Syria has suggested that “cross border humanitarian aid” to rebel-held areas is discriminatory and a violation of sovereignty, and is demanding that all foreign aid to the country should flow through the government

The presidents of Russia, Turkey and Iran met as part of the Astana Process at a time when Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been declaring his intent to launch a fresh invasion of northern part of Syria

The elections will be held on May 26 amid a deteriorating economic situation, badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union and the decade of war in the country