Grain – Latest News and Analysis – Page 1 | Straight Arrow News

Straight Arrow News

Unbiased. Straight Facts.^TM

Russia is using Ukraine’s farmland to fuel a global black market: Report

September 16, 2024

Since the 2022 invasion, Russia’s control over Ukrainian farmlands has intensified, leading to the commandeering of nearly $1 billion worth of grain, as confirmed by Ukrainian officials and The Wall Street Journal. This stolen grain, often taken under duress or through coercion of local farmers, is channeled into an expansive black market, connecting military manufacturers with global traders across the Middle East and North Africa.

In a notable enforcement action, Ukrainian authorities in July 2024 detained a Cameroon-flagged vessel, the USKO MFU, on the Danube River. The ship was found transporting over 3,000 metric tons of illicit grain from Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014 and a known hub for such illegal exports.

Russia’s illicit grain network involves significant players such as the United Shipbuilding Corporation, a major military contractor responsible for producing warships that have been used in attacks against Ukrainian cities. This network not only funds Russia’s military operations but also aims to maintain the Kremlin’s influence in its occupied territories, circumventing international sanctions.

Financially, the network is robust, with entities in the occupied region of Zaporizhzhia contributing directly to the war efforts. According to The Wall Street Journal, a company from this region sold grain and then donated 10 million rubles to a Russian battalion actively engaged in Ukraine, showcasing the direct link between the grain trade and military funding.

These operations have drawn international reactions, with countries such as Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon adjusting their imports after discovering the grain’s origins. The issue extends beyond trade, however, affecting global food prices and the stability of international grain markets.

Ukrainian and international efforts to curb these activities face significant hurdles due to the complex nature of the trade routes and the difficulty in tracing the origins of the grain once it has been mingled with other shipments in Russia.
Zelenskyy accuses Russia of attack on Ukrainian grain ship in Black Sea

September 13, 2024
In what Ukraine’s foreign minister called “a brazen attack on freedom of navigation and global food security” on Thursday, Sept. 12, Kyiv accused Moscow of striking a civilian grain vessel in the Black Sea with cruise missiles near Romania. It is reportedly the first time that a missile hit a civilian vessel transporting grains at sea since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, some ships have sustained damage while moored during the war.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the vessel carrying Ukrainian grain to Egypt was struck just after it left the country’s territorial waters on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The ship reportedly sustained heavy damage to its port side, including a cargo hold and crane. However, there are no reports of any deaths or injuries.

Meanwhile, traders said the incident is leading to concerns over a dwindling supply of wheat in the Black Sea export zone and resulted in higher grain prices.

The alleged attack from Russia came as NATO allies, including the United States, are considering allowing Kyiv to launch deeper strikes into Russia.

President Joe Biden is meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday, Sept. 13. The two reportedly plan to discuss the possibility of lifting weapons restrictions on Ukraine. However, Moscow warned if the green light is given to Kyiv, it will respond.

The United States accused Iran on Tuesday of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia. Those claims appeared to be correct on Wednesday after satellite imagery showed a Russian ship carrying Iranian ballistic missiles on Sept. 4. The revelations have prompted Ukrainian allies to reconsider their limits on Western-supplied weapons to Kyiv.
Related Stories
Russia targets Ukrainian port after pulling out of grain deal: July 18 rundown

July 18, 2023
A key Ukrainian port city used for grain export was attacked by Russia. And a United plane loses an emergency slide mid-flight. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

Russia targets Odesa after suspending grain deal

Russia targeted the Ukrainian port city of Odesa after pulling out of its grain deal with the country. On Tuesday, Russia launched six cruise missiles and 25 exploding drones, all of which were shot down. But the debris and shock waves damaged port facilities and residential buildings. One person was injured.

This incident follows an apparent attack by Ukraine on a bridge in Crimea. Ukraine attempted another drone attack on Crimea on Tuesday, but it was stopped by Russian defense forces.

Western officials denounced Russia’s decision to suspend its grain deal on Monday. The Kremlin said the deal would be suspended until restrictions on Russian exports were lifted.

“Russia’s decision to resume its effective blockade of Ukrainian ports and prevent this grain from getting to markets will harm people all over the world,” said National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby. “Indeed, we are already seeing a spike in global wheat, corn and soybean prices just today as a result of Russia’s suspension. We urge the government of Russia to immediately reverse its decision.”

