Stay ConnectedSynopsis: Almost every weekday, our ALL-IN-ONE channel showcases discussions on Singapore youth perspectives and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, personal finance and career.
Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST’s app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media.
From keen pricing to guaranteeing the resale value of its electric vehicle, BYD is bent on staying on top.
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.
BYD has been in Singapore for more than a decade before it became the country’s biggest selling car brand among authorised distributors. Mr James Ng, the managing director for Singapore and the Philippines, is doubling down on efforts to ensure that BYD extends its lead, not just for passenger cars, but also for public buses and commercial vehicles.
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:44 BYD, the same company that made surgical masks during the Covid-19 pandemic
8:44 Eyes a fourth dealer to grow its retail network
14:00 Dealers are free to be creative with their services, but BYD prices are fixed
32:44 We will definitely not be starting a taxi company
34:41 Unsurprising if EV adoption comes up to 50 per cent in 2025
Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G
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Host: Lee Nian Tjoe (niantjoel@sph.com.sg)
Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim and Eden Soh
Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong
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UN Cali Fund aims to collect millions, and possibly billions, of dollars for the conservation of nature and to benefit indigenous people.
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.
Nature’s bounty is vast and we all benefit from it. Think of the huge variety of plants and their timber, seeds and fruits – even the materials from them to make cosmetics.
The immense variety, the huge number of different species and traits in nature, comes from genetics. And this has long been an intangible part of biodiversity, one that is hard to put a price on.
But a new fund agreed at UN biodiversity talks at the end of 2024 is set to change this. Called the Cali Fund, the industry is expected to contribute money for making use of nature.
Companies, such as pharmaceutical and cosmetics firms, will pay for their use of the genetic resources from nature. Money will flow based on either a share of profits or turnover.
But how exactly will this voluntary fund work? And how are these genetic resources defined and tracked?
Green Pulse speaks with Dr Siva Thambisetty, an expert in Intellectual Property Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She was closely involved in the negotiations for the fund.
A special thanks to Aruna Chandrasekhar, who helped with research for this episode. She covers land, food and nature for the Carbon Brief news site.
Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):
2:53 What is the Cali Fund?
4:16 What is genetic material and digital sequence information (DSI)?
8:15 “DSI can also accelerate our research for new drugs.”
19:52 What about the risks of rising inequality? For example, rich companies using free genetic data to create profitable products?
23:32 How will the fund flow into conservation and to indigenous groups?
Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W
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Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg)
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong
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An expert shows how fresh entrants to the workforce can gain the prior experience employers increasingly seek.
Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.
It seems paradoxical for prospective employers to seek prior experience even for entry-level roles.
This reflects the rising bar expected of fresh entrants to the job market.
However, employers are becoming more open-minded towards what constitutes relevant prior experience.
ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest, a seasoned career expert who has worked with tertiary students from different backgrounds, on the help at hand.
His guest is:
Ms Sarah Neo, head of the career development office at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:55 Why are employers increasingly seeking prior experience even for entry-level roles?
4:13 The forms such experience can take, from internships to hackathons
9:05 Is it realistic to expect ever more prior experience from students before graduation?
11:58 How can students who lack experience still land that first job?
14:15 What does Sarah recommend those who remain undecided about their future careers do?
Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz
Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy
Host: Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg)
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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Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl
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Find out too, why the Rodrigo Duterte outreach to China failed.
Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 40 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests.
In this episode, Ravi speaks with Don McLain Gill, a Manila-based geopolitical analyst, and lecturer at the international studies department at De LaSalle University. Dr McGill presents a primer on Filipino-China ties, the implacable nature of China’s approach to the South China Sea, why the Rodrigo Duterte outreach to China failed, and also responds to the question: Did Manila overplay its hand?
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:40 State of play in Filipino-China ties
5:30 Marcos started out wanting to improve relations
11:20 ‘Appeasement emboldened China’
16:00 Did America prod Manila to be tough?
