ISTANBUL -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that all international flights would be cancelled as part of the fight against COVID-19.

Announcing new measures against the spread of the outbreak during a televised live broadcast, Erdogan also noted that inter-city travel across the country would be subject to the permission of governors in each province. (Turkey-Int'l Flights-Coronavirus)

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TEHRAN -- At least 80 inmates escaped from a prison in Saqqez city in Iran's western province of Kurdistan on Friday, semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The riot erupted amid the concerns about the raging novel coronavirus pandemic in the country, the report said. (Iran-COVID-19-Prisoners' Escape)

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RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia denied on Friday talks with Russia over increasing the number of OPEC+ countries.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the Saudi energy ministry said the energy ministers of the two countries have had no contact over any increase in the number of OPEC+ countries, nor a possible joint agreement to balance oil markets. (Saudi-Russia-OPEC+)

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BEIRUT -- A senior UN official urged Arab governments to establish a regional fund to support Arab countries amid the COVID-19 outbreak, local Lebanese media reported Friday.

"The fund aims at helping the least developed countries, while ensuring an accelerated response to the needs of Arab people, and providing relief in cases of food shortages and health emergencies," UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. (UN Official-COVID-19) Enditem

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