In shift from oil, Saudi Aramco bets on clean energy

Editor's Note: This article is the 17th installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - Saudi Aramco, the oil behemoth that has long fueled the Saudi economy, is increasingly steering its focus toward cleaner technologies, signaling a significant pivot in one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries. On April 21, Aramco, th

May 8, 2025

Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo fail to reach agreement in unification talks

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - Conservative presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and independent candidate Han Duck-soo held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss a possible unification of their candidacies, but the talks ended without any agreement. The two candidates met privately for about an hour and 15 minutes at a restaurant in Seoul’s Jongno District around 6 p.m., without aides or representatives present. Following the meeting, Han’s spokesperson L

May 7, 2025

Six cities call on central government to cover losses from free subway rides

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - Subway operators from six major South Korean cities, including Seoul, the southern port city of Busan, and the western port city of Incheon, are once again calling on the government to cover mounting losses from free rides provided to elderly passengers and other eligible groups. On Wednesday, Seoul Metro and five other urban rail operators issued a joint statement urging national funding to support what they describe as a public service obligation mandated b

May 7, 2025

Court postpones DP presidential candidate's retrial until after presidential election

SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - The Seoul High Court on Wednesday decided to postpone the first hearing of presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's retrial over his alleged violation of election laws. The hearing, originally scheduled for later this week, has now been pushed back to June 18, about two weeks after the snap presidential election set for early June, to fill a power vacuum caused by the impeachment of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol early last month over his botched mar

May 7, 2025

India wraps up first WAVES summit, spotlighting its creative economy ambitions

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - India’s first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) closed on May 4 in Mumbai, marking a significant moment in the country’s bid to position itself as a global creative powerhouse. Spanning four days at the Jio World Convention Centre, the event brought together key players from across the media and entertainment spectrum -- from industry veterans and tech innovators to policymakers, investors, and emerging creators. With packed

May 7, 2025

PHOTOS: Royal ancestral Jongmyo Daeje ritual resumes after six-year pause

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - On May 4, the royal ancestral rite known as Jongmyo Daeje was held at Jongmyo Shrine in central Seoul. Recognized as the most significant and solemn ritual of its kind, Jongmyo Daeje was conducted for the first time in six years and unfolded in grand fashion beneath clear skies. Built in 1394 by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, Jongmyo is the official royal shrine where the s

May 7, 2025

Samsung's Harman acquires premium audio brand B&W in $350 mln deal

SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics' subsidiary Harman International Industries has agreed to acquire the consumer audio business of United States-based med-tech firm Masimo for $350 million, marking Samsung's largest acquisition since purchasing Harman itself for about $8 billion in 2016. The deal, revealed on Wednesday, will bring several luxury audio brands under Harman's umbrella, including the prestigious British loudspeaker manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins (B

May 7, 2025

SK On accelerates U.S. battery joint venture preparations amid localization push

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - South Korean battery maker SK On is accelerating its battery joint venture projects in the United States, aligning with the growing emphasis on localization spurred by the United States' trade policies and new tariffs, according to industry officials on Wednesday. SK On, which is collaborating with global automakers on multiple large-scale ventures, is now focusing on expanding its footprint in the North American electric vehicle (EV) market. BlueOval SK, i

May 7, 2025

Coupang posts record Q1 revenue, unveils major share buyback plan

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - Coupang Inc. reported its strongest-ever first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, pulled by favorable exchange rates and strong customer engagement despite sluggish consumer spending and growing competition in the ecommerce sector. The South Korean e-commerce giant, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, posted 11.5 trillion won ($7.9 billion) in revenue for the January–March period, alongside a 340 percent jump in operating profit to 233.7 billion won. Net i

May 7, 2025

Teaser for 'Squid Game' finale unveiled ahead of release next month

SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - Netflix teased a trailer for the third and final season of its hit South Korean series "Squid Game" on Tuesday, ahead of its release next month. The 90-second clip immediately garnered over 208,000 views, just three hours after being unveiled on YouTube, reflecting fans' high expectations for the upcoming series. The teaser suggests that the deadly, high-stakes game continues with deeper and more intricate storylines, as contestants vie for an e

May 7, 2025