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16 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 39th year No.13206 Thursday SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 Shahrivar 22, 1397 Muharram 3, 1440 Defense minister White House statement Iran begin FIVB World Ali Hatami’s movie urges closer ties is ‘provocative’, Championship with win on Sattar Khan with Pakistan 2 ‘irresponsible’ 2 over Puerto Rico 15 restored 16

Russia opposes U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil industry ECONOMY TEHRAN — Russian “fragile” due to geopolitical risks and deskEnergy Minister Alex- supply disruptions. U.S. is ander Novak voiced concern over the im- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ser- pact of U.S. sanctions against Iran, Reuters gei Ryabkov also expressed his country’s reported. “This is a huge uncertainty on the support for Iranian oil exports saying “Rus- market – how countries, which buy almost sia believes it is important to create the two million barrels per day of Iranian oil, conditions to continue Iranian oil exports will act. The situation should be closely to external markets”. in worst watched, the right decisions should be As reported by Reuters, Ryabkov‘s taken,” he said on Wednesday. remarks were published by RIA news Novak said global oil markets were agency on Tuesday. international Iran seeking to bring peace to Syria: UN envoy See page 2 POLITICS TEHRAN — Ghola- meeting on the Middle East. deskmali Khoshroo, Iran’s Following is full text of his speech ambassador to the UN, said on Tuesday published by IRNA: situation that Iran will play a constructive role in Recent Tehran Tripartite Summit bringing peace and prosperity to Syria. convened in a critical juncture. “As the Islamic Republic of Iran sup- Satisfied with the contribution of the ported Syria to defeat terrorists, it will Astana format to peace, security and stability play a constructive role in bringing peace in Syria, the Presidents of Iran, Russia and and prosperity to this country,” he said Turkey discussed the way forward to achieve during a speech at the UN Security Council durable peace in the country. 2

Afghanistan: Death toll soars to 68 in suicide bomb attack The death toll from a suicide bomb attack earlier estimates put the death toll at 32. at a protest gathering in the eastern Afghan Scores of demonstrators had blocked province of Nangarhar on Tuesday has the highway between the provincial capital risen to 68, with 165 wounded, a govern- Jalalabad and a key border crossing with ment official said. Pakistan when the bomber struck. The provincial governor’s spokesman, The protesters had come from Achin Attaullah Khogyani, issued a statement with district to demand the removal of a local president.ir a revised casualty total on Wednesday after police commander. 13 ARTICLE Establishment of ‘United Arab Army’, a dream that was not interpreted in terms of differences ARTICLE Hanif Ghaffari By Ramin Hossein Abadian the Joint Staff of the Army of Kuwait.” One of the main reasons for lack of agreement Syed Zafar Mehdi Political analyst TEHRAN — The Supreme Military Com- The fact is the President of the U.S. Donald over the creation of a United Arab Army is internal Journalist mittee of Chiefs of Staff of the Persian Gulf Trump has made numerous efforts to form the disputes between the founders of the plan. As a from New Delhi Cooperation Council (PGCC) met on Monday United Arab army under Washington’s control. proof, after traveling to Riyadh and participating with all six member states in attendance in The U.S. has consistently provided extensive in a ridiculous “sword dance”, Trump accused Did the Far-right Kuwait. consultations with the Persian Gulf Coopera- Qatar of sponsoring terrorism. This suggests that Why Muharram Although no statement was released, it’s re- tion Council (PGCC) and other Arab countries the main designers of the formation of the United Really Win the ported that the meeting addressed formation of to fulfill the plan. Arab Army did not have a common definition commemorations a unified military command to deal with threats For instance, in the Riyadh Summit, which was of “threat”. Sweden’s Elections? and challenges in the region. held about a year and a half ago, dozens of Arab The lack of such a common definition haven’t lost their After the meeting, Colonel Tamer Al-Rifai, countries participated in the meeting, and even among the United States and the Persian eneral elections were held in Sweden the military spokesman of the Armed Forces in before that, many media outlets announced the Gulf States has become one of the serious significance on Sunday 9 September 2018, to Cairo in a statement announced the joint meet- formation of a United Arab Army called “Arab obstacles to the formation of the United Gelect the 349 members of the Swe- ing between representatives of the U.S. Central NATO”. It was speculated that Trump would Arab Army. uharram, contrary to the pop- den Parliament (Riksdag). They in turn Command and Jordanian militaries in Kuwait. unveil such an army during his visit to Riyadh However, these serial failures did not make ular perception, is not merely will elect the Prime Minister of Sweden. The statement did not give details about the Summit. Trump as the president of the United States to stop Ma poignant chapter in history, Regional and municipal elections were duration of the meeting, saying that it was “con- However, the so-called Riyadh big summit failed his efforts to create an integrated army against orbiting around a grief-centric ritual. It also held on the same day. ducted on the official invitation of the head of to lead to the formation of a United Arab Army. what he calls “Iran a threat”. 7 is a profoundly illuminating philosophy Sweden has been facing a political im- that defines the relationship between truth passe after its mainstream center-left and and falsehood, between righteousness center-right blocs virtually tied in an elec- To tackle water scarcity, Pakistanis crowdsourcing a mammoth dam project and impiousness, between dignity and tion on Sunday, while the far right — which By Syed Zafar Mehdi is complicated by the scarcity of dams. #DonateForDams, #DamFund trending on Twit- ignominy. neither wants to deal with — made gains TEHRAN — According to a recent report by In a move to address the problem of water ter and people sharing tips on how to donate. The leader of challengers Imam Hu- on a hardline anti-immigration platform. the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Paki- crisis, a fund was created recently by the chief PM Khan doesn’t want to go with a begging sain’s (as) uprising on the desert plains of With nearly all votes counted on Monday, stan ranks among the top three countries with justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar, which bowl to potential donors in the Western or Arab Karbala 1400 years ago was not a struggle the ruling center-left Social Democrats and acute water scarcity. UN agencies like United got strong endorsement from the newly-elected world, his close aides confessed. He believes the for paltry political gains or one-upmanship. Greens and their Left Party parliamentary Nations Development Program (UNDP) and populist prime minister of the country. Imran dam project can be given a shape by the Paki- It was the beginning of a movement for ally had 40.6 per cent of the vote, while the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources Khan made a passionate appeal to the overseas stanis themselves. The fund is dedicated to the Islamic awakening and social reformation. opposition center-right Alliance had 40.3 per (PCRWR) have also sounded alarm bells that Pakistanis to contribute to the fund. construction of Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand The movement about the eternal struggle cent. The Sweden Democrats, with roots in a Pakistan, which has the world’s fourth-largest “I want to take over the fund-raising and want dams to tackle the massive water scarcity the of right versus might, just versus unjust, neo-Nazi movement, won about 18 per cent, up rate of water usage, might run entirely dry overseas Pakistanis to contribute like they used to country is facing. truth versus falsehood. from the 13 per cent gained four years earlier. by 2025. do for the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital,” PM Responding to the PM’s appeal, Pakistanis The movement, which has gripped Under such circumstances, forming a According to experts, among the reasons for the Khan said, referring to the popular hospital that from all walks of life have come forward with the hearts and minds of people through- coalition government is rather difficult in acute water scarcity is burgeoning population and he founded. “If every overseas Pakistani donates monetary contributions. Expatriate Pakistanis out history, continues even today – in Sweden, with the country’s two traditional urbanization. Promoting judicious usage of water, $1,000, we will have enough to build the dams and celebrities have committed to contribute Palestine, in Syria, in Afghanistan, in parties attempting to hold negotiations looking beyond water politics and building dams are ourselves,” he said in his address to the nation. to the ambitious project and 2 billion PKR has Yemen, in Nigeria, in Myanmar, in Iraq, just to curb the Far-right extremists. Nev- some of the ways to overcome this challenge, they His appeal generated huge enthusiasm in the already been collected, according to the State in Kashmir. This movement will be rel- ertheless there’s a very important point say. The issue of the scarcity of water in Pakistan project with hashtags like #DamsForPakistan, Bank of Pakistan. 6 evant and significant as long as tyrants regarding the recent elections that should and aggressors exist. be taken into consideration: Understanding the essence of Imam’s Sweden Democrats, a right-wing politi- uprising is essential to understand the cal party in Sweden, which was founded in profound philosophy of Karbala and the 1988, is described as right-wing populist, significance of these annual commem- and anti-immigration. Jimmie Åkesson has Iranian dubber orations. been party leader since 2005. This party Muharram and Karbala are in a way received increased support in the 2014 symbolic and their appeal cuts across the Swedish general election, when it polled frontiers of time and space. Imam Kho- 12.9% and secured 49 seats in parliament, Hossein Erfani meini (ra) often used this phrase in his becoming the third largest party in Swe- speeches – ‘Kullu yaumin Ashura, kullu den. But the the Sweden Democrats have arzin Karbala’ (every day is Ashura and remained isolated in the Riksdag because dies at 76 every place is Karbala). the other parties staunchly maintain a Despots, crooks and scoundrels have ARTTEHRAN – Iranian dubber Hossein Erfani policy of refusing cooperation with them. existed in every age and every time. They deskwho lent his voice to many leading actors of That is the reason why the Democratic have tried to disrupt social order, ban the world cinema such as Humphrey Bogart, Morgan Freeman, Party, and Jimmie Åkesson’s strong pres- peaceful religious practices, create civil Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones, Arnold Schwarzenegger ence at top of the political and executive disturbance, and target innocents on flimsy and Sylvester Stallone died of lung cancer at a Tehran hospital equations in Stockholm are ruled out. The grounds. They exist even today, in vari- on Wednesday. He was 76. improvement in the vote of the democrats in ous forms and shapes and manifestations, Erfani began his career at the Moulin Rouge Studio in the Swedish general election has been inter- across the world. Karbala teaches us the Tehran at 19, dubbing minor characters in foreign films. preted differently by various sources. Some importance of defiance and resistance He also voiced characters played by Iranian actors analysts believe that Swedish extremists against these forces. such as Jamshid Hashempur, Akbar Abdi, Mohammad had a great success in the recent elections. In Maqtal al-Hussain by Al-Khwarizmi Moti and Kazem Afrandnia when all Iranian films used However, some argue that the real story of Hanafi, it is mentioned that when Waleed to be dubbed. Sweden’s election is not, as the prevailing 16 ibn Uqbah, the governor of Medina, sum- narrative has it, the irresistible onward File photo moned Imam Hussain (as) to pay allegiance March of Europe’s far right. 7 to Yazid, he categorically refused. 6 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Defense minister Russia, Iran, EU, China work to urges closer ties with Pakistan counter U.S.: Ryabkov Russia, Iran, Europe and China will intensify work in coming POLITICS TEHRAN — Defense Minister Amir days to counter unilateral U.S. sanctions and Washington’s deskHatami on Wednesday called for closer efforts to undermine a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, Rus- defense cooperation with Pakistan, expressing the hope that sia’s deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday. during the rule of the new Pakistani prime minister Iran and Sergei Ryabkov also chided European companies, say- Pakistan would be able to make up for the past shortcomings ing they are wrong in refusing to cooperate with Iran in in ties, Mehr reported. the face of U.S. pressure. Hatami made the remarks in a telephone conversation Most European firms have ignored a “blocking statute” with his Pakistani counterpart, Pervez Khattak. He voiced re-enacted by the EU to protect them against punitive Amer- confidence that Pakistan, as a major country in the Muslim ican measures for trading with Iran. world, would continue to play a positive role in line with the Their withdrawal has undermined Europe’s wish to por- interests of the Islamic Ummah. tray the nuclear deal with Iran as a flagship achievement of Khattak, for his part, highlighted the need for expansion their foreign policy and a symbol of their growing strength. of relations between the two countries and help establish Last month, President Donald Trump installed a wave stability in the region. of sanctions targeting Iran’s automotive, aviation and metals sectors and threatened that a second wave would ‘JCPOA survival “ratchet up to yet another level” in November. In an interview with the Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Ryabkov said dependent on Russia and the European Union have outlined an action plan to resist U.S. sanctions against Iran, according to Press TV. securing Iran’s “We have outlined a set of measures to be discussed with benefits’ the Europeans,” he said. “Plus, our internal efforts are needed to get prepared to the moment when the Americans proceed POLITICS TEHRAN — Kazem Gharib Abadi, Iran’s to the second phase of re-imposing their extra-territorial deskrepresentative to the Vienna-based interna- sanctions against Iran.” Ryabkov said the plan is to make international compa- banking sector. tional organizations, has said the survival of the 2015 nuclear Ryabkov said the working sides must find formulas, nies “see that there are possibilities to continue lawful and Trump has pledged to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero, deal depends on whether other parties secure Iran’s benefits means and mechanisms to react to the expected second unrestricted business in Iran and with Iranian partners.” to which Iranian officials have responded that they will from the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive wave in order to minimize losses from the U.S. sanctions. “Our collective will and ability to create conditions for try to sell as much oil as they can and protect banking Plan of Action (JCPOA). They, he said, need to find “elaborate measures to continue unimpeded exports of Iranian oil to external markets would cooperation with foreign countries. “Unfortunately, while Iran has effectively continued to economic cooperation in a guaranteed and reliable way so be of major importance,” he said. “That America says it will zero down Iran’s oil sale is cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency that economic operators could see alternatives to yielding The second wave of U.S. sanctions is due to kick in on baseless, although reduction in the oil sales is possible,” First (IAEA) with goodwill, we have not received our full bene- to the American dictation.” Nov. 4 and hit Iran’s exports of oil as well as the country’s Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri said in Tehran on Monday. fits as clarified under the JCPOA,” Gharib Abadi said, ISNA reported on Wednesday. He also said the IAEA has certified Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA for the 12th time, which clearly shows Iran’s Larijani: 3,000 to 4,000 centrifuges operating in Iran nuclear program is transparent. POLITICS TEHRAN — Iranian Ma- as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, knowledged the right and afterwards “When we agreed to the deal, we deskjlis Speaker Ali Larijani he emphasized, “The Islamic Republic of Iran negotiations began.” announced that our [nuclear related] reasserted on Wednesday that Iran is not had declared if they [world powers] approved Larijani noted that although Tehran had research would continue… at that time, Ambassador: pursuing nuclear weapons but it continues [Iran’s] right to enrichment, it would start the mastery of nuclear science, it agreed to 9,000 centrifuges were operating, now Consulate attack to preserve its right to uranium enrichment. negotiating with them.” start dialogue with Washington to alleviate the number is somewhere between 3,000 won’t affect Iran- Referring to 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known “The opposing side [ultimately] ac- pressure off Iranians. and 4,000.” Iraq ‘strategic’ ties EU to continue defending nuclear deal: Mogherini POLITICS TEHRAN — Iranian Ambassador in Bagh- By staff and agency tions start in November. desk dad Iraj Masjedi has said that the attack The European Union will continue to defend the 2015 Germany and France said on August 28 that they’re working against Iran’s consulate in Iraq’s Basra will not affect the nuclear deal, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on financing solutions to sidestep U.S. sanctions against coun- “strategic” and “friendly” relations between the two countries. said on Tuesday. tries such as Iran, including a possible role for central banks. Masjedi further said the incident will not affect com- During her speech at the plenary session of the European “With Germany, we are determined to work on an inde- mercial ties between the two neighbors, ISNA reported on Parliament on EU-U.S. relations, she said, “We continue pendent European or Franco-German financing tool which Wednesday, citing Radio Al-Mirbad. and we will continue to defend the nuclear deal with Iran, would allow us to avoid being the collateral victims of U.S. He also said those who set the Iranian consulate ablaze the Paris agreement on climate change, and to fund the extra-territorial sanctions,” French Finance Minister Bruno have nothing to do with Iraq and that the common enemies essential work of all the UN agencies, including UNRWA, Le Maire said during a meeting with press association AJEF. of Iran and Iraq are trying to weaken relations between the the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine “I want Europe to be a sovereign continent not a vassal, and two neighbors. Refugees in the Near East,” the EU website reported. that means having totally independent financing instruments “We Europeans continue to see multilateralism as the that do not today exist.” Tehran calls White best way to prevent chaos, conflicts and confrontations in sanctions against Iran. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also weighed in, a multi-polar world,” she noted. The first batch of sanctions was snapped back on August saying the EU is working to protect economic ties with Iran House statement U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from 6. The second batch will be restored on November 4. and keep payment channels open. Maas reiterated a proposal ‘provocative’ and the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehen- Europe is expected to present its practical package to to make international payments systems like SWIFT more sive Plan of Action, on May 8 and ordered restoration of preserve the JCPOA before the second round of U.S. sanc- independent of the U.S. ‘irresponsible’ POLITICS TEHRAN — Tehran on Wednesday de- desknounced as “astonishing, provocative and U.S. is in worst international situation, Rouhani says irresponsible” a White House statement blaming Iran for POLITICS TEHRAN — Except for a few number policies against Iran. Elsewhere, the president said that Iran is being in- the recent unrest in the Iraqi city of Basra, saying shifting deskof countries there is no country beside In its new defiance of multilateralism and objection to volved in an “economic war” with the Trump adminis- the blame onto others would not erase Washington’s “de- the U.S., President Hassan Rouhani of Iran said on rule of law, the U.S. has threatened sanctions against ICC tration and is facing officials in Washington who violate structive” role in Iraq. Wednesday, noting that Washington is in its worst if it goes ahead with prosecutions against Americans. On international law. In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram condition in the world. Monday, National Security Adviser John Bolton called On May 8, the U.S. president officially withdrew his Qassemi said the U.S. government’s meddlesome actions “Today, the U.S. is in worst international situation and the court “illegitimate”. country from the international nuclear deal, officially is the root cause of instability, unrest and tension in Iraq, even international organizations such as UNESCO, the Rouhani said, “Today, the U.S. allies do not stand known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and Tasnim reported. United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency beside it from the political point of view… this is happen- reinstituted sanctions against Iran. “That country’s policies toward Iraq have led to nothing and the International Criminal Court (ICC) do not agree ing while it was a time when they were proud of being Back in May, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said but insecurity and instability,” he said, adding that the recent with the U.S. policies,” Rouhani told a cabinet meeting. beside the U.S.” that Washington will apply economic and military pressure attack on Iran’s consulate in Basra is a result of Washington’s Only the tribal family ruling Saudi Arabia and Benjamin The president also noted that the internal situation in against Iran and will impose “the strongest sanctions in “short-sighted” support for extremist groups. Netanyahu of Israel have backed Donald Trump’s hostile the U.S. is totally different from the past. history” on the Islamic Republic. Ahmadinejad aides Iran seeking to bring peace to Syria: UN envoy sentenced to jail 1 Through their joint statement, they tween terrorists and the armed opposition sent clear messages. groups that had joined or would join the They reaffirmed their continued strong ceasefire regime. commitment to Syria’s sovereignty, inde- Another concrete message of the Tehran Summit is that the Syrian conflict could only POLITICS TEHRAN — Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei pendence, unity and territorial integrity. desk This is an inherent right of each State, and end through a negotiated political process. and Ali Akbar Javanfekr, two aides of former Against this backdrop, the Presidents President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have received prison Syria is no exception. It should be strictly respected by all. stressed the need for, and their resolve to sentences, the Judiciary announced on Wednesday. cooperate in, advancing a Syrian-led and Gholam Hossein Esmaili, head of Tehran Province’s Accordingly, they rejected all attempts to create new realities on the ground under the Syrian-owned political process. The right Judiciary, said Rahim Mashaei and Javanfekr have been to determine the future of Syria belongs handed down 5 and 4 years in prison respectively on pretext of combating terrorism. This explicit and clear-cut message needs to be heard. exclusively to Syrians. charges of conspiracy to commit crimes against national To that end, cooperation towards estab- security, Tasnim reported. As a victim of chemical weapons, Iran condemns, in the strongest possible terms, lishing and launching the work of the Con- Apart from receiving the 5-year prison term, Rahim Mashaei stitutional Committee is critical. has been given a one-year prison sentence for propaganda any use of such weapons by anyone, anytime and anywhere. At the same time, we warn Parallel to such efforts, conducive con- against the Islamic Republic and another six-month sentence ditions should be prepared for the safe and for contempt of court, he added. against any attempt to use force against Syria, including under the pretext of the alleged use voluntary return of all refugees and internally of such weapons by the Syrian Government. displaced persons. This will undoubtedly con- Solana: EU will At a time when Syria has destroyed all of tribute to the ceasefire and national dialogue have to bend to its chemical weapons under international and accelerate the reconciliation process. supervision, this is only a fabrication to use To that end, convening an international U.S. sanctions force against this country. Any such attempt As a victim of chemical weapons, Iran conference on Syrian refugees and internally would only further complicate the situation. condemns, in the strongest possible terms, displaced persons is important. against Iran Another clear and strong message of the While Syria is passing through a critical any use of such weapons by anyone, anytime stage in defeating terrorists and regaining POLITICS TEHRAN — Europe will have no choice Summit is that the Presidents are determined to its unity and territorial integrity, the inter- deskbut to comply with U.S. sanctions on Iran, continue cooperation to eliminate all terrorists. and anywhere. At the same time, we warn national community should stand firm in according to Javier Solana, a former NATO secretary gen- This means Daesh and Al-Nusra Front and all against any attempt to use force against Syria, breathing a new life into this country. eral and early advocate of the nuclear deal abandoned by other individuals, groups, undertakings and As the Islamic Republic of Iran supported President Donald Trump. entities associated with Al-Qaeda or Daesh, including under the pretext of the alleged use Syria to defeat terrorists, it will play a con- Solana, who was a long-time promoter of diplomacy with designated as terrorists by this Council. of such weapons by the Syrian government. structive role in bringing peace and prosperity Iran as the European Union’s foreign envoy, said that the This of course needs to be conducted by phenomenon. From this perspective, the hindered humanitarian access to all Syrians to this country. U.S.’s international financial clout means EU efforts to get preventing civilian casualties. That is why the fight against terrorism in Idlib is an integral in need was highlighted. In conclusion, with regard to the statement around sanctions are doomed to fail, Bloomberg reported. Presidents reaffirmed their determination part of the mission of restoring peace and Therefore, these would be guiding prin- of U.S. representative, I would like to make “I wish I could say yes,” Solana said when asked if Euro- to work towards protecting civilians. stability to Syria, but this combat must not ciples with respect to the ongoing efforts to it clear that the U.S. military presence and pean moves to circumvent sanctions will succeed. Rather, As President Rouhani stressed in the hurt the civilians. combat terrorists in Idlib. operation in Syria is an act of aggression the U.S. Treasury’s ability to sanction transactions carried Tehran Summit, combatting terrorism re- Likewise, improving the humanitarian Precisely for this reason, they underlined and thus against the UN Charter and must out in dollars effectively kills those plans, he added. quires a comprehensive approach by taking into account all aspects of this unpleasant situation via facilitating rapid, safe and un- the utmost importance of the separation be- come to an end. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 INTERNATIONAL Riyadh’s failure in achieving Yemen Bahrain’s Sheikh Qassim Attends Religious Ceremony campaign objectives in London The ongoing aggression by the Saudi-led dah has not materialized as a lightning or coalition has devastated Yemen, one of the “golden” victory as the Saudi-led coalition poorest countries in the Middle East. The war had promised. is estimated to have cost the Saudis upwards Despite these very early setbacks, the Sau- of $100 billion, eroded the international image dis and their allies continue to plow ahead of the kingdom and failed to achieve any of blindly and stubbornly. The coalition is not its objectives. meaningfully closer to achieving its goals In March 2015, Saudi Arabia and a coalition than it was three years ago, and they likely of its regional allies, mainly the United Arab never will be. Emirates and Jordan, started a war against International human rights groups say Yemen with the declared aim of crushing Saudi Arabia has committed war crimes by the Houthi Ansarullah movement, who had using unconventional weapons, conducting taken over from the staunch Riyadh ally and hundreds of airstrikes on residential areas former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, and targeting civilian targets across Yemen. while also seeking to secure the Saudi bor- Human Rights Watch says a so-called in- der with its southern neighbor. More than vestigatory body, overseen by Saudi Arabia, three years later and over 15,000 dead and has been covering up war crimes committed thousands more injured, the war has yielded by the kingdom in Yemen. little to that effect. In the latest act of aggression, an attack At the onset of the war, the Saudi king by Saudi Arabia killed 40 children aged from and his heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin six to 11 who were being taken on a school Salman, were confident that their clear mil- trip. Eleven adults also died. Local author- itary advantage would provide for an easy ities said that 79 people were wounded, 56 Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s Shia ma- victory, which would in turn cement Riyadh’s At the same time, the people of Yemen ships to assist Riyadh. of them children. jority who has recently undergone a “successful” operation at position as a formidable force in the region. have suffered immensely from the U.S.- And in some instances, even those Arab According to reports based on analysis a London hospital, attended a religious mourning ceremony in In its campaign against Yemen, Saudi backed Saudi campaign, which has killed states that agreed to participate in the Sau- of the debris, the bomb dropped on a school the British capital. Arabia enjoys intelligence and logistical thousands of Yemeni civilians, destroyed di-led campaign developed conflicts of in- bus in Yemen by a Saudi-led coalition war- Videos emerging on social media showed that Sheikh Qassim aid from the Americans, and has the fourth the country’s infrastructure, and has cre- terest with Riyadh over the course of the plane was sold to Riyadh by the U.S. The attends a mourning ceremony held to commemorate the mar- largest security budget in the world as well ated the conditions for the world’s worst fighting. For example, the Saudis and the weapon used was a 227-kg laser-guided bomb tyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia imam. as advanced weaponry at its disposal. cholera epidemic. Emirates are backing forces that are at odds made by Lockheed Martin, one of many thou- Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency last Wednesday, Sheikh Yet, the kingdom is finding it difficult The war in Yemen has also exposed the over the future of Yemen and this created sands sold to Saudi Arabia as part of billions Qassim’s representative in Iran Sheikh Abdullah al-Daqqaq said to defeat a determined Yemeni army and tenuous nature of Saudi Arabia’s relationships friction that has at times erupted into violence of dollars of weapons exports. the top cleric was recently discharged from the hospital after a resistance groups such as Ansarullah. In with its so-called principal allies. between local actors. Saudi Arabia is the biggest single customer “successful” operation in London. fact, in addition to holding on to the Yemeni The Saudis expected Pakistan and Egypt Some terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda in for both American and British arms industries. Sheikh Qassim will have to stay in London for at least one capital, Sana’a, and other key areas, Yemeni to offer up cannon fodder to fight their war, Yemen have grown in weapons and number The US also supports the Saudi-led coalition more month as part of his convalescence, he said, adding that army forces, supported by allied fighters from but both governments wisely demurred from since the start of the Saudi campaign nearly with refueling and intelligence. this period could stretch to six months. Popular Committees have fired over hun- participation in the ground war. Pakistan four years ago. The United States, Britain, France and According to Daqqaq, the senior cleric will go back to Bahrain dreds of missiles deep into Saudi territory declared its neutrality in the conflict. Egypt’s But the persistence and resistance of An- some other Western countries have chosen after his medical treatment ends. and have captured over one hundred square government remembered the bitter fruits of sarullah is a clear indicator that the Yemeni the most indefensible side of the Saudi re- In July, the Bahraini regime after months of foreign and do- miles within the kingdom. its previous quagmire in Yemen in the 1960s people are still not intimidated by the Saudi gime, trying to reimpose a discredited ad- mestic pressures, finally allowed Sheikh Qassim to travel to the In addition to that, the war has made both and made sure not to repeat that mistake. regime and its backers. They still control ministration of Hadi at the expense of the United Kingdom for medical care. Saudi Arabia and the UAE less secure than Instead, Cairo sent a small contingent of Sana’a and other major cities. The coalition’s civilian population. In May 2017, a Bahraini court convicted Sheikh Qassim of they were before. several hundred soldiers and three to four campaign to seize the major port of Huday- (Source: Press TV) illegal collection of funds and money laundering and sentenced him to one year in jail suspended for three years. It also ordered him to pay $265,266 in fines in a ruling which sparked widespread demonstrations across the kingdom. The cleric has strongly re- Juncker calls on EU to flex global muscle as U.S. retreats jected the allegations. The European Union should flex its potential strength as a obligations. Bahraini authorities stripped the cleric of his citizenship on world power as the United States under President Donald He also announced the launch of a new trade relationship June 20, 2016. They later dissolved the Islamic Enlightenment Trump pulls back from international engagement, EU chief with Africa. “Africa does not need charity, but a true and Institution founded by him as well as the opposition al-Risala executive Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday. balanced partnership,” he said, proposing a new alliance Islamic Association. In his annual State of the Union address to the Europe- that would create 10 million jobs in Africa over five years Sheikh Qassim, also the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s main an Parliament in Strasbourg, the European Commission and help African students and researches go on exchange Shia opposition group, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, president said that when united, the EU was a force to be programs in Europe. has been an outspoken critic of the Manama regime’s policies. reckoned with. Juncker also proposed beefing up Europe’s defences against His home village of Diraz has been under what human rights “Whenever Europe speaks as one, we can impose our poor Africans heading north by creating a fully Brussels-run activists have called a continuous police blockade since the In- position on others,” Juncker said. European Border and Coast Guard with a full-time strength terior Ministry leveled accusations against the prominent cleric With the EU still wounded by Britain’s imminent with- of 10,000 to help keep back economic migrants whose arrival and revoked his citizenship. drawal, rising nationalism elsewhere and feuding over im- has fuelled anti-EU nationalism. Sheikh Qassim is one of the hundreds of people stripped of migration and democratic values with right-wing eastern Worries over how far hostile parties within and outside Bahraini citizenship since 2012. leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Juncker insisted the the European Union might try to manipulate the EU elec- (Source: Tasnim) bloc was more united than it might seem and could use that ton’s role as the global economic leader, Juncker also said tions also lie behind a proposal to impose fines on politicians to shape the world to its tastes. the euro should be better promoted as a world currency, caught cheating on data protection rules and to beef up As he begins a final year in office that will see Europeans querying why EU energy imports, for example, are mostly oversight of campaigning. elect a new EU legislature in May, the veteran former pre- priced in dollars when almost none of them come from the Juncker’s legislative proposals will face scrutiny in Par- Much in return for nothing: mier of Luxembourg noted his successful bid to talk Trump United States. liament and from member states, with some of the latter out of an immediate tariff war in July and highlighted new The Commission wants to complete an EU trade pact wary of a plan to scrap their veto over some areas of foreign Putin slams U.S. over North interest from China in working with Brussels to keep world with Japan by May, one of several deals that is consolidating policy in an effort to give the EU a nimbler actor in global trade flowing free. the EU at the heart of a web of global agreements on stand- diplomacy. Korea Pointing to questions in many countries over Washing- ards as Trump has turned Washington against multilateral (Source: Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the United States for not taking a single step in response to North Korea’s sever- Pakistan’s jailed former PM released on parole for wife’s funeral al moves toward denuclearization, saying Washington instead continues to make “endless demands” from Pyongyang. Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister She was diagnosed with lymphoma in Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia’s Far Nawaz Sharif and his daughter have been August last year and had been receiving Eastern port city of Vladivosto on Wednesday, President Putin temporarily released on parole for the funeral treatment at a private hospital in London said North Korea, in return for taking a lot of steps toward denu- of his wife, government and party sources for months. Sharif was ousted from his third clearization, “expects reciprocal steps and not endless demands said Wednesday. premiership by the Supreme Court a month for full disarmament.” Kulsoom Nawaz died of cancer in London before his wife’s diagnosis. “Clearly, it is waiting for some sort of signal in response,” the on Tuesday, two months after her husband Conspiracy theories claiming that Nawaz Russian president said. and daughter returned to Pakistan and were was actually healthy, and that the Sharifs were He said it was important that North Korea receive security immediately jailed for corruption. faking her illness to gain sympathy, swirled guarantees, referring to the guarantees promised by U.S. Presi- Sharif had travelled home in a bid to ral- in the final weeks of Pakistan’s acrimonious dent Donald Trump to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un when ly support for his Pakistan Muslim League- election campaign. the two agreed to work toward denuclearization of the Korean Nawaz (PML-N) party days before a bitterly Sharif had been banned from contesting Peninsula at a summit in Singapore back in June. fought general election. the poll but maintained control over his party Pyongyang suspended its nuclear and missile tests even before Handout pictures released by PML-N on through his brother. His return was seen as a that summit, has dismantled a nuclear site, and has returned Wednesday showed Sharif and his daughter failed gamble to salvage his political legacy. the remains of U.S. soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War Maryam aboard a plane after their release late He has engaged in a war of words with to America. This is while the international sanctions against Tuesday and arriving in the city of Lahore, Pakistan’s military establishment since his Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs continue to where the former first lady’s funeral will be dismissal last year, accusing the military of remain in place. held. The pair “have initially been released for engineering his fall from power, curbing de- The U.S., which has been the main sponsor of the international 12 hours to attend the funeral but the release mocracy and fostering links with militants. sanctions, says the bans will remain in place against Pyongyang can be extended by the home department”, New Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former until its complete denuclearization. It has also made no reciprocal an official at Rawalpindi central jail told AFP. cricket hero who had campaigned against the move toward North Korea. Local media reported the funeral would Sharifs for his entire 22-year political career, Partially because of that failure by the U.S., follow-on diplo- be held on Friday, with their parole likely to Sharif’s wife Nawaz, 68, had been at her sent his condolences Tuesday. political career, which saw him elected prime macy between Washington and Pyongyang has stalled. last until after the service concluded. husband’s side throughout his decades-long (Source: AFP) minister of Pakistan three times. Kim can visit Russia anytime Putin said on Wednesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could visit Russia at any time that was convenient for him. HRW calls on Saudi to ‘immediately’ release cleric Putin’s comments came days after the Kremlin said it had Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed concern over HRW condemned the charges as “vague” and said the Riyadh to let the U.S. military into Saudi Arabia in order to sent Kim Jong Un a letter of invitation to visit Russia. Saudi Arabia’s continued detention of a top cleric because ongoing crackdown by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman prevent a potential attack by Iraq. Japan’s PM wants to meet Kim of his political views, urging the Riyadh regime to “imme- against dissidents and anti-regime activists will only hurt He has been an advocate of greater democracy and social The event in Russia was also attended by Japanese Prime diately” release him. Riyadh’s ambitious economic plans. tolerance since 2011. Minister Shinzo Abe, who said he would like to meet Kim. Saudi authorities detained top Sunni preacher Salman “At a time when Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic plans In January, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for “I too must break the shell of mutual distrust, take a step for- al-Awda on September 7 last year, and have held him in such as the Aramco IPO are stalling out, the crown prince’s Human Rights called for Awda’s release, describing him as ward, and ultimately meet with Chairman Kim Jong-un,” he said. solitary confinement without trial ever since. prosecutors are investing in threatening clerics and women’s “an influential religious figure.” “At present, nothing has been decided regarding a Japan-North HRW said Wednesday that, according to family members, rights activists with execution,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Court documents viewed by HRW stated that the cleric Korea summit meeting, but if we are going to have one, then I am the 61-year-old cleric had finally been allowed to contact a Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. was accused of expressing “public solidarity with impris- resolved, it must be a meeting that contributes to the resolution of lawyer for his first ever hearing on September 3. “Unless Saudi Arabia has evidence that al-Awda com- oned dissidents, opposing the Saudi-led isolation of Qatar the abductions issue,” referring to a point of contention between At the hearing, prosecutors brought 37 charges against mitted a recognizable crime the authorities should release in mid-2017, and alleged ties to the Qatari government.” Tokyo and Pyongyang that remains unresolved. Awda, mostly connected to his alleged ties with the Muslim him immediately.” He is also charged with publicly opposing the Sau- Abe had had early reservations about talks with North Korea Brotherhood and the Qatari government, and his public Aeda was among the first of scores of people detained by di regime’s hosting of former Tunisian president Zain and was always pushing for more pressure on Pyongyang to halt support for imprisoned dissidents, according to HRW. They government forces in mid-September 2017, months after al-Abedin Bin Ali, “mocking governmental achievements,” its nuclear and missile programs first. also requested the death penalty. MBS rose to power. and “offending patriotism and loyalty to the government The North had earlier flown at least one projectile over Jap- Saudi Arabia blacklisted the Muslim Brotherhood as a The cleric was a prominent member of the Sahwa Move- and the country.” anese airspace in one missile test. terrorist organization in March 2014. ment in the early 1990s, which opposed the decision by (Source: press TV) (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

