https://www.scmp.com/rss/517925/feed Trending events, happenings and people that have made waves on social media or online in wider Asia, and the world beyond. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele A viral video of three elephants sent from Malaysia to a zoo in Japan has sparked public anger after online users said the animals appeared distressed when visitors called their names in Malay – which many viewers interpreted as a sign of homesickness. The footage showed the three pachyderms – Dara, Amoi and Kelat – responding to the Malaysian visitors, while another widely shared clip led social media users to claim one of the elephants appeared to be “weeping”. Other clips and images... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3352142/trumpet-call-malaysians-demand-japan-return-elephants-after-viral-weeping-videos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3352142/trumpet-call-malaysians-demand-japan-return-elephants-after-viral-weeping-videos?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 08:13:23 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran A viral appearance in the swimsuit round by a male beauty pageant contestant in the Philippines has sparked a wider debate about male beauty standards and whether pageantry is ready to make room for people who do not fit its traditional ideals. RJ Perkins, 21, drew widespread attention after a video showed him strutting across an outdoor stage during the swimwear segment of Mister Pampanga, held in the province of Pampanga, north of Manila. Unlike the chiselled bodies typically associated with... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351987/male-pageant-contestants-viral-swimsuit-walk-sparks-body-image-debate-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351987/male-pageant-contestants-viral-swimsuit-walk-sparks-body-image-debate-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:46:29 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A Japanese underground idol has stirred an online debate by offering fans the unusual perk of sniffing her armpits. Hari Matsumoto, from Wakayama, Honshu island, has attracted over 400,000 followers on social media thanks to her bubbly personality and approachable charm. In Japan, underground idols usually perform in intimate venues such as small theatre, livehouses or shopping centres and rarely appear on mainstream media. Unlike top-tier idols featured on television, in magazines, and in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3350843/japan-underground-idol-sparks-outrage-offering-armpit-sniffing-service-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3350843/japan-underground-idol-sparks-outrage-offering-armpit-sniffing-service-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang After two decades of a loveless personal life, a 60-year-old traditional dancer in Japan discovered unexpected late-life love with a protege who is 34 years her junior. In April, the couple made an appearance on the Japanese television show Welcome, Newlyweds!, but they chose to keep their true identities private. The wife, a seasoned performer from Ibaraki in eastern Japan, has dedicated her life to traditional dance since childhood and currently teaches at Tsubaki, a local taishu engeki... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3350977/unexpected-love-japan-traditional-dancer-finds-love-60-26-year-old-devoted-protege?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3350977/unexpected-love-japan-traditional-dancer-finds-love-60-26-year-old-devoted-protege?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:10 +0000 CNA CNA A Singaporean man who was seen in a viral video assaulting a Filipino woman at Lucky Plaza shopping centre was charged on Wednesday over the incident and a previous alleged attack on the same woman. Andrew Suresh Markandan, 47, was handed two charges of voluntarily causing hurt to Alibutdan Vilma Litgio and two charges of mischief by damaging her property. He is accused of first assaulting the victim at about 7.25pm on March 30 last year at Hotel 81 Bugis. He allegedly slapped her and punched... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350952/singaporean-man-charged-after-viral-lucky-plaza-assault-filipino-woman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350952/singaporean-man-charged-after-viral-lucky-plaza-assault-filipino-woman?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:12:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press About 1,000 animal welfare activists who tried to gain entry on Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader. It was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to take beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles (about 40 kilometres) southwest of Wisconsin’s capital, Madison. Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3350649/us-animal-rights-activists-clash-police-over-wisconsin-dog-breeder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3350649/us-animal-rights-activists-clash-police-over-wisconsin-dog-breeder?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 14:44:49 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Thai police arrested seven French tourists after a viral Songkran confrontation in Phuket in which revellers surrounded a van, sprayed its driver with water and later ignored police orders to disperse. The incident came during Thailand’s annual new year festival, whose street water fights draw huge crowds across the country but have also sparked complaints this year about more aggressive behaviour in some tourist hotspots. Video shared on social media showed a crowd in Patong, a beach town on... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350285/7-french-tourists-arrested-after-viral-songkran-spray-clash-van-driver-phuket?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350285/7-french-tourists-arrested-after-viral-songkran-spray-clash-van-driver-phuket?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:20:55 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A Chinese nurse working at a hospital in Japan has come under fire from both Chinese and Japanese netizens after allegedly routinely posting the personal and medical information of patients online. The Tokyo-based woman, identified as “Zhaozhaozzz”, has around 21,000 followers on social media where she regularly shares content about her life and work. Her personal details remain unclear. While working at the hospital, she filmed so-called “immersive Tokyo nurse vlog” videos with... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349513/japan-based-china-nurse-criticised-posting-work-clips-raising-privacy-ethics-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3349513/japan-based-china-nurse-criticised-posting-work-clips-raising-privacy-ethics-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A Japanese food company has transformed tofu with a “manly” twist, attracting younger consumers and generating over 6 billion yen (US$38 million) in annual revenue. Tofu, introduced to Japan from China during the Tang dynasty (618–907), boasts a rich historical lineage. During the Edo Period (1601–1868), the shogunate implemented austerity measures to combat a financial crisis, directing the samurai class to adopt cotton attire and consume economical tofu for sustenance. Since then, tofu has... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3347676/japan-food-company-rebrands-boring-tofu-making-it-manly-appeal-young-customers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3347676/japan-food-company-rebrands-boring-tofu-making-it-manly-appeal-young-customers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:15:08 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun A PR disaster erupted for McDonald’s last week when, in a social media post, its CEO showed little hint that he was “lovin’ it” when eating the company’s new hamburger. The American fast food chain’s chief executive, Chris Kempczinski, posted a clip of himself taste-testing a new menu item called the Big Arch. Unfortunately, it went viral for all the wrong reasons. The CEO’s video had, as the kids would say, no rizz. It looked awkward and forced, and there was little feeling of ravenous hunger... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3346163/mcdonalds-ceos-burger-blunder-video-shows-problem-lacking-common-touch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3346163/mcdonalds-ceos-burger-blunder-video-shows-problem-lacking-common-touch?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu It is 9.30pm in Scarborough, in Canada’s Ontario province, and just as most people are thinking of getting ready for bed, 28-year-old Anna Peng is about to get back to work – after already having put in a 13-hour shift. She has just closed Great Fountain Fast Food, her family’s beloved Hong Kong-style eatery, for the day, and now it is time for cleaning up. “I first started doing two-hour shifts at Great Fountain while I was still in school, just to help out my mum,” she says. That was the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3345070/meet-family-running-great-fountain-fast-food-hong-kong-style-spot-viral-instagram?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3345070/meet-family-running-great-fountain-fast-food-hong-kong-style-spot-viral-instagram?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A 64-year-old trans woman in eastern Japan is embracing a quiet, slow-burn romance with a boyfriend 22 years her senior, often showing up to dates in princess dresses. Kuboyama, a retired information technology (IT) engineer from Kawasaki City who also goes by the name Catherine, was once known for her handsome looks and high-paying job before the sex reassignment surgery, TV Tokyo reported. She says she was drawn to women’s clothes and make-up from childhood and felt little interest in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3344558/japan-trans-woman-64-enjoys-slow-paced-life-lover-86-wears-princess-dresses-dates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3344558/japan-trans-woman-64-enjoys-slow-paced-life-lover-86-wears-princess-dresses-dates?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:00:10 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A video of a young girl being shoved while posing for a photo at Tokyo’s iconic Shibuya Crossing has amassed over 9 million views in one day and ignited an online row over safety, manners and tourist behaviour. The clip was posted on Wednesday by a Taiwanese social media user peipeilin527, who said the incident happened on her family’s last night in Japan. “I was thinking of taking photos at the famous Shibuya Crossing on my last night there, but some mean-spirited person pushed my child hard,”... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3344716/viral-video-child-being-shoved-iconic-tokyo-crossing-stokes-outrage-and-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3344716/viral-video-child-being-shoved-iconic-tokyo-crossing-stokes-outrage-and-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:55:43 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan A mermaid-themed sales gimmick has landed two drinks traders in hot water in Malaysia’s conservative east coast state of Kelantan, after religious authorities launched an investigation into a viral video that drew outrage during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. The 25-second clip, which shows one of the traders prancing about in front of their drinks stall dressed in a rainbow-coloured mermaid costume complete with a bikini top, triggered a wave of online condemnation. Widely described as... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344341/bikini-clad-mermaid-sales-stunt-malaysia-triggers-religious-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344341/bikini-clad-mermaid-sales-stunt-malaysia-triggers-religious-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:14:56 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Young people in Japan are using artificial intelligence (AI) to make before-and-after cosmetic surgery photographs which look like they are two “different” versions of themselves in a single setting. Data suggests the country is relatively relaxed about cosmetic procedures, but the latest trend is raising concerns about the effect it might have on youngsters. According to the Japan Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the country logged about 3.3 million aesthetic medical procedures in 2022,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3343313/japan-youth-share-photos-show-and-after-cosmetic-surgeries-raise-copycat-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3343313/japan-youth-share-photos-show-and-after-cosmetic-surgeries-raise-copycat-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service A viral AI-generated video of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise fighting atop a building is causing a stir online. The 15-second video comes from the latest AI video-generation platform, Seedance 2.0. The platform was launched this week by its owner, ByteDance, the same Chinese parent that oversees TikTok. As the video circulates online, the Motion Picture Association and other industry stakeholders have called out the video for its unauthorised use of copyrighted works. MPA’s CEO, Charles Rivkin, wrote... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343548/hollywood-shaken-brad-pitt-tom-cruise-fight-video-made-chinese-ai-over-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343548/hollywood-shaken-brad-pitt-tom-cruise-fight-video-made-chinese-ai-over-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 22:29:26 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times When Drew Binsky stepped into a gosiwon in Seoul, the doorway alone offered a clue to the life inside. The entrance measured barely 61cm (24 inches) across – narrow enough to require a slight turn of the shoulders to pass through. Binsky, an American travel YouTuber with millions of subscribers, documented his experience in his video “Inside Korea’s smallest apartment,” posted on February 1. The video tours several gosiwon facilities across Seoul and drew more than 1.9 million views within days... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3343051/inside-seouls-closet-homes-youtube-tour-reveals-reality-gosiwon-living?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3343051/inside-seouls-closet-homes-youtube-tour-reveals-reality-gosiwon-living?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:43:45 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang If you’re enjoying a cup of apple herbal tea, starting your day with tai chi, and winding down with a soothing foot bath, you may be part of an intriguing trend known as “Becoming Chinese.” Since January, a TikTok influencer has unintentionally ignited a global movement centred on adopting Chinese lifestyle habits, with videos showcasing these practices attracting over 20 million views. In one engaging clip, Sherry Zhu Xirui, 23, humorously proclaims to her audience: “If you love hotpot, dim... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342243/cultural-currents-how-becoming-chinese-trend-transforming-western-lifestyles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3342243/cultural-currents-how-becoming-chinese-trend-transforming-western-lifestyles?