Indonesia's traditional sport Pacu Jalur has gained international attention due to viral videos of its energetic choreography, particularly by 11-year-old dancer Rayyan Arkan Dhika, who performs "aura farming" moves at the front of rowing teams. The competition, held annually in Kuantan Singingi, Riau, features long wooden boats racing down the river with a young dancer maintaining balance to avoid falling into the water. The sport has been recognized as Indonesia's intangible cultural heritage and is being considered for UNESCO status, with Culture Minister Fadli Zon announcing plans to nominate it.
Abbie Chatfield Denies Engagement Rumors with Adam
7.22.25
Abbie Chatfield has shut down speculation about wearing an engagement ring on her left hand during a New Year's Eve performance with her partner Adam. The couple, who debuted their romance in June 2024, were spotted packing on the PDA at the Hindley St Music Hall in Adelaide. Abbie joined Adam on stage for his band Peking Duk's set and later shared a kiss as they counted down to 2025.
K-pop group Blackpink has achieved significant success with their latest release "Jump", which debuted at number one on the Billboard Global 200 chart and is also sitting atop the Billboard Global Excl. chart. The group's digital billboard campaign in Seoul marks the kickoff of their world tour, further solidifying their popularity globally.
CKGSB Launches Art Price Benchmark System Globally
7.22.25
CKGSB has launched new MM Continental Art Price Indices, a long-term art price benchmark system that compares prices based on artists' birthplaces across Asia-Africa-Oceania, Europe, and the Americas. The indices show regional growth patterns, with Asia-Africa-Oceania recording the strongest 7.7% CAGR, followed by the Americas at 31.7% and Europe at 22.4%. China's art market rebounded by 9% in Spring 2025, while a 10-year rolling return on art turned negative in 2023-2024, suggesting potential undervaluation. CKGSB and SDA Bocconi have signed an MOU to co-develop new tools, including European country-level indices and sentiment metrics, to provide transparency to the market.
Dubai Culture has received an ITU award for its innovative project Saruq Al-Hadid, developed in collaboration with Khalifa University of Science and Technology. The project uses remote sensing technology, AI applications, and geophysical survey techniques to explore an Iron Age site, identifying over 2,500 anomalies that suggest the presence of significant artifacts. This recognition highlights Dubai Culture's commitment to integrating innovation into its cultural sector and contributing to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, stated that adopting forward-thinking technologies helps preserve cultural heritage while strengthening Dubai's cultural voice globally.
Harco Denies Liability for Baldoni's Alleged Misconduct Costs
7.22.25
Harco Insurance claims it has no duty to pay legal fees for production company Wayfarer or its officers due to alleged misconduct occurring before the policy's effective date. The alleged sexual harassment by Justin Baldoni, which occurred from April to June 2023, predates the two one-year-long policies that insured the production from July 2023 to 2025. Blake Lively initiated a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of "It Ends With Us", while Harco claims Wayfarer failed to inform them of her complaints, including an email in November 2023 and a meeting in January 2024.
Jay Park Returns with 'Serenades & Body Rolls' Tour
7.22.25
Jay Park is set to embark on his 'Serenades & Body Rolls' world tour, starting with two concerts in Seoul in May, followed by performances in Japan at Yokohama on July 28 and Osaka on July 30. The tour marks Jay Park's first major concert outing in six years, following his 2019 "Sexy 4eva" tour.
MONSTA X, a popular South Korean group, made their first full-group fan appearance in over four years with three shows at Seoul's KSPO Dome from July 18 to 20. The reunion comes after the members' military enlistments and marks a decade since their formation. During a press event, Hyungwon and Shownu discussed their return, stating that nothing has changed in terms of teamwork and passion for practice. They also teased an upcoming album release on September 1, 2025, with a cryptic message on Instagram.
The Naadam Fair in Inner Mongolia's Autonomous Region has planned 18 zones, including traditional Mongolian cultural displays and modern experiences like grassland photography in folk costumes. Visitors can watch performances and participate in activities such as horseback riding and stamp collection to experience the unique charm of grassland culture through interaction.