Asia is on the cusp of a summer of life-threatening dengue fever. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Dengue fever case numbers have gone up across the global tropics. This includes Singapore, a model in many respects for health surveillance and epidemic control, and mosquito control. In the first quarter of 2024, Singapore recorded more than double the n...
Apr 25, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 108
Tan Tam Mei reflects on her time as Thailand correspondent, and looks ahead to how the country could navigate geopolitical and domestic politics. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. A man sings. It is part of Thailand’s folk music tradition from its north-east region of Isan. But he is warbling in Laotian - a reminder of Thail...
Apr 04, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Our guests discuss if parenthood is an expectation or choice. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. In Singapore, where preliminary estimates indicate its Total Fertility Rate hit a record low of 0.97 in 2023, some are opting to remain child-free. In the first episode of our new podcast series, The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah brings together two guests who hold opposing...
Apr 04, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the Philippines is raising its game to cope with an increasingly aggressive China in the South China Sea. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Increasingly dangerous encounters between Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard vessels in the South China Sea - claimed almost in its entirety by China but also in part by several ...
Mar 22, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 107
A conversation with the noted anthropologist and Andamans expert Vishvajit Pandya on the need to balance heritage, developmental and strategic interests as the Andaman and Nicobar islands become a geopolitical hotspot. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with Prof Visvajit Pandya, an anthropologist who has researched tribes in the Andaman a...
Mar 07, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Feeling peckish? Find out why Taiwan is mad about the “Kuai Kuai” brand of corn snacks. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Taiwan is the world’s top manufacturer of semiconductors and advanced chips. But here is the super-chip that rules them all: a corn chip snack that is a favourite among Taiwan kids. Bags of it can be foun...
Feb 29, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Hear why most Manipuris - of different ethnic groups - just want an end to militarisation and violence. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Manipur, in north-east India, is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious state of 3.1 million people. In May 2023, violence exploded between the ethnic Meitei and Kuki people, leaving many dead. Ongoing ethnic violence has cl...
Feb 22, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 106
Former South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha also ponders the challenges posed by Kim Jong Un’s moves on missiles and Moscow, and Seoul’s ties with Japan. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with Dr Kang Kyung-Wha, the incoming President and CEO of Asia Society. In 2017, she was the first woman to be...
Feb 14, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 28
We transport you to Keran, which sits on the Line of Control - a ceasefire line dividing Kashmir into territories administered by India and Pakistan. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. At a time when people-to-people links are practically non-existent between India and Pakistan, Keran is a rare place where greetings, waves an...
Feb 08, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 29
They share their experiences trying to be a part of the discourse at Davos. Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with young delegates at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 to find out about their experience. The WEF, held in Davos, Switzerland, brings together some of the biggest names in politics, business and economics from all over the world every year. But it has been criticised for being nothing more than a public relations exercise, with a lack of accountability and fading re...
Feb 06, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1
The sociological and political implications of the temple to the Hindu God Rama that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India on Jan 22, 2024. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with the respected sociologist and head of Indian Century Roundtable Salvatore Babones, an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. They di...
Feb 01, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Find out why Myanmar is in a state of economic collapse with only one per cent growth in fiscal year 2023/24. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Military-driven policies and conflict have shrunk Myanmar’s formal economy, but its illicit economy - long a feature of its borderlands in particular - has been thriving. Myanmar's military regime is not entirel...
Jan 25, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 105
One of them is the sauna boom. Find out why it is taking off in a country of hot springs. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Japan is in transition - where younger Japanese are questioning the rules and strictures that traditionally govern their society. One manifestation of that is the increasing number of schools in both ci...
Jan 18, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 28
A conversation with a veteran economist, editor and geopolitical expert on the recently concluded election in Bangladesh. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with the respected journalist and geopolitics expert Dr Sanjaya Baru. They discuss the recent election in Bangladesh, the country’s perceived democrat...
Jan 11, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Indonesia’s bold plan to catch cervical cancer early will see 50-60 million women screened and vaccinated Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Indonesia’s bold plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health concern - the country’s cervical cancer rate is higher than the global average - is being approached not as a programme but as a movement, says its ...
Dec 21, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 104
A conversation with a veteran Myanmar watcher and geopolitical analyst about the deteriorating situation in Myanmar. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, he speaks with the respected Myanmar watcher, Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group. They discuss the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, the military’s lo...
