Israel's ex-military chief Benny Gantz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival, submitted himself Thursday as a candidate for speaker of parliament, a move that could lead to an emergency alliance between the two. The parliament announced that Gantz was the only candidate to succeed...

The Iraqi government said Thursday that it will extend a countrywide lockdown it imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic until April 11. Schools, universities, shopping centres and other large gathering places will remain closed, as will the country's international airports....

Iran on Thursday announced 157 new deaths from coronavirus, raising the official number of fatalities to 2,234, as it slapped a ban on intercity travel to try to curb the spread. Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour also said that 2,389 new cases have been confirmed in the past 24...

The Israeli parliament will select a new speaker Thursday after the Supreme Court forced the vote amid an unprecedented challenge to Israeli democracy unfolding amid the country's battle against the rapid spread of coronavirus. Outgoing Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein resigned in protest...