South Korean benchmark Kospi rose 18% on Friday, recouping losses from a three‑day sell‑off that erased hundreds of billions of dollars from the market, driven by gains in SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.

The rebound followed better‑than‑expected earnings from U.S. technology giants Amazon and Microsoft, which lifted expectations that large AI investments will sustain demand for semiconductors. South Korean regulators announced measures aimed at curbing the sell‑off after the sharp decline.

SK Hynix, a major supplier to Nvidia, rose about 30%, while Samsung climbed roughly 28% after their stock values had fallen earlier in the week amid a broader AI‑related sell‑off. The Kospi, heavily weighted toward technology firms, has been repeatedly halted under a circuit‑breaker rule designed to curb panic selling. The index more than doubled in 2024 and remains over 50% above its level at the end of 2025 despite recent volatility. After Amazon’s share price jumped more than 9% in after‑hours trading and Microsoft rose over 15% following earnings beats, investors rallied in AI‑linked stocks across South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

The market rebound highlights the sensitivity of the Korean equity market to AI‑driven investment trends, though regulators continue to monitor trading activity.

WestJet flight attendants began a strike on Sunday, grounding 615 flights and affecting roughly 250,000 passengers during a holiday weekend in Canada. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) represents about 4,400 WestJet flight attendants and is seeking pay for all hours from check‑in to clock‑out, rather than only for flight time. WestJet, which holds a 30% domestic market share and serves routes to the United States, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe, said it offered a 13% wage increase this year and additional pay equivalent to 12% of salary to address concerns about unpaid work. The strike follows a four‑day work stoppage by Air Canada flight attendants in August 2025 and was prompted after 72 hours' notice from the union. WestJet said it would refund or reaccommodate affected passengers, though some travelers reported difficulties reaching customer service. Canada’s jobs minister Patty Hajdu called the developments disappointing but said parties should reach an agreement at the bargaining table, noting the government previously intervened in the Air Canada dispute. The union said it hoped the government would not become involved in WestJet negotiations. The strike is expected to continue until a new agreement is reached, with further flight cancellations possible depending on its length.

In San Francisco, disability advocate Patrice Bratcher and other residents cite the scarcity of affordable residential elevators as a barrier to accessible housing. A nonprofit organization, the Kelsey, is promoting smaller, lower‑cost elevators for new residential buildings, a proposal that has drawn support and opposition. U.S. residential elevators are generally larger and more expensive than those used in Europe and Asia, with American designs costing roughly three times as much as their European counterparts. Stephen Smith, an accessibility advocate, documented in a 2023 report that American elevators are about twice the size of European residential models, leading to higher construction costs and fewer installations. Because of these costs, developers often avoid adding elevators to small multifamily projects, limiting housing options for people with disabilities and older adults. Maine removed some elevator safety requirements this year, New York City is testing allowances for existing walk‑up buildings to install non‑standard elevators, and Washington state passed a law allowing buildings up to six stories and 24 units to use smaller elevators. Similar proposals failed in Connecticut, Indiana and Virginia in the past two years. Fire departments and elevator companies have opposed many of the proposed changes, arguing that alterations could conflict with other building code requirements. Amy Blankenbiller, executive director of the National Elevator Industry Inc., said the industry is open to selling smaller elevators but opposes most state‑level bills, citing potential unintended consequences and code conflicts. Safety concerns were raised by Bratcher, who said that in her previous residence she experienced seizures without a way to summon help, and by Rachel Tung, who uses a wheelchair and has encountered difficulties navigating elevators in malls and other buildings. Advocates such as Allie Cannington of the Kelsey argue that clearer federal guidance could permit smaller elevators already allowed under the Fair Housing Amendments Act, and that more elevators could increase housing supply. Michael Andersen of the Sightline Institute noted that small multifamily buildings with elevators could help older residents age in place and improve overall elevator availability per person in the United States. While some residents support the idea, others worry that reducing elevator size or safety features could create new risks, especially in regions prone to earthquakes or fires. The goal of the reform effort is to add elevators to buildings that currently lack them, not to replace existing larger elevators.