News

Omani Researcher Contributes to Scientific Study Enhancing Global Research Presence Muscat, 7 Jul (ONA) — An Omani researcher has participated in a peer-reviewed international study published on the European Geosciences Union (EGU) platform, in collaboration with three leading European universities: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Utrecht University, and Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. This achievement reflects Oman’s commitment to advancing research and development. Engineer and researcher Najat Al Fadhli from the Industrial Innovation ...

72 Die Due to Floods in Pakistan Islamabad, 7 Jul (ONA) – Seventy-two people died and more than 130 got injured due to ten days of heavy monsoon rains and widespread flooding across the Islamic Republic Pakistan, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The fatalities, recorded since 26 June, occurred in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the north, Punjab in the east, Sindh in the south, and Balochistan in the southwest. The NDMA advised tourists to avoid visiting affected areas, warning that further rainfall could lead to road closures and ...

Death Toll Rises to 43 in Texas FloodsWashington, 6 Jul (ONA) ---The death toll from flash floods that struck Kerr County, Texas, has risen to 43, including 15 children, as rescue teams continue their search for missing persons.Local officials said more than 850 people were rescued after a sudden storm dumped more than 30cm of rain on the Guadalupe River, about 137 km northwest of San Antonio.The search is currently focused on 23 missing girls who were at summer camps near the riverbank when flash floods swept through.The National Weather Service reported that the risk of flash ...

Earth to Reach its Aphelion in Oman Skies Tomorrow: Oman Astronomical Society Muscat, 2 Jul (ONA) --- The skies of the Sultanate of Oman will show a unique annual astronomical phenomenon tomorrow, as the sun reaches aphelion (farthest point from the Sun) at 11:55 p.m, according to Oman Society of Astronomy and Space (OSAS). By Oman time, this represents the farthest point that the Earth reaches in its elliptical orbit around the sun. The distance between the Earth and the sun at this moment stands at approximately 152,087,738 kilometres, a difference of nearly 5 million ...

8 Killed, Others Missing in Factory Fire in Central ThailandBangkok, 1 Jul (ONA) - Eight people died and several others missing after a fire broke out at a factory in Saraburi Province, Thailand.Initial reports indicated that eight people died and dozens injured in the fire that broke out in the Nong Khai area yesterday “Monday”. Meanwhile, search and rescue teams are still searching for the missing.The fire was brought under control last night, as Thai authorities and search and rescue teams coordinated the search for the missing ...

Two Dead, 6 Missing after Torrential Rainfall in Central China Beijing, 1 Jul (ONA) -- Two people have died and six others are still missing following torrential rains in Xixia County in the city of Nanyang, central China's Henan Province, the local emergency response headquarters in China said today. Torrential downpours with total precipitation of 225.3 mm in two townships triggered a sudden surge in the water level in the downstream of a local river yesterday “Monday”, damaging infrastructure and leaving some residents trapped, according to China's News Agency ...

Southern European Countries Issue Warnings on Heatwaves, WildfiresEuropean Capitals, 30 Jun (ONA) --- Authorities in southern European countries have warned of the risk of wildfires, after temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece. Meteorologists in these countries have warned that the severity of heatwaves could impact daily life, particularly for the elderly, children, and other vulnerable groups. In Portugal, authorities issued a high alert in two-thirds of the country on Sunday to combat extreme heat and wildfires, with temperatures expected to ...

Nearly 50 Dead in Pakistan after a Week of Flooding Islamabad, 30 Jun (ONA) --- Nearly a week of heavy monsoon rains and flash floods across Pakistan have left at least 46 people dead and injured dozens as continuing severe weather similar to past emergencies remains possible, local officials said today. The fatalities caused by abnormally strong downpours since Tuesday include 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 13 in eastern Punjab province, seven in southern Sindh and four in southwestern Balochistan, National Disaster Management Authority and provincial emergency officials said. Forecasters ...

China Activates Emergency Response to Flooding in Chongqing, GuizhouBeijing, 25 Jun (ONA) --- China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters launched a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in Chongqing Municipality and Guizhou Province as the two southwestern regions brace for a new round of rainfall. A team has been dispatched to Guizhou to assist with flood prevention and relief efforts in the province's Rongjiang and Congjiang counties, according to the headquarters. China has a four-tier emergency response system for flood control, with Level I being the most severe, ...

People Missing, bridges Collapsed in China after FloodingBeijing, 24 Jun (ONA) --- Days of heavy rainfall have led to severe flooding in China, triggering damage and reports of missing people. In the south-western province of Guizhou, a highway bridge in Sandu County collapsed following a landslide, state media reported. In the vicinity of the accident site, rivers burst their banks. Videos circulating online showed brown floodwaters gushing through a shopping centre in Rongjiang County. Chinese state television called it the area's worst flooding in 30 years. Rescue workers in the ...

