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200 FilsSaturday, March 17, 2018 Issue No. 7689

P08

Nerve attack could be Putin’sdecision: Britain

P03

Comic Con gets rousing reception

P02

Security Council condemns Houthi missile attacks

Vienna

Washington wants its European allies

to agree further measures against Iran in return for keeping a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran alive, U.S. officials said yesterday. Speaking after closed-doors meetings between the U.S., Iran, Russia and other major world powers in Vienna, U.S. diplomats indicated that an American walkout from the deal isn’t a foregone conclusion yet, despite harsh words about the agreement from President Donald Trump. “In order for the United States to remain in the deal, the United States and Europe must come to an agreement to address sunsets, inspections, and long range ballistic missiles,” said Brian Hook, the State Department policy planning chief who led the U.S. delegation.- AP

US to pressure EU over Iran nuke deal

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Brussels/Paris

Britain, France and Germany have proposed

fresh EU sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missiles and its role in Syria’s war, according to a confidential document, in a bid to persuade Washington to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.

The joint paper, seen by Reuters, was sent to European Union capitals on Friday, said two people familiar with the matter, to sound out support for such sanctions as they would need the support of all 28 EU member governments. The proposal is part of an EU strategy to save the accord signed by world powers that curbs Tehran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons, namely by showing U.S. President Donald Trump that there are other ways to counter Iranian power abroad.

Trump delivered an ultimatum to the European signatories on Jan. 12 that they must agree to “fix the terrible flaws of the Iran nuclear deal” - which was

sealed under his predecessor Barack Obama - or he would refuse to extend U.S. sanctions relief on Iran. U.S. sanctions will resume unless Trump issues fresh “waivers” to suspend them on May 12.

“We will therefore be circulating in the coming days a list of persons and entities that we believe should be targeted in view of their publicly demonstrated roles,” the document said, referring to Iranian ballistic missile tests and Tehran’s role backing Syria’s government in the seven-year-old civil war. Analysts say the nuclear agreement, touted at the time as a breakthrough reducing the risk of a devastating wider war in the Middle East, could collapse if Washington pulls out. The document said Britain, France and Germany were engaged in “intensive talks with the Trump administration to “achieve a clear and lasting reaffirmation of U.S. support for the (nuclear) agreement beyond May 12”.

The European powers and the United States held several

rounds of talks this week on the issue, diplomats said.

SENSITIVEThe document referred to

sanctions that would “target militias and commanders”. It proposes building on the EU’s existing sanctions list related to Syria, which includes travel bans and asset freezes on individuals, and a ban on doing business or financing companies.

The issue is highly sensitive because the 2015 pact between Iran and six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - lifted international sanctions that crippled Iran’s economy. While the EU retains some sanctions on Iranians over human rights abuses, it rescinded its economic and financial restrictions on Iran in 2016 and does not want to be seen to be reneging on the agreement. While Iran signed up to limits on its uranium enrichment activity it has refused to discuss its missile program, which it says is defensive. - Reuters

on Iran

Intex Lions lift 2018 BPL Crown

CP crowns winners of HM King’s Cup, IFHRA

P 05

P 23

UK, France,Germany plansanctions

2 Saturday, March 17, 2018

Security Council condemns Houthi missile attacks United Nations

The UN Security Council has condemned missile attacks

by Houthi militia and called for full implementation of the arms embargo on Yemen.

The council also praised the humanitarian efforts of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Yemen and called for greater access to aid for millions of Yemenis affected by the war against the Iran-backed rebels.

The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on Friday welcomed the decision.

“The Security Council’s statement on Yemen, which was clear in its condemnation of the Houthi militias and their practices, in dealing with the humanitarian crisis and the efforts of the Arab coalition

towards it, and in its emphasis on the political solution and its terms of reference, is all welcome,” Dr Anwar Gargash said on Twitter

Dr Gargash said the

statement “clearly indicates that the Houthi militias remain the main obstacle to the political process” and that a political settlement of the conflict remained the best

solution for Yemen.The council condemned the

ballistic-missile attacks by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia “with particular concern for the November 4 and December 19, 2017 attacks which deliberately endangered civilian areas”, and the actions of rebels off the coast of Yemen.

It said it took attempted attacks by the Houthis against shipping around Bab Al Mandeb “extremely seriously” and condemned “the use of sea mines by non-nation state actors, including Houthi forces”, voicing concern that the mines could break free of their moorings and drift into international shipping channels. The council “notes with appreciation the recent

announcement of a ‘Yemen Comprehensive Humanitarian Operations Plan’ by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-led Coalition, the recent delivery of four World Food Programme cranes to Hodeida port, as well as plans to install four additional cranes in Mokha, Aden and Mukalla ports, and to deposit $2 billion into the Central Bank of Yemen”, the statement said.

The council also welcomed the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s pledges to contribute nearly $1 billion the UN’s humanitarian appeal for Yemen, and to raise a further $500 million from the region.

An agreement to deposit $2bn in the Yemeni central bank was signed in Riyadh

on Thursday by Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan and the bank’s governor, Mohammed bin Mansour Zammam, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al Jadaan said the agreement raised the total amount of Saudi deposits in Yemen’s central bank to $3bn.

- The National

75pc progress in Shaikh Abdullah Avenue revamp

DT News NetworkManama

Roads Projects & Maintenance Director

at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning Sayyed Bader Alawi has said that the Ministry has achieved 75 per cent progress in revamping Sheikh Abdulla Avenue, from Shaikh Hamad Avenue to Bab Al Bahrain Avenue. The project primarily serves Manama visitors and will hugely facilitate mobility in the area.

Alawi explained that the project would serve approximately 207 commercial shops. Deteriorated asphalt layers have been removed

successfully, while brick has been laid, in addition to implementation of storm water drainage network and ground channels for present and future usage, construction of pavements and signage works. According to Alawi, the Ministry is presently

constructing a number of parking spaces and speed humps and installing new light poles. The total length of revamped roads within the project is 1,650km.

The BD179,330 project was earlier awarded to Bahrain Pipelines.

The council particularly

condemned the November 4

and December 14, 2017 missile

attacks

Picture for representation

Supriya Reginald/DTNNsupriya@dt.bh Manama

Hundreds of comics’ enthusiasts gathered for

the first- ever Comic Con event in the Kingdom yesterday bringing together fans across

television, film, video game, and science fiction genres. Started as an international event in California in 1970 and travelling across major cities every year, the two-day Bahrain Comic Con saw locals and expats flock to the Bahrain International Circuit

to indulge in multi-genre entertainment.

Hosting local and international guests, the event also featured celebrity presence from the world of wrestling, animation, television and gaming.The first day included an interaction with WWE

Superstar and General Manager of SmackDown, Daniel Bryan, Game of Thrones Star Jerome Flynn, Voices of Overwatch video game characters D Va and Widowmake, Charlet Chung and Chloe Hollings.

“We’re thrilled and excited,” said organiser Khalid Bukhari of Dallah Promotions and Events.

Picture time and sing along with the famous Anna Faith and Lexie Grace known for their role as the Frost Sisters, who cosplayed Queen Elsa and Anna from Disney’s Frozen was a highlight of the event.

Video game fanatics gathered around game stations to register for gaming tournaments like League of Legends, FIFA18, Call of Duty, Fortnite, Tekken and Mario Cart.

“I’m really excited about the tournament, I wish I could play for a living,” said a young video game enthusiast at the Overwatch gaming station.

Artists occupied an entire hall dubbed the Artist Alley to showcase their creativity as well as give customers a

feel of the fictional characters b y providing face painting, sketching and character make-up.

“The creativity of these artists is incredible,” said a customer admiring a live sketch by an artist.

Cosplay geeks displayed their creative side by dressing up as characters from the world of comics, manga and gaming.

“I look around and I see that everyone has put in incredible effort for the tournament, fingers crossed,” said a very convincing gamer dressed as his favourite character from DC Comics.

HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa inaugurated the event and focused on the significant role of Bahrain Comic Con 2018 in supporting the development of Bahrain’s tourism sector and strengthening the country’s reputation as a destination for world-class events.

3Saturday, March 17, 2018

Started as an international

event in California

in 1970 and travelling

across major cities every

year, the two-day Bahrain Comic Con

saw locals and expats flock

to the Bahrain International

Circuit to indulge in

multi-genre entertainmentAn artist drawing a sketch at the session

4 Saturday, March 17, 2018

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of this newspaper.)

In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March as the first World Water Day (WWD). Since then the

WWD is globally celebrated with a specific theme to draw wider public attention to the importance of water for mankind and for our future generations.

Water is essential to our survival, it is essential to human health. The human body can last weeks without food, but only days without water. Thus, water is at the core of sustainable development. From food and energy security to human and environmental health, water contributes to improvements in social well-being and growth, affecting the livelihoods of billions.

World Water Day is an opportunity to learn more about water related issues and understand the magnitude of problem, being aware and inspiring others, taking action to make a difference. Each year, UN-Water, sets a theme for WWD corresponding to a current or future challenge. The theme for WWD 2018 is ‘Nature for Water’ whereby exploring the nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century. ‘

World Water Day is about taking action to tackle the water crisis. Today, there are over 663 million people living without a safe water supply close to home, spending countless hours queuing or walking to distant sources, and coping with the health impacts of using contaminated water. This year’s WWD theme supports the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on getting and improving water quality and reducing, treating and reusing wastewater.

Daily huge quantities of all the used and wastewater from our residences, industries, commercial centers and agriculture flows back to the water bodies or land without being treated or reused, polluting drinking, bathing and irrigation and losing valuable nutrients and other recoverable materials.

Reducing and safely treating and reusing wastewater promotes food security, health and wellbeing as well as conserve the finite resource. The fact is that over 80% of all waste water generated is not used again. The waste water instead goes back into ecosystems which it sometimes pollutes. With the feasible treatment process, this “waste water” could be recycled into “new or usable” water.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 7.5 liters per capita per day to meet domestic demands. Around 20 liters per capita per day will take care of basic hygiene needs and basic food hygiene. Poor water quality and absence of appropriate sanitation facilities are deadly, some 5 million deaths per year are caused by polluted drinking water. The WHO estimates that providing safe water could prevent 1.4 million child deaths from diarrhea each year.

Irony of the fact is that people in affluent areas are still consuming excess water and are ignorant about the looming water shortages. With the threat of dwindling water and energy resources becoming increasingly real and water price escalation, it is important for every person to contribute to the conservation of water.

World Water Day is a global day creating awareness on the subject and urging people to take appropriate actions for its conservation and avoiding it’s misuse. Celebrating WWD means that we need to conserve water, as excessive water use will generate more waste water which is also to be collected, transported, treated and disposed.

We need to understand that 60% of total household water supply is used inside the home in three main areas: the kitchen, the bathroom and the laundry room. Saving water is easy for everyone to do. Let us try the following water conservation tips at home:• Turnoff thewater tapwhile toothbrushing,shavingandface

washing.• Clean vegetables, fruits, dishes andutensilswithminimum

water. Don’t let the water run while rinsing. • Runwashingmachine and dishwasher only when they are

full.• Using water-efficient showerheads and taking shorter

showers. • Learningtoturnofffaucetstightlyaftereachuse.• Repairandfixanywaterleaks.

The WWD message is to respect our water resources. ACT NOW & DO YOUR PART.

Head of Waste Disposal Unit, Supreme Council for Environment, Bahrain. (rahmed@sce.gov.bh)

WORLD WATER DAY 2018: Nature for Water

Manama

Artists and art galleries from all over the world

were generous in their praise of ArtBAB (Art Bahrain Across Borders), the homegrown international art fair.

Now in its third edition, the exhibition features an eclectic mix of art from sculpture to 3D art and mixed media as well as a large collection of Bahraini contemporary artists’ work in the central BAAB Pavilion.

