Dear reader, How should we talk about complex social issues, from migration and race to transgender rights? At what point does an individual’s right to free inquiry and speech threaten the safety of vulnerable groups in society? This is one of the thorniest issues facing open societies. And I...

Dear reader, The US is a tinder box following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the incredibly popular right-wing Christian commentator, whose youth outreach immeasurably helped close ally Donald Trump at the ballot box. The impact has been felt in Singapore. Conservatives, including a number of Christian pastors, have published tributes....

Dear reader, Vapes and heated tobacco products should not be made available, let alone marketed, to the young. Also, vapes and heated tobacco products are potentially useful cessation tools, and possibly safer alternatives, for current cigarette smokers. Given medium-term global evidence, this is what’s fair to say. (Long-term effects...

Dear reader, Among other stories in “Singapore This Week”, our weekly digest, are mini profiles of four men: two politicians, the WP’s Pritam Singh and the PAP’s Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim; and two champs, pool player Aloysius Yapp and Wikimedian of the Year Robert Sim. Other stories that caught...

Dear reader, Mainstream news has been dominated by Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally and vapes; and subaltern headlines by The Projector’s closure. We cover those extensively in “Singapore This Week”, our weekly digest. Other stories that caught our eye but didn’t make it in include the first...

Dear reader, Listen. Last week, to commemorate Singapore’s 60th birthday, I drowned you in words. This week, I leave you with music, specifically a playlist of the golden era of Malay music, from around the time of independence. It’s been curated by Khir Johari, food historian and author...