Consumer, Policy & regulation · 24 h
49 storiesSouth Korea's Lee orders CPTPP talks restarted from the beginning amid farm concerns
President Lee Jae-myung instructed at a cabinet meeting on Oct 6 that the government should not fix a conclusion on joining the CPTPP and should “restart dialogue from the beginning,” saying the pact's strategic value is cited alongside ver…
South Korea weighs ending military service exemptions for athletes and artists
South Korea’s Defense Ministry said on October 6 that it is considering tightening or abolishing the military service exemption granted to athletes and artists, after some Asian Games gold medalists said exemption mattered more to them than…
Kilmar Ábrego Garcia back in court as US seeks deportation to Liberia
Kilmar Ábrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March 2025, was due back in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland, on Tuesday in his fight against deportation to Liberia. The government is asking U.S…
ABC asks federal judge to block FCC early review of its broadcast licenses
ABC asked a federal judge in Washington on Tuesday to block the FCC from conducting an early review of its broadcast licenses, calling it retaliation for content President Trump dislikes. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan did not rule immed…
South Korea to guarantee one-third of jeonse deposits for fraud victims from Nov. 13
South Korea's cabinet approved an enforcement decree amendment to the special act on jeonse fraud victims on Oct. 6, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said, with the measure taking effect on Nov. 13. Victims whose total rec…
Amazon October Prime Day includes vacuum deals, US outlets report
Amazon’s October Prime Day sale, also called Prime Big Deal Days, is underway with discounts on vacuum cleaners, according to CNN, NBC News, Wired and The Verge. NBC News said the sale runs through October 7 and vacuum deals reach up to 56%…
Trump says he is considering suspending federal gas tax ahead of midterms
President Donald Trump said Tuesday his administration is considering suspending the federal gas tax, as pump prices remain far above last year's levels a month before the midterm elections. Any suspension would require Congress, which is n…
South Korea’s health insurance service to pay unclaimed premium refunds through November
South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service said it will run an intensive two-month period through Nov. 30 to pay out unclaimed health insurance premium refunds. Refunds arise from double or erroneous payments or from recalculations aft…
Seoul revamps 'Future Seoul Morning Lecture' with in-house officials
Seoul city has overhauled its “미래서울 아침특강” (Future Seoul Morning Lecture) series so that its own director-general-level officials, rather than outside experts, give the lectures. The first lecture under the new format was held on the morning…
ABC asks federal judge to block FCC's early review of its broadcast licenses
Disney's ABC asked a federal judge in Washington, D.C. to block the FCC from conducting an early review of its broadcast licenses, arguing the proceeding was launched to retaliate over content that offended the Trump administration. The FCC…
Netherlands proposes civilian reserve of 150,000 for emergencies
The Netherlands has proposed creating a civilian reserve for crises, with RTL reporting a target of 150,000 reservists for emergency situations, according to TASS. The reported roles include drivers, security guards and mechanics. RBC repor…
Army study found ICE shock gloves cause pain, compliance and fear, AP reports
A previously unreleased Army study found that shock gloves now purchased by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement caused intense pain, immediate compliance and fear of further shocks during a 2024 military exercise. Records obtained by t…
Amazon's October Prime Day runs October 6-7 as outlets round up deals
Amazon's October Prime Day sale, also called Prime Big Deal Days, is running from October 6 through October 7, 2026. NBC News, The Verge and CNN published roundups of discounted products at price points under $50, under $25 and on seasonal …
Korea police reform panel recommends hiring 100+ lawyers a year as investigators
A South Korean police investigation reform committee announced 12 recommendations on October 6, 2026, including hiring more than 100 lawyer-qualified police officers each year for five years and recording investigation directives as electro…
Amazon October Prime Day Sale Runs Through October 7 With Lightning Deals
Amazon’s October Prime Day sale, also called Prime Big Deal Days, is running now through October 7. It features Lightning Deals, limited-time and limited-quantity discounts available to Prime members. Outlets including CNN Underscored, NBC …
Moscow court fines Garage museum security chief 100,000 rubles over LGBT propaganda
A Moscow magistrate court fined Sergei Klyucherev, head of the security service at the Garage museum, 100,000 rubles on a charge of propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations, TASS, Kommersant and RBC reported. Kommersant said the case …
GameStop raises used PS5 Pro price to $1,400, above new console's MSRP
GameStop is listing pre-owned PlayStation 5 Pro consoles at $1,399.99 on its website, up from $800 and above the $899 sticker price of a new console. A leaked memo to employees, which a GameStop subreddit moderator said had been vetted, tol…
UAE sets phased caps on salt, sugar and fat in packaged foods, fines up to Dh500,000
The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention has begun implementing a resolution that caps sodium, sugar and fat in selected packaged foods, with phased limits running until the end of 2030. The rules apply to locally made and imported produ…
Amazon’s October Prime Day sales event prompts deal guides from US outlets
Amazon’s October Prime Day sales event, which The Verge calls Prime Big Deal Days, drew deal coverage from tech and business outlets on October 6. CNN described it as a two-day event and the first of several savings periods running through …
Seoul courts split on special prosecutor dispatch after prosecution overhaul
South Korean courts reached different conclusions on whether prosecutors dispatched to special prosecutor teams may take part in hearings, after the Prosecutors' Office was abolished and the Public Prosecution Office launched on Oct 2. Seou…