preserve culture and connections with your roots. For one, it’s no longer passe to be fluent in your mother tongue, say Xi Ying and Aishwarya. But sometimes, the struggle to pick it up can be real, adds Rabiatul, who is trying to get her two children to learn Malay. Learning our mother tongues came up at the National Day Rally (NDR) in August 2024. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, said in his Mandarin speech, that he understood t

There is no health without mental health. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Mental health is a national priority in Singapore. While the recent 2023 National Population Health Survey showed that there was an improvement in the mental health of the general population between 2022 and 2023, younger adults aged 18 to 29 remained more affected than other age groups, with about 26 per cent of them reporting poor mental health. We, at ST, want to normalise conversations about mental health so that people can get timely support. This is super important because there is no health without mental health. This is why we’re starting a year-long Mental Health Series, which will feature a package of stories focusing on mental health every month. We will talk to people with mental health conditions about the challenges they face, and what they do to manage their conditions.  We will also look at the evolving mental health landscape here

Why action is needed to avoid some countries being labelled as 'scam states'. Synopsis: Every third and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. With their heavy security, territorial control and global reach, we look at South-east Asia’s industrial-size scam compounds, where thousands are lured from low-employment countries to work as forced labour stealing billions of dollars from victims worldwide. They are a national security threat to the countries they are based in as well as to the countries they target.  The criminal organisations running these centres emanate mostly from China, and are physically located mainly in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar but across the region in other countries as well. Sporadic crackdowns of the type recently seen in Laos’ Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, are often choreographed ahead of time, enabling kingpins to evade them.  According to a repor

Home-grown jazz saxophone player Sean Hong Wei is the 15th guest in this music channel. Synopsis (headphones recommended): The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the 15th episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean jazz saxophone player Sean Hong Wei. The 25-year-old marked a milestone when his debut album The New Jersey Sessions - a collaboration with his mentor and home-grown jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro - reached the Top 20 of the chart of American publication JazzWeek in July, 2024. The chart ranks releases based on airplay reports submitted by radio stations. The album had earlier gone to No. 1 on the overall chart and jazz chart on iTunes Singapore within two days of its release on Jan 1. The former banking and finance student is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in music at The New School, New York. He also plays regular shows in the city’s vibrant jazz scene, where he meets and learns from seasoned veterans.  He shares his ex

How can Singapore business leaders become special? Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with the new dean of Insead Asia Campus, Professor Sameer Hasija, on executive education and Singapore business leaders. The new dean of Insead Asia recounts the following meme in an era where workers do not stay put in one organisation for long anymore. The chief financial officer asks: "Should we be investing in training our people? What if they leave?" The chief executive answers: "Imagine we don't invest in them and they stay." In this exclusive, Prof Hasija tells host Krist Boo how going to a business school differs from going to a career coach. He points out why businesses should invest in workers and why business leaders must throw out the 'elitist' in themselves, in today's multi-generational and fragmented workplaces. He also talks about Singapore's strategy to put more Singaporeans into global leadership positions. Do Singaporeans lack ambition? Highlights (click/tap): 2:05 What does executive education do for me?

A university professor says his students are not keen on owning a car, while a motor industry expert says that they would, if cars were affordable.  Synopsis: Every third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times offers expert insights on new vehicles or transportation trends. In this episode, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe invites Associate Professor Raymond Ong from the National University of Singapore, who wrote an opinion piece published in The Straits Times in August which said that the current price of certificate of entitlement (COE) needed to register a mass-market car is more affordable to households in Singapore today than it was in 2013. His other guest is motor trader-turned-consultant Say Kwee Neng. Highlights (click/tap above): 6:15 The reality at the showrooms, where the age of car buyers has changed from 10 years ago  12:05 Car-leasing firms for private hire have changed the game in the demand for COEs 26:20 The danger of the sense of defeatism in youths when cost of a car has reached far beyond

Can there be respect?  Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues of the day. Education Minister Chan Chun Seng recently announced at the Ministry of Education Schools Work Plan Seminar, how parents should communicate with teachers from now on. He said teachers are not required to share their personal phone numbers, and do not need to respond to work-related messages after school hours. Instead, they should use official channels like their e-mail and office number when contacting parents, and respond to work-related messages after school hours only in the event of emergencies, he added. These guidelines aim to help schools and parents work together more “positively, constructively and respectfully” while also establishing boundaries so that teachers can have “protected time” of their own.  In this episode, Mr Chan dropped by The Usual Place to chat with host Natasha and her special co-host Jaime Ho, who is also the editor of The Straits Times. Why is t

The seasoned Singapore diplomat is bullish on India and Asean but says the US should not be underestimated. Synopsis: Every third and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Veteran Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, never shy about sharing his views, is bullish on India and Asean, believes China will not invade Taiwan unless the island declares independence - and warns that no one should underestimate America.  In this episode, Mr Mahbubani says Europe should also revise its notions of being a global economic powerhouse, and the United Kingdom needs to give up its seat on the UN Security Council so India can take it. Asean has been successful as a regional organisation in preventing Brexit-style breakaways as well as wars in the region - and by 2030 its combined economy will be bigger than Japan’s, Mr Mahbubani contends.  Pressure on China will grow regardless of who occupies the

Salaries need to be structured more flexibly to reflect broader aspirations. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Views on pay issues vary widely among young workers depending on their professional and life goals. This was borne out in a survey of 1,000 young people commissioned by The Straits Times, carried out in May by market research firm Kantar and released in August. In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi digs deeper into the implications of the results and underlying beliefs that give rise to different attitudes. His guests are Dr Fermin Diez, a researcher on compensation issues with over 30 years of corporate experience, and young professional Jonathan Ng, who juggles being a business development manager with robotics company Otsaw while studying for a degree in marketing at the Singapore University of Social Sciences. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:38 How has working and studying at the same time influenc

In the bid to make alternative protein palatable to the consumer, South-east Asian cuisine offers some advantages.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Home to glitzy bars and Michelin star restaurants, Singapore is a foodie paradise. It is a reputation that extends well beyond the dinner plate – and it is not just diners who are noticing.  The country’s research into ways of feeding the world in ways that are more beneficial for the climate and nature is also attracting global attention.  On Sept 5, the Bezos Earth Fund launched Asia’s first Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore, with a $39 million commitment from the Bezos Earth Fund. The fund was started by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as a philanthropic commitment to address the climate crisis. What does this centre hope to do, and how will it help with Asia’s protein pivot? Gree

Revered as soldiers, the Gurkhas are Nepalis who are recruited into the British Army, the Singapore Police, the Indian Army, and recently, even the Russian army.  Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the Asian continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with one of the most highly decorated officers of the Indian Army, retired Lt. Gen. Shokin Chauhan, on the future of Gurkhas, the famous warriors from the hill tribes of central Nepal. Gurkhas, who form the largest ethnic component of the Indian Army, have also lately been in the news after it was reported that some of them died fighting for Russia in the Ukraine War.  A celebrated scholar-soldier and a retired second generation Gurkha Rifles officer of the Indian Army, Lt. Gen. Chauhan and Ravi discuss recent changes to India’s military recruitment policies that led Nepal to ban Gurkha recruitment by New Delhi, whether Nepal’s Maoist government will permit Nepalese soldi

Does living a meaningful, purpose-filled life trump materialistic goals and climbing the corporate ladder these days? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues of the day, and finds out about what young people are talking about. Talk about the new definition of success has been fronted this year by Singapore’s new prime minister Lawrence Wong, who has called for wider definitions of success. But can it be done? In this episode, Natasha asks her three guests how possible it is to run on passion, and in redefining success, what does failure look like now? Also, what is one thing that young people need to do if they want to redefine what success looks like to them. Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan, founder and executive director of Access Singapore Clarence Ching, and co-founder of River Valley Irregulars Sheila Manokaran speak about how they see the Singaporean dream moving beyond the 5Cs. The question - or is i

Two Singaporeans share their experiences working for Red Bull racing. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  The 2024 Singapore Grand Prix returns on Sept 22 when fans here witness exhilarating action over 62 laps of the 4.94-kilometre Marina Bay Street Circuit. And while the title race between Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris heats up on track, The Straits Times’ Hard Tackle revs up for the race weekend by learning more about what happens behind the scenes at a F1 team.  In this episode, sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by Singaporeans Charis Chua and Heng Yi-Hsin, students from Nanyang Technological University who look back on their 2½-month stint with Red Bull Racing and look ahead to the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.   Highlights (click/tap above): 5:30 Finding out about winning the internship challenge to work for Red Bull Racing   7:45 What Yi-Hsin and Chua did during their stints with RB  11:25

Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan, who turns 60 this year in 2024, finds out the challenges to growing older as she confronts her own negative attitudes about ageing. Intergenerational friendships are not just about age groups, as Sumiko finds out from  Michael Chiang. The playwright is nearly three decades older than married couple Jonathan Leong and Jeneen Goh, but the trio share a firm friendship. Host: Sumiko Tan ([email protected]) Produced by: Studio+65 Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyXSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 'buy now, pay later' (BNPL) scheme allows for purchase on zero interest instalment plans with less credit requirement. Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. In 2023, Singapore consumers spent $3.4 billion online and in-store using 'buy now, pay later' (BNPL) services from third-party providers like Atome and Grab PayLater, banks and retailers - without the need for minimum income as required by credit cards.  And members of Gen Z, those between 18 and 24 years of age, and young millennials between 25 and 34, were among the bigger users of this method, according to the Worldpay’s 2024 Global Payments Report. With BNPL strengthening the purchasing power of youths, are there worrying social and financial implications from this new payment method, despite seemingly having more purchasing power?  To discuss more about this, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong co-hosts with business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan to speak with their gue

The bitter aftertaste though, is the story of how Chinese Indians are struggling to fit in.  Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  There is a popular sauce in India, which involves massive amounts of green chillies, salt and Indian spices such as turmeric. And it is sold as a Chinese sauce, in Kolkata’s Chinatown. From paneer chilli to green chilli, Chinese sauces, adapted for Indian taste buds, are very popular in India. It is also a representation of how ethnic Chinese - their origins in Kolkata can be traced to the 18th century in India - have assimilated.   But that is not the complete story, for the community whose history has been fraught, from the fall-out from the 1962 war between India and China, to the after-effects of today’s border conflict.  In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with India corresponde

How to choose a healthier salt and cooking oil. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Singapore is planning to introduce Nutri-Grade labelling for salt, sauces and seasonings, instant noodles and cooking oil. These are labels that will allow consumers to tell at a glance how healthy they are. The products will be graded A to D – with D being the least healthy choice, having the highest levels of sodium and/or saturated fat, among other possible nutrients. The mandatory Nutri-Grade label has been successfully used on pre-packaged and freshly prepared beverages. Drinks that exceed a threshold of sweetness are graded C and D, and there are also prohibitions on advertising such beverages that are grade D. Still, it would appear easier for someone to cut down on sugary drinks, or even eliminate them, than it is to significantly reduce the intake of sodium and saturated fats as savoury foods can form a big part of our diets. Will th

We ask Indranee Rajah - Minister in the Prime Minister's Office - to explain the mindset shift aim of the enhanced parental leave scheme, announced on Aug 18. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues of the day, and finds out about what young people are talking about. When it was announced at the National Day Rally that the parental leave scheme would be enhanced starting in April 2025, Ms Indranee recalls young parents being happy to hear the news.  Employers, she adds, on the other hand, are cautiously welcoming the news as they put forth their concerns about managing schedules and workloads. Ms Indranee talks about the need for a well-designed workplace to make shared parental leave work for all, not just parents of newborns.  This would mean fathers giving advance notice of when they want to take their leave or compensating those who take on a parent’s workload - with the money freed up by the government-paid paternity leave. Natasha asks Ms Indranee wh

Start early, compound your wealth, and try not to beat the market.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Finance literacy experts always tell us to “start young” so we can make full use of the effect of compounding and grow our wealth from a young age.  But how early is early enough for first-time, young investors? Can an undergraduate without a full-time job start investing? Crucially, if someone has just $100 a month to invest, what can they do with that amount?  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan also looks at how university investing clubs help undergraduates to start growing their money, and the first investments that they can buy to begin.  Her guests are Associate Professor of Finance Matthew Dearth from NTU who brings 30 years of finance experience, and NTU undergraduate Victor Tan, who has invested since age 18.  The NTU Investment Interactive Club helps to link students to the fin

Businesses are buying into new financial products that could help save nature, but funds for nature’s protection have not reached the scale required.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Coral reef bonds, biodiversity credits and schemes that enable national debt to be forgiven in exchange for conservation efforts. These are just some of the financial instruments that have been in the news recently, as the world races to find the funds needed to prevent nature from falling into further decline. But when did the financial sector start paying attention to nature, and can their involvement in conservation truly help to protect and restore natural ecosystems?  Financing for nature is expected to be a key topic of discussion at the COP16 biodiversity conference in Colombia in October. In the lead-up to the United Nations summit, Green Pulse co-hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty di

New episodes from our rebranded podcast channel will drop here: https://str.sg/wB2m Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Our previous Money and Career podcast channel is now rebranded Headstart on Record, taking on a fresher and sharper approach on how to chase your aspirations and grow your money.  Hosts Sue-Ann Tan and Tay Hong Yi will speak with guests on how to navigate jobs and finances in a daunting, complex world.  Hong Yi has been covering manpower and talent topics for ST, with a focus on careers, the job market and workforce trends.  Sue-Ann will look at how to invest your money and the delicate balancing act between saving and living. Sept 2 Monday sees her first episode dropping across our audio platforms and the ST app. Stay tuned for more episodes on chewy topics like how far would you go for your pay cheque and how you can invest from age 18. Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa Follow S

Home-grown rapper Shigga Shay is the 14th guest in this music channel. Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the 14th episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean rapper Shigga Shay. The 31-year-old hip-hop artist speaks at length about his experience as the first Singaporean to take part in The Rap Of China 2024, the popular Chinese reality show (2017 to present) that looks for the country’s next rap star. He was among the 72 contestants out of 600 who passed the first round, and reached the 41st spot before being eliminated in the third round. It is still a win, he says, because his time on the show gave him a platform to reach out to a whole new fanbase in China. He still makes regular trips to China to work with his counterparts there on his upcoming release, a mixtape titled Hanyu Pinyin. Featuring verses in Mandarin, English and Hokkien, this new batch of songs reflect his identity as a mult

Hear home-grown rapper Shigga Shay's intimate live studio take of his latest single, Overachieve, which will also be included in his upcoming release Hanyu Pinyin. Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Listen to Shigga Shay talk about his musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/yzJA  Discover home-grown artiste Shigga Shay at: YouTube: https://str.sg/bnA6 Spotify: https://str.sg/BQLe Instagram: https://str.sg/vMyR Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]) Produced by: Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65 Mixed by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Discover previous artistes featured on Music Lab Podcast: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcas

Love or loathe them, could insects also become a food source in the wider context of the global population? Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a 4-part environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits the ground with experts. "Can this be eaten?” is an oft repeated question that every nature guide is familiar with. In July, Singapore approved 16 species of insects for human consumption, to the delight of sustainable food firms and disgust of some Singaporeans. But can bugs one day whet mainstream appetites like sambal stingray, a smokey South-east Asian dish crafted from the creature once considered as a “trash fish”? In this third episode of Green Trails, our team speaks to members of the Entomological Network of Singapore, a group of insect researchers and hobbyists, about the stories of insects in the city-state and whether these creatures can be foraged. At Windsor Nature Park, ST journalist Ang Qing meets Dr Sean Yap, a research fellow at Nanyang Technological Unive

Aggression from China is driving Manila and Washington closer, spurring a loose coalition against Beijing. Synopsis: Every third and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Despite talks between China and the Philippines regarding resupply of the small contingent of Philippine marines aboard the World War II era ship Sierra Madre which Manila had grounded on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in 1999, tensions remain high in the South China Sea.  In the latest incident, Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard vessels collided near Sabina Shoal, a disputed feature in the Spratly Islands, in the early hours of Monday, Aug 19. The vessels were damaged and though there were no casualties, Washington responded by reminding Beijing of the US's 73-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty with Manila.  China claims most of the 1.3 million square miles of the South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, w

A motor industry expert connects popular culture to the success of Chinese car brands in Singapore. Synopsis: Every third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times offers expert insights on new vehicles or transportation trends. BYD is leading the sales chart in Singapore and other Chinese car brands are also making their way here. In a market where the total number of vehicle registrations is capped, the success of the newcomers comes at the cost of incumbent players. Dr Victor Kwan, who was in the motor trade for more than 20 years before joining academia, explains what is driving this trend and whether it is sustainable. Highlights (click/tap above): 6:15 The reason for the appearance of so many new Chinese car brands in Singapore 8:20 What BYD Is doing right 22:00 The pressure to develop the charging infrastructure to spur the desire for electric cars 24:50 What dealers think about when deciding to bring in a car brand 38:00 Chinese car brands are here to stay Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/w

Climate and environment data disclosures are vital. But real action is needed for cutting emissions and nature protection. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. There’s a saying in sustainability circles: What gets measured, gets changed.  And this applies particularly to companies, which are the major source of carbon emissions heating up the planet. Companies are also top sources of damage to nature, especially biodiversity loss. Corporate supply chains, products and services all have a carbon and nature footprint. So, what companies, as well as cities and public institutions, decide really matters.  But until recently, companies were under no obligation to fully measure and report their impacts and what they were doing about it.  Times have changed. A growing number of countries, including Singapore, are mandating annual corporate climate disclosures. And likely soon, natur

What triggers one’s frustrations in Singapore? Even the smallest inconvenience can spark irritation, making it feel like we’re always on the edge of our temper. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives. Murals and HDB block patterns, poor service, bad food, long queues, queue cutters, ‘undeserving’ seat occupiers on public transport, slow walkers, ‘pawrents’ spending money on their furkids, XMMs — the list of what grinds Singaporeans’ gears seems to grow by the day.Throw in social media platforms into the mix, and the rants come fast and furious.There's an appetite for it - just look at the existence of Singapore-centric complaint groups online and the number of members they have. Or the TikTok videos that pop up, where people rant about a perceived slight or minor irritation. Or the people who have been caught in 4K acting out on the roads, in malls or restaurants. We could go on.Natasha goes outdoors to find out if peo

ST sports reporters and the SG bronze medalist look back at memorable moments in the Paris Olympics. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  History was made on Aug 9, 2024, when kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder became Singapore’s youngest Olympic medallist after he clinched a bronze in the Formula Kite event. In this episode, ST's sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath and sports correspondent Kimberly Kwek for a look back on that historic moment while also assessing the Paris Games as a whole and Team Singapore’s overall performance.  We also bring you the full audio from ST’s conversation with Maximilian a day after his final race.   Highlights (click/tap above): 1:25 ST reporters talk about the mood on the ground at the Marseille Marina after Max won bronze  7:10 ST reporters discuss what is next for Max 15:25 Max surprised he has yet to receive negative messages 23:55 Max on why “connecti

A well-written job description helps employers and jobseekers find the right fit. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you put your career on the right footing from the outset. The job search is never easy, with limited time and lots of ground to cover. This means it is important to be able to suss out, with confidence, the likelihood a job opportunity is the right one to put your chips into, starting from understanding what job advertisements are saying. Host Tay Hong Yi speaks with a seasoned headhunter who has helped plenty of clients through this process over nearly 20 years. His guest is Ms Agnes Yee, executive director for interim solutions and legal practice at Kerry Consulting. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:27 What does the way a job opening is described say about employers? 6:58 Why a less specific description may not always be a bad thing 15:20 Why is meeting all stated job requirements not always enough? 22:51 What to make of “quirky” job descriptions? Read Tay

Two HDB resale flats had listing prices of $2 million in May, which were debunked by the authorities for being misleading and unrealistic. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. The authorities sat up and paid attention when a jumbo flat in Sengkang was put up for sale with an asking price of $2 million in May. Then there was a listing for a DBSS flat in Toa Payoh asking for $2 million. But with a record number of HDB transactions above $1million each - a phenomenon that started around 2012 -  is a HDB resale flat with a price tag of $2 million permanently unrealistic? In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan look at the percentages and context of HDB resale flats in the market with Nicholas Mak, who is now chief research officer of property search portal Mogul.sg. He has over 25 years of experience in the Singapore and regional real estate markets. Highlights

We chat with Mayank Chhaya, Chicago-based veteran chronicler of the Indian diaspora, on Kamala Harris’s appeal and chances in the upcoming Nov 5 US presidential election. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with the veteran journalist, author and broadcaster Mayank Chhaya, a former staffer with India Post in California and India Abroad, New York, on the rise in US politics of Americans with Indian heritage, including presidential hopeful Kamala Harris and Nikki Haley, who challenged Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. They discuss Ms Harris’s racial identity, her chances of victory, and whether America is heading toward being a post-race society. Mr Chhaya also comments on prominent Indian-Americans in the business field, including the heads of Microsoft, Google, IBM and YouTube, and why Indians seem to be doing so well in many facets of American life. Highlights (cli

How effective are your skincare products? Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. We all want to look as young and as healthy as possible, and one way to do so is to have healthy skin. But, as we age, our skin becomes thinner, less elastic and more dry and sensitive. There’s also a difference between Asian and Caucasian skin, but most dermatological research has focused on Caucasian populations. How can we then delay the skin ageing process?  To find out more, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to an expert on ageing skin - Professor Rachel Watson - who had spent 30 years in the United Kingdom studying what exactly changes in the skin as we age and how the environment accelerates skin ageing. She has come to Singapore to study Asian skin, and has just started a new research project looking at Asian skin ageing and the possible interventions that can be used to improve skin health and prevent skin diseases. Prof Wat

Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan, who turns 60 this year in 2024, finds out the challenges to growing older as she confronts her own negative attitudes about ageing. Despite the 38-year age gap between former actor Edmund Chen, 62, and his Gen Z daughter Yixin, the bond between father and daughter is warm and playful as Sumiko Tan finds out in this episode of Sumiko At 60. Host: Sumiko Tan ([email protected]) Produced by: Studio+65 Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyXSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can mid-lifers breathe new life into stale careers with social media? Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. Will a leap into social media rain new work opportunities for a stale middle-age career? Will being on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and more show the boss that mid-lifers are still in tune with technology and on-trend? Join me and my special co-host, senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe in this episode of Work Talk. We will explore the potential of social media for mature careers that need a second wind. Our guests are Mr Walter Lim, founder of marketing agency Cooler Insights, and Ms Jessly Chew, an associate director at recruitment agency Michael Page. Together, we will delve into the possibilities, pitfalls and planning for mid-lifers who are curious about putting out their first TikTok or YouTube video, Instagram or LinkedIn post. Listen and get started! Highlights (click/t

In the quest for renewable hydropower, indiscriminate dam building in the basin of the Mekong is changing the landscape and negatively impacting local communities and ecosystems. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Unilateral and indiscriminate dam building has been taking place in the quest for hydropower and control over water in the basin of the Mekong river - the lifeblood of mainland Southeast Asia.   But local communities most impacted by the changing face of the river system struggle to be heard amid elite-driven, urban-based decision-making and an engineering mindset, critics say.  Only one in ten of over 600 dams have been notified to the Mekong River Commission, following the 1995 Mekong Agreement among Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The Agreement was supposed to focus on sustainable development and management and tries to balance needs and rights.  Two other

Is it catchy lyrics, a snappy beat, or is there something else that captures the Singaporean heart? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives. Why do some songs, basking under the golden glow of nostalgia, come back year after year, and why do others fade from the public consciousness once their time has passed? In this new episode of The Usual Place podcast, host Natasha Ann Zachariah takes her show onto the streets of Singapore, to ask members of the public what their favourite National Day theme song is, and what makes these songs so special. Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected]) Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Filmed by: Amirul Karim and Hana Chen Follow The Usual Place Podcast her

Hengdian, in Zhejiang province, is booming as the location set for two-thirds of China’s period dramas. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s global correspondents about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. They come with stars in their eyes, hoping to become the next Fan Bingbing or Jackson Yee. In Hengdian, they put their names down and hope to be picked - to deliver a line, to stand next to an actor, or even just to be a face in the crowd in one scene.  Hengdian is touted as China’s Hollywood, and with good reason - it was here that high-budget dramas and films such as Story of Yanxi Palace and Curse of the Golden Flower were shot.  But it has gained renewed attention in recent years, as Chinese audiences get hooked on micro-dramas - low-budget productions shot in vertical format to be viewed on smartphones.  In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with correspondent Goh Yan Han on the dreams that Hengdian repr

From the evolution of MRT lines to buses, wider cycling paths and committing to being “car-lite”, our veteran transport reporter tells all.  Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. In the second part of the conversation, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe hosts long-time senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times - Christopher Tan - to talk about how he got into journalism, and what has been driving him all these years. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 On how Chris Tan once found out how much it cost to build the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway 5:30 Chris recalls when he first raised the idea of the bus contracting model way before it was started, to help raise service levels  7:00 Debates on building a new MRT line: Why the Rail Financing Framework is good for the overall network 9:00 “Build ‘em and they will come”; positive knock-on effects 14:00 Why it is fair for Singaporeans to expect more from the

Hear why this policy is in jeopardy on several levels, including the risk of being outmanoeuvred and encircled by China in its near east. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. It may have been called a “forgotten” war - but the civil war in Myanmar triggered by the military’s February 2021 coup d’etat, has grave implications for India’s national security, and plans for connectivity to South-east Asia.  Also, as it remains to be seen where the cards eventually fall, it has also heightened New Delhi’s concerns over potential encirclement by China.  India’s immediate concern is spillover of the conflict into its own volatile north-east, where the state of Manipur - which borders Myanmar - has been witnessing ethnic violence. More broadly, the crisis also threatens India’s Act East policy, and raises concerns in New Delhi as China extends its influence in M

A veteran transport reporter tells us what can be done to bring down COE prices and how to buy a new car. Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. In the first of a two-part conversation, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with Christopher Tan, senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times, to get a grip of the current COE system.  He also shares his journey as a veteran reporter, having been with SPH since 1983. This was four years before Singapore had its first MRT Line, and before the Land Transport Authority was established.  He also offers tips on how to shop for a car and recounts some of his most memorable drives, having tested more than 3,000 cars and counting.  Highlights (click/tap above): 3:00 Why newsmakers are often wary of Christopher Tan from The Straits Times 6:00 Recounting his “embarrassing” first car review 12:00 How electric vehicle adoption will peak around the world 16:10 What flying

Hear how Spotify's Radar programme has helped expose home-grown singer-songwriter Hongjoin. Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the 13th episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean singer-songwriter Hongjoin. The 22-year-old, whose music encompasses genres ranging from R&B and indie-pop, is based in Boston, United States, and is trying to make his mark in the US music scene while studying there. He has regular shows in various US cities and has been highlighted by Spotify as a Radar artist, a program that highlights rising talents from around the world. He recently returned to Singapore to do two concerts - a solo headlining show at the Esplanade in June, and as the opening act for US singer-songwriter Ricky Montgomery’s show at the Pasir Panjang Power Station in May. Like many singers from his generation, he is active on TikTok and Instagram, which has helped him build up an audience in region

Hear home-grown singer-songwriter Hongjoin's intimate live studio take of the title track from his sophomore album released recently, Komorebi. Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Listen to Hongjoin talk about his musical journey in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/cTrZ Discover home-grown artiste Hongjoin at: YouTube: https://str.sg/o9mTN Spotify: https://str.sg/pQwe Instagram: https://str.sg/apXW Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65 Mixed by: Amirul Karim Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa --- Discover more ST podcast chann

As more carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, the urgency is growing for safe and sustainable methods to remove this main greenhouse gas from the air to limit the impact of climate change.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. We can’t see it, we can’t smell it but we can definitely feel its growing impacts as the planet heats up with devastating consequences. And every year, it keeps accumulating.  Human activity is producing about 40 billion tonnes of CO2 a year. That’s mainly from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.  To fight climate change, we not only need to slash CO2 emissions, we would also need to remove billions of tonnes that our human activities had earlier emitted into the atmosphere.  And that means dramatically scaling up carbon dioxide removal technologies. We’ll never reach the Paris Agreeme

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry wants to take action to get people to return to brick-and-mortar stores. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. The Japanese are sentimental about bookstores, viewing them as precious communal spaces that do more than just sell books.   And yet, fewer and fewer are going to these stores, in line with global trends. What is more surprising is how the Japanese government has decided to seize the problem by its horns, with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry setting up a taskforce to look into the matter, even as the bookshops themselves are striving to find fresh ways to appeal to customers.  In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with Japan Correspondent Walter Sim on why the Japanese government has decided to be so interventionist. Highlights (click/tap above):1:59 O

Is our celebration of old buildings, or even old-school businesses, a little too late? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives.In the last few months before Peace Centre closed in 2024, people flocked to the Sophia Road mall to soak up the vibes. Golden Mile Complex in Beach Road, an architectural icon that is conserved, also came alive with new explorers along its corridors in the lead-up to its closure in 2023.I wanted to find out if these last hurrahs could have come earlier.In this episode, I had history buff Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogisg), who produces content about Singapore’s history and heritage through a newsletter, podcast and on social media. The 33-year-old is also a public policy analyst.Meanwhile, Khair Mas’od, 26, who runs video production company Subset, did his final-year university project on Golden Mile Complex (@thiswasgmc) in 2023.  Also joining us was John Siow, 38, who previously worked at the Urban Rede

What are the strengths and weaknesses as of today, since the Catalist board was set up in 2007? Synopsis: Senior columnist Ven Sreenivasan offers you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Ven hosts Ong Hwee Li, the chief executive officer of SAC Capital. SAC specialises in areas like investment banking, corporate mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and equities research. They look at the profile of a segment of the Singapore market, Catalist. Sometimes referred to as the “junior board”, the Catalist board was set up in 2007 to cater for companies which do not meet the full earnings track record or compliance requirement for mainboard listing. Today, there are about 207 Catalist companies listed on the Singapore Exchange, whose total market cap is about S$642 billion. Catalist companies account for S$8.5 billion of this. SAC Capital is particularly known as a sponsor of companies which come to market via Catalist listings. Does Mr Ong see non-sponsor activities

Analysing this is our guest - Ambassador Peter Tesch, the veteran Australian diplomat and policy strategist. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with the eminent Australian diplomat Peter Tesch, a former ambassador to Russia and Germany for his country as well as policy strategist for the Australian defence ministry. They discuss the recent Putin visits to North Korea and Vietnam, the message he is sending to China and the region, as well as Russia’s overall approach to Asia, including India. Mr Tesch also comments on the Quad, the security dialogue that groups the US with Australia, Japan and India. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:20 Russia the disruptor 10:10 A subtle message to Xi 16:00 For China, a convenient diversion 21:20 Judo, botox, and yoga! 26:00 Latest on Quad Produced by: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]) and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Speaking

As we say goodbye to old buildings, spaces, and businesses in Singapore like the Golden Mile Complex and Peace Centre, how do Singaporeans feel about these places? Many young people often revisit spots that hold a special connection for them, places filled with fond memories from their childhood. How would they feel if these cherished locations were to disappear? The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hit the streets to find out. Check out the full episode here: https://str.sg/7jJy Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected]) Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedba

Singaporeans who have been to Olympics tell us why it is so important. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  Whether you are an athlete or a sports enthusiast, it is clear that the Olympics hold a special place in hearts worldwide.  From historic achievements to record breaking feats, the Olympics serve up some unforgettable moments every four years. As Paris 2024 approaches, we enlisted the help of people who have been to the Olympics to tell us why the event captures the imagination the way it does.  In this special episode centred around the Olympics, sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath, former national sprinter C. Kunalan, former national shooter Lee Wung Yew, and current national swimmer Quah Ting Wen as they discuss the significance of the Games. (This episode was recorded before it was confirmed on July 8 that Ting Wen will not compete in the Paris Olympics)  Highlights (click/tap above

The tension between drivers and motorcyclists in Singapore is longstanding, ugly and increasingly a fatality risk - but what lies at the root of this strained relationship?  Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Traffic accidents claimed the lives of 54 people within the first four months of 2024.  Motorcyclists and pillion riders accounted for more than half those deaths - a trend that continues from the previous year.  With traffic accident fatalities in 2023 at an all time high since 2016, it’s time to ask what can be done to make Singapore’s roads safer.  In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and co-host and STNow reporter Christie Chiu speak with their two guests to find out if Singapore’s roads are truly as hostile as these numbers depict, and what factors are driving it.  On the road for at least six hours a day with aspiring motorists, Aman Aljunied is an experienced motorbike an

Long internships are just one form of the many talent schemes that are accepted by employers. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you put your career on the right footing from the outset. The job search is getting increasingly complex as the range of options broaden. Employers are also placing increasing focus on grooming talent in a more structured way to let them learn more and perform better. Host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guests on the bevy of talent schemes companies have developed to fill their talent needs, including a two-year rotational internship in the case of German enterprise software giant SAP. His guests are: Ms Betul Genc, senior vice-president and head of Asean at Adecco Ms Jean Ooi, Student Training and Rotation (Star) programme manager at SAP Mr Choy Zhan Hao, a recent Star alum and business development executive at SAP Highlights (click/tap above): 1:45 Why employers create the various forms of talent schemes 4:50 Why take interns in for two-year stints? 1

Humans can and must cooperate to manage climate-driven mass migration, as a heating planet forces the poor and vulnerable, particularly in the global south, to move in order to survive.  Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The concept of the modern nation state is a relatively recent construct, and distorts humans' innate capacity - notwithstanding our tribalism - to cooperate. Yet, a collective response is necessary to manage the mass migration of the most vulnerable groups of people in poorer countries escaping from the adverse effects of climate change, said award-winning writer Gaia Vince.  In this episode of Green Pulse, the author of Adventures in the Anthropocene and Nomad Century tells Nirmal Ghosh that the solution to dealing with looming mass emigration of desperate climate refugees is to redefine the concept of nations and citizenship, rather than turn them away.  But nationa

Do you know what the Singlish word is for "afraid to lose out"? Are there direct translations of Singlish to standard English? Here's a little bonus clip from our latest episode of The Usual Place. Check out the full episode here: https://str.sg/c2sY Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected]) Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Filmed by: Joel Chng and Marc Justin De Souza, ST Video Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: htt

The kind of English we speak in Singapore has long been a discussion point.  Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives. Throwback to 1999 when then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong urged Singaporeans to start using standard English instead of Singlish. These days though, we fiercely defend our use of Singlish and embrace the Singaporean accent, even as we continue to advocate for a strong standard English foundation. How did we get here and what changed in our quest to speak good English?  I pose this question to recent university graduate Audrey Wan, 22, whose group’s final-year project inspired this episode. Along with Bernadette Toh and Erin Liam, university students from the Nanyang Technological University’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, their final-year project was titled Eye on English. I wanted to find out what they had found through the interviews they did with various groups and individuals such as a li

Excessive screen time can lead to speech delays, autism-like symptoms in children. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. My 18-month-old loves viewing videos on my phone; why is he not talking? Screen time can help children develop social, creative, communication and other skills, but very young children, especially those below 18 months of age, are not ready for it. They should not be getting any screen time, unless it is for video chatting.  Find out how excessive screen time can affect them, and how too much time spent on digital devices can lead to a myriad of issues in children above 18 months of age. For instance, children here are getting myopia from a younger age, from spending too much time indoors on near work and too little time outdoors in the daylight.  In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with her two guest experts - Dr Yvonne Ling, an eye surgeon specialising in adult squints and paed

The iron rice bowl is still sturdy, but demands on Singapore's public service have changed. Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. With 152,000 employees across 16 ministries and more than 40 agencies, the public service is the biggest department in town.   It reports to the government, but has a higher boss - Singaporeans who scrutinise its performance and spending. Why would somebody want to be a public servant?  Can you have a good public service career without a degree? Will the public service ever lay off workers in this era of AI disruption?   We take on these questions, and take a look at its bigger challenges and mission. Join host Krist Boo and the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service - Chan Chun Sing - for this 31st episode of Work Talk. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:43 What has changed for the public service in recent years? 7:13 Can a rank-and-file public servant make a difference?

