News

Culture Undersecretary Meets Brunei Official Muscat, 28 Feb (ONA) ---- Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth held a meeting in Muscat today with Dato Seri Setia, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in Brunei Darussalam. The meeting touched on a set of topics that promote the joint cooperation in the areas of culture, youth and sports. The two sides also discussed means of enhancing cooperation between the two countries. --- Ends/AH ...

Physical Model to Quantify Quality of Stones Selected as Tools by Stone Age Hunter–gatherers Berlin, 27 Feb (ONA) --- Early hunter-gatherers in southern Africa, during the Middle Stone Age, displayed advanced material selection for crafting stone tools and spearheads, a study led by Dr. Patrick Schmidt of the University of Tübingen reveals. Using a specialized model, researchers tested the force required to flake off pieces from rocks used at the Diepkloof Rock Shelter, near Cape Town, with findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of ...

Oman Year Book Launched at Muscat International Book Fair Muscat, 27 Feb (ONA) --- Acting in cooperation with the Cultural Committee of Muscat International Book Fair’s 28th edition, the Ministry of Information today celebrated the launch of Oman Year Book 2023, titled “Oman the Vision & the Future”. The ceremony took place at the book fair’s venue at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. Dr. Mohammed Ali Al Hinai, Head of Oman Year Book’s Working Team, said that the annual publication provides a comprehensive account of Oman’s progress in various fields of ...

West Bank Museum Showcases Gaza Artifacts as Symbol of Solidarity Amid DevastationWest Bank, 27 Feb (ONA) —- In a museum located in the West Bank under Israeli control, artworks from Gaza are showcased as a continuous artistic expression of solidarity with the conflict-affected Palestinian region."This is not an exhibition," reads the sign at the entrance to the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit, near Ramallah, showcasing art and heritage from the Gaza Strip.Alongside contemporary pieces, the works include old, traditional paintings and costumes, as well as archeological artifacts, said board ...

Oman Across the Ages Museum Hosts IMCC MeetingManah, 26 Feb (ONA) --- The “Oman Across the Ages Museum” in the Wilayat of Manah (A’ Dakhiliyah Governorate) today hosted activities of the second day of meetings of the “International Museum Construction Congress (IMCC)”. As many as 120 specialists in museum construction are taking part in the three-day conference, which began on 25 February 2024. The event seeks to enhance the knowledge of young people with disabilities, expand their talents and foster dialogue among innovators in the field of museum construction and ...

Ancient Greek Frescoes Reveal Global Bronze Age Connections with IndiaAthens, 25 Feb (ONA) --- In a groundbreaking discovery, an interdisciplinary team of primatologists has uncovered new insights into the ancient trade routes of the Aegean civilization through the vibrant frescoes of Akrotiri on Santorini, Greece.Traditionally believed to depict African monkeys symbolizing trade links with Egypt, these frescoes are now recognized to portray Hanuman langurs, indigenous to the Indian subcontinent.This revelation challenges previous assumptions, suggesting a Bronze Age ...

Workshops on Developing Cultural, Innovative Industries Launched Muscat, 25 Feb (ONA) --- Workshops for developing cultural and innovative industries kicked off today at the Oman International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The 10-day series is organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth in cooperation with the National Programme for Investment and Export Development "Nazdaher". The ceremony marking the opening of the event was held under the auspices of Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. Sayyid Said Sultan Al ...

Heritage Ministry Exhibits 38 Publications at Muscat International Book FairMuscat, 22 Feb (ONA) --- In its independent pavilion, now being booked for the second time in a row at Muscat International Book Fair, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is exhibiting 38 publications, six of which appear for the first time.The Ministry’s pavilion has a section for tourist guides that are also available in electronic form. The section comprises 4 specialized tourism brochures and a number of new promotional publications and posters.A key publication at the Ministry’s pavilion is a book ...

Information Ministry’s Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair Energetic in Showcasing Media RolesMuscat, 22 Feb (ONA) --- The Ministry of Information’s pavilion at Muscat International Book Fair is actively engaged in enlightening visitors about the roles and tasks carried out by the Ministry in serving the media sector.The pavilion operates through four main sections. They are Oman News Agency section (ONA), the Directorate General of Publications and Artistic Works section, the Directorate General of Electronic Media section (which comprises Ayn platform and media portal) and the Nizwa ...

Information Ministry to Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Nizwa Magazine Muscat, 21 Feb (ONA) --- The Ministry of Information will tomorrow (Thursday) mark the 30th anniversary of Nizwa magazine’s publication. The celebration takes place as part of cultural activities accompanying the 28th edition of Muscat International Book Fair. The event will explore the successful march of Nizwa magazine over the past three decades during which the publication continued to meet the aspirations of its readers. It will also demonstrate the extent to which Nizwa magazine contributed to scholarly ...

28th Muscat International Book Fair Kicks off Muscat, 21 Feb (ONA) --- Activities of the 28th edition of Muscat International Book Fair kicked off at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre today. The extravaganza runs until 2 March 2024. The opening of the event was held under the auspices of Dr. Mohammed Said Al Maamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Abdullah Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information, Chairman of the Main Committee of Muscat International Book Fair. A’Dhahirah Governorate, the guest of honour at the current ...

