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Four Arab countries have now declared nationwide curfews in an effort to check the spread of coronavirus.
In Kuwait, a night-time curfew – from 5pm to 4am – came into effect on Sunday. The deputy prime minister said the move was regrettable but had become necessary because people… Read more
There's alarm in a growing number of Middle Eastern countries about members of the public who are not complying with the rules on self-isolation and social distancing. As a result, the authorities are resorting to ever more draconian measures in their effort to combat coronavirus.
Non-compliance… Read more
Sirens sounded in Jordan at 7am this morning to mark the start of a strict round-the-clock curfew enforced by thousands of troops.
Shops are closed and anyone violating the curfew faces up to a year in jail. At least one person has already been arrested. The authorities say they will make an… Read more
The number of people in Israel known to have been infected with coronavirus rose by 56% yesterday with the confirmation of 501 new cases.
Israel's cumulative total – 677 cases since the outbreak began – is now the highest in the Middle East apart from Iran (though it's still a very long way below… Read more
From today Jordan's capital, Amman, is sealed off by the military and movement between the country's 12 governorates is prohibited. There are also restrictions on movement within the governorates.
This follows a royal decree activating Jordan's National Defence Law, intended mainly for times of war… Read more
The Egyptian government has accused reporters from the Guardian and the New York Times of violating "all the rules of journalistic work" in connection with the country's coronavirus epidemic.
The Sisi regime's State Information Service said on Wednesday it was withdrawing the accreditation of the… Read more
Iran reported 1,053 new coronavirus cases on Monday, with a further 129 deaths. This brings the cumulative total to 14,991 cases and 853 deaths, according to the official figures.
Elsewhere in the Middle East, a further 216 cases have been confirmed since yesterday's update, bringing the cumulative… Read more
IN TODAY'S REPORT:
● Israel calls on Shin Bet to track coronavirus contacts
● Stringent new measures in Saudi Arabia
● Doubts over coronavirus "rapid tests"
● Statistical updates
● Country-by-country round-… Read more
In Iran, the daily death toll from coronavirus and the numbers of new cases continue to rise – as they have done on each of the last five days. Saturday's official figures showed 97 more deaths and 1,365 new cases.
Elsewhere in the Middle East 191 new cases were confirmed, bringing the cumulative… Read more
Although there are 35 known coronavirus cases among Palestinians in the West Bank, so far none have been diagnosed in Gaza. Given the siege conditions in Gaza, it's widely believed that an outbreak there would be catastrophic – and it may only be a matter of time.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
