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Indonesia reports 12,990 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases since late-January. It brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1.96 million. [https:--www.straitstimes.com-asia-se-asia-indonesia-reports-12990-new-coronavirus-infections-290-deaths ("The Straits Times")]*The Palestinian Authority cancels a planned vaccine exchange with Israel involving at least one million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, saying the first batch of doses Israel was going to send were near expiration. The swap was previously announced earlier in the day. [https:--www.aljazeera.com-news-2021-6-18-palestinians-to-get-1-million-covid-vaccine-doses-in-israel-swap (Al Jazeera)]*Oman speeds up its COVID-19 vaccination as the number of cases increases in the country, which has seen only a small percentage of the population vaccinated. [https:--www.reuters.com-world-middle-east-oman-slowest-vaccinator-gulf-pushes-campaign-amid-covid-19-surge-2021-06-18- (Reuters)]*Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin closes the Euro 2020 fan zone due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Russian capital. [https:--www.dw.com-en-moscow-closes-euro-2020-fan-zone-as-covid-cases-surge-a-57950652 (DW)]*Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announces that as of June 26, it will no longer be mandatory to wear a face mask outdoors. [https:--www.lavanguardia.com-vida-20210618-7539733-mascarilla-exteriores-espana-26-junio.html ("La Vanguardia")]*Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. [https:--www.lavanguardia.com-politica-20210618-7541594-pedro-sanchez-recibe-primera-dosis-vacuna-covid-19-madrid.html ("La Vanguardia")]***British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expands COVID-19 vaccinations to people aged 18 years and older amidst concerns about the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant. [https:--www.nytimes.com-2021-06-18-world-uk-vaccine-eligibility.html ("The New York Times")]*Restrictions are eased in Melbourne as the number of cases decreases. Melbournians will now be allowed to travel anywhere in the state of Victoria, public gatherings increase to 20 people and masks are no longer required outdoors. Private gatherings of up to two people will be allowed, gyms and indoor entertainment reopen, and workforce capacities increase. These new restrictions bring Melbourne into line with the rest of Victoria. [https:--www.9news.com.au-national-victorian-lockdown-restrictions-melbourne-coronavirus-covid19-rules-what-can-i-do-61700b39-6f71-4bd3-85c8-c2fa1f99a520 (9 News)]***Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern receives her first dose of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. [https:--i.stuff.co.nz-national-health-coronavirus-300336289-important-milestone-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-gets-first-covid19-vaccine (Stuff.co.nz)]*Papua New Guinea receives 146,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from New Zealand, facilitated through the COVAX initiative. [https:--www.rnz.co.nz-international-pacific-news-445020-png-receives-146-thousand-vaccine-doses-from-nz (RNZ)]President Yoweri Museveni announces that the country has imposed new restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19, including a ban on vehicular movements except for essential workers. [https:--www.reuters.com-world-africa-uganda-imposes-new-anti-coronavirus-measures-stem-raging-pandemic-2021-06-18- (Reuters)]COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
2021-06-18

Oman reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a resident who travelled from the United Kingdom and tested positive while in quarantine.
2021-01-5

Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Oman and Bahrain confirm their first cases of coronavirus.
2020-02-24

Omani state television announces the death of the Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said aged 79. At the time of his death he was the longest serving head of state in the Middle East and Arab world.
2020-01-10

Oman receives 10 former detainees of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp following a request by the United States to take them.
2017-01-16

The Gulf Cooperation Council formally designates Lebanon's Hezbollah militia a terrorist organization. The GCC member states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
2016-03-2

Flash floods leave 16 people dead and 3 others missing in Saudi Arabia, with authorities urging citizens to avoid low-lying wadis. At least two others were killed in neighboring Oman in some of the heaviest rainfall in more than 25 years.
2013-05-1

Two government ministers in Oman are replaced amid ongoing demonstrations in the country.
2011-03-5

Somali pirates release a German ship with 22 crew, eight months after it was seized near Oman.
2010-12-28

Somali pirates seize MS "Marida Marguerite", a German-owned tanker, off the coast of Somalia.
2010-05-9