TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 DHUL HIJJAH 7, 1441 AH

ESTABLISHED IN 1981 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI VOL. 39 NO. 257 | PAGES 22

OMAN DAILY

A U T H O R I T I E S T O D E A L F I R M LY W I T H V I O L AT O R S

MUSCAT: The Supreme Committee entrusted with handling the developments resulting from the spread of COVID-19, held a meeting on Monday under the chairmanship of Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidy, Minister of Interior, Committee Chairman, at the National Centre for Emergency Management, to follow up the developments of the pandemic and the measures taken to stem the spread of the virus and mitigate its multiple impacts.

On the occasion of the approach of the blessed Eid al Adha, the Supreme Committee expressed sincere greetings and best wishes to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, and the Arab and Islamic nations, praying to Allah the Almighty for many returns of this auspicious occasion, while His Majesty enjoys good health and happiness, and the Sultanate blessing and bounty under his wise leadership.

AVOIDSOCIAL GATHERINGS

DURING EID

www.omanobserver.omeditor@omanobserver.om

#Living_with_COVID19

Be Careful,Be Responsible!

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has sent a cable of greetings to President Martin Vizcarra of the Republic of Peru, on his country’s National Day.In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan expressed his sincere greetings and best wishes to President Vizcarra and his country’s friendly people. — ONA

HM sends greetings to President of Peru

MUSCAT: The Diwan of Royal Court issued a statement on Monday as follows: “His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has addressed a message of greetings and best wishes to the people of Oman and residents on its territories on the occasion of Eid al Adha 1441 AH. His Majesty the Sultan also extended his greetings to the Islamic

nation on this occasion, praying to the Almighty Allah to make this Eid return with prosperity, bounty and blessings on all.

“His Majesty the Sultan also gave his Royal directives to extend Eid al Adha holidays for public and private sectors till Thursday, the 16th of Dhul Hijjah 1441 AH (August 6), so that official duty in both

the sectors resumes on Sunday the 19th of Dhul Hijjah 1441 AH, (August 9).

“May the Almighty Allah protect His Majesty the Sultan and grant him a long life and success!

“May the Almighty Allah bestow plenty of bounties on Oman and spare the country, its citizens and residents all harms!” — ONA

HIS MAJESTY GREETS OMANIS AND RESIDENTS ON EID AL ADHAON ROYAL DIRECTIVES, EID HOLIDAYS EXTENDED TILL AUGUST 6

TURN TO P2

2 TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 www.omanobserver.om

OMANMOH Statement 151

Today's Total Cases

Omanis Non-Omanis

Deaths TestedRecoveries

Newlyadmitted

Currentlyadmitted

CurrentICU admissions

Total Total Total

Admitted Cases

Total Cases

393 30049357028

1053

9 35041729

69 552 177

77058

952 101

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Together, we shall overcomeOMAN OBSERVER

@OmanObserverNews

RAFO CARRIES OUT MEDICAL EVACUATION IN KHASAB

KHASAB: The Royal Air Force of Oman (Rafo) conducted medical evacuation of an expatriate who was in critical condi-tion on Monday.

The patient was transferred by a Rafo helicopter from Khasab Hospital to Khoula Hospital in Muscat Governorate to undergo a surgery.

The operation is part of the humanitar-ian services provided to citizens and expats by the Sultan’s Armed Forces and the other departments of the Ministry of Defence alongside other state depart-ments.

FROM PAGE 1The Supreme Committee has followed the implementation of the complete lockdown between the governorates, and the closure of all public places and commercial stores from 7 pm to 6 am, which took effect from last Saturday.

The Supreme Committee commended the great commitment to the decisions by citizens and expatriates which will, God willing, protect the individuals and the society

in general from the infection and its adverse health complications. This commitment will also boost the health sector’s capacity to respond to this and other diseases.

The Supreme Committee urged all members of the society to be extra cautious during the Eid al Adha holidays and to minimise their movement as far as possible during the daytime and to avoid all sorts of familial and societal gatherings as it has been scientifically proven that gatherings cause the spread of the virus among a large number of people.

The Supreme Committee reiterated that the authorities will deal sternly with those who violate its decisions.

— ONA

Avoid social gatherings during Eid

www.omanobserver.om tuesday july 28, 2020 3

MUSCAT: Photographing the movement of military or security vehicles and posting them on social media platforms, accord-ing to the law in Oman, is an illegal act that can attract hefty fines.

With the dusk-to-dawn nationwide lockdown in force, security vehicles are

a common sight on every street in the Sultanate.

“It is strictly forbidden to video or photograph the security activities and post them online. Offenders will be subject to in accordance with the law”, said a state-ment from the Royal Oman Police.

Snapping pictures of movement of defence or police vehicles are seen as

crimes affecting the secu-rity of the state from inside,

as stated in Article 89 of the Omani Penal Code.

But law experts point out that photographing check-points, movement of mili-tary and security vehicles and their activities can be treated violations of lock-down measures that “pro-vide general protection to all members of the society in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic”.

MUSCAT: Oman Journalists Association (OJA) on Sunday held a General Assembly Meeting via videoconferencing.

The meeting opened with a recitation of Al Fatiha, the first chapter of the Holy Quran, on the soul of the founding father of Omani Renaissance, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak al Araimi gave a speech in which he appre-ciated the efforts of OJA

members and their sup-port to the board of direc-tors over the past two years, saying that such support enabled the OJA board to make many accomplishments and introduce new pro-grammes.

OJA board’s secretary Talib bin Saif al Dhabbari read out the administra-tive report of the board, while rapporteur Khalfan bin Said al Hassani sub-mitted the financial report.

— ONA

MUSCAT: The Supreme Committee entrusted with tackling COVID-19 visited the National Centre for Emergency Management on Monday.

Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidy, Minister of Interior, and Committee Chairman, and the commit-tee members listened to a briefing on the role of the

National Committee for Emergency Management in dealing with the pandemic and the roles undertaken by the specialised sectors and entities in this respect particularly with regard to the complete lockdown of the governorates and the ban on movement enforced by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) in cooperation with

the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF).

It is worth noting that a number of sectors have been activated by the National Committee for Emergency Management namely: Medical Response and Public Health Sector, Relief and Sheltering Sector and Media and Public Awareness Sector. This is in

addition to the activation of all the emergency manage-ment sub-committees in the governorates which coordi-nate efforts of the relevant authorities and enhance cooperation between them as well as undertake all that might achieve integration among various government and military bodies and the private sector. — ONA

oman

Law experts point out that photographing

checkpoints, movement of miLitary and security

vehicLes and their activities can be

treated vioLations of Lockdown measures

S A M U E L K U T T Y

OJA hOlds generAl Assembly meeting

supreme Committee members visit emergency centre

taking photos or videos of security forces illegal

4 tuesday july 28, 2020 www.omanobserver.om

oman

MUSCAT: Tourism experts predict a bright future for the tourism and hospitality industry in the Sultanate despite the impact from COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Angelo Battaglia, Head of Tourism and Management Department, Oman Tourism College (OTC), is of the view that the most relevant tour-ism-economic assets and the cultural strengths will help the Sultanate to move towards a sustainable tour-ism future after the present crisis.

He told Observer that he hopes the authorities involved are designing and implementing the right strat-egy for the industry through both the resilient dimension of its environments and com-munities and the capacity to face the current challenges with a green-oriented and durable approach.

“This kind of prospective emphasises the historic and cultural which identify the Sultanate as an international tourism hub, considered by UNESCO as a model in the region for its heritage,” he says.

