Author: Anadolu Agency

Syria’s fallen Bashar al-Assad regime airlifted approximately $250 million in cash to Moscow between 2018 and 2019, amid escalating Western sanctions and deepening financial dependence on Russia for military and economic support, according to records uncovered by the Financial Times. Documents obtained by the British daily reveal that Syria’s central bank flew shipments of U.S. dollars and euros, weighing nearly two tons, to Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. These funds were deposited into Russian banks sanctioned by the U.S. The transfers came during a period when Syria, struggling with depleted foreign reserves, relied heavily on Russian military backing, including support from the…

The NATO chief on Monday reaffirmed Montenegro’s role within the alliance while underscoring the growing threats the country faces from Russia and other elsewhere. “Montenegro faces consistent hybrid threats from Russian and foreign actors. Russia wants to create fear and undermine our support for Ukraine. This will not work,” Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters after a meeting with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic at NATO Headquarters. Rutte expressed gratitude for the Balkan nation’s contributions, stating, “We are generally very grateful for everything Montenegro is doing to support Ukraine so far, also through NATO’s comprehensive assistance package.” He further commended…

The China-U.S. economic working group met for the seventh time on Monday in Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city and the capital of Gauteng province, to engage in candid and constructive discussions about macroeconomic policies and global challenges. The talks focused primarily on enhancing cooperation to support low-income countries grappling with liquidity issues and advancing governance reforms in multilateral development banks, according to China’s Finance Ministry. The Chinese delegation also clarified its stance on economic and trade matters, expressing concerns over recent U.S. economic and trade restrictions on China, the ministry said. These discussions come after remarks by U.S. Treasury Secretary…

Syria’s ousted leader Bashar Assad claimed on Monday that he took refuge at a Russian base during the dramatic fall of the decades-long Baath regime earlier this month. Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8 after anti-regime groups seized control of the country’s capital Damascus. The takeover followed a swift two-week offensive by anti-regime fighters, who captured key cities across the country before Damascus. In a first statement since his ouster, posted on the regime’s social media platforms, Assad argued that his sudden departure from Syria was not planned. Saying that he moved…

The Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Services will host a “Children in a Digital World Workshop” on Tuesday, in collaboration with UNICEF. The event aims to address the rapid integration of the digital world into children’s lives, examining its effects, opportunities, and risks, the ministry said in a statement. The workshop seeks to ensure that children can healthily engage with the digital world, benefit from its opportunities, and be protected from potential risks. It follows on from a recent workshop on digital addiction and families and will make a significant contribution to legal frameworks and practices. The ministry explained…

The United Nations welcomed an agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia, which was mediated by Türkiye on Wednesday. “We warmly welcome the announcement of the Ankara declaration between Ethiopia and Somalia under the leadership of Türkiye,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during a news conference in response to Anadolu Agency’s (AA) question about the recently signed deal. Describing it as a “positive move” in the spirit of “friendship” and “mutual respect,” Dujarric said: “We look forward to the start of the technical negotiations on that front, and very much hope for a full positive outcome to the process.” “We also express…

Experts underscored the importance of the European Union in taking an active role in ending the ongoing crisis in Syria and bolstering relations with Türkiye to prevent risks to the bloc. Velina Tchakarova, founder of FACE For A Conscious Experience and a geopolitical strategist, noted that the recent phone call between EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the importance of Syria’s territorial integrity and the protection of minorities. She urged the EU to go beyond dialogue and actively shape the situation on the ground. “The EU risks becoming a passive observer again,” Tchakarova…

The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) announced Wednesday that it has sourced over a half-billion dollars worth of food and logistics services from Türkiye over the past two years to support millions in crisis zones such as Palestine, facing over 14 months of an Israeli assault, and Sudan, going through a destructive civil war. According to the WFP, Türkiye has played a pivotal role as a supply and logistics hub for WFP operations, enabling the swift delivery of aid to regions affected by conflict and food insecurity. This partnership has been particularly critical for recent shipments to the war-torn Gaza…

Türkiye’s current account balance posted a surplus of $1.88 billion in October, the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT) released in a statement on Thursday. Gold and energy excluded current account balance also saw a net surplus of $7.16 billion, the bank noted. In the month, goods deficit recorded $3.5 billion, while services saw a net inflow of $6.45 billion; travel item, under services, recorded a net inflow of $5.1 billion. Primary income recorded a net outflow of $1.05 billion and secondary income recorded net inflow of $20 million. Direct investment recorded net outflow of $204 million. The…

The White House acknowledged Tuesday Türkiye’s “legitimate counterterrorism threat” in Syria, but said it would maintain support for its YPG/PKK-led Syrian partner. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Ankara has “a right to defend their citizens and their territory against terrorist attacks,” noting Türkiye has “come under those kinds of terrorist attacks in the not so distant past.” “We recognize they have that right, and they’re an important NATO ally,” Kirby told reporters. “We have interests, as I said, in going after ISIS, and that means partnering with the Syrian Democratic Forces, and that will continue, and where those…