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16 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 39th year No.13084 Wednesday APRIL 11, 2018 Farvardin 22, 1397 Rajab 24, 1439 U.S. seeking Iran can return to Persepolis hungry for “Django” star pretext to attack pre-JCPOA status third successive title, Franco Nero to attend Syria 2 immediately 2 coach says 15 Fajr festival 16

Tehran says Israel’s Syria airstrike won’t go unanswered POLITICS TEHRAN – A top day when remains of seven Iranian mili- deskIranian politician said tary advisors who were killed on Monday Taming on Tuesday that a recent Israeli airstrike during Israel’s raid against the airbase in on an airbase in Syria will not escape a the Homs region were returned to Iran. proper response. On Monday morning, the airbase was at- Ali Akbar Velayati said the crimes tacked by two Israeli F-15 jets. The missiles committed by the Zionists against the were fired from Lebanese airspace with media Syrian forces at the T-four Airbase “will reports suggesting eight missiles were launched not remain unanswered”. in total, five of which were intercepted by Syrian the forex market Remarks by Velayati came on the same air defense systems. 2 See page 4 Councilors finally accept mayor’s resignation, name caretaker SOCIETY TEHRAN — De- Over a session held at the city council deskspite all the efforts to on Sunday to discuss Najafi’s resig- convince Mohammad Ali Najafi to keep nation, he said that the main reason his post as mayor of Tehran, eventual- behind his decision was his newly ly the Tehran City Council accepted his diagnosed disease. resignation on Tuesday. He said holding the post would be a Najafi who sworn in as mayor on Sep- “betrayal”. Najafi also said taking time off tember 5, 2017, taking up the post after work over his course of treatment could Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, submitted his “weaken management structure at the resignation on March 14. municipality”. 12

U.S. guided-missile destroyer sets on move to Syrian coast By staff & agencies emergency session after rescue teams An escalating war of words has broken and medics said a “poisonous chlorine out between Moscow and Washington gas attack” in Douma on Saturday killed over a suspected chemical attack in a dozens of people, including many children Syrian rebel-held town, raising interna- and women. tional tensions amid calls for action at an The Syrian government of President

Hossein Velayati urgent United Nations Security Council Bashar al-Assad and its ally Russia have (UNSC) meeting. called the allegations “fabrications”.

Fars/ Fars/ The United States, Britain, France and As the fallout continued on Mon- six other countries requested Monday’s day, Nikki Haley, 13 ARTICLE Trump pressure not to affect Tehran-Ankara security cooperation: expert Turkey to stay in By Hanif Ghaffari The last couple of weeks could be seen as a reasons behind so many unusual changes? Afrin ‘until new Political analyst EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW By Payman Yazdani major turning point in his presidency. In selecting A: During President Obama’s administra- John Bolton as his new national security advis- tion, the U.S. has implemented an inefficient Syria elections’ TEHRAN — Lecturer at Marmara University er and Mike Pompeo as his secretary of state, foreign policy. Russia annexed Crimea and Turkey’s defense minister says Institute for Middle East Studies Dr. Bilgehan Trump two the most hawkish Republicans in gained power in Black Sea. In addition, due to Syria’s northern city of Afrin Merkel facing Alagoz, says, the U.S. pressure would have a Washington. U.S. failure in Syria, Russia’s growing presence would be handed over to a central negative impact on the economic relations but To shed more light on the issue we reached in the Mediterranean became inevitable. There- government in Syria when a new the joint game of would not affect bilateral relations in the area out to Dr. Bilgehan Alagoz, Lecturer at Marma- fore, Trump became president on the legacy administration has been formed of security. ra University Institute for Middle East Studies, of Obama’s failures. At this point it would be following elections. Trump and Macron Trump has been the most rhetorically belli- Istanbul. right to focus on Trump’s foreign policy vision. Speaking to reporters in parlia- cose commanders in chief in modern American Recently there have been some changes According to him, China’s increasing power ngela Merkel, Chancellor of Germa- ment on Tuesday, Nurettin Canikli history since he took office 15 month ago, but at to Trump administration. During last 15 month is one of the emergent threats against U.S. ny, is to travel to the United States said Turkey would continue to the same time he has been very cautious when since Trump came to power Bolton is his third global interests. Secondly, the ISIS threat in and visit Donald Trump, the con- take measures in Afrin until all A it comes to using force. national security advisor. What are the main Syria must be eliminated. 7 troversial President of the U.S. terror threats in the region are The visit takes place at a time when eliminated. the economic disputes between Washing- Ankara, which has been conduct- ton and the United States have reached UNIDO allocates low-interest loan to energy efficiency projects in Iran ing the so-called Operation Olive its pick because of the U.S. government TEHRAN (UNIC) — The United Nations In- said “We are hopeful to encourage industries to restated that share of the loan would be between Branch against the United States- announcement of imposing tariffs on the dustrial Development Organization (UNIDO) implement more energy efficiency projects, with 75 -90 percent of the total investment cost, while backed Kurdish People’s Protection imported steel and aluminum. has established a revolving fund for allocating allocating low-interest loans to them.” the execution time for receiving the loan should Units (YPG/Yekîneyên Parastina Gel) Furthermore, Merkel intends to ne- low-interest loan to Industrial Energy Efficiency The coordinator of this program in Iranian be less than one year and the payback should be militants in the flashpoint region gotiate with Trump trying to convince (IEE) projects in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Fuel Conservation Organization (IFCO), Houri less than 3 years as a result. since January 20, has already said him to remain as part of the Joint Com- This decision made towards Inclusive and Jafari explained that according to the agreement, Nasim Shekari, the National Coordinator of the offensive could extend to Manbij prehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This Sustainable Industrial Development Goals and one third to half of primary capital is supplied the project “Industrial Energy Efficiency in 5 and beyond. is while Trump had announced the U.S. regarding the agreement on cooperation for pro- by UNIDO and the rest is provided by Pasargad key Sectors in Iran” with a brief explanations The military intervention came withdrawal from the nuclear deal by ceeding of third to sixth “Five-Year National De- Bank. Those projects benefitted from this facility and guidance, brought the subject into conclu- after the U.S. said it would set up a April 17. velopment Programs” in which enhancement will be selected and ranked after evaluation in a sion and said “Those industries which meet the 30,000-strong militant border force According to some news sources in of productivity through energy efficiency in an technical committee constituted of representatives initial conditions of receiving facilities and are at Turkey’s doorstep. Ankara is wary Germany, Merkel’s visit will take place essential point of attention. This Fund establish- from UNIDO and IFCO. It should be mentioned willing to receive loans can participate in the of the presence of Kurdish militants on (April 27th). However, the German ment is implemented with the financial support that the financial evaluation would be through evaluation process by completing the project close to its borders in Syria, and is op- Foreign Ministry has refused to confirm of Global Environment Facility (GEF), coopera- Pasargad Bank. evaluation form and sending it to the electronic posed to Washington’s efforts to train this news. In any case and regardless of tion of Iranian Fuel Conservation Organization In call for proposals for revolving fund, which address: [email protected] and azadmehr@ and arm them. the exact time of this visit, it will definitely (IFCO) as a governmental counterpart of UNIDO is published on IEEIRAN.IR, it is explained that ifco.ir until 30 April 2018.” Ankara views the YPG as the Syrian take place before the end of April. in Iran and Pasargad Bank as well. those projects are only capable which are recog- She also restated that in this project, Pasargad branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party It should be noted that the Western According to the subject, Dr. Maryam Javan nizable with a maximum of $600,000 invest- Bank will be responsible for financial management (PKK/Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê?) media are trying to introduce this visit shahraki, UNIDO-Iran representative, empha- ments. This fund allocation may be differed by of the Fund at all stages, including contracting with militant group that has been fighting as an attempt by the German chancel- sized the capability of the mentioned Fund and each project’s form and characteristic. It should be the beneficiaries and repayment of the facilities. for an autonomous region inside Turkey lor for saving the JCPOA, and have since 1984. refused to address other disagreements Turkish President Recep Tayyip Er- currently raised between America and dogan has repeatedly said that Afrin Europe. should be cleared of “terrorists.” He Despite the propaganda of the Ger- demanded the deployment of Turkish man media over their chancellor’s visit Sayad troops there during a speech back in to the United States and the way it’s November 2016. going to affect the fate of the nuclear Shirazi’s This is while U.S. officials regard accord, there are points that should the YPG as the most effective fighting be regarded carefully: Merkel’s visit memory is force against the Islamic State in to the United States will take place Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) after “Emmanuel Macron’s” visit to terrorist group in northern Syria, and the White House, and the meeting marked have substantially increased their between the young French president On Tuesday Iran marked the martyrdom weaponry and technology support and Trump. anniversary of Ali Sayad Shirazi, a former to the group. During the last year, Paris has played a high-ranking military commander. The controversy over a possible Syria leading role among the European players Sayad Shirazi served as commander border force first started on January in cooperating with the U.S. policies. The of the Ground Force during the Iran– 14 when a report emerged on Reuters Elysee Palace has since emphasized the Iraq War. He was assassinated in 1999 saying that the military coalition led by reform of the nuclear deal by imposing by the Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization the United States in Syria was planning new nuclear restrictions on Iran after to set up a large border force of up to Majid Haghdoust (MKO), while serving as the deputy chief 2025 and limiting the missile power of of the Armed Forces General Staff, the 30,000 personnel with the aid of its our country. second-highest military office in Iran. militia allies. But the German authorities have had Shirazi was assassinated on April 10, The Syrian government is against more cautious positions. As a whole and 1999, 6:45 local time, outside his house the Turkish offensive in Afrin, rejecting compared with France, we can say that Ankara’s claim about having informed

Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ while on his way to work. The MKO claimed Berlin’s policies towards the JCPOA had responsibility. Damascus of the operation. been less dependent to the U.S. 7 (Source: TRT) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS APRIL 11, 2018 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Zarif slams Nuclear deal belongs to international Trump’s ‘cheap shot’ against Iran community, Tehran says POLITICS TEHRAN — Iranian ‘Israel seeking to increase tension deskDeputy Foreign Minister in region’ POLITICS TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Mohammad Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday that the nu- The deputy foreign minister also com- deskJavad Zarif has slammed U.S. President clear deal is not owned by the United States mented on the Israeli air strikes on Homs Donald Trump’s “cheap shot” against Iran with regard to the which is trying to make decisions on its own. Airbase, calling on the international commu- use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government, saying “The nuclear agreement belongs to the nity to “be alert” as “the Israeli regime seeks Iran itself has been victim to Saddam Hussein’s chemical international community and all countries to increase tension in the region”. attacks in the 1980s. which negotiated it,” Araqchi was quoted He praised the Syrian government for its “Trump’s cheap shot against Iran, which has consist- by Fars as saying. victories against armed extremist groups, ently condemned use of chemical weapons by anyone & is Iran and six world powers, including the saying that military advances “once again itself the victim of their use by Saddam with U.S. support, U.S., Britain, Russia, France, China Germany, cost Syria’s enemies a lot. So they are trying to is hypocritical. His threats to repeat impulsive acts of ag- and the European Union struck the nuclear bring back the tension, and I think everyone gression is symptomatic of U.S. policy helping extremists,” accord on July 14, 2015. Under the deal, of- should be alerted about it.” Zarif tweeted on Tuesday. ficially known as the Joint Comprehensive According to the Russian Ministry of On Sunday, Trump vowed to make Iran and Russia pay a Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to put Defense, the T-4 airbase in the Homs re- “big price” for the suspected chemical attack in Syria. limits on its nuclear work for termination of gion was attacked by two Israeli F-15 jets on economic and financial sanctions. Monday morning. The missiles were fired In a statement on January 12, U.S. Pres- from Lebanese airspace with media reports Iran’s opposition ident Donald Trump gave Europeans only suggesting eight missiles were launched in to nuclear bomb 120 days to agree to an overhaul of the nu- total, five of which were intercepted by Syrian clear agreement. He threatened if the text air defense systems. is ‘permanent’: of the nuclear deal is not revised he would At least 14 people, including 7 Iranian unilaterally withdraw the U.S. from it. The military advisors, are said to have been killed MP deadline falls on May 12. on the ground during the attack. POLITICS TEHRAN — MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi desksaid on Tuesday that Iran’s opposition to the use and possession of nuclear bombs is “permanent”, Iran can return to pre-JCPOA status Washington will be isolated if it exits Tasnim reported. immediately: Salehi JCPOA: nuclear official He made the comments in a meeting in Tehran with Tarja Cronberg, a member of the Executive Board of the POLITICS TEHRAN — Ali Akbar POLITICS TEHRAN — Behrooz European Leadership Network. deskSalehi, director of the deskKamalvandi, spokes- Boroujerdi also said there has been no interruption in Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said man for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran’s nuclear activities under the nuclear agreement, also late on Monday that Iran is fully pre- Iran (AEOI), said on Tuesday that the U.S. called the JCPOA. pared to immediately expedite nuclear will be isolated if it exits the 2015 nuclear If the U.S. government exits the JCPOA, Iran will activities similar to the pre-nuclear deal deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive have no more motive to honor the deal, the senior law- situation in case the U.S. pulls out of the Plan of Action. maker stated. 2015 agreement. Withdrawal from the nuclear deal will Based on the nuclear agreement, for- cause problems for the U.S. at the inter- mally known as the Joint Comprehensive national level, he told IRNA. Lawmakers, IRGC Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to The JCPOA is backed by the UN Security put limits on its nuclear program in ex- Council resolution 2231 and the U.S. will officials meet to change for the lifting of economic and an overhaul of the nuclear agreement be “politically isolated” if it pulls out of the Technology. discuss Telegram financial sanctions. or he would unilaterally withdraw the international agreement. Iran, the five permanent members of The deal was signed between Iran, the U.S. from it. In a statement on January 12, U.S. Pres- the UN Security Council - the U.S., UK, European Union, Germany and the five In remarks aired on Sunday, Salehi had ident Donald Trump gave Europeans only France, Russia, and China - Germany and permanent members of the UN Security said Iran can resume enriching uranium to 120 days to agree to an overhaul of the the European Union struck the nuclear POLITICS TEHRAN — A number of lawmakers on desk Council including the United States. It went the purity level of 20 percent at the Fordow nuclear agreement and said if the text of deal on July 14, 2015. The deal took effect Tuesday met with intelligence officials of into effect in January 16, 2016. nuclear plant if the JCPOA is scrapped. the nuclear deal is not revised he would in January 2016. the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to exchange “Iran’s decision to respond to [the U.S.] ‘We have 70 tons of heavy water’ unilaterally withdraw the U.S. from it. According to the agreement, Iran agreed views on social media apps, especially Telegram. withdrawal from the JCPOA will be upon Salehi also said that Iran has 70 tons The deadline falls on May 12. to put limits on its nuclear activities in After the meeting, MP Hossein Naqavi Hosseini the system’s senior officials. However, in of heavy water. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani exchange for termination of economic and dismissed as sheer lie the lack of security in domestic the technical area, we are prepared to re- Back in March 2016, Tehran exported warned on Monday that the U.S. will financial sanctions. messaging apps, emphasizing that moving from foreign turn to former situation,” Salehi said in a 32 tons of heavy water to the United States “regret” if it ditches the nuclear deal. The UN nuclear watchdog, which has messaging apps to domestic ones is a public demand, televised interview. as part of the nuclear agreement for a price “We will not be the first who violate the been tasked to monitor Iran’s compliance ISNA reported. In a statement on January 12, U.S. of $8.6 million. JCPOA. However, they will regret if they to the agreement, has issued ten reports He also said five domestic apps will be ready to be President Donald Trump set a May 12 It also sold Russia 38 tons of the nuclear violate the deal,” he said in a ceremony each time confirming Tehran’s full adher- used by the end of the Persian month of Farvardin, so deadline for the Europeans to agree to substance in 2016. held to mark National Day of Nuclear ence to the limits. that businesses would not be harmed in case foreign apps are blocked. U.S. seeking pretext to attack Syria, Zarif says Advisor: Iran, POLITICS TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister weapons and condemns use of them.” operate with investigators from the Organization for the deskMohammad Javad Zarif who is visiting The Trump administration said that Syria and its Rus- Prohibition of Chemical Weapons if they travel to Syria to Russia enjoy ties at Brazil told reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. is seeking a sian and Iranian partners bear direct responsibility for the take samples and talk to victims. pretext to take military action against the Syrian government. suspected attack. Bashar Jaafari, the Syrian ambassador, predicted they highest level The comments by the Zarif came after President Trump Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s UN representative, told the would find no evidence that chemical weapons were used. said on Monday that the United States would take swift action UN Security Council that images of the dead in Syria were “Syria does not possess chemical weapons of any kind,” in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack in staged and “fake news.” he said. “We condemn their use, at any time and under any POLITICS TEHRAN — Iran and Russia are enjoy- the Eastern Ghouta suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus. Nebenzia accused Washington of employing slander, circumstances.” desking relations at the highest level, a senior The Syrian government issued a statement late on hawkish rhetoric and blackmail beyond what was practiced ‘U.S. transferring Daesh to other places’ advisor to Iran’s foreign minister said on Tuesday. Saturday strongly rejecting the claim that it has used during the Cold War. Zarif also said that the U.S. is transferring Daesh terrorists The region is prone to continuous developments, especially chemical weapons. “Do you understand the dangerous threshold to which to other regions to use them somewhere else. in Syria, and these conditions make coordination between Commenting on an accusation by the U.S. that Iran is you are bringing the world?” he asked, according to the “Such policies and the consequences of them will be Iran and Russia more urgent, Hossein Jaberi-Ansari said. an accomplice in the chemical attack, Zarif said, “The Is- Washington Post. dangerous for international peace and security and for the Jaberi-Ansari made the remarks in a meeting with Al- lamic Republic of Iran has a clear position against chemical Both the Russian and Syrian envoys promised to co- U.S. itself,” Iran’s chief diplomat predicted. exander Lavrentiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy to Syria. For his part, Lavrentiev voiced concerns about the Syrian Zaghari case not linked to British debt, Washington continues to violate spirit crisis, saying different issues have emerged recently which should be taken into account. Iran says of nuclear deal POLITICS TEHRAN — Irani- POLITICS TEHRAN — The Unit- deskan Foreign Ministry desked States on Tuesday AEOI team spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Sunday welcomed reports that the European Union in China that the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, was considering new sanctions on Iran a British-Iranian woman, is not linked to and said risks remained for those who for nuclear Britain’s debt to Iran. were pondering doing business with the “Whatever has been said about Ms. Islamic Republic. seminar Zaghari’s accusations and their link with “There continue to be ongoing risks POLITICS TEHRAN — An expert delegation from the some issues in relations between Iran and with doing business there because the deskAtomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) England are unfounded speculations,” he Iranians have not reformed their system,” was scheduled to set off to China on Tuesday night to attend told Fars news agency. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Ter- a nuclear seminar on Wednesday, the AEOI spokesman said. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 38, has been im- rorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal a 400 million pounds ($530 million) pay- Behrooz Kamalvandi said on Tuesday that the seminar prisoned in Iran for 2 years on charges Mandelker said. accused Tehran of violating the spirit ment the late Iranian Shah Mohammad focuses on Iran-China’s international cooperation on peaceful of trying to orchestrate a soft overthrow This direct threat over trade with Iran of the deal, regardless of the fact that Reza Pahlavi made for Chieftain Tanks uses of nuclear energy, Mehr reported. of the Islamic Republic. falls short of imposing new sanctions on the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, that were never delivered. The seminar follow previous gatherings at Brussels, Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband Richard the Islamic Republic, which would violate has in ten reports confirmed Iran’s British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson Moscow and Isfahan. Ratcliffe told Radio Farda in an interview the 2015 nuclear deal, aka JCPOA. Yet it compliance with the deal. visited Iran in December 2017 and was Kamalvandi added delegates from the 5+1 countries that his wife has been held in prison to is enough to hamper foreign investment “The onus of responsibility lies in Iran expected to pursue the case of Zaghari will participate in the seminar to discuss different issues, press the British government to pay its debt in and trade with Iran, thus failing to keep and we’re going to continue to highlight and consular cases of other dual nationals. including the outlook of nuclear international coopera- to Iran and pave the way for her release. up the spirit of the deal. the risks of doing business there because Iran, however, says it does not recognize tion within the framework of the JCPOA and the related British officials have also denied the Not very surprisingly and despite they haven’t taken the actions that they dual nationals and considers dual citizens Annex 3 of the deal. claim. such statements, it has been U.S. Presi- have promised they would take,” Man- The British debt to Iran dates back to as Iranian citizens only. dent Donald Trump who in the past has delker went on to claim, Reuters reported. Shekarchi takes Tehran says Israel’s Syria airstrike won’t go unanswered cultural post at 1 The attack at the airbase, located 40km west of Pal- international conference on the Holy Quds on April 10-11. After the victories, the enemies felt so frustrated that they the military myra, killed and wounded several people, Syrian state news On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram started leveling baseless accusations against Syria concern- agency SANA reported. Qasemi condemned the attack on the air base, calling it “an ing launching a chemical attack on Douma in northeast of Iran stresses full support for Syrian territorial obvious breach of international laws that would make the Damascus, the advisor to the Leader said. integrity Syrian crisis and regional equations more complicated”. Following the suspected attack, President Donald Trump POLITICS TEHRAN — Armed Forces chief Major ‘Enemies will be expelled from Syrian soon’ said on Monday that the U.S. will take action against Syria desk Iran is fully defending Syria’s territorial integrity and its General Mohammad Baqeri has appointed sovereign government, Velayati told the Islamic Republic “Victory is soon to come,” Velayati said, stressing that in 24 to 48 hours. General Abolfazl Shekarchi as his deputy for cultural affairs. News Agency (IRNA) in the Syrian capital Damascus. the enemies will be expelled from Syria in the near future. A vicious plan is behind such accusations which are being Baqeri made the decision in a decree on Tuesday, Tasnim Iranian military advisors are still standing by the Syrian Velayati, who is also chairman of the Islamic Awak- repeated every couple of days by the Americans against the news agency reported. people and government and will continue their fight against ening Assembly, hailed recent victories of the Syrian oppressed Syrian people, Velayati added. Baqeri also appointed Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri the enemies of the Islamic Ummah, particularly the Zionist Army and its allies in Eastern Ghouta. He described the The veteran politician further stressed that the enemies as his cultural advisor. regime and its masters, stressed Velayati, the senior advisor victories as very important for having caused great out- should know that they cannot achieve their vicious goals Jazayeri was deputy chief of the armed forces for cultural to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. rage among enemies, the U.S. and the Zionist regime of in Syria and the region in the future as they could not do so affairs before being named advisor. Velayati has visited Syria to participate in a two-day Israel in particular. over the past seven years. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 11, 2018 INTERNATIONAL Neocons, not Assad, behind suspected Bin Salman, Macron meet chemical attack: Ron Paul amid calls for end to French Syria invites OPCW to investigate alleged chemical attack in Douma arms sales to Saudi regime Former United States Congressman and political analyst Ron Bin Salman sued at Paris court Paul says the claim that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad “is gassing his own people is a total nonsense,” adding that the American neoconservatives, who want a perpetual war in the Middle East, are probably behind the recent chemical weapons attack in Syria. Dr. Paul, a three-time American presidential candidate and the founder of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, made the remarks in an interview on Monday while commenting on the alleged attack near the capital Damascus on Saturday. The attack in the militant-held town of Douma in the Eastern Ghouta region left dozens dead and drew interna- tional condemnation from various countries and interna- tional bodies. The Assad government strongly rejected the allegation of using chemical munitions. Asked who is behind the chemical attack, Dr. Paul said, “I don’t know. I think the least likely would be Assad. This whole idea of Assad, they say this over and over again, I probably heard it for ten times today: ‘Assad is gassing his own people.’ And they have said it every time it has happened, and then a month of two later it was proved that they were French President Emmanuel Macron hosts a private dinner absolutely wrong. So I cannot see any reason why Assad for the House of Saud regime Crown Prince Mohammed bin would do this. There’s no reason that Russians have done used in the suspected poison attack, but further evidence policy. I think it’s a disaster,” he stated. Salman (MBS) at the Louvre Museum amid pressure on his this. There’s somebody who wants to stir up the trouble, was needed to determine the type of agent, the United States OPCW invited to Syria administration to halt lucrative weapons sales to Riyadh over and the people who want us to stay there.” government sources told the news agency. Meanwhile, the Syrian government has invited the Or- its war crimes in Yemen. “Let’s say there’s a hand. There’s a bone thrown out. We The U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to ganization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) The French president’s office said the two-hour meal and talks might leave, according to Trump. Well, no we have to have respond “forcefully” to the alleged chemical attack despite to send a team to investigate allegations of a chemical attack between the two officials took place on Sunday evening, with the a reason for stay. We are not going to let this happen. That’s strong warnings from Russia. in the eastern Ghouta town of Douma, state media reported dialog meant to “anticipate the topics” of upcoming discussions. the problem. You know McCain’s people say: ‘We left Iraq Meanwhile, U.S. officials and media have accused the on Tuesday. The museum was chosen as a symbol of France’s cultural too soon and that’s what happened. ISIS came in,’” he said, Assad government and Moscow for the chemical attack. “Syria is keen on cooperating with the OPCW to uncover heritage and because of the launch of a painting exhibition, the referring to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ Perpetual war for perpetual profit the truth behind the allegations that some western sides office said, adding that Saudi regime and France would work Daesh) terrorist group. Asked why they are vilifying Syria and Russia, Dr. Paul have been advertising to justify their aggressive intentions,” on defining a “strategic partnership” during bin Salman’s visit. “Of course the evidence is pretty strong that we have said, “Well, I think they have an ulterior goal. It has been state news agency SANA said, quoting an official source in The heir to the Saudi regime throne arrived in Paris on Sunday been very friendly with ISIS (ISIL). We used ISIS to try to there for a long time, and it has a lot to with Saudi Arabia the Foreign Ministry. -- the fourth destination in his international tour that has already fight out our battle. So somebody wanted to stay there. I and Iran. I think that’s number one. I think works into On Monday, Russia and Syria both offered during the taken him to the United States, Britain and Egypt. think the policy makers here did not want us to leave, and that are the Shias against Sunnis, and that works into it. United Nations Security Council meeting to take OPCW The Saudi regime crown prince will wrap up his trip on Tues- somebody does it for them. But I just think this whole idea And then there are neocons in this country who have their investigators to Douma. In Tuesday’s statement, the gov- day with another dinner with the French president, this time that all of sudden Assad is gassing his own people is a total agenda, and that’s perpetual war for perpetual profit, the ernment said it was ready to offer all assistance needed for at the Elysee Palace. nonsense,” the analyst noted. military-industrial complex, then you throw in oil and the mission to fulfill its task. A source close to bin Salman’s delegation told AFP that some An initial assessment by the United States has not deter- they all come together.” It also called on the mission to operate “in a full trans- 18 memorandums of understanding in energy, agriculture, tour- mined whether the chemical attack in Douma was carried “And guess what, this is bipartisan. Everyone complains parent manner and to rely on solid and credible evidence,” ism and culture signed at an official Saudi-France CEO Forum out by Syrian government forces, according to Reuters. there is not enough bipartisanship in Washington. You know the statement cited by state media added. on Tuesday. The assessment also suggested that a nerve agent was it we have too much of it, because they all support this foreign (Source: agencies) Meanwhile, the House of Saud regime and France signed 20 economic deals worth more than $18 billion, Al Arabiya TV said on Tuesday as Saudi regime Crown Prince MBS visits Paris, Trump: FBI raid on lawyer Michael Cohen’s office disgraceful without specifying whether they were full contracts or memo- randums of understanding. The United States President Donald Many have said you should fire State oil giant Saudi Aramco earlier announced deals with Trump has criticized the FBI (Federal Bu- him major French companies including Total, Technip and Suez. reau of Investigation), saying that the raid The raids do not appear to be directly It was unclear whether Macron would broach human rights on the office and home of his personal lawyer related to the Mueller investigation, but issues. is “disgraceful”. based on information he obtained as part France is the world’s third biggest arms exporter and counts Trump’s comments came after the FBI of the probe. the Saudi regime and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) among raided Michael Cohen’s New York office, hotel After criticizing the raids, Trump con- its biggest purchasers. and residence earlier in the day, seeking doc- tinued his repeated attacks on the special Paris has come under fierce criticism by rights groups at home uments on his clients and personal finances. counsel’s Russia investigation. and abroad for selling arms to the Saudi regime, which is involved, Cohen is under investigation for alleged When asked if he would fire Mueller, along with a number of its allies, in a bloody military campaign crimes related bank fraud and campaign Trump said: “We will see what happens ... against Yemen, the Peninsula’s poorest nation. finance violations, the Washington Post Many people have said you should fire him.” Anti-war activists say Riyadh is complicit in Saudi crimes reported, citing sources familiar with the Trump cannot directly fire Mueller, but against Yemeni people. matter. can order Deputy Attorney General Rod Prior to bin Salman’s meeting with the French leader, sev- Cohen’s lawyer said in a statement that Rosenstein to end the probe or fire Rosen- eral rights groups urged Macron to pressure the prince, who is federal prosecutors obtained a search warrant stein himself. known as the architect of the Yemen war and has been leading for the raids, which were first reported by the According to regulations, Mueller must the campaign as the Saudi defense minister. New York Times, on a referral from Special According to the U.S. media, documents to Daniels, which watchdogs say could be in consult Rosenstein, who oversees the probe, “France is potentially an accomplice to serious violations of Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating seized in the raid included those regarding violation of campaign finance laws. Trump when he comes across information that is humanitarian laws by selling weapons and military equipment alleged Russian interference in the U.S. 2016 a $130,000 payment made to adult film star has denied having an affair with Daniels and not related to the investigation. to Saudi Arabia, given what we know is taking place in Yemen,” presidential elections. Stormy Daniels less than two weeks before said he is unaware of the payment made by Rosenstein can then order Mueller to inves- said Aurelie Perrier, coordinator for Yemen and the Saudi regime “I just heard that they broke into the office the 2016 presidential elections. Cohen. tigate or refer the matter to other authorities. at Amnesty International France. of one of my personal attorneys, a good man,” Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Stephen Ryan, Cohen’s lawyer, said the Trump also repeated past criticisms of Speaking during an anti-Saudi regime protest under the Eiffel Trump told reporters at the White House. Clifford, says she had sexual relations with FBI seized “privileged communications” the probe’s staff, accusing it of political bias. Tower, she also called on the French president “to stop arms “It’s a disgraceful situation,” he said, de- Trump in 2006 and was paid to keep quiet between Cohen and his clients. Mueller’s team did not immediately re- transfers to Saudi Arabia and to lift the blockade on Yemen.” scribing the raid as “an attack on what we about it. In a statement, Ryan called the raids spond to the accusations. Meanwhile, two rights groups, the Weapons Observatory all stand for”. Cohen admitted he made the payment “completely inappropriate and unnecessary”. (Source: Al Jazeera) (Obsarm) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), said “confidential testimony” pointed to the use of French military equipment in the Saudi regime aggression on Yemen. Merkel seeks to assure Ukraine on Russian gas link “If these indicators do not constitute proof, they throw serious German Chancellor Angela Merkel is promising to consider losing transit revenue if Russian gas supplies no longer cross Stream 2 project without having clarity about how things suspicion on the massive presence and use of French military the impact of a new Russian-German gas pipeline on Ukraine their territory once the pipeline is built. continue with the Ukrainian transit role is not possible.” equipment in Yemen,” they said in a statement. as plans progress. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline would pump Merkel said she listened carefully to Ukrainian President She acknowledged that “it is not just a business project; Additionally, Benedicte Jeannerod, head of Human Rights Russian gas to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. It is viewed Petro Poroshenko’s concerns at a meeting Tuesday. She said of course political factors have to be taken into account.” Watch France, denounced widespread rights violations inside suspiciously in some eastern European countries which fear Ukraine must retain a role in gas transit, adding: “A Nord (Source: AP) Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia is still in pole position among countries who use the death penalty the most,” she said. “European partners, Russia backs U.S.-North Korea contacts, sending foreign minister to Pyongyang and in this case France, should not shut their eyes to these grave abuses on the pretext that they wish to support a supposedly Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held China last year to deescalate the situation reformist friend.” talks with his North Korean counterpart, Ri and create conditions for talks. Last week, French lawmaker Sebastien Nadot and 15 other Yong Ho, on Tuesday, and said afterwards “It’s clear that the result of this process co-signatories officially filed a request for a 30-member com- that Moscow supported contacts between should be a multilateral agreement between mission of inquiry into Paris’ role in the war on Yemen. North Korea and the United States. all countries of Northeast Asia on ensuring The commission is “to study France’s compliance with interna- Lavrov told reporters he had accept- peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, tional commitments regarding arms export licenses, munitions, ed an invitation to visit Pyongyang, and including denuclearization of this important training, services and assistance that our country has granted that he and Ri had discussed the situation region of the world as leaders of North Korea during these three years to the belligerents of the conflict in around North Korea’s nuclear and missile and South Korea said,” Lavrov stressed. Yemen,” Nadot said. program, and tensions between Pyongyang Tensions on the Korean Peninsula were MBS sued at Paris court and Washington. running high last year. Pyongyang advanced On Tuesday, a Sana’a-based rights group filed a lawsuit with “We welcome the gradual normalization its weapons program as the U.S. took an in- a Paris court against bin Salman, who also serves as the Saudi of the situation and the cessation of mutual creasingly war-like posture toward North regime defense minister. threats, and the readiness for contacts be- Korea. But Kim expressed sudden interest The Legal Center for Rights and Development (LCRD) held tween North Korea and the United States,” in the resolution of disagreements with the the Saudi regime crown prince responsible for attacks on Yem- Lavrov said. meeting between the United States President Lavrov believes U.S. security South on New Year’s Day, and a series of eni civilians, accusing him of complicity in torture in the con- Ri did not appear before reporters after Donald Trump and North Korean Leader guarantees to N. Korea should be overtures began. Although Moscow has flict-ridden country. the talks, but told reporters beforehand: “The Kim Jong Un. unshakable supported United Nations Security Coun- “He (bin Salman) ordered the first bombings on Yemeni ter- current situation on the Korean peninsula Kim made a surprise visit to China last Meanwhile, Lavrov said following talks cil (UNSC) resolutions against Pyongyang’s ritory on March 25, 2015,” the group’s lawyers, Joseph Breham and around your country, and the overall month for talks with President Xi Jinping, with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong ballistic missile and nuclear tests, Russia and Hakim Chergui, said in the complaint seen by Reuters. “The international political situation, require our his first known trip outside the North since Ho on Tuesday that “the guarantees, which maintains relatively close ties with North existence of indiscriminate shelling by the coalition armed forces two countries to further strengthen friendly he assumed power in 2011. will be discussed at the talks on the Korean Korea — with which it shares a small land affecting civilian populations in Yemen can be qualified as acts cooperation, to increase our strategic commu- Ri arrived in Moscow on Monday and held Peninsula, must be unshakable”. “However, border — and provides it with some food aid. of torture.” nication and coordination of action between talks with Russian Security Council Secre- speculating on the issue now would be futile.” Nearly 35,000 North Korean nationals are The lawyers further cited the United Nations reports and our countries.” tary Nikolai Patrushev about the options for According to Lavrov, Russia welcomes currently working in far eastern Russia as lab- documentation by some human rights organizations on arbitrary Ri said he hoped the two countries would dialogue between Pyongyang and Seoul, the gradual normalization of the situation on the orers mostly in the agricultural, construction, detentions and the use of illegal cluster bombs by the Saudi find ways to create “a new milestone” in their TASS news agency reported. Korean Peninsula and the upcoming Pyong- and timber felling industries. Russia, however, regime-led coalition in Yemen. relations this year. Lavrov said after meeting Ri on Tues- yang’s contacts with Seoul and Washington. is phasing out that program in accordance with The military campaign has killed and injured over 600,000 High-ranking North Korean officials have day that no decisions had been made on Russia’s top diplomat noted that “the real a UNSC resolution and has begun sending the civilians since its onset in March 2015, according to the latest been engaged in a flurry of international di- talks between Kim and Russian President development of events on the ground” is in North Koreans home since February. figures released by the Yemeni Ministry of Human Rights. plomacy in recent weeks ahead of a possible Vladimir Putin. line with the roadmap outlined by Russia and (Source: agencies) (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY APRIL 11, 2018