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 06:00:14 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A working Japanese couple with six children have sparked outrage by letting their oldest child, 12, babysit his younger siblings every day, leaving no time for himself. The boy’s story was exposed by the Japanese media outlet Asahi Broadcasting Television’s variety show Detective! Knight Scoop which aired on January 23. The programme features letters from the public and offers of help to solve their problems in life. A sixth-grade junior school pupil from Hiroshima Prefecture wrote to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3342329/japan-couple-spark-child-neglect-concerns-letting-son-12-babysit-5-siblings-while-they-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3342329/japan-couple-spark-child-neglect-concerns-letting-son-12-babysit-5-siblings-while-they-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Concerns about Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking have emerged in Japan after a pregnant woman was allegedly tracked down and murdered by her ex-boyfriend using a GPS device hidden in a toy. The death of Haruka Komatsumoto, a 31-year-old manicurist who was allegedly beaten on the head and stabbed in the neck by her ex-boyfriend in her own flat on December 31, 2025, has shocked many people. The alleged killing has become a widely discussed topic in the country. Komatsumoto reportedly... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3341424/japan-calls-action-gps-stalking-after-woman-allegedly-murdered-ex-using-hidden-device-toy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3341424/japan-calls-action-gps-stalking-after-woman-allegedly-murdered-ex-using-hidden-device-toy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Some restaurants in Tokyo have ignited controversy for reportedly enforcing age restrictions on their patrons, with some allowing entry only for people over 25 and others permitting those under 40. In Japan, certain eateries in the capital have begun to adopt these age limitations. For instance, some izakaya, or Japanese pubs, explicitly state, “No entry for customers over 40,” while others only admit those aged 25 and above. One particular izakaya in Shibuya, whose name has not been disclosed,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3341393/japan-eateries-limit-entry-based-age-ensure-younger-patrons-can-enjoy-make-noise-freely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3341393/japan-eateries-limit-entry-based-age-ensure-younger-patrons-can-enjoy-make-noise-freely?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani For Dana Nakagawa, the Covid pandemic was especially challenging. “The day we went into lockdown, my mom passed away,” she says. “And then a couple of months later, I got laid off from my job.” At the time, Nakagawa was a 56-year-old single mother living in the US state of California with her teenage daughter. She had been working in advertising as an art director after decades as a graphic designer. “Suddenly I was jobless, and that was a huge shock … How was I going to survive?” she recalls... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341766/japanese-american-influencer-60-who-went-viral-saying-its-never-too-late-start-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341766/japanese-american-influencer-60-who-went-viral-saying-its-never-too-late-start-over?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:15:11 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A Singaporean woman has been charged with public nuisance after a video showing her spitting water towards fellow commuters on a train went viral, igniting a debate over what is seen as bystander culture in the city state. The footage prompted criticism not only of the woman’s actions but also of other passengers who appeared to avoid intervening, reviving questions about how Singaporeans respond when disorderly behaviour unfolds in public. Sabrina Han, 37, was charged with one count of public... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3341562/will-you-intervene-singapore-train-spitting-case-puts-bystander-culture-spotlight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3341562/will-you-intervene-singapore-train-spitting-case-puts-bystander-culture-spotlight?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:35:21 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Thailand’s tourism authority has denied using artificial intelligence (AI) to produce a viral campaign image of Thai pop star Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal, after the highly polished visual became a lightning rod for online debate over the growing role of AI in creative work. The image, released under the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) “Amazing Thailand” banner, shows Lisa – a member of global K-pop sensation Blackpink – framed against the pink blooms of Udon Thani’s Red Lotus Sea, also known as... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3340987/thai-tourism-officials-say-no-ai-viral-lisa-image-amid-online-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3340987/thai-tourism-officials-say-no-ai-viral-lisa-image-amid-online-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:27:02 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee In the predawn cold of a northern Seoul neighbourhood, hundreds of people line the street in padded coats, stamping their feet to keep warm. Adults, students and young children wait patiently for the same thing: a Dubai chewy cookie. Known in Korean as dujjonku, the dessert has triggered queues that begin before sunrise and sell out within minutes. At one bakery, demand grew so intense that sales were reportedly limited to certain days, before in-store purchases were halted altogether to keep... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3340884/how-k-pop-post-sparked-south-koreas-viral-dujjonku-cookie-obsession?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3340884/how-k-pop-post-sparked-south-koreas-viral-dujjonku-cookie-obsession?