STOCK MARKET Petchem TEDPIX 155061.1 IFX 1771.25 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir companies inject CURRENCIES $4b to secondary USD 42,000 rials EUR 48,689 rials GBP 54,645 rials forex market AED 11,437 rials ECONOMY TEHRAN — Since the According to the announcement of the desk Source: mehrnews.com beginning of the present Public Relations Office of Iranian Oil Ministry Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2018), all the foreign currency earned from exports petrochemical companies have entered $4 of petrochemical companies’ products has billion of foreign currency to the country, been regularly pumped into the Forex Man- general Secretory of Iran’s Association of agement Integrated System, locally known COMMODITIES Petrochemical Industry Corporation (APIC) as NIMA, in a bid to address the country’s WTI $69.98/b told IRIB on Wednesday. currency needs. “During the past month, petrochemical NIMA, which seeks to boost transparency, foreign currency without specific problems inaugurated in early July to allow exporters Brent $79.36/b companies have supplied 73 percent of the create competitiveness among exchange shops and for exporters to re-inject their earned of non-oil commodities to sell their foreign OPEC Basket $75.20/b required foreign currency of the secondary and a secure environment for traders, is a new foreign currency to domestic forex market. currency earnings to importers of consumer forex market,” Ahmad Mahdavi Abhari said. chance for importers to supply their required Secondary foreign exchange market was products. Gold $1,193.90/oz Silver $14.14/oz Platinium $790.85/oz Tax revenues exceed $8.5b in 4 months ECONOMY TEHRAN — The Based on the latest data released by the Administration Kamel Taqavinejad, the Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com deskIranian National Tax Central Bank of Iran (CBI), the country’s share of tax revenues in Iran’s gross domestic Administration (INTA) collected 360 tax income rose 14.1 percent during the product (GDP) has reached eight percent. NEWS IN BRIEF trillion rials (about $8.57 billion) in tax last Iranian calendar year (March 2017- As planned, the figure should reach 11 during the first four months of the current March 2018) to reach 1.15 quadrillion rials percent by the end of the country’s Six Iranian year (March 21-July 22, 2018). (about $27.3 billion). Five-Year National Development Plan Tehran hosting According to INTA’s deputy head, Iranian government earns budget from (March 2021). intl. farming, Nader Jannati, the target figure for the various sources including the revenues and President Hassan Rouhani’s economic tax revenue during the mentioned period offering capital assets and divesting financial strategy is to significantly reduce the gardening was 470 trillion rials but INTA couldn’t assets to the private sector, the report said. government’s dependency on oil and exhibition reach that goal. According to Head of National Tax instead collect tax more systematically.

ECONOMY TEHRAN – Tehran is hosting the 2nd Inter- Oil hovers near $80 a barrel as concern grows over global supply desknational Exhibition of Farming & Gardening, Machinery & Tools and Irrigation, Livestock & Poultry, Inputs Oil eased on Wednesday, having neared its highest level supportive of crude prices, at least at current levels,” Institute (API) said on Tuesday, while the U.S. Energy and Systems & Related Services & Industries (Atmak-Ifarm this year after a drop in U.S. crude inventories and the said Gordon Gray, HSBC’s global head of oil and gas Information Administration (EIA) cut its forecast for 2018) which kicked off on Wednesday at Shahr-e-Aftab Tehran prospect of the loss of Iranian supply added to concerns equity research. U.S. crude output growth in 2019. International Exhibition Center. over the delicate balance between consumption and “While we aren’t explicitly forecasting Brent to rise Outside the United States, traders have been focus- This four-day exhibition is aiming to introduce the latest production. to $100 a barrel, we see real risks of this happening. The ing on the impact of U.S. sanctions against Iran that will modern agricultural technologies to the visitors, along with Brent crude futures were last down 23 cents on the fact that much higher supply is already needed from the target oil exports from November. holding specialized seminars and showcasing new irrigation day at $78.83 a barrel by 0923 GMT, having touched a likes of Saudi Arabia - and the low levels of spare capacity “Iran is increasingly becoming the preoccupation of technologies. session peak of $79.66, the highest since late May, when remaining - leave the global system highly vulnerable to the crude market. The last couple of weeks have seen the the price broke above $80. any further significant outage.” expected squeeze on Iranian crude flows taking shape, U.S. crude futures were up 35 cents at $69.60 a barrel. U.S. crude stocks fell by 8.6 million barrels in the with overall outflows down markedly,” consultant JBC Big jump “We think oil market fundamentals are increasingly week to Sept. 7 to 395.9 million, the American Petroleum Energy said. (Source: Reuters) of TEDPIX in a day French and German advisers call for Eurozone budget rule overhaul France and Germany’s top economic advisers 3 percent of gross domestic product. But have issued simultaneous calls for an overhaul they also call for a simpler system focused ECONOMY TEHRAN — Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE)’s of Eurozone budget rules that they say are on government expenditure levels and debt deskmain index (TEDPIX) jumped 6,483 points to unenforceable and may have worsened the targets. end Wednesday trade at 155,061, Tasnim news agency reported. sovereign debt crisis. Specifically they call for more focus on As reported, 3.369 billion shares worth 11.39 trillion rials In a rare moment of unity, official bodies nominal public expenditure, a measure of (about $271 million) were traded through 219,000 deals in from both countries are both urging revisions state spending that does not include factors the stock market. of the rules on national debt and deficits that that governments cannot control, such as Also, IFX, the main index of Iran’s over-the-counter (OTC) have divided Eurozone countries since the debt repayments. market known also as Iran Fara Bourse (IFB), rose 75 points to creation of the single currency. Such an approach would not penalize 1,771 on Wednesday, as 1.112 billion securities worth 8.76 trillion This week’s reports, from the French governments for spending increases — for rials (about $208.5 million) were traded through 108,000 deals. and German councils of economic advisers, example on unemployment benefits — that The rising trend of TEDPIX began on June 13, which was argue that the budget rules are riddled with inevitably occur in a crisis. named ‘Golden Wednesday of Stock Market’, when TEDPIX exemptions, poorly adapted to crisis-fighting The Eurozone’s budget rules have been gained 2,767 points to stand at 99.146 points. and so complex that even experts cannot repeatedly revised since they were drawn Then on June 17, players in Iran’s capital market witnessed work out whether countries are compliant. up in the 1990s in preparation for the single a historical record in growth of TEDPIX which gained 3,306 A paper from the French Council currency, each time becoming more complex. points to hit 102,452 points, something unprecedented in the of Economic Analysis, delivered to the Many of the changes were the subject of 50-year history of the country’s stock market. government this week, said that the rules The economists’ intervention also increases than previous iterations, but that “they have difficult negotiations during the euro area were responsible for “excessive fiscal austerity pressure on governments to address problems also become highly complex, making their debt crisis, as Germany and others insisted during the crisis therefore contributing to many finance ministers have acknowledged implementation more challenging and less on a toughening of the rules in exchange for prolonging its economic, social and political but which few have sought to address, out of transparent.” the creation of European-level bailout funds. Iran to store oil in fleet of consequences”. concern that doing so would mean unpicking “This is an issue that sooner or later will The rules underpin a whole system of Governments have battled with the delicate compromises reached during the need to be addressed”, he said. economic surveillance, centered on the supertankers European Commission for years over how crisis years. Both the French paper and the parallel European Commission, which monitors strictly to apply the Eurozone’s debt and Pierre Moscovici, the EU’s report from the German Council of Economic compliance and can in theory propose Iran is starting to store oil on its fleet of supertankers again as deficit rules and Brussels is gearing up for economy commissioner, said last week that the Experts suggest maintaining basic rules in sanctions for rule breaches, although none impending U.S. sanctions force the Persian Gulf country to revive a fight with Italy’s Eurosceptic government current rules were “more flexible and better the EU’s treaties, such as the requirement have ever been handed down. a strategy it deployed under previous curbs. over its first budget, due in coming weeks. able to support investment and reforms” for governments to keep their deficits below (Source: Financial Times) “We can expect floating storage to increase under the growing impact of U.S. sanctions in the coming months,” Harry Tchilin- guirian, head of commodity-markets strategy at BNP Paribas SA, said from London. Chinese experts call for more deleveraging funding So far, most of the ships in question - all of which are Iranian A key measure to reduce the corporate debt Financial Asset Investment Company, an owned - have only been holding crude at sea for a few weeks, burden is expected to see further progress agency conducting debt-to-equity swaps, rather than for months at a time as they did during 2012-2016 in the coming months, with experts and saw 31 million yuan in profit in the first sanctions, tanker tracking compiled by Bloomberg show. business leaders calling for even more half of this year. Trump is trying to cut off Iran’s oil exports to deprive the third- funding to facilitate deleveraging moves Starting from July 5, the central bank biggest member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries of debt-laden companies, in particular lowered the reserve requirement ratio for of income. In May, he pulled out of a 2015 pact that eased sanctions State-owned enterprises. commercial lenders by 0.5 percentage point, in return for Iran slowing its nuclear program, describing the deal Financial regulators will undertake more freeing up about 500 billion yuan specifically as “rotten to its core”. (Source: Bloomberg) supportive measures to overcome obstacles earmarked for the debt-to-equity program. that have hampered debt-reduction The funding support by the central programs, and heavily indebted State- bank has helped solve financial shortages Gold falls on technical resistance, owned enterprises will be the key target on a large scale, said a manager with a for deleveraging, according to a leading leading implementing agency under a U.S.-China trade war fears expert on financial regulatory matters, commercial bank, who declined to be who declined to be named. identified. “But more financing is needed Gold prices edged lower on Wednesday as a key technical resist- China’s debt-to-equity swap initiative has to fill the gap, considering the fact that ance acted as a deterrent for the metal and the yuan weakened appeared to gather pace in recent months, debt-laden companies are mainly large against the dollar on fears the U.S.-China trade war could escalate. supported by a slew of preferential measures State-owned enterprises in troubled Spot gold was down 0.3 percent at $1,194.08 an ounce at 0406 to promote such programs. They aim to industries (that serve as the backbone GMT, after hitting its lowest since Aug. 24 at $1,187.21 on Tuesday. help lower debt burdens of enterprises by expected to put greater emphasis on curbing implementing the programs in order to of the economy).” U.S. gold futures were down 0.3 percent at $1,198.90 an ounce. converting corporate debts into equities unregulated borrowing by struggling State- allow room for market-based deals. According to the National Development “There is some selling pressure on the renminbi, which is af- to be owned by entities established by the owned enterprises,” the expert said. China’s corporate debt is equivalent and Reform Commission, a total of 1.73 fecting gold. Also, people are reluctant to buy as $1,200 is acting nation’s major banks and private capital. Unlike swap programs launched in the to 160 percent of the country’s GDP, said trillion yuan in swap deals were signed as a strong resistance,” said Ronald Leung, chief dealer at Lee Debt-to-equity swaps involve 1990s, this round of programs that began Huang Qifan, deputy head of the National between banks and companies, but only Cheong Gold Dealers, Hong Kong. transactions in which a company’s in 2016 is more market-oriented, thanks People’s Congress Financial and Economic around 20 percent had been funded. Verbal sparring between Washington and Beijing continued obligations or debts are exchanged for to the updated regulatory philosophy of Affairs Committee, in June. That means “As many debt-to-equity swaps are high- on Tuesday, unnerving investors over the months-long escalation equity, generally meaning shares in the the authorities, analysts said. the scale of debt to be converted would be yield, high-risk investments, independent in trade tensions between the world›s two biggest economies. case of a listed company. That means the government does not colossal even if a small proportion of the market players might lack incentives,” said The trade conflict has prompted investors to buy the U.S. Through the programs, debt-burdened intervene in swap programs, and the debt is included in the program. David Yin, an analyst with Moody’s Investors dollar in the belief that the United States has less to lose from the companies will have their debt levels conversion prices should be negotiated Subsidiaries of creditor banks have Service, adding that a clear exit scheme dispute. This has also weakened the yuan, making gold expensive reduced while banks can improve their by banks, debtors and implementing made some profits in the first half of this and more financial support are needed in the world›s biggest consumer, China. asset quality. agencies. And the authorities do not set year, indicating progress has been made. to facilitate the programs. (Source: Reuters) “The next round of deleveraging efforts is strict timelines or specific targets for For instance, the China Construction Bank (Source: China Daily) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 ADVERTISEMENT 5 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 NEWS IN BRIEF ‘U.S. focus in South Asia gradually For India, U.S. oil no substitute for Iranian shifting from Pakistan to India’ barrels By: Syed Zafar Mehdi TEHRAN — In an indication that New INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — After the recent turn of events, deskDelhi is likely to continue oil trade with regional alliances have changed and a para- Iran, despite the U.S. pressure, a report in an Indian news- digm shift has been witnessed in the foreign paper said that India will be looking at the economics, and policy priorities of countries in South Asia. not the politics of it. The U.S. has lost an important ally and is Quoting a senior government official, the report in Busi- now wooing another regional bulwark for nessLine said Indian imports of American oil should not be a potential ‘marriage of inconvenience’. seen as a replacement for Iranian barrels. According to a report in China’s state- Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who run newspaper Global Times, which is often held talks with Indian officials during the inaugural 2+2 seen as a reflection of Beijing’s official stand, dialogue, among other things said that the U.S. would con- U.S. focus in South Asia is gradually shifting sider waivers “where appropriate”, but reiterated that the from Pakistan to India, with latter making Washington expects to have Iranian oil exports to ‘zero.’ no secret of its reluctance to continue to be India is Iran’s second-largest single oil customer and the subservient to the U.S. interests. popular opinion in the country’s intelligentsia and media In an article titled ‘US tilts toward India circles is heavily in favor of continued oil trade with Tehran. in shifting South Asia policy’, the Chinese The rising oil prices and the weakening Indian currency, daily stated that Pakistan can no longer at a time when the oil demand is growing, has put policy enjoy a special status (in U.S.) as it did makers in India in a difficult situation. According to sources, during the war on terrorism, whereas In- the top Indian officials communicated these concerns to the dia, sharing common anxieties with the visiting U.S. delegation last week and made it clear that India U.S. against a rising China, assumes new won’t be able to bring the oil imports from Iran to ‘zero’. importance for the US. The report in BusinessLine, quoting a senior Indian gov- The report cited the Communications ernment official, said India has communicated its stand on Compatibility and Security Agreement the U.S. sanctions on Iran to the U.S. officials. (COMCASA) signed between New Delhi and Washington last week during the inaugural Iran, India, Indo-US 2+2 dialogue, and suspension of anti-terrorism aid to Pakistan, to assert that Afghanistan the U.S. was desperately trying to woo New imity between Pakistan and China has not the International Monetary Fund (IMF), coordinate on a compatible network just hold trilateral Delhi, after the break-up with Islamabad. gone down well with Washington, especially expressing apprehension that the money like the US and its closest allies do.” In recent months, the U.S. and Pakistan with the progress on the China-Pakistan will end up in Beijing. What has complicated the matter fur- talks have slowly drifted away, after President Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. China’s “It seems that the U.S.’ South Asia policy ther is the new-government in Islamabad Donald Trump’s hyperbolic tweet on the foreign minister during his three-day visit has witnessed significant developments in headed by Imran Khan, who has tradition- INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Taking their partnership to New Year, in which he accused Pakistan of to Islamabad last week underscored the the past few weeks. On the one hand Wash- ally been a fierce critic of U.S. South Asia desk the next level, India, Iran and Afghanistan ‘lies and deceit’. It was followed by the an- significance of CPEC and conveyed the desire ington announced it would suspend $300 policy. Since assuming power, he has made held their first tripartite meeting on Tuesday in Kabul dur- nouncement that the Pentagon will cancel of Chinese government to further enhance million in military assistance to Pakistan no effort to reach out to Washington, but ing which implementation of the strategic Chabahar port military aid to Islamabad. the strategic partnership between the two and named Zalmay Khalilzad, a long-time has expressed his strong desire to improve project and a host of other issues were discussed, according Stung by these unsavory developments, neighbors and allies. critic of Pakistan, as a special envoy to Af- ties with regional countries, including Iran. to reports. Islamabad responded maturely, while con- These developments have raised eyebrows ghanistan,” the newspaper said. “On the His government’s backing of the Iranian The Iranian team was headed by deputy foreign min- tinuing to forge stronger ties with China in Washington. U.S. has even threatened to other Washington signed with New Delhi nuclear deal has also ruffled feathers in the ister Abbas Araghchi, while the Indian delegation was led – its new all-weather ally. block any move from Islamabad, which is a long-due major military communications power corridors of Washington, who see it by foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale. Afghan deputy foreign According to experts, the growing prox- facing an economic crisis, to get bailout from agreement which allows them to closely as a direct snub. minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai chaired the meeting. “The meeting focused on consolidating economic coopera- tion, including Chabahar, as well as enhancing cooperation on counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, and continuing To tackle water scarcity, Pakistanis support to the peace and reconciliation process that is led and owned by Afghanistan,” the three participating countries said in a joint-statement. The Chabahar port in Sistan-Baluchistan province of Iran crowdsourcing a mammoth dam project is being considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by the three countries with central Asian countries. 1 Among the celebrities who have contributed to Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dams. I may supervise dam The joint statement added that the three parties had agreed the project so far include the eminent singer Atif Aslam project myself, given the urgency. 45 MAF (Million Acre-Feet) to hold the next round of consultation at an appropriate (2.5 million PKR), prominent journalist Hamid Mir (1 mil- is total water outflow of Pak, of which 80% is in 3 months time in India next year. lion PKR), and former musician Salman Ahmad (100,000 and only 20% in rest of 9 months,” he wrote. USD). The directors of GNN Zulqarnain Nawaz Chattha However, there has been criticism also from some quar- Pakistan, and Zubair Nawaz Chattha have pledged 5 crore for the ters. In an article on Samaa TV website, Farooq Baloch wrote cause, Mir informed. that at this rate, PM Khan will take 120 years to fund the China Pakistan’s military has also contributed to the cause. project. “He will need more than overseas Pakistanis to get renegotiate terms Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday called on the the Rs 1,450 billion needed. So far, just Rs 2 billion has been Chief Justice of Pakistan and presented a cheque of 1 billion collected since the fund was created by the chief justice on of CPEC PKR, Pakistani media reported. July 6. That is 0.1% of the target,” he wrote. There have been reports about the U.S.-based Pakistani Some critics have said that crowdsourcing a gigantic INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Pakistan and China have desk businessman and philanthropist Shahid Khan donating 1 infrastructure project like dams is not how governments reached an important consensus to re- billion USD towards the fund. However, the owner of Fulham are run. Some have asked the PM sell his plush Bani Gala negotiate terms of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Football Club has not given any confirmation yet. mansion to fund the project. Others have suggested that he (CPEC) and accelerate the gargantuan project. PM Khan took to Twitter to give an update on the issue: get back the “$200 billion” black money stashed away in The decision was taken during the Chinese Foreign Min- “Met Chairman WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) today and emphasized urgency of building the Swiss banks to pump into the project. ister Wang Yi’s visit to Islamabad last week. According to reports, the discussions between him and Pakistani officials including Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Foreign Minister Why Muharram commemorations haven’t Shah Mehmood Qureshi were dominated by the CPEC. The statement came after the newly-elected government in Islamabad successfully convinced the Chinese delegation led by FM Wang to renegotiate terms of the economic cor- lost their significance ridor, according to reports in Pakistani media. “The new leadership feels that the terms agreed by the 1 “We are the household of the Holy truth shines bright. The soul-stirring elegies previous government were heavily tilted in China’s favor and Prophet, the core of His message, the place and hymns recited in Muharram gatherings they want to review that,” a government official was quoted where angels descend to, and the place of remind us of the cruelty of Yazid and patience saying by Asia Times. “The concerns were shared with Mr mercy. Allah brought victory through us and of Husain (as). They speak of the unyielding Wang Yi and his team, and the new plans are under discus- will conclude by us, while Yazid is a corrupt stand taken by Husain (as) and give a sense sion, which would be acceptable to both parties.” man who consumes alcohol, kills the inno- of hope and purpose to those who believe in According to reports, Islamabad also expressed its de- cent, and openly disobeys God. A person like the righteousness of their cause. sire to renegotiate the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with me cannot give the pledge of allegiance to a These commemorations help us reorganize Beijing, Phase II of which has been under negotiation for person like him,” Hussain (as) said. our life around the principles exemplified by the past six years. Despite all overt and covert pressure Husain (as) and his followers in Karbala. That tactics; the beloved grandson of the Holy is precisely why these processions, which are New UNHRC Prophet (pbuh) refused to yield, thus oblig- completely peaceful in nature, come under ing the command of his Creator, who says in attack in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and head calls Surah Munafiqun that “the might belongs Pakistan. The attackers belong to the cult only to Allah and to His Apostle and to the of Yazid and they see these annual com- for action on believers”. memorations as defiance to their cruelty Kashmir report Hussain (as) did not seek confrontation and aggression. or conflict. He was forced out of Madina and Every revolution, Dr. Ali Shariati says, INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — In her first address to the Mecca simply because he refused to recognize has two visages: blood and the message. deskUnited Nations Human Rights Council, an alcoholic ruler as the ‘leader of the faithful’. Husain (as) and his companions under- the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle He asked his noble companions like Burayr took the mission of blood. The second and Bachelet urged India and Pakistan to take meaningful ac- ibn Khudayr, Habib ibn Muzahir, Zuhair ibn inspiration from Karbala and single-mindedly first held by Imam Husain’s sister Sayyeda equally important mission is to carry the tion on addressing issues highlighted in the UN report on Qain and Muslim ibn Awsaja to liberate people resist the forces that terrorize, intimidate, Zainab (sa) and his son Imam Zainul Abideen message of this blood to future generations. human rights violations in Kashmir. from their self-inflicted misery. He even ad- humiliate and kill. (as). Zainab (SA) – who came to be known We, the campaigners of truth and justice, A statement issued by the new UNHRC chief and the dressed his opponents and reminded them of These forces have existed since the time as Fasihah (skillfully fluent) and Balighah have been entrusted with the task that was former Chilean president, who succeeded Zeid Raad al Hus- their religion and the position of their Prophet of Prophet Adam, as noted by the celebrated (intensely eloquent) – played a significant first carried out by Zainab (sa) after the sain this month, said the people of Kashmir had the same (pbuh). He then raised a call, an immortal Iranian scholar Dr. Ali Shariati. “Our history, role in the aftermath of Karbala. battle of Karbala. rights to justice and dignity as people all over the world and call. “Is there anyone to come to our rescue? starting from Habil and Ghabil, is the mani- Dr. Ali Shariati pays her a beautiful tribute. The 20 million people who marched by urged authorities in both India and Pakistan to respect them. Is there any helper to help us?” festation of the eternal conflict between the “She accomplished her mission thoroughly, foot from Najaf to Karbala on Arbaeen (the In his report to the UN Human Rights Council in June, It is a universal call that resonates even two poles of God and Satan, though in each perfectly and fairly. She expressed with words fortieth day after Ashura) last year, beating Bachelet’s predecessor Zeid Hussain had sought an “establish- today. In Ziyarat e Imam Hussain (as), we period of time these two poles have disguised the truth that Hussein expressed with blood… the heat and ISIS threats, bore testimony ment of a commission of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive say: “wish we were with you (O Hussain) so differently.” And the evil forces have always It was Zainab (sa) who stood against and to the fact that the mission of Zainab (sa) independent international investigation into allegations of we would have won the greatest victory”. faced disgraceful defeat, as emphasized in confronted the ruling oppressive power and is alive. This year, on Arbaeen, the number human rights violations in Kashmir” and asked the govern- Kufans played deaf to Hussain’s (as) call, the Holy Quran. “And Allah will by no means overcame all resistance.” of pilgrims is likely to swell even further. ments of India and Pakistan to “fully respect the right of but will we also snub him? Are our hearts give the unbelievers a way against the believ- Even 1400 years on, these annual com- The exemplary sacrifices rendered by self-determination of the people of Kashmir as protected beating for Hussain (as)? That’s a question ers.” (Surah Nisa) memorations have not lost their significance Husain (as) and his companions will never under international law”. we need to ask ourselves. In the month of Muharram, Muslims or relevance, but have become more popular be forgotten. As long as there is injustice, Meanwhile, the new UN High Commissioner for Human The epic battle of Karbala, contrary to around the world collectively remember and powerful. oppression and corruption in the world, Rights called the Donald Trump administration’s now-scrapped what you hear from some over-zealous ec- the martyrs of Karbala and reaffirm their Massive processions are taken out across Karbala will remain relevant and the mes- policy of separation of migrant families “unconscionable”. clesiastics, was not decided in the battlefield. pledge to carry forward the mission of Hu- the world in this month to send out a clear and sage of Hussain (as) will reverberate across It was decided in the hearts of those who draw sain (as). Muharram commemorations were strong message that injustice vanishes and the world. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 No other way but to eradicate Did the Far-right really win terrorists in Syria’s Idlib: Ryabkov the Sweden’s elections? The fact is that the far-right activists failed in Sweden’s TEHRAN (Tasnim) — Russian Deputy their fight against the legitimate government 1 general election: They failed to achieve their goal of gaining 25 Foreign Minister stressed that there is no in Damascus.” to 30 percent of the general vote. True, the Swedish Democratic other way to peace in Syria other than eradi- Regarding political processing in Syria, Party is still there as the third most powerful Swedish party in cating all terrorist enclaves in northwestern he said, “We are working together with guar- the recent election, but this is not exactly what while Jimmie city of Idlib. antor states so the congress of the Syrian Åkesson was after; to become the most powerful party in the Speaking in an exclusive interview with people most recently held in Sochi with a country with winning the majority of the whole vote. the Tasnim News Agency in Tehran, Sergei good progress achieved there, we work jointly Though people like Jean-Marie Le Pen, the right-wing extrem- Ryabkov pointed to the ongoing develop- with Turkish and Iranian governments to ists’ leader in France, speak of the Swedish Democrats’ victory, ments in Syria volatile city of Idlib, and said, ensure that this development to what’s a basis the truth is something else! “I think by all means there is no other way, for forming out a new constitution is laid as Interestingly, surveys conducted before the Swedish general but to eradicate terrorist enclaves in Idlib. agreed and we also say that this is a no way election indicate that Jimmie Åkesson and his entourage would We think [that] this is of crucial importance a compensation a substitute for the Geneva be able to win at least 25% of the vote. But recent results sug- for reestablishment of normal life in Syria process. The U.S. says more and more that gest that some of the people who were supposed to vote for the altogether. there is no alternative to the Geneva pro- Democratic Party in Sweden, had eventually decided to vote for You’re right when you’re saying that the cess, everything else is being regarded with the traditional parties. so-called guarantor states which is Russia, a good deal, mistrust and criticism, negative In this way, at least until 2022, Sweden is rescued from a Iran and Turkey have somewhat different use reactions, it only shows that the U.S. does serious crisis called “right-extremism dominance over Stock- on what needs to be done and how should be not recognize what others do, when others holm”. If Axon and his associates come to power in Sweden, we done there, I also believe, although I [don’t] succeed, they feel that their policies in Syria will see the destruction of the multicultural society of Sweden have straight forward evidence to this, but are on a very shaky ground, they’re hardly on the one hand and the creation of some fundamental changes my belief is that Turkey is under a heavy explainable.” in the structure of the “welfare state” in this country on the pressure from the U.S. and some others on to do so.” All the ideas that point to sort of ultimatums “If we’re still within the idea that Syria other hand. And it should be noted that the development of so-called western camp not to allow this As regards the role of Turkey, Ryabkov that are being produced by the U.S. and the should be preserved as a sovereign, unified populist policies in the welfare state will definitely lead to operation to happen.” noted, “I think Turkey can play a more proac- U.S. allies within NATO are based on very state, the U.S. presence in parts of Syria look the elimination of the achievements that the Swedes have “This is very unfortunate because those tive role to this end, but just to say look now false pretexts and very weak, if any, ground.” now like their being stablished for an infinite been struggling to deploy at the welfare and economic levels among the position who are ready to come to it’s not time to this operation, it’s very wrong, “There is no need for the Syrian gov- period of time, this is a troubling development. of society for decades. terms with the government in Damascus and and I think after the meeting in Tehran, the ernment to use this type of means in the We had some messages on the part of the U.S. start participating in a political process have Turkish leadership understood better that combat. They understand in Damascus officials that they have no plan to abandon been offered ample opportunities to this end this is the common position of the two other fully what might be the consequences; Al-Tanf or places in the vicinity of this area, and some of those people have fortunately guarantor states and their leaders and they moreover, where are those capabilities? this is clearly an effort to anchor itself in aware themselves of this opportunity but would make hopefully the right consequences Everything in relation to the military chem- Syria, so that they continuously will have a not all of them.” out of it.” ical potential of Syria was destructed under base to operate against the government in Idlib will be unshackled Pointing to the U.S. stance, the Russian “I would not agree that the outcome is international control. What otherwise could Syria and also have the means to manipulate diplomat said, “The most troubling aspect somewhat grey or murky, the most important be conceived as part of this program was the situations in Syria to the bad fortunes TEHRAN (FNA) — In an expansion of previous comments, threats of this situation is that, it seems to us that thing is that the leaders met and had in depth destroyed subsequently with the presence of Syrian people. They have declared that and tweets, U.S. President Donald Trump has once again threatened the U.S. continuously tried to play the cards discussions on this issue, they exchanged the of international observers and to add a they would not participate in the effort of the Syrian government which is gearing up to liberate the province of the militants including those associated evolutions and judgments and generally we cherry on this cake, I would say the French rebuilding Syria, they work against the re- of Idlib, the last bastion of terrorist groups in Syria. with Nusra [Front] in whatever name it’s are progressing even on these very difficult president himself under the most recent turn of Syrian refugees. So across the board At a time when his domestic woes are mounting, the Twitter-in- now operating under, it’s Nusra and this is a issues like we did all three of us together on illegitimate and unlawful attack against we have a very straight forwardly negative Chief has issued a statement warning that he is “going to get very, very terrorist organization, we cannot allow this other issues in Astana and in Sochi. This is sovereign Syria said now that “everything policy line on the part of the U.S.” angry” if the upcoming Syrian offensive against Al-Qaeda in Idlib people to continuously undermine the nor- all and all a success story, I state this in full that may have any relation to Syria military “We will continuously talk to them on ends up “slaughtering civilians.” He has also threatened to respond mal life of people to continue their activities confidence, contrary to what is a very weak chemical program is destroyed”.” the political issues not just the situations “swiftly and appropriately” about the offensive, in which the world of terror, violence, causing new casualties, and not convincing effort of some others “So from where all this would now come on the ground, not just on the conflict in hopes Syria can liberate the last terror-held territory. Previously, U.S. not making any thing possible in this area, and not to mention a very dangerous and into possession by the Syrian government? the dissections on the so-called conflict, officials had threatened to attack if chemical weapons were used. which is fundamental for the normalcy to destructive activities of the U.S. within Syria, It is self-contradictory; it only reaffirms our which is how to avoid incidents in the air Trump’s threat to respond now appears to no longer be con- return to Syria.” which is of growing concern to us.” understanding that this is part of a broader when presence is on the ground are where ditional on any alleged chemical use, and comes after other U.S. “We heard on some ideas with respect to Answering to a question about the west- provocation, which is being staged by spe- operations from the air were taking place, officials have declared that they are opposed to any offensive against local ceasefires, we support those, we have ern countries claims about possiblity of the cial services of some countries within Syria this will continue by all measure but we will the Qaeda-aligned rebels, and will view them all as an “escalation” also some ideas that eventual distinguishment use of chemical weapons in Idlib, Ryabkov and also is being done with full assistance also talk politically to the U.S. explaining of the war. Despite Trump’s warning, Syrian and Russian forces between different groups is possible within noted, “I absolutely reject any idea of the on the part of so-called non-governmental how failed the policy is and how wrong this have shelled and launched airstrikes against terrorist positions in these enclaves, those people who believed Syrian government contemplating any use organizations which essentially are in the intention to create troubles to people and Idlib in recent days, but there is as yet no public timetable for the that this is possible should continuously try of chemicals in combat in Idlib or elsewhere. toolbox of those governments being used in government in Syria is.” ground offensive. The struggle to liberate Aleppo is important though. It is the last major military operation to be undertaken by government forces Establishment of “United Arab Army”; a dream that was not and allies to complete expulsion of Salafi-Takfiri terrorist groups and Qaeda-allied rebel factions from Syrian territory. Like other liberated places, once the mission has been accomplished, it will interpreted in terms of differences be a cause of rejoicing everywhere - everywhere, that is, except the capitals of Saudi Arabia, Israel and the United States capitals, where 1 In the same vein, a month and a half ago, Reuters the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, the attempt to destroy Syria stands as an indictment of joint Sau- reported that the Donald Trump government was working wasn’t willing to attend it. di-Zionist-American foreign policy and its conceits. to form a new political and security coalition with the Arab It is said that the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council is Nonetheless, we all know why they don’t want to see Idlib lib- states of the Persian Gulf, Egypt and Jordan, with the goal of following the pattern of formation of an alliance like the erated. They all played a decisive role in the failed regime-change confronting the expansion of Iran’s influence in the region. Peninsula Shield Force to form the Joint Arab Army at this campaign. It was the State Department headed by Clinton which Wide disagreements between the Arab countries and, level. This is despite the fact that the plan for the formation pushed for NATO invasion in Libya, responsible for the country above all, Saudi Arabia with Qatar itself, is another ob- of Peninsula Shield in the field, due to the apparent deviation being pitched into an abyss from which it is yet to emerge. stacle surrounding the formation of a United Arab army. of the objectives, has actually failed. Clinton left her destructive role as Obama’s secretary of state at In the same vein, Trump has insisted the need to resolve The fact is that the purpose of the Peninsula Shield was the beginning of 2013. A few months later, in August of that year, differences between the Arabs. In fact, Trump has re- to create a military force to defend the security and deal with Obama stepped back from the brink when it came to unleashing alized that the construction of his plan is intended to foreign aggression against the Persian Gulf Cooperation airstrikes against Syrian government targets in response to allegations resolve Arab-Arab disputes, without which there will be Council countries as well as to protect the security of nation, - denied by the Syrian government and disputed by MIT professor no common coalition. but not only that goal was not realized, as these forces were Theodore Postol and former UN weapons inspector Richard Lloyd The meeting, which is scheduled to be held between used against nations and not aggressors, so that the goals of in a report they co-authored for the UN - that Syrian government senior military officials from the Persian Gulf Arab states the Peninsula Shield would be completely forgotten. forces mounted an attack against Qaeda-allied rebel positions outside and the Americans, will focus on the same issue. Indeed, Therefore, the plan for the formation of a joint Arabian Damascus using chemical weapons. the Arab countries, at the request of the United States, army, the same as the Arab NATO, has failed. Given the As current circumstances require, the battle for Idlib is the final seek to reduce the severity of the differences among them. wide-range of disagreements between its main constituents, push in this brutal conflict, which will eventually bring it to an end The meeting which was attended by all six member states In fact, this meeting is as warm-up to the one which will the prospect of such an army cannot be imagined. Moreover, so that international reconstruction efforts could begin. That means included Qatari Chief-of-Staff for the first time since the be held in October. Camp David is scheduled to host the this army will not have a better fate than the “Peninsula the armed militant groups and terror partners in crime, which are Persian Gulf crisis erupted in mid-summer 2017 that led October meeting to resolve the Qatari conflict. The meeting, Shield “or the so-called “Islamic military” coalition to combat currently entrenched in the province, would have only two options: to boycotting of Doha. which was scheduled to take place in May, was delayed since terrorism, even if it is formed. to lay down their arms or to be destroyed in battle. Any other option suggested by the Trump White House like the creation of another ‘de-escalation zone’ on the Syrian territory is not possible any more. Canadian author lauds Iran-Russia-Turkey summit on Syria Ultimately, the eventual defeat of the terrorist groups in Idlib is TEHRAN (Tasnim) — A political com- of the summit as well as Iran’s regional role? A: Significantly, the statement issued at only a matter of time. By threatening the Syrian government which mentator from Canada, who is the author of A: Iran and Russia have always acted in the end of the summit noted that, “They re- is at the forefront of the war on terror, by hovering belligerently on “Voices from Syria”, praised a recent trilateral accordance with the international law in jected all attempts to create new realities on the sidelines in Syria, restricting themselves to pro-rebel operations summit between Tehran, Moscow, and An- Syria. They genuinely seek peace, and an the ground under the pretext of combating and vain calls for ‘de-escalation zones,’ and by failing to acknowl- kara about the Syrian crisis and said the talks end to terrorism and they act accordingly, terrorism and expressed their determination edge their own share of the blame and atrocities against the Syrian represent “a trajectory towards multi-polar with the consent of the Syrian government. to stand against separatist agendas aimed at people, the United States and its allies have effectively undermined geopolitical alliances”. There may never be peace in Syria and beyond undermining the sovereignty and territorial the UN Charter, the humanitarian agencies, International Law, and “The trilateral summit is important in the as long as nations that claim to be fighting integrity of Syria as well as the national se- International Humanitarian Law. sense that it represents a trajectory towards terrorism actually support terrorism. NATO curity of neighboring countries”. Their neglect has at the same time boosted autocratic and apart- multi-polar geopolitical alliances as opposed member Turkey has so far fallen into this This is a powerful statement that recog- heid leaders from Riyadh and Manama to the UAE and Tel Aviv, to a U.S.-dominated Unipolar World Disorder venal category. nizes and rejects Western attempts to “create while arguably encouraging the growth of terror groups everywhere of permanent war and poverty, and worse,” However, alliances are shifting. Perhaps new realities on the ground” by staging false in the Middle East and beyond. Their other mistake was to believe Mark Taliano said in an interview with the Turkey is shifting away from its NATO alle- flag attacks, and it rejects efforts to partition that the war on Syria could be kept at arm’s length. Due to its com- Tasnim News Agency. giances. For example, Turkey is set to purchase Syria. The fact that the report has reiterated plexity, longevity and transnational character, it hit the Western Taliano is an author and independent in- Russia’s S-400 air defense system. Michel the endgame of Syrian sovereignty and ter- and all of the terrorists in Syria, is appalling. capitals as well. vestigative reporter who recently returned Chossudovsky argues that should this occur, ritorial integrity is also important. Western policymakers do not represent the Now seven years later, and by liberating Idlib, Syria and its allies from a trip to Syria with the Third Interna- “it is tantamount to NATO Exit”. If Turkey However, the offensive on Idlib has begun. will of the people. They hide their criminality Iran and Russia want to change all that. Trump’s claim that the tional Tour of Peace to Syria. In his new book leaves what Eva Bartlett has described as the Legitimate efforts for peace (including the beneath a sophisticated apparatus of deception offensive against Al-Qaeda in Idlib ends up “slaughtering civilians,” titled “Voices from Syria”, he combines years “Axis of Regime Change”, then this could summit) have been exhausted, especially and propaganda. Their policies of permanent won’t gain common currency anymore. Evidence on the ground of research with on-the-ground observations strengthen trajectories towards peace, in- since there are reports that the terrorists war and their support for terrorism are a suggests the opposite holds true. to present an informed and well-document- ternational law, and the elimination of the are murdering those who seek reconciliation, cancer to humanity. These policies “benefit” The UN wants an immediate end to the bloodshed. According to ed analysis that refutes mainstream media West’s al Qaeda/ISIS terrorists, which are and those who seek to leave. Additionally, the transnational billionaire class alone. The despairing UN statements, the scale of suffering across the country narratives about the dirty war on Syria. a cancer to the world. terrorists have been staging provocative and world is being thirdworldized, plundered, has reached unprecedented levels, with access to aid blocked in Q: As you know, a trilateral summit was The trilateral summit is important in the murderous attacks from Idlib to neighbor- and destroyed by these mindless elites. population centers and more than 13 million people displaced and held in Tehran on Friday between Iranian sense that it represents a trajectory towards ing areas. The US military presence in Syria is illegal. in need. More than 500,000 people have died since 2011. But the President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian multi-polar geopolitical alliances as opposed Q: During his remarks at the summit, It is an illegal occupation. The terrorists will killing continues unabated. and Turkish counterparts, Vladimir Putin to a U.S.-dominated Unipolar World Disorder President Rouhani deplored the Washington be there as long as the U.S. is there. A Qaeda Ending this unnecessary humanitarian nightmare would require and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, about the Syrian of permanent war and poverty, and worse. government’s negative role in the ongoing and ISIS are an integral part of the war ma- the United States and its allies to end their unlawful and crimi- crisis. According to Iranian Foreign Ministry Q: The tripartite talks came as Syrian forces crisis in Syria and said the “illegal” military chine led by NATO and its allies. nal support for Qaeda-allied terrorist groups in Idlib. The world Spokesman Bahram Qassemi, the summit continue to reclaim much of southern parts presence of the U.S. will only “increase the The U.S. and its allies have a long history of is demanding an immediate end to their lunacy. The world is also was not expected to resolve all issues sur- of the country and are poised to soon launch problems that already exist in the country”. using al-Qaeda/militants as proxies: Afghan- expecting the Syrian government and allies to complete their an- rounding the prolonged crisis in Syria but an offensive in Idlib, one of the last remaining What do you think about the U.S. military istan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Chechnya, Libya, Iraq, ti-terror operations as quickly as possible so that international aid it aimed to facilitate more steps to combat areas outside of Damascus’ control. What is presence and its bonds with terror groups Yemen, Syria, and beyond. This cancerous could reach the worst-hit areas. Of course, that could only happen terrorism and restore tranquility to the Arab your assessment of the summit’s impact on in Syria? “War on Terror” that is actually a “War for if the allied forces build on their advances over the past year and country. What do you think about the success the military developments in Syria? A: The West’s alliance with al Qaeda, ISIS, Terror” needs to end. unshackle Idlib. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER 13, 13, 2018 2018 HEALTHADVERTISEMENT 9

