SATURDAY MARCH 3, 2018 JUMADA AL-AKHIRAH 15, 1439 VOL.11 NO. 4197 QR 2

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Burkina Faso SHEIKHA MOZA MEETS PARIS MAYOR attacks: Emir Rights violations condoles with Kabore by siege states

QNA/AFP DOHA remain a grave IN a telephone conversation on Friday, the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani of- fered condolences to Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Chris- tian Kabore over the deaths of concern: Khater dozens of people in attacks on army headquarters, the French Embassy and The Institute Fran- ‘Qatar committed to cais in capital Ouagadougou. The Emir wished the injured a speedy Kuwaiti mediation recovery. The Emir condemned the efforts to end crisis’ heinous crime, stressing Qatar’s HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community full support to Burkina Faso Development, met Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, in the French capital on Friday to discuss areas of mutual in the face of extremism and ter- interest in education and research, as well as environmental sustainability. (HHOPL/AR AL BAKER) PAGE 16 TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK rorism. DOHA Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the at- QATAR is concerned about the grave tacks in Burkina Faso. violations committed by the blockading In a statement, it reiterated countries and the closure of diplomatic Qatar’s firm position rejecting means to resolve the ongoing Gulf cri- violence and terrorism regardless Trump in fresh push sis, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson HE of its motives. It also offered Qa- Lulwah al Khater has said. tar’s condolences to the families At a press conference held on the of the victims, the government sidelines of the United Nations Human and people of Burkina Faso. to resolve Gulf crisis Rights Council meeting in Geneva on Fri- Armed men attacked the day, Khater reiterated Qatar’s firm com- Qatar has fully overcome French Embassy in Burkina Faso AGENCIES mitment to the Kuwaiti mediation efforts the siege on the and the country’s military head- WASHINGTON to resolve the crisis. economic, political and quarters on Friday before being The Trump administration is The spokesperson recalled the grave diplomatic levels, and is now repelled in a battle that left doz- US President Donald Trump’s sending Tim Lenderking, the violations committed by the siege coun- working to support and develop ens dead or injured. planned summit in Camp Dav- top State Department offi- tries against the people of Qatar as well as its relationship with various A government source said id in May to resolve the ongo- cial for the Gulf, and retired their own citizens. countries of the world.” 16 attackers and defenders died, ing Gulf crisis will not be held Khater said these countries are keen while other sources reached unless the countries concerned Marine Corps Gen Anthony on distorting the image of Qatar at the by AFP from Paris sketched make progress towards resolu- Zinni to the region to world level, especially in the West. — HE Lulwah al Khater, MoFA a bloodier outcome, with at least tion of the dispute, the Associ- meet with officials from She said the blockading countries Spokesperson 28 killed. ated Press reported. the countries involved have been contradicting themselves by In a fresh push to resolve their actions. the crisis, the Trump ad- in the dispute On the one hand, the siege countries blockading countries refused to accept ministration is sending Tim are saying they want a diplomatic solu- the mission. Lenderking, the top State De- pares for a string of visits by progress to keep the summit tion to the dispute, on the other they are Khater said the report of the techni- partment official for the Gulf, leaders from the feuding na- going, but there was a US pro- trying to distort the image of Qatar by cal mission highlighted gross human and retired Marine Corps Gen tions. posal for Qatar’s neighbours continuing with their slander campaign. rights violations, most notably the right Anthony Zinni to the region The agency quoted US of- to end the air blockade that She pointed out that the blockad- to education, property, family reunion to meet with officials from the ficials as saying that while has prevented Qatari flights ing countries even tried to manipulate and freedom of movement, arising from countries involved in the dis- the White House was pinning from landing in the other na- the Qatari currency in order to harm the the blockade. pute, the agency reported. hopes on a summit, it told the tions or using their airspace, economy of the state. Qatar has fully overcome the siege on Trump’s envoys would Gulf countries that there was the agency said. Khater said the United Nations Of- the economic, political and diplomatic hand over a message to Gulf no point in moving forward if The organisation of such fice of the High Commissioner for Hu- levels, and is now working to support People watch as black smoke rises leaders for the purpose next the rival countries are still not a summit requires leaders man Rights sent a technical mission and develop its relationship with various from a building after gunmen at- week during their visit to the on speaking terms. who have spent the past eight to the region last November to assess countries of the world, she added. tacked several places in the capital of region, it said. It was not clear what months bashing Qatar to put it the impact of the blockade on human Khater said the blockade’s humani- Burkina Faso on Friday. (AFP) PAGE 7 The renewed US involve- steps these countries could all aside and pose for a friendly rights. While Doha welcomed the com- tarian and social impact remains a grave ment comes as Trump pre- take that would show enough group photo. mittee and provided all it needed, the concern.

Two shot dead at US university, suspect at large 25 dead in Azerbaijan drug Political solution CHICAGO Two people were shot dead on Friday sity police spokesman said the incident as a on the campus of a university in the US state of “family-type domestic issue” and identified the rehabilitation centre fire Michigan, setting off a manhunt for the sus- suspected shooter as 19-year-old James Eric Baku Twenty-five people perished in a fire which tore only way out of pected gunman. Davis, described as a university student. The through a drug rehabilitation clinic in the Azerbaijani capital Central Michigan University said the two college campus in the city of Mount Pleasant Baku early on Friday, with activists saying safety standards people killed at a campus dormitory were not in central Michigan was on lockdown hours had not been met. Video footage broadcast on television Syria crisis: Qatar students or staff, but did not offer further after the incident, as an expansive manhunt showed huge flames leaping through barred windows of a details on their identities. searched for the suspect. Davis was known to one-storey wooden hospital ward. President Ilham Aliyev has There were no other casualties. A univer- the law enforcement. (AFP) PAGE 14 set up a commission to probe the cause of the blaze. (AFP) TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK West ups heat on GENEVA Syria as civilians wait for aid QATAR has reiterated that po- litical solution on the basis of DOUMA Western powers Geneva resolution is the only turned up the heat on Da- way out of the Syrian crisis. mascus on Friday as tens Halal Qatar Festival kicks off at Katara In an emergency session of thousands of civilians in held at the 37th session of Syria’s battered rebel enclave the United Nations Human of Eastern Ghouta awaited Rights Council to discuss the desperately needed aid. As SANTHOSH CHANDRAN More activities have also been added situation in Eastern Ghouta, dozens of aid trucks remained DOHA this year. The facilities provided to Qatar’s Permanent Mission to unable to enter the enclave, livestock breeders and visitors con- the UN Office and other Inter- the UN Human Rights Council THE 7th edition of Halal Qatar Fes- tribute to making this event more in- national organisations in Ge- postponed voting on a British tival kicked off at the Cultural Village clusive. It is one of the largest festivals neva said, “Qatar asserts that resolution condemning the Foundation —Katara on Friday with a Katara hosts to preserve the Qatari the international community crisis in Eastern Ghouta, after host of activities. The first day of the heritage,” Sulaiti said. has legal and moral responsi- member states failed to agree festival saw a large turnout of visitors. The nine-day festival includes bility to protect civilians, civil- on a final text. (AFP) PAGE 10 The festival, which runs until many entertainment and educational ian infrastructure and ensure March 10, witnessed new activities shows in the morning and evening implementation of the United such as the “Al Nukhba” (Elite) auc- with an array of competitions and Nations Security Council reso- Ghouta and using chemical tion for special breeds of sheep and prizes for the winners. lution no. 2401 and relevant weapons in clear violation of goats. The festival features a variety of resolutions.” UNSC Resolution 2118,” the The festival will shed light on the activities such as exhibitions of pho- Qatar also called for pros- mission said. crucial role livestock breeding and tography, handicraft and traditional ecuting those responsible for “Convening an urgent de- trade played in the past as well as on cuisine in addition to folk songs and humanitarian violations and bate on the deterioration of the attempts to preserve this integral traditional games. war crimes. the human rights situation in component of Qatari culture and her- Katara General Manager Khalid bin Ibrahim al Sulaiti and officials at the inauguration The festival also hosts an old “The Syrian regime neither Eastern Ghouta aims to convey itage. of the Halal Qatar Festival on Friday. (JAJAL PATHIYOOR) Souq, traditional tent and horse and respects the UNSC truce nor that the suffering of the Syrian Inaugurating the festival, Katara camel rides. the truce announced by Rus- people and crimes committed General Manager Khalid bin Ibrahim unique and bigger. ganised in a larger area with more sia, and insists upon a military by the Syrian regime cannot go al Sulaiti said this year’s edition was “The event this year has been or- shops and pavilions participating in it. See also page 16 Ô approach by attacking Eastern unnoticed,” it added. 02 Saturday, March 3, 2018

A cultural village at QU TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA

QATAR University (QU) stu- dents from 11 nationalities came together to celebrate the QU’s diversity of back- grounds and traditions in the 11th annual Cultural Village under the theme ‘A Story From My Country’. Organised by QU’s Student Activities Department from February 25 to March 1, the event aimed to bring students together to celebrate and share their culture, heritage and tra- Cultural Village event aims ditions. It is also an opportunity to encourage the students to for students to unlock their po- contribute to various cultural tential and demonstrate their Themed ‘A Story From My Country’, this year’s event showcased Qatar University’s diversity. events, to unlock their poten- teamwork, volunteerism and tial and to reach their goals and interpersonal relations skills. community. and dance performances, tra- backgrounds and traditions.” aspirations. The event also re- The festival was opened The five-day event, which ditional costumes shows, exhi- Dr Khalid al Khanji said, flects QU’s commitment to cre- by QU President Dr Hassan al is being held in the Activities bitions, art, poetry, food, song “The annual Cultural Village is ate a spirit of cultural exchange Derham, QU Vice-President Buildings on the male and and music. a significant event on the QU among students.” for Student Affairs Dr Khalid female campus, featured 21 Dr Hassan al Derham said, calendar as it highlights the her- QU College of Engineer- al Khanji and QU Director of booths representing Qatar, “This cultural event highlights itage of many countries across ing student and a participant Student Services & Activities Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jor- QU’s commitment to bridge the world. It is also an impor- in the Syrian booth, Anas Abdulla al Yafei in the pres- dan, Korea, Palestine, Sudan, the cultural gap between stu- tant opportunity to showcase Mahmoud, said, “Through ence of Section Head of QU Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. It dents who come from differ- the many cultural aspects of participating in the Cultural Events & Campus Activities also included exhibitions and ent countries around the globe. each participating country such Village event, we highlight the Salwa Zainel and QU lead- a number of cultural activities Themed ‘A Story From My as literature, music, song, cus- Syrian customs and culture. ers, staff, faculty, students such as shows featuring cultur- Country’, this year’s edition toms and handicrafts.” Our booth will include a wide and members of the wider al and folkloric displays, theatre showcases QU’s diversity of Salwa Zainel said, “The range of exciting activities.” FQRC reaches out to CMU-Q Hackathon challenges workers in labour camp students to ‘innovate and solve’ TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK AILYN AGONIA DOHA DOHA MORE than 40 students from MEMBERS of the Filipino Qatar Red Carnegie Mellon University in Qa- Crescent (FQRC), an affiliate organi- tar (CMU-Q), College of the North sation of Qatar Red Crescent Society Atlantic-Qatar and Qatar Univer- (QRCS), distributed food packs and sity have participated in this year’s other items to a number of workers Hackathon, where competitors based in Al Shahaniya recently. were mentored by entrepreneurs Fifteen Filipino nationals as well and developers from the local com- as two Indians and two Nepalis ben- munity. efited from the second outreach ac- Took place over 24 hours, the tivity of the newly-formed initiative. event was sponsored by Cisco and It was also supported by another Fili- the Qatar Computing Research In- pino community group ‘Bayanihanng stitute (QCRI), a part of Hamad Bin Manggagawasa Konstruksyonsa Qa- Khalifa University (HBKU). tar’ (BMKQ). “We have students coming from “Our main purpose is to provide all backgrounds and skill levels, in- assistance to QRC Social Develop- cluding freshmen and seniors. All ment & Volunteering Department the participants are great represent- Over 40 students took part in this year’s Hackathon. and QRC Events. We also help in atives of their universities and Qatar coordinating with QRC should there Filipino Qatar Red Crescent distributed food packs and other items to a number as a whole. As we say here at Carn- neering manager at Cisco and a working on a project and all your be a need to extend assistance to Fili- of workers based in Al Shahaniya recently. (PHOTOGRAPH BY STRIKER INNOVATION) egie Mellon, their heart is in the member of the judging panel, said: energy goes into developing the one pino nationals and other expatriate work,” said Dan Phelps, associate “This is the first event of its kind I idea that carries so much potential. communities,” said Victor Magnipes, Fifteen Filipino nationals as in Philippine Overseas Labour Office teaching professor and programme have attended in Qatar and I’m very It’s a great feeling.” FQRC Founding Chairman. well as two Indians and two and Overseas Workers Welfare Ad- director of information systems. thankful to see so much talent.” The ‘Best Overall’ prize went to Aside from food items, the team Nepalis benefited from the sec- ministration (POLO-OWWA) held in Ashraf Aboulnaga, research di- All the 12 mentors were CMU- Abbas Ali, Abdul Rahman al Fayad, also distributed basic hygiene needs ond outreach activity of the October last year. It was organised in rector at QCRI, said the institute Q graduates, including Raja Fazil Ahmed Abdeltawab and Moham- to workers. Magnipes said they are collaboration with QRC Medical Af- actively supports events that help to Akhtar, a 2017 graduate who is med Zakaria. ‘Best Technical App’ looking at organising another out- newly-formed initiative. Aside fairs Division-Workers Health Centre identify and foster talents in com- now a software engineer at Cata- category prize went to Ahmed Khan, reach activity sometime this month. from food items, the team also and Medical Mission Unit. puter science in Qatar. “QCRI has lyst. Akhtar in his keynote speech Keivin Isufaj, Radu Revutchi and “On behalf of the members of distributed basic hygiene Around 88 distressed Filipinos been associated with the Hacka- said: “I have participated in one Ahmed Saqib. The prize for ‘Best FQRC, I would like to extend our ap- needs to workers temporary under the care of POLO- thon for several years now. We are of the Hackathons myself as a stu- Design’ went to Sabit Hassan, Ai- preciation to those who supported OWWA received free medical assist- always looking for talented young dent and that was a turning point sha Mohamed, Rohith Pillai and the activity like Andrea Lean Men- and other items to the labour camp,” ance during the programme such as computer scientists and have found for me. I became very passionate Shaden Shaar while Laila Ossama doza and Delcon Castaneda. We he added. general medical check-up, ophthal- that CMU-Q produces world-class about developing software that has El-Beheiry, Xinyu Ma and Mariam would also like to thank BMKQ for FQRC’s first outreach pro- mology, ENT and dental and internal graduates,” he said. the ability to solve real life issues. Salman bagged the rookie award for coordinating the distribution of food gramme was a medical mission held medicine. Ihab Farhoud, systems engi- In Hackathon, you spend 24 hours the ‘Best New Team’. Healthcare experts update skills at WCM-Q’s workshop on psychiatry

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Professor of Psychiatry and event DOHA co-director, then ran a session on methods for assessing substance A REVIEW and update of the latest abuse in the non-psychiatric ses- advice for healthcare professionals sion. This session outlined the most working in non-psychiatric practic- common medical and psychiatric es who encounter patients with psy- problems associated with substance chiatric conditions was offered at a abuse and outlined methods for en- specialist workshop at Weill Cornell gaging patients to seek treatment. Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). The event was accredited locally The half-day event, entitled by the Qatar Council for Healthcare ‘Psychiatry for the Non-Psychia- Practitioners-Accreditation Depart- trist’, was designed to equip physi- ment (QCHP-AD) and internationally cians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists by the Accreditation Council for Con- and allied health professionals with tinuing Medical Education (ACCME). knowledge and skills to help them Dr Rifai delivered the final pres- provide the best possible care to entation, which discussed psycho- patients with psychiatric conditions Healthcare professionals at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s workshop on psychiatry. somatic disorders in the medical who are present at non-psychiatric setting and described the recom- practices. an introduction that explained the orders - mental health conditions In all cases it is very important that psychiatry and event co-director, mended management of these pa- The event consisted of four ses- significance of attending to patients’ related to pain or fatigue - often non-psychiatry professionals have delivered a session that explained tients. The event concluded with sions delivered by three WCM-Q mental health needs in non-psychi- present alongside non-psychiatric the necessary skills and knowl- how to recognise the extent and a panel discussion and a question psychiatry professors, with each atric settings in order to maximize conditions. In addition, patients edge to recognise the presence of a complexities of the association be- and answers session during which session designed to impart a differ- patient wellbeing and prevent unfa- with a psychiatric condition may psychiatric condition, provide ap- tween comorbitity of medical and participants were able to discuss ent set of practical skills. Dr Aicha vourable health outcomes. visit a general practice for treat- propriate care and refer patients psychiatric conditions, and recom- specific recommendations to ad- Hind Rifai, Assistant Professor of Dr Rifai said: “Psychiatric con- ment, or a psychiatric condition to a psychiatry specialist as and mended strategies for managing pa- dress their patients’ needs for com- Clinical Psychiatry, who co-directed ditions such as depression, anxiety, may become known during treat- when required.” tients with comorbitites. prehensive psychiatric and medical the event, began proceedings with substance abuse and somatic dis- ment for another health complaint. Dr Ziad Kronfol, professor of Dr Hassen al Amin, Associate care in the non-psychiatric setting. Philippines / Southeast Asia Saturday, March 3, 2018 03 400 police officers dismissed Philippines-EU joint projects intact under Duterte govt since 2016 despite Duterte’s ire REUTERS None were dismissed for their conduct in police operations that were part of war on drugs MANILA

THE Philippines and the European Union said on Fri- day they were still working together on development projects, despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s rebukes of the bloc and declarations he would not accept its aid. The mercurial leader has repeatedly slammed the EU for what he perceives as criticism of a war on drugs Director-General for Interna- that has killed thousands of tional Cooperation and Devel- Filipinos. He has approved opment of the European Union a finance ministry recom- Stefano Manservisi mendation to stop accepting grants that carried condi- tions, especially on human Manservisi said he had rights. not discussed human The EU’s funding aid to rights with Philippine the Philippines would con- officials tinue, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said, despite “misunder- had rejected were aid pack- standings”. ages “with strings attached”. Pernia on Friday met “I will have to check but Stefano Manservisi, chief there may be a lot of aid of the European Commis- packages,” he told report- sion’s Directorate General ers. for International Coopera- The EU currently has a tion and Development, to Philippines funding com- discuss an electrification mitment of 260 million eu- project for rural areas. ros ($319 million) mostly “We have a good rela- for renewable energy devel- tionship. Friends some- opment and rural electrifi- times have misunderstand- caton projects, which “can ings,” Pernia told reporters go on”, he said. after the closed-door meet- The EU could provide an ing. additional 170 million euros Manservisi, in a media or more in financial assist- briefing, said he also met ance in the future, which Senate President Aquilino may include funding being Pimentel and Finance Sec- worked out with the Asian retary Carlos Dominguez. Development Bank, he said. “The issue that our aid is Manservisi said he had rejected was not discussed. not discussed human rights Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte aims a sniper rifle during the opening ceremony of the National Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Challenge in Davao City, Philippines, on The issue of (the EU) being with Philippine officials. Thursday. (EPA) here or not has not been dis- The issue is extremely cussed,” Manservisi said. sensitive to Duterte, who REUTERS None of the officers were in the courts. But he has steadfastly “We discussed what we believes foreigners are mis- MANILA dismissed for their conduct The dismissals cover the In the past 11 months, po- backed those fighting his war can do together, how we can led by human rights advo- in police operations that were 19 months Duterte has lice had received more than on drugs and even vowed to do it.” cates and interfering in his THE Philippines has dis- part of Duterte’s fierce war on been in office. About 60 10,000 complaints through protect them from prosecu- He also clarified that business. missed nearly 400 police offic- drugs, during which officers arrests of police were for tip-offs sent by text messages tion. But he insists he has nev- EU’s development assist- He has lashed out nu- ers in a nationwide crackdown have killed more than 4,000 bribery offences commit- and telephone calls, Bulalacao er given an order to kill, other ance to the Philippines was merous times at the EU bloc since mid-2016, police said on people. said. than in self-defence. not linked to any “unilateral when criticised by members Friday, as President Rodrigo Activists say police are ted during 24 entrapment About 15 percent of the On Thursday, he ordered conditionality”. of the European parliament, Duterte pushes to clean up a systematically executing drug operations by the counter- complaints were investigated police and soldiers not to co- Asked to comment on or by European activists, force notorious for abuses. suspects, but police reject intelligence task force and validated, resulting in ar- operate in any investigation Pernia’s remarks, presi- apparently not distinguish- Most dismissals were for that and say killings were in rests of police officers, most of into his drugs war. dential spokesman Harry ing between the different robbery, extortion, or absenc- self-defence, citing their more them in the capital, Manila, That directive comes amid Roque said what Duterte entities. es, while serious crimes, such than 120,000 drug-related ar- ment operations by the coun- and surrounding areas. international calls for a Unit- as kidnapping and protecting rests as proof of their intent to ter-intelligence task force. Bulalacao said 167 officers ed Nations investigation, and drug dealers, figured in some preserve life. About 1,700 officers were were found to have been us- a decision by an International others, Chief Superintendent The dismissals cover the disciplined, with measures ing drugs or were involved in Criminal Court prosecutor to John Bulalacao said in a state- 19 months Duterte has been in ranging from reprimands, de- drug-related crimes. open a preliminary examina- ment. He called the campaign office. About 60 arrests of po- motions and suspensions, to Duterte has limited toler- tion into a complaint accus- Indonesia mulls clemency an “uncompromising stand lice were for bribery offences dismissals. Those involved in ance for errant police and has ing Duterte and top officials of against breach of discipline.” committed during 24 entrap- criminal activities face cases called the force “rotten”. crimes against humanity. for ailing cleric linked to Bali bombings Human limbs Cambodia PM’s son assumes senior military post DPA for humanitarian reasons. JAKARTA “Whether it be amnesty, found inside REUTERS In January, Hun Sen ap- or curtailing several treasury, clemency or abolition, there PHNOM PENH pointed his son-in-law as USAID and military assistance INDONESIA IS consider- needs to be a legal basis,” belly of croc deputy national police chief programmes that support ing clemency for Abu Bakar Wiranto said. THE eldest son of Cambodia’s and in December, his youngest Cambodia’s military, taxa- Bashir, the ailing spiritual “We’ll talk about it with Prime Minister Hun Sen has son was promoted to the rank tion department and local au- leader of Islamic militants the concerned institutions,” in Indonesia assumed a position as joint of colonel in his father’s body- thorities - all of which, it said, connected to the 2012 Bali he added. chief of staff of Cambodia’s guard unit. shared blame for recent insta- bombings who is serving a The president, known as AFP Armed Forces, the latest pro- The promotions come bility. 15-year jail term for terror- Jokowi, said he had not re- BALIKPAPAN, INDONESIA motion of one of Hun Sen’s ahead of a July general elec- Political analyst Lao Mong ism. ceived a request for clemency family members to a senior tion that many say Hun Sen Hay said Hun Manet could be- Bashir, 79, was hospital- or house arrest for Bashir, A HUMAN leg and arm have post aimed at apparently con- looks set to win easily after the come head of the armed forces ized in Jakarta on Thursday according to the news web- been found inside the belly solidating his grip on power. main opposition Cambodia in the future. after an episode of swollen site Tribunnews.com. of a huge crocodile suspected Cambodian defence minis- National Rescue Party (CNRP) “He could become the legs and other health compli- Bashir was sentenced to of mauling a man to death in try spokesman Chhum Socheat was dissolved by the Supreme Royal Cambodian Armed Forces’ mainstay of the regime which cations. 15 years in jail in 2011 for his Borneo, Indonesian police said said on Friday that Lieutenant Court last November at his deputy commander Lieutenant has already become a de facto President Joko Widodo involvement in the establish- Friday. Authorities shot and General Hun Manet, who is government’s request. General Hun Manet hereditary military regime,” approved the move on hu- ment of a militant training killed the six-metre (20-foot) also a deputy commander of The opposition ban Lao Mong Hay told Reuters. manitarian grounds. camp in Aceh province. The long crocodile close to a riv- the Royal Cambodian Armed prompted the United States, critics, including opposition Hun Sen celebrated 33 Wiranto, Indonesia’s top cleric co-founded Jemaah erbank where a local palm oil Forces (RCAF), has taken the the European Union and oth- lawmakers and some inde- years in power in January, security minister who goes by Islamiyah, whose members plantation worker had gone role of joint chief of staff, re- ers to condemn a crackdown pendent media. and has frequently spoken of one name, said the govern- carried out the 2012 bomb- missing two days earlier, with placing General Kun Kim who by Hun Sen’s ruling Cambo- The United States this staying on for at least another ment was discussing some ings on the resort island of only his motorbike and sandals is on a sick leave. dian People’s Party (CPP) on week said it was suspending decade. sort of clemency for Bashir Bali, which killed 202 people. found at the site, they said. The search ended on Thursday when 36-year-old Andi Aso Erang’s lifeless body -- missing two limbs -- was dis- Dozens of new political parties register in run-up to Thai poll covered floating in a different part of the river in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. with the faces of Thailand’s various incarnations of Pheu Police said they spotted a This week the junta chief vowed polls most bitter political rivals ar- Thai -- a populist movement crocodile nearby and killed it. ranged in a heart shape above headed by exiled former pre- “Inside the crocodile’s would be held no later than Feb 2019 the word “reconciliation”. mier Thaksin Shinawatra. stomach, we found the left arm Registration will be open With the backing of rural and a leg that we believe be- AFP 2019. until the end of the month voters, Thaksin’s parties have longed to the victim,” local po- BANGKOK In a rare opening for po- and election authorities have won every national election lice chief Teddy Ristiawan said. litical activity and an early 30 days to approve the bids. since 2001. The victim’s wife said he NEARLY 40 new Thai politi- sign of enthusiasm for the Yet the junta has refused Yet their governments had left home to hunt for clams cal parties submitted names vote, dozens of new parties to fully lift its ban on political have been repeatedly they could eat. and logos on the opening day applied for registration at the activity, curtailing any fur- knocked from power by pro- “I never expected he would of party registration in Bang- Election Commission (EC) ther organising or campaign- tests, coups and court rulings end up in a terrible situation kok on Friday, an early step on Friday, under names like ing. favoured by Bangkok’s mili- like this,” said Anisa, who like in the junta-ruled kingdom’s “Siam Democrat Party” and Deputy Prime Minister tary-allied elite. many Indonesians goes by one halting return to democracy. “Thai Unity Party”. Wissanu Krea-ngam said par- Analysts say the junta is name. Thailand has been under “There are 38 groups who ties must seek the junta’s per- bent on curbing Pheu Thai’s In 2016, a Russian tourist army rule since a 2014 putsch have submitted the applica- mission before holding any influence in the next govern- was killed by a crocodile in the toppled an elected govern- tions for party registration,” meetings. ment and has rewritten a Raja Ampat islands, a popular ment and installed the coun- an election official told AFP. “They can announce who charter that hampers larger diving site in the east of the ar- try’s most autocratic regime Many were political nov- they support to become the parties and shrinks the clout chipelago. Human-animal con- in a generation. ices with backgrounds in next premier, but they cannot of elected politicians. flicts are rampant in Indonesia, The generals have banned business, civil society or announce their policy plat- The new constitution especially in areas where the all political activity and re- academia, plus several farm- form,” he added. also includes a loophole that clearing of rainforest to make peatedly postponed a prom- ers from the rural north and Thailand’s caustic politi- would allow parliament to way for palm oil plantations is ised return to democracy. south. cal scene has been dominated install an unelected premier destroying animals’ habitats Representatives of political groups gather to register their parties at Yet this week the junta A YouTube celebrity was for over a decade by two main -- an arrangement observers and bringing them into closer the Election Commission’s headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on chief vowed polls would be also among the crowd, while factions: the pro-establish- say junta chief Prayut Chan- contact with humans. Friday. (EPA) held no later than February one group wore T-shirts ment Democrat Party and O-Cha is gunning for. 04 Saturday, March 3, 2018 India Position on Dalai Lama remains unchanged: Govt CPI-M, BJP equally confident of victory in Tripura

IANS Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar The Cabinet Secretary's IANS of Tripura voted for the Left par- ment in Tripura. It is certain that NEW DELHI said. "There is no change in directive refers to a note sent AGARTALA ties on February 18 for peace the BJP will form the next gov- that position. His Holiness is by Foreign Secretary Vijay and steady development in the ernment in Tripura." RESPONDING to a newspaper accorded all freedom to carry Gokhale sent on February 22 BOTH the ruling CPI-M-led Left state," said Dhar, also a CPI-M "During the election cam- report that cited a Union gov- out his religious activities in - just ahead of Gokhale's visit Front and the opposition BJP central committee member. paign, we have witnessed that ernment advisory asking cen- India," he added. to Beijing - in which he had re- sounded optimistic about forming "Bharatiya Janata Party's the people become fanatic to tral and state government func- However, the MEA steered quested Sinha to issue a "clas- the next government in Tripura as juggernaut would be stopped in become free from the misrule tionaries and leaders to stay clear of commenting on the ad- sified circular advisory advising officials prepared for Saturday's Tripura elections. Victory of Left of the Left government," a con- away from the Dalai Lama-led visory sent out by the Cabinet all Ministries/Departments of counting of votes cast in the Feb- parties in Tripura would also fident Deb said. Despite large- ‘Thank You India’ campaign, Secretary PK Sinha on Febru- Government of India as well as ruary 18 assembly elections. boost the anti-BJP alliance in scale snags in VVPATs (Voter the External Affairs Ministry ary 26 at the Foreign Secretary's sate governments not to accept Communist Party of India- the Indian politics," added Dhar, Verifiable Paper Audit Trails) (MEA) on Friday said that In- behest -- as reported by daily Tibetan spiritual any invitation or to participate Marxist (CPI-M) Tripura State also the convener of the Left and EVMs (Electronic Voting dia’s position on the Tibetan Indian Express on Friday -- in leader Dalai Lama in the proposed events". Secretary Bijan Dhar said the Front, comprising four Left par- Machines), over 92 per cent (ex- leader is "unchanged". which he has told "senior lead- The move is being seen as Left parties were "overconfi- ties -- Communist Party of India, cluding 50,770 postal ballots) "The government of India's ers" and "government function- in-exile" has planned a series of India's attempt to mend ties dent" of forming the next state Forward Bloc and Revolutionary of Tripura's 2,536,589 voters position on His Holiness the aries" of the Centre and states events in March-end and early with Beijing which sharply de- government. Socialist Party besides CPI-M. cast their votes in February 18 Dalai Lama is clear and consist- that it was "not desirable" to April to commemorate 60 years teriorated after the Dalai La- "There is no doubt that the The BJP Tripura unit Presi- peaceful elections in 59 of the ent. He is a revered religious participate in the events of the of the Dalai Lama's arrival in ma's visit to Arunachal Pradesh eighth Left Front government dent Biplab Kumar Deb said: 60 Assembly seats, setting a new leader and is deeply respected Tibetan leadership in exile. India in 1959 to escape the Chi- in April (from April 4-12) last would be formed after the count- "People want change. People record in the electoral history of by the people of India," MEA The Tibetan "government- nese persecution. year. ing of votes on Saturday. People strongly wish for a BJP govern- India.

