Samsung chairman visits Philippine plant

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the Samsung Electro-Mechanics production facility in Calamba, Philippines, on Sunday. The visit focused on reviewing the Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitor (MLCC) business strategy and encouraging employees. Lee emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities in expanding markets such as AI, robotics, and electric vehicles. The Calamba plant, established in 1997, has been producing IT-focused MLCCs and inducto

October 7, 2024

Hyundai Motor's Indian subsidiary to go public this month

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor's Indian subsidiary is expected to be listed on the Indian stock market on Oct. 22. According to news reports on Sunday, Hyundai Motor India estimates its corporate value at $19 billion and intends to publicly offer 17.5 percent of its total shares to raise $3.3 billion. If this plan is executed, it would become the largest IPO in the history of the Indian stock market. The current record is held by the Life Insurance Corporation of Ind

October 7, 2024

Vatican selects Tokyo archbishop as new cardinal

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Pope Francis announced the appointment of Archbishop Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo as a new cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Kikuchi, 65, will become the seventh Japanese to be elevated to the rank of cardinal, a position that carries the right to participate in the conclaves of future popes. The Vatican said on Sunday that Kikuchi, who hails from Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan, will be formally installed during a consistory scheduled for Dec. 8. This

October 7, 2024

Former Philippine President Duterte to run for Davao mayor

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, 79, has announced his intention to run for mayor of Davao City in next year's midterm elections. Davao City, located on the southern island of Mindanao, has been the Duterte family's political stronghold for decades. Duterte previously served as mayor of Davao for 22 years before becoming president from 2016 to 2022. During a press conference in Davao on Saturday, Duterte suggested he might form a ticket

October 7, 2024

Indian government opposes criminalization of marital rape

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - The Indian government has urged the Supreme Court not to criminalize marital rape. According to news reports on Sunday, the Ministry of Home Affairs submitted a statement to the top court, arguing that while a husband cannot violate his wife's consent, defining such acts as "rape" and imposing criminal consequences is excessively harsh. The government further argued that including such activity as a crime could destabilize the delicate balanc

October 7, 2024

Macron calls for halt to arms to Israel, Netanyahu criticizes Western leaders

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - French President Emmanuel Macron called for an end to arms shipments to Israel for use in Gaza on Saturday, sparking immediate backlash from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Macron, speaking on France Inter radio, emphasized that the priority is to "return to a political solution" and stop arms deliveries to Gaza. At a summit in Paris, he expressed concerns over the conflict's continuation despite ceasefire calls and criticized Israe

October 7, 2024

Tunisia's Kais Saied set for re-election as political tensions mount

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - Tunisian President Kais Saied is set to win the presidential election with 89.2 percent of the vote, according to an exit poll aired on state TV, further consolidating his power after his controversial power grab three years ago. Official results will be announced by Tunisia's Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) on Monday. Saied, 66, faced two rivals: former ally and Chaab Party leader Zouhair Maghzaoui and businessman Ayachi Zammel, who was

October 7, 2024

Japan to secure emergency LNG supply from Italy's Eni

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Japan plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with Italy to procure liquefied natural gas (LNG) from state-controlled energy major Eni during emergencies, as global energy security concerns intensify. The agreement, announced on Sunday to be facilitated through the government-backed Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, comes amid heightened worries over energy supply due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and escalating tensions in the

October 7, 2024

India, U.S. join hands for battery mineral supply chain cooperation

SEOUL, October 04 (AJP) - India and the United States have agreed to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals for electric vehicle batteries. Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding for supply chains involving lithium, cobalt, and other key materials necessary for EV batteries, according to news reports on Thursday. The agreement was signed during Goyal's visit to Washington. Fol

October 4, 2024

Former Singapore minister jailed for corruption

SEOUL, October 4 (AJP) - S. Iswaran, Singapore's ex-transport minister, was sentenced to one year in prison Thursday for accepting gifts worth about 74,000 Singapore dollars (approximately US$55,000) during his tenure. This marks the first imprisonment of a minister-level official for corruption in Singapore since 1975, sending shockwaves through the nation known for its low corruption rates. Iswaran pleaded guilty to four charges of receiving inappropriate gifts from business-r

October 4, 2024