Russians bypass coronavirus travel ban via Belarus, say transport sources
Russians are using Belarus as a springboard to travel abroad as their country’s international borders remain largely closed as part of efforts to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, transport sector sources say.
Turkey dismisses Egyptian proposal for Libya ceasefire: Hurriyet
Turkey on Wednesday dismissed Egypt’s proposal for a ceasefire in Libya, saying the plan aimed to save Khalifa Haftar after the collapse of his offensive to control the capital Tripoli, Hurriyet newspaper reported.
For virus-tamer Merkel, global alliances trumped nationalism
Travelling in convoy through the Chinese city of Wuhan last September, Angela Merkel called a halt. As her party crossed a bridge over the Yangtze river, the German Chancellor wanted to hear about a grand gesture by revolutionary leader Mao Zedong.
South Korea acts to stop defectors sending aid, messages to North Korea
A day after North Korea suspended communication hotlines with South Korea over defectors who send propaganda and contraband into the North, South Korea said it would take legal action against two organisations that conduct such operations.
Germany extends corona travel warning for non-European states
Germany will extend its travel warning for non-European countries until the end of August but lift border controls to all its neighbours by mid-June, ministers said on Wednesday.
Faster than machines, jobless Palestinian graduates bring in Gaza’s crops
Covering the ground five times faster than a tractor for subsistence wages, 40 Palestinian graduates have teamed to pick crops in Gaza, after failing to launch the careers they studied for in a territory where unemployment runs at above 50%.
Battling Somalia’s epidemic, a grieving British doctor finds peace
British doctor Jihan Mohamud travelled to Somalia for the first time last year to bury her father in the land of his birth.
Austria lifting checks at Italian border and for arrivals from 30 states
Austria is lifting checks at its border with Italy and ending quarantine requirements for arrivals from 30 other European countries as of June 16, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Wednesday.
Philippine officials visit disputed South China Sea island
The Philippines’ defence minister and military officials have made a trip to a disputed South China Sea island just a few miles from a base built by China, a visit that could draw criticism from Beijing.
Iran urges Russia, China to resist U.S. push to extend arms embargo
Iran on Wednesday called on Russia and China to resist a push by Washington to extend a U.N.-imposed arms embargo due to expire in October under Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six powers.
