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Under the red light: The hidden lives of Singapore’s sex workers

Those in the industry navigate a complex landscape of regulation, enforcement and underground networks.

Serene (not her real name), a part-time outreach worker with Operation Mobilisation, giving out snacks to sex workers soliciting along Geylang’s alleyways as she tries to connect with them.

Offshore nuclear plant in S’pore can increase distance from communities, but poses drawbacks: Expert

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News analysis

China’s expanded travel access for Taiwan a ‘high-visibility outreach tool’, but will it boost ties?

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K-pop star and actress Nana subdues home intruder, currently recovering in hospital

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Car ploughs into crowd at race in Australia, nine injured

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Vietnam to make English a compulsory 2nd language in all schools by 2035, to be more competitive

Commentary

In a second-hand bookshop, a quiet ritual of friendship

Finding Joy

My mother’s passing at 93 brought me closer to my young family

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Shorts
Storm Claudia brings massive waves and heavy floods to Europe

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Chery's attempt to recreate Land Rover's stair climb stunt fails

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Water leaks from KLIA T1 ceiling during heavy rain

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Singapore charges man who rushed at Ariana Grande during Wicked premiere

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Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo talk special sisterhood and Wicked’s end at Singapore premiere

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Wicked cast Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum on Wicked songs and the end of the Wicked journey

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Fan jumps barricade at Singapore's premiere of Wicked: For Good

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Russia’s Aidol humanoid robot falls moments after unveiling

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Wicked stars, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo greet fans ahead of Singapore premiere of Wicked sequel

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Singapore

‘He’s my son’: Guardian of teen who died in basketball court accident has always seen herself as his mum

Mohd Ridwan’s legal guardians brought him from Bintan to Singapore when he was a baby.

Madam Rahimah Lee Abdullah showed ST Mohd Ridwan's school medals over the years, which she has kept away since he died in July 2021 in an accident at a Bedok basketball court.

Five S'pore schools install smart plug system that trims electricity use by up to 20%

Pofma correction order issued to MalaysiaNow over article about drug courier’s treatment

Me and My Money: Spending on the little things keeps this exec on track with financial goals

COP30

S-E Asia protesters at COP30 highlight regional vulnerability, call for more adaptation finance

Developing countries’ access to funding for climate adaptation is a key focus of the 2025 summit.

aqadapt14 - Ms Ellenor Bartolome, 25, senior executive officer at the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice. She speaks about the typhoons that hit the Philippines last week. Credit to: Jason Valenzuela of Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development

Sharing renewable energy sources in S-E Asia key to dealing with rising heat: Climate scientist

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Rewards, rivalry, rebellion: Inside the COP30 battle for attention

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Asia
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China’s expanded travel access for Taiwan a ‘high-visibility outreach tool’, but will it boost ties?

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Vietnam to make English a compulsory 2nd language in all schools by 2035, to be more competitive

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Debt and diplomacy: China’s growing influence in Laos

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Australia welcomes Trump’s removal of beef tariffs, seeks more relief

Opinion

In a second-hand bookshop, a quiet ritual of friendship

Rohit Brijnath

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My mother’s passing at 93 brought me closer to my young family

Vasu Menon

The pull of live-stream shopping, and the vital deep breath before checkout

Diane Leow

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Man enough to heal: Redefining masculinity after prostate cancer

Martha Tara Lee

Visual stories

Debt and diplomacy: China’s growing influence in Laos

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Like a fairy godmother: The mascot maker who brings characters to life

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The Week in Pictures: Supermoon rises in Australia, Typhoon Kalmaegi hits Philippines

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Singapore Stories: The Heart of a Nation - Iconic photos from ST’s archives go on display

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Love is in the hair: How a wig loan scheme helps restore cancer survivors’ confidence

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More than a convenience store: Disappearing mamak shops

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Typhoon Ragasa: How heavy rainfall led to a barrier lake bursting in Taiwan

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How hawker signboards tell the story of Singapore

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What makes swim star Yip Pin Xiu fast? Discover the science of her technique

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Inside the confusing world of women’s clothing sizes

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Your S'pore Story

‘I hope to leave a positive impact on the football scene in S’pore’

On the cusp of a budding auditing career, he quit his job to work on creating football-related content.

your-singapore-story-st180-shuan-ye-football-content-creator

'I am trying to help humans and animals live in harmony'

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‘Just take every opportunity to put yourself out there’

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Podcasts
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Asian Insider Podcast

Inside the mind of Japan’s first woman PM Sanae Takaichi
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The Usual Place Podcast

How can we get Singapore consumers to buy locally farmed eggs, seafood and veggies?
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In Your Opinion Podcast

Are teachers in Singapore multi-tasking too much?
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The Usual Place Podcast

What’s with the fixation over brand-name schools?
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About Headstart

Video: Secretly falling apart at work? You could be quiet cracking

We ask an expert why some people struggle in silence at the workplace, and what could go wrong.

Like a fairy godmother: The mascot maker who brings characters to life

Video: Here’s what goes on at Meet-the-People Sessions, and why MPs hold them

‘Spend first, worry later’: Why Buy Now, Pay Later is making a comeback in 2025

Young and Savvy: I used a money insights app for 3 months – here’s what I learnt

Getting insights into my spending patterns, rather than simply tracking expenses, proved a fruitful exercise.

Me and My Money: Third-generation jeweller helped revive family business

Mr Gabriel Tan is the co-founder and director of Mark Gabriel Fine Jewellers.

9 in 10 young women in S’pore not taking active steps to safeguard breast health: Poll

Financial adviser Jamie Ng was diagnosed with stage 2 triple negative breast cancer three years ago. Now cancer-free, she helps out at the Breast Cancer Foundation as a befriender.

Headstart On Record Podcast

Will AI steal Singapore jobs? What young workers need to know

Find out how to choose the right employers, training and career paths to ride the wave.
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Man who rushed at Ariana Grande at Universal Studios Singapore charged with being a public nuisance

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At least five birds spotted crashing into clear panels at Dairy Farm bus stop within 24 hours

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‘I did everything I could to save her’: Malaysian rapper Namewee on death of influencer Iris Hsieh

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‘Job hugging’ up as resignation rates in S’pore at record lows, average job tenure rises to 8 years

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