WTF is Up in Southeast Asia + Hong Kong

Happy birthday to us! That's right, we're officially ten years old - that's what, like 70 in dog years? That's a pretty long time, and we can't thank you enough for reading, watching and loving our content. We've covered all sorts of weird and wondrous stories from all across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, and we look back at some of the most memorable ones with our editors across the region.

Other stories include:

No Backpackers: Top Indonesian minister wants 'clean' Bali when foreign tourism restarts | Thai cops arrest child, 12, who rode bike to see protest: rights group | McDonald's is running out of McWings in Hong Kong due to supply chain disruptions | Indonesian doctor accused of ejaculating onto roommates' meals | Woman orders a RM35K Chanel bag from Dubai. Gets an empty box. | Elder millennials rejoice at the return of Jollibee's Honey Beef Rice | 'He's illiterate': Hot mic picks up parliament trash-talking, internet pretty sure who did it (Video) | Bomb at Ocean Shopping Mall as attacks multiply across Yangon

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Singaporean singer-songwriter Joel Tan - better known as Gentle Bones - releases his self-titled debut album today, and we got to ask him all about it. For an album that's been eight years in the making, it's a pretty ambitious one. It's got everything, from themes of heartbreak to an upbeat dance track with Jasmine Sokko, and even elements of reggaeton. Hear more about the process from the man himself!

Other stories include:

That's Coconuts: Bali parking attendant ordered to do push-ups for wearing shell as mask | Thousands of Thai students vow to ditch school to oppose virtual learning | Love is in the air: Helicopter with 'marry me' banner flies across Victoria Harbor | 6 y.o. girl rescued after her family tried to gouge out her eye in cannibalistic black magic ritual | Designer goes into meltdown after magnetic hijab idea swiped by 'big brand' | Suspicious 'fashion accessories' shipment turns out to be almost 5kg of shark teeth | Infamous Singapore anti-mask 'MBS Lady' jailed 16 weeks | Myanmar's shadow government declares war on junta

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

At least one case of sexual violence is reported every day in Singapore, and advocacy groups like AWARE Singapore continue the work to bring that number down to zero. But how can we help? We sat down with AWARE Communications Manager Kelly Leow to find out, and learn more about their new fundraising campaign aptly named Hope In The Dark.

Other stories include:

Bali police looking for alleged illegal immigrant accused of threat, theft, and abduction attempt | Surprise! Restaurant vaccination requirement dropped, for now. | Vigilante YouTuber arrested for forcing suspected child pedophile to kneel, apologize in public | Indonesian regent rewards himself IDR100K for every COVID-19 funeral, then returns money out of shame | AirAsia boss shows off new RM230,000 Tesla - people want their money back | Bataan vaccine center's choice of entertainment goes viral | Tudung, Chinese privilege, and more: Singapore unpacks PM Lee's rally speech | American journalist jailed by junta receives press freedom award

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

The American woman charged with assisting in the sadistic murder of her mother back in 2015 is set for an early release from prison. 25-year-old Heather Mack had three years shaved from her 10-year prison term for good behavior, and could be out as soon as October this year. We speak to Coconuts' own Julianne Greco and Sheany to find out the details of her release, and how things have changed since the gruesome story first broke.

Other stories include:

Bali must stop deifying foreign tourists, expert says | So sensitive! Thailand bans 'PopYut' clicker game mocking PM | Thief uses laundry grabber to steal bag through Hong Kong apartment window | #WhatSUBIndonesia: Subway confirms return to an Indonesia with trust issues | Kuala Lumpur is No. 32 in Safe Cities Index | The earth opened up in Ortigas, but it's probably not a portal to hell | Squad of 40+ vehicles escorts US Vice President Kamala Harris around Singapore | Trial postponed, lawyer demands to see ASSK as charges pile up

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Pangolins aren't easy to find in the wild, much less so in a suburban village - so why has one been spotted on the streets of Ayala Alabang? We got to speak with environmentalist and Ayala Alabang Village resident Anna Varona, Edward Lorenzo, attorney at the Conservation International Philippines, and Chief of the National Wildlife Rescue and Research Center (NWRRC) Dr. Glenn Maguad about the adorable scaly visitor.

Other stories include:

PHDI urges families to skip funeral rites for COVID-19 victims as Bali morgues fill up | Thai police deny shooting protesters with live bullets after man shot in the neck | Man arrested 38 years after allegedly raping now-deceased preteen at Tuen Mun estate | Authorities on the hunt for artist behind 'Jokowi: 404 Not Found' graffiti in Tangerang | Malaysia's Royal Palace cat becomes distraction we need amid leadership crisis | 32 Filipinos evacuated from Afghanistan, with more on the way | One dot at a time, braille team keeps Singapore's sightless in the loop | Myanmar bank faces boycott after freezing accounts to block donations to anti-coup forces

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

This restaurant in Hong Kong serves up Chinese cuisine... and a whole lot of racism, according to one muslim woman surnamed Khan. She was told she could only work there as a dishwasher if she removed her hijab, stating that the eatery was a "Chinese-style restaurant" and that the hijab "cannot be worn at work" when confronted by Khan's 18-year-old daughter. We spoke with Coconuts Hong Kong Associate Editor Hillary Leung to find out more about the situation, and if incidents of racism are on the rise in Hong Kong.

