Erdogan holds phone talks with Zelensky over grain deal revival

Istanbul (IANS) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has discussed "in detail" the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative during a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

Erdogan…

WH confirms Ukraine using US cluster munitions

Washington (IANS) The White House has confirmed that Ukraine is using the controversial cluster munitions supplied by the US "effectively".

In a statement on Thursday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: "They (Ukraine)…

Russia's external debt-to-GDP ratio falls to historic low

Moscow (IANS) Russia's external debt-to-GDP ratio plummeted to a historic low of 15 per cent by the end of the first quarter, local media said on Friday.

Data from Russia's Central Bank reveal that the ratio, which stood at 16.6 per…

Israel's top court to hear petition to oust Netanyahu

Jerusalem (IANS) Israel's Supreme Court is set to hear a petition to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from office over a conflict of interest, the court announced.

The Supreme Court has scheduled September 12 for the hearing that…

Yoon, Biden, Kishida to hold summit in US on Aug 18

Seoul (IANS) South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will hold a trilateral summit with his US counterpart Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Camp David, near Washington, on August 18, sources said on Thursday.

The three leaders…

Temperatures in Iraq likely to surpass 50 degrees

Baghdad (IANS) A blistering heat wave is expected to hit Iraq in the coming weeks, with temperatures likely to surpass 50 degrees Celsius, a weather observatory said in its forecast.

"Temperatures will peak at 52 degrees Celsius in the last…

India concerned over recent Ukraine developments, indirectly criticises Russia for ending grain deal

United Nations (IANS) India has expressed concern over the “recent developments” in Ukraine in broad terms without mentioning any country while introducing an element of indirect criticism of Russia for ending a UN-sponsored arrangement to allow shipments…

10 rescued after boat catches fire in Tokyo Bay

Tokyo (IANS) The Japan Coast Guard on Wednesday said that 10 people were rescued from a burning boat in Tokyo Bay.

The Coast Guard said an emergency call was made from the vessel at around 1 p.m.  reporting that the boat's engine was on…

Russia has cluster munitions, may retaliate if Ukraine uses them: Putin

Moscow (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country has a "sufficient" stockpile of cluster munitions and will consider using them against Ukraine “if they are used against us”.

“Russia has a sufficient supply of various types of…

Russia terminates Black Sea grain deal: Kremlin

Moscow (IANS) Russia has terminated its participation in the Black Sea grain export deal as part of the agreement concerning Moscow has not been fulfilled, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Monday.

"The Black Sea agreements are no…