Breakfast with Ryan Huang, Emaad Akhtar and Audrey Siek

Synopsis: In this special series, The Straits Times dives into some of the greatest unsolved mysteries in South-east Asia, and examines the underlying issues that they exposed. In this episode, we investigate the source of the red and orange fireballs that emerge from the Mekong River once every year. ST Indochina bureau chief Tan Hui Yee speaks to Dr San Sunthornthanakul, mayor of Phon Phisai municipality, and biologist from Chulalongkorn University Dr Jessada Denduangboripant. She also interviews Mr Thanavorakit Kounthawatphinyo, a Laotian filmmaker based in Bangkok, Mr Sompop Khamsawat, a civil servant who is convinced that Naga Fireballs are a hoax. Highlights (click/tap above): (Headphones recommended) 01:53 The annual Naga Fireball festival draws large crowd 05:20 The Naga is seen as a celestial guardian, a symbol of abundance and a patron of water 06:30 Dr Jessada dismisses the theory of chemical reaction giving rise to the fireballs 09:00 Mr Thanavorakit traces the fireballs to Laotian soldiers firing bullets into the sky 13:36 Mr Sompop petitioned the authorities for an investigation into the phenomenon 15:45 Dr San says the term “Naga Fireball” is a modern creation 17:38 The health of the Mekong River is failing Produced by: Tan Jia Ning (jianing@sph.com.sg), Tan Hui Yee (tanhy@sph.com.sg), Magdalene Fung (magfung@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow The Unsolved Mysteries Of South-east Asia podcast series here every third Tuesday of the month till July: Channel: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3W Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJ9 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wE7i SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Tan Hui Yee's articles: https://str.sg/wuNL --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 #unsolved

Rusmin Ang, CEO, The Fifthperson, discusses the top concerns he has received from his site's members, how to identify companies to invest in, as well as when to cut losses.

As Joe Biden’s administration focuses on tamping down economic pessimism, Biden plans to speak to President Xi Jinping soon about lifting the tariffs the US put on China. Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended Covid-19 vaccines for children as young as six months, allowing a nationwide rollout to start this week We speak to Steve Okun, Senior Advisor, Mclarty Associates about these headlines and more. Follow The Straits Times' Asian Insider Podcast channel - co-produced with Money FM 89.3 - like us and rate us: 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: podcast@sph.com.sg Asian Insider newsletter. Asian Insider videos: https://str.sg/JoVb SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Gathering user data through cookies is extremely valuable in targeted advertising. However, it could compromise user privacy. Therefore, giving the users the ability to thoroughly understand and decide what information they are willing to give up to certain brands is important. Joshua Wilson, Commercial Director, JAPAC, Crimtan talks to more the role of his company in ensuring relevant and consented advertising.

On today's The Breakfast Brief, Japanese yen continues to weaken and is now at 24 year lows, airlines are wondering how much they can raise ticket prices to cope with rising fuel costs before destroying consumer demand, and the cryptocurrency space continues to be volatile. Moreover, many banks around the world jumping on the Fed's bandwagon and introducing rate hikes.

Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times examines various facets of the US-China rivalry and its implications for Asia. Join Charissa Yong and Danson Cheong - ST’s US and China correspondents respectively based in Washington DC and Beijing - as they chat about the issue of Taiwan, a thorn in relations between the US and China. Those differences were on full display at the recent Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore. Highlights (click/tap above): 01:45 Understanding the US' 'One China' policy 03:05 China's Anti-Secession law; why the US has a "strategic ambiguity" policy 07:15 Why is Taiwan so important to the US? 10:04 Concern at the Shangri la Dialogue over a Ukraine type conflict in East Asia; why Chinese leaders are thinking more deeply about choices before them Produced by: Charissa Yong (charyong@sph.com.sg), Danson Cheong (dansonc@sph.com.sg), Eden Soh and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Eden Soh Follow our Asian Insider Podcast channel Mondays to Fridays and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Websites:  https://www.moneyfm893.sg/ http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Charissa Yong's stories: https://str.sg/3xRa Read Danson Cheong's stories: https://str.sg/3xR2 Follow Danson on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dansoncj Read ST's Power Play articles: https://str.sg/3xRE Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #STAsianInsider

Aninda Mitra, Head of Asia Macro & Investment Strategy at BNY Mellon Investment Management discusses the likelihood of a recession from what appears to be a race to hike rates among many central banks, and what investors need to do.

Food delivery services, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, are in high demand. Yet, waiting times are getting longer and increasingly, food is arriving an hour or more past mealtime. Yet, for food delivery platforms, increasing manpower may not be the most effective solution. Raphael Kan, Founder & CEO, Livingmenu tells us about his company's unique business model that provides a solution to these issues.

News of a recent Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers) exercise in Ang Mo Kio has caused some distress among a few residents in that estate with some worried about topping up money for similar-sized replacement flats and that they would not be able to secure a housing loan to pay for the shortfall because of their age. We speak to Walter Theseira, Associate Professor, Economics & Head, Master of Management (Urban Transportation) Programme, Singapore University of Social Sciences more about this.