“I have been a participant in the ArtBAB exhibitions from the time the movement was launched in 2016 and I believe that it has had a big impact on the Bahrain art movement,” said well-known Bahraini artist Balqees Fakhro, “When first-time exhibitors took part in the London exhibition, they also got to visit art museums there and interact with artists in Britain. I notice now that there has been a vast improvement in their techniques and they are more imaginative about their

own work.”She continued, “Last year,

ArtBAB took us to New Delhi and Mumbai and I got to visit a famous gallery in Ahmedabad that showed an interest in my work. Today, in Bahrain, a London gallery visited my studio and has expressed interest in my work – that is a doorway that ArtBAB opened for Bahrain art. While the government of Bahrain is very supportive of art, I do believe this fine attunement to the global art market and re-positioning of Bahraini

artists has come about because of ArtBAB.

Saudi-based Raneen Bukhari, who shared her perspective about developments of independent art practices in Saudi Arabia said that her country was in the spotlight for rapid cultural changes and an event such as ArtBAB was a great regional platform to showcase Saudi art perspectives.

“Much has changed in Saudi Arabia recently and this has led to a thriving art scene –

however, collectors must not make the mistake of thinking Saudi artists are latecomers to the art studio. Our artists do have global exposure in terms of techniques and appreciation and this leads to some truly exciting art.”

Bahraini artist Tamadher AlFahal said ArtBAB brought a truly diverse audience to the Bahraini artist and its welcoming of all forms of art, of artists as well as galleries made it a unique platform.

Visitors can expect to absorb and delight in the collections from 15 galleries from around the world and 13 independent artists from 11 countries. In addition, there is a focus on 27 Bahraini artists, 6 Emerging Artists as well as a tribute to two Bahraini Masters, Rashid Al Oraifi and Ghassan Muhsin.

The contemporary art fair will be open today and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Entry is free for the public.

ArtBAB wins praiseArtBAB Prize is

awarded every year to artists showing excellence in specific media. The assessment for this prize will be conducted by the international selection committee and will select the best work from:1. Painting (oil, acrylic,

mixed media)2. Sculpture3. Photography

There will be a special category for the best emerging artist, across media, with the aim to encourage and promote new talent and grow the art community of Bahrain.

Award for excellence

Cairo

Egyptian expatriates in Bahrain have flocked to

the embassy early yesterday to cast their votes in the 2018 presidential election, which has officially opened its doors to voters for three days. 

Egyptian Ambassador in Manama, Soha Ibrahim Refaat, urged the Egyptian community in Bahrain to take part in the election, terming it as a “national duty” that reflects loyalty and belonging to Egypt. Soha asserted that the Egyptian embassy has carried out all necessary procedures to receive voters, ensuring that

the process is easy. The Egyptian embassy in

New Zealand was the first to open to the electorate, given an 11 hour time difference with Cairo. 

Due to political unrest and a worsening security situation, the elections would not take place in Libya, Syria and Yemen. 

Egyptians at home are due on March 26-28 to cast their ballots in 27 governorates. 

Egyptian Foreign Minister’s Deputy Hamdi Loza said previously that all foreign missions have been provided with electronic scanners so voters’ ID

cards and passports can be quickly scanned, noting that the whole expatriate voting process will be monitored by surveillance cameras linked with an operations room at the foreign ministry. 

In 2017, the government estimated the number of Egyptians living abroad at 9.4 million. 

The National Election Authority (NEA), headed by counselor Lashin Ibrahim, announced on February 24 the final list for Egypt’s upcoming presidential election including President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Moussa Moustafa Moussa,

Head of al-Ghad Party. Sixty million eligible

voters will cast their ballots in the election on March 26-28 in Egypt, while expatriates will vote between Friday and March 18 at 139 polling stations located in embassies and consulates of 124 countries, said Ibrahim in a press conference. 

The primary results of the first round of the election will be announced on March 29, where decisions on appeals submitted by candidates, if any, will be made.  The final results of the first round will be announced on April 2. (egypttoday)

Egyptiansin Bahrain

vote in 2018presidential

election

DT News NetworkManama

Skipper Tahir Dar smashed an unbeaten 74 off 44-balls

yesterday to steer Intex Lions to a thrilling 7-wicket win over Awan Warriors to lift the first ever-rolling Coco Cola Bahrain Premier League T20 Crown. Intex Lions won the match with 5 wickets in hand scoring 142 runs.

Tahir struck three sixes and five boundaries in his blistering 44-ball 74 in Isa Town Cricket Ground well supported at the other end by Prashanth Kurupp with a solid knock of 50 of 54 balls.

Bahrain Premier League is the first franchise based T20 cricket tournament organised by KHK Sports and Exelon under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Coming into bat first, after winning the toss, Awan Warriors scored 141 in 20 over by losing five wickets.

It was a shaky start for the Warriors with their top order

managing to score only 34 runs as they lost four wickets in the process.

O p e n i n g b a t s m a n

Mohamed Ashraf walked back at the score of four. Imran Butt at the other end tried to regain the momentum by smashing a quick 20 from 21 balls. But it was the partnership of the middle order batsman Asim Masood and Hasan Javed that gave the Warriors a decent score to defend for their bowlers.

Asim Massod scored a brilliant, unbeaten, 49 of 36 balls with Hasan supporting at the other with a solid 34 of 33 balls. The partnership took the Warriors to a score of 141 at the end of 20 overs at the loss of 5 wickets, which later, however, turned out to be not enough.

Chasing the target, Intex lions started slowly with Faizal Nazir and Junaid Niazi opening their innings. But Warriors bowlers were quick to produce some shivers in the Intex dressing room by claiming 3 wickets for just 13 runs. It was the partnership of skipper Tahir and Kurupp that recovered the team from the initial damage.

Both the b a t s m e n

s t a r t e d t h e i r innings s l o w l y

but quickly got into the action by smashing the bowlers all around the ground. Warriors tried to break their partnership but failed to produce any effect as they batted their team

to victory. Tahir and Prashanth put

together 132 runs in their fourth wicket partnership. Babar Ali claimed 2 wickets for Lions in his 4 over spell.

5Saturday, March 17, 2018

ScoreboardPlayer Name Ball Score 4’s 6’sMohamed Ashraf 9 4 Imran Butt 21 20 2 Yazir Nasir 11 6 1 Fiaz Ahmed 9 4 Asim Masood 36 49* 6 Hasan Javed 33 34 3 Sajid Niazi 2 1* Extras 23 Total 20 Overs 141/5 Overs 20

Awan Batting

Player Name Overs Runs WicketsImran Javed 4 39 1Rizwan Javed 2 14 Babar Ali 4 28 2Tahid Dar 4 25 1Nohd. Rizwan 4 22 1Junaid Niazi 2 10

Intex Lions Bowling

Player Name Ball Score 4’s 6’sFiazal Nazir 4 4 1 Junaid Niazi 2 4 1 Prashanth Kurupp 54 50* 2 Wasif Iqbal 2 0 Tahir Dar 44 74* 5 3Extra 13 Total 145/3 Overs 17.4

Intex Lions Batting

Player Name Overs Runs WicketsQamar Saeed 3 19 Khurram Shahzad 4 24 1Asim Masood 4 37 Imran Butt 3.4 29 Majid Khan 2 21 Sajid Niazi 1 12

Awan Warriors Bowling

The Lions roar

Intex Lions lift BPL 2018 Crown

“Cricket is one of the oldest sports in the Kingdom, but unfortunately in time, the sport has been left behind in the country. But for the first time, we have a first cricket league in Bahrain, and it’s amazing to see the response of the audience as well as the teams.  For the first ever league in Bahrain, we have a lot of teams participating in the Kingdom where leagues like this will promote the sport as well as the benefit the locals. Further dis-cussions will be made in collaboration with the Bahrain Olympic committee to develop a specific stadium for the sport so that we can attract people from worldwide to the Kingdom,”

-HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa

“I am really honoured to be a part of the first Bahrain pre-mier league in the kingdom and I believe with activities like this is a major step that is taken in the future development of this sport. I would further commend the organisers who are working with a great unity to promote this sport and providing a platform to young cricket enthusiast, “

-Shaikha Haya Member  of High Council for Youth and Sports, Member

of Bahrain Olympic Committee and President of Bahrain Tennis Association

“A new era has been ushered in the Kingdom for the sport of cricket under the vision and leadership of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The history of cricket is older than that of football in Bahrain. The first cricket match was played in Bahrain in the year 1932 between Royal British Airforce and Royal British Navy in Muharraq. From that point to this day, The Kingdom of Bahrain has a rich heritage when it comes to sports. It is impressive to witness entertainment, culture and sports united in a single platform and bringing global attention towards Bahrain. This is the single largest event in the Kingdom of Bahrain that brought media and online attention to the Kingdom from the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the rest of the GCC,”

-Mohammed Shahid, CEO of KHK Sports and President of Brave Combat

Federation. 

As the President of the first ever Bahrain Premier League, I am overwhelmed by the success of the project which marked the first-ever franchise-based T20 cricket in Bahrain. We will pursue chasing excellence and there will be a subsequent project to carry forward the initiative that will have a substantial impact on the economy and sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” 

-Mohammad Mansoor, Organiser of BPL

“From the tourism point of view, the tourism authorities are aiming to promote the Kingdom as a wedding destina-tion and target the Asian sect of the audience. But when it comes to sports in the Asian countries, cricket comes on top lists and I believe everyone is working really hard to promote sports tourism in the country which will attract not just the cricket personalities but also will provide a platform for aspiring cricketers in the Kingdom of Bahrain,”

-Dr Ali Hassan Follad Advisor to the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority,

Bahrain is globally known for mixed martial arts. The launch of Bahrain Premier League has proved that the Kingdom is capable of embracing cricket in short notice and taking the sport to the next level and grabbing global attention. The rate of growth showed immense progress and such initiatives are extremely important for the growth of the sport as well as the overall development of the youth of the nation,”

-Aakash Chopra

“The growth of sports and cultural initiatives in Bahrain is exemplary for the rest of the nations to emulate. Bahrain is emerging with yet another sport after the global success of Mixed Martial Arts. The growth of cricket will benefit the development of sports and entertainment industry in Bahrain. The level of quality of media products evolving from Bahrain has improved and the trend is spreading across initiatives from MMA to rest of the sports,”

-Suniel Shetty

Action from the match

Manama

Dylan Pereira avoided drama on the track to

take his second win in Season 9 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. Qualifying in a rapid 2:02:690, the Luxembourg driver pulled clear of the tensions and battles behind him to take a comfortable win.

Opening the penultimate round of the season at Bahrain International Circuit, Team Bahrain’s Isa S. Al Khalifa was hoping for an opportunity to close the gap in points in the incredibly tight silver category, and build on his chances of a podium finish in only his second season of competition.

After an action-packed start off the grid, the young Bahraini managed to climb three places early on, putting him in 7th position overall.

As the race developed, Al Khalifa found himself in an all silver category incident, side-by-side with Oman’s Khalid Al Wahaibi and Sweden’s Magnus Ohman. There was contact which resulted in Al Khalifa spinning out, and having to forfeit the race.

Speaking after the race Isa S. Al Khalifa said: “The race was quite interesting today. I had an amazing start, managed to get to the first turn on the inside and gain two or three positions. I then had French driver Simmenauer on the outside of me trying to pass, but managed to keep him to my side throughout the next three bends. I then pulled away to take seventh place, and got a nice lead on those behind me. I saw that Oliphant had come off the track, the safety car was deployed and the lead

I had built was lost as all cars were bought back together. The race restarted and Simmenauer was immediately putting me under pressure again, we came down the back straight and I managed to block him from overtaking. As we were coming down into the next turn, I found myself between Khalid Al Wahaibi and Magnus Ohman all fighting for positions. One of them span out and there was a knock-on effect for nearly four cars.

“I was hoping to continue the race and finish with some points, but the car was damaged so I had to head back to the pits. The result was disappointing; however, I will give everything in the next three races and hope to finish as high as possible in the overall standings.”

Second member of Team Bahrain, Isa A. Al Khalifa, made a comeback to the championship for the final two rounds of the season. He drove an incident free and assured race to finish in 7th place overall and third place in the Silver category, securing some important team category points.

