Semiconductor & Markets: South Korea’s KOSPI whipsawed after US-Iran follow-up talks were postponed, with chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix driving an AI-led rally before institutional selling pulled indexes back. AI in Defense: Kenya will host the 4th Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) summit in Nairobi in April 2027, following Seoul and Spain, with a focus on practical safeguards and standards. North Korea Diplomacy: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said Trump is open to a phased approach to North Korea’s nuclear issue, starting with limiting threats while keeping full denuclearization as a longer-term goal. Battery Investments: Himadri Speciality Chemical increased its stake in US battery tech firm International Battery Company (IBC) to 20.47% after a fresh $0.66M investment, backing LFP cathode and anode materials commercialization. Defense Industry Deal: Hanwha Aerospace signed a teaming agreement with UAE’s Generation 5 Holding to support local Middle East production and sales of the K9 155mm self-propelled howitzer. Tech & Society: A new report highlights rising AI cheating in schools, with regulators catching far more students using AI tools than before. K-Content & Culture: Netflix set a July 17 premiere for dark-fantasy series “The East Palace,” built around the Korean concept of han. Korea-India Cooperation: South Korea’s KOICA approved a $12M, 6-year climate-resilient rice project in Nepal’s Terai region (2026-2031).