STOCK MARKET TEDPIX 96748.0 Taming the runaway IFX 1074.41 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir forex market By Haniyeh Sadat Jafariyeh annual 20 percent interest rate and preselling CURRENCIES of Bahar Azadi coin in the hope for absorb- When rial finished its four-month decline USD 48,000 rials ing some of the market liquidity, have not sliding to a record low of 60,000 rials against been potent and need some modifications, EUR 69,750 rials the dollar on Monday from 43,000 rials in which will be put into practice in near future. early January, the administration eventually GBP 85,000 rials Despite the announced official rate for the made the long-waited serious decision to dollar, as reported, most foreign currency AED 15,900 rials curb the rampant foreign exchange mar- markets in Tehran were semi-closed while ket by unifying the official and open market just few ones did some limited transactions Source: mehrnews.com exchange rates. on Tuesday. The queues for purchasing dollar Political forex market were still long on the day under the direct “The government will sell the U.S. dollar elayati V control of the police force. However, other at a rate of 42,000 rials to all individuals foreign currencies including Pound and Euro COMMODITIES and businesses,” First Vice-President Es’haq did not inch down and the gold coin price Jahangiri said in a statement recorded for ossein witnessed fall. WTI 64.61/b H state TV on Monday evening, underscor- / Some of the main unanswered questions Brent 69.93/b ing that anyone found selling the dollar about the future of domestic forex market at rates higher than 42,000 rials “will be OPEC Basket 64.82/b are posed as: FARS dealt with severely” by judicial authorities How would the over-night made and the police. Gold $1,340.60/oz emergency measure to unify official and free “We do not officially recognize any other According to some experts, the rate could (CBI) Valliolah Seif attended the parliament market rates work for the market, specifically Silver $16.65/oz rate than this one,” he said. “From Tuesday, augment up to 70,000 rials, which would on Tuesday morning to explain about the in the long-run? any other price that’s offered in the market entail a galloping general inflation and incur government’s recent measures and future Platinium $936.90/oz Could the government seize the will be considered contraband, in the same an irreparable loss to domestic production policies. short-term fluctuations in the foreign cur- Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com way that illegal drugs are contraband.” and exports of Iranian products. Answering the MPs lashing out at him, rency market as a strategic opportunity to Shouldering the blame for the created As Nobakht told reporters, in the sec- Seif named “uneconomic reasons and un- modify the market’s structure via registering unregulated market on enemies of the Islamic ond half of the previous Iranian calendar certainty about future” as the major reasons a single digit rate? Republic and of the Rouhani administration, year (September 22, 2017- March 20, 2018) for the markets instability. NEWS IN BRIEF Will the announced 42,000 rials Jahangiri described that since the country’s some profiteers commenced exchanging their He also re-announced that Iran will replace rate for dollar go through an upward trend NITC’s fleet export revenues has injected tens of billions money to dollar in a bid to prevent depre- dollar with euro for its financial transactions of dollars of foreign currency into Iran in ciation of their assets which created a fake since the green back does not play a significant in future or will float based on the market’s renovation to recent weeks, the experienced unstable demand for the foreign currency and made role in the country’s foreign trade. situation? continue market was the result of a wider political the market rates inflated. Soon to judge future The budget law for the current plot seeking to discredit the administration Assuring the Iranian nation that the market In fact, Iran has long been trying to unify [Iranian calendar] year has estimated the and foment instability. will not experience any other similar shocks, its open market rate, used for most com- rial-to-dollar exchange rate to be between Economy in good shape the government Spokesman reminded that mercial transactions, with the official rate, 35,000 rials and 38,000 rials. Regarding the which is a subsidized rate that is only avail- officially announced rate how is the govern- ENERGY TEHRAN — National Iranian Tanker Com- Government spokesman Mohammad despite the recent foreign currency oscil- able to government departments and some ment going to deal with the budget deficit? deskpany (NITC)has demolished four of its oil Baqer Nobakht made some remarks on lations and regarding its impacts on main importers of priority goods. How will the Trump administra- tankers in the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20) Tuesday about the decision saying that if economic sectors and indices, the country’s However, as Nobkhat said on Tuesday, tion’s decision on Iran’s nuclear deal, which in line with renovating its fleet, Shana news agency quoted the administration had not announced the general economy is in good shape. some of the applied policies to unite two-tier is to be announced on May 12, affect the Nasrollah Sardashti, the company’s managing director, as price of 42,000 rials for dollar the rate would Euro instead of dollar system, including issuing rial bonds with an country’s currency market? saying on Tuesday. definitely continue its rise. The governor of the Central Bank of Iran The official added that his company also has demolition of two more tankers on agenda. Eurozone investor sentiment drops on ‘deep concern’ over trade Referring to the company’s achievements since the implemen- Investor sentiment for the Eurozone has dropped for the house and a source of enthusiasm last year, has soured said Hussy. tation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (which lifted the third month in a row, with worries about deteriorating markedly, according to Sentix. The headline index fell The prices of European financial assets have already sanctions against Iran) in January 2016, Sardashti mentioned Sino-American relations weighing heavily on the outlook. to 24.4 in April from 29.1 in March, with the reading on reacted, at least to some extent, to the weakening outlook. receiving ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certificates from The Sentix eurozone index dropped to 19.6 in April, expectations tumbling to its lowest level since October 2014. Germany’s benchmark Dax index has posted a negative the global quality assurance and risk management company, from 24 the previous month and 32.9 at the start of this Hard data covering the first quarter, including a gloomy total return this year of 4.33 per cent, with the Stoxx DNV GL, in last year as some noticeable achievements of NITC year. A sub-index tracking expectations turned negative trade report released on Monday, have suggested that Europe 600 index off 3 per cent on the same basis. to return to the global markets. for the first time in almost two years. economic growth in Germany has slowed down, poten- Sentix ran its survey from April 5 - 7, interviewing NITC, which operates the largest tanker fleet in the Middle “Investors are deeply concerned about US President tially considerably. At the same time, the country’s large 982 investors, including 260 institutional money manag- East and has the world’s largest fleet of super tankers, trans- Donald Trump’s customs announcements, which trigger factory sector is sensitive to trade — and executives have ers. It provides something of a first-warning before the ports Iranian crude and also acts as an independent entity in countermeasures (China),” said Patrick Hussy, Sentix’s already voiced concern that the industry could become publication of more closely watched surveys, including contracts with foreign concerns for crude oil transportation head of portfolio management. “This presents a serious collateral damage in the trade skirmish between the US one from the Ifo Institute and another from the Centre based on prevailing international freight rates. problem for free world trade.” and China. for European Economic Research (Zew). Government’s The outlook concerning Germany, the bloc’s power- “The German economy is facing powerful headwinds,” (Source: Financial Times) income at $39.8b Russia considers creation of 2 tax havens over U.S. sanctions: reports in a year The Russian authorities are discussing the money withdrawn from Russia to be quickly creation of two offshore financial centers returned via the OFCs. Businesspeople will (OFCs) with special legal systems in the be able to return their companies to Russia Kaliningrad Region and the Primorsky without putting any risk to the firms’ legal ECONOMY TEHRAN— Iranian government spokesman Territory to support business circles targeted and financial infrastructures or disclosing deskMohammad Baqer Nobakht put the govern- by US sanctions, the Vedomosti newspaper sensitive information. The companies that ment’s income at 1.675 quadrillion rials (about $39.88 billion) reported on Tuesday. will operate in the OFCs will get a number in the past Iranian calendar year. According to the Vedomosti newspaper, the of tax privileges. Addressing a press conference, the official said the last tax heavens may be located on the Oktyabrsky On Friday, the US Treasury Department year’s budget had envisaged the government’s income of 1.74 Island in Kaliningrad and the Russky Island added another 38 Russian entrepreneurs, quadrillion rials(about $41.42 billion), Tasnim news agency near Vladivostok. The relevant legislation is senior officials and companies to its reported on Tuesday. expected to be adopted during the Russian sanctions list in response to Russia’s He said 1.19 quadrillion rials (about $28.33 billion) of oil parliament’s spring session. alleged “malign activity” worldwide. income has been envisaged in the budget, of which 77.4 per- A source told Vedomosti that the initiative Russian entrepreneurs designated by cent was gained. had been talked about for some time, but the the Treasury Department include Viktor recent sanctions created a new momentum Vekselberg, Oleg Deripaska, Alexey Miller, for the discussions. Russian officials have Suleyman Kerimov, Kirill Shamalov and refused to comment on the issue. Andrey Kostin. Port, maritime co-op If implemented, the project will allow (Source: Sputnik) discussed between Iran, Qatar Sinopec explanations regarding Khalkhal Dasht claims in response to the company Following a report on a conflict between the Chinese oil (dated 6th May 2015), it has been mentioned that plenty parties agreed that the contracts would be governed by the ECONOMY TEHRAN — In a meeting in Tehran on Mon- desk company Sinopec and an Iranian private company called of unfinished works of Khalkhal Dasht will be completed “law of Islamic Republic of Iran”, and in case of any conflict, day, Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization Khalkhal Dasht which was published on March 19 by Tehran by Sinopec that, itself, proves that Khalkhal Dasht had not they would settle it in the International Chamber of Com- (PMO) Head Mohammad Rastad and Qatar Ports Management Times, Khalkhal Dasht responded to the mentioned report, finished the project. Secondly, several years after Khalkhal merce Arbitration (ICC), in a neutral country, Singapore. Company CEO Abdulla Al-Khanji explored the possible areas for denying Sinopec’s claims against the Iranian company. Dasht left the project, finally the project was completed and Sinopec insists that Khalkhal Dasht, with breach of ar- cooperation between the two countries’ port and maritime sectors. The response was published by Tehran Times on April 9. delivered to NIOC through two other sub-contractors with bitration clause in both contracts and in contrary to Article In response to Khalkhal Dasht claims, Sinopec once more than a hundred million dollars damage. NIOC has 58 of the Iranian Civil Procedure Code and Section A (2) again wrote to Tehran Times dismissing the Iranian com- announced this issue to the Iran Court as a formal letter. of the Law on translation of statements and documents in pany’s claims, what comes below is Sinopec’s explanations 3. Regarding Khalkhal Dasht claims about releasing the courts and offices, provided unofficial, false and deviated regarding some of Khalkhal Dasht’s accusations and false bank guarantees and paying extra work with referring to translations of the contracts claiming that governing law claims toward the company. supplementary agreement dated 15th Aug. 2015, Sinopec of the contracts is “Singapore law” and that Sinopec is 1. In respect to Khalkhal Dasht’s claim regarding the explained: with what logic we can accept that while Khalkhal an Iranian company!!! to mislead the judges in the only change in the contract’s price, it should be mentioned that Dasht left the project with lots of defects and Sinopec due to hearing (which Sinopec was absent); whereas Sinopec is a according to the contract which was signed between Sin- its commitments to NIOC had to complete it with millions Chinese company (As page 9 of Official Gazette No. 17996 opec (as the main contractor and investor) and National dollars of damage, would agree to release the guarantees or dated December 7, 2006, addressed Sinopec as a Chinese- Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), any changes in the contracts pay any extra work. Since Khalkhal Dasht raised a lawsuit nationality company). Fortunately, finally the Head of the with sub-contractors such as Khalkhal Dasht, shall have against Sinopec in Iran Courts in contrary to the arbitra- Judiciary Power, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, ordered to NIOC’s approval, therefore Sinopec cannot change the tion clause inserted in both contracts with Sinopec, both stop the enforcement of the verdicts on 4th April 2018. contract price at its own discretion. Sinopec rejects Khalkhal parties agreed based on supplementary agreement dated 6. In their claims, Khalkhal Dasht referred to the “Ira- Dasht claims regarding the changes in the project and/ 15th Aug. 2015 that, without prejudice to the arbitration nian general conditions” several times stating that Sinopec or the increase of the contracts’ price from $200 million clause, make efforts to solve the differences including bank should be committed to them, however according to Islamic to $300 million. guarantees and extra or reduced works in a friendly way. Republic of Iran’s law, which governs the contracts between 2. In their claims Khalkhal Dasht mentioned that the But Khalkhal Dasht continued to follow its false claims in Sinopec and Khalkhal Dasht, Iranian general conditions are Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization Head Mohammad project was completed and delivered to Sinopec and re- Iran Courts in breach of its contractual obligations and only binding on governmental companies, while neither Rastad (L) and Qatar Ports Management Company CEO Captain fers to the supplementary agreement dated 6th May 2015. law and loosed any opportunity for friendly settlement. Sinopec nor Khalkhal Dasht are Iranian governmental Abdulla Al-Khanji in a meeting in Tehran Sinopec dismisses such claims, asserting that: firstly there 4. About Tehran court’s verdicts against Sinopec for 100 companies. On the other hand, the contracts have their is no mentioning of final “hand over” or “completion” of million USD, the company stated that they have appealed own general condition which is binding on the parties. Addressing the meeting, Rastad referred to Qatar’s high project in the mentioned supplementary agreement, in against the court’s verdict which was based on a false ex- Khalkhal Dasht claims regarding Sinopec’s lawyer is all potential and capabilities and said there are fortunately many fact, Khalkhal Dasht abandoned the project incomplete pert opinion and in contrary to all supporting documents. untrue and false. proper fields for bilateral cooperation between the two countries. with plenty of qualitative and quantitative defects which Furthermore, they have sued the experts in the expert’s What came above is Sinopec’s explanations regarding He also underlined the two sides’ will and serious determina- imposed millions dollars of loss on NIOC, Sinopec and organization which is under proceedings. Khalkhal Dasht claims published by Tehran Times on April tion for cooperation. the entire country and only with the pressure of NIOC and 5. Khalkhal Dasht claimed that the arbitration clause 9, Sinopec presented relative documents and evidence to Al-Khanji, who visited Iran on the head of a high-ranking for Sinopec to complete the project by itself or thorough provided in Article 36 of the contracts between the two Tehran Times which backs their explanations, the company delegation of Qatari maritime officials, for his part said that their other contractors, delivered the site to Sinopec. in the same companies had been annulled by court order. is further ready to provide the mentioned documents and trip is aimed at benefitting from cooperation opportunities and supplementary agreement mentioned by Khalkhal Dasht Sinopec again explained that, in the contracts, both evidence in case of necessity. removing the existing challenges. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 11, 2018 ENERGY 5 Oil prices rise by more than 1% on hopes Iraqi court to hear oil export U.S. trade spat with China may ease argument with Kurds in May Normalizing relations between the Iraqi central government and Oil markets rose by more than 1 percent on data would provide further market guidance. Iraqi Kurdistan will take a new twist beginning in May when Iraq’s Tuesday, extending strong gains from the The American Petroleum Institute will top court starts hearings on the issue with officials from both sides. previous session, on hopes a trade dispute publish storage data later on Tuesday while Iraqi Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi has asked the court to ban between the United States and China may official data from the U.S. Energy Informa- independent oil exports from the Kurdistan Regional Government be resolved without greater damage to the tion Administration is due on Wednesday. (KRG) through a pipeline to Turkey in what has been a bone of global economy. Oil markets have been supported by contention since 2014. Despite this, prices remain within recent healthy demand and supply cuts led by the That year, companies with unilateral agreements with the KRG, ranges as oil markets still face an abundance Organization of the Petroleum Exporting including Exxon Mobil, Dana Gas, Genel Energy, DNO and Russian of supply that puts pressure on producers to Countries (OPEC). Rosneft, saw their oil exported to Turkey, bypassing the central keep their prices competitive in order not to However, soaring U.S. crude production, government’s oversight in Baghdad. lose market share. which has jumped by a quarter since mid- While that exported Kurdish oil did not contribute to Iraqi federal Brent crude futures were at $69.62 per 2016 to 10.46 million barrels per day (bpd), coffers, the KRG maintains that the Iraqi Constitution does not spe- barrel at 0651 GMT, up 96 cents, or 1.4 per- is threatening to undermine OPEC’s efforts cifically forbid it from developing oil resources on its own territory. cent, from their last close. to tighten the market and prop up prices. For years, the KRG has had the advance over Baghdad in this U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fu- The United States late last year overtook dispute, and not the least because Kurdish Peshmerga forces were tures were at $64.31 a barrel, up 89 cents, Saudi Arabia as the world’s second-biggest instrumental is pushing back the Islamic State as it closed in on or 1.4 percent. crude producer. Only Russia pumps more territory in Northern Iraq, around the Kirkuk oilfields, which lie The gains followed a more than 2 percent crude, at almost 11 million bpd. outside of the official KRG territory. rally on Monday, but that was a rebound In a sign that oil supplies remain ample, Now that ISIS has been pushed back, the KRG has lost it ad- from a 2 percent decline on Friday. China’s Sinopec and several other Asian re- vantage—particularly when it held an independence referendum Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday finers plan to cut Saudi crude imports in May, in September, which backfired. promised to open the country’s economy fur- Trifecta. U.S. sanctions against some significant oil instead buying from alternative sources, after Following the Kurdish referendum, the Iraqi federal government ther and lower import tariffs, in a speech that Concerns of a prolonged trade dispute producers. Saudi Aramco set higher-than-expected official took control of the Kirkuk oilfields in October, resulting in a halving struck a conciliatory tone on the rising trade between the world’s two biggest economies “There has been a significant change in prices, a company official said on Monday. of oil exports from the north. Some 350,000 barrels per day of crude tensions between China and the United States. and uncertainty over the supply and demand the Trump administration that has raised JPMorgan said it expects Brent and WTI were taken offline as a result. The crude oil price rises had come “amid balance of global oil markets have resulted risks of potential sanctions on key oil export- prices to average $69.50 and $65.20 per barrel During the first quarter of this year, talks between the two sides easing apprehensions of a trade war between in volatile recent trading. ing countries including Iran, Venezuela and in 2018, respectively, while it forecasts $64 have progressed. (Source: oilprice.com) the United States and China,” said Sukrit Beyond the trade dispute, oil markets are Russia,” U.S. bank JPMorgan said. per barrel for Brent and $58.50 per barrel Vijayakar, director of energy consultancy also concerned about the potential of renewed Traders said weekly U.S. fuel inventory for WTI in 2019. (Source: Reuters) Sinopec to cut Saudi crude Bahrain shale find puts oil market on notice imports for May in response Bahrain discovered the first oil on the Arab side other hydraulic fracturing technologies, and and the U.A.E. since June. gion’s more mature conventional producers to high OSPs: official of the Persian Gulf in 1932. It took a long time develop or bring in service companies skilled Halliburton said the resources found by -- Oman, Qatar and Egypt -- as well as for for the small island to find anything of simi- in unconventional resources. But given that Bahrain were on the “edge of the convention- non-producing Jordan. If the current OPEC/ China’s Sinopec, Asia’s largest refiner, plans to cut Saudi crude oil lar significance, but its recent announcement U.S. shale specialists have tended to stay at al-unconventional type of plays,” and it sounds non-OPEC pact endures, shale oil will dim imports loading in May by 40 percent after national oil company of an enormous shale oil resource under its home, the Bahrain find offers interesting pos- somewhat like the famous Bakken of North the prospects for the smaller Middle East Saudi Aramco set higher-than-expected prices, an official from the shallow waters should not be underestimat- sibilities for large international oil companies Dakota. The mid-case estimate is for 81.5 billion producers’ continuing adherence. company’s trading arm Unipec said. ed: Commercial offshore shale oil production as partners. barrels of oil and 13.7 trillion cubic feet of gas. Saudi Arabia has been seeking to develop “Our refineries think that these are unreasonable prices as they would be a first for the worldwide industry. Given their proximity, the newfound Based on U.S. production numbers, five to 10 shale gas for some time, with production start- do not follow the pricing methodology,” the official, who declined Perhaps more significant is that this resources probably stretch into Saudi and percent of the oil might be recoverable. Good ing in its remote northwest. Saudi Aramco’s to be named, said on Monday. discovery has the potential to boost Middle perhaps Qatari waters. Saudi Arabia, with flow-rates will be needed to compensate for general manager of unconventional resources, Asian oil traders have struggled to understand how Saudi Arabia East output, while raising the odds that shale its own first find the Dammam field, lies the higher cost of offshore wells, although it Khalid Al Abdulqader, said in March that the derived its official selling prices (OSPs) for May after the world’s oil production outside the U.S. and Canada just 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) to the west might be possible to reach at least some of the Jurassic source rocks in the Jafurah Basin, top oil exporter unexpectedly raised the price for its flagship Arab finally takes off. The Middle East has the ad- of Bahrain, the countries linked by the King resources by horizontal drilling from onshore which lies between the world’s biggest oil field Light crude sold to Asian refiners. vantages of good geology, existing petroleum Fahd Causeway. Some 20 kilometers to the sites, or artificially-dredged islands. Ghawar to the west, the Persian Gulf to the Separately, trading sources at two North Asian refineries said infrastructure, and a lack of environmental southeast is Qatar. Though a holder of the The main Middle East producers, such as east and Bahrain to the north, were similar on Tuesday they each planned to reduce May orders from Saudi or community opposition. To be sure, local world’s third-largest gas reserves, Doha’s Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Abu Dhabi, will in quantity and quality to Texas’s famous Arabia by 10 percent. producers will have to offer attractive terms mature oil production is slowly declining. not turn immediately to shale oil because of Eagle Ford shale, which is estimated to hold The sources, who declined to be named, said they would imple- to international investors to compensate for Shale production could give it a boost if it’s their giant, low-cost conventional resources. 12 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 122 ment operational tolerances built into long-term supply contracts the higher costs and technical risks than their able to sidestep the obstacles posed by an But several of them need new gas supplies. trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas. that allow adjustments in monthly crude deliveries according to conventional fields, source fresh-water or use embargo imposed by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia And shale oil is of great interest for the re- (Source: Bloomberg) changes in available supply or demand. (Source: Reuters) ADVERTISEMENTS

