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☆ Black Sea grain deal extended, say parties to agreement
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Commercial vessels including vessels which are part of Black Sea grain deal wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi during a misty morning in Istanbul, Turkey, October 31, 2022. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File PhotoANKARA, March 18 (Reuters) - A deal allowing the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports that was due to expire on Saturday has been renewed, following days of talks brokered by Turkey to extend the agreement. "The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed in Istanbul on 22 July 2022, has been extended," the United Nations said in a statement, thanking the Turkish government for its diplomatic and operational support of the deal. Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said the deal had been extended for 120 days. "(The Black Sea Grain Initiative) agreement is extended for 120 days," Kubrakov wrote on Twitter.

☆ How Indonesia is using diplomacy to call for the end of Russia's war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Fcdo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Indonesia has joined the vast majority of the world's countries in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Agriculture, IT, and energy are just a few of the areas with potential for partnership between Indonesia and Ukraine. Indonesia has worked hard to build bridges in the interests of global trade and regional stability. Bilateral opportunities: Trade between Indonesia and Ukraine totaled $1.24 billion before Russia invaded Ukraine. 141 countries, including Indonesia, voted in favor of Russia's immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal from Ukraine.

☆ Growth is slowing in Indonesia and events thousands of miles away are playing a part
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Fcdo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has dented economies around the world, is contributing to growth slowing down in Indonesia. The food sector has been strongly affected by the war in Ukraine, which has disrupted wheat and fertilizer imports into Indonesia. After recording economic growth of 5.3% in 2022, the strongest for almost a decade, Indonesia is now braced for growth to slow down intensified by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. With weakening commodity and energy prices denting export earnings, Indonesia is contending with economic headwinds as fears of a global recession mount. Indonesia, one of Asia's success stories of recent years, has been less hard-hit than many emerging economies by the war in Ukraine.

☆ Tense moment as Russia's UN ambassador interrupted a minute of silence for victims of Ukraine war at Security Council
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's ambassador to the UN broke a minute of silence honoring victims of the Ukraine war. Nebenzya said the council should honor "all victims of what happened in Ukraine, starting in 2014." Video shows members standing in silence when Vasily Nebenzya requested to make a statement, and representatives sat down again to listen. Nebenzya emphasized that the council should honor "all victims of what happened in Ukraine, starting in 2014." 141 members voted in support, while seven voted against and 32 abstained, according to the Associated Press.

☆ UN to mark Russia invasion of Ukraine anniversary by urging 'just peace'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The United Nations headquarters building is pictured with a UN logo in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 1, 2022. The 193-member General Assembly is likely to vote next Thursday after two days of speeches by dozens of states to mark the Feb. 24 anniversary of the start of the war. Russia was diplomatically isolated last year, when 141 states voted on March 2 to denounce its invasion and demand Moscow withdraw its troops. The United States and western allies have called the invasion an unprovoked land grab against a sovereign nation. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said last month.

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/Summary WHO's executive board meets from Jan. 30-Feb. 7WHO seeking $6.86 bln for 2024-2025 budgetBody seen pushing for bigger role in global health crisesGENEVA, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization will push at its board meeting this week for an expanded role in tackling the next global health emergency after COVID-19, but is still seeking answers on how to fund it, according to health policy experts. Also on his list was "the position of the World Health Organization, recognizing there is a need for a reinforced central role for WHO" in the global health emergency system. "It's a huge knot," said Nicoletta Dentico, the co-chair of the civil society platform the Geneval Global Health Hub. PANDEMIC PREPARATIONThe WHO, which celebrates its 75-year anniversary having been set up in 1948, will also use the meeting to advocate for a boosted role in pandemic preparedness, documents showed. Tedros will call for a Global Health Emergency Council to be set up linked to WHO governance.

☆ Trump had to explain his 'Little Rocket Man' nickname to Kim Jong Un, Mike Pompeo says in new book
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump had to explain to Kim Jong Un that his "Little Rocket Man" nickname was an Elton John reference. Kim told him that he didn't like the "Little" part of the nickname. When Kim said no, Trump explained that the British singer's 1972 hit song "Rocket Man" inspired him to give Kim the nickname in 2017. Kim and others at the lunch laughed, and Kim said, "'Rocket man,' OK. 'Little,' not OK."During his 2016 race for the White House, Trump gave many of his opponents catchy nicknames. Trump first referred publicly to Kim as "Little Rocket Man" on Twitter in 2017 and repeated it at a UN General Assembly speech and throughout his presidency.

