Apple Reports 22% iPhone Growth but Shares Drop 8% in After-Hours Trading Apple reported strong third-quarter results, driven by robust sales of iPhones and Macs, exceeding market expectations. However, the company's stock fell nearly 8% in after-hours trading due to disappointing growth in its services segment, which includes the App Store and iCloud, and a fourth-quarter revenue outlook that fell short of projections.On July 30, Apple announced that its revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (April to June) increased by 16.4% year-over-year to $109.4 bill July 31, 2026

President Yoon Proposes Expanding LS-Codelco Partnership to Advanced Manufacturing and Defense President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 30, local time, presented the joint venture between South Korea's LS Group and Chile's state-owned Codelco as a successful model for cooperation in critical minerals, suggesting its expansion into advanced manufacturing and defense industries.Speaking at a Korea-Chile Business Roundtable held at a hotel in Santiago, Yoon expressed hope that "the joint venture between LS and Codelco can be further expanded in the future."He emphasized that by joining forces, the tw July 31, 2026

South Korea and Chile Sign Military Vehicle Export Agreement, Expand Defense Cooperation South Korea and Chile have established a long-term cooperation framework in defense and maritime security, following a contract for the export of South Korean military vehicles to Chile. Kang Yu-jeong, the chief spokesperson for the Blue House, announced on July 30 (local time) that President Lee Jae-myung and Chilean President José Antonio Kast held a summit at the Moneda Palace in Santiago, welcoming the signing of the military vehicle export agreement and agreeing to continue discussions amon July 31, 2026

Amazon's AWS Grows 37%, Shares Rise 8% After Earnings Report Amazon reported strong second-quarter results, exceeding market expectations, driven by robust growth in its cloud business. Despite a shift to negative free cash flow due to significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI), shares of Amazon Web Services (AWS) surged nearly 8% in after-hours trading.On July 30, Amazon announced that its second-quarter revenue reached $200.6 billion, a 20% increase from the same period last year, surpassing market estimates of approximately $196.5 billion. July 31, 2026

Kangstem Biotech Plans 30 Billion Won CB Issuance Amid Financial Concerns Kangstem Biotech, a KOSDAQ-listed biotechnology company, is seeking to raise funds. According to investment banking sources on July 28, Kangstem Biotech is considering issuing 30 billion won worth of third-party allocated convertible bonds (CB) with Daishin Securities as the lead underwriter. The funds raised will be allocated to research and development and operational expenses. The company aims to enhance its corporate value and investor sentiment based on clinical results from its key pipelin July 31, 2026

U.S. Stocks Surge as Microsoft Soars 15%, Boosting Nasdaq by 2.78% U.S. stock indices surged on July 30, driven by a more than 15% jump in Microsoft shares, which eased concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) investments and attracted strong buying interest in semiconductor stocks that had recently declined.The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 613.92 points, or 1.19%, at 52,208.06. The S&P 500 rose 121.48 points, or 1.66%, to finish at 7,437.63, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite soared 679.24 points, or 2.78%, to close at 25,122.18. Among the 1 July 31, 2026

Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% Amid Rising Inflation Concerns The Bank of England (BOE) has decided to keep its benchmark interest rate at 3.75%. Despite concerns that escalating tensions from the war in Iran could lead to rising prices, the central bank believes it is not yet time to raise rates.On July 30, the BOE's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 6-3 to maintain the interest rate at 3.75%. While the market had anticipated a 7-2 vote to hold rates, the number of members advocating for a rate increase rose from two to three. These members argued for July 31, 2026

President Lee and First Lady Visit 'Korea Street' in Santiago President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visited the newly designated 'Korea Street' in Santiago, Chile, on July 30, where they engaged with the local Korean community and celebrated their long-standing efforts.Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Gyu-ryeong stated in a written briefing that the presidential couple warmly greeted compatriots and citizens during their visit to Korea Street.Korea Street is a 600-meter stretch located in the Patronato area, known for its concentration of Korean busi July 31, 2026

U.S. Imposes Additional Sanctions on Iran's Mahan Air and Support Network The United States has imposed additional sanctions on Iran's Mahan Air and foreign entities and individuals supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).On July 30, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Reuters reported that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added six individuals and entities from China, India, Russia, and Iran to its sanctions list.The sanctions target companies that assisted Mahan Air with overseas sales and cargo transport. A Chinese company was involve July 31, 2026

UEFA and 55 Member Nations Threaten to Boycott FIFA Events Over Business Sale The European Football Association (UEFA) and its 55 member nations have expressed strong opposition to the FIFA's plan to sell stakes in World Cup-related businesses. They warned that European national teams would not participate in FIFA events, including the World Cup, if the plan is not retracted.According to Reuters on July 30, the UEFA member nations unanimously supported a boycott of FIFA events during an emergency meeting.In a statement, UEFA declared, “We firmly reject the plan to transfe July 31, 2026