WTF is Up in Southeast Asia + Hong Kong

On this week's episode of The Coconuts Podcast, we interview Coconuts editors Todd Ruiz and Chayanit Itthipongmaetee about the troubling recent increase of suicides in Thailand.

Other stories include: Bangkok left high and dry after booze ban indefinitely extended } Singaporean robot gently scolds park-goers into COVID compliance | Hong Kong continues streak of no new coronavirus cases | Indonesian education consultant slammed over controversial seminar on how to marry a 'bule' | Officials say Bali zoos being closely monitored as concerns rise over animals going hungry

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Singapore was previously praised by the World Health Organization for its swift response to the coronavirus when it first arrived. Since then, the bustling city-state has seen a sharp increase of outbreaks in migrant workers across the island, as dire living conditions in their dorms are brought to light. What went wrong? We check in with Managing Editor Nurul Azliah in Singapore to find out.

Other headlines include: Indonesian fashion designer stirs controversy with 'ethically sourced human spine' handbag | Burger King and KFC lifted by McDonald's shutdown in Singapore | Hotels in Bali may start reopening in May as island expects to welcome Chinese tourists in June | 'Luxury' apartment tour pokes fun at the horrors of renting in Hong Kong | Indonesians quarantined in haunted house for disobeying self-isolation order | Bangkok area Zoo ordered to stop sending chimp on bike to spray disinfectant

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

In the wake of the April 11, 2020 eruption of Anak Krakatoa, host Byron Perry interviews Indonesian volcanologist Dr. Devy Kamil Syahbana to learn about volcanoes and why they go kablooey.

Other headlines include: Police seize 580kg of cannabis buds, making largest weed bust in Hong Kong history | 10 gamblers busted in card den above Pattaya restaurant | Indonesian actor who said ex-wife's genitalia smelled like 'salted fish' sentenced to 2 years and 4 months in prison | Pizza delivery guy becomes internet hero for giving bread to Quezon City's homeless | Viral: Foreigners ignore social distancing by partying in Bali, sparking outrage online

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

On this episode of The Coconuts Podcast, we deep dive into the carnage that COVID-19 has caused to Bali's tourism industy with Julianne Greco and Sheany. We also chat about an uplifting and very meta story wherein up-and-coming US rapper Doja Cat had her mind blown in a live video by a cover of her hit song "Say So."

More headlines: Hong Kong pandas mate naturally for the first time after 10-year dry spell | Quarantine Eats: S'pore man documents every hotel quarantine meal because why not | Lucky Filipino gets PHP5,000 worth of pineapple products after mistaking fruit company for labor department | Bangkok bans sale of booze for 11 days

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Byron Perry and Vim Shanmugam have a chat about Southeast Asia's streaming video scene, the slate of Coconuts TV Originals planned for 2020, the fall of HOOQ, and Vim's previous job in TV development production.

And of course, this week's top stories on Coconuts! Including #ClapForOurCarers: Singaporeans to show thanks at 8pm tonight | Is this the real life? Marcos slams Duterte government's slow response to COVID-19 crisis | You have no law': foreigner chained after insisting he isn't breaking rule for jogging during Nyepi | Thailand under curfew starting Friday night: Prayuth | Men dressed as 'pocong' spook village in Central Java into self-isolation

The Coconuts Podcast is back with a brand new episode of The Coconuts Podcast! It's been a while, and a lot has changed since our last episode -- namely, a global pandemic.

You've probably seen a coronavirus headline headline (or several) recently, and COVID-19 certainly dominates this week's episode. From Thailand travel bans and bar closures to antiviral Singaporean cabbies laying down the law on cleanliness, this episode is about coronavirus across the region.

Headlines include: Hong Kong chief executive announces sweeping bans on tourists, booze as COVID cases increase | Anxious Singapore cabbie sets out COVID-19 conditions for her passengers | What's closed in Bangkok due to the coronavirus outbreak | Myanmar cancels Burmese New Year Festival, tightens travel from outbreak zones (but not China) | Photos of Italian travelers allegedly rejected by Thailand, stranded in Bali go viral | Traveler arrested for saying BKK airport didn't screen for COVID-19

We will continue to publish informative and entertaining (when appropriate) coverage of COVID-19 in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Stay safe. Stay home. Wash your hands.

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

In our season-ending episode, the biannual SEA Games implode to Manila's great embarrassment before they even begin, a Bangkok uni student puts a bullet in his head after refrigerating his dismembered mom, and the Singapore hotel you don't want to bring your traditional deodorant to, at risk of jail. Plus, Todd and Teirra muse over the top stories you, our dear readers/listeners, clicked to the top.

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

How World War II reignited this week in Singapore, why Thailand's progressive hope was cast from politics by a court, what students did to escape a police siege in Hong Kong, Todd's seen The Cave and has opinions, and an Indonesian health official has a very specific need on his mind all in this week's episode of The Coconuts Podcast. Get the news and much more, including an interview with Tom Waller, writer director of the just-released film about last year's dramatic rescue of the Wild Boar's football team.

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Tons of show here from our eight newsroom throughout Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, including host Teirra Kamolvattavith's interview with Nikita actress Maggie Q on bettering the lives of women in Asia.

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Have we got a show for you. Todd and Teirra recount surviving ASEAN Summit 2019, unpack the most serious and ridiculous stories from throughout Southeast Asia and then strap into a rocket ship to weird in a deep look at the region's foremost UFO cult. Bonus: Hear about a Harvard doctoral grad's abduction into the very heart of Mars ... or Pluto!

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.