Himachal wants Rs1,000 crores for Japan-funded farm project 10 Maoists, cop killed in IANS here along a delegation of 13 SHIMLA Afghan officers. JICA has been providing an assistance of Rs321 HIMACHAL Pradesh, country's crore to the state under the crop off-season cash crops bowl, diversification project since 2011 Telanagana gun battle has sought additional funds of for enhancing the socio-economic Rs1,000 crore from the Japan conditions of farmers in Mandi, International Cooperation Agency Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and (JICA) for extending a crop diversifi- Una districts. Baldi said in the cation project, an official said on ongoing project emphasis was on Friday. to strengthen micro-irrigation, solar The state is aiming to ex- water lifting, construction of farm pand the Himachal Pradesh Crop access roads, collection centres Diversification Promotion Project and creation of irrigation potential in all 12 districts of the state. The in 4,600 hectares. demand to extend the project was The farmers, who formed raised this week by Additional groups under the name Krishak Chief Secretary Shrikant Baldi at Vikas Association, are operating a meeting here with JICA-India and maintaining the irrigation Principal Development Specialist system themselves, a government Subroto Takuldar. The latter was spokesperson told IANS.

Delay in all-party delegation meeting PM on Cauvery is worrying, says Ramadoss IANS CHENNAI The Supreme Court had on February 16 had THE continuing delay by an reduced Tamil Nadu’s all-party delegation led by share in Cauvery waters Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami in meeting to 177.25 thousand mil- Prime Minister Narendra lion cubic feet, down from Modi on the Cauvery waters 192 TMC allocated by a issue -- post a Supreme Court tribunal in 2007 judgement -- is worrying, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said on Friday. If that was not possible, On February 22, at a Chief Minister Palaniswami meeting of leaders of all politi- should have spoken to Modi cal parties and representatives during his recent visit here Some top leaders of the CPI-Maoist, including the banned outfit’s Telangana secretary Haribhushan alias Jagan and another key leader Chukka Rao, were suspected to be among of farmer associations here, and got an appointment for the slain Maoists. Haribhushan’s wife Samakka was also killed. it was decided Palaniswami a meeting with the all-party would lead a delegation to delegation. meet Modi and urge him to Ramadoss said even if this Slain Maoists include six women; three personnel of the anti-Maoist force sustain injuries set up Cauvery Management was not done, an official del- Board (CMB) and Cauvery egation led by the Chief Sec- IANS Chukka Rao, were suspected identified as Greyhounds Con- old Warangal and Khammam Water Regulatory Committee retary or the Secretary, Public HYDERABAD to be among the slain Maoists. Some top leaders of the CPI- stable Sushil Kumar. Three in- districts. Police said many had -- as the Supreme Court had Works Department, should Haribhushan's wife Samakka Maoist, including the banned jured police personnel were air- crossed over from neighbour- mandated. have been sent to the Prime IN a major setback to the was also killed. It was the first outfit’s Telangana Secretary lifted to Bhadrachalam town. ing Chhattisgarh and were in- The Supreme Court had Minister's Office for fixing an banned Communist Party of In- major incident since the forma- Haribhushan alias Jagan and The bodies of the Maoists were dulging in extortion and other on February 16, while order- appointment with Modi. dia- Maoist, 10 guerrillas were tion of Telangana state in 2014. also shifted to the town for au- illegal activities. ing the central government to Ramadoss said there is no killed in a gunfight with police The exchange of fire be- another key leader Chukka topsy. In December last, eight set up the CMB and the Cau- news whether any of all this in Telangana's Jayashankar tween the Maoists and a joint Rao, were suspected to be Additional forces were Maoists of Chandrapulla Red- very Water Regulatory Com- was done by those in power Bhupalapally district early Fri- police team of the two states among the slain Maoists rushed to the area to launch dy Poru Bata, a splinter group mittee within six weeks, had in Tamil Nadu. According to day. ensued in the forest near Haribhushan’s wife Samakka combing operations as some of People's War, were gunned also reduced Tamil Nadu's Ramadoss, it is worrying that The police initially put the Venkatapuram village in Ta- was also killed Maoists escaped into forest. down by police in Bhadradri share in the waters to 177.25 there is no progress on the de- number at 12. The slain Mao- dapalagutta-Pujarikanker area Senior police officers, includ- Kothagudem district. thousand million cubic feet cision to meet Modi. ists include six women. A police on the Telangana-Chhattis- ing Jayashankar Bhupalapally The Maoist movement had (TMC), down from 192 TMC Ramadoss said Palan- Constable also lost life while garh border as security forces rifle, two single-bore rifles, one District Superintendent of Po- considerably weakened in the allocated by a tribunal in 2007. iswami and Deputy Chief three personnel of the elite anti- launched combing operations .303 rifle, one pistol, one Sony lice R. Bhaskaran, also rushed undivided Andhra Pradesh Ramadoss said soon after the Minister O. Panneerselvam Maoist force Greyhounds were after a tip-off. radio, Rs41,000, three clay- there. since 2005 when the police all-party meeting decided to used to meet Modi regularly injured. As per a statement from the more mines, six rocket bombs, The CPI-Maoist was try- launched massive operations meet Modi, the state govern- earlier. But in the case of an Some top leaders of the Telangana Director General of two solar plates, besides empty ing to revive its activities in and eliminated several top ment's representative in Delhi important issue concerning CPI-Maoist, including the Police office, the Maoists opened cartridges, and live ammunition its former stronghold of north leaders following the collapse of should have got in touch with the state it is unclear why the banned outfit's Telangana fire, to which police retaliated in of different calibre were seized Telangana. During the last few the ceasefire and first-ever talks Prime Minister's Office and doors of the Prime Minister's Secretary Haribhushan alias self-defence. One AK-47 rifle, from the scene. weeks, there were reports about between then state government sought an appointment. Office are not opening. Jagan and another key leader five Insas rifles, one self-loading The killed police official was the presence of Maoists in the and the Maoists.

Church sexton Tens of thousands women take part in Attukal Pongala festival who killed Kerala priest nabbed IANS cording to the temple authori- cooking the 'divine' pongala has police officers. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ties, this year has been a record to be brand new. According to The organisers were as- gathering and is estimated to the legend, Kannaki destroyed sisted by the numerous clubs IANS LAKHS of women took part in run into several lakhs as wom- Madurai in Tamil Nadu after and other bodies, who set up THIRUVANANTHAPURAM the famed Attukal Pongala fes- en were found cooking in more the king of Madurai wrongfully more than 1,000 water kiosks tival in Kerala on Friday. than a 13 square kilometre ra- imposed the death penalty on and supplied free breakfast and THE former church sexton who The event was listed in dius of the temple. her husband. After that, Kan- lunch. stabbed a 52-year-old Catholic the Guinness World Records naki travelled to Kerala, where However, a dampener to priest to death on Thursday in in 2009 for being the largest she rested for a while at Attu- the otherwise non-controver- Kerala's Ernakulam district was religious gathering of women The event was listed in the kal and women are said to have sial festival came from Direc- arrested from a forest on Friday on a single day. Guinness World Records in cooked pongala to please her. tor General of Police (Prisons) afternoon, police said. It marks the culmination 2009 for being the largest The festival concluded R Sreelekha, who on Tuesday Priest Xavier Thelekkat, a of the 10-day-long annual fes- religious gathering of around 2 pm after the chief termed the 'Kuthiyottam' ritual native of Kochi, was attached tival at the Attukal Bhagavathy women on a single day priest sprayed holy water on at the famed Attukal Devi Tem- to the Angamaly diocese of the temple in the city. A record 2.5 the offering. Once this is done, ple as torture to the young boys Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and million women took part in the followed by a prayer, the wom- who take part in a ritual. He de- was the rector of the Kuruish- festival on a single day in 2009. The rituals began around en pack their bags and make manded an end to the practice. mala Church. He was attacked The temple, located in the 10.15 am on Friday when their way back. The Kerala State Commission and killed by his former sexton, heart of the city, is dedicated to the chief priest of the Attu- This year, state-owned for Protection of Child Rights Jomy, an officer of the church who Attukal Bhagavathi, believed to kal Bhagavathi Temple lit transport department operated has initiated a suo motu move looked after the maintenance of be an incarnation of Kannaki, the makeshift stove with fire The most prestigious seat for cooking is in the temple compound where 400 extra services for the con- to study the rituals followed its buildings and the graveyard. the central character of the brought from the sanctum devotees cook the offering for the deity on makeshift brick stoves. venience of the devotees while in Kerala temples to see if the On Thursday, when the priest was Tamil epic "Silappathikaaram". sanctorum of the temple. Indian Railways made special rights of children are violated. coming down the hill as part of The Pongala event takes The fire was then passed on Kerala Governor P Sathasivam, preparing the 'divine' offering. arrangements for the travel- Even though, State Min- the Kuruishmala pilgrimage, Jomy place on the penultimate day of to the stoves of the women who participated in the festival. Nu- A group of 10 transgenders ers by operating seven special ister Kadakampally Suren- stabbed the priest several times the 10-day-long Attukal Pon- had lined up on either side of merous film personalites and also took an active part in the trains. Various state govern- dran played down Sreelekha's and fled to the forest. gala festival. the roads to cook their offering civil society members were also festivities. ment departments have made statement, saying no impor- The police with the help of The most prestigious seat using rice, jaggery and coconut. present. According to the traditions arrangements to see that festi- tance should be given to that, locals had launched a search into for cooking is in the temple This year, women from "This is the fourth time I of this event, the women who val goes off peacefully. she has been served a show the forest and on Friday after- compound where devotees neighbouring states also took am taking part in this event take part in the Pongala festi- Close to 4,300 police offic- cause notice by the Chief Sec- noon, a visibly tired Jomy was cook the offering for the deity part in the festival. Even Sar- and next year also I will come," val have to be dressed in new ers were on duty in the capital retary to explain her state- spotted in the forests. He was on makeshift brick stoves. Ac- aswathy Sathasivam, wife of said Sarawathy who was busy clothes and every item used for city, including 1,500 women ment. taken into the police custody. India Saturday, March 3, 2018 05 PNB not shown as creditor in Bank union writes to Jaitley against US bankruptcy filing by firms privatising PSBs IANS the letter. The union pointed Three companies affiliated with Nirav Modi file bankruptcy documents in a New York court NEW DELHI to some gaps in the regulatory mechanism in regard to fraud IANS CRITICISING the demand played on the Indian banking NEW YORK for privatising state-run system. banks in the wake of the Rs "Besides supervision, the THE Punjab National Bank 12,600 crore PNB fraud, a Department of Banking Op- (PNB) is not shown as a credi- bank employees' body has erations in the Reserve Bank tor in the bankruptcy docu- written to Union Finance of India (RBI) responsible for ments filed in a court here by Minister Arun Jaitley that controlling the unwarranted three companies affiliated with such a move would be "coun- risk in high-ticket advances Nirav Modi, who has been ac- terproductive". is without a head ever since cused in a $2 billion-scam in- The Indian National the then Deputy Governor SS volving the nationalised finan- Bank Employees Federation Mundra retired in July 2017," cial institution. (INBEF), the banking wing the union said. But the document ac- of Congress- affiliated Indian "While there is a need to knowledges that the filing of National Trade Union Con- look into the performance of criminal complaints by PNB gress (INTUC), has said in the the Bank Boards Bureau, the regarding allegations of "unau- letter that privatising public transparency about the RBI thorised loans" to Nirav Modi sector banks (PSBs) would policies during the tenure of and affiliated foreign compa- result in destroying their then Governor Raghuram nies were the "events leading" huge branch network across Rajan is being widely and to the filing of the bankruptcy the country. openly compared with that of petition. "Should the PSBs be yes-men working presently," The only banks mentioned handed over to private corpo- it added. Last week, the Fi- as creditors are HSBC and rates, it will not only be coun- nance Minister had criticised Israel Discount Bank (IDB), terproductive, but also lead to regulators, as well as bank which have outstanding loans self-destruction of a well-knit managements and auditors, totaling $20 million to two of huge branch network across for their failure to detect bank the companies. the length and breadth of the frauds and said that "politi- The IDB's revolving credit country that services crores cians are accountable but facility is guaranteed by Modi of people," the INBEF said in regulators are not". personally, as well as by two other companies, the docu- ment said. However, tying up the three companies in bank- ruptcy proceedings would place hurdles for PNB to go Hong Kong court rejects bail after the Nirav Modi's assets in Supporters of the Congress party protest against billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi in New Delhi recently. (AFP) these companies. "In most instances, the who is shown as the president committed to carrying on their any filings for FGI or Syner- for fugitive wanted in India filing of the bankruptcy case and sole director of the three The only banks mentioned business and that swift action gies. AFP City court with traffic cordons automatically stays certain companies seeking voluntary as creditors are HSBC and was being taken to mitigate the The balance sheet as of last HONG KONG set up and police dogs on the collection and other actions bankruptcy, signed the main Israel Discount Bank, which damage caused by the actions week filed in the court showed scene. against the debtor and the document for the bankruptcy in India". that Nirav Modi Inc owed A fugitive wanted by Indian po- Those entering went debtor's property," warns a petition. On Thursday, the have outstanding loans According to Bansali's $11.016 million to AJI and lice for crimes ranging from a through security checks includ- note from the authorities that Nirav Modi jewelry showroom totaling $20 million to two document, FDI is owned by $1.767 million to FDI. Syner- jailbreak to financing terrorism ing body screening, not usually is attached to the bankruptcy on New York's Madison Ave- of the companies another US company, Firestar gies is owed $10.812 million by was denied bail in Hong Kong seen in lower courts. documents. nue in the middle of high fash- Group, Inc. (FGI), which is a AJI and $7.941 million by FDI, Friday, where he is charged Singh, 29, arrived in a "If you attempt to collect ion outlets was closed, with wholly owned subsidiary of a while FHL is owed $4 million with a multi-million dollar rob- prison van escorted by around a debt or take other action in the main entrance locked and This implies that they were not US company, Synergies Cor- by AJI and $4.05 million by bery. eight police motorbikes. violation of the Bankruptcy shades pulled over the win- under direct financial distress. poration, which is a subsidiary FDI, according to the balance Ramanjit Singh, an Indian He was denied bail by a Code, you may be penalised." dows. They admitted that vendors of Honk Kong-based Firestar sheet. The filings said that FDI national who is on Interpol's magistrate who described the The three companies, -- It was not possible to ascer- were reluctant to continue do- Holdings Limited (FHL) that and FI have about $90 mil- global watch list, was detained robbery as a "very serious of- Firestar Diamond, Inc. (FDI); tain which company owned the ing business with them and is ultimately owned by Fire- lion of annual sales and their this month by authorities in fence" and said he was at risk of Fantasy, Inc. (FI), and A Jaffe showroom or why it was shut. some customers have begun to star International Limited clients include Zales, Kay's, the southern Chinese city over re-offending. Inc. (AJI) -- filed for bank- The three companies have pe- exploring other suppliers fol- (FIL), an Indian corporation Jared's, COSTCO, Sam's Club, the robbery. He is accused of Bearded and wearing a ruptcy protection in the United titioned under the Chapter 11 lowing the "negative publicity" whose majority shareholder is Macy's, JC Penney and US mil- stealing more than 450 million zip-up brown jacket, Singh States Bankruptcy Court for of the United States Bankrupt- that has impaired their opera- Nirav Modi. FI is a subsidiary itary bases. Japanese yen (US $4 million) remained calm and listened Southern New York on Mon- cy Code, which permits them tions and "created a great deal of FDI and 95 per cent of AJI AJI, it said, specialises in in cash from two people at an closely to proceedings via an day. to operate while they reorgan- of uncertainty and confusion is owned by Synergies. Bansali bridal jewelry and it had dou- address in Tsim Sha Tsui, in the interpreter. The bankruptcy petition ise their operations. in the market." is also the president and sole ble digit sales growth for the bustling heart of Hong Kong, Police in Punjab, the north- documents, obtained by IANS Their filing claimed that The government actions in director of FGI and Synergies. last three years and were pro- on February 9. ern Indian state where Singh from the court system, show a the reason for seeking bank- India disrupted their supply Ajay Gandhi is shown as the jected to reach $23 million in Singh faces one charge of was born, told AFP earlier maze of inter-connected own- ruptcy protection was to "pre- chain, the filing added, was a secretary and chief financial fiscal 2018, the document said. robbery, and appeared in mag- this week they wanted Singh erships that finally lead the serve the going concern value reason for the bankruptcy fil- officer for the three debtors, as Bansali asserted that they have istrates' court Friday with co- brought home to stand trial and three companies through sev- of their businesses and effectu- ing. They said they are trying well as FGI and Synergies. As seen "strong" early interest in defendant Enish Limbu. had sent an extradition request eral subsidiaries to Nirav Modi ate a sale or other transaction" to "reassure their customers of Wednesday, an IANS search purchasing some or all of their Dozens of heavily-armed to Hong Kong through India's via Hong Kong. Mihir Bansali, for their brands to continue. and vendors that they were of court databases did not find business operations. police surrounded Kowloon foreign ministry. SIT interrogates man in Owaisi dares Modi to go for early LS elections

Lankesh murder case IANS his party to be ready for early not send people who committed BJP and the Congress would be to secure their fundamental HYDERABAD Lok Sabha elections and chal- fraud on the country and looted routed in the next elections in rights in the country. BENGALURU: A 37-year-old man Arms Act for illegal possession of lenged Modi to dissolve Parlia- the public money from banks?" Telanagana. He said the party had an in- arrested under the Arms Act for 15 bullets of a revolver, Anucheth MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi ment and "face the people". Greeting the Hindu community "I challenge the two parties fluential role in Telangana, and illegal possession of ammunition said. The man had been remand- on Friday dared Prime Minis- Referring to the humongous on Holi festival, Owaisi said all to pick up the strongest can- members in Maharashtra As- is being questioned in connection ed in Crime Branch custody, ter Narendra Modi to hold early bank fraud involving Nirav Modi attempts to brand his party as didates -- not jokers -- to fight sembly and civic bodies, apart with the murder of Kannada tabloid which ended on Friday. "Based general elections -- othewise to and Mehul Choksi, he asked the anti-Hindu had failed and that from Hyderabad. Let the Prime from presence in Uttar Pradesh, Editor Gauri Lankesh in the city on certain clues provided by him, be held in 2019 -- and said peo- Prime Minister to explain what every community stood with the Minister address 10 meetings in Karnataka, Bihar, and Andhra nearly six months ago, police said the SIT took him into custody for ple were "ready to teach him and happened to his promise of 'Na MIM due to its hard work and the city. Still the Hindus, Mus- Pradesh. Tracing the 60-year on Friday. further questioning and investiga- his BJP a lesson". khaunga, na khane doonga' honesty. lims, Dalits and Christians will journey of the MIM, which was "KT Naveen Kumar was tion," he said. Lankesh, 55, the "His four-year rule has not (neither will I take bribe, nor "The sangh parivar should ensure MIM's victory by more revived as a political outfit by taken into custody by a Special Editor of "Lankesh Patrike", was given anything except disap- will I allow others to do it). know that saffron alone is not than two lakh votes," he said. his grandfather Abdul Wahed Investigation Team (SIT) of the shot dead outside her residence pointment. The people are also The MIM chief also de- the colour of India. The beauty Defending the MIM's de- Owaisi on March 2, 1958, amid Karnataka Police," SIT Investigat- in the city's southwestern suburb keenly waiting for the elections manded that Narendra Modi ex- of India is that it emerges from cision to contest elections in turbulent times after the police ing Officer M.N. Anucheth told by unidentified assailants on to teach him and his party a les- plain the threats from Bharatiya the merger of all colours -- be it other states, he said contesting action in Hyderabad, Asadud- IANS here. Kumar, who hails September 5 last year by uniden- son," Owaisi told a meeting held Janata Party leaders and right- saffron, green, white or black. elections and participating in din Owaisi said the biggest from Birur town in Chikmagalur tified men. Of the seven bullets to mark the 60th anniversary of wing outfits to send Indian Mus- All colours belong to India," he the democratic process was the contribution of his party was to district, about 250km west from fired, three hit Lankesh -- two in Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen lims to Pakistan if they raised said. After hoisting the MIM flag right given under the Constitu- strengthen public confidence in here, was booked by the city the chest and one in the fore- (MIM). voice against the killings and at the party headquarters Da- tion and it was the only way in democracy and the Constitution police on February 19 under the head. (IANS) The Hyderabad MP asked lynchings. "I ask -- why did they russalam, Owaisi said both the which the Muslims could strive of India. Protests against opening FESTIVAL OF COLOURS of mega dam in Assam THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION he said, adding that previous fected, with buildings and fields BANGKOK demonstrations were put down inundated by rising waters, he with violence in a state where said. VILLAGERS in northeastern armed forces have special privi- As the Thoubal River dried India are threatening to disrupt leges to tackle a long-running up, thousands more lost their the inauguration of a mega dam insurgency. livelihoods, including fishing that has uprooted them from Pritam Singh, chief engi- and collecting and selling sand- their traditional lands, cam- neer of Manipur's Irrigation stone that used to be washed paigners said on Friday. and Flood Control Department, downstream, according to Yum- Resistance to the dam is denied the use of force against nam. seen as part of a growing move- lawful protests. All necessary The dam has an annual irri- ment across the country against permissions for the dam were gation potential of about 33,000 large infrastructure projects, obtained, and adequate com- hectares, and will increase the which activists say do not bene- pensation was given to those af- drinking water supply to the fit the very people forced to give fected, said Singh. state capital Imphal and sur- up their land. "Some people did not take rounding areas by more than 45 Officials said the Mapithel the compensation, but that is a million litres a day, according to dam in Manipur State is due to different matter. Rehabilitation a government audit. be opened on March 15 - nearly of five of the six affected villages The project will generate 7.5 30 years since construction be- has been completed," he told the megawatts for rural electrifica- gan - and that it will vastly in- Thomson Reuters Foundation. tion. crease access to drinking water, Almost 2,000 hectares of Yumnam said authorities irrigation and electricity. land, of which a third is forest, did not assess the dam's im- But those benefits "won't have been flooded, said Jiten pact on the environment and even go to the affected commu- Yumnam of the Centre for Re- residents, who he said were not nities who sacrificed their land, search and Advocacy Manipur, consulted. river, forest and resources," said an indigenous rights organisa- "We should not proceed Revellers enjoy the Holi celebrations in Bangalore on Friday. The festival of colours is celebrated on the full moon day and heralds the onset activist Jajo Themson. tion. About 8,000 people in half with this until we can be sure of of spring season. (EPA-EFE) More protests are planned, a dozen villages are directly af- its impact," he said. 06 Saturday, March 3, 2018 Pakistan / South Asia Bangladesh warns Myanmar Blast near Australia embassy convoy over border troops deployment in Kabul kills one AFP convoy" when it went off The increased security presence on border is not aimed against Bangladesh: Myanmar govt spokesman KABUL around 9:00 am in the Qabil Bay area of Kabul. However AFP A car bomb detonated near a a NATO spokesman denied YANGON passing Australian embassy any foreign troops had been convoy in eastern Kabul Fri- injured, while the Australian MYANMAR on Friday de- day, an embassy statement embassy said the blast had fended deploying fresh said, killing at least one child come as one of its convoys troops to a border zone with and wounding several people was passing by. Bangladesh where thousands just days after Afghanistan "I can confirm a vehicle- of Rohingya refugees are unveiled plans for Taliban borne improvised explosive camped, blaming a militant peace talks. device (VBIED) was deto- threat as Dhaka called for an Extensive damage to the nated this morning in Police immediate retreat to lower facades of nearby houses District Nine in Kabul City," tensions along the troubled could be seen with debris Captain Tom Gresback, frontier. scattered on pavements as spokesman for NATO's Reso- The increased security witnesses reported a strong lute Support mission in Ka- presence this week has cen- explosion. bul said. tred around a strip of "no Security forces rushed "One civilian was killed, man's land" between the two to the scene as passers-by and eleven civilians were countries where some 6,000 helped move the wounded, wounded as a result of the Rohingya sought shelter af- with witnesses complaining attack. No Resolute Sup- ter fleeing a brutal Myan- that ambulances took around port service members were mar army crackdown last half an hour to arrive. injured in the incident," he August. A horse was also badly said, condemning the attack The military campaign injured in the blast and could and adding that NATO "fully drove some 700,000 Ro- be seen stumbling in the endorses" a call this week hingya across the border in street–its head, belly and legs by President Ashraf Ghani total, with most travelling burnt–before it was finally for the Taliban to join peace on to sprawling refugee set- taken pity on and killed on talks. tlements in Bangladesh's the spot with a knife, a re- The Australian embassy southeastern border district porter at the scene said. said on its website that the of Cox's Bazar. There was some confu- blast was "near Australian The UN has accused My- sion over the target of the Embassy vehicles while they anmar of waging an ethnic bomb. Earlier, interior min- were travelling in Kabul", cleansing campaign against istry spokesman Najib Dan- adding that all staff were safe the Muslim minority. ish said the "suicide" blast and extending its condolenc- Yet Myanmar has had targeted "a foreign forces es to the victims of the attack. staunchly defended the crackdown as an effort to snuff out Rohingya militants (File photo) Myanmar border guard police officers patrol along a beach near a makeshift camp at the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, who raided police posts last near the town of Maungsaw, Rakhine State, western Myanmar. year. The recent spike in se- tagonising Bangladesh," he a stalled repatriation plan curity along the border is a added. On Thursday Bangla- Rohingyas under pressure signed by the neighbours in response to new intelligence desh's foreign ministry said January. The process was de- about the movement of Ro- it summoned Myanmar's en- O In recent weeks the Rohingya living in the no man’s land layed at the last moment due hingya militants, said Myan- voy to call for an "immediate strip have faced growing pressure from Myanmar soldiers to lack of preparations and mar government spokesman pullback of Myanmar securi- protests by the refugees, who Zaw Htay. ty forces along with military The heightened tensions will do little to speed-up a stalled fear returning to Myanmar "We acted this way based assets from the area." repatriation plan signed by the neighbours in January. The without guarantees of basic on the information we got In recent weeks the Ro- process was delayed at the last moment due to lack of safety and citizenship. regarding terrorism, espe- hingya living in the no man's preparations and protests by the refugees, who fear returning Myanmar has branded cially the ARSA movement," land strip have faced grow- to Myanmar without guarantees of basic safety and citizenship. the Rohingya as illegal im- he said, using an acronym for ing pressure from Myanmar migrants from Bangladesh the Arakan Rohingya Salva- soldiers, who have stepped and systematically disman- tion Army, a militant group, up patrols along the barbed- On Thursday some 100 cording to Bangladesh bor- tled their legal rights and and declining to elaborate wire border fence near the Myanmar soldiers arrived der guards and Rohingya. access to basic services in Afghan security officials inspect the scene of the car bomb attack further. camp and ordered the group near the refugee camp in The heightened tensions Rakhine, a state where they in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday. (EPA) "It was not aimed at an- to leave over loudspeakers. heavy military vehicles, ac- will do little to speed-up have lived for generations.

