Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - a podcast by TRT World

*) Turkey and Greece agree to resume eastern Mediterranean talks

Turkey and Greece have agreed to resume talks aimed at addressing their contested maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean.

A statement from Turkish President Erdogan's office said both countries were ready to restart talks after four years.

The Greek Foreign Ministry said the two NATO allies will resume “exploratory talks” at a brief meeting in Istanbul.

*) World powers clash, virus stirs anger at virtual UN meeting

World leaders have convened electronically for an unprecedented high-level UN meeting, where China and Iran clashed with the US and officials raged over the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Turkish President Erdogan criticised how “countries were left on their own” at the onset of the pandemic.

He also called for the restructuring of the UN Security Council.

The UN chief urged unity in tackling the towering problems of Covid-19, the “economic calamity” it unleashed and the risk of a new Cold War between the US and China.

*) Saudi Arabia to lift ban on Umrah pilgrimage next month

After a seven-month pause due to coronavirus concerns, Saudi Arabia will allow residents to undertake the Muslim Umrah pilgrimage beginning on October 4.

The kingdom will only allow 30 percent of the revised capacity to perform the pilgrimage.

But starting November 1st, the kingdom will allow visitors from countries deemed safe to perform Umrah at 100 percent of the revised capacity.

*) Pakistani court sentences two to death over 2012 factory arson

Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Court has sentenced two former political party activists to death for starting the country’s deadliest industrial fire in 2012.

The blaze at the Baldia garment factory killed more than 260 workers.

The court ruled that the two workers from Pakistan's MQM party started the fire because the factory owners didn't give in to their extortion demands.

And finally.

*) Tesla cheaper battery and cheaper three years away

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said his company aims to achieve a new Tesla model priced at $25,000 within the next three years.

This would be a dramatic markdown from Tesla's cheapest car, the Model 3, that usually ends up costing more than $40,000.

Investors slashed $50 billion from Tesla market value as Musk's announced shied away from "a done deal."

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