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IN a design landscape long dominated by safe neutrals, clean lines and restrained minimalism, a quiet revolution has been building – one filled with saturated colours, layered textures, bold patterns and deeply personal stories. Maximalism, once...
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Bound by history and spirit
IN the lobby of a brand new hotel in Roseau, the capital of Dominica, I chatted with one of its Afro-caribbean employees. I asked him, “Do you know South-east Asia?” His answer was crisp: “No. What’s that?” I nodded and didn’t pursue it any further....
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Greener days ahead
FOR years, an empty plot of land sat unused behind an apartment complex in Kuala Lumpur. Its soil remains waterlogged after heavy rain and its barrenness noticeable, save for a few shady trees dotting the edges and brown patches where grass refuses to...
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Meet South Korea’s elite chefs
THE most surprising thing about Netflix’s smash-hit culinary survival series Culinary Class Wars may not be the food or the final rankings, but the stories of each chef. Season Two’s beloved judges and the white team – the elite figures who helped...
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From heritage designs to contemporary favourites, these handbags are made for every occasion.
If your wardrobe could use a refresh, now is the perfect moment to reassess what’s already there and what might be missing. Investing in a small edit of well-made designs of different shapes and sizes is the best way to ensure you’re prepared for...
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Klpac’s new theatre show offers an unflinching look at later life – time to reflect or one last wild
God’s
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The challenge of weight loss
FEW people realise how much humans are built to store fat efficiently. This is a genetic disposition shaped over millions of years during our evolution. But while our bodies are excellent at holding on to fat, they are also extraordinarily bad at...
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How to make a bracelet/ necklace from paper beads
Step 1 Select an old magazine or other paper product and tear out a colourful page. Step 2 Cut across the page at a slight angle to make long triangular strips. Step 3 Lay one strip on a flat surface, and align a pencil horizontally against the...
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From playful to polished
IT wasn’t long after Paloma Lanna started Paloma Wool that her brand began to receive the type of attention many designers only dream of. Its colourful, printed clothes were featured in publications like British Vogue and The New York Times....
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Online comments may not reflect public opinion
ANYONE using social media has likely long perceived that some people are not only prolific commentators but that debates on arenas such as X and Reddit often end up dominated by a handful of such keyboard warriors. A team of researchers from Germany’s...
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For animals and animal lovers
THERE are so many fascinating festivals around the world that travellers often plan entire trips just to experience them. In South-east Asia, for instance, Thailand’s Water Festival (Songkran) and Lantern Festivals (Loy Krathong and Yi Peng) draw...
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Taking control
SOME 18 years ago, Indonesian martial artist Iko Uwais was working as a telecoms van driver when he crossed paths with Jakarta-based British director Gareth Evans. That chance meeting would change Uwais’s life, launching him into Evans’ breakout films...
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Holistic skin health
IF the past decade of skincare trends was driven by products overload, 2026 marks a decisive change in pace. The conversation around enhancing one’s natural beauty is no longer about what’s new, but what actually works and why. Consumers are far...
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No risk, many gains
Like many retirement communities, The Terraces serves as a tranquil refuge for a nucleus of older people who no longer can travel to faraway places or engage in bold adventures. But they can still be thrust back to their days of wanderlust and...
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Fuelling fire the
THERE are few culinary figures as revered as Argentinian celebrity chef, restaurateur and author Francis Mallmann. At the recent Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival in Margaret River, Australia, held in November 2025,...
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Mindy in Rome
BY gondola, speedboat and even a horse. Those were some of the exotic and over-the-top modes of transportation that Ashley Park’s character, Mindy Chen, used to experience Italy in this season of Emily In Paris. Season 5, released recently on Netflix,...
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Welcoming the New Year
THE year 2026 is an important year in my life because it brings forth new opportunities and growth. This year, I see myself becoming more focused in my goals and more aware on my role as a student. Every year, we grow more mature and I believe 2026...
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Owen Cooper
When Owen Cooper won a best supporting Emmy in September at age 15, it was for an emotionally complex, tumultuous role that could have challenged the most seasoned actor. But the performance in the four-part Netflix miniseries Adolescence – as Jamie,...
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High From fashion to pop culture
This year, it was noted how those included reflected a definition of stylish that was looser than the term’s conventional meaning – equal parts style and “ish”. While style is most obviously conveyed through clothes, accessories and haircuts, can’t it...
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Why ‘surveillance pricing’ strikes a nerve
IF you’re not paying for the product, you are the product, as the refrain goes. In other words, many social media sites and search engines that provide free services do so in exchange for your personal data. But with “surveillance pricing,” consumers...
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Defying gravity
WHEN viewed from the outside, the Float-box House – located on a 750sq m angular plot surrounded by the lush Kota Damansara Forest Reserve – appears to be levitating above ground. But that’s not magic. It’s an optical illusion, a feat of...
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The long journey
RECENTLY, I went on a walking pilgrimage on the Via Francigena in Europe. It traces its roots to old Roman consular roads, and is considered one of the oldest cultural, trade and pilgrimage routes in Europe. Via Francigena spans over 2,000km and runs...
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South Korea, Malaysia and beyond
In the 2010s, K-fashion – the umbrella term for South Korea’s street style, contemporary labels and Hallyu-inspired dressing – dominated the scene. Its rise was seemingly phenomenal, with even Western countries embracing the aesthetic (or rather, the...
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Energy on tap
Lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from cellphones to cars, are increasingly saving electric grids around the world. Batteries as large as shipping containers are being connected to power lines and installed beside solar panels and wind...
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For the broth To make stuffing
1kg chicken bones and neck 1 piece chicken breast 100g celery 100g carrot 100g white onion 50g porcini mushrooms For the pasta dough 5 eggs 650g semolina flour To make chicken broth In a casserole pot, gently sauté the chicken bones and neck...
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Travel notes
How to get there: airasia X flies direct from KLIA Terminal 2 to the Sabiha Gokcen International airport four times weekly. Where to stay: The asian side has more affordable options, like the doubletree by Hilton moda. For luxury stays, check out the...
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Deck halls the
CHRISTMAS is always a highlight in fisherman Mervin Adrin Desilva’s home. For the Desilvas – who live in the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir, Melaka – decorating their house ahead of Dec 25 is a longstanding tradition. This year, Desilva, 57, and...
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Trust and transformation
When hong Kong actors Lai Lokyi and Ali Lee agreed to headline the Malaysian drama The Exiled, they did so on faith alone. There was no script, character breakdown or even a full premise. All they were told was that the story would plunge them into...
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A cross-cultural trailblazer
AN exhibition by the Francochinese master printmaker Zao Wou-ki opened in Hong Kong last Saturday, the first time his work has been on display in Asia. Hong Kong’s M+ museum is hosting a collection of more experimental prints by the artist, who is...
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Building future-ready tech infrastructure
Adequate infrastructure and ecosystems need to be developed with long-term use in mind for both artificial intelligence (AI) and future technologies that come after it, says digital Minister Gobind Singh deo. “We speak about AI. We know what AI does....
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The lost flavours of Sri Lanka
IN the annals of food, time is reflected in evolving trends, changing predilections and quite often, the obliteration of recipes once considered sacrosanct in different communities. Sadly, there is often nothing to mark the end of a culinary era or...
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The island life
AS my flight prepared to land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Mauritius, my eyes turned to the window, where I saw countless pointed mountains bordered by the sea. Located far out in the Indian Ocean, the island of Mauritius was...
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When paddles meet people
IN the mornings and evenings at different locations across the Klang Valley, similar scenes play out. People of different ages, backgrounds and fitness levels gather on compact courts, paddles in hand, ready for a game that’s easy to pick up,...
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Fashioned from a storied past
As the style industry evolves, brands scramble to stay relevant – but sometimes the most effective strategy is one rooted in heritage. People are naturally drawn to names whose stories reflect their own background. According to Dirk Adam Luebbert,...
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Making now visible today
A WOODEN house structure stands prominently in a main section of Ilham Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, carrying the humble, welcoming presence of a Chinese New Village home in Jenjarom, Selangor. Inside, nine lacquer carvings – recalling the delicate...
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Climate Pause
Experts recommend that users keep charging between 20% and 80% and choose slower charging methods for daily use – this minimises voltage stress and slows degradation. Another tip is to avoid charging right after driving, as charging while the battery...
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The meat of the matter
AT restaurants across Kuala Lumpur’s increasingly cosmopolitan dining scene, you’ll notice one familiar recurrence. Beef – in some form or another – is often a staple on the menu. This inclusion isn’t by accident. It is entirely bolstered by changing...
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Blinded by the allure
BLIND boxes might just seem like another cute trend of collectibles. But according to Monash University marketing lecturer Dr Racheal Louis Vincent, the craze reveals something deeper. She sees it as a powerful mix of psychology, culture, identity and...
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Boys just want to have fun
IT made perfect sense to director Indra Putra – better known as Sanji – to cast three good-looking actors as the leads of his first live-action film, Klepet, especially since the story centres on three childhood friends. And it certainly helps that...
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Polished and practical
The shoulder bag is an effortless fashion essential that is sleek, versatile and designed to move with you. From compact silhouettes to softly structured classics, current styles are the perfect balance of form and function. Saint Laurent’s Jamie mini...
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The spirit of the region
PAVEL Hajko never tires of painting roosters. Inside his home studio in Kovacica – a sleepy town in northern Serbia famous for its style of naive art – the brightly coloured creatures cover the walls. “From the beginning, even in elementary school, I...
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Much too
EVEN though she was toughened by years spent working in Internet activism, Caitlin Roper found herself traumatised by the online threats she received this year. The posts were part of a surge of vitriol directed at Roper and her colleagues at...
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Blue food
When talking about his latest cookbook, chef and television personality Andrew Zimmern had an epiphany. “My first job in food was when I was 14 when my parents said no allowance, so I went and got a job at the local seafood restaurant that my...
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The ultimate sacrifice
HEROIC exploits of the gallant Malay Regiment soldiers during World War II come alive through captivating exhibits in Singapore, collectively known as Reflections At Bukit Chandu. Housed within a double storey bungalow surrounded by lush greenery at...
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Gold threads, new horizon
AMRAN Abdullah, 21, has a learning disability but that hasn’t dampened his thirst for knowledge and his diligence in developing new skills. In the last two years, the young man from Kuching has been learning the art of sewing keringkam – Sarawak’s...
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The trending ajumma vest
IN fashion, essentially anything can become a trend. Once thought of as a purely practical layer worn by older women on kimjang day – the annual family marathon of making huge batches of kimchi – the kimjang vest has made an unlikely leap into the...
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How to decode art
FOR many, the enjoyment of visual art comes with an intimidation factor, as anxiety about “not getting it” can deter people from engaging at all. Similarly, even though studies show there are health benefits to creating art for its own sake, the fear...
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The neurotech revolution is here
From translating thoughts into words to allowing paralysed people to walk, the field of neurotechnology has been quietly surging ahead, raising hopes of medical breakthroughs – and profound ethical concerns. Some observers even think that neurotech...
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Be inspired and bewitched
IN the early hours of the morning, while everyone is asleep, something magical is being cooked up on the set of Harry Potter. Hagrid, Dobby and Voldemort are all there, but ... they’re edible. This is not the forthcoming HBO TV series, but The Food...
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Animal instinct
Designers have long embraced the enduring appeal of pieces that feature animal elements. From structured handbags to apparel, these wild details transcend categories and seasons. go full leopard with Maje’s Leopard Faux Fur Jacket with shoulder pads...
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A step back in time
AT the Hot Club of New York, time bends to the rhythm of the past. Jazz from the 1910s through the 1950s crackles to life, spun on 78rpm discs made of shellac. Once you enter through the Manhattan nightspot’s thick red velvet curtains and nab a seat,...
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Rise of the Middle Kingdom
Silicon Valley has a china envy problem. in social media posts, podcasts, interviews and newsletters, the elites of the American tech sector are marvelling at china’s speed in building infrastructure, its manufacturing might and the ingenuity of the...
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Unearthing Penang’s food scene
SOMETIME this year, two chefs came up with an idea to drive gastro-tourism to the northern Malaysian state of Penang, long regarded as one of the world’s best food destinations. They realised there was huge untapped potential – in terms of both local...
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Please wear your seatbelt
TYPICALLY before landing during a flight, the captain will announce, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be landing at Kansai International Airport in Osaka in about 20 minutes. Cabin crew, please prepare for landing.” Moments later, another familiar...
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The price of trust
BEHIND a “love story” that begins with an online text or a friendly message, there is a likelihood of a darker tale of emotional manipulation, deceit and heartbreak. And in Malaysia, those stories are costing millions of ringgit. Some 770 love scam...
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Sheer happiness
A POP superstar for nearly a decade and a half, Ed Sheeran is always mindful of what – and who – is coming up next. On the first track of Play ,his eighth studio album released last month, he raps a verse about the anxieties that have wracked him in...
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The headscarf edit
with minimalist pins, sculptural brooches and sleek caps, hijab styling is becoming more creative. Malaysian women are blending modesty with modernity by using accessories, adding an edge and a personal touch to the usual hijab styling. Satin and...
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A whiff of the past
EVER wondered what war smells like? Or ponder the odour of love, or the stench of medieval Paris, or the sacred fragrance of religion? A new exhibition in Germany allows visitors to discover unknown worlds of smells by sniffing their way through 81...
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Take to the skies
WHILE the world is abuzz with drones potentially being used for things like food or online shopping deliveries, others have found fun in using them for recreational purposes, especially when it comes to those with a competitive streak. Drones whizz...
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A Langkawi favourite
DAWN has barely broken and Pasar Awam Padang Matsirat is already a hive of activity with people from all walks of life making a beeline for this popular wet market located close to the Langkawi International Airport. With Langkawi located within an...
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The dangerous allure
MORE people seem to be chasing that “dangerous activity” high these days. For some thrill seekers, that means hiking around active volcanoes. This daring form of travel has become a growing trend, and that’s not always a good thing. Hiking up an...
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Growing prosperity
AFTER every banana harvest, piles of discarded trunks typically cluttered Hanisa Boumin’s farm in Kampung Kurangji, Kota Marudu, Sabah. But the farmer didn’t like seeing them go to waste, so she found ways to work on the fibrous material, eventually...
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Ready for his close-up
CHRISTOPHER Chung still works as a personal trainer at Fred’s Gym in the Hampstead neighbourhood of London. He’s loyal to a handful of clients. But sitting with him at the Horseshoe, a pub next door to the gym, one can’t shake the sense that his life...
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Breaking barriers
Getting one’s dream job is rare. For British fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner that dream is now a reality. Wales Bonner, a 35-year-old Londoner, who years ago, said in an interview with System magazine that it was her dream to work with Hermes, was...
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Learning from the past
IF the two lively, warmly received satellite events held recently at KLPAC are anything to go by, the inaugural What The Elders Left Us festival’s main weekend at DPAC in Petaling Jaya, from Oct 31 to Nov 2, promises to show just how eager...
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Making sense of digital cents
JUST like any parent today, a father (who only wants to be known as Wilson) let his children use his tablet to play games and watch videos. He recalls how, back in 2022, they asked to download a gaming app. He thought it would be more convenient at...
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Where permanence motion meets
FOR architect Lim Kee Yen, inspiration comes from everyday sensitivities of life, such as light, shadow, movement, memory and nature. He believes homes should reflect both the tangible and intangible aspects of living, and they should create spaces...
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Children of the steppe
IT’S been 114 years since a 3,103km border “split” the descendants of Genghis Khan into two. That line in Mongolia didn’t just cut across geographically, it sliced through people’s destiny. From then on, the “brothers of the steppe” became citizens of...
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Rebalancing traditional roles
IF you’ve ever noticed children clinging to their mum’s side during a family gathering, or running first to their maternal grandparents instead of their paternal ones, you’ve witnessed what experts call the matrilineal advantage. It’s a universal...
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Reborn and ready
THE last time Taiwanese superstar Shu Qi graced the small screen was nearly two decades ago in the 2006 series Stephen’s Diary, where she made a brief cameo. Fast forward to 2025, the 49-year-old is marking her return to television with Netflix’s...
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Doing the twist
These jeans bend, they contort, they, as their prevailing name suggests, twist. If straight-leg jeans are... well, straight, twisted jeans feature legs that bend inward, like the curved limbs of a horseshoe. envision a jeans-wearing cowboy astride a...
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Relishing the outsider energy
SUNSHINE poured into Naomi Huffman’s apartment in Brooklyn, New York in the United States on a late summer afternoon, casting a warm glow on an impressively long alphabetised bookshelf. These were ideal cat nap conditions, and one fluffy feline wisely...
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Tamil favourites
SRI LANKAN cuisine is both rich and varied and offers a peek into the culinary culture that underpins the food. In Malaysia, Sri Lankan food is typically representative of Sri Lankan Tamils, who form the large majority of Ceylonese people who migrated...
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