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  • With more people conscious about mental health issues, is going to therapy the solution to deal with inner mind and emotional struggles?

    Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.

    These days, conversations about mental health - and content about it - are everywhere.

    Within that space, therapy often comes up as a way to deal with mental health issues. People write about it in personal essays, it’s bandied around in memes, and on TikTok, there are therapists who create short-form videos about boundaries, trauma and coping mechanisms.

    But should everyone be in therapy?

    To answer that question, The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah speaks with Raquel Ang, 35, co-founder of telewellness platform IHearU App, and singer-songwriter Layyi, 28, who was featured on a song called Lovin’ Me.

    (The track, led by local singer-songwriter Haneri (Daphne Khoo) and also features Whylucas, is part of a youth mental wellness initiative by McDonald’s Singapore.)

    Raquel, who has a Master’s in Counselling, has been in therapy for about two years, while Layyi started in September 2023. Both of them experienced a “breaking point” in their lives which pushed them to explore therapy.

    Natasha discusses with them about whether therapy should be a universal experience or a deeply personal choice. Together, they unpack how therapy has changed them, their initial concerns about going for it and why it’s one of many tools for mental health.

    The Usual Place Podcast will give away 10 sets of exclusive McDonald’s merchandise to be given away. Each set consists of a tote bag, a sticker sheet, four postcards and a pack of F&B vouchers (expiring on Dec 31, 2024).

    Here’s how you can win them: Subscribe to The Straits Times Podcasts’ YouTube channel and leave a comment there under this video - Is therapy only for those with mental health issues? - about what’s the best way you’re taking care of your mental health. The team will select 10 winners and get in touch with them. Good luck!

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    2:57 Openness and eagerness for change - considerations for therapy

    6:47 When is the right time to go to therapy?

    11:01 The stigma of therapy

    14:38 “Only the problem kid goes for therapy.”

    25:03 Picking a counsellor or therapist

    30:54 “Therapy speak” being a part of daily conversation

    38:52 Going to therapy is like going on a date with yourself

    Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])

    Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav

    Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

    Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

    Filmed by: Studio+65

    Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai

    Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

    Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

    Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

    Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

    YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    Feedback to: [email protected]

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  • Improve your chances of getting a ride on a wet Friday evening with some hacks from this experienced cabbie.

    Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport.

    Mr James Quak is among the 89,000 qualified taxi drivers in Singapore. In this episode of Wheel Insights, the 49-year-old sheds light on how taxi drivers work out their share of the vehicle rental and how they decide which ride booking to take.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    2:35 The difference between being a taxi hirer and a “relief driver”

    5:41 How much driving time makes up for daily taxi rental

    13:59 Why taxi drivers don't look out for street-hailers

    17:46 How much taxi drivers benefited during the East-West Line MRT disruption in September 2024

    23:01 The reason why taxi drivers always seems to be changing shift during peak travel hours

    25:39 Advice for those considering joining the trade

    Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

    Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

    Read more Transport articles: https://str.sg/KHyM

    Host: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected])

    Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

    Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

    Follow Wheel Insights Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

    Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

    Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

    Feedback to: [email protected]

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  • While Singapore is transforming into a City in Nature, natural habitats have been lost to development, leading to more human and animal clashes. How can wildlife and humans live in harmony?

    Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a four-part environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits the ground with experts.

    In this fourth episode, our trails won’t be entirely green. Instead of a nature park or a green space, we head over to an urban place surrounded by buildings and construction noise.

    The new neighbourhood of Punggol Northshore recently saw some monkey business, with troops of long-tailed macaques spotted at construction sites and even eating at a void deck of an HDB block.

    To find out how residents can responsibly live in a macaque hotspot, ST journalist Shabana Begum speaks with co-chief executive of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) Anbarasi Boopal, and president of the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) Andie Ang.

    Strolling along Punggol Settlement and the promenade opposite Coney Island, the conversation turns to other wildlife in our midst – from the common palm civets that tend to sneak into private houses, to the ever-present junglefowls.

    Animals in urban areas being culled is never a clear-cut decision, as Ms Anbarasi says: “Removal (of animals) is always not a solution. And where do we draw the line, right?