He further says that the

tourism sector in Oman is struggling as any other coun-try where tourism generates revenue such as Italy, Spain, and France.

However, Dr Battaglia is sure the Sultanate will recov-er from the present crisis adopting and planning dura-ble and effective tools for developing a new tourism scenario.

“Tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors will recuper-ate slowly next season, tak-ing in consideration a more sustainable approach for its territories and its natural resources,” he adds.

Dr Manuela Gutberlet, PR Manager and independent tourism researcher at GUtech, hopes that govern-ments will include more social and environmental aspects towards the quality life of the community in tour-ism policies, strategies, plan-ning and tourism operations.

As Research Associate, University of Johannesburg, School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, Dr Gutberlet who has been stud-ying the impacts of mass cruise tourism in Oman hopes that this ‘spirit of soli-darity’ that we have been experiencing throughout the

past months, can be taken over within more responsi-ble ways of traveling to other places.

Abdulaziz Rashid al Hasani, former Vice-Chairman of OCCI tourism committee, calls for a change in tourism strategy by tapping the local market. This may not be fea-sible at the moment as the local market is now weak and unstable due to repeated lockdowns.

He however foresees a bright future for desert camps and beach chalets. “Though there are no exist-ing reservations from tour-ists for the season begin-ning from September we are hopeful at least by January things can improve,” he says.

Abdulaziz suggests change-over to mobile camping from desert to the beaches as local tourists prefer cooler areas. Requests have been made to the tourism ministry towards its approval, he says.

Dr Angelo also is of the firm view that the market will be vibrant by challenging three main categories of tourists’ namely regional tourists from Middle East and inter-national tourists from select-ed European and Asian mar-kets.

Liju Cherian

Abdulaziz Al Hasani

Post CoVID-19, tourism may turn greener

Dr Manuela Gutberlet

Dr Angelo Battaglia

www.omanobserver.om TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 5

OMANEnsure food safety, urges MRMWRMUSCAT: The Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR) has urged all involved in the handling of food items to ensure consumer safety and in production, packaging and distribution in view of the COVID-19 spread.

Accordingly, all edible stuff in supply inside the country should follow health regulations and meet standards to ensure that the foodstuffs reaching the consumer are healthy and safe, according to a spokesperson at the MRMWR.

“We are keen on enhancing our role in monitoring the various food establishments to ensure that the institutions apply the requirements for physical spacing and provide markers that determine the distances for spacing on the

floors because of the safety and security of consumers during the pandemic,” said a senior official at the ministry.

The MRMWR has initiated a campaign towards achieving food safety to highlight how to properly handle food and precautionary efforts to be taken to safeguard both the citizens and residents of Oman.

Named ‘Ahad’, a programme initiated by the Centre for Food Safety and Quality at the MRMWR, the initiative aims to enhance the awareness of food handlers on how to properly handle food in all stages, and underline the precautionary measures taken among consumers for food.

“The campaign, while monitoring the food outlets

for safety and security, also involves field visits to food establishments to prevent disease outbreaks under the pandemic, and highlight the role of the Centre of Food Safety and Quality in controlling the exported and imported food at the border outlets,” he said.

K A B E E R Y O U S U F

We are keen on enhancing our role in monitoring the various food establishments to ensure that they apply the requirements for physical spacing

OFFICIAL

6 TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 www.omanobserver.om

OMAN

EXTENDED SCREEN TIME CAN AFFECT MENTAL WELL-BEING

MUSCAT: The 2nd Scientific Symposium on Camel Sciences 2020 was held on Monday under the auspices of Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The virtual symposium, conducted at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, targeted camel breeders and owners. It included 14 working papers by specialists from inside and outside the Sultanate on themes such as camel health and diseases, veterinary products and their uses, camel nutrition, breeds and genes.

The symposium aimed to attract a number of scientists and specialists to address camel issues to raise interest in them, to

promote the contributions of scientists in the development of the camel sector, to contribute to the dissemination of scientific

research and the establishment of rules and foundations in the field of education and training in the sector.

It also aimed at highlighting health aspects and camel care to promote cooperation and coordination between various bodies and institutions interested in camel research.

The symposium was divided into two sessions. The morning session was devoted to camel owners and breeders and it was in Arabic language. The evening session was meant for specialists. — ONA

SALALAH: The COVID-19 has exposed everyone to an entirely new situation. People have to be compulsorily at home but active at the same time to meet their job requirements, studies, and even entertainment. Their dependence on virtual platforms multiplied in comparison to the pre-corona days.

In the whole process time spent on screens multiplied several times, which according to human psychologists may have far-reaching consequences.

“The adaptability to work solely through screens was not that tough owing to the habitual use of screens in pre-COVID times, but adjusting to the loss of non-paranoid mental states has been profoundly tough for the inhabitants of this world,” said Dr Sidra Afzal, an expert in clinical psychology.

In an interview with the Observer, Dr Sidra tried to explain screen addition and said, “We are not addicted to screens actually; we are addicted to quick fixes in our lives. Trying to escape

from our negative thoughts and emotions in self-reflective moments (currently get-at-able), we end up in the vicious cycle of mindless scrolling on social networking sites, causing heightened distress, frustration, and exhaustion.”

So people should keep it clear that if too much of screen time was bad for mental and physical health pre-corona time, it is worse still post-corona. “Due to our over-dependence, it didn’t get corrected.”

There has of course been a shift. Earlier children were being scolded for using too

many electronic gadgets especially those with screens. But due to prevalence classes, they are being encouraged and in many cases, they are taking advantage of it also.

“Having said that, let’s don’t undermine the fact that screens are making us and our kids learn new things with every passing day, especially during these strange times. Pupils, who encountered abrupt school closure without further plans, have higher chances of lagging in scholastic capacities from those who continued learning through

online means. This assumption is based on the established meta-analytic research findings which showed the high associations between a circumspect selection of online activities with language acquisition skills and random mindless content with diminished language skills in children,” said Dr Sidra.

“We have to make several choices every day; ranging from picking food from menu cards to selecting a surgeon for our child’s surgery. The results matter how mindfully those choices are made. Similar is the case with screens, we choose ‘what’ to view and ‘how much’ to view. Scrolling the social networking sites mindlessly, playing the violent games, etc is profoundly harmful to physical and psychological well-being and can bring irreversible damages,” she said.

It is high time, according to her, for introspection and mending our prolonged, callous screenings of futile content in place of dedicated access to free prolific learning resources from the world-class libraries and universities.

K A U S H A L E N D R A S I N G H

Scientific symposium throws light on camel care

www.omanobserver.om tuesday july 28, 2020 7

LONDON: Prime Minister Boris Johnson used his own struggle with weight on Monday to urge the British to get fitter and tackle wide-spread obesity that could heighten coronavirus risks.

New government meas-ures to help people shed weight include banning TV and online adverts for junk food before 9.00 pm, ending “buy one get one free” deals on such foods, and flagging calories on menus of large restaurants plus possibly on alcohol.

Johnson, 56, who has lost more than a stone (6 kg) since a life-threatening brush with COVID-19, was responding to research showing that those who are obese or overweight are at increased risk of death or severe illness from the dis-ease.

The prime minister has a

reputation as a bon viveur, who in the past has spoken of enjoying an expensive bottle of red wine and late-night binges on chorizo and cheese. But he has also championed cycling to work and introduced so-called “Boris bikes” in London for public use when mayor of the capital.

Last month, Johnson said British people were fatter

than most European coun-terparts apart from Malta and his government target-ed “tackling the obesity time bomb”.

