Asian Insider

Asian Insider

Download on the App Store

Asian Insider episodes

  • 'My ambitions are but empty dreams,' says Chinese migrant worker: Invisible Asia Ep 2
    Invisible Asia Ep 2: 'My ambitions are but empty dreams,' says Chinese migrant worker
    10:25 mins
    Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.
    The Straits Times' China correspondent Danson Cheong explores the hardships that short-term labourer Wei Xiaoqiang faces daily. Xiaoqiang is one among China’s 290 million rural migrants who have moved to the big cities to seek a better life.
    But a lack of skills has kept such migrants out of most employment opportunities, forcing them into an endless cycle of grabbing whatever temporary jobs are hawked their way, at places such as the Majuqiao labour market in the outskirts of Beijing. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning:
    Xiaoqiang on what it's like to have to find a new job each day and struggle to keep up to earn his wages (2:27) 
    He yearns for a better life, doing something different, but his dreams still seem far out of reach to him (3:44) 
    Why China's rural migrants are stuck at the bottom of the "food chain" (4:51) 
    With short-term labour romanticised for the "gig worker lifestyle", Xiaoqiang says it's in fact 'an incredibly lonely life' (6:52) 
    Challenges mounting for such workers in China, and what the government has done to alleviate the problem (7:38) 
    Read Danson Cheong's story here: https://str.sg/Jj9a
    Produced by: Tan Jia Ning, Magdalene Fung, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee
    Edited by: Adam Azlee
    Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia
    Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b
    Discover ST & BT 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/stbtpodcasts
    https://bt.sg/moneyhacks
    Feedback to: [email protected] 
    ---
    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:  http://bt.sg/podcasts
    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    11 min
  • 'My ISIS fighter brother turned me into an advocate against terror': Invisible Asia Ep 1
    Invisible Asia Ep 1:  'My ISIS fighter brother turned me into an advocate against terror'
    10:23 mins
    Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen, unheard and little talked about.  Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.
    The Straits Times' regional correspondent Tan Jia Ning narrates and also speaks to Muhammad In’am Amin, 44, in Indonesia.
    He is the founder of Kopi Gandroeng in Jogjakarta, the base for his counter-terrorism organisation Yayasan Lingkar Perdamaian (Peace Network Foundation).
    In'am's brother, Wildan Mukhollad, was the first Indonesian to die fighting for the Islamic State terrorist group in the Middle East, in 2014. Wildan was only 19. 
    In'am recalls how Wildan became radicalised soon after leaving to study in Egypt  (2:25)
    Their family is labelled as "terrorists" and ostracised in their village after Wildan's death (3:28)
    In'am rebuilds life in Jogjakarta, helping to pull vulnerable youth back from the brink of religious extremism (4:49)
    His strategy proves an effective alternative to the government’s deradicalisation programmes (6:17)
    The Quran's words of tolerance, mercy and kindness must ring louder than those of war and jihad, In'am says (8:35)
    Read Tan Jia Ning's story here: https://str.sg/Jjhe
    Produced by: Tan Jia Ning, Magdalene Fung, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee
    Edited by: Adam Azlee
    Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia
    Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b
    Discover ST & BT 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/stbtpodcasts
    https://bt.sg/moneyhacks
    Feedback to: [email protected] 
    ---
    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:  http://bt.sg/podcasts
    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
    #InvisibleAsia
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    11 min
  • 'I wanted to escape this life by hiding who I was,' says an 'untouchable' in Japan: Invisible Asia Ep 7
    Invisible Asia Ep 7: 'I wanted to escape this life by hiding who I was,' says an 'untouchable' in Japan
    14:17 min
    Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.
    The Straits Times' Japan correspondent Walter Sim speaks with Japan's "untouchables", known as the burakumin. They are descendants of a shunned caste from a long-gone era, who are still ostracised in modern times purely because of their lineage. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning.
    Official estimates number the burakumin at 900,000, but activists says there are as many as 3 million across the country who have moved out of the hamlets their ancestors once lived in.
    Risa Kumamoto - emerging from discrimination against burakumin to become a respected academic (0:30)
    History of Japan's burakumin (2:00)
    Emotionally scarred while growing up as a burakumin (3:59)
    Taro Murasaki: From monkey trainer to monkey theme park owner (7:46)
    The late Japanese politician blocked from becoming Japan's Prime Minister in 2001, chiefly because of his ancestry (9:58)
    How burakumin such as abattoir worker Yuki Miyazaki still live in fear of their ancestry being exposed in public (10:23)
