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16 Pages Price 20,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13281 Tuesday DECEMBER 18, 2018 Azar 27, 1397 Rabi’ Al thani 10, 1440 Sanctions Iran doesn’t sit Esteghlal, Persepolis Jamal Shurjeh fills in only hurt ordinary silent toward to be ceded to private for late director in TV

Iranians 2 destabilizing actions 2 sector 15 series on Moses (AS) 16 Iran’s Syria negotiator talks “Exodus” named best constitution, election with Assad POLITICS TEHRAN — Iran’s and Russia’s delegations in the Astana deskSyria negotiator Hossein talks on Syria. Jaberi Ansari on Sunday evening met with The upcoming talks will focus on the President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. committee to draft a new Syrian consti- Top on the agenda of the meeting was tution and usher in elections. doc at Cinéma Vérité See page 16 the process of setting up a committee to On Friday, a UN statement said the draft a constitution for Syria. United Nations special envoy for Syria Staf- Jaberi Ansari’s trip came a day after he fan de Mistura will hold talks with senior hosted Russian president’s special envoy officials from Iran, Russia and Turkey, as for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev. guarantors of the Syria peace process in The two diplomats preside over Iran Geneva this week. 2

Iran travel balance turns positive as inbound tourism jumps TOURISM TEHRAN — Iran’s trav- said Vali Teymouri, deputy director of deskel balance turned positive the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and in the first seven months of the current Iranian Tourism Organization for tourism affairs, calendar year 1397 (started March 21), a pos- CHTN reported. itive reading since two years ago. Making direct comparisons for the past “The travel balance shifted positive as two [Iranian] years, he said Iran recorded a total of 4,704,509 outbound travels were over three million foreign arrivals and registered against 4,739,413 inbound ones more than five million travels abroad in over the first seven months of the year,” the same period last year. 10

‘Iran expects EU to extend Airbus OFAC license to deliver purchased aircrafts’ ECONOMY TEHRAN — Farzaneh with foreign aircraft makers and said Iran deskSharafbafi, the manag- is strictly following these contracts. Shahab Ghayoumi ing director of Iran Air, Iran’s national flag On January 28, 2016, Iran Air signed carrier, said on Monday that Iran expects a deal with the French giant plane maker EU to get the U.S. approval for extending Airbus for the purchase of 118 Airbus jets the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets worth $27 billion, however only three are Control (OFAC)’s license for importing delivered to the country.

Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ the airplanes Iran bought from Airbus. Iran Air also signed a contract in April Speaking in a press conference, the 2017, to buy 20 planes from Franco-Italian Documentarian Hossein Torabi (2nd L) accepts a lifetime achievement award at the 12th Cinéma Vérité festival. official mentioned the deals Iran Air has turboprop maker ATR.

REPORT ‘Reforming Muslim countries and Islamicity indices’ ARTICLE Mohammad Homaeifar Following is the text of the interview: countries bears little resemblance to Qur’anic EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Mudasir Sheikh Before I ask you about the progress you teachings. The religion has been limited by some Tehran Times journalist By Javad Heirannia Researcher and writer have made in this program of reform and insti- to the so-called Five Pillars and to memorization from Kashmir TEHRAN — Professor Hossein Askari, an expert tution-building in Muslim countries since we last of the Holy Book with little understanding of its on Saudi Arabia who also teaches international spoke about a year ago, can we begin by reminding deeper message for thriving communities. Most Red Sea legal business at the George Washington University, our readers what this project is all about. What Muslims have not spent the time to understand believes that Islamicity Indices are based on are Islamicity Indices? the deeper meaning of their faith and its appli- U.S. military regime: Spider’s Qur’anic teachings. A: Islamicity Indices are based on Qur’anic cation in their time. “The Holy Qur’an and its interpretation by teachings. The Holy Qur’an and its interpretation In the first place these indices, divided into four industrial complex’s dream against Iran the Prophet Mohammad tell us what Muslim by the Prophet Mohammad tell us what Muslim broad areas of teachings—on the economy and societies should strive to do,” Hossein Askari, societies should strive to do. Unfortunately, for financial system, legal system and governance, perpetual warfare won’t be realized who served as special advisor to Saudi finance centuries, Muslims have abrogated their respon- human and political rights, and international minister, tells the Tehran Times. sibility to go directly to this source and debate relations and then combined into an overall in- tockholm International Peace Re- n Wednesday December 12, Sau- He adds that “Unfortunately, for centuries, and discuss its application in their times. Instead, dex—provide us with an easy way to convey the search Institute (SIPRI) on 10 De- di Arabia’s Riyadh hosted the first Muslims have abrogated their responsibility to they have allowed rulers to spoon feed them an central message of Islam for Muslim communities Scember 2018 released its report on OArab-African conference of foreign go directly to this source and debate and discuss interpretation of Islam that is far from that en- and are also helpful for showing the meaning of the sale of weapons and other military ministers of six countries bordering the its application in their times.” visaged in the Qur’an and what we see in Muslim Islam to non-Muslims. 7 hardware by the world’s largest 100 weapon Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, a strategic manufacturers. The U.S. weapon man- area vital to global shipping. ufacturers dominated the ‘top hundred Representatives from Egypt, Djibouti, ‘Rohingya refugees want to go back home but with safety and dignity’ list’ with a 57 percent share of arms sales. Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Jordan gath- By Syed Zafar Mehdi The governments of Myanmar and Ban- feasible to accept the Rohingya. Bangladesh, for According to the report, the U.S. compa- ered in Riyadh to discuss the initiative. TEHRAN — Prof. Nasir uddin is a cultural an- gladesh have been discussing repatriation of valid reasons, wants to repatriate the Rohingya nies benefitted from the U.S. Department The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the thropologist based in Bangladesh, and professor Rohingya refugees. Do you think the timing is refugees because it has exerted huge process on of Defense’s ongoing demand for weapons. Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and of anthropology at Chittagong University. He right for them to return? it. However, I think it is not safe for them to be The pro-war U.S. foreign policy is Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the has been working with Rohingya people in the A. At this stage and under the situation pre- repatriated at this stage. meant to serve the interests of military south through the Bab el Mandeb strait borderland of Bangladesh and Myanmar for more vailing in Rakhine state, I don’t think it is safe Many Rohingya refugees were detained industrial complex as the U.S. has a long and the Gulf of Aden. To the north lie than two decades and has written on the Rohingya for the Rohingya refugees to return to Myanmar. recently while trying to flee to Malaysia. Could history of waging unilateral, belligerent the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, refugee situation extensively in the form of both In fact, there are four stakeholders in the entire you tell us what exactly took place? wars across the globe from Vietnam to and the Suez Canal. About 15 percent of academic and popular pieces. His forthcoming repatriation process: Bangladesh, Myanmar, A. If you are talking about the recent case, to Syria and constant escalation from the global trade is made through the Red Sea. ethnography is named The Rohingyas: A Case Rohingyas and the international community. my knowledge, it was Myanmar which detained 93 South China Sea to the Black Sea and from Alfred Thayer Mahan is one of Ameri- of Subhuman (Oxford University Press, 2019). None expect Bangladesh are in the position Rohingya while they attempted to flee to Malaysia. Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Kerch. ca’s leading geopolitical theorists. He was In an interview to Tehran Times, Prof. Nasir of supporting repatriation process at this stage. According to the available information, the boat The creation of al-Qaeda, scraping peace in the last wave of European imperialist uddin talks about repatriation of Rohingya refu- Rohingya refugees don’t want to go back because heading to Malaysia was carrying 28 men, 33 wom- treaties, sanction game and orchestrating expansionism and the globalization of gees from Bangladesh to Myanmar, detention of they think that they are not safe in Myanmar as en, and 32 children from the Darpaing displacement Shia-Sunni conflicts are all part of the American power. He considered sea power Rohingya trying to flee to Malaysia, his fieldwork the situation there has not changed yet. camp in Rakhine’s Sittwe township. It was seized on U.S. military industrial complex agenda. as the basis of national power. in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps and what could be Myanmar has always been reluctant to bring Nov. 25 off the coast of Tanintharyi’s Dawei district in The former CIA Director Robert Gates In an analysis of the history of sailing, the possible solution to this crisis. the Rohingya back. International community southern Myanmar, according to a police document. and former U.S. National Security Adviser especially the global expansion of Britain, Following are the excerpts: also thinks that Myanmar situation is still not Then they were detained. 6 Zbigniew Brzezinski began funding ex- he concludes that sea domination, espe- tremists in 1979, barely six months before cially strategic straits, is essential for the the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. existence of great powers. Based on this Osama Bin Laden, Maktab al Khidmat analysis, sea power plays a decisive role and Afghan Mujahideen received about for national power and its growth. People $1 billion from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia According to Mahan’s theory, domi- through Pakistan’s ISI. The brainchild of nation of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab shopping for CIA by the name of al-Qaeda waged its el-Mandeb is important. war against the Soviet occupation of Af- The Saudi narrative of the Ri- ghanistan. yadh Summit and the support of Yalda Night Later during the 1990s, al-Qaeda ex- Saudi allies for the Red Sea regime tended its reach to Bosnia that in turn During the summit an agreement was justified the NATO air strikes against the made on the ??establishment of a legal celebrations country. After that al-Qaeda extended its regime for the Red Sea and the Gulf of network further to Kosovo and helped Over the past few days bazaars are jammed Aden. The objective of the Red Sea and ‘Kosovo liberation army’ fight against Yu- with people shopping for Yalda Night cel- Gulf of Aden regime was to support world goslavia and Serbia for the creation of ebrations. trade, international shipping lines, regional Greater Albania. The Kosovo Liberation Yalda Night, also known as Shab-e stability, investment and development of Army was an Albanian terrorist faction Yalda or Shab-e Chelleh, is the longest the member states. The plan, proposed backed by the U.S. and NATO and is re- and darkest night of the year, marking by the King of Saudi Arabia will be imple- sponsible for ethnic cleansing of 90% of the last eve of autumn and the beginning Serbians, while western corporate media

mented in pursuit of security and stability Shahab Ghayoumi of winter. in the region. portrayed Albanians as victims of Serbian Many gather in their grandparents’ Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Af- aggression. houses and spend the long night together. fairs announce on a December 12: Saudi Another puppet of the U.S. military Guests are served with fresh fruits such as Arabia agreed to establish a Red Sea reg- industrial complex, Saudi Arabia was watermelon, persimmon and pomegranate ulatory regime aimed at strengthening brainwashed by the U.S. regime to fight

Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ as well as colorful Ajil (a mixture of dry security and investment in the Red Sea against communism rather than the Israeli fruits, seeds and nuts). bordering countries. 7 aggression against the Arab States. 6 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS DECEMBER 18, 2018 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Zarif to U.S.: French police’s handling of At least become ‘less lawless’ protests ‘unacceptable’: Tehran POLITICS TEHRAN — Tehran on ‘Iran transparent about its mis- POLITICS TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minis- desk deskter Mohammad Javad Zarif has said Monday criticized the sile program’ asking the United States to become lawful is like asking French police for its handling of the recent On Iran’s missile program, Qassemi said them for the impossible, but rather Iran asks the U.S. protests as “unacceptable”, urging the French there’s a difference of opinion between Tehran to become “less lawless”. government to practice self-control in the and some European countries, whose concerns Zarif on Monday tweeted part of his remarks at the face of the unrest. about Iran’s missile program “stem from the Doha Forum policy conference in Qatar. On the prospects Responding to a question by the Teh- efforts of those who want to wage a tough of talks with the U.S., the foreign minister said, “We will ran Times correspondent, Foreign Minis- psychological war against Iran.” not talk to anybody who sets out 12 conditions for us to talk try spokesman Bahram Qassemi said the Iran’s missile-related activities are part of to them after having violated a Security Council resolution issue of “France is an internal matter and its national defense security, he said. In an that they sponsored themselves.” Iran does not comment on that.” open reference to Saddam Hussein’s invasion He added, “If anybody is to meet conditions, they are However, Qassemi continued, the behav- of Iran in the 1980 and bombardment of the ones who are supposed to meet conditions by becoming ior of the French police has been “harsh, civilian areas and Israel’s repeated military less lawless. I’m not asking them to be lawful, because that’s unconsidered and unacceptable.” threats against Iran, Qassemi said, “Because asking them for the impossible. At least become less lawless.” “We have called upon France’s government of its historical experiences and its regional to keep its self-control so that the protests location, Iran has to follow such policy.” take place in a peaceful atmosphere,” he told The spokesman further said the Islamic General killed a bi-weekly press conference. Republic would not allow others to limit “Also, the presence of some anarchist its missile program, but meanwhile it con- himself by groups, who are after destruction and harm, in tinues to act under the international law these protests is worthy of consideration, and and regulations. accident these people need to keep their self-control “We have talked about our [missile] pol- as well,” the spokesman added. icies with different countries for the sake of ‘SPV not just limited to medicine, transparency, but will not hold negotiations POLITICS TEHRAN — The website of the Islamic foodstuff’ about these policies,” he emphasized. desk Qassemi says Iran cannot ‘sacrifice’ its Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has said in Answering a question about the special “We cannot sacrifice our security for these a statement that Brigadier General Ghodratollah Mansouri purpose vehicle (SPV), which the European security for stances of certain foreign officials kinds of stances and comments,” Qassemi has accidentally killed himself while cleaning a gun. Union is developing to save the 2015 nuclear about Tehran’s missile defense program. remarked, pointing to certain foreign officials Mansouri shot himself in the head by accident while deal, Qassemi said the SPV is not just for like U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cleaning his pistol on Sunday morning, the statement read. supplying medicine and foodstuff on Iran, If implemented, other countries can also of fields including investment, industry and who claim Iran’s missiles are designed to The general was a veteran of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war but includes a variety of items. benefit from the SPV, which includes a variety technology, he stated. carry nuclear warheads. and had been serving as the commander of the IRGC ground forces in the northeastern city of Mashhad since 2014. According to Tasnim, the burial ceremony of the general Iran doesn’t sit silent toward destabilizing actions: Kharrazi was held on Monday. POLITICS TEHRAN — Kamal Kharrazi, head of tries rely on foreigners for their security because the deskthe Strategic Council on Foreign Rela- cornerstone of their ruling is not based on people’s vote. Majlis committee tions, said on Monday that Iran does not sit silent towards ‘European SPV to come into force by end of 2018’ destabilizing actions in the Middle East region. On the sidelines of the conference, Kharrazi also told protests low During a security conference in the West Asia region, reporters that the special purpose vehicle (SPV), a Eu- Kharrazi said that Iran is the most stable country in the ropean Union’s financial initiative intended to protect defense budget volatile Middle East region. trade with Iran against newly reimposed U.S. sanctions, “Anybody who enters Iran admits that many countries will come into force by end of 2018. do not enjoy a security like Iran,” he said. European Union foreign policy chief Federica POLITICS TEHRAN — The Majlis National Security Kharrazi, who was foreign minister from 1997 to 2005, Mogherini has said that the SPV meant to help com- deskand Foreign Policy Committee has pro- suggested after making many successes, Iran should prove panies do business with Iran will be completed by the tested the administration’s decision to decrease the annual that it is also “a hero in arena of peace”. end of the year. defense budget, the committee chairman has said. “We should see what actions can be taken to establish President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. unilat- “Recently, the national defense budget was received by peace and stability in the region and how we can reach erally from the 2015 nuclear deal in May and ordered the committee, which was not a good news,” Tasnim on a regional security mechanism.” a hegemon or remove its rivals,” he opined. sanctions against Iran. The first round of sanctions went Monday quoted Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh as saying. Elsewhere, the veteran politician noted that Iran Kharrazi also described the Iranophobia project as into force on August 6 and the second round, which The defense budget of the upcoming year has decreased has never sought hegemony in the region. an “unfounded psychological warfare”. targets Iran’s oil exports and banks, were snapped back for the first time, while it must be five percent of the annual “None of the regional powers is capable of becoming Kharrazi went on to say that certain regional coun- on November 4. budget, Falahatpisheh remarked. He added that following the committee’s complaint, the administration seems to be making changes to the defense ‘Those who violated nuclear deal are fake supporters of human rights’ budget, which is “a good news.” POLITICS TEHRAN — In an open “We announced to the world that we By unilaterally withdrawing from the 2015 liament speaker from 1992 to 2000, said deskreference to the Trump seek peace and stood up for the JCPOA,” nuclear agreement and reimposing sanctions that the U.S. is aware of the Islamic Rev- administration, Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri Nategh Nouri, a member of the Expediency against Iran, the Trump administration has olution’s influence on the youths in other Jurist: Officials said on Monday that those who violated Council, said in a conference. caused a lot of problems for people, ranging countries and that is why it has started the must do away with the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint He added that those who violate the from shortage of vital medicines to the price project of Islamophobia. Comprehensive Plan of Action, are “fake JCPOA and chant slogans about respect rises of basic food commodities. He noted that Islam is against violence and banned social supporters of human rights”. for human rights are “liars”. Elsewhere, Nateq Nouri, who was par- it is a religion of peace which supports justice. networks POLITICS TEHRAN — Mohsen Esmaeili, a Guardian Iran’s Syria negotiator talks Interferences prevent stabilizing deskCouncil jurist, has criticized authorities’ constitution, election with Assad Mideast, Iran regrets active use of banned social media networks, saying everyone must obey the rules, ISNA reported on Monday. 1 According to the statement, POLITICS TEHRAN — Irani- “It doesn’t make sense to be actively present in a [so- talks among the UN diplomat and deskan Deputy Foreign cial media] network when it is banned,” Esmaeili said, high-level officials from the three Minister Gholam-Hossein Dehqani adding, “Then how do you expect people to obey the laws countries will focus on setting up a said on Monday that interferences and regulations?” “credible, balanced, and inclusive” by extra-regional countries prevent a He further argued that if the law is good, it’s good for committee to draft a new constitution stabilization of the Middle East. everyone and if it’s bad, it’s bad for everyone. for Syria and hold elections. During a conference in Tehran named In recent years, some cabinet members have become It added that the meeting will take “Peace and Stability in West Asia; One Re- pioneers in using banned networks, most prominently For- place ahead of de Mistura’s month- gion, One Fate”, Dehqani said that certain eign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who regularly posts ly presentation to the UN Security extra-regional powers take some actions on his Twitter account. Council set for December 20. under the pretext of providing security Late in November, the guarantor plot aimed at partitioning the Arab which prevent stabilizing the region. security agreements with the U.S. to states of the Astana peace process country. He pointed to occupation of the Pales- purchase the security and have view Army Aviation ended their 11th round of talks in the “The Islamic Republic of Iran, tinian territories by the Zionist regime of on outside [of the region].” to form ‘drone Kazakh capital, reiterating their strong the Russian Federation and the Israel, describing it as the most serious se- ‘Regional countries should commitment to Syria’s sovereignty Republic of Turkey confirmed their curity threat against the West Asian region. cooperate’ group’ and territorial integrity. strong adherence to the sovereignty, “The Zionist regime’s weapons of mass Dehqani also said that the regional Iran, Russia and Turkey also re- independence, unity, and territorial destruction are one of the factors that un- countries should change their mindset jected “all desperate attempts” by integrity of Syria,” Russia’s Lavrentiev dermine regional security,” he said. and trust each other to cooperate. POLITICS TEHRAN — Iran’s Army Aviation is set foreign-backed militant groups to said while reading a joint statement Dehqani added that another headache “The regional countries should accept deskto establish a separate unit for organizing undermine the sovereignty of the issued by representatives of the three for the region is that certain regional and that we should negotiate with each other its drone operations, the commander of the Army Aviation Syrian nation. countries. extra-regional countries are using terrorism instead of competing,” he said. announced on Monday. At the end of the tenth round of The Astana talks have so far re- as a tool to reach their political objectives. He also said, “Geography obligates According to IRNA, Yousof Ghorbani said the formation the two-day international meeting sulted in the return of a succession of He also said that arms race in the region us to live with each other. In spite of of a “drone group” for organizing the force’s drone operations on Syria in the Black Sea resort militant bastions to the government is another factor that threatens security. Saudi Arabia’s hostile policies against is high on the agenda. of Sochi on July 31, Tehran, Mos- fold, the establishment of safe zones “The regional countries define security Iran, the Iranian officials have always “It will be established in the near future,” Ghorbani added. cow and Ankara expressed their across Syria and the movement of in their own way and many countries expressed readiness to hold talks and Referring to the achievements of his forces in designing firm determination to counter any civilians to those regions. in the Persian Gulf region have signed agree on regional order.” and manufacturing drones, the commander said a part of the reconnaissance missions, which were previously conducted by helicopters, will be assigned to drone units. Zarif: Sanctions only hurt ordinary Iranians but fail to change Tehran’s policy POLITICS TEHRAN — Foreign Minister multilateral nuclear agreement, officially known as the TV reported. deskMohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on July 14, In November, the Trump administration announced JCPOA an asset reiterated that U.S. sanctions will fail to change Iran’s 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016. the reimposition of the “toughest” sanctions ever against policy, reminding that sanctions only hurt “ordinary Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limits on its Iran’s banking and energy sectors with the aim of cutting for regional peace: Iranians”, Press TV reported. nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of nuclear- off the country’s oil sales and crucial exports. Rouhani aide In a post on his official Twitter account, Zarif pointed to related sanctions. A first round of American sanctions took effect in August, his attendance at the Doha Forum on Saturday, saying he However, President Donald Trump withdrew his targeting Iran’s access to the U.S. dollar, metals trading, had told the conference that “sanctions have never worked”. country in May from the landmark agreement and ordered coal, industrial software, and auto sector. “They (sanctions) hurt ordinary Iranians but don’t reimposition of unilateral sanctions against Tehran. The U.S. administration hoped to get the other parties POLITICS TEHRAN — The nuclear agreement is change policy,” Zarif remarked. Zarif added in his Twitter post that Iran and the remaining to the deal with Iran to likewise scrap the deal, but instead, deska valuable asset for peace and security in In an open reference to the Trump administration, Zarif signatories to the JCPOA “are at table,” emphasizing that they stressed that not only would they stick to the agreement, the region, Hesamoddin Ashna, a senior cultural advisor to said instead of withdrawing from the nuclear deal, the “it is [the] U.S., which has decided to walk away and sow but they would also work to sustain it in the face of increased the president, said on Monday. new American government had better settle its disputes violence & chaos.” U.S. pressure. Europeans believe that the nuclear deal is “Barjam (Farsi acronym for the deal) managed to disprove with Iran at the negotiating table like what the Obama In his address to the Doha Forum on Saturday, Zarif an important element of international security. the accusation that Iran had been trying to attain nuclear administration did, which led to the start of nuclear talks. said economic sanctions will fail to have any impact on In November, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization weapons,” Ashna said, IRNA reported. “It was U-turn on part of U.S., which allowed the policies of the Islamic Republic at home or abroad. of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said sanctions will fail to He emphasized that Iran’s peace-making efforts are not #IranTalks to proceed. Same dynamic today,” the “It’s obviously the case that we are facing economic stop the country’s progress in different fields. restricted to the nuclear pact, pointing to Tehran’s efforts chief diplomat suggested. pressure because of the U.S. sanctions. [The] U.S. is a major “In spite of sanctions, Iran’s achievements in various that prevented the collapse and disintegration of Syria. Iran and the five permanent members of the United global power and it can actually create painful conditions fields, particularly in the defense and missile industry Iran does not tolerate the overthrow of regional political Nations Security Council – the United States, France, for other countries. But would that lead to a change of sectors as well as the nuclear industry have astonished systems through violence and foreign intervention, he added. Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany signed the policy? I can assure you that it won’t,” he stated, Press the world,” Salehi added. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBERDECEMBER 18,18, 20182018 ANALYSISINTERNATIONAL & INTERVIEW 3