    “We are okay with hornbills, but we're not okay with other birds.”

    At the end of the day, even urban areas in Singapore can be green trails.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    2:10 Why is Punggol a monkey hotspot?

    4:45 Monkey see, monkey don’t do

    11:08 When otters and civets visit homes

    14:30 Is culling the best way to reduce bird numbers?

    17:08 What to do when you encounter a snake

    Read ST’s previous commentary about co-existing with wildlife: https://str.sg/tYpq

    Find out more about macaques in Punggol: https://str.sg/ephc

    Listen to other Green Trails episodes:

    Ep 1: Visit to Sungei Buloh: How Singapore can better host migratory birds - https://str.sg/BrqS

    Ep 2: Visit to East Coast: How reclamation will shape up against rising sea levels - https://str.sg/mRG8

    Ep 3: Visit to Windsor Park: Can insects in SG's backyard be foraged? - https://str.sg/4V6nQ

    Host: Shabana Begum ([email protected])

    Trail producers: Hadyu Rahim, Fa‘izah Sani, Amirul Karim & Elsa Goh

    Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

    Executive Producers: Lynda Hong ([email protected]), Ernest Luis ([email protected]) & Audrey Tan ([email protected])

    Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

    Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY

    Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag

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  • The amount, quality and access of climate finance among key issues to be discussed at COP29.

    Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

    Expectations are mounting on negotiators at COP29, the UN climate conference, to produce an outcome on climate finance. The annual summit, from Nov 11 to Nov 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan, is shaping up to be a “finance COP”, where discussions on the new collective quantified goal for climate finance – or how much money should be channelled to developing countries to help them take climate action – are expected to conclude.

    In this episode, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Ms Illari Aragon, the climate policy justice lead at nonprofit Christian Aid.

    Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

    2:39 What do we mean by climate finance?

    4:18 Why are discussions on the new climate finance target so contentious?

    11:29 The situation on climate finance in South-east Asia

    12:38 The difference between providing and mobilising climate finance

    14:40 Challenges for developing countries to access climate finance

    Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W

    Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2

    Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6

    Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu

    Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected])

    Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

    Executive producer: Ernest Luis

    Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

    Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY

    Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag

    Feedback to: [email protected]

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  • The move may be difficult, but can be rewarding for both personal and professional development.

    Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

    Talents with overseas exposure are coveted for their ability to help companies realise their global aspirations.

    There is also robust appetite among Singapore talents to work abroad.

    However, employers frequently find it challenging to convince talents here to take up overseas opportunities.

    Journalist Tay Hong Yi speaks to those who have navigated and are helping others to navigate this complex undertaking to work abroad to shed light on the dilemma.

    His guests are:

    Dr Nadir Zafar, chief experience officer at the Human Capital Leadership Institute and director of the Singapore Leaders Network

    Ms Cheryl Lin, a business analyst based in Copenhagen who moved there for further studies

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    2:39 What are the pathways to working abroad?

    5:23 What are some of the trade-offs to consider?

    7:52 Why do employers find it especially challenging to convince talents to move elsewhere?

    16:58 What can you do to increase the chances of an offer?

    24:57 What support is needed to increase the number of locals who work abroad to develop professionally?

    Read the feature by Kai Xiang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/dPro

    Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

    Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy

    Host: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected])

    Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

    Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

    Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

    Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

    Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

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  • We examine the impact of the recent US presidential election result.

    Synopsis: The Straits Times’ associate foreign editor Lim Ai Leen and senior columnist Lin Suling meet up in the studio with Bhagyashree Garekar, The Straits Times’ United States bureau chief who covered the US presidential election all year long, and is back in Singapore for a short break.

