Aju Press - Asia News Hub

Journalist

Latest by

Concerns Rise Over Security Gaps Amid North Korea and Russia Movements 북한의 군사분계선(MDL) 일대 전술도로 건설이 이어지는 가운데 우리 정부가 전국 10개 지역의 군사시설보호구역을 대규모 해제·완화했다. 여기에 중국·러시아 군용기 KADIZ 무단 진입과 미국 무인정찰기의 한반도 비행까지 겹치며 온라인에서는 안보 불안을 우려하는 목소리가 커지고 있다.Military Protection Zones Expanded Tenfold국방부는 최근 서울 용산·마포·은평구, 경기 평택·고양·시흥시, 강원 고성·속초, 세종시 등 전국 10개 지역의 군사시설보호구역과 비행안전구역 약 2916만㎡를 해제하거나 규제를 완화했다. 규모는 여의도 면적의 약 10배에 달한다.국방부는 군사작전에 영향이 없는 지역을 대상으로 주민 재산권을 보장하고 지역 개발을 활성화하기 위한 조치라고 설명했다. 이번 조치로 평택 고덕지구 후속 개발과 고양 테크노밸리, 서울 서북권 도시정비사업 등도 탄력을 받을 것으로 전망된다.North Korea Continues Tactical Road and Fence Expansion반면 북한은 군사분계선 일대 국경화 작업을 빠르게 진행하고 있는 것으로 확인됐다.군 당국과 전문가 분석에 따르면 북한은 불모화 작업과 함께 전술도로 약 70km, 철책 약 90km를 구축, 현재와 같은 속도라면 2~3년 안에 국경화 작업이 완료될 가능성이 제기된다.전문가들은 전술도로가 완성될 경우 병력과 장비 이동 능력이 크게 향상될 수 있다고 분석했다.Chinese and Russian Military Aircraft Enter KADIZ Without Notice앞서 지난 6월에는 중국과 러시아 군용기 10여 대가 사전 통보 없이 한국방공식별구역(KADIZ)에 진입해 약 4시간 동안 동해와 남해 상공에서 연합 공중훈련을 실시했다.합동참모본부는 우리 공군 전투기를 긴급 출격시켜 대응했으며 중국의 공중급유기와 조기경보통제기, 러시아 핵폭격기와 대잠초계기 등이 함께 투입된 것으로 알려졌다.전문가들은 중·러가 한반도 주변에서 연합 작전 능력을 과시하며 한미일을 압박하려는 의도가 담긴 훈련으로 해석하고 있다.U.S. Navy's Latest Drone Conducts 5-6 Hour Flight이와 함께 미국 해군의 최신 고고도 무인정찰기 MQ-4C '트라이튼(Triton)' 역시 지난 15일 경기 안산 상공으로 진입해 강원 홍천까지 약 5~6시간 동안 왕복 비행을 실시한 것이 확인됐다.트라이튼은 대당 약 3억 달러(약 4000억 원)에 달하는 미국의 전략 정찰자산으로, 과거 호르무즈 해협과 쿠바 상공에서도 운용된 바 있다.군사 전문가들은 이번 장시간 비행이 북한 관련 정보를 집중적으로 수집하기 위한 정찰 임무였을 가능성이 높다고 분석했다.Past Controversy Surrounding Minister Ahn Gyu-baek Resurfaces이 가운데 현재 국방부 장관인 안규백 장관의 과거 행보도 다시 회자되고 있다.안 장관은 국회의원이던 2022년 9월 한·미·일 대잠수함 연합훈련 일정을 공식 발표 전에 자신의 SNS에 공개해 당시 국방부로부터 "매우 유감"이라는 입장을 받은 바 있다.국방부는 당시 북한 SLBM 위협에 대응하기 위한 군사훈련에는 일정 수준의 보안이 필요하며 공식 발표 전 공개된 점을 문제 삼았다. 다만 해당 훈련은 예정대로 실시, 이후에도 한·미·일 연합 대잠훈련은 계속 이어졌다.Public Opinion: "The Situation in the Country is Alarming... Fear of War"이 같은 소식이 전해지자 온라인에서는 안보를 우려하는 목소리가 이어졌다.한 누리꾼은 "북한은 전면전보다 긴장을 유지하는 것이 더 이익이다. 러시아에 무기와 병력을 지원하며 경제적 이득을 얻고 있는 만큼 당장 전쟁 가능성은 낮지만 국지 도발과 군사 압박은 계속될 가능성이 높다"고 분석했다.또 다른 누리꾼들은 "전쟁이 안 난다고 해도 대비는 해야 하는 것 아니냐", "북한은 전술도로 깔고 있는데 우리는 군사보호구역부터 푸는 게 맞는지 모르겠다", "안보는 개발보다 우선해야 한다", "괜히 불안감만 커진다" 등의 반응을 보였다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 07:44:00
Chinese Semiconductor Companies Rush to IPOs, Marking 'Semiconductor Ascendancy Season 2' ◆Aju Economic News Major News▷Chinese semiconductor companies are rushing to IPOs, marking the start of 'Semiconductor Ascendancy Season 2'.- Six Chinese semiconductor firms, including CXMT and YMTC, have either gone public or are in the process since June. This surge is attributed to the Chinese government's increased support for the capital market to achieve AI and semiconductor self-sufficiency.- CXMT is set to list on the Shanghai Star Market on July 27, with an expected fundraising amount of approximately 14.7 trillion won, the largest in history. The funds raised are anticipated to accelerate production capacity expansion and R&D investment.- As Chinese companies ramp up production, there is a possibility of intensified competition in the general DRAM market and pricing after 2028. However, due to technological gaps, the impact on domestic companies in the HBM sector is expected to be limited for the time being.◆Key Reports▷Expansion of AI Investment Cycle and Credit Differentiation Among Companies - The AI investment cycle is spreading to big tech, hyperscalers, and semiconductors, with ongoing growth in investment spending and funding demand as it evolves from generative AI to agentic and physical AI. Analysts believe it is still too early to determine a slowdown in the AI cycle.- Despite the spread of affordable AI models reducing costs, there is a potential for increased usage, reflecting 'Jevons Paradox'. The expansion of AI applications in coding, search, and customer service is expected to generate additional demand, supporting the AI investment cycle.