The Straits Times Podcasts The Straits Times

With limited agency and influence over events in Myanmar, India’s Act East policy is in jeopardy on several levels, including the risk of being outmaneuvered and encircled by China in its near east. Aparna Pande and Avinash Paliwal, experts on India’s foreign policy and South Asian geopolitics, dissect regional power dynamics and New Delhi’s options in this episode of Asian Insider.
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.
It may have been called a “forgotten” war - but the civil war in Myanmar triggered by the military’s February 2021 coup d’etat, has grave implications for India’s national security, and plans for connectivity to Southeast Asia. 
Also, as it remains to be seen where the cards eventually fall, it has also heightened New Delhi’s concerns over potential encirclement by China. 
India’s immediate concern is spillover of the conflict into its own volatile northeast, where the state of Manipur which borders Myanmar, has been witnessing ethnic violence. But more broadly the crisis also threatens India’s “Act East” policy, and raises concerns in New Delhi as China extends its influence in Myanmar and also in Bangladesh; though Bangladesh’s current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is pro-India, the country’s army is supplied mostly with Chinese weapons, and there is latent resentment against India. 
But India’s options are limited, experts Dr Aparna Pande and Dr Avinash Paliwal told Asian Insider. 
Dr Paliwal lectures in diplomacy and public policy at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, has just published his book “India's Near East.” Dr. Aparna Pandey is a research fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC and has written books on Indian foreign policy. 
Myanmar’s internal conflict is a long war which is unlikely to be solved through traditional conflict-resolution diplomacy, they told Asian Insider. 
This leaves India forced to defensively mitigate risks and relegate connectivity projects - roads and port investments, for instance - to the back burner, in the hope that when the situation stabilises, they may resume. 
Highlights (click/tap above): 
2:19 The multi-sided civil wars has deep implications for India's national security
3:50 India's big investment in building connectivity through Myanmar
4:51 China's interests in Myanmar's civil and military domains concern India deeply
13:00 All of India's neighbours are its first layer of security
20:18 An asymmetric connectivity benefitting India but not for Bangladesh
21:49 Understanding India's regional geopolitics through domestic political lens 
25:36 India's challenge is broadly with all of its neighbours 
Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) and Fa’izah Sani
Edited by: Fa’izah Sani
Follow Asian Insider with Nirmal Ghosh every fourth Friday of the month here:
Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8
Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r
Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG
Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters
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Discover more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 
The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u 
In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt 
COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE 
Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 
Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN 
Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf 
Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m 
Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE 
#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad 
Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX 
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ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 
ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa
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Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

A veteran transport reporter tells us what can be done to bring down COE prices and how to buy a new car.
Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends.
In the first of a two-part conversation, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with Christopher Tan, senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times, to get a grip of the current COE system. 
He also shares his journey as a veteran reporter, having been with SPH since 1983. This was four years before Singapore had its first MRT Line, and before the Land Transport Authority was established. 
He also offers tips on how to shop for a car and recounts some of his most memorable drives, having tested more than 3,000 cars and counting. 
Part Two of this chat with Chris Tan will be next out on Aug 1. 
Highlights (click/tap above):
3:00 Why newsmakers are often wary of Christopher Tan from The Straits Times
6:00 Recounting his “embarrassing” first car review
12:00 How electric vehicle adoption will peak around the world
16:10 What flying a helicopter is like
26:00 Reviewing a car fairly for the reader, not the car company 
27:55 The impact of high COE prices on drivers and non-drivers alike
Read more transport related stories here: https://str.sg/wt8G
Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe (niantjoel@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hana Chen and Teo Tong Kai
Edited by: Fa’izah Sani
Follow COE Watch Podcast here:
Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2
Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB
SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G
Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ
Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC
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Discover more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7
The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u
In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt
COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE
Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7
Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN
Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf
Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m
Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE
#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad
Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX
---
ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa
---
Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2
Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn
Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa
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Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB
Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX
#coewatch
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear home-grown singer-songwriter Hongjoin's intimate live studio take of the title track from his sophomore album released recently, Komorebi.
Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio.
Listen to Hongjoin talk about his musical journey in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/cTrZ
Discover home-grown artiste Hongjoin at:
YouTube: https://str.sg/o9mTN
Spotify: https://str.sg/pQwe
Instagram: https://str.sg/apXW
Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi (dinohadi@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim
Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65
Mixed by: Amirul Karim
Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:
Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB
Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6
SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa
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Discover more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 
The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u
COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE
Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7
Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN
Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf
Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m
Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE
#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad
Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX
---
ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa
---
Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2
Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn
Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa
---
Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB
Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX
#musiclab
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear how Spotify's Radar programme has helped expose home-grown singer-songwriter Hongjoin.
Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.
In the 13th episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean singer-songwriter Hongjoin.
