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12 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13641 Thursday APRIL 16, 2020 Farvardin 28, 1399 Sha’aban 22, 1441 Foreign media Army has so Marc Wilmots Iran to celebrate Sadi Day portrait of Iran far set up 14 field needs to make for Turkish audiences is phony 2 hospitals 2 peace with Iran 11 live on Instagram 12

Off the beaten path: Fun and non-touristy experiences in Iran Iranian stock market TEHRAN — While many countries in the Below is a select of sites and recommen- world are facing overtourism, there are dations rounded up by the Culture Trip: countries like Iran, with a vast untapped Discover zurkhaneh tourism potential, that are actually in need Literally “house of strength,” the Iranian of more travelers. zurkhaneh is an ancient gym where men If you are planning to traverse Iran practice what can be described as martial holds its largest-ever IPO and want to experience the ancient arts meets yoga. land in a non-touristy way, there are This centuries-old tradition is based recommendations for areas where you on battle and warfare, with much of its See page 4 can step out and enjoy your off the equipment resembling such. Standing in beaten path. a circular pit, 8

17 new petrochemical plants to go operational by March 2021 TEHRAN – Iranian Oil Minister Bijan The current Iranian calendar year (be- Namdar Zanganeh said 17 new petrochem- gan on March 20) is named as the year of ical plants are planned to be inaugurat- “Pick up in Production” by the Leader of ed across the country during the current Islamic Revolution Seyed Ali Khamenei. Iranian calendar year (ends on March Considering the undeniable significance of 20, 2021), Tasnim news agency reported. the petrochemical industry in Iran’s resilient Speaking in a meeting of the surge in economy in the sanctions era, the Iranian Oil production headquarters on Wednesday, Ministry and the country’s National Petro- Zanganeh noted that the implementation chemical Company (NPC) have been taking of the new projects is going to bring the major steps to facilitate further development country $6 million of revenues every year. of this industry in recent years. 4

U.S. occupation destroyed Iraqi state structure: Kadhimi By staff & agencies of Iraqi journalists and writers. Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Mustafa “The problems and crises that we al-Kadhimi has said the 2003 U.S. oc- are now facing are the result of a wrong cupation of Iraq destroyed the country’s set-up for the political process post “structure”. 2003,” he said, according to ASharq “The U.S. occupation of the country al-Awsat. succeeded in destroying the structure of He also said his cabinet lineup was the Iraqi state without setting up a correct ready and he would discuss it with the rebuilding process,” al-Kadhimi said in different political blocs to submit the list a gathering on Tuesday with a number to Parliament for approval. 10 ARTICLE UK arms giant sold £15bn in weapons to Saudi Arabia during Yemen war ARTICLE Salman Parviz Britain’s leading arms manufacturer is found “The last five years have seen a brutal human- Riyadh is BAE’s third biggest buyer. The com- Mohammad Jafari Journalist to have sold above £15 billion ($18.9) worth of itarian crisis for the people of Yemen, but for pany maintains and supplies Tornado warplanes Tehran Times journalist arms to Saudi Arabia since the kingdom started BAE it’s been business as usual. The war has to the kingdom and provides “operational capa- a brutal war against Yemen, the Arab world’s only been possible because of arms companies bility” to its Air Force and Navy. most impoverished nation. and complicit governments willing to support it.” According to Press TV, Saudi Arabia and its allies Theories on origins The Guardian carried a news article on Tues- The data further showed that the true value of have been staging indiscriminate attacks against COVID-19 pandemic day, citing data obtained from the BAE (British the UK’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia is far greater Yemen since March 2015 to put the country’s former of COVID-19 Aerospace) Systems’ most recent annual report than the £5.3bn total value of the country’s export Saudi-allied officials back in the saddle. can hit Israeli that has also been newly analyzed by Britain’s licenses since March 2015, when Riyadh and a co- The war — which has the support of the UK, disease Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT). alition of its allies launched the military campaign. the US and other Western states — has killed regime harder than The sum includes £2.5 billion in revenues The gap has been due to the fact that arms tens of thousands of Yemenis and rendered at here are many theories about the that the company received from Saudi arms have also been sold to the Saudi kingdom under least 80 percent of Yemen’s 28-million-strong expected exact origins of the novel corona- sales in 2019. open licenses, which authorize the sales without population dependent on aid for survival. T virus, designated “nCoV-2019” The sales came despite a ruling by Britain’s recording the cost under the official export total. The UK government has been under fire for ilitary-spying character of the by World Health Organization or com- Court of Appeal in June last year that all British “These figures expose the cozy relationship keeping up arms sales to the Saudi regime despite Israeli regime coupled with monly referred to as COVID-19 disease, arms exports that could be used against Yemen between the Saudi regime and BAE. But they also widespread reports that the weapons are being Mcostly occupation and blockade also called SARS-CoV-2 because it is were to be halted. imply that the value of UK arms sales is far greater used against Yemeni civilians and non-military of the Palestinian territories will certainly related to SARS pathogen. Theories Andrew Smith of the CAAT, meanwhile, said, than government figures show,” Smith added. infrastructure. 10 narrow down its economic capabilities about the missing link for transmission as COVID-19 outbreak has reduced Tel of the new coronavirus from bats to Aviv’s incomes remarkably, a political humans abound. science expert said. Questions abound whether climate Academy of Medical Sciences makes fasting recommendations in midst of coronavirus disease Adnan Abu Amer, the head of the change may lead to more zoonotic dis- TEHRAN – The Iranian Academy of Medical people over 65 years of age can practice fasting Moreover, those people who are suffering from Political Science Department at the eases like COVID-19 or if urbanization Sciences has issued a set of recommendations observing health protocols of social distancing, underweight or overweight are recommended to University of the Ummah in Gaza, and deforestation in the future will result for fasting during the holy month of Ramadan as washing hands regularly, drinking 8-10 glasses of observe social distancing more strictly. underlined in his article published by in more pandemics. Today scientists are Muslims, like other communities in the world, water between dawn and dusk, and reducing the They should also note that people with di- the Middle east Monitor that Israel is racing to find a vaccine for the virus. In are grappling with the coronavirus predicament. consumption of tea and coffee while increasing abetes may be more vulnerable to coronavi- possibly one of the few regimes in the order to fully understand the nature of The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the consumption of vegetables and fruits. rus. So, it is recommended that those people world that carries out regular military this pandemic it is important to know Ramadan is a time when Muslims around the It should be noted that the elderly are more who are suffering from diabetes are allowed and security drills to check its readiness its origins. world abstain from eating, drinking or smoking susceptible to the coronavirus infection due to for fasting if they are below 65 years of age. to face threats and challenges, including On December 30, 2019 at around 7 between sunrise and sunset. high blood sugar and blood pressure, cardiac and Meanwhile, patients who are suffering from natural disasters and epidemics. Nev- p.m., the Wuhan Center of Disease Control For most Muslims fasting is one of the major pulmonary diseases. However, many of them are high blood pressure should be checked up ertheless, its performance so far in the and Prevention detected a novel coro- obligations. In recent years studies undertaken unaware of their diseases. regularly every day. face of the coronavirus crisis has been navirus in two hospital patients with by scientists have discovered that it has some Therefore, considering that infection with the People who have undergone organ transplan- disappointing; its health sector was atypical pneumonia – the virus belongs very important medical advantages in terms of coronavirus may be more dangerous among the tation are not allowed for fasting. Finally, patients simply not prepared enough. to the same family of bat-borne viruses regenerating the body’s immune system. elderly, it is recommended that those who are who have recovered from the coronavirus are A full month and more after the virus as the one that caused SARS, a disease Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Iranian not assured that fasting is not harmful to them recommended not to embark on fasting for at was detected in Israel, with the health and that plagued 8,100 people and killed 800 Academy of Medical Sciences has said all healthy not to practice fasting. least six weeks. economic crises continuing to get worse, between 2002 and 2003. the more obvious it becomes that the state Initially 84 percent of the infections lacks a single authority to manage the occurred in Hubei Province, of which economy and other sectors in such an Wuhan is capital, the “ground-zero” of emergency. This is dangerous, as there coronavirus pandemic. seems to be no coordination between gov- This article attempts to explore whether ernment agencies, which exacerbates the COVID-19 was genetically engineered or problems. Moreover, there was no need has evolved naturally. Detailed under- Sistan- for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing of how an animal virus jumped to appear every night to present the latest species boundaries to infect humans so developments in the virus crisis and task productively will help in prevention of Baluchestan the Mossad spy agency with obtaining future zoonotic events. respirators. More scientific data could swing the under wheat, The problems that the regime is ex- balance of evidence to favor one hypothesis periencing could be solved by having an over another. barley emergency command room that operates COVID-19 bioengineered? according to recommendations from the One theory is that the COVID-19 was Prime Minister and his cabinet. Netan- created in a laboratory as a potential cultivation yahu, though, seems to be doing this on bioweapon. American author and re- his own, which is less than satisfactory. Over the past couple of years, farmers Israel’s management of the crisis has searcher, Eugene Michael Jones during in northern parts of Sistan-Baluchestan an interview with Tasnim news agency been confused from the beginning, re- province have been cultivating wheat and vealing a lot of finger-pointing and power in March said that “U.S. has outsourced barley. its bioweapons development program play between different ministries. The Hamed Gholami The region has experienced more than Ministries of Finance and Health can’t in part to China” and “until the source 20 years of drought, but in recent years of the pandemic becomes clear, Iran agree, while Defense argues about buying IRNA/ floods are heading from Helmand River in more ventilators, to the chagrin of Health should be very suspicious” of any help Afghanistan toward the province. from America. 9 officials, whose task this is. 10 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS APRIL 16, 2020

