Opinion: A global plastics treaty is being negotiated in Ottawa this week

SEOUL, April 23 (AJU PRESS) - Plastic pollution spans the globe, yet national policies are generally not effective enough, and have so far focused primarily on waste management rather than targeting the root cause. To make matters worse, the global trade in plastic waste tends to push waste to parts of the world with the least capacity to manage it. On this basis, in March 2022, nearly 200 nations endorsed a historic resolution to develop a new global and legally binding agreement o

April 23, 2024

Opinion: Bitcoin is halving again – what does that mean for cryptocurrency and market?

SEOUL, April 22 (AJU PRESS) - Bitcoin, the largest and most talked about digital asset, has been on a rollercoaster of a ride since its launch in January 2009. With a market capitalization that reached a high of more than US$1.4 trillion (£1.125 trillion) this February and volatile swings since, bitcoin has attracted lots of attention recently. Now a hotly anticipated recurring event that happens roughly every four years is taking place: the bitcoin halving. This could have

April 22, 2024

Opinion: How will US foreign policy affect Joe Biden's chances of re-election in November?

SEOUL, April 22 (AJU PRESS) - When big questions about American foreign policy collide with an election, it's rarely good news for a sitting president. Like many leaders before him, U.S. President Joe Biden has had some of these questions thrust on him, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Some have their origins in past administrations, such as the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Most are a mixture of both, such as Israel’s retaliation against Gaza and the role of Iran.

April 22, 2024

Iran attack on Israel provokes new crisis

KENOSHA, April 19 (AJU PRESS) - The direct attack by Iran on the territory of Israel may lead to an escalation of war in the fraught region of the Middle East. The encouraging news is that Israel in cooperation with Britain, the United States and – rather surprisingly – Jordan did an outstanding job of destroying the approximately 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran. This is dramatic testimony to the effectiveness of defensive anti-missile systems. On the other

April 19, 2024

Opinion: Oman serves as crucial back channel between Iran and US as tensions flare in the Middle East

SEOUL, April 19 (AJU PRESS) - Prior to launching a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel last week, Iran reportedly got word to Washington that its response to an earlier strike on its embassy compound in Syria would seek to avoid major escalation. The message was conveyed via the Gulf Arab state of Oman. The current crisis in the Middle East is one that officials in Oman have spent years trying to avoid. Located across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, and with close defense and

April 19, 2024

Opinion: Will global oil supply be at risk if Iran and Israel pull the Middle East into war?

SEOUL, April 18 (AJU PRESS) - Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following Iran's weekend missile and drone attacks on Israel, heightening concerns of a wider conflict. As with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, further conflict has the potential to destabilize oil prices and disrupt supply chains. In Australia, already grappling with a cost-of-living crisis, the ripple effects could soon be felt. Rising oil prices lead to increased inflation, first affecting fuel

April 18, 2024

Opinion: Ukraine is losing the war and the west faces a stark choice: help now or face a resurgent and aggressive Russia

SEOUL, April 18 (AJU PRESS) - Ukraine is now experiencing a level of existential threat comparable only to the situation immediately after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. But in contrast to then, improvements are unlikely – at least not soon. Not only have conditions along the frontline significantly worsened, according to the Ukrainian commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, but the very possibility of a Ukrainian defeat is now discussed in public by people

April 18, 2024

Opinion: Once enemies, Japan and U.S. strengthen their alliance – and it goes beyond AUKUS

SEOUL, April 17 (AJU PRESS) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's state visit to the White House has already resulted in one of the most ambitious boosts to the United States-Japan alliance. This alliance is now at the core of American strategy to strengthen a regional coalition to counter China's geopolitical rise. In a joint press conference following a welcoming ceremony on April 10, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a range of measures to intensify the already clo

April 17, 2024

Opinion: Israel accused of using AI to target thousands in Gaza, as killer algorithms outpace international law

SEOUL, April 16 (AJU PRESS) - The Israeli army used a new artificial intelligence (AI) system to generate lists of tens of thousands of human targets for potential airstrikes in Gaza, according to a report published last week. The report comes from the nonprofit outlet +972 Magazine, which is run by Israeli and Palestinian journalists. The report cites interviews with six unnamed sources in Israeli intelligence. The sources claim the system, known as Lavender, was used with other AI

April 16, 2024

Opinion: Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel was a strategic miscalculation. Can all-out war now be averted?

SEOUL, April 16 (AJU PRESS) - Close to midnight on April 13, hundreds of military drones were launched from both Iran and Iraq toward Israel. Subsequently, several waves of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and rockets followed, originating from Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon – all directed at Israel. This unprecedented multi-front attack on Israel constitutes a de facto declaration of war and marks the first direct assault against Israel from Iranian soil. However, despite

April 16, 2024