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President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would not rejoin the deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain across the Black Sea,

unless Western countries lift restrictions on Russian agricultural exports.

His comments came after talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's president, who has been trying to persuade Mr. Putin to revive the agreement.

Russia withdrew from the Turkey brocade deal, which had allowed 33 million tons of food products to reach global markets on July 17.

Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, expects to meet with Mr. Putin in Russia, according to American officials.

Earlier, the New York Times reported that the reclusive Mr. Kim would travel this month, probably by armored train, to the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok.

Mr. Putin is seeking weapons from Mr. Kim for Russia's war against Ukraine.

The Biden administration expressed concerns last week over a potential arms deal.

Alexei Reznikov resigned as Ukraine's defense minister.

For Vladimir Zelensky, the president will ask Parliament to confirm Rostem Umarov, head of the State Property Fund, as his replacement.

Rumors have long swirled around Mr. Reznikov's position. His deputy was fired in January amid allegations of corruption at the ministry, which Mr. Reznikov has rejected.

Home sales in Shanghai and Beijing, China's two largest cities, doubled this weekend compared to the previous one.

Hoping to boost the country's ailing property sector, last week China lowered the size of the deposits required for a mortgage.

Meanwhile, shares in Country Garden, a struggling Chinese home builder, soared after it announced an agreement with some of its creditors to restructure repayments of onshore debts.

Bryce Cloteur, Olegunagema, was sworn in as Gabon's interim president a week after he led a coup that ousted Alibongo on dimmer president since 2009.

Mr. Olegu, who previously commanded the elite Republican God, promised elections but did not say when they would be held.

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