Army has so far set up 14 Senator Murphy says if Iran fails to field hospitals

POLITICAL TEHRAN – Amir Nozar Nemati, the deputy deskcommander of the Army ground forces, said beat coronavirus, U.S. will fail too in Shiraz on Wednesday that the Army has so far established 14 field hospitals in cities across the country to cope with the outbreak of the coronavirus. Murphy says Trump could be responsible for death of innocents in Iran Nemati said the Army has the capacity to set up more such POLITICAL TEHRAN — Chris Mur- name the most prominent instances, severely hospitals. deskphy, the U.S. senator from undermines the ordinary citizens’ fundamental Connecticut, warned on Monday that the Trump right to sufficient and adequate food,” Hilal administration could be partially responsible Elver, UN special rapporteur on the right to for “the death of innocent people” if it continues food, said in a statement. its current policies towards Iran amidst the Elver, an independent expert, said that it coronavirus epidemic. was a matter of “humanitarian and practical “If this epidemic continues to grow and urgency to lift unilateral economic sanctions spread in Iran it will…result in the death of immediately”. innocent people, partially as a result of U.S. In a letter to the G-20 economic powers policy that does not accrue to the national se- on March 24, UN Secretary-General Antonio curity benefit of our country,” he told reporters Guterres called for rolling back international on the Monday conference call, The National sanctions regimes around the world. Interest reported. Guterres said sanctions are heightening the “Remember, if we don’t beat it there, we health risks for millions of people and weak- don’t beat it here. This virus doesn’t respect ening the global effort to contain the spread of borders,” he added. “It’s just good public health the new coronavirus, Foreign Policy reported. In late March, the Army established a medical center policy to help even our adversaries beat back “I am encouraging the waiving of sanctions with 2,000 beds at the Tehran International Permanent this scourge.” imposed on countries to ensure access to food, Fairground special to the coronavirus patients who are The novel coronavirus disease, also known essential health supplies, and COVID-19 med- recovering from the deadly disease. The center was estab- as COVID-19, hit Iran at a time when U.S.-Ira- 6 that Iranians are dying of coronavirus partly er, the government of the United States does ical support. This is the time for solidarity, not lished in 24 hours. nian tensions were at an all-time high. The because of U.S. sanctions. not prioritize this issue which is regrettable,” exclusion,” he said. The Armed Forces, including the Islamic Revolution Trump administration initially relaxed its “su- “Innocent civilians are dying there in part Rowlands told ILNA in an interview published “Let us remember that we are only as strong Guards Corps, have also produced medical equipment in- per maximum economic pressure” campaign because our sanctions are limiting humanitarian on April 6. as the weakest health system in our intercon- cluding test kits used for diagnosing the coronavirus disease. in order to allow for humanitarian trade but aid during coronavirus,” he tweeted. He noted that innocent people are losing nected world,” the UN chief said. The volunteer Basij forces have also rushed to the help of has refused to budge any further, claiming that Foreign ministers of the European Union their lives in Iran due to lack of access to med- Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commis- the Health Ministry to contain the coronavirus pandemic. the current exemptions are enough. Murphy have urged suspension of sanctions against icine resulting from U.S. sanctions. sioner for human rights, also said on March 24 Defense Minister Amir Hatami also said on Wednesday disagreed. countries, including Iran, in the fight against On March 31, a UN human rights expert that “in a context of global pandemic, impeding that Army strongly supports the people, reaffirming that He had penned a March 26 letter, signed the coronavirus pandemic. called for lifting international sanctions against medical efforts in one country heightens the the Army is prepared to counter any threat. by ten other Democratic senators, asking the Dane Rowlands, a professor at Carleton countries ranging from Iran to North Korea risk for all of us.” Hatami made the remarks ahead of Army Day, which Trump administration to ensure that Iran University, has said it is “regrettable” that the and Venezuela in coronavirus crisis, according “At this crucial time, both for global public falls on April 17. and Venezuela can import medical supplies United States is refusing to ease sanctions on Iran to Reuters. health reasons, and to support the rights and “Today, Iran’s Army is one of the most prepared armies and other humanitarian goods to deal with while the country is fighting the deadly virus. “The continued imposition of crippling lives of millions of people in these countries, in the world. It has been practically proven and we have the coronavirus outbreak. “The United States can reduce restrictions economic sanctions on Syria, Venezuela, Iran, sectoral sanctions should be eased or suspend- witnessed it during the past 41 years,” he said. Murphy wrote on his Twitter page on April and facilitate Iran’s access to medicine, howev- Cuba, and, to a lesser degree, Zimbabwe, to ed,” she said in a statement. The brigadier general also said that the Army has always stood beside the people in times of crises. Foreign media portrait of Analyst says Afghan leaders must take steps to settle political crisis Iran is phony: Rouhani POLITICAL TEHRAN — Mohsen Rouhisefat, an expert “Afghanistan is a country in which there are ethnic com- deskon international affairs, has said that the petition and entering the world of politics in such a society is ‘Iran proud of its medical staff in COVID-19 fight’ Afghan leaders and political groups must take steps in settling like moving on razor’s edge,” he said. POLITICAL TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said the political crisis in their country. In separate phone calls on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister deskon Wednesday that foreign media outlets In an interview with IRNA published on Wednesday, he Mohammad Javad Zarif also discussed the political crisis in are presenting a “dark situation” of Iran which is “false and said that cooperation among all the Afghan political groups is Afghanistan and the latest developments in the country with unrealistic”. required to end the political deadlock in the country. his Turkish, Russian and Qatari counterparts. “We have problems caused by sanctions and the coronavirus, He noted that Iran supports such approach. The chief diplomats also discussed the ongoing peace talks however the dark situation portrayed by foreign media to Afghanistan has been facing a political crisis since last between the Afghan government and the Taliban. make people fearful is totally false and unrealistic,” he said September’s presidential elections. The Election Commission During a phone conversation on Sunday with Afghan acting during a cabinet meeting. announced that Ashraf Ghani won the presidential election foreign minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar, Zarif also high- Despite all the problems, “we will have an acceptable and but Abdullah Abdullah has also proclaimed himself winner. lighted the necessity of unity among various Afghan groups. good situation,” the president remarked. According to Tolo News, sources close to Abdullah said that Also, in separate phone conversations with Ghani and Ab- Rouhani also praised efforts made by health workers in he has made his final decisions about ending the political crisis dullah on April 7, Zarif expressed Tehran’s support for dialogue the struggle against the coronavirus pandemic. and that he is preparing the final draft of his plan. in provinces where he had more votes in last year’s presidential between rival factions. “Our medical team is very proud. We are proud. From the The sources added that Abdullah is seeking a decision-making elections. Zarif emphasized that the political structure has provided first day of this crisis, there has been no sick person who has leadership role in the peace process, but he wants all decisions Abdullah will propose the deal as a political agreement, the ground for peace and national reconciliation in Afghanistan. gone to a hospital and faced a closed door,” he stated. regarding peace to be made collectively within the reconcil- the sources said. He also reaffirmed Iran’s support for dialogue between rival There has been no shortage of hospital bed since the outbreak iation council. Nozar Shafiei, also an expert on international affairs, has groups with the participation of all political groups within the of the coronavirus, he added. Abdullah’s aides will hold their final discussions to finalize said that Ghani has no way but to reach an agreement with framework of the country’s constitution, the Foreign Ministry Elsewhere, he said, “Today, the most important concern and Abdullah’s proposed plan, according to sources. Abdullah. said in a press release. issue is the people’s health and livelihood. We have to fight the Officials from the Presidential Palace and the Sapidar Palace “If he [Ghani] does not understand this situation, contin- The Iranian and Afghan officials discussed issues of mutu- (coronavirus) disease and unemployment at the same time.” are optimistic that the political tension may end soon. uation of developments will be harmful to him,” he told ISNA al interest, the latest political conditions in Afghanistan, the He said that it is important to fight the coronavirus and “It will be a nice step if Mr. Abdullah works on the peace in an interview published on Tuesday. disputes that have followed the presidential election in the make efforts to improve the economic situation as well. process. We see it as a good omen. It will be in the country’s favor Shafiei said that the situation in Afghanistan is volatile and country, the peace negotiations, the intra-Afghan talks, and The president expressed hope that the situation would be if President Ghani reaches an agreement with the Stability and security in the country is being endangered. bilateral cooperation in the fight against coronavirus. “favorable” for the people. Convergence team,” said Mohammad Karim Azimi, an analyst. Pointing to Abdullah’s plan to end political crisis in the Ghani and Abdullah expressed gratitude to Iran for its sup- The sources also said that Abdullah has asked for a 50% country, the analyst said that Ghani should not consider himself port and welcomed Tehran’s readiness to help settle political Ambassador says Iran share in the cabinet and for the authority to appoint governors as an undisputed power. problems in Afghanistan. expects India, world to stand up against sanctions Why sanctions on Iran must end The Iranian ambassador to New Delhi has said the Islamic By Yasir Ali Mirza tial hopeful Bernie Sanders, Somali-born U.S. catastrophe can be measured by the fact that terrorism unleashed by Islamic State of Iraq Republic expects India and the rest of the international com- Congresswomen Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Rep. Iran had to ask for [a] $5 billion International and Syria (ISIS). This U.S.’ hot pursuit is a clear munity to stand against the “unjust” U.S. sanctions that are Iran is among the worst-hit countries affected Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called these sanc- Monetary Fund (IMF) loan for the first time violation of the international law that shows hurting millions of Iranians amid the Covid-19 crisis. by the novel Coronavirus pandemic. As per tions inhuman and said they should be lifted since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. But the the how much it holds respect for it. In an interview with Hindustan Times published on Tuesday, the World Health Organization’s report, as of immediately. Out of insensitiveness, the U.S. Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Damocles As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to Ali Chegeni also talked about India-Iran cooperation to tackle April 13, the COVID-19 confirmed cases have did not pay heed and summarily rejected it. sword is hanging over the fate of IMF loan as ravage Iran, one positive development [that] the pandemic and the steps being taken to help the 255 Indians skyrocketed to 71, 686 and death toll to 4,474 The hawkish leaders sitting in Washington D.C. long as it remains under the blacklist. Unmoved has taken place is that some 32 level-headed who tested positive for Covid-19 in the holy city of Qom and marks. The situation is very grim in the country have made it clear that the spread of the virus by the global appeals, Washington is likely to U.S. lawmakers spearheaded by Rep. Cortez the 5,000-odd Indians stranded in different parts of Iran. and the next few days are very crucial in fighting will not save it from the inhuman sanctions block Iran’s effort to get IMF’s emergency loan have written a joint letter to President Trump Chegeni said, “Both countries, in a close and warm contact, against the global pandemic. Its statistics are and further tightened its ‘maximum pressure’ needed to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. demanding immediate withdrawal of crushing have worked together to evacuate their stranded nationals and trailing behind the United States, Italy, China, strategy to bring Iran to its knees. The problem of successive U.S. admin- sanctions against Iran so that it can obtain until now, eight batches of Indian nationals were transferred Spain, Germany and France so far. It’s bearing Nevertheless, the Trump administration istrations right from the beginning of the necessary medicines and medical equipment. to India by seven Iranian airliners and one aircraft of the In- the brunt of emergency health hazard coupled has offered ‘humanitarian assistance’ to Iran Cold War is that it wants to hegemonize the The gesture shown by the American political dian Air Force, and the local authorities and Indian missions with crippling sanctions. in fighting the deadly menace which is just global politics that leads to unilateralism. The leaders might be a glimmer of hope for the in Iran are providing all possible humanitarian assistance As Iran is struggling to come to grips with a fig leaf intended to cover the Americans’ free flow of oil without any hindrance for its prospective thawing of relations between the to the remaining Indians, including pilgrims, students and containing the deadly contagious disease, the vicious policies. Rejecting the U.S.’ proffer as flourishing industrial economy is one of the US and Iran. fisherman.” United States stooped to new low and heaped a mere euphemism, Iranian President Has- apparent reasons behind its global hegemo- If the U.S. boasts that it is one of the oldest The diplomat also said those Indians who tested positive new sanctions on the Islamic Republic in the san Rouhani said that Iran had no intention ny. The American political establishment still democracies and upholders of human rights, for Covid-19 are being treated in Qom and Tehran. last week of March. Instead of easing economic of accepting “a glass of muddy water.” He believes that ‘benign’ U.S. hegemony and its then its leadership must show its willingness “They have been accommodated in some good hotels and sanctions in the time of global humanitarian said, “American leaders are lying... If they unilateralism are the raison d’etre for world to fight out the menace with transnational sol- guesthouse advised by Qom governorate under supervision health crisis, the Trump administration ampli- want to help Iran, all they need to do is to peace. After the ending of [the] Cold War, they idarity and cooperation with moderation and and credit of Indian embassy in Tehran. Those who have tested fied its punitive action by slapping its embargo lift sanctions... Then we can deal with the still reckon that Pax Americana is necessary without any prejudices against any country in positive, have been immediately hospitalized and offered the on crisis-hit Iran. The renewed sanctions came coronavirus outbreak.” for relative peace in the eastern hemisphere these trying times. That will suffice its ideals necessary medical treatment free of charge by Iran’s govern- after a report surfaced that former FBI agent The crippling sanctions imposed on Iranian of the globe. established by its founding fathers. U.S. should ment. The Indian embassy is following their situation closely.” Robert Levinson, who was allegedly being oil exports and banking systems are obstructing Since Trump got into the Oval Office, the internalize the values of multilateralism in letter On the current situation in Iran with regard to the corona- sent to Iran for espionage, has died while in Iranian efforts to procure medicines, medical POTUS has been increasing punitive actions and spirit. Then world peace can be cherished virus, the ambassador said, “Despite the brutal and inhumane custody in Iran. equipment and other essential items for civil against Iran. In 2018, he precipitously withdrew in a true manner. Unlike others, Iran is no more U.S. sanctions, our situation is relatively good in fighting the On behalf of the categorical appeals of the purposes. It also cannot purchase certain items from a historic Iran nuclear treaty inked by his a pariah state or a rogue entity. The Iranian pandemic in comparison with some other countries. Keep in Iranian president and the foreign minister, from any other countries, which [amounts to predecessor Barack Obama. On the contrary, he nation is built upon great civilizational and your mind, we could not take advantage of the experiences the international community has called upon U.S.’] flouting international norms. According reimposed severe economic sanctions against cultural ethos and impeccable knowledge system. of others while Iran was among the countries hardest hit by the United Sates to lift the sanctions on hu- to the U.S. Department of Treasury report, its long-standing nemesis. The belligerence In absence of any global effort to get it suc- the highly contagious virus in the first phase of spreading of manitarian grounds. Iranian Foreign Minis- the Trump administration has truncated the between this West Asian regional power and the cored, the resilient people of Iran will overcome Covid-19 across the globe. Now, hopefully the curve shows ter Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a tweet on number of licenses to American companies ‘global arrogance’ had never gone beyond the these difficult times once more on its own as it that the pandemic is falling [from] the peak as the number March 17, “Unlawful U.S. sanctions drained which export raw material for pharmaceuti- verbal attacks. However, in an unprecedented has evolved commendably since the Islamic of new infection cases have dropped from 3,200 to 1,600 on Iran’s economic resources, impairing ability to cals and medical equipment such as diagnostic move in January this year, on the persuasion Revolution 40 years ago. But the conformist a daily basis.” fight #Covid19. They literally kill innocents...” kits, oxygen generators, full-face respirators, of CIA chief Mike Pompeo, President Trump attitude of the international community will Ambassador Chegeni also said in cooperation with the Even the United Nations’ Human Rights masks, and thermal imaging equipment. Med- had given the go-ahead for the elimination of remain a fact. Neither its people nor its leader- Indian authorities, a majority of Iranian citizens in India have Council chief Michelle Bachelet, former Pres- ical staffers are facing difficulties in treating the most celebrated Iranian military officer ship can be ignored from playing a pragmatic been evacuated. ident of Chile and herself a medical physician, Covid patients due to the inhuman embargoes and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ and responsible role in the comity of nations. “Still there are around 200 Iranian tourists and students also called for reassessment of economic sanc- and [are] unable to contain the morbidity in (IRGC) al-Quds Force chief, Major General It needs a fare share of its rights, not charity. who, at this stage, requested the embassy for their immediate tions slapped against Iran in the time of global this state of public health emergency. Some Qassem Soleimani, in a targeted assassina- So much so that tolerance, cooperation and return to Iran. We expect to send them back home by an Iran pandemic, but it also fell flat. The so-called of the prominent Iranian political leaders and tion in Iraq. Though, General Soleimani was mutual respect are the key to global peace. Air flight from Mumbai in the coming days.” Progressives--- Democratic Party presiden- clerics have lost their lives. The gravity of this at the frontline in fighting against the global (Source: Press TV) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 16, 2020 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 MEK defectors tell of torture, forced Army chief lauds sexual relations with Masoud Rajavi Defense Ministry for POLITICAL TEHRAN — The In- female members of the organization. “I coronavirus fight desktercept published a see some obstacles which have prevented news article recently about the cult-like us from reaching our goals and achieving POLITICAL TEHRAN —Army Chief Major Gen- desk Iranian militant group the Mojahedin-e victory,” Rajavi told members of the group, eral Abdolrahim Mousavi has lauded Khalq. The article is based on interviews Sultani recalled. “That obstacle is hope for the Defense Ministry for its efforts in fighting the with high-ranking defectors. the future. We want to eliminate any kind coronavirus outbreak. The following is an excerpt of the article: of hope for the future from your mind. You “I express my gratitude for the invaluable efforts On a blisteringly hot summer afternoon are either with us or not!” you and your colleagues at the Defense Ministry,” in 2006, Reza Sadeghi ran into an old friend Sterilization would be a means of focusing General Mousavi said in a message to Defense Min- at the Iraqi headquarters of the Mojahedin-e the women’s minds. “They said that this organ ister Amir Hatami on Wednesday, Mehr reported. Khalq, an exiled Iranian militant group better of the body, the womb, has made women The efforts, according to Mousavi, included backing known as the MEK. The two men had not want to be mothers someday and return to the country’s health system and supporting the Armed seen each other in over a decade. Sadeghi domestic life,” Sultani said. “And so, visits Forces in producing medical supplies among others. guided his friend, who had just arrived from with women began, to get them to go in groups He also praised Defense Ministry experts for pro- Canada, on a stroll through the desert com- of 20 or 30 to have a hysterectomy.” ducing a new generation of test kits that can detect pound known as Camp Ashraf. He was glad Women were scheduled for appointments the Covid-19. to catch up with an old comrade. But he also at an MEK hospital in Camp Ashraf. The Last month, the Defense Ministry unveiled the test had a burning question. procedures would be carried out by a female kits, saying the kits can detect the coronavirus in three Sadeghi had effectively given his life to the MEK member who had been trained as a hours with 98 percent accuracy. MEK, which means “People’s Mujahideen doctor, assisted by a local Iraqi physician. At of Iran.” A 26-year veteran of the group, he first, Sultani resisted. But finally “the pressure had not left Camp Ashraf for over a decade. was so great that it broke my resistance, and During that time, he’d had no contact with his I agreed that I, too, should make an appoint- family or news of them. The MEK leadership ment,” she said. “In other words, they gave had forced him and most of the other cadres so many and varied arguments for me to go living at Camp Ashraf to abandon even their to the hospital that I had no choice.” closest relationships. Most painful for Sade- Sultani said she finally defected from the ghi were thoughts of his son, Paul, his only “He (Reza Sadeghi) had been selected to MEK in 2006, after she was scheduled for child, now 16 years old. Sadeghi hadn’t seen train for assassination missions inside the surgery but before it could be carried out. or spoken to Paul since he’d arrived in Iraq. “How many women have reached the As Sadeghi and his old friend strolled Iran and would fine-tune the fighting and castle?” Rajavi later asked in a meeting through the compound, two MEK minders sabotage skills that his commanders told him Sultani attended, referring to what she followed at a distance. Sadeghi walked a would soon help liberate his country.” called the “women who had abandoned bit faster, signaling to his friend that he the last vestiges of their sexual world and needed to talk out of earshot of their escorts. snap. The MEK members shoved him into have only one aim and one target: to obey were operated on.” The doctor answered Turning a corner between buildings, he the back of the truck, pinning him to the everything I say and to overthrow the Iranian that there had been 50 so far. whispered: “How is Paul?” floor with their bodies. The truck started government.” After much urging from MEK leaders, Sima In 1996, Sadeghi traveled to Camp Ashraf, driving. “You’re dead,” one of Sadeghi’s Batool Sultani was also an MEK com- said she finally agreed to have her ovaries According to General Amiri of the Defense Min- the group’s sprawling compound in northeast captors told him. “We are going to put you mander and a member of the High Council. surgically removed in 2011. “When you are istry, the homegrown test kits were endorsed by the Iraq, for a mandatory six-month military in the ground, and no one will ever know Soft-spoken with brown hair and glasses, under brainwashing, you would do anything Health Ministry. training. While the MEK did propaganda what happened to you.” Forced disappear- Sultani easily blended into the crowd when and everything,” she told The Intercept. “You Amiri said this is the second generation of test kits and intelligence work, the group’s core ances and solitary confinement were not we met in Cologne. The High Council gov- would do any military operation, you would produced by the ministry’s Industries Organization. skills were military. Membership required uncommon at Camp Ashraf, and Sadeghi erned the conduct of everyone living at Camp go and have sexual relations with your leader, The first generation had been produced almost extensive training, including everything was sure he would be executed. Ashraf. They could order the isolation, os- you would sell information and intelligence. one month earlier. from weapons skills and bomb-making to His only chance, he thought, was to tracization, and imprisonment of members We were under constant control by the leader.” The Defense Ministry started mass production operating a T-55 tank. try to kick out the window of the truck who ran afoul of Rajavi. But when it came When Sima finally left the group, she of face masks, disinfectants, and protective clothes While he was in Iraq, Sadeghi decided to hoping the commotion would attract to major decisions, the council had “no real said, “I was like a lost person.” The United from the early days that the coronavirus disease was leave Paul, who was then almost 5 years old attention. He slammed his foot against power,” Sultani said. “It was just for show and Nations set up a meeting between her and detected in Iran. It also unveiled advanced thermal and had been born in Canada, with Sadeghi’s the glass as the others fought to restrain a means of using the women to keep control her brother, whom she hadn’t seen for 30 cameras used as a screening tool in crowded places. parents in Iran. At the time, Paul had never him. The windows didn’t break, but as over the men who might become Massoud years. At first, she was reluctant to hug or Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said met his grandparents or been to Iran. Sade- the truck slowed to turn onto the camp’s Rajavi’s rivals in the Mojahedin.” kiss him, so deeply alienated had she be- on Monday that Iran has made significant progress ghi planned to train for six months, retrieve main road, it approached two American “Maryam Rajavi came to us as female come from her closest kin. He showed her in fighting the coronavirus outbreak in spite of the Paul, and return to the U.S., where he’d spent soldiers patrolling the road in a Humvee. members of the group many times and asked how to shop and use money. “We’ve never United States’ sanctions. several years raising money for the MEK’s The soldiers stopped the truck and ordered us why we haven’t demanded to see our seen anything like this for about 30 years,” “Despite US sanctions, Iran has made significant leadership, which is based in Europe. everyone out. The men in the back got off leader in his bedroom,” Sultani said. “There Sima said. “I completely forgot about real progress in fighting the pandemic, thanks to its hu- But when his training was over, the Sadeghi and he raised himself up. “I want was a strong pressure” on MEK women to life outside MEK.” man & scientific resources, and friends abroad,” Zarif group asked Sadeghi to stay for another to leave the MEK,” he told the Americans in initiate sexual relationships with Rajavi, When she first spoke out against the tweeted. six months. He had been selected to train English. “I need your help.” The Americans she said, “to show your commitment to group, current members requested a meet- “#Covid19 was opportunity for US to kick its addic- for assassination missions inside Iran and took Sadeghi past the razor wire and armed the leader and the group.” ing. They offered her several thousand euros tion to sanctions. Instead, it will now live in infamy would fine-tune the fighting and sabotage Humvees and into their own makeshift mil- Another female member of the High not to criticize the group, which Sima says in the memory of our people,” he added. skills that his commanders told him would itary compound next door. Council at Camp Ashraf, whom The Inter- she declined. “I told them, ‘You cannot re- Last week, Zarif ruled out what he called charity soon help liberate his country. His MEK Once inside, Sadeghi asked to make a cept agreed to identify only as Sima, said turn what I lost, my family, my husband. from U.S. President Donald Trump. commander told Sadeghi that Paul would be phone call. He still had the phone number of she joined the MEK in the 1980s and left You cannot return that.’” “Iran is rich in human & natural resources. We don’t sent back to Toronto to live with his moth- his brother who lived in Canada. He called it in 2014. Unlike other former members, “We joined the MEK for freedom and need charity from @realDonaldTrump —who’s forced er, a Canadian woman whom Sadeghi had him and asked for their parents’ number in Sima asked that her real name not be used democracy and independence,” Sadeghi said. to buy ventilators from sources he’s sanctioned,” he divorced not long after their son was born. Iran. After so much time without a word, because she feared retaliation from current “But if we knew that Masoud Rajavi was said via Twitter. Sadeghi agreed to stay. they didn’t even know whether Sadeghi MEK members. She now lives in hiding in a spying on the Iranian government during Zarif, however, emphasized that “What we want Sadeghi got only rare updates about Paul was alive or dead. European country and agreed to meet privately the [Iran-Iraq] war, I would never accept is for him to STOP preventing Iran from selling oil during the 10 years he spent in Ashraf. Mem- “When my mother picked up the phone, in a place where other local supporters of the that. If I knew that [we received] money & other products, buying its needs & making & re- bers were forbidden from discussing family or all I could say was hello. I didn’t know what group were unlikely to see her. from Saddam Hussein to give information, ceiving payments.” friends who were not MEK members. When else to say to her.” he recalled recently. “She “You must know the organization and the I would never accept that.” Iran was initially among the countries hardest hit by he did ask about his son, they always told him recognized my voice and just started crying.” psychological warfare that they start against “I remember we were attending a rally the coronavirus pandemic. But Western countries soon that the boy was well, living in Toronto with Issa Azadeh, a senior operative who left you,” she told us in an effort to explain her at Camp Ashraf where everyone from the overtook Iran due to the virus’s exponential growth in Sadeghi’s ex-wife and receiving hundreds of the group in 2014 after 34 years, told The fear. “They assassinate your personality and movement was supposed to be gathered the West, as opposed to its linear growth in Iran. dollars in support every month from the group. Intercept about his experience inside the MEK. you will lose your closest friends; even your together,” he said. “They had told us that However, the United States’ illegal sanctions – Now, his old friend from Toronto told “I couldn’t feel whether I was alive or dead,” family wouldn’t trust you. This is the reason we had hundreds of thousands of members which were put in place after Trump withdrew the Sadeghi something that seemed impossible. said Azadeh. “I was thinking, ‘Did I make a that these people are scared.” and maybe millions more supporters in U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal – have been described His son, the friend said, was not in Can- mistake?’ But the first time when I got into As the years dragged on, she began to Iran. At the rally, there were only a few as one of the greatest obstacles impeding Iran’s full ada at all. He had never left Iran and was the internet, I saw the truth. I searched about clash with other members. In response, they thousand people at most. I remember at containment of the deadly disease. being raised by Sadeghi’s parents there. cults. I realized we were robots.” placed her under surveillance and forced the time a few of us were wondering. If this In line with his “maximum pressure” campaign on Sadeghi’s Canadian ex-wife had filed a re- “I loved the MEK very much. I saw all her to engage in grueling self-criticism ses- is really a movement like Rajavi says it is, Tehran, Trump has introduced a total ban on Iran’s port with Canadian authorities, believing my dreams in this organization, everything,” sions that she described as psychologically where is everyone?” oil export, the country’s main source of income. The that Sadeghi had kidnapped the boy. Paul Azadeh said when we met in Cologne, Ger- tortuous. Around 2000, Sima was nearing His reunion with Paul was bittersweet. oil embargo was intended to choke off the Iranian was declared a missing child by the Royal many, last fall. “But when I got involved in a breaking point. She made a plan with an- “My son was supposed to be away from me economy. Mounted Canadian Police. His picture had detail with things that no one else knew, I other woman to escape from Camp Ashraf. for six months. It was 10 years,” he said. “The even been printed on milk cartons in Canada realized that there was no difference between They plotted their exit in meticulous detail, first question was, ‘Dad, where were you? in the hope that someone might find him [Joseph] Stalin and Massoud Rajavi.” but the other woman turned her in to MEK I cannot believe that in the 20th century, and return him to his mother. For MEK members, he said, “Rajavi was leaders. As punishment, Sima was subject- you were in some place that you couldn’t Ex-IRGC Commander: US “No, he’s in Canada,” Sadeghi declared in right after God. This is something that they ed to even more intense ostracization and be able to send me a postcard or call me for Might Disintegrate into disbelief. The friend insisted that wasn’t true. put in our minds. Over the years, minute by psychological torture. my birthday.’” Canadian authorities had even interviewed minute, month by month, year by year, they For most of the next 14 years, Sima was Sadeghi had no answer. He was ashamed. Commonwealth States him about Sadeghi and his son, the man said. put that in our minds. If you doubt Rajavi, confined to one section of Camp Ashraf, He could not articulate how being a mem- Sadeghi abruptly left his friend and it means that you doubt God.” unable to move freely on her own. Like Batool ber of the MEK had made him feel bereft of after Coronavirus marched to his commander’s office. He told “Rajavi told us that you have to divorce Sultani, Sima described an intense form individual agency. her that he was leaving the organization to your family completely,” Azadeh said. The of psychosexual manipulation by Rajavi In the meantime, Sadeghi, like the other TEHRAN (FNA) — Secretary of Iran’s Expediency retrieve his son. He planned to join the U.S. leader told his acolytes that “family are the that she said became an integral tool for defectors, has many regrets and struggles Council (EC) and former commander of the Islamic soldiers at the spartan desert encampment main poison for you guys” and counseled controlling female cadres. Years earlier, in in his new life. What’s left of his family is Revolution Guards Corps Mohsen Rezayee said that they’d built to house those who managed to them that if their siblings or other relatives 1995, “Rajavi gave every single woman in scattered between Iran and the West. the United States could disintegrate several common- escape, Sadeghi said. showed up at Camp Ashraf, the MEK members the organization a pendant and told us that “I would never [again] leave Iran, because wealth countries after the coronavirus crisis ends. His commander called a group of other would be required to kill them. Azadeh was we are all connected to him and to no other all these years I left my family and my par- “The US might turn into commonwealth states in MEK members to detain him. Suddenly, shocked. “At one time, family for MEK was man,” Sima said. She was forced to divorce ents died,” he said. “I miss them very much.” the post-coronavirus world,” Rezayee wrote on his about a dozen of Sadeghi’s comrades were honor,” he said. “Then Rajavi announced her husband and, like Sultani, eventually Every night, he dreams some version of twitter page on Wednesday. grabbing him, trying to push and lift him that family is poison or shame.” became sexually involved with Rajavi. the nightmare he’s lived. “Either I am in pris- He added that the high expenses of the US fruitless into the back seat of a nearby Toyota pick- “[Rajavi] said: ‘Don’t think about women. Around 1998, an even more chilling on [in Iran], or I am in Camp Ashraf trying military build-up in other countries, the US admin- up. As he resisted, he felt one of his fingers That’s not your life,’” Azadeh recalled. “You directive came down from Rajavi to the to escape. When I wake up, I’m sweating.” istration’s inefficiency and the states’ distrust of the Federal Government act like a “time bomb”. The US is one of the most unequal nations in the world, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, outranked by only a ‘Ease Iran sanctions during coronavirus pandemic’ smattering of countries -- Bulgaria, Turkey, Mexico, POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Los Angeles Times dent Trump or Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, More than that, we should end all U.S. sanctions now Chile, Costa Rica and South Africa. deskhas published letters to the editor from fresh from celebrating the spiritual renewal of Easter against Iran, re-enter the 2015 nuclear deal and begin The coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic people across the United States calling for easing of or Passover, will appeal to the wisdom of acting on to tell the truth about what went wrong in U.S.-Iranian shutdown is likely to increase the gap between the anti-Iran sanctions which have hampered the country’s our professed Judeo-Christian values with generosity relations as well. haves and have-nots, and doctors and public health fight against coronavirus pandemic. toward fellow humans suffering from the pandemic Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution was blowback from experts say socioeconomic status is playing a role in Two of the letters are presented below: that plagues us all. the CIA-backed coup against its elected prime minister, whether a person will survive the disease. To the editor: Although I try to be a person of faith, Easing sanctions to allow for medical relief would Mohammad Mossadegh, in 1953. The novel virus does not care about your race or socioec- I have little faith in the current administration’s recep- remind the world who Americans are; we might even U.S. foreign policy has been egregious throughout onomic status, but data released by several states suggest tivity to calls from former leaders of both parties and remind ourselves. the post-World War II, Cold War era, and continues to your race and socioeconomic status -- and everything columnist Doyle McManus to ease sanctions against Carol Flint, Santa Monica be so. Pompeo’s claim that the U.S. is the “leading light that goes with it, including access to quality health care Iran during this global health crisis. To the editor: McManus is right to support COV- of humanitarian goodness” in the world is grotesque. -- could make a big difference in whether you contract Still, I’ll hope that some trusted advisor to Presi- ID-19 aid for Iran. Rachel Bruhnke, San Pedro the virus and whether you survive. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY APRIL 16, 2020

