East Asia’s divided peninsula, with a long history from ancient kingdoms to the present-day DPRK and ROK
SK Hynix has raised $26.5bn by selling 177.9m American depositary receipts at $149 each, in the largest-ever US share sale by a foreign company. Its ADRs have begun trading on Nasdaq under temporary ticker SKHYV and will convert to SKHY; the company is using proceeds to expand fabs, packaging and EUV capacity as AI-driven memory demand surges.
Michael Burry has placed bearish bets against key AI-driven stocks and the SOXX semiconductor ETF, while updating bets on Nvidia, Tesla, and Caterpillar. The moves come as chipmakers and AI-related firms rally on spending and demand signals, with Burry warning the rally may be near its end.
South Korea’s Kospi has surged and then tumbled in line with AI-driven moves by Samsung and SK Hynix. Regulators have paused leveraged ETFs as retail traders chase high-risk bets, while global investors watch the country as a barometer for AI demand.
North Korea has approved measures to bolster its nuclear forces and expand the General Reconnaissance and Intelligence Bureau, state media say. The moves come as Pyongyang portrays Seoul as a hostile state and views itself as an irreversible nuclear power. Analysts say the development could widen intelligence-gathering efforts and deepen tensions on the Korean peninsula.
A wave of revival is lifting traditional fabrics—Aso-Oke in Nigeria, bogolan in Mali, Krio Print in Sierra Leone, and craft-led fashion in the UK—with women artisans driving growth, formal protection, and international markets while grappling with rising costs and value retention.
The Iran conflict has escalated with threats of strikes and shifting diplomacy as both sides test red lines. U.S. officials warn of hard actions while Iran asserts control over Hormuz. A ceasefire cycle and domestic political pressures frame new steps as global oil markets react.
South Korea’s ant-topped sorbet case has reached a courtroom verdict. Prosecutors allege a four-year scheme using nearly 49,000 ants, though restaurant staff dispute the figures and argue most diners did not opt for ants. The case centers on whether ants are an approved food ingredient under Korea’s food-safety rules, with possible penalties up to five years in prison or a hefty fine.
Mary Davidson Smith, a resident of Care UK’s Murrayside care home in Edinburgh, has received thousands of birthday cards for her 105th birthday, including one from King Charles. Cards arrived from as far as Singapore after the home’s appeal. She celebrated with a family day and afternoon tea, and a reunion with a traditional Korean hanbok outfit at the National Museum of Scotland.
South Korea is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave. Yangsan records 42.5C, the hottest on record; Seoul and other cities face severe heat warnings. Authorities have activated new disaster measures, deploy cooling efforts, and warn residents to stay indoors and hydrate as power demand and health risks rise.
Four male and four female students are detained after allegedly entering Osan Air Base near Seoul. They are being held by South Korean authorities and investigated under laws protecting military installations. The incident follows slogans including “Let’s smash U.S. 7th Air Force,” and concerns about a South Korean semiconductor cluster project.
South Korea’s president has proposed resuming high‑level talks with North Korea to turn the armistice into a peace treaty. He calls for dialogue among directly involved parties to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities, while pledging to ease tensions and pursue peaceful coexistence. North Korea remains unreconciled, continuing weapons tests and strengthening frontline defences.