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Visa’s Initiative to Shape Future Women Leaders in Oman

From workshops to outward-bound experiential learning and networking opportunities, the program equips young women with the skills and knowledge needed to face their future with confidence…reports Asian Lite News

Visa (NYSE: V), the world’s leader in digital payment,  partnered with Lahunna Oman to shape young women leaders and strengthen financial literacy through a local initiative with Sidrah, a Youth Leadership Program for Omani women.

The Sidrah Leadership Program supports young women through mentorship and leadership training for personal  and professional development. It is a holistic learning experience that focuses on nurturing leadership qualities, personal and professional development and encourages young women to envision themselves as future leaders and change makers. From workshops to outward-bound experiential learning and networking opportunities, the program equips young women with the skills and knowledge needed to face their future with confidence.

Taking the initiative to a broader audience, another initiative was introduced called Rialy; which included workshops and a gamified online competition for more than 1,000 students across various educational institutions across the Sultanate of Oman. Students were exposed to essential financial concepts while enjoying a fun and engaging learning experience which fostered motivation among learners as top performers were also rewarded with prizes.

“The positive impact of the Sidrah program is evident in the growth and achievements of our participants. Visa’s support has made it possible to reach a wide audience, ensuring that Sidrah has a far-reaching impact. By partnering with Lahunna Oman, Visa continues to focus on upskilling women and nurturing growth in the workforce,” said Carl Manlan, Visa’s Head of Inclusive Impact & Sustainability for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region. “We are confident that the skills acquired will inspire them to embrace opportunities, break barriers, and make a significant difference in their lives and their communities.”

As a testament to the success of the Sidrah Leadership Program, the young women cited several opportunities that resulted from taking part in the program, including internships, job opportunities, scholarships, public speaking opportunities and presenting projects to Oman Vision 2040.

Shatha Al Maskiry, Founder of Lahunna Oman said, “Visa is a strong ally and by leveraging their extensive knowledge base, we were able to conduct an array of workshops and interactive sessions to equip youth with fundamental financial literacy acumen to allow them to confidently navigate their financial future.”

Amal Al Mazroei, an engineering graduate that participated in the Sidrah program said,” I am proud to participate in one of the greatest programs, SIDRAH 2.0, which guarantees positive change and growth for Omani Women! I am more confident than ever that I have so much to give back to myself, my community and my beloved Oman.”

By inspiring young women to pursue leadership roles, Visa continues to drive positive change by supporting women leaders for the next generation.

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Navy Chief, Oman Minister cement defence ties

Indian Navy Chief is on a three-day visit to Oman with the aim of consolidating existing bilateral defence relations ..reports Asian Lite News

Indian Navy Chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar during his three-day visit to Oman, discussed issues regarding bilateral defence cooperation with Gen Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Nu’amani, Minister of Royal Office.

The Spokesperson of the Indian Navy took to his Twitter and said, “Adm R Hari Kumar #CNS called on H.E. Gen Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani, Minister of Royal Office (MRO), discussed issues related to bilateral defence cooperation & thanked him for the assistance provided to the #IndianNavy ships calling ports in Oman. – #BridgesofFriendship”

The Ministry of Royal Office acknowledged India’s progress in the field of defence manufacturing.

“MRO also appreciated the progress made by #India in the field of Defence Manufacturing and agreed that Oman could benefit from this progress,” another tweet by the Spokesperson of the Indian Navy said.

Indian Navy Chief is on a three-day visit to Oman with the aim of consolidating existing bilateral defence relations and high-level discussions with the military leadership of Oman.

He will hold bilateral discussions with his Oman counterpart Rear Admiral Saif bin Nasser bin Mohsen Al-Rahbi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) and with Major General Matar bin Salim bin Rashid Al Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman, Ministry of Defence said in a press release.

He will also be visiting key defence and training installations in Oman.

The Naval Chief arrived in Muscat on Sunday and was welcomed by Rear Admiral Saif bin Nassir bin Mohsin Al-Rahbi, Commander, Royal Navy of Oman and India’s Ambassador to Oman Amit Narang.

Coinciding with a visit to the Chief of Naval Staff, the indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Vishakhapatnam arrived at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat. Various naval cooperation events with Oman Royal Navy are planned with Maritime Partnership Exercise culminating on August 3.

