Education Bookcast

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 his fight to serve the rest of his jail sentence under house arrest. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:21 Takeaways from the Asean foreign minister’s meeting, the first major gathering of 2025  7:00 A possible appearance by China’s Xi Jinping at this year’s Asean summit? 8:42 A catchier name for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone 11:52 Solving the pain points of doing business between Johor and Singapore 22:00 Made in Singapore or made in Johor?  25:08 What happens if former PM Najib gets his request for house arrest?  30:38 Why Najib continues to fight for house arrest  32:45 Fit for duty: Malaysia’s policemen must get in shape to get promoted Read more: https://str.sg/EQBu  https://str.sg/nkbG https://str.sg/i7Se    Read Lim Ai Leen’s articles: https://str.sg/MKsE  Read Tan Tam Mei’s articles: https://str.sg/iJxJ  Read Shannon Teoh's articles: https://str.sg/wzyK  Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters  Hosts: Lim Ai Leen (limal@sph.com.sg) & Tan Tam Mei (tammei@sph.com.sg)   Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7  Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts   Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg  --- 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/icyX  --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the Trump administration? 8:30 What does Trump want from Asia? 11:23 The Marco Rubio factor in US foreign policy 15:20 What’s behind Trump’s desire to visit China in the first 100 days? 16:30 On TikTok: Will Trump make a deal with China? 18:30 What the change in US policy on TikTok says about its view of China 23:28 What’s behind Trump’s blistering start - why the hurry? Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo  Read Lin Suling’s articles: https://str.sg/nnEQ  Follow Lin Suling on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/t2RX  Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Lin Suling (linsuling@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7  Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg  --- 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/icyX  --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 heritage preservation 8:08 What the Great Wall means to younger Chinese 10:16 A China correspondent’s Great Wall climbs  Read Dawn’s article here: https://str.sg/FofV Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters  Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg) Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- 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/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 (velloor@sph.com.sg) 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 Luis Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7  Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX  Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- 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/icyX  --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 (clemtan@sph.com.sg) & Bhagyashree Garekar (bhagya@sph.com.sg)  Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- 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/icyX   --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 and the Senate, says Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a senior fellow of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science.  Meanwhile, Thailand's international standing has diminished - though the country’s size and geographic location mean it remains a key player in the region. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is also divided on contentious issues such as the ongoing civil war in Myanmar.  While former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin has been appointed an informal advisor to next year’s Asean chair, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, expectations are low.  The former premier, as well as Prime Minister Anwar himself, are from an older generation - but Asean needs a younger generation to lead it forward, says Professor Thitinan, who is currently a visiting professor as well at the London School of Economics, in this episode with host Nirmal Ghosh.  Highlights (click/tap above):  6:02 How the military coup in May 2014 'sank' Thailand 10:29 Thailand lost out on tech revolutions like AI 15:07 Why Asean is currently at its weakest 19:22 How Thailand can play a regional role in the Myanmar crisis, and curb transnational crimes like scams 21:39 Msia PM Anwar picks Thaksin Shinawatra as informal Asean adviser Host: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Lynda Hong Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- 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/icyX   --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 countries - because their credit ratings are worse. For example, the average African country may be paying almost 10 per cent while the United States and Germany may be paying less than 3 per cent, because the latter have higher credit ratings.  In Laos' case, there is a geopolitical dimension as well; about 50 per cent of Laos's external debt is owed to China. There is wide consensus that this is a full blown crisis, but the solutions to it are hard to implement. Part of the reason is many creditors are private lenders. Yet solutions are critical if developing countries are to be able to dig themselves out from under the mountain of debt they are burdened with.  In this episode of Asian Insider, Olivia De Schutter, professor of law and UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, and Keith Barney, Associate Professor at the Australian National University's Crawford School of Public Policy, share with host Nirmal Ghosh insights into the fundamentally unjust situation many developing countries are trapped in.  Highlights (click/tap above):  1:52 Global debt: From $51 trillion in 2010 to $97 trillion in 2023 4:01 The Pact for the Future acknowledges the issue, but much public debt is owned by private creditors 5:53 Why Laos debt crisis is also an environmental crisis; China's role in this 10:04 Since the debt is in foreign currencies, countries must export to repay it 13:59 China offers debt deferrals, not relief, just delaying the issue 16:01 Debt burden is driving the international community to consider debt-for-nature or debt-for-climate swaps Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- 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/icyX   --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 is leading the way for both regions 11:00 India: 8 years of market gains in a row; Rupee stability great for investors 20:10 Asean’s tripwires 23:00 Deglobalisation challenge; Trump's return and South-east Asia Host: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg) 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 Luis Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7  Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- 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/icyX  --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aqil Hamzah, a seasoned journalist, shares insights into Indonesia's vibrant informal workforce, which comprises about 61% of the labor force. He discusses the innovative services offered by workers on motorcycles and bicycles, from ironing to coffee delivery. The conversation highlights their resilience and resourcefulness, especially during the pandemic, and how social media helps them connect with clients. Moreover, Aqil sheds light on the challenges they face in the informal sector, including government efforts to transition these workers into formal employment.

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 with the disruptive effects of tariffs, this  region has to also find ways to go back to a kind of globalisation that works for everyone.  These are some of the challenges, and currents, that the next American President and the US' trade partners and allies must navigate and adapt to, as a new era looms in Washington DC.  In this episode of Asian Insider, Nirmal hosts Danny Quah, Professor of Economics and Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, and Robert Manning, Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC, who is working on the think tank’s Strategic Foresight and China programmes. They share their perspectives from opposite sides of the world, on the foreign policy of the Donald Trump 2.0 Administration.  Highlights (click/tap above):  2:51 Defusing the zero-sum game; what is Trump's idea of a bilateral trade deficit? 6:47 Trump inheriting a very different world now in his second term 13:17 Is there a kind of globalisation that can work for everyone? 16:34 Why Donald Trump is not shy to exercise hard power  18:02 China weak? Why the US can't do everything anymore 23:54 What makes Trump so tricky to work with? Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- 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/icyX   --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.