TUESDAY | OCTOBER 24, 2023 | RABEE AL THANI 9, 1445 AH VOL. 42 NO.

344 | PAGES 20 | BAISAS 200

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Established 1981. Editor-in-chief: Abdullah bin Salim al Shueili editor@omanobserver.om

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P16 P18 P12

UKRAINE’S ‘RAMAD’ A
AFGHANISTAN
ECONOMY BAGS COVETED SSEND PAKISTAN
STARTS TO GOLDEN CCRASHING TO
REBOUND OYSTER SSHOCK DEFEAT

MUSCAT
HM GREETINGS TO
ZAMBIA PRESIDENT
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin
Tarik has sent a cable of greetings
to President Hakainde Hichilema
of the Republic of Zambia on
his country’s Independence
Anniversary. In his cable, His
Majesty the Sultan expressed
his sincere sentiments and best
wishes to President Hichilema
and the people of his country
further progress and prosperity.
Royal Decrees promulgate Public Debt Law and Tourism Law
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan
Haitham bin Tarik on Monday
issued three Royal Decrees.
Royal Decree No 68/2023 on
promulgation of the Public Debt
Law, after presenting the same
before the Council of Oman.
Article (1) states that provisions
of the Public Debt Law attached
to this Decree shall be enforced.
Article (2) stipulates that the
Minister of Finance shall issue
the Bylaw (executive regulation)
for the attached Law, as well as
the regulations and decisions
necessary for the implementation
of its provisions. Until then,
the existing regulations and
decisions shall continue to be
enforced without prejudice to the
provisions of the attached law.
Article (3) cancels all that
contradicts the attached law or
contravenes its provisions.
Article (4) says that this Decree
shall be published in the Official
Gazette and enforced on the day
following its date of publication.
Royal Decree No 69/2023 on
promulgation of the Tourism Law,
after presenting the same before
the Council of Oman. Article
(1) states that the provisions of
the Tourism Law attached to this
Decree shall be applied.
Article (2) states that the
Minister of Heritage and Tourism
shall issue the bylaw (executive
regulation) of the attached law,
as well as the regulations and
decisions necessary for the
implementation of its provisions.
Till such time, the existing
regulations and decisions shall
continue to be enforced without
prejudice to the provisions of the
attached law.
Article (3) cancels Royal
Decree No 33/2002 on the
Tourism Law, as well as all that
contradicts the attached law or
contravenes its provisions.
Article (4) says that this Decree
shall be published in the Official
Gazette and enforced after six
months of its date of publication.
Royal Decree No 70/2023
conducts transfers and
placements in the Diplomatic
Corps. TURN TO P5

FPA DELEGATION HAILS OMAN’S CULTURAL HERITAGE

Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi with representatives from the FPA in the United Kingdom.
MUSCAT: Dr Abdullah bin
Nasser al Harrasi, Information
Minister, convened a discussion
on Monday with representatives
from the Foreign Press
Association (FPA) in the United
Kingdom, who are on an official
visit to the Sultanate of Oman.
Dr Al Harrasi elucidated the
Ministry of Information’s pivotal
role in enhancing the standards of
‘TEJ’ DOWNGRADED
TO TROPICAL STORM
LAKSHMI KOTHANETH
@lakshmioman
The Cyclone ‘Tej’ has now
been downgraded to the level
of a tropical storm with the
beginning of the storm’s centre
crossing land through Al Mahra
Governorate in the Republic of
Yemen. The wind speed around
the centre is estimated at 55
Dr Abdullah bin Omani media to remain abreast to 63 knots, with continued
Nasser al Harrasi, with contemporary technical and rainfall of varying intensity and
professional global advancements. active winds blowing during
Information Minister, the coming hours over Dhofar
convened a discussion PORTRAYING FACTS Governorate and the southern
on Monday with Highlighting the instrumental parts of Al Wusta Governorate,
representatives from role of media, both traditional and the centre is currently about
and contemporary platforms, 240 km away from Salalah.
the Foreign Press
Association (FPA) in Dr Al Harrasi emphasised its During the last few hours
significance in bolstering peace some wilayats in Dhofar
the United Kingdom initiatives. TURN TO P5 Governorate witnessed heavy
rains and fresh winds. Weather
charts analysis indicated that the
tropical cyclone will continue
to be downgraded to a tropical
SALALAH PORT TO
RESUME OPERATIONS
The management of Port of Salalah
announced that operations at the port
will be resumed gradually starting
from 11 am on Tuesday. The port’s
management announced on Sunday
the closure of the port as a
precautionary measure.
FIELD HOSPITAL
SET UP IN DHOFAR
The Medical Services division of the
Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) provided
the medical sector in the Governorate
of Dhofar with a field hospital ahead
of Tej, the tropical condition making
landfall in the Sultanate of Oman. The
hospital will operate in accordance
with the plan set by the National
Committee for Emergency
Management.
BASIC SERVICES
SECTOR READY
The Basic Services Sector
underscored its readiness to address
the effects of the tropical cyclone ‘Tej’.
The sector mobilised all necessary
heavy rains and the flowing
of wadis and the impact is
expected to continue on Dhofar
and southern parts of Al Wusta
governorates as heavy rain (50-
300 mm) with expected flow
of wadis and fresh to severe
blowing winds (40-70 knots).
Parts of the wilayats of Sadah,
Shaleem, Rakhyout and Dhalkout
in Dhofar Governorate witnessed
rains of varying strength and
the movement of the tropical
cyclone intensified the local
cloud formations over Al Hajar
Mountains bringing rains in six
governorates. The thunderstorm
alert is on for the mountainous
areas of South Al Batinah, North
Al Batinah, Al Dakhiliyah, Al
Buraimi, Al Dhahirah, North Al
Sharqiyah governorates starting at
1 pm and is expected to continue
until 10 pm.
The flow of cumulus rain
clouds accompanying the

Arabs call for end to Israel’s storm when it makes landfall

through Al Mahra Governorate
in Yemen on Monday night or
capabilities to tackle expected
damages to roads. The sector is
continuously coordinating with the
subcommittees for emergency
tropical condition and rainfall of
varying intensity accompanied
by active winds in the coastal and

aggression against Gaza Strip Tuesday morning.

The coastal wilayats in
Dhofar Governorate witnessed
management in the governorates of
Dhofar and Al Wusta, as well as the
National Centre for Emergency
Management.
mountainous areas of the Dhofar
Governorate, which led to the
flow of wadis.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic

A Palestinian child shows her painted cheek with the
word ‘Gaza’, at a UN-run shelter in Khan Yunis. — AFP
MUSCAT: Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy,
Foreign Minister, on Monday discussed the
tragic situation in Gaza, during telephonic
conversations with a number of Arab
counterparts.
The minister exchanged views on the issue
during phone calls with Ayman Safadi, Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Kingdom of Jordan, Sameh Shoukry,
of Egypt, Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan
Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco, and
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the
Arab League.
The ministers sought ways to urge the
international community to exercise its full role
and shoulder its responsibilities for terminating
Israel’s operations, violence and brutal aggression
against Gaza Strip, leaving thousands of civilians
dead or injured.
They also stressed the need to extend
immediate humanitarian assistance to the
population in Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep
Borrell said that he believed the bloc’s leaders
would back a call for a “humanitarian pause” to
allow aid to enter Gaza.
European Union leaders are set to discuss
the issue at a summit on Thursday after rifts
emerged within the bloc over how to respond to
the conflict. SEE P6 & 7
Heavy rains are reported in coastal wilayats of Dhofar Governorate.

WEATHER MUSCAT: Max 320 C Min 270 C SALALAH: Max 270 C Min 260 C NIZWA: Max 340 C Min 230 C PRAYER TIMINGS SUNRISE: 06:08 FAJR: 04:52 DHUHR: 11:56 ASR: 15:13 MAGHRIB: 17:39 ISHA: 18:50
 TEJ
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 2 4 l 2 0 2 3
Follow safety precautions
AFRAH AL BALUSHI
@afrahalbalushia
As weather depressions deepen,
they give rise to natural disasters
such as heavy rains, floods, and
surging waves. People in the
area must prepare for challenges
and raise community awareness
about navigating these climatic
conditions, paying special attention
to precipitation levels.
Authorities have been cautioning
against tropical storm Tej in Dhofar
and Al Wusta governorates based
on weather reports signalling
their readiness and pre-emptive
measures.
Given the evolving situation with
tropical cyclone ‘Tej’, it is imperative
that people in affected areas adhere
to protective guidelines and
instructions when rainfall occurs.
The Sultanate of Oman is no
stranger to tropical weather systems,
primarily occurring between May
and June and another in September
and October. When such weather
events loom, it is essential to follow
specific protective guidelines
and instructions, some of which
have been shared by the Dhofar
Basic services sector ready to address effects of Tej
MUSCAT: The Basic Services Sector underscored its readi-
ness to address the effects of the tropical cyclone ‘Tej’.
The sector mobilised all necessary capabilities to tackle
expected damages to roads.
The sector is continuously coordinating with the subcom-
mittees for emergency management in the governorates
of Dhofar and Al Wusta, as well as the National Centre for
Emergency Management (NCEM). — ONA
Given the evolving situation with tropical cyclone ‘Tej,’ it is imperative that people in affected areas adhere to protective
guidelines and instructions when rainfall occurs.
Municipality: Stay informed by
monitoring weather bulletins and
heeding alerts or warnings from the
National Center for Early Warning
of Multiple Hazards regarding the
possibility of heavy and torrential
rains.
If you are responsible for
livestock, avoid positioning them
near valley bottoms, edges, or dams
during inclement weather.
While travelling, refrain from
stopping your vehicle in low-lying
areas or deep valleys.
When near mountains
or mountainous roads, take
precautionary measures as rocks
may fall, or the road may collapse.
Abide by the recommended safe
paths and methods outlined by
relevant authorities and avoid taking
unnecessary risks.
Stay safe from lighting poles and
electricity complexes during heavy
rainfall and rising water levels.
The Dhofar Municipality has
activated its emergency committee
to coordinate preparations, monitor
the situation’s developments, oversee
the actions taken by response teams,
Military committee
for emergency
reviews SAF efforts
During the meeting, the developments of the tropical
cyclone were highlighted. — ONA
DHOFAR: The
Military Subcommittee
for Emergency
Management continues
holding its meetings
in the Governorate of
Dhofar.On Monday,
the subcommittee
held a meeting under
the chairmanship of
Brigadier Abdulkadhim
bin Ibrahim al Ajmi,
Commander of
Infantry Brigade (11)
of the Royal Army
of Oman (RAO).
During the meeting,
the developments of
the tropical cyclone
and implement a comprehensive
plan to ensure the smooth flow of
water in valleys. They also have the
necessary devices, water drainage
pumps, and equipment to tackle any
contingencies.
Living with such climatic
phenomena has become part of
life for the citizens and residents of
Oman. They have learned to deal
with the potential damage caused
by these conditions with wisdom,
patience, and responsibility, aided
by the tireless efforts of responsible
authorities .
were highlighted.The
meeting also reviewed
procedures undertaken
by the Sultan’s Armed
Forces (SAF) to
handle the situation
within the framework
of the plan set in
motion by the Main
Military Committee
for Emergency
Management.
The Subcommittee
reiterates its continuous
monitoring of updates
regarding the tropical
cyclone. It also assures
its full readiness.
— ONA
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Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health lauded the efforts being exerted by
various departments concerned to deal with the cyclone Tej. — ONA
Sustainability of health sector
in Dhofar: Minister
MUSCAT: Dr Hilal bin Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health
said that the Ministry of Health (MoH) has taken many
procedures to ensure the sustainability of the health sector
in Dhofar Governorate during the tropical condition.
He pointed out that some health centres and clinics have
been activated, while others have been closed for the safety
of visitors.
He lauded the efforts being exerted by various
departments concerned to deal with the cyclone Tej.
The minister gave the statement during his visit to the
National Center for Emergency Management (NCEM)
during which he took note of NCEM efforts to deal with the
tropical condition and measures taken by the departments
concerned.
SAF establishes field hospital
The Medical Services division of the Sultan’s Armed
Forces (SAF) provided the medical sector in the
Governorate of Dhofar with a field hospital ahead
of Tej, the tropical condition making landfall in the
Sultanate of Oman.
The hospital will operate in accordance with the plan set
by the National Committee for Emergency Management, as
well as instructions issued by the main military committee
tasked with addressing emergency situations. — ONA
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69 shelters in place for 15,000 evacuees in Dhofar

QASIM AL MAASHANI
SALALAH, OCT 23
With Tropical Cyclone Tej bearing
down on Oman’s Dhofar coast,
authorities in the governorate have
announced shelter provisions at key
locations for people to stay during the
storm’s passage.
According to Mohammed bin
Hamad al Kalbani, Supervisor
of the Culture and Environment
Department in Dhofar Governorate,
around 69 shelters are now in place
with a capacity to accommodate more
than 15,000 people. They include 43
schools and 26 hotels, he said.
A third of these shelters have since
been activated to accommodate as
Authorities in Dhofar Governorate have announced shelter provisions at key locations for people to stay during the storm’s passage.
many as 4,556 people – comprising
904 Omanis and 3,661 expatriates –
who have been temporarily evacuated
from their neighbourhoods in areas
falling within the cyclone’s sweep.
Around five areas in Dhofar
Governorate that were expected to
be directly affected by the tropical
cyclone have been completely
evacuated. These areas include the
administrative centres of the wilayats
of Rakhyout and Dhalkout, as well as
the Salalah Central Adona area and
the Andat village in Wilayat of Al
Mazyouna. Hotel accommodation
has been provided to all those who
have been evacuated from their areas.
According to Al Kalbani, the
shelters are operated by specialised
staff with support from charitable
organisations and welfare bodies.
Services provided include
registration, food and lodging. There
is also joint coordination between
the staff and the relevant authorities,
such as healthcare services.
Al Kalbani thanked the business
community for their support by
placing around 26 apartment
hotels at the disposal of evacuation
authorities.

CPA keeps an eye on price stability during cyclone

AFRAH AL BALUSHI
@afrahalbalushi
The Consumer Protection
Authority (CPA) is diligently
monitoring the stability of prices
for goods and services during
tropical situations in the Al Wusta
and Dhofar governorates.
The CPA underscores this
commitment, emphasising that
a tropical situation should not be
used as a pretext to hike prices
unjustly.
As the tropical situation
develops into a tropical cyclone in
the Arabian Sea, Azad bin Amer al
Omari, Director of the Consumer
Protection Department in Dhofar
Governorate, is resolute about
maintaining price stability within
the Dhofar Governorate.
He emphasised the need for
stringent control over markets
and shops to identify violations
swiftly. Al Omari stated, “We
will also initiate legal measures
against any offenders through
our fieldwork teams stationed
across the wilayats.” Consumer
Protection Departments in Dhofar
and Al Wusta governorates,
along with their offices in the
Wilayat of Mirbat, Thamrait, and
Al Mazyouna, are unwavering
in addressing the extraordinary
tropical situation (Tej). They have
devised a comprehensive action
The CPA emphasised that a tropical situation should not be used as a pretext to
hike prices unjustly
plan in collaboration with relevant
authorities to oversee markets and
shops and ensure the availability
and stability of essential goods.
We will also initiate The Assistant Director of the
legal measures against Consumer Protection Department
any offenders through in Al Wusta Governorate,
our fieldwork teams Haima, Haitham bin Ali al
stationed across the Junaibi, highlighted the ongoing
commitment to serving consumers
wilayats and monitoring markets, even
during challenging situations.
AZAD AL OMARI Teams remain on high alert
Director of the Consumer and work tirelessly to manage
Protection Department in Dhofar the evolving scenario. Inspectors
maintain round-the-clock
vigilance, conducting thorough
market assessments, verifying the
availability of essential items, and
preventing price gouging. The
teams also engage with consumers
to receive their reports and actively
communicate with commercial
establishments to ensure the
presence of basic goods.
The work is organised
in two alternating shifts to
Defence ministry’s
comprehensively cover markets
and commercial centres, ensuring
the availability of consumer
engineering services
necessities and monitoring prices.
The goal is to enforce
compliance with established
lends support
regulations and prevent negative
practices, especially those taking SALALAH: The Defence to help determine the necessary
advantage of the Sultanate of Ministry’s Engineering Services preparations and measures to deal
Oman’s vulnerability to the tropical deployed a force to lend technical with the tropical condition.
situation. and engineering support to Dhofar The force will operate alongside
The CPA is committed to Governorate due to the tropical other wings of the Sultan’s Armed
safeguarding the interests of condition ‘Tej’. Forces (SAF), government units
consumers by providing a secure The force is acting in coordination and other sectors to provide
and fair consumer market under with the National Committee for prompt response in potential areas
all circumstances. Emergency Management (NCEM) whenever the need arises. — ONA
The CPA unequivocally states
that any market violations by
suppliers will be addressed directly
by the authority’s staff. Consumers
are encouraged to cooperate by
reporting any observed market
violations or irregularities.
Everyone is urged to prioritise
the public interest, adhere to
regulations and laws, and support
the CPA’s mission to ensure a The force is acting in coordination with the National Committee for Emergency
secure consumer market. Management. — ONA

Many wilayats in Dhofar Governorate receive heavy rains

Many wilayats in Dhofar Governorate received heavy rains on Monday. — ONA

spotlight
4 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 2 4 l 2 0 2 3
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MUSCAT: The new Tourism Law promulgated by Royal Decree

69/2023 defined the role of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in
the growth of the tourism sector and organisation of tourism and
hospitality installations.
The Tourism Law, which falls in five chapters with 21 articles, allows
for a bigger growth of the tourism sector through the discovery of

NEW LAW
new exploitable tourist sites as per the competitive advantages of the
governorates.
Article (1) dealt with the enforcement of the Tourism Law in terms
of the wording and phrases peculiar to tourism. Article (2) criminalises
any action that violates the laws, public order or undermines community
safety or the stability of the country, infringes the environment or harms

ENABLES the image of tourism in the Sultanate of Oman.

