The international stories making headlines around the world today.
Israel's Netanyahu secures election victory: Israeli TV channels
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main centrist rival, Benny Gantz. Photo: AP / Ariel Schalit / Sebastian Scheiner
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has won a record fifth term in office despite running neck-and-neck with his challenger Benny Gantz, the country's three main television channels say.
With 97 percent of the votes in Israel's general election counted, neither of the candidates' parties had captured a ruling majority but Netanyahu was clearly in a strong position to form a coalition government with other right-wing factions that have backed him.
The closely contested race was widely seen in Israel as a referendum on Netanyahu's character and record in the face of corruption allegations. He faces possible indictment in three graft cases, and has denied wrongdoing in all of them.
- Reuters
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New York faces Measles outbreak
Signs advertising free measles vaccines and information about measles are displayed at the Rockland County Health Department, in Pomona, NY. Photo: AP
A public emergency has been declared in an area of New York City due to a measles outbreak.
The mayor Bill de Blasio has ordered all residents to get vaccinated or face fines in a part of northwest Brooklyn.
The area has a high ultra-Orthodox Jewish population, which opposes vaccination on religious grounds
Mayor de Blasio announced the unusual order amid what he said was a measles crisis where more than 250 people have contracted the disease since September. Officials blamed the outbreak on "anti-vaxxers" spreading false information.
- AP
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Theresa May to plead for Brexit extension
British Prime Minister Theresa May. Photo: AFP
Leaders from the European Union will hold an emergency summit in Brussels overnight NZ time to consider a request by the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, for a delay to Britain's withdrawal from the bloc.
Mrs May wants a further short postponement to the end of June, although the European Council President, Donald Tusk has written to the 27 EU leaders suggesting a flexible extension of up to a year.
Mr Tusk has said granting the 30 June extension that Mrs May is seeking "would increase the risk of a rolling series of short extensions and emergency summits, creating new cliff-edge dates".
The UK is currently due to leave the EU at 11pm British time on Friday.
- BBC
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US Att-Gen says Mueller report out "within a week"
Attorney-General William Barr appears before a House Appropriations subcommittee. Photo: AP
US Attorney-General William Barr says he expects to release a redacted version of the long-awaited Mueller report on Russian election interference "within a week" as he defended his handling of the document.
Mr Barr told members of Congress at his first public appearance since receiving special counsel Robert Mueller's report that his earlier projection of releasing a version by mid-April still stood.
The nearly 400-page report is being scoured now to remove grand jury information and details relating to pending investigations.
The redactions will be color-coded, and accompanied by notes explaining the decision to withhold information, he said.
- AP
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