At the front of the race, Dylan Pereira took charge of a high octane and high emotion race. He showed no sign of giving away his position to championship title hopefuls Al Faisal Al Zubair of Oman who started from second and Tom Oliphant from Britain in third. With a strong start, Pereira watched the battle for the championship in his rear-view mirror, with Oliphant and Al Zubair making contact in lap three and forcing Oliphant to

retire. Al Zubair made ground

on Pereira under the safety car, but Pereira’s pace was too much for the Omani teenager. The intensity of the race didn’t stop there, as drivers fought for vital championship points in the middle. Teenager Khalid Al Wahaibi of Oman saw himself enter turn one on the restart with Magnus Öhman of Sweden and Isa S Al Khalifa of Bahrain either side of him. Only Öhman came out of the turn, with Wahaibi and Isa S Al Khalifa forced to pull over. South African Saul Hack also paid the price of their collision as he was caught in the aftermath, forcing him to also post a DNF.

The first of two races taking place on Bahrain International Circuit’s F1 track

configuration this weekend, the intense race adds another twist in the championship title story and leaves Oliphant with more work to do in Race 2 tomorrow to secure the silverware.

With Oliphant’s DNF, Al Zubair came under pressure from Glynn Geddie of Scotland who moved up into third. The newcomer took on the role of applying the pressure to the Omani title hopeful, but Al Faisal kept his focus and finished where he started in second place and Geddie in third.

Al Zubair of Oman is still in the race to take the overall championship title, adding 23 points to his total and closing the gap on Oliphant who walked away without adding to his.

Race 1 of Round 5 at Bahrain International Circuit saw 18 drivers race 12 laps of the Formula 1 track configuration. The drivers, hailing from 14 different countries, will be back in action tomorrow for Race 2 and another test of mental and physical strength. The series comes to a thrilling conclusion in Round 6 as an official support race for the 2018 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, 7-8 April 2018.

6 Saturday, March 17, 2018

Excitement builds as only 20 days left for GP weekendManama

The nation-wide countdown continues and only 21

days remain until the year’s biggest weekend of sport and entertainment.

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) hosts the Formula 1 2018 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix from April 6 to 8, and it promises to live up to its billing as the most highly anticipated annual spectacle in the region.

Headlining the weekend’s events will be the 57-lap desert night race, which has now established itself as a favourite of fans in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. A

live performance featuring legendary musician Carlos Santana has also gotten everyone talking, and they are already looking forward to enjoying plenty of off-track attractions.

This year’s Bahrain Grand Prix will flag off at 6.10pm, 10 minutes later than its regular start time. The world’s most popular star drivers will be lining up on the grid, and the motorsport world’s focus of attention will be directed solely on them.Aside from Formula 1, there will also be plenty of racing in the two support series, namely the FIA Formula

2 Championship and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.

Formula 2 is widely accepted to be the chief feeder series to Formula 1. It will be holding the opening round of its 2018 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Porsche GT3 Cup is the biggest and most popular one-make motor racing championship in the entire region. It has been the number one choice of the Arab world’s most promising circuit racing drivers to broaden their racing experience in a professionally run series. The series will be holding its sixth and final round

of its 2017/2018 campaign.Off the track, Santana

is bringing his celebrated Divination Tour to BIC.

Also, race-goers will have a trio of extreme rides to choose from, including a Reverse Bungee, a SCAD (Suspended Catch Air Device) Freefall and a Sky Coaster. Further entertainment will be seen at the Circus Stage, and from the Roaming Acts and Street Musicians and Dancers.

Young children will be able to enjoy a wide selection of engaging activities, all within a massive tent erected in BIC’s Formula 1 Village. Within

this marquee, BIC has created four zones allocated for Circus Shows, Theatre Shows, a Candyland Interactive Zone and a Play Ground.

Tickets to this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix can be purchased at the BIC stand at Bahrain City Centre. They can also be bought online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000. The prices are amongst the most competitive for any event on the Formula 1 calendar, with prices held at the same level for the fifth consecutive year.

Tickets can be purchased for seating at the Main Grandstand,

Batelco Grandstand, Turn One Grandstand, University Grandstands and Victory Grandstands. Main Grandstand seats cost BD150 each for the three days, while Batelco Grandstand tickets are BD120 and Turn One tickets BD100. University and Victory Grandstand tickets cost BD60.

For the first time this year, fans will be able to purchase a single Friday ticket for the Batelco Grandstand at BD60, or they can buy a two-day ticket for Saturday and Sunday, also for the Batelco Grandstand for BD100.

Porsche GT3 :Luxembourg driver on top

Isa S. Al Khalifa hopes for better result in second race of Round 5 in Porsche

GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East

Al Zubair second, Geddie third

Isa A. Al Khalifa finishes on the podium in race

7Saturday, March 17, 2018

Beirut

Thousands of civilians were fleeing from besieged

enclaves on opposite ends of Syria yesterday as two major battles in the multi-sided civil war entered decisive phases, with hundreds of thousands of people trapped in the path of both assaults.

Air strikes killed dozens of people in eastern Ghouta, a war monitor said, and weary residents streamed out on foot for a second day as Russian-backed government forces pressed their campaign to capture the last big rebel bastion near Damascus.

On another front, Turkish and allied Syrian rebel forces shelled the northern Kurdish-held town of Afrin heavily, killing at least 18 people and forcing 2,500 people to flee, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported.

The Kurdish YPG militia, defending Afrin, said it was battling the Turkish forces and their Syrian militia allies who tried to storm the town from the north.

The two offensives, one b a c k e d b y

Russia and the other led by Turkey, have shown how Syrian factions and their foreign allies are aggressively reshaping the map of control after the defeat of Islamic State’s self-proclaimed caliphate last year.

The Syrian war entered its eighth year this week having killed half a million people and driven more than 11 million from their homes, including nearly 6 million who have fled abroad in one of the worst refugee crises of modern times.

The government launched its assault on eastern Ghouta a month ago, and Turkey began its cross-border campaign in Afrin in January. In both cases, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been trapped inside areas encircled on the battlefield.

Air strikes kill 57Backed by Russia and

Iran, government forces have thrust deep into eastern Ghouta, splintering the area into three separate enclaves. The United Nations believes

up to 400,000 people have been

trapped inside the rebel-held

area of densely populated farms and satellite towns on the outskirts of the capital, with virtually no access to food or medicine.

For the first time since the government unleashed the Ghouta offensive, one of the deadliest of the war, residents are fleeing in their thousands, carrying children and belongings on foot from rebel-held territory to reach government positions.

Moscow and Damascus accuse the rebels of having forced people to stay in harm’s way to use them as human shields. The rebels deny this and say the aim of the government assault is to depopulate opposition areas.

The Observatory said air strikes in eastern Ghouta killed 47 people in the town of Kafr Batna and another 10 people in Saqba on Friday. It said Russian aircraft had carried out the strikes. Syrians believe they can distinguish Russian aircraft from those of the Syrian army because the Russians fly at higher altitude.

Syrian State TV broadcast footage of men, women and children walking along a dirt road near the town of Hammouriyeh, many of them carrying bags, to escape rebel-held areas.

Some waved to the camera and said the rebels had stopped them from leaving.

Russian news agencies reported that around 3,300 people had come out on Friday morning. An army officer at Hawsh Nasri, where hundreds of people gathered, told Reuters that many more people were expected to leave on Friday.

Around 5,000 people were sheltering at the nearby town of Adra and many more would arrive on Friday, the Adra mayor said. “Today we are expecting a big number,” Jassem al-Mahmoud said.

The exodus began on Thursday with thousands fleeing the southernmost of the three Ghouta pockets. Russia said more than 12,000 people left on Thursday.

The eastern Ghouta town of Douma, where many people are sheltering, has been spared the worst of the shelling in recent days, a resident said.

During campaigns to recover other areas, the Syrian government has taken territory by allowing

rebel fighters and opposition

activists safe passage out to insurgent-held areas

at the

Turkish border. Russia has offered similar safe passage to rebels who leave eastern Ghouta, but so far they have refused.

Alarming reports The Ghouta and Afrin

campaigns have both continued despite a U.N. Security Council demand for a ceasefire. Moscow and Damascus argue the enemies they target in Ghouta are terrorists unprotected by the truce. Turkey says the same of the Kurdish YPG militia it is fighting in Afrin.

The foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran and Russia convened a meeting in the Kazakh capital Astana to discuss the situation in Syria. The three states last year agreed to contain the conflict on several fronts with “de-escalation zones”, while simultaneously pursuing own military objectives in Syria.

Turkey wants to crush the YPG which it views as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency in Turkey. The United States views the YPG as a valuable partner in its war against Islamic State in Syria.

A spokeswoman for the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR

said it had r e c e i v e d

“deeply alarming reports from Afrin in northwestern Syria about civilian deaths and injuries due to airstrikes and ground-based strikes, as well as reports that civilians are being prevented from leaving Afrin city by Kurdish forces.”

Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV broadcast footage from the Afrin area showing cars, small trucks, tractors and groups of people on foot leaving the town. An elderly man told the channel he had left on foot at 2 a.m. when shells started falling.

“There are a lot of people leaving the city as well, and a lot still inside,” he said.

Birusk Hasakeh, the YPG spokesman in Afrin, said the Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel militia allies were trying to storm Afrin from the north. The YPG and its all-female affiliate, the YPJ, were battling the attacking forces.

“They are shelling in order to storm (Afrin),” Hasakeh said by phone. The shelling had killed 18 people and more people were believed to be trapped under rubble, he said.

The spokesman for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey expected its forces and rebel allies to clear Afrin town of militants “very soon”. (Reuters)

Thousands flee as battles in Syria enter decisive phases

People walk with their belongings as they flee the rebel-held town of Hammouriyeh, in the village of Beit Sawa, eastern Ghouta, Syria

8 Saturday, March 17, 2018

Sources: Arms Control Association, FAS, OPCW Pictures: Associated Press, Google

Russia’s chemical weapon stockpile

MoscowR U S S I A

Shikhany: Production andtesting ground for Novichok

Moscow, GOSNIIOKhT: Soviet-eraState Scientific Institute of OrganicChemistry and Technology developsNovichok family of nerve agents1986-1991: Dr. Vil Mirzayanov

(above) works on Soviet militaryproject Foliant at GOSNIIOKhT

1990: Presidents George H.W.Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev signU.S.–Soviet Chemical WeaponsAccord to halt CW production

1991: Mirzayanov reveals thatRussia is secretly producingnew generation of binary nerveagents known as Novichok.These use commercially availableorganophosphate fertilisers andinsecticides

Jan 1993: Russia and U.S. signChemical Weapons Convention1 Aug 2002, Gorny: Chemicalweapons destruction facility(CWDF) begins destruction of1,160 tonnes of lewisite blisteringagent and mustard gas 6 Sep 2010, Pochep: CWDF begins

destruction of 7,498 tonnes of nerveagents in air-delivered munitions

5 Jun 2008, Leonidovka: Facilitystarts destruction of 6,885 tonnesof sarin, soman and VX nerve agents

7 Dec 2013, Kizner: Operationbegins to destroy more than5,730 tonnes of nerve agent

Sep 2017, Kizner: PresidentVladimir Putin announcesdestruction of last batch of its40,000-tonne chemical weaponsstockpile

2 Feb 2006, Shchuch’ye: CWDFopens to destroy 5,460 tonnes ofnerve agent, including two millionVX- and phosgene-filled artillery shells3 Mar, Kambarka: Russiacommences destruction of6,360 tonnes of lewisite4 Sep, Maradykovsky: CWDFstarts operations to destroy6,900 tonnes of nerve agents

© GRAPHIC NEWS

1,000km

1 2

4

7

36

5

Russia’s chemical weapon stockpileThe Soviet-era State Scientific Institute of Organic

Chemistry and Technology is believed to be the source of the “Novichok” family of nerve agents

that Britain claims was responsible for poisoning former Russian spy Sergey Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

The institute’s 12-storey headquarters, known by the acronym GosNIIOKhT, is in south-east Moscow near the Aviamotornaya metro station and infamous KGB-FSB Lefortovo Prison.

In June 1990, during President Mikhail Gorbachev’s period of “perestroika” and “glasnost” (openness), Russia and the U.S. signed a bilateral U.S.–Soviet Chemical Weapons Accord.

