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Malaysia makes Malay and history compulsory for Chinese independent school route to public unis

The new education blueprint also plans to lower school entry age and reintroduce standardised tests from 2027.

Observers said the government is responding to years of pressure from Chinese-based parties pushing for UEC recognition.

Commuter train derails near Barcelona, driver dead, four badly injured

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Looming water supply ‘bankruptcy’ puts billions at risk, UN report warns

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EU vows unflinching, proportional response to Trump’s Greenland gambit

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WP disciplinary panel on Pritam Singh comprises MPs He Ting Ru, Jamus Lim; former MP Png Eng Huat

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S’pore in talks with X after its AI bot Grok creates sexually explicit deepfakes of women and children

Chinese drill sparks talk of ‘decapitation’ strike on Taipei

Caught littering in Malaysia? This is what community service punishment will look like

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At least 23 killed and dozens missing after massive Karachi mall fire

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100-vehicle pile-up in Michigan snowstorm

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Singapore

Some drink producers feel the squeeze even with $2.5k grant for container return scheme

The businesses also said the grant would be insufficient to avert a price increase by at least 20 per cent.

Smaller businesses said the $2,500 grant to defray costs is insufficient to avert potential drink price hikes.

New $2,500 NEA grant to help beverage producers defray cost of container return scheme

Singapore invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace and is assessing invitation: MFA

Jail for adult couple over rape of 13-year-old girl

Asia
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South Asia’s risky gamble as it engages with the Taliban

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Chinese drill sparks talk of ‘decapitation’ strike on Taipei

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Caught littering in Malaysia? This is what community service punishment will look like

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China invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace

Opinion

Trump, Putin and the revival of an old imperialist dream

Jonathan Eyal

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Donald v Davos: An unfair fight unfolds at the World Economic Forum

Lin Suling

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Changi’s new Terminal 5 will stress-test Singapore’s land transport

Samuel Chng and Lynette Cheah

Why child prodigies rarely become elite performers

The Economist

Visual stories

The evocative dance of sport

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Baby hair, gold bars, jewellery: What treasures do people keep in safe deposit boxes?

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Who goes missing in Singapore?

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Why did my polytechnic diploma disappear?

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How are Singapore’s youth hashing out their career aspirations?

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2025 in visual stories and digital graphics

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Key events of 2025, as captured in ST front-page headlines

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2025: The year in pictures

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No quiet at home: The reality of living with Singapore’s traffic noise

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Motion and Emotion: SEA Games 2025 in pictures

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Podcasts
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Headstart On Record Podcast

Being kinder to yourself during job changes
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Asian Insider Podcast

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The Usual Place Podcast

Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh no longer Leader of the Opposition. What’s next for WP?
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ST Podcasts

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Headstart On Record Podcast

Being kinder to yourself during job changes

Learn how to better reconcile the mixed feelings that come with work transitions.

Learn how to better reconcile the mixed feelings that come with work transitions.

School of life: Gen Z boss with PSLE cert opens neon art-jamming studios after quitting JC and Nafa

School of life: He quit school at 18 to ‘clean longkangs’ and started a $3m waste management company

Aesthetic tourism takes off: Why more Singaporeans are travelling for beauty treatments

Me and My Money: 20-year-old entrepreneur sees the light in designing 3D-printed lamps

What began as a personal project for Mr Jovi Lim is now a booming company, Sonogo, which designs and makes 3D-printed lamps.

askST Jobs: Is it acceptable to back out of a job offer for a better one?

If candidates do decide to back out of a job offer, it is better to do so earlier, specifically before contracts are signed or onboarding preparations begin.

Video: Was ousting Pritam Singh as Leader of the Opposition a political play?

After sending one audition video, Singaporean Nicole Bacon is now in rookie K-pop girl group NWH:I

Singaporean Nicole Bacon, 22, is one of seven members of rookie global K-pop girl group NWH:I.
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Expat who left wife, children and quit Singapore job ordered to pay $634k in backdated support

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Eligible households can apply for public transport vouchers from Jan 20

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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.