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  Samsung Biologics joins global vaccine network to bolster pandemic preparedness SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - Samsung Biologics has signed a partnership agreement with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to join the Vaccine Manufacturing Facility Network, positioning the South Korean drugmaker as a key player in global pandemic response efforts. Under the deal signed Tuesday, Samsung Biologics will serve as a "preferred" manufacturer for vaccines developed with CEPI support. The company will be capable of producing up to 50 million February 4, 2026
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  POSCO seeking to deploy Persona AI's humanoid robots for steelworks SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - POSCO Group is moving to deploy humanoid robots in steel logistics operations in cooperation with U.S.-based startup Persona AI. The group said Wednesday that POSCO, POSCO DX, POSCO Technology Investment and Persona AI signed a memorandum of understanding a day earlier to jointly pursue on-site deployment of industrial humanoid robots. Under the agreement, POSCO will identify steel mill tasks suitable for humanoid robots and assess their operation February 4, 2026
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  Samsung Heavy deepens Gulf ties with Qatar shipyard agreement SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries said Wednesday it has signed sign an agreement with Qatar Shipyard Technology Solutions (QSTS), a state-owned shipyard operator, to explore joint projects involving eco-friendly technologies. QSTS, located in eastern Qatar, is a subsidiary of Nakilat, the country’s state-owned shipping company and the world’s largest operator of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. The yard has completed repair work on roughly 2,00 February 4, 2026
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  Seoul, Washington reaffirm alliance including cooperation on nuclear subs, shipbuilding SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - South Korea and the U.S. agreed to continue close cooperation to strengthen the bilateral alliance, the U.S. Department of State said on Tuesday. In a press release, the department's principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Washington, D.C., where they "discussed ways to advance" the bilateral alliance. Pigott added that the two "agreed to cont February 4, 2026
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  Strong dollar pressures Korea's FX reserves, down for 2nd month SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves fell by more than $2 billion in January, extending a decline for a second consecutive month as the won remained weak against the U.S. dollar. The Bank of Korea said Wednesday that reserves stood at $425.91 billion at the end of January, down $2.15 billion from $428.05 billion a month earlier. Holdings of securities, including government and corporate bonds, rose $6.39 billion to $377.52 billion. Ho February 4, 2026
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  Constitution Day to be national holiday again SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - Constitution Day on July 17 will become a national holiday again this year, Cheong Wa Dae said on Tuesday. The Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung decided to restore Constitution Day as a national holiday to raise public awareness of the spirit of the Constitution. The day, which commemorates July 17, 1948, when the Constitution was promulgated, had been observed as one of major national holidays along with March 1 Independence Movement February 3, 2026
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  KOSPI, Nikkei rebound from 'Warsh Shock,' hit fresh record highs SEOUL, Feb 03 (AJP) - Asian equity markets staged a decisive rebound Tuesday, shaking off jitters dubbed the “Warsh Shock,” as South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI surged nearly 7 percent to a fresh all-time high and fueling a regionwide rally. The sharp recovery followed gains on Wall Street after U.S. purchasing managers’ index data returned to expansion for the first time in a year, easing concerns about an economic slowdown. Market sentiment also improved as i February 3, 2026
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  Presidential SNS politics: excess or essential? SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump is notorious for overnight social-media barrages — posting more than 160 times in a single day as recently as Dec. 1 — and for spending hours on Truth Social. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is a relative newcomer to such digital excess, but he appears to be embracing the medium with equal enthusiasm. On Sunday, Lee posted a reflective yet firm message on X, formerly Twitter, calling for a national debate on a p February 3, 2026
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  BTS Comeback D-46: world tour map affirming global reach SEOUL, February 03 (AJP) - Nearly four years after stepping away as a full group for mandatory military service, BTS is returning with a touring footprint that underlines just how much ground it covered — and how much leverage it still holds — in the global live music economy. A yearlong world tour spanning 80-plus stadium shows in roughly 30 cities across five continents is taking shape, positioning BTS’s comeback as one of the largest live music und February 3, 2026
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  Winter Olympics to kick off in Milan this week SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - This year's Winter Olympics will kick off in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Milan later this week, bringing together around 3,500 athletes from over 90 countries to compete for 116 medals across 16 disciplines. The opening ceremony of the quadrennial sporting event is slated for Friday in Milan, marking a return to the European country for the first time in about two decades since the 2006 Turin Games. Italy has opted to use existing venues rather than February 3, 2026