In October 1991, Dr Vil Mirzayanov, a Soviet chemi-cal weapons scientist who later turned whistleblower, revealed that Moscow had developed a series of new and extremely lethal “third generation” of binary nerve agents at GosNIIOKhT, under a secret programme code-named “Foliant.”

The reason being that the U.S. had successfully devel-oped its Bigeye BLU-80B bomb -- a binary weapon to disperse nerve agent VX. Binary armaments contain two substances separately that mix to produce a lethal agent.

Mirzayanov claimed that the Kremlin planned to continue producing binary weapons after signing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1993, using commercially available organophosphates used as fer-tilisers and insecticides. 

Months after the CWC was signed, Novichok-7 was developed, produced and tested in Shikhany, a “closed” town and military research establishment in central Russia. Novichok-7 is about seven times more deadly than soman.

In 1992 Mirzayanov was jailed on charges of treason. He has been living in exile in New Jersey since the 1990s.

In 2004 President Vladimir Putin signed a decree making the GosNIIOKhT institute one of Russia’s strate-gic defence industries.

Mattis visits NSA BahrainManama

U.S. Secretary of Defence James N. Mattis held an

all-hands call on board Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

During the all-hands call, he thanked service members for their hard work and dedication while reminding them of the important role they play in the 5th Fleet area of operations.

“My fine young shipmates, I’m coming out here for one reason and that is to pay my respect for your service. I want you to know that I know you do all the work,” said Mattis.

Mattis delivered this message to a standing-room only audience of more than 800 service members in the base gymnasium, and many of them arrived an hour early to ensure a seat.

“I think it’s great for morale when our leaders take the time to speak to the troops and show an appreciation and respect for

what it is we do on a daily basis,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman Erik Abalos, assigned to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. “And I think the impact is even more significant when the leader is someone like the SECDEF, who has actually worn the uniform and served

side-by-side with service members.”

Mattis spoke to service members for approximately 30 minutes before taking questions, and he made it a point to conclude his speech with a message to not only those in attendance, but to a global audience as well.

“There is one part of America that no one has any doubt about in the world, and that is the U.S. military. You need to make certain in this imperfect world that there is never any doubt on the part of our allies that you’re with them, and the part of our adversaries that they really don’t want to mess with us,” said Mattis. “They want to talk with our diplomats, because they don’t want to deal with the Department of Defence.”

U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse is comprised of 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen. (CUSNC)

Nerve attack could be Putin’sdecision:Britain

London

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said

yesterday that it was overwhelmingly likely that Russian President Vladimir Putin himself made the decision to use a military-grade nerve toxin to strike down a former Russian agent on English soil.

“We have nothing against the Russians themselves. There is to be no Russophobia as a result of what is happening,” Johnson told reporters at the Battle of Britain bunker from

which World War Two fighter operations were controlled.

“Our quarrel is with Putin’s Kremlin, and with his decision – and we think it overwhelmingly likely that it was his decision – to direct the use of a nerve agent on the streets of the UK, on the streets of Europe for the first time since the Second World War,” Johnson said.

Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday that the Russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of

Sergei Skripal, a former double agent who betrayed dozens of spies of Britain’s MI6 foreign intelligence service, and his daughter.

May said that it was tragic that Putin, who is likely to coast to a fourth term in a Sunday presidential election, had chosen to act in such a way.

Soon after Johnson’s comments were reported, the Kremlin said accusations that President Putin was involved in the nerve agent attack were shocking.

EgyptAir to resume Moscow flights, halted after attackCairo

Egypt’s national carrier EgyptAir said yesterday

it would resume direct flights between Cairo and Moscow, three years after they were halted following the bombing of a Russian charter jet over the Sinai.

The announcement came three days after Russian flagship carrier Aeroflot said it would restart flights between the two capitals from April 11.

EgyptAir flights are set to resume the following day.

Both companies suspended the route in October 2015 after an airliner operated by Russia’s Kogalymavia, carrying holidaymakers from the south Sinai resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, crashed, killing all 224 people on board.

Safwat Musallam, head of EgyptAir Holding, said on Friday the carrier planned to operate three Cairo-Moscow flights a week.

Aeroflot is planning the same number of flights but will run extra services during the football World Cup, to be held in Russia from June 14 to July 15. The Russian airline said on Tuesday that Egypt had met its demands for stricter security measures.

Prior to the attack, Egypt vied with Turkey as the most popular destination for Russian tourists.But the 2015 attack dealt a heavy blow to Egypt’s tourism sector, already suffering from low visitor numbers in the wake of the 2011 revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak. (AFP)

Mattis speaks to service members

BUSINESS 9Saturday, March 17, 2018

Washington

U.S. industrial production jumped 1.1 percent in February, the largest increase in four months, due to a weather-

related rebound in construction and a rise in output from the nation’s oil and gas fields and mines.

Manufacturing output rose 1.2 percent, the biggest gain since October, the Federal Reserve said in its monthly report.

Washington

Caterpillar Inc said yesterday it will close two facilities and is contemplating the closure of its engine manufacturing

plant in Illinois, which could potentially result in about 880 job losses. The restructuring will affect its work tools facility in Waco, Texas, and its demonstration center in Panama. The work at the Texas facility will be shifted to Wamego, Kansas, affecting 200 positions.

-Mark Rutte,

US industrial output rises We have freedom of movement in the EU, and of course the German government can meet the French government without us being there. But that doesn’t mean that we and other EU countries agree with everything the Germans and French agree on. We won’t just nod along to everything,”

Caterpillar says to close facilities

Dutch Prime Minister on EU reform plans push

Jeddah

Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on Thursday to

deposit $2 billion into account of Yemen’s central bank, under the instruction of King Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The agreement was signed by the Kingdom’s Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan and Yemen’s Central Bank Governor Dr. Mohammed bin Mansour Zammam in Riyadh.

In remarks following the

signing ceremony, Al-Jadaan said that this agreement comes in continuation of the Kingdom’s support for the Yemeni people, bringing the total of Saudi deposits at the central bank to $3 billion.(Arab News)

Saudi signs deal to deposit $2bn in Yemen central bank

© GRAPHIC NEWSSources: MoD, RAF Museum, Forces Network Picture: Getty Images

Royal Air Force centenary

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

April 1, 1918: RAF foundedtowards end of World War I bymerging aviation branches ofRoyal Navy and British Army

1940: During World War II,RAF defends UK from Germanair attacks in Battle of Britain

1982: RAF takes part inFalklands War alongside FleetAir Arm, flying from AscensionIsland in mid-Atlantic and RoyalNavy aircraft carriers

Current: RAF flying combatmissions against so-calledIslamic State in Iraq and Syria

1948-49: In first Cold Warcrisis, RAF delivers 17 percentof supplies during Berlin Airlift

Supermarine Spitfire (1938)

Harrier Jump Jet (1969)

Eurofighter Typhoon (2003)

1924: Fleet Air Arm formedfrom RAF units operating at seaAvro Lancaster (1942)

SopwithCamel(1917)

Avro Vulcan (1956)

Panavia Tornado (1979)

Douglas Dakota (1942)

1940-45: Campaign by RAFBomber Command includesnight attacks on German citiessuch as Hamburg and Dresden,and “Dambusters” raid

1956-69: RAF’s V Bomberforce carries responsibility forUK’s strategic nuclear deterrent

Post-Cold War: Large-scaleRAF operations include twoGulf Wars, Kosovo War in1999, Afghanistan War and2011 intervention in Libya

Lockheed Martin F-35 (2018)

Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) –the world’s oldest independent

air force – marks its 100thanniversary in 2018

In what appears to be a total cut off for the

country, Apple has blocked access to its App Store for users in Iran, the media reported.

The Cupertino-headquartered giant does not sell its products or operate its  App Store  in Iran and now it has blocked all the traffic coming from the country and also from accessing its App Store in any capacity.

“Users were not able to connect to the Apple App Store to install or update applications. When visiting the App Store, they were

instead greeted with the message ‘the App Store is unavailable in the country or region you’re in’,” tech website Bleeping Computer reported on 16 March.

According to Meysam Firouzi, an Iranian security researcher, he could successfully connect to the App Store while using a VPN despite having Iran-related details set on his account which indicates that the ban is IP-based.

Previously, users in the country were able to at least view and download apps from the App Store.

In August 2017, the

tech giant removed all apps created by Iranian developers from its App Store, citing the US-imposed economic sanctions.

Earlier, in 2015, Apple explored the possibility of doing business in Iran during the easing of tensions between the Iranian and US governments, according to Venture Beat.

However, sanctions were maintained and Iran’s government has since had an uneasy relationship with Apple and its products, the  Venture Beat  report added. (IANS)

Iran’s iPhone

users blocked

from App

store

BUSINESS Saturday, March 17, 201810

COUNTRY/CURRENCIES SELLBUY

Rates are for indication purpose only. For firm rates or for currencies not listed above please call Bahrain Financing Company. Telephone: 17228888, Website: www.bfc.com.bh

COUNTRY 1 US DLR 1 UK STG 1 SFR 100 YEN

BAHRAIN 0.3770 0.5738 0.3986 0.3545

KUWAIT 0.2855 30.3658 0.3018 0.2684

OMAN 0.3849 0.3641 0.4069 0.3619

QATAR 3.6420 3.4450 3.8503 3.4242

UAE 3.6730 3.4743 3.8831 3.4534

SAUDI 3.7500 3.5471 3.9645 3.5258

AUSTRALIA 0.3029 0.3005BANGLADESH 0.00472 0.00452CANADA 0.2970 0.2938DENMARK 0.0657 EGYPT 0.0237 0.0219EURO 0.4730 0.4705HONGKONG 0.04968 0.04928INDIA 0.00595 0.00586INDONESIA 0.00002979 0.00002808IRAN TUMAN 0.00010959 IRAQI DINAR 0.000317 JAPAN 0.00372 0.003650JORDAN 0.5359 0.5351KOREA 0.00040413 KUWAIT 1.263 1.263MALAYSIA 0.0988 0.0986NEW ZEALAND 0.2796 0.2797NORWAY 0.0512 NEPAL 0.00395 0.00364OMAN 0.98168 0.98301PAKISTAN 0.00354 0.00342PHILIPPINES 0.00748 0.00726QATAR 0.10381 0.10404SAUDI ARABIA 0.1006 0.10067SINGAPORE 0.2923 0.2903SOUTH AFRICA 0.03330 0.03320SRI LANKA 0.00273 0.00243SWEDISH 0.0493 SWITZERLAND 0.4069 0.4039SYRIA 0.001740 0.0017TAIWAN 0.013600 THAILAND 0.012270 0.012280TURKEY 0.1036 UNITED KINGDOM 0.5333 0.5304UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 0.102850 0.102870UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 0.37790 0.37800YUAN 0.056800 0.056800

Manila

A ban on sending Filipinos to work in Kuwait will

continue indefinitely after the nations failed to conclude a migrant labor protection pact, the Philippine labor secretary said yesterday after talks sparked by the discovery of a maid’s body last month in an apartment freezer.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said the ban won’t be lifted unless Filipinos get better protection in the oil-rich Arab nation and justice is served for the Filipina woman, Joana Demafelis, whose death in Kuwait has sparked outrage

in the Philippines.Labor Secretary Silvestre

Bello III told reporters that although the negotiators failed to conclude the labor pact in two days of talks, they agreed to hold more talks later. He said the unresolved issues involved the work contracts and the handling of passports of Filipinos in Kuwait, where more than 260,000 Filipinos work, many of them as housemaids.

“It’s an impasse only on two issues but not an impasse in the sense that both parties are still open to further discussion,” Bello told reporters.

Philippine officials have

demanded that housemaids be allowed to hold their passports and cellphones, which is normal for skilled workers like teachers and office workers. But many Kuwaiti employers have seized the phones and legal papers, which Bello said prevented maids from rapidly seeking help when they were abused. Philippine officials have also sought a minimum monthly wage of at least $400 for housemaids.

Demafelis’ body was found in the abandoned apartment where she had worked for a Lebanese man and his Syrian wife, both of whom have been

arrested. She had likely been dead for more than a year.

Many of the mourners at Demafelis’s burial in her central Philippine hometown demanded justice for her.

