newsmart – Latest News

smh.com.au | just now NEW

Forget the mortgage belt: Gamers are getting smashed and Chalmers should worry

Chalmers, Gallagher and Albanese have to play a larger role in easing demand in the Australian economy to deal with global inflationary pressures.

scmp.com | 1 min. ago NEW

Why Indian-American support for Trump is slipping before midterms

Immigration restrictions, rising living costs and strains in US-India relations are testing support for President Donald Trump among some Indian-Americans who backed the Republican Party in 2024, analysts say, ahead of November’s midterm elections. A survey released in August by AAPI Data and Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote found that 66 per cent of Indian-American respondents favoured Democratic candidates for the US House of Representatives, compared with 18 per cent for Republicans....

scmp.com | 1 min. ago NEW

Hong Kong to propose criminal penalties for bid-rigging after deadly Tai Po fire

Hong Kong’s leader is expected to announce reforms introducing criminal penalties for bid-rigging on Thursday, when the government will also release the final investigation report into the Tai Po inferno, the South China Morning Post has learned. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his senior officials will announce the proposed measures and give an update on efforts to pursue “administrative accountability” at a press conference on Thursday, a government source said on Wednesday.

Senior...

scmp.com | 1 min. ago NEW

Standard Chartered beats forecast as wealth business powers third-quarter profit

Standard Chartered’s third-quarter net profit rose 46 per cent as strong growth in cross-border trade loans and wealth management buffered one of Hong Kong’s three note-issuing banks from provisions linked to geopolitical tensions. Net profit increased to US$1.5 billion, or 68.9 US cents per share, in the quarter that ended on September 30, compared with US$1.03 billion a year earlier, the London-based bank said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday.

The result beat analysts’...

scmp.com | 2 min. ago NEW

El Salvador deploys 1,000 troops to Haiti after gang ambush

El Salvador has sent about 1,000 troops to Haiti after four Salvadorean members of a UN-backed security mission went missing in a gang ambush on the outskirts of the capital on October 18, a security official in Haiti told Reuters on Tuesday. The troops’ arrival aboard flights in recent days dramatically expands the Central American nation’s role in Haiti’s long-standing gang conflict.

Yet it remains unclear who will command the new Salvadorean contingent, how long ‌it will stay in Haiti or...

scmp.com | 2 min. ago NEW

Indonesia deploys hundreds of security staff ahead of Jakarta student protests

Hundreds of Indonesian security personnel ⁠were deployed on ⁠Wednesday in anticipation ⁠of student protests against several of President Prabowo Subianto’s policies, as well as his government’s handling of forest fires. Students from the University of Indonesia ‌said they were set to stage protests in several spots in the capital Jakarta.

They are calling on the government to declare the ongoing wildfires in Sumatra and Borneo a national disaster, and to halt spending ⁠on populist programmes...

mirror.co.uk | 3 min. ago NEW

Ryanair launches new route to historic city with huge Christmas markets in time for cheap winter getaways

The new route gives Brits the chance to visit two Christmas markets this historic city which run from November to January and boast free entry, featuring classic winter scenes of chalets, Christmas trees, and an open-air ice rink

livemint.com | 4 min. ago NEW

Who is Kerala-born Nithya Raman? Indian-American leading Los Angeles mayoral race, why she’s compared to Zohran Mamdani

US mid-term polls: Nithya Raman emerged as the most prominent left‑leaning challenger to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the November 3 mayoral race. If elected in the November 3 polls, Raman will be the first Indian-American Mayor of Los Angeles.

livemint.com | 4 min. ago NEW

Jio lists at 21% premium on debut after record $3.2 billion India IPO

Jio Platforms shares jumped 21% on their Mumbai debut, valuing the company at $108.3 billion and marking Reliance Industries’ first listing in two decades. 

livemint.com | 4 min. ago NEW

Going global: Step-by-step guide to buying international stocks

Indian investors can access US stocks through regulated platforms, but forex charges, brokerage, tax rules and disclosure requirements can add to the cost. Here’s what to know before investing.

koreatimes.co.kr | 6 min. ago NEW

Former USFK commanders raise concerns over command structure after OPCON transfer

WASHINGTON — Two former U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) commanders on Tuesday raised concerns that Korea's envisioned wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer could weaken the bilateral alliance and undermine military effectiveness if Seoul and Washington fail to preserve a robust combined command structure. In an online symposium hosted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies, retired Gen.

Walter Sharp warned that changes to the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) following the transfer could have implications for the longstanding alliance. "That whole combined nature goes away and ... I really do see it as a doorway to greatly reducing the alliance, greatly reducing our work with Korea," Sharp said.