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL APRIL 11, 2018

A U.S.- Persian Gulf summit will not ease the blockade Trump’s nest of hawks against Qatar By Juan Williams The most memorable speech of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign was U.S. President Donald Trump has extended back-to-back Is President Trump more likely to start a a blistering attack on Trump’s chaotic, invitations to the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab war now that John Bolton is his national militaristic instincts on foreign policy. Emirates and Qatar before the anticipated U.S.- Persian Gulf security advisor? “Donald Trump’s ideas aren’t just different summit in Camp David. The summit, which was originally Bolton strongly supported the U.S. going — they are dangerously incoherent,” Clinton scheduled to take place next month, has been unexpectedly to war in Iraq in 2003 when he was a State warned in a San Diego speech. “They’re not put back to September. Department official in President George W. really ideas, just a series of bizarre rants, Meanwhile, Qatar’s media has been reporting that Emir Bush’s administration. personal feuds and outright lies.” Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani will be meeting Trump tomorrow, His militaristic viewpoint led him to write Trump has now proven her right. He has 10 April. Bin Hamad’s visit to the White House follows a recently that a Trump administration first shown time and time again that he makes visit by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Bin strike against North Korea would be “perfectly impulsive decisions based on the loudest Salman, who has spent almost three weeks crisscrossing legitimate.” voice in the room. the U.S., the longest overseas visit yet by the young prince. Bolton also opposes a two-state solution Now that voice belongs to John Bolton, to the conflict between Israel and the his third national security advisor in just Palestinians. 14 months. And as a longstanding opponent of the Bolton’s record is so tainted that a six-nation deal to stop Iran from building Republican majority in the Senate refused nuclear weapons, he is open to a first strike to confirm him as U.S. ambassador to the against Iran, too. United Nations. Bush gave him a recess Mike Pompeo, Trump’s nominee for appointment but his sharp criticism of secretary of State, is also an opponent of the UN and his disdain for international the Iran deal. Both skate over the fact that With Bolton and Pompeo as his top foreign law, led to conflicts with Secretary of State there is no compelling evidence that Iran policy advisors, Trump has created “the Condoleezza Rice. has violated the terms of the pact. It is up most radically aggressive foreign policy Personnel is policy in any White House. for recertification next month. This is especially true when the president With Bolton and Pompeo as his top foreign team around the American president in cannot explain to the American people what policy advisors, Trump has created “the most modern memory,” according to a New York he is doing. radically aggressive foreign policy team By appointing Bolton, Trump is embracing around the American president in modern Times news analysis. a hawk best known for shutting out other memory,” according to a New York Times the president has no strategy for those talks. Now he is sending more troops with the points of view while advancing isolationist news analysis. But North Korea will surely be watching promise that they will train and advise Afghan polices that increase the likelihood of The visit of Bin Salman was overshadowed by the Bolton’s appointment comes at a time to see if the U.S. goes back on its word in the troops fighting Taliban forces. confrontation and war. condescending manner in which Trump dealt with the press when the president has no strategy for dealing Iran deal as Trump attempts to negotiate This incoherence across the map from a “Bolton played a key role in politicizing conference during his visit. The U.S. President left many with global conflicts. an end to North Korea’s nuclear program. president with no foreign policy experience the [intelligence] that misled us into the journalists and political observers alike flabbergasted when He recently announced — with no That won’t upset Bolton. His position has left the American public with little trust Iraq War — We cannot let this extreme he went on an impromptu rant detailing the investment explanation — sudden plans to exit Syria is that the only right purpose for Trump’s in Trump as a world leader. war hawk blunder us into another terrible pledges for military hardware made by Saudi Arabia. “very soon.” Trump, who has tripled the U.S. meeting with the North Korean is to deliver A CNN/ORC poll taken late last month conflict,” Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) Such visits as that by Bin Salman and Bin Hamad, as well presence in Syria, made that declaration the a face-to-face threat of military action. found that 53 percent of Americans recently tweeted. as the Crown Prince of the UAE, Mohammed Bin Zayed, are same day his own Pentagon explained that And then there is Trump’s flip-flop decision disapprove of the way Trump is handling The New York Times editorial page put seen as precursors to the U.S.- Persian Gulf Summit. Bin keeping troops in Syria was necessary to to send more troops to Afghanistan, a war foreign affairs. it bluntly: “There are few people more likely Zayed was supposed to go to America at the end of March, preserve the gains in the fight against ISIL. now entering its 17th year. The public also disagrees with Bolton’s than Bolton is to lead the country into war.” but the plans were changed at his request, something that Last week, Trump tried to paper over Trump called the U.S. involvement there steadfast defense of the U.S. war in Iraq. A “I’ve heard that you’re actually the devil has been given various interpretations in the Persian Gulf. the differences with his military advisors by a “complete waste” during his campaign for Pew poll taken last month to mark the 15th incarnate and I wanted to meet you” The dominating view is that the postponement was in order saying he is open to keeping a short-term the White House. anniversary of the start of the war asked That’s how Secretary of Defense James to flank Bin Hamad’s visit between Bin Zayed and that of residual force there. “Why are we continuing to train these Americans if they thought the U.S. “mostly Mattis greeted Bolton at the Pentagon late Bin Salman to ensure tight control of the summit agenda, That confusing policy came after his Afghanis who then shoot our soldiers in the succeeded” or “mostly failed” in “achieving last month. whenever it happens. dramatic announcement of a meeting back? Afghanistan is a complete waste. Time its goals in Iraq.” A majority — 53 percent It was a joke, I think. In effect, the proposed summit is a replacement for the with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Again, to come home!” Trump once tweeted. — said the U.S. mostly failed. (Source: The Hill) Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC). Sceptics have accused Bin Salman and Bin Zayed of deliberately destroying the PGCC, the top structure of which excludes the two de facto leaders, notwithstanding their executive roles in their own U.S. confirms North Korea willing to discuss ‘Denuclearization countries. Instead, it is King Salman Bin Saud and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed of Saudi Arabia and the UAE respectively who represent their countries at the top of the PGCC. It is they of the Korean Peninsula’. What now? and Bin Hamad who get the heads of state photo opportunity. By Ankit Panda irreversible denuclearization of North Korea. The status quo continues to “poke both Bin Salman In South Korea, meanwhile, there are growing signs that and Bin Zayed’s egos in a wrong way, leading to flexing of On Sunday, a Trump administration official said that the Moon Jae-in’s government is about to enter its own summit muscles now and then.” Political optimists in the Persian “U.S. has confirmed that Kim Jong Un is willing to discuss with Kim Jong-un — the third inter-Korean summit later Gulf hope that the meeting between the leaders might help the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” according this month — with a different set of assumptions. ease the political tensions and economic blockade which to the Wall Street Journal. One anonymous Blue House official was quoted by the continue to impact negatively on the people of the region. The confirmation follows what seems to be weeks of JoongAng Ilbo as noting that “If one insists the North must However, realists argue that nothing of significance will backchannel diplomatic efforts between the United States carry out complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament come out of the summit. and the North Korean government, with the U.S. effort being as a pre-condition for dialogue, then we are going back to The solution to the Persian Gulf crisis lies squarely with led primarily by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). the status-quo.” Saudi Arabia, but the U.S. will not force its hand in this regard Though the CIA as a choice to lead diplomatic outreach South Korea shows little interest in urging North Korea for obvious reasons. For a start, the business contracts which to North Korea might seem odd at first glance, President toward a so-called Libya-style disarmament deal, which is the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have entered into compromise Donald Trump has chosen to nominate current CIA Director a nonstarter in Pyongyang anyway, where the word “Libya” the influence and impartiality of Washington in solving the Mike Pompeo to take over at the State Department. alone is interpreted more as a threat than a good faith offer current problems in the Persian Gulf. According to the Centre Should all go well with Pompeo’s confirmation, he should The path ahead with North for talks. for American Progress, a U.S. think tank, Saudi Arabia plans be in place by the time of a prospective summit meeting Amid all this, on Monday, John Bolton will be coming to invest $20 billion in an infrastructure fund to be managed between Trump and Kim. Korea remains uncertain — in to fill Lt. Gen H.R. McMaster’s shoes as Trump’s advisor by the Blackstone Group LP. Blackstone hopes to invest Hearing that the U.S. has confirmed Kim’s willingness to even following assurances on national security affairs. more than $100 billion in infrastructure projects through discuss “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” however, of “denuclearization” talks. Bolton, in a March interview, said that his preference will be this fund, mostly within America. This is beside the multi- is far from a surprise. for precisely a Libya-style settlement of North Korea’s nuclear billion dollar investment in military hardware in the U.S. As several analysts of Korean peninsula affairs have mind for the United States and South Korea, it’s highly likely program, which remains both unrealistic and dead on arrival. Moreover, the “cozy relationship” between Bin Salman noted — including Clint Work here at The Diplomat — that that in order for any concessions from the North Korean side, If the United States insists on more onerous preconditions and Trump’s senior advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner phrase can be a hairy source of ambiguity and disagreement. Kim will request serious modifications to the U.S. presence in the coming weeks, the Trump-Kim summit could yet be also weakens America’s influence as a fair arbitrator. Kushner It remains unclear if Trump recognizes what on the Korean peninsula. derailed — and daylight between the United States and its heads and sits on top of all political machinations and U.S. “denuclearization of the Korean peninsula” might entail Either way, “denuclearization,” in the sense that Kim South Korean ally on the proper path ahead with North foreign policy decision-making processes pertaining to the for the United States. means it, does not equate to what the United States has Korea could broaden. Middle East. Though Kim Jong-un has yet to clarify what steps he has in long sought on the Peninsula: the complete, verifiable, and (Source: The Diplomat) What’s more, in the early days of the blockade, Trump made a number of statements explicitly blaming Qatar for the current situation. Those statements contradicted those of his former Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, on the issue. Italian politics and Europe’s future Trump said in a press conference after his visit to Riyadh that, By Jeffrey D. Sachs The insurgent M5S finished first in chronic violence and instability, leading to democracy. I blame conservatives like “Nations came together and spoke to me about confronting the March 4 parliamentary vote with an massive refugee flows into Europe that have Schäuble for driving voters into the arms Qatar over its behavior. So we had a decision to make. Do we Italy – which stands at the border between astounding 33% of the vote, compared to upended politics in one EU member state of populist parties. Yet too many mainstream take the easy road or do we finally take hard but necessary Europe’s prosperous north and crisis-ridden 19% for the Democrats and 17% for the after another. social-democratic leaders went quietly along action?” Tillerson, on the other hand, argued strongly for de- south, and between an open Europe and one League. The implications of M5S’s strong The second reason is Europe’s now chronic with Schäuble. I also fault Chancellor Angela escalation. “This blockade is hindering the U.S.-led military seized by atavistic nationalism – will play victory are a topic of heated debate in Italy under-investment, especially by the public Merkel and other European leaders for campaign against [Daesh], creating hardships for the people a pivotal role in determining whether the and around Europe. sector. Under former Finance Minister failing to speak strongly enough against the of Qatar and impairing U.S. and other international business EU survives long enough to reform itself. Throughout the EU, traditional center-left Wolfgang Schäuble, a self-satisfied and U.S.-led wars in the Middle East and North activities in the region,” he said at the time. The coalition government that emerges and center-right pro-EU parties are losing economically successful Germany blocked Africa. European leaders should have been The Trump administration is committed to its Transactional will prove crucial. votes. Just as in Italy, anti-EU nationalist European-wide investment-led growth, and much more energetic at the United Nations Politics. The term refers to a political practice where More than ever, the European Union parties like the League are gaining votes, and turned the eurozone into a debtors’ prison for in opposing America’s hegemonic policy governments reciprocate each other’s actions in an equal needs unity to assert its values and interests anti-establishment insurgencies like M5S – Greece and a dispiriting zone of stagnation in the Middle East, with its catastrophic measure; in other words establish a certain type of give- in an age when U.S. global leadership is on for example, Podemos in Spain, and Syriza in for much of southern and eastern Europe. effects, including mass displacement and and-take politics. It is, therefore, far-fetched to imagine a the verge of collapse, China is ascendant, Greece – are either winning power outright With the EU’s economic policy limited to refugee movements. scenario where the U.S. could embrace a position against and Russia wavers yet again between or holding the balance of power between austerity, it’s not hard to see why populism Advocates of a strong and vibrant EU the wishes of Saudi Arabia; if the Saudis themselves refuse cooperation and confrontation with the traditional pro-EU mainstream parties and has taken root. – and I am firmly among them – should to solve the crisis, Washington will be unwilling to apply EU. Divided, the EU is a mere helpless anti-EU nationalist parties. The third reason is structural. Northern be rooting for the insurgent parties to join any pressure on Riyadh. spectator to geopolitical upheaval. United, There are three reasons for Europe’s Europe innovates, while southern and eastern forces with the weakened traditional social- Thus, the U.S. is not going to compromise its business with the EU can play a critical global role, as it changing politics. The first, and perhaps least Europe by and large do not, or at least not democratic parties in order to promote Saudi Arabia just because of Qatar. Right now it seems that uniquely combines prosperity, democracy, recognized, is a generation of disastrous U.S. nearly at the same rate. Italy straddles the two sustainable development, innovation, Saudi Arabia is America’s biggest client in the Persian Gulf. environmentalism, innovation, and social foreign policy in the Middle East and Africa. sides of Europe: a dynamic north, and chronic and investment-led growth, and to block Hence, the confidence that some in the region have that the justice. And whether the EU regains unity After the Cold War ended in the early 1990s, malaise in the south (the Mezzogiorno). This anti-EU coalitions. Or, as in Germany, they summit could solve the political impasse is misplaced; that of purpose, or instead spirals into disarray, the U.S. and local allies aimed to establish is an old story, but also an ongoing one. It should urge the grand coalition of center-left includes the desperate families who have been separated will depend on what happens now in Italy. political and military hegemony in the Middle helps to explain the frontlines of EU politics. and center-right parties to become much by the blockade. Italy’s pivotal role stems from its position East and North Africa through U.S.-led wars The M5S was triumphant especially in Italy’s more dynamic and investment-oriented Even if the U.S. was to apply pressure to Saudi Arabia, at the geographic divide between northern of regime change in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, stagnating south. at European scale, both for the sake of the last hope and voice of reason in this debacle was the now Europe’s prosperity and southern Europe’s Libya, and elsewhere. The result has been My political predilections lie with social economic good sense and to combat far- former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Notwithstanding the crisis, and the intellectual and emotional divide right nationalists. Or, as in France, they contradictions between Tillerson and Trump regarding the between an open Europe and one trapped European leaders should have been much should cheer the amalgamation of pro-EU blockade, Tillerson was an insider who could have swayed again by nationalism, prejudice, and fear. more energetic at the United Nations in traditionalists and insurgents in President the debate in favor of Qatar. Unfortunately, he was fired by Italy stands also at the political divide, with an Emmanuel Macron’s La République En Trump, so it looks as if the blockade is going to be in place for insurgent new party, the Five Star Movement opposing America’s hegemonic policy Marche ! Such pro-EU alignments give the long haul. Qatar will have to continue along its current (M5S), sharing the political stage with the in the Middle East, with its catastrophic the EU time to reform its institutions, stake foreign relations trajectory by looking towards Turkey and right-wing, anti-immigrant, and anti-EU out a common foreign policy, and initiate Europe for its survival. League party and the pro-EU but greatly effects, including mass displacement and investment- and innovation-led green growth (Source: Middle East Monitor) weakened center-left Democratic Party. refugee movements. in place of austerity and complacency. 13 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 11, 2018 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 Trump pressure not to affect Tehran-Ankara security cooperation: expert Credible possibility now for 1 Thirdly Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East Iran and Russia under different pretexts. Will new changes Nuclear War, Russia-U.S. must be framed. Thus U.S. needs to cooperate with Russia in Trump administration affect Turkey and Russia economic especially in containing China’s growing power. However, and regional cooperation? there has been a great prejudice against Donald Trump A: Turkish, Russian, Iranian Initiative for Syria is in a both in mainstream media and the establishment, which delicate balance. It is very important for these three countries is a prominent obstacle for Trump to fulfill his promised to come together for a solution even though their plans for policies. In this context, it seems as one of the reasons for Syria do not overlap. United States is not pleased by Turkey›s the changes in his team. deepening relations with Iran and Russia. However, as long John Bolton is known as a person who is very critical as the United States does not change its current Syria policy, against Iran and Russia. Thus, his appointment as a national it is impossible for Turkey to have any position together security advisor can be implemented as a reflection of harsher with United States. U.S. policy towards Russia and Iran. Although President Will U.S. pressure on Iran affect Tehran and Ankara Trump has a desire to cooperate with Russia in terms of good regional and economic cooperation? balancing China, the recent appointment indicate that the A: Trump is in favor of a tough policy against Iran. He is tension between United Stated and Russia will continue. critical about the JCPOA. Since the JCPOA is an agreement Will these changes affect the U.S. foreign policy in struggling against PKK (Marxist–Leninist terrorist group) with the initiative of the United Nations, it is necessary for Middle East? for decades. It is ironic that PKK is on the U.S. terrorist the United States to convince the parties to the deal. On the A: It is a necessity rather than a preference for United organizations list, but the United States is arming YPG, other hand, it is clear that the United States will continue States to change its foreign policy in the Middle East. Russia which is the branch of the PKK in Syria. Operation Olive to implement its own congressional sanctions against Iran. as a global actor and Iran as a regional actor is an emerging Branch has showed that Turkey is determined to fight against At this point Turkish banks are at risk. As the Hakan Atilla By Eric Zuesse power in the Middle East which is contrary to U.S. interests. PKK. Thus, in order to open a new chapter in U.S.-Turkish case revealed, the U.S. has a tough stance on this issue. Therefore, the recent changes is Trump national security team relations, United States should stop supporting PKK and its In this context, it will be a difficult period in terms of eco- will result in shifts in foreign policy toward the Middle East. branches in Syria. The recent changes in Trump team can nomic relations between Turkey and Iran. However, the MODERN DIPLOMACY — Although Russia has warned Will these changes help Turkey and U.S. to mend relation? be an opportunity to reevaluate bilateral relations. two countries have common national security concerns. the U.S. that another U.S. missile-assault against sovereign A: As a result of Obama›s Syria policy, Turkey-U.S. relations By offering new missile systems to Turkey, it seems Thus, the U.S. pressure would have a negative impact on the Syrian territory will be answered not only by Syria’s military have become problematic and the Trump administration the U.S. is trying to avoid more Turkey closeness to Russia economic relations but would not affect bilateral relations but also by Russia’s, Andrew Korybko, who is an expert on has not been able to overcome these problems yet. Turkey is and Iran. At the same time the U.S. is increasing pressure on in the area of security. geostrategy and especially on Russia’s strategic intentions, says that Russia would not follow through on that threat unless Russian soldiers get killed by the U.S. invasion. But, either way, nuclear war between the super-powers would be likely; Merkel facing the joint game of Trump and Macron and here is why: The Russian statement, as published on April 8th at the The main question here is whether the German Chan- and putting regional sanctions against Iran. issue. However, it is quite possible that Trump and Macron 1 site of Russian Television, was that any such U.S. invasion cellor is to follow the joint U.S.-French game from now on? During a recent European Council meeting in Brussels, are going to simultaneously discuss other approaches and “would be ‘absolutely unacceptable’ and could lead to ‘dire In other words, is the Chancellor of Germany and the French the European troika, in a united position, sought to convince strategies to confront Iran. consequences.’” Of course, if Russia, after such a statement, President about to take the same stance towards the JCPOA other EU member states on the need for limiting Iran›s missile As emphasized, the type of cooperation between the French were to respond, to such an invasion by the U.S., with some- in their visit to the U.S.? Or will each of them take a different power and imposing regional sanctions against Iran. The Eu- President and the German Chancellor, and the issues that the thing less than “dire consequences,” then the U.S. invasion approach over the nuclear deal and its fate? ropean troika has argued that the sanctions are necessary to two intend to discuss on their visit to the United States, will would have defeated Russia, in the Syrian battlefield, without Last September, the Bloomberg reported that in the side- keep the JCPOA going. However, some European countries, enormously affect the U.S. and the EU›s decision on how to so much as even having had any war there against Russian lines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, including Italy, Spain and Austria, opposed this argument deal with the nuclear accord. forces. This would, to put it mildly, be a watershed moment of there was a controversy between Germany and the two other and have declared that there is no guarantee that Trump will The German Chancellor is deeply worried to be a victim Russia’s military capitulation to U.S. aggression against the European countries (Britain and France) about how to deal remain as part of the nuclear deal even with the EU›s sanctions of Trump and Macron›s bargain over the JCPOA. This is Government of Syria — an ally of Russia, left unprotected in with the nuclear accord. against Iran. In this case, the European Union›s credibility what has happened before in 2017. At that time, Trump first the lurch, when Russia’s assistance would have been the most Accordingly, Paris and London were trying to convince will be put under question by its new sanctions against Iran. made a deal with the French on a change in the content of needed. Also, since the U.N. would never authorize any such Berlin on «the necessity for reforming the nuclear deal.» In any case, Merkel may ask Trump to put off his decision the JCPOA, forcing German authorities to cooperate with invasion, the U.S. would have destroyed there the U.N. itself, However, Germany has recently taken a different approach on imposing nuclear sanctions against Iran once again, pro- him in this way. Can this experience be repeated during the as being anything more than a talking-forum that’s backed up from its two European partners over limiting the missile power viding EU with more time to come to an agreement over this separate visits of Merkel and Macron with? by nothing more than the whims of what then would incon- testably be the lone superpower and the imperial master of the entire planet: the U.S. regime, which would then have shown Old-Fashioned lie of chemical weapons attacks (conspicuously displayed) that it can do anything anywhere and be unconcerned about any retaliatory consequences. Would By Sondoss Al Asaad to use chemical weapons.” the Russian people accept that outcome, their capitulation? If In an interview with Lebanon-based al- they do not, then would they accept the American dictators? If BEIRUT — Once a liar is always a liar, the old Mayadeen TV, the current Permanent Repre- they do not, then would they accept their own elected Govern- saying goes. The American lies and allegations sentative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the ment? Or: would there become a second Russian revolution? about chemical weapons attacks during the United Nations Bashar al-Jaafari dismissed The full phrase that was used in the Russian Government’s Syrian conflict are not any new. These lies as flawed the findings of a UN-mandated original announcement was that they “warn that military in- emphasise that whenever the victorious SAA investigation blaming Syrian forces for the tervention under flimsy pretexts fabrications regarding Syria, advances, the United States and its NATO use of chemical weapons, saying the report is where, at the request of the legitimate Government are Rus- allies promote rigged and unverified reports based on “false testimonies.” He added,“The sian servicemen, is absolutely unacceptable and could lead of chemical weapons attacks in Syria while allegations had been fabricated to put pressure to the most severe consequences.” In that form, the warning singling out Russia for protecting President on the government in Damascus.” could sound meaningless; but, that’s not the form in which Bashar al-Assad. Chief negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari add- the assertion was being broadcast to the global public. If the Meanwhile, the bogus claim of a purported ed that the UN Security Council and the intention of the Russian Government there was to have some gas attack in Syria obviously aims at under- Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical basis for alleging that Russia’s attempt to “warn” the U.S. was mining the exit of the Takfiri terrorists from Weapons (OPCW) had yet to publish their no real warning at all, then it would be mocked. Douma to show that the Syrian government final findings on the use of banned arms in The implication of the warning as it had been stated in that forces have launched the attack. On Sunday, Syria, adding that Damascus would present original, was that only if there “are Russian servicemen” who the US State Department issued a strongly its own observations and notes to the world become hit by the U.S. aggression against the sovereign Syrian worded statement, blaming the Syrian govern- body before the joint report is out. Government, will it be the case that it “could lead to the most ment for purportedly conducting the attack Deliberately, Washington has led aerial severe consequences.” If, however, “Russian servicemen” do and accusing Russia of being responsible. bombardment campaigns with the help of its become injured or, worse yet, killed, by the American inva- The use of chlorine as a weapon is pro- atrocity is on lockdown and encircled by Syrian ta, expressing, “The spread of bogus stories allies, allegedly targeting ISIS positions, but sion, how could Russia’s Government face its own people if it hibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Army, making it completely inaccessible to about the use of chlorine and other poisonous actually targeting civilians and soldiers. They then failed to respond with “the most serious consequences”? Convention, which Syria adhered to in 2013, outside world.” substances by (Syrian) government forces have previously launched several chemical Korybko said that “it’s unlikely that Russia will carry under a deal brokered by Russia and the In 2012, months after Syria plunged into continues. Yet another such fabricated piece attacks, which are banned under arm treaties through on the conditional yet highly publicized and mostly US. Damascus surrendered its stockpiles of crisis, Eastern Ghouta, a home to nearly of information about an alleged chemical intended to stop the use of chemical weapons. misunderstood threat to shoot down any American missiles chemical weapons in 2014 to a joint mission 400,000 people, fell to multiple foreign-spon- attack in Douma appeared yesterday.” In addition, they have carried out various and/or target their launching pads (including ships), so Syria led by the UN and the Organisation for the sored terrorist groups and has since served The Ministry added that “the notorious horrific acts, such as public decapitations will probably have little choice but to finally follow Russia’s Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), as a launch pad for mortar attacks against White Helmets, which have a large role in and crucifixions. ‘suggestion’ of a ‘last-minute solution’ or face the wrathful which oversaw the destruction of the weap- residents and infrastructure in the Syrian fabricating the gas attack allegation, have The US and its allies have been bombarding American consequences for refusing.” But what would happen onry. However, Western governments have capital.Over the past few months, the area been repeatedly caught acting with terror- in Syria, since September 2014, without any if Syria does choose to stand firm? And what would happen if never stopped pointing the finger at Damascus has witnessed deadly violence and eventually ists, as well as other so-called humanitarian authorization from the government. They, there “are Russian servicemen” who become injured or killed whenever an apparent chemical attack has Eastern Ghouta has been fully liberated with organizations based in the United Kingdom reportedly, have more than 2,000 troops sta- in that invasion? taken place. the exception of Douma. The Syrian govern- and the United States.” tioned in eastern Syria, in addition to several Perhaps the Russian Government wants to extricate itself A report, compiled by the Organization ment agreed to let the militants and their The Russian Foreign Ministry said that thousand others in the north.A senior US from its role as Syria’s essential protector, but there seems to for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons families flee in convoys to Syria’s northern Moscow had “warned several times recent- military general said Thursday that Trump be little possibility that it could be done now, other than by (OPCW) and the UN’s Joint Investigative parts in order to save the lives of civilians ly against such dangerous provocations.” has not given the Pentagon a timeline for jeopardizing its own standing not only internationally as an Mechanism (JIM), claimed last week that caught in the crossfire. It further emphasised, “The aim of such getting American troops out of Syria, despite ally whose commitments can be trusted, but even among the Syria had used chlorine in separate attacks, In a statement released late on Saturday, deceitful speculation, lacking any kind of Trump’s public statements that US troops Russian people who had elected it. between 2014 and 2015. The investigation was the Syrian government have intensely de- grounding, is to shield terrorists … and to should withdraw soon. Consequently, “dire consequences,” or “the most severe launched based on the UN Security Council’s nounced the allegation, emphasising, “the attempt to justify possible external uses The hostile American warships, in the consequences” to the U.S. invaders, would quite possibly result Resolution 2235, which called for determining so-called Jaish al-Islam Takfiri terrorist of force.” eastern Mediterranean, launched a barrage from that invasion; and, then, what step would the invader which party used chemical arms in Syria. group, which has dominant presence in the The ministry has warned that any mili- of 59 Tomahawk missiles against Shayrat follow-up with? Syria has repeatedly denied all allega- town, was repeating the allegations of using tary intervention based on such “invented Airfield in Syria’s Homs province, in April Likely would be a massed invasion by the U.S. military in tions circulated about the use of chemical chemical munitions in order to accuse the and fabricated excuses could lead to severe last year. The barrage drew the praise from conjunction with that of Israel, the Sauds, and whatever NATO poisonous materials like chlorine gas. On Syrian Arab army, in a blatant attempt to consequences.” In November, Russia vetoed anti-Damascus staunch supporters, i.e. the members would want to be at the head of the line of vassals October 26, the Syrian Foreign Ministry issued hinder the Army’s advance.” the renewal of an independent and technical Saudis and the Zionists. supplicating for favors afterward to the imperial master-re- a statement, saying Damascus fully honours The so-called ‘White Helmets,’ a gener- group created by the U.N. Security Council, The U.S. alleged that the strike was the gime in Washington. This would then clearly be likewise a war its commitments under the convention. The ated myth by the hypocrite international the so-called Joint Investigative Mechanism origin of a suspected chemical attack on the against both Russia and Iran, and perhaps China and North statement rejected the allegations, expressing mainstream media, overseen and driven (JIM), to look into the perpetrators of chem- town of Khan Shaykhun in Syria’s Idlib prov- Korea would join it on Russia’s-Syria’s side. But, in any case, that the investigations “lack any physical by James Le Mesurier, have claimed that ical weapons attacks in Syria. ince a few days earlier. So far, Washington the likelihood of limiting this war to only the Syrian battlefield evidence, whether by samples or attested the government forces, on Saturday, had Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bah- has failed to provide any concrete evidence to would then be very slim indeed; and the only question that medical reports that chlorine was used and “dropped a barrel bomb containing poi- ram Qassemi said that these chemical attack prove the accusations, prompting criticisms would seriously remain would be: will the all-out nuclear war was totally based on witnesses presented by sonous chemicals in Douma, killing and claims are conspiratorial and illogical. He for choosing to take unilateral military action between the U.S. and Russia be initiated by a sudden blitz terrorist armed groups.” wounding dozens of civilians.” The White maintained,“Such claims and accusations by hastily and without proof. all-out nuclear invasion of Russia by the U.S., or, instead, by Apparently, the Western governments Helmets is a suspicious organisation backed the Americans and some Western countries Damascus has repeatedly stressed that a sudden blitz all-out nuclear invasion of the U.S. by Russia? have seldom accused Russia of the victims by the British Government and the ‘Syrian signal a new conspiracy against the Syrian the U.S., European governments, Turkey, Which side will strike the first? That’s important, because targeted with alleged chemical weapons National Council.’ government and nation and a pretext for Qatar, and Saudi Arabia back and support the nuclear exchange will be over within only 30 minutes, attacks. They have launched the so-called Russia, which backs the Syrian govern- military action against them.” the terrorist militants, who have been ravag- at most. The first to strike will have obliterated many of the ‘International Partnership against Impunity ment against the terrorist conspiracy, has The Spokesman added that using such ing Syria since 2011. Last December, Ahmed opposite side’s weapons (blocked them from being used), and for Use of Chemical Weapons’ and endorsed casted strong doubt on the alleged attack. allegations as a pretext for a military inter- al-Gaddafi al-Qahsi, a cousin of former Libyan this will be decisive in determining the ‘winner’ and the loser’. a political commitment “to share information Noticeably, it has engaged in an anti-terror vention in Syria would certainly aggravate dictator Muammar Gaddafi, said the chem- Whichever side strikes the first will likeliest suffer the lesser on combating the use of chemical weapons campaign in Syria since September 2015, the situation in this country and in the ical weapons used in Ghouta were stolen damage of the two, even if the entire globe gets effectively worldwide.” upon an official request from Damascus, region. Qassemi also expressed that the from Libya and later smuggled into Syria destroyed as a consequence. In military terms, ‘victory’ always The Zionist arrogant American President in contrast to the US-led military coalition, terrorists would be emboldened by any via Turkey. goes to whichever side suffers the less damage than the other; Donald Trump has accused the Syrian Presi- which is operating without permission from act of aggression, which would not be in The White House Homeland Security and ‘defeat’ goes to the side that suffers the more damage. That’s dent Bashar al-Assad of launching the alleged the Syrian government. favour of peace, stability and security in Counterterrorism Adviser Thomas Bossert all. This is the military, after all. And, so, even if there really chemical attack, saying on Twitter there will In response, the Russian Foreign Minis- the region and across the world. He pointed said in an interview on ABC, on Sunday, would not be any significant history afterward, there still would be a “big price to pay.” He also tweeted, “Many try,on Sunday, has lambasted these suspicions out, “When the Syrian army has the upper that the U.S. would not rule out launching have been a ‘winner’ and a ‘loser’; and this seems now to be dead, including women and children, in a of a chemical gas attack allegedly conducted hand on the battlefield against armed ter- a missile attack in response to the alleged the chief question that is seriously open, at the present time: mindless chemical attack in Syria. Area of by the Syrian government in Eastern Ghou- rorists, and it would not be rational for it chemical attack. who will blitz-attack first? I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS APRIL 11, 2018