Her death is one of several that have brought attention to the plight of Filipinos working overseas in sometimes-unsafe environments.

About a tenth of the nation’s 100 million people work abroad to provide for families back home. Last year, those workers sent home more than $31 billion, accounting for 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. (AP)

Ban on sending

Filipinos to Kuwait

stays as talks fail

Sydney

British bil l ionaire businessman Sanjeev Gupta

will build the world’s biggest battery in South Australia, officials said Friday, overtaking US star entrepreneur Elon Musk’s project in the same state last year.

The 120MW/140MWh battery storage facility will support a new solar farm at the Whyalla Steelworks, which was taken over by Gupta’s GFG Alliance when it bought Australia’s cash-strapped steelmaking giant Arrium last year.

The push towards more renewable energy projects in South Australia followed an “unprecedented” storm that hit in 2016, causing a state-wide blackout.

“Today’s announcement is another example of how South

Australia ... is leading the world in renewable energy,” state Premier Jay Weatherill said in a statement.

“As well as being the most powerful battery in the world,

SIMEC ZEN Energy’s storage facility will help underpin the long-term viability of the Whyalla steelworks, as well as provide additional benefits to the South Australian grid.”

The new battery storage project -- at Port Augusta some 300 kilometres (186 miles) north of Adelaide -- will be supported by a Aus$10 million (US$7.8 million) grant from Weatherill’s government.

Musk, the maverick billionaire and founder of Tesla, had pledged on Twitter last year to built a battery farm with a self-imposed deadline of having it ready in 100 days.

The 100 MW/129 MWh battery, located in the rural town of Jamestown north of Adelaide, was switched on in late 2017 and connected to a wind farm operated by French energy firm Neoen.

It is meant to help tackle power shortages, reduce intermittencies and address demands in summer, when most of the country experiences its highest energy usage.

World’s biggest battery in Australia to trump Musk’s

The new battery storage facility will support a new solar farm at the Whyalla Steelworks in South Australia, which was taken over by Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance when it bought Arrium last year

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte shows a photo of a Filipina worker in Kuwait, who he said had been abused by her employer, during a press conference in Davao City (file)

11Saturday, March 17, 2018

Campus@dt.bhScientists have become the bearers of the torch

of discovery in our quest for knowledge.

-Stephen Hawking

Nachiketa BanerjeeVI-BNew Indian School

RCSIB discusses research opportunities

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of

Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) recently hosted a delegation from neighbouring King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) and Erciyes University and Acibadem University in Turkey, to discuss future collaborative research at the National Oncology Centre.

The delegation, led by KHUH Chief Executive Officer, Major General Dr Shaikh Salman bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa, was greeted by RCSI Bahrain President,

Professor Sameer Otoom and senior officials.

KHUH Chief of Staff and RCSI Bahrain Professor of Surgery, Professor Martin Corbally opened the meeting by outlining the supportive measures the university can provide in the area of oncological research with KHUH.

The delegates were then treated to presentations by Head of School of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Professor Davinder Sandhu; Senior Lecturer in Human Biology and Research

Laboratory Manager, Dr Michael Keogh; Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Professor Steve Safrany and Associate Professor in Nursing and Director of the Masters in Nursing programme, Professor Maura Pidgeon.

Through these presentations, the meeting focused on RCSI Bahrain’s ongoing research strategy and activities; pre-clinical research; the area of Sigma 1 receptors and the development of nursing-based research in the context of the National Oncology Centre.

Shaikh Nasser hails Rvia housing rehab programme

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa,

Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, the Royal Charity Organisation (RCO), visited yesterday Riffa Views School in response to an invitation HH received to view the “Rvia Housing Rehabilitation Programme”, an initiative launched by the

School students as part of their volunteering work and charitable giving.

Launched last year, this pioneer programme aims to link education and learning with humanitarian action and to strengthen the bonds of the community and encourage society members to take part in volunteering initiatives.

During his visit, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad met with the students involved in the

programme, who contributed to the renovation of old houses, where he discussed with them the programme and how it was introduced as well as the house selection mechanism.

On this occasion, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa stressed the close links between education, learning and charitable and humanitarian work in order to crystallise distinctive ideas that contribute

to strengthening social cohesion and make students the basis for humanitarian action.

Moreover, HH Shaikh Nasser underscored that volunteering is one of the most important areas in which students can develop themselves and their communities as well as build a long-lasting legacy that will contribute to the formation of a strong society based on compassion and cohesion

among all. “The Rvia Housing

Rehabilitation Programme has gone beyond the traditional scope of charity work as it connects students through an extraordinary initiative that not only contribute to fundraising, but the involvement of students to visit the old houses and identify the residents’ social and economic situation,” HH Shaikh Nasser said, before expressing his appreciation to

Riffa Views School students for the efforts they exerted in enhancing the spirit of volunteering and charitable work and their contribution to meet the needs of the less fortunate people.

It’s worth noting that the programme is supervised by students with the assistance of sponsors, where the students choose old houses and study the situation of the families who own the houses and their needs.

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa during his visit to Riffa Views School School

The delegates and RSCI Bahrain officials during a photo session

Saturday, March 17, 201812

HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa attended the first day of Bahrain Comic Con 2018, held under His High-ness’ patronage at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). During the event, HH Shaikh Mohammed noted the importance of Bahrain Comic Con 2018 to supporting the development of Bahrain’s tourism sector.

President of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa met in her office with a number of officials in charge of preparing for Bahrain’s hosting of the 42nd meeting of the World Heritage Committee which will be held from June 24 to July 7. Bahrain will preside the meeting after a vote by the majority of the participating countries in the last session of UNESCO’s General Assembly, in Paris. The kingdom will also host on the sidelines of the meeting two forums from June 17 to 26 and from June 20 to 28.

Undersecretary for Interna-tional Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa received the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Riigikogu (Estonian Parlia-ment) Marko Mihkelson, Am-bassador-at-Large for United Nations issues in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Kolga and Counsellor at the Ministry of Foreign Af-fairs, Kaisa Mitt-Alvarez. Dur-ing the meeting, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah reviewed the bases and principles of the foreign policy of Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their con-tributions to the consolidation of world security and peace.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al Jubeir received Ambassador of Bahrain to Saudi Arabia Shaikh Hmood bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. The meeting discussed the brotherly relations between both countries, their constant development, and issues of common concern. The meet-ing was also attended by the Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs Ambassador Jamal Aqeel.

Supreme Council for Youth & Sport First Vice Chairman and Bahrain Royal Equestrian & Endurance Federation President HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa along with President of Bahrain Pre-mier League Mohammed Mansoor and CEO of KHK Sports Mohammed Shahid during the award ceremony of Bahrain Premier League 2018 at Isa Town Cricket Ground yesterday.

Saturday, March 17, 2018 13

A High-level delegation led by National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) CEO Dr. Mariam Adhbi Al-Jalahma paid a visit to Amman to get an update on stem cell clinical researches at the University of Jordan. The delegation held a meeting with University of Jordan President Dr. Azmi Mahafzah and discussed cooperation to lay the necessary regulations for the stem cell researches.

The Traffic Village was inaugurated in the Seef Mall in the presence of Capital Governor Shaikh Hesham bin Abdulrahman Al-Khalifa. The General Directorate of Traffic opened the village marking the Traffic Week 2018, in a bid to reach out to the public and foster awareness messages. The Capital Governor honoured the contributors to the Traffic Village which will be held till the end of the month of March at the Seef Mall.

Tunisian Prime Minister Yusef Al-Shahid received at the Government Palace in Al-Kasa-ba, Bahraini Am-bassador to Tunisia Ibrahim Mahmoud Ahmed Abdullah. He welcomed him, stressing strong and outstanding fraternal relations between Bahrain and Tunisia and their growth at all levels. They also discussed ways of bolstering bilat-eral relations and issues of common interest.

President of Bahrain Au-thority for Culture and An-tiquities (BACA) Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa received Lebanese Ambassador Dr. Milad Nammour. BACA presi-dent briefed the diplomat on BACA’s programmes for this year, including cel-ebrating “Muharraq Capi-tal of Islamic Culture”, the Spring of Culture Festival and the Book Fair which will feature Lebanese houses of publication and around 400 others from across the world.

HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa attended the first day of Bahrain Comic Con 2018, held under His High-ness’ patronage at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). During the event, HH Shaikh Mohammed noted the importance of Bahrain Comic Con 2018 to supporting the development of Bahrain’s tourism sector.

President of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa met in her office with a number of officials in charge of preparing for Bahrain’s hosting of the 42nd meeting of the World Heritage Committee which will be held from June 24 to July 7. Bahrain will preside the meeting after a vote by the majority of the participating countries in the last session of UNESCO’s General Assembly, in Paris. The kingdom will also host on the sidelines of the meeting two forums from June 17 to 26 and from June 20 to 28.

Los Angeles

“Moonlight” star Ashton Sanders is in final negotiations to take on the lead role

of Bigger Thomas in a movie version of Richard Wrights novel “Native Son”.

Nick Robinson, the lead actor in gay teen romance-drama “Love, Simon”, is also in talks to join the cast along with Margaret Qualley, Kiki Layne and Bill Camp, reports variety.com.

Entertainment company A24, which released “Moonlight,” announced on Thursday that it has acquired worldwide rights to “Native Son” with a new adaptation written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks.

Conceptual artiste Rashid Johnson will make his feature directing debut. (IANS)

@TheEllenShow

I know there’s so much going on in the world

right now. Everyone has a lot on their plate.

Every donation I see to the @EDWildlifeFund

fills me with the deepest gratitude. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart

14 Saturday, March 17, 2018

The 20-year-old Iranian Samira Makhmalbaf,

director of The Apple, has returned to the Cannes film festival with what is by any standards a sensational movie. Takhté Siah or The Blackboard follows a bizarre group of itinerant teachers who wander the desolate yet starkly beautiful mountains of Kurdish Iran looking for children to teach. Makhmalbaf shows them trudging stoically across this unforgiving landscape, bearing their blackboards on their backs,

like the signature of some fundamental religious group, or the carapace of some hardy, exotic animal.

Two teachers become detached from the group. One finds a group of teenage boys working as “mules”, carrying illegal and unspecified contraband; in return for bread he proposes to teach them to read and write.

The second teacher offers to guide a group of people trying to reach their unspecified mountain homeland in return for a bag of walnuts, and gets

married to a young woman in the group in a bizarre, impromptu ceremony, after which he tries to teach her to say the words “I love you”.

Like the Russian cinema of an earlier generation, Makhmalbaf’s Iranian cinema negotiates its relationship to restrictive government orthodoxy by the use of fable and fancy, specifically here with oblique reference to the stateless Kurds whose national identity cuts across many boundaries. (theguardian)

Blackboards

Los Angeles

Actress Bailee Madison says it was exciting to do all her

stunts in “The Strangers: Prey At Night”.

“All of the stunts in the film have been so exciting,” Madison said in a statement.

“Cal Johnson, our stunt coordinator, has been wonderful with letting me do as many stunts as he thinks are safe, but I still want to do them all. I have several battle wounds to show for it. I might get a little banged up, but it’s worth it -- I love doing stunts,” she added.

“The Strangers: Prey At Night” is inspired from the 2008 film “The Strangers”.

The horror movie revolves around a family’s road trip which takes a dangerous turn when they reach a secluded mobile home park to stay with some relatives. They are attacked by three masked psychopaths, and is about how the family tries to survive the episode. (IANS)

Los Angeles

Australian actor Joel Edgerton had fun

working with Charlize Theron in “Gringo”. He says the actress sometimes used to say something controversial or dirty that would shock everyone on the set.

In the film, Theron will be seen essaying the role of a shrewd businesswoman Elaine Markinson.

“Charlize is so beautiful and elegant, but she’s also very sharp and streetwise,” Edgerton said in a statement.

“Every now and then, she said something controversial or dirty that shocked everybody because they expect a different attitude from her. Elaine is that part of Charlize turned up to like 50,” he added.

“Gringo” revolves around mild-mannered businessman Harold (David Oyelowo) who is assigned the task of delivering the formula of a new weed pill to a lab in Mexico and all the obstacles he faces. (IANS)

Los Angeles

‘Mad Men’ star Jon Hamm is in negotiations to join Natalie

Portman in the astronaut drama ‘Pale Blue Dot’.

