1. We probably talked a lot about how hot it has been all week, and today, August 7, is truly scorching as well. Interestingly, today is Ipchu, the traditional solar term marking the beginning of autumn. Yet, the heat appears to be reaching its peak instead. Heavy heatwave warnings remain in effect today for the greater Seoul area, including the capital. Seoul and Gyeonggi Province are forecast to see temperatures soar up to 39°C (102°F). Starting this weekend, the high-pressure system currently centered over the country is expected to shift slightly to the northwest, somewhat easing the extreme heat. However, severe heatwaves hovering around 35°C (95°F) are projected to continue.
2. Shortly, President Lee Jae-myung will preside over a closed-door real estate policy inspection meeting at the Blue House. Following the first session held on August 3, today's meeting is reportedly set to focus intensively on housing supply measures for the greater Seoul area and policies for jeonse and wolse (key-money and monthly lease) housing markets. During the first meeting, President Lee remarked that the sluggish housing supply persisting since 2022 has led to a supply cliff situation, and instructed authorities to secure the maximum possible amount of available housing supply. Reflecting the outcomes of today's meeting, the government plans to announce additional housing supply measures for the capital region as early as next week.
3. The joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters probing the National Election Commission voting statistics manipulation scandal has launched additional raids on election commissions in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and North Chungcheong Province, where manipulation is suspected. The joint probe team is investigating related allegations after capturing evidence that working-level officials at local election commissions who managed regional polling stations during the June local elections arbitrarily modified statistical figures in the election management system to cover up errors in misentering voter counts. It was also confirmed that on the morning of the election, an official at the National Election Commission sent a so-called manipulation guideline to regional election commissions stating the principle that even if voter count errors occur they should not be corrected, and that barring major errors, adjustments can be made and reported during the next scheduled voter count report.
4. U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning birth tourism in the United States. Under this new measure, children born to individuals who enter the U.S. by misrepresenting their purpose of entry will not be granted citizenship. While interpretations suggest this move aims to rally his base ahead of the midterm elections, a legal battle appears inevitable.
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