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16 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13565 Saturday DECEMBER 28, 2019 Dey 7, 1398 Jumada Al Awwal 1, 1441 Cleric warns Iran considering to Khajavi sets Fajr Film Festival to against accession give Russian tourists new record for not unveil “Made in Iran” to FATF 13 visa-free entry 10 conceding a goal 15 Crystal Simorghs 16

Iran-Russia trade through national currencies exceeds 50% TEHRAN — Trade transactions in countries’ trade], in 2019 this quota has Iran, Russia, China stage national currencies between Iran and already exceeded 50 percent,” Zhiganshin Russia have exceeded 50 percent of told sputnik. the two countries’ total bilateral trade The official stressed that the use of this year, said Moscow’s commercial the Russian ruble and the Iranian rial is See page 2 representative in Tehran, Rustam crucial in trade between the two countries. Zhiganshin. Russia and Iran agreed last Septem- joint naval drill “If in 2018 payments in national cur- ber to continue promoting payments in rencies comprised 40 percent [of the two national currencies. 4

Members of a terrorist group arrested in Ahwaz TEHRAN — Iranian security forces have cap- The commander said the group played tured members of a terrorist group in south- a role in instigating violent riots in Ahwaz western city of Ahwaz in Khuzestan Province. during protests against fuel price hikes in Khuzestan Police Chief Heidar Abbasza- November. It came a month after protests deh said on Friday that two key members erupted in some cities in Iran against in- of the terrorist group were captured, Press creasing gasoline price. In certain cases, TV reported. The arrested terrorists have the protests turned violent as some rioters admitted to their crimes during police clashed with police, using knives and guns. investigations, Abbaszadeh said. Rioters damaged public and private prop- He did not elaborate which group the erty and put banks and state buildings on fire. detained individuals belonged to. The protests ended after a few days.

Iraqi president submits resignation Iraqi President Barham Salih has sub- of the Arab country did not give him the

mitted his resignation to parliament after right to reject a nomination, he would refusing to designate the nominee for rather resign than pick a new premier premiership, Assad al-Eidani, arguing rejected by demonstrators. that he would rather step down than “I apologize for nominating Assad al-Ei- appoint the position to a figure strongly dani for the role of prime minister,” he rejected by protesters. wrote in his letter to parliament, adding, “I Erfan Khoshkhoo Salih handed his resignation to the prefer to resign than to nominate another Council of Representatives of Iraq on candidate and this is for the interest of ISNA/ Thursday, saying since the constitution the public.” 13 REPORT Israel to reinstitute ‘assassination policy’ against Palestinians: Katz U.S. approves Fatemeh Salehi Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz says the Tel Katz’s remarks came only hours after Israeli his wife Sara rushed off from the stage amid air new military Mehr News Agency Aviv regime would return to “the policy of as- military aircraft carried out a string of strikes red sirens. journalist sassinations” against distinguished figures of against the Gaza Strip. A similar incident happened back on Sep- training deal with Palestinian resistance groups in the Gaza Strip, as The Israeli army said in a statement on Thurs- tember 10, when Netanyahu was forced to flee Pakistan as it its acts of aggression against the besieged coastal day that “combat jets and helicopters struck sev- and seek shelter during a event in the port city of Riyadh scenario enclave continue unabated. eral … targets belonging to Hamas [resistance Ashdod campaigning for snap legislative elections. seeks to bolster Speaking in an interview with Israel’s army movement] in the Gaza Strip, including military The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli siege for closing a radio on Thursday, Katz said Israeli agents compounds.” since June 2007. The blockade has caused a de- its weakening were working to identify Palestinian fighters The army added that the strike was carried cline in living standards as well as unprecedented foothold criminal case responsible for rocket attacks on the occupied out in response to the rocket that was launched unemployment and poverty of Palestinians living territories from the Gaza Strip, and then respond at the port city of Ashkelon in the occupied ter- in the enclave. he Saudi judiciary has triggered a Barely a year after the Trump administra- with targeted killings. ritories on Wednesday evening. Israel has also launched several wars on the controversy by issuing verdicts for tion suspended military training for Paki- “Intelligence efforts are currently focused The rocket fire forced caretaker Prime Min- coastal sliver, the last of which began in early July the culprits in the assassination of stan, the U.S. government has approved T on determining who is responsible for ordering ister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt a campaign 2014 and ended in late August the same year. The the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and resumption of Pakistan’s participation in missile launch instructions in order to work to rally ahead of the primaries of his Likud party. Israeli military aggression killed nearly 2,200 Pal- acquitting the former consul-general in its International Military Education and eliminate him,” he commented. Television footage showed Netanyahu and estinians and injured over 11,100 others. Istanbul. 13 Training Program, or IMET. The Saudi public prosecutor has sen- In 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump tenced five people to death and three other signaled his decision, blindsiding the State to jail terms totaling 24 years over the Trump searching for next secretary of state to replace Pompeo Department, in a tweet squarely blaming killing of Khashoggi. The verdicts were U.S. President Trump is searching for his next diplomatic responsibilities since he became the The speculations have led to a competition Pakistan for failing to crackdown on terror- issued while Saudi Crown Prince Moham- Secretary of State, indicating that America’s top president’s fourth national security adviser in within the administration over who might replace ist groups in their country and providing med bin Salman is the main defendant diplomat Mike Pompeo will run for the Senate September. him as the nation’s top diplomat. Trump has fueled “nothing but lies and deceit.” in the case. next year, according to an article in the Wash- O’Brien accompanied U.S. Vice President the fire by requesting opinions from lawmakers That decision was rolled back by the end However, the Saudi prosecutor said ington Post. Pence and Pompeo to Turkey to negotiate end- and officials as he considers his options. of the year – as Pakistan’s strengthening that there are no charges against a former The opinion piece published in the newspaper ing Turkey’s military offensive in northern Syria. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc- relations with Russia and China threatened high-profile Saudi royal adviser Saud al-Qa- doesn’t confirm any new information from any- Many national security officials are concerned Connell, a Republican from Kentucky, has to sideline American influence. htani in the killing, announcing the re-lease one in the Trump Administration. Rumors that that Mnuchin’s dovish position on China and his urged Pompeo to run for the Kansas Senate Defense training as a policy of Saudi Arabia’s former consul-general Pompeo could step down have been circulating Wall Street focus could undermine his fitness to seat being vacated by Republican Senator Pat instrument in Istanbul, Mohammad al-Otaibi. The for months. lead U.S. diplomacy. He has consistently resisted Roberts in 2020. Defense training is a useful policy in the former consul-general in Istanbul, who The article lists several potential replacements the more hawkish China strategy supported by The former Republican lawmaker from long term that helps to cultivate potential had been charged with participation in as Secretary of State, including National Security Pompeo, Pence, O’Brien and most of the admin- Kansas gave up his House of Representatives military leaders and influencers, particu- the murder of Khashoggi, was acquitted. Advisor Robert O’Brien, Treasury Secretary Steve istration. seat in 2017 after Trump nominated him to be larly in military dominated states such Jamal Khashoggi, former editor-in-chief Mnucchin, and even State Department envoy to Pompeo has sent mixed signals about his inten- director of the Central Intelligence Agency. as Pakistan. Trump’s decision to cut-off of the Saudi Arabian newspaper Al Watan Iran Brian Hook. tions, and those close to him say he hasn’t made Trump then appointed him as Secretary of military training assistance for Pakistan and a columnist for the Washington post, The person most often mentioned to succeed a final decision yet. Pompeo is also considering State in March 2018. appears to have raised concerns in the entered the consulate on October 2, 2018, Pompeo is O’Brien. Trump has given him increased to run for U.S. president in 2024. (Source: Washington Post) State Department over loss of influence in to carry out some official affairs and did the country, carefully cultivated through not leave there. On October 20, Riyadh years of defense cooperation and train- affirmed the killing of Khashoggi inside ing provided to a generation of military the consulate. The prosecutor said that officers who trained at various defense Khashoggi died after a clash with several establishments in the United States. This people inside the consulate, and 18 Saudi move to resume the IMET is clearly an citizens were detained regarding the case. attempt to restore American strategic The Turkish Prosecutor General’s Office influence in Pakistan. said in a statement on October 31, 2018 Iranian Significantly, this comes at a time that Jamal khashoggi was strangled and when the United States government killed according to a prearranged plan is reviewing training for foreign per- once he arrived at the consulate. religious sonnel on American soil, following a The issuance of the verdicts has drawn recent incident involving a Saudi Royal widespread criticism by some countries Air Force officer who opened fire in a and international organizations, with minorities classroom at Pensacola Naval Air Sta- many media outlets finding them offensive. tion in Florida, killing three American

But why should Saudi Arabia issue these sailors and wounding eight other people, verdicts and acquit the main defendants pay tribute before being shot dead by police. This in such circumstances? factor could possibly weigh against the A closer look at the current situation government’s decision when it comes and Saudi Arabia’s move reveals that to martyrs up for a vote in Congress. However, the Riyadh has launched a scenario to ease military establishment in the United the pressure by the public opinion and As the new year is approaching, followers of divine States, which has always tried to insulate to improve its image. religions pay homage to their family members military-to-military engagements from Some experts believe that verdicts can- Seyed Saeed Reza Razavi martyred during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war, political tensions, regards that long-term not be examined without considering the known as the Sacred Defense. According to offi- benefits of defense cooperation that could fact that Saudi Arabia has taken over the ISNA/ cials, 90 Christians, 11 Jews, and 33 Zoroastrians potentially build mutual trust outweigh G20 presidency. 3 were martyred during the 8-year war. short-term political risks. 13 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS DECEMBER 28, 2019

Ayatollah Khamenei says Iran, Russia, China stage martyrs must be honored

POLITICAL TEHRAN — Leader of the Islamic Revolution deskAyatollah Ali Khamenei has said that martyrs must be honored, because there are “malicious” moves in line joint naval drill with marginalizing martyrdom. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Naval forces of Iran, Russia “Honoring martyrs is an essential thing to do and is a duty deskand China kicked off a large-scale maritime upon all of us, because there are malicious policies and moves exercise in the northern part of the Indian Ocean and the Sea aimed at making the revolution’s symbols, especially Jihad and of Oman on Friday morning. martyrdom, forgotten and we have to stand against these poli- The joint military exercise is viewed as a show of solidarity cies,” he said during a meeting with members of the Hormozgan between the three countries in the face of pressure by Washington. martyrdom congress on December 16 which was published on Rear Admiral Gholamreza Tahani, the deputy commander Thursday. of the Iranian Navy, said the exercise will cover 17,000 square He said that martyrs are symbol of altruism and those who kilometers and consist of “various tactical exercises,” which are ready to die on the path of defending righteousness and include target practice and rescuing ships from assaults and fires. attached great importance to introducing these “very valuable The naval drill, codenamed “Marine Security Belt”, will symbols” to the youths. last for four days. Elsewhere, the Leader said that islands in Hormozgan province Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Iranian are very important from security, economic and historical aspects. Armed Forces Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said it He added that the people in this province face economic was “important and vital” that security was established in the problems which must be addressed. Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman. “The Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman are among the Iran condoles with world’s key trade routes and many countries commute in the (two) regions and therefore establishing security there is im- Kazakhstan over portant and vital,” Shekarchi stated. Shekarchi added that the military exercises would be aimed passenger plane crash at increasing power and experience to ensure international trade security in the region. POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Iranian Foreign Ministry The Sea of Oman is a particularly sensitive waterway as it was sending a guided missile destroyer to the four-day drills, Song believes the joint drill will de-escalate the regional deskspokesman, in a statement on Friday, expressed it connects to the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a which it called a “normal military exchange” between the three tension as two influential countries are standing together Tehran’s condolences to the Kazakh government and people fifth of the world’s oil passes and which in turn connects to armed forces. to safeguard peace and stability of the Persian Gulf. “Such a over a plane crash near Almaty that claimed lives of a number the Persian Gulf. “It is not necessarily connected with the regional situation,” gesture urges the U.S. not to launch military actions unilat- of passengers. Iran’s largest naval drill with world powers since a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman said. erally or put more pressure on Iran,” he said. 1979 China has close diplomatic, trade and energy ties with Iran, “The move sent a clear signal to the U.S.: the Iran issue “Since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, which has friendly ties with Russia. should be addressed through negotiations based on the pre- it is the first time that the country has staged such a large-scale The military exercise comes at a time that the United States is vious deal rather than military actions. The U.S. should stop drill participated with two huge naval powers in the world,” resorting to every ploy to pressure Iran and isolate it in the world. fanning the flames,” Song said. Tahani stated. Russian Baltic Fleet’s warships attend the drill Strengthening military cooperation through such exercis- He said certainly those countries that share security, eco- Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Friday it had sent three es will also help bolster China’s own economy, energy, and nomic, political, and defense interests try to restore collective ships from its Baltic Fleet - a frigate, a tanker and a rescue tug national security, besides safeguarding the regional trans- security in the region together. boat - to take part in the drills, Red Star, the official newspaper portation and energy channels, Song told the Global Times “Reinvigoration of international maritime trade, countering of Russia’s armed forces, reported. on Thursday, noting it is important for China to boost its piracy, exchange of information and experiences in various The ministry was cited as saying that it was the first time overseas escort strategy. fields including maritime rescue and relief are among the main that such drills were being held in such a format. Such a drill also improves the capabilities of the Chinese objectives of the drill,” Tahani added. The Times of Israel also reported that the drill is the first such Liberation Army (PLA) in counter-terrorism, anti-pirate and Peace, friendship, security among messages of trilateral exercise as Tehran seeks to boost military coopera- humanitarian missions, Song said. trilateral drill tion with Beijing and Moscow amid unprecedented economic The naval exercise unique, unprecedented Rear Admiral Tahani said peace, friendship and sustainable sanctions from Washington. Also, the Associated Press reported that the trilateral drill security under collective unity and cooperation are the main The drill is in response of U.S. maneuvers in region is the first of its kind at a time when Iran is facing unprece- message of the current naval drill. The Navy Times website also reacted to the drill, reporting dented sanctions from the U.S. In his statement, Abbas Mousavi also expressed condolences “The message of this exercise is peace, friendship and lasting that the drill is seen as a response to recent U.S. maneuvers The joint drills are likely to be perceived as provocative and sympathy with the bereaved families and prayed to God for security through cooperation and unity … and its effect will be with its regional ally Saudi Arabia. by Washington. the peace of soul of those killed in the tragic incident. to show that Iran cannot be isolated.” The drill conveying a goodwill gesture Tensions have been running high between Tehran and He further hoped for rapid recovery of the injured. Iran is not isolatable Global Time quoted Wu Qian, spokesperson of Chinese Washington since last year, when President Donald Trump A plane carrying almost 100 people crashed near Almaty “Iran is not isolatable and this is one the most important Defense Ministry, as saying that the exercise aims to deepen unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 multilateral airport in Kazakhstan on Friday morning, killing at least 15. achievements of the current war game,” Tahani underlined, the cooperation between the navies of the three countries, and nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Almaty airport said on Friday morning that survivors and adding that the relationship between Iran, Russia and China conveys a goodwill gesture. Plan of Action (JCPOA), and unleashed the “toughest ever” emergency workers were on the scene in Almerek village, just has reached to a “meaningful level” which will continue in He further said that the joint exercise will also exhibit Chi- sanctions against the Islamic Republic. beyond the end of the runway. Footage from the site, which next years too. na’s ability to maintain world peace and maritime security. According to the Sputnik, the United States is monitoring was cordoned off, appeared to show the Fokker 100 plane had Recently, the U.S. has taken a quasi-warlike posture against Chinese military expert: The drill sends a mes- the joint naval drills, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Robertson hit a building. Iran and stepped up its provocative military moves in the Middle sage to Washington said on Thursday. The plane, flight number Z92100, was carrying 93 passengers East, among them the June 20 incursion of an American spy In the meantime, Global Times cited Song Zhongping, a “We are aware of the multilateral exercise being conducted and five crew. Emergency services searched through the rubble drone into the Iranian airspace. Chinese military expert and commentator, as saying that the between Iran, China, and Russia in the Arabian Sea”, Rob- in the immediate aftermath of the crash. China has sent a guided missile destroyer to Sea of Oman is a sensitive place and also vital to global energy ertson said. “We are monitoring it and will continue to work the drill transport, and its situation “could largely affect China’s econ- with our partners and allies to ensure freedom of navigation Zarif: Iran showing According to the New York Time, China said on Thursday omy and security”. and the free flow of commerce in international waterways”. commitment to secure vital waterways with partners Tehran, Moscow should cooperate to fight Russia against renewing Iran arms Washington’s economic terrorism: diplomat embargo: Ryabkov POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Moham- desk mad Javad Zarif said on Friday that the joint By staff and agency The Russian deputy foreign minister has military exercises in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean show Kazem Jalali, Iran’s new ambassador expressed Moscow’s objection to the exten- that Iran and its partners are committed to secure vital waterways. to Russia, has suggested that Iran and sion of the United Nations Security Council “Our joint military drills in Oman Sea/Indian Ocean w/ our Russia should cooperate to fight Wash- arms embargo against Iran. Russian & Chinese partners make clear our broader commitment ington’s “economic terrorism” as the Restrictions on Iran’s import and export to secure vital waterways,” Zarif tweeted. United States has hit both countries of arms will expire next year and it is not Zarif added that Iran has been insisting that it is ready to work with sanctions. possible to renew them, chief nuclear ne- with its neighbors on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf to “It is necessary for us to strengthen gotiator Sergei Ryabkov said in comments secure maritime trade in the region based on the Hormuz peace political relations, to expand bilateral, published by the Interfax news agency on initiative. regional and international cooperation, Thursday. “Iran has long stated its readiness to work w/our neighbors to fight against terrorism together, and Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which to secure Persian Gulf. #HOPE-Hormuz Peace Endeavour-is on also to resist economic terrorism of the the U.S. unilaterally abrogated last year, a table right now.” U.S., which has imposed sanctions both rorism when they target the people’s UN ban on weapons sales to Tehran will the time span of the UN arms embargo on on our country and on Russia,” Jalali lives and needs,” he said in a cabinet end in October 2020. Iran. The measure covers all weapons sales told Sputnik in an interview published meeting. Noting that the calls by U.S. officials to and “related material” to Iran. Army confirms martyrdom on Wednesday. ‘Iran and Russia may hold extend the embargo lacks any foreign policy In August, U.S. Secretary of State Mike of crashed fighter jet’s pilot Tehran has repeatedly said that the joint land drills’ principle, he added, “We are not ready to bow Pompeo expressed concern that the reso- United States’ sanctions against Iran Jalali also said that Iran and Russia to the U.S. demands whenever they want so.” lution restricting weapons sales to Iran is TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Army’s Public Relations are examples of economic terrorism. may hold joint military exercises not As the expiration of the arms embar- due to end in October 2020. Department on Friday confirmed the martyrdom of the “expe- President Hassan Rouhani said in only at sea but also on land in the future. go on Iran based on the nuclear deal and Iran’s Ambassador to UN Majid Takht rienced” pilot of a fighter jet that crashed in the northwest of the June that the U.S. sanctions against Iran “The countries cooperate in different UN Security Council Resolution 2231 gets Ravanchi responded to Pompeo’s comments country two days ago. constitute examples of “crime against areas, so yes, there is such a possibility,” closer, the White House is getting more and slammed the United States for causing On Wednesday, a MiG-29 fighter jet crashed while flying humanity and economic terrorism” the ambassador said. nervous and American authorities are do- insecurity and instability with its military on a mission over the Sabalan mountainous region, the Public because they have targeted ordinary However, he did not provide any ing their utmost to make the restrictions presence and “unbridled flow of American Relations Department said in a statement. people’s “lives and needs”. specific time frame. permanent. weaponry into this region, which has turned “It should not be said that the U.S. Tehran’s new ambassador to Mos- Last October, U.S. special envoy for Iran it into a powder keg.” has imposed sanctions on us, because cow said Russia and Iran have already Brian Hook told a congressional hearing Despite all U.S. efforts, the UN Security they are not sanctions. They are crime conducted joint maneuvers. that Washington wants the UN to renew Council has not, and is unlikely to take any against humanity. They could be called Naval forces of Iran, Russia and China the Iranian arms embargo. action on Iran. Russia and China - which are sanctions if they targeted some of our kicked off a large-scale maritime exercise One of the issues used by the United veto-yielding powers along with the United sensitive industries, but they are crime in the northern part of the Indian Ocean States to withdraw from the nuclear deal States, France and Britain - are likely to reject against humanity and economic ter- and the Sea of Oman on Friday morning. between Iran and the P5+1 countries was new anti-Iran draft resolutions.

