Category: Business

Business

America’s Mighty USS Abraham Lincoln Finally Reached Port After 264 Days at Sea — But the Rust Is Hiding a Much Bigger Problem

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand — For decades, few objects have projected American military power as dramatically as a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. A nuclear-powered supercarrier arriving offshore — packed with combat aircraft, surrounded by escorts and carrying thousands of sailors — has traditionally sent an unmistakable geopolitical message. But when the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Thailand this week after one of the most demanding deployments in recent U.S. naval history, a different image began

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Business

South Korea’s Big Banks Just Saw Household Loans Drop by ₩728 Billion — But the Debt Problem Is Far From Over

SEOUL — Household borrowing at South Korea’s biggest banks has suddenly moved in the opposite direction. Outstanding household loans at the country's five major lenders stood at approximately 781.39 trillion won ($580.49 billion) as of Sept. 3, down 727.6 billion won from the end of August, according to data compiled by the banks and reported by Korea Herald and Yonhap. The lenders are KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, Woori Bank and NH NongHyup Bank. On the surface, the drop looks si

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Business

Power Outages Set in Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal This Week — Is Your Area on Meralco’s List?

MANILA, Philippines — Residents in parts of Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal are being advised to prepare for scheduled power interruptions this week as the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) carries out maintenance, facility upgrades and line works. The interruptions, scheduled between September 9 and September 12, will affect selected communities in Malolos and Meycauayan in Bulacan, several areas in Cavite, and parts of Antipolo City in Rizal. Meralco said planned outages are necessary to allow cre

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Business

LG Electronics Nears Big-Tech Robot Actuator Deal as AXIUM Push Moves Beyond Home Appliances

BERLIN — LG Electronics may be approaching one of the most important commercial breakthroughs in its expanding robotics business, with the Korean technology giant confirming that it is negotiating to supply robot actuators to several major global technology companies. But the bigger story is not simply whether LG lands its first high-profile customer. The company is attempting to turn decades of expertise building motors for washing machines, vacuum cleaners and other appliances into a potenti

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Business

South Korea Is Selling 60 Eggs for Just ₩9,990 Ahead of Chuseok — But Shoppers May Have to Move Fast

SEOUL — South Korean shoppers struggling with grocery bills are being offered an unusually aggressive deal ahead of the Chuseok holiday: 60 eggs for just 9,990 won, or less than 5,000 won per 30-egg tray. But there is a catch. The heavily discounted eggs are being distributed through roughly 4,000 neighborhood supermarkets, not the country’s major hypermarket chains, and the nationwide supply is limited to about 120,000 trays. The initiative, called “the Kind Egg” project, brings together Han

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Business

Thai SMEs Face China Import Pressure—Why Adding Value May Be the Way Forward

Thailand’s small businesses are facing an increasingly difficult battle against cheaper Chinese imports—but officials and trade experts say trying to compete on price alone could be the wrong strategy. Instead, Thai small and medium-sized enterprises may need to move in the opposite direction: create products with higher value, stronger brands, better technology and greater differentiation. The warning comes as Thailand's trade imbalance with China continues to widen and Chinese products gain

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Business

Hyundai’s $5.8 Billion Steel Bet Could Reshape Its U.S. Strategy

Hyundai Motor Group is turning steel into the foundation of a much bigger U.S. manufacturing strategy—one that reaches beyond cars and into robotics, energy infrastructure and potentially aerospace. Hyundai Motor Group is making a massive bet on American steel, breaking ground on a $5.8 billion electric-arc-furnace steel mill in Louisiana as the South Korean industrial giant moves to build a more localized manufacturing supply chain in the United States. The Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel proje

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Business

SK Is Bringing AI From Chips and Data Centers Into Korea’s Factories — But Ulsan’s Biggest Test Comes Next

ULSAN, South Korea — South Korea’s industrial heartland is preparing for an ambitious experiment: taking artificial intelligence beyond chatbots and software and putting it directly onto factory floors, production lines and industrial equipment. SK and the Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry are set to bring manufacturers, policymakers, academics, AI companies and local leaders together on September 11 for the 2026 Ulsan Forum, where one of the central questions will be how quickly artificia

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Business

Tesla and BYD Gain Ground in South Korea as Hyundai, Kia Strikes Disrupt Auto Market

SEOUL, South Korea — A prolonged labor dispute at South Korea’s biggest automakers has created an unexpected opening for two of the world's most aggressive electric-vehicle competitors: Tesla and China’s BYD. Domestic vehicle sales plunged in August as strikes and production disruptions hit major Korean manufacturers, while imported-car sales moved in the opposite direction. The result was a striking shift in South Korea's auto market: Tesla and BYD captured a large portion of the growth in im

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Business

Four Sacks of Talaba Seized in Iloilo — Vendor Says It Cost Their Families a Day’s Income, But LEEO Has a Different Story

A routine clearing operation near the Iloilo Terminal Public Market has sparked a dispute between oyster vendors and the city office tasked with enforcing market and sidewalk regulations. The incident happened on September 4 along Jalandoni Street, where personnel identified by the vendors as part of the Local Economic and Enterprise Office (LEEO) confiscated four sacks of talaba, according to Bombo Radyo Iloilo. The vendors said they were caught off guard by the operation and questioned why t

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