Israeli PM loses majority after lawmaker quits
Israeli PM Naftali Bennett lost his razor-thin parliamentary majority last week after a lawmaker from his nationalist party quit, leaving his government with a more precarious grip on power but in no immediate danger of collapse. The walkout by Idit Silman, a step she said she took on ideological grounds, left Bennett in control of 60 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. As the assembly is in spring recess, Bennett was spared of any imminent no-confidence votes. To succeed, such votes would need the backing of at least 61 lawmakers, including Arab legislators who are outside the ruling coalition but also longtime political enemies of the current opposition leader, former PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Canada to ban foreigners from buying houses
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has proposed a two-year ban on some foreigners buying homes. The measure comes as the country grapples with some of the worst housing affordability issues in the world. Prices have jumped more than 20%, pushing the average home in Canada to nearly £495,000 - more than nine times household income. But industry analysts say it's not clear a ban on foreign buyers will address the problem. Data on purchases by foreign buyers in Canada is limited, but research suggests they amount for a small fraction of the market. "I don't think it's going to have a huge impact," said Ben Myers, president of advisory firm Bullpenn Research & Consulting in Toronto.
Some Apple staff threaten to quit
Tech Giant Apple has asked its employees to return to office for one day a week starting April 11. But some employees aren’t happy with the move and are threatening to quit. CEO Tim Cook’s plan is to introduce a hybrid schedule, which will enforce two in-office days every week by May 2, and three days by May 23. The New York Post reported that a self-described Apple employee posted this on a message board called Blind: “I don’t give a single f*** about ever coming back to work here”. The message board had numerous anonymous messages from other employees as well. One of the employees cited the transit as part of their reason for leaving: “I already know I won’t be able to deal with the commute and sitting around for 8 hours.”
Khashoggi murder trial transferred to Saudi
A Turkish court ruled to suspend the trial in absentia of 26 Saudis accused in the gruesome killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and for the case to be transferred to Saudi Arabia.
Kaghoggi was killed on Oct. 2, 2018, at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. He had gone into the consulate for an appointment to collect documents required for him to marry his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz. He never emerged from the building. Turkish officials alleged that Khashoggi was killed and then dismembered with a bone saw inside the consulate by a team of Saudi agents sent to Istanbul. The group included a forensic doctor, intelligence and security officers and individuals who worked for the crown prince's office. His remains have not been found.
