

Asian Insider
SPH Media
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.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 21, 2021 • 9min
S1E3: 'I felt so alone,' says foreigner who married Singaporean man
Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition 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. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on audio apps - Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' senior social affairs correspondent Theresa Tan speaks to two foreign brides in Singapore on their struggles to adapt to life in a new city, far from their loved ones back at home. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: Once a financially independent woman in Indonesia, Siti finds her movements restricted by her controlling husband in Singapore (0:31) A timely programme and a buddy system prove a lifeline for lost, lonely Vietnamese bride Anna in the early years of her marriage (2:36) Anna pays it forward by befriending other Vietnamese women newly married to Singaporean men (3:33) The collective plight of the many “voiceless", "invisible” migrant brides in Singapore (5:06) Read the full story by Theresa Tan: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-felt-so-alone-in-singapore Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning and Ernest Luis Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover ST's Invisible Asia podcast series: Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU --- 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 ---See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 20, 2021 • 15min
S1E63: Quad countries to deliver 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses: Asian Insider Ep 64
Asian Insider Ep 64: Quad countries to deliver 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses 14:38 mins Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests. Without naming China, Quad countries aim to beef up cooperation based on values and principles. Our U.S. Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh speaks with India bureau chief Nirmala Ganapathy and Japan Correspondent Walter Sim on the inaugural Quad summit. Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series 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 The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc 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.

Mar 14, 2021 • 10min
S1E2: 'My ambitions are but empty dreams,' says Chinese migrant worker
Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition 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. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' China correspondent Danson Cheong explores the hardships that short-term labourer Wei Xiaoqiang faces daily. Xiaoqiang is one among China’s 290 million rural migrants who have moved to the big cities to seek a better life. But a lack of skills has kept such migrants out of most employment opportunities, forcing them into an endless cycle of grabbing whatever temporary jobs are hawked their way, at places such as the Majuqiao labour market in the outskirts of Beijing. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: Xiaoqiang on what it's like to have to find a new job each day and struggle to keep up to earn his wages (2:27) He yearns for a better life, doing something different, but his dreams still seem far out of reach to him (3:44) Why China's rural migrants are stuck at the bottom of the "food chain" (4:51) With short-term labour romanticised for the "gig worker lifestyle", Xiaoqiang says it's in fact 'an incredibly lonely life' (6:52) Challenges mounting for such workers in China, and what the government has done to alleviate the problem (7:38) Read Danson Cheong's story here: https://str.sg/Jj9a Produced by: Tan Jia Ning, Magdalene Fung, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover ST's Invisible Asia podcast series: Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU --- 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 ---See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 14, 2021 • 10min
S1E2: 'My ambitions are but empty dreams': Invisible Asia Ep 2
Invisible Asia Ep 2: 'My ambitions are but empty dreams' 10:25 mins Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition 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. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' China correspondent Danson Cheong explores the hardships that short-term labourer Wei Xiaoqiang faces daily. Xiaoqiang is one among China’s 290 million rural migrants who have moved to the big cities to seek a better life. But a lack of skills has kept such migrants out of most employment opportunities, forcing them into an endless cycle of grabbing whatever temporary jobs are hawked their way, at places such as the Majuqiao labour market in the outskirts of Beijing. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: Xiaoqiang on what it's like to have to find a new job each day and struggle to keep up to earn his wages (2:27) He yearns for a better life, doing something different, but his dreams still seem far out of reach to him (3:44) Why China's rural migrants are stuck at the bottom of the "food chain" (4:51) With short-term labour romanticised for the "gig worker lifestyle", Xiaoqiang says it's in fact 'an incredibly lonely life' (6:52) Challenges mounting for such workers in China, and what the government has done to alleviate the problem (7:38) Read Danson Cheong's story here: https://str.sg/Jj9a Produced by: Tan Jia Ning, Magdalene Fung, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee 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! #InvisibleAsiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 11, 2021 • 18min
S1E62: Fukushima nuclear disaster shadow haunts Japan 10 years on: Asian Insider Ep 63
Asian Insider Ep 63: Fukushima nuclear disaster shadow haunts Japan 10 years on 17:38 mins Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests. Nuclear power planners should factor in ethics and human rights, says nuclear expert Tatsujiro Suzuki on Asian Insider. His guests are Walter Sim, ST's Japan correspondent and Dr Tatsujiro Suzuki, a professor at Nagasaki University. Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series 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 The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc 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.