Abdullah Abdullah describes Iran as Afghanistan’s strategic partner TEHRAN (FNA) — Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah to establish peace in the country. Abdullah has appreciated Tehran for its cooperation with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Despite the efforts of various search teams from the Iranian Kabul in different arenas, describing Iran as a strategic Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in a meeting in Kabul earlier Army, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Iranian Red partner of his country. this month reviewed peace talks among Afghan groups in Crescent Society, and local climbers, it was difficult to identify Abdullah made the remarks in a meeting with new Iranian the war-torn country. the whereabouts of the plane and its pilot due to the bad weather Ambassador to Afghanistan Bahador Aminian in Kabul. Zarif and President Ghani met on the sidelines of the conditions, according to the statement. Aminian, for his part, said that Afghanistan is a close friend 8th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul However, the martyrdom of Colonel Mohammad Reza Rahm- of Iran, and added that Iran regards the development and Process. ani was confirmed on Friday, it added. security of Afghanistan as its own security and development. During the meeting in the Afghan capital, both sides Martyr Rahmani was one of “the most experienced pilots” “Relations between the two countries are based on discussed current political developments in Afghanistan. of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) who had a common values and historical-cultural ties,” he said. The conference held in Istanbul is themed “Peace, brilliant career record by operating hundreds of flight missions, The two sides also exchanged views over presidential Partnership, Prosperity” and is aimed at bolstering regional the statement said. elections in Afghanistan and steps to reach peace as well cooperation as well as dialogue towards Afghanistan. The MiG-29 fighter aircraft had taken off from an airbase in as development of bilateral relations between Iran and The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process discussed peace, the city of Tabriz and was patrolling in the airspace of Ardabil Afghanistan. to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. regional participation, and cooperation for the future of Province when it crashed in a mountainous area. Aminian had on December 14 submitted his credentials Iran has always tried to help the Afghan government Afghanistan. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 28, 2019 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 Cleric warns against accession to FATF POLITICAL TEHRAN — Hojjatole- the United States imposed on Iran after it Presence of foreign forces deskslam Kazem Seddiqi, an withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement. interim Friday prayer leader of Tehran, has People’s economic condition deteri- not to help regional peace: described the Financial Action Task Force orated since JCPOA was signed: Seddiqi (FATF) as one of the enemy’s tools aimed to During his sermon, Hojjatoleslam Seddiqi Iranian embassy in Japan hamper Iran’s progress. also criticized the 2015 nuclear agreement, POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iran’s embassy in Japan has said “The FATF is one of the enemy’s rings of also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan deskthat presence of foreign forces in the Middle sedition which it insists upon,” Seddiqi told of Action (JPCOA), saying since the JCPOA East region will not help peace and security. worshippers in Tehran on Friday. went into force, the Iranian people’s economic In a message posted on the Twitter account of the embassy, The enemies are looking for opportunities condition deteriorated and prices soared. it is said that Iran’s Hormuz peace initiative will be effective in to undermine Iran’s independence and “And our dear people experienced the reducing tension in the region, ISNA reported on Friday. progress, he said. bitterest conditions in a short time,” he added. Ratifying the FATF-related bills has U.S. President Donald Trump has adopt- become a contentious issue in Iran. ed a maximum pressure policy against Iran The parliament passed the FATF in October since he walked away from the JCPOA. The 2018. However, the oversight Guardian policy includes sanctions on Iran’s economy, Council rejected the bill. especially its oil exports, and bans on top Whenever there is a dispute between the Iranian figures and organizations. At the parliament and the Guardian Council on a bill, same time, the U.S. president has pushed it will be referred to the Expediency Council for talks with Tehran. for final decision. Now it is up to the Expe- Iranian leaders have openly rejected the diency Council to reject or ratify the FATF. notion of talks with the U.S. as long as its The Paris-based task force said on October Conventions in line with the FATF Standards, One of the actions Iran is required to take to illegal sanctions against Tehran are in place. 18 that it has given Iran a final deadline of then the FATF will fully lift the suspension of appease the FATF is to ratify the CFT, the con- Under the JCPOA, Iran had agreed to February 2020 to tighten its laws against counter-measures and call on its members vention combatting the financing of terrorism. put limits on its nuclear activities in ex- money laundering in compliance with the and urge all jurisdictions to apply effective The government is pushing for the approval change for termination of economic and global watchdog’s financial standards. counter-measures, in line with recommen- of the FATF, but some figures of the principlist financial sanctions. “It is expected that the friendly countries will fulfil their inter- “If before February 2020, Iran does not dation 19,” the FATF said in a statement, camp argue that such act could not resolve Tehran has described the U.S. sanctions national duty in protecting shipping through timely and practical enact the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Reuters reported. any problems, including the sanctions that as “economic war” and “economic terrorism”. support for the Hormuz plan,” the embassy said in the tweet. According to NHK, Japan’s Cabinet approved a plan on Friday to send a Self-Defense Force aircraft and ship to the Middle East. Zarif set to meet Lavrov to discuss Iran-Russia-China drill frightening At the United Nations summit in New York in late September, Iran officially unveiled the proposal for regional security. bilateral ties Americans, Westerners: senior MP “Based upon the historical responsibility of my country in maintaining security, peace, stability and progress in the Persian Gulf region and Strait of Hormuz, I would like to invite all the countries directly affected by the developments in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to the ‘Coalition for Hope’, meaning Hormuz Peace Endeavor,” President Hassan Rouhani told the UN delegates. Foreign Minister Zarif has invited all regional states to join the peace plan for securing the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. In a tweet in September, Zarif said the initiative entails “dia- logue, confidence-building, freedom of navigation, energy security, non-aggression, and non-intervention”. In a post on his Twitter account on October 15, Zarif renewed Iran’s call to all countries bordering the Persian Gulf to join Tehran to “forge a blueprint for peace, security, stability, and prosperity” in the region. In a press briefing on November 25, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi announced that three countries have accepted to join Iran’s Hormuz peace plan. “Three countries have given written response to Iran’s invi- tation and other countries are studying it,” he said. He also called on certain Persian Gulf Arab states to abandon reliance on foreign forces for their security, saying dependence on foreigners is just an “illusion” POLITICAL TEHRAN — Foreign ministers will hold a joint news conference. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Chair- he added. deskMinister Mohammad The U.S., under the Trump adminis- deskman of the Majlis The military exercise, according to “We called on the countries to respond to Iran’s peace-seeking Javad Zarif is set to hold talks with his tration, has imposed unilateral sanctions National Security and Foreign Policy Zonnour, proves that Iran can be very call and abandon illusions. We have stressed that the presence Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Mos- on Iran’s economy after withdrawing from Committee Mojtaba Zonnour says the effective in establishing and preserving of foreign countries undermines security and stability. We hope cow on Monday to discuss bilateral ties, the JCPOA in May 2018. Washington has joint naval exercise of Iran, Russia and security of regional countries. this initiative of Iran would face with a positive response,” according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. been pushing for a “better deal” by placing China is frightening the Americans and Admiral Gholamreza Tahani, the Mousavi stated. “On December 30, Foreign Minister of unilateral sanctions against Tehran. Westerners, who try to form a military deputy commander of the Iranian Navy, During a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad On December 22, Lavrov described what coalition against the Islamic Republic. on Friday boasted the military exercise. in Tokyo on December 20, Rouhani said that Iran welcomes Javad Zarif will arrive in Moscow on a the United States is demanding from Iran “The Americans have strived to fully “Today, the Russian and Chinese help to maintain stability and peace in the Persian Gulf and the working visit, during which he will meet as “nonsense”. isolate the Islamic Republic in the world fleet berthed at Shahid Beheshti port in wider Middle East. with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,” “Iran cannot be treated in a way Wash- and with the power and strength of Chabahar port city off the coast of the “Iran welcomes help of all countries, especially Japan, in this Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswom- ington is trying to do … Not just flagrantly God, their bullet hit the stone and they Sea of Oman, starting a trilateral joint respect,” Rouhani said. an Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. violating the United Nations Charter, refusing failed to reach their fiendish goals,” drill with the Iranian Navy,” Tahani He added that Iran has fulfilled its duty to provide security in “The ministers will discuss the state to implement the binding United Nations Zonnour said, Fars reported on Friday. told a press conference. the region and believes that security in the Persian Gulf region of Russian-Iranian relations, prospects Security Council resolution but rudely ad- Iran, Russia and China started a Tahani called the northern part of has been weakened by foreign countries. for further strengthening the bilateral dressing demands to Iran, a country with joint naval drill on Friday. It will last the Indian Ocean a “safe and secure political dialogue and developing ties in the millennia-old civilization, traditions and for four days. region” that its security is guaranteed the trade, economic, cultural and other immense self-esteem,” he said. The naval exercise, codenamed by the Iranian Army and the IRGC. Iran listens to peaceful fields,” Zakharova said, according to the “As a matter of fact, the Americans said they “Marine Security Belt” is held in the “Since victory of the Islamic Rev- Russian Foreign Ministry website. would not implement this resolution while north of the Indian Ocean and the Sea olution in Iran in 1979, it is the first protesters, but responds to “When discussing current issues on the Iran must continue to implement what it is to of Oman. time that the country has staged such international and regional agendas, special do under this resolution,” Lavrov remarked. The senior MP said Iran, Russia a large-scale drill participated with vandalism: Kadkhodaei attention will be paid to the situation regard- “Moreover, they demand all others who and China are staging the war game two huge naval powers worldwide,” ing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action have been granted the right to freely trade with their highest-class battleships Tahani said, adding certainly those By staff and agency (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program, with Iran in exchange for what it did in and destroyers. countries that share security, economic, Abbasali Kadkhodaei, the spokesman for the Guardian the Syrian settlement, developments in the terms of curtailing its nuclear program “The Islamic Republic cannot be political, and defense interests try to Council, has said that Iran has always listened to peaceful Persian Gulf area and other regional issues.” stop trading with Iran. While Iran must threatened easily and it can be pivotal restore collective security in the region protesters, but when there are vandalism security forces She added that following the talks, the continue to implement what it undertook. in big military steps in the region,” together. take action and respond. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always listened with open ears to peaceful protesters; the authorities must respond to the people’s rightful demands. But naturally, when there are Illegal weapons, ammunition seized in western Iran disturbances – vandalism, attacks against government centers POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian intelligence forces According to the public prosecutor of Isfahan, the con- and the destruction of people’s property – it is the duty of secu- deskhave confiscated a haul of weaponry and signment consisted of over 126 riot (pellet) guns, firearms, rity forces and police to take action, and naturally during these ammunition in the border city of Javanrud in the western and AK-47 as well as 900 live rounds. operations it is possible that incidents can happen,” he told province of Kermanshah. “The weapons had been smuggled to Iran from western France 24 in an interview published on Wednesday. The arms were smuggled into Iran in order to be used borders, and were confiscated by members of the Intel- for anti-security moves, the Tasnim news agency said in ligence Ministry in Isfahan province,” Ali Esfahani said. a report on Friday. The Judiciary official noted that five people have been According to the report, the Intelligence Ministry forc- arrested on charges of smuggling the weapons and will es in Javanrud confiscated the arms cache, which had face trial. entered the country from western borders, on Thursday. The prosecutor also said that the province›s security The Judiciary said earlier this week that the intelli- experts believe the weapons had been imported for po- gence forces had seized a haul of U.S.-made weapons tential use in the recent riots in the country. in the central city of Isfahan, smuggled into Iran The enemies were plotting to trigger an armed conflict from the western border in order to be used in the using the firearms and kill civilians in a bid to tarnish the November riots. image of the Islamic establishment, he explained. Riyadh scenario for closing a criminal case 1 Riyadh is trying to close the case role in the killing. celebrating the New Year. Accordingly, ymore because a long time has passed He continued, “We have to be able to separate those who were of Khashoggi’s killing, along with some It is quite clear that the Saudi officials the Saudi authorities, as they should, since it happened. protesting for their livelihood – they have to be honored, we must other controversial cases against Saudi only intend to close the case. Of course, will not be pressured. Currently, the U.S. is getting ready listen to their concerns and see what their problems are – and Arabia, before holding the future sum- the officials killed two birds with one On the other hand, an examina- for the 2020 presidential election, so it those who committed terrorist acts and sabotage.” mit. The next summit of the G20 will be stone by acquitting the main defendants tion of the current developments in cannot take the verdicts into account Kadkhodaei added that those witnessing events in Iran from held in Saudi Arabia in November 2020. and closing the case. the region, ranging from the Turkish properly, a matter that is in Saudi Ara- abroad do not always form the most accurate impression. “Un- By issuing the verdicts, the Saudis have Another group of analysts believe that intervention in Libya to the recent Is- bia’s favor. fortunately, the analysis that takes place outside of Iran is not shown that they do not mind the future the Saudis have seized the opportunity lamic summit in Kuala Lumpur coupled The long time passed since the crime, always the correct analysis,” he said. consequences and do not care about in- provided by the New Year holidays to with other important developments in major regional developments followed On November 15, the government raised gasoline price in ternational positions and reactions to issue verdicts against the defendants, the Middle East, indicates that, at the by the international focus, the New Year order to moderate the consumption rate, which had reached the verdicts. as most of the official and legal organ- present time, there are more serious holidays, the approaching the U.S. elec- about 110 million liters. The move prompted protests in a According to many international bod- izations, and even media activists are issues for the media outlets than the tion, and finally Riyadh’s presidency of number of cities. The protests were largely peaceful but turned ies, the Saudi judiciary does not have re- in vacation. sentences against the defendants in the G20 summit are among the factors violent when armed riotous elements took advantage of the quired transparency to deal with the case, Therefore, the verdicts cannot properly the Khashoggi case. considered by Saudi Arabia in determin- situation to vandalize public and state property, and attack as the main culprits were acquitted and attract the attention of media outlets, It seems that, in comparison to the ing the time of issuing verdicts against the civilians and security forces alike. above-mentioned verdicts were issued domestic and international organiza- current developments in the region, the defendants in the case of the Khashoggi Some rioters even tried to put pipelines carrying oil and for those who did not play a significant tions and public opinion as they are busy Khashoggi killing is not appealing an- killing. gas on fire. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY DECEMBER 28, 2019

STOCK MARKET Removing tax exemption TEDPIX 361088.4 IFX 4662.59 will lower investment Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir in FTZs: expert CURRENCIES ECONOMY USD 42,000 rials TEHRAN — If the 20- if there are no such incentives, investment deskyear tax exemption in the making in the free zones will be risky for EUR 46,580 rials country’s free trade zones (FTZs) is removed, them, IRNA reported. the investment making will be limited in Development of existing free trade zones GBP 54,548 rials this areas, according to Abazar Azarboun, an and establishment of new FTZs is currently AED 11,437 rials expert with Iran’s Free Zones High Council. one of the major economic approaches of The expert said that those active in the Iran and in a bid to attract more investments Source: cbi.ir free zones prefer to do business in these areas to these zones Iranian government offers which has been offered for more than a criticized by some officials and economists, rather than the mainland because taxes and various incentives to the investors. decade to the investors in the free zones. while there are still many supporters of duties do not limit their activities there, but Tax exemption is one of those incentives This incentive has been recently this exemption. COMMODITIES Brent $66.95/b Government to take back trade law ‘Iraqi Kurds boycotting Turkish goods WTI $61.90/b amendment bill boosts Iranian exports to region’ OPEC Basket $67.93/b ECONOMY TEHRAN — The Iranian ECONOMY TEHRAN – A member Gold $1,511.95/oz deskgovernment has called for deskof Tehran Chamber of taking back a bill on the country’s trade law Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agricul- Silver $$17.98/oz amendment form the parliament (Majlis), ture says the boycotting of Turkish goods Platinium $955.10/oz Mehr news agency reported. by Iraqi Kurds has created an opportuni- In a letter addressing vice president for ty for Iranian exporters to increase their Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com legal affairs and also vice president for the presence in the region, IRNA reported. Majlis affairs, Ahmad Shams, the deputy for “Kurdistan was one of Turkey’s major coordination, follow up and management markets, but now the condition is favora- services in the presidential office called for ble for Iranian traders to have a bigger Iran-Russia trade through taking back the mentioned bill from Majlis market share. Exporters are now satisfied due to the existence of some ambiguities and that bill and called on the parliament to omit with this market, especially the market in sides and noted that annual trade turnover national currencies exceeds 50% faults in this bill. this bill from its agenda. Sulaimaniyah,” Ali Shariati said. between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan could Saying that this bill will bring losses for 1 Zhiganshin also referred to the volume of trade be- The mentioned letter was attached with According to France 24, Kurds in Iraq exceed $6 billion. the country’s economy, the private sector’s tween the two countries, saying that the bilateral trade between two letters from Industry, Mining and Trade are boycotting products from Turkey in He expressed hope that Iranian in- representatives announced that they will the two sides increased by 21 percent between January and Minister Reza Rahmani and Head of Iran protest at Ankara’s assault on Kurdish vestors would form joint ventures with make necessary correspondences to the re- October, standing at $1.67 billion. Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines forces in neighboring Syria. Iraqi counterparts and collaborate in lated organizations for stopping the process Russia’s exports to Iran included electrical machinery, steel, and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholam-Hossein Earlier this month, Iran and the Ira- establishing joint production units in of approving the amendments. wagons, wood, vegetable oil, corn, barley, lamb meat and other Shafe’i regarding the issue. qi Kurdistan held a business forum in Kurdistan region. During that meeting, Masoud Khansari, goods, while its imports from the Islamic country were mostly On September 1, Majlis approved a bill on Tehran in which Iranian businessmen, As a representative of the Iraqi govern- the head of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, cheeses, vegetables and fruits. amending the country’s trade law. entrepreneurs and producers and a del- ment, he further expressed his govern- Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA), The value of Iran’s exports to Russia rose 36 percent in The amendment bill addressing 109 articles egation from Kurdistan region explored ment’s readiness for complete cooperation said: “Trade law is 85 years old and is a refer- 2018, Iran’s Commercial Attaché to Russia Farhad Parand said of the trade law has become a matter of concern potential areas for expanding economic with Iranian exporters and businessmen ence for all traders and business people in the in February. for the private sector as this sector believes relations. for doing business in Kurdistan. country; therefore, changing it in a short time According to Parand, Iran exported $533 million of goods to that approving it has been a hasty action. Speaking in the event, Mostafa Ab- Abdulrahman further stressed the im- is not logical, while the viewpoints of econ- Russia in 2018 while the figure was $392 million in 2017, Trade During the monthly meeting of the board dulrahman Abdullah, president of the portant role of embassies and consulates in omists, lawyers, political and social experts, Promotion Organization (TPO) of Iran published on its website. of representatives of ICCIMA on September Importers and Exporters Union of Iraqi preparing the ground for economic cooper- 18, the representatives expressed their definite especially businessmen and business owners Kurdistan region, praised the ever growing ation, saying introducing businessmen by disagreement about the hasty approving of are required for such measure.” economic cooperation between the two the consulates will make business easier. TSE up 3% in a week

ECONOMY TEHRAN — TEDPIX, the main index of Teh- deskran Stock Exchange (TSE), rose 10,766 points, Iran’s tea exports to neighbors tops Real estate deals in Tehran City rise or three percent, to stand at 361,088 points in the past Iranian 4000 tons since March 137% in a month calendar week (ended on Friday), IRNA reported. TSE’s worth of trades stood at 13.38 trillion rials (about ECONOMY TEHRAN — Head of ECONOMY TEHRAN — The num- aimed at controlling the country’s housing $318.5 million) in the past week, with a two-percent rise from deskIran’s Tea Organization deskber of real estate deals in and real estate market by the end of the its previous week. (ITO) Habib Jahansaz said Iran has produced Tehran City increased 137 percent during current Iranian calendar year (March 28,500 tons of tea since the beginning of the past Iranian calendar month of Azar 19, 2020). current Iranian calendar year (March 21) (ended on December 21) from its pre- “In order to control and regulate of which over 4000 tons were exported to vious month, ILNA reported citing the the real estate market, the Ministry of the neighboring countries, IRNA reported. data released by Ministry of Transport Transport and Urban Development is According to Jahansaz, Azerbaijan, Iraq and Urban Development. following four major programs which and Afghanistan were among the top desti- foreign countries also keep buying the product. As reported, some 9,664 deals were include taxing vacant houses, completing nations for the Iranian tea exports. Back in July, Jahansaz had said that the made in the past month, rising from 4,068 Mehr housing units, constructing and The official further noted that the gov- country’s tea exports were up for the first deals in its preceding month. supplying new housing units through ernment has purchased about 126,700 tons quarter of the year (March 21-July 22) de- Housing prices also increased in the the National Housing Plan and finally of fresh tea leaves worth 4.34 trillion rials spite U.S. sanctions that make it difficult to capital city during the past month, as the setting up a professional real estate and (about $103 million) from local farmers in trade using conventional banking systems. prices jumped 6.8 percent on monthly housing system,” the official explained. the north of the country. According to the official, 1,600 metric basis while 40 percent compared to the According to Mahmoudzadeh, one of There are currently 25,500 hectares of tea tons of the commodity worth over $2 mil- same month in the previous year. the main goals of establishing this system plantation in the northern Iran, according lion were exported from the country in the Earlier this month, Deputy Transport is to identify vacant and unused houses As previously announced, TEDPIX rose 49,000 points, to Jahansaz. mentioned period. and Urban Development Minister in order to receive tax from the owners. or 16.7 percent, to stand at 353,997 points at the end of the Referring to the supply of tea in domestic Iran exports tea to India, Uzbekistan, Ta- for Housing and Construction Affairs “The system will be able to bring back past Iranian calendar month of Azar (ends on December 21). and foreign markets, the official said since jikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Mahmoud Mahmoudzadeh said that 2.6 million vacant housing units into the Some 82.215 billion securities worth 432.151 trillion rials Iranian tea enjoys good quality, the demand Canada, Australia, Spain, the Czech Republic, thegovernment is planning on launching real estate market, and consequently affect (about $10.29 billion) were traded through 10.153 million for it inside the country has increased and Azerbaijan, and Georgia, Jahansaz said. a national real estate and housing system, the rent prices significantly,” he said. deals at TSE during the previous month, with growth of 61 percent and 76 percent in the number and value of traded securities, respectively, while 71 percent rise in the number of deals. Will 2020 be Europe’s time to outperform? By Gary Jackson “We think oil & gas is a sector where there is significant China issues 28-point plan to potential, specifically oil & gas services where many European equities are likely to continue lagging the businesses are trading on very depressed valuations. ease the fears of its private global stock market in 2020, according to analysts, However, we believe they could be in the early stages entrepreneurs struggling amid although some investors are predicting that they could of a recovery with day-rates for rigs improving and oil rally much stronger than most expect. majors increasing investment. the economic slowdown Issues such as the 2011 eurozone debt crisis, lackluster The low-interest rates economic growth and political uncertainty have put “Banks are another area we think look compelling. China’s private entrepreneurs are particularity struggling amid investors off Europe for much of the recent past but Many have become lowly valued by the market owing to the economic slowdown, under pressure from excessive taxes and as we move into the New Year there are some signs of the argument that low interest rates (and correspondingly levies, as well as the persistent discriminatory treatment from Chi- improving confidence. low bond yields) are squeezing profit margins beyond all na’s state apparatus. Andrew Pease, global head of investment strategy hope of a near-term return to significant profitability. China has vowed to “forge a better environment to support at Russell Investments, is expecting a gradual pick-up “However, yields don’t need to move a great deal for private businesses” in its latest policy guidelines, which include in economic growth across the eurozone during 2020. sentiment to change. We are particularly supportive new and old promises to the country’s private entrepreneurs, in The “eurozone should benefit in 2020 from of those European banks with strong franchises and an apparent effort to shore up confidence in the sector that con- easier monetary conditions, the recovery in global decent market share.” tributes half of the tax revenue and 80 per cent of the country’s manufacturing, the lifting of trade-war uncertainty and Of course, there is the potential for European equities employment. Chinese policy stimulus that increases import demand to rally harder than expected, with BofA Merrill Lynch The 28-point plan, issued on Sunday by the ruling Chinese from emerging markets,” he said, adding that easing saying a stronger-than-expected growth rebound could Communist Party and State Council, includes decade-old promises political risk and a potential lifting of Brexit uncertainty see them rise by 13 percent next year. to provide a level playing field for the private economy as well to will also be positive. £851.7m Schroder European Alpha Income and £242.9m In this upside-risk scenario, a comprehensive U.S.- break up state monopolies in the railway and oil sectors. Expectations of improved growth and the prospect of Schroder European Alpha Plus funds. China trade deal allows growth momentum to rebound The entrepreneurs have little contribution to policymaking a U.S.-China trade deal led analysts at Bank of America “Cyclical value looks attractive for a start,” he said. more strongly than envisaged. But the bank’s downside- decisions, while they lack the protection from legal mechanisms, Merrill Lynch to tell investors to “stay positive” on “This means undervalued stocks that are sensitive to risk scenario sees growth failing to strengthen as much as making China’s private entrepreneurs particularly vulnerable to European equities. They see the Stoxx 600 as having 8 the economic cycle. Our view is that we are at a turning hoped and leads to a 9 percent drop in the stock market. an intrusive state machine, regulators and judges. percent potential upside by the third quarter of next year. point in the cycle, with a more synchronized global Christopher Smart, chief global strategist and head of The lack of confidence from private business owners is a key The potential upside recovery expected in 2020.” the Barings Investment Institute, said a “bold” prediction underlying reason for China’s sluggish economic growth and pres- When it comes to the German DAX, BofA Merrill The manager follows a ‘business-cycle’ investing for 2020 would be that Europe starts to outpace the U.S. sure of capital exodus, which adds to China’s economic prospects Lynch expects 12 percent potential upside by early Q4, approach and a “classic call” in this is to buy economically- after its lengthy period of underperformance. on top of a trade war with the United States. compared with just 10 percent from the FTSE 100. sensitive stocks when purchasing managers’ indices “If some of the headwinds around Brexit begin to The situation even led President Xi Jinping to meet with the However, they added: “We think European equities (PMIs) – or forward-looking surveys of trends in the clear, which seems to be the direction we’re headed, country’s private business delegates last year to assure them that are set to continue underperforming global equities by manufacturing and services sectors - are low and it would be supportive of the economy as a whole,” he they are still needed, valued and protected by the ruling Com- 5 percent next year, as the euro strengthens and the consensus is pessimistic. explained. munist Party. mild improvement in euro area growth momentum Given that PMIs are currently at the kind of weak The “German economy – the biggest in Europe – could It is not the first time that China has made promises to the we expect is not enough to offset Europe’s structural levels last seen in the global financial crisis, the business- also see improvement, particularly if the government country’s private businesses, and in 2005 issued a 36-point di- growth underperformance.” cycle approach is pointing strongly towards a cyclical provides even a little fiscal support. Finally, any weakness rective about encouraging private investment, which was updated BofA Merrill Lynch analysts have a preference for tilt for European equities. in the U.S. dollar would have the potential to further five years later. European cyclical stocks over their defensive counterparts, “This takes us to some very unloved areas of the propel international markets.” (Source: scmp.com) a view that is shared by James Sym, manager of the market,” Sym explained. (Source: trustnet.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 28, 2019 ENERGY 5

