Compiled by ALLISON LAI AND RAHIMY RAHIM
A 43-YEAR-OLD man from Tochigi, Japan, known as “Uncle Praise”, gained attention for his unique way of earning a living by praising strangers on the street, Nanyang Siang Pau reported
Formerly an office worker, he reportedly fell into debt and homelessness due to a gambling addiction, losing his job and family in the process.
Determined to change his life, he turned to the streets of Tokyo, offering compliments to passersby with a sign saying, “Let me praise you.”
Despite having no performance skills, Uncle Praise’s novel approach resonated with many, earning him a loyal following.
His story went viral on social media, leading to “praise tours” across Japan.
“Uncle Praise” said he finds fulfilment in spreading happiness, highlighting the power of simple, kind gestures to uplift others even in the face of personal hardships.
> The daily also reported that a prominent Chinese e-commerce company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ZBY Corp, announced a 4.5-day workweek for its workers during its annual dinner.
Its chief executive officer Chen Caixiong, who also pledged no salary cuts or layoffs, said the move was particularly appealing to its young workforce, with 75% born in the 1990s and 2000s.
His announcement was met with enthusiasm and quickly went viral online.
Chen said the reduced workweek was a reward for their hard work and aimed at creating a youthful, dynamic work culture that fostered creativity.
(The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.)