- However, the burden of substantial upfront investments and funding is leading to increased credit differentiation among companies. Oracle's credit rating was downgraded to BBB- due to rising debt from expanded AI infrastructure investments and profitability uncertainties, while other hyperscalers remain relatively stable. The issuance of corporate bonds related to AI has surpassed $200 billion, making it crucial to focus on individual companies' fundamentals and stock selection rather than ratings.◆Major Announcements After Market Close (July 22)△SK Hynix has decided to invest in new facilities to secure a production base in Cheongju to meet global AI memory demand.△PS Electronics has signed a supply contract for high-performance server equipment and components.△Intusell has entered into a technology transfer agreement for its ADC platform candidate SBE303, targeting Nectin-4 protein for solid tumor treatment.△Dongbu Construction has been selected as the qualified contractor for the construction design of the Jangji Parking Lot redevelopment project.△Kolon Global has terminated its single sales and supply contract with the Hadan District Reconstruction Maintenance Project Association.◆Fund Trends (as of July 21, excluding ETFs)▷Domestic equity: -100 million won▷Overseas equity: -51.4 billion won◆Key Schedule for Today (July 23)▷South Korea: GDP Growth Rate (Q2)▷United States: Chicago Fed National Activity Index* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 07:44:00
Chinese Semiconductor Companies Rush to IPOs, Marking 'Semiconductor Ascendancy Season 2' ◆Aju Economic News Major News▷Chinese semiconductor companies are rushing to IPOs, marking the start of 'Semiconductor Ascendancy Season 2'.- Six Chinese semiconductor firms, including CXMT and YMTC, have either gone public or are in the process since June. This surge is attributed to the Chinese government's increased support for the capital market to achieve self-sufficiency in AI and semiconductors.- CXMT is set to list on the Shanghai Star Market on July 27, with an expected fundraising amount of approximately 14.7 trillion won, the largest in history. The funds raised are anticipated to accelerate production capacity expansion and R&D investment.- As Chinese companies ramp up production, there is a possibility of intensified competition in the general DRAM market and pricing after 2028. However, due to technological gaps, the impact on domestic companies in the HBM sector is expected to be limited for the time being.◆Key Reports▷Expansion of AI Investment Cycle and Credit Differentiation Among Companies - The AI investment cycle is spreading to big tech, hyperscalers, and semiconductors, with ongoing growth in investment spending and funding demand as it evolves from generative AI to agentic and physical AI. Analysts believe it is still too early to assess a slowdown in the AI cycle.- Despite the spread of affordable AI models reducing costs, there is a potential for increased usage, reflecting 'Jevons Paradox'. The expansion of AI applications in coding, search, and customer service is expected to generate additional demand, supporting the AI investment cycle.- However, the burden of substantial upfront investments and funding is leading to increased credit differentiation among companies. Oracle's credit rating was downgraded to BBB- due to rising debt from expanded AI infrastructure investments and profitability uncertainties, while other hyperscalers remain relatively stable. The issuance of corporate bonds related to AI has surpassed $200 billion, making it crucial to focus on individual companies' fundamentals and stock selection rather than ratings.◆Major Announcements After Market Close (July 22)△SK Hynix has decided to invest in new facilities to secure a production base in Cheongju to meet global AI memory demand.△PS Electronics has signed a supply contract for high-performance server equipment and components.△Intusell has entered into a technology transfer agreement for its ADC platform candidate SBE303, targeting Nectin-4 protein for solid tumor treatment.△Dongbu Construction has been selected as the qualified contractor for the construction design of the Jangji parking lot project.△Kolon Global has terminated its single sales and supply contract with the Hadan District Reconstruction Maintenance Project Association.◆Fund Trends (as of July 21, excluding ETFs)▷Domestic equity: -100 million won▷Overseas equity: -51.4 billion won◆Key Schedule for Today (July 23)▷South Korea: GDP Growth Rate (Q2)▷United States: Chicago Fed National Activity Index* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 07:44:00