Our guest expert offers a striking insider look at what it was like to cover Donald Trump’s presidency, and lessons learnt from it.    Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Notwithstanding a conviction, and other cases against him, Donald Trump remains the frontrunner for the Republican nomination - and has a realistic chance of being elected President again in November 2024. A look back at his tumultuous four years in office (2017 through 2020) holds clues as to what to expect, if he returns to power.  Some world leaders - Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe for instance - quickly learnt that the then-President Trump enjoyed being feted, says Steven Herman, former Voice of America (VOA) White House Bureau Chief. He notes that Modi and Trump in particular, held unprecedented massive joint rallies, in the US and in India. Herman, now chief national correspo

Can you differentiate between the ways to use "can"? How good are you translating Singlish into standard English? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives. Join The Usual Place as host Natasha hits the streets of Singapore to ask the locals. Do you know what the singlish word is for "afraid to lose out"? Are there direct translations of Singlish to standard English? Check out the full episode here: https://str.sg/c2sY Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected]) Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u F

This car-sharing service managed to convince the government to allow them to match private car owners to hirers. Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. Car-sharing causes traffic congestion because the cars are more heavily used; the cars tend to be abused by the hirers; and in the event of an accident, the insurance excess to pay will be stratospheric - beliefs that Mr Dirk-Jan Ter Horst disagrees with.  The Dutch co-founder of peer-to-peer car sharing platform Drive lah, which has been matching private car owners to hirers since 2019, speaks with host Lee Nian Tjoe to make sense of it all.  Highlights (click/tap above): 4:02 Using data to convince the Land Transport Authority that peer-to-peer car-sharing works. 13:20 The secret ingredient to running a “two-sided marketplace”. 22:59 Driving a rental car into Malaysia 25:50 Why a resident in Marine Parade hires a car in Jurong.  35:01 Being a good host  43:1

Home-grown singer and songwriter Shazza is the 12th guest in this music channel. Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the 12th episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean singer and songwriter Shazza. The past year has been quite eventful for the 22-year-old - her music caught the attention of several high profile personalities, including Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Chris Martin, the frontman of popular British band Coldplay. A video that she did with Canadian pop duo Crash Adams went viral worldwide, earning her new fans from as far as Brazil. As one of the artists fronting Spotify’s Equal campaign, her face was featured on a billboard at Times Square in New York City. In July 2023, she put out her debut album Chapter One, a release that includes Right Person, Wrong Time, a song that has clocked over two million streams in Spotify alone. The hijab-wearing singer, whose real name is

Hear home-grown singer-songwriters Shazza's and Umar Sirhan's intimate live studio take of their latest single, Rain In Manhattan. Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/b5za Listen to Shazza talk about her musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/LstG Discover home-grown artiste Shazza at: YouTube: https://str.sg/JS8i9 Spotify: https://str.sg/wKh4d Instagram: https://str.sg/uoqd Discover home-grown artiste Umar Sirhan at: Spotify: https://str.sg/mWfw Instagram: https://str.sg/kJwC Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team Mixed by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: htt

How is the government's $1.3 billion budget working for SMEs so far? We invite them on the show. Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. It is June, the mid-point of 2024. Join Krist Boo and her co-host Timothy Goh on Work Talk to hear how Singapore's Budget 2024 measures are affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).  Joining them are Mr Ang Yuit, president of the Association of SMEs, and Dr Ramesh Rajentheran of AI healthcare start-up MiyaHealth.  SMEs are broadly struggling this year due to trade tensions, disruption from artificial intelligence, and manpower challenges. Start-ups face a chilly 'funding winter'.  Which part of the 2024 Budget package of support measures are useful to businesses in meeting the challenges? What more do our entrepreneurs wish for? And if the government has started thinking of Budget 2025, what do our SME guests hope to see included?  In a year marked by various d

While the future Long Island will guard against sea level rise, the trade-offs to marine life and the East Coast’s character must be addressed, stakeholders say. Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a 4-part environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits the ground with experts. The next episode drops in August. By end-century, Singapore’s mean sea level is expected to rise by up to 1.15m. Now a top attraction in the area, East Coast Park would be a place to avoid if nothing is done.  Frequent floods are likely to put the beach underwater in the future, as climate change continues to exacerbate rising sea levels. And if exceptionally high tides or storm surges were to hit, seawater levels could rise up to 5m, breaking through the coast. The entire park, East Coast Parkway, vehicles and void decks at housing estates like Marine Parade in the vicinity could be submerged in water.  To prevent this reality, there are plans to have a defence offshore. That is Long Island, twi

Scroll social media and you’ll likely be served a food recommendation or review, often one that’s either enthused or a takedown of sorts. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives. If someone takes videos of their food and serves them with a side of honest opinions, does that make them a good food reviewer? Singapore is a nation of foodies, and we're passionate about what we eat. But it seems like many food creators often go in with quick overviews, giving honest reviews or enthused recommendations without much context on social media.Intrigued by this proliferation of content creators who feed their audience with clickbaity spiel and pepper their food recommendations with superlatives, I wanted to find out the highlights and pitfalls of online food reviewers in this age of quick-fire social media content.To help me answer questions I have about this crowded scene, I invited food and lifestyle content creator Chiara Ang, second-gener

"Why invest in Singapore, when you can invest in the US?" Our guest expert counters this argument with facts and his opinion. Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, senior columnist Ven Sreenivasan offers you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Ven hosts Thilan Wickramesinghe - regional head of research at Maybank Securities - to look at the investment outlook from our vantage point in Singapore, at the halfway mark of June, in 2024. This also comes against the backdrop of the new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong sworn in on May 15, taking over from Mr Lee Hsien Loong, now Senior Minister. They also cover opportunities that include bringing to fruition nascent projects such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Ideas mooted under the zone include a passport-free QR code system to speed up immigration clearance and a one-stop business and investment service centre in Johor to make it easier for Singapore businesses to set up shop there. Highlights (click/tap above):

South-East Asia has big plans to become a regional carbon storage hub. Can it work or are the risks too great? Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. For years now, we’ve heard a lot about carbon capture and storage as one possible solution to climate change. CCS, as it is known, involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from polluting operations, such as power plants, refineries and steel and cement production and injecting the CO2 deep underground.  And not just anywhere. It has to be the right type of geological formation to ensure the CO2 doesn’t escape.  But CCS hasn’t taken off quite as well as many, especially those in the fossil fuel industry, had hoped for. There have been several very costly failures. And yet there are plans to greatly scale up CCS, including the creation of regional CCS hubs. One of these is in South-east Asia, using depleted oil and gas wells.

Our expert guest on what to expect on the external front from Modi 3.0, India’s challenges, and options. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with the eminent foreign policy thinker C Raja Mohan, the noted scholar and close friend of India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. They discuss Indian foreign policy in the wake of the recent elections that returned Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power for a third time. Mr Modi resumes office at a time of dire border tensions with China, ruffles in what was a swiftly developing relationship with the United States, and a growing compact between India’s traditional security partner Russia and China. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:50 A time for fresh choices 8:30 The Andhra factor in foreign policy 13:30 Could history repeat on the China border? 14:25 Soured ties with the West 17:30 Ties with Russia, now a junior partner of Chi

What does it take for parents to nurture an athlete who wants to reach sport’s pinnacle? Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  The Olympics is just around the corner and come July, several Team Singapore athletes will fly the flag for the Republic in Paris. Two of them, kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder and Singapore kayaker Stephenie Chen will make their Olympics debut.  Beyond their individual hustle to get to sports’ grandest stage, Maeder's and Chen’s journey to the Olympics has been helped by their families' relentless support. In this episode, Maximilian’s parents Valentin Maeder and Hwee Keng and Michael Chen and Sarah-Yvonne, parents of Stephenie, join sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to talk about how they have supported their children’s aspirations.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 Did Maximilian Maeder's and Stephenie Chen’s parents have sporting backgrounds that influenced their kids?   13:10 Is there a point in which

Children can invoke feelings of joy, gratitude and fulfilment, but also thoughts of fatigue, financial stress, and lack of personal time? Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. For the first time ever, the resident total fertility rate (TFR) dropped below 1, hitting 0.97 in 2023. Singapore's replacement TFR rate meanwhile stands at 2.1 - the level of fertility at which the population replaces itself from one generation to the next. The instincts to procreate, it seems, are varied and personal, as hosts Sarah Koh and Aqil Hamzah - journalists from The Straits Times - find out from their guests.  For Ms Charisse Grace Agustin, 29, being childless was a decision that she made at the age of 18, while still a junior college student. Mr Sng Shan En, 27, on the other hand, is already a father to a three-year-old, with plans for more children in the future if his wife wants them. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 The adva

Robust job prospects amid artificial intelligence race, despite trade tensions Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you put your career on the right footing from the outset. The semiconductor industry has been a fixture of Singapore's advanced manufacturing space since 1968. The industry has grown from strength to strength, and is now reentering the forefront of the global economy as companies hunger for hardware with the raw computing power to support intensive development of advanced artificial intelligence. In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guests on job demand in the semiconductor sector. His guests are: Mr Ang Wee Seng, executive director, Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association Ms Sim Cher Whee, vice-president of People Strategy, Technology, and Talent Acquisition, Micron Technology Highlights (click/tap above): 1:57 Why is the semiconductor industry so important to Singapore? 4:18 The wide range of roles available beyond electronic engineering 13:42 W

The affordable luxury of personalised car licence plates are proving an enduring and endearing avenue for self-expression in a changing Hong Kong  Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  HEY YU, DREAMER, ADD OIL. The messages on Hong Kong's vanity car plates can draw nods of appreciation or chuckles for the city’s motorists. They can tell you a thing or two about their owners' status, sense of humour and beliefs.  Since the authorities made these special plates possible 20 years ago, Hong Kong has seen a proliferation of such plates on its roads. And along with it, communities have sprung up online devoted to sightings of this phenomenon.  In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with Hong Kong correspondent Magdalene Fung on the motivations behind this trend and what it reveals about Hong Kongers' deepest desires and ob

Swiping for love used to be the way for millennials to find a connection, but there seems to be growing dating app disillusionment among the young. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives. Bernice Fong, Dhareeni Shanmugam and John Lim are three under-30s who have had different experiences with dating apps over the years.John, who runs a content agency, finds that with everyone having many options, he feels “like a piece of meat” - an experience the 28-year-old finds can be dehumanising. Meanwhile Bernice has sworn off dating apps. The 28-year-old brand and marketing manager felt jaded and tired from swiping through but not quite finding the match she wanted.Dhareeni, a 26-year-old account executive for a public relations agency, shares why she swiped right on her boyfriend, and why she was drawn to his “niche preference” for fish.Host Natasha wants to find out why there’s no love lost between young people and dating apps. Hig

Vape users inhale not just harmful chemicals, but toxic metals into their lungs. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. E-cigarettes or vapes can contain less chemicals than cigarettes, but did you know that the former can expose users to toxic metals?  Is vaping safer than smoking and just how harmful is vaping? Find out these and more in the latest Health Check episode with ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo, as she dives into the topic with two experts from Tan Tock Seng Hospital. They are Adj Asst/Prof Clive Tan, Public Health Specialist and Senior Consultant, Department of Preventive & Population Medicine and Adj Asso/Prof Puah Ser Hon, Head and Senior Consultant from the Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine. With vaping on the rise here, despite it being illegal, they also talk about the help available to a vape user who wants to quit the habit, and what can be done about the vaping problem here. In Sin

Local solutions are critical for vulnerable millions as the scorching heat rapidly melts snow and ice across the fragile "third pole". Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. As the planet warms, with north India’s plains sweltering under an unprecedented heat wave, Himalayan glaciers are melting faster than ever before. On current trends, glaciers in just the Eastern Himalayas, which include Nepal and Bhutan, will lose up to 75 per cent of their ice in the near future.  The accelerated melt will expand existing glacial lakes, and form new ones. The new and enlarged lakes are a hazard as they can burst their banks and let loose all the water in flash floods downstream. In October 2023, a lake in Northern Sikkim breached, destroying an entire dam and 33 bridges downstream, killing scores of people.  But that is only one aspect of the impact of planetary warming on the so-called Th

South-east Asian countries appreciate there is no strategic balance in the region without the US, so they will find ways to deal with whoever is in the White House. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. How South-east Asia - situated at the crossroads of Asia and the Pacific - sees and navigates growing tensions between China and the United States, is little understood outside the region.  Views of China in the region are mixed, with recent surveys showing that China is seen as a valuable partner, and yet not trusted. There is an appreciation that dealing with the US - whoever occupies the White House - is critical as Washington is seen as a strategic balancer.  Meanwhile, as the US deepens and expands an architecture of alliances across the Asia-Pacific, China has fewer friends and allies and has done little to assuage countries’ concerns over what is, despite Beiji

How a variety talk show with one of the oddest hosting pairings became one of the most successful in the Chinese language entertainment scene. Synopsis: How Did We Get Here is a new scripted series under the #PopVultures banner, which will take a look in each episode about a celebrity, a band or the cast of a movie or film that made an impact on Asian entertainment and how they got to where they are now. If you follow Chinese-language entertainment, there is a good chance you have heard of the variety series Kang Xi Lai Le, also known as Mr Con & Ms Csi or Kangxi Coming.  The light-hearted Taiwanese talk show, which ran from 2004 till 2016, is easily one of the most successful talk shows of all time in Chinese-language entertainment - a staple of Taiwanese television that continues to make people laugh even eight years after the end of its run. The show began as a wacky experiment, by pairing the intellectual and cultured Kevin Tsai and the wild, funny Dee Hsu as hosts in one programme. Their chemistry was m

A seasoned motor industry insider says the COE system is bad for health because of the stress that comes with not knowing “the full picture”. Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Singapore seems to be tracking well. In 2023, 18.2 per cent of all new car registrations were EVs. This was up from 11.7 per cent in 2022. In this episode, host Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with Ms Sabrina Sng, managing director at Wearnes Automotive. This seasoned motor dealer - with 20 years of experience - believes that uncertainty over the price outlook of certificate of entitlement (COEs) is discouraging the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). This is worsened by what she considers to be a premature cut in incentives to encourage EV adoption.  Highlights (click/tap above): 7:30 Call for changes to the COE bidding system - why motor dealers want to cut out companies, like those in private hire,

Join in this passionate post mortem of the recently concluded 2023/24 English Premier League season. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  As the dust settles on another thrilling English Premier League (EPL) season, the post-campaign analysis has begun at the Hard Tackle. ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan and guest co-host Zia-ul Raushan - assistant program director for Money FM 89.3 - invited nine die-hard EPL fans and renowned sports presenter John Dykes to dissect the highs and lows of their favourite teams, reflect on the past season's triumphs and tribulations and eagerly anticipate what lies ahead. Is there a world after Jurgen Klopp for Liverpool, and can we talk about Manchester City’s title win without mentioning their alleged breaches? Will Arsenal return for another tilt at the title next season? We discuss all that and more on this special end-of-season podcast. Highlights (click/tap above): 5:30 Has Manchester City’s title

Home-grown singer and songwriter rhyu is the 11th guest in this music channel. Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the 11th episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown singer and songwriter rhyu. The newcomer’s arresting vocals and original songs, a mixture of pop, jazz, and R&B, have garnered comparisons to popular Icelandic-Chinese singer Laufey, who reposted one of her videos on TikTok. The 19-year-old, whose real name is Raine Hahn Yu, started releasing music in 2022 and started dabbling in writing and composing songs as a child. She has since staged performances at venues such as the Esplanade, music festivals and was an opening act for Taiwanese band Cicada’s concert in Singapore. In this episode of Music Lab, she sang a live rendition of It’s fine, a song that has garnered over 1.3 million streams on Spotify alone. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:15 Having her song blow up on TikTok 3:2

Home-grown singer-songwriter rhyu's intimate live studio take of It's fine, a song first released in 2023, which has a million streams on just Spotify alone. Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/tWma Listen to rhyu talk about her musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/Aqou Discover home-grown artiste rhyu at: Spotify: https://str.sg/bxbh Instagram: https://str.sg/g9Pt Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team Mixed by: Amirul Karim Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/

Hear why active ETFs are becoming more popular.   Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both senior columnists at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, J.P. Morgan Asset Management's Apac head of ETF - Philippe El-Asmar - discusses the growth of ETFs in Asia. In particular, there is a growing focus on active ETFs. Being actively managed, they may offer better returns. However, what are the risks? Highlights (click/tap above):  2:05 Growth of the ETF market    5:20 Misconceptions that all ETFs are passive ones  6:25 ETFs are also used by institutional investors, not just retail investors    7:50 What are fixed income ETFs?  9:45 Advantages of investing in active ETFs  12:50 Risks to be aware of when investing active ETFs Produced by: Lee Su Shyan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.

Investors are on the hunt for companies that not only cut greenhouse gas emissions but also transform industry and society.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. There’s growing investor interest in companies at the cutting edge of green tech innovation. Specifically, companies whose solutions aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions while helping industry wean itself off fossil fuels and switch to greener and cleaner materials.  More than ever, green-tech investment is needed. Much of the energy we use to produce electricity, power our industries and our cars produces emissions that are heating up the planet. It's like we're stuck in a vicious cycle as climate impacts worsen.  The good news is there are private companies working on solutions that can provide green power to industries, boost battery efficiency, even create a new type of leather from mycelium, or fungal fibres. The

Singapore’s most well-known OnlyFans creator Titus Low is slowly moving on from the platform that has brought him fame, money and drama. Lots of it. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. Sitting down with The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah, Titus opens up about asking to work with his family’s business and pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a real estate agent. He shares the lessons learnt and the fallout from baring all online. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:10 What is Titus up to these days?9.00 His post-pandemic popularity has dipped, no thanks to today's economic situation14.26 Dealing with mental health issues23.30 Why he has become more cautious about sharing his life online Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected]) Edited by producers: Eden Soh and Teo Tong Kai Executiv

This generation, it appears in a survey result too, is not afraid to spend immediately for happiness or instant gratification, but they do so within their means. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. It used to be that avocado toast was the symbol of millennial extravagance, infamous for dashing that generation’s chance of ever owning property - at least, according to Tim Gurner.  The Australian real estate millionaire in 2017 said that millennials should stop spending $19 for avocado toast if they ever want to own homes. Over half a decade since the rise of the avocado millennial, Gen Z - those born 1997 to 2012 - have outstripped them in splurging. And mostly, for pleasure.  Just in Singapore, we’re seeing 20-somethings fork out $10,000 for holidays and almost just as much to catch Taylor Swift overseas. But a recent IPS study found that the young are still spending within their means.  Still, are they putt

Adult learning research shows “productive failure” builds tenacity and deepens learning. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you put your career on the right footing from the outset. Failure is not fatal. Instead, organisations and individuals can set themselves up to learn from each failure better and faster. However, this requires thought and effort to be put into fostering productive failure. In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest on how to make productive failure work. His guest is Associate Professor Sim Soo Kheng, director of the innovation centre at the Institute for Adult Learning. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:24 How is failure the mother of success? 4:51 Creating safe spaces to fail in 10:52 Is productive failure impossible in high-stakes roles like medicine? 16:47 What can you do to learn well from the approach? 21:56 Prof Sim’s own brush with productive failure Produced by: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, and Hadyu Rahim Edited

Hear from our guest expert on Singapore’s stakes in seeing a stable government rule the world’s fifth biggest economy. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. The world’s most populous nation began voting on April 19 in a seven-phase election in which nearly one billion people are eligible to vote, with ballots set to be counted on June 4. In this episode, Ravi speaks with the political scientist Associate Professor Iqbal Singh Sevea, director of the Institute of South Asian Studies, a think-tank under the National University of Singapore. They discuss the ongoing Indian election marked by a dip in voter turnout, the competing narratives, the improving national profile of Mr Rahul Gandhi, chances of a decisive victory for Mr Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party. They also look at the need to heal wounds the election has opened in the national fabric. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:10 Continuity vs

Diving into women’s football in Singapore Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  In this episode of Hard Tackle, we look at the state of women’s football in Singapore and what the Republic needs to do to improve its standards.  In the Lionesses’ most recent international friendlies, they suffered 3-0 and 8-0 defeats by Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) kicked off on March 9 but lacklustre field conditions at the Choa Chua Kang stadium caused much frustration and anger to players, coaches and fans. Join ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan, current women’s footballer Sara Merican, former national captain Charmaine Lim and former national footballer Chris Yip-Au who is now with Seychelles Football Federation as its head of women’s football and women’s national team coach. They explore the current issues in women’s football and what the future holds for the ladies.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:45

The promise of it transforming our work lives is happening, but maybe not in the way we expected it to. Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. It has been 18 months since ChatGPT's public debut. Has the technology touted to change our work lives been helpful, but underwhelming? Or is it us? Of course, we had to ask gen AI Claude to produce our synopsis: This podcast goes beyond AI hype to explore surprising realities. Executives anticipate huge productivity gains, but the real disruption may lie in automating mundane tasks. Lawyers and students face skill shifts as research becomes effortless. Most intriguingly, could AI enable Singapore to "insource" outsourced work affordably? Uncover fresh perspectives on AI's quiet revolution reshaping jobs. Join me and my special co-host Davidson Chua, a second-year student of business analytics at NUS, in our conversation with Messrs Laurence Liew and Lewis Garrad

Migratory species are broadly in decline, disrupted by alteration of field and forest habitats, and by hunting in the case of South-east Asia. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The East Asian migratory bird flyway is perhaps the most diverse of the world's nine north-south migratory bird flyways, with millions migrating north to south, from freezing latitudes to warmer climates - some shorebirds even fly down to as far as Australia.  But migratory species are in deep trouble; a recent UN report revealed that nearly half of the world's migratory species are declining in population. Habitat loss has been affecting up to 75 per cent of them.  The state of birds is one indicator of how humans have altered the environment, largely due to infrastructure developments transforming landscapes. Fragmentation and loss of habitats are key issues for migratory shorebirds as their coastal

The rise of home bars in cities across China shows how young Chinese are craving for companionship but without having to invest in relationships. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  #family-style bars is now a search term for listings of home bars, not just for first-tier cities Beijing and Shanghai, but also Zhengzhou in central China, Chengdu in the south-west and Hangzhou on the eastern coast.  Instead of going to commercial nightspots, young Chinese are looking to spend their free time in the living rooms of strangers’ homes, where they pay for drinks, conversations and games.  In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with China correspondent Aw Cheng Wei on why the trend is taking off, and what it says about the Chinese wanting to make connections in a safe and casual environment.  Highlights (click/tap above):

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong becomes Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15, 2024, when he succeeds current PM Lee Hsien Loong.  Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. The upcoming leadership transition - when Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong becomes Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15 - has ignited discussions about where Singapore goes from here.In particular, what issues are youths most concerned about before they go to the ballot box in the next General Election? In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha hosts three guests: Joel Lim, 31, host of Political Prude: The Podcast Gautham Vijayan Kumaran, 26, a final-year student at the National University of Singapore Carissa Cheow, 28, the chief strategy officer for a tech firm and a career counsellor From expectations of DPM Wong when he takes over as prime minister, to their thoughts of how the impending general

It is one of the most famous Chinese period dramas ever, but where are the members of its main cast now? Synopsis: How Did We Get Here is a new scripted series under the #PopVultures banner, where host Jan Lee will deep dive into a celebrity, a band or the cast of a movie or film that made an impact on Asian entertainment and how they got to where they are now. There is a good argument to be made that the most famous Chinese drama ever aired is the Qing dynasty period royal romance My Fair Princess, best known for its first two seasons aired in 1998 and 1999. The story is about a case of mistaken identity. An orphaned street urchin named Xiaoyanzi accidentally becomes a princess in place of her friend, the Qing emperor Qianlong’s illegitimate daughter Ziwei.  The series broke viewership records, became extremely popular across Asia and was an unprecedented hit that turned its main cast members into household names - Vicki Zhao, Ruby Lin, Alec Su, Zhou Jie, Fan Bingbing and Julian Chen. Now, 26 years since

Asia is on the cusp of a summer of life-threatening dengue fever.  Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Dengue fever case numbers have gone up across the global tropics. This includes Singapore, a model in many respects for health surveillance and epidemic control, and mosquito control. In the first quarter of 2024, Singapore recorded more than double the number of cases than in the same period in 2023.  Meanwhile across the world, Latin America and the Caribbean have been warned to prepare for their worst dengue season ever.  The long war against dengue must contend with many factors including climate, weather, and human behaviour. Even without an outbreak or epidemic, dengue may circulate silently among populations.  No single solution is perfect. Dengue vaccines have been developed, but there are four strains of the virus, and the vaccines have different degrees

The head of the EV-electric shares some of the learnings from Singapore’s electrification journey. Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. The pace of EV charger deployment at HDB carparks in 2024 will likely be slower than in the previous year - at least initially - before things pick up speed again. According to EV-Electric's chief executive, Mr Derek Tan, the target is to have another 700 or so chargers ready by 2024 and another 700 by the end of 2025.  The head of the company set up by the Land Transport Authority to coordinate the roll-out of Singapore’s public EV charging network said that the data shows that the bulk of the charging at the housing estates happen at night. As EVs become more popular, will we see users fighting over who gets to use the chargers when they return home from work? Highlights (click/tap above): 5:50 The expected slowing down in the rate of charger deployment in 2024 and how every

Why mudflats are vital for dwindling numbers of birds that stop over seasonally. Synopsis (headphones recommended): In this new 4-part environment podcast series for 2024 - Green Trails - The Straits Times hits the ground with experts in spaces that are critical to the interlinked crises the planet faces: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The next episode drops in June. For this inaugural episode, our team heads to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the local haven for birds that travel across the world to refuel at. Nature Society (Singapore) - one of the island's oldest non-governmental organisations - convinced the government to preserve Sungei Buloh as a wetland reserve by showing officials the diversity of birds that depend on the spot. ST journalist Ang Qing takes a walk with representatives from the society - Veronica Foo and Tan Gim Cheong. They talk about the lesser-known Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, which is key to supporting the thousands of migratory shorebirds that stop over in Singapo

Carbon credit ratings can bring much needed transparency and accountability to the market – but is it enough to overcome years of mistrust? Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Depending on who you speak to, carbon credits hold great promise as a tool to achieve deep cuts in carbon emissions to fight climate change. Or they are a scam that fails to deliver what they promise.  A major problem around the carbon credit market is trust and transparency – do carbon offset projects achieve what they pledge? How can we be sure? And will local communities benefit? Ultimately, carbon credits should be treated like any other financial asset – they should be held up to scrutiny. And that means they should be rated for their quality and integrity, just like bonds.  And increasingly that is what is happening. Several companies now offer ratings services for carbon credits to help buyer

How much is too much when sharing details of your life online? Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day.Why do people feel so comfortable sharing intimate details of their lives online?The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah sits down with TikTokers Candice Gallagher and Shaun Elias Chua, and Twitch streamer Jacey Vong, to find out why they started sharing personal details of their lives online.When everything now becomes free game, is there a line that crosses into oversharing and how do they deal with negative comments? Highlights (click/tap above): 4:33: Why do the three of them put out so much of their lives on social media? 16:36: Is it weird that virtual strangers know small details about their lives? 23:15: Dealing with haters - why not just quit instead? 33:20: Being cancelled - the risk of sharing their opinions DM Natasha your thoughts on this topic at her IG: https://str.sg/8Wav C

Consider other markets and the wider US tech sector.  Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both senior columnists at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Mr Adam Reynolds, Asia-Pacific CEO of Saxo, discusses the large exposure many investors have to the US tech stocks. What are the implications for them if the stocks face headwinds and how can they diversify? Highlights (click/tap above):  2:12 Headwinds that the Magnificent 7 are currently facing   3:42 Should you be diversifying away from Big US tech and how you can diversify by looking at other markets?   6:12 What about the wider US tech sector, apart from the Magnificent 7?  7:15: Implications of investing in tech sectors with the growth of AI   11:00 How investors can be positioned for the rest of the year  Produced by: Lee Su Shyan ([email protected]), Ven Sreenivasan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Ka

IMH trial to study efficacy of personalised transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Researchers from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore are studying a new personalised treatment for resistant depression.  It is the personalised version of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate and reset the specific part of the brain that regulates mood.  A clinical trial that aims to study its efficacy is currently being conducted at IMH. It pairs TMS with the algorithm of each patient’s functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify a precise spot on the head where magnetic stimulation can be applied to achieve better outcomes. In this Health Check podcast episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to two experts involved in the t

Did Singapore let its golden boy down in any way? Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  In this episode of Hard Tackle, we delve into the lessons from the recent retirement of Singaporean swimming sensation Joseph Schooling on April 2, 2024, at just 28 years of age. Join ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan and assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath as they host two guests - Singapore Aquatics president and former national swimmer Mark Chay and two-time Olympian David Lim. They explore the implications of Schooling's decision and discuss how Singapore can draw valuable lessons from his meteoric rise to the 100m butterfly gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and his struggle after that historic win.  Could the Singapore sports ecosystem have done more for Schooling? Is there a conversation about national service and high performance athletes and crucially, who will be Singapore swimming’s next superstar after Schooling?  We ask the hard questions, t

Hear the tough questions posed to our sports stars or authorities in our studio, and how they react. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  The Straits Times' sports podcast has been around for the past few years, in different formats - from Game Of Two Halves, to Sports Talk, and now...the Hard Tackle. We've found that this format has worked the best for us, and the harder the tackle, the more our listeners come back for more. Host Deepanraj Ganesan's boyhood Manchester United hero Roy Keane would be so proud to hear this. He will engage guests from the local or foreign sports community as ST looks at the biggest talking points in sport. Catch back episodes of Hard Tackle: Olympic champ Joseph Schooling in his own words as he retires The Lions’ Tsutomu Ogura era is underway New Lions head coach Tsutomu Ogura talks his vision for SG football Catch visual snippets of the podcast from ST's sports Instagram page: https://str.sg/vn2F Connect with

A tech and corporate veteran breaks down the intensive interview process at top firms.Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you put your career on the right footing from the outset. As skill demands and job complexity increase with economic advancement, so do employer needs as reflected in increasingly intensive job interviews. The stakes are especially high for candidates seeking a foot in the door at cutting edge companies in the technology sector and beyond. In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest on how to make an impression in the interview. His guest is: Mr Huang Wen, Asia-Pacific chief technology officer for information technology consultancy, SoftServe  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:23 What goes on in interviews for cutting-edge roles? 5:02 What makes people apply for jobs despite numerous intensive interviews? 12:04 How to stand out in an especially competitive interview process 16:58 How are young candidates raising the bar on interview performance 2

Two youth volunteers - adults with full-time jobs - explain what motivates them to spark change in the community.  Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Youth Corps Singapore, which is under the National Youth Council, turns 10 in 2024. It is a division under the council that champions youth volunteerism to ignite positive change in society through community service. In this episode, ST podcast assistant editor Lynda Hong speaks with two volunteer leaders Afzal Hadi and Valerie Kwa, to find out about their experience with Youth Corps Singapore.  Afzal is currently the Welfare Lead in the Engagement Taskforce Cluster and is a member of the Ambassadors Team cluster, while Valerie is Publicity Team Lead within the Mental Health Cluster. The two young working adults - Afzal is in business development while Valerie is in social service - also offer tips on how to pick a cluster to volunteer with. Clusters can be though

In a storied career, the diplomat Professor Tommy Koh also chaired the Earth Summit in 1992 and negotiated the Law of the Sea. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The framers of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea did not foresee global warming affecting oceans to the extent that it does - causing acidification and the death of coral reefs - said the top diplomat who was president of the 1973 conference that produced the Convention known as UNCLOS.  In this episode, Singapore’s ambassador at-large and foremost international environmental law expert Tommy Koh - who also chaired the pivotal 1992 Earth Summit - tells host ST's global contributor Nirmal Ghosh that plastic debris in the oceans now is of severe concern. He adds that the international community has also failed to be good stewards of the world's fisheries. According to the Food and Agricultural Orga

Tan Tam Mei reflects on her time as Thailand correspondent, and looks ahead to how the country could navigate geopolitical and domestic politics. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. A man sings. It is part of Thailand’s folk music tradition from its north-east region of Isan. But he is warbling in Laotian - a reminder of Thailand’s location in the heart of the Mekong region, and its shared culture, language and borders with its neighbours. The pull and push dynamic that Thailand engages with its neighbours is one challenge. Another is how it is grappling with its turbulent domestic politics and shifting attitudes about traditional institutions and beliefs including the monarchy. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with ST’s former Thailand correspondent Tan Tam Mei about her two and a half years based in Bangkok,

Our guests discuss if parenthood is an expectation or choice. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. In Singapore, where preliminary estimates indicate its Total Fertility Rate hit a record low of 0.97 in 2023, some are opting to remain child-free. In the first episode of our new podcast series, The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah brings together two guests who hold opposing views on being parents. Joan Chong, 35, never wants kids. She never yearned for them before she got married, and flat out told her partner when they started dating, that she did not want to be a parent. Meanwhile, Dainial Lim is a passionate voice in favour of embracing the joys of parenthood. To him, having children is a natural path in life after getting married, and it would have been a relationship dealbreaker for him if his wife was not for it. They sit down with Natasha to dissect their personal choices in a

Eight years after his stunning success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Singapore’s greatest athlete has called time on his career. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  In this special episode, we bring you an excerpt of assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath’s interview with Singapore’s Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling.  The swimmer who won the 100m butterfly gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics called time on his career on April 2.  Listen to Schooling as he looks back on his career with honesty and relives the moment he stunned the world and put Singapore on the sporting map.   Highlights (click/tap above): 1:13 Schooling on how life changed after the 2016 Olympic gold  7:20 What was it like to deal with the cannabis saga that put Schooling in the headlines again?  8:00 Is it fair to have expectations on sportsmen to have a certain level of responsibility in how they conduct themselves?  11:04 How Schooling felt on the day he made hist

Old vs young, abled vs disabled, woman vs man.  Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. Labels invariably affect workplace policies and work opportunities today. Why do we put labels on others?  Do Singapore workplaces pay lip service to inclusivity? Are Human Resources teams doing enough? With a fast-ageing Singapore, are we about to see real change at the workplace?   Join me and my special co-host this week, communications executive Jonathan Tiong, as we speak to sociologists Professor Paulin Tay Straughan and Dr Issac Lim.  Prof Straughan is dean of students at the Singapore Management University, and Issac is the founder of Anthro Insights, a consultancy that provides evidence-based human insights to help organisations change. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:40 When is stereotyping not a trend? 8:30 Why bother looking at it? 13:05 Is inclusivity just lip service? HR, can you do more? 16:35 Do c

Can the Lions roar under Ogura? Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. In this episode of Hard Tackle, Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by former Singapore international Noor Ali and Singapore Premier League commentator and Lions fan Zia-ul Raushan to dissect the Singapore national football team’s first two matches under new coach Tsutomu Ogura. The Lions played out a hard-fought 2-2 draw against China on March 21 in front of the 28,414 crowd at the National Stadium. Five days later in chilly Tianjin, the Lions fell to a 4-1 loss, although there were signs of progress once again as the Republic showed grit and bravery in their play before being undone by a controversial penalty and two late goals. So what do our pundits make of the start under Ogura and what is the way forward? Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 Why is there a positive feeling amongst fans despite the Lions not posing a victory against China?   8:30 Noor Ali on how the team has sha