    In this episode, they discuss how Bhagya arrived at her early prediction of a Trump win before the Nov 5 election, how Trump played to the male and minority voters, global anti-incumbency election trends and how they think Asian countries will shape to deal with the impact.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    5:12 How Trump appealed to male voters in this 'woke' age, why Trump beat expectations to win the minority vote in the US

    15:50 Political lessons for governments in Asia and how they relate to voters; expected impact from incoming Trump administration

    17:54 Dissecting the dynamics of the phone call between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and US President-elect Donald Trump on Nov 11

    24:00 Tariffs: Making sense of Trump's promises from the Asian perspective

    27:50 3 words to define US politics in the incoming Trump era

    Hosts: Lim Ai Leen ([email protected]) and Lin Suling ([email protected])

    Follow Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo

    Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

    Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

    Executive producer: Ernest Luis

    Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

    Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

    Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

    Feedback to: [email protected]

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  • The Labubu craze exploded earlier in 2024 thanks to Blackpink's Lisa. What's keeping the love for Labubu going?

    Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.

    Inspired by Scandinavian folklore, Labubu was created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung as part of his Monsters character series in 2015.

    How do you know when a toy is a big deal?

    When people are brazenly committing crimes to get it. And when hundreds of people queue overnight to be the first to get their hands on it. When fans get into shoving matches and the police have to be called.

    Bakers make cakes in its image, while enterprising sellers offer product customisations like braces, make-up and custom identity cards.

    Perhaps the true hallmarks of a product’s popularity are a hot reseller market and the existence of fake versions.

    In a nutshell, these events describe the months-long craze over Labubu – the fanged little elf that everyone around the world is going gaga over.

    Even though Labubu has been around since 2015, her star skyrocketed earlier in 2024 with a little bit of help from a popular K-pop star Lisa of Blackpink fame.

    Distilling it for the people who don't get the hype, Natasha finds out what the hype is all about and why collectors enjoy these art toys so much.

    To give her the download on all things 'LBB', Jeremy Lee, 44, the business director for South-east Asia at Pop Mart International and Yumiko Kayahara, 35, a KISS92 FM DJ, join her on The Usual Place to explain the current craze.

    Pop Mart is the international brand that owns the exclusive rights to the Labubu intellectual property (IP).

    From being a “kidult” to how Pop Mart is keeping up with the demand, they chat with Natasha in this wide-ranging interview on why this plushie has people going ga-ga.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    4:55 The celebrity endorsement effect

    13:10 The reseller market and fakes on the market

    20:15 Customisations and copyright of Labubu - will Pop Mart do something about it?

    26:24 Who is a “kidult”?

    36:21 Will Pop Mart have another toy that matches Labubu’s popularity?

    6 things you did not know about Labubu: https://str.sg/dNhY

    Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])

    Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav

    Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

    Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

    Filmed by: Studio+65

    Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai

    Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

    Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

    Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

    Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

    YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    Feedback to: [email protected]

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  • Technology is advancing at such a pace as Chinese electric vehicle brand Xpeng is aiming to prove to the global market.

    Synopsis: In this special episode, The Straits Times' Lee Nian Tjoe meets Mr He Xiaopeng, the chairman and chief executive of Chinese electric vehicle brand, Xpeng.

    By 2025, Xpeng cars will bring the driver from door-to-door with barely any human intervention and in 2026, it plans to deliver its first flying vehicle.

    Xpeng is using automated driving technology to make driving safer and more relaxing.

    The target, Mr He says, is to make the cars behave like “good drivers” on the road, adapt to local conditions and behaviours.

    Concurrently, the company is taking to the skies. Its first flying vehicle will reach customers in 2026.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    2:55 By 2025, Xpeng’s drivers will only need to step in to take control once or twice per 100km covered

    3:45 Level 5 autonomous driving means that the vehicle can handle itself in all conditions, whether it is a typhoon or an earthquake

    5:25 Automated driving technology does not mean drivers will lose their jobs

    7:00 Flying cars?

    8:46 How Xpeng picks its markets and goes about entering them

    9:35 On why only a minority of car companies in China today will survive in the next five to 10 years

    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

    Host: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected])

    Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim and Teo Tong Kai

    Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

    Follow COE Watch Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

    Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

    Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

    Feedback to: [email protected]

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  • How Singapore intends to settle noise disputes more effectively.

    Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

    Settling noise disputes will be easier with mandatory mediation as the Community Disputes Management Framework (CDMF) is enhanced, under the Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Bill.

    Involved with how the framework can be enhanced is grassroots leader Raymond Poh.

