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Leap of
Actor Arya Saloka steps into Syamsul Yusof’s shoes as Ustaz Adam in the Indonesian remake of but says comparisons between their performances do not bother him. 2&3
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Dressing up like you mean it
Personal style is easy to lose sight of in a world where fashion has become a performance for the camera. With social media making it a competition for likes, the pressure for approval can sometimes overshadow the simple pleasure of dressing for...
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Dreaming of clearer skies
SEASONAL gloom brought on by prolonged hazy skies has not dampened the spirits of artists, many of whom are using their work to capture the public’s collective concern, anger and hope. In George Town, Penang, independent gallery Cultprint presents Up...
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Risks of loud headphones
Wireless. Wireless. Wireless. listening to music hands-free while squatting weights or plucking weeds or running errands became easier with wireless headphones. No longer did music lovers have to swat away cords in their face or detangle wires for two...
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Baa, baa, tracked sheep
When Mongolian herder Ganchimeg’s sheep strayed dangerously near a salty lake this summer, driven by hunger as nearby vegetation was poor, she was in a “total panic”. “If they drank or stepped into it, the whole flock would be destroyed,” she said...
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Swap the hotspots
SINCE the boom of “destination dupes” (duplicates) circa 20232024, the travel trend continues to be popular among tourists seeking alternatives to hotspots. The act of substituting one tourist destination with another is no new phenomenon, it has...
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Struggle
EATING disorders (EDS) often remain hidden behind supposedly ordinary lives, with young people battling food, body image and self-worth in silence. For 19-year-old Priya A., it began with something harmless: trying to eat better. She became...
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Anne Hathaway’s 2026 odyssey
MANAGEMENT is the art and process of organising, planning, decision-making, leading, motivating and controlling an organisation’s human, financial, physical and information resources to achieve goals efficiently and effectively. Good management not...
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Rethinking impulse purchases
CONCERNS about the environmental and health effects of plastic packaging have prompted a shift to paper, wood and other natural materials in recent years, amid much research showing microscopic plastic shards turning up in human organs and blood. But...
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Making room nature for
FOR those living in a hectic, highly urbanised city such as Kuala Lumpur, it can be easy to draw a line between the natural and man-made worlds. The latest exhibition at Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery (BNM MAG), however, seeks to blur...
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Tackling compulsive night eating
UNDERSTANDING what a brain aneurysm is and when treatment may be needed could be potentially lifesaving. A brain aneurysm, also called a cerebral aneurysm, is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain. Aneurysms generally fall into two...
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Award-winning appeal
THE F&B landscape has become so intensely competitive that gaining an edge is the only real, tangible way to stand out from the crowd. This can be accomplished in many ways – through excellent service, solid products, good food and one key bonus point:...
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Green time
MALAYSIA is blessed with an abundance of natural wonders like ancient rainforests, a remarkable variety of flora and fauna, beautiful mountains and more. The country has several gazetted parks that protect these natural treasures, such as Gunung Mulu...
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You’re invited to Syed Saddiq and Bella Astillah’s wedding receptions
MUAR MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Malaysian singer-actress Bella Astillah are offering fans a closer look at their relationship through their reality series, Walimatul Urus Bella Astillah & Syed Saddiq. At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur...
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Skincare is moving beyond looking good to becoming a way of finding moments of wellbeing.
Skincare has traditionally – and is primarily – driven by results that can be “seen”. clearer complexions, fewer breakouts, smoother texture and brighter skin have long shaped the way products and treatments are marketed, often accompanied by the...
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A different kind of absence
reflects on what gets lost, found and remembered. 3
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Thefuture of history
At the National Archives of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, director-general Zaidin Mohd Noor recalls a story involving a village preparing to mark what was believed to be its 100th anniversary. “It was a significant milestone so some officials from the...
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Art The enough of
I realised a truth a few weeks ago. It arrived not unexpectedly, but with some unwelcome clarity after dinner: I was drinking too much wine. This, at my age, cannot be a good thing. The liver is resilient, but not infinitely so. The sleep that follows...
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By the sea, for the people
TWO pairs of Bajau Laut children decked in their colourful traditional attire are dancing on a temporary pontoon platform on a small island in Semporna, Sabah. This is in Pulau Mantabuan, about 30 minutes from town via speedboat, and one of eight...