According to reports, if finalised, the 47-year-old actor will play the role of Portman’s fellow astronaut in the film, which will be directed by Noah Hawley. The script has been penned by Brian C Brown and Elliott DiGuiseppi. The story follows a married astronaut (Portman) who returns to Earth after a mission and begins an affair with a fellow astronaut (Hamm).

The film will explore the theory that astronauts who spend long periods of time in space begin to lose their

sense of reality when they return home. Portman recently joined the project after Reese Witherspoon left it due to scheduling conflicts. W i t h e r s p o o n , however, is still on board the project as a producer along with Bruna Papandrea. (PTI)

Los Angeles

Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez says she was asked by a director to take off her shirt.

Lopez opened up about her experience in Hollywood in an interview to Harper’s Bazaar magazine, reports nydailynews.com.

She said that she was made uncomfortable by inappropriate demands from a director asking her to show her chest.

“I haven’t been abused in the way some women have. But have I been told by a director to take off my shirt? Yes, I have,” Lopez said.

“But did I do it? No, I did not,” she added.Lopez says she was terrified to come forward

about the experience, which occurred on one of their first meetings. (IANS)

Saturday, March 17, 2018 15

March 17, 1951

Kurt Russell

Child star who became an actor in action films and comedies, such as Escape from New York, The Thing, and Vanilla Sky. He also played roles in Forrest Gump, Tequila Sunrise, Gilligan’s Island, and Furious 7.

Comedian and actor who starred in such popular 1990s comedies as Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, The Cable Guy, Liar Liar and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. He also proved his range with his Golden Globe winning roles in The Truman Show and Man on the Moon and for portraying Joel Barish in the inventive 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Jim Carrey

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FRIDAY BRUNCH AT CUT WITH CHEF WOLFGANG PUCKDate: Friday, April 6 from12:30 pm to 4:00 pmVenue: Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain BayCelebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck is back in town!Join him for an Asian fusion BBQ and a cut-ting-edge Friday Brunch. Spend the perfect Friday afternoon in the heart of Bahrain and indulge in a wide variety of delicious homemade comfort food with Wolfgang Puck. Reservations: +973 17115044

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EASTER BRUNCH AT BAHRAIN BAY KITCHENDate: March 30 and April 1 from 1:00 - 4:00 PMVenue: Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain BayWe are celebrating Easter with a grand brunch - you just hop on over!Celebrate the timeless tradition of Easter with friends and family at Bahrain Bay Kitchen.Savor an exquisitely paired menu of mouthwa-tering favorites like roasted lamb rack, hot cross buns and chocolate treats. The little ones have something to cheer about too with a fun egg hunt and other engaging escapades. Free access to Kids For All Seasons Easter activities.

FRIDAY SPRING FAIR BRUNCHDate: Every Friday from April 6 until May 11 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pmVenue: Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain BaySpring fairs bring forth many exciting memories to mind. Expect fun, excitement, vivacious col-ours, floral fragrances and comfortable weather. Every Friday, Bahrain Bay Kitchen’s garden will be transformed into a welcoming hive of activity. Lounge in the open air while indulging in new seasonally influenced dishes. Children’s

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RE/IMAGINE YOUR SATURDAYSDate: Every Saturday from12:30 pm until 3:30 pmVenue: re Asian Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck AsianFour Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay invites you to discover the perfect Saturday Brunch at re/Asian Cuisine by Wolfgang Puck. Soak in the immersive views from the 50th floor and feast on mouthwatering Asian selections like Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns, Wok Fried Shrimp Dumplings and Brisket Wontons for BD 19++.

FOR U MAMA ..!Date: 22 March 2018, 5:00pmVenue: Bahrain National MuseumMother›s Day.. ! we honour the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, mother bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated in different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March.This workshop will celebrate Mother›s Day by letting children make a greeting card for their mothers and also decorating cupcakes. Later they will gift it to them.

SCENAMADREDate: 27 March - 27 May 2018, 8:00am - 8:00pmVenue: Bahrain National TheatreIn celebration of the World Theatre Day, the Bahrain National Theatre hosts SCENAMADRE , an exhibition curated by the Accademia Albertina Di Belle Arte in Torino, Italy. The dis-play features a collection of models that illustrate the history of theatre set design and highlights the story of scenic architecture in the world of theatre, scenography and stage design.

ARCHITECTURE OF THE ISLAND OF MUHARRAQ Date: 27 March 2018, 7:00pmVenue: Bahrain Fort MuseumA lecture by Eng. Ahmed Abdulrahman Al-Jowder focusing on the island of Muharraq and its development in terms of construction and architecture, as well as highlighting some of cultural publications that discussed these aspects throughout history. Al-Jowder earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia in 1976 and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Pennsylvania in the USA in 1981.*Lecture will be conducted in Arabic

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INDIAN INSTITUTE FOR PERFORMING ARTS(IIPA)the pioneering and legally acclaimed Institution of its kind in Bahrain offers systematic classes in C a r n a t i c / H i n d u s t a n i ,vocal , Bharathanatyam,M o h i n i y a t t a m , K u c h i p u d i , K a t h a k , Violin, Keyboard, Guitar, Piano, Drawing/Painting. Transportaion available.For Details call: 17231717,Email:iipa@batelco.com.bh

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18 Saturday, March 17, 2018

CROSSWORDYESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Your star today

Across Down

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

How to play: Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

(Mar 21st - Apr 20th)

(Apr 21st - May 21st)

(May 22nd - Jun 21st)

(June 22nd - July 23rd)

(July 24th - Aug 23rd)

(Aug 24th - Sep 23rd)

(Sep 24th - Oct 23rd)

(Oct 24th - Nov 22nd)

(Nov 23rd - Dec 21st)

(Dec 22nd- Jan 20th)

(Jan 21st - Feb 19th)

(Feb 20th - Mar 20th)

In an effort to be the brightest and best star on the stage, you might actually be driving away the most important members of your audience. Make sure that you aren’t putting on different masks with different people just so you can appease those you’re with. Others can see right through any disguise you try to put on.

Go ahead and make a list today. Powerful emotions are likely to lure you from your current path unless you have some sort of concrete plan to fall back on. Put idle hands to use by delegating tasks to the people around you. You’ll be amazed at the little blocks of time you have when you stay on task and keep yourself and everyone else in motion.

If you look carefully today, you’re apt to notice aspects of people that you never noticed before. There could be a frenzy of activity that catches you in its net and takes you away. Look to others for guidance as you go. When you ask for help, you’ll get it. At the same time, you’ll learn a great deal about people who end up helping you.

Be careful about becoming too stubborn today. This is one of those days in which you’re asked to build a structure in a very windy area. If you insist on using the most rigid materials, you’ll find that the structure you build ends up snapping in two. If, you construct your building with flexible materials, it will bend in the wind and last far longer.

It’s a good thing you have a flexible attitude, especially today. Your adaptive powers could be put to the test as you find yourself surrounded by fickle emotions and stubborn attitudes. Don’t get too hung up on getting straight answers from people today, for they’re apt to be just as confused as you. Play it cool for now and ride the waves easily to shore.

You could be frustrated by others’ lack of commitment today. You could try to make plans with people but they keep changing their minds about what they want to do. Perhaps they’re emotionally insecure and afraid to take the next step. Don’t let other people hold you back. Make plans and stick to them. Other people will fall into place accordingly. You don’t need to prod them.You should be feeling emotionally strong today, although you could find that an idea runs through your head that asks you to slow down. The internal dialogue could drive you crazy if you aren’t careful. The most important thing to do now is simply follow your heart. Do what you love to do, and associate with the people you love and respect.Make the effort to get to a body of water today. Whether it’s the ocean, a river, or lake, the sense of expansion and comfort that you’ll find there will be extremely healing. Know that you are the greatest healer you have for yourself and that you have incredible power to share this gift with others, too. Augment this healing energy with a return to nature.

You could think that your life is too boring for anyone else to care about. Don’t fall into a well of self-pity and convince yourself that there simply isn’t enough excitement in your life. Believe that you have the power to cure any downtrodden feeling that you might have. Consider joining a spiritual support group where you can honestly share your feelings.

You may find it hard to connect with your emotions today. It could be that it’s difficult to find a bit of quiet time when you can really sit down and listen to your inner voice. There are distractions all around that are pulling you in many different directions. Keep in mind that these forces aren’t necessarily acting in your best interests.

You may find that your heart is bouncing back and forth like a tennis ball today. One minute you could be drawn one way, while the next minute you’re drawn in a completely different direction. Instead of trying to fight this feeling, take advantage of it. Consciously or unconsciously, what you’re really doing is exploring. Try new things until you’re sure that you’ve found what you need.

Your energy level is high today, but don’t let this turn into a head-in-the-clouds attitude. Keep one foot firmly planted on the ground, because you may need to keep a level head in a work or personal situation. Keep in mind that the best way to deal with this is to use your positive energy to heal difficult situation instead of letting this situation get you down.

1- Derrick; 5- Breakfast staple; 9- What you do to a shadow; 13- Other, in Oaxaca; 14- Actress Barkin; 15- Shades; 16- Sites; 17- Together; 18- Smell foul; 19- Trader; 21- Heartache; 22- Kinds; 23- Cave dwellers; 25- Son of Zeus in Greek mythology; 27- Long-distance race; 31- Kiss; 35- Obstacle; 36- Jack of “Rio Lobo”; 38- Dark area; 39- Cacophony; 40- Knobby; 42- Colorful moths; 43- Bony prefix; 46- Baseball team; 47- ___ time (never); 48- Opening word; 50- Hans Christian; 52- Queue after Q; 54- Mogul capital until 1658; 55- Medical suffix; 58- “Treasure Island” monogram; 60- Refluent; 64- Rolling in dough; 65- Wrath; 67- The jig ___!; 68- Switch ending; 69- Palm fruits; 70- Aleutian island; 71- Transmitted; 72- Latin being; 73- Refusals;

1- Not fearful; 2- Siouan tribe; 3- Killer whale; 4- Postal carrier’s tote; 5- Windy City trains; 6- Incandescence; 7- Columbus’s birthplace; 8- Scoffs; 9- White baptism robe; 10- “The Clan of the Cave Bear” author; 11- Go after; 12- Sounds of disapproval; 14- Made of baked clay; 20- Consume; 24- Athenian lawgiver; 26- Relative of an ostrich; 27- Windows predecessor; 28- Licorice-like flavoring; 29- Tirades; 30- Gymnast Comaneci; 32- Final notices; 33- Hag; 34- Is wearing; 37- Spiritual sustenance; 41- Account books; 44- Hearing distance; 45- Mantra sounds; 47- High-spirited horse; 49- Online brokerage; 51- Tarzan creator’s monogram; 53- Arm bones; 55- Mine finds; 56- Regal address; 57- Image; 59- Cpls.’ superiors; 61- :, in analogies; 62- Microwave; 63- Transcript figs.; 66- Wide shoe width;

BEETLE BAILEY R

a #PollToday

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Saturday, March 17, 2018 19

Cairo

The death of an Egyptian teenager in the UK

has sparked outrage across Egypt, where officials have described the incident as “barbaric.”

Mariam Mustafa, an 18-year-old engineering student, was allegedly attacked on the street by a group in Nottingham on Feb. 20 before she died of her wounds on Wednesday.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry described Mustafa’s

death on Friday as “barbaric” and urged British authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

Her family said her death could have been prevented if police had taken action after an earlier warning. They also accuse the hospital where she was treated of negligence.

Nottinghamshire Police said there are no indications that Mustafa’s killing was a hate crime but said that they are “keeping an open mind.” (AP)

London

An Iraqi teenager, who had come to Britain as

an asylum seeker, was found guilty on Friday of attempted murder after detonating a homemade bomb on a packed rush-hour London commuter train, injuring 30 people, prosecutors and police said.

Ahmed Hassan, 18, was found guilty of trying to murder the passengers on board an underground train heading to central London on Sept. 15 last year, prosecutors

said.The bomb went off at

Parsons Green station and flames engulfed the carriage, but it did not fully explode, limiting the scale of injuries in what authorities said was Britain’s fifth major attack of 2017.

