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New Straits Times
6 days ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: G-Dragon concert chaos: RM2.87mil scalping ring busted in Taiwan!
TAIPEI: Taiwanese authorities have dismantled a significant ticket scalping operation that illegally resold tickets for G-Dragon's recent concerts in Taipei, netting the ring an estimated NT$20 million (RM2.87 million) in illicit profits. According to reports from China Times and Liberty Times yesterday, Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau apprehended four suspects, including a man identified as Liu, for their involvement in illegally reselling tickets to G-Dragon's world tour, which took place at the Taipei Arena from July 11 to 13. A raid on the group's premises on July 15 uncovered substantial evidence: over 1,500 ticket serial codes, more than 1,000 physical tickets for the G-Dragon concerts, 500 BlackPink tickets for an upcoming October show in Kaohsiung, and NT$164,000 (RM23,557) in cash. Liu reportedly collaborated with a Hong Kong-based ticketing engineer who utilised hacking tools and ID-generating software to purchase large quantities of tickets. Liu allegedly paid a service fee of NT$2,000–3,000 (RM287–430) per ticket, which were then resold at grossly inflated prices. Tickets originally priced at NT$800 (RM115) were resold for as much as NT$9,800 (RM1,407). Even more shockingly, top-tier tickets, initially costing NT$8,980 (RM1,290), were flipped for an astonishing NT$55,000 (RM7,900). The scalpers operated from a hotel located near the venue, where they created fake IDs and hired staff to help buyers circumvent ID checks at the concert. Around 300 scalped tickets were reportedly used on July 11, leading to widespread outrage among fans and numerous complaints to the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs. Consequently, some buyers were denied entry and are now seeking refunds. This incident has reignited criticism of Taiwan's real-name ticketing system. A similar scandal occurred in March 2023 during BlackPink's tour, where tickets originally priced at NT$8,800 (RM1,264) were scalped for an exorbitant NT$400,000 (RM57,455). In response to such persistent abuses, Taiwan revised its Cultural and Creative Industries Development Act in 2023. Under the updated legislation, scalpers now face significant fines of up to 50 times the resold ticket price.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Goodnight Chicken shares life updates from behind bars
12 Jun - Chen Neng-chuan, better known by his online moniker Goodnight Chicken, recently shared his current condition via a letter as he celebrated his second birthday in a Cambodian prison. The Taiwanese content creator, who was sentenced to two years in prison back in February last year, recently wrote that he was safe, and went on to detail about his life in prison. Chen said that during this period, he worked hard to "reform himself" and met many inmates from different backgrounds. Whenever he was asked about his past work, Chen would humorously say that he was an internet celebrity who "breaks into uninhabited houses to livestream, take showers, and pick up red envelopes." He said that when someone asked whether being in a Cambodian jail is work too, he responded, "Of course. Others survived in the wilderness for three months, but I went straight to jail for two years." He also mentioned the harsh environment in Cambodian prisons, where the temperature was as high as 35 to 38 degrees Celsius, causing him to have rashes all over his body. As for his birthday, Chen said that it was as uneventful as usual, but one older inmate gave both him and his fellow inmate and content creator friend Anow a piece of bread each, which made him feel a small moment of happiness behind bars. It was back in February 2024 that Chen alleged that he and Anow were kidnapped while they were supposedly filming at Sihanoukville, an area infamous for being a scam centre. After they were caught to have duped thousands of fans, the Cambodian authorities charged them of "incitement to cause chaos to social security" and sentenced them to two years in prison. They are ordered to pay a combined fine of USD 2000, and are banned from entering the country again once they are released from prisonj. (Photo Source: CNA, eNanyang, China Times)
News18
20-05-2025
- News18
Woman Abandons Stillborn Baby In Hospital Freezer, Court Shows Leniency After Hearing Her Story
Last Updated: The woman said she didn't intend to abandon the body, claiming she didn't know she was pregnant until doctors treating her stomach issues told her the foetus had died A shocking case has emerged from Hong Kong involving a 25-year-old woman, Huang, who has been convicted of abandoning the body of her stillborn child. In 2022, she gave birth to the stillborn baby in Taiwan and left the body in a hospital freezer, leading to her recent conviction. According to the South China Morning Post, Huang moved to Taiwan in 2021 to continue her studies. On November 5, 2022, she delivered a stillborn baby at the Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University in Taichung at 21 weeks of pregnancy. Media outlet China Times reported that she placed the baby's body in a hospital freezer and arranged for a funeral company to collect it, with a deposit to be paid by December 10, 2022. However, she did not return and remained out of contact. Huang was eventually apprehended by Taiwanese police, and her case was heard in April. In court, Huang claimed she had no intention of abandoning the body, stating she was unaware of her pregnancy until seeking medical help for stomach issues, at which point doctors informed her of the foetus's death. 