The Straits Times Podcasts

If Singapore has fuel reserves, why are electricity tariffs surging?  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with newsmakers. From April to June 2026, electricity and household tariffs will be higher. And we’ve been warned to brace for even higher utility bills after this quarter, as the ongoing war in the Middle East squeeze...

Improving people’s ability to withstand hotter weather is one part of Singapore’s adaptation plan. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times provides you with a South-east Asian perspective to global environmental challenges. As Singapore’s hottest month of the year, May, approaches and global energy volatility drives up Singapore's electricity tarif...

Is silver a safe haven for investors like gold and will its price rise due to war? Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a head start in your personal finance, career and life with The Straits Times. Silver has had some exciting days, especially when the price of silver skyrocketed in 2025. However, there has been a pullback in early 2026.  So how does silver compare to gol...

Discover how bhajan clubbing is transforming devotional music in India. 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. In this episode, host Li Xueying discusses with Debarshi Dasgupta the recent surge in bhajan clubbing - the fusion of devotional Hindu music with contemporary styles l...

If you have private medical insurance, April 1 would have been on your radar. Private health insurers have put out new Integrated Shield Plan (IP) riders, which comply with requirements by the Ministry of Health (MOH) that were announced in November 2025.  This move was aimed at curbing rising insurance premiums and private healthcare costs. The major effect on policyholders? They will now be...

The first woman to lead a university in Singapore discusses how SMU is adapting to AI and different forms of employment. Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with newsmakers. Facing a softer job market, fresh challenges wrought by artificial intelligence (AI) and growing scrutiny over the industry relevance of degrees, universities ar...

With Washington distracted and opportunities in clean energy, Beijing might have the last laugh. 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 Greater China bureaus. For March, host and deputy foreign editor Albert Wai teams up again with senior China correspondent Yew Lun Tian....

Will lucky draws, monetary rewards or ‘sticks’ work when it comes to getting Singapore residents to recycle? A new recycling initiative called the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) launches on April 1, but with household recycling rate in 2024 fell to a record low of 11 per cent, will this move the needle? Mr Heng Li Seng, founder and director of social enterprise Green Nudge, an...

Are these cards really that bad? Could playing with them lead to gambling?  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Pokemon. One Piece. Magic: The Gathering. These trading card games bring back nostalgic childhood memories. But the government's plans to regulate them raise questions. In this episode, assistant opinion e...

Depleting its own military resources and antagonising Arab neighbours may be a cost too high for the regime to bear. 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, US Bureau Chief Bhagyashree Garekar chats with Prof Benjamin Radd, an authority on the politics of the Middle East, es...

More than 1,000 private residential developments in Singapore are hitting their 30s, and some are starting to show signs of wear and tear. But if residents have not been prudent in saving for these big-ticket items such as upgrading lifts and fixing spalling concrete, should the Government step in to help? Mr Andrew Lioe, president of the Association of Strata Managers, and Mr Daniel Chen, a lawye...

As the Middle East conflict sends oil and gas prices soaring, Green Pulse hosts discuss if geopolitics will break ASEAN’s fossil fuel addiction. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times provides you with a South-east Asian perspective to global environmental challenges. The war in the Middle East is causing energy prices around the world to spike, due to Iran&r...

Veteran national swimmer Quah Ting Wen discusses finding her own joy in swimming. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a head start in your personal finance, career and life with The Straits Times. In this episode, ST video journalist See Kai Wen hosts national swimmer Quah Ting Wen, who tells him how American figure skating Olympic champion Alysa Liu’s infinite mindset i...

How South-east Asia can navigate the age of AI and its impact on the economy and employment. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 45 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests. Artificial Intelligence is impacting the world at a pace far greater than that of previous general-purpose technologies, such a...

The way the Iran war began has reinforced the growing feeling that the rules-based international order, which Singapore stands by and bases its foreign policy on, is under serious strain. But could Singapore’s measured and consistent response actually be an asset in these volatile times? In this podcast episode, Mr Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, founding director of Dialogue Centre, a non-profi...

Why older workers with deep domain expertise have a unique advantage in the AI era, how companies can fix the "broken rung" for fresh graduates.  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Ten years ago, the message to the workforce was: "Learn to code." Today, the mandate has shifted to learning AI and prompting chatbots....

Clearing the air on what different types of psychologists do. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. The Ministry of Health has announced that five key psychological subdisciplines will be registered under the Allied Health Professions Act, with details expected to be out in early 2027.  This move aims to enhance...

Find out why it has become a paradox decades after its founding. 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. Putrajaya, founded in 1995, turned 30 in 2025. As Malaysia’s administrative capital and inspired by Paris, it was supposed to replace the former tin-mining colony that...

A recent report card of our behaviour on the road has shown that we’ve become worse motorists. Traffic deaths have hit a 10-year high, the number of people injured in accidents has risen from 2024, and speeding violations jumped by 25.9% in a year. These figures were detailed in the annual road traffic statistics for 2025 by the Traffic Police, which were reported on Feb 26. We have smart ca...

Fossil fuel supply chains are unstable, and renewable energy alone can’t meet all its energy needs.  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. Singapore is exploring the use of nuclear energy to meet its energy needs, and has taken several steps to build its kno...

How much coverage is too much? Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a head start in your personal finance, career and life with The Straits Times. The question people always have when buying insurance is: how much? And not just how much it costs, but how much is enough? How can you tell if you have too much insurance?  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan...

From considering UEC path to starting school at six – is Malaysia's education overhaul built to last? Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the hottest political and trending talking points, alternating between its Malaysia and China bureaus. For our February episode, ST’s Malaysia bureau chief Shannon Teoh and host Zurairi A.R. are joined by Eddin Khoo...

Will the recent changes to the preferential additional registration fee (PARF) rebate and the current COE prices turn away car buyers? Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his Budget speech on Feb 12 that the PARF rebate will be lowered by 45 percentage points. The maximum rebate a car owner can expect to receive will be halved from $60,000 to $30,000. If you're looking to buy a car, should y...

Booming arrivals, stubborn humidity – but dull and overpriced?  Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Singapore’s tourism pitch is not just about selling its picture-perfect skyline; it’s also about showcasing its rich multiculturalism, leaning into its talent in hosting world-class events, and takin...

This year's Budget spotlights more ways to invest your CPF and how to deal with AI. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a head start in your personal finance, career and life with The Straits Times. Another year and another Budget speech, with goodies given out by PM Lawrence Wong.  But is the Budget just about CDC vouchers and subsidies? What exactly is in it for young p...