MS treatment centers to be Vision screening test for children to begin in Oct.

HEALTH TEHRAN – The Welfare Organization will set up nationwide deskstart carrying out vision screening tests for children aging 3 to 6 years by the beginning of the eighth HEALTH TEHRAN — The Multiple Sclerosis Iranian calendar month of Aban (October 23). desk(MS) treatment centers offering com- prehensive programs for the evaluation and treatment of MS patients, will be set up in all provinces of the country, deputy health minister has said. “There are nearly 60,000 MS patients in the country, and fortunately, MS care centers are currently operating in some provinces of the country,” Tasnim quoted Qasem Janbabaei as saying on Tuesday. In spite of providing proper services to these patients already in other provinces, it is planned to launch more of these centers nationwide as soon as possible, he added. He went on to say that the aforesaid centers offer services including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and even psychological counseling. “Thanks to efforts of health professionals and experts, “Last year, vision screening test was conducted on 3.2 over 250 clinical guidelines have been developed, that million children, 15,000 of them were diagnosed with Am- MS patients are among the issues addressed in these blyopia (known as lazy eye) and referred to the treatment guidelines, and services are provided to the patients centers,” ISNA quoted Minoo Rafiei, an official with the regarding them,” he highlighted. Organization, as saying on Wednesday. In such economic situation, the Ministry of Health’s She went on to say that while treatment processes of these priority is the patients suffering such diseases, and children has different stages and might be costly, the Welfare soon will open some 64 special diseases care centers, Organization has provided financially struggling families he concluded. with the cost of treatments and even surgeries, if required. Multiple sclerosis is the most widespread disabling Last year, some 75 percent of children with the same neurological condition of young adults around the world. age have undergone vision screening, she said, adding, this Most people develop MS between the ages of 20 and 50. year, the program is being implemented in October and According to Multiple Sclerosis International Federa- November, and since there has not been an increase in the tion, nearly 2.3 million people live with MS globally, only population of this age, it is planned to diagnose and cover 4 to 5 percent of all diagnosed MS cases are in children. the same number of children. The incidence of MS is also higher in colder climates. Vision screening is an efficient and cost-effective method People of Northern European descent have the high- to identify children with visual impairment or eye conditions est risk of developing MS, no matter where they live. The team approach benefits healthcare professionals that are likely to lead to vision loss so that a referral can Meanwhile, the lowest risk appears to be among Native be made to an appropriate eye care professional for further Americans, Africans, and Asians. and their patients, whether it occurs in an MS evaluation and treatment. In Canada some 291 per 100,000 individuals are comprehensive care center or through active Hearing screening of newborns diagnosed with MS, which takes the first place among Pointing to the hearing screening of infants, Rafiei noted countries with the highest prevalence of the disease, then communication and collaboration among clinicians that the plan is being implemented in over 500 treatment San Marino and Denmark come after Canada. in the community. centers located in hospitals affiliated to the Welfare Or- MS comprehensive care ganization. The advanced care needs of many individuals with MS a chronic degenerative condition, with heterogeneous MS comprehensive care center or through active “Last year, some 85 percent of the newborns underwent and their families are not being adequately addressed. symptoms, and an unpredictable prognosis. communication and collaboration among clinicians hearing screening tests carried out by the Organization,” Too often, complex MS symptoms interfere with health, A clinician working in isolation will tend to focus in the community. she highlighted. safety, independence and quality of life while co-mor- on those aspects of the disease with which he or she Over the course of the disease, the MS care team – Although hearing screening tests are conducted by the bid health conditions and complications can increase feels most comfortable and has the greatest expertise, with the person with MS at its center – may need to private sector, the license is issued by the Welfare Organi- disability and potentially shorten a person’s life. Family often without recognizing or addressing other important include: neurologist, nurse, rehabilitation specialist zation, and the cost are based on governmental tariffs, she members often feel left to their own devices as they provide issues and only by sharing expertise in a coordinated (physiatrist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, concluded. care for a loved one while trying to manage additional and collaborative manner, can the complex needs of speech/language pathologist, orthotist, and seating spe- Hossein Nahvinejad, deputy director for Iran’s Welfare responsibilities at home and at work and attend to their individuals with MS and their families be met. cialist), primary care physician, urologist, mental health Organization for rehabilitation affairs, on June has said that out own health needs. The team approach benefits healthcare profes- specialist, neuropsychologist/psychologist, social worker of 1.5 million people living with different kinds of disabilities According to the National MS Society website MS is sionals and their patients, whether it occurs in an and nutritionist. some 225,000 are suffering hearing impediment.

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Iran’s heritage museums Tehran exhibit features home to 3m historical relics artworks back from Louvre-Lens HERITAGE TEHRAN — On Wednesday, an exhibition deskof Qajar-era (1785-1925) objects, which France’s Louvre-Lens had borrowed earlier this year for a home show, opened its doors to the public at the UNES- CO-registered Golestan Palace in downtown Tehran. The opening ceremony followed by a specialized meeting in which several experts including author Ardeshir Salehpour and architect Mohammad-Javad Mahdavinejad delivered lectures on Iranian literature, tazieh (Iranian passion play), architecture and urban landscape during the Qajar epoch. The objects, which are dominated by paintings, draw- ings, and photographs, went on show at the Louvre-Lens art museum from March 28 to July 22. Titled “The Rose Empire Masterpieces of 19th-Century Persian Art”, the Louvre-Lens exhibit also featured coun- terpart selectees loaned from private collectors and major European, North American and Middle Eastern institutions. Experts say, that the art created during this period is Iron-Age figurine from Marlik civilization being kept at the widely deemed as original and rich driven partly by excep- National Museum of Iran tionally-talented court artists. The Qajar-era is one of the most fascinating periods in HERITAGE TEHRAN — Some Three million historical Iran’s history, embracing European modernization while deskobjects are currently being kept in museums maintaining its identity. which are affiliated with the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and A main tourist destination, the lavishly decorated Go- Tourism Organization, IRNA reported on Wednesday. lestan Palace is home to some 82,000 historical objects “There are 600 museums across Iran, some half of which are which are kept in its museums. It also embodies a successful Detail shows a massive oil-on-canvas painting which was put on show at the Louvre-lens from March to July 2018. It associated with private collectors or various institutions,” said integration of earlier Persian crafts and architecture with depicts Qajar-era politicians, courtiers and military aids. Mohammadreza Kargar who presides over CHHTO’s Museums Western influences. A triumph of cultural diplomacy tional officials and diplomats. It put on show some 50 works and Historical Moveable Properties Office. Golestan Palace became a center of Qajari arts and ar- In parallel with the “The Rose Empire”, Tehran hosted including 2,400-year-old Egyptian sphinx, a bust of Roman A total of 19 million people visited CHHTO-affiliated muse- chitecture of which it is an outstanding example and has a Louvre show deemed by many as a triumph of cultural emperor Marcus Aurelius and drawings by Rembrandt and ums during the past Iranian calendar year (ended March 20),” remained a source of inspiration for Iranian artists and diplomacy between Iran and the West. The show was visited Delacroix and other artifacts linked to Greek, Egyptian and Kargar said, adding, “It is estimated that the number of visitors architects to this day. by over 250,000 people including administration and interna- Mesopotamian culture, as well as objects from ancient Iran. will rise by 15 percent this year.” Visa-free entry an alternative to oil CHHTO appoints new deputy director for tourism economy: expert TOURISM TEHRAN — The head of Alborz growth with having rich tourism attractions in terms of deskprovince’s chamber of commerce, historical sites and natural heritage. industries, mines and agriculture believes that starting “The era of oil revenues is coming to an end, and we a visa-free regime for inbound travelers to Iran is an have to think about alternative industries.” alternative to the country’s oil-reliant economy. With the prosperity of the tourism sector in the short Rahim Banna-Molaei told ISNA in an interview run, there will be a favorable economic development… published on Tuesday that “Granting free visas to that removes worries about crude price as well as its foreign tourists is a path to get out of economic buyers’ markets, he explained. pressures.” For the time being, citizens of about 190 countries “Countries which have focused on the tourism indus- can obtain visa on arrival at Iran’s international airports try and infrastructure over the past couple of decades, with one-month validation. have achieved significant economic growth, for example, Iran has launched comprehensive plans to bolster its Turkey has multiplied its [forex] income by enacting an tourism sector. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, the open gate policy.” country is expecting to increase the number of tourism He reminded Iran’s considerable potential for tourism arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million.