EU Urged to Enter New Climate Alliances Amid US RetreatCologne, 19 Jun (ONA) --- The European Union (EU) should try and forge new climate alliances in the wake of Washington's planned exit from the Paris climate treaty, Germany's state secretary for climate has said. "Africa, China, India and Brazil, for example, will be more important partners for the EU than ever before," Jochen Flasbarth told dpa on the sidelines of the UN Climate Conference in the western German city of Bonn. US President Donald Trump ordered his country's withdrawal from the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement - ...

Mount Etna Erupts, Producing 6,000-metre Ash Cloud in ItalyRome, 19 Jun (ONA) —- Mount Etna, the volcano on the Italian island of Sicily, has erupted again, the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said today. The Strombolian eruption - during which lava and ash are ejected from the volcano - produced an ash cloud around 6,000 metres high, INGV said. The institute had recorded an increase in volcanic tremors on Wednesday evening ahead of the eruption. It said heavy clouds obscured visibility this morning. According to INGV's forecasts, the ash cloud is expected to ...

70,000 Evacuated Due to Floods in Southern ChinaBeijing, 19 Jun (ONA) —- Chinese authorities announced the evacuation of nearly 70,000 people in Huaiji County in the southern province of Guangdong after persistent heavy rains caused widespread flooding that affected some 300,000 residents. The floods were attributed to Typhoon Wutip, the first typhoon of the season, along with a strong low pressure system and heavy seasonal rains that began sweeping the region last Saturday. According to local authorities, the floods injured 15 people, with no life-threatening injuries reported. Flood ...

Wildfires Force Thousands of Residents to Evacuate in New MexicoWashington, 18 Jun (ONA) --- Authorities in the US state of New Mexico today announced that widespread wildfires have consumed more than 80,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders for about 2,000 homes and the declaration of a state of emergency. According to the New Mexico Fire Information Service, the Buck Fire was sparked by lightning on 11 June 2025 in Catron County and has spread to more than 57,000 acres, while the Trout Fire broke out the next day south of the Gila National Forest, consuming approximately 25,000 acres and ...

Oman to Welcome Summer Solstice, Khareef Dhofar Season This SaturdayMuscat, 18 Jun (ONA) —— The Sultanate of Oman will witness the summer solstice phenomenon next Saturday as the sun aligns directly over the Tropic of Cancer, marking the official astronomical start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. This year's summer season will last approximately 93 days, 15 hours, and 37 minutes, according to astronomical calculations. Al Mukhtar Saif Al Saeedi, a member of Oman Astronomical Society, explained that this year's summer solstice will occur precisely at 6:42 AM Oman time on Saturday, ...

FAO: Over 46 Million Hectares of Agricultural Land Degraded in Arab Region Geneva, 17 Jun (ONA) --- More than 46 million hectares of agricultural land, particularly in the Arab region, are at risk due to excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, soil salinization from irrigation practices, increasing sand and dust storms, rising temperatures, and water scarcity linked to climate change, according to a study by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The organization noted that with less than 4% of land in the Arab region allocated for restoration, the ...

Omani-Bahraini Friendship Association Discusses Cooperation, Explores Initiatives Muscat, 16 Jun (ONA) --- The Omani-Bahraini Friendship Association (OBFA) held a regular meeting at the Diplomatic Club in Muscat today. The meeting, attended by representatives from the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain, discussed key issues related to means of consolidating bilateral relations and developing cooperation programmes. The meeting saw the election of OBFA board members for the period from 2025 to 2028. During the elections, Rudaina Amer Al Hajri was re-elected as ...

Heavy Rains Kill 29 in Democratic Republic of CongoKinshasa, 16 Jun (ONA) --- At least 29 people were killed over the weekend by heavy rains in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), during what is supposed to be the dry season, in an unusual weather event that caused widespread destruction. Evacuation and temporary resettlement efforts were underway, said Kinshasa governor Daniel Bumba, who also urged locals to enhance disaster awareness and take preventive measures. Although the country is currently in its dry season, the rainfall hit 90 millimeters, the highest for ...

Massive Fire in German Town Injures 7, Causes Millions in DamagesBerlin, 15 Jun (ONA) --- A major fire that swept through the historic old town of Villingen-Schwenningern in southwestern Germany has been extinguished, but fire crews remain on site to monitor for potential flare-ups, police said today. The blaze erupted last evening and quickly spread to multiple houses, causing damages estimated in the millions of euros. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause, which remains unknown. According to officials, four residents sustained minor injuries, while three ...

Air India Ahmedabad-London Flight Crashes Near AirportNew Delhi, 12 Jun (ONA) --- An Air India plane bound for London with 242 people on board crashed minutes after taking off from India's western city of Ahmedabad today, the airline and police said. The plane was headed to Gatwick airport in the UK, Air India said, while police officers said it crashed in a civilian area near the airport. According to aviation tracking site 'Flightradar24', the plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the most modern passenger aircraft in service. Contact with the plane was lost seconds after takeoff, ...

