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Saudi Arabia Suspends UAE, Vietnam and Ethiopia Flights Due to Virus Variant

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Suspends UAE, Vietnam and Ethiopia Flights Due to Virus Variant

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia has suspended flights to three countries, including the UAE, to protect against a coronavirus variant, the interior ministry announced Saturday.

The move comes seven weeks after the Kingdom permitted fully immunized citizens to travel abroad, after a ban on foreign trips that lasted more than a year.

Flights to and from the UAE, alongside those to Ethiopia and Vietnam, will be suspended from Sunday, an interior ministry official said, according to state news agency SPA.

Saudi citizens and residents returning from these countries will be required to quarantine for 14 days, it added.

Citizens would be banned "from travelling directly or indirectly, without obtaining prior permission from... authorities".

The decision was taken due to "the spread of a new mutated strain of the (Covid-19) virus."

According to AFP, the variant, first detected in India and now present in at least 85 countries, is the most contagious of any Covid-19 variant yet identified.

The UAE announced last week it had recorded cases of the Delta variant and it has suspended flights to and from India.

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Gulf

MWL Condemns Terrorist Attack Near Palmyra, Syria

MWL Condemns Terrorist Attack Near Palmyra, Syria
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MWL Condemns Terrorist Attack Near Palmyra, Syria

MWL Condemns Terrorist Attack Near Palmyra, Syria

The Muslim World League (MWL) condemned the terrorist attack targeting Syrian security forces and US troops near the city of Palmyra in the Syria, SPA reported.

In a statement on Sunday, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa condemned the attack, reaffirming the MWL’s rejection of violence and terrorism in all forms.

He extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and the injured, expressing full solidarity with Syria in confronting threats to its security and stability.

Gulf

GCC Secretary-General Holds Talks with Chinese Foreign Minister

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
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GCC Secretary-General Holds Talks with Chinese Foreign Minister

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi at the General Secretariat headquarters in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed cooperation between the GCC and China within the approved fields of the Joint Action Plan (2023–2027). They also discussed the progress of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), emphasizing the importance of overcoming obstacles in preparation for its signing in the coming period, SPA reported.

The GCC secretary-general praised China's supportive stance on the Palestinian cause, which contributes to enabling the brotherly Palestinian people to obtain their legitimate rights. He also expressed appreciation for China's significant efforts in supporting security and stability in the region.

For his part, the Chinese foreign minister valued the GCC states' regional and international positions and their support for China on various issues of mutual interest.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Syrian and US Security Forces

Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Syrian and US Security Forces
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Syrian and US Security Forces

Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Syrian and US Security Forces

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation of the terrorist attack that targeted Syrian security forces and the United States of America during a joint counterterrorism field patrol near Palmyra, resulting in casualties and injuries, SPA reported. 

The Kingdom extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and to the governments of the Syrian Arab Republic and the United States of America, and conveys its heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.