“It was only a matter of luck that the device did not work as he intended or it could easily have led to the loss of innocent lives,” said Sue Hemming from Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service. (Reuters)

Washington

All personnel aboard a U.S. military helicopter

carrying American service members were killed in a crash in western Iraq, the U.S. Central Command said yesterday.

Central Command did not say how many people were killed in the crash late on Thursday. A U.S. military official told Reuters on Thursday the U.S. HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter was carrying seven people.

The crash, which did not appear to be the result of enemy activity, is under investigation, the command said in a statement.

“All personnel aboard

were killed in the crash,” said Brigadier General Jonathan P. Braga, director of operations of the Combined Joint Task Force. “This tragedy reminds us of the risks our men and women face every day in service of our nations.”

The military said a second accompanying American helicopter immediately reported the crash and Iraqi security forces and coalition members secured the area.

Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity and citing initial reports, said on Thursday the aircraft crashed near al-Qaim, a town in Anbar province close to the Syrian border.

Russia’s Putin is certain that he will win. Do you agree?

Egyptian teenager’s death in UK sparks outrage

Iraqi teenager guilty of carrying out train bombing

Putin urges high voter turnout

President Vladimir Putin has urged Russians to cast bal-lots in Sunday’s election, which he is certain to win, saying that the vote will shape the country’s future.

A Taliban-linked Pakistani cleric and six of his fam-ily members were killed in a powerful explosion at the cleric’s home in a remote southwestern town near the border with Afghanistan.

A dog who was mistakenly flown to Japan is back with his family in Kansas.

The death toll from the col-lapse of a pedestrian bridge has risen to at least six, Miami police said.

Blast in Pakistani border town kills 7, wounds 10

Dog sent overseas by mistake returned to family

Death toll rises to 6 after collapse of Miami footbridge

Islam doesn’t belong to Germany but the Muslims who live with us are, of course, part of Germany. Live with us, not parallel to or against us. These Muslims belong to Germany and in the same way their religion belongs to Germany, that is to say Islam,”

-Angela MerkelGerman Chancellor on migration

Yes No Cant Say

US helicopter crash in Iraq kills all aboard: military

A handout photograph of Ahmed Hassan

Manila

The Philippines has notified the U.N.

secretary-general of its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), but has assured the United Nations of its commitment to the rule of law.

President Rodrigo Duterte is pulling the Philippines out of the ICC after a court prosecutor announced last month that a preliminary examination was underway into an accusation that the president and top officials had committed crimes against humanity during a deadly war on drugs.

Duterte, known for his tough stand on crime, has repeatedly denied he ordered police to kill drug suspects. Police deny activists’ accusations of murder and cover-ups and say the more than 4,000 people killed in police encounters were armed and resisted arrest.

“The government affirms its commitment to fight against impunity for atrocity crimes, notwithstanding its withdrawal from the Rome Statute, especially since the

Philippines has a national legislation punishing atrocity crimes,” the government said in a letter dated Thursday and addressed to the U.N. secretary-general.

The president of the ICC’s member assembly, O-Gon Kwon of South Korea, said he regretted the Philippine decision.

“The ICC needs the strong support of the international community to ensure its effectiveness. I encourage the Philippines to remain as a party to the Rome Statute,” he said in a statement. The Rome Statute is the founding treaty of the ICC. The Philippines ratified it in 2011.

The Philippines’ permanent representative to the United Nations, Teodoro Locsin, published the government letter U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on his Twitter account.

The withdrawal takes effect one year after the secretary-general receives notification, according to ICC rules.

Lawyers say the withdrawal does not insulate Duterte from a possible indictment, as the ICC’s jurisdiction retroactively covers the period during which a country was a member of the court. (Reuters)

Withdrawalfrom ICC:

Philippines informs UN

New Delhi

Hillary Clinton was treated briefly at a hospital in western India after

suffering a minor injury at her hotel, the head of the hospital said yesterday.

Clinton, who has been visiting some of India’s historic sites in recent days, arrived at the hospital early Wednesday and “was here for about 15-20 minutes,” said Suresh Goyal, the CEO of Goyal Hospital in the city of Jodhpur.

He declined to say what she was treated for. An employee of Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace hotel, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said Clinton had stayed there and had sprained her wrist. He said, however, that she was not injured at that hotel.

Indian hospital: Hillary treated for minor injury

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, center, walks during her visit to the Jantar Mantar monument in Jaipur, Rajasthan

Welbeck double help Arsenal past MilanParis

Danny Welbeck’s controversial penalty

and a Gianluigi Donnarumma howler helped Arsenal beat AC Milan in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday, 5-1 on aggregate, while Borussia Dortmund slumped to a shock exit at the hands of Salzburg.

The 3-1 win on the night eases some of the pressure on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, although his team’s 2-0 first-leg lead looked precarious when Hakan Calhanoglu fired Milan ahead.

But Gennaro Gattuso’s visitors were left incensed when Welbeck tumbled to the floor under little to no contact from Ricardo Rodriguez, with the spot-kick apparently given by the official on the byline.

The forward picked himself up to send Donnarumma the wrong way, and leave the infuriated Milan players demonstrating with the officials.

“When I watch the penalty, I will give you an honest answer (whether Welbeck dived),” Wenger told BT Sport.

“It was good to see a response from the team at 1-0 down. I don’t want to accuse Danny Welbeck of diving before I see it again.”

Seven-time European champions piled on the pressure in the second half, only for their hopes to be ended when Donnarumma allowed Granit Xhaka’s speculative 71st-minute strike to slip

through his grasp and bobble into the net.

Welbeck nodded in his second late on as Arsenal reached their first European quarter-final since 2010, after seven consecutive Champions League last-16 defeats.

Borussia Dortmund bowed out of the tournament, though, with a tame goalless draw in Austria sealing their fate.

After falling to a shock 2-1 loss in the first leg at home,

the German giants failed to break down their stubborn opponents, who will play in the last eight of a continental competition for the first time since losing the 1994 UEFA Cup final to Inter Milan.

CSKA Moscow stunned last season’s semi-finalists Lyon, with a 3-2 victory in France ending the Ligue 1 club’s hopes of reaching May’s final at their own Groupama Stadium.

The Russian away side wiped

out Lyon’s first-leg one-goal lead before half-time through Aleksandr Golovin, although Maxwel Cornet equalised for Bruno Genesio’s hosts.

But two goals in five minutes swung the tie in CSKA’s favour, as Ahmed Musa struck on the hour mark and Pontus Wernbloom made it 3-2 on aggregate.

Mariano Diaz gave Lyon hope, but CSKA held on to progress on away goals. (AFP)

Torres strikes twice as Atletico thrash Lokomotiv

Moscow

Atletico Madrid forward Fernando Torres scored twice as his side steamrolled Lokomotiv Moscow 5-1

in freezing conditions in Russia on Thursday to stroll into the Europa League quarter-finals 8-1 on aggregate.

The Spaniards had a 3-0 advantage from the first leg and Angel Correa promptly stretched their lead in the tie with an arrowed low finish into the far corner in the 16th minute after dribbling his way through the hosts’ defence.

Polish full back Maciej Rybus levelled for Lokomotiv four minutes later with a stunning long-range strike but Atletico’s passage to the last eight was rarely in doubt and Saul Niguez put them back in front early in the second half.

Torres converted from the penalty spot to score for the first time since Jan. 28 and struck again five minutes later before substitute Antoine Griezmann completed the rout with an outrageous chipped shot from just inside the area. (Reuters)

Liverpool draw City, Real and Juve in Champions League rematchNyon, Switzerland

Manchester City will face Liverpool in a mouthwatering

all-English Champions League quarter-final while Juventus have a chance to gain revenge on holders Real Madrid in a repeat of last year’s final.

Surprise qualifiers Sevilla take on five-time European champions Bayern Munich while Lionel Messi’s Barcelona were paired with AS Roma in the draw made in Nyon yesterday.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side will host Pep Guardiola’s City at Anfield for the first leg, either on April 3 or April 4, as the sides play each other for the first time in Europe.

It will also be the first meeting of two English clubs in the last eight of the Champions League since Manchester United overcame Chelsea at that stage in the 2010-2011 season on their way to the final. (AFP) © GRAPHIC NEWS

Bayern Munich GERQuarter-final

5-time winner

Roma ITADid not play

Final 1984

Barcelona ESPQuarter-final5-time winner

Juventus ITAFinalistWinner 1985, 1996Liverpool ENGDid not play5-time winner

Sevilla ESPLast 16Quarter-final 1958

Manchester City ENGLast 16

Semi-final 2016

Real Madrid ESPWinner

12-time winner

Champions League Quarter-final draw

SEMI-FINALS: Apr 24 / 25, May 1 / 2 FINAL: May 26, Olympic Stadium, Kyiv

1st leg: Apr 3 / 4 European head-to-head 2nd leg: Apr 10 / 11

Source: UEFA, Gracenote

W1-D2-L1Last seasonBest finish

First meeting

W8-D2-L9

First meeting

Danny Welbeck (R) of Arsenal takes a penalty kick and scores

FIFA to give VAR green light at WCBogota

FIFA are expected to rubber-stamp video

assistant referee technology (VAR) for this summer’s 2018 Soccer World Cup despite lingering opposition from within and outside football.

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, will oversee the governing body’s meeting in Bogota happy to give the green light to the system despite a long, personal spell of scepticism.

“VAR is something positive that will bring much more to the transparency of football,” said Infantino ahead of the FIFA Council meeting.

“Video refereeing isn’t going to be the solution to everything in football. What we want to do is avoid resounding mistakes by referees.”

At the World Cup in Russia from June 14-July 15, VAR will be used to judge whether or not a goal has been scored, analyse whether a penalty should be awarded, decide on red cards and rectify if a player has been mistakenly sanctioned.

The game’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), had decided two weeks ago at its meeting in Zurich to support VAR at the World Cup. (AFP)

Atletico Madrid’s Fernando Torres(R) controls the ball during the UEFA Europa League match between Atletico Madrid and Lokomotiv Moskva

Saturday, March 17, 2018 SPORTS20

Saturday, March 17, 2018 21SPORTS

Federer sends Chung packing,

faces Coric nextIndian wells

South Korean Chung Hyeon

managed to hang around against Roger Federer a little longer this time around, but only just, as the Swiss maestro advanced to the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open 7-5 6-1 on Thursday.

Chung’s fairytale run at the Australian Open

in January came to a

crashing halt when he retired with foot blisters while trailing Federer 6-1 5-2 in their semi-final.

Federer, who won his 20th grand slam title with his victory at Melbourne Park, was ruthless with his 21-year-old opponent once again on Thursday and took his unbeaten run this year to 16 matches, equaling his record from 12 years ago.

Chung said he had enjoyed going toe-to-toe with Federer in a tight first set.

“I was down one break, and I’m just trying to stay calm and I’m just trying to learn from Roger,” the Korean told the ATP’s official website. “And I come back, five-all, and he played good. I’m really happy to play against Roger.”

Federer will next meet Borna Coric, who defeated world number nine Kevin Anderson 2-6 6-4 7-6(3).

The 21-year-old Croatian had initially looked out-gunned by the big-serving South African,

who had won all three of their previous meetings without dropping a set.

After weathering an onslaught of huge serves in the first set, however, Coric was able to force longer rallies in the second and third, where his speed and accuracy allowed him to control points.

“I didn’t start very well. He was hitting the ball very big, and I just couldn’t find my rhythm on the ball,” Coric said.

“I started going more for the

serve. And then I broke him earlier in the second set, which was really helpful.

“In the third, again, I knew it’s one break, it’s two or three points that are going to decide, and that’s what happened.”

The match appeared all but over in the third when a frustrated Coric double faulted to hand Anderson a break for a 4-2 lead but the world number 49 broke straight back and went on to force a tie-breaker.(Reuters)

Bangla bt SL in drama-filled matchColombo

Bangladesh pulled off a sensational two-wicket

victory over Sri Lanka under dramatic circumstances to set up a summit clash against India in the Nidahas Twenty20 cricket tri-series in Colombo.

