Gantz elected Israel’s parliament speaker, signaling possible deal with Netanyahhu
Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz was elected on Thursday as speaker of parliament in a surprise move that appeared to herald a political partnership that could keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in power.
Lebanon extends coronavirus lockdown by two weeks
Lebanon is extending a lockdown by two weeks until April 12 to combat the spread of the coronavirus, its information minister said on Thursday, while introducing strict new steps that seemed to amount to an overnight curfew in all but name.
Lockdown, what lockdown? UK begins tougher action against those ignoring shutdown
Britain brought in tough measures on Thursday to curb the spread of coronavirus and ensure people obey the government’s virtual lockdown which many thousands are feared to have so far ignored.
London’s homeless stuck on the streets during coronavirus lockdown
As most of Britain headed indoors to wait out the coronavirus, rough sleeper Mohamed Sisi stayed on a patch of pavement opposite London’s Charing Cross rail station with nowhere else to go.
UK pledges 210 million pounds to global push for coronavirus vaccine
Britain pledged on Thursday to contribute 210 million pounds ($253 million) to the international coalition to find a vaccine against coronavirus, which it said made it the biggest contributor.
G20 to do ‘whatever it takes’ to combat coronavirus
The Group of 20 major economies will do “whatever it takes” to overcome the coronavirus crisis and said on Thursday they are injecting $5 trillion into the global economy though national measures as part of their efforts to lessen its impact.
‘All we have left is to hope and pray’: Travellers stranded in airport by coronavirus
Russian hostel manager Valerie Azure has spent the past three nights sleeping on the floor of a Malaysian airport along with her young son, after Southeast Asian nations sealed borders and cancelled flights in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Austria extends lockdown of Tyrol ski resorts
A lockdown of Austrian ski resorts that have become hotspots for the spread of the coronavirus in Europe will be extended until Easter Monday, the governor of the province of Tyrol said on Thursday.
Swiss coronavirus cases top 10,000, restrictions held in ‘marathon’ fight
Switzerland’s confirmed coronavirus infections jumped to more than 10,000 cases on Thursday, as health officials warned it was too early to lift restrictions on gatherings and border controls aimed at slowing the epidemic.
Magnitude 6.0 earthquake hits 196 km SE of Budta, Philippines: EMSC
An earthquake of 6.0 magnitude struck 196 kilometres southeast of Budta, Philippines, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said on Thursday.
