Weekly News Summary: May 31 - June 6

Weekly Focus: South Korea Local Elections / 37th Anniversary of June 4 / Typhoon Chan-hom Hits Japan / Startup IPO Wave / GTC Taipei Conference / T-34 Trainer Crash / Severe Punishment for Drugged Driving / US Section 301 Tariff Proposal

International News

★ S. Korea Local Elections: Ballot Shortage Controversy in 67 Precincts, Election Commission Chair Resigns

South Korea held local elections on the 3rd, but multiple polling stations experienced a shortage of ballot papers, causing some voters to be unable to complete voting even as counting began. This sparked public anger, with protests at the 2nd polling station in Jamsil 7-dong, Seoul. Police broke through the blockade on the morning of the 5th to retrieve ballot boxes and finalize the count. The election commission stated that 67 stations nationwide received additional ballots, and voting was temporarily suspended at 22 stations due to shortages. Central Election Commission Chair Noh Tae-ak apologized and resigned on the 5th. The opposition People Power Party vowed to hold those responsible accountable. The ruling Democratic Party won in 12 regions, while the People Power Party won only 4, but the Democratic Party failed to capture the Seoul mayoralty, leading to it being called a "pyrrhic victory."

★ Israel and Lebanon Agree to Ceasefire, Conditional on Hezbollah Truce

Following US-led talks in Washington, a joint statement on the 3rd announced that Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire. Both sides agreed to "resume further talks on political and security issues the week of June 22, with a view to reaching a comprehensive agreement." Since Iran had stated it would not agree to a peace deal unless the ceasefire also covered Lebanon, this ceasefire could aid US-Iran negotiations. However, Hezbollah leader Qasim rejected the ceasefire on the 4th, and Israel said it would not withdraw from Lebanon. This frustrated US President Trump's efforts to end the fighting and reach peace with Iran.

★ 37th Anniversary of Tiananmen: UK's ITN Releases Secret Footage to Revive History

On the 37th anniversary of China's June 4th incident, many who experienced that period spoke out. Several consulates in Hong Kong posted photos of candles or phone flashlights in commemoration. British media Independent Television News released historical footage of troops on high alert in Beijing streets. China further tightened controls this year, barring victims' families from visiting cemeteries. Zhang Xianling, a member of the "Tiananmen Mothers," said the sacrifice of loved ones is an indelible wound, and as survivors they must "tell the truth, refuse to forget, seek justice, and call for conscience." Liu Jun, father of Chinese American figure skater Mirai Nagasu, fled to the US due to the Tiananmen incident. He testified before the US Congress detailing his 2021 experience of being monitored and followed by spies acting on behalf of the Chinese government. Liu emphasized that "until democracy is achieved in China, the US will not be safe."

★ Typhoon Chan-hom Hits Japan's Pacific Coast; Tokyo Breaks June Rainfall Record

Typhoon Chan-hom made landfall in Wakayama Prefecture early on the 3rd, bringing heavy rain to the Tokyo metropolitan area and sweeping along Japan's Pacific coast. Record-breaking rainfall occurred from western to eastern Japan. Central Tokyo observed its highest 12-hour rainfall for June on record, causing some rivers to overflow. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued warnings for Tokyo and the Kanto region. The storm caused power outages for nearly 60,000 households, evacuation advisories for over 370,000 people, and severely disrupted business and transportation. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways canceled at least 92 international flights. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, 23 people in 6 prefectures from Okinawa to Tokai were injured, and 57 houses reported damage.

★ Russia Launches 656 Drones and 73 Missiles in Night Attack on Ukraine; Zelenskyy Open Letter Invites Putin to Talks

Ukraine's Air Force reported on the 2nd that it detected 73 missiles and 656 drones launched by Russian forces overnight, of which 602 drones and 40 missiles were shot down. The massive assault killed at least 23 and injured 130, destroying several buildings. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy published an open letter to Russian President Putin on the 4th, proposing a meeting to reach an agreement to end the over-four-year war, and warning that Kyiv was prepared to continue fighting if no agreement was reached. Putin indicated he would not meet with Zelenskyy in the near future.

