Russia hints at Belarus joining it in a unified state in exchange for oil deal: Lukashenko
Moscow has hinted at giving Minsk a deal on energy prices in exchange for Belarus joining Russia in a unified state, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday, the state news agency Belta reported.
Italy’s Renzi boycotts cabinet meet, challenges PM to find a new govt
Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Italy’s government could collapse after his small party boycotted a cabinet meeting over a contested justice reform and the prime minister suggested he was ready to resign.
Philippines to lift Taiwan travel ban
The Philippines will lift a travel ban it had imposed on visitors from Taiwan in a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus, a senior Philippine official and Taiwan’s official news agency said on Friday.
Turkey to oppose Pakistan blacklisting at anti-terrorism finance meet
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said he would help Pakistan stay off a terrorism financing blacklist at a meeting of a global finance watchdog, a move he suggested would counter “political pressure” from Islamabad’s critics.
Griveaux, ally of France’s Macron, withdraws from Paris mayoral race
Benjamin Griveaux, French President Emmanuel Macron’s preferred candidate for Mayor of Paris, said on Friday he had decided to withdraw his candidacy following what he said were “ignoble attacks” on his private life.
New Zealand police find body of missing British hiker
New Zealand police on Friday found the body of a British backpacker who went missing in the South Island after the area was hit by heavy rain and floods.
Lufthansa Group extends China flight cancellations to March 28 over virus outbreak
Germany’s Lufthansa on Friday said it would suspend all flights to mainland China until March 28 due to the new coronavirus, which is spreading in China and around the world.
Italy’s Renzi boycotts cabinet meeting, challenges PM to find a new government
Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said the government could collapse after his small centrist party boycotted a cabinet meeting over a contested justice reform and the prime minister suggested he was ready to resign.
First French nationals repatriated over coronavirus end quarantine
The first group of French nationals repatriated from China due to the coronavirus outbreak returned to the outside world on Friday after two weeks in quarantine.
China says 1,716 health workers infected by coronavirus, six dead
A senior Chinese health official said on Friday 1,716 health workers have been infected by the coronavirus and six of them have died.