The indigenously built destroyer INS Visakhapatnam entered Oman on Sunday to enhance the maritime partnership between Indian Navy and Royal Oman Navy, informed Indian Navy officials.

The Indian Navy and Royal Oman Navy are working together to address security challenges in the region and the warship is part of the Western Naval Command Fleet, the officials added. (ANI)

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Navy Chief in Oman to boost defence ties

The Naval Chief had arrived in Muscat on Sunday and was welcomed by Rear Admiral Saif bin Nassir bin Mohsin Al-Rahbi…reports Asian Lite News

Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar is on a three-day visit to Oman with the aim of consolidating existing bilateral defence relations and high-level discussions with military leadership of Oman.

During his visit, the Chief of Naval Staff will call on Gen Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Nu’amani, Minister of Royal Office. He will hold bilateral discussions with his Oman counterpart Rear Admiral Saif bin Nasser bin Mohsen Al-Rahbi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) and with Major General Matar bin Salim bin Rashid Al Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman, Ministry of Defence said in the press release. He will also be visiting key defence and training installations in Oman.

“Indian Navy and Royal Navy of Oman engage with each other under numerous Foreign Cooperation avenues, which include operations, training and exchange of Subject Matter Experts in various fields,” the Ministry of Defence said in the press release.

The Naval Chief had arrived in Muscat on Sunday and was welcomed by Rear Admiral Saif bin Nassir bin Mohsin Al-Rahbi, Commander, Royal Navy of Oman and India’s Ambassador to Oman Amit Narang.

Coinciding with a visit to the Chief of Naval Staff, the indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Vishakhapatnam arrived at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat. Various naval cooperation events with Oman Royal Navy are planned with Maritime Partnership Exercise culminating on August 3.

Indian Navy spokesperson tweeted, “Adm R Hari Kumar #CNS, is on a 3-day official visit to Oman On arrival in Muscat on #30Jul 23, he was welcomed at the airport by RAdm Saif bin Nassir bin Mohsin Al-Rahbi, Commander Royal Navy of Oman & H.E. @Amit_Narang, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman @Indemb_Muscat.”

In another tweet, it said, “During the visit, the CNS is scheduled to meet the military leadership & interact with institutions of higher defence studies. He would also review bilateral defence cooperation matters with his counterparts in Oman.”

The indigenously built destroyer INS Visakhapatnam entered Oman on Sunday to enhance the maritime partnership between Indian Navy and Royal Oman Navy, informed Indian Navy officials. The Indian Navy and Royal Oman Navy are working together to address security challenges in the region and the warship is part of the Western Naval Command Fleet, the officials added.

Earlier in June, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who paid an official visit to Oman called on Oman’s Sultan and Prime Minister Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. NSA Doval also delivered a personal message of greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

NSA Doval also held discussions with General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nomani, Minister of the Royal Office and Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

“The discussions enabled a high level review of the multifaceted bilateral relations between India and the Sultanate of Oman with focus on strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas for economic & technological development, mutual security and regional stability,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

NSA Doval’s visit to Oman demonstrates the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations and the importance of Oman as a key partner for India in the Gulf. NSA Doval’s visit highlights India’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Oman.

The 13th edition of the bilateral naval exercise Naseem Al Bahr was conducted in Oman in 2022 and the next edition is scheduled in 2024, according to a statement.

The navies of India and Oman also engage extensively under the aegis of various multilateral constructs such as Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). The ties between Indian Navy and Royal Navy of Oman is in consonance with the Government of India’s vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR). (ANI)

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Saudi PIF to invest $5B in Oman’s vital sectors

The MoU provides benefits and incentives for PIF and its portfolio companies, which intend to unlock investment opportunities in Oman…reports Asian Lite News

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) to expand their cooperation, enabling new and promising investments in Oman’s rapidly growing economy, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The MoU provides benefits and incentives for PIF and its portfolio companies, which intend to unlock investment opportunities in Oman. It also represents a significant milestone in PIF’s and OIA’s strategic partnership as it aims to expand PIF’s portfolio in Oman, building on the recent establishment of the Saudi Omani Investment Company (SOIC), a PIF-wholly owned company, which intends to invest up to US$5 billion in promising sectors in Oman.

