SCMP Asia·Friday, January 2, 2026

SCMP Asia - Friday, January 2, 2026

10 stories~15 min

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Stories Covered

Netflix-Warner deal sparks concern in India’s entertainment sector

Netflix’s proposed US$72 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery is stirring concern across India’s entertainment sector, with local players warning that the deal could accelerate a shift away from cinemas and intensify competition in the streaming space. The deal – one of the biggest in the global entertainment industry in years – is expected to strengthen Netflix’s position at the top of the global streaming market by giving it a more extensive content library, including titles from the...

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Sri Lanka probes curriculum error linking 11-year-olds to gay chat site: ‘show your kinky side’

Sri Lanka launched a criminal investigation on Friday after a government syllabus for 11- and 12-year-olds directed pupils to a gay chat website to improve their language skills. The Education Ministry lodged a formal complaint with police and launched an internal inquiry to establish how the blunder took place. “We suspect sabotage,” Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewe said. “We are in the process of implementing educational reforms, and this could be an attempt to stall them.” The...

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Hanwha combat systems deal deepens South Korea’s role in Philippine defence

South Korea’s growing role as a key arms supplier to the Philippines has taken another step forward, with Hanwha Systems set to provide the “brain” that will run two of the Philippine Navy’s next-generation warships. The South Korean defence manufacturer said on Wednesday that it had secured a US$27.7 million contract to supply combat management systems (CMS) and tactical data links for two 3,200-tonne frigates being built for the Philippine Navy. A CMS integrates a warship’s sensors, weapons...

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Air India pilot taken off duty over intoxication allegations in Canada

Canada’s transport regulator has asked Air India to investigate an ‍incident of a pilot reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol and failing two breathalyser tests, a person familiar with the matter said. The tests were conducted by Canadian police at Vancouver International Airport after the pilot was asked ⁠to leave the aircraft, the person said. The incident was labelled as a “serious matter” by Transport Canada in a letter to Air India and authorities are likely to pursue...

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Singapore’s JJ Lin slams ‘smear campaigns’ after relationship reveal with Annalisa

After Singaporean singer JJ Lin seemingly soft-launched his romance with Chinese influencer Annalisa Qi Qi in a family photo posted on social media Instagram on Monday, internet users have been wasting no time hazarding guesses on the who, what, when, where and how of the 44-year-old’s love life. Lin took to social media on Wednesday to provide a recap of an eventful 2025, including difficult moments where his private life was scrutinised. He started by acknowledging the end of the year as well.

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North Korean palace visit by Kim’s daughter renews succession debate

An appearance by the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a sacred palace has renewed scrutiny on whether she is being groomed for succession in the secretive regime. Kim Ju-ae, believed to be around 13 years old, made her first recorded visit on Thursday to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the holiest site in the country dedicated to its hereditary rule, sparking speculation she could receive an official title at a coming party congress. While some observers see her prominent..

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Malaysia’s new year revelry sees less waste as tougher littering laws kick in

Malaysia welcomed 2026 with tougher anti-littering enforcement, as New Year’s Eve celebrations saw less waste in the capital amid expanded efforts to keep the country clean. About 3.2 tonnes of rubbish were scooped up from three major hotspots in Kuala Lumpur – Dataran Merdeka, the KLCC area and Bukit Bintang – after the countdown, according to waste contractor Alam Flora. The figure marked an 11 per cent drop from the 3.6 tonnes collected a year earlier, officials said. Prime Minister Anwar...

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Singapore defies Trump’s tariffs as manufacturing drives growth

Singapore’s pharmaceutical and electronic manufacturers powered the economy in the final three months of 2025, pushing full-year growth to the fastest since its rebound from the pandemic despite fears of a shock from President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Gross domestic product last quarter grew 5.7 per cent from the same period a year ago, according to an advance estimate on Friday from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. That compares with a 6.3 per cent median estimate in a Bloomberg survey and...

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Chinese tourists eye return trips for Visit Malaysia 2026: ‘hot weather, warm hospitality’

International visitors to Sabah found a treat waiting for them when they landed in Kota Kinabalu – Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) has kicked off. Those interviewed expressed excitement at learning more about this campaign, which will see a host of festivals, concerts and international sporting events in the coming months. A couple and their mother from Tianjin, China, were pleased to hear that 2026 is a special tourism year for Malaysia. “We will check out what lies ahead in this Visit Malaysia...

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Why North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is hailing ‘invincible’ Russia ties in new year message

In his new year message, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised troops fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine, a move observers said pointed to Pyongyang’s intention to sustain and deepen military cooperation with Moscow into 2026. The emphasis on Russia came as Seoul and Beijing confirmed plans for a state visit next week, with analysts noting that North Korean state media played down Chinese President Xi Jinping’s new year greeting while highlighting Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s message in..

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