Latest from Observer
Observer
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Observer
HM, Austria Chancellor affirm approach of dialogue to resolve disputes
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Thursday received a phone call from Christian Stocker, Chancellor of the Republic of Austria. During the telephonic conversation, His Majesty the Sultan and the Austrian Chancellor reviewed the sound relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Austria. They discussed ways to develop areas of cooperation and partnership in various sectors in a manner that achieves the aspirations of the peoples of the two countries. His Majesty the Sultan and the Austrian Chancellor also commended the decision of ceasefire between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel. They also stressed the importance of consolidating dialogue, resolving disputes through peaceful means and wisdom, and according priority to the supreme interests of countries and peoples. - ONA
Observer
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Observer
Omani flavours captivate Mark Wiens
It began with a brief visit in 2016, but something about Oman lingered in the memory of Mark Wiens, the world-renowned travel and food vlogger and a full time travel eater. Known for his passionate reactions, on-the-ground street food adventures and a deep respect for culinary traditions, the American-born YouTuber has documented food cultures from across the globe. Years later, it was Muscat-based foodie and culture enthusiast Ahmed al Lawati who convinced Mark to return — this time, for an immersive gastronomic journey that would spotlight the heart and soul of Oman. 'Oman has incredible natural beauty, but remains one of the Gulf's best-kept secrets,' said Ahmed, who personally curated the itinerary. 'I wanted to show Mark the side of Oman that's not about luxury hotels, but about wadis, hidden villages and food that tells a story.' Mark Wiens helping to make Omani halwa in Nizwa Their journey took them from Salalah's green landscapes in the south to the golden deserts of Dhofar and all the way back to the bustle of Muscat's traditional eateries. Along the way, they sampled shuwa — a festive, slow-cooked lamb delicacy buried underground and cooked for hours — as well as madhbi, rice and grilled meat served hot off stones. Mark was visibly moved. 'The word that comes to mind is 'genuine',' he said. 'Omani people are genuinely friendly and hospitable. And the food? It's incredible.' Known for drawing millions of views per video, Mark captures more than just food — he tells stories. And in Oman, he found one worth sharing. Guided by Ahmed's local insight, he participated in age-old cooking traditions, joined villagers in preparation rituals and tasted spice-rich dishes influenced by centuries of trade and heritage. 'Food is food,' said Ahmed. 'But the preparation journey, the story behind it, is what makes Omani cuisine unforgettable.' One of the most unforgettable moments was preparing shuwa outdoors in the desert. 'It's not just a dish — it's a celebration,' said Mark. 'The variations of shuwa across Oman are astounding. Each has a unique flavour profile, yet all carry the essence of togetherness.' They also explored lesser-known dishes like paplo, a comforting rice-and-meat blend and maleh salad, made from dried, marinated fish. 'Paplo deserves international recognition,' Ahmed remarked. 'It's simple yet layered with flavour.' Mark, who has tasted everything from Thai street food to Tanzanian nyama choma, was especially impressed by Omani ingredients like dried lemons and date syrup. 'Dried lemons are my favourite. They perfume the dish in a way nothing else does,' he said. 'And Omani halwa — its complexity and craftsmanship blew me away.' The trip wasn't just about food — it was a cultural exchange. At every stop, Omanis recognised Mark, stopping him for selfies and thanking him for spotlighting their country. 'It showed us how powerful storytelling can be in promoting tourism and culture,' Ahmed noted. Global food blogger Mark Wiens and Ahmed al Lawati with freshly caught kingfish at Muttrah fish market Their collaboration aligns naturally with Oman's tourism vision: showcasing the Sultanate of Oman not just as a scenic escape, but as a living, breathing archive of traditions, tastes and tales. 'Videos like these are not only visual treats but tools for education and cultural exchange,' said Ahmed. Back in Bangkok, Mark reflects on the journey with warmth. 'You travel for food, but it's really about the people you meet along the way,' he said. 'Sharing meals, stories and laughter — that's the real journey.' And Oman? 'I brought back dates and halwa,' he smiled, 'but I'm already planning my return. There's so much more to discover.'