The third article states that the MoHT is the body that determines
the fees paid against the services provided by the ministry in
enforcement of the provisions of this law after the approval of the
Ministry of Finance. The fourth article touches on the employees who

GIANT LEAP
are entrusted, by the competent authority and the minister, to enforce
the provisions of this Law.
According to Article (5) of the Tourism Law, stakeholders are
permitted to lodge a complaint to the minister against any decision
issued on the basis of this law and its executive regulations and
decisions thereof, explaining the reasons for the grievance, and

OF TOURISM attaching the supporting documents. A complaint should be filed

within 60 days from the date of the notification of the decision. A
decision to accept or reject the complaint should be taken within 30
days of the date of its submission and that should be a final decision.
According to Article Six of the law, any natural or legal person is

SECTOR
permitted to benefit, exploit, rent, operate, or manage any tourist site, or
government tourist land or part thereof after obtaining an approval from
the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. The ministry shall be responsible
for signing executive contracts as stipulated by the regulation.
Article (7) stipulates that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism should
coordinate with the relevant authorities to identify and classify tourist sites
The in the Sultanate of Oman as well as follow up and explore new potential
Tourism Law, tourism sites. The ministry oversees the exploitation and regulation of the
which falls in five
chapters with 21 designated tourist sites.
articles, allows for a Article (8) states that no natural or legal person may practice any
bigger growth of the tourism activity unless after obtaining the required permit from the
tourism
Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. The regulations specify the types of
AT ION licenses, conditions, and the procedures for obtaining them. Foreign
STIN
DE tourism companies are permitted

ISM
to set up branches or offices in the
U R Sultanate of Oman after obtaining
Licensed hotel TO TOURISM LAW a licence from the ministry as
establishments
should adhere to the LE CONSTITUTES SHIFT stipulated by the regulations.
As per Article (9), no natural
B

standards set by the FORWARD, SAYS

NA

ministry or legal person may operate or

MINISTER
AI

manage tourist or hotel facilities

ST

except after obtaining a licence

Salim bin Mohammed al
SU

Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage from the Ministry of Heritage and

and Tourism, said that the new Tourism as the regulations specify
ING

tourism law sets the general the conditions and procedures

framework for organising the
tourism sector, which, he said, required for obtaining a licence.
O BECOME AS A LEAD

is undergoing rapid Article (10) states that a

Foreign tourism development. He added that
companies are the law was redrafted in a
manner that accommodates
permitted to set up
branches or offices in the sector’s continuous growth
Oman without resorting to the
continuous modification of the
legislation itself.
In a statement to the press,
the minister pointed out that
the tourism law constitutes a
shift forward in organising the
sector and that the bylaw will
be drafted in line with the
government’s approach to
T
licensee is not allowed to waiver a
permit to a third party except with
a prior approval from the ministry
in accordance with the procedures
and controls set forth by the
regulations.
Article (11) clarifies that the
licensed hotel establishments
should adhere to the standards
set by the ministry. Article (12 B)
stipulates that the tourist and hotel

build a regionally and globally

N

Violations competitive tourism sector. establishments should be classified

MA

of Tourism The minister stressed that into levels or types including

law attracts the Ministry of Heritage and restaurants and tourist cafes.
O

imprisonment for Tourism will take proper

a period between measures to implement the Article (13) stipulates that
P

10 days and 6 six the relevant government units,

L

new tourism law to help

HE

months. consolidate Oman’s position the licensed tourist and hotel

as a leading sustainable
establishments and any other
TO

tourism destination in the

world. He exhorted the similar entity operating in the
departments concern to utilise tourism sector, should provide
the new legal framework as a the ministry with statistics on the
springboard to bolster
diversity in the tourism number of guests and revenues
Ministry industry’s sustainable on a regular basis in addition to
has the right development.
to issue decisions any other data requested by the
to stop or remove ministry.
any encroachment Article (14) of the law states
on tourist sites, and
government that it is prohibited for tourist and hotel establishments to conceal their
tourist land classification in an attempt to promote a higher rank of tourist or hotel
classification.
The
minister Article (15) states that the penalties stipulated in this law are without
can impose Licensee prejudice to any severer penalty stipulated by another law.
administrative is not allowed
to waiver a permit Article (16) states that a legal person should be sentenced to a fine that
penalties in the
regulations for fines to a third party except is twice the maximum fine set forth by this law, if a crime was committed
that do not exceed with a prior approval under his name or his favour by the chairman or a member of his board of
RO 6,000 from the ministry in
accordance with directors.
regulations Article (17) states that whoever violates Articles (2), (6), (8) and (9)
of this law should be punished by imprisonment for a period between
10 days and 6 six months and a fine between RO 6,000 and RO 50,000
or either of the two punishments. The penalty should be doubled in a
repeated violation.
Article (18) states that whoever violates Articles (10) and (13) of this
law should be sentenced to a fine between RO 3,000 and RO 6,000.
Violations to Articles (11) and (14) of this law invite a fine between RO
1,000 and RO 4,000. In all cases, the penalty should be increased two-fold
in a repeated violation.
Article (19) allows the minister to impose administrative penalties in
the regulations for fines that do not exceed RO 6,000.
Article (20) of the law gives the ministry the right to issue decisions to
stop or remove any encroachment on tourist sites, and government tourist
land. — ONA

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Clean Hospital Day in Nizwa Royal Decrees promulgate Public
AMAL AL RIYAMI
NIZWA, OCT 23
Nizwa Hospital’s Environmental
Health, Occupational Safety and
General Services and Infection
Control and Sterilisation Services
departments recently organised
‘Clean Hospital Day 2023’.
The event aligns with the global
commitment to observe ‘Clean
Hospital Day’ (October 20).
This day aims to raise healthcare
standards and promote awareness
of the significance of environmental
cleanliness within healthcare
facilities. It also sheds light on
the tremendous efforts made by
healthcare teams and sanitation
staff in healthcare institutions,
emphasising their role in reducing
infection transmission through
improved environmental cleaning
practices.
The event saw various activities,
including lectures for hospital
staff to enhance healthcare quality
and maintain a high standard of
cleanliness in the hospital.
The lecture, titled
‘Environmental Cleanliness in
Workshop looks at AI future, impacts
MUSCAT: Acting in cooperation with the Muscat Governorate, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information
Technology on Monday organised a workshop on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impacts on society. — ONA
The event saw various activities, including lectures for hospital staff to enhance
healthcare quality and maintain a high standard of cleanliness in the hospital
Health Care,’ was presented by Jaber
al Soti, Head of the Sterilisation
Services Department at the
Ministry of Health.
An exhibition was also held in
collaboration with the industrial
services company to increase
awareness of cleanliness in
healthcare.
The exhibition showcased
cleaning tools, materials,
sterilisation equipment, and
modern technologies that maintain
hospital cleanliness and safety. This
event allowed visitors to witness
the latest innovations and products
related to hygiene in healthcare.
In the context of encouraging
the effective contribution of
health personnel, an incentive
competition was organised to
promote best practices in hospital
hygiene among various facilities
and departments. The winning
departments of the Best Clean
Department Competition for the
year 2023 were honoured, and
a group of cleaning and laundry
workers were kept in appreciation
of their dedicated service.
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 2 4 l 2 0 2 3
Debt Law and Tourism Law
FROM P1
Article (1) transfers the following
ambassadors to the General
Diwan of the Foreign Ministry
- Dr Said bin Mohammed bin
Ali al Bar’ami, Ambassador of
the Sultanate of Oman to the
Kingdom of Morocco and Najeeb
bin Yahya bin Zeerok al Balushi,
Ambassador of the Sultanate of
Oman to the State of Qatar.
Article (2) grants the following
the title of Ambassador and
appoints them as follows - Khalid
bin Salim bin Ahmed Bamkhalif,
Ambassador of the Sultanate
of Oman to the Kingdom
Oman hosts workshop on maritime safety
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of
Oman, represented by Oman
National Hydrographic Office
of the Royal Navy of Oman
(RNO), hosts a workshop
titled ‘Maritime Safety’. The
event, which runs till October
25, sees the participation of
several regional and
international organisations.
The workshop aims to
activate joint cooperation
among hydrographic offices
regionally and
internationally.
— ONA
FPA delegation hails Oman’s heritage
FROM P1
He accentuated the duty of the
press in accurately portraying
facts, especially concerning
humanitarian matters, and
championing the rights of
civilians to live a respectable
and stable existence. He further
asserted that press freedom
ought to be exercised responsibly,
impartially and in harmony
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
of Morocco; Ahmed bin
Mohammed bin Nasser al Araimi,
Ambassador of the Sultanate of
Oman to the French Republic;
Sayyidah Wafa bint Jabr bin
Nasser al Busaidyah, Ambassador
of the Sultanate of Oman to
the Republic of Uzbekistan;
Mal Allah bin Mahmoud bin
Shaaban al Balushi, Ambassador
of the Sultanate of Oman to the
Republic of Hungary; Shaikh
Fahd bin Abdulrahman bin
Ahmed al Ojaili, Ambassador
of the Sultanate of Oman to the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
Fahd bin Sulaiman bin Khalaf
al Kharousi, Ambassador of the
with the core values of truth and
justice.
Responding, the FPA delegation
expressed gratitude to the Ministry
of Information for the invitation to
acquaint themselves with Oman’s
natural and cultural richness and
developmental journey across
various sectors. They commended
Oman’s blend of cultural heritage
and modernity and praised the
evolution and sophistication of
oman
5
Sultanate of Oman to the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan; Nasraa
bint Salim bin Mohammed al
Hashimiyah, Ambassador of
the Sultanate of Oman to the
Republic of Kenya; Saif bin Rashid
bin Saif al Jahwari, Ambassador
of the Sultanate of Oman to the
Republic of Turkiye; and Sayyid
Ammar bin Abdullah bin Sultan
al Busaidy, Ambassador of the
Sultanate of Oman to the State of
Qatar.
Article (3) says that this Decree
shall be published in the Official
Gazette and enforced from its
date of issue.
— ONA
Omani media.
Established approximately
130 years ago, the Foreign Press
Association stands as a neutral
entity, sustained by member
contributions. With its rich history
spanning over a century, the FPA
has witnessed and chronicled
countless pivotal events, making
it one of the most venerable and
respected journalist associations
globally. — ONA
Gaza
6 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 2 4 l 2 0 2 3
EU debates
Gaza truce
call, as top
diplomat urges
more aid
Josep Borrell
LUXEMBOURG: EU foreign
policy chief Josep Borrell
on Monday urged faster aid
deliveries to Gaza, and said the
bloc was debating calling for
a “humanitarian pause” in the
Mideast conflict.
“What’s important (is) more,
quicker, and in particular to
enter the basic things that make
water and electricity supply
being restored,” Borrell said,
ahead of a meeting of European
Union foreign ministers.
Borrell said that the few
dozen trucks of humanitarian
aid that had been allowed
into Gaza from Egypt was
“not enough” and said fuel to
produce power and drinking
water was particularly needed.
He said ministers would
discuss calls from United
Nations’ secretary-general
Antonio Guterres for a
“humanitarian ceasefire” and
the issue would be on the table
at an EU leaders summit on
Thursday.
“Personally, I think that
a humanitarian pause is
The degree of
suffering, innocent
civilians in Gaza
are suffering, is not
acceptable at all and
in our view that’s
why we believe a
humanitarian pause is
required
MICHEAL MARTIN
Ireland foreign minister
needed in order to allow the
humanitarian support to come
in and be distributed, seeing
that half of the population of
Gaza has been moving from
their houses,” Borrell said.
The 27-nation EU bloc has
long been split over its policy
on Israel and the Palestinians.
It has struggled with
conflicting messaging since the
surge in violence following the
October 7 attack and Israel’s
reprisals against Gaza.
Israel, and key ally United
States, have so far opposed any
calls for a halt in the military
campaign. Ireland’s foreign
minister, Micheal Martin, said
his country understood “Israel’s
need to deal with the conflict
because this was an appalling
attack”.
“But the degree of suffering
— innocent civilians in
Gaza are suffering — it’s not
acceptable at all and in our
view that’s why we believe a
humanitarian pause is required
to at a minimum get aid and
supplies in.” — AFP
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omanobserver
More than 5,000 killed in Israe
RAFAH: Health ministry in Gaza
said on Monday that more than
5,000 people have been killed in
the besieged Palestinian enclave
since Israel launched its withering
bombing campaign more than two
weeks ago.
Alarm has surged about the
spiralling humanitarian crisis in
Gaza amid the war sparked by the
October 7 attack.
On a day when Israel’s army
reported more than 300 new
strikes within 24 hours, Gaza’s
health ministry said the death toll
had surged above 5,000, more than
2,000 of them children.
Thousands of buildings have
been destroyed and more than one
million people displaced in the
territory that has been under siege
and largely deprived of water, food
and other basic supplies.
The Israeli military said it had
hit “over 320 military targets in the
Gaza Strip” in the past 24 hours.
Rafah resident Mohammed Abu
Sabalah said he had returned home
from the local mosque after dawn
prayers on Monday and that “a
quarter of an hour later there was
a bombing”.
“We couldn’t see anything
because of the thick smoke,” he
said, adding that “we thank God
that we’ve emerged safe and sound”
with “only a few windows and
doors destroyed”.
Tensions have been inflamed
in the occupied West Bank, where
95 Palestinians have been killed in
clashes involving Israeli security
forces or settlers since fighting
began in Gaza, according to the
Ramallah-based health ministry.
In Gaza, where thousands have
been wounded, the health ministry
issued a statement saying “citizens
are called upon to immediately
go to hospitals and blood bank
branches to donate blood”.
Alarm has grown about the dire
needs of the 2.4 million civilians
trapped inside the 40-kilometre
long coastal strip that was already
blockaded and impoverished
before the war.
Children killed in the southern A picture shows smoke and debris ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike. — AFP
Scores terminated in Gaza strikes as aid arrives
RAFAH: Scores of Palestinians teachers.
were killed in central Gaza on The scale of the bombing
Sunday after Israel stepped up its has left basic systems unable to
strikes on the war-torn enclave function. The UN saying dozens
and an aid convoy entered the of unidentified bodies had been
besieged Gaza Strip on Monday buried in a mass grave in Gaza
via the Rafah border crossing, the City because cold storage had run
Egyptian and Palestinian sides out.
said, the third since war erupted Meanwhile, an Israeli soldier
on October 7. was killed near the Gaza border
More than a dozen by an anti-tank missile fired from
lorries crossed Rafah, the the enclave, the army said.
correspondents said, adding to On Sunday, a convoy of 17
a previous total of 34 trucks that trucks of aid entered Gaza from
had entered Gaza on Saturday Egypt following an initial delivery
and Sunday according to an of 20 trucks on Saturday after
Egyptian Red Cross official. intensive negotiations and US
The United Nations says at least pressure.
100 trucks a day are needed to Separately, six trucks were
provide the basic needs of Gaza’s seen leaving Rafah after filling up
2.4 million inhabitants. from dwindling fuel stocks held at
Israel has hit with a relentless the crossing as the enclave faces
bombing campaign which has catastrophic shortages after Israel
killed thousands of Palestinians, cut off supplies of food, water, fuel
mainly civilians, according to and electricity.
Gaza’s health ministry. Officials So far, there have been no
said the central town of Deir al- deliveries of fuel, with UNRWA
Balah had been particularly badly chief Philippe Lazzarini warning
hit overnight. that supplies would run out “in
The ministry said at least 80 three days”.
people had been killed in the Men fill plastic jerrycans with potable water in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. — AFP “Without fuel, there will be no
overnight raids on central Gaza, water, no functioning hospitals
which destroyed more than 30 of many children lied on the the victims. of its staff had been killed since and.. aid will not reach many
homes. bloodied floor, where distraught The UN agency for Palestinian the start of the war in a statement civilians in desperate need,” he
At the hospital morgue, bodies families wept as they identified refugees (UNRWA) said that 29 on X, saying half of them were said. — AFP
 omanobserver.om/podcast
eli strikes on Gaza
Israel mounts limited
Gaza ground raids as
troops mass on border
JERUSALEM: Israel’s military
said on Monday its ground forces
mounted limited raids into Gaza
and airstrikes to repulse any wider
Israeli invasion.
Palestinian group Hamas said
on Sunday its fighters had engaged
an armoured force infiltrating
a southern area of Gaza and
destroyed some Israeli military
equipment before returning to
base.
How soon Israel might launch a
full-scale invasion is not clear, and
neither side can know exactly what
to expect when it does.
In a televised briefing describing
Israel’s latest moves on the ground,
Israel’s chief military spokesperson
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari
also said 222 people had now
been confirmed as taken hostage
during the October 7 cross-border
onslaught.
Stoking expectations of a full-
scale ground offensive by Israeli
forces massed around Gaza, he
said the military’s operational
readiness was improving and
being enhanced “all the time”.
CHILDREN
KILLED IN THE
SOUTHERN CITY
OF KHAN YUNIS
WERE LAID TO
REST IN A
MAKESHIFT
GRAVE, WHILE
IN RAFAH MEN
WERE FILLING
PLASTIC
JERRYCANS
FROM
CONTAINERS.
city of Khan Yunis were laid to rest
in a makeshift grave, while in Rafah
men were filling plastic jerrycans
from containers with now scare
safe drinking water.
US President Joe Biden brokered
the passage of aid convoys with
Egyptian and Israeli leaders in talks
last week -- but the United Nations
estimates Gaza needs about 100
trucks of relief goods every day.
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths
said Sunday’s delivery of food,
water and medical supplies was
“another small glimmer of hope
for the millions of people in dire
need of humanitarian aid. Israel
has rejected the entry of fuel into
Gaza. — AFP
Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades
said in a statement on Sunday that
its forces had engaged with a force
infiltrating east of Khan Younis in
southern Gaza.
“Fighters engaged with the
infiltrating force, destroying two
bulldozers and a tank and forced
the force to withdraw, before
they returned safely to base,” the
statement said. Israel has amassed
tanks and troops near the fenced
border around Gaza for a planned
ground invasion. Israel has already
launched intensive airstrikes on
Gaza, where at least 5,000 people
have been killed.
The Israeli military said on
Monday that in the past 24 hours it
had struck more than 320 targets in
Gaza, including a tunnel housing
Hamas fighters, and command
and lookout posts. Israel has
said its military campaign will
exceed any previous moves, but
the Palestinian group has proved
capable of surprising Israel in
the past and will be fighting in a
dense urban setting with powerful
weapons. — Reuters
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 2 4 l 2 0 2 3 7
More than 19,000 displaced in Lebanon
amid tensions on border: UN agency
BEIRUT: More than 19,000
people have been displaced
in Lebanon amid an uptick
in tensions at the country’s
southern border, figures
released on Monday by a
United Nations agency showed.
“An increase in cross-border
incidents” has resulted in the
displacement of 19,646 people
in Lebanon, “both within the
south and elsewhere within the
country”, said the International
Organization for Migration.
“We expect the numbers
to rise as the cross-border
tensions continue” or if there is
an escalation in violence, IOM
spokesperson Mohammedali
Abunajela said in a statement.
Israel has carried out
cross-border strikes and
bombardments on Lebanon,
while Palestinian groups
have also launched limited
infiltration attempts into Israel.
Dozens of communities
have been told to evacuate
An Israeli soldier stand in an armoured vehicle stationed at an undisclosed area
in northern Israel near the Lebanon border. — AFP
in Israel, while thousands of
civilians in Lebanon have fled, killed on the Lebanese side of
many heading to other parts of
the south or areas in or outside
the border, mostly combatants
but also including at least four
the capital Beirut. In this context, civilians, one of them journalist
Lebanon has not Issam Abdallah.
implemented an evacuation responding Four people have been
plan, but Prime Minister Najib to large-scale killed in Israel, including three
Mikati has said the country displacement and soldiers and one civilian.
was developing an emergency health causalities While the tit-for-tat
response “as a precaution”. exchanges have so far been
The IOM’s Abunajela said
that might occur... relatively contained, analysts
that “amidst a deteriorating may overwhelm have warned that the chances
economic situation and the the already fragile of fighting groups scaling up
significant rise in poverty across health system involvement could hinge on
all populations in Lebanon, any Israeli ground invasion of
internal displacements may Gaza.
add additional stress to the MOHAMMEDALI “The country’s health
resources of host communities”. ABUNAJELA system is facing severe
Most of the displaced are IOM spokesperson resource shortages, including
currently “sheltered in host medicines” and medical
and family settings, while there personnel, Abunajela said.
are three designated schools, “In this context, responding
managed by local authorities into shelters in the southern to large-scale displacement and
that are also used as shelters”, city of Tyre, where authorities health causalities that might
Abunajela said. said they were looking for a occur... may overwhelm the
Families were taking refuge place to open a fourth centre. already fragile health system,”
in public schools converted At least 40 people have been he warned. — AFP
Palestinians look
for survivors in
the rubble after
Israeli strikes in
Rafah in the
southern Gaza
Strip. — AFP
Palestinians
inspect the
remains of a
mosque
destroyed in
Israeli strikes, in
the northern Gaza Palestinian women mourn relatives killed after Israeli strikes, at a hospital in Rafah in
Strip. — Reuters the southern Gaza Strip. — AFP
 8 Opinion TUESDAY OCTOBER 24, 2023
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER

Parents’ strategies for dealing with bullying

Karim Easterbrook
k.easterbrook@yahoo.com
The author is an
education counsellor
A
s discussed in my previous article
on this topic I have experienced
both the role of a parent and that of
a School Principal when it comes
to addressing the issue of school
bullying. I must admit that dealing with bullying
as a School Principal and owner was emotionally
taxing, but it pales in comparison to the emotional
turmoil of discovering that your own children are
victims.
Whilst my school bullying policy of “two strikes
and you’re out” might not align with the views of
many educationalists, I can confidently say that it
worked at my schools. It protected the victims and
resulted in little to no bullying within my schools in
Cambridge.
For parents, discovering that their child is a
victim of bullying, can be incredibly challenging
and emotionally distressing. In this article I provide
some advice that will assist parents in navigating
this difficult situation. While I won’t delve into
great detail of how to identify whether your child is
being bullied, I will highlight a few key behavioural
signs to watch out for. Keep in mind that these
behaviours may have various causes, but bullying
should be considered as a possible reason: your child
frequently makes excuses to avoid school, develops
eating disorders like binge eating or anorexia
nervosa (which requires immediate medical
attention), displays signs of depression, engages
in vandalism or starts abusing drugs or alcohol. A
bullied child will go to great lengths to evade school
and may create numerous excuses.
Discovering that your child is being bullied
presents a unique challenge as children and
particularly teenagers are often hesitant to
confide in their parents due to fears of further
bullying, appearing “uncool” in front of friends or
seeming weak. Parents should be aware that their
involvement might cause embarrassment for their
child.
So once you’ve confirmed that your child is being
bullied what should you do next? It’s crucial not to
simply sit back and do nothing. If your child were
suffering from a serious medical condition like a
severe skin rash, high fever or constant vomiting,
seeking medical advice would be a no-brainer.
However, some parents delay taking action when
it comes to bullying. During this delay your child
continues to suffer. Bullying demands a serious
response. It can harm not only your child’s academic
progress but also their long-term mental health.
Tragically children and teenagers have even taken
their own lives as a result of in-person or online
bullying. By law all schools should have anti-bullying
programmes in place and these programmes should
be understood and supported by all teaching staff.
As parents you are your child’s most crucial
advocate. Start by speaking with your child’s teacher
about the issue. If the bullying persists and there’s
no improvement insist on speaking directly with
the School Principal. If the situation still doesn’t
improve, continue to press the School Principal for
action. Clearly communicate that if the bullying does
not stop you are prepared to escalate the matter to
AS PARENTS
higher authorities. Additionally, reach out to other
YOU ARE YOUR
parents since it’s likely that if your child is being
CHILD’S MOST bullied other children are experiencing similar
CRUCIAL situations.
ADVOCATE. If possible organise a meeting of concerned
START BY parents. Do whatever it takes to alleviate your
SPEAKING WITH child’s suffering and treat bullying with the utmost
YOUR CHILD’S seriousness—no less than you would if your
child had a life-threatening illness. Because in the
TEACHER ABOUT
worst cases bullying has been shown to have dire
THE ISSUE consequences. Remember that bullying can take
various forms including teasing, name-calling,
ridicule, spreading rumours, and any behaviour
intended to hurt your child. Begin by working
collaboratively with teachers to address the issue but
make it abundantly clear that if the bullying persists
you are ready to take further action. Every moment
that passes when your child is being bullied is
another moment of their suffering.

Nigeria struggles to
contain diphtheria The race to save our secrets from the
outbreak computers of the future
AMINU ABUBAKAR

T
hree nurses care for a 10-year-old girl ZACH MONTAGUE
at a clinic treating dozens of patients

T
in Kano, northern Nigeria, amid the hey call it Q-Day: the
country’s worst diphtheria outbreak day when a quantum
which has killed hundreds of people computer, one more
since the start of the year. The girl lays inside a powerful than any yet
glass cubicle with a severe case of the contagious built, could shatter the
disease. “We have to admit her to the intensive world of privacy and security as we
care unit,” Usman Hassan, a medic in charge of know it.
the clinic at Kano’s largest hospital said, his face It would happen through a bravura
covered by a mask. act of mathematics: the separation of
Nigeria is battling to contain the outbreak, some very large numbers, hundreds of
which has killed around 800 people and infected digits long, into their prime factors.
14,000. It has spread to almost half of the country’s That might sound like a meaningless
36 states, with Kano accounting for the bulk of division problem, but it would
cases and deaths. fundamentally undermine the
The clinic at Murtala Muhammad Specialist encryption protocols that governments
Hospital is one of two health facilities run by and corporations have relied on for
the French medical charity MSF in Kano, the decades. Sensitive information such as
epicentre of the epidemic. military intelligence, weapons designs,
“As of Thursday, Kano has reported 10,700 industry secrets and banking information
diphtheria cases with more than 500 fatalities,” is often transmitted or stored under
Hashim Juma Omar, a doctor overseeing MSF digital locks that the act of factoring large
diphtheria intervention in Kano, said. numbers could crack open.
Entry to the 90-bed clinic is strictly controlled Among the various threats to
to prevent the spread of the infection. America’s national security, the
“We are currently seeing more than 700 people unravelling of encryption is rarely
with suspected diphtheria and admitting more discussed in the same terms as nuclear
than 280 patients on a weekly basis in the two proliferation, the global climate crisis
diphtheria treatment centres,” said Omar. or artificial general intelligence. But
Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control declared for many of those working on the
an outbreak of diphtheria in January after cases problem behind the scenes, the danger
began to surface in May last year. is existential.
It “has already surpassed the worst outbreak “This is potentially a completely
which had 5,039 cases in 1989,” an MSF different kind of problem than one
spokesman said last month. we’ve ever faced,” said Glenn S.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious and Gerstell, a former general counsel of
potentially life-threatening bacterial disease which the National Security Agency and one
affects the respiratory tract and skin. of the authors of an expert consensus
Without treatment, it can kill half of those report on cryptology. “It may be that
infected and is still fatal in five per cent of patients there’s only a 1 per cent chance of that
who receive treatment. happening, but a 1 per cent chance of
“Women and children aged under five are the something catastrophic is something
most vulnerable groups and are the people most you need to worry about.” The White
affected right now in Kano state,” said Omar. House and the Homeland Security
MSF warned a shortage in vaccine funding is Department have made clear that in
an obstacle in ending the outbreak and called on the wrong hands, a powerful quantum
the international community to offer support. computer could disrupt everything
The medical charity has so far supplied 7,000 from secure communications to the
diphtheria vaccines to Kano while the UN underpinnings of our financial system.
children’s fund Unicef last month donated 1.2 In short order, credit card transactions
million doses to the state. — AFP and stock exchanges could be overrun
by fraudsters; air traffic systems and
GPS signals could be manipulated; and
the security of critical infrastructure,
including nuclear plants and the power
grid, could be compromised.
The danger extends not just to
future breaches but to past ones: Troves
of encrypted data harvested now and
in coming years could, after Q-Day,
be unlocked. Current and former
THEY CALL IT Q-DAY: THE DAY
WHEN A QUANTUM COMPUTER,
ONE MORE POWERFUL THAN
ANY YET BUILT, COULD SHATTER
THE WORLD OF PRIVACY AND
SECURITY AS WE KNOW IT
intelligence officials say that China and
potentially other rivals are most likely
already working to find and store such
troves of data in hopes of decoding
them in the future. European policy
researchers echoed those concerns in a
report this summer.
No one knows when, if ever,
quantum computing will advance
to that degree. Today, the most
powerful quantum device uses 433
“qubits,” as the quantum equivalent of
transistors are called. That figure would
probably need to reach into the tens of
thousands, perhaps even the millions,
before today’s encryption systems
would fall.
But within the US cybersecurity
community, the threat is seen as real
and urgent. China, Russia and the
United States are all racing to develop
the technology before their geopolitical
rivals do, although it is difficult to
know who is ahead because some of
the gains are shrouded in secrecy.
On the American side, the
possibility that an adversary could win
that race has set in motion a yearslong
effort to develop a new generation of
encryption systems, ones that even a
powerful quantum computer would be
unable to break.
The effort, which began in 2016,
will culminate early next year when
the National Institute of Standards
and Technology is expected to finalise
its guidance for migrating to the new
systems. Ahead of that migration,
President Joe Biden late last year signed
into law the Quantum Computing
Cybersecurity Preparedness Act, which
directed agencies to begin checking
their systems for encryption that will
need to be replaced.
— The New York Times

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OMAN DAILY OBSERVER
TUESDAY OCTOBER 24, 2023
Opinion 9

EYEING A RECORD
Should we pause life?

