newsmart – Latest News

koreatimes.co.kr | 30 min. ago NEW

Kookmin University wins grand prize in industry category at Korea Character Awards 2026

Kookmin University’s character mascot, “Mr. Doctor,” won the grand prize in the industry category at the Korea Character Awards 2026, held Tuesday at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, the university said. The Korea Character Awards program recognizes outstanding characters developed by local governments, public institutions and companies nationwide, evaluating them on creativity, public appeal, commercial potential and practical application.

The university said it has consistently communicated its educational philosophy and brand values through Mr. Doctor while expanding the character’s use with diverse content and community engagement programs. Mr. Doctor embodies the journey of an ordinary person who becomes a leading expert in their field through learning and perseverance.

It also symbolizes the university community’s entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to take on new challenges. The character originated from a gold-colored sculpture approximately 3 meters tall installed at the university’s main gate in February 2019. It was designed by Stefano Giovannoni, a world-renown

thehindu.com | 52 min. ago NEW

Jharkhand youth jailed in UAE, family seeks Government help for his return

The youth’s father Lalan Paswan said that his son was incarcerated for leaving his job without informing the company and was also trapped after paying an agent to return home

thehindu.com | 52 min. ago NEW

West Bengal police ‘encounters’: the events and the questions they raise

Explained | Since the BJP government came to power in Bengal in May, five people — three of them accused of murder and two charged with sexual assault of minors — have been killed in police encounters

theguardian.com | 53 min. ago NEW

Country diary: A new chapter for the farm – we’re going organic

Andrea Meanwell | Tebay, Cumbria: Historically it’s been a tricky thing for hill farms to do, but we’ve always run ours on organic principles, and now we’re fully convertingFrom 1 November we have change happening on our farm. We have decided to become an organic farm and have started the two-year conversion process with the Soil Association.

We’ve always run the farm on organic principles, but now, with our small shop selling our beef, lamb and pork, we’ve decided that we will convert, prioritising soil health and biodiversity without the use of chemicals.It has historically been tricky for hill farms to go organic because many are on commons with shared grazing and no physical boundaries between “hefts”, and with shared routes to and from the fell.

Now the certifiers are keen to be flexible and adapt, so we have decided to give it a go. The process is funded by the government’s sustainable farming incentive scheme, which we were lucky to get into this year as so many farmers missed out. Continue reading...

scmp.com | 58 min. ago NEW

At least 1 senior official to take rap for deadly Tai Po fire as part of ‘bold’ reforms

At least one senior official will take the rap for the deadly Tai Po fire as part of a set of “bold, comprehensive and far-reaching reforms” the Hong Kong government will announce on Thursday afternoon, sources have told the South China Morning Post. The official’s expected resignation would be part of the political accountability that the government hoped to underscore along with major reforms on administrative accountability that will go right to the top, one source said.

The shake-up is...

koreatimes.co.kr | 1 hrs. 2 min. ago

PM says to foster 200 'frontier' bio, pharmaceutical firms by 2030

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Thursday that the government will select 200 bio and pharmaceutical companies by 2030 and help them grow enough to compete on the global stage. Han made the remark at a national policy coordination meeting held at a Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. factory in the central city of Cheonan, stressing that Korea should identify and foster innovative firms armed with new technologies and ideas.

She said 50 "frontier" companies will be selected every year by 2030 and the government will provide them with "support for research, development and investment at each stage of growth from the development of candidate substances to clinical trials and commercialization." The government plans to assign a dedicated director to each selected company to provide customized support for up to five years.

It will also inject 150 billion won ($112 million) in policy financing over three years, comprising 60 billion won in investments through banks specializing in research and development (R&D) and 90 billion won in guarantees from the Korea Technology Finance Corporation.

theguardian.com | 1 hrs. 32 min. ago

Albania imposes $6,000 fine for demonstrators present at a protest that turns violent

The fine – six times the average monthly salary – will apply to people present at violent protests, even if they don’t personally commit violent actsAlbania has introduced fines of more than $6,000 for demonstrators who participate in a protest that turns violent, even if they don’t personally commit violent acts, as the government tries to clamp down on the gatherings calling for the prime minister’s resignation.The capital, Tirana, has been racked by months of anti-government protests that in recent days have deteriorated into pitched battles between the security forces and protesters.

Continue reading...

ft.com | 1 hrs. 41 min. ago

[$] Could a ski slope atop a waste plant hold the key to the UK’s heating woes?

Copenhagen’s waste-to-energy plant is part of a network that heats 98 per cent of the city. By 2050, the UK government wants networks like this to serve a fifth of the country’s heating demand. But will it be as cheap and reliable as promised?

theguardian.com | 2 hrs. 6 min. ago

Australian politics live: PM grilled over golf club grant again as five ejected from question time; Bowen says he’s ‘triggered’ opposition

Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGas reservation policy set for lower house vote todayAustralia’s domestic gas reservation is set to be debated and voted on in the lower house today.Rather than international base companies, determining through algorithms what Australians receive, it empowers people themselves to determine what you receive on your devices, so that you should have that control.This isn’t about government having a greater role.

