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U.S. GDP Growth Slows to 1.5% in Second Quarter as Government Spending Declines The U.S. economy's growth rate for the second quarter of this year has significantly slowed, falling short of market expectations.The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on July 30 that the preliminary gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for the second quarter was recorded at an annualized 1.5% compared to the previous quarter.This figure represents a decline of 0.6 percentage points from the first quarter's growth rate of 2.1% and is below the Dow Jones estimate of 1.8% from market experts.According to the Commerce Department, the GDP growth rate statistics are presented as annualized figures compared to the previous quarter.The report indicated that while private consumption, investment, and exports continued to rise during the second quarter, a decrease in government spending and an increase in imports offset these growth drivers, pulling down the overall growth rate.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 21:52:00 -
UK Holds Interest Rate Steady at 3.75% Amid Inflation and Geopolitical Risks The Bank of England has decided to keep its interest rate at the current level. This decision is seen as a response to the slowing inflation and geopolitical risks stemming from the Middle East.The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England announced on July 30 that it has frozen the interest rate at 3.75%. Of the nine members, six voted in favor of maintaining the rate, while three expressed differing opinions.This marks the fifth consecutive decision to hold rates steady since December of last year, aligning with market expectations. Policymakers had previously lowered rates four times throughout 2025.The recent vote highlights differing views among committee members regarding inflation concerns and responses to price instability linked to the Middle East.On the previous day, the U.S. Federal Reserve also decided to keep its interest rate steady at 3.50% to 3.75%. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh reaffirmed the commitment to a strong response for price stability.According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK's consumer price index (CPI) rose by 2.6% year-on-year last month, a decrease from the previous month's 2.8%. Although this drop was larger than expected, the rate has remained above the target of 2.0% for 21 consecutive months.Concerns have grown over potential disruptions in oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz due to renewed military clashes between the U.S. and Iran, which have pushed international oil prices higher.Brent crude, a global energy benchmark, rose from around $71 per barrel three weeks ago to surpass $100 recently, trading at approximately $92 on the day of the report.Market attention is now focused on the fiscal policies of newly appointed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. There are concerns that the new government's tax and spending policies, aimed at stimulating the economy and stabilizing livelihoods, could inadvertently reignite inflationary pressures.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 21:40:00
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Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin Aims to Launch a Future Mobility Era for Citizens Shin Sang-jin, the mayor of Seongnam, reaffirmed on July 30 his commitment to ushering in a future transportation era that citizens can truly feel through innovative mobility solutions. During a performance report meeting for the 'Seongnam Mobility Specialized City Project' held at the city hall's first conference room, Mayor Shin shared the achievements of the ongoing future transportation innovations and the direction for future development with officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, related agencies, experts, and participating companies. This project, which gained momentum after being selected in 2023 by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, has seen Mayor Shin focus administrative efforts on establishing a Seongnam-style future transportation system that integrates autonomous driving and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) through public-private partnerships. Through agreements with participating companies and the approval of implementation plans, the mayor has developed future mobility services that citizens can experience in their daily lives. In Seongnam-dong, Jungwon-gu, a total of 3.2 billion won will be invested from April 2024 to June 2026 to establish a Seongnam-style MaaS platform, introduce two autonomous shuttles, build autonomous driving LiDAR infrastructure, and implement vehicle-sharing services and robot delivery systems. Notably, the Seongnam-style MaaS model, which connects autonomous shuttles, mobility hubs, vehicle-sharing, electric vehicles, and personal mobility devices, is recognized as a representative collaborative project that enhances transportation convenience between new towns and the city center while presenting a new urban transportation model. Since taking office in the ninth term, Mayor Shin has prioritized the development of future industries and the creation of smart cities, continuously expanding into advanced mobility sectors such as autonomous driving, drones, and autonomous robots. These policy achievements have gained recognition both domestically and internationally. Winning the Grand Prize in the mobility category at the '2025 World Smart City Awards' and a silver medal at the '2025 LiveCom Awards' are prime examples. Seongnam's sustainable transportation policies and future mobility vision were also highlighted as a representative case of South Korea at the UN's Sustainable Transport (EST) Asia