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After years of low growth and intensifying competition, can Thailand get back its economic groove?

Thailand, which heads to the polls on Feb 8, has lost its lustre after years of economic underperformance.

A drone view shows people walking in a flooded area in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, Thailand, November 23, 2025. REUTERS/Roylee Suriyaworakul TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

ASEAN chair says no change to stance on Myanmar, even as questions persist

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News analysis

The transatlantic Epstein crisis: Washington shrugs, Westminster melts

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Dow closes above 50,000, Nvidia soars as traders focus on AI spending

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Trump posts, then deletes, racist clip of Obamas as monkeys

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Singapore Airshow draws record 65,000 trade visitors in 4 days; next run set for Feb 15-20, 2028

Many Chinese choosing S-E Asia over Japan for CNY holiday as bilateral spat hits flights

askST: What are Singapore’s enhanced measures to contain the risk of measles infections?

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Shorts
Singapore heightens precautions against measles amid surge, possible local transmission

1:38

Craig David’s attempt to save flying fish goes horribly awry

0:44

Edmund Chen back in court after filing appeal, says he will not drive again

0:58

Hovercraft-like AirFish to take passengers from Singapore to Batam from second half of 2026

0:33

Colorado DUI arrest leads to discovery of 3 children in suspect’s car trunk

0:53

Shocking balloon explosion in Mumbai lift injures 2 people

0:23

Keir Starmer apologises to Epstein victims for appointing Mandelson as UK’s US ambassador

1:48

Hundreds gather in Washington to oppose Washington Post cuts

1:36

Your guide to the Singapore Airshow 2026

1:26

Singapore

TTSH geriatric team helps frail seniors avoid unneeded hospital admissions, freeing up beds

A geriatric assessment is done to identify those who can avoid routine ward admission and recover safely elsewhere.

TTSH’s frailty pathway helps 3x more older adults avoid unnecessary hospital stays - Patient home visit (TTSH@Home) [223A SUMANG LANE SINGAPORE 821223] Caption: Ameera Hanim Binte Zainalabidin, Senior Staff Nurse checking on the patient Mr Chia Oh Chang’s pressure, temperature, oxygen level and edema (nurse applying pressure on patients leg) at his house on Feb 6, 2026.

Commentary

What Thaipusam taught me about the long march to integration in Singapore

S’pore imposes mandatory isolation of measles cases, conducts contact tracing after infections rise

From Duke to deportee: 7 things you didn’t know about disgraced ex-actor Ian Fang

Asia
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ASEAN chair says no change to stance on Myanmar, even as questions persist

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Many Chinese choosing S-E Asia over Japan for CNY holiday as bilateral spat hits flights

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Taiwan to seek extension of arms deals with US amid budget stand-off

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Why struggling Thailand keeps voting for change that never comes

Opinion

Singapore’s tired of AI talk and waiting for a better pitch

Lin Suling

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What Thaipusam taught me about the long march to integration in Singapore

Anjali Raguraman

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In tropical Singapore, is the winter sports landscape on ice or thawing?

Kimberly Kwek

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AI may be starting to show up in the productivity data

Soumaya Keynes

Visual stories

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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How the Chinese minority navigates identity and politics in PAS’ Kelantan

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

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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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Podcasts
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Asian Insider podcast

Hong Kong’s tolerance for shortcuts has turned deadly
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The Usual Place Podcast

She became a plumber; he chose the woodworking life. What drew them to blue-collar work?
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In Your Opinion Podcast

Dr Becky, millennial parent whisperer, has thoughts on screentime and modern parenting
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Is it better to buy stocks or invest in tangible things?

Is it better to buy stocks or invest in tangible things?

Me and My Money: The Singapore collector who rejected a $1.3m offer for Pokemon card

HDB launches 9,012 BTO and balance flats, including Prime project in Redhill

Screen Timeout

Problematic gaming prevalent among young adults in Singapore, shows need for ‘third places’: Experts

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Touch Grass Week at NUS College encourages undergrads to take learning offline

ST20260126_202607200476: Gin Tay/ smcollege01/Shermaine Ang JN/ Dr. Samar Faruqi (second from left) conducting her class Global Narratives outdoors with NUS students at NUS College on Jan 26, 2026

askST Jobs: Why does my progress at work feel slow?

Sometimes, employees may feel they are falling short of their managers’ expectations, leading to a sense of slow progress in their roles.

Tastemakers

‘I had to fake it till I made it’: S’porean chef, 30, heads Michelin-starred restaurant in New York

Noksu executive chef Ng Jing Wen has lived in New York for nearly a decade now.

Prosperous plushies: Food merch, blind boxes and collabs for Chinese New Year

Up your festive merch game this Chinese New Year 2026 with fun food merchandise collaborations.
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Ian Fang’s PR status revoked, ex-actor to be deported after serving jail term for sexual offences

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Over 100 agents to leave KW Singapore after fallout from PropertyLimBrothers saga

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TP to void demerit points, refund motorists after over 1,500 speeding tickets wrongly issued

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Singapore to raise entry permit fees for foreign-registered vehicles from 2027

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Jail for man who cheated woman he met on Carousell of over $268k in 7 months

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Ex-actor Edmund Chen’s jail sentence stayed pending appeal outcome, bail increased to $15k

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Jail, driving ban for unlicensed driving instructor who admitted to teaching over 100 students

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Gongxi Gongxi so passe: How Malaysia became a powerhouse in producing CNY songs

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Very heavy traffic expected at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during Chinese New Year

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Branded content
From lived memories to quiet labour: What the sea means to us
Mr Ramlee Ahmat recalls his life on Pulau Blakang Mati and acknowledges how important the sea and the maritime industry are to Singapore
Live well, longer: How to fund the life you want at every age
PRUIndex Income Boost and PRUIndex Lifetime Income aim to support long-term financial planning by offering Singaporeans a source of supplementary income to live better every day.
This cream 'melts like snow', won't weigh down sensitive skin
Vaseline Pro Derma Ultra Moisturising Body Cream being applied on dry skin
Eye bags and droopy lids: Why they happen and treatments available
Woman looking worriedly at her eye bags in a mirror.
No course fees, on-job training: Earn a diploma while protecting Singapore
Muhammad Ezuwan (left) and Chew Rui Ming are officers in SPF's Policing-Study Diploma Programme, which allows them to work as Police Sergeants while earning their qualifications at Temasek Polytechnic.
41-fold growth in revenue since 2021: How start-up became a regional solar powerhouse
Clean Kinetics is led by (from left) co-founder and chief engineering officer Wilson Lee, chief commercial officer Reine Tan and chief development officer Lee Kah Lup, who built the business from the ground up after transitioning into the solar sector.

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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.