Journalist employed by local Nepal newspaper SC ruling dims Sharif’s role in Pakistani politics in court for case TRIBUNE.COM.PK person who is disqualified to court noted that morality is a daily shot dead in Rawalpindi slammed as attack ISLAMABAD be king can nevertheless be part and parcel of the Islamic on press freedom given a freehand to operate Ideology of Pakistan and is DAWN.COM motorcycle opened fire on THE Supreme Court issued a as a kingmaker, who may de- included in the expression, ISLAMABAD him at Bank Road in the ju- KATHMANDU: Nepal's largest detailed judgement on its ver- spite lacking qualification and “integrity of Pakistan”. This risdiction of Civil Lines po- newspaper appeared briefly dict against the Election Act without going through the is in line with the theme and A subeditor working for a lo- lice station, before midnight. in court Friday summoned 2017 and the disqualification electoral process, act as a pup- underlying spirit of the Objec- cal daily in Islamabad was The site of the incident by the country's chief justice of former prime minister Na- pet master pull the strings and tives Resolution,” the judge- shot dead by unidentified as- is minutes away from GHQ, for publishing articles criti- waz Sharif as head of the Pa- exercise political power vicar- ment read. sailants in the late hours of the Pakistani military's na- cal of him, in a case widely kistan Muslim League-Nawaz iously would amount to mak- “No civilized society can Thursday in a high-security tional headquarters. condemned as an attack on (PML-N). ing a complete mockery of the deny this standard of moral- zone of Rawalpindi, police Raja, who was riding press freedom. The Chief Justice of Paki- Constitution.” ity,” the court observed in said. a motorcycle as well, was THE Kantipur Daily was stan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar The court observed that Nawaz Sharif. its judgement. Anjum Muneer Raja, shot six times in the neck, subpoenaed by chief justice authored the 51-page judge- the election of a disqualified “To leave the political 40, was returning home torso and head and died on Gopal Parajuli on contempt ment on the verdict. person who can’t be ‘king’ The SC further added that all parties entirely free to do as after work at Urdu news- the spot, police officials told of court charges for a series In its judgement, the SC can also not be given the free- political parties are bound to they please is to suggest that paper Qaumi Pukaar when DawnNewsTV. The assail- of articles that said the observed: “To hold that a hand to act as a ‘kingmaker’. “high ethical standards.” “The morality does not matter.” unknown attackers riding a ants fled after the attack. country's top judge had given different dates of birth on various official documents. Judges in Nepal have to Pakistan bans Indian retire at 65 and the sugges- Pakistan foreign secretary movie linking ‘Islam Pakistan protests to India over LoC firing tion is that Parajuli knocked years off his age to hold with witchcraft’ TRIBUNE.COM.PK near LoC. Two soldiers mar- peace and security and may office for longer. to visit US to revive ties ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has ISLAMABAD tyred in unprovoked Indian lead to a strategic miscalcula- In the subpoena issued banned a Bollywood film for firing along LoC tion. Sunday by Parajuli -- who will DAWN.COM by a senior Trump official, allegedly linking Islam with PAKISTAN lodged a protest The FO spokesperson said He urged the Indian side preside over the case despite WASHINGTON Lisa Curtis, who spoke of the "evil" witchcraft, Pakistani with India against the cease- that unprovoked firing from to respect the 2003 Ceasefire being directly implicated in it need to build a new relation- officials said on Friday, disallow- fire violations along the Line across the LoC killed Zafar arrangement, investigate all -- the newspaper is accused PAKISTAN and the United ship with Pakistan after her ing screenings of a third Indian of Control by the Indian armed Iqbal while injuring his wife incidents of ceasefire viola- of using "objectionable States will make another ma- talks with senior Pakistani film since December. Bollywood forces on Friday. and son in Nihala village. tions, instruct the Indian forc- language" and repeating jor effort to improve bilateral officials. horror-thriller "Pari," staring fa- According to Foreign Of- The Acting Director-Gen- es to respect the ceasefire, and "imaginary facts". It made ties next week when Foreign Ms Janjua is scheduled mous actress Anushka Sharma, fice spokesperson, Indian eral, South Asia told Indian maintain peace on the LoC no reference to the chief jus- Secretary Tehmina Janjua to meet senior US officials at was due in theatres across the Deputy High Commissioner envoy that deliberate target- and the Working Boundary. tice's multiple birthdays."The arrives here for a series of the State Department but it’s world, including in Pakistan, on J P Singh was summoned to ing of civilian populated areas Two Pakistan Army sol- articles published by the meetings with senior Ameri- still not clear if she will meet Friday, censor board official Nisar lodge a protest against cease- is indeed deplorable and con- diers were killed after the Kantipur Daily are intended to can officials. Ms Curtis at the State De- Ahmed said. But authorities fire violations by the Indian trary to human dignity, inter- Indian troops resorted to un- obstruct the judicial process Secretary Janjua’s March partment or will hold a sepa- withdrew permission to cinemas forces. national human rights and hu- provoked firing in Bhimber and weaken the judiciary by 6-8 visit follows a surprise rate meeting with her and at the last minute because the On March 1, the Indian manitarian laws. sector along the Line of Con- disrespecting the court," ac- trip to Islamabad last week her staff at the White House. movie allegedly links the Quraan military indulged in ceasefire Ceasefire violations by trol (LoC) on Wednesday, the cording to the order. with black magic. (DPA) violations at Bhimbar Sector India are a threat to regional military’s media wing said. US sees hope for negotiated end to Afghan war AFP as a step towards talks between and US officials are keen to in- Since a US-led intervention in China throws weight behind WASHINGTON President Ashraf Ghani's gov- sist that their remaining forces Afghanistan in the aftermath of ernment and the Taliban. in Afghanistan will continue to the September 11, 2001 attacks Afghanistan peace process THE United States dared to Ghani played his role to a support Kabul's troops and tar- overthrew the Taliban regime, permit itself renewed hope tee, holding out his hand to the get extremists until conditions the Islamist group has been ISLAMABAD: China has extended their full assistance to the Thursday that the longest war Taliban and suggesting that are ripe for peace. under pressure to renounce its Afghan reconciliation and peaceful reconstruction process as they in its history may be closer to if they join talks they could be But–in Kabul and in Wash- hardline ideals. welcome President Ashraf Ghani’s offer of talks to Taliban, Radio a negotiated settlement, after recognized as a political party ington–they are permitting But Ghani and US officials Pakistan reported. “China always supported the Afghan-led and Afghan-led talks went better with a legitimate role in Af- themselves a measure of satis- now accept that the Taliban Afghan-owned extensive and exclusive reconciliation process,” Chi- than expected. ghanistan's future. faction that Trump's vaunted can enter peace talks without nese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press After 17 years of guerrilla Washington, even under South Asian strategy has begun first accepting the country's briefing. All relevant parties in Afghanistan were urged to address conflict and several diplomatic war-skeptic President Donald to gain traction with Kabul and new democratic constitution their differences through consultation and dialogue. “China highly false starts, American officials Trump, will not seek a uni- regional players. and its protections for women appreciates efforts made by the government and President Asharf take nothing for granted–and lateral deal with the Taliban Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. US State Department and minority groups. Ghani for reconciliation,” she added. (TRIBUNE.COM.PK) they still expect the spring thaw to extricate itself from a long, spokeswoman Heather Nau- The hope is that the group to herald more fierce fighting. inconclusive conflict, but will military can not win a decisive ert made it clear that Wash- will definitively split from in- But they were pleased, both instead encourage an Afghan victory, they now believe the ington is glad that Ghani used ternationally oriented extrem- the "end condition" of talks. constitutions are living docu- publicly and privately, by this dialogue. And, just as US policy Taliban must understand it will to conference to signal to the ists like Al-Qaeda and find a "Along with that there has ments," one senior US official week's international confer- makers have concluded the still never retake Kabul. absent Taliban that "there are role in a new Afghanistan, with always been the understand- said, predicting that compro- ence in Kabul, which they see improving US-backed Afghan Much could yet go wrong, no preconditions for peace." an evolving constitution –as ing, even the expectation, that mises would be made. World Saturday, March 3, 2018 07 Tokyo school hires guards after Armani uniform furore Kenyan doctor performs brain surgery on wrong patient

TOKYO A Tokyo school that hit international headlines for introducing an Armani-branded NAIROBI A neurosurgeon at Kenya’s largest hospital has been suspended after performing uniform has been forced to hire security guards after several students faced harassment brain surgery on the wrong patient, the hospital said in a statement on Friday. The scandal, NEWS over the pricey kit. Taimei Elementary School in Tokyo’s wealthy Ginza district brought in which prompted an outpouring of horror on social media, is the latest drama to hit the Kenyat- IN BRIEF professional guards this week after at least three of its pupils encountered abusive stran- ta National Hospital in recent weeks, after allegations of staff sexually assaulting patients, and gers who pulled their uniforms or asked if they were students of the school, a local district the theft of a baby. The hospital said the surgeon, as well as two nurses and an anaesthet- spokeswoman told AFP. Japan boasts extremely safe streets, and guards are rarely seen at ist, had been suspended pending an investigation into the operation “on the wrong patient”. school grounds. (AFP) Health Minister Sicily Kariuki also suspended the CEO of the hospital over the blunder. (AFP) Aid workers among Dozens dead after militant 11 killed in suspected ‘Boko Haram’ attack strikes in Burkina Faso REUTERS Search for abducted ABUJA schoolgirls extended to other countries The coordinated operation underscores the fragility of Sahel nation struggling with bloody Islamist insurgency SUSPECTED Boko Haram militants killed at least 11 peo- ABUJA Nigeria’s government ple including three aid work- has extended the search for ers in an attack on a military 110 schoolgirls abducted facility in Nigeria’s northeast- last month to neighbouring ern Borno state late on Thurs- countries, the information day, according to two security ministry said on Friday. The reports seen by Reuters. girls were taken from their The raid in the town of school in the town of Dapchi, Rann marks the latest high- in the northeastern state profile attack by militants in of Yobe, by suspected Boko the northeast, coming less Haram militants on Feb. 19. than two weeks after mili- Yobe state directly borders tants abducted 110 girls from a Niger and is also close to school in the town of Dapchi in Nigeria’s borders with Chad neighbouring Yobe state. and Cameroon. (REUTERS) The United Nations con- firmed three aid workers, all firefight at the military facil- Nigerian nationals, were killed ity but the armed forces later in the attack in Rann, near the regained control, according to Cameroon border, and said the two reports. a female nurse was missing, The attack is a further set- feared abducted. It said it was back for President Muham- also concerned other civilians madu Buhari, who took office may have been killed or in- in May 2015 vowing to im- jured. prove security and who has re- Four soldiers and four po- peatedly said the Boko Haram lice officers were also killed, insurgency has been defeated. according to the Nigerian se- The government said on curity reports seen by Reuters. Friday that it was extending The militants, armed with to neighbouring countries the rocket-propelled grenades and search for the girls taken in truck-mounted guns, initially Dapchi, which is some 400 km overpowered soldiers in a (250 miles) west of Rann. People watch as black smoke rises after the capital of Burkina Faso came under multiple attacks targeting the French embassy, the French cultural centre and the country’s mili- tary headquarters, on Friday. (AFP) AFP men got out of a car and gadougou as “under control”. and wounded 21. The attack Mali militants release video of OUAGADOUGOU opened fire on passersby be- Burkinabe security sources Information Minister Re- remains unclaimed. fore heading towards the mis Fulgance Dandjinou said On January 15 2016, 30 ARMED men attacked the French embassy. The car was said around 15 people were the attack “has strong over- people, including six Canadi- kidnapped French aid worker French embassy in Burkina later seen ablaze. killed, while the army’s tones of terrorism.” The Paris ans and five Europeans, were REUTERS Petronin, 72, lying on a cot Faso and the country’s military At the same time, an ex- medical chief, Colonel public prosecutor said it had killed in a Islamist attack on a ABIDJAN inside a tent and boxes of headquarters on Friday before plosion occurred near the Amado Kafando, said 75 opened a formal investigation hotel and restaurant in the city medication, while audio of being repelled in a battle that headquarters of the Burkinabe others had been injured. It into “attempted murder in centre. AN al Qaeda affiliate based in French President Emmanuel left dozens of dead or injured. armed forces and the French relation to a terrorist enter- Responsibility was claimed Mali has released a video of Macron saying “I will protect Local security sources put cultural centre, which are lo- was unclear whether these prise”, an expected procedural by a group called Al-Qaeda in French aid worker Sophie Pet- you” plays on a loop. It was a still-incomplete death toll at cated about a kilometre (half a figures applied to one or to step after attacks targeting the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). ronin, who was kidnapped in not clear when the footage of about 15 while other sources mile) from the site of the first both attacks, and whether French citizens or interests. France, the former colonial late 2016. Petronin was filmed. reached by AFP from Paris attack, other witnesses said. they included the assailants Burkina Faso is one of a power in the Sahel region, has Petronin ran a charity for Petronin’s nephew, Ar- sketched an even bloodier out- Burkinabe security sources group of fragile countries on the deployed 4,000 troops and is malnourished and orphan naud Granouillac, said his come, with at least 28 people said around 15 people were southern rim of the Sahara that supporting a five-country joint children and had lived in the aunt’s health appeared to have killed in the second assault killed, while the army’s medi- military attack, while state TV are battling Islamist groups. force gathering Burkina Faso, city of Gao, in Mali’s volatile deteriorated since the last im- alone. cal chief, Colonel Amado Ka- said seven members of the se- The insurgency has caused Chad, Mali, Mauritania and northeast, for 15 years when ages of her were released in The coordinated operation fando, said 75 others had been curity forces had also died. thousands of deaths, prompt- Niger. she was snatched and driven the summer, and accused the underscored the fragility of the injured. Three security sources, ed tens of thousands to flee On February 21, two mem- away in a pickup truck. French government of aban- Sahel nation, one of a string of It was unclear whether two in France and one in West their homes and dealt crip- bers of the French counter- The propaganda video was doning the family. African states struggling with these figures applied to one or Africa, told AFP that at least pling blows to economies that terrorism force were killed by released late on Thursday by French Foreign ministry a bloody Islamist insurgency. to both attacks, and whether 28 people were killed in the at- are already among the poorest a landmine near Mali’s bor- Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al- spokeswoman Agnes von der Heavy gunfire broke out they included the assailants. tack on the military HQ alone. in the world. der with Niger and Burkina Muslimin (JNIM), which has Muhll told reporters that it was mid-morning in the centre of Earlier, the government had French government On August 13 last year, Faso. Twelve French troops been linked to the kidnapping vital to remain discreet in such the Burkinabe capital Ouaga- announced that six assailants sources said there had been two assailants opened fire on a have died since the campaign, of at least six Western hostag- circumstances, but that French dougou. had been killed -- four in the no French casualties and de- restaurant on Ouagadougou’s called Operation Barkhane, es in recent years. agencies were fully-mobilised Witnesses said five armed embassy attack and two in the scribed the situation in Oua- main avenue, killing 19 people was launched in August 2014. It shows brief footage of and in contact with the family.

State of emergency China kicks off parliament Ethiopia ratifies declared in Papua No interest in arms race with US in New Guinea after season with attack on West emergency rule major earthquake ‘invincible weapons’ row: Kremlin REUTERS Jinping to stay in office indefi- BEIJING nitely should he wish, prompt- imposed after AFP AFP president voiced concern about ing accusations from some in SYDNEY MOSCOW Russian President Putin’s lat- CHINA kicked off this year’s China that it is set to become PM resigns Putin stunned the West, and REUTERS many in Russia, on est remarks on arms develop- parliamentary season on Fri- another North Korea. A STATE of emergency has THE Kremlin said Friday Rus- ment and its negative impact day with an attack on those in The move comes not only ADDIS ABABA been declared in Papua New sia will not be part of a new Thursday by using his state on international arms control the West who seek to besmirch as Xi seeks greater power, but Guinea’s remote highlands af- arms race as the United States of the nation address to efforts,” said a statement by the the country for their own ne- as the party increasingly seeks ETHIOPIA’S parliament rati- ter a major earthquake shook and Germany voiced concern unveil a new arsenal of German chancellery. farious purposes, with a gov- to have its voice heard around fied on Friday a state of emer- the region in what Prime Min- over Vladimir Putin’s boasts of hypersonic weapons and Merkel’s spokesman Stef- ernment spokesman quoting the world, especially through gency imposed after the prime ister Peter O’Neill said was an new “invincible” weapons. fen Seibert said his government Martin Luther King Jr. in an state media’s global footprint minister announced his resig- “unprecedented disaster” for Putin stunned the West, and submarines was concerned about “the entire appeal for understanding. and in government-run Con- nation, though votes against local communities. many in Russia, on Thursday by security policy of Russia”. The highlight of parlia- fucius Institutes meant to the bill exposed rifts within O’Neill said his govern- using his state of the nation ad- conflicts, and accusations that He criticised Moscow over ment, which opens on Mon- teach the Chinese language. the ruling coalition. ment was working to restore dress to unveil a new arsenal of Moscow interfered in the US “blatant violations of interna- day, will be the passage of a The issue has become par- The emergency bans pro- services and provide aid to hypersonic weapons and sub- presidential election in 2016. tional law through the annexa- constitutional amendment ticularly controversial in Aus- tests and restricts publications the affected Hela, Southern marines less than three weeks US President Donald tion of the Crimea”, and the that not only further cements tralia, where Prime Minister that could be deemed to incite Highlands, Western and Enga before an election is expected to Trump and German Chancel- “truly appalling situation of the the ruling Communist Party’s Malcolm Turnbull last year violence. It was imposed on provinces in the Pacific na- extend his rule until 2024. lor Angela Merkel shared con- Syrian civilian population.” grip on power but also lifts said he took very seriously Feb. 16, a day after Hailemar- tion’s mountainous interior. The revelations came with cern in a phone conversation Putin’s spokesman Dmitry presidential term limits. reports that the Communist iam Desalegn announced his “This is an unprecedent- ties between Russia and the over Putin’s claims, Berlin said Peskov rejected accusations The party made the an- Party had sought to interfere surprise resignation. ed disaster in the Highlands West at post-Cold War lows Friday. Russia was violating any arms nouncement on Sunday, set- in his country, sparking anger The resignation was un- region and the appropri- over the Syria and Ukraine “The chancellor and the control agreements. ting the stage for President Xi in Beijing. precedented in Ethiopia’s ate response is underway by modern history. It followed the national government,” several years of unrest that O’Neill said in a statement broke out in 2015 over land late Thursday. rights before broadening into “A state of emergency has demonstrations over political been declared to expedite the Congolese cross lake to escape violence and human rights. Ethiopia restoration of essential public is East Africa’s biggest and services including healthcare AFP tions figures, most of them stoked by Rwanda and Ugan- fastest-growing economy and services, schools, road access, SEBAGORO women and children, bringing da which were eager to seize a Western ally in the fight airports, power and communi- with them tales of horrific vio- gold, diamond, timber and in- against Islamist militancy. But cations facilities.” A DAILY flotilla of wooden ca- lence. fluence as part of a wider con- rights groups criticise the gov- The PNG leader add- noes makes the 10-hour east- “When they were starting tinental war that played out ernment for mass arrests and ed that 450 million kina ward crossing of Lake Albert to kill we saw we were going inside Congo’s borders. long jail terms handed to polit- (US$140 million) had been ferrying hundreds of refugees to die, so we ran away. My two In Ituri tens of thousands ical opponents and journalists. allocated by the government from DR Congo’s latest spasm sisters were at home and they of civilians were killed be- The parliament’s approval for disaster relief. of violence to the safety of killed them,” said 25-year-old tween 1999-2003. Eventually of emergency rule was expect- The International Fed- Uganda. Dorika Rokorasha who lost some militia leaders were tried ed. The ruling Ethiopian Peo- eration of Red Cross and The repurposed fishing track of her husband in the at the International Criminal ple’s Revolutionary Democrat- Red Crescent Societies vessels come to Sebagoro panic. Court in The Hague. ic Front coalition, comprised (IFRC) said Thursday that beach crammed with the be- “I took the boat and es- This year’s resurgent vio- of four region-based parties, it was contributing a further draggled and dispossessed caped.” lence in Ituri is part of a patch- controls all 457 seats. US$221,000 to support the survivors of an outbreak of The Hema cattle herders work of unrest in a country suf- “We have reached a stage relief operations. fighting between rival Hema and Lendu farmers of Congo’s fering from growing insecurity. where, in a country with laws, There have been multi- and Lendu communities in the Ituri region are antagonistic New conflicts are erupting all sorts of illegal acts includ- ple and conflicting reports of east of the Democratic Repub- neighbours and outbreaks of as President Joseph Kabila ing land seizure were being casualties amid severely im- (File photo) Congolese family, who migrated from Democratic Re- lic of Congo. low-level violence are common. struggles to maintain his grip committed unabated,” said pacted communications and public of Congo by fleeing on a boat across Lake Albert, waits to be In recent weeks more than But in the late 1990s and on power two years after the Getachew Ambaye, the attor- poor access to the affected registered by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) 28,000 have made the pas- early 2000s their fight became legal end of his second presi- ney general. “Emergency rule areas. in Ntoroko, Uganda. (REUTERS) sage, according to United Na- a broader, more brutal battle dential term. became necessary for stability.” 08 Saturday, March 3, 2018

ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER 3, 2006 PRINTED AT ALI BIN ALI PRINTING PRESS Opinion HAMAD BIN SUHAIM AL THANI CHAIRMAN ADEL ALI BIN ALI MANAGING DIRECTOR DR HASSAN MOHAMMED AL ANSARI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Green Car Initiative: Towards The Korean Olympics A More Sustainable Future

Qatar’s initiative aims to help reduce carbon emissions Truce May Not Last and attain economic and environmental balance

N a first but significant step, Qatar head- installing and managing the infrastructure lined its determination to move towards to provide electrical cars with energy in dif- Now that the Olympics are over it might also mean the end of an interlude in a more sustainable environment when ferent levels of charging capacity (fast, me- the international crisis over North Korea’s nuclear-weapons programme IKahramaa opened the country’s first elec- dium, low). tric car charging station. Eight more such Nations the world over have realised the charging stations are on the anvil as part of imperative of reducing the global carbon the Green Car Initiative (GCI) which, it is footprint. The rising awareness is reflected hoped, will encourage more and more peo- in new registrations of electric cars hitting ple to switch over to electric vehicles. GCI a record in 2016 with over 750,000 sales flows from an agreement signed between worldwide, according to the International Kahramaa, and the ministries of Energy Energy Agency (IEA). In 2016, China be- and Industry, and Transport and Commu- came the country with the largest electric nications last May. car stock, with about a third of the global The agreement is an acknowledgement total. With more than 200 million electric of the necessity of providing future genera- two-wheelers, 3 to 4 million low-speed elec- tions with a clean, healthy, and safe envi- tric vehicles (LSEVs) and more than 300 ronment. It comes as part of Tarsheed’s thousand electric buses, China is the global (National Program For Conservation & leader in the electrification of other trans- Energy Efficiency) objective to reduce port modes. CO2 emissions in Qatar by 7% from the to- The IEA has signalled that R&D and tal targeted 17% of all sectors by 2022 in mass production prospects are leading to line with the Qatar National Development rapid battery cost declines and increases in Strategy II. energy density. Signs of continuous technol- The objective is to turn the transport ogy improvements confirm that this trend sector into a greener and a more sustainable will continue, narrowing the cost competi- one by promoting the use of vehicles which tiveness gap between electric vehicles and help in reducing traditional energy con- traditional internal combustion engines. sumption. The expected outcome of course There is a good chance, according to the is to help reduce carbon emissions and at- IEA, that the electric car stock will range be- tain economic and environmental balance. tween 9 million and 20 million by 2020 and It bears mention that Qatar recently par- between 40 million and 70 million by 2025. ticipated in the 23rd annual Conference of With more electric vehicles on the roads, the Parties COP23 to the UN Convention private and publicly accessible charging in- Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn to renew its frastructure has also continued to grow. In HE Closing Ceremony of South Ko- URI FRIEDMAN | rector of National Intelligence Dan Coats commitment to translating the outcomes 2016, the IEA estimates, the annual growth rea’s Winter Olympics marks the TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE said he expected North Korea to conduct of the Paris Climate Agreement into con- rate of publicly available charging infra- end not just of dazzling twizzles, more missile tests in the months ahead crete steps and successful projects towards structure (72%) was higher, but of a simi- celebrity curlers, and shirtless Ton- but the North Koreans cancelled at the and suggested that additional tests of nu- reducing the impact of global warming and lar magnitude, than the electric car stock Tgans, but also of an interlude in the last minute. Their reason: Anger about clear weapons could be in the offing as achieving sustainable development. growth rate in the same year (60%). international crisis over North Korea’s Pence’s announcement of the latest round well, noting that North Korean officials Along with Kahramaa, the Ministry of It is still early days as far as the electric nuclear-weapons programme. In recent of sanctions. have threatened to take the extremely Transport and Communications, and the vehicle segment in Qatar is concerned but weeks we’ve witnessed North and South Military Exercises provocative step of detonating a hydrogen Ministry of Energy and Industry will work the vision and approach of the authorities Koreans marching and competing togeth- The United States and South Korea bomb over the Pacific Ocean. (The North towards launching electric vehicles in the concerned in developing transportation in er, the American vice president almost suspended joint military exercises dur- Koreans might be tempted to carry out fleets of buses and other transport vehicles line with the latest eco-friendly global sys- literally rubbing elbows with Kim Jong ing the Olympics, but they plan to re- such an atmospheric nuclear test, which in order to position them in the local mar- tems and in raising awareness is laudable. Un’s sister, and tentative talk of a grand schedule the massive drills for after the hasn’t occurred since the Chinese staged ket as a strategic and eco- friendly option to The success of the Green Car Initiative lies summit between Kim and South Korean Paralympics conclude in mid-March. And one in 1980, to dispel doubts about their reach the strategic goal represented in rais- in an effective partnership between the gov- President Moon Jae In. But the spectacle while the Americans and South Koreans capacity to threaten the United States ing this type of vehicles to 10% by 2030. The ernment, the private sector and the public of the Games has obscured several signs characterise these exercises as critical to with nuclear weapons.) In December, Ministry of Energy & Industry will work on at large. that the nuclear crisis will soon resume – preparing for North Korean aggression, three months after North Korea’s last and quite possibly accelerate. the North Koreans view the training as a nuclear test, Senator and Trump confi- Sanctions rehearsal for invasion. A commentary in dant Lindsey Graham told me he thought While Mike Pence signalled during the North Korea’s state-run Korean Central there was a 70 percent chance of the Olympics that the Trump administration News Agency this week pointedly argued Trump administration taking military ac- is willing to meet directly with North Ko- that North-South dialogue can’t progress tion against North Korea if Kim Jong Un rean officials, the vice president stressed so long as US-South Korean drills persist. tested another nuclear bomb. Even if the that the United States will not ease eco- Missile and Nuclear Tests probability is far lower than that, Gra- nomic sanctions until the North takes North Korea has a track record of con- ham’s estimate speaks to how high the steps toward dismantling its nuclear ar- ducting missile tests in the spring, and stakes are in every test that moves North senal. In fact, the administration is intent that might be particularly true this spring Korea closer to a long-range nuclear ca- on increasing the pressure amid evidence as it refines the technology to place a nu- pability that the Trump administration that international sanctions are inflicting clear warhead on a missile that can reach claims is unacceptable. serious pain on the Kim government. On the United States. The Center for Strategic A nuclear-armed North Korea poses Friday, the Treasury Department sanc- and International Studies has found that a “potentially ... existential” danger to the tioned dozens of ships and shipping com- US-South Korean military exercises lead United States and could blackmail Ameri- panies that it says are helping North Ko- to more provocations by the Kim govern- ca into abandoning its alliance with South rea evade severe restrictions on trade in ment when North Korea’s relations with Korea, Coats told the Senate. “The deci- fuel and other essential products. America are strained in the weeks preced- sion time is becoming ever closer in terms These sanctions are designed to com- ing the drills. That’s the case now despite of how we respond to this.” pel North Korea to make concessions on the Olympic reconciliation between North As for whether the US can reverse its nuclear programme. Yet in the near and South Korea; the US standoff with North Korea’s nuclear programme term, at least, they could make substan- North Korea is primarily about nuclear through sanctions rather than military tive negotiations less likely to take place. weapons, while the overtures between force, Coats didn’t sound particularly Pence, for example, was planning to hold North and South Korea have avoided nu- optimistic. The North “has repeatedly a secret meeting with North Korea’s of- clear issues. stated that it does not intend to negotiate ficial delegation as part of his visit to In testimony before the Senate Intel- its nuclear weapons and missiles away,” the Opening Ceremony in Pyeongchang, ligence Committee earlier this month, Di- he noted. Why I Traded My Smartphone For A Flip Phone Our phones have become such an important part of our lives, we need to take back control of our relationship with it

KATIE REID | last thing before bed, frequently through- when we’re bored; they make us feel good TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE out the work day and any time I was stand- about ourselves (the self-facing camera in ing in line somewhere or riding as a pas- Instagram takes the best selfies, FYI); they N Tuesday, I traded in my iPhone senger in the car or driving the car, but at a get us out of awkward social situations, like for a flip phone. Well, technically, stoplight or ... you get the idea. any good friend would. I got to keep the iPhone. But when Then I had my daughter. But honestly, I often use my phone I asked the Verizon employee if the Watching Ruby grow and discover the to feed my worst impulses. Don’t get me OiPhone would be deactivated after world has been incredible. She is the busi- wrong, I use other things to feed my worst he was finished setting up my sturdy new est baby I’ve ever seen. It’s like she wakes impulses, too. (McDouble from the Dollar Kyocera, he looked at me gravely and re- up with a to-do list each morning, and she Menu, anyone?) But, generally speaking, I plied, “It’s already deactivated.” doesn’t stop moving or exploring until she don’t have a cheeseburger in my pocket at So, yeah, I still have it, but it’s “passed goes to bed for the night. Her main goal in the ready for the very moment that shame- on,” so to speak. life right now is to make things – all the ful urge arises. I first had the urge to ditch my smart- things! – happen for the sole purpose of I still have a computer. I got an iPad for phone over a year ago, when I realised the experiencing them. my birthday this year, which has proven re- first thing I did in the morning – like, as And it didn’t take her long at all to fig- ally useful for my work and for reading the soon as I opened my eyes – was look at In- ure out that she wanted eyes and hands news. I am not, by any means, unplugged stagram and Twitter. I didn’t like that. And on the phones in the house. She’s seen us or disconnected. I’m just taking back con- while I wasn’t exactly sure why I didn’t like look at them, definitely. But there also just trol of a relationship that took over my life it, I just knew it didn’t feel right. seems to be something about an iPhone. in the quietest of ways, and feeling empow- Subsequently, I took some pretty heavy It fits in your hand. It reacts to your touch ered by this truth: I don’t need that phone. social media breaks, mostly due to the di- and lights up. It talks and sings and the I have everything I need without it. visiveness in the post-election days. After screen moves. It is, for these little humans a three to four month hiatus, and a disas- for whom everything is magic, the most – and we’ll have to figure out how to handle Our phones have become intimate (Katie Reid is director of digital trous trip to a Verizon store (where an em- enthralling contraption you could possibly that once we get there. But I already know parts of our lives. We hold them physically media at The Boys’ Latin School ployee came pretty close to flat out refusing dangle in front of them. for a fact that I don’t want my daughter’s close to us all day long. We gaze at them for of Maryland and an MFA candidate to help me get a basic phone), I was back I know, someday, Ruby will want a closest friend to be a phone. Once I realised hours at a time. Some of us even sleep with in integrated design at University on social media and back to my old phone phone – I’m not naive enough to think get- that, I had to ask myself: “Do I really want them. And, in turn, they are pretty depend- of Baltimore. She wrote this for habits again – first thing in the morning, ting rid of my smartphone will change that my closest friend to be a phone?” able companions. They help distract us the Baltimore Sun.)