Regional Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, and at a side event of the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York this year. Additionally, based on these achievements, Mayor Shin has been selected as the host city for the 17th Asia-Pacific Sustainable Transport (EST) High-Level Forum, scheduled for March 2027, enhancing Seongnam's status as a leading city in future transportation. Mayor Shin plans to further refine the Seongnam-style autonomous driving and mobility service model and expand international cooperation to share experiences in future transportation innovation with cities around the world. He emphasized, "It is crucial to develop the foundation established through this project, including autonomous shuttles and the Seongnam-style MaaS platform, into safe and convenient services that citizens can experience in their daily lives." He added, "Through the 17th Asia-Pacific Sustainable Transport (EST) High-Level Forum to be held in Seongnam in 2027, we will share Seongnam's policies and experiences with the world and leap forward as a city leading future transportation innovation."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 21:16:20
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Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin Aims to Open a Future Transportation Era for Citizens Shin Sang-jin, the mayor of Seongnam, reaffirmed on July 30 his commitment to opening a future transportation era that citizens can truly feel through innovations in mobility. On this day, Mayor Shin held a performance report meeting for the 'Seongnam Mobility Specialized City Project' at the city hall's first conference room, attended by officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, related agencies, experts, and participating companies. He shared the achievements of the ongoing future transportation innovations and the direction for future development. This project, which began in earnest after being selected for a government initiative in 2023, has seen Mayor Shin focus administrative efforts on establishing a Seongnam-style future transportation system that combines autonomous driving and integrated mobility services (MaaS) through public-private partnerships. Through agreements with participating companies and the approval of implementation plans, a future-oriented mobility service that citizens can experience in their daily lives has been established. In Seongnam-dong, Jungwon-gu, a total of 3.2 billion won will be invested from April 2024 to June 2026 to establish a Seongnam-style MaaS platform, introduce two autonomous shuttles, build autonomous driving LiDAR infrastructure, and provide vehicle-sharing services and robot delivery, laying the groundwork for future transportation. In particular, the Seongnam-style MaaS model, which integrates autonomous shuttles, mobility hubs, vehicle-sharing, electric vehicles, and personal mobility devices, is recognized as a representative collaborative project that enhances transportation convenience between new towns and the old city while presenting a new urban transportation model. Since taking office in the ninth term, Mayor Shin has promoted the nurturing of future industries and the creation of smart cities as key policy directions, continuously expanding into advanced mobility fields such as autonomous driving, drones, and autonomous robots. These policy achievements have been recognized both domestically and internationally. Winning the Grand Prize in the mobility category at the '2025 World Smart City Awards' and a silver medal at the '2025 LiveCom Awards' are prime examples. At the UN Sustainable Transport (EST) Asia Regional Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, and at a side event of the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, Seongnam's sustainable transportation policies and future mobility vision were introduced as representative cases from South Korea. Additionally, based on these achievements, Mayor Shin has been selected as the host city for the 17th Asia-Pacific Sustainable Transport (EST) High-Level Forum, scheduled for March 2027, enhancing Seongnam's status as a leading city in future transportation. Mayor Shin plans to further develop the Seongnam-style autonomous driving and mobility service model and expand international cooperation to share experiences in future transportation innovation with cities around the world. He emphasized, "It is crucial to develop the foundations established through this project, including autonomous shuttles, the Seongnam-style MaaS platform, and mobility hubs, into safe and convenient services that citizens can experience in their daily lives." He added, "Through the 17th Asia-Pacific Sustainable Transport (EST) High-Level Forum to be held in Seongnam in 2027, we will share Seongnam's policies and experiences with the world and leap forward as a city leading future transportation innovation."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 21:16:10
