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DELHI THE HINDU 14 WORLD FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE U.K. threatens to pull out of EU trade talks Abe calls for closure of all Boris Johnson’s govt. rejects EU demands for common trading standards and continued fishing rights schools in Japan over virus Agence France-Presse It says Britain must mirror line approach. “This is noth­ London EU standards if it wants to ing other than a routemap to It’s a bid to prevent the spread of infection among children Britain put the prospect of a continue freely trading the cherished no­deal ­­ the chaotic Brexit back on the ta­ goods with the bloc’s huge real ambition of these Brexit Agence France-Presse ble on Thursday as it set out single market. zealots,” said Scottish Na­ Tokyo its red lines for trade talks However, Mr. Johnson ar­ tional Party MP Pete Japan’s Prime Minister Shin­ with the European Union. gues this would undermine Wishart. zo Abe on Thursday urged In its mandate for the ne­ the whole point of Brexit, On Tuesday, when the schools nationwide to close gotiations that will start on even if that means increased bloc published its mandate, for several weeks to prevent Monday, Prime Minister Bo­ barriers with what is cur­ EU negotiator Michel Barnier the spread of the new coro­ ris Johnson’s government re­ rently Britain’s largest trad­ said he would not strike a navirus, as authorities re­ buffed EU demands for com­ ing partner. deal “at any price”. ported the country’s fourth mon trading standards and “We will not agree to any One crucial issue for both death linked to the continued fishing rights. obligations for our laws to be sides in the upcoming nego­ outbreak. And it warned it could aligned with the EU’s,” the tiations is fishing rights. But The move comes as crew walk away from the talks if a official U.K. mandate says. it is also vital for many EU members from the Diamond “broad outline” of a deal is Tough stand: Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking in the Brussels also wants its countries, notably France, Princess, a coronavirus­ Safety first: Elementary school students on their way home in not agreed by a meeting House of Commons in London on Wednesday. * AFP state aid rules to apply in the where fish and seafood stricken cruise ship quaran­ Ichikawa, Japan, on Thursday. * GETTY IMAGES planned for June. U.K. — something London caught in U.K. waters ac­ tined off Japan, began leav­ This would see Britain’s ber states, said it was prepar­ lasting until December 31 to rejects. count 30% of sales for fisher­ ing the vessel, where more Local media said the call tens, elementary and junior currently seamless trading ing for all scenarios. allow time to strike a new men. than 700 people have tested would not extend to nurser­ high schools from Saturday arrangements with the EU, “The Commission main­ partnership. Financial services Brussels wants to main­ positive for the disease. ies and daycare facilities. for two weeks. forged over half a century, tains its capacity to prepare Mr. Johnson wants a free Another potential flashpoint tain the right of its fleets to “The government consid­ Many public elementary Mr. Abe’s call comes after abruptly end after a post­ for no deal following the re­ trade agreement similar to is financial services, a key fish in U.K. waters, warning ers the health and safety of schools and junior high the government urged or­ Brexit transition period ex­ sult of those negotiations,” the EU’s deal with Canada, concern for Britain that it that failure to agree on this children above anything schools in northern Hokkai­ ganisers of major events to pires in December. spokeswoman Dana Spinant set alongside separate agree­ wants resolved by June to al­ could scupper the wider else,” Mr. Abe said. do, where the death of a consider cancelling them, “We want the best possi­ said. ments on issues such as fish­ low firms to keep working in trade talks. But Mr. Gove “We request all primary, man in his 80s infected with and called on businesses to ble trading relationship with She added that the mid­ ing, energy and aviation. the EU after December 31. warned: “We will take back junior high and high the virus was confirmed on allow employees to work the EU, but in a pursuit of a year meeting was “a very fair But Brussels says Britain’s The European Commis­ control of our waters as an schools... across the nation Thursday, were already from home. deal, we will not trade away timeline” to take stock of geographical proximity and sion spokeswoman refused independent coastal State to close temporarily