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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
Korean fans wearing European club jerseys take photos in front of the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday, ahead of the friendly match between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. Photo: David D. Lee
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

Malaysia

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

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.

Tom Holland and Zendaya star in the much-anticipated ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. Photo: Sony Pictures
Tom Holland and Zendaya star in the much-anticipated ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. Photo: Sony Pictures
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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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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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.

Models wear hijabs from Uniqlo Malaysia’s modest-wear line. Photo: Uniqlo Malaysia
Models wear hijabs from Uniqlo Malaysia’s modest-wear line. Photo: Uniqlo Malaysia
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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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
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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A waitress shows dishes made of dog meat at a restaurant in North Korea in 2018. Euphemistically known as “dangogi”, or sweet meat, dog has long been believed to be a stamina food in North and South Korea and is traditionally eaten during the hottest time of the year. Photo: AP
A waitress shows dishes made of dog meat at a restaurant in North Korea in 2018. Euphemistically known as “dangogi”, or sweet meat, dog has long been believed to be a stamina food in North and South Korea and is traditionally eaten during the hottest time of the year. Photo: AP
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.

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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Devotees burn incense at a Taoist temple with Buddhist elements on Singapore’s Kusu island in 2023. Photo: AFP
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.

Young clubbers gather to visit clubs and bars on Thursday night in Hongdae, Seoul. Photo: David D. Lee
Young clubbers gather to visit clubs and bars on Thursday night in Hongdae, Seoul. Photo: David D. Lee
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.

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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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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Participants during one of Entourage’s activities in Bali, Indonesia. Photo: Handout
Participants during one of Entourage’s activities in Bali, Indonesia. Photo: Handout
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.

Japan

Millions visit Japan, yet few venture north of Tokyo. Here’s why

Tohoku is just a couple of hours north of Tokyo by bullet train, yet only 6 per cent of overseas visitors visited last year.

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Iwate Park in Morioka, Japan, in autumn. Photo: Shutterstock
Singapore

Younger Singaporean men less averse to spousal violence: study

Among men born in 1981 or later, 30 per cent either agreed or were neutral when asked whether spousal violence could ever be acceptable.

A depiction of a man hurting his wife. Photo: Shutterstock
A depiction of a man hurting his wife. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan

Are Chinese tourists really to blame for overcrowding Japan’s Kyoto?

Data from the Kyoto City Tourism Association shows a sharp decline in Chinese overnight stays as a result of growing bilateral tensions.

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South Korea

Beggar’s banquet: South Korea’s viral app helps youth find cheap meals

South Korea’s youth unemployment rate reached 7.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 – the highest since 2021.

South Korea

‘Gateway to Asean’: South Korea bets on Vietnam hub for food expansion

Vietnam will be positioned as a logistics and distribution base aimed at growing demand for South Korean food products across the region.

A food vendor (right) talks to a customer at Gwangjang market in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
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