The Straits Times Podcasts

The Big Story Ep 36: New ERP system to start in 2023 but no distance-based charging yet 8:41 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story. Motorists welcome the additional features of the next-generation Electronic Road Pricing system, but feel its three-piece onboard unit is clunky, inelegant and takes up too much space. Some drivers also hope a distan...

Recording & interview originally published: May 19, 2019 Lunch With Sumiko Ep 10: Carousell co-founders had no salaries for first 18 months  3:35 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. For the first 18 months, Carousell's co-founders - Quek Siu Rui, Marcus Tan and Lucas Ngoo - had no salaries. They see what they do...

Health Check Ep 43: Understanding stress in the age of the coronavirus 12:49 mins Synopsis: Fortnightly on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and clears up common misconceptions on health with expert guests. The World Health Organisation has just called for a massive scaling up of investment in mental health. Close to 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder, wh...

Recording & interview originally published: May 5, 2019 Lunch With Sumiko Ep 9: Sheng Siong boss Lim Hock Chee walks the talk 2:23 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Sheng Siong supermarket boss Lim Hock Chee believes he must work harder than his employees. Read Sumiko's full story and video here: https://str.s...

The Big Story Ep 34: Maid acquitted of stealing from ex-Changi Airport Group chief – what damages can she seek? 6:50 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story. Both the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the police are looking into the case of a former domestic worker acquitted of stealing from Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong and his f...

Recording & interview originally published: April 21, 2019 Lunch With Sumiko Ep 8: "I feel like a semi-citizen of Singapore," says Jewel architect Moshe Safdie 2:35 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Over 40 years, architect Moshe Safdie - who designed Jewel Changi Airport - has seen Singapore change even as he...

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 99: The big EPL kickoff: Are Chelsea contenders or pretenders? 14:20 mins  Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday. Money FM's Howie Lim calls up ST assistant sports editor Jonathan Wong and sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz to discuss the following topics: 1. The English Premier League kicks off this weekend, a...

Recording & interview originally published: March 24, 2019 Lunch With Sumiko Ep 7: "It's been so turbulent... my heart's been broken," says Nurul Izzah Anwar 15:00 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar looks back at the year since Malaysia's general election in 2018. Read Sumiko...

Recording & interview originally published: March 10, 2019 Lunch With Sumiko Ep 6: My fame may have peaked, but not my music, says Nathan Hartono 3:47 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Singer Nathan Hartono has been in the limelight half his life, but has no illusions it will last. Read Sumiko's full story and...

Recording & interview originally published: Jan 20, 2019 Lunch With Sumiko Ep 5: Creative Technology’s Sim Wong Hoo is back, with Super X-Fi getting rave reviews 4:19 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Creative's Sim Wong Hoo is back, and his Super X-Fi audio technology has been slaying the naysayers. Super X-F...

The Big Story Ep 33: New MPs yet to find rhythm, equilibrium: Leader of the House Indranee Rajah on tone in Parliament 9:03 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story. With a record 10 opposition MPs in Parliament, the debate on policy issues has been passionate and vigorous. Leader of the House Indranee Rajah wraps up the week with Dylan Ang of The B...

The Big Story Ep 32: Jamus Lim versus PAP MPs on minimum wage 6:55 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story. Associate Professor Jamus Lim of the Workers' Party made several suggestions on minimum wage and compassionate policymaking in his maiden speech in Parliament on Thursday (Sept 3), drawing a string of questions from People's Action Party MPs,...

The Big Story Ep 31: Good for S'pore to have adequate opposition MPs, but disagreement must not lead to polarisation, paralysis: PM Lee 3:52 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says having an adequate number of opposition MPs in Parliament is good for Singapore as this keeps the Government on its toes, and shows...

Recording & interview originally published: Jan 6, 2019 Lunch With Sumiko Ep 4: You can't be effective if you go against your instincts, says PSC chairman Lee Tzu Yang 5:07 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. When it comes to leadership, you have to be yourself, says Public Service Commission chairman Lee Tzu Ya...

Asian Insider Ep 38: What will a post-Shinzo Abe era bring? 12:30 mins Synopsis: Every Friday, together with our stable of 30 correspondents based around the world, The Straits Times gives an Asian perspective on the global talking points of the week. Dr Satoru Nagao, visiting fellow at Hudson Institute, and Ravi Velloor, associate editor with The Straits Times, speak with ST's US Bureau Chief Nir...

Green Pulse Ep 29: Perilous journeys of migratory birds  19:42 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Travel may be off the cards for humans during the pandemic, but not for some birds. Every year from around September, Singapore welcomes scores of birds from as far north as the Arctic Circle, who fly halfwa...

The Big Story Ep 30: Employment Pass quota not unthinkable, but probably unwise, says Josephine Teo 8:47 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story. Manpower Minister Josephine Teo says imposing quotas on higher-end foreign professionals when it comes to Employment Passes is not unthinkable, but such a move would probably be unwise. She tells Parliame...

The Big Story Ep 29: Crucial to avoid Covid-19 super spreader settings, like dining in big groups 6:37 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story. Two restaurants and a bar were ordered to close after they were found to have flouted safe management measures. Separately, a recent family cluster of five Covid-19 cases from two households was identified....

Recording & interview originally published: Dec 23, 2018 Lunch With Sumiko Ep 3: TWG Tea's Taha Bouqdib on how he fell in love with tea 3:10 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Taha Bouqdib's father wanted him to join the military. He chose tea, and TWG Tea is now a global brand. The Moroccan-born Frenchman is p...

Recording & interview originally published: Nov 18, 2018 Lunch With Sumiko Ep 2: Jason Mraz keeps his feet on the ground 3:35 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Away from his touring life, American singer Jason Mraz is an avocado farmer. Read Sumiko's full story and video here: https://str.sg/J2to Follow the Lu...

Health Check Ep 42: Can a person get Covid-19 twice? 9:10 mins Synopsis: Fortnightly on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and clears up common misconceptions on health with expert guests. A man in Hong Kong was found to be reinfected with Covid-19 last month, less than five months after he was infected with the disease. Researchers at the University of Hong Kong said gen...

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 98: Where next for Messi; what next for Singapore Athletics 11:52 mins  Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday. Money FM's Rachel Kelly calls up ST sports journalists Nicole Chia and David Lee to discuss the following topics. Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi continues to angle for a move after falling out w...

Recording & interview originally published: Nov 4, 2018 Lunch With Sumiko Ep 1: My mantra was to keep Singapore going', says ESM Goh Chok Tong 5:08 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong looks back on his political career in his authorised biography. Read Sumiko's full story a...

The Big Story Ep 28: Pritam Singh debuts as Opposition Leader, lives up to expectations of position 8:41 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story. In his maiden speech as Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh says the Workers' Party does not have enough MPs in Parliament to form a shadow Cabinet, but it will organise itself to scrutinise policies i...

Asian Insider Ep 37: Are there silver linings for Singapore's economy? 18:29 mins Synopsis: Every Friday, together with our stable of 30 correspondents based around the world, The Straits Times gives an Asian perspective on the global talking points of the week. ST's US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh hosts OCBC's head of treasury research and strategy Selena Ling, and ST's associate editor Vikram Khann...