SPAIN: A Spanish passenger evacuated from the cruise ship at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus, the Health Ministry announced today, as the World Health Organisation said it had now confirmed 11 cases, including three people from the cruise who died.

The passenger with the new confirmed case was in quarantine in a military hospital in Madrid.

OCCUPIED WEST BANK: Israeli bulldozers tore down dozens of Palestinian shops on the edge of a town south-east of Jerusalem this week, it was reported today.

Israel says the demolitions in al-Eizariya were needed to make way for a road serving Palestinian communities. But Hagit Ofran, director of anti-settlement group Peace Now, said the shops “were demolished where Israel is planning to build a new road that will divert all Palestinian traffic to that road so that they can close down the whole area for Palestinians.” 

LEBANON: Hezbollah leader Nain Kassem called on the government today to withdraw from direct talks with Israel.

Beirut and Tel Aviv are scheduled to hold two days of talks in Washington starting on Thursday.

Mr Kassem said direct negotiations benefit Israel and are “concessions by Lebanese authorities.” He said Lebanon’s government should instead resort to indirect negotiations with Israel, as in previous years.

MALAYSIA: Authorities searched today for 14 missing Indonesians after a boat sank while carrying over 30 people.

The maritime office in central Perak state said that 23 were rescued by a local fishing vessel on Monday after the boat capsized off the island of Pangkor in Perak.