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Jul 18, 2023 • 3 min read

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Black Sea Grain Deal:

After Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal, China, a major beneficiary of the deal, is under international pressure to encourage Moscow to rejoin the agreement.
The initiative, which ensured food supplies from Ukraine reached global markets despite a Russian blockade, has been critical for nations across Africa and the Middle East grappling with famine and drought. China, a leading destination for grain shipments under the agreement, could potentially influence Russia to return to negotiations.
Meanwhile, there are concerns that Russia aims to harm Ukraine's agriculture-based economy and trap its 2023 wheat harvest behind a renewed blockade. Western officials were not surprised by Russia's departure from the initiative, which was predicated on demands for concessions, including readmission of Russia's state-run agricultural bank to SWIFT and restarting a key ammonia pipeline in Ukraine.
The move has sparked outrage, particularly as global food prices and food insecurity are on the rise due to weather events and ongoing military conflict. The situation poses a risk to vulnerable regions like East Africa, which relies heavily on food imports.

Activision's Sony Agreement:

Sony and Microsoft have entered a binding 10-year agreement ensuring the Call of Duty game series will remain available on PlayStation consoles, even after Microsoft's acquisition of game maker Activision Blizzard.
This news comes as a relief for the gaming community and regulators alike, who had expressed concerns about potential anti-competitive consequences of the acquisition.
The fear was that Microsoft, which manufactures the Xbox console, a direct competitor to Sony's PlayStation, might make games like Call of Duty exclusive to its own console after acquiring Activision Blizzard, effectively pushing Sony out of the competition.
While the exact terms of the deal aren't public, Microsoft has stated it's a long-term agreement. Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO, Jim Ryan, who had previously voiced concerns about the acquisition's impact on competition, manages the PlayStation portfolio.
Microsoft Market Cap: $2.57 Trillion
Sony Market Cap: $117.58 Billion
Activision Market Cap: $73 Billion
Call of Duty worth: $31 Billion

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