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  OPINION: Investors remain jittery as mixed signals rattle markets SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is rattling global financial markets. Yet the main driver of daily volatility has been the mixed signals about it, rather than the conflict itself. Even a single remark from U.S. President Donald Trump has triggered rapid market swings, sending oil prices and stock indexes soaring or tumbling. In just a few days, crude prices have taken a roller-coaster ride. Brent crude surged to as high as $119 a barrel in Asian March 10, 2026
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  OPINION: Why defense stocks aren't sure bet in turbulent times SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - As global tensions rise, such as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, financial markets often grow more cautious. As gunfire grows louder, investors tend to shift their attention away from the human toll and toward which industries might benefit and which stocks could climb. Defense companies are often viewed as potential winners in these moments. Over the past year, shares of major weapons makers in advanced countries have risen sharply. Some estimates s March 10, 2026
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  OPINION: Is Iranian war part of Trump's broader strategy on China? SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - The U.S. launched surprise airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28, escalating tensions in the already volatile Middle East. Under the joint military operation with Israel, codenamed Epic Fury, strikes on military and strategic targets occurred as rounds of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Geneva, Switzerland remained deadlocked. U.S. President Donald Trump is widely seen as unpredictable yet intensely transactional, prompting American think tanks a March 9, 2026
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  OPINION: What 'Operation Epic Fury' signals to North Korea SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean relations as "the most hostile state-to-state relationship," calling South Korea an "eternal enemy" at a rare party gathering that wrapped up late last month. He also said the North has "nothing to discuss with and will exclude it from the category of compatriots forever." However, Kim showed a different stance on the U.S., as state media quoted him as saying, &qu March 4, 2026
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  OPINION: Foreign residents' voting rights stir fresh debate ahead of local elections in June SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - As an increasing number of foreign residents obtain the right to vote in elections here, calls are growing to implement reciprocal measures when granting voting rights to noncitizens. As of January 2025, approximately 140,000 foreign residents in South Korea were eligible to vote in local elections. With their numbers rising and their potential influence on election outcomes growing, some, particularly those from opposition parties, are voicing concerns ah February 26, 2026
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  OPINION: Risks lurking behind South Korea's export boom SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - Despite heightened external uncertainty, exports have posted unexpectedly strong performance so far this year. Preliminary cumulative figures through mid-February show an increase of roughly 30 percent, a notable gain. With the domestic economy still struggling to regain its footing after a prolonged slump, this export surge comes as welcome relief. Still, it remains uncertain how long this momentum can last. Uncertainty persists in the semiconductor sec February 26, 2026
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  OPINION: Another year of Russian aggression against Ukraine SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Today, the world marks the fourth year since the start of Russia's large-sca February 24, 2026
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  OPINION: With US tariff ruling, trade war enters new phase SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Two months into the new year, uncertainty continues to mount, unsettling businesses and consumers alike. What matters as much as what changes is what holds steady — yet unexpected shocks keep emerging and how governments and companies respond will determine what lies ahead. A new variable has hit global trade. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that U.S. President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs and fentanyl-related tariffs imposed under the Intern February 24, 2026
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  OPINION: $10 Trillion "Trump Effect" Boomerang - a turning point for US-led trade order “Wherever law ends, tyranny begins.” — John Locke The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on February 20, 2026, will be remembered less as a trade ruling than as a constitutional moment. In a 6–3 judgment, the Court struck down President Donald J. Trump’s sweeping global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), concluding that the statute did not authorize the president to levy what were, in substance, taxes. February 21, 2026
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  ASIA INSIGHTS: Beyond tech rivalry: IMF's warning and Asia's path on coexistence The International Monetary Fund’s latest annual assessment of China reads less like a routine economic report than a structural warning for Asia’s manufacturing powerhouses. The IMF points to China’s widening trade surplus, effective currency undervaluation, expanding industrial subsidies, weak domestic demand and persistent deflationary pressure. Together, they signal the limits of an export- and investment-driven growth model that has powered China for de February 20, 2026