Saudi Arabia Suspends Flights from 7 African Countries Over New Covid Strain

The Saudi Ministry of Interior. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi Ministry of Interior. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Suspends Flights from 7 African Countries Over New Covid Strain

The Saudi Ministry of Interior. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi Ministry of Interior. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia announced the suspension of flights from seven African countries on Friday, due to the emergence of a new variant of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Saudi Interior Ministry said visitors from the seven African nations were barred from entry.

It listed the countries as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

The Saudi ban comprises flights to and from those countries, the official Saudi Press Agency said, quoting an interior ministry official.

It said, however, that foreign nationals from the seven countries could enter the Kingdom if they had spent the previous 14 days in another country and comply with Saudi health protocols.



Saudi, Brazilian Foreign Ministers Sign MoU to Establish Coordination Council

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. SPA
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. SPA
TT

Saudi, Brazilian Foreign Ministers Sign MoU to Establish Coordination Council

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. SPA
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. SPA

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Rio de Janeiro on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

The two officials reviewed relations and discussed regional and international developments.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the ministers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a Saudi-Brazilian Coordination Council, building on the agreement reached between the two countries' leaders during Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's visit to Saudi Arabia on November 30, 2023.

Director-General of the Office of the Foreign Minister Abdulrahman Aldawood and Saudi Ambassador to Brazil Dr. Faisal bin Ibrahim Ghulam were in attendance.