Damascus stated that the US must withdraw from Syria.  “Presence of the US in Syria is illegal. The Americans must leave the military base that they established in the town of al-Tanf,” stated the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria, Walid Muallem, at a press conference in Damascus, Mehr News Agency reports.

"Do not believe the statements about the security agreement in southern Syria until the United States withdraws its troops from the al-Tanf," the minister said.

Muallem thanked Iran for …

Russian businesses’ and the wealthiest citizens’ funds continue to flow into offshore zones through the sale of company shares and the issuance of loans, Russia’s Central Bank reported.

In the last year, $42 billion (2.5 trillion rubles) flowed out of Russia into offshore accounts. This was 15% more than the federal budget spent to support the national economy, and twice as much as the amount allocated to education and healthcare combined. Cyprus remains the “magnet” attracting Russian money, …

Russian grain traders once again have problems supplying the primary export market. Egypt, which accounts for roughly one quarter of all Russia’s wheat exports, has rejected a large 63 ton batch, finanz.ru reports.

The grain was transported by ship for Egypt’s state GASC (General Authority For Supply Commodities), but Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture refused to accept it, having detected an above-normal concentration of ergot – a fungal parasite which is toxic to humans.

Whereas the …