News

The National Museum Hosts Exhibition Titled “Beyond the Blossoms” Muscat, 31 Jan (ONA) --- The National Museum, in cooperation with “Bloom Oman,” today hosted an art exhibition titled “Beyond the Blossoms”, The exhibition was opened under the patronage of HH Sayyeda Dr. Mona Fahd Al Said, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) for International Cooperation,Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum. The exhibition is held under the supervision of the international floral consultant Phubast Chesdmethee, Vice President of the ...

“Ayn” Short Film Festival Kicks OffMuscat, 24 Jan (ONA) --- Activities of the first edition of Ayn Short Film Festival kicked off today under the patronage of Sayyid Saud Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat.Organized by the Ministry of Information, the 5-day event is aimed at promoting the Omani film industry, enhancing the associated cultural movement and supporting the development of innovative content.Dr. Abdullah Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information, said that the festival seeks to achieve a number of objectives in filmmaking, cinema and drama. The goals include honing the ...

Oman Participates in 55th Cairo International Book Fair Cairo, 24 Jan (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman is taking part in activities of the 55th edition of Cairo International Book Fair, which is ongoing till 6 February 2024. During the event, Oman is represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs. This participation is aimed at highlighting Omani intellectual product in all of its forms and boosting relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt, especially in cultural fields. ...

Archaeologists Unearth Ancient Artifacts Dating 8,000 Years in Brazil Brasília, 16 Jan (ONA) --- Archaeologists in Brazil's Amazon rainforest have unearthed ancient artefacts and skeletons dating back 8,000 to 10,000 years near the Tapajos River.Belonging to an unknown civilization, these findings challenge previous beliefs about the region's pre-European population.The discovery includes ceramic urns, stone tools, and figurines, indicating advanced agriculture and a sophisticated society.Dr. Eduardo Neves, the lead archaeologist, stated this could reshape our understanding of ...

Greece Reopens 2,400 Years-old Coronation Site of Alexander the GreatAthens, 8 Jan (ONA) --- Greece has reopened the historic Palace of Aigai, where Alexander the Great ascended to the throne 2,400 years ago, following an extensive restoration project.The palace, also known as the Royal Metropolis of the Macedonians, was the largest building in classical Greece, covering approximately 15,000 square meters.Constructed mainly by Alexander the Great's father, Philip II of Macedonia, in the 4th century BCE, it holds significance as the site of Alexander's coronation.Destroyed by Romans ...

Winners of 31st Edition of Sultan Qaboos Holy Quran Competition Honoured Muscat, 8 Jan (ONA) --- Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Sheikh Salim bin Mustahail Al Ma’ashani, Advisor at the Diwan of Royal Court honoured winners of the 31st version of Sultan Qaboos Holy Quran Competition. The honouring ceremony took place at the Lecture Hall at Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque here today. As many as (1,638) male and female contestants took part in the current version that it included 7 levels. The chief guest honoured the top three winners in each level. He also ...

Greece Reopens Huge Alexander the Great Monument Athens, 7 Jan (ONA) --- The site of one of the most important monuments in classical antiquity - the palace where Alexander the Great was crowned king - has reopened after a 16-year restoration. The Palace of Aigai, near Greece's northern port city of Thessaloniki, was built more than 2,300 years ago. It was later destroyed by the Romans and unearthed through excavations beginning in the 19th Century. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who attended a ceremony for the site's reopening, described it as ...

Coal Miners in North Dakota Unearth Mammoth Tusk Buried for Thousands of Years North Dakota, 7 Jan (ONA) --- The first person to spot it was a shovel operator working the overnight shift, eyeing a glint of white as he scooped up a giant mound of dirt and dropped it into a dump truck. Later, after the truck driver dumped the load, a dozer driver was ready to flatten the dirt but stopped for a closer look when he, too, spotted that bit of white. Only then did the miners realize they had unearthed something special: a 7-foot-long mammoth tusk that had been buried for ...

Mysterious Medieval Cemetery Unearthed in Wales Cardiff, 3 Jan (ONA) --- A rare, early medieval cemetery has been unearthed in Wales and it has left archaeologists scratching their heads. It's thought to date to the 6th or 7th Century and 18 of the estimated 70 graves have been excavated so far. Some of the well-preserved skeletons have been found lying in unusual positions and unexpected artefacts are also emerging from the site, BBC news reported. The dig is starting to reveal more about this ancient community - but it's also raising questions. The ...

Colossal Pliosaur Sea Monster Skull on Display in Dorset Dorset, 2 Jan (ONA) --- The skull of a colossal sea monster that was unearthed from the Jurassic Coast is going on display. The 2m-long fossil belongs to a pliosaur - one of the most fearsome predators the planet has ever seen. Sir David Attenborough investigated the discovery in a BBC film which aired on New Year's Day, BBC news reported. The public can see the 150-million-year-old marine reptile at the Etches Collection in Kimmeridge in Dorset, a county in southwest England, close to where the beast ...

