Your Look into What Has Asia Buzzing this Week

🎯 Conservationists call for more protection for Cambodia’s wild population on Elephant Day
 By Hong Raksmey, The Phnom Penh Post

The Asian elephant, listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List, faces severe threats from habitat loss worldwide. In Cambodia, only between 400 to 600 of these majestic creatures remain. With this grim picture, conservationists are sounding the alarm before it’s too late to save one of the animal kingdom’s most intelligent and charismatic creatures. 

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⛹️ This week in Sports & Games

🔹 Volleywood Victory: Vietnam serves up historic win over Thailand
By Viet Nam News

Playing in front of a packed home crowd at Ninh Bình Provincial Gymnasium, an inspired Vietnam national team clawed its way back from two sets down to record its first victory over Thailand in more than 30 years—a feat unmatched in over 40 previous encounters. The victory didn’t just end a decades-long drought; it crowned Vietnam champions of the prestigious regional tournament for the first time, marking a seismic shift in Southeast Asian volleyball.

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🧘 This week in Work & Life

🔹 Redefining fatherhood: Dads in Seoul come together to learn and grow
By Choi Jeong-yoon, The Korea Herald

“Papa School: Fatherhood Care Capacity-Building Workshop,” a three-part series hosted by the UN Women Centre for Knowledge and Partnerships, in collaboration with Root Impact, was designed to address a prevalent and persistent reality: caregiving remains concentrated in the hands of women. Men, meanwhile, have limited opportunities to learn, practice, or be encouraged to take on such roles. For many dad-participants, this groundbreaking program was nothing short of transformative.

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🤖 This week on Artificial Intelligence and Social Media

🔹 Thai users top Asia, rank 2nd globally for TikTok use; Southeast Asia platform’s largest ad-viewer base
 By The Nation

Southeast Asians sure love being on social media! They use more social platforms than the global average (6.84), with Malaysians leading globally at 8.42 platforms, per a recent report of London-based media company We Are Social. When it comes to TikTok, however, the Thais reign supreme, boasting the world’s second-highest proportion of monthly active users, with over eight in ten internet users engaging with the platform each month — well above the global average of just three in ten.

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👺 This week in Culture

🔹 Visit these museums to learn more about Malaysia's indigenous peoples
 By Florey D. Mikil, The Star

Malaysia's commemoration of this year's International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples involved a three-day event that included traditional games and sports, and showcases of indigenous cuisine and costumes. But learning more about ‘Orang Asal’ also extends to museum visits such as to the Orang Asli Museum Gombak in Selangor and the Orang Asli Craft Museum in Kuala Lumpur. Culture vultures up for a road trip—or an air trip—can visit museums spotlighted in the story.

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👠 This week in Entertainment and Arts

🔹 Korean star Hyun Bin praises Filipinos’ hospitality, dish ‘adobo’ during first Philippine visit
By Jessica Ann Evangelista, Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Hallyu superstar crash landed in Manila! The 42-year-old actor shared that the Philippines has always been on his bucket list, adding he was surprised by “the warm hospitality” and “the bright energy” he experienced in the country. “...the way they have welcomed me here is really heartwarming. And it’s more amazing than I expected,” the bedimpled charmer said amid the roaring shrieks of fans, both young and old.

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🍜 This week in Asia Flavours

🔹 ‘Last’ meals: How durian, chilli crab, and KFC bring comfort to the dying in Singapore
By Cherie Lok, The Straits Times

With food being such an evocative medium, it makes for a compelling metaphorical full stop at the end of one’s story. This idea that a lifetime of experiences and preferences can be distilled into a few dishes, in part, explains the morbid fascination with the last meals of the terminally ill and even death row inmates.

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📚 This week in Books

🔹 A decade in the making, English-Chinese dictionary mirrors shifts in language and culture
By Zhang Kun, China Daily

With 250,000 entries, the new edition includes updates to about 30 percent of its content. Throughout its publication history, which dates back to the 1970s, the venerable dictionary has played an essential role in facilitating English learning among Chinese speakers, and is widely used by students and professionals alike. Prioritising usability, the third edition covers both vocabulary and encyclopedic categories, and tracks the growing influence of Chinese culture and presence in the English language.

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✈️ This week in Travel and Tourism

🔹 Laos’ scenic Ngoy district steps up competition for Luang Prabang tourists
By Vientiane Times

The under-the-radar district boasts unspoiled natural beauty, with dramatic mountains, rivers flowing between limestone peaks, and mist-shrouded valleys. Popular activities for those who love the great outdoors include mountain climbing, spelunking, and rafting. A boat trip along the Ou River to the old Ngoy community is also another highlight. Authorities are hopeful that Ngoy’s pristine landscapes and improving services can help secure its place as a top ecotourism destination in northern Laos.

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🍃 This week in Nature

🔹 Rare butterfly sighted in Nepal after 51 years
By Ramesh Kumar Paudel, The Kathmandu Post

The silver-streaked acacia blue, which is called ‘Chandi Dhasre Babulpari’ in Nepali, was recently sighted near the entrance of Chitwan National Park. According to a butterfly expert, it was last recorded in Nepal in 1974. The rediscovery of this rare species has sparked hope among conservationists that the Himalayan country’s butterfly population may be more diverse than previously thought.

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