News Quick

• Pro-democracy activist Wu Chi-wai has been granted permission by the UK government to remain in the country as a visitor. • The move follows Wu's release from a Hong Kong prison, where he had been incarcerated for more than five years. • This development allows Wu to reunite with his wife and son, providing a safe haven for the activist after his long imprisonment.

• The Seoul Central District Court sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, for violating election laws via false statements during his 2022 campaign. • In Central America, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced that the country will no longer hold elections, effectively removing the possibility of an electoral challenge to his power. • These developments signal significant legal and political shifts, with Yoon facing judicial accountability and Ortega further entrenching the authoritarian rule he shares with his wife.

• South Korea issued its first-ever emergency heatwave alert under a new warning system launched this year, advising citizens to avoid outdoor activities. • Data from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reveals a significant rise in extreme temperatures, with heatwave days increasing from eight in the 1970s to 19 over the last five years. • Tropical nights have also surged during the same period, jumping from an average of four to 14.

• Bengaluru-based spacetech startup QOSMIC has raised $3.33 million in a seed funding round led by Accel and Prosus. • The round also saw participation from South Park Commons, ARTPARK, and angel investor Manish Jain. • Founded in 2025, QOSMIC develops laser-based optical communication systems to enable the transfer of massive data volumes between ground stations and satellites.