Ukraine and Russia sign deal to get vital grain shipments moving again
CBSN
United Nations — Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement Friday morning in Turkey committing to let millions of tons of vital grain supplies ship out from Ukraine's long-blockaded southern ports. Russia has blocked Ukraine's Black Sea ports since its full-scale invasion of the country on February 24, drawing accusations from the U.S. and Europe that President Vladimir Putin has weaponized food.
Russian food and fertilizer, which the Putin regime says it has been unable to ship due to sanctions against his country imposed over the Ukraine war, can also be exported as part of the deal, which was brokered and co-signed by Turkey's government and the United Nations.
Although the agreement signed Friday at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace does not to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, it's hoped it can alleviate the global food crisis by increasing supply and helping ease the spiralling costs of basic commodities around the world.
Noumea — France's president held a flurry of meetings with local representatives in the restive Pacific territory of New Caledonia on Thursday, urging calm after deadly rioting, and vowing thousands of military reinforcements will stay in place to quell what he called an "unprecedented insurrection."
Kathmandu — Nepali climber Phunjo Lama on Thursday reached Mount Everest's summit in 14 hours and 31 minutes, smashing the record for the world's fastest ascent of the mountain by a woman. Climbers usually take days to reach the top of the 29,032-foot mountain, spending nights on its different camps to rest and acclimatize.
New Delhi — Indian justice officials have changed course amid outrage over the bail terms set for a teenager accused of killing two people while driving a Porsche at high speed while drunk and without a license. The 17-year-old son of a wealthy businessman had been ordered to write a 300-word essay and work with the local traffic police for 15 days to be granted bail — a decision that was made within 15 hours of his arrest.
Zurich — A woman jogger was killed by a naked man who was screaming and attacking people in a lakeside park in Switzerland, police said Wednesday. The attack happened Tuesday evening in Mannedorf on Lake Zurich, around 12 miles southeast of Switzerland's biggest city, the Zurich cantonal police said.
Norway, Ireland and Spain said Wednesday they are recognizing a Palestinian state in a historic move that drew condemnation from Israel and jubilation from the Palestinians. Israel immediately ordered back its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland and appeared ready to do the same with its ambassador to Spain.