March 2020 – Page 71 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

China closes 1st ‘pop-up’ coronavirus hospital, built in 10 days, after last group of recovered patients discharged

Posted on March 2, 2020March 2, 2020By Editor

Authorities in Wuhan have closed the city’s first makeshift hospital after discharging the last batch of 34 recovered coronavirus patients, as the rate of infection in the city has dropped dramatically. … Read More >China closes 1st ‘pop-up’ coronavirus hospital, built in 10 days, after last group of recovered patients discharged

Russia

Ceasefire in Idlib will hopefully be achieved after talks with Putin – Erdogan ahead of upcoming meeting in Moscow

Posted on March 2, 2020March 2, 2020By Editor

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has high hopes for his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin, saying he’s optimistic an agreement will be reached with the Russian leader on ending hostilities in Idlib, Syria. … Read More >Ceasefire in Idlib will hopefully be achieved after talks with Putin – Erdogan ahead of upcoming meeting in Moscow

Russia

Unfadable courage: Putin, Shoigu commemorate paratroopers who heroically died in battle against extremists two decades ago

Posted on March 2, 2020March 2, 2020By Editor

Twenty years after heroic but vastly outnumbered Pskov paratroopers bravely battled jihadist forces in the Russian republic of Chechnya, President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu have honored the fallen. … Read More >Unfadable courage: Putin, Shoigu commemorate paratroopers who heroically died in battle against extremists two decades ago

World

Iran says US has no legal right to sign peace deal with Taliban and determine future of Afghanistan

Posted on March 1, 2020March 1, 2020By Editor

Iran has said that, despite cutting a deal with the Taliban, the US has absolutely no right to decide Afghanistan’s future, and that intra-Afghan peace talks should be supervised by the UN, not Washington. … Read More >Iran says US has no legal right to sign peace deal with Taliban and determine future of Afghanistan

Sputnik Turkey under attack: Russian agency’s lead editor held by police, 3 staffers questioned by after assault by nationalists

Posted on March 1, 2020March 1, 2020By Editor

Istanbul police have detained the head of the Turkish branch of Russian news outlet Sputnik. In Ankara, three employees of the news agency were questioned by prosecutors after coming under attack by Turkish nationalists. … Read More >Sputnik Turkey under attack: Russian agency’s lead editor held by police, 3 staffers questioned by after assault by nationalists

OSCE condemns harassment of Russian agency journalists in Turkey amid reported detention over ‘professional activity’

Posted on March 1, 2020March 1, 2020By Editor

The OSCE’s media freedom spokesman condemned the harassment of three employees of Sputnik Turkey in Ankara. Contact with the journalists was lost as they went to the police after being accosted by nationalists. … Read More >OSCE condemns harassment of Russian agency journalists in Turkey amid reported detention over ‘professional activity’

Blasts rock Baghdad’s Green Zone, reports say missiles struck in vicinity of US embassy

Posted on March 1, 2020March 1, 2020By Editor

Explosions have been reported in the heavily fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, hosting the US embassy and other foreign diplomatic and military installations. Rockets reportedly fell near the US compound. … Read More >Blasts rock Baghdad’s Green Zone, reports say missiles struck in vicinity of US embassy

Turkish military shoots down 2 Syrian jets as Syria fends off Turkey’s drone attack

Posted on March 1, 2020March 1, 2020By Editor

Turkey has shot down two Syrian warplanes in Idlib as part of its offensive in the area. The Syrian Army destroyed several Turkish drones on the same day Turkey’s UAVs penetrated Syria’s airspace well beyond Idlib. … Read More >Turkish military shoots down 2 Syrian jets as Syria fends off Turkey’s drone attack

‘Apartheid-like conditions’: Former UNGA president slams Trump-Netanyahu ‘deal of the century’ plan for Palestine

Posted on March 1, 2020March 1, 2020By Editor

Trump’s plan to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will bring anything but peace to the region, former Danish FM and UNGA President Mogens Lykketoft told RT, as it only cements apartheid-like conditions for the Palestinians. … Read More >‘Apartheid-like conditions’: Former UNGA president slams Trump-Netanyahu ‘deal of the century’ plan for Palestine

EU

Almost 10,000 migrants ‘stopped at Greek border’, but some have managed to slip through (VIDEO)

Posted on March 1, 2020March 1, 2020By Editor

The Greek government said almost 10,000 people were prevented from crossing into the country from Turkey on Saturday. Though stopped at the gate, the migrants are attempting to cut through the border fence or cross the river. … Read More >Almost 10,000 migrants ‘stopped at Greek border’, but some have managed to slip through (VIDEO)