NIDC digs 88 oil, gas wells in 3rd platform of SP phase 14 9 months

ENERGY TEHRAN — National Iranian Drilling Company desk(NIDC) dug and completed digging operation goes operational of 88 oil and gas wells during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-December 21), Shana reported. ENERGY TEHRAN — Platform The first platform of phase 14 started op- According to Mohammad Al-e Khamis, NIDC’s deputy head desk14B, which is the third eration in summer 2018 and the second plat- for drilling operation, the drilled wells consisted of an exploration platform of the phase 14 of South Pars gas form namely 14C was shipped in September well, 26 development wells and seven appraisal wells, as well as field (in the Persian Gulf) development project, 2018 and the installation operation of this started operation on Wednesday, following platform were completed in October 2018. the completion of the pipeline which transfers South Pars gas field, which Iran shares with its gas to the refinery of the phase 12. Qatar, is estimated to contain a significant According to Mohammad Mehdi Tavaso- amount of natural gas, accounting for about li-Pour, the operator of the phases 14 develop- eight percent of the world’s reserves, and ap- ment project, the 2500-ton platform is going proximately 18 billion barrels of condensate. to add 500 million cubic feet (14.2 million The field is divided into 24 standard phases. cubic meters) of gas to the field’s output, the Back in October, Iranian Oil Minister Public Relations Department of Pars Oil and Bijan Namdar Zanganeh announced that Gas Company (POGC), which is in charge phase 14 of South Pars gas field will be fully of developing the giant gas field, reported. operational in the upcoming Iranian calendar The official noted that since the com- year of 1399 (starts on March 20, 2020). plementary operations are underway for Speaking to the press after a meeting with this phase’s refinery, the sour gas from the the representatives of the parliament’s plan- platform will temporarily be transferred to ning, budget and accounting committee, the the refinery of phase. minister emphasized that the oil ministry’s Platform 14B, was installed on its desig- plans for the next Iranian calendar year are 54 workover/completion ones. nated offshore spot in mid-July. The platform mostly focused on development of joint oil As reported, over 119,438 meters of digging has been conducted was built in a 115-month period. and gas fields. for the mentioned onshore and offshore wells. Noting that NIDC drilling fleet is comprised of 72 offshore and onshore drilling machines, the official said over the past nine months, 26 light, heavy and super heavy drilling machines 15 water projects inaugurated in northern Iran have been operating for drilling development wells, while three ENERGY TEHRAN – Iran’s Energy Minister Earlier this week, Ardakanian inaugurated 18 water worked on appraisal wells, four dug exploration ones and 25 were deskReza Ardakanian inaugurated 15 water and electricity projects worth 95.4 trillion rials (about operational in workover/completion wells. projects worth 60.4 billion rials (about $1.5 million) in $227 million) during a one-day visit to the northeastern NIDC has dug 138 oil and gas exploration wells in onshore and the northern province of Gilan during a visit on Thursday. province of Khorasan Razavi. offshore areas throughout the country in the past four decades As reported by IRNA, the projects included the According to the official, in the first half of the current after the victory of Islamic Revolution. first phase of a project for supplying drinkable water calendar year (March 21-September 22) more than 1,115 NIDC, a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), to Malakut Amlash County, water supply to Kinchah villages were connected to the country’s pipeline water undertakes most drilling operations across the country and drilled County in Astaneh Ashrafieh City and improvement of network and nine desalination plants were also inaugurated. 4,489 onshore and offshore oil and gas wells in nearly 40 years. the quality of supplying drinking water to various villages Currently, several dams are under construction in Holding 70 onshore and offshore drilling rigs as well as equip- in the cities of Rasht, Roudbar, Roudsar, Astara, Talesh Tehran, Ilam, Qom, Yazd, Kerman, West Azarbaijan and ment and facilities for offering integrated technical and engineer- and Some’e Sara. Semnan provinces and when operational they will add ing services, the company accounts for a major part of drilling The mentioned projects were inaugurated in the 10th 745 million cubic meters to Iranian dams’ water capacity, exploration as well as appraisal/development wells in the country. week of the implementation of a major program called “A according to the minister. B Iran” [the acronyms A and B stand for water, electricity In late November, Ardakanian said 227 major water in Persian”, in which 10 trillion rials (over $238 million) and electricity projects worth 331.74 trillion rials (about Total inks another marine of projects will be inaugurated in each of the country’s $7.89 billion) will be inaugurated in the country in the plants, over 3,000 megawatts (MW) capacity of thermal supply deal to bolster its provinces, on average. second half of the current Iranian calendar year (ends power plants and 278 MW capacity of renewable power Based on the “A B Iran” program, Energy Ministry on March 19, 2020). plants, as well as projects for increasing the efficiency of global LNG strategy plans to inaugurate some water, electricity projects across Over the said period, 1,124 villages would also be the country’s agricultural sector through modernizing By Jamison Cocklin the country every week. supplied with drinkable water and 29 Wastewater treatment the irrigation systems, are planned to be inaugurated. Paris-based Total SA has inked a deal to provide liquefied natu- ral gas (LNG) to another French company with global shipping Wind power in South Korea, Vestas’ Oil hits three-month highs on upbeat U.S. operations. One of the world’s largest LNG players, with stakes in U.S. wind turbines for 42 MW wind farm and Chinese economic data export terminals along the Gulf Coast, Total said earlier this month that it has signed a supply agreement with Marseille, Vestas has secured its first V136-4.2 MW Oil prices rose on Friday, hitting three- purchases by U.S. consumers reached France-based CMA CGM to provide 270,000 metric tons per order in South Korea for the Cheongsong month highs, as upbeat economic data a record, beating analysts’ expectations year of the super-chilled fuel. Myeonbong Mt Wind Power project with from China and the United States indi- and sending U.S. stocks to fresh. The LNG would be used to power CMA CGM’s new containers EPC contractor Kumho Industrial Co., Ltd. cated an end to the trade war between U.S. consumers are “showing few signs that are to operate between Asia and the Mediterranean. Those The 42 MW order consists of ten V136-4.2 Washington and Beijing has restored of tightening their purse strings, which is ships are scheduled for delivery starting in 2021. MW wind turbines at a hub height of 112m confidence in the global growth. positive for oil also,” said Stephen Innes Want access to the trading data behind our news coverage? as well as a 20-year Active Output Manage- Brent crude was up 29 cents, or 0.4%, chief Asia market strategist at AxiTrader. Under the deal, Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS) ment 4000 (AOM 4000) service agreement, at $68.21 a barrel at 0903 GMT. U.S. crude oil stockpiles likely declined would provide bunkering services at the port of Marseille-Fos, designed to maximize uptime and ensure The West Texas Intermediate CLc1 was last week, while inventories of gasoline France’s primary trading seaport. An LNG bunker vessel, or one optimized performance of the project. up 24 cents, or 0.4%, at $61.92 a barrel. were set to extend their build for the sev- that provides the fuel for ships, will be positioned at the port, To optimize operation in the site’s specific Vestas continuously improves the available Volume of oil trade remained thin in enth straight week, an extended Reuters while bunkering services would also be available in Singapore. wind conditions, the turbines will feature technology, for the benefit of our custom- the Christmas holidays and New Year poll showed on Thursday. Total’s LNG sales increased markedly in the third quarter, Vestas’ High Wind Operation (HWO), an ers and the South Korean renewable energy breaks. The latest poll was conducted ahead of growing 20% year/year to reach 7.4 million metric tons. The intelligent control option that allows the industry. This new product will be certified Data on Friday showed profits at Chi- the weekly status report from the Energy increase was driven largely by the company’s stakes in new turbines to continue operating beyond to local standards by second half of 2020 na’s industrial firms rose at the fastest Information Administration (EIA), an and existing terminals on the Gulf Coast, Australia and Russia. standard cut-out wind speeds. The result is and will also be using steel and towers from pace in eight months in November. agency of the U.S. Department of Energy. While the French oil major has an integrated portfolio that improved output stability, energy production, Korea, enabling a high percentage of local Among sectors, the chemical, petro- The EIA report has been delayed by includes liquefaction capacity, marketing, trading, shipping and reliability, helping the project to deliver content for the project”, said William Gaillard, leum processing and steel industries re- two days due to Christmas. The report and downstream infrastructure, CEO Patrick Pouyanne noted the maximum return on investment for the Sales Vice-President of Vestas Asia Pacific. ported recovering profits last month due is normally released on Wednesday at that the deal with CMA CGM is emblematic of the company’s customer. Each turbine will be equipped with “I would like to thank Kumho Industrial Co., to rebounding market demand and rising 10:30 A.M. EST (1530 GMT). push to integrate marine fuel into the heart of its LNG strategy. a full-scale converter, enhancing the wind Ltd. for their trust and choosing Vestas for prices amid easing trade hostilities with The price Brent has jumped more Global LNG demand for ship propulsion is projected to increase park’s compliance with grid requirements. this project.” Washington. than a quarter in 2019, while WTI is up from 400,000 metric tons in 2017 to 10 million metric tons in “Thanks to Vestas technical and engi- “As Korea is typically a challenging market China and the United States cooled around 35%, boosted by moves by the 2025, according to Total. The increase will be driven by stringent neering support, it was possible to optimize with respect to terrain complexity, highly their 17-month long trade war earlier this Organization of the Petroleum Exporting environmental regulations being imposed by the International many aspects of the balance of plant design turbulent wind conditions and limited ar- month, announcing a Phase 1 agreement Countries and other producers, including Maritime Organization as well as its availability and efficiency. to reduce the cost. Vestas put in a lot of efforts eas for development, the realization of this that would reduce some U.S. tariffs in Russia, to curb production. “Liquefied natural gas is the only energy currently available to adapt to the project schedule despite the project is a great testament to the hard work exchange for more Chinese purchases OPEC+ this month decided to prolong and reliable to significantly reduce our carbon footprint,” CMA capacity constraints on the market. We are of the Vestas siting team. In close collabo- of American farm products. its oil output restriction deal until the CGM CEO Rodolphe Saade said. The “choice of LNG to power satisfied with our partnership with Vestas ration with Kumho, we have been able to The lingering ripple effect of the trade end of March and to deepen the cuts in our ships requires the complete adaptation of the entire energy and look forward to more business and co- optimize the site and maintain acceptable row, however, showed up in data from order to balance out the oil market. supply chain and infrastructure.” operation for upcoming projects as well”, turbine loading that have enabled us to intro- Japan, the world’s third-biggest economy, Russian Energy Minister Alexan- The company operates more than 500 ships that serve over said Byeong Gyun Park, Vice President of duce newer and bigger rotors to the market”, on Friday as industrial output shrank for der Novak said on Friday OPEC+, may 420 ports on five continents. By choosing Marseille-Fos as a Kumho Industrial Co., Ltd. said Phillip Gooda, Technical Bid Manager a second month in November. consider wrapping up their oil output refuelling port for its new vessels, Saade said French container The “introduction of the V136-4.2 MW of Vestas North East Asia. In the United States, a survey on reduction in 2020. ports are now being integrated into the LNG transition. turbine to South Korea demonstrates how (Source: evwind.es) Thursday showed that online holiday (Source: reuters.com) The LNG bunker vessels TMFGS said the same day the CMA CGM deal was announced that it had inked an agreement with Japan-based Mitsui O.S.K. Ltd. for a second large LNG bunker vessel that would be deliv- China’s biggest move in oil markets to date ered in 2021 and operate in the Mediterranean. Total launched China is making an aggressive entrance daunting to enter. It’s a booming business — and no doubt Venezuela, and Iraq — had enjoyed hawking its first LNG bunker vessel in Shanghai last month that will into the world of energy exchanges, but For smaller U.S. energy businesses — some of these smaller players will jump at their wares on the U.S. market. But as the supply CMA CGM. will it help the markets like some analysts which account for nearly 60-70% of all the chance to engage with Chinese com- U.S. slowed its oil imports, Middle East The second vessel is to be built by Hudong-Zhonghua Ship- suggest, or will it spell doom for oil prices? energy companies in the United States - panies to sell their oil and gas products. producers set their sites on another large building in China and have a capacity of 18,600 cubic meters. Persistent oversupply in the global oil and the Greater Bay Area International Energy There are concerns, however, that easier market: Asia, including China. The second vessel would be used to supply a wide range of gas market has created a difficult situation Transaction Center, as the exchange is called, access to the huge Chinese energy market Those same OPEC nations that were ships, including container ships, tankers, ferries and large for smaller oil and gas companies who must could be just what the doctor ordered: eas- will erode prices further — a price situation hurt by U.S. oil production will also be hurt cruise ships. find ways to compete in a debt-laden, low- ier access to a tricky but colossal market. that China is looking forward to. by China’s courting of U.S. oil companies TMFGS also recently signed a 10-year agreement to jointly priced environment against state-run oil For China, the exchange is designed to As for those independents, some of through this exchange. For OPEC, who has develop an LNG bunker supply chain in the port of Singapore titans like Saudi Aramco and deep-pocketed protect its energy security at a time when which are struggling in the already lower come up against the United States oil in- with Pavilion Energy. The deal follows a heads of agreement oil giants such as Exxon. its voracious appetite for crude oil exceeds oil price environment, additional price dustry time and time again as it tries to lift signed by the two companies in June 2018. But the small oil and gas players — its domestic production. erosion could mean death. prices through production cuts, American oil Outside of LNG bunkering, the shipping market to transport those private companies that are facing On the surface, it seems like a marriage And then there are the Middle East pro- producers keep turning up like a bad penny. the fuel for liquefaction facilities has been impacted worldwide an uncertain future despite sitting atop a made in oil heaven. ducers. There was a time when the United China is hoping that the new internation- as activity has slowed on a global glut. Norwegian shipbroker literal wealth of oil and gas in prolific U.S. But concerns with the new energy ex- States imported almost 150 million barrels al exchange platform will rival the LSE and Fearnleys AS said recently that the longer-term outlook for shale plays — may have just been handed change are widespread, and global -- from of oil monthly from OPEC member coun- NYSE when it comes to online trading of charters is stronger as another wave of supplies is expected their ticket out of trouble by the largest oil the United States to the Middle East. tries, according to the Energy Information crude oil and other energy-related products, to hit the market to match a supply gap that’s seen opening importer in the world, China. Independent oil and gas companies Administration. But then just a few years including settling trade and delivering it. 2022-2025. Or have they? Today, there are approximately 9,000 ago, the United States lifted the export ban In addition to crude oil, chemical products, On the new building front, the firm noted that Samsung Heavy China, in its quest to shore up its en- independent oil and gas companies oper- on crude oil, and everything changed. In and LNG mentioned above, it will also deal Industries Co. last month announced a $1.5 billion contract ergy security, is launching a new energy ating in the United States — this includes January 2017, the United States imported with LPG, methane, ethane, and energy with an unspecified buyer to build up to eight LNG carriers. exchange that will make it much easier only those businesses that produced fewer 117.6 million barrels of oil from OPEC. derivatives. And there’s more: it will also The massive vessels average about $186 million each. Hyundai for buyers and sellers of all things energy than 75,000 bpd and have less than $5 In September 2019 — the last month make available market information. Heavy Industries Group also recently secured $1.13 billion of — including gas, oil, LNG, carbon credits, million in oil and gas sales per year. This for which there is data — the United States But the exchange will also increase — to orders for six LNG carriers from ship owners in Europe and Asia. and even chemical products — to find each class of producers accounts for 83% of all imported just 48 million barrels. the worry of many —China’s geopolitical Most LNG vessels today are built by Asian shipyards, which other and do business together in the robust oil produced in the U.S., and 90% of all That’s less than half. foothold in new markets. can build at lower costs compared to their counterparts in Europe. Chinese market that might otherwise seem natural gas. OPEC nations — mostly Saudi Arabia, (Source: oilprice.com) (Source: naturalgasintel.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL DECEMBER 28, 2019 The Christmas Truce of 1914: Why there is still no peace on Earth?

