Oman to Lift Internal Travel Restrictions, Reduce Curfew

Oman will on Saturday lift a domestic ban on travel between provinces. (ONA)
Oman will on Saturday lift a domestic ban on travel between provinces. (ONA)
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Oman to Lift Internal Travel Restrictions, Reduce Curfew

Oman will on Saturday lift a domestic ban on travel between provinces. (ONA)
Oman will on Saturday lift a domestic ban on travel between provinces. (ONA)

Oman will on Saturday lift a domestic ban on travel between provinces, imposed on July 25 to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus during the Eid al-Adha holiday, the state news agency ONA said on Wednesday.

From Saturday it will also reduce its curfew for a week to between 9 pm and 5 am (1700-0100 GMT), instead of 7 pm to 6 am (1500 to 0200 GMT). A full lockdown of the Dhofar province in the south will be maintained until further notice.

Oman, a country of 4.7 million people, has recorded almost 80,000 coronavirus infections and 421 deaths.

It introduced lockdowns in March in some regions such as Muscat, Dhofar, Duqm and some tourist towns. Since April, it has gradually allowed commercial centers to reopen and lifted some lockdowns.

But it tightened measures for the long Eid holiday after infection numbers rose through June.



Lebanese President Arrives in Qatar on Official Visit

This handout picture released by the Lebanese Government Press Office shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) being welcomed by Qatar's Minister of Transport Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani (C-L) after arriving in Doha on April 15, 2025. (Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Lebanese Government Press Office shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) being welcomed by Qatar's Minister of Transport Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani (C-L) after arriving in Doha on April 15, 2025. (Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
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Lebanese President Arrives in Qatar on Official Visit

This handout picture released by the Lebanese Government Press Office shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) being welcomed by Qatar's Minister of Transport Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani (C-L) after arriving in Doha on April 15, 2025. (Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Lebanese Government Press Office shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) being welcomed by Qatar's Minister of Transport Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani (C-L) after arriving in Doha on April 15, 2025. (Lebanese Government Press Office / AFP)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Qatar on Tuesday on an official two-day visit at the invitation of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Aoun will hold bilateral talks with Sheikh Tamim and expanded talks will be held between the Lebanese and Qatari delegations.

The president is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raji.

Aoun arrived in Qatar hours after Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani received French President's Envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian.

They discussed bilateral cooperation, the latest developments in Lebanon, and a number of issues of mutual interest.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed the need for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territories, and for all parties to adhere to the ceasefire agreement and avoid escalation, in order to ensure security and stability in the region.