All Articles

Popular boy band Stray Kids has helped Korea take a big step toward turning global K-pop fans into actual visitors, with the group's promotional videos for the country's tourism authority now surpassing 10 million views. A poster for Stray Kids’ RUN IT world tour, promoting regional destinations during the group’s Seoul concert The videos were launched by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) for its BIAS Stray Kids Busan Trip campaign in July in partnership with JYP Entertain

Thailand's tourism authority said its Amazing Thailand Ambassador campaign featuring South Korean band Blackpink's Lisa had generated more than THB567 million (US$17 million) in estimated publicity value. Blackpink’s Lisa features in Thailand’s "Feel All the Feelings" tourism campaign, showcasing the country’s destinations and experiences to international audiences The campaign, launched in January 2026 under the "Feel All the Feelings" concept, used her international profile

Pop star Ed Sheeran's opening acts and his own band have quit his U.S. tour in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was cut from the musical lineup over his "free Palestine" ​remarks on stage criticizing Israeli government actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Ed Sheeran performs during the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert at Madison Square Garden, in New York City, U.S. on Dec. 12, 2025 The backlash from Sheeran's touring companions came after the English-born singer-songwrite

NFL star Travis Kelce, the newlywed husband of Taylor Swift, has purchased a US$5.35 million mansion in Ohio. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Kelce likely bought the mansion in March, ahead of his wedding, according to The Wall Street Journal. Situated on more than 21,000 square feet along Lake Erie in the affluent village of Bratenahl, Ohio, the estate seamlessly blends historic elegance with modern design. The 1895 residence boasts 8 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, according to TM

Newly crowned Miss Korea 2026 Woo Seo Yoon has become the subject of online speculation over whether she underwent cosmetic procedures, reviving debate over beauty standards and judging criteria in modern pageants. Woo Seo Yoon at the pageant finale Woo beat 25 other finalists at the national final in Seoul to win the title, according to Sports Chosun. She appeared surprised when her name was announced and said she had not expected to win. "I didn't expect it at all, so I cou

Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou has bought two houses for US$15.1 million, and registered them in his wife Kun Ling’s name. He paid entirely in cash without obtaining a bank mortgage, according to Money UDN. Jay Chou at his wife’s birthday The two properties, spanning a total of 990 square meters, are in a residential area in Taipei and have scenic views and premium amenities. Sources said the singer had been planning the purchase since last year, finalizing the transaction just

Chinese actor Ding Yuxi has gifted a fan a gold necklace reportedly worth more than US$4,850 as a “dowry” after her boyfriend proposed to her during his concert. Chinese actor Ding Yuxi at a Lao Feng Xiang jewelry event on Aug. 17, 2026 The fan, known online as King Jiujinjin, shared a video on Douyin showing her boyfriend proposing with a gold ring during Ding’s performance of "Dissipating Dialogue" at a concert in Chengdu, according to AsiaOne. Ding later attended an event

South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun is set to make his first official public appearance in his home country in roughly a year and a half when he attends The Fact Music Awards 2026 as a presenter on Sept. 19. South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun Organized by South Korean media outlet The Fact, this year’s ceremony will take place at Busan Asiad Main Stadium, following editions held in Osaka, Japan, in 2024 and Macau, China, in 2025. The awards ceremony follows several recent overseas a

Pop icon Madonna celebrated her 68th birthday in Greece with five of her children and boyfriend Akeem Morris, who is 38 years younger than her. Madonna with her boyfriend Akeem Morris during a recent trip to Greece The singer marked her Aug. 16 birthday by sharing photos and videos from a getaway on the Greek island of Corfu, including yacht trips and time with family and friends. Morris also posted pictures with Madonna, prompting enthusiastic reactions from fans, People rep

Australia’s recorded music industry will bar tracks wholly generated by artificial intelligence from official charts as burgeoning generative technologies threaten artists’ livelihoods, a representative said on Tuesday. AI-generated images depicting music production The crackdown comes as a variation of Madonna’s pop hit "Like a Prayer" created by an Australian producer using AI-generated vocals and drums has spent 16 weeks in the Australian top 20, stoking debate about gener