Sharp also questioned whether a future CFC would remain genuinely bilateral after the transfer, particularly regarding the roles of the countries' Military Committee Meeting and Security Consultative Meeting, as well as the approval of wartime operational plans. Retired Gen. Paul LaCamera, another former USFK commander, also expressed concerns about the future command arrangement,

koreatimes.co.kr | 7 min. ago NEW

President Lee to hold meeting on national safety

President Lee Jae Myung was set to hold a government meeting Wednesday to discuss measures to ensure public safety and protect the rights of victims of safety incidents. The second plenary meeting of the national life and safety committee, to be presided over by Lee at Cheong Wa Dae, is expected to discuss measures to ensure public safety and protect victims' rights guaranteed under the public life and safety law, which is scheduled to take effect next Wednesday, the presidential office said.

On May 7, the National Assembly passed the law, which stipulates the duties of the country and local governments to ensure people's rights to safety, including the rights to have their lives and properties protected and to lead safe lives. It also calls for the protection of victims of safety incidents, their family members and witnesses.

Wednesday's meeting will be attended by about 70 government officials, victims of safety incidents and their family members. During the session, officials plan to outline the government's safety policies and measures to reduce suicides, unattended deaths, industrial

iol.co.za | 9 min. ago NEW

Phoenix residents may endure daily water cuts until 2032, municipality says

Community leader Sham Maharaj said the 2032 deadline raised fundamental questions about how the crisis was allowed to persist for so long.

iol.co.za | 9 min. ago NEW

The need for equity in global health: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

According to the author, during a pandemic, access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments should be determined by public health needs rather than purchasing power.

iol.co.za | 9 min. ago NEW

Fifty-five years on, Ahmed Timol is still waiting for justice

Ahmed Timol was a young schoolteacher in Roodepoort who opposed apartheid. He was arrested at a police roadblock on October 22, 1971, and died five days later. He was the 22nd political detainee to die in detention since 1960. His nephew is still seeking justice for him.

ft.com | 10 min. ago NEW

[$] Sizewell nuclear plant is ‘terrible deal’ for British taxpayers, MPs conclude

Parliamentary inquiry says consumers are carrying ‘extraordinary’ financial risk and footing most of the £40bn bill as private investors ‘cash in’

cbsnews.com | 11 min. ago NEW

Netanyahu fighting for his political life in Israeli election

Israelis voted in one of the most important elections on Tuesday, with the potential to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and help shape the future of the war with Iran, the Gaza Strip and America's relationship with the Middle East. Matt Gutman reports from Tel Aviv.

abc.net.au | 12 min. ago NEW

Triple-fatal plane crash 'likely' followed instructor's mid-air rule breach

A flight instructor killed along with two young pilots in a plane crash near the Murray Mouth had "likely" entered a spin for which the aircraft had not been approved, the ATSB finds.

nytimes.com | 14 min. ago NEW

[$] A Chinese Port Could Be a Lifeline for Spain, but Also a Threat

Residents say a proposed Chinese car plant in northern Spain will create new jobs. Others say it’s a long-term risk, distilling a debate about the costs and perks of ties to China.

nytimes.com | 14 min. ago NEW

[$] Iran War Cost Rises to $47.1 Billion, Pentagon Told Lawmakers

The estimate through Oct. 16 shows that bombs, missiles and other munitions accounted for more than 60 percent of expenses.

dw.com | 15 min. ago NEW

India news: Cyclone Arnab brings heavy rain, disruption

Cyclone Arnab is making a slow-motion landfall at India's east coast with states evacuating thousands of residents. Also, a new report says India is among nations with highest heatwave exposure for infants. Follow live

news.sky.com | 17 min. ago NEW

US Air Force officer accused of possessing child abuse images was flown out of the UK

A senior US Air Force officer was flown out of the UK before he could be questioned over allegations that he possessed child sexual abuse images, it has emerged.

businessinsider.com | 18 min. ago NEW

The AI trade is roaring back in South Korea, where the profits are getting harder to ignore

South Korean stocks surged as SK Hynix's record profits fueled the AI trade, following months of volatility and concerns over massive AI spending.

time.com | 18 min. ago NEW

Three Latino Leaders Reflect on Inspiration Across Generations

Nelson German, Julián Castro, and Sofia Carson honored their upbringings at TIME’s Latino Leaders dinner in Miami.

abcnews.com | 19 min. ago NEW

Judge to appoint special master in California voting case in setback to Trump admin

The judge appeared skeptical of the DOJ's request for a restraining order.

thehindu.com | 32 min. ago NEW

Two Britons charged in connection with assisting Iran over U.K. airbase incident

British-Iranian dual national Mohmed Abdulkarim and British citizen Nouman Essghir, both aged 24 and from London, were charged under the National Security Act, U.K. prosecutors say

thehindu.com | 32 min. ago NEW

OpenAI plans to buy Google's AI chips: Report

OpenAI in June unveiled its first custom AI chip designed with Broadcom, and said ‌it planned to deploy the processor by the end of this year

thehindu.com | 32 min. ago NEW

Alleged Israeli spy company heavily targeted Starlink users, sources say

Finding ways to track Starlink ‌users has become a cottage industry as governments around the world try to get a grip on the spread of satellite internet terminals

thehindu.com | 32 min. ago NEW

Maharashtra: A 'data hub' of rising power cuts

Part 2 | Behind Maharashtra’s push for data centres lies increasing power outages and apathy towards its people

smh.com.au | 35 min. ago NEW

Netanyahu has wrestled his opponents to a draw. For now, that’s a victory

Israelis have rejected Benjamin Netanyahu and the far-right extremists who have kept him in power for the past four years. But that’s only half the story.

