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A statue commemorating the 1968 Olympics black power salute on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington DC. Photo: AFP
Donald Trump

Trump tells Vance to wipe out ‘divisive ideology’ from Smithsonian museums

The US president’s executive order singled out the National Museum of African-American History and Culture as problematic.

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Egypt

6 Russians die as Egyptian tourist submarine sinks

Art

15 art accounts to follow on Instagram, sharing quirky facts, memes and more

Tourism

Mammoths, bison in prehistoric cave art French keep under wraps

Hundreds of carvings of prehistoric animals, and women, line a cave in southwest France. For 4 weeks a year researchers are let in to map it.

An ancient engraving in Cussac cave, France. Photo: AFP
Art

Then & Now | Hong Kong’s rich history of art clubs dates back to the 1850s

Art clubs and societies have helped shape the city’s vibrant and diverse cultural landscape, since the 19th century.

Malaysia

Bid to relocate Hindu temple for mosque in Malaysia’s capital stirs debate

The government land on which the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple sat was sold to Jakel in 2014.

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New Zealand

Ghostly guides invoke tragic tales of New Zealand’s parliament

Visitors who take part in the ‘spooky tours’ hear spine-chilling stories of mysterious deaths and late-night apparitions in Wellington.

A tour guide retells the haunted history of New Zealand’s parliament library in Wellington on Thursday. Photo: AP
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage to be celebrated in new annual initiative

Different types of craftsmanship, performances, traditions and rituals among activities to be showcased across the month of June.

From our archives

When Hong Kong announced the city’s first open-air theatre

In 1983, the curtain was raised on the Ko Shan Road park and theatre, which took 2 years and HK$50 million to build.

India

Are Indian films tapping Hindu nationalism to achieve box-office success?

The blockbuster Chhaava, which has led to violent protests, has sparked debate on whether Indian directors have forsaken historical accuracy.

A scene from Chhaava, a Hindi historical action film. Photo: YouTube/Maddock Films
Japan

Japan’s PM ‘will not tolerate’ Assassin’s Creed cultural disrespect of shrine

Japan’s PM criticised Assassin’s Creed: Shadows for cultural disrespect, sparking debate on historical accuracy and the game’s portrayal of shrines.

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Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, set in 16th century Japan and focusing on real-life black samurai Yasuke, is the latest entry in the hugely popular historical science fiction video game series. Photo: Ubisoft
Japan

30 years on, Tokyo sarin attack victims seek justice against Aum cult offshoots

The cult behind the attack has yet to compensate its victims, while its offshoots continue to gain followers and amass wealth.

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United States

Trump releases documents related to JFK assassination

Experts doubt the new trove of documents will change the narrative about the infamous killing.

Indonesia

Indonesia is hungry to add rendang, tempeh to Unesco intangible culture list

Gaining recognition would be a strategic step towards encouraging more tourism, Indonesia’s culture minister said.

A woman cooks rendang, an Indonesian meat dish simmered in coconut milk and spices. Photo: AFP
Asia travel

Insiders’ guide to Manila, Philippine capital and cultural melting pot

Locals share their tips on what to see, do and buy, from discovering iconic landmarks and hidden gems, to encountering Filipino craftsmanship.

Manila’s ubiquitous jeepneys, the painting of which can be seen at the Sarao Motors factory in Las Piñas, southern Manila. Photo: Shutterstock
United States

Around 80,000 pages of JFK files will be released on Tuesday, Trump says

The assassination of president John F. Kennedy still fuels conspiracy theories more than 60 years after his death.

Asia travel

Want to be a guest of royalty? India has a variety of heritage-rich options

India’s erstwhile royals are opening their palaces and using their influence to attract tourists and promote the heritage of their historical kingdoms.

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Lessons from China's history

Reflections | After Trump decree, how China and Singapore’s official languages came to be

China did not have an official language in the modern sense before the 20th century, while Singapore’s is different to its national language.

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March making English the official language of the country. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Opinion | The US-China Thucydides Trap is by no means a foregone conclusion

Instead, it’s a call to action. From helping mediate in Ukraine to investing in the US, China may yet defy historical negative trends.

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Architecture and design

Frank Lloyd Wright’s last house is finished, and you can stay there

6 decades after the American architect delivered plans for ‘Project #5909’ it has finally been built in Ohio. RiverRock is accepting bookings.

Singapore

How Singapore’s opposition hopes to loosen the PAP’s 66-year grip on power

The Workers’ Party aims to build on its gains. Tan Cheng Bock’s PSP is back in the fray, too. Can they chip away at the PAP’s supermajority?

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Supporters of the opposition Worker’s Party wave party flags in Hougang during the counting of votes in the 2020 general election. Photo: AFP
Art

Explore China’s culinary heritage at the Hong Kong Palace Museum

Discover artworks and national treasures tracing the Chinese culinary evolution from Neolithic times to the Qing dynasty, until June 18.

A Night Banquet at Peach and Plum Garden by Ding Guanpeng, from the Qing dynasty. Photo: The Palace Museum
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong heritage advisers back listing of temple, former hospital as monuments

Antiquities Advisory Board discusses proposal to upgrade status of Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital’s main building and Kwong Fook Tsz temple.

Food and Drinks

The wineries hoping to fuel a resurgence of oldest recorded wine

Commandaria has been drunk for thousands of years but is largely unknown outside Cyprus. Micro-wineries there hope to grow its global appeal.

Science

Skull fragments found in Spain point to previously unknown ancient humans

Scientists say bones could be from the earliest human face of Western Europe.

Archaeologists a the excavation site near Burgos, Spain. Photo: Maria D. Guillen/IPHES-CERCA via Reuters
Russia

Opinion | Russia may join the West but it won’t leave China

As the US begins rapprochement, the Russians must balance their historical ties to the West with stronger new-found partnerships.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Tourism

July opening for Grand Egyptian Museum, twice as big as the Louvre

Treasures of Tutankhamen will take pride of place when the museum, showing more than 100,000 artefacts from Egypt’s golden age, opens fully.

Art

Jane Grey ruled England for 9 days. Is this the one painting she sat for?

A portrait purporting to be of a living Lady Jane Grey, best-known from a post-death painting of her execution, has gone on display.

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