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE OPINION AND ANALYSIS PAGES ARE THE AUTHORS’ OWN. QATAR TRIBUNE BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY. Saturday, March 3, 2018 09 Have your say Is there an issue you feel strongly about, or an article you want to comment on? QT will carry your voice to the public and to Analysis places where it matters. Write to us at PO BOX 23493, DOHA, QATAR O FAX: +974 44416790 O[email protected] Trump Hands Out Jobs

Like Mints To Loyal Friends Embracing gun control I’M writing in reaction to the article ‘Trump stuns lawmakers by embrac- ing gun control,’ published in Qatar Tribune on March 2. Just like the US US President Trump seems to have a habit of putting friends in top government positions lawmakers, I was surprised to read this headline and a little sceptical about it even when they do not have basic qualifications or experience for the job too. Is Trump for real this time? Presi- dent Trump is known for not really sticking with his words and sometimes ASHINGTON – Hope Hicks, a backtracking or changing his mind. I former model who handled pub- hope this time he is serious about get- lic relations for Ivanka Trump’s ting stricter gun laws in the US and I purses and shoes, is now Don- hope better rules are implemented Wald Trump’s longest-serving top right away. Shooting survivors have aide, attending top-level White House endured a lot and I can’t imagine what decision-making meetings and crafting kind of trauma they have to live with. communications policy. It must be very sad and painful for the She testified to Congress this week Stoneman Douglas school shooting that she sometimes has been required to survivors to go back to school and be tell “white lies” as part of her job. The next reminded of what they experienced and day, she said she is resigning. also confront the reality about the loss Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in- of some friends and teachers. Schools law trying to figure out how to pay a bal- should be the safest place that children loon payment on a building he bought for could be in. They shouldn’t be afraid $1.8 billion now worth $900 million, had and parents shouldn’t have to worry no government experience but has been about sending their children to school. dubbed White House “secretary of every- School shootings are not inevitable. thing.” They can be avoided if the problem is Although Kushner is supposed to addressed correctly. Too many shoot- handle Middle East peace, NAFTA nego- ings have happened over the years, but tiations, innovation, relations with China, nothing changed, maybe this time is Mexico, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, govern- different. I hope so. I hope President ment reorganisation and criminal justice Trump and his administration are able reform, he has been stripped of his access to come up with the best possible solu- to the nation’s top secrets because intelli- tion so that shooting tragedies can be gence agencies can’t posit he is not subject avoided in the future. to blackmail from foreign operatives. It remains to be seen if Trump over- Mie U rules his chief of staff John Kelly and lets Ann McFeatters | Kushner continue knowing everything. Tribune News Service Kushner’s wife and Trump’s daugh- ter, Ivanka, still making money from her own businesses, also is a top adviser to the The good news is president. Her portfolio includes working on behalf of women but she says it’s “in- that most of these appropriate” to ask what she thinks of the #metoo movement and the 19 women ac- hangers-on don’t cusing Trump of sexual harassment or as- Department of Agriculture. doesn’t matter if people in top jobs don’t sault because she must believe her father’s A friend of Melania Trump was given have basic qualifications or experience: hang on for very denials. $26 million to help run Trump’s inaugural “President Trump has promised to change Some complain Ivanka is “playing events even though another firm that has Washington, and you can’t do that by long. More than one- government.” Most recently she served as handled the event for years also got $26 putting Washington bureaucrats in charge head of the US delegation at the Winter million. Although she had no government of everything.” third of senior aides Olympics closing ceremony in South Ko- experience, she then got White House ac- The good news is that most of these rea, conveying the latest US thinking on cess as a top adviser helping a first lady hangers-on don’t hang on for very long. in the Trump White North Korea’s efforts to become a nuclear with no government experience. She has More than one-third of senior aides in power. just been let go. the Trump White House have been fired, House have been Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara has a To modernise government technology quit or been reassigned in the first year – a key role in his re-election campaign ap- – a huge undertaking, Trump hired a Bal- record. fired, quit or been paratus. (Trump announced his campaign timore real estate mogul’s son married to Trump loves telling us he still has shortly after being inaugurated.) His new Ivanka’s college friend. “seven more years.” (Trump’s re-election reassigned in the first campaign chairman was in charge of dig- Trump put Andrew Giuliani, son of machinery has about $33 million in the ital media and marketing for Trump in the former New York mayor who is a big bank already despite spending hundreds year – a record 2016. Trump supporter, for a White House job of thousands of dollars on legal fees be- “All of us at UNICEF are deeply The president’s sons Donald Jr and handling public liaison. The younger cause of the probe into how much Trump shocked by the killing of Eric, running Trump’s business for him, Giuliani, who sued Duke University for campaign officials knew about Russia’s ef- are involved in politics and travel abroad kicking him off the golf team and lost, has forts to influence the 2016 election.) humanitarian workers in defending their father and promoting the no government experience. So, if some of the hundreds of loyal business. This pattern of handing out govern- Trump sycophants are still in their cushy northeast Nigeria, who were The president is pushing his personal ment jobs like mints to loyal friends and jobs in 2021 or 2025, why, then they will bravely providing critical pilot to run the Federal Aviation Adminis- relatives does not seem to upset millions be the bureaucrats the next president tration, which is trying to spearhead a con- of Americans who wanted “the swamp vows to throw out. services for vulnerable people” troversial $36 billion modernisation plan drained” because the president himself through Congress. Also, Trump wants to successfully campaigned on having no (Ann McFeatters is an op-ed UNICEF privatise the nation’s air controllers. experience or qualifications for the most columnist for Tribune News Trump put former campaign aides, important job in the world. Service. Readers may some without college degrees and none Sarah Sanders, Trump’s press sec- send her email at with farm experience, in top posts at the retary, told The New York Times that it [email protected].)

Health is Wealth Bloggers’ Borough GET HEARD! QT NOW MAKES What You Need To Teachers And Guns Don’t Mix YOUR LIFE Know About B12 ELANA RABINOWITZ | There have been several other school SIMPLE TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE shootings this year alone and we need to A WELLNESS UPDATE | work together to make them stop. I be- TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE AM not going to kill someone. Period. lieve a drastic change is necessary. President Donald Trump recently But instead of focusing our finances ADVERTISING & PR : Can B12 shots boost my energy and I tweeted that a gun-free school is “a and training on weapons of mass de- help me lose weight? magnet for bad people.” His solution: struction, why not use the money to hire Phone: 40002155, 40002122 Q A: Vitamin B12 shots have been arming gun-adept teachers so they can more mental health professionals in our given for years in hopes of increasing en- shoot it out with the bad guys. I could schools? We could also do a better job Fax: 40002235 ergy, promoting general health and even not disagree more. monitoring social media in search of improving weight loss. Unfortunately, if As a teacher for more than 16 years kids who post about death and shoot- Email : [email protected] your B12 level is normal, there is little evi- in Brooklyn, New York, I certainly hope ing of any kind. Maybe we could identify dence to support that they actually work. this is not the response we take to the re- people who pose a threat and not allow However, if your B12 level is low, cent attack on Marjory Stoneman Doug- them to purchase guns. SUBSCRIPTION & which is easily detected by doing a blood las High School in Parkland, Florida. In a world where children are dying test, replacing vitamin B12 is very im- Those kids and faculty deserve more. senselessly, there is little I am sure of CIRCULATION portant. Low vitamin B12 levels are more First off, teachers are educators, not anymore, but this I can say with abso- common among those who: cops. There is no correlation between lute certitude: We don’t need more guns Phone: 40002111 --Are over age 65 helping and nurturing young people and expect someone with a masters in litera- in schools, especially not in the hands of --Have gastrointestinal problems possibly getting into gun fights either ture to be able to take down a shooter. teachers. We need changes in policies Mobile : 55878073 --Keep a strict vegetarian diet with them or on their behalf. It is simply What would happen if their aim wasn’t now. We need to protect our children Email : [email protected] --Have had bariatric surgery not in our DNA. That is not why we be- true? now. Let’s make school shootings part of Because B12 levels are not checked came teachers. We have witnessed numerous our history and not our future. during routine blood work, a deficiency Moreover, increasing the number of trained officers kill minorities over and SUGGESTIONS & can go undetected for years. weapons is the antithesis of the solution. over again by misconstruing their mo- (Elana Rabinowitz is a If your B12 level is found to be below More stringent gun laws and monitoring tives. Imagine if a teacher thought a middle-school teacher and a COMPLAINTS normal, vitamin B12 shots as well as B12 is needed. child was taking out a weapon and it re- freelance writer in Brooklyn, NY. pills will be essential for your health. Get- You want to add a metal detector to ally was a toy? The possibilities for harm This column was written for the Phone : 40002202, Fax : 40002221 ting your level back to normal will often every school? Go ahead. You want to add and injustice are innumerable. How can Progressive Media Project, improve symptoms such as numbness and armed guards and increased security? our students trust us if they know at any affiliated with The Progressive Email : [email protected] tingling, generalised weakness, difficulty Be my guest. Make these institutions time we have the power of guns at our magazine, and distributed by walking and memory trouble. the safest places on the planet, but don’t disposals? Tribune News Service.) 10 Saturday, March 3, 2018 Gulf / Middle East West ups heat on Damascus Syria govt seizes ground in Ghouta as Ghouta civilians await aid advance: Monitor REUTERS The Syrian regime must be held accountable, US President Donald Trump & German Chancellor Angela Merkal agree; BEIRUT/GENEVA Desperation Trump and Macron vow that there should be ‘no impunity’ in the event of further chemical weapons use in Syria The spokesman for Jaish SYRIAN government forces aim to advance into the al-Islam, one of the main eastern Ghouta region one Ghouta rebel groups, said "bite" at a time, a pro-gov- on Thursday government ernment commander said forces had tried to divert on Friday, as a war moni- their attention by open- tor said the army had seized ing a new front in the new ground from rebels. Hazerma area while also In one of the deadli- waging battles in nearby est offensives of the war, Hawsh al-Dawahra. government air strikes and Rebels had used artillery bombardment have killed hundreds of people over 12 fire to disable two tanks. days in eastern Ghouta, an area of besieged towns and farms that is the last major Jaish al-Islam, one of the rebel-controlled area near main Ghouta rebel groups, the capital. said on Thursday govern- The UN Security Council ment forces had tried to on Saturday called for a 30- divert their attention by day countrywide truce. Rus- opening a new front in the sia, which backs the Syrian Hazerma area while also government in the war, has waging battles in nearby instead called for daily hu- Hawsh al-Dawahra. manitarian ceasefires from Rebels had used artillery 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (0700 GMT fire to disable two tanks. to 1200 GMT). The commander in the Government forces, military alliance that backs including the elite Tiger Assad said government Force, have been attacking forces had taken some vil- rebels in the Maraj area of lages on the Maraj area. the Ghouta for several days. Government forces had The Syrian Observatory also made "notable" ad- for Human Rights said on vances on the western edge Friday they had captured of the rebel enclave at Har- two villages - Hawsh al- asta, he said. The Observa- Dawahra and Hawsh Zreika tory said government forces - in addition to hills and had seized a group of build- farmland. ings in that area. Rebel sources could not "What is happening at immediately be reached for present is biting and taking comment on Friday. some villages from the east- The spokesman for ern side," commander said. Syrian rescuers help a man at the site of Syrian government bombardments in Douma, in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, on Friday. (AFP)

AFP Tuesday began daily pauses in meanwhile, vowed there would daily five-hour "humanitarian DOUMA fighting -- but air strikes con- People sceptical be "no impunity" in the event of pause". The pause announced tinue to claim lives and a total Embattled Syrian civilians further chemical weapons use by Russia has lessened but 84 patients are priority for WESTERN powers turned up ceasefire across Syria demand- have not left the enclave, in Syria. not halted the deadly bomb- the heat on Damascus on Friday ed by the UN has not come into Washington has asked the ing, which has ripped through evacuation from Ghouta: WHO as tens of thousands of civilians effect. despite a Russian offer of UN Security Council to set up homes and reduced residential in Syria's battered rebel enclave The recent onslaught has safe passage out during a new inquiry into chemical areas to grey rubble. GENEVA: Nearly 100 patients in eastern Ghouta, including chil- of Eastern Ghouta awaited des- shocked the international com- the daily halt in fighting. weapons attacks in Syria after On Friday, 11 civilians were dren, are the priority for medical evacuations among more than perately needed aid. munity and left medical staff “People are still in reports of suspected chlorine killed across Eastern Ghouta in 1,000 sick and wounded people in the besieged Syrian enclave, More than 600 civilians in Eastern Ghouta struggling their cellars because use in Eastern Ghouta, accord- air strikes and shelling before a senior World Health Organization official said on Friday. Dr. Peter have been killed in the enclave to cope. On Friday, the United they don’t feel safe,” a ing to a draft resolution ob- and after the truce, according to Salama, WHO deputy director and head of its health emergencies outside Damascus since Russia- States, Germany and France 24-year-old who gave his tained by press on Thursday. the Syrian Observatory for Hu- programme, also said the United Nations agency hoped to deliver backed regime forces launched upped the pressure on Damas- name as Mohammed The Syrian government has man Rights monitoring group. vital medical and surgical supplies soon to the rebel-controlled an assault on February 18. cus as last weekend's UN Secu- said in the devastated denied using chemical weapons Embattled Syrian civilians area of 400,000 people near Damascus. UN agencies are seek- As dozens of aid trucks re- rity Council vote for a ceasefire town of Hammuriyeh. and Russia has questioned UN have not left the enclave, de- ing a safe corridor for aid to enter and evacuees to leave. "What mained unable to enter the en- has failed to stop fighting. findings that it carried out sarin spite a Russian offer of safe pas- we're calling for as WHO is at the very least an immediate ap- clave, the UN Human Rights US President Donald and chlorine attacks. sage out during the daily halt in proval from the Syrian government and all the warring parties for Council postponed voting on a Trump and German Chancel- It was unclear when the US fighting. evacuation of the critically unwell, starting with the top 84 which British resolution condemning lor Angela Merkel agreed in a attacks against civilians and the proposal, or a separate Russian "People are still in their have been listed by the NGOs, UN agencies and Red Cross as the the crisis in Eastern Ghouta, phone call that the Syrian re- blockade of humanitarian sup- draft resolution, on the Syrian cellars because they don't most urgent," Salama said in an interview at WHO headquarters after member states failed to gime must be held accountable. port," a German chancellery chemical inquiry would come to feel safe," a 24-year-old who in Geneva. "They include children, women, they include a range agree on a final text. "This applies both to the statement said. a vote. On Friday, distrust ran gave his name as Moham- of conditions from people that have had direct trauma (injuries) Violence has been tempered Assad regime's deployment of Trump and French Presi- high among civilians in Eastern med said in the devastated related to the conflict in eastern Ghouta," he said.(REUTERS) in the enclave since Russia on chemical weapons and for its dent Emmanuel Macron, Ghouta on the fourth day of a town of Hammuriyeh. Six civilians Separate Shabaab attacks War crimes being committed in Ghouta: UN killed in Libya leave 11 dead in Somalia REUTERS farms in the last major rebel- nals, are disgraceful." DPA three soldiers and three civil- GENEVA held region near the capital. Hussam Aala, Syria's am- tribal clashes MOGADISHU ians and wounding several oth- "Despite this rare example bassador to the United Nations ers," said senior Somali police AIR strikes on the besieged Syr- of unanimity, civilians in East- in Geneva, said that Zeid was AFP AT least 11 people were killed official Mahad Yare. ian enclave of eastern Ghouta ern Ghouta have reported that "selective and biased" and that TRIPOLI in separate al-Shabaab attacks Separately, heavily armed and shelling from the rebel-held air strikes and shelling contin- the debate was "politicised". in Somalia on Friday, officials militants dressed in army uni- zone into Damascus probably ue," Zeid told the Geneva rights The Syrian army had taken AT least six civilians have said, as President Mohamed forms attacked neighbour- constitute war crimes and must forum during an urgent debate every step to protect civilians been killed in clashes between Abdullahi Farmajo was in hoods in the Bal'ad district, be prosecuted, the top UN hu- held at Britain's request. and had opened "humanitar- rival tribes in the south of Uganda trying to ramp up Af- local police officer Ahmed Nor man rights official said on Fri- "Once again, I must empha- ian corridors for the passage of Libya that saw a hospital get rican Union support for the said. day. sise that what we are seeing, in civilians to separate them from hit repeatedly, the United Na- unstable country's security ef- Three local police officers Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, U.N. eastern Ghouta and elsewhere the terrorists", he said, refer- tions said Thursday. forts. and two civilians died that at- High Commissioner for Human in Syria, are likely war crimes, ring to the insurgents in eastern The violence over the Al-Shabaab militants at- tack, along with seven of the Rights, said the perpetrators and potentially crimes against Ghouta. past month in the southern tacked an army post in Afgoye militants. of such crimes in Syria should humanity. British Ambassador Ju- town of Sebha, some 600 about 30 kilometres outside The militants were able to know they were being identified Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein. Civilians are being pounded lian Braithwaite said that east- kilometres (370 miles) from Mogadishu, killing six people, briefly seize government of- and that dossiers were being into submission or death." He ern Ghouta had become "the Tripoli, is the latest flare-up including three soldiers, police fices there and also released a built with a view to future pros- air strikes and bombardment added: "Syria must be referred epicentre" of suffering in Syria, in a region regularly wracked said. number of prisoners from the ecutions. have killed hundreds of people to the International Criminal with starving families huddled by tribal violence. "A suicide car bomber district jail, said one local elder, In one of the deadliest offen- over 12 days in eastern Ghouta, Court. Attempts to thwart jus- in basements to hide from "in- The UN mission in Libya rammed into the base, killing who asked not to be named. sives of Syria's war, government an area of besieged towns and tice, and shield these crimi- discriminate regime bombing". said on Twitter that it was "deeply concerned by the escalation of armed conflict in Libya's Sebha, where at least 6 civilians killed and 9 injured." In Iraq’s Anbar, hosting guests is a point of honour "The hospital was hit repeatedly. Indiscriminate use of weapons in densely AFP me in. After dinner and tea – French anthropologist Da- populated areas must be RAMADI, IRAQ and after I repeatedly asked wood Hosham, who is of Iraqi stopped." about the person–they told origin, highlights the "tribal" A spokesman for Sebha IN Iraq's Anbar province, vis- me they didn't know him, but Hospitality is a red line for nature of cities like Ramadi hospital, Oussama al-Wafi, itors can be hard pressed to would send someone to look us. We will never allow their when explaining the impor- said that a girl of 15 and a find a hotel room as tribal tra- for him and that I should construction. We’d sell tance placed on hospitality. woman of 35 were among dition makes housing guests spend the night at their place." everything we have to "Under these circumstanc- the dead from the clashes a point of honour. Tribal traditions of hospi- honour a guest es, it is inconceivable that a which started in early Feb- The western region along tality transcend community visitor should be looking for ruary. the Syrian border was long affiliation. Sheikh Mohammad Khalef a hotel, where local traditions Wafi said 12 people had held by Islamic State (IS) Karim, the visitor, is Shi- al Shaabani, a tribal leader dictate the duty of hospitality. been wounded, including 10 group militants, and few out- ite, but the majority of Anbar “This is the case with other civilians. siders managed to venture into province is Sunni. cities in the province as well," The latest clashes in the its capital Ramadi until the "Hospitality is a red line for (reception hall), which must be explained Hosham, author of marginalised Fezzan region extremists were pushed out in us," said Sheikh Mohammad big, even if it means we must The Tribes and Power in the –known for its smuggling 2016. Khalef al-Shaabani, leader of sleep in one room," he added. Land of Islam. routes–have see the Aw- But today, traders, inves- the powerful Shaabani tribe, Omar al-Nimer, a barber, In the centre of Ramadi lies lad Suleiman tribe pitted tors, contractors and construc- who lives in Ramadi. said many families host guests an abandoned concrete struc- against the Tubus. tion workers are rushing in to In Anbar, hotels are out of even if they do not know the ture, the only attempt in 2013 Since the 2011 revolution the desert province, as busi- Iraqi men sharing a meal at a civilian’s home in Anbar provincial the question. "We will never person. by a Turkish company to erect that ousted longtime dicta- ness begins to resume after capital Ramadi. (AFP) allow their construction. We'd "If he has the wrong ad- a hotel in Anbar. tor Moamer Kadhafi, Fezzan years of stagnation. sell everything we have to hon- dress, for example, he'll stay But construction stopped has been embroiled in con- Karim al-Basrawi, a car- surprised that there were no way to a meeting, he decided our a guest," said the 45-year- with us for one night at least with the Islamic State group's flict involving the ethnic Tu- parts salesman in Ramadi on hotels," said the 35-year-old to knock on a door and ask the old, wearing a red and white before we take him to the right takeover of the large swathes of bus and Tuaregs, as well as business, was hoping to stay in from the southern province of family if they knew the man he chequered keffiyeh headscarf. person. He must eat and drink the country in 2014. According two Arab tribes, the Zuwaya a hotel during a recent trip. Basra. was looking for. "When we build our homes, and relax at ours, otherwise to residents, even the militants and the Awlad Suleiman. "When I arrived, I was After getting lost on the "They said yes and invited we first think of the diwaniya people will talk about us." stayed away from the building. Gulf / Middle East Saturday, March 3, 2018 11 8 Turkish soldiers Turkish strikes kill 14 Syrian killed in Syria, 13 wounded: Army govt loyalists in Kurd enclave AFP soldiers killed since the ISTANBUL launch of operation "Olive Pro-regime fighters are present on several fronts in the bastion, according to Kurdish fighters Branch" to at least 40. The TURKEY suffered heavy private Dogan news agen- losses on Thursday dur- cy reported that intense ing its offensive against a fighting had broken out Kurdish militia in north- in the afternoon between west Syria, with the mili- Turkish special forces tary announcing that eight units recently deployed in soldiers were killed and 13 Afrin and YPG members, more wounded. who mounted an ambush The death toll, released with the help of tunnels. by the Turkish military According to the report staff in two separate state- a Turkish helicopter sent ments, makes Thursday to rescue the wounded one of the deadliest days had to turn back after be- for Ankara since launch- ing hit, while the area was ing its cross-border opera- shelled to allow an evacu- tion against the People's ation. Protection Units (YPG) in Turkish President Re- Syria's Afrin region on 20 cep Tayyip Erdogan was January. informed of the incident "As part of the opera- during a visit to Senegal. tions in Afrin, five of our The YPG is supported heroic comrades fell as by the United States and martyrs and seven were has been spearheading wounded" on Thursday, the international coalition said the staff in a first fight against the Islamic statement. State (IS) group in Syria. Shortly after, it issued The International a second statement in Committee of the Red which it announced that Cross said a humanitar- three more soldiers had ian aid convoy entered the been killed as well as six Afrin region on Thursday wounded, without giving for the first time since the details of the circumstanc- start of the Turkish of- es. fensive, which has had a "May God grant peace severe impact on civilians. to our martyred soldiers According to the Syri- in Afrin, all my condo- an Observatory for Human lences to their loved ones," Rights (OSDH), 141 civil- spokesman for the Turkish ians, including 27 chil- presidency Ibrahim Kalin dren, have died since the said on Twitter. beginning of the Turkish The day's toll brings military campaign, a claim the number of Turkish which Ankara denies.

Turkish court remands 2 Greek Smoke billows after Turkish artillery fire near the northern Syrian city of Afrin, recently.(AFP) soldiers suspected of espionage AFP ary 20 on Afrin, which is con- rie special forces in the Af- led areas. On Thursday, an BEIRUT trolled by the Kurdish Peo- Steady rin region, indicating it was aid convoy carrying food and REUTERS of attempted military espio- ple's Protection Units (YPG). preparing for urban fighting. medical supplies entered the ATHENS/ISTANBUL nage and entering a prohibited TURKISH air strikes have The Syrian government de- advance Turkey suffered heavy losses area for the first time since military zone. Another news killed at least 14 fight- ployed fighters to the enclave in Afrin on Thursday. the start of the operation. A Turkish court remanded in agency, DHA said the court ers deployed by the Syr- a month later after the Kurds O Turkey-led Syrian Fighting brought toll to Ankara says the YPG is a custody on Friday two Greek ruled that data on their phones ian government in support of called for help. rebels have advanced the number of Turkish sol- "terrorist" extension of the soldiers who were detained be investigated. Kurds battling Turkish-led YPG spokesman in Afrin, steadily since launching diers killed since the start of Kurdistan Workers' Party after crossing the border into The soldiers told the court rebels in the northwestern Birusk Hasakeh, said Turkish an assault on January the operation to at least 40. (PKK) which has waged a Turkey in bad weather in a that they ended up on the Turk- enclave of Afrin, a monitor warplanes targeted the posi- 20 on Afrin, which is The Observatory says three-decade insurgency heavily forested frontier region, ish side after following foot- said Friday. tions of fighters linked to the more than 140 civilians have against the Turkish state. Turkish media said, despite prints in the snow and that they Three Kurdish fighters Syrian army in Jamma, caus- controlled by the Kurdish been killed in Turkish bom- The YPG has been a key Greek calls for their swift re- meant to send the images they were also killed in the strikes ing casualties, but did not People’s Protection Units bardment, but Turkey denies component of a US-backed turn. took on their phones to senior late Thursday on the village provide a precise toll. (YPG). the claim and says it takes the Kurdish-Arab alliance that has Greece said the soldiers had officers. of Jamma in the enclave on Pro-regime fighters are "utmost care" to avoid civil- been fighting the Islamic State been on a border patrol when "We are in consultation the Turkish border, the Brit- present on several fronts in The Syrian government ian casualties. militant group in Syria. they strayed from their route with Turkish authorities for ain-based Syrian Observatory the enclave, according to the deployed fighters to the Thousands of civilians Turkey has rejected a call because of the poor weather. a prompt resolution of the for Human Rights said. Kurds. enclave a month later have fled their homes since from the United States for Turkey's state-owned Ana- matter," Greek government Turkey-led Syrian rebels On Monday, Turkey de- after the Kurds called for the start of the assault, ei- Afrin to be included in a UN dolu news agency said the sol- spokesman Dimitris Tzanako- have advanced steadily since ployed some 600 members help. ther to the town of Afrin or to Security Council-agreed na- diers were detained on grounds poulos told reporters earlier. launching an assault on Janu- of the police and gendarme- nearby government-control- tionwide ceasefire in Syria.

Israeli police grill Netanyahu in graft case Egypt detains woman over ‘false news’ in BBC report AFP hour grilling related to allega- REUTERS The daughter was then inter- British broadcaster. The BBC State militants in the Sinai Pe- JERUSALEM tions Netanyahu sought a deal CAIRO viewed on a nightly talk show said: "We are aware of the re- ninsula. with Shaul Elovitch, the con- days later where she denied ports about this BBC story on The public prosecutor ISRAELI police questioned trolling shareholder of telecoms EGYPT'S public prosecutor or- the claim. Reuters was not able Egyptian TV and of the com- earlier this week urged action Prime Minister Benjamin group Bezeq, which would have dered the detention of a woman independently to verify either ments of the head of the State against outlets publishing what Netanyahu and his wife for seen Netanyahu receive good interviewed by the BBC in a account. Information Service. We stand it called false news, and Sisi several hours on Friday over press on Elovitch's Walla! news recent report that sparked con- The public prosecutor by the integrity of our report- said defamation of the army or corruption allegations that website in exchange for busi- troversy, alleging in a statement ordered Mohamed to be de- ing teams." police was tantamount to trea- threaten the right-wing pre- ness concessions. that she had committed the of- tained for 15 days pending Egypt has stepped up a son. mier's long tenure. Netanyahu, 68, has denied fence of spreading "false news". investigations, the statement crackdown on media outlets it Rights groups say that The questioning, the eighth all charges and rejected talk of The woman, whom the said. It said Mohamed had al- deems to be publishing reports during Sisi's presidency, such session since 2017, came stepping down. "I am sure that public prosecutor named as ready been arrested by security which might harm national which began a year after he after police last month recom- there will be nothing and I want Mona Mohamed, said in the forces in the days after the BBC security, as the country ap- led the overthrow of president mended Netanyahu's indict- to tell millions of Israelis that report that security forces report was published. proaches a presidential elec- Mohamed Mursi in 2013, ment in two graft cases. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. the extraordinary show of sup- had forcibly disappeared her Egypt's government press tion where President Abdel there is a growing crackdown "The Prime Minister and port me, my wife and my family daughter last year, causing centre said this week the BBC Fattah al-Sisi is virtually guar- on dissent, including against his wife were questioned for a man said in a statement without have received is heartwarming," a strong backlash this week report was "fraught with lies" anteed a second term, and the opposition figures in the up- number of hours as part of an giving more details. he said in a video posted on Fa- from Egyptian authorities. and called for a boycott of the military fights to crush Islamic coming election. investigation," a police spokes- Israeli media said the five- cebook after the questioning.

‘Matchmaking is important because it is the first step in ensuring a positive relationship’ Matchmaking to create happy homes for employers and migrants in Lebanon?

also wanted to avoid the large fees 7.7 percent of all migrant workers, Migrants - mostly women - account for of hiring from overseas. with 73 percent of jobs held by "I don't want somebody to women. more than 80 per cent of domestic come here and be a slave," she says In Lebanon there are more in her Beirut home. Jane needed than 200,000 registered migrant workers in Arab states, highest globally a new sponsor after deciding not domestic workers, according to to move abroad with her previous 2017 government data. There are THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION Equip, the first non-government employer's family but wanted her no official records of trafficked or BEIRUT organisation in Lebanon to play next job to be a mutual agreement abused domestic migrant workers matchmaker between employers of salary, hours and time off. in Lebanon. WHEN Jane came from the Phil- and migrant domestic workers in a "I wanted to meet the person Lebanon has yet to introduce ippines to Lebanon as a domestic bid to tackle worker abuse and traf- face-to-face. Before, I could not any changes to the kalafa sys- worker to cook, clean and care for ficking and ensure both bosses and ask for what I want," she said, tem and Ksaifi said Equip was children, she only met her new workers are happy. adding that her previous sponsor- only matching domestic workers boss on the day she moved into her Ksaifi said she wanted to ship felt like somebody owned her. already in Lebanon with legal house - and was unhappy from the shake-up traditional recruiting in Equip was set up in late 2016 sponsors. outset. Lebanon where people go through but started direct hiring about six But she hoped this would Meanwhile Beirut resident agencies and rarely meet workers months ago. reduce the possibility of trafficking Tina, expecting her first child, in-person before hiring them under Migrants - mostly women - because employers and workers was looking to hire help at home the kafala sponsorship system, (File photo) Overseas Filipino workers from Kuwait arrive at the Ninoy Aquino account for more than 80 percent have direct contact with each other but was worried about employing which binds migrant workers to International Airport in Manila, recently. of domestic workers in the Arab creating "open communication". someone she had never met - as is one employer. states which is the highest per- "Matchmaking is important be- usually the case in Lebanon where Jane and Tina - whose names tionship again that was decided her, meet her, before I made a centage globally. A 2015 report cause it is the first step in ensuring foreign workers need a sponsor to have been changed upon request on a photo and resume so they decision. At the end of the day this from the ILO showed globally a positive relationship ... there are come to the country. for privacy - said they didn't want turned to Beirut-based Equip who person is living in my house ... it there were 11.5 million migrant aligned expectations, transparency Enter Leena Ksaifi who runs to get into an employment rela- matched them. "I wanted to see is pretty intimate," said Tina, who domestic workers, accounting for of salary, care, etc," she said. 12 Saturday, March 3, 2018 UK / Europe

News British PM appeals to EU in brief Two more arrested over blast which killed 5 in city of Leicester for flexibility over Brexit LONDON British police made two further arrests on Friday over an explosion in the city of Leicester which killed five people, as investigators continue to search through the rubble for clues. May sets out ambitions for a tailor-made free trade deal that would include financial services The latest arrests brings the number of men in custody over the blast to five, after three were detained by police on Wednesday, Leicestershire Police said in a statement. A supermarket and a two-storey flat above it were demol- ished in the explosion on Sunday evening, which neighbours reported shook their homes. Those arrested are all in their 30s and come from the East Midlands area which encompasses Leicester, and East Anglia and the North West of England. A 46-year-old woman and her two teenage sons were killed in the blast, along with one of their girlfriends, 18, and a 22-year-old woman. (AFP)

German government hack was part of worldwide campaign: Sources BERLIN A powerful cyber attack on Germany's government computer network was part of a worldwide campaign likely car- ried out by a Russian hacker group known as Snake, sources briefed on the incident said on Friday. Germany's chief federal prosecutor's office said it had launched a preliminary investigation into possible espionage related to the incident, which security sources said was first detected in December but may have begun much earlier. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday dismissed the suggestion that Russian hackers were behind the cyber attack. "We note with regret that any hacking attacks in the world are associated with Russian hackers but that each time they (the allegations) are made without any tangible proof," Peskov told a conference call with reporters.(REUTES)

Catalan separatists Ukraine, Russia hunt for new leader swap servicemen to lead region at border

British Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at Mansion House in central London to give a speech on Brexit on Friday. (AFP) BARCELONA Catalan separa- KIEV Ukraine and Russia on tists began the challenging Friday swapped four captured REUTERS Concerned about May’s Brexit plans: Irish PM a close ally of German Chancel- cards close to her chest, trying search for a new candidate servicemen -- two from each LONDON lor Angela Merkel in the Euro- to avoid provoking those in Brit- to lead their region on Friday side -- in the latest prisoner DUBLIN Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Friday said he pean Parliament, said May had ain who want a clean break with after deposed president exchange between the sworn PRIME Minister Theresa May remained concerned that British Prime Minister Theresa May her "head in the sand", while the EU, or others who fear the Carles Puigdemont, in self- foes, the authorities of both urged the European Union on did not fully recognize the implications of leaving the European the assembly's Brexit point world's sixth-largest economy exile in Belgium and wanted countries said. Friday to show more flexibility Union’s customs union and single market. “She (May) has given man Guy Verhofstadt called the will suffer if barriers are raised in Spain, abandoned his "Two more Ukrainians in talks on a future relationship a number of important reassurances today, which I welcome,” speech a "few extra cherries on against a major trading partner. comeback bid. were released from captivity. after Brexit, saying Britain real- Varadkar said after May gave a speech on Brexit. “However I the cake". One Brexit campaigner wel- In his place, Puigdemont, These are our border guards ised it could not get all it wanted remain concerned that some of the constraints of leaving the May's speech, entitled "Our comed the speech and praised who led Catalonia's failed Bogdan Martson and Igor but believed an ambitious trade Customs Union and the Single Market are still not fully recog- Future Partnership", was an at- May, who has been under pres- secession attempt in Octo- Dzyubak," Ukrainian presi- deal was still possible. nised.” (REUTERS) tempt to settle doubts over how sure from two warring factions ber, proposed Jordi Sanchez, dent Petro Poroshenko wrote In a much-anticipated Britain sees its future outside in her Conservative Party. head of the hugely influential on Facebook. Martson and speech, May set out ambitions the EU and its economic archi- "The EU must now consider pro-independence ANC citi- Dzyubak were detained in for a tailor-made free trade deal ain accept some EU rules and be "straight" with people over tecture and to try to ease frustra- whether they want to put rigid zens' group, as his preferred October last year near a part that would include financial regulations and that the Euro- what was achievable, some 20 tions in Brussels over what they doctrine ahead of the mutual in- choice to govern the region. of the frontier between two services and said Britain would pean Court of Justice continue months after Britain voted to say is a lack of detail. terests of their people and those But this is likely to be countries in the Ukrainian aim for associate membership of to play a role in British law, May leave the EU and her govern- She dismissed the 'off-the- of the UK," David Jones, a Con- difficult as Sanchez has been northeastern Sumy region EU regulators covering chemi- also risked alarming some cam- ment began to try to unravel shelf' trading arrangements servative lawmaker and former in prison for more than four and were accused of illegally cals, medicines and aerospace. paigners who fear she will pre- more than 40 years of integra- which the EU already has with junior Brexit minister, told Reu- months as he is investigated crossing the Russian border. Jettisoning an earlier stri- side over Brexit in name only. tion. Britain is due to leave on countries such as Norway, say- ters. for sedition, one of four sepa- Ukrainian border guards dent view that Britain could "We all need to face up to March 29, 2019. ing they did not provide "the "We must hope that they ratists in jail over their role in were exchanged for two Rus- walk away from the talks, May some hard facts," May told am- The EU's main negotiator, best way forward" for Britain will be as positive and pragmatic the independence drive. sian servicemen, Vladimir appealed to the EU to work bassadors and business leaders Michel Barnier, welcomed the or the EU. But her vision was as Theresa May." "To govern part-time be- Kuznetsov and Askar Kulub, together to solve some of the in the Mansion House, the 18th "clarity" May offered and her little changed from an earlier A government source said cause you're on the run or in the Russian FSB security more difficult Brexit problems, century official home of the Lord recognition that Britain faces proposal for Britain to be able the speech was aimed at show- prison doesn't make sense," service confirmed. including over Ireland, where Mayor of London in the heart of "trade-offs". Big business ech- to diverge from some of the ing more pragmatism in the Inigo Mendez de Vigo, They were identified as some fear the return of a "hard the capital's financial district. oed his words and even some EU's rules and regulations while Brexit talks, which are now even spokesman for the Spanish FSB officers and detained on border" with the British prov- "Neither of us can have ex- Brexit campaigners praised the sticking to others which benefit struggling over the relatively government, told reporters suspicion of encroachment ince of Northern Ireland after actly what we want ... So we prime minister for her pragma- Britain, a plan the bloc has de- easier part of agreeing a transi- Friday. "The government on Ukraine's territorial integ- Brexit. need to strike a new balance." tism. But some EU officials were scribed as "pure illusion". tion period after Britain leaves won't allow it." (AFP) rity in 2017. (AFP) But by proposing that Brit- It was, she added, time to more sceptical. Manfred Weber, May, 61, has long kept her in March next year. Fiancee of slain journalist Dutch PM rejects ‘romance’ of SPD leaders expect party nod buried in wedding gown ever closer European union to German coalition govt deal AFP amid concerns about me- AFP Inforadio, the party's general BRATISLAVA dia freedom and corrup- REUTERS Distancing himself from what BERLIN secretary Lars Klingbeil said tion in Slovakia. Kuciak BERLIN he called a romantic vision of he expected that "we will get a THE fiancee of a slain Slo- was gunned down as he was political union, he said the fixa- LEADERS of Germany's Social 'yes' on Sunday'". vak investigative journal- about to publish an article DUTCH Prime Minister Mark tion on deeper integration had Democrats voiced confidence Hours before the postal ist was laid to rest in her that raised possible political Rutte on Friday rejected the been a big factor in Britain's that members will approve a vote closed on Friday, an- wedding gown on Friday, links to Italian businessmen notion that the European Un- 2016 vote to leave the bloc. coalition deal with Chancel- other leading member of the as hundreds of mourners with alleged ties to Calab- ion is on an inevitable path to- The Netherlands has lob- lor Angela Merkel's party in a SPD warned the rank-and-file flocked to her funeral in ria's notorious 'Ndrangheta wards greater political integra- bied for favourable exit terms crunch vote that closes Friday. against torpedoing the deal. the northern Slovak town mafia supposedly operating tion after Britain leaves next for Britain, its second-largest Some 460,000 members "It would be bad for Eu- of Gregorovce, local media in Slovakia. year, and he called for a nar- trading partner, but would of the SPD are holding a ref- rope, Germany and the SPD," reported. Slovak police on Thurs- rower focus on projects with an support whatever deal the Eu- erendum on whether to back Stephan Weil told Welt daily, Police found journalist day detained several Italian economic payoff. ropean Commission negoti- a hard-fought accord for a adding that it would open up a Jan Kuciak and his fiancee businessmen named by Ku- In a speech in Berlin, Rutte ates. government with the con- "period of political instability". Martina Kusnirova, both ciak in his explosive report criticised the language of "ever Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Rutte spoke as British servatives. The results to be The make-or-break vote 27, shot dead at their home published posthumously closer Union" enshrined in the Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Sunday morn- for Germany's next govern- near the capital Bratislava earlier this week. bloc's fundamental treaties, this inevitability of closer coop- prepared to outline her plans ing could either end a politi- ment will essentially also de- on Sunday. The murders Kuciak died from a gun- saying it should act only where eration in a European federal for Britain's relationship with cal stalemate in the country termine Chancellor Angela have sparked nationwide shot wound to the chest collective action was most ap- state. This horrible language the EU after it departs - an five months after inconclusive Merkel's political future. protests and a wave of in- while Kusnirova was shot in propriate, and do so with a about 'ever closer Union' I event that Rutte said must elections, or sink it into deeper If the yes-sayers prevail, ternational condemnation the head, police said. smaller budget. "There has don't like," he told an audience lead to a shrinkage of the bloc's crisis. In an interview with Merkel would begin her fourth been this narrative that there is of diplomats and politicians. budget. German broadcaster RBB- term in mid-March. Europe shivers as deep freeze persists; weekend respite likely

AFP storms continued to lash the tures, according to police. could now venture outdoors PARIS Swiss city. The cold threw a spanner in while still exercising "extreme Airport authorities warned, the works of British Prime Min- caution". EUROPE'S deep freeze, which however, of further "delays and ister Theresa May's plans to give Even so, Dublin airport re- has cost at least 60 lives over cancellations. a speech on Brexit in the north- mained closed until at least Sat- the past week, showed little sign Switzerland has seen the eastern city of Newcastle. urday in Ireland, where some of ending Friday as a shiver- mercury plummet to records Also having to change their 24,000 people remained with- ing continent awaited a sliver of of up to minus 40 degrees Cel- plans were Andrew Waring and out electricity Friday morning. weekend respite from the chaos sius (minus 40 Fahrenheit) in his wife, Daniella, who gave birth Italy was also still stuck in wrought by a brutal Siberian the ongoing blizzard, which to baby daughter Sienna on the sub-zero temperatures as con- weather system. has also impacted air, road and side of a snowbound main road ditions left a number of major After heavy snowfall and train transport around Europe outside the northeastern town of roads blocked owing to snow deadly blizzards lashed Europe and even covered usually balmy Darlington. and black ice as forecasters across Thursday, conditions Mediterranean beaches with a Mr Waring delivered the warned northern and central re- marginally improved in some blanket of snow. child on the roadside after they gions would see little immediate regions -- but temperatures gen- In France, 21 departments, realised they would not reach improvement. erally remained sub-zero, forc- mainly in the northwest, re- the hospital in time, paramed- Many schools remained ing more major delays on roads, mained on alert for snow and ics dubbing Sienna the #A66s- closed and local authorities told railways and at airports. black ice as the vicious cold snap nowbaby after the road where people to remain indoors unless Geneva's busy airport an- -- which British media have Red London buses make their way through the snow as a blizzard hits central London on Friday. (AFP) she emerged into the world. they urgently needed to travel. nounced it had re-opened dubbed "the Beast from the An ambulance then took the Elsewhere in Europe, Serbia shortly after midday "despite East," the Dutch the "Siberian 60 lives according to an AFP toll Italy, Romania, Serbia and Slov- migrants abandoned by smug- family to the hospital. and Croatia saw some improve- the unfavourable meteorologi- Bear" and Swedes the "Snow -- 23 in Poland, seven in Slova- enia, and one each in Britain, the glers were rescued from a mo- In Ireland, Housing Minister ment but two people died over- cal conditions", having warned Cannon" -- maintained its grip. kia, six in the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Sweden and Nor- torway near the city of Graz on Eoghan Murphy tweeted that night in Poland as temperatures earlier it faced staying shut for a Over the past week, the five in Lithuania, four in France, way. Friday, some of them walking "blizzard conditions have now plunged to a low of -27 Celsius second consecutive day as snow- freezing conditions have claimed at least three in Spain, two in In Austria meanwhile, five barefoot in sub-zero tempera- passed", advising people they (-16.6 Fahrenheit). US / Americas Saturday, March 3, 2018 13 WH admits lax handling of classified info US shrinks Cuba mission after mystery ‘attacks’ AFP world’s preeminent super- ing government emails on a AFP ment said. The issue has poisoned any WASHINGTON power, Kelly said he moved private server, suggesting that WASHINGTON Cuba’s communist govt has Cuba’s communist govern- attempt to move forward with to bring habits in line with the was a national security risk. angrily denied that it had ment has angrily denied that the fragile detente achieved WHITE House Chief of Staff Pentagon and military, where Kelly also admitted that THE United States is to perma- anything to do with any it had anything to do with any between the former Cold War John Kelly on Friday admitted he served for decades. his initial concerns sparked nently scale back its mission to attack on US personnel, and foes, who re-opened their em- the Trump administration’s “In terms of the handling a further crackdown, when Cuba after what it alleges were attack on US personnel, US officials have been unable bassies in 2015 for the first early handling of classified in- of classified material” he said he noticed that around 35-40 series of mystery “attacks” on and US officials have been to determine the cause of the time since 1961. formation and gatekeeping of the White House “wasn’t up White House staffers had top the health diplomats, the State unable to determine the injuries. Initially, US agents sus- sensitive secrets was not up to to the standards that I’d been secret clearance and did not Department said Friday. cause of the injuries But Secretary of State Rex pected the Americans had snuff. used to.” need it. The Havana embassy had Tillerson says Cuba is respon- been targeted by some sort Kelly told journalists that “Nothing illegal,” he add- That top level of clearance already been operating with sible for the safety of diplo- of acoustic weapon, although he had his “eyes opened,” af- ed. “But it wasn’t quite up to is often used in the Situation a reduced staff since Septem- nied post” where staff are not mats on its soil, and US offi- in public senior officials were ter joining the White House in the standards.” Room and for the nation’s ber 2017, when diplomats joined by families. cials insist Havana must have more cautious, speaking only July last year, by the way peo- “Most of the people here most closely guarded secrets. and family members were “The embassy will contin- some idea who or what is be- of “health attacks.” ple were treating documents in the White House had never Kelly also noticed that evacuated after suffering ue to operate with the mini- hind the “attacks.” The first suspected at- and the number of staff who worked in government be- many staff did not have final brain injuries. mum personnel necessary to In all, at least 24 US en- tack has been traced back to had access to secrets. fore,” he explained. clearance and were working as This “ordered departure perform core diplomatic and voys and family members fell November 2016 and the last Painting a picture of a On Donald Trump’s path FBI background checks were status” will expire on Saturday consular functions, similar to ill with symptoms that resem- two took place in mid-August neophyte staff of outsiders, to the White House he repeat- ongoing. but, rather than re-staffing as the level of emergency staff- ble concussions but with no 2017, even after Washington unfamiliar with Washington edly pilloried his Democratic “I’m having my eyes before, the embassy will now ing maintained during or- exterior signs of trauma, leav- had protested to Havana and and learning how to run the rival, Hillary Clinton, for stor- opened here” he said. be declared an “unaccompa- dered departure,” the depart- ing investigators baffled. had withdrawn some staff.

US issues warning Flooded streets, evacuations after tourist ferry as storm pounds US Northeast blast in Mexico Over 700,000 homes, businesses go without power, hundreds of flights cancelled REUTERS Mexico probes MEXICO CITY another possible A BLAST last month on a explosive device tourist ferry in the Mexican MEXICO CITY Mexican beach resort of Playa del authorities were inspecting Carmen was caused by “an a possible explosive device explosive device” that in- attached to a ferry belong- jured passengers, including ing to Barcos Caribe, the US tourists, the US embassy same company that had a in Mexico said on Thursday. ferry blow up nine days ago. A security alert posted Prosecutor Miguel Angel Pech on the embassy’s website told the broadcaster Televisa warned American citizens on Friday that navy divers had to exercise caution and said found the device attached Mexican authorities contin- to an anchor of the ferry and ued to investigate the blast. handed it over to the Defence Two more explosive de- Ministry. Pech did not confirm vices were found attached that the device contained to another ferry on the is- explosives. (DPA) land of Cozumel on Thurs- A man walks down a flooded street, in the Broad Channel section of Queens in New York, on Friday.(AFP) day, local media reported, were life-threatening. Local saying marine troops had media also reported that a secured the scene. drug gang had taken credit The Ministry of the Ma- for the blast. rina did not immediately re- The same company, spond to a request for com- Barcos Caribe, operated ment. both the ferry in Playa de The Quintana Roo state Carmen and Cozumel, and prosecutors office said fed- is owned by the father of eral agents were investigat- former Quintana Roo state ing the cases. Governor Roberto Borge, The federal attorney who is facing corruption general’s office did not im- charges, local media re- mediately respond to a re- ported. quest for comment. Barcos Caribe did not The Quintana Roo state immediately respond to an port authority said on Feb. email seeking comment. 21 that the initial signs were Borge, from Mexico’s that a mechanical failure ruling Institutional Revo- had caused the explosion in lutionary Party (PRI), was A man walks down flooded Front St. as a large coastal storm affects A car submerged in water in a flooded lot behind Front St. as a large coastal storm affects the area, in Playa del Carmen that in- extradited in January from the area, in Scituate, Massachusetts. (AFP) Scituate, Massachusetts, on Friday. jured at least 18 people. Panama to face charges of Local media reported up embezzlement and abuse of REUTERS stepped out from his work at take its heaviest toll. east from the Ohio Valley that to 25 people had been hurt, public office. Borge has de- BOSTON Boston’s Children’s Museum Residents of coastal areas “It could be that the first could drop significant amounts but none of the injuries nied the allegations. to survey a partially sub- that regularly flood in high tide washes away dunes of snow in northern New York SEAWATER on Friday flowed merged walkway along the storms, including the towns from one beach and the sec- State. It forecast storm surges onto some coastal streets city’s Fort Point Channel. of Newburyport, Duxbury ond washes away houses,” of up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) for around Boston, where busi- Heavy rains, extreme high and Scituate had been Besse said. eastern Massachusetts. nesses set up flood barriers tides and a wind-driven storm Sarah Moran, a 59-year- More than 700,000 homes Peru searches business and piled sandbags around surge could combine to cause encouraged to evacuate old mother of six, was fretting and businesses were without their doors as a powerful several feet of water to flow their homes and head to whether her family’s ocean- power across the region, with group’s offices in graft probe storm threatened to flood onto streets in coastal Mas- higher ground front home in Scituate, Mas- the largest number of outages pockets of the US coast from sachusetts, with government sachusetts, south of Boston, in New York, utilities said. REUTERS ing to Giuliana Loza, a lawyer Maine to Virginia. and private weather fore- high tide around 11 a.m. ET would survive the storm. Federal offices closed on LIMA for Keiko Fujimori, who lost a Over 700,000 homes and casters warning of a repeat (1600 GMT), and forecast- “Every house south of Friday in Washington, while bid for the presidency and is businesses were without power of an early-January storm ers warned that strong winds mine has been washed away dozens of schools throughout PERUVIAN prosecutors now the leader of Peru’s most in the US Northeast, hundreds that drove a couple of feet of coming in off the ocean could since the 1978 blizzard. That the region cancelled classes. searched the offices of Peru’s powerful opposition party. of flights were cancelled at New icy seawater onto Boston’s keep levels high through the risk is part of the package - the More than a quarter of flights largest business association Prosecutors have said they York’s three major airports and streets. High winds gusting up next two high tides. house comes complete with into and out of New York’s on Thursday in a graft investi- are looking into whether Ode- Boston’s Logan International, to 60 miles per hour (97 kph) Residents of coastal areas ocean views, taxes, mainte- three major airports and Bos- gation into Brazilian construc- brecht’s unreported campaign and the federal government could also bring extensive that regularly flood in storms, nance and risks,” she said in a ton’s airport were cancelled, tion company Odebrecht, a contributions were part of closed offices in Washington. power outages. including the towns of New- phone interview from Burling- according to tracking service spokeswoman for the attorney money laundering and graft It was the second time this “The winds are going to buryport, Duxbury and Sci- ton, Vermont, where she owns Flightaware.com. general’s office said. schemes. year that Boston streets, in- keep on increasing and the tuate had been encouraged a catering business. Southern California was The search came a day Brazilian builder Odebre- cluding areas around the Long seas are going to go higher and to evacuate their homes and The National Weather Serv- also facing weather dangers, after the former head of Ode- cht has been at the centre of Wharf and the rapidly devel- higher for the next three high head to higher ground, said ice had coastal flood watches with risks of rain-driven mud- brecht’s operations in Peru, Latin America’s biggest graft oping Seaport District, flooded tide cycles,” said Bill Simp- Chris Besse, a spokesman for and warnings in place from slides prompting mandatory Jorge Barata, told prosecutors scandal since acknowledging in in a winter storm. son, a meteorologist with the the Massachusetts Emergency southern Maine through coastal evacuations ordered for some that he had given money to the a late 2016 leniency deal that it “It’s crazy. I guess this National Weather Service Management Agency. Virginia, including New York’s 30,000 people living near fire- 2011 presidential campaigns had bribed officials in a dozen is sea-level rise in action,” in Taunton, Massachusetts. He added that it is hard to eastern suburbs, and was also scarred hills around the Santa of several politicians, accord- countries, including Peru. said Bob Flynn, 38, who had Floodwater surged in during predict where the storm will tracking a snowstorm heading Barbara coast. Peruvian army set to protect Cuba’s Capitol reopens after restoration oil pipeline from vandalism REUTERS pipeline transports crude REUTERS hostile stance of the adminis- taller at 300 feet (92 meters) LIMA from jungle oil blocks tapped HAVANA tration of Donald Trump. and has a distinctly different by Frontera Energy Corp and “This is one of the most il- floor plan. Its design is tai- PERU plans to declare the Perenco to Petroperu’s refin- AFTER eight years of resto- lustrious architectonic works lored to Cuba’s tropical weath- country’s sole oil pipeline a ery on the Pacific coast. ration work, Cuba on Thurs- in the world,” Tomás Hecha- er, such as multiple patios to “strategic asset” so the mili- Since the start of 2016, some day re-opened to the public varría, Capitol administrator, maximize air circulation. tary can protect it from a 11,100 barrels of oil have spilled the doors of its Capitol, an standing in the main hall un- Visitors will be allowed to string of vandalism attacks, from the pipeline in 14 attacks, imposing neoclassical gem der the cupola with its gleam- tour the Capitol in groups of 15 the pipeline’s operator, state- and 5,600 barrels spilled be- previously shunned as a sym- ing inlaid marble floors and from Tuesday to Sunday. owned Petroperu and a Cabi- cause of corrosion or operative bol of US imperialism now to gilded lamps, dominated by “This installation encap- net spokesman told Reuters. failures, data from environmen- become the seat of its nation- the 57 feet (17.5-meter) tall sulates a lot of history and it The spokesman said on tal regulator OEFA showed. al assembly. bronze Statue of the Republic. is a privilege for me to be here Thursday that the centre-right “We’re exhausting all of Built in 1929 to house Cu- Hechavarría said the build- in Havana and reliving these government of Peruvian Presi- our efforts to maintain the ba’s Congress and inspired by ing was ready to receive the next moments of history,” said dent Pedro Pablo Kuczynski integrity of our pipeline,” Washington’s Capitol, it was assembly session - a historic Yordanka Batista, a Cuban- will ask Congress to approve Hart said in an interview on swiftly repurposed after Fidel one on April 19 to select a new American who lives in Florida. the move “in coming days.” Wednesday. “The pipeline will Castro’ 1959 leftist revolution president, set to be the first non- “They neglected it for a while The attacks in a remote soon be qualified as infrastruc- along with other buildings Castro leader in nearly 60 years. and I’m glad they have recov- Amazonian region over the ture that’s a strategic asset for seen as testament to corrupt It was not a done decision yet, ered it, for the benefit of all past two years have made in- the Peruvian state,” allowing governments too cozy with the however, he added. Cubans.” vestors nervous at a time when the military and not just the Americans. Restoration work contin- Relations between the Peru, a relatively small oil pro- police to protect it. Most recently used for A vintage car drives in front of the Capitol building in Havana, Cuba, ues just in the southern part United States and Cuba have ducer, is seeking to shore up Petroperu suspects local the Science and Technology on Thursday. (REUTERS) of the Capitol and should con- deteriorated once more since slumping output, said Beatriz businesses hired to clean up Ministry, its restoration was clude by Nov. 2019, Hechavar- Trump became president, Hart, a Petroperu manager for oil from two corrosion-in- started in 2010 as part of the America. President Raul Castro and ría said. seeking to roll back parts of relations with communities duced ruptures in early 2016 Office of City Historian’s re- Four years later came the former US President Barack Built 103 years after the US the detente and returning to near the pipeline. have been behind the subse- vamp of Havana, one of the ar- landmark announcement of a Obama, although that is now Capitol, the Cuban building’s Cold war characterizations of The 1,106 km (687 mile) quent spate of vandalism. chitectural treasures of Latin US-Cuban detente by Cuban under threat from the more dome is 12 feet (3.7 meters) the Cuban government. 14 Saturday, March 3, 2018 United States Trump calls trade wars good Two shot dead on US university campus, as world decries tariffs move suspect still at large AFP Trump to impose ‘reciprocal taxes’ on imports of steel & aluminum from trading partners that have duties on US goods CHICAGO Domestic

REUTERS TWO people were shot dead situation WASHINGTON Friday on the campus of a The university de- university in the US state US President Donald Trump of Michigan, setting off a scribed the incident as struck a defiant tone on Fri- manhunt for the suspected a “domestic situation.” day, saying trade wars were shooter. Central Michigan There were no other good and easy to win, after his University said the two peo- casualties. “Two indi- plan to put tariffs on imports ple killed at a campus dor- viduals were fatally shot of steel and aluminum trig- mitory were not students, at Campbell Hall on gered global criticism and a but did not offer further de- campus. The deceased slide in stock markets. tails on their identities. are not students and The European Union The university described police believe the raised the possibility of taking the incident as a “domestic situation started from a countermeasures, France said situation.” There were no the duties would be unaccept- other casualties. “Two indi- domestic situation,” the able and China urged Trump viduals were fatally shot at university said to show restraint. Canada, Campbell Hall on campus the biggest supplier of steel this morning. The deceased weeks after 17 people were and aluminum to the United are not students and police shot dead at a Florida high States, said it would retaliate if believe the situation started school, sparking a renewed hit by US tariffs. from a domestic situation,” debate over pervasive gun US stock indexes recouped the university said in a violence. Students from some losses on Friday, but statement. Marjory Stoneman Doug- were on track to end the week “Campus is on lockdown las High School in Parkland in the red as investors fretted as the suspect is still at large,” have made powerful appeals over a possible global trade the school said several hours for change to permissive US war. World equity markets after the incident occurred. gun laws in the wake of the slid further and the US dollar The university identified the shooting. They returned to dropped to its lowest point in suspected shooter as James campus Wednesday amid more than two years against Eric Davis, “a black male, ap- heavy security. the yen. proximately 19 years of age.” The Florida gunman, Trump said on Thursday Police were scouring the who had a history run-ins that a plan for tariffs of 25 campus and surrounding with law enforcement, used percent on steel imports and areas, with helicopters over- a semi-automatic assault ri- 10 percent on aluminum prod- head and officers search- fle in the shooting. ucts would be formally an- ing on foot. Federal agents President Donald nounced next week. from the Bureau of Alcohol Trump had called for train- “When a country (USA) is Tobacco and Firearms were ing and arming some teach- losing many billions of dollars sent to the scene in the cen- ers, tougher background on trade with virtually every tral Michigan city of Mount checks and a potential in- country it does business with, Pleasant to assist local police. crease to the minimum age trade wars are good, and easy The incident came two for rifle purchases. to win,” Trump said on Twitter US President Donald J. Trump (centre) during a meeting with leaders from the steel and aluminum manufacturing industries in the cabinet on Friday. Room of the White House, in Washington, on Thursday. (EPA) In a later social media post, Trump said his aim was US Commerce Secretary defends tariffs, Europe targets US bourbon, bikes, blue Trump sparks Twitter war to protect US jobs in the face jeans in trade riposte of cheaper foreign products. laments ‘hysteria’ “We must protect our WASHINGTON US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Friday BRUSSELS Europe has drawn up a list of US products from with actor Alec Baldwin country and our workers. Our leapt to the defense President Donald Trump’s proposed new bourbon to Harley Davidson motorbikes on which to apply tariffs steel industry is in bad shape. trade tariffs, saying falling stock markets and irate trading if US President Trump follows through on a plan to impose global AFP ing mediocre career was saved IF YOU DON’T HAVE STEEL, partners were “a lot to do about nothing.” To illustrate his duties on aluminium and steel. The EU is considering applying WASHINGTON by his terrible impersonation YOU DON’T HAVE A COUN- point during an appearance on CNBC, Ross held up cans of 25 percent tariffs on $3.5 billion of goods - a third steel, a third of me on SNL, now says play- TRY!” he wrote. Budweiser, Coca-Cola and Campbell’s Chicken Noodle soup, industrial goods and a third agricultural - to “rebalance” bilateral DONALD Trump sparked a ing me was agony,” Trump Many economists say that arguing that ordinary consumer goods would see little increase trade. “We will put tariffs on Harley-Davidson, on bourbon and on Twitter war with Alec Baldwin wrote in a pre-dawn tweet. instead of increasing employ- in price. “This is a can of Campbell’s Soup. There’s about blue jeans - Levis,” European Commission President Jean-Claude on Friday, reviving his pub- “Alec, it was agony for ment, price increases for con- 2.6 cents, 2.6 pennies, worth of steel. If that goes up by 25 Juncker told German television. “We are here and they will get to lic opprobrium of the actor’s those who were forced to sumers of steel and aluminum percent, that’s about six tenths of one cent on the price of can know us. We would like a reasonable relationship to the US, but critically acclaimed role im- watch,” Trump said. such as the auto and oil indus- of Campbell’s Soup,” Ross said. (AFP) we cannot simply put our head in the sand.” (REUTERS) personating the president on Baldwin, a father of four tries will destroy more US jobs hit television show “Saturday whose career only a few years than they create. and on blue jeans - Levis,” Eu- Canadian Prime Minister the US economy as well as the later rolls back as part of a ne- Night Live.” ago was dogged by run-ins Major US trade partners ropean Commission President Justin Trudeau said any US economies of other nations. gotiating tactic, White House If Baldwin started the row with the paparazzi, had told are likely to retaliate against Jean-Claude Juncker told Ger- tariffs on steel and aluminum Trump’s announcement spokeswoman Sarah Sanders by telling The Hollywood Re- The Hollywood Reporter of any new duties imposed by man television. imports would be “absolutely came after what one person said the levels of the planned porter in an interview that his portrayal of Trump: “Every Washington. Officials have not said unacceptable” and vowed to with direct knowledge of the tariffs were not expected to it was “agony” to play the time I do it now, it’s like agony. Europe has drawn up a list whether the tariffs would in- continue to engage with US of- discussions described as a night change. 71-year-old commander-in- Agony. I can’t.” of US products on which to clude imports from Canada and ficials on the issue. of “chaos” in the White House Capital Alpha Partners, chief, regardless of picking up Trump’s original tweet apply tariffs if Trump follows Mexico, Washington’s partners The International Monetary due to frequent switching of po- a policy research group in an Emmy award for his efforts, misspelled both the actor’s through on his plan. in the North American Free Fund also expressed concern sitions in the administration. Washington, said a quick re- Trump hit back in good meas- first name as ‘Alex’ and dying “We will put tariffs on Trade Agreement (NAFTA), about the proposed tariffs and While Trump often lays out versal by Trump was highly ure. as “dieing.” He later corrected Harley-Davidson, on bourbon which is being reworked. said they likely would damage stark policy positions which he unlikely. “Alec Baldwin, whose dy- both mistakes. Schumer urges Trump to ‘follow his guts’ on gun law NRA claims Trump opposes REUTERS said in a post on Twitter: “Good stantively, because it will save WASHINGTON (Great) meeting in the Oval Of- tens of thousands of lives, and gun control after meeting fice tonight with the NRA!” politically, because over three SENATE Democratic leader President Trump should go Schumer issued a state- quarters of the American peo- AFP gun control rages on in the mental health reform and to Chuck Schumer urged Presi- with his instincts, not the ment on Friday reminding the ple support it.” WASHINGTON wake of the Florida school keep guns away from danger- dent Donald Trump on Fri- clarion and destructive call president of his initial response In a White House meeting shooting, which killed 17 two ous people. day to follow his gut on gun of the NRA. He knows to the Parkland shooting in with Republican and Demo- US PRESIDENT Donald weeks ago. POTUS & VPOTUS sup- restrictions he has recently Florida that killed 17 people cratic lawmakers on Wednes- Trump Thursday met with “Good (Great) meeting in port the Second Amendment, backed, after the powerful US instinctively that this is the and the ensuing student-led day, Trump backed several the powerful National Rifle the Oval Office tonight with support strong due process gun lobby said the Republican right thing to do... groundswell of protests that de- gun control measures opposed Association, which later said the NRA!”, Trump tweeted of and don’t want gun control,” president and vice president Chuck Schumer manded that lawmakers restrict by the NRA, including broader he opposed gun control -- de- the unannounced meeting, he wrote on his official Twitter do not want gun control. gun sales and honed in on NRA- background checks and rais- spite Trump’s remarks to the without offering further de- account. The exhortation to Trump, funded politicians. ing the age for legally buying contrary a day earlier at the tails. At a meeting with lawmak- who this week stunned fel- gun measures in the wake of “President Trump should rifles to 21 from 18. White House. NRA Executive Director ers from both parties just the low Republicans by backing a deadly Feb. 14 high school go with his instincts, not the Late on Thursday, NRA Trump tweeted Thursday Chris Cox, meanwhile, echoed day before, Trump, known for several gun control measures shooting in Florida. clarion and destructive call of chief lobbyist Chris Cox said night he had a “great” meeting Trump’s sentiments, and add- inconsistency, offered sugges- his party has long opposed, Trump met with leaders of the NRA,” Schumer said. “He on Twitter that Trump and with the NRA, one of the most ed Vice President Mike Pence tions on gun control that were reflected a fierce tug-of-war the National Rifle Association knows instinctively that this is Vice President Mike Pence influential lobbying groups in was also present. surprisingly tough for a Re- for the president’s support on gun lobby late on Thursday and the right thing to do both sub- “don’t want gun control.” Washington, as the debate on “We all want safe schools, publican. Trump attends Reverend Graham’s funeral 1.5 mn penguins discovered

