Ahad bint Abdullah bin Hamad Al Busaidiyah made her debut appearance as Oman's first lady as the sultanate marked National Women's Day with a series of honours.
Ahad bint Abdullah bin Hamad Al Busaidiyah, wife of Sultan Haitham, hosted a royal palace ceremony on Saturday to honour the work of 50 prominent Omani women for their role in society and the economy.
"Over the past 50 years [Omani] women have had unlimited access to education, training and work. This enabled them to efficiently participate in the national building process while being armed with knowledge, laws and systems of sound governance that guaranteed their rights and secured their status," Sayyida Al Busaidiyah said.
"Omani women took their deserved place in public and private sectors and their historic influence has earned them accolades at home and abroad through [works] of global women’s affairs organisations.”
She highlighted how her husband is continuing the work of the late Sultan Qaboos in placing women in prominent government roles.
One of those women was honoured at the event on Saturday, with the Order of Royal Commendation, second class, given to Dr Fatima bint Mohammed Al Ajmi, undersecretary at the Health Ministry for Administrative, Financial and Planning Affairs.
Sayyida Al Busaidiyah also honoured the frontline medical workers battling the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We would like to note our great gratitude to our sisters working in the health sector for their noble stance and their earnest efforts [that] constitute a shield of safety for our homeland and people,” she said.
Several Omani women noted how Seyyda Ahad is keen to promote women in various fields of the economy and in the social engagements.
"It was very pleasing to see her taking the effort to honour women who excel themselves in the service of the country. This will encourage more Omani women to come forward knowing their hard work will be appreciated and honoured," a retired government official who did not want to be identified, tod The National.
Sultan Haitham succeeded his cousin, Sultan Qaboos, in January.
A graduate from the University of Oxford, he previously held several prominent government posts.
Since taking office, he has maintained the course of his predecessor and pushed to modernise and grow the country as part of Oman Vision 2040.
But he also shook up Cabinet with new appointments and passed difficult measures to cut budgets and spending as low oil prices and the pandemic hit the nation's finances.
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
Uefa Nations League: How it Works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
England v West Indies
England squad for the first Test Cook, Stoneman, Westley, Root (captain), Malan, Stokes, Bairstow, Moeen, Roland-Jones, Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Crane
Fixtures
1st Test Aug 17-21, Edgbaston
2nd Test Aug 25-29, Headingley
3rd Test Sep 7-11, Lord's
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