Sudan’s Bashir first Arab leader to Turkey may start new Syria operation at any moment: visit Damascus in 8 years Erdogan Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrived the reopening of its embassy in Syria and Turkey may start a new military operation in Syria at any mo- in Syria’s capital of Damascus on Sunday in return of its envoy to Damascus. ment, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday, adding that the first such visit by an Arab leader since the A source in Damascus said Emirati officials U.S. President Donald Trump had given a positive response to start of the Syrian conflict in 2011. had been meeting with the Syrian government Turkey’s plans for an operation east of the Euphrates. Bashir was officially welcomed at the over the issue. Erdogan made the comments during a speech in the central airport by his Syrian counterpart Bashar An Emirati diplomat, the source said, was province of Konya. Last week he said Turkish forces would launch al-Assad, official photos showed. based permanently in Damascus, while other a new cross-border operation against the Syrian Kurdish YPG The two leaders discussed the “situations officials made regular visits to the Syrian capital. militia, considered a terrorist organization by Ankara, to the east and crises faced by many Arab countries”, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavu- of the Euphrates river in northern Syria. according to the Syrian presidency. soglu said Sunday the Ankara government (Source: daily Star) Assad and Bashir also stressed the need to would consider working with Assad if he won build “new principles for inter-Arab relations a democratic and credible election. based on the respect of the sovereignty of Government forces and their allies now countries and non-interference in internal control most parts of Syria while anti-Da- affairs.” mascus militants occupy just small pockets New Brexit vote would ‘break The Syrian president was quoted as saying of territory on the country’s fringes. his country would remain committed to its Idlib and its surroundings are now the only faith’ with British people: “Arab identity” despite the conflict in which significant area still held by Takfiri elements, some Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, with the U.S. and its European allies sabo- May fueled it by arming militants seeking to over- taging the Syrian army’s plan to liberate it. throw the government of Assad. ’U.S. plans to break up Syria A second Brexit referendum He also said some Arab countries’ depend- have failed’ would do “irreparable damage” ence on the West will not bring any benefits to Sara Flounders of the International Ac- to politics and “break faith” their peoples; therefore it is best to adhere to tion Center has spoken to Press TV about with the British people, Prime Arabism and to the causes of the Arab nation. the significance of this visit. Minister Theresa May will say President al-Bashir, for his part, said that She said the visit by President Bashir is Monday, rejecting what some weakening Syria means weakening Arab caus- suggestive of the fact that Syria has survived see as the only way to break an es, and what happened in it during the past summit which was held there that year. pan-Arab body. and prevailed. “It is important that the visit is impasse. years cannot be separated from this reality. Under the influence of Persian Gulf mon- “The decision to suspend the Syrian seat coming from Sudan, which was also targeted After a tumultuous week in He expressed hope that Syria will recover archies, the Arab League suspended Syria’s in the Arab League was, in my opinion, a for dismemberment by U.S. schemes.” which she survived a confidence its vitality and role in the region as soon as membership at the end of 2011. very hasty decision,” Arab League Secretary “The visit is an important acknowledge- vote and sought last-minute possible, and that its people will be able to Although many Arab countries have closed General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in April. ment of the Arab Parliament calling on changes to a Brexit agreement decide the country’s future themselves without their embassies or downgraded their ties with Earlier this week, head of the Russian Na- the Arab League to end its suspension of reached with Brussels last any foreign interference, the official Syrian Damascus, there have been growing calls in tional Defense Management Center Colonel Syria. It is also a very important sign that month, May faces deadlock news agency SANA reported. the Arab world in recent months to normalize General Mikhail Mizintsev said Syria should throughout the region, there is recognition over her deal in the deeply divided British parliament. A Sudanese official late Sunday said that ties with Syria and give it back its seat in the rejoin the Arab League in order to help sup- of Syria’s accomplishments,” Flounder said, With the European Union offering little in the way of conces- Bashir had returned to Khartoum “from an Arab League. port the process of a political solution to the adding the U.S. efforts to pull down the Syrian sions to win lawmakers over, an increasing number of politicians important visit” to the Syrian capital. The Arab Parliament recently called ongoing crisis. government and break up the country have are calling for a second referendum. The Sudanese president last visited the on the Arab League to end its suspension In November, Russian daily Nezavisimaya evidently failed. But May and her ministers have repeatedly ruled out a new Syrian capital in 2008 for the Arab League of Syria’s membership at the 22-member Gazeta reported that the UAE was negotiating (Source: agencies) ballot, saying it would deepen divisions over Britain’s biggest decision since World War Two and betray voters who narrowly backed leaving the EU at a 2016 referendum. That increases the risk of Britain leaving without a deal in Pelosi faces pressure to act on Saudi Arabia less than four months, a scenario some businesses fear would be catastrophic for the world’s fifth largest economy. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is under pressure to quickly Democratic leadership planned to focus first on their The political and economic uncertainty over Brexit is having challenge President Trump on Saudi Arabia once she is domestic agenda and have promised that their first bill an impact, with data on Monday showing a drop in consumer elected Speaker and Democrats take back the House ma- will focus on voting rights. Pelosi is also juggling a stack of spending, falling house prices and growing pessimism in house- jority in January. promises she made during her speakership campaign and hold finances. Members of her caucus are already planning hearings the conflicting demands of new members. “Let us not break faith with the British people by trying to on the Saudi-led war in Yemen and are pressing for an early Lobbyists backing the Khanna resolution are pledging stage another referendum,” May will tell lawmakers, according vote in January on legislation to withdraw U.S. support to keep up the pressure. to extracts of her statement released in advance. for the war. “Until we hear House Democratic leadership commit to “Another vote which would do irreparable damage to the The Senate approved a similar measure Thursday, but publicly bring up legislation to end the illegal U.S. war in integrity of our politics, because it would say to millions who it will not be taken up by the GOP-held House. Yemen in January, the lobbying continues to make Yemen trusted in democracy, that our democracy does not deliver. An- Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) says he’ll reintroduce his Yemen a top priority in the 116th Congress,” Kate Gould, legislative other vote which would likely leave us no further forward than resolution next year, which his office promises “will be a top director for Middle East policy at the Friends Committee the last,” she will say. priority for the congressman in the first week of January.” on National Legislation, said in an email. Business minister Greg Clark said a second vote would only Noting public criticism from the left of the five House Gould noted Thursday’s 56-41 vote in the Senate shows increase uncertainty for the country. Democrats who backed a Republican effort to block Khanna’s the bill can pass the Senate next year, when the GOP majority May returns to parliament to update lawmakers on Brexit bill, his office expressed confidence the measure, which is will rise by two seats. after a week in which she cancelled a vote on her deal because it being offered under the War Powers Resolution, would be Support for the Senate resolution has built since Khashoggi’s was set to be defeated and survived an attempt by some of her passed easily in a Democratic House. killing. Nine months ago, supporters couldn’t get a majority own lawmakers to oust her. “Considering that the five Democrats who defected in to kick a resolution out of the Foreign Relations Committee. The Labour Party, which is under pressure from smaller op- [Wednesday’s] vote are being pilloried on social media, he But she offered no specific commitments. Now it has been approved by the full Senate. position parties to propose a motion of no confidence against the is confident that every single Democrat will realize it’s in “We’ll see how events proceed, but there is bipartisan Because supporters are bringing the Saudi resolution up government this week, said on Sunday it would seek to force May their political interest to support the War Powers Resolution support for doing something,” Pelosi said Thursday after a under the War Powers Act, they are able and planning to force to bring the deal back to parliament for a vote before Christmas. in January,” Khanna spokeswoman Heather Purcell told briefing on Saudi Arabia when asked about bringing a war a vote next year even though Senate Majority Leader Mitch May used a visit to Brussels last week to call on EU leaders to The Hill in an email. powers resolution for a vote next year. McConnell (R-Ky.) is opposed to the effort. offer assurances over the so-called Northern Irish “backstop” – an What’s unclear is how quickly Pelosi wants to move to Pelosi also said she’d support sanctions against Saudi Gould also said it “certainly appears” there are enough insurance policy to prevent the return of a hard border between the measure. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “if the evidence is votes in the House. the British province and EU-member Ireland that its critics fear A spokesman for Pelosi said Friday she intends to bring that he was” involved in Khashoggi’s killing, while declining “We understand that there is a general tendency to hold will tie Britain to the bloc in the long term. a measure to the floor, but did not offer a timeline. to say if she thinks U.S. intelligence shows that. off on items not on the Democrats’ top priority list until But while EU leaders said they were willing to help May, they “It is the Speaker-designate’s intention to hold a floor Pelosi is a co-sponsor of Khanna’s resolution, as is her committees are reconstituted and there has been an oppor- warned the British prime minister she could not renegotiate the debate on Yemen in the next Congress,” spokesman Drew top deputy and the incoming chairmen of the national se- tunity for committees to hold hearings and markups before deal, agreed earlier this year. Hammill said in an email. curity-related committees. moving legislation to the House floor,” she said. (Source: DailY Star) The Democratic leader, who essentially ended an uprising Asked why she wasn’t publicly committing to a vote giv- But she warned that a Yemeni child dies from disease against her second stint as Speaker last week by agreeing en her sponsorship of the Khanna measure, a Democratic “every 10 minutes that this vote is delayed, on average.” to a deal that limits her Speakership to four years, herself House aide said Pelosi may have been waiting to see how Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), a lead co-sponsor on First Announcement has been tight-lipped about when she would bring Saudi the Senate vote played out Thursday. Khanna’s resolution, said in a statement that he and his legislation to the floor. The incoming Speaker is widely expected to be methodical colleagues “are actively working with Democratic Lead- Earlier, she told reporters that there was an “appetite” about the order in which she brings bills to the floor, given ership to ensure urgent action in the 116th Congress to within her caucus for taking action in the wake of the killing of the symbolic importance of legislation taken up first by the bring the conflict to a close.” Notice of tender for export sale journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. new House majority. (Source: The Hill) No. Ei/97/03 GolGohar Iron & Steel Development Co. announces selling France ‘ready to use last-resort chemical weapon against and export 55.000±10% metric tons of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) based on F.O.B –Shahid rajaee Jetty of Bandar Abbas rioting Yellow Vests’ - Iran with the following specifications. French security forces are ready to smother be used as a last resort in order to stop them,” .Item No DRI Properties Typical the centre of Paris with a ‘last resort’ chemical said a source at the Paris police prefecture. weapon in a bid to keep rioters away from But it is sure to raise concerned questions 1 Fe (Total)% 88.1±0.2 key buildings, it has emerged. among civic rights groups, as well as monitor- 2 Fe (Metal)% 81.5±0.5 Astonishing revelations about the ‘debili- ing organizations, including the Hague-based 3 MD% 92.5±0.5 tating powder’ – which can be spread across Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical an area the size of six football pitches in just Weapons, of which France is a member. 4 C% 2±0.2 10 seconds – highlights the increasing des- Colonel Richard Carminache, of the Gen- 5 S% 0.005±0.001 peration of President Emmanuel Macron’s darmerie, confirmed that the controversial administration as it faces up to a law and devices had “never been used in cities to my 6 P% 0.035±0.002 order crisis. knowledge”. 7 % 3±0.2 Paris has been hit by five straight weeks of Each distribution would result in “a highly 8 % 0.8±0.2 violence by the Yellow Vests protest movement concentrated teargas cloud, the equivalent of that has seen national monuments including 200 grenades in one go,” said Col. Carmin- 9 Cao% 0.7±0.2 the Arc de Triomphe ransacked. ache, who added: “It’s best to run to get out.” 10 Mgo% 1.85±0.1 There were 168 arrests in the city on Sat- Teargas is classed as a chemical weapon, urday alone as the demonstrators – who are and is actually banned from warzones, in line 11 Tio2% 0.075±0.005 named after their high visibility jackets – with international agreements. 12 Fine% 4±1 fought running battles with police, who re- Yet French gendarmes and police – who Hereby interested bidders are invited to the Marketing and sales dept. sponded with water cannon, baton charges and have been criticized during the latest law of the seller located at No.22, 31Th AVE. Alvand St. Argentina Square, teargas. Now senior officers have confirmed and order crisis for acts of extreme violence that some of the 14 armored cars deployed by against civilians – use it constantly. Tehran, Iran, or refer to www.gisdco.ir within 7 days from the date gendarmes contained “a radical device that In Britain, teargas use is heavily restrict- of first announcementwith an introduction letter of interested buyer was only to be used as a last resort” against square meters in 10 seconds, Marianne mag- and is designed to knock people out indis- ed, and never used indiscriminately against and personal identification of the representative to purchase tender their own citizens. azine reports. criminately in an emergency. large crowds containing men, women and documents. All bids on conformity to tender instructions should be A gun-like distributor on the vehicles’ The high-density noxious product contains children, as happens in France. “If a large crowd forced barriers through submitted by no later than 11:00 A.M. on 25/Dec./2018. turrets can spray the powder over 40,000 the same power as 200 teargas grenades, the security perimeter, then the powder would (Source: Mirror) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY DECEMBER 18, 2018

STOCK MARKET Second platform of South Pars phase TEDPIX 159749.9 IFX 1809.7 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir 13 installed on offshore spot