By David Stockman the French nuclear agency that had originally obtained it from the Shah to fund a ramp-up of its enrichment capacity ANTIWAR— After the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989 to supply his planned battery of reactors. and the death of the Soviet Union was confirmed two years Indeed, in this very context the new Iranian regime proved later when Boris Yeltsin courageously stood down the Red quite dramatically that it was not hell-bent on obtaining nu- Army tanks in front of Moscow’s White House, a dark era in clear bombs or any other weapons of mass destruction. In human history came to an end. the midst of Iraq’s unprovoked invasion of Iran in the early The world had descended into a 77-Year War, incepting 1980s, Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against biological with the mobilization of the armies of old Europe in August and chemical weapons. 1914. If you want to count bodies, 150 million were killed by all Yet at that very time, Saddam was dropping these horrif- the depredations that germinated in the Great War, its foolish ic weapons on Iranian battle forces – some of them barely aftermath at Versailles, and the march of history into World armed teenage boys – with the spotting help of CIA tracking War II and the Cold War that followed inexorably thereupon. satellites and the concurrence of Washington. So from the Upwards of 8% of the human race was wiped out during very beginning, the Iranian posture was wholly contrary to that span. The toll encompassed the madness of trench warfare the War Party’s endless blizzard of false charges about its during 1914-1918; the murderous regimes of Soviet and Nazi quest for nukes. totalitarianism that rose from the ashes of the Great War and However benighted and medieval its religious views, the Versailles; and then the carnage of WWII and all the lesser theocracy that ruled Iran did not consist of demented war- (unnecessary) wars and invasions of the Cold War including mongers. In the heat of battle they were willing to sacrifice Korea and Vietnam. their own forces rather than violate their religious scruples At the end of the Cold War, therefore, the last embers of to counter Saddam’s WMDs. the fiery madness that had incepted with the guns of August How washington inspired the myth of iran’s 1914 had finally burned out. Peace was at hand. Yet 28 years secret nuclear-weapons program later there is still no peace because Imperial Washington Then in 1983 the new Iranian regime decided to complete confounds it. the Bushehr power plant and some additional elements of In fact, the War Party entrenched in the nation’s capital is the Shah’s grand plan. But when they attempted to reactivate dedicated to economic interests and ideological perversions the French enrichment-services contract and buy necessary that guarantee perpetual war. These forces ensure endless power plant equipment from the original German suppliers waste on armaments; they cause the inestimable death and By contrast, even though liberal historians have reviled tioned as a hatchery for angry young jihadi terrorists in their they were stopped cold by Washington. And when they tried human suffering that stems from 21st-century high-tech war- Warren G. Harding as some kind of dummkopf politician, thousands was initially unleashed only after Hussein had to get their $2 billion deposit back, they were curtly denied fare; and they inherently generate terrorist blowback from he well understood that the Great War had been for naught, been driven from Kuwait in 1991 and the CIA had instigated that, too. those upon whom the War Party inflicts its violent hegemony. and that to ensure it never happened again the nations of an armed uprising in the Shiite heartland around Basra.. To make a long story short, the entire subsequent history of Worse still, Washington’s great war machine and teeming the world needed to rid themselves of their huge navies and That revolt was brutally suppressed by Hussein’s republican off-again, on-again efforts by the Iranians to purchase dual-use national security industry is its own agent of self-perpetuation. standing armies. guards, but it left an undertow of resentment and revenge equipment and components on the international market, often When it is not invading, occupying and regime changing, its To that end, he achieved the largest global-disarmament boiling below the surface. That was one of many of George from black market sources like Pakistan, was in response to vast apparatus of internal policy bureaus and outside con- agreement ever during the Washington Naval Conference of H. W. Bush’s fetid legacies in the region. Washington’s relentless efforts to block its legitimate rights as tractors, lobbies, think tanks and NGOs is busy generating 1921, which halted the construction of new battleships for Needless to say, when it came their turn, Bush the Younger a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to complete reasons for new imperial ventures. more than a decade. And even then, the moratorium ended and his cabal of neocon warmongers could not leave well some parts of the Shah’s civilian nuclear project. So there was a virulent threat to peace still lurking on only because the vengeful victors at Versailles never ceased enough alone. Needless to say, it did not take much effort by the neocon the Potomac after the 77-Year War ended. The great general exacting their revenge on Germany. When they foolishly destroyed Saddam Hussein and his “regime change” fanatics that inhabited Washington’s nation- and President, Dwight Eisenhower, had called it the “mil- And while he was at it, President Harding also pardoned entire regime in the pursuit of nonexistent WMDs and alleged al-security machinery, especially after the 2000 election, to itary-industrial complex” in his farewell address. But that Eugene Debs. In so doing, he gave witness to the truth that ties with al-Qaeda, they literally opened the gates of hell, spin every attempt by Iran to purchase even a lowly pump or memorable phrase had been abbreviated by his speechwriters, the intrepid socialist candidate for president and vehement leaving Iraq as a lawless failed state where both recent and pipe fitting as evidence of a secret campaign to get “the bomb”. who deleted the word “congressional” in a gesture of comity antiwar protester, who Wilson had thrown in prison for ex- ancient religious and tribal animosities were given unlimited The exaggerations, lies, distortions and fear mongering to the legislative branch. ercising his First Amendment right to speak against US entry violent vent. that came out of this neocon campaign are truly deplorable. So restore Ike’s deleted reference to the pork barrels and into a pointless European war, had been right all along. Why the war party needed to demonize iran Yet they incepted way back in the early 1990s when George H. Sunday-afternoon warriors of Capitol Hill and toss in the legions In short, Warren G. Harding knew the war was over and Also circa 1990, the Shiite theocracy ensconced in Tehran W. Bush actually did reach out to the newly elected govern- of Beltway busybodies who constituted the civilian branches the folly of Wilson’s 1917 plunge into Europe’s bloodbath was no threat to America’s safety and security – even if it was ment of Hashemi Rafsanjani to bury the hatchet after it had of the Cold War armada (CIA, State, AID, NED and the rest) should not be repeated, at all hazards. an unfortunate albatross on the Persian people. cooperated in obtaining the release of American prisoners and the circle would have been complete. It constituted the But not George H. W. Bush. The man should never be for- The very idea that Tehran is an expansionist power bent on being held in Lebanon in 1989. most awesome machine of warfare and imperial hegemony given for enabling the likes of Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, exporting terrorism to the rest of the world is a giant fiction Rafsanjani was self-evidently a pragmatist who did not since the Roman legions bestrode most of the civilized world. Robert Gates and their neocon pack of jackals to come to and tissue of lies invented by the Washington War Party and want conflict with the United States and the West; and after In a word, the real threat to peace circa 1991 was that power – even if he eventually denounced them in his dod- its Bibi Netanyahu branch in order to win political support the devastation of the eight-year war with Iraq, he was wholly the American Imperium would not go away quietly into the dering old age. for their confrontationist policies. focused on economic reconstruction and even free market good night. Alas, upon his death, Bush the Elder was deified, not vil- Indeed, the three-decade-long demonization of Iran has reforms of Iran’s faltering economy. In fact, during the past 28 years Imperial Washington has ified, by the mainstream press and the bipartisan duopoly. served one overarching purpose. Namely, it has enabled both It is one of the great tragedies of history that the neocons lost all memory that peace was ever possible at the end of the And that tells you all you need to know about why Washington branches of the War Party to conjure up a fearsome enemy, managed to squelch even Bush the Elder’s better instincts Cold War. Today it is as feckless, misguided and bloodthirsty is ensnared in its Forever Wars and is the very reason why thereby justifying aggressive policies that call for a constant with respect to rapprochement with Tehran. as were Berlin, Paris, St. Petersburg, Vienna and London in there is still no peace on earth. state of war and military mobilization. So the prisoner-release opening was short-lived – espe- August 1914. Even more to the point, by opting not for peace but for Indeed, Iran has not been demonized by happenstance. cially after the top post at the CIA was assumed in 1991 by A few months after that horrendous slaughter had been war and oil in the Persian Gulf in 1991 Washington opened When the Cold War officially ended in 1991, the Cheney/ the despicable Robert Gates. unleashed 105 years ago, however, soldiers along the western the gates to an unnecessary confrontation with Islam and neocon cabal feared the kind of drastic demobilization of the He was one of the very worst of the unreconstructed Cold front broke into spontaneous truces of Christmas celebration, nurtured the rise of jihadist terrorism that would not haunt US military-industrial complex that was warranted by the War apparatchiks who looked peace in the eye, and elected, song and even exchange of gifts. For a brief moment they the world today save for forces unleashed by George H. W. suddenly more pacific strategic environment. instead, to pervert John Quincy Adams’ wise maxim. That wondered why they were juxtaposed in lethal combat along Bush’s petulant quarrel with Saddam Hussein. In response, they developed an anti-Iranian doctrine that is, Gates spent the rest of his career searching the globe for the jaws of hell. We will momentarily get to the 45-year-old error that holds was explicitly described as a way of keeping defense spending monsters to fabricate. The truth is, there was no good reason for the Great War. the Persian Gulf is an American lake and that the answer to at high Cold War levels. If the fearsome Soviet Union was gone, In this case the motivation was especially loathsome. The world had stumbled into war based on false narratives and high oil prices and energy security is the Fifth Fleet. a vastly inflated threat emanating from Iran’s minuscule GDP Gates had been Bill Casey’s right-hand man during the lat- the institutional imperatives of military mobilization plans, But first it is well to remember that in 1991 there was no of $350 billion and tiny defense budget of $15 billion would ter’s rogue tenure at the CIA in the Reagan Administration. alliances and treaties arrayed into a doomsday machine and plausible threat anywhere on the planet to the safety and needs be invented and hyperbolized. Among the many untoward projects that Gates shepherded petty short-term diplomatic maneuvers and political calculus. security of the citizens of Springfield, MA, Lincoln, NE or And the narrative they developed to this end is one of the was the Iran-Contra affair that nearly destroyed his career Yet it took more than three-quarters of a century for all the Spokane, WA when the Cold War ended. more egregious Big Lies ever to come out of the Beltway. It when it blew up, and for which he blamed the Iranians for consequential impacts and evils to be purged from the life The Warsaw Pact had dissolved into more than a dozen puts you in mind of the young boy who killed his parents, and its public disclosure. of the planet. woebegone sovereign statelets; the Soviet Union was now then threw himself on the mercy of the courts on the grounds From his post as deputy national-security director in 1989 The peace that was lost last time has not been regained unscrambled into 15 independent and far-flung republics that he was an orphan! (and then as CIA head shortly thereafter), Gates pulled out this time, however, and for the same reasons. Historians can from Belarus to Tajikistan; and the Russian motherland would To wit, during the 1980s the neocons in the Reagan Admin- all the stops to get even. Almost single-handedly he killed readily name the culprits from 105 years ago. soon plunge into an economic depression that would leave it istration issued their own fatwa against the Islamic Republic off the White House goodwill from the prisoner release, and These include the German general staff’s plan for a light- with a GDP about the size of the Philadelphia MSA. of Iran based on its rhetorical hostility to America. Yet that launched the blatant myth that Iran was both sponsoring ning mobilization and strike on the western front called the Likewise, China’s GDP was even smaller and more prim- enmity was grounded in Washington’s 25-year support for terrorism and seeking to obtain nuclear weapons. Schlieffen Plan; the incompetence and intrigue in the court itive than Russia’s. Even as Mr. Deng was discovering the the tyrannical and illegitimate regime of the Shah, and con- Indeed, it was Gates who was the architect of the demoni- at St. Petersburg; French President Poincare’s anti-German People’s Bank of China’s printing press, which would enable it stituted a founding narrative of the Islamic Republic that was zation of Iran that became a staple of War Party propaganda irredentism owing to the 1871 loss of his home province, Al- to become a great mercantilist exporter, an incipient Chinese not much different than America’s revolutionary castigation after 1991. In time that morphed into the utterly false claim sace-Lorraine; and the bloodthirsty cabal around Winston threat to national security was never in the cards. of King George. that Iran is an aggressive would-be hegemon and a fount of Churchill who forced England into an unnecessary war, among After all, it was the 4,000 Wal-Marts in America upon That the Iranians had a case is beyond doubt. The open US terrorism dedicated to the destruction of the state of Israel, countless others. which the prosperity of the new Red Capitalism inextricably archives now prove that the CIA overthrew Iran’s democrati- among other treacherous purposes. Since these casus belli of 1914 were criminally trivial in depended and upon which the rule of the Communist oligarchs cally elected government in 1953 and put the utterly unsuited The latter giant lie was almost single-handedly fashioned light of all that metastasized thereafter, it might do well to in Beijing was ultimately anchored. Even the hardliners among and megalomaniacal Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi on the by the neocons and Bibi Netanyahu’s coterie of power-hungry name the institutions and false narratives that block the re- them could see that in swapping militarism for mercantilism Peacock Throne to rule as a puppet on behalf of US security henchman after the mid-1990s. Indeed, the false claim that turn of peace today. The fact is, these impediments are even and invading America with tennis shoes, neckties and home and oil interests. Iran posed an “existential threat” to Israel is a product of the more contemptible than the forces that crushed the Christmas textiles – that the door had been closed to any other kind of During the subsequent decades the Shah not only massively pure red meat domestic Israeli politics that kept Bibi in power truces one century ago. invasion thereafter. and baldly plundered the wealth of the Persian nation; with for much of the last two decades – a plague on mankind that There is no peace on earth today for reasons mainly rooted in No islamic terrorists or jihadi threat circa 1991 the help of the CIA and US military, he also created a brutal hopefully is finally ending. Imperial Washington – not Moscow, Beijing, Tehran, Damas- Likewise, in 1991 there was no global Islamic threat or secret police force known as SAVAK. The latter made the East But the truth is Iran has only a tiny fraction of Israel’s cus, Mosul or the rubble of Raqqa. Imperial Washington has jihadi terrorist menace at all. What existed under those head- German Stasi look civilized by comparison. conventional military capability. And compared to the latter’s become a global menace owing to what didn’t happen in 1991. ings were sundry fragments and deposits of Middle Eastern All elements of Iranian society including universities, la- 200-odd nukes, Iran never even had a nuclear weaponization At that crucial inflection point, Bush the Elder should have religious, ethnic and tribal histories that were of moment in bor unions, businesses, civic organizations, peasant farmers program after a small-scale research program was abandoned declared “mission accomplished” and parachuted into the great their immediate region, but no threat to America’s homeland and many more were subjected to intense surveillance by the in 2003. Ramstein air base in Germany to begin the demobilization of security whatsoever. SAVAK agents and paid informants. As one critic described it: And that is not our opinion. It was the sober assessment of the America’s war machine. The Shiite/Sunni divide had coexisted since A.D. 671, but Over the years, Savak became a law unto itself, having legal the nation’s top 17 intelligence agencies in the official Nation- So doing, he could have slashed the Pentagon budget from its episodic eruptions into battles and wars over the centuries authority to arrest, detain, brutally interrogate and torture al Intelligence Estimates for 2007, and has been confirmed $600 billion to $250 billion (2015 $); demobilized the mili- had rarely extended beyond the region, and certainly had no suspected people indefinitely. Savak operated its own prisons ever since. tary-industrial complex by putting a moratorium on all new reason to fester into open conflict in 1991. in Tehran, such as Qezel-Qalaeh and Evin facilities and many It’s the reason that the neocon plan to bomb Iran at the end weapons development, procurement and export sales; dissolved Inside the artificial state of Iraq, which had been drawn on suspected places throughout the country as well. Many of those of George W. Bush’s term didn’t happen. As Dubya confessed NATO and dismantled the far-flung network of U.S. military a map by historically ignorant European diplomats in 1916, activities were carried out without any institutional checks. in his autobiography, even he couldn’t figure out how he could bases; reduced the United States’ standing armed forces from for instance, the Shiite and Sunni got along tolerably. That’s Ironically, among his many grandiose follies, the Shah explain to the American public why he was bombing facilities 1.5 million to a few hundred thousand; and organized and led because the nation was ruled by Saddam Hussein’s Baathist had embarked on a massive civilian nuclear-power campaign that all his intelligence agencies had said did not exist. That a world-disarmament and peace campaign, as did his Repub- brand of secular Arab nationalism, flavored by a muscular in the 1970s, which envisioned literally paving the Iranian is, he would have been impaled on WMD 2.0 on his way out lican predecessors during the 1920s. propensity for violent repression of internal dissent. landscape with dozens of nuclear power plants. of the White House. Unfortunately, George H. W. Bush was not a man of peace, Hussein championed law and order, state-driven economic He would use Iran’s surging oil revenues after 1973 to buy Moreover, now via a further study arising from the 2015 vision or even middling intelligence. development and politically apportioned distributions from all the equipment required from Western companies – and also international nuclear accord – which would have straitjack- He was the malleable tool of the War Party, and it was the spoils of the extensive government-controlled oil sector. fuel-cycle support services such as uranium enrichment – in eted even Iran’s civilian program and eliminated most of its he who single-handedly blew the peace when, in the very To be sure, Baathist socialism didn’t bring much prosperi- order to provide his kingdom with cheap power for centuries. enriched-uranium stockpiles and spinning capacity had not year the 77-Year War ended with the demise of the Soviet ty to the well-endowed lands of Mesopotamia, but Hussein At the time of the revolution, the first of these plants at the Donald foolishly shit-canned it – the International Atomic Union, he plunged America into a petty argument between did have a Christian foreign minister and no sympathy for Bushehr was nearly complete, but the whole grandiose project Energy Agency (IAEA) has also confirmed that Iran had no the impetuous dictator of Iraq and the gluttonous emir of religious extremism or violent pursuit of sectarian causes. was put on hold amidst the turmoil of the new regime and secret nuclear-weapons program after 2003. Kuwait. But that argument was none of George Bush’s or As it happened, the bloody Shiite/Sunni strife that plagues the onset of Saddam Hussein’s war against Iran in September The whole scary bedtime story was false War Party prop- America’s business. Iraq, Syria and the greater middle east today and which func- 1980. As a consequence, a $2 billion deposit languished at aganda manufactured from whole cloth. 7 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 28, 2019 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 The Christmas Truce of 1914: Why there is still no peace on Earth? 6 because the presence of “crusader” boots on the ni-dominated Mosul in June 2014 they transformed More war party lies – demoniza- purportedly sacred soil of Arabia offended the the ISIS uprising against the government in Baghdad tion of the shiite crescent CIA-trained mujahedeen of Afghanistan, who into a vicious fledgling state in one fell swoop. But In this context, the War Party’s bloviating about had become unemployed when the Soviet Union it wasn’t by beheadings and fiery jihadist sermons Iran’s leadership of the so-called Shiite Crescent collapsed. that it quickly enslaved dozens of towns and several is another component of Imperial Washington’s The 1991 CNN-glorified war games in the million people in western Iraq and the Euphrates 28-year-long roadblock to peace. Iran wasn’t a Gulf also further empowered another group of Valley of Syria. threat to American security in 1991, and since unemployed crusaders. Namely, the neocon na- The islamic state was washington’s then it has never organized a hostile coalition of tional-security fanatics who had misled Ronald very own frankenstein terrorists that requires Washington’s intervention. Reagan into a massive military buildup to thwart To the contrary, its instruments of terror and Start with Iran’s long-standing support of Bashir what they claimed to be an ascendant Soviet Un- occupation were the best weapons that the American Assad’s government in Syria. That alliance goes ion bent on nuclear-war-winning capabilities and taxpayers could buy. That included 2,300 Humvees back to his father’s era and is rooted in the historic global conquest. and tens of thousands of automatic weapons, as confessional politics of the Islamic world. All things being equal, the sight of Boris Yeltsin, well as vast stores of ammunition, trucks, rockets, The Assad regime is Alawite, a branch of the vodka flask in hand, facing down the Red Army a few artillery pieces and even tanks and helicopters. Shiites, and despite the regime’s brutality, it has months later should have sent the neocons into the And that wasn’t the half of it. The Islamic State been a bulwark of protection for all of Syria’s mi- permanent disrepute and obscurity they so richly also filled the power vacuum in Syria created by its nority sects, including Christians, against a ma- deserved. But Dick Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz so-called civil war. But in truth that was another jority-Sunni ethnic cleansing. The latter would managed to extract from Washington’s Pyrrhic exercise in Washington-inspired and Washington-fi- surely occur if US and Saudi-supported rebels, led victory in Kuwait a whole new lease on life for nanced regime change undertaken in connivance by the Nusra Front and ISIS, had been permitted Imperial Washington. with Qatar and Saudi Arabia. to take full power. Right then and there came the second erroneous The princes of the petro-states were surely not Likewise, the fact that the Baghdad government predicate – to wit, that “regime change” among interested in expelling the tyranny next door. In- of the broken state of Iraq – that is, the artificial the assorted tyrannies of the Middle East was in stead, the rebellion was about removing Iran’s 1916 concoction of two striped-pants European America’s national interest. Alawite/Shiite ally from power in Damascus and diplomats (Messrs. Sykes and Picot of the British More fatally, the neocons now insisted that the laying the gas pipelines to Europe – which Assad and French foreign offices, respectively) – is now first Gulf War proved it could be achieved through had vetoed – across the upper Euphrates Valley. aligned with Iran is also a result of confessional a sweeping interventionist menu of coalition diplo- In any event, due to Washington’s regime change politics and geo-economic propinquity. clear that Hezbollah had become a legitimate and oil market is the fact that the Saudi princes treat macy, security assistance, arms shipments, covert policy in Syria, ISIS soon had even more troves of For all practical purposes, Iraq has been parti- respected force within the Lebanese polity, not their oil reserves not much differently than Exxon. action and open military attack and occupation. American weapons. Some of them were supplied to tioned. The Kurds of the Northeast have declared merely some subversive agent of Tehran: That is, they attempt to maximize the present What the neocon doctrine of regime change Sunni radicals by way of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. their independence and have been collecting their “For us Lebanese, and I can tell you the value of their 270 billion barrels of reserves, but actually did, of course, was to foster the Franken- More came up the so-called ratline from Gadd- own oil revenue for the past few years and operating majority of Lebanese, Hezbollah is a national ultimately are no more clairvoyant at calibrating stein that ultimately became ISIS. In fact, the only afi’s former arsenals in Benghazi through Turkey. their own security forces. resistance movement. If it wasn’t for them, we the best oil price to accomplish that than are the real terrorists in the world who threaten normal And still more came through Jordan from the And the western Sunni lands of the upper Eu- couldn’t have liberated our land. And because economists at Exxon or the International Energy civilian life in the West are the rogue offspring of “moderate” opposition trained there by the CIA, phrates, of course, were first conquered by ISIS of that, we have big esteem for the Hezbollah Agency. Imperial Washington’s post-1990 machinations which more often than not sold them or defected with American weapons dropped in place by the movement.” During the last decade, for example, the Saudis in the Middle East. to the other side. hapless $25 billion Iraqi army minted by Washing- So, yes, Hezbollah is an integral component have repeatedly underestimated how rapidly and The CIA-trained and CIA-armed mujahedeen So, that the Islamic State was Washington’s ton’s departing proconsuls; and then obliterated of the so-called Shiite Crescent, and its con- extensively the $100-per-barrel marker reached mutated into al-Qaeda not because bin Laden sud- Frankenstein monster became evident from the during Obama’s vicious bombing and droning fessional and political alignment with Tehran in early 2008 and again in 2014 would trigger a denly had a religious epiphany that his Washington moment it rushed upon the scene in mid 2014. But campaign designed to uproot the terrorist evil is entirely plausible. But that arrangement – flow of investment, technology and cheap debt benefactors were actually the Great Satan owing even then the Washington War Party could not that Washington itself had spawned. however uncomfortable for Israel – does not into the US shale patch, the Canadian tar sands, to America’s freedom and liberty. resist adding fuel to the fire, whooping up anoth- Accordingly, what is left of the rump state of represent unprovoked Iranian aggression on the tired petroleum provinces of Russia, the deep His murderous crusade was inspired by the er round of Islamophobia among the American Iraq is a population that is overwhelmingly Shiite Israel’s northern border. waters offshore Brazil and the like. And that’s to Wahhabi fundamentalism loose in Saudi Arabia. public and forcing the Obama White House into and nurses bitter resentments after two decades Instead, it’s actually the blowback from the say nothing of solar, wind and all the other gov- This benighted religious fanaticism became agitated a futile bombing campaign for the third time in of violent conflict with the Sunni forces. Why in stubborn refusal of Israeli governments – espe- ernment-subsidized alternative sources of BTUs. to a fever pitch by Imperial Washington’s violent a quarter century. the world, therefore, wouldn’t they ally with their cially the right-wing Likud governments of modern Way back when Jimmy Carter was telling us to plunge into Persian Gulf political and religious But the short-lived Islamic State Shiite neighbor? times – to deal constructively with the Palestinian turn down the thermostats and put on our cardigan quarrels, the stationing of troops in Saudi Arabia, was never a real threat to America’s Likewise, the claim that Iran is now trying to question. sweaters, those of us in Congress on the free market and the decade-long barrage of sanctions, embar- homeland security. annex Yemen, thereby justifying the sheer geno- In lieu of a two-state solution in the territory of side of the so-called energy-shortage debate said goes, no-fly zones, covert actions and open hostility The dusty, broken, impoverished towns and cide wreaked upon it by the Saudi air war, is pure Palestine, therefore, Israeli policy has produced that high oil prices would bring about their own against the Sunni regime in Baghdad after 1991. villages along the margins of the Euphrates River claptrap. The ancient territory of Yemen had been a chronic state of confrontation and war with the cure. Now we know. Yes, bin Laden would have amputated Saddam’s and in the bombed-out precincts of Anbar province racked by civil war off and on since the early 1970s. huge share of the Lebanese population represented So the Fifth Fleet and its overt and covert aux- secularist head if Washington hadn’t done it first, did not attract thousands of wannabe jihadists And a major driving force of that conflict has been by Hezbollah. iliaries should never have been there – going all but that’s just the point. The attempt at regime from the failed states of the Middle East and the confessional differences between the Sunni South The latter is surely no agency of peaceful the way back to the CIA’s coup against Iranian change in March 2003 was one of the most foolish alienated Muslim townships of Europe because and the Shiite North. governance and has committed its share of democracy in 1953. acts of state in American history. the caliphate offered prosperity, salvation or any In more recent times, Washington’s blatant atrocities. But the point at hand is that given But having turned Iran into an enemy, Im- Bush the Younger’s neocon advisers had no future at all. drone war inside Yemen against alleged terror- the last 35 years of history and Israeli policy, perial Washington was just getting started when clue about the sectarian animosities and historical What recruited them was outrage at the bombs ists and its domination and financing of Yemen’s Hezbollah would exist as a menacing force on 1990 rolled around. Once again in the name of grievances that Hussein had bottled up by parsing and drones dropped on Sunni communities by the government eventually produced the same old its northern border even if the Iranian theocracy “oil security” it plunged the American war ma- the oil loot and wielding the sword under the ban- US Air Force and by the cruise missiles launched outcome – that is, another failed state and an il- didn’t exist and the shah or his heir was still on chine into the politics and religious fissures of ner of Baathist nationalism. But shock and awe from the bowels of the Mediterranean that ripped legitimate government that fled at the 11th hour, the Peacock Throne. the Persian Gulf, and did so on account of the blew the lid and the de-Baathification campaign apart homes, shops, offices and mosques which leaving another vast cache of American arms and In short, there is no alliance of terrorism above referenced small-potatoes conflict that had unleashed the furies. mostly contained as many innocent civilians as equipment behind. in the Shiite Crescent that threatens American no bearing whatsoever on the safety and security Indeed, no sooner had George Bush pranced ISIS terrorists. Accordingly, the Houthis forces now in control security. That proposition is simply one of the of American citizens. around on the deck of the Abraham Lincoln de- The truth is, the Islamic State was destined for of substantial parts of the country are not some big lies that was promulgated by the War Party As US Ambassador Glaspie rightly told Saddam claring “mission accomplished” than Abu Mus- a short half-life anyway. It had been contained by kind of advanced guard sent in by Tehran. They after 1991 and that has been happily embraced Hussein on the eve of Hussein’s Kuwait invasion, ab al-Zarqawi, a CIA recruit to the Afghan war a the Kurds in the North and East and by Turkey are indigenous partisans who share a confessional by Imperial Washington since then in order to America had no dog in that hunt. decade earlier and smalltime specialist in hostage with NATO’s second-largest army and air force in tie with Iran, but who have actually been armed, keep the military-industrial-security complex Kuwait wasn’t even a country; it was a bank taking and poisons, fled his no-count redoubt in the Northwest. And it was further surrounded by if inadvertently, by Washington. alive, and justify its self-appointed role as po- account sitting on a swath of oil fields surrounding Kurdistan to emerge as a flamboyant agitator in the Shiite Crescent in the populated, economically Finally, there is the fourth element of the liceman of the world. an ancient trading city that had been abandoned by the now-dispossessed Sunni heartland. viable regions of lower Syria and Iraq. purported Iranian axis – the Hezbollah-con- Washington’s erroneous view that Ibn Saud in the early 20th century. That’s because The founder of ISIS succeeded in Fallujah Absent Washington’s misbegotten campaign trolled Shiite communities of southern Lebanon the persian gulf is an american lake – Saud didn’t know what oil was or that it was there; and Anbar province just like the long list of other to unseat Assad in Damascus and demonize his and the Beqaa Valley in the northeast. Like the root of sunni jihadism and in any event, it had been made a separate terrorist leaders Washington claims to have ex- confession-based Iranian ally, there would have everything else in the Middle East, Hezbollah The actual terrorist threat has arisen from the protectorate by the British in 1913 for reasons that terminated. That is, Zarqawi gained his following been nowhere for the murderous fanatics who had is a product of historical European imperi- Sunni, not the Shiite, side of the Islamic divide. are lost in the fog of diplomatic history. and notoriety among the region’s population of pitched a makeshift capital in Raqqa to go. They alism, Islamic confessional politics and the But that, in turn, is largely of Washington’s own Likewise, Iraq’s contentious dispute with Kuwait deprived, brutalized and humiliated young men would have run out of money, recruits, momentum frequently misguided and counterproductive making; and it is being nurtured by endless US had been over its claim that the emir of Kuwait by dint of being more brutal than their occupiers. and public acquiescence in their horrific rule in security policies of Israel. meddling in the region’s politics and by the bomb- was “slant drilling” across his border into Iraq’s Indeed, even as Washington was crowing about any event. In the first place, Lebanon was not any more a ing and droning campaigns against Washington’s Rumaila field. Yet it was a wholly elastic boundary the demise of Zarqawi, the remnants of the Ba- But with the US Air Force functioning as their real country than Iraq was when Sykes and Picot self-created enemies. of no significance whatsoever. athist regime and the hundreds of thousands of recruiting arm and France’s anti-Assad foreign laid their straight-edged rulers on a map. The result At the root of Sunni-based terrorism is the In fact, the dispute over the Rumaila field demobilized republican guards were coalescing policy helping to foment a final spasm of anarchy was a stew of religious and ethnic divisions – Ma- long-standing Washington error that America’s started in 1960 when an Arab League declaration into al-Qaeda in Iraq, and their future leaders were in Syria, the gates of hell had been opened wide, ronite Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Copts, Druse, security and economic well-being depend upon arbitrarily marked the Iraq – Kuwait border being incubated in a monstrous nearby detention unnecessarily. Sunnis, Shiites, Alawites, Kurds, Armenians, Jews keeping an armada in the Persian Gulf in order to two miles north of the southernmost tip of the center called Camp Bucca that contained more What has been puked out was not an organ- and countless more – that made the fashioning of protect the surrounding oil fields and the flow of Rumaila field. than 26,000 prisoners. ized war on Western civilization as former French a viable state virtually impossible. tankers through the straits of Hormuz. And that newly defined boundary, in turn, had The point is, regime change and nation building president Hollande so hysterically proclaimed in At length, an alliance of Christians and Sun- That doctrine has been wrong from the day come only 44 years after a pair of English and can never be accomplished by the lethal violence response to one of the predictable terrorist episodes nis gained control of the country, leaving the it was officially enunciated by one of America’s French diplomats had carved up their winnings of 21st-century armed forces; and they were an of mayhem in Paris. 40% Shiite population disenfranchised and great economic ignoramuses, Henry Kissinger, from the Ottoman Empire’s demise by laying a especially preposterous assignment in the context It was just blowback carried out by that infini- economically disadvantaged, as well. But it at the time of the original oil crisis in 1973. The straight-edged ruler on the map. In so doing, of a land rent with 13-century-old religious fissures tesimally small contingent of mentally deformed was the inflow of Palestinian refugees in the 46 years since then have proven in spades that they thereby confected the artificial country of and animosities. young men who can be persuaded to strap on a 1960s and 1970s that eventually upset the bal- it doesn’t matter who controls the oil fields, and “Iraq” from the historically independent and In fact, the wobbly, synthetic state of Iraq was suicide belt. ance of sectarian forces and triggered a civil that the only effective cure for high oil prices is hostile Mesopotamian provinces of the Shiites doomed the minute Cheney and his bloody gang In any event, bombing did not defeat ISIS; it war that essentially lasted from 1975 until the the free market. in the South, the Sunnis in the West and the decided to liberate it from the brutal but service- just temporarily made more of them. turn of the century. Every tin pot dictatorship from Libya’s Muam- Kurds in the North. able and secular tyranny of Saddam’s Baathist Ironically, what did extinguish the Islamic State It also triggered a catastrophically wrong-head- mar Gaddafi, to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, to In short, it did not matter who controlled the regime. That’s because the process of elections and was the Assad government, the Russian air force ed Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon in 1982, Saddam Hussein, to the bloody-minded chieftains southern tip of the Rumaila field – the brutal dic- majority rule necessarily imposed by Washington invited into Syria by its official government and and a subsequent repressive occupation of mostly of Nigeria, to the purportedly medieval mullahs tator of Baghdad or the opulent emir of Kuwait. was guaranteed to elect a government beholden the ground forces of its Hezbollah and the Iranian Shiite territories for the next 18 years. The alleged and fanatical revolutionary guards of Iran has Neither the price of oil, nor the peace of America, to the Shiite majority. Revolutionary Guard allies. It was they who set- purpose of this invasion was to chase the PLO and produced oil – and all they could because they nor the security of Europe nor the future of Asia After decades of mistreatment and Sadd- tled an ancient quarrel that had never been any Yasser Arafat out of the enclave in southern Leb- desperately needed the revenue. depended upon it. am’s brutal suppression of their 1991 uprising, of America’s business anyway. anon that they had established after being driven For crying out loud, even while the barbaric The first gulf war – a catastrophic did the latter have revenge on their minds and But Imperial Washington was so caught up out of Jordan in 1970. thugs of ISIS were briefly in power in eastern Syria, error in their communal DNA? Did the Kurds have in its myths, lies and hegemonic stupidity that it Eventually Israel succeeded in sending Ara- they milked every possible drop of petroleum from But once again Bush the Elder got persuaded dreams of an independent Kurdistan spilling could not see the obvious. Accordingly, 28 years fat packing to North Africa, but in the process the tiny, wheezing oil fields scattered around their to take the path of war. This time it was by Henry into Turkey and Syria that had been denied their after the Cold War ended and several years after created a militant, Shiite-based resistance backwater domain. So there is no economic case Kissinger’s economically illiterate protégés at the 30-million-strong tribe way back at Versailles Syria and friends extinguished the Islamic State, movement that did not even exist in 1982 whatsoever for Imperial Washington’s massive National Security Council and Bush’s Texas oil- and ever since? Washington has learned no lessons. The American and that in due course became the strongest military presence in the Middle East. man secretary of state. They falsely claimed that Yes, they did. So the $25 billion spent on Imperium still stalks the planet for new monsters single force in Lebanon’s fractured domestic The truth is, there is no such thing as an OPEC the will-o’-the-wisp of “oil security” was at stake, training and equipping the putative armed forces to destroy. political arrangements. cartel – virtually every member produces all they and that 500,000 American troops needed to be of post-liberation Iraq was bound to end up in the And that’s why there is still no peace on earth After Israel withdrew in 2000, the then-Chris- can and cheats whenever possible. The only thing planted in the sands of Arabia. hands of sectarian militias, not a national army. 28 years after it should have broken out, as did tian president of the country made abundantly that resembles production control in the global That was a catastrophic error, and not only In fact, when the Shiite commanders fled Sun- the Christmas Truce of 1914. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS DECEMBER 28, 2019

