The Straits Times Podcasts

Asian Insider Ep 75: What the US' Afghanistan exit means for Asia's regional powers  25:33 mins Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests. What the American failure in Afghanistan, India's unrealised political promises and an emboldened China means for dynamics in Asia? N...

Inside Hong Kong Ep 8: Hong Kong's upcoming new and toughened laws 10:30 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in Hong Kong. The Straits Times' Hong Kong correspondent Claire Huang speaks with Money FM's Rachel Kelly and Timothy Go on the following points: New data privacy law will create complications for Hong Kong's business community (1:58) Toughened...

The Big Story Ep 109: Analysing Singapore's defences against flash floods Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story, hosted by Hairianto Diman and Olivia Quay. More rain pelted western Singapore in three hours on Tuesday (Aug 24) morning than the country had previously recorded for the whole month of August.  The heavy rain brought about a flash floo...

Regional Round-up Ep 12: Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s first week in office as Malaysia's 9th PM 10:39 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses South-east Asia's top news developments. The Straits Times' regional correspondent Leslie Lopez chats with Money FM's Adrian Abraham about the following points: Who could be deputy to new Malaysian PM Ismail Sabri? (1:18) New Malaysian Prim...

China Perspective Ep 10: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s plans for 'common prosperity' 8:55 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in China. Dr Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow at Singapore Institute of International Affairs, stands in for The Straits Times' China bureau chief Tan Dawn Wei, who is on leave. He chats with Money FM 89.3's Adrian Abraham and Ryan H...

Washington Report Ep 11: How Afghanistan's Kabul airport became a scene of chaos 9:25 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in the United States. The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh chats with Money FM 89.3's Adrian Abraham and Ryan Huang about the following points: The magnitude of the Kabul airport evacuation and refugee relocation (1:37)...

Power Play Ep 4: China, US and politics of the Olympics 9:01 mins Synopsis: On the third Friday of every 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 the following: The Olympics - a neutral or an int...

The Big Story Ep 108: Expert weighs in on further easing of rules in Singapore from Aug 19 5:48 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story, hosted by Hairianto Diman and Olivia Quay. In Singapore, the latest phase 2 (heightened alert) period was slated to end on Wednesday (Aug 18), but some rules have been relaxed ahead of this date. At the last press...

Regional Round-up Ep 11: Malaysia awaits its next Prime Minister 12:36 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses South-east Asia's top news developments. The Straits Times' regional correspondent Leslie Lopez chats with Money FM's Adrian Abraham and Ryan Huang about the following points: Latest developments in Malaysia's leadership stalemate (1:10) Is there a possible comebac...

Washington Report Ep 10: Possible terror threats after US exit from Afghanistan 11:05 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in the United States. Steve Okun, senior adviser at McLarty Associates, stands in for The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh who is on leave. He chats with Money FM 89.3's Adrian Abraham and Ryan Huang about the following...

China Perspective Ep 9: Why Taleban’s Afghanistan takeover will concern China 9:08 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in China. Dr Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow at Singapore Institute of International Affairs, stands in for The Straits Times' China bureau chief Tan Dawn Wei, who is on leave. He chats with Money FM 89.3's Adrian Abraham and Ryan Huang abo...

Health Check Ep 66: How parents can promote good mental health in children 21:10 mins Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Parents play an important role in promoting good mental health in their children. They are often the first to notice if a child is having problems with his or her emotions.  In this ep...

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. This week's 101st episode explores whether there are too many financial advisers in Singapore and if we actually need them. Is it possible to take care of your own financial planning?  Correspondent Howie Lim speaks with Wayne Chen, founder and CEO of GoalsMapper, a financial planning so...

Green Pulse Ep 56: IPCC rings alarm bells for humanity  18:13 mins 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. Recent extreme weather events, from heat waves and fires in North America, Greece and Turkey to deadly record floods in China have caused global alarm. Scientis...

#PopVultures Ep 51: Kris Wu implodes and the #MeToo movement in Chinese entertainment 29:41 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene.  In this episode, host Jan Lee covers the scandal and legal controversy surrounding Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu, 30, who has been detained by the Beijing police on a...

Inside Hong Kong Ep 7: Implications of China's anti-sanctions law on Hong Kong 10:37 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in Hong Kong. The Straits Times' Hong Kong correspondent Claire Huang speaks with Money FM's Rachel Kelly and Timothy Go on the following points: Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam supports adoption of China’s anti-sanctions la...

Speaking Of Asia Ep 4: Why India and China cannot get along 54:34 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times's associate editor Ravi Velloor distils his experience from four decades of covering the Asian continent. In this fourth episode, he discusses the subject of China and India, and their fraught relationship, with Professor Kanti Bajpai, who has the Wilmar Chair on Asian Studies at the Lee Kuan Yew Sch...

The Big Story Ep 107: Petition asking for alcohol sales till midnight to be allowed 7:32 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story, hosted by Hairianto Diman and Olivia Quay. In a joint letter to the Covid-19 multi-ministry task force, the Singapore Nightlife Business Association (SNBA), Singapore Cocktail Bar Association and the #savefnbsg restauran...

Regional Round-up Ep 10: Understanding political turmoil in Malaysia and Thailand 10:14 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses South-east Asia's top news developments. The Straits Times' regional correspondent Leslie Lopez chats with Money FM's Elliott Danker about the following points: Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's premiership hanging in the balance (1:44) Possi...

China Perspective Ep 8: Can a military conflict involving China happen sooner than later? 6:59 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in China. The Straits Times' China bureau chief Tan Dawn Wei chats with Money FM 89.3's Elliott Danker about the following points: China punishes 30 officials for failing to curb new Covid-19 outbreak (1:27) Can China go into a...

The Big Story Ep 106: What are my legal rights if safe distancing officers show up at my home? 6:24 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story, hosted by Hairianto Diman and Olivia Quay. There has been chatter online, following news that safe distancing enforcement officers can enter, inspect and search premises including residences without a warrant,...

ST Sports Talk Ep 136: MCCY's Edwin Tong on Joseph Schooling, fairweather sports fans, athlete accountability 16:20 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the biggest sports talking points every month. Team Singapore has returned home from the Tokyo Olympics empty-handed but Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong insisted that there were "a lot of positives". These included the rec...

Letter From The Bureau Ep 4: Taiwan wakes up to its tribal culture 13:40 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times's foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe every month. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. In this episode, she chats with ST's Taiwan correspondent Katherine Wei about the follow...

Health Check Ep 65: How to reach out to youth with mental health challenges 15:21 mins 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 crisis has impacted the mental health of many young people around the globe, including Singapore.  ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Ms Andrea Chan, as...

Regional Round-up Ep 9: Malaysia PM's impending reign loss and possible political developments 11:30 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses South-east Asia's top news developments. The Straits Times' regional correspondent Leslie Lopez chats with Money FM's Elliott Danker about the following points: Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin postponed Parliament session due to...