Iranian stock market holds 17 new petrochemical its largest-ever IPO

ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’s stock market witnessed deskits largest-ever initial public offering (IPO) plants to go operational on Wednesday. by March 2021

1 According to the official, due to The oil minister said it is high on the min- the high volume of investment and their istry’s agenda to complete the South Pars need for advanced technology, the oil and gas field projects. gas industry projects will not just lead to the Elsewhere in his remarks, Zanganeh noted production of crude oil but will also create that all the contracts which have been signed a large volume of construction all over the with domestic firms for the development of country. joint fields will be finalized by the end of the He further mentioned the South Pars current calendar year. phase 11 development project, noting that In July 2017, French company Total signed As reported by domestic media, Social Security Investment an Iranian company is going to solely take a $1-billion deal to develop the South Pars pany pulled out of the deal following the U.S. in Iran later in December 2018 under U.S. Company (SSIC, also known by its Persian acronym Shasta), over the project after China National Pe- gas field in cooperation with China Nation- President Donald Trump’s decision for pull- pressures and finally left the project. Iran’s major state-owned investment company, offered eight troleum Corporation (CNPC) followed the al Petroleum Company (CNPC) and Iran’s ing his country out of the Iran nuclear deal. Located in southern Iran, South Pars is billion shares, which account for 10 percent of its stakes, for sales French giant Total and left the project under Petro Pars. Later, the CNPC formally replaced Total the world’s largest gas field which Iran shares at the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE), Iran’s major stock market. the U.S. pressures. However, in May 2018, the French com- in the project, but it suspended investment with Qatar in the Persian Gulf waters. Each institutional or individual trader could buy a maximum of 10,000 shares, by placing an order through the book-building method, according to a notice published on the TSE website. Shasta is the investment arm of the Social Security Organization, which provides healthcare entitlement and pension benefits for Steel products exports up 25% in 11 months yr/yr a large proportion of Iran’s middle and working-class members ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’s export of steel has put the value of the projects to boost the steel ingot of the labor force. deskproducts has risen 25 percent during output in the present year at $793 million. an 11-month period ended on February 19, compared Iran has defined 16 development projects in the to the same time span in the previous year, Fars news steel sector which are aimed to boost the country’s Iran-Turkey monthly trade via agency reported. output of steel products by 17.3 million tons in a course railway stands at 54,000 tons The country’s production of these products has of five years. also witnessed a growth of seven percent during the These projects are for constructing production units ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran and Turkey traded 54,000 mentioned 11 months. each with the capacity of 600,000 tons, while some desktons of goods in a month amid the coronavirus The export of Iran’s steel ingot in the said time span other projects have been also defined to set up some outbreak and railway transportation served as the only means for has risen 42 percent as well to stand at 6.3 million tons, units with under 500,000-ton capacity that together transfer of goods between them, according to the spokesman of the same report confirmed. with the 600,000-ton capacity units will add 19.1 million the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). Iranian major steel companies have produced over tons to the country’s annual steel products output. “In a time span from March 16 to April 13, some 1,657 cargo 18.5 million tons of steel ingots during the 11-month In its latest report, the World Steel Association wagons have commuted between the two countries carrying period, registering a four-percent growth from the figure (WSA) has announced that Iran’s crude steel production goods,” Rouhollah Latifi said in an interview with Mehr news for the same period in the previous year. increased by 30 percent in 2019 while the average global agency. As Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development growth in this sector stood at 3.5 percent. “Of this amount, some 1,088 wagons imported 40,375 tons and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) has announced, Based on the WSA report, Iran produced 31.9 million of goods from Turkey to Iran, while 569 wagons exported 13,537 Iran’s annual steel ingot production is planned to increase which began on March 20. tons of the mentioned commodity during 2019 compared tons of goods to Turkey,” he added. 3.2 million tons in the current Iranian calendar year, IMIDRO, Iran’s largest metals and mining holding, to the last year’s nearly 24 million tons. Iranian exports to Turkey included polyethylene, urea fertilizer, watermelon, zinc ingot and paraffin, while the country imported bananas, zinc soil, fiber, paper pastes, paper and tobacco from Turkey, the official mentioned. IMF sees the global economy shrinking in 2020 He named Sarisu trans-boundary market as the only land ECONOMY TEHRAN – The Inter- percent. 33.5 percent in the next year. around the world, including the advanced border where the exchange of goods is underway, presently. desknational Monetary Fund According to the report, following this The body has reported that the “Great economies as well as the developing coun- Latifi had previously announced that due to the outbreak of (IMF), in its latest World Outlook Report global trend, Iran’s economic growth is seen Lockdown” recession is going to be the biggest tries are going to be hit by the economic COVID-19, commutes of trucks through the Iran-Turkey Bazargan titled “The Great Lockdown”, sees the global to be -6 percent, while the economic growth is in almost a century and warned the world consequences of the pandemic. border have been halted. economic growth at -3 percent following the expected to recover up to 3.1 percent in 2021. economy’s contraction and recovery would The IMF also forecasted the oil prices to According to him, Sarisu was previously used only for imports coronavirus outbreak. The fund also predicted inflation in Iran be worse than anticipated if the coronavirus stay under the $50 range for the next three of medical equipment to Iran, but as of this weekend, it can act The body has downgraded its previous to reach 34.2 percent for the current year, lingers or returns. years, saying that the oil prices in the current as a gateway for imports of all types of goods. forecast published in January 2020 by 6.3 however it sees the inflation rate to fall to Based on the report, all the countries year would linger around $35 per barrel. Some 15 trucks can daily commute at Sarisu trans-boundary market, presently, he said on April 7. Iran and Turkey are also enjoying trade via railway, he added. Under the outbreak of the coronavirus, Turkey closed its China’s 2020 GDP growth set to sink to 44- Coronavirus: 5 predictions for how the borders as of February 22 and some 420 Turkish trucks that had been stopped in Iran’s Bazargan border returned home year low as coronavirus cripples economy economy might recover in late March. Turkey has been the major trade partner of Iran, after China and Iraq, in the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19). During the 27th meeting of Iran-Turkey Joint Economic Committee, which was held in Ankara in mid-September 2019, the two sides investigated different ways of reaching the targeted $30-billion bilateral trade and reiterated that reaching this figure is possible despite the pressures of the U.S. sanctions. During the meeting, the Iranian president’s chief of staff, Mahmoud Vaezi, who is the Iranian chairman of the committee, mentioned expediting the process of implementing bilateral agreements on trade and economic issues as the most prioritized objective of the joint committee and said Iran has no limitation for expanding and deepening cooperation with Turkey.

China’s economic growth is set to stumble to are now easing, the government is slowly More than 50 economists were polled by who notes the lockdowns’ impact will last Europe’s economy to its slowest annual pace in nearly half a cen- relaxing emergency measures and exhorting Reuters, asking for their predictions for for a while after they are lifted. tury, as the coronavirus health crisis shutters industries to reopen. But analysts say the economic recovery after the coronavirus. “Easing of the lockdown measures will slump more than 10% on businesses and brings the global economy pace of recovery in the coming months will be From a shrink as much as 6%, to 0.7% be gradual, social distancing will continue coronavirus measures to a standstill, according to a Reuters poll. heavily constrained by external headwinds. growth, here are the forecasts. and the tourist industry will likely continue China’s leaders have pledged to take more The virus has spread rapidly around the Will be it a U? A V? Maybe a W? Pre- to suffer,” Brzeski said. Europe is heading for a double-digit slump in the first half of steps to combat the impact from the pan- world, prompting unprecedented shutdowns dictions for economic recovery after coro- 3. “W” 2020 amid widespread lockdowns to stem the spread of the demic that looks likely to delay a recovery in many countries, which has wreaked havoc navirus-linked lockdowns are throwing Double-dip - if the easing of lockdown coronavirus, according to economists. in the virus-ravaged economy, as mounting along global supply chains and severely hurt up a medley of letters to indicate whether restrictions initially boosts activity but the Bloomberg’s monthly sur- job losses pose a threat to social stability. overseas demand, raising the risk of a steep we can expect a bounceback, a slow-burn effects of unemployment and corporate vey puts the contraction in the Growth in the world’s second-biggest global recession this year. recovery or relapse. bankruptcies then start to filter through. euro area at more than 10% in economy for 2020 was forecast at 2.5%, “Despite its initial success in containing Of more than 50 economists polled by This may happen also if new coronavirus the January-June period, with according to the median of 62 analysts COVID-19, China is still faced with two dire Reuters, some forecast the world economy cases emerge as has been the case in some most of the hit -- 8.3% -- in the surveyed by Reuters, which would mark challenges: nosediving external demand due will shrink as much as 6% in 2020. The Asian countries. second quarter. Even with an the weakest clip since 1976, the final year to the pandemic, and the rising threat of a other extreme was a prediction for 0.7% 4. “L” expected rebound later in the of the decade-long Cultural Revolution that second wave of the virus,” said economists growth. The average was a 1.2% contraction. When growth plunges and does not year, the bloc’s output will still wrecked the economy. with Nomura, adding that the hope of a quick Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro recover for some time. decline more than 5% in 2020. That is a sharp easing from a 6.1% gain in recovery is dimming. at ING Research, dubbed the picture “a For this to occur, the global coronavi- Economic Damage 2019, and is below the 5.4% growth forecast The slump in China’s exports and imports virus-driven ice age”. rus tally needs to continue rising, forcing The survey results aren’t the in the March poll. eased in March, customs data showed on “It is an abrupt stop of economic ac- protracted lockdowns. only gloomy numbers to emerge The survey also predicted China’s econo- Tuesday, but analysts say the overall outlook tivity, from 100 to zero in just a few days That scenario looks unlikely, given on Tuesday. The Internation- my in the first quarter will contract by 6.5% remains grim as the pandemic has brought or weeks,” he said, adding that made it Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus al Monetary Fund predicts the year-on-year, for the first time since at least business activity in its major trading partners extremely difficult to forecast the outlook. emerged, has ended lockdowns after just 19-country bloc will contract 1992 when the country first started issuing to a standstill. Here are some scenarios debated. over two months. 7.5% this year thanks to what quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) data. The health crisis has dealt a particularly 1. “V” But L-shaped outcomes may be a risk it calls the “Great Lockdown,” It also marks a reversal from 3.5% growth heavy blow to the country’s private sector, The best case outcome: when a growth for those emerging markets less able to with the world economy shrinking 3%. forecast in the last survey done in the previous which is the most productive part of the plunge is followed by an equally sharp re- engage big stimulus and often rely on In its first World Economic Outlook since the virus outbreak, month. China will release its first-quarter economy and a key source of employment. covery. commodity exports. the IMF said the global recession will be the steepest in almost GDP data on April 17. The small and privately-owned firms The April-June GDP contraction will 5. Swoosh a century. The projected 2020 growth would be are facing a severe cash crunch to tide over likely be on a scale not seen for decades. “Neither L nor U nor V, will do. In- Europe fallout weaker than the 3.9% rate in 1990, when a prolonged downturn, with many laying But fiscal and monetary stimulus - over stead, we look for a tick mark-style profile,” Among the major euro-area countries, Italy will be the worst the economy was hit hard after the Tian- off workers or shutting down businesses. $10 trillion and counting - could aid an Berenberg economist Florian Hense said. affected major economy, with a 9.1% contraction, followed by anmen crackdown, but still outperform a Analysts expect nearly 30 million job losses equally swift rebound. That implies a sharp downturn, then Spain at 8%. 1.6% contraction in 1976. this year due to stuttering work resumptions Ross Walker, co-head of global econom- gradual recovery as lockdowns are eased In France where the government extended confinement The forecasts highlighted the challenges and plunging global demand, outpacing the ics at NatWest Markets, reckons the scale more gently than they were imposed. measures to May 11, the IMF sees a 7.2% hit this year. Finance faced by the Asia’s engine of growth given an 20-plus million layoffs during the 2008-09 of economic decline expected this quarter AXA Investment Managers group chief Minister Bruno Le Maire is even more pessimistic, saying on immediate recovery looked some way off as financial crisis. implies “a sizeable rebound in Q3 and Q4 economist Gilles Moec pictures a “swoosh” Tuesday that the slump could be 8%. the global pandemic hits exports, despite a “Lingering fear of the virus and uncertainty as businesses re-open”. shape akin to the Nike sports brand logo. The Bloomberg surveys show widespread damage: Germany sharp slowdown in China’s virus infections over job losses mean people are remaining 2. “U” “With consumer spending possibly im- will shrink 7.6% this quarter, Italy 8.8%, Spain 10%, and the U.K. from its peak in February. cautious. We expect household consumption When recovery takes more than a cou- paired by a higher propensity to save and will suffer a near 12% contraction. Early in the outbreak, Beijing imposed to be negatively affected for many months ple of quarters. Because economies have serious potential curbs on investment, we While rebounds are predicted later in the year, the timing draconian travel restrictions and factory sus- to come and see only a gradual sequential suffered a faster and deeper contraction think the likeliest scenario is for the world depends on when restrictions on movement, gatherings and pensions to curb the spread of the disease, recovery from Q2 onwards,” said Louis Kuijs, than in 2008-09, this may be the likeliest economy’s rebound post lockdown to be businesses are lifted, or at least eased. but at a heavy price. economist at Oxford Economics. outcome. quite soft,” Moec said. (Source: Bloomberg) As the number of new domestic cases (Source: Reuters) U is the base case for ING’s Brzeski, (Source: World Economic Forum) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 16, 2020 ENERGY 5

PGSR’s capacity set to rise Oil in the age of coronavirus: a U.S. shale bust like no other

Texas oilman Mike Shellman has kept his MCA Petroleum Corp going for four decades, drilling wells through booms and busts and 60,000 bpd by late Sep. always selling his crude to U.S. oil refiners. But now the second-generation oilman has abandoned drilling any ENERGY TEHRAN — Daily pro- The official also underlined the surge in new wells this year and postponed some maintenance amid a sharp deskcessing capacity of Iran’s the refinery’s naphtha production capacity, drop in global oil prices and brimming storage tanks. He is consid- Persian Gulf Star Refinery (PGSR) is going noting that up to four million liters of naphtha ering shutting most of his production down, for the first time ever. to increase 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) is produced in PGSR on a daily basis, most Oil fields from Texas and New Mexico to Oklahoma and North to reach 480,000 by the end of the Iranian of which is exported to other countries in Dakota are going quiet as drilling halts and tens of thousands of calendar month of Shahrivar (September 21, the region and Europe. oil workers lose their livelihood. Fuel demand has plunged by as 2020), according to the managing director The third phase of PGSR was put into op- much as 30 million barrels per day (bpd) - or 30 percent - as efforts of the refinery. eration in early January 2019 and the fourth to fight the coronavirus pandemic have grounded aircraft, reduced Mohammad-Ali Dadvar put the refinery’s phase is going to focus on the optimization vehicle usage and pushed economies worldwide toward recession. current processing capacity at 420,000 bpd, of efficiency and production capacity. Shana reported on Wednesday. Persian Gulf Star Refinery in the southern According to the official, some of the province of Hormozgan is the first of its kind equipment and machinery for the PGSR designed based on gas condensate feedstock development project have been already received from South Pars gas field which Iran installed and some of them are still being shares with Qatar in the Persian Gulf. manufactured by Iranian companies. Construction of the refinery started in Dadvar noted that with the increase in the 2006, but the project was delayed as the capacity, the refinery’s output is also going result of some mismanagement and also to increase by at last 20 percent. financial limitation due to the West-led “Currently, an average of 45 million liters sanctions against Iran. of gasoline and 17 million liters of gas oil are As the Middle East’s largest processing produced daily at the refinery and these figures facility for gas condensate, PGSR is planned will increase to about 54 million liters and 20 to play a big role to turn Iran into an exporter million liters per day, respectively,” he said. of gasoline.

