September 5, 2023

*) Black Sea grain deal should be resumed by correcting deficiencies: Erdogan The Black Sea Grain Initiative should be resumed by addressing deficiencies that hampered the suspended deal, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said following a highly anticipated meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The two leaders discussed current regional and global issues, as well as bilateral ties. The revival of last year's historic Black Sea grain deal that helped ease the global food crisis was a top issue. On a joint proposal for grain shipments prepared with the UN, Erdogan said Türkiye would "reach a solution that will meet expectations within a short time." *) Niger’s military govt aims for French withdrawal, deal with ECOWAS Niger's military-appointed prime minister has said he saw hopes of a deal "in the coming days" with the Economic Community of West African States, which has threatened to use force to restore civilian rule after a coup in July. He also said that "contacts" were underway over a "very swift" pullout of French forces from Niger after ties with France spiralled downwards following the military takeover. The African bloc has slapped hefty sanctions against Niger after rebel soldiers on July 26 overthrew Mohamed Bazoum, the country's democratically-elected president. *) UN ‘alarmed’ by number of injuries in Eritrean clashes in Israel The United Nations' rights chief Volker Turk has said he was "alarmed" by the high number of injuries during recent clashes in Israel involving Eritrean protesters. Trouble erupted when a demonstration against an Eritrean government event turned violent, injuring nearly 140 people, including a dozen Eritrean asylum seekers who were hit by Israeli police gunfire. According to June’s statistics, there are 17,850 Eritrean asylum seekers in Israel. *) Pakistan PM: US arms left behind in Afghanistan are in militant hands Pakistan's caretaker prime minister has said that US military equipment left behind during the American withdrawal from Afghan