person
Search
ai
Articles
· Carl Samson
Probe launched after Seattle cop laughed over woman’s death, said she had ‘limited value’
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to indicate that the recordings came from a phone call between Officer Daniel Auderer and Officer Mike Solan after the former responded to the scene. An investigation is underway after a Seattle Police Department officer was heard…
· Isa Peralta
‘Once Upon a Star’ trailer: Upcoming Netflix movie is an homage to 1960s Thai cinema
Netflix recently released the official trailer for “Once Upon a Star,” a film that pays homage to Thai cinema in the 1960s. About the trailer: The trailer was shared on social media platforms such as YouTube on Tuesday.
· Michelle De Pacina
Hermes, Versace and more: Video reveals luxurious items available at Costcos in China
A woman has gone viral for revealing the luxurious items offered to Chinese customers at Costco branches in China. The luxurious items: American TikTok users are questioning the quality of Costco in the U.S. after seeing the remarkable items available in China, including…
· Carl Samson
Judge dismisses suit v. Yale Law alleging retaliation on students who refused to testify against Amy Chua
A federal judge dismissed a retaliation lawsuit by two Yale Law School (YLS) students against their dean and other administrators in connection with the investigation into Amy Chua, according to a report. Background: Chua, one of the school’s professors — and known to the larger…
· Michelle De Pacina
‘Moving Fortress’: Inside Kim Jong-un’s luxurious, bulletproof train to meet Putin
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Russia for a meeting with Vladimir Putin using a luxurious, heavily armored, slow-moving train painted in an olive shade of green. Train tradition: Kim continues the tradition of predominantly traveling by rail, which was initiated by…
· Bryan Ke
Australian travel vlogger slammed for going inside ‘women-only’ train carriage in Japan
An Australian travel vlogger is now in hot water after filming himself going inside a “women-only” train carriage in Japan and calling himself a “women inspector.” What happened: TikTok user @ShearingShedVlogs, whose real name is Turan William Salis, posted a video of the…
· Ryan General
MCU producer reveals details about Ke Huy Quan’s role in ‘Loki’ Season 2
“Kevin Feige made a call maybe April 12, just to follow up and say, ‘Please, please do this,'” said Wright. “Little did we know, Ke is apparently already a giant Marvel fan”
· Ryan General
OnlyFans model claims Ukraine ‘mafia’ tried to get her to smuggle weapons
“No matter how much they sharpened their knives, threatened to cut off my fingers… I knew they were fascinated with me… and wanted me to be their wife,” she writes on Instagram
· Michelle De Pacina
Chinese singer sparks outrage over performance of Russian war song in a bombed-out Ukrainian theater
Chinese opera singer Wang Fang has sparked outrage for performing the Soviet-era patriotic song “Katyusha” in a bombed-out theater in Mariupol, Ukraine, where hundreds of people were previously killed by the Russian army. Criticism from Ukrainian officials: The 38-year-old…
· Carl Samson
Fresno Thai restaurant to reopen under new name after racist dog meat rumors
A Thai restaurant in Fresno, California, that fell victim to a barrage of abuse — including death threats — over a racist rumor that it was serving dog meat is now ready to start fresh. Background: The restaurant, previously known as Tasty Thai, was forced to close its doors…
· Bryan Ke
Hawaii skate shop only sells Yuto Horigome x Nike SB Dunks to customers who can kickflip
A skate shop in Hawaii is making headlines for only selling pairs of Yuto Horigome x Nike SB Dunks to customers who can kickflip outside the store. About the rule: 808Skate in Kailua, Hawaii, announced the unconventional rule in an Instagram post on Aug. 24.
· Bryan Ke
Studio Ghibli releases official teaser trailer for ‘The Boy and the Heron’
Studio Ghibli has released the official teaser trailer for its latest film, “The Boy and the Heron,” and finally announced the movie’s U.S. release date. Key details: Studio Ghibli and U.S. film distributor GKIDS shared the teaser trailer for legendary director Hayao Miyazaki’s…
· Ryan General
Thai baby’s dark brown eyes turn indigo blue after COVID-19 treatment
Previous cases reported blue corneas in a 20-year-old Indian man and fluorescence in the whites of eyes, nails, and teeth of other patients taking favipiravir
· Ryan General
Pokémon x Hatsune Miku collaboration to release daily unique art, music
After unveiling all the artwork, Project Voltage will then start releasing 18 brand-new music tracks featuring Hatsune Miku on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. (JST)
· Ryan General
Popular TikToker who teaches English in Thailand arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a minor
Rockwell reportedly told the victim she had to keep their relationship a secret until she turned 18
· Michelle De Pacina
Great Wall of China damaged ‘beyond repair’ by workers looking for shortcut
A section of the Great Wall of China was recently damaged “beyond repair” by two construction workers creating a shortcut. What happened: On Monday, the Shanxi Cultural Relics Bureau said in a social media post that a 38-year-old man surnamed Zheng and a 55-year-old woman…
· Ryan General
‘Godzilla Minus One’ trailer hints at the kaiju’s return to destructive roots
“After the war, Japan has been reduced to zero. Godzilla appears and plunges the country into a negative state,” a press release for the film stated
· Carl Samson
China’s AI rivals to ChatGPT now available to the public
Multiple AI chatbots have been approved for public release in China this week, marking an end to waitlists that have dragged on for months. Who’s making them: Eleven firms received approval from the Chinese government, according to Reuters. Among them are major players such as…
· Bryan Ke
Why Filipinos call rats ‘mabait’ or ‘good ones’
Many Filipinos believe that calling rats by their Filipino term “daga” could potentially have dire consequences. How it goes: As the pre-colonial belief goes, when someone calls a rat “daga,” the creature tends to hold a grudge and later exact revenge by terrorizing the person’s…
· Ryan General
Video: Gas station workers in Malaysia rescue dog trapped in drain for a week
“God forgives the sins of people who help animals that are thirsty for water,” the caption for the post read
Answer
BTS connects to HYBE, Weverse, memberships, merch, and tickets.