“What scares me is not even being able to sell the product,” the NIDC taking on a more significant role South Pars 17 under-development grizzled oil hand said from his firm’s San Marcos, Texas, headquarters. Refiners and other buyers are warning they may refuse his oil in oil industry phases to be completed by Mar. 2021 once contracts expire this month, he said. Or they may offer to buy at a price below his costs, so he is preparing to dip into retirement ENERGY TEHRAN – Manag- ENERGY TEHRAN – Iranian savings to pay employees, he said. desking director of National deskOil Minister Bijan The governments of global oil producers and consumers are Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) says his Namdar Zanganeh said all the offshore seeking to make unprecedented cuts to overall supply of some 19.5 company is ready to play a more significant and onshore operations in 17 phases of the million bpd. U.S. President Donald Trump heralded the deal to cut role in the development of the country’s oil South Pars gas field will be completed by supply as one that would save hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs. industry in the current Iranian calendar the end of the current Iranian calendar But oil prices fell again this week, dropping as much as 10 per- year (started on March 20), Shana reported. year (March 20, 2021). cent on Tuesday, because even those cuts may fail to stem the glut. Outlining the company’s plans for the “Except for three onshore units of Prices remain far below production costs for many U.S. producers, current year, Abdollah Mousavi underlined phase 14 all the offshore and onshore including those in the U.S. shale fields - the scene of a revolution in NIDC’s strategic position as a major subsid- operations in 17 currently under devel- the energy industry over the past decade that made the United States iary of the National Iranian Oil Company opment phases will be completed by the the world’s top producer. (NIOC), saying: “One of the highlights of future cooperation. yearend”, IRIB quoted Zanganeh as saying Pars, are in Iran’s territorial waters. The Across the United States, up to 240,000 oil-related jobs will be lost our executive programs for this year is going NIDC will supply the mentioned con- on the sidelines of a headquarter meeting remaining 6,000 square kilometers, called this year, about a third of the onshore and offshore oilfield workforce, to be the participation in the drilling opera- tractors drilling equipment and services, he on Tuesday. North Dome, are situated in Qatar’s ter- estimates consultancy Rystad Energy. tions of National Iranian South Oil Company said, adding that “In this regard, 19 heavy dry According to the official, with the ritorial waters. The U.S. oil boom died on March 6, the day Saudi Arabia and (NISOC)’s 28-reservoir program.” drilling rigs from the company’s fleet will be completion of the mentioned phases, The field is estimated to contain a Russia ended a four-year pact that curbed output and gave shale a NISOC is conducting new development based in operational sites in the current year.” the total production capacity of the giant significant amount of natural gas, ac- price umbrella. Shale firms have accrued hefty debt during the years projects in southern Iran under the frame- Holding 70 onshore and offshore drilling gas field is going to reach 750 million counting for about eight percent of the of expansion, leaving them exposed to the price crash that followed. work of a program for maintaining and en- rigs as well as equipment and facilities for cubic meters and consequently, 1000 world’s reserves, and approximately 18 In March, U.S. oil futures tumbled to $20 a barrel, a third of hancing oil production in 28 reserves in the offering integrated technical and engineering cubic meters of natural gas is going to billion barrels of condensate. the January price and less than half what many require to cover mentioned region. services, the company accounts for a major be added to the national gas network’s The field is divided into 24 standard production costs. The March drop led dozens of shale producers to According to Mousavi, NIDC has already part of drilling exploration as well as appraisal/ supply capacity. phases. cut spending and several retained debt advisors. started negotiations with some of the con- development wells in the country. South Pars gas field, which Iran shares All the offshore operations of the de- “As soon as the virus hit and oil prices dropped, they sent everybody tractors that had won the NISOC tenders As previously announced, NIDC has dug with Qatar in the Persian Gulf, covers an velopment project of the field, except for home,” said Joel Rodriguez, chief administrator of La Salle County, and some agreements and memorandums over 240 oil and gas wells across the country area of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 phase 11, were completed in the past Iranian home of Texas’s second-most productive oilfield. of understanding have also been signed for in the past two years. square kilometers of which, called South calendar year (ended on March 19). Shale oil producers face well closures and “industry wide finan- cial distress” even after the OPEC cuts, said Artem Abramov, head of shale at consultancy Rystad Energy. In some fields, he expects regional prices will hit single-digits per barrel, he said. Oil falls 5 percent to $28 on oversupply concerns Spending on oil field services will fall 21 percent to $211 billion this year, the lowest since 2005, according to researcher Spears & Oil fell five percent to around $28 a barrel on Wednesday, IEA said in its monthly report. “However, the past week’s Associates. pressured by reports suggesting persistent oversupply achievements are a solid start.” Unlike the 2014-2016 oil bust, lenders are not making more financ- and collapsing demand due to global coronavirus-related The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, ing available to producers, said Raoul Nowitz, head of restructuring lockdowns. along with Russia and other producing countries - a at SOLIC Capital Advisors. He predicts up to 60 oil producers will The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday grouping known as OPEC+ - has partnered with other seek protection from creditors this year, and many will not emerge forecast a 29 million barrel per day (bpd) dive in April oil-pumping nations like the United States for a record under new owners. Some banks are setting up operations to take oil demand to levels not seen in 25 years and said no supply-cutting agreement. over and run failed producers. output cut could fully offset the near-term falls facing The IEA report added to downward pressure caused Layoffs and shut-ins the market. by rising inventories. OPEC’s cuts may not be deep enough for oil producer Texland Brent crude fell $1.49, or 5 percent, to $28.11 a barrel Industry group the American Petroleum Institute said Petroleum, which operates 1,200 wells in the Permian Basin, the as of 0827 GMT, giving up an earlier gain. U.S. West Texas on Tuesday that U.S. crude inventories rose by 13.1 million top U.S. oilfield. U.S. refiner and pipeline operator Phillips 66 asked Intermediate crude slid 51 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $19.60. barrels, more than analysts expected. Official government President Jim Wilkes to reduce his deliveries by 15 percent, and “There is no feasible agreement that could cut supply inventory figures are due later on Wednesday. another buyer canceled his contract outright. by enough to offset such near-term demand losses,” the (Source: Reuters) “We’ve never had a time when we couldn’t sell the oil we produce. And that’s going to happen this time,” said Wilkes. Average daily U.S. oil production this year will fall 500,000 bpd, to Renewables account for almost three Saudi oil keeps flooding market with 11.8 million bpd and sink another 700,000 bpd next year, the Energy Information Administration estimated. (For a graphic, click: here) quarters of new energy capacity in 2019 output pact yet to begin Production cuts are too late for workers like Jeremy Davis, a 36-year-old who in March lost his business development job at Ad- In an exciting reported victory for sustaina- economic benefits,” continued Mr. La Camera. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf suppliers may for now. So far, the market hasn’t been im- vanced BioCatalytics, which makes chemicals for hydraulic fracturing. bility, new renewable power accounted for “At this challenging time, we are reminded have agreed to cut oil production again starting pressed. Global benchmark Brent crude fell “They won’t be fracking many wells for the rest of the year,” said a whopping 72 percent of all global power of the importance of building resilience into next month, but by all indications the taps are by as much as 6% in London on Tuesday. Davis, who after 16 years in the oilfield would now consider work expansion in 2019. our economies. In what must be the decade set to remain wide open until then -- swelling Deep discounts outside the oil business. “I can’t wait around for the industry to According to new data released last week of action, enabling policies are needed to stockpiles for at least a few more weeks. Another measure -- the official selling come back,” he said. by the International Renewable Energy Agen- increase investments and accelerate renew- The kingdom’s crude exports so far in April prices that traders pay for actual barrels of Wall Street investors had already pulled back on the shale sector cy (IRENA), the renewable energy sector ables adoption.” stand at 9.3 million barrels a day, according to crude in the physical market -- indicates that over the past couple of years because of poor returns, leaving pro- added 176 gigawatts (GW) of generating Renewables accounted for at least 70 per- tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Saudi Arabia is still looking to gain market ducers with limited options for refinancing, said industry executives capacity globally in 2019, although this cent of total capacity expansion in almost That compares with 6.8 million barrels a day share. The so-called OSPs for April were al- and analysts. was notably lower than the (revised) 179 all regions in 2019, other than in Africa and through the first two weeks of March. What’s ready at their lowest in at least three decades. “There is no more lifeline,” said Lance Loeffler, the finance chief GW added in 2018. the Middle East, where they represented 52 more, there are at least 10 supertankers with The kingdom released May’s prices earlier at top U.S. fracking service provider Halliburton Co. However, IRENA’s annual Renewable percent and 26 percent of net additions re- the capacity to haul a combined 20 million this week, deepening the discounts to most PayZone Directional Services, a Denver-based driller, threw in Capacity Statistics 2020 shows that renew- spectively. barrels of oil waiting to load at the Saudi port markets, especially Asia, where the cut was the towel last month. ables expanded by 7.6 percent last year with The additions took the renewable share of Ras Tanura in the coming days. greater than expected. “We could have stayed open and run until the money was gone Asia dominating growth and accounting for of all global power capacity to 34.7 percent, Saudi surge Traders are awaiting similar figures from but sometimes you just have to know when to cash in your chips 54 percent of total additions. While expan- up from 33.3 percent at the end of 2018. State-owned oil company Saudi Aramco other Gulf producers like the United Arab and leave the table,” said Beth Thibodeaux, chief executive officer. sion of renewables slowed last year, total Non-renewable capacity expansion globally pledged to boost output to 12.3 million barrels Emirates and Kuwait, which generally follow Time to move on renewable power growth outpaced fossil followed long-term trends in 2019, with net a day in April as it slashed prices in a battle the Saudi lead on pricing and production. So much unsold oil is sloshing around that some pipeline operators, fuel growth by a factor of 2.6, continuing growth in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, for market share, following the collapse of the They also have little incentive to cut output fearful of having their lines clogged, are insisting that producers halt the dominance of renewables in power and net decommissioning in Europe and three-year-old OPEC+ pact in March. As the sooner than required. connecting new wells and prove they have buyers or storage outlets expansion first established in 2012. Solar North America. coronavirus spread across the globe, govern- UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei before oil from existing wells can be put into a line. and wind contributed 90 percent of total Solar added 98 GW in 2019, 60 percent ments imposed restrictions on movement said on his Twitter account after the meeting They have warned “by mid-May storage is full” and will refuse to renewable capacity added in 2019. of which was in Asia. Wind energy expanded and demand declined further, as did prices. that the country “is committed to reducing take any more, said Scott Sheffield, CEO at Permian Basin producer “Renewable energy is a cost-effective by close to 60 GW led by growth in China Following marathon international talks production from its current production level Pioneer Natural Resources. source of new power that insulates power (26 GW) and the United States (9 GW). The this past weekend, there’s now a new glob- of 4.1m” barrels a day. That’s at least 1 million He and some other executives in Texas and Oklahoma want state markets and consumers from volatility, two technologies now generate 623 GW and al deal to limit output, with Saudi Arabia barrels a day higher than it pumped in March, regulators to mandate up to 20 percent output cuts, sparing only the supports economic stability and stimulates 586 GW respectively—close to half of global agreeing to trim production to 8.5 million according to Bloomberg estimates. smallest producers. In Texas, energy regulators on Tuesday heard sustainable growth,” said IRENA Direc- renewable capacity. Hydropower, bioenergy, barrels a day in May and June. There’s been All of that oil has to go somewhere, and Sheffield call for a state order to halt 1 million bpd from its shale tor-General Francesco La Camera. “With geothermal and marine energy displayed no indication that any producer will close with demand decimated, there’s only one fields to prevent sale at below production cost. renewable additions providing the majority modest year on year expansion of 12 GW, the taps before May, meaning millions of obvious destination -- storage. With cargo MCA Petroleum owner Shellman said he tells friends who lost of new capacity last year, it is clear that many 6 GW, 700 MW, and 500 MW respectively. barrels a day of crude entering the market nominations already set for this month, Sau- their jobs that it is time to leave the oil business. “It’s not ever going countries and regions recognize the degree Asia was responsible for over half of new that aren’t needed. di Arabia isn’t likely to reduce shipments to to be like it was.” to which the energy transition can deliver installations despite expanding at a slightly “The arrangement is from May,” Prince its customers. But it could trim volumes it’s Shellman, who as a youngster got his first taste of the oil business positive outcomes. slower pace than in 2018. Growth in Europe Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi oil minister, sending to storage tanks in Egypt, Rotterdam accompanying his parents to their own oil wells, has promised to “While the trajectory is positive, more and North America increased year on year. told reporters on a conference call on Monday and Japan. Without any reduction in those pay his employees from savings even if they have to shut in wells. is required to put global energy on a path Africa added 2 GW of renewable capacity in in reference to the OPEC+ agreement. “All flows, though, stockpiles will continue to build But the pain goes well beyond Shellman’s wallet. with sustainable development and climate 2019, half of the 4 GW it installed in 2018. of April was sold.” through the remainder of April. “From an emotional standpoint, this is killing me,” he said. mitigation—both of which offer significant (Source: www.goodnewsnetwork.org) In other words, the price war is still on (Source: Bloomberg) (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 ADVERTISEMENTS APRIL 16, 2020 TEHRAN TIMES Iran’s Leading International Daily Modern Stadium of Advertising Dept Martyrs of Khuzestan Football Club (KSC)

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tehrantimes79 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 16, 2020 ANALYSIS 7 This virus may establish a new world order

