Pride in Indonesia is longer than a coming-out story

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The more Indonesian her stories are, the further they travel

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A video projection of “Song of a Manhattan Suicide Addict“ by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is seen during the media preview of the exhibition “I would overcome death and go on living“ at Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo on October 16, 2024. Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, known as the “polka dot queen“, has died aged 97, a statement from her company said on August 27, 2026.

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Japan's 'polka dot queen' artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97

The "polka dot queen" channeled hallucinations and battles with mental health into vibrant art featuring her trademark dots, nets and infinity motifs over a career spanning decades and continents.

3 days ago

People

Dolly Parton, queen of country music, dies at 80

It was her ability to stay true to her roots, combined with her drive to work hard and her nonpartisanship, that fueled her appeal among conservatives and liberals in a politically polarized America. ...

4 days ago

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Saparinah Sadli: A century of curiosity, courage and conviction

A scholar, activist and mentor to generations of women, Indonesia’s pioneer of gender studies remains an enduring force for women’s rights and social justice. ...

1 week ago

The Latest

A screenshot from a video showing Turkish chef Nusret Gokce give a piece of a steak wrapped in gold leaf to Vietnamese Public Security Minister To Lam. The video was uploaded on YouTube on Thursday.

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Vietnam gets angry over minister's gold-leaf steak

To Lam, minister of public security -- whose agency deals with the monitoring of dissent and surveillance of activists in the authoritarian state -- was seen tucking into the hunk of meat at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in the wealthy area of Knightsbridge.

4 years ago

This picture taken on October 13, 2021 shows Australian 'finfluencer' Queenie Tan posing for pictures inside a studio at her apartment in Sydney.

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Meet the finfluencers: TikTok's investment gurus

Trying to figure out how the stock markets work? These days you're as likely to turn to a social media influencer for advice as a financial adviser dressed in a suit.

4 years ago

Maestro: Irwansyah Harahap surrounded by his favorite instruments.(Suarasama Facebook page)

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North Sumatra music hero and Suarasama leader Irwansyah Harahap passes away

Music maestro Irwansyah Harahap died on Thursday morning at the Adam Malik Hospital in Medan, North Sumatra.

4 years ago

Tragedy: Actress Vanessa Angel (center) poses with her husband Febri "Bibi" Andiansyah and 1-year-old son Gala Sky on Sept. 26. (Instagram/Courtesy of @vanessaangelofficial)

People

Actress Vanessa Angel and husband killed in car crash

The actress and her husband reportedly died at the scene.

4 years ago

Former French football player Thierry Henry delivers a speech at the main stage of the Web Summit in Lisbon on November 2, 2021. Europe's largest tech event Web Summit is held at Parque das Nacoes in Lisbon from November 1 to November 4.

People

Henry launches campaign to fight online harassment

In April, football clubs, players, sporting bodies, mainly English, as well as Britain's Prince William, staged a three-day boycott of social media aimed at tackling online abuse including racism.

4 years ago

This photograph shows bottles of Assyrian wine produced by Yuhanna Aktas in a wine store in Mardin, southeastern Turkey on October 19, 2021. Coming from the Assyrian Christian minority of Midyat, about 50 kilometres from the Syrian border, Aktas has given a relentless fight to be accepted by his conservative Muslim neighbors and Turkish authorities, who do not look warmly to the sale of alcoholic beverages.

People

'Eternal' wine revives Assyrian culture in Turkey

Only 3,000 or so Assyrians still live in the wider Mardin province, which is part of the historical Mesopotamia region where some archaeologists believe wine was invented 2,700 years ago.

4 years ago

Facebook whistleblower, Frances Haugen appears before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee at the Russell Senate Office Building on October 05, 2021 in Washington, DC. Haugen left Facebook in May and provided internal company documents about Facebook to journalists and others, alleging that Facebook consistently chooses profit over safety.

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Facebook whistleblower sits atop publicity juggernaut

Haugen's leak of company records has benefited from well-oiled communications machinery, powerful backers and a lucky crypto currency bet -- even if it's far from certain whether she will induce her stated goal: to reform Facebook.

