EU experts agree pushbacks at borders inappropriate to tackle virus
EU government experts have agreed that blocking cross-border movement within the bloc of people with coronavirus symptoms would be counter-productive and that quarantine was the preferred option, EU officials said on Thursday.
Two more people die from coronavirus in Italy: civil protection agency
Two more people have died in Italy from coronavirus, bringing the death toll from the worst outbreak of the disease yet seen in Europe to 14, the Civil Protection agency said in a statement on Thursday.
Russia suspends some flights between Russia and Iran over coronavirus
Russia will suspend some flights to and from Iran from Friday, except those operated by its national carrier Aeroflot and Iranian airline Mahan Air, the Russian Ministry of Transport said on Thursday.
Russia conducts first ship-based hypersonic missile test: TASS
Russia successfully test-launched its Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missile from a military vessel for the first time early last month, the TASS news agency said on Thursday, citing two military sources.
Former European leaders say Trump’s Middle East peace plan akin to apartheid
Fifty former European prime ministers and foreign ministers have condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan in an open letter, saying it would create an apartheid-like situation in occupied Palestinian territory.
Schools shut, travel curbed as world races to fight coronavirus
Governments battling coronavirus epidemics from Iran to Australia shut schools, canceled big events and stocked up on medical supplies on Thursday in a race to contain the outbreak’s rapid global spread.
‘Are you real?’ Putin quashes rumors he uses a body double
Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged he was offered the chance to use a body double to make appearances in public for security reasons, but said he declined the offer and never used one.
Battle rages over strategic Syrian town of Saraqeb as humanitarian catastrophe unfolds
Syrian rebels backed by Turkish forces said on Thursday they had recaptured the crossroads town of Saraqeb, marking a first big push-back of a Syrian government offensive.
Lebanon health ministry confirms third case of coronavirus, NNA reports
Lebanon confirmed the country’s third case of coronavirus on Thursday, after a man arriving from Iran on Feb. 24 tested positive, the health ministry said, according to news agency NNA.
U.S. grants sanctions waiver to ease humanitarian aid to Iran
The United States on Thursday granted a license to allow for certain humanitarian trade transactions with Iran’s sanctioned central bank, a move it said was in step with the formalization of a Swiss humanitarian aid channel.