REUTERS tent emblematic of Graham’s CHARLOTTE 1949 Los Angeles revival that on remote Antarctic islands marked his breakthrough as AFP “One of the ways in which THE faithful from small towns an evangelist. PARIS this is good news is that other gathered on Friday with Presi- Trump, a Republican, will studies have shown this area dent Donald Trump and other take his place among about A THRIVING “hotspot” of (the eastern side of the Ant- powerful politicians in North 2,300 invited guests, along 1.5 million Adelie penguins, a arctic Peninsula) is likely to re- Carolina for the funeral of with first lady Melania Trump species fast declining in parts main more stable under climate evangelist Billy Graham, who and Vice President Mike Pence of the world, has been discov- change than the western Ant- preached to millions around and his wife, Karen, organiz- ered on remote islands off the arctic Peninsula,” said Lynch. the world in a 70-year career. ers said. Ahead of the funeral, Antarctic Peninsula, surprised “So we end up with a large The service for Graham, Trump met with Graham’s scientists said Friday. population of Adelie penguins who died on Feb. 21 at age 99, family, pool reports said. The first bird census of the in a region likely to remain comes after he lay in honour at Graham became the de Danger Islands unearthed over suitable to them for some the US Capitol in recognition facto White House chaplain 750,000 Adelie breeding pairs, time.” of a clergyman who counselled to several US presidents, most more than the rest of the area Adelies are one of five presidents and became the famously Richard Nixon. He combined, the team reported in penguin species that live in first noted evangelist to take US President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President also met with scores of world the journal Scientific Reports. Adélie penguins leaping off an and around the Antarctic his message to the Soviet bloc Mike Pence and Karen Pence attend the funeral of Rev. Billy Graham leaders and was the first noted The group of nine rocky is- iceberg at Danger Islands, Ant- continent. during a time when its com- in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday. (REUTERS) evangelist to take his message lands, which lie off the north- arctica. (AFP) A medium-sized penguin, munist regimes were hostile to behind the Iron Curtain. ern tip nearest South America, they grow to about 70 centi- organized religion. braved brisk winds, some of Bob Zook said what he val- Graham’s son, the Reverend in the northwest Weddell Sea, versity told AFP. metres (almost 28 inches) tall, The North Carolina native them sharing how Graham’s ued most about Graham was Franklin Graham, will deliver housed the third- and fourth- Just 160 kilometres (100 and weigh three to six kilo- will later be buried in a pine cof- preaching enriched their lives. “the unbridled joy he had, the the eulogy at the funeral service. largest Adelie penguin colo- miles) away on the west of the grammes (about seven to 13 fin made by a Louisiana prison Margaret Zook, 74, came joy he had in delivering the Graham’s headstone will nies in the world, they found. peninsula, a thin limb jutting pounds). They are identified inmate, and laid to rest next to with her husband Bob, 71, Word.” carry his name, dates of birth “It is certainly surprising out of West Antarctica, Adelie by a white ring around the eye. his late wife, Ruth, at the Billy from Sterling, Virginia, to The 90-minute funeral and death and the inscription and it has real consequences numbers have dropped about They are carnivores, and Graham Library in Charlotte. mourn the man who had service is scheduled to start “Preacher of the Gospel of the for how we manage this re- 70 percent in recent decades krill, shrimp-like creatures Ahead of the ceremony, been an inspiration since she at 12 p.m. EST (1700 GMT). Lord Jesus Christ” above the gion,” study co-author Heath- due to sea ice melt blamed on that are commercially fished a steady stream of mourners was a little girl. It will be held under a canvas Bible reference “John 14:6.” er Lynch of Stony Brook Uni- global warming. in the area, is an Adelie staple. www.guide.com.qa  Saturday, March 3, 2018

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Al Sadd - Economic Group Building next to Al Osmakh Mall Office No. 302 Mobile: 33355889 - 30031353 - Tel: 44633523 - toll free number: 8000853 16 Saturday, March 3, 2018 The Last Word Ministry supports scientific excellence, says Hammadi

Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdel-Wahid al Hammadi with students at the scientific excellence award exhibition in Doha.

MALEK HELALI exhibition in Cultural Village-Katara excellent students and their fields of HH SHEIKHA MOZA MEETS PRESIDENT OF ARAB WORLD INSTITUTE: Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, DOHA on Thursday, where he praised the excellence which facilitates the task Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, met Jack Lang, the president exhibition’s content including pho- of tracking their advancement over of the Arab World Institute (Institut de Monde Arabe), to explore and discuss collaborative projects in education and SCIENTIFIC excellence is a national tographs and documentaries inter- time in order to support them and culture, in Paris on Friday. (AR AL-BAKER) project prioritised by the country’s actively documenting the country’s consider the potential means of de- wise leadership which is based on celebration of the earlier editions of voting their skills for sustainable de- the Qatar National Vision 2030, HE the scientific excellence award. velopment. Dr Mohammed bin Abdel-Wahid al The exhibition reflects the extent In conclusion, the minister ex- MESSAGE FOR EL SALVADOR Hammadi, the Minister of Education of development that Qatar’s educa- pressed his pride and appreciation of PRESIDENT: The Emir His High- and Higher Education, has stated. tion sector has witnessed while in- the achievements of the scientific ex- ness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Stressing on its importance, the troducing the audience to the goals cellence, especially that they now oc- al Thani sent a written message minister, in a statement, noted its ad- of the award as well as its importance cupy high status positions in the coun- to President of the Republic of vancement in the investment of local and requirements. try and represent a successful model El Salvador, Salvador Sanchez human potential. Hammadi said: “The exhibition for Qatar’s educational outcomes – Ceren, pertaining to bilateral The minister further noted that documents the achievements of our encouraged to follow their steps. relations and means to advance scientifically outstanding individu- outstanding children academically In a statement, executive presi- and develop them, in San Salva- als are the true asset of the country and in other fields, and motivates stu- dent of the scientific excellence dor on Thursday. Ahmed bin Mo- as they represent its knowledge and dents, principals and parents to com- award Dr Hamda al Sulaiti noted hammed al Horr, Acting Charge human capital, which emphasises the pete in order to achieve the honour- that the preparations for this year’s d’Affaires at Qatar’s Embassy to ministry’s responsibility in creating ing of the Emir His Highness Sheikh scientific excellence day celebrations El Salvador, handed the mes- an incubating academic environment Tamim bin Hamad al Thani.” have been completed and the hon- sage during his meeting with to support scientific excellence. The minister added that the exhi- ouring ceremony is scheduled to take Foreign Minister of El Salvador This came during the minister’s bition serves as a scientific database place on March 4 under the patron- Hugo Martinez. (QNA) visit to the scientific excellence award that preserves the identities of the age of HH the Emir.

HALAL QATAR FESTIVAL 2018 The Halal Qatar Festival kicked off at the southern area of the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara with a large turnout of officials – including General Manager of Katara Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al Sulaiti – and visitors on Friday. This year’s festival comprises new activities such as the ‘Al Nukhba’ (elite) auc- tion which features special breeds of sheep and goats. The festival, which runs until March 10, sheds light on the crucial role livestock breeding and trade played in the past as well as attempts to preserve this integral component of Qatari culture and heritage. The festival also includes many enter- tainment and educational shows. (TNN) (PHOTOGRAPHS BY JALAL PATHIYOOR)

OPENING OF BEST BUDDIES QATAR VILLAGE

(PHOTOGRAPHS BY RAFEEK PALAYOOR) www.facebook.com/QatarTribune

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SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2018

DOW24,398.52 QE 8,730.06 SENSEX 34,046.94 GOLD 1,324.00 Games head at Angry Birds leaves -210.46 PTS +76.74 PTS -137.10 PTS +1.44% after profit warningPAGE 18 PRICE PERCENTAGE PRICE PERCENTAGE 16.51 BRENT 64.11 +0.44% WTI 61.12 +0.21% SILVER +1.44%

Quick read TRUMP’S STEEL, ALUMINIUM TARIFFS SPARK ANGER Deason sues Xerox to allow new board nominations Dow sheds 420 NEW YORK Hedge fund manager Darwin Deason filed a new law- points; EU mulls suit against Xerox Corp on Friday after it refused to allow him to make nominations to its board retaliatory tariffs after a deadline, the latest blows in a row over its proposed merg- er with Fujifilm Holdings Corp. Deason said on Monday he had on US imports the right to nominate directors, despite missing a deadline, because the current board had REUTERS Canada unhappy made a series of significant deci- sions and disclosures to stock- THE Dow industrials fell Canada will retaliate holders after the deadline. Xerox more than 1 percent for a against any US tariffs earlier on Friday said Deason did fourth straight day on Friday on steel and aluminum not have the right to nominate on mounting fears of a global products, officials said on directors outside of the nomina- trade war following President Thursday, as Ottawa faced tion window. REUTERS Donald Trump’s promise to what could be one of the impose import tariffs on steel biggest economic threats and aluminum. since Donald Trump became Diesel vehicle refits EU sources told Reuters president. costly, could affect the European Union was con- performance: VW sidering applying 25 percent tariffs on around $3.5 billion Russia concerned BERLIN: Volkswagen is not of imports from the United against upgrading the exhaust World Trade Organisation Director General Roberto Azevedo States if Trump carries out his Russia is “concerned” systems of older diesel cars to plan to apply global duties to by US President Donald make them cleaner, but could steel and aluminum. Trump’s decision to impose not afford to pay for such a All but eight of the 70 steep tariffs on steel and huge undertaking itself and is members of the broader S&P aluminium imports, the concerned it might impair vehicle industrial index were lower, Kremlin said on Friday. performance, its CEO said. After WTO chief warns of reflecting fears that the costs Germany’s top administrative of their raw materials will rise court on Tuesday allowed local along with barriers to their Germany rejects authorities to bar heavily pollut- trade outside of the United ing diesel cars in major cities, States. Berlin “rejects” Presi- the federal government is scram- trade war escalation dent Donald Trump’s deci- Declines since Trumps bling to find ways to avert driving announcement on Thursday sion to impose hefty tariffs bans that would hurt consumers have turned the Dow negative on steel and aluminium and automakers. REUTERS Trump says trade wars good and easy; WTO says will watch situation closely for the year. Shares of Boe- imports, a spokesman for ing Caterpillar and 3M were German Chancellor Angela REUTERS wars were good and easy to have traditionally refrained among the biggest drags on Merkel said on Friday. US charges 10 in GENEVA win, after his plan for 25 per- from citing national secu- the index. global stock fraud cent tariffs on steel imports Threat to system rity, out of fear that it could “The (tariff) announce- involving a Picasso WORLD Trade Organisation and 10 percent on alumini- provide a get-out clause from ment has also come at a time manager at Manulife Asset (WTO) Director General um triggered global criticism O Trump’s tariffs plan is rules that have governed when investor sentiment is Management. NEW YORK/LONDON: The Roberto Azevedo expressed and a slide in world stock widely seen as being a world trade for almost a already fragile,” Oanda senior “What would be more con- US Department of Justice on concern at US President markets. potential threat to the quarter of a century. market analyst Craig Erlam cerning is, if it’s going to be Friday unveiled criminal charges Donald Trump’s plan for tar- The plan was criticised system itself, since they If the use of the national wrote in a note. broad-based and not just steel against 10 defendants, includ- iffs on steel and aluminium in a WTO committee as early are based on a claim to security exception spreads, “For someone so obsessed and aluminum, but something ing London-based brokerage on Friday, an extremely rare as June last year, and has “national security”, an area other potential trade dis- with stock market perform- to do with China or intellec- Beaufort Securities Ltd, over intervention into a WTO caused an international out- exempt from WTO rules putes where it could be used ance, he’s taking a big gamble tual property.” their alleged roles in a more member’s trade policy. cry since Trump confirmed include a row over China’s with these tariffs, the benefits At 10:51 am ET, the than $50 million stock fraud “The WTO is clearly con- he intended to go ahead this O WTO member countries cyber security law and in the of which are questionable.” Dow was down 1.2 percent and a laundering scheme involv- cerned at the announcement week. have traditionally refrained economic war between Rus- US Commerce Secretary at 24,312.68. The S&P 500 ing a late work by Pablo Pi- of US plans for tariffs on steel Azevedo, a former Brazil- from citing national security, sia and Ukraine. Wilbur Ross played down the fell 0.63 percent to 2,660.9 casso. Prosecutors in Brooklyn, and aluminium. The poten- ian trade negotiator, is nor- out of fear that it could The risk of “national se- fears saying “hysteria over tar- and the Nasdaq Compos- New York, said Beaufort and two tial for escalation is real, as mally extremely diplomatic provide a get-out clause curity” becoming a regular iffs is a lot to do over nothing.” ite dropped 0.49 percent to of its managers, Peter Kyriacou we have seen from the initial and refrains from any criti- defence is only one of sev- The move however comes 7,145.05. and Vinesh Canaye, defrauded responses of others,” he said cism of any of the WTO’s 164 from rules that have eral dangers facing the WTO, at a time when markets are World stocks also tum- investors from March 2014 to in a brief statement issued by members, saying it is up to governed world trade for which has struggled to keep already on edge over rising bled on Friday, with investors February 2018. REUTERS the WTO. them to use the WTO’s rules almost a quarter of a its rules up to date since it US interest rates and bond flocking towards traditional “A trade war is in no one’s and dispute settlement sys- century was created in 1995. yields. safe havens including Japan’s interests. The WTO will be tem to work things out. It is also at risk from “We’ve had tariffs put in yen and gold. Exchange rate watching the situation very But Trump’s tariffs plan on a claim to “national secu- a US veto on judicial place for aluminum and steel JC Penney Co Inc shares closely.” is widely seen as being a po- rity”, an area that is exempt appointments, which could before, the market always plunged 8.7 percent after the Currency buy QR sell QR Trump struck a defiant tential threat to the system from WTO rules. paralyse its dispute settle- finds a place through it,” said department store chain missed US 3.6315 3.6495 tone on Friday, saying trade itself, since they are based WTO member countries ment arm. Michael Mattioli, portfolio same store sales estimates. Euro 4.4004 4.5295 Pound Sterling 5.9664 5.0969 Indian Rupee 0.0552 0.0565 Pakistani Rupee 00000 0.0333 Philippine Peso 0.0693 0.715 ‘Exxon declares force majeure on exports from Papua LNG project’ SriLankan Rupee 00000 0.0242 Bangladeshi Taka 00000 0.0443 REUTERS the matter said on Friday. biggest export earner, amid ess that”is expected to take Exxon had earlier told which could affect not only Nepalese Rupee 00000 0.0357 TOKYO/MELBOURNE At least 31 people were fears of damage to gas field in- time particularly given the buyers that the plant’s two the project’s four main buyers killed by the 7.5 magnitude frastructure and the pipeline damage to roads and other in- LNG trains would be shut for but also other buyers in Asia. Japanese Yen 0.3369 0.0348 EXXONMOBIL Corp has quake, and Prime Minister that carries gas to the coast. frastructure.” at least seven days. “It is difficult to assess the Kuwaiti Dinar 12.008 12.282 declared force majeure on Peter O’Neill has declared a Exxon declined to com- “We are continuing to The PNG LNG project has duration of production out- Omani Riyal 9.2560 9.5740 exports from its Papua New state of emergency across the ment on Friday on whether it work with our customers to been producing at around 20 ages, but in our view, given the Guinea liquefied natural gas remote highlands region as had invoked force majeure. A minimize the impact on their percent above its rated capaci- location and magnitude of the Saudi Riyal 0.9570 0.9791 (LNG) project, which has rescuers struggle to reach vil- company spokeswoman reit- business,” ExxonMobil PNG ty of 6.9 million tonnes a year. earthquake, as well as the scale UAE Dirham 0.9770 0.9968 been shut since a powerful lages buried by landslides. erated that the company was said in emailed comments, Asian LNG market sources of the aftershocks, we anticipate Bahraini Dinar 9.5610 9.7650 earthquake on Monday, an Exxon shut its $19 billion focusing on assessing damage adding that its commercial ar- say there are concerns about a at least a month’s downtime is industry source familiar with LNG facility, the country’s from the earthquake, a proc- rangements were confidential. possible extended shutdown, likely,” UBS analysts said. Source: www.dohabank.com.qa Oil set for weekly drop as stock markets, US inventories weigh

Despite the rise in total tries meets for a dinner on Weekly data shows US crude on track for Pressure on US crude stocks, invento- Monday in Houston with US another record; further gains are expected ries at Cushing in Oklahoma, shale firms, the latest sign of O Brent crude fell by 32 Inventories there fell by 1.2 the producer group widening cents to $63.51 a barrel by million barrels, marking a talks about how best to tame REUTERS set for weekly declines. 1313 GMT, while US crude 10th consecutive week of a global oil glut. LONDON Adding to pressure, US was down 30 cents at decline, the Energy Informa- US crude output slipped crude stocks rose faster than $60.69. Both contracts are tion Administration said this in the last month of 2017, OIL prices were set to post expected last week, increas- week. but in November hit an all- their first weekly fall in three ing by 3 million barrels com- set for weekly declines “Although destocking in time high of 10.057 million weeks on Friday after news pared with predictions for a O Adding to pressure, US Cushing has continued, with barrels per day. Weekly data of US plans to impose tar- gain of 2.1 million barrels. crude stocks rose faster stocks there falling below showed another record and iffs on steel and aluminum “We are being driven by 30 million barrels for the further gains are expected. hit global equity markets the pickup in US invento- than expected last week, first time since late 2014, “The rise in total US com- and as US crude inventories ries and in general terms the increasing by 3 mn barrels the overall increase in US oil mercial stocks coupled with climbed. market went a bit too far, compared with predictions stocks has overshadowed the a new high in domestic crude Brent crude LCOc1 fell by too soon,” said Ric Spooner, for a gain of 2.1 mn barrels good news,” Fawad Razaqza- production made for a soft 32 cents to $63.51 a barrel by chief market analyst at CMC da, market analyst at Forex. backdrop,” Stephen Bren- 1313 GMT, while US crude Markets in Sydney. com, said in a note. nock, analyst at London bro- CLc1 was down 30 cents at “Then we have the vola- the implications of the tariff The Organization of the kerage PVM Oil Associates, $60.69. Both contracts are tility in the US dollar and news to factor in,” he said. Petroleum Exporting Coun- said in a note. 18 Saturday, March 3, 2018 Economy & Business

GM plants to German new slash 5,000 car sales jump S Korean jobs in February: Industry data REUTERS SEOUL AFP FRANKFURT GENERAL Motors’ South Korean unit plans to slash SALES of new cars increased 5,000 jobs, or about 30 strongly in Germany in Feb- percent of its workforce, ruary, industry data showed but keep production Friday, but shipments of die- steady if Seoul agrees to sel vehicles continue to fall its $2.8 billion proposal in the wake of repeated scan- for the loss-making opera- dals. tion, according to a docu- The number of new cars ment seen by Reuters. registered on the country’s The US automaker roads rose by seven percent announced last month to 261,700 last month, figures that it would shut down a from manufacturers’ associa- factory in Gunsan, south- tion VDA showed. west of Seoul, and that it That brought the total for was mulling the fate of its the first two months of the three other plants in South year combined to 531,100 ve- Korea. hicles, the highest level since The Detroit automak- 1999, the VDA said in a state- er, which owns 77 percent ment. of GM Korea, is negotiat- Nevertheless, sales of new ing with the South Ko- diesel cars continued to de- rean government over the cline, separate data from the restructuring proposal, KBA vehicle licensing author- as state-run Korea De- ity showed. velopment Bank (KDB) While 62.9 percent of new owns a 17 percent stake. cars were petrol powered, die- GM’s main Chinese part- sel vehicles accounted for just ner, SAIC Motor Corp Ltd 32.5 percent — 19.5 percent- (600104.SS), controls the age points lower than a year remaining 6 percent. before. In the plan it submit- Diesel drivers, politics ted to the government and and industry were held in seen by Reuters, GM Ko- suspense in February, as a rea proposed cutting the court decision approached number of employees to on whether the oldest cars 11,000 from about 16,000. Rovio CEO Kati Levoranta and Nasdaq Helsinki President Henrik Husman shake hands ahead of Rovio’s bourse debut in Espoo, Finland on September 29, 2017. (REUTERS) powered by the fuel could be Because only 2,000 banned from city centres to people work at the Gunsan fight air pollution. facility, it appears the oth- Judges at the Federal Ad- er factories will also be af- ministrative Court in Leipzig fected. The document did Games head at Angry Birds finally approved the measure not specify when the cuts this week. Now city, state and fed- eral governments, drivers, the auto industry and envi- leaves after profit warning ronmentalists must wrangle over how to meet targets for levels of harmful nitrogen ox- ides (NOx) and fine particles Rovio says brand licensing revenues to decline 40% due to waning income from its 2016 Hollywood movie in city air — if possible with- out driving bans. REUTERS percent versus 10.6 percent in declining sequentially for a In the meantime, the pos- HELSINKI 2017 and said it expected sales second quarter in a row. sible urban exclusion zones of €260-300 million ($320- Angry Birds in trouble “There’s more uncertainty and a plummet in the resale General Motors’ South Ko- “ANGRY Birds” maker Rovio $370 million) versus €297 mil- now ... The management needs value of diesel vehicles have rean unit plans to cut about said on Friday its head of lion last year. Exit personal Shares tank to restore trust and confidence put buyers off the fuel. 30 percent of its workforce. games was leaving, a week In Friday’s full financial Games head Wilhelm Taht Rovio shares, which in the company,” he said. World-leading carmaker after the Finnish company is- report, Rovio said its brand has not given any reason debuted at €11.50 apiece Rovio, whose current game Volkswagen — at the origin would occur. sued a profit warning that sent licensing revenues would de- for his departure. His state- in September, fell a further titles include“Angry Birds of the diesel scandal after it GM’s proposal may put its shares plunging 50 percent cline 40 percent due to waning ment said, ‘It’s time to pass 10 percent to a new low 2,”“Angry Birds Blast”,“Angry admitted in 2015 to cheat- the Seoul government in a “It’s time to pass the hood- income from its 3D Hollywood the hoodie and move on.’ of €4.30 as the company Birds Friends” and“Battle ing regulatory tests on mil- bind, as President Moon ie and move on,” Wilhelm Taht movie launched in 2016. Bay,” has seen its fortunes lions of cars worldwide — has Jae-in seeks to save thou- said in a statement, without “That implicitly puts the Taht was leaving with im- gave new financial details swing wildly. found itself in the spotlight sands of jobs but could giving reasons for his depar- games unit in a worse position mediate effect for personal that some analysts said It saw rapid growth af- again in recent weeks after face a public backlash if he ture. than the market thought ... It reasons and Chief Execu- were worse than expected, ter the 2009 launch of the it emerged that monkeys had uses taxpayer money as a The mobile games maker gives a range of 7 percent de- tive Kati even after the profit warn- original“Angry Birds” game, been used in diesel emission lifeline for GM. said Taht was leaving with cline to 9 percent growth (for Levoranta ing. Last week, Rovio in which players use slingshots tests. The document also immediate effect for personal the games unit),” said SEB would forecast a 2018 operating to attack pigs that steel birds’ The Wolfsburg-based showed GM plans to over reasons and Chief Executive Equities analyst Mathias Lun- assume margin of 9-11 percent ver- eggs. firm was nevertheless able 10 years create 1,100 new Kati Levoranta would assume dberg, who has a“hold” rating his posi- sus 10.6 percent in 2017 It then plunged to an op- to increase sales of its own- jobs, plus build two new his position for the time being. on the stock. tion for and said it expected sales erating loss and cut a third of brand cars 12.4 percent year- sports utility vehicle (SUV) Rovio shares, which debut- Rovio blamed tough com- the time of €260-300 million versus its staff in 2015 due to tough on-year last month, claiming models and a compact car ed at €11.50 apiece in Septem- petition and higher marketing competition, but bounced back more than 18 percent of the engine in South Korea. ber, fell a further 10 percent to costs for the worsening out- being. €297 million last year. when the Angry Birds movie German market, the KBA The government has a new low of €4.30 as the com- look, but said it still expected earned $350 million at the data showed. said it would decide on pany gave new financial details growth in the long term. box office and boosted game Neither was there much whether to provide sup- that some analysts said were “Competition in the mar- a news conference. land and Sweden. sales, helping the company to impact from the scandal on port after conducting due worse than expected, even af- ket intensified a lot during the She added Rovio was clos- Lundberg said Rovio’s re- achieve a $1 billion valuation sales of BMW or Mercedes- diligence on what it has ter the profit warning. fall ... but our business funda- ing its game studio in London, port showed the number of in its initial public offering. Benz — the two high-end car- called GM’s“opaque” man- Last week, Rovio forecast a mentals are healthy, looking which employs seven people, paying players of the compa- Next year, Rovio is expect- makers that helped finance agement of its operations 2018 operating margin of 9-11 forward,” CEO Levoranta told and focusing on studios in Fin- ny’s five most popular games ing help from a movie sequel. the primate study. in the country. GM Korea declined to comment on details of the proposal. “We will reduce our IMF tells Ghana to adopt new revenue plan before April review cost base to make our business profitable,” a GM REUTERS budget support to $500 mil- review, originally scheduled unclear if the talks were con- The government of Presi- spokesman said, adding ACCRA lion, IMF said in a document for December, had delayed clusive. dent Nana Akufo-Addo, inau- it has been undertaking a seen by Reuters. pending implementation of Ghana, which exports co- gurated in January 2017 said series of restructuring ac- GHANA must legislate new Finance Minister Ken benchmark structural re- Parliament to adopt revenue coa, gold and oil, is in its final it inherited $2.3 billion in ac- tions. measures to boost revenues Ofori-Atta said last week the forms. measures equivalent to 0.5 year of the programme, de- cumulated debt owed to pow- The U.S. automaker by at least 0.5 percent of gross government planned to issue “Parliament to adopt rev- percent of GDP (one billion signed to stabilise an economy er utilities and has launched is seeking concessions on domestic product before the up to $2 billion of sovereign enue measures equivalent to dogged by high inflation and long-term bonds for repay- wages from an angry la- IMF reviews a $918 million issuance by June to pay down 0.5 percent of GDP (one bil- cedis) by March 31 and do debt, and low growth. ment. It is also probing unpaid bor union and launched credit deal next month, the debt that hit 68.7 percent of lion cedis) by March 31 and more later. The Fund said the govern- contract arrears of around a voluntary redundancy Fund said. GDP last November and help do more later,” the Fund said. ment must publish by end of $1.6 billion. program, which closes on The West African nation finance the 2018 budget. The document, dated Feb. 26, International Monetary Fund March an agreement between The IMF said while the Friday. must also outline plans to Ghana is seeking a com- formed the basis for talks be- the Finance ministry and Bank country made progress, the A spokeswoman for clean up the financial sector bined fifth and sixth review of tween an IMF staff mission actions required for the next of Ghana to reinforce zero fi- central bank must adopt a trade ministry declined to and show stronger commit- the IMF programme in early and the government this week. review, as well as other re- nancing of the budget deficit, fully market-based foreign comment. ment to cut debt, including April, government and IMF The mission left Accra on forms needed to exit the pro- a core condition of the pro- exchange management policy limiting its next Eurobond for sources told Reuters. The fifth Thursday after discussing the gramme early next year. It is gramme. and cut non-performing loans. Cryptocurrencies are failing as money but tech has promise: BoE

REUTERS people and to a limited extent, “Crypto-assets raise a host handling them - an approach and extrapolative price expec- LONDON and even then only in parallel of issues around consumer and which Carney said risked fore- tations reliant in part on find- with the traditional currencies investor protection, market in- going potentially major oppor- ing the greater fool,” he said. CRYPTOCURRENCIES are of the users. The short answer tegrity, money laundering, ter- tunities which the underlying Many investors in crypto- failing as a form of money and is they are failing,” Carney said rorism financing, tax evasion, technology offers to streamline currencies were from a gen- have shown classic signs of be- in a speech in London. and the circumvention of capi- payments systems. eration that did not have first- ing a financial bubble, requiring Bitcoin, the best known tal controls and international Bitcoin was partly a “Ponzi hand experience of the 2008 regulators to protect consum- cryptocurrency, rose in value sanctions,” he said. scheme”, the head of the Bank financial crisis, he added. ers and stop their use for ille- from around $1,000 at the start Finance ministers and for International Settlements, However, the distributed- gal activities, Bank of England of 2017 to almost $20,000 in central bankers from the G20 Agustin Carstens, said last ledger technology underlying Governor Mark Carney said on mid December, before tum- group of major world econo- month. cryptocurrencies did have po- Friday. bling below $6,000 last month mies are due to meet in Buenos Carney said that for now, tential for improving cash set- Carney did not call for a and then staging a partial re- Aires in two weeks’ time, and cryptocurrencies posed little tlement in the banking system ban on cryptocurrencies such covery. cryptocurrencies is likely to be financial stability risk to Brit- and other asset transactions, as Bitcoin - and said the un- Carney, who heads the on the agenda. ain, due mostly to large banks’ he added. derlying technology had some G20 Financial Stability Board However, Carney said dif- limited involvement. But for “Even if the current gen- promising applications. But (FSB), a global rule-making ferent countries were likely to individual investors, they were eration is not the answer, it is they needed to be regulated in a body, expressed doubts about go in different directions on a danger. throwing down the gauntlet to similar way to other parts of the cryptocurrencies earlier this regulation, and a unified ap- “Many cryptocurrencies the existing payment systems. financial system, and could not year and his speech, intended proach was unlikely from the have exhibited the classic hall- These must now evolve to meet replace traditional currencies. for a Scottish student econom- FSB for some time. marks of bubbles including the demands of fully reliable, “Cryptocurrencies act as ics conference, expanded on China has recently banned new paradigm justifications, real-time, distributed transac- A collection of Bitcoin (virtual currency) tokens are displayed in this money, at best, only for some these. financial institutions from broadening retail enthusiasm tions,” Carney said. picture illustration taken on December 8, 2017. (REUTERS) Economy & Business Saturday, March 3, 2018 19

