Category: 2. World

From 2026, Omani private-sector employers must grant staff annual salary hikes tied to performance, with…

From 2026, Omani private-sector employers must grant staff annual salary hikes tied to performance, with the best performers guaranteed a 5% boost and underperformers left empty-handed.

In a bold decision that will leave cost-of-living-crisis impacted workers in much of the world open-mouthed with green-eyed incredulity, the Omani Ministry of Labour has introduced a mandatory system of annual salary increases for Omani employees in the private sector. The regulation, which stipulates that the first pay rises will be payable from 1 January 2026, applies to employees who have completed at least six months of service with their employer and requires that increments be awarded on 1 January each year, based on individual performance ratings.

The decision prescribes percentage increases to basic salary according to five performance categories. Employees rated ‘excellent’ must receive a 5% increase; those rated ‘very good’ receive 4%; ‘good’ ratings warrant a 3% increase; and ‘acceptable’ ratings attract 2%. Employees assessed as ‘weak’ are not entitled to an increase. The provisions apply to basic salary rather than total remuneration, such as overtime or commission and bosses must determine ratings in accordance with their performance evaluation procedures, while affected employees have the right to appeal their evaluation to the competent division of the Ministry of Labour.

Special rules address cases where an employee transfers from one private-sector employer to another. The previous employer must inform the new employer of the most recent performance evaluation to ensure the correct application of the increment.

Further, employers may suspend or reduce the annual increase in defined circumstances, including disciplinary action against the employee or adverse economic conditions affecting the business. If the grounds for suspension are overturned, the increment must be paid retrospectively from the effective date.

The ministry has specified financial penalties for non-compliance. Employers who fail to award the required increases are liable to an administrative fine of OMR 50 (GBP 96) per employee, calculated separately for each case.

The new regulations also repeal earlier rules governing periodic allowances for Omani private-sector employees, consolidating the process into a single, performance-linked mechanism. The ministry has indicated that enforcement will be supported by a wage protection system, under which employers must submit payroll data for monitoring.

According to the Arabic-language text published in Oman’s Official Gazette, seen by ICLG News and translated using Google, the regulation applies exclusively to Omani nationals working in the private sector. It does not cover expatriate employees, although employers may choose to apply similar policies to non-Omani staff in the name of fairness.

In a statement, the Ministry of Labour said that the decision aims to “enhance productivity, improve job satisfaction, and ensure fair remuneration for Omani workers in the private sector”, adding that the annual review process would “contribute to a more competitive and motivated workforce”.

 

In July 2025, Saudi Arabia and France jointly convened a high-profile diplomatic conference in New York dedicated to reviving momentum for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The initiative, aimed at mobilizing international recognition for a Palestinian state, brought together representatives from Europe and the Arab world as well as other international actors. The message was twofold: to signal Riyadh’s determination to position itself as a defender of Palestinian rights and a central broker for regional stability, and to convey to Israel that such a state, under the right conditions, could enhance, rather than undermine, its security.

This diplomatic push, however, coincided with a dramatic escalation in Israel’s military posture. In August 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces will occupy Gaza City and will have indefinite Israeli security presence throughout the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Israel continued military operations in Lebanon. These moves were part of a broader post–October 7 security doctrine that emerged in the aftermath of Hamas’s surprise attack on southern Israel. The doctrine rests on the premise that Israel must eliminate any strategic threat in its immediate neighborhood and reshape the regional environment by force if necessary in order to ensure such an attack can never be repeated.

For Saudi Arabia, this policy presents a profound dilemma. While Riyadh shares with Israel a desire to neutralize Islamic armed non-state actors like Hamas and Hezbollah, the two states’ priorities and methods diverge sharply. Israeli military escalation, particularly in Syria and Gaza, runs counter to key Saudi interests and priorities. Efforts to craft a normalization deal between the two countries have been slowed, if not halted, by these differences. Although there are some points of tactical convergence, there is no shared strategic blueprint for Gaza’s future, no common vision for Syria’s territorial integrity, and only a conditional overlap regarding Lebanon’s political trajectory. With Washington showing little appetite to pressure Israel toward a political settlement, Saudi Arabia’s room for maneuver is constrained.