from closed after a cluster of in­ Authorities have said the our sovereignty,” senior go­ whether a deal was possible. existing close ties make it a to commit the EU to com­ and we will not link access to March 2 next week until fections prompted the go­ coming two to three weeks vernment Minister Michael different case, fearing it pleting so­called equivalence our waters to access to EU their spring break.” vernor to request public will be critical in determin­ Gove told MPs. No alignment could gain an uncompetitive assessments by June. markets.” The spring break for pu­ schools close for about a ing whether they can stem The European Commis­ Britain left the EU on January advantage by relaxing costly In the British Parliament, U.K. proposes that fishing blic schools usually starts in week. the outbreak of the virus, sion, which is negotiating on 31, but both sides agreed to a environmental and labour opposition politicians de­ be negotiated annually, late March in Japan and lasts The city of Osaka also said which has infected nearly behalf of the EU’s 27 mem­ standstill transition period laws. cried the government’s hard based on stock levels. several weeks. it will close its kindergar­ 200 people in the country. Trump names Pence Iran COVID-19 UN rights chief ‘regrets’ Sri Lanka’s decision death toll Meera Srinivasan forts to advance reconcilia­ remarks came a day after Sri Rajapaksa. trend towards moving civi­ to lead U.S. response COLOMBO tion, accountability and hu­ Lanka’s Foreign Relations However, Ms. Bachelet ob­ lian functions under the Mi­ jumps to 26 UN High Commissioner for man rights,” she said in her Minister Dinesh Gunawarde­ served that domestic pro­ nistry of Defence or retired Associated Press dy to spend “whatever’s ap­ WASHINGTON Reuters Human Rights Michelle Ba­ oral update at the UNHRC’s na officially notified the cesses have “consistently military officers, and re­ propriate,” even if that DUBAI chelet on Thursday said she ongoing session in Geneva. Council on Wednesday that failed to deliver accountabili­ newed reports of surveil­ President Donald Trump meant the extra billions of “regretted” the new govern­ Urging Sri Lanka to imple­ Sri Lanka was withdrawing ty”, and consequently, “vic­ lance and harassment of declared on Wednesday that dollars. “We’re very, very Iran said on Thursday the ment’s “very different ap­ ment the 2015 resolution, from co­sponsoring the UN tims remain denied justice rights defenders, journalists the U.S. is “very, very rea­ ready for this, for anything,” death toll from COVID­19 proach” to commitments which drew from domestic resolution on post­war ac­ and Sri Lankans from all and victims.” The “increas­ dy” for whatever COVID­19 even if it’s “a breakout of had risen to 26 and the to­ that Sri Lanka previously processes, including those countability and reconcilia­ communities have no gua­ ing levels” of hate speech, threat brings, and he put his larger proportions,” Mr. tal number of infected peo­ made to the Council. initiated by former President tion, instead promising a rantee that past patterns of and policy measures seemed Vice­President Mike Pence Trump told reporters. ple now stood at 245, the “I regret that the new go­ Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ms. Ba­ process that was “domesti­ human rights violations will “discriminately and dispro­ in charge of overseeing the Mr. Pence will be working highest number of deaths vernment has announced a chelet said the measures in it cally designed and execut­ not recur.” portionately directed against nation’s response. with the government’s top from the virus outside very different approach to were “essential” for a peace­ ed”. His remarks were in line Further, underscoring the minorities”, both Tamil and Mr. Trump sought to mi­ health authorities, includ­ China. the commitments previously ful and prosperous Sri with earlier announcements need for independent insti­ Muslim, she added. nimise fears of the virus ing the coronavirus task Authorities called off the made in the resolution Lanka. made by President Gotabaya tutions, she said she was Ms. Bachelet urged the spreading widely across the force, to oversee the Friday prayer in Tehran, which risks setting back ef­ The High Commissioner’s Rajapaksa and PM Mahinda “troubled by the recent Council to “remain alert”. U.S. But he said he was rea­ response. state TV reported. ELSEWHERE Putin quashes rumours Parliament ‘We need liberal trade arrangements’ of using body double will pick new PM: Mahathir Minister says Australia is open for business and seeks greater access Russian leader