22:00 Trump will not undermine Philippine interests
Host: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg)
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: 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: podcast@sph.com.sg
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Why are some Singapore companies willing to bear the expense to implement pet-care leave as a form of benefit?
Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
While fewer people are keen on having children, more are becoming pet owners, based on statistics from the Animal and Veterinary Service and an Euromonitor International report.
But what happens if you have a full-time job and your pet is sick?
Instead of requiring their employees to take urgent leave, some firms in Singapore have begun rolling out pet care leave, for "pawrents" who need to take their furkids to the vet.
Only a small number of firms have started implementing it, but the response from employees has so far been overwhelmingly positive.
In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - journalist Aqil Hamzah - ask their two guests whether having a separate leave category the caring of pets is ultimately a good thing, and whether it’d affect the morale of those without pets.
The two guests are: Emilyn Ang, founder of public relations and marketing agency Brave Communications, which provides three days of “pawrental” leave a year; and Diane Lee, a senior HR business partner for South-east Asia at recruitment firm Robert Walters.
Highlights (click/tap above):
01:34 Considerations behind implementing pet care leave
06:45 Advantages of having pet care leave
09:12 Why employees with no pets shouldn’t feel resentment
14:30 Leave days as an expense, and how firms can balance out the cost
17:30 Are more Singapore firms ready to roll out pet care leave
Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH
Read Aqil Hamzah’s articles: https://str.sg/Cc85
Hosts: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg) and Aqil Hamzah
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
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The choice of decor by a Tamil Nadu resident whose father was a bus conductor in Singapore speaks of the ties between both cities.
Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.
Trichy in southern India has no direct flights to the capital city New Delhi, but it has five daily flights to Singapore. The planes are packed, underscoring the rich flows of people both ways.
It is a relationship that stretched back to the early 19th century, when migrants from Tamil Nadu settled down in Singapore. Today, there are some 200,000 Singaporeans of Tamil origins.
In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks to India Correspondent Debarshi Dasgupta about those from Trichy who continue to make their way to Singapore - and other destinations - in search of opportunities.
Highlights (click/tap above):
00:55 Looking out from India
03:48 Bungalows, cars and lavish weddings
08:56 Reverse migration
13:50 The Singapore Dream
15:25 The global competition for Indian talent
17:00 New frontiers
Read Debarshi’s article here: https://str.sg/eoRm
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 (xueying@sph.com.sg)
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
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
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Can excessive screen use cause your child to be easily distracted?
Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.
Too much screen use can lead to a child having issues with sustained attention. Tasks like homework may become a challenge to complete.
Indeed, as more evidence emerges on the impact of excessive screen time on a child’s cognitive development and executive functioning, the authorities have updated its screen use guidance. It comes under a new health promotion strategy called Grow Well SG, which is currently aimed at supporting families of children up to the age of 12.
In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo invites a clinician scientist specialising in developmental and behavioural paediatrics to discuss the impact and the rationale behind the changes.
She is Dr Evelyn Law, an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore, who is part of the research team for the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes birth cohort study (Gusto). This Gusto study has been going on for 14 years and had contributed to the evidence behind the various guidance in Grow Well SG.
Dr Law, a senior consultant at the Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, is also a member of the expert group that led the development of the screen use guidance in children.
Highlights (click/tap above)
2:35 What is executive function, and can frequent use of digital devices cause a child to be easily distracted?
7:46 What’s the difference between having executive function deficits and a condition like ADHD?
11:46 What’s the difference between recreational and educational screen use?
16:01 Is there a gaming addiction problem in Singapore?
21:41 What’s the rationale behind restricting access to social media services for children below 13?
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 (joyceteo@sph.com.sg)
Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong
Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
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From coal power to green power, China’s clean energy vision could put the world on the right climate path
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.
As climate change impacts worsen, the world seems more divided than ever in tackling the climate crisis.
