Teresa Tang dissects the biggest global news stories. Our host speaks to CNA correspondents on the frontlines to bring you behind-the-scenes of their dispatches from Asia and the world.
The views and opinions shared during this podcast series are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mediacorp Pte. Ltd. or its group of companies.
Food vendors are a fixture on the streets of the Thai capital, often crowding pedestrian pathways. Officials now want to tidy things up by moving the stands to central, open-air food courts. But not everyone agrees with the idea. Teresa Tang speaks to CNA correspondent Jack Board to find out why. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Journeys that once took hours now take only half the time. Bullet trains and high-tech infrastructure have changed the way we think about time and distance. And the evolution continues, as Beijing and Tokyo move forward with their visions of the future. CNA's Tan Si Hui and Michiyo Ishida join Teresa Tang in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Busan is South Korea's second-largest city and biggest port. But despite its reputation as a vibrant metropolis, it's facing the threat of extinction. As the population ages and young people leave for better opportunities, city officials are doing all they can to prevent it from turning into a ghost town. CNA's Lim Yun Suk sits down with Teresa Tang in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tensions, absences and quiet chats at Asia’s premier security summit. The US sent Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth but China left its defence minister at home for this year’s summit. CNA’s Olivia Siong and Leong Wai Kit tell Arnold Gay whether Dong Jun’s absence affected Beijing’s messaging and why the summit is similar to speed dating, with defence officials meeting and mingling to seal alliances and agreements. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Host Canada and world leaders put on a brave face after US President Donald Trump left the G7 Summit early to attend to the Israel-Iran conflict. But his premature departure leaves questions on tariffs, Ukraine and NATO unanswered. Nick Harper explains what happens next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The definition of "pet" has taken on a whole new meaning in China with some youths adopting mango seeds and even jars of yeast for companionship. It’s an unconventional pastime aimed at helping to cope with societal pressures and loneliness. CNA's Melody Chan speaks to Teresa Tang about the trend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Millions of migrants leave their native countries each year in search of opportunity. But the psychological and social price is immense. Teresa Tang speaks with CNA's Nivell Rayda about the challenges facing migrant workers in Southeast Asia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law decree and his ouster from the presidency, South Korea is looking to recover from the political turmoil. Citizens are set to vote for their next leader in less than a week. CNA's Lim Yun Suk sets the stage with Teresa Tang. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
An increasing number of homes in rural Japan are being abandoned due to urban migration and depopulation. These empty structures are attracting foreigners, lured by their cheap prices. CNA's Michiyo Ishida tells Teresa Tang what some communities are doing in the face of an existential crisis. (Credit: TikTok/@shumatsuopost) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Seniors living in urban China often find themselves at a loss when they want to meet new people. Unfamiliar with the city and disconnected from social media, many are flocking to places such as IKEA to find companions. Teresa Tang sits down with CNA's Tan Yew Guan to discuss why the trend may help improve longevity among China's aged. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Another violent chapter in a decades-long rift between two nuclear-armed neighbours. On 7 May, India carried out deadly strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, two weeks after a terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. New Delhi blames Pakistan, something Islamabad denies. Is diplomacy an option or is war inevitable? Teresa Tang breaks it down with Ishan Garg in New Delhi and Hira Mustafa in Islamabad. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Saltwater crocodiles sit atop the food chain and few can stand in their way. But tin mining in Indonesia has triggered deadly clashes between the ancient reptiles and locals. CNA's Kiki Siregar speaks to Teresa Tang about why these attacks are on the rise and what's being done to keep both animals and people safe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The first 100 days of the second Donald Trump presidency have been a whirlwind of domestic shakeups and diplomatic duels. Teresa Tang assesses Mr Trump's track record thus far with US correspondent Toni Waterman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It was the centerpiece of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s election campaign - a free, nutritious meal programme that would serve 90 million children and pregnant women. But its ballooning costs and supply shortages have critics concerned about its sustainability. Correspondents Chandni Vatvani and Saifulbahri Ismail speak to Teresa Tang. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
