Ukrainian officials said the Palau-flagged Resilient Africa vessel was carrying 3,000 tons of wheat when it left Ukraine's Chornomorsk port on Tuesday. It was destined for Israel, according to marine traffic websites, representing the first successful Black Sea voyage since Russia pulled out of a UN-backed deal to export Ukrainian...

Beijing, China - China's top diplomat Wang Yi will begin a four-day visit to Russia for security talks on Monday, his foreign ministry said, the latest in a series of high-level visits and phone calls between the two sides. China and Russia are strategic allies, with both countries frequently touting...

Istanbul, Turkey - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday accused the European Union of pulling away from Turkey, whose efforts to join the bloc have stalled amid criticism of Ankara's efforts to address democracy and rule of law concerns. Erdogan secured a pledge from Brussels to resurrect the membership talks first...

Putin first raised the idea of creating "a gas hub in Turkey for supplies to other countries" during talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Kazakh capital Astana last October. Erdogan then instructed his government to start immediate preparations for "an international distribution center" in Turkey.

New York, UN - The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres will discuss the revival of the grain deal with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as well as with presidents of Turkey and Ukraine Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Zelensky next week. The discussions will be held during personal meetings...

Geneva, Switzerland - The de-globalization of international trade is far from being a reality, but "the first signs of fragmentation" are appearing, the WTO warned on Tuesday, concerned of the effects of the phenomenon on growth and development. The idea of "de-globalization" has gained traction since the war in Ukraine and...

Annual inflation in Egypt hit 39.7 percent in August, official figures showed, an all-time high for the country as it grapples with a punishing economic crisis. It comes after an unrelenting economic crisis that has seen the currency shed half its value against the US dollar since early last year.

The African Union joined the G20, boosting Africa's voice, while a new initiative aims to connect Europe, the Middle East, and India through infrastructure.

NEW DELHI, INDIA- Indian prime minister and G20 host Narendra Modi said on Saturday the body had reached consensus on its leaders' declaration and announced its adoption. "Because of our team's hard work, and with your support, there is a consensus on the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit declaration," he...

Moscow, Russia - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin has confirmed the commencement of the implementation of the Russian grain supply initiative, which aims to deliver one million metric tons of grain to countries in need, Russian news agency TASS reported on Friday. Vershinin stated that practical steps are now...

Rice is a major world food staple and prices on international markets have soared in the wake of the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon on production levels. India announced in July a ban on exports of non-basmati white rice, which account for...

Stressing that “we are in a race against time” on issues from climate change and biodiversity loss to education and gender equality, he calls on Member States to “put money where our promises are” — supporting sustainable development with appropriate regulations, financing, capacity-building and verification.

Since pulling out of the deal, which aimed to ensure safe grain exports via the Black Sea, Russia has been keen to ally African concerns about the impact of the deal's collapse on food security. Putin said Russia was ready to return to the deal "as soon" as restrictions on...

Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Facebook that the foundation should support efforts to isolate Russia and Belarus as "millions of Ukrainians suffer from an unprovoked war and the Russian regime is not punished for its crimes". Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also said he disagreed with the...

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, the Kremlin said, amid hopes the two can restore a deal ensuring safe passage for grain shipments. Russia pulled out from the UN-backed grain agreement that Turkey helped broker in July, effectively revoking safe...

Moscow, Russia - Turkey's foreign minister said on a visit to Moscow on Thursday that reviving a deal to ship Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea was "critical" for food security. "We underlined its critical role for global food security and stability in the Black Sea," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan...

Tehran, Iran -- Iran became the eighth largest steel supplier in the world in the first half of 2023 as the country kept increasing its output despite supply and price hike in international markets caused by the Ukraine War. Figures from the World Steel Association (WSA) showed that Iran’s steel...

Johannesburg, South Africa -- Russia's special military operation pursues the goal of ending the war in Ukraine unleashed by a number of Western countries and their satellites, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of BRICS leaders. "Russia has decided to support the people who are fighting for their...

RAMALLAH, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - Two Israeli civilians were killed in a suspected shooting attack in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, the army said. "A suspected shooting attack was carried out at a number of Israeli civilians in the area of the town of Huwara," an army statement said, adding that two...

The speedy filling of storage facilities means the bloc is "in a much more stable position than it was this time last year," when Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent energy prices soaring, EU Energy commissioner, Kadri Simson, said.

Turkey’s top diplomat Hakan Fidan is planning to discuss the results of these discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Kuleba, Turkish media reported. Officials say a stalemate could lead to an escalation of food crisis and possible military tensions.

The value of the acquisition was reported to be $5.55bn.

Ankara, Turkey -- Turkey intensified talks with Ukraine, the United States, and the European Union on the grain deal in preparation for a possible meeting between Turkish and Russian Presidents Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin, TASS reported. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of...

Representatives from around 40 countries including China, Germany, India and the United States took part in last weekend's gathering in Jeddah, though Russia was not invited. "It makes sense for us to continue these talks, because they increase the pressure on Russia to realize that it has taken the wrong...

Moscow, Russia - Moscow accused Poland and Finland of threatening its security on Wednesday and vowed a response to multiplying "threats" on Russia's western frontier from NATO members. Poland, Ukraine's staunch ally and neighbor, has strengthened security on its border with Belarus after Minsk became a new base for Russian Wagner...

