Tourists in China call locals smelly, Philippine school shooting: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. Malaysian tourists in China scorned for calling locals ‘smelly’A group of Malaysian tourists is facing intense backlash for filming strangers and mocking locals in China as “smelly”, sparking debate on travel etiquette and national image.2. Indonesia market sell-off fuels anti-Singapore sentiment onlineA sharp sell-off in Indonesian assets has taken on a political tone online, with some social media users alleging, without evidence, that Singapore stands to gain from a “Sell Indonesia” narrative around Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.3. Singapore vs London: how similar are these ‘global powerhouses’?Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (left) meets Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the World Cities Summit, where London has been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize 2026. Photo: dpaA social media post by London Mayor Sadiq Khan calling his city and Singapore global powerhouses has ignited scrutiny of both places, with critics arguing that they are worlds apart.4. Inside Germany’s plan to transform a Philippine Cold War relicThe runway at Clark International Airport was built to launch American air power across Asia. Now, it is being repurposed to project German industrial ambition.5. Fatal shooting exposes ‘systemic failures’ in Philippine schoolsPeople stand next to the entrance gate of San Jose National High School after a shooting incident in Tacloban City, Leyte province, the Philippines, on Monday. Photo: AFPA rare shooting at a public high school in the central Philippines that left three students dead and seven injured has gripped the country amid concerns over campus safety and the mental well-being of young people.6. Fifa invites South Korean YouTuber targeted by racist gesture to World Cup matchFifa has extended an official invitation to a South Korean YouTuber to attend her country’s World Cup match against Mexico on Thursday after she was subjected to a racist gesture during a recent game.7. Lost in translation? Singapore wants Dear You film mostly in Mandarin, not TeochewA still from “Dear You”, the hit Chinese film shot in southern Teochew dialect. Photo: HandoutLinguists and the local Teochew community say watching the hit Chinese film in its original form can help sustain cultural diversity.Further Reading