WASHINGTON -- With a budget deadline looming, President Donald Trump plans a whirlwind of activities seeking to highlight accomplishments while putting fresh pressure on congressional Democrats to pay for a wall on the US-Mexico border, even if that pressure risks a possible government shutdown. Trump approaches the symbolic 100-day mark for his administration this coming week juggling a renewed health care push and his demands that a must-pass government funding bill should include money for th

World News April 24, 2017

WASHINGTON -- Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, isn't ruling out a US strike against North Korea if Pyongyang tests another nuclear device.  Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations (Yonhap)Haley spoke on several television networks Monday morning, praising China's involvement in trying to pressure North Korea to cease missile testing and criticized its leader, Kim Jong-un, as unstable and paranoid. Haley told NBC's "Today Show" that "we are not going to do someth

North Korea April 24, 2017

Asiana Airlines Inc. said Monday it will receive its first A350-900 aircraft this week to strengthen service on its international routes starting next month.Asiana, South Korea's second-biggest passenger carrier by sales, will put the wide-body jet that can seat 311 people initially on the Incheon-Manila route from May 15, the company said in a statement. A350 for Asiana Airlines (Asiana Airlines)The carrier originally planned to assign the twin-engine airplane made extensively with lightweight

Industry April 24, 2017

Creditors of Kumho Tire Co. will discuss several issues with Qingdao Doublestar Co., wrapping up the deal to sell the South Korean tiremaker to the Chinese company, main creditor Korea Development Bank said Monday. Kumho Tire (Yonhap)Last month, Qingdao Doublestar signed a 955 billion won (US$830 million) deal to acquire a 42-percent stake in Kumho Tire in a deal that will help it turn into China's biggest tiremaker.  But creditor banks and Qingdao Doublestar couldn't start talks to finalize the

Industry April 24, 2017

Presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in on Monday announced the details of his longstanding pledge to move the presidential office to downtown Seoul to improve communication with the public.During a press conference, the nominee of the liberal Democratic Party unveiled the plan and announced the launch of two committees to handle the relocation and related city overhaul project if he is elected on May 9.Moon Jae-in at a rally in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province Monday (Yonhap)Moon has long argu

Politics April 24, 2017

E-commerce company Coupang said Monday that it has launched a new service that provides three-day shipping for products purchased directly from overseas through its platform.Called “Rocket Jikgu,” the service covers over 80,000 products from 3,500 brands that include food, beauty, health and personal care products. When the products are purchased through Coupang, delivery from the United States is guaranteed within three days. Rocket Jikgu (Coupang)Coupang already offers directly sourced product

Industry April 24, 2017

Hypermarket chain Homeplus said Monday it plans to open 10 rooftop futsal fields by the end of the year.Working in partnership with sports marketing company HM Sports, Homeplus opened its first rooftop futsal, or five-a-side soccer, field atop its branch in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, last May. Open to futsal clubs and locals, the field drew more than 14,000 children in the following 10 months, according to the company. Children take part in a soccer class at the futsal park atop Homeplus’ Ilsan b

Industry April 24, 2017

Lotte Duty Free may be stripped off its license to operate its branch in southern Seoul by the Korea Customs Service if Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin is found guilty of bribery.According to a KCS spokesman Monday, in the event of a guilty verdict the license will be revoked “according to the guidelines set forth at the time of the tender.”Chairman Shin is currently on trial after being indicted for giving 7 billion won ($6.2 million) last May to organizations run by former President Park Ge

Industry April 24, 2017

RUN TO THE SKY -- Runners take off at the 2017 Lotte World Tower International Sky Run, held at the Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul on Sunday. The race took runners from the first floor up to the observation deck on the 123rd floor, climbing 2,917 steps. It was hosted by the Vertical World Circuit, an organization under the International Skyrunning Federation. Proceeds from the race were donated to ChildFund Korea. (Yonhap)

Industry April 23, 2017

Lotte‘s ousted vice chairman Shin Dong-joo is seeking to regain power at his family’s conglomerate as his younger brother, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, is caught in a web of legal troubles. Speaking to media in Tokyo on Friday, the elder Shin said that he will be asking Lotte Holdings to reinstate him as a member of the board at the regular shareholders‘ meeting scheduled for the end of June.Shin Dong-joo and Shin Dong-bin (Yonhap)“I am concerned about Lotte Group’s future and will contin

Industry April 23, 2017

A major convenience store chain said Sunday that credit card use surpassed cash use at its outlets last year, indicating that Koreans are increasingly turning to non-cash methods of payment.According to convenience store chain CU, credit cards were used to pay for 55.1 percent of transactions last year, surpassing cash use for the first time. A 7-Eleven employee demonstrates how customers can receive change electronically. (Yonhap)CU said that credit card use rose to 57.3 percent of all transact

Industry April 23, 2017

Lotte Liquor, a unit of Lotte Chilsung Beverage, said Thursday that it would launch a new lager beer at the end of May.Fitz Super Clear will contain 80 percent malt and an alcohol volume of 4.5 percent, according to Lotte. The name is a variation on the word “fit,” indicating it is a fitting beverage to enjoy with anyone and fits with a variety of foods. The logo for Fitz Super Clear (Lotte Liquor)Fitz uses the German Herkules hop to create a light, fresh taste, and uses original gravity, meanin

Industry April 20, 2017

Capsule coffee brand Nescafe Dolce Gusto has launched a limited-edition single-origin Brazilian capsule, the company said Thursday.The Catuai do Brazil capsule contains Catuai Arabica, chosen by Dolce Gusto’s coffee creators out of the 50 kinds of Arabica beans grown by the South American company.  Catuai do Brazil capsules from Nescafe Dolce Gusto (Nescafe Dolce Gusto)“Delicately roasted Catuai beans unfold their subtle coffee aromas and surprising sweet floral notes for a stunning limited edit

Industry April 20, 2017