Oman Daily Observer
US vows to keep economic pressure on Iran as G20 finance talks begin
DONALDTRUMP threatened to hit Iran ‘hard’ after the two foes traded fire for the first time in over a month, while Iran’s president warned that more fighting with the US was not in his country’s interest. After six months of war, the foes remain at...
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QUALITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO PATIENTS
THEnumber of enrollees in specialised training programmes for the academic year 2026/2027 at Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) stood at 388 (male and female) doctors and nurses from various health institutions in the Sultanate of Oman, including 217...
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Dhofar offers A1.95bn investment opportunities
THEMinistry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) has announced five strategic investment opportunities in Dhofar Governorate through its digital platform, Invest Oman, with a total investment value of approximately RO 1.95...
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IRAN SAYS STILL OPEN TO DIPLOMACY AS WAR WITH US HITS SIX MONTHS
Iran left the door open to diplomacy on Friday, six months into a war with the United States that has upended the Middle East, but only if Washington abandons its pressure campaign. “Putting diplomacy back on track isn’t impossible. It hinges on US...
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OMAN BACKS NEPAL AS FLOOD TOLL HITS 362
THESultanate of Oman expressed its solidarity with the government and people of Nepal following the floods that swept through several regions, resulting in casualties, missing people, and widespread material damage. In a statement issued on Thursday...
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Risky passenger acts pose threat to Khareef drivers
REPEATEDcases of passengers leaning outside moving vehicles have been observed at several tourist areas in Dhofar during the Khareef season, raising road-safety concerns at a time when dense fog frequently reduces visibility on parts of the...
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OMAN, IRAN PLAN HORMUZ CORRIDOR
BADR BIN HAMAD AL BUSAIDI, Foreign Minister, held constructive consultations with his Iranian counterpart Dr Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Tuesday A joint statement between the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran following the...
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US VOWS TO CUT EVERY ‘ECONOMIC LIFELINE’ OF IRAN
USTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday laid out plans for the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran, expanding Washington’s secondary sanctions threats and warning of dire consequences for countries that decline to join the pressure...
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Sanctions threatened by ‘desperate’ US will fail: Iran
IRAN’Sforeign minister dismissed the threat of new US sanctions as a sign of desperation on Sunday and said the expected new measures would fail to defeat Tehran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is due to hold a press conference at 2 pm EDT...
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SEE KHAREEF’S MAGIC AT ITS BEST IN SHIHEYT
Shiheyt Sinkhole is a natural geological formation created by the dissolution of limestone over long periods. Defined by its oval shape, impressive depth, and vegetation growing at its base, the sinkhole possesses unique natural and touristic value,...
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TIME TO END WAR WHILE IN POSITION OF STRENGTH: IRAN
IRANIANPresident Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday it was time to end the monthslong Middle East war with the United States because Tehran appeared to be in a stronger position than Washington. Talks between the decadesold foes remain on hold, with...
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OMAN, JAPAN URGE DIPLOMACY TO EASE TENSIONS
THESultanate of Oman and Japan emphasised the importance of reaching a final agreement and a political solution that leads to the de-escalation of tensions in the region. They also stressed the need to intensify international efforts to ensure the...
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Israeli strike on police station kills 9 in Gaza
GAZAhealth officials said an Israeli strike on the municipal police headquarters in Gaza City killed nine people on Wednesday, with the Israeli military saying it targeted a commander in that strike and another further south. Attacks in the...
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Iran says Hormuz shut till US meets conditions
THEStrait of Hormuz will remain shut until the US meets the conditions of an interim deal signed with Iran in June, the top Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in comments published by state media on Tuesday. These conditions include the US...
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Efforts on to contain oil spill from ‘Caroline Bezengi’
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology continues its salvage and oil spill containment operations involving the tanker “Caroline Bezengi”, which is stranded on a rocky outcrop near Al Qibliyah Island in the Al Hallaniyat...
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Trump’s envoys to push for Gaza peace plan
DONALDSEVERAL INJURED TRUMP’S envoys meet with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators in Cairo on Sunday, a diplomatic source said, in a bid to advance the US president’s Gaza peace plan, even as Israel pressed on with air strikes in the...
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No oil pollution impact on Masirah Island’s shores
THEEnvironment Authority continues to carry out monitoring, follow-up and response operations regarding the oil pollution. The latest field results indicate that the extent of shorelines affected by pollution in the Ras Madrakah area is approximately...