TOURISM TEHRAN — The director of the Cultural deskHeritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organ- ization has installed Mohammad Khayatian as his deputy for Japan tourism: The polite Japanese are finally getting sick of tourists tourism affairs, ILNA reported. Khayatian replaced Morteza Rahmani-Movahhed who assumed the position in August 2017. Japan’s traditional sense of “omotenashi”, meaning whole- And while hotels and businesses that rely on the tourist Earlier this month, CHHTO Director Ali Asghar Mounesan, heartedly looking after guests, is wearing decidedly thin. trade have welcomed the influx of foreigners, residents are who doubles as vice president, said the number of international Residents of many of the nation’s must-see tourist spots less enthusiastic. tourists visiting Iran surged 45 percent in the first five months are increasingly expressing their frustration at loud and In Kyoto there has been a surge in complaints linked to of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) from disrespectful foreigners, crowded public transport and poor the rise in tourist numbers. Locals say it is difficult to get on a year earlier. etiquette among visitors. buses that go near the most famous sights in the city, while The problem has become so bad in some cities, such as demand for accommodation has encouraged unscrupulous the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Kamakura, that local people landlords to lease out unlicensed properties. are complaining to the authorities about “tourism pollution”. Foreign tourists are also often unaware of local customs ROUND THE GLOBE Japan’s tourism agency is frantically encouraging - such as meticulously separating rubbish before it is col- tourists to get off the “Golden Route” that links Tokyo lected - which has added to the friction. The city’s tourism Keoladeo National Park with Kyoto and Osaka and to explore more remote parts authorities say they are aware of the problems and are taking of the country. measures to reduce discord. That campaign appears to be having some impact, but “Undoubtedly, the increase in tourists has had an influ- Keoladeo National Park, located in the State of Rajasthan, most travelers - especially first-time visitors - still want to ence on the daily lives of the citizens of Kyoto,” said Shuhei India is an important wintering ground of Palaearctic migra- experience the skyscrapers and bright lights of the capital, Akahoshi, head of the city’s department of conventions and tory waterfowl and is renowned for its large congregation of the cultural and historic delights of Kyoto and the cuisine, tourism. “But we have several ongoing advertising campaigns non-migratory resident breeding birds. entertainment and shopping in Osaka. that promote better manners among tourists.” Japan is enjoying a tourism boom. But not all locals are A green wildlife oasis situated within a populated hu- More than 20 million tourists arrived in Japan in the first The city has partnered with TripAdvisor on a guide to happy about it. (Photo: Shutterstock) man-dominated landscape, some 375 bird species and a eight months of the year and the annual total is expected manners for tourists and is using magazines to get the same diverse array of other life forms have been recorded in this to break the 30-million barrier, up from 28.7 million arriv- a nuclear crisis. message across. Travel authorities are also encouraging peo- mosaic of grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps and als last year. That is a remarkable turnaround from the 7.1 The number of Australia visitors to Japan has also surged ple to visit outside of the peak season, or to see sights at less wetlands of just 2,873 ha. million arrivals in 2011, the year in which north-east Japan in the past 10 years, up 340 percent, with more than 80,000 popular times of the day. This ‘Bird Paradise’ was developed in a natural depression was hit by a major earthquake and a tsunami that triggered Australians heading there in the past two months. (Source: traveller.com) wetland that was managed as a duck shooting reserve at the end of the 19th century. While hunting has ceased and the What Paul Scheer can’t travel without By Nell McShane Wulfhart Cameras “I’ve gotten back into using actual film and The actor and comedian Paul Scheer’s engag- bringing film cameras with me. So the last couple ing, gaptoothed grin has popped up on shows times I’ve traveled, it’s just making sure I’m from “30 Rock” and “Veep” to, currently, traveling correctly with film, which is some- “The Amazing Gayl Pile,” for which he also thing I’ve never thought about. I love the way serves as executive producer. the film looks, and I go to this place out here Based in Los Angeles, Mr. Scheer travels that develops it and they send you a scan of frequently for work. But as a parent to a three- all your photos, so you still have the ability year-old and a one-and-a-half-year-old, he to share them and everything like that — but thinks of his travel in terms of “with kids” or there’s quality to the film that makes me leave “without kids.” “I have the New Testament my phone behind a little bit more.” Indian sarus crane is seen in the Keoladeo National Park and the Old Testament,” he said. Contact lenses “The Old Testament is traveling without “I bring enough contacts that, if I ever run area declared a national park in 1982, its continued existence kids, which feels like a vacation in every sense across a small family, I could supply them is dependent on a regulated water supply from a reservoir of the word, and now, I now know what it’s with contacts.” outside the park boundary. like to travel with children. And it is a whole Podcast recording equipment The park’s well-designed system of dykes and sluices pro- different side of travel that I was not aware of, “The other thing I have to travel with, vides areas of varying water depths which are used by various and it’s heinous from the minute you leave some no-name bagel or whatever it is. I feel fight online with a romance novelist. I post- unfortunately, is my podcast recording avifaunal species. in the morning till you get to that hotel.” like if I can beat the airport by just eating a ed a picture of her book because I thought it equipment because I do a lot of the main Due to its strategic location in the middle of Central Asian He said that traveling with kids brings out good meal; it excites me.” was funny, and then Romance Twitter kind of housekeeping for our podcast, ‘How Did migratory flyway and presence of water, large congregations of a parent’s worst instincts. “It is everything that iPad came after me. And then I read her book and I This Get Made?’ [Mr. Scheer, along with his ducks, geese, coots, pelicans and waders arrive in the winter. every book would tell you not to do: it’s bargain- “What I primarily like to do on planes is actually really loved this romance book called wife, the actor June Diane Rafael, and the The park was the only known wintering site of the central ing, it’s bribing, it’s lying — there are so many read comic books on my iPad. First of all, ‘Slammed,’ and now people have been sending actor Jason Mantzoukas host the comedy population of the critically endangered Siberian Crane, and things. You’re just doing all the bad things. I’m never embarrassed to read comic books me romance novels to read. Somebody sent podcast]. I’ve had to record ads or record also serves as a wintering area for other globally threatened ‘You want to watch eight hours of “Thomas the on my iPad because I feel like people don’t me $10 in the mail and said, ‘I want you to read the mini-episodes that go in between our species such as the Greater Spotted Eagle and Imperial Eagle. Tank Engine?” Great, let’s go for it!’” know what I’m reading so I can get away “Fangirl,”‘ so I have ‘Fangirl’ by Rainbow Rowell regular episodes, so I have a little sound During the breeding season the most spectacular heronry His top travel tip is to use Yelp to find with it. I always feel so much nerdier just loaded up; that will be my next one to read. setup with a folder that’s soundproof that in the region is formed by 15 species of herons, ibis, cormo- the best airport food. “When I score a great pulling out soft-back comic books. So I feel So I’m going to read another romance novel I can talk into and the echo sounds better, rants, spoonbills and storks, where in a well-flooded year airport meal I feel so happy, like I’ve made my like a little bit more of an adult.” and see where it goes. I figured if someone’s and a bunch of cords and microphones and over 20,000 birds nest. airport time worthwhile. I’m not just eating Kindle Oasis sending me $10, I have to do them the service stuff like that.” (Source: UNESCO) another O.K. Starbucks muffin or, you know, “A little while ago, I got into an accidental of trying to read the book.” (Source: The New York Times) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 SCIENCE 11 Europe’s renewable energy directive poised Parrots are bartering tokens for food, as they to harm global forests, scientists say think they are smart

Europe’s decision to promote the use of wood Energy from wood Chalk up another achievement for parrots, with an odd twist that raises as a “renewable fuel” will likely greatly in- “Globally, if the world were to supply only questions about whether the experimenters or the birds know best. crease Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions an additional 2 percent of its energy from Anastasia Krasheninnikova and colleagues at the Max Planck and cause severe harm to the world’s forests, wood, it would need to double commercial Institute for Ornithology in Germany tested four species of parrots according to a new paper published in Nature wood harvests around the world with harsh in an experiment that required trading tokens for food and recently Communications. effects on forests,” said study lead author Tim reported their findings in the journal Scientific Reports. European officials on final language for Searchinger, researcher scholar at Prince- a renewable energy directive earlier this ton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of summer that will almost double Europe’s Public and International Affairs. use of renewable energy by 2030. Although wood is renewable, cutting down Against the advice of 800 scientists, the and burning wood for energy increases carbon directive now treats wood as a low-carbon in the atmosphere for decades to hundreds fuel, meaning that whole trees or large por- of years depending on a number of factors, tions of trees can be cut down deliberately the researchers explained. Bioenergy use in to burn. Such uses go beyond papermaking this form takes carbon that would otherwise wastes and other wood wastes, which have remain stored in a forest and puts it into the long been used for bioenergy, but not to this atmosphere. Because of various inefficiencies magnitude. in both the harvesting and burning process, Cutting world’s forests the result is that far more carbon is emitted Would the birds resist an immediate reward to trade for some- The paper, co-authored by eight scientists up smokestacks and into the air per kilowatt thing better? Many species have shown the ability to hold off on an from the United States and Europe, estimates hour of electricity or heat than burning fossil immediate treat — like a dry corn kernel — for something tastier that this bioenergy provision in the Renewable fuels, the authors explained. later on, like a bit of walnut. Energy Directive will lead to vast new cutting require additional cutting in forests around Already, tropical forest countries like Brazil While regrowing trees can eventually re- Chimpanzees, monkeys and cockatoos, among other species, of the world’s forests. This is because addi- the world, but the researchers explain the and Indonesia have announced they, too, will absorb the carbon, they do so slowly and, can defer gratification. But using tokens for trading had not been tional wood equal to all of Europe’s existing global impact is likely to be even greater by try to reduce the effect of climate change by for years, may not absorb more carbon than tried before in birds, Dr. Krasheninnikova said. wood harvests will be needed just to supply encouraging other countries to do the same. increasing their use of wood for bioenergy. the original forests would have continued Here’s how it worked. First the birds, great green macaws, 5 percent of Europe’s energy. to absorb. blue-throated macaws, blue-headed macaws and African grey The paper also estimates that using wood The paper also explains why the European parrots, learned that they could barter tokens for foods of different for energy will likely result in 10 to 15 percent Against the advice of 800 scientists, directive’s sustainability conditions would value — to the birds, that is. in emissions from Europe’s energy use by the directive now treats wood as a have little consequence. Even if trees are cut A metal hoop could be traded for a piece of dry corn, the lowest 2050. This could occur by turning a 5 percent down “sustainably,” that does not make the value food, a metal bracket for a medium value sunflower seed and decrease in emissions required under the low-carbon fuel, meaning that whole wood carbon free or low carbon because of a plastic ring for the highest value food, a piece of shelled walnut. directive using solar energy or wind energy trees or large portions of trees can be added carbon in the atmosphere for such The birds were then offered various choices, like a piece of corn into a 5 to 10 increase by using wood. long periods of time. or the ring. They all reliably chose to forego the corn and take the Europe’s increased wood demand will cut down deliberately to burn. (Source: phys.org) ring. Then they were able to trade the ring for a piece of walnut. They also did well choosing a bracket instead of the corn, and in other situations where the token was of higher value than the food. How NASA’s mission to ‘touch the sun’ New research unravels the mysteries The green macaws were consistently the best. The African greys, who have a reputation as very intelligent birds, did reasonably well may reveal clues about alien worlds of deep soil carbon on the obvious choices, but had some trouble when faced with a food and a token of the same value. (Source: The NYT)

New color-generation mechanism discovered in ‘rainbow’ weevil

Researchers have discovered a novel color-generation mechanism in nature, which if harnessed, has the potential to create cosmetics and paints with purer and more vivid hues, screen displays that project the same true image when viewed from any angle, and even reduce the signal loss in optical fibers. Yale-NUS College Assistant Professor of Science (Life Science) Vinodkumar Saranathan led the study with Dr. Bodo D Wilts from the Adolphe Merkle Institute at the University of Fribourg. Dr. Saranathan examined the rainbow-colored patterns in the elytra Every day, we rely on the sun for warmth our technology. Energy-starved microbes may be the force composition of dead plants and can remain (wing casings) of a snout weevil from the Philippines, Pachyrrhy- and light, but we need Earth’s atmos- If an exoplanet is less fortunate in that causes huge amounts of carbon to be in soil for thousands of years. The research nchus congestus pavonius, using high-energy X-rays, while Dr. phere to protect us from our star’s harsh its natural protections or in its star’s stored in deep soils, according to a Dart- team set out to see how root litter decom- Wilts performed detailed scanning electron microscopy and op- conditions — and because in the end our temperament, those high-energy parti- mouth College study. The research finds poses at different depths to understand why tical modelling. sun is just another star, the same could cles and photons could be the deciding that less food energy at depth makes it some deep soil carbon can be stored for They discovered that to produce the rainbow palette of colors, be true of life on other worlds, planetary factors in an exoplanet’s habitability, said more difficult to decompose deposits of such a long period of time and why other the weevil utilized a color-generation mechanism that is so far scientists said. Ravi Kopparapu, a planetary scientist organic carbon, creating an underground carbon is released into the atmosphere. found only in squid, cuttlefish, and octopuses, which are renowned That means studying our sun up close at NASA. Even if a planet develops an storehouse for the climate-destabilizing The team incubated roots at depths for their color-shifting camouflage. The study was published in could teach us about planets in distant atmosphere, if it’s bombarded by too chemical element. ranging from 15 cm to 95 cm in an 80-year- the peer-reviewed journal Small. solar systems as well. And a NASA mission many stellar particles, that barrage can The study, published in Soil Biology and old stand of conifer trees in the foothills P. c. pavonius, or the “Rainbow” Weevil, is distinctive for its may soon begin to do just that: This fall, destroy the atmosphere. “They can strip Biochemistry, outlines the conditions that of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. rainbow-colored spots on its thorax and elytra. These spots are the Parker Solar Probe, which launched away the atmosphere and then make the underlie whether deep soil acts as a source According to the study, the loss of root litter made up of nearly-circular scales arranged in concentric rings in August, will start investigating how planet uninhabitable,” Kopparapu told or a sink for carbon. carbon during the first six months was of different hues, ranging from blue in the center to red at the our star works. Exoplanet scientists are Space.com. The fate of deep soil carbon is of major similar across all depths. However, after outside, just like a rainbow. watching the mission to see what data it High-energy outflow consequence to researchers studying climate 30 months, carbon loss was significantly While many insects have the ability to produce one or two colors, might offer them about exotic worlds. But both types of high-energy outflow change. It is estimated that 2400 gigatons slower at the greater depths. it is rare that a single insect can produce such a vast spectrum of “We can learn so much from our sun are incredibly difficult to study at a dis- of carbon is stored in soil, with two-thirds The team found that the smaller amount colors. Researchers are interested to figure out the mechanism and particularly for other sun-like stars,” tance — hence the appeal of piggybacking of that lying below the 20 cm depth. The of energy that is readily-available to mi- behind the natural formation of these color-generating structures, Evgenya Shkolnik, an astrophysicist and on the Parker Solar Probe. amount of deep soil carbon alone is about crobes in the form of dissolved carbon could as current technology is unable to synthesize structures of this size. planetary scientist at Arizona State Uni- The spacecraft’s path through the sun’s double the amount of carbon in the form be the reason for slower decomposition. The “ultimate aim of research in this field is to figure out how the versity, told space.com. In particular, she broiling outer atmosphere will allow it of carbon dioxide that exists in the Earth’s As a result of the slower decomposition weevil self-assembles these structures, because with our current wants a better sense of the high-energy to get within 4 million miles (6 million atmosphere. rates, carbon is more likely to be stored technology we are unable to do so,” Dr. Saranathan said. particles and photons, or particles of kilometers) from what we consider the Greenhouse gases long-term. (Source: Science Daily) light, stars produce. “It’s critically im- sun’s surface — about the same distance If decomposition rates increase as a result Decomposing dead roots portant to understand all these things many exoplanets are from their stars, of climate change, then carbon stored in deep “Live fine roots feed the soil with sub- for exoplanet hosts, for sure,” she said. Shkolnik said. In fact, in her lectures soils will be released into the atmosphere strates that are like candy for microbes. The The Atlantic Ocean looks The planet’s atmosphere about these planets, she edits images of as the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The lack of this energy source at depth denies We know about the dangers of those the solar eclipse and planet depictions research tested how decomposition changes microbes the energy they need to efficiently insane right now as hurricanes particles and photons from our own expe- to convey the incredible environment with soil depth to help predict whether deep decompose dead roots,” said Hicks Pries. are churning above it riences here on Earth, where the planet’s around these planets. soil carbon would be vulnerable to such To conduct the study, the team also re- atmosphere buffers us from the worst “I show the corona and put fake ex- climate-induced changes. lied on the Carbon Organisms Rhizosphere It has been a quieter-than-average hurricane season so far, but side effects of living near the sun: Only oplanets in there because it is amazing “Deep soil carbon is a really big deal and Protection in the Soil Environment things are picking up in a big way: three hurricanes are churning with extreme sunbathing do we absorb to think that these planets are actually for understanding the future of climate model developed at Princeton University in the Atlantic, with Hurricane Florence rapidly approaching the enough ultraviolet radiation to damage streaming through their suns’ coronae,” change,” said Caitlin Hicks Pries, an as- and the University of California, Merced. U.S. East Coast. the DNA inside our cells enough to po- Shkolnik said. Many of those planets are sistant professor of biology at Dartmouth. Known as CORPSE, the program predicts Hurricane Florence, a Category 4 storm with 140 miles per hour tentially kill us with cancer, and only what scientists have dubbed “hot Ju- “Understanding the forces that cause that microbial activity and allows researchers (225 kilometers per hour) winds, is expected to make landfall some- during the most extreme solar outbursts, piters” and are uninhabitably gaseous much carbon and all of its greenhouse gas to see how the amount of available ener- where between North Carolina, South Carolina, and the Mid-Atlantic called coronal mass ejections, do its high- themselves — but that might not be the potential to be stored underground helps us gy translates into biological processes to states on Thursday evening or Friday morning, according to the ly charged particles overwhelm Earth’s end of the story. predict what our future climate will look like.” decompose roots. National Hurricane Center (NHC). magnetic field and thus interfere with (Source: space.com) Soil organic carbon comes from the de- (Source: eurekalert.org) The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1, and this year was forecasted to have a slightly above-average number of storms. Scientists discover 3 new fish species in Atacama Trench of Pacific Ocean Initial predictions didn’t quite pan out this year – so far, we’ve Scientists have discovered three new fish species in Linley described the new snailfish as “surprisingly active,” had nine named storms and five hurricanes. Only Florence has the Atacama Trench, which is considered to be one of while living in the Atacama Trench with no scales, little qualified as a major hurricane. the deepest parts of the Pacific Ocean at up to 7 miles beady eyes, and gelatinous bodies. In the deep sea, the By July, after a relatively quiescent period for Atlantic hurricanes, below the surface, off the coast of Chile and Peru. snailfish are free of predators and competitors, and their experts predicted that the season would end up with an average or The three new species were identified as variants of bodies are well adapted to live under extreme pressure. slightly less than average number of hurricanes. snailfish, a bizarre kind of fish that are among the few They are also very different from what most people think But the season is just now peaking, and Hurricanes Florence, capable of surviving deep-sea conditions. deep-sea fish look like, as they do not have menacing frames Isaac, and Helene are a stark reminder that we are not out of the An international team of researchers explored the or giant teeth. woods yet. Atacama Trench, known for its freezing cold and extreme The snailfish, if brought to the surface where pressure is Beyond the damage from wind and high surf, Hurricane Flor- pressures at depths of nearly 25,000 feet. They deployed normal and temperatures are higher, will rapidly melt. The ence is predicted to slow over the Carolinas where it may dump baited camera traps in the southeast Pacific Ocean to researchers, however, were able to bring a specimen back up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) of rain over much of North and try to uncover some of the mysteries of the trench, as to the surface relatively intact. The remains of the snailfish South Carolina. they recorded over 100 hours of footage. Three new fish species were preserved and are now being analyzed. Hurricane Isaac, churning in the mid-Atlantic Ocean with wind The scientists surprisingly found that the Atacama Scientists discovered what are currently being referred to The findings of the 40 scientists, which come from 17 speeds of around 75 miles per hour (120 kilometers per hour), is Trench was teeming with life, as different kinds of as the pink, blue, and purple Atacama snailfish. The footage countries will be presented at the Challenger Conference at following closely behind Florence. Behind Isaac, Hurricane Helene creatures flocked around the bait surrounding their that the scientists’ cameras took showed the three new fish Newcastle University. By revealing more information on the is gaining strength, with wind speeds of over 105 miles per hour (170 cameras. species eating the small crustaceans that were lured by the bait. creatures that live in the Atacama Trench, scientists will kilometers per hour) as of Monday afternoon. Among the creatures that the scientists observed were Newcastle University deep sea biologist Thomas Linley hopefully be able to protect them from the destruction Storms generally form over the equator, where the water temper- the rarely seen long-legged isopods named Munnopsids said that most expeditions discover new deep sea species, brought about by manmade activities. ature is especially high, then move north and west, pushed along by as well as three new fish species. but three new species at a time was something new for him. (Source: Tech Times) currents in the tropical Atlantic. (Source: sciencealert.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