    Read the full story by Walter Sim: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-wanted-to-escape-this-life-by-hiding-who-i-was
    Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Toh Wen Li, Yeo Sam Jo, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee
    Edited by: Adam Azlee
    Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia
    Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b
    Discover ST & BT 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/stbtpodcasts
    https://bt.sg/moneyhacks
    Feedback to: [email protected] 
    ---
    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:  http://bt.sg/podcasts
    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    15 min
  • 'I've been told South Korea's not the country for my belief,' says a Korean Muslim: Invisible Asia Ep 9
    Invisible Asia Ep 9: 'I've been told South Korea's not the country for my belief,' says a Korean Muslim
    14:06 min
    Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition 9-episode series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. 
    The Straits Times' South Korea correspondent Chang May Choon closes our series as she casts the spotlight on the South Korean Muslim minority. As many as 3,000 South Koreans convert to Islam each year, according to the Korea Muslim Federation. 
    But a lack of understanding of Islam among the country’s general populace, contributes to the daily difficulties that they face for their belief. 
    In this podcast, listen to translated testimonies from South Korean Muslim converts Song Bo-ra, Lee Seul and Yu Hong-jong. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning.
    How Bo-ra counters misconceptions about the way the hijab is viewed (2:01)
    Lee Seul still uneasy in public after her own conversion to Islam (4:33) 
    South Korean government working to change its people's mindsets about Islam as Muslim tourist numbers rose pre-Covid (5:51)
    Hong-jong on the difference between the way Christians and Muslims are viewed in South Korea (8:14)
    Booming demand for halal Korean food from Muslim students, workers and tourists (9:28)
    Lee Seul and Song Bo-ra helping to make South Korea a more Muslim-friendly country (11:20) 
    Read the full story by Chang May Choon: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/many-koreans-have-big-misunderstandings-about-islam
    Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Adam Azlee, Fa'izah Sani, Penelope Lee & Ernest Luis
    Edited by: Adam Azlee
    Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/asian-insider-1/playlists/invisible-asia
    Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b
    Discover ST & BT 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/stbtpodcasts
    https://bt.sg/moneyhacks
    Feedback to: [email protected] 
    ---
    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:  http://bt.sg/podcasts
    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    15 min
  • 'I was afraid to be rejected if I spoke up,' says childhood abuse victim in the Philippines: Invisible Asia Ep 8
    Invisible Asia Ep 8: 'I was afraid to be rejected if I spoke up,' says childhood abuse victim in the Philippines
    16:14 min
    Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.
    The Straits Times' Philippines correspondent Raul Dancel casts the spotlight on sexual abuse and domestic violence against vulnerable children in the Philippines. He speaks with Filipino Erick Reyes, 44, on his early experience with abuse, which left him fighting his demons well into his adulthood. 
    Professor Zenaida Rosales, executive director of the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse in the Philippines, also discusses deep-seated issues related to child abuse. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning. 
    Erick and his siblings view their violent and often-absent father with fear, loathing and anger (0:49)
    Five-year-old Erick is sexually abused by an older boy and left feeling hurt, guilty and confused (2:30)
    At age 12, he decides to enrol in a seminary to escape his "demons" (4:39) 
    Dropping out of the seminary (6:33)
    Why sexually abused boys seldom report or discuss their experiences in the Philippines, where the crime of rape applies only to women (8:00)
    Erick finds understanding, catharsis and healing in a group similarly trying to reconcile their gender preferences with their religious faith (11:24)
    Erick speaks out to prevent more voiceless young people from going through the same painful journey he did as a youth (12:26) 
    Read the full story by Raul Dancel: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-was-afraid-id-be-rejected-if-i-told-people-of-my-abuse
    Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee
    Edited by: Adam Azlee
    Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia
    Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b
    Discover ST & BT 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/stbtpodcasts
    https://bt.sg/moneyhacks
    Feedback to: [email protected] 
    ---
    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:  http://bt.sg/podcasts
    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    17 min
  • S1E69: Myanmar descending into economic collapse: Asian Insider Ep 70

    Asian Insider Ep 70: Myanmar descending into economic collapse

    18:29 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.