“I’ve always wanted to lose weight for ages and ages and like many people I strug-gle with my weight, I go up and down. But since I recov-ered from coronavirus I have been steadily building up my fitness,” he said in a

Twitter video on Monday.With more than 60 per

cent of adults in Britain con-sidered overweight or obese, according to Public Health England, a “Better Health” campaign will be introduced with weight management services expanded in the National Health Service.

The opposition Labour Party said it had heard “big promises” from the ruling Conservatives before and criticised them for past health service cuts.

“An effective obesity strat-egy needs action, not con-sultation,” said Labour’s health and social care poli-cy chief Alex Norris. “The Tories (Conservatives) have pared public health to the bone and people are paying the price for ten years of this complacency.”

— Reuters

worldCiting his own weight battle, PM urges Britain to get fit

AstraZeneca bets up to $6 billion on new Daiichi cancer drug

LONDON: Britain’s AstraZeneca will pay up to $6 billion to Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo under the drugmakers’ second multi-billion dollar oncology collaboration to develop and mar-ket a niche type of targeted cancer treatment. London-listed AstraZeneca said on Monday it would pay $1 billion upfront to Daiichi in staggered payments for an experimental drug called DS-1062, which belongs to a prom-ising class of therapies called anti-body drug conjugates (ADC). Further payments would depend on regula-tory and sales milestones being achieved. The deal will not affect its 2020 earnings forecast, the British company said. AstraZeneca has been bolstering its portfolio of can-cer therapies, particularly ADCs, a major area of focus for the compa-ny as it also ploughs on with its coronavirus vaccine candidate.

China seizes US consulate premises

in Chengdu

CHENGDU: China took over the premises of the US consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu on Monday, after ordering the facility to be vacated in retaliation for China’s ouster last week from its consulate in Houston, Texas. The seizure capped a dramatic escalation in tensions between the world’s two biggest econo-mies that began when employees at China’s Houston consulate were seen burning documents in a courtyard last Tuesday, hours before Beijing announced that it had been ordered to leave the facility. The US consulate in Chengdu, in Sichuan province, was closed as of 10 am on Monday, and Chinese authorities had entered the building from the front door, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a state-ment.

2 Baghdad protesters dead after clashes

with police

BAGHDAD: Two demonstrators died in Baghdad early on Monday after being shot with tear gas canisters in confrontations with security forces, medics said, the first victims of protest-related violence under Iraq’s new pre-mier. The deaths threaten to reignite a country-wide protest movement that erupted in October over government graft and incompetence but had died down in recent months. On Sunday, demonstrators staged angry ral-lies over power outages in the capital and several southern cit-ies, where temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius have over-whelmed electricity generators. In Baghdad, dozens gathered at the protest hub of Tahrir Square, clashing with police and other security forces stationed there. — Agencies

IN BRIEF

WORLD8 TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 www.omanobserver.om

Second wave of virus in Asia prompts fresh lockdownsSYDNEY: Countries around Asia are confronting a sec-ond wave of coronavirus infections and are clamping down again to try to contain the disease, with Australia recording a record daily rise in cases and Vietnam lock-ing down the city of Danang.

Mainland China is battling the most aggressive return of COVID-19 in months, con-firming 57 new locally trans-mitted cases on Sunday, the highest level since early March, driven by fresh infec-tions in the far western region of Xinjiang.

In the northeast, Liaoning province reported a fifth straight day of new infec-tions and Jilin province reported two new cases, its first since late May.

Hong Kong is expected to announce further restric-tions on Monday including a ban on restaurant dining and mandated face masks outdoors, local media reported. The measures, which are expected to take effect from Wednesday, would be the first time the city has completely banned

dining in restaurants.Australian authorities

warned a six-week lockdown in parts of the southeastern Victoria state may last long-er after the country regis-tered its highest daily increase in infections.

Most of Australia is effec-tively virus-free but flare-ups in the two most popu-

lous southeastern states have authorities scrambling to prevent a wider national outbreak.

“The tragedy of COVID-19 is that we know, with the number of new infections that we have seen today, that there will be many fur-ther deaths in the days ahead,” Australia’s Deputy

Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd told reporters.

In Japan, the government said it would urge business leaders to ramp up anti-virus measures such as staggered shifts, and aimed to see rates of telecommut-ing achieved during an ear-lier state of emergency.

— AFP

We need to build back trust,says SpainMADRID: Spain is working on regain-ing confidence and convincing other countries that its coronavirus out-break is under control, a minister said on Monday after Britain imposed a quarantine, threatening a tourist season already hanging on by a thread. “We know that we are sailing through waters whose maps and characteristics are unknown to us, what we have to do is to regain that confidence and that element of security that is essential for the tourist activity”, Agriculture Minister Luis Planas told Antena 3 TV sta-tion. Britain on Saturday shocked Madrid, and UK travellers, with an unexpected 14-day quarantine on travellers coming from Spain.

DUTERTE SAYS PREVENTED 1.3-3.5M CORONAVIRUS CASESMANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said his government’s intervention policy after the country’s first domestic transmissions of the coronavirus in March prevented as many as 1.3 million to 3.5 million infections. Speaking during his annual address to the nation, Duterte said the coun-try’s lockdown, which was one of the world’s longest and strictest, had kept infections in check but acknowl-edged the government was slow in getting its COVID-19 testing pro-gramme moving. “To me, even if the numbers were much lower, it would still be and would have been worth the sacrifice we made. Life first before everything,” he said, adding “we initially encountered difficulties ramping up our testing capacity.”

South Korea says no link to virus patients in North caseSEOUL: South Korean health authorities on Monday said they have no evidence that an alleged defector who supposedly returned to North Korea and sparked a pre-emptive lockdown in a border town was infected with the novel corona-virus, news agency Yonhap report-ed. North Korean state media said on Sunday an individual who had illegally crossed the border from South Korea was suspected of hav-ing COVID-19, in what would be the first virus case officially confirmed by Pyongyang.

But a South Korean official said health authorities did not find any link between the person and any confirmed virus cases. — Agencies

IN BRIEF

Accept the disruption and plan for anew tomorrow

A few years ago I had gone to a neigh-bouring country to attend a confer-

ence on Internet of Things. The whole focus was on how Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence would cause disruptions and countries that do not catch up could be left behind.

Fast forward to 2020 – for-get AI and IoT here is an invisible enemy, a virus that went unnoticed has caused havoc to countries world-wide and health experts continue to search for answers to define it and find an appropriate treatment.

From finance to business changes were seen with online banking and e com-merce, GPS and so on. Looking back it seems like it was a preparation for us to handle the worldwide pan-demic crisis. While many professionals were caught holidaying or travelling when the pandemic went to another level with airports closing down, the best part was most people were able to continue to work remote-ly once again thanks to the Internet.

If technology thought it would do the honour of tak-ing us through the disrup-tion it was mistaken, because nature with one wave managed to disrupt but it was technology that led us through the crisis control. If disruptive tech-nology was considered innovative the current sta-tus of the world made entre-preneurs run towards 3D

printing and other innova-tions to mass produce and the world continues to seek for new services not to for-get vaccines.

So what could have taken a while and created a divide if IoT was to have taken its own pace, the pandemic has created an equality where everyone is going through the same challenge simul-taneously and whatever that will be achieved will be shared.

When people say life will not be the same post pan-demic, it could also mean the fact that the role of tech-nology which we have adapted to will not be reversed.

If anything that will need to be reversed and unlearnt, it would be the stress level and the psychological impact of the pandemic as well as losing loved ones because of it. Our thought process would need to be refocused; we need to learn to be positive while we learn to practice measures to contain COVID-19. Fear has to be overcome.

