Intel Reports Strong Q2 Earnings Driven by AI Server Demand Intel, the American semiconductor company, reported second-quarter earnings that significantly exceeded market expectations, driven by increased demand for central processing units (CPUs) for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The company also provided a positive outlook for its third-quarter performance, leading to a nearly 10% surge in its stock price in after-hours trading.On July 23, Intel announced that its revenue for the second quarter reached $16.128 billion, a 25.4% increase fro July 24, 2026

U.S. Imposes 12.5% Tariff on South Korea for Forced Labor Violations The Trump administration is imposing additional tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on 60 trading partners, including South Korea, due to inadequate measures to prevent the import of products made with forced labor. South Korea will face a 12.5% tariff.According to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Associated Press, the tariffs will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on July 24.The USTR has established a system to ban the import of forced labor products but decided to apply a 10% tariff to co July 24, 2026

Trump: U.S. to Maintain Edge Over China in AI Ahead of September Summit The upcoming U.S.-China summit in September is expected to focus on the competition in artificial intelligence (AI) technology. On July 23, President Trump stated at an event in Washington, D.C., that "Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the U.S. on September 24," adding, "We discussed AI in Beijing, and we will talk about it again this time." AI was also a topic during Trump's state visit to China in May, where both countries agreed to promote government-level discussions on AI. July 24, 2026

Iran Allegedly Sent IRGC Personnel and Missile Equipment to Houthis Iran is accused of secretly sending Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders and missile-related equipment to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen. This military support reportedly occurred just before the Houthis declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.According to sources from Iran and Yemeni government officials cited by Reuters on July 23, Iran delivered IRGC personnel and military equipment via a Mahan Air passenger flight that departed Tehran for Yemen on July 13. July 24, 2026

Trump Links Saudi-Israel Relations to Nuclear Agreement President Donald Trump has stated that the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is a condition for pursuing a civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia. While he has ruled out allowing uranium enrichment, reports suggest that the possibility of future enrichment remains a contentious issue.On July 23, local time, Trump announced via social media platform Truth Social that the U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement is contingent upon Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.White H July 24, 2026

U.S.-South Korea Shipbuilding Cooperation Center Opens The U.S.-South Korea Shipbuilding Cooperation Center has officially opened, aimed at executing the MASGA project. The U.S. government announced it will evaluate cooperation outcomes based on actual investment amounts and the number of ships built in the U.S., rather than just the number of meetings or memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed.According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and local reports, the opening ceremony took place on July 23 in Washington, D.C., attended by gov July 24, 2026

Experts Advocate for Regulatory Reform to Boost Small Businesses Outdated and unreasonable regulations that are disconnected from the realities of the field not only threaten the survival of individual companies but also undermine the growth potential of the national economy. Conversely, when long-standing regulatory knots are decisively untangled, the economic ripple effects for the market can be unexpectedly broad and immediate. In particular, removing the 'shadow regulations' that hundreds of large public institutions have traditionally kept hidden can dra July 24, 2026

Trump Considers Largest Attack on Iran Yet, Warns of Retaliation for Houthi Provocations President Donald Trump has stated that he is considering a larger-scale attack on Iran than ever before. He warned that if the Iran-aligned Houthi group resumes attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, both the Houthis and Iran, which supports them, will be held militarily accountable.In an interview with Axios on July 23, Trump said, "I am considering a large-scale attack," adding, "It could be bigger than anything we've done before." He noted that the U.S. is currently conducting airstrikes against July 24, 2026

Everland Launches Largest Firefly Festival in South Korea As the heavy rains of the monsoon season give way to humid heat, children on summer break are eager to go outside. Despite congested roads, rising vacation costs, and weather concerns, the allure of summer nights makes staying indoors feel like a missed opportunity. A stroll along cool forest paths, encountering the twinkling lights of fireflies, can transform an evening into a delightful escape.◆ In the pitch dark, thousands of fireflies illuminate the 'Starlight Camping Ground'Everland, operat July 24, 2026

Debate Over Casino Regulation Reform Amid Financial Crisis Discussions aimed at reforming South Korea's nearly 30-year-old casino regulations are intensifying. The government and academia are at odds with the casino industry over the introduction of a license renewal system and an increase in the burden rate for the Tourism Development Fund. While the government and scholars argue for reforms to enhance the public nature and transparency of the casino industry, the industry calls for a cautious approach, stating that the proposed regulations may not ade July 24, 2026