FIRST RUSSIAN-TURKISH PATROL ON SYRIAN HIGHWAY CUT SHORT BY PROTESTSRussia and Turkey cut short their first joint patrol in Syria's Idlib onSunday after rebels and civilians opposed to a ceasefire agreement cut off amain roadway to block its path, according to witnesses and Russian newsagencies.The patrol on the M4 highway in Idlib province was the result of a March 5ceasefire accord between Moscow and Ankara, which back opposing sides inSyria's nine-year war. The ceasefire has largely held since then.Under the deal, which halted hostilities after an escalation of violencethat displaced nearly a million people, Turkish and Russian forces are toestablish a security corridor on either side of the M4, as well as carry outjoint patrols along it.But on Sunday hundreds of civilians and rebels cut off the roadway,rejecting the presence of Russian forces and what they said was an agreementthat did not guarantee their re-settlement after being pushed out byviolence."If the patrols happen without people being able to return to their lands,we oppose them," said Osama Rahal, a military commander with the SyrianNational Army, a Turkey backed rebel group.Protesters, some waving Syrian National Army flags, climbed atop Turkishtanks or stood in their path, according to witnesses. Photos posted by theSyrian Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, showed people lightingfires in the street and forming human chains.The Russian Defence Ministry said the joint patrols were cut short becauseof rebel "provocations" and civilians being used as a human shield, forcingthem to take a shorter route, according to Russian news agency RIA.GANTZ CHOSEN TO FORM NEW ISRAELI GOVTIsrael's president says he has decided to give opposition leader Benny Gantzthe first opportunity to form a new government following an inconclusivenational election this month.President Reuven Rivlin's office announced his decision late Sunday afterconsulting with leaders of all of the parties elected to parliament.Israel's president on Sunday summoned Netanyahu and his challenger, BennyGantz, to an emergency meeting in hopes of breaking the deadlock that hasparalysed the political system for the past year and could threaten thecountry's response to the coronavirus crisis.Rivlin announced the meeting after a day of consultations with the country'spolitical parties ahead of his decision on who should lead Israel's nextgovernment.With rival sides evenly divided following the country's third inconclusiveelection in under a year, a unity government may be the only way out of thedeadlock, which comes as the government confronts an increasingly seriouscoronavirus threat.CORONAVIRUS | AFRICAN NATIONS CLOSE BORDERS, CANCEL FLIGHTS TO CONTAIN COVID-19 SPREADSeveral African governments on March 15 closed borders, canceled flights andimposed strict entry and quarantine requirements to contain the spread ofthe new coronavirus, which has a foothold in at least 26 countries on thecontinent as cases keep rising.South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state ofdisaster and warned the outbreak could have a "potentially lasting" impacton the continent's most-developed economy, which is already in recession.Measures to be taken there include barring travel to and from countries suchas Italy, Germany, China and the United States."Any foreign national who has visited high-risk countries in the past 20days will be denied a visa," he said, adding that South Africans who visitedtargeted countries would be subjected to testing and quarantine whenreturning home.South Africa, which has recorded 61 cases, will also prohibit gatherings ofmore than 100 people, Ramaphosa said.Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said his government was suspending travelfrom any country with reported COVID-19 cases."Only Kenyan citizens, and any foreigners with valid residence permits willbe allowed to come in, provided they proceed on self-quarantine," he toldthe nation in a televised address.The ban would take effect within 48 hours and remain in place for at least30 days, he said.RATE CUTS: US GOES TO ALMOST ZERO AND LAUNCHES HUGE STIMULUS PROGRAMMEThe US has cut interest rates to almost zero and launched a $700bn stimulusprogramme in a bid to protect the economy from the effect of coronavirus.It is part of a co-ordinated action announced on Sunday in the UK, Japan,eurozone, Canada, and Switzerland.In a news conference Fed chairman Jerome Powell said the pandemic was havinga "profound" impact on the economy.US President Donald Trump said the emergency action "makes me very happy".The Fed has cut rates to a target range of 0% to 0.25%, and said it would itbegin buying bonds - quantitative easing - a move that pumps money directlyinto the economy.The central bank had already cut interest rates by half a percentage pointafter an emergency meeting on 3 March.It was the first rate cut outside of a regularly scheduled policy meetingsince the financial crisis in 2008.Stock markets have plunged in recent days amid fears that economic paralysiswill wipe out corporate profits and spark a global recession.But early indications suggest the Fed's move may not shore up financialmarkets. US stock market futures, which anticipate the direction of shareswhen trading begins, were almost 4% down.