Even the basic factors that would have created happi-ness such as holidays are countered with questions such as, ‘What will we do?’

It is time to accept the challenge and not look back at how life used to be? We are going through a disrup-tion and let us also accept everything happens for the best. If so, let us take time to prepare for a new tomor-row with a positive mind set.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was shown sur-rounded by pistol-toting

generals while in the South masked veterans were socially distanced as the two sides on Monday sepa-rately marked the armi-stice that ended Korean War hostilities.

The contrasting events marked 67 years since the ceasefire that left the penin-sula divided and millions of families split by the Demilitarised Zone.

In the North’s capital, Kim handed out commemora-tive pistols to dozens of gen-erals and senior officers, who pledged their loyalty to him, state media reported.

The North reported its first suspected case of novel coronavirus infection at the weekend — after insisting for months it had kept itself free of the dis-ease that has swept the world — but pictures showed the generals all gathered

close together for a group photo, none of them wear-ing masks.

In Seoul, scores of veter-ans — in facial coverings and socially distanced seats — attended a ceremony paying tribute to their efforts, themed “Days of Glory”.

On screen, dramatic reconstructions of the war were interspersed with interviews with foreign vet-erans, and messages of support from current lead-ers of the countries that sent troops to support the South, among them US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

Millions of people were killed during the three-year conflict, which began when the Communist North invaded the US-backed South as leader Kim Il Sung — grandfather of the incum-bent — sought to reunify by force the peninsula Moscow and Washington had divid-ed at the end of World War II. — AFP

Guns and Glory: Two Koreasmark armistice

ANALYSIS

Lakshmi Kothanethlakshmiobserver@gmail.com

www.omanobserver.om TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 9

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this page are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the opinion of the Observer.

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BUSINESS10 TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 www.omanobserver.om

MUSCAT: CWith the roll-out of Value Added Tax (VAT) set to become a reality some-time next year, Omani busi-nesses are being urged to be suitably prepped for the implementation of this much-anticipated levy.

According to a key Muscat-based tax expert, a Royal Decree promulgating the VAT Law is likely to be issued as early as towards the end of the third quarter of this year.

Imran Mushtaq, Indirect Tax Director – PwC Middle East, cited a flurry of recent actions by Oman’s Tax Authority, as well as the Majlis Ash’shura and State Council, to stress the point that the regulatory frame-work underpinning the introduction of VAT is being rapidly put into place ahead of its planned implementa-tion next year.

“Post-Eid, we expect the VAT Law would have been approved by both (Majlis Ash’shura and State Council), and will be pro-gressing to His Majesty, and based on the current time-table, we could potentially see a Royal Decree imple-menting the VAT Law as early as September this year,” Mushtaq stated.

The expert made the comments during a webi-nar on Monday hosted by PwC Oman on the theme, ‘Tax & Legal Updates: COVID-19 Impact & Future Challenges’. He was joined by a team of panelists com-prising Darcy White, Tax Leader Oman, and Gaurav Kapoor, Tax Director – PwC Middle East.

The timing for VAT imple-

mentation “now looks criti-cal” given the decline in the macroeconomic situation in Oman over the past year, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, depressed oil prices and their overall impact on the country’s fis-cal deficit and external credit rating, said Mushtaq.

“Indeed, recent reports have indicated VAT may generate up to some $800 million per year for Oman, so the proposition is clearly very attractive,” he noted, adding that fellow GCC member states United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have seen signifi-cant revenue generation since they adopted VAT.

The Majlis Ash’shura, according to the tax execu-tive, had recently complet-ed its review of the draft

law with two main advisory comments. Firstly, it pro-posed the implementation of the levy only when the economy returns to normal growth of around three per cent.

Secondly, it urged the government to ensure that the new tax does not impose any additional bur-den on low-income house-holds. The draft law has since been referred to the State Council, which has 15 days to review it and submit its recommendations to His Majesty.

While a Royal Decree on VAT is imminent in the coming months, a go-live date for the implementation of the levy still remains a “burning question”, said Mushtaq. “Theoretically, January, April and July

2021 are all possible dates, but based on discussions with (the Tax Authority), a go-live target will be likely July 2021.”

This projection, he explained, is in line with the Tax Authority’s consistent assertion that it would want to give taxpayers at least six months to prepare for VAT after the issuance of the law. Another factor, he noted, concerns the state of readiness of the Authority itself in terms of developing the requisite IT infrastruc-ture, formulating VAT poli-cy, and recruiting and training the estimated 300 – 400 new staffers required to run the VAT department.

Nonetheless, Mushtaq urged businesses to make the most of the time availa-ble to prepare for VAT. “VAT preparation should be a priority post-Eid; don’t wait for the VAT law and regulations to be issued; start the planning – a lot of this can and should happen now!” he stressed.

OMANI FIRMS ADVISED TO GET GEARED FOR VAT

PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY: VAT implementation is an attractive proposition for the

Sultanate, with the potential to yield around $800 million in tax revenue.

C O N R A D P R A B H U

BUSINESSwww.omanobserver.om TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 11

MUSCAT: The Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) Oman has issued an execu-tive decision that seeks to reinforce the interests and legitimate rights of electric-ity consumers versus utili-ties licenced to supply elec-tricity and potable water in the Sultanate.

Executive Decision 4/2020 sets out, among other things, clearly defined guidelines for the handling and disposal of customer complaints, par-ticularly related to electric-ity consumers.

It recognises the right of customers to submit com-plaints against licenced companies relating to bill-ing disputes, supply break-down, or other grievances, particularly if the utility fails to address the com-plaint to the satisfaction of the customer.

Complaints cannot be considered closed by the utility unless a letter goes out to the customer outlin-ing steps taken to resolve and address the consum-

er’s specific grievance.Importantly, the new

order caps any outstanding amounts charged by a licenced company at 12 months of the customer’s monthly consumption aver-age if such outstandings were the result of faulty billing or meter readings.

The customer’s liability is limited to amounts owed

for the last 12 months from the date of the submission of the correct claim by the utility.

Additionally, the decision places strict conditions for disconnections stemming from non-payment of bills.

Utilities are urged to either avoid or put off dis-connections, and to consid-er asking the defaulting

customer to pay any out-standing amounts in monthly instalments taking into account their financial wherewithal.

The Executive Decision safeguarding the interests of consumers has been published in the Official Gazette of July 26, 2020. Eng Hilal al Ghaithi, Director General of the Customer Affairs Department, stated: “The issuance of these regula-tions highlights the role of the Authority in protecting and promoting the inter-ests of subscribers of the electricity sector in accord-ance with the tasks and responsibilities granted to it under the sector law.

The regulation aims mainly to improve the qual-ity of activities provided by licenced companies. This is in response to the develop-ments witnessed by the electricity sector since its restructuring in 2005 and to reflect the technical development in the sys-tems and procedures in the field of customer serv-ice.”

Oman’s power sector regulator strengthens consumer protections

MUSCAT: Omran Group, the tourism investment arm of the Omani govern-ment, recently released the second edition of its corporate seasonal publi-cation Panorama. The pub-lication features the para-mount role of Omran’s diverse assets and invest-ments in stimulating the growth of tourism across various governorates, as well as its efforts in sup-porting the socio-econom-ic development in the coun-try. The launch of the sec-ond issue also commemo-rates Omran’s 15-year anniversary.