says he rejected plan Associated Press Narayan Lakshman ness and produce, and high­ wever, it would require pro­ Reuters Kuala Lampur Bengaluru er education services sectors gress on the trade barriers Moscow Canada won’t pay for Malaysian interim leader Despite bushfires that have are expected to get a boost, that exist, the Minister not­ The Harry, Meghan’s security Russian President Vladimir Mahathir Mohamad said ravaged a part of the Austra­ Mr. Birmingham said to ed. “Australia has had great Hindu TORONTO Putin has acknowledged he on Thursday that Parlia­ lian countryside, the coun­ , as Australia pushes success in achieving more Canada said on Thursday it was offered the chance to ment will pick a new Prime try very much remained forward with implementing liberal trade arrangements, won’t provide security for use a body double to make Minister next week follow­ “open for business”, said vis­ its ‘India Economic Strategy’ with a number of other big­ Prince Harry and his wife appearances in public for ing the collapse of the rul­ iting Australian Trade Minis­ (IES). To that end, he said, ger trading partners over re­ Meghan when they step back security reasons, but said he ing alliance, and that snap ter Simon Birmingham. He the recent India­Australia cent years. We think that from royal duties. The vetoed the offer and never elections will be called if added that Canberra had an­ Business Exchange, a 120­ Simon Birmingham achieving greater trade ac­ government said assistance used one. the vote ends in an im­ nounced an additional A$1 strong business delegation cess for each of us with one will cease in the coming Mr. Putin, 67, who has Vladimir Putin passe. million this week to keep visiting India this week, behind the IES is to expand another is a further way to weeks, in keeping with the dominated Russian politics But his former alliance selling packages around the would help spread aware­ Australian exports to India grow the flow of trade and couple’s change in status. AP for more than two decades, one of which was entitled led by rival Anwar Ibrahim T20 World Cup events. ness about investment op­ from $14.9 billion in 2017 to investment.” has long been the subject of ”Putin body double rejected the announce­ Reports in some sections portunities and the business around $45 billion, and out­ Reflecting on the impact ‘Pakistan can counter any conspiracy theories in Rus­ evidence”. ment, saying that only the of the media, particularly in landscape in this country. ward Australian investment of the Coronavirus crisis on threat to its sovereignty’ sia — all of them unsubstan­ Asked “Are you real?” by King has the power to ap­ the U.S., had led to misinfor­ to India from $10.3 billion to China’s trading partners, he ISLAMABAD The Pakistan Air Force is fully tiated — that he uses a body the interviewer, Mr. Putin point the Prime Minister mation about the extent of Trade partnership over $100 billion . “We trust noted, “I would expect, par­ prepared to counter any double or even a small army replied ”Yes” before going under the Constitution. the impact of the bushfires, While India was Australia's that we continue to be a ticularly following the events threat to the country’s of them. on to deny that he uses a Mr. Mahathir, who met the Minister said, including eighth­largest trading partn­ trusted, valued supplier of of Coronavirus and its im­ sovereignty and territorial During an interview with lookalike for public appea­ the King, said the monarch some maps that showed al­ er and fifth­largest export resources and energy to pact especially on trade and integrity, Air Chief Marshal TASS news agency aired on rances for his own safety. couldn’t find a candidate most all of Australia in market in 2018­19, driven by meet the growing needs of travel sectors, that business­ Mujahid Anwar said here on Thursday, Mr. Putin was But he said he had been with a clear majority to flames. coal and higher education, Indian industry and manu­ es will re­evaluate those Thursday, a year after IAF jets shown a list of popular In­ offered the opportunity. lead the nation after con­ Not only tourism, but bi­ and two­way goods and ser­ facturing,” Mr. Birmingham risks. In some cases that may bombed a terror camp in ternet searches purportedly “I declined these body sulting all 222 lawmakers lateral trade and investment vices trade with India was said, in this context. present opportunities for Balakot. PTI associated with his name, doubles....,” he said. over the last two days. across resource, agribusi­ $30.3 billion, the ambition To achieve such goals, ho­ economies like India.”

