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Streetwise: A model showcases a gray denim ensemble from Fas Delman, a streetwear collection by Indonesian designer Vincent Mikhael of Denimitup and French-Senegalese designer Etienne Diop of Tareet, created through Pintu's Accelerator program.

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‘Pintu’ opens a new runway between France and Indonesia

Through residencies and collaborations, designers are transforming cultural exchange into contemporary collections.

3 weeks ago

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More than love: The real costs of owning a dog

Owners, shelter workers and foster volunteers say responsible pet ownership takes more than love, while social media is helping some dogs pay their own way. ...

2 months ago

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A seat at a plastic table: Sungai Watch innovates sustainable design

The environmental group's river cleanup efforts are feeding a growing circular design movement, turning discarded plastic into furniture while pushing for systemic action on waste management. ...

2 months ago

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This photo taken on November 11, 2021 shows Kayla Zhang, a finance worker, receiving laser facial treatment at a beauty clinic in Shanghai.

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Beauty is only skin deep in China 'micro-procedure' craze

Already popular in the West, micro-procedures -- from laser facials and fillers to thread lifts -- are fast becoming the norm in China's cities.

4 years ago

Vintage: The interior of The Cocktail Club is decorated with 18th-century posters. (Photo Courtesy of The Cocktail Club)

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The Cocktail Club makes a case for relaxed drinking and the joys of whiskey

The Cocktail Club aims to provide a cozy spot for patrons who are looking for an authentic bar experience and some relaxing drinking time.

4 years ago

US first lady Melania Trump sits during a listening session with students at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 9, 2018.

Culture

Melania Trump to auction off hat, NFT from Macron visit

The three "important one-of-a-kind signed items" commemorate an April 2018 state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Washington -- the first of the Trump presidency.

4 years ago

Awareness: Once considered the preserve of women, skin health awareness has changed the course of men's skincare routine. (Unsplash/Hisu Lee)

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Looking good: Indonesian men celebrate skin care

As awareness of dermatological health grows, skin care is no longer considered exclusively the domain of women, and men are finding more options to soothe and smooth their skin.

4 years ago

Affordable and natural: Akuna is popular with Indonesian women who are also concerned about health requirements in their beauty products. (Courtesy of Akuna Indonesia)

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Glowing with ‘jamu’: Skincare brands rely on traditional recipes

Companies like Juara Skincare and Akuna Indonesia have brought the traditional medicine jamu to modern skin treatments.

4 years ago

In love: A billboard wishes a happy birthday to Mrs. Sarmintul from Mr. Sarmintul in Bantul, Yogyakarta. (Courtesy of Twitter JogjaUpdate)

Culture

Husband goes viral for wishing wife happy birthday on giant billboards

Get yourself a guy like Mr Sarmintul.

4 years ago

Fun times: Customers of all ages visit St. James Cafe & Mart to play the dalgona game (Courtesy of St. James Cafe & Mart)

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Sweet South-Korean import: Understanding 'dalgona' candy’s popularity in Indonesia

A South-Korean treat and game finds popularity globally, including here, after featuring on Netflix's 'Squid Game'

4 years ago

Renewal: Workers renovate the Sarinah building, one of the oldest shopping centers in the capital, on Jl. MH Thamrin in Jakarta on Monday. The Rp 700 billion (US$ 47.55 million) renovation project seeks to create a place for products from the country’s creative economy and is expected to finish by March 2022.

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From the ashes: Historic Sarinah to make comeback

Sarinah Jakarta Content Week took place last month for its second year, just months before the official relaunch of Jakarta's first high-rise building, Sarinah.

4 years ago

Painful games: Hunger Tales presents itself as a card and board game. (Courtesy of Bakudapan)

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Hunger Tales: Art inspired by Indonesia’s food supply crisis

Art imitates life for the Yogyakarta-based Bakudapan food study group, as they bring their take on the politics behind Indonesia’s food supplies crisis to the 2021 Asian Art Biennial in Taichung, Taiwan.

4 years ago

This photograph taken on December 30, 2021 shows a newly installed statue of Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in Calangute after the statue has caused a stir.

Culture

Ronaldo statue kicks up a fuss in India's Goa

A statue of Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has caused a stir in Goa, with locals accusing officials of insensitivity for honouring a sports star from the region's former colonial power.

4 years ago

New Year's Eve fireworks light up the sky over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge during the fireworks show on January 1, 2022.

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COVID-19 clouds world New Year party

The world began ushering in 2022 on Friday after another tumultuous and pandemic-ridden year capped by new restrictions, soaring case numbers, and a slight glimmer of hope for better times ahead.

4 years ago

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Local shoe brand collaborates with Tame Impala

After a week of teasing on social media and street billboards, local shoe brand Compass® finally revealed its collaboration with the Australian one-man band Tame Impala.

4 years ago

Tradition?: By some estimates, 7 percent of Indonesians eat dog meat. (Unsplash/Anoir Chafik)

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‘I’ll eat any dog except my own’: Indonesia wrestles with canine culinary habits

For many, eating dog meat would be unimaginable, but for those who have done so since childhood, it’s just another meal.

