Russian drones in Poland put NATO to the test
The intrusion of Russian drones into Poland -- whether deliberate, as Ukraine's European allies contend, or accidental -- is a test of NATO's readiness and resolve, experts say.
UN urges EU against fossil fuels in energy crisis
The UN urged EU countries on Monday to continue battling climate change and not resort to more fossil fuels in their response to soaring energy prices and fears of winter shortages. Russia has reduced supplies of gas to Europe since its invasion of Ukraine, sending prices for the fuel soaring.Sympathy, solidarity as US marks 21st anniversary of 9/11
Relatives of victims, police officers, firefighters and city leaders gathered at the National September 11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan, where the names of those who died were read aloud -- as they have been every year since the deadliest single attack on US soil.Ukraine rebuilding to cost US$350bn: report
It will cost some $350 billion to rebuild Ukraine from the devastation caused by the Russian invasion, according to a report. The figure, which totals 1.5 times the size of the Ukrainian economy, is considered a minimum and is expected to grow in the coming months as the war rages...Putin wants talks with Erdogan over Ukraine grain
The Kremlin said that President Vladimir Putin will discuss with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a deal allowing grain exports from Ukraine that Russia has criticized. The agreement between Russia and Ukraine, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, designated three ports for Kyiv to send grain supplies through a...Germany’s third-largest gas importer seeks government aid
German gas company VNG on Friday became the latest European energy firm to seek government aid as reduced Russian pipeline flows pushed up energy prices and put its business under stress. VNG, Germany's third-largest gas importer and storage operator, asked for support to "avert further losses" and allow the group's...IAEA calls for security zone at Ukraine’s nuclear plant
The International Atomic Energy Agency called Tuesday for the establishment of a security zone around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, occupied by Russia and the site of recent shelling. "The current situation is untenable," the UN atomic watchdog said in a report after it sent a team to the plant...Stocks push higher, but yen and euro under pressure
European and US stocks rose Tuesday, but gains were capped by economic slowdown fears and central bank efforts to contain surging inflation. Frankfurt, London and Paris equities carved out gains despite poor German data, a day after tumultuous trading as Russia curbed gas supplies to Europe.Despite sanctions, Russia energy exports vault to US$158bn
In spite of the Western sanctions, Russia has raked in some $158 billion in energy exports in the six months since the war, with the EU accounting for more than half. Natural gas prices have jumped to record levels in Europe as Russia cut off supplies.Russia sanctions not working, says Italy far-right leader
The leader of Italy's far-right League party, Matteo Salvini, has sparked debate by saying that the unprecedented sanctions the West had imposed on Russia over the Ukraine invasion weren't working. "Several months have passed and people are paying two, three, even four times more for their bills," he told Rtl...‘Turkey can mediate Ukraine nuclear plant standoff’
Turkey can mediate in a standoff over Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, occupied by Moscow's troops, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday. "President Erdogan said Turkey can play a facilitator role in the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as they did in the grain deal," the...West, Russia trade pressure on energy as Ukraine goes on attack
The Group of Seven major industrial democracies vowed to move urgently to set a price cap on Russian oil imports, a crucial source of revenue for Moscow and its war in Ukraine. "Russia is benefitting economically from the uncertainty on energy markets caused by the war and is making big...Eurozone inflation hits new record 9.1 percent on soaring energy prices
Driven by soaring energy prices caused by Russia's invasion in Ukraine, the yearly inflation rate in the 19-country single currency area reached 9.1 percent, its highest since records began, according to Eurostat. Consumer prices had accelerated to 8.9 percent in July.Moscow warns EU against restricting Russian tourists
The Kremlin on Tuesday warned it would respond if the European Union makes it harder for Russians to travel to the bloc as part of measures in support of Ukraine. The idea to ban Russian tourists from Europe has divided EU nations, with some in full support and others against...What can Europe do to fight soaring power bills?
