Latest from The Straits Times
India-Russia ‘win-win’ labour deal sparks concerns over migrant workers’ rights and safety
By The Straits Times India is pursuing labour mobility deals and a new bill to safeguard workers abroad, yet challenges persist, including skills mismatches and the need for constant agreement updates.
Six-figure sales each durian season: Why Singapore’s durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok
By The Straits Times Over the last year, the app has yielded a bumper crop. The number of durian sellers on TikTok Shop grew by some 40 percent.
Relief in Taiwan as Trump’s 100% chip tariff fails to bite, but it’s too early to relax
By The Straits Times Large clients may require smaller Taiwanese chip suppliers to move production to the US to avoid tariffs, potentially affecting Taiwan’s tech supply chain position.
‘Every day, we think about how to upgrade’: China’s factories see rise in robot adoption
By The Straits Times China embraces robotics to boost its manufacturing, becoming the third-highest globally in robot density after South Korea and Singapore, according to the International Federation of Robotics’ figures for 2023.
When melody meets medicine: A look at Singapore’s growing music therapy scene
By The Straits Times Singapore’s first postgraduate course in music therapy nurtures a growing community of trained professionals using music for healing and emotional care.
More younger Singaporeans are getting Botox and collagen shots. How effective and safe are they?
By The Straits Times People who start getting Botox and fillers may find it hard to stop, said Dr Tay. “Sometimes you might forget what you originally look like–this is called perception drift–and you keep thinking you need more fillers.”
Students, travellers from Southeast Asia souring on the US amid immigration crackdown
By The Straits Times Since January, more than 4,700 international student records have been removed from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a database managed by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Singapore, Thailand and US air forces hold exercise to enhance readiness, cooperation
By The Straits Times The first phase of the trilateral exercise – a command post exercise – was held on Dec 17 to 19, 2024, at the Multinational Operations and Exercise Centre at Changi Naval Base.
Chinese warships circle Australia, stoking an anxious nation’s worst fears
By The Straits Times A handout photo taken on February 11, 2025 and released on February 13, 2025 by the Australian Defence Force shows China's People’s Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, part of a task group operating to the north east of Australia.
Faster, more effective knee replacement surgery at Singapore hospital with new AI algorithm
By The Straits Times AI-powered algorithm significantly reduces surgery time and enhances precision in robotic knee replacements at Alexandra Hospital.
India seeks to push pace of defence cooperation with Southeast Asia
By The Straits Times Fearful of disruptions to defence supplies from Russia, many South-east Asian countries have also been looking to diversify their defence imports.
India fears China may use Tibet hydropower dam to flood border areas if disputes flare up
By The Straits Times In India, distrust remains over Chinese intentions, with commentary also centred on whether water flow will be impacted in a river that millions depend on in India and Bangladesh for agriculture, fishing, and drinking water.
More countries courting middle-class Indian travellers who are seeking new experiences
By The Straits Times While Chinese tourists may still be the leader in global tourism spending, India is seen as the fastest-growing market for outbound tourism.
‘Having 3 kids is the coolest’: China ramps up push for more babies, but are couples biting?
By The Straits Times Previous efforts include giving couples cash incentives for their second and third child, which first started in Sichuan in 2021 and has expanded to 23 provinces since.
South Korea pushes for better work-life balance to ease falling birth rate
By The Straits Times Poor work-life balance cited as key reason for the country’s nose-diving fertility rate, which hit a record low of 0.72 births per person in 2023.