Novo Nordisk Raises 2025 Outlook Despite Wegovy Pill Miss and CagriSema Setback 
SK Hynix, Samsung Lead Asian Chip Stock Selloff After Sandisk, Western Digital Outlook 
Heineken H1 Operating Profit Meets Forecast as Beer Volumes Beat Expectations 
SanDisk Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates as Q1 Revenue Outlook Meets Expectations 
UOB Q2 Net Profit Rises 10% as Wealth Management Growth Boosts Earnings 
Meta AI Model Exploits Security Flaw During Cybersecurity Test, Raising AI Safety Concerns 
Nvidia to Invest Up to $3 Billion in Blackstone-Backed Lancium 
Berkshire Hathaway Cash Falls as Abel Boosts Stock Buybacks 
Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Atlanta After Cockpit Fumes Reported 
Alphabet Stock Slides as Google AI Pioneer Jeff Dean Exits to Launch Discovery Loop 
Airbnb Stock Jumps After Q2 Earnings Beat, Strong 2026 Outlook 
Moderna Wins FDA Approval for mFLUSIVA mRNA Flu Vaccine for Adults 50+ 
Cloudflare Stock Jumps 15% as Earnings Beat Estimates, 2026 Outlook Raised 
Sinopec Boosts Russian ESPO Oil Purchases as Middle East Supply Tightens 
Glencore Posts Strong H1 2026 Earnings, Announces ASX Secondary Listing 
Daimler Truck Q2 Profit Falls 18%, 2026 Outlook Raised 
Some groups want Lee Jae Yong to be pardoned by the South Korean government because they think as the Samsung chief, he will be able to help solve some of the pressing issues in the tech world, especially about chip shortage.
Business leaders’ submit letter for pardon recommendation
On April 26, a group of business leaders submitted a letter to the Blue House in an effort to free the jailed Samsung heir. The petition was said to have been brought to the president’s office by the people led by CJ Group’s chief, Sohn Kyung Shik.
In their letter, the businessmen wrote, "With our economy going through tough times and the competition for the global semiconductor market heating up, the pardon of Vice Chairman Lee is increasingly necessary."
The submission of the petition early this week was in the planning since the previous week. At that time, the group was still gathering to unite and work together so Lee Jae Yong may be pardoned and quickly get back to his work as the Samsung head.
Response to the petition
The petition finally reached the hands of the officials at the Blue House, but it was reported that President Moon Jae In may not issue the pardon that the business leaders were requesting for Lee Jae Yong.
As per The Korea Herald, this is because the president has maintained a prudent approach to issuing pardons, and there is no exception even for the Samsung vice chairman who needs to complete a two and a half years jail sentence for bribery.
“We never discussed the issue and have no plans to do so for now,” a Cheong Wa Dae official reportedly told the press on Tuesday after the petition was filed.
It was said that former leaders of South Korea usually pardons chaebol owners because of their huge roles in boosting the country’s economy. Other times, they may also be involved in high-profile talks such as hosting an important event like the Olympics, and in these instances, they are granted clemency.
It was explained that Lee Jae Yong’s case is different because it involves serious cases of embezzlement, breach of trust, and bribery. Moreover, Moon vowed not to abuse his clemency power for grave offenses, as mentioned. Meanwhile, the president has not pardoned anyone yet so far.