The 22-year-old, whose music encompasses genres ranging from R&B and indie-pop, is based in Boston, United States, and is trying to make his mark in the US music scene while studying there.
He has regular shows in various US cities and has been highlighted by Spotify as a Radar artist, a program that highlights rising talents from around the world.
He recently returned to Singapore to do two concerts - a solo headlining show at the Esplanade in June, and as the opening act for US singer-songwriter Ricky Montgomery’s show at the Pasir Panjang Power Station in May.
Like many singers from his generation, he is active on TikTok and Instagram, which has helped him build up an audience in regional countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
In this episode, he also sings a live rendition of the title track from his sophomore album released recently, Komorebi.
Highlights (click/tap above):
0:55 How he ended up as a musician in the US
8:11 His solo show in Singapore was sold out
13:38 On tapping into his Japanese roots for his new album
15:50 How the pandemic led to his decision to take music seriously
22:08 On how TikTok and Instagram helped him find an audience in Indonesia and the Philippines
23:32 Taking a break from school to focus on music full-time
25:42 His plans to return to Singapore and contribute to the music scene here
Listen to Hongjoin’s live performance of Komorebi here: https://str.sg/ejzw
Discover home-grown artiste Hongjoin at:
YouTube: https://str.sg/o9mTN
Spotify: https://str.sg/pQwe
Instagram: https://str.sg/apXW
Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi (dinohadi@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim
Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65
Edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:
Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB
Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6
SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa
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Discover more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 
The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u
COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE
Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7
Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN
Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf
Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m
Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE
#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad
Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX
---
ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa
---
Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2
Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn
Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa
---
Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB
Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX
#musiclab
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As more carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, the urgency is growing for safe and sustainable methods to remove this main greenhouse gas from the air to limit the impact of climate change. 
Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.
CO2 is the main greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. We can’t see it, we can’t smell it but we can definitely feel its growing impacts as the planet heats up with devastating consequences. And every year, it keeps accumulating. 
Human activity is producing about 40 billion tonnes of CO2 a year. That’s mainly from burning fossil fuels and deforestation. 
To fight climate change, we not only need to slash CO2 emissions, we would also need to remove billions of tonnes that our human activities had earlier emitted into the atmosphere. 
And that means dramatically scaling up carbon dioxide removal technologies. We’ll never reach the Paris Agreement’s climate targets by 2050 unless we remove at least four times more CO2 from the atmosphere every year than we do at present.
That’s the conclusion of a major study on carbon dioxide removal released in June 2024. 
So what exactly is carbon dioxide removal, or CDR? And what is needed to really get investment pumping?
In this episode, ST's climate change editor David Fogarty hosts one of the lead authors of the report, Gregory Nemet, a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs in the United States.  Greg studies the process of technological change and the ways in which public policy can affect it.
Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):
1:44 How does carbon dioxide removal (CDR) help in the fight against climate change?
3:12 The difference between CDR and carbon capture and storage (CCS)
4:58 Main findings from the recently published global report on CDR 
7:58 Examples of the different types of CDR 
11:43 What are the costs?
19:55 What are the environmental risks from CDR? How to ensure scaled-up methods can be sustainable?
Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim
Edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us:
Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY
Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6
Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu
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Discover more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7
The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u
In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt
COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE
Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7
Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN
Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf
Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m
Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE
#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad
Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX
---
ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa
---
Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2
Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn
Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa
---
Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB
Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX
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#greenpulse
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry wants to take action to get people to return to brick-and-mortar stores.
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.
The Japanese are sentimental about bookstores, viewing them as precious communal spaces that do more than just sell books.  
And yet, fewer and fewer are going to these stores, in line with global trends.
What is more surprising is how the Japanese government has decided to seize the problem by its horns, with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry setting up a taskforce to look into the matter, even as the bookshops themselves are striving to find fresh ways to appeal to customers. 
In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with Japan Correspondent Walter Sim on why the Japanese government has decided to be so interventionist.
Highlights (click/tap above):1:59 One in two Japanese read “less than one book” every six months
3:26 Why the Japanese are sentimental about bookshops
6:15 A “psychic” bookseller in Osaka
10:06 Laments at shuttered shops but it’s too late
12:15 Taking action
17:12 Walter’s favourite bookshops in Japan
Read Walter Sim’s article here: https://str.sg/AWsW
Produced by: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg) and Fa’izah Sani
Edited by: Fa’izah Sani
Follow Letter From The Bureau Podcast every first Friday of the month here:
Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8
Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX
SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR 
Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x
Read Walter Sim's articles: https://str.sg/wHY2 
Read ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://str.sg/3xRd
Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters
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Discover more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 
The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u 
In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt 
COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE 
Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 
Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN 
Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf 
Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m 
Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE 
#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad 
Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX 
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ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 
ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa 
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Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 
Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn 
Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB 
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa 
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Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB 
Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX 
#STAsianInsider
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.