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  • Webtoon Entertainment takes majority stake in RI Games
    Webtoon Entertainment takes majority stake in RI Games SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - Webtoon Entertainment is buying its way into the business of turning its own comics into games and films, ending years in which the company handed its biggest hits to outside studios and collected a fee while somebody else kept the franchise. The Nasdaq-listed operator of Naver Webtoon disclosed two deals on Monday alongside second quarter results. It agreed to buy a 60 percent stake in RI Games Holdings for about $100 million in cash, paid across two closings, and signed a limited partnership agreement with Naver Corporation in July to establish a $100 million fund that will invest in adaptations of its titles. The company has not said how much of the fund it is putting up itself. Both moves target the same weakness. Webtoon publishes the comics that have fed South Korea's streaming boom, including Sweet Home, All of Us Are Dead, Hellbound and Bloodhounds, and it has almost always sold the screen rights rather than produced the adaptation itself. That distinction decides who gets rich. Under a licensing deal, a streamer pays an agreed amount for the right to make the series, and the payment is set before anyone knows whether it will work. If the show becomes a global hit and runs three seasons, the fee does not grow. Company president Kim Yong-soo said the pattern is now a problem the company intends to fix. "Historically, our adaptation business has been based on a licensing model, which means that the success of those adaptations has not always translated directly into meaningful economics for ," he said on the earnings call. RI Games Holdings was founded by Kevin Han, who built Redice Studio, the production house behind the Solo Leveling comic, serialized in South Korea on the rival KakaoPage platform. It operates two game studios, GrayGames and Offbeat, and the companies plan to release multiple games over the next four years drawn from webcomic titles including Doom Breaker and Omniscient Reader, both of which run on Naver Webtoon, and Overgeared, another KakaoPage title. Webtoon intends to time game launches to coincide with animated versions of the same stories. Chief financial officer David Lee said the arrangement lets Webtoon skip the part most publishers get wrong. "We are not seeking to build ground-up capability in gaming," he said. "We have 120,000 stories arriving every day from 27 million creators, and we know from data what can be a hit, not just on our platform, but off it." Lee said certain terms of the agreement were redacted in the company's filing, and that the structure includes put options on both sides, obliging each party to buy the other out under conditions Webtoon has not disclosed. The strategy shift landed on a quarter that looked worse in dollars than it was in practice. Revenue came in at $338.5 million, about 508 billion won at the quarter's average rate of 1,500.7 won to the dollar, down 2.8 percent from a year earlier. Almost all of that decline is a currency effect. Webtoon earns most of its money in won and yen but reports in dollars, and both weakened over the quarter, so identical sales in Seoul and Tokyo converted into fewer dollars. Strip the exchange rate out and revenue grew 5.2 percent. The net loss widened to $14.6 million from $3.9 million a year earlier, which the company attributed to a tax bill and to advertising spending. Measured before those items, the quarter beat expectations, with adjusted earnings of four cents a share and gross margin up almost a full percentage point to 26 percent. The two core markets moved in opposite directions. South Korean revenue grew 20 percent in constant currency, with paying readers up 10.4 percent to 3.8 million. Japan fell 6.7 percent, with paying readers down 9.5 percent to 2.1 million. Guidance for the current quarter implies constant currency growth of 0.7 to 3.3 percent, well below the pace just reported. Management maintained a commitment to double-digit growth by the end of the year, then clarified under questioning that the figure refers to the rate the company expects to be running at as the fourth quarter closes, not to the quarter as a whole. Shares closed the regular session at $9.45 before the results, then fell 6.2 percent in after-hours trading to $8.86, against a 52-week range that runs from $8.30 to $22.47. The RI Games purchase alone accounts for about a sixth of the $583 million in cash Webtoon Entertainment held at the end of the quarter. 2026-08-11 09:41:44
  • Seoulites get respite from tropical nights as heatwave eases with arrival of autumn
