The Straits Times Podcasts

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 118: Are profiteers targeting sports-starved Singaporeans? 14:06 mins Synopsis:  #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday. This week sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz and sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan explore an ST news report that revealed bookings for public sports facilities are being resold - at a higher rate - on platforms like Facebook, Meetup and Telegram. The two also chat about the Lion City Sailors’ new $2.9m man Diego Lopes - signed after some some ex-EPL players were said to be considered by the club - and what the Brazilian’s arrival could mean for the Singapore Premier League (SPL), with the new season set to kickoff in about a month’s time. They discuss the following: Is the practice of reselling sports facility bookings widespread, even during pre-Covid days? (2:08) When The Straits Times confronted an alleged profiteer (4:26) Lopes’ quality over big names in the SPL a prudent choice? (8:28) What to keep an eye on in the 2021 SPL season (10:38) Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz (msazali@sph.com.sg) Edited by: Penelope Lee Subscribe to #GameOfTwoHalves podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SazaliAbdulAziz Read his stories: https://str.sg/JbxqSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green Pulse Ep 42: Perfect storm - Will 2021 be the year the world warms to climate change? 14:04 mins 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 this podcast series. Despite the pandemic dominating headlines, governments and investors made major commitments last year to tackle climate change. Has this really changed the mood and the global will to step up action to fight the growing climate crisis? In this episode, ST’s environment correspondent Audrey Tan and climate change editor David Fogarty chat with Mr Alden Meyer, a world renowned expert in climate and energy policy who has been involved in UN climate negotiations for more than two decades. Alden is a senior associate of E3G, an independent European climate change think tank. They discuss the following points: What's your view on why 2021 is it a key climate year? (3:00) Have the net-zero pledges from China, Japan and South Korea, plus climate pledges from the UK and Italy really given the world hope and bolstered COP26? (6:57) The impact of the Biden Administration and what it can achieve, especially now that the Democrats have won both US Senate seats in Georgia (7:42) A look ahead to COP26, why it's important and what it aims to achieve (8:32) Has the growth of green energy investment in 2020 also made you feel more optimistic? (12:08) Produced by: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg), David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) & Ernest Luis Edited by: Adam Azlee Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: 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 --- 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 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! #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 57: Biden presidency a welcome change for Japan and South Korea 16:34 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. How would Joe Biden’s presidency affect Japan and South Korea? Correspondents Chang May Choon and Walter Sim tell Asian Insider what to expect with the change in Washington. They discuss the following: View from Seoul: US leadership change brings about new opportunities after 4 years of Trump (2:23) South Korean President Moon tweets congratulations to Joe Biden (3:26) View from Tokyo: Question marks over PM Suga’s foreign policy approach after Abe’s ‘personal diplomacy’ with Trump (6:00) Japanese PM Suga tweets congratulations to Joe Biden (10:11) Can US mediate historical issues between South Korea and Japan? (10:55) What does Japan hope for from US-China relationship? (13:23) 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.

