Oman news stories on Newser

Hikers Leave Iran for Good

Kate Schwartz — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:29:47 CDT

Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer are officially no longer on Iranian soil. The American hikers have departed on a flight from Tehran to Oman, a Swiss diplomat tells CNN . Their destination is the Omani capital of Muscat, where they will be met by their families, along with fellow hiker/Bauer's fiancee,...

Omani Protesters Burn Buildings, Block Port

Mark Russell — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 06:28:44 CST

The unofficial death toll in Oman rose to six over the weekend, as hundreds of demonstrators in Sohar blocked roads leading to a port and a refinery, reports Reuters . A supermarket was looted and burned, two government buildings were also set on fire, and protesters raided a police station to...

Two Dead as Protests Spread to Oman

Polly Davis Doig — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:00:50 CST

Two people have died as protests hit their second day in normally quiet Oman, reports Reuters, noting that police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into crowds. There were unsubstantiated reports that police used live ammunition. "Police and anti-riot units moved against this subversive group to protect citizens and their...

Send Books, Not Guns to Afghanistan

Kevin Spak — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:11:59 CDT

Forty years ago, Oman was a hidebound society, similar to neighboring Yemen. There was no modern technology, no paved roads, and most of the people were illiterate. It had just three schools, all boys-only affairs. But today, Yemen is a haven for terrorists, but Oman isn’t. Why? Because in 1970,...

Stranded Maid Dies of Stress After 5 Nights in Airport

Rob Quinn — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 04:00:00 CDT

An Indian maid died of what doctors say was a stress-induced heart attack after being forced to spend five nights sleeping in a transit area at Oman's Muscat airport. The 40-year-old lost her passport on a connecting flight between Oman and Qatar, and she was sent back to Oman instead...

Oman to Seek Hikers' Release

Polly Davis Doig — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 07:57:02 CDT

Oman is sending a delegation to Iran today with the goal of securing the release of the remaining two US hikers still imprisoned. Citing a hardline Iranian newspaper report, the AP says hopes are high that the Omanis might return home with Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal—especially given their...

Jihadist's Bust May Mark Major Intel Coup

Rob Quinn — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:33:50 CST

Counterterrorism experts believe an al-Qaeda field commander captured last month is providing a major intelligence breakthrough. Abdullah Saleh al-Eidan's bust in Oman was swiftly followed by warnings on jihadi websites that he had the names and phone numbers of 300 "brothers" in his possession, urging militants to change their locations,...

Meteorite Hunter Gets His Due

Wesley Oliver — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:17:44 CDT

He’s not exactly Indiana Jones, but Steve Arnold does have fame, wild adventures, and an 18-foot-wide metal detector. Arnold, a meteorite hunter, has combed the deserts of Chile, the tundras of Siberia, and the streets of Chicago looking for the extraterrestrial lumps of metal, the LA Times reports. His hard...

Cyclone Menaces Gulf Region, Oil Prices

Dustin Lushing — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:06:25 CDT

A cyclone that may be the most powerful storm ever to hit the Arabian Peninsula is heading toward the oil-rich Persian Gulf region, forcing thousands to evacuate and prompting fears of a spike in oil prices. Oman's coastal towns will take the brunt of Cyclone Gonu, which is producing winds...