Three People Found Alive After Small Plane Crash in Siberian Forest Siberia, 10 Jun (ONA) --- Search and rescue teams have found three people, including two pilots, alive after their small plane made an emergency landing in the forests of Siberia today, Russia's civil aviation authority said. The Antonov An-2 had issued distress calls while flying over the Yakutia region. ---Ends/AG ...

5.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes South Sandwich IslandsLondon, 10 Jun (ONA) --- An earthquake measuring 5.4 magnitude on the Richter scale struck today the South Sandwich Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.The earthquake's epicenter was at a depth of 37.5 km, about 100 km southeast of the British island of South Georgia, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.There have been no reports of casualties or material damage so far. No tsunami warnings have been issued following the earthquake.--- Ends/AH ...

10 People Killed in Armed Attack in Austria Vienna, 10 Jun (ONA) ---- A shooter killed at least nine people and wounded many others in an attack at a secondary school in the southern Austrian city of Graz today, the city's mayor said. Graz Mayor Elke Kahr was quoted by Austrian news agency APA as saying the attacker was also dead, and that many of the injured had been taken to hospital following the shooting, which she called a "terrible tragedy". Police gave no initial toll but said "several" people were dead and they were working in the assumption there was only one ...

International Conference Seeks to Preserve Oceans, Promote Sustainable Use Paris, 10 Jun (ONA) —— The third United Nations Ocean Conference is addressing the challenges facing oceans, including rising temperatures and ocean acidification surpassing safe limits. The conference aims to mobilize all stakeholders to preserve oceans and promote their sustainable use, contributing to the conservation of marine resources and the enhancement of biodiversity. Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi, GCC Secretary-General emphasized during his participation that the GCC countries ...

53% of Europe and Mediterranean Basin Hit by Drought in MayParis, 4 Jun (ONA) —- More than half, or 53 percent of land in Europe and the Mediterranean basin were hit by drought in mid-May, according to data from the European Drought Observatory (EDO) from 11-20 May 2025. It was the highest level recorded for that period of time in the year since monitoring began in 2012, and more than 20 points higher than the average between 2012-2024. The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, based on satellite imagery, takes into account three benchmarks: precipitations, or rainfall, soil moisture ...

34 Dead Due to Severe Floods in IndiaNew Delhi, 3 Jun (ONA) --- Indian authorities announced that at least 34 people were dead as a result of the severe floods and landslides that have struck the northeastern state of Manipur over the past four days, affecting more than 56,000 people. In a statement today, local authorities said that the floods have destroyed 10,477 homes and affected thousands of residents. Evacuation and relief efforts are ongoing in the affected areas. The authorities noted that one person was missing after being swept away by a river in the eastern city of ...

Death Toll from Nigeria Floods Rises to 150Abuja, 1 Jun (ONA) --- The death toll due to severe flooding in the Nigerian city of Mokwa has risen to 150, emergency services said today following days of rescue efforts. The floods swept the central market city on Wednesday following hours of heavy rains. More than 50 houses were destroyed and their residents swept away by the water. Due to the difficulty of the rescue operation, the full extent of the disaster only became clear days later, with further victims located during search efforts on Saturday. How many people are still missing ...

Seven Dead in Train Accident Following Bridge Collapse in Southwestern RussiaMoscow, 1 Jun (ONA) --- Russian authorities announced that at least seven people died and about 30 others were injured, including two children, when a train derailed following the collapse of a bridge in the Bryansk region near the Ukrainian border. Russian Railways said in a statement via Telegram that the locomotive and several train cars derailed as a result of "the collapse of a span structure of the road bridge as a result of an illegal interference in the operation of transport," without providing further ...

22 Dead Due to Floods, Landslides in Northeastern India New Delhi, 1 Jun (ONA) --- At least 22 people were dead in several northeastern Indian states over the past 48 hours due to flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains. Official statistics in India indicate that five people, including three members of one family, were dead after their homes were buried in a landslide in Guwahati city in Assam state. In the neighboring state of Arunachal Pradesh, seven people were dead after their vehicle was swept away by floods, while two others drowned in a separate incident in the ...

Four Dead after Navy Patrol Plane Crashes in South KoreaSeoul, 29 May (ONA) --- A Navy patrol plane carrying four people crashed on a mountain in the southeast of South Kores today, South Korean authorities said. "A P-3 maritime patrol aircraft that took off for training from an air base in Pohang crashed at a nearby location due to unidentified reasons," the Navy said in a notice to reporters. The Navy confirmed that four people were aboard the aircraft. It has launched an investigative unit to look into further details, including casualties. Meanwhile, firefighters are continuing ...