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K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop

Fame and celebrity

Pigeons are let fly in Mukdahan, Thailand, at the start of a Pattaya International Pigeon Race. Photo: Rathapon Nanthapreecha

Feathered fortunes, sky-high stakes: inside Asia’s richest pigeon race

In eastern Thailand, 5,000 pigeons brave predators and exhaustion in a gruelling sprint for a US$2 million purse.

18 Jan 2026 - 1:30PM

Impulse control: Malaysia’s social media ban targets teen minds

18 Jan 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

X marks the bot: Malaysia says Grok ban may be lifted if it is proven to be safe

15 Jan 2026 - 4:28PM

Indonesian comedian hit with blasphemy complaints over Netflix jokes

Pandji Pragiwaksono’s unfiltered set took aim at the president, but it was a quip about religious groups that triggered police reports.

15 Jan 2026 - 9:54PM

A still from the trailer for Indonesian comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono’s new Netflix special “Mens Rea”. Photo: YouTube/pandji.pragiwaksono

Japan’s ‘love hotel’ mayor stages comeback, shattering political taboos

Akira Ogawa’s return suggests voters are finally judging women in Japanese politics by the same imperfect standards as men.

14 Jan 2026 - 4:31PMvideocam

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

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‘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

A man holds a rainbow flag, commonly used to signal LGBT pride. Photo: Shutterstock

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

‘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 - 12:00PMvideocam

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

Newly appointed cat stationmaster Yontama is held by Wakayama Electric Railway President Mitsunobu Kojima on Wednesday, in Kinokawa, Wakayama prefecture, Japan. Photo: Kyodo

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.

15 Jan 2026 - 5:13PMvideocam

A wooden boat that washed ashore on a beach in Kanazawa, Japan, in 2018. Seven bodies were found nearby. Photo: Kyodo

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 - 3:22PMvideocam

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 - 6:19PMvideocam

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 - 1:30PMvideocam

Faizah Soraya was allegedly stabbed more than 20 times by her 12-year-old daughter. Photo: Handout

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

Canadian singer-songwriter Henry Lau performing at the Singland Festival at the Marina Bay Sands convention centre in Singapore on Saturday. Photo: Aaron Chang

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 - 5:04PMvideocam

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 - 8:01AMvideocam

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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 - 8:00AMvideocam

Shoplifting has grown steadily worse in Japan in recent years, with police recently dismantling a Vietnamese crime ring who had targeted Uniqlo stores across the country. Photo: AFP

‘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

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

‘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 - 2:10PMvideocam

Sunrise in Singapore with the iconic Merlion statue in the background. A viral video on elite schools has sparked a debate on whether such schools may lead to wider social stratification. Photo: Shutterstock

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

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr meeting with Filipino-American singer Jessica Sanchez in Manila on Tuesday. Photo: Instagram / bongbongmarcos

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

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

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 - 4:00PMvideocam

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto closed the year on firm footing despite challenges in his first full year in office. Photo: Reuters

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