★ US Sanctions Cuban President, Intensifies Pressure on Communist Leadership

The US imposed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and some related individuals and entities on the 4th. Diaz-Canel, 66, succeeded Raul Castro as president in 2018. Last month, the US sanctioned 11 Cuban officials, including the communications minister, several military leaders, and major intelligence agencies. At the time of the announcement, President Trump said the US wants Cuba to "become a well-governed country."

★ Anthropic and SpaceX Prepare IPOs: World Faces Largest Startup IPO Wave

AI startup Anthropic announced on the 1st that it had filed for an IPO, expected this fall. SpaceX's highly anticipated IPO will take place on the 12th of this month, with plans to set the price at $135 per share to raise a record $75 billion. Additionally, media reports indicate OpenAI will also quickly follow with an IPO, hoping to get ahead. Starting this summer, the world will see the largest wave of startup IPOs driven by AI.

★ El Niño Probability This Summer Reaches 80%; UN Warns of Extreme Weather

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated on the 2nd that the probability of an El Niño event occurring between June and August is 80%, increasing the risk of extreme weather. Secretary-General Saulo noted that the world must prepare for El Niño, as it could "aggravate droughts and heavy rains, and increase the risk of heatwaves on land and at sea." The last El Niño made 2023 the second hottest year on record and 2024 the hottest.

★ Arashi's Final Tokyo Dome Concert Marks End of Era; Japan Expresses Gratitude

Japanese boy band Arashi held the final show of their five-dome tour on the evening of the 31st, bringing an end to more than 26 years of group activities. Since their debut in 1999, Arashi grew into a national idol group. On their last day, a wave of gratitude swept Japan, with companies posting messages on social media, stadiums playing their songs, and many celebrities sharing memories.

★ Scientists Discover Yeast in 5,000-Year-Old Mummy "Ötzi" and Make Bread

Scientists found yeast that may have existed for thousands of years inside the 5,000-year-old prehistoric human "Ötzi the Iceman." They told AFP they successfully made sourdough bread using the cultivated yeast. Ötzi died over 5,300 years ago from an arrow wound while walking in the Alps on the border of modern-day Austria and Italy. The team discovered four types of yeast that can survive below freezing in Ötzi's intestines, skin, and the "slightly brown" water released during thawing. Scientists say it is not yet certain whether this yeast is damaging the mummy, and they call for continued observation and research.

Domestic News (Taiwan)

★ Jensen Huang: Vera Rubin in Full Production; Thanks 150 Taiwan Partners

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang delivered a keynote at the GTC Taipei conference on the 1st, announcing that Vera Rubin has entered full production. Vera Rubin is a pod-based supercomputer designed for the era of intelligent agents. Huang also stated that NVIDIA has 150 supply chain partners in Taiwan, jointly reshaping computing in the AI era, and thanked Taiwan.

★ T-34 Trainer Crash Kills Pilots Lu Jiyou and Guo Junnan; "Tian'an No. 4" Suspended for Investigation

An Air Force T-34 trainer crashed during training on the 2nd, killing pilots Guo Junnan and Lu Jiyou. The Air Force Command stated that the aircraft crashed 21 minutes after takeoff. Training operations for the T-34C "Tian'an No. 4" have been suspended to investigate the cause.

★ President Lai: Taiwan Expected to Enter World's Top 20 Economies Next Year

2026 COMPUTEX officially opened on the 2nd. President Lai Ching-te stated that Taiwan's total stock market capitalization rose to $4.95 trillion in May, making it the fifth largest stock market globally. The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics has revised this year's economic growth rate up to 9.64%. Lai predicted that Taiwan will enter the world's top 20 economies next year, attributing these economic achievements to the joint efforts of the technology industry, manufacturing, small and medium-sized enterprises, and workers, and reaffirming Taiwan's indispensable role in global AI development.

★ Former Deputy Superintendent of Chung Shan Medical University Hospital Chen Yaoli Stripped of Medical License for Organ Trafficking

Former deputy superintendent Chen Yaoli was convicted for arranging domestic patients to receive organ transplants in China. Health Minister Shih Chung-liang confirmed on the 2nd that the decision to revoke Chen Yaoli's medical license has been made, marking the first such case.

Keywords: