- Crude stable after Israel-Iran surge, Hong Kong stocks resume gains
- Hera spacecraft to probe asteroid deflected by defence test
- US dockworkers to head back to work after tentative deal
- After Helene's destruction, North Carolina starts to rebuild
- Dockers end three-day strike at Montreal port
- What next for OpenAI after $157 billion bonanza?
- Israel-Hamas war causes 86-percent dive in Gaza GDP: IMF
- Milan's Morata moves house after Inter-fan town mayor 'violates' privacy
- 'Devastating' storm hits Augusta National but Masters will go on
- Relief in Brazil, Asia over delay to EU deforestation rules
- Oil prices jump, stocks fall on Middle East tensions
- Biden says 'discussing' possible Israeli strikes on Iran oil facilities
- Oil prices rise, stocks fall on Middle East tensions
- Oil rallies, stocks mostly retreat on Middle East tensions
- Phasing out teen smoking could save 1.2 mn lives: study
- 'Welcome relief': Asia producers hail EU deforestation law delay
- Japan PM slated to announce plans for 'happiness index'
- Turkish inflation falls less than expected in September at 49.4%
- Easing inflation lifts profit at UK supermarket Tesco
- Skiing calls on UN climate science to combat melting future
- China wine industry looks to breed climate resilience
- Tokyo rallies on weak yen, Hong Kong drops after surge
- Dutch airline KLM unveils 'firm' cost-cutting measures
- Carpe diem: the Costa Rican women turning fish into fashion
- Senegal looks to aquaculture as fish stocks dwindle
- Will AI one day win a Nobel Prize?
- Climate change, economics muddy West's drive to curb Chinese EVs
- Argentina's Milei vetoes university budget after huge protests
- TotalEnergies plans to grow oil and gas production until 2030
- 2024 Nobels offer glimmer of hope as global crises mount
- Tokyo rallies on weak yen, Hong Kong reverses after surge
- Tunisia readies for vote as incumbent Saied eyes victory
- High childcare costs in US weigh on women's employment
- US voters seek help with crushing childcare costs
- Taiwan shuts down for second day as Typhoon Krathon to land
- Supercharged storms: how climate change amplifies cyclones
- Biden official urges talks as US port strike enters second day
- Huge protests in Argentina over public university cuts
- Rally in oil prices loses steam on mixed day for global stocks
- South America treated to rare 'ring of fire' eclipse
- Biden official says port strike deal not as far as parties think
- Mexico's new president offers apology for 1968 student massacre
- Historic funding round values OpenAI at $157 billion
- Mixed US car sales in Q3 as industry hopes for post-election bounce
- Thunderstorms are a 'boiling pot' of gamma rays, scientists find
- Scientists unlock secret of 'Girl With Pearl Earring'
- Dolphins flash friendly grins when they're ready to play
- Facing backlash, EU moves to delay deforestation rules
- US private sector adds more jobs than expected in September: ADP
- Boys out of critical condition after Zurich stabbings
NGG | -2.7% | 66.97 | $ | |
AZN | -2.12% | 77.93 | $ | |
SCS | -1.98% | 12.62 | $ | |
BP | 0.28% | 32.46 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.16% | 24.74 | $ | |
RIO | -1.42% | 69.83 | $ | |
BCC | -0.9% | 138.29 | $ | |
GSK | -2.81% | 38.37 | $ | |
RYCEF | 1.15% | 6.98 | $ | |
RBGPF | 100% | 58.93 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.16% | 24.89 | $ | |
BTI | -2.45% | 35.11 | $ | |
BCE | -1.77% | 33.84 | $ | |
JRI | -0.6% | 13.3 | $ | |
VOD | -0.52% | 9.69 | $ | |
RELX | -1.46% | 46.61 | $ |
UN chief due in Turkey for Ukraine grain talks
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was due to arrive in Turkey on Thursday to help Russia and Ukraine agree on an elusive deal to allow grain to start flowing across the Black Sea.
Up to 25 million tonnes of wheat and other grain have been blocked in Ukrainian ports by Russian warships and landmines Kyiv has laid to avert a feared amphibious assault.
The crisis has sent global food prices soaring and pushed millions of people in the world's poorest countries to the edge of starvation.
A UN spokesman refused to say whether a final agreement would be signed during talks with the warring sides' delegations in Istanbul on Friday.
Guterres was attending "as part of his efforts to ensure full global access to Ukraine’s food products and Russian food and fertiliser," UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters in New York.
NTV television said Guterres could meet on Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan'
- Russian demands -
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had earlier on Thursday said he was "optimistic" that last-minute conditions put on a deal by Russia could be overcome.
"We have hope for grain," Cavusoglu said in a televised interview. "We hope to give good news in the coming days."
The first direct talks between the warring sides' military delegations since March -- attended in Istanbul last week by Turkish and UN officials -- came up with an initial draft for resolving the impasse.
The sides were meant to have met again this week for the possible signature of a formal agreement.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to derail the talks by warning on Tuesday that he expected any agreement to also address his own country's blocked grain exports.
The five-month war is being fought across one of Europe's most fertile regions by two of the world's biggest producers of grain.
Almost all of the grain is usually shipped out of the region across the Black Sea.
Cavusoglu acknowledged Putin's concerns.
"When we resolve this issue, not only will the export path for grain and sunflower oil from Ukraine be opened, but also for products from Russia," he said.
"Even if these Russian products are not affected by sanctions, there are blockages concerning maritime transport, insurance and the banking system," he said.
"The United States and the EU have given promises to lift these," he said. "I am optimistic."
- Three ports -
NATO member Turkey has enjoyed good working relations with both Moscow and Kyiv throughout the conflict.
A member of Kyiv's delegation for the negotiations said the shipments could resume from three ports under full Ukrainian control.
"Exports would take place through three ports: Odessa, Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk. But in the future we hope we could expand them," Ukrainian lawmaker Rustem Umerov told reporters.
He added that the safety of the shipments would be overseen by a UN monitoring group based in Istanbul.
Umerov also said that Russian ships should not be allowed into Ukrainian waters as part of the anticipated agreement.
"We do not trust them, even if they sign an agreement with the UN. This is an aggressor country," he said.
burs/zak/pvh
A.Levy--CPN