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:30:13 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A woman in northeastern Thailand who has been dating a pair of twin brothers at the same time has received support from both families. The 24-year-old from Nakhon Phanom, known as Fah, recently shared her unconventional relationship on social media. Fah, who had been single for more than a year, was not seeking a relationship until the twins, Suea and Sing, reached out to her. The younger twin, Suea, said he first messaged Fah and later encouraged his brother to contact her. The trio began... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3340687/thai-woman-dates-twin-brothers-once-gains-family-support-sparks-mixed-reactions-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3340687/thai-woman-dates-twin-brothers-once-gains-family-support-sparks-mixed-reactions-online?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A jungle temple in Thailand hailed as a “hidden gem” has urged tourists to stop “inappropriate behaviour” after they were spotted doing gymnastics and wearing revealing clothing at the site. The Wat Pha Lat temple, nestled on a mountain above Chiang Mai in the country’s north, is a popular tourist spot. It also serves as a peaceful place for monks to meditate. On January 15, the temple published a post on its social media account, which has 11,000 followers, urging its visitors to stop... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3340511/not-gym-thai-temple-warns-tourists-not-do-yoga-climb-ancient-rocks-place-worship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3340511/not-gym-thai-temple-warns-tourists-not-do-yoga-climb-ancient-rocks-place-worship?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Japanese ramen restaurant has ignited controversy by slapping a ban on Chinese customers, accusing them of being troublemakers. Iekei restaurant in the Western city of Osaka announced on social media on January 4 that it had banned all Chinese people. It said a Chinese person had caused trouble in the restaurant, forcing it to call the police. The post said 90 per cent of the trouble it has with foreigners involves Chinese customers. The move triggered controversy and accusations of racism.... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339175/japan-ramen-eatery-bans-troublesome-china-customers-charges-lot-more-english-menu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339175/japan-ramen-eatery-bans-troublesome-china-customers-charges-lot-more-english-menu?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 50-year-old Japanese woman, who was mocked for being “ugly” as a child, has shunned cosmetic surgery and spent 13 years taking more than 30,000 selfies to study make-up, skincare and fashion. The ridiculing left Kozue Sakurada with deep emotional scars, but her persistence has inspired countless people online. A male classmate once stared at her and repeated the word “ugly” to her face 10 times. Other boys even made up a parody of a children’s song to mock her large nose. By her early... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3339161/japan-woman-mocked-ugly-looks-resists-cosmetic-surgery-transforms-make?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3339161/japan-woman-mocked-ugly-looks-resists-cosmetic-surgery-transforms-make?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysian police are investigating after a viral road-rage video showing a Ferrari driver aggressively chasing another driver triggered a wave of online fury in the country. Social media users turned their ire on perceived elite entitlement after the Ferrari driver was identified as the co-founder of a local streetwear brand. The label, Stoned & Co, said it had suspended co-founder and managing director Tan Jia Hui after a video circulating over the weekend showed him tailgating and blocking a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3339704/malaysian-streetwear-boss-suspended-after-car-chase-video-draws-cries-entitlement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3339704/malaysian-streetwear-boss-suspended-after-car-chase-video-draws-cries-entitlement?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:27:34 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A woman in the Philippines spent four years worshipping a green Buddha statue before discovering that it was actually a 3D-printed figure of the cartoon character Shrek. The woman’s misplaced faith has sparked amusement across social media. The story began four years ago when the unidentified woman from Manila, the capital of the Philippines, bought a “Buddha statue” from a local shop. With its round shape and gentle expression, she believed it to be a depiction of Buddha and treated it with... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3338886/filipino-woman-worships-green-statue-4-years-finds-out-it-animated-character-shrek?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3338886/filipino-woman-worships-green-statue-4-years-finds-out-it-animated-character-shrek?