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🇹🇷🇸🇾 Turkey to become intermediary in Ukrainian grain supplies to Syria, reports say

🌾 The leader of the Syrian transitional government Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibikha on the issue of grain supplies, the Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak reported, citing sources.

The two officials agreed that the grain will be delivered to Syrian ports by ships via Turkey. At the first stage of deliveries, which will be carried out with Turkey's mediation, there are plans to deliver 500 tonnes of grain to the Syrian port of Latakia, the report noted.

🛢Turkey plans to become an intermediary in the supply not only of Ukrainian grain, but also Azerbaijani diesel fuel to Syria, according to the report.

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🇨🇳🇷🇺 China to bolster strategic coordination with Russia, ambassador says

💬 "We will continue to strengthen strategic coordination, widen mutually beneficial cooperation and contribute significantly to the development and revival of both countries, global prosperity and stability," Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said in an article for Sputnik.

He said Russian-Chinese relations reached their highest point in history under the presidency of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. He welcomed Russia’s unwavering support for China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

💬 "Russia has always firmly opposed all forms of ‘Taiwanese independence’ and strongly supported China’s efforts to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity and unify the country. President Putin has repeatedly reaffirmed this position, which is reflected in several important bilateral documents," he wrote.

China values Russia’s stance and supports its efforts to ensure national security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese diplomat said. As an advocate for global peace and development, China is ready to continue implementing bilateral pacts together with Russia, he added.

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📄 Shanghai Cooperation Organization to adopt 10-year development plan in 2025, official says

💬 "This year's Heads of State Council, which will see China wrap up its chairmanship, plans to adopt a raft of important decisions in every area of our cooperation," Nurlan Yermekbayev, SCO’s secretary general, told Sputnik.

He identified the political declaration, the joint statement on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Development Strategy as the key documents that are expected to be adopted.

💬 "These are the political declaration, the draft document that is provisionally titled ‘the Statement on the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in World War Two,’ and the SCO Development Strategy running into 2035, a document that will outline key priorities and goals for the organization's development for decades to come," Yermekbayev said.

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🇹🇳 At least 27 migrants found dead off Tunisian coast

The Tunisian National Guard and Civil Protection rescued 83 migrants from various sub-Saharan African countries off the Kerkennah Islands, according to Mosaïque FM. Five of them were taken to the Slim Hadhri hospital.

Zied Sdiri, regional director of the Sfax Civil Protection Department, said that 110 migrants had taken two boats to reach the Italian coast.

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🇨🇬 Young Congolese gymnasts receive New Year gifts from Alina Kabayeva, a famous Russian retired gymnast who is now a politician

In spring, the girls participated in the Alina gymnastics festival in Russia's Sochi, organized by Kabayeva's foundation.

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🇪🇹🇸🇴 Ethiopian defense minister's reportedly visits Somalia, signaling de-escalation in bilateral relations

Ethiopian defense minister Aisha Mohammed Mussa's visit to Somalia on Thursday is the first high-level bilateral visit since a major diplomatic rift erupted a year ago over Ethiopia's plan to establish a naval base in Somaliland, the self-declared independent region within Somalia.

While Somalia's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar, confirmed the visit to Western media, the details of the discussions remain undisclosed.

The visit follows a period of heightened tension, including Somalia's threat to expel approximately 10,000 Ethiopian troops serving as part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) fighting al-Shabaab*, if Ethiopia didn't retract its agreement with Somaliland.

That deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland involved a proposed lease of Somaliland coastline for an Ethiopian naval base and commercial port, raising concerns in Mogadishu that it constituted an act of aggression and potentially implied recognition of Somaliland's independence.

After months of escalating tensions and unsuccessful international mediation attempts, Somalia and Ethiopia reached an agreement on December 11, during talks in Turkey, to resolve their differences through technical negotiations scheduled to commence by the end of February.

* a terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries around the world

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🇺🇬 Uganda is advancing its oil exploration and plans to reopen a copper mine, the country's minister states

Uganda will launch its third petroleum licensing round in July, according to Ruth Nankabirwa, Uganda's Minister of Energy. New oil and gas licenses will be available in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

The location for the upcoming licensing round has not been confirmed yet.

Moreover, a tender winner has been chosen to revamp the Kilembe copper mine, and negotiations are nearing completion.

The Kilembe mine, located near the Rwenzori mountains, is estimated to hold 4 million tonnes of ore with 1.98% copper and 0.17% cobalt. It has been closed since the 1970s and was abandoned by Canadian company Falconbridge due to low prices and political instability.

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🇰🇪🇷🇺 Kenya hopes to launch direct flights with Russia, the ambassador says

The direct air link between Russia and Kenya will increase the flow of tourists to the African country, Kenyan Ambassador to Moscow Peter Mutuku Mathuki told Sputnik.

The diplomat stated that implementing the launch of direct flight requires negotiations between the two countries to meet international requirements, adding that making Kenyan tourism more attractive is in the African country's interest.

In 2024, more than 7,000 Russian tourists visited Kenya, according to the ambassador.

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🇷🇺🇺🇸 The US is the main beneficiary of the halt in Russian gas supplies via Ukraine, Moscow says

Kiev's refusal to renew gas deal with Gazprom "weakens Europe's economic potential," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said in a statement.

🗣 "The United States is the main beneficiary of the redistribution of the Old World energy market and also the main sponsor of the Ukrainian crisis. The first victim of its predatory strategy is Europe's largest economy, Germany," she noted.

