Why It Matters - Climate of change: Power to (young) people

11:34 mins

Synopsis: The role of young people in this year’s pivotal climate change talks in Poland have been highlighted ever since 15-year-old Swedish teen Greta Thunberg refused to go to school in August in order to pressure her government to take more drastic climate action.

In this episode, The Straits Times' environment correspondent Audrey Tan speaks to three young people from different parts of the world to find out their motivations for taking climate action.

They are Mr Eric Bea, 24, a fourth-year NUS law student, Ms Liyana Yamin, 25, from the engagement and capacity-building working group and Malaysian climate NGO, Malaysia Youth Delegation, and Mr Garfield Kwan, 28, a PhD candidate in marine biology at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and founder of scientific cartoon series Squidtoons.

Produced by: Audrey Tan, Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Feedback to: [email protected]

On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Why It Matters: Why the UN climate meeting in Poland is so important

13:51 mins

Synopsis: In this podcast series, The Straits Times takes a close look at key news talking points.

COP24, the United Nations (UN) climate change talks in the Polish city of Katowice is touted as being one of the most important since COP21 in Paris, when the Paris Agreement was drawn up.

The Straits Times' environment correspondent Audrey Tan speaks with National University of Singapore research fellow Melissa Low in Poland to get the lowdown on why these talks are considered so pivotal.

Feedback to: [email protected]

On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Why It Matters Episode 12 Duration: 6:51 mins Synopsis: In this new podcast series for 2018, The Straits Times takes a close look at one key news talking point each week. Kevin Kwan, whose best-selling book inspired the new Hollywood box office hit movie Crazy Rich Asians, defaulted on his national service obligations, the Ministry of Defence said on Aug 22 in response to queries from The Straits Times. The revelation about the 44-year-old Kwan made global headlines. He lives in the United States and now has US citizenship. Will this revelation hurt the film's performance in Singapore? Does it detract from what is being seen as the most successful "made-with-Singapore" movie to date? We ask Lifestyle editor Jeremy Au Yong, whose desk broke this worldwide exclusive. Produced by: Ernest Luis Feedback to: [email protected] Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why It Matters   Episode 12   Duration: 6:51 mins   Synopsis: In this new podcast series for 2018, The Straits Times takes a close look at one key news talking point each week.   Kevin Kwan, whose best-selling book inspired the new Hollywood box office hit movie Crazy Rich Asians, defaulted on his national service obligations, the Ministry of Defence said on Aug 22 in response to queries from The Straits Times.   The revelation about the 44-year-old Kwan made global headlines.   He lives in the United States and now has US citizenship. Will this revelation hurt the film's performance in Singapore? Does it detract from what is being seen as the most successful "made-with-Singapore" movie to date?   We ask Lifestyle editor Jeremy Au Yong, whose desk broke this worldwide exclusive.   Produced by: Ernest Luis   Feedback to: [email protected]   Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts   On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP   On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why It Matters   Episode 10   Duration: 8:45 mins   Synopsis: In this new podcast series for 2018, The Straits Times takes a close look at one key news talking point each week.   As more Singaporeans come online in the Smart Nation transformation, scams via online, mobile phone and social media routes are on the rise too.   The Straits Times' senior tech correspondent Irene Tham gives basic tips and also asks if the banking industry should continue with some existing marketing practices where customers are encouraged to give information over the phone for convenience.   The public can call the National Crime Prevention Council's anti-scam helpline on 1800-722-6688 for advice on scams, or go to www.scamalert.sg   Produced by: Ernest Luis   Feedback to: [email protected]   Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts   On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP   On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why It Matters Episode 10 Duration: 8:45 mins Synopsis: In this new podcast series for 2018, The Straits Times takes a close look at one key news talking point each week. As more Singaporeans come online in the Smart Nation transformation, scams via online, mobile phone and social media routes are on the rise too. The Straits Times' senior tech correspondent Irene Tham gives basic tips and also asks if the banking industry should continue with some existing marketing practices where customers are encouraged to give information over the phone for convenience. The public can call the National Crime Prevention Council's anti-scam helpline on 1800-722-6688 for advice on scams, or go to www.scamalert.sg Produced by: Ernest Luis Feedback to: [email protected] Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why It Matters

Episode 10

Duration: 7:20 mins

Synopsis: In this new podcast series for 2018, The Straits Times takes a close look at one key news talking point each week.

In July, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said that the latest cooling measures for the Singapore property market - in the form of higher Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty or ABSD rates and tighter loan limits - were introduced because of concerns that the sharp recovery in private home prices "is running ahead of economic fundamentals".

Have things cooled down since? What is the latest discount range developers are offering in the private market?

How will the new measures affect the man in the street looking for a roof over his head in the public housing market or the family that aspires to upgrade?

The Straits Times' housing correspondent Rachel Au-Yong and correspondent Grace Leong tackle these questions.

Produced by: Ernest Luis

Feedback to: [email protected]   Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts   On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP   On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why It Matters

Episode 10

Duration: 7:20 mins

Synopsis: In this new podcast series for 2018, The Straits Times takes a close look at one key news talking point each week.

In July, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said that the latest cooling measures for the Singapore property market - in the form of higher Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty or ABSD rates and tighter loan limits - were introduced because of concerns that the sharp recovery in private home prices "is running ahead of economic fundamentals".

Have things cooled down since? What is the latest discount range developers are offering in the private market?

How will the new measures affect the man in the street looking for a roof over his head in the public housing market or the family that aspires to upgrade?

The Straits Times' housing correspondent Rachel Au-Yong and correspondent Grace Leong tackle these questions.

Produced by: Ernest LuisFeedback to: [email protected] Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why It Matters   Episode 9   Duration: 10 mins   Synopsis: In this new podcast series for 2018, The Straits Times takes a close look at one key news talking point each week.   SingHealth's recent data breach in Singapore's worst cyber attack, has triggered questions over the country's Smart Nation initiatives.   The country's largest and most serious data breach involving the personal data of 1.5 million patients who had visited SingHealth between May 1, 2015, and July 4 this year. Among them, 160,000 people, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and a few ministers, had their outpatient prescriptions stolen as well.    What could have been done better? What does it mean for the Smart Nation roadmap? Is it time to address cyber hygiene on a national level more intensely? The Straits Times' senior tech correspondent Irene Tham discusses and raises points to bear in mind for the future.   Produced by: Ernest Luis   Feedback to: [email protected]   Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts   On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP   On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why It Matters Episode 9 Duration: 10 mins Synopsis: In this new podcast series for 2018, The Straits Times takes a close look at one key news talking point each week. SingHealth's recent data breach in Singapore's worst cyber attack, has triggered questions over the country's Smart Nation initiatives. The country's largest and most serious data breach involving the personal data of 1.5 million patients who had visited SingHealth between May 1, 2015, and July 4 this year. Among them, 160,000 people, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and a few ministers, had their outpatient prescriptions stolen as well.  What could have been done better? What does it mean for the Smart Nation roadmap? Is it time to address cyber hygiene on a national level more intensely? The Straits Times' senior tech correspondent Irene Tham discusses and raises points to bear in mind for the future. Produced by: Ernest Luis Feedback to: [email protected] Download ST & BT podcasts for offline listening: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.