National document on Will at last students have disabled-accessible cities approved winter break or not? SOCIETY SOCIETY TEHRAN — While Iran “Should the Majlis agree to change the TEHRAN — A national document which desk deskassigns all responsible organizations relat- tourism chief Ali-Asghar law, we will agree to winter break, oth- ed tasks on improving accessibility in cities for persons with Mounesan announced on Sunday that stu- erwise the break is not justifiable for the disabilities, has been approved, an official with the Welfare dents can enjoy a 5-day winter break this education system and would only benefit Organization has said. school year (starting on September 23) of- the tourism sector,” Tasnim news agency ficials at the supreme council of education quoted Adham as saying. and members of the parliament have voiced Mirhemayat Mirzadeh, a parliamentarian, their disagreements. also told ISNA news agency that education Mounesan counted the breaks as a group of Majlis do not agree with winter break chance to promote tourism especially in and the issue needs to be fully discussed. southern provinces with moderate weather “The cabinet can propose winter break during winter. within the framework of the seventh devel- In January, chief of the Department of opment plan (2022-2027),”Mirzadeh said, Environment Issa Kalantari, proposed one- stating that in the process of hammering out month break in late autumn and early winter clean air bill Majlis disapproved the article for Tehran and northern cities to “ward off of the bill proposing winter break. students from air pollution”. He proposed Majlis approved clean air bill in October the implementation of the break from De- 2016 which was supposed to help deal with cember 6 to January 5 and instead starting sources of pollution in the country. the school year in early September, howev- The break might only suit students living The national strategic document will be unveiled next er Education Minister Mohammad Bat’haei in metropolises while those students who month (September 23-October 22) by the head of the Wel- voiced his objection to a one-month break. live in villages are supposed to work at farm- fare Organization, IRNA quoted Ebrahim Kazemi Momen Bat’haei announced on May 16 that lands helping their parents and decreasing Saraei as saying on Tuesday. the school year will begin one week earli- summer holidays might even put them at a The document describes strategies and plans to construct all er (September 16) and end one week later disadvantage, he explained. IRNA/ Mohammad Zare buildings accessible to people with disabilities, and the country’s than normal, so that students will have a People are snow tubing on the hills in Ardebil, northwest Iran, in February 2017 MP Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi also ex- headquarters for increasing the cities’ accessibilities must follow two-week break during autumn or winter. plained that it is better to have a flexible up the strategies and regulations, he added. He didn’t reveal any more details on the In order to have a winter break the school school calendar, depending on climatic He went on to explain that the document is intended to describe exact date of the break. calendar must be altered so that students characteristic of each region, rather than the current situation of the country regarding the suitability of Navid Adham, secretary general for ed- having a fix start date nationwide. paths and buildings for the disabled, adding, “it also analyzes the ucation supreme council said on Tuesday should go to school as of September 1 or Karen Khanlari, another parliamen- internal and external environment on how to fit the necessary that while tourism chief takes the winter 11 to compensate for the vacation and that tarian, noted that “winter break might be standards for accessibility, and, devises a roadmap for the spe- break as a chance to boost tourism Educa- helpful in boosting tourism or mitigating cial working group to make the cities more disability- friendly.” tion Ministry is concerned with educational requires the Majlis [Iranian parliament] to air pollution, but since we never had such Experts have been working on the national document for consequences of holidays. approve a new law. holidays we cannot know about the negative about two years and have outlined their perspectives to reach In order to have a winter break the school impacts of it for sure.” the ideal roadmap for increasing the cities accessibility, he said. calendar must be altered so that students requires the Majlis [Iranian parliament] to very first day of the autumn as the beginning The school year is approaching fast, the The national document includes a five-year action plan should go to school as of September 1 or approve a new law. of school year nationwide and for all school discussions are still ongoing, and nobody which analyzes the country’s weaknesses and strengths be- 11 to compensate for the vacation and that Majlis passed a law in 1997, recognizing the grades and law hasn’t changed since then. knows what happens this winter. ing accessible for the people physically challenged, with the participation of representatives of the country’s responsible bodies and NGOS, he concluded. Tehraners donate $400,000 to support Earlier in July, the director of Iranian association for rights of persons with disabilities Ali Hemmat Mahmoudnejad said that a social working group tasked with increasing Tehran’s accessibility underprivileged students was established at Tehran’s Municipality, which has planned to SOCIETY TEHRAN — Benefactors in Tehran The second phase of the event will be held at schools desk equip 22 parks with accessible restrooms and drinking fountains have donated some 18 billion rials on October 3, where students can grant their donations to for people with disabilities. (nearly $400,000) for the financially struggling students those students in need, Fars quoted Hamidreza Shiran as Majlis [the Iranian parliament] approved both general out- through a charity event prior to the upcoming school year saying on Wednesday. lines and details of a bill on rights of persons with disabilities (starting September 23), head of the provincial Relief “Some 18 billion rials (about $400,000) have been do- on January 2018. Development of disability-friendly cities, Foundation has said. nated in Tehran to help underprivileged students for the free transportation, health insurance, free education, job cre- Known as Jashn-e Atefeha (literally meaning the festi- current school year,” he stated. ation, housing loans, and less working hours are some of the val of kindnesses), the event which solicits contributions Currently, some 11,334 students in different educational articles of the law which are hoped to improve such groups’ in-kind or cash by referring to schools, mosques or online grades and 1,933 college students in Tehran province are living conditions in the near future. banking, has been held for 22 years by Imam Khomeini provided with the educational services of the Foundation, Relief Foundation. he concluded. LEARN ENGLISH Environmental NGOs to be provided Air pollution now ‘biggest Going to the Doctor with insurance coverage environmental risk’ in Europe Doctor Evans: Good afternoon Chloe, I’m Doctor Evans. What seems to be the problem? Chloe: Hi, Dr. Evans. Thanks for seeing me on such short notice. When I woke up this morning I had a really sore throat and a really bad cough. I think I am coming down with the flu. Doctor Evans: Ah I see, yes you do sound rather croaky. Well let’s have a look, shall we? Could you please open your mouth and say “ah”? Chloe: “Ahhhhhhhh” Doctor Evans: Good, yes, your tonsils are a little swollen and red. How are your ears, blocked at all? Chloe: A little actually. My sinuses are a little blocked up as well – I really feel terrible. ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — The For- NGOs can help various organizations Air pollution is now the “biggest environ- have not been effective. Doctor Evans: Ok Chloe, can you please breathe in and out slowly deskests, Range, and Water- and once wildfire breaks out in an area mental risk” to public health in Europe, Labour’s deputy leader in the European for me while I listen to your chest? You really are all bunged up, shed Management Organization of Iran the locals and members of NGOs would causing an estimated 400,000 premature parliament, Seb Dance, said the government you don’t sound too good at all. Ok I’m going to set you up with will provide wildfire-trained crews who normally take part in containing the deaths a year, and most EU countries are had not made enough effort to meet EU a bunch of antibiotics. You will need to take these orange pills can suppress flames in non-governmen- fire, she stated. failing to meet air quality standards set limits, and said the Conservatives were twice a day and these blue pills every evening. You will also have tal organizations (NGOs) with insurance With the motto of 80 million ranger 20 years ago, a damning report by the EU not leading a “green Brexit.” to take this cough medicine three times a day after meals. Finally, coverage, an official with the Department (a sum equal to the population of the Court of Auditors has found. Yoann Le Petit from Transport and En- I am giving you an inhaler to use every time you feel breathless. of Environment (DOE) has said. country), the DOE has always encouraged EU air quality guidelines are often “much vironment, an organisation campaigning . . just to clear up your lungs! Environmental NGOs are those people to join hands in safeguarding the weaker than the World Health Organization for cleaner transport in Europe, said: “Too Chloe: Whoa! So many drugs. . .. I hate swallowing pills. Am I able to go to work? protect the environment and natural environment, she concluded. guidelines and what the latest scientific many member states put their efforts into Doctor Evans: Absolutely not! You are highly contagious! resources and their members would help Lack of enough equipment can cause evidence suggests,” the report says. hiding the real extent of the problem from You don’t want to infect the rest of your co-workers do you? rangers to put out fire in the event of any a great deal of problems for rangers and “Air pollution is the biggest environmen- their citizens rather than cleaning up the air.” I recommend staying in bed for at least three days and drinking wildfires, YJC quoted Jila Mehdi-Aqaei environmentalist who help in controlling tal risk to health in the European Union,” The report comes as a cross-party group plenty of fluids so you don’t get weak anddehydrated . You can as saying on Wednesday. wildfires. said Janusz Wojciechowski, the member of of 132 MPs and 52 peers have called on catch up on all the latest TV shows and movies! Mehdi-Aqaei further highlighted that On August 25 two rangers and two the European Court of Auditors responsible the UK government to cut greenhouse gas Chloe: Ok! Would you mind writing me a doctor’s note for members of the NGOs must be trained enviornmtal activists were killed while for the report. emissions to zero by 2050. work, otherwise they may think I am faking it! in wildfire suppression and that Forests, trying to extinguish the wildfire raging In addition, the report notes measures The current target is to cut emissions Doctor Evans: Ha-ha, sure not a problem! Here you are. Now Range, and Watershed Management in forests in Marivan, western province the European Commission has taken against by 80 per cent by the same year. off you go and away to bed. If you have any questions just give Organization will support such NGOs. of Kordestan. countries which breach emissions limits (Source: The Independent) me a call! Feel better soon and take care. Chloe: Thanks doc, bye! Key vocabulary ENGLISH IN USE come down with: get sick swollen: some parts are bigger than others due to a certain LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION antibiotics: chemical substance that can kill a virus contagious: having a sickness that other people can catch افتتاح بیش از هزار واحد مسکونی برای خانواده های dehydrated: not having enough water in the body Over dozen housing units inaugurated a doctor’s note: note from doctor explaining a patient’s absence دارای ۲ معلول due to sickness for families with disabled members Supplementary vocabulary سرپرســت وزارت تعــاون، کار و رفــاه اجتماعــی عنــوان کــرد: بیــش از یـ ـک هــزار injection: a liquid injected into the body for medicinal purposes Over a thousand houses have been inaugurated for the families with two or مســکن در کشــور بــرای خانوادههایــی کــه دارای ۲ معلــول افتتــاح شــد. .by use of a needle more physically challenged members, labor ministry’s caretaker has said بــه گــزارش گــروه اجتماعــی باشــگاه خبرنــگاران پویــا؛ انوشــیروان محســنی بندپــی waiting room: a room for people to wait before going in to “Some 1573 families having two or more members with disabilities under see the doctor the Welfare Organization’s coverage have been given houses”, Tasnim اظهــار کــرد: یکهــزار و 573 مســکن در کشــور بــرای خانوادههایــی کــه دارای stethoscope: instrument used for listening to sounds produced 2 معلــول و تحــت پوشــش بهزیســتی هســتند، افتتــاح شــد. .within the body, such as the heartbeat quoted Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey as saying otoscope: instrument for examining the interior of the ear, especially the eardrum, consisting essentially of a magnifying lens and a light PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM “-gen, -gene, -genic, -geny” Knuckle down Chance one’s arm Without Meaning: produces or is produced Meaning: to suddenly start working or studying hard Explanation: to decide to do something even though earth no For example: Healthy soldiers were taken down with For example: If he doesn’t knuckle down soon, he’ll there is little hope of success phosgene gas poisoning up to 48 hours after inhalation. never get through those exams. For example: Tony knew there was little hope of getting birth! into Harvard but he decided to chance his arm anyway. ساعت: 19:40 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 Palestinian sentenced to 35 years for Iran, Russia call for alleged stabbing attack near Old City continued anti-terror fight in By staff & agencies A spokesman for Palestinian President Syria at UN Security Council An Israeli court has sentenced a paralyz- Mahmoud Abbas said on August 31 that ed young Palestinian man to 35 years in the recent U.S. decision in freezing the Turkey boosts arms to Syrian rebels prison for allegedly stabbing two police funding of the UNRWA is a “flagrant as- officers at the Herod’s Gate to the Old sault” against Palestinians. At the UN Security Council, Iran and Russia have underlined the City of al-Quds (Jerusalem) two years ago. “The consecutive American decisions need to purge Takfiri terrorists from their last major stronghold On Wednesday, the three-judge panel represent a flagrant assault against the in Syria amid strong objections by sponsors of militant groups of the so-called Jerusalem District Court Palestinian people and a defiance of the fighting against the Syrian government. stated that the sentence against 21-year- UN resolutions,” Nabil Abu Rdainah said, old Ayman Kurd was long, but said “it was adding, “Such a punishment will not suc- necessary, given the severe and exceptional ceed to change the fact that the United circumstances of his acts and their serious States no longer has a role in the region outcomes.” and that it is not a part of the solution.” Israeli officials say Kurd seriously Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman wounded 38-year-old policewoman Tzipi Safadi also said that the U.S. decision Ya’akobian and moderately injured her to stop funding the UNRWA would only 47-year-old male colleague on September fuel radicalism and harm prospects for 19, 2016. Middle East peace. The young Palestinian man purportedly Safadi, whose country is a key U.S. knifed the policeman in the neck from In response, the Palestinian Authority Meanwhile, France, Germany, Italy, ally, said at the Arab League that Jordan behind and then stabbed Ya’akobian a (PA) said the move would allow Israel to Spain and Britain have issued a joint state- would hold a meeting “in cooperation with number of times in her head and neck. At continue “their policies against the Pal- ment in support of the village. Sweden, Germany, Japan, the European that point, the policeman drew a weapon estinian people and land” The five countries have called upon Tel Union and Turkey” on the sidelines of and shot at Kurd a number of times. “It is a declaration of war on efforts to Aviv to cancel its plan to demolish Khan the UN General Assembly meeting later The attack left Ya’akobian permanently bring peace to our country and the region,” al-Ahmar, stressing that the demolition this month “in an effort to get more aid.” disabled after her spinal cord was severed. PA spokesman Yousef al-Mahmoud was and displacement of its residents will have The top Jordanian diplomat did not Kurd was also left unable to walk due quoted as saying by Wafa news agency. serious repercussions on the locals, es- give more details. to the gunshot wounds he suffered, and PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat pecially on children. The occupied territories have witnessed During a meeting on Tuesday, Iran’s Ambassador to the UN is confined to a wheelchair. said in a statement the decision was “yet Human rights organizations have new tensions ever since the U.S. President Gholamali Khoshroo defended the counter-terrorism fight in The district court charged Kurd with another affirmation of the Trump admin- warned that the demolition of Khan al-Ah- on December 6, 2017 announced Washing- Syria’s Idlib Province, saying it its part of the procedure to restore two counts of attempted murder and one istration’s policy to collectively punish the mar village could enable the Israeli regime ton’s recognition of al-Quds (Jerusalem) security to the war-torn state. count of carrying a proscribed weapon. Palestinian people, including by cutting to press ahead with its land expropria- as Israel’s “capital” and said the U.S. would Iran, Russia and Turkey, the three guarantor states of the It also ordered the young Palestinian financial support for humanitarian services tion and settlement expansion policies move its embassy to the city. Syria peace process, believe that civilians should be taken into to pay restitution to both police officers including health and education”. in Palestinian territories irrespective of The dramatic decision triggered demon- account in the Idlib liberation operation, he added. – 258,000 shekels ($71,930) to Ya’ako- Palestinians renew ICC push international law and regulations. strations in the occupied Palestinian ter- Khoshroo also described dialog as the only way to resolve the bian and 70,000 shekels ($19,516) to the against Israel over West Bank village The Palestinians’ decision to bring the ritories and elsewhere in the world. Syria crisis, saying that last week’s summit in Tehran affirmed policeman. A high-ranking Palestinian official says issue of Khan al-Ahmar before the ICC The status of al-Quds (Jerusalem) is the Syrian people’s right to determine their own fate. Palestinian mission in Washington the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority came a day after the administration of the the thorniest issue in the decades-long He further warned against attempts by certain states to stage given a month to pack up has submitted a new complaint over an United States President Donald Trump Israeli-Palestinian conflict. a false-flag chemical attack in Syria and then accuse the govern- Meantime, the Palestinian envoy to Israeli “war crime” against a village in the announced that it was closing the PLO’s The Palestinians see East al-Quds ment of President Bashar al-Assad of using chemical weapons Washington says his staffers have been occupied West Bank at the International diplomatic mission in Washington. (Jerusalem) as the capital of their fu- against its own people. given a month to pack up after the Trump Criminal Court (ICC). Back in July, Palestinians had turned ture state. The latest “fake” news on the possible use of chemicals by the administration ordered the Palestine Lib- Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of the to the ICC over Israel’s plan to demolish Moreover, nearly 175 Palestinians have Syrian government is nothing more than a scenario to justify eration Organization (PLO) mission closed. PLO, said on Tuesday that the dossier Khan al-Ahmar. been killed by Israeli forces ever since another Western military aggression against the country, the Husam Zomlot told The Associated “included a focus on the war crimes facing End of U.S. funding to UNRWA; “The Great March of Return” protest ral- Iranian envoy noted. Press on Tuesday that the closure would not Khan al-Ahmar, specifically the crimes of attack on international law: Pales- lies began in the Gaza Strip on March 30. Touching on Iran’s military advisory mission in Syria, Kho- deter Palestinians from seeking a state with forcible displacement, ethnic cleansing tine’s FM A total of 19,139 Palestinians have also shroo said that the Islamic Republic is fighting terrorism at the east al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital. and the destruction of civilian property.” Elsewhere, Palestinian Foreign Minis- sustained injuries. request of the Damascus government. The United States National Security He added that the PLO had also asked ter Riyad al-Maliki says a decision by the The Gaza clashes reached their peak on On the contrary, he said, the U.S. military presence in Syria Adviser John Bolton said on Monday that ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to expe- administration of Trump to halt funding May 14, on the eve of the 70th anniversary is illegal and violates the UN Charter. the mission was being shut because the dite a preliminary probe into other Israeli to the United Nations Relief and Works of Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe), which The Security Council met at Russia’s request to brief the PLO, in his words, had not taken steps war crimes. Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) coincided this year with the U.S. embassy 15-member body on the outcome of the Tehran summit, which toward negotiations with Israel. “We hope that an official judicial inves- was an attack on international law. relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied East was attended by the Iranian, Russian and Turkish presidents. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas tigation can be opened as soon as possible,” “The U.S. administration has begun to al-Quds (Jerusalem). In turn, Russia’s UN Envoy Vasily Nebenzya told the UNSC halted ties with the Trump administra- Erekat noted. attack the rights of the Palestinian people On June 13, the United Nations General that foreign-backed Idlib terrorists should not be shielded and tion in December after the U.S. recognized Last week, the Israeli High Court and international law,” Maliki said at a Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution, allowed to hold civilians hostage. contested al-Quds (Jerusalem) as Israel’s approved plans for the demolition of meeting of the Arab League in Cairo on sponsored by Turkey and Algeria, con- “Terrorists must not be allowed to hold hostages indefinitely capital. Khan al-Ahmar village east of al-Quds Tuesday convened to discuss the issue. demning Israel for Palestinian civilian and use hundreds of thousands of civilians in Idlib as a human Zomlot was called home by Abbas in (Jerusalem). It could be razed within the Late last month, the Trump’s adminis- deaths in the Gaza Strip. shield,” he said, adding that “it is impossible to exist side by side the spring as part of the crisis. coming days. tration decided to cancel all U.S. funding The resolution called on UN Sec- with terrorists.” In a statement on Monday, the U.S. State The European Union has warned against to the UNRWA, part of a policy to impose retary General Antonio Guterres to Nebenzya emphasized that the de-escalation zones in Syria Department said the PLO office “has not the consequences of tearing down the vil- maximum pressure on the Palestinians to make proposals within 60 days “on were created as “temporary entities,” not permanent ones. taken steps to advance the start of direct lage’s tents and tin shacks. satisfy the Israeli regime’s interests and ways and means for ensuring the safe- “Sooner or later, they were to be replaced, first by local truces. and meaningful negotiations with Israel”. French Foreign minister Jean-Yves Zionist constituencies in the U.S. ty, protection, and well-being of the And in those cases where that did not take place, by an anti-terrorist “We have permitted the PLO office to Le Drian said his country was “paying The U.S. administration has already Palestinian civilian population under operation, which happened in other de-escalation areas, which conduct operations that support the objec- particular attention to the case of Khan announced a steady stream of cuts in aid Israeli occupation,” including “recom- are currently under the control of Syrian authorities,” he said. tive of achieving a lasting, comprehensive al-Ahmar given its location in an area of for Palestinians. The U.S. State Depart- mendations regarding an international Nebenzya dismissed plans by the Syrian government to conduct peace between Israelis and the Palestinians strategic importance for the contiguity ment announced in January that it would protection mechanism.” a gas attack, saying that there was “irrefutable proof” showing since the expiration of a previous waiver of a Palestinian state and for the viabil- withhold $65 million of a $125 million It also called for “immediate steps that the militants were planning such an assault. in November 2017,” the statement said. ity of a two-state solution with al-Quds aid installment to UNRWA. towards ending the closure and the Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said that It added the PLO leadership “has con- (Jerusalem) as the capital.” The State Department also announced restrictions imposed by Israel on Washington would consider any large-scale military campaign on demned a U.S. peace plan they have not He also warned “of the potential human- that Washington has canceled over $200 movement and access into and out of Idlib as a “reckless escalation” and called on Russia to prevent it. yet seen and refused to engage with the itarian as well as political consequences million in funds for the Palestinian Au- the Gaza Strip.” “Russia, Iran and Assad are demolishing Idlib and asking us U.S. government with respect to peace of the demolition of this village and the thority, leading Palestinian officials to to call it peace,” she said, warning that Washington would not efforts and otherwise”. displacement of its inhabitants.” denounce the move as “blackmail.” tolerate the use of chemical weapons. Nebenzya fired back and accused some Security Council mem- ber states of escalating rhetoric. Russia’s Putin tells Japan’s Abe: ‘Let’s sign peace deal this year’ “The wordings started sounding basically along the lines that Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday suggest- Abe smiled at the suggestion. saying force against a sovereign state — Syria — can be used, and ed that Russia and Japan should sign a much-anticipated For the past several years Putin and Abe have been not only related to alleged use of chemical weapons, but basically peace treaty formally ending hostilities from World War discussing ways to solve the longstanding dispute, in- also if there is a military operation in Idlib,” he said. “We are not II before the end of the year. cluding making the four most southern of the Kuril Is- talking about a military operation. It’s an anti-terrorist operation.” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been pushing lands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories, a joint Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, UN Secretary General Antonio for a way forward in the dispute, with the two leaders hold- economic zone. Guterres appealed to Russia, Iran and Turkey to find ways to ing numerous meetings and reportedly getting as close to Speaking at the economic conference in Vladivostok protect Idlib civilians and avoid a full-scale battle there. solving the row as they have ever been. earlier on Wednesday Abe said he and Putin share an opinion “It is important that those — especially the three guarantors Speaking at an economic conference in Russia’s Far East, “that this is not normal” that the two countries still have of the Astana process — find a way in which it is possible to isolate Putin suggested that Russia and Japan sign the treaty this not signed a peace treaty. terrorist groups. And it is possible to create a situation in which year and solve the territorial dispute later. “Japan and Russia - both President Putin and myself civilians will not be the price paid to solve the problem of Idlib,” “Let’s sign the peace treaty - not now, but before the - share the same position and determination to solve our he told reporters. end of the year, without any preconditions,” Putin said, territorial disputes,” he said in comments carried by Rus- Guterres also said he understood that the situation in Idlib was addressing Abe who was also sitting at the same panel. “And sian news agencies. “And to that end we need to meet more unsustainable, but “fighting terrorism does not absolve warring later we will continue to talk about all of our disagreements often and figure out common positions.” parties of their core obligations under international law.” as friends on the basis of a peace treaty.” (Source: AP) ----Turkey boosts arms to Syrian rebels Meanwhile, Turkey has stepped up arms supplies to Syrian rebels to help them stave off an expected offensive by the Syrian army and its allies in the northwest near the Turkish frontier, About 50 Conservative lawmakers discuss ousting PM May rebel sources told Reuters. A group of about 50 lawmakers in British The lawmakers, part of the European Re- already submitted letters of no confidence The ERG has condemned May’s plans Senior rebel officials said Turkey had sent more military aid Prime Minister Theresa May’s government search Group (ERG), an anti-EU grouping in in May, the source told the BBC. Under for Britain to remain in a free trade zone for to rebels in and around the Idlib region since a summit meeting who oppose her proposals for a post-Brexit May’s Conservative party, met on Tuesday Conservative rules, a leadership election goods with the EU after it leaves the bloc in with Iran and Russia last week failed to agree a deal to avert a deal with the European Union have met to night and openly discussed May’s future as is triggered if 15 percent of Conservative March next year, but has faced criticism itself government offensive into the area. discuss how and when they could force her out leader, the BBC said citing an unnamed source. lawmakers, currently 48, demand a vote for failing to suggest a detailed alternative. Turkey, which is already hosting 3.5 million Syrian refugees, of her job, the BBC reported on Wednesday. A number at the meeting said they had of no confidence. (Source: Daily Star) is warning against such an attack, fearing it could force more Syrians over the border. President Tayyip Erdogan has warned of a humanitarian disaster and security risks for Turkey. Afghanistan: Death toll soars to 68 in suicide bomb attack “They pledged complete Turkish military support for a long, 1 The attack was one of the worst in Afghanistan for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the suicide Wednesday killed at least 20 people and wounded 70 others. protracted battle,” a senior FSA commander who was privy to months but security officials have warned that similar at- attack, as well as the school bombings in Nangarhar. Two journalists - a reporter and cameraman - working for talks in recent days with senior Turkish officials said, requesting tacks are likely if crowds gather for campaign rallies ahead In a statement, he said that “attacks on civilian facil- local Tolo News were among the dead. anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly. of parliamentary elections in October. ities, mosques, women, children, are all crimes against On Sunday, a suicide bomber detonated his explo- The weapons, which have entered Syria in large quantities in “... the explosion happened and I found myself surrounded humanity”. sives close to a procession commemorating the death of a recent days, include ammunition and GRAD rockets. by blood and flesh,” Zar Khan, one of the injured, told AFP The Taliban denied any involvement in the attacks and former anti-Soviet and anti-Taliban commander, Ahmed “These arms supplies and munitions will allow the battle to news agency. no other group claimed responsibility for the violence. Shah Massoud, killing at least seven people and wounding 24. extend and ensure our supplies are not drained in a war of at- Bombing schools Nangarhar has been a main stronghold of Islamic State A ceasefire in June between the Taliban and the gov- trition,” the commander added. The deadly suicide attack came hours after multiple of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) fighters ernment - as well as talks between US officials and Taliban A second rebel commander said: “They are getting new ship- bombings targeted schools in Jalalabad. since early 2015. representatives in Qatar in July - raised hopes the 17-year ments of munitions — they don’t need more than munitions.” One blast went off at the entrance of Malika Omaira Attacks continue conflict could end with negotiations. “The Turks are making sure they have enough munitions that girls’ school in the morning, killing a 14-year-old boy and A number of attacks across Afghanistan in recent weeks However, the country has since seen a rise in deadly keep them going for a long while,” he added. wounding four other people. It was followed by two explo- have killed hundreds of civilians and prominent journalists. attacks that have targeted civilians. Turkish officials could not immediately be reached for comment. sions in Behsud district, also near two schools. Twin bombings at a sports club in the capital Kabul last (Source: Al Jazeera) (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

