Asian Insider

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents. Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Latest episodes

Jul 5, 2022 • 7min

S1E53: Eastern China cities tighten Covid curbs: China Perspective

Jul 4, 2022 • 9min

S1E54: Most Americans do not want Biden to run for presidential re-election: Washington Report

Jun 30, 2022 • 19min

S1E13: China relaxes pandemic travel curbs but this does not feel like a new phase: Letter From The Bureau

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. In this episode, she chats with ST's China correspondent Elizabeth Law. China, which has maintained some of the world's strictest entry requirements, eased its quarantine policy for international arrivals in late June, 2022. It was the most significant relaxation of curbs since the Covid-19 pandemic began, but does it mean Beijing is ready to be more tolerant of the virus? Highlights (click/tap above): 2:15 Elizabeth Law on recovering from Covid in a Shanghai hospital 4:13 Motivation behind China's decision to cut quarantine for international travellers; a big change from China’s Covid-zero approach? 9:17 Does living with the virus mean “lying flat”, the translation of the Chinese phrase "tang ping"? 12:59 What is “strategic disobedience”? 16:23 In a politically important year, will the Shanghai and Beijing leaders be impacted by the way they handled the Covid outbreak? Read Elizabeth Law’s article here: https://str.sg/wL8G Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar (bhagya@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow Letter From The Bureau Podcast every first Friday of the month on our Asian Insider Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Websites: https://www.moneyfm893.sg/ http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo Read Elizabeth Law’s articles: https://str.sg/wL8c Follow Elizabeth Law on Twitter: https://str.sg/wL8p Read ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://str.sg/3xRd Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #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! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 29, 2022 • 9min

S1E54: Can Indonesia's Jokowi help open dialogue between Russia and Ukraine? - Regional Round-up

Jun 28, 2022 • 7min

S1E52: Are Covid restrictions easing in Beijing as schools reopen? - China Perspective

Synopsis: The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in China in this weekly podcast. The Straits Times' China bureau chief Tan Dawn Wei chats with Money FM 89.3's Elliott Danker. They discuss the G-7’s attempt to compete with China’s formidable Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and how the situation is potentially easing up in Beijing with schools reopening. Chinese President Xi Jinping takes a shot at the US and its allies' opposition to the war in Ukraine at the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) virtual meeting. Produced by: Tan Dawn Wei (dawntan@sph.com.sg) & Money FM's Breakfast Huddle team Edited by: Nadhirah Kamarudin Follow China Perspective Podcast every Tuesday on our Asian Insider Podcast channel: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Websites: https://www.moneyfm893.sg/ http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Tan Dawn Wei's articles: https://str.sg/3xR7 Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #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 BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 27, 2022 • 11min

S1E53: Roe v Wade: Could abortion be made legal in the US once again? - Washington Report

Jun 26, 2022 • 17min

S1E5: Singapore's Covid-19 Crisis Communication plan

Synopsis: This podcast series is based on selected chapters from a book detailing Singapore’s experience battling the Covid-19 pandemic. The book - written by journalists of The Straits Times and edited by ST’s executive editor Sumiko Tan - is titled In This Together: Singapore's Covid-19 Story and is available in major bookstores. Details online: https://www.stbooks.sg/ In this fifth of six instalments, ST's executive editor Sumiko Tan looks back at how the government communicated its Covid 19 strategy in the first two years of the pandemic. This included bringing back the 1990s sitcom character Phua Chu Kang to persuade people to get vaccinated, and setting up a hotline call centre during the hurried switch to home recovery in late 2021 when the Delta variant raged. Highlights (click/tap above): (Headphones recommended) 01:13 Snippet from viral music video featuring actor Gurmit Singh playing Phua Chu Kang; Mr Daniel Lee, an officer from the Ministry of Communications and Information, explains how the video was meant to target those in their 40s and 50s 02:50 Mr Janadas Devan, Chief of Government Communications, on the importance of maintaining public trust 06:54 Learning and adapting: The biggest comms mistake? 08:21 In 2021, the challenge was to get the elderly vaccinated; more music video campaigns rolled out in Chinese dialects, Malay and Tamil 11:25 Ms Lam Wy-Ning, deputy director of the Case Management Contact Centre, on setting up and manning the Covid-19 hotline during the difficult Delta variant period; dealing with widespread fear, anxiety, confusion 14:25 Minister for Communications and Information Mrs Josephine Teo in Parliament in March 2022 Produced by: Sumiko Tan (sumiko@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Audio snippets: Courtesy of MCI SINGAPORE, GOVSG YOUTUBE Follow Singapore's War On Covid podcast series here: Channel: https://str.sg/wuJa Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3n Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJy SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Sumiko Tan's stories: https://str.sg/Jbhe --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast 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 --- #stcovidbookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 22, 2022 • 9min

