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This Week in Asia /

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A petrol station worker prepares to refuel a jeepney in Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines, in March. Photo: EPA
The Philippines

Philippines’ iconic jeepneys face rocky road to go electric

Observers point to the high costs of owning an e-jeepney and a lack of government support in enabling the electric shift.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s anti-LGBT education push raises concerns about stigmatising youth

Malaysia

Viral shoe-sniffing video leads to stalking arrest in Malaysia

South Korea

South Korean ticket touts to face the music when new penalties come into play

From August 28, authorities can impose fines of up to 50 times the resale price of a ticket, a sharp rise from the current US$6,600 maximum.

K-pop group BTS performs in central Seoul on March 21. Photo: Reuters
K-pop group BTS performs in central Seoul on March 21. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

At Indonesia’s sharia frontier, a complicated love affair with flogging

Rights groups call it torture. Aceh’s residents reveal a more nuanced debate than outrage allows.

Indonesia

‘Grading own homework’: is Indonesia outsourcing online safety to tech giants?

Without a regulator, Indonesia’s child online safety rules require digital platforms to assess and remove underage accounts themselves.

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Singapore

Do Singapore ministers watch films? Joke raises hackles amid dialect debate

The culture minister’s quip about being too busy to go to the cinema has some critics jumping up from their seats.

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Women take a photo with “Dear You” posters during its premiere in Singapore on June 17. Photo: Xinhua
Women take a photo with “Dear You” posters during its premiere in Singapore on June 17. Photo: Xinhua
Malaysia

Chinese tourist’s World Cup flag blunder in Malaysia goes viral

The visitor demanded a hotel fly China’s flag, unaware the display only featured nations that had actually qualified for the tournament.

Singapore

Singapore’s Carousell eyes ‘bigger leap ahead’ after profitability milestone

Co-founder Marcus Tan says he is ‘excited about the growth ahead’ as years of investment in user experience begin to pay off.

South Korea

South Korea’s World Cup loss spurs anger over ‘cartel’ of elites, favouritism

From the president to football fans, South Koreans are asking whether unfairness lies behind the national team’s World Cup collapse.

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South Korea’s head coach Hong Myung-bo (centre) and members of the national football team arrive at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday. Photo: The Korea Times
Malaysia

Beyond F1: how Malaysia is reliving its motorsports dreams overseas

Younger drivers like Hayden Haikal and Alister Yoong are forging a path for themselves overseas, but not without a dose of realism.

Sepang International Circuit still hosts races and championships even after F1 exited Malaysia in 2017. Photo by Ushar Daniele
Sepang International Circuit still hosts races and championships even after F1 exited Malaysia in 2017. Photo by Ushar Daniele
Singapore

Is super-ageing Singapore headed for population decline?

With babies in short supply and its birth rate tanking, the city state is weighing a future of robots and immigrants.

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Indonesia

No free lunch: Indonesia’s Bali targets barter deals in immigration sweep

The new regulation has sparked confusion among content creators and local businesses who wonder where the legal line falls.

Singapore

Bali, Phuket or Sentosa? Singapore’s grand 20-year resort plan

The upgrade aims to create ‘the next generation of world-class experiences’ while staying true to the island’s unique identity.

An artist’s impression featuring a new Imbiah canopy and lookout walk at Sentosa. Photo: Sentosa Development Corporation
The Philippines

Philippine senator links fatal school shooting to 764 online extremist network

There are signs that the 764 network is targeting vulnerable Filipino children online, Senator Risa Hontiveros says at a hearing.

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The logo of the 764 violent extremist network. Photo: YouTube
The logo of the 764 violent extremist network. Photo: YouTube
Japan

Japan’s detention system under scrutiny after ruling on abuse of restraints

A court order to compensate the family of a detainee shows reforms to immigration centres are urgently needed, observers say.

Thailand

Thai beer dynasty heir opens up about abuse, mother’s ‘ungrateful child’ lawsuit

Siranudh ‘Psi’ Scott broke his silence on alleged childhood trauma as his estranged mother wielded a century-old legal weapon against him.

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South Korea

South Korea’s World Cup early exit sparks fury, death threats, restaurant bans

From the president to K-pop stars, South Koreans demand an overhaul of the country’s football establishment and punishment for the failure.

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South Korean fans react after their team lost the 2026 World Cup football match against South Africa at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul last week. Photo: AFP
South Korean fans react after their team lost the 2026 World Cup football match against South Africa at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul last week. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

How Malaysia’s tourist board plans to entice Chinese travellers

China was Malaysia’s second-largest source market in 2025, with 4.7 million visitor arrivals, up 25 per cent from 3.7 million a year earlier.

Japan

Meet AIko: Japan’s AI police chief taking on a US$2 billion scam epidemic

Japan has a new police chief. Her name is AIko, she lives on YouTube and she’s coming for scammers.

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The Philippines

Why would Filipinos holiday at home if abroad is cheaper?

Manila wants Filipinos to explore their own backyard. But when Batanes costs twice as much as Taipei, it’s a tough sell.

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A Cebu Pacific passenger plane takes off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Why Malaysia’s tourism boom lives and dies on a Chinese app

RedNote has made Malaysia a must-visit for Chinese tourists, but it can dismantle reputations just as fast as it builds them.

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A woman holds her smartphone displaying the Chinese social networking and e-commerce app RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu. Photo: AFP
A woman holds her smartphone displaying the Chinese social networking and e-commerce app RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysia has never had so many Chinese tourists. It wants more

As Thailand loses its allure, Malaysia turns to viral algorithms to entice millions of independent Chinese travellers.

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Malaysia

Marital duty, faith drive Malaysian women to give in to sex requests: survey

Only 44 per cent of Malay and Muslim women were able to refuse sex, compared with three-quarters of Chinese and Indian Malaysians.

Singapore

Will Dear You’s smash success push Singapore to ease dialect film policies?

Extra Teochew shows of the indie hit signal ‘increasing liberalisation’ towards dialect films, but long-term changes will take time, analysts say.

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A woman takes photos during the special screening of “Dear You” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 18. Photo: Xinhua
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