OIL PLUNGES IN ASIA AS PRODUCERS START PRICE WAROil fell by the most since 1991 on Monday after Saudi Arabia started a pricewar with Russia by slashing its selling prices and pledging to unleash itspent-up supply onto a market reeling from falling demand because of thecoronavirus outbreak.Brent crude futures fell by as much as $14.25, or 31.5%, to $31.02 a barrel.That was the biggest percentage drop since January 17, 1991, at the start ofthe first Gulf War and the lowest since February 12, 2016. It was trading at$35.75 at 0114 GMT.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell by as much as $11.28, or27.4%, to $30 a barrel. That was also the biggest percentage drop since thefirst Gulf War in January 1991 and the lowest since February 22, 2016. Itwas trading at $32.61.Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, is attempting to punishRussia, the world's second-largest producer, for balking on Friday atproduction cuts proposed by the Organization of the Petroleum ExportingCountries (OPEC).OPEC and other producers supported the cuts to stabilise falling pricescaused by the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.Saudi Arabia plans to boost crude output above 10 million barrels per day(bpd) in April after the current supply deal between OPEC and Russia, -known as OPEC+ - expires at the end of March, two sources told Reuters onSunday.EMPTY STREETS AND PARANOIA AS NORTHERN ITALY GOES INTO LOCKDOWNThe sun shone on deserted squares in Milan and empty gondolas in Venice onSunday as a quarter of Italy's population came to grips with being cut offfrom the rest of the country, under new rules strictly limiting movement inand out of the new red zone.While some packed their bags and fled, most in northern Italy stayed tobrave a lockdown imposed by the government on some 15 million people, as itramps up the fight against the deadly coronavirus.The country on Sunday recorded the second-highest coronavirus toll in theworld, after reporting a sharp jump in deaths - from 133 to 366 - andovertaking South Korea on infections.Italy's interior ministry said anyone flouting the lockdown risked at leastthree months in jail or a 206 euro ($233) fine.Only people with a "serious" reason that cannot be postponed, such as urgentwork or family issues, will be allowed in or out of the quarantine zones,which cover Lombardy and 14 provinces in four other regions.Passengers departing on flights in the lockdown areas will need to justifythemselves - apart from people who had been in the area temporarily, who areallowed to return home. All arrivals will need to justify their travel.Police will be setting up controls at train stations to check people'stemperatures, and stopping all cars on main roads in and out to verify thereason for travel, the ministry said in a statement.NORTH KOREA FIRES 3 PROJECTILES: SOUTH'S MILITARYNorth Korea fired three unidentified projectiles into the sea on Monday,Seoul's military said, the second such weapons test by Pyongyang in a week.The three devices were fired in a northeasterly direction from the Sondokarea in South Hamgyong province, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in astatement, without further details."The military is monitoring for additional launches and maintainingreadiness," it added.A spokesman at Japan's defence ministry said North Korea launched whatappeared to be "ballistic missile(s)", adding there had been no indicationof anything coming down in Tokyo's territory or exclusive economic zone.South Korea said that launch appeared to be two short-range ballisticmissiles -- which the nuclear-armed North is banned from testing under UNSecurity Council resolutions.Analysts say the North has been continuing to refine its weaponscapabilities during its long-stalled nuclear discussions with the U.S.,.AFGHAN POLITICAL RIVALS TO HOLD PARALLEL SWEARING-IN EVENTSAbdullah Abdullah, the bitter rival of Afghanistan's president-elect AshrafGhani, has issued invitations to a parallel swearing-in ceremony due nextweek, his spokesman said on Saturday."We've sent the invitation to all national and international organisationsand all necessary preparations have been taken," Fraidoon Khwazoon, Mr.Abdullah's spokesman said on Saturday, referring to invitations to aninauguration ceremony due to take place in Kabul on Monday morning at asimilar time to Mr. Ghani's.A political impasse and threat of parallel governments jeopardise a nascentpeace process in the nation, as the U.S. tries to push the Afghan governmenttoward talks with the Taliban.In February, Afghanistan's Electoral Commission announced Mr. Ghani as thewinner of September's presidential election, but Mr. Abdullah claimed thathe and his allies had won the polls and insisted that he would form agovernment."The election season is over and President-elect Ghani was given thewinner's certificate by the independent Election Commission based on theoutcome of the election and country's constitution," Mr. Sediqqi said onSaturday.Diplomatic sources have said the U.S. and other international players inAfghanistan are nervous of the prospect of parallel inauguration ceremonies.The U.S. has previously asked that both parties delay them.KIDNAP INQUIRY AGAINST DUBAI RULER SOUGHT IN UKThe lawyers for Princess Latifa, who was allegedly abducted by men workingfor her father - Dubai's powerful ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum, said they were writing to Scotland Yard chief to launch