This Week in Asia /
Lifestyle & Culture
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K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop
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Fame and celebrity
Malaysia
X marks the bot: Malaysia says Grok ban may be lifted if it is proven to be safe
Though X has deactivated several prompts, more changes need to be made to ensure the site’s safety, Malaysia’s communications minister says.
3 hours ago
Indonesia
Satire on trial: Indonesian comic faces blasphemy complaints over Netflix jokes
14 Jan 2026 - 6:30PM
Japan
Japan’s ‘love hotel’ mayor stages comeback, shattering political taboos
14 Jan 2026 - 4:31PM
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The Philippines
Philippine tourism chief’s magazine cover draws backlash as visitor numbers slip
Christina Frasco’s cover appearance has drawn accusations from critics that self-promotion is being prioritised over strategy and results.
12 Jan 2026 - 8:48PM
Christina Frasco, secretary of the Philippines’ Department of Tourism. Photo: Handout
Malaysia
‘We are not criminals’: Malaysian LGBTQ event faces conservative backlash
Police have launched an investigation into ‘Glamping With Pride’ after Islamic authorities raised an outcry.
12 Jan 2026 - 6:55PM
Pop culture in Asia
Soft power, hard cash: inside Southeast Asia’s billion-dollar anime obsession
Driven by Gen Z spending and streaming, the region’s US$1.3 billion anime market represents a triumph for Japan’s cultural push.
13 Jan 2026 - 9:36AM
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Malaysia
‘No taste’: Malaysia’s Life of Pi and Squid Game artists warn against AI rush
After viewers slammed AI-enhanced films for looking ‘cheap’, local experts warn that algorithms serve profit, not storytelling.
10 Jan 2026 - 12:00PM
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“Life of Pi”, directed by Ang Lee, won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 2013. Photo: 20th Century Fox
Japan
Meow arriving: Japan railway’s newest cat stationmaster clocks in
Yontama is the third cat to become stationmaster on the Kishigawa Line in Wakayama prefecture after the death of her predecessor last year.
10 Jan 2026 - 10:30AM
Japan
Fisherman, defector or spy? Mystery ‘ghost ship’ discovery puzzles Japan
Korean writing on the boat led to conjecture that it was a ‘ghost ship’ similar to those that washed up on Japanese shores in the past.
3 hours ago
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The Philippines
Soap opera in the sky: why Philippine Airlines’ safety video became a viral hit
The melodramatic Filipino teleserye-style video has racked up millions of views online by blending safety rules with storytelling.
9 Jan 2026 - 3:22PM
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Indonesia
Bali’s toughest tourism proposal yet: checking foreign visitors’ bank accounts
Bali’s governor says the plan would deter low-spending visitors, though its enforcement would face legal and practical hurdles.
9 Jan 2026 - 6:19PM
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Tourists walk through a shopping area in Seminyak, Bali, on August 1, 2025. The island has seen a surge in foreign arrivals as officials push for “quality tourism” measures. Photo: EPA
Indonesia
Is 12 too young? Rare matricide case tests Indonesia’s juvenile justice system
The girl, often threatened with a knife by her mother, was inspired to use one after playing online games and watching anime, police say.
8 Jan 2026 - 1:30PM
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Singapore
Singer Henry Lau calls out Singapore concert venue over blocked views
Lau says he is speaking out ‘for the sake of future artistes’ after the venue layout affected his interactions with fans.
6 Jan 2026 - 11:06PM
Japan
Japan’s fix for a shrinking workforce? Corporate dating apps
Companies like Toyota are playing cupid, betting that matching staff with partners from supportive firms will prevent burnout and resignations.
6 Jan 2026 - 5:04PM
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Singapore
Small market, global competition: can Singapore’s filmmakers break out abroad?
The government has rolled out a US$155.6 million programme to help local filmmakers reach wider markets amid shrinking cinema audiences.
5 Jan 2026 - 8:01AM
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The Projector, an independent cinema at Golden Mile Tower in Singapore, closed in 2024 amid rising costs and falling attendance. Photo: Handout
Japan
Japan’s shoplifters hate a simple ‘hello’ more than cameras
Experts say that in an age of urban isolation, the pressure of ‘real human eyes’ creates more panic in thieves than hi-tech security.
4 Jan 2026 - 8:00AM
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Singapore
‘Deeply distressing’: Singapore’s animal shelters struggle with costs
Cases of animal cruelty and poor welfare have also surged, with the SPCA reporting 961 confirmed cases last year.
8 Jan 2026 - 9:07AM
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Tourism
Asian travellers brace for ‘chilling’ US social media scrutiny
The proposal, which requires visa-exempt visitors to provide five years of social media history, comes amid moves to toughen US borders.
1 Jan 2026 - 5:45PM
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Travellers walk through the arrival hall at La Guardia Airport in New York on December 23, 2025. Photo: AFP
Singapore
‘Felt left out’: ex-students’ videos on Singapore’s elite schools spark debate
When she was in an elite primary school, her classmates were shocked to find out that most Singaporeans lived in public flats.
1 Jan 2026 - 2:10PM
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The Philippines
Singapore PM excited about Jessica Sanchez’s show in Cebu, Marcos’ wife says
The wife of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr says Filipino-American singer Jessica Sanchez will be performing at the Asean summit in 2026.
31 Dec 2025 - 6:27PM
The Philippines
How illegal firecrackers ignite a dangerous Philippine new year tradition
Despite decades of regulation, warnings and police raids, Filipinos continue to welcome the new year with explosive celebrations.
30 Dec 2025 - 11:00AM
Malaysia
How the Peranakan Chinese built one of Southeast Asia’s most powerful networks
Born of trade and migration, the Peranakan community has forged a distinct identity that has bridged China and Southeast Asia for centuries.
27 Dec 2025 - 4:00PM
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The Khoo elders observe the Tung Chen prayer ceremony in the ancestral hall of the Long San Tong Khoo Kongsi on December 20. Photo: Ushar Daniele
Indonesia
Power, protests and policy shake-ups shape Indonesia’s 2025
President Prabowo Subianto asserts his authority as he navigates the global stage and domestic challenges in his first full year in office.
26 Dec 2025 - 4:00PM
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South Korea
In South Korea, vouchers to curb county’s falling population draw new residents
Officials in Okcheon, however, are looking to identify fake residents who change addresses without moving in.
26 Dec 2025 - 3:56PM
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Malaysia
Hair-raising: Malaysia arrests 2 over video of man in headscarf drinking alcohol
The pair are being investigated for causing religious disharmony and misusing social media.
25 Dec 2025 - 11:41AM
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