Philippines Pop Culture: Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan filed a resolution praising SB19 for becoming the first all-Filipino act to perform at Lollapalooza 2026 in Chicago, calling it a milestone for Original Pilipino Music on the global stage. Malaysia Travel & Security: Malaysia halted issuance of international passports valid beyond 10 years after some holders faced airline check-in problems; existing holders will get free replacements capped at 10 years. Thailand Public Safety: Thailand vowed to tighten gun controls after two deadly shootings near Bangkok, including a school attack in Nonthaburi that killed at least eight. Malaysia Border Crackdown: KLIA Customs seized 1.53 million cigarette sticks and 60.47 kg of cannabis buds worth over RM6.17m in four smuggling cases, including drugs hidden in luggage and children’s toy boxes. Singapore Finance: Trust Bank launched the Freedom Card, Singapore’s first “stockback” credit card that turns spending rewards into fractional US stock/ETF investments. South Asia Terror Update: A UN sanctions monitoring report said the November 2025 Red Fort attack was officially attributed to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). China Weather: Typhoon Dolphin brought extreme rainfall across inland China, smashing records from Zhejiang to Beijing. Asia Youth Jobs: An ILO report warns global youth unemployment rose to 12.4% in 2025, with NEET rates also edging up. Malaysia Tech Investment: VentureTECH invested RM28m in three bumiputera-led tech firms to boost industrial automation, healthcare, and digital inclusion.