News

ROHM to Present Exciting Concert Featuring Pipe Organ Muscat, 12 Feb (ONA) --- Music lovers in Muscat are in for a treat tomorrow (Thursday), 13 February 2025, as the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) presents an exciting concert that promises to be an unforgettable event. While the evening’s programme, featuring Claudio Astronio, Gianluca Marciano, and the Piccoli Cantori di Torino Children’s Choir, is filled with captivating performances, the real star of the show is the magnificent pipe organ housed in the Opera House—a true national treasure. The pipe organ at the ...

More Than 100 Documents on Oman-Indo Relations Showcased at Exhibition in New Delhi New Delhi, 11 Feb (ONA) --- A documentary exhibition titled "Legacy of Indo-Oman Relations" was opened in New Delhi today. The three-day exhibition is jointly organised by the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) and the National Archives of India. The exhibition showcases documents, photos and maps covering different historical epochs. Besides reflecting the Oman-Indo deep-rooted cultural and civilizational treasures, the exhibits also highlight the two countries’ centuries-old ...

ROHM Brings Together International Talent with Brilliant Young Artists Muscat, 11 Feb (ONA) --- 2025 February continued at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) with the Emerging Talents initiative, which focuses on fostering young musicians and providing them with valuable learning experiences. A major highlight of the programme was the world-renowned baritone Thomas Hampson, who led a series of masterclasses for aspiring musicians in Muscat. These sessions offered in-depth demonstrations into vocal technique, performance practices, and artistic growth. Included 2 Omani ...

Fossils Found in South China Identified as Duck-billed Dinosaur Beijing, 11 Feb (ONA) --- Scientists have confirmed that a set of skeletal fossils discovered in southern China belonged to duck-billed dinosaurs from over 70 million years ago, expanding the region's fossil record of these large, toothy creatures that likely migrated from North America. The bones were found in May 2009 by a Chinese amateur fossil hunter at a construction site in Taipinggang, Sihui City, Guangdong Province, and he donated them to a local museum. After cleaning and ...

Oman, India Sign Executive Programme for Cooperation in Archives New Delhi, 10 Feb (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA), signed with the National Archives of India in New Delhi, Republic of India today, an executive programme for cooperation in the field of historical documentation and management of records and archives. The programme was signed by Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Dhoyani, NRAA Chairman and by Arun Singhal, Director General of the National Archives of India. The executive programme includes a set of ...

National Museum Hosts Italian Jewellery Exhibition Muscat, 9 Feb (ONA) ---- The National Museum, in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Muscat, is currently hosting an exhibition titled "DIVA! Italian Glamour in Fashion Jewellery", which highlights the beauty and creativity of Italian fashion. The opening ceremony took place today under the patronage of HH Sayyidah Dr. Mona Fahad Al Said, Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Cooperation at Sultan Qaboos University and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum. The event was attended by ...

National Museum Inaugurates Russian Seasons,State Hermitage Museum CornerMuscat, 1 Feb (ONA) —— As part of the celebrations marking forty years of diplomatic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Russian Federation, the National Museum held a press conference today to inaugurate the "Russian Seasons" in the Sultanate of Oman.This initiative is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the ANO "Russian Seasons".Additionally, the Museum inaugurated the State Hermitage Museum’s Corner titled "Gifts of Bukharan and Central Asian ...

Bronze Age Finds Unearthed at Bat Archaeological Site in Al DhahirahIbri, 29 Jan (ONA) --- Archaeological excavations at the site of “Rakhat Al Madrah”, near the ruins of Bat in Al Dhahirah Governorate, have revealed a settlement dating back to the Bronze Age.Diggings carried out by the Ministry in cooperation with an American mission affirmed the existence of graves dating back to the period from 3200 BC to 2700 BC, in addition to four buildings from the Bronze Age. Bat is a UNESCO archaeological site where archaeological research and studies are being conducted to explore ...

Oman Participates in 4th GCC Forum for Visual Arts Doha, 22 Jan (ONA) --- Several Omani visual artists are participating in the 4th GCC Visual Arts Forum, held in Doha, the State of Qatar. The forum is organized by the Cultural Village “KATARA” during the period from 15-25 January 2025. The forum aims to exchange expertise and innovative ideas among artists, in a way that enhances cooperation and enriches the artistic scene in the region. Moreover, the event includes an artistic seminar and a workshop, in addition to an exhibition showcasing several artistic works. ...

Large Deposits of Rare Metals Discovered in ChinaBeijing, 19 Jan (ONA) --- The China Geological Survey (CGS) announced the discovery of a large rare earth deposit in southwest China's Yunnan Province, with potential resources of 1.15 million tonnes. Critical rare earth elements such as praseodymium, neodymium, dysprosium, and terbium exceed 470,000 tonnes in this newly discovered deposit, said the CGS. The deposit is a super-large ion-adsorption type of rare earth, marking another significant breakthrough in China since the first such discovery in east China's ...

