Lifestyle & Culture
Green and keen: the new breed of Chinese traveller shaping eco-tourism
‘Travelling in coaches, eating only Chinese food’ is far less common after the pandemic. Instead, many people want nature, camping and homestays, say experts, and the sector should fully embrace that.
‘Pride always’: Thailand’s Pita eyes marriage equality bill as he seals coalition
As Bangkok bids to host WorldPride 2028, Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party that won the most seats in the May 14 election, is prioritising a same-sex marriage bill that failed to pass the last parliament.
Scammers in India up their game with likes-for-cash jobs on social media
Cybercrimes are not new to India but a new wave of such crimes is spreading, in which victims are promised money for liking social media content.
AI is key to Asia’s policies for elderly, climate, jobs: India’s Tata
Firm says multilingual AI can help bring rarely accessed services to remote areas, monitoring the likes of eye issues and falls, pollution and traffic. However, senior executive says big challenge will be ensuring AI is used ethically.
Indonesia’s conservative wrath, scams take centre stage ahead of Coldplay gig
Indonesian conservatives are concerned about LGBTQ-themed acts or messages promoted in the Coldplay concert that was supposed to revive the nation’s pandemic-hit tourism sector.
Do India’s ‘funny’ Mother’s Day gifts subvert ‘supermum’ tropes or uphold them?
Acknowledging and portraying exasperation, anger of mothers are initial steps to change stereotypes of ‘selfless’ mums who are ‘devoted to families’.
‘Dangerous places’: insurgents, drugs – and tourists – at Malaysia-Thai border
Multiple checkpoints and official border posts do little to deter militants, traffickers – and day trippers – from flitting across the 595km-long frontier virtually at will, as a Malaysian woman’s recent deportation shows.
China-friendly Gulf eyes more ‘extremely valuable and coveted’ Chinese visitors
With their ancient cultural and historical sites – plus ‘very good shopping’ – the Gulf monarchies such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have their sights set on enticing a new wave of luxury travellers from China.
‘This really hurts’: South Korea intensifies battle against suicide
The nation, which has one of world’s highest suicide rates, is starting to do more to tackle the tragic problem – but experts say it’s not enough.
Fight club: Thailand, Cambodia duke it out to stake claim on boxing in Mekong
The Cambodian hosts of the SEA Games have listed the boxing discipline as Kun Khmer and Thailand has refused to enter its fighters into the competition.
Japanese families reunite during ‘golden week’, with ‘worst of Covid behind us’
Around 24.5 million Japanese – more than in 2019 – plan to take a trip for at least one night during the holiday season, which officially starts on Wednesday but is already well under way.
Why Japanese shun teaching: long hours, poor pay, risk of dying on the job
Japan’s ministry of education found that teachers worked an average of more than 95 hours overtime per month, above health standard limits of ‘karoshi’ or death from overwork.
Singapore executes citizen for conspiracy to smuggle 1kg of cannabis
Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was hanged at Changi Prison Complex on Wednesday. His execution came despite a concerted local and international effort to persuade the Singapore government to grant him clemency.
Humble abode: the Indians leaving urban homes for ‘wholesome’ mud houses
‘We wanted to reconnect with nature and go back to being part of the web of life … a mud house added to this process’.
Jeju is ‘overwhelmed’ and wants a tourist tax. But will South Korea agree?
With millions heading to Unesco World Heritage site, an island of 670,000 people that struggles to cope with so many visitors, ‘idea of deterring overtourism with entry tax is making a comeback’.
Is Dalai Lama’s ‘suck my tongue’ remark a Tibetan tradition or abuse?
Many social media users have termed the Dalai Lama’s behaviour as ‘creepy’ and ‘disgusting’, but Tibetans say their culture has been misconstrued and hypersexualised.
‘No surprises’: Malaysia in jubilant mood as extra-long Eid holiday begins
Unlike last year when Eid al-Fitr unexpectedly fell a day before the declared public holiday, the celebration will take place – as earlier assumed – on Saturday.
Indonesia’s Eid bonuses in spotlight after ‘thugs’ take cash from street vendors
Indonesian employers are required to pay workers a bonus ahead of the nation’s biggest Muslim festival under a law that has been misused by some groups.