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  • Nepal Government Appeals for Increased Himalayan Tourism
    Nepal Government Appeals for Increased Himalayan Tourism The Nepalese government has urged international travelers to visit the Himalayas to aid in recovery efforts.On September 2, Nepal's Minister of Tourism, Kadhak Raj Paudel, shared a video on Facebook featuring the hashtag #NepalCalling. He stated, "Our mountain trails and trekking routes are still waiting for you." He added, "Visiting Nepal this time does not just mean a vacation; it will be a significant help to a country fighting the tragedy of sudden floods." The tourism industry centered around the Himalayan region is considered one of Nepal's key national industries.While the tourism sector directly contributes about 6% to the country's GDP, its overall impact, including related industries such as aviation, accommodation, food and beverage, and retail, is estimated to account for approximately 10% of Nepal's economy.Meanwhile, according to reports from AFP and Reuters, the Nepal Disaster Management Authority has confirmed that the death toll from the recent floods in Nepal has risen to at least 1,114. This brings the total number of fatalities, including 16 in China, to 1,130.There are currently 4,462 people reported missing, including 3,916 in Nepal (583 foreigners) and 546 in China (261 foreigners).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 09:32:10
  • U.S. Treasury Yields Stabilize, Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Drops to 1360s
    U.S. Treasury Yields Stabilize, Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Drops to 1360s The rise in U.S. Treasury yields has stabilized, and the value of the yen has rebounded, causing the won-dollar exchange rate to drop into the 1360s.As of 9:13 a.m. on September 3, the exchange rate in the Seoul foreign exchange market is 1361.5 won per U.S. dollar. Earlier, at 6 a.m., the rate was trading at 1359.2 won, down 9.5 won from the previous day's closing price. Overnight, the exchange rate fell to the 1350s, setting a new low for the year.This decline is attributed to the stabilization of rising U.S. Treasury yields, which has led to a weaker dollar. The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note, which had surged recently, peaked at 4.821% during the day before retreating to 4.793%.The dollar index, which measures the dollar's value against six major currencies, fell by 0.12% to 99.565.International oil prices have continued to rise for three consecutive trading days amid ongoing military tensions between the U.S. and Iran. November futures for Brent crude oil rose by 1.04% to $95.63 per barrel, while October futures for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil increased by 0.88% to $91.01.U.S. stock markets closed higher across the board. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 295.07 points (0.56%) at 50,061.95.The S&P 500 index rose by 35.13 points (0.46%) to close at 7,666.60, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 118.05 points (0.45%) to finish at 20,217.83.Market analysts expect the exchange rate to attract bargain buying due to the weaker dollar. Min Kyung-won, an economist at Woori Bank, stated, "Despite concerns over dollar weakness and potential Japanese intervention, bargain buying is likely to support the lower end of the exchange rate, which may attempt to re-enter the 1360s. Given the rapid pace of the exchange rate decline, we anticipate an influx of short plays from offshore investors following this trend."He added, "However, actual demand from importers for low-price purchases is expected to support the lower end of the exchange rate. If market participants perceive 1350 won as a primary support level, accumulation buying in this range could slightly lift the exchange rate." 2026-09-03 09:32:00
  • Samsung Electronics Showcases Human-Centric AI Living at IFA 2026
    Samsung Electronics Showcases Human-Centric AI Living at IFA 2026 Samsung Electronics is showcasing its exhibition themed "Your companion to AI Living" at the IFA 2026, Europe’s largest electronics fair, held in Berlin from September 2 to 6 (local time).The company emphasizes the importance of technology that thoughtfully considers people's daily lives and needs, presenting a warm and human-centric AI lifestyle.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 09:32:00
  • South Korea to Consult with U.S. on Proposed Semiconductor Tariffs
    South Korea to Consult with U.S. on Proposed Semiconductor Tariffs The Blue House announced that it will closely monitor developments regarding the U.S. government's plans for large-scale semiconductor tariffs. The government aims to ensure that these measures do not adversely affect South Korean companies while maintaining close consultations with U.S. officials.A Blue House official stated in a media briefing, "I understand that specific details have not yet been finalized." On the previous day, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Ruthnick revealed in an interview with CNBC that the administration is preparing significant tariffs on semiconductor imports to encourage domestic production. He did not specify when these tariffs would be implemented.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 09:32:00
