More coronavirus cases in Iran’s Qom; religious gatherings under threat
Iranian health officials urged all religious gatherings to be suspended in Qom, news agency ISNA said on Thursday, after two more people tested positive for the coronavirus in the holy city, where two died of it this week.
South Sudan to form unity government by Saturday deadline
Oil-rich South Sudan’s former rebel leader and its president will form a unity government by Saturday’s deadline, they announced on Thursday, quashing fears the deadline would be pushed back again.
Britain must stick to fair competition commitments: Luxembourg PM
Britain must stick to the level playing field commitments it made in a political declaration that accompanied the legal Brexit treaty, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said on Thursday.
Japanese data on cruise ship coronavirus infections backs quarantine strategy
Newly released data from a Japanese research institute appears to back the government’s case that its quarantine strategy for the Diamond Princess cruise ship was successful in stemming contagion of the coronavirus among passengers.
Thai court says anti-abortion laws unconstitutional
Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled that existing laws criminalizing abortion are unconstitutional and ordered them to be amended, paving the way for clearer regulation for reproductive rights.
Italy government wins Senate confidence vote on wiretapping reform
The Italian government on Thursday won a confidence vote in the upper house of parliament on a decree that will make it easier for magistrates to use spy software in investigations into public sector corruption.
German gunman kills nine in shisha bar rampage; extremist motive suspected
A suspected right-wing extremist shot dead nine people, some of them migrants from Turkey, in an overnight rampage through a German city before killing himself, officials said.
Merkel: Many signs shooter in Germany acted on right-wing, racist motives
Chancellor Angela Merkel said there were multiple clues that a suspected gunman in the German city of Hanau had acted out of racism and right-wing extremism, adding that authorities would do everything possible to clarify the background to the attack.
France, Germany sign contract to develop fighter jet prototype
France and Germany signed a 150 million euro ($161.84 million) deal on Thursday to develop a prototype of the next generation fighter jet, a project seen as vital for Europe to defend itself without relying on allies in an increasingly uncertain world….
Kremlin accuses U.S. of causing Russia’s diplomats visa problems
The Kremlin said on Thursday that the United States was causing problems for Russian diplomats by not issuing them visas in good time, something it said was impeding their work at the United Nations.