Berlin is forced to buy natural gas at "much higher prices," the diplomat noted, adding that Europe is "paying the price of American patronage."

The agreement on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine expired on December 31. Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the possibility of extending this agreement even to purchases by third countries.

Henceforth, the only pipeline carrying Russian gas to Europe is the Balkan Stream, which is connected to the Turk Stream.

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🇰🇪 Kenya aims to boost its exports of coffee and tea to Russia

Nairobi is exploring the possibility of tripling the supply of these products to the Russian market, Kenyan Ambassador to Moscow Peter Mutuku Mathuki told Sputnik, noting a good demand for these products in Russia.

Regarding prices, the diplomat emphasized that Kenya is not seeking to increase them. The current goal is to "find ways to produce more to export more," he said.

Moreover, Nairobi aims to diversify its exports by introducing vegetables and flowers, the ambassador added.

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🇳🇪 Nigerien army kills one terrorist and captures more than ten others in a series of operations in the country's west, media reports

Security forces, in addition to detaining four smugglers linked to a logistics network serving armed militants, carried out military raids in the Mosipaka and Ayoru areas, according to the media.

The authorities in Niamey face serious security challenges. The areas of Niger bordering Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria have been areas of high activity for extremist and terrorist groups in recent years, with militants attacking both military personnel, security forces and civilians.

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⚽️🌍 CAF hands down sanctions for misconduct during AFCON 2025 qualifiers and interclub competitions

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board has announced sanctions against several national teams and clubs following incidents of misconduct during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers and CAF Interclub Competitions.

The rulings, published late December on the CAF website, aim to deter disruptive behavior and strengthen security protocols across CAF tournaments.

👉 Key sanctions include:

🔹 Equatorial Guinea: A suspended $25,000 fine plus an additional $5,000 fine for security failures and pitch invasions during their qualifier against Togo.

🔹 Libya: A $50,000 fine and a two-match closed-doors stadium ban for supporter and official misconduct during their qualifier against Benin.

🔹 Benin: A $5,000 fine for non-cooperation with CAF regulations, plus a further $50,000 fine (partially suspended) for official misconduct following their match against Rwanda.

🔹 Tanzania and Guinea: A complaint filed by the Guinean FA regarding their qualifier was dismissed, upholding the original match result.

🔹 CS Sfaxien (Tunisia): A $20,000 fine (partially suspended) for pyrotechnic use by fans during their Confederation Cup match against Algeria's CS Constantine.

🔹 USM Alger (Algeria): A $10,000 fine (partially suspended) for the use of smoke bombs by fans during their Confederation Cup match against Botswana's Orapa United.

🔹 CR Belouizdad (Algeria): A $10,000 fine (partially suspended) for smoke bomb use by fans during their Champions League match against South Africa's Orlando Pirates.

🔹 AS FAR (Morocco): A $15,000 fine for fan use of smoke bombs and lasers during their Champions League match against South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns.

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🇹🇿 Tanzania Ports Authority acquires 490 hectares for a dry port in Dodoma to enhance logistics

Tanzania is bolstering its trade capacity with the development of the Ihumwa Dry Port in Dodoma and expansion of the Kwala dry port, which will reduce congestion at the Port of Dar es Salaam. Coupled with railway and maritime upgrades, these developments aim to establish Tanzania as a key trade hub.

According to Plasduce Mbossa, director general of Tanzania Ports Authority, the Ihumwa Dry Port will speed up transport and serve as an export hub, while the Kwala Dry Port will reduce congestion. Kwala, 105km from Dar es Salaam, has improved traffic flow, and its Phase II development is set for 2024/25. He added that Kwala acts as a Dar es Salaam extension, facilitating customs, reducing delays, and offering multi-modal options.

In 2024, Kwala handled 300,000 containers, 30% of Dar es Salaam's volume, which reduced congestion by 70%. Mbossa noted ongoing dry port development will boost logistics and trade, increase storage, and improve transport. By 2030, Kwala’s capacity is expected to reach 500,000 containers with growing regional demand.

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🌍 The African Union to hold an emergency summit on agriculture in Kampala on January 9-11

According to an African Union (AU) press release, the "extraordinary" summit, held jointly with the Ugandan government, will aim to finalize the African Inclusive Agricultural Development Agenda 2026-2035. The summit will focus on adopting a 10-year plan for agro-industrial growth, structural change, and enhancing farm household livelihoods.

The AU summit will include meetings of the ministers of agriculture and rural development, water and environment, and a joint meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs and the ministers of agriculture. This will be followed by a meeting of the heads of state and government.

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🇿🇦💵 South African rand opens 2025 strong after turbulent 2024

The South African currency was trading at 18.7625 against the US dollar on Thursday morning, up 0.6% from its last close before the New Year.

The currency, like many emerging market counterparts, experienced significant turbulence in November and December of 2024 following the election of Donald Trump as US president. Uncertainty surrounding his proposed tariffs and other policies, coupled with a more hawkish stance from the US Federal Reserve, contributed to the volatility.

Despite the positive opening, Andre Cilliers, a South African currency strategist at TreasuryONE, cautioned in a statement that the short-term outlook for the rand remains negative due to ongoing international factors and the strength of the US dollar.

Positive sentiment extended to the South African stock market, with the Top-40 index rising by approximately 1%. The benchmark 2030 government bond also strengthened marginally, with yields falling by 1 basis point to 9.04%.

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