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Philippine Airlines has drawn widespread praise online for a new in-flight safety video that turns routine cabin instructions into a full-blown Filipino soap opera. Titled Care that Comes from the Heart, the six-minute video borrows heavily from the tropes of a teleserye – the melodramatic television dramas that dominate Philippine prime time – weaving safety procedures into a story of doomed romance and family conflict. “What do you need to do to keep your love safe?” asks the trailer for the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3339305/love-tears-and-turbulence-philippine-airlines-soap-opera-safety-video-becomes-viral-hit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3339305/love-tears-and-turbulence-philippine-airlines-soap-opera-safety-video-becomes-viral-hit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 07:17:17 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A zoo in Japan has allowed its staff to mimic pandas in memory of its last four bears which have been returned to China. The unusual caged activity has been seen as an attempt to continue engaging panda lovers. In June last year, four pandas, the 24-year-old Rauhin and her offspring, Yuihin, Saihin and Fuhin, were returned to China from the Adventure World amusement park in Japan’s Wakayama prefecture. It marks the end of the park’s 31-year history of keeping pandas. Rauhin was also the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3338133/japan-zoo-makes-workers-mimic-pandas-after-returning-all-4-china-launches-club-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3338133/japan-zoo-makes-workers-mimic-pandas-after-returning-all-4-china-launches-club-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:00:15 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang An insecticide company in Japan has attracted attention online by holding a memorial service for the insects it killed during product testing. On December 23, around 100 employees from Earth Corporation gathered at Myodoji Temple in Hyogo prefecture, southern Japan, to honour the insects during a special ritual. The annual tradition has been observed by the company for more than 40 years, Asahi Broadcasting Television reported. Founded in Osaka in 1892, the Earth Corporation is Japan’s leading... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337791/japan-insecticide-firm-holds-memorial-service-honour-bugs-killed-during-product-testing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337791/japan-insecticide-firm-holds-memorial-service-honour-bugs-killed-during-product-testing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 01:00:13 +0000 dpa dpa The recent arrest of Nicolas Maduro has inadvertently become a major advertisement for Nike tracksuits, thanks to a photo ‌posted by US President Donald Trump of the Venezuelan president in US custody. The ‍image seen by millions around the world shows a handcuffed Maduro holding a water bottle, with his ears and eyes covered while wearing distinctive grey tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie. The eyes of many watching the news appear to have fallen ⁠on the trademark Nike swoosh on the captive’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3338837/comfortable-long-flights-maduros-nike-tracksuit-selling-out-after-trump-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3338837/comfortable-long-flights-maduros-nike-tracksuit-selling-out-after-trump-post?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 23:56:29 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa While Justin and Hailey Bieber are no strangers to dominating headlines with endless speculation about their marriage – from Justin’s mental health struggles to rumours about a divorce – the internet has pointed out a new supposed red flag threatening their relationship: the “swag gap”. Coined and popularised on TikTok, the “swag gap” references relationships where one partner is stylish, polished and overall has “swag”, while the other looks like they raided a laundry hamper in the dark. The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3337973/what-relationship-swag-gap-hailey-and-justin-bieber-selena-gomez-and-benny-blanco?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3337973/what-relationship-swag-gap-hailey-and-justin-bieber-selena-gomez-and-benny-blanco?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A 12-year-old Japanese gaming streamer is set to drop out after graduating from primary school to pursue esports full time, sparking controversy online. The youngster, Tarou, began playing video games at the age of three and has since amassed more than 230,000 followers online. On February 8, popular gamer Tarou, 12, announced that he would not attend secondary school, opting instead to pursue a full-time career in esports. “This is the result of a year-long discussion with my family and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337694/japan-gamer-12-plans-quit-school-pursue-esports-supported-parents-sparks-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337694/japan-gamer-12-plans-quit-school-pursue-esports-supported-parents-sparks-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Four teaching staff at a university in South Korea have been fined for taking exams for students to boost test scores in an attempt to keep their department from being shut down. On December 22, the Gwangju District Court in Gwangju city in the southern part of the country fined three professors and a teaching assistant between 1.5 million and 6 million won (US$1,000 and US$4,000) for “obstructing academic operations”. The name of the