Data centre opposition is growing in Australia. Is there a middle ground?

South China Morning Post - Oct 8, 2026

Australia may have vast tracts of land and political will to support the growth of the artificial intelligence industry, but the development of data centres to power the technology is proving more challenging. Last month, property developer Goodman Group withdrew its application for a 90-megawatt data centre in Lane Cove, on Sydney’s lower north shore, after months of opposition from residents about the potential impact on their electricity and water supplies, noise pollution and other...

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Oct 8, 2026

New major crimes unit, police likely to face friction over unclear jurisdiction

The freshly launched agency dedicated to investigating "major crimes" may be headed for a turf war with the police due to a still unclear line between their jurisdictions, observers said Thursday. The new Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA) set sail at the start of this month under a recent revision to the Criminal Procedure Act that effectively dismantled the previous prosecution system, leaving the prosecution with only the right to indict and maintain indictments against criminals. The right to investigate has been split between the SCIA and the police, with the SCIA tasked with investigating seven major crimes. The revision defines such crimes as those related to corruption, business and economy, defense procurement, narcotics, national security, cybercrimes and distortion of the law, but there still exists ambiguity, such as what constitutes a "major" crime or should the SCIA be required, if not allowed, to investigate what may be considered petty crimes if related to corruption, narcotics or any other crimes stated in the law. Also, the police, which have already been investi

Oct 8, 2026

Chinese-speaking hacker possibly linked to AI-driven attacks on S. Korean banks: report

U.S. cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said an unidentified hacker believed to be a Chinese speaker used artificial intelligence (AI)-powered hacking tools to breach multiple Korean financial institutions and steal data. In a report released Wednesday (U.S. time), CrowdStrike said the attacker used ARTEX, an open-source AI-powered penetration-testing tool developed in China, alongside large language models (LLMs) to carry out cyberattacks between late September and early October. The findings come amid a series of data breaches at Korean financial institutions, including Hana Bank, KB Kookmin Bank and Shinhan Bank, prompting financial authorities and investigators to launch probes into the incidents. According to CrowdStrike, the compromised systems included a bank's loan inquiry service used by financial brokers and another bank's mobile work-support system for employees. "While this activity has not been attributed to a named adversary, the threat actor is likely a Chinese speaker and financially motivated," CrowdStrike said in the report. "This assessment is made with moderate confidence

Oct 8, 2026

Veterans ministry recommends local governments raise compensation for veterans

The veterans ministry has issued guidelines advising local governments to increase their honorary allowances for veterans of the 1950-53 Korean war and the Vietnam War to help reduce discrepancies in payouts between regions, officials said Thursday. Under the guidelines, the ministry recommended that basic local governments and metropolitan governments gradually raise their monthly payments to 119,000 won ($88.97) and 109,000 won, respectively, by early 2029. The veterans ministry offers a monthly compensation of 490,000 won for veterans above the age of 70 who fought in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Additional allowances are separately given to the war veterans by basic local governments and the metropolitan governments, but the amounts of payouts have varied significantly between regions. For instance, the southwestern cities of Jeonju and Jeongeup offer a sum of 140,000 won, the lowest among cities and provinces, whereas Hwacheon county in the eastern Gangwon Province offers the highest amount of 660,000 won each month. The recommendations are not binding, but if implemented, the

Oct 8, 2026

[COVER STORY] K-defense expands global footprint amid shifting security order

The global security order is undergoing one of its most profound transformations since the end of the Cold War, as the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East conflict push countries around the world to strengthen their own military capabilities and secure their defense supply chains. These ongoing conflicts, which experts describe as an era of global rearmament, are offering chances for Korea's defense industry to expand as a global player, while the industry grapples with challenges such as supply chain disruptions. Experts and industry figures see three major factors accelerating the global rearmament trend, according to Kang Eun-ho, former head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The first factor is a shift in the United States' approach to international security. The U.S., which has led the postwar international security architecture, is increasingly putting its "America First" policy while calling on its allies to assume a greater share of the burden for their own defense structure. The second factor is growing geopolitical competition stemming from Russ

Oct 8, 2026

Korea's rice production projected to fall 0.6% in 2026: data ministry

SEJONG — Korea's production of rice, a key staple in the country's diet, is estimated to decline 0.6 percent in 2026 due to a reduction in cultivation area, data showed Thursday. Rice output is expected to total 3.51 million tons, down from the previous year's 3.53 million tons, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The projected decline comes as the area under rice cultivation fell 1.1 percent to 670,000 hectares this year from 678,000 hectares a year earlier. The reduction reflects government efforts to adjust rice production, including support for farmers switching to other crops. By region, combined production in South Jeolla Province and Gwangju is estimated to reach 738,000 tons this year, followed by South Chungcheong Province with 689,000 tons and North Jeolla Province with 533,000 tons. Although rice has traditionally been a staple food for Koreans, its consumption has steadily declined, largely due to dietary changes and a growing preference for alternatives, such as wheat-based foods. The data ministry plans to release the final figures in November.

Oct 8, 2026

Kookmin University steps up internationalization efforts to boost students' global readiness

Kookmin University is intensifying its internationalization efforts by offering students opportunities for overseas work experience, expanding international collaborative research and fostering partnerships with global institutions. The university said Tuesday that it is focusing on improving students’ global readiness by moving beyond traditional international exchanges and language training and giving them opportunities to participate in projects with overseas companies that can lead to internships and employment. “As Kookmin University celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, we have identified strengthening global capabilities and networks as one of the four key strategies under our mid- to long-term development plan, ‘KMU VISION 2035: EDGE,’” said Jeong Seung-ryul, president of the university. He added, “We will expand partnerships with overseas universities, companies and organizations, and support our students in gaining firsthand experience in global settings, enabling them to build the competitiveness they need to succeed on the international stage.” The universi