
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

Oct 19, 2021 • 8min
S1E16: China faces slow economic growth in the third quarter of 2021: China Perspective Ep 16
China Perspective Ep 16: China faces slow economic growth in the third quarter of 2021 7:30 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 and Bharati Jagdish about the following points: The impact of China's third-quarter GDP hitting a one-year low of 4.5% growth (1:09) Shares of Chinese property developers climbed after China Central Bank calmed markets (3:10) The objective behind China's test of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in August (4:51) Produced by: The Breakfast Huddle, Money FM 89.3 & Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Dan Koh 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 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Tan Dawn Wei's stories. Asian Insider newsletter. --- Discover more ST podcast series: 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: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 19, 2021 • 12min
S1E19: US labour force goes on strike and millions of workers quit their jobs: Washington Report Ep 19
Washington Report Ep 19: US labour force goes on strike and millions of workers quit their jobs 12:12 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in the United States. Steve Okun, senior advisor of McLarty Associates sits in for ST's Nirmal Ghosh who is on leave, to chat with Money FM 89.3's Elliott Danker and Bharati Jagdish about the following points: Workers behind the scenes in Hollywood going on strike (1:51) Production houses such as Netflix, Disney, Comcast, have gotten bigger profits during the pandemic (3:15) The way ahead for the change in America's labour dynamic (5:12) America's jobless benefits one of the reasons for high unemployment numbers (6:57) 200 Boeing employees protest against vaccination mandate (8:41) Produced by: The Breakfast Huddle, Money FM 89.3, Ernest Luis & Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Dan Koh 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 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Nirmal Ghosh's stories. Asian Insider newsletter. --- Discover more ST podcast series: 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: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 15, 2021 • 10min
S1E11: Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam aims to reach Covid Zero: Inside Hong Kong Ep 11
Inside Hong Kong Ep 11: Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam aims to reach Covid Zero 9:48 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: Even with low Covid-19 cases, borders remain close as Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam aims for a Covid Zero approach; how will it affect business leaders? (1:43) Will Lam run for a second term? (4:32) China hands Hong Kong 500-point to-do list to manage city (7:00) Pillar of Shame, a sculpture representing 1989's Tiananmen Square crackdown, to be removed from the University of Hong Kong (8:07) Produced by: Prime Time, Money FM 89.3 & Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Nadiah Koh 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 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Claire Huang's stories. Asian Insider newsletter. --- Discover more ST podcast series: 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: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 14, 2021 • 11min
S1E6: Dissecting impact of Huawei CFO's release on US-China relations: Power Play Ep 6
Power Play Ep 6: Dissecting impact of Huawei CFO's release on US-China relations 10:47 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: Huawei chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, received a hero's welcome upon returning to Shenzhen while America saw the release of Meng Wanzhou and the 'two Michaels' as a prisoner swap (1:45) How will this politically affect US President Biden? (4:11) US-China relations have improved since Meng's release (6:27) Possibility of US conceding to Beijing's requests on China's grievances (7:58) US concerns and policy towards China not changed (8:55) Follow ST's Power Play articles: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/st-power-play Produced by: Charissa Yong (charyong@sph.com.sg), Danson Cheong (dansonc@sph.com.sg), Hadyu Rahim & Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Dan Koh Follow our Asian Insider Podcast channel every week here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Charissa Yong's stories: https://str.sg/3xRa Read Danson Cheong's stories: https://str.sg/3xR2 Follow Danson on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dansoncj Read ST's Power Play articles: https://str.sg/3xRE Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- 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 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN 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! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 13, 2021 • 9min
S1E19: Countries slowly opening up borders to allow vaccinated travellers: Regional Roundup Ep 19
Regional Round-up Ep 19: Countries slowly opening up borders to allow vaccinated travellers 9:04 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 and Bharati Jagdish about the following points: Malaysia has allowed vaccinated travellers to cross inter-state borders as it reaches 90% vaccinated rate (1:14) Indonesia is reopening Bali and Riau islands to 18 countries, but Singapore is not one of them (4:17) Risks to take note of when visiting Thailand when its borders reopen to Singapore (5:17) Contingency plans needed in the event of a fresh outbreak or new Covid-19 variants (6:31) Moving from restricted travel to Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) arrangement between Singapore and other countries (7:40) Produced by: The Breakfast Huddle, Money FM 89.3, Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Dan Koh 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 Read Leslie Lopez's stories. Asian Insider newsletter. --- Discover more ST podcast series: 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.

