Ineffective Chinese Vaccines Hurt Turkey's Rollout; Authorities Demand Apology from Draghi

LOCAL NEWS

• Opposition leader says Govt holding the Coronavirus council hostage and is unable to do its job due to interference from Erdogan.
  • Comes as experts recommend tighter restrictions ahead of Ramadan. Govt seemingly in favour of a shutdown vs a full lockdown in order to keep production and distribution channels open – decision is expected this week
• China CDC official admits Sinopharm & Sinovac vaccines are largely ineffective – Turkey is almost exclusively dependent on the two, having administered at least 18m first doses.
  • Virus cases in Istanbul have increased 10x in March and experts are warning PCR tests are increasingly showing false negative results
• Germany declares Turkey a high-incidence area for covid, warning citizens not to travel there for non-essential trips as of yesterday. US also suspends youth visas for Turkey, given the high infection rate.
• Turkey suspends $83m purchase of helicopters from Italian company following PM Draghi calling Erdogan a dictator, fraying tensions with the EU country. Turkish authorities are demanding an official apology
• Erdogan walks a fine line between Russia and Ukraine during Zelenski's visit. Erdogan called for a peaceful solution between Ukraine & Russia, calling for a return to the Minsk agreement (in line with Russia's position) – which was somewhat of a first for Turkey.
  • Also remained committed to the non-recognition of Crimea's annexation.
  • Defense ministers, however, gave differing stories on whether Turkey will provide drones to Ukraine, with Ukraine saying arms contracts were affirmed and Akar saying Turkey desired to see only a peaceful solution