Netanyahu: Mission to Eliminate Key Hamas Planners Nearly Complete Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the mission to eliminate the key planners behind Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths, is nearing completion. His remarks followed an Israeli military announcement that a Hamas military commander had been killed in airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. On May 17, during a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu stated, "I promise to eliminate those who designed the massacre and hostage-taking, and we are very close to completing this mission." He referred to the deceased commander, Ezzedin al-Haddad, as a "despicable terrorist." The Israeli military previously reported that al-Haddad was killed in airstrikes on May 15. Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, Israel has continued operations targeting the political and military leadership of the group. Israel has also claimed to have eliminated Yahya Sinwar, identified as a key architect of the October 7 attack, along with Muhammad Deif, a long-time leader of Hamas's military wing. According to AFP, the attack resulted in 1,221 deaths in Israel. Netanyahu also addressed the extent of Israeli military control in the Gaza Strip, stating, "The Israeli military currently controls 60% of the Gaza Strip." This aligns with recent reports indicating that Israeli forces have advanced toward a newly established operational boundary known as the "Orange Line." Israel and Hamas entered a ceasefire, mediated by the United States, on October 10 of the previous year. Under the ceasefire terms, Israeli forces were to withdraw to the so-called "Yellow Line," but even then, over 50% of the Gaza Strip would remain under Israeli control. Netanyahu's statement about 60% control suggests that the operational scope of Israeli forces may have expanded beyond the agreed withdrawal line. Netanyahu emphasized, "We are pressuring Hamas," adding, "Our mission is to ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel." The humanitarian toll in the Gaza Strip has also risen significantly. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is governed by Hamas, over 72,700 people have died as a result of Israeli military operations since October 2023, with the majority of casualties being civilians. The United Nations considers the Gaza Health Ministry's statistics to be reliable data.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 14:39:38

LS Shares Surge 13% Following Major U.S. Contract Win LS is experiencing a strong performance in the market, driven by expectations of improved results from its major subsidiaries and news of significant contracts within its group of wire and cable affiliates. As of 1:30 PM on May 18, LS shares were trading at 537,000 won, up 64,500 won (13.65%) from the previous trading day, according to the Korea Exchange. The surge in stock price is attributed to upward revisions of target prices by analysts and growth expectations for the group’s affiliates. LS's subsidiary, Gaon Cable, announced that it has signed a long-term contract with a major U.S. tech company through its U.S. entity, LSCUS, to supply bus ducts for data centers until 2030. The contract is valued at over 4 trillion won, marking the largest order in the history of the domestic wire and power equipment industry. Under this agreement, bus ducts produced at LS Cable's Gumi plant will be prioritized for supply, with plans to expand distribution through its Mexican subsidiary and Gaon Cable's Jeonju plant in the future. Market analysts are increasingly optimistic that the expansion of AI data centers will lead to greater investments in power infrastructure, serving as a long-term growth driver for LS Group's wire and cable affiliates. Additionally, Daishin Securities raised its target price for LS by 37% to 630,000 won, citing structural improvements in the performance of its major subsidiaries. The firm maintained a 'buy' rating. Analyst Heo Min-ho noted, "LS's first-quarter revenue reached 9.5 trillion won, with operating profit of 476.1 billion won, significantly exceeding market expectations. The profit increases from key subsidiaries such as LS Cable, LS MnM, LS ELECTRIC, and LS I&D are the main factors behind this growth." Particularly, expectations for LS Cable's expansion in the submarine cable business have been highlighted. Heo stated, "The selective order volume centered on high-value underground and submarine cables is being reflected in sales this year. Starting from the fourth quarter, revenue recognition for HVDC submarine cables for export to Europe will begin, leading to an expansion in performance." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 14:30:21

Lee attends memorial for Gwangju democratic uprising SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung attended a ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising in the southwestern city on Monday. The ceremony was held at the square of the former provincial office in Gwangju to remember those who rose up against military dictatorship to defend democracy 46 years ago and to comfort their bereaved families. The square, which officially reopened the same day after years of restoration work that began in 2019, is located at a historic site where young students, civilians, and other protesters held rallies for democracy against the late former President Chun Doo-hwan, who sent troops to suppress the uprising. In a speech, Lee said, "The great people of stopped martial law forces with their bare hands in 2024, just as the citizens of Gwangju did in May 1980," referring to the botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law by former disgraced President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was later ousted from office after the debacle. He also said the uprising should be written into the Constitution to ensure its spirit is remembered for future generations. The ceremony was attended by roughly 3,000 people including government officials and the families of those who died in the brutal crackdown. Before the ceremony, Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung paid their respects at the May 18th National Cemetery. 2026-05-18 14:29:40