Divergence on the Two-State Solution

Saudi Arabia and France designed the New York conference explicitly to reinvigorate the diplomatic case for a two-state solution. Riyadh’s framing was deliberate: it offered security reassurances to Israel while affirming Palestinian political rights. The proposal called for the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state, accompanied by an Arab call for disarmament of Hamas and removing it from governing Gaza. The Saudi leadership has increasingly viewed the Palestinian Authority (PA) as the only viable administrative alternative to Hamas, if it can be restructured and revitalized. This would likely involve sidelining the aging President Mahmoud Abbas in favor of a younger, more dynamic figure such as Hussein al-Sheikh, whom Abbas appointed as vice-president of the Palestine Liberation Organization and who could command greater credibility both domestically and internationally.

In this vision, the PA would emerge as the unified governing body for both the occupied West Bank and Gaza, providing a coherent framework for eventual statehood. Such a state, with robust security guarantees and no independent armed forces, would theoretically mollify Israel’s security concerns, placing the diplomatic burden back on Israel to engage with a political roadmap that could open the door to normalization with Riyadh.

However, Israel’s current course rejects this premise outright. By moving to occupy Gaza City and impose an indefinite security presence, which Saudi Arabia condemned, Netanyahu signaled that no external guarantees, Saudi or otherwise, meet Israel’s threshold for security. In Israel’s assessment, only direct Israeli control can prevent the reconstitution of militant capabilities in Gaza. Furthermore, the Israeli government’s rejection of the two-state framework is deeply ideological, and most of the rightist, and dominant, political class in Israel rejects it. For Netanyahu’s coalition, recognition of a Palestinian state, even a demilitarized one, is tantamount to rewarding Hamas for the October 7 attack, as Netanyahu repeated many times. As such, Israeli policy is set on avoiding any political arrangement that might be interpreted as a concession, regardless of international pressure.

This fundamental disagreement erodes the basis for any near-term Saudi Arabian–Israeli normalization. Riyadh’s strategy depends on linking Palestinian political progress to an independent state to regional integration. Israel’s, on the other hand, is to pursue a military-first doctrine that sidelines diplomacy and to force Saudi Arabia and other countries to join the Abraham Accords after abandoning the idea of a Palestinian state and focusing solely on shared interests.

Israeli Work Against a Unified Syria

The Syrian theater provides another window into the Saudi–Israeli divergence. In July, the southern province of al-Suwayda witnessed clashes between Bedouin tribes and segments of the local Druze community. Syrian government forces moved toward al-Suwayda to impose security, then Israel intervened directly to push regime forces out of the area, seeking to weaken Damascus’s hold on the province and foster a more autonomous local order.

From an Israeli perspective, the goal was clear: to prevent Syria from reconstituting itself as a fully sovereign, centrally governed state that could host a unified military threat along Israel’s northern frontier. By promoting localized autonomy in southern Syria, particularly in Druze-majority areas, Israel aims to create buffer zones hostile to both potential allies of Iran and new regime influence.

Saudi Arabia, however, views such fragmentation as destabilizing and counterproductive. Riyadh’s long-term objective in Syria is the emergence of a stable, unified, and centralized state capable of attracting economic investment and integrating into a broader Arab economic and political order. A functioning Syrian state, away from Iranian influence, could become a site for Saudi influence through investments in reconstruction projects and trade. Fragmentation, by contrast, risks entrenching lawlessness, empowering extremist actors, and inviting Iranian penetration to the ungoverned spaces.

The Saudi position is further influenced by its ties to Arab tribes in eastern and southern Syria, some of which have clashed with Druze militias. Riyadh fears that prolonged disorder could allow jihadist groups like the so-called Islamic State (IS) to regain a foothold in southern Syria, and threaten the new government in Damascus. While Israel and Saudi Arabia share an interest in limiting Iran’s influence, Israeli tactics in southern Syria, particularly in al-Suwayda, may inadvertently create the very conditions that facilitate Iran’s return.