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Ansan Foundation Launches Otter Protection Initiative in Ansan Reed Wetlands Gyeonggi's Ansan Foundation is initiating a systematic protection and habitat improvement program for the endangered otter, a first-class wildlife species and natural monument, in the Ansan Reed Wetlands. According to the foundation on July 30, this survey will be conducted as a non-budget project in collaboration with the Ansan Environmental Movement Union throughout 2026. The Ansan Reed Wetlands, the survey area, is recognized as a key habitat and migration route for otters. The foundation plans to install two high-resolution infrared sensor cameras at strategic locations to establish a 24-hour monitoring system, taking into account the otters' activity patterns. The cameras will record the timing and frequency of otter appearances, individual characteristics, and behavioral patterns, with the collected data managed in a systematic database. Additionally, quarterly field surveys will be conducted. During these surveys, the condition and location of otter droppings, tracks, and feeding signs will be comprehensively analyzed to assess not only the presence of otters but also their usage of the wetland and the health of the aquatic ecosystem. The accumulated ecological data will be used to develop environmental education content for citizens and visitors, as well as to promote awareness of biodiversity conservation. The news of the otter protection initiative in the Ansan Reed Wetlands has sparked increased interest and anticipation among local residents. Citizens have positively evaluated the establishment of a stable habitat for otters, an endangered species, in the reed wetlands, which is a representative ecological space in Ansan, expressing hope for the development of an ecological city where nature and people coexist. Meanwhile, Yoon Chung-oh, head of the foundation's project division, stated, “Otters are a key indicator species that reflect the health of wetland ecosystems. We will create an environment where otters can thrive based on scientific monitoring data and continue our conservation efforts.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 20:36:00
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Son-in-law Charged with Killing 70-Year-Old Father-in-Law The case of a son-in-law accused of murdering his 70-year-old father-in-law has come to light.On July 30, MBC's 'True Story Investigation' will cover the 'murder of a 70-year-old father-in-law' that occurred in April.The incident became known in early May, just before Parents' Day, when the family of Kim (pseudonym), who was in his 70s, reported him missing after losing contact with him. His family became concerned when they noticed no signs of life at his home.Subsequently, a text message arrived on the phone of Kim's eldest daughter, stating that he was safe in Gangwon Province and asking her to cancel the missing person report.However, as police reviewed nearby CCTV footage, inconsistencies emerged. Kim had not been seen leaving his home since entering it ten days prior to the missing person report. Ultimately, he was found dead inside his house.During the investigation, authorities discovered that someone had sent text messages to the family using Kim's phone after his death.CCTV footage obtained by the production team captured suspicious movements around the time of Kim's presumed death on April 24. Two days before his death, an individual was seen entering Kim's home via the roof, and evidence of a similar entry was found the day before his death.The individual was identified as Kim's second son-in-law. In police questioning, he admitted to causing his father-in-law's death but claimed it was an accidental outcome of a dispute.The background of the case reveals long-standing family conflicts. Since around 2016, the second daughter and her husband had been living directly below Kim's residence, leading to ongoing disputes over financial matters, which escalated into a family lawsuit in October of the previous year.Before his death, Kim had expressed to those close to him that he was afraid to enter his own home.On this episode of 'True Story Investigation,' airing at 9 PM today, the program will explore the circumstances surrounding Kim's death and the background of the family conflict through CCTV footage and testimonies from family members.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 20:32:00
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Pope Leo XIV: 'I Love America, But My Message is for the Whole World' Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has stated his commitment to serving as a shepherd for the entire world, transcending national boundaries.In an interview with NBC, released on July 30, the pope said, "I do not define myself as an American," adding that he views his ascension to the papacy as a coincidence for an American. The interview took place the previous day at an event in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome.The pope emphasized, "I have no intention of belittling my homeland, the United States," but he acknowledged the significant responsibility he has as a leader of the universal Church to convey messages to the global community.When asked which American values he holds in high regard, he cited "the spirit of freedom and opportunity, as well as the universal inclusiveness that has welcomed countless immigrants."He also mentioned that his grandparents were immigrants and that there are ancestors in his maternal lineage who were enslaved. Regarding a potential visit to the United States, he stated, "There is no confirmed schedule, but I hope to visit in the near future."Earlier this year, during the Iranian invasion of the U.S., Pope Leo XIV strongly condemned the war by quoting scripture and called for the restoration of peace. This message was interpreted as a veiled criticism of U.S. leadership, including President Donald Trump, which heightened tensions between the two sides.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-30 20:24:00
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Heat wave hits Seoul pedestrians hard A pedestrian carrying a parasol walks along a street in Seongdong District, Seoul, amid an ongoing heat wave on July 30, 2026. 2026-07-30 20:22:40 -
Seoul swelters under intense heat wave Heat haze rises above a road near the Jamsil Station Transfer Center in Songpa District, Seoul, amid an ongoing heat wave on July 30, 2026. 2026-07-30 20:19:15 -
Seoul sizzles at 41.1 degrees celsius A thermometer displays 41.1 degrees Celsius in Seongdong District, Seoul, amid an ongoing heat wave on July 30, 2026. 2026-07-30 20:14:00