☆ Qatar backpedals on energy minister's comment that Europe would be able to 'forgive and forget' Russia for invading Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Qatar's energy minister said Europe would be able to "forgive and forget" Russia for the Ukraine war. And I think things get mended with time," Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, Qatar's energy minister, said during an energy forum in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, according to an official transcript. "I don't think that — this war and this situation will not last forever." "We don't accept threatening by force or the use of force, we don't accept civilians to be hurt. Qatar's energy and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

☆ Malaysia votes in general election, Anwar expected to lead tight race
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Malaysians queue to cast their vote for the country's general election at Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia November 19, 2022. Without a clear winner, political uncertainty could persist as Malaysia faces slowing economic growth and rising inflation. “I don’t think it is possible for any coalition to win on their own,” said Sivamurugan Pandian, political analyst at Malaysia Science University. Anwar was the top choice for prime minister at 33%, followed by Muhyiddin at 26% and Ismail at 17%. Sheila Supramaniam, 30, said she will vote for Anwar as his coalition stood firmly against corruption and discrimination.

☆ The US is quietly extracting concessions from Saudi Arabia after Mohammed bin Salman humiliated Biden
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Saudi Arabia has made moves to placate the US after a recent feud over oil. Diplomatic ties between the Biden White House and the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, are being tested as never before in a series of high-stakes diplomatic encounters. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Moscow in May 2017. Biden himself said there would be "consequences" for Saudi Arabia, though did not specify what they'd be. "These are mutual interests keeping the US and Saudi Arabia interested in the bilateral partnership.

☆ Ukraine's UN rep trolls Russia after UN vote it badly lost, using binoculars to spot its 4 allies among 183 nations
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Only four countries against condemning Russia's annexation of Ukrainian regions at the UN. Ukraine's UN representative mocked Russia, sharing a photo of himself at the UN with binoculars. …"Reuters reported that the photo of Kyslytsya using the binoculars was taken in the room shortly before the vote on Wednesday. 143 countries voted in support of the resolution at the at the UN General Assembly to condemn Russia's annexation and demand that it return the territory to Ukraine. Four countries joined Russia in opposing the resolution: North Korea, Belarus, Syria, and Nicaragua.

☆ Some of Russia's closest allies abstained at the UN rather than support its claim to have annexed parts of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

UN members voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to condemn Russia's annexation of Ukrainian regions. 143 nations voted in support, agreeing to condemn Russia's annexation, while 35 abstained. Experts say Russia's invasion of Ukraine has pushed them further from Russia. Russia tried to make Wednesday's vote a secret ballot, which would have obscured which nations voted with Russia. It did so after conducting referendums in the four regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia — which Ukraine and Western nations dismissed as a sham.

☆ 143 countries voted to condemn Russia's illegal Ukraine annexations in key UN vote. Here are the 5 that didn't.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia's annexations in Ukraine. Of the 193-member body, 143 countries supported Ukraine, while 35 abstained from the vote. The vote was sparked by Russia's recent annexation of partially-occupied territories in Ukraine, including the Kherson, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The 193-member body issued its most staunch support for Ukraine yet during Wednesday's vote, which saw 143 nations condemn Russia's actions and 35 countries abstain from voting. Only five countries voted against the resolution, one of which was Russia itself.

☆ UN General Assembly applauds Ukraine, shuns Russia in tense meeting just hours after deadly missile strikes
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The UN General Assembly on Monday greeted Ukraine's delegate with applause, according to CNN. The body met Russia's ambassador with silence. The special session came just hours after Russia launched a barrage of attacks across Ukraine. On Monday, The General Assembly handily vetoed Russia's attempt to conduct the annexation vote via secret ballot, according to the outlet. "A trail of blood is left behind the Russian delegation when it enters the General Assembly," he said, "and the hall is filled up with the smell of smoldering human flesh."

☆ The UN rejected Russia's push to hold a secret vote on its attempts to annex parts of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia wanted a UN vote over whether to condemn its actions in Ukraine to be a secret ballot. The UN roundly rejected that on Monday, and the vote is set to be held in public later this week. A secret vote may have made some Russian allies more likely to vote to support it, experts told Insider. Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia had argued that the vote should be a secret one. The resolution was drafted before Russia's bombardment on Monday of numerous cities and regions of Ukraine, including some that had not been attacked in months.

☆ Video: Swedish politician cuts hair in solidarity with Iranian women
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-05 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

Swedish politician Abir Al-Sahlani cut her hair to stand in solidarity with Iranian women while addressing the European Parliament. Al-Sahlani spoke with CNN's Isa Soares about the courage of Iranian women and criticized world leaders for not having the courage to speak about the protests during the UN General Assembly.

☆ Namibia can become green energy exporter, says first lady
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-30 | by ( Mark Tutton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Green hydrogen (hydrogen produced using renewable energy) is being touted as a clean alternative to fossil fuels that could power heavy industry and transport. EU officials said this summer that they hoped to strike a deal to help Namibia develop its green hydrogen sector. The southern African nation is set to open the continent’s first green hydrogen production plant in 2024, operated by French power company HDF Energy. Namibia’s first hydrogen power plant is expected to be up and running in 2024, and there’s also a potential plan in place to partner with the EU on green hydrogen. Geingos: It is clear that Namibia’s green hydrogen plans extend beyond domestic energy self-sufficiency.

