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Iran's Daily COVID-19 Deaths Hit Record of 459

Iranians walk next to a sign advising people to wear masks on their way to shop in Tajrish square in the capital Tehran on Nov. 1, 2020. (AFP)
Iranians walk next to a sign advising people to wear masks on their way to shop in Tajrish square in the capital Tehran on Nov. 1, 2020. (AFP)
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Iran's Daily COVID-19 Deaths Hit Record of 459

Iranians walk next to a sign advising people to wear masks on their way to shop in Tajrish square in the capital Tehran on Nov. 1, 2020. (AFP)
Iranians walk next to a sign advising people to wear masks on their way to shop in Tajrish square in the capital Tehran on Nov. 1, 2020. (AFP)

Iran's daily tally of coronavirus deaths hit a record high of 459 on Sunday, the health ministry announced, increasing the official toll to 38,291 in the region’s worst-hit country.

Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state TV that the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 9,236 to 682,486.

Last week, the head of Iran's Medical Council, Mohammadreza Zafarghandi, doubted the accuracy of the official toll and warned that Iran had reached a "catastrophic mortality rate", the Students News Agency ISNA reported.

To stem a third wave of the virus, the government has shut schools, mosques, shops and restaurants in most of the country.

Authorities have warned that coronavirus tolls will further spike if Iranians failed to respect health protocols.

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Netanyahu's Popularity Further Declines

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara (File/Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara (File/Reuters)
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Netanyahu's Popularity Further Declines

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara (File/Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara (File/Reuters)

The coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lost three seats it earned during the past three weeks, including two seats earned last week and one seat this week, according to this week’s Maariv poll.
In return, the Israeli opposition made a slight advancement, which indicates that if elections were to be held today, Netanyahu is far from securing the needed seats to form a government.
The Religious Zionist Party, New Hope-United Right led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich remained below the electoral threshold of 3.25%, scoring only 1.6%.
After survey respondents were asked for whom they would vote if new Knesset elections were held today, Netanyahu’s Likud and the rest of the ruling coalition parties emerged with a combined 48 seats, one fewer than last week. The coalition has 64 seats and therefore needs at least 13 more seats to form a government.
In return, the opposition earned 72 seats, including 10 for Arab parties.
The poll also revealed that a party led by Naftali Bennett has weakened by one seat this week, now standing at 24, still three more seats ahead of Likud's 21.
The opposition bloc lost one seat this week but still retained a majority of 65 seats, without the Arab parties, which gained one seat this week.
In this scenario, the government of Netanyahu will definitely not remain in power.
The polling, published by Maariv every Friday, is done by “Lazar Research” and conducted in collaboration with Panel4All.
After survey respondents were asked for whom they would vote if new Knesset elections were held today, Netanyahu’s Likud emerged with 23 seats (lost one third of its current 32 seats), National Unity, 20 (currently 8), Yesh Atid, 16 (currently 24), Yisrael Beiteinu, 15 (currently 6), The Democrats, 11 (currently four), Shas, 10 (currently 10), Otzma Yehudit, 8 (currently 6), United Torah Judaism, 7 (currently 7), Hadash-Ta’al, 6 (6), and Ra’am 4.
In this scenario, Netanyahu's coalition would gain 48 seats, and the opposition bloc would gain 72 seats, including 10 seats for Arab parties.
Meanwhile, a majority of the Israeli public (52%) opposes the judicial reform being reintroduced by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, 35% support it, and 13% are undecided.
Politically, most coalition voters (72%) support the reform, while opposition voters (85%) are strongly opposed to it.