SINGAPORE – This week’s ST×NLB Crossword was constructed by brand newsroom assistant editor Jan Lee, who previously covered entertainment and pop culture at The Straits Times and is part of a team of 40 volunteer crossword contributors. Here’s her message to solvers:

I’ve played my fair share of crosswords, but until I volunteered for the ST×NLB Crossword effort, I never really considered how every puzzle reveals something about its setter. But, of course, it does. The things we know, the slang we use – they’re a reflection of who we are. This puzzle, my first, is a buffet of the things that bring me joy: movies, television, music and funny little puns. It also shows that you can take the girl out of entertainment reporting, but you can never take the pop culture references out of the girl.

Her puzzle is filled with allusions to pop culture, reflecting her background as an entertainment reporter. Two of the musical artistes referenced in the clues have upcoming concerts in Singapore later in 2026.

Canadian pop superstar THE WEEKND (7D) will play two shows at the National STADIUM (21A) on Oct 2 and 3. His massive After Hours Til Dawn global tour, of which the Singapore shows are a part, holds the record as the highest-grossing tour by a male solo artiste in history.

The singer adopted his stage name because he left home on a weekend, but he spelt it differently to avoid a copyright clash with another Canadian pop band called The Weekend. So, if he doesn’t win that spelling bee, it might be on purpose.