WTF is Up in Southeast Asia + Hong Kong

One might think that everybody would be happy with the return of restrictions-free concerts, yet Singaporeans are decrying alleged double standards ahead of a charity show by the island's darling golden boy JJ Lin. Coconuts Singapore's Carolyn Teo talks to us about why Singaporeans are miffed, why the public reaction may or may not be overblown, and a particular fun fact associating JJ Lin with Changi International Airport. Listen in!

Other stories include:

YouTuber gifts girlfriend with P1-million money bouquet on her birthday | Indonesian woman reports son to police for selling furniture, roof to fund dates with girlfriend | Michelle Yeoh to co-produce 1MDB docu-drama | Pro-democracy clothing store Chickeeduck to exit Hong Kong next year | Director accused of beating woman last night after Jam Factory event | Millions of US vaccine doses heading to Myanmar refugees in Thailand: report | International flights might only come to Bali next year: airport official | Singapore, Malaysia to reopen land borders for vaxxed travelers next week

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.

The Coconuts Podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe today!

Welcome to another edition of Fresh Tunes Friday, where this week we were graced by the presence of Singapore's Iman Fandi, fresh off the release of her second single, Love Me Little More. The 21-year-old shared with us the ups and downs of launching a music career during the pandemic, what it's like to be her own woman despite being part of a celebrity family in Singapore, and facing the impossible task of picking between Beyoncé and Rihanna. Listen in!

This week, we talked trash with Coconuts Bali's own Sheany. Bali Governor Wayan Koster declared that Bali is facing a "waste emergency", ordering regional officials to implement waste management programs to combat the issue. Bali's waste issue has long been highlighted by environmental activists on the island, but will the circular be enough to spur everyone into action?

Tens of thousands across the world have signed a change.org petition pleading to Singapore President Halimah Yacob for clemency over an intellectually-disabled Malaysian man on death row. Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam was arrested in Singapore for drug trafficking aged 21 and has been on death row for a decade. Now 33, Nagaenthran reportedly suffers from ADHD and has an IQ of 69, which has prompted rights groups across the Singapore-Malaysia border to appeal against the ruling. We spoke to Coconuts' own KL and Singapore editors Yeu-Gynn Yeung and Nurul Azliah to find out more about the case.

Other stories include:

Russian man and Ukraine woman deported from Indonesia after forging PCR test results | Thailand expands travel green list with 17 more countries | Undercover cops in Squid Game, vampire garb bust taxi drivers for overcharging on Halloween | Premier League star Wilfried Zaha shares racist Insta DM from Indonesian user | KLCC antimasker slapped with RM3,000 fine | Illegally kept monkeys found in Manila | MP Raeesah Khan faces party discipline for distorting rape victim's story | Yangon schools reopen with soldiers - but not many students

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.

We had to address the elepha- *ahem* we mean rhinoceros in the room. What started with allegations of employee mistreatment at Singaporean production company Night Owl Cinematics has now evolved into quite the war of words between its now-divorced co-founders. We spoke to Coconuts Singapore's own Carolyn Teo for a rundown of events.

Other stories include:

Tourists cancel Bali trips after PCR tests became mandatory for domestic flights: hotel association | La Lisa, No Lisa: Blackpink superstar won't play Phuket NYE show | Failed 'crash for cash' scammer throws himself onto car hood, walks away | Indonesia mourns Canon the dog amid allegations of animal brutality in the hands of Aceh authorities | American burger joint Five Guys opens pork-free outlet in Malaysia | Fully vaxxed? You can travel to Boracay soon without RT-PCR | 'Massive pest infestation' closes Singapore's Proofer Boulangerie indefinitely | 'You have the power,' US President tells worried Burmese girl

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.

This week, we got to speak to climatologist and oceanographer Intan Suci Nurhati and actor Paul Foster about online shopping... and how it's destroying the Earth. Our guests are part of the cast of National Geographic Asia's inaugural Planet Possible Day, a virtual gathering of the minds where changemakers from across the world come together to discuss important topics around climate change and sustainability.

Planet Possible Day airs live on Oct. 24 at 6pm SGT on National Geographic Asia's Facebook page.