The head of the industry body for motorcycle sellers and workshops recounts how the association has been pushing for change, from COEs to rules on safety equipment Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. With all the attention on certificate of entitlement (COEs) for cars, it is easy to forget about the motorcycles, which are the smallest of all vehicle types on the road. But as this conversation with Mr Rex Tan, president of the Singapore Motor Cycle Trade Association reveals, the industry body has a big voice, and the Government is listening, from asking for reviews to the COE supply to rules on safety equipment. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:10 The price is right! If you are talking about motorcycle COE premiums.  15:25 Why the motorcycle insurance premium seems so high 20:40 The practice of penalties for paying back loans early 25:00 What consumers have to do to avoid getting a bad financing deal 26:15 The sayi

Home-grown singer, songwriter, and producer Rangga Jones is the tenth guest in this music channel. Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the 10th episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown singer, songwriter, and producer Rangga Jones. He might not be a household name in Singapore, but in recent years, the 27-year-old has been steadily building up a fanbase in the region with his R&B/pop songs. On streaming services, the Singapore-based singer has racked up millions of plays, mostly from fans in the Philippines and Indonesia, where he was born. Call Me, a song first released in 2022, has 23 million streams on just Spotify alone.  The song also caught the attention of Ruka, a member of South Korean girl group Babymonster, who added it to her public Apple Music playlist. Jones, who started releasing music in 2019, dropped his first full-length album, Emotions, in late 2023. He has already started on n

Home-grown singer, songwriter, and producer Rangga Jones' intimate live studio take of not good enough, a song from his first full-length album, Emotions. Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the new Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/KRFD Listen to Rangga Jones talk about his musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/eN65 Discover home-grown artiste Rangga Jones at: YouTube: https://str.sg/uqA8 Spotify: https://str.sg/LNPc Instagram: https://str.sg/koXE Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Teo Tong Kai & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team Mixed by: Teo Tong Kai Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 SPH Awedio app: 

Home-grown singer, songwriter, and producer Rangga Jones' intimate live studio take of Call Me, a song first released in 2022, has 23 million streams on just Spotify alone.  Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Watch the special live performance and video podcast version of this episode on the new Straits Times’ Podcast YouTube channel: https://str.sg/KRFD Listen to Rangga Jones talk about his musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/eN65 Discover home-grown artiste Rangga Jones at: YouTube: https://str.sg/uqA8 Spotify: https://str.sg/LNPc Instagram: https://str.sg/koXE Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Teo Tong Kai & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team Mixed by: Teo Tong Kai Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9

With Singapore’s resident total fertility rate dropping below 1 for the first time - hitting a historic low at 0.97 last year in 2023 - we discuss how the birth rate can be boosted. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. For many years in Singapore, we have not had enough babies to replace ourselves, with the Total Fertility rate, or TFR, remaining below the replacement rate of 2.1.  Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Indranee Rajah - who assists in oversight of the National Population and Talent Division in the PMO - said in Parliament on Feb 28, that preliminary estimates indicate a resident TFR of 0.97 in 2023, posing twin demographic challenges for Singapore alongside an ageing population. In this episode, ST podcast assistant editor Lynda Hong hosts Ms Indranee to find out how workplaces here can become more family-friendly, and debates what an “excellent parent” should ideally mean in this d

Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. PopVultures host Jan Lee explains her transition from the previous year-long Can I Tell You Something Crazy series about pop culture zeitgeist moments to a new scripted series in 2024 along the lines of Where Are They Now. For once-famous Asian or global celebrities you might like to know more of but just don’t know where to start, DM Jan Lee your suggestions on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc or reach her at [email protected] Meantime, you can catch up on back episodes of the Can I Tell You Something Crazy series at our show links below. Produced by: Jan Lee ([email protected]) & Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month:  Channel: https://str.sg/JWad Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Follow Jan

Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the Philippines is raising its game to cope with an increasingly aggressive China in the South China Sea. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Increasingly dangerous encounters between Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard vessels in the South China Sea - claimed almost in its entirety by China but also in part by several other countries including the Philippines - have deepened worries over accidental escalation, not least because the Philippines and the United States have a mutual defence treaty.  The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has taken a more robust stand on China relative to his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, and the Philippines has sharply upped its defence budget and is enhancing its defence cooperation and military interoperability with the United States.   However, neither the Philippines nor the United

How much should you put into your CPF Life then? Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors and senior columnists at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Mr Christopher Tan, CEO and founder of Providend - a fee-only wealth advisory - discusses the closure of the CPF special account for those 55 and over from early 2025, which was announced during Budget 2024. What are the implications for CPF members and how can they best manage their CPF savings? Highlights (click/tap above):  3:30 Context for why the CPF Ordinary, Special and MediSave accounts were set up  7:30 Reasons for the removal of the CPF Special Account for those 55 and older  13:15  Considerations for CPF members as they aim to boost their returns  15:10 What to bear in mind: Whether to go for the Enhanced Retirement Sum and what you can do with CPF Life  20:00 CPF Life and longevity risk Produced by: Lee Su Shyan (sushy

Humanity will never achieve net-zero emissions by the middle of the century unless the building sector figures out how to become truly green. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Who hasn’t escaped a scorchingly hot day by seeking refuge in a nicely chilled shopping centre? Or, for those in cold climates, in a toasty warm office or cafe?  But have you ever wondered how much energy it takes to cool, heat and power the buildings in our cities and towns? It’s a lot. In fact, the building sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions – about 39 per cent of all energy-related CO2 emissions come from buildings and the materials used to construct them.  Humanity will never reach net-zero emissions by the middle of the century unless we can make buildings truly green. So, how is the building sector responding to the climate challenge? How are building owners and managers c

History-making sisters making waves with Olympic relay qualification Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. On Feb 18, Quah Ting Wen, Quah Jing Wen, Letitia Sim and Levenia Sim clocked 4 minutes and 2.88 seconds at the World Aquatics Championships to not just set a new women's 4x100m medley relay national record, they also booked their ticket to Paris 2024. In this episode of Sports Talk, David Lee is joined by the two sets of sisters who became the first Singaporeans to qualify for an Olympic swimming relay event. They share what it is like to train and compete as sisters, and what they need to do to create more history and make it to an Olympic final. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:08 Realisation of the accomplishment 3:39 The beginning of a strong combination 5:52 Strengths and weaknesses 6:30 Perks of competing as sisters 8:59 Swimming as an a-Quah-tic family 11:41 Not so Sim-ple decision to choose to swim for Singapore 14:26 Redemption for A

A talent expert who has helped over 200 people clinch jobs after a career break shares what works.Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you put your career on the right footing from the outset.At the best of times, making calculated career moves to meet one's financial and professional goals is hard, and even more so when one is returning from a career break.In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest on how to make a successful return to the workforce. His guest is:Ms Wiwiek Sindarta, senior regional director at talent consultancy Talentvis Highlights (click/tap above): 1:29 Why do workers go on career breaks and then return? 3:04 In what situations are career breaks hardest to return from? 6:06 What distinguishes people who get off to a flying start? 8:31 Should you hold off on returning if the job market is weak? 12:53 Wiwiek's own experience with mulling over a career break 16:46 How do women returning from breaks have it especially hard?Read more: https://str.sg

A conversation with the noted anthropologist and Andamans expert Vishvajit Pandya on the need to balance heritage, developmental and strategic interests as the Andaman and Nicobar islands become a geopolitical hotspot. Synopsis:  Join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with Prof Visvajit Pandya, an anthropologist who has researched tribes in the Andaman and Nicobar islands for four decades.  They discuss the fate of the Shompen in Great Nicobar, a tribe of fewer than 600 people whose lives are likely to be upended by plans to build tourism resorts and a transhipment port as well as a naval base on the island. Dr Pandya, who has worked with the Shompen, makes a strong case for including their point of view in developmental plans for their island. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:12 India’s plans for the Great Nicobar 5:35 ‘Shy Shompens’ under threat 9:20 Strateg

Get started on moderate intensity physical activity to stay healthy. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Singapore wants to be a healthier nation, and everyone needs to play their part by leading healthier lifestyles. This would only benefit the individual, but not everyone exercises regularly. And, if you have watched the popular Netflix documentary series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, which are spots where people tend to live to around 100, you will know that the world’s longest-lived people do not exercise. They don’t go running in the stadium, nor do they go for a workout in the gym. So, just how much of it is necessary when it comes to doing it for health, weight management or weight loss? What’s the minimum amount of exercise that you can do to obtain any health benefits?  In this Health Check podcast episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Clinical Assistant Professor Ivy L

Will we cede jobs to quantum computing next?  Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. We may not time travel anytime soon, but quantum computing may go mainstream among businesses within a decade. What is this technology that inspires science-fiction tales? What do bosses and workers need to know about it?  Join me, Krist Boo, and my guests, Dr Paul Griffin, associate professor of information systems (practice) at the Singapore Management University and Dr Scott Crowder, vice president for IBM quantum adoption and business development, as we talk about the quantum revolution. Strap in, because it might be closer than you think. Highlights (click/tap above):  1:00 How quantum computers differ from classical computers.  5:15 IBM roadmap: quantum adoption by 2033? 7:47 Classical, graphic, quantum - different uses for different computers 11:51 Is Singapore ready for the quantum revolution 13:35 What busi

The role of militaries, and conflicts, in driving global warming can no longer be ignored. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Even in peace times, militaries are huge emitters of the greenhouse gases that drive global warming. The US military with its global network of bases, has a particularly large carbon footprint - and outsources it to host countries who must account for it under their own reports to the United Nations.  Humanity is at war in two places currently - Ukraine and the Middle East - with several other low-level conflicts in different parts of the globe, and military expenditure on the rise. Historical data shows that past wars produced staggering amounts of greenhouse gasses. The destruction of forests in Vietnam in the 1960s by the US’s use of the chemical herbicide Agent Orange is estimated to have generated emissions in the range of 300-400 million tonnes o

Feeling peckish? Find out why Taiwan is mad about the “Kuai Kuai” brand of corn snacks.  Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  Taiwan is the world’s top manufacturer of semiconductors and advanced chips. But here is the super-chip that rules them all: a corn chip snack that is a favourite among Taiwan kids.  Bags of it can be found atop laptops, ATM machines, printers all over the island, even in the offices of engineers in Hsinchu Science Park – home of the island’s semiconductor industry.  In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with ST’s Taiwan correspondent Yip Wai Yee about how these chips became the go-to lucky charms for Taiwan appliances, and the folk traditions and pseudoscience that continue to thrive in the technologically advanced society. Highlights (click/tap above):1:00: Why Kuai Kuai corn chi

No other car company has invested as much as Porsche to sell cars to consumers in Singapore with a high-end “studio” in the heart of the city. How is it working? Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. Cars in Singapore are the most expensive in the world. In this episode, ST's senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe visits the Porsche Studio Singapore in Guoco Midtown along Beach Road, to speak with Mr Brendan Mok, head of PR and communications at Porsche Asia Pacific. They discuss how the German sportscar brand is going to sell more units in Singapore. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:30 What is so different about how Porsche is selling cars in Singapore?  17:20 How frequently do car companies review their contracts with dealers? 19:00 Answering the EV question  23:25 Only one in five Porsches sold are actually “sports cars”  28:30 Porsche’s sales projection for Singapore in 2024  36:30 When there

So why do the Lions have yet another Japanese coach? Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. In this episode of Hard Tackle, Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by Football Association of Singapore president, Bernard Tan and the newly appointed head coach of the Singapore national football team, Tsutomu Ogura. For the first time since Ogura’s appointment on Feb 1, Tan describes the process undertaken by the FAS in terminating former head coach Takayuki Nishigaya’s contract and then selecting Ogura to lead the Lions.  Ogura also shares his journey to becoming the Lions’ head coach, his vision for the team and his plans ahead of his first match in charge of the Lions, when they take on China in a World Cup qualifier on Mar 21.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:49 When and how did the process to fire Takayuki Nishigaya and hire Tsutomu Ogura began?   8:30 Ogura’s initial thoughts when he was offer

Two young hawkers chat about the profession in this era of high inflation - how to maintain profitability while still serving that affordable meal.  Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. The cost of living has gotten more expensive in the last two years. Inflation measured by a basket of consumer goods was 4.8 per cent higher in 2023 than 2022, more than in 2021 when the price increase was at 2.3 per cent. For young hawkers who also have their families to care for, maintaining a profit margin while resisting raising prices, can be challenging.  Cost differences between running a stall in private coffee shops vis a vis hawker centres managed by NEA, could make a stark difference in profitability, according to two hawkers. In this episode,ST podcast assistant editor Lynda Hong speaks with Jeevan Ananthan, 32, who sells Li Na noodles - bak chor mee - in three stalls in coffee shops with a central kitchen. Also in the

One of our guests also shows us the brilliance of her lyrics by reading them out to us. What are your faves? Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. American superstar Taylor Swift has dominated pop culture with her mega-successful Eras Tour, her historic fourth Grammy win for Album of the Year in 2024 and her fairytale-like romance with American football star Travis Kelce.  And she will soon be bringing her tour for a sold-out six-night show at National Stadium in Singapore from March 2-9. Ahead of her concert, #PopVultures host Jan Lee sits down for a throwback to her English-literature-student days. Joining her in this episode to explore Swift's multi-generational appeal, are Life correspondent and "Swiftie" Yamini Chinnuswamy, 15-year-old Gen-Z "Swiftie" Yvonne Inglin as well as Ravi Agarwal, a 51-year-old connoisseur of Swift's lyrics. Together, they discuss the literary value of her songs while Ravi also reads out

Hear why most Manipuris - of different ethnic groups - just want an end to militarisation and violence. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Manipur, in north-east India, is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious state of 3.1 million people. In May 2023, violence exploded between the ethnic Meitei and Kuki people, leaving many dead. Ongoing ethnic violence has claimed many more than 200 lives and left tens of thousands displaced.  Next door in Myanmar, the military regime has at best, tenuous control over its own borders given drug and other kinds of trafficking across the Myanmar-Manipur border.  Most Manipuris - of different ethnic groups - just want an end to militarisation and violence, says Manipur native Binalaskshmi Nepram. The writer, democracy activist, Sean McBride Peace Prize recipient and founder of several local organisations working for disarmament and peace i

Do local banks really have succession issues? Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors and senior columnists at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In February 2024, banker Wee Cho Yaw passed away at the age of 95. His father founded the predecessor of UOB but it was Mr Wee that grew the bank, and made UOB what it is today. Together with DBS and OCBC, UOB is now among the top three local banks in Singapore. In this episode, we delve more into the impact Mr Wee had on the banking industry. Over at DBS, there has always been talk about who will take over from CEO Piyush Gupta. Su Shyan and Ven discuss these succession plans and the outlook for the banking sector. Also, as interest rates may be cut in 2024, according to the US Federal Reserve, how will Singapore local banks be affected?  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 Wee Cho Yaw's impact on the local banking industry; will his passing affect ops an

Tipping points are a grave threat but it’s not too late for humanity to reduce the risks.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The world is on the brink of major changes to the natural world that could have truly devastating consequences for billions of people.  These are parts of the natural world that are at risk of abrupt and irreversible changes. For instance, runaway melting of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets; collapse of a key ocean circulation in the Atlantic; melting of permafrost; dieback of the Amazon rainforest and warm-water coral reefs. There are many more.  What’s causing this? Man-made global warming is a major reason. So is pollution and over-exploitation of resources.  Planetary tipping points represent one of the gravest threats to humanity, yet many people seem unaware of the danger. And some of these tipping points might be close to, or alr

This Budget 2024 special analysis examines how measures announced would benefit Singaporean youth, from education, to housing, childcare and inflation.  Synopsis: Titled “Building our Shared Future Together”, Budget 2024 was delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in Parliament on Feb 16, 2024.  The plan for revenue and expenditure of the Singapore government was laid out to address immediate challenges like cost-of-living pressures while investing in longer-term goals of strong economic growth, better jobs and a culture of lifelong learning. We examine how Budget 2024's measures announced would benefit Singaporean youth, from education, to housing, childcare and inflation.  In this special episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong hosts two guests: Ms Cherlyn Ng, 35, a video producer who has two young children. Ms Ng is also a young union leader with Creative Media Publishing Union, which is affiliated to NTUC.  Mr Jod Gill is global employer services partner at D

Former South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha also ponders the challenges posed by Kim Jong Un’s moves on missiles and Moscow, and Seoul’s ties with Japan.  Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with Dr Kang Kyung-Wha, the incoming President and CEO of Asia Society. In 2017, she was the first woman to be appointed foreign minister of South Korea, holding the post until early 2021. They discuss how she handled the Trump administration as foreign minister, the South’s position on nuclear deterrence vis a vis a provocative Pyongyang, and her plans for Asia Society. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:38: The US is “certainly overextended”; will US interest in Asia survive a Trump return? 10:11 US-China tensions “will probably increase” 15:30 On North Korea: “War preparation is not the right interpretation

Love is in the air for these wushu athletes. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. In this episode of Sports Talk, Deepanraj Ganesan gets into the Valentine’s Day mood and spoke to a sporting couple in wushu exponents Jowen Lim and Vera Tan.  The pair started dating in 2015 and have since gotten engaged. Lim and Tan who had a good year on the sporting front with medals at the World Championship also have plans to get married pretty soon. In this episode, they speak about how it all started, whether their relationship has affected their personal ambitions and what’s next for them in and out of wushu. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:00 How Jowen Lim and Vera Tan fell in love with Wushu  2:15 On meeting each other for the first time  6:20 Do Lim and Tan avoid speaking about Wushu away from competition and training? 9:00 What is the best thing about having a partner who is also an athlete? 11:15 What is next for both Tan and Lim in 2024 both i

Empathy for the generation divide and user behaviour patterns may need to be studied more as Singapore digitalises itself rapidly. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. The hard deadline for full transition from an older card-based ticketing system to the account-based SimplyGo public transport payment system by June 1, 2024 eventually went away. This is after public outcry over SimplyGo’s inability to display fares and card balances at fare gates and bus card readers.  Such negative reactions have raised questions how impactful nationwide policies, like the adoption of SimplyGo, can be better communicated to the public. And is a one-size-fit-all approach even possible for Singapore’s rapidly ageing population that must constantly overcome the first hurdle in adapting to technology?  ST podcast editor Ernest Luis and assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong host two guest speakers in this episode: Associate Professo

A seasoned career coach shows what career coaching entails, using host Tay Hong Yi's CV as an example. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you take charge of your budding career and realise your ambition. Career coaching is a term frequently bandied about in discourses surrounding employment and employability, and related policies. Though the basic concept is intuitive, some workers may be hesitant to pursue coaching as they are not sure what issues career coaching can help address. That is why host Tay Hong Yi looks at how career coaching can benefit workers in this episode. His guest is: Mr Tan Kok Guan, founder of career coaching firm Broccolise Highlights (click/tap above): 4:51 What should workers prepare before their first coaching session? 9:00 What is the range of career issues coaching can provide clarity on? 12:50 What is the structure of a career coaching session? 17:40 How competence and motivation are not the same thing 21:06 What does Hong Yi's CV show? 28:40 Ho

We transport you to Keran, which sits on the Line of Control - a ceasefire line dividing Kashmir into territories administered by India and Pakistan. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  At a time when people-to-people links are practically non-existent between India and Pakistan, Keran is a rare place where greetings, waves and even smiles could be exchanged. A river, less than 100 metres wide, divides both sides.  Keran, a tiny village of around 1,500, is nestled in a valley within the part of Kashmir that is administered by India. It is here that tourism has boomed in recent years. Visitors come - to stay in houses pockmarked by mortar fragments and to peep into the Pakistan-administered side of the land. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with ST’s India correspondent Debarshi Dasgupta, who also shares his per

Wearable tech can help us monitor our heart. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Today, we can easily find heart rate monitors in wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers. As Singapore shifts the centre of gravity in healthcare from acute hospitals to the community with its preventive care strategy Healthier SG, such wearable technology will likely become more popular as they enable us to take charge of our health.  In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Clin Assoc Prof Ching Chi Keong, a Senior Consultant at the National Heart Centre Singapore about how one can make use of these devices and just how accurate they are. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:55 How do ECG readings taken with a smart watch compare with a traditional ECG done in a medical setting? How accurate are they?  3:41 Interpreting ECG readings on your phone and what it means to have a sinus rhythm 11:09 W

They share their experiences trying to be a part of the discourse at Davos. Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with young delegates at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 to find out about their experience. The WEF, held in Davos, Switzerland, brings together some of the biggest names in politics, business and economics from all over the world every year. But it has been criticised for being nothing more than a public relations exercise, with a lack of accountability and fading relevance. Some of the world’s most passionate and engaged young changemakers were in Davos this year. ST’s political correspondent Goh Yan Han speaks with some of them to hear how they tried to make their mark. They are: Benjamin Von Wong, Canadian artist and activist John Dongo, Zimbabwean youth mental health advocate Luona Cai, partner at Xishi Magic Bag, from China Marie-Claire Graf, Swiss environmental activist Daniel Liu, Singaporean co-founder of Morrow Intelligence Saravanan Sugumaran, Singaporean co-founder

To secure his 500 colleagues' jobs, this CEO is making them developers. Bonus segment: What could the Dragon Year bring you?! Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. Vital is the Singapore public service’s central agency for corporate shared services entrusted with managing and transforming corporate services delivery for the government. For years, Vital had been humming in the background, paying out the salaries and expense claims of more than 100,000 public servants in Singapore.  No one paid it much attention, as its 500 workers chugged along, cutting, pasting, reconciling spreadsheets. Much of their work was laborious, tedious, and honestly, could have been done by machines. Four years ago, something happened. The agency got a new chief, a new dream, and for its 500 workers - a new aspiration to become citizen developers.  In this episode of Work Talk, ST senior correspondent Krist Boo takes you

Human development is rapidly destroying the natural habitat for recovering wildlife populations such as tigers. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The success of India’s conservation efforts conversely means that rising wildlife populations increasingly, have nowhere to go. Wild tigers are being spotted in many small towns and villages - from the mustard fields of Haryana near New Delhi, to the mountains of Bhimtal in Uttarakhand. In many cases, accidental encounters have resulted in human casualties, and the big cats have had to be tranquilised and relocated to jungles or rescue centres out of harm’s way. Clashes of humans with elephants have also taken a weekly toll in some Indian states. In this episode, we look at why a rethink is necessary to manage growing wildlife populations. ST's global contributor Nirmal Ghosh speaks with two field conservationists who are working

The sociological and political implications of the temple to the Hindu God Rama that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India on Jan 22, 2024.  Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with the respected sociologist and head of Indian Century Roundtable Salvatore Babones, an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney.    They discuss the consecration of the temple, its likely effect on voters in the coming election, unease felt by minority groups and talk by some elements in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party about a ‘Hindu Vatican’. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:11 Indian state endorsing religion; ‘secularism’ was added to the Constitution later 8:15 Why temple inauguration is unlikely to affect voters 14:00 Birth of a second Republic? 19:13 How minorities feel 21:47 Some Muslims do vote BJP, says Prof Babones 22:45 The Hind

As it turns out, it is not from the mark-up on the car itself that pays the bulk of the bills for used car dealerships Synopsis: In this new podcast, The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. Almost 60 per cent of those who sell their cars, are looking for another one. This means that the business of used cars will continue.  ST's senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with Mr Kuanyu Tan, the country manager of Carro, a used car dealership that buys and claims to sell 6,000 cars a year, to understand the business and what it means to the car buyer.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:20 Where do used cars go? How do used car dealers get inventory financing? 6:10 Are used cars really more affordable than new cars? Price trends in relation to COE prices 17:36 Top two tips for car owners to get the best deal when selling their vehicles 20:48 How long is too long for a car dealer to hold on to their stock? 26:30 Carro's s

Xabi Alonso is now head coach for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. This is a special episode featuring a former Liverpool legend John Arne Riise.  In this episode of Sports Talk, ST's Deepanraj Ganesan speaks to former Liverpool and Norway defender John Arne Riise who says that his ex-teammate Xabi Alonso should be the man to step into Jurgen Klopp’s big shoes when the German manager leaves his role at the end of the season. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:50 How Riise reacted to Klopp’s bombshell announcement  3:22 Why Riise picks Alonso to replace Klopp? 4:30 Could Riise tell early on - during their time as teammates in Liverpool - that Alonso would one day go on to become a football club manager? 6:16 Can Liverpool win the English Premier League this season?  8:30 The possibility of Reds legend Steven Gerard working with Alonso at Liverpool Read: https://str.sg/FwpH Produced by: Deepanraj

Find out why Myanmar is in a state of economic collapse with only one per cent growth in fiscal year 2023/24. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Military-driven policies and conflict have shrunk Myanmar’s formal economy, but its illicit economy - long a feature of its borderlands in particular - has been thriving.  Myanmar's military regime is not entirely to be blamed for this tradition of transnational crime syndicates as many of the areas concerned have been controlled for decades by ethnic armies, which essentially make a living from the informal or illicit economy.   To unravel the complexities of Myanmar’s crisis, Nirmal Ghosh hosts two guests in this episode. First is Professor Sean Turnell, former economic advisor to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the former State Councillor, now in jail, who held office from 2016 until the military coup of February 2021. Second

Top Singapore sports administrators take the hot seat in our studio. Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. In this episode of Hard Tackle, Deepanraj Ganesan speaks to Sport Singapore CEO Alan Goh and Singapore Sport Institute chief Dr Su Chun Wei and quizzes them on what is ahead for Singapore sports in 2024 and gets them to address some hot issues in local sports.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:45 What can Singaporeans expect from local sports in 2024?  6:50 What is SportSG doing to revive the mass participation scene, and what more needs to be done to get it back to pre-pandemic levels? 12:10 Do Alan Goh and Chun Wei believe Singapore football will recover from the lows of 2023?  20:20 How SportSG plans to convince more Singaporeans to go to events given the low turnout at 2023 Women's World Floorball Championships 28:00 On helping Shanti Pereira to get even quicker in 2024  Read: https

How can community spaces co-exist with competing demands while fostering spontaneous and free play? Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. Managing the use of void decks in Singapore is like a cagey board game – one where Sembawang Town Council played the ultimate “no ball games” card, recently barricading Block 638 Woodlands Ring Road's void deck due to noisy school kids, stirring both controversy and reflection.  This was not a solo act; similar void deck blockades have hit Jalan Kayu and Tampines, creating a recurring match between communal play and resident grievances in recent years.  The incident sparked a lively online commentary, with opinions ranging from “Give kids space!" to "Stray balls are public enemy #1." The barricades may have been taken down, but bigger questions persist: Have we taken for granted the community spaces we share? Do we still value conviviality, or have we become too individua

Renewable energy is cleaner and more affordable and is poised for rapid growth in South-east Asia once key roadblocks are overcome.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Green Pulse is starting off 2024 with an appropriately green theme -- renewable energy. Specifically, the investment opportunity for green power in South-east Asia.  The region is one of the world's economic growth engines and it is hungry for power to drive that growth, fuel its factories and lift millions out of poverty.  And yet it remains deeply dependent on polluting coal, oil and gas. But cleaner wind and solar, and increasingly battery storage, are becoming more competitive and compelling investment choices. So what is the outlook? Are we on the cusp of a green revolution? ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Mr Edward Northam, head of Core Renewables and head of Asia-Pacific for Macquarie Asset Manag

One of them is the sauna boom. Find out why it is taking off in a country of hot springs. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Japan is in transition - where younger Japanese are questioning the rules and strictures that traditionally govern their society.  One manifestation of that is the increasing number of schools in both cities and rural parts that allow genderless uniforms, including for boys who want to wear skirts to schools. Even the country’s exquisite cuisine is undergoing a revolution of sorts, with insects being introduced into the repertoire as Japan grapples with limited arable land.  In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with Japan correspondent Walter Sim - who has been based in the country for eight years - about what other social changes and trends he sees will take place in 2024. Highlights (click/

Find out more how active ETFs are somewhat different from the traditional product. Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors and senior columnists at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Su Shyan discusses active ETFs with Ms Ong Ai Ling, portfolio manager and head of AIOI at Lion Global Investors. AIOI stands for Artificial Intelligence of Investments.  Highlights (click/tap above):  3:30 Difference between active ETFs and passive ETFs  4:55 Find out about the first active ETF on SGX  7:00 Japan’s improving macroeconomic indicators; corporate governance reforms 13:30 The use of AI in active ETFs 16:00 Safeguards for investors in active ETFs 17:20 Expect to see more active ETFs  Produced by: Lee Su Shyan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: ht

The actor was found dead in an apparent suicide after a two-months long high-profile investigation into his alleged misuse of drugs. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. The year of 2023 ended on a shocking and tragic note for the South Korean entertainment industry when actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for playing a wealthy patriarch in the Oscar-winning film Parasite (2019), died of an apparent suicide at the age of 48 on Dec 27, 2023.  Lee was a well-respected and prolific star, both known for his versatile acting and clean, upstanding image. He was married to actress Jeon Hye-jin and shared two sons with her.  But in the two months leading up to his death, Lee suffered a dramatic fall from grace. News broke in October that he was being investigated for allegations of illegal drug use - something heavily stigmatised in South Korea. The scandal, which arose after a bar hostess reportedly claimed that Lee took drugs a

A conversation with a veteran economist, editor and geopolitical expert on the recently concluded election in Bangladesh.  Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with the respected journalist and geopolitics expert Dr Sanjaya Baru.   They discuss the recent election in Bangladesh, the country’s perceived democratic backsliding, and its economic performance under Prime Minister Hasina Wajed. They also talk about what it means for the wider Asian neighbourhood. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:25: ‘Exit clause’ needed for long-serving leaders 4:12: A question of legitimacy 7:00: The Bangladesh paradox 9:35: Balancing India and China 12:40 The Eastern India factor 14:10 What’s the military up to? Produced by: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Speaking O

Standing tall with badminton world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. One Olympic gold, two senior world titles, one Thomas Cup triumph, 27 Badminton World Federation World Tour and Superseries titles, and more than 100 consecutive weeks as world No. 1, there's no men's singles player as dominant as Viktor Axelsen now. In this episode of Sports Talk, David Lee chats with the great Dane to understand more about the man who is unique in more ways than just his towering height and all-rounded game. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:23 Overcoming the negativity from feeling small for being so tall 2:17 How Axelsen seems so relaxed on the court 3:05 Being in control off the court 4:49 Chasing the GOAT 8:16 How Axelsen would like to be remembered Read: https://str.sg/jxoN Produced by: David Lee ([email protected]) & Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow ST Sports Talk every month: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: https

These roles may provide a gateway to coveted roles, an expert says.Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, the Career Talk podcast by The Straits Times helps you take charge of your career and realise your ambition. As economic cycles turn shorter and more volatile, the labour market has turned to hiring workers on contract, including for roles with high skill requirements and leadership opportunities. In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with Mr Nilay Khandelwal, managing director of talent consultancy Page Group in Singapore, to unpack the prospects and pitfalls of this trend for workers.Highlights (click/tap above): 1:32 Which sectors commonly hire for highly skilled roles on contract? 3:32 Are prestigious employers increasingly filling openings with contract workers and why? 4:40 Choosing between a dream role on contract and a permanent job 10:51 Impact of a contract role on the resume for future jobs 13:36 Evaluating remuneration holistically as benefits may differ 16:06 What kind of contract

Why more evidence is needed to break down the cost of transitioning migrant workers away from being ferried on lorries. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. Migrant workers have been transported in the backs of lorries here for decades, with an ongoing debate about whether the practice should be banned. Yet, despite the platitudes and petitions signed, employers and the authorities have stopped short of doing so, citing knock-on effects on society. Besides delays to various construction projects, higher costs for businesses and consequently all Singaporeans, are often cited as a justification for why a ban should not be imposed. But are Singaporeans really unwilling to fork out more money to ensure that the lives of migrant workers are better protected? Especially when more are stepping up now to call for an end to the unsafe practice?  In this episode, ST journalists Ang Qing and Aqil Hamzah examine the age-old de

An ADHD diagnosis can help you make sense of your life. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. The awareness of ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a common neurodevelopmental condition is growing around the world and more people have been diagnosed with it. Yet, many do not know that they have it while others may not have a good understanding of the condition, in order to thrive with it.  ADHD is characterised by inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behaviour. It can greatly affect one’s life, but it can also be turned into a superpower if it is managed correctly.  In this Health Check podcast episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Moonlake Lee, the founder of Unlocking ADHD, the first site in Singapore that aims to help individuals with ADHD and their families live life to the fullest, to find out more. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:31 Moonlake’s journey as an ADHDer and ho

What's the buzzword from our manpower minister in 2024?  Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. Jan 1, may mark the beginning of a geopolitically hard year with persistent heart-stopping price tags on things, but the manpower minister wants Singapore workers to know his ministry is hands on deck to soften the blows.  In a New Year podcast interview with The Straits Times, Dr Tan See Leng talks about nudging workers to self steer their careers, his own way of coping with work, and how he thinks bosses can encourage younger workers.  Read more: https://str.sg/ig3F Highlights (click/tap above): 0:45 Stock take of 2023 4:12 Could we have done better? 4:37 Workers, take charge!  7:51 Quiet quitting, lying flat. Should we follow them? 10:23 Burnout? Go sleep.  Produced by: Krist Boo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channe

How premiums are calculated and how making a claim does not mean a higher premium renewal. Synopsis: In this new podcast, The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. It is compulsory for all vehicles to have third-party insurance and vehicles that are under financing are required to have comprehensive insurance policies. To find out how motorists can avoid some of the pitfalls of getting coverage for their vehicles, ST’s senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with Mr Douglas Chia, the chief executive of Eazy, an insurance brokerage. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:33 Why does it seem that motor insurance premiums are always going up, even when the car is getting older? 10:00 A married male driver pays less for insurance than an unmarried one, but the opposite is true for female drivers: an unmarried one is deemed to be less risky than a married one 21:33 How the No Claim Discount (NCD) protector does not work to the

We look at the nation's prospects in sailing, athletics and football. Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. As the curtain comes down on an incredible year for Singapore sports in 2023, The Straits Times sports desk is already excited for what’s to come in the year ahead. In this episode of Hard Tackle, Deepanraj Ganesan and his colleagues on the sports desk - Kimberley Kwek, Rohit Brijnath, David Lee and Melvyn Teoh -  bid farewell to 2023, reflect on the triumphs, peer into the future, and explore what's in store for Singapore sports in the upcoming year. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:30 Can 2023 be seen as a year where it was a catalyst for Singapore sports? 11:00 The chances of Maximilian Maeder winning an Olympics gold medal in 2024 13:30 Did Loh Kean Yew have a forgettable year? 18:30 What can we expect from Shanti Pereira in 2024 24:00 What’s next for Singapore football in 2024 aft

Home-grown singer and songwriter Josh Makazo tells us about his breakout year in 2023. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In this ninth episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown singer, songwriter, and producer Josh Makazo. A rising name in the home-grown music scene, he is one of the most popular artists on TikTok in Singapore in 2023. While he was still serving national service, he released his song - half of my heart - which went viral on TikTok and has since racked up over 5.3 million views. Makazo discusses how his strategy of targeting the fanbase of artistes that he was inspired by, such as Korean-Australian singer DPR Ian, helped his music blow up on TikTok. The two versions of the song that he released on Spotify have also clocked over 6 million streams in all.  In November, Makazo, 20, released his debut album, Gradient, and it has already gained over 10 million streams across various platforms. In this episode o