The Big Story Ep 70: Recent Covid-19 cases in dorms not cause for alarm: Experts 3:31 mins Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story. Journalist Kok Yufeng shares more with The Big Story hosts Hairianto Diman and Olivia Quay on what experts have said about the sporadic Covid-19 cases in the foreign worker dormitories. No dorm cases had been reported since Dec 15 last year, until a construction worker staying in Seatown Dormitory tested positive last Tuesday (Jan 12). Produced and edited by: ST Video team and Muhammad Firmann Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc 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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 117: NMP Mark Chay on plans to help local sport survive beyond Covid-19 19:23 minsSynopsis:  #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.This week ST Sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz hosts former national swimmer Mark Chay, who was among the nine new Nominated Members of Parliament selected to serve a two-and-a-half year term. Olympian Chay, 38, talks about why he decided to step forward, what his priorities will be, and how he is preparing to take on the role.Sazali also chats with ST sports reporter Kimberly Kwek, who reports on-site on a surreal experience at the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M2 World Championship at the Shangri-La Hotel.They discuss the following: Why Chay decided to serve as an NMP (2:08) The issues he aims to raise in Parliament (3:29) How he plans to be an effective voice (8:28) How e-sports has coped with positive Covid tests (13:09) Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz (msazali@sph.com.sg) Edited by: Penelope Lee Subscribe to #GameOfTwoHalves podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS Read his stories: https://str.sg/JbxqSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#PopVultures Ep 39: GOT7 and longevity of pop idol groups 34:01 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood industries. In their first episode of 2021, #PopVultures Jan Lee and Sam Jo discuss some K-pop news - the exodus of GOT7 members from their management agency JYP Entertainment. They recap the details of the GOT7 exit, discuss the social media shadiness that went down, and ponder the future of GOT7.  Covering the examples of J-pop boy band Arashi, the changing cast of UK girl group Sugababes, the not-so-harmonious Fifth Harmony, the tragic tale of TLC, and the reunion of Taiwanese boy band 5566, the #PopVultures examine the longevity of pop idol groups, the factors crucial for groups with staying power and reasons for an early demise. Produced by: Jan Lee (janlee@sph.com.sg) & Yeo Sam Jo (yeosamjo@sph.com.sg) Edited by: Muhammad Firmann Follow #PopVultures Podcast episodes here every month:  Channel: https://str.sg/JWad Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP  Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ 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 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 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! #PVSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lunch With Sumiko Ep 28: Opposition Leader & Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh 5:49 mins Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan gets up close with newsmakers over lunch - and a selfie. In this episode, Sumiko Tan meets the Leader of the Opposition, Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh. Mr Singh was formally designated Leader of the Opposition after the general election in July last year where his Workers' Party won 10 out of 93 parliamentary seats. This was the largest win by an opposition party. The party retained the Hougang single ward and Aljunied GRC, and added Sengkang GRC to its fold. They discuss the following: What is WP's brand of opposition? (1:47) Pritam Singh's objectives (2:41) On the approach for WP MPs in Parliament (3:50) Produced by: Sumiko Tan and ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee Follow the Lunch With Sumiko Podcast and rate us on: Channel: https://str.sg/J6hQ Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hM Spotify: https://str.sg/J6hA Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6hd  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Sumiko Tan's stories here: https://str.sg/Jbhe --- 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 Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 56: Trump’s presidency - how Asia will view his legacy 16:52 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. President Donald Trump made his mark with his America First foreign policy, but how will Asia look back on his legacy? US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh hosts the following guests: Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute at National University of Singapore (NUS) Professor C Raja Mohan from NUS' Institute of South Asian Studies Mr Ankit Panda from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace They discuss the following: Trump’s legacy will be overwhelmingly negative (1:25) Trump faltered, not only on trade, but security cooperation too (3:31) Trump made two critical mistakes to spur China’s rise (7:39) Any positive legacies from Trump’s foreign policy on Asia? (11:31) Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Muhammad Firmann 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.

Health Check Ep 52: Addressing Covid-19 vaccine safety and the science behind it 20:14 mins Synopsis: This is a fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays by The Straits Times and this episode is on the safety of Covid-19 vaccines. Much has been said about the safety and effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine frontrunners but there are still many people who are hesitant about taking the vaccine, mostly because they are unsure if it is truly safe. In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo hosts Prof Ooi Eng Eong from the Duke-NUS Medical School. He's the school’s principal investigator in the partnership with Arcturus Therapeutics to develop a self-replicating mRNA Covid-19 vaccine. Prof Ooi talks about the science of the vaccine, addresses concerns about side effects (including reports of long-term effects from pandemic flu jabs), as well as discuss the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines, and how different the one being trialled here is. Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Penelope Lee and Ernest Luis  Edited by: Penelope Lee Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6Wv  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN --- 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 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! #healthcheckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 116: Indra Sahdan on how to groom Singapore's next goal machine 14:54 mins Synopsis: Every Tuesday, The Straits Times tackles the biggest sports talking points. This week ST Sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz hosts former national captain and Lions marksman Indra Sahdan, who is offering commercial specialised striker coaching sessions called The Finishing Touch, to budding talents, as he hopes to give back and hopefully help groom a future generation of Singaporean goalscorers.The big-game player - who scored against Manchester United, Japan, Denmark and Uruguay - also shares his thoughts on the modern striker’s role, how he honed his own skills and which of his over 200 strikes he cherishes most (Hint: It’s not one of the above). They discuss the following: 1. Why he decided to offer such classes (1:28)2. Goalscoring instinct: God-given or honed? (4:58)3. The dearth of top Singaporean strikers (10:03)4. Indra’s own personal favourite strike (12:07) Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz (msazali@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Muhammad Firmann & Penelope Lee Edited by: Muhammad Firmann Subscribe to #GameOfTwoHalves podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Sazali Abdul Aziz on Twitter: https://str.sg/JbxS Read his stories: https://str.sg/JbxqSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.