ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday with, including the US easing humanitarian aid restrictions for Syrians, Indonesia officially joining BRICS, and Turkish President Erdogan vowing to continue efforts for peace in Gaza until results achieved.
TOP STORIES
- US eases humanitarian aid restrictions for Syrians for 6 months
The Biden administration announced Monday it is easing restrictions on humanitarian aid to Syria, issuing a six-month sanctions relief measure to allow delivery of essential supplies.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued Syria General License 24, enabling aid groups and companies to provide critical services such as electricity, water, and sanitation without seeking case-by-case approvals.
It also authorizes transactions supporting the sale, supply, storage, or donation of energy -- including petroleum, natural gas, and electricity -- within Syria. In addition, it permits transactions necessary for processing noncommercial personal remittances to Syria, including through the Central Bank of Syria.
- Indonesia officially joins BRICS, Brazil announces
Holding the rotating presidency of BRICS, Brazil announced Monday that Indonesia has officially joined the international bloc.
BRICS, a geopolitical alliance established in 2009, was originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
In a press release, the Brazilian ministry congratulated Indonesia on joining the bloc. Brazil assumes BRICS leadership from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025.
"The Brazilian government congratulates the government of Indonesia on its accession to the BRICS. Indonesia, which has the largest population and economy in Southeast Asia, shares with the other group members support for the reform of global governance institutions and positively contributes to deepening cooperation in the Global South, priority issues for Brazil's BRICS presidency," read the statement.
- Türkiye will continue efforts for peace in Gaza until results achieved: President Erdogan
The Turkish president reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to peace in Gaza, stating that the country will persist in its efforts "until we get results."
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked the Turkish people for their continued solidarity with Palestinians, saying that last week nearly half a million people demonstrating in Istanbul had shown that Gaza is not alone.
"On Jan. 1, our citizens sent a powerful message to the world, demonstrating Türkiye’s unwavering support for Palestine," he said.
"After 61 years of Baath oppression and 13 years of massacres, just as faith, belief, and patience prevailed in Syria, God willing, justice will also prevail in Palestine, and the sun of justice will pierce through the darkness of oppression," Erdogan added.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- US Congress on Monday formally certified President-elect Donald Trump's win in the Nov. 5 election, marking the final step before the Jan. 20 inauguration.
- Russia claimed on Monday that its forces had captured the city of Kurakhove, a key Ukrainian stronghold and supply hub in the Donetsk region.
- An emergency protest was held in London on Monday against Israel’s attacks on Gaza's health care services, demanding the British government act to protect Palestinian health workers.
- US health officials in Louisiana on Monday confirmed the first human death caused by bird flu, also known as H5N1.
- The UN on Monday expressed grave concern after the death of a one-month-old baby in Gaza due to hypothermia, marking the eighth such fatality in less than three weeks.
- Malaysia's Court of Appeal allowed on Monday former Prime Minister Najib Razak, imprisoned for corruption, to pursue a legal bid to serve his remaining sentence under house arrest.
- The Lebanese army entered the town of Naqoura in the Tyre district in southern Lebanon on Monday, the third town reclaimed following Israel’s withdrawal.
- Outgoing US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar held a final press conference Monday, where he asserted that fentanyl is produced in the country, contradicting the Mexican government.
- Venezuela announced Monday that it was severing diplomatic relations with Paraguay after President Santiago Pena expressed his support for opposition presidential candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.
- The US sent 11 Yemeni detainees from its detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Oman, the Pentagon announced Monday.
SPORTS
- Nottingham Forest seal 3-0 away victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers
Nottingham Forest beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 on the road in the 20th week of the English Premier League on Monday.
Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring with a close-range finish in the seventh minute at Molineux Stadium.
Chris Wood netted his 12th goal of the season in the 44th minute, doubling Nottingham Forest's lead just before halftime.
Taiwo Awoniyi added a late goal to seal a 3-0 victory.
- AC Milan win Italian Super Cup with late goal from Tammy Abraham
AC Milan completed a comeback victory against Inter Milan to claim the Italian Super Cup on Monday, with Tammy Abraham scoring a stoppage-time goal.
Inter Milan took the lead with a close-range finish from Lautaro Martinez in first-half stoppage time, followed by Mehdi Taremi doubling the advantage in the 47th minute.
AC Milan responded with a free-kick goal by Theo Hernandez in the 52nd minute and Christian Pulisic equalized in the 80th minute.
Tammy Abraham scored a late goal in the 93rd minute to put Milan ahead 3-2 at Al Awal Park at King Saud University in Riyadh.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- US expresses concern over China's 'malicious' cyber activity
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen raised concern Monday over China's "malicious" cyber activity.
Yellen "expressed serious concern about malicious cyber activity by PRC state-sponsored actors and its impact on the bilateral relationship," the Treasury Department said in a statement after a virtual meeting between the secretary and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
The two officials discussed economic developments, with Yellen raising concerns over China’s non-market policies and practices and industrial overcapacity.
- France aiming to lower budget deficit amid political, economic uncertainty
France's new government said Monday that it aims to lower its budget deficit to between 5% and 5.5% of gross domestic product, an improvement from last year’s estimated 6.1% but still above the EU’s 3% target.
Speaking to France Inter radio, Finance Minister Eric Lombard described the country’s budget situation as “serious,” expressing concern over the deficit and outlining plans to generate €50 billion ($52.07 billion) this year.
He emphasized that businesses were uneasy over the absence of a finalized budget after the previous government was ousted for trying to pass its 2025 social security spending proposal without parliamentary approval.