First pretrial conference in Trump case

The first pretrial conference in the criminal case against former president Donald Trump concerning the mishandling of classified documents begins July 18. U.S. district court judge Aileen Cannon will decide on how classified information will be handled in the case.

The date of the trial could also be announced. While prosecutors have proposed the trial to begin in December, Trump’s lawyers have suggested it be postponed until after the 2024 presidential election since the former president is seeking another run in the White House.

Trump and his aide, Walt Nauta, have pleaded not guilty to an indictment that accused them of storing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and trying to hide them from the government.

Phoenix hits 110 degrees for 18th straight day

For 18 days, Phoenix, Arizona has seen temperatures that have hovered over 110 degrees.

The summer heat wave had been deadly. There were 12 heat-related deaths in the first week of July in Phoenix and 55 heat-related deaths since the start of the summer. And it’s only getting worse. Temperatures are forecast to be 115 degrees or above through July 23.

Greece wildfires tear through coastal communities

Wildfires in Greece, which are common in the summer, have forced thousands of residents to leave their homes. Two large blazes are tearing through coastal communities and a seaside resort area has been evacuated.

FDA approves RSV drug for infants

The FDA has approved the first long-acting drug to protect infants and toddlers from the respiratory virus known as RSV. The antibody preventive therapy, called Beyfortus, was approved Monday for children up to 2-years-old who are vulnerable to severe RSV.

The drug will reportedly be available in the United States before the upcoming cold season. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization in infants.

Emergency slide on United plane accidentally deploys

An emergency evacuation slide from a United Airlines plane fell off mid-flight on its way to the Chicago O’hare International Airport. The slide was found in a nearby neighborhood in someone’s backyard. Maintenance workers noticed the slide was missing and reported it to the FAA. The flight had just arrived from switzerland. The FAA is investigating how the emergency landing device was deployed.

Australian man and dog survive 3 months lost at sea

An Australian sailor, Timothy Shaddock, became lost at sea after a storm damaged his boat and wiped out his electronics. Shaddock said he and his dog survived on raw fish and rain water for nearly 100 days. A Mexican fishing boat found Shaddock’s vessel 1,200 miles offshore.
Related Stories
Russia halts grain flow, deadly storms pummel Northeast: July 17 rundown

July 17, 2023
Russia announced it is pulling out of the Ukrainian grain agreement, and severe storms pummeled the Northeast. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Monday, July 17, 2023.

Russia pulls out of Ukrainian grain deal

Russia has announced it has halted its deal to allow grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The deal was struck in 2022, after Russia had begun its invasion of Ukraine, in order to avoid a global food crisis.

The announcement came just hours after a section of the key bridge connecting Crimea to Russia’s mainland exploded. Russia blamed the explosion on Ukraine, calling it a terrorist act.

Two people were killed and another was injured. While the Ukrainian military suggested the attack could’ve been Russian provocation, Ukrainian media said Ukraine’s security service used sea drones to blow up the portion of the bridge.

This is the second time the bridge has been targeted in recent months. Ukraine was behind another bombing last October.

Crimea serves as a major hub for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Access to the bridge is vital for Russian supplies.

More than 10,000 flights disrupted by severe storms

More than 10,000 flights were disrupted by severe weather across the northeastern United States. More than 2,500 flights have been canceled and nearly 8,000 more delayed, according to flight tracking data.

Jetblue has been significantly impacted, with 27% of its flights canceled and 43% delayed. The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement that said slow-moving thunderstorms were to blame.

5 dead, 2 missing in Pennsylvania flash flooding

Severe storms also created deadly flood waters in Pennsylvania over the weekend. In Bucks County, just outside Philadelphia, eleven cars were surrounded by fast-moving water that was five-feet deep.

Five people died after getting caught in flash flooding. One of the people who died was a mother. Her baby and toddler are still missing.

Over the last month, some parts of the Northeast have seen triple their average rainfall.

“This is possibly our new normal,” Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) said Sunday, July 16. “This is the kind of weather that even what should normally be a beautiful beach going Sunday in July can turn into a devastating catastrophe because of mother nature.”

Suspect in Georgia mass shooting killed

A mass shooting in Georgia ended with four people killed and the suspected gunman dead following a shootout with police. Authorities say officers were able to track down 40-year-old Andre L. Longmore Sunday, one day after the deadly rampage.