ROHM Honours Music Legend Mohammed Abdul Wahab Muscat, 16 Jan (ONA) --- An exhibition opened at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) today to honour the great composer and singer Mohammed Abdul Wahab, (1902 to 1991). To highlight his profound legacy in music and arts and introduce new generations to his story, a rich educational programme has been curated with a series of exhibitions, lectures, a rare film screening, and two special homage concerts. The late Sultan Qaboos bin Said conferred Oman First Class Order on Mohammed Abdul Wahab in 1984. The exhibition offers a ...

HH Sayyid Theyazin Graces Closing Ceremony of Arab Theatre FestivalMuscat, 15 Jan (ONA) --- HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, today presided over the closing of the Arab Theatre Festival’s 15th edition, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman.The closing ceremony of the 7-day festival was held at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.The Award set for the 15th Arab Theatre Festival, titled “His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi’ Award” was won by Tunisian Opera Company (Theatre Pole) through its theatrical performance ...

The National Museum Hosts Madeline Díaz: Nuevos Caminos Exhibition Muscat, 15 Jan (ONA) --- The National Museum, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, is hosting an art exhibition titled Madeline Díaz: Nuevos Caminos. The exhibition features over 20 artworks by the Dominican-American artist, depicting evocative landscapes and still life that explore and celebrate her cultural identity through art. The exhibition will run until 29 January 2025. During the opening ceremony, the U.S. Ambassador to Oman, Ana Escrogima, stated: “This collaboration is more ...

About 410-Million-year-old Plant Fossil Sheds Light on Earth's Ecological ShiftBeijing, 15 Jan (ONA) --- Chinese scientists have discovered a tiny plant species dating back about 410 million years in Duyun City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, offering new insights into the process of "plant colonization of land." According to researchers from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Zosterophyllum plant they discovered stands at just 45 millimeters in height, with its sporangial spike measuring only 5.8 to 10.8 millimeters. In ...

HH Sayyid Theyazin Opens 15th Edition of Arab Theatre FestivalMuscat, 9 Jan (ONA) --- HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth presided at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre today over the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the Arab Theatre Festival.The festival, which runs until 15 January 2025, is hosted by the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, in partnership with the Arab Theatre Authority and Oman Theatre Society.Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth ...

HH Sayyid Theyazin to Open 15th Edition of Arab Theatre Festival tomorrow Muscat, 8 Jan (ONA) ---- HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth will preside tomorrow “Thursday” over the opening of the 15th edition of the Arab Theatre Festival. The event will be hosted by the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, in partnership with the Arab Theatre Authority and the Omani Theatre Society. The event, which runs till 15 January, will feature 15 sensational theatrical performances from Oman ...

Oman to Host 15th Edition of Arab Theatre Festival Muscat, 5 Jan (ONA) --- Represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Sultanate of Oman will host the 15th edition of the Arab Theatre Festival from 9 to 15 January 2025. The festival will be organized in cooperation with the Arab Theatre Institute and Oman Theatre Society. The festival will feature 15 sensational theatrical performances from Oman and abroad. The performances will be staged in three theatres, those of Al Bustan Palace, Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (Al Irfan) and the College of Banking ...

Audio Guide Service Launched at the National Museum Muscat, 1 Jan (ONA) --- As part of the National Museum's efforts to provide an interactive and unique Museum experience for its visitors, the Museum today launched the "Audio Guide" service. This service seeks to enrich visitors' experience by providing a detailed historical explanation of the museum’s Galleries and selected artefacts while touring the museum. The service includes 395 items and is available in Arabic and English. It also supports two tour options: self-guided tours or group tours. The "Audio Guide" ...

135-Million-Year-Old Tyrannosaur Teeth Unearthed in UKLondon, 30 Dec (ONA) --- A groundbreaking study by the University of Southampton has uncovered evidence of diverse meat-eating dinosaurs in East Sussex, the United Kingdom (UK),135 million years ago.Published in Papers in Palaeontology, the research identified fossilized teeth from tyrannosaurs, spinosaurs, and dromaeosaurs (Velociraptor-like theropods) in the Bexhill-on-Sea area.This marks the first identification of tyrannosaurs in sediments of this age and region. Led by Dr. Chris Barker, the team employed advanced methods, ...

Scientists Discover Prehistoric Saber-Toothed Predator That Predates Dinosaurs Madrid, 17 Dec (ONA) --- Researchers have discovered the oldest gorgonopsian fossil on Mallorca, a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea, dating from 270-280 million years ago. This therapsid, a saber-toothed predator, offers new insights into the evolutionary lineage leading to mammals. About 200 million years ago, the first true mammals emerged during the age of dinosaurs. However, their origins can be traced back even further to a group called therapsids. While many therapsids bore ...

