Oman Daily Observer
HM confers Royal Orders upon several figures
conferred Royal orders upon a number of figures, in appreciation of their sincere efforts and dedication in performing their duties, at Al Barakah Palace on Thursday. His Majesty has conferred the Order of Honour (First Class) on HH Sayyidah Dr Ghalya...
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HM launches identity of Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority
the Supreme Commander, inaugurates the identity of the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority, in reflection of the care and attention accorded by His Majesty to the safety and civil protection system. It also reflects the priority attached by the...
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Saudi says will not allow threats to sea navigation
BADR BIN HAMAD AL BUSAIDI, Foreign Minister, received a phone call from Bakhtiyor Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The two ministers exchanged views on expanding bilateral cooperation and partnership, particularly in...
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SAUDI VOWS ‘STRONG’ RESPONSE AFTER ATTACKS
SAUDIARABIA’S energy minister on Monday said the country had been tested but would mount a “serious” response after a string of attacks on Riyadh’s international airport by Yemen’s Ansar Allah that left 18 people dead. Lethal airport strikes since...
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Appropriate housing should be provided for workers
THEMinistry of Labour on Sunday unveiled the regulatory framework governing the practice of recruiting nonomani manpower. The move aims to organise the activity of recruitment offices within a clear legal framework, raise the sector’s efficiency and...
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Saudi says three killed as Yemen war expands
ARABIA said on Friday that three people were killed including a pilot were killed in attacks on Riyadh’s international airport, after Yemen’s Ansar Allah claimed a series of attacks targeting the facility. Jasem Mohamed al Budaiwi, Secretary-general...
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Oman condemns attacks on Saudi Arabian airports
THESULTANATE OF OMAN has condemned attacks on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, which resulted in fatalities, injuries, and material damage. It reaffirmed its total rejection of targeting civilian...
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Genomic sequence of 20,000 in first phase
THEMINISTRY OF HEALTH on Wednesday celebrated the laying of the foundation stone for the National Centre for Genomics and Human Data (Omani Genome) in the Wilayat of Al Seeb, Muscat Governorate, at a construction cost exceeding RO 4.2 million. The...
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OMAN, KAZAKHSTAN AGREE TO INCREASE TRADE VOLUME
OMAN A PILLAR OF STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST A JOINT INVESTMENT FUND TO BE ESTABLISHED HIS MAJESTY Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and President Kassym-jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Tuesday held a bilateral session of talks at the Palace...
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HM BEGINS STATE VISIT TO KAZAKHSTAN TODAY
HISMAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK will pay a state-visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, starting from today. This was stated in a statement by the Diwan of Royal Court, reading as follows: “In consolidation of the bonds of friendship between the...
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HM TO PAY STATE VISIT TO KAZAKHSTAN
HISMAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK will pay a state-visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, starting from Monday. This was stated in a statement issued on Saturday by the Diwan of Royal Court, reading as follows: “In consolidation of the bonds of...
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Saudi plans assault to end Red Sea chokehold
ARABIA is planning an offensive against Ansar Allah in Yemen, with options being considered including a coastal push to secure the Red Sea shipping route or an assault on multiple fronts, regional and Western officials said. The operation, expected to...
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Iran plans strongest ever retaliation if US attacks
is preparing a broader and more forceful response if the United States resumes largescale military attacks, sources said, while continuing a diplomatic push that Iranian officials privately see as unlikely to succeed. The move comes amid reports that...
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HM and Shaikh Tahnoon discuss regional situation
HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK gave an audience at Al Barakah Palace on Wednesday to Shaikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). At the outset of...
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OMAN URGES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS
THESultanate of Oman stressed the importance of identifying responsibilities and enhancing oversight and accountability on activities related to illegal settlements. The statement was made at the general debate under Item 7 of the agenda of the 63rd...
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New promotion system for Omani employees
THEMinistry of Labour has announced the implementation of a new promotion system for Omani civil employees in government administrative units, effective from 2026, with RO 10 million allocated for promotions this year. The announcement was made during...
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Oman supports peaceful resolution of disputes
THESultanate of Oman reaffirmed its steadfast approach to finding peaceful and consensual solutions to disputes, based on the values and principles that help achieve shared goals of securing security and stability for all and advancing economic...
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SAYYID BADR, GUTERRES CALL FOR DIALOGUE TO RESOLVE CRISES SAYYID BADR BIN HAMAD AL BUSAIDI,
Foreign Minister, met António Guterres, Secretary-general of the United Nations, at the UN headquarters in New York on Saturday. The foreign minister conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the UN Secretary-general, along...
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Iran moots ending war and Hormuz reopening
has submitted a proposal to the United States to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, its foreign minister told media outlets in New York. “If certain conditions are met, the strait will be open within seven days and talks...
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Oman selected among best travel destinations
The Sultanate of Oman was selected among the list of best travel destinations for 2027 in the annual list of World Travel Magazine, which encompasses 50 tourist destinations around the world. The selection of the Sultanate of Oman within the list of...
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HIS MAJESTY REVIEWS INVESTMENT PROJECTS IN DUQM
EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM IT INTO INTEGRATED ECONOMIC ZONE HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK paid a visit to the Special Economic Zone at Duqm on Wednesday. During the visit, His Majesty reviewed the economic, investment and development projects in...
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INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS TO BOOST PHARMA MANUFACTURING
LONG-TERM PLAN TO ENHANCE GROWTH OF NON-OIL SECTOR INCREASE DOMESTIC OUTPUT, HARNESS OMAN’S STRATEGIC LOCATION HISMAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK presided over the Council of Ministers meeting at Al Hosn Palace in Salalah on Tuesday. At the outset...
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LEADERS TO DISCUSS MIDEAST TENSIONS
THESultanate of Oman is participating in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, to be held from September 22-28. The session will discuss the most prominent issues and challenges facing the world, as well as ways to...
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SPENDING ON RESEARCH AT A189 MILLION
THEresults of the National Survey for Experimental Research and Development for 2025, conducted by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), showed continued growth of experimental research and development activities in the Sultanate...
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Omanis seeking treatment abroad drops by 49%
DRHILAL BIN ALI AL SABTI, Minister of Health, said that the number of patients sent abroad for medical treatment has dropped by approximately 49 per cent between 2023 and 2025 due to an expansion in specialised services within the Sultanate of Oman....
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HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK
and President João Manuel Lourenço of the Republic of Angola held a bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace in the capital, Luanda, on Friday. During the meeting, the cordial relations between the two countries and the means of enhancing them...
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LEADERS DISCUSS WAYS TO ELEVATE BILATERAL RELATIONS
HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK held a private meeting with President Duma Gideon Boko of the Republic of Botswana, at the Presidential Palace in the capital, Gaborone on Thursday. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to elevate...
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HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK
held a bilateral meeting with President Duma Gideon Boko of the Republic of Botswana at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Republic in the capital, Gaborone, on Wednesday evening. The meeting was held within the framework of His Majesty’s visit...
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HM begins state visits to Botswana, Angola today
HISMAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK will go on two state visits to the Republic of Botswana and the Republic of Angola, starting on Wednesday. A statement to this effect was issued by the Diwan of Royal Court, the text of which reads as follows:...
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New attacks in Hormuz worsen oil disruption
NEWstrikes on Saudi Arabia and on ships in the Gulf tested nerves in the Middle East on Sunday, after an attack on a Saudi oil pipeline and an advance by Yemen’s Ansar Allah threatened to worsen the wartime disruption to global energy supplies. Oil...
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SAUDIS SHUT PIPELINE HITTING OIL SUPPLIES
THESultanate of Oman voiced condemnation of targeting of a pipeline in the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reiterating its firm stance against such attacks and the targeting of vital and civilian infrastructure, regardless of the motives or...
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ANSAR ALLAH TAKE OVER STRAIT VITAL TO GLOBAL SHIPPING
ANSAR ALLAH seized control of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast and captured three strategic islands on Friday, in a lightning offensive that cemented their hold on a vital shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia. The developments are likely to deepen...
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HIS MAJESTY RECEIVES CREDENTIALS OF AMBASSADORS
SALALAH: Before His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, a number of ambassadors took the oath of office at Al Hosn Palace in Salalah on Thursday. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister. In a another...
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Oman, UN call for efforts to de-escalate regional tensions
MUSCAT: Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, received a telephone call on Wednesday from António Guterres, Secretary-general of the United Nations. During the call, the two sides discussed regional developments and their humanitarian...
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OMAN AND RWANDA AGREE TO BOOST INVESTMENTS
HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK held a meeting with President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, at Al Maamourah Palace on Tuesday morning. During the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed the growing ties between their countries and their...
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Focus on strengthening partnership between two countries TWO LEADERS HOLD OFFICIAL SESSION OF TALKS
TALKS FOCUS ON COOPERATION AND INVESTMENTS HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK and President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda held an official session of talks at Al Hosn Palace in Salalah on Monday evening. Discussions focused on cooperation...
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Council of Ministers congratulates students on new school year
MUSCAT: The Council of Ministers, at its session on Sunday, extended its congratulations to male and female students as well as to members of the teaching and administrative staffs and parents, on the occasion of the new school year, wishing everyone a...
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US military says destroys Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks
WASHINGTON: The United States said it struck and destroyed three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday in response to attempted missile attacks on naval vessels, in the latest exchange of fire since renewed hostilities flared between the countries. The new...
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5 dead from the strike, a direct hit by a US munition and not a ricochet off another target
USVice-president JD Vance said that the United States was investigating a deadly strike on an Iranian wedding earlier this week that an analysis published by Reuters showed likely resulted from a direct hit by a US munition. An explosion that ripped...
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Law on combating narcotic drugs promulgated
HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK on Thursday issued 10 Royal Decrees. Royal Decree No (67/2026) promulgates the Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, after presenting the same before the Council of Oman. Article (1) states...
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Iran threatens tougher strategy after US strikes
IRANthreatened to take a tougher line in its war with the United States on Wednesday after the heaviest exchanges in weeks left at least 19 Iranians dead and 108 injured, including four at a wedding - an incident slammed as a “war crime” by Tehran. A...
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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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