Singaporean singer-songwriter Josh Makazo's intimate live studio take of half of my heart, a song from his latest EP, GRADIENT. Synopsis: This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Listen to Josh Makazo talk about his musical journey in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/iYCZ Discover Singaporean artiste Josh Makazo at: YouTube: https://str.sg/iY96 Spotify: https://str.sg/iY9u Instagram: https://str.sg/iY9L Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team Mixed by: Amirul Karim Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Yo

Revisiting the legacy of a 1990s Singaporean icon Synopsis: Can I Tell You Something Crazy is a new scripted series under the #PopVultures banner, which examines with fresh eyes, events that shook Asian media and entertainment. In 1990, Singaporean model Bonny Hicks, just 22 at the time, published her first book Excuse Me, Are You A Model? The book was meant to be a tell-all about the modelling industry. How does one become a model, what are the perks of the job and are there any secrets to success? But instead of writing about modelling, Hicks ended up writing about her own life. She shared about her childhood, her various love affairs with different men, alluded to a romantic relationship with a woman and even opened up about her one-time desire to have an illegitimate child.  The book, an unprecedented local bestseller, scandalised and divided Singaporeans. While there were schoolgirls who rushed out to purchase the book, which sold 12,000 copies in just three days, there were also angry members of the pu

Indonesia’s bold plan to catch cervical cancer early will see 50-60 million women screened and vaccinated  Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Indonesia’s bold plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health concern - the country’s cervical cancer rate is higher than the global average - is being approached not as a programme but as a movement, says its Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin The plan aims at using thousands of primary health clinics and also private sector partners across the sprawling and diverse country, to screen 50-60 million women early for cervical cancer - because catching it early is the key to bringing down the numbers.  Currently roughly 70 per cent of cases are diagnosed when they are already in an advanced stage - and the fatality rate is high.  The Minister, a nuclear physicist and among other things former CEO of Indonesia’s m

It is always good to start having end-of life conversations early. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. There are some conditions that are difficult to treat, others possibly pointless to treat. Doctors know the limits of medical care and they can advise against further treatment, if the care is deemed futile.  In this episode, we will hear about the difficult decisions that some doctors and some families have to contend with, in their work and life. Dr Shirlynn Ho is a senior consultant and deputy head of the division of Supportive ＆ Palliative Care at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. She’s also the assistant secretary of the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network, which works with the Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care in Singapore. Dr Tan Yia Swam is a breast surgeon, with her own practice at Mount Alvernia Hospital. She was the past president of the Singapore Medical Association and a former No

Find out about the upcoming market trends and how should you invest in 2024. Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors and senior columnists at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Ven Sreenivasan hosts Mr Thilan Wickramasinghe, head of research at Maybank Securities. They discuss the concerns for the emerging mega themes such as AI, climate change, changing demographics as well as the outlook for the Singapore market. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:27 How should investors be positioned in 2024? 3:28 Why are Singapore stocks underperforming despite interest rates trending down? 5:17 The outlook for the Singapore market going forward 7:50 Can Singapore as a small island play a significant part in sustainability or AI? 10:23 Mr Thilan's top picks in this market Produced by: Ven Sreenivasan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Eden Soh Follow ST's Your Money & Career

We speak to national sailor Maximilian Maeder about his year of wins. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  National sailor Maximilian Maeder has enjoyed a bountiful 2023 where the accolades have kept coming for the kitefoiling star.  The 17-year-old became the first Singaporean nominated for the prestigious World Sailing’s Male Sailor of the Year after several milestone victories in 2023. He first won the Formula Kite Youth World Championships in Gizzeria, Italy in July before securing a spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics and claimed the coveted title at the Sailing World Championships a month later in The Hague, Netherlands. He then went on to win a gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou at the end of September. On the latest episode of Sports Talk, Maximilian spoke to sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan on his memorable year and his thoughts on what awaits in 2024 with his eyes firmly fixed on a shiny gold medal on offer in Paris  Highlig

Increases converges at around 4 per cent across the board in a mature high-cost market like Singapore. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times' Career Talk podcast helps you take charge of your own career and make your ambition pay off. One source of both cheer and uncertainty in this festive period is talk of performance appraisals, promotions and pay raises.To find out more about salary trends in 2024, host Tay Hong Yi speaks to Mr Rahul Chawla, partner and head of talent solutions for South-East Asia at professional services firm Aon. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:43 What are the salary trends in 2023 and 2024 generally? 3:39 Why is Singapore's projected gain lower than elsewhere in the region? 5:36 Which are the sectors likely to be top gainers in 2024? 12:42 What are the roles with increases that will likely outrun inflation? 15:50 Advice for talent whose pay increases didn't outrun inflation in 2023 Read more: https://str.sg/if6N Produced by: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected]), Ernes

They share their principles behind the groundbreaking design and their favourite features. Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with experts to discuss how public housing design has evolved in Singapore. Public housing is all around us. They are in older towns such as Queenstown and Toa Payoh, and in newer ones like Punggol and Bidadari. Eight in ten Singaporeans live in HDB flats. How has the design of HDB blocks evolved over the decades? What has worked out and what hasn't? ST's housing correspondent Michelle Ng speaks with Dr Liu Thai Ker, widely known as the architect of modern Singapore. This is because he helped to plan 20 out of the 24 HDB towns in Singapore during his time from 1969 to 1989. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:33 Essence of early public housing: "Low-cost" evolving to "public" housing, home ownership and affordability a challenge back then 5:27 What did liveable public housing look like back then? 8:13 The design principles behind the early HDB flats 13:56 Slab blocks versus point blocks; D

They share their principles behind the groundbreaking design and their favourite features. Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with experts to discuss how public housing design has evolved in Singapore. Public housing is all around us. They are in older towns such as Queenstown and Toa Payoh, and in newer ones like Punggol and Bidadari. Eight in ten Singaporeans live in HDB flats. How has the design of HDB blocks evolved over the decades? What has worked out and what hasn't? ST's housing correspondent Michelle Ng speaks with architects Khoo Peng Beng and his wife Belinda Huang, founders and directors of Arc Studio Architecture + Urbanism. They are the design duo behind the groundbreaking Pinnacle@Duxton in Cantonment Road, the first 50-storey public housing project in Singapore, and also the first one in the world to have two sky bridges linking the seven towers that it comprises of. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:50 How the Pinnacle@Duxton was part of evolution in HDB public flat design 3:03 Background to th

A fund to pay highly vulnerable countries for loss and damage from climate impact, was finally initiated at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai.  Synopsis: The Straits Times' climate editor David Fogarty is at COP28 from Nov 23 till Dec 12 in Dubai, the United Nations climate change conference. The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is a remote chain of about 80 islands, many of them mountainous, with a total population of over 300,000 people. It has suffered devastating cyclones, rising sea levels, coral bleaching from warming oceans and other impacts, costing its people and the economy dearly. Each major disaster drains the budget and sets the country back, with damaged houses, roads, schools and hospitals needing to be repaired or rebuilt. Vanuatu has long championed the idea of a fund to pay highly vulnerable countries for the loss and damage from climate impact. And it has been a strident voice pushing for big polluting nations to face up to their responsibilities for the human rights impacts caused by their

Host Jan Lee recaps everything from Barbieheimer to K-pop boyband BTS entering the military Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. As 2023 comes to an end, #PopVultures host recap and give updates on some of the biggest happenings in entertainment across the world, from the revenge concert-going and ticket-buying mania that gripped Singapore to the writers and actors strike in Hollywood and the fall of idol management agency Johnny & Associates in Japan. She also runs down her list of favourite television shows and films of the year. Here is what she covers: 2:07 Concert mania - Taylor Swift, Coldplay and J-pop acts like Yoasobi 6:23 Summer of Barbieheimer - blockbusters Barbie and Oppenheimer - bringing audiences back to the movie theatres 11:13 The Hollywood writers and actors strike, which gained both unions historic gains and protections 15:29 Updates on the sex abuse scandal that brought down Japanese idol agency J

A conversation with a veteran Myanmar watcher and geopolitical analyst about the deteriorating situation in Myanmar. Synopsis:  Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, he speaks with the respected Myanmar watcher, Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group.  They discuss the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, the military’s loss of morale, the ongoing geopolitical power play over the country, Asean’s role in trying to mediate the conflict, and whether the military regime would consider holding elections as a balm for the crisis. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:30 ‘Historic’ military weakness 9:30 Half of Myanmar’s economy is illicit 12:30 A certain Myanmarese resilience 15:30 Asean’s priorities 19:00 Indonesia “pressing against a closed military door” Produced by: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Fa’i

Can burning fossil fuels be phased out before the world gets too hot to live in? Synopsis: The Straits Times' climate editor David Fogarty is at COP28 from Nov 23 till Dec 12 in Dubai, the United Nations climate change conference. Every year, the Global Carbon Project releases its Carbon Budget, which projects global fossil fuel and land use emissions. The Global Carbon Project is a consortium of scientific institutions and the annual carbon budget study involves more than 100 scientists.  And this year’s study predicts that fossil fuel carbon emissions will reach a new record in 2023, driven largely by strong growth in coal, oil and gas consumption in India and China. On top of this are carbon emissions from land use, such as deforestation and fires globally.  And the world could hit the 1.5 deg C key temperature limit within 7 years at current rates of emissions, the study says. In this episode, recorded at COP28, ST's David Fogarty hosts leading climate scientist Professor Pierre Friedlingstein, who co

It is always good to start having end-of life conversations early. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. End-of-life planning is never easy. A better way could be to start the process early by planning for the life you want to lead and leave behind.  After all, death is a part of life, and it may be helpful to start thinking about it years before, said a palliative care doctor and a surgeon who does not shy away from talking about death and dying well with her patients. In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to two guests. They discuss the importance of end-of-life planning and palliative care, and how talking about death can help us come to terms with this reality.   Dr Tan Yia Swam is a breast surgeon with her own practice at Mount Alvernia Hospital. She was a former Nominated MP and the past president of the Singapore Medical Association. Dr Shirlynn Ho is the deputy head and senior consu

In a universe roamed by software developers, problems are to be conquered by code. Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. Now, with a new Copilot in generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), will we enter an era where coders solve some of the world's biggest challenges? Will coding become mainstream? Listen to this episode, brought to you from GitHub Universe, held in November in San Francisco.  ST's senior correspondent Krist Boo hosts her guests - GitHub chief executive Thomas Dohmke, GitHub head of accessibility Ed Summers, and chief executive of Singapore firm NodeFlair, Ethan Ang. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:51 The gift of natural language gen AI brings to code 3:26  An age where developers can focus on solving problems 4:29 One of the ageing world's biggest problems: disability  5:08  The story of Ed Summers, a blind developer 17:31 For the love of coding Read more: https://str.sg/ifw8 htt

At the COP28 climate talks in Dubai from Nov 30-Dec 12, a first-ever dedicated Health Day has been set aside today on Dec 3.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. From heatwaves and floods triggering illness and death to air pollution from burning fossil fuels killing millions of people a year, climate change really is a global health crisis and requires urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.  Yet for nearly 30 years, the annual UN climate conferences, or COPs, have failed to focus on the escalating human impacts from climate change. Negotiators have focused more on cutting greenhouse gas emissions than on the link to health.  In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Dr Maria Neira, the World Health Organisation's top public health and environment official, to talk more about the importance of such issues on the COP's first-ever Health Day.  They discu

First, the sea, the sand, the shopping. Now add stars to the Southeast Asian country’s list of attractions as it strives to get creative post-pandemic.  Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  Thailand’s location near the equator means that one can catch a glimpse of both northern and southern constellations, along with planets, nebulae and galaxies. Across Thailand, interest in stargazing has soared, with people extending their trips with jaunts into the countryside where dark skies offer a backdrop for their stars. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand says more than 10,000 people have participated in its stargazing events since January 2022. It expects half a million visitors, locals and foreigners alike, to its six observatories across Thailand in 2023. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with

A motor trader with more than 25 years experience in the industry, gives his perspective. Synopsis: In this new podcast, The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. With the big swings in the price for certificates of entitlement (COEs) in recent tender exercises, ST’s senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe hosts Mr Nicholas Wong, general manager of Kah Motor, to get his views on some suggestions to address the issue.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:30 Would COE prices come down if we adopt the “pay as you bid” system? 6:26 Car buyers bid for COEs themselves: Is that advisable? 9:17 Cash payment only for COEs, no financing allowed: How feasible? 13:10 Addressing the problem with electric vehicles in the COE system 18:00 "Let’s just do away with Open category COEs": Mr Nicholas Wong explains why 28:25 The types of hybrid technologies in the market today 38:00 Why hybrids are disadvantaged under the current system Rea

Hear how you can donate in terms of financial assistance or even in other ways if you can set aside your time. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. The Forward Singapore exercise began in June 2022, and over 16 months, more than 200,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life have taken part in engagement sessions on a wide range of topics. The engagement exercise ended with the Forward Singapore Report released by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Oct 27, 2023. The report reflects Singaporeans’ collective aspirations and shared understanding of our roles and vision for the future. Today, about 14,000 families with children who live in public rental housing are supported by the Community Link programme – in housing, employment and education. It’s a programme to support lower-income families in all HDB towns, with a focus on those living in public rentals with children under 21. In this episode, we

Hear the parallels to the crisis and why India has more immediate strategic interests in the Indian Ocean than in the Pacific. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. While partnerships to its east - and with the United States - are deepening, India’s strategic interests remain more naturally weighted towards its west, and to the Indian Ocean.   Indian officials have growing concerns about when China will have a carrier strike group or other large capabilities in the Indian Ocean, which is India's neighbourhood from the Gulf of Aden to the Straits of Malacca. For India, the Indian Ocean matters not just for security, but for economic, energy, and diaspora reasons.  India also has to navigate a fundamental contradiction with the United States. The US believes that it should be the pre-eminent power in the world, while India sees a world evolving towards multi-polarity in

Part Two: The horror of how Britney Spears came to be placed under a 13-year-long involuntary conservatorship. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. Pop diva Britney Spears' memoir has been a smash hit, selling over 2.4 million copies worldwide in the first week of its release. In our previous episode (Pt 1), host Jan Lee discussed the bombshells the now 41-year-old singer dropped in the first part of her book, including the revelation that former beau, pop star Justin Timberlake, talked her into having an abortion. Continuing the discussion of the book, part two of the podcast delves into the horrifying story of Britney’s mental breakdown and her eventual entry into an involuntary conservatorship. It looks at the misogyny and media scrutiny she had to endure and details how her family conspired against her and lured her into a conservatorship that stripped her of the right to make personal and financial decisions for

We discuss if Singapore is capable of hosting a major sporting event. Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle.   A Fifa World Cup or perhaps a Commonwealth Games being hosted in Singapore in the future, have been discussion points in the last month.   In early October, it was reported that Indonesia were in discussions with Australia about a possible joint bid to host the 2034 football World Cup along with Malaysia and Singapore. This ultimately came to nothing officially as Saudi Arabia were the sole bidders.  But more recently, at its general assembly held in Singapore, the Commonwealth Games Federation spoke up about the possibility of Singapore being future hosts.  Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by former CEO of Sport Singapore Lim Teck Yin and Singapore Aquatics president Mark Chay as they discuss if Singapore is capable of hosting a major sporting event in the future.  Highl

Find out whether investors should still remain in the market. Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors and senior columnists at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Su Shyan and Ven discuss the recent pause in rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve. There are signals that rates may have to remain higher for longer than markets had initially expected, if inflation is to sustainably return to the Fed’s 2% target. They discuss the implications for businesses and investors as well as savers and borrowers. Highlights (click/tap above):  2:40 Tricky to tame US inflation; any decision the Fed makes will be data-driven  5:43 How will businesses be affected?  8:10 Savers and cash-rich individuals will benefit 10:05 Pay off what you can if you are a borrower  11:25 Medium-term outlook for the market is still promising  Produced by: Lee Su Shyan ([email protected]), Ven Sreenivasan (ven@sph

Better protection, waste management imperative for coral reef survival. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Coral reefs occupy only about 0.2% of the ocean floor, yet they are home to a quarter of all marine life. But oceans absorb most of the heat trapped in the atmosphere due to increasing greenhouse gases; this has caused oceans to warm and become more acidic, and there has been a lot of damage to corals. The corals can recover, but can they keep up?  In this episode, The Straits Times’ US Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh discusses the risk to, and the resilience of, coral reefs, with experts on either side of the world - Jennifer Pollom in Florida, executive director of the Ocean Conservation Foundation and director of conservation for Rainbow Reef Dive Centre, and marine ecologist Dr Jani Tanzil, facility director at St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory in Singapore. Hi

Learn about digital therapeutics. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Traditional healthcare is based on doctor and hospital visits, and it can take a long time to obtain appointments to see a healthcare professional. What if one day, an individual can be prescribed a digital therapy for their depression or other health issues remotely? He or she would not have to take any medications.  In this Health Check podcast episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to ​Professor Dean Ho, the director of the Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) at the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the head of the NUS biomedical engineering department, to find out more about digital therapeutics or DTx.  He’s just written a book on DTx with two other researchers Mr Yoann Sapanel and Dr Agata Blasiak from the institute titled Medicine Without Meds: Revolutionising Healthcare With Digi

Discourse over responsible workplace use of generative artificial intelligence software like ChatGPT, is just getting started. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times' Career Talk podcast helps you take charge of your own career and make your ambition pay off.Generative artificial intelligence (AI) models can swiftly generate convincing text and images based on user prompts. Suddenly, it seems jobs thought immune from automation, like those involving creative expression and communication, could be forever changed with Gen AI.In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guests on the limitations and responsible use of the technology at the workplace.His guests are: Mr Gavin Barfield, vice president and chief technology officer for solutions, Salesforce Asean Assistant Professor Jerrold Soh from the Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management UniversityHighlights (click/tap above): 2:35 How is generative AI being used at the workplace? 7:00 Why are some employers and workers an

He also shares simple lifelong advice for parents and children on how to nurture striker skills at an early age. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. Not many know their way to goal like Jurgen Klinsmann does. The German football legend has scored goals aplenty on the world's biggest stages and mesmerised fans of Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and others. The former USA and German national team head coach is now the man at the helm of the South Korean national side and he was in Singapore for a few days to catch the Lion City Sailors’ incredible 2-0 win over Jeonbuk in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday.  Klinsmann, was taking a closer look at Sailors’ Singaporean players who will feature for the Lions against South Korea in a World Cup Qualifier on Nov 16 in Seoul.  ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan caught up with Klinsmann just ahead of the match to learn more about how he became the striker he was, his thoughts on

A conversation with a veteran Australian diplomat, commentator and politician on his prime minister’s recent visit to China.   Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, which follows Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Shanghai and Beijing, Ravi hosts the veteran Australian diplomat and Conservative Party politician Dave Sharma. They discuss the state of Australia’s relations with China that have come under intense strain these past three years, the lessons Canberra drew from its spat with China and the future of the Western alliance in the Indo-Pacific. They also look at whether Australian consensus over the nuclear submarine deal that is at the core of the Aukus military arrangement with Britain and the United States, has collapsed. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:52 Why this trip was important for stabilising

Part One of the bombshells the pop star dropped in her best-selling book. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. After being freed from a 13-year long conservatorship, pop diva Britney Spears released her highly anticipated memoir The Woman In Me on Oct 24. The book is a smash hit and a New York Times best-seller, with 2.4 million copies sold worldwide in just a week. Previously unknown bombshells - like how Spears aborted her child with former flame and pop star Justin Timberlake - dominated headlines.  The book charts the now 41-year-old Spears' journey to superstardom during her childhood and adolescent years and later details of how fame, failed relationships with stars like Justin Timberlake and Kevin Federline and abuse derailed her life and cornered her into an exploitative conservatorship. She was involuntarily placed under the conservatorship in 2008, during which she lost the ability to make basic decisions ab

A rejuvenated Singapore netball team aims to be best in Asia. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. A new era of Singapore netball arrived on Oct 28 when the Republic ended a 16-year wait to claim its third netball Nations Cup title. The breakthrough win was delivered by a young side filled with potential, with four players in the starting line-up aged 24 and under, signalling a changing of the guard.  Singapore netball head coach Annette Bishop and national Goal shooter Amandeep Kaur Chahal join ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to talk about the Nations Cup campaign and the ultimate goal of being top of Asia. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:55 How did the Nations Cup win feel like for Amandeep? 5:30 The reason behind why Annette Bishop chose a young side for the Nations Cup   9:50 How Amandeep got hooked to Netball   12:30 The selection process of the national team   17:50 Why being the best in Asia is the team’s next goal Read more

Our guests take on the battles in our minds. Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. Oct 10 was Mental Health Day. Listen to Mr Larson Ong, co-founder of Visual Studio Singapore, and Mr John Lim, social worker and author, talk to host Krist Boo about mental resilience.   They both struggled with depression and anxiety.  Now, they are sharing stories of their dark moments to help others. Joining us too is Ms Hetal Doshi, organisational psychologist and chief executive of O-Psych, who talks about her work invigorating organisations to win.  This is an episode of hard questions and heartfelt stories.   Highlights (click/tap above): 1:11 What is an organisation's psychological strategy? 2:25  Mental health problems happen only to others, don't they? 4:07 Why are we lonelier despite having more technology to connect? 9:48  Has the pandemic changed how companies support workers' mental wellness?

Technology has the tools to help all of us cut our emissions. But to be credible, big tech firms also need to cut their own large carbon footprints.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. A lot of technology at the centre of our lives, from data centres to laptop computers to video streaming and our data-hungry mobile phones, requires a lot of energy. So, what is the solution? And can clever technology really help all of us cut our carbon footprints? Who better to tell us about this than Ms Kate Brandt, the chief sustainability officer for Google. The tech giant is also developing products and services that help people around the world cut their emissions. ST’s climate change editor David Fogarty hosts Ms Brandt to discuss Google’s initiatives to cut emissions right across its operations and some of the new technologies that can help its billions of daily users shrink thei

Hear why the Chinese are plumbing for Changsha, the capital capital of central Hunan, instead. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  In this 26th episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with ST’s China correspondent Aw Cheng Wei about the allure of Changsha.  Located in the heart of middle China, Changsha is usually under the radar for those outside of the country. But for the Chinese, it is instantly recognisable as the scenic backdrop for many popular shows produced by Hunan Television’s Mango TV.  Its reputation as the “Chinese Hollywood” aside, Changsha has become the go-to destination for those who seek a laidback lifestyle with decent living standards and affordable property prices. What does its appeal say about the aspirations of many Chinese today?  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:09 The charms of Changsha5:05

Find out more about menopause and what you can do about it. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Menopause is a natural part of aging but the time leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause, affects each woman differently. Associate Professor Rukshini Puvanendran, the head and senior consultant of Family Medicine Service, and the co-lead of KK Menopause Centre at ​KKH, said that while many people are aware of menopause, they do not fully understand it​. There are also many misconceptions surrounding menopause, with the most common being that hormone replacement therapy ​or HRT is harmful. Still, menopause is a stage of life that also marks a new beginning for women.  ​In the west, there's even a new trend in the travel industry - menopause retreats. Women are embracing their menopausal transition and willing to pay for vacations that combine spa treatments with fitness or yoga sessions and advice on how

Motor industry veterans pitch their ideas to bring down premiums. Synopsis: In this new podcast, The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. Certificate of entitlement (COE) premiums have doubled from what they were a year ago with expectations that they will continue to rise. This translates to higher vehicle prices.  To understand what is driving up COE prices and what can be done about it, host Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with two motor industry veterans - Mr Neo Tiam Ting, President of Singapore Vehicle Traders Association, and Mr Neo Nam Heng, adviser to the Automobile Importer and Exporter Association and chairman of diversified motor group Prime. Highlights (click/tap above): 5:48 Why the industry experts say that it is the private-hire fleet owners that are driving up the COE. 7:40 We appeal to have a “lock-in period” for car ownership like it is with HDB flats. 12:35 Car rental companies are having it too easy. 21:45 How the

Three Swifties discuss the pop star’s romance, music and how she has changed and matured Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. #PopVultures host and recent Swiftie convert Jan Lee invites The Straits Times lifestyle journalists Yamini Chinnuswamy and Charmaine Lim, both fellow Swifties, to talk about superstar Taylor Swift’s new relationship with American football player Travis Kelce.  They discuss the masterful rollout of the Taylor-Travis romance and how well Swift uses the media and pop culture zeitgeist to her advantage. From being seen with British actress Sophie Turner amid her acrimonious divorce with Swift’s ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas to posing with Beyonce at the premiere of her Eras concert film - the singer knows how to generate headlines.  Here is what they talked about. Highlights (tap/click above): 1:51 Our relationship with Swift - how did we become Swifties? 6:36 The Taylor-Travis romance - how it be

US-Canada relations have plunged, but Canada should learn to accommodate India’s security concerns.  Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Relations between India and Canada have plunged since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” that Indian agents killed Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, in June. Nirmal hosts two guests to get a better insight on the Canada-India relations: 1. Christine Fair is a renowned expert on South Asia, author of numerous books on aspects of South Asia, and professor in the Security Studies Program at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.  2. Terry Milewski is a former journalist who wrote the 2021 book “Blood for Blood – fifty years of the Global Khalistan Project.” Highlights (click/tap above): 3:45 The late Sikh militant leader

In an emotional interview, MMA star Angela Lee champions mental health. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every secondWednesday of the month. The following podcast contains conversations on self harm and suicide. Audience discretion is advised. In a recent article, MMA fighter Angela Lee recently opened up about her struggles with mental health, her attempt to take her own life in 2017 and that her sister Victoria died by suicide last December.  In an emotional interview, the One Championship star who retired at the end of September 2023, talks to ST sports journalist Deepanraj Ganesan about her sister and Fightstory, her mental health initiative dedicated to inspiring hope and building a community for those struggling with mental health. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:30 Angela Lee’s advice for aspiring MMA athletes 7:55 What prompted Angela Lee to open up about her mental health struggles  9:45 Does being an MMA athlete make it harder to open up about your weaknesses? 10:

Home-grown pop singer Shye is the eighth guest in this music channel. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the eighth episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown singer, songwriter and producer Shye. At the age of 21, the multi-talented artiste, whose full name is Trinity Shye-Anne Brown, has already achieved much in recent times. Since she made her debut in 2018 at the age of 16, she has released four EPs, one album, and multiple singles and music videos. She was the youngest winner of music competition Vans Musicians Wanted and was also one of the singers behind 2021 National Day Song, The Road Ahead. On streaming services, her songs rack up millions of plays. Love U, a song from her 2020 album days to morning glory, has over 3 million streams on just Spotify alone. She has done concerts not just in Singapore, but also in the United States and China, where she recently took part in a television reality show, Youth Pi Plan.

Singaporean singer, songwriter, and producer Shye's intimate live studio take of Need, a song from her latest EP, 9Lives. Synopsis: This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Listen to Shye talk about her musical journey in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/iGGs Discover Singaporean artiste Shye at: YouTube: https://str.sg/iGpt Spotify: https://str.sg/iGpv Instagram: https://str.sg/iGGk Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Fa'izah Sani, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Teo Tong Kai Recorded by: ST Podcast Team Mixed by: Teo Tong Kai Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Eddino Hadi's stories: https://str.sg/wFVa --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opi

Find out more about the possible support that companies can give to people with mental health conditions. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Content warning: This podcast discusses suicidal feelings. Having a mental health condition can make work life pretty challenging sometimes, so should you tell your bosses about it? How should you go about doing that and what can companies do to support their employees who have mental health challenges. In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to two guests.  Min Hui is a suicide survivor and a volunteer at mental health charity Resillience Collective (RC).  She talks about her mental health journey and how it has been like for her to be open about her mental health conditions at work.  Nicholas Lee is the executive director of RC. He shares his personal mental health story, what he has done for staff with mental health conditions and offers suggestio

Find out why support from governments could be just what the market needs to improve quality and integrity. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Carbon credits have been in the news a lot lately. And not always for the right reasons, with concerns about whether they really do help reduce emissions.  Yet carbon credits can be a useful tool in tackling climate change. Paying investors for every tonne of carbon emissions they take out of the atmosphere or avoid from being emitted can help developing nations ramp up climate action.  What is needed is tougher standards and more careful vetting of carbon offset projects. And Singapore, which is positioning itself as a global hub for carbon offset trading and project financing, is helping drive efforts to boost the quality and integrity of carbon offsets.  For instance, the government recently announced the eligibility criteria for ca

Find out about adding a touch of luxury to your investments. Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, regular hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. For this episode, Su Shyan and Tay Hong Yi from The Straits Times Business desk invited two guests Prof Sonja Prokopec, Professor of Marketing at ESSEC Business School and Aaron Chwee, head of wealth advisory at OCBC to discuss the pros and cons of investing in luxury assets.   Highlights (click/tap above):  2:05 What is it about luxury goods that makes them attractive to investors?  3:30 Not all luxury goods have investible characteristics so evaluate your choices carefully.  7:50 Differences between luxury assets and traditional investments  10:00 Tokenisation is a new, affordable way of investing in luxury assets but there are things to take note of. Tokenisation may not suit every investor. 15:45 How much of an investment portfolio should be in

How they "mass-reported" to Chinese authorities, a fan fiction about him and fellow actor Wang Yibo. Synopsis: Can I Tell You Something Crazy is a new scripted series under the #PopVultures banner, which examines with fresh eyes, events that shook Asian media and entertainment. In 2019, Chinese actor Xiao Zhan was easily one of the hottest stars in China. The previously little-known star had broken out that year in China and across the world with the mega-hit Chinese fantasy period series The Untamed, where he acted opposite fellow Chinese star Wang Yibo. Adapted from a hugely popular boys' love novel named Grandmaster Of Demonic Cultivation, The Untamed attracted a large, ardent fan base that shot both its leads to A-list status. But less than a year after Xiao found fame, his loyal fan base became his undoing. In a controversy termed the 227 (Feb 27, 2020) incident, Xiao’s fans following reported a piece of fan fiction that they felt portrayed their idol in an unflattering light and it caused one of the w

We analyse Team Singapore's performance at the recent Hangzhou Asian Games. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every secondWednesday of the month. After 15 days of competition, Team Singapore came away from the Hangzhou Asian Games with three golds, six silvers and seven bronzes. From Shanti Pereira’s history-making 200m win to the dominant triumphs in sailing, there were several individual performances to marvel at.  However, the Republic’s largest-ever contingent had a worst-ever haul of golds and overall medals this millennium. This tally was also fewer than the previous Games in 2018 (four golds, four silvers and 14 bronzes). Despite the dip in performance, top sports officials hailed the Hangzhou outing as a “successful” one with “significant wins” for Singapore’s athletes. ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by sports correspondent David Lee, journalist Kimberley Kwek and assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath. They analyse if it was truly a succes

Each follow on the audio apps below and a rating really helps us! Happy listening! Synopsis: A brand new feature is within The Straits Times app, which you can download from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. For those of you who already have it, the latest version update now has a dedicated Podcast Section, where you can listen to our latest incoming show episodes and check out back episodes too. You can also choose to follow our podcast RSS feeds, or the shows on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you have a smart home speaker like the Google Home or Nest device, or your Android phone, just say: “Hey Google, play me (name of any of the shows below) or The Straits Times Podcasts.” Get The Straits Times app from The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX Produced & edited by: Ernest Luis ([email protected]) & Teo Tong Kai Follow ST Podcasts: Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.s

A staple of Singapore's training ecosystem, these programmes can pay off for the right trainee.Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, the new Career Talk podcast by The Straits Times helps you take charge of your own career and make your ambition pay off. In Singapore’s economy now, workers now have to learn more in less time. Catering to this need are Workforce Singapore's (WSG) Career Conversion Programmes, particularly in the technology sector. In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guests on talent trends in tech and preparing for a career shift to the sector.His guests are: Ms Gillian Woo, director for creative and professional services at Workforce Singapore Mr Benjamin Tan, chief executive of Red Alpha Cybersecurity, a cybersecurity talent development company Highlights (click/tap above): 1:34 What are WSG's Career Conversion Programmes? 4:25 How does being placed and trained in the tech sector work? 12:50 How do career conversion programmes differ from other training schemes and who

Many are ostracised by families and live in slums, but a younger generation is coming to their aid. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  In this 25th episode, ST’s new foreign editor Li Xueying takes over the hosting duties from our previous show presenter Bhagyashree Garekar, who will be the incoming US bureau chief for ST in Washington. Xueying chats with ST’s Philippines correspondent Mara Cepeda about the country’s ‘Golden Gays’. They are a community of elderly people of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other sexualities (LGBTQ+) in their 60s to 80s, who have been living together and doing pageant shows to help make ends meet. They also belong to the non-profit organisation, The Home for the Golden Gays, established in 2002 by the late Aids activist and politician Justo Justo to provide permanent shelter for a

Why non-native species like the golden-backed weaver and monk parakeet need to be dealt with before they spread elsewhere. Synopsis (headphones recommended): In our first audio trail of Singapore’s nature spaces, The Straits Times explores the ins and outs of creatures in these places with those who know them well. Listen to birdsong at the Kranji Marshes with the president and vice-president of freshly hatched conservation group Bird Society of Singapore Keita Sin and Movin Nyanasengeran who take ST journalist Ang Qing around one of the largest freshwater marshes here. During a two-hour walk, they experience a morning at the remote park, which is home to more than 170 birds in north-western Singapore. They banter on all things bird-related, from ‘parrot politics’ to the mounting threat of invasive bird species to Singapore and South-east Asia. This comes as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services reported in September that more than 3,500 harmful invasive sp

Find out what these 'circles' of resilience are. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Peer support groups are a regular gathering of persons with lived experiences of mental health conditions. They have come together to support one another, and the mental health support they offer is what you can only get from someone who has been where you are.  To learn more about peer support groups and the help they offer, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo hosts two participants from a monthly peer support group at a local mental health charity Resilience Collective (RC). They are Min, a 25-year-old aspiring nurse and counsellor, and Teo Guoxiang, a 35-year-old assistant manager with the Programmes Team at RC, whom Min addresses as GX. Hear about their personal stories, what it takes to join a peer support group and how joining such a group - which RC calls Circles of Resilience - has helped them. Highlights (click/tap abo

A conversation with a veteran Canadian commentator and author on Sikh separatism. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this podcast, which comes after the bombshell accusation thrown by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Indian agents were likely involved in the June murder of a Canadian advocating Sikh separatism in India, he discusses the issues involved with Terry Milewski, a veteran Canadian journalist who has covered Sikh militancy and the separatist issue for four decades.  Highlights (click/tap above): 3:40 Who killed Hardeep Nijjar? 7:00 Looking for the ‘smoking gun’; How the Sikh community has reacted 17:20 Where’s the ‘Khalistan’ movement today 22:00 Canada’s ‘deadliest terrorist attack" 30:54 Trudeau’s high-stakes; 'Canada’s Indo Pacific policy is sunk' Produced by: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Fa’izah S

Can sustainable aviation fuel help airlines rein in growing greenhouse gas emissions? Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Most of us enjoy flying, especially for that much-needed holiday break. But most of us also know that flying produces lots of greenhouse gas emissions and that taking plane trips can be the single biggest component of our carbon footprint each year.  Plane and engine manufacturers have been pretty good at achieving efficiency gains over the years. But international aviation is growing quickly. Without strong action, emissions from the sector will double or even triple by 2050. One immediate solution being offered is sustainable aviation fuel or SAF for short. But how green is it? In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty chats with Mr Sami Jauhiainen, regional vice-president for renewable aviation at Neste, a Finnish refining company. It has recentl

