Advertisement
Advertisement
-
This Week in Asia /
Lifestyle & Culture
Related Topics:
K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop
Asia travel
Fame and celebrity
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
20 Feb 2026 - 5:33PM
Singapore
Is Singapore’s plan to regulate blind boxes ‘paternalistic’ or ‘harm reduction’?
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
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
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
videocam
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
videocam
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
Thailand
Thai funeral ‘food court’ blunder: tourists looking for buffet attend wake
The tourists who were served food by a family at the funeral were impressed with the kindness of the people in Thailand.
5 Feb 2026 - 9:38PM
videocam
A Thai family offering food to a group of tourists who are searching for a restaurant and wander into a funeral by mistake in the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Photo: Facebook/Charantorn Chaloemkiad
Indonesia
Indonesian woman collapses after 140 lashes for sex and alcohol
Three female officers took turns striking the woman with a rattan cane before she lost consciousness, witnesses said.
2 Feb 2026 - 12:08PM
videocam
12
South Korea
SKY’s the limit: behind push to end academic elitism in South Korean hiring
Hiring practices have traditionally been centred around which school a candidate attended, with higher-paying jobs going to elite alumni.
1 Feb 2026 - 8:00AM
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Malaysia
Can Malaysian football ‘reset’? Mass resignations kick off reboot debate
Nothing will change if the same officials are re-elected with no one held accountable for the ‘heritage players’ fiasco, observers say.
30 Jan 2026 - 4:12PM
The Football Association of Malaysia’s logo is displayed at its headquarters in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Singapore
Singapore begins ban on ‘undesirable’ visitors, airlines to comply or face fine
Among such visitors barred from entering are those with a criminal record in Singapore or who pose a threat to public safety.
2 Feb 2026 - 3:48PM
videocam
Thailand
Will Thai tourism ambassador Blackpink’s Lisa help lure Chinese visitors back?
Chinese visitor arrivals slumped by nearly 30 per cent last year amid concerns over safety, the border war with Cambodia and the strong baht.
30 Jan 2026 - 6:04PM
4
Bangladesh
Not cricket? Political sticky wicket forces Bangladesh out of T20 World Cup
Bangladesh’s national election on February 12 has brought tensions among the South Asian neighbours to the forefront.
29 Jan 2026 - 5:00PM
videocam
Japan
Japan’s ‘new-wave yakuza’: tokuryu gangs take control of lucrative sex business
The arrest of a leader of Japan’s largest tokuryu has put the spotlight on how the gangs are edging out the yakuza and worrying the police.
29 Jan 2026 - 5:49PM
5
Pedestrians walk past an entrance at Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Natural, a leading tokuryu criminal group, started its operations in the nightlife district in 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE
Asean
Just 1 visa to rule them all? How European-style pass could help Asean tourism
While Asean members such as Malaysia and Vietnam have shown strong post-pandemic growth, tourist numbers have lagged in the Philippines.
29 Jan 2026 - 2:41PM
Singapore
Who are ‘we’? Why some Singaporeans bristle at ‘we first’ inclusive society call
Several ministers have spoken about a “we first” society, prompting some Singaporeans to question whether it benefits foreigners more.
28 Jan 2026 - 7:48PM
Indonesia
‘Cruellest’ practice: Elephant rides banned in Bali parks over welfare concerns
Asian countries, such as Cambodia and India, have ended commercial elephant rides due to the same concerns.
27 Jan 2026 - 5:49PM
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW