Oman cancels third semester for students amid coronavirus pandemic

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Updated 14 April 2020
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Oman cancels third semester for students amid coronavirus pandemic

  • The move comes as the number of infections in Oman rose to 813 on Tuesday
  • Oman shut down schools in mid-March over fears the virus would spread among students

DUBAI: Oman’s Ministry of Manpower has suspended the country’s third semester for students, as part of its efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Oman News Agency reported.
The move comes as the number of infections in Oman rose to 813 on Tuesday, reporting 86 new coronavirus cases.
The ministry said remaining exams for the second semester will be replaced with homework to be submitted online.
Summer vacation for some students will begin on June 8, 2020, the ministry added.
Oman shut down schools in mid-March over fears the virus would spread among students.


Iran FM criticizes Israel for ‘doctrine of domination’

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Iran FM criticizes Israel for ‘doctrine of domination’

  • Doctrine allows Israel to expand its military arsenal while pressuring other countries in the region to disarm
  • His remarks came a day after renewed nuclear talks with Washington in Oman
DOHA: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday criticized what he said was a “doctrine of domination” that allows Israel to expand its military arsenal while pressuring other countries in the region to disarm.
His remarks came a day after renewed nuclear talks with Washington, with previous talks collapsing when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran last June that triggered a 12-day war.
Araghchi was speaking at the Al Jazeera Forum conference in Qatar but made no reference to Friday’s talks with the United States.
“Israel’s expansionist project requires that neighboring countries be weakened: militarily, technologically, economically and socially,” Araghchi said.
“Under this project Israel is free to expand its military arsenal without limits ... Yet other countries are demanded to disarm. Others are pressured to reduce defensive capacity. Others are punished for scientific progress,” he added.
“This is a doctrine of domination.”
During the 12-day war Israel targeted senior Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists and sites as well as residential areas, with the US later launching its own attacks on key nuclear facilities.
Iran responded at the time with drone and missile attacks on Israel, as well as by targeting the largest US military base in the Middle East, located in Qatar.
On Friday, Araghchi led the Iranian delegation in indirect nuclear talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat.
The top Iranian diplomat later described the atmosphere as having been “very positive,” while US President Donald Trump said the talks were “very good,” with both sides agreeing to proceed with further negotiations.
The talks followed threats from Washington and its recent deployment of an aircraft carrier group to the region following Iran’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests last month.
The United States has sought to address Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for militant groups in the region — issues which Israel has pushed to include in the talks, according to media reports.
Tehran has repeatedly rejected expanding the scope of negotiations beyond the nuclear issue.