Tokayev launches $14 bln construction drive to rebuild Kazakhstan SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Kazakhstan will use its sovereign wealth fund to build hospitals, schools, railways, and power plants across every region by the end of the decade. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called the plan the country's largest infrastructure project. President Tokayev announced the program, called People's Construction (Halyqtyq Qurylys), in his annual State of the Nation Address on Oct. 28. About 6.5 trillion tenge ($14.22 billion) is to come from the Nat October 29, 2026

Hydrogen power supplier makes red-hot KOSDAQ debut SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Industrial turbomachinery maker TNE Korea surged as much as 125 percent above its IPO price on its KOSDAQ debut on Thursday before surrendering much of its gains. Its shares traded at 21,500 won (US$16.08) in after-hours trading around 4:30 p.m., up 40.52 percent from their IPO price of 15,300 won. The stock opened at 30,350 won and climbed to an early high of 34,500 won, more than double its offering price, before retreating to a session low of 20,200 won. October 29, 2026

Seoul stocks stumble as record chip earnings fail to lift sentiment SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - South Korea's stock market has turned bullish again, with renewed foreign buying and more than 90 trillion won (US$67.33 billion) in cash held in brokerage accounts raising hopes for a recovery. Yet the KOSPI slipped back below 6,000 on Thursday as retail investors remained wary of taking on more risk after last month's sharp selloff. The benchmark KOSPI closed 1.24 percent lower at 5,937.66 points on Thursday, a day after surging 6.63 percent to 6, October 29, 2026

Samsung's HBM strides intensify AI memory race SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) -The extraordinary third-quarter earnings of the world's three largest memory chipmakers suggest the artificial intelligence (AI) memory race is only heating up, with latecomer Samsung Electronics making rapid strides against frontrunner SK hynix and U.S. rival Micron Technology. The bigger question is how long the industry can sustain operating margins approaching 80 percent. The profitability is staggering. SK hynix delivered an operating margin of 79.7 October 29, 2026

KOSPI slides as Samsung earnings fall short of expectations SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics posted its highest-ever quarterly profit on Thursday, yet its shares fell 4.1 percent. The decline suggested that investors are increasingly focused on shareholder returns rather than record earnings in South Korea's chip sector. The country's benchmark KOSPI fell 1.24 percent or 74.78 points, to 5,937.66, as institutional investors sold a net 457.9 billion won (US$342.9 million) worth of shares. Samsung Electronics closed a October 29, 2026

Hyundai to invest $450 million to expand plant in Alabama SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor plans to invest US$450 million in its U.S. plant to increase production of hybrid vehicles and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), expanding its manufacturing base in North America, the automaker said on Thursday. At an investment blitz at its plant in Montgomery, Alabama, Hyundai said the funds would be used to build facilities for producing new engines, install equipment for future Tucson and Santa Fe SUV models, and introduce technolo October 29, 2026

A day after the fire: Guryong Village in the aftermath Rain falls over Guryong Village, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on October 29, 2026, one day after the fire was extinguished. October 29, 2026

A day after the fire: Guryong Village in the aftermath Merchandise at a shop lies burned in Guryong Village, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on October 29, 2026, one day after the fire was extinguished. October 29, 2026

A day after the fire: Guryong Village in the aftermath Police tape blocking entry marks an ongoing fire investigation in Guryong Village, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on October 29, 2026, one day after the fire was extinguished. October 29, 2026

A day after the fire: Guryong Village in the aftermath Charred fragments of comic books lie on the ground in Guryong Village, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on October 29, 2026, one day after the fire was extinguished. October 29, 2026