Saudi health ministry records 162 new coronavirus cases

The first Saudi citizen to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine prepares for the shot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP)
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Updated 20 December 2020
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Saudi health ministry records 162 new coronavirus cases

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Health reported 162 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday as the daily number of COVID 19 cases in the kingdom continues to drop. 
The new confirmed cases bring the total number of virus cases in Saudi Arabia to 361, 010.
The ministry also reported 10 new deaths, putting the total number of fatalities in the kingdom at 6,122. 
It also said 156 have recovered from the virus, raising the total number of recoveries in the kingdom to 351,878.


Saudi Arabia announces new financial support to the Yemeni government

Updated 45 min 36 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia announces new financial support to the Yemeni government

RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and Supervisor of the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber announced that the Kingdom, under the directives of its leadership, has provided new support to the Yemeni government's budget, aimed at paying the salaries of state employees in all sectors.

In a post on X, Al-Jaber stated that this support complements a package of development projects and initiatives, amounting to SR1.9 billion, announced on Wednesday. The package includes provision of necessary petroleum derivatives to operate power plants, which will contribute to improving the living standards of people in Yemen and alleviating daily burdens on them.

Al-Jaber’s post emphasized, in particular, that all salaries of military and security forces linked to the the higher military committee linked to the Saudi led Coalition will be paid as of Sunday. 

 

The post is likely relate to Several Media reports which have suggested that disgraced former Southern Transitional Council (STC) chief Aidaroos Al Zubaidi — who has now fled Yemen — was taking advantage of military personnel and withholding salaries as means of pressure. Al-Zubaidi is wanted by the Yemeni government for acts of high treason and corruption. 

The ambassador emphasized that these steps come within the framework of supporting the Yemeni government's efforts to implement the economic reform program, which aims to achieve financial and economic stability and enhance the state's ability to meet its basic obligations.