SOIC recently closed its first investment in Oman as a 20 percent anchor investor in Abraj Energy Services’ IPO and continues to seek other investment opportunities with OIA and its companies.

Through this MoU, PIF aims to streamline its investment activities in Oman across a wide range of asset classes and target industries. The OIA is expected to explore attractive investment opportunities for cooperation and partnership with PIF, in addition to providing all aspects of support required in the Omani market.

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NSA Ajit Doval visits Oman to boost ties

The NSA also held wide ranging discussions with General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nomani, Minister of the Royal Office and Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister…reports Asian Lite News

 National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Monday paid an official visit to Oman and called on country’s top leader Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry Of External Affairs, Doval delivered him a personal message of greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The NSA also held wide ranging discussions with General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nomani, Minister of the Royal Office and Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister.

The discussions enabled a high level review of the multifaceted bilateral relations between India and Oman with focus on strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas for economic and technological development, mutual security and regional stability, the statement added.

The visit by NSA reflects the strong bilateral relationship between India and Oman, the importance of the Sultanate of Oman as a key partner for India in the Gulf and highlights India’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Oman, it said further.

The visit provided an opportunity for high-level engagements and further cemented the strong bonds of friendship between India and the Sultanate of Oman.

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Oman Sultan meets Raisi in Iran

The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of current issues of common concern in the backdrop of developments on the regional and international arenas….reports Asian Lite News

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi held a session of talks at the Iranian presidential building in Tehran yesterday.

The session dealt with various aspects of bilateral cooperation the two countries. The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of current issues of common concern in the backdrop of developments on the regional and international arenas.

The meeting was attended, on the Omani side, by HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani, Minister of the Royal Office and Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister.

The meeting was attended, on the Iranian side, by Dr. Hossein Amirabdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Jamshidi, Deputy for Political Affairs at the President’s Office, Ali Bagheri,Deputy Minister for Political Affairsof the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ali Najafi Khoshroudi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Sultanate of Oman.

After the private meeting, His Majesty the Sultan and the Iranian President held an expanded session of talks during which the two leaders pursued discussion on the historical friendship binding the two countries.

The meeting touched on various aspects of cooperation and coordination with a view to realizing the interests of the two friendly countries and peoples and achieving their common aspirations.

The expanded talks were attended by the official Omani and Iranian delegations.

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Iran, Oman bolster space cooperation

Iran, Oman

The two sides agreed to begin cooperation in the fields of data transit and postal services…reports Asian Lite News

Iran and Oman have agreed to start cooperation in the space sector, media reported.

The issue was discussed in a meeting between Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology Isa Zarepour and Omani Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology Saeed bin Hamoud al-Maawali in Tehran, the report said on Thursday.

Speaking at the meeting, the Iranian Minister said his country is capable of building remote sensing and communications satellites for launch into low Earth orbits and can cooperate with Oman in this area, the official news agency IRNA reported

He added that over the past two years, cooperation between the two countries has been enhanced, noting that following the recent visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Muscat, the cooperation has taken a better form, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two Ministers also agreed to begin cooperation in the fields of data transit and postal services, the report added.

The Omani Minister, for his part, said there are numerous areas for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of communications and information technology, noting that the field of modern technologies is another important area for bilateral cooperation.

The national post companies of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding at the end of the meeting, IRNA said.

Iran has in recent years built a number of satellites. In August 2022, the country successfully launched the Khayyam satellite into space from the Baikonur space station in Kazakhstan by Russia’s Soyuz satellite carrier rocket.

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Sharjah Ruler invited to visit Oman

The invitation is an extension of the deep-rooted ties that the two countries share, and their keenness to enhance their cooperation…reports Asian Lite News

H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, received on Wednesday Dr. Ahmed bin Hilal bin Saud Al Busaidi, Ambassador of Oman to the UAE, at Al Badee’ Palace.

During the meeting, the Ruler of Sharjah received a written message from H.H. Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs of Oman, including an invitation to visit Oman.

Delivered by the Omani Ambassador, the invitation is an extension of the deep-rooted ties that the two countries share, and their keenness to enhance their cooperation.

H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan exchanged Ramadan greetings with the Omani Ambassador, praying to God Almighty to bless the two countries and their peoples with further growth and prosperity, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman.

The meeting discussed several issues of mutual concern and was attended by a number of officials from both sides.

