UN: World Food Prices Ease Slightly in July

FILE PHOTO: A person shops at a Whole Foods grocery store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US, March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A person shops at a Whole Foods grocery store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US, March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo
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UN: World Food Prices Ease Slightly in July

FILE PHOTO: A person shops at a Whole Foods grocery store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US, March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A person shops at a Whole Foods grocery store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US, March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo

The United Nations world food price index eased slightly in July according to data released on Friday, with a decline in the index for cereals partially offset by increases for meat, vegetable oils and sugar.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization's price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 120.8 points in July, down from 121.0 in June. The June reading was revised after initially being given as 120.6, Reuters said.
Prior to July, the FAO index had risen for four consecutive months after hitting a three-year low in February as food prices receded from a record peak set in March 2022, following Russia's invasion of fellow crop export major Ukraine.
The July value was 3.1% down on its level one year ago and 24.7% below its 2022 high point.



Saudi Arabia, Italy Sign MoU to Strengthen Collaboration in Renewable Energy

The MoU focuses on key areas such as energy transitions and security, renewable energy and electricity interconnection. SPA
The MoU focuses on key areas such as energy transitions and security, renewable energy and electricity interconnection. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Italy Sign MoU to Strengthen Collaboration in Renewable Energy

The MoU focuses on key areas such as energy transitions and security, renewable energy and electricity interconnection. SPA
The MoU focuses on key areas such as energy transitions and security, renewable energy and electricity interconnection. SPA

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz has met in Riyadh with Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin to explore avenues for cooperation across various energy sectors.

The two sides signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Italy, serving their shared interests.

The MoU focuses on key areas such as energy transitions and security, renewable energy, electricity interconnection, energy efficiency, geothermal energy, methane emissions reduction, advancing energy storage solutions, petroleum, natural gas, and conventional and transitional fuels.

It also addresses enhancing the stability and reliability of petroleum and natural-gas markets, reducing market volatility, and improving energy supply security and supply chains.
The agreement highlights innovation and technology, such as hydrogen project development, climate-change mitigation solutions, the circular carbon economy, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage. Additionally, it emphasizes digital transformation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence in the energy sector while fostering joint initiatives to support engineering and construction projects in energy. These efforts align with the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.