Three officers were wounded during the exchange of gunfire. The injured officers are expected to recover.

The mass shooting took place in the community of Hampton, about 40 miles south of Atlanta. The names of the victims have not been released. A motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

AAA pulls back Florida coverage amid hurricane season

Right in the midst of hurricane season, some Florida residents have been dropped from their insurance companies. Big-name insurance companies like AIG, All State and State Farm have stopped taking on new customers in certain high-risk states like Florida and California.

Last week, Farmers Insurance announced it was pulling out of the Sunshine State. Days later, AAA said they were following suit by not renewing home or auto insurance policies for some of its Florida residents.

More trouble at Twitter

In a reply responding to business advice, Twitter owner Elon Musk revealed that the social media company is losing cash because of a 50% drop in advertising, as well as a heavy debt load. Musk added that Twitter needs to reach a positive cash flow before the company has “the luxury of anything else.”

Musk, who acquired Twitter last fall in a $44 billion deal, stepped down as the company’s CEO in May. Earlier in July, Twitter got some new competition in the form of Meta’s platform called Threads.

In its first week, Threads reached 100 million downloads. Twitter responded by threatening legal action against Meta.
Related Stories
Uncertainty looms despite extension in Russia-Ukraine grain export deal

May 17, 2023

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine persists, concerns about its impact on global food supplies have intensified. With the two countries responsible for exporting nearly one-third of the world’s wheat and barley, a disruption in grain trade poses a threat to the food security of approximately 400 million people worldwide. The United Nations (UN) has warned that around 200 million individuals across 41 countries could face a severe food crisis or even famine if the situation escalates further.

Recognizing the significance of maintaining stable grain exports, Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey, acting as an intermediary, brokered an agreement back in July to allow for the safe passage of grain through the Black Sea. That initial deal was scheduled to expire on May 18, however, just a day before the deadline, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a two-month extension of the pact.

“With the efforts of our country, the support of our Russian friends and the contribution of our Ukrainian friends, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has been extended by another two months,” Erdogan wrote in a statement posted to Twitter.

The future of the agreement had been in doubt, as Russia had indicated its reluctance to renew the terms, arguing that the existing agreement primarily favored Ukraine. Moscow insisted on a list of demands, including better guarantees for its own exports and the reopening of Russia’s ammonia pipeline into Odessa, Ukraine, among other stipulations.

The extent to which these demands were met in order to facilitate the latest short-term extension remains unclear. The intricacies of the negotiations and concessions made by both sides have not yet been made public.

“This is a chance to help ensure global food security, not in words, but in deeds. First and foremost, to help the countries most in need,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said, confirming the extension.

“We welcome the continuation of the initiative, but emphasize that it must work effectively,” said Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, while another senior official in Ukraine said Russia must not be allowed to sabotage the agreement and must stop using food “as a weapon and blackmail.”

Highlighting the importance of a new agreement on a global scale, Deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq had emphasized that it is “important not simply … for Russia, but for the people around the world.” The UN’s World Food Programme estimates that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has already contributed to acute food insecurity for over a quarter of a billion people worldwide.
Morning rundown: Ransomware attack on U.S. Marshals; federal TikTok ban

February 28, 2023

A ransomware attack compromised sensitive U.S. Marshals data; the White House has ordered all government agencies to purge TikTok from federal devices; and an American citizen is killed in the West Bank as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rages on. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.

Sensitive U.S. Marshals data compromised

The U.S. Marshals Service is investigating a major ransomware attack that has compromised some of its most sensitive information. It includes law enforcement materials, personal information of employees, and potential targets of federal investigations.

The federal agency reported the data breach was discovered on Feb. 17. The Justice Department has labeled the cyberattack as a major incident, prompting the U.S. Marshals Service to involve Congress.

The agency is still investigating and working to mitigate potential risks that could come from the ransomware attack. The federal system that was hacked was not connected to any larger federal network.

TikTok ban on all federal devices

In an effort to keep U.S. data safe, the White House has ordered all government agencies to delete and ban TikTok from federal devices in 30 days. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, which is known to engage in data harvesting. U.S. officials have raised concerns that the Chinese government could pressure ByteDance into handing over information collected.