T
he toddler in Gaza who
had clasped a croissant
and a coin in her hand
when she said goodbye
to the world, she left a
message to the world - the harsh reality
of war, conflict and broken hopes.
She must have endured pain but
she never lost her grip. Her ringing
message is an incomplete meal and an
unfulfilled hope. Then there is Aouni
Aldous, a 12-year-old with a dream of
becoming a YouTuber. Today his videos
leave us with a narration that make us
wonder about what could have been.
There’s a young girl who says she has
recognised her mother by her hair and
is pleading to let her see the mother.
She cries out loud... why she hasn’t been
taken along with her mother and sister
because she just cannot live without her
mother? There is yet another boy who
asks the doctor, ‘Am I alive?’ And a little
boy asks about his sisters. Searching for
relatives around dead bodies is a young
boy. It is unimaginable in the normal
situation as children have many rights
to protect themselves, but now they are
without the biggest protection in life,
their parents.
When a conflict arises in a family,
the one who suffers the most is the
child. So we can imagine what happens
when children are caught in a war.
They are at the vulnerable stage in life.
Childhood is the time when we collect
memories for future and some of our
favourite moments in life come from
this period. This is where nostalgia
bounces back. So what does the world
have to give them, to erase the pain and
heal the physical and emotional scars?
We cannot blame the nature because
it is not a natural calamity, but a
man made conflict. Surely it is a long
standing conflict of decades. But where
are we as a human race when we cannot
provide children their basic rights?
When a child goes to school, a
parent worries until the ward returns
home. So how can these parents who
had to leave their children behind
in the world of uncertainties rest in
peace? Not to forget are the elderly
parents who needed the comfort of
their children.
Families have been ripped apart,
and no time in the war eras did people
across the globe had to witness the
impact of war as now and that is
because of the social media.
In the past it was news channels and
correspondents who gave facts and
figures. In the present era, the digital
Lakshmi Kothaneth world has brought the world together
@lakshmioman to a neighbourhood and what goes on
in one place has an impact on people in
The writer is a senior other countries. People’s feelings have
journalist and a been triggered and there is a sense of
radio anchor guilt enveloping people who have been
following the situation closely on social
media. Many more people have been
relying on social media so much that
the news organisations have also begun
to use the platforms earnestly.
While the news organisations
bring out the reports, social media
is taking people to camps, hospitals,
families and children. In other times,
we would have been protective about
images and videos of children. But in
this commotion they seemed to have
become the narrators for they do not
have no where else to turn to. At least
let them express themselves and as for
the silent children, the shock and fear
in their eyes say everything.
And so for everyone who is going
through the emotions and responding
in different ways what is the way
forward?
Can we pause life?
There is sadness and anger and a
feeling of helplessness. There is a sense
of guilt when we forget ourselves and
laugh only to shudder when thoughts
of destruction and suffering ponder
over the mind. Of course these
TO EXPERIENCE moments make us realise how we take
a normal day for granted. An event-less
THE REAL
day seems like a gift.
FEELING AND We think about mental health as
MEANING OF an extension of our physical health,
GRATITUDE, but what about the children and the
YOU NEED TO survivors who are yet to be consoled
REALISE THE emotional and their wounds are yet to
IMPACT THAT be healed.
So pause we must, hold them in
“THANK YOU”
our prayers and hope there are solid
MAKES WHEN solutions to give them anxious free days. Dutch Cyclist Jeffrey Hoogland poses in Apeldoorn on Monday, before his attempt on next Tuesday in
Mexico the world record for the 1-km time trial at the famous Aguascalientes cycling track. With 56.303
ADDRESSED TO But moving forward is a must to make a seconds, the current record has been held by French Francis Pervis for 10 years. The record attempt is an
YOU? better tomorrow and share positivity. important part of Hoogland’s preparation for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. — AFP

Time running short for launch

of new climate fund!

F
ears are growing that
disagreements between
rich and poor nations over
how to manage a new fund
to tackle the “loss and
damage” caused by wilder weather and
rising seas could throw the COP28
UN climate summit in Dubai into
disarray.
A “transitional committee” working
out the details of the fund - which
countries agreed to set up at last year’s
COP27 climate conference - failed in
Egypt late last week to issue a set of
recommendations on how to get it
up and running, after clashing over
whether it should be hosted by the
World Bank.
Developed countries, led by the
United States, are pushing for the
fund to be based at the bank, while
developing nations argue this would
tip the balance of power towards
wealthy governments and make it hard
for them to tap into the funding.
The G77 and China group of
developing countries would prefer
an independent loss and damage
fund that can set its own rules, or one
housed at a UN agency.
G77 chair Pedro Luis Pedroso
Cuesta of Cuba told journalists last
week that the fund’s administrative
arrangements should not prevent all
climate-vulnerable developing nations
from accessing it directly nor stop
it from accepting broad sources of
finance.
“It has been demonstrated
that the World Bank is not the
institution that can best... comply
with what we are looking for this
fund,” he said, adding that until
recently the bank had lacked a
MEGAN ROWLING
“climate culture”.
The 24-member transitional
The writer is a climate
committee is now set to meet
correspondent and again in Abu Dhabi in early
editor with the November, in a last-ditch attempt
Thomson Reuters to find compromise and craft a
Foundation, based in joint proposal for countries to
Barcelona finalise and adopt at COP28,
starting on November 30. The
recommendations will also
include guidance on which
countries can tap into the fund -
and how - as well as the different
sources of finance it could draw
from.
“The eyes of the world are on
you to deliver clear, clean and
DEVELOPED strong recommendations ahead
COUNTRIES, LED of COP28 to operationalise the
BY THE UNITED Loss & Damage Fund (and)
STATES, ARE funding arrangements,” Sultan al
Jaber, COP28 president for the
PUSHING FOR
United Arab Emirates, said in a
THE FUND TO BE statement to the committee after
BASED AT THE the latest meeting.
BANK He stressed that billions of
people vulnerable to climate
change impacts depend on
the successful delivery of the
recommendations. He also called
for early pledges to the fund.
Loss and damage has long been
a contentious issue in the UN
climate talks, as wealthy nations
for years rejected demands for
“compensation” for the effects
of their high share of the planet-
heating emissions that are turbo-
charging floods, droughts and
storms around the world.
But at COP27 last November,
a group of 134 African, Asian and
‘Cop28 UAE’ logo is displayed on the screen during the opening ceremony of Abu
Dhabi Sustainability Week in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on January 16, 2023. — Reuters file photo
Latin American states and small
island nations finally won global
agreement to set up the new fund
that will pay to repair devastated
property, move threatened
communities or preserve cultural
heritage before it vanishes.
Climate justice campaigners
and policy experts sounded
the alarm that the fractious
discussions could hamstring
the broader effort at COP28
for faster progress on cutting
emissions and dealing with the
worsening impacts of global
warming. “We are destined
for very rocky negotiations in
Dubai” if the final committee
meeting in Abu Dhabi fails,
warned Preety Bhandari, senior
adviser in the Global Climate
Program and the Finance Center
at the US-based World Resources
Institute.
“The entire COP28
negotiations could get derailed if
developing countries’ priorities
on funding for loss and damage
are not adequately addressed,”
she added.
Brandon Wu, director
of policy and campaigns at
ActionAid USA, said the United
States had argued in Egypt it has
no particular responsibility to
pay for climate loss and damage
despite being the world’s largest
historical emitter of greenhouse
gases. It had refused to budge on
its proposal for the World Bank
to host the fund, he added.
“We need a spirit of solidarity
and cooperation from the
world’s rich countries that have
been the primary cause of the
climate crisis. The least they can
do is listen to what developing
countries need from a Loss &
Damage Fund, and design the
fund with those needs in mind,”
said Wu.
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 24, 2023 | RABEE AL THANI 9, 1445 AH

sport Follow us on
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Al Faisal,
Schiller finish
thrilling second
in Barcelona
BARCELONA, Spain:
Oman’s Al Faisal al
Zubair and German
team-mate Fabian Schiller
claimed a stunning second
place in the final race of the
2023 International GT Open
series at the 4.657km Circuit de
Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain on Sunday
afternoon.
After being taken out of the opening
race from pole position on the first
corner of race one on Saturday, Al
Zubair qualified the Al Manar Racing by
Getspeed Mercedes AMG GT3 in third for
the second of the weekend’s races and he
and Schiller brought the car to the finish
in the runner-up spot after Schiller passed
Charlie Fagg’s Optimum Motorsport
McLaren on the final lap.
Al Zubair said: “After yesterday’s
accident, which was very unfortunate,
we started on P3 after one of the guys got
a penalty for cutting, so that was a great
qualifying. But I lost a few positions on the
start. But finishing P2 was very good. We
are very happy with that.”
Schiller had qualified the Mercedes
on pole for the opening race on Saturday
with a best lap of 1min 38.832sec. “We had
some trouble on Friday but the car was
mega in qualifying,” said the German. “It’s
nice to be back in the GT Open with no
pressure.”
The plan was for Al Zubair and Schiller
to push hard for victory in race one,
despite their obvious 20-second handicap
in a race where David Fumanelli had
qualified the Kessel Ferrari in second
ahead of Fagg and the CBRX by SPS
Mercedes of Yannick Mettler.
Unfortunately, for Schiller, he started
the race from pole position and was
sandwiched between Mettler and Fagg
at turn one with the McLaren hit from
the rear and causing chaos ahead with
Schiller, Fagg and Mettler spinning and
getting stranded at the first corner. Mettler
and Schiller managed to pit and the race
restarted after a yellow flag on lap four but
Schiller retired the Mercedes in the pits.
Victory eventually fell to the Eastalent
Racing Audi of Simon Reicher and
Christopher Haase and they moved to
the top of the points’ standings as a result
and also after winning a recent appeal
following a recent race in Austria.
POLE POSITION
Pole position for race two was taken
by Maximilian Paul in the Oregon
Team Lamborghini with a run of 1min
38.900sec. Haase qualified in second
and Al Zubair lined up on the second
row of the grid in fourth place alongside
Dominik Baumann’s SPS Mercedes.
In warm, sunny conditions on a dry
track, Mikaeel Pitamber and Baumann
claimed victory in the second race at the
helm of the SBS Mercedes, with Al Zubair
and Schiller grabbing the second spot on
the podium after a thrilling finish when
the safety car was deployed and the race
was yellow flagged late on.
Fagg and De Haan looked set to finish
second in the Optimum Motorsport
McLaren but Schiller pressurised Fagg
through the final minutes in the battle for
the runner-up spot and passed the Briton
after a stunning move on the last lap.
The result meant that the Eastalent
Racing Audi of Simon Reicher and
Christopher Haase tied with Diego
Menchaca (Motopark Mercedes) in the
International GT Open after four teams
had entered the final race separated by just
nine points. The Audi duo was handed
the title on a countback tie-break, having
earned one more second-place finish
during the season.

Salalah emerge Youth League hockey champions

ANUROOP
ATHIPARAMBATH
MUSCAT, OCT 23
Salalah Club edged Ahli Sidab 2-1
in the final to emerge champions
of Oman Hockey Youth League
2023 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports
Complex on Saturday night.
Sohar Club finished third after
beating Al Nasr 1-0 in the third-
place play-off match in the league
competed by seven clubs namely
Ahli Sidab, Seeb, Al Nasr, Salalah,
Sohar, Al Nahda, and Nizwa.
Among individual awards of
the Youth League, Ahli Sidab’s
Laith al Wahaibi was adjudged
the best player while team-
mate Rashid al Alawi won the
promising player award.
Sohar’s Abdullah bin Walid al
Hassani emerged the top-scorer
with 17 goals. Salalah’s Rayan
bin Mubarak al Alawi won the
award for the best goalkeeper
and Ahli Sidab’s Ahmed bin
Khalfan al Naabi was selected as
the promising goalkeeper of the
Salalah players celebrate with the trophy on the podium with officials. — Saleh al Sharji
league. The closing ceremony of
the league was held under the
auspices of Mohsen bin Hani al
Bahrani, CEO of the Mohsen
Haider Darwish Company, who
was accompanied by Dr Marwan
bin Juma al Juma, Chairman
of Oman Hockey Association
(OHA). The chief guest gave away
the trophies and medals to the
top place winners.
Dr Khamis al Rahbi, OHA
Secretary-General, and Zuhair
al Ajmi, Chairman of the
Competitions Committee of
OHA, were present.
Al Rahbi said the Youth League
is growing in stature.
“This edition of Oman Hockey
Youth League showed good
standard and we expect it to grow
further in the coming editions,”
the OHA Secretary-General said.
Al Ajmi congratulated the top
three winners.
“The clubs have done a good
job in preparing the players who
impressed with their skills during
the league. There are some good
finds for the national team as
well,” the OHA Competitions
Committee head said.
Few weeks ago, Salalah had
claimed second in the under-18
hockey5s tournament and team
player Hussein Hatem Faraj
Allah was ecstatic after winning
the youth league title.
“We had a tough final against
Ahli Sidab. We managed to secure
the win with the collective effort.”
There were goals galore in
the league with third round
witnessing 32 goals scored in six
matches.
The second round saw 27
goals in six matches while the
six matches of the first round
resulted in 28 goals.
Al Nahda suffered heavy
defeats of 17-0 against Sohar,
11-0 against Seeb and 8-0 against
Salalah in the three rounds.

