Turkey denies flouting agreement with Russia in Syria’s Idlib province
Turkey dismissed on Saturday Russian accusations that it has flouted de-escalation agreements with Russia and Iran in Syria’s Idlib province, and threatened to take military action in the area if diplomatic efforts with Moscow fail.
Saudis don’t want to de-escalate tensions with Iran, Zarif says
Iran’s foreign minister said on Saturday he did not believe Saudi Arabia wanted to defuse tensions with Iran as it was firmly under the influence of the U.S. campaign to pressure Tehran.
Turkey says Syria dispute won’t affect Russian S-400 defense deal
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that differences over Syria should not affect Ankara’s relations with Moscow or disrupt its contract for the purchase of Russian S-400 missile defenses, Russian news agencies reported.
Chinese tourist in France becomes Europe’s first coronavirus death
An 80-year-old Chinese tourist infected with the coronavirus has died in France, Paris said on Saturday, becoming the first fatality in Europe and the fourth outside mainland China from an epidemic that has rattled the world.
China’s finance ministry issues $1.2 billion in funds for epidemic control efforts
China’s finance ministry on Saturday issued 8 billion yuan ($1.15 billion) in subsidy funds to support local authorities’ epidemic control efforts, 3.5 billion yuan of which are earmarked for Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Turkey looking to re-open northern Cyprus ghost town after 46 years
Turkish and northern Cypriot officials met on Saturday in an abandoned town wrecked by war to discuss potentially re-opening the area after 46 years, a move that Ankara said was a “historic” opportunity to bring tourism and economic benefits.
Latest on coronavirus spreading in China and beyond
Here are latest developments around the coronavirus outbreak:
Over 6,000 bodies found in Burundi’s mass graves
Burundi’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission has found more than 6,000 bodies in six mass graves in Karusi Province, the largest finding since the government launched a nationwide excavation in January.
Who needs an Oscar? I’m popular in U.S. now, jokes Ukrainian leader
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a former comic actor, joked on Saturday that after dreaming of Oscars and popularity in the United States, he had achieved at least the fame part through President Donald Trump’s impeachment.
Xi says China must keep economic, social order while battling coronavirus
China must make every effort to maintain economic and social control as it battles the coronavirus epidemic, and avoid causing panic that could lead to secondary “disasters,” President Xi Jinping told senior officials earlier this month.
