Feb.24

February 24th 2018



















Sat Feb 24 Sun Feb 25 Mon Feb 26 Tues Feb 27 Wed Feb 28














Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Mostly Sunny Partly Cloudy


76° High 74° High 75º High 76ºHigh 76ºHigh



56°Low 53°Low 54°Low 57°Low 58°Low


Humidity: Humidity: Humidity: Humidity: Humidity:

61% 55% 48% 51% 58%

THE SPA LIFESTYLE OF HACIENDA


SPA RESERVATIONS EXTENSION 5600

Fitness Class Schedule
Fitness Center 6 am – 9 pm daily
Each of our cardio stations is equipped with a
A visit to the Spa at Hacienda Beach Club and Residences is a journey into a world of
television. We supply headphones, towels and
bottled water for your visit. Maintain your fitness sensation, beauty and balance. The Spa’s serene desert garden environment creates an
regimen or start a new one with guidance from our atmosphere of luxury with a sense of place and invites guests to relax while restoring a
connection with the natural rhythms of life. Poised amid the historic architecture and
personal trainers!
traditional decor of Hacienda, and the vibrant colors and textures of Cabo San Lucas,
the Spa offers a peaceful haven for physical, mental, and emotional renewal.
Fitness Class Schedule

Monday, February 19
th
Yoga: 8:00 am-9:00 am Serenity and Prosperity Couples Ritual
Glutes, Abs and Legs: 9:30 am- 10:30 am

th
Tuesday, February 20 Enjoy the time to relax and unwind with a partner in the luxurious privacy of our
Spinning: 8:00 am – 9:00 am couple’s suite. Beginning with a soak in the private Jacuzzi, the ritual involves full
body exfoliation
Reformer Pilates: 10:30 am– 11:30 am
with black and
Wednesday, February 21 white sesame
th
Boot Camp Training: 8:00 am- 9:00 am seeds and sesame
Yoga: 10:00 am-11:00 am seed oil massage,
leaving the body
nd
Thursday, February 22 nourished and entirely tension-free. The sesame seeds signify prosperity among
Glutes, Abs and Legs: 9:00am – 10:00am local cultures, and the colors of black and white support the balance of opposing
Mat Pilates: 10:30am-11:30 am energies in nature. An aromatherapy scalp treatment concludes the experience,

head to toe!
Friday, February 23
rd

Functional Training: 8:00 am-9:00 am 2hrs. - $250 USD + TAX per person
Spinning: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Reformer Pilates: 11:00 am- 12:00 pm

Saturday, February 24
th
*Cardio Strength Circuit: 8:00 am - 9:00 am Rose Petals Couple´s Treatment
Yoga: 10:00 am- 11:00 am

th
Sunday, February 25
Boot Camp Training: 8:00 am – 9:00 am Sensory experience of happiness with relaxing and fresh mysterious
Spinning: 9:30 am - 10:30 am fragrant and organic essential oils that
moisturize the skin with delicacy and
*Mix of cardio on bike, step including softness with the subtle aroma of rose
TRX & Weights overall cardio workout and Osmanthus oil promote cell
with added strength exercises. renewal for an even tone, while the
soft aroma balances the mind. We

perfumed and scrub the skin leaving
Private classes
the aroma for hours. This romance
Hacienda Spa offers personal training classes treatment for two will leave you with
upon request.
lingering memories.


90 minutes - $170 USD + TAX

Rejuvenate your Body.
HACIENDA SPA Re plenish your Soul.

Daily 7:00 am – 7:00 pm

QUESTRO HOTEL RATES

th
December 26 , 2017 – May 15 , 2018
th

Preferred Rates USD Cabo Real Campestre San José Puerto Los Cabos
Individual Rounds Public Public Public


-18 Holes $245.00 $200.00 $190.00 $150.00 $275.00 $230.00
-Early Twilight 12:00p $200.00 $160.00 $160.00 $130.00 $220.00 $185.00
-Twilight 1:30p $175.00 $140.00 $135.00 $110.00 $195.00 $165.00


Includes Food & Beverages
FORE FOR 4 PROMO
(After 11:00 am) $660.00 $500.00 $760.00
Rates per foursome Includes Food & Beverages



2 ROUND PASS 3 ROUND PASS 5 ROUND PASS



$370.00 USD $510.00 USD $800.00 USD
*Rounds may be played at any of our three courses.
*Each pass used at Puerto Los Cabos will incur a $20 USD surcharge due to all-
inclusive food and beverage palapas.
*Golf pass is personal, non-transferable.
* Golf Pass is valid for 14 days, once initial round is played.








All rates and promos are valid up to 12 golfers. Group service fee will apply to all groups larger than 12.





Important news for important people
www.dedicatedpress.com Volume 3102 Saturday February 24, 2018
International Business Sports
European leaders on Friday doubled A jump in US wage gains in January Czech snowboarder Ester Ledecka is Cabo San Lucas
their funding for a force tackling ji- spooked financial markets, but the an inspiration for the next generation Partly cloudy (day)
hadists in the Sahel, but African lead- Federal Reserve in a report Friday of athletes after her stunning Olym- Sunrise: 6:46 AM
ers warned the money must come seemed to tamp down concerns that pic victory on skis, US stars Lindsey Sunset: 6:20 PM
quickly if it is to be effective... P.2 the increases were poised to... P.3 Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin... P.5 Humidity: 61% 66-71 F