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NATURE’S CANVAS
Al DUQM/MUSCAT: Integrated national efforts are continuing across various sectors of the National Committee for Emergency Management (NCEM) to address oil pollution caused by a ship grounding off the Al Hallaniyat Islands, through beach cleanup,...
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KHAREEF VISITORS NEAR HALF A MILLION
THEnumber of Khareef Dhofar Season visitors records a 6.9 per cent increase during the period from June 21 to July 31, 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, bringing the total number of visitors to 472,449, compared to 442,100 visitors during the...
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AFFECTED COASTAL STRETCH IS UP TO
THEEnvironment Authority continues to monitor the repercussions of the vessel grounding incident near Al Qibliyah Island, part of the Al Hallaniyat Islands archipelago in the Governorate of Dhofar. Efforts are under way to conduct and execute...
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US AND IRAN CLOSE TO ‘SOME SORT’ OF DEAL
PAKISTANsaid on Tuesday the United States and Iran were close to “some sort” of deal, and fellow mediator Qatar said talks on managing the Strait of Hormuz were at an advanced stage, despite reports of new attacks on shipping in regional waters. The...
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OMAN STEPS UP EFFORTS TO CONTAIN OIL SPILL
THEEnvironment Authority, in close coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and other relevant national stakeholders, is continuing its comprehensive response to the grounding of the vessel Caroline Bezengi...
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HIS MAJESTY PAYS PRIVATE VISIT TO SHAIKH TAMIM
HISpaid a private fraternal visit to Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, on Sunday. During the visit, a cordial meeting was held between the two leaders at Qasr Al Hukum in the Qatari capital, Doha. Their discussions reviewed...
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OMAN SAYS TALKS ON TO OPEN UP HORMUZ
THESultanate of Oman expressed its condemnation of the repeated attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which constitutes a violation of international law and the sovereignty of territorial waters, and poses a threat to the safety of maritime...
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Saudi, Türkiye, Pakistan sign Mecca defence deal
RIYADH/KARACHI/ANKARA: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, wedding US allies alarmed at a regional conflagration that has brought Iranian missile fire onto Gulf oil exporters. Iran and its allies...
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DREAMS SHAPE THE NATION’S FUTURE
HHMinister of State and Governor of Muscat, graced a ceremony held on Thursday to honour outstanding General Education Diploma (GED) students in Muscat Governorate for the 2025-2026 school year. The ceremony was organised by the Governorate of...
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Trump tells Iran to open Strait of Hormuz
USPresident Donald Trump said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come very soon but warned Iran it would get “hit very hard” if negotiations fell through. Transit of the waterway, a key conduit for global oil and gas supplies, has been a...
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US says Hormuz deal possible by ‘today’
THEUNITED STATES was hopeful that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be done “today or tomorrow”, a top US official said on Tuesday, hours after yet another cargo ship was hit in the vital waterway. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told...
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No talks under way with US as attacks stop: Iran
IRANSAID on Monday there were no talks under way with the United States and no plans for any meetings, contradicting US President Donald Trump, who had cited talks he said would take place that afternoon as justification for calling off attacks. Last...
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Iran says efforts under way to revive June deal
ANIRANIAN lawmaker said on Sunday that mediators were seeking to revive a deal that briefly halted the war between Iran and the United States in June. Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for parliament’s national security commission, said in a video interview...
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HAMAS TO DISARM UNDER TRUMP PLAN
HAMASSAID on Friday it had agreed to a deal announced by US President Donald Trump to end its war with Israel, which includes it handing over its weapons to a Palestinian governing committee and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza....
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Egypt says unidentified drone hit vessels in port
Adrone strike on gas vessels in Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta signalled a potential new front in the Us-iran war, raising the prospect of threats to navigation through the Suez Canal, one of the last remaining export routes for Saudi...
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Combating trafficking a national responsibility
THESULTANATE OF OMAN joins other countries of the world in observing World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, marked annually on July 30, underscoring the importance of enhancing international efforts to combat and prevent this transnational crime,...
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GCC states call for safety of navigation in Hormuz
SAYYIDBadr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, held a consultative meeting with the foreign ministers of the GCC countries on Tuesday via videoconferencing. The ministers exchanged views on the developments of the current phase, the latest updates...
