8 Established 1961 Wednesday, February 28, 2018 International ‘Beast from the East’ sends Arctic blast across Europe 2 killed as snow, sub-zero temperatures paralyze Europe PARIS: A blast of Siberian weather sent temperatures sures next week linked to this weekend’s general election. plunging across much of Europe yesterday, causing Public anger was also growing over the disruptions to rail headaches for travelers and leading to several deaths from services across the country, as travelers learned that many exposure as snow carpeted palm-lined Mediterranean track switches did not have defrosting equipment, meaning beaches. The icy weather is in stark contrast to conditions they had to be dug out by hand.In Naples, the airport was in the Arctic itself, which is experiencing an “off-the- closed yesterday and bus services in the city halted charts” heatwave this week, according to the European because of ice. And a driver in Turin got a fright when a Geosciences Institute. Meteorologists have documented stalactite broke off from an overhead bridge and shattered temperatures above freezing in some parts of the Arctic, his windshield-though he managed to keep control of his causing astonishment among many scientists. vehicle. One of the coldest points overnight was at Glattalp But to the south swathes of Europe were shivering in Switzerland, where the temperature fell to -38 Celsius- under temperatures well below freezing, claiming at least extreme even for the high-altitude area (1,850 meters), 10 lives across the conti- according to the ATS news nent in a snap dubbed agency. In France, which has “the Beast from the East” remained frigid but dry dur- by British tabloids. At ing the cold snap, forecast- least five deaths were Schools closed ers warned of heavy snow reported in Poland across much of the country alone on Monday as the as snow buries starting Wednesday though mercury dropped to spring-like temperatures minus 16 Celsius (minus cars, homes would soon follow. 4 Fahrenheit) overnight Yesterday, residents of in Warsaw. That brought in Croatia Ajaccio on the French the number of Polish Mediterranean island of deaths from freezing to Corsica woke up to some 53 since November 1, 15 centimeters of snow on and temperatures are the beach, something not expected to remain below minus 12 Celsius across the seen since 1986. At least three people have died during SCARBOROUGH: A couple walk their dog on the beach as heavy snow falls in the sea side resort of Scarborough in North country yesterday, with the cold accentuated by a bit- the cold snap in France. Across the continent, authorities Yorkshire. A blast of Siberian weather sent temperatures plunging across much of Europe yesterday, causing headaches for ing wind. have been opening emergency shelters and increasing travelers and leading to several deaths from exposure as snow carpeted palm-lined Mediterranean beaches. —AFP In Lithuania, temperatures dropped to as low as minus relief efforts for the homeless. The mayor of Etterbeek in 26 degrees Celsius overnight, and one suspected death of a Belgium said those sleeping rough would be forcibly have called the “beast from the east” brought the coldest Record snowfall of 182 cm paralyzed the northern man from freezing was reported in the capital Vilnius. In detained if they refused to go to shelters, citing the temperatures for years to many regions. The freeze was Croatian town of Delnice and rescue services took several Britain, authorities warned of five to 10 centimeters of snow “major risk” from exposure to the cold. In Berlin, rising expected to continue for much of the week. hours to evacuate residents in the nearby village of Mrzle yesterday and the likelihood of travel delays on roads, rail fears for homeless people led officials to open an addi- In southern Romania, an 83-year-old woman from Vodice. Temperatures hit a low of -20 degrees Celsius in networks and at airports, while electricity and even mobile tional 100 beds, with the city’s shelters, now with a total Adancata was found collapsed in the snow and died on the Zavizan on the Velebit mountain. Schools were closed in phone service may be cut in some areas. On Monday, of 1,200 beds, more than 90 percent full, RBB public way to hospital, the Institute for Emergency Situations Bucharest and ten Romanian counties as well as across British Airways cancelled more than 60 short-haul flights radio reported. (ISU) said. A 65-year-old man was found dead late on western and central Croatia. The roofs of dozens of houses either departing or arriving from London Heathrow airport. Monday in the eastern county of Suceava, an official told collapsed under the weight of snow in the Unsko-Sanski Two dead in Romania state news agency Agerpres. Parts of a motorway