Lebanon Death Toll Exceeds 3,000 Amid Ongoing Israeli Airstrikes The death toll in Lebanon has surpassed 3,000 due to ongoing clashes between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Despite an extended ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes continue to escalate casualties. On May 18, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that since the fighting began on March 2, 3,020 people have died as a result of the conflict, including 292 women and 211 children. The ceasefire, which started on April 17, has recently been extended for an additional 45 days. Ho May 19, 2026

Putin to Visit China for Talks with Xi Following Trump's Trip Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China for a state visit and hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting follows U.S. President Donald Trump's recent trip to China, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic engagement among the U.S., China, and Russia. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Kremlin, President Putin will be in China for two days starting today, at the invitation of President Xi. The two leaders are scheduled to meet on May 20 in Beijing May 19, 2026

Mixed Results on Wall Street as Tech Stocks Retreat; Nasdaq Falls 0.51% Wall Street closed mixed as rising oil prices and U.S. Treasury yields weighed on the market, leading to profit-taking in technology stocks. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 both declined, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a slight gain. On May 18, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 159.95 points, or 0.32%, to close at 49,686.12. The S&P 500 fell by 5.45 points, or 0.07%, to finish at 7,403.05, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 134.41 points, or 0.51%, to end at 26,090.73. Th May 19, 2026

Iran Launches 'Persian Gulf Shipping Authority' Account to Manage Hormuz Strait Navigation Iran has launched an X account under the name of the Persian Gulf Shipping Authority (PGSA), which aims to manage navigation in the Hormuz Strait. This move is seen as an effort by Iran to publicly announce its navigation management system for the strait. On May 18, the Times of Israel reported, citing AFP, that Iran's Supreme National Security Council shared PGSA posts through its official X account. An account linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy also shared the same post May 19, 2026

Trump Announces Delay of Military Action Against Iran Amid Negotiations President Donald Trump announced that he will postpone military action against Iran. This decision comes after Iran submitted a revised proposal to the U.S., and key Middle Eastern nations requested additional time for negotiations. On May 18, Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social, "We will not be attacking Iran tomorrow." He explained that leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are engaged in "very serious negotiations" with Iran, requesting May 19, 2026

Trump Rejects Iran's Proposal, Signals No Concessions Donald Trump, the President of the United States, expressed strong dissatisfaction with Iran's recent proposal for a ceasefire, indicating that he sees no room for further concessions. In a phone interview with the New York Post on May 18, Trump stated, "Nothing is open right now" regarding potential concessions to Iran. Internal assessments within the U.S. government also reflect a negative outlook. Axios reported, citing a senior U.S. official, that the White House does not view Iran' May 19, 2026

Implications of Japan's Defense Industry Opening for South Korea The recent revision of Japan's "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment" marks a significant turning point in the country's post-war security policy, which has long been constrained by restrictions on arms exports. While the limitations are not entirely lifted, institutional constraints have been significantly eased, broadening the scope for defense exports. This change is not merely a shift in export policy; it is part of a structural transformation linked to increased defen May 19, 2026

Kurosel CEO Kim Geon-soo: Building Global Strength with Domestic CAR-T "While many biotech companies focus on technology licensing, Kurosel aims to grow as a company that generates its own revenue," said Kim Geon-soo, CEO of Kurosel, in a recent interview at the company's headquarters in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. CAR-T therapy is a personalized gene therapy that genetically modifies a patient's immune cells to precisely target cancer cells. Limcato (ingredient name: Anbalcaptagen autoleucel) is Korea's first CAR-T therapy and was granted product approval by the M May 19, 2026

CureCell Aims for Global Expansion with Solid Tumor and In Vivo CAR-T Therapies CureCell, the first domestic developer of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies, is focusing on solid tumors and next-generation in vivo CAR-T as key growth areas for global expansion. The company aims to secure competitiveness in the global market rather than settling for short-term achievements. In an interview with Aju Economy, CEO Kim Geon-soo stated, "The development of domestic CAR-T therapies is just the beginning. While we have been known for our domestic operations, May 19, 2026

High Oil Prices and Exchange Rates Strain Steel and Oil Industries The prolonged conflict in the Middle East has led to rising international oil prices and a surge in the won-dollar exchange rate, which has now exceeded 1500 won, increasing the burden on heavy industries such as steel and oil. According to industry sources on May 18, there are concerns that the exchange rate, which has surpassed 1400 won, may become a new norm at 1500 won. In March, the won-dollar exchange rate briefly crossed 1500 won for the first time in nearly 17 years since the finan May 19, 2026