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 edf40wrjww2prglist_d1:paragrape edf40wrjww2prglist_d1:paragrape fiogf49gjkf0d National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun has again called for a constitutional revision. During his inaugural press conference, Chung also stressed that political circles should work together to create a basic law that embraces various social changes that have taken place since the Constitution was last amended nearly three decades ago. He also claimed that the issue is no longer a subject for debate, but a matter of will.■
[Anchor] The Saenuri Party has decided to accept the membership of seven independent lawmakers who left the party after failing to secure their candidacy in the April general elections. However, their comeback was met with resistance from some members of the pro-Park Geun-hye faction within the party. Julie Sohn reports. ■
[Report] Soon after the decision was made during an emergency reform committee meeting today, four members who had previously submitted their applications were accepted to rejoin the party, bringing the total number of Saenuri lawmakers to 126. The four members, Kang Ghil-boo, Yoo Seong-min, Ahn Sang-soo, Yoon Sang-hyun pledged to exert their utmost effort to help reform the conservative party. The ruling party may further increase its seats to 129 if three other defectors, Joo Ho-young, Chang Je-won and Lee Chul-Gyu who are yet to submit their applications, decide to rejoin the bloc. However, members of the pro-Park Geun-hye faction within the party strongly opposed to the return of the independent lawmakers. Stressing that a party is where people with similar mind are assembled, the pro-Park faction said the latest decision could stir up confusion rather than unity. They pledged to raise the issue during the upcoming party's general meeting. Julie Sohn, eFM News. ■
Prosecutors have summoned former vice secretary general of the People's party, Wang Ju-hyun, to question him regarding his possible involvement in the corruption scandal surrounding lawmaker Kim Su-min. Seoul prosecutors suspect that Kim received around 180 million won in kickbacks from ad firms by forging contracts during April's general election. Wang has denied any knowledge of the allegations. ■
[Anchor] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced follow-up measures to subway safety. This comes in response to the death of a young maintenance worker at Guui Station, and aims to improve safety and prevent similar accidents from happening again. Meeyeon Ahn reports. [Reporter] Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon says jobs in seven areas related to subway safety, will be managed by the city government rather than handed down to subcontractors. At a press conference at City Hall, Park also said the city will carry out efforts to root out the so-called Mefia -- a term used to describe the overarching power of subway operator Seoul Metro. Following the fatal accident at Guui Staion, concerns have grown over the organizational overhaul of the subway operator in order to resolve the deep-rooted personnel practice and unfair working environment for subcontracted employees. Under the measures, the city government will directly manage seven safety related jobs including maintenance work on screen doors and subway cars. It promised to improve working conditions for workers by increasing labor costs by 10 percent, on top of creating new positions and hiring people for safety management related jobs. In addition, Seoul Metro technicians will carry out maintenance work on screen doors rather than subcontractors like Eunsung PSD. Regarding another subcontractor Eujin-Metro-com, the city will begin work to amend its business agreement with the company. Meeyeon Ahn, eFM News.■
[Anchor] The U.S. Democratic Party senator has led a filibuster for more than 14 hours in a bid to force a vote to toughen gun control. Senator Chris Murphy yielded the floor in the early hours of the morning saying he had secured promises from the republican leaders in the senate that they would hold a vote on the issue. He launched the filibuster obstructing the house from conducting other business in frustration at the republican's reluctance to debate greater gun controls following Sunday's massacre at a gay nightclub in Florida. Cory Booker is the senator for New Jersey.■(00'21)
[Clip] There is a dream in this land with its back against the wall to save the dream for one; we must save the dream for all. How many of our children's' dreams must be destroyed by gun violence before we do the common sense things that we agree on to begin to shrink those numbers. [2016.06.16]
[Anchor] Korean stocks fell today following the US Fed's decision to keep its interest rates unchanged and over its apparent caution regarding the so-called Brexit. For more on this and other markets. Here's Devin Whiting. Devin? [Reporter] The Fed's rate decision was widely expected, with chair Janet Yellen acknowledging the possibility of "Brexit' as a factor. The benchmark KOSPI lost about 9 tenths of a percent to close at 1,952. Stocks in Seoul were also weighed down by major losses on Japan's main index. The Nikkei fell 3 percent to hit a four-month low after the Bank of Japan decided to hold interest rates steady. Elsewhere in Asia. the Australian S&P closed dead even, while the Shanghai Composite lost half a percent and in afternoon trading the Hang Seng was down two percent. Overnight on Wall Street, markets were almost unfazed by the Fed‘s decision to keep interest rates unchanged. Analysts now see a 29-percent chance the Fed will raise rates by September. The Dow, the S&P and the Nasdaq all fell by point-2 percent. The ten year treasury note sank to its lowest yield in three and a half years. The Korean currency closed at 1,171 against the US dollar, up two won from yesterday's close. Devin Whiting, tbs eFM Market News.■
The Korea Olympic Committee says it will not change the rules for swimmer Park Tae-hwan to compete in Rio this year. The Olympic body made its final decision following a board of directors meeting this morning. Under KOC rules, athletes caught doping are banned from the national team for three years after serving an international suspension. The committee's director, Han Jong-hee, says the rule was instated to demand high moral standards among Korean athletes. Han said doping runs counter to the spirit of fair play, and the committee felt it needed to be strict in this regard for the sake of educating young athletes.■
The South Korean Navy kicked off a three-day maritime exercise today to defend the western sea border from possible North Korean maritime confrontation. The exercise comes as North Korean fishing and patrol boats often show up near the Northern Limit Line at this time of year, which is also the peak season for catching blue crabs.■
Taking a look at the weather, it's mostly clear skies in Seoul and its surrounding areas at this hour. As of 4PM, a heat wave advisory has been issued in Daegu and some Southern Gyeongsang areas. Looking ahead, hot conditions are forecast to continue for the next couple of days so be sure to keep hydrated. Temperatures will drop to a low of 20 degrees tonight and rise to 29 degrees tomorrow afternoon. As for the current reading in downtown Seoul, it is 23 degrees Celsius, or 73 degrees in Fahrenheit.■
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