Dollar falls as US tariff plan Earnings boost for stocks may ignites trade war fears lose lustre with soaring yields REUTERS NEW YORK

THE U.S. dollar fell against Wall Street week ahead: The valuations issue has gained fresh prominence for market strategists amid a rise in interest rates most currencies on Fri- day, dropping to its low- REUTERS est in more than two years NEW YORK against the yen, as Presi- dent Donald Trump's pro- THERE is little doubt on Wall posal to impose hefty tar- Street that U.S. corporate iffs on steel and aluminum profits are on track to rise at a imports raised prospects healthy rate this year, with an of a trade war that could overall estimate for growth of prove damaging to the U.S. almost 20 percent. economy. Less certain, however, is Friday's sell-off came how investors should value just as the dollar had risen those profits with price- to multi-week highs on the to-earnings estimates. The back of strong data and an struggle to do so could lead to upbeat view on the econo- more stock market volatility. my from Federal Reserve The valuations issue has gained fresh prominence for market strategists amid a rise in interest rates and bond yields, along with concerns about inflation increasing. Those factors, including a yield on the benchmark 10- year U.S. Treasury note that is approaching 3 percent, has prompted investors to rethink how to price stocks, which have become more expensive as the nearly nine-year bull Chairman Jerome Powell, market has aged. which reinforced expecta- Indeed, some investors tions of three or more in- are weighing whether equities terest rate hikes this year. deserve lower valuations. "The (tariff) move "It's a topic that's got to risked triggering a global be in the front of a lot of asset trade war and could have managers' minds right now: significant unintended What level is this market a consequences for the really good buy again?," said U.S. economy," said Joe Jim Paulsen, chief investment Manimbo, senior market strategist at The Leuthold analyst, at Western Un- Group in Minneapolis. ion Business Solutions in "We are going to get good Washington. earnings coming through," (File photo) Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York. (Reuters) Trump announced on Paulsen said. "The problem is Thursday he would impose we are going to lose the value of LibertyView Capital Man- The S&P 500 fell 1.3 per- earnings - helped by optimism still managed gains, accord- traction scenario," said Mona heavy tariffs on imported on those earnings." agement in Jersey City, New cent on Thursday after Presi- about the global economy, ac- ing to Keith Lerner, chief Mahajan, U.S. investment steel and aluminium to pro- A test for equity valuations Jersey. "You are going to be dent Donald Trump said the cording to Arone, but people's market strategist with Sun- strategist at Allianz Global In- tect U.S. producers, risk- could come with next Friday's less willing to pay higher mul- United States would impose willingness to "pay even more Trust Advisory Services in vestors. "But this will be offset ing retaliation from major U.S. employment report for tiples on stocks where your tariffs on steel and alumi- for those earnings is probably Atlanta. by strong (earnings) growth." trade partners such as Chi- February. Last month's re- discount rate continues to go num, raising concern about beginning to fade." Lerner expects the stock But Paulsen said he be- na, Europe and Canada. port revealed surprising wage up." higher prices and a trade The good news for stock market will be able to main- lieved stocks may be over- The dollar fell to 105.26 gains that sparked concerns war, though that made the in- investors is that S&P 500 tain a forward P/E of around priced and that Leuthold yen, the lowest since No- of inflation, in turn setting off Volatility dex's valuation only modestly earnings are expected to jump 16 times. That is cheaper than recently reduced U.S. equity vember 2016 and was a jump in yields and drop in The P/E ratio on the cheaper. 19.2 percent in 2018, the big- current levels, but above the exposure in its main funds. last down 0.8 percent at stocks. benchmark S&P 500 index "A lot of the volatility that gest increase since a 40.3 S&P 500's long-term average Among his concerns was 105.37. Against the euro Stocks are commonly val- had climbed to 18.6 times by has occurred and a bit of the percent rise in 2010, as the of 15 times, according to Da- whether inflation is about to and sterling, the yen was ued by comparing their price the end of January, the high- repricing of financial assets, United States emerged from tastream. rise more sharply. up 0.3 and 1.1 percent to their estimated profits over est level in about 15 years, stocks in particular, is a result the financial crisis, according According to a Reuters "We have given birth to a higher respectively. the next year, known as the according to Thomson Reu- of there (being) a little bit of un- to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. poll of market strategists this whole new generation of in- The yen also rallied af- price-to-earnings, or P/E, ra- ters Datastream, as stocks certainty as to what we should An examination of the six week, stocks will rack up a vestors that have rarely seen ter Bank of Japan Gover- tio. climbed to all-time peaks. use as that discount rate," said other years in which S&P 500 gain of more than 8 percent inflation at even 3 percent," nor Haruhiko Kuroda sur- "Interest rates set the That was just before the Michael Arone, chief invest- earnings growth topped 15 for the year, despite the re- Paulsen said. prised currency markets discount for what you want market plunged at the start ment strategist at State Street percent, along with increas- cent correction. "If you are going to gen- by saying the central bank to value companies at and of February, dropping 10 per- Global Advisors in Boston. ing 10-year Treasury yields "We are not relying on erate some negative fallout would consider an exit in general with higher inter- cent and confirming a correc- Half of the S&P 500's re- and the Federal Reserve rais- multiple expansion. In fact, from additional growth, how- from its ultra-easy mon- est rates you are going to see tion, and in turn lowering the turns last year stemmed from ing interest rates, found that if rates continue to rise like ever much longer this recov- etary policy. lower P/Es as fair value," P/E ratio to 17 times earnings the P/E going up - investors P/E multiples shrank in all this, we are looking at prob- ery lasts, that creates a very said Rick Meckler, president estimates. willing to pay more for future but one year, but the index ably a little bit more of a con- different environment." JC Penney shares dive as profit forecast, same-store sales disappoint

REUTERS $25 million in costs annually. tation of 20 cents, according to gic priority this year, he said. That follows JC Penney’s The department store Thomson Reuters. Net profit fell to $254 mil- SALES at JC Penney Co Inc’s announcement last month that operator’s stock fell 12 The retailer’s weaker-than- lion in the fourth quarter from established stores missed Wall it would close its Milwaukee percent in pre-market expected sales growth took in- $192 million, a year earlier. Street targets in the fourth distribution and customer care vestors by surprise after it said Excluding one-time items, JC quarter and it forecast broadly centre and cut about 670 jobs. trade on Friday. in January it had seen strong Penney earned 57 cents per lower-than-expected full-year The retailer and its subsidiar- demand for home, beauty share, ahead of the analysts’ es- profit, hurt by weak demand ies had about 106,000 full-time face of competition from Ama- products and jewelry during timates of 47 cents. for its clothes and online com- and part-time employees at the zon.com Inc and other online the holiday shopping season. Net sales rose 1.8 percent to petition. end of January. retailers. Comparable-store JC Penney’s apparel busi- $4.03 billion, missing the aver- The department store op- JC Penney’s results lagged sales rose 2.6 percent in the nesses underperformed dur- age expectation of $4.05 billion. erator’s stock fell 12 percent in relatively strong holiday-quar- fourth quarter ended Feb. 3, ing the quarter, Chief Execu- JC Penney also announced four pre-market trade on Friday. ter sales from Macy’s Inc and missing analysts’ average esti- tive Marvin Ellison said on a executive changes on Friday, The Plano, Texas-based re- Kohls Corp’s earlier this week. mate of a 2.94 percent increase. call to discuss earnings. Fixing including making Chief Infor- tailer also cut 360 jobs as part Many retailers have been JC Penney forecast full-year the women’s apparel business, mation Officer Therace Risch of restructuring and cost-cut- forced to shutter stores and earnings of between 5 cents particularly activewear, dress- responsible for the retailer’s ting efforts that are expected to slash jobs as they rethink their and 25 cents per share, largely es, contemporary and casual digital business as well, replac- save between $20 million and operational structures in the below analysts’ average expec- sportswear, would be a strate- ing Mike Amend.

SECOND FORAY Hopeful but wary, pizza chain Sbarro plots Russia return

REUTERS Group which unveiled plans to challenging time: competition has consumers might apply a kind MOSCOW open more than 300 restaurants soared. of political filter in where they by 2027. “There is no question – it’s a choose to eat pizza? Perhaps, but U.S. pizza brand Sbarro is re-en- David Karam, Sbarro’s chief more challenging period to re- if they do, it will not be good for tering the Russian market, encour- executive and co-owner, told establish a dominant position... Domino’s and Papa John’s,” he aged by a nascent economic recov- Reuters he expected the new fran- I believe though that it was not said. ery but wary of taking aggressive chisee to build a significant pres- that long ago that customers were “I think consumers tend to act steps after its long-time franchisee ence for the brand but was against visiting Sbarro so it’s still going to in their own self interest ... So if fell prey to a downturn. a breakneck expansion. be a fresh recall,” Karam said. we’re successfully positioning the Once Russia’s top pizza chain, “If they fulfill their goals and HoReCa Band Group plans to Sbarro brand locally, we’ll do fine, Sbarro saw most of its outlets shut their commitments, Sbarro will open 10 to 12 Sbarro restaurants regardless of the political situa- in the past few years after its local have a very substantial presence in Moscow this year and a further tion.” partner got into financial trouble in the Russian market, there is no 14 to 16 are expected to be added The Russian economy ex- when oil prices collapsed and the doubt about that,” Karam said in in other regions by subfran- panded 1.5 percent last year after West imposed sanctions on Mos- a recent interview in a Moscow chisees, its spokeswoman said. two years of recession and growth cow over Ukraine. shopping mall where HoReCa Russian retail sales rose 2.8 is expected to speed up slightly in Rival brands Papa John’s and Band Group opened its second percent in January in year-on- 2018, buoyed by firmer oil prices. Domino’s have expanded aggres- Sbarro restaurant in late Decem- year terms and are expected to Karam said the biggest chal- sively in Russia in the past several ber. grow by 2.7 percent this year, with lenge for Sbarro as it was re- years, and last year announced “I want them to be deliberate, anticipated interest rate cuts seen entering the market was“getting plans to move beyond the capital. find good sites, especially in this A Sbarro restaurant is seen in the Times Square section of New York. (REUTERS) boosting consumer demand. the word out”. To boost appeal Sbarro, a fast-food chain early stage to make sure that they Karam said he was optimistic for sophisticated consumers, known for its thin, hand-tossed are moving at the appropriate growing: the business has to be the Soviet Union along with other about Russia’s economy and did Sbarro has tightened focus on the pizza, signed up a new franchise pace. If you rush it off ... it creates profitable.” global brands which rushed to not expect Moscow’s tensions with New York-style pizza, shrinking deal for Russia last September, some vulnerability,” he said. Sbarro entered the Russian cater to the underserved market. the United States to be an issue. the menu and emphasizing fresh partnering with HoReCa Band “It’s not so much about just market shortly after the collapse of Its second foray comes at a “Is there a risk that some preparation. 20 Saturday, March 3, 2018 Bulls & Bears

STANDARD & POOR’S

PRICE % CHANGE Standard & Poor’s Corp 2,660.84 -0.63 Trump rattles global markets, Standard & Poor’s Corp 1,176.60 -0.67 Apple Inc 174.44 -0.32 AbbVie Inc 113.75 -0.08 Abbott Laboratories 58.66 -0.22 Accenture 156.17 0.01 stokes investor uncertainties Allergan 145.13 -2.06 American International Group Inc 55.42 -1.86 Allstate Corp 91.07 -0.58 Amgen Inc 184.15 0.47 percent while the pan-European Amazon.com Inc 1,469.97 -1.57 Major equity indices FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading American Express Co 93.94 -1.26 in Europe fell more regional shares lost 2.07 percent Bank of America Corp 31.03 -1.43 to close at a preliminary 1,438.01. Biogen Inc 284.30 0.69 than 2 percent ArcelorMittal SA, the Bank of New York Mellon Corp 54.39 -2.03 world's biggest steelmaker, fell BlackRock Inc 532.45 -0.58 REUTERS 3.7 percent while euro zone au- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co 65.79 0.15 NEW YORK tomakers and parts companies Berkshire Hathaway Inc 200.64 -0.44 fell 2.29 percent. 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The Japanese yen Chevron Corp 110.63 -1.26 num imports raised the prospect firmed 0.68 percent versus the Danaher Corp 95.55 -0.46 of a global trade war that could greenback at 105.55 per dollar. Walt Disney Co 101.83 -0.72 prove damaging to a healthy US The Mexican peso lost 0.22 Duke Energy Corp 75.44 -0.16 economy that is poised to deliver percent to 18.87, while the Cana- DowDuPont Inc 68.09 -0.97 record corporate earnings. dian dollar fell 0.35 percent ver- Emerson Electric Co 68.85 -1.05 The rout in risk assets knocked sus the greenback at 1.29. Exelon Corp 36.88 -0.16 the dollar from multi-week highs Pedestrians walk past a stocks display board showing the Hang Seng Index down by 1.48 percent at 30583.45 after Canada will retaliate against Ford Motor Co 10.28 -0.15 as the spectre of protectionism markets closed in Hong Kong on Friday. any US tariffs on steel and alu- FedEx Corp 239.80 -1.60 spurred fear of retaliation by oth- minum products, officials said on Twenty-First Century Fox Inc 35.19 -0.96 er nations, which would be nega- hard, with South Korea's Posco toral campaign as a way to in- Michael Arone, chief investment Thursday. Twenty-First Century Fox Inc 35.66 -0.72 tive for the greenback. down 3.3 percent and Japan's centivize companies to just "buy strategist at State Street Global US Treasury yields rose, with General Dynamics Corp 219.68 0.24 Major equity indices in Eu- Nippon Steel off 3.8 percent. 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ORIX Leasing Pakistan Ltd 40.50 1.10 Haseko Corp 1,510.00 -1.44 Abbott Laboratories Pakistan Ltd 651.00 0.36 Dolmen City REIT 12.99 0.31 Jubilee General Insurance Company Ltd 81.98 3.77 Packages Ltd 566.00 -0.88 Dentsu Inc 4,590.00 -4.28 Allied Bank Ltd 93.70 1.19 EFU General Insurance Ltd 145.00 -0.51 Jubilee Life Insurance Company Ltd 720.00 0.70 Philip Morris (Pakistan) Ltd 3,150.00 - Okuma Corp 6,320.00 -3.51 Adamjee Insurance Company Ltd 57.00 - Engro Corporation Ltd 309.75 0.55 Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim Ltd 37.25 2.05 Pakistan International Bulk Terminal Ltd 16.60 0.67 Toyota Motor Corp 6,916.00 -2.37 Amreli Steels Ltd 92.05 -0.62 Engro Foods Ltd 92.35 0.25 Jahangir Siddiqui & Company Ltd 20.00 1.63 Pakistan International Container Terminal Ltd 342.98 2.38 Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc 2,022.50 -2.34 Meezan Bank Ltd 76.00 1.33 Engro Fertilizers Ltd 69.30 0.17 KOT Addu Power Company Ltd 60.51 -0.21 Pioneer Cement Ltd 71.98 4.99 Kajima Corp 983.00 -1.99 Attock Petroleum Ltd 572.00 -0.18 Fatima Fertilizer Company Ltd 31.47 1.78 K-Electric Ltd 6.37 -0.93 Punjab Oil Mills Ltd 285.00 1.38 Kao Corp 7,635.00 -1.60 Allied Rental Modaraba 19.00 - Fauji Cement Company Ltd 27.51 5.00 Kohat Cement Company Ltd 159.11 5.00 Pak Elektron Ltd 47.11 -3.88 Amada Holdings Co Ltd 1,360.00 -3.20 Askari Bank Ltd 20.15 -0.44 Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd 90.50 0.96 Kohinoor Textile Mills Ltd 72.00 -1.37 Pakistan Oilfields Ltd 615.00 -0.64 Hino Motors Ltd 1,343.00 -3.17 Atlas Honda Ltd 540.00 0.56 Faysal Bank Ltd 26.00 0.08 Lucky Cement Ltd 643.99 2.09 Pak Suzuki Motor Co Ltd 484.37 0.92 Tokio Marine Holdings Inc 4,823.00 -1.05 Attock Cement Pakistan Ltd 191.00 0.36 Ghani Glass Ltd 69.55 0.59 MCB Bank Ltd 215.94 -0.70 Pakistan Services Ltd 990.00 - Daiwa House Industry Co Ltd 3,825.00 -1.24 Attock Refinery Ltd 251.48 0.71 GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Ltd 191.00 -0.29 Mari Petroleum Company Ltd 1,425.00 -1.05 Pakistan Petroleum Ltd 204.00 0.67 Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd 5,853.00 -2.77 Bank Alfalah Ltd 47.35 -1.21 Hascol Petroleum Ltd 278.26 0.76 Millat Tractors Ltd 1,382.00 -0.62 Pakistan State Oil Company Ltd 298.24 -0.35 Komatsu Ltd 3,704.00 -1.57 Bannu Woollen Mills Ltd 55.00 - Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd 480.50 1.16 Nestle Pakistan Ltd 12,495.00 5.00 Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd 12.20 0.25 T&D Holdings Inc 1,699.50 -2.27 Bata Pakistan Ltd 2,655.05 -3.80 Habib Bank Ltd 210.01 0.90 Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd 74.41 5.00 Saif Power Ltd 28.50 -0.35 Astellas Pharma Inc 1,514.50 -1.94 Bestway Cement Ltd 153.00 0.89 Habib Metropolitan Bank Ltd 41.95 -1.13 Murree Brewery Company Ltd 770.00 -0.42 Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Ltd 24.20 0.83 Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd 4,095.00 -1.56 Bank Al-Habib Ltd 68.50 - Hub Power Company Ltd 99.00 1.02 National Foods Ltd 310.01 -0.96 Searle Company Ltd 366.63 0.92 Mazda Motor Corp 1,431.50 -2.92 Bank of Punjab 9.37 0.64 Hum Network Ltd 9.25 1.54 National Refinery Ltd 433.99 -0.11 Shell Pakistan Ltd 328.00 -0.49 Mitsui Fudosan Co Ltd 2,507.50 -2.03 Cherat Packaging Ltd 182.97 -0.01 Ibrahim Fibres Ltd 59.41 - National Bank of Pakistan 47.50 1.00 Shifa International Hospitals Ltd 294.00 1.07 JGC Corp 2,245.00 -5.63 Cherat Cement Company Ltd 139.15 4.99 ICI Pakistan Ltd 770.00 0.66 Nishat Chunian Ltd 49.25 -0.53 Soneri Bank Ltd 13.40 8.06 Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd 1,563.00 -2.62 Colgate-Palmolive (Pakistan) Ltd 2,900.00 -3.33 IGI Insurance Ltd 308.00 0.98 Nishat Chunian Power Ltd 29.25 -4.13 Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd 116.92 -0.85 Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd 4,220.00 -3.54 Honda Motor Co Ltd 3,686.00 -3.78 Crescent Jute Products Ltd 3.40 - Indus Motor Company Ltd 1,759.80 0.52 Nishat Power Ltd 31.79 -3.40 Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd 35.17 -1.10 Mitsubishi Estate Co Ltd 1,817.50 -1.81 Crescent Steel & Allied Products Ltd 133.61 -2.08 International Steels Ltd 120.11 -1.10 Nishat Mills Ltd 160.00 0.51 Thal Ltd 474.95 0.60 Nisshin Seifun Group Inc 2,010.00 -1.95 Dawood Hercules Corporation Ltd 121.00 0.63 International Industries Ltd 304.30 -0.63 Oil and Gas Development Co Ltd 164.80 0.96 TRG Pakistan Ltd 37.42 1.66 Shionogi & Co Ltd 5,422.00 -1.78

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Al Ahli edge Kharaitiyat Starc shock for South Africa Al Ahli get the better of Al Kharaitiyat in Australia paceman Mitchell Starc sends CRICKET TEST five-goal QNB Stars League thrillerPAGE 23 Proteas crashing at Kingsmead PAGE 22 SOUTH AFRICA VS AUSTRALIA

FIRST WORLD SNOOKER TEAM CUP CHAMPIONSHIP India’s Advani, Chandra make most of Pak pair’s miss to clinch trophy

VINAY NAYUDU DOHA

IN what turned out to be a fitting finale to the inaugural World Snooker Team Cup, India’s pair of Pankaj Advani and Manan Chandra pipped Pakistan’s champion duo of Muhammed Asif and Babar Masih in a thriller at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federa- tion Hall on Friday. Down 0-2 and staring at defeat, the Indians joined hands to claw their way back from the third frame (doubles) making the most of a grave er- ror to eventually triumph 3-2 (24-73, 56-61, 72-47, 106-20, 56-20).

India’s Pankaj Advani (top right) & Manan Chandra (top 2nd right) and Pakistan’s Babar Masih (top 3rd right) & Muhammed Asif (top left) receive their prize from International Billiards & Snooker Federation Dream win President Mubarak al Khayarin (left) and Qatar Billiards & Snooker Federation President Mohammed Mubarak al Ramzani at the QBSF Hall on Friday. This is my biggest achievement. I had never an easy pink ball shot and RESULTS and win it,” he added. soon gave things up. Masih was sad at hav- won a world title before A delighted 37-year-old (FINAL): India 2 beat Pakistan 1 -- 3-2 (24-73, ing made the bigger miss. so this is my first. It was Chandra termed Masih’s miss 56-61, 72-47, 106-20, 56-20). “We had found the momen- SEMI-FINALS: India 2 beat Iran 3-2 (67-27, 57-16, a tough final against as the turning point of the fi- 23-55, 32-60, 65-15) tum so I went with the flow, Pakistan, a dream nal. “That was the turning Pakistan 1 beat Hong Kong 1 -- 3-2 (68-34, 29-63, but I made an error. Asif also final actually. point because were 2-0 down 56-69, 78-49, 68-56). missed some chances in the fi- and in the third he got the first nal frame which also we could India 2 team’s opening and made a break of nament and anybody’s game. have won, but that’s the nature Manan Chandra 30. Had he not given me that “Technically to win from of sport. Sometimes you win, chance, I wouldn’t have got 0-2 down is extremely special sometimes lose,” he said. the confidence which I even- whoever the opposition – Pa- The first edition of the It was about completing tually gained to make a come- kistan, China or Australia. World Team Cup turned out the formalities for the Paki- back. Had he played a more Also, Manan did phenomenal- to be a big success with people stan1 team, who were cruis- safe shot, it would have been ly well in the semis and final loving the short format and the ing at will then, having made demoralising and devastat- so he’s a great partner to have exciting snooker it produced. an opening break of 30 in ing for us. But with that and under pressure.” “The final was quite the third frame when Masih a break of 39 we were back in The Pakistan pair rued exciting and tense until the missed a crucial pot which the game and you have the re- the missed chance. “You need last minute,” said QBSF Presi- opened the great window of sult now,!” he said soon after both luck and pluck and may- dent Mohammed Mubarak al opportunity for India 2 and the match. be we didn’t have it today,” Ramzani. “In this format, Chandra seized it to turn This was also the first International Billiards & Snooker Federation officials at the World Snooker Team Cup final on Friday. said Asif. “This team format is you can’t miss the chance you the tables on their rivals, world title in cuesport for a very short tournament where get. So what Asif missed for who as a team had last won the Indian and his joy knew but important breaks and that champion, Chandra said,” I result in the tournament and it you need a good strategy and Pakistan, Chandra clinched the World Team Snooker no bounds. “As far as I am put a lot of pressure on them, have played a bigger part in a happened, so I’m both relieved understanding. If one makes for India. In the final frame Championship in Hurghada, concerned this is my biggest I guess. Thanks to my partner team earlier but not with Pan- and happy.” a mistake then the other team also, I thought Asif would Egypt, in August 2017. achievement. I had never won as well, we both contributed kaj as a partner. This was the On his part, Advani termed avails of the chance and which win but there again a small Luck seemed to smile on a world title before so this is equally throughout the tour- first time that I was partnering the triumph as special. “It’s a can put you under pressure. mistake swung fortunes in Pakistan again in the deciding my first. It was a tough final nament to the team’s success,” him and we won. It feels great. special victory. It is the first We had a golden chance to India’s favour. frame, where Asif could have against Pakistan, a dream said Chandra. Obviously, he’s a champion edition of the World Cup and win but we couldn’t. So maybe “It’s an enjoyable for- changed the course against final actually. We were 0-2 On playing the crucial and achieved everything there it’s nice to get your hands on we were destined to lose, but mat and Inshallah we’ll see Chandra, but just when he was down but we managed to take role in a team which also had is to achieve in the amateur the very first trophy. It’s a hopefully we shall be back for everybody back again next pulling things back he missed it frame by frame, make small Advani, an 18-time billiards game. I was hoping for a good unique event, a four-day tour- the next edition again and try year,” he added. History made as every runner in 400m heat disqualified

REUTERS All decisions were subject to the later stages of the 60m, finish third behind Norway's BIRMINGHAM to appeal. posting 7.20 to finish behind Ezinne Okparaebo. There was no such drama Marie-Josee Ta Lou from the The 23-year-old American EVERY runner, including the in the final heat when Pavel Ivory Coast, who continued ran the world's best this year world's fastest man this year, Maslak eased though, quali- her recent good form to win of 7.02 at altitude but showed was disqualified in a bizarre fying behind Spain's Oscar the heat in 7.17. her inexperience at this level 400 metres heat that made Husillos as the Czech indoor Thompson, who won bronze by only just making it through. athletics history on the second specialist attempts to become at the 2016 world indoors but In the heptathlon French- day of the world indoor cham- the first three-time 400m has yet to replicate her best form man Kevin Mayer took a pionships on Friday. strong grip on the gold medal Bralon Taplin was among as he seeks to establish himself the casualties after appearing as the true heir to American to qualify for the semi-finals Ashton Eaton. later on Friday by winning In the 3,000m, Ethiopians the third heat comfortably in Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon 46.37 seconds. But the Gre- Barega won the heats ahead of nadan was ruled to have run Sunday's final. out of his lane, along with It was later announced the other three finishers, Ja- that American Paul Chelimo maica's Steven Gayle, Latvia's champion at the event. of last year, appeared composed had been disqualified for step- Austris Karpinskis and Alonzo In the women's 400m in making it through in what ping inside the track. Russell from the Bahamas. heats, Americans Courtney is shaping up to be one of the “I do not know what was go- Another runner, Qatar's Okolo (51.54) and Shakima championship's most hotly con- ing on and why I was disquali- Abdalelah Haroun, was earlier Wimbley (52.43) both quali- tested events. fied,” he said. “I was careful and red carded for false starting in fied comfortably, along with While Dutchwoman Dafne watched the steps. There was no the same heat. Switzerland's Lea Sprunger Schippers accelerated steadily intention to do it.” It is the first time every (52.46), who is expected to be to win her heat in 7.19, U.S. Amid continued bad weath- athlete has been disqualified their main rival. national champion Javianne er outside the arena, the organ- from a heat at a major cham- Double Olympic sprint Oliver was slowest off the isers blamed empty seats on the pionships, according to statis- champion Elaine Thompson blocks in the first heat, look- closure of local schools, which Abdalleleh Haroun of Qatar reacts after being disqualified in the men’s 400m heats at the IAAF Athletics tician Mark Butler. of Jamaica also eased through ing sluggish in posting 7.29 to had been allocated tickets. World Indoor Championships at Arena in Birmingham on Friday. (EPA-EFE) See also page 23 Ô Sports Saturday, March 3, 2018 23 QNB Stars League Week 19 Dibaba strikes again; Lasitskene wins high jump gold for Russia This was the fourth successive world indoor title for the 27-year-old Ethiopian

AFP BIRMINGHAM (UNITED KINGDOM)

ETHIOPIA'S serial record holder Genzebe Dibaba won a fourth consecutive world indoor title when she romped to victory in the 3,000m in Birmingham on Thursday. In a memorable opening night of track and field for Russians cleared to compete as neu- trals in the wake of the doping scandal that has engulfed their country, Danil Lysenko and the unbeatable Mariya Lasitskene took golds in the men and women's high jump competitions. Dibaba came to Birmingham as double de- fending 3,000m indoor champion and had also won the 1,500m in Istanbul in 2012. And the 27-year-old favourite made no mistake at the Arena Birmingham, streaking around the blue track for an unprecedented eighth Ethiopian victory in the last nine world Mariya Lasitskene applauds after winning the indoor 3,000m events, Kenya's Hellen Obiri women’s high jump final in Birmingham. the only blot back in 2012. Al Ahli’s Meshaal Abdulla avoids a tackle by Al Kharaitiyat’s Josue Mohy during a QNB Stars League match at the Al Ahli Stadium on Friday. Al Obiri, the world outdoor 5,000m gold med- fen surged, Dibaba moving effortlessly through Ahli won the match 3-2. allist who won silver over the distance in the the field into second, Obiri on her shoulder. Rio Olympics and also picked up 1500m bronze Three laps later, Dibaba pushed the pace as at the 2013 worlds in Moscow, could only finish the field split, with Ethiopian-born Dutch run- fourth this time around. ner Sifan Hassan sticking with the pace. "I'm very happy to be indoor 3000m cham- The final 400 metres saw Dibaba sprint pion for a third time. This day is for me and my clear, Hassan in second ahead of Muir as Obiri Al Ahli Club edge country," said Dibaba. struggled. Dibaba seemed to pull up slightly in "It was a tactical race and I controlled all my the last frenetic lap, but held on for victory in competitors. With 1,000m left they all pushed 8min 45.05sec, with Hassan cleverly shifting very hard and at that moment I had to go and across the lanes to deny Muir. win the race." The second Russian/neutral title came in British hopes rested with European indoor the women's high jump, Mariya Lasitskene re- champion Laura Muir and Eilish McColgan, gaining the world title she shared back in 2014 Al Kharaitiyat in whose mother Liz won silver in 1989. It was under her maiden name of Kucina. eventually Muir who hung on for bronze, a first Lasitskene cleared a best of 2.01m for her global medal. 38th successive competition victory, an incred- Current world record holder for the 1,500m ible record dating back to 2016. (both indoor and outdoor), the indoor 2,000m, She also went close in three efforts on what the indoor 3,000m, the indoor 5,000m, the would have been a championship record of five-goal thriller indoor mile, and the indoor two mile, Dibaba 2.07. was happy to sit at the back as Muir took up the Defending world champion Vashti Cun- early front running. ningham of the United States took silver on Halfway through the 15-lap race on the countback from Italian Alessia Trost after both Al Khor down Al Sailiya with an 84th-minute winner from Hilal 200m track, Germany's Konstanze Klosterhal- cleared 1.93.

