China to trial visa-free policy for Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain
Beijing: China will trial a policy granting ordinary passport holders from Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain visa-free entry into China up to 30 days from June 9, 2025, to June 8, 2026, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.
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Times of Oman
28 minutes ago
- Times of Oman
QS and Modern College of Business and Science Announce Strategic Partnership in Zanzibar
Muscat – QS Quacquarelli Symonds, global higher education experts and compiler of the QS World University Rankings, will hold the annual QS Africa Forum at the Golden Tulip Zanzibar Airport Hotel from 3-4 July. The forum will address issues related to the theme 'Maximising Africa's Potential: Scientific Research, Knowledge Transfer, Innovation, and Skills for a Thriving Future' and is co-hosted by the Modern College of Business and Science. QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the world's leading provider of services, analytics, and insights to the global higher education sector, is pleased to announce the QS Africa Forum 2025, co-sponsored by the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS), Oman's leading institution for business and applied sciences. The event will be held in Zanzibar in July 2025 under the theme 'Maximizing Africa's Potential: Scientific Research, Knowledge Transfer, Innovation, and Skills for a Thriving Future.' Under the esteemed patronage of His Excellency Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, this landmark event will bring together leaders from academia, industry, and government to engage in critical dialogues on harnessing higher education as a catalyst for Africa's transformation. The forum aims to explore how to maximise the continent's vast potential by equipping emerging generations with future-ready skills, knowledge, and opportunities to drive economic growth, innovation, and societal progress. 'We are honored to co-sponsor the QS Africa Forum 2025, a significant platform that aligns perfectly with MCBS's commitment to fostering global academic partnerships and supporting the growth of East Africa as a key player in the international knowledge economy,' said Executive Chairman, Dr Muneer Al Maskari. 'This forum will empower the region to maximize its educational and innovation potential through effective knowledge transfer and capacity building.' Ben Sowter, QS Senior Vice-President, said: 'The QS Africa Forum is a pivotal and transformative event that unites leaders from universities, academia, industry, and government. Its mission is to foster collaboration, champion sustainability, and serve as a catalyst for innovation and thought leadership to tackle vital contemporary challenges. We would like to thank our hosts, The Modern College of Business and Science, for their outstanding support in making this event possible.' Guest speakers include: ▪ Dr. Bismark Tyobeka, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, North-West University, South Africa ▪ Prof. Kayode Ijadunola, Vice-Chancellor, Elizade University, Nigeria ▪ Hon. Lela Muhamed Mussa, The Minister of Education and Vocational Training Revolutionary, Government of Zanzibar ▪ Dr Muneer Al Maskari, Executive Chairman, Modern College of Business and Science ▪ Prof. Qurashi Mohmed Ali, President, National University, Sudan The QS Africa Forum 2025 is a premier event for higher education leaders, researchers, and investors, with sessions dedicated to Africa's potential in scientific research, innovation, and skills development. This Forum focuses on knowledge transfer as a key enabler of sustainable development and the pathways for collaboration between African Higher Education Institutions and leading educational institutions worldwide.
Times of Oman
42 minutes ago
- Times of Oman
bp Oman and Tech Space Conclude the 'Smoothy' Coding Programme
Muscat: In partnership with bp Oman, Tech Space concluded the 'Smoothy' coding programme, which aimed to teach foundational programming skills to early-grade students. The programme benefited 270 students from grades 3 and 4 during the 2024/2025 academic year, across 10 schools in Muscat Governorate. It focused on introducing children to programming at an early age, encouraging them to use technology to develop creative projects, and fostering their personal and cognitive skills. The first phase of the programme involved training 13 teachers from the participating schools on the Smoothy curriculum. This enabled them to deliver coding lessons in classrooms during the second phase. Students learned the basics of programming in a fun and interactive way that fostered creativity and logical thinking, using the specially designed Smoothy language through the HelloCode platform. This approach helped prepare them to understand more advanced programming languages in the future. The third and final phase included on-site school visits to evaluate and showcase the students' projects. Ibrahim Al Hinai, Social Investment Manager at bp Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, commented: 'We are proud to contribute to empowering our students and equipping them with modern programming and tech skills. The students demonstrated impressive abilities, creating innovative solutions through coding. Over 1,076 creative projects were developed, and 2,853 coding challenges were solved. We remain committed to supporting young talents in building the future.' Eman Al Rawahi, CEO of Tech Space, stated: "This programme successfully achieved its intended goals as a foundational coding initiative for early-grade students. It promoted critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the students impressed us with their creative programming projects, which reflected their ability to express ideas and innovations through code. We are very proud of the level these young coders have reached."
Times of Oman
42 minutes ago
- Times of Oman
Pampers and Lulu Wrap Up First-Ever Joint Promotion in Oman with Exciting Prizes and a Big Innovation Reveal
Muscat – Pampers, the world's leading diaper brand, has successfully concluded its first-ever exclusive partnership with Lulu Hypermarket in Oman—rewarding loyal shoppers and celebrating a new era of product innovation for families in the region. Held from April 23 to May 21, 2025, the joint campaign gave Lulu customers the chance to win 3 iPhone 16 Pro and 5 iPads every week. Shoppers who purchased any Pampers product at Lulu outlets were automatically entered into the weekly raffle draw. The winners of the first and second draws were announced earlier in the campaign, with the final round of prizes handed out at Lulu Baushar on May 29, 2025. This initiative is more than just a giveaway—it marks a pivotal milestone in Pampers' journey in Oman. In parallel with the campaign, Pampers proudly introduced its biggest product innovation in a decade: a new diaper range designed specifically for Gulf consumers, made locally in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and tailored to the real needs of parents and babies in the region. Speaking during the promotion, a spokesperson for Pampers stated, 'At Pampers, we care about every baby's healthy development above anything else. We are extremely delighted to launch this campaign for parents who have trusted us for more than 50 years when it comes to the health, safety and well-being of their little ones. With a range of safe, high-quality and trusted products, we have always been committed to our promise towards a baby's happiness and its healthy development.' The product upgrade is part of Pampers' ongoing mission to deliver newness and superiority in every pack—offering upgraded comfort, skin protection, and leakage prevention designed with regional insight and parent feedback in mind. Commenting on the promotion, a Lulu official said, 'We are glad to have tied up with Pampers to launch this promotion at all our outlets. Through this promotion, which was exclusively for Lulu customers, we were able to offer parents a chance to win iPhones and iPads every week. We congratulate all the winners and thank all those who were part of this promotion,' he added. With this successful partnership, Pampers and Lulu have set the stage for deeper collaboration—bringing even more value, innovation, and trust to families in Oman in the months to come.