By Payman Yazdani with what they might (mis)interpret as the its majesty that the state and its principles are rise (again) of the state. And yet a closer view captive to the administrator, to the technician, TEHRAN–Professor Larry Backer in an of “pandemic effects” might suggest that to the field expert, and to those who design interview with Mehr News Agency argues that something else is at work here. Consider the and operate systems that connect policy to the concept of COVID-19 may penetrate the focus on the way in which states “take control” implementation. States that expose that world order like the virus attacks individuals. through the re-invigoration of borders. But connection tend to do well; states that seek to The current coronavirus pandemic ravaging borders have always been a key element of suppress this trajectory by muzzling or sidelining every corner of the world and many states are economic globalization. Global production, their technocrats often find themselves criticized desperate in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. itself grounded in the organization of segments, and their efforts undermined. Nations and governments are panicking and require that those segments be policed and Third, the nature of borders will change. As the economy has already collapsed. This crisis protected. Economic globalization could not mentioned in more detail above, borders will is expected to deepen more and more without have existed in its current forms if it did not indeed matter more for the control of people. a serious global willingness and cooperation. maintain these compartments that then could At the same time, they will matter less for the Due to the great impact of the coronavirus be used to segregate and contain risk. States, organization of economic activity. At the same on the world from different aspects, many then, within the global order, were meant to time, the nature of the porosity for economic believe that changes to existing world order work like watertight compartments on a 20th activity will depend on the alignment of particular and international relations are inevitable in century ship. The danger for globalization with states within clusters of states organized around the post-corona era. respect to the state was that the compartments a vanguard state. The result, of course, is a In an effort to make the dimension of could not be sealed off when necessary. That, fundamental reorganization of globalization. the changes to the existing world order by in part, was one of the reasons that migration But this is unpalatable. So, expect that these coronavirus clearer, we reached out to Larry erupted a s a crisis in the 21st century. At least changes will occur without much comment. Cata Backer , Professor of Law and International with respect to that, the state operated more Expect as well that those at the forefront of Affairs at Penn State University. like the compartments on the Titanic than as change will reject any notion that they are Here is the full text of his answers to our wholly self-containable units (with the possible changing anything., And expect as well that questions: exception of North Korea). eventually the principles of globalization will What will be the effects of coronavirus on Thus understood, the role of the state—as cogs be re-interpreted to provide the discursive basis the current world order? in translational orders—emerges more clearly. two parts. One context would examine the necessarily changes. But those changes, again for legitimating the new global organization First, it is important to underline that there Pandemic was precisely the moment with the deficiencies of the liberal democratic order to underline the opening perspective, has little of economic activity. WILL be effects on the current world order. That protection of global production required the state from the perspective and through the lens of to do with the virus itself—it has everything Fourth, few people speak to international is an important premise because it was not at to use its police power and its borders. But at the ordering principles of political-economic- to do with the way that people invest these financial institutions and their role in the post all necessary, nor was it necessarily predictable the same time, the pandemic drew much more moral systems fundamentally incompatible with actions with meaning, and the extent to which COVID-19 world. That is a pity. Largely left at the start of the pandemic. Thus, the first clearly the difference between the state as an those of the liberal democratic order. For this such meaning is widely embraced. No magic behind, perhaps as a matter of policy, perhaps step in answering this question is to answer agent for the protection of the free movement of perspective there can be nothing but deficiency here; and there is no organic progress toward because their bureaucratic girth makes nimble the question on which it must be based: have goods, capital, and investment (even where those precisely because the making of meaning with triumph of one or another of the camps; it is movement difficult, it is possible that the role the influential elements with responsibility for might be divided among the big three emerging respect to the most fundamental objects of social all strategy, and work, and discipline, however of IFIS will be changed. On the one hand, in the the maintenance of the world order determined globalist empires) on the one hand, and the use ordering are impossible to reconcile. They those can be advanced within the rules of the middle term public IFIs may become a useful that the COVID-19 pandemic MUST produce of the state as the custodian of their respective simply cannot see the same thing in the same respective “operating systems” of these actors. tool for the implementation of normalized effects. The answer to that question has become human capital. While trade was affected (and way. From this perspective it is true, as the If we accept that the post-corona world order expectations for national shepherding clear by the middle of April 2020—the COVID-19 sometimes severely) the organization of trade at question suggests, that the pandemic highlights will be different from the existing one, will the of their populations to ensure maximum pandemic must produce effects on a world order its foundation was not. It will be re-arranged of all of the critical failings of the democratic changes be structural and fundamental ones? productivity (and thus maximum contribution, that, in retrospect will be understood, at the course. That is the primary effect of the pandemic order—the hijacking public policy by private Which meanings will experience fundamental in the aggregate, to collective wealth). Loan end of 2019, as a world order ready for change on globalization. But more importantly, it will institutions, the sovereignty eroding effect of changes? conditionality, technical assistance and the but unable to move by reason of inertia. In be used (its principal significs) to reposition the markets on policy, the inefficiencies of public At last, we come to the most profound like, the now ancient tools of IFI management effect, then, CVID-19 will have effects on the state as the shepherd of human capital corralled organs subject to multiple layers of consultation question, but also the one that may be easiest of states can be used to those ends. But that world order precisely because those with the and to be utilized within their respective pens. and fractures of authority, and the paralysis to answer—at least in general terms. The requires consensus about what exactly is to be power to shape the narrat8uves on the basis of These pens, once known as states, now serve an inherent in systems in which power is both changes suggested above are both broad and expected of states. That latter project will likely which mass society understands and responds additional and important purpose not for the sharply held and the success of its execution fundamental. They will likely produce structural provide a window in the contests for global to the world have given that signification to the greater glory of the state necessarily but rather widely dispersed. and fundamental changes. While it is far too control of narrative among the US-China-EU pandemic itself. Was it necessary to invest the as the middle managers of global production. In contrast to this outsider perspective early to provide much detail, the changes may with second order powers working furiously pandemic with this change power? –NO! But Of course, the other effect of the pandemic analysis, an insider perspective might yield be sketched in broad outline. at the margins. Irrespective of the way that it does that matter anymore?—again NO! will be to make clearer the differentiation in a different analysis. The insider perspective First, the fundamental relationship between is resolved, the application of the fundamental Second, with the decision to invest the the character of that role between apex states, would examine the deficiencies of the liberal the individual and governing institutions (the principles of animal husbandry through the pandemic with this significance—that it and those below them. It will be to their democratic order form one of two distinct state in Marxist Leninist systems; the state language of rights will likely grow. must necessarily have an effect on the world organization around vertically differentiated analytical positions. The first would take as and private institutions in liberal democratic Fifth, the discourse of migration, as well as order—the principal question comes into better global production chains arranged around the a given the soundness of the fundamental orders; and the state and religious leadership its management, are likely to change. One of the focus. That question goes to the direction of the new imperial centers, and the rules created to organizational principles of that order and focus institutions in theocratic systems) will change peculiar consequences of the pandemic, already changes to the current world order that may facilitate trade between these centers, that will instead on the deficiencies of its implementation. in profound and quite noticeable ways. While much noted, has been the way that states, without emerge. Again—the effects and the direction likely mark the core transformations that the Those deficiencies might derive from system it is likely that the discourse of personal liberty much resistance, were able to reconstitute their cannot be understood as “natural” in the sense pandemic will leave in its wake. failures (e.g., the political institutions ought and of individual autonomy will not change borders for the protection of their populations. that there is an organic connection between The current world order is majorly based to be reformed to correctly reflect principle, or in the short term, the application of those But borders are tools with a rich palette of uses— the existence of pandemic and the vectors of on liberalism and to some extent on realism the law must be enforced in accordance with principles will change. The broad outlines even if only directed against people. While it change that it produces. The opposite is true. approaches. What are the deficiencies of the a correct application of principle, etc.). The of those changes are already apparent. The is unlikely that the discourse of migration will The changes to the world order triggered by the said approaches revealed by coronavirus? second would focus on the need to reform or first cluster of changes revolve around the change much in the short term, it is possible pandemic will reflect the application of rival The answer to the first question changes the further develop but not reject) the fundamental power to monitor. Surveillance will become that the management of migration—especially ideologies through which the great powers complexion of this second one. At its simplest, ordering principles themselves. In the context of central to the organization of society and the where it can be reconstituted as the movement see the world. the answer must be that any event of severe pandemic these might center on the division of understanding of privacy will change to suit of peoples (collective movement) rather than For Marxist-Leninist States, like China, the stress—like pandemic—will likely reveal the authority between different levels of government, the need. This does not mean that there will the product of individual circumstances—may pandemic and their struggle against it proves weaknesses (as well as the strengths) o dominant to the division of authority within a political not be opposition, indeed there will be, but begin to assume a different form, and one that is and was crafted to exhibit, the virility and power systems that order political-economic-societal institution. In the United States this translated that it is likely that the opposition will have more restrictive. At the same time, this broader of the Chinese political-economic model to life within vertically arranged hierarchies in into furious debates about the way that American an effect only at the margins. In a sense this movement will be masked by wide variations meet and overcome the COVID-19 challenge. which some elements are privileged, and others federalism impeded or advanced the fight against ought to come as a surprise to no one. All among states, given their national challenges. That, vindication, in turn, will likely enhance survive as they can. But that answer applies the pandemic. But they might also center on the systems have embraced, some with enthusiasm, More interesting will be the extent to which the possibility for the emergence of a more equally to all systems, not just liberal democratic substance of the principles themselves—and cultures of compliance and accountability for migration becomes a challenge more among visible new Communist international around the systems. And, indeed, the pandemic illustrates, these may then create a discursive space around business and economic conduct. It is only a states with vulnerable populations, than of principles (now internationalized) of the Chinese for those who care to observe, the way that the corruption (e.g., should the state provide support small step to transpose these now muscular migration between the periphery and the Marxist Leninist system with application first stress it produces reveals both strength and for business or to working people? How should cultural expectation around accountability to “metropolis.” within developing states participating in the weakness in all systems. medical resources be rationed? To what extent the individual. The framework around which Sixth, the nature of the police power will Belt and Road Initiative, and thereafter (again However, it is important to look more closely may the state o private actors mandate personal accountability s driven is monitoring and likely change as well. It is likely that the future of modified to suit context) in other states. The at the way that the stress of pandemic might behavior among the masses? And the like). reporting. It is grounded in data harvesting and power will be shaped as much by models based result, under a best-case scenario, will be the reveal deficiencies in powerful or powerfully In the international sphere, these deficiencies in judgment manifested through data analytics. on data analytics, as it will be founded on the emergence of a new approach to international influential systems. By 2019, it had become are marked by the borderlands between public The rationale will be based on the protection of application of principles and human judgment. ordering grounded on the Chinese vision with a cliché among all political sectors and the and private sectors which are evident in the the individual, first; and then on the protection Machine learning and modelling has driven the transnational application. intelligentsia that provided the foundations organization of global production. Thus, for of society from individuals whose conduct have the response to COVID-19 irrespective of the For liberal democratic states, the same is also for their conclusions, that the post-1945 liberal example, the need to impose a responsibility (they always have) spillover effects. It will be political-economic or moral model to which the true. Here the pandemic is also both a “test” democratic order and its manifestation in on multinational enterprises for the effects of difficult to resist this trajectory made more responding state adheres. The human factors and a “portal” through which the fundamental contemporary constitutional orders and the economic decisions taken in consequence of compelling in the shadow of pandemic. But has been disappearing from the development of principles of the political economic order are international framework of principles on which the pandemic that cause severe harm to local surveillance will not mean merely the burden approaches to protecting the human factor in tested, modified and from which they will emerge it was supposed to be based (or at least reflect) economies down their production chains. This of being observed. As suggested above, it also societal organization. One speaks here to “at risk” stronger. In these cases, there will likely emerge was either broken or in need of reform. Those has been particularly apparent in the context of implies the duty to account and to submit to populations, to the science of transmission, to two variations reflecting the ancient fissures at the margins of that discussion (Marxist- the production of garments in which decisions systems of accountability. One sees this already predictive analytics. One speaks here to the use of between the old Roman world (the EU) and its Leninist theorists, theocratic political-moral taken by large Western multinational firms in the systems developed in Israel and then analysis to align health, sustainability, economic northern frontier (now under the leadership orders, so-called Third World and development might severely affect the economic viability Russia designed to track targeted individuals and political consequences in ways that maximize of the US as its most perfected vanguard oriented theorists) of course profited from that of states like Bangladesh. and then to warn others who might be exposed the objectives of those applying the analytics. force). Where the Chinese system will emphasize internal discussion. While many took that Taken from this perspective, the usual to them. It is seen in the way that Taiwan and One sees, in the end, the emerge of automated centralization, planning, and the superiority as a sign of the weakness of the system, for reporting about winners and losers is stripped South Korea have aligned their information management as the principal consequence and of the political sector, the liberal democratic others, me included, it suggested an underlying of much actual significance. The pandemic has systems for the purpose of surveillance with effect of the pandemic on the way in which the versions will emphasize decentralization, strength. It suggested that the system was not produced a list of winners and losers along specific objectives (public health in this case) global order is conceived and managed. In the markets (private power), and the superiority still quite “alive” in the sense that it was still the conflict binaries that were popular before the in mind. Even in the United States, the recent future it is as likely that contests for power of the economic and societal sectors. the central element of the ordering of reality pandemic: the state versus the private sector; exposure of the way that large internet platforms will be between distinctive approaches to data Thus, the effects of COVID-19 will not be around which political-economic-societal bureaucracy and planning versus the market; (Google for example) to track people and to use analytics, and the effectiveness of the algorithms revolutionary in the sense of abandoning old systems could be ordered. liberal democracy versus Marxist-Leninism; that in the service of the police power in a crisis used to provide incentives and punishments systems. Rather it will accelerate tendencies Enter the pandemic. An extraordinary China versus the United States, etc. Much more reveals the extent to which such surveillance than it will be about the underlying principles already well observed. It will also further entrance to be sure—in six months or so it has interesting is the way that the intelligentsia is already normalized. Its rationalization around which society—even global society—is refine a tendency toward differentiation (and managed to sweep away much of the veiling and the political classes they serve have sought remains at the earliest stages of development. ordered. choice) rather than toward convergence. But behind which these discussions and battles to develop a discourse around the pandemic Second, the scope of governmental authority Professor Larry Backer researches again, these dominant ideologies invested the for control of the “heart” of the system were that its critical significs is the way that it will will likely change. It is difficult, though to predict globalization, especially as it relates to pandemic with a very specific signification—and taking place. And among those in the midst of decide or change the contours of battles for the direction of that change and it is likely to be the emergence of ways of understanding an ancient one: it was a test (which could be the battling, it provided the signal—the sign— global leadership. This is the sort of material highly contextual. Part will defend on the way constitutional and enterprise law. His most rationalized in religious or secular “scientific” that they chose to interpret as permission to one feeds mass opinion for the purpose of the in which a system disperses power between its recent work touches on the regulation of terms). That test was meant to prove the value accelerate their move to seek control of the propaganda wars that are an integral part of public and private organs. But the character of multinational corporations, sovereign wealth of the system tested. But it was also meant to ordering norms of the system. It is in this sense inter-systemic competition. They are important that power will change as well. There will likely funds, transnational constitutionalism, and serve as a furnace within which the weakness that one might usefully understand the all too for the fury with which they are pursued, and be an acceleration of the trend, already quite the convergence of public and private law. He of those systems might be burned away, leaving real view among virtually everyone about the their ability to sway common understanding. evident in most systems of moving away from researches issues of governments as private only the strong core from which the system deficiencies of the liberal democratic system as But they have very little to do with the actual the increasingly primitive view of government as actors in global markets, the development of law could emerge changed and re-invigorated. But well as the way in which the pandemic provided movement of dominance under conditions in actually managed by high (sometimes elected) and social norm systems to regulate business changed in ways that will hyper emphasize some the excuse necessary to reveal more publicly which no one system has emerged spotlessly officials in which the issues revolve around and human rights. of its organizing principles (described above) what was already well contested within the triumphant. If the pandemic shows the world the exercise of sovereign executive, legislative He teaches classes in constitutional, and scorch away the rest. highest levels of the leadership of that system. anything, it is that all systems under stress will and judicial power (however arranged) to a corporate, and transnational law and policy. It is in that context that one can consider But it does not suggest the sort of fundamental have to change in light of their failures and will system that is centered on administration by Professor Backer is a member of the American the effects on globalization. Many members of deficiencies that might imperil the system. need to exploit those areas which showed each managers. The bureaucratization of all aspects Law Institute and the European Corporate the intellectual sector who produce analysis The opposite, I think, is true. In that light, at their best. From that the battles for control of of life actually signals the movement of power Governance Institute. He served as chair of for a living, as well as the planning sectors the deficiencies must be understood within global narrative, of leadership, and the like, will from the political to the managerial elements the Penn State University Faculty Senate for of governmental organs, are now obsessed context. And that context can be divided into continue even as the character of the combatants of institutions. The pandemic revealed in all 2012-2013. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 HERITAGE & TOURISM APRIL 16, 2020

