UN Cartography Fight: The UN General Assembly backed Togo- and African Union-backed “Correct the Map,” urging countries to move away from the Mercator projection that makes Africa look smaller; 164 voted yes, with the US the only no vote. National Security Tech: South Korea plans a state-backed In-Q-Tel-style venture fund, targeting 50 billion won for security-tech startups in AI, semiconductors, space and defense. AI Finance: ByteDance secured a $29.6B three-year loan from nearly 30 banks to fund AI plans, with lenders showing strong appetite for the next AI buildout. Global Infrastructure Risk: Australia’s undersea fiber cables—carrying most internet traffic—could be targeted in conflict, raising concerns about sabotage and national disruption. Middle East Privacy: The US disabled advertising trackers on military devices after reports that location data was used to target forces. Energy & Trade: US-Venezuela oil deal redraws energy power as Washington seeks supply and strategic leverage. Climate & Food: FAO says global food prices rose in August to the highest since late 2022 amid heat, drought and Black Sea trade disruptions. Africa Green Transition: UNU-INRA’s Fatima Denton argues Africa must define its own green transition path, not just chase net-zero narratives. Business & Defense Industry: Malaysia’s GTA plans a defense MRO Centre of Excellence to boost R&D, training and OEM-linked capability.