Today's Major News: Pastor Arrested and Forwarded to Prosecutors for Child Abuse Resulting in Death of 11-Year-Old

1. Severe drought conditions are gripping the southern regions. We bring you this as our top headline. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has decided to establish a dedicated drought response task force to formulate countermeasures. The response unit plans to cooperate with domestic logistics companies to transport available equipment such as water supply trucks, water pumps, and power pumps to the southern regions, while supporting local governments nationwide in their cooperative response efforts. The National Fire Agency announced that it will extend the national fire mobilization order for the time being and deploy 100 fire water tank trucks nationwide to support five cities and counties in South Gyeongsang Province. Rain is forecast across the country on Sunday, the day after tomorrow (August 16), which is expected to help alleviate the drought in the southern regions.

2. The deadline for appealing the remand ruling ordering SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to pay 944 billion won in property division to Art Center Nabi Director Roh Soh-yeong expires today. Both sides can file an appeal until midnight tonight, and if this deadline passes, the remand ruling ordering Chairman Chey to pay the property division amount will be finalized, legally ending their marriage. If the payment is delayed, Chairman Chey will be required to pay a daily late interest of approximately 130 million won starting the day after the ruling becomes final.

3. A church pastor in his 60s, identified as A, who is suspected of abusing an 11-year-old child to death at a church in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, has been transferred to prosecutors in custody. Pastor A is accused of causing the death of 11-year-old B, along with B's maternal grandmother, after the child showed a high fever of 41.5 degrees Celsius and a decreased level of consciousness at a Cheonan church around 5:00 PM on the 5th, and died about three hours later. According to National Fire Agency data, at the time of the 119 ambulance dispatch, B had restraint marks and bruises on both wrists and ankles. Police believe that B had been tied to a bed for over 30 hours.

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