Warner Bros Discovery Weighs Amended Paramount Skydance Bid as Netflix Takeover Battle Intensifies 
Platinum Price Surges Past $2,000 as Demand and Supply Dynamics Tighten 
Italy Fines Apple €98.6 Million Over App Store Dominance 
Gold Prices Surge to Record Highs as Geopolitical Tensions Fuel Safe-Haven Demand 
Yen Stabilizes Near Lows as Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene Amid Dollar Weakness 
Asian Stock Markets Trade Flat as Holiday Liquidity Thins and BOJ Minutes Watched 
Taiwan Stock Market Ends Higher as Semiconductor and Energy Shares Lead Gains 
Moore Threads Unveils New GPUs, Fuels Optimism Around China’s AI Chip Ambitions 
Oil Prices Ease in Asia as Geopolitical Risks Clash With Weak Demand Outlook 
ByteDance Plans Massive AI Investment in 2026 to Close Gap With U.S. Tech Giants 
Wall Street Ends Higher as S&P 500, Nasdaq Extend Gains Ahead of Holiday Week 
US and Japan Fast-Track $550 Billion Strategic Investment Initiative 
GLP-1 Weight Loss Pills Set to Reshape Food and Fast-Food Industry in 2025 
UK Economy Grows 0.1% in Q3 2025 as Outlook Remains Fragile 
BP Nears $10 Billion Castrol Stake Sale to Stonepeak 
BOJ Governor Signals Gradual Rate Hikes as Japan’s Inflation Nears 2% Target 
HYBE America will now be headed by Scooter Braun as the sole chief executive officer. He is the founder of the US-based Ithaca Holdings, which manages Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, and more.
According to Korea Joongang Daily, Braun became the lone chief of HYBE America after co-CEO Yoon Sook Joon stepped down from the role. His departure was first reported on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
It is not clear if Yoon will remain in the company or not, and if he will stay, his new role was not revealed. Braun became a co-CEO of HYBE America after his Ithaca Holdings merged with the South Korean entertainment firm that is home to the world superstar boy group BTS. It also manages Tomorrow X Together and other popular idol groups.
When HYBE acquired Ithaca Holdings in April 2021, the former paid KRW1.7 trillion or about $1.4 billion for the deal. In any case, as the solo leader of HYBE’s American unit, Braun is expected to lead a new audition event to form a girl group. This has been scheduled to take place in the second half of this year in the U.S.
The audition is set to be carried out in cooperation with Universal Music Group (UMG) subsidiary Geffen Records. The girl group will be trained under the training system that has formed many K-pop groups.
“The success of NewJeans leads to higher expectations for the global girl group, which the company is set to announce plans for during the second quarter,” Hi Investment & Securities’ analyst, Park Da Gyeom, commented regarding the new girl group audition event by HYBE America.
Meanwhile, HYBE's BTS boy group is currently promoting individually as the eldest member, Jin, had to serve in the army. The six members are active in releasing their own songs and collaborating with big names in South Korea and the U.S.