    In this episode, Lynda Hong and co-host Christie Chiu speak with him to hear about his 14 years of experience in dealing with noise disputes, and how mediation has been effective in resolving disputes between neighbours (with an 80 per cent success rate with voluntary mediation cases).

    Mr Poh also shares how the Community Advisory Panel’s (CAP) recommendations, along with the proposed CDMF enhancements, may help neighbours better understand one another and find middle ground.

    If the dispute remains unresolved after mediation with the Community Mediation Centre (CMC), neighbours may consider approaching the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) to file a claim as a last resort. This is equivalent to taking legal action against your neighbour, and parties involved are required to attempt mediation before filing a CDRT claim.

    The new laws will also mean that officers under the new Community Relations Unit (CRU) have powers to investigate and take action in disputes where a neighbour severely disrupts the peace, such as cases where the neighbour deliberately makes loud noise throughout the day.

    Officers can investigate, such as taking statements from neighbours, and with the resident’s consent, install noise sensors in homes to collect evidence.

    The authorities also intend to allow the Housing Board to consider compulsory acquisition of flats as a deterrent and “the absolute last resort for severe, recalcitrant nuisance-making”.

    This measure will be considered only when all other levers have failed, and acquisition is needed to protect the interests of other residents, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Law and Ministry of National Development said in a joint statement in August, adding that this will be similar to how HDB can consider compulsory acquisition of flats for those convicted of throwing killer litter under the Penal Code.

    This podcast is brought to you by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY): https://www.mccy.gov.sg

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    1:25 CCTVs, house visits and detective work - a memorable dispute that Mr Poh had mediated

    7:38 Different forms of mediation

    8:17 The difference between the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) and the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT)

    11:37 Why settling neighbour disputes amicably is still a priority over mandatory mediation

    12:40 How simple 'give and take' neighbourly acts can help avoid mediation as much as possible

    More on the Community Disputes Management Framework: https://go.gov.sg/cdmf-enhancements

    Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

    Read Christie Chiu’s articles: https://str.sg/3ESxU

    Hosts: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) and Christie Chiu ([email protected])

    Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

    Executive producer: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

    Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

    Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

    Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

    Feedback to: [email protected]

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  • Should young people be talking about - and planning for - their deaths?

    Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.

    In this episode of The Usual Place, three millennials under 35 get candid about mortality and what changed their perspectives on death.

    Ho Hui Sze, 30, a counselling psychologist and host of Being With Grief podcast, G. Kethlyn Gayatiri, 32, a freelance educator, and Muhammad Alif, 28, a financial advisor and content creator, are no strangers to talking about death.

    They feature on Let's Talk About Death - a five-episode docuseries by The Straits Times, which premiered on Oct 23, 2024.

    From choosing a casket to protecting their passwords for their online accounts, each of them explores different aspects of end-of-life planning and dying well.

    Kethlyn is filmed in Episode 2 with her mother, Irene Koh, while Alif appears with his wife Liyana (@financewithliyandlif), in Episode 4.

    As for Hui Sze(@beingwith.grief), she chooses to memorialise her own bedroom in Episode 5.

    Natasha wants to find out how discussing death can be liberating, the misconceptions that often come up when planning for death, and how thinking about dying has made them live life differently.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    1:36 What made these millennials change their perspective of death?

    6:16 Hui Sze talks about the pain of death and the gifts of grief

    17:19 What if I die first? Kethlyn recounts talking to her mother

    23:12 Alif gets emotional when creating his will - his “last love letter”

    31:25 A ‘Dabao Kit’ and and Death Cafes to talk about death

    39:32 How has talking about death made them live life differently?

    Watch ST's "Let's talk about death" video series here: https://str.sg/a4Ey

    Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav

    Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])

    Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

    Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

    Filmed by: Studio+65

    Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai

    Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

    Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

    Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

    Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

    YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u

    Feedback to: [email protected]

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  • Where is Singapore dementia research headed?

    Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

    This episode is on a topic that affects millions worldwide: dementia. We will explore the differences between how dementia presents in Asian versus Caucasian populations, and what this means when it comes to early intervention and future treatments.

