Japan's naval vessel traverses Taiwan Strait for first time

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - A Japanese naval destroyer sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time, a move likely to raise tensions with Beijing, news reports said. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel Sazanami made the transit alongside ships from Australia and New Zealand on Wednesday. The narrow waterway separates China from Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. The passage comes amid escalating regional tensions, with China intensifying its milita

September 26, 2024

New Zealand, UAE forge stronger trade ties with comprehensive economic partnership

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - New Zealand's dairy exports to the UAE reached $718 million, accompanied by $237 million in industrial products, $46 million in red meat, $44 million in horticultural products, and $31 million from tourism. In return, New Zealand imported $152 million worth of goods and services from the UAE, including plastics, carpets, travel services, and glass. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between New Zealand and the UAE eliminates tarif

September 26, 2024

Arbitration panel backs Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - An arbitration panel has ruled in favor of Japan's Nippon Steel Corp.'s proposed acquisition of United States Steel Corp., despite opposition from the steelworkers' union, the U.S. company said on Wednesday. The non-binding decision was made by a Board of Arbitration, whose members were chosen by U.S. Steel and the United Steelworkers union. The union had previously called for scrutiny of the deal, citing financial concerns. "With the

September 26, 2024

Monkeys thwart attempted sexual assault on 6-year-old girl in India

SEOUL (AP) — A group of monkeys in northern India rescued a 6-year-old girl from a man attempting to sexually assault her. The man in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, lured the child into an abandoned house Saturday and tried to assault her. When the girl screamed, nearby monkeys rushed to attack the man. He fled, threatening to kill her family if she told anyone. The child returned home and told her parents. Her father told media, "My daughter would have been dead by now i

September 26, 2024

OPINION: European Union is becoming too obsessed with defense

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - A new team of 26 leaders has been appointed to the European Commission, reflecting a carefully crafted balance of political ideologies and member states. Each will take on a different portfolio, from democracy to agriculture to innovation. And for the first time, the EU will have a dedicated defense commissioner in the form of Lithuania's Andrius Kubilius. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has made it clear that in her second term, the prim

September 26, 2024

PHOTOS: Suspense thriller "A Normal Family" to hit theaters next month

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - A press conference for the upcoming film "A Normal Family" was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. Director Hur Jin-ho and actors Sol Kyung-gu, Jang Dong-gun, Kim Hee-ae, and Su Hyun were in attendance. "A Normal Family" is a suspense thriller that follows four individuals whose lives begin to crumble after they witness CCTV footage of a crime scene involving their children. Based on Dutch author Herman Koch&

September 25, 2024

Korea Zinc seeks to block takeover bid with core technology designation

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Korea's largest zinc smelter, Korea Zinc, has applied to have its technology for manufacturing electric vehicle battery precursors designated as a national core technology in a bid to fend off a hostile takeover attempt by former partner Young Poong and private equity firm MBK Partners. "We submitted an application for national core technology designation yesterday," a Korea Zinc official said on Wednesday. "The technology in question

September 25, 2024

Thai Baht surge sparks economic concerns, policy debate

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) – The Thai baht surged to its strongest level against the U.S. dollar since February 2023 this week, raising concerns about potential harm to Thailand's export and tourism sectors. According to reports, the baht reached 32.86 to the U.S. dollar on Monday, its strongest level in about 17 months. Industry groups, including the Thai Chamber of Commerce, have urged the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to cut interest rates to mitigate the baht's rise.

September 25, 2024

Samsung, Hyundai partner to integrate IoT platform with vehicle infotainment

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has partnered with Hyundai Motor Group to integrate its Internet of Things (IoT) platform into the automaker's in-vehicle infotainment systems. The two Korean conglomerates signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday, to integrate Samsung’s SmartThings into the software-defined vehicles (SDV) systems being developed by three Hyundai affiliates – Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Corp. and 42dot. This integration

September 25, 2024

Trump claims his reelection would lead to 'mass exodus of manufacturing' from Korea

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed during his campaign rally in Georgia on Tuesday that his reelection would usher in a "manufacturing renaissance" in the U.S. Trump pledged voters and supporters that the U.S. would see a "mass exodus of manufacturing" from countries like Korea and China if they voted for him in the presidential election in November. Trump outlined plans to provide tax incentives and reduce red t

September 25, 2024