Uzbekistan

The new report by US NGO Global Financial Integrity entitled 'Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2004-2013' rings alarm bells about the amount of 'black money' leaving the four Balkan countries each year.

The first face-to-face meeting which took place between senior Turkish and Russian officials in Belgrade on Dec. 3 has proven the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who suggested Moscow's reaction to Turkey's downing its warplane would not be a short-term act. 

An Uzbek national has been charged in Istanbul for plotting to kill a leading Uzbek dissident, according to prosecutors.

The suspect, identified as M.D., appeared in court late Dec. 3 and was held in custody on a charge of plotting to kill Mohammad Salih, who heads the Uzbekistan People's Movement, and his son Timur.

Russia plans to strengthen the control of food imports from Turkey by performing additional border and production checks.

The Russian government authorised the federal agricultural supervision agency, Rosselkhoznadzor, to strengthen control over agricultural products and food imports from Turkey and organise additional checks at borders and production plants in Turkey.

Russia will strengthen control over food supplies from Turkey and will perform additional border and production checks, the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture said on Nov. 26, as reported by Russian TASS news agency.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and business leaders are due to return on Oct. 28 evening from a week-long tour of Central Asia after striking business deals worth more than $26 billion.

Iran will be invited to participate in talks in Vienna on Oct. 30 to discuss ending the conflict in Syria, a dialogue aimed at finding a framework for political transition in Damascus, the U.S. State Department said on Oct. 27. 

Dozens of ISIS-connected suspects, including 24 aged under 18 years, were being trained in Turkey for the Islamic State in preparation for operations in Syria and Iraq.

A total of 24 of around 50 suspects of Tajik and Uzbek origin, who were detained for having links to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Istanbul on Oct. 18, have been revealed to be children being trained in basement apartments in Istanbul's Pendik and Ba?ak?ehir districts, daily Vatan has reported.

The education and rights of girls were discussed at a conference in Istanbul titled "Empowered Girls, Strong Tomorrows," participated in by the Ayd?n Do?an Foundation and representatives from the United Nations.

The conference was held to mark the U.N.'s International Day of the Girl Child, which aims to promote girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.