Syria regains World Bank funding after Saudi Arabia and Qatar pay $15.5 million debt
The unpaid amount, owed to the International Development Association (IDA) — the World Bank’s fund for the poorest nations — was fully settled by May 12, reopening Syria’s eligibility for new projects, the bank said in a statement.
“As of May 12, 2025, there are no outstanding IDA credit balances for the Syrian Arab Republic,” the statement read, adding that any future cooperation will depend on Syria meeting World Bank policies.
This development came shortly after US President Donald Trump announced at the 2025 Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh that he would lift “brutal and crippling” US sanctions on Syria, which had been imposed before the fall of the Assad regime.
The day after Trump’s announcement, he met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia — marking the first meeting between the two countries’ leaders in 25 years.
Bashar Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on December 8, 2024, ending the Baath Party’s long-standing control since 1963.
Qatar announced the launch of an air bridge Saturday to deliver aid to Afghanistan following a devastating earthquake, one day after confirming that n...
Ukrainian drones hit the roof of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant training centre, causing no major damage and no increase in radiation levels, the Russ...
Russian energy giant Gazprom has signed agreements with Kazakhstan and Mongolia to boost gas cooperation, including increased deliveries to Kazakhstan...
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to broaden their strategic partnership and enhance mutually be...
Over 100,000 people have been evacuated in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province as floodwaters continue to rise, officials said on Friday....
Ukrainian drones hit the roof of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant training centre, causing no major damage and no increase in radiation levels, the Russian-installed administration of the Russia-held plant in Ukraine said on Saturday.
Russian energy giant Gazprom has signed agreements with Kazakhstan and Mongolia to boost gas cooperation, including increased deliveries to Kazakhstan in 2025–2026 and a study on gasification in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to broaden their strategic partnership and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, the Uzbek presidency said on Friday following a phone call between the two leaders.
Over 100,000 people have been evacuated in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province as floodwaters continue to rise, officials said on Friday.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Qatar announced the launch of an air bridge Saturday to deliver aid to Afghanistan following a devastating earthquake, one day after confirming that nine aircraft had already arrived in Kabul.
Ukrainian drones hit the roof of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant training centre, causing no major damage and no increase in radiation levels, the Russian-installed administration of the Russia-held plant in Ukraine said on Saturday.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to broaden their strategic partnership and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, the Uzbek presidency said on Friday following a phone call between the two leaders.
Over 100,000 people have been evacuated in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province as floodwaters continue to rise, officials said on Friday.
Nearly a week after a magnitude 6 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, more than 2,200 people have died and tens of thousands are homeless. Residents of Bambakot and other villages are living under tents, too afraid to return to their damaged homes.
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