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Firms and HR professionals support Budget 2026’s push for strong Singaporean core in workforce

More flexibility would be good as firms cite transition risks and cost pressures.

Industry players say Budget 2026 measures reinforce the Government’s focus on quality over quantity when it comes to workforce planning.

Malaysia’s opposition fractures as sacked leader races to PAS, threatens Muhyiddin’s grip

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Singapore investors lead return of Asian capital to Australian real estate

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Singapore second-most searched destination for Chinese travellers during Chinese New Year

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S’porean professor beats Chinese New Year travel rush to return from China for reunion dinner

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News analysis

Nihilistic violence adds to South-east Asia’s youth radicalisation concerns

Australian museum recovers Egyptian artefacts after break-in

Move over, Dubai-style chewy cookies: ‘Frozen jelly’ set to be South Korea’s next dessert craze

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Chinese New Year

Lawrence Wong

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Shorts
British man arrested for damaging check-in kiosks at Hong Kong airport

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Baby monkey in Japan zoo finds comfort in plushie after being abandoned by mum

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'Let us face the year ahead with adaptability and confidence': PM Wong's CNY message

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17-year-old boy killed, 2 others injured in stabbing at Osaka’s Dotonbori area

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Harbin Polarland penguins march out in festive suits to welcome Chinese New Year

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Ramadan bazaar kicks off in Geylang Serai with Hari Raya light-up

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Cantonment Close residents transform void deck for Chinese New Year

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Dogs bring Valentine’s Day cheer to children’s hospital

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Brawl and chaos force Jet2 flight from Turkey to Britain to divert

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Singapore

Singapore’s harmony must be actively renewed, says PM Wong in Chinese New Year message

The holy month of Ramadan for Muslims is expected to start on Feb 19, the third day of Chinese New Year.

The upcoming Chinese New Year is especially meaningful as it coincides with the start of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

New private home sales rose in January following launch of three projects with over 1,500 homes

MUIS removes compounded fidyah payment and updates rate to $4 a day; zakat fitrah set at $5 or $8

Man dies after car skids at Bukit Batok HDB block

Asia
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Singapore investors lead return of Asian capital to Australian real estate

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Nihilistic violence adds to South-east Asia’s youth radicalisation concerns

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Malaysia’s opposition fractures as sacked leader races to PAS, threatens Muhyiddin’s grip

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Actress’ LinkedIn stunt strikes a nerve among young Indonesian job seekers

Opinion

Death in the Philippines, under a mountain of filth

Mara Cepeda

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New flight plan for CPF savings: Long overdue, but may not suit everyone

Christopher Gee

Will an endowment of $300,000 per child move the needle?

Kalpana Vignehsa

Trump’s Board of Peace : Should we take it literally or seriously?

Simon Chesterman

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Visual stories

The Week in Pictures: Beauty in motion at the Winter Olympics; football matches in snow and rubble

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Budget 2026 calculator: Check your benefits and estimated tax

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Singapore Budget 2026: A step to secure the future

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Sumiko at 62: Four simple exercises to improve balance

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The Week in Pictures: Winter Olympics action, Thailand and Japan go to the polls

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Sweat, mud, and tears: How Basic Military Training turns boys into men

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Made in the US, sourced globally: Why American firms aren’t spared the impact of Trump’s tariffs

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The BMT Journey: Inside Basic Military Training Centre’s School 2

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Coming to a road near you: How Singapore’s traffic signs are being upgraded

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Who goes missing in Singapore?

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Podcasts
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The Usual Place Podcast

Will becoming an AI-forward society lead to more inequality?
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Headstart On Record Podcast

Headstart podcast recap: Making better sense of investment in 2026 and yes, gold too
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In Your Opinion Podcast

Temporary or permanent relief? The future of CDC vouchers
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ST Podcasts

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Young & Savvy

Career road bumps can hurt, but I learnt that no experiences are wasted

The new skills picked up in a job taught the writer a lot about stepping out of her comfort zone.

The new skills picked up in a job taught the writer a lot about stepping out of her comfort zone, and about resilience and adaptability.

Meet the young people in Singapore ‘stacking’ overseas internships to get ahead

‘Thanks, I made it myself’: How these handy Singaporeans DIY-ed renovation works for their spaces

Me and My Money: AXS boss’ meals from hawkers come with a side dish of lessons on payment challenges

Video: Can Singapore really be friends with everyone?

askST Jobs: I feel overqualified at work. Should I move to a new role?

Employees can expand their existing role by taking on more complex problems, leading initiatives beyond one’s formal remit, or building skills that the organisation will need next.

‘Like scrapbooking, but on a bag’: Why Singapore girls are spending big on ita-bags

Polytechnic students Phoebe Ang (right), 18, polytechnic student, and Aryaan Yew, 22, with their Ita-bags on Feb 1, 2025.

Headstart On Record Podcast

Investing in stocks or stuff?

Is it better to buy stocks or invest in tangible things?
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‘As if the world is breaking’: Tampines residents woken up by traffic noise in the wee hours

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Bangladesh freezes bank accounts of S’porean tycoon amid probes; businessman denies allegations

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Fire breaks out at bak kwa shop 2 days before Chinese New Year

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503 new TB cases reported in Malaysia

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Student care operator Little Professors under probe by authorities over unpaid salaries of 54 staff

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Migrating from Malaysia: The Singapore I chose has changed

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How one Sarawak farm became S’pore’s sole live pig supplier after 18-year trade ban

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4 taken to hospital after car overturns in River Valley

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China starts 9-day Chinese New Year holidays with travellers shunning Japan amid bilateral spat

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‘I cannot blame him’: Daughter who stepped up to care for family when her father went to prison

Branded content
Grain-fed pigs, modern tech: Where to get ‘sweeter’, more tender pork for your CNY feast
FairPrice Group brings in fresh Malaysia pork via its subsidiary OJJ, with live pigs arriving by boat before being butchered and packed locally for optimal quality.
Why this S'porean lawyer spends her evenings mastering intricate footwork
How one entrepreneur scaled her business – and the platform that helped her get there
Using global payments platform Airwallex for its finance operations has made it much easier for Motherswork to scale the business abroad, says founder and chief executive officer Sharon Wong.
Different roots, one home: Their stories of living in multicultural S'pore
‘I don't want my children to argue about my care’: Why this mother created an LPA
With her husband's Lasting Power of Attorney in place, Mrs Toh Boon Keng was able to make swift medical and financial decisions when he lost mental capacity.
How working adults are future-proofing their careers without disruption
IAL's CPD courses provide accessible learning opportunities for working professionals looking to build new skills alongside their daily commitments.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.