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Nonagenarian Cheong
Moi Chai still keeps herself productive by turning fabric scraps into patchwork pieces, earning some income along theway.2
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Getting
THE world of High Council began in 2023 with a TV series titled Projek: High Council. Set in an all-male prestigious boarding school, Kolej Ungku Deramat (or Kudrat), the series was a huge hit, prompting Astro Shaw to release a film centred on one of...
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Fashion, printed differently
Fashion has been flirting with 3D printing for more than a decade, with plenty of intriguing experiments along the way. The question now is whether a technology long associated with novelty can finally find a scalable place in the business of making...
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Drawing the living forest
BOTANICAL illustrations were once essential for documenting forest flora, supporting research, archiving and preservation. The practice demands a unique blend of artistic and scientific skills, along with the physical endurance to explore unfamiliar...
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An Indian startup leans on cancer-sniffing dogs and ai for early detection.
On a two-acre (8,093.71 sq m) farm outside Bengaluru in southern India, Billy, Jessie and Banu put on their gear, enter a laboratory packed with samples and clock in for a shift detecting early signs of cancer. Their most important diagnostic...
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Melding heritage with modern needs
IN George Town, Penang, where layers of history are woven into the streetscape, building something new beside a centuries-old landmark isn’t just about designing a structure but an exercise in balance: between past and present, conservation and change,...
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Chat, book and go
ON Sept 27, World Tourism Day once again takes centre stage in the travel and hospitality sphere. Marking its 47th celebration since United Nations World Tourism Organisation (currently known as UN Tourism) established the day in 1980 as a way to...
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On common ground
THERE was a time when making friends happened quite naturally, either at school or university through your cohort and extracurricular activities. But as people grow older and busy schedules take over, those opportunities tend to thin out. To help...
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Monsters, mayhem and Mommy
TURNS out, reports of the death of theatrical may have been greatly exaggerated. Summer blockbusters like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey and Toy Story 5 have Hollywood on track for its best year at the box office since 2019. And with big...
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Cosy in knit
TIMELESS, hardworking and sartorially flexible, knitwear is as essential to a wardrobe as plain white tees and blue jeans are. The category arrives in many formats, from pullovers and button-downs to sleeveless designs, including lightweight ones that...
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Casting a digital spell
A TRIP to the neighbourhood pasar malam (night market) captures a familiar slice of Malaysian life – slow walks past rows of stalls, battered generators humming, buskers playing and the smells of street food in the air. There is no fanfare. The pasar...
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Mind gap the
WHEN it comes to advice on avoiding online scams, you’ve probably heard it all. Be wary of that unexpected link, think twice before answering a call from an unknown number and check the website address before handing over your personal details. And,...
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GRANDMA’S NYONYA AYAM SATAY
For blending/pounding into rempah paste 6 shallots 2 to 3 cloves garlic 4 lemongrass stalks 5 candlenuts 2.5cm fresh turmeric 2 to 3 red chillies 2 tsp coriander powder 10 to 15g toasted belacan For cooking 1 cup cooking oil 1 whole chicken,...
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Mapping the road ahead
DECADES ago, retirement was associated with a finish line: work for decades, collect your savings and begin a quieter life. But for Malaysians today, that picture is changing. Longer life expectancy means retirement could last 20, 30 or even 40 years....
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A hero worth celebrating
MALAYSIA has produced its fair share of world-class athletes, from badminton icon Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei and national diving queen Pandelela Rinong Pamg to track cycling star Datuk Azizulhasni Awang. In conjunction with Malaysia Day, local filmmaker...
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At a fashion crossroads
The biggest change at Seoul Fashion Week this season was a second location. For the first time, the event split between Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the World Park at Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, a site intended to bring fashion closer to shoppers and...
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The journey shapes meaning
IT can take Ahmad Shukri Mohamed months, sometimes years, to complete an artwork. He allows ideas to develop gradually, waiting for inspiration to resolve into clarity rather than forcing the process. There is little urgency until a deadline...
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Tech for teaching
At a time when students are being given access to digital tools to learn, create and solve problems, there is a more fundamental question to consider: what happens when they cannot read, write or count? the challenge is not merely hypothetical. In...
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In memory
ON my 84th birthday recently, my husband, Shafee, took the family out for lunch at a Middle Eastern restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. As I looked through the menu, I found myself in unfamiliar territory: smoked chilli hummus, kebab banjan, bayildi,...
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Sabah and Sarawak
THERE’S a reason why “jalanjalan cari makan” is an often-quoted phrase in Malaysia. The saying – popularised by the 2001 TV show of the same name that’s currently in its 25th season – encapsulates our love for both local explorations and gastronomic...
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With a cause
After a historic Miss World podium finish, schoolteacher Taanusiya Chetty is looking beyond the spotlight to give more children the chance to learn, grow and be heard. 2&3
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Better with age
For years, K-drama was dominated by dreamy “oppa” – the Korean word for “older brother”, referring to young, handsome leading men who made viewers swoon. But lately, times have changed in the K-drama landscape. Today, a crop of “ajussi” – a Korean...
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Beauty from within?
Looking good is no longer just about what you apply to your skin. it is about what you put into your body – or so it seems. There is a fast-growing trend towards ingestible beauty products, from supplements to drinks that promise to support everything...
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Meeting a niche demand
A NEW destination for serious readers and book collectors has emerged inside Bookxcess’ The Sunway Library at Sunway Square Mall in Petaling Jaya, Selangor: the Goldsboro Room, dedicated to rare and collectible books. Launched in late August, the 13sq...
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Bruised often
THE baby slips in the tub and mum or dad grabs their arm, where a bruise soon shows up. This can be unsettling, says Dr Carmen Escuriola-ettingshausen, director of Germany’s Rhein Main Haemophilia Centre (HZRM). “First-time parents in particular blame...
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Fare
THERE are special words that we reserve for luxury foods – “decadent”, “opulent” and “nirvanic” often come to mind. These are all positive, edifying, glorious words. And yet many luxury foods don’t necessarily have pristine, unblemished histories, nor...
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Made for
“KIDS have it so easy these days” is a phrase often muttered by one generation to the next – from Boomers to Gen X, from Gen X to Millennials, from Millennials to Gen Z, and even from Gen Z to Gen Alpha and Gen Beta, the youngest of us all. Each...
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Finding healthier ways to cope
SHOPPING can be a welcome pick-meup after a difficult day. A new outfit, handbag or gadget may provide pleasure or distraction from stress. But when buying is one’s main way of managing difficult emotions, the line between occasional retail therapy...
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Watch a movie at JFF 2026 for free
GET a free ticket for the Japanese Film Festival in Klang Valley, Penang and Johor Baru, with the following promo codes: Klang Valley: JFFTSK000TE2A Penang: JFFTSP000GT88 Johor Baru: JFFTSJ000AO15 Redemption can be made via GSC epayment (gsc.com. my...
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Building to last
A BEAUTY brand can begin with a compelling product, a strong aesthetic or a founder’s personal passion, but staying in business for the long run requires adaptability, financial discipline and a clear understanding of demand. For Malaysian beauty...
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The stories left untold
FOR many of us, our first heroes are our parents. But what happens when the people we think we know best are keeping secrets? In Instant Cafe Theatre Company’s (ICT) latest production, The Secret Drawer, theatre practitioners Lim Tiong Wooi and Ling...
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Corporate conundrums
As Malaysia works towards becoming an artificial intelligence (AI) nation by 2030, the technology is already seeing increasing adoption, from recreation in people’s personal lives to boosting productivity in the workplace. But as employees embrace AI,...
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Making their mark
AS Malaysia celebrates its National Day, the country’s architectural landscape offers another source of pride. The PAM Awards 2026 showcases a profession increasingly confident in creating structures that aren’t only technically accomplished, but...
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Travel notes
How to get there: For this road journey covering Kulim, Lunas and tikam Batu in Kedah, it is better to do a self-drive trip. Start in the morning from either end and savour a leisurely drive to enjoy the surrounding rural landscape. Make frequent stops...
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History beyond textbooks
IT’S the weekend again, and the room comes alive with music from an old record player and the creak of rattan chairs as everyone settles down. Members of Persatuan Reka Ulang Sejarah (PRUS) – all dapper in historical military uniforms – take their...
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All Fired Up!
A TYPICAL Taiwan food trip will likely have you stuffing your face with steaming baskets of xiao long bao, a bowl of lu rou fan, and a crispy giant chicken cutlet from Ximending. With a cup of boba milk tea in hand, of course. But if you tune out the...
