Politics

BTS's new album 'Arirang' sold 3.98 million copies on its first day. A record, yes. But what does a K-pop sales figure actually measure in 2026?

As US-Israel pressure on Iran escalates, the threat to the Strait of Hormuz is rattling energy markets worldwide. Here's what's at stake — and for whom.

Seoul joins a joint statement condemning Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But words and warships are very different things — and the gap between them is where the real story lies.

US imports of Chinese rare earth permanent magnets fell 22.5% in early 2026 — a seventh straight monthly decline — while EU shipments surged 28.4%. What's driving the split, and who's exposed?

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway finally spoke about her ties to Jeffrey Epstein — hundreds of emails, a stay at his Florida home, and a story of manipulation. But questions remain.

BTS stages their first full-group comeback in nearly four years at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, with Netflix streaming it live worldwide in its biggest music event ever. What does this mean for K-pop, streaming wars, and live entertainment?

For three decades, Washington has described Iran as perpetually on the brink of catastrophe. What drives this durable narrative — and what does it cost?

Chinese analysts say Iran's missile and drone stockpiles may last just 2–3 more months under current US-Israeli strikes. But the war's end depends less on weapons than on Trump's political calculus.

Trump pressed Japan's PM Takaichi to contribute to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, invoking the US troop presence and Japan's near-total oil dependency. What does Tokyo actually owe Washington?

A 30-hour fire aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford has sent the world's most advanced aircraft carrier to Greece for repairs—and given Chinese analysts fresh ammunition to question American military reach.

South Korea is set to sign a deal to export 16 KF-21 fighter jets to Indonesia, marking the first overseas sale of a Korean-made combat aircraft—despite a fraught history of payment disputes and alleged technology theft.

The UN's FAO warns the Middle East conflict is rattling fertilizer markets just as the northern hemisphere enters spring planting season. Here's why that matters far beyond the region.