Semiconductor Supply Chain: Air Liquide landed a nearly €200M long-term deal with SK hynix to build and run a high-purity nitrogen unit for SK hynix’s new HBM packaging/testing mega-facility in Cheongju, targeting late-2027 output. AI Ecosystem & Leadership: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is set for a high-profile four-day Seoul trip focused on expanding partnerships beyond chips into robotics and physical AI, with meetings across major Korean tech and industry leaders. Market Mood: South Korea’s KOSPI slid sharply as investors took profits in a tech-led rally, with Samsung and SK hynix among the biggest decliners amid global uncertainty. Labor & Inequality: South Korea’s labor minister urged top tech firms to share “excess profits” from the AI chip boom with suppliers and workers, while Samsung’s chip-division bonus deal reshaped union dynamics. Retail Consolidation: Japan’s Yamada and Edion agreed to merge under a holding company planned for October 2027, aiming for scale and private-brand competitiveness. Energy for Data Centers: ENERtec Asia 2026 opened in Kuala Lumpur as Southeast Asia pushes grid resilience and energy storage to support AI and data-center growth. Industrial Investment: Tamil Nadu signed an Rs 18,600 crore MoU with L&T for data centers, electronics manufacturing, and shipbuilding, with thousands of jobs expected.