“Moana 2" Leads Box Office for Third WeekendWashington, 16 Dec (ONA) --- Disney's Moana 2 continues its dominance at the North American box office, earning $26.6 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $337.5 million and global earnings to over $700 million, according to Exhibitor Relations.Moana 2 features Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson reprise their roles as Moana and Maui.Universal's Wicked, the musical adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, placed second with $22.5 million, crossing $500 million globally. ...

National Museum Hosts Cultural Events to Promote Russian LanguageMuscat, 15 Dec (ONA) —— The National Museum, represented by its Learning Centre and supported by BP Oman, is currently hosting a series of global cultural events titled "Russian Express" to promote and spread the Russian language.The two-day program begins with the opening of the "Russia" exhibition today. The exhibition showcases photographs of Russia’s natural landscapes, models of wooden and stone architecture, and unique perspectives of Russian cities. Additionally, an evening concert titled "Vecherka", a folkloric ...

Ancient Shipwreck Off Sicily Reveals Greek and Carthaginian TradeRome, 10 Dec (ONA) --- Researchers have discovered an ancient shipwreck off the Italian coast of Santa Maria del Focallo, Ispica, Sicily, believed to be over 2,500 years old. The wreck, dating back to the 6th-5th centuries BC, offers evidence of trade during the time when Greeks and Carthaginians vied for control of the seas.The underwater exploration, which lasted three weeks and concluded in September 2024, received support from the Messina Coast Guard Diving Unit and the Port Authority of Pozzallo, who provided technical and ...

ROHM Delights Audience with World-class Performances in December Muscat, 9 Dec (ONA) --- December 2024 began in striking style as the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) welcomed world-class artists for a weekend of artistic brilliance featuring Gaetano Donizetti’s beloved opera La Fille du Régiment and an exhilarating Piano Duel between two world-renowned virtuosos. ROHM presented La Fille du Régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment), Donizetti’s celebrated opera, to delighted audiences who filled the opera house in anticipation of this timeless masterpiece. Directed by ...

National Museum Launches Book Titled “My Journey Under the Sultans of Wisdom” Muscat, 9 Dec (ONA) --- The National Museum organised a ceremony today to launch the English version of the book "My Journey Under the Sultans of Wisdom" by the late Mohammed Mohiuddin bin Abdulaziz. The event was held under the patronage of Sayyid Saud Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat. Dr. Tariq Mohiuddin Mohammed Ghulam, the son of the late author, said: "The idea for the book began in 2016 as a means of documenting an important period in Oman’s history. Since then, our father ...

Oman Participates in Meeting on Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage Asunción, 4 Dec (ONA) --- Represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Sultanate of Oman today took part in the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Convention on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, currently being held in Asunción, Paraguay. The meeting will run until 7 December 2024. Oman’s delegation is headed by Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture. The meeting will ...

Oman Across Ages Museum Wins Versailles World Architecture, Design Award Paris, 3 Dec (ONA) --- The Oman Across Ages Museum has won the Versailles World Architecture, Design Award for the best exterior design for the most fascinating museums in the world. This was unveiled by the UNESCO in Paris today. The museum was in the lead of seven newly opened or reopened museums that serve the theme of innovation, reflect local heritage and environmental efficiency and leave a positive impact on their surroundings. Oman Across the Ages Museum is thereby termed as “the most beautiful ...

Wicked Breaks Records with Biggest Broadway Film Opening Washington, 25 Nov (ONA) --- Wicked is projected to have the top-grossing opening weekend of any Broadway musical adaptation ever in the UK and Ireland, as well as North America. The adaptation of the hit musical is raked in over $114m on its opening weekend in North America. That overtakes the previous record holder, Les Miserables, which brought in $103m globally on its opening weekend in 2012. The National Association of Theatre Owners hailed it as one of the most successful November weekends ever at ...

Dinosaur Skeleton Sells for $5 Million at Auction in ParisParis, 17 Nov (ONA) --- The skeleton of "Vulcain," a 20.5-meter-long Apatosaurus, was auctioned in Paris for €4.7 million (about $5 million), making it one of the highest-priced dinosaur skeletons ever sold in France, auction houses Collin du Bocage and Barbarossa said. The record remains with "Big John," which sold for €6 million in Paris in 2021. "Vulcain," comprised of over 80% original bones, was estimated at €3 million to €5 million before the sale. The €4.7 million sale price excludes ...

The National Museum Inaugurates Exhibition Highlighting Historic Oman-Bahrain Ties Muscat, 14 Nov (ONA) --- The National Museum, in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry, today inaugurated an exhibition titled "Historical Images of the Leaders of the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain" in the presence of Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister and Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain. This exhibition coincides with the 8th session of the Oman-Bahrain Joint Committee. The exhibition showcases ...