Pope urges Russian 'brothers' to restore Black Sea grain deal

Pope Francis on Sunday called on Russia to reverse its decision to abandon the Black Sea grain deal, under which it had allowed Ukraine to export grain from its seaports despite the ongoing war, Reuters reports.

Ukrainian army announces a successful attack on the Tsiongar Bridge, between Kherson and Crimea

The Ukrainian military announced on Sunday that it had successfully carried out a missile attack targeting the Tsiongar Bridge, considered a key infrastructure connecting Ukraine's Russian-occupied Kherson region and the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, CNN reports.

A contingent of 40 firefighters left for the south of France

40 Romanian firefighters left on Sunday for the south of France, where they will stay until the middle of August, going to act to extinguish vegetation fires, which are very frequent in that area. It is about a so-called prepositioning of firefighters specialized in extinguishing forest fires, Radio Romania News reports.

Israelis back in streets to protest judicial overhaul vote

Thousands of Israelis returned to the streets of Tel Aviv late Thursday, July 27, to protest against parliament's approval of a key component in the hard-right government's controversial judicial reform package, AFP reports.

Russians bombarded Snake Island again. Dead and injured in attacks in Sumy and Zaporozhye regions

Ukraine's Operational Command "Sud" reported that the Russian military attacked Snake Island again, for the third time since the beginning of the month. According to a statement published on Sunday morning, the Russians used tactical aviation, launched two bombs from the Black Sea area, UNIAN reports.

Overnight drone attack on Moscow injures 1, temporarily closes airport for traffic

Russian authorities say three Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow in the early hours on Sunday, injuring one person and prompting a temporary closure for traffic of one of four airports around the Russian capital, AP reports.

Wildfire in Greece triggers explosions at ammunition depot and relocation of fighter jets

A wildfire whipped on by strong winds triggered a series of massive explosions Thursday at an air force ammunition depot in central Greece, and F-16 fighter jets were being moved from a nearby air base as a precaution while firefighters worked to tame multiple blazes in the country, AP reports.

Putin promises free grain to six African nations after collapse of Black Sea deal

Vladimir Putin has promised free grain supplies to six African nations as Moscow seeks to capitalise on the collapse of the Black Sea grain deal, The Guardian reports.

30 localities remain without electricity

Due to the unfavorable weather conditions, 30 localities from 7 districts and the Gagauz autonomy remain disconnected from electricity. According to IGSU, among these are the districts: Ialoveni, Hîncești, Drochia, Dondușeni, Glodeni, Rîșcani and Edineț.

Laundromat file: Veaceslav Platon, sentenced to 20 years in prison, in Moscow

The controversial businessman Veaceslav Platon, investigated in several criminal cases in the Republic of Moldova, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison by a Moscow court. Platon was found guilty of illegally withdrawing funds in foreign currency from the Russian Federation in the amount of more than 126 billion rubles (about 1.25 million euros), being part of a "criminal group", Kommersant newspaper writes.

Jens Stoltenberg: “We remain ready to defend every inch of Allied territory from any aggression”

The NATO-Ukraine Council met on Wednesday (26 July 2023) to address the serious security situation in the Black Sea region following Russia’s unilateral termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg convened the meeting following a request for crisis consultation from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană chaired the Council, reads a press release of NATO.

NATO slams 'dangerous' Russian blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea grain exports

NATO condemned Russia's "dangerous" moves to block Ukrainian grain exports in the Black Sea after urgent consultations with Kyiv on Wednesday following Moscow's withdrawal from a key grain deal last week, AFP reports.