The Straits Times Podcasts

Green Pulse Ep 50: Are electric vehicles really green? 23:08 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. Singapore wants to decarbonise its transport sector, as part of its goal of reaching net-zero emissions as soon as viable in the second half of the century. The Republic plans to phase out all internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040, and has announced initiatives to improve uptake of electric vehicles, including tax incentives and the roll-out of more charging points. But if electric vehicles still draw electricity from the national grid, which in Singapore is still fossil-based, are they really more environmentally friendly? Green Pulse hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Mr Goh Chee Kiong, chief executive of Charge+ , the green mobility arm of Singapore clean energy company Sunseap Group, as they discuss the following points: If electric vehicles draw power from the grid, which is still fossil-based, are they really more environmentally friendly than those that run on petrol? (1:03) Other than fuel source, what other factors make an EV greener than an internal combustion engine vehicle? (7:05) The mining of raw materials for electric vehicles is not known for its environmental credentials. How can pressure on the environment be reduced in the manufacture of electric vehicles? (10:19) Other than benefits to the environment, what are the advantages of electric vehicles to human health? (14:00) Pain points of widespread electric vehicle adoption in Singapore (17:25) Listen to Ep 45: Can an electric vehicle push and petrol duty hike green Singapore's land transport sector? https://omny.fm/shows/green-pulse-1/can-an-electric-vehicle-push-and-petrol-duty-hike Produced by: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg), David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Penelope Lee Edited by: Penelope Lee Subscribe to Green Pulse Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Audrey Tan on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLMB Read her stories: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty  on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 70: Myanmar descending into economic collapse 18:29 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. The international community needs to brace for a humanitarian catastrophe in Myanmar, as analysts Richard Horsey and Pwint Htun tell Asian Insider. They discuss the following points:  People risking their lives to withdraw cash (4:16) UN should consider delivering aid through mobile phones (9:33) Criminal networks already well-entrenched in Myanmar (12:40) Risk of state failure spreading to centre of Myanmar (14:00) Military has undone decades of progress in poverty alleviation (15:27) Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah Subscribe to the Asian Insider Podcast channel and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Discover Asian Insider Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduMSOntUoS6ALNp21jMmgfBX Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Big Story Ep 87: Making sense of Singapore's new Covid-19 clusters 5:50 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story, hosted by Hairianto Diman and Olivia Quay. The Health Ministry on Monday announced 19 new Covid-19 cases, including three in the community. Of the three cases, two work in Changi Airport Terminal 3 and are linked to the Changi Airport cluster. Professor Eric Finkelstein, from the Health Services and Systems Research Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School, weighs in on the emergence of new Covid-19 clusters here. Produced by: Hairianto Diman (mdhairi@sph.com.sg) & Olivia Quay (oliviaq@sph.com.sg) Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc Discover ST podcasts: Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg  Follow Hairianto Diman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamhairianto/?hl=en Follow Olivia Quay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviaquayhere/?hl=en --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips. This week's episode covers insurance, a risk management fundamental you need to sort out before considering more advanced money hacks. Find out why critical illness insurance is more crucial than ever during this pandemic, in this episode brought to you by Great Eastern: https://www.greateasternlife.com/sg/en/index.html BT's digital editor Chris Lim hosts Colin Chan, managing director of Group Marketing at Great Eastern, who explains the following: What is critical illness insurance and where it sits in your insurance portfolio (0:44) Understanding the latest multi-pay critical illness plan (3:12) How such a plan can continue to cover you even after you suffer from your first critical illness (4:50) Ensuring continued critical coverage given that illnesses are happening at a younger age (8:30) The percentage top-up premium needed to ensure continued multi-pay critical illness coverage (9:35) Great Eastern’s Live #Lifeproof: https://www.greateasternlife.com/sg/en/personal-insurance/thelifecompany.html Great Eastern’s Great Life Advantage with add-on critical illness coverage: https://www.greateasternlife.com/sg/en/personal-insurance/our-products/life-insurance/great-life-advantage.html Great Eastern’s Critical Illness Cover calculator: https://www.greateasternlife.com/sg/en/personal-insurance/understand-insurance/financial-tools-to-know-what-you-need/critical-illness-cover.html Produced by: Chris Lim and Ernest LuisEdited by: Adam AzleeFollow BT Money Hacks podcasts every first and third Monday of the month, and rate us on:Channel: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacksApple Podcasts: http://bt.sg/oeXeSpotify: http://bt.sg/oeGNGoogle podcasts: http://bt.sg/oeGPWebsite: http://bt.sg/moneyhacksFeedback to: podcast@sph.com.sgDo note: Any financial or investment information in this podcast is for use in Singapore only and is intended to be for your general information. Any particular investment or decision should only be made after consulting with a fully qualified financial adviser. --- Discover more BT podcast series: BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt WealthBT Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btwealthbt BT Podcasts on: http://bt.sg/podcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#PopVultures Ep 46: Shane Pow & Channel 8’s Succession Crisis 25:56 minsSynopsis: The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. This week, #PopVultures Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo give an update to the previous episode: Elvin Ng has responded to Dasmond Koh and Angel Lim, who claimed that he flared up at Lim on set. Then, they move on to another local actor - Shane Pow - who recently had his contract with Mediacorp terminated after he was charged with drink driving. Pow will also be replaced midway through the upcoming series The Heartland Hero, with James Seah taking over the second male lead role. Jan and Sam Jo talk about his chances of mounting a comeback and how Mediacorp's Channel 8 seems to be in a succession crisis with its roster of young actors. They also discuss other notable cases of actor replacements due to scandals, including Ji Soo in River Where The Moon Rises and Kevin Spacey in All The Money In The World. Finally, they share their thoughts on whether replacing Pow mid-series will work out for the best. Here's a quick peek at what they cover: Elvin Ng's response to Dasmond Koh and Angel Lim (0:19) Shane Pow's drink driving charge and James Seah (1:49) Channel 8's succession crisis (8:23) Actor replacements in Korea, Hong Kong and Hollywood (15:17) Will replacing Shane Pow work? (20:32) Produced by: Jan Lee (janlee@sph.com.sg) and Yeo Sam Jo (yeosamjo@sph.com.sg)  Edited by: Aleemah Basirah Subscribe to #PopVultures Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWad Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: http://bt.sg/podcasts Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Check Ep 59: What you can eat to sleep better 14:46 mins 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, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Dr Richard Swinburne, a sleep scientist and the Head of Sports Nutrition at the Singapore Sports Institute on sleep nutrition, how he flew to Texas a few years ago to help Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling to sleep better and why you need to sleep well before and after getting your Covid-19 vaccine. They discuss the following points: You can get DNA-tested to see how sensitive you are to caffeine (1:04) Caffeine takes 4-6 hours to break down to half its strength, using a double espresso as an example (1:59) How kiwi fruit, tart cherry in natural concentrate or pill form - and omega 3 fish oils for children - can encourage good sleep (2:29) How having enough sleep can help you before and after a Covid-19 vaccination? (5:46) Helping Singapore's Olympic swim champion Joseph Schooling with the perfect performance-enhancing drug called "Zzzz" (7:24) Listen to Ep 60 - How to sleep right: https://omny.fm/shows/health-check-1/how-to-sleep-right-health-check-ep-60 Ep 9 - Why sleep habits need to be formed when young: https://omny.fm/shows/health-check-1/why-sleep-habits-need-to-be-formed-when-young-heal Ep 10 - Can schools and parents help boost the cognition and well-being of sleep-deprived Singaporean teenagers? https://omny.fm/shows/health-check-1/can-schools-and-parents-help-boost-the-cognition-a Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Penelope Lee and Ernest Luis  Edited by: Penelope Lee Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6Wv  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN --- 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/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #healthcheckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Letter From The Bureau Ep 1: Getting to know Little Singapore in the south of India 16:08 mins Synopsis: Join The Straits Times's foreign desk editor Bhagyashree Garekar in this podcast series as she talks about life as it goes on, amid, and in spite of the headlines, with one of ST’s 30-odd correspondents in 15 cities across the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe every month. They will share with you some of the more interesting things they are reporting on from the countries they are based in.  In this episode, she hosts Rohini Mohan - ST's India correspondent - about a unique region in south India where the people have strong historical, economic and emotional ties to Singapore. They chat about the following: Where is 'Little Singapore' in south India and why it gets this name (0:55) Background to districts surrounding Trichy (short for Tiruchirapalli) - the fourth largest city of Tamil Nadu and its decades-old connection to Singapore (2:28) Hear about little Lee Kuan Yew Jayaprakash, born in Mannargudi town in Tamil Nadu in 2015, and the inspiration for his name (6:30) Amid Covid-19 pandemic, as many migrant workers returned home after job loss or to care for their parents, the love affair with Singapore has turned into separation anxiety (9:05) Read Rohini Mohan's stories: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/rohini-mohan Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar (bhagya@sph.com.sg) & Ernest Luis Edited by: Aleemah Basirah Subscribe to our Asian Insider Podcast channel to follow our various shows each week and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Rohini Mohan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohini_mohan Read more of ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/letter-from-the-bureau Read & subscribe to the Asian Insider newsletter: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/asian-insider Discover Asian Insider Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduMSOntUoS6ALNp21jMmgfBX --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speaking Of Asia Ep 1: Do not mock India, learn from its Covid-19 troubles 9:26 mins Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' associate editor Ravi Velloor, in this series of podcasts based on his weekly columns on Asian issues, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. Ravi argues that while much of the global media has focused on the shortcomings of the Indian government, he sees this as a hybrid, with the effects of the coronavirus as an act of nature - made worse by human errors and emotions, complacency, power play, religion and class issues, and of course, utter misgovernance.  He covers the following reasons for India's seeming Covid collapse as the world watches on: 1st factor: The complacency virus (2:50) 2nd factor: Why and how the Indian elections became coronavirus super spreader events (4:19) 3rd factor: How an ancient Hindu bathing ritual in the Ganges that takes place every 12 years, became another super spreader event (5:53) 4th factor: Only about 2% of Indians vaccinated with their second shot (7:03) Paying tribute to the real heroes of India's underfunded and collapsing health sector (8:00) Read Ravi Velloor's columns: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/ravi-velloor Produced by: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Adam Azlee Subscribe to our Asian Insider Podcast channel to follow our various shows each week and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Ravi Velloor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor Read & subscribe to the Asian Insider newsletter: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/asian-insider Discover Asian Insider Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduMSOntUoS6ALNp21jMmgfBX --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 69: India's worsening Covid crisis 18:04 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. The new Covid-19 variants in India preyed on a complacent government and population, as ST's India correspondent Rohini Mohan and Ashoka University Professor Gautam Menon, explain on Asian Insider. They discuss the following points:  1. Bangalore in lockdown after spike in infections (3:34) 2. Complacency set in after the first wave peaked in 2020 (6:47) 3. Official data vs real numbers ‘not fooling anyone’ (9:55) 4. Role of media in focus as India battles deadly second wave (13:09) Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah Subscribe to the Asian Insider Podcast channel and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Discover Asian Insider Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduMSOntUoS6ALNp21jMmgfBX Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Asia Ep 9: 'Many Koreans have big misunderstandings about Islam' 14:06 min Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition 9-episode series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of.  The Straits Times' South Korea correspondent Chang May Choon closes our series as she casts the spotlight on the South Korean Muslim minority. As many as 3,000 South Koreans convert to Islam each year, according to the Korea Muslim Federation.  But a lack of understanding of Islam among the country’s general populace, contributes to the daily difficulties that they face for their belief.  In this podcast, listen to translated testimonies from South Korean Muslim converts Song Bo-ra, Lee Seul and Yu Hong-jong. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning. How Bo-ra counters misconceptions about the way the hijab is viewed (2:01) Lee Seul still uneasy in public after her own conversion to Islam (4:33)  South Korean government working to change its people's mindsets about Islam as Muslim tourist numbers rose pre-Covid (5:51) Hong-jong on the difference between the way Christians and Muslims are viewed in South Korea (8:14) Booming demand for halal Korean food from Muslim students, workers and tourists (9:28) Lee Seul and Song Bo-ra helping to make South Korea a more Muslim-friendly country (11:20)  Read the full story by Chang May Choon: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/many-koreans-have-big-misunderstandings-about-islam Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Adam Azlee, Fa'izah Sani, Penelope Lee & Ernest Luis Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b Discover ST & BT podcasts: Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU  Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP  Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt  Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts  https://bt.sg/moneyhacks  Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg  --- Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below: Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks  Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt  Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN  Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf  Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7  Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ  Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad  Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2  Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE  Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas  Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #InvisibleAsia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.