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  Stray Kids, Jennie and G-Dragon sweep top honors at 40th Golden Disc Awards SEOUL, January 11 (AJP) - Stray Kids, Jennie and G-Dragon took home the top honors at the 40th Golden Disc Awards, held Friday at Taipei Dome in Taiwan, as the ceremony marked its four-decade milestone with an expanded grand prize lineup. Stray Kids won the Album of the Year (Daesang), G-Dragon claimed Digital Song of the Year, and Jennie became the first recipient of the newly introduced Artist of the Year Daesang. Stray Kids earned their first grand prize seven years afte January 11, 2026
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  Despite equally chip-strong, South Korea overtaken by Taiwan in per capita GDP SEOUL, January 11 (AJP) Stronger economic growth and a stable currency allowed Taiwan to overtake South Korea in per capita gross domestic product last year, with the gap expected to persist this year, according to government data and economic forecasts released Sunday. South Korea’s per capita GDP in 2025 is estimated at $36,107, down 0.3 percent from the previous year, marking its first decline in three years. The drop reflects weak growth and a sharp depreciation of the w January 11, 2026
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  OPINION: Maduro's fall: the arrival of warfare of algorithm In the early hours of Jan. 3, 2026, Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro was captured and taken away by U.S. special forces. At first glance, it looked like another dramatic military raid. In reality, it marked something far more consequential: the moment a dictator was hunted down, located and neutralized not primarily by soldiers, but by data. This was not just the fall of a regime figure. It was the execution of what I would call the world’s first &ldquo January 11, 2026
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  Kim Yo Jong demands detailed explanation on S. Korean drone infiltration SEOUL, January 11 (AJP) -Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on Sunday reiterated that it was “clear” a drone from South Korea violated North Korean airspace and demanded a detailed explanation from Seoul. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim said “the essence of the situation is not whether the actor is the military or a civilian,” arguing that South Korean authorities cannot evade responsibility January 11, 2026
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  OPINION: Focus on Kazakhstan's agriculture and development of remote areas SEOUL, January 10 (AJP) - President Tokayev Meets with Mayors of Local Governments Last year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed a dialogue platform for rural akims (mayors), outlining his vision for the long-term development of remote areas. Kazakhstan’s Political Reforms: Evolution Instead of Shock Change President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is implementing a large-scale January 10, 2026
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  Musk says Tesla's humanoid robot could outperform top surgeons within three years SEOUL, January 10 (AJP) - Tesla CEO Elon Musk said humanoid robots could surpass the world’s best human surgeons within three years, arguing that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and robotics will transform healthcare faster than many expect. Musk made the remarks on the “Moonshots” podcast hosted by U.S. physician and engineer Peter Diamandis, outlining his vision for Tesla’s Optimus robot and the future of medical care. “Right now there& January 10, 2026
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  U.S. dietary guidelines recommend kimchi, overhaul federal nutrition advice SEOUL, January 10 (AJP) - The United States government on Friday released updated 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that, for the first time, include fermented foods such as kimchi as part of recommended diets and mark a significant shift in federal nutrition policy. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins jointly unveiled the guidelines at a White House briefing in Washington, saying the recommendations wil January 10, 2026
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  North Korea warns South Korea over alleged drone incursions SEOUL, January 10 (AJP) - North Korea on Saturday accused South Korea of sending drones into its airspace last year and earlier this month and warned that Seoul would “pay the price” for what it called repeated violations of its sovereignty. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, a spokesperson for the North’s military general staff said a South Korean drone was detected on Sunday flying northward over the border area near Ganghwa Island before January 10, 2026
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  Made-in-India drive and cooperation with South Korea-India * AJP is pleased to share New Year's greetings from foreign envoys based in South Korea: India In the Year of Red Horse, which signifies freedom, speed and energy, I am confident that the year will bring more momentum to the India-ROK partnership and chart an even more ambitious course for our cooperation in the year ahead. In 2026, India will work even more resolutely for the vision of "Viksit Bharat" (“Developed India”) by 2047. We will focus on January 10, 2026
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  South Korea's second ESS tender nears as Samsung SDI leads and rivals press safety pitch SEOUL, January 10 (AJP) - With just three days left until the proposal deadline, South Korea’s major battery makers are stepping up efforts to win contracts in the second round of the country’s centralized energy storage system (ESS) tender, highlighting safety and technology as key selling points. Industry sources said on Friday that LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On will all submit bids for the tender, with proposals due by Jan. 12 and final selections expected January 10, 2026