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Fei Zhu Lok Lok, a Malaysian-style skewer chain in Singapore founded by local influencer Phyllis Seah, is closing its doors after more than five years in operation. A Fei Zhu Lok Lok stall "After thinking about it for a long time, I’ve finally decided to close all my outlets and bring this chapter to an end," Phyllis wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday, adding that Sept. 13 would be the chain’s last day. She did not give a specific reason for the closure, but described Si

Malaysia's AirAsia has entered into its first codeshare partnership with Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines, opening up connections between Southeast Asia and Europe via Istanbul. AirAsia planes are reflected in a glass wall at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2), in Sepang, Malaysia, Jan. 21, 2026 The partnership, which started on Sept. 2, initially covers five European destinations - London, Moscow, Athens, Ankara and Zurich - and will progressi

A roast meat restaurant in Malaysia's Selangor, run by Hong Kong actor Mat Yeung, has been temporarily closed by the Petaling Jaya City Council, just 10 days after officially opening. Hong Kong actor Mat Yeung at his restaurant in Malaysia A closure notice was posted outside the Six Hub Roast House on Aug. 24, ordering it to cease operations from 1 p.m. The notice cited alleged breaches related to the restaurant's license and use of the premises, The Star newspaper reported.

South Korea's most famous historic landmarks, including Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, are set to increase entry fees on Jan. 1, 2027. The traditional Korean architecture of Gyeongbokgung Palace under a clear blue sky on June 5, 2026 According to an announcement by the Korea Heritage Service on Aug. 5, the government will organize a public forum in November to solicit opinions before hiking the fees. The prices have remained unchanged si

China Street Hum Jin Pang, a heritage hawker stall at Singapore's Maxwell Food Centre, has closed after more than 40 years in business, disappointing customers who cherished its traditional savory dough fritters. China Street Hum Jin Pang at Singapore’s Maxwell Food Centre Its closure was announced on Aug. 24 in an Instagram video by Deitrich Mohan, the third-generation owner of Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake, another stall at the food center. Opened in 1975, the stall was known

An American Airlines jet carrying 181 people turned back to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, after a bird strike sent flames from its left engine and prompted a mayday call. American Airlines planes at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina Flight 1760, a Boeing 737-800 bound for Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, lifted off at 8:11 a.m. on Aug. 10 local time and was back on the ground 27 minutes later, according to FlightAware tracking

The Vu Lan Festival will take place from Aug. 12 to 19 at Tay Thien Mandala in Dai Dinh Commune in Phu Tho Province, led by His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche and a monastic delegation from the Drukpa Lineage in India. Nuns at a ceremony at the Grand Mandala Stupa of Tay Thien in April 2026 His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche, a realized incarnate master and one of the two principal disciples of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, will preside over the Medicine Buddha Grand Prayer and the

Thailand was named the world's second best country for medical tourism in 2026 after Turkey, according to a ranking by leading digital platform Travel And Tour World. Tourists visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, Aug. 6, 2024 The ranking assesses 50 destinations based on key factors influencing medical travelers, including quality of healthcare, specialist expertise, advanced medical technology, treatment costs, waiting times, and post-treatment recovery options. Thai

China's Jiangxi Yangfeng Art Fireworks Display and Portugal's Macedos Pirotecnia have secured places in the final of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2026, organizers announced on June 28. A fireworks performance from Portugal’s Macedos Pirotecnia at Da Nang International Fireworks Festival in 2026 The two teams were selected by the jury of DIFF 2026 after the qualifying rounds, based on criteria including concept and theme, creativity, pyrotechnic effects,

Japan's Osaka Itami Airport was named the best airport in Asia in a global ranking of 279 international airports by flight compensation services provider AirHelp, based on on-time performance, overall experience, and terminal facilities. Osaka Itami Airport in Japan Globally, the airport ranked 12th, ahead of Singapore's Changi (13th). Osaka Itami Airport, the primary domestic airport for the Kansai region of Japan, including its major cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, was pr

