Let's Talk, Singapore

Tan Dawn Wei, China Bureau Chief, The Straits Times gives an analysis of US climate envoy John Kerry's visit to Shanghai to seek China’s cooperation ahead of the US President Joe Biden’s climate summit, the EU's plan to reinforce its strategic focus and presence in the Indo-Pacific, and Ant Group's options for its founder Jack Ma to divest his stake in the tech giant and even give up his control. 

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CNBC's Will Koulouris discusses which company earnings will be worth watching this week, and what's behind the Bitcoin price plunge over the weekend.

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Straits Times US Bureau Chief, Nirmal Ghosh gives his analysis on US President Joe Biden's first in-person foreign leader meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in The White House, US and China's commitment to working together on climate change, plus, what is the long term strategy on US-Russia relations after the US implemented sanctions on Russia, and more. 

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Just recently, Ryde, a Singapore-based mobility app, formally announced its plans for a S$200 million Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and has appointed SAC Capital as its financial adviser. Terence Zou, CEO, and Founder, Ryde shares their decision to go for a traditional IPO listing and not a SPAC listing, and the importance of giving back to their drivers. 

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Innovative technologies and unique designs are OPPO’s core competencies, with the rollable phone prototype being a key example of how OPPO has led the way in pushing boundaries in technology and design. Dylan Yu, Marketing Director, OPPO Singapore shares what OPPO has been doing in its pursuit of marrying both aesthetics and technology in its phones and what else needs to be done by OPPO to set itself apart in this competitive market.

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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.

1. Risa Kumamoto - emerging from discrimination against burakumin to become a respected academic (0:30)
2. History of Japan's burakumin (2:00)
3. Emotionally scarred while growing up as a burakumin (3:59)
4. Taro Murasaki: From monkey trainer to monkey theme park owner (7:46)

5. The late Japanese politician blocked from becoming Japan's Prime Minister in 2001, chiefly because of his ancestry (9:58)

6. 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 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

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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

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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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Francis Tan, Investment Strategist, UOB Private Bank discusses the strong initial jobless claims data, earnings and retail sales numbers helping to lift investor sentiment, ahead of China's release of Q1 GDP.

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Bengawan Solo is Singapore's iconic confectionery that serves up classic sweets with a touch of history. Henry Liew, Director, Bengawan Solo shares more on the company's origins, their efforts to build Singaporeans’ appreciation of local brands, and how Covid-19 has impacted them with tourism at a standstill.

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CGS-CIMB Securities, recently launched ProsperUs, its first investment platform for millennials by millennials in Singapore. It is aimed at sophisticated, long-term investors, offering them access to many multi-asset investment opportunities, including equities, bonds, FX, ETFs, mutual funds, single stock options, and CFDs.But why is there a need to have an investment platform specifically targeted at millennials? Saw Ping May, Founder, ProsperUs shares more.

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Nicholas Fang, Managing Director, Black Dot and Director For security and Global Affairs, Singapore Institute of International Affairs shares his analysis on the biggest headlines from the week including; Singaporeans getting the choice of Covid-19 vaccine they receive, Singapore’s 0,2% GDP growth in Q1, the lessons learnt from Ant Group restructuring and Alibaba's fine and Citigroup's plans to exit 13 markets. 

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