Turkey Close to Extending Black Sea Grain Deal.

Parties to the Black Sea grain pact, including Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the United Nations, are nearing a deal to extend the agreement after talks in Istanbul. The pact was brokered last year to help tackle a global food crisis, but Russia threatened to quit the agreement on May 18 over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports. The U.N. proposed an extension, and an agreement is now approaching.