US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw, for a second time, from the United Nations’ Paris climate agreement is just the latest setback for global climate diplomacy. Trade disputes and tariffs on China’s green tech goods have also damaged global cooperation and so have bitter arguments over climate finance.
Is there a nation that can fill the climate leadership gap? Can China step up?
It has already been steadily increasing its leadership, says Mr Li Shuo, director of China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington.
He tells Green Pulse that China’s dominance of the green energy sector, in the manufacture of solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles and battery storage, has made these goods cheaper and helped the adoption of emissions-cutting technologies, including in South-east Asia.
And China has become a leading provider of climate finance and top investor in renewable energy at home and globally. But big questions remain for China, the world’s top CO2 emitter and coal consumer. To be a leader, big political decisions lie ahead of China on how fast it can reduce its dependence on polluting coal, Mr Li Shuo says.
Listen in to our conversation with Mr Li Shuo to learn more about China’s potential as a global climate leader.
Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):
1:10 With climate change impacts worsening, the world needs stronger leadership. Is China that leader?
5:15 China is a green energy superpower. But it is also the top CO2 emitter and coal consumer. Isn’t that a contradiction?
8:26 We’ve seen bitter trade disputes over China’s green tech goods. But isn’t access to more affordable green energy good for global climate action?
11:50 What about China’s climate investments in SE Asia? What are your views?
14:00 Are we seeing the decline in Western powers in the climate space and the rise of alternative voices?
19:07 Is there a risk of a climate backlash in China as we’ve seen in other countries?
Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W
Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2
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Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu
Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg)
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong
Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
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Do your homework and hold for the long term - these are among expert tips for stock picking.
Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.
There are so many different methods to invest these days - from buying roboportfolios, to exchange traded funds or index funds benchmarked to certain indices.
But there are also investors who wish to pick their own stocks because they are convinced of their increasing value.
This particularly occurs when it comes to tech stocks that might be rapidly rising, or when certain industries show strong potential for growth.
But how does someone go about stock picking and what are the risks involved?
In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at how people can choose solid stocks in the volatile environment of 2025.
Her guests are young investor Troy Cheng and ex-ST journalist and veteran market watcher Ven Sreenivasan.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:42 What is stock picking and how to go about it?
6:00 How to decide if stocks are overvalued or undervalued?
8:10 Where do you get your stock picking recommendations from?
11:41 Which industries are promising in 2025?
15:47 What to know before jumping into overseas stock markets?
20:14 Looking at the Chinese stock market
25:09 Opportunities in the Singapore market
Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa
Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X
Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl
Host: Sue-Ann Tan (suetan@sph.com.sg)
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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Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
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The MP for Punggol West SMC first joined the People's Action Party as a member 25 years ago after becoming a volunteer to help with Meet-The-People sessions.
Synopsis: On Thursdays, The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.
Also, in the lead-up to the expected general election that must be held by November 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves.
In this episode, Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Home Affairs, and Social and Family Development, chats with Natasha about her experiences from 25 years of Meet-The-People sessions since she first got involved on the ground at the age of 20.
They talk about Ms Sun’s latest efforts to combat family violence and scams and why we should work together as a community to halt any family violence and child abuse in Singapore. She also highlights the challenges of tackling scams, which exploit human emotions like trust and greed, making it harder for authorities to do their jobs.
Besides juggling her roles in two ministries and as the MP for Punggol West SMC, Ms Sun is also an author who has written books for children. The mother of two girls shares her thoughts on balancing work and passion, along with advice for anyone looking to pursue a side hustle.
Highlights (click/tap above):
5:41 The need to raise the alarm with the authorities
12:06 Why do Singaporeans keep getting scammed?
22:08 Why Ms Sun started volunteering at Meet-The-People sessions 25 years ago
27:49 “I just feel like I'm just an ordinary person...”
34:15 Her advice for those who want to pursue a passion on the side
Host: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)
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: Teo Tong Kai & Eden Soh
Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong
Follow The Usual Place Podcast on Thursdays 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: podcast@sph.com.sg
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