Iran Plans Strait of Hormuz Transit Fees, With Exemptions for Russia Iran is moving to impose transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz while granting exemptions to some friendly countries, including Russia, foreign media reported. Xinhua, citing Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti, reported on the 24th that Kazem Jalali, Iran’s ambassador to Russia, said Iran is applying exemptions for Russia and some other countries. “Currently, there are exemptions for some countries,” Jalali said. “I don’t know what will happen in the future, but Iran’s April 24, 2026

Hyundai E&C Seeks Resident-Only On-Demand Shuttle Linking Apgujeong Redevelopment Zones Hyundai Engineering & Construction said April 24 it is pushing to introduce a resident-only demand-responsive transport, or DRT, service linking redevelopment Zones 2, 3 and 5 in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul’s Gangnam district. The company said the Apgujeong Hyundai area totals about 10,000 households, functioning like a small city. With key routes stretching about 1.4 kilometers from Zone 2 to Zones 3 and 5, it said a more efficient way to connect not only within the complexes but also to April 24, 2026

Blue House: South Korea Secures 74.62 Million Barrels of Crude for May Cheong Wa Dae said April 24 that South Korea has secured 74.62 million barrels of crude oil for May — about 87% of last year’s monthly average imports — easing concerns about supply disruptions as the war in the Middle East drags on. Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, said at an emergency economic briefing at the Chunchugwan press center that the government is “staking everything” on securing alternative crude supplies. He said South Korea has diversified not only suppliers April 24, 2026

IBK Industrial Bank of Korea Wins Vietnam License as 10th Wholly Foreign-Owned Bank President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit to Vietnam produced a major financial milestone: Vietnam’s central bank has issued a license to establish a wholly foreign-owned bank for the first time in nine years, to South Korea’s IBK Industrial Bank of Korea. Vietnam’s VnExpress reported on April 24 (local time) that Nguyen Ngoc Canh, deputy governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, disclosed the decision a day earlier during a meeting with Jang Min-young, IBK’s chairman and CEO. IBK became the thir April 24, 2026

Iran Reportedly Lays More Mines in Strait of Hormuz; Trump Orders U.S. Forces to Sink Minelayers Iran has installed additional naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz this week, Axios reported, as the United States escalated its response with orders to sink any vessels laying mines. The renewed dispute over reopening the waterway is again sliding toward a military standoff. Axios, citing U.S. officials and sources familiar with the matter, said the navy of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps added mines in the strait. The U.S. military detected the activity and is monitoring it, the report April 24, 2026

Manila LRT-1 Opens Air-Conditioned Waiting Area at Baclaran Station Light Rail Manila Corp., the operator of Manila’s LRT Line 1, began operating an air-conditioned waiting area on the platform at Baclaran Station in Pasay City on the 23rd. The room is equipped with three household air conditioners. The 46.5-square-meter space can accommodate more than 30 people. It was created by renovating an existing room. Two five-seat benches are in place, and LRMC plans to add more. At the opening ceremony, LRMC President and CEO Enrico R. Benipayo said the company April 24, 2026

KOSPI Ends Flat as Foreign Investors Sell; Profit-Taking Pauses Rally South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI ended nearly unchanged Thursday as heavy foreign selling offset early gains, with investors taking profits after a sharp recent run-up. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI closed down 0.18 point, or 0%, at 6,475.63. It opened up 20.29 points, or 0.31%, at 6,496.10. Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, said large-scale net selling by foreign investors in the cash market, continuing from last week into this week, has been absorbing short-t April 24, 2026

National Railway Authority Signs Pact to Strengthen Anti-Corruption Cooperation The National Railway Authority said it is stepping up efforts to support sustainable management, including advancing “RE100” for electric railways and strengthening anti-corruption cooperation. The authority said it signed a four-party memorandum of understanding on Thursday at the Local Finance Hall to improve audit expertise and expand anti-corruption cooperation. The agreement was designed to broaden cooperation among internal audit bodies in the public sector and spread a culture April 24, 2026

Myanmar Fishery Exports Top 326,300 Tons in FY2025 Myanmar exported more than 326,300 tons of fishery products in fiscal 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026), with export earnings topping $404 million (about 64.4 billion yen), the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported on the 23rd, citing the Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation. By transport route, seaborne shipments exceeded 150,000 tons worth $240.48 million, while overland exports totaled 176,000 tons valued at $163.5 million. Myanmar co April 24, 2026

Kia Says Robotics America Investment Under Review; SDV Test Car on Track Kim Seung-jun, Kia’s head of finance (executive director), said during the company’s first-quarter earnings conference call on April 24 that Kia has previously indicated it intends to take part in an investment in Robotics America. “However, details such as the size, the method of contribution and the investing entity are under review,” Kim said. “If we are ready in the second half of this year, we will be able to share more.” Kim said the SDV “pace car,” or test vehicle, is expecte April 24, 2026