Spain’s anti-doping agency Record world champion Vogel investigating alleged Denis Cheryshev injection ready for new life after crash World and Olympic champion Kristina Vo- Spain’s anti-doping agency AEPSAD has told ESPN FC it is inves- gel, who was paralysed following a training tigating the growth hormone injection allegedly given to Denis crash in June, said on Wednesday she was Cheryshev by Villarreal. Cheryshev, who scored four goals in ready to tackle her new life but has had no five World Cup games for Russia as they reached the World Cup contact with the Dutch rider involved in quarterfinals, denied taking a banned substance following remarks the collision. attributed to his father, Dimitri, in a Russian publication last year. In a news conference at the Berlin hospital The publication reported Dimitri Cheryshev as saying Vil- where she has been treated, Vogel, a record larreal staff had administered the growth hormone to treat an 11-time world champion, said she had ac- injury, but later said he had meant to refer to a legal substance cepted the fact that she would not walk again “growth factor” and was misunderstood. “We have opened an moments after the accident at the Cottbus investigation to get more information regarding this case,” an Sport Centre Velodrome. AEPSAD spokesman told ESPN FC. “I said ‘breathe, breathe, breathe’ and “We are investigating the case in collaboration with the Rus- then I checked,” she said of the collision in sian Anti-Doping Agency and we are in contact with the World which part-time police officer Vogel suffered Anti-Doping Agency. serious spinal and chest injuries. (Source: Soccernet) “Then I saw where I lay, how I was. When my shoes were off I knew that this was it with the walking. I realised quickly I would not walk again.” France keeper Lloris gets She underwent back and chest surgery and earlier this month announced she had 20-month ban for drink-driving been paralysed. Vogel said neither the cyclist who had France’s World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris has been banned crashed with her, nor the Dutch cycling fed- from driving for 20 months and fined after pleading guilty to a eration had been in touch with her. charge of drink driving, British media reported on Wednesday. “I have had no contact with the rider,” a The 31-year-old Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper admitted being smiling Vogel, sitting next to her doctors, more than twice above the drink-drive limit of 35 micrograms said. “Neither the Dutch federation nor the when he was stopped by police in central London last month. rider have been in contact.” Lloris, who won the World Cup with France in July, was fined Vogel added she was looking forward 50,000 pounds at Westminster Magistrates’ court. to an independent life and to find a role in Prosecutor Henry Fitch said police found Lloris in an unmarked her sport. life. Asking ‘why me’ does not bring you any serious injuries when she was hit by a min- won gold in the individual sprint despite her car driving at 15mph in a 30mph zone. “Tears will not help. It is what it is,” she further. ibus in 2009 while riding near her home, saddle breaking at 60kph in the closing me- The court heard that Lloris veered his car “towards parked said. “For the first time I have time to take being placed in a medically-induced coma. tres of the final. vehicles” before correcting himself and went through a red light. “I am ready to take on this challenge and decisions for me, to be free and learn step However, she battled back to win Olympic Vogel has won 11 world titles — a record David Sonn, defending, said the “spectacular fall from grace” make the best of it. I want to get back into by step what I need to. I want to do things gold in the track cycling team sprint at the she shares with Australian great Anna Meares. was not lost on Lloris. “On July 15 he was arguably the proudest life, not depend on a lot of help. I must use for cycling. I want to give something back.” London Games in 2012. She also has three European golds. man on the planet (having captained France to a World Cup this strength I had in competitions for my The 27-year-old had previously suffered At the Rio Olympics four years later she (Source: Eurosport) triumph),” Sonn was quoted as saying by the BBC. “Just 40 days later, he was arrested. He experienced the indig- nity of being handcuffed and put in a police station overnight.” Real Madrid influence shines through Disaster risks make 2020 planning Magistrate Amanda Barron said it was “pure luck” that Lloris did not cause damage to other vehicles or pedestrians. Luis Enrique’s resurgent Spain ‘more complex’ - IOC’s Coates Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for British road safety charity Brake, said it was disappointing to see a role model such as Lloris admitting to breaking the law by drink driving. “We expect the captain of Tottenham Hotspur and his national team to be setting a good example, not flouting the law in such a manner,” Harris said in a statement. “This kind of dangerous behaviour is selfish, illegal and puts lives at risk.” (Source: Reuters)

President Weah makes surprise return against Nigeria

Liberia president and former World Footballer of the Year George Weah made a surprise return to international competition in Monrovia on Tuesday, playing in a 2-1 loss to Nigeria a few weeks short of his 52nd birthday. Spain’s golden era is often described as scored by Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez, Planning for the Tokyo 2020 Games has just off the western city of Osaka. Liberia had arranged the friendly to retire the number 14 being constructed on a base of Barcelona but it was provided by a cross from Real’s been made harder because of the high disas- He said he knew organizers were taking jersey made famous by Weah but fans were in for a shock when, players but the team’s future looks set to Dani Carvajal after a cross-field pass by ter risks in Japan, a reality hammered home the issue seriously and factoring it into 16 years after his last international appearance, the striker led revolve around footballers from Real Ma- Real midfielder Dani Ceballos, who was by a deadly typhoon and earthquake just their planning and scheduling. the national team onto the pitch wearing it instead. drid if the resounding 6-0 hammering of making his international debut. last week, International Olympic Commit- “In Sydney, we had a simulation exer- Media reports said Weah, who led the attack and showed Croatia on Tuesday is anything to go by. Luis Enrique played for Real for five tee (IOC) member and top Tokyo planner cise one week of what could go wrong, but glimpses of the class that made him a household name around Four of the six goals Spain scored in seasons but in 1996 made a controversial John Coates said on Wednesday. they were all disasters that we dreamt up: the world, received a standing ovation from fans when he was the UEFA Nations League game at Elche move to arch rivals Barcelona, where he Western Japan last week was hit by a train coming off the rails out in the Blue substituted on 79 minutes. came from Real players, who comprised spent the rest of his career and also had the strongest typhoon to strike the nation Mountains, someone bursting through and Goals from Henry Onyekuru and Simeon Nwankwo helped six of the starting 11 of the national team a trophy-filled three-year spell as coach in 25 years, and then just days later by attacking one of the marathon runners. Nigeria to a 2-0 lead before the hosts pulled one back through a for the first time in 16 years. between 2014 and 2017. an earthquake that paralyzed the north- Those sorts of things,” he added. Kpah Sherman penalty late in the game. The line-up allayed fears aired in the He was rarely shy in expressing his opin- ernmost main island of Hokkaido and left “But you don’t have to dream anything Weah enjoyed a career in Europe spanning nearly a decade Spanish media when former Barca coach ion about Real, once saying “it’s gratifying roughly 40 dead. up in this country, it’s very sad to say.” and a half that saw him play for Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain Luis Enrique was appointed as manager to be booed at the Santiago Bernabeu” and Japan also suffered through a summer Coates, who was in Tokyo for a two-day and Marseille in France, AC Milan in Italy and English sides that he would exclude players from Real later remarked he did not even like to men- of record-breaking heat and deadly, torren- IOC project review meeting, said he was Manchester City and Chelsea. due to his previous dislike for the club. tion the club’s name. tial rains in July that unleashed landslides pleased with how things were shaping up, As well as being named the 1995 World Footballer of the Year, It was striking, however, that midfielder Those words were reprised in the Spanish and flooding. including deciding the last piece of event he also won the Ballon d’Or in the same year and remains the Sergio Busquets was the only Barcelona media when he was named Julen Lopetegui’s Coates, who is chairman of the Coordina- scheduling, that of swimming. only African to win either award. player to be included in the team, a marked successor as Spain coach in July. However, tion Commission for Tokyo 2020, admitted The finals will be held in the morning and Weah’s popularity from his playing career saw him secure contrast from when Spain won the 2010 it appeared after the thumping of Croatia, that the two disasters just a week before the heats in the evenings - a schedule that a landslide run-off win last December in Liberia’s presidential World Cup and Euro 2012 by starting six which came three days after a 2-1 win in had been a bit of a reality check about the had been widely expected but drew protests elections. Barca players in each final. his first game against England, that the planning difficulties for what are already from the Japanese Swimming Federation (Source: AOL) Real forward Marco Asensio dominated coach bore no grudges. extremely complex Games due to the largest (JSF) in July, which expressed disappoint- the headlines with two venomous strikes “I didn’t know I had picked six Real number of sports and events ever. ment that local television viewers will not against Croatia — the second was officially Madrid players and I’m not interested, to “So what happened last week and what be able to watch finals in a prime-time slot. given as an own goal to goalkeeper Lovre me they play for the Spanish national team happened in Osaka certainly have hit home Tokyo 2020 later said in a statement Rose reveals angry halftime Kalinic — and three assists. Asensio’s club and that’s that,” he told a news conference. to me, and I know the Organising Com- that swimming events will be held for nine team mates Sergio Ramos and Isco also “If the base of the team is Real Madrid, mittee, about the further complexity of days from July 25, with all heats being held exchange between England scored in the biggest defeat in Croatia’s I think that’s fine. I only see one shirt, the planning these games,” Coates told a news in the evening and finals taking place the history. Spain shirt.” conference, referring to a storm surge that following morning. players Spain’s opening goal may have been (Source: Mirror) submerged Kansai International Airport (Source: Reuters)