Taking centrestage in

this issue’s cover is the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), the iconic landmark devel-oped by Omran Group in accordance with interna-tional standards. The cover

story outlines the signifi-cant contribution of OCEC in promoting business tourism and economic diversification that is pur-suant to the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the National Tourism Strategy.

The new summer edition of Panorama presents a number of features on Oman’s rich marine tour-ism experiences. The line-up of topics invites the readers to get closer to the various fascinating water experiences offered by ‘Marina Bandar Al Rowdha’, Oman Sail’s ‘See Oman’ centre and Atana Musandam’s Dive Centre.

These tailored features cover the fun-filled activi-ties and tours for the pas-sionate travelers who wish to explore Oman’s scenic landscapes, azure beach-es, and the remarkable underwater world.

Panorama sheds light on Omran Group’s latest hospi-tality assets that have recently made their debut on the Sultanate’s hotel scene; the W Muscat and JW Marriott Muscat in Madinat Al Irfan. The edition show-cases the inspiration behind W Muscat’s unique brand and reveal the luxurious hospitality offerings at JW Marriot Muscat.

Omran commemorates 15th anniversary with special publication

REGULATORY CURBS: The new decision caps any outstanding amounts charged

by a licenced company at 12 months of the customer’s monthly consumption average if such outstandings were the result of faulty billing or meter readings.

C O N R A D P R A B H U

BUSINESS12 TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 www.omanobserver.om

MUSCAT: Oman’s exports declined 7.7 per cent in value terms to RO 3.53 billion during the first three months of this year (January – March), down from RO3.82 billion for the same period of 2019, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Oil and gas exports recorded a fall of 5.5 per cent to reach RO 2.34 billion this year, largely on account of a drop in oil prices. While RO 1.72 billion came from oil exports, liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports accounted for RO 415.1 million.

Non-oil exports also fell 27.6 per cent to reach RO 722.2 million until the end of March 2020, from RO997.4 million for the same peri-od of 2019. Mineral products accounted for RO 68.8 million in export revenue while chemicals and base metals and articles con-tributed RO123.1 million and RO224.4 million, respectively.

In addition, the value of total re-exports rose 33 per cent to RO 463.4 million this year, against RO 348.5 million during the same period last year.

Total imports from various trad-ing partners dropped 11.1 per cent to RO 1.99 billion this year. Major import items included live animals and its products, prepared food-stuff, mineral products, chemical products, base metals and arti-cles, electrical machinery and mechanical equipment, and trans-port equipment.

The Sultanate imported live ani-mals and processed products worth RO130.6 million this year, against RO 133.1 million for the same period of last year. In addi-tion, the Sultanate’s import of pre-pared foodstuff and beverages fell 8.8 per cent to RO 127.1 million

from RO 139.4 million last year.Imports of mineral products

and electrical machinery and mechanical equipment fell by 13.7 per cent each, respectively. Meanwhile, those of chemical products and transport equip-ment also fell by 2.5 per cent and 24.6 per cent, respectively.

According to the NCSI report, the total value of merchandise imports through sea outlets fell by 15.8 per cent to RO 1,033.8 million this year compared to RO 1,227.3 million during the same period of 2019.

The value of merchandise imports arriving via land outlets rose by 3.1 per cent, recording RO694.9 million until the end of March 2020. Total value of mer-chandise imports arriving via air outlets fell by 22.2 per cent to reach RO 270.8 million recorded until the end of March 2020.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) retained its posi-tion as the leading destination of the Sultanate’s non-oil exports until the end of March 2020. The Sultanate’s non-oil exports to UAE rose 14 per cent to touch RO 180.1 million this year. Saudi Arabia was the second largest importer of Omani non-oil products, fol-lowed by Qatar, United States and India.

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil imports from the Sultanate fell by 47.9 per cent to RO 112.8 million while Qatar imported Omani products valued at RO 73.9 million. Meanwhile, India’s imports from Oman fell 3.6 per cent to RO 57.1 million while United States import-ed goods worth RO 64.1 million from Oman. Imports from the UAE fell 10.8 per cent RO 856.3 million during the Jan – March period this year. — ONA

7.7 per cent fall in imports during Jan — March 2020

MUSCAT: Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) will be equipped with a microgrid designed to improve power supply relia-bility and lower costs by combining elec-tricity from solar, wind and battery stor-age. The microgrid at SQU is the first deployment of the technology for Siemens in the Middle East, and is the company’s first contri-bution in a new cooper-ation agree-ment with the universi-ty.

Siemens will revamp the existing microgrid setup in the Smart Grid and Protection Lab at the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering by adding smart grid fea-tures to it. This means that the grid – connecting renewable energy sources with battery capacity — will have intelli-gent control algorithms optimising power production, storage and consumption in real-time. The project is the third phase of developing the Smart Grid and Protection Lab and is financed by Siemens and The Research Council. With Siemens smart grid features, students will be able to simulate different situa-tions and monitor the grid behavior through a control panel.

Microgrids are transforming tradition-al electric supply systems. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind, cou-pled with more stable and intuitive grid automation and control solutions, are giv-ing rise to localised grids that can oper-ate autonomously. This allows campuses, industries, or remote areas to operate their own grids, and can also accelerate the emergence of prosumers — or con-sumers who generate a surplus of energy and sell it in the microgrid or to the main grid, if it’s connected.

Unique microgrid for Sultan Qaboos University

The microgrid at SQU is the first deployment of the technology for Siemens in the Middle East, and is the company’s first contribution in a new cooperation agreement with the university.

MUSCAT: The ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales) has revised its base-line forecast for global Gross Domestic Product in its latest economic update, predicting an 11 to 12 per cent peak-to-trough decline in some GCC econ-omies, due to the ramifica-tions of the COVID-19 pan-demic.

The chartered account-ancy body held a webinar last week, sharing its insights on the global and regional economic outlook, with a particular focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) during and after the COVID-19 out-break.

The session was led by Scott Livermore, ICAEW Economic Advisor and Chief Economist at Oxford Economics, who explained the economic slump in the first half of 2020 could potentially be twice as large as the 2008 Global Financial Crisis recession. Nonetheless, the nature of the shock points to a sharp-er rebound and V-shaped recovery as lockdown restrictions unwind. However, even though the

global economy is recov-ering and will see periods of record growth over the next 18 months, it is unlike-ly to return to pre-crisis levels until the end of 2021 or early 2022.

According to ICAEW, the GCC markets will recover at a slower pace than other markets around the world, largely because of the region’s dependence on hospitality and tourism, and the impact of low oil production. A flight of expats from the Gulf coun-tries, combined with limit-ed policy support, in the

form of smaller fiscal stim-ulus packages than else-where in the world, also risk weighing on the recov-ery.

The outlook for travel and tourism will be key for the GCC’s recovery. According to ICAEW, the region’s hospitality and tourism sector, which rep-resents around 15 per cent of its non-oil economy, is not expected to recover until 2023/2024, despite a boost from Expo 2021 in the UAE, due to a slow recovery of mid-haul and long-haul travel.

GCC governments’ fiscal support has also been smaller and narrower than in the Americas, Europe, or Asia. Constrained by low oil pric-es, the low spending response by GCC govern-ments could result in fur-ther GDP losses over the medium term. The GCC governments have an important role in support-ing the recovery across the region.

Michael Armstrong, FCA and ICAEW Regional Director for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), said: “2020 has been an exceptionally chal-lenging year for global and regional economies, and there is still a great deal of uncertainty. Therefore, policymakers in the region must now, more than ever, proactively aim to ‘build back better’ and in a more resilient way, especially given the continued uncer-tainty in the global oil mar-ket. While increasing non-oil revenues is a challeng-ing task in these times, innovation will be vital to the region’s economic recovery. Any longer-term growth prospects will depend on higher labour force participation and productivity.”

