South East Asia (SEA)

On November 26, 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. started on a crucial working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During his meeting with UAE President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, both leaders praised the strong bilateral ties that have grown over the years, encompassing new areas such as culture, energy transition, legal cooperation, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and investment. They also explored prospects for partnership in security, research, technology, and environmental sustainability, with a particular emphasis on climate action and plastic waste management. A key highlight of the visit was the emphasis on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which both leaders believe will drive mutual prosperity and strengthen economic relations. President Marcos also took the opportunity to express his deep appreciation for the UAE’s humanita...

With Moana 2, the aesthetically spectacular follow-up to the acclaimed original, Disney continues its tradition of animated blockbusters. It must live up to its predecessor even though it brings new experiences and a new chapter for the main character and Disney's animation methods. Even with its amazing sights, its impact is somewhat lessened by a few musical flaws. Moana 2 picks up years after the original, with Moana now an older, more mature chief of Motunui. The film explores the responsibilities of leadership while preserving her adventurous spirit. A standout addition is Moana's younger sister, Simea, who adds warmth and vitality to the story. As Moana takes on the role of mentor, her character evolves from a brave young woman to a wise leader. The plot kicks off with a visit from Moana’s Wayfinding ancestors, urging her to journey to the secret island of Motu Fetu to lift a curse and prevent the destruction of Motunui. The thrilling adventure is filled with danger, new...

The Netflix documentary Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey 's director, Joe Berlinger, expressed his conviction that the Ramsey family was innocent of the notorious 1996 murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey. In an interview with the New York Post, Berlinger expressed hope that the case could still be solved while criticizing the Boulder Police Department's handling of it and calling for a shift in investigation tactics. The death of JonBenét, a teenage beauty pageant competitor, in her family's Boulder, Colorado home caused a media flurry and is still one of the most puzzling unsolved crimes in America. In the 1996 JonBenét Ramsey case, initial focus shifted from a ransom note demanding $118,000 to suspicions surrounding her family—parents John and Patsy Ramsey, and brother Burke. The media's scrutiny labeled them prime suspects, but the case remains unsolved. Documentary director Joe Berlinger supports the intruder theory, calling it more plausible than family in...

In front of the main character, Anne Hathaway will play the lead in the highly anticipated movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel Verity. With Hathaway playing the lead role of Verity Crawford, the film, directed by Michael Showalter, aims to graphically depict the novel's horrible story. On Thursday, November 21, Hoover herself made the announcement on social media, which delighted both the famous actress and book lovers. Verity Crawford, best-selling mystery author, tells the story of Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer hired by Jeremy Crawford to finish a book series left unfinished by the victim of an unidentified accident. Lowen discovers terrible secrets hidden in Verity's incomplete books and gets sucked into her predecessor's personal endeavors. It starts out as a professional project but soon devolves into a psychological horror with twists and turns that make the audience wonder what is genuine and what is fake. Hathaway’s performance as Veri...

 Gucci is prepared to take a drastic step to transform the fashion business by altering its presentation strategy for 2025. Under the creative guidance of Sabato De Sarno, the high-end fashion house is anticipated to produce three cohesive fashion shows throughout the year, featuring both men's and women's collections, signifying a significant shift in how fashion is presented globally. Under De Sarno's direction, this intricate project aims to combine occasionally divergent gendered collections into a cohesive story, representing Gucci's changing and progressive perspective. In 2025, Gucci will depart from traditional seasonal show models and host three planned fashion events with the goal of combining the collections for men and women into a single, coherent exhibition. The purpose of this artistic endeavor is to question conventional wisdom regarding fashion events and present a novel account of the gender shift in fashion. Instead of showing separate exhibitions for...

Hanni, a member of the internationally popular K-pop girl group NewJeans, has been advised that she does not qualify as an employee under South Korean labor law; this decision has sparked much debate over the legal rights and workplace regulations for artists in the entertainment industry. This came after the Seoul Regional Office of Employment and Labor concluded an investigation into a harassment allegation made by Hanni's supporters, which revolved around an incident in which a manager from another K-pop group under the HYBE label allegedly advised their artists to "ignore" Hanni at the HYBE headquarters in central Seoul. The  harassment complaint  was reported shortly after Hanni’s dramatic testimony at a parliamentary audit on October 15, when she broke down in tears describing the challenges K-pop performers face in the industry. The situation that led to the allegation began when a management allegedly told musicians under their control to avoid Hanni, which set of...

Ariana Grande's recent appearance at the November 2024 Wicked premiere caught the attention of both fans and the media, but not for the reasons most people would have thought. The star, who has consistently drawn attention from the public, raised serious health concerns after being spotted at the event appearing extremely thin. The singer looked stunning in a stunning cream gown with a plunging bustier that accentuated her incredibly slim figure for the movie's big-screen premiere photocall. Many fans felt uneasy about her relatively small frame, which led to a lot of discussion about her health even though her clothes were obviously elegant. She accessorized her ensemble with a pretty pearl necklace, completing her well-chosen, understated look. In order to highlight her stunning attractiveness, Ariana's gorgeous golden hair was styled away from her face. Despite her beautiful appearance, fans were concerned and questioned whether she was in good health because of her deli...