AYENI OLUSEGUN season. straight back at them when what should be a fierce battle. DOHA However, Al Kharaitiyat he beat the offside trap and did not allow the shock start to headed home with the relative Khor stul Sailiya AL Ahli held off off Al get to them as they equalised ease of a skilled marksman. In another match, Al Khor Kharaitiyat as substitute in the 21st minute when Ra- The Moroccan beat the offside dealt a big blow to Al Sailiya ‘s Hamza Younes bundled in a chid Tiberkanine latched onto to head home from close range hopes of closing in on Umm 79th-minute winner to give a 40-yard through pass on the as the Ahli defenders scram- Salal as they pulled off a 2-1 The Brigadiers a much-need- left, before turning his marker bled into positions. victory. ed 3-2 win at home on Friday. and firing into the net. Al Ahli managed to make Both were locked at 1-1 Ahli had lost miserably by five In the second half, up for conceding a poor goal soon after the hour mark. goals to Al Sadd last weekend Kharaitiyat defender Josue just 11 minutes before full Al Sailiya went up through a and the win moves them far- Mohy clumsily brought down time. Chikhaoui shrugged off penalty taken by Temurkhuja ther away from relegation bat- Abdulla Afifa in the box, forc- his marker to flick the ball on Abdulkhiliqov and three min- tles as the QNB Stars League ing the referee to award a pen- from a corner which fell per- utes later, Madson drew par- reaches its climax. alty to the Brigadiers. Former fectly onto substitute Younes ity, also off the spot kick (63rd The weekend saw a flurry Al Duhail man Mohammed to divert into the back of the minute). of goals, with seven goals from Muntari dispatched the spot net as Ahli held on for an im- The deadlock was broken each clash (Al Sadd vs Al Du- kick with ease, sending goal- portant win. Kharaitiyat re- by Hilal Mohamed when he hail, Al Gharafa vs Al Rayyan). keeper Said Nasrallah the main in relegation trouble, found the net for Al Khor in The game got off to a fast wrong way. just four points ahead of bot- the 84th minute. start when Majed Mohammed Tiberkanine again had an tom side Al Markhiya. Temper ran high after Al set up Tunisian midfielder answer immediately as the big In Saturday's matches, Khor grabbed the lead and two Yassine Chikhaoui to guide striker completed his brace Umm Salal visit Qatar Sports Al Sailiya players Abdulkarim the ball home from close just two miutes after Ahli had Club in the early kick off while Al Ali and Mustafa Edan Mah- Genzebe Dibaba (right) of Ethiopia celebrates winning the women’s 3,000 metres race of the IAAF Athlet- range for his fourth goal this gone ahead. Tiberkanine came Al Arabi host Al Markhiya in moud were sent out by referee. ics World Indoor Championships at Arena Birmingham on Thursday. (EPA-EFE) Iannone dazzles on second day Rossi to continue

top five by just 0.025. The Italian edges Marquez’ teammate Dani racing until 2020 Pedrosa, meanwhile, took it Dovizioso with a a little easier on Friday after TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK to leave Yamaha,” said the late charge in a big crash on Day 1 – some DOHA ‘Doctor’. “We thought about it pain in his hand meaning he and it would have been a great pre-season test didn’t push; tenth after 35 VALENTINO Rossi (Movistar opportunity, but in the next laps. Yamaha MotoGP) confirmed two years, we will not make a at Losail circuit The fastest Yamaha was at the Qatar pre-season test MotoGP team with Yamaha.” once again Johann Zarco that he is likely to remain rac- Rossi then hinted that it’s (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) af- ing in 2019 and 2020, with more a project for after he TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ter Maverick Vinales (Movistar the subject coming up when stops racing – and that very DOHA Yamaha MotoGP) had taken discussing the possibility of a probably, that won’t be any- back the honour on Day 2. future satellite VR46-run pre- time before 2020. ANDREA Iannone (Team Su- Viñales, on the other hand, mier class team. “I'll probably race for the zuki Ecstar) turned out to be ended Friday in P7. Continu- According to MotoGP web- next two years, so hopefully, the quickest on the second day ing to look for solutions to site, after Tech 3 and Yamaha we'll talk about the team later of the third and final presea- some issues plaguing the Iwa- parted ways for 2019, the ru- when I stop - but not in 2019 son test at the Losail Interna- ta marque, the Spaniard did mour mill has been in over- or 2020." tional Circuit, blasting to the 52 laps and went fastest on his drive about the future possi- After Marc Marquez (Rep- top late on to take over from penultimate effort. bilities for a satellite team to sol Honda Team) signed on compatriot Andrea Dovizioso Teammate Valentino Rossi run machinery from the Iwata the Monday before Qatar and (Ducati Team) on Friday. was P11 and only 0.034 off the marque – with one of the big Maverick Viñales (Movistar Despite some early rain in top ten and Pedrosa in P10, talking points centered on the Yamaha MotoGP) announced the desert, the field got in some and the ‘Doctor’ explained he possibility of a future VR46- his future at the Yamaha Team good running on Day 2 – and was having some problems branded outfit doing just that. presentation, will Rossi be the it was Dovizioso and reign- with the front tyre that put “I didn’t expect Poncharal next to sign on the line? ing champion Marc Marquez Andrea Iannone (Suzuki Ecstar) leads first day’s top rider Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha) on the paid to a time attack. But the (Repsol Honda Team) who second day of the Qatar pre-season test in Losail on Friday. rider from Tavullia said his ended the day closest to the pace “wasn’t bad”, with that ‘Maniac’ on the timesheets. Hamamatsu factory machines off Iannone. Marquez, who was the second quickest Hon- front tyre – especially over Iannone, who was also a in the top five on Day 2 – tak- was just 0.167 off Iannone, da in P6, a tenth and a half off race distance – a key focus for key presence on Day 1 as he ing P5 and 0.288 off Iannone. did make some headlines with Marquez and locked out of the his side of the garage. moved up the ranks from some Dovizioso, meanwhile, a new aero update that was more difficult tests at Sepang ended his test slightly early spotted on his Repsol Honda QATAR PRE-SEASON TEST (DAY 2) and Buriram, has been within after completing a programme Team machine – as well as a the top five much of the time – of 41 laps and having led for crash. But the reigning world DAY 2 TIMES (TOP 10) 6.Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m and the Austria 2016 GP win- much of the latter part of the champion was quotable as 1.Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 54.992s +0.406s (20/51) 54.586s (Lap 45/45) 7.Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 1m ner made a late attack to set a day. Despite being 0.041 off ever: “Even the crash was good 2.Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP18) 1m 55.051s +0.465s (51/52) 1:54.586 and pull just 0.041 the top, the 2017 runner-up – because we tried the other 54.627s +0.041s (33/41) 8.Danilo Petrucci ITA Pramac Ducati (GP18) 1m clear of Dovizioso, largely was overwhelmingly positive bike with a different setup.” 3.Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 55.188s +0.602s (17/30) now confirming data and then about his bike at Losail. Team- He put in a long run – as 54.753s +0.167s (58/59) 9.Jack Miller AUS Pramac Ducati (GP17) 1m 55.236s 4.Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1) +0.650s (44/47) working on race setup. mate Jorge Lorenzo, who was did many – and despite a more 1m 54.874s +0.288s (27/49) 10.Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m Teammate Alex Rins, in the top echelons on Day 1, difficult day, was fastest Hon- 5.Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 54.967s 55.282s +0.696s (21/35) who has impressed so far in was P14 on Day 2 – putting in da. LCR Honda Castrol and +0.381s (39/41) preseason, also made it two 53 laps and less than a second HRC test rider Cal Crutchlow Italian MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi 22 Saturday, March 3, 2018 Sports Starc five-for puts Australia in total control against SA

AFP DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA SCOREBOARD Australia first innings (overnight 225-5) THE spin of Nathan Lyon and the C. Bancroft c De Kock b Philander 5 South Africa first innings D. Warner c De Villiers b Philander 51 D. Elgar c and b Lyon 7 Spain’s Rafael Nadal announces reverse swing of Mitchell Starc sent U. Khawaja c De Kock b Rabada 14 A. Markram c Bancroft b Cummins 32 South Africa crashing on the second S. Smith c De Villiers b Maharaj 56 H. Amla c Bancroft b Lyon 0 his withdrawal from the Mexico day of the first Test against Australia S. Marsh c De Villiers b Maharaj 40 A. de Villiers not out 71 Open in Acapulco. (AFP) at Kingsmead on Friday. M. Marsh c Morkel b Philander 96 F. du Plessis c Paine b Starc 15 T. Paine c De Kock b Rabada 25 T. de Bruyn c Paine b Starc 6 South Africa were bowled out for P. Cummins b Maharaj 3 Q. de Kock b Lyon 20 162 shortly before the close, giving M. Starc b Maharaj 35 V. Philander c Paine b Starc 8 Australia a lead of 189 runs on the N. Lyon c De Bruyn b Maharaj 12 K. Maharaj b Hazlewood 0 Injured Nadal first innings. J. Hazlewood not out 2 K. Rabada lbw b Starc 3 Extras (b4, lb8) 12 M. Morkel b Starc 0 withdraws Lyon started the slide for the Total (110.4 overs) 351 Extras 0 hosts and finished with three for 50 Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Bancroft), 2-39 (Khawaja), 3-95 Total (51.4 overs) 162 before the tall left-armer Starc gave (Warner), 4-151 (Smith), 5-177 (S. Marsh), 6-237 (Paine), Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Elgar), 2-27 (Amla), 3-55 (Markram), from Indian a magnificent display of fast, reverse 7-251 (Cummins), 8-300 (Starc), 9-341 (M. Marsh) 4-92 (Du Plessis), 5-108 (De Bruyn), 6-150 (De Kock), 7-158 Bowling: Morkel 22-3-75-0, Philander 27-12-59-3, Maharaj (Philander), 8-159 (Maharaj), 9-162 (Rabada) swing bowling to take five for 34. 33.4-5-123-5, Rabada 25-7-74-2, Markram 1-0-2-0, De Bruyn Bowling: Starc 10.4-3-34-5, Hazlewood 13-5-31-1, Lyon 16-3- Wells, Miami AB de Villiers played almost a 2-0-6-0 50-3, Cummins 12-2-47-1 lone hand for South Africa, making AFP 71 not out. LOS ANGELES Mitchell Marsh struck 96 for Plessis batted confidently after tea, liers looked in a different class to his Australia. Largely through his ef- scoring freely off Lyon so that the teammates, timing the ball superbly WORLD number two Rafael forts, as well as an aggressive in- spinner was taken off after a spell of despite the slow pitch. He reached Nadal announced his with- nings of 35 by Starc, Australia’s last two for 36 in ten overs. his fifty off 81 balls with nine fours. drawal from this month’s ATP three wickets added 100 runs to take He was replaced by the Starc, Mitchell Marsh, who had made Masters events in Miami and them to a total of 351. who struck twice with reverse swing, centuries in two of his previous Indian Wells on Friday, citing On a pitch which has proved South Africa’s AB de Villiers plays a shot during day two of the match at The Kings- having both Du Plessis and Theunis Tests, both against England, looked a leg injury that forced him to even slower than predicted by both mead Stadium in Durban on Friday. (AFP) de Bruyn caught behind off balls set for another until he drove Ver- pull out the Mexican Open. captains, left-arm spinner Keshav which moved away from them. non Philander to mid-on, where Nadal said in a statement Maharaj took five for 123 for South batsmen before blasting out the last success, catching Elgar off his own Brought back into the attack, Morne Morkel, South Africa’s tallest on Facebook the injury, which Africa. two batsmen, both left-handers, bowling with his second delivery. Lyon ended a promising sixth-wick- fielder, leapt to take the catch. flared in Acapulco this week, Spin continued to be effective with full deliveries bowled from over Three balls later he had Hashim et stand of 42 between De Villiers Marsh batted cautiously to be was in the same area as the when South Africa batted. Off- the wicket. Amla caught off bat and pad at short and Quinton de Kock, bowling De on 60 not out off 147 balls at lunch, hip problem that led to his spinner Lyon was brought on in the Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram leg. Kock for 20. seeing off the second new ball, be- exit from the Australian Open eighth over and took two wickets in put on 27 for South Africa’s first Markram (32) fended a short Almost from the fore adding another 36 runs off only in January. his first over. wicket and were looking reasonably ball from Pat Cummins to give start of his in- 26 balls after the interval. He hit 13 “I won’t be able to play in Starc used reverse swing bowled comfortable until Australian captain Cameron Bancroft a second catch nings, De Vil- fours and a six. Miami or Indian Wells as I from around the wicket to make Steve Smith brought Lyon into the at short leg to leave South Starc hit 35 off 25 balls to pro- need to recover,” Nadal said. the ball move attack in the eighth over. Africa reeling at 55 for vide a momentum shift for Australia “It was very painful to re- disconcertingly He had three at tea. before being bowled by Maharaj in tire from Acapulco and it’s away from almost De Villiers and the last over before lunch. very hard as well to not play in the right- imme- captain Faf du the USA. I will miss you and I handed diate will do everything that’s pos- sible to be back there in 2019.” The 31-year-old 16-time Grand Slam winner had been left distraught on Tuesday after suddenly pulling out of Acapulco just hours before his opening match. It marked the sixth tour- nament in a row that Nadal has pulled out of or retired from -- Basel, Paris, the Lon- don ATP Tour Finals, Bris- bane, Australian Open and Acapulco. Nadal’s withdrawal was greeted with dismay by Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas. “We are disappointed that Rafa will not be able to com- pete for the third title at this year’s BNP Paribas Open,” Haas said. “We wish him all the best for a speedy recov- ery.” Nadal, who turns 32 in June, ended 2017 as the oldest year-end world number one in the 45-year history of the ATP rankings. However, he lost the top ranking to old rival Roger Fe- Australia bowler Mitchell Starc (Centre) celebrates with teammates the wicket of South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis during day two of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Australia at the Kingsmead derer last month. Stadium in Durban on Friday. (AFP) Debutant Sharma shines in Mexico Pouille outlasts Krajinovic to reach with Masters on his mind third final of the season DPA ing for the match - then DUBAI came the rain,” Pouille The hot start was said. “When we came back another small step SECOND seed Lucas Pouille out, it was a very different held his nerve through two match, very tight. towards what he rain interruptions to reach “I’m very, very happy to hopes will be an his third final of the season be in the final, I told myself as he beat Filip Krajinovic to stay focussed,” he said. “I appearance in next 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5) on tried to do my best when we Friday at the Dubai Champi- returned again [in the third month’s Masters onships. set]. The Frenchman, who is “The tiebreaker was in- REUTERS on his third title match of the tense, every point was tough MEXICO CITY season, will face either Tuni- to win. But I think I played sian Malek Jaziri or Spanish my best tennis in the second SHUBHANKAR Sharma made third seed Roberto Bautista tiebreaker.” an eye-opening World Golf Agut in the Saturday final. Pouille claimed victory Championships debut as the The match, which had on his third match point, fin- Indian prospect carded a six- started late due to rain, was ishing with 16 aces. under-par 65 in the first round interrupted for eight min- “After the first set, I at the WGC-Mexico Champion- utes prior to Pouille serv- started to be a bit more ag- ship on Thursday. ing for the match in the gressive, especially in the Already twice a winner this second set. Players were return,” the winner said. season on the European Tour, sent off court again for 30 “I was very close from the the 21-year-old proved himself minutes with the contest Lucas Pouille of France celebrates baseline, even sometimes in- equally at home among the Shubhankar Sharma plays his shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the WGC - Mexico Champion- square at a set each and after defeating Filip Krajinovic of side the court to return the most elite of company, ending ship golf tournament at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City on Thursday. (USA TODAY SPORTS) Pouille up 4-3. Serbia on Friday. (REUTERS) second serve.” the day one stroke behind South Pouille finally found vic- “That put him under African leader Louis Oosthui- Currently ranked 75th in the Results of the way,” said Sharma, who tory after two hours of play breaker. pressure. I think that made zen. world, he has only four weeks has been hooked on golf ever with a winning third-set tie- “It was really tough serv- the difference.” “I’m really pleased with the left to move into the top 50 and 64 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) since he was introduced to the way I played. I was very nervous punch his ticket to Augusta. 65 - Xander Schauffele (USA), game by his father as a six-year- in the morning, but very happy The Masters has a tradition Chris Paisley (ENG), old. Quick read with the way I put it all togeth- of occasionally inviting a non- Shubhankar Sharma (IND) “You’re always very happy er,” Sharma said after sticking exempt Asian player, raising the when you start with such a low his approach to two feet for intriguing possibility that Shar- 66 - Kiradech Aphibarnrat round, especially for me. This No excuses for Bottas this season, says Hamilton birdie at his final hole. ma might yet receive a prized (THA) Rafael Cabrera Bello is such a big event, I would say The hot start was another summons, even if he doesn’t (ESP) this is taking some pressure off LONDON: Four times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes team mate Valtteri small step towards what Shar- qualify automatically. 67 - Jon Rahm (ESP) me, playing well on this course.” Bottas will have no excuses this season. Asked after testing in Spain whether he expected the 28-year- old Finn to be harder to beat now that he has settled in at the title-winning team he joined in January ma hopes will be an appearance But he would rather make it 68 - Sergio García (ESP) Pat Sharma had a chip-in eagle in next month’s U.S. Masters. a moot point and with a strong at the first hole (his 10th) and last year, the Briton paused to consider the question. “No,” replied world champion Hamilton, who has Despite recent victories in finish could qualify as early as Perez (USA), Tony Finau (USA), added four birdies on the Club won three of his titles with Mercedes and is Britain’s most successful driver of all time. “But I would South Africa and Malaysia, and this week. With the nerves set- Brian Harman (USA), Rickie de Golf Chapultepec course, say that about anyone, it’s nothing about Valtteri. “It’s difficult coming to a new team and learning leading the European Tour’s tled, it is full steam ahead. Fowler (USA) which at its highest point is new ways, new controls and now he’s gone through the whole learning process and he’s going to hit Race to Dubai standings, Shar- “To be honest, I’m actually 69 - Russell Henley (USA), 7,835 feet (2,388 metres) above the ground running. “So there’s no more excuses for sure.” Bottas, who joined from Williams at short notice after 2016 champion Nico Rosberg retired, won three of the 20 races last season. (REUTERS) ma has yet to qualify for the first relaxed now,” he said. “I just Dustin Johnson (USA) sea level, and plays much short- major of the year. wanted the first round to get out er than its 7,345 yards. Sports Saturday, March 3, 2018 21 Manchester City repeat win over Free-scoring Liverpool Arsenal to go face Benitez exam 16 points clear The latest win at

DPA Just before the half-hour Anfield moved LONDON mark, David Silva put the fin- Jurgen Klopp’s ishing touch to another impres- MANCHESTER City beat Ar- sive City attack to double their men to 103 goals senal 3-0 for the second time lead and Sane then matched in five days as they won at The him five minutes later to make in 40 games in all Emirates on Thursday to reo- it 3-0. competitions pen a 16-point lead at the top Any hope Arsenal had of a of the Premier League with 10 fightback was wiped out just this season games to go. after the break when Pierre- Bernardo Silva, David Silva Emerick Aubameyang’s penalty and Leroy Sane scored the goals was easily saved by Ederson AFP in the first half and Pierre-Em- after Henrikh Mkhitaryan was LIVERPOOL erick Aubameyang missed a fouled. penalty to leave Arsenal sixth, The hosts dominated the LIVERPOOL’S free-scoring 10 points off a Champions second half but had no end form faces a challenge as their League spot. product to show for it and in former manager Rafa Benitez “Mentally we were strong,” the freezing conditions, home returns to Anfield with New- City manager Pep Guardiola fans were streaming through castle in the Premier League said. the gates long through the final on Saturday. “We were clinical. We whistle was blown. Optimism is high for Jur- scored three outstanding goals. With such a big lead, City gen Klopp’s side, who climbed After that it was not easy - the look certain champions but briefly into second place after first 15 minutes of the second Guardiola said he is focused on beating West Ham 4-1 last half we were poor. Still, it’s an finishing the job. Saturday, before Manches- amazing result for us.” “We are out of the FA ter United moved back above Arsenal wanted revenge for Cup and we won the League them with victory over Chel- their League Cup final defeat Cup. Now it’s just two compe- sea a day later. but the match was over by half- titions and you fight for one of The latest win at Anfield time as the two Silvas and Sane them for 10 months,” he said. offered another example of put the game to bed. “These are the last steps to the thrilling football that Liv- City were at their free-flow- be champions, you keep going erpool have played under Liverpool’s Adam Lallana comes on as a substitute to replace Roberto Firmino during a match against West Ham. Liverpool’s free-scoring form ing best in the first 45 minutes until the end. Klopp this season, scoring 103 faces a significant challenge as their former manager Rafa Benitez returns to Anfield with Newcastle in the Premier League today. (REUTERS) and Sane had a hand in all three “We have to win five games. goals in 40 games in all com- goals. We don’t think too much. Now petitions. Klopp’s side have scored 18 Newcastle have injury six-year reign. First his dribbling run led to we play Chelsea. Hopefully we Of those goals, 66 have goals in six games since then, Fixtures worries over Jonjo Shelvey. The Spaniard retains a fam- Bernardo Silva curled in a su- have the desire to win, to be the been shared between the for- but both the manager and his Time in GMT The former Liverpool mid- ily base in the area, but hopes perb strike to open the scoring best team in England. We forget midable front three of Mo- players are aware that Newcas- Burnley v Everton (1230) fielder is a doubt after suf- to remain out of the limelight on 15 minutes. that we are tired.” hamed Salah, Roberto Firmi- tle could prove awkward. Leicester v Bournemouth (1500) fering minor knee ligament as the Tyneside club aim to end no and Sadio Mane. “It is a very, very important S’hampton v Stoke (1500) damage in a collision with to halt their own 24-year win- Liverpool should know game for everyone and I think team-mate Martin Dubravka less streak in the league at An- that former boss Benitez everyone is looking forward Swansea v West Ham (1500) in the 2-2 draw at Bourne- field and their hosts’ unbeaten knows how to set up a team to the match,” said Liverpool Spurs v Huddersfield (1500) mouth, a result that leaves Be- Premier League home record to frustrate opponents. Liver- midfielder Emre Can said. Watford v West Brom (1500) nitez’s side two points above this season. pool must be wary of falling “I think we have a good Liverpool v Newcastle (1730) the relegation zone. Newcastle earned a 2-2 into the trap that caught them basis now for the end of the Islam Slimani, the Algeria draw on Benitez’s most re- when they suffered their most season. We are third in the forward who has yet to make cent Anfield visit almost two recent defeat, 1-0 at Swansea Premier League, we are still his debut following a loan years ago, and he said: “It’s on January 22. in the Champions League and Klopp is hopeful that mid- move from Leicester at the not about me, or the manag- That night, Swansea man- I think we are in a very good fielder Georginio Wijnaldum end of January, will miss at ers, it’s what happens out on ager Carlos Carvalhal suggest- position. and striker Danny Ings will least the next two games after the pitch. ed that Liverpool were like a “Each game is like a final. recover from illness to be aggravating a thigh problem “I loved it at Liverpool and Formula One car stuck in a We have to look from each considered for selection; the in training. will always have fond memo- rush-hour traffic jam, refer- game to each game and now only other fitness problem in Benitez is still revered by ries of my time there, but I am Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva celebrates scoring their first goal ring to the way his players had on Saturday it will really be a the squad concerns full-back Liverpool fans after leading manager of Newcastle United against with teammates during an EPL match at the Emirates Sta- worked to stop Salah, Firmino very tough game against New- Nathaniel Clyne, who is recov- the club to Champions League now and we’ll go there to try dium in London on Thursday. (REUTERS) and Sane. castle.” ering from a back injury. and FA Cup success during a to claim three points.” Iran has promised to grant women access Controversial penalty earns Las to football matches soon, says FIFA chief Palmas draw against Barca REUTERS with this matter - either we DPA ZURICH criticise, we sanction, we con- BARCELONA demn, we don’t speak and we FIFA President Gianni In- cut relations. Or we go there A controversial Jonathan Call- fantino said on Friday he had and have a discussion and try eri penalty handed Las Palmas been told by Iranian President to convince the leaders of the a 1-1 draw against Barcelona on Hassan Rouhani that there are country that they should give Thursday in La Liga, leaving the plans to allow women to at- (women) access to stadiums. leaders just five points clear of tend football matches in the I went for the second option.” Atletico Madrid. country soon. There was no immediate Lionel Messi scored a blis- Infantino said he met Rou- Iranian comment on Infanti- tering free-kick in the 21st hani during a visit to Tehran no’s remarks. Rouhani’s office minute but three minutes into on Thursday where he also denied reports on Thursday the second half referee Mateu attended a derby between Es- that the ban on women attend- Lahoz awarded a penalty when teghlal and Persepolis, one of ing matches had already been the ball hit Lucas Digne’s hand the top fixtures in the Iranian lifted. after bouncing back off the post. season. OpenStadiums said a simi- Former West Ham striker “I was promised that wom- lar promise over female access Calleri dispatched it brilliantly en in Iran will have access to had been made in 2013 to In- and Barcelona failed to force Las Palmas’ Argentinian forward Jonathan Calleri (left) scores a pen- football stadiums soon,” he fantino’s predecessor Sepp their way back ahead. alty against Barcelona’s German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen said during an event at FIFA Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (right) and FIFA President Gianni Blatter. The draw gives Las Palmas, during the Spanish league football match at the Gran Canaria sta- headquarters in Zurich. “He Infantino in Tehran on Thursday. Infantino said on Thursday that a Rouhani, a pragmatist, has 18th, a potentially crucial point dium in Las Palmas on Thursday. (AFP) told me that in countries such two-year diplomatic rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran should not be repeatedly criticised the ban in their battle against relega- as (Iran), these things take a allowed to get in the way of football. (AFP) but has been unable to get it tion, while it leaves Barcelona and it worried us. bit of time.” removed because of resistance vulnerable ahead of their clash Fixtures “We lacked a bit of precision The Iranian group OpenS- female football fans were un- aware of criticism of his visit from powerful hardliners in with Atletico Madrid on Sun- Villarreal v Girona with the final ball, with the final tadiums, which is campaign- der arrest,” the group said on but felt it was better to engage the clerical and security estab- day. Sevilla v Athletic Club decision.” ing for the right of women to Twitter. in dialogue with Iranian lead- lishment. Barcelona have now drawn Leganés v Málaga Elsewhere Real Betis drew attend sports fixtures in the Is- The semi-official Iranian ers. The Islamic Republic has three of their last five league Deportivo v Eibar 0-0 with Real Sociedad and lamic Republic, said that some students news agency ISNA “I heard there were some long barred women from at- games and their shaky form has Victor Laguardia’s 90th minute women were arrested near quoted Interior Ministry incidents where some women tending male soccer matches, opened up the title race. Real Madrid v Getafe gave Alaves a 1-0 win over Le- Azadi stadium on Thursday spokesman Salman Samani were detained because they based at least partly on the Although the Catalans re- vante, with both sides having a during the Esteghlal-Persepo- as saying the female fans were wanted to attend a football theory that women should main unbeaten after 26 league “The goal from the penalty man sent off. lis match. not arrested but rather trans- match and there was some not hear male fans swear and games, they have suffered dis- spot did us damage,” said Val- Levante, 17th, have not won “When Mr. Infantino was ferred to a “proper place” by criticism, obviously and right- curse. Iranian women are al- appointing results against Es- verde. “We have seen that we for 14 matches and hover just enjoying a football match in police. ly,” he said. lowed to attend female foot- panyol, Getafe and now Las drew thanks to an invisible pen- one point above the relegation men-only stadium, Iranian Infantino said he was “There are two ways to deal ball matches. Palmas. alty. They came out stronger zone.

Quick read Ibrahimovic set to leave Real Madrid midfielder Modric charged with VAR delays negligible compared perjury in Croatia to other stoppages: Infantino Man Utd at end of season BELGRADE: Prosecutors have charged Croatia’s national foot- AFP gust following an impressive ball team captain and Real Madrid star midfielder Luka Modric REUTERS League Cup games. games and the reality is you LONDON rehabilitation. with perjury in a corruption trial. The prosecutor in Osijek, 280 BARCELONA However, VAR’s use has lose an average of 90 seconds Ibrahimovic has been linked kilometres east of Zagreb, accused Modric, 32, of lying in the been criticised by some people per game. Is that too long? ZLATAN Ibrahimovic to ex- to MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy trial of Croatian football tycoon Zdravko Mamic and three other FIFA president Gianni Infanti- who feel it interrupts the flow Perhaps. pected to leave Manchester and on Friday Mourinho said: officials. Mamic and the others are have been charged with no defended the time it takes to of a game. “But we lose an average of United at the end of the season, “For Zlatan, we all think it’s his skimming at least 19 million dollars from player transfers and clarify incidents referred to the Infantino, however, said seven minutes per game due according to Old Trafford boss last season at Manchester Unit- through tax evasion. At the Mamic trial in May 2017, Modric video assistant referee (VAR) the delay to get a decision was to throw ins. If we lose seven Jose Mourinho. ed and it will be a very personal revoked a statement he made during the investigation into by saying the delays are negli- a small price to pay for making minutes on throw ins, we can Swedish striker Ibrahimov- decision for him to play or to his 2008 move from Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham, saying that gible when compared to other the right call. lose 90 seconds to get decisions ic has made only seven appear- stop,” Mourinho told reporters he was confused or could not remember. Mamic then praised stoppages that take place dur- “One of the main criticisms right.” ances for United this season on Friday. Modric’s testimony as “something most wonderful and honest.” ing a match. is about the time that is lost The International Football and hasn’t played since Decem- “I think he won the right Modric dismissed the perjury allegations in May, saying that his The system that allows off- and many people have talked Association Board (IFAB) is ber after struggling with a knee to choose his life, his future, “conscience is clear.” If convicted, Modric faces up to five years pitch referees to re-examine a about it without any knowl- expected to decide on Saturday injury. such an amazing player and an in prison. He has also come under legal pressure in Spain, decision or an incident referred edge,” Infantino told the Web whether to approve the use of The 36-year-old was re- amazing career. where he reportedly settled tax evasion charges in court. Modric to them by the match official Sport Congress in Barcelona VAR. Infantino is VAR’s leading leased by United at the end of “Only that awful injury in played for Dinamo Zagreb, Tottenham Hotspur and Real and has has been used in Bundesliga on Friday via video link. supporter and has promised it his contract last year after suf- the wrong moment broke a fan- 103 appearances for the national team. (DPA) and Serie A this season and tri- “Let’s look at the facts. will be used at this year’s World fering a serious knee injury in tastic couple of seasons he could alled in some English FA and We’ve analysed almost 1000 Cup if approved by IFAB. April, but he re-signed in Au- and should have with us.”