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New algorithms help laser-guided U.S. expects to rocket ahead telescopes spot small pieces of space junk in space during 2020 American courage and ingenuity in space exploration will be There are increasingly vast amounts of space extremely sensitive, introducing the problem tested as it hasn’t in decades as 2020 begins. junk circling Earth, and tracking the millions of false positives. Researchers used a pair NASA and a number of space entrepreneurs hope that, 51 years of pieces of debris is exceptionally difficult. of neural network algorithms to help the since the first Apollo lunar landing, America resumes human But thanks to a new set of algorithms, laser- telescopes recognize the weak signatures of spaceflight and takes a leap toward a return to the moon. guided telescopes can now spot small pieces small pieces of space debris and to stabilize Launching people from U.S. soil for the first time in almost a of space litter. pointing abilities of the telescopes. decade is the most anticipated space event planned for the New The technology, described this week in The algorithms helped the telescopes Year, along with growth of global satellite networks for high- the Journal of Laser Applications, could be spot space debris without being too sensitive speed Internet connections. used to keep satellites and spacecraft in low and producing too many false positives, the The U.S. space industry is expected to continue rapid expansion Earth orbit safe from collision. software upgrades also helped the telescopes as it did in 2019, with a steady pace of launches and a test flight «After improving the pointing accuracy more accurately hone in on localized regions of NASA’s new moon rocket. of the telescope through a neural network, of space. America’s reputation as the global leader in space exploration space debris with a cross sectional area of Researchers tested their new technology is at stake, along with billions of dollars in anticipated growth 1 meter squared and a distance of 1,500 against several on the traditional space junk- of commercial space led by Boeing and SpaceX -- both of which kilometers can be detected,» Tianming Ma, tracking methods, revealing an improved are building capsules to carry crews. a researcher with the Chinese Academy accuracy. NASA also is pursuing the first test flight of its Space Launch System of Surveying and Mapping in Beijing and «In this process, first, the observation data rocket for planned Artemis Moon missions. Test firing the rocket Liaoning Technical University in Fuxin, of 95 stars are used to solve the coefficients is scheduled early in 2020, with a possible uncrewed flight by fall. said in a news release. of the four models, and then the pointing Kennedy Space Center in Florida, long the hub of human space Laser ranging telescopes bounce laser accuracy of the telescope corrected by those exploration, once again rumbles with launches and preparation beams off of faraway objects to measure four models is verified by the detection -- at a level not seen for decades. their distance, but because the reflected newly developed neural network, software to boost their pointing abilities. results of 22 stars,» researchers wrote in “It’s really busy now. There’s a lot going on, and I think there’s signals are often very weak, their accuracy that replicates the processing patterns of the To pick up on especially weak signals, their paper. even more in store, a lot more,” said Mike Bolger, NASA’s manager isn›t very reliable. Researchers applied a human brain, for laser ranging telescopes laser-ranging telescopes have to be made (Source: UPI) of exploration ground systems at the space center. “The launch rate is ramping up. It’s really a cool time to be here.” For the first time since 2011, astronauts are scheduled to launch on a rocket from U.S. soil in February. NASA paints bird’s-eye view of Anti-Atlas Mountains in infrared NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are preparing From a vantage of 440 miles above Earth’s surface and and crumpled to create the Anti-Atlas Mountains. In to fly on the SpaceX’s Demo-2 flight in which the Crew Dragon painted in infrared, Morocco’s Anti-Atlas Mountains, also this image of southwest Morocco, visible, near infrared capsule will return to a splashdown at sea. The test mission will be known as the Lesser Atlas or Little Atlas, look like a geode and short wavelength infrared bands are combined to the next big step in trying to establish U.S. flights to the International streaked with tie-die swirls. dramatically highlight the different rock types, and Space Station. NASA has been buying seats in Russian Soyuz In 2007, NASA’s Terra satellite photographed the Anti- illustrate the complex folding.” capsules since the shuttle stopped flying. Atlas Mountains, which stretches from the Atlantic Ocean Launched in December of 1999, the Terra satellite NASA’s test flight of Boeing’s new Starliner capsule closed out to the Moroccan city of Tafilalt, as it passed overhead. On turned 20 years old just last week. The flagship of NASA’s 2019 with a flawed, but dramatic, test flight. Plans are moving Thursday, NASA featured the portrait online. Earth Observing System occupies a sun-synchronous ahead for astronauts to launch in the capsule in 2020. The Anti-Atlas Mountains, part of the broader Atlas orbit around the Earth, capturing high-resolution Starliner was launched Dec. 20, but failed to reach the Mountain Range, were formed some 80 million years images of clouds, ice, water and land in 14 different International Space Station as intended because of a software ago when the African and Eurasian tectonic plates multi-spectral bands. problem. The capsule nevertheless managed a 33-orbit flight, smashed into each other. Terra was engineered to last six years and 30,000 orbits. deemed a success by Boeing and NASA, with a high-tech mannequin “This collision destroyed the Tethys Ocean,” NASA Twenty years later, Terra is still imaging Earth’s many inside that showed the capsule was safe to fly humans. wrote. “The limestone, sandstone, claystone and extraordinary features. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he spoke to Vice gypsum layers that formed the ocean bed were folded (Source: UPI) President Mike Pence soon after the Boeing launch, and that Pence assured him of the administration’s support to push forward with human spaceflight. Division of mitochondria, key to animal Pence “was assured that NASA will continue to test and Scientists harness AI to reverse ageing in improve, in order to return American astronauts to space on billion-dollar industry evolution, is similar across species American rockets in 2020,” the vice president’s press secretary said of the call. The bigger goal of returning to the Moon to build a base there is scheduled for its first steps in 2020, while Congress will decide whether to fund the longer-term lunar plan. Pence made a historic announcement in March 2019 that NASA would accelerate its Moon landing goal to 2024. It previously targeted 2029. Bridenstine followed up, saying in May that the missions would be called Artemis, named after the sister of Greek god Apollo, and they would send “the first woman and the next man” to the Moon. NASA’s SLS Moon rocket core stage is to be test fired at Stennis Space Center in southern Mississippi, which will take about eight to 10 months. When it does launch in the last half of 2020, the first female launch director in NASA’s history will be in charge in the firing room at Kennedy Space Center. Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said she eagerly looks forward to seeing the SLS stacked and ready for launch. More competition exists in trying to get to the Moon. In May, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos declared that his rocket company, Blue Origin, would build the Blue Moon lander and also reach the moon by 2024 in a commercial effort. One of his goals, he Who wants to live forever? Until recently, to suffer stomach upsets and nausea. But, By Brooks Hays mitochondrial division; however, said, was to inspire future generations and provide a space the quest to slow ageing or even reverse it said Barzilai – who has taken metformin many points regarding its molecular infrastructure for the future. was the stuff of legends – or scams. But, for five years for pre-diabetes – “the only Scientists knew mitochondrial division mechanism are unclear.” “We have to use the resources of space,” Bezos said during the today, an evidence-based race to delay long-term side effect is living for longer is present across different species, but Scientists paid close attention to the announcement. “It’s this generation’s job to build that road to or prevent ageing is energizing scientists than your pension lasts”. researchers weren’t sure how exactly role of Aurora kinase, which regulates space so that the future generations can unleash their creativity.” worldwide. The search for extended life and health mitochondrial division is conserved the functions of proteins by supplying Satellite communications is set for a dramatic expansion in Backed by governments, business, is particularly active in the UK, where 260 -- or even whether it divides the same them with phosphate groups. Aurora 2020, as several companies aim for global networks capable of academics and investors in an industry companies, 250 investors, 10 non-profits, way in different organisms. kinase and its ability to phosphorylate beaming high-speed Internet service to places in which such worth $110bn (£82.5bn) – and estimated and 10 research labs are using the most Now, researchers have shown that proteins is known to play a key role service previously was impossible. to be worth $610bn by 2025 – scientists advanced technologies to hunt for the the genes powering mitochondrial in cell division. SpaceX launched 122 Starlink satellites in 2019. It has plans are harnessing the power of genomics and holy grail. The UK government has even replication, or division, a key Using immunoblotting and kinase for up to 24 launches carrying 1,440 satellites in the coming year. artificial intelligence to extend both life prioritized the separate sectors of AI and component of animal evolution, are assays, analytical techniques common Its eventual goal is a network of more than 10,000 satellites. spans and health spans. longevity by including both of them in the conserved across different species. in molecular biology, scientists were A major competitor, Airbus-backed OneWeb, began mass Scientists say there are already a 4 Industrial Strategy Grand Challenges, The endosymbiotic theory, an able to confirm that Aurora kinase production of satellites in a new factory just outside Kennedy number of things we can do to extend life which aims to put Britain at the forefront evolutionary theory, holds that more phosphorylates a protein called Space Center. OneWeb also launched its first five satellites in and health, while promising that current of the industries of the future. complex organisms called eukaryotes dynamin in red alga cells. Mass 2019 and tentatively plans to launch 24 satellites in early 2020. and ongoing large-scale trials of drugs Oxford professor Lynne Cox is an expert evolved from primitive single-celled spectrometric experiments helped It also has a goal of launching hundreds for its orbiting network. and other interventions mean the once- in the biological mechanisms of ageing and organisms known as prokaryotes. researchers pinpoint the exact locations Internet broadband communication will see huge improvements mythical goal of healthy, longer-lived lives one of the world leaders in developing new Researchers have previously shown that where Aurora kinase phosphorylates in speed and coverage of the planet in the near future as a result is not far away. ways of stopping cell ageing, otherwise mitochondria, the cellular organelles dynamin inside the cells. of the new satellite networks, said David Klumpar, director of “Death is inevitable but ageing is not,” known as cellular senescence. responsible for energy production, “When we looked for proteins Montana State University’s Space Science and Engineering Lab. said Dr. Nir Barzilai, founding director of “As organisms – and people – age, originated in prokaryotic bacteria, phosphorylated by Aurora kinase, “The small satellite market was primarily the realm of universities the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert changes build up in their cells that but were adopted by eukaryotes. we were surprised to find dynamin, until just five years ago. I find it phenomenal the uptake of this Einstein College of Medicine, New York. eventually trigger cellular senescence,” The conservation of similar a protein that constricts mitochondria platform by the industry,” Klumpar said. Barzilai has almost raised the necessary she said. “Senescent cells can no longer mitochondrial structures lends and promotes mitochondrial division,” But, he said government agencies are way behind, and science $50m to launch a five-year clinical trial renew themselves, meaning the ageing body credence to the endosymbiotic Matsunaga said. agencies like NASA should have launched hundreds of small into metformin, a cheap drug already cannot replenish tissue or heal wounds. theory, but scientists have struggled In followup tests, scientists satellites to learn more about space weather and other phenomena. commonly prescribed for pre-diabetics “Just over eight years ago, to determine how mitochondria divide experimented with the equivalent Klumpar also said he expects backlash against the growing and diabetics, to prove that it slows cell experiments discovered that removing along with the rest of the cell. of Aurora kinase and dynamin in number of satellites and space trash that circle the planet. Collisions ageing so dramatically that those who senescent cells from mice led to marked For the new study, scientists human cells. As they predicted, the in space are a growing threat, he said, despite claims by space take it can expect to live decades longer, rejuvenation, while transplanting focused on red alga cells, the simplest human equivalent of Aurora kinase companies that they can use thrusters to avoid collisions. in near-perfect health. senescent cells into young animals led eukaryote. Red alga cells contain just phosphorylated the human equivalent “The concern is huge and the government is running as fast Metformin has already been shown to premature ageing,” said Cox. one mitochondrion. Researchers wanted of dynamin, suggesting the machinery as it can to figure out how to handle regulation,” he said. in a number of separate clinical trials There are now cutting-edge clinical to find out if the machinery that powers powering mitochondrial division is So-called NewSpace launch providers proliferated in 2019, to slow the development of most age- trials in senolytics: the use of molecules mitochondrial division is conserved, or conserved across different species. but competition also heated up, so 2020 is likely to see some related diseases, including all cancers, to selectively destroy senescent cells in similar, across different species. “We suggest that the shakeout, industry observers say. Alzheimer’s and heart disease. To put people. Some senolytic compounds are “Mitochondria are important phosphoregulation is conserved from Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX lead the way, with it another way, said Barzilai, the drug already available online. But, warned Cox, to cellular processes, as they the simplest eukaryotes to mammals, SpaceX having launched multiple commercial and government slows the ageing process. It makes cells while the research is still in its infancy, a supply energy for vital activities,” and was acquired at the primitive stage satellites in 2019, along with three cargo missions to the International and tissues “younger”. more effective and safer approach is to do Sachihiro Matsunaga, professor at of endosymbiosis,” Matsunaga and his Space Station. The 2019 flights included the first two customers for It does have side effects: according to what we already know works: exercise, Tokyo University of Science, said colleagues wrote in their new paper SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, the most powerful rocket in use today. the National Institute for Health and Care eat better, eat less and sleep well. in a news release. “It is established on the subject, published Friday in Blue Origin has been building a large expansion of its Florida Excellence (Nice) guidelines users are likely (Source: The Guardian) that cell division is accompanied by the journal Communications Biology. rocket plant, where the company’s orbital rocket, the New Glenn, is being developed. Blue Origin also continued to test its New Shepard rocket in suborbital flights, and said in early 2019 that ‘Ring of fire’ eclipse enthrals skywatchers in Middle East, Asia technicians were preparing the first New Shepard intended to Thousands of skywatchers gathered across parts of the Middle Thursday’s was visible in Saudi Arabia as well as Singapore, the Astronomical Society of Singapore. The island’s next carry paying passengers. East and Asia on Thursday to glimpse the Sun forming a India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. will be in 2063. “It’s an exciting time and it’s an unusual time. There’s a huge ring of fire around the Moon in a rare annular solar eclipse. “This will be the first of only two annular eclipses visible In most years, two solar eclipses are visible from somewhere number of players looking to commercialize space products,” An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon covers the from Singapore for the rest of the century. So in that sense, on Earth. The maximum number is five. said Peter Beck, the founder of Rocket Lab. Sun’s center but leaves its outer edges visible to form a ring. it’s a very rare event for us,” said Albert Ho, president of (Source: Reuters) (Source: UPI) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM DECEMBER 28, 2019

WCC experts visit weavers, Iran considering to give Russian tourists workshops in Iranian village HERITAGE TEHRAN — World Crafts Council-Asia visa-free entry to help boost visitors deskPacific Region Director Ghada Hijavi along with her fellow experts arrived in Qassemabad village on TOURISM TEHRAN – Iran is considering to allow Wednesday to follow up on their assessment to name the deskRussian tourists visa-free entry into the northern Iranian rural area a world hub of handicrafts. country to boost tourism, after it granted same privilege Situated in Roodsar county, Gilan province, Qassemabad for some other nationals including Chinese and Omani village is nationally known for its traditional costumes passport holders. because of their vibrant colors and uniquely beautiful de- Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and handicrafts Minister signs. However, the Chador Shab, a kind of homemade Ali-Asghar Mounesan has said that Iranian and Russian outer-garment for women, has been the subject for the officials are set to sign a visa waiver agreement in the near WCC assessment. future, IRNA reported on Thursday. The Iranian minister, however, didn’t provide more details. He made the remakes in a meeting with a number of Iranian ambassadors and consulate generals in Behshahr, Mazandaran province, voicing hope that tourism, as an emerging economy in Iran could be flourished soon, adding “there are very good capacities at present and we have 24 globally-registered [cultural and natural] properties and over a thousand ones on the national heritage list.” “With striking regional customs, pristine nature and at- tractive landscapes, our country will surely witness a tourism boom in the coming years,” Mounesan said. Head of the Iranian Tour Operators Association believes that a majority of potential Russian travelers are unaware of vast tourist attractions that exist in every corner of Iran. “The fact is that Iran’s political and economic relations with Russia are considered as good, but this has nothing to do with The experts were planned to stay in Gilan till Friday attracting tourists because it is directly connected with the night, with paying visits to provincial officials, local crafts- Russian people. It is the Russian people who must choose public increased as of late June since the country al- period. The two countries are in talks to do the same for people, age-old workshops, handicrafts stores and exhibits Iran as their destination,” Ebrahim Pourfaraj said in August. lowed visa-free entry for visitors from China, deputy Iranian travelers. on their schedule. In June 2017, Iran’s tourism body emphasized the need to tourism minister Vali Teymouri said in November. Iran welcomed some four million foreign nationals So far, the council has granted the same titles to several achieve a reasonable balance in the two-way tourist exchange “Some 14,000 Chinese nationals visited Iran during during the first five months of the current Iranian calendar Iranian cities and villages including Abadeh for its art of with Russia. In the same year, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani the [Iranian] months of Mordad, Shahrivar and Mehr year (March 21 – August 22), which shows 30 percent “Woodcarving” and the village of Khorashad for the craft and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin inked a visa-free (July 23 – October 22), which shows 12 percent growth hike, compared with the same period last year, accord- ‘Toebafi’ (traditional handwoven fabrics). agreement for certain tourist groups. Based on the agreement year on year,” Teymouri said. ing to official data compiled by the Ministry of Tourism. Iran’s handicrafts exports reached $289 million in the tour groups of 5 to 50 people heading to Russia from Iran or Back in September, the cabinet of ministers approved Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, the country aims to past Iranian calendar year 1397, experiencing a three percent vice versa are granted a visa-free stay of up to 15 days. to maintain a visa waiver program for Omani nationals increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million year-on-year growth. Traditional ceramics, pottery vessels, The number of Chinese arrivals in the Islamic Re- which had been ratified in September 2018 for a one-year in 2014 to 20 million in 2025. handwoven clothes as well as personal ornamentations with precious and semi-precious gemstones are among Iranian exports to Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany, the U.S., the UK, and other countries Iran celebrates Hyrcanian Forests becoming World Heritage HERITAGE TEHRAN — Iran on “Hyrcanian Forests” was in fact the country’s deskThursday held a ceremony second natural site gaining such a recognition to officially celebrate Hyrcanian Forests for after the Lut Desert. Venice’s royal gardens being designated as a World Heritage site. Ramezan-Ali Qaemi, the director of the reopen after extensive Experts say that parts of the woodland date World Heritage in Golestan, said earlier back some 50 million years. in November that the Hyrcanian Forests restoration work Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Hand- are witnesses of the ancient forests of the icrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan, Fi- world since they have survived between nance and Economic Affairs Minister Farhad 35 and 50 million years. The newly restored Royal Gardens can be accessed over a Dejpasand, as well as several provincial “There were similar forests in Europe short drawbridge from St. Mark’s Square. and local officials attended a ceremony and in areas of the former Soviet Union, Venice’s Royal Gardens were first envisioned by Napo- which was held in Babolsar, Mazandaran but during the Ice Age, they were com- leon, flourished under Austrian Empress Sissi, and were province, IRNA reported. pletely lost. So that it could be said that finally turned over to the public by the House of Savoy, According to organizers, the celebration the Hyrcanians are the oldest (forests) in only to fall into disrepair in recent years. After an exten- was intended to introduce this “national the world,” Qaemi noted. sive restoration, the gardens reopened on December 17, wealth and world heritage” to all strata of According to UNESCO, the forest contains as a symbol both of the lagoon city’s endurance after last [the Iranian] society. the most important and significant natural month’s record floods, and the necessity of public-private “Other goals of the celebration are to habitats for in-situ conservation of biological partnerships to care for Italy’s enormous cultural heritage. create sympathy for the Hyrcanian Forests diversity, including those containing threat- Italian insurer Generali spent some €3 million (U.S. as well as to inform people, especially in the ened species of outstanding universal value $3.5 million) to renovate the Royal Gardens adjacent to northern provinces, about how to protect of Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan, the and 50 million years. from the point of view of science or conser- St. Mark’s Square, and it will receive a tax write-off of 65 these woodlands.” Hyrcanian Forests are witnesses of the The inclusion was unanimously approved vation. It also contains superlative natural percent over the next three years under Italy’s Art Bonus Spanning from the south of Azerbaijan ancient forests of the world estimated to in early July by experts at the 43rd session phenomena or areas of exceptional natural program. It is part of €400 million spent by over 1,000 to about 850 km eastward to the provinces be survived for a long period spanning 35 of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. beauty and aesthetic importance. individual and corporate donors to restore and renovate cultural treasures since the program, modeled after sim- ilar tax breaks in countries like the United States, was launched in 2014. (Source: AFAR) Ancient slab unearthed in Karabuk An ancient slab dating back around 1,800 years was un- the Hadrianopolis during the Roman period because of The bull on the mosaics represented Lucas and the earthed in Turkey’s northern Karabuk province. the intensive viticulture activities. lion represented Marcos and the church was dedicated ROUND THE GLOBE The limestone slab that had a silhouette of a woman The birthplace of the Saint Alypius the Stylite, the to Marcos and Lucas, two very important figures in the on it was found during excavation works in the ancient ancient city of Hadrianopolis was an important site of Christian world, according to reports. city of Hadrianopolis – now located 3 kilometers east of pilgrimage for early Christians until the city lost its im- The floors of the churches are garnished with mosaics. Classical Weimar the Eskipazar district of the Karabuk province. portance in the 8th century CE. These mosaics show figures of horses, elephants, deer and Faculty Member of the Department of Archeology of So far 14 dispersed public buildings and other struc- gryphons. Because of this, the ancient city is compared In the late 18th and early 19th century the small Thuringian Karabük University (KBU) Ersin Celikbas said that the tures were identified in the city, which was settled during to Zeugma in southeastern Turkey, which is famous for town of Weimar witnessed a remarkable cultural flower- slab has an inscription on it reading: “Herakleides, son the late Hellenistic, Roman and early Byzantine periods. its mosaics. ing, attracting many writers and scholars, notably Goethe of Glaukos, presented this.” These public buildings consist of two baths, two churches, After excavation works, the site will be opened for (1749-1832) and Schiller (1759-1805). This development is “The slab has a figure of a woman on it wearing a a defense building, rock tombs, a theater, an arched and visitors. reflected in the high quality of many buildings and parks in traditional dress, holding ears of wheat in her right hand dome-shaped building, a monumental cult niche, a wall, Believed to have lived between the 6th and 7th centuries the surrounding area. and wearing a belt with a snake on her waist. Most prob- villas, other monumental buildings and some cultic areas. CE, Saint Alypius the Stylite is one of the pillar-saints ably, this is the goddess of the harvest and agriculture ‘Figures represent Lucas and Marcos’ of the Christian faith, who climbed on top of pillars and Demeter,” he said. A bull, a lion and two peacocks figures also were found spent the rest of his life preaching, fasting and praying. He also said that must have been highly respected in in the mosaics. (Source: The Hurriyet Daily News) 8 tips for hotels, from a hotel guest Easy additions that can make hotel stays more pleasant By Steve Bailey but it was poor customer care for the hotel watching earlier. to place guests there who had a longstand- In the Bathroom These are not tips for travelers. They are ing reservation. We now know to ask if Single-use plastics tips for hotels and inns on how to make a we’re getting the best possible room in Many hotels and cruise lines are get- guest (me, to be specific) happy. My wife, our price category. ting rid of these little bottles of bath gel, Jane, and I travel a lot and stay in a vari- Luggage racks shampoo and conditioner. I’d rather have ety of accommodations, from a sleep-on- My wife and I each travel with a carry-on- those three products in wall-mounted dis- the-floor desert oasis in Iran to landmark Weimar is a city in the federal state of Thuringia, Germany. size wheeled suitcase and usually another pensers in the shower. hotels in Europe to jungle eco-lodges in under-the-seat-size bag. Hotel rooms that Counter space It was in the lifetime of Duchess Anna Amalia (1739- Nicaragua. Wherever we are, though, it’s 1809) that Weimar’s Classical period began. She appointed are clearly set up for couples (two bathrobes, There should be room for at least two easy to see things that could be changed for example) almost never have a second rack toiletry bags on the counter or a shelf in the the poet Christoph Martin Wieland (1733-1813) as tutor to make our stay more pleasant. to her sons in 1772. It was after Carl August (1757-1828) for a suitcase. So the room’s chair (and it is bathroom. Even the most rustic inns usually The room itself likely there’s only one chair) gets used for a have room for a wooden shelf above the toilet had succeeded to the Duchy that Johann Wolfgang Goethe We recently stayed at the five-star Es- settled in the town (1775). suitcase, or maybe the cabinet that the TV or elsewhere in the bathroom. And there planade in Zagreb, Croatia. Although we or the coffee maker sits on. should be a rack or shelf in the shower for Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-1803) came to Weimar had booked almost six months in advance in the following year. The high point of the town’s cultural Safes the guest’s razor or the guest’s own soap and and were staying for four nights, we were Hooks influence resulted from the creative relationship between The safe should be large enough to hold hair products in the shower. given a room with a view into an air shaft. It’s a small thing, but a few wall hooks can Goethe and Friedrich Schiller that began in 1794 and was a small laptop or at least a tablet, and it Laundry A hotel might call this “a courtyard view,” be important, especially in the bathroom. intensified when Schiller moved to Weimar in 1799. should be mounted high enough that the Traveling with small suitcases for weeks but air ducts and other visible infrastruc- Many hotels encourage guests to use their The World Heritage properties comprises twelve separate guest doesn’t have to sit on the floor to use it. at a time means there is going to be laundry ture made this just a large air shaft. We bath towels a second or third time, but give buildings or ensembles: Goethe’s House and Goethe´s Gar- TV to do. We often handwash items at night complained to the desk and were told that them no place to hang the towel to dry other den and Garden House; Schiller’s House; Herder Church, Please provide a list of the channels, and and hope they will dry overnight, hanging rooms are not assigned until the night be- than maybe a shower curtain rod. And, like Herder House and Old High School; Residence Castle and set the TV so that it returns to the same chan- on doorknobs or shower heads. Remember fore a guest’s arrival. We ended up staying the towels, the bathrobes are likely to be Ensemble Bastille; Dowager’s Palace (Wittumspalais); nel after being turned off and on again. I the clothes lines that some motels had in one night in the original room, and the folded and on a shelf at check-in. Where Duchess Anna Amalia Library; Park on the Ilm with the hate it when every time the TV is turned their bathrooms? Guests could pull a line next day we were moved to a room in the do we put them when we take them off? We Roman House; Belvedere Castle and Park with Orangery; off, it returns to a default setting, so that it out of a stainless-steel disc on one wall and same price category and just as spacious, need hooks, which are also good for baseball Ettersburg Castle and Park; Tiefurt Castle and Park; and again welcomes you to the hotel and makes attach it to a receptacle on another. Why with park and city views. If we had been caps, shopping bags and other things. Such Historic Cemetery with Princes´ Tomb. you click through a menu to get to television aren’t they universally available? Even walk-ins with no reservation, we might a small thing can make a difference. (Source: UNESCO) channels, and then you have to click through quick-drying clothes marketed to trave- have been happy to get the original room, maybe 30 channels to find the one you were lers need a place to hang. (Source: The New York Times) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 28, 2019 INTERNATIONAL 11 Reuters unfounded claims or lies, news agency continues unnamed source quotation on Iran