a criminalinvestigation following a London High Court finding that the royal hadkidnapped his daughters.Last week, a judge in the Family Court division ruled that the Sheikh "Ontwo occasions in June 2002 and February 2018, the father ordered andorchestrated the forcible return of his daughter Princess Latifa to thefamily home in Dubai."The ruling followed a long-drawn custody battle between the Sheikh and hissixth and youngest wife, 45-year-old Princess Haya. Sheikh Mohammed, who didnot attend court, denies any wrongdoing. Radha Stirling, a lawyer whorepresents Latifa, said she would be writing to the Metropolitan policecommissioner to raise the plight of the princess and her sister Shamsa, whowas kidnapped from a street in Cambridge in 2000.Stirling said, "The only logical step is for Sheikh Mohammed to face aninvestigation and trial. Heads of state cannot behave like criminalkingpins."There are also reports of Queen Elizabeth II, who has a close relationshipwith the Dubai ruler for decades through their shared love of racing,distancing herself from the Sheikh.IRAN, PAKISTAN RESUME TRADETrade activities between Pakistan and Iran has resumed after a suspension of13 days amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak that has so far infected5,823 and killed 145 people in Iran. On Saturday, over 35 vehicles loadedwith Liquefied Petroleum Gas and other commodities were allowed to enterPakistan through the Taftan dry port, a senior levies official told Dawnnews.He said the Iranian drivers and cleaners were screened after their arrivalat Taftan border. Pakistan closed its border with Iran on February 23,following confirmation of the first two coronavirus cases in theneighbouring country. However, the immigration process was reopened afterfive days and since then more than 35,000 Pakistani pilgrims have returnedfrom Iran.FLIGHT MH17: TRIAL TO START OF FOUR MEN ACCUSED OF MURDERING 298 OVERUKRAINEFour men go on trial in the Netherlands on Monday, in the first criminalcase over the murder of 298 people on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17,which was shot down over Ukraine in 2014.The Boeing 777 went down amid a conflict in eastern Ukraine, afterRussian-backed rebels seized the area.Investigators say they have proof the Buk missile system that shot it downcame from a military base in Russia.The four suspects are unlikely to take part in the trial.Three of the men are Russian and one is from eastern Ukraine. Neithercountry extradites its citizens but one of the Russians will have a defenceteam in the courtroom and the court says it is also prepared to accepttestimony from them by video link.Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in the deadly attack on 17 July2014. Citizens of 10 different countries died on flight MH17.WOMEN FILL STREETS OF WORLD'S CITIES WITH CALL OF JUSTICEWomen filled the streets of the world's largest cities Sunday to protestgender violence and inequality on International Women's Day, with themothers of murdered girls leading a march in Mexico City and participants inParis inveighing against the "virus of the patriarchy."While many protests were peaceful celebrations others were marred bytension, with security forces arresting demonstrators.PakistanIn Pakistan, however, women managed to rally in cities across the country,despite petitions filed in court seeking to stop them. The opposition wasstirred in part by controversy over a slogan used in last year's march: "MyBody, My Choice."Islamist protesters hurled sticks and stones at the demonstrators, causinginjuries and forcing a crowd of people to seek cover before the policeintervened.MexicoTens of thousands of women filled the streets of Mexico's capital to protestrampant femicides and impunity for the killers.On average, more than 10 women are slain each day in Mexico, often by theirmale partners.The mothers of slain women and girls led Sunday's march.ChileOne of the largest demonstrations occurred in Chile, where thousands floodedthe streets of the capital with dancing, music and angry demands for genderequality and an end to violence against women.ArgentinaMany protesters demanded that a proposed new constitution strengthen rightsfor women and legalize elective abortion.EnglandAt a school in East London, meanwhile, the duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle,joined students in listening to speeches about women labor activists, andurged both girls and boys to respect the contributions of women every day ofthe year."For young men . you have your mothers, sisters, girlfriends, friends inyour life _ protect them. Make sure they are feeling valued and safe," shetold the students.FranceTens of thousands of women also marched through Paris, inveighing againstthe patriarchy.SpainTens of thousands of women also marched in Madrid and other Spanish cities,despite concern over the spread of the new coronavirus.A massive banner reading, "With rights, without barriers. Feminists withoutfrontiers" in Spanish was carried at the front of the march in the capital.BrazilWomen turned out in force in Sao Paulo and other Brazilian cities, using theplatform of International Women's Day to protest the policies of far-rightpresident Jair Bolsonaro.The women on Sunday marched under banners proclaiming "He cannot continue,"an allusion to the president's trademark machismo and frequent mockery ofwomen - he once told a female lawmaker he would not rape her because she was"not worth it".