Dec 07, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 25
First, the sea, the sand, the shopping. Now add stars to the Southeast Asian country’s list of attractions as it strives to get creative post-pandemic. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Thailand’s location near the equator means that one can catch a glimpse of both northern and southern constellations, along with planets, ne...
Nov 30, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Hear the parallels to the crisis and why India has more immediate strategic interests in the Indian Ocean than in the Pacific. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. While partnerships to its east - and with the United States - are deepening, India’s strategic interests remain more naturally weighted towards its west, and to the Indian Ocean. Indian officials h...
Nov 23, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 103
A conversation with a veteran Australian diplomat, commentator and politician on his prime minister’s recent visit to China. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, which follows Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Shanghai and Beijing, Ravi hosts the veteran Australian diplomat and Conservative Party po...
Nov 09, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Hear why the Chinese are plumbing for Changsha, the capital capital of central Hunan, instead. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. In this 26th episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with ST’s China correspondent Aw Cheng Wei about the allure of Changsha. Located in the heart of middle China, Changsha is usually under t...
Nov 02, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 26
US-Canada relations have plunged, but Canada should learn to accommodate India’s security concerns. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Relations between India and Canada have plunged since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” that Indian agents killed Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, ...
Oct 26, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Each follow on the audio apps below and a rating really helps us! Happy listening! Synopsis: A brand new feature is within The Straits Times app, which you can download from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. For those of you who already have it, the latest version update now has a dedicated Podcast Section, where you can listen to our latest incoming show episodes and check out back episodes too. You can also choose to follow our podcast RSS feeds, or the shows on Apple Podcasts and ...
Oct 09, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Many are ostracised by families and live in slums, but a younger generation is coming to their aid. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. In this 25th episode, ST’s new foreign editor Li Xueying takes over the hosting duties from our previous show presenter Bhagyashree Garekar, who will be the incoming US bureau chief for ST in ...
Oct 05, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 25
A conversation with a veteran Canadian commentator and author on Sikh separatism. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this podcast, which comes after the bombshell accusation thrown by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Indian agents were likely involved in the June murder of a Canadian advocating Sikh separatism in India, he discusses the issues involved ...
Oct 03, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Journey into the darkest corners of the internet, where a deadly connection was forged in 140 characters or less. Synopsis (headphones recommended): A special edition 6-part series by The Straits Times in Singapore, exploring recent real crimes that gripped, horrified and laid bare the issues that afflicted societies in Asia. This is the sixth and final episode of True Crimes Of Asia, a special edition podcast series that started on April 25, 2023. Warning: This podcast is an audio documentary o...
Sep 25, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Asia hosted recent multilateral meetings but it is the US' bilaterals with India and Vietnam that really matter. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. The East Asia Summit in Jakarta, and the G20 in New Delhi, broadly solidified US relations in the region, but it is the bilaterals with India and Vietnam that really mattered. The US was represented in Jakart...
Sep 21, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 101
Join us along the Laos-China Railway, as we unveil the changes it has brought to people and places. Synopsis: In a special series called Tales from the Belt and Road, The Straits Times' Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee takes you to places in the region where China’s infrastructure drive is creating the most impact. For this episode, she travels to Luang Prabang town in Laos, where the new Laos-China Railway is bringing cross-border passengers and Chinese investors. Highlights (click/tap above)...
Aug 31, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Our guests on how youth in Singapore, aged 18 to 35, can be quite diverse in opinions. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. In this episode, we look at how social media and podcasts have helped presidential candidates win hearts and minds before Singaporeans go to the polls on Sept 1, 2023, this coming Friday. ST's Jean Iau and Natasha Ann Zachariah - who cover Singapore politics - host two...
Aug 30, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Rohingya remain the world’s largest number of stateless people, with over one million driven out of Myanmar living in camps in Bangladesh. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests. Life for the over one million Rohingya in refugee camps in Bangladesh continues to become increasingly intolerable, with food rations down to 27 US cents a day, and little or no hope...
Aug 24, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 100
Should fans welcome it or be concerned? And why? Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. A new dawn for football in the Gulf kingdom kicked off in August 2023, as the league took its first bold steps towards becoming a force to be reckoned with in world football. Football is currently in the limelight with the Saudi Pro League having invested over €600 million (S$886.7 million) to lu...
Aug 22, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 6
