Explainer-What is Russia’s problem with the Black Sea grain deal?

(Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin said this month that Russia was considering withdrawing from the Black Sea grain deal as he accused the West of cheating Moscow because it still faced obstacles getting its own agricultural goods to world markets. Putin said he would discuss the future of the grain deal with visiting African leaders…

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US, Iran in talks to cool tensions with a mutual ‘understanding’

By Parisa Hafezi, John Irish and Arshad Mohammed DUBAI/PARIS (Reuters) -The United States is holding talks with Iran to sketch out steps that could limit the Iranian nuclear programme, release some detained U.S. citizens and unfreeze some Iranian assets abroad, according to Iranian and Western officials. These steps would be cast as an “understanding” rather…

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Pentagon chief urges Turkish counterpart on Sweden’s NATO entry

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he urged Turkey to allow Sweden’s entry into NATO during an introductory meeting on Friday with his new Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler during a gathering of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. “My purpose in meeting him today was an introductory meeting, just to congratulate him on being…

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Turkey’s central bank to hike policy rate to 20% in policy U-turn: Reuters poll

By Ali Kucukgocmen and Ezgi Erkoyun ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s central bank is expected to raise its policy rate by a huge 1,150 basis points next week, from 8.5% to 20%, a Reuters poll showed on Friday, in a policy U-turn after rate cuts under President Tayyip Erdogan led to a cost-of-living crisis. The central…

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Putin thanks UAE leader for Ukraine help, hails growing economic ties

By Andrew Osborn (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday thanked the president of the United Arab Emirates for his efforts in freeing prisoners of war in Ukraine and hailed what he said were expanding economic ties between Moscow and Abu Dhabi. Putin made the comments during talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin…

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Greece scours shipwreck site; hundreds feared drowned in boat’s hold

By Lefteris Papadimas and Stamos Prousalis KALAMATA, Greece (Reuters) -Rescuers scoured the seas off Greece on Thursday following a shipwreck that killed at least 78 migrants, as hopes of survivors dwindled and fears grew that hundreds more, including children, may have drowned inside the crowded vessel’s hold. Reports suggested between 400 and 750 people had…

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Exclusive-Manchester United discusses granting exclusivity to Qatari Sheikh in $6 billion-plus sale -sources

By Anirban Sen (Reuters) – English football club Manchester United is negotiating granting exclusivity to the consortium led by Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani in talks to sell itself for more than $6 billion, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. While a deal remains uncertain, the development represents a major milestone in…

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Argentine judge asks Interpol to arrest suspects in 1994 Jewish centre bombing – media

(Reuters) – A judge in Argentina sent arrest warrants to Interpol for four Lebanese men suspected of involvement in the 1994 truck bomb attack on a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people, local and international media reported on Thursday. Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas issued the warrants for the four suspects, three…

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How migrant tragedy unfolded on the high seas off Greece

By Lefteris Papadimas and Karolina Tagaris KALAMATA, Greece (Reuters) -As Greece confronts its worst sea disaster in years, questions are mounting about how potentially hundreds of migrants drowned even as their vessel was being shadowed by the Greek coastguard. At least 78 people died when the fishing vessel flipped and capsized in international waters south-west…

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