This photo taken on December 8, 2022 shows the co-owners of Zaza Medical gathering in front of one of their mobile medical cannabis dispensary trucks in Bangkok. From sleek boutique shopfronts to rickety street stalls, hundreds of cannabis dispensaries have sprouted across Bangkok following decriminalisation, but in a nation once infamous for being tough on drugs, giddy Thai vendors are asking: can the high times last?

Let the good times roll? Bangkok becomes Southeast Asia's weed Wild West

In a Southeast Asian first, the kingdom removed parts of the marijuana plant from its narcotics list in June, effectively legalising the substance -– albeit with a confusing lack of detail.

3 years ago

Science & Tech

Australia takes aim at Apple, Microsoft over child protection online

An Australian regulator, after using new powers to make the tech giants share information about their methods, accused Apple Inc AAPL.O and Microsoft Corp MSFT.O not doing enough to stop child exploitation content on their platforms. ...

3 years ago

Science & Tech

No joke: Across globe, satire morphs into misinformation

Satire, parody and jokes packed with absurdity typically draw laughter, but around the world they are too often mistaken as real, prompting fact-checkers to debunk what they call a leading source of misinformation despite pushback from their publishers. ...

3 years ago

The Latest

Golden Globe honoree: United States actor Eddie Murphy attends the WSJ Magazine 2019 Innovator Awards at MOMA on Nov. 6, 2019 in New York City, the US.

Entertainment

Eddie Murphy to receive lifetime achievement award at Golden Globes

Comedian Eddie Murphy will accept a lifetime achievement honor next month at the Golden Globes, the annual ceremony that is trying to restore its reputation in Hollywood after a diversity and ethics scandal.

3 years ago

Work it Right

The imaginary ceiling

If you feel like you’ve hit stagnation in your current job, the temptation to move onto a new job is high. But a career decision made in a rush usually isn’t the wisest one. So, what to do in the meantime?

3 years ago

Kenyan lawyer Mercy Mutemi (C) speaks to the media after filing a lawsuit against Meta accusing Facebook's parent company of fanning violence and hate speech in Africa at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on December 14, 2022.

Science & Tech premium

Activists file case against Meta over Tigray hate posts

An Ethiopian man whose father was murdered has joined a lawsuit against Meta that is seeking $1.6 billion from Facebook's parent company for allegedly fanning hate speech in Africa.

3 years ago

Heavenly message: Mantra Vutura’s latest single, “aMakna”, released digitally on Oct. 28, 2022, is intended to convey the message that “the world is temporary and the hereafter is eternal”. (Courtesy of Sun Eater)

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‘aMakna’: Mantra Vutura-Raissa Anggiani collab sends forth ethereal message

The alternative pop duo’s latest entry, featuring young and rising songstress Raissa Anggiani, is a fitting soundtrack for welcoming whatever lies ahead.

3 years ago

Caffeine uptake: The growing enthusiasm in locally grown beans has led to the mushrooming of coffee shops that both roast and serve coffee. (Unsplash/Nafinia Putra)

Culture

Twenties: Jakarta's roasteries for getting your caffeine jolt

Twenties is a column in which we give our top 20 list of anything and everything of interest, from food and history to pop culture, lifestyle and more.

3 years ago

People

Lawsuit accuses Meta of enabling hateful posts in Ethiopia conflict

A new lawsuit has accused Meta Platforms META.O of enabling violent and hateful posts from Ethiopia to flourish on Facebook, inflaming the country's bloody civil war.

3 years ago

Former England cricketer turned professional boxer Andrew Flintoff celebrates his victory over US boxer Richard Dawson in their heavyweight boxing bout at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, north-west England on November 30, 2012. Flintoff won the fight on points to score a victory in his first professional bout.

Entertainment

Cricketer Flintoff's injuries not life-threatening after 'Top Gear' crash -The Sun

Former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff was taken to a hospital after a car crash during the filming of an episode of the BBC's "Top Gear" show, the broadcaster said on Tuesday, with The Sun newspaper reporting his injuries were not life-threatening.

3 years ago

From women to women: Author JK Rowling reads extracts from her new book 'The Tales of Beedle The Bard' to schoolchildren at a tea party at Edinburgh's Parliament Hall, on Dec. 4, 2008. Rowling on Monday launched Beira’s Place, an organization for women who have experienced sexual violence.

Entertainment

JK Rowling launches a service to help victims of sexual violence

Harry Potter author JK Rowling on Monday launched an organization for women who have been victims of sexual violence.

3 years ago

In this file photo taken on August 30, 2021, French comics' author Bastien Vives poses during a photo session in Paris.

Art & Culture

French comics world torn over author accused of promoting incest

Debate raged in France Tuesday over whether a star graphic novelist should be feted at a top comics festival despite work accused of evoking paedophilia and incest.

3 years ago

Tory Lanez attends the 2022 Parlor Games Celebrity Basketball Classic at the Cox Pavilion on April 30, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

People

Tory Lanez offered Megan Thee Stallion $1m over shooting, court hears

Rapper Tory Lanez offered Megan Thee Stallion $1 million not to tell police he had shot her feet, she told a Los Angeles court on Tuesday.

3 years ago

Juxtaposed: The seemingly scarce display of the artwork is seen at “Pulang Pada Tanah” at Selasar Sunaryo Art Space Ruang B. Some of the artwork are rather raw in terms of their treatment, giving off a contrasting feeling towards the space. (Courtesy of Selasar Sunaryo Art Space Archive)

Art & Culture premium

Reconnecting with earth at Leuwigoèng

Selasar Sunaryo Art Space’s "Pulang Pada Tanah" exhibition explores the experiences of eight artists in rediscovering their connection with the earth and the quintessence of life.

3 years ago

Spectators in wheelchairs attend a concert specifically tailored to people living with dementia at the Wiener Musikverein in Vienna on December 5, 2022. The gilded columns of Vienna's grand old Musikverein are now home to concerts where something very different happens -- where older people, often living with dementia, can let it all hang out and just go with the music.

Entertainment

'Everything is allowed': Vienna's dementia-friendly concerts

But the gilded columns of Vienna's grand old Musikverein are now home to concerts where something very different happens -- where older people, often living with dementia, can let it all hang out and just go with the music.

3 years ago

(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 29, 2019, children play a video game in Oita. From Super Mario to Final Fantasy, Japan has long been synonymous with gaming, but some experts and parents fear a growing addiction problem is going unaddressed.

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Video game hub Japan confronts problem of addiction

From Super Mario to Final Fantasy, Japan has long been synonymous with gaming, but some experts and parents fear a growing addiction problem is going unaddressed.

3 years ago

Golden Globe Awards on display during the unveiling of the nominations for the 80th Golden Globe awards, in Berverly Hills, California, United States, on Dec. 12, 2022.

Entertainment

'Banshees of Inisherin' tops nominations as Golden Globes attempt comeback

Black comedy The Banshees of Inisherin topped the Golden Globes nominations Monday, as the tarnished Hollywood awards show tries to rebuild its reputation following last year's boycott by A-listers and studios.

3 years ago

Serving the country: A banner welcoming BTS singer Jin is seen in front of a military training unit in Yeoncheon, South Korea, on Tuesday, as the place where BTS singer Jin is scheduled to arrive to begin his military service.

Entertainment

Jin from BTS begins military service, marking end of an era

BTS star Jin starts his mandatory South Korean military duty on Tuesday, the band's first member to enlist since a hiatus announcement this year left fans heartbroken over the K-pop juggernaut's uncertain future.

3 years ago

Up for auction: The original first mechatronic E.T. character from Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T. the Extra Terrestrial on display at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California, the United States, on Monday, ahead of Julien's Auctions and TCM Present: Icons & Idols: Hollywood. The auction will take place in-person and online on Dec. 17 and 18.

Entertainment

Something to phone home about: E.T. model goes up for auction

The original animatronic model used to bring big-eyed alien E.T. to life in Steven Spielberg's tear-jerker movie is up for auction.

3 years ago

Science & Tech

Musk’s new debut for Twitter Blue checkmarks

Elon Musk's latest attempt to get Twitter users to pay for perks began rolling out on Monday, seeking to avoid an impersonation debacle that scuttled the platform's verification system last month.

3 years ago

Centuries-old: Close up of the Cilebut country house with slave bell on a drawing by J.Th. Bik in 1850. (Sven Verbeek Wolthuys/J.Th. Bik)

Books premium

How Cilebut’s 18th-century bell tower survives the test of time

Just 200 meters west of the busy Cilebut train station, north of Bogor, West Java, are the remains of a bell tower belonging to the former Cilebut country house, which was demolished nearly a century ago.

3 years ago

The sound of music: Actors Kelly Tandiono (green, center left) and Josh Marcy dance together during a party scene in the play 'Setelah Lewat Djam Malam' on Dec. 1.

Entertainment

‘Setelah Lewat Djam Malam’ honors the emotional weight of a cinematic classic

Setelah Lewat Djam Malam recontextualizes the story of a man disillusioned by Indonesia's post-revolution society with gender sensitivity and compelling performances.

3 years ago

French writer Annie Ernaux is awarded with the Nobel Prize in Literature 2022 by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during the Nobel Prize award ceremony at the Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden on December 10, 2022.

People

Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux hails existentialist author Camus

"Finding myself here, 65 years later, leaves me with a deep sense of astonishment and gratitude," Ernaux told 2,000 guests gathered for the ceremony at Stockholm City Hall.

3 years ago

One step at a time: Serving as a board member in numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Kristin Soeryadjaya says it is important to focus on one or two areas that you feel passionate about so you do not burn out. (Courtesy of Kristin Soeryadjaya)

Community premium

Kristin Soeryadjaya, board member extraordinaire

'What I’ve Learned’ is a column that presents candid interviews with policymakers, artists, activists and businesspeople on facing challenges and making a difference.

3 years ago

A woman watches an episode of the newly released Netflix docuseries 'Harry and Meghan' about Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in London on December 8, 2022.

Entertainment

Royals 'happy to lie' for William, claims Harry in new trailer

The trailer for the latest episodes of the docuseries on Prince Harry and his wife Meghan was released on Monday, showing a claim that Buckingham Palace was "happy to lie" for his brother William.

3 years ago

Seihan Mori, master of the ancient Kiyomizu temple, writes the Chinese character, known in Japan as “kanji“, for 'war', which was selected as the single best kanji to symbolise the year of 2022 at a temple in Kyoto on December 12, 2022.

Art & Culture

Japan picks 'war' as kanji character of the year

Japan chose the kanji character for war on Monday as the symbol for 2022 after a year marked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the assassination of former leader Shinzo Abe.

3 years ago

Tourists sit in an outdoor cafe-restaurant at the popular tourists Plaka area of Athens, before the sunset on December 8, 2022.

Culture

Sunlit Greece seeks to lure Europeans amid winter energy crisis

With most of Europe struggling with soaring energy costs, Greece has launched an initiative to put its mild winters to good use and attract sun-seeking travellers all year round.

3 years ago

Great loss: Author, musician and all-around artist Remy Sylado dies at the age of 77 on Dec. 12. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in Indonesia's literary world. (KOMPAS/Cornelius Helmy Herlambang)

People

Literary figure Remy Sylado dies at age 77

Prominent artist and literary figure Remy Sylado died on Monday aged 77 after years of chronic illnesses.

3 years ago

The new Mercedes EQS, the first fully electric luxury design from the German carmaker’s Mercedes-EQ range, is on display in a showroom in this undated handout photo. (Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz)

Culture

Mercedes-Benz launches first electric car brand

The luxury carmaker has launched its first fully electric sedan and SUV, both fitted with the artificial intelligence-powered MBUX for managing various functionalities.

3 years ago

Come back stronger: The stage is set for the nominations announcement for the 79th Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, the United States, on Dec. 13, 2021. Boycotted by A-listers and studios last year, the Golden Globes attempts to rebuild their reputation as one of Hollywood's top award shows with organizers unveiling this year's nominees on Monday.

Entertainment

Golden Globes to unveil nominations as censured awards eye comeback

Boycotted by A-listers and studios last year, the Golden Globes will attempt to rebuild their reputation as one of Hollywood's top award shows with organizers unveiling this year's nominees on Monday.

3 years ago

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