Russia syria putin

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Russia on August 5 for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin focusing on a grain deal brokered by Turkey and the U.N., prospects for talks on ending hostilities in Ukraine , the situation in Syria and growing economic ties between Moscow and Ankara. Speaking at the start of the meeting at Mr. Putin’s Black Sea residence in Sochi, Mr. Erdogan said their negotiations would help “put forward the role that Turkey and Russia play in the region.” He cast the talks as pivotal, saying they were being watched closely by the rest of the world. “Today, of, course, the world’s eye is on Sochi,” Mr. Erdogan said. “They are following it, wondering what is being discussed and done in Sochi.” Last month, Turkey and the United Nations helped broker agreements between Russia and Ukraine to clear the way for Ukraine to export 22 million tons of agricultural products stuck in its Black Sea ports since Moscow sent troops into the country more … [Read more...] about Ukraine, Syria expected to top Erdogan-Putin talks in Russia

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 15 WASHINGTON (AP) — Samantha Power won fame as a human rights advocate and was picked by President Joe Biden to lead the agency that distributes billions of dollars in U.S. aid abroad, including providing more food assistance than anyone else in the world. But since Russia invaded Ukraine, that job includes a new task with a Cold War feel — countering Russia's messaging abroad. As administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Power is dealing now with a global food crisis, brought on by local conflicts, the pandemic's economic upheaval, and drought and the other extremes typical of climate change. As the Biden administration spells out often, the problems have all been compounded by Russia invading Ukraine, deepening food shortages and raising prices everywhere. That set up an hearts-and-minds … [Read more...] about The AP Interview: Samantha Power vs. food crisis, Russia

Fellow athletes and fans are responding to Thursday's decision by a Russian court to sentence WNBA all-star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison , many renewing their pleas for President Joe Biden to do everything he can to bring the Houston native home. At the end of her month-long trial Thursday, the Olympic Gold medalist was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling for allegedly carrying cannabis oil in her luggage while at an airport in Moscow earlier this year. Griner appeared to react to the sentencing with very little emotion, listening to the verdict with a blank stare on her face. However, shortly after the decision came down, fellow athletes and fans took to Twitter to speak out in support of the Phoenix Mercury player. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a joint statement Thursday, calling the verdict "unjustified and unfortunate," although they said it was not unexpected. "Brittney Griner remains wrongly … [Read more...] about Sports world, fans react to Brittney Griner’s 9-year prison sentence in Russia

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 12 PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined the foreign ministers of Russia and China at a meeting Friday with top diplomats from Southeast Asia that comes at a time of increased tensions between Washington, Moscow and Beijing. The East Asia Summit of the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Cambodia's capital was the first time the three men were scheduled to take part in the same forum. It came a day after WNBA star Brittney Griner was convicted of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison by Russia in a politically charged case amid ongoing friction over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. China, meantime, is furious at the U.S. following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit this week to Taiwan — a self-governing island Beijing claims as its own — and is in the … [Read more...] about US, Russia, China take part in talks with SE Asian nations

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 26 SLOVIANSK, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian military personnel are fortifying their positions around the eastern city of Sloviansk in expectation of a fresh Russian attempt to seize the strategic point in the fiercely fought-over Donetsk region. As heavy ground fighting continues on the front line only miles to the east, southeast and north of Sloviansk, members of the Dnipro-1 Regiment are digging in after a week of relative calm. The last Russian strike on the city occurred on July 30. While the lull provided Sloviansk's remaining residents a reprieve after regular shellings between April and July, some unit members say it could be a prelude to renewed attacks. “I think it won’t be calm for long. Eventually, there will be an assault,” Col. Yurii … [Read more...] about Ukrainian unit digs in for Russian assault on eastern city

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 11 DALLAS (AP) — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is expected to receive a big welcome in the U.S. on Thursday from conservative admirers barely a week after the backlash at home and in Europe over anti-migrant remarks that one of his closest associates compared to Nazi rhetoric. Orban's headline slot at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, one of the nation's largest gatherings of conservative activists, has raised concerns about Republicans embracing an autocrat who has been criticized for undermining democratic institutions and consolidating power in his own country. Other speakers include former President Donald Trump, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Republican candidates fresh off GOP primary election victories Tuesday. Orban's invitation to CPAC reflects conservatives' growing … [Read more...] about Hungary’s autocratic PM Orban addressing US conservatives

Listen to this article Smoking can be bad for your health in more ways than one and this Russian man learned his lesson the hard way. CCTV footage from Chelyabinsk shows the driver of a second-generation Renault Logan setting himself ablaze after firing up a cigarette at the worst location possible. While refueling his subcompact sedan, the owner decided to have a smoke, thus ignoring what his chemistry teacher told him in school. The incident took place on July 23 in west-central Russia , and it goes without saying it could've ended much worse. The already slightly damaged small sedan immediately caught fire but thankfully its gasoline tank didn't explode, and the man was able to get inside the car and move it to a safer area. We can see him returning to the scene to put out the fire by using the gas station's fire extinguisher. Local media reports he sustained some injuries to his legs and is currently in the hospital, but will be ok after a skin graft. The video is a … [Read more...] about See Driver Light Up A Cigarette And Inadvertently His Car At Gas Station

SAULIEU, France (AP) — French lawmakers on Wednesday approved a 20 billion-euro ($20.3-billion) package of measures to help struggling households cope with rising energy and food prices. The 395-to-112 vote came after a heated debate at the National Assembly, where French President Emmanuel Macron no longer has a majority. The Senate also approved the text on Wednesday evening. The bill was a key promise from Macron, who was reelected for a second term in April. It was also a crucial test of the government’s ability to govern — and opposition forces’ ability to weigh in on the lawmaking process. Macron’s centrist alliance won the most seats at the National Assembly in June but lost its absolute majority as a leftist coalition and the far right both made big gains, becoming strong opposition forces. Annual inflation has reached a record 8.6% for the 19 countries using the shared euro currency, swollen by a huge increase in food and energy costs fueled partly by the war in … [Read more...] about French lawmakers OK $20.3 billion to help with rising prices

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden traveled to Saudi Arabia last month on the possibility that he could get some additional oil production out of OPEC+ in coming weeks, but the cartel and other nations announced a scant increase Wednesday. The White House responded by stressing that what matters is the steady decline in oil and gasoline prices from summer highs, not the actions taken by OPEC+ to pump an additional 100,000 barrels of oil in September. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that the decline began June 14, the day the administration disclosed plans for Biden's trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia. “The fact of the matter is that oil and gas prices are coming down,” Jean-Pierre told reporters at her briefing. “The moment he announced his trip we saw gas prices and oil prices coming down.” While there may be a correlation, it is unclear whether … [Read more...] about White House: Falling gas prices mean more than OPEC numbers