Saudi Arabia Reports 2,736 New Virus Cases

Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Abdelali. SPA
Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Abdelali. SPA
TT

Saudi Arabia Reports 2,736 New Virus Cases

Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Abdelali. SPA
Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Abdelali. SPA

Saudi Arabia recorded 2,736 new COVID-19 cases, raising the tally to 54,752, the Health Ministry announced on Sunday.

Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Abdelali said 2,056 people recovered, raising the number of recoveries to 25,722.

But Abdelali said 10 more died from the coronavirus, increasing the death toll to 312.

The spokesman told his daily press briefing on the pandemic that the Kingdom has been carrying out 15,000-18,000 PCR tests on a daily basis, saying Saudi Arabia intends to double that number.

He reiterated his call for avoiding large gatherings and respecting health standards, such as wearing masks when going out, social distancing and washing hands frequently.

However, he stressed the importance of staying at home.



Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
TT

Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa received a delegation from Bahrain on Wednesday and met with the Bahraini foreign minister, state media reported.

The visit was the latest in a flurry of diplomatic overtures by Arab countries to Syria’s new leaders after they overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive.

Like other Gulf countries, Bahrain had cut off diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad’s rule during the Syrian civil war, but it reopened its embassy in Damascus in 2018 and gradually restored ties with the Assad government.

Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit, and days after Assad’s ouster it had sent a message to al-Sharaa offering its cooperation with the new authorities and saying, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.”