Cuba Acquires Over 300 Drones from Iran and Russia, Discusses Attacks on U.S. Bases Cuba has reportedly acquired over 300 drones from Iran and Russia and is discussing plans to use them to attack U.S. military bases. Axios reported on May 17, citing confidential information, that the Cuban military has begun planning attacks on the Guantanamo Bay U.S. military base, U.S. naval vessels, and Key West, Florida, using these drones. According to the report, since 2023, Cuba has been deploying various types of attack drones from Russia and Iran to strategic locations within May 18, 2026

Eric Du, Vice President of Huawei Korea, to Depart for Malaysia Eric Du, Vice President of Huawei Korea, will conclude his term in South Korea and relocate to Malaysia. His successor has not yet been announced. According to Huawei Korea, Du's tenure in South Korea will end soon. While Huawei typically operates on a three-year term, Du has served for four years. He expressed his gratitude, stating, "As I wrap up my time in Korea, I wanted to personally extend my thanks. This has been a special time, not just a job, where I learned the true power of tec May 18, 2026

2.32 million Taiwanese tourists attracted as K-Tourism Roadshow promotes central region The Korea Tourism Organization, led by President Park Seong-hyeok, successfully concluded a large-scale K-Tourism Roadshow in Taipei aimed at attracting Taiwanese tourists, a key market for South Korea, and promoting regional tourism. Taiwan has a high preference for regional tourism, with nearly half of its visitors to South Korea using local airports, making it a crucial target to overcome the crisis of regional decline. According to the Korea Tourism Organization on May 18, the "2026 K May 18, 2026

International Oil Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict Stalemate International oil prices opened higher this week as tensions surrounding the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz continue. According to MarketWatch, as of 8:38 a.m. Korean time on May 18, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures for June rose nearly 1.75%, surpassing $107 per barrel. At the same time, July Brent crude futures also increased by 1.14%, exceeding $110. This rise follows the conclusion of President Donald Trump's visit to China over the weekend, which ended without May 18, 2026

Ukraine Launches Large-Scale Drone Attack on Russia, Casualties Reported Near Moscow Ukraine has launched a large-scale drone attack targeting Russian territory, a response following airstrikes by Russia on Kyiv that resulted in the deaths of 24 civilians. The conflict has escalated as both sides engage in long-range strikes, reaching areas near Moscow. According to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press, Ukraine began its drone assaults on various regions, including Moscow and Belgorod, late on the night of May 17. Russian authorities reported that at least fou May 18, 2026

Polls Show Democratic Candidates Leading in Seoul and Busan Recent polling results indicate that candidates from the Democratic Party are leading over their counterparts from the People Power Party in the key battlegrounds of Seoul and Busan. According to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission, a poll commissioned by KBS and conducted by Korea Research from May 11 to 14 showed that Jung Won-o, the Democratic candidate for Seoul Mayor, received 43% support, while Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, garnered 32%. By age gr May 18, 2026

Boston Dynamics Accelerates Industrial Robot Market with Atlas Hyundai Motor Group's robotics subsidiary, Boston Dynamics (BD), is ramping up its efforts to penetrate the industrial robot market with its humanoid robot, Atlas. The company has already established a strong foothold in the industry with its quadrupedal robot Spot and logistics robot Stretch, leveraging decades of operational experience and a vast testing ground within the group. However, building a production system for Atlas and improving profitability remain significant challenges.According May 18, 2026

Brazilian Artist Paulo Nazareth's 'Algebra' Exhibition Explores Violence and Memory On May 5, at the Punta della Dogana in Venice, a 344-year-old building that once served as a customs house, Brazilian artist Paulo Nazareth's solo exhibition 'Algebra' was underway. The exhibition created a unique harmony as the venue, space, and artworks interacted with each other in a tense yet compelling manner. Transformed into a museum as part of the Pino Collection by architect Tadao Ando, the floor of the venue featured large circular outlines drawn in white salt by Nazareth, re May 18, 2026

K-Bank's Small Business Loans Exceed 3 Trillion Won, Focus on Guarantees and Collateral K-Bank is rapidly expanding its corporate finance sector, primarily through small business loans. By increasing the proportion of loans based on guarantees and collateral, the bank has enhanced its stability while significantly reducing its delinquency rate, achieving growth alongside improved financial health. As of May, K-Bank announced that its small business loan balance has surpassed 3 trillion won. This marks a 1 trillion won increase within just six months after exceeding 2 trillion May 18, 2026

North America World Cup Faces Extreme Heat Risks, More Dangerous Than 1994 The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place from June 11 to July 19 across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is under a heat advisory. Climate scientists warn that nearly a quarter of the matches could be played in extreme heat stress conditions. On May 15, the World Weather Attribution (WWA), a multinational climate research group, emphasized in a public letter and analysis that due to global warming, players and fans at the 2026 World Cup will face significantly harsher May 18, 2026