Mahmudullah (43 not out) struck a stunning six in the penultimate delivery to reach to the target of 160 to the wild celebration of the Bangladesh camp after tempers were frayed due to debatable decisions from the umpires.

The match at the R Premadasa Stadium was marred by drama at the fag

end of the virtual semifinal as Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan gestured to his two batsmen to come out of the field apparently in protest against giving a run-out decision to Mustafizur Rahman on a seemingly shoulder-height ball.

But better sense prevailed in the end after arguments between the players of the two sides and intervention by match officials.

Bangladesh, who have also beaten the same opponents earlier in the tournament, secured four points from four matches to enter the final. (PTI)

Venus rolls into Indian Wells semiIndian Wells

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams

reached the WTA Indian Wells semi-finals for the first time since 2001 on Thursday by routing Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-3, 6-2.

Despite the windy conditions, Williams improved to 5-2 on the season, which includes a third round win on Monday over sister Serena, who was making her return to the WTA after having a baby.

“You kind of hope for this kind of scoreline, but you never know if you’re actually

going to get it,” Williams said.Williams, who at 37 is the

oldest player in the women’s draw, has played sparingly this year but is just beginning to step up her game.

She next faces 20-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina, who cruised to an easy 6-0, 6-2 victory in 58 minutes over the world number 10 Angelique Kerber.

She dominated Suarez Navarro, who became increasingly frustrated and had to call her coach a couple of times to come down to the court in between sets for advice.

“We’ve had a lot of great matches,” Williams said of playing Suarez Navarro. “I was glad that I was able to close it out.”

Williams is back in the semis in the California desert for the first time since pulling out before a semi-final match against Serena in 2001, with an injury. (AFP)

Qualifiers set for ITF futures at BTCManama

Niklas Johansson of Sweden was this evening

determined to be the top seed in the Men’s Singles Qualifying Draw for the Bahrain ITF Futures Tennis Tournament at Bahrain Tennis Club (BTC) in Juffair.

The draw for both the men’s and women’s qualifiers was held tonight at the BTC premises. On hand were BTC President Khamis Al Muqla, BTC Vice-President Mirza Al Sammak, Tournament Director Ali Khonji and Tournament Referee Dr Ashraf Hamooda. There was also a representative each from both the men’s and women’s players.

The Bahrain ITF Futures Tennis Tournament is being held under the patronage of His Majesty the King’s Charity Works and Youth Affairs Representative, Supreme

Council for Youth and Sports Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa. It is supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs and is sponsored by E K Kanoo and Bahrain Duty Free.

Play in the Qualifying Draw will take place on Saturday and Sunday. A total of 13 matches will be held Saturday from 3pm onwards, with another 12 matches on Sunday. The Kingdom of Bahrain’s tennis fans are welcome to attend and watch all the top-class action from some of the future stars in the game.

Up for grabs in qualifying are eight spots on the Men’s Singles Main Draw and eight on the Women’s Singles Main Draw.

Johansson, currently ranked 1,476th in the world, is the

top-ranked player in men’s qualifying, which boasts a field of 25 entrants.

There are five other seeded players. They are second seed Palaphoom Kovapitukted of Thailand, third seed Jason Patrombon of the Philippines, fourth seed Robert Galloway from the USA, fifth seed Patrick Mayer

of Germany and sixth seed Pak Long Yeung from Hong Kong.

Each of the six seeds have been given a bye in the first round, as has Mohamed Adnaoui of Morocco.

For more information, contact BTC on +973-17729561 or e-mail bahrain.tennisclub@gmail.com.

Jason Patrombon Elyas A. Redah

Venus Williams hits a backhand in a quarterfinal win over Carla Suarez Navarro

Roger Federer (SUI) in his q u a r t e r f i n a l match against Hyeon Chung (not pictured) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Shakib Al Hasan marked his return to the Bangladesh team with the wicket of Danushka Gunathilaka

London

Lance Stroll is still Formula One’s youngest driver but the 19-year-

old Canadian will also be his Williams team’s most experienced man on the starting grid this season.

It is quite a departure for one of the sport’s leading constructors, once-dominant former champions whose cars have been graced by a roll call of greats but now without a race win since 2012.

With just 20 grands prix under his belt, Stroll now has 22-year-old Russian rookie Sergey Sirotkin as team mate in place of departed Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa.

There are those who see a slide down

the standings as the campaign proceeds, with the Mercedes-powered car not looking particularly quick in testing either, but Stroll is understandably not one of them.

“Williams made a decision to take us on board and that’s how it is. I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” the driver, son of a billionaire, told Reuters during testing in Spain ahead of next week’s season-opener in Australia.

“I think, just like everyone else, if we do a good job as a team we can get some good results.”

The teenager did his best to win over the doubters in 2017 with a front row start, the only podium by a driver outside the top three teams and a place

in the record books.But he recognizes some may

never be convinced that he is more than a rich kid whose father’s money has given him every advantage.

“There will always be jealous people and haters, people who assume that if they were in your shoes they could do what you’re doing,” he said. “That’s just the world we live in. (Reuters)

Saturday, March 17, 2018 SPORTS22

London

Formula One fans will be hearing a lot about Juan Manuel Fangio

this season as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel battle to match the late Argentine’s 1950s feat of five world championships.

Only Michael Schumacher, with seven, has won more titles and equalling the German’s tally is still largely the stuff of dreamland.

“I saw something about being up there potentially with Fangio, so that is quite an exciting prospect,” Hamilton said when his new Mercedes W09 car made its track debut at Silverstone in February.

The Briton is the bookmakers’ favourite to defend the title in what will be the first season to feature two four-times champions together on track.

Vettel could be breathing down Hamilton’s neck, a decade after his Ferrari team last won a title, but may find Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo running alongside if not in front.

Even Mercedes recognise it might be best for the sport, in its second year with U.S.-based Liberty Media running the show, not to have a fifth successive season of domination by the Silver Arrows.

But it’s not their job to make life easier.

“If you look from outside, does a long term dominance of the team damage the spectacle? Yes it does,” team boss Toto Wolff told reporters.

“We’ve seen that with the successes from Ferrari in the years 2000 and Red Bull a couple of years ago...”

“I think the most healthy situation for Formula One is a very competitive environment where multiple teams are able to win, the championship goes down to the wire...these are clearly the ingredients it needs.” (Reuters)

Hamilton, Vettel ready to fight for high five

Rossi signs two year contract with Yamaha

Doha

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi signed a new

two-year contract with Yamaha on Thursday, scotching any rumours about his immediate MotoGP future.

The veteran Italian, who celebrated his 39th birthday last month, will now remain in the sport until at least 2020.

His existing contract runs out at the end of 2018, his 23rd season.

“When I signed my last contract with Yamaha, in March 2016, I wondered if that would have been the last contract as a MotoGP rider,” said Rossi in a statement following the announcement of the contract ahead of this season’s opener in Qatar.

“At that time, I decided that I’d take

that decision during the following two years.

“During the last two years I came to the conclusion that I want to continue because racing, being a MotoGP rider, but especially riding my M1, is the thing that makes me feel good.”

Rossi is still arguably the sport’s biggest draw, despite finishing fifth in last season’s championship and his last world title coming back in 2009.

He has claimed 56 race victories with Yamaha, the Japanese team he was with from 2004 to 2010, and then returned to in 2013 after a two year spell with Ducati. (AFP)

Stroll is now face of experience at Williams

Tiger opens strong at Bay HillMiami

Tiger Woods sank six birdie putts, including

a spectacular 71-footer at the par-3 seventh hole, and leaped into second place with an opening four-under-par 68 Thursday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The 14-time major champion, among the early starters on a Bay Hill layout where he has won seven times before, showed the peak form that sparked his best finish in five years last week and none of the back pain that sidelined him most of the past two seasons.

The only reason Woods was not sharing the clubhouse lead in his final tuneup for the Masters in three weeks was Jimmy Walker, the 2016 PGA Championship winner.

Walker holed out from 132

yards for eagle on the 18th fairway to complete an opening 67, one stroke ahead of fellow Americans Woods and Patrick Reed.

But the electricity of the day came from Woods, the

42-year-old superstar who has not won a major since the 2008 US Open and hasn’t captured any title since the 2013 World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational. (AFP)

Tiger Woods reacts to making a long putt on the seventh green during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Valentino Rossi poses during a photo session at the Losail I n t e r n a t i o n a l Circuit, Doha

Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari in the pit-lane during testing.

Lance Stroll of Williams

Saturday, March 17, 2018 23SPORTS

Manama

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister yesterday

attended His Majesty King Hamad Cup and HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFHRA) held at the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in Sakhir.

HRH the Crown Prince expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to attend the event on behalf of HM King Hamad, noting the Kingdom’s significant achievements in the sport of horse racing under His Majesty’s leadership.

HRH the Crown Prince highlighted His Majesty’s long-standing commitment to promoting equestrian sports among Bahrain’s youth on the basis that the Kingdom’s equestrian tradition forms an important part of the Arab and national heritage.

The Crown Prince praised the efforts of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club Higher Committee for organising the championship and other horse racing events, which attract local and international participation and serve to reinforce the country’s distinctive position in the sport.

Following the conclusion of the races, HRH the Crown Prince congratulated the winners as well as all the horse owners and jockeys that took part.

HRH the Crown presented the race trophies to the winner, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (His Majesty Cups for imported horses, and Action Charter), runner-up His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa (His Majesty Cup for Bahrain-bred horses), and third-placed Hamad Almraisi (His Majesty Cup for Arabian horses).

Earlier, upon on his arrival HRH the Crown Prince was received by the Commander of Bahrain’s National Guard, Lieutenant-General HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Chairman of the Rashid Horse racing and Equestrian Club Higher Committee, His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Personal Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Work and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Vice Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the Chairman of Bahrain Royal Equestrians and Endurance Federation (BREEF) and Vice President of the Supreme Council for Environment, His Highness Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa.

Other members of the Royal Family, the Chairman of the Council of Representatives Ahmed bin Ebrahim Al Mulla, senior government officials and diplomats also attended the event

HRH CP crowns winners of HM King’s Cup, IFHRA

SPORTS

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2424 Saturday, March 17, 2018

P23 HRH CP crowns winners of HM King’s Cup, IFHRA

Manama

The Indian School was crowned champions of the badminton

tournament, part of the ongoing Fifth School Mini Olympics.

The fifth edition of the Mini Olympics is being organized by the Bahrain Olympic Committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, with over 3,500 students from 58 government and private schools competing in a record 20 sports this year.

The Indian School took firm control of the badminton competition and captured 9 medals in total, including 4 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze.

Nithin Nahaz gave the Indian School its maiden gold medal in the sport, taking the secondary boys title, with Dale Andrei Bodota of the Sacred Heart coming second and Indian School’s Yejit Belman third.

Among girls, Rachel Jacob added another glory to the Indian School, winning the secondary stage competition’s gold medal. Sruthi Ananth of New Millennium School took the silver, while Indian School’s Samaara Harihar and Afra Arif Khan shared the bronze.

In the intermediate stage, Vimal

Jaykumar and Aditya Sreekumar of Indian School were first and second among boys, respectively, while Indian School’s Keith Thomas and O.M. of New Millennium School sharing the third position.

The girls’ competition was won by Leanne Suneeth of New Millennium. She was followed by Indian School’s Parvathy Jaykumar, with third place shared by Sacred Heart’s Aleina Elizabeth Alex and Thanvi Jaeyshankar of New Millennium.

The Ajay Jaimy of Indian School topped the primary boys’ competition, edging Aniketh of New Millennium, who settled for the silver medal. Thomas Jacob and Rohan of Indian School and Sacred Heart were joint bronze medalists.

In the girls’ section, Sivani of Indian School won the gold medal, followed by joint third-placers Shania Angela Dantes of Sacred Heart and Sai Tapasya and Vritika of New Millennium.

Al Iman School notched the intermediate boys gold medal, beating Hawar School 5-1 in the final. Sacred Heart took the bronze medal with a 3-1 penalty shoot-out victory over the Indian School.

Indian School wins badminton title

Badminton winners with officials

Action from the badminton championships