Indirect Partial Alignment on Lebanon

Lebanon represents perhaps the clearest case of partial Saudi–Israeli alignment. Both states see Hezbollah as a primary security challenge. Riyadh has been working closely with Washington to push for Hezbollah’s disarmament, seeing it as a prerequisite for political stability and economic recovery. Reports indicate that the Saudis have engaged with Lebanese officials to encourage adoption of the proposal advanced by US envoy Thomas Barrack, which outlined a phased plan for disarming Hezbollah.

From Riyadh’s perspective, Hezbollah’s political and military dominance has been a direct obstacle to Saudi engagement in Lebanon. The group’s regional alignment with Iran and its active opposition to Saudi positions in Yemen and beyond have cemented its place as a strategic adversary. The Saudis require the end of Hezbollah’s role in order to engage in revitalizing the Lebanese economy, and they will not invest in Lebanon as long as the group and its weapons continue to be outside state control.

In this sense, Saudi and Israeli objectives overlap. Yet, their risk calculations differ sharply. Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah, currently involving near-daily airstrikes, could, if escalated with the aim of carrying out the mission of disarming Hezbollah, spark a large-scale war and further increase the instability of the region. Such an outcome could reinforce instability in neighboring Syria, and create the kind of chaos Riyadh seeks to avoid.

Saudi Arabia prefers a Lebanese solution, supported by a unified Lebanese political front, to the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, although this solution may not be feasible given the unbalanced power dynamics between the Lebanese army, which is feared to fracture at the moment of confrontation, and Hezbollah’s forces. Israel, on the other hand, appears willing to force the issue militarily if the Lebanese government fails to address the matter. Thus, while both countries share the end goal of curtailing Hezbollah’s power, their methods, and tolerance for the attendant risks, do not necessarily match.

Conclusion

Saudi Arabia’s recent diplomatic push, exemplified by its partnership with France in advocating for a two-state solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, illustrates its intent to position itself as a leading architect of regional stability. However, Israel’s post–October 7 security doctrine is fundamentally at odds with this approach. By prioritizing military dominance over political settlement, Israel has effectively closed the door on the kind of phased, security-guaranteed Palestinian state that Riyadh envisions.

In Gaza, Israel’s position means rejecting any framework that empowers the PA, however reformed, and insisting on direct Israeli control. In Syria, it entails fostering fragmentation that undercuts the Saudi vision of centralized stability. In Lebanon, it risks triggering large-scale conflict in pursuit of Hezbollah’s disarmament, an aim Riyadh shares but fears the consequences of the chaos resulting from the expansion of the war.

Compounding these challenges is Washington’s relative disengagement from meaningful conflict resolution. The United States continues to grant Israel wide latitude to pursue its security agenda and has shown no willingness to pressure Netanyahu toward a political settlement. Even the shifting stance of some European governments, marked by recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood, has not altered the American position. The United States has expressed its displeasure over the intention of some of its European allies to recognize a Palestinian state.

For Saudi Arabia, this leaves limited options. It can continue to pursue incremental diplomatic initiatives, leveraging its partnerships in Europe and the Arab world to keep the two-state solution on the table. However, without a shared vision with the United States, these efforts will remain constrained. Considering Riyadh’s reluctance to put any pressure on Washington in this matter, and to avoid antagonizing President Donald Trump, it is unlikely that efforts to revive the two-state solution will yield tangible results in the near future.

The “worst cholera outbreak in years” has killed at least 40 people in the last week in Sudan, according to the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières.

Overwhelmed medical centres are resorting to treating patients on mattresses on the floor, MSF said, as the country’s two-year civil war aids the spread of the disease.

Sylvain Penicaud, MSF project coordinator in Tawila, North Darfur state, said families in displacement and refugee camps often had no choice but to drink dirty water, the main cause of cholera.

“Just two weeks ago, a body was found in a well inside one of the camps. It was removed, but within two days, people were forced to drink from that same water again,” he said.

Sudan’s cholera outbreak was first confirmed by the Federal Ministry of Health a year ago, and there have since been more than 99,700 suspected cases and more than 2,470 related deaths.

The disease is spreading as people flee fighting, and being worsened by heavy rains, which contaminate water and overwhelm sewage systems, public health leaders said.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health agency of the African Union, has repeatedly raised concerns about the spread of cholera on the continent, which as of May accounted for 60% of cholera cases and 93.5% of related deaths globally. Vulnerable and conflict-affected states such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, as well as Sudan, are among the worst affected.

MSF said its teams in Tawila, working with the local health ministry, had treated more than 2,300 cholera patients last month. The hospital’s 130-bed treatment centre had to accommodate 400 patients in the first week of August.

About 380,000 people have arrived in the small town since April as they flee fighting around the city of El Fasher and Zamzam camp, according to UN records.

While the World Health Organization says that during an emergency people need at least 7.5 litres of water a day for drinking, cooking and hygiene, people in Tawila must survive with an average of only three.

MSF said water shortages across Darfur made it “impossible to follow essential hygiene measures, such as washing dishes and food”.

Cholera treatment centres in other towns and regions were also being “overwhelmed”, it said.

“The health centres are full,” said Samia Dahab, a resident of Otash displacement camp in Nyala, South Darfur state. “Some areas have water, others have kiosks that are far [away] or empty. Some water is salty, and we drink it unboiled, unsure if it’s safe.”

Tuna Turkmen, MSF’s head of mission in Sudan, said the situation was “beyond urgent” and “spreading well beyond displacement camps now, into multiple localities across Darfur states and beyond”.

In neighbouring Chad, 16 deaths and 288 cases were reported in the second week of August.

Turkmen called for an international response “to provide healthcare, improve water and sanitation services, and begin cholera vaccination campaigns in affected areas at a pace that matches the urgency this catastrophic situation requires”, warning: “Survivors of war must not be left to die from a preventable disease.”

Donald Trump cold-called Norway’s finance minister last month to ask about a nomination for the Nobel peace prize, Norwegian press reported on Thursday.

The Norwegian outlet Dagens Næringsliv, citing unnamed sources, reported: “Out of the blue, while finance minister Jens Stoltenberg was walking down the street in Oslo, Donald Trump called … He wanted the Nobel prize – and to discuss tariffs.”

The outlet added that it was not the first time that Trump had raised the question of a Nobel peace prize nomination to Stoltenberg.

In a statement to Reuters, Stoltenberg, the former Nato secretary-general, said the call focused on tariffs and economic cooperation ahead of Trump’s call with Jonas Støre, the Norwegian prime minister.

“I will not go into further detail about the content of the conversation,” Stoltenberg said, adding that several White House officials including the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, and US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, were on the call.

Each year, the five-member Norwegian Nobel committee reviews hundreds of candidates before choosing laureates. The committee members are appointed by Norway’s parliament according to the will of Alfred Nobel, a 19-century Swedish industrialist. Laureates are announced in October.

Trump has previously complained multiple times about not receiving the Nobel peace prize, an award which four of his predecessors, including Barack Obama, have received.

In his most recent tirade, Trump took to Truth Social in June, saying: “No, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do, including Russia/Ukraine, and Israel/Iran, whatever those outcomes may be, but the people know, and that’s all that matters to me!”

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SRINAGAR, India
Reuters
 — 

At least 46 people died and more than 200 were missing following sudden, heavy rain in Indian Kashmir, officials said on Thursday, the second such disaster in the Himalayas in a little over a week.

The incident occurred in Chasoti town of Kishtwar district, a stopover point on a popular pilgrimage route. It comes a little over a week after a heavy flood and mudslide engulfed an entire village in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.

The flood washed away a community kitchen and a security post set up in the village, a pit stop along the pilgrimage route to the Machail Mata temple, said one of the officials, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media about the incident.

“A large number of pilgrims had gathered for lunch and they were washed away,” the official said.

The Machail yatra is a popular pilgrimage to the high altitude Himalayan shrine of Machail Mata, one of the manifestations of Goddess Durga, and pilgrims trek to the temple from Chasoti, where the road for vehicles ends.

“The news is grim and accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloudburst is slow in arriving,” Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of India’s federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir, said in a post on X.

Television footage showed pilgrims crying in fear as water flooded the village.

The disaster occurred at 11.30 a.m. local time, Ramesh Kumar, the divisional commissioner of Kishtwar district, told news agency ANI, adding that local police and disaster response officials had reached the scene.

“Army, air force teams have also been activated. Search and rescue operations are underway,” Kumar said.

A cloudburst, according to the Indian Meteorological Department, is a sudden, intense downpour of over 100 mm (4 inches) of rain in just one hour that can trigger sudden floods, landslides, and devastation, especially in mountainous regions during the monsoon.

The local weather office in Srinagar predicted intense showers for several regions in Kashmir on Thursday, including Kishtwar, asking residents to stay away from loose structures, electric poles and old trees as there was a possibility of mudslides and flash floods.

Torrential rain struck Chisoti, a town in Kishtwar district in Indian-administered Kashmir, on Thursday morning.

At least 56 people have been killed and dozens more remain missing after a sudden cloudburst unleashed torrential rain in Indian-administered Kashmir, authorities said, marking the second major disaster in the Himalayas in just over a week.

The deluge struck Chisoti, a town in Kishtwar district, on Thursday morning. The site serves as a key stop along the pilgrimage route to the Machail Mata temple, a revered Himalayan shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga.

Television footage showed terrified pilgrims crying as water surged through the settlement.

Omar Abdullah, chief minister of the federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir (Indian-administered Kashmir), described the situation as “grim” and said confirmed details were slow to emerge from the remote location.

Mohammed Irshad said 80 people were reported missing and 300 people were rescued, “50 of whom are severely injured” and were sent to nearby hospitals.

Irshad, a top disaster management official, told the AFP news agency that “56 dead bodies were recovered” from the site before rescue efforts were halted for the night.

Local officials said the death toll from the devastating flood that damaged or washed away many homes was likely to rise.

Sushil Kumar, a resident of the nearby Atholi village, told AFP: “I saw at least 15 dead bodies brought to the local hospital.”

Pankaj Kumar Sharma, district commissioner of Kishtwar, said earlier that “there are chances of more dead bodies being found”.

According to Ramesh Kumar, divisional commissioner of Kishtwar, the cloudburst hit at about 11:30am local time (06:00 GMT). He told ANI news agency that police and disaster response teams were on the ground, while army and air force units had also been mobilised. “Search and rescue operations are under way,” Kumar said.

An official, who asked not to be named as they were not authorised to speak to the media, said the flood swept away a community kitchen and a security post set up to serve pilgrims. “A large number of pilgrims had gathered for lunch and they were washed away,” the official told the news agency Reuters.

The India Meteorological Department defines a cloudburst as a sudden, extreme downpour exceeding 100mm (4 inches) of rain in an hour, often triggering flash floods and landslides in mountainous regions during the monsoon.

Last week, a similar disaster in Uttarakhand, another Himalayan state, buried an entire village under mud and debris after heavy rains.

The Srinagar weather office has warned of further intense rainfall in several parts of Kashmir, including Kishtwar, and urged residents to avoid unstable structures, power lines and old trees due to the risk of additional landslides and flash floods.

“Every possible assistance will be provided to those in need,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

Floods and landslides are common during the monsoon season from June to September, but experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing their frequency and severity.

The UN’s World Meteorological Organization said last year that increasingly intense floods and droughts are a “distress signal” of what is to come as climate change makes the planet’s water cycle ever more unpredictable.

India on Thursday expressed hope that relations with the United States would progress on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests, aiming to ease concerns after Washington’s imposition of high tariffs.