Mar 7, 2021 • 10min
S1E1: 'My ISIS fighter brother turned me into an advocate against terror': Invisible Asia Ep 1
Invisible Asia Ep 1: 'My ISIS fighter brother turned me into an advocate against terror' 10:23 mins Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition 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, unheard and little talked about. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' regional correspondent Tan Jia Ning narrates and also speaks to Muhammad In’am Amin, 44, in Indonesia. He is the founder of Kopi Gandroeng in Jogjakarta, the base for his counter-terrorism organisation Yayasan Lingkar Perdamaian (Peace Network Foundation). In'am's brother, Wildan Mukhollad, was the first Indonesian to die fighting for the Islamic State terrorist group in the Middle East, in 2014. Wildan was only 19. In'am recalls how Wildan became radicalised soon after leaving to study in Egypt (2:25) Their family is labelled as "terrorists" and ostracised in their village after Wildan's death (3:28) In'am rebuilds life in Jogjakarta, helping to pull vulnerable youth back from the brink of religious extremism (4:49) His strategy proves an effective alternative to the government’s deradicalisation programmes (6:17) The Quran's words of tolerance, mercy and kindness must ring louder than those of war and jihad, In'am says (8:35) Read Tan Jia Ning's story here: https://str.sg/Jjhe Produced by: Tan Jia Ning, Magdalene Fung, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee 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 ST Sports Talk 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! #InvisibleAsiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 7, 2021 • 10min
S1E1: 'My ISIS fighter brother turned me into an advocate against terror'
Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition 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, unheard and little talked about. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' regional correspondent Tan Jia Ning narrates and also speaks to Muhammad In’am Amin, 44, in Indonesia. He is the founder of Kopi Gandroeng in Jogjakarta, the base for his counter-terrorism organisation Yayasan Lingkar Perdamaian (Peace Network Foundation). In'am's brother, Wildan Mukhollad, was the first Indonesian to die fighting for the Islamic State terrorist group in the Middle East, in 2014. Wildan was only 19. In'am recalls how Wildan became radicalised soon after leaving to study in Egypt (2:25) Their family is labelled as "terrorists" and ostracised in their village after Wildan's death (3:28) In'am rebuilds life in Jogjakarta, helping to pull vulnerable youth back from the brink of religious extremism (4:49) His strategy proves an effective alternative to the government’s deradicalisation programmes (6:17) The Quran's words of tolerance, mercy and kindness must ring louder than those of war and jihad, In'am says (8:35) Read Tan Jia Ning's story here: https://str.sg/Jjhe Produced by: Tan Jia Ning, Magdalene Fung, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover ST's Invisible Asia podcast series: Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU --- 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 ---See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 5, 2021 • 27min
S1E61: Is mediation possible for Myanmar? - Asian Insider Ep 62
Asian Insider Ep 62: Is mediation possible for Myanmar? 26:43 mins Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests. With deaths mounting and an economy on the brink, ST's US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh looks at what lies ahead for Myanmar. HIs guests are: Moe Thuzar, co-coordinator of the Myanmar Studies Programme at The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Iseas) in Singapore, Tokyo-based Romain Caillaud, associate fellow of the same Iseas programme and principal of Sipa Partners, and Soe Myint Aung, founder of the Yangon Centre for Independent Research. Some disillusionment now with pace of international interventions: Moe Thuzar (5:12) Negotiation the only way out of the crisis: Soe Myint Aung (9:54) We are seeing an economic disaster in the making: Romain Caillaud (14:15) Demonstrators are leaderless, directionless at the moment: Soe Myint Aung (18:30) Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Adam Azlee Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series 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 The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc 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.

Feb 18, 2021 • 22min
S1E60: Widespread civil disobedience testing Myanmar's Tatmadaw or military - Asian Insider Ep 61
Asian Insider Ep 61: Widespread civil disobedience testing Myanmar's Tatmadaw or military 21:47 mins Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests. In this week's episode, Nirmal Ghosh hosts Khin Zaw Win, director of the Tampadipa Institute in Yangon, Gautam Mukhopadhaya, former Indian Ambassador to Myanmar; and ST's Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee on the deepening crisis in Myanmar and worries over the future of the conflicted country. Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Adam Azlee Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series 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 The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc 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.

Feb 11, 2021 • 15min
S1E59: Himalayan glacier disaster - instability possibly exacerbated by climate change: Asian Insider Ep 60
Asian Insider Ep 60: Himalayan glacier disaster - instability possibly exacerbated by climate change 14:29 mins Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests. Amid shrinking glaciers and unstable slopes, building more roads and dams in the Himalayas increases the risk of disaster, as Nepali Times editor Kunda Dixit and Himalayan ecology expert Dr Ravi Chopra, tell Asian Insider. Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Adam Azlee 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/wQsB Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Asian Insider videos: https://str.sg/wdcC --- 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 BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.