Zanjan province exports Off the beaten path: Fun and $1.2m of handicrafts

HERITAGE TEHRAN — Handicrafts exports from Zanjan deskprovince reached some $1.2 million during the non-touristy experiences in Iran previous Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended March 20), CHTN reported. 1 the men perform moves to the rhythm and pace set by the morshed, leader, who sits at the top and sings poems of Hafez or the Shahnameh and plays his drum and bell. Though the zurkhaneh is traditionally a men-only locale, Saheb al-Zaman in Yazd also allows women to observe. The meditative-like experience is sure to be one of your most memorable. Enjoy a play or concert Tehran has plenty of plays to watch on any given night of the week. And even though famous Iranian actors often star in them, ticket prices are remarkably affordable. Watch an original Persian play or perhaps an interpretation of one of Woody Allen’s. Don’t speak Persian? Look to the universal language of music and try a concert instead. Whether it’s traditional, pop, or the national orchestra, you will easily be able to find something Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Oman and some European unique in one of the many concert venues around town. countries were the main importers during the period, provincial Visit a festival, religious ritural tourism chief Amir Arjmand said on Sunday. There are numerous cultural festivals and religious ceremonies “Zanjan’s handicraft products are a source of income, em- around Iran in which you may be interested. It might be one ployment and development for the province, as well as a great of the many Nowruz festivities or the Ashura religious ritual, opportunity to enter global markets,” he added. which is best seen in Yazd, or Lorestan provinces where locals In late January, Zanjan was designated as a “world city of engage in kharrah mali, rubbing mud on their bodies in a ritual filigree” by the World Crafts Council after the WCC assessors to commemorate the slaying of Imam Hossein (AS). visited various craft workshops, stores, exhibits and bazaars of Elsewhere, Kashan’s rosewater festival in the spring is a city in a two-day itinerary in last December. delight to both the nose and the eyes. Find out what’s happening Filigree consists of curling, twisting, or plaiting fine, pliable during your stay. metal threads and soldering them at their points of contact with Feel Zoroastrian districts each other with a metal groundwork. The Zoroastrian neighborhood in Yazd is simply enchanting. Between the door knockers, cypress trees, candles, arches, and benches, it’s apparent that every part was very intentionally Some 1,600 historical relics designed. One of the best features, however, are Ashtikonan Alleys Literally “house of strength,” the Iranian zurkhaneh is an ancient gym where men practice what can be described as seized in Kerman (Ashti is a Persian word which means reconciling), which are martial arts meets yoga. plentiful. TEHRAN – Iranian authorities have confiscated a few basic luxuries. the first bank of Iran (since converted into a teahouse), a HERITAGE These “make up alleys” are very narrow, sometimes just desk1,590 historical objects in Kerman province, If you’re around Yazd, head to Zeinodin and experience the 900-year-old sycamore tree, public bathhouses still in use, wide enough for one person. The thought behind it was that southeastern Iran, during the past Iranian calendar year 1398 life of Silk Road caravan traders in a 400-year-old caravanserai. and beautiful old palaces. if two people were on non-speaking terms and passed one (ended March 20). Make a campfire or stargaze with an astronomer. Either Stay with nomads another here, they would bump into each other and be forced way, resting your head for a night under a star-filled sky is Go off the beaten path and dive into a little culture. A few to talk, thereby making up. unforgettable. hours drive outside Shiraz, you can find the Qashqai nomadic Try street food Go on a culinary tour tribes. These nomads are now semi-settled, having adapted The people of Ahvaz are remarkably cheerful despite the Food unites everyone, and what better way to learn about somewhat to more modern lifestyles, but they still migrate hardships they endured during eight years of war and now often the culture than through your stomach? There are businesses south around Shiraz for the winter. There might be a language harsh weather conditions. One of the best places to witness in Tehran that offer culinary tours that kick off with a bazaar barrier, but the Qashqai are eager to interact with tourists and this carefree attitude is Lashkar-Abad, a long street with some run to learn about traditional Iranian ingredients and pick foreigners and share their centuries-old culture and traditions, of the most delicious street food around. up some of the freshest items before heading back to their such as carpet-weaving. Falafels, spicy samosas and roasted chicken are all served kitchen where you’ll get some hands-on practice by preparing Get back to nature up hot and fresh while cars blast bandari music, typical beats various dishes. Lasting just half a day, it’s the perfect bite-size Weekends for Iranians consist of getting away from city of the south, all up and down the street. Go at night, pile your experience of authentic Iranian cooking. life and heading into nature, even for just a few hours. With falafel high, and soak up the good energy while chatting with Discover historial core of Tehran a diverse geography, depending on where you are, you could the friendly locals. Though it may be hard to believe, the southern parts of Tehran head to the coast, forest, desert, mountain, canyon, or waterfall, Make overnight camp in desert were at one point the most northern parts. Neighborhoods among other places. Why spend the night in a four-star hotel when you can like Sangelaj, with its narrow, winding alleys, and Udlajan, a Check out some of the best hiking trails throughout the spend it under all the stars you could possibly ask for? Try once predominantly Jewish neighborhood, seem to be frozen country—all you need is a comfortable pair of shoes and a the Maranjab Desert outside Kashan, where you can pitch a in time as lifestyles continue as they always have. backpack. Skiing just outside Tehran is also an option if you’re tent or stay in a local motel if you’re outdoorsy but still enjoy Among the treasures that you can find here are synagogues, visiting in winter. Nine people were also detained in this regard, provincial tourism chief Fereydoun Fa’ali announced on Wednesday, CHTN reported. The big and sprawling Kerman province has been a cultural melting pot since antiquity, blending Persians with subconti- Flash floods harm historical sites, monuments across Kerman nental tribe dwellers. It is home to myriad historical sites and HERITAGE TEHRAN – Heavy rainfalls have inflicted Heavy rainfalls has forced authorities in a number of cities scenic landscapes such as Bazaar-e Sartasari, Jabalieh Dome, deskconsiderable damage to some historical to declare state of emergency and order the evacuation of Ganjali Khan Bathhouse, Malek Jameh Mosque and Shahdad sites and monuments across southeastern Kerman province. people from residential areas while the Iranian Red Cres- Desert to name a few. “A significant number of historical monuments and an- cent Society (IRCS) and other related organizations carried cient sites have been seriously damaged in the province,” out rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit provinces. ILNA quoted Mojtaba Shafiei, the provincial deputy tourism Kerman province is bounded by the provinces of Fars on Travelogue: Arrival in Tehran chief, as saying on Wednesday. the west, Yazd on the north, South Khorasan on the north- and I am already at home! “Based on preliminary studies and monitoring, the es- east, Sistan-Baluchestan on the east, and Hormozgan on timated amount of these damages varies between three to the south. It also includes the southern part of the central By Monica Scaccabarozzi 30 percent from one county to other.” Iranian desert, the Dasht-e Lut. (Part 1/5) The official noted that the pouring rains have caused Kerman exports a large percentage of the world’s pis- It’s August 2019 and preparation of the journey not so simple (at flooding in some historical sites, adding, “We are preparing “Regarding to the current conditions, police forces in charge tachios. Gum tragacanth is also gathered. Animal prod- the time ... but today it would be really trivial!!!) all because of a list of damaged monuments for the Ministry of Cultural of safeguarding cultural heritage, are on high alert in the ucts are chiefly wool and kork, a kind of soft wool used in a truly remarkable, sad and reprehensible fact ... the prejudice, Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.” damaged sites.” Kerman shawls. Kerman is home to myriad historical sites the preconception! Reminding that the protection of historical monuments Spring floods caused damage to many urban and rural and scenic landscapes such as Bazaar-e Sartasari, Jabalieh Nobody knows anything about this country, on the contrary, and archeological sites is one of the main priorities of the areas in several provinces of Iran, mainly in the southern Dome, Ganjali Khan Bathhouse, Malek Jameh Mosque and it is known only for what we hear from the news, from the press cultural heritage and tourism department, the official said, parts of the country, claiming lives of several people. Shahdad Desert to name a few. ... from the false information that comes to us! How much ignorance that circulates around what you don›t want to know, prejudice and ignorance will kill this world, the Lesser-known Iranian province prepared Tourism projected to generate 2,000 human race will die out and maybe ... this is not a bad thing. I see in all this, but a principle of new life! to jumpstart tourism after coronavirus jobs in Gilan province Well sorry, returning to the preparation of the trip, I immediately remember this was the year of Trump›s madness HERITAGE TEHRAN – The ing the Iranian year 1397 (ended March TOURISM TEHRAN – Some ... the year of the supremacy of human stupidity. desktourism sector of 2019), according data announced by desk2,000 job opportunities Donald Trump strangles the Iranian economy with its Iran’s southwestern Kohgiluyeh and provincial tourism department. in tourism sector are projected to be created sanctions, it collects the demolition of a U.S. drone and sends Boyer-Ahmad province is prepared Over the past couple of weeks, Iran in the northern province of Gilan by the end hundreds of soldiers to neighboring Saudi Arabia, liquidates to improve quickly after coronavirus has limited travel between its cities of the current Iranian calendar year 1399 the capture of seventeen CIA spies in Tehran as false, but crisis ends, provincial tourism chief in an effort to halt the spread of the (started March 21). continues to repeat that he does not wage a war with Iran wants. Mohammad Hosseinzadeh said on coronavirus. A total of 156 tourism-related projects are It seems to be on the eve of the First World War, in the time Wednesday, ISNA reported. Domestic travel in Iran traditionally scheduled to be completed in the province, when everyone denied it. The declaration of the Embargo ... He also noted that innovative plans reaches its climax from mid-March to which will generate 2,000 jobs for residents of How long can an exercise of provocations at the limit endure and programs and various cultural early April, a time corresponding to the the province, provincial tourism chief Shahrud … the war explosion like the one that has been going on for festivals are being organized to attract Persian New Year (Noruz) holidays. Amir-Entekhabi said on Wednesday, CHTN for some pluvial action – it’s the largest, and months in the Persian Gulf? tourists and travelers to the alluring Iranians made 74 million overnight reported. wettest town in the northern region. Gilan I will find an answer only by going to Iran. destinations of the province. stays in their domestic trips during Last December, Gilan was selected as the is divided into a coastal plain including the Every journey I seek and organize, really brings suggestions, The tourism sector of Kohgiluyeh the Noruz holidays last year, which first province to start the country’s compre- large delta of Sefid Rud and adjacent parts interpretations ... I can see things from a different point of and Boyer-Ahmad province has tak- showed a 20 percent increase year hensive tourism plan, which is to be developed of the Alborz mountain range. view and suddenly lighten up! en 150 billion rials (over $3 million) on year. under the auspices of the United Nations Bounded by the Caspian Sea and the Every journey reveals something to me. hit from the impact of coronavirus As of Feb 23, Iran temporarily World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Republic of Azerbaijan on the north, Gi- In this country, with the exception of the big cities, which (COVID-19) over the last two months. closed cultural heritage museums and Sophisticated Rasht, capital of Gilan lan, in the far past, was within the sphere by now have similar connotations to any other city, I discover Not in tourist radar, the western historical sites across the country in province, has long been a weekend escape of influence of the successive Achaemenid, how traveling along large sections by car, for days, below, the province attracted over four million a preventive measure amid fears of for residents of Tehran who are looking to Seleucid, Parthian, and Sassanid empires roads are surrounded by arid and inhospitable deserts, roads people, mostly domestic travelers, dur- coronavirus outbreak. sample the famous local cuisine and hoping that ruled Iran until the 7th century CE. that do not seem to lead to nothing. Here my father is ecstatic and admires the salty desert in front of him. Seas of sand, salty deserts, barren mountains, dry and 25 new eco-lodges to be completed in Fars by yearend torrid borders. Behind the windows of the car, this arid film runs inexorably, provincial tourism chief has said. or Persis, was the heart of the Achaemenian capital of Persia during the Zand dynasty from suddenly, spectacular scenery rich in vegetation opens up, so “25 eco-lodges [which are currently being Empire (550–330 BC), which was founded 1751 to 1794. luxuriant as to disorientate me and make me lose the sense of constructed to renovated] will be completed by Cyrus the Great and had its capital at Iran announced in 2018 that 2,000 eco- belonging or, incredibly, huge squares open up with mosques during the current year,” CHTN quoted Mosayeb Pasargadae. Darius I the Great moved the lodges would be constructed across the country that take away the breath, an architecture so equally dazzling, Amiri as saying on Monday. capital to nearby Persepolis in the late 6th until 2021. Having a very diverse natural setting, blue domes and the minarets that defy the sky and decree “We intend to escalate the number of or early 5th century BC. Iran offers varied excursions to nature lovers. their unquestionable capacity and human ability; the crowded eco-lodges in Fars as ecotourism-related The capital city of Shiraz is home to some of Sightseers may live with a nomad or rural family bazaars of people, which move like waves in the midst of a HERITAGE TEHRAN – A total of accommodation is a way to develop tourism in the country’s most magnificent buildings and or enjoy an independent stay. rough sea. desk25 eco-lodge units will lesser-known areas (of the southern province),” sights. Increasingly, it draws more and more Experts say each eco-lodge unit generates This travelogue is posted to the Cultural Institute of Iran, come on stream in Fars province by the end the official noted. foreign and domestic sightseers flocking into jobs for seven to eight people on the average a representative of Iranian cultural institutions in Italy. of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2021), The ancient region of Fars, also spelled Pars, this provincial capital which was the literary so that the scheme could create 160,000 jobs. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 16, 2020 SOCIETY 9

All-Iranian anti- Over 50% of COVID-19 patients in Iran recovered, corona products death toll declining SOCIETY TEHRAN — Some 53 percent of persons who deskwere infected with the coronavirus in Iran have to hit market recovered from the disease so far and the number of deaths is on a downward trend. The total number of people diagnosed with the coronavirus in Iran has reached 76,389, of whom 4,777 have died and 49,933 recovered. Meanwhile, 1,512 new patients have been identified over the within month past 24 hours, Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour SOCIETY TEHRAN — Irani- bird flu, he explained. said on Wednesday. deskan-made medical items Referring to the second research pro- He added that 94 more people have died during the same peri- will be soon mass produced and hit the ject, he said that university researchers od of time compared with 97 the day earlier and 111 two days ago, market within the next month, Babak have been able to produce devices that ISNA reported. Shokri, vice chancellor of Shahid Be- make fabrics resistant to coronavirus Iran has announced social distancing measures in a bid to min- heshti University of Medical Sciences by performing physical and chemical imize the spread of coronavirus. has stated. operations on them. The government has allocated 1,000 trillion rails (about The items consist of diagnostic kits, face Sourena Sattari, Vice President for $24 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) to help lessen the masks and ventilators made by Iranian Science and Technology, announced on impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the national economy. researchers, he said, IRNA news agency Saturday that two types of diagnostic kits are reported on Wednesday. now mass-produced by knowledge-based The kits on the market take one to sev- companies, first one is the RT-PCR tests, FAO scales up technical eral hours to diagnose, but the university 8 million of which are being produced per plans to produce kits that can detect the month; while the other is serology-based At present, 40 advanced ventilators are produce any medicine effective in coun- assistance to Iran on addressing disease for up to 20 minutes, and these tests that a total of 400,000 are being manufactured daily in the medical equip- tering coronavirus or approved by the kits are not only used for coronavirus manufactured monthly and is expected ment sector, he explained. scientific committee within a week to 10 Desert Locust infestation but all the viruses, including AIDS and to reach up to 2 million. Knowledge-based companies can days, he noted. TEHRAN — As desert locust infestations in East Africa and South-West Asia have intensified in recent months, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has provided an additional $200,000 to further strengthen Iran’s Theories on origins of COVID-19 disease technical capacity to control Desert Locust. 1 However, an analysis by Nature Medicine Jour- However, eating wildlife has been part of cultural Signed by FAO and Iran’s Plant Protection Organization (PPO) nal suggests COVID-19 virus is a testament to natural tradition in southern China for thousands of years. Ban on March 19, the $300, 000 Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) selection, not bioengineering. The new analysis compares won’t change things overnight and may push business “Urgent action for capacity building to control desert locust in- the genome of COVID-19 with seven other coronavirus underground. festation in Iran”, now totals $500,000. known to infect man: SARS, MERS, SARS-Cov2 (which In 2016 four pig farms in Qingyuan County in “Given the alarming situation of desert locust in the region and the can cause severe disease), along with HKU1, NL63, OC43 Guangdong suffered acute vomiting and diarrhea possible huge damages this pest can cause in agricultural production and 229E (which typically cause mild symptoms), wrote killing 25,000 animals. The cause of illness, called and rural livelihoods, FAO determined to further extend its technical Nature Medicine Journal (nature.com/articles/s41591- swine acute diarrhea syndrome (SADS), turned out to assistance to Iran, and accordingly allocated additional funds to 020-0820-9). be a virus 98 percent identical to coronavirus found this project,” said FAO Representative to Iran, Gerold Bödeker. “Our analyses clearly shows that SARS-Cov2 is not in horseshoe bats in a nearby cave. Expressing his hope to contain desert locust effectively across a laboratory construct or a purposefully manipulated Given the scale of swine farming in many countries, the country, Bödeker emphasised, “the project mainly focuses on virus,” the journal article concludes. such as the U.S. and China, scientists say looking for providing around 320 Iranian experts with the requisite techni- COVID-19 bat-borne disease coronavirus in pigs should be top priority. cal knowledge and skills to detect, track, report on and rapidly Shi Zengli – a virologist often called “bat woman” by Although coronavirus in Wuhan is the sixth outbreak respond to desert locust infestations.” her colleagues works at Wuhan Institute of Virology. She caused by bat-borne viruses in past 26 years – the other He added that “As part of the agreement, FAO will also assist has spent a considerable amount of her time outside a five being Hendra in 1994, Nepah in 1998, SARS in 2002, the country in procuring vital equipment needed to equip two lab on virus-hunting expeditions in bat caves over the With a growing population today, increasing deforest- MERS in 2012, and Ebola in 2014 – the animals are not desert locust control centers that will allow a quicker and more past 16 years. Her studies have shown that the southern, ation, changes in land use, wildlife and livestock trans- the problem. “The problem arises when we get in contact effective response.” subtropical areas of Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan portation around the world, sharp increase in domestic with them,” Shi says. According to Keith Cressman, the Executive Secretary of the FAO have a greater risk of coronavirus jumping from animals and international travel, new disease outbreaks are a During her bat hunting expeditions she has identified Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in South-West Asia to humans, particularly bats, a known reservoir for many mathematical certainty. dozens of deadly SARS-like viruses in bat caves, and (SWAC), “Widespread rains over the last couple of months in East viruses. Her story has been covered by Scientific American After five years of intense sampling of pathogens found warns there are more out there. Because 70 percent Africa and South-West Asia including southern Iran, provided a magazine and other media outlets. in Shitou Cave, outskirts of Kunmin, capital of Yunnan, of animal-borne infectious diseases come from wild conducive environment for the desert locusts to breed. In East Africa, Scientists have long warned that the rate of infectious scientists discovered hundreds of bat borne coronavirus creatures, “where we should start to find all those vi- this represents an unprecedented threat to food security and liveli- diseases is accelerating – especially in developing coun- with incredible genetic diversity. “The majority of them ruses in wildlife globally and develop better diagnostic hoods since it coincides with the beginning of the planting season.” tries where people and animals mingle and move about. are harmless,” Shi told Scientific American, adding that tests,” Shi says. Cressman who is also FAO’s Senior Locust Forecasting Of- Coronavirus – named because, seen under a mi- “dozens belong to same group as SARS.” “One in every fifth mammal is a bat,” says Professor ficer noted that “It is crucial to join hands and share knowledge croscope, their spiky surface resembles a crown. The In Shitou Cave the team discovered coronavirus strain Kate Jones, a biodiversity scientist at the University Col- and skills to manage this dangerous migratory pest and prevent coronavirus was mainly known for causing common in 2013 that came from horseshoe bats with genome lege London. It is estimated that there are 900 to over further deterioration of the situation.” colds until the SARS outbreak became a game changer. sequence 97 percent similar to civets in Guagdong. The 1,200 species of bats in the world. “FAO has implemented similar projects in Pakistan, Yemen One aspect that scientists are trying to figure out is finding concluded a decade-long search for a natural Virologists and other scientists believe that we should and East African nations, all aimed to support its Member States search for animal viruses that could find their way reservoir of SARS coronavirus. focus on high-risk groups of mammals prone to corona- in managing the threat posed by the desert locust,” he concluded. into humans. To many, the region’s wildlife market – which sells a virus infections, such as bats, rodents, badgets, civets, It is believed that the civets, a nocturnal animal like wide range of animals including bats, civets, pangolins, pengolins, and non-human primates. Countries in tropics, bats, were the intermediate host – a vehicle for the virus badgers and crocodiles – are perfect melting pot. Ac- where wildlife diversity is greatest, should be the frontline WORDS IN THE NEWS to ride on until it infects another species -- to transfer cording to several studies humans could’ve got it from of this battle against viruses. the coronavirus to humans in a fish and wildlife market bats directly and suggest pangolins may have been in- Once potential pathogens are mapped out, we are able India and China talk in Wuhan. How the civets got it still remains a mystery. termediate hosts. to catch an outbreak before it turns into an epidemic, Two previous incidents are worth considering. First On February 24, China announced a permanent ban saving lives and dollars. (June 25, 2003) Australia’s 1994 Hendra virus infection, in which contagion on wildlife consumption and trade except for research, Scientists estimate as much as 5000 coronavirus he Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has signed an jumped from horses to humans. Second one is Malaysia’s medicinal or display purposes. This will stamp out the strains are waiting to be discovered. “Bat-borne coro- important agreement with Chinese leaders in Beijing. This will 1998 Nipah virus outbreak which was transferred from 76 billion dollar industry putting 14 million out of jobs, navirus will cause more outbreaks,” Shi says with a reopen a cross-border trade route through the politically sensitive pigs to humans. Both were caused by pathogens that according to a 2017 report commissioned by Chinese tone of brooding certainty. “We must find them before and long-disputed territories of Sikkim and Tibet. This report originated in fruit eating bats. Academy of Engineering. they find us.” from Jill McGivering: The main thrust of Mr Vajpayee’s trip to Beijing is to make progress on practical issues - with mutual trade and business at the top of the agenda. In the past, the tense, even hostile, relationship between the two countries has ENGLISH IN USE been an obstacle to progress on the ground. But this latest agreement is a major step forward and a good example of a LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION new policy of putting emotive disagreements to one side and focusing instead on practicalities. The handling of the apparent concessions over Tibet and Sikkim seem to be a classic case of political fudge. The wording seemed veiled in secrecy - until newspapers in اختصاص بیش از 29 هزار میلیارد تومان ,$7b to be allocated to retrofit rebuild flood-devastated houses both countries seized on the issue and both declared political victory for their own leaders: Indian papers saying that China now برای بازسازی خانه های سیل زده A budget of 290 trillion rials (nearly $7 billion) will be allotted recognised Sikkim as part of India and Chinese papers hailing India’s apparent recognition of Tibet as part of China. Meanwhile officials on both sides are struggling to play down the political معــاون عمــران و توســعه امــور شــهری و روســتایی وزیــر کشــورگفت: براســاس to reconstruct and repair housing units destructed by flood significance altogether and say their positions haven’t actually مصوبــه اخیــر هیــات وزیــران مبلــغ 29 هــزارو 130 میلیــارد ریــال بــرای ,in 18 provinces across the country, Mehdi Jamalinejad deputy interior minister for urban and rural development changed. Indian officials still insist the Dalai Lama is welcome in India and there’s no question of forcing him to leave. They بازســازی و جبــران خســارات ناشــی از ســیل در بخشــهای مختلــف 18 اســتان has announced. want to throw the focus back on the practical trade gains پرداخــت مــی شــود. made possible as a result of the opening of this geographically بــر اســاس ارزیاب یهــای انجــام شــده در ۲۱ اســتان کشــور، بیــش از ۱۶۹ هــزار Flood has devastated some 169,377 housing units, 68,333 important route - and as far away as possible from their positions و ۳۷۷ واحــد مســکونی شــهری و روســتایی در سـ ـیلهای اخیــر در کشــور ,of which are beyond repair and must be reconstructed he stated. on disputed territory now making headlines. Words آســیب دیدهانــد کــه بایــد دوبــاره احــداث شــوند. Moreover, household appliances of 109,832 families also thrust: the thrust of an activity or an idea is the main or essential thing it expresses جمالــی نــژاد بیــان داشــت: در اثــر ســیل بــه ۱۰۹هــزار و ۸۳۲ واحــد مســکونی .have suffered damages, he further regretted on the ground: when you talk about what is happening on نیــز خســارت معیشــتی وارد شــده اســت. He went on to say that 20,000 housing units, undergone the ground, you are talking about what is really happening in وی اضافــه کــرد: امــروز ســاخت 20 هــزار دســتگاه واحــد مســکونی کــه در devastation by recent flooding in Aq-Oala county in northern a situation, rather than what the people who are in control are thinking or saying ســیل آســیب دیــده بودنــد نیــز در آق قــا شــروع شــد. .Golestan province, are under construction putting emotive disagreements to one side: keeping دبیــر کمیتــه نوســازی و بازســازی قــرارگاه بازســازی مناطــق ســیل زده در Non-repayable loans amounting to 25 trillion rials (nearly $600 million) will be provided for retrofitting of houses, 7.4 disagreements that may cause strong feelings separate from the present discussions ادامــه گفــت: ۲۵هــزار میلیــارد ریــال تســهیلت قــرض الحســنه و همچنیــن practicalities: the practicalities of a situation are the aspects of مبلــغ ۷هــزار و ۴۶۰ میلیــارد ریــال بــرای مرمــت زیرســاخت هــای آســیب trillion rials (around $177 million) will also be earmarked to .it concerned with real events rather than with ideas or theories دیــده از ســیل پرداخــت خواهــد شــد. .compensate for the infrastructure damages, he explained apparent: an apparent situation seems to exist, although you cannot be certain that it exists a classic case: a typical example. A classic example of something PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM has all the features that you expect that kind of thing to have. fudge: avoidance of a clear or definite decision or statement “co-, col-, com-, con-, cor-” Nose out Crocodile tears seized on: showed great interest in. If you seize on something you show great interest in it, often because it is useful to you. Meaning: with or together Meaning: to find out or discover information, Explanation: To shed crocodile tears means to shed to play down: if you play down a fact or feature, you try to make For example: What will it take for us to coexist secrets, etc. false tears or show insincere grief people think that it is not particularly important in peace? For example: He nosed out their plans. For example: Caroline pretended to be sad but we to throw the focus back on: to direct attention back towards all knew her tears were crocodile tears. (Source: BBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 INTERNATIONAL APRIL 16, 2020

UK arms giant sold £15bn Russia says Trump’s move to cut WHO in weapons to Saudi Arabia during Yemen war funding over coronavirus is selfish Russia on Wednesday condemned U.S. so far. Individual US states have tak- 1 Last week, the invaders claimed they were halting military President Donald Trump for cutting en over the management of the crisis, operations in support of United Nations peace efforts and to avoid funding to the World Health Organi- often breaking with the federal admin- further spread of the new coronavirus in Yemen. zation, saying his decision was selfish istration, which continues to act in an The Yemeni army, however, reported days afterwards and hurt a body that many countries underwhelming fashion in responding that it had been forced to repel several Saudi-led assaults on were looking to for leadership amid the to the outbreak. various fronts in just one day. coronavirus crisis. Now is not time for Trump to The Houthi Ansarullah movement — which runs Yemen Trump, who has faced criticism for his cut WHO funds over coronavirus and leads its armed forces — said the Western-backed coalition administration’s response to the corona- United Nations Secretary-General An- had even ramped up its acts of aggression since announcing virus epidemic, has grown hostile towards tonio Guterres on Tuesday pushed back the so-called truce. the WHO and on Tuesday halted funding on President Trump’s announcement that to it over its handling of the pandemic, the U.S. will pull funding to the World reuters reported. Health Organization (WHO), saying the The United States is the WHO’s biggest coronavirus pandemic is “not the time” EU looks to apps as way of overall donor. for such a move. easing virus lockdown Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ser- In a statement, Guterres said it was “not gei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that the the time to reduce the resources for the op- As the EU’s economy reels from virus lockdowns, Brussels unveiled U.S. announcement was “very alarming”. erations of the World Health Organization a proposed roadmap Wednesday to ease restrictions on life and “This is an example of a very selfish or any other humanitarian organization businesses, relying in large part on smartphone tracking apps. approach by the U.S. authorities to what in the fight against the virus.” The WHO That technology aims to spot localized COVID-19 outbreaks in is happening in the world as regards the is part of the U.N. real-time. Already many individual European governments are pandemic,” Ryabkov was quoted by the coronavirus pandemic — has drawn funding came at a critical stage and would “Now is the time for unity and for the on the verge of rolling out their own tracking apps< AFP reported TASS news agency as saying. global censure. affect all countries in the world. international community to work togeth- But the European Commission is concerned those go-it-alone “Such a blow to this organisation at a China, where the virus first emerged, Trump, who is under immense pressure er in solidarity to stop this virus and its initiatives will provide incompatible data sets, useless for com- time when the eyes of the world commu- said on Wednesday that the US had to for his slow and inadequate response to the shattering consequences,” the U.N. secre- piling a whole picture across the single market where people and nity are in many ways looking precisely to fulfill its obligations to the WHO at a time American outbreak, said on Tuesday that tary-general added, according to Reuters. goods are meant to move freely. it is a step worthy of condemnation and when some two million people were ill he had ordered a halt to the US’s funding Trump said earlier Tuesday evening that It is also worried these apps could fall foul of strong EU censure,” he said. with COVID-19, the disease caused by the to the WHO because of what he alleged to the U.S. would halt funding to the WHO data privacy rules and Europeans’ deep-seated wariness of U.S. President Donald Trump’s move new coronavirus. be the body’s mishandling of the global and conduct a 60- to 90-day review “to technological prying. to freeze America’s funding to the World Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman health crisis. assess the World Health Organization’s “The aim is to get the single market back on track so that it Health Organization (WHO) — the body Zhao Lijian also said at a regular press Over 607,000 have been affected and role in severely mismanaging and covering can work properly,” Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen leading the global fight against the new briefing that the US’s refusal to contribute more than 28,000 have died in the US up the spread of the coronavirus.” told a videolink news conference as she unveiled the 16-page roadmap to phasing out lockdowns that have brought life to a standstill in many countries. France summons Chinese envoy over criticism of West’s response to Covid-19 pandemic - Apps already appearing - The document puts data collection and contact tracing at the Paris has summoned its Chinese envoy after the governments for their handling of the pandemic, while de- and the greatest international cooperation.” top of its recommended measures, above expanding testing, re- embassy published a blistering critique of the West’s fending Beijing from accusations of concealing information The diplomatic row comes as Washington steps up inforcing healthcare systems and providing more protective gear. response to the Covid-19 crisis, accusing leaders of and of a sluggish response, RT reported. efforts to pin blame on Beijing for the global health crisis, But it said the use of any apps should be “voluntary” and failing to act and abandoning vulnerable citizens to The article claimed that some nursing homes had been “de- accusing Chinese officials of concealing vital information comply with personal data protection rules. death and starvation. serted,” leaving elderly patients “to die of hunger and disease.” in the early stages of its outbreak and thereby hampering “Tracing close proximity between mobile devices should be “Certain publicly voiced opinions by representatives The post also took aim at Western news outlets, “which the world’s ability to respond. The World Health Or- allowed only on an anonymous and aggregated basis, without of the Chinese Embassy in France are not in line with take themselves for paragons of impartiality and objectivi- ganization has also come under fire, with US President any tracking of citizens, and names of possibly infected persons the quality of the bilateral relations between our two ty,” yet appear to care more about “slandering, stigmatizing Donald Trump halting the agency’s funding on Tuesday, should not be disclosed to other users,” it said. countries,” Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in and attacking China” than covering the raging health crises alleging it helped China to “cover up” the epidemic, costing a statement late on Tuesday, calling on Ambassador Lu in their own countries. thousands of lives. Beijing has repeatedly rejected those Shaye to answer for an article published on the Chinese Responding to the blustery article, the French FM in- allegations, maintaining it has been fully transparent with Embassy website over the weekend. sisted “there is no room for polemics” amid the Covid-19 the international community all along, and that the US Afghan girls try building Entitled ‘Restoring distorted facts,’ the lengthy post – pandemic, stating he made his “disapproval” clear to Lu and even “wasted precious time” that China helped it to buy ventilator from used car parts which listed no author – tore into the U.S. and European that France and other nations must pursue “unity, solidarity with proactive containment measures.

A team of robot-designing girls in Afghanistan is trying to build a low-cost medical ventilator from car parts, as health authorities U.S. coronavirus deaths set Iraqi parties require PM-designate to look to boost critical-care capabilities for coronavirus patients single-day record end U.S.-led military presence: MP in the impoverished country. If the teenagers succeed and can get government approval for their prototype, they say it could be replicated for as little as $300, where normally ventilators sell for around $30,000. “The team is working with local health specialists, as well as experts from Harvard University, to produce the prototype based on a design by Massachusetts Institute of Technology,” said Roya Mahboob, who runs an Afghan tech company and sponsors the team of five girls, aged 14-17. They are part of a bigger group of high-achieving high school girls known as the “Afghan Dreamers”, from the western city of Herat. The girls made headlines in 2017 after being denied visas to take part in a robotics competition in Washington -- before Pres- ident Donald Trump intervened and they were allowed to travel. They are taking engine and battery parts from a Toyota Co- rolla -- ubiquitous on the streets of Afghanistan -- to produce a prototype they started designing after the Herat governor called for more ventilators as coronavirus cases rose. Central to the ventilator is a self-inflating plastic sac known as an Ambu bag that medical staff use to help patients breathe. The girls’ prototype uses a mechanical system to operate the bag automatically and accurately. U.S. coronavirus deaths have risen by a novel coronavirus outbreak depressed An Iraqi parliamentarian says the coun- forming a new government in a month. (Source: AFP) single-day record 2,228 to top 28,300, demand for a range of goods, setting try’s political parties have conditioned ap- The presidential ceremony was attended by according to a Reuters tally, as officials up consumer spending for its worst proving Prime Minister-designate Mustafa several high-ranking politicians and public debated how to reopen the economy decline in decades. al-Kadhimi’s cabinet on his acting on a law figures, something that was interpreted without reigniting the outbreak. The Commerce Department on approved by the parliament that mandates as Kadhimi’s across-the-board popularity COVID-19 pandemic can hit Israeli The United States, with the world’s Wednesday said retail sales plunged evacuation of US-led forces. with Iraq’s political groupings. third-largest population, passed a second 8.7% in March, the biggest decline since Sa’ad al-Sa’adi, a senior member of the He was the third person to be nominated regime harder than expected milestone late on Tuesday with over the government Fatah (Conquest) parliamentary coalition, for the office in 10 weeks after his prede- 600,000 reported cases, three times started tracking the series in 1992, made the remarks to the Baghdad Today cessors Adnan al-Zurfi and Mohammed 1 The regime has closed educational institutions and busi- more than any other country. after falling by a revised 0.4% in February. news website on Tuesday. Allawi withdrew their bids failing to secure nesses and income levels are down. The virus poses a challenge The previous single-day record was According to a Reuters survey of The legislature ratified the law in early the legislature’s support in their task of to citizens in terms of their personal, social and national security. 2,069, set last Friday. economists, retail sales were forecast January, only days after the United States forming a government. The number of infected Israelis who need to be quarantined The increase of 2,228 deaths excludes to have fallen 8.0% last month. carried out an unauthorized drone attack, Al-Sa’adi said, “Now that Mustafa increases daily, as unemployment also rises along with inflation; a revision by New York City to include The report came as millions of assassinating Lieutenant General Qassem al-Kadhimi has secured the parliament’s growth indicators decline alongside the fact that there is no general deaths presumed to be due to the novel Americans are thrown out of work, Soleimani, the commander of the Quds vote of confidence [that enabled his nom- budget in operation due to the absence of stable government. coronavirus but never tested dating back and strengthen economists’ conviction Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards ination as the premier], one of his most The Israeli economy — as with others — is also being hit by to March 11. that the economy is in deep recession. Corps (IRGC), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, important duties is to implement the the collapse of global markets and exports, a reduced workforce Officials reported 3,778 “probable” States and local governments have the second-in-command of the Popular law ratified by the parliament, based and, importantly, the fall in the number of tourists as flights are deaths, where doctors were certain issued “stay-at-home” or “shelter- Mobilization Units, or Hashd al-Sha’abi on which all foreign forces should be cancelled and non-essential journeys are as good as banned. enough of the cause of death to list it on in-place” orders affecting more than anti-terror force, and a number of others. evacuated from Iraq.” Army support for civilians will focus on the food supply the death certificate, and 6,589 confirmed 90% of Americans to curb the spread The attack came while General Soleima- The condition is one of the most im- chain, the provision and delivery of medicine, and helping the by a lab test. Combined, that would put the of COVID-19, the respiratory illness ni was on an official trip in the Iraqi capital portant ones that al-Kadhimi has been elderly and those with special needs. This support might be cut total fatalities in the city to over 10,000. caused by the virus, and abruptly at Baghdad’s request. committed to implement, al-Sa’adi noted, if security threats require army personnel to be re-deployed. As the numbers continue to rise, stopping the country. The assassinations were followed by adding “he has consented to [implement- In such a scenario, the police will only have access to a small officials debate over how and when to “The economy is almost in free thousands-strong funeral processions and ing] this condition.” number of army officers to help enforce the anti-virus measures. reopen the U.S. economy and start easing fall,” said Sung Won Sohn, a business protests across both Iran and Iraq in honor Al-Sa’adi called the result of the par- At this point, there are no plans to use army reserves to help restrictions. economics professor at Loyola of the commanders and condemnation of liamentary vote binding, saying it could the police. Regular soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces are Coronavirus delivers record Marymount University in the U.S.’s nearly two decades of deadly not be defied by any premier, and has to on duty for the time being. blow to U.S. retail sales in March Los Angeles. “We will see the bottom interference in the region. be put into force, especially in light of the If the virus spreads within army ranks, the IDF’s ability to US retail sales suffered a record when the coronavirus infection rates On April 9, Iraqi President Barham Salih far-and-wide popular support that it has defend could be curtailed to a serious degree. Already, senior drop in March as mandatory business stabilize. It’s going to be a pretty deep tasked Mustafa al-Kadhimi, director of the received ever since ratification. officers have imposed quarantine on around 4,000 personnel, closures to control the spread of the bottom from which to come up.” country’s National Intelligence Service, with (Source: Press TV) including many of their own seniority. No soldier is being allowed to travel abroad for at least 30 days. International travel bans will have an obvious effect on Israel’s ability to gather intelligence in the field. This increases U.S. occupation destroyed Iraqi state structure: Kadhimi concerns about security as Mossad agents and their contacts 1 Kadhimi called on political parties to cooperate with his said that he was “serious” about ending any manifestation the invitation of the Baghdad government. are limited by lockdowns in what they can do, and will not be government, which he said would focus on preparing for early of the illegal presence of foreign forces in Iraq. The attack also claimed the lives of Abu Mahdi al- immune to contracting the virus. elections and face the unexpected challenges caused by the He also noted that Baghdad would discuss with Washington Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s Popular The Netanyahu’s decision to involve Mossad and other outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the sharp fall in oil prices. the nature of U.S. presence on Iraqi soil in the near future. Mobilization Units (PMU) or Hashd al-Sha’abi, along agencies to curb the virus is a concern for many. Their move- PM designate says resolved to end illegal foreign On January 5, the Iraqi parliament voted for a resolution with eight other Iranian and Iraqi people. ments are now being tracked around the clock. Netanyahu military presence that called for an end to the presence of all foreign troops, The prime minister designate also said his government has authorized security agencies to have access to mobile tele- Also, on Wednesday, Al-Kadhimi said he is resolved to including the Americans. would pursue an open policy based on the principle of common phone data; they can record calls made, and read emails and bring an end to any illegal presence of foreign boots on the The vote came two days after the U.S. military — acting on interests in foreign and Arab-Islamic spheres. WhatsApp chats. The citizens complain about this invasion of ground in his country, adding Baghdad will soon hold talks President Donald Trump’s order— launched a fatal drone strike Kadhimi further underlined the need for de-escalation their privacy but the Prime Minister has made such decisions with Washington in this regard. on senior Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General as a prerequisite for attracting investments and diversifying without the approval of monitoring bodies. Speaking to the Baghdad Today news website, Kadhimi Qassem Soleimani upon his arrival in the Iraqi capital at the oil-dependent economy. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 16, 2020 SPORTS 11

A practical plan to resume Recovered Ghaemi signs with Qatar’s Al Rayyan

MNA — Iran volleyball star Farhad Ghaemi has signed a IPL games and stay healthy contract with Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC Volleyball Team after recovering from an ankle injury. No information about the fee and duration of the contract By Asghar Maziar has been revealed. Reports indicate that Ghaemi should TEHRAN — The outbreak of the novel leave for Qatar in August. coronavirus has affected all parts of the Ghaemi, 30, had suffered a cracked ankle injury in ear- communities over the world, including ly October 2019 during training for his former club team sports and, in particular, football. Shahrdari Urmia. When it comes to sports, it involves Al Rayyan is an eight-time winner of Qatar Volleyball League both economic and entertainment. With and its best performance in the international competitions much of the sports events on hiatus due goes back to 2014 when the team finished runner-up at the to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship. broadcasting rights and no ticket sale. The Milad Ebadipour, Team Melli’s outside spiker and the small businesses around football, such as current player of Poland’s PGE Skra Belchatów, has also selling of jerseys and team items, are now played for one the Qatari club, winning the country’s Emir severely damaged. For fans, the wait for Cup with the team in 2016-2017 season. some action is a frustrating time. In such a situation, when athletes are forced to stay at homes and do fewer sports activities, they are more likely to lose their Mehdi Torabi might leave fitness and suffer injuries after returning Persepolis to the competitions. The suspension of football leagues is an- other issue that has raised a lot of questions. PLDC — Persepolis iconic midfielder Mehdi Torabi will Can Liverpool be declared champions if the likely leave the team at the end of the Iran Professional 2019-20 English Premier League season is League season. voided? They need just two more wins to There is a release clause in his contract which allows him secure the title. And yet, declaring them to leave the team if he receives an offer from a foreign club. champions if the season is eventually voided Iranian media have reported that the two Qatari teams could have legal implications. and one Belgian club eye the Iranian international midfielder. With the Covid-19 pandemic has In the current season, he has scored eight goals for the wreaked havoc on the world, football Reds and assisted five and his transfer will be a big blow for should be the last thing on anybody’s the Iranian popular team. mind. The problem is that the future offers with some other countries who have plans Some important people in football weeks from the next season. extreme uncertainty. Nobody knows when to resume the games as early as next month. have already spoken about why one team, Then, we will start the 2020-2021 the Covid-19 crisis will run its course. Sports events cannot and should not be started namely Persepolis, cannot be declared season. In fact, with this plan, we should In my opinion, the decisions that are until the breaking of the corona chain and champions of the Iran Professional be able and ready to hold two and a half Fernando de Jesus to file made about how and when the football the reduction of the number of infections. League (IPL) if the season is voided. If, leagues in two years. complaint to FIFA against leagues could resume play, should be The point that has received less atten- and it is a huge if, the season cannot be The clubs will have more fixtures to play based on the policies of each country tion about football is that there are a lot completed, then there is no way you can and a congested calendar meaning some Pars Jonoubi in terms of the health and care systems of conflicts and touches between players have a winner or loser. teams often finding themselves playing once implemented by the state governments during the games, and this can increase the Another option, which is my solution to every three games. But in this way, the health of those countries. risk of transmitting the virus among them. this problem is to stop the league as it is in of footballers and all the staff involved in TASNIM — Brazilian goalkeeper Fernando de Jesus is going The situation of each country is different We must be patient until the coronavirus the current situation, with 21st weeks being football will not be endangered. Health is to file a complaint against Iranian football club Pars Jonoubi. from others, and we cannot compare Iran pandemic is firmly controlled. played, and then resume the remaining nine the most critical priority. Pars Jonoubi has canceled the goalie’s contract but has yet to settle his debt. Now, the 36-year-old wants to file a lawsuit against the Iranian team. Fernando de Jesus has already filed a complaint against Marc Wilmots needs to make peace Iran’s Beiranvand named Asian FIFA another Iranian team Machine Sazi and the team has been with Iran World Cup Hero banned from signing any new players for the next three transfer windows. It’s not for the first time an Iranian team is threatened by the transfer ban.

