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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
Singapore
Paid to read: can cash and gamification fix Southeast Asia’s falling literacy?
Facing shrinking attention spans and ‘doomscrolling’, governments are using cash, vouchers and book drives to get citizens reading again.
2 hours ago
The Philippines
Forgotten no more: Filipino folklore finds footing on global stage
27 Sep 2026 - 12:00PM
Malaysia
In Malaysia, a mother’s love offers her trans daughter refuge
27 Sep 2026 - 9:30AM
Malaysia
Malaysians joke about nettle beds to end Negeri Sembilan royal row
With two men claiming the throne and no legal exit in sight, commenters suggest nettle-bed endurance tests to end the fight.
4 hours ago
Malaysia
As Malaysia bets big on a concert boom, where are the local acts?
Artists question efforts to develop local talent, highlighting ‘worrying trend’ of global stars with no Malaysian opening act.
23 Sep 2026 - 12:03PM
South Korea
Shark in the park: viral sighting shakes up South Korea’s Busan
Nearly 20,000 visitors flocked to the North Port Waterfront Park over the weekend to see the shark, which has also spawned a flood of memes.
21 Sep 2026 - 8:53PM
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South Korea
South Korea beats foreign student target, but struggles to keep them
New university rankings show while South Korea has enjoyed an international student boom, gaps in support and post-graduation outcomes remain.
22 Sep 2026 - 9:28AM
Students from abroad walk at a university in Seoul, South Korea, on September 10. Photo: EPA/Yonhap
South Korea
South Korea wants free ‘AI for All’. Is society ready?
Seoul’s roll-out of free, unlimited AI is set to shake up classrooms, careers and crime – for better or worse.
21 Sep 2026 - 11:55AM
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The Philippines
Why men account for 80% of suicide deaths in the Philippines
Filipino men rarely seek help for mental illness, despite making up 80 per cent of suicide deaths. Advocates say it’s time for change.
14 Sep 2026 - 9:43AM
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Indonesia
Indonesia orders Netflix to pay US$4.3m in music royalties or face shutdown
Netflix has agreed to pay music royalties it owed in South Korea and faces a tax demand on its income in Australia, media reports say.
10 Sep 2026 - 3:58PM
Singapore
Grab Singapore apologises over microdrama ad that raised safety fears
The ride-hailing giant admits insensitivity over the romcom series following complaints that it trivialised driver harassment.
10 Sep 2026 - 2:22PM
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A screenshot from the trailer for “I Fell In Love with My Grab Driver”, a new microdrama series by Grab Singapore. Photo: YouTube / GrabOfficialSEA
Singapore
In Singapore, malls for shopping only are going out of style
Marina Square’s future revamp typifies the rise of mixed-use developments incorporating retail, office, residential and other components.
9 Sep 2026 - 11:33PM
Malaysia
Young Malaysians brew goal for traditional tuak drink to become national success
Given the drink’s origins in Sarawak, industry players have to balance between adhering to traditional processes and commercial limitations.
6 Sep 2026 - 1:00PM
Japan
Cockroaches gain ‘foothold’ in Japan’s Hokkaido as weather warms
Rising temperatures and ‘artificial environments’ enable the insects to thrive in a region once considered too hostile for them, experts say.
6 Sep 2026 - 2:04PM
Malaysia
‘All I want is a fair chance’: Malaysia’s deaf workers look to lead
A job offer is only the first step, deaf Malaysians say. True inclusion means equal opportunities and room to rise.
6 Sep 2026 - 10:00AM
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Wong Yi Xiang, a deaf Starbucks employee, says he wants a fair chance to show his work-related skills. Photo: Ushar Daniele
South Korea
What a viral Jennie clip reveals about South Korea’s deepfake struggles
Severe legal threats fail to deter a wave of teenage offenders who see digital victims as nothing more than pixels.
6 Sep 2026 - 8:00AM
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Thailand
Why US soldiers continue to flock to Thailand’s Pattaya
Military links have brought waves of Americans to Thailand since the 1940s, with the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln the latest to visit.
4 Sep 2026 - 7:32PM
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Malaysia
Snow in Malaysia? Viral highway fun washed away by soapy truth
Police said the white-topped Shah Alam Expressway that mesmerised motorists was caused by a rain-activated soap spill from a lorry.
4 Sep 2026 - 4:26PM
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A snow-like foam covered a Malaysian highway after rain revived soap residue from a lorry spill. Photo: Threads/umminazali
The Philippines
Makati’s ‘on-site’ Filipino workers: a humorous take on ‘crazy’ life in Manila
Young workers, drawn by the financial district’s expatriate-style amenities, satirise the high costs while navigating its hustle culture.
3 Sep 2026 - 4:45PM
Thailand
Hello, sailor: Thailand’s Pattaya welcomes USS Abraham Lincoln crew
Over 5,000 sailors and Marines have arrived in the Thai resort city for their first shore leave in 286 days.
2 Sep 2026 - 7:29PM
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Malaysia
Malaysian heritage site caught in row over non-local staff
A viral video shot at the Sultan Abdul Samad Building has sparked a backlash, despite management insisting the worker was not a tour guide.
2 Sep 2026 - 1:03PM
Malaysia
Malaysian state’s cash handouts for teen weddings trigger backlash
Perak’s plan to offer money to newlyweds as young as 15 risks endorsing child marriage, rights groups warn.
31 Aug 2026 - 2:50PM
Children aged 15 to 17 “should be in school, not thinking about marriage”, one local politician said in response to the proposal. Photo: Shutterstock
K-pop idols
Can Southeast Asian artists replicate K-pop’s global success with SEA-pop?
Even as more regional artists are performing overseas, they should not blindly copy the K-pop playbook, industry observers say.
30 Aug 2026 - 3:00PM
Malaysia
Reviving Kuala Lumpur: can Malaysia modernise without pricing out its past?
Urban renewal aims to regenerate the capital’s historic core, but polish and authenticity don’t always share the same street.
30 Aug 2026 - 11:00AM
Malaysia
Why Malaysia’s push for 15 million Muslim tourists is no sure thing
With disruption to long-haul flights, Malaysia may not draw more Muslim visitors at the expense of the travel hubs in Dubai and Doha.
28 Aug 2026 - 8:00PM
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