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Coastal dreaming
MOTHER Nature never ceases to amaze, especially when it comes to inspiration. This time, designers looked to seaside and underwater inhabitants, spotlighting them across the runway in multiple iterations. It’s a natural progression to the...
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Hidden in the green
FOR Calvin Chua, every painting adventure across the country begins with a checklist: his travelling watercolour set and, most importantly, a handy supply of cakes and snacks. No stranger to venturing into rural areas and villages, the Selangor-based...
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AI chatbots as agony aunts
THE vast majority of young people are using AI chatbots, and many are turning to them for guidance after confusing or harmful experiences online, including incidents of a sexual nature. That’s a key finding from a new report on youth online habits and...
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Mountain traditions
THERE’S something mesmerising about the way Anita Cota rolls out thin layers of pastry using a small wooden rod. Over and over again, she presses the filo layers flat, starting in the middle and rolling from the inside out twice to make them even...
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A weekend road trip to Betong in the south of thailand.
THE first thing that caught our attention in Betong, Thailand wasn’t a temple, a market or a scenic viewpoint. It was two enormous yellow chicken statues keeping “watch” over a road junction. My friend and I didn’t think much of it. We’d come across...
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Sheets of sustainability
WHAT if that old pair of jeans you were about to throw away could be given a new lease of life – as a sheet of paper? With some pounding, pulping and mixing with paper fibres, old denim can be transformed into handmade paper. Yes, you read that...
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Ball of a time
STEPHEN Chow steps into a packed cinema hall to deafening cheers. He waves shyly, as if unable to believe all the fanfare is for him. It is 4.30pm on Aug 8 at Emperor Cinemas Plus+ in The Wai shopping mall in Hong Kong. The screaming crowd has just...
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Modesty in motion
AS more women include fitness into their lifestyles, expectations of modest activewear have shifted. Today’s consumers are not simply looking for garments that meet requirements of coverage; they want pieces that perform, flatter and support them...
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The Mimpi Jernang
exhibition explores dream interpretation as guidance for relationships with people, nature and the unseen. 3
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Building for bots
IT’S a Saturday morning at a local university in Selangor, where participants have gathered for the International Youth Robot Competition (IYRC) Asean 2026. Science teacher Nur Syamsiah Abdul Majid shares that her school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar...
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Sugar The reckoning
FOR decades, the standard dietary advice given to millions of Americans and the world was simple: fat is the enemy. We were told to purge our refrigerators of butter, eggs, and whole milk, replacing them with “hearthealthy” low-fat alternatives. This...
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How to minimise jet lag
JET lag threatens to turn even a dream vacation into a slog. And with peak travel season underway in the United States and Europe, millions of people may have to contend with this disorienting condition, which can cause sleep disturbances, daytime...
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With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1draw a robot. then, write four sentences about it. For example, “My robot’s name is ________.” “it can ________.” “it helps me with ________.” “My favourite thing about it is ________.” 2Play a game like simon says, but call it robot says. For...
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Ted Lasso.
Cristo Fernandez played a football star on three seasons of hit comedy Now, he’s on the pitch as a pro. 2
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A STAGE FOR MALAYSIAN STYLE
HEADS turned as the model strode down the runway in a flowing pleated ensemble adorned with a striking rickshaw motif. The room fell silent, broken only by hushed whispers of admiration. The look was among many standout creations that captivated...
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A bugged out mansion
Photos: AFP UPSTAIRS, Nazi generals enjoyed wine and lounged in elegant rooms. Downstairs in the basement, a team of covert listeners followed their chatter, gleaning vital insights into Germany’s war plans. During World War II, Trent Park, a country...
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Debate over Digital Downtime
In light of the recent implementation of social media restrictions for under-16s, psychologists and mental health experts believe the measure may help protect young users but could also have unintended consequences. Countless reports and headlines in...
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Cooking beyond barriers
ONE afternoon this spring, a recipe by Lay Alston, a San Diegobased chef, arrived in my inbox. The dish – charred shrimp coated with a condiment she calls “shimi sauce” – was easy enough for a cook of any level to master. But her instructions had a...
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Speak local, global think
TRAVELLING to a foreign destination becomes much more enriching when you understand or can speak the local language. Sure, translating languages is now as easy as tapping a button on your smartphone, given the multitude of apps available. But it feels...
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