Qatar COVID-19 Daily Cases Soar Past Previous Highs

Passengers wearing protective face masks amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak walk at the duty free area for shopping as they wait for their flight at the Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar. Reuters
Passengers wearing protective face masks amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak walk at the duty free area for shopping as they wait for their flight at the Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar. Reuters
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Qatar COVID-19 Daily Cases Soar Past Previous Highs

Passengers wearing protective face masks amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak walk at the duty free area for shopping as they wait for their flight at the Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar. Reuters
Passengers wearing protective face masks amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak walk at the duty free area for shopping as they wait for their flight at the Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar. Reuters

Qatar has reported 3,487 new cases - almost 10% of those tested -- outpacing a previous high of 2,355 seen in May 2020.

On Saturday, Qatar reintroduced a set of rules limiting home gatherings to 10 vaccinated people, barring unvaccinated people from entering malls and restaurants and reducing capacity limits for some commercial establishments. Schools in Qatar have reintroduced distance learning until at least January 27.

To relieve pressure on Qatar's testing infrastructure authorities on Wednesday urged travelers and some symptomatic people to take rapid antigen tests, which don't need to be processed in a laboratory, rather than PCR tests.

It also opened a new 10-lane drive-through PCR testing station to sample up to 5,000 people a day.



Saudi Arabia: King Salman Undergoes Medical Tests

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
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Saudi Arabia: King Salman Undergoes Medical Tests

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is undergoing medical tests on Friday at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, the Kingdom's Royal Court said.

“May Allah protect the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and grant him continued health and well-being,” the Court added.


Saudi Arabia Provides New $90 Million Support to Yemen’s Government Budget

Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 
Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 
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Saudi Arabia Provides New $90 Million Support to Yemen’s Government Budget

Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 
Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 

Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen, announced on Thursday that the Kingdom has provided new financial support to Yemen’s government budget to cover the payment of salaries for state employees, pursuant to directives from the Saudi leadership.

In a post on the social media platform X, Al Jaber said the support comes in addition to the development projects and initiatives announced on Wednesday in several sectors.

These include the provision of petroleum products to operate power plants, aimed at improving the living conditions of the Yemeni people, as well as support for the government’s efforts to implement an economic reform program to achieve financial and economic stability.

The Saudi ambassador also stated that salaries for all military and security forces affiliated with the Supreme Military Committee will be paid by the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, starting on Sunday.

Al Jaber noted that these measures are expected to have a significant impact on society and on Yemen’s economy, which he said will receive substantial support from the Kingdom in the coming period.

Meanwhile, Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Breik said on Thursday that the new and urgent financial support from Saudi Arabia, totaling $90 million, reflects the Kingdom’s sincere fraternal stance and its continued commitment to supporting the Yemeni people, easing their humanitarian and living hardships, strengthening economic and financial stability, and ensuring the regular payment of salaries, which the government considers its highest priority.

In a statement to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), bin Breik affirmed that the government, in full coordination with the Central Bank of Yemen, will immediately begin taking the necessary steps to ensure the swift disbursement of salaries to eligible public sector employees through transparent and responsible mechanisms that enhance confidence in financial and monetary institutions.

The prime minister praised Saudi Arabia’s leading role, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in supporting constitutional legitimacy and backing government efforts at the political, economic, and humanitarian levels. He said the support reflects the depth of fraternal relations and the shared destiny between the two countries.

Bin Breik added that the government continues to implement its economic and financial reform program, improve the efficiency of public resource management, and work with brotherly nations and international partners to improve economic conditions and restore monetary stability.

 

 

 


Saudi FM Discusses Developments with EU High Representative, Cypriot Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
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Saudi FM Discusses Developments with EU High Representative, Cypriot Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a joint phone call from High Representative for the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus Dr. Constantinos Kombos.

During the call, they discussed overall regional and international developments and the efforts being made in this regard.

Cyprus currently holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union.