Samsung Bioepis Releases Patient Data on Adaloche, Highlights Quality of Life Improvements Samsung Bioepis has publicly released clinical data on its biosimilar Adaloche for autoimmune diseases for the first time. The data indicates improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among domestic patients, with a safety profile comparable to existing products, confirming the potential for stable disease management. Samsung Bioepis participated in the International Congress of the Korean Rheumatism Association (KCR 2026), held from May 14 to 16 at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, where it presented two studies on the therapeutic effects and safety of Adaloche. Adaloche is a biosimilar of adalimumab, used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The studies are significant as they are based on observational and post-marketing surveillance (PMS) data from patients prescribed the drug in real-world settings. In an observational study involving 488 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, the health-related quality of life indicator (EQ-5D-5L) improved by an average of 0.09 points after 52 weeks of Adaloche treatment. Additionally, patients' self-assessed health status, measured by the EQ-VAS score, improved by 11.9 points. This suggests that Adaloche contributes not only to reducing disease activity but also to enhancing daily functioning and subjective well-being. Samsung Bioepis also released results from a post-marketing surveillance study involving 303 patients across all approved treatment indications for Adaloche. The study found an adverse event rate of 29.7% and a serious adverse event rate of 2.6%, which the company stated is consistent with safety results observed in previous clinical trials. A representative from Samsung Bioepis noted, "We plan to expand data collection for other autoimmune disease indications in the future." In the first quarter of this year, Samsung Bioepis reported revenues of 454.9 billion won and an operating profit of 144 billion won, marking increases of 13.6% and 12.6%, respectively, compared to the same period last year, achieving the highest quarterly revenue in its history. Buoyed by Samsung Bioepis's strong performance, its parent company, Samsung Epics Holdings, reported consolidated revenues of 453.9 billion won and an operating profit of 90.5 billion won, recovering from an operating loss of 63.6 billion won in November and December of last year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 14:27:23

Celltrion Maintains 60% Market Share in Japan with Begzelma, Prepares for Omilclo Launch Celltrion is strengthening its presence in the Japanese biosimilar market. The company’s drug Begzelma (active ingredient: bevacizumab), used for treating metastatic colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, has secured over 60% market share in Japan. With the upcoming launch of Omilclo (active ingredient: omalizumab) in the second half of the year, the expansion of its local portfolio is expected to accelerate.According to market research firm IQVIA and local data released on May 18, Begzelma achieved a 64% market share (based on prescriptions) in March. This marks a significant increase from 50% in September of the previous year, representing a rise of over 14% in just six months.Begzelma has successfully overcome its status as a latecomer to become the leading product in Japan, quickly gaining market share since its launch at the end of 2022, surpassing five competing products, including the original.Celltrion's success in Japan is closely tied to the local healthcare system, where the use of cost-effective biosimilars benefits hospitals, patients, and the government alike. Other key products such as Herzuma, Remsima, and Uplizna are also performing well in the market.The company’s financial results support this growth. In the first quarter of this year, Celltrion reported record sales of 1.145 trillion won and an operating profit of 321.9 billion won, raising expectations for annual sales to exceed 5 trillion won.Industry observers are keenly watching whether Celltrion can expand its successful oncology model into autoimmune diseases in Japan. If Omilclo and the future launch of Remsima SC are successful, Japan is likely to become a key growth area for Celltrion.Celltrion's market influence is expected to grow further. Omilclo, which received product approval from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in March, is being prepared for launch in the second half of the year. Additionally, the world’s only subcutaneous formulation of infliximab, Remsima SC, is also planned for entry into the Japanese market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 14:24:55