It’s about people having a greater role, having more control themselves, and it’s deserving of support of this parliament. Continue reading...

livemint.com | 4 hrs. 9 min. ago

DA hiked to 63% for central government employees: Check monthly salary increase across 7th Pay Commission levels

The Union Cabinet has approved a 3% DA hike for central government employees, taking the rate to 63% effective from 1 July 2026. How much will monthly salaries increase across different pay levels? Check the revised DA calculations and what employees can expect.

koreatimes.co.kr | 4 hrs. 11 min. ago

Leak website releases data on thousands of US Homeland Security employees

WASHINGTON — The leak website Distributed Denial of Secrets said on Wednesday it has released data on more than 40,000 Department of Homeland Security employees, including details about officials working in sensitive fields such as surveillance and human intelligence. DHS said in a statement it was "aware of a potential breach and is actively working to address the situation swiftly and effectively."

The agency said it was working to ensure its employees were properly protected and would update the public "when more information is available.” The disclosure — which the nonprofit data transparency group says draws on information obtained by an entity calling itself "Department of Peace" — is the third major government data leak to have made headlines in the past month.

In September, the hacking group ShinyHunters claimed the theft of a massive trove of data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including sensitive job details and medical information from thousands of bureau employees. Last week, the Defense Department was hit with a class action lawsuit following a breach tha

thehindu.com | 4 hrs. 36 min. ago

Unmarried rural youth in Maharashtra plan Statewide stir for government help in getting brides

Core demands of the youth planning to protest include setting up an all-religion marriage registration bureau under the Social Welfare Department, providing direct financial assistance, creating steady rural employment, and guaranteeing remunerative prices for farm produce

thehindu.com | 4 hrs. 37 min. ago

Karnataka High Court flags irony: Law meant to curb red tapism bogged down it

Karnataka Conduct of Government Litigation Act, 2023, prescribes that officers must stick to the period of limitation fixed to prefer appeals, review or revision against a court verdict, the Bench said, noting that none of the present appeals demonstrate adherence to the statutory discipline contemplated in the law

mirror.co.uk | 4 hrs. 44 min. ago

Major UK conscription update as Brits aged up to 65 could be called up to Army Reserves

Conscription is when a government imposes mandatory military service on the public - the UK Government extended the age bracket for men eligible for call-up to the Army Reserves earlier this year.

livemint.com | 4 hrs. 45 min. ago

DA hike from 60% to 63%: How central government employees can use extra salary to build savings and secure their future

The DA hike from 60% to 63% will increase monthly payments for central government employees in 2026. Employees can use the extra salary to build savings, invest through recurring deposits and mutual fund SIPs or increase their emergency corpus.

dailymail.com | 4 hrs. 52 min. ago

Obama mocks Trump for 'mobilizing whole government' to respond to his Cheesecake Factory joke: 'He was very upset'

Former President Barack Obama took the stage in Georgia to campaign for Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, with a fresh attack against President Donald Trump.

thehindu.com | 5 hrs. 39 min. ago

ED attaches land, buildings of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur in money laundering case

“ED found that funds meant for public works were diverted to the University, government works were executed on its private campus, and funds from contractors who had been allotted government contracts were routed back to the Trust as donations,” the statement said

smh.com.au | 5 hrs. 41 min. ago

Far-right groups and police clash in Madrid during deadly train crash protests

Far-right groups clashed with Spanish police in Madrid on Wednesday (October 28) during a protest demanding the government's resignation following a high-speed train crash that killed at least 68 people.

abc.net.au | 5 hrs. 46 min. ago

End in sight for controversial snapper fishing ban in SA

Snapper could once again be caught next year as the South Australian government works on a plan to rebuild snapper stocks, but some fishers remain concerned about the fishery's future.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com | 5 hrs. 47 min. ago

Arab parties claim kingmaker status in Israel elections

Joint list open to Eisenkot minority government; Ra'am's Abbas says 'everyone talking to us'

nypost.com | 5 hrs. 49 min. ago

Lectures, lavish spending and sky-high bills: The dismal recent record of LADWP

LA’s troubled utility has delivered a familiar lesson along with its water and power: Government has almost no incentive to spend other people’s money wisely.

smh.com.au | 6 hrs. 35 min. ago

The price of Victoria Barracks is much higher than $200 million

The government owes veterans, and every taxpayer, an honest account of what this sale will really cost.

thehindu.com | 8 hrs. 27 min. ago

Forest panel rejects Uttarakhand HC relocation plan again over forest land concerns

The committee directed the State government to explore the possibility of locating the proposed project on suitable non-forest land before pursuing forest clearance

theguardian.com | 8 hrs. 28 min. ago

Non-profit group leaks data of more than 40,000 homeland security workers

Information released by Distributed Denial of Secrets is the third such government data disclosure in the last monthThe leak website Distributed Denial of Secrets said on Wednesday it has released data on more than 40,000 Department ⁠of Homeland Security (DHS) employees, including details about officials working in sensitive fields such as surveillance and human intelligence.DHS did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Continue reading...

theguardian.com | 9 hrs. ago

The Jackdaw gasfield, net zero and climate adaptation

Letters | Readers respond to an article in which the prime minister said the government’s gasfield approval was part of its commitment to a greener futureAndy Burnham writes that his determination to tackle the climate crisis is “unwavering” and that the transition must not leave communities behind (We will make the net-zero transition work for Britain – approving the Jackdaw gasfield is part of the plan, 22 October).