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Indian Embassy in Oman holds yoga session

India and Oman recently held the eighth strategic dialogue which focused on counter-terrorism initiatives, including ways to combat the expansion of terrorist propaganda and misuse of emerging technologies…reports Asian Lite news

The Indian Embassy in Oman on Wednesday conducted a yoga session on board INS Teg berthed in Muscat.

“In its unwavering commitment to promoting wellness and cultural exchange, the Embassy conducted a serene and transformative yoga session on board INS Teg berthed in Muscat, enabling the crew members to de-stress and rejuvenate,” the Indian Embassy in Oman tweeted on Wednesday. India and Oman recently held the eighth strategic dialogue which focused on counter-terrorism initiatives, including ways to combat the expansion of terrorist propaganda and misuse of emerging technologies

The discussion took place during the visit of the Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC) of the Sultanate of Oman, Major General Idris Abdulrahman Al-Kindi, to India.

“During the dialogue, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the close strategic partnership between India and Oman and highlighted the high priority accorded by the leadership of both countries to further enhance their bilateral strategic ties based on trust and mutual respect,” a source said.

During the strategic dialogue, discussions were held on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including bilateral strategic and security cooperation, defence and regional security. Both sides reiterated the importance of preserving maritime safety and security in the region.

“Both sides condemned in the strongest terms all forms and manifestations of terrorism and underscored the need to work collectively to fight this menace,” the source said.

Both sides discussed that the expansion of terrorist propaganda, misuse of new and emerging technologies, arms and drugs trafficking and abuse of cyberspace for recruitment, fundraising and disinformation have serious security implications for the region and, therefore, a collective and coordinated response is essential. (ANI)

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Zakir Naik likely to be deported from Oman

Zakir Naik (Photo: facebook@zakirnaik)

Naik is accused of promoting hate, and disharmony, and his speeches are seen as objectionable as he has been extolling known terrorists promoting conversion and terrorism…reports Asian Lite News

Zakir Naik, an Indian born controversial Islamic preacher may face deportation from Oman following efforts by Indian intelligence agencies.

Naik, who has been residing in Malaysia since 2017, was invited by the Oman government to deliver two religious lectures in Muscat during Ramzan.

However, the Indian embassy has reportedly been in contact with authorities to detain Naik during his visit, with plans to deport him to India.

A legal team may also be dispatched by India for follow-up after detention. The matter has been raised with the Omani Ambassador by the MEA.

Naik fled to Malaysia in 2016, after his organisation Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) was banned and just before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) started a probe against him.

Zakir Naik faces charges of money laundering and hate speeches in India. In March, last year the Home Ministry declared Naik-founded Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) an unlawful association and banned it for five years.

Naik is accused of promoting hate, and disharmony, and his speeches are seen as objectionable as he has been extolling known terrorists promoting conversion and terrorism.

In 2019, he was also banned from delivering public speeches in Malaysia. Besides India, his Peace TV network is also banned in Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, and the UK.

Mohammed Shariq, the main accused in the 2022 Mangaluru auto blast case, had said that he was influenced and radicalised by Naik’s videos, which he shared with other co-accused. 

Karnataka Police officials seized Shariq’s phone, which contained videos of Zakir Naik that he and his handlers shared via Telegram and other platforms such as Signal, Wire, Instagram, and Element.

The NIA had approached Interpol, an international organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation, thrice to issue Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Naik but he contested and the requests were rejected. Interpol had cited that there was lack of evidence and proof of wrongdoing by Naik. He was also booked by India’s federal financial investigative agency – Enforcement Directorate – in 2016 based on a FIR that was registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Enforcement Directorate alleged a total amount of Rs 193.06 crore has been identified as proceeds of crime.

Naik has been booked on charges of laundering criminal money under various sections of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and allegedly creating illegal real estate assets worth crores in India and abroad.

In 2020, UK’s media regulator OfCom slapped a fine of 300,000 pounds on Naik’s two television stations, Peace TV and Peace TV Urdu, for broadcasting hate speech and incitement. The UK has also started a probe into the charity he founded that funded the channels.

He was barred from the UK in 2010 but continued to operate the channels until 2019. UK’s Commission for Countering Extremism (CCE) cited Naik’s channel as an example of Islamist extremism.

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