
Oman steps up emergency preparedness amid strikes on Iran's nuclear sites
Muscat – Omani authorities have stepped up monitoring and emergency preparedness in response to regional concerns following Israeli strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities last week.
The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) held a high-level meeting in Musandam governorate on Tuesday to review and update response plans for hazardous materials incidents.
The session, chaired by Major General Abdullah bin Ali al Harthy, focused on refining response strategies, enhancing inter-agency coordination and strengthening risk mitigation mechanisms.
Officials said that the measures are part of efforts to ensure rapid and effective action should any incident pose a threat to public safety or the environment.
CDAA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening national risk management frameworks and fostering collaboration among all relevant stakeholders to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
The Environment Authority (EA), however, confirmed on Monday that radiation levels across Oman remained normal and that there was no sign of environmental contamination following the strikes on Iran's nuclear sites at Natanz and Isfahan. At Natanz, experts at the Institute for Space and International Security reported damage to the pilot fuel enrichment plant and an electrical substation.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Saturday that four key buildings were hit in Isfahan, including a uranium conversion facility and a fuel plate fabrication plant.
IAEA head Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council that Iran's pilot fuel enrichment plant, which was producing uranium enriched up to 60% U-235, had been destroyed. Uranium-235 is used in both civil nuclear power and weapons programmes.
EA urged residents to rely on official updates and avoid spreading rumours. It said it is closely coordinating with national bodies and international monitoring centres, and continuously analysing data from its early warning radiation network installed across Oman.
Officials reaffirmed that Oman's environmental monitoring and emergency systems remain fully operational to detect and respond to any potential radiation risk, in line with efforts to protect public health and natural resources.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Observer
2 hours ago
- Observer
How a muddy hobby led to becoming an unofficial ambassador for Omani crafts
In Bahla, where the wind still carries whispers of a bygone era and the famed fort stands like a storybook carved in stone, a different kind of history is being shaped—not in dusty archives, but on a potter's wheel. It's not loud or flashy. In fact, it begins quietly with a ten-year-old girl, her palms muddy and her eyes alight with curiosity. This is where we meet Marya Al-Adawi, who took her first spin at pottery not in an art school or classroom, but in her family's workshop—the Al-Adawi Pottery Factory. That was years ago. Today, Marya is not just playing with clay—she's playing a part in reviving an age-old Omani tradition. 'I remember my first piece,' Marya laughs. 'It was lopsided, uneven—but I was so proud. It felt like I'd made magic with my own hands.' How a muddy hobby led to becoming an unofficial ambassador for Omani crafts Back then, it was simply fun. But what Marya didn't know was that this muddy little hobby was actually shaping more than just pots—it was shaping her mind. Psychologists have long confirmed what Marya and her generation are just starting to realise: hobbies, especially creative ones, are vital for childhood development. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, hands-on creative play boosts fine motor skills, enhances problem-solving abilities, and supports emotional regulation. Dr. Amanda Gummer, founder of The Good Play Guide, notes that structured hobbies help children build resilience, patience, and a sense of achievement. In simpler words? Give a child some clay, and you might just give them confidence, too. That's what pottery did for Marya. Surrounded by the quiet strength of her grandfather and the steady hands of her parents—both seasoned potters—Marya absorbed not just technique, but tradition. It wasn't long before the clay that once felt foreign began to move fluidly under her touch. How a muddy hobby led to becoming an unofficial ambassador for Omani crafts By 2021, she formally trained to hone her skills. In 2024, she crafted her first true piece using madar and sarbookh—two types of raw Omani clay that carry centuries of legacy in their grit. While she hasn't started selling her pieces yet, her goal is to blend classic Omani craftsmanship with sleek modern design. 'Pottery isn't just a job for me,' Marya says. 