The ban, ordered by Congress late last year, follows similar actions from Canada, the EU, Taiwan and more than half of the states in the U.S. All federal agencies must remove TikTok from government-issued phones and block it from being accessed on the internet.

According to the White House, the ban is out of precaution following security concerns. ByteDance has denounced the concerns as misinformation and has denied spying on Americans.

Buttigieg’s use of jets to be audited

The Department of Transportation’s internal watchdog will be reviewing the use of government jets by its top official, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Along with his predecessor in the Trump administration. And Buttigieg is welcoming the audit.

The inspector general plans to conduct an audit to determine whether the office of the Secretary has complied with federal regulations, policies, and procedures related to travel on the department’s aircraft.

The audit was requested by Sen. Marco Rubio, D-Fla., who asked the watchdog about a Fox News article that reported Buttigieg took 18 flights on taxpayer-funded private jets. The Transportation Department said those 18 flights were on federal planes over seven trips.

Buttigieg responded to the news of the audit saying it would help debunk misleading narratives.

U.S. citizen killed in West Bank unrest

A U.S. citizen is one of the latest victims of the violence in the West Bank between Israelis and Palestinians. Israeli Defense Forces said attackers opened fire on Israeli vehicles on three occasions Monday, and later set their own vehicles on fire.

There was an exchange of fire with police before the attackers fled according to the IDF. According to the Times of Israel, the 27-year-old Israeli-American was visiting to attend a wedding when he was killed.

The deadly attack followed a series of attacks and outbursts from Israeli and Palestinian residents on Sunday. A Palestinian reportedly shot and killed two settlers of Israel. In response, Israelis lit Palestinian homes and cars on fire in protest.

North Korea addresses need for grain

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is asking the country to unify behind his leadership in order to increase the country’s grain production amid worries of food insecurity.

Foreign experts say North Korea is experiencing a serious shortfall of food in the aftermath of COVID-19 border restrictions and a reported push for greater state-control over grain supply.

The experts say they’ve seen no signs of mass deaths from famine in North Korea like they did in the ’90s when hundreds of thousands died in a food crisis.

According to South Korean assessments, North Korea is producing 4.5 million tons of grain per year when they would need 5.5 million tons per year to feed its 25 million people.

Musk reclaims richest person title

After being dethroned for the past two months, Elon musk is taking back his crown as richest person in the world, according to Bloomberg.

The Tesla CEO was surpassed in December of last year by Bernard Arnault, the CEO of french luxury brand LVMH. But as of Monday, with the help of Tesla’s stock surging this year, Musk’s net worth rose to $187 billion, surpassing Arnault’s $185 billion.
Russia agrees to grain deal extension, rockets rain on Ukraine

November 17, 2022

World leaders breathed a little easier Thursday because the Black Sea grain deal was extended for another 120 days. Without a deal in place, millions around the world could starve.

In July, Ukraine and Russia reached separate deals with the United Nations to export grain and other agricultural products through a protected corridor in the Black Sea. Since then, more than 11 million tons of supplies have been shipped through the corridor. News of the deal’s extension brought wheat futures prices down more than 2% on Chicago’s Board of Trade.

Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who helped broker the original grain deal, welcomed news of its extension. He said the benefits of the agreement for the food supply and security of the world are evident.

The success of the Black Sea grain deal is one of the only diplomatic wins to come from Russia’s almost 10-month-old war with Ukraine. Also on Thursday, Russia launched another missile barrage against Ukraine.

People in Odessa, Kyiv and Dnipro tried to go about their daily lives while rockets rained down on them from above. Ukrainian leaders said Thursday’s barrage was not as severe as the one Russia launched earlier this week.

At least two people were killed and around 20 injured as a result of Thursday’s strikes. A defense plant and several gas production facilities were damaged or destroyed. Ukraine’s largest energy provider said long-term energy outages could last for days in some regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s head of staff said the attacks were “a naïve tactic by cowardly losers,” and that Ukraine “would crush them.”

Reuters contributed to this report.
Russia rejoins deal to export grain from Ukraine

November 2, 2022

Call it a win for diplomacy. On Wednesday, Russia said it would rejoin the wartime agreement allowing Ukrainian grain and agriculture commodities to reach world markets through the Black Sea.

Less than a week ago, Russia said it was abandoning the deal after an alleged drone attack against its Black Sea Fleet. Russia said the attack happened on Oct. 29. The Russian Navy reportedly repelled the 16 attacking drones at its base in Sevastopol. Russia said there was little damage done.