Teen Guiu snatches Barca win over Athletic
BARCELONA: Teenage debutant
Marc Guiu said he will not be able
to sleep after snatching champions
Barcelona a 1-0 win over Athletic
Bilbao just seconds after coming
on from the bench on Sunday in
La Liga, taking the Catalans up to
third.
Xavi Hernandez’s Barca will
face leaders Real Madrid next
Saturday in the Clasico just one
point behind their bitter rivals, and
second-placed Girona, who beat
Almeria 5-2 earlier on.
For a long time it seemed like
Barcelona would not find the
breakthrough against their Basque
visitors but striker Guiu, 17, netted
under a minute after being thrown
on by Xavi.
The forward was slipped in by
the silky Joao Felix and slotted past
Unai Simon, who got a hand to his
shot but could not keep it out.
“Tonight I won’t sleep,” Guiu
told DAZN.
“I can’t believe it, I can barely
breathe, I’m enjoying the moment.”
Guiu became the latest on a
conveyor belt of youths to make
their debuts for Barca as their
La Masia academy continues to
produce gems.
“It surprises me that they aren’t
scared, I see them with a spark,
they look at me with a face saying
‘Put me on, you’ll see that it will go
well’,” said Xavi.
“I saw that with Gavi, Balde,
Lamine, Fermin, and with Marc,
he doesn’t look afraid.”
Xavi started Inigo Martinez at
the back against his former club
and 20-year-old Fermin Lopez
on the left of the attack, another
academy product, with Barcelona
down to the bare bones.
Several regular starters,
including key striker Robert
Indian spin legend Bedi dies at 77
NEW DELHI: Indian cricketing
hero and spin great Bishan Singh
Bedi has died aged 77, sports
minister Anurag Thakur said on
Monday, calling it a “huge loss” to
the sport.
“Former captain of the Indian
cricket team, a bowler who was
always remembered by the nation,
Bishan Singh Bedi, is no more,”
Thakur, who is also the former
president of the Board of Control
for Cricket in India (BCCI), told
reporters.
“It’s a deeply sad news and a
huge loss for cricket. The whole of
cricket world stands with his family
in this hour of grief.”
Bedi, who was part of the famous
spin quartet of Erapalli Prasanna,
Srinivas Venkataraghavan and
Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, claimed
266 wickets in 67 Tests in an
illustrious international career
between 1967 and 1979.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
said he was “deeply saddened” by
Bedi’s death.
“His passion for the sport was
unwavering and his exemplary
bowling performances led India to
numerous memorable victories,” he
posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“He will continue to inspire
future generations of cricketers,”
Modi added.
Bedi, a left-arm spinner, also
played 10 one-day internationals
for India between 1974-79.
He was often blunt in his
criticism of peers, cricketers, and
faltering administrators of the
sport.
“Legendary spinner and
Lewandowski, are out injured.
Felix clipped the top of the
crossbar but the hosts were negated
in the first half by former Barcelona
coach Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic,
who took the sting out of the game
and occasionally sprang forward
with both Williams brothers
threatening from the flanks.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen tipped
over an Inaki Williams effort
and then parried a strike from
the Ghana international, with
Martinez producing a sublime
block to deny his sibling Nico from
the rebound.
Approaching the hour mark
Barcelona carved out their best
chance, when Simon brilliantly
denied Lopez from close range,
after initially saving from Felix’s
low strike.
Another followed when Felix
fed substitute Lamine Yamal in
the area but the 16-year-old starlet
dragged his shot wide of the near
post.
The teenager’s arrival helped
Barcelona gain the upper hand and
Joao Cancelo was the next to draw
a save from the watchful Simon.
INSTANT IMPACT
Xavi brought on Guiu in the
79th minute and with his very
first touch he broke into the area
and then with another confidently
fired past Simon.
“It’s the best day of his life,
surely,” added Xavi.
Full of energy, the striker was
soon booked for an attempted
slide tackle which caught the
goalkeeper as he tried to stop him
clearing his lines, as he was roared
on by the jubilant home fans.
“Today we scratched back two
points on Madrid and it’s vital to
win this Clasico because we’re
Former India cricket captain and spinner Bishan Singh Bedi (L) gives bowling
training to Australia’s Colin Miller during the latter’s 3-day match against Board
President’s XI at Ferozshah Kotla ground in New Delhi on March 8, 2001. — AFP
someone who wasn’t afraid to speak
his mind,” former India batsman
Virender Sehwag posted on X.
The International Cricket
Council (ICC) paid tribute to the
spin legend.
“I would like to extend heartfelt
condolences from everyone at the
ICC to the family of one of the
greats of the game and one whose
exploits in Test cricket will be
remembered for a long time,” ICC
chief executive Geoff Allardice said
in a statement on Monday.
“He was the kind of spinner who
could excel in different conditions
and would have been one of the
greats in any era.”
BCCI secretary Jay Shah said:
“Indian cricket has lost an icon
today. Bedi Sir defined an era of
cricket and he left an indelible
mark on the game with his artistry
SPANISH LA LIGA RESULTS ON
SUNDAY:
Las Palmas 0 Rayo Vallecano 1
(Bebe 90+1-pen)
Girona 5 (Martin 37, Dovbyk 39, 43,
Savinho 71, Stuani 85) Almeria 2
(Baptistao 2, 24)
Villarreal 1 (Moreno 65-pen) Alaves
1 (Omorodion 48)
Barcelona 1 (Guiu 80) Athletic
Bilbao 0
playing at home,” added Xavi.
Barcelona’s victory takes them
above Atletico Madrid, fourth,
while Valverde’s Athletic are sixth.
as a spin bowler and his impeccable
character.”
With a big turban and a smiling
face, Bedi was a regular at cricket
events in New Delhi, but his failing
health over the past couple of years
kept him away from an active social
life.
Bedi is survived by two sons and
two daughters, a pair each from his
two marriages. His younger son
Angad is married to Neha Dhupia,
an actress and model crowned Miss
India in 2002.
Former Pakistan captain
Intikhab Alam said he was “sad”
at his death. “I had a very cordial
and friendly relationship with him,
he was a great spinner and human
being”, Alam said.
“It’s a great loss for cricket in
general and Indo-Pak cricket in
particular.”—AFP
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 2 4 l 2 0 2 3
PLAYED SATURDAY
Real Sociedad 1 (Mendez 64) Real
Mallorca 0
Getafe 1 (Mayoral 17) Real Betis 1
(Roca 1)
Sevilla 1 (Alaba 74-og) Real Madrid
1 (Carvajal 78)
Celta Vigo 0 Atletico Madrid 3
(Griezmann 29-pen, 64, 70)
FRIDAY
Osasuna 2 (Budimir 11, 59-pen)
Granada 0
“I’m annoyed because it went
just past me and maybe I could
have done a bit more,” Simon told
DAZN.
Emerseon claims top spot in chess tourney
AHMED AL KAABI
MUSCAT, OCT 23
In a thrilling display of chess
competition, Nabon Emerson
from the Philippines, clinched
the first position in the second
preparatory championship
organised by the Oman Chess
Committee. Amil Aspeshn of
India secured second place.
The event took place from
October 20 to 22 at Sultan
Qaboos Sports Complex as
part of preparations to host
the upcoming World Amateur
Chess Championship scheduled
for November.
With 103 domestic and
international players from
various countries residing
in Oman, the tournament
provided an electrifying contest.
Competitors played under the
classical chess format, engaging
in seven rounds with each player
Winners of the chess tournament with the officials.
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
“We really wanted to get three
points to make a big gap above
seventh place.”
Earlier Girona thumped
bottom-of-the-table Almeria
after coming back from two goals
down.
The Catalan side continued
their superb season, levelling
leaders Real Madrid on 25 points
after 10 games after Los Blancos
drew 1-1 at Sevilla on Saturday.
Almeria, still chasing their first
win of the season, moved ahead
when Leo Baptistao netted after
two minutes and then struck again
allotted 60 minutes on the clock,
along with an additional 10
seconds per move.
Post the competition,
International Judge Khalid bin
Nasser al Haddidi ceremoniously
honoured the triumphant
players. Emerson claimed first
place with 6.5 points, while
India’s Amil secured second spot
with an equally impressive 6.5
points. India’s Dak Shika claimed
third while compatriot Surya
Dhanesh took fourth spot (5.5
points). Another Indian player
Ashubh Damore (5.5 points)
was fifth while Oman national
team player Khalfan al Hasni
achieved the sixth position with
5.5 points, closely followed by
his teammate Ali al Maamari,
who claimed the seventh spot
with the same score.
India’s Shabi Bateng landed in
eighth position with five points,
while Oman’s Anas al Yahmadi
sport
11
FC Barcelona’s Marc Guiu
celebrates scoring their first goal
against Athletic Bilbao. — Reuters
mid-way through the first half to
delight coach Gaizka Garitano in
his first game.
However Michel’s Girona
responded in a remarkable six-
minute salvo before the break,
started by Ivan Martin in the 37th
minute after he had an earlier
strike ruled offside.
Artem Dovbyk bagged a brace
of his own with two neat finishes
in the 39th and 43rd minute to
send the hosts ahead.
Brazilian winger Savinho
and substitute Cristhian Stuani
rounded off the rout. — AFP
was ninth with 5 points. Egypt’s
Madhat Magdy finished tenth,
also with 5 points.
This championship provides
a significant platform for Oman
national players to enhance
their skills, apply their training
under the expert guidance of
the technical staff, and engage
in fair and competitive play.
These experiences contribute
to the elevation of the technical
proficiency of national players
and augment their international
rankings.
The event has been a stepping
stone in preparing these talented
chess players to represent the
Sultanate of Oman in the World
Amateur Chess Championship.
The Chess Committee is
dedicated to involving a broader
array of Omani players with the
objective of equipping them to
attain superior international
rankings and championships.
 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 2 4 l 2 0 2 3
AFGHANISTAN SEND
PAKISTAN CRASHING
TO SHOCK DEFEAT
CHENNAI: Afghanistan put on a superb batting
and bowling display to hand Pakistan a stunning
eight-wicket defeat in the Cricket World Cup on
Monday. Chasing a 283-run target, Afghanistan
were lifted by Ibrahim Zadran (87), Rahmat Shah
(77 not out) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) as they
scored 286-2 in 49 overs.
Pakistan had made 282-7 in their 50 overs with
74 from skipper Babar Azam and 58 from opener
Abdullah Shafique but the total did not prove tough
enough for a clinical Afghanistan.
Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, with a 45-ball 48
not out, hit the winning boundary as Afghanistan
improved upon their highest ODI chase of 274
against the UAE in Dubai in 2014.
The win is Afghanistan’s first-ever over Pakistan
in eight ODIs and came eight days after their shock
victory over defending champions England in Delhi.
The defeat leaves Pakistan’s World Cup campaign
in disarray with three defeats in five games and a
formidable South Africa to face at the same venue
on Friday. In contrast, Afghanistan’s campaign is
slightly revived with two wins in five matches and
struggling Sri Lanka as their next opponents in Pune
on Sunday.
Pakistan were sloppy in the field as they conceded
easy boundaries with openers Zadran and Gurbaz
taking their side to 100 in the 16th over.
The pair put on 130 by the 22nd over and it was
only a miscued shot from Gurbaz off Shaheen Shah
Afridi that brought Pakistan their first wicket.
Gurbaz hit nine boundaries and a six in his
53-ball knock while Zadran scored 10 boundaries
off 113 deliveries before handing a catch behind off
Hasan Ali with 93 still needed. Rahmat and Shahidi
ensured Afghanistan did not collapse.
Rahmat hit five fours and two sixes in his 84-ball
stay at the crease. Earlier, Azam hit a stylish half-
century to guide his team to a fighting total after he
won the toss and batted first.
Azam’s 92-ball knock was complemented by
Shafique’s 75-ball 58 while Shadab Khan and Iftikhar
Ahmed scored a valuable 40 runs apiece.
On a spin-friendly Chidambaram Stadium pitch,
Afghanistan fielded four slow bowlers with 18-year-
old left-armer Noor Ahmad grabbing a career best
3-49 on his World Cup debut.
NOOR SHINES ON DEBUT
Shadab added a rapid 73 runs with Iftikhar for the
sixth wicket as Pakistan took 61 off the last five
overs, with Shadab falling off the last delivery.
Iftikhar cracked four sixes and two fours while
Shadab’s innings featured a six and a four.
Pakistan enjoyed a strong start with a 56-run
stand before Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed Imam-
ul-Haq for 17 in the 11th over.
Ahmad struck his first blow when he trapped
Shafique for 58 in the 23rd over.
Shafique hit two sixes and five fours in his third
half-century of the World Cup.
Ahmad then dismissed Pakistan’s top scorer
in the World Cup, Mohammad Rizwan, caught
sweeping in his next over to leave Pakistan on 120-3.
Azam also fell to Ahmad when the Pakistan
skipper played a tennis-like shot to a delivery that
was seemingly out of his reach, ending up hitting it
straight into the hands of Mohammad Nabi at extra
cover. Azam added 43 with Saud Shakeel who made
25. Afghan spinner Rashid Khan went wicketless in
his 10 overs but conceded just 41 runs, while pacer
Naveen-ul-Haq took 2-52. — AFP
Afghanistan’s Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi
celebrate after winning the match by 8 wickets.
— Reuters
SCOREBOARD
PAKISTAN
Abdullah Shafique lbw b Noor Ahmad ----------------------------------------58
Imam-ul-Haq c Haq b Omarzai-----------------------------------------------------17
Babar Azam c Nabi b Noor Ahmad -----------------------------------------------74
Rizwan c Rahman b Noor Ahmad--------------------------------------------------- 8
Saud Shakeel c Rashid b Nabi------------------------------------------------------25
Shadab Khan c Nabi b Naveen-ul-Haq -----------------------------------------40
Iftikhar c Omarzai b Naveen-ul-Haq --------------------------------------------40
Shaheen Shah Afridi not out --------------------------------------------------------- 3
Extras: (lb4, nb1, w12) ---------------------------------------------------------------17
Total (for seven wkts; 50 overs) ---------------------------------------282
Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-110, 3-120, 4-163, 5-206, 6-279, 7-282
Bowling: Naveen-ul-Haq 7-0-52-2, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 8-0-55-0,
Mohammad Nabi 10-0-31-1, Azmatullah Omarzai 5-0-50-1, Rashid
Khan 10-0-41-0, Noor Ahmad 10-0-49-3
AFGHANISTAN
Rahmanullah Gurbaz c Mir b Shaheen ----------------------------------------65
Ibrahim Zadran c Rizwan b Hasan ------------------------------------------------87
Rahmat Shah not out -------------------------------------------------------------------77
Hashmatullah Shahidi not out-----------------------------------------------------48
Extras: (nb1, w8) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Total (for two wkts; 49 overs) -------------------------------------------286
Fall of wickets: 1-130, 2-190
Bowling: Shaheen 10-0-58-1, Hasan 10-1-44-1, Rauf 8-1-53-0,
Mir 8-0-55-0, Shadab 8-0-49-0, Iftikhar 5-0-27-0
Result: Afghanistan won by eight wickets
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 24, 2023 | RABEE AL THANI 9, 1445 AH

business
MUSCAT CRUDE
STOCK OIL PRICE
EXCHANGE
Oman Crude $ 92.35

4,641.604 Brent Crude

Light Crude
$ 92.31
$ 88.12

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Oman LNG signs major shareholder agreements

HIBBA AL KINDI
MUSCAT, OCT 23
Oman LNG signed multiple
shareholder agreements yesterday
in Muscat in the presence of
Minister of Energy and Minerals,
Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi.
In his keynote address, Al
Aufi shared the following, “It’s
been quite a journey over the last
probably 18 or 20-plus months
since we started approaching the
market to look into the options
available to us to remarketing
the volumes that will be available
from ‘24, ‘25 and ‘26 onwards
for Oman LNG and Qalhat LNG
“The volume that was received
in terms of demand took us by
surprise — a positive surprise
because we were not expecting so
much interest.
“I’’m very proud to say that we
were able to market 10.4 million
tonnes from both Oman LNG as
well as Qalhat LNG on 5 – 10-
year contracts, and we were able
to maintain the majority of our
shareholders to be with us, not
only as shareholders, but as lifters
or off-takers of the LNG, which
is, a little bit different than the
construct that we had before. So
this is another proud moment for
all of us to have our shareholders
also contributing to the value
generated to the company.”
According to Al Aufi, Oman
LNG will produce a volume of 7
million metric tonnes per annum
Oman LNG’s shareholder structure will continue with Oman Investment Authority (OIA), Shell Gas BV, TotalEnergies, Korea LNG, Mitsui & Co, Mitsubishi Corporation, PTT
Exploration and Production, and ITOCHU Corporation.
(mtpa) of LNG, while Qalhat LNG
will produce 3.8 million mtpa of
LNG. An amount of 0.4 million
mtpa was intentionally left out for
the spot market — a natural gas
market in which the gas is bought
and sold immediately or very
near-term delivery.
According to the agreements,
Oman LNG’s shareholder
structure will continue with Oman
Investment Authority (OIA),
Shell Gas BV, TotalEnergies,
Korea LNG, Mitsui & Co,
Mitsubishi Corporation, PTT
Exploration and Production, and
ITOCHU Corporation. Qalhat
LNG’s shareholder structure will
continue with Oman Investment
Authority, Oman LNG LLC,
ITOCHU Corporation and
Mitsubishi Corporation.
Chief Executive Officer of
Oman LNG, Hamed al Numani
shared the following in a press
statement, “The signing of these
key shareholding and gas supply
agreements testifies to our robust
strategic partnerships, unlocking
new market opportunities and
capabilities to continue adding
value in Oman and beyond. It
sustains our position as the largest
gas contributor to the Sultanate of
Oman’s GDP.
Our staff, their commitment,
and expertise are the driving force
behind turning these agreements
into realities, propelling us to new
heights in the global market that
is transforming and we intend to
stay ahead of the curve. We thank
our shareholders and the market
for renewing their commitments
to LNG from Oman.”
Speaking to the Observer,
Sergio Giorgi, Managing Director
and Oman Country Chair of
TotalEnergies, said: “I would like
to begin by acknowledging that
today is a momentous occasion,
not only for the Sultanate of
Oman and Oman LNG but also
for TotalEnergies as significant
shareholders of Oman LNG.
We are truly delighted on this
special day. I take great pride in
acknowledging the tremendous
efforts of our dedicated teams and
the unwavering support we have
received from the government, the
Ministry of Energy and Minerals,
and the Oman Investment
Authority (OIA).”
Giorgi added: “Allow me to
express our deep satisfaction
in being present here in Oman.
TotalEnergies has had a substantial
presence in this country for four
decades, and our commitment
remains resolute to continue this
journey for many more years. Our
focus is on pursuing a forward-
looking agenda that centres
on growth, diversification, and
decarbonisation. This strategy
harmoniously aligns with the
Sultanate of Oman’s Vision 2040
and its commitment to achieving
net zero emissions.”
Abdulsalam al Murshidi,
President — Oman Investment
Authority, said: “The signing of
the agreements for Oman LNG
and Qalhat LNG does not only
boost economic diversification
efforts and maximise returns from
OIA investments, but also cement
Oman’s position as an attractive
destination for foreign investment.
By fostering strategic
partnerships with major
energy international firms, we
are contributing to economic
development and positioning
Oman as a global player in the
energy sector. These agreements
are a testament to our commitment
to sustainable growth and the
optimal utilisation of our natural
resources.” He added: “Partnerships
and collaborations are at the heart
of Oman LNG’s business model. By
fostering relationships with major
international firms, Oman LNG
is actively contributing to global
energy stability and sustainability,
and driving innovation in the
industry.”

