News

Italian Language Week in the World Concludes in the National MuseumMuscat, 17 Oct (ONA) --- The National Museum and the Embassy of Italy in Muscat today marked the finale of the 24th edition of the Italian Language Week in the World with a special theatrical performance titled “The Faerie Tale of Venice and the Incense Trade Route through Dante Alighieri’s Words.”The event was held under the patronage of Jamal Hassan Al Moosawi, Secretary General of the National Museum. During the welcome speech, Al Moosawi emphasized the importance of language as a bridge between cultures and its role ...

Culture Undersecretary Visits Ataturk Cultural Centre Turkey, 14 Oct (ONA)--- Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Chairman of the Management and Operation Committee of "Oman Cultural Complex Project", today visited the Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM), which is one of the most prominent architectural and cultural landmarks in Turkey. The visit was aimed to benefit from the Centre's expertise in management, modern techniques and training programmes for operational staff. Al Busaidi explored the edifice's diverse ...

Oman Takes Part in UNESCO Executive Board Meetings Paris, 14 Oct (ONA)--- The Sultanate of Oman is taking part in the 220th session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The meeting is being held in Paris until 23 October 2024. The Omani side is represented by Ambassador Amna Salim Rashid Al Balushi, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the UNESCO. In her speech before the council, Amna Al Balushi reaffirmed Oman’s steadfast commitment to support peace, security and stability in the world. She ...

Belarusian Prime Minister Visits National Museum, Royal Opera House Muscat. Muscat, 14 Oct (ONA)--- Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus, today visited the National Museum as part of his official visit to the Sultanate of Oman. The guest and his accompanying delegation toured the museum and listened to a briefing about its halls that showcase the cultural heritage of the Sultanate of Oman. In the Maritime History Hall, the guest took note of documents chronicling the Omani fleet during the era of Sultan Said bin Sultan and artifacts from the wreckage of ...

National Museum Organizes Cultural Event Muscat, 9 Oct (ONA) ---- The National Museum, represented by the Learning Centre in collaboration with Chechen State Pedagogical University in the Russian Federation, organized a cultural event celebrating the Russian artist and writer Alexander Pushkin from. This event targets school, college, and university students, with the support of BP Oman. The event opening was attended by His Excellency Jamal bin Hassan Al Moosawi, Secretary General of the National Museum, Ilya Morgunov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to ...

National Museum, Oman Thakira Centre Sign Cooperation Agreement Muscat, 9 Oct (ONA) ---- In a step aimed at highlighting the treasures of Omani cultural heritage, the National Museum and the Oman Thakira Centre signed a cooperation agreement today to exchange knowledge and expertise of mutual interest. The agreement was signed by Jamal Hassan Al Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, and Mahmoud Abdullah Al Saqri, Head of the Oman Thakira Centre. This agreement reflects both parties' belief in the importance of partnership between government institutions and ...

Book on Oman-Korea Historical Cooperation, Friendship LaunchedMuscat, 6 Oct (ONA) --- Acting in cooperation with the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Seoul, the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) published a book titled "The Sultanate of Oman: Historical Cooperation and Friendship with the Republic of Korea".The book was authored by Korean writer Dr. Hee Soo Lee.The first edition of the book (in Arabic and Korean languages) comprises seven chapters: It reflects the writer’s keenness on the strategic importance of the Sultanate of Oman and his awareness about the need ...

Names of winners of 4th Edition of Children's Culture Award 2024 UnveiledMuscat, 6 Oct (ONA) --- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth today announced the names of winners of the 4th edition of the Children's Culture Award 2024. The award aims to develop and enhance cultural and artistic innovation and motivate talented children to develop their potential.The first place went to Aleen Majid Al Saidi for her topic featuring the importance of trees in biodiversity. Second prize was bagged by Rawqan Mahmoud Ahmed for success in highlighting the same theme. Third prize was awarded to ...

Study Uncovers Ancient Genetic Roots of Japanese PeopleTokyo, 6 Oct (ONA) --- A groundbreaking genetic study by RIKEN’s Center for Integrative Medical Sciences has redefined common understanding of Japan's ancestry.By analyzing genomes from 3,200 individuals across Japan, scientists have uncovered a third ancestral group linked to northeast Asia, particularly the Emishi people, which complements the traditionally acknowledged lineages of East Asian rice-farming migrants and the indigenous Jomon hunter-gatherers.The findings have substantial implications for personalized medicine, ...

Oman to Participate in Baku International Book FairMuscat, 1 Oct (ONA) --- Represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Sultanate of Oman will take part in Baku International Book Fair scheduled to be held in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan, from 2 to 8 October 2024.Oman’s participation in the event stems from strategic objectives to showcase its culture and consolidate the presence of Omani intellectual product at international forums.The Ministry’s pavilion serves as a gateway to introduce visitors to Oman’s past and present. It comprises a diverse range of ...