    Seoulites get respite from tropical nights as heatwave eases with arrival of autumn SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - The scorching heat that has gripped South Korea in recent weeks is showing signs of easing, although daytime temperatures are expected to remain high. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, morning lows fell below 20 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country on Tuesday as the sweltering heatwave has abated a little since last Friday, a day known as Ipchu or the beginning of autumn in the lunar calendar. Temperatures in Seoul, which soared up to 40.2 degrees in the middle of last week, plunged to 31.4 degrees over the weekend. Seoulites also woke up to their first respite from the unbearable tropical nights, which lasted for 17 consecutive days, with nighttime lows remaining at or above 25 degrees from July 22 through Aug. 7. But daytime highs are still forecast to reach 33 degrees in Seoul and Incheon, 31 degrees in Chuncheon, 28 degrees in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, 32 degrees in Daejeon, 31 degrees in Daegu and Busan, 34 degrees in Jeonju and Gwangju, and 30 degrees in Jeju. Heat wave advisories also remain in effect across the country, with nighttime heat lingering in some areas, while many parts of the country are expected to escape more than two weeks of tropical nights. Relatively mild temperatures are expected to continue through the rest of the week. AJP Takeaways: - South Korea's scorching heat is easing: The heat wave that gripped South Korea in recent weeks has weakened since Saturday, Aug. 8, although daytime temperatures remain high. - Seoul temperatures have dropped sharply: Seoul's temperature fell from a peak of 40.2 degrees Celsius in the middle of the week of Aug. 3 to 31.4 degrees over the weekend. - Seoul's 17-day tropical-night streak has ended: Tropical nights in Seoul lasted for 17 consecutive days from July 22 through Aug. 7, with nighttime lows remaining at or above 25 degrees Celsius. - Daytime highs will remain in the low to mid-30s: On Tuesday, Aug. 11, highs are forecast to reach 33 degrees in Seoul and Incheon, 34 degrees in Jeonju and Gwangju, and 31 degrees in Daegu and Busan, among other areas. - Milder weather is expected through the rest of the week: The Korea Meteorological Administration expects relatively mild temperatures to continue through the remainder of the week, although heat wave advisories remain in effect and nighttime heat will linger in some areas. 2026-08-11 09:36:21
  • Vietnams Coach Kim Sang-sik Draws Admiration in Indonesia After ASEAN Cup Exit
    Vietnam's Coach Kim Sang-sik Draws Admiration in Indonesia After ASEAN Cup Exit Kim Sang-sik, the coach of the Vietnam national football team, is gaining renewed attention in Indonesia following the team's elimination from the ASEAN Modern Cup 2026. Local fans and experts are citing his direct observation of opponents as a key difference in preparation that Indonesian football should learn from.On August 11, local media VnExpress and Indonesian football circles reported that during FIFA Day in June, Coach Kim visited Jakarta's Bung Karno Stadium to watch a friendly match between Indonesia and Mozambique. Dressed in a white T-shirt and carrying a black backpack, he sat in the stands and even took photos with Indonesian fans.His visit generated some buzz at the time, with Indonesian media interpreting it as an effort to assess the strength of the Indonesian team ahead of their group stage match in the ASEAN Modern Cup 2026. However, it did not receive significant attention until after the tournament began.The narrative shifted after Indonesia was eliminated from the group stage last week. Following a 3-0 defeat to Vietnam on August 3, Indonesia drew 1-1 with Singapore on August 7, finishing with two wins, one draw, and one loss, totaling seven points, which was not enough to advance past Vietnam (10 points) and Singapore (8 points). Subsequently, images of Coach Kim in the stadium resurfaced in Indonesian football communities, sparking discussions about Vietnam's meticulous preparation. Local fans reacted by stating that Vietnam's success was not coincidental but a result of thorough analysis of their opponents.Indonesian netizen Fantamas commented, "I really respect him. The Vietnam coach was professional enough to prepare for the Indonesia match months in advance. That’s why they beat us." Another user, Rikki, added, "I just remembered this. The Vietnam coach really thinks ahead. Now I understand why he has succeeded as Vietnam's national team coach."Fans' reactions also turned into critiques of the Indonesian team. A netizen named Lita remarked, "Our coaches should learn this mentality. We can't just think we're strong. Without proper preparation, no one can win." Satra noted, "They prepared seriously for months for this tournament. That seriousness deserves to be rewarded. Meanwhile, we took the tournament lightly and only thought about distant goals.""Understanding Southeast Asia is Key to Winning"...Advice for HerdmanIndonesian football expert Iban Hariri believes that Coach Kim's preparation methods should serve as a reference for Indonesia's coach, John Herdman. In an interview with Indonesian media Kompas, he stated, "In June, Kim Sang-sik came alone to Bung Karno Stadium to observe Indonesia's playing style. That is a very important effort for a coach."He added that Herdman should not be deemed a failure solely based on Indonesia's elimination from the ASEAN Modern Cup 2026 group stage. Herdman took over earlier this year, and this tournament was his first major test with the Indonesian national team. However, Iban pointed out that understanding Indonesian football alone is not sufficient. He emphasized that Herdman should broaden his perspective to include the characteristics, cultures, and competitive dynamics of other Southeast Asian teams, citing Kim's direct analysis of opponents as a comparative example.Iban stated, "I know Herdman has worked hard and prepared the team as best as he could. But