Other stories include:

Indonesian mother tries to console son crying over Messi's Barcelona exit | Relax, I'm a nurse, says Thai soldier who showed off his Pfizer jab | Rejected: Olympic medalist declines Carrie Lam's congratulatory call during live TV interview | Jakarta vaccinator arrested for allegedly injecting boy with empty syringe | DoJ returns another RM1.9 billion worth of 1MDB funds to Malaysia | Ban on outdoor exercise to be strictly enforced by police | Singapore opens hearts, wallets for boy with rare genetic disease | Yangon youths joined hands before fatal leap to escape soldiers: witnesses

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

How Singapore's nightlife scene is staying alive, with Joshua Pillai | The Coconuts Podcast | Aug 6, 2021

Covid-19 has taken its toll on the once-thriving nightlife scene in Singapore, with some establishments pivoting to operating as food and beverage outlets in a bid to stay afloat. But what else can be done? We ask Joshua Pillai, co-founder of entertainment and lifestyle brand A Phat Cat Collective - which you might know as the brains behind eclectic themed bars such as Nineteen80 and Rails. Check out their month-long crowdfunding campaign aptly named Staying Alive here.

Other stories include:

Weak tracing efforts, patients refusing isolation hampering Bali's fight against COVID-19: IDI | Bangkok's train night market insists it will be back | Wild boar's buttocks bloodied after suspected attack with sharp weapon | Malaysia's anti-Muhyiddin politicians take to the streets | Indonesian woman arrested after IDR2 trillion donation for COVID-19 relief proved too good to be true | Nas Daily set up a Whang-Od Tattoo Academy, but Whang Od may not have signed off on it | Singapore man leaves racist stain on family featured for National Day | No election until 2023, junta says on six-month coup anniversary

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Can't fly your way out of this one. Videos of a steward and stewardess caught having an affair by the former's pregnant spouse has set the Internet ablaze in Indonesia. We spoke to Coconuts Jakarta Associate Editor Nadia Hamid about the affair, and the nation's penchant for pelakor (Indonesian portmanteau meaning 'woman who steals another woman's man') stories.

Other stories include:

Bali sees its deadliest pandemic month yet as hospitals start to fill up | Thai girls bound for orphanage after watching mom die at home | Hong Kong gold medalist showered with millions in cash, lifetime of free MTR rides | Swab-solutely Bananas: Fritters wrapped in COVID-19 test result terrifies Indonesians | Labuan becomes first Malaysian territory to declare herd immunity | Finally, some good news for Filipinos and their foreign spouses separated by the pandemic | Singapore teen dies after basketball backboard falls on him in Bedok | Myanmar's junta officially overturns outcome of 2020 election it didn't like

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

At least three bodies were discovered within a 24-hour period on the streets of Bangkok as Covid-19 takes its toll on thousands. We check in with Coconuts Bangkok's own Chayanit Itthipongmaetee to learn about the government's efforts to clamp down on infections in the capital.

Other stories include:

Paramount Pictures to develop Southeast Asia's biggest theme park in Bali: reports | So long, open space! Closure of Bangkok's parks, salons and more back on table as COVID closes in | Man who was fully jabbed abroad gets 2 more COVID-19 shots in HK to 'go to bars' | Indonesian man with COVID boards flight using wife's negative test result and burqa disguise | Dozens arrested in Penang over mass Eid al-Adha prayers | Public school teachers in remote areas delivered graduations-to-go, by truck, pickup and carabao (PHOTOS) | Cancel National Day? Some Singaporeans' say this isn't time for a party | Former head of Myanmar's vaccination campaign contracts COVID-19 in prison

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Metro Manila's MRT-3 train line recently announced that pets are now allowed onboard their trains, much to the delight of pet lovers everywhere. But why do fur babies have more rights to travel over... actual babies? According to the city's Covid-19 regulations, persons under 17 years old and above 65 are still not allowed to ride trains during this time, and we speak to Coconuts Manila Regional Managing Editor Kristine Fonacier to find out more.

Other stories include:

Mask rule violators in Canggu fined IDR1 million on the spot | Thailand gives green light to Sinovac, AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine cocktail | Missing piss-tol: Police officer leaves gun in shopping mall toilet | Emergency PPKM may be extended by 6 weeks: reports | Malaysian health minister mistakes Spanish Flu for Spanish Fly during university talk | Taal Volcano remains under high alert; 185 earthquakes detected over the past 24 hours | Vaccine-crashing Singapore cat turns out to be neighborhood star | Soldiers open fire, disperse crowds refilling oxygen tanks in Yangon

The Coconuts Podcast delivers impactful, weird, and wonderful reporting by our journalists on the ground in eight cities: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, and Bali. Listen to headline news and insightful interviews on matters large and small, designed for people located in - or curious about - Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.