☆ British PM Truss tells allies to stand firm on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Stefan Rousseau/Pool via REUTERSLONDON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Liz Truss said allies should stand firm on Ukraine and ignore Russian President Vladimir Putin's "sabre-rattling", as she seeks to mend fences with democratic powers in the face of increasing threats around the world. Truss, who met U.S. President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron on her first foreign trip as prime minister to New York last week, called on like-minded democracies to be firm against "autocratic regimes". Truss said Putin was escalating his invasion of Ukraine was because he wasn't winning and had made a strategic mistake. Truss, who became prime minister earlier this month, has taken a hard line against Russia and China. "I'm determined that we make the special relationship even more special over the coming years."

☆ Take Five: Intervention watch is here
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. Election results from Italy, euro area inflation numbers and U.S. and Chinese data also give investors plenty to chew over. Japan's authorities finally had enough of a weak yen and intervened to stem a sharp decline against the dollar. Investors have already ramped up expectations for another 75 bps, ECB rate hike in October, so the data shouldn't change the near-term rate outlook. How a new government navigates an energy crunch that is pushing highly-indebted Italy into recession will also be under scrutiny.

☆ Former NATO commander says he's not losing 'a lot of sleep' over Putin's nuclear threats as the Russian leader ups the ante in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A former NATO commander said he's not losing "a lot of sleep" over Putin's nuclear threats. "I don't see Putin deciding to use a nuclear weapon," Stavridis said. The US has for months privately warned Russia there would be serious consequences if it employs a nuclear weapon, according to a Washington Post report. But Stavridis said he's not losing "a lot of sleep" over Putin's nuclear rhetoric. And in reference to Putin's nuclear threat, Daalder asserted that "anyone who finds it necessary to say that he's not bluffing most likely is."

☆ CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour declined to wear a head scarf in front of Iran's president, walking away from the interview amid ongoing hijab protests over the death of Mahsa Amini
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

CNN's Christiane Amanpour walked away from a long-anticipated interview with Iran's president. The anchor "politely declined" to wear a head scarf since the interview took place on US soil. Her decision follows a history of women journalists declining to wear the clothing for interviews. On Twitter, Amanpour said that Raisi was late to the interview in New York and received a last-minute request to wear a head scarf from one of the president's aides. Amanpour's case is not the first time a reporter declined to wear clothing that is compulsory for women in Iran.

☆ Zelenskyy urged UN officials to ask Russian representatives why their military is 'so obsessive with castration' after sharing what was found in Izium
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a speech on Wednesday at the UN General Assembly. "Ask, please, the representatives of Russia, why the Russian military are so obsessive with castration," the Ukrainian president said in an impassioned speech delivered at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. There is a man who was castrated before the murder, and this is not the first case," he said, later questioning why Russian soldiers continue to castrate people. This was not the first time a Ukraine official reported violent acts committed by Russian soldiers against civilians. Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Ukrainian Luhansk province, suggested that the skill belonged to a Ukrainian prisoner and was placed on a stick by Russian soldiers.

☆ Biden and UK's Truss agree on continued support for Ukraine -Truss's office
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

British Prime Minister Liz Truss and U.S. President Joe Biden hold a bilateral meeting as they attend the 77th U.N. General Assembly, in New York, U.S., September 21, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville/PoolRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterLONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Liz Truss and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions highlight the need for allies to continue their economic and military support to Ukraine, Truss's office said. read more"The leaders condemned Putin’s recent belligerent statements on Ukraine," a spokesperson for Truss, who took office just over two weeks ago, said following the pair's first in-person meeting. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"They agreed his actions highlight the need for allies to continue their economic and military support to Ukraine." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Kylie MacLellan Editing by Chris Reese and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Biden rips into Putin for escalating Russia's 'outrageous' Ukraine war in a blistering speech at the UN
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Biden ripped into Putin during a scathing speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. The US leader said Putin is escalating Russia's "outrageous" war in Ukraine with new announcements. Putin said earlier in the day that Russia would partially mobilize and threatened to use nukes. Putin claims he had to act because Russia was threatened, but no one threatened Russia and no one other than Russia sought conflict." Just before he invaded, Putin asserted, and I quote, 'Ukraine was created by Russia' and never had 'real statehood.'"

☆ UK to set out financial regulation reforms on Friday - Truss
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toby Melville/PoolLONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Liz Truss said her government will on Friday set out sweeping reforms to the financial service industry to unleash growth and boost investment. Truss said on Tuesday that saying not everything her government does will be "popular", but her priority is reviving the economy. The government also wants to rip up Solvency II rules that, insurers say, inhibit their ability to investing billions of pounds a year into long-term infrastructure projects. The Financial Services and Markets bill, which was introduced to parliament just before the summer recess, provides a mechanism for Solvency II to be replaced. Talk of a drive to eliminate unnecessary regulation has been promised by successive governments, but progress has been slow.

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