European leaders want to break the link between soaring gas prices and electricity bills, a wholesale reform of the EU energy market made urgent by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This continent-wide shake up of 27 EU economies with different energy needs and sources will be a long and politically-fraught process.EU plans emergency action to halt energy price rise
High gas prices have been followed by disruptions in the nuclear and hydroelectric sectors amid a heatwave blamed on climate change -- threatening businesses and households with massive bills. Energy ministers from EU member states will hold urgent talks in Brussels on September 9.EU ministers to look at appeal to ban Russian tourists
Encouraged by Ukraine to ban all Russian tourists from visiting Europe, EU foreign ministers will study the idea in a two-day meeting beginning Tuesday in Prague. Although many have resisted the suggestion fearing it would prevent Russian dissidents from getting out, many have wholeheartedly agreed with it.Obstacles hit Germany’s efforts to restart coal plants
A year after the last wisps of smoke disappeared into the skies from the imposing chimneys of the Moorburg coal plant, hopes had grown that the mothballed site would see new life as Germany scrambles to secure energy supplies. Russia's curtailing of gas exports to Germany in the wake of...Egypt curtails domestic use of energy to boost forex
An economic crisis spurred by the Ukraine war is casting darkness upon Egypt's streets, as the government dims lights to free up energy for export and bolster hard currency reserves.Putin allows Ukrainians to live, work in Russia ‘indefinitely’
The new measure allow Ukrainian citizens and people from Ukraine's separatist eastern regions that Russia recognizes as independent to work in Russia without a work permit and to live in the country "without a time limit".Risk of radioactive leak at Ukraine nuclear plant, says operator
There is a risk of a radioactive leak at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, occupied by Russian troops, the state energy operator said Saturday. Enervator said Moscow's troops had "shelled" the site of the plant in Ukraine over the past day. Kyiv and Moscow have traded accusations over shelling in...Energy crisis pushes nuclear comeback worldwide
Investment in nuclear power declined after Japan's 2011 Fukushima disaster, the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986, as fears over its safety increased and governments ran scared. But following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February, the subsequent squeeze on energy supplies and Europe's push to wean itself off...Turkey plays down US sanctions threat over Russia ties
Turkey's finance minister told businesses on Friday they should not be concerned by the threat of sanctions that Washington warns will follow if they do business with sanctioned Russians. Nureddin Nebati's Twitter comments represent Ankara's first official response to a letter the US Treasury sent to Turkish businesses on Monday.Outgoing UN rights chief urges Putin to stop attack on Ukraine
Bachelet, who steps down at the end of the month, marked the six months since the February 24 Russian invasion by insisting on accountability for serious rights violations in the conflict, some of which may amount to war crimes, she said. Her office has so far documented 5,587 civilians killed...IAEA, Moscow discuss Russia-controlled Ukraine nuclear plant visit
Head of the UN agency Rafael Grossi and Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev met in Istanbul on Wednesday, the Russian nuclear energy agency said in a statement.US treasury warns of sanctions against Turkey for trading with Russia
Washington is growing increasingly alarmed that the Russian government and businesses are using Turkey to evade Western financial and trading restrictions imposed in response to the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine six months ago. Turkey's imports of Russian oil are ballooning.Help developing nations purchase Ukrainian grain: Guterres to rich nations
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for wealthier countries to help developing nations purchase Ukrainian grain as supplies begin returning to global markets,. Ships carrying grain have been leaving there under a recent UN-brokered agreement, and Guterres said Odesa was a symbol of what countries can achieve when they work...Russian agricultural products embargo to cause food crisis, says UN
Russian fertilizers and agricultural products must be able to reach world markets "unimpeded" or a global food crisis could strike as early as next year, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Saturday. "It is important that all governments and the private sector cooperate to bring them to market," he said...Two more grain ships leave Ukraine, says Turkey
Two more ships carrying grain have left Ukraine's Chornomorsk port, Turkey's Defense Ministry said on Saturday, bringing the number of vessels to leave Ukraine's Black Sea ports under a UN-brokered deal to 27. The joint coordination center said Zumrut Ana and MV Ocean S were loaded with sunflower oil and...S&P upgrades Ukraine’s credit score of foreign debt
S&P Global Ratings said that boosting the country's credit score of foreign debt to CCC+ "reflects strong committed international financial support to Ukraine."Putin, Macron call for IAEA inspection of Ukraine nuclear plant
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron called for independent inspections at the Moscow-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the Kremlin said Friday. Putin said "the systematic shelling by the Ukrainian military of the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant creates the danger of a large-scale catastrophe that...Erdogan supports Ukraine, warns of ‘another Chernobyl’
