South Korea has proposed a record $530 billion budget for 2027, with robust growth in the artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor sector providing a major boost to government revenues and economic confidence.

The spending plan reflects the country’s ambition to strengthen its position as a global leader in advanced technologies while supporting economic growth, innovation, and industrial competitiveness.

Officials said the continued boom in AI chip production and exports has significantly improved fiscal conditions, enabling the government to expand investment in key sectors, including research and development, digital infrastructure, education, defence, and social welfare.

The budget also prioritises measures to enhance South Korea’s semiconductor ecosystem, support domestic manufacturers, and maintain the country’s competitive edge in the rapidly growing global AI market.

South Korea is home to some of the world’s leading memory chip manufacturers, and the surge in demand for AI-related semiconductors has driven export growth and strengthened the nation’s economic outlook.

The proposed budget now awaits parliamentary consideration as the government seeks to sustain momentum in the technology sector while addressing long-term economic challenges and improving living standards.

Emine Erdoğan has expressed optimism that the upcoming NATO summit will strengthen trust, solidarity, and cooperation among member nations as they confront shared security challenges.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Erdoğan said the gathering presents an important opportunity for allies to reinforce dialogue, mutual understanding, and collective action in addressing regional and global issues.

She emphasized the importance of unity within the alliance, noting that stronger cooperation is essential to promoting peace, stability, and security in an increasingly complex international environment.

The Turkish First Lady also voiced hope that the summit would produce constructive outcomes that enhance collaboration among NATO members and deepen confidence between allies.

Her remarks come as NATO countries prepare to discuss key issues, including regional security, defence cooperation, emerging threats, and the alliance’s long-term strategic priorities.

Turkey remains an active member of the alliance and has consistently advocated for stronger coordination and shared responsibility in tackling common security concerns.

The India government has reportedly warned Meta against proceeding with the planned rollout of a username feature on WhatsApp, citing concerns over user identification and regulatory compliance.

According to reports, Indian authorities are worried that allowing users to communicate primarily through usernames instead of phone numbers could complicate efforts to identify individuals involved in criminal activities and undermine existing traceability mechanisms.

Government officials are said to have urged Meta to carefully consider the legal and security implications of the feature before making it available to users in India.

The proposed username feature is intended to give WhatsApp users an additional layer of privacy by allowing them to connect without sharing their phone numbers, a move that has been welcomed by privacy advocates but has also raised concerns among regulators.

The development reflects the ongoing tension between enhancing user privacy and ensuring law enforcement agencies can effectively investigate cybercrime, fraud, and other illegal activities conducted through encrypted messaging platforms.

Neither the Indian government nor Meta has officially announced any final decision on the feature’s rollout, but discussions between the two sides are expected to continue as regulators assess its potential impact.