    Professor Nagaendran Kandiah, director of the Dementia Research Centre (Singapore) at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at Nanyang Technological University is our guest. He also talks to Joyce Teo about Lecanemab and Donanemab, two drugs that can slow down Alzheimer’s disease by treating the root cause. Donanemab, for instance, has been approved, but not recommended for the National Health Service in England.

    Highlights (click/tap above)

    1:05 Differences in the way dementia shows up in Asians and Caucasians

    6:01 A blood test to pick up dementia

    11:59 Lecanemab and Donanemab, two drugs that have been approved elsewhere for those with Alzheimer’s disease

    18:50 What can you do to lower your risk of vascular dementia?

    Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

    Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

    Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

    Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

    Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

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  • International carbon markets can help to channel funding to developing countries and help them take action to tackle climate change.

    Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

    What is the difference between carbon avoidance, removal or reduction? This question is one of a few key ones holding up global consensus on the establishment of a global carbon credit programme under Article 6 the Paris Agreement. At the UN climate conference COP29, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov 11 to 22, negotiators will be hammering out the details to enable this programme to be implemented. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement allows countries to cooperate with one another to achieve their climate targets, such as through carbon markets.

    What are the differences between these three terms, and why are they so contentious? To find out more about the roadblocks hindering an agreement on carbon markets at COP29, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Mr Anshari Rahman, director of policy and analytics and investment firm GenZero. Mr Anshari was a former climate negotiator on Article 6 with the Singapore Government.

    Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

    2:08 What is Article 6 all about?

    4:07 Why is Article 6 important for South-east Asia?

    7:42 What are the main sticking points of negotiations on Article 6?

    9:33 What are the issues surrounding the varying definitions of carbon avoidance, removal, or reduction?

    13:58 What are the other benefits that Article 6 can deliver?

    Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W

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    Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected])

    Produced and edited by: Eden Soh

    Executive producer: Ernest Luis

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  • DBS’ sustainability chief reveals ways to get into sustainability and why sustainable finance matters.

    Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

    The warmer the weather, the more we feel the impact of human activities on climate change. But how do we make a difference? Should we find jobs that work on sustainability, particularly on the environment front? Or invest in more meaningful asset classes in the sustainability field?

    In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan examines why sustainability matters, how to get a job in the ESG field, and what we can do in our daily lives and with our investing to contribute to a more sustainable world.

    Her guest, Helge Muenkel, also describes how his career started with a Masters in development economics, and the twists and turns he made before finally landing in his current position as DBS chief sustainability officer.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    6:52 What skills do I need to work in sustainability?

    10:20 What is sustainable finance?

    12:47 Do my individual efforts make a difference?

    15:07 How caring about climate change protects what we love

    26:03 Three little things you can do to change the world

    Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

    Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

    Host: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected])

    Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

    Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

    Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

    Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

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  • Its warren of underground bunkers and tunnels, which sheltered the city’s residents during the heavy bombing of the Second Sino-Japanese war, are turned into lifestyle destinations today.

    Synopsis: The Straits Times chats with ST’s global correspondents about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.

    Chongqing bears a grim wartime history. As China’s wartime capital which Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang government decamped to in 1937, it was heavily bombed during the Second Sino-Japanese war. Bunkers - some 16,000 - were built into the city’s hills and mountains, sheltering terrified residents as the bombs rained down.

    Some eight decades on, the Chongqing government has given these underground shelters a new lease of life.

    In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks to China correspondent Aw Cheng Wei about what it is like to be in those bunkers today, and why Chongqing is approaching its wartime past differently from other Chinese cities.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    0:39 Bookshops, car washes and mahjong sessions

    2:51 A real coming to terms with its history?

    8:24 Making the most of one’s past

    14:04 The Straits Times sets up shop in Chongqing

    Read Aw Cheng Wei’s article here: https://str.sg/w2Esn

    Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR

    Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x

    Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

    Host: Li Xueying ([email protected])

    Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

    Executive producer: Lynda Hong

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    Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

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  • Political upheaval in Japan as its snap elections see the ruling party lose its majority, reshaping its ties with the US and Asia.

    Synopsis: Join The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the Asian continent.