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi reportedly made 305 million yuan (US$45.2 million) after selling part of her stake in a children's skincare company she co-founded. Actress Zhang Ziyi, 47 According to National Business Daily, Zhang, 47, was among the founders of Shanghai Yiye, the company behind children's skincare brand Newpage, which was established in 2022. In addition to investing in the business, she also became its brand ambassador, lending her celebrity profile to the compan

Two-time Oscar winner Ben Affleck and Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding won the US$1 million grand prize on the July 29 celebrity edition of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire", donating the full amount to the Eastern Congo Initiative. Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding (left) and actor Ben Affleck (right) with host Jimmy Kimmel on the set of the celebrity edition of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" The pair faced two high-pressure questions at the end of the game. For US$500,000, they wer

Director Christopher Nolan's adaptation of "The Odyssey" made an epic debut, grossing US$264.1 million in global ticket sales during its opening weekend, including $124.5 million in the United States and Canada, Universal Pictures said on Sunday. U.S. actor Matt Damon (L), British-U.S. director Christopher Nolan (C) and U.S. actress Anne Hathaway (R) attend "The Odyssey" premiere at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York on July 14, 2026 Based on Homer's ancient Greek poem, the f

Hong Kong dancer Mo Li Kai-yin, who suffered life-changing injuries when a giant screen fell on him during a concert by Cantopop boy band Mirror, has been awarded HK$6.29 million (US$800,000) in damages. Hong Kong dancer Mo Li Kai-yin before the accident The District Court on June 15 ruled that Mo was entitled to compensation from his employer, Studiodanz, after suffering what the court described as "catastrophic" injuries in the July 28, 2022 accident at Hong Kong Coliseum,

Blackpink's Lisa owns a collection of supercars and a number of properties, which have helped take her net worth to estimated more than US$40 million. Blackpink's Lisa Blackpink’s Lisa has built an estimated fortune of more than US$40 million through music, luxury endorsements, business ventures, real estate and a growing collection of high-end cars. The Thai-born K-pop star recently showed off a red Ferrari on Instagram Stories, calling it "my new baby." Fans identified the

BigBang, one of South Korea's leading boy bands, plans to perform in Hanoi at the My Dinh National Stadium on Oct. 24 and 25. The group’s management agency confirmed the schedule for its 20th-anniversary world tour on its official website on June 11. Hanoi is one of the tour stops, alongside other Southeast Asian countries Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. The announcement was immediately welcomed by Vietnamese fans. Last year, the group's leader, G-Dragon, held t

Former global football superstar David Beckham is set to receive one of his most prestigious honors yet as his name is officially immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The upcoming induction ceremony promises to be a major media event, highlighted by the high-profile attendance of his wife, Victoria Beckham. Beckham was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame The star-veiling ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 12, 2026, on Hollywood Boulevard. The former Eng

On May 31, singer Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner quietly exchanged vows in an intimate civil ceremony at the Old Marylebone Town Hall in the UK—a historic venue renowned for hosting numerous A-list celebrity weddings. Surrounded only by close family and friends, the ceremony eschewed ostentation and traditional princess gowns. Instead, Dua Lipa opted for an unconventional, elegant, and uniquely "her" look: a custom wedding suit-dress by Schiaparelli, drawing striking inspir

Supermodel Ming Xi and Mario Ho, son of the late Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho, held their long-delayed wedding ceremony in France on Monday. Supermodel Ming Xi and Mario Ho hold wedding ceremony in France The ceremony, themed "A Promise Fulfilled," was described as Ho’s gift to Ming after seven years together. The couple registered their marriage in July 2019 and now have two children, but they postponed a formal wedding following the death of Ho’s father, The Standard repo

Former Hong Kong actor Steven Ma has started his new role at healthcare company Hin Sang Group with an annual salary of HK$2.52 million (US$324,000), after leaving Metro Broadcast. Former Hong Kong actor Steven Ma poses at the office of healthcare company Hin Sang Group Hin Sang Group announced on May 18 that Ma would become its vice chairman, executive director and co-chief executive officer from May 20. As a listed company, Hin Sang Group, which focuses on children’s health