Lifestyle & Culture

Taylor Sheesh, a Philippine drag act who impersonates American pop star Taylor Swift, performs in Singapore on March 16, 2024. Photo: SCMP

Singapore Swifties, enchanted after Eras Tour, turn to Taylor Sheesh for solace

Filipino Mac Coronel has been impersonating the US superstar since 2017 and performed for a 600-strong audience on the weekend.

17 Mar 2024 - 6:42PM
Israel-Gaza war: fears grow of an impending humanitarian disaster as ceasefire talks stall. Image: SCMP

In Gaza at Ramadan, starvation adds to deaths amid Israel-Hamas truce impasse

With ceasefire talks stalled, fears are growing that events will ‘spiral out of control’ in Gaza, where deaths from malnutrition and dehydration are adding to the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed by Israel’s months-long bombardment.

18 Mar 2024 - 8:36AM
A promotional vehicle of a ‘Host Club’ runs though Kabukicho in Tokyo. Japan has a booming multibillion-dollar adult industry, which in recent years had been rocked by allegations that women were forced to perform sex acts on films against their will. Photo: EPA-EFE

South Korean rights groups slam adult festival featuring Japanese porn stars

A 2017 government report showing more than half of South Korean men had paid for sex at least once in their lives, despite the nation’s anti-prostitution law.

15 Mar 2024 - 5:40PM
A Japanese white-eye bird stands amid cherry blossoms in Yamato. Photo: dpa

Sakura bye bye? Popular Japan cherry blossom variety facing extinction

The news about the Somei-Yoshino variety from Japan’s weather agency comes as it releases its forecasts for the annual cherry blossoms.

15 Mar 2024 - 3:53PM
A Japanese couple walks in the Gion area of Kyoto. More Japanese men say they are “fed up” with “manufactured” occasions such as White Day. Photo: EPA-EFE

More Japanese men resist buying White Day gifts: ‘it doesn’t mean anything’

Consumer disenchantment over ‘manufactured’ occasions designed to encourage spending and rising cost of chocolates and treats are putting people off gift-buying.

14 Mar 2024 - 12:00PM
A woman feeds her baby at a Singapore park. Photo: Shutterstock

One and done: why more Singapore couples are saying ‘no thanks’ to big families

The trend means couples can ‘experience parenthood’ while maintaining a preferred lifestyle that includes work-life balance, holidays and date nights.

15 Mar 2024 - 2:11AM
Security camera footage captured a cat entering the Nomura Plating factory in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan. Photo: YouTube/日テレNEWS

Cat falls into toxic chemical tank in Japan and escapes, sparking health scare

The cat was captured on security cameras entering the Nomura Plating factory, and could have climbed onto a sheet covering a tank of hexavalent chromium before falling in.

13 Mar 2024 - 12:18PM
A sketch of Malim Jetty during an Urban Sketchers meet in Goa, India. Photo: USk Goa

Urban sketchers showcase beauty of India’s cityscapes, 1 drawing at a time

The Urban Sketchers movement, started in 2007 in Seattle, has drawn a strong following in India, with more than 20 chapters across the country.

11 Mar 2024 - 8:51AM
Boats sail along a river in Osaka, Japan during the Tenjin Festival on July 25, 2023, with fireworks lighting up the night sky. Photo: Kyodo

Japan’s Osaka weighs new visitor tax in bid to boost tourism sector

Osaka currently imposes an accommodation tax and plans to set up a panel to consider the new levy, which could be introduced in 2025.

9 Mar 2024 - 6:00PM
Women across Asia are challenging bias to carve out entrepreneurial success. Photo: Shutterstock

How Asian women are challenging bias to carve out entrepreneurial success

Funding woes, work-life balance and prejudice remain hurdles for women entrepreneurs, who say having supportive business partners and spouses can be half the battle won.

14 Mar 2024 - 3:37PM
Phuket residents sit on the stairway that has been at the centre of an assault case involving a Swiss expat and a Thai doctor. Photo: Facebook

Swiss man kicks Thai doctor on ‘his’ Phuket stairs; tourists flock to spot

Urs David Fehr was charged after he allegedly kicked Thandao Chandam and her friend, who were sitting outside a villa rented by him.

7 Mar 2024 - 12:38AM
A protest in India against the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in 2021. Photo: AFP

Rape of Spanish tourist sparks debate on prevalence of sexual violence in India

Women have come forth to share their experiences of rape and harassment in India, denouncing the culture they say continues to allow it.

6 Mar 2024 - 1:02PM
Japanese geisha visit Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto to watch a kabuki performance. Photo: Kyodo

Kyoto to ban visitors from geisha district area over ‘out-of-control’ incidents

Such incidents in Gion include tourists pulling kimonos worn by the geisha and forcing the traditional entertainers to pose for photos.

7 Mar 2024 - 11:45PM
Taylor Swift performs in Tokyo last month. Her six Singapore shows are predicted to bring a multimillion-dollar windfall to the city state. Photo: Reuters

Singapore PM Lee shakes off Asean neighbours’ complaints over Taylor Swift deal

Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday defended Singapore paying the US pop star to make his country the sole Southeast Asian stop on her world tour, following complaints from neighbouring nations about the deal.

5 Mar 2024 - 3:03PM
Filipino teenagers look at a smartphone at a convenience store. Photo: Shutterstock

As English skills decline in Philippines, will ban on media dubs fix the issue?

Philippine educators say more needs to be done as having strong English language skills is key to the country’s economic competitiveness.

4 Mar 2024 - 6:38PM
A person looks at the names of passengers and crew on doomed flight MH370, during a memorial in Malaysia on March 3. Photo: Hadi Azmi

‘MH370 isn’t history’ 10 years on, Nepalis fighting for Russia: 6 weekend reads

From Malaysia seeking a new search for the missing MH370 jet to Hong Kong’s cooked-food centres, here are stories you may have missed over the weekend.

4 Mar 2024 - 12:00PM
Indian chess prodigy Srihari Lakshminarasimhan at the National Senior Chess Championship in New Delhi, India, in 2022. Photo: Handout

Is chess India’s new cricket? Young talent dominates game amid popularity surge

Srihari Lakshminarasimhan is among a young crop of aspirants in India dominating the thriving chess landscape in recent years.

3 Mar 2024 - 2:00PM
The DINK lifestyle choice has gained popularity in Asia in recent years. Photo: Shutterstock

Across Asia, a new class of childless-by-choice couples emerges: meet the DINKs

Their reasons vary – and it’s not always to do with finances. But societal stigma persists, even in a world that’s increasingly overpopulated.

6 Mar 2024 - 7:51PM
People at an outdoor seating area of a restaurant in Tokyo. Photo: AP

As ‘sushi terrorism’ grows, more Japanese firms scramble to protect themselves

Such incidents in Japan, ranging from staff wiping fingers in pizza dough to customers licking tea cups, have gone viral in the past year.

29 Feb 2024 - 2:29PM
Fans of singer Taylor Swift watch a light and water show in the “Eras Tour Trail” that depicts different eras of the pop star’s career at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on February 28. Photo: AFP

‘We need Swiftonomics’: Indonesia eyes hosting mega stars to boost tourism

Indonesia has the potential and infrastructure to host major events, but experts say logistics and organisation are still issues that need to be ‘ironed out’.

29 Feb 2024 - 6:05PM