“Think of it in terms of immigration” $500,000
Trump recites inflammatory ‘snake’ song in anti-immigrant diatribe Gucci donates to US student
gun reform march
before you took me in,” he said, read- Italian luxury fashion brand Gucci
ing the final line of the song, before on Friday followed a slew of US ce-
returning to his speech. lebrities in announcing a donation
“And that’s what we’re doing with of $500,000 to next month’s student
our country, folks -- we’re letting march on Washington demanding
people in, and it’s going to be a lot of tougher gun controls.
people. It’s only going to be worse.” The donation, first reported by
Some mainstream Republicans Women’s Wear Daily and confirmed
have recoiled at Trump’s continued by a Gucci spokeswoman in the Unit-
recitation of the lyrics. ed States, gives another huge boost to
“Trump’s snake story is vicious, what is considered an unprecedented
disgraceful, utterly racist and pro- youth mobilization against gun vio-
foundly un-American,” tweeted lence following last week’s shooting
Steve Schmidt, a former campaign in Florida.
aide for president George W Bush. “We stand with March For Our
In his wide-ranging speech, Trump Lives and the fearless students across
warned that efforts to reach a deal the country who demand that their
on the status of undocumented mi- lives and safety become a priority,”
grants brought to the US illegally as the label said in a statement.
children could fail -- and blamed his “We have all been directly or in-
opponents. directly impacted by these senseless
US President Donald Trump (Photo AFP) “The Democrats are being totally tragedies.”
US President Donald Trump on Fri- his pocket and read “The Snake,” a unresponsive. They don’t want to do The rally is scheduled to take
day recited the lyrics of a song seen ballad by Al Wilson about a reptile anything about DACA, I’m telling place on March 24, with sister ral-
as anti-immigration called “The who repays a “tender woman” that you,” he said, referring to negotia- lies planned across the country to
Snake” to drive home his point about nurses it back to health with a deadly tions on Capitol Hill on replacing an demand that US Congress come up
restricting immigration -- an inflam- bite. expiring program that defers depor- with effective legislation to address
matory move that harkened back to During his campaign, as well as tation for some undocumented mi- the epidemic of gun violence in the
his days on the campaign trail. in a speech early in his presidency, grants. United States. The Washington Post
In a speech to conservatives at a Trump used the song, based on one of Former president Barack Obama says organizers expect up to 500,000
convention outside Washington, he Aesop’s fables, as a less-than-subtle launched the Deferred Action for people to attend, according to their
also bashed opposition Democrats for allegory about immigrants entering Childhood Arrivals (DACA) pro- event permit application.
failing to back his proposal for put- the United States. gram, whose recipients were given The rally is being organized by
ting 1.8 million so-called “Dreamer” On Friday, he made no secret about legal permission to work, live and go students from the Florida high school
immigrants on a pathway to citizen- the comparison he was making. to school in the United States. where a 19-year-old armed with a
ship in exchange for tightening bor- “Think of it in terms of immigra- Last September, Trump announced semi-automatic rifle killed 17 people
der security and severely restricting tion,” he urged attendees at the Con- he was rescinding DACA and called in Parkland, Florida.
legal immigration. servative Political Action Conference on Congress to craft a solution before On Monday, George Clooney and
During his hour-long address, (CPAC) as he launched into the song. March 5, setting off months of bipar- his human rights lawyer wife Amal,
Trump pulled a piece of paper from “You knew damn well I was a snake tisan negotiations. Oprah Winfrey, director Steven
Spielberg and his actress wife Kate
The founding of Israel seven decades ago on May 14 1948 is mourned by Palestinians as the Nakba Capshaw, and film producer Jeffrey
Katzenberg and his wife Marilyn
Palestinians slam US embassy Jerusalem opening as ‘provocation’ each also pledged $500,000.
The Palestinian leadership on Friday were expelled from their homes in state option, as well as a blatant prov- Gucci creative director Alessandro
slammed a US decision to open its the war surrounding Israel’s creation. ocation to all Arabs and Muslims.” Michele told Women’s Wear Daily
embassy in Jerusalem in May, coin- “The American administration’s Israel follows the Jewish lunar calen- that he was “truly moved” by the
ciding with the 70th anniversary of decisions to recognise Jerusalem as dar and this year’s official indepen- courage of the Parkland students.
Israel’s independence, as “a provoca- Israel’s capital and choose the Pales- dence celebration falls on April 19. “My love is with them and it will
tion to Arabs”. tinian people’s Nakba as the date for “I would like to congratulate Don- be next to them on March 24. I am
The founding of Israel seven de- this step is a blatant violation of in- ald Trump, the President of the US on standing with March for Our Lives
cades ago on May 14 1948 is mourn- ternational law,” Palestine Liberation his decision to transfer the US Em- and the strong young women and
ed by Palestinians as the Nakba, or Organisation (PLO) number two Saeb bassy to our capital on Israel’s 70th men across United States who are
“catastrophe” when an estimated Erekat told AFP. He said the result Independence Day,” he wrote in Eng- fighting for their generation and those
750,000 Palestinians either fled or would be “the destruction of the two lish on his Twitter account. to come,” he said.

