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This Week in Asia /

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

Laser aimed at Punch the monkey in Japan prompts zoo’s ‘unacceptable’ warning

Indonesia

Indonesia’s immigration chief urges rethink on wider visa-free access

The Philippines

Chinese-Filipino groups downplay Sinophobia over earthquake aid in Philippines

The community is drawing attention partly due to the South China Sea row and spying cases involving Chinese nationals in the Philippines.

Chinese-Filipinos walk along Binondo in Manila. The community has been involved in disaster relief efforts in the Philippines for many years. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem
Chinese-Filipinos walk along Binondo in Manila. The community has been involved in disaster relief efforts in the Philippines for many years. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem
The Philippines

Strong ties, even stronger dollar propel US to top of Philippine tourism market

The Philippines, however, attracted just 2.1 million of Southeast Asia’s 48.5 million tourist arrivals in the first four months of this year.

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Japan

Japan confronts the dark side of its teenagers’ AI addiction

An assault case involving five Japanese girls has cast a spotlight on the consequences of AI misuse.

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Singapore

Sin to salvation: how Singapore’s most notorious mall found God

Orchard Towers, once a byword for vice, is now part of a megachurch trend repurposing retail spaces from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur.

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Orchard Towers in Singapore pictured on Friday. Cornerstone Community Church officially opened weekly services at the Orchard Road landmark in January. Photo: Jean Iau
Orchard Towers in Singapore pictured on Friday. Cornerstone Community Church officially opened weekly services at the Orchard Road landmark in January. Photo: Jean Iau
Malaysia

‘Isn’t it hot?’: latex fan aims to stretch Malaysia’s conservative fashion norms

The Kuala Lumpur-based cosplay fan who has spent thousands of dollars on his hobby wants rubber-producing Malaysia to embrace latex fashion.

Singapore

Singapore vs London: how similar are these ‘global powerhouses’?

Critics challenge Sadiq Khan’s ‘global powerhouse’ claim, pointing out differences in safety, crime and governance in both places.

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Vietnam

Cats rescued from slaughter in Vietnam spotlight enduring pet meat trade

Animal activists say the cat and dog meat trade often operates over large networks that sometimes span all of Vietnam.

Cats seized by police at a facility in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday. Photo: Humane World for Animals Vietnam / AFP
Japan

How Japan’s ‘cool’ summer dress code for men triggered a ‘harassment’ row

Some women argue against the double standards, saying they have to wear stockings to work even in summer.

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People cover themselves with umbrellas during a hot summer day at Ginza in Tokyo on August 11, 2024. Photo: Reuters
People cover themselves with umbrellas during a hot summer day at Ginza in Tokyo on August 11, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Singapore

More than grades? The Harvard speech reshaping Singapore’s education debate

Observers say the challenge for Singapore’s educators is to ensure that upward mobility for students maturing later is not impossible.

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Singapore

Is the ‘Singapore brand’ losing its shine in China’s food scene?

Analysts say Singapore’s F&B firms can no longer rely on earlier strengths that made them stand out, given the growing competition.

Malaysia

‘Everything in it relates’: school bullying K-drama hits home in Malaysia

The Netflix hit is resonating in a country still reckoning with the death of 13-year-old schoolgirl Zara Qairina Mahathir.

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A scene from “Teach You a Lesson”. The show’s hero handles bullies by giving them a taste of their own medicine, literally slapping and punching them into line. Photo: Netflix
Singapore

Lost in translation? Singapore wants Dear You film mostly in Mandarin, not Teochew

Linguists and the local Teochew community say watching the hit Chinese film in its original form can help sustain cultural diversity.

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A still from “Dear You”, the hit Chinese film shot in southern Teochew dialect. Photo: Handout
A still from “Dear You”, the hit Chinese film shot in southern Teochew dialect. Photo: Handout
Japan

‘There was nothing I could do’: why Japan still needs women-only train carriages

Critics question the necessity of safe zones for women. Passengers say a culture of ‘chikan’ abuse makes them vital.

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Singapore

Can lah: how Singlish is finding its voice in Singapore’s language story

A new study shows growing acceptance of Singlish as a key part of Singaporean identity and culture, reflecting an ‘evolution of attitudes’.

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The Philippines

‘Hour of desperation’: gambling helpline calls surge in the Philippines

Counsellors say the profiles of gambling addicts range from housewives to young Filipinos and urge Manila to tighten related rules.

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Casino gambling is popular in the Philippines. Photo: Shutterstock
Casino gambling is popular in the Philippines. Photo: Shutterstock
Singapore

Singapore’s ban on anti-Indian posts exposes threat of race ‘weaponisation’

The posts from a China-based platform have sought to tap into unease on unemployment and ‘play on existing prejudices’, an analyst says.

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Singapore

What does Singapore lose when the wrecking ball swings?

Relentless reinvention, long inevitable in the land-scare city state, puts pressure on beloved ‘third spaces’.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s new university rules rekindle multilingualism debate

The decision to allow new admission pathways to public universities has triggered concern about the future of Malay-medium education.

Students sit the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) examination. Photo: Shutterstock
Malaysia

For those caught in China’s ‘involution’, RedNote offers a solution: Malaysia

Besides Malaysia’s education system, the influencers say the widespread use of Mandarin in the country is a big draw for Chinese visitors.

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Yili, a RedNote content creator from China, says she is seeing “more and more Chinese bosses” in Malaysia. Photo: RedNote/Yili
Yili, a RedNote content creator from China, says she is seeing “more and more Chinese bosses” in Malaysia. Photo: RedNote/Yili
North Korea

Tears in North Korea as Kim meets footballers after historic title win

Naegohyang Women’s FC became the first North Korean side to win Asia’s top club title last month.

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Vietnam

Vietnam detains Australian man who trashed Da Nang cafe

He destroyed bar equipment and furniture, and customers’ belongings, including laptops and mobile phones.

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Malaysia

Malaysia bars under-16s from social media as new rules come into force

Malaysia’s roll-out of strict age-gating rules follows on the heels of Australia and Indonesia in the push to protect children online.

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A young boy plays with a phone inside a mosque in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Photo: AFP
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