Lifestyle
What is the "retirement curse" and how to avoid it
Society has a strange relationship with growing older, loaded with false expectations and somewhat backward logic. Many of us will work through our best physical years, grow completely used to being instructed what to do, then when you are a little more tired than before and likely more ready to sit for longer periods, you’re given all this free time and an allowance for fun. It’s supposed to be this incredible gift we give ourselves, but studies are showing it's turning out to be more of a curse than a blessing if you don't do it right. Click through to learn about what the "retirement curse" is, how it might affect you, and how you can take concrete steps to avoid it.
LifestyleWhy a YouTube influencer is selling Vietnamese sandwiches in Hong Kong: Banh Mi Nem owners on their authentic flavours
When YouTuber and KOL Kiki Phung found Hong Kong's Vietnamese restaurants lacking, she opened a banh mi (sandwich) shop with chef Hanh Dang They talk about how their southern Vietnamese cuisine packs more of a punch and how most Vietnamese restaurants in Hong Kong don't use enough herbs Everyone wants to be an influencer, but Kiki Phung is ready to...
LifestyleJapan temple where ‘maids’ discuss Buddhism to attract visitors creates pop idol group, sparks controversy and curiosity
Kyoto's Ryuganji Temple boosts visitor numbers with 'modern' initiatives Embraces social media, fashion videos, noodle challenges, and pop music A 4,300-year-old Japanese temple has created a female pop group and is employing maids wearing Buddhist-style outfits to attract visitors. The innovation has ignited a mix of curiosity and controversy onli...
LifestyleStar Trek’s George Takei on his life’s mission: to tell his Japanese-American story as often as he can
'I consider it my mission in life to educate Americans,' says the Star Trek actor on the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II in camps He has a new picture book for children out about the years he spent interned as a child and the unfairness of being 'seen as different from other Americans' The incarceration of 120,000 Japanese-A...
Lifestyle‘Room re-sale’ row: VVIP guest at posh China hotel fined US$415 after surveillance footage reveals no overnight stay
Guest stays outside of room at night because of 'time difference' tiredness Online observers dub posh hotel a 'police station' due to strict monitoring A guest who checked into a Hilton Hotel in China's capital has been fined 3,000 yuan (US$415) after surveillance cameras showed that he did not actually stay on the premises overnight. The fine was ...
LifestyleChinese woman who lost baby after being pushed off Thai cliff by husband is pregnant again, news toasted on social media
She tells online followers she conceived through in vitro fertilisation, commonly known as IVF She says she has 'an instinct of fearing males' following her ordeal 5 years ago A woman in China who survived being pushed off a cliff in Thailand by her husband - and lost the three-month old baby she was carrying in the horror - is pregnant again. The ...
LifestyleChina KOL with 5.8 million fans criticised for costume-makeup transformation video that ‘reinforces Asian stereotypes’
Video was leveraging on 'Asoka makeup' trend, and was popular on TikTok When she posted it on Xiaohongshu, clip received significant backlash A US-based Chinese TikTok influencer is under fire in mainland China for "reinforcing Asian stereotypes" after she posted a video of her changing costumes while using body movements that incorporated traditio...
LifestyleChina ‘Liujiang Man’ skeleton originally believed to be more than 200,000 years old was probably far younger
Initial theories had suggested skeleton was upwards of 140,000 years old No matter its age, skeleton is far better preserved than other human remains discovered in Asia A skeleton that was once believed to belong to one of the earliest humans to live in China was likely far, far younger. Archaeologists first discovered the skeleton in 1958 in the L...
LifestyleShow this 10¢ S'pore coin & get free pizza at 14 Pizza Hut outlets on Jun. 5
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LifestyleWho buys ‘good night messages’ on China e-commerce sites? Woman who delivers them spills the beans
Woman provides service for 12 years, sends 50,000 messages on Taobao Comforts lonely, ill people, sends simple words, poetic verses, consolations A woman in China has been sending "good night messages" to complete strangers for the past 12 years - for a small fee. Jiumei, who is in her 30s sells the service on China's e-commerce platform, Taobao, w...
LifestyleK-drama Bitter Sweet Hell: stylish mystery drama starring Kim Hee-sun and Lee Hye-young is light on plot
Strange things begin to happen to a psychologist (Kim Hee-sun) in Bitter Sweet Hell and she teams up with her nagging mother-in-law to find out why The first two episodes are a little hard to follow - but the show's seductive style and strong pair of leads (Lee Hye-young co-stars) could yet save it Lead cast: Kim Hee-sun, Lee Hye-young, Kim Nam-hee...
LifestyleChinese pancakes: 2,000-year-old treat back in spotlight after superstar Rihanna whips up snack during China visit
Barbados-born singer promotes beauty brand in Shanghai, spots street stall Cooks delicious breakfast snack, jian bing, which is enjoyed worldwide Famous singer Robyn Rihanna Fenty, better known worldwide as Rihanna, has skilfully made a Chinese-style pancake during a trip to Shanghai, delighting mainland social media. The superstar from Barbados tr...
LifestyleMum’s Rules for Visiting Newborn Shred Through Powerpoint Presentation
Discover the detailed rules for meeting a newborn as shared by this new mum!
LifestyleChina’s ‘chicken-blood parents’: who are they and how do they treat their children
Rooted in traditional Chinese values chicken-blood parents display a deep desire for their children to succeed High parental expectations have downside, can make children suffer anxiety and depression The term chicken parenting, or jiwa in Chinese, refers to a group of middle-class parents in China who have high aspirations for their children's aca...
LifestyleMeet Liu Yang, China’s first woman in space, mother of 2, as she discusses intricacies of balancing career and family
Only female Shenzhou 9 crew member in 2012 opens up on space career Marries PLA pilot, has 2 children, expresses gratitude for family's support China's first woman in space, Liu Yang, has shared insights into managing the delicate balance between her career and family commitments in a recent interview. Liu, 45, was asked how she managed to juggle l...
LifestyleWhy ‘ugly’ AI filter is taking China social media by storm, unmasking its rationale, mental health benefits it brings
Photo editor launches filter app, has 400,000 daily downloads in 7 days 'Cute-ugly' images appeal to people bored with uniform 'influencer' beauty A new "ugly-friendly" AI-powered filter is taking China's social media by storm. The artificial intelligence filter transforms portraits into "ugly-cute" clay sculpture images that look like characters f...
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