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 11, 2018 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 9 The de-dollarization in China By Giancarlo Elia Valori China’s alignment with MODERN DIPLOMACY — The U.S. dollar is so important Russia is a fait accompli in today’s economy for three main reasons: the huge amount of petrodollars; the use of the dollar as the world’s reserve currency and the decision taken by U.S. President Nixon in 1971 to end the dollar convertibility into gold. The U.S. currency is still a large part of the Special Drawing Rights (SDR), the IMF’s “paper money”. A share ranging between 41% and 46% depending on the periods. Petrodollarsemerged when Henry Kissinger dealt with King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, after “Black September” in Jordan. The agreement was simple. Saudi Arabia had to accept only dollars as payments for the oil it sold, but was forced to invest that huge amount of U.S. currency only in the U.S. financial channels while, in return, the United States placed Saudi Arabia and the other OPEC neighbouring countries By Wang Li & Nodir Boboev under its own military protection. Hence the turning of the dollar into a world currency, con- sidering the importance and extent of the oil market. Not to MODERN DIPLOMACY — Since 1992 when the former So- mention that this large amount of dollars circulating in the viet Union was dissolved, China and Russia have moved to each world definitely marginalized gold and later convinced the other more closely than ever before. Although they never forge FED that the demand for dollars in the world washuge and formal alliance in the classical terms, the two countries have unstoppable. able in the world. Apart from the stability of gas and oil prices, which should actually established strategic partnership covering all of the es- An unlimited amount of liquidity that kept various U.S. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has already accepted payments be guaranteed in the coming years, China and its allies should sential features as allies. If we take the term of alliance defined industrial sectors alive but, above all, guaranteed huge finan- in yuan for the oil sold to China, which is its largest customer. be ever more able to select between the supply and, certainly, by Stephen Walt, it is clear that Beijing and Moscow perceive cial markets such as the derivatives – markets based on the This is a turning point. If Saudi Arabia gives in, sooner or later between the countries which accept the non-oil bilateral ex- the United States and its allies as “the significant external threat structural surplus of U.S. liquidity. all OPEC countries will follow suit. change with China and payments in yuan or gold. that is increasingly impairing their individual and common core After the Soviet Union’s collapse, the United States always In many cases, India and Russia have already traded with Still today, the U.S. GDP accounts for 22% of world’s GDP, interests as well.” thought about world’s hegemony and, above all, imagined to Iran by accepting oil in exchange for primary goods and com- while 80% of international payments are made in dollars. On April 4-5, Chinese FM Wang Yi’s visited Moscow as the oppose the already active Eurasian union between China, Iran modities. Hence the United States receives goods from abroad always special envoy of Chinese President Xi. During the meeting with and Russia – the worst nightmare for U.S. decision-makers China has also opened a credit line with Iran amounting at comparatively very low prices, while the massive demand his Russian counterpart, two FMs once again highlighted that as – both at military and financial levels. to as many as 10 billion euros, with a view to gettingaround for dollars from the rest of the world allows to refinance the neighboring countries and natural partners, the two countries As early as those years, following Brzezinsky’s policy line, sanctions. It is also assumed that North Korea uses cryptocur- U.S. public debt at very low costs. have established the comprehensive strategic partnership of co- the U.S. analysts warned against the unification of Eurasia rencies to buy oil from China. This is the economic and political core of the issue. ordination as a result of careful consideration and not expedient – to be absolutely prevented – and against the subsequent As devastated as its economy is, Venezuela no longer sells In fact, the Russian government held a specific meeting measures. True, China and Russia have agreed to strengthen reunification of Eurasia with the Eurasian peninsula, to be its oil in dollars – and it is worth recalling it can boast the on de-dollarization in spring 2014. coordination on the Korean Peninsula and further committed to avoided even with a war. largest world reserves known to date. This is another fact to be highlighted. It is a political opera- promote world peace and stability. Consider the sensitive moment At that time, the three aforementioned Statesstill con- Furthermore, China will buy gas and oil from Russia in tion that appears to be a financial one, often in contrast with when Britain and its allies followed each other to expel Russian ducted their business in dollars: China wanted to keep on yuan, with Russia being able to convert yuan into gold directly the “volatility” of current markets, but its core is strategic diplomats as “to show solidarity and as a signal of unity”, China’s becoming the “world factory”; Russia had run out of steam on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange. and geopolitical. demonstration of its strong partnership with Russia is more than and wasnear breaking point; Iran had to inevitably adapt to Keynes’ “tribal residue” takes its revenge. In theory, the de-dollarization regards three specific issues: a symbolic. In public rhetoric, China proposed that Britain and the rest of Sunni OPEC. So far the agreements for trade in their respective currencies payments, the real economy issue and ultimately the financial Russia should be able to resolve their bilateral disputes by them- With Putin’s rise to power, Russia’s de-dollarization began were signed between China and Kazakhstan (on December 14, issue, namely the financial contracts denominated in dollars. selves rather than by external pressure. This indicates China’s immediately. The share of dollar reserves declinedyear after 2014),between China and South Africa (on April 10, 2015) and In the first case, China will tend to eliminate every trans- support to Russia in safeguarding its national conditions and its year, while Putin proposed new oil contracts. between Russia and India (on May 26, 2015) while, at the end action denominated in U.S. dollars by third countries and justified rights by any legitimate means. Since last year, for example, dollars cannot be used in ports. of November 2015, the Russian central bank included the yuan to removesettlement mechanisms involving the dollar and Literally speaking, the term of “coordination” is a flexible In the case of Iran, the sanction regime – in particular – into the list of currencies that can be accepted as reserves. On operating in its neighbouring areas. mechanism of syntax, known as conjuncts or conjoins that links has favoured the discovery of means other than the dollar for November 3, 2016 an agreement was signed between Turkey In the second case, the dollar transactions will be – and together two or more elements. In history, there are some similar international settlements. and Russia for the exchange of their currencies and in October are already – largely prohibited for individuals. relationship between the great powers like entente that means a The operations and signs of the de-dollarization continued. 2017 a similar agreement was reached between Turkey and Iran. In the third case, the share of foreign contracts denominated type of treaty or military alliance where the signatories promise The war in Iraq against Saddam Hussein was also a fight For financial institutions, the de-dollarization continued in yuan is now equal to 40% and strong acceleration will be to consult each other or to cooperate with each other in case of a against the Rais who wanted to start selling his oil barrels in with the establishment of the BRICS Fund worth 100 billion recorded in 2018. crisis or military action. In light of this, China and Russia have euros, while the war in Afghanistan wasviewed by China as dollars (on July 16, 2014) and with the establishment – on The oil futures denominated in yuan are now booming. enhanced their relationship to a comprehensive strategic part- part of the ongoing overall encirclement of its territory. January 16, 2016 – of the Asian Infrastructure Investment The first attempt was made in 1993, when China opened its nership of coordination that has kept operating at a high level. Hence the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative. Also Bank (AIIB), made up of 57 member countries, including Italy, stock exchanges in Beijing and Shanghai. As Chinese FM admitted, since it is now at its historical best, the the war in Afghanistan was an attempt to stop the Eurasian which automatically caused the U.S. anger. China itself closed operations two years later, due to market strategic mutual trust between Beijing and Moscow have been project of economic and commercial (as well as political) union In May 2015 the Russian-Chinese Investment Bank was instability and to the yuan weakness. continuously strengthened and fruitful outcomes achieved in between Russia, Iran and China. created, followed in July 2015 by the opening of the new bank Two other things have changed since then: in 2016 the various fields. Now at a crucial stage of their national develop- As further sanction, the United States has removed Iran for the development of BRICS, based in Shanghai. In November yuan was admitted as a currency making up the IMF Special ment respectively, the leaders of China and Russia, Xi and Putin, from the SWIFT network, the well-known world interbank 2015, however, Iran approved the establishment of a bank Drawing Rights and in 2017 China overtook the United States have shared their personal friendship on many occasions and transfer system, which is also a private company. together with Russia. as the world’s largest oil importer. vowed to maintain steady coordination in playing a greater role Iran, however, has immediately joined the Chinese CIPS, a It is worth underlining that in April 2015 the Russian na- Hence, thanks to the oil futures denominated in yuan, China in international affairs. For example, in view of the trade friction recent network, similar to SWIFT, with which it is already fully tional credit card system was opened, dealing also with small is reducing its dependence on the dollar and, in the meantime, between China and the United States, Beijing has fought back connected. Basically China’s idea is to create an international currency transfers. It is also worth recalling the Duma law on it is supporting its oil imports, as well as promoting the use resolutely in the name of safeguarding multilateralism and free currency based on the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights and freely de-offshorization of November 18, 2014, i.e. the legislation of the yuan globally and expanding its presence in the world. trade. Consider that there remains only a desire of the United expendable on world markets, in lieu of the U.S. dollar, so as obliging the Russian companiesresident abroad to pay taxes Russia has done the same. States to ensure by all means its global hegemony, Russia stated to avoid “the dangerous fluctuations stemming from the U.S. directly to the Russian Treasury. Therefore the United States is about to be ousted as world’s that it will surely not leave this current and any new anti-Russian currency and the uncertainties on its real value “- just to quote The above mentioned Chinese CIPS started operating in currency due to its continuous series of wars and military fail- attack without a harsh answer. the Governor of the Chinese central bank, Zhou Xiaochuan, October 2015, while in March 2017 Russia implemented a ures (former President Cossiga always told me: “The United Looking into the immense resources and capacities of the two who will soon be replaced by Yi Gang. system similar to SWIFT (interacting with the Chinese one). States is always on the warpath and up in arms, but then it is countries, it is unwise for any ruling power(s) to ignore that China In the meantime, Russia and China are acquiring signifi- The issue is complex because with fracking, the United not able to get out of it”) and, like everyone else, it shall pay and Russia have their legitimate rights in the world politics. As cant amounts of gold. In recent years China has bought gold States has become the first oil producer – hence there is less for its public debt, which is huge and will be ever more its permanent members of the UN Security Council, the growing to the tune of at least 1842.6 tons, but the international index need to keep the huge amount of petrodollars. This happens problem, not ours. complex and unpredictable international reality requires China could be distorted, as many transactions on the Shanghai while a natural oil and gas shale deposit has just been discov- Here it is worth recalling what the U.S. Treasury and Russia to work together to strengthen their cooperation and Gold Exchange are Over the Counter (OTC) and hence are ered, off the coast of Bahrain, with reserves of 80 billion oil Secretary,John Connally, said to his European counterparts coordination. Meanwhile, the two powers have reiterated that the not reported. barrels and 4 trillion cubic meters of gas. during a meeting in 1971: “The dollar is our currency, but United Nations should play more commanding role in foreign Again according to official data, so far Russia is supposed The United States does no longer buy oil and gas because it your problem”. affair. To that end, a multipolar world order rather than unilat- to have reached 1857.7 tons. does not need them, but China is increasingly the best global Obviously, in relation to all these issues which also concern eralism is legitimately accepted and unwaveringly maintained. Both countries have so far bought 10% of the gold avail- buyer. primarily the euro, the European Union is silent and sleepy. There is no doubt that both China and Russia have their own disadvantages in terms of the great power’s status. China is still a developing country in terms of the domestic issues and high- tech innovation. Russia is regarded as an emerging power since Humanitarian crisis in Yemen cannot end if Saudi it has relied on too much natural resources export and has been evidently behind in overall productivities. Yet, both China and Russia have huge potentials which are compatible with each bombs keep falling from sky other in strategic weaponry system and vast manufacture. In TEHRAN (FNA) — For good reasons pres- one area in particular: a geopolitical sense, the two sides are neighboring countries sure is growing on Saudi Arabia over its illegal Ending the conflict. It is simple. The UN that bestows them a huge strategic depth to coordinate and sup- war on Yemen, with the international com- cannot achieve any of its 2018 development port each other, including the China-proposed Belt and Road munity giving the country a stark warning goals in Yemen if U.S.-manufactured Saudi Initiative and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. As the over their actions in the conflict zone. bombs are falling from the sky. The poorest key members of the emerging powers bloc—BRICS, China and According to United Nations Secretary country in the Arab world cannot achieve social Russia have actually acted“ to preserve the current rules rather General Antonio Guterres, the U.S.-backed, or economic progress if its people are fleeing than violating them. For example, they both oppose the U.S. Saudi-led war on Yemen is the world’s worst their homes in horror. And, development practicing trade protectionism, which is shaking the global trad- humanitarian crisis, with over 22.5 million cannot take root on the Yemeni battleground. ing system based on rules, violating the WTO rules and hitting people or two-thirds of the population in We have seen this, in practice. Yemen’s the just-revived world economy.” Chinese FM Wang Yi even desperate need of aid, food and protection. development gains were destroyed by the appealed to the international community to oppose the U.S.’s Saudi Arabia has been bombing the country outbreak and recurrence of the U.S.-backed, attempt to use ‘America first’ as an excuse to run unilateralism. since 2015, and in November Saudi Arabia Saudi-led conflict in 2015 for all the wrong Another pressing issue affecting China’s and Russia’s core and its regional partners in crime strength- reasons. Which is why a stronger focus on interest is the current Korean Peninsula situation with the denu- ened pre-existing blockades on Yemeni ports, ending the conflict is key to UN efforts for clearization of the Peninsula as a key priority. China and Russia airports and borders crossings, restricting ending the worst humanitarian crisis. are both close neighbors of the Peninsula and are members of food, aid and vital supplies from entering Rights Watch, says, “Western leaders should It doesn’t take a strategic mind to real- And, finally, the world body needs to the Six-Party Talks, so the Peninsula’s peace and tranquility are the country – that of course with the much- put Yemen at the center of their discussions. ize that the United Nations Security Council build bridges between the warring factions closely related to the interests of China and Russia. Evidently, needed green light from the United States, the As permanent members of the UN Security has what it takes to exert pressure on Saudi for peace and security, and development to Beijing and Moscow welcome and support the positive signals biggest winner of this humanitarian crisis. Council, France and the UK must do their Arabia to end the war and promote interna- prevail. But, these bridges will be unbalanced, from the Peninsula and appreciate the efforts made by the South The U.S.-backed, Saudi-led coalition utmost to demand that Saudi Arabia respect tional peace and security for Yemen. It is not unless they extend to the third pillar of hu- and the North. In terms of the scheduled summit between the members have claimed these restrictions its international obligations. a question of whether there is a link between man rights and human dignity, which are two Koreas, China hopes this meeting could bring nuclear issues have since been lifted, but UN humanitarian The world community should also call for UN obligations and peace. Because, this link being violated almost daily by Saudi Arabia back to the forefront of dialogue and negotiations. Accordingly, workers, who recently visited the main port the end of bombing of civilians and respect is already widely ignored. and company. China lists three points as the fundamental tenets of how to solve of Hodeida, describe the port as a ‘wasteland’. for international humanitarian law, and the It is even evident in the United Nations’ The UN cannot address the link between the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear issues through political means. They forced the UN Security Council to warn unconditional and permanent lifting of re- Charter. The drafters of this Charter not only peace and sustainable development without Firstly, all sides should commit to the denuclearization of the last month that conditions in Yemen were strictions on the delivery of humanitarian envisaged a world free from war – but also acknowledging that it is facing major chal- Korean Peninsula. Secondly, a peace mechanism should be di- further deteriorating as a result of ongoing aid and goods to Yemen. one in which social and economic progress lenges from Saudi Arabia and the United rected to reduce the North Korean legitimate security concerns. bombing and blockades. Tragic enough, France and the UK, like improved the lives of all people. Later, in 2015, States. They are the reason why Yemeni Finally, all parties involved would work to solve the issue in stages. After four years of bloodshed, it is time the United States, are major sellers of arms this link became one of the core components institutions are crumbling to conflict and In sum, China and Russia no doubt need each other in the for the United Nations and international to Saudi Arabia, and various rights groups of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Develop- people’s prayers and calls for peace remain vicissitudes of the world affairs, including jointly safeguarding human rights groups to call on the United have accused them of doing little to stop the ment. And, it has been an element of almost unanswered. Riyadh and its main supporter, their common interests and maintaining regional and world peace States and NATO allies to pressure Prince flow of lethal weapons to the Saudi military all international resolutions on both peace Washington, have waged an illegal war and and stability. Yet, the test of the statecraft in both Beijing and Mohammed to protect the civilian population campaign. These governments cannot sell and development since then. The question, opened up new battlegrounds. In the pre- Moscow is not how to jointly and initially challenge the ruling in Yemen and end the conflict. A statement deadly weapons to Saudi Arabia and at the however, remains: how can the world body vailing circumstances, no country, land, or power’s status, instead of demonstrating the deterrence through from Amnesty International, the International same time announce aid packages for Yemen. better use it, to tackle today’s challenges in group is immune in the Middle East, much their military capabilities and diplomatic talents in order to make Federation for Human Rights and Human Simply put, such gestures are a bitter joke. Yemen? And, in answering this, to focus on less in Yemen. the adversaries act rationally. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 TECHNOLOGY APRIL 11, 2018 Iranian messaging apps reportedly ‘Messaging apps are infrastructure for digital economy development’ removed from App Store TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN — Two Iranian Domestic messaging applications eye TEHRAN — Messaging apps are the in- desk deskfrastructure needed for digital economy messaging applications officials for further support and to help development, Communication and Information Technol- have been reportedly removed from the them to convince subscribers to move ogy Minister wrote in his Instagram account on Monday. Apple’s iOS App Store from Monday, to another application yet. “However, the international banking system does not according to local media. Iranian apps, not welcomed provide any opportunity for the Iranian market to be active However, Apple Inc. has not yet is- on App Store in this field,” Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi lamented. sued any statement about removing the Apple does not have an App Store The replacement of Telegram, as the most popular mes- messaging apps Soroush and Baleh. in Iran, but Iranian developers have saging app in Iran, with Iranian messaging applications is In recent weeks, Iranian officials are created several apps for sale in other being turned into a challenge on the national level. mulling over the replacement of domestic domestically developed App Stores, and The establishment of messaging apps instead of Telegram, iPhones are routinely smuggled in to connection between finan- which is popular in Iran. the country, despite an official ban on cial technology and mes- Last week, President Hassan Rouhani their sale. saging apps is a great idea announced the development of domestic According to statistics published by for boosting the national messaging applications, saying it is in- The Verge in August 2017, an estimated economy, the minister said. tended to end monopoly in social media. 48 million smartphones have been sold Due to sanctions, Iran “Domestic messaging applications in Iran, a country of 80 million people, cannot take advantage and software should not be developed and there are an estimated 47 million from financial aspects of to restrict access (to cyberspace), but social media users. cyberspace. Even Telegram should be developed to end monopoly in According to the AppleInsider, the announced that Iranian cit- messaging apps,” Rouhani said during company has in the past banned certain izens are prohibited from a meeting with his ministers, provincial apps created by Iranian developers in buying Gram cryptocurren- governors and heads of executive bodies. reaction to U.S. sanctions against that cy, he explained. It is a source of honor to develop “Ira- tions have been approved by the National Soroush, Gap, iGap, BisPhone Plus country; this most recently happened Telegram, with 40 mil- nian messaging apps” which are “safe Center for Cyberspace, an organization and Wispi are the applications developed last August. Those sanctions forbid Apple lion subscribers in Iran, and cheap” and meet the people’s needs. established by the Supreme Cyberspace by Iranian experts and are supported from selling hardware or distributing is on top list of messaging Up to now, five messaging applica- Council. by the center. software in Iran. applications in the country. Hundreds of people and com- panies in Iran use the app for their marketing and sales. Azari Jahromi highlighted the importance of financial Iranian engineers working to build PET CT scanner aspects of messaging app, which is neglected in Iran. TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN — Iranian researchers are progress of nuclear technology, he said, adding it should not Using domestic messaging apps do not mean that we deskworking on manufacturing Positron be restricted to stat-run companies. should be disconnected from the world, it means that we Emission Tomography (PET) CT scanner, a type of He pointed to the crucial role of knowledge-based com- should take our share of the global market, he explained. nuclear medicine imaging. panies in improving nuclear science and technology in Iran. Messaging app vs. media “PET CT Scanners are imported to the country, however, “Professional human resources can be a great help to Messaging applications and media are two separate if it is manufactured domestically, its expenses decrease optimize nuclear energy more than any time,” Afarideh issues, which are mingled in our country due to current and we can equip more hospitals with them,” head of the concluded. condition; hence, some media limitations are imposed on department of energy engineering and physics at Tehran’s PET is a nuclear medicine functional imaging tech- messaging apps, he said. Amirkabir University of Technology said. nique used to observe metabolic processes in the body He pointed to data security and privacy as important “We have already manufactured the main parts of the as an aid to the diagnosis of disease. factors, which should be observed in cyberspace. device. The homegrown device is 40 percent cheaper than It detects pairs of gamma rays emitted indirectly by a “Our religion and laws highlight the importance of pri- the foreign models,” Mehr news agency quoted Hossein positron-emitting radionuclide (tracer), which is introduced vacy,” he said. Afarideh as saying on Tuesday. of nuclear science and technology in high levels though we into the body on a biologically active molecule. Three-di- The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has stated He called the ministry of health for supporting the project. can employ the technology in industry sector more, he said. mensional images of tracer concentration within the body that it would be haram for domestic social apps to trespass Iran is one of the leading countries that takes advantage One cannot disregard the role of the private sector in the are then constructed by computer analysis. users’ personal space in his speech on Monday. He suggested that government and judicial bodies should take care that people will not be victimized by social apps and that their personal information remain 12-year-old solves three Rubik’s Cubes Google appeals Indian antitrust secure and private. while juggling them watchdog’s ‘search bias’ verdict

Chinese space station Tiangong-1 reenters atmosphere over Pacific

A defunct Chinese space station plummeted through Earth’s atmosphere on Sunday night, and officials said debris from the 18,000-pound spacecraft landed in the Pacific Ocean. In a statement, U.S. military officials said the Tiangong-1 space station reentered the atmosphere at 8:16 p.m. ET. Whatever remained of the craft fell in the South Pacific, between California and Hawaii — “out in the middle of nowhere, which is exactly where we hoped it would land,” said Roger Thompson, a senior engineering specialist with Aerospace Corp. of El Segundo, California, which works closely with NASA and has been tracking the space station It is estimated that less than 5.8 percent juggling them. Online search giant Google has filed an bet Inc (GOOGL.O), did not immediately since 2016. of the world’s population can solve the It’s not the first time Que has been appeal at the National Company Law Ap- respond to a Reuters request for comment. If someone had been in a nearby ship, he or she would Rubik’s Cube. But one boy in China can awarded the GWR. When he was seven, pellate Tribunal (NCLAT) against a judg- “Google was found to be indulging in have seen the estimated 10 percent to 40 percent of Tian- solve three -- while juggling them -- in the boy set a record for being the youngest ment from India’s competition watchdog practices of search bias and by doing so, it gong-1 that likely survived re-entry careening through the five minutes and six seconds. person to solve a 3X3 Rubik’s Cube blind- that found it guilty of “search bias”, two causes harm to its competitors as well as to sky, on fire and still in formation, Thompson said. 12-year-old Que Jianyu demonstrat- folded. Que is also listed on the World sources aware of the matter told Reuters. users,” the CCI said in its 190-page judgment. “It would look like several dozen comets that were stream- ed this talent last December on the set of Cube Association. The appeal was filed on Monday, one The Indian watchdog’s judgment is ing along,” he told NBC News. Gradually, the pieces would Dream of China, a Chinese reality talent Que’s talent has earned him popularity of the sources said. the latest antitrust setback for the world’s spread out and plunge into the water. show, Shanghaiist wrote on its Facebook among children’s talent shows, according In February, the Competition Commis- most popular search engine. Last year, The Aerospace Corp.’s prediction of when that would occur page on Tuesday. to the South China Morning Post, which sion of India (CCI) imposed a 1.36 billion European Commission imposed a record was off by only 14 minutes, Thompson said. The group had Christmas came early for the boy that described his appearance on a children’s rupees ($20.95 million) fine on Google, 2.4 billion euro ($3 billion) fine on the said it would happen just west of Chile at 8:30 p.m. ET. day, when two judges from the Guinness talent show in Australia called Little Big saying it was abusing its dominance in company for favoring its shopping service Researchers had been closely monitoring the Tiangong-1 World Records who were also present Shots, where he solved three Rubik’s Cubes online web search and online search ad- and demoting rival offerings. Google has for months as Earth’s gravity pulled it lower and lower in gave him recognition for the fastest time using his hands and feet. vertising markets. appealed against the verdict. its orbit. Although there was a lot of uncertainty about recorded solving three Rubik’s Cubes while (Source: cnet.com) Google, the core unit of U.S. firm Alpha- (Source: Reuters) where and when it could fall, experts maintained that the out-of-control spacecraft posed little risk to people on the ground. “Since the beginning of the space age, we’ve counted UK hit by ‘more online attacks than ever before’ about 6,600 of these uncontrolled reentries for any type of Nation states including Russia and North Korea caused promise, a form of phishing attack where a cyber criminal spacecraft, and out of these 6,600 cases, there have been thousands of pounds in damage in 2017, while volume impersonated a senior executive and attempts to coerce only 70 where pieces have been found on the ground that crime increased as well. the victim to send funds or information to the attacker. were unambiguously identified as coming from a spacecraft,” Criminals are launching more online attacks against According to the report, Dublin Zoo was hit by such a said Stijn Lemmens, a space debris analyst at the European British businesses than ever before, the National Cyber scam last year after attackers intercepted legitimate sup- Space Agency, which has been tracking Tiangong-1. Security Centre and NCA have warned. plier invoices and manipulated data on the documents to China launched Tiangong-1, which translates to “Heavenly Nation states including Russia and North Korea have change payment details and account numbers. Palace,” into orbit in 2011. While operational, the prototype been behind attacks which affected the UK and other Dublin Zoo lost nearly £420,000 to the scam. space station played host to Chinese astronauts on two countries this year, while organised crime groups have The report also highlighted fake news and information separate missions. It’s been empty since 2013, however. also continued to harm the economy. operations, noting laws regarding platform liability mean China was tight-lipped about whether it could still control Reporting on the cyber threat to business, the NCSC that social media platforms do not share the liability for the station, but officials told the United Nations in 2017 and the National Crime Agency highlighted how successful defamatory comments made by their users. that Tiangong-1 had “ceased functioning.” law enforcement and industry collaboration underpinned This can present “opportunities for those looking to It’s not altogether uncommon for out-of-commission the UK’s response to cyber-attacks. cause reputational damage to a business” according to satellites, rocket parts and other pieces of space debris “Despite these very real threats to the nation’s security, the NCSC. to fall from orbit. Typically, those objects will burn up as I am confident in the UK’s ability to combat the attacks The agency added it “helped to combat cyber attacks on they reenter Earth’s atmosphere, but occasionally pieces that we face every day,” said the NCSC’s chief executive, mand, warned: “Organisations which don’t take cyber the UK electoral system by providing advice and guidance of debris will survive the fiery journey and fall into the Ciaran Martin. security extremely seriously in the next year are risking to local government and political parties, but does not ocean — or, less frequently, over land. “The NCSC’s aim is to make the UK an unattractive target serious financial and reputational consequences. have a role in policing content on the internet. “Some components made of heavy or very heat-resistant to cyber criminals and certain nation states by increasing “By increasing collaboration between law enforcement, Apple now powered globally by ‘100% renewable energy’ material — for example, titanium — are likely candidates their risk, and reducing their return on investment.” government and industry we will make sure the UK is a safe Some stonehenge rocks were at Salisbury Plain ‘long for surviving reentry,” Lemmens said. “These are designed Launched on Tuesday at the start of the CyberUK sum- place to do business and hostile zone for cyber criminals.” before humans’ to handle a lot of heat and take a lot of pressure.” mit in Manchester, the threat report has been published The report runs through a number of case studies covering “In January, the UK government announced plans to But more than 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered in collaboration with industry partners - with whom the the WannaCry ransomware attack which involved malware set up a National Security Communications Unit, under by water, so it’s unusual for uncontrolled reentries to occur NCSC and the NCA regularly collaborate. designed by North Korean hackers which hit the NHS the Cabinet Office, to counter disinformation by state over land and even more unusual for them to be dangerous. The report stresses that the private and public sector leading to the cancellation of almost 7,000 appointments. actors and others.” Only one person — of Tulsa, Oklahoma — is known to need to work together to handle cyber crime, and most The report also detailed data breaches affecting Yahoo, At the time of that announcement onlookers expressed have been hit by space debris. Williams was struck on the experts in the cyber security arena have applauded NCSC’s Equifax, and Uber - as well as an unnamed telecommuni- concern that the “fake news unit” would be used to address shoulder by a piece of a rocket’s fuel tank in 1997 while she public engagement work with both citizens and businesses cations company - the largest of which were likely carried matters of legitimate political contention, which the civil was out for a walk, but she was uninjured. since it was founded in October 2016. out by groups assessed to have links to state actors. service should remain neutral on. (Source: nbcnews.com) Donald Toon, the director of the NCA’s Prosperity Com- Businesses are also warned about business email com- (Source: news.sky.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 11, 2018 SCIENCE 11

Toxins produced by e-cigarettes Snowfall increase in Antarctica worries scientists vary by flavor: new study about the rise of sea levels The flavor of an e-cigarette may affect more A team studying snowfall in Antarctica discovered that the con- than a consumer’s taste buds, according to tinent saw an increase in snowfall over the last 200 years. Rising Penn State researchers who say the chemicals snowfall could be a warning sign for rising sea levels. that make up different flavors also produce It would seem like more snowfall could be a good thing, but different levels of free radicals, toxins often it might be making things worse. associated with cancer and other diseases. Research into the rising snowfall was conducted by an in- The researchers analyzed popular e-ciga- ternational team led by British Antarctic Survey. Findings for rette flavors and the amount of free radicals the study will be presented at the European Geosciences Union they produced and found that many of the event in Vienna. chemicals used to flavor e-cigarettes increased Scientists conducted an analysis of 79 ice cores that were the production of free radicals, while a few collected from all across Antarctica. This research revealed that actually lowered it. there has been a 10 percent increase in snowfall over the last 200 “When these products first came on the years. They estimated this would be equal to 272 gigatons of water. market, many people were saying they were The compacted snow in the ice cores was then analyzed to harmless and that it was just water vapor,” measure the amount of snowfall in each season. Chemicals were Richie said. “We know that’s not true, but we used that would show a seasonal change. also don’t have the numbers on how danger- Researchers measured the time difference between the chemical ous e-cigarettes are. But now we know that peaks to estimate the amount of snowfall Antarctica received. e-cigarettes do produce free radicals, and the This analysis showed that almost 300 billion tons of additional amount is affected by the flavorants added.” snow fell during 2001 to 2010 compared to the years 1801 to 1810. Smoking combustible cigarette Previous research into climate change has shown that rising Free radicals are unstable molecules that temperature means that weather would become extreme on both can cause damage to healthy cells, and have ends. This means that there will be hotter weather during the come in hundreds of flavors, many of which flavors into their individual chemicals to see e-cigarettes may contain different flavorants, been linked to conditions like inflammation, summer and also colder weather during the winter, with more are marketed toward kids, like bubblegum.” which ones were associated with higher levels resulting in different levels of free radicals.” heart disease and cancer. Consumers inhale severe snowstorms. This change is already underway in Antarctica. The researchers measured the free rad- of free radicals. Zachary Bitzer, post-doctoral The researchers found six flavorants that these free radicals when they smoke a com- An increase in snowfall was measured to be occurring all over icals produced by 50 flavors of a popular scholar, said isolating the chemicals was significantly increased the production of bustible cigarette. Antarctica. Rising snowfall has been able to offset the melting brand of e-cigarette and compared them to important because flavors are not consistent free radicals. These flavorants included While e-cigarettes do not give off smoke, that has been happening there. This rise in snowfall was able to flavorless e-liquid. They found that about across brands. linalool, dipentene and citral, which are they do contain many different chemicals to reduce sea level rise by several millimeters. 43 percent of the flavors were associated “Two different manufacturers may sell often used to give products citrus or floral flavor the e-liquids, which are absent from (Source: Tech Times) with significantly higher levels of free radical an ‘orange’ flavored e-liquid, but they could notes. Additionally, the flavorant ethyl traditional, or “combustible,” cigarettes. The production, while a few were associated with each contain vastly different flavorants to vanillin -- often used for vanilla notes -- researchers said that while the flavorings lower levels. get that orange flavor,” Bitzer said. “Just decreased the production of free radicals are approved for consumption, they aren’t Isolating chemicals like Coke and Pepsi are both colas but have by 42 percent. As whales are dying, a evaluated for safety when heated. Next, the researchers broke down the different ingredients, different flavors of (Source: eurekalert.org) “E-cigarettes have a coil for heating the movement see reasons to liquid that gets quite hot and may aid the production of free radicals,” Richie said. “It’s “E-cigarettes have a coil for heating the liquid that gets quite become optimistic important to look at the effect of flavors on hot and may aid the production of free radicals,” Richie said. Regina Asmutis-Silvia, a biologist who has dedicated her career these free radical levels because e-cigarettes to saving right whales, is cleaning out a file cabinet from the early-1990s, and the documents inside tell a familiar story — the whales are dying from collisions with ships and entanglements Researcher says rats sniff out tuberculosis in children in commercial fishing gear, and the species might not survive. “It’s a little scary to think if we hadn’t been working on this all Rats are able to detect whether a child has tuberculosis to detect vapours released by landmine explosives. In the these years, would they have been relegated to history instead (TB), and are much more successful at doing this than a case of TB, when a rat highlights a possibly infected sample, of Cape Cod Bay?” said Asmutis-Silvia, of Plymouth, Massachu- commonly used basic microscopy test. These are the results it is analysed further using a WHO endorsed concentrated setts-based Whale and Dolphin Conservation. of research led by Georgies Mgode of the Sokoine University microscopy techniques to confirm a positive diagnosis. Despite eight decades of conservation efforts, North Atlantic of Agriculture in Tanzania. Sputum samples were obtained from 982 children under right whales are facing a new crisis. The threat of extinction The study, published by Springer Nature in Pediatric the age of five who had already been tested using a microscopy within a generation looms, and the movement to preserve the Research, shows that when trained rats were given children’s test at clinics in the Tanzanian capital of Dar es Salaam. From whales is trying to come up with new solutions. sputum samples to sniff, the animals were able to pinpoint 68 the smear tests, 34 children were confirmed to have TB. percent more cases of TB infections than detected through Emitting diode a standard smear test. Inspiration for investigating the di- When the same samples were placed out for the rats to agnosis of TB through smell came from anecdotal evidence examine, a further 57 cases were detected and then confirmed that people suffering from the potentially fatal lung disease after being examined under a more advanced light emitting emit a specific odor. diode fluorescence microscope. According to Mgode, current TB detection methods are The news about the additional cases confirmed by endorsed far from perfect, especially in under-resourced countries in concentrated smear microscopy was passed onto the relevant Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia where the disease implications for their possible successful treatment,” explains clinics, and efforts were made to track down infected patients is prevalent, and where a reasonably cheap smear test is Mgode. “There is a need for new diagnostic tests to better so that they could start their much-needed treatment. commonly used. Problems with this type of test are that the detect TB in children, especially in low and middle-income “This intervention involving TB screening by trained rats accuracy varies depending on the quality of sputum sample countries.” and community based patient tracking of new TB patients used, and very young children are often unable to provide Previous work pioneered in Tanzania and Mozambique missed by hospitals enables treatment initiation of up to 70%. enough sputum to be analyzed. focused on training African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys This is a significant proportion given that these additional Successful treatment ansorgei) to pick up the scent of molecules released by the patients were considered TB negative in hospitals, hence were “As a result, many children with TB are not bacteriolog- TB-causing Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium in sputum. initially left untreated,” adds Mgode. The whales are one of the rarest marine mammals in the world, ically confirmed or even diagnosed, which then has major The training technique is similar to one used to teach rats (Source: medicalxpress.com) numbering about 450. The 100,000-pound animals have been even closer to the brink of extinction before, and the effort to save them galvanized one of the most visible wildlife conservation Self-healing metal oxides could protect against corrosion, find scientists movements in US history. But the population’s falling again because of poor reproduction Researchers have found that a solid oxide paper appears in the journal Nano Letters. that can lead to a type of failure known as coupled with high mortality from ship strikes and entanglement. protective coating for metals can, when ap- A thin layer of aluminum oxide separates stress corrosion cracking. Scientists, environmentalists, whale watch captains and an- plied in sufficiently thin layers, deform as if oxygen gas (right) and two aluminum metal Metals under stress from pressure inside a imal lovers of all stripes are rallying to renew interest in saving it were a liquid, filling any cracks and gaps grains (left). As the material is stretched, the reactor vessel and exposed to an environment right whales, but many admit to feeling close to defeated. Charles as they form. oxide layer elongates. of superheated steam can corrode quickly if Mayo, director of the right whale ecology program at the Center The thin coating layer should be especially The team, led by MIT graduate student not protected. Even with a solid protective for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, and other scientists have useful to prevent leakage of tiny molecules Yang Yang, used highly specialized instru- layer, cracks can form that allow the oxy- said the species could be extinct as soon as 2041. that can penetrate through most materials, ments to observe in detail the surface of gen to penetrate to the bare metal surface, Mayo, a ninth generation resident of Cape Cod whose ances- such as hydrogen gas that could be used to metals coated with these “special” oxides where it can then penetrate into interfaces tors harpooned whales in the 18th and 19th centuries, now leads power fuel-cell cars, or the radioactive tritium to see what happens when they are exposed between the metal grains that make up a expeditions to find the animals and try to learn how to save them. (a heavy form of hydrogen) that forms inside to an oxygen environment and placed un- bulk metal material, causing further corro- (Source: Business Mirror) the cores of nuclear power plants. any further oxidation: aluminum oxide, der stress. sion that can penetrate deeper and lead to Most metals, with the notable exception chromium oxide, and silicon dioxide. While most transmission electron mi- structural failure. “We want an oxide that is of gold, tend to oxidize when exposed to air Nuclear engineering croscopes (TEMs) require that samples be liquid-like and crack-resistant,” Yang says. and water. This reaction, which produces Ju Li, a professor of nuclear engineering studied in a high vacuum, the team used a It turns out that the old standby coating Here’s how it’s possible to rust on iron, tarnish on silver, and verdigris and science and of materials science and modified version called an environmental material, aluminum oxide, can have just that make perfect diamonds in a on copper or brass, can weaken the metal engineering at MIT and senior author of a TEM (E-TEM) that allows the sample to be liquid-like flowing behavior, even at room over time and lead to cracks or structural paper describing the new finding, says “we studied in the presence of gases or liquids temperature, if it is made into a thin enough microwave failure. But there are three known elements were trying to understand why aluminum of interest. layer, about 2 to 3 nanometers (billionths that produce an oxide that can actually oxide and silicon dioxide are special oxides Corrosion cracking of a meter) thick. Right now, odds are that one in every four diamonds on sale around serve as a protective barrier to prevent that give excellent corrosion resistance.” The The device was used to study the process (Source: MIT News) the world is a blood diamond - mined in a war zone and sold to finance armed conflict and civil war. And for those wanting to steer clear of such a commodity, it’s becoming nearly impossible to figure out the difference between a clean and a dirty diamond. BIM wins highest score in assessing Consumer Protection Law Which is why the market for lab-made diamonds is slowly In a survey, Bank of Industry & Mine (BIM) managed to customers and clients, looking into the complaints and stood at the first rank in this evaluation process, the report but surely growing, offering a cheaper, more environmentally win the highest score in the evaluation of Consumer Pro- proposals, training and culturalization in the field of im- added. friendly, and ethically sound option that looks just as pretty as tection Law from Tehran Province Governor Generalship, plementation of plan to honor clientele, etc. are consid- It should be noted that evaluation of score of indexes its natural counterpart. the Public Relations Dept. of the bank reported. ered as salient parameters in the assessment of Consumer of Consumer Protection Act has been conducted across And nope, these artificial diamonds are nothing like those Disseminating accurate and high-quality information Protection Act, the report added. country, the report concluded. cheap, lab-grown imitation diamonds, such as cubic zirconia - they services to clients, presenting high –quality services to Generally speaking, the bank obtained 100 scores and have the exact same physical structure and chemical composition as a diamond that’s been pulled out of the ground. The process works by placing a tiny fragment of diamond (called a carbon seed) into a microwave along with varying amounts of a carbon-heavy gas - methane is most commonly used. Parsian Bank takes giant strides in backing Iranian products: CEO The gas mixture is heated to very high temperatures in the Chief Executive of Parsian Bank Dr. Kourosh Parvizian in Banks can act as axis of economy to materialize economic microwave to produce a plasma ball, and inside this, the gas his Nowruz meeting with the staff, personnel and managers objectives, he said, adding, “Iran should take other success- breaks down and the carbon atoms crystallize and accumulate of the bank pointed to naming the current year after the ful economic countries as role model in this respect, the on the diamond seed, causing it to grow. supporting Iranian products, recommended by the supreme issue of which should be taken into serious consideration.” The process can take up to 10 weeks to produce a marketable Leader of the Islamic Revolution and said, “backing Iranian Elsewhere in his remarks, the chief executive of the bank diamond, but it works so well, experts reportedly need a machine productions and generating new employment opportunities said that inflation rate should be single digitized according to tell the lab-grown gems apart from natural ones sourced from is of the strategic policies of the bank in the current Iranian to the data released by the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and mines or riverbeds. calendar year in 1397 (started March 21, 2018).” Statistical Center of Iran (SCI). So far, synthetic diamonds make up a tiny fraction of the US$80 With the coordination made in this regard, the man- Turning to the subject of reorganizing unauthorized billion global diamond market, with Bloomberg reporting that agement of the bank will take giant stride in line with ma- finance and credit institutions and reiterated, “the bank in 2014, an estimated 360,000 carats of lab-grown diamonds terializing objectives of resistance economy in the current managed to take effective steps in this regard in the past were manufactured, while about 146 million carats of natural year, he maintained. Iranian calendar year in 1396 (ended March 20, 2018).” diamonds were mined. (Source: sciencealert.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY APRIL 11, 2018

Networking: A path to career Stop dam building and water development ARTICLE transfer projects: environmentalists By Sadaf Abbassi M.A student of career counseling ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — A group of deskenvironmentalists have ostam, (the famous Iranian legendary hero created by issued a statement, urging all dam build- Ferdowsi in his epic poem Shahnameh), had to carry out ing and water transfer projects around Rseven labors , but what if he would be able to skip all the Zayanderud, Karun and Dez rivers to be labors by only taking out a visiting card and making a phone call? halted in a bid to deal with the severe Today, the value of communication has gone far beyond simple drought conditions that have affected brief acquaintances. Remember the last conference you had western part of the country. participated, did you start talking to the person next to you to Issued by network of environmental ask about the conductor? Did you persuade person at your left NGOs of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari to talk by eye contact and a friendly smile? At lunch, did you seek Province, the statement warns that fur- an empty table or join a crowded table in which you anticipated ther water transfer will ruin ecosystems to meet new people? of the region while worsening the sand Networking means to get to know new people in personal or and dust storm hotspots, Mehr reported vocational situations, which can positively affect our both per- on Tuesday. sonal and career development. Each person with skill, expertise The precipitation level has decreased and credit, is a useful resource. But this does not mean to take by some 60 percent in over the past water advantage of others and abuse them! Networking is a fruitful and year (September 2017-March 2018) com- mutual interaction. It means as we tend to benefit from other’s pared to the corresponding period year resources, we are willing to warmly embrace their reasonable before that and it seems that the situation requests and suggest them our solutions, which would be even will even deteriorate in the current year, useful for ourselves in so many ways. One of the key notes in Hooman Khakpour, an environmentalist networking is to be considerate towards human dignity, not their a member of the environmental organ- wealth and social status. Unlike what some people may think, ization networks and natural resources even a low-level employee can be a good connection one day. of Iran, said. Mehdi Pedramkhoo Imagine you are trapped in an isolated island and have infinite The region is experiencing severe storage of water and crust bread. Suddenly you realize there is an- drought, the precipitation has decreased other island which is full of all kind of food and drinks, but for getting and so does the water volume of rivers, there, you have to swim among wandering sharks in the water. For however, the calculations regarding being successful in networking, we have to make a step ahead out water transfer has been done according of our comfort zone, where we are only provided with water and to normal precipitation conditions and Times/ Tehran bread. Talking to strangers may seem too worrying for so many; aren’t corresponding with the true climate being worried about a successful interaction with others is perfectly conditions of the region, he highlighted. A sad photo of Karun taken in December 2017. Once the only navigable river of the country, Karun now suffers from drought normal but we can modify it by making small steps toward meeting Karun River normally delivers some and mismanagement. new people. It is only by getting out of our comfort zone that we can 21 to 27 billion cubic meters of water an- can hold back some 14 billion cubic me- Continuing water transfer to central regions Currently, huge projects with large achieve rich experiences from forming connections for professional nually, but in the last decade, this volume ters of water. of the country means cutting the water right budgets are carried out to control SDS development while increasing our self-esteem. has decreased to 14 billion cubic meters Regardless of whether water transfer of the environment and hence destroying hotspots in Khuzestan Province, howev- Therefore, next time in a conference, keep in mind that you are on average, he regretted. is a right approach or not, the fact is that ecosystems along the river and ultimately er, cutting the water right of rivers and there to expand your connections. Pay attention to people with He went on to say that 5 huge dams no water remains for transferring, Kha- turning wetlands to sources of sand and dust wetlands will just ruin all related SDS a positive attitude and a friendly face and reach for the mutual have been built along Karun River which kpour emphasized. storms (SDS), he added. fighting efforts, concluded Khakpour. benefits. Do not worry about the way you start to communicate, just like every other skill, you will gain more accomplishments by practicing and revising mistakes. Iran to establish 24/7 centers for caring Councilors finally accept mayor’s autistic children resignation, name caretaker Ilam to host 2nd Intl. Conference on Dust

ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — The second edition of the Inter- desknational Conference on Dust will be held on April 25-27 in the city of Ilam, western Iran. The University of Ilam will host the event which is concentrat- ing on three main topics including the main causes of sand and dust storms occurrence, the consequences of the phenomenon, and strategies to combat it, ISNA news agency quoted Masoud Bazgir, the secretary of the event as saying on Monday. The conference is a platform for Iranian and foreign researchers to exchange experience, Bazgir highlighted. According to the International Conference on Dust official website Professor Johann P. Engelbrecht, Desert Research In- stitute (DRI), USA, Professor Enric Terradellas, Northern-Afri- ca-Middle East-Europe Regional Center, WMO sand and sand storm warning advisory and Assessment system (SDS-WAS), Spain, Professor Victor R. Squires International Dryland Man- agement Consultant, Adelaide, Australia, Professor Yiming Feng, Mohammad Ali Najafi Sami’ollah Hosseini Makarem Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy Forestry SOCIETY TEHRAN — Iran’s and society, she highlighted. 1 However, 16 members of the a caretaker. (CAF), China, and Dr. Arash Sharifi Neptune Isotope Laboratory desk (NIL), Department of Marine Geosciences, Rosenstiel School of Welfare Organization Autistics’ main problem is poor com- 21-member council disagreed with “In case the mayor cannot fulfill his Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), University of Miami, will set up round-the-clock centers in the munication, she said, adding that early his resignation and he was believed responsibilities in urban management are some of the speakers who will deliver speeches at the event. current [Iranian calendar] year, which diagnosis of autism spectrum will lead to remain in his position. due to his diseases, the city council Sand and dust storms began on March 21, for caring autistic to having a normal life for 80 percent An insistence by the council to keep must be accountable,” he warned. In the Global Assessment of Sand And Dust Storms (SDS) by children across the country. of patients. the mayor in his job provoked serious Following the prosecutor gener- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, United These centers will take care of chil- Estimations demonstrate that criticism from Prosecutor General al’s remarks, Najafi again submitted Nations Environment Program as well as World Meteorological dren with autism for a limited period, less than 1 percent of the country’s Mohammad Ja’far Montazeri. another resignation letter to the city Organization, the SDS phenomenon is defined as being the result for instance 15 days to 1 month, so that population, meaning some 700,000 When the mayor himself says that council which was accepted on Tues- of surface winds raising large quantities of dust into the air and parents can rest or have a trip, IRNA quot- individuals are suffering from autism he cannot keep on doing his job due to day morning. reducing visibility at eye level (1.8 meters above ground) and, in ed Maryam Pour-Seyyed, the director of spectrum, she added. his disease and believes that keeping Thereafter, Sami’ollah Hosseini terms of distance visible, to fewer than 1,000 meters distance. the organization’s rehabilitation centers Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or his post is a betrayal, how come the Makarem was chosen as caretaker The same assessment indicates that large sand and dust storms, group, as saying on Monday. autism is a developmental disorder charac- city council reject his resignation and mayor. resulting from a combination of strong winds and loose dry soil Currently, there are 74 autism centers terized by troubles with social interaction why do they politicize the issue, the Makarem had previously held surfaces in arid and semi-arid areas, are detrimental to human active in Iran, providing services to some and communication, and by restricted prosecutor general said on Monday, managerial positions in Education 3,000 children, however there are no 24-7 and repetitive behavior. Ministry and is now deputy chief health, agricultural land, infrastructure, and transport. 13 Khabaronline reported. centers, she added. The families of autistic children face Montazeri further suggested that for management development and Autistic children should not be per- a wide range of challenges from the high the mayor submit another resignation human resources at the Cultural LEARN ENGLISH manently held in such centers since this price of drugs to lack of standard schools letter and set a deadline for the city Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism would mean banishing them from family and caring centers. council to choose another mayor or Organization. Computer Games

