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Europe's foreign policy chief has warned that Russian strikes on grain ships in the Black Sea could trigger another global food security shock, with Ukraine's monthly exports already down by a quarter.

Norway has seized a Russian ship off Svalbard to enforce a Ukrainian compensation claim, and Israel's national security minister has set out a plan to remove every Palestinian from Gaza within six years.

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1️⃣ 🇳🇴🇷🇺 Norway seizes Russian ship in Arctic over Crimea compensation claim: Norway seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov off Svalbard after a 24-hour standoff with its coast guard, enforcing a compensation claim by the Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz over assets Russia expropriated in Crimea. A 2023 tribunal in The Hague ordered Moscow to pay $4.22bn plus interest and costs, and Russia's foreign ministry called the seizure "piracy".

2️⃣ 🇨🇳 China hits back at G20 statement on its reliance on exports: China's Commerce Ministry accused other G20 nations of "promoting protectionism" after 19 members agreed to address what US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called an "unsustainable equilibrium" from cheap exports, with China the only member to dissent. Spokesperson Ling Huang also demanded the US lift Iran-related sanctions on Chinese companies and citizens.

3️⃣ 🇨🇳🇵🇼 Pacific leaders at summit fail to reach unanimous condemnation of China's ballistic missile launch: Pacific Islands Forum leaders agreed to register "concern" about China's ballistic missile launch into their waters in July, but the statement was not unanimous and did not name China or go beyond concern. Nauru dissociated itself from it and Kiribati had no representative at the retreat, according to New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, in a document normally decided by consensus.

4️⃣ 🇮🇱🇵🇸 Far-right Israeli minister outlines plan for removal of all Palestinians from Gaza: Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir set out a plan to remove 250,000 Palestinians from Gaza in the first year and the rest of the roughly 2 million population over six years, calling it "realistic" and "concrete". Forced displacement of civilians in occupied territory is a war crime under the Geneva conventions.

5️⃣ 🇪🇸🇲🇦 Embattled Spanish PM insists no prior warnings before Ceuta crisis: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told parliament it was "absurd to think that the government knew and did nothing" about the influx of 72,000 migrants into Ceuta, hours after tens of thousands joined protests across the country. A police report commissioned by a High Court judge said Moroccan security forces "made no serious attempt" to stop the crossing.

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Major Story

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Black Sea blockade raises fears of a food crisis

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas warned that Russian strikes on grain ships in the Black Sea could cause another worldwide food security shock, speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot called for a coordinated solution to avert what he described as a threefold disaster: a collapse in Ukraine's state revenues, a food crisis in Africa and intensified migration towards Europe.

Moscow has ramped up attacks on Ukraine's ports and vessels since July, and Kyiv has launched drone and missile strikes on Russian ships and hubs in return.

Ukraine exported 6 million tonnes of agricultural and steel products a month through Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny before the renewed strikes, and now trades about 4.5 million tonnes via alternative routes.

The escalation has coincided with the peak of the harvest, leaving maize, barley and wheat piling up inside the country and compounding a €23 billion funding gap Kyiv has asked allies to plug.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 US investigating if missile hit Iran wedding, Vance says: US Vice-President JD Vance said the military was investigating Iranian claims that US strikes killed at least four people including two children at a wedding in Sirik, adding that he was "extremely sceptical" of Iranian state media. The Iranian Red Crescent said 67 people were hurt, and BBC Verify confirmed footage of a telecommunications tower destroyed about 112m from the house.

2️⃣ 🇰🇷🇮🇷 South Korea preparing for Strait of Hormuz deployment: A South Korean defence ministry official told Australia's SBS that Seoul was making "concrete preparations" to send naval forces to the Strait of Hormuz, including P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, an explosive ordnance disposal team and a logistics support ship. Seoul had previously said it would only deploy after the US-Iran war ended.

3️⃣ 🇸🇩🇦🇪 US diplomat Boulos won't name 'at least 12 countries' involved in Sudan war: Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump's senior adviser on African and Arab affairs, told the BBC that "at least 12 countries" were providing military support in Sudan's war but declined to name them. The UN arms embargo on Darfur expires on 12 September, and Sudanese analyst Jihad Mashamoun said the framing allowed the UAE to escape accountability for supporting the RSF.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸🇬🇧 Trump hints US may not back UK over Falkland Islands: President Donald Trump suggested Washington may not support the UK in a future conflict with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, telling GB News that Britain had "not been there to help me" over the Iran war. He later acknowledged the US military had not required British assistance, and Washington recognises British administration while staying neutral on sovereignty.

5️⃣ 🇦🇷🇬🇧 Argentina's Milei vows tougher Falklands oil sanctions: Argentine President Javier Milei announced plans for tougher sanctions on oil companies working near the Falkland Islands, describing an offshore project involving an Israeli-British firm as a "concrete and urgent danger". He said the islanders did not have a legitimate right to self-determination, dismissing the 2013 referendum in which more than 99% voted to remain British.

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