East Asia's divided region in current flux
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.
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, with Mary enjoying an afternoon tea and a family day to mark the occasion.
North Korea has updated its constitution to include a territorial claim that borders China, Russia and the Republic of Korea, while reaffirming Kim Jong Un as head of state and placing authority over nuclear forces in his hands. Analysts view the move as signaling a firmer stance toward the South without specifying border lines.
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.
The U.S. has intensified air strikes in response to Iranian attacks on shipping near the Strait of Hormuz. Casualty tallies are disputed as Pentagon data shifts and new categories appear on the casualty system. Diplomatic efforts show no immediate progress amid renewed tensions over shipping routes.
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.