    In this episode, Ravi speaks with Tobias Harris, founder of political risk consultancy Japan Foresight on the fallout from the stunning electoral reverses suffered by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba following his decision to hold snap polls.

    They discuss what the results, which saw the long-governing Liberal Democratic Party and allied party Komeito lose their parliamentary majority, mean for Japan, its alliance with the US, and its ties with wider Asia.

    Tobias and Ravi also discuss how the results could impact on fiscal policy, and whether the government would now be forced to go in for further fiscal expansion.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    1:36 Japan’s political ‘earthquake’

    4:33 Anger, frustration in Japan

    7:50 Domestic priorities to be a focus

    8:33 Japan’s foreign policy

    17:55 Fiscal discipline will be difficult

    21:17 A modernised LDP

    Host: Ravi Velloor ([email protected])

    Read Ravi's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP

    Follow Ravi on X: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor

    Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

    Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

    Executive producer: Lynda Hong

    Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

    Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

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  • Unless one candidate wins swing states decisively, a quick settlement is unlikely in America’s cliffhanger election.

    Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests.

    The United States’ presidential election, which polls show is currently in a statistical tie, is unlikely to be settled quickly unless one candidate decisively wins enough swing states - which remains a possibility.

    Short of that however, both parties have armies of lawyers ready to file challenges to the result - with resolution potentially taking a long time, and concerns over instability in the interim.

    While a Kamala Harris presidency would bring a degree of continuity to foreign policy - and possibly some push back against Israel’s conduct - a Donald Trump presidency would have echoes of his first term, in which he bristled against the traditional post World War II international order, bringing up issues even with American allies such as NATO. A second term would bring more transactionalism and disruption even as some countries would like to see him back in power. He has also claimed that he will end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours.

    From the eye of the gathering storm in an increasingly severely polarised America, senior journalist, author and veteran foreign correspondent Steven Herman, Chief National Correspondent of Voice of America, shares his views with Asian Insider host Nirmal Ghosh.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    2:17 The implications from the elections on foreign policies

    5:05 Global perceptions of America and how some are eager to see Donald Trump return

    6:33 Potential for political instability and the possibility of a long unresolved election

    11:16 The public sentiment and political polarization of the elections

    15:03 How Trump and Harris are looking at reaching out to younger audience through podcasts

    Host: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected])

    Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

    Executive producer: Ernest Luis

    Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here:

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  • Navigating the US election scene - from Trump's rise to economic worries and the shifting tides of masculinity in politics.

    Synopsis: The Straits Times’ assistant foreign editor Clement Tan catches up with US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar to share her insights into the US presidential elections on Nov 5, 2024.

    Clement Tan speaks with Bhagyashree Garekar, ST’s US bureau chief, about her experiences covering the US elections. They discuss the changes in American society, the rise of Trump, and the impact of inflation concerns on voter sentiment.

    In this episode, Bhagya shares memorable encounters from her travels across the US, highlighting the political landscape and the growing diversity in the population. The conversation also touches on the psychological aspects of masculinity in politics and the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming election results.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    2:51 Memorable encounters on the campaign trail

    8:23 Changes in infrastructure and American society

    12:33 The rise of Trump and white nationalism

    16:41 Masculinity and political identity

    18:57 Economic concerns and election predictions

    Follow Clement Tan on X: https://str.sg/uErS

    Read Clement Tan's articles: https://str.sg/Ep62

    Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

    Host: Clement Tan ([email protected]) & Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected])

    Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

    Executive producer: Lynda Hong

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  • Observing with empathy, asking the right questions and listening will go a long way to charting out how to give meaningful support.

    Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

    Diversity, equity and inclusion are aspirational ideals that have permeated conversations of work life and good employment.

    Yet, there is still room for improvement when it comes to putting these aspirations into practice, if a survey on diversity issues commissioned by The Straits Times and release in August is anything to go by.

    In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi finds out how employers and employees both have their part to play in making workplaces more inclusive in meaningful ways without patronising those who benefit.

