Backpack and SK Securities are partnering to expand global access to Korean equities. The partnership combines SK Securities’ institutional expertise in Korea’s capital markets with Backpack’s global reach to bring Korean stock trading to eligible investors through the Backpack app. Building on our existing U.S. securities platform, the partnership also lays the foundation for collaboration in tokenized securities and real-world assets, connecting established capital markets with blockchain-based financial infrastructure. Another step toward a single globally regulated financial marketplace.

BREAKING: Starlink Mobile teams up with Qualcomm to build a nationwide U.S. 5G network. SpaceX is combining Starlink satellites with ground-based 5G stations to keep people connected on their phones across America. Here’s what’s planned: • Deployment begins in 2027, with tens of thousands of sites planned over a multi-year agreement. • Qualcomm’s Dragonwing QRU100 and QDU100 platforms will power the network’s radio and base station processing. • Advanced radios with 64 transmit and 64 receive paths are designed to improve coverage and handle more data. • More efficient use of wireless spectrum will help the network serve more people. • Power-efficient technology will deliver more performance per watt, helping improve costs as the network grows. • The partnership also lays groundwork for future AI-native 6G infrastructure. A major step toward Starlink delivering seamless mobile connectivity across America.

A top @ICEgov official lays out the FACTS on Oscar Belgal in New York City: "Mr. Belgal was the target of an @HSI_HQ investigation. Mr. Belgal is associated with a gang in New York. Mr. Belgal has evaded law enforcement before when we attempted to arrest him in September. Mr. Belgal has charges in New York for robbery, grand larceny, theft armed with a deadly weapon, forcible theft, grand larceny in the fourth [degree], and property taken from a person, Class E felony; on April 5, 2025, he was sentenced to five years of probation for that. We had a detainer on him, but he's now in custody after the actions that were taken yesterday by our ICE officers. Mr. Belgal was involved the shooting of a CBP officer two years ago, I believe, in the Lincoln Heights area. The gang that he runs with is known for theft using weapons and mopeds. Yesterday, [ICE] attempted to arrest Mr. Belgal. In the attempt, we used our vehicles to block him in. Mr. Belgal refused lawful orders to exit his vehicle. He then accelerated his vehicle, smashing into two of our government ICE vehicles, and then weaponized his vehicle and proceeded to accelerate going towards other officers. Our officers, using their training and believing that their life and the life of their partners and the general public were in danger, used their training and fired weapons."

Open USD was unveiled as a dollar stablecoin that competing payment networks, banks, fintechs, and crypto firms plan to operate and govern together. Stable School maps the partners by function, tests the precedents, and lays out what remains unresolved:

2026, day 235 Good morning from Asia. ‘Iran’s Top Politicians Urge an End to the War’ (WSJ); ‘Tehran says US sanctions ‘declaration of war' on all nations’ (AJ); ‘Iran says any country joining new US sanctions would be ‘considered an enemy’’ (AFP); ‘Iranian hackers shut down UK power plant’ (Telegraph); ‘Iran grants permission for a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through Hormuz’ (Reuters); ‘Saudis Shuttle Oil North On Tankers To Evade Houthis’ (BBG); ‘Israel must stop Erdogan's military expansion before Turkey reaches its borders - opinion’ (JPost); ‘Katz says Israel directly warned 'highest levels' of Syrian regime before giving IDF green light to strike air base’ (ToI); ‘US envoy suggests Israeli strike in Syria was election ploy aimed at 'baiting' Turkey into clash’ (ToI); ‘Time to question Israel’s warnings of a new Sunni axis’ (Ynet); ‘On anniversary of gas attack, Syria asks to join anti-chemical weapons partnership’ (ToI); ‘Putin says Ukraine opened 'Pandora's box' with strikes on economic targets’ (Reuters); ‘Germany plans a €12B missile program to deter Putin’ (Politico); ‘Macron pledges air defence as 13 killed in Russia, Ukraine strikes’ (Euractiv); ‘Spain rejects Morocco's call for talks on Ceuta and Melilla sovereignty’ (Euronews); ‘Chinese research centre near MoD site is ‘enormous concern’, says ex-spy chief’ (Telegraph); ‘How Pacific nations walk a tightrope between Western security and Chinese trade’ (SCMP); ‘Mainland Chinese research ship spotted near Taiwan’s largest naval base’ (SCMP); ‘Why China may have little to lose as ‘weakened’ Trump seeks North Korea talks’ (SCMP); ‘North Korea says record-high Japan defense budget would risk ‘turmoil’’ (AFP); ‘China's rise lays bare the aging of the U.S.-Japan alliance’ (Nikkei Asia) - “Partnership approaching 75th year faces challenges in military capacity, strategic focus”; ‘Lula turns to Donald Trump as unlikely ally in Brazil’s clash with Marco Rubio’ (FT); ‘Hit by Trump tariffs, Quebec loses appetite for quick separation from Canada’ (Reuters); ‘U.S.-sanctioned ICC head warns against ‘demise of international rule of law’’ (AFP); In geoeconomics, ‘Global oil inventories on the decline again amid Hormuz stalemate’ (Nikkei Asia); ‘China's NewNew Shipping Line Pushes Deeper Into Arctic With First Murmansk Container Run’ (gCaptain); ‘Panama Canal Draught Restrictions Set to Add to Congestion Chaos’ (The Loadstar); ‘US Sanctions Fishing Fleet Accused of Shipping Cocaine to Mexico’ (BBG); ‘U.S. Imposes 50% Tariffs on Some Canadian Goods After Last-Ditch Talks Fail’ (WSJ); 'Mark Carney says Canada is now ‘at war’ with US over trade’ (FT); ‘Threat to Quebec's French language, identity key reason Carney ends trade talks with Trump’ (Montreal Gazette); ‘U.S. Economy Could Feel the Sting From Trade War With Canada’ (NYT); ‘Canada sets retaliatory tariffs in response to 50% U.S. levies as trade talks fail’ (WaPo); ‘As premiers rally behind Carney in trade dispute, Alberta’s Smith questions retaliation plan’ (Globe and Mail); ‘Things are about to get verrrrrry ugly: The pain will be felt on both sides of the border’ (National Post); ‘Nvidia Is Spending $6 Billion to Build a Powerful U.S. Alternative to Chinese AI’ (WSJ); In politics, ‘Rising data center backlash shakes up midterm races’ (The Hill); ‘Federal judge rules against Trump’s 75-country visa ban’ (The Hill); ‘Trump: I’ll be impeached if I lose the midterms’ (Telegraph) - “US president warns Republicans they will ‘lose everything’ if Democrats take control of Congress”; ‘Burnham to send ‘mansion tax police’ to assess home values’ (Telegraph); ‘Fedorov decries corruption in Defense Ministry, doubles down on calls for elections’ (Kyiv Independent); In markets, ‘Oil markets are tuning out Trump's "truths"’ (Axios); ‘The Bank of England is costing the taxpayer billions. It must stop’ (Telegraph)