Tamannaah Bhatia’s anarkali, Namrata Shirodkar's jacket look, Manish Malhotra in black: Who wore what at Hyderabad event Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 13:22:55 IST By Akanksha Agnihotri Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Tamannaah Bhatia, Manish Malhotra
North Korea's Defence Minister has been dismissed as part of a reshuffle of the country's military leadership, state media reported on Sunday (August 30, 2026). The "structural reorganization plans" were decided during a meeting on Saturday (August 29) led by Kim Jong Un
Woman shares reality of never-ending expenses after moving into a flat: ‘They just keep piling up’A woman shared how unexpected household expenses kept piling up after she moved into a rented flat. Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 12:46:57 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon Google Share via
Tom Cruise, Abhishek Bachchan, Tara Sutaria, Tom Holland: 9 celebs who opened up about their learning disabilities Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 13:05:55 IST By Sanya Panwar Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Tom Cruise and Tara Sutaria, as well as celebs such as Tom Holland
‘I worked over the weekends’: Employee seeks advice after HR questions them for being 15 minutes lateAn employee has turned to Reddit for advice after being questioned by HR over 15-minute delays at work. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 13:29:43 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share via
Even as AI firms expand model capabilities, frontier labs continue to navigate a legal reckoning sparked by the first wave of copyright lawsuits that threatened to derail the generative AI boom. The argument from artists has been that AI output that looks like a specific piece of art is because
On the morning of August 29, more than 5,000 people of Indian-origin trickled into New York’s Madison Square Garden to see one man take the stage: Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological parent of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party
NEET PG exam rescheduled for nearly 300 candidates over power outage in JaipurThe NEET PG examination for all candidates allotted to the particular centre will now be conducted on September 5. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 14:06:58 IST ANI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link The NEET-PG examination
BTS fans desperate to catch comeback tour lose more than $100
When Vevee logged in to Ticketmaster on 9 June, she hoped her years-long wait to see supergroup BTS was finally drawing to an end.
Like millions of fans everywhere, the 26-year-old thought she was ready for battle. She had even taken the day off from work.
The septet's mammoth global tour was making a stop in her backyard – the Indonesian capital, Jakarta – and as a longtime fan, she couldn't fathom missing it.
Perched in front of her computer, eyes glued to her fateful queue number, Vevee waited for hours. When it was her turn, she was told the tickets had been snapped up.
But there were more sales. So she tried again, and again, but her luck did not change. "It felt impossible because the demand was just too crazy", she tells the BBC.
Determined to secure her spot, Vevee found an account reselling tickets on X and splashed out $1,200 for four VIP seats. That's worth about two months of her salary at a logistics firm.
But they soon stopped responding. "Right after I sent the money, they ghosted me. It's horrible. I am so sad and heartbroken," says the 26-year-old.
Desperate fans in South East Asia, where BTS is performing 15 of 88 shows, have lost more than $100,000 as scammers cash in on explosive demand.
It has been a rollercoaster of a month for the band's fans, who call themselves Army. Elated to see BTS on the road again after the pandemic and a three-year hiatus, but frustrated by super-competitive ticketing wars, they have become easy targets.
In Thailand, lawmakers are hearing a complaint by 126 fans who were duped by an offer to help them "wait in line" for tickets.
Scammers have also infiltrated fan groups online, promising exclusive access or lower prices. Once money changes hands, they vanish. Some even offer "power of attorney forms" – typically used to hand over legal decision-making to someone else – to convince targets the tickets are authentic.
These are familiar enough tactics that authorities have issued multiple warnings. But fans are still falling prey to them.
The tour, which kicked off in April and stretched well into 2027, will span 34 cities. BTS and their record label Hybe stand to make nearly $2bn (£1.5bn) from their reunion, derived from concerts, merchandise, licensing, album sales and streaming revenue, some analysts told Reuters news agency.
Across Asia, the number of people vying for tickets exceeded what's available by 15 times, the BBC understands.
They are still adding new dates because of the staggering demand. Just last week, Jakarta and Bulacan in the Philippines learned they would each host a third show.
When the new date was announced, Vevee decided to "fight for those tickets again", but on official channels, unlike last time when panic got the better of her, she explains.
