Curfew to End in Jordan as COVID Cases Drop

Security officers during curfew in Amman | Photo: AFP
Security officers during curfew in Amman | Photo: AFP
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Curfew to End in Jordan as COVID Cases Drop

Security officers during curfew in Amman | Photo: AFP
Security officers during curfew in Amman | Photo: AFP

Fifteen COVID-19 deaths and 1,227 infections, were recorded on Saturday, bringing the caseload to 23,998, the Jordanian government announced.

The new fatalities took the Kingdom's death toll to 181, according to a statement by the Health Ministry.

Observers expressed surprise towards the drop in infection cases during the full curfew imposed on the weekend, following opposite expectations.

Social media activists doubted the accuracy of figures announced by the Health Ministry.

In this context, former Health Minister Saad Jaber admitted to having mistakes in the data entry leading to inaccurate statistics.

The highest tallies are found in the highly populated cities in the governates of Zarqa, Irbid, and Kerak.

Last week, the kingdom saw a sharp rise in cases recording 8,366 local cases and 75 deaths. During the same period, a total of 132,883 tests were carried out.

Jordanians had to remain home during the weekend due to a curfew imposed by the authorities and overseen by the Jordanian Armed Forces on the cities’ main entrances and exits. Meanwhile, the Public Security oversaw residential areas.

The curfew ends on Sunday morning, but the night curfew will remain in place.



Al-Mashhadani Emphasizes Strengthening Iraqi-Saudi Relations

Al-Mashhadani during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador in Baghdad (Iraqi Parliament)
Al-Mashhadani during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador in Baghdad (Iraqi Parliament)
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Al-Mashhadani Emphasizes Strengthening Iraqi-Saudi Relations

Al-Mashhadani during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador in Baghdad (Iraqi Parliament)
Al-Mashhadani during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador in Baghdad (Iraqi Parliament)

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani has called for prioritizing stronger ties with Saudi Arabia, citing shared regional interests and the potential for positive outcomes.
During a meeting with Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Al-Mashhadani highlighted the importance of Iraqi-Saudi cooperation, particularly in addressing regional challenges. The meeting explored ways to enhance bilateral relations in economic and political spheres while discussing major Arab issues, including the Gaza war, Lebanon’s instability, and changes in Syria.
This comes after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week in AlUla to address the challenges of the Syrian crisis, regional security, and stability. The summit focused on aligning efforts to tackle broader geopolitical issues and fostering cooperation.
As part of Iraq’s deepening engagement with Gulf countries, Baghdad recently signed numerous agreements with Saudi Arabia through the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council. Additionally, Iraq signed two memoranda of understanding with Oman, covering political consultations, economic collaboration, and transportation.
Sudani also received Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who delivered an invitation from Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to visit Oman. Discussions emphasized on enhancing bilateral economic and trade ties, particularly in oil derivatives. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of stability in Syria and the need to preserve its sovereignty and diversity while supporting its people.
In a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Albusaidi underscored the strong cultural and fraternal ties between Iraq and Oman. He noted opportunities for collaboration in tourism, energy, trade, and finance, while underlining his country’s commitment to participate in the Baghdad International Trade Fair in February 2024.
For his part, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein highlighted efforts to abolish visa requirements between Iraq and Oman, expressed hope for inclusive political progress in Syria, and pointed to Iraq’s commitment to further agreements that strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors.