ECB may follow BoE in raising hike as inflation hit 3-year high ZURICH, November 05 (AJP) -Rising energy costs are tightening the squeeze on European households, sending Britain to raise interest rates for the first time in more than three years and the European Central Bank (ECB) weigh another increase in December. The Bank of England (BoE) raised its benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point to 4.0 percent on Thursday. Its policymakers voted 8-1 for the increase from 3.75 percent, marking the first rise since August 2023. Governor Andre November 6, 2026

SK's Chey raises divorce money via stock sale SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) -SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has raised 944 billion won ($703 million) through a sale of shares in the group's holding company to finance his divorce settlement. SK Inc. disclosed Thursday that Chey had disposed of 1,653,924 shares through two off-market transactions, reducing his personal stake from 17.76 percent to 15.49 percent. He remains the company's largest shareholder. The transactions, recorded as effective on November 2, involved 9 November 5, 2026

When reality hurts, Koreans find comfort in virtual worlds SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) — Virtual worlds where relationships and experiences can feel real without the physical or emotional wounds of real life are back in vogue in South Korea, helped by AI tools that make them easier to create. At Starkkuk, an online pet memorial, rows of virtual lockers bear the names of beloved animals who are no longer here. Visitors leave messages, offer chrysanthemums and take virtual walks with the companions they have lost. When words fall short, t November 5, 2026

Is regulation best answer to Korea's teen social media addiction? SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - South Korea is mulling restrictions on children’s access to social media, joining a global push to shield young users from addictive feeds and harmful content. A country that once ordered teenagers off online games at midnight faces a déjà vu question over whether state intervention is the best answer. President Lee Jae Myung — himself an active social media user — instructed the Korea Media and Communications Commission November 5, 2026

KOSPI plunges over 5% as US election fallout hits chip stocks SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - South Korean stocks plunged more than 5 percent on Thursday as heavy foreign selling battered semiconductor shares amid fears that the Democrats' sweeping victory in the U.S. midterm elections the previous day could lead to tighter regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and slower investment. The selloff stood in sharp contrast to gains on Wall Street and in mainland China, as shares related to AI infrastructure came under pressure whil November 5, 2026

Korea, ASEAN seek new cultural IP rules for AI era SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - South Korea and ASEAN will put human creative sovereignty at the center of cultural intellectual property talks in Manila this week as artificial intelligence and digital technologies reshape how creative works are produced and distributed, the Culture Ministry said Thursday. The ASEAN-Korea Innovative Culture Forum 2026 will be held at the Ayala Museum in Manila on Nov. 7, bringing together officials, industry executives, academics and young creators fr November 5, 2026

Korea widens fight against overseas K-content piracy SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - South Korea is stepping up efforts to protect K-content overseas as industry groups seek broader emergency blocking of illegal distribution, action against pirate IPTV services and a crackdown on counterfeit K-pop goods in China, the Culture Ministry said Thursday. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the proposals would be discussed at the 10th Overseas Intellectual Property Protection Council in Seoul, bringing together seven government a November 5, 2026

Preneu, DamsTech win South Korea's drone warfare contest SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - South Korean drone maker Preneu and a consortium led by DamsTech won top honors in a government-organized competition testing drones against counter-drone systems, the Defense Ministry said Thursday. The two-day competition was held on Nov. 3 and 4 at the Seungjin Training Ground in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, bringing together six teams selected through preliminary rounds in June. Three drone teams and three counter-drone teams competed in six matches, November 5, 2026

FM to attend G7 foreign ministers' meeting in France next week SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will visit France next week to attend a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7), where participants are expected to discuss major global challenges including the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the prolonged conflict in the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday. At a press briefing in Seoul, ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said Cho will depart for Paris on Sunday November 5, 2026

Drones gain bigger role S. Korea amid North's battlefield advance SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Drones are moving higher up South Korea’s military priorities as lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East reshape its forces. A three-year-old drone command has shed its combat role to become a hub for technology and development, with reconnaissance and strike missions spreading across the armed services. The change goes beyond a new nameplate. The Defense Drone Headquarters will help identify what the military needs, test emerging technologies and b November 5, 2026