National Museum Holds Event on Rock Engravings, Their Human Significance Muscat, 20 Feb (ONA) --- The National Museum, represented by the Department of Museum Learning and Community Outreach, today organized an event titled "Rock Engravings". The purpose of the event was to introduce rock drawings and engravings and their human significance inspired by Oman's nature across the ages. The event included a lecture titled "Examples of Rock Drawings in the Sultanate of Oman,". The lecture introduced rock drawings found in numerous valleys and mountains in Oman, dating back to ...

Street Art Auction at Julien's, A Milestone for Urban Graffiti California, 19 Feb (ONA) --- On 22 February 2024, Julien's Auctions will host the 'Street Art' event, a groundbreaking occasion showcasing works by urban graffiti legends such as Banksy, Invader, Retna, and Jamie Reid. This auction marks a significant turning point in the recognition of street art within mainstream art culture. The event, commencing in California, symbolizes a fusion of street vibrancy with the grandeur of the auction house. 'Street Art' isn't merely an auction; it's a testament to the ...

“Al Zeeg” Movie Wins Award for Best Social Documentary at International Festival in India New Delhi, 19 Feb (ONA) --- The Omani documentary titled “Al Zeeg” won the award for the best social documentary at the Asian Talent International Film Festival, which was held in the Aurangabad, the Republic of India. The festival was held during the period from 15 to 18 February 2024. As many as 700 films from all over the world took part in the festival. The documentary “Al Zeeg” is directed by Omani director Salah Al Hadhrami, and produced by the Oman Film Society. ...

‘Bob Marley’ Biopic Beats Expectations with $51 Million Holiday Debut" Washington, 19 Feb (ONA) --- Paramount’s musical biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” ruled in its box office debut, beating expectations with $27.7 million over the traditional weekend and $51 million during the six-day holiday stretch. It was initially projected to generate $30 million to $35 million, But it experienced an uptick. While Madame Web, which stars Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney, underperforms for its opening weekend at the global box office. --- Ends/Thuraiya/KH ...

‘Oppenheimer’ Wins 7 Prizes, Including Best Picture, at British Academy Film Awards London, 19 Feb (ONA) --- Atom bomb epic “Oppenheimer” won seven prizes, including best picture, director and actor, at the 77th British Academy Film Awards, cementing its front-runner status for the Oscars next month. Gothic fantasia “Poor Things” took five prizes. British-born filmmaker Christopher Nolan won his first best director BAFTA for “Oppenheimer,” and Irish performer Cillian Murphy won the best actor prize for playing physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father ...

Movie Premier “A House of Wonders" At Royal Opera HouseMuscat, 18 Feb (ONA) —— The Ministry of Information, represented by Nizwa Magazine, today launched a movie premier “A House of Wonders" at the House of Musical Arts of the Royal Opera House Muscat. It highlights in three series the Omani presence in Zanzibar and East Africa.The Ministry also launched a book documenting the Omani civilizational role in the region.Friedrich Klutsch, Director of the movies pointed out that the history of the Omani presence in East Africa is a long one that began on the coast of the Indian Ocean and ...

The National Museum Inaugurates Documentary "More than a Teacher: A Story from Oman" Muscat, 18 Feb (ONA) --- The National Museum, represented by the Learning Centre, today hosted the inauguration ceremony of the documentary titled "More than a Teacher: A Story from Oman". The event was held under the auspices of Dr. Madiha Ahmed Al Shaibani, Minister of Education. Aisha Sahar Wahid Al Kharousi, the film's producer, said that “the film celebrates Oman's rich history, compelling present, and promising future. It spotlights the story of Don Yager as an example among ...

Muscat International Book Fair Attracts 847 Publishers From 34 Countries Muscat, 14 Feb (ONA) --- The 28th edition of Muscat International Book Fair will be held from 21 February to 2 March, said Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture. The opening ceremony will be held under the auspices of Dr. Mohammed Said Al Maamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs. During a press conference held at the Ministry of Information today, Al Busaidi said that A'Dhahirah Governorate will be the guest of honour at the ...

National Museum’s Board of Trustees Meets Muscat, 11 Feb (ONA) --- The Board of Trustees of the National Museum reviewed several topics during its 11th meeting held today at the Museum's headquarters. Among the highlights were the approval of the Museum's annual report for the year 2023 and the annual plan for the Museum for the year 2024. The meeting was chaired by Salim Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum. During the meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the annual report for 2023 ...

National Museum Inaugurates “The Infinity of White” Exhibition Muscat, 1 Feb (ONA) --- The National Museum inaugurated today at Bayt Greiza the exhibition “The Infinity of White: Lucio Fontana and the Italian Artists of the Absolute”. This comes in furtherance of cultural communication between the Sultanate of Oman and the Italian Republic. The exhibition displays eight works of art by Italian artists, in cooperation with the Italian “Robilant and Voena” foundation, a long-established art house devoted to the promotion of Italian post-war art. The exhibition ...

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 ...