Middle-East Arab News and Opinion - Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities
Wednesday 13/01/2021
Members of the Lebanese Red Cross transfer a coronavirus patient to the COVID-19 department of the Nabih Berri university hospital, in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh. (AFP)
BEIRUT - Lebanon has “entered the dangerous phase” of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the government to declare a state of health emergency and a round-the-clock curfew in an effort to contain a dramatic surge of cases largely blamed on the relaxation of restrictions during end of year holidays.
With daily cases exceeding 5,000 in the week after New Year’s celebrations, hospitals sounded the alarm, warning that they might be forced to turn away patients due to a lack of vacant beds and overwhelmed human resources.
The UK has seen a record number of COVID-19 cases for a fifth day in succession. Meanwhile, hospitals in Lebanon are being overwhelmed as infection rates soar.
Police arrest eight anti-Netanyahu demonstrators during clashes outside the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem.
The scuffles broke out after dozens of protesters broke through police barricades outside the compound on the capital’s Balfour Street, according to Hebrew media reports.
The clashes came ahead of this evening’s protest against Netanyahu, the 28th straight week that demonstrators have rallied in Jerusalem against the premier.
המחאות נגד נתניהו: עימותים בין מפגינים לשוטרים סמוך למעון רה מ בירושלים לאחר שעשרות מוחים פרצו את המחסומים@SuleimanMas1pic.twitter.com/BN1Pet9zKj I m proud to work at The Times of Israel
I’ll tell you the truth: Life here in Israel isn’t always easy. But it s full of beauty and meaning.