Saudi Arabia Bars Travel to Indonesia over Pandemic

Locals wearing protective masks, to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), stand in line to receive assistance from Indonesian president in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 16, 2021. (Reuters)
Locals wearing protective masks, to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), stand in line to receive assistance from Indonesian president in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 16, 2021. (Reuters)
TT

Saudi Arabia Bars Travel to Indonesia over Pandemic

Locals wearing protective masks, to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), stand in line to receive assistance from Indonesian president in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 16, 2021. (Reuters)
Locals wearing protective masks, to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), stand in line to receive assistance from Indonesian president in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 16, 2021. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday it was barring its citizens from traveling to Indonesia over concerns about the coronavirus outbreak there.

An official source at the Interior Ministry said the decision is based on the Kingdom’s keenness on the safety of its citizens, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

It urged Saudis in Indonesia to exercise caution and avoid areas with high infection rates.

Indonesia has one of the world's worst coronavirus outbreaks due to a rapid spread of the Delta variant, reporting around 1,000 deaths from the respiratory disease each day in the past week, including a new record on Wednesday of 1,383 fatalities.



Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan Hold Third Round of Political Consultations

A night view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters file)
A night view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters file)
TT

Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan Hold Third Round of Political Consultations

A night view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters file)
A night view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters file)

The ministries of foreign affairs of Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan held the third round of political consultations at the Saudi ministry headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji and Tajik Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Farrukh Sharifzoda headed their respective sides during the meeting.

Discussions focused on boosting bilateral relations between the two countries across various sectors, as well as intensifying bilateral and multilateral coordination on issues of mutual interest.

The consultation round was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Tajikistan Waleed Abdulrahman Alreshaidan, Tajik Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Akram Karimi, and Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Asian Countries Director Nasser Al-Ghanoum.