The Straits Times Audio Features The Straits Times

Asian Insider Ep 80: The troubled and volatile relationship between India and China

30:06 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.

In this episode, Nirmal Ghosh hosts two guests. Nirupama Rao based in Bangalore, was India's former Foreign Secretary, former Ambassador to Peru and China and former High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

Washington DC-based Jeff Smith is a research fellow at the Asian Studies Center and Foreign Policy at the Heritage Foundation.

0:00 Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

2:03 The kind of thinking necessary to overcome the disputes on the India-China border

6:23 US Pentagon's annual report mentions military security and development involving China's construction activities on this border to press its claim at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) 

11:18 China has taken some of India's territory over the past nine years - what is India's security and foreign policy establishment on this?

20:59 No reason not to assume that the LAC in the eastern sector of boundary will not come alive in the months to come, due to lack of trust and mutual sensitivity between the two countries

25:25 With the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) sharing concerns over China's growing power and gaining some traction, is this destined to be a dangerous bilateral situation for both countries?

Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim & Fa'izah Sani

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

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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

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Life Weekend Picks Ep 144: Dive into gripping documentary about 2018 Thai cave rescue

9:46 mins

Synopsis: Every Thursday, The Straits Times recommends lifestyle and food picks for the coming weekend in Singapore. 

This week's Life Picks highlights two new releases on the big screen. Film correspondent John Lui talks about The Rescue, a National Geographic documentary on the 2018 mission to rescue 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand. (0:56)

Journalist Jan Lee gives her take on the biopic Anita, which has model-actress Louise Wong portraying the legendary Cantopop singer Anita Mui. (3:54)

Produced by: ST Life desk & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team & Penelope Lee

Subscribe to Life Weekend Picks Podcast for new episodes every Thursday and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa2 

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc 

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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

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BT Podcasts: Renting vs owning private property: An in-depth look

18:45 min

Synopsis: The Business Times Podcast channel showcases niche series Money Hacks, Mark To Market and WealthBT, and sponsored series.

In this episode, BT digital editor Chris Lim hosts senior correspondent Leslie Yee to discuss his article Renting can be a viable alternative to owning a private home in Singapore. It also features property analysts’ take on it. 

Highlights of the conversation:

00:56 Why explore the financial viability of renting vs owning private property and not HDB flats (includes comments from Nicholas Mak, head of research and consultancy, ERA Realty)

03:15 Leslie’s thought process behind his article, the simulation he adopted and response to analysts’ critique of it

05:02 The prevailing argument of personal preference vs just numbers (including comments from Leonard Tay, head of research, Knight Frank Singapore)

13:30 As demographic trends change, might renting vs owning a private property become one as well? (includes comments from Wong Xian Yang, head of research Singapore, Cushman & Wakefield)

Read Leslie’s article:

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion/renting-can-be-a-viable-alternative-to-owning-a-private-home-in-singapore

Produced by: Chris Lim, Ernest Luis, Lee Kim Siang & Howie Lim

Edited by: Howie Lim & Hadyu Rahim

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Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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Do note: All analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast are for your general information only. You should not rely on them in making any decision. Please consult a fully qualified financial adviser or professional expert for independent advice and verification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, SPH Media shall not be liable for any loss arising from the use of or reliance on any analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast. SPH Media accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever that may result or arise from the products, services or information of any third parties. 

#BTPodcast

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The Big Story Ep 119: Contact tracing not necessary as Singapore moves to endemic state 

4:34 mins

Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story, hosted by Hairianto Diman and Olivia Quay.

Infectious diseases experts have questioned the need for continued widespread enforcement of TraceTogether and SafeEntry rules as Singapore moves towards more targeted contact tracing and living with endemic Covid-19

Produced by: ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

Discover ST 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/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

Follow Hairianto Diman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamhairianto/?hl=en

Follow Olivia Quay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviaquayhere/?hl=en

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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

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WealthBT Ep 8: Approaches to sustainable investing: A primer

15:11 min

Synopsis: Learn to protect and grow your wealth in this monthly Business Times podcast series for affluent individuals, hosted by BT wealth editor Genevieve Cua. 

In this eighth episode of WealthBT, wealth editor Genevieve Cua talks about the various investing approaches or strategies that today, fall under the sustainable label. This episode is brought to you by Prudential: https://www.prudential.com.sg/

Highlights of the conversation (click/tap above):

0:55 Reasons to invest sustainably: helping the climate crisis; mitigating risk; and aligning with personal values

3:06 Approaches as listed by the OECD and GSIA; Genevieve Cua breaks the approaches down one by one

7:06 Fourth approach - understanding thematic ESG that invests in trends or themes expected to drive markets and returns 

9:16 Sixth - ESG integration, which is a systematic inclusion of ESG in portfolio construction

9:57 Seventh - engagement and shareholder action which harness shareholder power to drive companies towards sustainability

12:42 Prudential's head of ESG - El Lynn Yeoh - on how investors may evaluate ESG factors alongside their values; and setting risk and return expectations

Listen to the previous episode from Oct 25 - brought to you by Prudential - where Genevieve Cua looked at how your investment can make a positive difference to climate change.

More about:

Prudential's sustainability efforts - https://www.prudential.com.sg/sustainability-report

Wealth and protection needs - www.prudential.com.sg/pruvantageassure

Produced by: Genevieve Cua (gen@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Lee Kim Siang

Edited by: Howie Lim & Hadyu Rahim

Follow Wealth BT podcasts on the 4th Monday of every month and rate us at:

Channel: http://bt.sg/btwealthbt

Apple Podcasts: http://bt.sg/wbAP

Spotify: http://bt.sg/wbSP

Google: http://bt.sg/wbGO

Website:http://bt.sg/btwealthbt

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Do note: All analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast are for your general information only. You should not rely on them in making any decision. Please consult a fully qualified financial adviser or professional expert for independent advice and verification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, SPH Media shall not be liable for any loss arising from the use of or reliance on any analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast. SPH Media accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever that may result or arise from the products, services or information of any third parties. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks Podcast at: https://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Mark To Market Podcast at: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt

BT Podcasts at: http://bt.sg/podcasts

#WealthBT

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#PopVultures Ep 55: Rebecca Lim gets engaged, Britney Spears is free and Taylor Swift revisits Red (and Jake Gyllenhaal)

28:37 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, Mediacorp actress Rebecca Lim gets engaged to her mystery fiance. She announced the happy news on her Instagram and while she received congratulations and blessings from celebrities and fans alike, fellow actor Ian Fang did not seem as thrilled. Fang and Lim were linked for years but Fang and fellow Mediacorp actress Carrie Wong were caught exchanging sexually suggestive messages to each other in 2019.

Meanwhile in Hollywood, pop star Britney Spears is finally freed from her conservatorship after 13 years. She was previously placed under the conservatorship, which stripped her of her ability to make financial, medical and other personal decisions for herself, in 2008 after she suffered a highly publicised mental breakdown. Jan discusses how there's still more to the case, including Spears' allegations that her father, who was in charge of her conservatorship for years, exploited and surveilled her.


Finally, Jan goes into Taylor Swift's re-recording and releasing Red - an album first released in 2012. Swift added previously unpublished songs into the re-recorded album, including an extended ten-minute version of one of the album's most popular songs All Too Well. This album has reignited interest in Swift's brief relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal. Many of the album's breakup songs are said to be about Gyllenhaal. Jan also provides a primer on why Swift is re-recording her own music. 

Here's what she talked about:
Rebecca Lim's engagement and how Ian Fang's response has shifted the focus away from her happy news (0:49)
Britney is finally free and how the conservatorship system is ripe for abuse (12:15)
Taylor Swift's re-recording and releasing her album Red (19:05)

Produced by Jan Lee (janlee@sph.com.sg) and 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

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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

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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

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