smh.com.au | 35 min. ago NEW

Israel election 2026 as it happened: Netanyahu, Eisenkot set for lengthy battle to win power in nation’s first election since October 7 attacks

All the latest live news updates from an election widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu’s almost two decades in power.

smh.com.au | 36 min. ago NEW

Hastings completes US$15M Thai rare earths plant deal

Hastings Technology Metals has finalised a US$15 million deal for its Thai rare earths plant, with first production slated for the second quarter of next year.

scmp.com | 38 min. ago NEW

China formally launches project to build aircraft carrier-sized ‘science island’

China’s massive maritime science infrastructure – an aircraft carrier-sized floating artificial island – has officially entered its engineering construction phase. On October 18, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), the facility’s lead developer, signed a construction contract worth over 2.7 billion yuan (US$405 million) with a shipbuilder under China State Shipbuilding Corporation, according to local media reports.

The semi-submersible twin-hull platform is the world’s first mobile,...

scmp.com | 38 min. ago NEW

Over 2,000 rogue Malaysian police officers arrested in past 5 years

A total of 2,097 Malaysian police officers and personnel have been arrested for drug-related offences, robbery and corruption between 2021 and August this year, according to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Of the total, 1,551 were arrested for drug offences, 64 for robbery and 482 by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Saifuddin Nasution said in a written parliamentary reply to Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng on Tuesday that the drug-related arrests were made under the Dangerous...

livemint.com | 40 min. ago NEW

Top 10 equity mutual funds by foreign securities, REITs and InvITs holdings: WhiteOak Dividend Yield Fund tops list

Some equity mutual funds go beyond domestic stocks to invest in foreign securities, REITs and InvITs. WhiteOak Capital Dividend Yield Fund tops the list with 79.4% combined exposure to REITs and InvITs. Here are 10 funds with notable exposure to these assets.

koreatimes.co.kr | 42 min. ago NEW

Births up 13% in August to highest in 7 years

The number of babies born in Korea shot up 13 percent in August from a year earlier, marking the 26th consecutive month of increase, government data showed Wednesday. A total of 23,703 babies were born in August, up from 20,983 a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

It marked the highest figure for any August since the 24,371 posted in 2019. The country's total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, rose 0.09 from a year earlier to 0.87 in August. The rate remains well below the 2.1 births per woman needed to maintain a stable population without immigration.

The number of births has maintained an upward trajectory since July 2024. Over the January-August period, 193,783 babies were born, up 14.5 percent from a year earlier. It was also the highest figure for the period since 2019. The recent rebound came amid a growing number of marriages, an increase in the population in their 30s and more positive attitudes toward having children.

The number of marriages in August fell 1.2 percent from a year earlier to 19,21

koreatimes.co.kr | 43 min. ago NEW

Ex-justice minister, special counsel appeal martial law-related ruling

Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and special counsel Cho Eun-suk have both appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging an appellate court ruling that reduced Park's prison sentence from 25 years to nine years over his role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration, judicial officials said Wednesday.

Park and Cho's team filed their appeals with the Seoul High Court on Tuesday, the officials said. Park was indicted on charges of playing a key role in Yoon's martial law imposition on Dec. 3, 2024, and participating in an alleged insurrection. The charges included ordering the possible dispatch of prosecutors to a martial law-related organ, putting Korea Immigration Service (KIS) officials in charge of travel bans on standby and directing the Korea Correctional Service (KCS) to assess detention centers' available capacity.

The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Park to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty of all charges brought by Cho. But the Seoul High Court last week reduced his prison sentence to nine years, acquitting him of charges related to the KIS an

iol.co.za | 43 min. ago NEW

SARS warns influencers: Declare your online earnings or face penalties

SARS has warned social media influencers and content creators to declare all online earnings, including sponsorships, brand deals and gifted products, as failure to comply with tax obligations could result in penalties and interest

iol.co.za | 43 min. ago NEW

Lifesaving SA reports 15 drowning and missing-swimmer incidents in October

During October 2026, Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) received several reported drowning incidents, missing swimmers and aquatic emergencies across South Africa.

ft.com | 44 min. ago NEW

[$] South Korean ‘tilt’ towards Russia alarms European allies

Lee Jae Myung prioritises Seoul’s interests with its giant neighbour amid strained ties with Ukraine, analysts say