bts star reveals
| |

BTS star V reveals two-year hearing loss struggle

BTS member V, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, has revealed that he has been undergoing treatment for hearing loss in his right ear for more than two years.

The 30-year-old singer shared the information during a livestream on Wednesday, telling fans that this was the first time he had publicly spoken about the condition.

V explained that his hearing in the affected ear is significantly weaker than in his left ear. He said that if his hearing in the left ear is considered 100%, the level in his right ear is around 30%.

The singer said the problem became more noticeable during his mandatory military service in South Korea. However, he initially did not consider the issue serious and believed he could overcome it through mental strength.

V said he is now receiving medical treatment, taking medication and visiting hospital regularly to manage the condition.

His revelation comes as BTS is undertaking its first major world tour since all seven members reunited following their mandatory military service.

BTS members began taking breaks from their group activities in 2022 as they prepared to fulfil their military obligations. V enlisted in 2023 and completed his service in June 2025.

The group’s Arirang World Tour began in South Korea in April and has marked a highly anticipated return of the full seven-member lineup. The latest livestream came after BTS completed its concerts in Baltimore, Maryland.

During the livestream, V was joined by fellow BTS member Jungkook, who also spoke about an injury affecting his shin during the tour.

Jungkook revealed that he was concerned about the injury developing into a stress fracture and said he would need to manage it carefully to continue performing throughout the tour.

BTS is scheduled to travel to several major international destinations in the coming months, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney and Hong Kong.

Similar Posts

  • | |

    Massive $4 billion Iranian sanctions evasion network uncovered behind illegal gambling and crypto scheme

    A Reuters investigation has exposed a massive Iranian sanctions evasion network operating through a Dubai-based, unlicensed cryptocurrency exchange named Shelbit. The exchange has processed over $4 billion since May 2024, serving as a critical financial hub that links a Farsi-language illegal gambling network of over 2,000 websites, Iran’s central bank, state-backed bitcoin mining operations, and entities tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Despite strict prohibitions against gambling under Iranian law, the vast network utilises Iran’s central bank-regulated online payments system, allowing sanctioned entities and illicit networks direct access to global crypto markets and major international exchanges. Fronted by prominent Iranian influencers Sasha Sobhani and Pooyan Mokhtari, who promote the gambling sites to millions of social media followers while flaunting lavish lifestyles abroad, the operation is considered one of the largest illegal gambling and sanctions evasion schemes ever identified. Regulatory and law enforcement agencies have begun taking action against the network. Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) issued a cease-and-desist order against Shelbit for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing violations, while the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) confirmed it is actively investigating the network’s digital asset transactions.

  • |

    KP launches digital transformation policy & roadmap 2030 to accelerate e-governance

    PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Suhail Afridi has officially launched the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Digital Transformation Policy and Roadmap 2030, describing it as a landmark initiative aimed at establishing transparent governance, improving public service delivery, and building a sustainable digital economy across the province. Speaking at the launch ceremony at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, the chief minister said the policy is among Pakistan’s most comprehensive digital transformation frameworks and provides a long term roadmap for modernising governance through innovation, technology, and digital reforms. He said the provincial government is committed to implementing the vision of “Digital Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” and praised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IT Board and other stakeholders for preparing the roadmap through extensive consultations, international best practices, and future-oriented planning. The Digital Transformation Policy and Roadmap 2030 is built on five strategic pillars, nine core objectives, 32 thematic domains, and 915 strategic interventions. It includes clear implementation timelines, institutional responsibilities, and a comprehensive monitoring framework to ensure effective and sustainable execution. The chief minister said the introduction of paperless governance and digital reforms would significantly improve transparency, accountability, efficiency, and service delivery. He added that reducing human intervention in administrative processes would strengthen merit, transparency, and accountability. Under the roadmap, public services will be digitised in phases and made citizen centric, enabling people to access government services and information through a single digital platform. The initiative is also expected to reduce unnecessary visits to government offices, particularly benefiting residents of remote areas. Highlighting the importance of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, Afridi said the government would equip more than 100,000 young people with AI and advanced digital skills, creating new opportunities in employment, freelancing, entrepreneurship, and investment while strengthening the provincial economy. He added that digitisation would not only improve governance but also reduce government expenditure, ensure more efficient use of public resources, minimise paper consumption, and contribute to environmental protection through greener administrative practices. Referring to the province’s fiscal performance, the chief minister said the government collected Rs150 billion in revenue during the previous fiscal year against a target of Rs129 billion, without imposing any new taxes. For the current fiscal year, the revenue target has been set at Rs180 billion, with expectations of reaching Rs200 billion through improved governance and financial management. During a detailed briefing, officials informed participants that the policy also includes measures to promote green ICT procurement, environmentally sustainable digital infrastructure, carbon footprint reduction, and the establishment of a carbon credit registry to support Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s transition towards a modern and environmentally responsible digital economy. In line with the policy’s digital-first approach, the roadmap has not been issued as a printed publication. Instead, all policy documents have been made available through a QR code, demonstrating the government’s commitment to digital accessibility and paperless governance.

