KAIST cuts AI fine-tuning time by 70% SEOUL, November 02 (AJP) - South Korean computer scientists have found a way to teach existing artificial intelligence models specialist skills in as little as a third of the usual time, by choosing their training data more carefully rather than adding more of the costly chips that run the work. A team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said Monday that its method, called CluSTER, trained a model on medical question-and-answer data using about 31 per November 2, 2026

Seoul takes the helm of troubled Czech nuclear project SEOUL, November 02 (AJP) - South Korea's industry minister and vice minister will personally run weekly reviews of the 26 trillion won ($19.4 billion) Dukovany nuclear project in the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said Monday, days after talks with the plant's builders collapsed. Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Vice Minister Park Dong-il will take turns chairing the meetings. Park opened the first session Monday, which covered how a new builder w November 2, 2026

North Korea vows stronger nuclear deterrent versus allied drills SEOUL, November 02 (AJP) - North Korea on Monday condemned a recent ROK-U.S. military exercise integrating nuclear and conventional capabilities, vowing to accelerate the expansion of its nuclear deterrent. Kim Jong-sik, first vice director of the Workers' Party's Munitions Industry Department, described the Iron Mace exercise as "the most hideous nuclear war rehearsal aimed at using nuclear weapons against the DPRK," according to the state-run Korean Central News November 2, 2026

Canada turns to Europe after US fallout ZURICH, November 01 (AJP) -Canada and the European Union are pursuing what EU leaders describe as the bloc’s closest partnership with a non-member as Ottawa seeks greater economic security after its falling-out with the United States. The “Alliance for the Future,” launched at a two-day summit in Montreal, would deepen ties in trade, investment, technology and defense as US President Donald Trump’s tariffs strain relations with traditional allies. Bu November 2, 2026

Cost-of-living unrest reaches usually placid Switzerland ZURICH, November 01 (AJP) -Europe’s cost-of-living anger spilled onto the streets of usually placid Switzerland overnight Saturday as rioters set barricades ablaze and hurled stones at police in Zurich and Basel. The violence brought Switzerland into a wider wave of European protests despite its reputation for political stability and consensus. Rising rents and health insurance premiums featured prominently in organizers’ calls, showing how household financial pressur November 2, 2026

FBI blames North Korea for $6 billion Binance hack SEOUL, November 01 (AJP) - U.S. federal investigators have identified North Korean hackers as the perpetrators of a massive cryptocurrency heist targeting Binance, with more than $6 billion in digital assets stolen in what has been described as the industry's largest single hacking incident. In a cybersecurity advisory issued Saturday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation attributed the Oct. 29 attack to TraderTraitor, a North Korean hacking operation linked to previous cryptoc November 1, 2026

Samsung's Lee visits Japan lab to advance AI chip packaging SEOUL, November 01 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the company's advanced semiconductor packaging research facility in Japan on Sunday, underscoring efforts to strengthen chip technology and deepen cooperation with Japanese materials and equipment suppliers. Lee inspected Samsung's Advanced Package Lab (APL) in Yokohama, which officially opened on Sept. 8, and reviewed progress in developing next-generation packaging materials and manufacturing pr November 1, 2026

Samsung hosts OpenAI's Sam Altman for AI strategy talks with 50 executives SEOUL, November 01 (AJP) - Samsung Group hosted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for talks with about 50 senior executives on Saturday, as South Korea's largest conglomerate accelerates efforts to integrate artificial intelligence across its businesses. The meeting, held at Samsung's Human Resources Development Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, brought together executives from its electronics, financial and biotechnology affiliates to discuss how AI could reshape industries and co November 1, 2026

Nearly 40% of middle-income Koreans saw earnings fall SEOUL, November 01 (AJP) - Nearly four in 10 middle-income earners in South Korea saw their earnings decline in 2024, the highest proportion since the COVID-19 pandemic, government data showed Sunday. According to the National Data Agency's income mobility statistics, 38.9 percent of people in the middle income bracket in 2023 earned less from wages or businesses the following year, up from 35.1 percent a year earlier. The group represents the middle 20 percent of individua November 1, 2026

Korea's exports top $900 billion for first time on chip boom SEOUL, November 01 (AJP) - South Korea's cumulative exports surpassed $900 billion for the first time in the January-October period, driven by surging semiconductor shipments, government data showed Sunday. Exports totaled $930 billion in the first 10 months of 2026, putting the country on track to reach the $1 trillion mark in November, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry. October exports jumped 93.7 percent from a year earlier to $115.28 billion, exceeding $11 November 1, 2026