'It's peace. When I work on the wheel, I feel grounded. It's taught me to slow down, to be patient—and honestly, it's helped me understand myself better.' That's the beauty of hobbies—they create space for children and teens to channel energy, process emotions, and build identity. In a world hooked on screens and fast-paced everything, crafts like pottery offer a tactile, slow-burn reward that's increasingly rare. Marya isn't keeping this to herself. She's become something of a young ambassador for Omani crafts, leading pottery workshops and welcoming visitors from around the world to Bahla Fort—transforming the ancient into the accessible. How a muddy hobby led to becoming an unofficial ambassador for Omani crafts Her influence doesn't stop at the wheel. She's part of a bigger global movement where young creatives are breathing new life into traditional crafts. Think Japan's kintsugi—the poetic art of mending broken pottery with gold—and how it's enjoying a revival thanks to social media and artisan-led workshops. Closer to home, Oman is investing in its cultural future. The Craft Training Centre in Salalah, founded in 1985, has been quietly preserving traditions like leatherwork and dagger-making. Meanwhile, the 'Young Crafters' programme now trains students in everything from ceramics to graphic design, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Scientific College of Design. In Muscat, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has established the Specialized Traditional Crafts Centre to ensure that heritage doesn't just survive, but thrives. How a muddy hobby led to becoming an unofficial ambassador for Omani crafts For Marya, all of this fuels her dream: to open her own pottery centre for kids, where they can get their hands dirty and their imaginations fired up—just like she did. 'In every cup I make,' she says, 'I see a story. My story. My country's story. And maybe, the beginning of someone else's.' In the age of digital everything, what Marya is doing feels almost revolutionary—slowing down, shaping the old into the new, and proving that with the right kind of hands (even small ones), tradition doesn't fade. It evolves. And in Bahla, where the past and present twirl together on a spinning wheel, the future is already taking shape.


Observer
a day ago
- Observer
On Palestinian cooking and cultural preservation
The ongoing war in Gaza has destroyed much of its cultural heritage. But amidst the rubble, at least one Palestinian staple endures: the common mallow plant. This spinach-like leaf, which forms the basis of a traditional stew called 'Khubeze' that has helped many Gazans stave off hunger, is one of many native plants at the centre of Palestinian cuisine. Sami Tamimi, the acclaimed Palestinian chef who comprises half of the duo behind the popular Ottolenghi deli and restaurant empire, pays tribute to this culinary tradition of 'farming and foraging and eating what is growing in your backyard' in his forthcoming cookbook 'Boustany,' or 'My Garden' in Arabic, which will be released in the US on July 15. Tamimi emphasised the importance of promoting and preserving the Palestinian people's rich culinary heritage — not only amidst the destruction of Gaza, but in the face of what he sees as the longstanding appropriation of traditional Palestinian dishes. Palestinian cuisine has surged in popularity in recent years, in part because chefs like you have made it more accessible. What do you make of its rise? It wasn't deliberate. I just wanted to promote our food, the culture, the stories behind it, where it all comes from, the whole connection to the land — all which I felt, amidst all the war, was getting slightly lost. The thing that really winds me up is seeing so many Israeli restaurants opening in the UK and Europe and America that are basically selling our food in the name of Israeli new cuisine. What they do is take a dish and take it out of context. They don't have any backstory about where this dish comes from, what kind of tradition is behind it. It gets worse when they don't even bother to change the name of the dish. So, maklouba appears on menus as maklouba; mujadara (a popular Levantine dish of lentils, rice and crispy onions) is mujadara. I'm not saying all these dishes are Palestinian, but they have their own history and heritage and rituals; and claiming all of that. FILE PHOTO: Palestinian-British chef, food-writer and restaurateur Sami Tamimi prepares a dish from his new cookbook during an interview with Reuters at his home in London, Britain, June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Do you see the growing prominence of Palestinian cuisine as part of an effort to preserve Palestinian culture, or assert ownership? We have some really talented chefs that are pushing the boat towards preserving and putting our food under the limelight in a good way. But it took a long time because, coming out of trauma, people are