Oct 11, 2021 • 12min
S1E18: What to expect from SM Tharman's working visit to the US: Washington Report Ep 18
Washington Report Ep 18: What to expect from SM Tharman's working visit to the US 11:55 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 Elliott Danker and Bharati Jagdish about the following points: Former US President Donald Trump vows to assert executive privilege after Biden administration said it will give a House panel investigating the Jan 6 insurrection at the US Capitol access to some requested documents (1:45) Impacts of the investigations on Trump's own presidency shot in 2024 (4:06) What to expect from Singapore's Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam, as he makes a working visit to the US from Oct 11 to 17 (8:39) Affirmation of the close relationship between the US and Singapore, and Singapore's advice as a valuable partner in this region (10:30) Produced by: The Breakfast Huddle, Money FM 89.3, Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Dan Koh 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 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Nirmal Ghosh's stories: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/nirmal-ghosh Asian Insider newsletter: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/asian-insider --- Discover more ST podcast series: 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: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 8, 2021 • 48min
S1E6: Europe will not be torpedo-ed from Asia: Speaking Of Asia Ep 6
Speaking of Asia Ep 6: Europe will not be torpedo-ed from Asia 47:54 mins Synopsis: Join The Straits Times's associate editor Ravi Velloor, in this series of podcasts as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this sixth episode, he has two special guests - the French ambassador to Singapore Marc Abensour and the newly arrived European Union ambassador, Iwona Piorko. They discuss the recent Australian decision to drop a contract with France to build diesel electric submarines in Adelaide. Australia chose to go for nuclear powered submarines from either the United States or the United Kingdom and the three nations also announced a new security formation, called Aukus which is described as an Enhanced Trilateral Security Partnership. The cancellation of the submarine contract greatly upset France, which withdrew its ambassadors to Washington and Canberra to show its displeasure. France's fellow European Union members in the European Union were taken aback, after they had released a major policy paper on the IndoPacific that deserves much more attention. Ambassador Abensour on why the breakdown of the deal with Australia is a breach of trust and consistency in this region? (3:25) Steps being taken to fix this breach of trust while maintaining important relationships with allies (5:27) Ambassador Abensour on the long-term French approach to the Indo-Pacific? (8:08) The EU's approach paper titled the EU Strategy For Cooperation In The Indo-Pacific: Ambassador Piorko on the EU’s approach, and how different it is from the US and Japanese approaches (13:15) Can France pursue an Indo-Pacific strategy without close cooperation with the Aukus and Quad powers? (21:19) How Europe views Asean's efforts to cut a deal with China on a code of conduct for the South China Sea (34:50) Produced by: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim & Fa'izah Sani 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 Read Ravi Velloor's columns: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/ravi-velloor Follow Ravi Velloor on Twitter. Discover the Asian Insider newsletter. Discover Asian Insider Videos --- 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.

Oct 6, 2021 • 11min
S1E18: South-East Asian politicians and influential leaders mentioned in Pandora papers: Regional Roundup Ep 18
Regional Round-up Ep 18: South-East Asian politicians and influential leaders mentioned in Pandora papers 11:04 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 and Bharati Jagdish about the following points: Impact of Pandora papers on South-east Asian politicians and influential leaders (2:15) How are the governments in the region addressing the Pandora papers? (4:11) Singapore's Fica aims to tackle foreign interference in domestic affairs (5:15) Malaysia had Chinese vessels enter its maritime economic zone (7:56) Latest updates on Phillippines' presidential election (9:25) Produced by: The Breakfast Huddle, Money FM 89.3, Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Dan Koh 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 Read Leslie Lopez's stories. Asian Insider newsletter. --- Discover more ST podcast series: 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.

Oct 4, 2021 • 11min
S1E17: US Supreme Court's impending changes to abortion and gun laws: Washington Report Ep 17
Washington Report Ep 17: US Supreme Court's impending changes to abortion and gun laws 10:41 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 Bharati Jagdish about the following points: Supreme Court to consider all rules restricting abortions are unconstitutional (1:48) How can the Supreme Court rulings possibly backfire on legislators? (3:55) New York state gun law to mandate a licence to carry a concealed gun, with good reason (5:32) 2,500 fire-arms taken out of communities via buy-back scheme (6:39) Separation of church and state - involving state funds to religious schools (8:55) Produced by: The Breakfast Huddle, Money FM 89.3, Ernest Luis & Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Dan Koh 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 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Nirmal Ghosh's stories: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/nirmal-ghosh Asian Insider newsletter: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/asian-insider --- Discover more ST podcast series: 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: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 30, 2021 • 21min
S1E6: Celebrating Chuseok and observing gender inequality in South Korea: Letter from the Bureau Ep 6
Letter From The Bureau Ep 6: Celebrating Chuseok and observing gender inequality in South Korea 20:34 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' 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 South Korea correspondent Chang May Choon about the following: What is Chuseok; difference between Chuseok celebrations, pre and post-Covid-19 (1:04) South Korea - a still-patriarchal society or a modern, technologically-driven nation? (6:18) Blatant gender inequality in everyday life, even in schools and the workforce (9:40) May Choon's personal experience of Chuseok and gender divide in South Korea (13:46) Newer Chuseok traditions being created by modern Korean mothers-in-law (17:06) Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar (bhagya@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim & Dan Koh 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 Read Chang May Choon’s stories: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/chang-may-choon Read more of ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/letter-from-the-bureau Asian Insider newsletter: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/asian-insider 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: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #STAsianInsider See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.