  • Beloved Big Bear eagle Jackie passes away, leaving millions heartbroken

    Jackie, the bald eagle who captured hearts across the internet, died on Monday. She had spent weeks under veterinary care after a rough patch in her final months. Caretakers at the Ojai Raptor Center had taken her in following an attack by rival eagles near her Big Bear home. The center shared that her health kept slipping despite round-the-clock treatment from vets and outside specialists. Things first went wrong on July 17, when Jackie was discovered injured after clashing with two other eagles. She was also dealing with serious weight loss and anemia at the same time, which made recovery an uphill fight. Even with intensive support, her body simply couldn’t bounce back, and she passed away this week. Her death has left thousands of longtime fans mourning online. So how did a wild eagle become such a household name? It all traces back to a livestream. Since 2015, the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley broadcast Jackie and her partner Shadow’s nest around the clock, letting strangers around the world watch their daily lives unfold. One of her most unforgettable moments came during a brutal winter storm in 2024, when she stayed put on her eggs for more than 60 hours straight without budging. Viewers stuck around through the hard parts too, watching Jackie and Shadow deal with eggs that never hatched and predators trying to raid the nest. When chicks did survive and eventually flew off on their own, fans celebrated as though it were their own family news. Part of what made Jackie so beloved was her personality. She came across as fierce and fiercely protective, the clear boss of her nest, while Shadow played the gentler role of provider, bringing back food for the family. Wildlife experts say her journey mirrored something bigger too: the slow but real return of bald eagles across California decades after the species nearly vanished from the state. Her remains are now with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

  • |

    UN appeals for urgent funding for Afghan women as Taliban restrictions deepen

    The United Nations has appealed directly to international donors not to reduce financial support for women’s programmes in Afghanistan, warning that aid cuts will worsen an already severe humanitarian and human rights crisis. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Susan Ferguson, the UN Women special representative in Afghanistan, revealed that more than 50% of 74 surveyed women’s organisations expect to suspend operations or close within the next year due to extreme funding shortfalls. She highlighted that the UN’s $1.7 billion humanitarian appeal for the country remains only 25% funded, while nearly three-quarters of local women’s groups saw their budgets slashed in 2025. The UN reports that the Taliban has issued over 100 discriminatory decrees restricting education, employment, healthcare access, and freedom of movement. Surveys indicate that over half of Afghan women now leave their homes only once or twice a month, with 70% rating their mental health as bad or very bad. While a coalition of 56 nations, including Britain, France, the US, Japan, and the UAE, issued a joint statement calling on the Taliban to lift these restrictions, key regional neighbours and global powers including Pakistan, Iran, Russia, China, and India did not sign, underlining continued international division over how to engage with Kabul.