4 years ago

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 01, 2021 Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is greeted by Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales as she arrives at the Balmoral Cricket Pavilion to plant a tree to mark the start of the official planting season for the Queen's Green Canopy (QGC), on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

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Queen Elizabeth II seen driving, easing health fears

The 95-year-old was seen alone in a green Jaguar estate she uses to transport her corgis, The Sun tabloid reported, under the headline: "One is OK".

4 years ago

Members of the group called the Delivery Boys share some food as they stand guard in the Manhattan borough of New York on October 27, 2021.

People

New York food delivery workers mobilize against attacks, theft

They aim to protect themselves and their electric bikes, which cost around US$3,000 and, along with their phones, are their livelihoods.

4 years ago

People

Man asks Italian police to jail him to escape wife at home

The 30-year-old Albanian citizen living in Guidonia Montecelio, outside Rome, "was no longer able to cope with the forced cohabitation with his wife," Carabinieri police from nearby Tivoli said in a statement.

4 years ago

An image of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who died after being shot by Alec Baldwin on the set of his movie "Rust", is displayed at a vigil in her honour in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S., October 23, 2021.

People

Man who handed Baldwin loaded gun breaks silence

In a statement to the New York Post on Monday, Halls said he is "shocked and saddened" by the death of Halyna Hutchins, but did not directly address the shooting or his role.

4 years ago

One to watch: Monica Vanesa Tedja is an up-and-coming director who studied film directing in Germany. Her award-winning short film, 'Dear To Me', was created as her final master's project at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf in Potsdam. (Courtesy of Monica Vanesa Tedja)

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On the radar: Newcomer Monica Tedja takes on social taboos in award-winning short

An emerging Indonesian filmmaker challenges social taboos and sparks conversation with Dear to Me, a short film about the inner turmoil of a young gay man who is vacationing with his devout Christian parents.

4 years ago

US Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a speech at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore before departing for Vietnam on the second leg of her Asia trip, August, 24, 2021.

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VP Kamala Harris still searching for her role

President Joe Biden, by teaming up with the 57-year-old former California senator, sent a clear message to an electoral base eager for more diverse representation in power.

4 years ago

Vietnamese-Canadian author Kim Thuy poses for a portrait at her home in Longueuil, Quebec on October 14, 2021.

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'Superhumans': the acclaimed author refusing to forget refugees

Award-winning author Kim Thuy says 'refugee literature' has the power to restore lost identities and reveal the potential of these "superhumans".

4 years ago

Britain's Queen Elizabeth is greeted by personnel at Royal Air Force (RAF) Marham where she inspected the new integrated training center that trains personnel on the maintenance of the new RAF F-35B Lightning II strike aircraft, in Britain February 3, 2020.

People

Queen Elizabeth II to rest 'for at least' next two weeks: Palace

After seven decades of relentless service, a night in hospital forced the queen to take medical advice to slow down.

4 years ago

Instagram influencer Tommy Marcus poses for a photo at a temporary office in Englewood, New Jersey on October 20, 2021.

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How an influencer and army vets raised $7 mn to rescue Afghans

When Instagram influencer Tommy Marcus read that Kabul had fallen to the Taliban he sprang into action, without knowing that like-minded US veterans were also desperate to do something.

4 years ago

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, with District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies (R), speaks to the press on October 27, 2021, about the criminal investigation regarding the fatal shooting and wounding of crew members on the set of the movie 'Rust,' in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Baldwin shooting: assistant director admits didn't fully check gun

The man who handed Alec Baldwin the gun that killed a cinematographer admitted he didn't fully check it, documents revealed Wednesday.

4 years ago

Britain's Queen Elizabeth walks among spring blossom and flowers as she arrives to attend the unveiling of a statue in Windsor, southern England, March 31, 2014.

People

Queen Elizabeth II resumes public duties after hospital stay

The 95-year-old monarch's overnight hospital stay, which royal officials said was for practical reasons, has raised fears over her health, given her age.