  • Hanwha Ocean wins $1 billion LNG tanker deal
    Hanwha Ocean wins $1 billion LNG tanker deal SEOUL, September 3 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean has secured an additional order from a Taiwanese shipping company to build six liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered container ships, according to industry sources on Thursday. The order worth 1.55 trillion won (US$1.1 billion) is for six 13,650-TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships, bringing its total orders from Taiwan's Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation to 13. The newly ordered ships will be equipped with fuel tanks made using Hanwha Ocean's own high-manganese steel technology, which offers greater cost competitiveness than nickel alloy steel or aluminum while maintaining high strength at ultra-low temperatures of minus 163 degrees Celsius. With the latest order, which comes just two days after Hanwha Ocean won a contract to build three very large gas carriers earlier this week, the cumulative value of its orders now stands at 2.03 trillion won. "Winning a series of orders in such a short period demonstrates Hanwha Ocean's strong production capabilities along with differentiated shipbuilding capability," a Hanwha Ocean spokesman said. Shares of Hanhwa Ocean were 2.3 percent higher at 83,900 won ($61.65) as of 9:45 a.m. in Seoul. Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation's chairman Chuck F.M. Tsai said the order reflects a shared commitment to building a more competitive and sustainable fleet, adding that the successful delivery of the six ships will help the two companies further strengthen their long-term cooperation. Meanwhile, Hanwha Ocean has been coping with shifting global shipping routes caused by the prolonged conflict in the Middle East by meeting growing demand for eco-friendly, high-value vessels. AJP Takeaways • Hanwha Ocean secured a 1.55 trillion won (US$1.1 billion) order for six 13,650-TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships from Taiwan's Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, bringing Yang Ming's total orders from Hanwha Ocean to 13 container ships. • The new ships will feature fuel tanks using Hanwha Ocean's proprietary high-manganese steel technology, which offers cost advantages over nickel alloy steel and aluminum while maintaining high strength at temperatures as low as minus 163 degrees Celsius. • Hanwha Ocean's cumulative orders had reached 2.03 trillion won after the company secured contracts for six LNG container ships and three very large gas carriers within two days, reflecting strong demand for eco-friendly, high-value vessels. 2026-09-03 09:31:49
  • Tway Air Introduces Trinity Air with New Livery, First Flight on September 10
    T'way Air Introduces 'Trinity Air' with New Livery, First Flight on September 10 T'way Air is accelerating its brand transition with the introduction of an aircraft featuring the new Trinity Air design.On September 1, T'way Air held a ceremony at Gimpo International Airport to unveil its first B737-8 aircraft adorned with the new livery of Trinity Air. Flight attendants in new uniforms were also present to celebrate the launch of the new brand.This aircraft is the first to showcase Trinity Air's new corporate identity and brand design on its exterior. It will be deployed on the Gimpo-Jeju route starting September 10, coinciding with the launch of Trinity Air's operations.The B737-8 is a next-generation aircraft equipped with high-efficiency LEAP-1B engines, designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions compared to existing models.T'way Air plans to continue introducing more aircraft featuring the new Trinity Air livery, gradually updating its existing fleet with the new design.Recently, T'way Air announced its strategy as a Selective Service Carrier (SSC), marking the beginning of the Trinity Air era. The airline plans to enhance its fleet competitiveness by adding next-generation aircraft, including the A330-900NEO and B737-8, within the year.A T'way Air official stated, "With the introduction of the first aircraft featuring Trinity Air's new livery, preparations for the brand transition are progressing smoothly. Starting September 10, we will do our best to ensure customers can experience Trinity Air at various touchpoints."Meanwhile, at last month's 'Trinity Air Brand Launch and Uniform Runway' event, the concept of a Selective Service Carrier (SSC) was introduced, breaking away from the traditional business models of domestic airlines, which are typically divided into full-service carriers (FSC) and low-cost carriers (LCC).The SSC model is characterized by offering services selectively based on routes and travel purposes. It aims to maintain reasonable fare levels for domestic and short-haul routes while enhancing service quality and fare competitiveness for long-haul routes to North America and Europe.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 09:24:20