International
Page 2 Saturday February 24, 2018
Sixth straight day It was the latest in a surge of attacks underscoring the challenge facing the five countries
Strikes pound Syria enclave EU doubles Sahel force funding but African leaders issue warning
as world fumbles for response
Syrian regime air strikes and artillery Niger President Mahamadou Issou- the flow of migrants seeking a bet-
fire hit the rebel-held enclave of East- fou, the current chair of the G5 Sahel ter life across the Mediterranean and
ern Ghouta for a sixth straight day group, said it was needed urgently to prevent the Sahel becoming a spring-
Friday as the world struggled to reach deal with an influx of Islamic State board for jihadist attacks on the West.
a deal to stop the carnage. (IS) group fighters driven out of The G5 force aims to train and
More than 400 civilians have been Libya and Syria. The chaos in Libya, equip 5,000 local troops to patrol
killed in one of the seven-year Syr- where rival militias, tribes and jihad- hotspots and restore authority in law-
ian conflict’s bloodiest episodes and ists are vying for influence, is fuelling less areas. As well as fighting mili-
rescuers were finding more bodies instability in the Sahel, Issoufou and tants, the force also tackles smuggling
buried in the rubble. African Union Commission chairman and illegal immigration networks that
France and Germany’s leaders Moussa Faki Mahamat warned, call- operate in the vast, remote areas on
urged Russian President Vladimir ing for an international push to bring the margins of the Sahara.
Putin, whose airforce is also strik- peace to the oil-rich state. “Daesh fighters driven out of Libya
ing Eastern Ghouta, to back a 30-day “The Libyan crisis has been, we and Syria are taking refuge in the Sa-
truce up for a UN Security Council know, the detonator of the degrada- hel, especially from Libya, so it’s ur-
vote at 1600 GMT Friday. tion of the security situation in the Sa- gent the pledged funds are mobilised
Russia called for “guarantees” that hel, and day after day, it contributes as quickly as possible,” Mahamadou
the ceasefire would be respected by to its amplification,” said Issoufou. said, using an alternative name for IS.
rebel fighters. “We must put an end to this chaos by The force has so far set up a head-
Few of the enclave’s nearly restoring the authority of the Libyan quarters and command structure
400,000 residents -- mostly living in state to the whole of its territory.” and carried out two operations, with
a scattering of towns across the semi- Mahamadou Issoufou (Photo AFP) Friday’s meeting, attended by 32 French support, in the troubled “tri-
rural area east of the capital -- ven- European leaders on Friday doubled leaders including French President border” area where Mali, Niger and
tured out on Friday. their funding for a force tackling ji- Emmanuel Macron and German Burkina Faso meet.
An AFP correspondent in Douma, hadists in the Sahel, but African lead- Chancellor Angela Merkel, observed International pledges for the force
Eastern Ghouta’s main town, saw a ers warned the money must come a minute’s silence in honour of two now total 414 million euros, Mogh-
handful of people stealthily crossing quickly if it is to be effective. soldiers from France’s counter-terror erini said, but up to now only the 50
rubble-strewn streets to assess dam- The European Union announced an force in West Africa who were killed million euros has been made avail-
age to their property or look for food extra 50 million euros ($61 million) in a mine blast on Wednesday. able. Mahamat said jihadist groups
and water. for the G5 Sahel force at a conference It was the latest in a surge of attacks would likely step up attacks in Mali
But death has fallen from the sky in Brussels with heads of state from underscoring the challenge facing the as the G5 force geared up, warning
relentlessly since government and al- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Maurita- five countries, among the poorest in “they’re not going to sit back with
lied forces intensified their bombard- nia and Niger, taking total pledges by the world, which are on the frontline their arms crossed”. Recent opera-
ment on Sunday and rocket fire soon international donors to over 410 mil- of a war against Islamist militants. tions against militants in northern
forced everybody to run for cover. lion euros. Europe hopes that spending money Mali have left around 30 rebels dead,
Exhausted and famished families But just a fraction of that money to improve the security and economic Macron said, vowing “total determi-
cowered in cramped and damp base- is currently available to spend and situation in the region will help stem nation” to defeat the threat.
ments, exchanging information on
the latest casualties of the govern- Survey Two days ahead of a planned protest against the regime
ment’s blitz.
Some of the only people braving Support for Catalan at DR Congo Catholics pray ahead of new protest march
the threat of more bombardment were lowest level since 2014 Roman Catholics in the Democratic complex conflict with ethnic over-
medical staff in those hospitals still Republic of Congo on Friday heeded tones. The latest peaceful protest in
standing and rescuers sifting through Support for Catalan independence a call by Pope Francis to pray for Kinshasa was called by the Lay Co-
the wreckage of levelled buildings. plummeted in January to the low- peace, two days ahead of a planned ordination Committee (CLC), an or-
The new strikes on Friday killed at est level in four years in the wealthy protest against the regime. ganisation close to the church which
least nine people, the Syrian Obser- northwestern Spanish region that is People flocked to a 6:00 am (0500 is an influential force in the troubled
vatory for Human Rights said. home to some 7.5 million people, a GMT) mass in the Our Lady of the country. In a letter, dated February
“The air strikes and the artillery survey said Friday. Congo cathedral ahead of the march 20, the CLC called on Christians to
fire are continuing on several towns A failed declaration of indepen- on Sunday called to press President march peacefully on Sunday “to say
in Eastern Ghouta,” Rami Abdel Rah- dence by the regional parliament on Joseph Kabila to quit power. no to the dictatorship, a major obsta-
man, the head of the Britain-based October 27 deeply divided Catalans Two previous marches were cle to the holding of free, transparent,
monitoring group, told AFP. and triggered Spain’s worst politi- banned by the regime and were dis- credible and peaceful elections”.
He said that five of the nine people cal crisis since the country returned persed with live ammunition, claim- Kinshasa city authorities have
killed on Friday died in air strikes on to democracy following the death of ing 15 lives, according to the church, “neither authorised nor banned” the
Douma, the main town in the enclave longtime dictator Francisco Franco in while the authorities put the toll at planned march, according to officials
east of Damascus, and that two of 1975. But a poll by the regional gov- two dead. “In union with Pope Fran- who said they had not been contacted
them were children. ernment backed Catalan Centre of cis, let us pray that the Lord puts his by the organisers. AFP was unable
The latest deaths brought to 436 Opinion Studies (CEO), which is de- peace in all our hearts,” the celebrant to reach the CLC, which has been
the number of people killed since the pendent on the regional government, urged worshippers. The pontiff has supported by Catholic bishops who
Syrian regime and its Russian ally said 40.8 percent of respondents urged them to pray for peace both at urged the people “to remain upright
intensified their bombardment of the interviewed last month favoured in- home and in South Sudan, torn by a and watchful”.
besieged area on February 18. dependence. A total of 1,200 people
Diplomats at the United Nations were interviewed between January
failed to clinch Russian approval late 10 and 30 and 50.3 percent said they
Thursday on a resolution calling for a were opposed to independence.
30-day truce to allow for humanitar- A similar survey undertaken in Oc-
ian aid and medical evacuations. tober at the height of the crisis showed
They then announced that a vote 48.7 percent favouring indepen-
would take place on Friday but did dence and 43.6 percent opposing it.
not make clear whether they had ral- Spanish Prime Minister Mariano
lied Moscow to a new draft. Rajoy moved to stop the crisis by
This time German Chancellor An- imposing direct rule on the semi-
gela Merkel and French President autonomous region, sacking its gov-
Emmanuel Macron wrote to Putin to ernment, dissolving parliament and
ask him to back the ceasefire. calling snap elections.

Business
Page 3 Saturday February 24, 2018
The Fed said inflation remains subdued in the US and other advanced economies Wall Street Indexes
US Fed report tamps down concerns over wage gains Dow Jones 25,309.99 + 1.39%
Nasdaq
7,337.39
+ 1.77%
S&P 2,747.30 + 1.60%
International Stock Indexes
A jump in US wage gains in January averaging 182,000 a month since July have arisen in certain pockets of the Australia 5,999.785 + 0.82%
spooked financial markets, but the -- “considerably faster” than what is economy, which could be an early Frankfurt 12,483.79 + 0.18%
Federal Reserve in a report Friday needed to absorb new workers -- indication of bottlenecks that are not Italy 22,672.15 + 0.93%
seemed to tamp down concerns that there are other factors at work and yet readily apparent in the aggregate London 7,244.41 - 0.11%
the increases were poised to fuel in- some groups are still seeing higher labor market.” Madrid 9,822.40 - 0.55%
flation. unemployment, including blacks and The report also seemed to see little Paris 5,317.37 + 0.15%
In its semi-annual report to Con- Hispanics. “Although employers re- reason for concern about price pres- Tokyo 21,892.78 + 0.72%
gress, the Fed said inflation remains port having more difficulties finding sures, especially given low inflation Toronto 15,638.45 + 0.84%
subdued in the US and other ad- qualified workers, hiring continues in other major economies. Latin-American Stock Indexes
vanced economies, and while the US apace, and serious labor shortages While it indicates some bafflement Bogota 1,532.60 + 0.03%
economy is beyond full employment would likely have brought about over the slow wage gains and slug- Buenos Aires 32,742.39 - 1.15%
there does not appear to be a labor larger wage increases than have been gish inflation, it notes that increased Lima 20,767.10 + 0.38%
shortage. evident to date,” the report said. competition from online retailers and Mexico 48,643.43 - 0.67%
The nearly three percent jump in Even with an unemployment rate other factors may be playing a role Panama 456.46 + 0.06%
average hourly earnings last month of 4.1 percent, “Nonetheless, wage worldwide in keeping prices down. Santiago 5,742.54 + 0.29%
sent stock markets reeling amid con- growth has been moderate, likely Still the central bank will remain Sao Paulo 87,293.24 + 0.70%
cerns the increase would drive infla- held down in part by the weak pace of “watchful” for developments that Venezuela 5,175.950 + 10.55%
tion and prompt the Fed to raise inter- productivity growth in recent years.” might point to increased inflation Most Active Stocks
est rates faster than expected. And some groups face higher un- pressures in the pipeline. 3M Co
The Fed has indicated it is likely employment rates than the national As it has repeatedly done in its Alcoa
to raise the benchmark lending rate average, with a rate of five percent policy statements, the Fed report re- Amex
three times this year, but many econ- for Hispanics and more than seven peated that the central bank expects AT&T
omists are now predicting four rate percent for blacks, compared to 3.7 the economy will continue to grow at B. of America
hikes, with the first one coming in percent for whites. a moderate pace with inflation even- Boeing
late March. But the Fed acknowledges that tually rising to the two percent target Caterpillar
But while the Fed report notes that problems could appear down the line. even with continued gradual increas- Chevron
hiring has continued at a solid pace, “It is possible that labor shortages es in the key interest rate. Cisco Systems
Coca Cola
Statistical agency said Beijing has warned it could take retaliatory action if necessary
Dupont
Canada inflation slows fur- Trump says China ties ‘best ever’ but trade a problem Exxon Mobil
General Electric
ther to 1.7 pct in January Donald Trump papered over super- lopsided,” he said, tearing into his H.P.
power rivalries with China on Friday,
predecessors.
Canadians paid 1.7 percent more for saying relations had never been better “The people that stood here so Home Depot
goods and services in January than a but trade was a major problem. many years in this position, right IBM
year earlier, as prices went up across “I don’t think we’ve ever had a where I am right now should never Intel
the board, the government statistical better relationship with China than have allowed that to happen. It’s very Johnson & Johnson
agency said. we do right now,” Trump said, using unfair to the United States.” JPMorgan
The figure was higher than ana- trademark hyperbole. Trump also boasted about his re- Kraft Heinz Co
lysts forecast, but represented a drop “Other than the fact that they’ve lationship with Chinese leader Xi McDonalds
from 1.9 percent the previous month been killing us on trade for the last Jinping. Merck & Co
and 2.1 percent in November. Shelter long period of time. Killing us.” The US Commerce Department re- Microsoft
and transportation contributed most Trump regularly claims that his cently recommended imposing heavy Pfizer
to the increase, according to Statis- presidency has led to the “best ever” tariffs on China and other countries Procter & Gamble
tics Canada. Telephone services costs, relationship with countries from Aus- to counter a global glut in steel and Travelers Cos
meanwhile, rebounded after dipping tralia to Britain to China. aluminum. United Tech.
in December due to a series of indus- “The only thing that can get in its Beijing has warned it could take Verizon
try-wide promotions, the agency said. way is trade. It’s so one sided, it’s so retaliatory action if necessary. Wal-Mart
Walt Disney
“A majority of our registered users may never convert to a paid subscription at our platform”
Dropbox files for public stock offering of $500 mln
Dropbox filed Friday for an initial er computing devices. Storing digital While Dropbox has seen sig- as of December 31, 2017, according
public offering, seeking to raise an data from music and films to docu- nificant revenue growth since it was to the filing. “As we strive to grow
estimated $500 million for the Sili- ments, presentations and images has founded in 2007, but pointed out that our business, we expect expenses to
con Valley cloud computing storage become big business with the life- the rate had started to slow. increase in the near term,” Dropbox
startup. style shift to accessing content and Dropbox has incurred losses annu- said. Dropbox is among the few “uni-
The San Francisco company services online from a cornucopia of ally since it has been in business, log- corns” turning to the public stock mar-
claimed 500 million users in 180 internet-linked devices. ging net losses of $111.7 million and ket, with its larger peers such as Uber
countries and $1 billion in annual Dropbox woos users with a free $210.2 million respectively last year and Airbnb relying on private funding
revenues in documents filed with the version of its online file-storing ser- and the year prior. The company had without the scrutiny of an IPO to be-
Securities and Exchange Commis- vice, then entices with premium fea- an accumulated deficit of $1.05 billion come a publicly traded company.
sion. tures to upgrade to paid subscriptions.
Dropbox said its shares will trade While there were more than 500
on the Nasdaq under the symbol million registered Dropbox users at Foreign Exchange
“DBX.” the end of last year, only 11 million
Its valuation based on recent fund- of them were paying subscribers, the EURO USA CAN UK AUS SWISS H.KONG JAP
ing in the group stands at around firm said in the regulatory filing. EURO - 1.23 1.56 .88 1.56 1.15 9.60 131.00
$10 billion, making Dropbox one of “A majority of our registered us- USA .81 - 1.27 .71 1.28 .93 7.81 106.38
the biggest Silicon Valley venture- ers may never convert to a paid sub- CAN .64 .79 - .56 1.01 .75 6.20 84.00
backed “unicorns,” or startups with a scription at our platform,” the startup UK 1.14 1.40 1.79 - 1.79 1.30 10.90 149.00
private valuation of over $1 billion. warned. AUS .64 .78 .99 .56 - .75 6.10 84.00
Dropbox is one of a number of Dropbox noted that the actual SWISS .87 1.07 1.33 .77 1.33 - 8.40 114.00
tech firms centered around the inter- number of people using its service H.KONG .10 .13 .16 .09 .16 .12 - 13.70
net “cloud,” allowing users to store might be lower because some register JAP .01 .01 .01 .01 .01 .01 .07 -
data on one device for access by oth- more than one account.

