“Blackpink in your area”, seven years since Jennie announced the girls’ arrival in the K-Pop industry, South Korean girl group Blackpink is reaching the end of their initial contract with YG Entertainment. Since their debut in 2016, the quartet has achieved tremendous worldwide success, with many media outlets dubbing titles such as “the biggest pop band in the world”, or “the biggest K-pop girl band in the world”. But with their contract termination date coming up soon, the future of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa has become a popular subject of speculation.

During the Cold War, some proxy wars engaged by the US, against the spread of communism, were highly discussed or contested. Other ‘wars’ against communism and its adherents were being played in the shadows and dealt with discretion. In 1965, the US successfully conspired with the government of Suharto to eradicate the communists in Indonesia, and was fully complicit in the mass murders of more than hundreds thousands of human beings.

2023 has begun with significant events, including the legalization of cross-border same-sex marriage in Taiwan, China's first population decline, and changes in political leadership in Vietnam. Eased travel restrictions in China are also notable.

In Japan, New Year’s celebration is called Oshōgatsu. It is celebrated from New Year’s Eve until January 3rd. On New Year’s Eve, people visit shrines and temples, listen to the temple bells ring 108 times on the stroke of midnight, and enjoy some buckwheat noodles. The following days are filled with visiting family, friends and acquaintances. Some also go for the traditional first visit to the shrine of the year.