he needs to clearly understand where Indonesia stands and where other countries are. We must not become overly proud just because Indonesia is getting closer to World Cup qualification and forget about the competition in Southeast Asia."Meanwhile, local Vietnamese fans continue to praise Coach Kim's preparation and leadership style. One fan remarked, "In Southeast Asian football, you need to know your opponent and yourself," highlighting the significance of Kim's direct assessment of Indonesia's strengths. Another fan noted, "A national team coach should achieve the best results with the players currently available," emphasizing the importance of making the most of existing resources rather than relying solely on a strong squad.Some fans have also pointed out the compatibility between Korean coaches and Vietnamese football. One fan stated, "Korean coaches fit well with Vietnam," positively reflecting on how Kim's leadership has restored stability to the team. Reactions regarding Kim's observational methods included a fan urging, "Keep going to the stadium to watch games and make the right decisions," suggesting that his direct analysis of opponents has contributed to Vietnam's success.The defending champions of the ASEAN Modern Cup, Vietnam, have advanced to the semifinals, where they will compete against Malaysia for a spot in the final. They will play the first leg of the semifinals in Kuala Lumpur on August 16 and the second leg on August 19 at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi. Under Coach Kim Sang-sik, the Vietnam national team aims for a spot in the final and a consecutive championship title.The ASEAN Modern Cup 2026 has been ongoing since July 24, featuring ten teams. Group A includes Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste, while Group B consists of Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos. In the semifinals, Singapore will face Thailand, while Vietnam will compete against Malaysia for a chance to reach the final.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-11 09:36:10
  • China Dominates Open Source AI Market with 60% Share Amid U.S. Struggles
    China Dominates Open Source AI Market with 60% Share Amid U.S. Struggles The generative AI competition has entered its third year, with the leadership of the practical usage market firmly in the hands of Chinese open-source models. While the U.S. maintains an edge in top-performing models, it has struggled to find a counter to the low-cost onslaught, resulting in a significant loss of market share.According to the IT industry on August 10, the platform OpenRouter, which aggregates various AI models through a single API, reported that as of August 5, eight of the top 10 models by weekly token usage were Chinese. Although models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are well-known globally, 60% of global token usage is concentrated on Chinese models.The latest data shows that Chinese models occupy eight of the top 10 spots, with a market share of 88.4% among these models. The top model, DeepSeek's coding-specialized 'V4 Flash,' processed 6.92 trillion tokens weekly, followed by models from Xiaomi and Tencent. Only two U.S. models, OpenAI's 'GPT-5.6 Luna' and NVIDIA's 'NemoTron3 Ultra,' made the list.In June of last year, OpenRouter's token market share was 74% for the U.S. and 20% for China, but by the last week of June this year, it had flipped to 48% for China and 20% for the U.S. In July, Chinese models claimed all top five positions, pushing China's share of overall routing traffic above 60%, with Chinese models at one point accounting for 63% of the tokens processed by U.S. companies.The driving force behind this shift is a significant price disparity. The output token cost for DeepSeek's V4 Flash is $0.28 per million tokens, 99% lower than Anthropic's top model, 'Claude Opus 4.8,' which costs $25. ZhipuAI's open-source model 'GLM-5.2' saw its usage increase nearly 50-fold within a month on the development platform Versel, thanks to operational costs at just 20% of U.S. competitors while maintaining stable performance. AI agent startup Lindy reported saving millions by switching from Anthropic's model to DeepSeek's.The low-cost strategy is supported by China's overwhelming domestic volume. According to the National Data Bureau of China, the daily AI token processing volume in the country has surged to 140 trillion, an increase of about 1,400 times since early 2024. This scale of economy achieved domestically enables the ultra-low-cost supply of open-source models for international markets.In response to the low-cost offensive, the U.S. has few effective countermeasures. The startup Arci AI, which aims to compete with Chinese models through open-weight models, recently raised only $50 million in funding. Industry insiders explain that major venture capital firms are hesitant to invest, fearing that the success of open-weight models could undermine the valuations of their existing investments in OpenAI and Anthropic. This creates a structural dilemma where capital invested in closed models hinders the counteroffensive of the open-source camp.Among single-frontier model factions, Anthropic is managing to hold its ground. Although its token processing volume lags behind China, its profitability metrics tell a different story. The average token cost for Claude Opus, according to OpenRouter, is 23 times higher than