university where they work was not revealed in a report of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337722/korean-professors-fined-taking-tests-students-inflate-scores-prevent-budget-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337722/korean-professors-fined-taking-tests-students-inflate-scores-prevent-budget-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A one-armed man in Malaysia has captivated social media across Asia with his perseverance working as a food delivery rider despite his disability. Ahmad Nabil Rosli, 26, from Terengganu, eastern Malaysia, had his left arm amputated after a road accident in May 2017, according to a report by the local news outlet Sinar Harian. Nosli attracted attention online because of a video clip released in November, which showed him being stopped by a traffic police officer at a checkpoint while he was... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337596/one-armed-malaysian-man-works-hard-food-delivery-rider-save-wedding-inspires-many?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337596/one-armed-malaysian-man-works-hard-food-delivery-rider-save-wedding-inspires-many?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A 22-year-old Japanese man who died from a tumour has continued to move many people online with an optimistic post he scheduled for publication after his death. On October 12, Kanaru Nakayama died peacefully after battling a tumour on his back, a rare aggressive soft tissue cancer, for two years. Two days later, Nakayama’s social media account @nkym7856 posted a short lighthearted message which read: “I am dead.” The post has attracted one million likes and 86,000 reposts. It was reportedly... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337023/i-am-dead-japan-man-posts-posthumous-social-media-message-many-admire-strength?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337023/i-am-dead-japan-man-posts-posthumous-social-media-message-many-admire-strength?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 01:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Fifteen people were injured in a stabbing attack in a rubber factory in central Japan on Friday during which an unspecified liquid was also sprayed, emergency officials said. “All fifteen people were sent to hospital,” said a firefighting department official in the city of Mishima, southwest of Tokyo. The official, declining to be named, said that of the 15 injuries, eight were the result of stabbing and seven due to the liquid. Some local media outlets, quoting unnamed sources, said the liquid... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3337831/japan-stabbing-rampage-leaves-14-injured-yokohama-rubber-factory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3337831/japan-stabbing-rampage-leaves-14-injured-yokohama-rubber-factory?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:42:03 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse An elusive wild cat long feared extinct in Thailand has been rediscovered three decades after the last recorded sighting, conservation authorities and an NGO said on Friday. Flat-headed cats are among the world’s rarest and most threatened wild felines. Their range is limited to Southeast Asia and they are endangered because of dwindling habitat. The domestic cat-sized feline with its distinctive round and close-set eyes was last spotted in a documented sighting in Thailand in 1995. But an... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3337829/thailand-rediscovers-extinct-flat-headed-cat-after-30-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3337829/thailand-rediscovers-extinct-flat-headed-cat-after-30-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:08:48 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim From political gaffes and diplomatic stumbles to courtroom fury and security breaches, many of Singapore’s viral moments in 2025 showed how quickly everyday incidents in the city state could turn into national focal points. Passionate online discussions have revealed deep concerns about power, accountability and how the country sees itself – and is seen by others. Locker-room rage Singapore’s acting sports minister came under fire after he was caught calling the Hong Kong men’s football team... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337666/singapores-viral-moments-2025-politician-slip-ups-sinkhole-heroes-and-new-us-envoy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337666/singapores-viral-moments-2025-politician-slip-ups-sinkhole-heroes-and-new-us-envoy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 03:30:10 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A senior resident doctor at a government hospital in Shimla, the capital of India’s northern state of Himachal Pradesh, has been suspended and charged by police after a viral video appeared to show him repeatedly striking a patient inside a ward, triggering an investigation and widespread public backlash. The mobile phone footage, filmed by an attendant at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital on Monday and widely shared on social media, shows a masked doctor punching a man lying on a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3337651/indian-doctor-suspended-charged-after-viral-video-shows-him-assaulting-patient?