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THE HINDU CROSSWORD 12870 (set by Skulldugger) SUDOKU FAITH Log on to crossword.thehindu.com for more puzzles 12 Warship incapable of being 2 Low, extremely secretive penetrated by cold rain at sea creature (5) He keeps His word (8) 3 Maker removed roof off cage to While the Dasavataras of Vishnu are celebrated by the Azh­ 13 Speak contemptuously of halve expenses (2,5) vars in their verses, the avataras are not listed in order un­ domesticated lamb mixing der one section by any of them, except Thirumangai Azhvar. with wild sheep (9) 5 Monster to persist (6) In two places in his Peria Thrumozhi, he gives Vishnu’s avat­ aras. In one section of his Peria Thirumozhi, he devotes one 15 Nice pals in Guam island (4) 6 Law enforcers, professional verse to each of the first nine avataras. In the last verse, he sums up all the nine briefly, and finally adds the Kalki avat­ 16 Cutback for presses! (4) killers pursuing American politician (9) ara too, said M.A. Venkatakrishnan in a discourse. In anoth­ 17 Thespian essentially concerned er instance, he talks about the ten avataras of Vishnu, but with maturity as a function of 7 Footwear made of wood and here he omits the Balarama avatara and includes instead the intelligence (9) string originally (7) Hamsa avatara. Parasara Bhatta, in his commentary on the Vishnu Sahasranama, shows how the names of the Lord can 21 Posh officer groomed by 8 Rico hugs momma, tripping on be taken to indicate His avataras. hairstylist (8) hallucinogen (5,8) Each avatara has its own uniqueness. In the Vamana avat­ ara, we see how the Lord helps those who seek His aid, and 22 Moderator’s university 14 Fig adorns sculpture with yet at the same time, He ensures that He keeps His word to supplanted by European poise (9) others involved in the matter. When He killed Hiranyakasipu conglomerate (6) during His Narasimha avatara, He gave a promise to Prahla­ 16 Religious leader dispersed da that He would not kill any descendant of his. Mahabal i 24 Waffle design hero developed Solution to puzzle 12869 Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku troops around Vatican city (7) was Prahlada’s grandson, through his (Prahlada’s) son Viro­ framed by artist (10) ■ ACROSS chana. While Mahabali was banished to the netherworld, 18 Picked up flour arrangement the Lord did not kill him. First of all, Bali was not wicked, 1 Legal officer taken in by 25 Colt for a stick­up (4) in a bake off! (7) and so, did not deserve to die. But more importantly, he was woman’s loss (6) 26 Go steady so far (2,4) the grandson of Prahlada, which meant that the Lord would 4 Get used to Bill’s hanging 19 Hamburger with cheese not kill him, for He had already given His word to Prahlada. around flat (6) 27 Secretary position temporarily ultimately appropriate (7) The Vamana avatara shows how he retrieved Indra’s rajya 9 Foxtrot on the heels of this free (6) from Mahabali, and at the same time spared Mahabali’s life. resounding tone (4) 20 Hunt animal (6) And the Lord’s promise to Prahlada continued in the Krish­ 10 Fail to pull out useful scrabble ■ DOWN na avatara too. Krishna spared the life of Banasura though tile (4,1,5) 23 Optimal info regularly typed He was wicked. The reason was that Banasura was also a 11 Jack’s doctor is inattentive (6) 1 Unit of volume! (7) out with keyboard (5) grandson of Prahlada.

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