Sedimentary basins – depressions in Earth’s crust caused by tectonic activity – tend to be flat and are favoured places to build cities. But during earthquakes, they can become natural resonance chambers. Just like sound waves echoing around an empty hall, this means seismic waves can get trapped in these basins and bounce from side […]
STAFF REPORTER MUSCAT, JUNE 14 The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), in partnership with strategic funding from OQ Exploration & Production, has launched the second group of the first edition of the ‘Tazeez Community Teams Programme’, targeting community teams across Al Batinah North, Al Dakhiliyah, Al Buraimi and Al Wusta governorates. The programme […]
Cultural heritage is often treated as an unfortunate casualty of war. In reality, the destruction of significant historic sites is often a deliberate and calculated part of broader efforts to claim power and territory. Recent attacks on cultural heritage in southern Lebanon show us why protecting historic monuments is important, and inseparable from protecting the […]
MUSCAT: The Journal of Engineering Research (TJER), issued by Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), achieved an increase in its CiteScore to 1.5, alongside a rise in its ranking to the third quartile (Q3) in the field of general engineering, advancing 15 ranks compared to last year. This achievement reflects the growing scientific impact of the journal […]
QURAYAT: A contract was recently awarded for the establishment of a fish landing centre in the village of Bimmah in the Wilayat of Qurayat, Governorate of Muscat. The project figures among food security initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources as part of its efforts to develop the infrastructure of the […]
“Love makes fools of all of us,” wrote 19th-century novelist William Makepeace Thackeray. A moment spent watching the pigeons at your local park suggests he was right: males with puffed-up, shimmering necks hop, pirouette, coo, and bow to capture the attention of unimpressed females. But why do male pigeons express themselves through the passion of […]
MUSCAT, JUNE 14 Oman’s beaches continue to play a vital role in global marine conservation, serving as key nesting grounds for five of the world’s seven known sea turtle species, including several that are endangered. While Ras Al Jinz and Ras Al Hadd remain internationally recognised turtle nesting destinations, Masirah Island has quietly welcomed nesting […]
Among tech evangelists in Silicon Valley, it has become conventional wisdom that artificial intelligence will rapidly reshape the labor market, for better or worse. Economists, however, have often discussed AI’s impact with a skepticism bordering on dismissiveness. Rising unemployment among young college graduates? The result of high interest rates and macroeconomic uncertainty. Dire predictions of […]
MUSCAT, JUNE 7 The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), represented by the Directorate General of Industry, launched the first phase of the “Kafa’a” National Manufacturing Programme on Sunday, June 7, as part of Oman Industry Day 2026. This initiative aims to advance the industrial sector, preparing it for smart manufacturing and the […]
After a cold Canadian winter, most of us look forward to the spring and summer months to get outside and experience the natural world, whether it’s hiking, biking, gardening or birdwatching. In recent years, however, our outdoor activities have been challenged by a range of issues stemming from climate change: increased heatwaves, lower air quality […]
