Category: Asia

Business

AI Songs Are Taking Over Streaming Platforms — Now Spotify, Tidal and the Music Industry Are Fighting Back

Artificial intelligence is changing how music is created, but the backlash against fully AI-generated songs is becoming impossible for the music industry to ignore. Streaming platforms and music organizations are now moving toward stricter labeling, reduced monetization and tighter chart eligibility rules as concerns grow over transparency, streaming fraud and the use of artists’ work to train AI systems. The debate has shifted from whether AI belongs in music to a much bigger question: Should

September 6, 2026

Business

South Korea’s Won Surges, But Companies Are Hoarding Dollars — Here’s What’s Really Happening

South Korea’s won has staged a dramatic recovery against the U.S. dollar, but instead of rushing to convert their dollar holdings, Korean companies are building up their foreign-currency deposits to record levels. Dollar deposits at five major South Korean banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup — reached approximately $76.98 billion as of Sept. 3, the highest level since the banks began compiling comparable data in May 2021, according to financial industry data reported by Yon

September 6, 2026

Lifestyle

South Korea’s Household Loans Finally Fall After 6 Months — But the Debt Problem Isn’t Over Yet

South Korea’s major banks have recorded their first monthly decline in household loans in six months, signaling that tighter lending controls are beginning to put the brakes on borrowing even as demand for mortgages remains strong. The combined household-loan balance at the country’s five largest commercial banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup — stood at 781.39 trillion won ($580.49 billion) as of Sept. 3, down 727.6 billion won from the end of August, according to data comp

September 6, 2026

Business

Bilibili’s $700M Funding Move Has Tencent Written All Over It—But the Bigger Play Is Still Coming

Bilibili is turning to the capital markets for $700 million in convertible senior notes, with longtime investor Tencent committing $200 million—as the Chinese video platform looks to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities while buying back shares. The transaction, initially announced as a proposed offering on September 4, has since been priced. Bilibili said the notes will mature on September 15, 2031, while Tencent will subscribe for $200 million of the issue and the remaining $50

September 6, 2026

Entertainment

Most Families Avoid This Conversation — But Planning Your Death Could Be the Greatest Gift You Leave Behind

Talking about death is uncomfortable. Planning your own funeral can feel even more unsettling. But in Singapore, an increasing number of people are doing exactly that — deciding in advance how they want to be cared for, what should happen to their assets, and even what their funeral should look like. The shift is being driven by an ageing population, changing attitudes toward funerals and a growing recognition that leaving everything until the final moment can place an enormous emotional and p

September 6, 2026

Business

He Started Making Teochew Crafts at 9 With Chocolate Wrappers — 40 Years Later, He May Be One of Singapore’s Last

At just nine years old, Francis Tan Kwee Chye had no master, no formal training and no expensive tools. He had scraps of wood, a penknife, a camera — and even discarded chocolate wrappers. More than four decades later, the 50-year-old Singaporean has turned that childhood obsession into a lifelong craft, handmaking traditional Teochew wood carvings, lanterns and paper effigies while trying to preserve skills that are becoming increasingly difficult to pass on.  From a curious boy to a self-

September 6, 2026

Entertainment

Vacations Are Getting More Expensive — But Americans Aren’t Giving Up. Here’s the New Budget Travel Trick

Rising airfare, gasoline and accommodation costs are putting more pressure on travelers in 2026, but Americans are not necessarily abandoning their vacation plans. Instead, many budget-conscious travelers are finding increasingly creative ways to make trips fit their wallets. Data cited by CNBC shows that Americans with lower incomes are continuing to spend on travel even as transportation costs climb, while travel companies are responding with cheaper packages, mystery destinations and other v

September 6, 2026

Politics

Trump Is Betting Big on AI Data Centers — But His Own Voters Could Turn Them Into a GOP Midterm Nightmare

President Donald Trump has made the rapid expansion of artificial-intelligence data centers a key part of his vision for keeping the United States ahead of China. But as the 2026 midterm elections approach, that strategy is creating an unexpected political headache: Republican candidates in several battleground states are increasingly distancing themselves from the president’s aggressive pro-data-center position. The fight is no longer simply about artificial intelligence. It is increasingly

September 6, 2026

Entertainment

Tennis Stars Are Bringing Their Dogs to the Biggest Tournaments — The Reason Behind the Trend Is More Serious Than It Looks

NEW YORK — For an elite tennis player, life on tour can mean airports, hotel rooms and tournament venues across the world, often with long stretches away from family and familiar surroundings. Now, an increasing number of players are bringing a different kind of support team with them: their dogs. The trend has become increasingly visible at major tournaments, where pets are moving beyond social-media cameos and becoming genuine companions for players dealing with the emotional and practical p

September 6, 2026

Politics

U.S. and Iran Trade Fire at Sea After Tanker Strikes — Is the Strait of Hormuz Next?

The latest exchange between the United States and Iran has sharply escalated tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers and Tehran said it retaliated by targeting tankers and U.S.-linked vessels. The confrontation unfolded Saturday, Sept. 5, after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy ships, according to U.S. Central Command. Washington said the American vessels avoided the attacks and that no U.S.

September 6, 2026