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This Week in Asia /

Lifestyle & Culture

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K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop
Asia travel
Fame and celebrity
Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS perform during their “Arirang” tour in New Jersey on August 1. Photo: AFP
South Korea

Does K-pop need the Grammys? BTS’ boycott reignites debate

BTS’ decision has forced Asian pop artists to weigh Grammy recognition against the risk of being boxed in.

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Singapore

Meet the Singaporean DJ taking local sounds to the global stage

Thailand

Bling gamble: how Southeast Asia’s middle class is redefining luxury

Malaysia

Malaysian F1 fans vent fury over sales process, organisers cite ‘high traffic’

The Sepang International Circuit is hosting the race for the first time since 2017 as the Bahrain leg was cancelled due to the Iran war.

The official F1 website shows that tickets in several categories for the race in Malaysia in October were sold out. Photo: F1
The official F1 website shows that tickets in several categories for the race in Malaysia in October were sold out. Photo: F1
Singapore

Singapore’s provision shops struggle to keep shutters open in HDB heartlands

Owners say they face hurdles including stiff competition, rising costs and a lack of desire from their children to take over the business.

South Korea

‘Too backward’: why South Korean football is struggling for loyalty

Observers say the K League has fallen short of the standards European clubs have set for quality, spectacle and emotional connection.

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Singapore

AI zombie video on Singapore’s National Day sparks talk on filmmaking’s future

The creator behind the short video, Bersama Majulah, stresses that the ‘soul of the work’ is written by humans.

A scene from Bersama Majulah, a video created with human input and artificial intelligence, was shown on Singapore’s National Day on Sunday. Photo: Edenstone
A scene from Bersama Majulah, a video created with human input and artificial intelligence, was shown on Singapore’s National Day on Sunday. Photo: Edenstone
Malaysia

Not ‘Mat Rempit’: Malaysia’s RX-Z riders fight for community’s reputation

Enthusiasts of the discontinued motorcycle say they are ‘more relaxed’ about racing and prioritise safety rather than chasing fame or money.

The Philippines

Silent film: Philippines’ ‘Spider-Man’ screening reveals deaf inclusion gap

While several laws have been passed to help the deaf community, advocates say they remain limited in scope and implementation.

South Korea

South Korean football faces ‘whistles in favour’ foreign referee sex scandal

In response, a South Korean football official refers to ‘unpleasant incidents 15 years ago’ and that the body now ‘strictly’ follows rules.

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A football friendly match between South Korea and Honduras in Daegu stadium in 2018. Photo: Reuters
Aviation

Will Jetstar’s plan to charge for overhead locker space work in Asia-Pacific?

Analysts say the move, an ‘extreme’ form of unbundling, risks backlash and added fare complexity.

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A Jetstar passenger jet prepares to take off from Sydney Airport on July 21. Photo: AP
A Jetstar passenger jet prepares to take off from Sydney Airport on July 21. Photo: AP
Malaysia

‘This is not hijab’: unpicking controversy behind Uniqlo Malaysia’s new line

Critics are taking issue with images showing the cloth wrapped turban-like around the head, leaving parts of the neck and chest visible.

Singapore

Lee Kuan Yew’s fountain pen valued at US$23,000-US$39,000 up for auction

The engraved ‘SM Lee Kuan Yew’ Montblanc fountain pen was previously estimated to be worth several thousand dollars at a 2003 auction.

Indonesia

Offside move? Why Indonesia’s football chief backed Fifa privatisation plan

Erick Thohir said the Indonesian football association should back Fifa’s proposal because of its contributions to the local game.

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Erick Thohir attends the pre-Olympic play-off match between Indonesia and Guinea at Paris 2024. Photo: AFP
Singapore

Massive Attack’s Singapore ban tests legal limits of artistic freedom

Singapore concertgoers urge leniency for the band’s pro-Palestine acts on stage but lawyers say that a line has to be drawn.

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Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall from Massive Attack stand with a Palestinian flag onstage at the end of their performance in Singapore on Wednesday. Photo: Social media/Reuters
Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall from Massive Attack stand with a Palestinian flag onstage at the end of their performance in Singapore on Wednesday. Photo: Social media/Reuters
North Korea

North Korea advises citizens to eat dog meat to beat the summer heat

Dog meat soup has long been promoted by the North Korean government as a traditional health tonic.

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Malaysia

Scam raids of Malaysia’s Forest City prompt governance questions

The raids spotlight how organised crime has evolved and expanded operations by exploiting mixed-use developments, analysts say.

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Indonesia

Indonesia has thousands of universities. Does it really need another?

Jakarta has a shortage of future leaders. It also lacks technical talent. President Prabowo’s solution? Build another university.

Kindergarteners wearing graduation gowns wait to have their photographs taken at a museum in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, in May. Photo: AFP
Kindergarteners wearing graduation gowns wait to have their photographs taken at a museum in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, in May. Photo: AFP
Singapore

Losing religion, not belief: Singapore’s fluid spiritual shift

Formal religious affiliation has been slipping in the city state, but surveys show belief in a higher power endures.

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South Korea

Heart and Seoul: South Korean nightlife scene reinvents to lure young customers

Nightlife operators are transforming their entertainment offerings to focus more on music genres and healthier options to draw customers.

Singapore

Forest project puts Singapore’s ‘city in nature’ vision to the test

Nature lovers say the project to clear 15 hectares of Maju forest for housing will affect more than biodiversity, call for more transparency.

A view of Singapore’s Maju forest from Sunset Way resident Jo Teoh’s window. Photo: Jo Teoh
Singapore

Singapore Marmite fans salty as local distribution ends and online prices soar

The yeast extract spread has disappeared from local supermarkets after its distributor cited ongoing supply challenges.

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A jar of Marmite alongside one of the preferred vehicles for enjoying the divisive yeast spread: a slice of toast with butter. Photo: Shutterstock
A jar of Marmite alongside one of the preferred vehicles for enjoying the divisive yeast spread: a slice of toast with butter. Photo: Shutterstock
Indonesia

Bali run club revives concerns of ‘micro-discrimination’ against Indonesians

The alleged exclusion of Indonesians from the running group has resurfaced claims that racism and colourism are well and alive in Bali.

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Malaysia

How a displaced F1 race could be Malaysia’s ‘blessing in disguise’

The one-off race in Sepang could deliver an economic boost and position Malaysia as a stable regional base for global events, analysts say.

South Korea

The underdog girl group putting the ‘K’ back in K-pop

While major labels chase global fame, Rescene won over South Korea by putting local culture front and centre.

Rescene members (from left) Zena, May, Minami, Woni and Liv. Photos: Instagram/rescene_official
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