'I was alone and away from home. I had no money and no one to help. I even had to struggle to buy food," she said in her defence. Huang also mentioned that she signed a document with the funeral company without understanding its contents and could not recall the company's name due to her grief. Taking into account Huang's status as an international student, her financial and emotional distress, lack of prior criminal record, and settlement of pending fees with the funeral home, the judge decided on a lenient sentence. Huang was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years. First Published: May 20, 2025, 17:36 IST
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Customers Are Lining Up for 2nm TSMC N2 Chips
A battle for customers is brewing between Intel and TSMC as the silicon giants prepare for mass production of their next-gen chips. TSMC has the advantage of already being further ahead in developing its N2, 2nm-class node. It started taking orders in April, with Apple likely being its first major customer. But Intel recently hit the risk reduction milestone in its own journey to produce the sub-2nm 18A node, meaning customers have two very solid, high-density processes to choose from for the next couple of years. For its part, TSMC appears to be facing even greater demand for N2 than the company saw for its beloved N3 process, according to the China Times, which comes via Wccftech. According to the China Times, the high demand was confirmed by TSMC Chairman Wi Zhejia, who described it as 'unprecedented.' You'd expect a company to toot its own horn, but in this case, it appears very likely that both chip giants are seeing massive demand. TSMC didn't provide details of the N2 node's defect density rate but said that it's lower than comparable current devices. As Wccftech notes, the defect density rate is likely on par with those of TSMC's older 3nm and 5nm processes. That's a strong selling point for TSMC's process, which is expected to sell its wafers for about $30,000 each. TSMC research and development. Credit: TSMC TSMC has multiple fabs earmarked for its N2 process, though not all are going online at the same time. The first fab to produce the node is Fab 20, near Baoshan, Taiwan, which should be ramping up heavily by the last quarter of this year. Kaohsiung is next, with production expected in early 2026. TSMC also appears to have plans for N2 production in Arizona at Fab 21, but that will come later. Prices will likely be higher for the wafers produced in the US, considering that TSMC charges more for its current US 4nm node, but with US tariffs possible, TSMC's Arizona facility could end up helping US customers. Intel, meanwhile, has a new CEO, a refreshed brand, and a sub-2nm-class node. Broadcom and Nvidia are among those believed to have an interest in chips from the new process. Foundries rarely share specific information about customers, but it seems likely that many big names will take a look at Intel's new node, even as TSMC gobbles up customer orders. For one thing, customers who don't make it to the front of the line for TSMC may eyeball Intel as it ramps up. For another, Intel's 18A includes PowerVia, its backside power delivery network (BPDN). Both TSMC and Intel's latest-gen CPUs have gate-all-around (GAA) transistors for better performance and efficiency, but TSMC didn't put its upcoming BPDN on its N2. That gives Intel an accomplishment to point to, at least until the next generation nodes ramp up.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Summer Meng's "The World Between Us II" appearances to be cut down
28 Mar - The team of "The World Between Us II" has finally relented after receiving threats of boycott from netizens that stemmed from the drama having Summer Meng as part of the cast. The crew of the drama recently issued a statement, saying that while it is difficult to delete all of her scenes or reshoot them with a different actress, they have decided to cut down her appearances in the drama to only the necessary parts. "During the original casting process, Summer Meng was cast after two rounds of auditions and interviews based on her own family life experiences. The focus of [the drama] has always been on how society views trauma - whether it is the victim, the perpetrator, or their family members, everyone may experience pain, struggle, and seek understanding in different positions," the production stated. "Unexpectedly, after her part was completed, the Mickey Huang case led to more serious evidence and lawsuits, and her subsequent responses and handling of the situation have indeed betrayed the trust and goodwill society placed in her. This is a consequence we must bear," they admitted. The crew added that what they can do best is to make cuts to her performance without damaging the integrity of the entire story, and promised to be more cautious in the future. It is noted that the public was previously sympathetic towards Summer following her husband Mickey Huang's arrest and subsequent indictment for child sexual exploitation. However, the actress sparked fury among many after she was photographed happily out and about with Mickey and their daughter while her husband awaits his appeal, seemingly unperturbed by the gravity of her husband's crime. (Photo Source: Setn, China Times, ATV)