S1E53: Indonesia hopes to export chickens to Singapore soon: Regional Round-up

Synopsis: The Straits Times analyses South-east Asia's top news developments in this weekly podcast. The Straits Times' regional correspondent Leslie Lopez chats with Money FM's Elliott Danker. In this week's episode, the team discusses the possible effects of Malaysia’s decision to raise the ceiling price of sugar. Moreover, was stopping their chicken exports a good move? Indonesian authorities now hope to reach an agreement with Singapore to start exporting chickens in the next few weeks while Cambodia has ignored an appeal to exclude the Myanmar regime’s defence minister from the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting. Produced by: Leslie Lopez (ljlopez@sph.com.sg) & Money FM's Breakfast Huddle team Edited by: Nadhirah Kamarudin Follow Regional Round-up Podcast every Wednesday on our Asian Insider Podcast channel: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Websites: https://www.moneyfm893.sg/ http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Leslie Lopez's articles: https://str.sg/3xRX Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #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 BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 21, 2022 • 7min

S1E51: China and US presidents to discuss global security issues: China Perspective

Synopsis: The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in China in this weekly podcast. The Straits Times' China bureau chief Tan Dawn Wei chats with Money FM 89.3's Elliott Danker. Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden could be having a video discussion about global security issues in the next one to three months. Their dispute over Taiwan continues to get more heated. Domestically, President Xi's economy is dangerously slowing, financing for his Belt and Road Initiative has tanked and his Zero Covid policy is flailing. However, we have not seen any objections within China's leadership to any of his policies. Produced by: Tan Dawn Wei (dawntan@sph.com.sg) & Money FM's Breakfast Huddle team Edited by: Nadhirah Kamarudin Follow China Perspective Podcast every Tuesday on our Asian Insider Podcast channel: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Websites: https://www.moneyfm893.sg/ http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Tan Dawn Wei's articles: https://str.sg/3xR7 Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #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 BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 20, 2022 • 20min

S1E4: The Mekong River's 'serpent' fire

Synopsis: In this special series, The Straits Times dives into some of the greatest unsolved mysteries in South-east Asia, and examines the underlying issues that they exposed. In this episode, we investigate the source of the red and orange fireballs that emerge from the Mekong River once every year.ST Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee speaks to Dr San Sunthornthanakul, mayor of Phon Phisai municipality, and biologist from Chulalongkorn University Dr Jessada Denduangboripant.She also interviews Mr Thanavorakit Kounthawatphinyo, a Laotian filmmaker based in Bangkok, Mr Sompop Khamsawat, a civil servant who is convinced that Naga Fireballs are a hoax.Highlights (click/tap above): (Headphones recommended)01:53 The annual Naga Fireball festival draws large crowd05:20 The Naga is seen as a celestial guardian, a symbol of abundance and a patron of water06:30 Dr Jessada dismisses the theory of chemical reaction giving rise to the fireballs09:00 Mr Thanavorakit traces the fireballs to Laotian soldiers firing bullets into the sky13:36 Mr Sompop petitioned the authorities for an investigation into the phenomenon15:45 Dr San says the term “Naga Fireball” is a modern creation 17:38 The health of the Mekong River is failing Produced by: Tan Jia Ning (jianing@sph.com.sg), Tan Hui Yee (tanhy@sph.com.sg), Magdalene Fung (magfung@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow The Unsolved Mysteries Of South-east Asia podcast series here every third Tuesday of the month till July: Channel: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3W Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJ9 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wE7i SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Tan Hui Yee's articles: https://str.sg/wuNL --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 #unsolvedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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