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World · Wed, Sep 9

South Koreans protest possible troop deployment to Hormuz

About 60 protesters gathered in Seoul, per AFP, chanting 'Do not join a war of aggression' as South Korea weighs sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has pressured Seoul to contribute to security in the waterway, where Iran maintains a stranglehold on global oil supplies. Iran warned any deployment would be 'regarded as direct support for the party responsible for that aggression.'

Bottom line — Any armed deployment requires a majority vote in South Korea's National Assembly.

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South Korea sent a fact-finding mission to assess the situation in Hormuz but stressed no decision has been made, per AFP.
Jung Kyung-jik of People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy told AFP that deployment 'would amount to direct participation in an illegal war,' citing US violations of international law.
Choi Young-ok of Korean Peace Solidarity warned that sending troops would 'inevitably lead to casualties' and noted no other country has committed to deployment.
The Strait of Hormuz carried one-fifth of the world's oil supply before the war, according to AFP.

Sources Malay Mail Middle East Forum en.wikipedia.org +4 more

World · Wed, Sep 9

Australia's Bowen confident on 2030 climate targets as COP bid stalls

Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the country is on track for its 43% emissions reduction and 82% renewable energy targets by 2030, per The Conversation. The government is also bidding to host the 2026 UN climate summit (COP31) but faces an opaque decision process against Turkey.

Bottom line — Bowen claims 23 of 28 UN Western Europe group countries back Australia's COP31 bid, but Turkey has not withdrawn.

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Bowen told The Conversation Australia is 'by and large on track' for its 2030 targets, with renewable energy connections doubling in the last financial year.
The opposition Coalition is reviewing its net-zero-by-2050 commitment, which Bowen called 'the basic bare minimum of action' and 'nowhere near enough'.
On the COP31 bid, Bowen said the process is 'opaque' and relies on a consensus approach where the loser withdraws, but Turkey has not done so despite Australia having the votes.
Bowen acknowledged 'social license issues' in regional communities over renewable projects but argued support is more nuanced than media portrayals.
The government will announce its 2035 emissions target by September, per UNFCCC requirements, with the Climate Change Authority's advice still pending.

Sources The Conversation LinkedInEditors au.news.yahoo.com +2 more

World · Wed, Sep 9

UK-led West Bank sanctions trigger Israeli retaliation, Miliband rebuffs Chief Rabbi

The UK joined 11 other countries, including France and Canada, in imposing trade sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, citing “unprecedented levels of settler violence.” Israel retaliated by ordering the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and banning 12 British politicians and activists. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband rejected the Chief Rabbi’s warning that the measures would fuel antisemitism in Britain, calling them "the right thing to do."

Bottom line — The coordinated Western sanctions threaten to deepen a diplomatic rift over settlement expansion that Israel’s government calls "morally distorted."

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The sanctions include an import ban on goods from settlements, a ban on arms exports that "materially contribute to the occupation," and personal sanctions against individuals accused of promoting settler violence, per the UK government.
Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar announced the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem, expulsion of British representatives monitoring a Gaza ceasefire, and a ban on 12 Britons — including all five Green Party MPs and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn — from entering the country, the Times of Israel reported.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called the sanctions "a truly dark day for British Jews," arguing they would "embolden those who use hatred as a weapon against Jews," according to The Jewish Chronicle.
Miliband, who describes himself as a "proud British Jew," told LBC: "I don't believe it was a dark day for British Jews" and insisted it is possible to oppose Israeli government policies while fighting antisemitism.
The UK government said it had consulted Jewish community representatives before the decision; Miliband acknowledged the Chief Rabbi was "aware of this" in advance, per LBC.
The US response was mixed: ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the UK move an "irrational act," but Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would "obviously" not follow suit and Trump had yet to comment, The Guardian reported.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the sanctions target "the policies of the current Israeli government, not the Israeli people" and that blaming British Jews for Israel’s actions "is antisemitism, plain and simple," per multiple outlets.
The new sanctions regime — including a ban on advertising settlements in the UK — could take six to nine months to fully implement, Miliband said, though immediate sanctions were promised against "extremist settlers" who incited violence.
The UK also formally changed its legal position to state that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is unlawful, a step Miliband called an "overdue statement of reality," according to The National.

Sources

Euronews English

The Guardian

AOL.com +7 more

World · Wed, Sep 9

Africa urged to build fertiliser industry for food resilience

The African Leadership Magazine argues Africa must invest in local fertiliser production and regional supply chains to reduce dependence on costly imports. The continent spends $75 billion annually on food imports despite having 60% of the world's uncultivated arable land, per the African Development Bank.

Bottom line — AfDB's $1.5 billion emergency facility supported 20 million farmers to produce 38 million tonnes of food.

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Fertiliser use across much of Africa remains below global levels, contributing to low agricultural productivity, per the African Development Bank.
Nigeria has emerged as a major fertiliser producer after private investment in the Indorama Eleme and Dangote plants, shifting from heavy import dependence to domestic supply and export potential.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers an opportunity to develop regional agricultural-input markets rather than fragmented national supply chains, the article argues.
African financial institutions like the AfDB and Afreximbank can provide long-term capital and guarantees to encourage private investment in fertiliser and logistics capacity.
Smallholder farmers need affordable credit, extension services and digital tools alongside inputs for increased fertiliser production to translate into higher food output.

Sources

African Leadership M…

That's all the news for today

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