ENERGY TEHRAN — The second Motamed said the phase is enjoying proper deskplatform of Iran’s South progress in a way that it has 89.5 percent CURRENCIES Pars gas field’s phase 13 of development was progress in terms of manufacturing marine USD 42,000 rials installed on its designated offshore spot on equipment and 94.8 percent progress in terms EUR 47,511 rials Monday, Public Relations Department of Pars of building subsea pipelines. Oil and Gas Company, which is in charge of South Pars is divided into 24 standard GBP 52,849 rials developing the gas field, announced. phases of development in the first stage. The first platform of this phase was Most of the phases are fully operational at AED 11,380 rials installed on its offshore spot on December 5. the moment. Source: iribnews.ir Platforms 13B and 13D of phase 13 The huge offshore field, shared with Qatar, becoming operational by the end of the next covers an area of 9,700 square kilometers, Iranian calendar month, Dey (January 20, 3,700 square kilometers of which, called 2019), phase 13 output will stand at one billion South Pars, are in Iran’s territorial waters cubic feet (28 million cubic meters), Payam in the Persian Gulf. The remaining 6,000 COMMODITIES Motamed, the operator of phase 13, said. square kilometers, called North Dome, are WTI $50.68/b Phase 13 is aimed at production of 56 mcm situated in Qatar’s territorial waters. Brent $60.23/b of gas, 75,000 barrels of gas condensate and The field is estimated to contain a 400 tons of sulfur per day in addition to one significant amount of natural gas, accounting OPEC Basket $59.07/b million tons of ethane and one million tons for about eight percent of the world’s reserves, of propane and butane per annum. and approximately 18 billion barrels of Gold $1,239.95/oz Elaborating on the progress of phase 13, condensate. Silver $14.61/oz Platinium $792.30/oz Tax revenues rise 14% IRANIMEX 2018 running Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com in 7 months on year in Kish Island NEWS IN BRIEF ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’s ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’s desktax incomes during desk20th International Tehran hosting the first seven months of the current Maritime and Offshore Technologies 29th ECO Regional Iranian calendar year (March 21-October Exhibition (IRANIMEX 2018) kicked off 21) has risen 14.2 percent compared to in Kish Island in south of the country on Planning Council the same period of time in the previous Monday, Ports and Maritime Organization meeting year, ISNA reported on Monday citing (PMO) announced. the data released by the Central Bank The three-day event is hosting 270 of Iran (CBI). country’s tax income rose 14.1 percent domestic and 18 foreign companies Organization, Mohammad Saeidi, the ECONOMY TEHRAN — The 29th meeting of Regional As reported, Iranian government during the last Iranian calendar year showcasing their capabilities in maritime managing director of Islamic Republic of deskPlanning Council (RPC) of Economic Coop- has received 750 trillion rials (about (March 2017-March 2018) to reach 1.15 sector. Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), and Nasrollah eration Organization (ECO) kicked off on Monday at the ECO $17.85 billion) of tax incomes during quadrillion rials (about $27.3 billion). Ali-Akbar Marzban, the chairman of Sardashti, the managing director of secretariat in Tehran. the seven-month period of this year, The Iranian government earns budget headquarters for holding the exhibition, National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC). During the four-day meeting, ECO committees will discuss while the figure was 526 trillion rials from various sources including the said the event is aimed at creating a ground Addressing the inaugural ceremony the progress of the previously approved programs and projects. (about $12.52 billion) in the same time revenues and offering capital assets and for the companies for negotiations and of the event, PMO head said the U.S. As reported the discussions cover a variety of areas includ- span of the past year. divesting financial assets to the private signing contracts. sanctions cannot harm Iran’s huge maritime ing business and investment, transport and communications, During the first seven months of the sector. The inaugural ceremony of the capabilities. energy and minerals, agriculture and environment, tourism present year, Iran has managed to receive President Hassan Rouhani’s economic exhibition was participated by a number of “We have already had the experience industry, and etc. over 70 percent of the tax income planned strategy is to significantly reduce the officials including PMO Head Mohammad of sanctions and we could pass them”, The meeting was attended by the delegations from the mem- to be collected. government’s dependency on oil and Rastad, Gholam-Hossein Mozaffari, the Rastad noted, “And we will pass the present ber nations namely Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, CBI has previously announced that the instead collect tax more systematically. managing director of Kish Free Zone sanctions relying on our high capabilities.” Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. Aiming for sustainable economic development of its member states and the region as a whole, ECO was established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey and was later joined by seven new U.S. and China trade barbs at WTO amid calls for reform members: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, The United States said on Monday that China’s dispute settlement system having “strayed far globally, rejecting criticism by some of the U.S. in March that Chinese practices related to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. “unfair competitive practices” were harming from the system agreed to by members” and approach as “unilateralist and protectionist”. technology transfer, intellectual property and foreign companies and workers in a way that said that the Appellate Body had overreached China has pursued “non-market indus- innovation were discriminatory. violates World Trade Organization (WTO) in some legal interpretations. trial policies and other unfair competitive On Section 301, Zhang said the U.S. meas- Liquidity almost rules, but vowed to lead reform efforts. Zhang countered that by blocking the se- practices” aimed at supporting its domestic ures vastly increased tariffs, “bringing back to at $403b in a U.S. trade ambassador Dennis Shea drew lection of judges, Washington was putting industries while restricting or discriminating life the ghost of unilateralism that has been fire from Chinese envoy Zhang Xiangchen the system into paralysis. against foreign companies and their goods dormant for decades”. month who said the Trump administration’s tariffs To force reform at the WTO, Trump’s team and services, he said. Shea said the United States was commit- on steel and aluminum products allowed pro- has refused to allow new appointments to the “The WTO is not well equipped to handle ted to working with like-minded members to tectionism under the guise of dubious national Appellate Body, the world’s top trade court, the fundamental challenge posed by China, address concerns on the functioning of the security concerns. a process which requires consensus among which continues to embrace a state-led, WTO. “Reforms are necessary for the con- ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’s liquidity stood at 16.93 The heated words, in texts seen by Reu- member states. As a result, the court is run- mercantilist approach to the economy and tinued viability of the institution,” he said. desk quadrillion rials (about $403 billion) dur- ters, were exchanged at the start of a closed- ning out of judges, and will be unable to issue trade,” Shea said. Zhang echoed his call, but said: “If the roof ing the seventh month of the present Iranian calendar year, door review of U.S. trade policies, held every binding rulings in disputes. He did not refer to the dispute on steel or of this building is leaking, we should work Mehr (September 23- October 22, 2018), according to a report two years at the WTO, which continues on Shea described the U.S. economy as “one automobiles which brought the two powers to together to fix it, rather than dismantling it released by the Central Bank of Iran (CBI). Wednesday. of the most open and competitive economies the brink of a major trade war but defended and exposing all of us to rains and storms.” The CBI announced that the liquidity figure shows 20.7 Shea expressed concern about the WTO in the world”, with among the lowest tariffs the U.S. “Section 301” investigation that found (Source: Reuters) percent growth in comparison with the same period in the preceding year, Tasnim news agency reported. European markets slip amid fears of global growth slowdown; UK retailer Asos down 36% European stocks traded lower Monday morning, amid es- Stocks in Asia mostly traded higher trade on Monday Mercedes-Benz cuts China calating concerns of a sharp slowdown in global growth. following a report suggesting further turmoil for the mar- The pan-European Stoxx 600 was down 0.25 percent kets in 2019. prices after tariff on U.S.- with majority of sectors in negative territory. The FTSE 100 The Bank of International Settlements (BIS), an um- made cars suspended opened 0.16 points lower, the CAC was down 0.3 percent, brella group for the world’s central banks, said on Sunday while the DAX was lower by 0.08 percent, according to IG. that recent market tensions are a sign of more turmoil to German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Monday said it would In terms of stocks, retail was down the most, by more come. It warned that a normalization of monetary policy is offer discounts on cars imported into China from the United States until than 1 percent. UK retail stocks are making heavy losses on interest and tax (EBIT) margin target for the year to around likely to trigger a flurry of sharp sell-offs in the near future. March 31 after Beijing suspended additional tariffs on U.S.-made cars. Monday, with Asos down 34 percent, Next down 8 percent, 2 percent from 4 percent. Meanwhile, sterling hovered near its 20-month low Prices of four models were cut by between 36,000 yuan ($5,219.96) Marks & Spencer down 4.6 percent Boohoo shares down Meanwhile, basic resources found itself at the top of the touched last week, concerns that Britain was headed for a and 135,000 yuan, the Daimler AG-owned (DAIGn.DE) company 19.4 percent. best performing stocks, up 0.8 percent. chaotic exit from the European Union increased. said on its microblog. On Monday, Asos cut its annual sales growth and profit Market focus is largely attuned to concerns surrounding Britain has just over 100 days to leave the bloc on March China will temporarily suspend additional 25 percent tariffs on margin forecasts, becoming the latest British retailer to cooling global growth after soft economic data from China 29 and chances of a no-deal or a chaotic Brexit deal have U.S.-made vehicles and auto parts starting January 1, the finance highlight very poor November trading. ASOS lowered its and Europe in the last week added further concerns. On gone up after strong oppositions to Prime Minister Theresa ministry said on Friday, following a truce in a trade war between sales growth forecast for the 2018-19 year to 15 percent Friday, China reported weaker-than-expected retail sales May’s draft deal. China and the United States. from 20-25 percent previously and cut its earnings before data, growing at its weakest pace since November 2003. (Source: CNBC) Tesla said on Friday it had cut prices on its Model S and Model X vehicles in China after China’s tariff reduction. (Source: Reuters) Malaysia charges Goldman Sachs, ex-bankers in 1MDB probe Malaysia on Monday filed criminal charges about $4.5 billion was misappropriated from of Goldman Sachs. They have fallen short Loo, against whom Malaysia brought against Goldman Sachs and two of the U.S. 1MDB, including some money that Goldman of any standard,” Thomas said. other 1MDB related charges this month, Boeing boosts value for bank’s former employees in connection with Sachs helped raise, by high-level officials Prosecutors would seek fines against the has not commented on the 1MDB case and Embraer’s commercial an investigation into suspected corruption of the fund and their associates from 2009 accused “well in excess” of the allegedly her whereabouts are not known. and money laundering at state fund 1MDB. through 2014. misappropriated $2.7 billion bond proceeds Low, whom authorities have described business to $5.26b Malaysia will seek jail terms as well Thomas said criminal charges under plus $600 million in fees received by as a central figure in the suspected fraud, as billions in fines from Goldman Sachs securities laws were filed on Monday against Goldman Sachs, he said. maintained his innocence. Brazil’s Embraer SA said on Monday it has finalized terms of a and four other individuals who allegedly Goldman Sachs, its former bankers Tim Malaysia would also seek jail terms of “As has been stated previously, Mr. Low proposed deal to sell 80 percent of its commercial aviation business diverted about $2.7 billion from 1Malaysia Leissner and Roger Ng, former 1MDB up to 10 years for each of the individuals will not submit to any jurisdiction where to Boeing Co, now valuing the division at $5.26 billion. Development Bhd (1MDB), Attorney General employee Jasmine Loo and financier Jho accused, he said. guilt has been predetermined by politics The new valuation is 11 percent more than the $4.75 billion of- Tommy Thomas said in a statement. Low in connection with the bond offerings. ‘Risks’ and there is no independent legal process,” fered when the deal involving Embraer’s commercial division was This is the first time Goldman Sachs, “The charges arise from the commission Thomas accused the four individuals Low’s spokesman said in a statement. originally announced in July. which has consistently denied wrongdoing, and abetment of false or misleading charged of conspiring to “bribe Malaysian Thomas also said the fees received by Embraer expects it will receive $3 billion after accounting for has faced criminal charges in the 1MDB statements by all the accused in order to public officials in order to procure the Goldman Sachs for the bond offering were closing costs. scandal. dishonestly misappropriate $2.7 billion selection, involvement and participation higher than prevailing market rates. It is unclear whether any part of the difference relates to debt. A Goldman Sachs spokesman said the from the proceeds of three bonds issued of Goldman Sachs in the bond issuances”. Goldman has said the fees related to Embraer had some $4 billion in total debt, according to its most charges were “misdirected” and the bank by the subsidiaries of 1MDB, which were U.S. prosecutors filed criminal charges additional risks: it bought the unrated bonds recent financial statements at the end of September. would vigorously defend them. The bank arranged and underwritten by Goldman against the former Goldman Sachs bankers, while it sought investors and, in the case of Embraer’s board Monday moved to present the deal for approval continued to cooperate with all authorities Sachs,” Thomas said in a statement. Leissner and Ng, last month. a 2013 bond deal which raised $2.7 billion, to the Brazilian government, which holds veto power over important in their investigations, he said. He said the offering circulars filed with Leissner pleaded guilty to conspiracy to 1MDB wanted the funds quickly. business decisions at the plane maker. But a source close to the Goldman Sachs has been under scrutiny the regulators contained statements that launder money and conspiracy to violate The 1MDB scandal was a major reason negotiations said they were optimistic about the prospects. for its role in helping raise $6.5 billion were false, misleading or with material the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Ng, for former premier Najib Razak’s shock It was unclear how long the government could take to make through three bond offerings for 1MDB, omissions. detained in Malaysia, is facing extradition election defeat in May. a decision, but President-elect Jair Bolsonaro and his aides have which is the subject of investigations in at “Having held themselves out as the to the United States. He has been charged with corruption spoken favorably of a Boeing-Embraer deal. Bolsonaro begins his least six countries. pre-eminent global adviser/arranger for Lawyers for Leissner and Ng could not over the scandal and has pleaded not guilty. presidency on Jan. 1. (Source: Reuters) The U.S. Department of Justice has said bonds, the highest standards are expected be reached immediately. (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 18, 2018 ENERGY 5

Oil steady but oversupply, Big Oil is better prepared for the next price crash

The six largest international oil companies have shored up prof- economic growth weigh its and cash flows this year, reporting incomes at their highest levels since the 2014 oil price crash. Cost cuts, conservative price Oil prices steadied on Monday after slip- matter is that fresh OPEC+ cuts will not assumptions in spending plans, and investment cherry-picking ping by around 2 percent last week, but go far enough to overturn the incumbent has paid off. remained under pressure from oversupply supply surplus,” he added. Now the six biggest of Big Oil—Exxon, Chevron, Shell, BP, Total, and concern over the prospects for global Increasing concerns about weakening and Eni--are in a good place to remain resilient at $60 a barrel economic growth and fuel demand. growth in major markets such as China and Brent Crude, thanks to diversified and robust portfolios, according Brent crude oil was down 10 cents a barrel Europe have also dampened the mood in to ratings agency S&P Global Ratings. at $60.18 per barrel by 0945 GMT. U.S. light oil and other asset classes. Even when oil prices hit four-year highs in October, the largest crude was down 5 cents at $51.15. Chinese oil refinery throughput in No- publicly traded international oil companies didn’t change their Both benchmarks fell more than 25 per- vember fell from October, suggesting an underlying price assumptions for future investment in projects— cent through October and November as a easing in oil demand, while the country’s they continue to conservatively plan for a world of oil prices at supply glut inflated global inventories but industrial output rose the least in nearly $50 to $60. have stabilized over the last three weeks, three years as the economy continued to “Supermajors and these guys, the big players, the IOCs, they trading within fairly narrow ranges as oil lose momentum. reckon they can break even with Brent at $50 (per barrel),” Simon producers have promised to cut production. French business activity plunged un- Redmond, senior director of corporate ratings at S&P Global Rat- Many investors doubt planned supply expectedly into contraction this month, ings, told CNBC this week. cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum retreating at the fastest pace in over four “So, whether its $65 or $60, they’re looking pretty good. And they Exporting Countries and other producers years, while Germany’s private sector expan- should be able to generate meaningful cash flow,” Redmond said, such as Russia will be enough to rebalance sion slowed to a four-year low in December. singling out Exxon and Shell as the two majors with the strongest markets. But oil prices were supported after en- profiles. OPEC and its allies have agreed to reduce ergy services firm Baker Hughes said U.S. In October, when Brent Crude hit $86 a barrel, oil majors didn’t output by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) drillers reduced oil rigs in the week to Dec. get carried away like some analysts who started talking about a from January, in a move to be reviewed at 14, pulling the total count to the lowest since return of $100 oil. a meeting in April. mid-October at 873. RIG-OL-USA-BHI Big Oil reaffirmed that their base-case project planning scenarios continue to be in the $55-65 range and that they can break even But U.S. shale output is growing steadily, “The dust has settled on the decision by ance has so far little to show for it.” However, the current U.S. rig count, which at around $50 Brent Crude price or even below. taking market share from the big Middle OPEC/non-OPEC to slash production,” said “Far from breathing new life into the serves as an early indicator of future output, “As oil prices stay up over $50 a barrel, we will be surplus free East oil producers in OPEC and making it Stephen Brennock, an analyst at London energy complex, oil prices are below the is higher than a year ago. cash as we go into 2020, and 2021. And, of course, we have said harder for them to balance their budgets. brokerage PVM Oil. “Yet the producer alli- pre-OPEC meeting level. The truth of the (Source: Reuters) our breakeven goes down to $35-40 a barrel by the end of 2021, unless we chose to distribute to shareholders,” BP’s CFO Brian Gilvary said on the Q3 earnings webcast. Qatar buys Mexican oil Scale of theft at Shell’s Singapore refinery Answering an analyst question at what oil price BP is basing its plans, Gilvary said that this year the company set that at $55 a barrel. stakes from Eni much greater, court documents show “We run those cases at $50 and $75 a barrel. And at $75 a barrel real over a very long period of time, and $50 is the base case that we Qatar Petroleum is buying stakes in three Around $150 million worth of oil was run everything at. That’s how we look at our projects,” Gilvary noted. offshore oil blocks in Mexico from Eni stolen from Shell’s biggest global refin- Total said in its strategy presentation in September that it had SpA, as the Arab country signs another ery over several years, Singapore court more than halved its post-dividend breakeven to $50 a barrel now, global expansion deal after leaving OPEC. documents reviewed by Reuters show, compared to 2014. Eni and the government-owned energy far more than reported when police first Shell is aiming for its projects to be able to break even at $40 company in Qatar, the world’s biggest revealed the heist earlier this year. oil, CFO Jessica Uhl said at the Q3 earnings call. exporter of liquefied natural gas, will Almost a year on from raids that Eni has halved its cash neutrality point—the point at which produce about 90,000 barrels of oil a led to over a dozen arrests, including it will be able to fund capex and dividend—from $114 a barrel in day from the Amoca, Mizton and Tecoalli of several former employees of the local 2014 to $57 a barrel. In the Q3 earnings release, Eni confirmed fields in the Gulf of Mexico by the end unit of Royal Dutch Shell, charge sheets its cash neutrality for 2018 is at $55 per barrel oil. of 2021, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, Qatar’s state that around 340,000 tons of gasoil Big Oil’s project and profitability estimates may be put to the energy minister, said in Doha. The fields were stolen from the oil major’s Pulau real test next year, as oil prices slumped by around 30 percent from hold 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent, leaving the Organization of Petroleum Bukom site in Singapore, in incidents — stand out. early October highs, with Brent currently sitting just above $60. he said at a press conference with Eni Exporting Countries to focus on its gas dating back to 2014. “Fuel is both ubiquitous and untracea- OPEC and allies’ deal to curtail production again may have Chief Executive Officer Claudio Descalzi. business. Charges filed in the first few months ble, making its theft a seemingly low-risk put a soft floor under oil prices, but it has definitely failed to im- The companies are already working Last week, Qatar Petroleum agreed to of investigations after police raids in criminal operation compared to some- press the market. Analysts have recently slashed projections for together on a separate offshore block in acquire a stake in a Mozambique energy January related to the theft of around thing like drug smuggling or arms traf- oil prices for 2019. Mexico, according to press releases from project. The company is exploring for oil $10 million in oil. Further charges levied ficking, where the concern about being Earlier this week, Morgan Stanley lowered its Brent Crude price both companies. Eni gained approval and gas in Cyprus, Argentina, Morocco in May showed a total of $40 million caught is much higher,” said Ian Ralby, forecast for 2019 by $10 a barrel to $68.50. for the developments earlier this year and other countries. It plans to pump had been stolen. a maritime crime expert who works with S&P Global Ratings sees Brent at $65 next year and at $55 in and needs the Mexican authorities to $20 billion in U.S. fields and will expand A spokeswoman for Shell said the both the U.N. and the U.S.-based think the longer term, and expects WTI at $60 in 2019. sign off on Sunday’s deal. its local LNG output by 43 percent to 110 firm is “disappointed,” adding that it tank Atlantic Council. In its December Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the EIA Global oil majors that have for million tons per year in 2025. has been working with investigators and “That false sense of security leads slashed its 2019 price forecasts for Brent and WTI to $61 and $54, years produced in U.S. waters are Eni has made offshore discoveries taken measures to avoid repeat incidents to some fairly brazen forms of theft.” respectively—both $11 a barrel lower than forecast in the November being attracted to the Mexican side of from the Americas to Africa and the at the Pulau Bukom facility, which lies Fuel theft could be worth $133 billion STEO. (Source: oilprice.com) the Gulf as the government opens new Mediterranean. The Rome-based just south of Singapore’s main island. a year globally, according to industry blocks for development. Middle Eastern company has ceded stakes in natural gas “These include closer monitoring of estimates, although Ralby said that figure producers are exploring opportunities for fields in Egypt to BP Plc and Mubadala products moving in and out of Bukom, might be conservative. Mexico’s new president offshore developments in the Americas Investment Co. and is working with tightening vessel management proce- The case in Singapore looks like it and Africa as well as looking at prospects Russia’s Lukoil PJSC in Mexico. dures, and stepping up ethics and com- could drag on, given the routine addi- allocates $23 billion for for shale oil developments in the U.S. Eni, which this year won rights to pliance training,” the spokeswoman said tion of new charges and amendments Growing production from outside OPEC develop crude and gas deposits in Abu in an emailed statement to Reuters on to older charges. state oil company to boost is challenging the producers’ group. Dhabi, also wants to partner in LNG Thursday. The police investigation is still on- output next year Qatar Petroleum is now operating in expansion projects in Qatar, Descalzi Southeast Asia is a hot spot for ille- going. said. Qatar isn’t worried that Australia “We are at the stage that the charges Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Oman, Congo, gal fuel trading, with its island-dotted Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is boosting Petroleos became the world’s top LNG producer are still being rearranged ... it’s quite far South Africa, Cyprus and Mozambique. waters providing cover for small-scale Mexicanos’ budget to 464.6 billion pesos ($23 billion) next year to as the Arab country will regain the No. from final sentencing,” said Ho Lifen, The Middle Eastern country, which has smuggling of oil products across borders. reverse flagging oil production and increase domestic fuel output. 1 position after completing expansion a lawyer for one of the accused former been facing a blockade led by OPEC But the regularity and audacity of the Lopez Obrador is proposing that Pemex invest 211 billion pesos projects, Al Kaabi said. Shell employees, Chai Zhi Zong. members Saudi Arabia and the United thefts at Shell’s refining facility — some in exploration and production ($10.4 billion) in 2019. That’s a 26 (Source: Bloomberg) (Source: CNBC) Arab Emirates, said this month it was of which took place during working hours percent increase compared to last year, when Pemex planned to invest 168 billion pesos in the unit, according to the finance minis- try. Oil production is expected to stabilize at 1.847 million barrels a day in 2019 with Mexico’s oil mix estimated at $55 a barrel, the Under new management, Russia now runs OPEC ministry said. If anyone doubted that OPEC is now little and Iraq boosted their combined output by The budget reflects Lopez Obrador’s ambition to wean Mexico more than a zombie organization, the last almost 1.6 million barrels a day between May from foreign fuel imports, which have been rising due to growing 10 days have proved it. and October. That not only contributes to the demand and lack of investment in refineries. To do that, the president The group has shown itself incapable of current glut, it also gives them much higher plans to build a new refinery and refurbish the run-down existing making its own decisions. Its smaller members starting points for the latest cuts than for the ones, while increasing domestic oil production to feed the plants. have borne the brunt of an agreement to cut previous ones. Other OPEC members all face Pemex is importing light oil from the U.S. for the first time to make output that was only achieved after Russia lower starting points. up for the crude shortfall at its refineries. took control of discussions from the heart of Unfair shares “It’s an embarrassment that we are buying light oil for our refin- OPEC’s head office. Then, even after Saudi The effect has been to shift a eries. If we don’t have the primary material, we can’t do anything,” Arabia announced it would reduce supply by disproportionate share of the burden of Lopez Obrador told a crowd of oil workers on Saturday morning nearly a million barrels a day by January, oil OPEC’s supply management since 2016 onto at the port of Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, an oil hub that the traders merely shrugged. the group’s smaller producers. president has promised will be the new Pemex headquarters. “We It is a sad result for an organization that Handing control of OPEC decision making are going to rescue our dear Mexico and the national oil industry.” once made governments tremble. Here’s how to the Kremlin has come at a high cost for the Lopez Obrador has shrugged off investor concerns that his it unfolded. group, and most particularly for its smaller government will worsen Pemex’s fiscal situation. The beleaguered OPEC oil ministers gathered in the group’s members. Some of the latter were already Mexican driller is the largest Latin American corporate borrower, secretariat building on a wintry Thursday feeling marginalized. This latest deal will do with $106 billion in financial debt. “We are going to invest where in Vienna. Weakening demand growth and gala dinner at the Liechtenstein Palace was about 45 minutes each. Two hours later, the nothing to change their view and the divisions we know there’s oil and where it costs less to extract it,” he said. “We soaring U.S. production prompted agreement sparsely attended, with both the Saudi and group reached a deal. And Iran, Libya and between the organization’s “haves” and “have are going to reduce costs.” that they needed to reduce production in order Iranian delegations, among others, skipping Venezuela got their exemptions, even if they nots” will only widen. Under a new six-year business plan, Pemex’s oil production will to balance the market in 2019. What they didn’t the event. didn’t appear in the final communiqué. Russia has done very well out of this. It rise 52 percent to 2.624 million barrels a day by the end of 2024, see eye to eye on was how to share that burden. Friday, the day originally scheduled for The agreement that emerged is, on paper, agreed to cut output by 230,000 barrels a up from 1.730 million daily barrels today, the company’s new chief Saudi oil soars the group to meet with its partners, began fair and reasonable. OPEC will cut production day from its October output level of 11.42 executive officer, Octavio Romero, said at the event in Campeche Saudi Arabia insisted that all members little better. OPEC ministers were once again by 800,000 barrels a day from a new baseline million. That would reduce its production alongside Lopez Obrador. Pemex’s output has declined every year should play an equal part, cutting by the same locked away in discussions. The talks went of October 2018 production, with participating to 11.19 million barrels a day, a figure that is since 2004, almost halving in that time. percentage from a new baseline set at October’s nowhere, and the OPEC+ meeting got pushed members cutting by 3 percent. The group’s just 15,000 barrels below its original 2016 The plan will focus on onshore and shallow water areas in the production level. Naysayers argued that, given back to the afternoon. partners will reduce their supply by 2 percent, baseline — a cut of just 0.1 percent. southeast basins as well as conventional areas in the northern ba- how the group’s biggest producer had boosted Then the Russians arrived. contributing a further 400,000 barrels a day. Contrast that with OPEC member Algeria, sins, Romero said. As many as 20 fields will have new drilling and its own output by more than a million barrels Bilateral discussions to hammer out That combined reduction is just about enough which produces around a tenth as much oil infrastructure contracts awarded by the end of January. Exploration a day since May, it should therefore bear the negotiating positions are a regular feature to balance supply and demand in the first as Russia. Its new target will be 1.023 million investment will be increased by 10 percent each year, he added. brunt of the cuts needed to get the market of the days and hours before the main OPEC half of next year. barrels a day. That’s a cut of 66,000 barrels a The boost in funds could help Pemex expand its major Ixachi back into balance. Furthermore, Iran led a gatherings. They take place in the suites of Saudi Arabia went even further. Al-Falih day, or 6.1 percent below the 2016 baseline. field in Veracruz, which is believed to contain 1.3 billion barrels of contingent of countries claiming their special Vienna’s grandest hotels, where the various said the kingdom’s production would fall to Oil markets have reacted with indifference. oil equivalent in proven, probable and possible, or “3P,” reserves. circumstances warranted exemptions. delegations are holed up. In recent years, the 10.2 million barrels a day in January, down After a brief rally when the deal was revealed, The plan to build an $8 billion refinery in his home state of Tabasco The stand-off looked very similar to the Russians have been part of this scene. from 11.1 million last month. Brent subsequently sank back below the level and revitalize Mexico’s existing six plants could divert Pemex’s re- one that had scuppered a deal in Doha in But when Russian Energy Minister That looks like a huge cut, but it is still it was trading at before the meeting began. sources away from drilling. The president has also called for a hiatus April 2016 – something that nobody wanted Alexander Novak arrived Friday morning, 150,000 barrels a day above its target under Perhaps traders don’t believe the group will on new oil auctions for at least three years. This week, Mexico’s oil to repeat. But by the end of that Thursday, Dec. he moved in to the office of OPEC’s Secretary the original deal. be able to implement the arrangement, or are regulator CNH postponed a Pemex farm-out tender and canceled the 6, officials had failed to reach an agreement General. If ever there was a symbol of OPEC’s And this is where the inequality of the waiting to see evidence that it’s taken effect. country’s next two bid rounds planned for Feb. 14 so the government and Saudi oil minister Khalid Al-Falih said demise, it was this. He then summoned first new OPEC+ deal becomes apparent. Saudi OPEC has lost a lot for very little gain. could review oil contracts and energy policy. he was “not confident” one was possible. The Iran’s oil minister, then Saudi Arabia’s, for Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates (Source: Bloomberg) (Source: Bloomberg) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL DECEMBER 18, 2018 NEWS IN BRIEF Rafale Kashmir shuts down to protest deal ruckus grows louder civilian killings

INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — The political wrangling INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — For the third encounter sites are now the norm not the deskbetween India’s two biggest parties – deskconsecutive day on Mon- exception. Why are we unable to learn how Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress – is intensify- day, situation in Indian-controlled-Kashmir to handle them better?” ing over Rafale deal controversy. remained tense over the killing of seven civil- Abdullah termed it a “massacre”. “There is The Congress has alleged that the BJP-led government ians by security forces on Saturday. no explanation for this excessive use of force, misled the Supreme Court over the Rafale deal and com- The civilians, most of them youth, were none what so ever. This is a massacre and mitted contempt of court and perjury. killed when security forces opened “indis- that’s the only way to describe it,” he said. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the criminate fire” at protesters following an Mehbooba Mufti, who headed a coalition basis of the court ruling was a report by the Comptroller and encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama in government in the region with India’s ruling Auditor General (CAG) which has not been seen by anyone, nor which three militants were killed. BJP, said “no country can win a war by killing has it been shared with Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee Separatist leadership had called for a three- its own people”. “How long are we going to (PAC). In relief to the Modi government, the Supreme Court day shutdown and planned a massive march shoulder the coffins of our youngsters? So on Friday dismissed the pleas challenging the deal between towards an army cantonment in Kashmir’s many civilians killed today post encounter in India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets, saying capital city Srinagar on Monday. Pulwama. I strongly condemn these killings, there was no occasion to “really doubt the decision making In order to foil the plan and prevent them and once again appeal for efforts to stop this process” warranting setting aside of the contract. from leading the march, government put two bloodbath,” she tweeted. Rafale deal controversy is a political controversy in India top separatist leaders – Syed Ali Shah Geelani Pakistan also condemned the Saturday related to the purchase of 36 multirole fighter aircraft for a price and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq – under house arrest. killings. “Only dialogue and not violence estimated to be worth Rs 58,000 crore by India’ defense ministry. Earlier, in a statement, Mirwaiz said peo- and killings will resolve this conflict,” Prime Congress has alleged that the procurement procedures were ple will march towards Badami Bagh Army Minister Imran Khan said, adding that his bypassed in acquisition of Rafale. The issue has since been a cantonment in the heart of Srinagar “to ask country would raise India’s “human rights topic of discussion in India’s political and intelligentsia circles. government of India to kill all of us at one violations” at the United Nations. time rather than killing us daily.” designs of anti-national forces,” the state- ers, most of them local Kashmiris, have been Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director Police and paramilitary forces in the ment said. “It’s an attempt to pit the civilian killed in recent encounters, civilians have at Human Rights Watch, said Indian authori- Pakistan troubled region quickly swung into action population against the security forces”. also come in the line of fire. ties should investigate and prosecute those and sealed all sensitive parts of Srinagar city The armed clashes between Indian se- Protests at encounter sites have become responsible for “indiscriminate use of force”. welcomes with barricades, including on roads leading curity forces and militants have intensified common in Kashmir in recent years, and “Security forces are aware that villagers talks with to the army cantonment. in recent months in the Muslim-majority government forces have come under severe gather, protest during gunfights with Kashmir Shops, government offices and banks re- region with a spate of encounters in south criticism for not being able to manage the militants and have responsibility to ensure Taliban mained closed third consecutive day. Authori- Kashmir. According to official figures, 242 situation. civilians are not at risk,” she said in a tweet. ties also suspended mobile internet services militants have been killed this year in the Following the Saturday killings, Omar The region is currently under the rule of INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Pakistan has welcomed a fearing unrest. region, besides 101 civilians and 82 members Abdullah, the region’s former chief minis- India’s federal government after the state desknew round of talks between the Afghan In a statement late on Sunday, army warned of the security forces, making it the bloodiest ter, took to Twitter to slam the forces. “Any assembly was dissolved last month. Fresh Taliban and international stakeholders expected to be held the people against taking part in the march. year in more than a decade. way you look at it this was a badly executed elections are expected to be held in the com- in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). “Army advises people not to fall prey to such While many prominent militant command- encounter,” he wrote. “Protests around ing months. Pakistan’s foreign office spokesman Dr. Mohammad Faisal said Pakistan is committed to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. “Talks are being held in UAE. We hope this will end bloodshed in Afghanistan and bring peace to the ‘Rohingya refugees want to go back home but with region,” he remarked. In recent months, the process of talks has gained mo- mentum with Moscow hosting an important conference on Afghanistan and the U.S. appointing special envoy to safety and dignity’ negotiate with the Taliban. 1 Should the world community play more proac- time. Many of them have distressing stories of killings, rapes On Saturday, China also pledged to help Afghanistan tive role in resolving the Rohingya refugee crisis by putting and torture in Rakhine. How did you get involved with them? and Pakistan in resolving the imbroglio, as officials from pressure on the Myanmar government? A. It is not something like a massive attack took place the three countries flew to Kabul for a trilateral meeting. A. Yes, I think so because Bangladesh is not the creator in Rakhine in 2017 which triggered a massive influx and I China’s top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, held the of the crisis, but the worst victim. Myanmar has system- became interested in Rohingya people. I have been engaged meeting with foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan atically created difficult living conditions in Rakhine state in research on/with the Rohingya people for more than two on Saturday to chalk out a plan to support Afghan peace which has triggered massive influx of more than 730,000 decades, have been doing ethnographic research for years, process. “China approves of this, and is willing to provide Rohingya in 2017. and been a close observer of the evolving Rohingya refugee support and help for Pakistan and Afghanistan to improve Bangladesh sheltered the Rohingya people on humanitar- situations in Bangladesh for more than three decades as a their ties,” Wang told reporters after the meeting. ian grounds, but Bangladesh as an over-populated country local resident born in Cox’s Bazar. cannot bear the 1.3 million (including old and new arrivals) However, the recent case in terms of the intensity of atroc- Afghan for too long. So, international community must play more ity and the degree of brutality has superseded all previous proactive role to resolve the crisis. campaigns in 1978, 1991/92, 2012 and 2016. province Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey recently came under fire The situation on the ground touched me deeply and after tweeting touristy pictures from his Myanmar visit. How prompted me to stand beside the Rohingya people and to bans Pakistan important is social media in mobilizing public support for help and support them. currency Rohingya campaign? A. The total number of Rohingya living in Bangladesh are What do you think is the possible solution to this A. Jack’s praise of Myanmar was widely criticized across now around 1.3 million (including old and new arrivals) and simmering crisis? INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — In a bid to increase the use the world, and finally he felt compelled to agree with the the number of camps are 32. While I was doing fieldwork A. Based on my year-long engagement, the Rohingya deskand circulation of local currency, Afghan critical condition of the Rohingya although he stopped short in Rohingya refugee camp, I was trying to understand what refugees gave me some ideas about how to resolve the authorities have decided to ban trade in Pakistani rupee of naming the Rohingya! kind of problems they face in Bangladesh. problem. Fulfillment of three basic requirements could in southeastern Khost province, which borders Pakistan. I do think social media can play a vital role in mobilizing In response to one of my question, Mr. Alam, a 52-year bring a lasting solution: Everyone wants to go back to My- Talib Mangal, the governor’s spokesman, was quoted public support for Rohingya campaign. But, at the same time, old Rohingya living in Kutupalong camp who crossed anmar but everyone echoes the same narratives: joboner saying by Pajhwok Afghan News that a commission has been we need to be cautious that social media also contributes the border in September 2017, told me that they are no nirapotta (life-safety), nagorikottto (citizenship) and maan- created to implement the plan to promote transactions in to ‘hate-campaign’ against Rohingya people. We know how longer under life-threat in Bangladesh, and here the degree ijjat (dignity). ‘Afghani’ – Afghanistan’s currency – instead of Pakistani rupee. Facebook instigated anti-Rohingya sentiment which sup- of safety is better than Burma. He said they feel human I recorded hundreds of similar stories from many Roh- The use of Pakistani currency is common in Afghan ported mass killing in Rakhine state. dignity here. ingya men and women living in Ukhia and Teknaf refugee provinces bordering Pakistan including Khost, Kunar and The top executives of social media platforms can play However, the conditions are more or less the same, for camps. Some, of course, demand an active involvement of Nangarhar. Authorities have often expressed concern over important role by standing beside the oppressed people instance food scarcity, inadequate medical facility, no educa- the UN bodies like UNHCR in the repatriation process. But, it and encouraged the use of Afghan currency in local trade. and advocating social justice. tion for children, poor living conditions, no proper sanita- majority of those I met and interviewed gave me the impres- While Afghanistan and Pakistan have many cultural and There are 900,000 Rohingyas in more than two dozen tion, insufficient water supply, and the threat of women sion that they would go back to Myanmar if the following geographical similarities, bilateral relations between them camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, living in appalling con- and child trafficking. three demands are met: legal recognition, life-safety, and have always been strained. The trade volume between them, dition. What are the problems they face? You have been working with the Rohingya since long human dignity. despite having a potential of $5 billion, has fallen from $2.5 billion to $1.4 billion. Pakistani ports of Karachi and Gwadar have traditionally been the most economical routes for Afghan transit trade, U.S. military industrial complex’s perpetual warfare however Chabahar port in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan has 1 Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Ab- went from $219 to $228 per share. provided another option now. dul Aziz was Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to The sanction game is yet another trump the U.S. from 1983 to 2005 and also the de- card of the U.S. military industrial complex as Political facto leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq who helped it is trying to exclude Russia from the inter- in arming various terrorist factions all across national arms market. According to Rostec crisis the Middle East on the behalf of U.S. military spokesperson, Washington’s sanction against ends industrial complex. Russia is “just an excuse for pushing Russia out Back in 2013, Hamid Karzai stated that the of the global arms market.” The U.S. weapons in Sri Lanka U.S. is collaborating with the Taliban that is manufacturers are losing their market even regularly conducting suicide attacks inside in the U.S. friendly states like Saudi Arabia INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Ending the political stale- Afghanistan as it provides a pretext for the and the United Arab Emirates and also in desk mate in the island nation of Sri Lanka, U.S. military presence inside the country. Turkey and India. So the U.S. is targeting Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the country’s prime So the expansion of al-Qaeda and its affili- Russian defence industry as back in 2017 minister on Sunday. ated groups from Afghanistan to Syria has more than 30 Russian arms manufacturers Making a remarkable comeback weeks after being ex- provided an excuse to western war machine were included in the list of potential sanc- pelled by President Maithripala Sirisena under controversial for conducting military aggression against tions target. circumstances, Wickremesinghe’s reinstatement has ended different countries. A 2008 report by the RAND Corpora- the two-month crisis. The creation of ISIS was meant to serve tion under the title “Unfolding the Future The development is seen as an embarrassment for the the interests of Israel in addition to war profi- of the Long War: Motivations, Prospects, president, who had replaced Wickremesinghe with former teering. According to a former CIA contrac- and Implications for the U.S. Army” warned president Mahinda Rajapaksa following differences over tor Steven Kelly, the U.S. intention behind that the U.S. will engage the Muslim world in policy matters and other issues. the perpetual war in the Middle East is to unjustified warfare at least up to 2020. Accord- However, Rajapaksa failed to win a parliamentary majority eliminate any opposition against Israel from agenda of the military industrial complex. According to a 2014 study by Morgan ing to the report, the US military industrial and resigned on Saturday, paving way for the reinstatement its neighboring states like Syria. Kelly in a Recently President Trump announced the Stanley, the major U.S. arms manufacturers complex will capitalize on the Sunni-Shiite of Wickremesinghe. Press TV interview stated that the creation U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range have witnessed a growth of 27,699% in the conflict in order to sway the U.S. enemies. The “It is a victory for Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions and of ISIS was meant to nullify any opposition Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty of 1987. Back in last 50 years. From 2010 to 2013 Northrop report mentioned that the U.S. will provide the sovereignty of our citizens,” Wickremesinghe said in a to Israel by the complete destruction of Syria 2002, the U.S. scrapped the Anti-Ballistic Grumman has returned 114%, Raytheon a full-fledged support to pro-U.S. regimes tweet following his reinstatement. “I thank everyone who and Iraq. missile (ABM) treaty. According to Russian 124%, and Lockheed Martin 149% to their by selling them sophisticated weaponry in stood firm in defending the constitution and ensuring the In addition to this, a perpetual war in the MP Alexi Pushkov, the abandoning of INF investors. order to contain the influence of Iran in the triumph of democracy.” Middle East provides a fertile ground for and ABM would bring humanity close to the In April of 2017 and April 2018, the U.S. Middle-East. Sri Lanka, although a small country, is an important the U.S. military industrial complex to reap ground zero. fired Raytheon manufactured Tomahawk It is obvious that the “iron triangles” of player in the region. It shares close ties with neighboring huge profits by selling weapons to both the The downfall of the Soviet Union in late missiles on Syria. Soon after the attack the the U.S. political system is the intersection of India and China. U.S. and terrorist factions. Additionally, the 1980 brought an end to excessive military Raytheon shares surged by 3% and closed corporations, pro-war lobbies, and govern- India welcomed the resolution of the political crisis in expensive Iraq war drained the U.S. treasury; spending and the funds were diverted to- above its 50 days moving average. The shares ment officials. So, at least in near future, the Sri Lanka. “This is a reflection of the maturity demonstrated still the pro-Israel power configuration and wards civilian purposes. Now it is obvious of other U.S. weapons manufacturers like U.S. will favor pro-war strategies, instead of by all political forces, and also of the resilience of Sri Lan- military industrial complex have been batting that Trump wants to revive the Cold War Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop negotiations. kan democracy and its institutions,” said Raveesh Kumar, for endless wars. era as it will enormously benefit the U.S. Grumman also edged higher. From 11 April Mudasir Sheikh is a Kashmir-based writer spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The scraping of peace treaties is also the weapon manufacturers. 2018 to 17 April 2018, the shares of Raytheon and independent researcher. ساعت: امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