  • Naver Cloud Selected to Develop Cybersecurity-Focused AI Foundation Model
    Naver Cloud Selected to Develop Cybersecurity-Focused AI Foundation Model Naver Cloud has been selected to lead the development of a cybersecurity-focused artificial intelligence (AI) foundation model, known as the Security Specialized AI Model (SSAM).The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on September 3 that Naver Cloud was chosen as the final project implementer after evaluating two participating companies in a presentation assessment for the SSAM project.The evaluation criteria included technical capability, development experience, development strategy and technology, excellence and feasibility of development goals, as well as market potential and impact.The ministry explained that the selected companies formed a large-scale industry-academia-research consortium with outstanding technical skills and development experience, presenting a concrete development strategy utilizing multiple agents and harnesses.The consortium will initially receive support for a total of 256 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) B200 over the next 10 months, starting this month.The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to sign an agreement with the selected companies this month and commence the development of the cybersecurity-focused model with GPU support. A ministry representative stated, "We plan to immediately establish a working-level consultative body with the selected companies to strive for successful outcomes."Meanwhile, the Naver Cloud consortium includes LG AI Research, LG Uplus, LG CNS, Logpresso, and MarkAny.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 09:24:00
  • KOSPI Recovers Above 6,600 as U.S. Treasury Yields Stabilize
    KOSPI Recovers Above 6,600 as U.S. Treasury Yields Stabilize The KOSPI, which had dropped nearly 4% the previous day, rebounded by over 1% to recover the 6,600 level, influenced by stabilizing U.S. Treasury yields and a rebound in the New York stock market. The strength of U.S. semiconductor stocks, bolstered by increased demand for artificial intelligence (AI) servers, also supported the domestic market's recovery.As of 9:04 a.m. on September 3, the KOSPI was up 70.78 points (1.08%) at 6,633.50. The index opened at 6,650.33, up 87.61 points (1.33%), before slightly reducing its gains.In the securities market, individual investors have made a net purchase of 100.4 billion won. In contrast, foreign and institutional investors sold a net 86.8 billion won and 39.6 billion won, respectively, taking profits.All major stocks by market capitalization showed strong performance. Samsung Electronics traded at 254,000 won, up 1.60% from the previous day, while SK Hynix rose 2.11% to 1,647,000 won. Other gainers included SK Square (1.93%), Samsung Electro-Mechanics (2.50%), LG Energy Solution (1.44%), Hyundai Motor (1.06%), Samsung C&T (2.95%), and KB Financial (0.83%).At the same time, the KOSDAQ index rose 7.17 points (0.89%) to 811.15, after starting down 10.33 points (1.28%) at 814.31.In the KOSDAQ market, individual investors have made a net purchase of 47 billion won, while foreign and institutional investors sold a net 41.4 billion won and 1 billion won, respectively.Among the top KOSDAQ stocks, performance was mixed. Alteogen (0.34%), EcoPro (0.24%), Rainbow Robotics (0.69%), Juseong Engineering (0.23%), IOTech (2.24%), Rino Technology (1.09%), and HLB (0.15%) saw gains, while EcoPro BM (-1.22%), Wonik IPS (-0.36%), and Simtech (-1.05%) declined.Overnight, the three major indices on the New York Stock Exchange, which had seen declines for three consecutive trading days, all rebounded. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.56%, while the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite increased by 0.46% and 0.45%, respectively.The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury bond, which had surged recently, peaked at 4.821%, the highest level since November 2023. However, it later reduced its gains, trading at 4.793% as of 3 p.m. local time, down 0.2 basis points from the previous close. The yield on the 30-year bond remained unchanged at 5.266%, while the 2-year yield fell by 0.8 basis points to 4.383%.The influx of bargain-hunting in semiconductor stocks also supported the index's rise. Notably, Dell surged 15.81% after raising its annual revenue and profit forecasts based on increased demand for AI servers, leading the market's upward momentum. Major semiconductor stocks such as Nvidia (3.21%), Micron (2.43%), and Qualcomm (2.01%) also saw gains. SK Hynix's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) rose by 2.61%, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index closed up 0.45%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 09:20:00