No matter how hard you work, there seems no end? Is this how millennials really feel? Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. “When we were young, we were told that if you study hard, you are going to do very well in life. But after we have done that, we realised that actually, there's no end to this tunnel. We just have to keep going and going.”  That was Assistant Professor Chong Sin Hui, an organisational psychologist who teaches at the Nanyang Technological University. In this episode, we discuss the findings of an exclusive survey conducted by Milieu Insight for The Straits Times. It covered 4,800 millennial respondents over six South-east Asian countries in the month of August, and revealed the perspectives, aspirations and challenges facing this new generation of leaders aged 27 to 42.  ST's senior correspondent Krist Boo hosts Prof Chong and two of her peers: Mr Darryn Lim, 35, a communica

Hear why he decided to step up, and what the scene needs to do to measure up to others in the region. Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. A 4-1 loss to Malaysia at the national level, a 7-0 thumping at the hands of their Malaysian counterparts at the SEA Games. These are just two of the bad results involving Singapore’s football teams in recent times. A new man will attempt to steer Singapore football out of its slump after Bernard Tan was sworn in as president of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) recently, taking over from the late Lim Kia Tong. ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by Mr Tan who talked about the need for more funding, why football matters and what changes local football fans can look forward to.  Highlights (click/tap above): 6:10 Bernard Tan’s vision as FAS President   10:28 Mr Tan on why football deserves extra funding compared to other National S

A lack of paying gigs in the past decade despite the odd high-profile appearance has not deterred him from being a full-time musician. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio to perform a live version of an original composition and chat with us. In this episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown singer and songwriter Sezairi. The singer first made his name when he won the third and last season of reality television show Singapore Idol in 2009. With his velvety voice and smooth R&B tunes, the singer has since seen his popularity expand into the region in recent years. In 2022, he made history as the first local musician to have a song clock more than 100 million streams on Spotify with the emotive ballad It’s You. He recently released his fourth album, Self Soothing, featuring songs driven by the pursuit of inner peace and emotional stability. Sezairi also sings a live and full intimate acoustic version of Daylight, a song from S

Singaporean singer and songwriter Sezairi's intimate live studio take of his latest single, Daylight. Synopsis: This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Listen to Sezairi talk about his musical and life journey in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/iq9g Discover Singaporean artiste Sezairi at: YouTube: https://str.sg/iq9G Spotify: https://str.sg/iq9N Instagram: https://str.sg/iq9x Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Fa'izah Sani, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Paxton Pang Recorded by: ST Podcast Team Mixed by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Eddino Hadi's stories: https://str.sg/wFVa --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: 

Journey into the darkest corners of the internet, where a deadly connection was forged in 140 characters or less. Synopsis (headphones recommended): A special edition 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. This is the sixth and final episode of True Crimes Of Asia, a special edition podcast series that started on April 25, 2023. Warning: This podcast is an audio documentary of a real crime case which may be troubling and upsetting to certain listeners. This episode specifically covers themes of suicide and details of death and traumatic sexual acts. Listener discretion is advised, and helplines for mental well-being are provided further below. Nine heads and 240 bones were found in a tiny apartment just outside Tokyo on Halloween in 2017, in one of Japan's most shocking crimes in history. Takahiro Shiraishi baited suicidal victims on Twitter who wanted to die but lacked the courage to end

Will new systemic changes make first-time couples adopt a new "forever home" mentality? Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. The Forward Singapore exercise began in June 2022, and since then, many Singaporeans from all walks of life have taken part in engagement sessions on a wide range of topics, including housing. This is the third of four podcast discussions, and part of the ongoing conversation to refresh our social compact for the next lap of Singapore's journey. At these Forward Singapore engagements, participants agreed that Singapore should continue to be an affordable home-owning society. To get their reactions towards tighter restrictions and additional subsidies for new Plus and Prime flats, to start from the second half of 2024 under the recently-announced new classification for public housing, ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts three guests in this episode: Mr Eden Soh, 28, a media produ

Asia hosted recent multilateral meetings but it is the US' bilaterals with India and Vietnam that really matter. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. The East Asia Summit in Jakarta, and the G20 in New Delhi, broadly solidified US relations in the region, but it is the bilaterals with India and Vietnam that really mattered.  The US was represented in Jakarta by Vice-President Kamala Harris. But the G20 saw President Joe Biden attending and supporting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s moment as global statesman in his role as chair of the grouping. In contrast, China’s President Xi Jinping was absent. New Delhi also saw a reiteration of the increasingly close US-India relationship. Of equal significance perhaps in terms of competition with China, was President Biden’s trip to Hanoi, Vietnam, where the two countries formally elevated their relation

Our guest is overseeing Singapore's three-phase National Precision Medicine programme. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Precision medicine - sometimes known as personalised medicine or health - is an innovative approach to tailoring disease prevention and treatment that takes into account differences in people's genes, environments, and lifestyles. Professor Patrick Tan, the executive director of Precision Health Research, Singapore (Precise), the entity set up to implement the current phase of Singapore’s three-phase National Precision Medicine programme, is our guest in this episode. ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with him about what precision health is, the ground-breaking research being done in Singapore, and how the entity is working with clinicians to pilot the implementation of precision medicine programmes in the healthcare system. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:16 What is precision hea

Businesses have often paid little heed to nature in the race for profits. A new framework will help companies realise that damaging nature is risky business. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Who doesn’t enjoy a walk in a park or forest, breathing clean air, or watching wildlife?Yet, humanity has done a pretty good job in destroying nature, such as deforestation, pollution and over extraction of resources.  Part of the problem is that we've taken nature for granted and treated its bounty as free. And for many of us, the problem can seem far away from big cities.  Today’s episode of Green Pulse has some nature-positive news. There’s now a way to help companies make better choices to protect nature and better understand their impacts on the natural world.  A global framework, or guide, to help firms measure and report their nature-related risks and impacts has been devel

Find out why economists are expecting inflation to start to move up again.  Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors and senior columnists at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Ven discusses with Ms Carmen Lee, head of OCBC Investment Research, on what is the outlook for the Singapore market. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have cut growth forecasts. Interest rates remain high. What is the impact on Singapore?  Highlights (click/tap above): 0:55 Current credit crisis in China: Contagion risk in the region, market confidence low 2:30 Why are Singapore stocks underperforming? How high is the dividend yield though? 5:18 Sustainability and artificial inteliigence as investment themes: Can Singapore play a significant part in this area? 7:00 What other core sectors can balance and stabilise your portfolio? Produced by: Ven Sreenivasan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo To

Hear how the final hour of bidding for COEs can typically go, from a ex-motor trade insider. Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights to Singapore's mobility trends and the vehicle quota system, which includes the Certificate of Entitlement (COE). There are two tender exercises for these COEs every month. It typically opens for three days, from noon on a Monday and to 4pm on Wednesday. But the bidding action only comes alive in the final hour or so, as more bids start to appear and the premiums climb.  To help us understand what goes on behind the scenes in that last 60 minutes, ST’s senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with Mr Say Kwee Neng, who has been in the motor trade for more than 20 years. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 What goes on the final hour of bidding and who is typically left in last crucial 15 minutes of the bidding exercise 5:28 Three reasons why a dealership may be more driven to bid aggressively to secure COEs 7:45 "Inside" a big dealership: Setting up a wal

Local race driver Yuey Tan previews the race and reveals what it takes to be in motorsport. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every secondWednesday of the month. It’s that time of the year where the sound of engines roaring, the sight of race cars zooming past the Marina Bay Circuit and the smell of burnt tyres are in full flow as the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix takes place from Sept 15 to 17.  Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has dominated the current season and with eight races to go, it’s highly likely that the Dutchman has it in the bag once again. But that does not stop us from looking ahead to the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix , which is more than just about the Formula One action.  ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by local race car driver Yuey Tan to preview the 2023 edition of the F1 Singapore Grand Prix and his own involvement in a support race - his 13th time competing here - during the weekend.  He will be driving in The Super Series, in a Porsche Carre

The intention is to give young people a voice on national issues. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. The Forward Singapore exercise began in June 2022, and since then, over 14,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life have participated in about 140 engagement sessions on a wide range of topics. This is the second of four podcast discussions, and part of the ongoing conversation to refresh our social compact for the next lap of Singapore's journey. We discuss the upcoming launch of the youth panels in the last quarter of 2023 - likely to be after October - that provides a new way for youth to work closer with the Government to understand policy considerations and make recommendations. Youth is typically defined as those aged 15 to 35 in Singapore. ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts three guests in this episode: Mr David Chua, CEO of National Youth Council Ms Pek Hailin, 34, senior manager, Sustainabil

Why such employees are growing in numbers.Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, the Career Talk podcast by The Straits Times helps you take charge of your own career and make your ambition pay off. Singapore companies hunger for talent in the tight market, all while progressive hiring and workplace practices take root.Amid this, starting a second stint with a previous employer seems an increasingly plausible prospect.In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with Mr Faiz Modak, associate director for tech and transformation at recruitment firm Robert Walters Singapore, to find out what these employees need to note.Highlights (click/tap above): 1:13 What are 'boomerang' employees and why do they return to a previous employer? Common challenges 5:14 Why employers are increasingly keen to hire boomerang employees? 8:13 Sectors where boomerang employees are more commonly observed 9:45 Is this trend a result of bottom-up interest from employees, or employer efforts to court them? 17:15 Could a past employee's

Find out why netizens back their agency instead in an ongoing dispute. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. If you are on TikTok, you might have a heard a viral song that goes like this: "I'm feelin' lonely/Oh, I wish I'd find a lover that could hold me." Those are the lyrics to Cupid, one of 2023's biggest songs, sung by rookie K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty. Cupid is a record-breaking hit. Not only did it make the group the fastest K-pop act to debut on the Billboard Hot 100, it is also the longest-charting K-pop girl group song in history, on the Hot 100. They are even on the soundtrack of 2023's biggest movie Barbie, with their number Barbie Dreams. Unfortunately, all promotions and new activities of the group have been suspended. In June, Fifty Fifty's agency Attrakt accused Warner Music Korea of attempting to poach the group. Shortly after, Fifty Fifty announced that they had filed a lawsuit to suspend their exclus

Gain insights into the usage of mental health apps, and whether or not to embrace them. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Mental health applications have grown in popularity over the years, with more employers turning to such apps to help improve their employees’ mental well-being.  They typically offer online guides and mental health information and can link users up with a counsellor or coach, if needed.  But, just how useful are these apps? Who’s using the apps? And are they safe to use? To find out more, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Dr Oliver Suendermann, the clinical director of Intellect, a Singapore headquartered-company that has been growing speedily since it was founded in 2019. It has expanded into the region and now serves three million users. Dr Suendermann, a permanent resident, sheds light on their users’ needs, what they offer - mostly coaches - and discusses what people

Long-form video and podcast content also gave a fuller flavour of the presidential candidates. Synopsis: The Straits Times team shares the biggest takeaways from its behind-the-scenes coverage of the presidential campaign trails leading to the election on Sept 1. ST's assistant editor (video) Olivia Quay hosts assistant news editor Lim Yan Liang, and journalists Kok Yufeng, Jean Iau and Judith Tan. The trio represents the teams assigned to cover the campaign trails of President-elect Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and the candidates Mr Ng Kok Song and Mr Tan Kin Lian, whom he beat at the election. What were their highlights? Their biggest takeaways? Produced by: ST Video Edited by: Paxton Pang Follow ST Podcasts: Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukr SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.

This nascent industry holds much promise but needs to manage the giddy ambitions of some investors and governments.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Everyone is talking about green hydrogen as the fuel of the future. It’s regarded as a key way the global economy can transition away from polluting fossil fuels to create a cleaner and greener future.  Huge projects have been announced worth many billions of dollars. And more and more governments say they see the promise of using renewable energy to create hydrogen that can power factories, generate electricity and even fuel ships and planes.  But is this all just more hype or is there real promise in rapidly scaling up green hydrogen production? To find out the challenges ahead, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Mr Alex Tancock, chief executive officer and co-founder of InterContinental Energy, a developer of large-s

Could “return to office” save workplace toxicity? Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. “There are elements of working hybrid that can easily lead to situations that become toxic. And that is one of the things that we want to recognise, so we can recognise when those are happening and cut them off,” says associate professor Mark Mortensen, of organisational behaviour at Insead university. If you are reading this on the way to the office, or at your workplace, you may be one of those who wonder why you have been summoned back to the office. About 79 per cent of Singapore workers are showing up on mandated days, more than the global average of 75 per cent, says a report by workplace strategy and design firm Unispace. In this episode, ST's senior correspondent Krist Boo hosts Prof Mortensen, who cautions that long-term hybrid work could lead to workplace toxicity. Joining the podcast too, is Ms Yoshi Kakimot

Voters looked past the issues plaguing the ruling People's Action Party in recent months. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s landslide victory in the 2023 Presidential Election on Sept 1 despite his political background and affiliation to the ruling People’s Action Party till recently. Mr Tharman secured 70.4 per cent of the ballot. Former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song received 15.72 per cent of the vote, while Mr Tan Kin Lian, the former chief executive of NTUC Income, received 13.88 per cent. It showed voters focused on Mr Tharman's credentials and who they thought would best represent Singapore on the world stage, as raised in this discussion between ST's multimedia correspondent Hairianto Diman and deputy news editor Grace Ho. With President Halimah Yacob’s six-year term ending on Sept 13, Mr Tharman will be sworn in as president at the Istana on Sept 14. Read Grace Ho's commentary: https://str.sg/iS97  Produced by: ST Video Edited by: Paxton Pang Follow ST Podcasts

Join us along the Laos-China Railway, as we unveil the changes it has brought to people and places. Synopsis: In a special series called Tales from the Belt and Road, The Straits Times' Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee takes you to places in the region where China’s infrastructure drive is creating the most impact. For this episode, she travels to Luang Prabang town in Laos, where the new Laos-China Railway is bringing cross-border passengers and Chinese investors. Highlights (click/tap above): (Headphones recommended) 1:36 Luang Prabang’s rainy seasons are not so quiet anymore. 4:10 Chinese tourists arrive in Luang Prabang from Kunming. 5:52 Chinese tourists take part in the daily alms-giving ritual with great gusto. 8:06 Sales are good at the morning market. 9:28 Chinese investor opens hotel in Luang Prabang  11:18 Hearing Mandarin in places you least expect it Produced by: Tan Hui Yee ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Eden Soh Voiceovers: Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai, Jean Iau, Joyce Teo, Lee Su Shya

Our guests on how youth in Singapore, aged 18 to 35, can be quite diverse in opinions. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. In this episode, we look at how social media and podcasts have helped presidential candidates win hearts and minds before Singaporeans go to the polls on Sept 1, 2023, this coming Friday.  ST's Jean Iau and Natasha Ann Zachariah - who cover Singapore politics - host two youths in the studio to discuss how well each candidate has used social media and why it matters to young people. Their first guest is Mr Joel Lim, 30, managing director of Zyrup Media and host of Political Prude: The Podcast, a show catered towards young adults. He has hosted all three presidential candidates on his show recently. Their second guest is Mr Maximilian Oh, a 23-year-old third-year undergraduate from the National University of Singapore pursuing a degree in political science and philosophy. He is a kee

Progression, resilience, and inclusion are key areas of concern at public Forward SG sessions on jobs and upskilling. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. The Forward Singapore exercise began in June 2022, and since then, over 14,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life have participated in about 140 engagement sessions on a wide range of topics. This is the first of four podcast discussions till mid-October, and part of the ongoing conversation to refresh our social compact for the next lap of Singapore's journey. ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts three guests in this episode: Mr Kenny Tan, Deputy Secretary for Workforce at the Ministry of Manpower Mr Ivan Lua was once an airforce officer and has made a successful career transition at the age of 36, to his current role as Information and Cyber Security Risk Specialist at Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore after taking part in the Technology in Finance Immersio

It can be traced back to his daughter's lifelong fixation with the Hong Kong movie star. Synopsis: Can I Tell You Something Crazy is a new scripted series under the #PopVultures banner, which examines with fresh eyes, events that shook Asian media and entertainment. In March 2007, Hong Kong movie star Andy Lau attended a joyous event organised by Andy World Club, his official fan club. There, he played games, chatted with fans and took photos - including one with Yang Lijuan, a Chinese fan who had travelled from her hometown of Gansu province in China to meet her lifelong idol. Everything seemed fine. But just a day later, Yang Lijuan's father - a retired schoolteacher named Yang Qinji - threw himself into the sea and left behind a 3,000-word suicide note addressed to Lau. In it he wrote: “Andy Lau, your heart is black, you have no conscience. You are worse than a dog.”  What had world-famous film star Lau done to incur such wrath from a humble schoolteacher in China?  In this episode of Can I Tell You

Rohingya remain the world’s largest number of stateless people, with over one million driven out of Myanmar living in camps in Bangladesh. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. Life for the over one million Rohingya in refugee camps in Bangladesh continues to become increasingly intolerable, with food rations down to 27 US cents a day, and little or no hope for a return to their homeland in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. This is where they have, over the years, been driven out from, in successive waves of pogroms, which refer to an organised massacre of a particular ethnic group. In Rakhine state, life gets no better either. Earlier in August, at least 27 Rohingya drowned when their boat sank offshore earlier this month as they tried to make the perilous journey to Malaysia across treacherous open seas. In his 100th episode, host Nirmal Ghosh chats with his guests - Mr Joh

Our guests have regularly attended Forward SG engagement sessions to air their views. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. At the National Day Rally recently on Aug 20, 2023, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced an overhaul of the current housing estate classification system. The current mature and non-mature system will end by the second half of 2024, and from then on, new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats will be split into three categories - Standard, Plus and Prime - under a new framework with tiered buying-and-selling restrictions. In this episode, ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis finds out the sentiments of two unattached singles. Mr Mohamad Arshad is a 26-year-old sales development executive and Mr Cho Ming Xiu, 36, runs a non-profit mental health organisation for youths and young adults, called Campus PSY.  Highlights (click/tap above): 3:45 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong emphasises affordability,

Should fans welcome it or be concerned? And why? Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. A new dawn for football in the Gulf kingdom kicked off in August 2023, as the league took its first bold steps towards becoming a force to be reckoned with in world football. Football is currently in the limelight with the Saudi Pro League having invested over €600 million (S$886.7 million) to lure a host of top players and coaches from European clubs.  What is the end goal? Sport business group leader for Deloitte Asia-Pacific - James Walton - and ST Sports columnist John Brewin, join ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to discuss the pursuit of sports dominance by Saudi Arabia and if the rest of the sporting world should be concerned. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:20 The differences between what China did with its Chinese Super League and the Saudi attempt 9:00 Why are Saudi Arabia so invested in sport

Even the perpetrator's own parents asked for their son to be put to death. Synopsis (headphones recommended): A special edition 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. Episodes drop every fourth Tuesday of the month from April 25, 2023. Warning: This podcast is an audio documentary of a real crime case which may be troubling and upsetting to certain listeners. Listener discretion is advised. A random stabbing spree in a Taipei metro in 2014 resulted in four dead and 24 injured. There was no apparent motive for the shocking killing, and the assailant Cheng Chieh displayed no remorse. Cheng’s childhood, which was fraught with isolation, his public threats against classmates and plans to kill detailed on his blog, also ignited debate about troubled youth and gaps in mental health care. This case also restarted conversations about capital punishment in Taiwan. ST’s Taiwan correspondent Yip

Will this kickstart a change in Singaporean habits towards embracing a greener and less wasteful society? Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Plastic bags. Let’s face it, most of us use them. They are a key feature of our consumer lifestyles, a symbol of convenience. But they are a huge source of waste, with the vast majority burned, sent to landfills or clogging rivers and the sea.  On July 3, 2023, Singapore introduced a minimum 5 cents charge for disposable plastic bags provided at hundreds of supermarkets.  The aim is to nudge shoppers to think about how many bags they use and to switch to reusable bags instead. It’s all part of changing behaviour to reduce the huge amount of plastic waste and curb environmental impacts.  So what’s the reaction been to the bag charge? Is it changing behaviour?  ST climate editor David Fogarty invites science content creator Ms Kong

Consider this investing approach over the coming months. Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors and senior columnists at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode Su Shyan discusses with Kevin Teng, CEO, WRISE Wealth Management Singapore, about where wealthy investors are putting their money and what we can learn from them. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:40 Where have some of these wealthy investors been putting their money? 3:48 Some family offices use a structure called the Variable Capital Company: How it works 5:02 What’s happening with private equity and venture capital markets? 6:30 How has the investment landscape changed in the last six months, and a year ago?  7:45 What mindset should investors have?  8:30 Are Asian investors putting more into Asia?  11.23 How do wealthy investors see the rest of 2023? Produced by: Lee Su Shyan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, and Teo Tong

He gives a sneak preview of his upcoming single too. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the sixth episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown singer and songwriter lullaboy. In the past few years, lullaboy, whose real name is Bernard Dinata, has been making a name for himself through soulful, R&B pop tunes in not just Singapore, but also in regional countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. His songs have racked up millions of listens on streaming services. One of his signature songs - Someone Like You - has been streamed over 33 million times just on Spotify alone, and on average, his music on the streaming platform attracts 1.2 million listeners each month. The singer sang an intimate acoustic version of one of his latest songs, cool, and gave a sneak preview of an upcoming single (check out our timestamps below to find out where it is). Highlights (click/tap above): 1:55 On the time he once performed with Deputy Prime M

Singaporean singer and songwriter lullaboy's intimate live studio take of his latest single, Cool. Synopsis: This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Listen to lullaboy talk about his journey as he ventured through soulful, R&B pop tunes in not just Singapore, but also in regional countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/i5bA Discover Singaporean artiste lullaboy at: YouTube: https://str.sg/i5bQ Spotify: https://str.sg/i5bM Instagram: https://str.sg/i5bg Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Hadyu Rahim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team Mixed by: Teo Tong Kai Follow Music Lab Podcast episodes here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9T2 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcas

The future of end-of-life options with dignity in Singapore. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Many people wish to die in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by their loved ones. However, the reality is that it is not so easy to do so yet. In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Ms Sim Bee Hia, the executive director of the Singapore Hospice Council, about the challenges involved. They also discussed what the fraternity plans to do to make it easier for people to live out their lives at home. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:49 The challenges to enable someone to die at home if they wish to 4:18 Empowering caregivers 9:42 How will it look like in the future for someone to die at home 12:11 The role that primary care doctors can play 16:17 Importance of death literacy Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Paxton Pang and Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow Hea

NTU don says votes should determine whether Singaporeans can stomach politicians involved in such affairs. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. July 17 marked the death knell of not one, but four political careers. Just hours before the shock resignations of former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and ex-Tampines GRC MP Cheng Li Hui, a leaked video circulated online, showing former Workers’ Party MP Leon Perera stroking the hand of fellow party member Nicole Seah. This would spark an investigation by the largest opposition party, and result in the pair stepping down. But is it necessary for MPs to resign because of their private indiscretions? Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in Parliament on Aug 2 that there was no direct reporting line between the Speaker and an MP, and so a legitimate relationship would not be objectionable. Moreover, politicians worldwide have been embroiled in extramarital affairs, to n

Not every job in the maritime industry requires one to sail the high seas. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, the new Career Talk podcast by The Straits Times helps you take charge of your own career and make your ambition pay off. The maritime sector has been central to Singapore’s development as an island nation for centuries, forging on despite climate change, geopolitical tensions and other stresses.In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guests on Singapore's maritime story, and the role of local talent in its ongoing transformation.His guests are:Ms Tan Beng Tee, executive director of the Singapore Maritime FoundationMr Kent Heng, product owner at Swire Shipping Highlights (click/tap above): 1:27 How did your journey in the industry first begin? 9:12 What are the in-demand roles that drive the sector's transformation? 16:06 Why work in maritime is for the long haul? 18:07 Debunking common misconceptions of working in the maritime sector 24:04 Tips for listeners considering a job

A conversation with the foreign policy speech-writer of Japan’s longest serving post-War Prime Minister. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor & Senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this podcast, which comes a year after the assassination of Mr Shinzo Abe, he discusses the impact that Mr Abe left on his country and the wider region, with Professor Tomohiko Taniguchi of Keio University, who was special adviser to Prime Minister Abe’s Cabinet. Prof Taniguchi was also Mr Abe’s foreign policy speechwriter for a full 90 months. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:10 “I feel Abe is still alive”; On the father of ‘Indo Pacific’, Quad 7:16 How Abe wooed South-east Asia 9:15 "Xi Jinping would not have joined the Communist Party of USA" 13:24 Childless Abe gave hope to young Japanese 16:40 His most significant speeches: India, Australia, US 18:00 Soft corner for India; "Abe and Modi were

How high-level women's MMA and the respect for women in sport is growing globally. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every secondWednesday of the month. Regarded by many as the greatest female strawweight mixed martial arts athlete of all time, Joanna Jedrzejczyk has given fans a number of memorable moments inside the octagon.  The former long-time UFC Women’s Strawweight division champion is one of the most popular and successful fighters in the history of the company. She ended her esteemed combat sports career in June 2022 when she announced her retirement following a knockout loss to Zhang Weili at UFC 275. Ahead of UFC’s return to Singapore on Aug 26, the Polish fighter joined ST's Deepanraj Ganesan and Sazali Abdul Aziz to talk about her love for the sport, what led to her retirement and if she would ever return to the octagon. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:40 What to look forward to at UFC Fight Night Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Aug 26 10:00 What i

Plastic's risks to the environment and human health far outweigh the benefits.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Bans on single-use plastics are essential, experts say. Nations are also negotiating a global plastic pollution treaty to try to bring the crisis under control. But more is needed.  In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Dr Sarah Dunlop, who leads the Plastics & Human Health Research Program at the Minderoo Foundation in Australia. She is also Emeritus Professor, University of Western Australia. She tells Green Pulse that plastics are an incredible success story and are used to make many things from bottles to carpets to Dreamliner aircraft. And such is the demand for plastics that production has soared in recent decades to more than 450 million tonnes a year and it could reach more than 1 billion tonnes by mid-century.  Yet the majority of plas

A 112-year-old tech grand dame and a 25-year-old new tech company: What they have in common.  Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. If you're one of those curious about some of the world's most famous tech names, this is your chance to get a sneak peek behind the scenes.    In this series, tech leaders demystify what the companies do, talk about innovations that they have their eyes on, and tell what it feels like to work in their firms.  In this episode, ST's senior correspondent Krist Boo hosts IBM, a 112-year-old tech company, and Equinix, which turns 25 this year.  What do the two companies have in common?   Besides making money, of course, they are doing some of the most important work in solving today’s global problems.  Our guests are Ms Agnes Heftberger, general manager for IBM in South-east Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Korea, and Ms Leong Yee May, Equinix’s managing director for South Asi

How the gruesome 1998 incidents paved the way for black magic to be criminalised last year in 2022, in the predominantly Muslim country of Indonesia. Synopsis (headphones recommended): A special edition 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. Episodes drop every fourth Tuesday of the month from April 25, 2023. Warning: This podcast is an audio documentary of a real crime case which may be troubling and upsetting to certain listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Sorcery is against Islamic teachings, but today, many in Indonesia still consult black magic practitioners for advice. In 1998, a series of killings by unknown masked 'ninjas', targeting suspected sorcerers in East Java, launched the community into a period of mass hysteria, violence and retaliation-attacks. The killings triggered discussions on the need and ways to regulate sorcery, to prevent similar instances and to stop peop

Since Ms Piang Ngaih Don’s death in 2016, a slew of measures have been introduced to stem domestic worker abuse. Synopsis (headphones recommended): A special edition 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. Episodes drop every fourth Tuesday of the month from April 25, 2023. Warning: This podcast is an audio documentary of a real crime case which may be troubling and upsetting to certain listeners. Listener discretion is advised. In 2016, the abuse and eventual death of a young Myanmar domestic worker led to shock and an outpouring of grief in Singapore. Ms Piang Ngaih Don left her hometown in Chin State, Myanmar, to work for Gaiyathiri Murugayan and her then-husband and suspended police officer Kevin Chelvam in 2015. The details and extent of her torture, at the hands of Gaiyathiri and her mother Prema S. Naraynasamy, brought about heightened checks and health screenings for domestic wor

Stay invested amidst inflation and other challenges; find investment opportunities in technology and healthcare. Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, they host Mr Abel Lim, head of Wealth Management Advisory and Strategy at UOB. They discuss Mr Lim's insights on the market outlook for the second half of this year, a week after UOB publicly released its 2H 2023 Market Outlook report: https://str.sg/iwHd After the first half of 2023 where there was the failure of three regional US banks and the takeover of Credit Suisse, investors are now facing a situation where inflation may be easing. At the same time, China has reopened its economy but the recovery is patchy. Investors will hear how they can forge a strong and resilient portfolio amidst various challenges and find out which sectors still have opportunities. This podcast is brought to you b

This marks the first time since 1960, that both labour unions representing writers and actors, are on strike together. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. Despite the double summer blockbuster of Barbieheimer - which brought in the fourth largest weekend box office of all time - Hollywood is currently at a standstill. Amid deteriorating working conditions and salaries that have failed to keep pace with rising inflation, the writers and actors of America are on strike. The Writers Guild of America (WGA), who write for television, went on strike in May against the major studios, networks and streamers that form the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) followed in July, going on strike having failed to reach a fair deal with the AMPTP. This marks the first time since 1960 that both labour unions have been o

The road to net zero is fraught with challenges but one company is doing its best and helping others along the way. And it’s furthering the conversation by talking to and picking the brains of other business leaders. Howie Lim speaks to Yoon Young Kim, cluster president of Singapore and Brunei at Schneider Electric, for his insights. Synopsis: The Business Times Podcasts channel showcases niche series Editors Talk and sponsored series. This episode is brought to you by Schneider Electric. Highlights: 01:30 Strategise, decarbonise, digitalise 02:45 Most challenging is baseline of Scope 3: suppliers 04:17 Stick and carrot approach for vendors 06:10 Balancing short-term economic goals with sustainability-based long term investments 10:55 No one size fits all 13:07 Right talent the most important aspect 16:23 Takeaways from the panel Schneider Electric hosted More about : Advancing Singapore Towards Net Zero  https://www.se.com/sg/en/work/campaign/local/singapore-green-plan/  Ready for Net Zero Responsibility

Hear why the European eco-system is more relatable to Singaporeans than the local scene. Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. The Festival of Football is in town as Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich play pre-season friendlies at Singapore’s National Stadium.  Football is unofficially the national sport of Singapore and as thousands of fans pour into the Kallang area to watch these European teams, the local Singapore Premier League continues to see dwindling numbers. Why is this the case? Is it fair to ask Singaporeans to show support to local football teams as much as they do for their European clubs? Lion City Sailors fan Eddy Hirono, Liverpool supporter Syahril Rahman and ardent Spurs fan Nitin Nambiar join ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to discuss why Singaporeans are more drawn to European football than what goes on in their own backyards. Highlights (c

Amid market volatility, it helps to distinguish between market noise and major trends. Scarcity of resources, labour and trust is already evident and will continue to drive markets. What are the impacts over the long run and how you can position your portfolio? Synopsis: Learn to protect and grow your wealth in this monthly Business Times podcast series for affluent individuals, hosted by BT wealth editor Genevieve Cua. This episode is brought to you by Pictet Wealth Management. Highlights:  01:00 Why long run matters 05:17 Track record of forecasts 06:38 Overarching themes 09:20 Major asset class expectations and drivers 11:34 Implications of most important themes 13:30 How to position yourself Written and hosted by: Genevieve Cua ([email protected]) With Dong Chen, head of Asia Macroeconomic Research for Pictet Wealth Management Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro  Recording engineer: Joann Chai Pei Chieh Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media More about: Pictet Wealth Management https:

Asean needs strong leadership in a fast moving world, or risks losing relevance, warns former top diplomat Marty Natalegawa, citing drifting policy on Myanmar. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. Former Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, currently a Distinguished Fellow with the Asia Society Policy Institute, sees a fraying of Asean's common response to developments in Myanmar.  Asean has been skilled in employing adept and calibrated formal and informal diplomacy, and both open and quiet diplomacy, to obtain certain outcomes, but currently Asean's approach has become predictable. Indonesia, Asean’s current chair, must exercise leadership and vision while maintaining  ASEAN unity, the former top regional diplomat says. Yet, Asean is not doing much more than exercising its convening power.  The United States must understand that Asean countries cherish an

Singaporean DJ and turntablist KoFlow is the fifth guest on this music channel. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the fifth episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown DJ, turntablist and Singapore hip-hop pioneer KoFlow. In the past two decades Koflow, real name Wayne Liu, has been at the forefront of the DJ and hip-hop community in Singapore.  He has been a mentor to younger generations of DJs, has performed at clubs and festivals all around the world, and has shared the same stage with stars ranging from Mariah Carey to Kanye West. In recent years, he has focused on releasing original music, working with a wide range of musicians from genres such as classical and jazz, and he has also been increasingly getting more involved in the business side of nightlife. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:32 His new EP, Grey, and how the work is vastly different from the hip-hop music he is known for playing in clubs 8:00 On the chan

Our guest shares her experience with depression and suicidal ideation and how she overcame the unhealthy thoughts. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Recent data from non-profit suicide prevention centre Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) showed that 476 suicide deaths were reported in Singapore in 2022, the highest since 2000. Of the deaths in 2022, 125 involved those aged 10 to 29. This was 13 more than in 2021 and another high since 2000, which marks SOS’ earliest recorded data. Suicide is complex but it is preventable. In this episode, ST's senior health correspondent Joyce Teo talks to Ms Sabrina Ooi, the chief executive and co-founder of Calm Collective Asia, which aims to normalise mental health conversations in Asia. Ms Ooi is 33. She was diagnosed with depression at 24, battled suicidal thoughts and lives with bipolar disorder.  Highlights (click/tap above): 4:38 Why we need to understand why a depressed pers

The climate crisis is causing a mental health crisis as anxiety over the future robs many of a sense of hope. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Anxiety about climate change can trigger feelings of helplessness and anger at governments and businesses for not doing enough to take action. There's disappointment that leaders are not treating the climate crisis as a real global crisis. Some young couples say they do not want to have children, fearing that the future will be too bleak.  Yet there is hope. In this special episode of Green Pulse, The Straits Times' US Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh speaks with Dr Britt Wray, an expert on climate change and mental health at Stanford University's School of Medicine.  Dr Wray describes how climate anxiety is a mental health issue but also looks at ways to cope. For instance, looking at positive examples of adapting to climate change and posi

Explore the emergence of an unprecedented #MeToo movement in the Taiwanese entertainment industry. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. The Taiwanese entertainment industry has been rocked by an unprecedented #MeToo wave, where sexual assault and harassment allegations have been levelled at several prominent celebrities, including hosts Mickey Huang and Blackie Chen as well as boy band Fahrenheit member Aaron Yan. In this episode, #PopVultures host Jan Lee discusses how and why this reckoning on sexual assault unfolded in Taiwan, recapping some of the major names who have been accused with particular focus on Huang, Yan and Chen. Highlights (tap/click above): 2:35 The Taiwanese drama Wave Makers that kickstarted its #MeToo wave 8:00 The downfall of Taiwanese host and comedian Jeffrey Hsu Chieh-hui 10:30 Mickey Huang admits to sexual harassment and the 23-minute video tirade he went on 20:00 Aaron Yan accused of filming