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Focus on right to decent living and social protection
THEWORK of the Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) witnessed remarkable development over the past year in the effectiveness of its monitoring and complaintreceiving system. This included expanding its reach to various segments of society and...
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Omanisation rate in oil and gas sector at 91.6%
AVISITOR entering the Energy and Minerals Exhibition 2026 in Salalah can move within minutes from an oil reservoir and a national gas pipeline to mineral samples, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and Oman’s plans for green hydrogen and carbon...
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Oman bats for maritime security and open trade
THESultanate of Oman has firmly reaffirmed its stance on the critical importance of keeping global waterways open, emphasising that freedom of navigation is paramount to safeguarding international trade, energy security, and the global food...
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Oil hits $100 on fresh strikes
OILprices surged to $100 a barrel on Thursday as Ansar Allah targeted Red Sea shipping and US President Donald Trump threatened to strike them in return. International benchmark oil contract Brent North Sea soared more than six per cent to hit the...
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Iran’s infrastructure will be hit if ships hit: Trump
USPresident Donald Trump vowed on Wednesday to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes after Ansar Allah in Yemen threatened a second vital energy route. Seven tankers have...
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Shaat Viewpoint in Salalah attracts more visitors
SHAATVIEWPOINT in Dhofar Governorate has emerged as one of the increasingly popular natural attractions among tourists and visitors, offering panoramic views that showcase the unique beauty and diversity of the region’s landscape. The viewpoint...
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Iran and US widen attacks
Revolutionary Guards said on Monday they had struck US military assets across the Middle East after another night of US bombardment of Iranian cities, part of a cycle of attacks that has all but wrecked an interim ceasefire agreement. Oil prices...
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SPAIN DOWN ARGENTINA TO WIN WORLD CUP
ROBWoollard Ferran Torres scored an extra-time winner as Spain defeated holders Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup on Sunday and shatter Lionel Messi’s dreams of a triumphant farewell to football’s greatest stage. Barcelona striker Torres lashed home...
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Iran accuses US of hitting civilian infra
THEUNITED STATES and Iran traded drone and missile strikes on Friday, as Tehran announced it had targeted American assets across the region, in the biggest escalation since the two foes returned to outright war. A month after the two sides agreed a...
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Iran-us war intensifies
THEUS launched on Tuesday a fresh wave of strikes on Iran and President Donald Trump vowed to reimpose a naval blockade, prompting Tehran to respond with attacks on countries in the region. Trump said a deal with the Islamic republic was still possible...
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Sayyid Shihab conveys HM’S condolences to Qatar
ONBEHALF OF His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, accompanied by HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, offered condolences and...
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UN urges Us-iran ceasefire
UNSecretary-general Antonio Guterres urged the United States and Iran on Sunday to halt their new outbreak of fighting in the Mideast war and resume talks to end it. Guterres specifically mentioned US attacks on Iran and the latter’s strikes on ships...
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IRAN, OMAN DISCUSS HORMUZ SAFE PASSAGE
THESultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran held talks in Muscat on Saturday regarding navigation on the Strait of Hormuz to ensure its safety and freedom in light of recent developments and their repercussions. The two sides agreed to carry...
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REGION ON THE BRINK OF FULL-SCALE WAR
NEWfighting erupted between the United States and Iran ahead of the burial of supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday, with Tehran targeting US regional allies and American strikes hitting the perimeter of an Iranian nuclear power plant. The renewed...
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IRAN-US WAR RESUMES
USPresident Trump threatened to attack Iran “hard tonight”, hours after saying he thinks the ceasefire is over as oil prices soared and stock markets slid on Wednesday following renewed strikes in the Middle East. The latest bout of fighting was...
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Oman’s GDP at current prices tops 10 billion A
THEGross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Sultanate of Oman at current prices amounted to approximately RO 10,293.200 million by the end of the first quarter of 2026, compared to RO 10,500.700 million during the same period in 2025, registering a decline...
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UN chief says don’t let AI shape humanity’s future
THESultanate of Oman on Monday took part in the first session of the United Nations Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance. The session, which kicked off at the Palexpo international convention centre in Geneva, Switzerland, is...
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DHOFAR COMES ALIVE AS EARLY KHAREEF VISITORS ARRIVE
DHOFAR’SKhareef season is beginning to find its rhythm, with visitors from across Oman and neighbouring Gulf states arriving gradually in Salalah as the governorate enters its most important tourism period of the year. Vehicles from Kuwait, Saudi...
