LIFESTYLE

A collection of 166 posts

TAIWAN

Dodgers Affiliate Makes History With First Taiwan Heritage Day in California—And the Surprise Was Written on the Field

ONTARIO, California — A Los Angeles Dodgers-affiliated baseball team turned its home field into an unexpected celebration of Taiwan on Sunday, September 6, as the Ontario Tower Buzzers hosted their first-ever Taiwan Heritage Day. The celebration brought Taiwanese culture, baseball and community together at ONT Field in Ontario, California,

ENTERTAINMENT

Doctor Warns Against Popping Boils at Home After Elderly Woman Develops Severe Infection

A Taiwanese doctor has issued a stark warning against trying to pop or lance boils at home after an elderly woman used a heated sewing needle to treat a painful lump — only for the infection to worsen dramatically. The woman, who is in her 80s and lives alone, initially believed

ASIA

Singapore Retiree Spends 8 Years Sweeping Carpark for Free — ‘Seeing It Clean Makes Me Happy’

SINGAPORE — Most people dream of slowing down after retirement. But for 78-year-old former taxi driver Chen Jinhe, sitting at home was never part of the plan. For more than eight years, the Singapore retiree has voluntarily swept fallen leaves at an open-air carpark in Ang Mo Kio

SOUTH KOREA

100,000 Pack Taipei Streets as Giant Mechanical Elephants Take Over Shilin — And the Crowd Was So Huge, Officials Had to Step In

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Three enormous mechanical elephants transformed the streets of Taipei into a spectacular open-air theater Saturday night, drawing more than 100,000 people to Shilin for the opening of the 2026 Taipei Arts Festival. The free street performance, “Trois Éléphants Passent…” (“Three Elephants Pass…”), was staged by French

ASIA

South Korea's Household Loans Finally Fall After 6 Months — But the Debt Problem Isn't Over Yet

South Korea’s major banks have recorded their first monthly decline in household loans in six months, signaling that tighter lending controls are beginning to put the brakes on borrowing even as demand for mortgages remains strong. The combined household-loan balance at the country’s five largest commercial banks

ASIA

A Japanese Nutritionist Swears By These 7 Foods for an Anti-Inflammatory Diet — But One Detail Matters

MANILA, Philippines — Seven everyday ingredients found in traditional Japanese kitchens are drawing renewed attention after Japanese nutritionist and longevity expert Michiko Tomioka shared the foods she regularly recommends as part of an eating pattern aimed at supporting overall health and managing inflammation. In a recent CNBC feature, Tomioka, who was

ASIA

Heartburn Won’t Go Away? The OTC Treatment You Choose Could Make a Big Difference

Heartburn Won’t Go Away? The OTC Treatment You Choose Could Make a Big Difference That burning sensation rising from the stomach into the chest may seem like a minor after-meal annoyance, but choosing the right over-the-counter treatment matters — especially when heartburn keeps coming back. Heartburn happens

LIFESTYLE

Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem Died Eight Days Apart—Two Very Different Icons Leave a Lasting Feminist Legacy

WASHINGTON — The deaths of Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem just eight days apart have delivered an extraordinary double blow to generations of women who saw the two American icons as powerful examples of female independence—despite the fact that they approached that ideal in radically different ways. Parton, the beloved

BUSINESS

Pantler Patisserie Was Days Away From Closing — Then a Mystery Investor Stepped In

SINGAPORE — September 5, 2026 — Singapore dessert lovers who thought they had eaten their last Pantler pastry may have to put that goodbye on hold. The 12-year-old Japanese-French patisserie will continue operating after an unnamed investor stepped in to take over the business, saving the River Valley institution

LIFESTYLE

Sarangani and GenSan Court Investors as Tourism and Retirement Opportunities Take Center Stage

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — A new investment pitch is taking shape in southern Mindanao as Sarangani province and General Santos City seek to attract more businesses into tourism, retirement facilities and other development opportunities. The push reflects an effort to position the two areas not simply as destinations for short-

ASIA

Taiwan’s HIV Cases Rose 5% After Hitting a 22-Year Low — But the Bigger Warning May Be Who Still Doesn’t Know

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan health authorities have launched a two-week buy-one-get-one-free HIV self-testing campaign after newly reported infections among Taiwanese nationals increased during the first seven months of 2026, interrupting — at least for now — a years-long downward trend. Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control

ASIA

Thailand’s HIV Cases Surpass 500,000, With Young People Emerging as a Growing Concern

BANGKOK — Thailand has recorded more than 500,000 cumulative HIV cases, with health experts increasingly concerned about infections among young people as the country confronts a changing phase in its decades-long battle against the virus. Data reported for the 2026 fiscal year through the third quarter showed that Thailand&

ASIA

China’s Cerium-Based Nanoparticle Could Transform Gout Treatment — But Scientists Have Only Tested It in Animals

A team of Chinese scientists has developed an experimental cerium-based nanoparticle treatment that targets several underlying processes involved in gout, raising hopes for a new approach to a disease that affects tens of millions worldwide. But there is an important catch: the treatment has not yet been proven effective

