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www.scmp.com Why raising prices in Japan amid ‘insanely high’ inflation backfires on firms Uniqlo’s socks U-turn and Saizeriya’s Doria apology show it’s not easy to change consumers’ entrenched deflationary mindset. 
www.scmp.com Money over models: big fashion brand contracts seek range of AI rights Reviews of a dozen confidential photo-shoot contracts, including from Diesel, Calvin Klein and L’Oreal, show how AI is upending modelling. 
www.scmp.com Southeast Asia’s green push brings solar power, but who pays to keep it on? As Cop31 targets billions in green finance, remote communities across Southeast Asia struggle with the recurring cost of power. 
www.scmp.com From delight to despair: Indonesians furious as data centre boom drains taps Data centres worsen water shortages amid El Nino-fuelled drought, sparking protests and forcing some residents to skip showers. 
www.scmp.com China US$300 dating app ‘marriage-or-refund’ guarantee sparks intense online buzz One observer notes AI matchmaking could create happier marriages, helping lift society’s cynicism towards romance. 