Iran announces low poll turnout, blames coronavirus ‘propaganda’
Iran on Sunday announced a 42% turnout in its parliamentary election, the lowest rate since the 1979 Islamic revolution, while its top leader said Tehran’s enemies played up the new coronavirus threat to dissuade people from voting.
China braces for inevitable big hit to economy from virus, says Xi
China will step up policy adjustments to help cushion the blow to the economy from a coronavirus outbreak that authorities are still trying to control, President Xi Jinping was quoted as saying on Sunday.
Concern over coronavirus spread grows with cases jumping in South Korea, Italy and Iran
International concern about the spread of coronavirus outside China grew on Sunday with sharp rises in infections in three countries – South Korea, Italy and Iran.
Italy races to contain coronavirus outbreak as cases rise over 100
Italy scrambled on Sunday to contain the biggest outbreak of coronavirus in Europe, shutting off the worst affected towns and cancelling a string of public events as the number of those infected jumped above 100.
Trial to begin of former French PM Fillon over fake jobs scandal
Former French prime minister Francois Fillon and his wife Penelope go on trial on Monday over a fake jobs scandal that wrecked his 2017 run for president and opened the Elysee Palace door for Emmanuel Macron.
Venice Carnival to be halted due to coronavirus outbreak
The last two days of the Venice Carnival, which draws tourists from around the world, have been canceled because of an outbreak of coronavirus, the head of the Veneto region Luca Zaia said on Sunday.
France stands by Greece over tensions in Aegean Sea: French defense minister
France will stand by Greece and Cyprus, supporting both in their disputes with Turkey over maritime zones in the Mediterranean, French Defence Minister Florence Parly was quoted saying in a Greek newspaper on Sunday.
Saudi-led coalition says it foiled Red Sea attack by Yemen’s Houthis
Naval forces from the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen on Sunday foiled an “imminent terrorist” attack by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in the southern Red Sea, a major commercial shipping channel, the coalition said.
Iran says turnout in parliamentary election was 42%: TV
Iran’s interior minister said on Sunday that turnout in the country’s parliamentary election on Feb. 21 was around 42%, state TV reported, the lowest participation since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution that swept the clerical rulers into power.
Nine dead in Turkey after quake hits rural Iran border region
Nine people died and hundreds of buildings collapsed in southeastern Turkey on Sunday after a magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck near the border with Iran, injuring dozens in villages and towns in both countries, government officials said.