TEHRAN (FNA) - Reuters a globally Fake news and fabrication on Iran’s enemies in the region. known world news agency requires all its Iran’s Missile Program The report claimed the missiles had a journalists to show full respect for its strict FNA released parts of its interview with range of between 200 and 700 kilometers, rules stated in its handbook on precise the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force putting Riyadh or the Israeli city of Tel Aviv quotations from sources with known and Commander on December 4, 2018, where within striking distance if the weapons verifiable identity when giving out reports the general stressed that one of IRIAF were deployed in Southern or Western Iraq. on sensitive world developments, allowing plans is to increase the range of its “air- A day later, a senior Iraqi official said quotations and news from unnamed sources to-air missiles”. that the Reuters’ claims that Iran has only in very rare cases and as a last resort, “Today, we are after increasing the range transferred ballistic missiles to Iraq are warning that anonymous sources have the of our air-to-air missiles. Therefore, one imprecise as Hashd al-Shaabi (popular least reliability and credit as they cannot be of our most important plans is increasing forces) have produced the missiles verified, but all these rules and directives the range of missiles and ammunition. themselves. seem to be nonsense, when it comes to Iran. We are after Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) “Such reports are not precise. There The new agency’s fabrications and false missiles and ammunition and consider no is a mistake in what has been said. The reporting on Iran has come under harsh limitations in this regard for ourselves missiles are produced by Hashd al-Shaabi criticism in frequent cases by various because the Air Force should heighten and they were unveiled during ceremonies Iranian officials and media as well as the country’s deterrence power along with to celebrate victory over the ISIL,” an activists and journalists througout the other (Armed) Forces,” General Nasirzadeh unnamed Iraqi official told the Arabic- world. Even Iran’s Foreign Minister told FNA on December 4 last year. language al-Hayat newspaper on Saturday. Mohammad Javad Zarif who has sought “We have a very extensive plan in the He added that the range of the missiles hard to keep the balance in interaction field of long-range and smart ammunition is no more than 50km, stressing that they with the world media outlets has failed to and missiles,” he added, noting that the are no threat to the neighbors. keep silent on Reuters’ unfounded reports, country aims to enhance the radar systems The Iraqi official voiced concern that and once even said on June 24, 2018, “You of its fighter jets to be able to hit the target such allegations could pave the ground for should know that Reuters fabricates 50 sooner and with a more precision-striking targeting certain Iraqi groups or figures fake news on Iranian economy on a daily power. who opposed the US deployment in Iraq. basis”, elaborating on the reason why he Air-to-air missiles are fired by aircraft, line of command, and with totally different context of the campaign to wage war on Iran Reuters falsifies contents of SPV would no more have any interview with fly a couple of hundred kilometers and kinds of missiles. currently run by the main neoconservatives to show Iran & EU have excluded oil the news agency. hit aircraft. Iran’s top military brass have repeatedly in the Trump administration, National exports from INSTEX mechanism The news agency still continues to Hours later, Reuters rushed to cover stressed that the country plans to keep Security Advisor John Bolton and Secretary In another exclusive report on December release a mixture of right and wrong to the report, but openly distorted General the range of its ballistic missiles to a of State Mike Pompeo,” it added. 3, 2018, Reuters claimed that France and advance its politically-driven agenda on Nasirzadeh’s remarks, surprising many. 2,000km ceiling, but the misrepresented Once the news agency defied complaints Germany are to take joint responsibility for Iran, while keeping part of its credibility Although the original piece by FNA has story implies that Tehran has decided to by activists, other international media an EU-Iran trade mechanism to minimize for an audience that is losing its belief mentioned several times that the Iranian increase the range of ballistic missiles past outlets cautioned it of the false reporting, the risk of US sanctions but few now believe and growing intolerant when faced with general is speaking of air-to-air missiles - its self-imposed 2,000km range ceiling, but Reuters has kept the story online even it will cover oil sale. similar exclusive repoting on Iran quoting that fall within his jurisdiction - the Reuters beating the drums of war. a day later. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad government officials, but unnamed. report never makes any such reference and Immediately after, a growing number of “All is fair in love and war, or when Javad Zarif rejected Reuters’ claim that In a most recent case, Reuters released only reiterates that Iran plans to widen the activists rushed to warn Reuters against you want to do a little scaremongering. the European countries may exclude his a special exclusive report on Monday to range of its “missiles” to hide the nature misreporting the FNA interview, reminding Reuters sounded the alarm on Iran’s country’s crude revenues from the Special raise a number of claims about Iran riots, and mission of the weapon system under the agency that its report represents a efforts to boost the range of its missiles, Purpose Vehicle (SPV) mechanism which saying about 1,500 people were killed discussion. Then in a subsequent move to genuine instance of misinformation and while completely missing what missiles was promised by them to Tehran back in during less than two weeks of unrest that coax the readers into developing this wrong biased journalism. they were,” the Russia-run news agency, September. started on Nov. 15. Reuters claimed that perception that the general is speaking “This is a misrepresentation of the FARS RT, said in a report, titled “What missile “Based on the information that we have, that it has received the toll from “three of long-range ballistic missiles, the piece, piece. The commander is of the Air Force, exactly? Reuters misses the target as it this is not correct because if Iran’s crude Iranian interior ministry officials” who though mentions that General Nasirzadeh not the missile force, and he speaks about spreads fear on Iran expanding missile incomes are not deposited into an account, extended range for “air to air missiles”. These have nothing to do with ballistic missiles which Iran limited to 2,000 km,” one said. A first look might offer a misunderstanding resulted from haste or the mindset of the reporter when he first read the orignial piece, given the charm that the mainstream media see in depicting Iran as the party escalating tensions, but a more thorough and precise study of the report displays a planned agenda. The report links the story to the Iran- US standoff right from the start, adds the ballistic missile part to ring the alarm that Iran has gone on the offensive and continues to keep readers focused on the same theme to the end to ensure that Iran is depicted as the antagonist who is escalating tensions at such sensitive juncture. This has also been readily felt by readers. “Once again, dangerous fearmongering by Reuters and this particular reporter. Anyone remotely knowledgeable about Iranian military would know ballistic missiles are not IRIAF’s jurisdiction,” one activist tweeted. it never names. is the commander of the country’s Air Later Reuters reminded the recent range”. it is not clear if any money will remain The death toll claim came as Reuters Force, ignores that ballistic missiles do allegations made by a number of US The sound of protests and complains is for dealings,” Zarif said. itself has admitted that even Amnesty not fall within the scope of his jurisdiction, officials against Iran’s ballistic missile definitely deafening for any media outlet Zarif blasted the western media, specially International – that has time and again and adds: tests to nudge readers into the conclusion that claims to be a truthful source of news Reuters, for attempts to disappoint the proved to be after a political agenda towards “Iran’s military has cited 2,000 km that White House concerns over Tehran’s and reporting, but Reuters has remained Iranian people, stressing that oil is the Iran and whose numbers have proved to (1,240 miles) as the current missile range, missile program are geniune and justified. adamant, keeping the piece online, let major part of Iran’s exports. be no more than exaggerations – has put and said U.S. bases in Afghanistan, the Yet, to portray the threat an issue of more alone extending an apology for falsifying On October 6, 2017, Reuters report the November riots death toll at 300. United Arab Emirates and Qatar, plus international concern in need of more the FNA report, even now that the report claimed, quoting Iranian and Western Head of Iran’s Supreme National U.S. aircraft carriers in the Gulf, were urgent attention, the report makes an seems to be nothing more than a somehow officials familiar with the overtures, that Security Council (SNSC) Information within range.” implied effort to make it seem as if the failed attempt to mislead the public. Iran has suggested to six world powers that and Communications Secretariat Alireza The added part that has been picked by missiles the IRIAF commander were Reuters claims Iran-Affiliated it may be open to talks about its missile Zarifian Yeganeh categorically dismissed the wirter from public information openly bragging about could soon be used to snipers kill Iraqi protesters program aimed at reducing tension over the report as “false propaganda”. available to anyone, has no relevance to disrupt energy flow in the Persian Gulf. Also, Reuters claimed in an exclusive the disputed program. The US and Western “Such types of news writing and making the topic under discussion by the Iranian An article on this very same story by report quoting two Iraqi security officials as officials did not confirm the matter was accusations are by no means a complicated genera, IRIAF’s air-to-air missile program. website Moon of Alabama says, “The saying that paramilitary troops supported discussed at the Zarif-Tillerson meeting. task. These claims are leveled based on a Iran’s ballistic missiles belong to Iran’s Reuters writers surely know all this. It by Iran were killing protesters in Iraq from The next day, Iran’s former Foreign set of premeditated psychological warfare Islamic Revolution Guard Corps’ Aerospace is thus obvious that the piece is a willful the rooftop of nearby buildings. Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi and lack credibility,” Zarifian Yeganeh and Missile Force under Brigadier General manipulation of the original FARS piece The news agency claimed that the snipers in a statement strongly ruled out claims noted. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Those are two very it is based on.” were “members of a group very close to by the Reuters news agency on Tehran’s “The protestations that Reuters made different organizations, with a different “The Reuters piece has to be seen in the the Iranians”. readiness to hold talks over aspects of its in its report are totally worthless not only The Iraqi officials strongly rejected the defensive missile program. in terms of security issues and intelligence claim the report by Reuters that carried “The Islamic Republic of Iran has but in the field of news and media, and will UNNAMED SOURCES. The officials repeatedly and openly announced its damage the already-tarnished credibility confirmed that there were snipers shooting stance on the matter in diplomatic of this agency,” he added. at protesters, but stressed that they were no meetings with foreign officials, including “It is easy to quote unnamed sources way related to Iraq’s security and military the interviews and talks held by Foreign to claim a high death toll for gas price bodies or affiliated groups. The Iraqi Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during rise riots in November. When Reuters has popular forces Hashd Al-Shabi spokesman his recent visit to New York,” Qassemi said. defied presenting a proof or evidence or also strongly denied the reports stressing He said that Iran has already emphasized identity of its source, then why 1,500, it that “none of their forces had taken part the non-negotiability of its defensive could have said 20,000.” even in the crackdown on protests, let program and stressed that it does not He also pointed out that a team has along shooting from the rooftops”. violate the UN Security Council Resolution been set up to investigate the situation Baghdad police also said they were 2231. and circumstances surrounding the death chasing these unknown snipers who only The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman of each victim and will soon release its intended to escalate the tensions. Then further mentioned that Iran believes its findings. a source in Iraqi prime minister’s office missile defense program is an absolute Some believe the report is somehow sent a protest letter to the new agency, right, and Tehran would certainly related or meant to justify US President raising suspicion about the report that continue the plan within the framework Donald Trump’s baseless claim earlier blamed a specific group for the suspicious of its conventional and pre-determined that thousands were getting killed on Iran shootings without even a shred of evidence. defensive programs and strategies. streets as he was conducting a speech. Reuters claims transfer of Iranian He further reaffirmed that the foreign Here are a few instances of Reuters’ fake Ballistic Missiles to Iraq minister of Iran, on the sidelines of the news on Iran developments sometimes by In another exclusive report on August United Nations General Assembly, has means of mere fabrication and at other 31, 2018, Reuters claimed that ballistic touched upon this case during all his times through the same method of exclusive missiles had been transferred from Iran to private meetings and talks, as well as his reporting and unnamed sources. Iraq over the past few months to threaten interviews with the international media. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY DECEMBER 28, 2019

Net zero carbon Most unique biodiversity: a glimpse at neighborhood to be built in south Wales Iran’s north-central national parks

One of the world’s first net zero carbon neighborhoods will By Faranak Bakhtiari High biodiversity of the region has be constructed in Wales after Neath Port Talbot council ap- paved the way for scientific, educational proved the development of 35 homes able to generate more TEHRAN – North-central Semnan prov- and research activities in the refuge. clean energy than they use. ince is home to two extraordinary arrays Kavir National Park Development of the £8m project in Pontardawe in south of wildlife and natural landscapes, from Kavir National Park with an area of Wales is expected to begin this spring. The residents of Parc Touran to Kavir National Parks, areas 4,000 square kilometers is a protected Hadau will pay no energy bills because the development will use with the largest population of endangered ecological zone stretched over the provinc- a mixture of renewable energy technologies to generate enough Asiatic cheetah. Here, we take a glimpse es of Semnan, Tehran, Qom and Isfahan. clean electricity to power its homes over the year. at these wild, wonderful places. Lying on the western edge of Iran’s To preserve the existing biodiver- major desert (Dasht-e Kavir), the region sity over the wide geographic expanse reveals the natural beauty of mysteri- of Iran, four types of areas have been ous desert and displays a great share of designated for preservation and protec- wildlife species. Its astonishing biological tion, including, national parks, wildlife characteristic has made it to be known refuges, protected areas and natural na- as little Africa or Iran’s Serengeti. tional monuments. In 1997, the Depart- Kavir National Park is home to native ment of the Environment (DOE) held goats (Capra aegagrus), sheep (Ovis ori- supervision over 7,563,983 hectares of entalis), striped hyenas, Indian wolves, such areas. By the year 2003, the size gazelles, the rare Asiatic cheetahs, and of the DOE supervised areas reached the Persian leopards. 11,791,788.225 hectares. Receiving around 150 millimeters National park is a designated part of of rain a year, the region’s vegetation is Iran’s environment - including forests, adapted to drought and salty soils; also rangelands, woodlands, prairies, water plants grow leaves with thorns too retain or mountains - that is an outstanding water and combat grazing by animals. representation of Iranian nature. As such, The Kavir National Park is Iran’s only The two-, three- and four-bedroom homes will be equipped it is brought under protection in order to region that contains no human, mineral Wildlife Refuge, situated in southeast Some 41 species of mammals, 167 bird with solar panels and energy-storing batteries, ground-source permanently preserve its natural ecology and grazing habitat so is well protected of Shahrud city, stretches to 1,400,000 species, 42 reptile species and 2 amphibian heat pumps and innovative ventilation systems. and to create a suitable environment for from the human involvement. hectares, while being the second largest species have been identified in Touran. Sero Homes, which was founded in Wales two years ago, the flourishing of wildlife and the growth In fact, the park is a natural exhibition reserve in the country after Naybandan The reserve also hosts wild sheep and said Parc Hadau would provide high-quality, affordable housing of flora under natural conditions. for showcasing the rare desert wildlife, Wildlife Refuge. goats, the goitered gazelle and Indian through long-term index-linked leases. It will also be the first The national parks currently cover including Asiatic cheetah, Persian leopard, Defined a protected area in 1972, gazelle, in addition to the largest popu- scheme to meet the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) defi- 1,649,771 hectares of the country’s area. Gray wolf, Striped hyena, Sand cat, Red the region also received the title of bio- lation of Persian onager. nition of net zero carbon by tracking the development’s energy Protected areas also are significantly fox, Rüppell›s fox, Chinkara, Ovis, Jackal, sphere reserve by UNESCO, and ranked The most important animal species use and carbon emissions in real time. important natural resources due to its Caracal and various Halophyte plants. the second biosphere in the world after are leopard, cheetah, jebeer gazelle, Richard Twinn, a policy adviser at the UKGBC, said: impact on wildlife breeding, preservation In total, 34 species of mammal, 155 Serengeti ecosystem (a geographical goitred gazelle, wild goat, Northern “Meaningful action over the next 10 years will be critical of plant life or its natural state. The total bird and 34 reptiles have been identified region in Africa). three-toed jerboa, hamster, gerbil, to help avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The area of regions protected is 6,600,601 in this region. Wide range of flora and fauna, valuable hyrna, wildcat, cape hare, marbled, energy used in homes accounts for around 20% of the UK’s hectares. In the past, large population of Persian genetic resources are seen in the area, polecat, caracal, houbara bustard, Ple- emissions, so if we’re going to radically reduce emissions, A Wildlife refuge has natural habi- onager lived in the area, the last of which more importantly, the precious species ske’s ground jay, heron, ferruginous we need all of our new homes to be net zero carbon in tats and special climate qualifications, were observed in 1984, and today their of Asiatic cheetah inhabit in the area. duck, eagle, falcon, peregrine falcon, operation by 2030 at the latest.” which brought under protection in order generations have certainly vanished. National Park, Wildlife Refuge, and sand grouse, see-see partridge, different When Parc Hadau needs to draw on electricity from the grid, to revive wild animals and is stretching Black-tailed gazelle, if not extinct, is Protected Area constitute 8, 17, and 75 buzzards, goshawk, eagle owl, agama, such as on cold winter nights, Sero will measure the carbon in- to 3,524,181 hectares. on the verge of extinction, but the pop- percent of the entire area. Ghosts have monitor, Iranian spiny-tailed lizard, tensity of the imported electricity and later export enough clean Khar Turan National Park ulation of Indian gazelle in this region is been nicknamed Iran›s Africa. saw-scaled viper, and cobra. energy in return to balance the overall carbon emissions. Khar Turan National Park or Touran probably the largest in all of Iran. James Williams, the managing director of Sero Homes, said: “The principles underpinning our vision for housing are simple – people’s homes should minimise the harm done to our planet and they shouldn’t cost the earth to run.” Road runoff pollution damages London’s rivers, study finds The 11 two-bed homes, 22 three-bed homes and two four-bed The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called on the gov- help clear air pollution from road traffic. homes will not be available for sale on the open market. Instead, ernment to provide more funding to clean up the pollution John Bryden, the head of improving rivers at Thames21, Sero plans to offer the properties on long-term, index-linked leases blighting London’s rivers, after a study highlighted the one of the groups behind the new research and maps, said: to provide residents with security, without the large deposits toxic effects on water from driving in the capital’s most “Pollution from roads is one of the least understood and needed to get on to the property ladder. congested areas. most complex forms of river pollution. This research can “The current housing market is failing to achieve this, and The River Brent in west London and the River Lea in finally help us identify the worst roads and start taking Parc Hadau will bring to life, at scale, this vision for better homes the east, at 18 miles and 42 miles respectively, are worst action to deal with this urgent problem.” for future generations,” Williams said. affected by pollution from roads. Concern over pollution has Moving to electric vehicles will help to cut down on some The Parc Hadau project comes almost seven years after the concentrated on toxic air, which is killing and shortening of the worst sources of road runoff, but toxins from tyre wear Treasury scrapped a policy that called for all new homes to be the lives of tens of thousands of people every year, but road and braking systems will remain a problem. More and better carbon neutral from 2016. pollution is also damaging the water supply. public transport can cut traffic, and encouraging people to The policy, first put forward in 2006 by the then chancellor, Road runoff pollution in rivers and canals comes from walk and cycle more will also play a key role. Gordon Brown, would have ensured that all new homes from spills of oil, diesel and petrol, and from the wearing of tyres Rob Shore, the head of UK programmes at the Wildfowl 2016 would generate as much renewable energy as they would and braking systems, which are left as residues that are then budget cuts in the past decade. and Wetlands Trust charity, which manages some of Lon- use in heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation. washed off the roads by rain and flushed into waterways. Khan, the Labour mayor, said: “The government must don’s remaining wetland areas, said the problem was not The Labour party’s recent election manifesto recommitted Road runoff pollution is one of the biggest sources of damage step up to provide the Environment Agency and highways confined to London. the party to net zero carbon housing, with a pledge to make all to London’s dozens of waterways, of which only one – the authorities with the appropriate funding for measures to “It is clear that road runoff is a major source of river new homes carbon neutral by 2022. Carshalton Arm, source of the River Wandle – is classed properly protect the capital’s rivers.” pollution across the UK, especially in our urban areas, “The climate change agenda may have gathered pace in recent as “good” under EU standards. Hundreds of pollutants, including heavy metals, are rou- killing aquatic life and making our towns and cities less years and months, but the answers to these huge challenges are The new research, published on Monday, for the first tinely found in road runoff, and they can kill fish or other hospitable for people,” he said. “Wetlands and sustainable needed right now,” Williams said. time maps some of the biggest sources of road runoff pol- aquatic life and cause long-term damage to rivers – and drainage systems [are] a key part of the solution. Creating “Parc Hadau will be an international exemplar of what lution in the capital. They include the North Circular road potentially to human health, as they can affect drinking water new urban wetlands will capture runoff before it gets into great places to live can look like, and we hope will be one of at Alperton in west London and Chingford in the east, a sources, which must be extensively tested and expensively our rivers, while providing a range of other benefits, such many opportunities for us to create new neighbourhoods slip road to the A40 at Ealing in west London, and Jenkins cleaned up if pollutants are found to be present. as flood alleviation, wildlife habitat and improvements across the UK that [give] more people access to great-quality, Lane in Beckton, east London. However, by improving drainage before water treat- to air quality.” zero-carbon homes at a time when they are needed most,” One problem with preventing road runoff is that the sources ment is needed, and providing natural barriers and fil- A Defra spokesperson said: “Improving our environment he added. of pollution are under the oversight of various government ters, some of the road runoff pollution can be prevented takes time, money and the combined effort of government, (Source: The Guardian) agencies and departments – the Environment Agency, the from reaching the waterways in the first place. Planting industry, businesses and civil society. We actively support Highways Agency, the Department for Environment, Food suitable vegetation near waterways can filter out some this, bringing organisations together to tackle difficult issues and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the Department for Transport of the pollution, as can creating or expanding natural like road runoff.” WORDS IN THE NEWS as well as local authorities. Most of these have faced severe wetlands. These also provide homes for wildlife and can (Source: The Guardian) Win a Job

(September 02, 2002) ENGLISH IN USE At a time when Hong Kong is suffering from record levels of unemployment, a new TV game show called ‘Win A Job’ is looking LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION for contestants. This report from Damian Grammaticas. Hong Kong’s newest television programme will be part game show, part reality television. The prize for the lucky winner won’t be a car, or even cash, it’ll be a job, anything from a post as 500,000 policemen ready to 500 هزار پلیس نوروز 98 جاده های کشور را کنترل می کنند a hairstylist to a waiter or a dimsum chef. Asia Television says unemployment, at almost eight percent is so high in the territory, ensure road safety during Noruz that it wants to provide genuine help to those out of work and محمــد حســین حمیــدی رئیــس پلیــس راه راهــور نیــروی انتظامــی کشــور looking for jobs. Each week a single vacancy will be advertised. Traffic police teams comprising 500,000 policemen will گفــت: بــا هــدف ارتقــا هرچــه بیشــتر امنیــت مســافران، 500 هــزار نیــروی Contestants must send in applications, and attend interviews. A stand guard to ensure safety by monitoring road regulations shortlist of three will compete in front of a studio audience who will پلیــس در ایــام نــوروز 1398 جــاده هــای ســطح کشــور را کنتــرل مــی کننــد. ,(vote for the winner. The prospective employer can then hire or during the new year holidays (Noruz, starting March 21 ســردار محمــد حســین حمیــدی روز دوشــنبه در گفــت وگــو بــا خبرنــگار reject their choice. road traffic police chief Mohammad Hossein Hamidi has Asia Television said it was mere coincidence that it’s show انتظامــی ایرنــا افــزود: در ایــن ارتبــاط هماهنگــی هــای الزم بــا دســتگاههای .resembles a programme already being aired in Argentina. But announced مربوطــه نیــز بــه انجــام رســیده اســت و آمادگــی بــرای کنتــرل هــر چه بیشــتر there are similarities. And while Hong Kong’s economic problems In this regard, coordination has been made with the related aren’t yet as bad as Argentina’s, there are real concerns about bodies to fully control the country’s roads and prevent ســطح جــاده هــای کشــور بــرای جلوگیــری از تصادفــات وجــود دارد. the unprecedented numbers out of work and struggling to find new jobs. the probable accidents, he added. وی خاطرنشــان کــرد: پیــش بینــی امســال مــا بــا توجــه بــه میــزان تعطیــات Words Given that this year’s holiday is longer, trips certainly نــوروز افزایــش ســفرها در مقایســه بــا ســال گذشــته اســت کــه همیــن امــر game show: a game or a quiz on TV reality television: TV entertainment about real people in real- increases compared to past years, so we decided to constantly موجــب شــده از همــه ظرفیــت هــا بــه صــورت 24 ســاعته بهــره منــد شــویم. .life situations monitor the highways, he stated dimsum: a kind of snack food popular in Hong Kong the territory: here, Hong Kong vacancy: a vacancy is a job which hasn’t been taken yet prospective: a prospective employer is looking for someone to PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM do a job hire: if you hire someone you give them a job “-crat” Hinge on/upon something A bundle of nerves mere coincidence: something which is mere coincidence happens at the same time simply by chance Meaning: government Meaning: if a result hinges on something, it depends Explanation: if you describe someone as a bundle of aired: shown on TV For example: The bureaucrats imposed rules on it completely nerves, you mean that they are very nervous, tense or worried unprecedented: if something is unprecedented, it has never and regulations on big business. For example: His political future hinges on the For example: My son is doing his driving test today. happened before outcome of this election. Needless to say he’s a bundle of nerves! (Source: BBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 28, 2019 WORLD IN FOCUS 13

