Latest news with #AbdullahAlBalushi
Al Etihad
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
UAE to participate in UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Belgium
9 Aug 2025 00:19 DUBAI (WAM)The National Paralympic Committee has announced that athletes Ahmed Al Badwawi and Abdullah Al Balushi will participate in the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Belgium, from August 24 to September 1. The Secretary-General of the committee confirmed that the training camp for the championship, which is being held in the Principality of Andorra, will continue until August 23. This follows a previous camp in Spain from July 15 to August 1, both aimed at raising the cyclists' preparedness under the supervision of coach Mohammed Al Marwi.
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Oman: CPA warns against used, expired tyres
Muscat – With temperatures rising across the sultanate, authorities are warning against the use of used and expired tyres, citing their role in serious traffic accidents, particularly on long-distance routes and high-speed roads. Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) reported violations at 53 tyre outlets, leading to confiscation of more than 1,000 tyres, many of which were found to be used or past their expiry dates. As part of a nationwide inspection campaign this year, CPA carried out 1,756 visits. Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, CPA urged consumers not to purchase used tyres and encouraged the public to report any shops violating regulations. Salim al Rawahi, a mechanic in Seeb, said worn-out tyres are a major safety concern. 'These tyres may look fine from the outside, but internal defects often go unnoticed until it's too late – especially in summer heat,' he said. 'We've seen multiple tyre blowouts on highways that pose danger to both drivers and other road users.' In some interior areas of Oman, summer temperatures can exceed 45°C, accelerating tyre degradation, particularly in retreaded or second-hand products. Truck driver Abdullah al Balushi recalled a tyre burst while on a trip to Salalah. 'I was lucky. I managed to stop safely, but it could have ended badly. Since then, I only use new tyres,' he said. Saeed al Riyami, a government employee from Nizwa, warned against used tyres. 'The savings from used tyres aren't worth the risk. A blowout could cost lives, not just money,' he said. The Directorate General of Traffic at Royal Oman Police confirmed that defective tyres remain a recurring factor in accidents. It advised motorists to regularly inspect tyre condition, manufacturing dates, tread depth and visible wear, and conduct checks at authorised service centres. Officials also recommend replacing tyres every three to four years regardless of appearance, due to gradual degradation caused by heat and humidity. In an effort to tighten regulation, CPA has increased the fine for violations involving unsafe tyre sales. The penalty has doubled from RO500 to RO1,000 under recent amendments to consumer protection laws, reflecting the serious risks posed by non-compliance. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
18-02-2025
- General
- Observer
Ministry of Education to launch Chinese language in four schools
Muscat: The Ministry of Education organised, over the past two days, an introductory meeting on the Chinese language. The meeting targeted students and their parents in schools that will implement the teaching of the Chinese language for the academic year 2025-2026, in the governorates of Muscat and Al Dakhiliyah. The meeting included two presentations, the first entitled: "Teaching Chinese Language: A New Window to the Future in the Schools of the Sultanate of Oman" presented by specialists from the Foreign Languages Curricula Department at the Ministry. The presentation included an introduction to the Chinese language, and a cooperation plan with the International Exchange Center for Language Education of the Ministry of Education of China to teach Chinese language optionally in Sayyid Sultan bin Ahmed School (11-12) for Boys; Juwayriya bint Abi Sufyan School (9-12) for Girls in Al Amerat; Hay Al Turath School (9-12) for Boys; and Al Shatha bint Jaber School for Basic Education (9-12) for Girls in Nizwa. The presentation also addressed the inclusion of Chinese language in the 2025-2026 curriculum, and its introductory program targeting directors and vocational guidance specialists in the schools where it will be implemented, and a draft decision to form the main committee, and the working teams to select and harmonize Chinese language curricula and follow up on its teaching. The second presentation was given by Julie Lee, a Chinese language teacher at the American School in Muscat Governorate. The presentation included a practical lesson in the Chinese language for non-native speakers. On teaching the Chinese language, Abdullah Al Balushi, Senior French Language Curriculum Specialist at the Foreign Languages Department, said: 'The ministry provides a unique experience in learning the Chinese language for students wishing to study it, as the program will be applied to grades 11 and 12 students optionally, and the subject will be taught by specialists in teaching the Chinese language to non-native speakers, who speak English besides the Chinese language; in addition to providing a simplified curriculum in line with the Omani cultural context; to achieve the goals set by the ministry on the one hand, and the approved linguistic framework for the levels in the Chinese language on the other hand. The ministry will also provide educational tools, curriculum enhancement, and enrichment learning resources that support the curriculum, including printed and electronic materials. The Chinese language is currently being applied in a number of private schools in the Sultanate of Oman, and students' results and academic achievement are high.'