Assessing the outcomes from the Modi-Biden summit in Washington Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor & Senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, which focuses on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent summit with US President Joe Biden, he chats with Dr Sanjaya Baru, the eminent Indian geo-economist, and commentator who was Media Adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Modi-Biden summit produced many startling results, including the likely sale and transfer of frontline jet engine technology to India, the stationing of officers from each nation in each other’s military commands, and close cooperation in science and technology. During the visit, Mr Modi also became a rare global leader to be given the honour of delivering an address to the combined houses of US Congress for a second time. The first was in June 2016. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:40 Highlights o

There’s no denying it’s been an unusual time for the global economy and markets. But the mid-year outlook for investments is looking on the up and up. Howie Lim speaks to Dr Neo Teng Hwee, chief investment officer and head of products and solutions at UOB Private Bank to get more insights.  Synopsis: The Business Times Podcasts channel showcases niche series Money Hacks, Mark To Market, WealthBT, PropertyBT, Market Focus and sponsored series. This episode is brought to you by UOB private bank. Highlights: 01:19 How the first half of 2023 fared  03:33 Issues facing China 05:18 Cyclical opportunities available 09:07 Stocks and bonds won’t fall in unison anymore 10:40 2023 challenging to read but few surprises 13:12 Not all risks behind us 15:28 Investing trends to note More about: UOB: Private Bank https://www.uob.com.sg/private/index.page UOB: Private Bank Investment Insights https://www.uob.com.sg/private/advisory/investmentinsights.page Written and hosted by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) With Dr N

Victoria School's floorball team shares how to help student-athletes achieve on and off the court. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every secondWednesday of the month. It is not quite the Olympics or the Fifa World Cup but the National School Games (NSG) in Singapore captures the imagination and frenzy all the same. Whatever the sport, whether it is football, rugby, basketball or floorball, student athletes work hard on their craft while teachers and coaches push them towards sporting excellence and character development. For student-athletes, managing their own sporting pursuit along with academics can be stressful too and it often takes a village of support. Victoria School (VS)’s floorball team - which clinched the boys’ B Division gold in 2023 - have shown the way in helping their student-athletes achieve both on and off the court. VS’ floorball teacher and coach Lee Ren Ji, co-floorball teacher Miss Mabel Sim and team captain Gerald Tan, 15, who chipped in with three

Intensive boot camps that claim to impart key skills in technology in a matter of weeks and months have taken root in the education landscape.Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, the new Career Talk podcast by The Straits Times helps you take charge of your own career and make your ambition pay off.Boot camps that claim to impart key skills in technology, especially software engineering and data science, have popped up worldwide over the last decade.Providers such as General Assembly conduct intensive full-time courses over a matter of weeks and months, where more traditional providers like universities could take years.In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest on what it takes to flourish in such a course. His guest is Mr Chong Zi Liang, a journalist-turned-data analyst. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:11 Why make the leap to data analysis? 4:23 What is the upside to such an intensive short course? 6:01 How to convince skeptical employers on the rigour of the boot camp? 9:45 How to weig

Kannauj is a sleepy Indian town that has managed to nurture a prized skill for generations. Synopsis: The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. In this episode, she chats with ST's India correspondent Debarshi Dasgupta. Perfume-making is an ancient tradition in Kannauj, a city by the Ganges river in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Kannauj’s perfume industry flourished for centuries under royal patronage, especially that of the Mughals, who ruled South Asia from the 16th to 19th century. Cheap foreign perfumes and deodorants, with their heady mix of new fragrances, swamped India from the 1990s, edging out Kannauj’s attars. Now, a new Perfume Tourism initiative launched in March 2023, seeks to revive Kannauj’s lost glory and popularise its products among individual users, allowing tourists to take a deep personalised whiff

Our guests share how they dealt with their mental ups and downs. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. ST Podcasts is five years old! To celebrate our 5th anniversary, we recorded this episode live in front of an audience at Temasek Shophouse with three guests, and the topic was on youth mental health.  Young people are a lot more open to talking about their mental health challenges these days, but there’s still quite a lot of stigma surrounding mental health. To normalise mental health conversations, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo hosts three mental health advocates.  The first guest is Singaporean national swimmer Quah Ting Wen, a three-time Olympian who recently earned the prestigious title of Best Athlete at the 2023 South-east Asian (SEA) Games held in Cambodia. The second guest is Sherman Ho, the co-founder of Happiness initiative, a social enterprise that focuses on well-being research and runs wel

Is it feasible to build a sea wall around the island of Singapore?  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. To celebrate the 5th anniversary of ST Podcasts, we had our first podcast recordings in front of a live audience of 60 youths at the intimate Temasek Shophouse along Orchard Road recently. One topic of the rising sea-level threat to Singapore was done for our Green Pulse Podcast series, and the other was about speaking up on youth mental challenges for our Health Check Podcast (which will be out in two days' time - see link below). Sea-level rise in Singapore is expected to reach 1m by 2100, but this could go up to 5m during heavy rainfall and storm surges, when there is an abnormal rise of water. About 30% of Singapore's land is less than 5m above sea level.  For this episode, we had two guests - science content creator Ms Kong Man Jing, better known as BioGirl MJ in her You

In the marketing world, Adobe is the creator of creative tools, for creative and ecommerce people. In the software development world, GitHub rules.   Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. This is Part 4 of our special feature Where the Tech Jobs Are, where tech leaders demystify what the companies do, talk about innovations that they have their eyes on, and tell what it feels like to work in their firms.  If you're one of those curious about some of the world's most famous tech names, this is your chance to get a sneak peek behind the scenes. In this episode, ST's senior correspondent Krist Boo hosts two guests. Mr Simon Dale, managing director for Adobe, South-east Asia and Korea, and Mr Martin Woodward, vice-president of developer relations at GitHub. Our special young guest is Mr Donovan Dua, a student at the Institute of Technical Education. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:35 What do they do? 3:12 Generativ

Revisit the watershed 40-month legal dispute between SM Entertainment and former TVXQ members, that has seen a repeat attempt by three EXO members recently. Synopsis: Can I Tell You Something Crazy is a new scripted series every month under the #PopVultures banner, which examines with fresh eyes, events that shook Asian media and entertainment. In 2009, the five-man K-pop boy band TVXQ were on top of the world. Their fourth album Mirotic was the best-selling album of 2008 in South Korea, with over half a million copies sold, while the hit title track Mirotic swept wins at awards shows and gained fans around the world. With 800,000 fans in their Korean fan club - the most of any K-pop group at the time - and 200,000 fans in their Japanese fan club, TVXQ were superstars. As one of the earliest breakout K-pop groups of the Hallyu wave in the early 2000s, they were the first Korean act to headline a concert in Malaysia and the first Korean group invited to perform at the Japanese New Year's Eve music programme K

Are football's super-rich owners killing the game? We discuss if fans should care. Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. Manchester United fans around the world are mostly ecstatic that the Glazers may finally sell the club. The American family’s ownership of the club has been marred by fan protests, huge debts and poor performance on the pitch. While Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and British entrepreneur Sir Jim Ratcliffe remain as frontrunners in the takeover race, fans of the Red Devils have been caught up in a moral conundrum. It is a similar situation that Manchester City and Newcastle United fans have previously found themselves in.  In this episode, ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan hosts Deloitte Asia-Pacific's sport business group leader James Walton and assistant ST Now editor Sazali Abdul Aziz. Listen to a passionate debate on why fans should care and why football

Pakistan’s economy is in dire straits, its political and security situation volatile - and it is in a spot as India becomes more important to Washington.  Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. Former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan’s arrest in May triggered riots as his supporters attacked installations and the headquarters of the Pakistan army which had once supported him. This came as the economy, hit last year by a massive flood disaster, is in the doldrums and awaiting a bailout. The Pakistani Taliban has also stepped up its attacks, and on the foreign front, India and the United States are deepening their relationship. Pakistan remains resilient, but not successful. Find out why, as Nirmal Ghosh hosts Mr Husain Haqqani, Pakistan‘s former ambassador to the US and currently diplomat-in-residence at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, and se

How to create safer, healthier online environments to protect children. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. In May, the United States surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy, who is known as the nation’s doctor, issued an advisory on social media and youth mental health to warn young people of the possible effects of excessive social media use. Dr Murthy said that social media started only about a decade ago and there is not enough research at the moment to show that it is safe for adolescents and children.  He thus issued a call for not just families and young people, but policymakers, technology companies, and researchers to gain a better understanding of the full impact of social media use, to maximise the benefits and minimise the harms of social media platforms, and create safer, healthier online environments to protect children.  In Singapore, it is not uncommon to see upper primary school children with their own m

The Asian Development Bank is trying to bring green power to the people while curbing climate risks. It’s a huge challenge. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Asia is the economic engine of the world. This powerhouse region is growing quickly and so are its energy demands.  Millions of people still do not have access to electricity or clean cooking stoves. And its growing economies need affordable and reliable energy to power the region’s burgeoning industries. But Asia is also the world’s top source of greenhouse gas emissions heating up the planet. And these emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, are driving more severe flooding, droughts, fires and higher seas that are taking a huge toll on the region.  So how to bring power to the people without cooking the region and the planet? In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty speaks with Dr Priyantha Wijaya

Find out what could be possible scenarios over the coming months. Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Ven discusses with Vasu Menon, executive director for investment strategy at OCBC Bank, the investment outlook for the second half of 2023 and beyond, and how investors can navigate the current uncertainties and turbulent markets. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:34 Markets have done quite nicely during the first half despite anxieties over interest rates, inflation and a potential recession. Why? 3:12 Looking ahead into the second half of this year where are leading economies and markets headed? 4:49 How do geopolitical concerns and issues feed into the market? 6:19 With the issue of the debt ceiling out of the way, can investors now turn positive on the outlook and start investing with greater confidence? 10:12 What are the key investment t

More young people dream of becoming influencers and that’s ok with Beijing. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  In this episode, she chats with ST's China correspondent Aw Cheng Wei.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:03 How does the influencer economy work? 2:14 Why has the Chinese influencer economy become so huge? 4:37 How much do the influencers earn? 6:00 Where is Viya now?  7:32 What does it take to be a successful wang hong?  11:34 What is a day in the life of a wang hong like? 13:25 How does the Chinese government view the wang hong?  Read Aw Cheng Wei’s article here: https://str.sg/i3Hw Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim and Fa’izah Sani Follow Letter From The Bureau Podcast every first Fri

Our expert guests recap the season and look at what Man City's rivals can do to depose them.  Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every secondWednesday of the month. The 2022/2023 English Premier League (EPL) campaign concluded with Manchester City successfully defending their crown. Arsenal had a lot to shout about during the season but ultimately came up short.  But what will they and United, who finished third, be looking to do to improve for the next season? Can Pep Guardiola’s City still improve? What do Arsenal need to close that gap? ST’s EPL columnist John Brewin and football commentator Zia-ul Raushan join ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to look into their crystal balls and see what we can expect in the weeks and months ahead before the EPL returns. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:10 The moments of the season  6:50 What can we look forward to as Liverpool, Leicester and Tottenham Hotspur make their way to Singapore for pre-season in July?   11:40 Can Manchest

Why Singapore needs more and better-prepared business leaders, fast, with more corporate headquarters based here. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, the new Career Talk podcast by The Straits Times helps you take charge of your own career and make your ambition pay off. It may seem like a lofty goal for most workers, but Singapore needs to widen the pool of Singaporeans who can lead local, regional and global corporates based here, to maintain the Republic’s competitive edge while ensuring good jobs are accessible. In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with two members of the Alliance for Action on Business Leadership Development, which released a report on June 9 on the challenges, opportunities and recommendations to groom locals as top business leaders with international experience. His guests are: Mr Frank Phuan, chief executive of EDPR APAC. Mr Jack Lim, executive director of the SMU Academy, the professional training arm of Singapore Management University. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:

This is the 2010 case that became a turning point in Thailand's debate over abortion.   Synopsis (headphones recommended): A special edition 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. Episodes drop every fourth Tuesday of the month from April 25, 2023. Warning: This podcast is an audio documentary of a real crime case which may be troubling and upsetting to certain listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Be transported back to the events of 2010, when the discovery of thousands of rotting foetuses, hidden in a Bangkok temple - led to more awareness and debate over illegal abortions in Buddhist-majority Thailand. The grisly remains at Wat Phai Ngern were traced to a network of clinics. The case uncovered the scale of the illegal abortion industry at a time when the procedure was still largely illegal and heavily stigmatised. ST's Thailand correspondent Tan Tam Mei interviews and narrates

Find out too, why the link between the gut and brain must not be ignored. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. IBS or irritable bowel syndrome is a common condition that causes recurrent episodes of diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, or abdominal pain. Stress can trigger or worsen it, which is why the link between the gut and brain or what is known as the gut-brain axis must not be ignored in the treatment of complex cases, said Dr Andrew Ong, a consultant gastroenterologist at the Singapore General Hospital, who runs a weekly IBS clinic at the hospital for hard-to-treat IBS cases.  Still, when it comes to IBS, the first question that he gets from patients often concerns food. In part two of a two-parter on IBS, Dr Ong chats with ST's senior health correspondent Joyce Teo about diet and IBS.  You will also hear about FODMAP, which stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols.

Steps are being taken to reverse decades of damage to oceans. But is it too little too late? Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. We’re celebrating the 100th episode of our Green Pulse Podcast series. And what better way to mark it than taking a deep dive into the oceans -- the planet's most important and greatest expanse of life.  Without the oceans, humanity wouldn't exist. But like the rest of the planet, the oceans are in trouble. They’re suffering from pollution, overfishing and the impacts of climate change, from rising ocean temperatures to acidification. Yet, lots of things can, and are, being done to reverse the damage. Nearly 200 nations recently agreed to conserve and protect 30 per cent of the world's oceans by 2030. And nations also recently agreed on a treaty to protect biodiversity on the high seas. So has the tide turned for the world's oceans? ST's climate ed

What do local leaders of Microsoft and LinkedIn say about generative Artificial Intelligence? Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. This is Part 3 of our special feature Where the Tech Jobs Are, where tech leaders demystify what the companies do, talk about innovations that they have their eyes on, and tell what it feels like to work in their firms.  If you're one of those curious about some of the world's most famous tech names, this is your chance to get a sneak peek behind the scenes. In this episode, ST's senior correspondent Krist Boo hosts Ms Lee Hui Li, managing director at Microsoft Singapore, and Mr Frank Koo, LinkedIn's head of Asia for talent and learning solutions. Joining us too is Mr David Yeong, a business analytics student at the National University of Singapore. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 Customers calling to ask how AI will transform their business 4:25 Jobs available in SG at Microsoft

As more are priced out of owning cars, will the cost of vehicle-sharing services shoot up and be passed on to those who use them?  Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights to Singapore's mobility trends and the vehicle quota system, which includes the Certificate of Entitlement (COE). The certificate of entitlement (COE) is the permit needed for a vehicle to be used on the road in Singapore. This cost then needs to be added to the cost of the vehicle itself before it hits the road. Coupled with a zero-growth policy, the price of COEs - set by an open tender exercise - has been making the news, repeatedly setting record highs, pushing up the cost of owning a vehicle - and by extension, the cost of transportation all round. In this episode, ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts colleague and senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe, and Ms Ramya Ragupathi, an entrepreneur in the food industry. She runs Oh My Goodness, a food manufacturing start-up that specialises in  gluten-free, dairy-free and

As more are priced out of owning cars, will the cost of vehicle-sharing services shoot up and be passed on to those who use them?  Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. The certificate of entitlement (COE) is the permit needed for a vehicle to be used on the road in Singapore. This cost then needs to be added to the cost of the vehicle itself before it hits the road. Coupled with a zero-growth policy, the price of COEs - set by an open tender exercise - has been making the news, repeatedly setting record highs, pushing up the cost of owning a vehicle - and by extension, the cost of transportation all round. In this episode, ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts colleague and senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe, and Ms Ramya Ragupathi, an entrepreneur in the food industry. She runs Oh My Goodness, a food manufacturing start-up that specialises in  gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free foods. They d

Allegations about the prominent Japanese talent agency first date back to the 1980s. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. #PopVultures host Jan Lee examines the major sexual abuse scandal surrounding J-pop boy band agency Johnny & Associates, known for producing groups such as Arashi and Smap as well as the younger, million-seller groups like Snow Man and SixTones. Former idol trainees at the 60-year-old company have come out to accuse the agency's late founder Johnny Kitagawa, who died in 2019, of a consistent pattern of sexual assault.  Kitagawa's niece - Julie Keiko Fuijishima, the current president of the agency - has apologised in light of the snowballing allegations, which first date back to the 1980s, though she did not acknowledge the veracity of these claims. In this episode, Jan - a long-time Arashi fan, gives a background on Johnny & Associates, who Kitagawa is, and recaps the events that have happened in t

Asean also needs long-term low carbon vision to reinforce supply chain security and competitiveness. Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests.  Asean recently held a summit in Indonesia, which in 2023, holds the rotating chair of the 10-member grouping. Indonesia has a key role to play at a critical juncture in global geopolitics. Former Indonesian Cabinet minister and outgoing managing director of Development Policy and Partnerships at the World Bank in Washington DC - Dr Mari Elka Pangestu - is an avowed “Aseanist”. In this episode, she tells host Nirmal Ghosh why she urges Asean leaders to take charge and strengthen open regionalism, as a collective "middle power" which can use its agency and benefit from opportunities in the midst of uncertainty.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:05 Why the need for a counter-narrative from "middle powers" such as Asean, to navigate

Shanti reflects on her own personal identity and purpose, regardless of whether she's a sprint queen or not. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every secondWednesday of the month. Sprint queen Shanti Pereira was back in Singapore after her achievements in Cambodia at the 2023 SEA Games and she has finally had time to reflect back on her history- making feats in 2023. In Phnom Penh, she was crowned South-east Asia’s top woman sprinter after claiming two golds in the 100m and 200m at the SEA Games.  ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan caught up with Pereira over a phone call before she departs for training and competition in Europe about how she feels about her success in 2023, how she overcame the lows and has learned to better appreciate the highs. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:50 On how much difference a year has made  5:00 Being able to relate to athletes from around the world and how that has helped her in her career     9:40 On training in carparks during Covid-19 12

Find out how her father - national footballing legend Fandi Ahmad - found out about Iman's decision to pursue music. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the fourth episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singapore singer and songwriter Iman Fandi. Iman is a multi-hyphenate - a model and athlete who made her professional music debut as a singer and songwriter in 2021. She recently released her latest and fourth single, Top Bop, a song that sees expand her musical palette and incorporate elements of hip-hop music into her dance-pop repertoire. Iman is also the only daughter of Singaporean football icon Fandi Ahmad and model Wendy Jacobs, and she grew up with brothers who, too, went on to make their mark in local and international football. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:57: Finding a new musical direction with her latest song, Top Bop 13:51: She had to google why her dad was famous 15:38: On growing up as a tomboy 17:41: Her dad’

This is the Singaporean singer and songwriter's intimate live studio take of her latest and fourth single for 2023. Synopsis: This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Listen to Iman Fandi talk about expanding her musical palette and incorporating elements of hip-hop music into her dance-pop repertoire in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/iJ6J Watch the full performance on YouTube here: https://str.sg/iJbJ Discover Singaporean artiste Iman Fandi at: YouTube: https://str.sg/iJB4 Spotify: https://str.sg/iJbU TikTok: https://str.sg/iJbw Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Hadyu Rahim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team Mixed by: Teo Tong Kai Follow Music Lab Podcast episodes here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9T2 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: ht

Portfolios could benefit from small-cap stocks and when markets are rising, they can deliver higher returns. Find out where the opportunities are in 2023 as Howie Lim, correspondent at The Business Times speaks to Alfie Yeo, head of small-mid cap research at RHB Singapore. Synopsis: The Business Times Podcasts channel showcases niche series Money Hacks, Mark To Market, WealthBT, PropertyBT, Market Focus and sponsored series. This episode is brought to you by RHB Singapore.  Highlights: 01:38 2022 small-cap market 02:44 Why consider small cap investing now 04:08 Impact of inflation and recessionary fears 04:57 Current trends in small cap 07:14 Opportunities to note in 2023 10:03 Risks to consider More about RHB: https://rhbgroup.com.sg/ https://www.facebook.com/RHB.SG/ Written and hosted by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) With Alfie Yeo, head of small-mid cap research at RHB Singapore Edited by: Claressa Monteiro & Howie Lim Recording engineer: Joann Chai Pei Chieh Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Time

Private debt has come into its own as an asset class after the 2008 financial crisis, delivering attractive returns with little correlation to stocks and bonds. The current environment poses challenges but with careful credit selection, investors can still reap equity-like returns. Goh Hui Yang, Pictet’s head of alternative investments in Asia tells Genevieve Cua more. Synopsis: Learn to protect and grow your wealth in this monthly Business Times podcast series for affluent individuals, hosted by BT wealth editor Genevieve Cua. This episode is brought to you by Pictet Wealth Management. Highlights:  02:28 Popularity of private debt as an asset class 06:54 Why get an exposure 09:36 Challenge of the macro environment 11:10 Risks to watch 12:58 A realistic look at return expectations More about: Pictet Wealth Management https://www.pictet.com/sg/en/wealth-management Alternatives and private assets https://www.pictet.com/sg/en/insights/markets/alternatives Written and hosted by: Genevieve Cua ([email protected])

Find out why stress is not the root cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), though it can trigger or worsen IBS. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Many people think that stress can cause IBS or irritable bowel syndrome, a common condition that causes recurrent episodes of diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, or abdominal pain. But this is not true.  Stress can trigger or worsen IBS, but it is not the root cause, says Dr Andrew Ong, a consultant gastroenterologist at the Singapore General Hospital, who runs a weekly IBS clinic at the hospital for hard-to-treat IBS cases.  In this episode hosted by Straits Times senior health correspondent Joyce Teo, Dr Ong also talks about how the brain and the gut are linked, the approach he takes at the weekly clinic and how it has helped some patients.  This is the first of a two-part series with Dr Ong on gastrointestinal issues, of which IBS is the most common condition. In t

Find out how our guest speaker is making climate change and sustainability more relatable.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Climate change is a growing problem for humanity. Almost every day, we hear that we need to cut emissions, live greener lifestyles. It can all seem a bit daunting.  For instance, major reports from the United Nations' climate science panel spell out clearly the growing risks of climate change, the impacts and how to cut emissions. But it's a challenge for ordinary people to really make sense of it all, let alone take steps along the green path.  That's where the science communicators come in. They can cut through the jargon and spell out why action on climate change and sustainability matters -- and how it can improve livelihoods, too.  In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Ms Qiyun Woo, a Singaporean illustrator, environmentalist

Learn about retirement 'pay-cheques' and 'play-cheques'. Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, host Lee Su Shyan hears from her guest Elijah Lee, senior financial services manager at PhillipCapital, on how to build in more certainty in retirement planning despite increasingly uncertain times.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:40 Evaluate the cashflows you will receive during retirement   3:15 Essential spending and what’s a retirement 'pay-cheque'   5:19 What else can you consider if CPF Life payouts are insufficient?   7:25 Discretionary spending and the concept of a retirement 'play-cheque'   9:10 Is it too early in your 20s to start, or too late in your early 50s? When is the best time to start thinking of investing for retirement? Produced by: Lee Su Shyan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Edited by: Te

The series of events unfolded after the late Hong Kong superstar retired from the music scene in 1992. Synopsis: Can I Tell You Something Crazy is a new scripted series under the #PopVultures banner, which examines with fresh eyes, events that shook Asian media and entertainment.  In 1992, Anita Mui was only 29, but she had made up her mind to retire from music. The late Hong Kong superstar, known for songs like Bad Girl (1985) and The Song Of Sunset (1989), bid farewell to her singing career with a series of 30 concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum that wrapped in January 1992.  Mui, who was also known for her acting performances in movies like Rouge (1987), wanted to shed her pop diva persona to focus on acting and charity. She was ready for a career pivot and a new beginning. Unfortunately, things went sideways quickly.  On May 4, 1992, Mui was at a celebration with friends at Take One karaoke, having fun and drinks. But at the same venue was a film producer named Wong Long-wai, who reportedly asked her

Find out what our guest expert says about Nato planning to open a liaison office in Japan, its first in Asia, to facilitate consultations in the region. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor & Senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, he chats with Mr James Crabtree, the Singapore-based executive director for Asia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).  Mr Crabtree is a former journalist and policy analyst whose previous job was an Associate Professor of Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.  The podcast was conducted against the backdrop of Asia’s worsening security situation, and weeks ahead of the Shangri-La Dialogue that brings together security leaders of Asia and counterparts from major global powers.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:05 Asia’s deteriorating security situation; a confident Chinese President Xi Jinping 9:40 What

Hear from medallists Teh May Yong and Noah Lim too, in this podcast. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every secondWednesday of the month. The region’s biggest sporting event kicked off on May 5th in Cambodia and the biennial event - which runs till May 17th - has already brought the Republic some unforgettable moments, including Shanti Pereira’s successful 200m title defence and the 1,000th gold medal for Singapore at the Games that was delivered by Team Singapore's women's freestyle relay team.  ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan was at the Chroy Changvar International Convention and Exhibition Center and to catch up with ju-jitsu exponents Teh May Yong and Singapore’s first gold medallist at these games - Noah Lim - who clinched the men’s ne-waza gi Under-69kg title in what is his third SEA Games gold medal. They spoke about what it takes to get to the Games, about host country Cambodia so far, and what athletes can or cannot get up to while in the athletes’ vill

Find out why human-based detection to sift through the Internet's growing volume of content is getting harder to do. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. Recently, a 2023 Global Digital Report of digital behaviour, usage and connectivity insights from around the world was released by media intelligence and data analytics company Meltwater, and We Are Social. A key report takeaway: 60.7 per cent of Singaporeans are concerned about what is real and fake on the internet, and that is higher than the global average of 53.9 per cent. Besides focusing on the enterprise market in South-east Asia and Japan, Meltwater also helps Singapore government agencies face new challenges such as fake news, misinformation and implementing ESG strategy. In this episode, ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts Mr Mimrah Mahmood, vice-president for Enterprise (Apac) and partner at Meltwater Asia-Pacific. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:32 Ho

Singapore’s design sector is set to see a wave of new roles related to sustainability, community services and the digital economy. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, the new Career Talk podcast by The Straits Times helps you take charge of your own career and make your ambition pay off. Singapore's design sector, which is behind iconic designs such as the TraceTogether otter, is set to grow at 2.5 per cent a year through to 2030, according to a two-year study released in March by the DesignSingapore Council (Dsg), the Republic’s national agency for design. In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guests on the state of Singapore’s design sector and the prospects it offers. Find out too, what is design research. His guests are: Mr Eugene Chin, acting director for talent development at Dsg Ms Annusia Balan, a design researcher currently studying for a Master of Arts in Service Design on a Dsg scholarship at the Royal College of Art in London Highlights (click/tap above): 1:41 What is des

Our guest explains the importance of parent-child relationships to build resilience in children. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. In this episode, Straits Times senior health correspondent Joyce Teo invites educational psychologist Danielle Seah to talk about what parents can do to help build resilience in children. Ms Seah said parents need to spend the time and make the effort to connect and bond with their children. One of the most important factor for children to develop resilience is for them to have at least one stable relationship with a parent or caregiver, she said. In the podcast, she also discussed the common mistakes that parents make, when it comes to building resilience, as well as some of the questions in a booklet titled Raising A Resilient Child, such as “why does your child suffer from emotional regulation?” and “why can’t your child control his/her behaviours?”.  Ms Seah wrote the boo

Why records set in 2022, and now 2023, could hint at the new normal in post-pandemic COE prices. Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights to Singapore's mobility trends and the vehicle quota system, which includes the Certificate of Entitlement (COE). During the previous April 19 tender, the COE premium - for smaller cars up to 1,600cc and 130bhp, as well as for electric vehicles (EVs) with up to 110 kilowatts of power -  crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time. It reached a record high of $103,721, up 7.48 per cent from the previous high of $96,501 at the April 5 tender. New records were also set in the larger car and Open categories. Records set in 2022, and now in the first quarter of 2023, seem to hint that this could be the new normal in post-pandemic COE premiums.  To help take stock of it going into the next bidding round on May 4 at 4pm, ST’s podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts his colleague and senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:20 Impact of

Why records set in 2022, and now 2023, could hint at the new normal in post-pandemic COE prices. Synopsis: In this new podcast, The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. During the previous April 19 tender, the COE premium - for smaller cars up to 1,600cc and 130bhp, as well as for electric vehicles (EVs) with up to 110 kilowatts of power -  crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time. It reached a record high of $103,721, up 7.48 per cent from the previous high of $96,501 at the April 5 tender. New records were also set in the larger car and Open categories. Records set in 2022, and now in the first quarter of 2023, seem to hint that this could be the new normal in post-pandemic COE premiums.  To help take stock of it going into the next bidding round on May 4 at 4pm, ST’s podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts his colleague and senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:20 Impact of the psychol

Keeping the world honest on greenhouse gas emissions is vital in fighting climate change.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Every year, humanity releases more than 50 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases into the air – mainly from burning and extracting fossil fuels and chopping down forests. Nature can’t absorb all this extra, so the gases accumulate in the air, heating up the planet and driving more extreme weather and rising sea levels. It’s like adding more fuel to a fire.  While many nations have agreed on targets to cut emissions and reach net zero emissions around the middle of this century, it’s becoming increasingly critical to accurately measure where all these emissions are coming from and if governments and corporations are really taking the steps they say they will.  Getting a true picture of global greenhouse gas emissions is vital and that means accurat

Listen to tech leaders demystify what their companies do, and what it feels like to work in their firms. Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. If you're one of those curious about some of the world's most famous tech names, this is your chance to get a sneak peek behind the scenes. In this episode, ST's senior correspondent Krist Boo hosts Ms Chris Havrilla, vice-president for human capital management strategy at Oracle, Mr Ben King, managing director for Google Singapore and Ms Cheryl Low, a young executive in her first job at Access Partnership. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:05 What do Oracle and Google do? 4:25 Two innovations Google has its eyes on 8:15 Does a middle-aged worker have a chance to become a tech worker? 10:26 Is Google still a good place to work? 12:45 What Gen Zs like Cheryl Low want in their careers Listen to Pt 1: Understanding tech culture at Salesforce and Cisco - https://str.sg/iopR Pt 3:

Find out about the insidious 'Nth room' crimes in one of Asia's most highly-wired countries. Synopsis (headphones recommended): A special edition 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. Episodes drop every fourth Tuesday of the month from April 25, 2023. Warning: This podcast is an audio documentary of a real crime case which may be troubling and upsetting to certain listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Digital sex crimes have become so common in highly-wired South Korea, leading to several copycat versions of what have become known as the 'Nth room' crimes. Why does this keep happening, and what are the underlying causes of these cases? Despite government efforts to crack down on these cases, they return again and again. This is the side of South Korean society that the world may not know as well, away from the global appeal of its K-drama series and glamour of its K-pop music. ST's

India's experience offers lessons for other countries in wildlife conservation, and one of the keys is having local communities on board. Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests.  India very recently marked the fifth anniversary of Project Tiger. India has saved the tiger. Bringing a predator like the tiger, back from the brink of extinction, in a country of now over a billion people, is a remarkable feat.  India now has something like 70-75 per cent of all tigers in the wild. The tiger is functionally extinct in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. There has been a small comeback in Thailand, but its status in Myanmar is unknown and most likely very tenuous. But species conservation is a complex issue with many moving parts, with both people and wildlife having agency - so it never really ends and old challenges remain and new challenges emerge.  In this episode, to discuss what

Find out why his new single is about "past trauma, and not cured meats". Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In this third episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean singer-songwriter Nathan Hartono. Nathan first made his name as a jazz singer while in his teens and since then, his music career has taken off in multiple ways. In 2016, he took part in Chinese television reality show Sing! China. Mentored by Mandopop star Jay Chou, he ended up in second place, which made him a regional star. In 2020, he sang Everything I Am, a National Day theme song that reflected the sombre but hopeful mood of a nation in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The singer has released several albums and EPs, and has also dabbled in acting, taking on roles in film, television and theatre. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:45 How pursuing a music career in China led to him questioning his musical identity 8:20 On how he is “sick of Nathan Hartono

This is the Singaporean singer and songwriter's exclusive acoustic take of his new single out now - Pastrami. Synopsis: This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Listen to Nathan Hartono talk about his music, evolution, songwriting craft and his musical identity in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/io5L Watch the full performance on YouTube here: https://str.sg/ioTK Discover Singaporean artiste Nathan Hartono at: YouTube: https://str.sg/iooY Spotify: https://str.sg/ioog Instagram: https://str.sg/iooB Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Recorded by: ST Podcast Team Mixed by: Hadyu Rahim  Follow Music Lab Podcast episodes here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9T2 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@s

Join our discussion to hear if the biennial event is still relevant in 2023? Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. The region’s biggest sporting event will get underway in Cambodia as athletes from South-east Asia battle for top honours at the May 5-17 SEA Games. Singaporeans will be rooting for the 558 athletes that will represent the Republic across 30 sports, with some like football, indoor hockey and cricket kicking off even before the May 5 opening ceremony. With the Cambodia Games being the 32nd edition, ST’s Hard Tackle discusses whether the biennial event is still relevant, with some having termed the event as the 'Kampung Games'. ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan invites two guests for this episode - former sprint-hurdler and four-time SEA Games medallist Dipna Lim-Prasad, and former national water polo vice-captain and three times Games gold medallist Yip Ren Kai. They discuss w

From late-2023, these new youth-led panels will be introduced by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and supported by the National Youth Council and other government agencies. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. On April 10, Parliament resumed with an address by President Halimah Yacob. She outlined the Government’s priorities, policies and programmes for the rest of its term ahead of the next election, which has to be held by 2025. Parliament then debated points made in her address. In this episode, ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts colleagues - deputy news editor Grace Ho and journalist Jean Iau - who covered the five days of those debates. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:48 Hear Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong on the new youth panels, as he explained in Parliament 2:48 Grace on whether this is good politics; Jean on youth and why their goals are different from previous genera

ST's podcast team composes an original song to set the tone for its new podcast series Music Lab.  Synopsis: This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Music Lab theme: ST podcast producer Eden Soh (composer/arranger-guitar), ST podcast editor Ernest Luis (guitar) Trailer on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSlcUEl1LWc Written, produced and mixed by: Eden Soh Follow Music Lab Podcast episodes here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9T2 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultu

Find out how the Healthy Ketogenic diet recently developed by Dr Lim Su Lin, a chief dietitian at the National University Hospital, is different from traditional keto diets. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Dieting is very challenging for many people. In fact, most people regain the weight they lost, after a year, but what if you need to lose some weight because of your health? Obesity is, after all, a disease that increases the risk of other health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea and others. Dr Lim Su Lin, chief dietitian at the National University Hospital, held a press event recently to talk about how her Healthy Keto Diet is different from the traditional keto diet, and how it has benefitted many trial participants who are from the hospital. She said the healthy keto diet is an effective diet for those who are overweight or have obesity and want to lose wei

Headphones are recommended for this series. Synopsis: A 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. Episodes drop every fourth Tuesday of the month from April 25, 2023.  From April till September 2023, listen to the events surrounding a spine-chilling find in a Bangkok temple. Or the gruesome death of a domestic helper in Singapore. But for the first episode dropping on April 25, you will discover a 21st-century crime that could well happen in more countries in an increasingly interconnected world. This was the insidious cybersex underbelly in South Korean society that trapped girls in a digital prison in 2019. We at The Straits Times, investigate how these tragedies left their mark on victims and communities, and also exposed the dark side of societies.  Get notifications of new episodes on your favourite audio apps - Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts - when you follow ST’s True C

