- 13h ago
Bank of Korea raises rate to 2.75% in first hike since 2023
South Korea's central bank delivered a quarter-point rate increase to 2.75%, the first tightening since early 2023, as an AI-driven chip boom fuels inflation and growth outpaces expectations.
- 4d ago
Bangkok pub fire death toll reaches 32 as investigators probe blocked exits and illegal concert permit
The blaze at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao in Chatuchak district tore through the venue near midnight on Sunday, trapping patrons who fled toward locked or obstructed rear exits. Fifteen survivors remain in intensive care.
- 4d ago
BTS returns to Germany after seven years with sold-out Munich concert
The Korean pop septet kicked off its two-night stand at the 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena, the group's only German dates on the 'Arirang' tour, after a four-year military-service hiatus.
- 6d ago
SK Hynix raises $26.5B in record foreign IPO, CEO warns memory shortage will last past 2030
The South Korean memory giant debuted on the Nasdaq on July 10, raising $26.5 billion and opening 14% above its offer price. CEO Kwak Noh-jung warned that memory supply will fall short of demand through 2030, with 2027 set to be the worst year on record.
- Jul 9
South Korea's top court upholds seven-year prison term for ex-president Yoon in martial law case
South Korea's Supreme Court confirmed the seven-year prison sentence for former president Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of obstructing justice and violating cabinet procedures during his short-lived 2024 martial law declaration.
- Jul 9
Gulf conflict escalation pushes oil past $82 and gas to 3-month high, European stocks hold steady
Renewed US-Iran hostilities and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent European gas to 51.5 euros per megawatt hour and Brent crude above $82 a barrel on 13 July 2026, while European equities posted modest gains and Asian chipmakers tumbled.
- Jul 8
Trump says Iran deal is 'over' as U.S. strikes 80 targets; oil jumps, stocks slide
U.S. forces struck over 80 targets in Iran and President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire memorandum 'over', sending oil prices up more than 5% and rattling global equity markets.
- Jul 6
Samsung forecasts 19-fold profit jump to $58 billion, shares slide on AI spending doubts
Samsung Electronics forecast a 19-fold rise in second-quarter operating profit to a record $58 billion, driven by AI chip demand, but its shares fell as much as 10% on concerns the boom may not last.
- Jul 6
Canada selects Germany's TKMS for record submarine deal ahead of NATO summit
The multi-billion-euro contract for 212 CD class submarines deepens defense ties between Canada, Germany, and Norway, and marks Canada's largest-ever military procurement.
- Jun 29
South Korea unveils $1.4 trillion AI chip plan with Samsung and SK Hynix at the centre
President Lee Jae Myung staked his legacy on a decade-long push to double memory chip capacity, backed by Samsung and SK Hynix pledges worth 3,200 trillion won.
- Jun 29
South Korea coach resigns after World Cup exit: president orders investigation as death threats mount
South Korea's World Cup campaign ended in group-stage failure, triggering death threats against coach Hong Myung-bo, a presidential call for reform, and a riot police deployment at Incheon Airport for the team's return.
- Jun 27
South Korea scrambles fighter jets after over 10 Chinese and Russian aircraft enter its air defense zone
South Korea scrambled fighter jets on Saturday after more than 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered the country's air defense identification zone over the East Sea and south of the Korean Peninsula, though no airspace violation occurred.
- Jun 26
South Korea to train all 500,000 troops as drone warriors, field 60,000 new unmanned systems by 2029
South Korea announced on June 26 it will train every active-duty soldier to operate drones like a personal weapon and procure tens of thousands of unmanned systems, citing the Ukraine war as a model for countering North Korea’s larger military.
- Jun 26
South Korean ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee sentenced to 7 years for accepting luxury gifts as bribes
Kim Keon Hee, wife of ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol, was sentenced to seven years in prison on Friday for accepting luxury gifts like jewellery and handbags in exchange for political and business favours.
- Jun 24
SK Hynix files for $29 billion Nasdaq listing, largest ADR deal on record
The South Korean memory giant plans to issue 17.79 million new shares as American depositary receipts, with trading set to begin on July 10. Proceeds will fund new chip factories and equipment for AI memory production.
- Jun 24
Kim Jong Un commissions 5,000-ton destroyer, pledges nuclear armament of navy and 10,000-ton warships
At a Tuesday ceremony in Nampo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commissioned the destroyer Choe Hyon and announced that equipping the navy with nuclear weapons is proceeding on schedule, with plans to build two larger warships every year, including 10,000-ton cruisers.
- Jun 23
South Korea's 10% plunge ignites global AI tech rout, Nasdaq loses $1 trillion
A 10% plunge in South Korea's KOSPI on June 23 ignited a worldwide rout in AI-related stocks. The Nasdaq shed almost $1 trillion in value, and the Philadelphia semiconductor index fell 8%, stoking concerns that the artificial intelligence investment boom may be a bubble.
- Jun 22
SK Hynix overtakes Samsung Electronics to become South Korea's most valuable company, ending a 26-year reign
SK Hynix briefly overtook Samsung Electronics as South Korea's most valuable listed company on Monday, propelled by a 340% share surge this year amid booming AI chip demand.
- Jun 16
Kylian Mbappé breaks France scoring record and closes on World Cup mark with double in 3-1 win over Senegal
Kylian Mbappé scored twice against Senegal to become France's all-time top scorer with 58 goals and moved to 14 World Cup goals, two behind the all-time record.
- Jun 16
France vs. Senegal: Star-studded attack faces 2002 ghost in World Cup opener
France launches its 2026 World Cup campaign against Senegal on Tuesday, pitting Kylian Mbappé's star-studded attack against the team that stunned Les Bleus in 2002.
