More patients rejected from emergency rooms amid doctors' strike

SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - The number of patients being turned away from emergency rooms (ERs) has more than doubled due to a medical vacuum caused by trainee doctors protesting the government's plan to increase medical school admissions, the National Fire Agency (NFA) said Wednesday. From February to Aug. 25 this year, the NFA redirected some 1,197 ambulances to other hospitals after they were rejected at ERs — a 131 percent increase from 678 cases during the same period

September 4, 2024

Amid declining sales, Audi closes several service centers in Korea

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - German luxury automaker Audi is grappling with declining sales in Korea, leading to the closure of several local service centers. Audi's new vehicle registrations in Korea from January to July this year totaled 4,524 units, marking a 59.4 percent decrease compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA). In July, Audi registered 921 vehicles, placing seventh among importe

September 4, 2024

KAI showcases latest fighters, helicopters at Egypt air show

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), one of the country's largest aerospace and defense companies, said on Wednesday it is showcasing aircraft at the Egypt International Air Show (EIAS) in El Alamein, aiming to expand its presence in African and Middle Eastern markets. The three-day event, which opened Tuesday, features about 200 companies from 80 countries displaying approximately 50 military and commercial aircraft. KAI is presenting its FA-50 multi-purpose

September 4, 2024

Gyeongbokgung Palace invites visitors to experience royal delicacies this fall

SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - Visitors are invited to indulge in a taste of royal cuisine at Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul this fall. A culinary program at the historic palace, which began on Wednesday, runs until the end of October, offering a unique opportunity to savor traditional Korean confectionery and refreshments once served to royal families. "This special experience allows visitors to sample royal court desserts and medicinal teas through the reenactment of the k

September 4, 2024

POSCO secures stake in world's second-largest graphite reserve in Tanzania

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - POSCO International, the trading arm of Korea's steel group POSCO, has agreed to invest $40 million in a graphite mine project in Tanzania. The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced Tuesday the company signed a deal to increase the POSCO group’s stake in Black Rock Mining (BRM), which owns the Mahenge graphite mine, to 19.9 percent. POSCO Holdings had previously invested $7.5 million in the Australian company. The Mahenge mine is es

September 4, 2024

Pope Francis arrives in Indonesia, begins Asian-Oceanian tour

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - Pope Francis landed in Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday, marking the start of his multi-country pastoral visit to Asia and Oceania. The pontiff arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 11:19 a.m., choosing to travel in a modest hybrid Toyota Innova Zenix instead of a luxury bulletproof sedan offered by the Indonesian government. Upon arrival, the Pope met with refugees, migrants, and patients at the Papal Nunciature, including Rohingya refugees from Mya

September 4, 2024

35 die in floods in southern India

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - At least 35 people have lost their lives in just two days due to flooding in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India Today reported Tuesday. More than 47,000 people have been relocated to relief camps across both states. Houses have collapsed, and road and rail transportation have been disrupted. A significant portion of Vijayawada, a commercial city in Andhra Pradesh, has been submerged due to the overflow of the Budameru

September 4, 2024

Japan declares mongooses eradicated from heritage island

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - Japan's Ministry of Environment announced on Tuesday that mongooses have been successfully eradicated from Amami-Oshima Island, a World Natural Heritage site in southwestern Japan. This marks the culmination of decades-long efforts to eliminate the invasive species that had been threatening native wildlife and damaging the island's ecosystem, Kyodo News reported. The ministry's review panel confirmed the eradication after analyzing data from camera

September 4, 2024

Boat capsized in Northern Thailand's Mekong River, dozens of Myanmar nationals missing

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - A boat carrying about 40 Myanmar nationals capsized in the Mekong River in Thailand's northern Chiang Rai province on late Monday, leaving around 20 people missing. The incident occurred when the long-tail boat, which had departed from Laos and was heading to Tachileik in Myanmar, overturned in strong currents. According to local media ThaiPBS, the accident happened when the boat's engine suddenly stopped, causing it to be overwhelmed by the powerful w

September 4, 2024

Bus drivers in Gyeonggi withdraw strike plan after reaching last-minute deal

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (AJP) - Unionized bus drivers in Gyeonggi Province withdrew their strike plan on Wednesday after reaching a last-minute settlement with their employers. The two sides agreed to a 7 percent wage increase, lower than the unions’ original demands of 12.32 percent and 21.86 percent, following a 12-hour negotiation that concluded at 3 a.m. The federation of unions, which represents 16,000 drivers from 45 companies in the province surrounding Seoul, had planned t

September 4, 2024