that of DeepSeek's V4 Flash, and under standard pricing, the gap can widen to 139 times. This indicates that despite losing processing volume, a significant portion of its revenue remains intact.Leveraging its market dominance, DeepSeek is reportedly planning to go public in China this year. However, on August 6, it announced plans to significantly raise API prices, suggesting that its ultra-low-cost policy has become unsustainable due to the operational resource burden from a surge in users, and profitability has become urgent ahead of its IPO. Companies like Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, and ZhipuAI have also recently raised prices, indicating that the price-cutting competition from China may have reached its peak.Domestic companies face a complex situation. SK Telecom announced on July 29 that its own model 'A.X K2' was designed to match the performance of Chinese models like Q1, DeepSeek, GLM, and Kimi, but its competitive pricing in practical use remains a key issue. Other major platforms, including Naver and Kakao, have yet to present objective superiority metrics compared to Chinese open-source models.Meanwhile, the government is set to announce the results of the second selection for its independent AI foundation model project on August 12. Whether the current strategy of matching performance while not competing on price against China will be effective in the market will likely be assessed after the second selection results are released.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-11 09:36:10
  • Lee Yong-pil Appointed as Head of KEIT, Prioritizing AI Transition in Manufacturing
    Lee Yong-pil Appointed as Head of KEIT, Prioritizing AI Transition in Manufacturing Lee Yong-pil has been appointed as the new head of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology Evaluation and Planning (KEIT), emphasizing the transition to artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing and innovation in future strategic technologies as his top priorities. He aims to support the development of industry-specific AI models and manufacturing data-based technologies, integrating AI into research and development (R&D) planning, evaluation, and performance management to elevate KEIT as a leading institution in industrial technology policy.KEIT announced on August 11 that Lee Yong-pil, a former spokesperson for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, has officially taken office as its sixth director.Lee entered public service through the 41st National Administrative Examination and has held various positions, including Director of the Materials and Convergence Industry Policy Division and Director of the Advanced Industry Policy Division at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. He is recognized for his extensive experience and expertise in industrial and technology policy.In his inaugural speech, Lee stated, "In the face of global technological competition and rapidly changing external environments, the AI transition and technological innovation in manufacturing are crucial for the continuous growth of our industry. I will focus all our capabilities to ensure that KEIT can effectively contribute to enhancing national industrial competitiveness as a specialized institution that promotes AI transition across industries and leads innovation in industrial R&D."He identified the AI transition in manufacturing and innovation in future strategic technologies as his primary objectives. Lee plans to actively support the development of industry-specific AI models and manufacturing data-based technologies to back the government's M.AX initiative and ensure the widespread adoption of AI in the manufacturing sector.Support for securing a significant competitive edge in national strategic industries such as semiconductors, displays, and biotechnology will also be strengthened. Lee emphasized the need to continuously expand challenging R&D efforts to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of South Korea's manufacturing sector.He also proposed measures to strengthen the industrial ecosystem through the stable acquisition of key materials, components, equipment, and resources. The strategy aims to proactively identify strategic technologies and core items to fundamentally enhance supply chain competitiveness, rather than merely responding to supply chain risks after they occur.Additionally, he will support South Korea's efforts to secure a leading position in global markets for advanced mobility, shipbuilding, and defense industries, where the country has strengths. Plans are in place to establish a virtuous cycle system that links competitive technologies with investment and financing, ensuring that excellent R&D outcomes do not fade away after project completion.KEIT will also enhance its capabilities in supporting industrial technology policy. The institute will proactively identify technology strategies and promising future technologies for various industries and analyze accumulated data and outcomes throughout the R&D cycle to reflect them in government policies.AI will be integrated into R&D operations as well. Lee stated, "We will actively utilize agentic AI and data across planning, evaluation, and performance management to enhance professionalism and efficiency in our work, while ensuring thorough information security and data protection."Furthermore, he promised to create an R&D specialized institution that enhances fairness and transparency in evaluation and management, collaboratively addressing field issues from the perspectives of researchers and businesses. He also emphasized integrity, ethical management, and a people-centered approach to safety management.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-11 09:32:20