Ankara, Turkey--Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that the revival of a deal with Russia to allow Ukrainian grain exports, brokered by Ankara and the UN, "depends on Western countries which must keep their promises". "I think a solution can be found," Erdogan added, referring to a recent telephone...

Tehran, Iran-- In a defiant posture toward the West, Russia has declared that it will continue to enhance military cooperation with Iran, despite what it termed as enemies' opposition to the ties between the two countries. Deputy Foreign Minister of Russian Federation Sergei Alexeyevich Ryabkov said that the military cooperation...

Moscow, Russia - Russia said Monday a peace settlement with Ukraine was only possible if Kyiv put down its arms, after talks were held in Saudi Arabia over the weekend without Moscow's participation. Representatives from around 40 countries including China, India, the United States and Ukraine took part in the peace...

Tokyo, Japan - Iran's foreign minister visited Japan on Monday for the first time since 2019, in a rare trip to a G7 member country by the Islamic republic's top diplomat. The purpose of the visit by Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to the current chair of the G7 was not announced, but reports...

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia-- More than 40 representatives of countries from around the world gathered in Jeddah, pledging to continue holding consultations that could pave the way for peace in Ukraine and end the deadly war. A meeting was held in Jeddah for national security advisors and representatives from over 40...

TRENDS Infographics explores prominent Arab nations in the latest Global Soft Power Index, with the UAE leading the way by entering the top 10, a first for the Middle East.

Ankara, Turkiye - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday announced that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would visit Ankara during August, adding that the date has not yet been set. "The date is not clear, but the foreign minister, head of the intelligence organization, they are all holding talks,"...

Dubai, UAE--Oil prices soared more than a dollar a barrel on Friday to record a sixth consecutive week of gains, after top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia extended supply cuts through September, adding to undersupply concerns. Brent crude futures rose $1.10, or 1.3%, to settle at $86.24 a barrel, while...

Brussels, Belgium - Europe's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports fell to the lowest level since the start of the Russian military operations in Ukraine after a drop in prices reduced the regions appeal. LNG deliveries fell 7% in July from a year earlier to 8.6 million tons, the least since...

Despite the drop, BP hiked dividend.

The talks to be hosted in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah next weekend will discuss a path toward peace in Ukraine, convening representatives from Kyiv, Western powers and developing countries. Russia is likely to miss the meeting just as it did not participate in a similar gathering last...

Kyiv, Ukraine - Qatar has pledged $100 million for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. The funds were meant the rehabilitation of health and education infrastructure, provision of drinking water, and humanitarian services, in addition to allocating 50 scholarships, during the school year 2023-2024, to Ukrainian students in Qatari universities. The visiting...

MOSCOW, RUSSIA -  Egypt's president on Friday called on Russia and Ukraine to find "urgent solutions" to allow the resumption of Ukraine grain exports to Africa, after Moscow's withdrawal led to the collapse of a Black Sea pact. The Ukraine grain deal was agreed last year and allowed around 33 million...

Profits fell on lower refining margins, natural gas prices.

Gas prices had soared last year after Russia cut gas shipments to Europe while oil markets were also rocked by supply concerns. But natural gas prices fell sharply as European countries found new suppliers, built up reserves and experienced a mild winter.

NABLUS, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - Israeli forces have shot dead a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said on Saturday, in what the army described as a "car ramming attempt" near here. Fawzi Mukhalifa, 18, "was killed by the occupation (Israeli) bullets in the town of Sebastia" late on Friday,...

China's President Xi Jinping has pledged stronger ties with Algeria, highlighting the importance of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Algeria, Africa's largest natural gas exporter, has been seeking to join the BRICS economic group, and China has shown support for this goal.

QE is working to increase LNG production capacity by 64%.

The G20 talks come after Russia on Monday refused to extend a deal allowing critical Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, sparking outrage from the United Nations, which has warned millions of the world's poorest would "pay the price". World Bank president Ajay Banga said he feared a lack...

Putin has been threatening to pull out of the arrangement, arguing that elements of the deal allowing the export of Russian food and fertilizers have not been honored. Russia also accuses rich countries of profiting from the bulk of Ukrainian exports. But Zelensky says that "60% of the volumes" were...

The move by Moscow will "strike a blow to people in need everywhere", Guterres said. "Hundreds of millions of people face hunger and consumers are confronting a global cost-of-living crisis. They will pay the price," the UN chief said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the main objective of the deal that allowed Ukrainian grain exports to resume was not achieved, in a call with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa. The deal that eased fears of a global food crisis sparked by the offensive in Ukraine is due to...

The Black Sea grain deal was first signed in July 2022, five months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and has already been renewed two times. This time however, Putin has repeatedly threatened not to renew it because of obstacles to Russia's own exports. The deal, which Erdogan helped broker,...

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani has described the three-day trip as "a new turning point" which could bolster economic and trade ties with African nations. He also said on Monday that Tehran and the three African countries share "common political views".

German Patriot missile systems and French fighter jets were guarding the skies as NATO leaders gathered in Lithuania, on NATO's eastern flank and a land once occupied by Moscow. The Western military alliance is set to offer its full-throated backing for Kyiv's quest for victory, but its 31 nations are...