Observer
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Observer
Alcaraz starts Wimbledon defence against Fognini
LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz will start his Wimbledon defence against Fabio Fognini while world number one Jannik Sinner faces a potential semi-final clash against Novak Djokovic following Friday's draw. On the women's side, reigning champion Barbora Krejcikova will begin her campaign against rising star Alexandra Eala on Centre Court if she can recover from injury. Spain's Alcaraz, who has beaten Djokovic in the past two finals at the All England Club, returns to Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, on a career-best 18-match winning streak. He is aiming to become just the fifth man to win at least three straight Wimbledon titles in the Open Era after Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Djokovic. The Spaniard, 22, has a 2-0 head-to-head record against Italian Fognini, who is 38. Sinner's pursuit of a maiden Wimbledon crown could hinge on a heavyweight semi-final clash with seven-time champion Djokovic. The Italian, who lost to Alcaraz in the recent French Open final, opens against compatriot Luca Nardi at the grass-court major. Djokovic, competing at his lowest seeding (sixth) since 2018, will begin his campaign for a record-tying eighth Wimbledon men's title against Frenchman Alexandre Muller. The Serb, who has been in every final since 2018, is seeded for a quarter-final meeting with British fourth seed Jack Draper, who meets Argentina's Sebastian Baez in the first round. Djokovic is aiming to win a record 25th Grand Slam, which would take him clear of his tie with the long-retired Margaret Court, and has the added incentive of matching Roger Federer's record tally of Wimbledon men's titles. World number three Alexander Zverev, who starts against France's Arthur Rinderknech, is seeded to meet Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals. Fifth-seeded American Fritz faces big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard from France. - Krejcikova injury woes - Krejcikova missed the first five months of 2025 with a back injury and was forced to withdraw from this week's Eastbourne quarter-finals due to a thigh injury. Her first-round opponent, Eala, a 20-year-old from the Philippines, is ranked a lowly 74. But Eala captured the tennis world's attention in March by defeating three Grand Slam champions — Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek — to reach the Miami semi-finals. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, hoping to progress beyond the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time, opens against fast-rising Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine. The Belarusian has won three Grand Slams but lost in the Australian Open final and the French Open final this year. Her potential third-round opponents include 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, Nottingham winner McCartney Kessler and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Home favourite Raducanu takes on British qualifier Mingge Xu in the first round. Second seed Coco Gauff, who beat Sabalenka at Roland Garros, starts against Nottingham finalist Dayana Yastremska. Potentially intriguing second-round matchups include third seed Jessica Pegula against Queen's champion and 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria. Former French Open champion Ostapenko could play two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur in round two, while Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen may face former world number one Naomi Osaka at the same stage. Five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek faces a potential fourth-round clash against former champion Elena Rybakina and a quarter-final with Gauff, having dropped to eighth in the rankings. — AFP
Observer
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Observer
HM receives message from Custodian of Two Holy Mosques
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Thursday received a written message from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud of Saudi Arabia, dealing with bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. The message was handed over to Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, when he received Ibrahim Saad Bishan, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Sultanate of Oman. The meeting touched on ways to enhance relations between the two countries in political, economic, investment and cultural fields. - ONA
Observer
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Observer
Police, clergy scuffle in Armenia as standoff escalates
YEREVAN: A scuffle broke out in Armenia on Friday between clergymen and police, part of an escalating standoff between the influential Church and the Caucasian nation's authorities. The Two sides have been at loggerheads since Catholicos Garegin II — the church's spiritual leader — began calling for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign over Armenia's military defeat to Azerbaijan in 2020. The loss of the disputed Karabakh region to Azerbaijan in 2023, Armenia's arch-foe, has divided the country and escalated the dispute. On Wednesday, the Armenian authorities said they had foiled a coup plot involving a senior cleric who had rallied opposition to Pashinyan and more than a dozen other suspects. The latest confrontation erupted after police arrived at the residence of the head of the Apostolic Church to arrest another senior figure, archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan. He is accused of publicly calling for the government to be overthrown. Masked police attempted to enter the residence of Garegin II to arrest Adjapahyan. Prosecutors had earlier charged him with "public calls aimed at seizing power... and violently overthrowing the constitutional order". Following the scuffle between priests and law enforcement officers, Adjapahyan said he would surrender to police but denied any wrongdoing. "This is a blatant act of lawlessness against me," he said. "I have never been a threat to our country. The real threat sits in government. I won't hide. I'll go with them." But locals and priests closed the gates of the residence, preventing Adjapahyan from leaving the premises and surrendering to police. Armenia's security service said it would deploy additional forces to detain Adjapahyan. Earlier this month, Pashinyan escalated the feud with the church by accusing Garegin II of fathering an illegitimate child and urging believers to oust him. That prompted calls for Pashinyan to be excommunicated. An Armenian court put an influential cleric into two months of pre-trial detention on coup attempt charges, a day after authorities claimed to have foiled a plot to overthrow the government. On Thursday, "a court of general jurisdiction in Yerevan decided to send Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan to a pre-trial detention for a period of two months," one of his lawyers, Hovhannes Khudoyan, told journalists. Armenia's Investigative Committee said the court granted motions for pre-trial detention for all the detained, adding that "15 suspects have been placed in custody". Later on Thursday, Armenia's prosecutor general office announced it had opened a criminal case against another senior cleric. — AFP
