Ivory Coast’s Ouattara says he won’t run for re-election
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said on Thursday he would not stand for re-election in October, ending speculation about his political future ahead of a vote seen as a crucial test of stability.
Britain moves to trying to delay coronavirus spread
Britain is moving into the second of four phases in its battle plan to tackle the spread of coronavirus, England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said on Thursday, after confirmed cases jumped across the country.
UK health minister warns of ‘tough’ few weeks ahead
British health minister Matt Hancock warned on Thursday of “tough” weeks ahead in the battle to combat the spread of coronavirus, but added that the government was not planning to shut schools and universities at this stage.
Egypt registers first coronavirus case in an Egyptian national returning from Europe
Egypt registered the first coronavirus case in an Egyptian national who had returned from Serbia via France, a joint statement from the health ministry and the World Health Organization said on Thursday.
South Africa confirms first case of coronavirus: health ministry
South Africa on Thursday confirmed a case of coronavirus, the health ministry said, the country’s first case of the deadly disease sweeping through the world.
Putin begins talks with Erdogan on Syria in search of ceasefire
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday began talks over a potential ceasefire in northern Syria with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan by offering condolences over the recent killing of Turkish soldiers there.
India shuts Delhi schools, imposes new travel restrictions over coronavirus
India shut all primary schools in the capital New Delhi until the end of March on Thursday and imposed new restrictions on travel from Italy and South Korea as part of efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Palestinian Authority bars foreign tourists from West Bank over coronavirus
The Palestinian Authority on Thursday ordered hotels in the West Bank to stop receiving foreign tourists after four suspected cases of the coronavirus were found in the town of Bethlehem.
Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity ordered closed over coronavirus fears
Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity was ordered closed on Thursday due to concern over the coronavirus, the Palestinian Tourism Ministry said.
Coronavirus deprives nearly 300 million students of their schooling: UNESCO
Almost 300 million students worldwide faced weeks at home on Thursday as authorities closed schools in more than a dozen countries in an attempt to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, UNESCO said.