Real Estate Project Financing Fees Reduced as Financial Supervisory Service Acts The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has reported significant improvements in the management of fees related to real estate project financing (PF). Following a review, the number of fee categories has been consolidated from a peak of 32 to just 11, and penalties and extension fees have been reduced to zero.On May 18, the FSS held a meeting in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, with representatives from financial companies and associations to discuss the findings of this review and necessary improvements.The review targeted 17 financial companies, particularly those with high volumes of new PF transactions, to assess the effectiveness of the 'Best Practices for Real Estate PF Fees' introduced in January of last year.The results indicated that most financial institutions are now operating in accordance with these best practices. Since the implementation of the guidelines in January 2025, the number of fees associated with new and extended real estate development projects has decreased significantly.Previously, the FSS had introduced guidelines that limited the imposition of fees to those directly related to service performance. The amount collected from penalty fees for new PF transactions, which had reached 6.4 billion won in 2024, has dropped to zero since February of last year. Similarly, extension fees, which totaled 9.3 billion won in 2024, have not been collected since February 2025.Additionally, 100% of the companies reviewed have incorporated the PF fee guidelines into their internal regulations. The rates for preparing and distributing service execution plans were 88%, while the rates for preparing and distributing final reports were 82%. The establishment of separate internal control standards for PF fees was reported at 76%, and measures to prevent unfair business practices were noted at 88%.However, some financial institutions were found to have shortcomings. Instances were noted where fees of a nature permitted under the guidelines were still being charged under their previous names, such as asset management fees and private bond underwriting fees. There were also cases of formal compliance with the preparation of service execution plans and final reports, and deficiencies in internal control mechanisms for verifying the appropriateness of PF fees and preventing conflicts of interest among employees.The FSS plans to continue monitoring the appropriateness of PF fee operations and risk management systems among financial companies.Kim Wook-bae, Deputy Director of Consumer Protection at the FSS, emphasized the importance of rational fee management to enhance fairness, transparency, and trust in real estate PF financing. He urged companies to ensure that the best practices are effectively integrated through regular employee training and the refinement of internal control procedures.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 14:22:50

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan expand bilateral trade and transport networks SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Bilateral trade and transport volumes between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are surging following the introduction of a free trade regime between the two nations, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul said Monday. Total trade turnover reached 80.1 million dollars in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 42.5 percent increase from the same period last year. The economic expansion is driven by established intergovernmental platforms, including a joint commission that held its 14th meeting in Baku in June 2025. These institutional ties, alongside a regional business council established in 2020 and upcoming regional forums, have facilitated a diversification of goods and strengthened logistics chains connecting the two economies. Full-year trade turnover for 2025 totaled 307.3 million dollars, representing a 14.6 percent rise from the previous year. Exports from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan grew by 7.8 percent to 227.3 million dollars, while imports from Azerbaijan surged 39.3 percent to 80 million dollars. Uzbekistan expanded its exports across 230 product categories last year, observing strong growth in tobacco products, copper wire, grapes, nuts, household appliances, and petroleum products. The country also introduced 116 new export categories valued at 7.8 million dollars, while importing industrial resources like sugar, aluminum, and metal pipes from Azerbaijan. This trade growth relies on expanding logistics infrastructure across rail, road, and air networks. Total cargo transportation volume between the two countries reached 154,300 tons in 2025, an increase of 28.3 percent, with transit cargo operations growing 1.4 times over the same period. The logistical expansion has accelerated into the current year, with first-quarter cargo volumes in 2026 rising by 88 percent to reach 58,700 tons. The two nations currently maintain transport connectivity through 14 regular weekly flights operating on the route between Tashkent and Baku. 2026-05-18 14:21:07

