Saudi Arabia imposes 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina
Saudi Arabia imposed a 24-hour curfew in the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina on Thursday, extending measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 1,700 people in the kingdom and killed 16.
Portugal extends state of emergency to halt spread of coronavirus
Portugal’s parliament approved the extension of a state of emergency by another 15 days on Thursday to stop the spread of the coronavirus, as the number of deaths from the disease rose over 200.
Coronavirus compounds Lebanon’s woes, many struggle for food
Battered by Lebanon’s economic crisis, Hassan Zeitar was already struggling to keep his family fed when the coronavirus lockdown stripped him of the little money he made as a minibus driver.
Spain’s coronavirus deaths rise above 10,000, yet there’s “glimpse of hope”
Spain’s death toll from the coronavirus rose above 10,000 on Thursday after a record 950 people died overnight, but health officials saw a glimmer of hope with the epidemic slowing in terms of proportional daily increases in infections and deaths.
Indonesia needs ‘massive, rapid’ testing for coronavirus
Indonesia needs to perform “massive” testing to reveal the full spread of the coronavirus and ensure that people who travel home during the approaching Muslim holiday isolate themselves, the governor of the archipelago’s most populous province said.
Red Cross to deliver supplies for COVID-19 patients in separatist eastern Ukraine
A planeload of medical supplies for COVID-19 patients and other relief goods has arrived in Ukraine to help people enduring a six-year-old conflict in the country’s east, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Thursday.
As coronavirus spreads, U.N. seeks Yemen urgent peace talks resumption
The United Nations and Western allies are pointing to the threat of coronavirus to push Yemen’s combatants to agree to fresh talks to end a war that has left millions vulnerable to disease, the U.N. and sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday…
Twitter removes accounts linked to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, other countries
Twitter took down thousands of accounts linked to Egypt, Honduras, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Serbia on Thursday for either taking directions from the governments or promoting pro-government content.
EU announces work scheme, aid for farmers, fishermen amid coronavirus pandemic
The European Commission proposed on Thursday a package of measures to soften the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the EU economy, including a short-time work scheme and easier access to funds for farmers and fishermen.
EU executive chief concerned Hungary emergency measures go too far
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed concern on Thursday that coronavirus restriction measures taken by Hungary went too far and insisted they should be limited in time and subject to scrutiny.