Bek Air plane crashes near Iraqi president submits resignation after rejecting Kazakhstan’s Almaty airport nominee for prime minister At least 12 people have died after a Bek Air A special commission is investigating 1 Salih stressed that the protest movement made it im- plane with almost 100 people on board the circumstances leading to the deadly perative that politicians look at the interests of the public over crashed near the city of Almaty in Kazakh- incident, airport officials said. personal or political considerations. stan shortly after taking off. The crash site in Almerek village - just “It is better for me to resign rather than to assign an individual The Fokker 100 aircraft, heading for the beyond the end of the runway - has been that is objected by the protesters to form a government,” he added. capital, Nur-Sultan, on a pre-dawn flight cordoned off. The Iraqi lawmakers will now have to meet to discuss Salih’s on Friday, “lost altitude during takeoff and In a statement published on social me- resignation and vote on it. If they endorse his move, the veteran broke through a concrete fence” before hit- dia, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ex- politician will step down. ting a two-storey building, Kazakhstan’s Civil pressed his condolences to the friends and The development came just a day after parliament’s Binaa bloc Aviation Committee said in a statement. families of those killed in the crash. nominated 59-year-old al-Eidani, the governor of Basra and a In a statement posted on social media, “All those injured will be rendered former minister of youth and sports, for the role of prime minister. Almaty International Airport also said 22 assistance. All those responsible will Overnight on Wednesday, protesters in capital Baghdad people suffered severe injuries and were carry severe punishment in accordance blocked roads and bridges and in southern parts of the city they taken to two hospitals. with the law,” Kazinform news agency torched a number of buildings in response to the announcement The Almaty healthcare department had quoted the president as saying in the of al- Eidani’s nomination. earlier said that at least 15 people died. Kazakh language. Similar rallies were held in Nasiriyah, Basra and Diwaniyah. This figure was scaled down to 14 by gov- The company manufacturing the Reports said some of the roadblocks had been removed in the ernment officials. aircraft went bankrupt in 1996 and the morning. The higher figure was the result of con- production of the Fokker 100 stopped The protests, which began on October 1, have been pressing the fusion on the ground, a spokeswoman for the following year. government to bring in reforms that would root out corruption the department said. All Bek Air and Fokker 100 flights in and alleviate the country’s economic woes. A survivor told English-language news Kazakhstan have been suspended pending The rallies, however, soon turned violent -- amid reports website Tengrinews she heard a “terrify- the investigation of the crash, the country’s “The plane was flying with a tilt. Ev- Images posted on social media showed of foreign interference – killing hundreds of people, including ing sound” before the plane started losing authorities said. erything was like in a movie: Screaming, several rescue personnel digging through members of the security forces, the Parliament’s Human Rights altitude. (Source: al Jazeera) shouting, people crying,” she said. the wreckage of the Bek Air aircraft. Commission says. Last month, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi stepped down amid the anti-government rallies, but retains the position as Philippines bans U.S. senators, mulls visa Avangard, Russia’s advanced hypersonic caretaker premier. restrictions for Americans glider, enters military service (Source: agencies) The Philippines has banned entry to He described the two U.S. senators as The advanced Russian nuclear hypersonic The Russian president believes Russia’s two U.S. lawmakers for supporting a “the imperious, uninformed and gullible glider entered combat service on Friday nuclear forces need to be strong enough to Israel to reinstitute Filipino opposition senator, who was American legislators.” with the first regiment of Avangard-armed dissuade any temptation that US military detained on drug-related charges two “We will not sit idly if they continue to missiles now operational, the defense strategists may have to deliver a pre-emp- ‘assassination policy’ against years ago. interfere with our processes as a sovereign minister reported. tive strike against Russia during a possible President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the state,” the spokesman said. “The case of Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who crisis. The missile regiment is reportedly Palestinian groups in Gaza: Katz Bureau of Immigration to deny entry to Senator de Lima is not one of persecution reported the development to President deployed in the Orenburg region. 1 Palestinians have held weekly protests on the Gaza U.S. senators Richard Durbin and Pat- but of prosecution,” he added. Putin on Friday, said Avangard deployment Avangard has reportedly been in de- border, over the siege on the enclave and the right for refugees to rick Leahy, according to his spokesperson, The U.S. has long been the Philippines’ was “a signatory event for the country and velopment since at least the mid-1980s, return to their homes they fled during the 1948 creation of Israel. Salvador Panelo. main supplier of military equipment. the armed forces.” The Russian military with first tests coming sometime around At least 307 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces ever He made the decision after the U.S. Duterte, however, scrapped a deal to armed legacy silo-based UR-100N ICBMs, 2004. The specifications and even the since anti-occupation protest rallies began in the Gaza Strip on Congress approved a 2020 budget that buy assault rifles from Washington also known as the Stiletto, with the cut- appearance of the top-secret weapon re- March 30. Over 18,000 Palestinians have also sustained injuries, contains a provision against anyone three years ago, when some U.S. law- ting-edge warheads meant to penetrate main classified. Russian officials said it according to the Gazan Health Ministry. involved in the detention of opposition makers campaigned to block the arms, heavy anti-ballistic missile defenses. can maintain controlled flight through the The Gaza clashes reached their peak on May 14 last year, on the senator Leila de Lima. citing human rights violations in the The glider is one of several weapons atmosphere at speeds of up to Mach 20. eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe), Panelo said the president will also Philippines. systems meant to boost Russian nuclear Unconfirmed reports claim that the which coincided this year with the U.S. embassy relocation from impose a requirement on U.S. nation- The Philippines, under President deterrence, which were announced by nuclear device it can deliver may be as Tel Aviv to occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds. als to get visas should any Philippine Duterte, has forged closer trade and de- President Vladimir Putin last year. The powerful as 2 megatons, which would be On June 13, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopt- officials be denied entry to the United fense ties with both Russia and China, build-up is meant to counter Washing- considered overkill for traditional modern ed a resolution, sponsored by Turkey and Algeria, condemning States over their involvement in de Li- instead. ton’s development of ABM technologies, nuclear warheads. Israel for Palestinian civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip. ma’s detention. (Source: Daily Star) which Russia sees as a national threat. (Source: RT) The resolution, which had been put forward on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries, garnered a strong majority of 120 votes in the 193-member assembly, with 8 votes against and 45 abstentions. Daesh attack on Iraq’s Samarra repelled by Hashd al-Sha’abi forces The resolution called on UN Secretary General Antonio Gu- terres to make proposals within 60 days “on ways and means for The Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known by In another attack this month, at least seven fighters ensuring the safety, protection, and well-being of the Palestinian their Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi, says it has fought from the Hashd al-Sha’abi lost their lives and several civilian population under Israeli occupation,” including “recom- off an attack by the Daesh terrorist group against an area others sustained injuries when a massive bomb explo- mendations regarding an international protection mechanism.” south of the Iraqi city of Samarra. sion struck their convoy in Iraq’s north-central prov- It also called for “immediate steps towards ending the closure In a statement on Friday, the Hashd al-Sha’abi said the ince of Salahuddin. There were no immediate claims of and the restrictions imposed by Israel on movement and access Daesh elements were trying to infiltrate through Tal al-Za- responsibility for the attack, but such assaults bear the into and out of the Gaza Strip.” hab region, south of Samarra, and block a strategic road hallmark of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. In March, a United Nations fact-finding mission found that to the city of al-Balad and the Shrine of Syed Muhammad Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi stressed on Israeli forces committed rights violations during their crackdown bin Imam Hadi. November 5 last year that efforts were underway to find against the Palestinian protesters in Gaza that may amount to However, it added, the terrorists were detected with financial sources to support Hashd al-Sha’abi forces. war crimes. the use of thermal cameras, and the Hashd al-Sha’abi “Maintaining Hashd al-Sha’abi is one of our most im- (Source: Press TV) forces repelled their offensive. portant duties, and I strongly support its presence. There Earlier this month, the Hashd al-Sha’abi deployed mas- are those who are trying to say that Hashd al-Sha’abi is sive forces in Diyala province near Iran’s border to counter temporary, but I emphasize that such a force is a neces- Daesh terrorists in joint operations with the Iraqi army. sity,” Abdul-Mahdi said. U.S. approves new military The move came after Daesh terrorists attacked an impor- Hashd al-Sha’abi fighters have played a major role in tegrate Hashd al-Sha’abi, which was formed shortly after tant oil-rich area east of the province on the Iraqi-Iranian the liberation of Daesh-held areas to the south, northeast the emergence of Daesh, into the military. training deal with Pakistan border. Several members of the popular forces were killed and north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, ever since the ter- Former Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi declared and wounded in the terrorist attack on the city of Diyala. rorists launched an offensive in the country, overrunning the end of military operations against Daesh in the country as it seeks to bolster its It was the biggest deployment of PMU in the region vast swathes in lightning attacks. on December 9, 2017. weakening foothold since 2003 to counter the threat of Daesh. In November 2016, the Iraqi parliament voted to in- (Source: Press TV)

1 Cutting into regional politics Hezbollah supports govt that can save country’s economy The resumption of defense training comes in the wake of the Prime Minister Imran Khans’ visit to Washington in July this A Hezbollah delegation Friday said that it ter-designate [Hassan Diab] to call us,” Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s withdrawal as Diab is aiming to form a small govern- year, in an attempt to re-boot Pakistan’s relations with the U.S. supported a government that can save the Amro told reporters. “It is still early to talk a candidate to head the new government, ment made up of “independent specialists” Lebanese economy. about names,” he said. Amro said: “Hezbollah worked hard for who do not belong to political parties. The delegation’s comments came after Since his designation by President Hariri to become a prime minister, but he Diab met with Aoun Tuesday at Baabda meeting Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai Michel Aoun last week to form the next is the one who withdrew.” Palace on Christmas eve, but did not pres- in Bkirki on the occasion of Christmas and government after gaining the support of a Aoun, Diab discuss govt ent the president with a Cabinet lineup, an New Year. parliamentary majority, Diab has pledged formation official source told The Daily Star Thursday. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, to form a small government made up of Meanwhile, Prime Minister-designate The source said that the two discussed Sheikh Mohamed Amro told reporters after “independent specialists” who do not be- Hassan Diab Friday met with President the distribution of key ministerial portfolios, that Hezbollah had not yet presented any long to political parties, a major demand Michel Aoun for the second public meeting along with the merger of some ministries since names for the new government. of the protesters. this week to discuss the formation of the the proposed Cabinet will be of 18 ministers. “We are waiting for the Prime Minis- Responding to a question about caretaker new government. (Source: Daily Star) Several Saudi forces killed, wounded in Yemeni attack on Najran base The Yemeni army has successfully hit a Saudi base for Saudi airstrikes against the innocent people of Yemen. conflict to uphold international humanitarian law,” Lise Pertinently, Imran Khan was accompanied by the country’s in Najran belonging to the country’s border guards The retaliation came after a Saudi airstrike on a popular Grande, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator top military leadership including the Chief of the Army and the with a ballistic missile in a retaliatory attack that killed market in Yemen’s mountainous northwestern province in Yemen, said. Director General of the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), the pre- and wounded dozens of Saudi forces, says the Army of Sa’ada Tuesday, in the third deadly assault on the same “Every attack of this kind is a gross violation,” she added. mier national intelligence agency of Pakistan. In recent years, spokesman. location in just over a month. Back on November 22, a Saudi airstrike on al-Raqou Pakistan-U.S. strategic ties have declined significantly, with the The spokesman for Yemen’s armed forces, Brigadier The UN on Thursday strongly condemned the Saudi market killed 10 civilians, again including Ethiopian Trump administration pressuring Pakistan to crack down on General Yahya Saree, said Friday the missile was a Badr attack on al-Raqou market in the Monabbih district of the nationals. terrorist groups within its borders that targeted U.S. troops in P-1 which hit Bir Askar camp in Saudi Arabia’s Najran. province, which claimed the lives of 17 civilians, including At least another 10 civilians were killed and 22 wounded Afghanistan. At the same time, the U.S. elevated its relationship The missile has killed and injured tens of Saudi military 12 Ethiopian migrants. in a second such incident just days later, according to the with India – which has always opposed U.S.-Pakistan defense personnel, General Saree announced. “The attacks on al-Raqou market raise deeply troubling United Nations. cooperation – to a strategic partnership. Evidently, Pakistan’s The top general said the Friday attack was in retaliation questions about the commitment of the parties to the (Source: Press TV) reacceptance into IMET is likely to upset India. But for Washington, the wish to have an avenue of influence on the Pakistani military appears stronger than concerns about UN chief says has repeatedly protested to U.S. over visa delays India’s opinion – especially seeing as how, snubbed by the United UN chief Antonio Guterres says the United “For many months, the Secretary-Gen- In September, 10 members of the Russian rea, Russia, and Syria say their diplomats and States, the Pakistan military has sought to build closer ties with Nations has repeatedly expressed concern eral and the United Nations Legal Counsel delegation to the UN General Assembly support staff are subjected to increasingly China and even Russia. to Washington over U.S. visa delays for have repeatedly conveyed their concerns session were denied visas in a move which restrictive travel limitations, arbitrary denial Another reason for a closer alliance with Pakistan could be to officials from Russia and other countries. and the legal position of the Organization Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei of visas, and many other problems caused facilitate Trump’s promised withdrawal from Afghanistan, where UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric made to senior representatives of the host coun- Ryabkov called “outrageous” and pledged by U.S. government, according to a report the U.S. has lost over 2,200 soldiers over the past 18 years, and the remark after the Russian foreign minis- try,” Dujarric said in a statement. to retaliate. by the UN Committee on Relations with spends $45 billion per annum. The Pakistan military could po- try accused the international organization of The United Nations, he said, continued Representatives from the UN delegations the Host Country (document A/73/26). tentially play a crucial role in the ongoing negotiations involving ignoring the U.S. visa delays. to follow the matter closely. of China, Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, North Ko- (Source: agencies) the Taliban and the Afghan government. (Source: RT) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS DECEMBER 28, 2019

Rayo-Albacete game marred Russia challenges WADA doping ban by ‘Nazi’ chants to finish Russia on Friday formally contested a four- has called for a blanket ban on Russian athletes year ban from major sporting events over at the Tokyo Olympics. behind closed doors doping violations that President Vladimir Tygart said that allowing “neutral” Russian A Spanish second division match between Rayo Vallecano and Putin has condemned as “unjust,” the head athletes to compete at the Olympics in 2016 Albacete that was abandoned at halftime on Dec. 15 after a player of its RUSADA anti-doping agency said. and 2018 had been ineffective. was subjected to ‘Nazi’ chants will resume behind closed doors, “In accordance with established procedure, “WADA must get tougher and impose the the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said on Friday. today we have sent a package of documents full restriction on Russian athlete participation Albacete forward Roman Zozulya was targeted by chants from to the World Anti-Doping Agency,” RUSADA in the Olympics that the rules allow,” Tygart Rayo supporters, leading the referee to abandon the game, mark- director general Yury Ganus told reporters said in November. ing the first time in Spanish football history that a match was in Moscow. Speaking to AFP on Thursday, Ganus said abandoned due to offensive chanting. “The package contains a notice about he had information that his British counterpart The RFEF’s Competition Committee said in a statement that disagreement with WADA sanctions.” could also call for severe sanctions against the second half of the match would be played behind closed doors Ganus, who has long argued for a major Russia. but has not yet set a date. crackdown by Russia against doping cheats, The suspension was handed to Russia over Rayo were also hit with a two-match partial stadium ban and warned that the legal challenge could back- falsifying data from a doping testing laboratory fined 18,000 euros ($20,075.40) over the incident. fire, however. that was handed to WADA earlier this year as Spanish radio station Cadena Ser reported after the game that The formal statement of disagreement part of a compliance re-instatement process. Rayo fans sang “Zozulya you are a Nazi” and used offensive language with WADA will trigger an appeal process The significant extent of state-sponsored towards the Ukrainian striker, 30, who had a short-lived spell on against the ban at the Lausanne-based Court doping in Russia, notably between 2011 and loan at the Madrid side in February 2017. of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 2015, was revealed in an independent report At his first and only training session with the club, Zozulya Ganus, whose rigorous stance puts him by sports lawyer Richard McLaren, released was given an angry reception by Rayo fans, who accused him of at odds with his own government and super- in 2016. belonging to the far-right movement in his home country. visory board, argues that Moscow needs to The issue has dealt a colossal blow to Zozulya, who has denied ever belonging to far-right groups, accept the sanctions and own up to its faults 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World ‘Considerable risks’ the status of post-Soviet Russia as a major immediately returned to parent-club Real Betis before signing for in order to be able to reform. Cup in Qatar, over manipulated doping data. Ganus warned that contesting the dop- sports power after hosting events such as Albacete as a free agent in 2017. He however said he was obliged to relay Under the sanctions, Russians will still ing ban could in fact make matters worse the 2013 World Athletics Championships, (Source: Reuters) the position of the supervisory board. be allowed to compete, but only as neutrals because CAS could make sanctions against the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the He said he also sent a letter to WADA and if they can demonstrate that they were Russia more severe. 2018 World Cup. informing the anti-doping agency of his not part of what WADA believes was a state- “We are creating a platform for it. We The Sochi Games later became notori- Thai navy SEAL who took personal stance. sponsored system of doping. themselves are creating risks,” he said. ous for the number of doping violations by “I regret to inform you that all my attempts, Putin has called the sanctions politically “First of all, it would be a public hearing,” prominent Russian athletes. part in cave rescue dies after including attempts to introduce changes to the motivated, indicating a lengthy legal battle he said, adding that some officials could re- The doping scandal has also divided RUSADA notice, have failed,” said the letter. loomed. quest that the Court of Arbitration for Sport Russian sports stars, with three-time world year-long infection Ganus told AFP on Thursday that “it is He argued that the majority of Russian toughen up rather than soften the punishment champion high jumper Mariya Lasitskene practically impossible” to contest the ban. athletes were clean and should not be deprived calling for sports officials to be held to ac- A Thai navy SEAL who took part in the dramatic rescue of 12 boys against Russia. WADA this month banned Russia for four of the right to compete under the Russian count over the ban. and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand He referred to the position of United States years from major global events, including the flag due to the actions of some individuals. (Source: AFP) last year has died from a blood infection he contracted during Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart who the operation, the Royal Thai Navy said on Friday. Petty Officer Beiret Bureerak had been receiving treatment, but his condition worsened, the navy said in a statement. Home blues for Lampard as Chelsea lose to Solskajer slams festive fixture Another rescuer, former navy diver Sergeant Saman Kuman, died during the rescue operation. Southampton pile-up Wild Boars Academy’s coach Ekapol Chanthawong and 12 boys had gone to explore the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai province on June 23, 2018, when a rainy-season downpour flooded the cave system and trapped them underground. They survived for nine days on water dripping from rocks before they were discovered. Volunteers from abroad joined the rescue effort, which ended on July 10 when the boys and their coach were all brought out safely. (Source: Eurosport) ‘We are all one’ – Pogba has anti-racism wristbands made

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba says his new anti-racism initiative is aimed at making people understand “we are all one”. The Frenchman, 26, had wristbands made with the messages “no to racism” and “we are one”, in response to recent incidents of racism in football. Frank Lampard said Chelsea had to improve and upwards we have to win more than Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer young,” the former United striker added. He asked his United team-mates to wear the bands before their home form if they were to remain in we have recently at home.” has become the latest Premier League man- “We have a great chance against Burn- Thursday’s 4-1 win over Newcastle at Old Trafford. the top four following a 2-0 loss to South- Youthful teams often struggle for consist- ager to complain about the “unfair” packed ley to perform at the best level because “I have been thinking about doing this for a long time,” said Pogba. ampton on Thursday. ency, but Chelsea’s problems are especially programme of fixtures over Christmas and our boys, when you are 23, which is the “It’s to give support to all the players and show that black, white, After an impressive 2-0 win away to Tot- acute at their west London home, where New Year. average age of the outfield starting play- Chinese or whatever, who you are - there is only one race.” tenham, Chelsea and their fans probably they have won only four league games so United play their final league match of ers (against Newcastle), that will make it expected a win against a Southampton side far this season. 2019 against Burnley on Saturday, just over easier for us to recover than Burnley, for battling to avoid relegation. “We have to work and we have to do 48 hours since competing a 4-1 comeback example. I think. But Chelsea rarely threatened before or more in an attacking sense,” said Lampard. win over Newcastle. “They played until the end against Ever- after Michael Obafemi put the Saints ahead “You can’t have 70 percent of possession Those matches form part of a sequence ton. We were done after 45 minutes and in the 31st minute with the second Premier and control as we did in the first half and not of seven games in 21 days that is hard to used the second half as recovery. League goal of his career. do more, not hit better crosses, make better square with modern notions of rest and “But it is not fair, especially when a game And when Nathan Redmond doubled final passes, get more clear chances at goal.” recovery. at Watford has just gone and there will be that lead in the 73rd minute, the contest And Chelsea are feeling the tension, with But such is the commercial appeal of the a game New Years’ Day. was effectively over. their manager admitting: “When you are on traditionally congested programme that “Two games in three days is possible once The result meant Chelsea had suffered the run we are on, there is more pressure change does not appear likely anytime soon, in a while but not when it is as tight as this.” back-to-back home league defeats for the because everyone talks about it and we feel it. even though Jurgen Klopp, the manager The Norwegian, asked if English foot- first time since 2011, with Bournemouth’s “We want to perform well in front of of runaway leaders Liverpool said recently ball might change its ways, replied: “You fellow south coast side Southampton having our own fans and give them something to it was a “crime” for teams to have to play are a traditionalist country. You like your won the previous match at Stamford Bridge. be happy about.” on both December 26 and 27. traditions. I can’t see it being changed, no. “You need a form of consistency to come The former Chelsea and England mid- “I don’t think it is fair on the boys at all,” But it should be.” Pogba, who was racially abused on social media in August, has in the top four in the Premier League,” said fielder added: “People come here and respect said United manager Solskjaer. As for how he coped during his playing deliberately avoided trying to get central involvement through world Chelsea manager Lampard, whose side are us as Chelsea in the way they are setting up “I don’t think it is fair to be expected days, Solskjaer jokingly said: “It was easy governing body FIFA. still fourth in the table. but we are not playing like the Chelsea that to perform at the best of your level, both for me. I was on the bench all the time! I The 2018 World Cup winner handed his wristband to a United “Everyone is striving for it. We are in it can break that down. mentally and physically, 48 hours after you never played 90 minutes twice in three days. fan after the warm-up. at Christmas and people probably would “I learn about the players particularly in have played. “Maybe I did one year. I scored against Racism has been a regular problem in football across Europe have doubted that so from that perspective games like that...Games like today’s are a “But I think we are in the best position Villa and Ipswich. You have to look after in 2019. we can probably be happy. test of character as much as ability.” to perform on Saturday. One -- the game yourself. Last week, Chelsea’s Premier League victory at Tottenham was “But to stay there and move onwards (Source: Guardian) was over after 45 minutes. Two -- we are (Source: Mirror) marred by alleged racist behavior from the crowd, while Pogba’s team-mate Fred was targeted by a supporter during United’s derby win at Manchester City on 7 December. “We are hearing things every week,” added Pogba. “We keep Mavs’ Doncic makes winning return, Jazz hold off Trail Blazers seeing it in a lot of stadiums again and again. It is ignorance. Luka Doncic made a winning return from a four-game in- “I don’t want to be a political guy. I don’t want to go through FIFA Robert Covington scored 19 for the Timberwolves, who jury absence on Thursday, scoring 24 points to lead the and [European football’s governing body] UEFA. I have done this opened the second overtime with a 6-0 scoring run. Dallas Mavericks to a 102-98 NBA victory over the San myself and I know it will make people talk. In Detroit, the Pistons snapped a five-game skid with a Antonio Spurs. (Source: BBC) 132-102 rout of the Washington Wizards. Doncic, whose eight triple-doubles are the most in the Detroit matched their season high for points as they NBA this season, added 10 rebounds and eight assists in his turned the tables on a team that has beaten them twice Prem star crashes car in first game since he sprained his right ankle in a December already this season. 14 game against Miami. Christian Wood led the Pistons with 22 points and seven snowman outfit - sources “Felt good,” a smiling Doncic said, although he added: rebounds off the bench. “It was like I was running a marathon, I was so tired. Tim Frazier added 17 points and six assists, Blake Griffin West Ham’s Michail Antonio crashed his Lamborghini into a bin “When you miss four or five games, it’s different, but scored 14 points with 11 rebounds and Andre Drummond shed of a family home dressed as a snowman on Christmas Day, it was great being back and we won,” added Doncic, who added 14 points and 10 rebounds. sources have confirmed to ESPN. played without any minutes restriction. Randle leads Knicks Antonio played a full part in West Ham’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace The Mavericks led by 17 points with 4:07 left to play. In New York, Julius Randle drained a career-high five on Boxing Day, hours after the incident in Balham, South London. San Antonio scored the last 13 points of the game but three-pointers on the way to 33 points to lead the Knicks The 29-year-old was unhurt after the crash on Wednesday even- couldn’t completely close the gap. Utah’s two-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, to a 94-82 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in a cross-town ing and a source told ESPN that no alcohol was involved. Rudy Gay’s three-pointer with 38.6 seconds left pulled who scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, harried Car- clash at the Barclays Center. A statement from Metropolitan Police read: “Police were called San Antonio within four points. melo Anthony into an air ball with 22.4 seconds remaining Marcus Morris scored 22 points for the Knicks, who to Nightingale Lane, Balham, at 18.36hrs on Wednesday, 25 De- But the Spurs’ Derrick White missed a three-pointer with and blocked Lillard’s driving shot with 5.2 seconds to play snapped a three-game skid with their first win over the cember to reports of a car crashed into a garden. Officers attended. 5.8 seconds remaining, and Doncic corralled the rebound as the Jazz held on for their fifth win in six games. Nets in three meetings this season. “A Lamborghini car was found at the scene. It was reported that to close it out. Aussie guard Joe Ingles scored 26 points for the Jazz and Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets with 25 points. it had left the road and crashed into a road sign and a garden wall. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 17 points, and Kristaps Porzingis Jordan Clarkson had nine in his first game for Utah since But he made just five of 15 from the field as the injury- “The driver did not require hospital treatment. There were no and Dorian Finney-Smith added 13 apiece for the Mavs. arriving via a trade from Cleveland on Tuesday. depleted Nets connected on just 21 of 78 overall. other reported injuries. There is no police investigation.” Utah’s Donovan Mitchell scored 28 of his 35 points in the The Minnesota Timberwolves ended their 11-game los- Their 26.9 percent shooting was the worst in the league Earlier on Christmas Day, Antonio posted a video on Instagram second half as the Jazz withstood a furious fourth-quarter ing streak with 105-104 double-overtime victory over the this year -- worse than the 29.9 percent shooting perfor- dressed as a snowman, with the caption: “Michail AnSnownio Man! surge by Portland in a 121-115 victory over the Trail Blazers. Sacramento Kings. mance of the Chicago Bulls against Toronto in November. Merry Christmas everyone.” Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 34 points and CJ Andrew Wiggins scored 18 points with 10 rebounds and “We were just sharp,” said Randle, who notched his second A source has told ESPN that there is no West Ham investigation McCollum added 25. That included 17 in the fourth quarter seven assists for the Timberwolves, who were again without straight 30-point game. “To hold that team to 82 points, 14 into the incident. when Portland, who trailed by 23 late in the third, cut the injured Karl-Anthony Towns. points in the paint, is just really, really sharp.” (Source: ESPN) deficit to 103-102 with less than five minutes remaining. Gorgui Dieng scored 21 points with 15 rebounds and (Source: France 24) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 28, 2019 SPORTS 15