Russia accused Ukraine of using the protected shipping corridor to launch the strike. The Ukrainians never claimed responsibility for the reported attack, and some Ukrainian officials said it was probably the result of Russians mishandling their own equipment. Regardless of the origins of the attack or its responsible party, Ukraine made a pledge to not use the shipping corridor to launch strikes.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement it “believes the guarantees it has received currently appear sufficient, and resumes the implementation of the agreement.”

Under the terms of the original agreement reached in July, the United Nations and Turkey created separate deals with Russia and Ukraine to deliver grain and other food supplies to Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Ukraine and Russia are both key global food exporters. Without an agreement in place to deliver Ukrainian grain to market, millions of the world’s poorest people could starve.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Russia pulls out of Ukraine grain deal

October 31, 2022

The deal to ship Ukrainian grain and agricultural supplies through the Black Sea may be sunk, threatening world food supplies. Russia is pulling out of the agreement, accusing Ukraine of using the protected shipping lanes to launch drone attacks.

Russia said 16 drones attacked its Black Sea Fleet on Saturday. The Russian Navy said it repelled the attack on its base in Sevastopol and there was little damage done.

Russia claimed the Ukrainians moved the drones along the grain corridor safe zone with the help of specialists from the United Kingdom. The U.K. has denied the allegations.

As a result of the drone attacks, Russia severed its participation in a United Nations negotiated export deal which allowed Ukrainian grain and fertilizer to be shipped to countries in need. Before the invasion, Ukraine supplied 10% of the world’s wheat.

Ukraine and its Western allies are accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of weaponizing food. They said Putin is trying to draw out the war through winter in the hope a global food shortage will put pressure on Western nations to stop helping Ukraine.

Grain prices surged Monday morning when markets opened. Wheat was up more than 5%, corn was up a little over 2%. Those prices are higher than a year ago but not as high as the records set immediately after Russia invaded.

While Russia said the export deal is over, Ukrainian grain was still being loaded up and shipped out Monday morning. At least 16 ships were set to sail through the Black Sea’s safe corridor.

In a tweet, Amir M. Abdulla, the coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, said, “Civilian cargo ships can never be a military target or held hostage. The food must flow.”

Reuters contributed to this report.
Midwest drought drying up Mississippi and supply chain

October 31, 2022

The mighty Mississippi River is bottoming out. Barges are grounding on sandbars or getting stuck in dry ports that are usually flowing with water. Now, workers are dredging the river to make it deeper for shipping vessels all to try and keep goods flowing.

Nearly 82 percent of the country is facing at least abnormally dry conditions. And the midwest drought is drying up the Mississippi’s tributary which serves as a critical freight artery for the country.

“The water levels will slowly decrease along most of the Mississippi River because we haven’t had any substantial rain in a large portion of the basin for a fair amount of time.”

Jonathan Remo is the associate professor and program director of Environmental Resource and Policy PH. D. program at Southern Illinois University. He’s been studying the Mississippi for twenty years. He said the Mississippi has now broken the record low, at negative 10.75 feet, beating the previous record set in 1988.

“What is novel about this year is it happening earlier so we’re in October these lows usually happen in November, December, January is when we usually see the lowest lows”, Remo said.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly transportation report, southbound barge tonnage, or the weight of their cargo, was reduced on the river by more than 20%. The move was an effort to keep America’s vital waterway active.

Remo said this is important because, “We move 500 million tons of commodities down the Mississippi River, primarily agricultural commodities. Number one being soybeans. Number two being corn. There’s also a lot of fuel that moves up and down the river.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, commodities moved by barge down the Mississippi include 47% of all U.S. grain, 35% of its thermal coal, and 5.4 million barrels of crude oil.

The cost of sending goods is also increasing. According to the USDA, one ton of corn, soybeans or other grains from St. Louis to southern Louisiana, has more than tripled in the last year. And in just the last month, it’s doubled. The price went from $50 a ton to over $100 a ton.

Experts have said those supply chain costs will be passed on to consumers.

“There would be large economic impacts, especially to the central portion of the country. But it wouldn’t shut down the total country, because we still have rail and trucks. But it does make it more expensive to move these commodities…which would probably increase prices”, Remo said.

Demo mode ×