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.



Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Discuss Development of Military Ties

The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)
The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Discuss Development of Military Ties

The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)
The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, met on Wednesday with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, to discuss bilateral relations and explore opportunities for further development, particularly in the military sector. The meeting, held in the Crown Prince’s office in Riyadh, covered a range of shared interests.
Attending the reception on the Saudi side were Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense; Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet, and National Security Advisor; Khalid Al-Humaidan, Head of General Intelligence; Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, Advisor to the Royal Court; General Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili, Chief of the General Staff; and Nawaf Al-Maliki, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan.
Representing Pakistan were Ahmad Farooq, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Brigadier Mohammad Asim, Military Attaché at the embassy in Riyadh.
In a separate meeting, Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Defense Minister, also met with General Asim Munir to discuss the historic ties between the two countries, focusing on strategic cooperation in military and defense areas and exploring ways to strengthen and expand bilateral ties. They also discussed various issues of mutual concern.