Russia suspended the agreement after Ukraine’s assault on ships that were ensuring the safety of sea routes
Wheat futures soared nearly 8% on Monday after Russia withdrew from a grain export deal with Ukraine following an attack on ships involved in securing the trade route through the Black Sea.
Chicago wheat futures rose 5.5% to $8.75 per bushel on Monday after hitting a high of $8.93 at the start of trade. Corn increased by 2.2% a bushel, while soybeans added 1% to $14.13.
The grain deal, brokered by the UN and Türkiye, was agreed between Russia and Ukraine in July. It was aimed at unlocking agricultural exports via the Black Sea from Russia and Ukraine, which were halted due to the military conflict between the two states.
On Saturday, Moscow halted its compliance with the deal after a drone attack on vessels of the Russian Black Sea Fleet involved in providing safe passage for agricultural cargo. Kiev neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the assault, calling Russia’s decision “primitive blackmail.”
On Monday, the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul said the UN, Türkiye and Ukraine had agreed on a movement plan for 16 vessels that are located in Türkiye's territorial waters despite Russia’s decision to suspend the deal.
A rally against ‘megabasins’ in western France turned violent, with dozens of injured on both sides
Thousands of French activists marched against the deployment of giant water reservoirs for agricultural use in the western part of the country on Saturday despite an official ban, resulting in clashes with police and dozens of injuries.
According to activist group Bassines Non Merci, more than 7,000 people gathered to protest against the building of water ‘megabasins’ in the village of Sainte-Soline in the Deux-Sevres department, before some of them managed to break onto the construction site.
By doing so, they defied a ban imposed by the department’s prefect Emmanuelle Dubee on Friday, who said around 1,500 police officers would do their best to stop the protesters. In an attempt to justify the move, she said such demonstrations had proven violent in the past, adding that activists could “attack the police” and “degrade part of the agricultural facilities that were on their way.”
As a result, clashes between activists and law enforcers ensued. According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, 61 officers were injured, 22 of them seriously. “This figure shows that it was not a peaceful demonstration, but a very violent rally,” he said.
Meanwhile, protesters reported that around 30 had been injured by projectiles fired by police.
The water reserve is a part of the project organized by French farmers to significantly reduce mains water usage in summer. However, opponents have described the project as a “water grab” by the “agro industry.”
They also argued that it could deprive local communities of access to water, a concern that gained more urgency after France went through an unprecedented drought this summer. At the time, dozens of municipalities were left without drinking water while the nation’s authorities introduced restrictions on consumption.
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October 30, 2022 at 01:04AM
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Riyadh could also be excluded from drills and regional conferences over its reluctance to increase oil output, sources claim
The Biden administration is considering rolling back military aid to Saudi Arabia as punishment for the decision by OPEC, which is de-facto led by Riyadh, to reduce oil production, US officials have told the news network NBC.
The measures could include a freeze on the delivery of Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia, the broadcaster reported on Saturday. The $3 billion deal, under which Riyadh would have received 300 Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical Ballistic Missiles (GEM-T), was approved by Washington in August. It is seen as crucial for the Saudis to resupply missiles for their Patriot launchers, as the country is being targeted by frequent missile and drone attack from Houthi rebels in Yemen, in response to a long-running bombing campaign by Riyadh.
Another option on the agenda is excluding the kingdom from upcoming military drills and regional conferences, including those dedicated to attempts by the US and its allies to create a joint air defense system in the region, the sources said.
However, two US officials and another informed source pointed out that no decision has yet been made in Washington. Much will depend on the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) summit in December, they said, adding that if the meeting leads to an increase in production, the Saudis could avoid US retaliation altogether.
According to NBC, some military leaders in the US are against reducing defense cooperation with Riyadh. They argue that leaving Saudi Arabia, which has been Washington’s key ally in the Gulf for decades, without Patriot missiles and other American equipment, could jeopardize US troops and civilians in the country and undermine the stability of the whole region. Commanders have already shared those concerns with the Biden administration, the sources said.
The US has been urging the Saudis to increase oil production for months, saying lower prices would hurt Russia and make it harder for Moscow to bankroll its military operation in Ukraine. However, the OPEC+ group, which includes Russia, outraged Washington earlier this month by announcing an oil production cut of two million barrels a day starting in November.
There will be “consequences” for Saudi Arabia because of the move, US President Joe Biden warned. When asked by CNN whether it was time for Washington to re-evaluate its relationship with Riyadh, Biden responded: “yes.”
To avert disaster, Vitaly Klitschko urges the West to urgently send in blankets and warm clothing
Many Ukrainians could “freeze to death” in the coming months due to Russian airstrikes on the nation’s energy infrastructure, unless the West helps them to cope with the looming crisis, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko told UK media on Friday.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champion, acknowledged that Ukraine will face huge challenges. “We are doing everything we can do to save the lives of our people and to protect them,” the mayor told the outlet.
The official said his team has managed to procure a number of power generators while preparing 1,000 mobile heating points in Kiev in anticipation for what he called the “worst-case scenario.”
Klitschko signaled that Ukraine urgently needs not only Western weapons and air defense systems, but also blankets, winter clothes and generators.
“It’s a critical time for this kind of support,” he stressed.
Citing “the risk of a humanitarian issue,” he also urged Ukrainians who have fled the country to stay away this winter if they can. “But our main goal is to bring our people back, the biggest value of Ukraine is our citizens and our people,” he added.
The mayor’s comments echo earlier remarks made by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk. This week, she called on Ukrainians who left after the start of Russia’s military offensive not to return home before spring, due to Moscow’s strikes on energy infrastructure.
Meanwhile Yuri Vitrenko, the head of the state-owned energy giant Naftogaz, has warned fellow citizens that Ukraine is facing its harshest ever winter, while claiming that Russian airstrikes have destroyed “about 40% of the power generation plants”.
Ukraine has been experiencing regular blackouts since Moscow launched massive strikes against its energy facilities, including power stations on October 10, after it accused Kiev of terrorist attacks on Russian infrastructure, including the strategic Crimean Bridge.
In an attempt to avert a humanitarian disaster, the EU last week announced a new emergency shelter and winterized facilities program for Ukraine, vowing to provide additional €175 million ($174 million) in humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable parts of the population in Ukraine and neighboring Moldova.
Earlier this month the US, Ukraine’s largest international backer, pledged to support Kiev with emergency assistance to the tune of $55 million. The package includes investment in heating infrastructure, procurement of generators and other means of keeping Ukrainians warm.
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October 29, 2022 at 12:09AM
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We've heard from people who are child-free by choice and from people who always planned on having kids, but it's time to talk about people who had kids when they weren't planning on it.
The NFL icon confirmed he is splitting with Brazilian supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen
NFL icon Tom Brady and supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen have announced they are divorcing after 13 years of marriage, following months of speculation about their relationship.
Brady, 45, confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Friday in which he said the pair had “arrived at this decision to end our marriage after much consideration.”
“In recent days, my wife and I finalized our divorce from one another after 13 years of marriage. We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together,” wrote the seven-time Super Bowl winner.
“We are blessed with beautiful and wonderful children who will continue to be the center of our world in every way. We will continue to work together as parents to always ensure they receive the love and attention they deserve.”
Brady said the decision to divorce was “painful and difficult,” but that he and Bundchen “wish only the best for each other as we pursue whatever new chapters in our lives that are yet to be written.”
Bundchen, 42, issued a statement in which she said the pair had “grown apart.”
“While it is, of course, difficult to go through something like this, I feel blessed for the time we spent together and only wish the best for Tom always,” added the fashion model.
The Brazilian-born model is said to have filed divorce papers in Florida on Friday morning, with Brady not contesting the decision.
The documents list the marriage as being “irretrievably broken,” according to US outlet TMZ.
Brady and Bundchen have two children together, 12-year-old son Benjamin and daughter Vivian, 9, while Brady also has a son Jack, 15, from a previous relationship with actress Bridget Moynahan.
A settlement on property and child custody is said to have been reached but will not be publicly disclosed.
The state of Brady and Bundchen’s marriage has been the source of intense speculation in the US media and beyond in recent months.
Brady reversed a decision to retire earlier this year, opting to return to the NFL for a 23rd season in a move which appeared to be supported – at least publicly – by his wife.
But the veteran quarterback took an 11-day break from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ camp ahead of the season for what were described as “personal” reasons.
That fueled rumors that all was not well in his private life with Bundchen, who is one of the world’s most successful glamor models.
The NFL season has started in mixed fashion for Brady and the Bucs, who have lost three straight games and hold a 3-5 record, putting them second in the NFC South standings.
Brady has cut a frustrated figure at times, being seen demolishing tablets and remonstrating with teammates on the sidelines.
Brady and the Bucs will hope to reverse their slump and recapture some of the form which led them to the Super Bowl title in 2021.
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October 28, 2022 at 11:38PM
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Russian officials have faced calls to make information public regarding the figure skater
Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) president Veronika Loginova has reiterated that the organization is under no obligation to disclose the details of the investigation into figure skater Kamila Valieva.
RUSADA has faced calls in recent days from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, to make information publicly available regarding Valieva’s case.
The figure skater, then aged 15, was at the center of a scandal at the Beijing Winter Olympics in February when it emerged that she had tested positive for banned heart drug trimetazidine, based on a sample taken around six weeks prior to the Games.
RUSADA has been tasked with investigating the circumstances of the positive test, and Loginova said last month that the case would move to a disciplinary anti-doping committee (DAC) hearing, likely to be held in October.
The organization stressed last week, however, that it intended to keep details of the case private, citing Valieva’s status as a “protected person” due to her age.
Following outside pressure, Loginova doubled down on that position in a press release on Thursday.
“The process of processing the results in this case, as well as in all cases that are under the jurisdiction of RUSADA, is carried out in strict compliance with Russian and international anti-doping standards. There were no violations of the established procedures,” read a statement shared by RIA Novosti.
“Due to the dissemination of false information in the press and a large number of requests media for comment, on October 21, RUSADA issued an official statement that it did not intend to voice details on this case and answer questions about the hearing.
“In accordance with the standards, the process was supposed to be confidential from the very beginning. The decision to publicly disclose the data on the case after the final decision is made remains with RUSADA,” added Loginova.
WADA president Witold Banka issued a social media warning on Thursday, stating that the organization would take up Valieva’s case with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland “unless the matter is resolved promptly.”
Valieva had already helped the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to win gold in the figure skating team event in Beijing before her positive test was reported. She was cleared by an emergency CAS panel to compete in the individual event, but finished a disappointing fourth despite being the strong favorite for gold.
Valieva’s team, which includes hugely successful coach Eteri Tutberidze, have denied any wrongdoing. It was suggested at their CAS hearing in February that the positive sample – which was taken at the Russian championships at the end of December – may have come from contamination with heart medication her grandfather was taking.
Russian officials have also stated that Valieva passed numerous other doping tests, while questions have been asked regarding the length of time it took the WADA-accredited laboratory in Stockholm to report her positive sample.
Valieva and her compatriots are currently banned from tournaments organized by the International Skating Union (ISU) because of the conflict in Ukraine, although they are competing at a series of alternative Grand Prix competitions in their homeland.
Online intelligence group Bellingcat claims it has made progress identifying who is firing missiles at Ukraine. It could prove vital for some war crimes cases.
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October 28, 2022 at 12:04AM
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