    The international community needs to brace for a humanitarian catastrophe in Myanmar, as analysts Richard Horsey and Pwint Htun tell Asian Insider.

    They discuss the following points: 

    1. People risking their lives to withdraw cash (4:16)
    2. UN should consider delivering aid through mobile phones (9:33)
    3. Criminal networks already well-entrenched in Myanmar (12:40)
    4. Risk of state failure spreading to centre of Myanmar (14:00)
    5. Military has undone decades of progress in poverty alleviation (15:27)

    Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) & ST Video team

    Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah

    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

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: [email protected]

    Discover Asian Insider Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduMSOntUoS6ALNp21jMmgfBX

    Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG

    Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r

    ---

    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:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min
  • Myanmar descending into economic collapse: Asian Insider Ep 70
    Asian Insider Ep 70: Myanmar descending into economic collapse
    18:29 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.
    The international community needs to brace for a humanitarian catastrophe in Myanmar, as analysts Richard Horsey and Pwint Htun tell Asian Insider.
    They discuss the following points: 
    People risking their lives to withdraw cash (4:16)
    UN should consider delivering aid through mobile phones (9:33)
    Criminal networks already well-entrenched in Myanmar (12:40)
    Risk of state failure spreading to centre of Myanmar (14:00)
    Military has undone decades of progress in poverty alleviation (15:27)
    Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) & ST Video team
    Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah
    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
    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
    Feedback to: [email protected]
    Discover Asian Insider Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduMSOntUoS6ALNp21jMmgfBX
    Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG
    Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r
    ---
    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:  http://bt.sg/podcasts
    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    19 min
  • S1E1: Getting to know Little Singapore in the south of India: Letter From The Bureau Ep 1

    Letter From The Bureau Ep 1: Getting to know Little Singapore in the south of India

    16:08 mins

    Synopsis: Join The Straits Times's foreign desk editor Bhagyashree Garekar in this podcast series as she talks about life as it goes on, amid, and in spite of the headlines, with one of ST’s 30-odd correspondents in 15 cities across the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe every month. They will share with you some of the more interesting things they are reporting on from the countries they are based in. 

    In this episode, she hosts Rohini Mohan - ST's India correspondent - about a unique region in south India where the people have strong historical, economic and emotional ties to Singapore.

    They chat about the following:

    1. Where is 'Little Singapore' in south India and why it gets this name (0:55)

    2. Background to districts surrounding Trichy (short for Tiruchirapalli) - the fourth largest city of Tamil Nadu and its decades-old connection to Singapore (2:28)
    3. Hear about little Lee Kuan Yew Jayaprakash, born in Mannargudi town in Tamil Nadu in 2015, and the inspiration for his name (6:30)
    4. Amid Covid-19 pandemic, as many migrant workers returned home after job loss or to care for their parents, the love affair with Singapore has turned into separation anxiety (9:05)

    Read Rohini Mohan's stories: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/rohini-mohan

      Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]) & Ernest Luis

      Edited by: Aleemah Basirah

      Subscribe to our Asian Insider Podcast channel to follow our various shows each week 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

      Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

      Feedback to: [email protected]

      Follow Rohini Mohan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohini_mohan

      Read more of ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/letter-from-the-bureau

      Read & subscribe to the Asian Insider newsletter: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/asian-insider

      Discover Asian Insider Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduMSOntUoS6ALNp21jMmgfBX

      ---

      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:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

      Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

      17 min
    • Getting to know Little Singapore in the south of India: Letter From The Bureau Ep 1
      Letter From The Bureau Ep 1: Getting to know Little Singapore in the south of India
      16:08 mins
      Synopsis: Join The Straits Times's foreign desk editor Bhagyashree Garekar in this podcast series as she talks about life as it goes on, amid, and in spite of the headlines, with one of ST’s 30-odd correspondents in 15 cities across the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe every month. They will share with you some of the more interesting things they are reporting on from the countries they are based in. 
      In this episode, she hosts Rohini Mohan - ST's India correspondent - about a unique region in south India where the people have strong historical, economic and emotional ties to Singapore.
      They chat about the following:
      Where is 'Little Singapore' in south India and why it gets this name (0:55)
      Background to districts surrounding Trichy (short for Tiruchirapalli) - the fourth largest city of Tamil Nadu and its decades-old connection to Singapore (2:28)
      Hear about little Lee Kuan Yew Jayaprakash, born in Mannargudi town in Tamil Nadu in 2015, and the inspiration for his name (6:30)
      Amid Covid-19 pandemic, as many migrant workers returned home after job loss or to care for their parents, the love affair with Singapore has turned into separation anxiety (9:05)
      Read Rohini Mohan's stories: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/rohini-mohan
      Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]) & Ernest Luis
      Edited by: Aleemah Basirah
      Subscribe to our Asian Insider Podcast channel to follow our various shows each week 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
      Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
      Feedback to: [email protected]
      Follow Rohini Mohan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohini_mohan
      Read more of ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/letter-from-the-bureau
      Read & subscribe to the Asian Insider newsletter: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/asian-insider
      Discover Asian Insider Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduMSOntUoS6ALNp21jMmgfBX
      ---
      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:  http://bt.sg/podcasts
      Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
      17 min
    • S1E1: Do not mock India, learn from its Covid-19 troubles: Speaking Of Asia Ep 1

      Speaking Of Asia Ep 1: Do not mock India, learn from its Covid-19 troubles

      9:26 mins

      Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' associate editor Ravi Velloor, in this series of podcasts based on his weekly columns on Asian issues, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent.

      Ravi argues that while much of the global media has focused on the shortcomings of the Indian government, he sees this as a hybrid, with the effects of the coronavirus as an act of nature - made worse by human errors and emotions, complacency, power play, religion and class issues, and of course, utter misgovernance. 

      He covers the following reasons for India's seeming Covid collapse as the world watches on:

      1. 1st factor: The complacency virus (2:50)

      2. 2nd factor: Why and how the Indian elections became coronavirus super spreader events (4:19)
      3. 3rd factor: How an ancient Hindu bathing ritual in the Ganges that takes place every 12 years, became another super spreader event (5:53)
      4. 4th factor: Only about 2% of Indians vaccinated with their second shot (7:03)
      5. Paying tribute to the real heroes of India's underfunded and collapsing health sector (8:00)

      Read Ravi Velloor's columns: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/ravi-velloor

      Produced by: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Fa'izah Sani

      Edited by: Adam Azlee

      Subscribe to our Asian Insider Podcast channel to follow our various shows each week 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

      Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

      Feedback to: [email protected]

      Follow Ravi Velloor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor

      Read & subscribe to the Asian Insider newsletter: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/asian-insider

      Discover Asian Insider Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduMSOntUoS6ALNp21jMmgfBX

      ---

      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:  http://bt.sg/podcasts

      Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

      10 min

    About Asian Insider

    From the publisher's feed

    Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.

    More shows like Asian Insider

    World Business Report by BBC World Service

    World Business Report

    284 Listeners

    Odd Lots by Bloomberg

    Odd Lots

    1,972 Listeners

    Bloomberg Businessweek by Bloomberg

    Bloomberg Businessweek

    421 Listeners

    The Foreign Desk by Monocle

    The Foreign Desk

    115 Listeners

    Sinica Podcast by Kaiser Kuo

    Sinica Podcast

    604 Listeners

    ChinaPower by CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

    ChinaPower

    207 Listeners

    ChinaTalk by Jordan Schneider

    ChinaTalk

    289 Listeners

    The Impossible State by CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

    The Impossible State

    86 Listeners

    Thoughts on the Market by Morgan Stanley

    Thoughts on the Market

    1,297 Listeners

    The Asia Chessboard by Center for Strategic and International Studies

    The Asia Chessboard

    109 Listeners

    The Rachman Review by Financial Times

    The Rachman Review

    133 Listeners

    Pekingology by Center for Strategic and International Studies

    Pekingology

    141 Listeners

    Global Security Briefing by The Royal United Services Institute

    Global Security Briefing

    22 Listeners

    The Foreign Affairs Interview by Foreign Affairs Magazine

    The Foreign Affairs Interview

    469 Listeners

    Big Take Asia by Bloomberg

    Big Take Asia

    21 Listeners