Cyclone Tej revives calls for natural

disaster risk mitigation measures
CONRAD PRABHU public infrastructure wrecked IGC and Oman LNG representatives pose for a photo.
MUSCAT, OCT 23 by such perils, the fund can also

As parts of Dhofar and Al Wusta

governorates hunker down in
anticipation of a battering by
Cyclone Tej, the economic cost
of such natural disasters —
given their rising frequency and
intensity — is once again weighing
on the minds of market analysts.
According to a well-known
insurance industry expert,
Cyclone Tej’s imminent arrival,
and the destruction it will
inevitably bring, serves as
yet another wake-up call to
authorities to institute natural
disaster-related risk mitigation
measures with the support of the
private sector.
“A modest-sized economy
like Oman cannot afford the cost
burden inflicted by cyclones,
severe flooding, potential tidal
surges and tsunamis, and other
extreme weather events that are
becoming increasingly frequent
phenomena due to climate
change,” said Murtadha M J
Satellite image of Cyclone Tej pictured just before its approach towards Oman’s
southern coast.
centralised reinsurance entity to
cover natural catastrophe related
risks in partnership with local
and international insurers,” he
stressed.
Speaking to the Observer,
Al Jamalani stressed that a
centralised funding pool can go
a long way in mitigating the cost
burden on the government and
Ibrahim al Jamalani (pictured), the public sector as well, when
Entrepreneur & Insurance Expert. natural disasters strike.
“It’s imperative that the Omani Thus, in addition to financing
government considers, for the repair and rehabilitation of,
example, the establishment of a for example, roads and other
provide a degree of cover to the
array of large-scale industrial and
economic projects located on
Oman’s lengthy coastline.
“Let’s keep in mind that
most natural disasters typically
originate in the Arabian Sea
and Indian Ocean, in the form
of depressions that develop into
tropical storms or cyclones.
As they make landfall, they first
imperil the economic installations
built along the coast, notably
the ports and cargo terminals,
refining and petrochemical
plants, and power and water
facilities, before they sweep
inland. Local insurers do not have
the financial muscle to extend any
coverage to these multibillion-
dollar installations, potentially
leaving them vulnerable to natural
disasters. At the same time, lack of
mitigation efforts in the face of the
growing frequency and intensity
of extreme weather events, can
deter foreign investment as well.”
TURN TO PAGE 15
Integrated Gas Co signs major
supply pact with Oman LNG
HIBBA AL KINDI
MUSCAT, OCT 23
The newly established Integrated
Gas Company (IGC) signed an
agreement to supply feed gas to
Oman LNG at a ceremony held at
the Royal Opera House Muscat on
October 23, 2023.
Speaking to the Observer,
Minister of Energy and Minerals
and Chairman of Oman LNG, Eng
Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, shared the
significance of this deal.
“This is extremely significant
[for IGC] because this is the first
significant contract they signed
since the company was initiated
earlier this year. Integrated Gas
Company was initiated as a single
buyer of gas in the Sultanate of
Oman. They took that role from the
Ministry of Energy and Minerals
and they are now the single
supplier of gas.”
“Oman LNG and Qalhat LNG
are one of the customers of IGC, in
addition to, of course, the power
sector, the other industries locally
and so on.”
Al Aufi added that the
agreement represents a long-
term commitment, spanning
approximately 10 to 15 years, with
the effective date set for 2025 and
2026 respectively.
Chief Executive Officer of Oman
LNG, Hamed al Numani, shared that
the company intends to purchase
the entire feedstock capacity of
both Oman LNG and Qalhat LNG
facilities, which will amount to
approximately 1.5 billion cubic feet
per day.
He also added that the deal will
allow Oman LNG to collaborate
closely with IGC as a single partner
and will aid IGC in achieving the
specific role and objectives set
by the government, enabling its
growth and success. According
to the Ministry of Finance, the
establishment of the IGC is
expected to boost gas revenue
by RO 150 million to reach RO 1.4
billion in 2023.
advertorials
business
14 OMANDAILYOBSERVER
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 2 4 l 2 0 2 3

Bank Muscat celebrates

graduation of 23 entrepreneurs
from Al Wathba Academy
Graduates pose for a photo during the awarding ceremony.
MUSCAT: Al Wathbah
Academy for SMEs by Bank
Muscat continues to achieve
success and promote the concept
of self-employment among
members of the community
through training and awareness
programmes provided to
entrepreneurs.
In the same context, Bank
Muscat, the financial service
provider in Oman, celebrated the
graduation of 23 entrepreneurs
of the Advanced Programme in
a ceremony held at the Bank’s
headquarter in presence of a
number of the bank’s officials.
The entrepreneurs had an
extensive training courses for
a period of 6 months where
they learnt about management,
finance, marketing and other
fields, through workshops,
lectures, panels and practical
training.
The programme was
organised in cooperation with
Radiant Sail where trainees
receive an internationally
recognised certificate from
Knowledgeworks institution.
Bank Muscat will continue
to implement plans for the
development of small and
medium enterprises.
On the occasion, Ibrahim
bin Khamis al Balushi, Senior
Assistant General Manager,
SMEs, Bank Muscat, extended
congratulations to all the
graduates for their commitment
and high performance during
the training period which lasted
for 6 months.
He mentioned: “Since its
inception in 2014, Al Wathba
Academy continues to
maintain success in business
sector by providing support
to entrepreneurs with the aim
to develop their professional
skills to successfully run their
businesses.
We are delighted that Bank
Muscat has a track record
of success in supporting
entrepreneurs who are now
managing their institutions
in various fields, thanks to
the bank’s training initiatives,
banking services and facilities”.
Al Balushi also clarified
that the main goal of Al
Wathba Academy is to provide
free consultations and offer
appropriate solutions, guidance
and awareness to entrepreneurs
in various fields of management,
finance, marketing and other
areas that contribute to the
success of their institutions.
He added: “Over the
past years, the Academy has
organised many training
programmes covering
governorates of the Sultanate of
Oman.
Since the inauguration of
the Academy, the number of
graduates has reached up to 237
entrepreneurs benefiting from
training workshops, lectures
and practical courses.
Bank Muscat will continue to
implement such programmes
taking in new batches of
entrepreneurs with a focus on
choosing courses that keep pace
with the latest developments
required by the business sector.
It will also continue to
join hands with government
institutions concerned with
the development of small and
medium enterprises”.
Hasna bint Mohammed al
Daoudiyah, Raya bint Rashid
al Alawiyah and Said bin Ali
bin Khidaim al Jabri, graduates
from the Advanced Programme
shared their success stories,
extending appreciation
Bank Muscat for its continuous
support in promoting SMEs.
Malabar Gold & Diamonds’
TVC crosses 100 million views
MUSCAT: The latest TVC from
Malabar Gold & Diamonds,
‘Speak Your Heart with Mine
Diamonds’, featuring their
brand ambassadors Alia Bhatt &
Kareena Kapoor Khan (pictured),
has gone viral online, generating
humongous interest among
viewers and garnering over 100
million views across all platforms
in 23 days. The views continue to
grow exponentially.
Marking the first collaboration
between the two Bollywood
powerhouses and showcasing
the exquisite collection from
Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ Mine
Diamond jewellery collection,
the video showcases the intrinsic
value of diamond jewellery and
how they are the perfect gift
to communicate a myriad of
emotions.
The message is beautifully
portrayed by Alia & Kareena
walking viewers through
numerous scenarios were
diamonds are gifted such as a
proposal, anniversary, birthday,
and other occasions / celebrations.
“It has been an absolutely
enjoyable experience being a part
of this video. It does a great job
of highlighting the momentous
all
Chery displays new ecology, technology & future at user summit
MUSCAT: On October 15, more
than 500 international media from
40 countries and regions, along
with Chery global users, gathered
in Wuhu, China to participate in
the 2023 Chery International User
Summit.
They witnessed the innovation
and development of Chery
cars in the ecological field and
experienced a grand feast of
technology and green.
Putting users at the centre and
building a brand-new user-centric
ecosystem has always been the
unchanging original intention of
Chery. It is also the core concept
that this summit aims to convey.
The Chery Ecological Release
is the key segment of the summit.
During the summit, Zhu Shaodong,
Deputy General Manager of Chery
International Corporation, delivered
an outstanding presentation about
Chery’s ecosystem to the present
guests, exploring a brand-new
model of integration between
to Chery and user ecosystems in the
future with them together.
In the sharing, Deputy General
Manager Zhu mentioned: With
nature of diamonds in all our
lives and how they can increase
the sparkle of any occasion”,
commented Kareena Kapoor
Khan.
Speaking on the success of the
video, Alia Bhatt said: “Diamonds
do let us speak our hearts and
this message could not have been
conveyed more effectively. The
fact that this video has crossed
more than a 100 million views
goes on to show how much people
A woman interacts with a robot during the Chery user summit.
the global automotive industry
advancing towards intelligence and
connectivity, cars are no longer just
simple means of transportation;
they are also mobile living spaces.
Cars now encompass various
life scenarios such as commuting,
camping, and family gatherings.
Chery is in the process of creating
have connected with the message”.
“Being the faces of the brand,
Kareena Kapoor Khan & Alia
Bhatt were perfectly poised to get
our message across, and they have
done so in the most amazing way.
I have every confidence that the
video will attract an even larger
viewership over the coming days,
so that our message is spread far
and wide”, commented Malabar
Group Chairman, M P Ahammed.
With over 335 showrooms
an automotive ecosystem and
its exclusive products based on
different scenarios, allowing us
to enjoy more convenient and
effortless future transportation and
travel experiences.
Solving the actual pain points
of user needs with robust product
capabilities and thoughtful services
across 11 countries in the Middle
East, the Far East, India, the
USA & the UK, Malabar Gold
& Diamonds is currently ranked
as the 6th largest jewellery
retailer globally. In addition to
their signature Mine-diamond
jewellery collection, the brand
also offers more than 25 exclusive
brands and collections, with
exquisite designs in Gold,
Diamonds & Precious Gem
jewellery.
is an essential mission for every
automotive company.
With keen insights into
personalised user car needs, Chery
continuously strengthens product
capabilities and layouts at home
and abroad.
It also focuses on user value in
the service sector, creating an
intelligent living circle integrating
“people, car, and life.”
This further solidifies the
foundation of services and
enhances service levels. It is
believed that with the continuous
deepening in the service sector,
Chery will undoubtedly gain
broader development space,
more support and trust from
users, leading Chinese brands to
continuous upward growth at
home and abroad.
Chery Automobile took the first
spot among all Chinese automotive
brands in JD Power 2023 China
Initial Quality Study (IQS). For more
details please visit https://china.
jdpower.com/press-release/2023-
IQS.
In Oman, Chery will soon be
launched by Saud Bahwan Group.

Lynk & Co SUV to transform Oman’s automotive scene

MUSCAT: Lynk & Co, the global
automotive brand renowned for
its innovative designs and cutting-
edge European technology, is
making its mark in Muscat, Oman.
Operating under the umbrella of
‘Mobility Auto LLC,’ a division of
the esteemed Towell Group, Lynk
& Co is proud to introduce its
latest SUV range model 01 which
has been recently launched in
Oman.
Lynk & Co’s commitment to
excellence extends beyond the
basics. With ‘Premium is standard’,
Lynk & Co is setting a benchmark
for urban driving experiences.
With a bold and stylish, the
car emerges as the ideal urban
companion, effortlessly navigating
the bustling streets of Muscat.
Its sleek and compact design
embodies agility and efficiency,
catering to daily commutes and
city adventures. With an array
of advanced safety features and
cutting-edge technology, the 01
ensures secure and enjoyable
journeys, instilling confidence in
every driver.
Enhanced driving experience
The Lynk & Co 01 takes your
driving experience to the next
level with its array of cutting-
edge features. Smart Connectivity
seamlessly integrates your digital
devices, ensuring you’re always
connected, no matter where your
journey takes you.
Its City-Smart Design makes
navigating urban landscapes a
breeze, effortlessly conquering
traffic jams. The Traffic Jam Assist
(TJA) and Highway Assist (HWA)
systems make driving through the
city and on highways a stress-free
and safe experience.
Exceptional visibility
is guaranteed with high-
performance double lens LED
headlights for clear night drives.
Sustainability meets style with
the eco-friendly TPO2 interior
panels, while the integrated sporty
premium seating system ensures
both comfort and sophistication.
Lighting, Dynamic Balanced Rear
Design, and Energy Cube LED
Taillight illuminate your journey,
while the full-spectrum ambient
lighting creates an atmosphere
of elegance. The advanced
infotainment system and the
futuristic HMI Interface keep you
well informed and entertained. For
the modern driver’s convenience,
wireless charging keeps devices
powered on the go, and intelligent
connectivity offers a seamless
experience
The 01 model achieves a perfect
balance between sportiness and
Inside, a high-tech comfort, ensuring every drive is
cockpit enhances your a pleasure. Safety is paramount,
driving experience, placing thanks to Advanced Driving
innovation at your fingertips. Assistance Systems (ADAS),
In addition, the Urban Matrix including the Emergency Lane
Air-Inlet Grille adds a distinctive Keeping Assistant (ELKA). The
touch to the vehicle’s exterior. air-purifying cabin safeguards
Inside, the Energy-Efficient occupants from external
contaminants, reflecting Lynk &
Co’s commitment to a clean and
healthy driving environment.
The Lynk & Co 01 is based
on the Compact Modular
Architecture platform which
underpins the Volvo XC40.
It shares share much of
its components with the
XC40, including its electrical
architecture, engines and safety
systems. Lynk & Co 01 rated with
5.5-stars in C-NCAP crash test.
Lynk & Co 01 model is set to
captivate the Omani automotive
market, delivering a new era of
driving experiences, advanced
technology, and uncompromising
safety.
The brand invites all automotive
enthusiasts to visit the new
showroom located in Muscat’s
Ghala Heights or call 7161 1137
to explore this remarkable vehicle.
 business

Cyclone Tej revives calls

for natural disaster risk
mitigation measures
FROM PAGE 13
A veteran of the insurance
sector, Al Jamalani says he has
made repeated representations
to the authorities calling for,
among other measures, the
establishment of a centralised
reinsurance company or a Natural
Catastrophe Fund to help mitigate
natural disaster related risks.
“Some officials argue that
insurance activities fall within
the domain of the private sector,
which should then step up and
address natural disaster risks. But
the reality is the private sector is
simple incapable of shouldering
this outsized role. But if you
look at other economies, there
are plenty of examples of
governments taking the initiative
to start centralised reinsurance to
support the private sector.”
In this regard, the industry
expert stressed the need for
a partnership between the
government and private sector
in building a capable insurance
industry, backed by international
reinsurers as well.
“It’s high time that the
government joins hands with
the private sector through
Oman Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, either to create a
new vehicle or to partner with
existing insurers. This step will
support investment inflows and
strengthen the performance of
the Omani riyal.”
Another emerging threat
is from earthquakes as was
evident from the recent tremor
reported a short distance offshore
from Sur, Al Jamalani said.
Risk mitigation measures against
seismic perils will necessitate,
among other things, a new
construction and building code
to ensure that installations and
buildings in quake-prone areas
are sturdy enough to withstand
tremors.
Likewise, subsidence problems
recorded in some hilly terrains
now warrant revised codes for
any construction activity in such
areas, he added.
Oman’s green hydrogen workshop
spotlights energy sustainability
NASRULAH AL AJMI
MUSCAT, OCT 23
The 18th International Conference
on “Hydrogen Power Theoretical
& Engineering Solutions
International Symposium:
(Hypothesis XVIII)” opened at
Sultan Qaboos University (SQU)
on October 23, 2023.
An integral component of this
3-day conference is a workshop
that seeks to increase awareness
and understanding of hydrogen
technologies. Collaborating in
the organisation of this workshop
are the College of Engineering
at Sultan Qaboos University, the
Centre for Sustainable Energy
Research, the Magal Energy and
Energy Efficiency Center, and
Erbrena Platform.
The overarching objective
of this training workshop is to
demystify the world of hydrogen
and accentuate the significance of
green hydrogen projects within
Oman. The workshop’s agenda
is a comprehensive exploration
of various key facets of hydrogen
business
T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 2 4 l 2 0 2 3
A 3-day workshop on the hydrogen energy landscape began at Sultan Qaboos
University on Monday.
energy.
It encompasses an introduction
to hydrogen energy, including
its role in the future energy
landscape and global energy
transition. Participants will delve
into the intricacies of hydrogen
production, encompassing
diverse techniques and processes
that underpin the creation of this
clean energy source.
OMANDAILYOBSERVER
The pivotal role played by
renewable energy sources in
generating green hydrogen will
be highlighted, showcasing the
sustainable aspects of this energy.
A look into the myriad
applications of hydrogen,
extending beyond vehicular
power, will showcase its versatility.
Efficient storage, a cornerstone
challenge in the hydrogen
15
industry, will be explained,
shedding light on various storage
methods and technologies.
Participants will explore the
safe and efficient transportation
of hydrogen, considering various
methods employed for its
movement. The workshop will
also cover the rising technologies
of fuel cells and electric vehicles
and their significance in the
hydrogen economy.
Additionally, this workshop
is designed to cater to a diverse
audience, including novices and
enthusiasts in renewable energy,
spanning various professional
backgrounds. School and
university students who are eager
to embark on a journey into
the hydrogen domain will find
valuable insights.
Also set to attend are graduate
students seeking to explore the
dynamic field of hydrogen energy
will benefit, professionals from
both private and public sector
companies involved in energy and
sustainability, and consultants
and investors.

