BTS's 'IDOL' music video hits 1.3 billion YouTube views

Courtesy of Big Hit Music SEOUL, Sept. 05 (AJP) - "IDOL," K-pop wonder BTS' song released six years ago, has garnered more than 1.3 billion views on YouTube as of 8:00 a.m. (2300 GMT) on Wednesday reaching a milestone. IDOL became the fifth BTS music video to break the 1.3 billion mark, the group’s music label, BigHit Entertainment said. The "IDOL" video, which won the Music Video of 2018 at the E! People's Choice Awards, an American award

September 5, 2024

India was largest emitter of plastic waste in 2020: study

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) - A study found that India was the largest emitter of plastic waste as of 2020, accounting for about one-fifth of the total global generation of 52 million tons annually. The research team, led by Costas A. Velis, a civil engineering professor at the University of Leeds, discovered that global plastic waste generation reaches 52 million tons annually, with India being the largest emitter. India contributes 18 percent of the global plastic waste, amounting to 9.3

September 5, 2024

Korea targets Oscar with historic film on 1979 military coup

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) -"12.12: The Day," directed by Kim Sung-su, has been chosen as Korea's entry for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced on Wednesday. The film chronicles the military coup on December 12, 1979, which followed the assassination of President Park Chung-hee. Major General Chun Doo-hwan led the coup, taking control of the government and declaring martial law. This coup marked the start of a pe

September 5, 2024

LS Cable aims for 10 trillion won in revenue by 2030

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) - LS Cable & System announced Thursday its goal to reach 10 trillion won ($7.4 billion) in revenue by 2030, focusing on expanding its global market presence. During a press event, the Korean power cable maker unveiled its growth strategies for subsea cables and internet data centers (IDCs), emphasizing reductions in power consumption and operating costs. Despite growing global demand for high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) cables driven by long-distance po

September 5, 2024

Saudi Arabia cancels fees for tourism licenses to boost investment

SEOUL, Sept. 05 (AJP) - Saudi Arabia has announced the immediate cancellation of fees for issuing commercial licenses for hotels, hotel apartments, and residential resorts. This decision is part of the Tourism Investment Enabler Program, launched in March to position the kingdom as a global leader in tourism, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030. Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support, noting

September 5, 2024

Busan sets record with 1.38 million foreign visitors in first half of 2024

Courtesy of the Korea Tourism Organization SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) - The southern port city of Busan reported Wednesday a record 1.38 million foreign visitors in the first half of this year, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 1.32 million in 2019. This marks the highest number since the government began tracking foreign visitors in 1999. Global accommodation reservation service Hotels.com ranks Busan as Korea’s second-most popular travel destination after Seoul. Kn

September 5, 2024

Korea seeks to cut renewable energy budget, increase nuclear funding

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) - Korea's government plans to reduce its budget for renewable energy support by about 7.7 percent next year while increasing funding for nuclear power, according to budget proposals submitted to the National Assembly on Thursday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 2025 budget allocates 571.7 billion won ($428 million) for renewable energy support, down from 619.6 billion won in 2024. The budget for nuclear industry programs, including the d

September 5, 2024

Thai king approves Prime Minister Shinawatra's new cabinet

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) - Thailand's new cabinet, led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been officially confirmed. The royal gazette published the list of ministers on Wednesday, following King Maha Vajiralongkorn's approval. The 36-member cabinet includes 17 members from Paetongtarn's ruling Pheu Thai Party and 19 from coalition partners. Several key positions remain unchanged, including Pichay Chunhavajira

September 5, 2024

Chinese vice president meets with Putin in far east Russia

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) -Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting on Wednesday in a far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. Han relayed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Putin, highlighting the continued high-level operation of China-Russia relations under the leaders' strategic guidance, especially as the countries mark 75 years of diplomatic ties. Han expressed China's optimism about future cooperation between t

September 5, 2024

Turkey, Egypt strengthen diplomatic relations amid Gaza war talks

SEOUL, Sept. 05 (AJP) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met in Ankara to discuss the Gaza war and work on mending their long-strained relations, marking the first presidential visit between the two countries in 12 years. Tensions between Turkey and Egypt escalated in 2013 after Sisi, then Egypt's military chief, ousted President Mohamed Mursi, a Turkish ally. However, ties began improving in 2020 when Turkey initiated diplomatic effort

September 5, 2024