ASIA

AIA Philippines Unveils Platinum Secure as Filipinos Rethink Retirement and Long-Term Financial Security

MANILA, Philippines — As Filipinos live longer and retirement planning becomes increasingly important, AIA Philippines has introduced AIA Platinum Secure, a participating whole-life insurance plan designed to combine long-term life protection with guaranteed cash benefits. The new product was launched alongside BPI AIA’s ADDvantage in August 2026, with

LIFESTYLE

Nearly 800 Indonesians Fall Ill in Fresh Free-Meal Poisoning Outbreaks as Pressure Mounts on Prabowo’s Flagship Program

JAKARTA — Indonesia’s ambitious free-meal programme is facing renewed scrutiny after nearly 800 people were reported sick in three separate suspected food-poisoning incidents, including more than 500 students in East Java this week. The latest cases involve 512 students in Sidoarjo, 49 people in Nganjuk and 237 people

LIFESTYLE

From Hunger To Obesity: Developing Countries Face A New Child Health Crisis

The global fight against childhood malnutrition is entering a dangerous new phase. For decades, many developing countries focused primarily on hunger, underweight and stunting. But as diets, incomes, food markets and lifestyles have changed, another threat has rapidly emerged: childhood overweight and obesity. The result is a growing “double burden”

LIFESTYLE

Nepal Families Hold Symbolic Funerals as Flood Disaster Leaves Thousands Missing — Some Tourists Finally Make Contact

A week after a catastrophic flash flood tore through communities along the Nepal-Tibet border, families are performing final rites without bodies while authorities continue searching for thousands of missing people, including hundreds of foreign nationals. KATHMANDU, Nepal — Hope and grief are colliding across Nepal as families of people still

LIFESTYLE

Gen Z Taoist Priest Debunks Hotel “Ghost Rule”: Knocking Before Entering Won’t Keep Spirits Away

A young Singaporean Taoist priest is challenging one of the internet’s latest hotel-room superstitions — and his advice is surprisingly simple: use logic. A hotel-room ritual that many travellers may have heard about is going viral in Singapore: knock on the door before entering a hotel room to

SPORT

Aryna Sabalenka’s Net Worth: How the World No. 1 Turned Tennis Success Into a Multimillion-Dollar Fortune

The Belarusian superstar has earned more than $49 million in career prize money, while a booming endorsement portfolio is pushing her commercial value even higher Aryna Sabalenka is dominating women’s tennis — and her financial numbers are becoming just as impressive. The Belarusian star, currently the WTA world No. 1,

BUSINESS

Seiko Turns 145 With Six Striking “Edo Purple” Watches Inspired by Tokyo’s Heritage

Seiko is marking its 145th anniversary with a collection that looks firmly to Japan’s past while keeping one foot in modern watchmaking. The Japanese watchmaker has unveiled six new limited-edition timepieces united by a distinctive color theme: “Edo purple,” a traditional shade associated with the cultural heritage of

LIFESTYLE

Joo Chiat Road to Go Car-Free for Six Hours on Oct 3

SINGAPORE — One of Singapore’s best-known heritage neighbourhoods is about to look very different. A section of Joo Chiat Road will be closed to vehicular traffic for six hours on October 3, allowing residents and visitors to walk, cycle and experience the neighbourhood without the usual flow of cars.

SPORT

90-Year-Old Bodybuilder Wins Japan’s Over-85 Championship — And He’s Still Chasing Records

At 90 years old, Toshisuke Kanazawa is still stepping onto the bodybuilding stage — and he has just added another national title to a career spanning more than six decades. Kanazawa won the men’s 85-and-over division at the 38th Japan Masters Bodybuilding Championships, held on Aug. 30 at

BUSINESS

Fei Zhu Lok Lok to Close All Singapore Outlets on Sept 13 as Phyllis Seah Says F&B Industry Is “Really, Really Tough”

Singapore’s lok lok scene is losing one of its better-known homegrown names. Fei Zhu Lok Lok, founded by local influencer and entrepreneur Phyllis Seah and her childhood friend Goh Jue Ying, has announced that it will close its remaining outlets on Sept. 13, 2026. The announcement came on

BUSINESS

Pizza Hut Singapore Names Liew Li Li as Marketing and Food Innovation Director as Brand Pushes Digital Growth

SINGAPORE — Pizza Hut Singapore has appointed veteran marketer Liew Li Li as its new Director of Marketing and Food Innovation, effective September 1, 2026, bringing more than two decades of experience across quick-service restaurants, consumer goods and digital marketing to the pizza chain. Liew succeeds Ailsa Tan, who stepped

ASIA

Desmond Tan Gained Over 10kg for ‘Pace’ — But Getting His Six-Pack Back Was Only Half the Transformation

Singapore actor Desmond Tan has spent years being associated with a lean, athletic physique. For his upcoming local film Pace, however, the 40-year-old deliberately went in the opposite direction — gaining at least 10kg, developing a noticeable belly and eventually reaching a point where he said he barely recognised