Concerns Rise Over Security Gaps Amid North Korea and Russia Movements 북한의 군사분계선(MDL) 일대 전술도로 건설이 이어지는 가운데 우리 정부가 전국 10개 지역의 군사시설보호구역을 대규모 해제·완화했다. 여기에 중국·러시아 군용기 KADIZ 무단 진입과 미국 무인정찰기의 한반도 비행까지 겹치며 온라인에서는 안보 불안을 우려하는 목소리가 커지고 있다.군사보호구역 여의도 10배 해제 국방부는 최근 서울 용산·마포·은평구, 경기 평택·고양·시흥시, 강원 고성·속초, 세종시 등 전국 10개 지역의 군사시설보호구역과 비행안전구역 약 2916만㎡를 해제하거나 규제를 완화했다. 규모는 여의도 면적의 약 10배에 달한다.국방부는 군사작전에 영향이 없는 지역을 대상으로 주민 재산권을 보장하고 지역 개발을 활성화하기 위한 조치라고 설명했다. 이번 조치로 평택 고덕지구 후속 개발과 고양 테크노밸리, 서울 서북권 도시정비사업 등도 탄력을 받을 것으로 전망된다.북한은 전술도로·철책 계속 확장 반면 북한은 군사분계선 일대 국경화 작업을 빠르게 진행하고 있는 것으로 확인됐다.군 당국과 전문가 분석에 따르면 북한은 불모화 작업과 함께 전술도로 약 70km, 철책 약 90km를 구축, 현재와 같은 속도라면 2~3년 안에 국경화 작업이 완료될 가능성이 제기된다.전문가들은 전술도로가 완성될 경우 병력과 장비 이동 능력이 크게 향상될 수 있다고 분석했다.중·러 군용기 KADIZ 무단 진입 앞서 지난 6월에는 중국과 러시아 군용기 10여 대가 사전 통보 없이 한국방공식별구역(KADIZ)에 진입해 약 4시간 동안 동해와 남해 상공에서 연합 공중훈련을 실시했다.합동참모본부는 우리 공군 전투기를 긴급 출격시켜 대응했으며 중국의 공중급유기와 조기경보통제기, 러시아 핵폭격기와 대잠초계기 등이 함께 투입된 것으로 알려졌다.전문가들은 중·러가 한반도 주변에서 연합 작전 능력을 과시하며 한미일을 압박하려는 의도가 담긴 훈련으로 해석하고 있다.미 해군 최신 무인정찰기 5~6시간 비행 이와 함께 미국 해군의 최신 고고도 무인정찰기 MQ-4C '트라이튼(Triton)' 역시 지난 15일 경기 안산 상공으로 진입해 강원 홍천까지 약 5~6시간 동안 왕복 비행을 실시한 것이 확인됐다.트라이튼은 대당 약 3억 달러(약 4000억 원)에 달하는 미국의 전략 정찰자산으로, 과거 호르무즈 해협과 쿠바 상공에서도 운용된 바 있다.군사 전문가들은 이번 장시간 비행이 북한 관련 정보를 집중적으로 수집하기 위한 정찰 임무였을 가능성이 높다고 분석했다.과거 안규백 장관 논란도 재조명 이 가운데 현재 국방부 장관인 안규백 장관의 과거 행보도 다시 회자되고 있다.안 장관은 국회의원이던 2022년 9월 한·미·일 대잠수함 연합훈련 일정을 공식 발표 전에 자신의 SNS에 공개해 당시 국방부로부터 "매우 유감"이라는 입장을 받은 바 있다.국방부는 당시 북한 SLBM 위협에 대응하기 위한 군사훈련에는 일정 수준의 보안이 필요하며 공식 발표 전 공개된 점을 문제 삼았다. 다만 해당 훈련은 예정대로 실시, 이후에도 한·미·일 연합 대잠훈련은 계속 이어졌다.여론 "나라 상황 심상치 않아"... "전쟁 날까봐 두려워" 이 같은 소식이 전해지자 온라인에서는 안보를 우려하는 목소리가 이어졌다.한 누리꾼은 "북한은 전면전보다 긴장을 유지하는 것이 더 이익이다. 러시아에 무기와 병력을 지원하며 경제적 이득을 얻고 있는 만큼 당장 전쟁 가능성은 낮지만 국지 도발과 군사 압박은 계속될 가능성이 높다"고 분석했다.또 다른 누리꾼들은 "전쟁이 안 난다고 해도 대비는 해야 하는 것 아니냐", "북한은 전술도로 깔고 있는데 우리는 군사보호구역부터 푸는 게 맞는지 모르겠다", "안보는 개발보다 우선해야 한다", "괜히 불안감만 커진다" 등의 반응을 보였다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 07:44:00
Hyo-Joo Kim Aims for 10th LPGA Win at Scottish Open Hyo-Joo Kim, experiencing a resurgence in her career, is set to challenge for her 10th LPGA Tour victory at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open in Scotland.Starting on July 23, Kim will compete over four days at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland, where the total prize purse is $2 million.This tournament, co-hosted by the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the LPGA Tour, serves as a precursor to the AIG Women's Open, the final major of the season, which begins on July 30.Kim is a player to watch. She has been on a strong run this year, winning back-to-back titles at the LPGA Tour Founders Cup and the Ford Championship in March. Her success continued in Korea, where she claimed victories at the KLPGA Tour NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship and the Lotte Open, which concluded on July 5. In total, she has secured four wins this year across both the U.S. and Korean tours.However, her recent performances in major tournaments have been disappointing. Aside from a sixth-place finish at the Chevron Championship in April, she has failed to break into the top 10 in other majors, missing the cut at the U.S. Women's Open and finishing tied for 42nd at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and tied for 26th at the Amundi Evian Championship.For Kim, this tournament presents an opportunity to finalize her preparations ahead of the AIG Women's Open. With both events taking place in the UK just a week apart, it allows her to acclimate to the unique