BUSINESS REPORTER

HONGKONG: Gold hit a record high on Monday as investors rushed into the safe-haven on concerns about China-US tensions, a spike in virus infections around the world and a lack of progress on a new stimu-lus bill in Washington.

After months of healthy rallies across equity mar-kets — fuelled by trillions of dollars in government and central bank support — traders are beginning to step back as they weigh the long-term economic impact of the coronavirus.

With vast monetary eas-ing measures put in place by the Federal Reserve pushing the dollar lower

against most other curren-cies, Gold is flying, with the spot price hitting an all-time high of $1,944.71, well above its previous record of $1,921.18 seen in 2011. It later pulled back slightly.

Eyes are on the Fed’s next policy meeting this week, with some predicting fur-ther measures to boost the economy — possibly nega-tive interest rates — that could put more pressure on the dollar and send bul-lion above $2,000.

There are also concerns that a worse-than-forecast reading on second-quarter US gross domestic product could spark another dollar sell-off. — AFP

www.omanobserver.om TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 13

BUSINESSStrong policy response crucial for GCC post-COVID-19 economic recovery

STIFF IMPACTS: GCC markets will recover at a slower pace than other markets around the world, largely because of the region’s dependence on hospitality and tourism, and the impact of low oil production.

Gold hits record high on haven demand

Goldsmiths arrange products in a gold and jewellery store in Istanbul, Turkey. — Reuters

SHANGHAI: Huawei Technologies’ founder Ren Zhengfei’s global ambitions are marked in bricks and mortar at a new company campus in southern China, where the buildings are replicas from European cities.

Zhang Yiming, founder of ByteDance, the opera-tor of short video app TikTok, has plastered his Beijing headquarters with posters including a cover of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s book “How Google Works”, and has long said he will build a global firm that can com-pete with US tech giants.

But the two companies which best exemplify China’s ambitions to chal-lenge US tech dominance are now stymied by strains in relations between China and coun-tries including the United States, India, Australia and Britain.

Chinese companies with

world-beating technology — including drone-maker DJI, artificial intelligence firms Megvii, SenseTime and iFlytek , surveillance camera vendor Hikvision and e-commerce con-glomerate Alibaba Group — are also among those losing access to markets.

Smaller companies are being forced to re-think too.

“What we are experienc-ing now is unprecedent-ed,” said a Chinese start-up founder who has oper-ations in the United States and India but asked not to be identified as he is now considering walking away.

“My entrepreneurial spirit has been dampened due to all this, let alone global ambitions.”

It’s a big shift from even a year ago, when the US-led trade war with China and security con-cerns about Huawei were having little impact on most Chinese tech cham-pions.

SenseTime and Megvii, backed by US investors, were eyeing big IPOs. ByteDance’s TikTok unit was enjoying unfettered global growth. Alibaba was touting the global prospects for its cloud business, and DJI was

consolidating domination of the drone business.

US President Donald Trump has ratcheted up anti-China rhetoric as he seeks re-election and Chinese President Xi Jinping has taken a tough line. Tensions have also risen between Beijing and other countries over new security laws passed for Hong Kong, and a border skirmish with Indian troops led to an India gov-ernment ban on 59 Chinese apps.

Now China’s top tech players are having con-tracts cancelled, products banned and investments blocked, with more restrictions on the hori-zon.

ByteDance could be forced to sell TikTok as Washington considers following India in banning the short video app, a glo-bal product that analysts say is worth at least $20 billion. — Reuters

14 TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 www.omanobserver.om

BUSINESS

Global prospects dim for China’s tech champions as great powers clash

An employee using a smartphone walks past a signage for the 5G Park at the Huawei Technologies Co headquarters in Shenzhen. — AFP

THE TWO COMPANIES WHICH BEST EXEMPLIFY CHINA’S AMBITIONS TO CHALLENGE US TECH

DOMINANCE ARE NOW STYMIED BY STRAINS IN RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND COUNTRIES

INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, INDIA,AUSTRALIA AND BRITAIN.

www.omanobserver.om tuesday july 28, 2020 15

SPORTS

It has been a long time. I’m really sad my wife and kids aren’t here to celebrate this with me. I can’t wait to see them. Babe, I love you.

Michael ThoMpson, US

BLAINE, Minnesota: American Michael Thompson won the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota on Sunday by two strokes to claim his second career PGA Tour victory and his first in seven years.

The 35-year-old was solid throughout the tour-nament and didn’t buckle under pressure, sinking a 12-foot putt on the par-five 18th to seal the win under sunny skies at TPC Twin Cities.

“It has been a long time,” an emotional Thompson said after his round of four-under 67.

“I’m really sad my wife and kids aren’t here to

celebrate this with me. I can’t wait to see them. Babe, I love you,” he said.

Thompson, who was tied for the lead coming into Sunday’s final round, produced his best shot on the par-four 16th, where his long shot from the greenside bunker landed a couple feet from the hole.

He made the birdie putt to retake the lead and never looked back, finish-ing 19-under 265 for the tournament, which was played without fans in attendance to limit the spread of the novel coro-navirus.

Fellow American Adam

Long finished second after carding 17-under 267 for the tournament while nine players tied for third at 16-under including Tony Finau, Max Homa and Richy Werenski.

With the win, Thompson, who came into the tour-nament ranked 218 in the world, will now be eligible to compete at next month’s PGA Championship in San Francisco.

Thompson’s only other victory came at the Honda Classic in 2013. He was a runner up at the 2012 US Open.

Next up for Thompson

is the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational in Memphis starting on Thursday and then the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco the following week.

“That’s what makes this game so unbelievable is that we have to play for our job every year,” he said.

“To know that I have security for two more years and to get into all those tournaments... it’s just a huge bonus. I’ll have to get my mind right for sweating next week, but oh man, it’s just so excit-ing.” — Reuters

ThOmPSOn wins 3M Open tO

claiM secOnd pGa tOur victOry

16 tuesday july 28, 2020 www.omanobserver.om

SPORTS

NAIROBI: Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot, the 1,500 metres world champion, is hoping to return to competitive running next month after a hiatus caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Cheruiyot, a three-time Diamond League winner, has targeted the August 14 Monaco race of the same series as his return date. He plans to run in at least three more races before the end of the year.

“My focus is to be there, to compete to run at least my personal best,” he said.

The coronavirus outbreak, which has infected millions and killed hundreds of thousands of people around the world, led to the shutting down or postpone-ment of sporting events, including the Tokyo Olympic Games, to curb its spread.

It also disrupted Cheruiyot’s 2020 plans, which included preparing for the Olympics in Tokyo.

He and his team-mates were forced to interrupt their camp at Rongai Athletics Club, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, for three months. They have just resumed training, said Bernard Ouma, Cheruiyot’s coach.

“We are... trying to see if any of the pro-visionally provided Diamond League races will take place,” Ouma said.

There are five such race events which are uncertain to take place due to the coronavirus crisis, the coach said, add-ing that athletes were trying to adapt.

“The year 2020 is more of survival,” he added.

Yet there is a silver lining in all the gloom: injured athletes have time to be nursed back to health without the pres-sure of worrying that they are missing out.

Cheruiyot, who had been nursing an unspecified injury in February, said the pause has allowed him to recuperate and get fit. He is yearning to get back into action.

