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  Hyundai-backed company to launch driverless robotaxi service in Las Vegas SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Motional, the autonomous-driving joint venture backed by Hyundai Motor Group, plans to commercialize a fully driverless robotaxi service in Las Vegas later this year. Hyundai Motor said Monday Motional outlined the plan during a media event held Jan. 8 at its Las Vegas Technical Center, where it aims to launch an unmanned autonomous-driving service operating at Society of Automotive Engineers, or SAE, Level 4 by the end of the year. Under the SAE&rsquo January 12, 2026
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  Lee meets religious leaders to seek advice SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Monday asked major religious leaders to help unite South Koreans as social conflict and divisions deepen. At a luncheon meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul with leaders of South Korea's seven key religious orders including Buddhist monks, Catholic priests, Christian pastors, and others, Lee said, "As many people feel, conflict, hatred, and hostility in our society seem to have increased." He added that the January 12, 2026
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  US Navy ship arrives in Busan for repair work by HJ Shipbuilding SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - HJ Shipbuilding & Construction said Monday that the 40,000-ton U.S. Navy logistics support ship USNS Amelia Earhart arrived at its Yeongdo shipyard in Busan, marking the start of the company’s first maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO, project for the U.S. Navy. The South Korean shipbuilder secured the MRO contract in December from the U.S. Navy Supply Systems Command, or NAVSUP. The vessel is assigned to the Military Sealift Command. January 12, 2026
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  Commuters advised to brace for disruptions as unionized bus workers' strike looms SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Unionized bus workers in Seoul are holding last-minute talks on Monday, just a day before their planned strike. The eleventh-hour talks come after the workers issued an ultimatum for a strike slated for Tuesday, following a series of previous discussions that failed to narrow differences. The main point of dispute is whether bonuses should be included in their wages. Rejecting an offer of a 10-percent increase in wages, the workers have been demanding th January 12, 2026
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  OPINION: The end of tariffs is not the end of risk The possible judicial dismantling of Donald Trump’s so-called “reciprocal tariffs” has been greeted by parts of the global market with cautious relief. The assumption is straightforward: fewer tariffs mean less friction, smoother trade flows and a calmer world economy. But that assumption risks mistaking the removal of a symbol for the resolution of a problem. Tariffs were never the core issue. Uncertainty was. Trump’s tariff policy, controversial as it January 12, 2026
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  K-Pop Demon Hunters claims double "golden" at Golden Globes SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Harvesting last year’s syndrome K-Pop Demon Hunters has finally reached the moment awards seasons are meant to deliver: recognition catching up with momentum. At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards held on Jan. 11 in Los Angeles, Netflix’s animated feature claimed two of the night’s most coveted prizes — Best Animated Motion Picture and Best Original Song – Motion Picture for its breakout hit “Golden.” It was a January 12, 2026
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  South Korea seizes record 1,150 tons of illegally imported Chinese farm goods SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - South Korea has uncovered a large-scale scheme to illegally import Chinese agricultural products that bypassed quarantine procedures or included items banned from entry. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency said Monday it had identified 12 suspects — three brokers and nine importers — accused of bringing uninspected Chinese dried jujubes, raw peanuts and dried chili peppers, as well as prohibited items such as fresh fruit and apple seedlin January 12, 2026
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  HanmiGlobal, KEPCO team up with UK firm on overseas nuclear projects SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - South Korea's HanmiGlobal said Monday it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Korea Electric Power Engineering & Construction and U.K.-based project management firm Turner & Townsend to jointly pursue nuclear power projects overseas. The agreement follows a nuclear cooperation MOU signed last year between HanmiGlobal and KEPCO E&C. The three companies will build an integrated advisory package covering nuclear plant design, eng January 12, 2026
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  Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold wins top honors at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics said Monday its Galaxy Z TriFold device won top honors at CNET’s Best of CES 2026 Awards, taking the overall “Best Product” prize as well as the “Best Mobile Tech” award. CNET, a U.S.-based technology outlet and an official partner of the Consumer Technology Association, works with the CTA to select winners from products unveiled at the annual CES. More than 40 technology experts evaluated entries showca January 12, 2026
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  Asian stocks start week buoyant, led by Seoul and Tokyo SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) — Asian equity markets opened the week on a strong note Monday, with Seoul and Tokyo leading gains as optimism over robotics and artificial intelligence continued to lift technology and industrial value chains across the region following last week’s CES showcase. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.6 percent to 51,939.9 in early trading, supported by gains in exporters and technology shares amid a weaker yen and renewed optimism over global demand. January 12, 2026