Rival Parties Clash Over Allegations Against Seoul Mayor Candidate in National Assembly Hearing On May 18, rival parties engaged in a heated exchange during a meeting of the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee, focusing on allegations against Jeong Won-o, the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, as well as issues related to audit standards and the GTX-A rebar omission incident. The committee convened to discuss various allegations against Jeong, resulting in a contentious atmosphere. Members of the People Power Party displayed signs reading, "Jeong Won-o, who was arrested for assault 31 years ago, answer us!" This prompted Democratic Party members to respond, asserting, "This is spreading false information," and questioning, "How did the committee come to this?" After intervention from committee chair Kwon Chil-seung, the signs were removed, allowing the meeting to proceed. People Power Party member Seo Beom-soo questioned Jeong's past, stating, "He was released after a detention review for a serious incident. Does the ruling document mention May 18?" In response, Democratic Party member Lee Hae-sik countered, "The ruling document states it was for political reasons." Additionally, People Power Party member Woo Jae-jun asked acting police chief Yoo Jae-sung whether forcing a female employee at a bar to stay overnight and threatening her could be classified as attempted rape. When Yoo hesitated to respond due to the political implications, Woo asserted, "I do not view this as an assault case but rather as an attempted rape case," expressing regret over candidates exploiting the May 18 incident. Fellow party member Choi Soo-jin echoed this sentiment, calling it offensive to use the May 18 incident to cover personal issues. The parties also clashed over the GTX-A rebar omission incident. Democratic Party member Chae Hyun-il stated, "The ultimate responsibility for safety in Seoul lies with the mayor," and noted that construction proceeded despite knowledge of the rebar omission. Lee Hae-sik described the incident as an attempt by Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, to cover up the rebar omission, accusing him of evading responsibility. Oh has previously attributed the issue to the construction company, Hyundai Engineering. In response, People Power Party member Park Soo-min argued that the matter had already been reported to relevant authorities and questioned whether all issues needed to be reported directly to the mayor. Regarding the timing of the report on the GTX-A rebar omission, which occurred after Oh's resignation, there were differing views. Im Chun-geun, head of the Seoul City Urban Infrastructure Department, explained that a thorough review of site applicability was necessary. However, Democratic Party member Lee Kwang-hee criticized this, stating, "If that is the case, the deputy mayor who received the report should be here. Are you disregarding the National Assembly?" People Power Party member Jo Eun-hee stated that documents related to the GTX-A project show that the city is required to submit monthly progress reports to the Korea Railroad Corporation, declaring, "This is a clear case of spreading false information, and we plan to report Jeong and others." Woo Jae-jun added, "If the report has already been made, how can it be considered a cover-up?" The discussion also turned to the completion ceremony for the Audit Garden at Gwanghwamun Square, where the Democratic Party launched an offensive against Oh. Democratic Party secretary Yoon Geon-young criticized Oh for attending the ceremony on May 12, while he was in an acting capacity, claiming it was a clear violation of election law. He accused Oh of wasting hundreds of billions of taxpayer money and noted that the event was removed from YouTube after it became controversial. In response, Jo Eun-hee defended the event, stating, "The entire nation expresses gratitude to those who helped our country, and it seems the Democratic Party is envious of the Audit Garden," asserting that there is no violation of election law, as confirmed by the election commission's interpretation. 2026-05-18 14:19:50

Kia's Song Ho-sung Discusses Atlas Robot Deployment and IPO Plans Song Ho-sung, president of Kia, outlined plans for the deployment of Boston Dynamics' humanoid robot, Atlas. In a recent investor presentation in Hong Kong and Singapore, he stated that the initial focus for Atlas will be on mass deployment in U.S. factories over the first one to two years to gather data and ensure stability. He emphasized that Atlas will first be used in processes that are particularly strenuous and challenging for workers.Once the effectiveness of Atlas is demonstrated in specific processes, Song noted that the similar layouts of automobile assembly plants worldwide would allow for easy expansion to other facilities.Regarding the anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of Boston Dynamics, Song remained noncommittal. He said, "Internally, we have not yet decided on the timing of the IPO or whether to pursue external funding," adding that it is still too early to provide specific details.In June 2021, Hyundai Motor Group established a put option clause when acquiring Boston Dynamics from SoftBank. This clause stipulates that if Boston Dynamics does not go public within four or five years of the acquisition, Hyundai will buy back the 20% stake held by SoftBank at a pre-agreed price. The deadline for this is next month on June 20, leading to speculation that Boston Dynamics may list on the Nasdaq.Additionally, regarding investment ratios in robotics production entities, Song stated, "Investment decisions will be based on the expected benefits for both Hyundai and Kia." He emphasized that while Kia's participation in humanoid production has not yet been determined, the investment ratios will likely be based on the anticipated benefits for each party involved. 2026-05-18 14:18:00

Air Busan Flight Diverts to Kaohsiung Due to Strong Crosswinds An Air Busan passenger flight en route from Busan to Taipei encountered strong crosswinds while attempting to land at Taoyuan International Airport, leading to two aborted landing attempts. The aircraft subsequently diverted to Kaohsiung Airport. According to local media reports, Air Busan flight BX791 departed Gimhae International Airport in Busan on May 16, intending to land at Taoyuan International Airport. However, during the landing approach, the aircraft experienced significant turbulence due to strong winds and was unable to complete the landing. Footage released by local media showed the plane descending close to the runway, followed by a puff of white smoke before it ascended again. Some reports suggested that the tail of the aircraft may have brushed the runway, but there has been no official confirmation regarding any contact or damage to the aircraft. After two unsuccessful landing attempts, flight BX791 abandoned its landing at Taoyuan and redirected to Kaohsiung Xiaogang Airport, where it landed safely. At the time, strong winds were reported in northern Taiwan. Hwa Shi News noted that gusty winds were observed in the Taoyuan area on the evening of May 16. A current pilot explained on local broadcasts that if landing is deemed difficult, it is standard safety procedure to either ascend again or divert to another airport.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 14:15:00