A US defence policy team will be in New Delhi this month for talks with Indian officials and its arms purchases from the US are on course despite the strain in ties, the Indian foreign ministry said.

A new friendship built between the two countries has hit a rough patch after President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% last week from an earlier 25% saying it was a penalty for India’s continued imports of Russian oil.

New Delhi has accused the US of double standards in singling it out for Russian oil imports and called the tariffs unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.

At the same time, it has also indicated that the warming of ties that began at the turn of the century covers a wide range of areas and should not be seen only through the prism of trade, although it hopes that trade talks will continue and result in a deal.

“This partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges…and we hope that the relationship will continue to move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests,” Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing.

Purchases of military equipment from Washington were on course, Jaiswal said, adding that a US defence policy team was expected in Delhi this month.

Reuters reported last week that India has put on hold its plans to procure new US weapons and aircraft and that a planned trip to Washington by the Indian defence minister had been cancelled.

The Indian government subsequently said reports of a pause in the talks were wrong.

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LAHORE, Aug 14 (APP):Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar extended heartfelt congratulations to the people of Pakistan and the police force on the 78th Independence Day.

He reiterated Punjab Police’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives, property, honour and dignity of citizens.

He emphasised that the sacrifice of 1,700 martyrs of Punjab Police stands as a symbol of enduring love for the homeland and that no effort will be spared for the security, progress, as well as prosperity of the country.

Dr. Usman said that every officer and soldier of Punjab Police is ready to lay down their life for the nation. Security was put on high alert across the province, particularly in Lahore, to thwart any hostile intentions, he added.

According to Punjab Police spokesperson, over 30,000 police officers and personnel were deployed to ensure foolproof security and manage traffic. All events were closely monitored through CCTV cameras. Citizens were urged to celebrate Independence Day while maintaining national decorum and dignity, with a strict zero-tolerance policy enforced against one-wheeling, aerial firing, rowdiness and harassment of women and families.

Quran recitations and prayers for national peace and security were held in mosques across police lines and offices, including in Lahore. Dignified flag-hoisting ceremonies were conducted in police offices and attended by families of martyrs, RPOs, CPOs, DPOs, senior officers, and other personnel. Police contingents presented a formal salute to the national flag and police premises across the province were decorated with colorful lighting.

The IGP lauded the bravery and sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces and highlighted Punjab Police’s role in both attaining and protecting national freedom. He emphasised that Punjab Police continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces.

To mark the occasion, Punjab Police released a service-based video showcasing its commitment to public safety. Various departments, including CTD, Elite Force, SPU, and CCD, reaffirmed their determination to combat terrorism and serious crimes. Female police officers pledged to protect women and children, while Traffic Police committed to ensuring smooth traffic flow. Punjab Highway Patrol, Dolphin Squad and Riot Management Police renewed their resolve to maintain law and order. The role of Khidmat Marakaz, Meesaq Centers, Punjab Safe Cities Authority, Virtual Women Police Stations and the Virtual Center for Child Safety was also highlighted.

Following IG Punjab’s directives, Punjab Police provided comprehensive security for over 480 events across the province. This included: deployment of over 30,000 officers and personnel, 274 Elite teams, 165 Quick Response Force (QRF) units, 1,428 motorcycle squads, 790 patrolling vehicle teams, use of 143 walk-through gates and 1,762 metal detectors, and full CCTV surveillance via the Punjab Safe Cities Authority.

In Lahore alone, over 8,000 personnel ensured security and traffic management for events, including 8 A+ category, 82 A category and 392 B category programs.

IGP Dr Usman emphasised heightened vigilance at inter-provincial border check posts, instructing personnel to monitor threats from Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan.

Senior officers including the CCPO Lahore, RPOs, CPOs and DPOs personally supervised security arrangements. Police units, Special Branch, CTD, intelligence agencies, patrolling squads, Dolphin Force, PRU and Traffic Police ensured the best possible arrangements.

Strict action was taken under the zero-tolerance policy against any violations, including public disorder, dangerous stunts, aerial firing and harassment.