Andrea Stramaccioni Iranian mountaineer killed in avalanche in Tehran

SPORTS TEHRAN – An Iranian mountaineer has no longer Esteghlal coach deskbeen killed after an avalanche in Tochal, north of the Iranian capital of Tehran. SPORTS TEHRAN – Italian Alaeddin Jamali, 63, was involved in an avalanche deskcoach Andrea Stramac- around 11 a.m. and was killed. cioni is no longer the coach of Esteghlal foot- Iran Meteorological Organization had warned the ball team, the Iranian club said in a statement. mountaineers about unstable weather conditions. Stramaccioni left the Iranian popular football team on Dec. 8 after the club failed to transfer his salary over the U.S. sanctions. Friendly: Iran U23 team to Due to such problems, Esteghlal had face Qatar been forced to transfer his wage through multiple bank accounts, belonging to sev- SPORTS TEHRAN – Iran U23 football team will eral individuals in Europe. This reportedly deskmeet Qatar in a warm-up game in Doha’s led to the partial closure of Stramaccioni’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday. bank account in Italy over money laun- The Iranian team will then travel to Thailand to take dering charges. part at the AFC U23 Championship 2020. The Italian coach received part of his On November 22, Iran lost to Qatar 2-1 in a friendly unpaid salary after the representative of match held in Doha’s Lusail. an Iranian bank gave him a check at Iran’s Iran are in Group C of Thailand 2020 alongside China Embassy in Rome, but he didn’t return to PR as well as South Korea and the defending champions Tehran and wasted the time. Uzbekistan. The Italian coach had set 11 conditions Hamid Estili’s team will kick-off the campaign with for Esteghlal, “one of which was to receive a match against Uzbekistan on Jan. 9 at the Tinsulanon his full salary for the season upfront». Stadium in Songkhla. “The conditions set by Stramaccioni Iran will play South Korea and China respectively on are virtually impossible to be realised,» Jan. 12 and 15. the club said. Thailand 2020 also serves as qualification to the Tokyo On Thursday, Esteghlal announced that 2020 Olympics, where the top three teams, aside from they’ve ended their relationship with Stra- host nation Japan, will represent Asia. maccioni after six months. Under stewardship of Stramaccioni, Es- teghlal had moved up top of the table after about four years but the team have earned Zob Ahan eye Dragan Skocic four points from the past three matches, leaving the Blues in the third place. IRNA — Iran’s Zob Ahan football club have set sight on Esteghlal have a busy schedule in the hiring Sanat Naft coach Dragan Skocic. coming months since the Blues have to play The Isfahan-based football team had been previously in AFC Champions League play-offs as well Farhad Majidi will be reportedly named Last season, Majidi replaced Winfried Now, he is an option to replace the linked with Mansour Ebrahimzadeh and Mehdi Tartar as Hazfi Cup and Iran league. as new head coach of Esteghlal football team. Schaefer as Esteghlal head coach in April. Italian coach. but they have reportedly negotiated with the 51-year-old Croatian coach. Zob Ahan parted company with Alireza Mansourian Iranian woman Khajavi sets new record Persepolis move provisionally last week following poor results. for not conceding a goal top of IPL The team sit 11th in the Iran Professional League, nine points above the relegation zone. Skocic has already worked as coach in Iranian teams Malavan, Foolad and Khooneh be Khooneh.

Iran’s Majid Hosseini linked with Hertha Berlin, Sassuolo

Trabzonspor Iranian defender Majid Hosseini has been linked with a move to Bundesliga and Serie A teams. According to Turkish site Gunes.com, the Iran inter- national has received offers from the German and Italian teams for the winter transfer windows. Bundesliga team Hertha Berlin and Serie A Sassuolo are ready to pay Hosseini €2.5 million transfer fee. The 22-year-old defender joined the Turkish club on a three-year contract in July 2018. SPORTS TEHRAN — Vochan The Nahavand born goalie, also is a SPORTS TEHRAN — A 1-0 win der pressure and made several goalscoring (Source: Gunes.com) deskKordestan goalkeeper member of Iran’s women’s football team. deskover Nassaji sent Perse- chances but Persepolis goalkeeper Bozidar Zahra Khajavi set a new record in Iran foot- “Bayern Munich and Germany goal- polis football team provisionally top of the Radosevic produced spectacular saves. ball for minutes without conceding a goal. keeper Manuel Neuer is my idol and Ira- Iran Professional League (IPL) on Friday. Persepolis were forced to play with nine She extended her team shut-out run to nian keepers Alireza Beiranvand, Mehdi In the match held in Tehran’s Azadi players in the final minutes of the match after Iran to play Oman in friendly 950 minutes, surpassing Sepahan stopper Rahmati and Payam Niazmand are my Stadium, Vahid Amiri was on target with substitute Siamak Nemati suffered a foot injury. Payam Niazmand’s old mark of 935. role models. I dream of playing abroad,” a header in the 34th minute. Persepolis moved top of the table with Vochan Kordestan had kept 10 clean Khajavi said. Persepolis were reduced to 10 men in 34 points. TASNIM — Iran national football team will play Oman sheets but lost to Shahrdari Bam 3-2 on The two teams Shahrdari Bam and Vo- the 58th after Farhad Rabikhah received Sepahan will meet Sanat Naft on Sat- in a friendly match as part of preparation for the 2022 Friday. Her record was broken in the chan Kordestan have equal records with his second yellow card. urday and will move top of the table if FIFA World Cup qualification. 49th minute. 11 wins and 33 points respectively. Shortly after, Nassaji put the hosts un- win the match. The match has been scheduled for May in Tehran. Iran will have four must-win matches in late March and early June. Team Melli will entertain Hong Kong on March 26 in We can show we’re Asia’s best, insists Korea Republic’s Lee Tehran and will meet Cambodia five days later in an away Lee Dong-gyeong believes that the AFC U23 Championship work on our own strengths and weaknesses, I believe we can match. Thailand 2020 provides the perfect opportunity for Korea prove we are the better team, so my priority is to focus on us. Iran will face Bahrain and Iraq on June 4 and 9 in Tehran. Republic to prove they are the best team on the Continent. “I was able to finish top scorer in qualifying because of Oman will also take on India and Afghanistan on March The East Asians have been one of the strongest teams my teammates, who always give 100 percent and, with a 26 and 31. in the competition over the years, finishing runners-up in little bit of luck too, I achieved something special. 2016 and reaching the semi-finals in 2014 and 2018 but, “If we can maintain the same level of concentration and despite always finishing in the top four sides, they have dedication that we did in the qualifiers, I’m sure we can yet to lift the title. make something special happen.” Uzbekistan on target again Korea Republic will again begin the tournament as one of In what has been a breakout year for Lee, he has had the favorites to be crowned champions and Ulsan Hyundai his fair share of ups and downs. He made his debut for the as Thailand 2020 looms midfielder Lee is desperate for his country to claim a trophy senior national team in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 that has so far eluded them. and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 joint qualifiers against Sri Uzbekistan continued their encouraging pre-AFC U23 “It’s a huge opportunity for me and my teammates, and Lanka in October, but would suffer disappointment on the Championship form, earning a 3-1 win over Iraq in the it gives me a special feeling to represent my country at in- domestic scene. United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. ternational tournaments,” said Lee. Ulsan fought it out with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors until Sherzhod Nasrullaev, Mirjakhon Mirakhmadov and “We have put in a lot of work to prepare and it is one the final day of the K League season when, after needing Khojiakbar Alijonov were all on the scoresheet for Ljubinko of the main tournaments Korean fans are looking forward just a point to secure the title, his side slipped up at home to Drulovic’s charges, while Munthader Sattar found the net to next year. Pohang Steelers as the Jeonju club were crowned champions. for Iraq. “All the teams from around Asia will showcase their against Australia that ensured Korea finished on top of the “Playing for the senior team was always my dream since Uzbekistan’s win follows an earlier 4-2 victory over talents [at the AFC U23 Championship], so it gives us the standings after he had earlier scored a hat-trick against I started playing football and I’ve already learnt a lot from Iraq, as well as a 4-0 success against local club outfit Al chance to prove we are the best team in Asia. Chinese Taipei and a brace against Cambodia. being around the best players in Korea,” added Lee. Arabi, as the Central Asian side prepare to defend their “We definitely want to win the trophy and we will do Korea have been paired in Group C in Thailand along- “They gave me a lot of advice and told me to believe in Asian title in Thailand next month. whatever we can to achieve that. We are all looking forward side China PR, who they open their campaign against in myself, and training alongside those players has been such Three of the game’s four goals came in a frantic period to it and I’ll try my best to make the Korean fans proud.” Songkhla on January 9, as well as the Islamic Republic of a valuable experience. just prior to half-time, with Nasrullaev opening the scoring The young Taeguk Warriors topped a qualifying group Iran and the defending champions Uzbekistan, who elim- “I also learnt a lot with Ulsan this year. We performed with a close-range header in the 41st minute before Mira- comprising Cambodia, Chinese Taipei and Australia in inated them in 2018. well and did our very best, but Jeonbuk are also a great team. khmadov found space behind the defense to roll home a Phnom Penh in March, with Lee finding the back of the “We will not underestimate any of our opponents but I “I believe we showed it’s possible to become champions in second goal three minutes later. net in all three games and finishing as his country’s top would rather focus on what we can do rather than the teams the coming years, and what happened this year will bring the Sattar found the net after a goalmouth scramble to re- scorer on six goals. we’re up against,” said Lee. whole team together and desperate to do better next year.” duce the deficit to one in first-half stoppage time, but FC Indeed, it was the 22-year-old’s equalizer in a 2-2 draw “China, Iran and Uzbekistan all have qualities, but if we (Source: the-afc) Pakhtakor full-back Alijonov sealed the win with three minutes remaining in the second half, cutting inside a defender before sliding the ball home from 12 yards to make it 3-1. Turkmenistan hold Qatar in friendly AFC U23 Champions in China PR in 2018, Uzbekistan’s Qatar’s U23 side played out a 2-2 draw Bayov giving his side the lead in the Qatar, who defeated Turkmenistan 2016 champions Japan, Saudi Arabia Thailand 2020 campaign begins against Islamic Republic against Turkmenistan in a friendly at Al 21st minute. thanks to an Akram Afif double in their and Syria in Group B of the AFC U23 of Iran in Songkhla on January 9, a day after Iraq begin Arabi Stadium in Doha on Wednesday. Qatar, however, drew level four min- previous encounter during the 2018 AFC Championship Thailand 2020. their tournament against Australia in Pathum Thani. Turkmenistan took a 2-1 lead going utes later through Nasser Al Yazidi’s U23 Qualifiers two years ago, levelled Qatar will open their campaign against In addition to the Asian title, the 16 teams in the com- into the break before Qatar recovered effort but Ahmet Agamyradov’s men the score in the closing stages of the Syria on January 9 before facing Saudi petition will be competing for a ticket to next year’s Tokyo with a late goal to earn the draw. restored their lead a minute before half- game through Khalid Muneer Mazeed. Arabia three days later and Japan on 2020 Olympic football tournament, with the top three Turkmenistan had the better start time through Begench Akmammedov’s Qatar, who finished third in the last January 15. finishers to join hosts Japan among the qualifiers. with Altyn Asyr midfielder Begmyrat strike. edition in China, are placed alongside (Source: Qatar Football Association) (Source: the-afc) Prayer Times Noon:12:06 Evening: 17:19 Dawn: 5:43 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:13 (tomorrow) DECEMBER 28, 2019 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 Fajr Film Festival to unveil [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 “Made in Iran” Crystal Simorghs www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 ARTTEHRAN — The Fajr Webmaster: [email protected] deskFilm Festival announced Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 on Thursday that winners at the 38th edition of the event will be awarded Crystal Simorghs Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily made by domestic artisans. In a call published during August, the No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran festival asked Iranian companies to send P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Zip Code: 1599814713 their plans for making the Crystal Simorghs in the country, and the organizers finally made a deal with a company to produce the trophies, the deputy director of the festival, Ezzatollah Alizadeh, said. Earlier in January 2019, the organizers of the 37th of edition of the most important film event in Iran came under fierce criticism from some Persian media after Alizadeh announced that the crystal trophies were being made by a workshop based in Dubai. GUIDE TO Afterwards, the director of the Fajr Film SPIRITUAL AWAKENING Festival, Ebrahim Darughezadeh, said that making the crystal statues requires some Destiny is a dark way, so avoid it, it is a deep sea, costly specialized equipment available abroad so do not enter it, it is a particular mystery, so do and it is not economical for a manufacturer not try to find it by vainly running here and there. to import the apparatus to make a limited Imam Ali (AS) number of the trophies. Mohammad-Ali Qanbari, the director of the Glassware and Mirror Manufacturers WHAT’S IN ART GALLERIES Union, confirmed Darughezadeh’s remarks. The Crystal Simorgh is a rectangular Calligraphy crystal plate bearing an engraving of a The Ibne Sina Cultural Center simorgh, a mythical bird in Iranian culture. is playing host to an exhibition by The trophy has undergone minor and A winner holds his Crystal Simorgh during the closing ceremony of during the 37th Fajr Film Festival at Tehran’s a large group of calligraphers, in- major changes in the design over its 37 Milad Tower on February 11, 2019. cluding Rasul Moradi, Majid Talebi, years of history. Iranian artist Ebrahim Haqiqi. Republic. However, the result was not statues for two years. Mojtaba Sabzeh, Ali Ansari, Fardin A major change came in 2013, when the A Czech artisan created 50 copies based satisfactory. Due to the flimsy construction of the Hosseini, Najaf Masudi and Mobin crystal plate was transformed into a crystal on the design in Bohemia, a major center Haqiqi revised the design and the festival crystal statues, the organizers of the festival Yazdani. statue of a simorgh designed by veteran for crystal and glass objects in the Czech honored winners with the hand-made crystal later restored the award to its former design. The exhibition, which also features a new work by master calligrapher Gholamhossein Amirkhani, will Ankara hosts exhibition of Quran “I Am Malala” published run until January 2 at the center located on North Iranzamin St., in calligraphy by Iranian, Turkish artists in Persian the Shahrake Qods neighborhood. Multimedia Sets of video art and installation by Setareh Hosseini are on display in an exhibition at Vista+ Gallery. The exhibit entitled “Fragile like a Bubble” will continue until January 3 at the gallery located at No. 11, 12th Alley, Mir Emad St. An exhibition of sculptures and some other artworks by Meshkat Meshkatian is currently underway at Elaheh Gallery. The exhibit titled “Entre Guillemet” will run until January 6 at the gallery that can be found at 47 Golfam St., off Africa Ave. A collection of various artworks by Alireza Latifian, Bahman Mo- hammadi, Mehdi Babai, Maryam Turkish and Iranian officials visit an exhibition of calligraphy by Iranian and Turk- Front cover of the Persian version of “I Am Malala, the Girl Who Stood Up for Firuzi and several other artists is ish artists at the Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara on December 26, 2019. Education and Was Shot by the Taliban” written by Malala Yousafzai. on view in an exhibition at Saless Gallery. ARTTEHRAN — An was the biggest miracle of the Prophet CULTURE TEHRAN — “I Am Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced The exhibit name “Distorted Sight” deskexhibition showcasing Muhammad (S) and that this miracle is deskMalala, the Girl Who and fought for her right to an education,” will run until January 8 at the gallery Quran calligraphy by a group of Iranian observed in every aspect of the book. Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by writes Amazon on its website. located at 148 Karim Khan Ave. and Turkish artists opened in Ankara He also expressed his thanks to all the Taliban” written by Malala Yousafzai, “On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she Fatemeh Zehtab is showcasing on Thursday. guests, including an Iranian delegation the Pakistani student activist and Nobel was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate her latest photos, videos, and sets The director of Iran’s Islamic Culture that attended the opening ceremony, Peace laureate, has been published in price. She was shot in the head at point- of installation in an exhibition at and Relations Organization (ICRO), and asked art enthusiasts to visit the Persian in Tehran. blank range while riding the bus home Jaleh Gallery. Abuzar Ebrahimi-Torkaman, and the weeklong exhibit. Translated into Persian by Ashraf from school, and few expected her to The exhibit entitled “Animated Life, director of Turkey’s Directorate of Applications and some digital devices Adili, the novel has been released by survive,” it adds. Still Life” will run until January Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Ali Erbas, for reading the Holy Quran are also on Elmi Publications. “Instead, Malala’s miraculous recovery 3 at the gallery located at No. 3, attended the opening ceremony at the view at the exhibit. Co-written with the British author has taken her on an extraordinary journey Noshahr Alley, Iranshahr St., Karim Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque. Iranian illuminator Zahra Masumi and and leading foreign correspondent from a remote valley in northern Pakistan Khan Ave. Speaking at the opening ceremony, calligrapher Ali Tan are in Ankara to create Christina Lamb, the book relates the to the halls of the United Nations in New Painting Torkaman said that calligraphers from some artworks during the exhibit. memories of the youngest recipient of York. At sixteen, she became a global Golestan Gallery is displaying Iran and Turkey have beautifully inscribed Torkaman also held meetings with the Nobel Peace Prize. symbol of peaceful protest and the an exhibition of paintings by Roya verses of the Holy Quran for the exhibit. several Turkish cultural and religious “When the Taliban took control of the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Hosseini. Erbas also said that the Holy Quran figures during his two-day visit to Turkey. Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Peace Prize,” it notes. The exhibit will run until January 1 at the gallery located at 34 Kamasai St. in the Darus neighborhood. Young harpists join Tehran Symphony Atbin Gallery is playing host to an exhibition of paintings titled “Macro Chaos” by Ehsan Orchestra in recent concerts Ziafatikafi. The exhibit will run until Jan- ARTTEHRAN — Young harpists Claude Debussy and Joseph Maurice Ravel, and Russian desk uary 6 at the gallery that can Tannaz Beigi and Meredet Mosesian musicians Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev and Igor be found at 42 Khakzad Alley, accompanied the Tehran Symphony Orchestra in Fyodorovich Stravinsky. Vali-e Asr Ave. near the Parkway their recent concerts on Wednesday and Thursday He also said that the Tehran Symphony Orchestra is Intersection. at Vahdat Hall. happy to introduce the young talents, and also thanked Shahrdad Rohani acknowledges the audience after Paintings by Ali Sadeqi are on Conductor Shahrdad Rohani praised the young the supporters. conducting the Tehran Symphony Orchestra during view in an exhibition at O Gallery. musicians for their strong performance during the Rohani also congratulated the Iranian Christians a performance at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on December The exhibition will run until Jan- concerts, which featured pieces by French composers and wished them a happy New Year. 26, 2019. (Honaronline/Barat Zamani) uary 7 at the gallery, located at 18 Shahin St., Sanai St. An exhibition of paintings by Puya Razi is currently underway Los Angeles prosecutors reviewing 8 cases against Weinstein at Asar Gallery. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors in Los Angeles are of the task force’s investigations. All of them have denied The exhibit will continue until Jan- reviewing eight cases accusing disgraced film mogul Harvey wrongdoing. uary 17 at the gallery that can be Weinstein of sexual assault, an official said Thursday. Charges have already been rejected for most, mainly found at No. 16 Barforushan St., The Los Angeles and Beverly Hills police departments because the statute of limitations had expired or there was Iranshahr St. each brought four investigations to prosecutors, according to insufficient evidence. Paintings by veteran artist Yaqub Ricardo Santiago, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Dozens of women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Emdadian are on display in an ex- District Attorney’s Office. Angelina Jolie, Lupita Nyong’o and Ashley Judd, have accused hibition at Hoor Gallery. The office will decide whether to move forward with Weinstein of sexual harassment. The exhibition will be running until prosecution. No charges have been filed, Santiago said. He A tentative global settlement reached this month would January 14 at the gallery located did not know details about the allegations or when the cases split $25 million among more than two dozen of Weinstein’s at 12 Naeimi Alley, North Mirza were presented to prosecutors. accusers. The deal wouldn’t require him to pay anything out Shirazi St., off Motahhari Ave. Juda Engelmayer, Weinstein’s publicist, said he had of his own pocket and he wouldn’t have to admit wrongdoing. An exhibition of paintings by “nothing to add right now” in an email to The Associated Press. Last week, a former model who accused him of sexually Behnaz Jalali is currently under- District Attorney Jackie Lacey created a task force abusing her when she was 16 filed a new lawsuit, saying the way at the CAMA – Contemporary more than two years ago to handle the surge in sexual tentative settlement wasn’t “fair or just.” Kaja Sokola sued and Modern Art Gallery. misconduct allegations against entertainment figures under New York’s Child Victims Act, which gives people The exhibit titled “Under Shadow of after the accusations against Weinstein launched the a one-year window to sue over sexual abuse that they say Traditions” will run until January #MeToo movement. they endured as children. 8 at the gallery located at No. 44, No charges have been filed against 22 men — including This Dec. 6, 2019 file photo shows Harvey Weinstein, Beginning Jan. 1, California will suspend for three years 10th Golestan, Pasdaran St. Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey, director James Toback and center, leaving court following a bail hearing in New the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual former CBS CEO Leslie Moonves — who were the focus York. (AP/Mark Lennihan) abuse to file lawsuits.