Korea Observer

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines – Lady Gaga is getting ready to kick off her “The Born This Way Ball” world tour in Seoul on April 27 amid protests by local conservative Christian groups that the singer promotes homosexuality and pornography. The flamboyant singer arrived in Seoul on April 20 wearing a mask and a gown, a week before her concert to do rehearsals. Lady Gaga upon her arrival in Seoul and at the rehearsals. (Photos by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines – Japanese girl group AKB48 swept the Billboard Japan Music Awards, bagging four awards including the Artist of the Year. AKB48 (Billboard Japan) T-ara (Billboard Japan)

Fresh off the MuchMusic Awards, which she  opened  and  closed  in Canada last Sunday,  Lady Gaga  kicked off the MTV Video Music Aid Japan benefit show as part of a two-hour event that was expressly devised to benefit the Japanese Red Cross. The event was broadcast live from Makuhari Messe and aired to more than 30 million households on MTV Japan, MTV Korea, MTV SEA and MTV China.