People & Works
Open
Person · Screen
Anna Sawai
Her 'Shogun' win cracked a category that had never gone to an Asian actor in 76 years of the Emmys — a ceiling break that arrived only once the industry let an Asian-led epic play in its own language.
Culture surface · Beauty
Beauty retail
Beauty retail is a culture-first entry point into the listed company behind it.
Person · Music
Dimash Qudaibergen
A Kazakh singer with a freakish multi-octave range conquered China's living rooms overnight and became Central Asia's most improbable soft-power export — a diaspora-of-one proving fandom now flows East before West.
IP · Anime
Haikyu!! films
Haikyu!! is the rare franchise that peaked commercially after its manga ended — the 2024 film cleared $100M worldwide and back-catalog sales grew ~50% post-conclusion, evidence that a well-timed theatrical event can reactivate a completed IP rather than merely close it out.
Platform · Platforms
Kakao Entertainment
Kakao Entertainment connects to Kakao and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Kling AI
Kling AI connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Kuaishou
Kuaishou connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Kwai
Kwai connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Retail
Lifestyle retail
Lifestyle retail connects to Miniso and the broader retail story around it.
Results
Culture · brand
Uniqlo
Uniqlo connects to Fast Retailing, the company behind the stores, basics, and repeat buying habit.
Culture · routine / beauty brands
K-beauty
K-beauty connects to companies built around skincare routines, hero products, and travel retail.
Culture · platform
Weverse
Weverse connects to HYBE, the platform where memberships, merch, content, and fandom access keep moving after the song.
Company · Japan · TYO:7832
Bandai Namco Holdings
Bandai Namco sits behind toys, anime IP, games, and licensing that turn fandom into everyday consumer products.
Company · China · HKEX:1024
Kuaishou
Kuaishou is China's number-two short-video platform, where livestream selling turned everyday creators into a shopping channel and rewired how goods get sold.
Company · India · NSE:ZEEL
Zee Entertainment
Zee is one of India's largest media networks — the TV channels and ZEE5 streaming that carry Bollywood and regional-language entertainment to a billion viewers and the diaspora.
Company · Japan · TYO:9983
Fast Retailing
Fast Retailing matters because Uniqlo is an everyday consumer habit, not just a stock story.
Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:035900
JYP Entertainment
JYP is tied to groups that drive albums, tours, subscriptions, merch, and international fan activity.
Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:041510
SM Entertainment
SM is tied to idol groups, tours, fan clubs, and the long-running system behind some of K-pop's most recognizable acts.
Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:122870
YG Entertainment
YG connects global K-pop attention to touring, brand deals, fan demand, and artist-centered entertainment revenue.
Company · China · NYSE:BABA
Alibaba
Alibaba is China's commerce-and-entertainment backbone — Taobao and Tmall shopping habits fund Youku streaming and Alibaba Pictures, tying online spending to what China watches.
Alibaba · Platforms · NYSE:BABA
The Grammys created an award for Asian pop. BTS said no.
Alibaba is China's commerce-and-entertainment backbone — Taobao and Tmall shopping habits fund Youku streaming and Alibaba Pictures, tying online spending to what China watches.
Fast Retailing · Fashion · TYO:9983
Your Uniqlo basics keep you coming back.
This shows up when you go back to Uniqlo for another pack of basics instead of treating the brand like a one-time fashion buy.
NetEase · Streaming · HKEX:9999
Your playlist depends on deals you never see.
NetEase helps explain gaming, music streaming, and online entertainment habits in Chinese consumer culture.
CJ ENM · Entertainment · KOSDAQ:035760
Before the first song drops, H//PE Princess already has a global Warner deal.
A debut deal matters less than whether the group turns into repeat listening, touring, merch, and fandom across markets.
Explainer · Sanrio
Hello Kitty is not just something you buy anymore. Sanrio wants you to play inside the world.
Sanrio shows how character fandom becomes retail, licensing, collabs, parks, and global consumer demand.
Explainer · Amorepacific
K-beauty won the Amazon cart. The real prize is your second bottle.
The first sale matters less than the repeat routine. If a product sticks, the brand can keep winning on replenishment, retail placement, and cross-market demand.