A: Mark Where have you been? I’ve been calling you all morning. B: I’ve been playing computer games. ENGLISH IN USE A: What? So you blew me off yesterday and today over a stupid video game? What game is so important that you have no time LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION for me anymore? What are you playing? B: It’s called Counter Strike. It’s a first person shooter game. It’s awesome. It’s a multi-player game where you can go online and Clean air bill projected to create 10,000 green jobs ایجاد 10 هزار فرصت شغلی نتیجه اجرای الیحه هوای پاک .compete against players from all over the world A: You’ve been wasting your time on this? I can’t believe it! It The clean air bill, proposed by the Department of Environment to curb مدیــرکل دفتــر پایــش فراگیــر ســازمان حفاظــت محیــط زیســت ضمــن اشــاره بــه مــواد قانــون هــوای doesn’t even look fun or challenging! air pollution, is projected to generate some 10,000 green jobs over the پــاک - کــه بــه پیشــنهاد ســازمان حفاظــت محیــط زیســت اخیــرا بــه تصویــب مجلــس شــورای B: My laptop is on my bed. If you think it’s so easy then get online course of the sixth five-year national development plan (2016-2021), an اســامی رســید- از ایجاد۱۰هــزار فرصــت شــغلی طــی برنامــه ششــم توســعه از طریــق اجــرای مــواد .and try to beat me. environmental official said ایــن قانــون خبــر داد. A: Fine! In line with the one of the articles of clean air bill units of Health, Safety, and شــینا انصــاری در گفتوگــو بــا ایســنا افــزود: در مــاده ۱۶ الیحــه هــوای پــاک، کلیــه مراکــز و ,B: Dammit! How are you killing me with a single shot? It’s not the Environment (HSE), with regard to health and safety of the employees fair! I don’t want to play anymore! Let’s go get something to eat. واحدهــای صنعتــی و تولیــدی، بــرای انجــام امــور مربــوط بــه ســامت و ایمنــی مشــتریان و کارمنــدان customers, and contractors as well as the protection of the environment are A: Can you bring me something? I am totally hooked on this game! HSE و کارفرمایــان مکلــف بــه ایجــاد واحدهــای ســامت، بهداشــت و محیــط زیســت ) ( و بهکارگیــری ,bound to be established in all industrial and manufacturing enterprises Key vocabulary نیروهــای متخصــص ایــن حــوزه هســتند بنابرایــن تعــداد زیــادی از فــارغ التحصیــان محیــط زیســت .Shina Ansari told ISNA news agency blow someone off: to ignore someone or not appear to an میتواننــد جــذب هســتهها و بخشهــای زیســت محیطــی صنایــع متوســط و بــزرگ کشــور بــه Accordingly, those graduates in the field of environment can apply for“ منظــور پایــش صنایــع شــوند. appointment waste: use more than necessary job opportunities in HSE units,” Ansari added. challenging: difficult in an enjoyable way beat: defeat hooked: addicted PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM Supplementary vocabulary strategy: a plan to obtain a specific result “-fy, -ify” Get away with something Bounce off the walls simulation: something that imitates reality to seem real real-time: describes when a game is played live Meaning: to make or resemble Meaning: to not be caught or punished when you Explanation: someone who is very excited about hardcore: being extremely dedicated to something For example: The two countries signed a treaty to have done something wrong something, or full of nervous energy to own: to win a battle and take over the enemy in a game solidify their alliance. For example: No one insults my family and gets For example: Danny can’t wait to start his new job. (Source: irlanguage.com) away with it! He’s bouncing off the walls. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 11, 2018 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 U.S. guided-missile destroyer At least 4 Yemeni civilians killed in fresh Saudi regime sets on move to Syrian coast airstrikes Putin gives warning as U.S. mulls ‘major Syria decision’ At least four civilians, including women and children, have been killed and several others wounded when the House of Saud re- 1 the U.S. ambassador to the United Britain and France, but most notably the Nations, told the urgent meeting that Wash- United States, have stepped up their threats to gime fighter jets conducted multiple airstrikes against residential ington was ready to “respond” to the attack attack Syria in case it is proven that Damascus areas in Yemen’s Ta’izz and Sa’ada provinces as the Saudi regime regardless of whether the Security Council had perpetrated such violation. continues with its atrocious bombardment campaign against its southern neighbor. acted or not. Trump threatens to respond “We have reached the moment when the militarily world must see justice done,” Haley said, Elsewhere, the U.S. President Donald striking a somber and threatening tone. Trump has vowed a “forceful response” to “History will record this as the moment the attack, for which, he claimed, “Putin may when the Security Council either discharged bear responsibility.” its duty or demonstrated its utter and complete After meeting his cabinet and top generals failure to protect the people of Syria,” she added. on Monday, Trump told reporters “we have a “Either way, the United States will respond.” lot of options militarily and we’ll be letting you Moments earlier, Vassily Nebenzia, Ha- know pretty soon... probably after the fact.” ley’s counterpart, had called the chemical Last April, the United States fired 59 Tom- attack allegations “fake news” and said Russia ahawk cruise missiles at Syria in response was ready to fly weapons’ inspectors to the to what it claimed was a chemical weapons site to see for themselves. attack that killed more than 100 people. Warning that any military action against The Syrian government surrendered its Syria’s government could have “grave re- stockpiles of chemical weapons during an percussions”, the Russian ambassador also internationally-monitored process in 2014. Yemen’s Arabic-language al-Masirah satellite television net- accused the U.S., France and Britain of “hawk- Also on Monday, the Russian Defense ish rhetoric” and “boorishness against my to accept the reality over an alleged chemical and said that the so-called Jaish al-Islam work, citing its correspondence in the area, reported on Tuesday Ministry released a statement, saying that its that the four lost their lives after the Saudi regime warplanes country”, adding that their lack of a clear attack near the Syrian capital, Damascus, (Jaysh al-Islam/Army of Islam/Brigade of officials in Syria, including military doctors, strategy for Syria was “appalling”. for which Moscow says there is no evidence. Islam) Takfiri terrorist group, which has hit a house in Dabwan area of Khadir city in the southwestern had viewed the site of the reported attack province of Ta’izz. Abrasive rhetoric “You see the unconstructive position that dominant presence in Douma, was repeat- and visited hospitals and found “a lack of The airstrike also inflicted injuries on at least three other Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna, reporting from some countries including the U.S. have taken. ing the allegations “in order to accuse the any traces of use of poisonous substances.” inhabitants of the residential building, the report further said, the UN headquarters in New York, said the They are a priori refusing to face reality,” Syrian Arab army, in a blatant attempt to U.S. preparing for missile adding that at least 15 members of a family lost their lives different narratives and the “escalation in Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told hinder the Army’s advance.” attack on Tartus after a Saudi regime airstrike hit their house in the same area rhetoric” laid bare the divisions within the journalists. During the phone conversation, “The Meanwhile, Turkish media reports sug- a day earlier. Security Council. “None of them is talking about the need Russian side stressed the unacceptability of gested that the U.S. USS Donald Cook, a de- Separately, Saudi regime artillery and rocket fire hit different “The statement from the Russian am- for an unbiased investigation,” he added. provocation and speculation on this matter.” stroyer armed with as many as 60 Tomahawk localities of Shada border district in the northern province of bassador was as abrasive as has been heard Earlier, Russia’s president warned against The allegations against the Syrian govern- cruise missiles, had arrived off the coast of Sa’ada, wounding at least a woman. Furthermore, multiple areas within the Security Council for a long period any recourse to provocative measures the ment have been flying around as Damascus Syria, and was being buzzed by low-flying of Razeh border district in Sa’ada were pounded by the Saudi of time,” he said. alleged attack, amid rising threats of a military and its ally Moscow are within an inch of Russian fighter jets. regime artillery and rocket fire, the possible casualties of which “The responses from the U.S. and its action by the U.S. and its allies against the defeating foreign-backed militants in Dou- The destroyer is reportedly only 100 have not been reported yet. allies were equally stern and gloomy, so Damascus government, which they blame ma, their last stronghold in Eastern Ghouta. kilometers from the Russian naval base in The Saudi regime campaign was launched in March 2015 certainly there is a level of debate within for the reported incident. The militants have been using the civilians the city of Tartus on Syria’s Mediterranean in support of Yemen’s former Riyadh-friendly government and the council that is possibly more abrasive, In a phone call on Monday, Putin and Ger- there as human shields and launching deadly coastline. against the country’s Ansarullah (Houthi) movement, which has more confrontational and less constructive man Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the rocket attacks against the capital from the The previous U.S. Tomahawk attack on been running state affairs in the absence of an effective adminis- than we’ve heard before.” situation in Syria, “including the accusations countryside. Syria was ensued by stern Moscow warn- tration. The offensive has, however, achieved neither of its goals Meanwhile, Staffan de Mistura, the UN against Damascus by a number of Western In the course of the liberation operation ings that the strike could have hit Russian despite the spending of billions of petrodollars and the enlisting envoy to Syria, issued an urgent call for unity countries of using chemical weapons,” the in Eastern Ghouta, which began in February, interests in the country. of Saudi Arabia’s regional and Western allies. and action at the emergency meeting. Kremlin said in a statement. Moscow has repeatedly warned that the mil- Citing unnamed U.S. officials, Reuters The Yemeni Ministry of Human Rights announced in a state- “I urge the Security Council, in accord- The alleged attack on the militant-held itants in the region could stage gas attacks reported on Monday that Trump is weigh- ment on March 25 that the Saudi regime-led war had left 600,000 ance with its own mandate, to maintain in- town of Douma in the Eastern Ghouta sub- in a bid to frame the Syrian government. ing a multinational military response to the civilians dead and injured during the past three years. ternational peace and security and uphold urb of the Syrian capital over the weekend Earlier on Monday, Putin’s Spokesman purported poison gas attack. The United Nations says a record 22.2 million people are in need international law to, for God’s sake, ensure left dozens dead and drew international Peskov said, “Both the president and the Senior officials from Russia and NATO of food aid, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. A a mechanism is found to investigate this condemnation from various countries and Defense Ministry, citing intelligence sources, (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) are to high-ranking United Nations aid official recently warned against allegation and attribute responsibilities.” international bodies. have spoken about such a provocation being meet over the situation in Syria next week, the “catastrophic” living conditions in Yemen, stating that there Russia: U.S. refusing to face The Syrian government, in a statement prepared.” RT said. The meeting will be the first of its released late on Saturday, strongly rejected Using the latest alleged chemical attack as was a growing risk of famine and cholera there. reality kind since 2013 amid troubled ties between (Source: Press TV) Russia says the United States is refusing the allegation of using chemical munitions a pretext, Western governments, including the two sides. Protests to go on until Gaza siege ends: Hamas Italian politics and The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has said that rogation sessions, according to a video they released of her Europe’s future peaceful mass protests will continue until the siege of the being questioned. Gaza Strip is ended. Ahed Tamimi, now 17, recognizable since young age by 6 Traditional social-democratic parties mostly shun the “We will return to Palestine, our villages and Je- her blond curly hair as well as her courageous posture, be- new insurgent parties, viewing them as populist, irresponsible, rusalem al-Quds,” said Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh came the latest face of Palestinian resistance when a video opportunistic, and dishonest. Such is the view in Italy on the part on Monday at a protest camp set up along the border emerged of her slapping one and then another Israeli officer of the Democrats, with key politicians rejecting a coalition with with Israel. in the face during a protest in her home village of Nabi Saleh, M5S. That is understandable: the upstarts thoroughly defeated “Although we are in the second week of the March of Re- near the Palestinian city of Ramallah, in the West Bank on the Democrats at the polls, often with outsize populist promises. turn, this peaceful, civilized, and popular march has achieved December 15 last year. Yet the social democrats have been flaccid and even silent in the important goals, and we are still in the beginning,” he added. The confrontation reportedly erupted after Israeli forces face of Sch?uble-style austerity and irresponsible U.S.-led wars. While stressing that the marches were peaceful, Haniyeh shot Tamimi’s cousin in the face with rubber bullet earlier The traditional social-democratic parties will have to regain their stressed that Hamas is prepared to take up arms against that day leading to her anger. dynamism and appetite for risk-taking to win again at the polls Tel Aviv is required. Faced with embarrassment as that video went viral, Israelis as true progressive parties. Israeli soldiers cheer as sniper shoots decided to arrest the courageous teenager. They took her The stakes in Italy are high. With Europe politically and geographically divided, Italy’s politics could tip the balance. unarmed Palestinian into custody on December 19. According to some accounts, A pro-EU Italy governed by an M5S-Democrat coalition could Meanwhile, a video has circulated online shot by 20 Israeli army Jeeps arrived at Ahed’s house before dawn join with France and Germany to reform the EU; regain a clear Israeli soldiers as one of them, a sniper, targets an Breaking the Silence, another anti-occupation Israeli to arrest her. Thirteen days later, she was charged with foreign-policy voice for EU vis-à-vis the U.S., Russia, and China; unarmed Palestinian near the border fence in the be- NGO that collects reports about abuses by the regime alleged assault, incitement, and throwing stones at Israeli and implement a strategy for green, innovation-based growth. sieged Gaza Strip. soldiers in the Palestinian territories, shared the video military soldiers. To forge such a coalition, the M5S would have to adopt a In the video, which was widely shared on the Twitter and on Twitter and said, “These are the orders. Take respon- Last month, Tamimi agreed to a plea bargain with pros- responsible and clearly defined economic program, and the WhatsApp messaging application on Monday, the soldiers sibility.” ecutors, in which she is to serve eight months in prison and Democrats would have to accept being the junior partner of an can be heard talking about the target and how to shoot him, “It isn’t from several months ago; it has been like this pay a 5,000-shekel ($1,437) fine. The plea deal allowed untested insurgent force. A possible key to mutual confidence as the sniper trains his rifle on the Palestinian, who does for 51 years,” the NGO said, in reference to the years during her to avoid years-long prison terms. She is expected to be would be for the Democrats to hold the crucial finance ministry, not appear to be armed and is several meters away from which Israel has maintained military rule over Palestinians released this summer. while M5S appoints the prime minister. Gaza’s fence. in the West Bank. “The rounds of interrogation came after various meth- It is not surprising that U.S. President Donald Trump’s ut- In the footage, the commander is heard asking the sniper Ayman Odeh, the head of the Israeli Arab Joint List ods of physical and psychological pressures put on her,” terly reckless former adviser, Stephen Bannon, rushed to Italy before he takes the shot, “Do you have a bullet in the cham- party, denounced the “horrifying” footage and called said her father, Bassem, during a press conference in the to encourage M5S and the League to form a coalition that he ber? Are you [trained] on him?” for the sharpshooter and the soldier who filmed it to West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday, adding that her called the “ultimate dream,” because it would break the EU. That The sniper and the other soldiers are heard rejoicing stand trial. daughter had been kept in isolation and regularly moved by itself should remind Italians of the importance of a pro-EU following the “successful” shooting. “A video that horrifies the mind. Calls of joy at taking a between locations. coalition that rejects such miserable nightmares. Another soldier is heard saying, “Wow, [he] shot him life and what appears to be the execution of someone who “She was deprived of sleep for long periods of time. In (Source: Project Syndicate) in the head.” did not threaten anyone,” Odeh wrote on Twitter. the final round of interrogations it was more than 34 hours A fellow accomplice, who is filming the incident, then The incident comes shortly after Palestinian journalist without sleep,” he further said. exclaims, “Of course I filmed it,” in response to a question, Yaser Murtaja was shot by Israeli forces along Gaza’s eastern In the two-hour interrogation video, Ahed, aged 16 at before calling it “a legendary video.” border near Khan Younis despite wearing a bulletproof vest the time, is seen, without an attorney or guardian, being Ilam to host 2nd Intl. “Yes!” “What a fabulous video,” the others cry with joy. imprinted with the word ‘Press’ on it. He later died of his questioned by two Israeli interrogators. Conference on Dust ”He flew in the air.” wounds in hospital. “This is to reiterate Ahed’s message, the message of her The victim is then seen carried away by a group of Pal- According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 31 generation, that we are not victims, we are fighters for the 12 It is estimated that each year approximately 2,000 estinians. It is, however, unclear whether he survived the Palestinians, including Murtaja, have been killed by Israeli cause, for freedom,” her father added. million tons of dust is emitted into the atmosphere. While much shooting or not. forces since March 30, when the demonstrations began in Earlier this month, Gaby Lasky, Ahed’s lawyer, filed of this is a natural part of the biochemical cycles of the earth, a Reacting to the shooting, the Israeli military told The the coastal enclave. a complaint with the Israeli general attorney pertaining significant percentage is generated by human-induced factors. Times of Israel that based on initial investigations, the in- On that day, Palestinians marched to the fence sepa- to the inappropriate manner of Tamimi’s interrogation Unsustainable land and water management are among the cident could have occurred several months ago. rating Gaza from the occupied territories at the start of a while emphasizing her status as a female minor. Lasky primary human-induced elements affecting SDS. Human-induced Chief of Staff of the Israeli military, Lieutenant General six-week protest, dubbed “The Great March of Return,” stressed in the complaint that the interrogator’s actions dust emissions occur mainly (85%) as a result of the management Gadi Eizenkot and its top commanders promised to inves- demanding the right to return for those driven out of were a “gross violation of the law” which amount to sexual of hydraulic sources (ephemeral water bodies). But land degra- tigate the video “without hesitation.” their homeland. harassment. dation also contributes to climate change through production The footage has drawn widespread condemnation from The demonstrations turned violent after Israeli forces A few days later, the Israeli military, referring to Lasky’s of greenhouse gases, changes in surface energy balances and Israeli lawmakers and human rights organizations. used tear gas and live fire against the protesters. complaint, said in a statement that “the claims are being direct contributions of dust to the atmosphere. Rights bodies have argued that the video represents Israel has tightened military presence on the Gaza fence, thoroughly examined.” Moreover climate change is also considered as an important what is the rule for the Israeli army, rather than the deploying armored vehicles, back-up Special Forces and Almost a week after Israeli security forces arrested the potential driver of future wind erosion and SDS risk, especially exception. snipers. The regime’s forces have permission to open fire teenage girl, Ben Caspit, an Israeli columnist, reportedly the occurrence of more extreme wind events and the overall The Israeli rights group, B’Tselem, said the military on unarmed Gazans. notorious for his radicalism, called for the punishment of trend, in some regions, towards drier climates. issues “illegal orders telling soldiers to shoot people who The Return rallies culminate on May 15, the day Pal- Ahed away from the public eye, in what Palestinian and Given the dominance of natural sources of dust and uncer- endanger nobody.” estinians commemorate Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe) other media suggest is a tacit encouragement of sexual abuse tainty regarding future dust emissions, the report stresses the The NGO (non-governmental organization), which re- when hundreds of thousands fled or were driven out of their and even rape. The provocative remarks further infuriated importance of protective measures, which comprise enhancing cently led a campaign urging soldiers to refuse to shoot homes in 1948 and Israel was created. Palestinians, who have since staged several protests de- monitoring, prediction and early warning systems, and improving Palestinian protesters in Gaza, said incidents as such have Israeli interrogators verbally harass teen manding her release. preparedness and emergency response. occurred “hundreds of times” over the last few weeks. Meantime, the parents of a Palestinian teenager jailed Amnesty International in January also called on the global To reduce anthropogenic sources of sand and dust storms, The organization dismissed the regime’s promise to in- for famously slapping and kicking two fully-armed Israeli community to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin the Assessment recommends integrated strategies that promote vestigate the shooting as a “meaningless” stunt that would troopers in the occupied West Bank says their daughter Netanyahu into releasing the Palestinian teen activist. sustainable land and water management in cropland, rangelands, “cover up the truth.” was verbally harassed during lengthy and coercive inter- (Source: agencies) deserts and urban areas, and climate change mitigation. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS APRIL 11, 2018 Michael Goolaerts’ death raises question as to Bodyguard for Floyd Mayweather shot in Atlanta why so many cyclists suffer heart attacks The list of professional cyclists to have died of heart attacks A bodyguard for Floyd Mayweather was wounded when a gunman in recent years is surprisingly long: in a vehicle opened fire on the boxing great’s motorcade as it • In 2004, Belgian Stive Vermaut died at the age of 28 was traveling through an Atlanta intersection early on Monday, following a heart attack he suffered during a training session. police said. In the 2000 season, he rode alongside Lance Armstrong Mayweather was not in the vehicle that was fired upon and with the US Postal team. was not injured in the incident, a spokesman for the Atlanta • Also in 2004, Belgian cross specialist Tim Pauwels died Police Department said. after the 23-year-old suffered cardiac arrest during a minor Mayweather’s bodyguard Gregory LaRosa, who was shot in race in Erpe-Mere, Belgium. the leg, was released from hospital three hours after the shooting. • In 2005, Alessio Galletti fell off his bike in the Spanish Mayweather’s entourage attended a night club earlier in the race Subida al Naranco and did not get up. The 37-year-old evening and were in three SUVs after leaving a diner at 2 a.m. Italian, who rode for the Naturino-Sapore di Mare team, A vehicle pulled up to the SUVs in an intersection and a gunman had also succumbed to cardiac arrest. inside opened fire, striking LaRosa in the lower leg. The driver • In 2009, 21-year-old Frederiek Nolf of the Topsport of the vehicle LaRosa was in drove immediately to a hospital, Vlaanderen-Mercator team died in his sleep one night during Atlanta Police Department spokesman Donald Hannah told a the Qatar Tour. According to media reports from the time, news conference. all of the evidence pointed to the Belgian having suffered Police believe the shooter was familiar with the entourage or a heart attack, however his parents declined an autopsy. the group of vehicles. Police are not sure if anything happened • In 2010, Luxembourg’s Kim Kirchen, then 39, suffered earlier in the evening that led to the shooting. cardiac arrest, was placed into an artificial coma, however Mayweather was in Atlanta to promote a boxing event in Las he survived the incident. The former T-mobile Team rider Vegas on Saturday night, ESPN reported. subsequently ended his racing career. Mayweather has said he has retired. The 41-year-old boxer • In 2012, Rob Goris died of a heart attack in a hotel at beat mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor to send his the age of 30. Like Goolaerts, the Belgian competed for the record to a 50-0 in August. Veranda-sponsored team. (Source: Reuters) • In 2016, 21-year-old Dutch rider Gijs Verdick of Cy- clingteam Jo Piels suffered two heart attacks during an had suffered a heart attack. bosis or heart attack. Both riders and team members have under-23 tour in Poland and was placed into an artificial This series of heart attacks in professional cycling raises confirmed this in statements. According to a study by the coma. Verdick was brought from Poland to Zwolle in the an important question: How can so many highly trained French magazine Nouvel Observateur, the mortality rate Bale´s agent slams Spanish Netherlands, where he passed away a day after his arrival. athletes die of heart attacks despite being young, healthy among Tour de France competitors is almost three times • Also in 2016, the Belgian Daan Myngheer (Team Roubaix and under regular medical supervision? higher than that of the general population. However, to media over exit reports Lille Métropole) suffered a heart attack and died during the Doping, or heart damage caused by endur- automatically conclude that heart attacks in cyclists are first stage of the Criterium International, a two-day race in ance sports? linked to doping would not be accurate. France. He had complained of discomfort during the race The first possibility that comes to mind regarding such This is because there are other possible and just as likely Gareth Bale and Real Madrid “love” each other and there is no and collapsed after seeking medical attention. Myngheer deaths in professional cycling is doping. In the past, there has causes: Extreme endurance sports like professional cycling desire from either party for the Wales winger to leave despite was just 22 years old. been plenty of speculation about the affects of blood doping can change or damage the heart. In 2012, Dr. James O’Keefe reports to the contrary, according to his agent. • Just over a year ago, Egyptian cyclist Eslam Nasser Zaki on the heart. During the heyday of Epo doping around the published a study in the American medical journal Mayo Bale has had a difficult couple of years at Madrid, with injuries died during the African Continental Track Cycling Cham- turn of the millennium, cyclists spent their nights walking Clinic Proceedings that showed that endurance sports often interrupting his career and robbing him of consistency. pionships in South Africa. The 22-year-old fell off his bike through hotel corridors to get their blood – thickened by lead to a permanent overstretching of the heart muscle, and This season he has managed to play 21 times in LaLiga so on the track in Durban. It was later determined that he too the abundance of red blood cells – moving for fear of throm- this puts an excessive strain on the heart. far, scoring 11 times, but he has been somewhat hit-and-miss in terms of his performances, resulting in criticism from some supporters and sections of the media. Real Madrid chief Perez targets Top SA court ends Oscar Pistorius’ final As such, Bale has been linked with moves away from the San- tiago Bernabeu, though his agent, Jonathan Barnett, does not Bernabeu’s six European Cups appeal bid appear to be entertaining such possibilities and was critical of the Spanish media. “Gareth is a Real Madrid player and loves Real Madrid and Real Madrid love Gareth,” Barnett told ESPN. “All this talk about leaving is written by reporters who have no idea what is going on and who need to write something and don’t care if it is true or not.” (Source: Goal)

Hamilton makes controversial statement about his time at Mercedes Capturing four Champions League trophies but Perez said he would have no fear about South Africa’s highest court has rejected His legal team and state prosecutors under his tenure is not enough for Real meeting the Catalans in a ‘Clasico’ final in Oscar Pistorius’ request to appeal against have fought through the courts over the Lewis Hamilton has revealed he has no bad memories of his Madrid president Florentino Perez as he Kiev on May 26. his 13-year jail term, ending the long legal length of his sentence. time at Mercedes. desperately wants to match the haul of “First we need to get to the final. I battle over his killing of his girlfriend in 2013. “This is the end of the road. There are While his spell has been littered with glorious moments, such six European Cups won by late president imagine in the semis we’ll have to play The former Paralympic athlete, 31, had no other legal options available,” National as retaining the World Championship last month, there have Santiago Bernabeu. Bayern Munich, who we always seem to asked the Constitutional Court to review the Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luvuyo been some rather unsavoury scenes too. “Bernabeu is our reference point and meet, but if we face Barca in the final we jail term, which was increased to 13 years Mfaku told AFP, welcoming the ruling. Defying team orders, throwing the odd tantrum and his strained we want to follow his path. FIFA named us should remember that we beat them twice in November. But the court ruling released Tania Koen, the Steenkamp’s family relationship with Nico Rosberg was a big lowlight of his time to the best club of the 20th century in 2000 in the Spanish Super Cup this season,” on Monday said that “the application for lawyer, said that Reeva’s parents had “al- date with the Bracknell-based manufacturer. and now we are working hard to get the he said. leave to appeal is dismissed” as it was not ways had faith in the justice system” and All these combined would suggest Hamilton has made some same recognition in the 21st,” Perez told Perez first became Real president in a constitutional matter. had no further comment to make. enemies and hasn’t always had things easy at Mercedes. Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday. 2000, winning his first Champions League The ruling was dated March 28. “June and Barry have been focusing But the Brit has put them to the back of his mind. Real are the overwhelming favorites to gong, the club’s ninth, in 2002. He resumed Pistorius shot dead Reeva Steenkamp their time and energy in the Reeva Re- When asked about his memories with Mercedes, he said in reach the last four as they will take a 3-0 the role in 2009 and since then has won the in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in becca Steenkamp Foundation which was an interview published on F1’s official YouTube channel: “Even lead into the second leg of their quarter-final trophy three more times, beating Atletico 2013 when he fired four times through established in her memory,” Koen said. in a relationship or friendship, I only remember the good things. against Juventus in Madrid on Wednesday. Madrid in 2014 and 2016 and Juventus the locked door of his bedroom toilet, later The year before he killed Steenkamp, “I always say the negative things that have happened in the Their European campaign has been in last year. saying that he thought she was an intruder. Pistorius became the first double-amputee past are irrelevant. total contrast to their disappointing La Liga Real won the first five editions of the He was originally convicted of culpable to race at the Olympics when he competed “The great experiences we’ve had, the success, the great mo- form as they currently languish in fourth European Cup under Bernabeu between homicide - the equivalent of manslaughter at the London 2012 games. In a television ments in the garage and when I come back to see all the team place in the standings, 15 points behind 1956 and 1960, lifting the trophy again - in 2014, but his conviction was upgraded interview, he said he believed an intruder happy, I feel I’m part of something special. runaway leaders Barcelona. in 1966. to murder on appeal. was in the house and “instant fear” drove “You just absorb the positives and swerve the negatives.” Barca are also on track to reach the The club’s stadium is named after Pistorius also tried to take the murder him to grab his gun and walk on his stumps After a third-placed finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamil- semi-finals of the Champions League, Bernabeu, who oversaw its construction. conviction to the Constitutional Court, but towards the bathroom before opening fire. ton will be hoping to knock Sebastian Vettel off his stride at the with a 4-1 lead over AS Roma in their tie, (Source: Reuters) it also refused to hear the matter. (Source: Sport24) Chinese Grand Prix this weekend. (Source: Express) Nearly 130 Premier League stars face £250m bill Footballers who ploughed their cash into a tax avoidance “They are high-profile figures, ­international footballers. offered financial management to footballers and agents. Man Utd star ‘ready to join scheme could face financial ruin if hit with massive bills to None of them knowingly embarked on a plan to pay less tax.” The film schemes also attracted other celebrities and busi- repay the money and fines. Julia Norris, of Manchester-based FS Legal, said the play- ness tycoons. PSG’ this summer on big One former Manchester United star invested £33.5million, ers should have been told schemes were “very high risk” and An investor might be asked to pay £100,000 into the scheme. a mix of his own cash and a bank loan, in a movie-based project warned some now face “financial extinction”. That would be boosted by a bank loan of £900,000, taking Neymar condition that allowed him to significantly reduce the duty he paid on She added: “Where investors try to reduce their tax bill, their total investment to £1million. his Premier League salary. some might say they got what was coming. They could delay paying tax on all of this money for the Paul Pogba is open to a move to PSG on one condition, according The household name is one of 129 top players who put a “But many were going to pay any money owed down the line, duration of the scheme, often 15 years. to fresh reports from France. total of £250million into the scheme through ­financial advisers plus interest. They are not tax dodgers. They are tax delayers. Experts say HMRC then removed the tax breaks, but claim Pogba’s future at Manchester United is uncertain after a dif- Kingsbridge. “One man placed £300,000 of his own money, plus a advisers kept on recommending the schemes. ficult second season back in England. Other clubs with high-profile investors included Liverpool £7million loan. He now has a £7million tax bill. Solicitor Julia Norris told how one property investor put He has been in and out of the team since January and rumours – where one paid £10.4million in cash and loans – Aston Villa “It was sold to him as a cash flow advantage, it is not the in £300,000 but faces a £7million tax bill as loans took his have suggested he is unhappy. and Blackburn Rovers. evil tax dodge as so often portrayed. Advisers were usually on investment to around £10million. Didier Deschamps spoke out about the situation during the Kingsbridge staff earned huge bonuses on the back of the payments. commission on any loans, plus fees, so did very well indeed.” It was sold as a “cash flow advant­­age”, with the investor international break and Pep Guardiola claimed to have been HMRC is now trying to claw back at least 70% of the amounts But a spokesman for former ­Kingsbridge advisers David eventually paying the tax. But HMRC argued it was a sophis- offered the France midfielder by agent Mino Raiola. put in, plus interest and penalties. McKee and Kevin McMenamin insisted clients “without ex- ticated means to avoid tax. And now reports in France suggest he could be ready to move It means players face bills similar to their original investments ception” were made aware of the ­products in which they were Whatever happens to Manchester City in tomorrow’s home - to Paris. as income paid back to the scheme from the films was taxable. investing. Champions League showdown with Liverpool, their players Pogba grew up in Lagny-sur-Marne, a suburb of the French Critics claim the players knew they were avoiding tax. But He added: “They were clearly advised in relation to com- will not be undernourished. capital, and while he has always been cool on the thought of experts claim the stars had little or no idea how their money mission arrangements.” For the likes of Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de moving to Ligue 1 things are starting to change. was being used. HMRC removed the tax break in the late-2000s. Some Bruyne, dinner at home is often created in their own kitchens Pogba joined United from Le Havre in 2009 aged just 16 so Investor Rescue Organisation founder Stuart Cotton said: investors formed a group to take action against ­Kingsbridge – by a Michelin-starred chef. has never played top flight football in his homeland. ­“Footballers have been demonised over years for investments which went into ­liquidation in 2015 – and the banks involved The idea top footballers have EVERYTHING done for them But ParisUnited claim he would now consider a move to PSG into tax avoidance schemes. in the schemes. is only the slightest of exaggerations, trust me. - as long as Neymar remains at the club. “The truth is most were not privy to how the arrangements HMRC said: “Most tax ­avoidance schemes don’t work. Players are assets, why give them the distraction of paying Neymar joined the Ligue 1 leaders last summer in a stunning work. The result of investing in such schemes is beyond com- People can end up paying more than they were trying to avoid.” their Council Tax themselves when they could be thinking deal from Barcelona. prehension at times.” How it works about 4-3-3? It is like that, seriously. But while he’s been a hit on the pitch, tensions have grown XPro, which supports former ­footballers in debt matters, The schemes offered tax relief on money invested in the And the profession is so competitive, the rewards so vast, off it and he is thought to be considering a quick exit with Real insisted the responsibility lies with scheme promoters and film industry, into films such as Disney’s Enchanted. footballers want to concentrate on one thing only. Playing. Madrid keen to take him back to Spain. banks, who provided the loans. They were popular from 2000-2004, when the Labour That is why they will hand over their financial affairs to But he may now have been given a reason to stay. A source said: “There is a deep sense of shame attached government backed British movie makers with tax breaks. whoever comes highly recommended. (Source: Daily Star) to this group. Kingsbridge advisers David McKee and Kevin McMenamin (Source: mirror.co.uk) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 11, 2018 SPORTS 15