  • Korean Government Opens AI-Friendly Cultural Data to Boost Content Industry
    Korean Government Opens AI-Friendly Cultural Data to Boost Content Industry The South Korean government is opening high-value public data in the cultural sector to enhance its content industry.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on September 3 that it will actively pursue the 'Cultural Sector AI and High-Value Public Data Opening Project' in response to the rapidly increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI).This year, the ministry will first release five types of AI and high-value public data from four institutions: the National Gugak Center, the National Sejong Library, the Korea Tourism Organization, and the Korea Cultural Information Service. The goal is to make this data available on the Public Data Portal as a national priority by December.The National Gugak Center will process and open digital audio and image data of traditional Korean music for use in AI training. It plans to enhance research and education, as well as the production of AI-based traditional music content, by adding specialized information on genres, instruments, rhythms, and expressive techniques.The National Sejong Library will systematically compile and open policy information collected from domestic and international government agencies, public institutions, research organizations, and international bodies. It aims to create a question-and-answer dataset for AI training based on available policy materials, providing tailored information on major policy, social, and economic issues, as well as national agenda items.The Korea Tourism Organization will continuously update national tourism information in Korean and multiple languages while expanding the release of regional and thematic tourism video content. This initiative is expected to enhance the utilization of public data in various tourism services, including travel platforms, multilingual tourism guidance, and tourism content production, accelerating the AI transformation of the tourism industry.The Korea Cultural Information Service will open 3D cultural resources, traditional Korean clothing, and traditional pattern data in a format suitable for AI learning and application. It plans to improve the reliability of cultural context and historical facts through expert review, while also building ontology-based information on the meanings and relationships among cultural resources to support more accurate AI learning of Korean culture. Ontology refers to a knowledge model that specifies concepts in a particular field and their relationships in a form that computers can understand and process.For the first time, a Model Context Protocol (MCP) based linkage method will also be introduced. MCP is a common communication rule that allows AI models to understand and utilize external materials and tools.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 09:20:00
  • Hankook Tire Installs 5MW Solar Power System at Geumsan Plant, Reducing Carbon Emissions by 3,061 Tons Annually
    Hankook Tire Installs 5MW Solar Power System at Geumsan Plant, Reducing Carbon Emissions by 3,061 Tons Annually Hankook Tire is enhancing its Geumsan plant as a hub for eco-friendly energy production. On September 3, Hankook Tire announced the installation of a self-consumption solar power system with a capacity of approximately 5 megawatts at its Geumsan plant in South Chungcheong Province. The solar power systems, with capacities of 2,692 kW and 2,377 kW, were installed on the roofs of the raw materials and finished goods warehouses, respectively. The facility is expected to generate about 6.66 GWh of renewable energy annually, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 3,061 tons of CO₂ each year. This project was selected for support under the carbon-neutral facility program for companies subject to the emissions trading system by the Korea Environment Corporation. Hankook Tire is already utilizing solar power systems at its major overseas production sites. The Chongqing plant in China operates a solar power system with a capacity of about 1 MW, while a self-consumption solar power system with a capacity of approximately 0.66 MW is in use at the parking lot of the plant in Gaohung, China. Additionally, in February, Hankook Tire signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with renewable energy company Goldenfix Capital for a total of 430 GWh over ten years at its Hungary plant. This agreement aims to replace about 20% of the plant's annual electricity consumption with renewable energy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-03 09:20:00