LDP Leader Formally Elected Japan's Prime Minister Tokyo, 1 Oct (ONA) —-- Japan's ruling party leader Shigeru Ishiba was elected prime minister in the parliament today, succeeding Fumio Kishida to take charge of the country at a time of low public confidence in politics and shaky economy. Ishiba, who was elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) last week, was endorsed by both the lower and upper house. The confirmation sets the stage for a general election on 27 October 2024, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported. Long seen as a maverick, the ...

Oman Participates in Venice Architecture Biennale Muscat, 30 Sep (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, will take part for the first time in the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale scheduled to be held from 10 May to 23 November 2025. The event will take the theme “Integrating Human and Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Architecture”. Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture, and Commissioner General of the Sultanate of Oman’s Pavilion at ...

Study Reveals Key Narrative Element Predicts Story Success Washington, 24 Sep (ONA)--- A new study published in Science Advances reveals that the success of a story can be predicted by the number and intensity of narrative reversals—key moments when characters experience dramatic shifts in fortune. Analyzing 30,000 stories across movies, TV shows, novels, and fundraising pitches, researchers found that narratives featuring more frequent and pronounced emotional tone changes tend to resonate better with audiences. This research aims to fill a gap in ...

Hundreds of Mysterious Nazca Glyphs DiscoveredTokyo, 24 Sep (ONA) --- Hundreds of new Nazca glyphs have been discovered in the desert of southern Peru, adding to the mystery of these ancient designs.Using drones and AI, a team led by Masato Sakai from Yamagata University uncovered 303 new geoglyphs, nearly doubling the known number to over 700.The Nazca glyphs, first discovered in the 1940s, are large-scale designs etched into the ground, best viewed from the sky. Created between 500 BCE and 500 CE, their purpose has puzzled archaeologists for decades.The newly found glyphs, mostly ...

Stone Head From Roman Period Found at Carlisle DigLondon, 23 Sep (ONA) --- Archaeologists from the “Uncovering Roman Carlisle” project have found a carved stone head during excavations of the Carlisle Cricket Club in Carlisle, England.The project is a community excavation, focusing on uncovering a Roman bathhouse first discovered in 2017. The bathhouse is located near the Roman fort of Uxelodunum (meaning “high fort”), also known as Petriana, in the Carlisle district of Stanwix. Uxelodunum was constructed to control the territories west of present-day Carlisle and an important ...

Scientists Reconstruct Oldest Human Genomes Ever Found in South AfricaCape Town, 23 Sep (ONA) --- Researchers have reconstructed the oldest human genomes ever found in South Africa from two people who lived around 10,000 years ago, allowing a better understanding of how the region was populated, an author of the study said.The genetic sequences were from a man and a woman whose remains were found at a rock shelter near the southern coastal town of George, about 370 kilometres (230 miles) east of Cape Town, said University of Cape Town (UCT) biological anthropology professor Victoria ...

Symposium Elaborates on Means to Invest in Omani Youth Encyclopedia Muscat, 23 Sep (ONA) --- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth is organizing a symposium titled "Investment Opportunities in the Omani Encyclopaedia for Youth". The two-day symposium, which kicked off today, focuses on highlighting the encyclopaedia’s importance in instilling national and cultural values in Omani children and grooming their identity. It identifies the most important opportunities to invest in the encyclopedia cognitively, technically and economically. The opening ceremony was held under ...

Royal Opera House Muscat Begins its Season with Verdi’s Performance Muscat, 22 Sep (ONA) --- The Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) will launch its 2024/25 season with a remarkable series of performances this October 2024. The season opens on 3 and 5 October with Un Ballo in Maschera by Giuseppe Verdi, performed for the first time in Oman by the National Centre of Performing Arts Beijing (NCPA). This production features a stellar cast including Elena Stikhina, Piotr Beczała, Liao Changyong, Agnieszka Rehlis, and Enkelada Kamani under the direction of the acclaimed Hugo de Ana. ...

Six Novels Revealed as Shortlist for German Book PrizeBerlin, 17 Sep (ONA) —- The six finalists for the German Book Prize, among the highest honours for German-language novels, were announced in Frankfurt today. The novels from authors Martina Hefter, Maren Kames, Clemens Meyer, Ronya Othmann, Markus Thielemann and Iris Wolff deal with recent history, war, violence and love. The winner of the prize will be announced on 14 October 2024, and the award is traditionally presented the day before the start of the Frankfurt Book Fair, a major international gathering for ...

Major City Ruins Discovered in ChinaBeijing, 17 Sep (ONA) —- The discovery of the relics site of a major city dating back about 3,700 years marks a major breakthrough in archaeological research on the Xia Dynasty (2070 BC-1600 BC), China's earliest known dynasty, authorities said. The Baliqiao archaeological site, located in Fangcheng County in the city of Nanyang, central China's Henan Province, shows enormous similarity to the Erlitou ruins, a previously excavated ground-breaking site that was identified by archaeologists as one of the capital cities during the Xia ...