  • | |

    Hurricane Lala triggers flash flooding across Hawa…

    Hawaii is grappling with widespread flash flooding after Hurricane Lala skirted the Big Island as a category one storm, bringing powerful winds and heavy rain that officials say may have swept some homes off their foundations. Tens of thousands of properties across the islands have lost power, and officials have urged residents to brace for life threatening conditions, including mudslides, as the storm continues tracking westward south of Hawaii. Lala strengthened into a hurricane on Saturday, with wind speeds reaching a peak of 91 miles per hour, or 147 kilometers per hour, and forecasters say the storm could dump as much as 35 inches, or 89 centimeters, of rain in some areas. Hawaii Governor Josh Green said Saturday that one person died in a weather related car accident on Big Island, where numerous roads have been affected by the storm. Hawaii County officials said that as of 1:00 a.m. local time Sunday, two areas on Big Island had experienced flash flooding, warning that several occupied homes may have been swept off their foundations. Big Island Mayor Kimo Alameda said the county’s civil defense agency launched a search and rescue operation to locate residents whose homes may have been carried away by floodwaters. He described the rescue effort as especially difficult given the combination of rushing water, debris, boulders blocking roads and darkness. Footage released by Hawaii’s Department of Transportation shows roads submerged under fast moving water and blocked by fallen trees. Green urged residents to prepare for what he called an incredible amount of water and pleaded with people to stay off the roads during the storm, delivering the warning in a video posted to social media. The governor said 190 flights have been postponed as a result of the storm. At Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, Big Island’s largest airport, 40 percent of flights were grounded Saturday according to flight tracking service FlightAware, while roughly 80 percent of flights were canceled at Hilo International, the island’s other major airport. The National Weather Service issued its most severe warnings for areas in Big Island’s southeast, the region that came closest to the hurricane’s center, saying major rainfall flooding could prompt widespread evacuations and rescues as rivers and tributaries rapidly overflow their banks in multiple locations. Nearly 115,000 customers had lost power across Hawaii as of Sunday morning local time, according to the tracking service PowerOutage. Green said three hospitals also lost electricity but continued operating on backup generators. In Maui, some residents have been without water service since Saturday afternoon. A county statement said crews who responded to assess the situation were forced to turn back due to worsening weather and multiple downed trees, adding that repair work would resume once conditions allow safe access. Meteorologist Jennifer Myers, who lives in Hilo on Big Island’s eastern coast, said landslides have already cut off some roads while falling trees have torn down power lines in the area. Describing the view from her apartment overlooking the Wailuku River where it meets Hilo Bay, she said the water level had risen dramatically and that the bay, normally blue, had turned a deep red from sediment and runoff pouring into it. The hurricane ultimately did not make landfall on Big Island as some forecasts had suggested was possible, instead passing within 30 miles, or 48 kilometers, of the island’s South Point. Tropical storm warnings remain in effect across all eight of Hawaii’s major islands, including Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Lanai, Kauai and Niihau. Big Island had previously been under a full hurricane warning. The National Hurricane Center said damaging winds and heavy rain will continue across Big Island overnight before spreading westward to the smaller islands on Sunday. Officials had repeatedly urged residents to prepare ahead of the storm’s arrival. Social media posts from local community groups showed residents filling sandbags to protect their homes and asking about store hours in the early hours of Saturday. Hawaii County’s Civil Defense Agency said public shelters remain open across every district on Big Island.

  • |

    EU plans sweeping new sanctions against Russia

    European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is preparing a major new sanctions package targeting Russia, describing it as potentially the bloc’s most extensive list since the war in Ukraine began. In an interview with German newspaper Welt, Kallas said she plans to present the proposed measures in the coming months. She said that if the package is approved, the number of sanctioned Russian individuals, companies and organisations could rise by about one-third. Kallas argued that continued pressure on Moscow was necessary and welcomed signs of closer coordination between the European Union and the United States. She pointed to the US Senate’s approval of a sanctions bill earlier this month as a development that could bring Washington and European capitals closer on Russia policy. The EU foreign policy chief also warned of what she described as a growing hybrid threat facing Europe. She cited alleged incidents involving sabotage, espionage and cyberattacks, which she said were frequently linked to Russia. Kallas also referred to recent reports of Russian missiles and drones entering the airspace of Poland and Romania. She said such incidents should not be treated lightly, arguing that Moscow was testing the readiness and defensive capabilities of European countries. She welcomed Germany’s plans to reform its intelligence services, saying stronger intelligence capabilities would be important in responding to emerging hybrid security threats. Kallas also discussed diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Iran. She said negotiations aimed at resolving tensions were continuing but warned that their outcome remained uncertain because of a lack of trust between the two sides. She highlighted the economic consequences of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy and maritime trade. Kallas said freedom of navigation should remain unrestricted and argued that reopening the waterway should be treated as a priority. She also said efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons should remain an important part of the international agenda. On the Israel-Palestine conflict, Kallas reiterated the European Union’s support for a two-state solution, describing it as the only viable long-term framework for allowing Israelis and Palestinians to live securely alongside each other. She said EU missions were continuing efforts to preserve the possibility of such a settlement and suggested that a US-backed Gaza peace initiative could provide an opportunity for progress.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *