AI & Telecom Costs: Ericsson and Nokia warn that AI-driven demand for key chips and components is pushing up telecom supply-chain costs, with consumers likely to feel higher prices. KOSPI Surge on AI Chips: South Korea’s stock market keeps climbing as AI chip demand lifts SK hynix and Samsung, pushing the Kospi to record levels and drawing fresh Wall Street optimism. Semiconductor Supply Pressure: Reports tie the AI boom to higher memory and advanced processor pricing, reinforcing how chip scarcity is reshaping device and network costs. Nuclear Submarine Talks: Seoul and Washington say they’re moving fast toward “tangible outcomes” from nuclear-powered submarine and fuel-cycle cooperation talks. Local Politics Watch: Exit polls in Incheon point to Park Chan-dae leading in the mayoral race, with local elections seen as a test of President Lee Jae-myung’s first year. Defense Safety Scrutiny: Investigators continue after a deadly Hanwha Aerospace explosion, with attention on the company’s safety oversight structure. Cybersecurity Expansion: Anthropic expands Project Glasswing to about 150 organizations across 15+ countries to help find and fix critical software vulnerabilities. Education Policy Debate: Seoul’s crowded superintendent race highlights growing calls to reform direct election rules that voters say are confusing and ideology-driven.