Iran’s two-time AFC women’s Futsal Champ joins BreakTheChain campaign

IRNA — Fereshteh Karimi joined the Asian Football Con- federation’s (AFC) BreakTheChain campaign to help fight coronavirus pandemic. Among the latest athletes that joined the campaign are Korea’s Lee Chung-yong, Bahrain Mahdi Al Humaidan¸ and Iran’s Karimi. The campaign successfully spreads the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). SPORTS TEHRAN — Marc to lead the Turkish top-flight team. SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran in- The winner was chosen by a panel of experts Karimi said in her video that it is the first time that the desk desk Wilmots is going to Wilmots has already rejected Ant- ternational goalkeeper combined with the results of the public vote. people of the entire world have faced such a challenge. The take charge of Turkish giants Fenerbahçe werp’s offer to join Fenerbahçe but Alireza Beiranvand has been named the Beiranvand was Iran’s star at the 2018 virus has made everyone anxious. but there is an obstacle ahead of him. Iran’s complaint to FIFA prevents him Asian FIFA World Cup Hero. FIFA World Cup group stage, where he saved She wanted everyone to wash their hands, keep the safe The Belgian coach has left his job as Iran to sign a new contract. In a poll conducted by the-afc.com, 68 per- Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty and kept his distance from others and stay home. coach in early December after two parties Now, the two sides should bury the cent of participants voted the Iranian goalkeeper. country’s hopes alive in Portugal match. She hoped that the virus will sooner be defeated so that failed to reach consensus and the case hatchet. Beiranvand beat Japanese legendary The Persepolis shot-stopper shone as the people live in peace again. still remains open in FIFA. Under stewardship of Wilmots, Iran midfielder Keisuke Honda who earned Iran edged past Morocco 1-0 in their open- Head of Iran’s Health Ministry’s Public Relations Of- Iran football federation and Wilmots defeated Hong Kong and Cambodia but 24 percent. er and he then produced another string fice Kianoush Jahanpour said on Tuesday that 48,129 have filed lawsuit against each other and two defeats against Bahrain and Iraq left Australian Tim Cahill, Sami Al Jaber of excellent saves in a narrow 1-0 loss to people out of a total of 74,877 infected by the coronavirus the ex-Belgium coach needs to bring this the Persians in third place in Group C of from Saudi Arabia and Korean Park Ji-sung Spain, when only a fortuitous Diego Costa (COVID-19) have survived and recovered whereas 4,683 conflict to an end to be granted permission the 2022 World Cup qualifications. were the other candidates. goal got the better of the big custodian. have lost their lives. Jahanpour said that 1,574 new affected cases have been detected since, pointing out that 3,691 cases are in Esteghlal fans overwhelmed me: Markus Neumayr critical condition. German-Swiss midfielder Markus Neumayr has praised the me to go to a restaurant or walk through the city. It’s normal Esteghlal fans and likened the team to Barcelona. there the fans ask you to take a picture and in the beginning He joined Esteghlal on July 31, 2018 on a two-year con- it was difficult to deal with but I got used to it, he added. tract but was released by the team at his request after just Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded the promising attacking Australia’s Harrison inks playing eight matches for the Iranian team. midfielder to join United in 2003 when he was 16 and at In an interview with spox.com, the 34-year-old midfielder Eintracht Frankfurt and the now 34-year-old recalled being PSV Eindhoven deal talked about his former club. invited for dinner at the former United manager’s home. “I was immediately overwhelmed by the amount of Es- “After my trial, he invited me to his home. His wife made Amy Harrison is the latest Australian women’s international teghlal’s fans. The club has 40 million fans and between tea for us and we talked about football for an hour. He to seal a move to Europe, joining Dutch powerhouse PSV 80,000 and 90,000 spectators attended home games. It explained what the club stands for and what he planned Eindhoven on a season-long deal. was almost like you play for FC Barcelona,” Neumayr said. to do with me. For me, a 16-year-old youngster, this was The 23-year-old midfielder will join the club for the 2020-21 “Everyone knew me in the city. Maybe I was the only very, very impressive,” he said. campaign, with the current season of the Women’s Eredvisie blonde in the whole country. It was actually impossible for (Source: spox) – in which PSV remain unbeaten – one of many in European football to have been halted by COVID-19. When Harrison does arrive in Eindhoven, she will be- come both a pioneer, and also the newest Matilda to walk Safety is first priority of FIFA – Infantino an increasingly well-worn path. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has world over when and how to restart the season. all kinds struggle – unable to play, to enter- 2018 profit of more than $1 billion, which blew She will become the first Australian to appear for PSV again made it clear that all-around The president of FIFA said it would depend tain, to make money – FIFA sits on $2.745 away the $100 million budgeted projection. Eindhoven’s women’s team, but her move makes her the safety is the first priority of football’s to the state governments’ decision to resume billion in reserves (as of 2019), trying to Reserves soared, from $930 million after 10th Matildas player in a matter of months to sign with governing body. Infantino thinks that the games in each country. figure out how it can help. 2017 to $2.75 billion a year later. an European club. rushing things will be dangerous for a “I saw people arguing about when we Perhaps more importantly, its cash As long as the 2022 men’s World Cup, Sam Kerr’s much-publicised move to Chelsea was quickly global game like football. can return to play. We will resume playing cow almost surely won’t be interrupted slated for November and December in followed by Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso and Chloe Logzarzo, Speaking in a video chat with the Bra- when authorities will tell us so. Then we by the pandemic. FIFA has no direct stake Qatar, isn’t impacted by the coronavirus, who joined Arsenal, Everton and Bristol City respectively, zilian legend, Ronaldo, the head of inter- will keep playing to finish competitions. in the Champions League or any national FIFA will remain on solid ground. It could while 17-year-prodigy Mary Fowler was snapped up by French national football governing body made his But we cannot put people’s lives at risk for league. Over a four-year cycle, it makes be hurt long-term by a worldwide econom- outfit Montpellier, with four other Australian internationals position clear about the time of resuming a football match, it ‘s not worth it. more than 80 percent of its money from ic downturn. But most of its broadcast joining clubs in the Norwegian top flight. football competitions. “we all need to be responsible and respect the men’s World Cup. It makes a signifi- contracts — its chief source of revenue Harrison, who has 10 caps to her name, is a two-time “This is a good question but the right people who are suffering I this moment. We cant chunk of the rest from the Women’s — are locked in for years to come. Fox, for W-League Championship winner and was part of Australia’s answer is that public health come first. Our will play when we can. Maybe in August? I World Cup. The nearest of those two example, has agreed to pay hundreds of 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, but hasn’t appeared priority is heath and it comes before anything don’t know yet.” tournaments is 31 months away. millions of dollars for U.S. English-lan- for the national team since last November, missing out on else. As long as there is a risk you will not Why FIFA is comparatively un- “FIFA’s financial position,” according to guage rights to every FIFA tournament selection during the team’s successful Tokyo Olympics play.” Infantino said. affected by coronavirus its latest annual statement, “is particularly through 2026. qualifying campaign, “We need to wait and see how things are FIFA is not soccer. It helps govern the strong and sustainable.” That’s because the Soccer’s governing body, therefore, will The move is Harrison’s first in European club football, going forward, the situation is too serious world’s most popular sport, but the two 2018 World Cup brought in $5.36 billion. be fine. Its many members, on the other although she did feature in a brief stint for American club at the moment,” he continued. aren’t synonymous. And while leagues, clubs, That whopping revenue number not only hand, need help. Washington Spirit in 2019. Discussions are being held around the players and soccer-adjacent employees of exceeded expectations, it gave FIFA a 2015- (Source: Equipe) (Source: the-afc) Prayer Times Noon:13:04 Evening: 19:57 Dawn: 5:00 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:29 (tomorrow) APRIL 16, 2020 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: Ali A.Jenabzadeh Iran to celebrate Sadi Day for Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Turkish audiences live on Instagram Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. CULTURE TEHRAN — desk Tel: 88911433 Iranian plans to Webmaster: [email protected] celebrate Sadi Day for Turkish Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 Persian literature aficionados with a live program entitled “Sadi and Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily a Wise Life” on Instagram. A speech by Iranian Persian No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran literature professor Davud P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Zip Code: 1599814713 Esparham, who is a guest lecturer at Istanbul University, is part of the celebration. The program has been organized in collaboration with the Iranian cultural attaché and the Istanbul branch of the Sadi Foundation, Iran’s institution that promotes the Persian language overseas. Sheikh Muslih od-Din Sadi Shirazi, one of the greatest figures GUIDE TO of classical Persian literature, is SPIRITUAL AWAKENING annually commemorated on Sadi Day, which falls on April 20 this It is enough wisdom for you that it clarified year. However, no celebration or salvation and depravity for you. meeting will be organized due to the coronavirus epidemic. Imam Ali (AS) Sadi is famous worldwide for his Bustan (The Orchard) and Gulistan (The Rose Garden), which have been translated into many languages. Mausoleum of Iranian poet Sheikh Muslih od-Din Sadi Shirazi, Shiraz. Tehran research center offers free access to atlases Marquez “Love in the Time of Cholera” inspires Persian novel “Deceased of the Green of Iran-Iraq war director Rahmanian play on coronavirus Garden” published in Azerbaijan CULTURE TEHRAN — The Research Center and deskArchives of Sacred Defense in Tehran has given free access to a collection of military atlases of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.

Front cover of the Persian version of writer Mohammadreza Bairami’s A number of military atlases of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war Stage director Mohammad Rahmanian in an undated photo. novel “The Deceased of the Green Garden”. published by the Research Center and Archives of Sacred Defense. ARTTEHRAN — Rahmanian emphasized that the CULTURE TEHRAN — Iranian into Russian. deskCelebrated Iranian experience of days of coronavirus needs deskwriter Mohammadreza Bairami was born in 1965 in The PDF copies of 20 military atlases of the war, known as writer and director Mohammad to be recorded for the following generations Bairami’s novel “The Deceased of the Green northwestern Iran in a village at the foot the Sacred Defense in Iran, have been published on the official Rahmanian is busy these days writing and added, “The truth is that we are living in Garden” has been published in Azerbaijan. of Sabalan Mountain. He is the author of website of the center. the play “Love in Days of Coronavirus” a very strange period of history. Of course, The book has been published by the Pol more than 30 novels and collections of One of the atlases is dedicated to Operation Beit-ul-Muqaddas inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s our historical periods have always been Literary and Translation Agency, a Tehran- short stories for which he has received that Iran carried out in 1982 to liberate its southwestern city of “Love in the Time of Cholera”. strange, but this is very special, because it based institution that translates Iranian many literary awards. Khorramshahr, which had been captured by Iraqis on October “This teleplay centers on love in its might change the fate of the entire world.” books and presents Persian-language His credits include “The Smoke behind 26, 1980 during the early months of the war. different forms during the coronavirus “I think the coming generations would publications around the world. the Hill”, “The Eagles of Hill Sixty”, “Wolves The collection also includes an atlas of Sarallah Brigade, which days,” Rahmanian told the Persian service like to know more about this period of The novel is about a peddler named Aren’t Scared of Snow”, “The Fifth Chapter at one time was commanded by Martyr Qassem Soleimani. of ISNA on Wednesday. history and these works should be recorded Balash, who is employed as a radio host of Silence”, “The Last Seven Days” and Another atlas from the collection is about the effects of the The Colombian Nobel prize-winning to serve as their future sources,” he due to his beautiful voice. He then begins “The Mountain Called Me”. war upon Iranian cities. author Marquez wrote “Love in the Time remarked. to work as a reporter for the daily “Azer His novella “Barren” on the blight of In a new movement launched after onset of the COVID-19 of Cholera” about Florentino Ariza and He also noted that he has plans to set Baijan”. But the new developments in the war was picked as best novel in 2016 at the pandemic, the Research Center and Archives of Sacred Defense Fermina Daza who fall passionately in up a workshop on writing plays. central government bring his progress Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Awards, Iran’s has provided free access to a number of its invaluable resources. love in their youth, however, Fermina “The workshop will be held in a to a halt. most lucrative literary award. Earlier last week, the center offered a collection of 1600 UN eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, videoconferencing format centering on Published by Sureh-Mehr Publications, Bairami was also selected as Iran’s best documents on the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war. well-born doctor. professional writing,” he concluded. the book has already been translated writer of the past 40 years in February. All the materials can be downloaded on the official website of the center http://www.defamoghaddas.ir/Index.jsp. The center has also offered the PDF copies of over 100 its books for free download on the site. U.S. movie theater operators aim for a late-summer blockbuster season LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — U.S. movie theater operators, dance with any kind of precaution like that.” who were forced to shut their doors in March to help slow Theaters owners likely will look at restaurants and the coronavirus spread, are aiming to welcome back crowds bars for clues on how people are reacting. Safety measures Filmmaker Siamak Shayeqi across the country by late July for a belated kickoff to the may vary at different cinema locations depending on local dies at 66 summer movie season. guidance, he added. Ahead of that, operators are considering a transition Bagby said B&B’s locations will implement social distancing ARTTEHRAN — Siamak Shayeqi, the director period when they open some locations in parts of the if authorities recommend it. In the weekend before theaters deskof the acclaimed Iranian dramas “Dowry for United States where the novel coronavirus outbreak closed, the company cut auditorium capacity by 50% to Robab” and “Ferdows Garden, 5 PM”, who had been in a coma is receding fastest. That could start as early as mid- leave room between seats and had “zero issues,” he said. since Saturday, died in a Tehran hospital on Wednesday morn- June, said Patrick Corcoran, spokesman for the National Customers adhered to the practice and some showtimes ing. He was 66. Association of Theatre Owners, though he called any sold out at half-full, he said. “My father was suffering from cancer and was receiving treat- timeline “very tentative.” During the shutdown, theater chains and independent ments for three years,” his son, Sam, told the Persian media. The timing will depend on guidance from health authorities, operators have been trying to tap government assistance “We were expecting him to get better, however, he went into he said. or other financing to stay afloat. Cinemark Holdings Inc a coma on Saturday and was hospitalized since then,” he said. Among the challenges theaters face are making sure (CNK.N), for example, said on Monday it had raised $250 The type of cancer was not mentioned in Sam’s words. filmgoers feel comfortable gathering in groups and having A man cycles past a shuttered movie theater in million through a sale of debt. a variety of appealing movies. Hollywood studios are unlikely Times Square following the outbreak of coronavirus Getting a full slate of Hollywood movies back on the calendar to release big-budget films when they cannot mount a disease (COVID-19), in the Manhattan borough of depends not just on the United States. Studios will need receipts nationwide release. New York City, New York, U.S., March 17, 2020. from around the globe to support their most expensive films, Expected blockbusters such as Walt Disney Co’s (DIS.N) (Reuters/Carlo Allegri) said Chris Aronson, president of film distribution at ViacomCBS “Mulan” and “Wonder Woman 1984” from AT&T Inc’s (T.N) Inc’s (VIACA.O) Paramount Pictures. Warner Bros are currently scheduled for late July and August. president of Missouri-based B&B Theatres, which operates Paramount plans to release animated family film “The “There are two schools of thought,” Corcoran said. 400 screens in seven states. SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” on Aug. 7, a week “People will be very tense and careful and nervous, or Executives are brainstorming ways to draw audiences, such later than its previous July 31 slot. The studio moved another people will just be desperate to get out of the house. It’s as staging a costume contest around a “Harry Potter” film or summer flick, “Top Gun: Maverick”, to December. going to probably be a mixture.” serving butterbeer, Potter’s favorite beverage, Bagby said. In China, the world’s second-largest movie market, During their first weeks back in business, theaters likely Not on the agenda are “sad or very heavy dramas,” he said. authorities re-opened theaters in March following an will show classic movies or films that were playing in March, “We want the movies we bring back to bring joy to people,” extended closure, but abruptly shut them two weeks later when theaters went dark, Corcoran said. Bagby said. without explanation. That could mean reviving a beloved musical such as Operators also are debating how visible to be with steps “If there is great uncertainty in major parts of the “Grease” or running a marathon of “Back to the Future” or such as extra cleaning, “whether it makes people comfortable world,” Aronson said, “I think there are going to be issues “Harry Potter” movies, said Brock Bagby, executive vice or more nervous,” Corcoran said. “There’s always a delicate opening major films.” Siamak Shayeqi in an undated photo. (Cinema Press/ Maryam Qasemi) According to Sam, his father will be buried today in the Artists Andrea Bocelli’s Easter Sunday performance breaks YouTube record Section of Tehran’s Behesht Zahra cemetery. LOS ANGELES (Variety) – Andrea Bocelli stream in YouTube’s history. stream ever with about 82.9 million live views, viewers were queued up in the waiting room. “Sharareh”, “Winter Dreams”, “Moon in the Jungle,” “Pur- is officially YouTube’s newest superstar. Bocelli’s “Music For Hope — Live but note that took place over three days and In addition, over the past 48 hours, ple Clouds” and “My Mother Gisoo” were among Shayeqi’s The Italian tenor’s live-streaming From Duomo di Milano” reached over 2.8 featured multiple artists.) Bocelli’s Easter Sunday performance reached noteworthy credits. solo performance on this Easter Sunday, million peak concurrent viewers, according The 25-minute Bocelli video generated the No. 1 spot on YouTube’s trending charts Last year, Shayeqi and actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya were streamed on April 12 exclusively via to YouTube. That also makes it one of the more than 28 million views worldwide in its in multiple countries, including the U.S., UK, planning to make a documentary about the Iranian House of YouTube from the Duomo in Milan, has biggest musical live-stream performances first 24 hours, and as of Tuesday morning Italy, Canada, Spain and throughout Latin Cinema under the title “Where Is Friend’s Home”. However, the gone into the record books as drawing of all time. (YouTube says the first weekend had topped 35 million views. Even prior to America, including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, project was never carried out due to his illness. the biggest audience for a classical live of 2019 Coachella was its biggest music live- the stream beginning, more than 1 million Bolivia, Chile and Colombia.