China's leader is visiting Southeast Asia as part of efforts to sell his country as a reliable partner amid the tariff chaos triggered by the Trump administration. The three-nation, five-day trip is not typically part of President Xi's playbook. So, will it pay off? Teresa Tang breaks down the strategy with CNA's Olivia Siong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A peace deal has been in place between the Philippine government and the militant group, MILF, for more than a decade. But violence remains and threatens to hinder the region's first-ever democratic elections set for later this year. CNA's Buena Bernal speaks to Teresa Tang in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
US President Donald Trump has unveiled a raft of "reciprocal" tariffs on imports into his nation, setting the stage for a full-blown trade war. Allies and adversaries alike are being hit with double-digit levies, sparking criticism and threats of retaliation around the world. Arnold Gay and Elizabeth Neo explain how the tariffs work and sort through a range of reactions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nvidia's annual software developer conference in San Jose, California is almost like a rock concert - complete with CEO Jensen Huang in his leather jacket. CNA's Tan Si Hui was there to catch all the action and she tells Teresa Tang her key takeaways. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bali, Indonesia has been a victim of its own success with overtourism plaguing the island's south. CNA's Nivell Rayda tells Teresa Tang how hopes are now pinned on a new airport to encourage visitors to take the path less travelled. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rodrigo Duterte has been taken to the International Criminal Court in The Hague where his critics hope he will face justice for alleged crimes against humanity over his war on drugs. Supporters though say the move is politically motivated. Could Mr Duterte be Asia’s first former head of state to go on trial at the ICC? Teresa Tang speaks to CNA’s Buena Bernal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A look inside the minds of China’s top leaders and their plans for the year ahead, the Two Sessions are the most significant political meetings for the country. Why should the rest of the world pay attention? CNA’s Olivia Siong and Tan Si Hui in Beijing break it down with Teresa Tang. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk's rise to become the 'First Buddy' of US President Donald Trump has shaken the US political establishment. As the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk appears to have unprecedented access and power in the White House and further afield. How far does his reach go? Teresa Tang sits down with correspondents Kate Fisher and Trent Murray. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More than 11 million illegal migrants in the United States worry that their American Dream could be snuffed out any day now. Raids and deportations have taken place in just the first month of the second Trump presidency. How far is the American leader going to go to expel those without proper documentation? Teresa Tang asks CNA's Toni Waterman in Texas and Neha Poonia in New Delhi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's a crime where perpetrators are often victims themselves. Cyberscam centres have mushroomed across Southeast Asia, and the unrest in Myanmar is making it even easier for crime syndicates to operate there. Teresa Tang sits down with CNA's May Wong and Saksith Saiyasombut in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration to his current dual trials for impeachment and insurrection, Teresa Tang speaks to CNA's Lim Yun Suk on the logistical and emotional challenges in covering the unprecedented political crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Known as the "Golden Route", Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are the hotspots of Japanese tourism. But their popularity has become a double-edged sword. With Osaka hosting the 2025 World Expo in April, Teresa Tang sits down with CNA's Michiyo Ishida who shares how Japan is managing the growing crowds. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Since a coup four years ago, the people of Myanmar have lived with violence and lawlessness. Teresa Tang sits down with CNA's Leong Wai Kit for more on life under the military regime and when a long-promised election could possibly be held. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
COVID-19 may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back but there are other factors that's causing a quiet, but significant exodus, of expats out of Shanghai. Based in the Chinese city, correspondent Tan Yew Guan gives Teresa Tang an insider’s look. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From tariffs, to immigration, and the Russia-Ukraine war, Donald Trump has a long to-do list once he enters the Oval Office. What will his priorities be? Teresa Tang previews the presidential inauguration with Washington Correspondent Nick Harper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
One of the world's most popular social media platforms is set to be banned from the US on January 19 unless it's divested from its Chinese owners. But could there be a change in course? Teresa Tang asks Washington Correspondent Benji Hyer and Beijing Correspondent Olivia Siong what happens next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