England’s players did not hold back from criticising each other at halftime following a bad start to Tuesday’s friendly against Switzerland and defender Danny Rose believes the exchange Embattled umpire Ramos ‘good’ despite U.S. Open controversy helped them improve and seal a 1-0 victory. England, who made nine changes to the starting line-up for Umpire Carlos Ramos has made his first public statement game for three code violations during the match, including the clash, allowed Switzerland to control the match in the first since the U.S. Open, saying he was “good” despite the firestorm breaking a racket and verbally abusing the umpire. period but returned much sharper to secure the win through of controversy that followed his officiating of last weekend’s Billie Jean King, the former world number one who forward Marcus Rashford’s 54th minute strike. women’s final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. founded the WTA in the 1970s, said on Tuesday all sides “We could have been two or three-nil down at halftime,” Tot- The 47-year-old Portuguese handed out three code vi- shared blame for the incident, saying Williams was “out of tenham Hotspur’s Rose told BBC Radio 5 live. “It’s great we can olations to runner-up Williams on Saturday, prompting a line” but that Ramos could have prevented the controversy all shout at each other and tell each other to improve like we did.” heated on-court argument with the 23-times Grand Slam with more leniency and clearer communication. Manager Gareth Southgate said he encouraged dialogue be- champion and sparking a debate about sexism in tennis. Ramos was unable to defend himself in public in New tween his players but added that he had to step in during the “I am good, under the circumstances,” Ramos was quoted York as the row escalated over the weekend as ITF rules break to keep things calm in the dressing room. as saying in Portugal’s Tribuna Expresso. “It’s an unhappy prevent umpires from commenting on their matches. “The players certainly had a lot to say to each other when they situation but a la carte refereeing doesn’t exist. The incident sparked another social media storm on first got into the dressing room. It was important then that we “Don’t you worry about me!” Monday when a cartoon was published in an Australian solved a couple of the problems they were facing and kept things Ramos, who told the newspaper that he had avoided newspaper depicting Williams with exaggerated features, calm,” Southgate said. walking the streets of New York on Sunday to avoid any which civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson among others “We expect and encourage it because they’re intelligent foot- “complicated situations”, confirmed he would be back in described as “racist”. ballers and it’s important they have a view.” the chair on Friday in Zadar, Croatia. men’s team event, between Croatia and the United States. The Herald Sun, owned by News Corp, defied allegations England, who avoided a fourth straight defeat, return to action The International Tennis Federation (ITF), which on The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and Women’s of racism on Wednesday when it reprinted the cartoon on with UEFA Nations League matches against World Cup finalists Monday issued a statement describing Ramos as one of Tennis Association (WTA) both publicly backed the allega- its front page, attempting to portray the controversy as a Croatia and former champions Spain next month. the most respected umpires in tennis, has appointed him tions of sexism levelled at Ramos after Saturday’s match. matter of freedom of speech. (Source: Goal) to officiate the semi-final of the Davis Cup, the international Williams was fined $17,000 and docked a point and a (Source: Euronews) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 SPORTS 15 Iran’s Siamand Rahman collects gold at Iran edge past Uzbekistan Asia-Oceania Open Powerlifting C’ships in friendly SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran national football team deskdefeated Uzbekistan 1-0 in a friendly SPORTS TEHRAN — Siamand Rahman match on Tuesday as part of preparation for the 2019 deskfrom Iran claimed a gold medal AFC Asian Cup. at the Asia-Oceania Open Powerlifting Champi- onships on Wednesday. Rahman may not have broken a record this time but his sole presence put him in the spotlight as he comfort- ably won the gold medal. The world´s strongest Paralympian won the gold thanks to a 280 kg lift in the men’s over 107kg. “I will put my gold medal together with my others in my room,” Rahman told Paralympic.org. “It is hard to describe my feelings right now, but I can say that I will surprise everyone at the Asian Para Games and, later on, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games,” two-time Paralympics gold medal winner added. Rahman has already shared that he will attempt to break his own 310kg world record at Indonesia 2018, in October. His compatriot Mansour Pourmirzaei won the Substitute Mehdi Torabi scored the only goal of the silver medal by lifting up 245kg. match in the 67th minute in Tashkent’s Bunyodkor Stadium. The bronze medal went to Iraqi Faris Al-Ageeli Iran have been drawn in Group D of the AFC Asian who lifted 240kg. Cup along with Iraq, Yemen and Vietnam. Iran became runners-up with three gold, five silver Hector Cuper’s Uzbekistan are in Group F with Japan, and two bronze medals. Oman and Turkmenistan. China won the championship, claiming 14 gold, Team Melli will also play a friendly match with Bolivia six silver and four bronze medals. in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium ahead of the AFC Asian Cup. Japan sit third with two gold and one bronze medal. The five-day competition took place in Kitakyushu, Japan with participation of 200 powerlifters from 29 countries. Iran grabs gold at Asian Iran begin FIVB World Championship skate champs IRNA — Iranian athlete Mohammad Salehi received a gold medal at the 18th Asian Roller-Skating Champi- with remarkable win over Puerto Rico onships, which is underway in Namwon, South Korea. SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran defeated Puerto Rico Tickets for the semifinals and final in Turin, Italy, Salehi ranked first in the 100-meter speed category. deskin straight sets (25-19, 25-15, 25-18 )at have almost sold out as excitement builds around the He had earlier snatched a bronze medal at the one- their opening match in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s FIVB’s engaging new sports presentation, which includes lap category. World Championship. a courtside DJ and MC to maximize fan experience. How- The 18th Asian Roller-Skating Championships kicked Team Melli will play hosts Bulgaria in Pool D on ever, there are still a few opportunities left to secure seats off on September 4 and will end on September 14. Thursday. for one of world volleyball’s most prestigious events. Iranian national roller-skate team has participated The Men’s World Championship has become the most With the event being jointly hosted for the first time in the event in the speed, freestyle, and in-line skating in-demand event in Bulgaria, after it was confirmed by in FIVB history, more fans than ever before can wit- categories in both men and women disciplines. the country’s leading online ticket retailer, eventim.bg, ness the incredible athleticism up close. Teams will play that tickets for matches in Varna had reached number throughout Italy and Bulgaria, competing for a spot in one on the website’s most searched list. the third and final round. Iran beach soccer to hold Will Iran extend winning run against new-look Philippines? training camp in Portugal Iran are aiming to extend their win streak in the Asian Iran outlook: TASNIM — Iran national beach soccer team will hold a Qualifiers, but the feisty Filipinos of Team Pilipinas Iran have not yet lost at home, and as long as their training camp in mid-October in Portugal. stand in their way. form holds true, they should remain unbeaten even in The training camp will be held as part of preparation Will team Melli keep their clean sheet at home, or will the face of a highly motivated and rejigged Philippines. for the 2018 Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup. the new-look Philippine national team spring an upset? Even if 7-footer Greg Slaughter is fit and ready to bang The eighth edition of the Beach Soccer Intercontinental Key matchup: bodies with Haddadi, the latter still holds a clear advan- Cup will be held in Dubai from November 6 to 10. New Team Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao has yet to name tage and should have little trouble making a big impact “Iran will play several friendly matches with the Por- his final 12-man roster for this game, but he made it clear that in this contest. Bahrami should also be in fine form, and tuguese clubs in this camp. Portugal sit second in the he is planning to have Christian Standhardinger up front. If with rising stars Behnam Yakhchali, Sajjad Mashayekhi world ranking and playing with the country’s teams could so, the Filipino-German big man should have an interesting and Meisam Mirzaei also chipping in, Iran are heavily strengthen us for the Intercontinental Cup,” Iran coach time matching up against Iranian behemoth Hamed Haddadi. favored to notch their sixth straight triumph. Abbas Hashempour said. At just 6ft 8in, (2.02m), Standhardinger gives up a lot of size Philippines outlook: against Haddadi, but what Standhardinger lacks in inches Philippine basketball has received a much needed shot he more than makes up for in cunning. If Standhardinger is in the arm thanks to a new head coach and a slew of new Qatar’s Al Haydos celebrates able to sink some midrange shots while also effectively run players injected into the pool. Not having Andray Blatche the break, he can give even the seasoned Haddadi some fits. or June Mar Fajardo to matchup with Haddadi will hurt, 100th cap in style X-factor: but if Standhardinger is able to hold down the frontline Samad Nikkhah Bahrami was one of the surprise pack- together with Slaughter, JP Erram and Raymond Almazan, ages for Iran in the first round, leading the Asian Qualifiers 2011, this should be a very interesting reunion. It’s un- then they have a chance. Needless to say, perimeter play Hassan Al Haydos celebrated his 100th international match in assists with nearly 7 a game, and his playmaking will be canny how Bahrami continues to find new ways to still needs to be sharp for the Filipinos, and that means a lot in goalscoring fashion as Qatar registered a resounding a critical factor for Iran’s chances to keep their winning be quite effective for Iran, while Lassiter has risen to be of pressure on Lassiter, Gabe Norwood, Paul Lee and 3-0 victory over Palestine in a friendly at the Khalifa In- ways. An old foe - Marcio Lassiter - awaits Bahrami, and the Philippines’ top shooting guard. It should be a very newly inserted Alex Cabagnot to produce. ternational Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. since the last time they faced each other was way back in entertaining and competitive matchup. (Source: FIBA) The Qatar skipper played an integral part in his team getting off to a roaring start as he provided the assist from which Almoez Ali struck in the third minute. Akram Afif made it 2-0 in the 19th minute before Al Usain Bolt would work better as a Haydos capped a memorable night for himself by scoring the third in the 29th as Qatar added to the 1-0 win over China PR last Friday. defender - ex-Real Madrid boss Vicente del Bosque The Al Sadd striker was ecstatic with the result, which Former Spain coach Vicente del Bosque are better suited as a full-back. has prepared. Without a doubt as a full- sets Qatar up perfectly for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. has backed legendary Olympic sprinter “With space, he could be a very good back with his back towards the crowd “It is a great honour to score in my 100th match,” Al Usain Bolt to become a “very good foot- footballer,” Del Bosque told the Olympic and near the touchline, that is probably Haydos said. “It has been an exciting journey so far.” baller” but has said he would be better Channel said of Bolt. “For a team that coun- where he would be most useful.” The 27-year-old was presented a jersey by Qatar Foot- suited to playing full-back. ter-attacks hard and transitions quickly Del Bosque has no doubt after watching ball Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Bolt, 32, made his debut with Aus- into open space, sure he could fit in. videos of Bolt in action with the Central Thani with the number ‘100’ emblazoned over it before tralian A-League club Central Coast “He could be a full-back that covers Coast Mariners that the eight-time Olym- the match. Mariners on Aug. 31 playing as a winger. a lot of space, but it depends because pic gold medallist has the right attitude. “That was a very special moment. It will inspire me to However, Del Bosque, who won two it’s not just about covering 100, or 60 “I see a very optimistic player,” the give my best for Qatar,” said Al Haydos, who made his Champions Leagues and two La Liga or 70 metres of the pitch. retired coach said. “Someone who is like- first national team appearance in 2007. titles as Real Madrid boss before leading “It’s about doing that many times able, who is smiling all the time. It’s as The forward will now turn his attention to next week’s Spain to victory at the 2010 World Cup and that requires stamina which I do though he was living a child’s dream.” 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals, where Al and Euro 2012, has said Bolt’s qualities not know if he has although I’m sure he (Source: ESPN) Sadd will be defending a 3-1 lead against Islamic Republic of Iran’s Esteghlal in the second leg at the Jassim bin Hamid Stadium on Monday. ‘Expected new signing indicates no change in formation at Nottingham Forest’ (Source: the-afc) Nottingham Forest are expected to complete the signing a penalty under pressure, having done so on the biggest of Iranian striker Karim Ansarifard this week, which is a stage of all at the FIFA World Cup in Russia. strong indication that Aitor Karanka will not deviate from Going into the international break there was much Polychronidis named August his favored 4-2-3-1 formation. debate about the deployment of two holding midfield- The 6’2” striker spearheaded his country’s attack on ers for Forest, something that seems unlikely to change Athlete of the Month Tuesday as Iran edged out Uzbekistan 1-0 in Tashkent. Iran any time soon. However, the expected return of Adlene set up exactly as Forest for their away day victory, which Guedioura will help to allay some of those fears, given Greece’s Greg Polychronidis has been named the Allianz drops the biggest of hints that the Reds will continue to the offensive qualities he possesses. It’s fair to say that Athlete of the Month for August after a memorable winning persevere with the same formation when they face Swansea Murphy has done OK so far when you consider the below performance at the 2018 World Boccia Championships. on Saturday. Ansarifard is a free agent having been released par performance of Forest’s general play this term. As Polychronidis won double gold, including the BC3 in- by Olympiacos, a club where he boasted an impressive for Grabban, it’s just not happened for the £6m man yet. dividual final in dramatic fashion. He fought back from strike rate. That is a little odd, but if he can replicate that Hopefully, the addition of Ansarifard will be seen as healthy behind to defeat the Paralympic champion and secure kind of form, it will be of no consequence to Forest fans. competition for all concerned as the Reds look to reignite his first major individual title. He was also victorious in The big man moves fluently in and around the six yard their season following the two-week break. Reverting to box, which is where the majority of his goals are scored. the international scene, Iran, who’ve qualified for back to the BC3 pairs gold. Polychronids received 42 per cent of the public votes. All good and well, but he’ll rely heavily on service into back World Cups, have done so by being defensive and anything, will be looking to receive much more service French long-jumper Marie-Amelie le Fur came in sec- those areas. resolute, something that Karanka has been labelled with at club level than he does for his country. His physique is similar to that of Daryl Murphy and during his short managerial career. If Ansarifard hits the ground running he could well ond with 34 per cent. Japanese wheelchair rugby player Lewis Grabban, which is another glaring indication that Carlos Queiroz has flirted between 4-1-4-1 and 4-2- be the unlikely hero at the City Ground. One thing I’m Daisuke Ikezaki was third (20 per cent). The Netherlands’ he’s unlikely to be paired with any of the aforementioned 3-1 during his tenure as the Iranian team manager, but certain of, Karanka has recruited him to continue with wheelchair basketball player Mariska Beijer and swimmer strikers in a two pronged attack. like Karanka has seldom opted for two up top. Ansari- the 4-2-3-1 way of life. Liesette Bruinsma were also nominated. One thing is certain though, he knows how to score fard should be familiar with the Karanka set up and, if (Source: Eastwoodadvertiser.co.uk) (Source: Paralympic.org) Prayer Times Noon:13:00 Evening: 19:32 Dawn: 5:21 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:46 (tomorrow) SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 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: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 Ali Hatami’s movie on [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 Sattar Khan restored www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 Webmaster: [email protected] ARTTEHRAN – “Sattar Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 deskKhan”, Ali Hatami’s 1972 No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran movie on Sattar Khan, one of the heroes of P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Iran’s Constitutional Revolution, has been Zip Code: 1599814713 restored. The National Film Archive of Iran released the restored version on Tuesday to celebrate the National Day of Cinema. The Persian service of ISNA published the news on Wednesday along with a trailer of the movie. Sattar Khan was a member of the revolutionary militia in Tabriz and also joined the constitutionalists in Tabriz in the Anjoman-e Haqiqat (the Truth Society). The Constitutional Revolution began in 1905 and the Constitutional Decree was signed Swedish Iranian Film by Qajar king Mozaffar ad-Din Shah in the Saheb Qaranieh Palace on August 6, 1906. Festival unveils lineup Hatami began shooting “Sattar Khan” in the summer of 1972. After its release in March ARTTEHRAN – The Iranian Film Festival in the 1973, the film was criticized over allegedly deskSwedish cities of Uppsala and Stockholm has distorting the character of Sattar Khan. announced its lineup. However, some experts on Iranian history praised the film. “I have never claimed that I a historian,” Hatami once said in an interview. He noted that the film is not a documentary and added, “I have always made my own story of a historical, social and cultural event, A scene from Ali Hatami’s 1972 historical drama “Sattar Khan” and sometimes, the outcome has had little similarity to the event.” principal contradictions,” Hatami explained. “Unfortunately, the film did not receive In this situation in which no one cares about “To write the screenplay for the film, I Ali Nasirian portrayed Sattar Khan in the the acclaim it deserves,” Entezami once said history, his efforts to make the movie are carefully read almost all the historical books on film and Ezzatollah Entezami starred as Heidar in an interview. highly respected… I still believe that no one the Constitutional Revolution, which had many Khan Amu Oghli, Sattrakhan’s comrade. “‘Sattar Khan’ is Ali Hatami’s narrative. can write like Hatami,” Entezami noted.

National library displays “Kelileh and Friends”

A scene from “Blockage” directed by Mohsen Qarai history of Iranian cinema honored at Iraqi festival Thirteen films will be competing in the festival, which will run on September 22 and 23. Among the highlights of the lineup are “Blockage” by director Mohsen Qarai, “Israfil” by Ida Panahandeh, “Majan” by Rahman Seifi-Azad and “August” by Bahman Kamyar. “Like a Good Kid” by Arian Vazirdaftari, “Animal” co-di- rected by Bahram and Bahman Ark, “Are You Volleyball?!” by Mohammad Bakhshi, and “Horn” by Qasideh Golmakani are among the shorts. The festival is organized every year by Yari, an Uppsala-based charity organization that helps street children in Iran to go to school and also raises funds for the construction of schools and libraries for children. Actor Pejman Bazeghi, who is a Yari ambassador this year, cineastes Mohsen Kiai, Bahman Kamyar, Javad Hashemi, Yaqub Keshavarz and Roya Bamzar will be the special guests of the festival. Mikael Hylin from Sweden, and Iranian cineastes Alireza Mojalla, Reza Baqer, Saeid Sharifian and Mina Azarian will judge ARTTEHRAN – An anniversary of cinema in the country. A scene from “Kelileh and Friends” by Orod Peykanfar the films this year. deskexhibition of The organizers also are screening a ARTTEHRAN – “Kelileh The Ghadir Satellite Television documentaries, periodicals, photos, posters restored version of Iranian director Dariush deskand Friends”, a mov- organizes the festival annually, and and cinema equipment is underway at the Mehrjui’s 1969 drama, “The Cow”, in memory ie produced at Iran’s Saba Animation the motto of this year’s edition was Iranian Artists Forum hosts National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI). of the film’s star Ezzatollah Entezami on the Center, has been named the best ani- “Victory Is Complete with Words and The exhibition, which opened on Tuesday, sidelines of the exhibit. mated film at the 12th Ghadir Interna- Pictures”, Iraqakhabar reported. tazieh performances has been organized to celebrate Iran’s The veteran actor of stage and screen who tional Media Festival, Saba announced More than 500 media and arts National Day of Cinema. was named “master actor” in his memoirs on Wednesday. activists as well as 150 media institutes ARTTEHRAN – A group from the Kahrobaye Tazieh Rarely-seen photos, film documents, a written by Hushang Golmakani, died last Directed by Orod Peykanfar, the and TV and radio channels from deskCenter is performing tazieh (Iranian passion collection of top film news have been selected month at the age of 94. movie centers on the events happening Muslim countries took part in the play) in the courtyard of the Iranian Artists Forum. for the exhibition that is celebrating the 118th The exhibit will run until September 22. to a number of animals in a jungle. event. Stories from the uprising of Imam Hussein (AS) and his com- panions against the oppressive Umayyad dynasty in 680 CE has been selected to be staged during the performances, which began on Tuesday and will run for ten nights. Kidman’s metamorphosis in “Destroyer” surprises even herself TORONTO (AP) — It was as she forcefully left for police work or life, at all. Her voice is a in the role. stuffed actress Tatiana Maslany into the trunk of husky whisper, her skin a gaunt, sun-dried mask, “I was just sitting back watching the last 15 a car that the sheer out-of-body experience of her her eyes cold and empty. She drinks heavily. minutes of the film going: ‘God, is that me?’” role in the brutal L.A. noir thriller “Destroyer” The film, which Kusama characterized as said Kidman. “And it’s weird because I look came into focus for Nicole Kidman. in the spirit of Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver”, at it and it feels almost like a dream because it “I was putting her in the trunk of that car places a female anti-hero in the heart of a was so different for me to exist in that place.” going: ‘What the hell is this?’” Kidman recalled hardboiled genre usually the domain of men. Kidman said the character’s inner darkness at the film’s Monday evening premiere at the Maslany, who plays a strung-out criminal in the was more challenging than the exterior Toronto International Film Festival. film, said of the film: “It felt so not masculine. makeover. As much as we’ve come to expect it, Kidman’s It felt really feminine in this genre to really “The film was really hard for me. It’s so transformations can startle even herself. And bend the rules with how we normally see these extreme, so different from who I am. I wanted just as has so often been the case, Kidman’s stories.” Nicole Kidman attends the premiere it to be real and authentic. I didn’t want to be powers of metamorphosis again have a film What has turned Bell into a ghost is what for “Destroyer” on day 5 of the Toronto showing up and doing a performance,” she festival buzzing and the 51-year-old actress drives “Destroyer”, which Annapurna Pictures International Film Festival at the Winter said. “So I kind of had to move into a place back among the Oscar contenders. will release in December. It cuts between a Garden Theatre on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, and exist in a place for a period of time that I A group performs a tazieh (Iranian passion play) about Imam In Karyn Kusama’s “Destroyer”, Kidman is present murder investigation and an earlier, in Toronto. (AP/Evan Agostini) didn’t like to be in — mentally, physically, all Hussein (AS) in the northern Iranian town of Ziabar on No- almost unrecognizable as Erin Bell, a haunted connected undercover operation that ended recognizably herself — beautiful, spirited — of it. I didn’t quite realize until I was in it what vember 20, 2016 to commemorate Arbaeen, which marks the and hardened police detective with little will tragically. In the flashbacks, Kidman appears only further emphasizing her drastic changes it was going to take.” end of the 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of the Imam and his loyal companions on Ashura. (Honaronline/ Alireza Farahani) Greece questions two women over Backstreet Boys’ singer Majid Khosroabadi is the director of the tazieh troupe, which dousing museum relics with oil Nick Carter will not be charged includes Mirza Abolfazl Monabbatkar, Yahya Golverdi, Abolfazl ATHENS (Reuters) — Police in Greece LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Los Angeles Golverdi, Hossein Golverdi, Mehdi Bakhshi, Kazem Jaddehkhah, are questioning two women suspected of prosecutors said on Tuesday they would not Mehdi Sayyadi, Javad Paknejad, Esmaeil Ali-Esalm and Ahmad squirting or dabbing oil on artefacts in at charge Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter over Moqaddasi. least two museums in a ritual the suspects a 2003 sexual assault accusation because it fell Tazieh was registered on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible said was dictated by Bible teachings. outside the California statute of limitations. Cultural Heritage of Humanity in November 2010. The stains, which Greek media reports The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office said had appeared on items such as icons, said it had reviewed the accusation by a woman marble columns and inscribed tablets who was 18 years old at the time, but said the Iranian dubber Hossein displayed at the Christian and Byzantine statute of limitations had expired in 2013. Museum in July, had befuddled author- “An analysis of the strengths and weak- Erfani dies at 76 ities. Some smears also appeared at the An exhibition banner is seen at the en- nesses of the evidence is not warranted, and Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys poses trance of the Byzantine Museum in Ath- 1 He soon progressed to directing many dubbing groups Benaki Museum about a month later. the matter is declined,” prosecutors said in at 30th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards and sometimes he voiced several characters in a film. All seven But on Sunday, a clerk at the National ens, Greece September 10, 2018. (Reuters/ a charge evaluation worksheet released to in Hollywood, California April 17, 2013. characters played by German actor Dieter Hallervorden in “Non- Historical Museum at Old Parliament Costas Baltas) the media. (Reuters/Mario Anzuoni) stop Trouble with the Family” were voiced by Erfani. House in Athens alerted guards when to damage public property. In both cases They gave no details of the case. The Backstreet Boys were one of the big- Erfani also began an acting career in 1974, playing a role in “Bitter a woman showed up with a companion the damage was minor. An attorney for Carter, whose band is gest boy bands of the late 1990s and early and Sweet”, a popular TV series directed by Mansur Purmand. with what appeared to be an oily hand. According to Greece’s state run Athens currently playing a long-term engagement 2000s, with hits like “Quit Playing Games He played his last role in Mohammad Rahmanian’s 2016 “I noticed that one of the ladies had a News Agency, the suspects told police in Las Vegas, said in a statement on Tuesday With My Heart.” drama “Bench Cinema”. greasy hand ... I alerted the guards and they thought the oil had healing prop- that the singer was “happy to put the matter Accusations of sexual misconduct, inspired He is survived by his wife, Shahla Nazerian, who is also a drew their attention to it,” the unnamed erties and that, they said, dousing relics behind him.” by the #MeToo social media movement, have veteran dubber, and daughters Mahsa and Rasta. clerk told Greece’s Alpha TV. was dictated by the Bible. They had a “Nick has denied these allegations ever forced multiple celebrities, politicians and They also worked with actor and director Manuchehr Nozari Police officials said the two women bottle in their possession when they since he first learned of them last year,” at- businessmen to step down or be fired in the in “Friday Morning with You” and many other radio programs. were under investigation for attempting were arrested. torney Michael Holtz said in the statement. past year.