A few years ago, 10-year-old Guy was driving along the Australian coast when he saw whales, spouting water up into the air. He was amazed. “Then my brother farted, and then I wondered if whales fart,” says Guy. Guy joined our host Eloise to put his question to Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist at Macquarie […]
MUSCAT, JUNE 29 Oman’s power sector authorities are studying the feasibility of developing the Sultanate’s first Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) project, which would harness the Wadi Dayqah Dam in Muscat Governorate as the cornerstone of the landmark energy storage initiative. Pumped hydro energy storage technology uses surplus electricity – typically generated by solar and […]
Paris: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik left Paris this evening, concluding his visit to the French Republic, en route to the United Kingdom on a private visit. His Majesty was seen off by Nicolas Forissier, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness; Nabil Hajlaoui, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Sultanate of Oman; […]
MUSCAT, JUNE 29 Construction of two utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects is nearing completion at Ibri in Al Dhahirah Governorate and Duqm in Al Wusta Governorate. The investments are designed to strengthen Oman’s energy security as the Sultanate accelerates its transition to renewable electricity. Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) – the operator of […]
Muscat: The Shura Council will hold its 22nd regular session of the third annual sitting of the tenth term on Monday, June 29, 2026, to discuss a number of reports submitted by its permanent committees across various sectors. According to Shaikh Ahmed al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council, the session will discuss three expressed […]
More than 500 people have been killed in Venezuela following powerful back-to-back earthquakes, with many more injured. Rescue teams have also been trying to locate people trapped in collapsed buildings. Here, Raffaele De Risi, associate professor in civil engineering at the University of Bristol, answered our questions about the role building design may have played […]
SALALAH, JUNE 28 Dhofar Governorate has 36 tourism projects under development, including 23 that have already entered construction, as the governorate moves to expand its hospitality base ahead of another busy Khareef season, an industry expert familiar with the sector told the Observer. The remaining 13 projects are going through administrative and financing procedures before […]
MUSCAT, JUNE 28 An awareness exhibition aimed at strengthening public awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and promoting a culture of prevention opened at Muscat Mall on Sunday to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The exhibition, organised by the Directorate-General for Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of the Royal […]
MUSCAT, JUNE 28 Omran Group, the Omani government’s executive for tourism development, says it is making headway in the development of a sizable portfolio of upscale lifestyle destinations and resorts across the Sultanate – projects designed to enhance Oman’s tourism and hospitality appeal. The projects, entailing multiple billion dollars of investment, will significantly bolster the […]
A lot hangs on whether the United States can compel Israel to cease operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. After all, an end to the Israeli military offensive was a key provision of the broad U.S.-Iran agreement setting out a road map to end the Iran war. And even though Israel did not sign the deal, […]