linking canton in northwestern Bosnia. State-run RTCG TV Stalactite near miss Two people were found dead in Romania as snow and the capital Bucharest to Constanta and dozens of other reported that Montenegro’s main Golubovci airport was Some of the iciest conditions were reported in Italy, sub-zero temperatures across much of Europe saw flights roads were closed. More than 80 trains and 15 flights were closed for several hours overnight. A rare snowstorm in where many schools and daycare centers were closed, to cancelled, road and rail transport disrupted and schools cancelled, Romanian police said, and Romania’s Black Sea Rome on Monday prompted Italian authorities to call in the consternation of parents already preparing for clo- closed yesterday. A Siberian weather system forecasters ports were closed. the army to help clear the streets.—Agencies

News in brief whether Sanchez, head of the ANC, a hugely influential Catalan separatists pro-independence citizens’ group, was being considered as candidate for the Catalan presidency, he said: “This is UK terror plots foiled an option that is being worked on.” According to Spanish to appoint president media, Puigdemont would take on a “symbolic” role from LONDON: British police foiled four extreme right- Belgium. wing terror plots in 2017, according to the country’s MADRID: Catalan separatist parties are considering chief counter-terrorism officer, warning of a “signifi- Leading from jail? appointing jailed civil society leader Jordi Sanchez as cant” threat. “The right-wing terrorist threat is more But choosing Sanchez, 53, is likely to cause further regional president as their negotiations to try and find a significant and more challenging than perhaps the problems as he has been in prison for more than four suitable candidate draw to a close, a lawmaker said. The public debate gives it credit for,” Mark Rowley said months, charged with sedition over his role in the seces- parties-which form an absolute majority in the Catalan in a speech late on Monday. “Right-wing terrorism sion attempt. He is accused of encouraging a major parliament-have been negotiating for weeks over who to wasn’t previously organized here,” said Rowley, who protest in September as Spanish police raided the is stepping down this year. He added: “A deeply pick as candidate for the regional presidency as Catalan administration’s economic offices in the run-up concerning characteristic is how both far-right and Catalonia’s sacked leader Carles Puigdemont is in self- to a banned independence referendum. The October bid also Islamist terrorism are growing, allowing each exile in Belgium. Puigdemont wants to govern Catalonia to break from Spain prompted Prime Minister Mariano MADRID: In this file photo, Catalan National Assembly side to reaffirm their grievances and justify their remotely but Spain’s Constitutional Court has made his Rajoy to sack the region’s government, dissolve its par- (ANC) president Jordi Sanchez, who is under investigation actions.” Britain was hit by five terror attacks last appointment conditional on his physical presence in liament and call snap elections in December. for sedition, gives a thumbs-up as he arrives to the High year, four Islamist-inspired and one extreme right- regional capital Barcelona-and he faces arrest if he Sanchez, who was second on Puigdemont’s Together Court in Madrid. — AFP wing. In 2016, a neo-Nazi sympathizer assassinated returns over his role in the attempt to break from Spain. for Catalonia list in the polls, was elected as a regional British MP Jo Cox in her constituency in northern “A deal is imminent,” said Carles Campuzano of lawmaker. If he is chosen as candidate to lead Catalonia, England.—AFP Puigdemont’s PdeCAT party on Spanish radio late on it will be up to a Supreme Court judge to allow him out of Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras. And even if Monday, as Catalonia remains without a regional govern- jail to be officially appointed at a parliamentary session Sanchez was allowed to go to the session, he would then ment and under Madrid’s direct rule following a failed in Barcelona. This in theory is possible, even if the judge have to govern from jail and ask to be freed to attend Holy site stays shut declaration of independence on October 27. Asked previously refused such a request made by jailed, former other meetings.—AFP