conditions of links courses, including strong winds.Kim has shown a strong performance at Dundonald Links in the past, finishing tied for third in 2022 and placing second in both 2023 and last year. This will be her sixth appearance at this course, where she will play the first two rounds alongside Aki Iwai from Japan and Cassandra Alexander from South Africa.The tournament features a strong field, with seven of the top 10 players in the world rankings and 19 major champions participating.Notably, world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who missed the cut at the Evian Championship, is looking to restore her pride. In a press conference, Korda expressed her excitement about returning to Europe for the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open and the AIG Women's Open, stating, "At this golf course, you definitely have to bring a bit more artistry to your game. Playing in this weather and on this type of course brings me back to the roots of golf."Defending champion Lottie Wood from England aims for a second consecutive title and will play alongside Korda and Charlie Hull. Wood remarked, "It’s nice to come back to where it all started. At that time, it was my first tournament, so I didn’t fully grasp the victory. But now, playing every week and seeing how talented everyone is makes that win feel even more special."South Korean players are also a point of interest, with 2017 champion Mi-Hyang Lee, along with Kim Sei-young, Yoon Ina, Choi Hye-jin, and Hwang Yu-min, set to compete.In contrast, Hae-Ran Yu, who has recently won consecutive major tournaments, will take a break this week to focus on preparing for the AIG Women's Open.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 07:40:00
Tesla Reports Surge in Q2 Revenue but Decline in Profit Amid Rising Investment Costs Tesla, the American electric vehicle manufacturer, reported a revenue increase in the second quarter of this year, driven by a rise in vehicle sales that exceeded market expectations. However, profitability declined due to price cuts and increased investments in artificial intelligence (AI).On July 22, Tesla announced that its Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) net income for the second quarter was $1.114 billion, a 5% decrease from the same period last year. The adjusted earnings per share (EPS) was 33 cents, significantly below the market forecast of 51 cents.In contrast, revenue and vehicle sales saw substantial growth. Second-quarter revenue reached $28.24 billion, a 26% increase from the previous year, surpassing the market expectation of $25.71 billion. Vehicle deliveries also rose by approximately 25%, totaling 480,126 units.The decline in profit despite increased sales was attributed to price reductions and rising costs. Revenue from selling carbon credits to other automakers also decreased. Tesla's gross margin for its automotive segment was 16.3%, falling short of the market expectation of 18.04%.Significant investments in AI projects, including autonomous driving and robotics, have also strained cash flow. Capital expenditures for the second quarter reached $5.8 billion. After accounting for operational and investment expenses, the free cash flow recorded a deficit of $1.1 billion, marking the first quarterly free cash flow deficit in over two years.Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated, "We plan to invest more than $25 billion this year to expand our AI initiatives, including autonomous driving and robotics," which is nearly three times last year's capital expenditures of $8.53 billion.Following the earnings report, Tesla's stock fell approximately 2.5% in after-hours trading.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 07:24:00
U.S. Stocks Decline Amid Rising Oil Prices and Tech Earnings Concerns The three major U.S. stock indices fell on July 22 as rising international oil prices heightened inflation concerns and investors grew wary ahead of earnings reports from major tech companies like Alphabet and Tesla.The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 6.06 points, or 0.01%, at 52,218.58. The S&P 500 dropped 10.24 points, or 0.14%, to finish at 7,498.96, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 146.30 points, or 0.57%, ending at 25,690.90.The surge in oil prices dampened investor sentiment. Brent crude rose by $3.06 to $94.07 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed to $86.83, both reaching their highest levels in about six weeks.Concerns about supply disruptions increased as armed conflict continued between the U.S. and Iran, with Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group threatening maritime blockades on Saudi oil shipments. The uncertainty surrounding key oil transport routes in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea contributed to the rise in oil prices.There are growing fears that rising oil prices could lead to renewed inflation. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to around 4.63%, adding pressure to the stock market. There is also apprehension that continued increases in energy prices could delay the Federal Reserve's monetary policy easing.Tech stocks generally showed weakness ahead of the second-quarter earnings reports from Alphabet and Tesla. Alphabet fell 1.5%, while Tesla dropped 1.3%. As significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI) continue, investors are increasingly focused on whether these expansions will translate into actual revenue and profit growth.In contrast, semiconductor stocks performed relatively well. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose 0.4%, marking its third consecutive day of gains. Supermicro Computer surged 19.8% on news of large new orders, while Dell Technologies and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) increased by 9.3% and 3%, respectively.Stock prices also fluctuated based on corporate earnings. AT&T rose 3.5% after reporting a higher-than-expected increase in wireless subscribers for the second quarter. Philip Morris International also saw a 3.3% increase, buoyed by better-than-expected earnings.After the market closed, Alphabet and Tesla released their second-quarter earnings. Alphabet exceeded market expectations, driven by strong demand for AI, and announced plans for significant investment expansion. Tesla's revenue also surpassed market forecasts, but the company reported a $1.1 billion deficit in free cash flow for the second quarter.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 07:16:00
IBM Lowers Annual Revenue Forecast Amid AI Investment Focus U.S. technology company IBM has lowered its annual revenue forecast due to sluggish performance in its core business and increased investments in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure by corporations. On July 22, IBM announced in its second-quarter earnings report that it has revised its revenue growth forecast for the year, excluding the effects of currency fluctuations, from 'over 5%' to between 4% and 5%. Second-quarter revenue reached $17.162 billion, a 1% increase from the same period last year, but fell short of market expectations of $17.58 billion. Net income was $2.165 billion, slightly down from $2.194 billion a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS), excluding one-time items, also came in at $2.93, below the market forecast of $2.97. The decline in sales from IBM's mainframe business significantly impacted its performance. Revenue from IBM Z mainframes dropped 42% year-over-year, and overall infrastructure revenue decreased by 7%. While software revenue increased by 5%, it did not meet market expectations. Corporations have concentrated their investments in servers, data storage, and memory needed for AI, leading to delays in some existing information technology (IT) investments. Consequently, some large contracts that IBM anticipated were not finalized in the second quarter. IBM acknowledged that it failed to respond quickly to the rapidly changing market conditions. However, Arvind Krishna, IBM's CEO, stated during a conference call following the earnings announcement that about one-third of the large contracts that did not materialize in the second quarter have already been secured in the third quarter.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 07:08:00
Alphabet Reports Strong Q2 Earnings Driven by AI Demand Google's parent company Alphabet reported second-quarter earnings that exceeded market expectations, driven by strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI). The company plans to increase investments in AI infrastructure, including data centers and servers, as its cloud business continues to grow rapidly. However, these large investments have resulted in a negative free cash flow.On July 22, Alphabet announced that its Q2 revenue rose 24% year-over-year to $119.8 billion, surpassing market forecasts of approximately $117 billion.The growth was primarily fueled by Google Cloud, which saw an 82% increase in revenue to $24.8 billion, driven by rising demand for AI services and infrastructure. Revenue from the search segment was approximately $63.3 billion, while total advertising revenue reached $81.6 billion.Net income for the quarter was $112.1 billion, with earnings per share (EPS) of $9.11. This surge in net income included an estimated $98 billion in valuation gains from Alphabet's holdings in other companies, such as SpaceX, indicating that the increase was not solely from core business profits.Investments in AI infrastructure also expanded significantly. Alphabet's capital expenditures (CAPEX) for Q2 reached $44.9 billion, doubling from the same period last year. CAPEX refers to funds used for long-term facilities and equipment, such as data centers and servers.Alphabet has raised its annual capital expenditure forecast for the year from a previous range of $180 billion to $190 billion to a new range of $195 billion to $205 billion. This marks the second upward revision from an initial estimate of $175 billion to $185 billion, reflecting the growing need for data centers and servers as AI service usage increases.As investments have surged, cash flow has come under pressure. The free cash flow (FCF) for Q2 was negative $5.86 billion. FCF represents the cash a company generates from operations after accounting for capital expenditures.Alphabet's FCF was $10.1 billion in Q1, but it turned negative in just one quarter. The cumulative FCF over the past 12 months was $53.3 billion, indicating that the rapid growth in AI infrastructure investments has led to spending exceeding cash generated from operations.Usage of AI services is also increasing rapidly. Sundar Pichai, Alphabet's CEO, stated, “About 90% of the Fortune 100 companies are using Gemini for enterprise applications,” adding that the monthly active users (MAU) of the Gemini app have reached 950 million.The volume of data processed by the Gemini model through external services is also growing quickly, with tokens processed via application programming interfaces (APIs) totaling 22 billion per minute. Tokens are the basic units used by AI to process sentences and information.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-23 07:00:00
Fire Breaks Out at Plastic Manufacturing Plant in Donghae A fire broke out at a plastic manufacturing plant in Guhodong, Donghae, Gangwon Province.According to Yonhap News, the fire started at approximately 3:48 a.m. on July 22, and the cause is currently unknown. Fire authorities are actively working to extinguish the flames.The fire department has issued a Level 1 response, deploying all personnel from the local fire station. They are also conducting rescue operations for one individual who was trapped inside the factory.In response to the incident, the city of Donghae sent out a safety disaster text advising residents to avoid the area due to heavy smoke and to remain cautious.Police and fire officials plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire once it is extinguished. 2026-07-23 06:36:00