4 years ago

Career advice: More and more people turn to so-called LinkedIn influencers for career advice. (Unsplash/Courtesy of Souvik Banerjee)

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LinkedIn influencers find fame with endless positivity and feel-good tales

Some call LinkedIn influencers motivators and accept their positive messages at face value, but others are not happy with what they are spreading.

4 years ago

Devotion: Two Catholic converts profess their faith in a cathedral in Jakarta. (Courtesy of Wega Wicaksono)

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Christmas for converts: Navigating cultural, familial tensions

They surprised – or deceived – their families and converted to a minority religion. How was their journey into new frontiers of spirituality, and what did they do for Christmas?

4 years ago

A journalist walks past mascots Bing Dwen Dwen (R) and Shuey Rhon Rhon (L), respective mascots of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games at the Shougang Big Air venue in Beijing.

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World Cup to Rio carnival: Six key events in 2022

From the World Cup in Qatar to the midterm elections in the United States, here are six events that are likely to mark the coming year.

4 years ago

A rose-ringed Parakeet is pictured on a power line on November 11, 2011 in the coastal Israeli city of Netanya, north of Tel Aviv.

Culture

800 parakeets: an unexpected 'Christmas gift' to US rescue group

A US animal shelter was "in shock" after receiving over 800 parakeets during the holiday weekend -- delivered in two batches by the son of their owner.

4 years ago

Indonesia's Apriyani Rahayu (left) and Greysia Polii pose on the court with their women's doubles badminton gold medals during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Tokyo on Aug. 2, 2021.(AFP/Lintao Zhang/Pool)

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Indonesia’s proudest moments of 2021

As we bid farewell to 2021, let us take a look at some of the moments that Indonesians should be proud of in spite of the challenges faced throughout the year.

4 years ago

A regional express train (TER) is parked at the maintenance and storage service of Colobane, in Dakar, Senegal, on December 22, 2021.

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Senegal railway opening overshadowed by compensation protest

Thousands of residents claim they have not been properly compensated for homes and businesses that were demolished to make way for Senegal's new commuter railway line.

4 years ago

Culture

How companies – and employees – can avoid a burnout crisis

In the era of COVID, it almost feels like the norm.

4 years ago

People walk along the reopened and renovated al-Mutanabbi street, the historic heart of the book trade and an outlet for writers and intellectuals, in the centre of Iraq's capital Baghdad on December 25, 2021.

Culture

New chapter for Baghdad's book street

The Iraqi capital Baghdad celebrated the renovation of the historic heart of its book trade, in the latest sign of an artistic renaissance after decades of conflict and strife.

4 years ago

A local resident takes a picture of a nativity scene created by the villagers in Banovci, northeastern Slovenia, on December 21, 2021.

Culture

Nativity scenes light up Slovenian 'Christmas village'

Dozens of nativity scenes light up the village of Banovci in northeastern Slovenia, drawing throngs of visitors every December.

4 years ago

The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place's hampers are designed to also be a feast for the eyes. (Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place).

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Jolly gifts: Unique hampers to give away this holiday season

A variety of holiday hamper ideas to help those in need of inspiration this jolly season.

4 years ago

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo as an extraordinary Diet session was closed on December 21, 2021.

Culture

No spooky sights yet at 'haunted' residence, Japan PM says

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he's sleeping soundly after becoming the first premier in nine years to inhabit the official residence, which is reputedly haunted by ghosts.

4 years ago

Not a tattoo: American Joe Coffey, 34, who lives in Bali, shows off his 'kerokan' marks. (Courtesy of Joe Coffey)

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Indonesian Icons: 'Kerokan' is here to stay

A traditional healing therapy for the common cold, kerokan remains popular despite lacking scientific evidence.

4 years ago

New identity: Stills from a breathtaking Instagram video of lifestyle publication Manual Jakarta, which reinvented itself with the help of Studio Woork . (Instagram/Courtesy of Manual Jakarta)

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2021’s best local designs: Indonesia’s designers and consumers pick their favorites

From bags to book covers, established designers and design-conscious consumers alike choose their favorite local designs of the year.

4 years ago

New lemur on the block: A black and white lemur is seen at Jakarta Aquarium and Safari. (JP/Gisela Swaragita)

Culture

Black and white lemurs new addition to Jakarta Aquarium

A pair of black and white lemurs named Pavel and Anna are the latest additions to the collection of Jakarta Aquarium and Safari at Neo Soho, West Jakarta.

4 years ago

Culture

Making the most of online connections: Tips from Zoom's Lynne Oldham

"Take time to understand the planet that you want to land on – it’s really important not to just walk in the door," said Oldham, whose company is based in San Jose, California. "You have to figure out how you add value.”

4 years ago

A scene from South Korea's Netflix Drama 'Squid Game'

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The year in Indonesia's Google searches: from 'jamet' to croffle and 'Squid Games'

Here is a list of the things Indonesians looked up most on Google, throughout 2021.

4 years ago

This file frame grab from Lao National TV video footage taken on October 16, 2021 via AFPTV shows Laos' Minister of Public Works and Transport Viengsavath Siphandone (R) and China's Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong unveiling a sign for the Lane Xang bullet train in Vientiane.

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Laos opens scenic railway built on a mountain of Chinese debt

Laos opened a new $6 billion rail link with China to much fanfare this month, but the party could be short-lived as the government grapples with a potential debt crisis.

4 years ago

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