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This Week in Asia /
Lifestyle & Culture
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K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop
Asia travel
Fame and celebrity
The Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling adds momentum to same-sex marriage debate
Advocates hailed the ruling as a breakthrough, though observers said its reach remains limited without congressional action.
1 hour ago
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Japan
Future of Japan’s ‘naked festival’ in doubt after 3 men left unconscious
24 Feb 2026 - 5:04PM
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Scams and swindles
‘K-wave’ scams exploiting Brazil’s superfans trigger police pact
24 Feb 2026 - 3:57PM
Lunar New Year
Sharing the luck: inside Southeast Asia’s embrace of Lunar New Year
Malay and Indian households are increasingly embracing the festivities, tossing ‘yusheng’ and giving hongbao to show ‘unity in diversity’.
24 Feb 2026 - 12:17PM
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The Lourdes family take part in the traditional “yusheng” toss on Lunar New Year’s Eve. Photo: Alyssa Ann Lourdes
Singapore
Cross-border trips to Johor push Singapore checkpoint traffic to new high
About three-quarters of the record 245 million travellers who crossed Singapore’s checkpoints last year went via the land border.
23 Feb 2026 - 9:12PM
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Malaysia
Bikini-clad mermaid sales stunt triggers religious probe in Malaysia
Authorities in conservative Kelantan are investigating the viral cross-dressing video after online critics accused the men of mocking Islam.
23 Feb 2026 - 5:31PM
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The Philippines
Art as advocacy: Philippine mural contest adds to South China Sea messaging push
The government-backed drive is the latest in a series of creative campaigns aiming to shape public narrative around the maritime dispute.
23 Feb 2026 - 5:41PM
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Members of the Philippine Navy take part in a collaborative colouring activity during the launch of the nationwide mural contest on February 10. Photo: Raissa Robles
Japan
Clocking off: is Japan’s culture of overwork finally dying?
The average hours put in by Japanese workers are lower than those of their American and Italian counterparts.
23 Feb 2026 - 10:34AM
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Thailand
Thailand ‘buzzing’ with travel boom as Chinese tourists back in droves
The country’s heavy investment in wooing Chinese visitors appears to have paid off as it overcomes safety fears to secure holiday growth.
22 Feb 2026 - 3:03PM
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Chinese culture
Ancient Chinese astrology gets a Gen Z rebrand in Southeast Asia
Forget rituals and superstitions, today’s young professionals are using ‘bazi’ 10-year luck forecasts to plan their next career pivot.
22 Feb 2026 - 2:54PM
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Malaysia
‘Just ask for it’: Malaysia’s vape crackdown fails to break the habit
An estimated 1.4 million Malaysian adults vape, despite existing curbs. Many say new laws will simply push them back to cigarettes.
22 Feb 2026 - 8:00AM
A person vapes during a hike in Negeri Sembilan state, Malaysia. Photo: Shutterstock
Nepal
Unearthed temple in Nepal sheds new light on Buddha’s early life
Archaeologists hope the newly discovered ruins at Siddhartha Gautam’s childhood palace will help secure Unesco World Heritage status.
21 Feb 2026 - 3:00PM
Indonesia
Why Indonesia’s president wants clay roofs on all homes
The president says tourists are put off by Indonesia’s ‘rusty zinc’ roofs, and its image would improve with wider use of clay tiles.
20 Feb 2026 - 5:33PM
Singapore
Is Singapore’s plan to regulate blind boxes ‘paternalistic’ or ‘harm reduction’?
The mystery surrounding the purchase of blind boxes has prompted concerns of gambling-style risks faced by consumers, especially minors.
19 Feb 2026 - 7:25PM
Japan
‘Enormous failure’: naked man exposes gaps in Japan’s royal security
Princess Kako reportedly witnessed the chaos firsthand as a shrieking intruder stripped off and scaled a barrier below the royal balcony.
19 Feb 2026 - 8:05AM
(From left) Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Kako, Prince Hisahito, Princess Nobuko and Princess Akiko attend the traditional new year’s greeting ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on January 2. Photo: AFP
Singapore
A match made in Singapore? ‘Aunties, not algorithms’ aims to woo US singles
Burnt-out US-based singles could win a free luxury trip if they ditch the dating apps and opt to let outspoken older women play Cupid.
17 Feb 2026 - 1:00PM
Indonesia
Indonesians weigh peril and promise of Jakarta – the world’s most populous city
Extreme heat, floods, pollution, congested traffic and a tough job market are some of the major challenges faced by the city’s residents.
15 Feb 2026 - 2:00PM
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South Korea
Why do South Korea’s Hallyu heroes find taxes so … taxing?
As K-culture conquers the world, its wealthy stars keep falling foul of a tax system ‘that has not yet fully caught up’.
15 Feb 2026 - 8:00AM
South Korean actor Kim Seon-ho stars in the Netflix series “Can This Love Be Translated?”. Photo: No Ju-han/Netflix
Thailand
Thailand plays down ‘too expensive’ concerns from South Korean visitors
The perceived squeeze on the wallet is a result of exchange rate volatility rather than the kingdom’s inflation, tourism officials say.
13 Feb 2026 - 4:25PM
The Philippines
Almost half of Filipinos willing to trust cheating partners again, survey says
The survey covers six types of cheating: physical, emotional, cyber, object and financial infidelity, as well as micro-cheating.
13 Feb 2026 - 4:16PM
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The Philippines
‘We didn’t cry easily’: Philippine senator slammed for calling Gen Z ‘weak’
Robin Padilla was criticised for downplaying depression and not being sensitive to the social and economic problems faced by young Filipinos.
12 Feb 2026 - 3:47PM
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Artificial intelligence
Dopamine over babies: Asia’s births crisis worsens in the age of AI
AI is putting pressure on Asian workers to upgrade their skills, while the technology also provides ‘cheap fun’ diversions.
11 Feb 2026 - 5:19PM
A health worker checks on newborn babies at a hospital in Chennai, India. Photo: EPA-EFE
Indonesia
Indonesia’s 68,000-year-old handprint: the birth of human art?
Found hiding beneath a chicken sketch, the faded outline proves ancient humans were capable of reflecting on their existence, scientists say.
9 Feb 2026 - 4:09AM
Nepal
‘Tip of the iceberg’: arrests in Nepal over fake mountain rescues welcomed
The suspects are believed to be among a network of scammers who have cheated insurers by staging fake rescue operations for years.
7 Feb 2026 - 4:00PM
South Korea
Outrage in South Korea over ‘importing virgins’ proposal to raise birth rate
Critics slammed a governor’s ‘crude’ suggestion to marry ‘Sri Lankan and Vietnamese virgins’ to local men as a fix for population decline.
5 Feb 2026 - 1:48PM
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