Usak Reveals 9 Graves from Byzantine Period in TürkiyeIstanbul, 11 Sep (ONA) --- Nine graves from the Middle Byzantine period have been discovered in the ancient city of Sebaste, founded by Rome's first emperor, Augustus, now located in Uşak, western Türkiye.Excavation work at Sebaste, located in Selçikler resumed in 2022 after a 44-year hiatus, is ongoing. The work, led by the Uşak Archaeology Museum, involves faculty members from Uşak University's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Archaeology, associate professor Emre Taştemür and associate professor Münteha ...

Omani Author’s Novel Shortlisted for Abdul Hameed Shoman Children Literature Award Amman, 3 Sep (ONA) --- A novel authored by Omani writer Ruqayya Abdullah Al Badi has been shortlisted for the 18th edition of “The Abdul Hameed Shoman Children’s Literature Award”. The novel, titled "The Boy Who Ran with His Heart", focused on the theme of "Adventure Literature", a genre of discourse dedicated to the age group 12-16 years.Shoman Foundation appointed a jury tasked with assessing the entries to the award. The jury comprised professionals in literature, criticism, and ...

Chinese Researchers Develop Technologies to Better Protect 5,000-Year-Old Ruin SiteBeijing, 1 Sep (ONA) --- Chinese researchers have recently unveiled a series of technological methods based on a six-year-long program to effectively address the issue of high humidity in site museums, creating a more suitable preservation environment for cultural relics. The program, carried out at the Dadiwan Site, a Neolithic site dated approximately 8,000 to 4,800 years ago, in Qin'an County, northwest China's Gansu Province, involved researchers from Dunhuang Academy and Northwest ...

Royal Opera House Muscat Unveils Season 2024/2025 Muscat, 18 Aug (ONA) ---- The Royal Opera House Muscat has unveiled details of its season 2024/2025, a season of highlights and exciting moments, with world-class performances for everyone to enjoy. The season is built from a significant variety, featuring more than 50 performances in the main programming, offering no less than 5 operas, 9 Arab music concerts, 7 classical concerts, 4 family shows, 3 world music concerts, 1 extraordinary ballet, and a dazzling jazz concert. Leading Arab and Western artists will grace ...

ROHM to Announce its New Season 2024/25 on 18 August Muscat, 12 Aug (ONA) --- Following a triumphant 2023/24 season marked by stellar performances, the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) is poised to unveil its highly anticipated new season. The official announcement is scheduled to take place on 18 August 2024 and broadcast live online via the ROHM YouTube channel. Following the announcement, tickets for the upcoming season will be available for purchase on the ROHM website. ROHM extends a warm invitation to all enthusiasts of the performing arts to join the virtual launch ...

Bab Al Salam Mosque Included in “2024 List of World's Greatest Places” Muscat, 31 Jul (ONA) --- The American magazine "Time" included Bab Al Salam Mosque in Muscat in the list of the world's greatest places for the year 2024. The magazine said that, “For years, the Middle East’s cutting-edge skyscrapers have stood side by side with opulent mosques rooted in centuries of classical Islamic architecture.” The magazine pointed out that, lately, a wave of more contemporary houses of worship have emerged on the skylines of Gulf cities, often paying tribute to age-old ...

Beijing Central Axis Included Into UNESCO World Heritage List New Delhi, 28 Jul (ONA) --- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included the People’s Republic of China’s Beijing Central Axis in its world heritage list, recognizing its integrity, authenticity, and protection and management status, the Xinhua news agency reported. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee believes that the Beijing Central Axis represents a unique type in the history of world cities, embodies traditional Chinese philosophical concepts and makes significant ...

RAO Band Wins Trophy of Infantry, Military Discipline Competition in ScotlandEdinburgh, 28 Jul (ONA) --- The Royal Army of Oman (RAO) Music Band won first place in the World Infantry and Military Discipline Competition held in Scotland, United Kingdom. The RAO band also won fifth place in Dumbarton contest on playing musical instruments. The contest saw the participation of 128 teams from different countries of the world.Col. Ahmed Salim Al Shukairi, Director of the RAO Music Band, said that Oman took the lead in the World Bagpipes and Drums Competition in Scotland, winning ...

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque Draws 25 Million Visitors in 4 Years Istanbul, 24 Jul (ONA) --- The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, a major attraction for both domestic and international tourists in Istanbul, has welcomed approximately 25 million visitors in the four years since it was reopened for worship. Originally used as a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia became a mosque in 1453. In 1934, it was converted into a museum under a government decree, serving in that capacity for 86 years. On 10 July 2020, the court case filed by the ...

Exhibition Showcases Astonishing, Rare Artworks by European Artists in Delhi Delhi, 21 Jul (ONA) --- A new exhibition in Delhi showcasing rare artworks by European artists gives insights into how the British ruled the country. Called Destination India: Foreign Artists in India, 1857-1947, the show focuses on artists who travelled to colonial India from around the world. The representation of India through the European and British artists has “long been a subject of intrigue and exploration”, writes Indian MP and author Shashi Tharoor, in an introduction to the show, ...