Year: 2023

Music label behind BTS seeks to recreate K-pop model in America

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Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. The South Korean music label behind K-pop sensation BTS is trying to export its star “production system” to the US as it accelerates a global acquisition push. The company is on the hunt for labels around the world to compete with industry giants including Universal Music Group and Sony, Hybe chief executive Jiwon Park told the Financial Times. Hybe will debut a six-member girl group called Katseye in the US…

The music label behind BTS is trying to recreate the K-pop ‘production system’ in US

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Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. The South Korean music label behind K-pop sensation BTS is trying to export its star “production system” to the US as it accelerates a global acquisition push. The company is on the hunt for labels around the world to compete with industry giants including Universal Music Group and Sony, Hybe chief executive Jiwon Park told the Financial Times. Hybe will debut a six-member girl group called Katseye in the US…

China punches up private security to protect overseas interests in hostile, unstable regions

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These types of blockbusters – carefully edited and released under the scrutiny of state censors – fed into the narrative that China should protect its overseas interests when they are threatened, and by force if necessary. But in reality, it is less likely to be the People’s Liberation Army swooping in to save the day, and more likely to be a well-paid private security contractor hired to protect the overseas interests of Chinese businesses – especially those with operations in less stable regions. The Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza war…

Taiwan Reports More Chinese Military Activity as Election Nears

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TAIPEI, TAIWAN —  Taiwan reported Chinese warplanes and warships around the island Saturday, including aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing continues military activities with three weeks to go before Taiwan votes. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for four years of regular Chinese military patrols and drills near the island. Campaigning is underway for Taiwan’s January 13 presidential and parliamentary polls. Relations with China are a major point of contention. Taiwan’s defense ministry said that since 1:30 p.m.…

India arrests two senior employees of Chinese smartphone maker Vivo

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India’s financial crime-fighting agency has arrested two senior employees working for Chinese smartphone maker Vivo’s India unit, a source directly involved with the case said on Saturday, which the company vowed to challenge legally. The arrests come two months after the Enforcement Directorate arrested four industry executives, including one Chinese national, working for Vivo’s Indian unit in a case of alleged money laundering, charges the firm has denied. India has stepped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses and investments following a deadly border clash in 2020. “We are deeply alarmed by…

Deadly Earthquake in China Causes Economic Losses Worth Millions

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BEIJING —  The strong earthquake that hit northwest China this week and killed at least 148 people has caused economic losses estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars, state media reported Saturday. Officials in Gansu conducted preliminary assessments that showed the province’s agricultural and fisheries industries have lost about $74.6 million, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Authorities were considering the best use of the relief fund, set up days before, for the agricultural sector to resume production as soon as possible, the report said. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck…

Heatwave Warnings Issued as Australia Faces Scorching Summer

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SYDNEY —  Australia’s national weather agency on Saturday warned of extreme to severe heatwave conditions over northern parts of the country through Sunday. A lower-intensity heatwave is expected for much of the east coast starting Tuesday. The heatwaves continue the scorching start of summer in Australia. In early December, a heatwave warning affected areas in every state and territory, with the exception of Tasmania. Weather is considered a heatwave when the maximum and minimum temperatures are unusually hot over three days. Local councils in Sydney are setting up heat shelters…

‘Brave and strong’: Chinese victim of unsolved poisoning case dies, prompting flood of sympathy and anger

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Zhu fell ill in late 1994, when she was in her third year at the university and majoring in chemistry. She complained she was losing hair and in pain. It was not until the following April that doctors in Beijing confirmed Zhu had been poisoned with thallium, an acutely toxic substance that is hard to detect. She was diagnosed with the help of the internet after friends exchanged messages about her symptoms with global medical experts in an attempt to get answers. ‘He has destroyed my life’: Chinese doctor ‘poisoned’…

Publicly executed for killing a woman while trying to steal beans

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Hundreds of residents were forced to gather at an airfield in frigid weather to watch authorities execute a 23-year-old man by firing squad, residents in North Korea told Radio Free Asia. His alleged crime was murdering a woman while trying to steal about US$6 worth of beans from her, authorities told them. Another 12 people were given lengthy prison sentences in excess of 10 years for various crimes including robbery, fraud, deception, escaping North Korea and drug trafficking, the residents said. Public executions are a regular occurrence in North Korea.…

Thailand to recover ‘Golden Boy,’ but over 100 stolen artifacts remain abroad

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When an American museum announced last week that it would return two Angkor era statues to Thailand, including the well-known “Golden Boy ” dating to the 11th century, the emotive issue of stolen antiquities became a hot topic here. Turns out, many Thais discovered that more than 100 stolen artifacts from their country are scattered in museums worldwide, according to experts.  But the Thai government, for now, has formally requested the return of only about 30 items – the repatriation of artifacts is a long process – and even those…