Category: Business

Business

Even Snakes Have to Audition: Princess the Boa Constrictor Wins a Role at the Metropolitan Opera

Even Snakes Have to Audition: Princess the Boa Constrictor Wins a Role at the Metropolitan Opera NEW YORK — Landing a role at one of the world's most famous opera houses is not easy. You need talent. Stage presence. The right personality. And apparently, scales. A boa constrictor named Princess has beaten the competition to land a role at New York's Metropolitan Opera after taking part in an unusual audition for the company's upcoming production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Così fan tutte.

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Business

George Lucas Opens a $1 Billion Galaxy of Art—And Star Wars Is Only a Small Part of It

LOS ANGELES — George Lucas gave the world Star Wars, lightsabers, Darth Vader and one of the most famous galaxies in movie history. But his latest creation is designed to take visitors far beyond a galaxy far, far away. After years of planning, delays and changing locations, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is finally preparing to open its doors in Los Angeles — and despite the name behind it, this is not simply a museum filled with Star Wars memorabilia. In fact, Star Wars occupies only a s

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Business

Porsche’s New Macan GTS Proves an Electric SUV Can Still Feel Like a Driver’s Car

SINGAPORE — Electric SUVs are supposed to be quiet, fast and efficient. The new Porsche Macan GTS is all three. But Porsche wants it to be something more. It wants this to be an electric SUV for people who still care about what happens when the road starts to twist. With the legendary 718 Boxster and Cayman production now drawing to a close, the Macan GTS arrives at a particularly interesting moment for Porsche. For buyers looking for something relatively compact but still carrying the brand

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Business

Lee Jae Myung Arrives in France as Macron Summit Draws Focus on Security, AI and Hormuz

NICE, France — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has arrived in France for a four-day state visit that could produce major developments in security, advanced technology, economic cooperation and cultural diplomacy, with a bilateral summit with French President Emmanuel Macron scheduled for Tuesday in Paris. Lee arrived in Nice on Sunday, September 6, beginning a September 6–9 visit that comes just months after Macron's state visit to South Korea in April. The two countries are also marking 1

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Business

Naver Shuts Down Services as South Korea’s Tech Giant Bets Big on AI and Commerce

SEOUL, South Korea — Naver is shutting down several standalone services as South Korea’s internet giant makes a major strategic shift toward artificial intelligence, AI-powered commerce and digital infrastructure. The latest move will see Naver’s music-streaming platform VIBE shut down on December 31, 2026, while Naver TV will cease operations on September 30. The company has also already retired its standalone AI services Clova X and Cue:, folding their technology into newer AI-powered feature

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Business

Singapore’s IPO Market Is Making a Comeback — But One Major Problem Still Threatens SGX

SINGAPORE — While Hong Kong and Malaysia race ahead in Asia’s booming initial public offering market, Singapore is quietly staging its own comeback — one built less on the number of listings and more on the value they bring. The Singapore Exchange (SGX) may not be matching the IPO frenzy seen elsewhere in Asia, but analysts say the city-state’s stock market is showing signs of a meaningful recovery after several years of sluggish listing activity. In the first half of 2026, Singapore recorded

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Business

Singapore Retiree Spends 8 Years Sweeping Carpark for Free — ‘Seeing It Clean Makes Me Happy’

SINGAPORE — Most people dream of slowing down after retirement. But for 78-year-old former taxi driver Chen Jinhe, sitting at home was never part of the plan. For more than eight years, the Singapore retiree has voluntarily swept fallen leaves at an open-air carpark in Ang Mo Kio — without a boss, without a salary and using many of his own tools. His simple daily routine has now captured public attention, with one reason behind his remarkable dedication: he simply enjoys seeing the place clean

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Business

China’s Property Reset Has Begun: Why Beijing Is Dismantling Housing Presales Without Killing Them Overnight

BEIJING — China is finally moving away from the housing system that helped fuel one of the biggest property booms in modern history. But Beijing is not pulling the plug overnight. For decades, Chinese developers have relied heavily on selling apartments before construction was completed. Buyers would put down deposits, take out mortgages and begin paying for homes that often existed only on paper. The system powered a spectacular building boom. It also helped create a dangerous cycle of debt

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Business

From Sarawak Longhouses to Kuala Lumpur: Can Malaysia’s Ancient Tuak Become the Next Global Drink?

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — For generations, tuak was made in Sarawak homes and longhouses, poured during harvest festivals, family gatherings and important cultural celebrations. It did not need glossy packaging. It did not need a marketing campaign. And it certainly did not need to compete for shelf space in Malaysia's modern cities. Now, a new generation of Malaysian entrepreneurs wants to change that. Young brewers and business owners are taking tuak — Sarawak's traditional fermented rice

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