  • 149 Hanbok Companies to Gather at DDP for Up to 80% Discounts
    149 Hanbok Companies to Gather at DDP for Up to 80% Discounts The largest Hanbok expo in South Korea will take place from August 13 to 16 at the Art Hall of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Craft and Design Foundation announced on August 11.This year, a total of 149 Hanbok companies will participate, showcasing products from 133 domestic and international Hanbok businesses in the sales area. A variety of Hanbok items, including traditional and everyday wear, fabrics, accessories, bags, and household goods, will be available at discounts of up to 80%.Additionally, a special exhibition titled 'The Market for Making Hanbok' will highlight Gwangjang Market, the country's leading Hanbok fabric market, which has played a central role in Hanbok production and distribution for over 120 years. This exhibition will showcase the entire process of creating a Hanbok, from fabric selection to gold leaf application, embroidery, and sewing. Six fabric and Hanbok companies will also have sales booths at the event.Visitors can participate in experiential events, including the 'Hanbok Store Fashion Festival,' which reinterprets traditional Hanbok with a modern twist, a 'Custom Hanbok Making' experience linked to Gwangjang Market, and a market game competition with the 'Hanbok Pungnyu Group.'For the first time, a business consultation meeting for corporate transactions will be held, inviting domestic and international distributors and professional buyers for one-on-one consultations with participating companies. This initiative aims to facilitate actual distribution and purchasing relationships, supporting the expansion of Hanbok companies' market access.Admission is 5,000 won, but visitors wearing Hanbok or those who register in advance by August 12 can enter for free. More information is available on the Hanbok Store website.Meanwhile, the government is also hosting a 'Visiting Hanbok Store' event alongside the Hanbok Store. Recently held in Busan in conjunction with the World Heritage Committee, this event recorded its highest sales performance to date, indicating its popularity.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-11 09:32:00
  • Prime Minister Han Myung-sook Directs Fire Response at Pyeongtaek Hazardous Materials Facility
    Prime Minister Han Myung-sook Directs Fire Response at Pyeongtaek Hazardous Materials Facility Prime Minister Han Myung-sook has instructed authorities to mobilize all available firefighting resources and equipment to combat a fire at a hazardous materials storage and processing facility in Cheongbuk-eup, Pyeongtaek.On the morning of August 11, she directed the National Fire Agency to focus all efforts on extinguishing the fire and conducting search and rescue operations. She also urged related agencies, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Police Agency, Gyeonggi Province, and Pyeongtaek City, to ensure that residents are not harmed by implementing strict site control, providing guidance to residents, and facilitating evacuations if necessary.Han emphasized the importance of safety management to prevent secondary accidents during the firefighting efforts.According to the National Fire Agency, a national firefighting mobilization order was issued at approximately 3:39 a.m. for the fire at the hazardous materials storage facility in Tojin-ri, Pyeongtaek.It is reported that the facility stores around 191,000 liters of over 100 types of Class 4 hazardous materials.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-11 09:32:00
  • Nvidia to Raise $500 Billion Investment Fund with Six Major U.S. Financial Institutions
    Nvidia to Raise $500 Billion Investment Fund with Six Major U.S. Financial Institutions Nvidia has announced plans to establish a $500 billion investment fund in collaboration with major Wall Street financial institutions to support artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. This fund aims to provide financing to customers looking to purchase Nvidia products, including graphics processing units (GPUs), although concerns about circular trading have been raised.On August 10, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, stated in a release that the company will create a large pool of funds with six financial institutions: Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Blackstone, Apollo Global Management, Brookfield Asset Management, and KKR. He emphasized that this financial platform will enable customers to secure the necessary computing resources on a large scale and build AI factories that will drive industries and nations in the AI era.During an appearance on CNBC with representatives from the six financial institutions, Huang revealed that partnerships have been established with each of them. He noted, "We are in a unique time where the computer industry is experiencing a fundamental platform change for the first time in 60 years. Computers have become part of the infrastructure, just like electricity and