Category: Lifestyle

Lifestyle

South Korea’s Household Loans Finally Fall After 6 Months — But the Debt Problem Isn’t Over Yet

South Korea’s major banks have recorded their first monthly decline in household loans in six months, signaling that tighter lending controls are beginning to put the brakes on borrowing even as demand for mortgages remains strong. The combined household-loan balance at the country’s five largest commercial banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup — stood at 781.39 trillion won ($580.49 billion) as of Sept. 3, down 727.6 billion won from the end of August, according to data comp

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Entertainment

A Japanese Nutritionist Swears By These 7 Foods for an Anti-Inflammatory Diet — But One Detail Matters

MANILA, Philippines — Seven everyday ingredients found in traditional Japanese kitchens are drawing renewed attention after Japanese nutritionist and longevity expert Michiko Tomioka shared the foods she regularly recommends as part of an eating pattern aimed at supporting overall health and managing inflammation. In a recent CNBC feature, Tomioka, who was born and raised in Nara, Japan, highlighted konnyaku, burdock root, nori, fermented soy and rice products, bonito flakes, mushrooms and gree

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Lifestyle

Heartburn Won’t Go Away? The OTC Treatment You Choose Could Make a Big Difference

Heartburn Won’t Go Away? The OTC Treatment You Choose Could Make a Big Difference That burning sensation rising from the stomach into the chest may seem like a minor after-meal annoyance, but choosing the right over-the-counter treatment matters — especially when heartburn keeps coming back. Heartburn happens when stomach contents and acid flow back into the oesophagus, causing a burning sensation that can extend toward the throat. Occasional heartburn is common, but frequent symptoms may poin

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Lifestyle

Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem Died Eight Days Apart—Two Very Different Icons Leave a Lasting Feminist Legacy

WASHINGTON — The deaths of Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem just eight days apart have delivered an extraordinary double blow to generations of women who saw the two American icons as powerful examples of female independence—despite the fact that they approached that ideal in radically different ways. Parton, the beloved country music superstar and philanthropist, died on August 25 at age 80 after a battle with cancer. Steinem, the pioneering journalist and feminist activist, died on September 2

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Business

Pantler Patisserie Was Days Away From Closing — Then a Mystery Investor Stepped In

SINGAPORE — September 5, 2026 — Singapore dessert lovers who thought they had eaten their last Pantler pastry may have to put that goodbye on hold. The 12-year-old Japanese-French patisserie will continue operating after an unnamed investor stepped in to take over the business, saving the River Valley institution from an imminent closure. Pantler had originally planned to close on Aug. 30 after its founders said difficult market conditions had made the business unsustainable. But a wave of cu

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Lifestyle

Sarangani and GenSan Court Investors as Tourism and Retirement Opportunities Take Center Stage

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — A new investment pitch is taking shape in southern Mindanao as Sarangani province and General Santos City seek to attract more businesses into tourism, retirement facilities and other development opportunities. The push reflects an effort to position the two areas not simply as destinations for short-term visitors, but as places where investors can build tourism-related businesses and facilities that could serve a growing market for longer stays and retirement

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Lifestyle

Taiwan’s HIV Cases Rose 5% After Hitting a 22-Year Low — But the Bigger Warning May Be Who Still Doesn’t Know

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan health authorities have launched a two-week buy-one-get-one-free HIV self-testing campaign after newly reported infections among Taiwanese nationals increased during the first seven months of 2026, interrupting — at least for now — a years-long downward trend. Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control said 537 HIV infections were newly reported through the end of July, compared with 512 during the same period in 2025, an increase of about 5%. Around 80% of the cases involved

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Lifestyle

Thailand’s HIV Cases Surpass 500,000, With Young People Emerging as a Growing Concern

BANGKOK — Thailand has recorded more than 500,000 cumulative HIV cases, with health experts increasingly concerned about infections among young people as the country confronts a changing phase in its decades-long battle against the virus. Data reported for the 2026 fiscal year through the third quarter showed that Thailand's HIV burden remains significant, with Bangkok recording the country's highest cumulative number of cases. Young people aged 15 to 24 have emerged as a particularly vulnerabl

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Lifestyle

China’s Cerium-Based Nanoparticle Could Transform Gout Treatment — But Scientists Have Only Tested It in Animals

A team of Chinese scientists has developed an experimental cerium-based nanoparticle treatment that targets several underlying processes involved in gout, raising hopes for a new approach to a disease that affects tens of millions worldwide. But there is an important catch: the treatment has not yet been proven effective or safe in humans. The current evidence comes from laboratory and animal experiments, meaning patients should not view it as an available cure.  Researchers from the School o

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Lifestyle

AIA Philippines Unveils Platinum Secure as Filipinos Rethink Retirement and Long-Term Financial Security

MANILA, Philippines — As Filipinos live longer and retirement planning becomes increasingly important, AIA Philippines has introduced AIA Platinum Secure, a participating whole-life insurance plan designed to combine long-term life protection with guaranteed cash benefits. The new product was launched alongside BPI AIA’s ADDvantage in August 2026, with both companies positioning the plans as responses to changing retirement needs, longer life expectancy and rising financial pressures on Filipin

September 3, 2026