Business
Page 4 Saturday February 24, 2018
The artificial intelligence software which is available on its connected speakers Union
Google Assistant adds more languages in global push EU-South America deal ‘could
Google said Friday its digital assis- zon’s Alexa-powered hardware, ramp the year.” The multilingual option
tant software would be available in up competition in new markets. will first be available in English, kill 20,000 French farms’
more than 30 languages by the end While Alexa currently operates French and German, with support for Over 20,000 French farms could go
of the years as it steps up its artificial only in English, Google Assistant more languages coming “over time,” bankrupt if the European Union con-
intelligence efforts against Amazon works in eight languages and the new Fox wrote. The move comes amid in- cludes a major trade deal with four
and others. initiative expands that. tense competition for artificial intel- South American countries, France’s
Google Assistant, the artificial in- “By the end of the year (Google ligence software on smartphones and biggest farm union warned Friday.
telligence software which is available Assistant) will be available in more other devices by Amazon, Microsoft, Christiane Lambert, head of the
on its connected speakers, Android than 30 languages, reaching 95 pre- Apple, Samsung and others. National Federation of Agricultural
smartphones and other devices, will cent of all eligible Android phones Amazon took the early lead with Holders’ Unions, said France risked
also include multilingual capacity worldwide,” Google vice president its Alexa-powered speakers and is be- losing “between 20,000 and 25,000
“so families or individuals that speak Nick Fox said in the blog post. lieved to hold the lion’s share of that farms” if the EU signs a deal allow-
more than one language can speak “In the next few months, we’ll market, with Google Home devices a ing tens of thousands of tonnes of
naturally” to the program, according bring the Assistant to Danish, Dutch, distant second. tariff-free South American beef into
to a Google blog post. Hindi, Indonesian, Norwegian, Apple got a late start in the speaker the bloc.
The move aims to help Google, Swedish and Thai on Android phones segment with its HomePod, which On Wednesday, beef farmers across
which has been lagging in the market and iPhones, and we’ll add more lan- went on sale this month in the US, France demonstrated against the deal
for connected devices against Ama- guages on more devices throughout Britain and Australia. which could see up to 99,000 tonnes
of beef from the Mercosur trading
The companies announced Friday bloc (Brazil -- the world’s top export-
General Mills to pay $8 bn to acquire Blue Buffalo pet foods er of the meat -- as well as Argentina,
Uruguay and Paraguay) flooding Eu-
US food conglomerate General Mills for pet food. Founded in 2002 in Con- mening said in a statement. Noting rope every year.
is adding dogs and cats to its portfo- necticut, Blue Buffalo has seen dou- that General Mills has a large line of Some campaigners have raised
lio, in an $8 billion deal to acquire ble-digit sales growth of its natural natural and organic products for peo- concerns about the use of hormones
natural pet food company Blue Buf- products in each of the last three years ple, including Annie’s and Larabar, in these countries which lead to ar-
falo, the companies announced Fri- with $1.3 billion in sales last year. Harmening said, “In pet food, as in tificially high growth rates in cattle
day. “The addition of BLUE to our human food, consumers are seeking -- a practice that is widespread in the
The Minnesota-based maker of family of well-loved brands provides more natural and premium products.” United States but banned in Europe.
Cheerios cereal, Yoplait yogurt and General Mills with the leading posi- Blue Buffalo chief Billy Bishop Lambert told BFM television she
home of the Pillsbury Doughboy, said tion in the large and growing Whole- said the partnership gives his com- was worried the EU would agree to
the acquisition gives the company a some Natural pet food category,” pany the ability to reach more “pet waive food security norms in return
way into a growing $30 billion market General Mills Chairman Jeff Har- parents.” for access to a market of 260 million
South American consumers for EU
One of the most famous chocolate companies in the world cars and auto parts, dairy products
and other goods and services.
Swiss chocolatier sues Weinstein Company She complained that the use by
One of the most famous chocolate planned in 2016-17, this year’s event ens of civil suits have been brought South American producers of hor-
companies in the world is seemingly “did not occur.” against Weinstein and the company mones and of meat and bone meal --
the latest victim in the Harvey Wein- Lindt, suing for an unspecified he co-founded, mostly by women a type of feed banned in the EU since
stein scandal, filing a US lawsuit amount of damages and breach of who accuse him of sexual miscon- the BSE or “mad cow” crisis of the
against the disgraced mogul’s former contract, said that it had been asking duct. 1990s -- would allow them to under-
company over a cancelled Golden since December for the reimburse- On February 11, New York pros- cut their French counterparts by up to
Globes party. ment of $133,333, adding that the ecutors sued the firm for failing to 30 percent.
Swiss chocolatier Lindt and company had promised to pay the protect employees from years of his At a meeting Thursday with farm-
Sprungli claims in the suit filed this invoice but failed to do so. alleged sexual harassment despite ers, President Emmanuel Macron
week in New York that The Weinstein More than 100 women have ac- multiple complaints from staff. promised France would not budge on
Company, now on the brink of bank- cused Weinstein of decades of sexu- The suit stalled a bid to buy the meat safety.
ruptcy, owes it $133,333. al harassment, assault and even rape, flailing company by an investor “There will never be beef with hor-
In the suit filed Wednesday, the leading to his career annihilation and group led by former Barack Obama mones in it in France. We shouldn’t
chocolate makers said they had a a US reckoning about harassment administration official and business- play with fear,” he said, adding:
$400,000, three-year sponsorship and abuse that has ended the careers woman Maria Contreras-Sweet that “There will be no reduction in our
deal at Weinstein Golden Globes of a litany of powerful men. Since had been poised to close a deal for a social, environmental or health stan-
parties. But while the events went as the scandal flared in October, doz- reported $500 million. dards.”
Negotiators from Mercosur and the
Apple claims to be the largest US taxpayer EU resumed talks on Wednesday af-
Apple loses bid to ban protests by French tax campaign group ter edging closer to a deal during the
last round in Brussels.
A French court on Friday threw out But a Paris court dismissed Apple’s In 2016, the EU said Apple owed Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Ela-
a complaint by Apple demanding a claim that there was a risk of “immi- $14.5 billion in back taxes after it dio Loizaga, whose country currently
ban on protests at its stores by the tax nent damage” from further protests, negotiated highly favourable tax ar- holds the rotating presidency of the
campaign group Attac. so long as these were peaceful and rangements with the Irish govern- Latin American bloc, said Monday
Attac had staged a sit-in at Apple’s did not block access to the store. ment. The tech giant also came under that the two sides were in agreement
flagship Paris store on December 2, It noted Apple had not reported any fire late last year when leaked finan- on “90 percent” of the issues, includ-
blocking access for several hours damage from the peaceful Paris pro- cial documents known as the Para- ing beef exports to Europe.
in protest at what they claimed was test in December. dise Papers showed it shifted tens of But EU Agriculture Commissioner
“massive tax evasion” by the US tech Attac, which branded the lawsuit billion of dollars between tax havens Phil Hogan said it was “very open as
giant. an assault on the right to protest, to minimise taxes. to whether there will be a successful
Apple said the demonstration put hailed the ruling in its favour. Last month the company an- conclusion at this stage”.
customers’ and employees’ safety at “The court has recognised the le- nounced it would pay $38 billion (31 At the end of the previous round,
risk and sought a court order barring gitimacy of our actions and went as billion euros) on profits repatriated the EU said it was willing to accept
the activists from further protests in- far as to say we behaved in the gen- from overseas as it boosts invest- tariff-free imports of 99,000 tonnes
side its stores. eral interest,” said its spokesman Ra- ments in the United States. of South American beef annually,
Attac had previously held pro- phael Pradeau. Apple, which claims to be the larg- compared to an initial offer of 70,000
tests at stores in Paris and Aix-en- He added the group has no plans to est US taxpayer, is also one of the tonnes.
Provence in November, demanding stop protesting against the company. biggest beneficiaries of a tax-lower- That sparked outrage among Euro-
Apple pay billions of euros which the Apple did not immediately respond ing bill passed by the US Congress in pean farmers who accused Brussels
EU says it owes in back taxes. to requests to comment. December. of a sellout.