Ferrari 269 GTS/ V6 is a symphony Integrated Gas Company

of precision, power and agility
KHALID AL BALUSHI
MUSCAT, OCT 23
Getting behind the wheel of a
Ferrari is far more than just a
test drive; it is a transcendental
journey into the world of
high-performance automotive
excellence. As you sink into the
embrace of the driver’s seat,
an electric anticipation surges
through your veins.
The Ferrari 269 GTS, a
groundbreaking V6 model, is a
testament to Ferrari’s enduring
commitment to innovation and
raw power, breaking the mould
of their traditional V8 and V12
line-up with a staggering 830
horsepower.
The moment the engine
awakens with a twist of the key,
you are greeted by a symphony of
mechanical mastery, a euphony
that resonates with the deepest
chords of any true car enthusiast’s
heart. It’s a primal reminder of
the immense power concealed
beneath that aerodynamic body,
sculpted to perfection for the
pursuit of speed.
Shifting gears, you’re
immediately connected to
the machine profoundly and
intimately.
Each gear change is a tactile
experience, propelling you
forward with an irresistible surge
of acceleration that pins you to
your seat. It is a dance between
man and machine, a symphony of
precision, power, and agility.
What sets a Ferrari apart is
its ability to transform ordinary
asphalt into a stage for pure
exhilaration.
The responsive brakes,
unwavering in their composure,
bring this high-performance
beast to a standstill in mere
moments, instilling a profound
confidence in your ability to tame
this potent force.
As you navigate the streets or
unleash the full potential of the
Ferrari on an open road, you
can’t help but notice the envious
glances from onlookers.
Ferrari’s design is a work of art,
a testament to the perfect fusion
of engineering and aesthetics.
It’s not just a car; it’s a rolling
masterpiece, a statement of
opulence and performance that
turns heads and stirs emotions
wherever it goes.
Driving a Ferrari isn’t just a
mere experience; it’s a sensation,
a blend of power, precision,
and artistry that leaves an
indelible mark on your soul. It’s a
symphony of the senses, a visceral
journey that transcends ordinary
driving and catapults you into the
extraordinary.
unveils new brand identity
MUSCAT: Integrated Gas Company SAOC (IGC),
a state-owned company, unveiled its new brand
identity as a pivotal player in the management of
the gas value chain as well as leading Oman towards
energy sustainability and net-zero ambitions.
IGC is mandated to manage allocations, assets,
rights and obligations as well as purchase, sale,
transportation, import, and export of natural gas and
its related products. This new identity, unveiled by the
Board of Directors of the Company is a significant
milestone marking a new era in Oman’s energy
landscape, emphasising collaboration, efficiency, and
sustainability.
As IGC is associated as an aggregator for identifying
potential opportunities to derive maximum value
and create impactful outcomes, its brand identity is
founded on the core idea of collaboration and value
creation and serves as a testament to Oman’s rich
heritage and its progressive vision for the future.
The new identity symbolises IGC’s commitment to
fostering ambitious relationships and honouring the
country’s legacy while embracing a modern, dynamic
future aligned with Oman Vision 2040.
Musallam Qatan, Chairman of the Board of
Directors of IGC said, “In unveiling our new
brand, we embark on a transformative journey that
symbolises a profound evolution of our company’s
essence. We believe in a future where innovation
knows no bounds, and inclusivity is our guiding light.
Our brand launch is a testament to our unwavering
commitment to progress, diversity, and excellence.”
Speaking on the occasion, Sultan al Burtumani,
New logo of
Oman’s Integrated
Gas Company.
Chief Executive Officer — said, “We are thrilled to
unveil Integrated Gas Company’s distinctive brand
identity, which symbolises not only our commitment
to collaboration, efficiency, and delivering sustainable
energy but also our deep respect for Oman’s rich
heritage.
As we embark on this transformative journey,
our brand stands as a beacon of unity, echoing the
values that Oman holds dear – respect, harmony, and
progress. With this dynamic identity, we embrace
our responsibility to drive Oman’s energy transition,
ushering in a future that is not only environmentally
sustainable but also economically vibrant.”
An integral element of the identity, the logo
is a modern interpretation of the word “Oman”.
It embodies the nation’s deep-rooted values of
respect, alliance, and unity. IGC aims to enhance
collaboration, create efficiencies, and boost economic
results within the gas sector.

Infrastructure and building materials exhibition opens

BALQEES AL HABSI
MUSCAT, OCT 23
Project Oman 2023, the
international construction
technology, infrastructure and
building materials exhibition
opens its doors for 2nd time at the
Oman Convention and Exhibition
Centre.
Over the course of three days,
Project Oman 2023 will be a
meeting point for project owners
and industry stakeholders on
the hunt for top-tier building
materials, cutting-edge products
and state-of-the-art equipment to
fuel their visionary projects.
The exhibition includes more
than 100 exhibitors hailing
from various parts of the globe,
including the Sultanate of Oman,
China, Austria, Iran, the United
Arab Emirates and South Korea
among others.
This exhibition emerges as a
beacon of opportunity, reinforcing
investment prospects within
Oman and bolstering international
trade relations and business
collaborations.
Simultaneously, running
Guests arrive during the
opening of Project Oman 2023. alongside the exhibition, a three-
day technical workshop promises
an enriching experience for
attendees. These engaging sessions
delve into a spectrum of topics,
ranging from power solutions
to building materials and the
integration of Artificial Intelligence
in construction.
The royal directives of His
Majesty Sultan Haitham bin
Tarik were to pay attention for
investors and project owners to
complete their transactions and
facilitate their procedures, in light
of the developments witnessed
by the Sultanate of Oman in
the investment and architecture
sectors.
 16 Opinion
NOOF MALALLAH
AL AJMI
The writer is a sustainable
logistics and supply chain
enthusiast.
W
hen Russian
forces
closed in
on Kyiv at
the start of
their attack last year, the staff at
Zavertailo, a popular bakery in
the Ukrainian capital, shut up
shop and began preparing free
salads for soldiers defending the
city.
Supplies dwindled as fighting
raged around Kyiv, and the
bakery’s finances collapsed as
managers continued to pay staff
salaries.
“Business completely came
to a halt, and there were no
revenues expected,” Anna
Zavertailo, the bakery’s founder,
said. “It took a lot of work to
slowly restart the businesses.”
But it paid off. This spring,
Zavertailo opened a second
bakery in Kyiv, encouraged by
growing customer demand as life
in the capital gradually adjusted
to wartime conditions and
returned to some semblance of
routine.
“New opportunities opened
up to us,” Viktoriia Kolomiiets,
Zavertailo’s chief operating
officer, said.
The bakery’s expansion is
part of a wider, albeit modest,
economic recovery in Ukraine.
Although Ukraine’s economic
output is still considerably
smaller than before the war —
the economy shrank by one-third
after Russia’s full-scale attack last
year — it will grow an estimated
3.5% this year, the World Bank
predicts.
The expansion is driven by a
pickup in domestic spending and
underpinned by a steady flow of
foreign financial aid.
Economists say it will take
many years for Ukraine’s
economy to return to its prewar
level, and forecasts in a time of
fierce fighting are bound to be
uncertain.
Enormous challenges lie
ahead, including the costly
rebuilding of the country’s
devastated cities, a government
deficit that will continue to
Unlocking the power of team building
T
eam building is
a crucial topic in
today’s business
climate, as firms
seek to improve
their productivity, profitability,
and quality through team-based
structures (Fapohunda, 2013).
Individuals need to work as a
team to accomplish and achieve
what they cannot do without each
other.
Nevertheless, many employees
have forgotten the importance of
teamwork in their personal lives
and, in the workplace particularly,
despite the fact that without
teamwork, they will lose their
motivations and inspirations (Ali
et al., 2021; Leonova et al., 2021;
Nahar & Zayed, 2019; Shil et al.,
2020; Tumpa & Zayed, 2016).
Building organisational teams
is increasingly being employed
as an adaptive method for
planned organisational change.
It is seen as a significant topic
in the current business climate,
as firms seek to increase their
productivity, profitability, and
service quality through team-
based structures (Fapohunda,
2013).
As a result, many people
Ukraine’s economy starts to rebound
CONSTANT MÉHEUT
The author is a reporter in
the Paris bureau of The New
York Times.
balloon as the war drags on,
and labor shortages caused by
an exodus of Ukrainians fleeing
the war and the mobilisation of
working-age citizens to fight it.
Still, local analysts and
businesspeople say, a sense of
resilience and relative stability
has taken hold after nearly
20 months of war, improving
confidence among consumers
and investors.
“Ukraine’s economy is
adapting to the war,” said Olena
Bilan, chief economist at the
Kyiv-based investment bank
Dragon Capital.
She added that people had
moved from a “savings mode” to
a situation where they now “feel
more relaxed and start to spend
more.”
The World Bank estimated
in a recent report that private
consumption in Ukraine
would grow 5% this year, after
contracting by more than a
quarter last year.
In cities such as Kyiv and
Dnipro, which are far from
the combat zone but remain
under threat from Russian air
attacks, customers are returning
to reopened restaurants and
resuming shopping.
“Today, most Ukrainians
understand that the war may
be prolonged, and they need
to continue living in these new
circumstances,” said Andriy
Cherukha, founder of Etnodim,
which produces vyshyvankas,
the traditional embroidered
Ukrainian shirts. He said sales
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this page are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the opinion of the Observer.
TUESDAY
believe that a team-based
structure is the ideal way to
involve all employees in the
creation of business success.
Team-based improvement
activities aim to improve business
results.
Consequently, it focuses on
bringing out the best in a team
to promote self-development,
effective communication,
leadership skills, and the ability to
solve challenges together (Heap,
1996).
While work environments
frequently focus on individuals
and personal goals, with reward
and recognition singling
out individual employees’
achievements, with effective
A man crosses a foot bridge near Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine. — The New York Times
in his shop had tripled this year
compared with last, driven in
part by a rise in patriotism.
Ukrainians, Cherukha added,
“continue to work and purchase
clothing and other items that
may not be considered essential
but are a way to maintain a sense
of normalcy.”
Olga Kustenko, a co-owner of
the First Point Espresso Bar in
the trendy Podil neighbourhood
of Kyiv, said people needed
routines to cope with the war.
Customers have returned to
her cafe, she said, because they
look for a familiar place to spend
time. She opened a second cafe
this spring to meet growing
demand.
The stronger-than-expected
spending has prompted financial
institutions to upgrade their
economic forecasts. Last week,
the International Monetary Fund
OCTOBER 24, 2023
team-building skills, employees
can be aligned around a common
goal to generate greater efficiency
(Dianna, 2006).
A series of team building
events have been conducted in
the shipping industry. One of the
examples is the Asyad Group,
Oman’s national logistics group
and the most comprehensive end-
to-end logistics provider in the
Middle East, notably the Supply
Chain Management Department
(SCM), conducted a Contract
and Procurement Team Building
Event.
The event centred on four key
skills: ownership, self-discovery,
teamwork, and problem-solving
skills. The activities were
predicted that the country’s
total output would rise 2% this
year, slightly less optimistic than
the World Bank’s forecast but
a significant upgrade from an
initial forecast for a 3% decline.
To be sure, Ukraine’s economy
is growing from a low base,
after the first year of the war
devastated the country’s main
economic assets. The Azovstal
steelworks, which accounted for
a fifth of Ukraine’s steel output,
was destroyed in the fighting for
Mariupol last year.
Growth rates can also be a
poor indicator of a country’s
economic health in wartime,
as output is often inflated by
military production, which is
ordered up by the government.
Ukraine’s government has
devoted much of its budget to
cover the army’s payroll and
support arms production.
chosen with care to strengthen
the company’s culture and to
establish a strong, trusted, and
highly collaborative Supply
Chain Management team. An
effective team-building exercise
will engage all team members and
assist them in connecting with
one another.
Team-building events give
employees numerous other
benefits aside from providing a
fun and innovative alternative to
bonding over happy hours. At the
base level, team building allows
people to get to know each other.
It promotes trust among teams
and allows them to demonstrate
their abilities, personalities, and
identities.
Furthermore, it helps
employees to increase their
communication level and
encourage collaboration.
At the personal level, it helps
the employees to build ownership
mindset by taking responsibility,
and initiative for tasks as they
arise.
Team ownership is all about
aligning workers toward a single
goal and the team being focused
and motivated enough to see that
goal through from start to end.
But economists say Ukraine’s
ability to adapt to wartime
challenges, such as keeping
the electricity flowing despite
Moscow’s winter campaign
against its energy infrastructure,
has helped put the economy on a
stabilizing path.
Maria Repko, deputy director
of the Kyiv-based Center for
Economic Strategy, noted that
the opening of new trade routes
to circumvent Moscow’s efforts
to block the Black Sea was also
helping a rebound in agricultural
exports, which made up the bulk
of Ukraine’s prewar income.
The World Bank estimates
that Ukraine’s overall exports
will continue to shrink this year
before growing 15% next year
and 30% in 2025 — a potential
economic lifeline if the war drags
on.
Much like Russia’s, Ukraine’s
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER
The event also shed light on
the significance of problem-
solving techniques, where each
employee addressed specific
challenges in the game and
listed the possible solutions to
overcome them.
It entails analysing a situation,
devising a plan of action, and
then carrying out that plan.
These skills are useful in
both personal and professional
situations.
Moreover, teamwork and
self-discovery are other skills
used to improve social relations
and define roles within teams.
By working in a team, employees
can discover themselves and offer
them an opening to pledge with
each other.
According to the team
building statistics recently
published by TeamStage (2023),
75% of employees believe that
cooperation and teamwork are
critical to organisational success.
Teams frequently perform
better when they collaborate with
a positive attitude to accomplish
a shared objective at work, it not
only benefits the organisation
but also affects the workers’
confidence and success.
economy is increasingly being
restructured around war. More
than half the government’s
spending next year, roughly
$46 billion, will be devoted to
defence.
But with little tax revenue
to finance this spending spree,
Ukraine’s budget deficit will
reach 21% of the country’s total
output next year, the Prime
Minister, Denys Shmyhal, said
last week. He added that his
government would need $42
billion in financial aid to cover
this shortfall.
That sum may prove difficult
to secure as support for Ukraine
wanes in the United States, by far
Kyiv’s biggest financial backer,
and as the world’s attention is
diverted by the war between
Israel and Gaza. “The situation
looks really worrisome,” Repko
said. — The New York Times
 TUESDAY OCTOBER 24, 2023 | RABEE AL THANI 9, 1445 AH

Classified Section
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 CULTURE
People walk
by statues
of oxen FILM
displayed French actress
outside a Juliette Binoche
market at attends a
Little India photocall for La
district in Passion de Dodin
Singapore. — Bouffant (The
AFP Pot au Feu) by
director Tran
Anh Hung at the
18th Rome Film
Fest. — AFP
BOLLYWOOD
MUSIC
Belgian music Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor
composer and poses during a photocall as he
singer Loic attends the Bollywood Hungama
Nottet reacts India Entertainment Awards 2023 FASHION
during the ceremony in Mumbai. — AFP
recording session A model parades an
of a prime time outfit by Australian
to celebrate the label Saint Stella M
70th anniversary during Melbourne
the French- Fashion Week in
speaking RTBF Melbourne. — AFP
public radio and
TV broadcast in
Liege. — AFP

TUESDAY | OCTOBER 24, 2023 | RABEE AL THANI 9, 1445 AH

&

‘Ramad’ bags coveted

BY BALQEES ALORAIMI
Golden Oyster
at Nouakchott
International Film
Festival
faced with societal pressure. “Ramad” and the broader port, and marketing as some
A doctor, however, strives to Omani film industry, offer- of the prominent hurdles.