"I was about to go into a meeting at work and was so terrified that someone else would grab the tickets. I just wanted to transfer the money quickly to lock them in, she says.
If I had just taken a moment to calm down, I might have spotted the red flags.
In Singapore, the police have received at least 62 complaints involving BTS concert tickets since 1 June, with losses amounting to more than S$68,000.
E-commerce company Carousell has suspended the reselling of tickets on its platform, and the ban will be in place until 22 December, the date of BTS' final show in Singapore.
Last week, the Malaysian police said they have received 28 reports from individuals claiming they had been cheated while trying to secure tickets. Authorities are trying to trace "mule accounts" involved in the transactions, they say.
In the early years, BTS' concerts were largely in South Korea, Japan and the US. As the band grew more famous, and fans from across the world joined their "Army", their schedule expanded to more of Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.
But the ongoing Arirang World Tour is the first time the band will stage multiple shows in five South East Asian countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Tickets in the region are priced between $100 and $300. The most expensive package includes access to pre-show soundchecks, premium seats and BTS merchandise.
For fans like Vevee, who have followed the group through its ups, downs and then its meteoric rise, watching the comeback tour on home turf is special.
Vevee says she was 14 when she discovered BTS, about a year after their debut in 2013. She loved the music, but she also loved the seven members – RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, V, Jimin and Jungkook – whom she says she found "very genuine".
In 2019, she flew to Bangkok alone to watch BTS on their last world tour. She says it was her first time travelling alone and she didn't know anyone at the concert but she got "so much help" from fellow fans. "It was truly an unforgettable and wonderful experience."
Seven years on, when she found out BTS was coming to Jakarta, she began saving up. "I prepared so much to get these tickets, but honestly, it's not just me. Every single army [fan] prepares intensely for this."
She says some fans rented computers at internet cafes for a whole week because they couldn't risk not finding a spot on the day of the sales. They hoped the high speeds would boost their chances.
In Indonesia, we aren't just fighting the ticket war," Vevee says. "We fight to secure the best internet cafe and we even fight to rent high-end phones. It's a war on every front.
And when they lose, they are despondent.
"Now that the Philippine stop is finally happening after what feels like forever, it hurts knowing that people who waited nearly a decade might not get the chance to see them," a Filipino fan wrote on Threads.
Some of us aren't just trying to attend a concert. We're trying to finally see the seven people we've been rooting for for years.
There are also fans who simply don't want to stake it all on their luck.
Last week, Juraluk Kunaruk lodged a complaint before the Thai parliament on behalf of 125 victims, each of whom transferred hundreds of dollars to the same X user days before tickets went on sale.
The user had promised to help snag good seats. But the day sales opened, the X account disappeared.
"I had been observing this account for quite some time... They have many reviews and followers so they looked reliable. The prices were reasonable too," says Juraluk, who lost 25,000 baht ($760) paying for what she thought were VIP packages.
Over the last two weeks, the 23-year-old has spent hours travelling from her hometown to Bangkok to meet lawmakers.
"The MPs have promised us they will push things through to try to get us back the money. So I'm still hopeful," she says.
She also hasn't given up on the concert: "I still want to go because I don't know when I will get another chance to see them."
This is not surprising because scams have hit hugely popular concerts in the past, including Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. Some fans have called on concert promoter Live Nation and its ticketing partners to do more to guard against this.
Ticketmaster, a Live Nation subsidiary managing ticketing for the BTS tour in many countries, says it has already "stepped up its fight against ticket scalpers and bots with new AI technology and tougher rules".
For example, tickets will be verified against concertgoers' email addresses, while fans holding resold tickets may be turned away on concert day.
Fans should "only ever purchase tickets through official sources", a Ticketmaster spokeswoman tells the BBC. "The artist's website will always be able to point fans in the right direction."
But disappointed fans seem unable to resist what feels like one last shot.
Cookie, a fan in the Philippines, turned to a reseller after failing to get tickets twice. She thought she had been careful.
"I added her to Facebook, I checked her account, what she studied, where she's from," says the 30-year-old customer service associate.
