Headlines

The three-body problem of the yen

In August 2024, currency markets briefly remembered how they were supposed to work. The Bank of Japan had begun raising interest rates. The Fed was signaling easing. The yen surged – USD/JPY dropped from around 160 to 140 in weeks. Narrower rate differentials, stronger

Asia

‘Very Young Frankenstein’ Ordered to Series at FX

FX has given a series order to “Very Young Frankenstein.” The project was first announced with a pilot order in 2025. Exact plot details are still under wraps, aside from the fact it is inspired by the classic Mel Brooks-Gene Wilder comedy “Young Frankenstein.” As previously

NYT files new lawsuit over Pentagon press restrictions

The New York Times sued on Monday to block a requirement that reporters be escorted on Pentagon grounds, asserting it is unconstitutional just like the Defense Department’s earlier press restrictions. Previously, The Times convinced a judge to block strict credentialing rules

Watching an Art Conservator Restore a Damaged Painting

There’s something so relaxing about watching art conservator Julian Baumgartner restore this damaged painting, a self-portrait by Italian painter Emma Gaggiotti Richards . I love how he paints tiny cracks in the damaged areas to match those in the rest of the painting. There

Mitski Addresses Fan Enthusiasm For “6-7” Lyric

When Mitski released her stunning new album Nothing's About To Happen To Me in February, some fans noticed the lyrics to "Rules" feature the numerical sequence "6-7." Yes, those numbers arrive when Mitski is literally counting up to 11, but any mention of "6" and "7" together

Shakira Acquitted Of Tax Fraud

Spain's High Court has acquitted Shakira of tax fraud, ordering the government to reimburse her for a wrongly imposed 2021 fine equalling over $64 million. The ruling is in regards to a case alleging that Shakira had spent more than 183 days in Spain ​in 2011 — the minimum

Music

Trump’s $1.8 Billion Slush Fund Comes With Huge Disclaimer

President Trump’s newly minted MAGA slush fund comes with a massive disclaimer that serves to absolve the administration of any future crimes their allies may commit with the taxpayer money. The “ Anti-Weaponization Fund ,” approved Monday, contains roughly $1.8 billion for

12 Art Books to Kick Off Summer

A novel lampooning the art world, Megan O’Grady’s meditation on art and living, the man who defined color in the dictionary, Nan Goldin’s tender photo essay, and more.

Musk v. Altman proved that AI is led by the wrong people

The tech trial of the year, Musk v. Altman, was ultimately a fight for control. Elon Musk argued that Sam Altman, with whom he helped found the now-massive company OpenAI, shouldn't direct the future of AI. Altman's lawyers, in turn, poked at Musk's own credibility. A jury came

Tech

Bond markets overpowering the AI trade

Global investors are still trading as though the AI boom mattered more than the bond market. They may be about to discover the opposite is true. The most important threat to Asian equities is no longer tariffs, China’s slowdown or even geopolitics alone. It’s the collapse of

Asia