Sports
Page 5 Saturday February 24, 2018
“It’s incredible because her main sport right now is parallel snowboarding” Tennis
Cross-over Ledecka can inspire generation, say Vonn, Shiffrin Federer turns down Dubai
wild card
She gathered herself to take bronze Roger Federer will not take up a wild
in the downhill. Shiffrin struck twice card invitation to next week’s Dubai
in Pyeongchang, winning the giant Championships, the event’s tourna-
slalom and claiming silver in the al- ment director confirmed on Friday,
pine combined, after finishing fourth with the new world number one opt-
when defending her slalom title. She ing for an awards ceremony in Monte
said she was “screaming and crying Carlo instead.
when Ester came down and won that Tournament director Salah Talhak
gold”. “It’s incredible because her told local media that 36-year-old Fe-
main sport right now is parallel snow- derer, the oldest man to take the top
boarding,” Shiffrin said. “It’s an in- ranking, said the seven-time champi-
credible example for young, aspiring on intends to play the event in 2019.
skiers, snowboarders, freestylers.” “I understand and I believe whatev-
Shiffrin followed a very different er’s good for him is good for us. You
path to success than that of Ledecka, can’t really push him more,” Talhak
whose rock-star father Janek Ledecky told Sport360. “Had he not won in Rot-
says he simply let his daughter find terdam he would have definitely come
her own way in life. here.” “Excited to be heading to Mo-
Shiffrin’s parents, by contrast, fol- naco for the @LaureusSport Awards!
low the 10,000 hours philosophy, Good luck to all the Nominees - see
which argues that expertise stems you next week #Laureus18,” tweeted
USA’s Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates on the podium (Photo AFP) from extended practice and sheer the 20-time Grand Slam winner. Fe-
Czech snowboarder Ester Ledecka is board double when she competes hard work. “There are a million dif- derer cannot lose the world number
an inspiration for the next generation in Saturday’s parallel giant slalom. ferent personalities, a million dif- one spot next week even if old rival
of athletes after her stunning Olym- “With the next generation coming ferent ways to go about that kind of Rafael Nadal triumphs in Acapulco.
pic victory on skis, US stars Lindsey up, everyone wants to experience ev- success, but the one thing that does
Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin said on erything. Millennials are raw -- being not change is perseverance and hard
Friday. inclusive and trying other sports is work,” said Shiffrin, adding that
Ledecka produced one of the big- important for them, as it should be. “there’s not one path” to success.
gest shocks in Winter Olympics his- “Ester can give them hope that “Ester is maybe the best example of
tory when she won the downhill ski- competing and being successful in that in these Games in that she hasn’t
ing gold medal by 0.01sec ahead of more than one sport is possible.” been just solely focusing on alpine
Austria’s Anna Veith. Vonn, 33, would have made the po- skiing. She didn’t just specify alpine
“She will definitely have a long- dium in the super-G had it not been skiing in her sport’s repertoire when
lasting impact,” Vonn said of Ledecka, for a big mistake near the bottom of she was eight years old because she
who will seek a unique ski and snow- the course that saw her finish sixth. wanted to be the Olympic champion.” (FILES) Roger Federer (Photo AFP)

“It’s amazing. I can’t believe it. It’s like a dream. For us it’s like, I don’t know, best thing ever” Golf
Germans stun Canada, to face Russians in Olympic hockey final Korda breaks course record
Germany completed a shock run to a hockey-mad nation a day after the “It’s an amazing feeling,” Germa-
their first men’s Olympic hockey fi- women’s team, seeking a fifth con- ny’s Brooks Macek said. in Honda LPGA Thailand
nal Friday by dethroning two-time secutive gold, lost the final to the Macek opened the scoring in the American Jessica Korda broke the
defending champion Canada 4-3, the United States in a shootout. first period. Matthias Plachta and course record on day two of the
fairytale squad advancing to a Sun- “They came out to play and we Frank Mauer followed early in the Honda LPGA tour in Thailand on Fri-
day showdown for gold against the didn’t,” said Canada forward Rob second period for a 3-0 German lead. day to open a four-stroke lead ahead
Olympic Athletes from Russia. Klinkhammer. Canada answered on Gilbert Brule’s of the chasing pack, with a stunning
The Russians, seeking their first “This was one of the biggest games power-play goal but Patrick Hager 10-under round of 62.
hockey gold since 1992, blanked we’ve ever played and there was no responded for a 4-1 Germany edge. The 24-year-old, who is making
the Czech Republic 3-0 to reach reason not to be ready. We let a big “They scored four goals on nine her season debut after jaw surgery,
Sunday’s championship contest, but one get away from us.” shots. We didn’t let them in. They made eight birdies and a closing
were overshadowed by an unlkikely The Russians, with players off the were just going in,” Canada coach eagle to post an aggregate score of
German league all-star squad that nation’s two top clubs, hope to col- Willie Desjardins said. 16-under at Siam Country Club in
collected their nation’s greatest ever lect their first gold since the Unified Mat Robinson and Derek Roy lift- Chonburi province.
hockey victory. Team won 26 years ago at Albertville ed Canada within 4-3 but the champs “I struggle on this course every
“It’s amazing. I can’t believe it. It’s -- just weeks after the breakup of the could not manage the equaliser. After year, but this year I have a whole new
like a dream. For us it’s like, I don’t Soviet Union. the last of Aus den Birken’s 28 saves outlook with everything I’m doing,”
know, best thing ever,” Germany “It would just mean everything to and the final horn, Germany’s bench Korda told LPGA.com, adding that
goaltender Danny aus den Birken us,” said Russian forward Mikhail cleared in celebration as Canadian her jaw was still numb from the sur-
said. “We have to realize we’re play- Grigorenko. “It’s huge for the players players and fans watched silently. gery. She was trailed by compatriot
ing in the final. I have to come down and the country.” The Russians, who boast the Olym- Brittany Lincicome, an eight-time tour
first to realize it. An Olympics without NHL talent pics’ most prolific attack, got second- winner who stood in second at 12-un-
“Who knows? If we keep fighting for the first time since 1994 lived up period goals 27 seconds apart from der, followed by Australia’s Minjee
like this we have nothing to lose.” to its billing as a wide-open affair, Nikita Gusev and Vladislav Gavrikov Lee who was one shot behind in third.
The Germans, familiar with one Germans booking their best global and a late clincher from Ilya Koval-
another from world championship showing since a 1953 West German chuk while goalie Vasili Koshechkin
play, are assured of an Olympic-best world runner-up effort. made 31 saves.
result -- their only prior medals being “It means a lot. We haven’t played It sets up the first Olympic final in-
bronze in 1932 and as West Germany for a championship in a long time,” volving Russians since they lost 1-0
in 1976. Germany coach Marco Sturm said. to the Czechs 20 years ago.
“We’re just a bunch of hard- “This has been unbelievable.” “It’s going to be a good game and
working guys who sacrifice for each Europe-based talent produced sur- a test of our will,” Kovalchuk said.
other,” said German forward Patrick prises, none bigger than the Germans “We’ll be ready for sure.”
Hager. “It’s hard to believe. It gives who ousted Switzerland and Sweden The previously unbeaten Czechs
you goosebumps.” Canada’s night- from the playoffs in over-time then will play Canada for bronze on
mare defeat added to the misery of delivered more. Saturday. (FILES) Jessica Korda (Photo AFP)