II NN TT EE RR NN AA TT II OO NN AA LL DD AA II LL YY DECEMBERِDECEMBER 18,17, 2018 ANALYSISANALYSIS && INTERVIEWINTERVIEW 77 ‘Reforming Muslim countries and Islamicity indices’ 1 These indices convey the rules that since 2000 has been Malaysia, followed by We are hoping to have a Farsi translation on to come. are at the foundation of this religion. In turn, Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait. Even Malaysia’s our website in early 2019. We hope that this Generally speaking, most Muslim coun- rules represent institutions and institutions performance is not that great. Malaysia has book will be translated into other languages tries are not thriving. If we are honest with are the foundation of a society’s potential for ranked only in the 30’s in a sample of 154 in the future. Seventh, we have produced ourselves, in most of these countries we see development. These institutions include the counties. And the median rank of Muslim our first annual report and we are working widespread injustice and corruption, little rule of law and an independent judiciary, countries has been around 120! on country reports. And eighth and most respect for human and civil rights, oppression, a constitution, strong property rights and The inescapable fact is that although important, we are beginning to reach a wide little freedom to express individual views, no the sanctity of contracts and so on. Societies Islamic institutions support thriving soci- global audience. freedom of the press and stagnant economies that have effective institutions thrive and eties, most Muslim countries have actually Will this project be managed by The that do not produce acceptable opportunities prosper and societies that have ineffective failed to adopt the institutions and practices Islamicity Foundation or will it be merged for all citizens to develop and grow. At the institutions languish and decay. These indices recommended in Islam, because if they had into a larger existing entity? same time, Islam is totally misunderstood in represent the institutions recommended in they would have thriving communities, as A: We are hoping to find a welcoming much of the non-Muslim World and seen as Islam and provide a benchmark to assess would be generally admitted of the countries home for the Islamicity Foundation and this a militant, hostile and undemocratic religion the performance of societies and a compass that perform high on these indices. If Muslim program of reform and renewal. Our hope is that must be confronted, but Western lead- pointing to the changes (institutions) they countries want to enhance their performance, to merge this into a world-class university ers support tyrannical-strongman rulers in should make. A country that scores high on they must begin by adopting the effective anywhere in the world. The critical require- the Muslim world to maintain stability and these indices is a country where the people institutions recommended in their religion. ment is not location but rather an institution crush fanatics. Some perverse academics and their government have knowingly or Let me just add that our results were broadly that is supportive and believes in this effort even suggest that the best hope for Muslims unknowingly adopted and practice the in- voiced over a century ago by Mohammad as do my collaborators and I. In a university is to abandon Islam and adopt Christianity! stitutions that Islam recommends. A word Abduh when he said ‘I went to the West setting, we can generate excitement in stu- These ignorant academics attribute failure in of caution, we have excluded four important and saw Islam but no Muslims; I got back dents who can become our ambassadors, the Muslim World to their own straw man, but very personal dictates of the religion— to the East and saw Muslims but no Islam.’ develop exchange programs, hold confer- their manufactured and presumed defects declaration of faith, daily prayers, fasting Following our work, some have estimated ences, facilitate fund raising efforts and I in Islam. But our results show the opposite. during Ramadan and pilgrimage to Mec- indices based on Maqsid Shariah and what streaming, focusing on results and areas of for Economic Development in the Depart- could teach seminars on these indices and Countries that we consider successful—in ca. We are interested in how a rule-abiding they have found are essentially the same reform and institution building. By going ment of Economic and Social Affairs of the related topics of development, economics Northern Europe and the like—perform the Muslim community should look like. If we results as have we. Muslims must face facts. global, we hope to build a community that United Nations, Assistant Director General and finance in Islam. I was exploring one best in Islamicity Indices. included these four elements, then we would While they may pray, fast and memorize the is familiar with the institutions that Islam for Economic and Social Development, Food such collaboration but it was not meant to be; We are advocating a different path to bias our results toward countries that pro- Qur’an, their actions and their societies do demands and has cross-border reach to and Agriculture Organization, professor at and the same can be said for the university restore hope, cooperation and peace—the fess Islam but do not necessarily follow its not reflect what Islam recommends. support peaceful reforms in all Muslim Harvard and a number of other universities where I have taught for over 35 years. I have basis for a program of reform and renewal important teachings, and in that event could How do you plan to use these indices communities. Muslims will have support and author of numerous highly acclaimed had interest from a university that I consider that is firmly anchored in the teachings of not compare the performance of Muslim for reform and institution building? for peaceful reforms no matter where they are! books and articles). Third, we have progressed to be an ideal home for the Foundation and the Qur’an, the only realistic framework for and non-Muslim countries. A: Our approach is to develop a partner in Over the last year, what have you done in establishing country partners in 15 coun- this Program but it has not developed into Muslim countries. Reform is most likely to Most important, I must emphasize a every Muslim country and in many non-Mus- in forming an organizational structure to tries that have over 50 percent of all Muslims anything concrete yet. I will keep looking succeed in an Islamic framework, and where point. As benchmark and compass, these lim countries, encourage the collaboration implement this initiative? who live in Muslim countries: Afghanistan, and I am open to any suggestions. governments and the people agree on the indices enable governments and citizens and cooperation of millions of like-minded A: We have made much progress. First, we Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Co^te What are your next steps? best path forward and the institutions needed to collaboratively agree to a set of reforms Muslims with their governments and across have incorporated the Islamicity Foundation d’Ivoire, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, A: I would like begin by finding a uni- to support it. While this effort places the using these indices as indicators. They can the world to become a virtual community to manage this program. Second, we are in Oman, Pakistan, Senegal, Singapore, Tunisia versity to house the Foundation and the responsibility to bring about change in the of course use a variant of these indices that and use these indices as a benchmark and the process of putting together an Advisory and Turkey. Country partners are critical for Program. Second, I would like to round first instance squarely on the shoulders better suits their country’s needs and a time- compass to peacefully reverse the centuries Board to guide us. The Advisory Board will the success of our mission. These individuals out our Advisory Board. In this regard, of Muslims, the Western world can lend a table for getting there. These indices then of political, social and economic missteps guide the foundation toward achieving its and institutions represent a connected global I would like to have a few slots reserved helping hand by being less selfish and ending serve as an indicator of their successes and and underperformance. This Muslim coun- mission. We hope eventually to establish a community who understand the message for the alumni of the university where the its support for oppressive rule in Muslim failures. Thus government and people can tries can do by working toward establishing Board of 12 to 15 eminent women and men, of Islam and who will work collaboratively Foundation will be housed. Third, I hope countries in the name of stability and selling work peacefully towards a common goal, a effective institutions—the globally recognized with diverse professional and regional back- toward establishing effective institutions. In that we will expand our country partner- arms to Muslims to use against Muslims. compact that they have agreed to. foundation for sustained development and grounds, to afford the Islamicity Project a time, we plan to have partners in all Muslim ships to reach about 40 partnerships by The US and other Western countries should In sum, our mission in this program is to: growth. When governments and the people broad perspective on the process of institution majority countries and in numerous non-Mus- the end of 2019. Fourth, I hope that we stop supporting oppressive rulers who as- Encourage collaboration between government decide to adopt these indices, or a modified building and reform across the Muslim World. lim majority countries who want to support can attract sufficient funding to allow us a sassinate their own people and give Islam and people in Muslim countries to build more version that they can agree on, then the people We have been honored by our three initial the process of institution building and reform. small administrative staff. Finally, it would and Muslims a bad name. The West must effective institutions in order to build thriving and the government have agreed to a plan members: Dr. Ali Allawi (former Minister Fourth, we have produced four short videos, be nice to have a more dynamic website in begin to look beyond its nose and adopt a communities based on Islamic teachings. of peaceful reform. This is something that of Finance and Minister of Defense of Iraq, which can be found on our website: (www. order to attract a wider audience. longer-term approach, encouraging mean- What do these indices tell us? Malaysia had done. We hope to disseminate Professor at University of Oxford, Princeton IslamicityFoundation.Org) to explain this Is there anything you would like to add? ingful reform based on a realistic timetable. A: Well, the results are on the one hand our results widely to reach Muslims in every and the National University of Singapore and program. We plan to produce more videos A: I fear that the world is marching down It should practice what it preaches, human surprising and yet on the other hand to be corner of the earth. We will estimate indices author of a number of highly acclaimed books), and podcasts in the coming months. Fifth, a track that has a catastrophic end in sight. rights and not dictators. expected. The countries that perform best yearly. We will publish an annual report on Dr. Abbas Mirakhor (Dean of the Executive we have produced new indices for 2017 and Western support for oppressive rule, armed To demonstrate my own commitment to are the countries of Northern Europe along pertinent developments. We plan to publish Board of the IMF, First Holder of INCEIF we plan to publish the indices for 2018 in the conflicts and drone attacks in the name of this endeavor, I have resigned my endowed with New Zealand, Australia and Canada, country reports annually highlighting areas Chair in Islamic Finance in Malaysia and the spring of 2019. Sixth, we have had the book stability will achieve the opposite—creating Professorship at my university effective countries that are generally seen as thriving of success and failure and with recommen- author of a number of highly acclaimed books that underlies this effort translated into French misery in failed societies, more enemies for January 1, 2019 and the work that I have and successful. Muslim countries perform dations for important reforms. Eventually, on Islamic economics and finance) and Dr. and made available free on our website as we oppressive regimes and also the West who done for the foundation has been and will badly. The best performing Muslim country we hope to hold conferences, with online Jomo Kwame Sundaram (Secretary General own the foreign language publication rights. support oppressive rulers. With more wars continue to be on a pro bono basis.

1 According Red to the statement, Sea the seven legal coun- tablishment regime: of the Red Sea legal regime, Spider’s is trying to Mandeb, has causeddream interference from internationalagainst take these countries Iran interests into won’t account. beand Sanafir realized Islands and the transfer of its sovereignty tries are Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Yemen, prevent the growing influence of Qatar in the coastal parties such as Iran and Turkey to gain their interests, Al-Juberi speaks of security and stability of the from Egypt to Saudi Arabia guarantees the freedom Somalia and Jordan. countries of the sea. Doha has invested heavily in the which has caused many problems for the coastal states region as well as its development and investment, of Israel’s transit in the region. The goal of this regime is to support global trade, Red Sea coastal countries over the past two decades, of the Red Sea. In the future, the health of interna- however, the question here is was the Red Sea previ- The Yemeni war is also in support of Israel in the international navigation, and security and investment especially during the last 18 months, and now Saudi tional trade, especially the Persian Gulf oil trade, the ously a region of wars or conflicts? Aren’t the Saudis Red Sea. Israel was concerned about the domination and the development of the regional states. The legal Arabia is trying to somehow oppose these investments. security of Bab al-Mandeb, the trade movement in dominating majority of the Red Sea? of Yemen’s Ansarullah over the Bab Al-Mandab, which regime of the Red Sea is a plan by King Salman to Normalizing relations with Tel Aviv, the Suez Canal will be guaranteed to the benefit of Saudi Arabia called one of the objectives of the led the Saudis to launch a war on Yemen to remove achieve stability in the region. reassurance for Zionist regime security all parties. Egypt will be the mainstay, especially as Riyadh summit “security” but the fact is that Riyadh the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb from the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the The third point is that Saudi action in the estab- there is a strong rapprochement between Egypt and and its allies over the last 45 months waged a war on reign of Ansarullah. meeting discussed boosting trade and conserving lishment of the Red Sea coastal regime has also been Saudi Arabia as the two major countries of the Red Yemen that undermined security in the sea. While the Saudis and Emiratis dominate the south the environment. linked to the Saudi approach to normalizing relations Sea. Iran and Turkey will seek to defeat this trend Riyadh’s initiation of the Red Sea regime and in- entrance of the Red Sea, the agreement between Riyadh Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf with Tel Aviv, as Israel also has access to the Red Sea. through financial and military assistance to some tervention in Yemen are over the issue of the Tiran and Tel Aviv indirectly gives freedom and security endorsed the request made by King Salman to convene Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, a Qatari newspaper wrote: countries. “Saudi Arabia’s plan to provide and stop and Sanafir islands. The agreement between the Tiran to the Israelis. the Arab and African regimes of the Red Sea and the “Given Israel’s access to the Red Sea coast, the for- the security threats for the Red Sea has been N.I.O.C National Iranian Drilling Company 1397.4799 Gulf of Aden, declaring that this regime is a privilege mation of this council can be a secret measure to raised after the Iranian Red Crusade Sailing First Announcement and they’ll be working to develop it. normalize relations with the regime.” Action, Saudi Arabian Navy Nayef al-Gha’a,” Ali Youssouf welcomed the plan saying: We praise In other words, although Israel didn’t officially said in an interview with Saudi newspaper Call for public tender (First/Second publish) King Salman’s plan, a project that the Red Sea and attend the Red Sea summit in Riyadh, it welcomed Al Youm. He added: “Iran is threatening OneCall -Stages for public(semi compressed) tender (First/Second tender publish) the Gulf of Aden can provide security and support Saudi Arabia’s move to establish a seafront regime global trade with its attempts to infiltrate One -Stages (semi compressed) tender Subject of Tender: PART FOR OIL WELL DRAWWORKS MODEL E-2000 for Drilling Rig for the passageways. An international passage is in in the Red Sea countries. the Red Sea.” N.I.O.C Subject of Tender: PART FOR OIL WELL DRAWWORKS MODEL National Iranian place and nobody can harm it. Everyone should be In any case, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden “The Red Sea is one of the most Tender important descriptions: 1397.4799 E-2000 for Drilling Rig Drilling Company in alignment with the establishment of a regime that regime can be called a kind of alignment between waterways in the world,” Ahmad Nasher, the Registration No. through national Tender No. Estimated value helps enhance security. Saudi Arabia and the Zionist regime, which many Yemeni analyst said, adding that there are The Tender holder electronic tendering system Zayed Mofel Al-Lawei of Jordanian Foreign Ministry observers believe is to protect the interests of the many greetings from the Portuguese to the /Indent No. (Rial/Euro) said the Saudi plan is important to create a regime of U.S. and the Israel in the region. recent era of the Israeli greek in the Red Sea Tender No.: FP/17-97/047 National Iranian Drilling Company 3,184,193 14,390,568,451 Rial Arab and African states adjacent to the Red Sea and It is noteworthy that the countries participating in and the attempt to buy the islands and the Indent No.: 48-22-9622027 the Gulf of Aden. The foreign ministers emphasized this regime are mainly the countries that are present presence of the islands. In the northeast of the formation of a team of experts to review the efforts in the anti-Yemeni coalition. This regime is in fact a Africa.  Qualitative evaluation of tenderers of the plan in Cairo for in the near future. supporter of Israel, and the Saudis are contributing Cairo and Riyadh’s extreme dis- Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Hadrami, Deputy to this issue, especially since U.S. President Donald agreements and the empty promises Minister of Foreign Affairs of the incumbent gov- Trump has repeatedly said that if it were not for Saudi of the Saudi Red Sea regime R Based on minimum scoring ( 60 Points ) made in award criterion reflected in the tenderers pre-qualification forms. Method ernment of Yemen praised the Saudis. Arabia, Israel would have faced many challenges. The Egyptians won’t accept Saudi leader- 1- Applicants which have more than 4 in process contacts with NIDC are not allowed to participate in this tender . Ahmed Isse Awad, Minister of Foreign Affairs and The King Salman plan is in line with the U.S. geo- ship in the region and are opposed to Riyadh 2- Applicants which have more than 2 in process contacts with NIDC in similar subject ( exclusively same subject) are not allowed to participate in another tender International Cooperation of Somalia, said: We thank political and economic issues in creating a complete plans. Contrary to al-Jubeir’s remark in the King Salman for the role they played in establishing map of the Saudi-led region. The road map is based summit; the plan did not go far and ended  Purchasing & Submitting this regime for the stability of the Red Sea and the Gulf on disintegration of countries and destruction of the without a political statement that defined of Aden region. Somalia wants Riyadh, the capital of Palestinian cause in favor of the Zionist regime. The the nature of the regime and its mechanism. The distribution of the documents will be started one day after the publishing of second advertisement Saudi Arabia, to be the headquarters of this regime. Saudis and the Emirati chant slogans on the security Saudis establishment of the regime occurs and ended on the following tenth day thereof. Hall No.:113, 1thfloor, Foreign Procurement Dept., National Iranian Anwar Mohammed Gargash, the advisor to the and stability of Yemen, but in reality the creation of when the murder of Jamal Khashoggi still Distribution Place Drilling Company, Airport square, Ahwaz, IRAN 061-34148656 - Foreign Ministry of the UAE, as always praised the this regime of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is in dominates the news. The Saudis are looking for Tender Document Distribution by 06134148615 Company Saudis. line with the security of the Zionist regime. their place in the region through such moves, Submitting one original Bank Fund Receipt in the amount of 510,000  Iranian Rials under account number 4001114004020491 (Shaba No. IR Referring to Saudi moves on the establishment of a The announcement of a new regime by the Saudis but it seems that the Egyptians oppose it. 520100004001114004020491) in name of “NIDC Incomes Centralized Fund” Submitting Method . Iran Central Bank issued by I.R. of legal regime, Gargash said: Saudi efforts are inspiring is evidence of ongoing developments in the region In addition to the severe discord between Submitting format Request for the purpose of receiving Tender  to ensure stability and cooperation in the Red Sea and the introduction of a regional and international Cairo and Riyadh, Eritrea was not present in . Documents region, and this, in turn, is a success for diplomacy power struggle to control the movement of world trade. this meeting, especially as its coastal area is . Days after the last time of Purchasing 14  in the countries of the region. The Americans are pursuing their plans through their 1,150 kilometers. Ethiopia also didn’t attend Closing date Documents Receiving Method Saudi Arabia seeks to confront Qatar devices, the Saudis and the Emirate the summit, although the country is a member Hall No. 107, 1stfloor, Tender Committee, Operation building, Address and Turkey by creating this regime Riyadh’s spider’s dream against Iran of the Red Sea coastal countries. National Iranian Drilling Company, Airport square, Ahwaz, IRAN. Saudi Arabia’s most important goal in holding Meanwhile, analysts believes the Saudis’ acts are The absence of Ethiopia in the Riyadh Tel: +98-61-34148580 +98-61-34148569 this meeting and the establishment of the regime of aligned with the Israelis against Iran. Amani El Taweel, summit means that the establishment of the  the Red Sea is to control the regional rivals, especially expert of the Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Red Sea coastal regime has not been made Tender Guarantee

Turkey. In the same vein, the Sudanese government, Studies (ACPSS) has announced to Al-Mesri news by consensus of all coastal states. Value of guarantee 720,000,000 Rial/ 15,133 Euro as one of the Red Sea coastal countries, has recently website: “The Red sea security is an important issues Additionally, differences between Sudan Bank guarantees or guarantees issued by non-bank institutions that obtain activity license given up the privilege of developing Suakin Island that has long been proposed to support its coastal and Saudi Arabia, as well as Sudan’s close ties from the central bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Type of guarantee Submitting one original Bank Fund Receipt under account number 4001114006376636 ( in the Red Sea to Turkey. In fact, Saudi Arabia is countries that are Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, So- with Turkey and Qatar suggests that Saudi Shaba No. IR 350100004001114006376636) in name of “NIDC saving account” by the trying to prevent some coastal countries’ tendency malia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, Jordan and Palestine. Arabia, through the establishment of this le- central bank of Islamic Republic of Iran. Duration of credit & quotation Tender Guarantee & quotation should be valid for 90 days and extendable maximum for towards Saudi rivals. Previously, proposals were made by the Arab League, gal regime, cannot stop the growing trend of one time in initial validity duration. Due to the financial dependence that Saudi Arabia the European Union, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Turkey and Qatar’s influence in some coastal (Foreign Procurement Dept.) often has on the coast of the Red Sea, Al Saud is trying and one of the major study centers in the UAE, but states of the Red Sea. (Foreign Procurement Dept.) More of this & other tenders are accessible by click on: to prevent a Turkish regime in the coastal waters of these proposals were not implemented.” Aside from that, the U.S., MoreChina, of this Japan, & other tenders are accessible by click on: www.nidc.ir http://sapp.ir/nidc_pr the Red Sea by creating a legal regime El Taweel claims that the absence of a system that France, Turkey and Israel all have bases in www.nidc.ir http://sapp.ir/nidc_pr تهران تایمز نوبت اول 27/09/97نوبت دوم Another issue is that Saudi Arabia, with the es- guarantees the safety of the Red Sea and the Bab-el- the Red Sea and the coastal states should 97/09/28 تهران تایمز نوبت اول 27/9/97نوبت دوم 97/9/28 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS DECEMBER 18, 2018