JERUSALEM: The church in Jerusalem built at the traditional site of Jesus’ (PBUH) burial remained The apparent openness to negotiations closed for a third day yesterday as Christian lead- terrorism tactics and capabilities from Afghan Taleban is unusual for the militant group, which has becoming widely known and limit the ers protested against Israeli tax measures and a repeatedly stated that it will not enter talks Singapore to bar footage available for propaganda use by controversial proposed law. Christian leaders calls for direct until foreign troops leave the country. closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Afghan political analyst Abdul Bari said terrorist groups and their followers, added Sunday at noon in a rare move, leaving thousands increased US pressure on the Taleban and communications Bould, a former captain in the British Army. of pilgrims and tourists seeking to visit what many talks with US on Pakistan in recent months had forced the Introduced in parliament on Tuesday, see as the holiest site in Christianity locked out- militants’ hand. But he urged caution, saying from terror sites the Public Order and Safety (Special side. Church officials say the church will be closed that both the US and the Taleban have used Powers) Bill 2018 would allow police to KABUL: The Taleban has called for direct until further notice as they seek to pressure Israeli such carrot and stick policies for years. “It issue a “communications stop order” fol- talks with the US to find a “peaceful solu- authorities to reverse their measures. The church is too soon to know whether they are very SINGAPORE: Singapore yesterday pro- lowing approval from the home affairs min- tion” to the conflict in Afghanistan, in an is built where Christians believe Jesus (PBUH) was honest this time. The group has always posed a new law to prevent people at ter- ister, the Ministry of Home Affairs said. apparent policy shift after months of esca- crucified, buried and resurrected. Custody of it is rejected any talks offer in the past,” he said. ror attack sites from taking photographs or That would “require all persons in the inci- lating attacks. Civilian casualties surged in shared by the Greek Orthodox, Armenian and videos or communicating about police dent area to stop making or communicat- recent months as militants from the Taleban Roman Catholic denominations. —AFP Escalation operations, a measure security experts say ing films or pictures of the incident area, unleashed a wave of bloodshed in urban More than 16 years since the US inva- would be among the first of its kind world- and stop communicating text or audio areas and on security forces in response to sion, less than 60 percent of Afghanistan’s wide. Although the wealthy city-state messages about the ongoing security Five soldiers killed a new open-ended military policy by US territory is under the Afghan government’s ranks as one of the safest countries global- operations in the incident area,” it said in a President Donald Trump. In a statement control or influence, NATO figures have ly, authorities say it has been a target of statement. The new measures would also posted late Monday, the Taleban said it shown, with the rest controlled or contested Islamic extremists since the 1990s and they cover journalists, and breaches could lead to BOGOTA: Five soldiers were killed and 10 others “calls on American officials to talk directly injured in an attack by presumed ELN rebels near by the Taleban and other militant groups. have stepped up efforts to deter terrorism a maximum fine of S$20,000 ($15,200) and to the Political Office of Islamic Emirate prison terms of up to two years, a ministry the border with Venezuela, the head of the Unveiling his new Afghan strategy last in recent years. regarding a peaceful solution to the Afghan spokeswoman said. Information leaks to ter- Colombian army said yesterday. Army General August, Trump said the US presence in “I’m not aware of any other countries quandary”, using the name it calls itself. rorists could risk the lives of security officers Ricardo Gomez, who gave the toll, told W Radio Afghanistan would remain open-ended, as taking such a proactive stance against the The statement referenced local reports and those caught up in an attack, the min- station that the soldiers were on highway security Washington dramatically stepped up strikes propagation of images or information dur- that said US envoy Alice Wells had suggest- istry said, citing media coverage of police duty in the department of Norte de Santander, when on militant strongholds. ing a terrorist incident,” said Dan Bould, ed during a recent visit to Kabul that a win- operations in a 2015 attack on a Jewish deli they were hit by an attack using explosives. Peace The US has also increased pressure on Asia director of crisis management at Aon, dow was still open for talks. It came days in Paris and a 2008 attack in India’s financial talks between the government and the ELN guerril- neighboring Pakistan, which it accuses of which provides services such as risk man- before the second round of a regional agement. The measure would stop counter- capital of Mumbai.