Asian Insider

Invisible Asia Ep 3: 'I felt so alone in Singapore' 

9:21 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 audio apps - Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' senior social affairs correspondent Theresa Tan speaks to two foreign brides in Singapore on their struggles to adapt to life in a new city, far from their loved ones back at home. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: 

1. Once a financially independent woman in Indonesia, Siti finds her movements restricted by her controlling husband in Singapore (0:31)
2. A timely programme and a buddy system prove a lifeline for lost, lonely Vietnamese bride Anna in the early years of her marriage (2:36) 
3. Anna pays it forward by befriending other Vietnamese women newly married to Singaporean men (3:33)
4. The collective plight of the many “voiceless", "invisible” migrant brides in Singapore (5:06) 

Read the full story by Theresa Tan: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-felt-so-alone-in-singapore

Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning and Ernest Luis

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 niche podcast series by ST and BT below:

Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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

Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN

Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7

Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad

Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2

Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE

Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas

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

#InvisibleAsia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Asia Ep 3: 'I felt so alone in Singapore' 

9:21 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 audio apps - Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' senior social affairs correspondent Theresa Tan speaks to two foreign brides in Singapore on their struggles to adapt to life in a new city, far from their loved ones back at home. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: 

Once a financially independent woman in Indonesia, Siti finds her movements restricted by her controlling husband in Singapore (0:31)

A timely programme and a buddy system prove a lifeline for lost, lonely Vietnamese bride Anna in the early years of her marriage (2:36) 

Anna pays it forward by befriending other Vietnamese women newly married to Singaporean men (3:33)

The collective plight of the many “voiceless", "invisible” migrant brides in Singapore (5:06) 

Read the full story by Theresa Tan: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-felt-so-alone-in-singapore

Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning and Ernest Luis

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 niche podcast series by ST and BT below:

Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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

Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN

Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7

Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad

Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2

Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE

Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas

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

#InvisibleAsia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 64: Quad countries to deliver 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses

14:38 mins

Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests.

Without naming China, Quad countries aim to beef up cooperation based on values and principles. Our U.S. Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh speaks with India bureau chief Nirmala Ganapathy and Japan Correspondent Walter Sim on the inaugural Quad summit.

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

Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah

Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series 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 The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

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.

Asian Insider Ep 64: Quad countries to deliver 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses

14:38 mins

Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests.

Without naming China, Quad countries aim to beef up cooperation based on values and principles. Our U.S. Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh speaks with India bureau chief Nirmala Ganapathy and Japan Correspondent Walter Sim on the inaugural Quad summit.

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

Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah

Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series 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 The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

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.

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:

1. 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) 
2. He yearns for a better life, doing something different, but his dreams still seem far out of reach to him (3:44) 
3. Why China's rural migrants are stuck at the bottom of the "food chain" (4:51) 
4. With short-term labour romanticised for the "gig worker lifestyle", Xiaoqiang says it's in fact 'an incredibly lonely life' (6:52) 
5. 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 ST's Invisible Asia podcast series:

Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s

Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Asia Ep 2: 'My ambitions are but empty dreams' 

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:

1. 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) 
2. He yearns for a better life, doing something different, but his dreams still seem far out of reach to him (3:44) 
3. Why China's rural migrants are stuck at the bottom of the "food chain" (4:51) 
4. With short-term labour romanticised for the "gig worker lifestyle", Xiaoqiang says it's in fact 'an incredibly lonely life' (6:52) 
5. 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 niche podcast series by ST and BT below:

Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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

Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN

Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7

Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad

Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE

Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas

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

#InvisibleAsia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Asia Ep 2: 'My ambitions are but empty dreams' 

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 niche podcast series by ST and BT below:

Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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

Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN

Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7

Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad

Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE

Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas

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

#InvisibleAsia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 63: Fukushima nuclear disaster shadow haunts Japan 10 years on

17:38 mins

Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests.

Nuclear power planners should factor in ethics and human rights, says nuclear expert Tatsujiro Suzuki on Asian Insider.

His guests are Walter Sim, ST's Japan correspondent and Dr Tatsujiro Suzuki, a professor at Nagasaki University.

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

Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah

Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series 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 The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

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.

Asian Insider Ep 63: Fukushima nuclear disaster shadow haunts Japan 10 years on

17:38 mins

Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests.

Nuclear power planners should factor in ethics and human rights, says nuclear expert Tatsujiro Suzuki on Asian Insider.

His guests are Walter Sim, ST's Japan correspondent and Dr Tatsujiro Suzuki, a professor at Nagasaki University.

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

Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah

Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series 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 The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

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.

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. 

1. In'am recalls how Wildan became radicalised soon after leaving to study in Egypt  (2:25)
2. Their family is labelled as "terrorists" and ostracised in their village after Wildan's death (3:28)
3. In'am rebuilds life in Jogjakarta, helping to pull vulnerable youth back from the brink of religious extremism (4:49)
4. His strategy proves an effective alternative to the government’s deradicalisation programmes (6:17)
5. 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 ST's Invisible Asia podcast series:

Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s

Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.