Persepolis hungry for third Hossein Lotfi wins gold at World Taekwondo Junior successive title, coach says Championships SPORTS TEHRAN — Persepolis football team TASNIM — Hossein Lotfi from Iran claimed a gold medal on deskcoach Branko Ivankovic says that they opening day of 2018 World Taekwondo Junior Championships want to claim Iran Professional League (IPL) title for the in Tunisia. third successive year. The Iranian athlete claimed the gold medal in the men’s un- Persepolis won the IPL title with three games to der-45kg class. spare on Sunday after beating Padideh 1-0 in Mash- Lotfi overcame Uzbekistan’s Amirbek Turaev in his final, with had’s Samen Stadium. bronzes going to India’s Kanha Mainali and South Korea’s Lee Persepolis claimed the title for the second succes- Jang-Hoe. sive year. Earlier on the day, Mobina Kalivand of Iran claimed a bronze Branko Ivankovic’s team could have won the title in medal in the women’s under-42kg. the 2015-16 Season but became runners-up due to inferior South Korean Kang Mi-Reu won gold in the class defeating goal difference to Esteghlal Khuzestan. Turkey’s Emine Gogebakan in her final. Ivankovic led Persepolis to 10th title last season with The 2018 World Taekwondo Junior Championships is be- three games to spare and repeated the title in 2017-18 ing held from April 6-13 in Hammamet, Tunisia, attracting the Season. participation of 438 athletes from 11 countries, competing in 10 Now, the Croat is confident they could win the IPL different weight categories. title for the third time in a row. “We are not allowed to sign player in the summer transfer windows but I think the all players we want to stay with us will extend their contracts with Persepolis,” Iranian football clubs move Ivankovic said. “There is no player surplus to requirement for up- in rankings coming season. Persepolis have potential to win the title for the third successive year. We’ve shown our quality in TASNIM — Persepolis, Esteghlal and Zob Ahan football teams the previous editions. Of course, we know that it will be of Iran have moved up in the latest Soccer Clubs Rankings. a difficult task to defend your title,” he added. Persepolis have moved up nine places to 158th in the rankings “We’re a better team than we were last year. Now, and Esteghlal climbed 26 places to 192nd, clubworldranking. we’ve qualified for the AFC Champions League knockout com reported. stage with one game remaining. Persepolis also won the Zob Ahan also moved up nine places to 311th. IPL title easier than the last season,” Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia are the best Asian team in the rankings. Persepolis will face Pars Jonoubi on Wednesday in The AFC Champions League runners-up sit 41st in the rankings. Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid top the list, followed by Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Iran’s Ghorbanian takes gold at Legend Rasoul Khadem returns to Iran International Karate Club Wrestling Federation Rosberg joins corridors of power with Formula E investment

LONDON (Reuters) - Retired 2016 Formula One world cham- pion Nico Rosberg has become a shareholder and long-term investor in Formula E, the all-electric series said on Tuesday. The Monaco-based German will also give next season’s new Gen2 car it’s first public demonstration run at the Berlin ePrix on May 19, round nine of the championship. “Since my retirement, I’ve become very interested in the e-mobility movement and its potential to positively impact our society and our planet,” the 32-year-old said in a Formula E statement. “I’ve therefore also long believed in the potential of Formula E and came on board as an investor some time ago.” Rosberg and Formula E gave no details about his shareholding. Mercedes, the team Rosberg won his F1 title with and for SPORTS TEHRAN — Moham- The 5th Legend International Karate SPORTS TEHRAN — Ra- a bout to avoid facing an opponent from whom he still acts as an ambassador, are due to enter Formula deskmad Mahdi Ghorbanian Club Championship 2018 was held at the desksoul Khadem, who the Zionist regime. E in the 2019-20 season, the sixth campaign for the series. from Iran claimed a gold medal at the 5th Juara Stadium, National Sports Complex had announced his retirement as the Iran does not recognize Israel, and German media have linked Rosberg to a possible manage- Legend International Karate Club Cham- in Bukit Kiara, Malaysia from April 7-8. president of Iran Wrestling Federation, Iranian athletes do not compete against ment role with that team. pionship 2018. The competition brought more than has returned to the federation after two Israelis in international sporting events. Rosberg had said last December when he attended the sea- Ghorbanian defeated Muhammad Ilyas 900 karate practitioners from 13 coun- months. Afterwards, Khadem said authorities son-opener in Hong Kong that he was interested in getting Ben Reeza Lim Si-Hien from Malaysia in tries together. On Feb. 23, the United World Wres- should reconsider their policy of not involved in Formula E but n the final match of the Junior Individual Iran took part in the competition with tling Disciplinary Chamber (WWDC) allowing Iranian athletes to compete ot as a driver. Karate Male. 38 athletes. banned Iranian wrestler Alireza Karimi against Israelis. Formula E said in a separate statement that it was attracting Indonesian Rika Aldrich Alif and his Host Malaysia participated in the event from competition for six months, and He stepped down as his post on Feb. a new and younger audience with particularly rapid growth in countryman Yudo Tri Kuncoro won the with 797 athletes and Turkey and the UAE his coach Hamidreza Jamshidi for two 28 but he has returned to the federation the 13-24 age bracket. bronze medal. sent just one karateka to the championship. years after the wrestler deliberately lost on Monday after about two months. The number of 13-17 year-olds engaging with online content had risen 347 per cent year-on-year, it added. Alan Carvalho banned for eight games after elbow The Chinese Football Association has banned Guang- the head in an off-the-ball incident. ‘Terminator’ Titmus back for zhou Evergrande striker Alan Carvalho for eight games He will remain available to play in the Asian Champions after he was sent off for elbowing Tianjin Quanjian’s Liu League, with Evergrande meeting Japanese side Cerezo gold in 400m freestyle Yiming last month. Osaka next week. Carvalho will be ruled out until July 21, when Ever- Guangzhou are second in the Chinese Super League, GOLD COAST, Australia (Reuters) — Australia’s grande face Chinese Super League leaders Shanghai three points adrift of Shanghai SIPG after five rounds. Ariarne Titmus overcame some of the worst nerves she SIPG when the league resumes following a two-month The Chinese Football Association banned SIPG’s Oscar had ever experienced on her way to clinching a second break for the World Cup. for eight games last season after he was adjudged to have individual gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth The 28-year-old, who has scored six times in four league instigated a brawl. Games when she eased to victory in the women’s 400m games, has already served one game of the ban, missing Shanghai Shenhua defender Qin Sheng, meanwhile, freestyle on Tuesday. Sunday’s win over Shandong Luneng. was given a six-month ban for stamping on Axel Witsel’s The 17-year-old, nicknamed ‘Terminator’, backed up her Carvalho was sent off after 50 minutes against Tianjin foot against Quanjian last season. 800m triumph from a day earlier with a comfortable victory when he appeared to deliberately elbow Liu in the back of (Source: ESPN) over English duo Holly Hibbott and Eleanor Faulkner. Titmus opened up an early advantage and was never really challenged as she touched in four minutes, 00.93 seconds, Brengle sues WTA, ITF over injuries the sixth-fastest 400m freestyle ever recorded. Hibbott was almost five seconds further back. The time puts her within shouting distance of American from doping tests Katie Ledecky’s world record of 3:56.46 but racing against the clock had been one of the main factors that put her on Madison Brengle filed a lawsuit against now resulted in permanent swelling and understand that players are not commod- edge before the event. the Women’s Tennis Association and the weakness in her serving arm and hand,” ities and should be treated with respect “I was so nervous for this race, I’ve never felt nerves like International Tennis Federation on Mon- Ginsberg said in a statement. and dignity,” she said in the statement. this before,” she told reporters. “It wasn’t because I was scared day seeking damages for injuries she says Brengle, ranked 83rd in the world, had “The unbridled authority of officials of the result, it was more that if the result didn’t work, or I were caused by the repeated drawing of never failed or missed a doping test in her 10 to subject players to the kind of abuse I failed on the expectations I set myself. blood for anti-doping tests. years as a professional, the statement said. suffered cannot be tolerated; players must “If I went in there and swam 4:02, it would have been a fail, The 28-year-old American had in- The lawsuit said the exact amount have a say in matters involving our health because I went 1:54 earlier in the week (in the 200m freestyle). formed tennis authorities that she suf- Brengle would seek from a jury had yet and safety.” “(But) translating that to the 400 meter swim, it’s perfect.” fered from a rare medical condition that to be determined but would likely be in Brengle lost her first round match Titmus, who had sought to become the first woman since reacts to needle injections, her lawyer excess of $10 million. at the Charleston Open last week. fellow Australian Karen Moras in 1970 to win the 200-400- Peter Ginsberg said. The WTA and ITF did not immediately The lawsuit comes less than two months 800 treble at the same Games, also won gold in the 4x200m “Tennis authorities ignored evidence respond to a request for comment. after Canadian player Eugenie Bouchard freestyle relay and silver in the individual 200m freestyle. of her professionally-diagnosed condition Brengle said the lawsuit was aimed at reached a settlement in her lawsuit with Her only individual defeat came at the hands of fellow and refused to provide alternative testing forcing tennis authorities to give more the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) after 17-year-old Taylor Ruck of Canada, arguably the swimmer of or a medical accommodation, instead sub- thought to the health of players. a fall at the 2015 U.S. Open resulted in her the meeting for her versatility and seven-medal performance jecting Brengle to testing that caused her “I am bringing this action in an effort to withdrawal and a concussion. ahead of the 4x100m medley relay later on Tuesday. to withdraw from tournaments and has force those who control the sport I love to (Source: Reuters) Australia’s head coach Jacco Verhaeren, however, said he had been impressed with Titmus’s first international com- petition, adding that she was only going to improve as she Ashkan Dejagah satisfied with his recovery worked towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Persian League - Iranian international midfielder Ash- “Mr. Queiroz (Carlos) and Karanka (Aitor) have devote more time to me,” he added “There’s a lot of learning with a young athlete,” he said. kan Dejagah says he is satisfied with his knee’s recovery in talked together about my recovery process. Auspiciously, “My club knows everything is going well in Iran. The “The Commonwealth Games is pretty different from swim- Tehran, capital of Iran. Karanka knows how important is the 2018 World Cup Iran national team staff is doing its best to prepare me for ming at trials or swimming at world junior championships Dejagah’s Nottingham Forest career took a serious for me,” Dejagah said in an interview with Iran Football the World Cup,” Dejagah stated. or world championship last year... blow before it has even properly begun – with the Iranian Federation’s website. Dejagah made only one appearance for Forest following “This a multi-sport environment and that is very different, international having suffered a knee problem in training “Nottingham Forest and Team Melli are backing me to his arrival as a free agent in January, ironically against his living in the village, eating in the village, being surrounded in February. be fit for the World Cup. I could have stayed in England to former club Fulham, where he played during their time in by other athletes. It’s great that she can gain that experience The 31-year-old is in Tehran now for medical treatment. continue my recovery but I think the Team Melli’s medical the Premier League. and perform at a great level.” Prayer Times Noon:13:05 Evening: 19:53 Dawn: 5:09 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:36 (tomorrow) APRIL 11, 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 “Django” star Franco Nero [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 to attend Fajr festival www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 ARTTEHRAN – Italian Webmaster: [email protected] desk Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 actor Franco Nero who is best known for his role in “Django”, No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran Sergio Corbucci’s 1966 spaghetti western, P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Zip Code: 1599814713 will attend the 36th edition of the Fajr International Film Festival. Nero, 77, has appeared in over 200 films during his career that spans 56 years. He also played a cameo role in “Django Unchained”, a 2012 American revisionist Western film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. He has played a role in “The Broken Key”, director/writer Louis Nero’s upcoming independent film. Numerous famous figures of the world Iranian movies line up for cinema have been invited to attend the Atlanta festival Fajr festival, which will take place in Tehran from April 19 to 27. ARTTEHRAN – Six movies from Iranian film- Among the figures are Palestinian deskmakers will be competing in the 42nd Annual director Rashid Masharawi, German Atlanta Film Festival in the United States. cinematographer Thomas Mauch, “Disappearance” directed by Ali Asgari will be screened in the Cambodian documentary film director Narrative Features section, while five other films will compete Rithy Panh, French filmmaker Olivier in the shorts section. Megaton, and Turkish director Semih Kaplanoglu, have also invited to the Actors Franco Nero (L) and Jamie Foxx and director Quentin Tarantino pose during a photocall for “Django Unchained” in Rome on festival. January 4, 2013. Italian musician Nicola Piovani Georgian musician HVL to stage invited to Fajr filmfest sound performance in Tehran

“Disappearance” by Ali Asgari will be screened in the official competition of the 42nd Annual Atlanta Film Festival. The films are “Lunch Time” by Alireza Qasemi, “To Be” by Farzaneh Omidvarnia, “Highlight” by Shahrzad Dadgar, “White House” by Arastu Mafakheri, and “Retouch” by Kaveh Mazaheri. Filmmaker Ana Asensio, film critic Kimber Myers, and producer Melodie Sisk will judge the films in the Narrative Features cate- gory and filmmaker Ebony Blanding, senior curator Ian Durkin, and associate professor of communication Daniel Robin are the members of the jury for short films section. The festival will be held from April 13 to 22.

Italian film score composer Nicola Piovani in an undated photo A poster for a sound performance that Georgian musician HVL will stage in Tehran ARTTEHRAN — Italian film Vahdat Hall on April 25 for the festival guests. ARTTEHRAN – The An electronic music producer, Fajr unveils lineup for 7th Hour deskscore composer Nicola He is the winner of the Oscar for Best deskGeorgian musician HVL is considered to be one of the Original Dramatic Score in 1998 for Rob- ARTTEHRAN – Eleven movies from Iran and Piovani will attend the 36th edition of the Gigi Jikia, better known by his stage most prolific and successful Geor- erto Benigni’s film “La Vita è bella”, better deskworld cinema will be screened in the 7th Hour, Fajr International Film Festival opening in name HVL, will organize a sound gian artists. known to English-speaking audiences as a new section at the Fajr International Film Festival that intends Tehran next week, the organizers announced performance in Tehran on April 14. His music is difficult to place in “Life Is Beautiful”. to heighten schoolchildren’s social awareness, the organizers on Tuesday. The performance will take place a certain genre, because it is con- The Fajr International Film Festival will announced on Tuesday. Piovani is scheduled to perform a selection at the Rooberoo Mansion Art and stantly looking for novelties and is take place in Tehran from April 19 to 27. Among the movies are “El of his film scores in a performance at Tehran’s Cultural Institute. not avoiding experiments. Clásico”, a 2015 Iraqi-Norwe- gian drama by Halkawt Musta- Actor Jared Leto road trips across Cosby paid accuser $3.4 million fa, “The Little Prince”, a 2015 English-language French 3D U.S. to promote new album in civil suit, prosecutor tells jury animated fantasy adventure LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It was a NORRISTOWN, Pa. (Reuters) - Come- family drama by Mark Os- mad dash of “planes, trains and automo- dian Bill Cosby paid a woman who accused borne, “Little Mountain Boy”, biles” for Oscar-winning actor and Thirty him of sexual assault $3.38 million as part a Swiss powerful and moving Seconds to Mars singer Jared Leto as he of a 2006 settlement of a civil lawsuit, pros- film by Xavier Koller, “Lion”, promoted his band’s latest album with ecutors said on Monday in the opening of a 2016 Australian biographi- a five-day cross-country road trip from his retrial on criminal charges stemming cal drama film by Garth Davis, New York to Los Angeles. from the same accusations. and “150 Milligrams”, a 2016 Leto hitchhiked in the cold rain and Prosecutors in Pennsylvania’s Mont- French drama film directed by rode a crowded long-haul Greyhound bus gomery County revealed the payout for Emmanuelle Bercot. as he promoted his rock band’s fifth stu- the first time in their opening statement “Hello” by Mohammadreza dio album, “America”, which was released of Cosby’s second criminal trial, almost a Haj-Gholami, “Alphabet” by Ki- Lead singer of Thirty Seconds to Mars A poster the 7th Hour section last week on Interscope Records, a label year after a different jury failed to reach a Actor and comedian Bill Cosby returns to anush Abedi, “Empty View” by of Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group. Jared Leto attends a launch party for verdict, prompting a mistrial. the courtroom during the first day of his at 36th Fajr International Film Ali Zare Qanatnoei, and “The the album “America” at a pop-up muse- Festival Leto, 46, did it all while performing Andrea Constand, 44, has accused the sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery Elephant King” by Hadi Mo- his songs. He also documented the nearly um called “Museum of America” in Los once-beloved father from “The Cosby Show” County Courthouse in Norristown, Penn- hammadian, all from Iran, will also be screened in the category. 2,800-mile (4,500 km) trek and said he Angeles, California, U.S., April 6, 2018. of drugging and sexually assaulting her in sylvania, U.S., April 9, 2018. (Reuters/ Several theaters in Tehran dedicated to the program will screen used it to connect with everyday Americans (Reuters/Mario Anzuoni) 2004. She is one of more than 50 women Lucas Jackson) the movies from April 17 to 25 in collaboration with the Tehran along the way. Leto added, “I saw a lot of kindness, a to level similar accusations against Cosby. would also present a witness who would Municipality and the Ministry of Education. “I don’t ever use that dirty word for lot of generosity. It was inspiring.” Her case is the only one that has re- testify Constand once spoke of extracting Experts will brief the students on the films before screening, myself - celebrity - but it was very ground- The actor, who won an Oscar for his role sulted in criminal prosecution because money from celebrities by making such and they will also receive basic criticism education that will pro- ing,” Leto told Reuters. “And I think it as an HIV-positive transgender woman the others were too old under the statute an accusation. vide them an opportunity to write reviews, the best of which will just reminds you that we’re all connected, in 2013 drama “Dallas Buyers Club”, is of limitations. But in his opening statement District be awarded by the organizers. that we all have our challenges, that we also directing a documentary, “A Day in Cosby, 80, has said all of the encounters Attorney Kevin Steele revealed the payout The 36th edition of the Fajr International Film Festival will all have our dreams.” the Life of America”, in which he explores were consensual. If convicted of aggravated himself. He may later argue the payout be held in Tehran from April 19 to 27. Leto said his journey taught him that the lives of different Americans on U.S. indecent assault, he could face up to 10 was evidence of guilt. despite the current political polarization Independence Day, July 4, 2017. years in prison. Steele called Cosby’s action a betrayal as of the United States, he found a sense of It was not Leto’s first trip across the A judge barred mention of the settle- Constand once considered Cosby a friend shared purpose among Americans. United States. ment or the civil lawsuit during the first and mentor. He also said prosecutors de- Widely-watched “I think the most eye-opening thing “I had done it when I was a kid as an criminal trial but agreed the jury could cided to bring the case after transcripts Dutch comedian says right now, that at a time of such instabil- art school dropout and I headed to L.A. to hear about it this time around. of Cosby’s deposition from the civil case ity that there’s so much community, so become a director,” said Leto, who caught Cosby’s defense team had sought the became public. “Bye Bye Facebook” much we have in common, such unity,” he his first big break in Hollywood on the mid- right to reveal the settlement, attempting “Andrea Constand did not come to us. said. “I think that would surprise people, 1990s cult teen TV drama “My So-Called to portray Constand as someone seeking After this was released, we go to her,” Steele AMSTERDAM (Reuters) — A popular Dutch comedian especially if you live outside the country.” Life” as a moody high school heartthrob. a big payout. The defense team has said it told the jury. has urged hundreds of thousands of fans to join him in saying “Bye Bye Facebook” in protest at the social networking giant’s handling of private data. Arjen Lubach, whose widely-watched satirical television Go your own way: Fleetwood Mac will not tour with Lindsey Buckingham show “Sunday with Lubach” has more than 400,000 followers LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Fleetwood the upcoming tour. in New York honoring the band. on the social media site, said the program would delete its Mac announced a tour on Monday but without Singers Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie Fleetwood Mac was inducted into the Rock Facebook account on Wednesday, joining a string of high- guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, one of the rock will both be on the planned autumn tour for and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Their biggest profile entertainers and tech executives who have urged users group’s most influential and popular members. which no dates were announced. hits include “Go Your Own Way”, “Little Lies” to do the same. “Lindsey Buckingham will not be performing Buckingham, 68, joined Fleetwood Mac and “Don’t Stop”, which was used as President Although it’s impossible to know how many will follow through, with the band on this tour,” the band said in in 1974, but in 1987 left the group, which has Bill Clinton’s theme song for his successful 11,000 of Lubach’s Facebook followers said on Facebook that a statement. “The band wishes Lindsey all been plagued by behind-the-scenes romantic 1992 White House bid. Honorees Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, and they would join Lubach by deleting their accounts. the best.” and creative tensions among its members and The group, which first formed in 1967, Lindsey Buckingham of the group Fleetwood In recent weeks, the #deletefacebook hashtag has gained Fleetwood Mac publicist Kristen Foster a shifting lineup over the years. most recently reunited in 2014 to embark on Mac perform during the 2018 MusiCares prominence after the world’s largest social network was declined to give any reasons for Buckingham’s “Fleetwood Mac is well known for being a world tour. The band said on Monday it had Person of the Year show honoring Fleetwood shown to have allowed personal data to end up in the hands absence. Rolling Stone magazine reported, a dysfunctional family ... and it was certainly added former Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Mac at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, of Cambridge Analytica - a political consultancy that worked without citing its source, that the band let much of the fuel for our material,” Buckingham guitarist Mike Campbell and Crowded House New York, U.S., January 26, 2018. (Reuters/ on U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign. Buckingham go after a disagreement over said in January at the MusicCares ceremony guitarist and singer Neil Finn to the 2018 tour. Andrew Kelly)