Seoul

South Korean media report that the government is preparing a proposal to be brought before parliament to send military assets to the Strait of Hormuz before the end of the year, alongside contacts with the USA, UK, and France. Options being examined: deployment of patrol aircraft, a support ship, or a mine-clearing unit.

A court in South Korea upheld an 18-month prison sentence for a former SK Hynix employee convicted of leaking trade secrets in the chip sector to a Chinese company.

A Starbucks Korea campaign, which included the terms "SS Tank" and "Tank Day," sparked accusations that it mocked one of the most traumatic events in the country's history. Following the uproar, police raided the company's offices, the campaign was canceled, and the CEO was dismissed.

Authorities in the South Korean capital have deployed a fleet of 200 trucks to cool roads across the metropolis following record-breaking temperatures. At least 16 people have died due to the intense heat.

Concerns surrounding chip and AI stocks have led to sharp declines in Asian markets, with the Seoul stock exchange crashing by 11%. On Wall Street, Nvidia's stock weakness allowed Apple to reclaim the top spot in market capitalization.

The KOSPI index on the Seoul Stock Exchange is plunging by 9.8%, Nikkei in Tokyo is falling by 4%, and Asian markets are seeing a sharp sell-off in AI-related chip stocks following a negative trend on Wall Street.

Pet owners in South Korea are increasingly turning to tarot readers to understand their dogs' emotions. The rise in pet ownership, coupled with a declining birth rate, has made this unique service a growing trend.