Like other victims the BBC spoke to, Cookie hit a wall after paying. The scammer blocked her on Facebook, and she never got the tickets.
"I feel ashamed. I didn't even tell my family or my closest friends what happened," Cookie says.
I don't want to be judged or hear [them say] 'you're dumb'. It was a desperate move since I really wanted to be there.
Vevee tried her luck again knowing it would be "a tough fight" because the latest show in Jakarta falls on the birthday of one of the members, V.
She failed in her first attempt at the pre-sale on Friday. "It seems like absolutely everyone is aiming for that final show."
Ticketless and in tears, she strategised for the next day's general sale.
She and her friends split up across Jakarta, and "each of us tried to buy tickets from different locations, using different internet connections and accounts".
And this time, it worked. She got the tickets.
With reporting by Virma Simonette Rivera in Manila
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Hoped An Amateur Won At The Start Conflict-hit Manipur logged over 6 Ticketmaster-owner Live Nation ran a monopoly and overcharged fans Olivia Dean wins refunds for fans after criticising Ticketmaster Over 75% turnout logged in phase 2 of Kerala local polls On average, Delhi logged 88 weekly economic offences in 2023, top among UTs Meet Snake Who Found Its Favourite Fish In Water-Logged City Hottest Week In 50 Years To Wettest Month In 3 Years Serena rolls back the years in winning return after nearly four years away Claire Foy says she had parasites for five years
A fever during the monsoon can be easy to brush off. But with mosquito-borne infections still circulating, when is it safer to stop waiting and get tested? Gujarat has reported a significant decline in mosquito-borne diseases this year, with malaria cases falling 45%, dengue by 39
1 hours ago
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot accepted Minister B Nagendra's resignation. This resignation followed allegations in an Rs 89 crore corporation scam. Nagendra stated he resigned voluntarily to protect the party and government. The opposition BJP-JD(S) had intensified criticism and protests
1 hours ago
In latest show of ‘car diplomacy’, PM Modi seen sharing a ride with Uzbekistan PresidentPM Modi and President Mirziyoyev were seen traveling together by car from the airport to the presidential palace, where they then held a dinner meeting. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026
1 hours ago
Addressing concerns about compressed biogas (CBG) becoming increasingly expensive with the revised offtake price, the Union Petroleum Ministry assured the pricing cushioned with government-funded support and stacking with a substantially wider gas pool would avert any material price impact
1 hours ago
JU political graffiti whitewashed after CM Adhikari’s remarks on campus politicsCPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, a former Kolkata mayor, criticised the move saying campuses encourage free thinking Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 14:01:11 IST By HT Correspondent
1 hours ago
Manoj Jarange Patil began his hunger strike seeking OBC caste certificates for Marathas. He demands the disbanding of the Caste Verification Committee and threatens to protest in Mumbai. Jarange Patil wants Marathas to receive Kunbi caste certificates based on historical records
7 hours ago
Bank Holiday Next Week: While digital banking services such as internet banking, mobile banking, UPI and ATM services will continue to remain available, physical bank branches of SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and other lenders will remain closed on the applicable dates and in the applicable cities
7 hours ago
Delhi man kills schizophrenic son, lured him to shipping container on pretext of doctor visitPolice said the accused first smashed the victim’s head with a stone and then strangled him. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026, 06:43:07 IST By Karn Pratap Singh Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link A
7 hours ago
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded the registration of a first information report against those who carried out a “purification” ritual at a ground in Uttarakhand, where Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had held a rally earlier this month
7 hours ago
HDFC Bank CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan not seeking reappointment, to retire in October: ReportThe bank's board will fast-track the selection and appointment of Jagdishan's successor as MD and CEO, and complete the process “well within time”. Updated on: Aug 29, 2026
7 hours ago
‘Good work is appreciated with more work’: Man warns employees about workplace ‘trap’A man warned that being too efficient at work could become a trap and urged employees to set clear boundaries. Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 06:36:52 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon Google Share via
7 hours ago