Whatever one thinks of Jackdaw, the test of that pledge is whether people are also protected from climate impacts that are already here.The research that you reported on last week attributed two-thirds of the heat deaths that it estimated – 4,354 of them in the UK – to climate change.

Continue reading...

theguardian.com | 9 hrs. ago

Bills, banks, ‘breathing space’: what was in Burnham’s first budget? - The Latest

In his first budget as chancellor, John Healey has pledged to offer ‘breathing space’ to help Britons navigate ‘global economic storms’. There were a record number of measures, including a one-off £100 energy payment to millions and a rise in the levy on bank profits.

But the Conservatives have criticised the government for postponing big decisions, including on defence and welfare. Lucy Hough speaks to economics editor Heather Stewart – watch on YouTube Continue reading...

ft.com | 9 hrs. 5 min. ago

Meloni’s government passes EU-compliant budget for 2027

Italy’s three-party governing coalition sets out €26bn package of tax cuts and spending increases

nytimes.com | 9 hrs. 11 min. ago

Justice Dept. Turns Civil Rights Group’s Informant Against It

Lawyers for the Southern Poverty Law Center say that federal prosecutors capitalized on the informant’s money problems and exposure to indictment to persuade him to assist the government.

bbc.co.uk | 9 hrs. 48 min. ago

Israel's election deadlock is a sign of the country's deep divisions

The election was a celebration of democracy in some ways - but it has left Israel with no clear path to a new government, writes James Landale.

iol.co.za | 10 hrs. 9 min. ago

Police step up election security preparations ahead of November 4 LGE

The police said they are ready for the November 4 Local Government Elections.

nytimes.com | 10 hrs. 15 min. ago

Israel’s opposition may not be able to form a government, but it still could control Parliament.

nypost.com | 10 hrs. 17 min. ago

Hochul signs sweeping restrictions on AI, pushes back on ‘big tech’ with new laws

In a government event at her office Wednesday, Hochul touted the measures meant to put safeguards on AI and reign in other “big tech” concerns, in a conspicuous move made less than a week before her election against Bruce Blakeman.

abcnews.com | 10 hrs. 23 min. ago

Thousands in Kosovo demand state action after 8 women die this year in domestic violence

Angry protesters have splashed red paint on government buildings in Kosovo during a protest demanding state action over widespread violence against women in the staunchly patriarchal Balkan country

globalnews.ca | 10 hrs. 53 min. ago

B.C. and federal government are ‘aligned’ on priorities, Doerkson says

Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson shared photos on social media following his call with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday.

globalnews.ca | 10 hrs. 53 min. ago

King Charles faces calls for apology, slavery reparations on Caribbean tour

The visit marks King Charles' first official trip to the Bahamas as king, during which the government closed all public schools on the island of New Providence to welcome him.

thehindu.com | 11 hrs. 10 min. ago

TNCC president asks Karnataka government to respect Cauvery Water Management Authority order

abcnews.com | 12 hrs. 4 min. ago

US imposes sanctions on Rwandan defense ministry over involvement in eastern Congo conflict

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Rwandan defense ministry on Wednesday over the country’s involvement in mineral-rich eastern Congo, where fighting continues between the Congolese government and Rwandan-backed rebels despite peace efforts from the Trump a...

thehindu.com | 12 hrs. 17 min. ago

Former MLC moves HC questioning ‘prohibitory list’ of lands, says government targeting BRS leaders

theguardian.com | 12 hrs. 18 min. ago

Support unpaid carers so they aren’t pushed to the brink of suicide

Letters | With almost half of parent-carers contemplating taking their lives, Dr Louise Lawson calls for urgent action by the government Reading the report on Matilda Davis’s death was heartbreaking (Burnham backs mandatory suicide prevention training for social workers after parent-carer Matilda Davis’s death, 21 October).

That someone already under immense pressure could leave a meeting with social workers feeling so distressed, and that the professionals had received no suicide-prevention training, is an indictment of the system. It is reassuring to hear Andy Burnham’s support for mandatory training for social workers.

But there is an even more troubling issue at the heart of this story – the finding that 41% of parent-carers have contemplated suicide should prompt outrage and immediate action.Campaigning by Ed Davey, alongside the Guardian’s investigation into the carer’s allowance scandal, have exposed the extent to which unpaid carers have been failed by the state.

For years they have been described as inspirational and selfless. They give up careers, sacrifice income and provide care that saves the state billions of pounds. Yet the reality revealed by this figure is that many feel so overwhelmed and unsupported that they have contemplated ending their lives. Continue reading...

iol.co.za | 12 hrs. 25 min. ago

Ramaphosa says ANC remains focused on winning eThekwini despite MK lead

President Cyril Ramaphosa meets residents while campaigning in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the local government elections. He brushed aside polls showing the MK Party leading in eThekwini, insisting the ANC remains focused on reclaiming the metro