Other stories include:

In numbers: The casualties and damages from Saturday's 4.8-magnitude quake in Bali's Karangasem regency | Russell Crowe declares giant Bangkok lizard his 'new buddy' | Viral video shows toddler dangling out of apartment window in Lam Tin | Man caught on camera stalking woman and ejaculating on her motorcycle in South Jakarta | COVID-tracing app hacked to Rickroll Malaysians, send spam emails | 6000 bats seized from illegal poachers during raid in Bulacan | Sexploitation, shady dealings among serious new allegations against Night Owl Cinematics' Sylvia Chan | Fugitive punk artist raises US$28K to fight junta with what could be world's most expensive ukulele

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.

The Coconuts Podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe today!

It's the start of Fresh Tunes Friday, where we showcase a musical guest every third Friday of the month. We kicked things off with Sydney's own Bryan Estepa, a Filipino-Australian singer-songwriter, who just released his Back To The Middle EP. What's it like recording music in lockdown? Listen in to find out!

Other stories include:

Indonesia finally confirms 19 eligible countries as Bali reopens to foreign tourism today | Come Saturday, Bangkok can stay out till 11pm | Man who murdered taxi driver was psych patient, once threatened mass shooting | Mounting calls in Indonesia to ban new Superman comic featuring bisexual character | Legoland Malaysia reopens theme park tomorrow | LOOK: Over 100 rescued by Philippine Coast Guard from floods due to 'Maring' | Singapore Telegram channel attracts claims of vaccine magnetism | Let's go to the movies? Junta wants to reopen Myanmar's cinemas

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.

This week, we spoke with Coconuts Manila's own Samatha Beltran about the queerphobic reactions to Beatrice Luigi Gomez being crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2021. Gomez identifies as bisexual and she's the first openly queer winner - something that unfortunately didn't sit right with some in the devoutly Catholic and pageant-crazed country.

Other stories include:

BREAKING: Bali airport to start welcoming foreign travelers on Oct. 14 | 'We don't care anymore': Bangkok bar reopens to sell newly legalized drug | Hong Kong just saw its hottest September on record | Bras are a 'source of deceit' and should be ditched, Islamic website asserts | Penang dessert cafe lets patrons play 'Squid Game' | PH's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai showcases the best of contemporary art | COVID-19 self-test kits 'moving fast' due to 'elevated' Singapore demand | Trial delays to cost Myanmar heartthrob another 6 months in prison: lawyer

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.

This week, we spoke with Coconuts KL Associate Editor about Ebit Lew, the celebrity preacher in the center of a sexual harassment investigation. Also being investigated is fellow evangelist Firdaus Wong, who leaked the former's lewd images and messages in a Telegram channel. A move, apparently, to encourage more of Lew's sexual harassment accusers to come forward.

Other stories include:

Baby primates are still openly sold in Bali market: JAAN | It's official: Bangkok's cinemas, gyms, spas reopen Friday | McDonald's McWings ad accused of satirizing police officer death | Unattended child attempts to open emergency exit on Citilink flight, forcing emergency landing | Thai supporters launch 'Save Nur Sajat' petition to let Malaysian transwoman stay | Bill raising age of sexual consent to 16 years old passed in Senate | US: Avoid unnecessary travel to Singapore | Myanmar rock legend's son accused of aiding bombers

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.

This week, we got the chance to sit down with avid angler and adventurer Jeremy Wade, whose 40-year-long career proves that good things come to those who bait (okay, that's the last of the fishy puns, we promise). We chat about his new show Unknown Waters with Jeremy Wade, in which he explores river systems in Iceland and The Amazon to find some pretty elusive fish.

Unknown Waters with Jeremy Wade premieres Monday, Sep. 27 at 10pm SGT in Singapore on National Geographic and will be available on Disney+ Singapore on Nov. 3.

Other stories include:

Indonesian influencer arrested in Bali for masturbating live on social media | Arrest of Thai OnlyFans porn couple sparks online fury | Love napping on the bus? A Hong Kong travel agency has a tour for that | Graft convict smears feces on face of blasphemy suspect in Indonesian jail | Malaysia among 55 countries where authorities investigate social media posts: report | So what was so bad about martial law? | Quit clowning: School sorry for terrorizing Singapore with child-luring clowns | Myanmar actress held by junta wins 'best performance' at German film fest

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.