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3337651/indian-doctor-suspended-charged-after-viral-video-shows-him-assaulting-patient?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:35:34 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times As an orchestra plays the overture from Jacques Offenbach’s opera Orpheus in the Underworld, the conductor turns from the podium to signal the audience to quieten down. Facing the orchestra again, he hops lightly with arms spread wide, his legs moving as if waltzing to the rhythm, in a YouTube video that went viral. As the piece builds toward its finale, the pounding drums grow louder and his movements more intense. His arms shake vigorously, as if he were a shaman attempting to connect with the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3337453/meet-korean-viral-dancing-conductor-who-says-hes-not-actually-dancing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3337453/meet-korean-viral-dancing-conductor-who-says-hes-not-actually-dancing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 08:15:07 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A Japanese tourist in China experienced incredible kindness from locals after a car accident, actions which completely shifted her perception of the host country. On December 14, a woman known online as @takomanmaru shared her story on social media. Her post went viral, attracting more than 1.9 million views. A fan of Chinese singer Su Ruiqi, she opened a takoyaki shop in Osaka after discovering her idol’s interest in the Japanese savoury snack. Takomanmaru recently travelled to Beijing to see... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3336738/japanese-tourist-china-receives-extreme-kindness-after-car-crash-changing-perceptions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3336738/japanese-tourist-china-receives-extreme-kindness-after-car-crash-changing-perceptions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:00:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A member of the Japanese girl pop group Xtraordinary Girls (XG) has come out as transmasculine non-binary and revealed that she recently underwent breast removal surgery. The seven-member idol group has made global waves with their bold blend of hip-hop and R&B, plus retro visuals inspired by Y2K and Harajuku styles. Since their debut in March 2022, they have gained more than 4.5 million social media followers, with fans praising their “strong female energy” and lyrics. The youngest member,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3336008/japan-girl-pop-group-member-comes-out-transmasculine-non-binary-after-breast-removal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/gender-diversity/article/3336008/japan-girl-pop-group-member-comes-out-transmasculine-non-binary-after-breast-removal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 01:00:08 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Two men have been arrested after using AI to create a fake video of Chinese basketball star Wang Siyu accusing head coach Gong Luming of corruption, with some social media users fooled into thinking it was real. The five-minute video, titled “China women’s basketball star Wang Siyu denounces head coach Gong Luming”, has circulated online for nearly a month, with one reposted version gaining around 70,000 likes and more than 10,000 comments in two days. State media said the pair, both 32 years... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3337457/pair-arrested-faking-ai-video-china-basketball-star-wang-accusing-coach-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3337457/pair-arrested-faking-ai-video-china-basketball-star-wang-accusing-coach-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A yoga studio in Thailand has gone viral for providing visitors the unique opportunity to interact with puppies during their workouts, creating a truly stress-relieving experience. Chinese fitness influencer “Scarlett Johanfu” recently shared a video of her visit to a puppy yoga studio in Bangkok, which quickly garnered over 1.5 million likes on Douyin. In the clip, yoga mats are surrounded by adorable puppies as participants stretch and unwind. Johanfu gently pats the dogs between poses, with... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337209/bangkok-puppy-yoga-studio-offers-visitors-comfort-and-stress-relief-us60-session?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3337209/bangkok-puppy-yoga-studio-offers-visitors-comfort-and-stress-relief-us60-session?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong A Hong Kong teaching hospital has launched an investigation after a viral video showed its medical staff using syringes as “water pistols” inside a ward. In a post on social media on Thursday, several staff were filmed squirting liquid at each other with syringes while their colleagues looked on. “Playing with water at the nurse station of [ward] K20N at Queen Mary Hospital,” an online user named hospital_secrets wrote when posting the video. “Using syringes as water pistols while they are on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3337194/hong-kong-teaching-hospital-investigates-staff-over-viral-water-fight-video?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3337194/hong-kong-teaching-hospital-investigates-staff-over-viral-water-fight-video?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 13:36:08 +0000