“I miss racing, always connecting with friends abroad, running together, hav-ing fun outside,” he said. — Reuters

Cheruiyot ready to hunt for glory on the track again

Cheruiyot, a three-time DiamonD League winner, has targeteD the august 14 monaCo raCe of the same

series as his return Date. he pLans to run in at Least three more raCes before the enD of the year.

www.omanobserver.om TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 17

SPORTS

BAMUKHALEF APPOINTED AS OTTA CHAIRMANMUSCAT: Abdullah Mohammed BaMukhalef was selected as the chairman of Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA) for the term 2020–2024.

The newly set up OTTA board members have been selected during the constituent Annual General Meeting for the association. The board members list of the OTTA include the following members: Sajjad Mohammed al Lawati as the vice chairman, Adil al Balushi as the general secretary while Mohammed al Oufi as board treasurer. Mohammed al Jassai, Masoud al Shaqsi and Maryam al Alawi were selected as board members.

The AGM was held on June 17 in the presence of eight clubs which requested the formation of the association based on the rules and regulations of the Ministry of Sports Affairs. The participating clubs at the constituent AGM agreed on the efforts taken by the OTTA earlier and agreed on upgrading the status level to association to continue in developing the sports and organising high-class

tournaments. The Ministry of Sports

Affairs decision came in line with the OTTA gearing up for the top world event represented by the ITTF World Veteran Championship in 2023. The Sultanate has been successful in hosting many regional and international mega table tennis events in the past few years. Moreover, BaMukhalef and his team managed to register different accomplishments during the last period including setting up ten junior centres at different clubs and sports complexes.

Besides the Oman national team’s participation at top ITTF table tennis events and conducting a series of workshops and seminars for coaches and referees with 26 umpires holding the international badge.

The OTTA chief appreciated the step taken by the ministry. “ I would like to congratulate everyone in the table tennis family in the Sultanate including our paddlers. Definitely, this step means a lot for us and it is in full compliance with our strategies and plans to boost the sports at

different levels and broader horizons. The formation of the association is a way forward to strengthen in spreading the sports in the country with more efforts. Moreover, it will support the association to host top ITTF events in the near future and support the income of the country through hosting the top table tennis events. ” he added.

OTTA will be the reference of table tennis in the Sultanate and will set all the organised policies and plans that support the development of the sports domestically. It is expected that the OTTA will apply for a membership at the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) as a next step. OTTA had already obtained a membership at the Arab, Asian and International Table Tennis Federation.

A D I L A L B A L U S H I

SPORTS18 TUESDAY, JULY 28 2020 www.omanobserver.om

EARLY ARSENAL ONSLAUGHT ENDS WATFORD’S HOPES

A N D Y J A L I L

LONDON: Three Arsenal goals in just over half-an-hour at the start of the match were enough to send Watford crashing out of the Premier League for next season. Despite a desperate fight back for survival, the Hornets’ could only find the net twice in response as Arsenal won 3-2.

Their captain Troy Deeney said: “If that is my last game, I’m happy I went out on my shield. It is disappointing, it is heart-breaking for the people who work behind the scenes.”

He added: “I will take the stick in regards to what comes, and so should the other boys. You cannot say we got it right because ultimately, we have failed. Watford’s caretaker-manager, Hayden Mullens, who took charge after Nigel Pearson was sacked with just two league games remaining said: “We knew that we had two tough games and there was a possibility we would get beat. We were in good flow up to lockdown and had the long break. It was one of the main factors and was quite disruptive for us. But we looked like the side that would win it after we scored our second goal.”

The critical moment came within 40 seconds of the start. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang curled a ball inside the Hornet’s penalty area where their defender Craig Dawson slammed his shoulder into Alexandre Lacazette. After a long VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot and Aubameyang sent Ben Foster the wrong way for his 26th goal of the season.

Watford applied pressure with much of the play in the Gunners’ half but in the 24th minute in a counter attack, Nicolas Pepe and Aubameyang combined to set up Kieran Tierney for a shot which beat Foster with a double deflection off Will Hughes and Christian Kabasele. Nine minutes later, the Hornets were undone again. Kabasele allowed Tierney’s throw to bounce over his head for Aubameyang to score with an acrobatic overhead kick from inside the six-yard box.

Just when it seemed Watford were out of the game, they got a lifeline with David Luiz giving away a penalty with a clumsy challenge on Danny Welbeck and Deeley reduced the arrears. Ten minutes into the second, Watford were suddenly back in the game with their second goal. Welbeck met the cross from Ismaila Sarr on the six-yard line and darted in to prod home. Thereafter, the Gunners stood firm against Watford’s increasing attack, desperate to keep themselves in the leagues’ top flight.

Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta said: “There were things I didn’t like. They weren’t up to standard. The necessity for Watford (looking to survive) was different to us. It was crazy. The moment we went 2-0 up you could sense their front players were gambling.” Adding: “If you didn’t finish an action, every time the counter was open and it allowed too many balls in the box, and this was where they were really dangerous.”

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Writing on the wall: Congolese murals counter COVID-19 denial

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P22

Helping Oman’s budding

entrepreneurs navigate the tricky world of businessEmmee Haun dreamed of being a veterinarian, but the grown

up Haun ended up with an MBA in Arabic and Commerce. From a Fulbright scholarship to creating an impressive

resume in business, she is now Oman-based with “clear focus on making a difference, by opening doors for the youthful

Omani entrepreneurial talent”... page 20

www.omanobserver.om TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 20

FEATURES

Growing up in the state of Indiana, in the Mid-West region of the United States where its residents are

known as ‘Hoosiers,’ a young farm girl, Emmee Haun, dreamed of being a veterinarian, but the grown up Haun confessed recently that she was even then, “Way too focused on business!”

Educated at the University of Indianapolis, and with an MBA in Arabic and Commerce from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, Haun was a former Fulbright Scholar to Oman who returned in 2004 as part of the negotiating team on the Oman/United States Free Trade Agreement, a key partnership agreement between the two nations established to generate export opportunities for American manu-facturers and service providers, and to develop Oman’s trade and investment needs.

Now married to James, with two children Owen and Aleya born in the Sultanate, she says, “We stay in Oman due to the high quality of work/life balance, and it’s one of the safest, most beautiful places on earth.” She is acclaimed as a mentor, one entrepreneur writing, “I would highly recommend her to any individual or company want-ing to establish themselves com-mercially in Oman or the wider region.” While an associate praised her business awareness and acu-men writing, “Emmee deserves a shout-out, given her constant sup-port of local entrepreneurs and her vision to see Oman’s business ecosystem thrive.”

Haun had created a significant impression during the FTA negoti-ations and joined the Information Technology Authority as a Specialist Consultant promoting bilateral trade and investment in many diverse commercial sectors. Inspired by travel, and enthused by identifying business opportunities, she admits to a, “Clear focus on making a difference, by opening doors for the youthful Omani entre-preneurial talent,” and is now with the ‘Sas For Entrepreneurship Center,’ providing, as the name suggests from the Arabic ‘asaas’, a solid foundation for new business ventures in the Sultanate.

“We are,” said Haun, “a center that encourages entrepreneurship and development of Technology and Digital Content SMEs in the sultanate in collaboration with both private & public sectors. We

work with individuals or teams who either have little more than an idea, or who have reached a situa-tion in their fledgling business where they are ‘uncertain’ how to develop further. For these candi-dates to enter the program they must present a business plan, and cash flow projections to a panel where they are scored according to predetermined criteria,” contin-ued Haun. “If they are accepted, they begin a three-year journey as part of the Sas program and can utilize the many support ser-vices we offer.”

Currently Haun, and the Sas team, have 58 compa-nies as part of their program working initially on the develop-ment of business o p p o r t u n i t i e s clearly using Ash Maurya’s ‘lean canvas’ problem/solution model, and progressing through customer/client identifica-tion and manage-ment, marketing, financial matters, and a myriad of other avenues of support. Sas is, in every way, a one-stop-shop for tech entrepreneurs.

As the future of entrepreneur-ship in the Sultanate, Haun is ada-mant. “I see a market that must support local products and ser-vices. I can see entrepreneurs learning to assess market oppor-tunities, to test and to pivot to find new and expanding markets. I see technology changing how we do business, and those who adapt quickly reaping the benefits. It is clear too, that Omani women are embracing the modernity of the business world as they are signifi-cantly represented among our alumni, and Oman is truly demon-strating itself to be a global model for women in the technologically reliant business environment of the 21st century.”

Emmee Haun is a committed woman herself, voted Oman’s ‘Woman of the Year,’ in 2018, connected and influential, a model and a mentor, for Omanis seeking to plunge into the tricky albeit fasci-nating, and potentially rewarding, depths of entre-preneurship, making their dreams, realities.

Helping Oman’s budding entrepreneurs navigate the tricky world of business

RAY PETERSEN

Currently, Haun and the Sas team

have 58 companies as part of their

program working initially on the development of business

opportunities clearly using Ash

Maurya’s ‘lean canvas’ problem/

solution model

KINSHASA: In central Kinshasa, freshly painted murals show traditional idols wearing medical masks or applying hand sanitiser, part of an art ini-tiative to counter public disbelief in the face of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping Democratic Republic of Congo.

The number of confirmed cases in Congo in June has doubled in less than a month to almost 7,000, pil-ing pressure on the poorly equipped health system. Some hospitals have start-ed turning patients away

even as many across the central African nation remain unaware or scepti-cal of COVID-19’s dangers.

“Here in Kinshasa we have doubts about this ill-ness,” said Chabani Reco, a street hawker in Kinshasa, a city of around 12 million that accounts for the major-ity of registered cases.

Health workers battling to stop the virus’ spread in the capital have encoun-tered increased hostility in some communities, includ-ing kidnappings and attacks, a government committee warned in May.

After decades of per-ceived misrule, the political elite is seen by many as corrupt and untrustworthy.

To help counter the mis-trust, a group of 10 artists has painted the wall around the capital’s Academy of Fine Arts with 12 murals illustrating the need for people to take action.

Some rework religious motifs, while others are splashed with bright col-ours to draw people’s atten-tion. In one section, people bump elbows in greeting, in the background the virus is locked behind the bars of a

jail cell.Prisca Tankwey’s contri-

bution depicts six wooden statues, iconic symbols from Congo’s pre-colonial culture, washing their hands and performing other tasks to guard against the disease.

A nkisi-nkondi, an idol whose protective spirit is said to be activated by ham-mering a nail into its body, is shown donning a mask.

“That is the main mes-sage, the message of pro-tection,” Tankwey said, applying the last dabs of paint. — Reuters

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She died of natural causes at her home in Paris, where she had lived for more than 60 years, it

said, citing her publicist.De Havilland’s acting career

included two Academy Awards, a victory over Hollywood’s studio system and a long-running feud with sister Joan Fontaine that was worthy of a screenplay.

She first drew attention by playing opposite swashbuckling Errol Flynn in a series of films starting in the 1930s and made an enduring impression as the demure Southern belle Melanie in “Gone With the Wind” in 1939.

Later she would have to fight to get more challenging roles - a battle that ended up in court but paid off with Oscars for “To Each His Own” in 1946 and “The Heiress” in 1949.

De Havilland, a naturalized American who was born to English parents in Japan, had lived in Paris since 1953. She made few public appearances after retiring but returned to Hollywood in 2003 to take part in the 75th Academy Awards show.

De Havilland’s family moved to California when she and Joan were children. She began her movie career after director Max Reinhardt saw her in a California production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and cast her in his 1935 film version of the play. Warner Bros. was impressed and, as was the custom at the time, signed the teenager to a seven-year contract.

Warners loaned her out to make “Gone With the Wind” in 1939 and de Havilland’s gentle but willful personality helped make the role of Melanie one of the movie’s most intriguing parts. The role earned her the first of her five Oscar nominations.

“I felt very drawn to Melanie,” de Havilland later said. “She was a complex personality compared to the heroines I’d been playing over and over.”

“Gone With the Wind,” which also starred Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, won eight Academy Awards, including best picture.

STUDIO BATTLESThe prestige of the Oscar

nomination and the popularity of “Gone With the Wind” did not get de Havilland the types of roles she wanted. She often refused the parts Warner Bros. offered, which resulted in the studio suspending her several times.

In 1943 de Havilland declared that her seven-year deal with Warners had expired but the studio said she still owed them the six months that she spent on suspension.

De Havilland won in court, weakening the major studios’ dominance over actors by lim-iting actors’ contracts to seven years, regardless of suspen-sion time. But challenging a powerful studio had been a risky career move and she did not make a movie for three years.

De Havilland made a trium-phant return to the screen in 1946 with the Oscar-winning role of an unwed mother in “To Each His Own.” Three years later her portrayal of a spinster brought another Academy Award for “The Heiress.”

SIBLING RIVALRYThe Oscars provided fodder

and a venue for de Havilland’s rivalry with Fontaine, who was one year younger. Their rela-tionship had been testy since childhood and the acrimony reached a new level in 1942 when the sisters were both Oscar-nominated - de Havilland for “Hold Back the Dawn” and Fontaine for Alfred Hitchcock’s “Suspicion.” Fontaine was the winner.

Four years later when de Havilland won for “To Each His Own,” Fontaine extended a con-gratulatory hand at the cere-mony but de Havilland did not acknowledge her - a moment captured by photographers. De Havilland reportedly was upset about a catty remark by Fontaine about her husband, writer Marcus Goodrich.

The sisters stopped speaking altogether in 1975 after their mother died. Fontaine said de Havilland had not invited her to the memorial service but de Havilland claimed Fontaine had said she was too busy to attend.

When Fontaine died at age 96 in December 2013, de Havilland issued a statement saying she was “shocked and saddened.”

In an interview marking her 100th birthday in 2016, de Havilland told the Associated Press she called Fontaine “Dragon Lady.”

“I cannot think of a single instance wherein I initiated hostile behavior,” de Havilland said. “But I can think of many occasions where my reaction to deliberately inconsiderate behavior was defensive.”

De Havilland made 50 movies in her career and nine were with Flynn, including “Captain Blood,” “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” “The Adventures of Robin Hood” and “They Died With Their Boots On.” She told LA Weekly she had a crush on Flynn but never acted on it.

Other memorable roles included playing both a sweet and evil twin in “The Dark Mirror” in 1946 and a mental patient in “The Snake Pit,” which earned her an Oscar nomina-tion, in 1948. Later she starred in two well-received suspense films, “Lady in a Cage” and “Hush ... Hush, Sweet Charlotte” with Bette Davis (both 1964).

De Havilland did not like the way she was portrayed in the 2017 film television miniseries “Feud: Bette and Joan” about Davis and Joan Crawford. She sued the producers, claiming she was made to look like a gos-sip and hypocrite, and the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which let stand a ruling that dismissed De Havilland’s suit.

De Havilland had a son, Benjamin, with Goodrich and a daughter, Giselle, with her sec-ond husband, journalist Pierre Galante. —Reuters

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