Entertainment
Page 6 Saturday February 24, 2018

Sudokumania
The aim of the game is to fill a 9x9 grid (81 squares) that is subdivided into 3x3 “sub-squares, with each of the numbers one through nine, besides
the ones that are already filled with numbers.
The rule is that each number appear only once per row, once per column, and only once per sub-square. It is rather easy to solve, in fact no math-
ematical knowledge is required. The solutions are indicated below.
Have fun!

Beginners Advanced
1 9 2 4 6 5 3 8 2 1 4


7 8 4 9 7 8

9 5 7 9 1

2 8 5 3 4 6 4 5


1 9 8 9 1 2 3 4 8 5 6 7 8 3
6
9 10 11
6 2 3 1 5 8 12 13 1 14 2
15 16 17
7 6 9 5 9 18 19 20
21 22 23 24
4 7 6 6 25 26 7 2 27

28 29 30
5 6 8 4 1 9 3 7 1 6 4
31 32 33
34 35
Crossword www.CrosswordWeaver.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ACROSS DOWN

9 10 11 1 Lemon-lime soda spelled 1 Ancient Greek citizen
7 3.14... 2 Women's magazine
9 Place (abbr.) 3 Economics specialists
12 13 14
10 ___ greens 4 North
12 As well as 5 Extreme
15 16 17 14 Cab 6 Writes plays
15 Second entry 7 Stab
18 19 20 16 Compact disc 8 Freudian term
18 Leave 11 Hatchet
19 Wake up 13 Sego lilyʼs bulb
21 22 23 24
21 Scent 17 Orders
24 Road (abbr.) 20 Jewish calendar month
25 26 27
25 Greek "N" 22 Indian currency
26 Hoosier state 23 Practical joke
28 29 30 28 Bygone 27 After eight
30 Facial expression 29 By
31 32 33 31 Querulous 31 Puerto Rico (abbr.)
33 North Dakota (abbr.) 32 Book of Samuel abbr.
34 Second scale note
34 35
35 Scorches
Fold Fold
www.CrosswordWeaver.com
1
8
6
4
5
2
9
7
3
6
9
4
2
3
1
8
5
7
DEDICATED PRESS sales
R E
S C A T H E S
ACROSS 6 8 1 3 5 7 4 2 9 DOWN 7 9 4 6 8 1 N D P E T T I S H (52)8183105037
3
5
2
[email protected]
2
4
8
5
8
7
3
1
6
5
4
9
7
9
3
1
2
6
P A S T
G R I N
DEDICATED PRESS editorial
(52)5555726129
2
N U
3
4
9
5
1
8
3
6
6
2
I N D I A N A
7
5
9
7
8
1
4
1 Lemon-lime soda spelled 7 9 5 3 4 1 1 Ancient Greek citizen M R D A R O M A [email protected]
3
6
9
5
8
2
4
6
2
8
7
1
Information Source:
G O
T
A W A K E
7 3.14... 4 9 7 6 1 3 5 8 2 1 2 Women's magazine C D R E E N T R Y Agence France-Presse (AFP)
7
8
5
9
4
3
2
1
6
Printed and distributed locally in each hotel.
All rights reserved.
1
7
7
4
3
9
4
3
5
8
6
2
9
2
8
5
6
9 Place (abbr.) 9 2 4 8 3 1 6 5 7 3 Economics specialists T A X I C O L L A R D A L S O P L Reproduction in whole or in part by any printed
or electronic without permission of the publisher.
8
9
3
7
5
2
6
1
4
10 ___ greens 3 5 6 4 7 2 9 1 8 4 North 6 1 3 2 8 P I S E V E N U P Solution:
5
7
9
4
12 As well as 5 Extreme
14 Cab 6 Writes plays
15 Second entry 7 Stab
16 Compact disc 8 Freudian term
18 Leave 11 Hatchet
19 Wake up 13 Sego lilyʼs bulb
21 Scent 17 Orders
24 Road (abbr.) 20 Jewish calendar month
25 Greek "N" 22 Indian currency
26 Hoosier state 23 Practical joke
28 Bygone 27 After eight
30 Facial expression 29 By
31 Querulous 31 Puerto Rico (abbr.)
33 North Dakota (abbr.) 32 Book of Samuel abbr.
34 Second scale note
35 Scorches