RUSSIA AND UKRAINE ARE PLAYING THE BLAME GAME OVER RECENT ATTACKS ON THE LARGEST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN EUROPE.
THE PLANT IS LOCATED IN UKRAINE BUT HAS BEEN OCCUPIED BY RUSSIAN FORCES FOR MONTHS.
IT CAME UNDER FIRE ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
TODAY- RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ACCUSED UKRAINE OF COMMITTING NUCLEAR TERRORISM.
MEANWHILE- UKRAINE HAS CALLED FOR A DEMILITARIZED ZONE AROUND THE PLANT.
THIS WEEKEND’S SHELLING — CATCHING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION.
THE HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS IS ASKING FOR NUCLEAR INSPECTORS TO BE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE PLANT- WHILE ISSUING THIS WARNING.
[NAME SUPER: António Guterres | U.N. Secretary-General]
{“I believe this is the moment when the risk of a nuclear confrontation is back, something that we have forgotten for decades. This is the moment, as I said, to ask the nuclear armed countries to commit to the principle of non-first use.”}
AND NOW ANOTHER NUCLEAR POWER IS WEIGHING IN ON THE WAR.
RUSSIAN STATE MEDIA REPORTING NORTH KOREA HAS OFFERED 100-THOUSAND VOLUNTEER TROOPS TO FIGHT ON THEIR BEHALF TO DEFEAT UKRAINE.NEARLY 60-THOUSAND METRIC TONS OF CORN- HAS BEGUN TO ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION IN TURKEY.
OFFICIALS ARE HAILING THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST OF SEVERAL SHIPS TODAY AS THE LATEST STEP IN STAVING OFF A GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS.
THE DEAL AUTHORIZING THE SHIPS’ TRAVEL WAS ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK — ON THE HEELS OF WORLD FOOD COMMODITY PRICES DROPPING SIGNIFICANTLY LAST MONTH.
[NAME SUPER: Maximo Torero | Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization]
{“Lower crude oil prices are also a welcome sign, which could lead to a considerable downward pressure on food commodities. But uncertainties over gas availability, which prices are still increasing, are important and could destabilize still the fertilizer market and the food supplies.”}
A TOTAL OF 12 SHIPS HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED TO SAIL UNDER THE GRAIN DEAL BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA.