New York City kicks off its 20th annual Asia Week on Friday. More than 30 galleries, both international and local, will showcase Asian art exhibitions and the city's auction houses will host major Asian art auctions. Many museums are getting involved, with at least 17 venues hosting themed shows or workshops. This year, the organisers hope to broaden the scope of the China-centric week to highlight works from South and Southeast Asia.

Tokyo

This is your last chance to see Vermeer's newly restored Woman in Blue Reading a Letter, 1663-64 in Asia before it returns home to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam for an unveiling on March 30. The artwork is wrapping up a Japan tour intended to recoup the cost of its restoration. The painting is on display at Tokyo's Bunkamura Museum of Art until Wednesday.

Los Angeles

HBO premiered its new movie, Game Change, yesterday. The controversial political flick follows US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and explores her effect on the 2008 presidential campaign. Julianne Moore (pictured with director Jay Roach) stars as Palin with Ed Harris as presidential hopeful John McCain. Palin has criticised the show as an example of Hollywood's liberal agenda.

Dubai

The fourth annual Emirates Airline Festival of Literature kicked off yesterday with great fanfare at the Al Mamzar Theatre at the Dubai Cultural and Scientific Association. This year's theme is identity and brings together more than 120 authors over five days. The festival aims to promote literacy in the region by encouraging the participation of local students.

Singapore

'Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal' opens at Singapore's ArtScience Museum on Saturday. The exhibit features more than 250 pieces spanning the iconic artist's career including the famous Campbell's soup can and Marilyn Monroe portrait. In August the show takes off on a year-long Asian tour that will take it to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and finally Tokyo before heading home to the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.