MicahJo Barnett parents: Who are Michelle Barnett and Felix Lora? Inside William Jewell RB's family after tragic deathWilliam Jewell College running back MicahJo Barnett died after suffering a medical emergency during the Cardinals’ season opener against Fort Lewis. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026
7 hours ago
Filip Hrgovic ripped up the script and shattered Moses Itauma's world-title dream as the Briton appeared to punch himself out in an extraordinary heavyweight contest in London. Itauma, 21, controlled most of the fight and scored a second-round knockdown but faded as his relentless output caught up
7 hours ago
Pharma industry stares down biggest patent cliff in decadesMore than $500 billion in projected annual drug sales face patent expirations in the coming years. Published on: Aug 29, 2026, 20:31:02 IST WSJ Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link More than $500 billion in projected annual drug sales
7 hours ago
Manchester City have opened talks with Liverpool about signing attacker Cody Gakpo. The Netherlands forward's future is set to become one of the key storylines heading into the final three days of the transfer window. The 27-year-old has attracted concrete interest from City and Tottenham Hotspur
7 hours ago
China censors Tibet flood reports, viral video pulled down, foreign media restrictedReports from official Chinese outlets reportedly focused on rescue operations, with limited information about the scale of the damage caused by the floods. Updated on: Aug 30, 2026
7 hours ago
![New Delhi, [India] August 29 (ANI): The UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has granted Starlink Satellite](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/uae-regulator-grants-starlink-10-year-licence-to-provide-satellite-int.jpg?height=520)
New Delhi, [India] August 29 (ANI): The UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has granted Starlink Satellite Communications LLC a 10-year General Space Services Licence to establish, operate and manage a public satellite communications network and provide
7 hours ago
The Early Spring review: Jing Boran and Sun Qian turn a risky and complicated office romance into addictive televisionThe Early Spring review: This C-drama aired on August 26 and within ten episodes, it has taken the internet by storm with its mature workplace storytelling. Updated on: Aug 30
7 hours ago
Subhash Ghai recalls ‘hatha paai’ with Salman Khan before Yuvvraaj, says he abused him: ‘Salim Khan said apologise’Before working on Yuvvraaj, Salman Khan and Subhash Ghai had a confrontation that escalated to a physical altercation, prompting Salim Khan to mediate. Updated on: Aug 30
7 hours ago
Just Like That: 50 years on, why Mukesh’s voice still still resonates todayFifty years after his death, legendary singer Mukesh’s soulful voice, timeless songs and emotional depth continue to resonate with generations of listeners. Published on: Aug 30, 2026
7 hours ago
The Delhi-NCR CNG price rises by Rs 3.89 per kg from August 29. Check new CNG rates in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida and Gurugram. CNG prices in Delhi-NCR have increased by Rs 3.89 per kg from 6 am on Saturday, August 29, putting higher fuel costs on car owners and commercial drivers
7 hours ago
Woman opens up about the ‘6 to 10 shift’ after office hours: ‘When will I take out time for myself?’A woman shared how responsibilities after work had left her with little time to focus on her own growth. Published on: Aug 30, 2026, 07:21:41 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon Google
7 hours ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday asked newspaper Anandabazar Patrika to apologise for using the phrase “saffron hooliganism” in its headline to describe the August 20 clash between student groups at Jadavpur University. “I will ask a news outlet in West Bengal to do
7 hours ago
Across the globe in Australia, a toddler with speech delays delighted her family with her first word - "orange" - after she and her twin sister received a free book in the post about colours. It came from Imagination Library, the literacy programme begun by late global superstar Dolly Parton
7 hours ago
The US government plans a 35% passive stake in Alejandro Betancourt's energy company. It also seeks preferential rights to purchase 20% of production at cost. This investment is structured through penny warrants for equity without significant capital outlay
7 hours ago
Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has appealed to BJP MPs from the state. He urged them to demand the reversal of the recently passed mining bill. Patnaik stated the legislation would cause significant financial losses for Odisha. He also mentioned the bill takes away control over the state's mineral
7 hours ago
Here is important news for State Bank of India (SBI) account holders. If you have an account with the State Bank, you should be aware of this update, as it will impact your finances starting October 1st. SBI has made significant changes to its transaction charge policies—specifically regarding
7 hours ago
