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 Provides $30 Million in Support of Palestine

Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT
Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT
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Saudi Arabia Provides $30 Million in Support of Palestine

Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT
Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT

Palestinian Minister of Finance Omar Al-Bitar received a financial installment from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amounting to $30 million as part of the Kingdom’s continued support for the State of Palestine for 2025.

The installment was delivered at the Saudi Embassy in Amman on Thursday during a meeting between Al-Bitar and acting Chargé d’Affaires at the Saudi Embassy in Jordan Mohammed bin Hassan Mounis, SPA reported.

Al-Bitar praised the Kingdom’s ongoing financial and political support, highlighting the significance of this contribution in alleviating the severe financial crisis faced by Palestine amid recent Israeli policies.

He also expressed deep appreciation for the Kingdom’s longstanding and unwavering stance in support of Palestine and its people, as well as its support for their legitimate rights and the establishment of their independent state.

He conveyed the greetings of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their enduring political, economic, and humanitarian support.

Mounis noted that this installment reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian government and enabling it to meet its financial obligations, highlighting the importance of this aid in enhancing the resilience of the Palestinian people and alleviating their economic and humanitarian hardships.

He also noted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has provided some $5.3 billion in recent years in humanitarian, relief, and development aid as part of its broader support for the State of Palestine, reaffirming the Kingdom’s steadfast commitment to upholding the rights of the Palestinian people.