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World bids farewell to Khamenei
TEHRAN: The body of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lay in state in a vast hall in Tehran on Friday as clerics, officials, foreign dignitaries and other mourners paid their respects to Iran’s late Supreme Leader, slain by US and Israeli bombs. Iran is staging...
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Doha truce talks progress
USPresident Donald Trump hailed the . progress on Wednesday of indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Qatar, as the sides aimed to push forward negotiations and quell tensions following exchanges of fire. The US leader said there had been...
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Oman rejects transit fees on Strait of Hormuz ships
THESultanate of Oman does not support imposing transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but it left open the possibility of discussing charges linked to maritime services, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister,...
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OMAN, FRANCE FORGE NEW ERA OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
THESultanate of Oman and the French Republic have emphasised the importance of developing investment relations between the two countries, highlighting the need to increase mutual investment in each country’s productive sectors. This was stated in the...
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HIS MAJESTY ARRIVES IN PARIS
HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK arrived in Paris on Sunday, on an official two-day visit to the French Republic. Upon His Majesty’s arrival at Orly International Airport in Paris, he was received at the foot of the ramp by Roland Lescure,...
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HM begins 2-day official visit to France today
HIS. MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK will start a two-day official visit to France on Sunday. The Royal visit is in response to the gracious invitation extended to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik by President Emmanuel Macron of the French...
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HM TO VISIT FRANCE ON SUNDAY
HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK will go on an official visit to the French Republic on Sunday. A statement issued by the Diwan of the Royal Court reads as follows: “Building upon the bonds of friendship between the Sultanate of Oman and the...
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Oman supports peace talks
THESultanate of Oman participated in the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC countries and the US, held in Manama on Thursday The delegation of the Sultanate of Oman at the meeting was headed by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign...
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HM gives audience to Prime Minister of Qatar
HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK gave an audience at Al Barakah Palace on Wednesday to Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. At the beginning of the audience,...
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OMAN, IRAN TO SET UP JOINT WORKING GROUP ON HORMUZ
The Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran issued on Tuesday a joint statement reading as follows: “The Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran held talks in Muscat during the visit made by Dr Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of...
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US EASES SANCTIONS ON IRANIAN OIL
THEUnited States Treasury on Monday announced the temporary easing of sanctions on Iranian oil up to August 21 following talks with Iranian representatives in Switzerland. The measure authorises the production, delivery and sale of crude oil,...
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Trump threatens to strike Iran over Hezbollah support
USPresident Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to strike Iran if it did not stop Hezbollah from “causing trouble,” as peace talks between senior and Iranian officials began in Switzerland. The negotiations opened against a backdrop of clashes in recent...
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IRAN SAYS HORMUZ SHUT AGAIN; US DENIES CLAIM
IRANsaid it was once again closing the vital Strait of Hormuz on Saturday over Israeli attacks in Lebanon, as Iranian and US negotiators prepared to converge on Switzerland for talks on implementing a deal to end the Middle East war. The US military...
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IRAN, US CLAIM VICTORY
BOTHIran and the US claimed victory after a newly signed Us-iran memorandum of understanding, with Tehran calling the agreement a “record of American failure.” Iranian negotiators claim Washington was forced into major concessions, including sanctions...
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Trump says he could still restart war if unsatisfied
USPresident Donald Trump said on Wednesday his new ceasefire agreement with Iran was not final and he could resume the war if he is unsatisfied, even as Israel launched fresh air strikes in Lebanon, where fighting threatens the wider truce. “It’s a...
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Trump vows Mideast deal is on, calls for no attacks
USPresident Donald Trump on Sunday said Israeli strikes on Beirut “should not have happened” as he vowed a regional peace deal was at hand, though he did not confirm his earlier claim it would be signed during the day. “We are very close to a deal...
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Peace deal looms while Hormuz sees flare ups
THEUnited States and Iran signalled on Friday that an agreement to end their war was close, with a senior US administration official saying both sides had agreed on a text and that Washington expects to sign an initial deal in the coming days. Iranian...
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OMAN LAUNCHES INITIATIVE AT UN THAT AIMS TO COMBAT HATE SPEECH, GENOCIDE
OMANunveiled its vision of civilisational coexistence to the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday with the launch of the Muscat Plan of Action, a global framework that places traditional and indigenous leaders at the centre of efforts to counter...
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