Oman to Close Land Borders Again to Curb COVID-19

Oman's Health Minister receives second jab of the COVID-19 vaccine. Oman's Health Ministry
Oman's Health Minister receives second jab of the COVID-19 vaccine. Oman's Health Ministry
TT

Oman to Close Land Borders Again to Curb COVID-19

Oman's Health Minister receives second jab of the COVID-19 vaccine. Oman's Health Ministry
Oman's Health Minister receives second jab of the COVID-19 vaccine. Oman's Health Ministry

Oman is to close its land borders for one week starting Monday to curb the spread of the coronavirus, state news agency ONA said on Sunday.

The measure will come into effect from 6 pm (1400 GMT) on Monday and can be extended for longer than the initial one week closure, ONA said, citing a decision by the country's coronavirus emergency committee.

The committee also stressed that violators of the measures will not be tolerated.

”The Supreme Committee affirms that the concerned authorities continue to follow up on violators of its decisions and punish them, to protect community members from this disease, and to preserve what has been achieved," it added.

Oman earlier this month registered its first case of the variant of the virus that emerged in Britain, in a resident who arrived from the UK.

It reopened its land, air and sea borders on Dec. 29 after a one-week shutdown over the new variant, according to Reuters.

Oman had registered a total of 13,1790 cases and 1,512 deaths as of Sunday.

The health minister, receiving his second jab on Sunday, said Oman had so far received around 38,900 doses.

The health ministry has said that 24,204 people have received their first dose and that administration of second doses would start on Sunday



Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
TT

Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone talks on Tuesday on regional and international developments.

The State Department said they discussed the developments in Yemen and the pressing need to advance peace efforts in Sudan.

Rubio welcomed the outcomes of the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States in November.

The visit, he said, “underscored the strength of the Saudi-US partnership.”


Saudi Arabia, Iran, China Keen to Expand Economic, Political Cooperation

Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
TT

Saudi Arabia, Iran, China Keen to Expand Economic, Political Cooperation

Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Tehran on Tuesday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Saudi Arabia, Iran and China said on Tuesday they look forward to expanding economic and political cooperation, as well as in other fields. They also underlined the importance of dialogue and regional cooperation to bolster security, stability, peace and economic prosperity.

The third meeting of the tripartite Saudi-Chinese-Iranian committee met in Tehran on Tuesday. It was chaired by Iranian Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, with the participation of Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu.

Saudi Arabia, Iran and China called for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. They condemned Israel’s attacks against Iran and the violation of its sovereignty.

Tehran expressed its appreciation for Riyadh and Beijing’s clear stances against the assaults.

Saudi Arabia and Iran stressed their commitment to implementing all articles of the 2023 Beijing agreement, saying they seek to bolster good neighborliness between them in line with the United Nations Charter, Organization of Islamic Cooperation Charter and international law.

They are committed to respecting each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and security, they added.

Saudi Arabia and Iran welcomed China’s constant positive role and the importance of its support in implementing the Beijing agreement. China, for its part, expressed its readiness to maintain its support and encourage steps taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran to develop their relations in various fields.

On regional affairs, the three countries reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution in Yemen in line with international principles and under UN sponsorship.

Elkhereiji met separately with Takht-Ravanchi and Deyu on the sidelines of the meeting in Tehran. They discussed bilateral ties between their countries and means to develop them in various sectors.


Saudi Crown Prince Receives Phone Call from Indonesian President

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Crown Prince Receives Phone Call from Indonesian President

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, received a phone call Tuesday from President Prabowo Subianto of the Republic of Indonesia.

According to SPA, the two leaders reviewed relations and discussed ways to support areas of cooperation between the two countries.