Herald

• South Korean stocks opened sharply higher on Tuesday, recovering from a significant plunge of over 8 percent in the previous trading session. • The rebound was driven by a recovery in major technology shares and positive investor sentiment regarding the strong business fundamentals of AI-related sectors. • Market stability was further supported by news of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, reducing geopolitical tensions that had previously pressured shares.

• New Zealand has been ranked as the second-safest country in the world according to the latest Global Peace Index, which evaluates 163 independent states and territories. • This improvement in New Zealand's standing comes despite a broader global trend where world conflict has reached a historic high. • The ranking highlights New Zealand's stability and safety relative to other nations during a period of significant international volatility.

• South Korean stocks surged by more than 8% on Tuesday, reclaiming the 8,000-point threshold after a similar percentage plunge in the previous session. • The market rebound was driven by a shift toward risk-on sentiment following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran. • Investor confidence was further bolstered by ongoing optimism surrounding the artificial intelligence boom, which helped lift shares and the won.

• South Korea began nationwide local elections at 6 a.m. on Wednesday to determine local leadership for the next four years. • The voting process involves citizens across the country casting ballots to select representatives for various regional and municipal offices. • These elections are critical as they shape the administrative direction and governance of local districts for the upcoming term.

• The ruling Democratic Party of Korea achieved a landslide victory in local and parliamentary by-elections held on Wednesday, according to exit poll data. • The win provides significant political momentum for President Lee, who previously led the party to a 2024 victory before assuming the presidency following a crisis under the Yoon administration. • This electoral success is expected to buoy the Lee administration's legislative agenda and strengthen its mandate to govern.

• President Lee Jae Myung urged the public to vote in local elections on Wednesday, emphasizing that the nation's future depends on electing capable and loyal civil servants. • The President's appeal focused on the critical importance of voter turnout to ensure a competent administration at the local level. • Early reports indicate that voter turnout had reached 11% as of 10 a.m. on the day of the polls.

• South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Film Council launched a public-private consultative body on Friday in Seoul. • The committee, consisting of 22 industry representatives, will discuss the implementation of a "holdback" system to establish mandatory waiting periods before films move from theaters to other platforms. • This initiative aims to protect the theatrical window and support the domestic cinema ecosystem against the rapid shift toward streaming services.

Scott Trust identifies priorities for communities in Jamaica and US Sea Islands with plans to allocate millions of poundsWe asked what repairing the harm of enslavement would look like. This is what we foundThe owner of the Guardian has announced the next phase of its 10-year restorative justice plan to address and atone for the news organisation’s historical links to transatlantic enslavement.The Scott Trust launched the Legacies of Enslavement programme in 2023, acknowledging that the founder of the Manchester Guardian, and his backers, profited from the enslavement of African people in Jamaica and the US. Continue reading...