4 years ago

Shogofa Safi, percussionist and conductor of the Zohra orchestra, plays along with other members of the Afghan music community who escaped to Qatar, during a concert in the Qatari capital Doha on October 18, 2021.

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Afghan all-female orchestra keeps music alive in exile

While grateful to be safe in Qatar, their escape from Taliban rule is bittersweet, as the girls leave behind friends from the orchestra and their instruments.

4 years ago

In this file photo taken on August 25, 2021 French director Lina Soualem posew during a photocall for the film «Leur Algerie» during the 14th Francophone film festival in Angouleme.

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Young women are breaking the silence of French immigrants

A reckoning, led by young female writers, filmmakers, and researchers, is belatedly underway in France over its colonial past.

4 years ago

In this file photo actor James Michael Tyler attends the Central Perk Pop-Up Celebrating The 20th Anniversary Of 'Friends' on September 16, 2014 in New York City.

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'Friends' actor James Michael Tyler dies

Actor James Michael Tyler who played coffee shop manager Gunther on the hit sitcom Friends died Sunday at age 59, US media reported.

4 years ago

In this file photo taken on May 23, 2015, Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah gestures from behind the defendant's cage during his trial for insulting the judiciary alongside 25 other defendants including ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, who was recently sentenced to death, in the capital Cairo.

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Egypt dissidents revive rich prison writing tradition

Having spent the better part of a decade behind bars, Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah is reaching beyond his cell with a new book.

4 years ago

In this file photo taken on April 12, 2019 actor Alec Baldwin attends the 'Exploring the Arts' 20th anniversary Gala at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

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Alec Baldwin says 'heart is broken' after fatally shooting cinematographer

"My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna," the Hollywood star tweeted. Baldwin fatally shot a cinematographer with a prop gun in a shocking tragedy during filming.

4 years ago

People

One does not feel old, says 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth turned down the title "Oldie of the Year" by British publication, Oldie Magazine.

4 years ago

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is greeted by personnel at Royal Air Force (RAF) Marham in Britain, February 3, 2020.

People

Young at heart: Queen Elizabeth II, 95, turns down old age award

Queen Elizabeth II turned down a prize celebrating the elderly, assessing that at 95 she did not meet the criteria.

4 years ago

Blossom C. Brown speaks and Stand Up in Solidarity rally organizer Ashlee Marie Preston looks on as Trans employees and allies at Netflix walkout in protest of Dave Chappelle special on October 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

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Protestors rally at Netflix over Chappelle special's 'transphobia'

In his recent stand-up special The Closer, Chappelle insists "gender is a fact" and accuses LGBTQ people of being "too sensitive."

4 years ago

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she meets a jockey on the fifth day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meet, in Ascot, west of London on June 19, 2021.

People

Queen Elizabeth II 'advised to rest' on medical grounds: palace

Royal officials said in a statement that the 95-year-old monarch "has reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days".

4 years ago

Meant to be: Samuel (left) poses with his wife, Ina Boediono. They only met five times before deciding to get married. (Personal collection)

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People, not numbers: The man who lived through miracles

The unforgettable kindness of a youth minister

4 years ago

This picture taken on October 7, 2021 shows Japan's professional shogi player Sota Fujii posing for a photo call during a press conference of a competition between Masayuki Toyoshima, in Tokyo.

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Gawky teen star wins new fans for Japan's 'game of generals'

Shogi, the Japanese chess variant known as the "game of generals", is enjoying a wave of popularity thanks to a gawky teenage prodigy with a rock-star following.

4 years ago

This screen grab made from video taken and released on October 15, 2021 by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV shows astronauts (L-R) Ye Guangfu, Wang Yaping and Zhai Zhigang, the second crew for China's new space station, waving at a departure ceremony before their launch on the Shenzhou 13 spacecraft, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi desert, in northwest China.

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Chinese astronauts arrive at space station for longest mission

Three astronauts successfully docked with China's new space station on Saturday on what is set to be Beijing's longest crewed mission to date and the latest landmark in its drive to become a major space power.

4 years ago

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