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Vitamin D deficiency a serious Health Ministry providing services to 12,500 nutritional problem: health official HIV/AIDS patients HEALTH HEALTH TEHRAN — The Iranian Health Ministry TEHRAN — In Iran, and to 86 percent in 2012, she highlighted. desk deskeven globally, vitamin D She went on to say that in the year 2012 is providing healthcare services to some deficiency is a serious nutritional problem, vitamin D deficiency prevalence among 12,500 patients suffering HIV/AIDS nationwide, head of director of the Health Ministry’s nutrition children aged 6 was 62 percent and among communicable diseases center at the ministry has said. office, Zahra Abdollahi, said on Sunday. adolescents aged 14 to 20 it was 76 percent. According to World Health Organization The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (WHO) vitamin D is active in the regulation was 63 percent among people aged 45 to of calcium and phosphorus which supports 60, she stated. cellular processes, bone mineralization and Currently the first phase of a pilot program neuromuscular function. for fortifying wheat flour with vitamin D in Evidence has shown that adequate levels south Khorasan is underway and using the of vitamin D may prevent multiple bone results of the program a nationwide program disorders such as rickets in children; and will be devised and carried out to tackle the osteoporosis in adults. Vitamin D deficiency deficiency in the country, she remarked. is thought to be a widespread public health WebMd explains that vitamin D which is problem globally; being more prevalent in also as the sunshine vitamin, is produced by places with limited sun exposure. the body in response to skin being exposed “Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets, to sunlight. It is also occurs naturally in a increase the chances of getting asthma and few foods -- including some fish, fish liver All consulting and treatment services for patients diagnosed allergies, as well as non-communicable dis- oils, and egg yolks -- and in fortified dairy with HIV/AIDS and their families are free of charge, ISNA news eases such as cardiovascular disease, pros- and grain products. agency quoted Mohammad Mehdi Gouya as saying on Monday. tate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, Since last years some 570,000 pregnant women were test- esophageal cancer and some autoimmune because it helps the body use calcium from ed for HIV and 113 were infected with the virus, Gouya said, diseases such as Multiple sclerosis and rheu- the diet. Traditionally, vitamin D deficiency stating that only two, who had referred to the centers too late, matoid arthritis,” Abdollahi warned. Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets, has been associated with rickets, but increas- gave birth to HIV positive infants. The number of HIV positive individuals receiving healthcare Non-communicable diseases are the increase the chances of getting asthma and ingly, research is revealing the importance leading causes of 76 percent of the deaths of vitamin D in protecting against a host of services from Health Ministry increased from 9,000 in last year in the country and in order to reduce the allergies, as well as non-communicable health problems. (March 2017-March 2018) to 12,500 this year. negative effects of such diseases addressing diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Bone pain and muscle weakness can International funds are also still available, however, the amount vitamin D deficiency should also be high mean you have a vitamin D deficiency. How- have decreased, he said, explaining that they constitute five per- on agenda, IRNA news agency quoted prostate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal ever, for many people, the symptoms are cent of the HIV/AIDS budget of the country. her as saying. cancer, and esophageal cancer. subtle. Yet, even without symptoms, too little International cooperation are mostly in form of technical and Vitamin D deficiency is traceable in dif- vitamin D can pose health risks. Low blood scientific know-how rather than financial support, he concluded. ferent age groups and it should be addressed D supplements are being distributed at aging 15 to 23 months was 24 percent, levels of the vitamin have been associated In April, Parvin Afsar Kazerouni, the chairwoman of HIV/AIDS right away, she highlighted. high schools. she explained. with increased risk of death from cardio- department at the Health Ministry, explained that some 36,571 were The health official went on to say that Based on the studies on vitamin D de- Moreover, in the same studies it was re- vascular disease, cognitive impairment in diagnosed with HIV virus up to late December 2017. She further currently vitamin D-fortified breads are ficiency conducted in 2001 to 2012 the vealed that vitamin D deficiency in pregnant older adults, severe asthma in children, regretted that the number only constitute 40 percent of those who available in bakeries and also the vitamin prevalence of insufficiency among children women increased from 55 percent in 2001 and even cancer. are actually suffering the disease and the rest are still undiagnosed while they might not even know they are having the infection. How to prevent festive weight gain Mediterranean diet reduces without exercising cardiovascular risk by a quarter Khwarizmi Youth Award announces winners

HEALTH TEHRAN — The 20th Khwarizmi Youth deskAward ceremony which was held on Mon- day announced winners for scientific achievements, IRNA news agency reported. The ceremony took place with Science Minister Mansour Gholami in attendance. Khwarizmi Youth Award is a national version of Khwarizmi International Award which only Iranians who are less than 35 years old can participate. The national award started in 1999 to honor young scientists and embolden them to keep taking even bigger steps in their research career. On the other hand the Khwarizmi International Award, which was named in memory of Abu Ja’far Mohammad Ibn Mousa Khwarizmi, the great Iranian mathematician and During the holiday season, it is difficult ipants between an intervention group A recent study has put the Mediterranean In the low intake group, 4.2 percent of astronomer (770-840 C.E), is given annually by the Iranian to avoid putting on a couple of extra and a control group. Members of the diet to the test once more, attempting to women had a cardiovascular event. Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST) pounds. A recent study investigated a intervention group were asked to record unpick the molecular mechanisms that In the middle intake group, 3.8 percent to individuals who have made outstanding achievements in simple, low-impact way to reduce the their weight at least twice a week, although produce its benefits. of women had a cardiovascular event. research, innovation and invention, in fields related to science seasonal swell. preferably more often. Inspired by the traditional eating In the upper intake group, 3.8 percent and technology. Resisting temptation can be tough The authors explain why regular weigh- patterns of people from Greece, Italy, of women had a cardiovascular event. during the holidays. ins are essential: and Spain, the Mediterranean diet can This marks the first long-term study During the festive season, people›s “Regular weighing and recording of seemingly do no wrong. in a U.S. population to explore the impact waistlines tend to expand as their self-con- weight to check progress against a target In a nutshell, the diet is rich in plants of the Mediterranean diet on CVD. The Christmas Eve may bring trol contracts. (self-monitoring) has been shown to be an and olive oil but low in meat and sugary authors conclude: While food and drink flow freely, re- effective behavioral intervention within products. “[H]igher [Mediterranean diet] in- seasonal spike in heart straint is in short supply, and sedentary weight management programs.” Over the years, studies have concluded take was associated with approximately attacks, study warns activities abound. And, as we relax, we tend The researchers encouraged the partic- that this eating pattern lowers the risk of one-quarter lower risk of CVD events over to throw caution to the wind and go back ipants in the intervention group to think various health issues, including coronary a 12-year follow-up period.” for a second helping. about their weight and how it was chang- heart disease and stroke. The authors also note that this effect With the festive season looming, researchers are warning that Festive weight gain is so commonplace ing over time. As the authors explain, the Studies have even concluded that the size is equivalent to that present in people heightened emotions and over indulgence contributes to an an- that it has become a running joke; however, intervention “aimed to promote restraint Mediterranean diet might extend lifespan who take statins, which are common drugs nual spike in heart attacks. it has a serious side. of energy consumption.” in older adults as well as reduce the risk of that doctors prescribe to lower cardio- In one of the largest studies to assess the hazards of the hol- Obesity is a growing problem in the Also, the participants were given tips Parkinson›s and Alzheimer›s. vascular risk. idays, Swedish researchers pinpointed 10pm on Christmas Eve United States, and reversing it through about managing weight and provided with Evidence is mounting for its health Mediterranean metabolites as the point where annual heart attacks are most likely. permanent lifestyle changes does not a list of festive foods along with information benefits, but scientists still do not know Next, they dived into the metabolic data While Swedish festivities peak on Christmas Eve, previous appear to work for the majority of people. on how much physical activity they would exactly how these benefits come about. to see if they could find any patterns. They studies have shown other countries have higher rates on Christmas On average, people gain 0.4–1 kilogram need to do to burn off the calories of each The Mediterranean black box discovered that variation in metabolites Day and during holidays such as Eid in Muslim-majority countries. (0.9–2.2 pounds) each year, and up to 50 food they had consumed. For example, it A new study published in JAMA Net- related to inflammation accounted for 29 However, the findings from Lund University also found an percent of this occurs over holiday periods, would take 21 minutes of running to burn work Open asks the following question: percent of the reduction in CVD risk. event that unifies us all, with Mondays at 8am accounting for such as Christmas. off the calories found in one mince pie. “Is the Mediterranean diet [...] associated Glucose metabolism and insulin resist- another rise in heart attacks. A new approach to obesity? The control group, on the other hand, with lower risk of cardiovascular disease ance accounted for 27.9 percent, body mass Previous studies have also found evidence that major Research has shown that when we gain only received a leaflet about healthy living. (CVD) events in a [United States] popu- index (BMI) for 27.3 percent, and blood national events, such as the U.S. Super Bowl, stock market weight during the holidays, we rarely man- Did it work? lation, and, if so, what are the underlying pressure for 26.6 percent. crashes and natural disasters also cause a spike, though this age to lose it once the tinsel has gone from After adjusting the data for confound- mechanisms?” The team also noted relationships be- wasn’t evident here. the tree. As the years go by, this type of ing variables, the researchers found that As corresponding study author Dr. Samia tween a number of other metabolites, The study was included in a Christmas edition of The BMJ seasonal weight gain adds up. the individuals in the intervention group Mora explains, “While prior studies have including lipids, but these were less and is one of the most in-depth looks at the annual variation in The authors of a recent study believe had gained less weight than those in the shown benefit for the Mediterranean diet pronounced. cardiac events using a single, high quality national record. that targeting this time of year might offer control group — an average of 0.49 kilo- on reducing cardiovascular events and im- Dr. Mora says, “In this large study, It involved the analysis of 283,014 heart attacks recorded in an innovative way to reduce the impact grams (1.1 pounds) less. proving cardiovascular risk factors, it has we found that modest differences in bio- Swedish medical records over a 16-year period – from 1998 to 2013. of obesity. By focusing attention on times Those in the intervention group also been a black box regarding the extent to markers contributed in a multifactorial Heart attack rates at Christmas were 15 per cent higher than when weight gain is most significant, it showed more restraint, managing to limit which improvements in known and novel way to this cardiovascular benefit that in the weeks before and after, while they were raised 12 per cent might be possible to slow annual weight their calorie intake more than those in risk factors contribute to these effects.” was seen over the long-term.” at Sweden’s Midsummer festival. gain, overall. the control group. To investigate, the scientists took data Once again, the Mediterranean eating But the greatest additional risk was at Christmas Eve, with The results from the so-called Winter Although the difference in weight gain from the Women›s Health Study. Lead pattern seems to have come up trumps; heart attack rates as much as 37 per cent higher than on the same Weight Watch Study were published earlier was smaller than the researchers had hoped, study author Shafqat Ahmad, Ph.D., led and now we know that its benefits are most day a week later or earlier. this month in the BMJ. they are still excited by the results. researchers from Brigham and Women›s likely due to the way it interacts with in- Risks were greatest in the over 75s and those with pre-existing Scientists from the University of Birming- Because the holiday season is a year- Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and flammation pathways, glucose metabolism, heart conditions, or other diseases such as diabetes. ham›s Institute of Applied Health Research ly event, even if people only prevent a the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public and insulin resistance. It said previous studies “have shown that acute experience and the School of Sport, Exercise, and Health small amount of weight gain each year, Health — all in Boston, MA. Of course, there are some limitations of anger, anxiety, sadness, grief and stress increases the risk of Sciences at Loughborough University in the it could add up to a considerable amount In all, they had access to the health re- to the study. For instance, as the authors myocardial infarction and thus possibly explains the higher risk United Kingdom carried out the trial. over a lifetime. cords and dietary habits of 25,994 women, explain, CVD risk could have been influenced observed in our study.” Specifically, they wanted to understand The authors note some shortfalls to all of whom were healthy at the start of the by as-yet-unknown metabolic factors that While New Year’s Eve is typically seen as another peak of whether a relatively brief and straightfor- their study. For instance, it involved a study. The researchers followed them for the scientists did not measure in this study. emotion and indulgence, the researchers found a higher risk ward intervention could reduce weight relatively small group of people, and the a maximum of 12 years. Also, the dietary information that they on New Year’s Day. gain over Christmas. To find out, they follow-up duration was quite brief. How- The researchers measured the levels analyzed relied on the participants keeping This may be down to family members visiting relatives on recruited participants just before Christ- ever, the results merit follow-up. Lifestyle of 40 biomarkers, including lipids, in- a food diary, which comes with a potential New Year’s Day and noticing they’re in a worse state, potentially mas 2016 and 2017. In total, they involved change is challenging, but shorter bursts flammation, glucose metabolism, and for human error. However, the size of this caused by over indulgence the night before, the authors suggest. 272 people; 78 percent were female, and of focus on weight management may be lipoproteins. They split the participants study and the detailed information about Heart attack rates were broadly similar between men and 78 percent were white. more achievable for some people. into three groups — low, middle, and upper biomarkers make this a relatively reliable women throughout the year, except for Midsummer when there Researchers took the first weight The authors believe that their findings intake — depending on how strictly they research endeavor. were slightly more men admitted. measurements in November and then “should be considered by health policymak- adhered to the Mediterranean diet. As evidence in favor of the Mediterra- “It is possible that men are more likely to smoke, consume followed up in January. ers to prevent weight gain in the population They were particularly interested in nean diet mounts, its popularity is sure to alcohol and eat to excess during this holiday than women,” the The intervention during high-risk periods such as holidays.” cardiovascular events, such as stroke and continue climbing. authors added. The researchers divided the partic- (Source: Medical News Today) heart attack. They found that: (Source: newstrolley.com) (Source: The Independent) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM DECEMBER 18, 2018

Tehran conference exploring Iran travel balance turns positive “Iran in Transition” as inbound tourism jumps 1 Of the reasons be- Afghanistan, Turkey and hind, according to experts, is Pakistan constituted the that touring Iran has become highest travelers to Iran more wallet-friendly as the respectively that visited rial has lost over half of its the country for medical, value against major foreign pilgrimage and cultural her- currencies, the report said. itage purposes,” Teymouri Cost-effective yet quality said earlier this month. medical services, on the other Some 2 million Iraqi na- hand, is turning the country tionals visited Iran during the a popular destination for me- seven-month period, nam- dial travelers. ing it Iran’s largest source Medical tourist arrivals in of tourists, the official said. the country has nearly dou- Filled from corner to bled in the first three months corner with ancient ba- of the current Iranian cal- zaars, museums, mosques, HERITAGE TEHRAN – Political and social developments endar year, corresponding monuments, gardens, his- desk of Iran in the early 19th-century is being ad- to spring 2018, from a year torical sites, rich natural dressed in a two-day conference, which on Monday opened at earlier, an official with the and rural landscapes, Iran the University of Tehran. Ministry of Health said in hosts some of the world’s Titled “L’Iran en transition: de la révolution constitutionnelle September. oldest cultural monuments, à la fin de l’ère qajare,” the event is explores the Persian Constitu- “People from Iraq, including 22 UNESCO tional Revolution, also known as the Constitutional Revolution Republic of Azerbaijan, World Heritage sites. of Iran, that took place between 1905 and 1911. It also turns the spotlight on the fall of the Qajar Dynasty (1794–1925), ISNA reported. Ground broken for “7-star” Tehran festival to mark Yalda, The event is supported by the Institut Français de Recherche en Iran, a Tehran-based archeological and historical institute hotel in Kish Christmas bonds which is part of the cultural wing of the French Embassy, and the Istanbul-based IFEA (Institut Français d’?tudes Anatoliennes). The Constitutional Revolution opened the way for massive change in Persia, heralding the modern era. It saw a period of unprecedented debate in a burgeoning press as well.

Shush offers fam tour for free

TOURISM TEHRAN - Construc- which was held on December 12. HERITAGE TEHRAN – Yalda - the festival aims to put the spotlight on desktion of a 7-star hotel has The KFZO is in charge of handling deskthe longest night of the cultural scenes that the two feasts have in begun in the Persian Gulf island of Kish, the infrastructure affairs, development year - and Christmas, as deeply-root- common in order to promote peace and southern Iran, ILNA reported. and economic growth, creating job op- ed-in-time celebrations, share common, friendship across the globe, Mehr reported. An elegant and modern 10-strorey hotel portunities, attracting local and foreign cultural or historical links, which are Time closeness between the Yalda will be built on a piece of land measuring investors, regulating the good and labor set to be highlighted during a festival Night and Christmas which commem- 16,000 square meters meeting required market and ultimately utilizing the Island’s on December 20. orates the birth of Jesus Christ offers a standards, said Hossein Robati, the project tourist potentials. Yalda Night falls on December 21. good opportunity that by the means of investor from the private sector. The coral island enjoys free-trade-zone It’s a time for pleasant family reunions cultural tools think of global peace and Senior MP Mohammad Reza Aref, CEO status, with ever growing hotels, shopping that entails laughter, merriment and unity, the report said. TOURISM TEHRAN – The Shush tourism office has of Kish Free Zone Organization Gholam- centers, apartment blocks and retail com- good cheer. The festival will be held at the Sa’dabad deskrecently organized a free familiarization tour hossein Mozaffari and several local officials plexes dominate the once-empty desert Organized by the Cultural Heritage, Cultural-Historical Complex in northern in a bid to promote traveling to the southwestern Iranian city. attended the ground-breaking ceremony, landscape. Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, Tehran. UNESCO-registered sites of Susa and Tchogha Zanbil along with several rural villages were among destinations people visited on the tour, CHTN reported on Sunday. The largest ziggurat outside of Mesopotamia and the best Egypt unveils ‘one of a kind’ ancient tomb, preserved of this type of stepped pyramidal monument, Tchogha Zanbil overlooks the ancient city of Susa (near modern Shush) in Khuzestan province. expects more finds SAQQARA, Egypt (Reuters) - Egypt unveiled “The color is almost intact even though a well-preserved 4,400-year-old tomb deco- the tomb is almost 4,400 years old,” he said. ROUND THE GLOBE rated with hieroglyphs and statues south of The tomb lies in a buried ridge that has Cairo on Saturday, and officials expect more only partially been uncovered. Waziri said discoveries when archaeologists excavate the he expects more discoveries to be made there Gelati Monastery site further in coming months. when archaeologists start more excavation The tomb was found in a buried ridge at the work in January. ancient necropolis of Saqqara. It was untouched The Fifth Dynasty ruled Egypt from about and unlooted, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general 2,500 BC to 2,350 BC, not long after the great On the lower southern slopes of the mountains of the North- of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told pyramid of Giza was built. ern Caucasus, Gelati Monastery reflects the ‘golden age’ of reporters at the site. He described the find as Saqqara served as the necropolis for medieval Georgia, a period of political strength and economic “one of a kind in the last decades”. Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt for growth between the reigns of King David IV ‘the Builder’ The tomb dates from the rule of Neferirkare more than two millennia. (1089-1125) and Queen Tamar (1184-1213). Kakai, the third king of the Fifth Dynasty of Ancient Egyptians mummified humans to It was David who, in 1106 began building the monastery the Old Kingdom. preserve their bodies for the afterlife, while near his capital Kutaisi on a wooded hill above the river Tskalt- Archaeologists removed a last layer of animal mummies were used as religious of- sitela. The main church was completed in 1130 in the reign debris from the tomb on Thursday and found ferings. of his son and successor Demetre. five shafts inside, Waziri said. One of the shafts Egypt has revealed over a dozen ancient was unsealed with nothing inside, but the discoveries this year. other four were sealed. They are expecting to The country hopes the finds will brighten its make discoveries when they excavate those one of the sealed shafts. “This shaft should metres high, Waziri said. image abroad and revive interest among trav- shafts starting on Sunday, he said. He was lead to a coffin or a sarcophagus of the owner The walls are decorated with hieroglyphs elers who once flocked to its iconic pharaonic hopeful about one shaft in particular. of the tomb.” and statues of pharaohs. Waziri said the tomb temples and pyramids but who fled after the “I can imagine that all of the objects can The tomb is 10 meters (33 ft) long, three was unique because of the statues and its 2011 political uprising. be found in this area,” he said, pointing at meters (9.8 ft) wide and just under three near perfect condition. (Source: Reuters) Tourism chiefs want toll charges scrapped as bridges linking England to Wales become free for first time Tourism chiefs have called for toll fees on British roads to so it is important that destinations do everything they can face an increase in charges when crossing the Itchen Bridge. be scrapped as two bridges linking England to Wales are to to reduce the cost of visitors coming to their areas, so they In October, Southampton City Council proposed raising the A view of the UNESCO-listed Gelati Monastery in Georgia become free to use for the first time in history. can be more competitive, and one way of doing this to to cost for car and van drivers crossing the bridge, who are not Tolls on the original Severn bridge were introduced in get rid of toll charges.” residents of the city, by 20p. The increase could be approved in Further churches were added to the monastery throughout 1966, while the second Severn crossing, which was renamed Mr Janson singled out charges on the Humber Bridge, February when the council is expected to pass its next budget. the 13th and early 14th centuries. The monastery is richly after Prince Charles, opened in 1996. Car drivers are charged where drivers pay £1.50 for a one-way journey without an Long-standing critics of toll charges have historically decorated with mural paintings from the 12th to 17th centu- £5.60 to pass over both bridges while it costs £16.70 for electronic tag, as the next toll which should be scrapped to argued that the charges penalise commuters forced to pay ries, as well as a 12th century mosaic in the apse of the main HGV motorists. increase Yorkshire’s appeal as a tourist destination. Any when travelling to and from work as well as being harmful church, depicting the Virgin with Child flanked by archangels. At the Conservative Party conference in October, Welsh such move would first have to be agreed by Parliament. to businesses. Its high architectural quality, outstanding decoration, size, Secretary Alun Cairns declared both tolls would be lifted Patricia Yates, from Visit Britain, the UK’s official tourism However, it has been suggested that toll charges are and clear spatial quality combine to offer a vivid expression of in a move he pledged would boost the Welsh economy by website, added: “Making it easier to travel between destina- needed to help reduce congested traffic and pollution levels. the artistic idiom of the architecture of the Georgian “Golden about £100 million a year. tions is great news for domestic and international visitors. Motorists in Kent and Essex using the Dartford Crossing Age” and its almost completely intact surroundings allow an Tourism groups are pressing authorities to rescind further “Tourism is a fiercely competitive industry and people have have been plagued with long queues for years, yet politicians understanding of the intended fusion between architecture charges in the wake of the changes, arguing an end to tolls a lot of choice so removing barriers to travel not only promotes fear axing the charges could result in worsening traffic volume. and landscape. could help visitor numbers flourish across the UK. a message of welcome it helps boost visitor growth, spreading Dartford Council leader Jeremy Kite said: “I would usu- Gelati was not simply a monastery: it was also a center of Kurt Janson, director of Tourism Alliance, said: “We the economic benefits across more of our nations and regions.” ally want all highways to be toll-free but the truth is that science and education, and the Academy established there welcome taking the toll off the Severn Bridge because that will “VisitBritain welcomes initiatives that make it easier Dartford suffers so much from the impacts of congestion was one of the most important centers of culture in ancient remove a significant barrier for people using the bridge and for domestic and international visitors to travel between and poor air quality arising from the crossing that even the Georgia. therefore tourism flows in both directions to and from Wales. destinations and to explore more of the UK.” slightest increase in demand resulting from free tolls could (Source: UNESCO) “We are in a globally competitive market where people But while charges are being lifted for drivers travelling worsen things for our town.” are able to choose anywhere in the world to go on holiday, between England and Wales, motorists visiting Hampshire (Source: The Telegraph) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 18, 2018 SCIENCE 11