focusing on other things to rebuild and preserve. Food was the last bit. Were you always drawn to Palestinian food, specifically? From a young age, I wanted to learn other cuisines. Later, when I moved to Tel Aviv, I realised that the food that was important to me is Palestinian food. But I didn't want to do traditional Palestinian food because, first of all, it takes hours to make. And there's no market for it. It sounds horrible, but when you do traditional food like this in a restaurant, it's a bit like peasant food. People don't appreciate it. I worked in a Californian grill place for a few years and I started to combine bases of Palestinian food into new ingredients. It was fun because I could stay true to a dish but kind of elaborate on it and this became my style. Was your intention with your 2020 cookbook 'Falastin' to provide that backstory? With 'Falastin', I wanted to give thanks. I've been cooking for so many years and borrowing dishes from our repertoire as a Palestinian and I wanted to stop and say thank you. In the '90s, we had a lot of books that talked about Mediterranean food and Middle Eastern food; and it's a vast chunk of the world. Nowadays, the focus is really about a certain place and its culture and the food. It's a wonderful way to convey a lot of what I wanted to say about modern-day Palestine. What I wanted to achieve from it was to interview real people that really inspire me and who I thought will inspire other people. How does 'Boustany' differ from 'Falastin'? Apart from it being your first solo cookbook, it's comprised of vegetarian recipes, right? Vegan and vegetarian. The whole idea started from the Covid-19 lockdown. When you're in a situation like lockdown, you really get homesick because you want to be with your family and eat the food that brings you comfort. I wanted, in a way, to transport myself to being with my family back home. But because I couldn't, I started cooking simple dishes like Khubeze. It started with me just writing these recipes and, six months later, I had 300. — Reuters


Muscat Daily
3 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Omani publications corner inaugurated in Chechnya to mark 40 years of Oman-Russia ties
Russia – As part of an ongoing cultural collaboration between the National Museum of Oman and Chechen State Pedagogical University, a dedicated Omani Publications Corner has been inaugurated at the University in Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic. The initiative coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Russian Federation. The corner is intended to support students of Arab studies, offering access to a range of academic resources focused on Oman's cultural and intellectual heritage. According to the organisers, the effort is aimed at deepening mutual understanding between the two countries and fostering closer academic and research cooperation. 'The corner features a diverse collection of books and cultural and educational publications in literature, history, sciences, media, arts, Islamic studies, geography, and the environment,' the National Museum said. In parallel with the launch, a cultural programme was held in Muscat from June 18 to 19, organised by the museum's Learning Centre. It brought together 180 students from schools across the Muscat Governorate and focused on introducing young Omanis to Russian literature and culture. The programme featured artistic performances and short plays inspired by the works of Anton Chekhov, one of Russia's most influential literary figures. It also included a poetry and music segment titled 'Yesenin's Poetry as a Message from the Russian World to All Humanity' , dedicated to poet Sergei Yesenin. The performance centred on universal values present in Yesenin's work. Workshops under the theme 'Heritage of Ancestors' introduced students to traditional crafts such as the making of Matryoshka dolls and Chechen patterned carpets, providing insights into the ethnography and folk art traditions of the Chechen Republic. An exhibition of applied arts titled ' The Rainbow of Crafts' showcased over 50 decorative pieces that reflected the cultural diversity of the Russian Federation. The programme concluded with a symposium for the Russian-speaking community in Oman, addressing language preservation for children growing up in bilingual environments. Discussions focused on effective methods for maintaining fluency in Russian within Russian-Arab families. Founded in 1980, Chechen State Pedagogical University is considered one of the leading teacher training institutions in Russia. It comprises two institutes and five faculties, with more than 11,000 students enrolled across undergraduate, master's, and postgraduate programmes. The university maintains active ties with institutions in the Gulf and other regions, with a focus on strengthening international cooperation.