Japan's Sézanne, once crowned Asia's best restaurant, has lost its coveted three Michelin stars ahead of the Michelin Guide's autumn 2026 update following the departure of its founding chef. Sézanne Restaurant in Japan's Tokyo While Michelin made no public announcement, users on online forum Reddit recently noticed that Sézanne's three-star designation had disappeared from the Michelin Guide website. The move follows the exit of opening chef Daniel Calvert in April, according

Dubai International Airport, named the world's busiest international airport by passenger traffic, will close permanently by 2035 as Dubai shifts all flight operations to nearby Al Maktoum International Airport. An Emirates airplane at Dubai International Airport, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 7, 2026 All flights and services currently operating at Dubai International Airport, including those of Emirates, will be relocated to

Two new restaurants received Michelin stars at a ceremony on Thursday night, taking the total number of establishments rated in Vietnam to 11. Representatives of Vietnamese restaurants receiving their one Michelin star at a ceremony in Hanoi on June 4, 2026 The two new entries, each getting one star, are Onvit in Hanoi and Upstairs in HCMC. Chef Truong Hiep, 31, co-founder of Upstairs, opened 18 months ago, said the restaurant offers contemporary Vietnamese cuisine by preserv

Da Nang has claimed top spot among Vietnam's most searched summer destinations, data from Dutch travel agency Booking.com shows. Fireworks show on the Han River in Da Nang during the opening night of the International Fireworks Festival, May 30 2026 Nha Trang was in second place and followed by Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, and Hoi An for stays between June 1 and Aug. 31. Rounding out the top 10 were Hanoi, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc, Quy Nhon, and Ha Long, highlighting the continued pop

Singapore, ranked the world's second-richest country by GDP per capita in 2025 behind Switzerland, was named the most desirable travel destination for Fillipino and Indonesian travelers thanks to its low crime rates and political stability, according to a recent survey. A bus runs past the Old Hill Street Police Station in Singapore The State of Southeast Asia: 2026 survey by Singapore-based think tank ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute asked respondents to identify their preferre

Tripadvisor has named a cruise through Vietnam's Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay among the world's top 10 travel experiences for 2026, alongside tours across four continents. A cruise boat glides past the limestone karsts in Ha Long Bay The two or three-night cruise houses guests in cabins, with schedules balancing leisure, activities, and food. Active travelers can kayak, swim, or cycle through fishing villages at port stops, while others relax on deck taking in the scenery. Cooking c

Vietnam's meat-free take on its iconic noodle soup pho has earned international recognition, landing at number 35 in a ranking of the world's best vegan dishes by TasteAtlas. Bowls of vegan pho with plant-based toppings at an eatery in Hanoi The "Top 100 Vegan Dishes in the World" list was compiled from over 27,000 ratings, of which about 15,000 were verified as legitimate by the system. Vegan pho swaps the beef or chicken bone broth for a plant-based stock built on mushrooms

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport in Singapore has been named the world's best airport hotel for the eleventh time at the 2026 World Airport Awards as voted by U.K.-based aviation rating body Skytrax. A room with garden view inside Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel at Changi Airport, Singapore The ranking placed Grand Hyatt at San Francisco International Airport in the U.S. in second position, followed by the Fairmont Vancouver Airport in Canada. The survey assessed passenger exper

Air New Zealand will launch a regular direct service linking Singapore and Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island starting Oct. 28. An Air New Zealand aircraft Flights for the new service are now on sale, with operations scheduled three times a week. More than 34,000 seats will be offered on the route during the northern winter season, according to a statement from the airline on Wednesday. The flights, which take about 10 hours, will be operated using the airline’s retro

South Korea's Incheon, the world's second best airport after Changi in the 2026 Skytrax awards, has completed a major renovation of staff lounges at Terminal 2, expanding rest facilities and launching full-scale operations this month to improve working conditions for on-site employees. A rest area at Incheon International Airport Incheon International Airport Corporation, which runs the airport, said Thursday that it renovated and expanded three staff lounges at Terminal 2 af