The landscape on the remote Isle of Lewis is striking: a mix of rugged terrain, peatlands, moorlands, lochs, sandy beaches and cliffs. This island at the northern end of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, has one of the UK’s highest levels of fuel poverty and a declining population of fewer than 20,000 people. Encircled by the […]
Muscat: The National Ferries Company, Oman’s national maritime transport operator, transported more than 250,000 passengers during 2025, recording an average of around 690 passengers per day, according to its latest periodic statistics. The company also carried over 64,000 vehicles and transported more than 27,000 tonnes of cargo across its network of maritime routes, reflecting steady […]
Hantaviruses have most likely been around as long as rodents, but little was known about these pathogens before the 20th century. This rare family of viruses that rodents carry has been cited as the source of a deadly outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The virus is zoonotic, meaning it can be […]
MUSCAT, JUNE 8 As the Oman–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) enters its first week of implementation, an interesting trend is emerging across Indian policy and business circles. Increasingly, the discussion is no longer focused on tariffs, customs procedures or market access. Instead, it is centred on Oman itself. For India, Oman appears to be […]
MUSCAT: Total credit extended by Oman’s banking sector reached around RO 35 billion by the end of November 2025, representing an increase of 8.8 per cent. Credit to the private sector grew by 6.9 per cent to RO 28.7 billion, reflecting sustained lending activity. Data from the Central Bank of Oman showed that the largest […]
You have a 3pm appointment. It’s now 10am and somehow your entire day already feels out of reach. Maybe you find yourself unable to start anything properly. You feel on edge, waiting for something to begin, or end. You check the time again and again. Even a positive, planned event, like a friend visiting later, […]
Muscat: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has issued a circular requiring all insurance companies licenced to provide motor insurance in Oman to maintain a minimum level of electric vehicle (EV) insurance underwriting relative to the size of their motor insurance portfolios. Under the circular, insurers must ensure that EV insurance policies account for no less […]
To better understand how digital habits are shaping behaviour, the team at PlayersTime analytical firm commissioned an online survey, examining attitudes toward excessive internet use, social media dependency, and AI-generated content. The survey was conducted online among 1,509 adults in April, with participants primarily from North America and Europe. Findings suggest that while a majority […]
MUSCAT, JUNE 9 Oman is moving to strengthen freelance work as part of its wider push to diversify the economy, expand private-sector participation and create more flexible employment opportunities for national talent. The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) announced a package of financial and regulatory initiatives during a seminar titled The Reality of […]
MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial institution in the Sultanate of Oman, announced its preliminary unaudited results for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Bank posted a net profit of RO 255.54 million for the period compared to RO 225.58 million reported during the same period in 2024, an increase of 13.3 per cent. […]
