The Straits Times Podcasts

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.

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.

#PopVultures Ep 53: Let's talk Shane Pow, Chantalle Ng, Britney Spears and Squid Game!  18:48 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. This week #PopVultures host Jan Lee runs down note-worthy entertainment news for listeners. In local news, she talks about former Mediacorp Shane Pow's comeback after his second drink driving conviction landed him in jail and goes through local actress Chantalle Ng's allegations that her father, retired actor Huang Yiliang, physically abused her when she was 11. Ng is the daughter of Huang and veteran actress Lin Meijiao - the pair divorced before Ng turned one. Huang has responded to the allegations, claiming that he hit Ng because Lin had told him to play the bad cop parent.  Next, she goes into overseas news - she celebrates Britney Spears' father being officially suspended from her conservatorship and Netflix's original K-drama Squid Game becoming a viral hit and taking over the world. Here's what she talked about: 1. Shane Pow's comeback and how it was like covering his interview (0:38) 2. The sad story of Chantalle Ng and Lin Meijiao versus Huang Yiliang (2:16) 3. We're on track to #FreeBritney! (8:46) 4. Squid Game on track to becoming Netflix's biggest drama ever (14:22) Produced by: Jan Lee (janlee@sph.com.sg), Fa'izah Sani & Penelope Lee Edited by: Penelope Lee & Hadyu Rahim 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: 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.

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.

Green Pulse Ep 59: COP26 @ Glasgow, the last chance climate saloon? 18:04 min 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. In less than two months, delegates from around the world will gather in Glasgow, Scotland, for one of the most important climate conferences ever held. Called COP26, the meeting aims to agree an ambitious global deal to step up the fight against climate change -- from deeper emissions cuts to more climate cash for poorer nations.  A deal in Glasgow is urgent. Recent extreme weather events have shown no nation can escape nature’s wrath, but poorer nations remain the most vulnerable because they have the least defences and cash to rebuild. So what are the chances COP26 will be a success? And will poorer nations finally get the resources they need?  In this episode, ST environment correspondent Audrey Tan and climate change editor David Fogarty talk to Dr Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), who is a leading climate scientist from Bangladesh and has many years experience with the UN climate talks process. He is also an expert on the impacts of climate change on poorer nations and the urgent needs they face to adapt, and build resilience, to more extreme weather and rising sea levels. They discuss the following points: Key issues to be discussed at this year’s COP26 in November (2:30) What bearing will recent extreme weather events have on the international negotiations? (5:30) The evolution of climate talks and the key issues that came up at each stage. (7:21) The concept of loss and damage has gained prominence recently. What does this mean exactly? (8:48)  What is the controversy surrounding climate finance, and why is this important? (11:07)  What are the concerns from climate activists about the participation of developing countries at COP26? (15:18) Produced by: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg), David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim 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 Read ST's Climate Code Red site: https://str.sg/3pSz --- Discover more ST podcast series: 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.

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.

Asian Insider Ep 76: Citizens should push politicians and companies on climate crisis and vaccine inequity, says UNDP head 17:12 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 climate crisis and the Covid pandemic's global vaccine inequity were the two main issues on the agenda at the just-concluded United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by the United States and China. In this episode, Nirmal Ghosh hosts the head of United Nations Development Programme - Achim Steiner - who's based in New York City. The Human Development Index was created to emphasise that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone. They discuss the following points: Did events at the recent United Nations General Assembly by the United States and China show there is concrete progress towards solving the climate crisis (1:04) How Steiner assesses the state of the world in terms of vaccine equity globally (3:45) Why there is a drop in the UNDP's Human Development Index for the first time in 30 years (5:45) Why citizens must make their voices heard by politicians and companies that depend on them (7:42) Why in 2021 - across most of the world - renewable energy today is cheaper per kilowatt hour than any other fossil fuel-based energy generation (12:27) Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) and Ernest Luis Edited by: Hadyu Rahim 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 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 Asian Insider newsletter: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/asian-insider Asian Insider videos: https://www.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! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regional Round-up Ep 17: Why Malaysia is allowing interstate travel, despite recent surge of Covid-19 cases? 10:43 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: Why is inter-state travel to be allowed from October despite Malaysia's Covid-19 high number of cases? (2:40) Indonesia's President Joko Widodo's budget of 2714 trillion rupiah approved by Parliament (4:24) 70,000 homes inundated and 6 killed by floods caused by tropical storm, Dianmu in Thailand (6:33) Phillippines' President Rodrigo Duterte to roll out vaccination programmes for the public from October (8:20) 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.

Helena Gylling, Professor Emerita of Clinical Nutrition at the University of Helsinki, dives into the fascinating world of plant stanols—natural compounds that can significantly lower LDL cholesterol. She discusses their history and safety, highlighting how 2-3g daily can lead to a 9-12% reduction in bad cholesterol. Gylling explains the benefits of incorporating plant stanols into a diet alongside lifestyle changes to avoid early statin use. Listeners will learn how to maximize their effectiveness by consuming them with meals and the differences between food products and supplements.

China Perspective Ep 15: China's series of bold financial moves and economic adjustments 10:05 mins Synopsis: Every week, The Straits Times analyses the latest developments in China. Dr Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow at Singapore Institute of International Affairs, stands in for The Straits Times' China bureau chief Tan Dawn Wei, who is on leave. He chats with Money FM 89.3's Elliott Danker and Bharati Jagdish about the following points: All cryptocurrency transactions such as Bitcoin, are being banned in China (1:47) Huawei's executive Meng Wanzhou back in China - a hero's welcome (4:04) China faces a shortage of coal supply and tougher emission standards (5:58) Are investors comfortable with President Xi Jinping's philosophy of common prosperty? (8:01) 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: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/tan-dawn-wei 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.