A traditional Bharatanatyam arangetram (debut solo performance) typically follows a standardised, centuries-old repertoire of classical songs. But 22-year-old Shruthika Kumar went beyond executing a conventional debut; she transformed her milestone performance into a personal, creatively ambitious love letter to the Tamil language – interweaving ancient Sangam-era literary masterpieces.

During the initial planning stages, Shruthika’s guru (teacher), Abiramy Kalaiselvan, Head of Departments & Art Director of Art and Artist School of Fine Arts (ANASFA), proposed infusing an elevated layer of Tamil...

Air quality in Singapore’s central region back in unhealthy range as PSI hits 102Air quality in the central region in Singapore entered the unhealthy range again on Sept 14, with a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) level of 102.

According to official readings from the National Environment Agency (NEA), the 24-hour PSI as at noon was 91 in the east and west, 82 in the south and 79 in the north.

The PSI crossed into the unhealthy range two weeks...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to work together towards resolving their countries’ contested border, New Delhi’s foreign ministry said Saturday after the leaders met.

Xi’s visit to New Delhi, to attend the 11-nation member BRICS summit, is also being closely watched because it is his first to neighbouring India since 2019, and the biggest step yet in a cautious thaw between the nuclear-armed rivals.

“The two leaders expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and...

Changes to the Primary 1 registration exercise from 2027 have prompted parents to rethink school choices, with some now considering schools that were previously out of reach.

Families without prior links to schools nearby now stand to benefit from more places, after the Education Ministry announced on Sept 10 that 60 places will be reserved for Phase 2C, up from 40 currently.

The increase in Phase 2C spots applies to schools with intakes of 180 or more Primary 1 pupils.

The Singapore Fitness Alliance (SFA) is helping affected employees and freelancers of True Group find new employment.

In a statement on Sept 13, SFA’s president and co-founder Sean Tan said the organisation is spearheading the initiative in collaboration with the National Instructors & Coaches Association (NICA) – an association set up by the National Trades Union Congress – and e2i – NTUC’s employment and employability institute.

The non-profit industry association will, however, not be involved in efforts to recover unpaid...

Where race and religion are fault lines that divide societies elsewhere, Singapore chose to deliberately build a multiracial and multi-religious nation, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Speaking on Sept 12 at the 85th anniversary celebration of the Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League (SKML), a Tamil Muslim group that founded the first Tamil-medium secondary school in South-east Asia, PM Wong said government policies helped create the conditions.

He added: “We made sure that every community has its place, and can practise its...