Kumho Tire to invest more in Viet Nam

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - South Korea's Kumho Tire is reviewing the possibility of expanding its factory in southern Vietnam next year, nearly three years after initiating the second phase of expansion in 2021. With this new expansion, the Korean tire manufacturer aims to increase the factory's annual production capacity to 17 million units or more by the first half of 2026, a 36 percent increase from the current capacity. According to authorities in Binh Duong Provinc

November 20, 2024

India bans WhatsApp from sharing user data with Meta platforms

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has prohibited WhatsApp, operated by Meta, from sharing user data with other Meta-owned platforms for the next five years. The regulator also imposed a $25.4 million fine for violating antitrust laws. According to reports on Tuesday, the state-run CCI found WhatsApp's privacy policy, which permitted the sharing of user data with Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, to be inappropriate. The commis

November 20, 2024

BYD's success in Korean market depends on localization

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - China's largest automaker BYD is set to enter the Korean electric vehicle (EV) market in early 2025. While the Shenzhen-based company has been operating in South Korea's commercial vehicle sector since 2016, its foray into the passenger car market is anticipated to be more challenging. BYD plans to introduce its mid-sized Seal sedan and Atto 3 SUV as its flagship models in Korea. The Seal model, currently priced between 149,800 yuan (US$20,700

November 20, 2024

China seeks Germany's support in resolving EV tariff disputes

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China seeks to resolve the EU's tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles through dialogue and consultation. The remarks came at a summit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Xi expressed hope that Germany would continue playing a pivotal role in these discussions. Reflecting on Scholz's visit to China in April, Xi described their previous ta

November 20, 2024

Schedule for Putin's visit to India will be revealed soon: Kremlin

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India within the next few months. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that preparations are underway for Putin’s visit, mentioning that the schedule will be revealed soon. If the visit takes place, it will mark Putin's first trip to India since December 2021, two months before the Russia-Ukraine war began. During that trip, Putin held an annual summit with Indian Prime Ministe

November 20, 2024

China, France agree to cooperate to address global challenges

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday held a summit on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil. Xi emphasized the strategic importance of China-France relations, saying that both share a responsibility to guide international efforts in addressing global challenges. Macron recalled Xi's visit to Paris in May this year, during which they marked the 60th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties. He

November 20, 2024

Japanese PM emphasizes alliance with US for Indo-Pacific stability

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his intention to foster collaboration with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, emphasizing the importance of their bilateral alliance for Indo-Pacific stability. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday following his South American diplomatic tour, Ishiba addressed the postponed meeting with Trump, which could not take place due to U.S. legal restrictions on president-elects meeting foreign leaders. &qu

November 20, 2024

Laos reports 9 deaths from unexploded ordnance this year

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Nine people were killed and 39 injured in unexploded ordnance (UXO) accidents across Laos in the first 10 months of this year, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone told the National Assembly on Monday at its 8th Ordinary Session. The country has cleared UXO from 5,256 hectares of land, achieving 70 percent of its target, while the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme covered 1,565 hectares, reaching 21 percent of its planned area. The government has a

November 20, 2024

Moroccan doctors strike for higher pay and better working conditions

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Doctors in Morocco's public hospitals began a three-day strike on Tuesday, demanding better working conditions and higher salaries. The action, organized by the Independent Union of Public Sector Doctors, marks the start of a three-week protest campaign, including planned sit-ins. The strike comes despite government efforts to address long-standing issues in the healthcare sector. In April, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch announced a monthly

November 20, 2024

Thailand's economy grows at fastest pace in two years

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Thailand's economy grew 3 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, its fastest pace in two years, beating Reuters and Bloomberg median forecasts of 2.6 percent and 2.4 percent respectively, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported on Monday. The growth surge follows September's government handout of 10,000 baht ($285) to 14.5 million vulnerable citizens, along with improvements in exports and services sector perform

November 20, 2024