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  Samsung challenges SK hynix HBM dominance with HBM4E debut via NVIDIA alliance SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced on Tuesday at NVIDIA GTC 2026 the first public showcase of its next-generation High Bandwidth Memory 4E (HBM4E) and its role as a provider of a comprehensive memory and storage total solution for NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform. The South Korean chip giant presented physical HBM4E chips and core die wafers, detailing a product that supports speeds of 16 gigabits-per-second per pin and a total bandwidth of 4.0 tera March 17, 2026
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  Over 200 South Koreans return home on military aircraft from Middle East SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - Some 204 South Korean nationals residing in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries returned home on a military transport aircraft on Sunday. Amid the prolonged Middle East conflict, which began with U.S.-led airstrikes on Iran late last month, the South Korean government launched an evacuation mission, dubbed "Operation Desert Shine," to ensure the safe return of its nationals. A multipurpose transport aircraft flew to Saudi Arabia to ev March 16, 2026
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  Rice, beans, eggs among items under price control watch SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) -Rice, beans and eggs are among 13 fresh food and grocery items authorities will keep a close eye on amid signs of price increases linked to a prolonged cold spell. In total, 23 items were selected during a government meeting on consumer prices. Of these, 13 items — including rice, beans, garlic, imported fruits, eggs, pork, frozen meat, flour, starch sugar, cooking oil, mackerel, dried seaweed and processed foods — were classified as essential co March 16, 2026
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  South Korea finishes Winter Paralympics with best-ever medal haul SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - This year's Winter Paralympics concluded their 10-day competitions in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with a closing ceremony held last Sunday. With two gold, four silver, and one bronze medals, South Korea ranked 13th overall in the gold-medal count, the country's best-ever performance in Winter Paralympics history, surpassing its previous record set at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018 when the country secured one gold and two bronze medals. March 16, 2026
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  Asian stocks diverge, KOSPI ends positive despite jittery won SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) -Asian stock markets diverged Monday as oil prices climbed above $100 in response to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. With investors weighing energy risks and global demand signals, Japan and China edged lower, while Korea bucked the regional trend on strong semiconductor gains. Brent crude rose 1.6 percent to $104.83 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate crude gained 0.6 percent to $99.30, keeping energy security concerns at the center of regional tra March 16, 2026
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  BTS LIVE D-5: 'BTS effect' in force as fans swarm into Seoul SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - Lotus Buzon bought herself a map of downtown Seoul and, on a trek around the city’s Gwanghwamun area, marked all the public restrooms on it. This, she admits, is not normal for a tourist. But then Buzon, a 42-year-old Filipina, is a BTS fan and she is in South Korea for the group’s comeback concert this Saturday. She is not taking any chances with massive crowds expected. Organizers estimate that as many as 300,000 fans could pack into Gwangh March 16, 2026
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  Samsung to end sales of premium foldable phone just months after launch SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will stop selling its twice-folding smartphone just three months after its release in South Korea. According to industry sources, sales of the high-end, premium Galaxy Z Tri-Fold are set to end after Tuesday. Since its rollout on Dec. 12, the device has been sold only in limited batches through Samsung.com, typically once every one to two weeks on Tuesdays. Once Tuesday's inventory sells out, the Galaxy Z Tri-Fold will no longer March 16, 2026
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  GULF CRISIS: Trump's call to jointly police Hormuz puts allies in a dilemma SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - The United States has initiated the war against Iran, but the fallout from Tehran’s weaponization of the Strait of Hormuz — a maritime route vital to Asia-Pacific economies that together account for roughly 70 percent of global output — is now being shifted onto those countries, according to the logic advanced by President Donald Trump. Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called on South Korea, the United Kingdom, France March 16, 2026
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  Korea's default risk premiums rise faster than others, yet below 5-year average SEOUL, Mar. 16 (AJP) - South Korea’s sovereign risk indicators are rapidly rising in line with the volatility in capital markets and exposure to oil supply disruptions, potentially further undermining foreign investor confidence in Korean securities. South Korea’s five-year credit default swap (CDS) premium surged 23.83 percent in the past month, exceeding the gain of around 10 percent in China’s CDS and Japan’s remaining largely flat at around 1 percent March 16, 2026
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  BTS Live D-5: Gwanghwamun begins dressing up as a giant open-air stage SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) -Seoul is redecorating Gwanghwamun Square to transform the historic plaza into a vast open-air stage for global K-pop group BTS, whose comeback performance will be livestreamed worldwide on Saturday. Stage installations are taking shape across the square, while large banners announcing BTS’s return line nearby streets and buildings. Foreign tourists stopped to take photos in front of the displays, adding to the growing buzz ahead of the concert. Phas March 16, 2026