Four Chinese officials disciplined for misconduct  

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China announced on Monday that four officials have been punished for disciplinary violations, as part of the country's ongoing anti-corruption campaign. This is part of wider efforts to strengthen key sectors and ensure sustainable development. One of the officials, Tang Yijun, former chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consult

October 8, 2024

Tourism surge during 'Golden Week' signals economic optimism, experts say

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - China's National Day holidays, commonly known as "Golden Week," saw a significant rise in tourism, with a noticeable increase in passenger trips across the country and a strong surge in both inbound and outbound travel, according to official data and reports from major Chinese travel booking platforms on Monday. Crowds at tourist spots nationwide, backed by data, further highlight the steady growth in China's tourism and consumption markets

October 8, 2024

OPINION: Nobel prize in medicine awarded for discovery of microRNAs, molecules that control our genes

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Two scientists, Victor Ambros (UMASS Chan Medical School in the U.S.) and Gary Ruvkun (Harvard Medical School in the U.S.), have won the 2024 Nobel prize in medicine or physiology. They received the prestigious award for discovering tiny molecules in our cells called microRNAs. This discovery has not only changed our understanding of how our bodies work, but opens up a whole new area of science as well. It even extends into new treatments. These molecules

October 8, 2024

SK Bioscience to acquire stake in U.S. biotech firm

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - SK Bioscience, developer of Korea's first domestically produced COVID-19 vaccine, said Tuesday it will invest $3 million to acquire a stake in U.S.-based Fina Biosolutions. Fina Biosolutions possesses key technologies for conjugate vaccines that prevent diseases such as pneumococcal, meningococcal and typhoid fever. The company holds proprietary technology for manufacturing the CRM197 protein carrier, crucial in developing conjugate vaccines. SK Biosc

October 8, 2024

Key Suu Kyi ally dies shortly after junta amnesty

SEOUL, October 08 (AJP) - A close associate of Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi has died Monday, shortly after being granted amnesty by the military junta. Zaw Myint Maung, a former governor of Mandalay region and key figure in Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party, died at the age of 72 after being released from prison due to deteriorating health. Myint Maung, who had served as vice-chairman and acting chairman of the NLD, was sentenced to 29 years in

October 8, 2024

Saudi wealth fund considers increasing stakes in Japanese gaming firms: report

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is contemplating raising its stakes in Japanese gaming companies as part of a strategy to diversify the kingdom's economy away from oil, Kyodo News reported Monday. Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al-Saud, vice chairman of PIF's gaming entity Savvy Games Group, was quoted as saying, "It's always a possibility," when asked about potential additional investments in Japanese gaming firms.

October 8, 2024

Japan's Ishiba defends snap election call in first parliamentary debate

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday defended his decision to call a snap election just over a week after his inauguration. Ishiba, who took office on Oct. 1, plans to dissolve the lower house on Wednesday for an Oct. 27 election. During his first parliamentary debate with the opposition, Ishiba said he needed a fresh mandate to restore public trust following his Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) political funds scandal. "To restore

October 8, 2024

PHOTOS: 'Culinary Class Wars' contenders meet press ahead of finale

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - The top eight contestants and producers of Netflix's hit show “Culinary Class Wars” held a news conference in Seoul on Monday, one day before the final round airs. The show, which pits 80 unknown chefs against 20 celebrity chefs in a culinary competition, has been the most-watched non-English series on the platform for two weeks since its release on Sept. 17. Judged by restaurateur Paik Jong-won and Michelin-starred chef Ahn Sung-jae, the series wi

October 7, 2024

Toy market for adults surges as 'kidults' seek childhood nostalgia

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - Kim Geun-tae, a 27-year-old chip industry employee, recently found himself drawn to Loopy, a pink beaver character from the children's TV series “Pororo.” "I was so captivated by Loopy's expressive emojis on KakaoTalk that I ended up purchasing every series available," Kim said. Upon learning of a Loopy-themed pop-up store in Seoul, he made the hours-long trip from his home in Daejeon, just to buy a plushie and a figurine of

October 7, 2024

Two dozen minors earn millions annually in Korea

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - About two dozen minors in Korea have earned over 100 million Korean won annually over the past five years, according to data released by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) on Monday. Data also showed that there were 360 business owners who are teenagers or under, as of August this year. Among them, 20 earned over 100 million won, 41 between 50 million and 100 million won, and the rest below 50 million won. One of these young high-earners was under

October 7, 2024