    His guests are:

    Ms Winifred Ling, a couples therapist and relationship coach who has lived with an invisible disability for close to two decades

    Ms Hsu Yi Peng, a young leader who helmed an initiative to provide students with diverse needs internship opportunities at her company, HSBC, on top of her day job as a product specialist.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    1:46 How did the idea of diversity, equity and inclusion come to the guests’ attention?

    5:01 What was the learning curve like for Yi Peng when she took on the initiative?

    9:20 Should employers or employees lead the charge to promote inclusion?

    13:20 How did HSBC devise the support moves for students in the initiative?

    19:12 How to balance between providing accommodations and seeing individuals for who they are beyond their traits?

    Read the feature by Rosalind Ang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/x4oC

    Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

    Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy

    Host: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected])

    Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

    Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

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    Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

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  • Unlocking new sources of financing for nature, ending harmful subsidies and benefit sharing among issues to be discussed

    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.

    It has been two years since the Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted, and almost 200 countries are set to gather in Cali, Colombia, from Oct 21 to Nov 1 to discuss the way forward. The framework, touted as the biodiversity equivalent of the Paris Agreement that aims to help the world avert catastrophic climate change, wants to help slow, even reverse, nature’s decline.

    The framework outlines four goals that the world hopes to achieve by 2050, including protecting and restoring nature and closing the biodiversity finance gap. The framework also outlines 22 targets, to be achieved by 2030, to help the world achieve the longer-term goals. Targets include the one to restore 30 per cent of all degraded ecosystems by 2030, and to protect and restore 30 per cent of the world’s lands and seas by that same timeline.

    At COP16, countries are expected to come up with an action plan to translate these goals and targets into concrete action. But what are some hot topics, and how will countries navigate this? To find out more, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Mr Will McGoldrick, Asia-Pacific managing director for The Nature Conservancy.

    Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

    2:29 Why is COP16 important?

    4:48 What does The Nature Conservancy – one of the world’s largest environmental non-profit organisations that is tracking negotiations – expect to see at COP16?

    6:40 Protecting nature does not come cheap. What are negotiations looking like on the finance front?

    9:46 How do we start to phase out subsidies that harm nature?

    14:30 Benefit sharing is expected to be another topic of discussions at COP16. What is it and why is it important?

    17:12 How are South-east Asian countries approaching nature conservation?

    Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W

    Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2

    Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6

    Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu

    Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected])

    Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

    Executive producer: Ernest Luis

    Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

    Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY

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  • US trade policy and US-China competition concerns are high on the minds of South-east Asia observers.

    Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests.

    Hardening strategic competition with China will remain front and centre of the foreign policy focus of the next US Administration in Washington DC. But while Asian countries have a mixed response to this superpower competition, most seek to stay on the right side of the United States and off the wrong side of China.

    Ahead of the US presidential elections on Nov 5, South-east Asia would foresee more continuity under a Kamala Harris Administration, with the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF, launched in 2022 by the Joe Biden Administration) continuing - while a second Donald Trump regime’s approach would be more bilateral, with Washington’s relations with individual countries shaped by factors such as trade deficits.

    Within the broader context of US-China competition though, South-east Asian countries would be looking for more clarity from Washington on distinctions between trade and investment and economic issues, and national security concerns, as host Nirmal Ghosh finds out in this episode.

    His guests are:

    Dr Satu Limaye, director of the East West Centre in Washington DC, creator of the Asia Matters for America initiative, and founding editor of the Asia Pacific Bulletin. Singapore-based APAC Advisors CEO Steven Okun served in the Clinton administration and is a veteran of numerous Democratic presidential campaigns.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    4:57 Directionally, the US-China relationship is going to be more tense… regardless of who wins on Nov 5

    9:12 More fundamental understanding of the fragmented multi-polar and deconstructing international order

    13:14 South-east Asia has been masterful at internationalising the search for autonomy; what could happen if there were to be a Trump 2.0 Administration?

    16:02 How will Singapore fare? Why it will be very difficult for businesses and investors to do business or to invest if what's allowed today is not allowed tomorrow - for national security concerns

    21:48 US-Asia relations: Why the threads of continuity are likely to overcome the threads of discontinuity

    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

    Host: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected])

    Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

    Executive producer: Ernest Luis

    Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here:

    Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

    Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

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