The Red Lotus Sea of Udon Thani broke the record of more than 50,000 visitors since early December 2025, being promoted by an artificial viral AI campaign on social media under the hashtag Amazing Thailand, where Blackpink Lisa acted as the Ambassador of TAT. The January 22, 2026 “Feel All the Feelings” image of Lisa on a wooden boat amid …

US trade volumes with Thailand, Indonesia, and Philippines achieved record highs in Q1 2026, defying President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. Despite 19-23% duties, US imports surged 23% from Thailand, 11% from Indonesia, and 38% from Philippines (deficit $4.9B to $6.8B), driven by electronics, semiconductors, and machinery rerouting from China amid “Chinese Plus One” strategies. The value of the total ASEAN-US goods …

Bohol is in the process of preparing to host serious ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) conferences beginning January 26, 2026, in Panglao, the Philippines launch as 2026 ASEAN Chair. Senior economic officials from 10 member states, plus Timor-Leste observers, will convene for the 57th ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM 1/57) and 18th AEC Committee of the Whole, discussing Priority Economic …

Aesthetic tourism has exploded, with a sharp 40% rise in travelers from Singapore and Malaysia booking cosmetic treatments in Bangkok and Seoul this January 2026. Driven by K-beauty and Thai wellness hubs, platforms like Klook and Trip.com report surges in Botox, fillers, laser skin, rhinoplasty, and double eyelid surgery packages combining procedures with stays. The leading hospitals in Bangkok, Bumrungrad …

The cuisine of Jakarta is experiencing a luxurious transformation. Just as the city catches its breath from the viral cookie craze that saw long queues for gooey, soft-baked treats, a new heavyweight has entered the ring: Dubai Croissants. The combination of this newest obsession is the buttery, flaky pastry with the rich and textured filling of the Middle Eastern bar …

Malaysia has officially restored access to Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, effective January 23, 2026. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) eased the suspension when X (formerly, Twitter) had managed to prove that critical safeguards were implemented. The regulatory body had initially imposed the Malaysia Grok ban earlier this month following widespread outrage over the tool’s misuse. Users had …

Indonesia’s ancient rock art sites, housing the world’s oldest known hand stencils dated to 67,800 years at Liang Metanduno cave on Muna Island, face severe environmental damage from climate change, tourism, and salt crystallization. A January 22, 2026 Nature study via uranium-thorium dating confirmed the Sulawesi artwork’s unprecedented age, while Culture Minister Fadli Zon announced national protection status amid accelerating …

Recent spills concerning the Samsung Galaxy S26 family indicate that the release will be faster than anticipated towards the end of January 2026, with an initial sale date reaching February- replacing previous February 25 speculations. Tipsters like Ice Universe reveal a Galaxy Unpacked event unveiling the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra, skipping the underperforming Edge model for a revived …

Philippines tourism leaders, including Department of Tourism DOT Secretary Christina Frasco and industry stakeholders, intensified calls on January 21, 2026, to remove the ₱1,620-₱2,700 travel tax on outbound Filipino travelers to enhance global competitiveness. In a Manila forum, Frasco put it on the legislators, but emphasized infrastructure backwardnesss, 69th of 117 countries, and other financing sources necessary to meet road …

Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla confirmed on January 22, 2026, his intent to submit a “strong and competitive” bid for a stake in IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the 2025 champions owned by Diageo via United Spirits. In a X-post, the pharma magnate already investing in Dharma Productions indicated that it was something serious when it was …