South Korea's exports to the US and China tumbled by more than 8% in May, reflecting growing pressures from global trade tensions and supply chain realignments. Despite the broader slump, the country posted record-breaking semiconductor exports for the month, offering a rare bright spot amid mounting economic uncertainties.

Fresh off a triumphant Middle East tour, President Donald Trump reignited trade tensions on Thursday with a bold new proposal: imposing a 50 percent tariff on all European Union (EU) imports and a 25% levy on all smartphones not manufactured in the US.

Following years of trailing its competitors and facing mounting skepticism, Google appeared to turn a corner at this year's I/O developer conference. Unlike previous events where the tech giant labored to explain the power of its AI models—often to the detriment of product clarity—this year's showcase offered a focused, product-forward strategy that resonated with both developers and market watchers.