Find out what could be possible scenarios over the coming months. Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both associate editors at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, they discuss the banking crisis that hit the US and Swiss banking sectors, focusing on how the crisis started, how it has been playing out and how the turmoil has shaken financial markets.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:15 How did the problems at Silicon Valley Bank start?  3:30 What was the issue at Credit Suisse?  5:22 The US Fed reaction and why this is not a repeat of the Global Financial Crisis  9:15 The impact on Singapore’s financial sector is likely to be limited  10:05 Can investors still remain in the market? Produced by: Lee Su Shyan ([email protected]), Ven Sreenivasan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB

Find out why nations need to invest more in resilience to cope with what’s to come. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Critical in the climate crisis fight is helping politicians and the public better understand the causes of climate change and solutions, and not allowing vested interests, such as the fossil fuel industry, to muddy the picture and delay action.  To discuss this is Dr Vinod Thomas, a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore, who was a former World Bank vice-president. His recently published book is a guide to how best to respond to the climate change threat and how to become better prepared for the worsening impacts to come. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:28 Dr Thomas on his just-published book Risk and Resilience In The Era Of Climate Change 4:59 Risks from climate change and from inaction 9:43 Main reasons for humanity’s slow response 13

Why is an awards show reimagined to be a 'concert' this year?  Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. The annual Star Awards event in Singapore has come and gone yet again. Mediacorp's annual glitzy awards show for its Chinese language content and performers wrapped up on April 9. #PopVultures host Jan Lee covered the show and gives her opinions on what went down. From the show's K-pop inspired opening to a baffling 'hand dance' that Felica Chin and Rebecca Lim performed; from Xiang Yun's repeat wins to the lack of trophies for veterans like Richard Low - Jan breaks down what went right, what went wrong and what she hopes to see in the coming years. Highlights (tap/click above): 0:48 Richie Koh awarded Best Actor 4:20 Weird opening of the Star Awards 7:40 Evergreen artistes performance 9:29 Baffling "hand dance" by All-Time Favourite Artistes 17:54 Repetitiveness of Star Awards 20:36 More recognition for young stars 22:

A cautionary word on China. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor & Senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, he chats with the Australian statesman Bob Carr, a long-serving Premier of New South Wales, Australia’s most prosperous state, and foreign minister to then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard.  The podcast was conducted against the backdrop of Australia’s soured ties with China, the surprise decision to form Aukus (which groups Australia with the United Kingdom and the United States) and the deteriorating situation in East Asia centred over Taiwan. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:24 Resolving the US for security, China for prosperity dilemma 9:00 Need to be restrained on Taiwan 12:00 The worries about Aukus 20:00 Is conflict with China looming? 23:15 Why Kevin Rudd is being sent to the US 25:10 Message to China: Correct your diplomacy Produced by: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph

Why change in mindset and culture is needed from players, coaches, administrators, and even parents and schools. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every secondWednesday of the month. The Unleash The Roar! (UTR) project was announced in 2021 with various long-term initiatives to uplift Singapore football, and help rally the nation behind a shared dream of achieving success. And while results in the past year across various age groups in Singapore football continue to decline, patience has been urged by the team helming the project. With two years gone, what has UTR achieved so far? Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Eric Chua, who is also the UTR’s executive committee chairman, joins ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to discuss the UTR project, what has been done so far and what Singaporeans can expect in the months and years ahead. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:40 Why Unleash The Roar! Project was started 7:10 On the importance of grooming the

Find out why the broader tech sector remains quietly resilient despite high-profile layoffs, as companies digitalise. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, the new Career Talk podcast by The Straits Times helps you take charge of your own career and make your ambition pay off. The Ministry of Manpower recently released its latest job vacancies report on March 30, 2023. In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi and his guests talk about which jobs employers yearn to fill, why they do, and what these numbers mean for Singapore’s workforce. He speaks with associate Professor Randolph Tan from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), who has a background in econometrics and labour economics, and Mr Samir Bedi, who leads Asean workforce advisory at Ernst and Young Singapore, and has extensive experience in human resources consulting, ranging from manpower planning to job redesign and the future of work. Highlights (click/tap above):1:23 What are the highlights of the report?3:24 Why are there still so m

An incident at a school assembly has ignited a curious debate over what some regard as an outdated and top-down education system  Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  In this episode, she chats with ST’s Indochina Bureau Chief Tan Hui Yee. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:34 Why did over 100 students get ugly haircuts? 2:55 Do Thai schools have haircut rules for students? 4:10 Authoritarianism or a matter of discipline? 5:40 Is student unrest welling up in the election season? 7:55 Are gender identity issues at play? 9:20 What do ugly haircuts tell us about a changing Thailand? 9:55 Is Thailand a relaxed, tolerant society? Read Tan Hui Yee’s article here: https://str.sg/i4ia Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu

Might this miracle drug be the answer to curing obesity? Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Obesity is a huge and complex problem. It is linked to Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, back pain and so many other health issues. However, there aren’t many anti-obesity medications out there.  Wegovy is not just a new prescription drug for those with obesity or high-risk body mass index, but one that is more effective and better tolerated than the current crop of treatments. Its active ingredient is semaglutide, which was first developed to help Type 2 diabetes patients with blood sugar control, but then found to be effective in helping them lose weight as well. Another brand of semaglutide called Ozempic, which is a lower-dose version meant for those with Type 2 diabetes had hit the market earlier. Both Ozempic and Wegovy have gone viral on social media for their off-label use as a weight loss dr

Find out what Artificial Intelligence can do to the car salesman and cybercop. Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. In this episode, host Krist Boo and her guests aim to "de-geekify" Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on jobs, including those in the tech sector.  First, the hottest thing: How is generative AI like ChatGPT affecting tech jobs and beyond? Are there still jobs in the tech sector? How can I get into a tech firm without a technological background? What must I do to stand out? What do these two tech multinationals, Cisco and Salesforce, offer?  Her guests are Mr Gavin Barfield, Salesforce's regional chief technology officer for solutions, Mr Koo Juan Huat, Cisco's regional cybersecurity leader, and Mr Davidson Chua, a second-year computing student. It's just three techies making simple tech and job talk. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:04 Using the power of AI in sales and cybersecurity 8:46

Find out the qualities of a good chief sustainability officer. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Climate change and the growing biodiversity crisis are having far reaching impacts on businesses. Governments are adopting tougher regulations, too, and businesses also have to be much more transparent about their environmental footprints and how they plan to improve. For instance, the Singapore Exchange has mandated climate risk disclosures for listed companies from this year and companies are increasingly rated on their sustainability policies and practices.  Pressure is also coming from investors and consumers who are demanding businesses go green and clean up their supply chains.  That’s where chief sustainability officers, or CSOs, come in. They can help firms navigate this changing world and help save corporate reputations –  and many companies are finding that going g

April 1, 2023 is the 20th anniversary of the Asian pop icon's death. Synopsis: Can I Tell You Something Crazy is a new scripted series under the #PopVultures banner, which examines with fresh eyes, events that shook Asian media and entertainment.  On April 1, 2003, the world was shocked by the loss of one of the most beloved, enduring and seductive stars to ever grace screens. Singer and actor Leslie Cheung died by suicide at the age of 46, leaping to his death from the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong, after succumbing to a battle with severe depression. 2003 was a dark year for Hong Kong. The Sars epidemic ravaged the city. Yet, Cheung's death ignited a wave of public grieving, with people lining the streets outside his memorial to mourn him. The singer-actor was beloved and known for his androgynous style onstage and his acclaimed performances in films like Days Of Being Wild (1990), Farewell My Concubine (1993) and Happy Together (1997) onscreen. Off screen, his personal life, espec

Fair, inclusive, a new era: Do these two words and a phrase best underline the spirit of Budget 2023? Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. Singapore's Parliament has passed in early March, the Government’s $123.7 billion spending plans for the coming financial year. In this episode, ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis hosts colleague and deputy news editor Grace Ho, who monitored around 70 hours of speeches and debates in Parliament in the past few weeks. What does she make of them? Highlights (click/tap above): 2:16 What was truly fair? Those who can pay more, will pay more; Grace highlights buyer’s stamp duties for higher-value residential and non-residential properties as a "fair move"  2:52 Regarding those unhappy with the higher tax rates for residential property in excess of $1.5 million, these people are actually part of that top 21 per cent of Singaporeans living in private housing 5:03 Can the Government

Is there liberal opposition to what is going on, even in a more diverse India with a raucous democratic tradition? Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests.  In this episode, we discuss how and why, across the complex region of South Asia, majorities are convinced that minorities are a threat. South Asia is a region of some two billion, but right-wing politics and religious majoritarianism, the arms of the state and the media, are coming together to threaten democracy and the health and longevity of states. The politics of hate in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is fuelling, and feeds off, religious majoritarianism. Nirmal Ghosh hosts Farahnaz Ispahani, a former journalist, former member of Pakistan’s parliament, and currently a senior fellow at the Religious Freedom Institute in Washington DC, and Salil Tripathi, author, journalist and member of the Board of PEN

The winner of the Best South-east Asia Act award at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards is our second guest in this new music channel. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the second episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts award-winning Singapore singer, songwriter, and producer Jasmine Sokko. Jasmine made her debut in 2016 with a self-released single 1057. Over the years, the self-taught producer has risen from cult local favourite to regional pop star, amassing a large following after reaching the finals of Rave Now, a Chinese reality television programme for electronic music acts. In 2019, she became the first Singaporean to win Best South-east Asia Act award at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards held in Spain. The enigmatic artiste is also known for covering part of her face with a mask, and has never revealed her full face in publicity photos. The singer, who shuttles between China and Singapore, almost had her music career derail

Can Singapore's only Olympic champion ever make a comeback? Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. For the first time since his 2011 debut, Joseph Schooling will not represent Singapore at the Cambodia SEA Games in May. After withdrawing from the swim team headed for Cambodia, the Republic’s only Olympic champion said on March 1: “After careful consideration with my team, I have decided to pull out of the SEA Games. This was not an easy decision, but I am currently not at the level at which I hold myself to perform.” On the back of Schooling’s decision to withdraw, ST’s Hard Tackle dives into the inevitable discussion on whether we have seen the last of our Olympic winner. Former national swimmer David Lim and Tao Li - Asian Games winner and a former teammate of Schooling's - join ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to discuss Schooling’s current predicament, if retirement is on the

Why a new UN treaty gives hope to the world’s ailing oceans and is important to South-east Asia. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Did you know oceans provide about half the oxygen we breathe and soak up about 90 per cent of the excess heat generated by global warming? They also soak up about a third of the carbon dioxide emissions from mankind’s activities. While this is slowing the pace of climate change, the oceans are becoming warmer and more acidic. And that’s threatening coral reefs and key food chains.  Yet, there’s good news. Earlier this month, more than 190 nations agreed to the text of a new United Nations treaty to conserve and sustainably use the high seas. It’s the first treaty to focus on better protection for an area covering more than 60 per cent of the world’s oceans – the vast expanse outside national boundaries.  The Biodiversity Beyond Natio

Why Singapore's market is great for dividend yields, and listen to top regional stock picks. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get our tips on working smarter, getting ahead in your career and investing like a pro with ST's business correspondents and editors. Host Ven Sreenivasan - associate editor at The Straits Times - offers you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, he hosts Thilan Wickramasinghe - regional research director at Maybank - discuss interest rates, inflation, recession, and its impact on financial markets, and in particular, risk assets such as stocks.  They focus on the region, and in particular the Singapore stock market, to see where the threats and opportunities lie, and how investors should position themselves amid current volatile and uncertain macro and micro conditions. In particular, they discuss why South-east Asia may outperform other regional markets in the medium term. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:40 Why there is a crisis in con

Our expert guests explain how mental health charity Mindset helps recovering patients. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Gaining employment can boost the self-esteem of someone who is recovering from a mental illness and facilitate their recovery. But the discrimination against people with mental illnesses may make it difficult for them to find work. The challenges that come with their illnesses may also make it hard for them to conform to traditional work norms such as fixed working hours. But there is help from mental health charities in the community. In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo finds out more about how Mindset, a mental health charity of the Jardine Matheson Group in Singapore, is helping mental health persons in recovery, find jobs as a way to reintegrate back into society. She speaks with the CEO of Mindset, Jeffery Tan and the head of Mindset, Ms Colyn Chua.  She asks them abou

Singapore's Parliament has passed in early March, the Government’s $123.7 billion spending plans for the coming financial year. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. Two single and unattached youths - aged 26 and 36 respectively - share their reactions to Budget 2023's new public housing measures after they had raised their concerns and thoughts about housing issues in prior episodes. ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis finds out the sentiments of Mr Mohamad Arshad, a 26-year-old sales development executive who recently graduated from Singapore University of Technology and Design and now works in his family’s business. His second guest is Mr Cho Ming Xiu, 36, who started a non-profit mental health organisation in 2016 for youths and young adults, called Campus PSY.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:28 Ming Xiu on higher CPF housing grant for first-timer singles buying 2-5 room HDB resale flats, besides current option

Discover the journey of a five-time LPGA Tour winner. Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every secondWednesday of the month. The HSBC Women’s World Championship was back in Singapore at the start ofthe month where most of the world’s top 20 golfers – and all of last season’sMajor champions – battled for honours in the March 2-5 event. In this episode, ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan chats with Michelle Wie West - 2014 US Women’s Open champion and a five-time winner on the LPGA Tour - here in an ambassadorial role. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:55 On being a role model for others and who she looked up to 3:20 On the stereotypes that women in sport face 8:55 Dealing with fame and the struggles of stardom 13:20 How golf can still grow as a sport 14:00 What does Michelle most enjoy after retirement? Read more: https://str.sg/ikNn Produced by: Deepanraj Ganesan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast episodes ev

Indonesia's Rimba Raya project developers explain how rigorous the verification and auditing process is. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Forests soak up large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and halting deforestation and replanting forests make sense as a strategy to fight climate change – and save nature, too. Investors who do this, want to earn a return for their efforts by selling tradeable “offsets” representing a tonne of CO2 removed, or avoided from being emitted, such as protecting a forest under threat from clearing.  But a recent investigation by The Guardian concluded that rainforest carbon offsets issued by Verra, the world's main certification body for offsets, were mostly worthless. The conclusion has been widely panned as inaccurate.  So what are these projects really like on the ground? How difficult are they and how much work goes into creating and run

Is getting less responsibilities, a sign of such a practice? Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. In this episode, ST's senior business correspondent Krist Boo speaks with Mr Clarence Ding and Ms Akshita Shetty to discuss the thorny issue of workplace prejudice. Clarence is an employment law specialist and a partner at law firm Simmons & Simmons, and Akshita is vice-president for South-east Asia at technology firm SAP. We also talk about the Workplace Fairness Legislation, which is expected to be passed in  Singapore in 2024. Last month, a report comprising 20 recommendations for the Bill was released for public consultation. Listen to get tips on how to make your company a fairer place to work. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:15 Why is discrimination inherent at the workplace? 3:45 Prevention: Is that the best way to stop workplace bias?  7:06 Is your boss biased or are you just not good enough? 11:56 How shou

How celebrities in this genre are marketed and their relationship with LGBTQ audiences. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene.PopVultures host Jan Lee examines the unique pop culture genre of Thai boys' love dramas in this region and how they are marketed. She also looks at the term 'queer baiting' - what it actually means and how the term has been mistranslated and misused.Thai actor Mew Suppasit Jongcheveevat got fans into a bit of a frenzy after he posted several tweets explaining his relationship with his onscreen partner Gulf Kanawut Traipipattanapong.The two were stars of a popular Thai boys' love drama TharnType: The Series (2019- 2020) and attracted many fans with their "couple pairing" both on and off screen. After Mew explained that he shares a purely platonic relationship with Gulf, he was accused of 'queer baiting'. Jan examines why Mew's words triggered so much unhappiness among fans.Highlights (tap/click a

Why Australia's Prime Minister is rooting for song and dance to be accepted as essential to the Australian way of life. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  In this episode, she chats with ST’s correspondent in Australia, Jonathan Pearlman. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:00 Why the rugby-loving Australian PM Anthony Albanese cares about the arts 3:15 How big is the arts scene Down Under? 5:55 'DJ' Albo’s plans to raise the arts quotient 8:08 Is there a profit motive? 10:00 No more 'starving' artists? Read article: https://str.sg/ikT2 Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim and Fa’izah Sani Follow Letter From The Bureau Podcast every first Friday of the month on our Asian Insider Podcast channel here: Chann

Our expert guest discusses the importance of early detection. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. In Singapore, around 2,000-3,000 people have a rare disease. One of them is Hereditary Angioedema or HAE, which is a rare genetic disorder that results in recurrent unprovoked swelling of various sites of the body, including the stomach, genitals or throat.  There are about 20 HAE cases in Singapore, and Tan Tock Seng Hospital manages the largest pool of HAE patients among the public hospitals.  In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo finds out more about it from Dr Tan Sze-Chin, a Senior Consultant from the Department of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology at TTSH. He talks about the need for early screening and detection because acute swelling of the larynx can block the airway and result in fatal consequences. TTSH has set up a local HAE registry. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:16 Frequency of Here

Why youths do not want financial advice from a 'suit', but from those they can identify with. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis and business journalist Tay Hong Yi invite two young Singaporeans in their early 30s to share their own financial literacy awareness, and concerns about the financial knowledge level of youth in the country. Shubaashini Vijayamohan is a lead designer with ThinkPlace Singapore and Kenneth Lou was previously the co-founder of personal finance community Seedly till last year, and he is now looking at new start-up ventures in the healthcare sector. They discuss highlights from a new poll on youth financial literacy commissioned by the National Youth Council. The survey had 500 youth participants aged 16-34. The full poll results will be out on March 1 at the Youthopia website: https://str.sg/wFbN This episode is brought to you by the National Youth Council, in

Find out why the local talent pipeline has failed for now. Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. In the first episode of a brand new spin-off series called Hard Tackle, ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by former Singapore national team centreback R Sasikumar and Singapore football commentator Zia-ul Raushan to debate the ever controversial topic of whether Singapore football needs foreign talents.  On Feb 25, the Young Lions get their 2023 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season underway against defending champions Albirex Niigata and for the first time since 2016, the Young Lions will have foreign players in the squad with the addition of Japanese defender Jun Kobayashi and midfielder Kan Kobayashi. With the Football Association of Singapore looking to revisit the Foreign Talent Scheme, we ask if it’s really what Singapore football needs to fix the larger picture. Highlights (cli

Why perceptions of being “soft” on China will increasingly be a political liability in the US.  Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. Relations between China and the US are in for more rough weather with bipartisan consensus on China in the United States, a new House Committee hawkish on China, and visits to Taiwan by US lawmakers imminent which are bound to upset Beijing. Find out why intensifying political contestation in the United States in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election will have an impact on relations with China. In this episode, to assess the path ahead for the contentious and fragile relationship, Nirmal Ghosh hosts Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for South-east Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Dr Adrian Ang, Research Fellow at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:31

Find out how to generate as many as 8 streams of income for retirement. Series synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get our tips on working smarter, getting ahead in your career and investing like a pro with ST's business correspondents and editors. Host Lee Su Shyan - associate editor at The Straits Times - offers you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Su Shyan speaks with Mr Jonathan Chan, a senior financial services director at PhillipCapital, Singapore’s largest retail brokerage. Mr Chan has nearly three decades of experience in the finance industry and has been conducting retirement planning seminars since 2015.  Mr Chan highlights some of the common mistakes that investors make, such as keeping too much cash. Instead, he offers tips on how people should look at using their capital to set up multiple income streams, which will then allow them to enjoy a more comfortable retirement. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:10 Outlook for inflation and interest rat

Our expert guest offers his evaluation of a recent investigation by British media outlet The Guardian. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Forests are one of nature’s ways of soaking up large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), helping apply the brakes to climate change. This explains why halting deforestation and replanting forests makes sense. Investors who do this, want to earn a return for their efforts by selling tradeable “offsets” representing a tonne of CO2 removed, or avoided from being emitted, such as protecting a forest under threat from clearing.  Forest carbon offsets have become big business, helping offset buyers to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their climate targets, in addition to other carbon-cutting steps that they must take. But rainforest carbon offsets are controversial because of concerns over the quality of the credits and projects and whethe

Parliament will next debate the Budget and the spending plans of various ministries from Feb 22 to March 6. Synopsis: In this episode, you will hear audio highlights of Budget 2023, as delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on February 14. He announced more support measures and payouts to help households, workers and businesses deal with inflation in his Budget speech. DPM Wong loosened the Government’s purse strings in a $123.7 billion proposal - about 18.2 per cent of Singapore’s GDP. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:43 More help for prioritised first-timers to secure BTO flats 3:00 Baby Bonus cash gifts 6:50 More payouts from Assurance Package; new Cost-of-Living Special Payment 9:45 CPF monthly salary ceiling to be increased to address future retirement needs of ageing population More Singapore Budget 2023 stories and full details at: www.straitstimes.com Audio courtesy of Parliament of Singapore Produced by: Ernest Luis ([email protected]), Hadyu Rahim and Teo Tong Kai

Why the US wanted to send a strong signal to China and how this was also about domestic politics. Synopsis: The Straits Times examines various facets of the US-China rivalry and its implications for Asia. Join Charissa Yong and Danson Cheong - ST’s US and China correspondents respectively based in Washington DC and Beijing - as they take a look at America’s response to the alleged Chinese spy balloon, and the global fallout.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:10 Why China was dismayed 2:28 Why Biden responded the way he did 4:27 China’s unusually conciliatory stance 7:25 The US-China spiral of suspicion Produced by: Charissa Yong ([email protected]), Danson Cheong ([email protected]), Teo Tong Kai and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Teo Tong Kai and Fa’izah Sani Follow our Asian Insider Podcast channel every week here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website

Are copycat art pieces going to become a legal battleground? Synopsis: The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests.  Three years ago, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan sold a banana duct-taped to a wall for a cool US$120,000 (S$167,000) at Art Basel Miami. But according to American artist Joe Morford, it was plagiarised from his own artwork of a duct-taped orange and banana. Did Morford sufficiently prove that Cattelan's banana infringed his banana? And will a legal victory for Morford against Cattelan embolden others to proceed with similar legal actions against literally hundreds of thousands of "copycat" images found on every corner of the Internet? Here to make sure no one goes bananas is Mr Ryan Su, an art and intellectual property lawyer at OC Queen Street LLC, who had personally seen the infamous banana at Art Basel Miami in 2019. Deputy news editor Grace Ho hosts him in this episode.Highlights (click/tap above): 1:20 Ryan describes his personal experience of seeing the

Synopsis: Listen to audio snippets as The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. China-born American billionaire Eric Yuan is a businessman, engineer, and the CEO and founder of Zoom Video Communications.  Read Sumiko Tan's full stories here: https://str.sg/Jbhe Lunch With Sumiko videos: https://str.sg/wPrB  Produced by: Sumiko Tan and ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee Follow the Lunch With Sumiko Podcast and rate us on: Channel: https://str.sg/J6hQ Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hM Spotify: https://str.sg/J6hA Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hd  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian In

The shocking sex scandal that forced him actor and pop star Edison Chen of Hong Kong's film industry. Synopsis: Host Jan Lee takes a look at how the saga unfolded in a new scripted series under the #PopVultures banner, titled Can I Tell You Something Crazy. Actor and pop star Edison Chen was at one time one of the hottest, most promising young celebrities in the Hong Kong entertainment industry. But a shocking sex scandal forced him out of the city's film industry. Now, 15 years after the scandal, and in this second episode, host Jan Lee covers how the police responded to the case, including their bungled first arrest of the entire saga - Chung Yik-tin - which led to netizens marching on the streets in protest to demand for his release.  She looks at the trial of Sze Ho-chun, a computer technician eventually sentenced to jail for stealing the photos off Chen's laptop, Chen's CNN interview following the trial and his comeback in Hong Kong entertainment.  After sharing her thoughts about how the scandal was c

Why the Taiwan issue today is different from the Vietnam War's political dynamics. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode of 2023, he chats with Nayan Chanda, the celebrated editor, journalist and Indo-China specialist on his eyewitness account of the end of the Vietnam War, the new Cold War in Asia, the Sino-Russian concord, and chances of an open conflict in the region. This podcast was conducted against the backdrop of the 50th anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreement that led to the end of the conflict in Vietnam.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:35 Fall of Saigon ends Vietnam War 6:00 Why he stayed, when other fled 10:45 Vietnam 1975, Afghanistan 2021 15:50 The new Cold War in Asia? 21:00 Sino-Russian ‘shotgun wedding’ 25:20 Possibility of war in our current times  Produced by: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Fa’izah

Will reaching this summit change how tchoukball is received in Singapore? Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. In this episode, ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan chats with TchoukballAssociation of Singapore president Delane Lim and women’s team captain Irene Tan. On Jan 1, the Singapore women’s tchoukball team made history by overtaking powerhouses Chinese Taipei to become world No. 1 for the first time. Lim and Tan talk about how they found out about reaching the summit, the shock that followed and how they hope the news will change the future of how the sport is received in Singapore. More importantly, Lim outlines his hopes for better support from the authorities for the sport. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:55 On finding out that they had become world No.1 2:30 What is tchoukball? 3:45 How popular is tchoukball in Singapore and around the world? 6:20 On the struggles of the Tchoukball Association of Singapore not being a national sports

Ms Shobana Baskaram had no higher school qualifications but is now assistant manager at Marina Bay Sands. Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. In this episode, host Krist Boo asks these questions: Can a room attendant who barely speaks or read English rise to become an assistant front-office manager? Does a restaurant manager really need a diploma or a degree? Can a secondary-school graduate manage a team of 44?  She and her guests talk about the plight of Singaporean workers who stop school at, or before completing their secondary education. They make up 27 per cent of our local workforce of 2.3 million. Many of them are doing blue-collar work, which comprise 20 per cent of our jobs.  The panel comprises: Ms Shobana Baskaram, an assistant manager at Marina Bay Sands Dr Laurel Teo, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies Ms Chloe Huang, strategic director of recruitment platform OppTy Mr Cho

Nations have this decade to halt and start to reverse the damage. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. At the recent COP15 United Nations biodiversity conference in Canada, nearly 200 nations agreed on a series of targets that aim to halt and eventually reverse the loss of nature. The “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” includes four goals and 23 targets for achievement by 2030. Striking the deal for nature was years in the making and urgent. Deforestation, over-fishing, poaching, pollution and climate change have taken a heavy toll on nature in recent decades, leading to sharp declines in wild animal species and escalating rates of extinctions. About a million species are at risk of extinction, many within decades, the United Nations' biodiversity science panel has said.  One of the key targets agreed was conserving and managing at least 30 per cent of the world

Why new 5-digit motorcycle COE prices matter to you even if you don't ride. Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights to Singapore's mobility trends and the vehicle quota system, which includes the Certificate of Entitlement (COE). The certificate of entitlement (COE) is the permit needed for a vehicle to be used on the road in Singapore. The price of COEs - set by an open tender exercise - has been making the news throughout 2022, repeatedly setting record highs, pushing up the cost of owning a vehicle - and by extension, the cost of transportation all round. The next tender exercise closes at 4pm on Feb 8, 2023. In this episode, podcast editor Ernest Luis and senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe try to "crystal ball" the results: Will it go up? Or down? Highlights (click/tap above): 1:50 Up or down? More than 100 million dollars were collected in a single COE tender in December 2022 3:14 Why COE prices matter to all in Singapore, even if you are not looking to buy a new car 4:12 A 'gap week

Why new 5-digit motorcycle COE prices matter to you even if you don't ride. Synopsis: In this new podcast, The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. The certificate of entitlement (COE) is the permit needed for a vehicle to be used on the road in Singapore. The price of COEs - set by an open tender exercise - has been making the news throughout 2022, repeatedly setting record highs, pushing up the cost of owning a vehicle - and by extension, the cost of transportation all round. The next tender exercise closes at 4pm on Feb 8, 2023. In this episode, podcast editor Ernest Luis and senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe try to "crystal ball" the results: Will it go up? Or down? Highlights (click/tap above): 1:50 Up or down? More than 100 million dollars were collected in a single COE tender in December 2022 3:14 Why COE prices matter to all in Singapore, even if you are not looking to buy a new car 4:12 A 'gap week' that will

Find out what a '1-minute' sari is, and the best ways to drape a sari for running. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  In this episode, she chats with ST's India correspondent Debarshi Dasgupta. Some Indian women are choosing saris over shorts as they go jogging along busy streets. But as they transform the traditional wear into activewear of choice, they encounter taboos. Are saris and sneakers not a fit combo? Highlights (click/tap above): 1:19 So, what is a sari run? 5:06 Is it truly comfortable to run in a sari? The best ways to drape the sari for running? 7:40 The fastest marathoner in a sari 9:31 Are saris more popular today? Heard of a '1-minute' sari, sari over jeans? 12:23 As India becomes the world’s most populous nation, are women becoming healthier? Read Debarshi Dasgupta’s a

Have scams impacted Singapore’s digital banking journey? Synopsis: This is a special 10-part podcast series by The Straits Times to raise greater public awareness of the modern scourge of scams in Singapore and globally. In Singapore, nearly $1 billion has been lost by scam victims since 2016. Mutating and spreading, different types of scams have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, from romance to work. The police are cracking down on offenders. What can you do to protect yourself? In the series’ 10th episode, ST’s deputy news editor Andre Yeo, crime correspondent David Sun and journalist Jessie Lim speak with Mr Frankie Phua, head of group risk management at UOB.  During the episode, Mr Phua discusses how the banking industry is studying the concept of a money lock which customers can opt into. This allows them to set aside a certain amount which cannot be digitally transferred out. He said this will allow customers to limit their risk exposure while enjoying the benefits of digital banking. He als

Our expert guest tells you can be proactive before you even reach the age of 65. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. This is also our 100th episode since the first ST podcast episode was published in mid-2018 featuring then-Health Minister Gan Kim Yong (link further below). Singapore has just launched an updated action plan for successful ageing to help Singaporeans live life to the fullest as they age. At the launch, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who helms the Ministerial Committee on Ageing called ageing “the most significant social development in Singapore”. It is estimated that by 2030, one in four people here will be 65 and above. More seniors will also be living alone. In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Professor Kua Ee Heok, the Tan Geok Yin Professor in psychiatry and neuroscience at the National University of Singapore. He’s also the vice-chairman of the Mind Science C

Pei Rong and Leon Lee, both 33, secured their Build-To-Order (BTO) flat in 2021 and it will be ready in 2027. Synopsis: The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis invites a young married couple - both 33 - to share their journey in securing their first home in Singapore and other housing concerns, calculations and considerations. They also discuss highlights from a new National Youth Council poll on housing. The survey had 1,000 youth participants. Details here at the Youthopia website: https://str.sg/wFbN This episode is brought to you by the National Youth Council, in support of Forward Singapore: https://str.sg/wFbx Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 Three generations under one roof for now, makeshift living arrangements till 2027 2:40 Constraints of space, not just in the "physical sense" 4:20 Youth survey results: The primary function of public housing 8:25 Forms of support most important when purchasing public housing; calculating for t

Synopsis: Listen to audio snippets as The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Jonathan Lim, the co-founder of food ordering platform Oddle, tells ST executive editor Sumiko Tan how his company has gone beyond food delivery to helping restaurants transform digitally. Read Sumiko Tan's full stories here: https://str.sg/Jbhe Lunch With Sumiko videos: https://str.sg/wPrB  Produced by: Sumiko Tan and ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee Follow the Lunch With Sumiko Podcast and rate us on: Channel: https://str.sg/J6hQ Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hM Spotify: https://str.sg/J6hA Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hd  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: ht

It has been exactly 15 years since the scandal first broke on Jan 27, 2008. Get a cuppa, sit back and let us transport you back in pop culture history. Synopsis: Host Jan Lee takes a look at how the saga unfolded in a new scripted series under the #PopVultures banner, titled Can I Tell You Something Crazy. Actor and pop star Edison Chen was at one time one of the hottest, most promising young celebrities in the Hong Kong entertainment industry. But a shocking sex scandal forced him out of the city's film industry. In 2008, hundreds of sexually explicit photos of Chen with female celebrities such as idol singer Gillian Chung and actress Cecilia Cheung leaked on the Internet, sparking a scandal that made headline news and dominated the pages of tabloids for weeks and months. It was later discovered that these private photos were stolen from Chen's laptop when he dropped it off for repair. Chen, as well as the various women seen in the photos, were viciously shamed by the public and hounded by the media.  Now,

A deep dive into the sensitive geopolitics at the Afghan-Pakistan border. Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. After 20 years of war, in August 2021, the United States became the most recent superpower to be seen off by Afghanistan. After the US withdrew, the Taliban, whom the United States had kicked out in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, swiftly seized power again. But since then, the Taliban has challenged the status of the Afghan-Pakistan border and given haven to the anti-Pakistan insurgent group, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, TTP, which has killed thousands of Pakistanis and wants to establish a Taliban-style Sharia state in Pakistan.  In this episode, to explain the complicated knot in that volatile region, Nirmal Ghosh hosts Javid Ahmad, a non-resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council South Asia Center, and former ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Arab Em

A chief scientist at Toyota gives his take on Net Zero and public transport evolution in cities. Synopsis: In this episode, ST's Asia News Network editor Shefali Rekhi speaks with Dr Gill Pratt, on the future of automobiles during World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos from Jan 16-20.  Dr Pratt is chief scientist and executive fellow for research at Toyota Motor Corporation, and is the chief executive of Toyota Research Institute. Produced by: Shefali Rekhi ([email protected]) and Ernest Luis Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST Podcasts channel: Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukr SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected]  --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str

Our expert guest also offers tips on the skill sets youths should have to get into this field. Synopsis: In this episode, ST's Asia News Network editor Shefali Rekhi speaks with Australian National University's vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt on the global fight against climate change, during World Economic Forum's annual meeting 2023 in Davos from Jan 16-20.  He also offers tips on youths getting a skill set that can be updated in the coming 50 years. Produced by: Shefali Rekhi ([email protected]) and Ernest Luis Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST Podcasts channel: Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukr SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected]  --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https

Singapore's award-winning hip-hop artist, producer and songwriter is our first guest in this new music channel. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In this first episode, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts award-winning Singapore hip-hop artist, producer and songwriter Alyph. Over the past few years, he had focused instead on making hits for regional acts. Alyph’s produced songs have amassed more than 45 million streams on Spotify and 2200 million views on YouTube.  Signed to the South-east Asian wing of iconic American hip-hop record label Def Jam, Alyph, 33, teamed up with Malaysian cosmetics mogul and social media personality Dato Seri Vida for his latest single Swipe - released on October 21, 2022. It has sparked a TikTok trend too, and even made an impact on Malaysian politics in the run-up to the country's general election late last year. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, gamely danced to Swipe on his channel. In the short cl

How does this event set up the year of tennis ahead? Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. In this episode, Sazali Abdul Aziz chats with ST assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath, who is on the ground at Melbourne Park covering the Australian Open. Rohit discusses the tournament’s withdrawals and shocks - including Rafa Nadal’s exit - the new generation of women players, and what the Australian Open spells for the year of tennis ahead. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:55 The conflict of watching Nadal in 2023 3:36 Can anyone else test Djokovic? 6:24 Iga Swiatek leads the charge of talented young ladies 12:11 What makes the Australian Open special? 14:02 How it sets up the year of tennis ahead Read more: https://str.sg/wFu2 Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]) & Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast episodes every second and fourth Wednesday of the month: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts

Here's a trailer as our podcast team composed a theme song for this new music podcast channel.  Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. Find out which renowned Singapore hip-hop artiste we speak with first, in the full episode that will drop on Jan 25. The next act to be featured in our series is being lined up by ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi, so follow us on your favourite audio apps below to be notified of the latest episodes. Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim, Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow Music Lab Podcast episodes out here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9T2 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Eddino Hadi's stories: https://str.sg/wFVa Music Lab theme Parting Clouds: Eden Soh (composer/arranger-guita

Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times examines various facets of the US-China rivalry and its implications for Asia. Join Charissa Yong and Danson Cheong - ST’s US and China correspondents respectively based in Washington DC and Beijing - as they take a look at China’s messy reopening and its global implications.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:38 The world reacts to China’s reopening 4:10 China’s lack of transparency 6:42 How China has responded 7:33 What the Americans say about China’s abrupt reopening Produced by: Charissa Yong ([email protected]), Danson Cheong ([email protected]) and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow our Asian Insider Podcast channel every week here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Charissa Yong's stories: https://str.s

Synopsis: The Business Times Podcast channel showcases niche series Money Hacks, Mark To Market and WealthBT, and sponsored series. With the focus shifting from inflation to recessionary pressures, what investment strategies can HNWIs employ to ensure portfolio resiliency? And can anyone use those strategies as well? Correspondent Howie Lim speaks to Dr. Neo Teng Hwee, chief investment officer and head of products and solutions at UOB Private Bank to find out.  This episode is brought to you by UOB Private Bank. Highlights: 01:25 Investment strategies to employ in 2023 04:17 How market conditions dictate these strategies 06:18 Strategies accessible to all 08:18 How to navigate digital assets space 10:38 Family offices continue to play a role 11:54 Sectors to look into and why More about: UOB: Private Bank https://www.uob.com.sg/private/index.page UOB: Private Bank Investment Insights https://www.uob.com.sg/private/advisory/investmentinsights.page Produced by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) and Claressa Mont

Two single and unattached youths share their thoughts on housing in Singapore. Synopsis: The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. ST's podcast editor Ernest Luis finds out the sentiments of Mr Mohamad Arshad, a 26-year-old sales development executive who recently graduated from Singapore University of Technology and Design and now works in his family’s business. His second guest is Mr Cho Ming Xiu, 36, who started a non-profit mental health organisation in 2016 for youths and young adults, called Campus PSY.  They also discuss highlights from a new National Youth Council poll on housing. The survey had 1,000 youth participants. Details here at the Youthopia website: https://str.sg/wFbN This episode is brought to you by the National Youth Council, in support of Forward Singapore: https://str.sg/wFbx Highlights (click/tap above): 1:45 Top 3 priorities for youth surveyed on public housing 2:53 Arshad's CPF concerns, as he aims to be self-reliant 5:57 How hopeful is he about

This question is nuanced, so find out who could benefit from repeated boosters.  Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. It has been about three years since the Covid-19 virus was detected here, and Singapore has transitioned to living with it. Bivalent boosters are now available at all Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres, and selected Polyclinics and participating Public Health Preparedness Clinics. The urgency to get the boosters, however, seems to have waned considerably.  In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, an expert on infectious diseases and the vice-dean of global health at the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, to find out more about the need to get a second booster. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:40 Do you need a Covid booster shot? 3:49 Misconceptions of booster shot side effects 6:04 Is there a differen

Ben Ainslie, the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, chats with us in Singapore. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second and fourth Wednesday of the month.  In this episode, ST’s assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath chats with Ben Ainslie, a legendary sailor with five successive Olympic medals from 1996 to 2012, four of them gold. He has been world champion multiple times and a winner in the 2013 America's Cup. He was in Singapore for the inaugural Singapore Sail Grand Prix from Jan 14-15 at East Coast Park. Singapore is the first South-east Asian country to host a leg of the SailGP hydrofoiling series in 2023 as part of a three-year deal. SailGP is into its third season this year, and this competitive series includes some of the world's best sailors. In these audio excerpts from an interview, Ainslie shares his thoughts on pressure, love for sailing and his fear of losing. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:42 What draws Ben Ainslie to sailing? 1:25 His relation

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. In this episode, we look more deeply at the challenges of actually achieving net zero emissions for complex portfolios held by big investment managers and the risks of greenwashing claims by bad actors. What does achieving net zero emissions by 2050, mean for investors and what are the risks and challenges? ST’s climate editor David Fogarty hosts his Paris-based guest Ms Clemence Humeau, head of sustainability, coordination and governance for AXA IM. This episode is brought to you by AXA Investment Managers: https://str.sg/wCpw Highlights (click/tap above): 2:20 Achieving net zero emissions across a broad portfolio of assets isn't easy; 65% of AXA IM's assets under management now committed to be managed in line with net zero in 2050. What does it mean? 4:38 What goes into designing a net zero pathway?  7:10 Risk of being boycotted by the fin

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get our tips on working smarter, getting ahead in your career and investing like a pro with ST's business correspondents and editors. Hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - associate editors at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Su Shyan and Ven discuss the outlook for the Singapore stock market in 2023.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:20 How US Fed actions will likely affect the stock market  5:00 Factors such as China’s economy and the war in Ukraine can have an impact on the stock market  7:10 What should investors do to prepare themselves? 8:26 As interest rates remain elevated, what is the impact on Reits (Real estate investment trusts)? 10:05 The better-performing sectors of 2022 - oil and gas, food and consumer sectors - how are they likely to perform now that we are in 2023? Register for ST's Head Start newsletter:  https://str.sg/stnewsletters Produced by: Lee Su Shyan (sushyan

Synopsis: Listen to audio snippets as The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Daniel Sennheiser, co-CEO of audio company Sennheiser, tells executive editor Sumiko Tan how he and his brother, Andreas, have managed to work harmoniously together. Read Sumiko Tan's full stories here: https://str.sg/Jbhe Lunch With Sumiko videos: https://str.sg/wPrB  Produced by: Sumiko Tan and ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee Follow the Lunch With Sumiko Podcast and rate us on: Channel: https://str.sg/J6hQ Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hM Spotify: https://str.sg/J6hA Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hd  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- D

Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. After a three-month hiatus, #PopVultures host Jan Lee teases what she has been working on and gives her first reactions to some of the more thrilling revelations coming out of Prince Harry's autobiography - the brilliantly titled Spare. Highlights (tap/click above): 0:48 An update on #PopVultures. 06:20 A brief recap on what Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have been up to since stepping down as working royals. 10:40 What are the most headline-grabbing stories from Spare? 14:42 Thoughts on stories coming out from the book and why it could be a bad PR move on Prince Harry's part. Produced by: Jan Lee ([email protected]), Penelope Lee & Eden Soh Edited by: Penelope Lee & Eden Soh Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month:  Channel: https://str.sg/JWad Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP  Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47  SPH Awedi

Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this first episode of 2023, he chats with Serge Besanger, a director of Paris-based Centre for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies, on how the war in Europe is shaping and the potential for it to spread to Asia, thanks to the strategic compact between Russia and China. Besanger, who divides his time between Paris and Singapore, says Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to widen the war and that risks bringing Asia into the conflict.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 How Besanger's organisation sends life-saving blood 'pouches' into Ukraine 8:50 French to supply ‘hot pursuit’ tanks to Ukraine 12:05 Fusing of Asian, European theatres 15:03 Which Asian nations are aiding Russia? 17:25 Europe’s view of China slides; how Russian-Ukraine war could last another three years Produced by: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, H

Synopsis: The Business Times Future of Finance showcases content from leading industry players in the financial services sector about the transformational journey of finance into the digital era. For more insights, we speak to Brendan Carney, CEO, Citibank Singapore. This episode of Future of Finance podcast is presented by Citibank Singapore. Highlights: 01:09 Banking sector’s digital transformation 03:20 Sweet spot between speed and personalisation 07:17 Factors affecting digital transformation 10:49 Ensuring growth readiness 13:14 The seamless customer experience 15:09 The future of wealth management More about: Citigold https://www.citibank.com.sg/wealth-management/citigold/ Wealth Management https://www1.citibank.com.sg/wealth-management/citi-plus Personal Banking https://www1.citibank.com.sg/personal-banking/online-services/mobile-banking/citi-mobile-app Produced by: Howie Lim ([email protected]), Claressa Monteiro & Lee Kim Siang Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro --- Follow Future of Finance

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second and fourth week of the month.  In this episode, ST’s Sazali Abdul Aziz chats with sports desk colleagues David Lee and Deepanraj Ganesan as they dissect Singapore’s group stage exit at the recent Asean Football Federation Championship - their fourth in five editions - and what the Lions have to do to pick up the pieces from this campaign and move forward. They talk about what went wrong for the team, whether coach Takayuki Nishigaya should remain, the regional trend of naturalising foreign-born players, and other issues that arose from the tournament, like pitch facilities in Singapore, and officiating during the AFF Championship. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:09 Why the Lions whimpered 3:10 Nishigaya under fire - should he go? 7:50 Lions could feature more foreign-born players soon 11:36 Indonesia a rising force, Vietnam still top dogs 13:30 Awful refereeing needs to be fixed Read more: https://str.sg/wyCq Produced by: Sazali

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Many Taiwanese of all ages have a fascination with Western astrology, and the signs (pun intended) are everywhere. Every morning, on television news channels, it is not uncommon to see horoscope forecasts running along the bottom of the screen, next to major headlines and the day’s weather forecast. On dating apps, people often list their horoscope signs alongside basic information such as name, age, occupation and hobbies. How seriously do the Taiwanese take advice from astrologers? In this episode, she chats with ST's new Taiwan correspondent Yip Wai Yee. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:15 How Taiwanese bring up horoscopes in daily conversations; how seriously do they take advice from astrologers? 5:45 In a society that has to deal with China's aggressiv

Synopsis: The Business Times Future of Finance showcases content from leading industry players in the financial services sector about the transformational journey of finance into the digital era. Many misconceptions still surround digital banks but it is undeniable they are the way of the future. For more insights, we speak to Dwaipayan Sadhu, CEO of Trust Bank. This episode of Future of Finance podcast is presented by Trust Bank. Highlights: 01:04 Misconceptions about digital banks 02:42 Benefits of digital banks 05:15 Why the need for digital banks in Singapore 07:25 Risk and fraud addressed 11:48 Digital banking in wealth management 14:00 New developments in the sector More about: Trust Homepage https://trustbank.sg/ Trust Launch video https://bit.ly/3C0tpTJ Trust Newsroom https://trustbank.sg/newsroom/ Produced by: Howie Lim ([email protected]), Claressa Monteiro & Lee Kim Siang Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro --- Follow Future of Finance podcasts: Channel: https://bt.sg/pcOM Apple Podcasts: ht

Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought greater awareness to mental health. Young people, in particular, are more open to talking about their mental health, but if they need to find a listening ear for their stress after office hours or late on Saturday night, where can they find the support? In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo finds out more about a new after-hours support service from Chat, called Chatline. She hosts three guests in the studio. They are Ms Lee Yi Ping, a Principal Case Manager at the Institute of Mental Health and the Programme Lead for Chat, Ms Sheryl Yue, a youth volunteer at Chatline and Ms Ashley Poo, a student who’s a Chatline client. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:06 Ms Lee on Chatline, an after-office hours peer support service aimed at youth aged 13-25; how to enrol 4:56 Ashley on getting help for mental health issues 7:32 Experiences w

Synopsis: The Straits Times analyses Singapore's latest news and announcements. In this new year, many will be watching the property market with great interest. Will prices of private homes and HDB resale flats rise at a slower pace? Ms Christine Sun, senior vice-president for research and analytics at OrangeTee & Tie, gives her outlook and discusses the property trends to watch for in 2023. Produced by: ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee Follow ST Podcasts channel: Channel: https://str.sg/wukV Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukr SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected]  --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str

Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Now Singapore’s fourth Mufti, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir says he finds most satisfaction in providing fresh perspectives and getting the Muslim community to think differently. Read Sumiko Tan's full stories here: https://str.sg/Jbhe Lunch With Sumiko videos: https://str.sg/wPrB  Produced by: Sumiko Tan and ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee Follow the Lunch With Sumiko Podcast and rate us on: Channel: https://str.sg/J6hQ Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hM Spotify: https://str.sg/J6hA Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hd  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST pod

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get our tips on working smarter, getting ahead in your career and investing like a pro with ST's business correspondents and editors. Host Krist Boo discusses happiness at work in this episode of Work Talk, a podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. In the workplace, 80 per cent of workers say "yes" when asked if they enjoy their work, says Gallup chief executive, Mr Jon Clifton. But ask about their relationships with co-workers and their boss, and they start getting miserable. Can managers do anything that will make our lives less unhappy in 2023?  After a motorbike accident in Cambodia eight years ago, Mr Jason Lim spent 40 days in a coma. He was 24. The doctor had his death certificate prepared. How would an experience like this change your view of happiness?     His colleague at SGTech - marketing manager Ms Low Rui Yin - says she's always harried, annoyed, and wanting to be better, quicker, perfect. But this y

Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times examines various facets of the US-China rivalry and its implications for Asia. Join Charissa Yong and Danson Cheong - ST’s US and China correspondents respectively based in Washington DC and Beijing - as they look back on the year and chat about how the US-China relationship will continue to develop in 2023.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:00 The seismic ramifications of Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit in 2022 2:43 American tech sanctions on China 6:04 China’s return to the world stage 7:35 Biden’s foreign policy in 2023   Produced by: Charissa Yong ([email protected]), Danson Cheong ([email protected]), Hadyu Rahim and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim and Fa’izah Sani Follow Power Play Podcast every third Friday of the month on our Asian Insider Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.

Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. On Dec 9 Indian and Chinese troops got into a skirmish on the border of India’s northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state with China - the eastern sector of the long and in many places disputed Himalayan border. As previously in 2020, this skirmish did not involve firearms, but no less brutal hand-to-hand combat with weapons like wooden clubs embedded with nails. In this new clash there were reported injuries, but no deaths. In this episode on the volatile Himalayan border, Nirmal Ghosh hosts Dr Manoj Joshi, a Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi and author of a new book Understanding the India-China Border: The Enduring Threat of War in High Himalaya; and Dr Aparna Pande, a scholar of Indian and South Asian foreign policy, and Director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia, at the

Synopsis: Every second and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times’ Insight editor Grace Ho takes a hard look at political and social issues of the day with her expert guests. Earlier this year, the admission by three national swimmers - Commonwealth Games silver medallist Teong Tzen Wei, Olympic champion Joseph Schooling and Amanda Lim - that they had consumed controlled drugs, in particular, cannabis, while abroad, sent shockwaves through the sporting community in Singapore. Mr Schooling was fined $10,000 following investigations by a disciplinary committee. The Singapore National Olympic Council also fined Ms Lim $2,800 and Mr Teong $3,200 for breaching the council’s code of conduct.Here to make sense of the case, what the law says about it, and what it means for Singapore as countries around the region loosen up rules on drug consumption, is Associate Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University Eugene Tan. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 What does the law say about drug consumpt

Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Come next year, Singapore will launch its major preventive health strategy Healthier SG, which will include free cancer screening for three cancer - colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer. Are these enough? Should you pay to screen for other cancers? Should you pay for a cancer marker test? To answer these questions and more, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Dr Wong Seng Weng, the medical director and consultant medical oncologist of The Cancer Centre under the Singapore Medical Group. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:57 Advice for cancer screening in Singapore 7:09 Family cancer history that might affect you 12:09 Faecal Immunochemical Test - is it accurate? 18:05 Are the health screening packages in the market recommended? 27:36 Advice for people: when should you start screening? Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Eden Soh Edited by: E

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second and fourth week of the month. Fans from across Asean will shift their attention from events in Qatar to South-east Asia's premier football tournament when the 2022 AFF Championship gets underway from Dec 20 till Jan 16, 2023. The biennial football competition is organised by the Asean Football Federation (AFF). Six-time champions Thailand are looking to successfully defend the title that they won at the last edition but will face stiff competition from favourites Vietnam and the likes of Indonesia and Malaysia. The Lions will look to at least reach the last four, a feat that they achieved in the previous tournament.  In this episode, ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by two men who have won the tournament before - Singapore national team captain Hariss Harun and Thailand head coach Alexandre Polking. They discuss what the tournament means and  expectations of their teams. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:46 What does th

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second and fourth week of the month. In this episode, ST’s sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz, reporting from the ground at the World Cup in Doha, chats with ST football columnist John Brewin, based in London. They review Lionel Messi and Argentina’s incredible final win over France, their highlights of the tournament, and the legacy Qatar 2022 will leave behind. Highlights (click/tap above): 00:55 The final: Better than Istanbul 03:11 Goosebump moments 07:47 Highlights of the tournament 10:06 More winter World Cups to come? 12:17 Qatar 2022’s off-pitch legacy; discussing allegations of 'sportswashing' 16:51 Standout moment of the World Cup Read more: https://str.sg/wyiY Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz ([email protected]) & Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast episodes every second and fourth Wednesday of the month: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get our tips on working smarter, getting ahead in your career and investing like a pro with ST's business correspondents and editors. Host Lee Su Shyan - associate editor at The Straits Times - offers you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, find out what to take into consideration as you manage the funds that you are passing onto the next generation. There are issues such as tax as well as how to structure the income payouts so that the beneficiaries cannot spend all the money in one go. Trusts are a structure where you can leave your instructions and they will be carried out. Lee Su Shyan hosts her expert guest Mr Lee Chiwi, chief executive at PreceptsGroup International. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 What’s important as you start on estate planning 5:10 Why and how a trust can come in useful for very young beneficiaries 6:11 With more Singaporeans leaving larger amounts in their CPF accounts upon their demise, why it

Synopsis: The Straits Times analyses Singapore's latest news and announcements. With long queues at fever clinics and medicine running low at pharmacies, Beijing is facing a huge spike in Covid-19 infections after a further easing of restrictions. ST's China correspondent Elizabeth Law discusses with host Hairianto Diman, how a city of 21 million people is coping with the latest outbreak. Produced by: ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee Follow ST Podcasts channel: Channel: https://str.sg/wukV Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukr SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected]  --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg

Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Violinists Brett Yang and Eddy Chen say the reason they set up TwoSet Violin @twosetviolin was to show classical music can be fun. Read Sumiko Tan's full stories here: https://str.sg/Jbhe Lunch With Sumiko videos: https://str.sg/wPrB  Produced by: Sumiko Tan and ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee Follow the Lunch With Sumiko Podcast and rate us on: Channel: https://str.sg/J6hQ Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hM Spotify: https://str.sg/J6hA Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hd  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/

Synopsis: Every second and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' Insight editor Grace Ho takes a hard look at political and social issues of the day with her expert guests. December 9 marks the official launch of Mentoring SG, the national mentoring movement. Themed ‘Standing on the shoulders of Giants', this movement believes that every youth should have the opportunity to grow together with mentors who care. In this episode, Grace looks at what it takes to be a mentor, how others have done it, and how more youths can be encouraged to step forward to be mentors. In the studio with her are Mr Chong Leong Fatt, deputy principal, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central; Mr Tan Chung Hao, an ITE alumni who was mentored during his school days there and has gone on to mentor others; and Ms Yvonne Kong, a career futurist and workforce developer who works in a local university.  This episode is brought to you by the National Youth Council, in support of Forward Singapore: https://mentoring

Synopsis: This is a special 10-part podcast series by The Straits Times to raise greater public awareness of the modern scourge of scams in Singapore and globally. In Singapore, nearly $1 billion has been lost by scam victims since 2016. Mutating and spreading, different types of scams have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, from romance to work. The police are cracking down on offenders. What can you do to protect yourself? In the series’ ninth episode, ST’s deputy news editor Andre Yeo, crime correspondent David Sun and journalist Jessie Lim speak with Ms Verena Chin, owner of home-based bakery Le Artisserie. During the episode, Ms Chin recounts her experience of having her Instagram business account taken over by scammers and how she regained it within two days.   She also advises Instagram users on the steps they can take to recover their accounts -  such as immediately requesting a change in e-mail address and asking friends to report to Instagram, if their accounts have been hacked.  Highlig

Synopsis: The Business Times Podcast channel showcases niche series Money Hacks, Mark To Market and WealthBT, and sponsored series. Is real estate still a good hedge against inflation? Can real estate income even keep pace with inflation and is there any upside left to capture? Podcast editor Claressa Monteiro gets the answers from Richard Kimble, managing director and lead portfolio manager, real estate at Nuveen. This episode is brought to you by Nuveen. Highlights: 01:55 Real estate mitigating market volatility 02:59 Sectors worth looking into 03:40 Sectors affected by today’s environment 04:36 Real estate and sustainability objectives 06:32 Real estate performance throughout cycle 07:08 Interest rates and real estate 07:55 Outlook for sector in 2023 More about: Unleashing income opportunities with real estate https://www.nuveen.com/global/insights/real-estate/unleash-income-opportunity-with-real-estate?utm_source=BusinessTimes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=22Q4-GLOBAL-INST-Awareness-APAC-privatewealth

Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. In this episode, find out how to spot stroke symptoms and what happens after a stroke patient gets to the hospital.  Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is restricted. It can be due to the blockage of blood vessels (ischaemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain (haemorrhagic stroke). Data from the latest Singapore Stroke Registry Annual Report, which is for 2020, showed that stroke cases have risen to 8,846 in 2020, up from 5,890 in 2010.  Stroke is a life-threatening condition and the acronym FAST (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time) is used to remember the signs of a stroke. Still, this can be missed. ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Professor Deidre Anne De Silva, the head and senior consultant at the Department of Neurology in the National Neuroscience Institute (Singapore General Hospital campus). Highlights (click/tap ab

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second and fourth week of the month.Seismic shocks, upsets, last-minute winners and former champions crashing out. In terms of the football on show, the World Cup in Qatar has already been one of the most memorable and incredible tournaments in its 92-year history - and it's not done yet. In this episode, Straits Times sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz, reporting from the ground in Doha, sits down at Qatar's famous Souq Waqif marketplace with James Walton, sports business group leader for Deloitte South-east Asia. Over some coffee, they chat about what the atmosphere has been like at the first World Cup in the Middle East, how it compares to previous tournaments, and of course, the football they’ve witnessed.Highlights (click/tap above): 1:50 How does Qatar compare to Brazil or Russia? 6:18 The ‘rocking’ Fan Festivals in Qatar 10:16 Is Qatar looking like Messi’s tournament? 14:16 Shocks and surprises at this World Cup 19:32 Bes

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. In this episode, we look how insurers and asset managers can be powerful actors in accelerating the green transition. The finance sector, including insurers, can set tougher policies that limit or exclude financing and coverage to fossil fuel-linked firms and instead focus on renewable energy and other low-carbon investments. ST’s climate editor David Fogarty hosts his Paris-based guest Thomas Coudert, head of fixed income sustainability for AXA Investment Managers. This episode is brought to you by AXA Investment Managers: https://str.sg/wCpw Highlights (click/tap above): 1:12 The investment management industry, what it invests in and how much money is at its disposal to invest in companies and assets? 2:29 The Net Zero Asset Managers Commitment: With 291 signatories, including AXA IM, it commits to support the goal of net zero greenhouse ga

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get our tips on working smarter, getting ahead in your career and investing like a pro with ST's business correspondents and editors. It’s been more than four decades since Singapore introduced its first national computerisation plan. Today, the little red dot in South-east Asia has become one of the world’s leading tech cities. What does that mean? How did we get here? What does it mean for Singaporeans? Host Krist Boo discusses Singapore’s rise as a global tech city in Work Talk, a podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. Joining her in this episode are Mr Anshul Jain, managing director for Southeast Asia and India with Cushman & Wakefield, Ms Yean Cheong, executive director of SGTech, and three computing students from the National University of Singapore, Mr Davidson Chua, Mr Lin Jiayong and Mr Jirapat Jirasevijinda. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:40 What makes a global tech city? 5:30 Have tech firms chang

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Weeks after 159 people died in a crowd crush in Seoul’s clubbing district on Halloween, South Korea is preparing for year-end festivities. In this episode, she chats with ST's South Korea correspondent Chang May Choon. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:13 Seoul will be different this time, after the Itaewon tragedy 4:35 Ppali, ppali (fast) & skinship: understanding Korean crowd culture 9:55 Is behaviour changing in the ‘subway from hell’? 17:05 Has the Itaewon tragedy yielded some lessons? Read Chang May Choon’s article here: https://str.sg/wC5Q Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani and Eden Soh Follow Letter From The Bureau Podcast every first Friday of the month on

Synopsis: The Straits Times analyses Singapore's latest news and announcements. If you're looking to buy a new home, you'll know that property cooling measures – including lower limits for HDB housing loans – kicked in at the end of September. But what type of loan is best for you? Fixed-rate? Floating rate? Or both? Find out more in this podcast.  Produced by: Alyssa Woo and ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee Follow ST Podcasts channel: Channel: https://str.sg/wukV Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukr SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected]  --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: h

Synopsis: Learn to protect and grow your wealth in this monthly Business Times podcast series for affluent individuals, hosted by BT wealth editor Genevieve Cua.  Can transferring your wealth to the next generation really be easy? The bottom line is: the issue of succession or wealth transfer requires a lot of thought and planning. Genevieve Cua speaks to Angie Han, head of wealth planning for South Asia from Pictet Wealth Management for more insights. This episode is brought to you by Pictet Wealth Management. Highlights (click/tap above):  01:30 How much wealth involved in the intergenerational wealth transfer in Asia 03:10 Planning is required for wealth transfer: some considerations 06:15 How family offices help in wealth structuring and transfer 08:23 What a seamless wealth transfer means 10:03 A will alone may not suffice; role of trusts 11:50 Why 70% of intergenerational wealth transfers fail 14:45 How philanthropy helps to keep families engaged Produced by: Genevieve Cua ([email protected]) & Howie Lim

Synopsis: Every second and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times’ Insight editor Grace Ho takes a hard look at political and social issues of the day with her expert guests. The term "strawberry generation" usually refers to those born after 1981. Over time, the term has expanded to include pretty much any young person whom the older generation consider to be easily bruised - like a strawberry. But is this a fair perception of the younger generation?  Here to help unpack the strawberries are Chew Han Ei, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore; and Vincent Chua, associate professor at NUS’ department of sociology and anthropology. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:20 Are common perceptions of the strawberry generation justified? 4:16 Key findings of a recent youth study, and how youth overcame adversity during Covid-19 11:20 Whether youth's sense of unity, grit and resilience will dissipate when the crisis is over 14:02: How to get more youth to a

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times Kuala Lumpur bureau analyses the latest issues making the headlines in Malaysia. This ST video livestream was hosted by Cheow Sue-Ann on Nov 24. Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Anwar Ibrahim has ended a 24-year wait to lead Malaysia at 5pm (Nov 24), after he was sworn in as Prime Minister. Read more: https://str.sg/wjwb Produced by: ST Video Edited by: ST Video and Eden Soh Follow Across The Causeway Podcast here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series:

Synopsis: The Business Times Future of Finance showcases content from leading industry players in the financial services sector about the transformational journey of finance into the digital era. What does true digitalisation look like? In order to become a digital bank of the future, one needs to understand the customer of today and the future. For more insights, we speak to Serene Koh, head of group digital business and digital transformation, global consumer financial services, OCBC Bank. This episode of Future of Finance podcast is presented by OCBC Bank. Highlights: 01:07 What true digitalisation looks like and requires 02:23 What else is involved, besides technology 06:37 Challenges building hyper personalised digital experiences 09:33 The concerns of data privacy and security addressed 10:35 The necessities vs the nice-to-haves 12:18 Future trends to keep an eye on More about: OCBC Bank https://www.ocbc.com/group/gateway.page OCBC Financial Wellness Index https://www.ocbc.com/group/financial-wellness-i

Synopsis: Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport. Assistant sports editor Jonathan Wong sits down with Lilian Thuram, former World Cup winner-turned-human rights activist and author. Thuram is regarded as one of the finest defenders of his generation and Les Bleus' most capped player. He chats about his latest book, White Thinking, which focuses on racial identity, as well as defending champions France's chances at the ongoing Qatar World Cup. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:47  Legacy of France's 1998 winning team 3:32 Is racism in sport worse than before? 6:28 Why is it so tough to win back-to-back World Cups? 9:10 Has the criticism of Qatar been fair? 12:12 The importance of people like Jordan Henderson Read more: https://str.sg/w9Bm Produced by: Jonathan Wong ([email protected]) & Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast episodes every second and fourth Wednesday of the month: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: h

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times Kuala Lumpur bureau analyses the latest issues making the headlines in Malaysia. What will Malaysia's political landscape look like, after the dust settles from its 15th General Election? What do the election results say about Malaysia's voters and how they pick their leaders? Is race-based voting entrenched? And what is the future for Pakatan Harapan's Anwar Ibrahim? ST's Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh and Francis Hutchinson, Senior Fellow and coordinator of the Malaysia Studies Programme at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, share their thoughts with host Lynlee Foo. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:15 The 4 scenarios for forming a possible a government 5:15 The possible return of Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister? Will Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) demand senior portfolios after it bagged most seats? 10:40 Explaining the 'green tsunami' of vote results, how Perikatan Nasional (PN) scored by wooing Malay voters away from Barisan Nasional (BN) 20:15 What the future h

Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents Asian views of the United States. It has been a busy month in Asia for diplomacy, with the highlight a much-anticipated, over three-hour meeting in Bali, Indonesia on the occasion of the G20 between President Xi Jinping of China and President Joe Biden of the United States. In this episode on regional summitry, Nirmal Ghosh hosts Curtis Chin, chair of the Milken Institute’s operations in Asia and a former US Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank; and Murray Hiebert, senior associate at the Centre for Security and International Studies (CSIS) and also head of research at Bower Group Asia.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:50 Not about breakthroughs or new agreements, but about these two leaders getting together and talking 2:53 Fundamental positions did not change in Bali, and that was not a surprise 3:29 Why some in China are saying self-reliance is good for them, if they are not able to depend on the US

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get our tips on working smarter, getting ahead in your career and investing like a pro with ST's business correspondents and editors. Host Ven Sreenivasan - associate editor at The Straits Times - offers you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Ven speaks with Mr Vasu Menon, executive director for investment strategy at OCBC Bank, about how the US Federal Reserve has just hiked up its key short term rate by another 75 basis points, the 6th consecutive hike this year and 4th consecutive 75 bps hike.  There is widespread expectation of an economic slowdown and even a recession next year. They discuss how things can pan out and how young adults can cushion themselves against the worst effects of a recession. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:37 What is the Fed rate hike, and why is the US Federal Reserve raising rates? 5:23 Impact of rate hikes on countries such as Singapore 7:29 Mr Menon's 5-tip action plan for young investors: Sa

Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Vitalik Buterin conceived the Ethereum blockchain when he was just 19. He tells executive editor Sumiko Tan why he spent eight months in Singapore, and what he makes of the FTX debacle.  Read Sumiko Tan's full stories here: https://str.sg/Jbhe Lunch With Sumiko videos: https://str.sg/wPrB  Produced by: Sumiko Tan and ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee Follow the Lunch With Sumiko Podcast and rate us on: Channel: https://str.sg/J6hQ Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hM Spotify: https://str.sg/J6hA Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hd  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discove

Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times examines various facets of the US-China rivalry and its implications for Asia. Join Charissa Yong and Danson Cheong - ST’s US and China correspondents respectively based in Washington DC and Beijing - as they chat about how the recent 20th Party Congress in China and midterm elections in the US might affect relations between the two superpowers.  To what extent has this week’s Bali meeting between US president Joe Biden and Chinese president Xi Jinping arrested the slide in US-China relations? Highlights (click/tap above): 1:03 Analysing the Biden-Xi face-to-face meeting in Bali 2:50 The US midterm elections and what a Republican House might mean for US-China relations 6:47 China’s 20th Party Congress and what Xi’s consolidation of power might mean 8:30 Xi’s efforts to push the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) modernisation drive, given its top mission is to be able to win a war over Taiwan if need be   Produced by: Charissa Yong (c

Synopsis: This is a special-edition podcast series by The Straits Times to raise greater public awareness of the modern scourge of scams in Singapore and globally. In Singapore, nearly $1 billion has been lost by scam victims since 2016. Mutating and spreading, different types of scams have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, from romance to work. The police are cracking down on offenders. What can you do to protect yourself? In the series’ eighth episode, ST’s deputy news editor Andre Yeo, crime correspondent David Sun and journalist Jessie Lim speak with Mr Brian Bruce, chief of operations at Global Anti Scam Organization (Gaso), who is in charge of its investigations team. During the episode, Mr Bruce warned about pig butchering scams which combine tactics used in love and investment scams.   Mr Bruce also mentioned how Gaso - formed in June 2021 - works with government agencies in South-east Asia to secure the release of human trafficking victims duped into working for scam syndicates in Myanmar a

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times Kuala Lumpur bureau analyses the latest issues making the headlines in Malaysia. Barisan Nasional candidate Khairy Jamaluddin made headlines when he declared he is gunning to be Malaysia’s future prime minister. But to become the country’s future leader, he first needs to win the parliamentary seat in Sungai Buloh come election day on Nov 19. Read more: https://str.sg/wjvQ Follow ST's Malaysia GE microsite: https://www.straitstimes.com/malaysia-elections Produced by: ST Video Edited by: ST Video and Eden Soh Follow Across The Causeway Podcast regularly here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times Kuala Lumpur bureau analyses the latest issues making the headlines in Malaysia. A record 108 independent candidates are contesting in Malaysia’s 15th General Election, stealing some thunder from mainstream politicians.  The Straits Times’ Hairianto Diman meets three colourful independent candidates to find out why they choose to fight the odds in the Malaysian GE. They are: Mr Lee Wai Hong, a 42-year-old website designer (contesting the Seputeh seat) Mr Kuan Chee Heng, a 59-year-old social activist (contesting the Puchong seat) Ms Siti Kasim, a 59-year-old lawyer and social activist (contesting the Batu seat) Read more: https://str.sg/wjwb Follow ST's Malaysia GE microsite: https://www.straitstimes.com/malaysia-elections Produced by: ST Video Edited by: ST Video and Eden Soh Follow Across The Causeway Podcast regularly here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB  SPH Awe

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. At the COP27 climate talks here in Egypt, a key focus is how to help poorer, more vulnerable nations cope with increasingly extreme weather events that threaten their homes, their jobs and the food they grow.  Adapting to climate impacts has become an urgent need for billions of people around the globe, yet the money to help them is a fraction of what's needed.  Wealthy nations are under pressure at COP27 to give more climate cash since they are most responsible for the emissions that are making the world's weather more dangerous. And few places are more vulnerable to climate impacts than Africa.  In this episode, ST's climate change editor David Fogarty speaks with Dr Debra Roberts, a leading scientist with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and a global expert on adaptation and urban resilience. Dr Roberts

Synopsis: The Business Times Branded Podcasts; finely curated, intelligent, thought provoking content for decision-makers. Inspired by the newsroom of your trusted partner. Follow on audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, or Google Home smart speaker devices. Produced by The Business Times, SPH Media Trust. Blockchain harbours great potential for the financial sector and this technology promises innovative applications and greater efficiency in a fully digitalized financial industry. What are the shockwaves that UOB anticipates? Today we speak with Heng Koon How, executive director for Blockchain & Digital Assets at UOB to find out. This episode of Future of Finance podcast is presented by UOB. Highlights: 01:04 Blockchain’s role in the future of finance 02:45 Game changing blockchain technology 05:05 The draw of CBDCs 08:48 Asset tokenisation to help fundraising 10:51 Significance of asset tokenisation for Singapore 12:16 Banks need to pivot More about: UOB https://www.uobgroup.com/uobgrou