IMF Advances Ukraine Loan Program, Clears $690M Disbursement 
Sigma Healthcare Shares Jump After Exiting Boots Acquisition Process 
EngineAI Files for Hong Kong IPO Amid Rising Demand for AI and Robotics Stocks 
North Korea Reports Industrial Output at 105% of Target Following Party Congress 
Taiwan Central Bank Likely to Keep Interest Rates Unchanged Through 2027 
BOJ Raises Interest Rates to 1% as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Astera Labs and Rocket Lab Surge After Nasdaq-100 Inclusion Announcement 
Adobe Beats Q2 2026 Estimates, Raises Full-Year Outlook as AI Revenue Surges Despite Stock Drop 
AI Memory Boom Sparks Global Chip Supply Crunch 
Asian Stocks Rally as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Boosts Market Sentiment Ahead of Key Central Bank Meetings 
ByteDance Eyes Iluvatar, Baidu AI Chips Amid China’s AI Push 
U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Extends Gulf Ceasefire, Reopens Strait of Hormuz 
Carney and Macron Strengthen Canada-France Defense Ties Amid US Trade Uncertainty 
Alibaba Offers $1.5 Billion to Acquire Grocery Delivery Platform Pupu 
Oil Prices Fall as Iran-U.S. Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
Asian Currencies Steady as BOJ Raises Rates and Markets Await Fed Decision 
Anthropic Restricts Global Access to AI Models After U.S. Security Review 
JYP Entertainment and Republic Records have entered into a strategic partnership deal to form a girl group that will eventually become the world's first North American team produced via the strict K-pop training system. The companies made the announcement on Monday, July 25.
According to Korea Joongang Daily, JYP Entertainment’s founder and chairman, Park Jin Young, explained that the “K-pop system” is very similar to the training system being used for training athletes who will compete in the Olympic games. This means that the trainees will really have to go through a rigorous process to be able to debut with the new girl group.
The labels will be searching for members through an audition that will be launched soon. The auditions in North America has been titled “America2Korea” or A2K, and the first round has been scheduled to take place in September.
The A2K audition will be carried out in five U.S. major cities, including Atlanta (Sept. 10), Chicago (Sept. 14), New York (Sept. 17 and 18), Dallas (Sept. 20), and Los Angeles from Sept. 23 until the 25th of the same month. Park Jin Young is expected to be present on all of the scheduled audition dates.
“We are going to find, identify and curate talent from America but by applying the JYP system in developing the supergroup, which is something we have never seen before,” Monte Lipman, Republic Record’s chief executive officer, said via a video announcement.
He added, "It is an international supergroup that we are creating as we join forces. We are bringing two incredible teams together with like-minded ideas and tremendous focus.
Lipman also is also encouraging talented people to audition by saying that the A2K is for everyone that is a Kpop fan. It is also a big opportunity for everyone, so “this is an incredible moment."
Aju Business Daily noted that Republic Records is home to international artists such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, and Nicki Minaj. On the other hand, JYP Entertainment is a South Koran talent agency that is home to many popular Kpop groups, including 2PM, Twice, Stray Kids, and ITZY.