2,500-Year-Old Celestial Map Unearthed in Italian FortressRome, 25 Dec (ONA) --- Two 50-centimeter diameter circular stones, potentially dating back 2,500 years, were unearthed at Castelliere di Rupinpiccolo, an ancient fortress in Italy's Trieste province.Believed to be among the oldest celestial maps in Italy, one stone represents the sun, while the other, a celestial map from the 4th century BC, depicts the sky above Rupinpiccolo.Published in Astronomische Nachrichten, the study reveals 29 signs on the map, mostly aligned with Scorpius, Orion, Pleiades, and potentially ...

Scientists Discover Lost Ancient Settlement off Australia’s CoastCanberra, 24 Dec (ONA) --- Scientists have made a significant discovery off the coast of Australia, uncovering the remnants of a massive lost colony that may have housed hundreds of thousands of people.The finding, located on the northwest shelf of Sahul near Kimberley, reveals a once-thriving ecosystem during the Late Pleistocene period, dating back around 2.5 million years.The submerged landmass, which was nearly 647,000 square kilometers—larger than the United Kingdom—contained habitable freshwater and ...

National Museum Organizes a lecture on Moscow Kremlin Museums Muscat, 20 Dec (ONA) --- The National Museum, represented by the Learning Centre, organized today a lecture on Moscow Kremlin Museums presented by Dr. Elena Gagarina, the General Director of Moscow Kremlin Museums.The National Museum, by organizing this event, aims at enhancing cultural and museum exchange with international museums. During the lecture, Dr. Gagarina gave a historical overview of the Moscow Kremlin Museums and the ancient buildings it contains that reflect Russian architecture, including historical ...

“The Omani Empire: Asia and Africa” Exhibition Opens in RussiaSaint Petersburg, 9 Dec (ONA) —— The National Museum today inaugurated the second exhibition within the Gallery of Oman initiative at the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, entitled “The Omani Empire: Asia and Africa,”.The exhibition will run for all visitors until 26 January, 2025.The opening of the exhibition comes after the success of the first edition of this initiative on 2 June, 2021 and within the framework of the ongoing bilateral cooperation between the National Museum and the State ...

Oman Participates in Kuwait International Book Fair 2023 ​Kuwait, 27 Nov (ONA) --- Represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Sultanate of Oman is taking part in the 46th edition of Kuwait International Book Fair, which kicked off on 22 November and will run until 2 December 2023. Oman’s pavilion showcases a range of ancient and modern publications, intellectual outputs, scholarly writings and research on science, knowledge, history, language, literature and jurisprudence. This is in addition to publications of governmental and private ...

Culture Ministry implements Programme on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage Muscat, 26 Nov (ONA) --- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth today began implementing a capacity-building programme in the field of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. The programme is carried out by experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Arab League Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ALECSO). More than 30 young men and women interested in this field are taking part in the five-day programme. The programme ...

Culture Undersecretary Meets Japan’s Expo Minister Tokyo, 13 Nov (ONA) --- Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture, Commissioner-General of Oman’s Pavilion at World Expo 2025 Japan, met here today with Hanako Jimi, Japan’s Minister for the World Expo. The meeting discussed preparations for the Expo, which will be held in Osaka, Japan, during the period from 13 April till 13 October 2025 under the slogan “Designing the future society for our lives”. The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohammed Said Al ...

38 Countries Nominated for Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation Doha, 12 Nov (ONA) --- The Board of Trustees of Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding announced that the Steering Committee of the Award has completed the preliminary screening process for nominations, which were submitted for the award in its ninth season for the year 2023. This year's award entries represent individuals and translation institutions from 38 countries around the world. The 9th edition of the award has adopted the Spanish language as a main language, after English, while ...

Oman Deposits Two New Cultural Elements at UNESCO CollectionsParis, 9 Nov (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Education, has managed to add two new cultural elements to the UNESCO list of precious collections.They were the Castle of Jibreen and a set of publications authored by Omani poet-cum-historian Humaid Mohammed Ruzaiq.The step was taken to mark the UNESCO’s programme to celebrate the 50th or centennial anniversary of important historical events or globally influential persons.This was unveiled during Oman’s participation in meetings of the Administrative ...

Winners of SQU Award for Culture, Literature, Arts AnnouncedMuscat, 8 Nov (ONA) --- The Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science today announced the names of winners of the 10th edition of Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature.This year, the award was generally allocated to Arabs, notably in the fields of media and communication studies, the role of film director and novel writers.Dr. Abdullah Khamis Al Kindi won the award set for media and communication studies (Culture branch), while Algerian novelist Waciny Laredj won the award set for literature. The ...

Oman Participates in Sharjah International Book Fair 2023 Muscat, 7 Nov (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman is taking part in activities of Sharjah International Book Fair 2023 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which runs till 11 November. Oman is represented during the book fair by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Ministry of Information and Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). The participation aims to enhance Omani intellectual output and to introduce Omani culture in various fields and specializations. It also comes within the framework of boosting bilateral ...

Qatar Museums Organizes Large-Scale Contemporary Art Exhibition in China Doha, 5 Nov (QNA) --- Qatar Museums, in collaboration with Yuz Museum, will organize the first formative, large-scale travelling exhibition of Qatari and Qatar-based contemporary artists in China under the title "Watering the Desert.. Contemporary Art from Qatar". The exhibition will showcase the work of 34 multidisciplinary artists, designers, and filmmakers working within Qatars artistic scene. The exhibition is scheduled to be on view from 8 November 2023 to 3 March 2024. Chairperson of Qatar ...

Oman’s Pavilion at Algiers International Book Salon Attracts Large Turnout Algiers, 30 Oct (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman’s pavilion at the 26th edition of Algiers International Book Salon drew a large turnout. The event runs until 4 November 2023. Oman is represented at the event by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth. Its pavilion saw an influx of Algerian readers from various segments of society. As a result, most of the books on display at Oman’s pavilion were sold out in the first two days of the event. Said Rashid Al Obaidani, a representative of ...

Oman Participates in Algiers International Book Salon Algiers, 23 Oct (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, is taking part in the Algiers International Book Salon in its 26th edition, which is runs till 4 November 2023. Oman’s pavilion during previous editions of the salon saw a great turnaround from the Algerian audience, with various Omani publications getting fully sold out during the first few days of the events. This edition of Algiers International Salon is expected to have participants from as many as 61 ...

National Museum Hosts “India on Canvas” Exhibition Muscat, 19 Oct (ONA) --- The National Museum launched today an exhibition titled “India on Canvas: Masterpieces of Modern Indian Painting” in collaboration with the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi, India, and the Embassy of India in the Sultanate of Oman. The exhibition is held in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of India. The exhibition highlights the best (20) art works by (16) prominent modern artists of India, on loan from the NGMA, which are displayed ...

Oman to Participate in Frankfurt Book Fair 2023 Frankfurt, 17 Oct (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, will participate in the 75th edition of Frankfurt International Book Fair 2023 in Germany. The will be held during 18-22 October 2023. Oman has always been keen to take part in the fair, as it is one of the largest annual cultural extravaganzas at the European and global level. Oman’s participation at the fair aims to highlight the intellectual, civilizational and cultural production in ...

Oman Participates in 4th Round of Baghdad International Theatre Festival Baghdad, 17 Oct (ONA) --- A drama titled “Muska” marked the Sultanate of Oman’s participation in the 4th round of Baghdad International Theatre Festival, which will conclude tomorrow 18 October 2023. Oman is represented at the theatre festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth. Presented by Mazoon Theatre Group, Mushka derived insights from a novel bearing the same title, authored by Mohammed Al Shehri. Mushka is the only GCC theatrical entry at Baghdad International Theatre ...

Oman Participates in Lebanon International Book Fair 2023 Beirut, 17 Oct (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, is taking part in Lebanon International Book Fair 2023, held in Beirut from 13 to 23 October 2023. Oman’s participation in the event is intended to enhance cultural bonds within the context of a strategy to disseminate Omani culture. The approach highlights Omani intellectual products and consolidates Oman’s presence in such expositions that attract many intellectuals, researchers and knowledge seekers. The book ...

Friends of Museums Membership: A Chance to Explore Oman's Cultural and Historical Heritage Muscat, 16 Oct (ONA) ---- Membership of the Friends of Oman Museums` offers an opportunity to delve into the cultural and historical heritage of the Sultanate of Oman. Offered by the Friends of the Museum Department and the Community Outreach at the National Museum, this membership provides visitors, researchers, and academics with a continuous and permanent access to Oman's cultural and historical legacy. It also comes with various other privileges from participating institutions, ...

Information Ministry Outlines Features of Ain Short Film Festival Muscat, 15 Oct (ONA) --- The Ministry of Information has unveiled salient features of “Ayn Festival”, a short film festival that the ministry plans to organize in January 2024. Ayn Festival, the first cinema pageant to be performed by Ayn platform, provides an opportunity for professional and emerging filmmakers to share their products under three main categories: Short narrative films ranging 10 to 40 minutes, documentary films (10 to 30 minutes long) and children’s movies (5 to 15 minutes). The concept ...