—Reuters las have been suspended since January.—AFP supporting the Taleban, freezing millions in peace conference in Kabul, where repre- aid in January and last week pushing to sentatives from 25 countries will discuss have the country included on a terror Maldives protesters arrested counter-terrorism and conflict resolution financing watchlist. Analysts have suggest- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by using strategies in the war, which US officials ed that the pressure may be driving a surge Pro-Kurdish MPs the term “caricature of a sultan”, while have described as a stalemate. Washington in attacks on soft targets including a spate Ayhan is charged with making “terror MALE: Maldives police arrested at least another four has long called for talks with the Taleban, of deadly assaults in Kabul in January, propaganda” after praising a Kurdish anti- opposition members under state of emergency laws but historically insisted that any dialogue stripped of seats including on a luxury hotel and a massive jihadist fighter. HDP parliamentary faction for protesting against President Abdulla Yameen’s must include the Afghan government in government, the opposition said yesterday. The top ambulance bomb which detonated in a chief Filiz Kerestecioglu described the Kabul. There has been no response to the decision as “shameful”, saying the country court in the Maldives validated last week a 30-day crowded street. ANKARA: The Turkish parliament yester- Taleban’s offer from US officials. was in the throes of a “civilian coup”. extension of the state of emergency, which was Trump ruled out holding talks with the day stripped two more MPs from the Kabul urged the militants to take “prac- Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) of their Former party leaders Selahattin sought by Yameen over what he has called a national Taleban in the wake of those attacks, though tical steps”, with government spokesman mandates, the party said, in the latest blow Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag are among security threat and constitutional crisis. Opposition State Department officials have insisted they Haroon Chakhansori adding that “all doors to the embattled pro-Kurdish faction. The nine HDP MPs currently in jail on charges politicians defied a police order to stop protesting still hope to bring the insurgents to the for peace talks are open”. “If they are government accuses the HDP of being a of links to the PKK which they deny. A after 10.30 pm local time on Monday and continued Afghans they should come and talk to the negotiating table. The Afghan capital will host the latest Kabul Process conference political wing of the banned Kurdistan total of nine HDP lawmakers have been to demand that Yameen implement a Supreme Court Afghan government, the US will not talk to Workers Party (PKK) which has waged an stripped of their mandates, including some ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposi- them,” he told a press conference. But a today, with President Ashraf Ghani vowing his government will “present a comprehen- over three decade insurgency against the of those jailed. In total, only 46 of the 59 tion leaders and ordered the release of politicians and senior Taleban commander said yesterday Turkish state. The HDP denies the charges. HDP deputies elected in the last 2015 polls officials held in prison. The Maldivian Democratic that the group had little interest in including sive peace plan for Taleban and Pakistan”. The closest Kabul has come to direct peace The deputy head of the HDP’s parlia- can carry out their duties in parliament. Party, the main opposition party, said on Twitter the Afghan government-or Islamabad, the mentary faction Ahmet Yildirim and fellow The HDP emerged as the third largest par- police had arrested Mohamed Ameeth and Abdulla militants’ historic backers-in the potential talks with the Taleban was in 2015 in Pakistan. But the nascent dialogue was scut- MP Ibrahim Ayhan had their lawmaker sta- ty in parliament after the 2015 elections Ahmed, two lawmakers who had defected from sit down. “We are the real parties, so let’s sit but analysts say in the current circum- tled days later when Afghan officials tus taken away from them at a plenary ses- Yameen’s party, and two more from other opposition and talk directly, without the presence of stances it will struggle to top the 10 per- announced that Taleban supremo Mullah sion of parliament, the party said in a parties late on Monday.—Reuters any third party, either Pakistan or statement. Yildirim’s loss of mandate was cent threshold needed to have MPs in par- Omar had been dead for years.—AFP Afghanistan,” the commander said. due to a criminal charge of insulting liament at the next 2019 polls.—AFP