The Turkish leader met his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Lviv just two weeks after flying to Sochi for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during which the two sides pledged to boost economic cooperation.Spain PM hopes Europe gas pipeline will soon be ready
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Tuesday he hopes a gas pipeline linking the Iberian Peninsula to central Europe through France could soon become a reality. Europe is currently undergoing an energy crisis as it struggles to rapidly reduce its dependence on Russian gas following the invasion of Ukraine.UN ship with grain for Africa sails from Ukraine: ministry
The UN brokered agreement lifted a Russian blockade of Ukraine's ports and established safe corridors through the naval mines laid by Kyiv.Russian President pitches ‘combat-tested’ weapons to allies
While the Ukraine war rages on, Russian President Vladimir Putin has pitched weapons to allies around the world, lauding them for ‘reliability, efficiency’ and having been tested on the field of battle in ‘real combat operations more than once.’OPEC sees demand for oil tanking this year
OPEC warns that the demand growth for 2023 will slow further to 2.7 million bpd, leaving its forecast unchanged from last month.Oil demand up as surging gas prices force countries to switch fuels: IEA
Global oil demand will rise more than previously forecast this year as heatwaves and soaring gas prices are prompting countries to switch fuels for power generation, the International Energy Agency said Thursday. Oil prices have dropped by $30 per barrel from a peak in June due to growing supplies and...Macroeconomic issues may hit logistics across GCC
The Covid-19 pandemic, regional lockdowns, and Ukraine war have been disrupting trading lane in air and maritime freight, affecting the global supply chain, say experts.Major fall in global food prices in July, says FAO
Food prices dropped significantly in July, marking the fourth consecutive monthly decline since record highs earlier this year in the wake of the situation in Ukraine, the Food and Agricultural Organization said. FAO published its latest Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in global prices of cereals, vegetable oils,...Syrian ship accused of carrying stolen Ukranian grain leaves Lebanon
The Laodicea, which was docked in the northern port of Tripoli, was cleared to leave after investigations failed to prove it carried stolen goods, officials said. It set sail at 8:00 am (0500 GMT), according to Lebanese state media, and was later reported by authorities in Damascus to have arrived...Russia to launch Iran satellite into orbit next week
News of the launch follows Putin's visit to Iran on July 19, when he met President Ebrahim Raisi and Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.First wheat shipment leaves Ukraine as war heats up
The first shipment of Ukrainian grain left the port of Odessa on Monday morning, Turkey announced, as Kyiv said the "brutal" shelling by Moscow of the southern city Mykolaiv had killed an agriculture tycoon.First grain cargo ship could leave Ukraine port Monday, says Turkey
A spokesman for the Turkish presidency said there was a "high probability" that a first ship carrying Ukrainian grain could leave Ukraine's port of Odessa on Monday. That is despite Russian missiles hitting the city in the wake of the July 22 agreement on shipping grain between Russia, Turkey, the...Saudi Arabia GDP climbs nearly 12% in Q2 on oil price hike
Saudi Arabia's year-on-year economic growth in the second quarter was 11.8 percent compared to the same period last year, according to initial "flash" estimates published by the General Authority for Statistics. The Middle East's largest economy has benefited from a spike in oil prices and has resisted appeals from Western...Lebanon seizes Syrian ship with ‘illegal’ Ukrainian grain
A Lebanese prosecutor ordered the seizure Saturday of a Syrian-flagged ship that docked at a northern port with a cargo of Ukrainian grain Kyiv's embassy in Beirut said was "illegal".Blinken and Lavrov hold ‘frank’ first talks since start of war
The top diplomats of the United States and Russia spoke Friday for the first time since the Ukraine war, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken describing a "frank" exchange as he pushed to free two Americans. Blinken initiated the call with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whom he had shunned a...Islamic Development Bank approves $10.54bn food security package
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group has agreed on a $10.54 billion package for the Comprehensive Food Security Response Program (FSRP) that will support member countries in addressing the ongoing food crisis and increase the group's ongoing efforts to contribute to strengthening its members' resilience to future food security problems....UAE lauds Turkiye’s role in Russia-Ukraine grain exports pact
The UAE foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a phone call to his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu described the agreement as a ''key step.''Dubai most expensive city in Arab world
Mercer’s 2022 Cost of Living City Ranking ranks the emirate the 31st most expensive city in the world.UAE applauds grain export deal between Russia and Ukraine
The UAE has welcomed the agreement reached between Russia and Ukraine on the export of grain, and has applauded the role of Turkey and the United Nations in helping the two countries to sign the Black Sea Grain Export deal.African Union lauds Russia for allowing Kyiv to resume grain export
Ukraine and Russia and two of the world's largest grain producers.



















