T
he Omani short film
‘Ramad’ directed by
Sulaiman al Khalili,
achieved a remarkable
milestone by clinching the top
prize for the best internation-
al short feature film – the
Golden Oyster – at the inau-
gural session of the
Nouakchott International
Film Festival 2023 in
Mauritania. This honour
marks a significant triumph
for the film and the burgeon-
ing film industry in the
Sultanate of Oman, reflecting
the country’s growing ambi-
tions on the global stage.
Produced by the Omani
Film Society as part of their
strategic plan to bolster
domestic film production,
“Ramad” offers a poignant
narrative set in a mountain
village during the 1990s. The
story unfolds when a teenage
daughter of a local family is
found to be pregnant and
save her life after uncovering
a medical error.
Suleiman al Khalili, the
film’s writer and director,
expressed his elation at win-
ning the top honour for the
best short narrative film in
an international film festival.
He emphasised that this
achievement is not just a per-
sonal triumph but a collective
success for the entire team
involved in the making of the
film. It symbolises a signifi-
cant addition to Oman’s film
industry, showcasing the
country’s potential on the
global cinema stage. Al
Khalili’s enthusiasm stems
from the fact that “Ramad”
had only recently participat-
ed in the Bahrain Film Festival
earlier in the month and the
International Islamic Film
Festival in Kazan, Russia, last
September.
Youssef al Balushi, one of
the lead actors in “Ramad,”
highlighted the film’s jour-
ney from its first screening
to its presence in various
film festivals, where it gar-
nered acclaim and recogni-
tion. The film’s participation
in the Nouakchott
International Film Festival’s
debut session holds a spe-
cial place as the festival is
known for its stiff competi-
tion and renowned names,
significantly contributing to
the realms of Arab and
African cinema. Al Balushi
credits the Omani Film
Society as a major driving
force behind the success of
ing crucial support to vari-
ous films that have made a
mark at regional and inter-
national festivals.
“Ramad” is a testament to
the creative potential of
Omani film-makers, and Al
Balushi believes that winning
an international award is a
source of pride for every film-
maker in Oman. Such acco-
lades underscore that Omani
film-makers are formidable
competitors on the world
stage and that the country’s
film production is on a trajec-
tory of growth, putting Oman
on the global film production
map. Successes like these
serve as a motivating force
for film-makers to continue
their pursuit of excellence in
future projects.
While reflecting on the
challenges faced during the
production of “Ramad,” Al
Khalili highlighted financial
constraints, logistical sup-
The film’s narrative demand-
ed a specific, mountainous
village setting, requiring
extensive research and
increasing production costs.
Additionally, the film’s histori-
cal context required meticu-
lous attention to detail.
Despite these challenges, the
entire film crew’s unwavering
dedication and hard work
prevailed.
The director emphasised
the importance of dedicating
considerable attention to film
production. Film-making is a
complex process that
requires patience, from the
inception of the story to its
development, production, and
post-production stages.
Creativity is at the heart of
film-making, and through
relentless effort and commit-
ment, film-makers can
achieve positive and impact-
ful results.
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Did a computer write

this? Book industry
grapples with AI
FROM LOW-QUALITY computer-
written books flooding the mar-
ket to potential copyright viola-
tions, publishing is the latest
industry to feel the threat from
rapid developments in artificial
intelligence.
Since the launch last year of
ChatGPT, an easy-to-use AI chat-
bot that can deliver an essay
upon request within seconds,
there have been growing wor-
ries about the impact of genera-
tive AI on a range of sectors.
Among book industry players
there is “a deep sense of insecu-
rity”, said Juergen Boos, director
of the Frankfurt Book Fair, the
world’s biggest, where the topic
was in focus last week.
They are asking “what hap-
pens to authors’ intellectual
property? Who does new content
actually belong to? How do we
bring this into value chains?” he
said.
The threat is plain to see — AI
writing programmes allow bud-
ding authors to produce in a
matter of day novels that could
in the past have taken months or
years to write.
A flood of titles that list
ChatGPT as a co-author have
been offered for sale through
Amazon’s e-book self-publishing
unit.
Still, critics say the works are
of low quality and sense little
threat from AI for now.
British author Salman Rushdie
told a press conference at the
fair that recently someone asked
an AI writing tool to produce 300
words in his style.
“And what came out was pure
garbage,” said the “Midnight’s
Children” writer, to laughter
from the audience.
“Anybody who has ever read
300 words of mine would imme-
diately recognise that it could
not possibly be by me.”
STILL NOT GREAT
Jennifer Becker, a German
author and academic, echoed
his sentiments, telling a panel
discussion that the results when
it comes to AI writing fiction “are These areas were “easier than Grisham and Jodi Picoult were Efforts are being made to
still not that great”. the field of fiction, where I think among several writers who filed make it clearer when AI has
“There is a lot of potential to at the moment people still tend a class-action lawsuit against been involved in producing a
use it — to use it collaboratively. to look a bit more at the risks”, ChatGPT creator OpenAI over book.
“But I still don’t see the point she added. alleged violation of copyrights. Amazon recently released
where we really hand over the Artificial intelligence’s rela- Along with the Authors Guild, new guidelines that require
writing work to AI completely tionship with publishing threat- an organisation representing authors who want to sell books
autonomously. That wouldn’t ens to throw up a host of legal writers, they accused the through its self-publishing unit
make for an interesting book.” problems, with one major “grey California-based company of to tell the company in advance if
Industry players stress how- area” being who owns copyright using their books “without per- their work includes material
ever that in some areas there is of AI-generated content, said fair mission” to train ChatGPT’s generated using artificial intelli-
more openness to dealing with director Boos. “large language models”, algo- gence.
artificial intelligence. “Then you get into a real mess, rithms capable of producing And some recognise the
“It depends a bit on the genre,” and it is a huge theme. There is human-sounding text responses opportunities when it comes to
said Susanne Barwick, deputy also really a lot of money based on simple queries, accord- AI and writing — for example, in
legal adviser of the German involved,” he said. ing to the lawsuit. producing stereotypical
Publishers and Booksellers Translation is another thorny romance novels.
Association, who has been in dis- LEGAL CLASHES area, with some industry players This, Boos joked, could bring
cussion about AI with publishers. There are already AI-related feeling artificial intelligence “some relief” that “people don’t
“The field of science and spe- legal clashes involving top writ- would miss the nuances and have to deal with that kind of
cialist books is already further ers. subtleties needed to render com- content any more, and it can
along and has already dealt with Last month, “Game of Thrones” plex literature into other lan- simply be generated at home on
it more.” author George RR Martin, John guages. the computer”. — AFP

laborates with law enforcement ucts Regulatory Agency (MHRA),

HEALTH and other authorities. then said on Wednesday that
Lilly said its strategy includes injection pens falsely labelled as
deterring major counterfeiters of Ozempic had been identified at
its products through investiga- two UK wholesalers.

Demand for weight tions, internet monitoring and

legal actions and partnering with
government and non-government
organisations and trade associa-
A World Health Organization
spokesperson said use of such
drugs could pose significant
health risks.

loss drugs fuels global tions.

rise in counterfeits
EXTRAORDINARY DEMAND for
Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and other
drugs used for weight-loss is fuel-
ling a global surge in counterfeit
versions, according to Reuters
interviews with law enforcement,
anti-counterfeiting and public
health officials.
The US-based Pharmaceutical
Security Institute (PSI), an indus-
try-backed organisation that
counts drugmakers Novo Nordisk
and Eli Lilly as members, said it is
working with agencies, including
Europol, Interpol and US
Homeland Security, as well as
companies that help identify
counterfeit products such as
Israel’s BrandShield.
Their combined efforts include
opening inquiries into complaints
of fake drugs, trolling e-commerce
and social media for purchase
offers or advertisements and
teaching customs officials how to
spot counterfeits.
Novo’s Ozempic, approved to
treat diabetes, contains the active
ingredient semaglutide, which is
also used in the company’s weight
loss drug, Wegovy.
Both are being used by people
seeking to shed pounds, as is
Lilly’s Mounjaro, which is currently
approved for diabetes and expect-
ed to get a green-light from the US
Food and Drug Administration to
treat obesity in the coming
months. All three medicines are in
short supply amid a global obesity
epidemic and high rates of diabe-
tes.
“These weight loss drugs are a
hot topic right now because
they’re on TV and getting a lot of
media attention. If I’m a criminal
organisation, that’s the next
opportunity I go ahead and
exploit,” said Jim Mancuso, direc-
tor of the US Department of
Homeland Security’s Intellectual
Property Rights Coordination
Center.
Mancuso said the agency is
also working with Europol, Interpol
and around 23 other law enforce-
ment agencies on tracking weight-
loss drugs to quell what they
believe could become the worst
tide of counterfeit lifestyle medi-
cines since erectile dysfunction
drugs like Viagra.
Though Novo stresses that its
medicines Ozempic and Wegovy
are indicated for the treatment of
diabetes and weight-loss, respec-
tively, the weekly injection drugs
have become household names in
America for their use off-label as
lifestyle treatments.
Novo said in a statement to
Reuters that it works closely with
PSI and other organisations to
“share data accurately and pro-
vide an informed picture on the
status of these crimes”, and col-
‘SO MANY CASES’ Ozempic is
the biggest target so far in Europe,
according to a Europol official
who requested anonymity
because he was not authorised to
speak. Fake weight-loss drugs will
be a key focus in the agency’s
annual counterfeit medicines
report, due next year, the official
said.
“We have counterfeit products
and stolen products,” the official
said. “We have so many cases.”
Counterfeit Ozempic has
already been found in at least 14
countries, including the UK,
Germany, Egypt and Russia.
Several have issued warnings to
pharmacies and consumers to be
vigilant about counterfeits, since it
is not clear what they actually
contain.
Germany’s federal drug regula-
tor last week urged pharmacies
and drug distributors to be vigi-
lant following the discovery of
wholesale batches of fake
Ozempic.
Britain’s regulator, the
Medicines and Healthcare prod-
“We will look online and if we
find something that infringes (obe-
sity drug trademarks) we’ll get it
taken down,” said Yoav Keren,
BrandShield CEO. “Sometimes PSI
and its members will do sample
purchases,” he said. When a con-
sumer buys those fakes, “what you
get are expired drugs, counterfeit
drugs, or nothing,” he added.
An officer for Interpol said that
counterfeit obesity drugs because
of their high prices are largely
being sold in affluent countries,
including those in North America,
Europe and the Middle East, unlike
most fake drugs that tend to be
marketed in poorer regions.
MHRA said reports related to
potentially falsified GLP-1s, the
class of drug that includes Wegovy,
Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s diabetes
drug Mounjaro, had risen from
two in 2022 to as many as 20 this
year.
Ireland’s Health Products
Regulatory Authority said that it
has confiscated 233 units of coun-
terfeit semaglutide compared
with 32 units in 2022.
— REUTERS

T U E S DAY l O C TO B E R 2 4 l 2 0 2 3
A glimpse of
artistic brilliance
KAUSHALENDRA SINGH
@patkaushal
T
HE Sultanate of
Oman has a rich
cultural heritage,
says acclaimed
art curator
Meghna Vyas Arora, who
was in Muscat recently to
attend an important cultural
event at the National
Museum of Oman.
She felt the cultural nerve
of the country during her
“short yet fruitful” stay in
Muscat and her visit to the
National Museum to curate
the ongoing exhibition titled
‘India on Canvas’ – a presen-
tation of the National Gallery
of Modern Art (NGMA), New
Delhi in collaboration with
the National Museum of
Oman.
The exhibition will run until
January 31, 2024, showcasing
the artworks of iconic artists
Raja Ravi Varma, Nandalal
Bose, Jamini Roy, and Amrita
Sher-Gil, among others.
“The exhibition is a signifi-
cant celebration of India’s
rich artistic heritage. It is
featuring the artworks
declared as ‘national treas-
ures’. The exhibits are not
only the creative brilliance
but also highlight the histori-
cal and cultural significance
of their contributions to
Indian art. The paintings
serve as powerful narra-
tives, conveying stories of
struggle, triumph, spirituali-
ty, and social change, thus
reflecting the diverse and
vibrant cultural landscape
of India,” said Meghna while
commenting on why the
exhibition is special.
Modern Indian school of
painting, according to her, is
distinctive. “The art of the
Indian subcontinent is a
captivating amalgamation of
diverse and innovative ideas.
The richness of Indian art is
deeply rooted in the coun-
try’s cultural diversity, which
is influenced by a multitude
of beliefs, languages, tradi-
tions, and historical influ-
ences. This diversity has
given rise to a multifaceted
approach to art, where vari-
ous styles, techniques, and
themes coexist and inter-
act.”
She called India’s art her-
itage incredibly vast and
varied, encompassing clas-
sical forms like classical art,
dance, music, and tradition-
al arts and crafts, as well as
contemporary art forms
such as modern painting,
sculpture, and digital art.
ART
Meghna Vyas Arora
Each India region has unique
artistic traditions, reflecting
cultural and historical influ-
ences.
“Indian art often incorpo-
rates spiritual and philo-
sophical ideas, resulting in
art that is not only visually
appealing but also deeply
meaningful and thought-
provoking. Themes of
mythology, spirituality,
nature, and social issues are
frequently explored, creat-
ing a rich tapestry of artistic
expression. India’s art scene
is visually captivating and
intellectually stimulating,
with artists exploring a wide
range of subjects, from
mythology to social issues.”
She called the collabora-
tion between NGMA and the
National Museum of Oman
significant due to their roles
as custodians of art, herit-
age and culture. “Oman val-
ues and appreciates art. The
Omani government and
institutions like the National
Museum of Oman have
shown significant support
for the arts and cultural ini-
tiatives.”
Similarly, the NGMA is a
leading and esteemed muse-
um in India. It was inaugu-
rated on March 29, 1954.
Housed in Jaipur House,
New Delhi, the NGMA
expanded over time due to
its growing art collection,
necessitating the construc-
tion of a new wing. Both
Jaipur House and the New
Wing now serve as reposito-
ries of India’s cultural herit-
age, spanning over 150 years
of visual arts, she said.
“The gallery’s prestigious,
extensive and diverse art
collection, dating back to the
1850s, showcases India’s
artistic past while celebrat-
ing modernist interventions
and contemporary expres-
sions. It has approximately
eighteen thousand works of
art in its collection, including
paintings, drawings, print-
making, sculptures, photog-
raphy, ceramics, installa-
tions and new media.”
Commenting on the
importance of the ‘India on
Canvas’ exhibition in pro-
moting cultural collabora-
tion between India and
Oman, Meghna said, “Art
exhibitions like this play a
vital role in fostering cultur-
al exchange, promoting
artistic dialogue, and
enhancing mutual under-
standing between nations.
They offer a glimpse into the
artistic brilliance of a coun-
try while encouraging view-
ers to appreciate the univer-
sal themes. Through initia-
tives like these, art becomes
a bridge that connects peo-
ple, fostering a shared
appreciation for creativity
and cultural heritage.”
“Art exhibitions promote
goodwill between nations.
They create positive interac-
tions that can extend beyond
the realm of art and contrib-
ute to strengthening diplo-
matic relations. These initia-
tives create an atmosphere
where art becomes a uni-
versal language that enrich-
es and fosters connections.
Such exhibitions play a vital
role in promoting mutual
respect among nations,” she
said.
Meghna sensed Oman’s
love and appreciation for art
and called the works of con-
temporary artists “Omani
society’s deep-rooted appre-
ciation for its heritage where
artists often draw inspira-
tion from the country’s his-
tory, traditions, and natural
beauty.”
Oman values and appreci-
ates art. She said that the
Omani government and
institutions like the National
Museum of Oman have
shown significant support
for the arts and cultural ini-
tiatives.
French cult
film ‘La Haine’
to return as
musical
NEARLY 30 YEARS after the release
of cult film “La Haine” — a ground-
breaking look at France’s suburban
ghettos — it is returning in the form of
a hip-hop stage musical.
The film’s director Mathieu
Kassovitz — best known internation-
ally as the star of TV spy series “The
Bureau” — is behind the adaptation,
set to open in a Paris theatre next
year.
“My PR people don’t want me to call
it a musical because it’s a bit corny,”
Kassovitz said with a smile.
“It’s more modern than a classic
musical. Hip-hop allows for a more
natural approach, it makes sense to
have a musical exchange that way.”
He compared the show’s approach
to French film classics like “The
Umbrellas of Cherbourg” from 1964 in
which “there’s no explanation why
people are breaking into song in the
middle of a scene”.
“La Haine” (Hate) won Kassovitz best
director at the Cannes Film Festival
when he was just 27 in 1995 and made
a star of Vincent Cassel as one of a
trio of friends in a poor neighbour-
hood outside Paris engulfed by riots
over police violence.
France has twice been similarly
convulsed by major unrest in its res-
tive suburbs since the movie, the lat-
est riots earlier this year.
Production was already well under
way when a 17-year-old, identified only
as Nahel, was killed in June by a police
officer during a traffic stop outside
Paris, sparking violent protests
nationwide.
Kassovitz said Nahel’s death was
different to the events of the film, “but
for 30 years I have been called up
every month to comment on some
blunder.”
“These images remind everyone
that it never stopped, that’s why we
have this poster,” he said, pointing to
the slogan of the play that reads “La
Haine: so far nothing has changed”.
The stage show will feature some
30 dancers and around 15 original
songs.
Kassovitz, 56, who has been
acclaimed for his performances in
“Amelie” and “A Self-Made Hero”, is
recovering from a horrific motorcy-
cle accident last month but said that
he was “fine”.
He said he wants the show to recre-
ate the “emotion, laughter and rhythm”
of the three friends at the centre of
the film, which made it so popular
despite its hard-hitting subject.
“We grabbed people by the collar, we
took them on a journey,” he said.
While Said Taghmaoui and Hubert
Kounde who starred alongside Cassel
at the time were lauded by critics,
their careers did not take off in the
same way. Taghmaoui, however, has
since carved himself out a solid niche
as a character actor in major
Hollywood movies including “Three
Kings”, “John Wick 3” and “Wonder
Woman”. — AFP