the internet. Therefore, we must consider computers as part of the infrastructure and build accordingly."Huang agreed with the host's comment about the significant costs associated with building data centers, stating, "It costs about $50 to $60 billion per gigawatt." He added that the partnerships formed will support the overall ecosystem development.This initiative comes amid a global AI boom, with companies planning to invest in AI infrastructure such as data centers, suggesting that this fund will be beneficial for those enterprises.However, Bloomberg pointed out that despite the staggering figure of $500 billion, there was little detail regarding the timing, structure of the financial support, or how it differs from similar agreements Nvidia has previously made. Nvidia has already entered into similar contracts worth hundreds of billions with other companies across the AI ecosystem, raising concerns about circular trading, where companies purchasing GPUs from Nvidia receive investments and funding from the company, potentially resulting in no real profit.In fact, the news of Nvidia's $500 billion investment with the six financial institutions was first reported by the Financial Times. Following the announcement, Nvidia's stock closed down 2.86% on the New York Stock Exchange on August 10. 2026-08-11 09:24:10
  • Naver D2SF Makes Third Follow-Up Investment in Endlight
    Naver D2SF Makes Third Follow-Up Investment in Endlight Naver's startup investment organization, Naver D2SF, has made its third follow-up investment in Endlight, which possesses technology for generating 3D data necessary for physical artificial intelligence (AI) training. As the physical AI market expands, securing data for robots to learn in real environments has become a key challenge, prompting Naver to strengthen its collaboration with related data infrastructure companies.Naver D2SF announced on August 11 that it has completed its third follow-up investment in Endlight, following its pre-Series A and Series A rounds. The latest investment round was led by the Industrial Bank of Korea, with a total investment amounting to 15 billion won.Endlight has developed a 3D data generation solution called 'Trinix,' which can be directly utilized for physical AI training simulations based on its proprietary engine.Physical AI requires vast amounts of training data for robots to operate and work in the real world. While methods such as teleoperation are used to collect actual data, they are limited by time and cost. Additionally, to use the collected data in simulations, physical characteristics must be further incorporated.Endlight has established a pipeline that automatically generates 3D data reflecting not only physical properties like mass and friction but also joint structures and collision range information. This enables faster data acquisition for physical AI training and supports its application in simulations.Currently, Endlight provides AI training data to companies such as Holiday Robotics, Aerobot, Robros, and RealWorld, which focus on humanoid robots and robot foundation models.Naver D2SF continues to invest in Endlight, recognizing the potential of its technology to become a core infrastructure in the era of physical AI. Following its initial investment in 2021 and a subsequent investment in 2022, this marks the third investment.Notably, this investment goes beyond mere financial support; it seeks to explore collaboration possibilities between Naver and Endlight in the field of physical AI. Naver D2SF has previously worked with Endlight to establish a 3D content production environment and plans to expand their collaboration into the physical AI data sector with this additional investment.Yang Sang-hwan, head of Naver D2SF, stated, “Endlight is a team that has built trust through close interaction, not just through investment, as they are also based at Naver 1784. They have proactively captured key opportunities in a rapidly changing market and executed quickly. I expect them to leap forward as a leading company in physical AI data and grow even larger in the future.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-11 09:24:00
  • Child Passenger Refuses to Sit, Cancels Canadian Flight
    Child Passenger Refuses to Sit, Cancels Canadian Flight A flight was canceled in Canada after a child passenger refused to sit in their seat and wear a seatbelt. On August 6, Porter Airlines flight PD444 was departing from Victoria International Airport in British Columbia when crew members discovered a child standing on their seat instead of sitting down. Attempts by one of the child's parents and the crew to persuade the child to sit and fasten their seatbelt were unsuccessful. Determining that the flight could not take off, the crew returned to the terminal to disembark the passengers. Due to the approaching runway closure, the flight was ultimately canceled. No information has been released regarding the age or gender of the child passenger or the number of affected passengers. The aircraft had a seating capacity of 132. The airline expressed regret for the impact on other passengers, stating that they were able to rebook on another flight the following day, August 7. The aircraft eventually departed from Victoria International Airport at 10:49 PM on August 7 and arrived in Toronto at 6:16 AM on August 8.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-11 09:24:00