The future of drones might Electric cars of the future could be recharged in 15 minutes

The next generation of electric cars could charge their batteries involve bees, researchers find in the time it takes to fill up at a gas station. You’ve probably heard the phrase “save around for hour at a time, they can also sense A group of companies including Germany’s BMW (BMWYY), the bees.” Well, the bees may be saving the what’s around them unlike drones. Porsche and Siemens (SIEGY) say they have developed technology drones — sort of. “With a drone, you’re just flying around that could help make super-fast charging a reality. On Tuesday, engineers at University randomly,” he said to NBC News, “while a bee They unveiled on Thursday a 450 kW charging station that needs of Washington announced that they have is going to be drawn to specific things, like only three minutes to provide enough juice for a 100 kilometer designed wireless platforms to be worn by the plants it prefers to pollinate. And on top (62 miles) drive. bees, in an effort to solve the issue of poor of learning about the environment, you can Ian Ellerington, head of tech- battery life on smaller drones. also learn a lot about how the bees behave.” nology transfer at the Faraday Although drones have become a symbol Following multiple trials, the engineers Institution, said the technology of future technology, the limited battery life track the bees through antennas and broadcast is significantly better than what’s on small drones has been a constant issue. signals. And it does help that bees are always currently available, even if there The bumblebee, nature’s flying pollinator, close to their hive. The bee collects data are major issues to resolve before can stay in the air a lot longer. throughout its daily flight and as it returns to it’s put into widespread use. The researchers, Vikram Iyer, the hive, the battery recharges and researchers “450kW is substantially quick- Rajalakshmi Nandakumar, Anran Wang, are sent the data. er than the Tesla superchargers Sawyer B. Fuller, and Shyamnath Gollakota Bee population decline (120kW), and would in principle call their invention Living IoT — a flying The researchers think their design could be 10 times quicker than the rapid wireless platform with sensors and trackers also help understand the reason behind the chargers that are currently widely that rides live insects. Previously, the team decline in the bee population. The population available,” he said. had worked on another insect flight platform of bees is rapidly decreasing, which has led They slow down road trips, dubbed the RoboFly. to fears that without them, our food industry and they’re a major inconvenience The sensor package could be in danger. for owners who can’t charge their cars at home. The sensor package is a small rechargeable “With the sensors, now we can understand Ellerington said the next generation of chargers could help battery that lasts up to seven hours of flight bees’ behavior in the wild,” said Gollakota. “We solve the problem. and is light on the insect, weighing 102 mg can potentially understand why these bees “At 350-450kW, electric charging will take a time comparable to or around the weight of seven grains of are going extinct. Now we have a bird’s-eye refueling with gasoline, which will make long journeys in (electric uncooked rice. view of what the bee is feeling or sensing.” vehicles) as practical as in cars using liquid fuels,” he said. “We decided to use bumblebees because The sensor package is a small rechargeable The UW engineers promise the tiny More development work is needed to make 450 kW chargers they’re large enough to carry a tiny battery that battery that lasts up to seven hours of flight creatures are safe with their new fashionable a practical option, however. can power our system,” said Iyer, a doctoral tech. The “whole process is very simple. All we According to Ellerington, one major piece of the puzzle is building student in the UW Department of Electrical and is light on the insect, weighing 102 mg are doing is just putting on a tiny backpack, cars that can handle the increased power. and Computer Engineering in an interview or around the weight of seven grains of and it is very easy for these bees to carry. They “I believe that there are no vehicles currently on the market that with NBC News. go and fly around and are completely fine.” could accept this amount of power, and it will need the next gener- Gollakota said not only can the bees fly uncooked rice. (Source: Fortune) ation of batteries to take advantage of the full capability,” he said. For the 450 kW charging project, BMW and Porsche designed cars specifically for the tests. NYU researchers pioneer machine learning to speed chemical discoveries, reduce waste Keith Pullen, a professor of energy systems at City, University of London, said that super-fast charging comes with other drawbacks. Machine learning algorithms can predict stock market in thermal energy during chemical reactions -- as indicated (Source: ktvz.com) fluctuations, control complex manufacturing processes, by color changes on the thermal image -- and to interpret enable navigation for robots and driverless vehicles, and these changes quickly. much more. Requiring a sterile field Now, researchers at the NYU Tandon School of Engi- Due to the non-contact nature of infrared thermogra- First Dutch bananas could neering are tapping a new set of capabilities in this field phy, the technique can even be utilized for reactions that help tackle worldwide fungal of artificial intelligence, combining artificial neural net- operate at extreme temperatures or in extreme conditions, works with infrared thermal imaging to control and in- such as a bioreactor that requires a sterile field. threat: new study terpret chemical reactions with precision and speed that The research team is the first to train an artificial neural far outpace conventional methods. More innovative still network to control and interpret infrared thermal images of a A Dutch university has grown the Netherlands’ first crop of ba- is the fact that this technique was developed and tested thermoelectrically cooled microfluidic device. The potential nanas as part of a research program that could help protect the on novel microreactors that allow chemical discoveries to impacts on both innovation and sustainability are signifi- fruit from a deadly fungus that threatens production worldwide. take place quickly and with far less environmental waste cant. Large chemical companies may screen hundreds of Wageningen University grew 60 banana plants in its green- than standard large-scale reactions. catalysts while developing new polymers, for example, and houses on coco peat and rock wool, avoiding the threat of a soil- “This system can reduce the decision-making process each reaction can require more than 100 liters of chemicals borne fungal disease that could destroy hundreds of thousands of about certain chemical manufacturing processes from one and 24 hours or longer. Screening that number of catalysts hectares of banana plants around the world, local media reported. year to a matter of weeks, saving tons of chemical waste discovering compounds and studying interactions in drug using current laboratory processes can take a year. Using The crop will be offered to local hospitals and restaurants. and energy in the process,” said Ryan Hartman, an assis- development, and they promise to reduce waste, speed Hartman’s approach, the entire process can be accomplished Gert Kema, a professor of tropical plant pathology, said the tant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering innovation, and improve the safety of chemical research. in weeks, with exponentially less waste and energy usage. success would lead to further research into combating Fusarium wilt. at NYU Tandon and lead author of a paper detailing the Hartman and his team have increased the utility of these Along with Hartman, the research team includes NYU “It threatens banana production throughout the world,” Kema method in the journal Computers & Chemical Engineering. reactors by pairing them with two additional technologies: Tandon doctoral student Benjamin Rizkin and 18-year-old said. “So we took the banana out of the soil. The plants grow very Microfluidic reactors infrared thermography, an imaging technique that captures Karina Popovich, a Brooklyn Technical High School senior well, with only the application of a nutrient.” Last year, Hartman introduced a new class of miniatur- a thermal map displaying changes in heat during a chemical who joined Hartman’s lab as part of InspirED, a National Bananas are a staple food for more than 400 million people ized chemical reactors that brings reactions traditionally reaction, and supervised machine learning, a discipline Science Foundation (NSF)-funded program that provides in the tropics, according to the university. The Fusarium fungus carried out in large-batch reactors with up to 100 liters of of artificial intelligence wherein an algorithm learns to gifted juniors and seniors the opportunity to complete a contaminates soil for decades and cannot be suppressed, and chemicals down to the microscale, using just microliters interpret data based on inputs selected by researchers thesis project in chemical engineering in Hartman’s Flow is threatening banana production throughout south-east Asia. of fluid - a few small drops. These microfluidic reactors controlling the experiments. Chemistry with Microsystems Laboratory. Growing bananas in an artificial medium allows for the nu- are useful for analyzing catalysts for manufacturing or Paired together, they allow researchers to capture changes (Source: eurekalert.org) trients the plants receive to be tailored according to their needs, and cuts down on nutrient losses through leakage, Kema told the university’s website. Climate change is really, really bad for human health and well-being, researchers say The “Dutch banana also does not need disease control, which It’s now beyond official: Greenhouse gases, Research Center in Falmouth, Massachusetts, Duffy said. stones, low birth weight, violence and suicide. makes cultivation more sustainable than in traditional production such as carbon dioxide, pose a danger to told Live Science. In response to these statements, Duffy Exposure to ozone and other air pollutants, areas,” he said. Under this kind of “precision cultivation”, the public health and welfare, according to an The scientific process and his colleagues decided to look at scientific including smoke from forest fires, can be bad plants can also be separated out more so that each gets more exhaustive review that looked at 275 scientific The “Supreme Court said ‘if you deter- studies published since the endangerment for human health. light, allowing individual bunches of bananas to ripen faster. studies published over the past nine years. mine that greenhouse gases are dangerous, finding came out, to see whether the science Extreme weather events intensified by Several local companies and the Swiss-owned banana producer Researchers did the report to investigate then you have to regulate them,’” Duffy said. strengthened or weakened the case for en- climate change can lead to physical trauma, and distributor Chiquita are looking into expanding the research whether the Environmental Protection Agen- “But, of course, the Supreme Court wasn’t dangerment. disease outbreaks, interruption of health care program, and a trial using artificial substrates is planned in the cy’s (EPA) 2009 Endangerment Finding, itself going to say whether greenhouse gases The new review grouped the findings into delivery and mental health problems. Philippines. (Source: The Guardian) which found that greenhouse gases pose a are dangerous. That’s a scientific process different categories: public health, air quality, With less snowpack in the mountains, the risk to human health, still held up. not a legal one. So, the EPA undertook the agriculture, forests, water resources, sea level West and Southwest may experience more The new study showed that there is now scientific assessment of the dangerousness rise, infrastructure and wildlife. The four droughts. Reduced snowpack can lead to New research finds tornadoes even more evidence that greenhouse gases or not-dangerousness of greenhouse gases.” new categories include ocean acidification, reduced river flow, which can threaten rare are harming human health and welfare. The In December 2009, the EPA released that national security, economic well-being and and endangered species, such as salmon and form from the ground up, investigation also found an additional four report, which found that greenhouse gases violence. Here are more in-depth looks at wolverines. areas, not listed in the original report, in do endanger human health and welfare by several of them. Climate change is also expected to erode contrary to popular thought which greenhouse gases threaten people. causing climate change. The administration Exposure to ozone water quality in the United States because Historically, scientists assumed tornado rotation began in storm “There’s absolutely no scientific basis for of president Barack Obama used this find- People in more than 200 U.S. cities have of nutrient loading (such as from fertilizer clouds, creating a funnel that travels downwards. This theory questioning the Endangerment Finding,” re- ing to implement new regulations, such as an increased risk of premature death because or animal waste), especially in the Midwest matches what storm chasers commonly observe visually in the view lead researcher Philip Duffy, president the Clean Power Plan and stronger vehicle of future warming, the researchers found. and Northeast. field. Viewers often report seeing funnel clouds gradually de- and executive director of the Woods Hole mileage standards for cars and light trucks, Extreme heat is linked with sleep loss, kidney (Source: livescience.com) scending until they make contact with the ground. But new research combining a new type of Doppler radar with photos and videos of tornadoes formed by supercell thun- Biggest ever’ sinkhole ripped open in New Zealand, and unearthed history derstorms shows the opposite is true: Tornadoes materialize What is thought to be the largest known sink- up to reveal this jagged, 200-metre-long (656 from the ground up. hole in New Zealand ripped open across a ft) ravine that looks like something out of Weather forecasters typically issue tornado warnings based on farm on NZ’s North Island earlier this year, the movie 2012. radar observations of strong rotation above the ground, but the revealing a gigantic cavernous void estimated The 20-meter (66 ft) depth of the hole isn’t new findings suggest forecasters must re-evaluate their warning to have been decades or even a century in just vertigo-inducing. It also offers a fasci- procedure, according to the researchers. the making. nating scientific cross-section to geologists, “We need to reconsider the paradigms that we have to explain As of May 2018, the sinkhole, situated showing the gradual build-up and layering of tornado formation, and we especially need to communicate this to about 15 kilometers south-east of the city rock, sediment, and soil over unimaginably forecasters who are trying to make warnings and issue warnings,” of Rotorua in a region called Earthquake long timescales. said Jana Houser, a meteorologist at Ohio University in Athens Flat, measured as long as two football fields Volcanic deposit who will present the new findings here today at the American and plunges to a depth that would swallow “What I see in the bottom of this hole is Geophysical Union’s Fall Meeting. “You are not going to really a six-story building. the original 60,000-year-old volcanic deposit ever be finding strong evidence of a tornado descending, so we The “largest I’ve seen prior to this would that came out of this crater,” Scott told TVNZ. need to stop making that a priority in our forecasting strategies.” be about a third of the size of this, so this is What makes this sinkhole so much big- Research conducted in the 1970s suggested tornadoes form really big,” volcanologist Brad Scott from ger than ones that have preceded it in New from rotation that starts several kilometers above Earth’s surface. Kiwi geoscience firm GNS Science told AP Zealand is the record-breaking rainfall that The theory was that this funnel gradually sucked in air from at the time. helped cause it – almost 170mm of rain in below, descending until it touched the ground. A farm assistant first came across the 38 hours. Most meteorologists have accepted this theory of tornado sinkhole in early May before the sun came Thanks to that decisive deluge, volcanolo- formation, but a series of new observations from rapidly scanning up, narrowly avoiding riding into it on his gists and landslide scientists will be busy over radars has started to change that. motorbike when rounding up cows for milking the next few weeks, inspecting the chasm, One of the pivotal cases contributing to the new understanding early in the morning. and seeing what they can learn from it. of tornado formation occurred on May 31, 2013. On this day, the Gaping chasm farm manager Colin Tremain. have been forming for up to 100 years, after Others meanwhile, are just happy this El Reno tornado formed in central Oklahoma and shattered pre- Only later in the day, when visibility was “We’ll keep it fenced off as it is to keep decades of rainfall slowly eroded the farm’s giant void didn’t swallow them whole – like vious tornado records. It was the widest tornado ever recorded, improved, did the sheer scale of the gaping stock out, although stock aren’t stupid, they’re limestone rock foundations. the farm assistant, Gabriel Lafalla, who nar- peaking at 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles) wide, and had wind speeds chasm become apparent. not going to walk into a hole, they can spot After a period of intensive rainfall at the rowly avoided riding into the sinkhole in the of more than 480 kilometers per hour (300 miles per hour), the “It wasn’t until I came down in daylight danger.” end of April that lasted for about a week, the pre-dawn darkness. second-highest wind speeds recorded on Earth. that I actually saw just how big it was,” said According to Scott, the sinkhole could last of the rock’s resistance gave way, opening (Source: sciencealert.com) (Source: phys.org) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 WOMEN DECEMBER 18, 2018

Walking linked to lower heart Trace of women’s failure risk in older women Walking is great for the body, mind and soul. And if you’re a growth in next middle-aged woman, a new study finds that it may lower your risk of heart failure. Heart failure affects roughly 3.6 million American women. Now when you have heart failure, this means that the heart is no year’s budget bill longer pumping and circulating blood like it should. This causes WOMENTEHRAN — The budget headquarters, Ebtekar said elaborating that fatigue because the body isn’t getting enough oxygen, and other deskbill for the next fiscal year the first law was on regulating indicators of symptoms like shortness of breath, a persistent cough, rapid heart (starting March 21, 2019) has proposed gender equity. rate and swelling of the ankles, feet, legs or abdomen. policies regarding improvement of wom- All specialized committees and work- Now new research has found that exercise can lower the en’s condition in the country, Masoumeh shops on gender equality were held with risk of heart failure in middle-aged and older women. More Ebtekar, vice president for women’s and the participation of all members of the than 137,000 women aged 50 to 79 took part in the study. family affairs, has said. workshop, including representative of And researchers found the women who exercised the most One of the duties assigned to the depart- Judiciary Force and Cultural Revolution were 35% less likely to develop heart failure. Quite a few of ment for women and family affairs in the Council, she stated. the women in study walked, about 38%. I love recommending Sixth Five-Year Development Plan (2016- The VP expressed that general indicators walking because it’s easy, doesn’t cost any money and you 2021), is implementing gender equality, ISNA which are mainly on education, health, em- can do it anywhere! quoted Ebtekar, speaking on the sidelines ployment and sports were composed and Besides exercising, there are other preventative steps you can of the cabinet’s meeting on December 12. finalized at different sessions. take when it comes to heart failure, so here are my prescriptions: Formation of national headquarters for Before, during and after marriage trainings Know your blood pressure numbers and keep them in the women and family affairs has been one of and strategies for happiness and sports of normal range. If it’s uncontrolled, this can lead to heart disease. the policies of the government, she added. women and girls were also considered in the Know that coronary artery disease and diabetes can also damage Three very good laws were passed in the laws passed by the headquarters. the heart. If you have these, be sure to see your doctor regularly so that the conditions can be monitored. If you suffer from depression, be sure to get help. Depression is often associated with heart failure. Women play major role in water, Follow a heart-healthy diet, don’t smoke and lose weight if you need to. Taking these steps can help prevent heart failure. environmental planning (Source: WXYZ) WOMENTEHRAN — Women play a great role women are managers of water, food and energy and a de- deskin planning to address water and envi- terminative in this triangle. RECIPE OF THE WEEK ronmental problems, Molood Shiva, advisor to the energy “Women also play active role in agriculture. They also minister for women’s and family affairs said here on Saturday. play a role in changing the pattern of farming in agriculture.” Persimmon and Women have played an effective role in water supplying Since women accompany their family in different situ- and water projects all over the world, Fars quoted Shiva, ations, one of the most profitable trainings in the world is pomegranate salad speaking at the congress titled “zero point water”. education for women, the official said. Due to population growth, all water resources were con- Naturally women are more sensitive toward the envi- “A sweet and tangy fall salad with a bit of crunch and nuttiness sumed inefficiently, she added. ronment and water, she emphasized. tossed in from the pecans. I love pecans so I often double the Water, food and energy are three sides of a triangle which Unions and associations formed by women have always amount of pecans.” together lead to humanity’s survival, Shiva said, noting that been able to increase the speed of projects, Shiva concluded. Ingredients: 1/2 cup pecan halves 3/4 cup orange juice, divided In Iranian folktales, a woman heralds winter 2 teaspoons cornstarch By Naghmeh Mizanian hair as white as snow. melted. 1 1/2 tablespoons honey The grandma frost lived in the sky. She Nan-e Sarma, happy and cheerful, made 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil In Iranian mythology and symbolism, man had two sons who brought cold weather with her home all clean and neat. She prepared 1/2 lime, juiced is a sign of effectiveness and woman is an themselves. One of her sons, Chelle Bozorge, everything and waited for Amoo Norouz, the 7 fresh tarragon leaves, thinly indication of being affected. was a kind man. He reigned the world from “Uncle New Year”, the kind messenger of the sliced crosswise, or more to taste Nan-e Sarma (mother of cold) looks the first day of winter for forty days. New Year and spring. Salt and ground black pepper forward the light and his male mate Amoo After the reign of Chelle Bozorge, the other On the first day of spring, Nan-e Sarma, to taste Norouz felicitates the spring and Norouz son of Nan-e Sarma, Chelle Kocheeke, reigned dresses up and sets up her haft-sin, waiting 1 (8 ounce) package herb salad (Iranian New Year). the world. He was unkind and cold. He brought for Amoo Norouz. mix The love story of Nan-e Sarma and Amoo sever cold weather, ice and snow. But his But she falls asleep while Amoo Norouz 2 Fuyu persimmons, peeled and Norouz is an example of what happens not sovereignty was short. Only twenty days. shows up. He drinks some tea and leaves her each cut into only in the nature but the whole world. The older brother told the younger one not a marigold flower and disappears without 8 pieces This is one of the folk stories of Iran usu- to try to make the world so cold. “Don’t try waking her up. 1 large pomegranate, peeled and seeds separated ally being narrated by grandmothers on the hard, the spring will take away cold,” Chelle So she should wait one more year until Directions: longest night of the year, Yalda, when the Bozorge told Chelle Kocheeke. However, the next spring to see him again. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). warmth of grandmother’s home nullifies the younger brother tried to freeze everything. Some people believe that if these two Spread pecans onto a baking sheet. cold weather of winter. One day, another ruler came and impris- meet each other, an apocalypse will happen. Bake pecans in the preheated oven until toasted and fragrant, Once upon a time, Nan-e Sarma, the oned Chelle Kocheeke in an icy mountain. mountain to fight with the ices and snows Tehran Times Women’s Desk wishes all 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside to cool. lady of cold spells, arrived with the cold Nan-e Sarma became really sad. She and save her son. readers a happy and cheerful Yalda Night Whisk 1/2 cup orange juice and cornstarch together in a small weather. She was an old woman with her took a hot bar with herself and went to the She won the fight and all snows were (December 21). saucepan; cook and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in honey until dissolved. Stir remaining 1/4 cup orange juice, olive oil, lime juice, tarragon leaves, salt, and pepper into orange juice mixture. Majority of Australian women sexually harassed at work: survey Chill dressing in refrigerator, at least 30 minutes. Two in three Australian women have been sexually opportunities and supports the attitudes that make violence Spread herb salad mix into a serving bowl or on individual harassed at work, with the majority of cases unreported, more likely,” Merrindahl Andrew, from the Australian plates; top with persimmon slices, pomegranate seeds, and pe- according to a survey released on Tuesday that Women Against Violence Alliance, said by email. cans. Drizzle cooled dressing over salad. highlighted challenges activists said prevent women Australia was ranked 35 out of 144 countries in the from advancing in their careers. World Economic Forum’s 2017 Gender Gap Index, up LEARN ENGLISH Some 64 percent of women and 35 percent of men from 46 in 2016 due to greater female representation said they had been harassed at their current or former legislators and managers. workplace, according to the survey of over 9,600 people Although the global #MeToo movement has helped Forex by the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the country’s raised awareness about sexual harassment, the advocacy main group representing workers. group Plan International said the lack of strong policies A: Hey John! I haven’t seen you in ages! What’s new? What The majority of those surveyed said they were subjected and enforcement has discouraged victims from coming have you been up to? to offensive behavior or unwanted sexual attention. However forward in Australia. B: Pete! Nice to see you Well, on top the norm, you know, only about a quarter of them made formal complaints, “The survey finding is disturbing, yet not surprising wife and kids and work, I’ve actually gotten into doing some due to fears of repercussion, the survey found. to us,” the group’s chief executive in Australia Susanne trading. “Everyone should go to work free from the fear of Legena told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. A: Trading? You, big guy? What are you trading? harassment and unwanted sexual attention,” the council’s She urged the government to improve reporting B: Currencies. president, Michele O’Neil, said in a statement. Campaigners said sexual harassment creates a workplace mechanisms, including by setting up a specific hotline A: Currencies? As in Euros, Dollars, Pounds and Rupees? “For many people - mainly women - today in Australia environment that is discriminatory towards women, which and enhance training for police officers to fight under- B: It’s called Forex. Foreign Exchange. The great thing about this is not the reality. Our workplace laws have failed can prevent them from moving forward in their careers. reporting of cases. it is that I don’t have to invest a huge amount. I put in a women who are experiencing harassment at work.” “Sexual harassment in the workplace closes off women’s (Source: Reuters) margin deposit and then I can buy and sell up to 100 times that much! A: I don’t understand. You’re buying and selling money? B: You got it! Just last night I made USD 150! ENGLISH IN USE A: Last night? B: Yeah! It’s a 24 hour market! I had bought some RMB LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION earlier at a low asking price but last night it appreciated drastically so I made a split second decision and sold all my RMB at an amazing bid! I’ve also done some trading with CHF and AUD and HKD. I’ve made some good profits Iran seeking possible inclusion of تاالب »آققشالق« در بجنورد بینالمللی میشود but I’ve also suffered some losses. It depends on a lot of factors just like any other market. In total I’ve made about Aq-Qeshlaq wetland on Ramsar List USD 500 in the past few months. رئیــس اداره محیــط طبیعــی ادارهکل حفاظــت محیطزیســت خراسا نشــمالی گفــت: A: You’re kidding! I’m on! Where do I sign up? Iran is seeking to register Aq-Qeshlaq wetland in the northeastern North پیگی ریهــای الزم در حــال انجــام اســت تــا تــاالب آققشــاق در خراســان شــمالی Key vocabulary Khorasan province on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International ب هعنــوان تــاالب رامســر ســایت بــه ثبــت برســد. norm: something is usual or expected Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, the provincial department currency: the money that a country uses اســکندر گردمــردی روز ســه شــنبه در گف توگــو بــا خبرنــگار ایســنا، افــزود: ب هرغــم .of environment chief has said margin deposit: the sum of money required to reinstate “Despite the area is facing water scarcity, the wetland and its surroundings are وجــود بحــران ک مآبــی در ایــن منطقــه، ایــن تــاالب دارای آب اســت و زمی نهــای drastically: taking effect rapidly split second: very quickly; just a second filled with water,” ISNA quoted Eskandar Gordmardi as saying on Tuesday. اطــراف آن زمی نهــای تاالبــی هســتند. bid: an offer to pay a particular amount of money The main purpose of applying for the list of sites on the Convention on Wetlands وی هدف اصلی از ثبت این تاالب را حفاظت و مراقبت از آن اعلم کرد. .Supplementary vocabulary is to protect the wetland and prevent it from drying, he added depreciate: decrease in the value of a currency in response to market demands spread: the difference between the bid and the ask for a given currency pair PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM OTC: (over the counter market): a market that has no central exchange so exchanges are done inter-bank “my-, myo-“ Fall about Beat about/around the bush between two parties Meaning: muscle Meaning: to laugh a lot about something: Explanation: to speak vaguely or euphemistically so as to speculative: buying and selling in the hope of making a For example: The patients is suffering acute For example: It was so funny everyone just fell avoid talking directly about an unpleasant or sensitive topic profit, rather than for some business-related need myocardial infarction. about laughing. For example: Don’t beat around the bush—just tell base currency: the currency in which the investor buys or sells me the truth. (Source: irlanguage.com) ساعت: 19:40 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 18, 2018 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 Qatar 1996 coup plot: New details Justin Trudeau: Canada looking for way out of Saudi reveal Saudi-UAE backing arms deal A former French Army commander has operation was a call from former French Pres- revealed new details of a foiled military ident Jacques Chirac, who personally ordered Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said for the first coup that was planned against Qatar by the him to stop any “foolishness” from happening. time that his Liberal government is looking for a way out of a now-blockading countries in the region in The decision to stop the operation from multibillion-dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia. February 1996. going ahead was ordered by the founding In an interview with Al Jazeera, Paul father of Qatar, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Barril, who oversaw the thwarted opera- Al Thani, after he was told that the opera- tion, said that a plan to overthrow the Qa- tion against his son may leave about 1,000 tari government at the time was backed by people dead. the House of Saud regime, the United Arab Barril said that the plan, if implemented, Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain. would have resulted in a “massacre”, pointing The same countries, along with Egypt, out that his team was tasked with arresting severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Hamad, as well on June 5, 2017. The quartet has accused as the country’s foreign minister, among Qatar of supporting “terrorism”. Qatar has others from the ruling family. denied the charges and said the boycott aims Meanwhile, Germany’s former Foreign to impinge on its sovereignty. Minister Sigmar Gabriel has revealed that The failed coup, dubbed “Operation Abu Qatar was on the verge of a military invasion Ali”, took place during the month of Ram- in early June 2017, when the blockading quartet Speaking in a TV interview that aired on Sunday, the comments adan on February 14, 1996, one year after announced they had severed ties with Doha. represented a notable hardening in tone from Trudeau, who the former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa The German politician said in an interview previously said there would be huge penalties for scrapping the Al Thani assumed the throne. Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who at operation in which he crossed into Doha with Al Jazeera that former United States $13bn agreement for armored vehicles made by the Canadian It was planned in conjunction with the time was commander-in-chief of the by sea to take photos of the targets - among Secretary of State Rex Tillerson played a key unit of General Dynamics Corp. then-police chief Sheikh Hamad bin Jas- UAE forces. them was Sheikh Hamad’s residence, the role in preventing the attack from taking place, Last month, Trudeau said Canada could freeze the relevant sim bin Hamad Al Thani, the cousin of the Barril said the weapons had been trans- country’s local television station, and state at a time when the Saudi regime’s Crown export permits if it concluded the weapons had been misused. former emir. ferred from Egypt and the military team that security buildings. Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) - the “We are engaged with the export permits to try and see if there According to Barril, the UAE in particular was supposed to carry out the operation The images were broadcast on Al Jazeera kingdom’s de facto ruler - believed he had is a way of no longer exporting these vehicles to Saudi Arabia,” had provided him with great support to carry included exiled Qatari officers. for the first time on Sunday. full U.S. backing. Trudeau told CTV. He did not give further details. out the operation. At the time, he had taken Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also prepared He had also managed to bring to the region Gabriel had warned at the time that the Political opponents, citing the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal 40 highly trained soldiers to execute the plan. tribal fighters, while Bahrain was meant to about 3,000 Chadian soldiers to participate rift in the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council Khashoggi and the House of Saud regime’s involvement in the He and his team were hosted in Abu be used as a hub for Barril and his com- in the attack by striking a deal with President (PGCC) could lead to war, citing what he Yemen war, insist Trudeau should end the General Dynamics deal, Dhabi’s InterContinental hotel, where many munications team to oversee the operation Idriss Deby worth $20m. called a “dramatic” harshness in relations which was negotiated by the previous Conservative government. weapons were stored. They were also given unfolding in Doha via wiretappings. Barril put the cost of the entire foiled between allied and neighboring countries In October Trudeau maintained that he was reluctant to cancel UAE passports to facilitate their movement Barril revealed that at the beginning of attack at $100m. in the Persian Gulf. the controversial contract with the Saudi regime in the wake of by the current Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, 1996, he carried out a private and covert According to Barril, what had affected the (Source: Al Jazeera) the Khashoggi case as it would cost Canada C$1bn ($747m). Trudeau said that the “difficult” contract was made in a way that “makes it very difficult to suspend or leave the contract”. “I do not want to leave Canadians holding a billion-dollar bill New report on Russian disinformation, prepared for the Senate, shows the operation’s scale and sweep because we’re trying to move forward on doing the right thing,” A report prepared for the Senate that provides the most and, once it was discovered, their failure to share more Trudeau said in October. “So we’re navigating this very carefully.” sweeping analysis yet of Russia’s disinformation campaign with investigators. The authors urged that in the future Relations between Ottawa and Riyadh have been tense since a around the 2016 election found the operation used every they provide data in “meaningful and constructive” ways. diplomatic dispute over human rights earlier this year. Ottawa says major social media platform to deliver words, images and Facebook, for example, provided the Senate with copies it has been consulting allies on what steps to take after Khashoggi videos tailored to voters’ interests to help elect President of posts from 81 Facebook pages and information on 76 was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Trump — and worked even harder to support him while accounts used to purchase ads, but it did not share posts “The murder of a journalist is absolutely unacceptable and in office. from other user accounts run by the IRA, the report says. that’s why Canada from the very beginning had been demanding The report, a draft of which was obtained by The Wash- Twitter, meanwhile, has made it challenging for outside answers and solutions on that,” said Trudeau. Human rights ington Post, is the first to study the millions of posts pro- researchers to collect and analyze data on its platform groups have been issuing letters to Trudeau since 2016, asking vided by major technology firms to the Senate Intelligence through its public feed, the researchers said. him to cancel the controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Committee, led by Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), its chair- Google submitted information in an especially difficult “To provide such a large supply of lethal weapons to a regime man, and Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), its ranking Democrat. way for the researchers to handle, providing content such with such an appalling record of human rights abuses is immor- The bipartisan panel hasn’t said whether it endorses the as YouTube videos but not the related data that would have al and unethical. The spirit and letter of both domestic export findings. It plans to release it publicly along with another allowed a full analysis. The YouTube information was so hard controls and international law support this view,” said the letter study later this week. for the researchers to study, they wrote, that they instead larger swaths of U.S. voters by geography, political interests, signed by representatives of human rights organizations such as The research — by Oxford University’s Computation- tracked the links to its videos from other sites in hopes of race, religion and other factors. The Russians started with Amnesty International. al Propaganda Project and Graphika, a network analysis better understanding YouTube’s role in the Russian effort. accounts on Twitter, then added YouTube and Instagram “We believe the regime’s integrity has been utterly compro- firm — offers new details of how Russians working at Facebook and Google did not immediately respond to before bringing Facebook into the mix, the report said. mised with the government’s decision to proceed with the largest the Internet Research Agency, which U.S. officials have requests for comment. Facebook was particularly effective at targeting conserv- arms sale in Canadian history to one of the world’s worst human charged with criminal offenses for interfering in the 2016 In a statement, Twitter stressed it had made “significant atives and African Americans, the report found. More than rights violators.” campaign, sliced Americans into key interest groups for strides” since the 2016 election to harden its digital defens- 99 percent of all engagement — meaning likes, shares and There is a “reasonable risk” that Canadian-made military targeted messaging. These efforts shifted over time, peaking es, including the release of a repository of the tweets that other reactions — came from 20 Facebook pages controlled hardware is being used against civilians, the letter noted, con- at key political moments, such as presidential debates or Russian agents previously sent so that for researchers can by the IRA, including “Being Patriotic,” “Heart of Texas,” sidering Saudi Arabia’s “abysmal and worsening human rights party conventions, the report found. review them. “Our singular focus is to improve the health “Blacktivist” and “Army of Jesus.” record, both within Saudi Arabia and in neighboring Yemen”. The data sets used by the researchers were provided by of the public conversation on our platform, and protecting Together, the 20 most popular pages generated 39 mil- (Source: Al Jazeera) Facebook, Twitter and Google and covered several years the integrity of elections is an important aspect of that lion likes, 31 million shares, 5.4 million reactions and 3.4 up to mid-2017, when the social media companies cracked mission,” the company added. million comments. Company officials told Congress that the down on the known Russian accounts. The report, which Facebook, Google and Twitter first disclosed last year Russian campaign reached 126 million people on Facebook also analyzed data separately provided to House Intelligence that they had identified Russian interference on their sites. and 20 million more on Instagram. Taliban say they’re meeting Committee members, contains no information on more Critics previously said that it took too long to come to an The Russians operated 133 accounts on Instagram, a pho- U.S. officials again recent political moments, such as November’s midterm understanding of the disinformation campaign, and that to-sharing subsidiary of Facebook, that focused mainly on elections. Russian strategies have likely shifted since then. The com- race, ethnicity or other forms of personal identity. The most The Taliban said they are holding “another” meeting on Monday “What is clear is that all of the messaging clearly sought panies have awakened to the threat — Facebook, in particu- successful Instagram posts targeted African American cul- with U.S. officials, this time in the United Arab Emirates and also to benefit the Republican Party — and specifically Donald lar, created a “war room” this fall to combat interference tural issues and black pride and were not explicitly political. involving Saudi, Pakistani and Emirati representatives in the latest Trump,” the report says. “Trump is mentioned most in around elections — but none has revealed interference While the overall intensity of posting across platforms attempt to bring a negotiated end to Afghanistan’s 17-year war. campaigns targeting conservatives and right-wing voters, around the midterm elections last month on the scale of grew year by year — with a particular spike during the six Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid offered no further where the messaging encouraged these groups to support what happened in 2016. months after Election Day 2016 — this growth was particularly details. Khalil Minawi, director of Afghanistan’s state-run Bakhtar his campaign. The main groups that could challenge Trump The report expressed concern about the overall threat pronounced on Instagram, which went from roughly 2,600 news agency, also confirmed the meeting. He said on Twitter that were then provided messaging that sought to confuse, dis- social media poses to political discourse within nations posts a month in 2016 to nearly 6,000 in 2017, when the officials from the United States, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the tract and ultimately discourage members from voting.” and among them, warning that companies once viewed accounts were shut down. Across all three years covered by UAE held meetings Sunday ahead of “the Pakistani-sponsored Representatives for Burr and Warner declined to comment. as tools for liberation in the Arab world and elsewhere are the report, Russian Instagram posts generated 185 million U.S.-Taliban meeting.” The report offers the latest evidence that Russian now threats to democracy. likes and 4 million user comments. While Afghan officials are not expected to attend Monday’s agents sought to help Trump win the White House. Democrats “Social media have gone from being the natural infra- Even though the researchers struggled to interpret the meeting, their presence in the UAE is a significant step in efforts and Republicans on the panel previously studied the U.S. structure for sharing collective grievances and coordinating YouTube data submitted by Google, they were able to track to get the two sides talking. So far, the Taliban have refused to intelligence community’s 2017 finding that Moscow aimed civic engagement to being a computational tool for social the links from other sites to YouTube, offering a “proxy” hold direct talks with the Afghan government, calling it a puppet to assist Trump, and in July, they said investigators had control, manipulated by canny political consultants and for understanding the role played by the video platform. of America and insisting only on negotiating with the U.S. come to the correct conclusion. Despite their work, some available to politicians in democracies and dictatorships “The proxy is imperfect,” the researchers wrote, “but While the U.S. State Department has neither denied nor con- Republicans on Capitol Hill continue to doubt the nature alike,” the report said. the IRA’s heavy use of links to YouTube videos leaves little firmed previous meetings with the Taliban, Washington’s special of Russia’s interference in the last presidential election. Researchers also noted that the data includes evidence doubt of the IRA’s interest in leveraging Google’s video peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad previously said he has held several The Russians aimed particular energy at activating con- of sloppiness by the Russians that could have led to ear- platform to target and manipulate US audiences.” meetings with all Afghans involved in the protracted conflict – a servatives on issues such as gun rights and immigration, lier detection, including the use of Russia’s currency, the The use of YouTube, like the other platforms, appears reference that would include the Taliban, who control or hold while sapping the political clout of left-leaning African ruble, to buy ads and Russian phone numbers for contact to have grown after Trump’s election. Twitter links to You- say in nearly half of Afghanistan. American voters by undermining their faith in elections information. The operatives also left behind technical sig- Tube videos grew by 84 percent in the six months after the Washington has spent $1 trillion in Afghanistan since the and spreading misleading information about how to vote. natures in computerized logs, such as Internet addresses election, the data showed. U.S.-led coalition ousted the Taliban in 2001. The war there has Many other groups — Latinos, Muslims, Christians, gay in St. Petersburg, where the IRA was based. The Russians shrewdly worked across platforms as they become America’s longest war. men and women, liberals, Southerners, veterans — got at Many of the findings track, in general terms, work by refined their tactics aimed at particular groups, posting links A Taliban statement last month said they held three consecutive least some attention from Russians operating thousands other researchers and testimony previously provided by the across accounts and sites to bolster the influence operation’s days of talks with Khalilzad in Qatar, a Mideast country where the of social media accounts. companies to lawmakers investigating the Russian effort. success on each, the report shows. insurgent group maintains a political office. Afterward, Khalilzad The report also offered some of the first detailed analyses But the fuller data available to the researchers offered new “Black Matters US” had accounts on Twitter, Facebook, went to Kabul where he urged Afghan President Ashraf Ghani of the role played by YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, and insights on many aspects of the Russian campaign. Instagram, YouTube, Google+, Tumblr and PayPal, according to cobble together a team that could hold talks with the Taliban Instagram, owned by Facebook, in the Russian campaign, The report traces the origins of Russian online influence to the researchers. By linking posts across these platforms, with the intent of reaching an agreement on a “roadmap for the as well as anecdotes about how Russians used other social operations to Russian domestic politics in 2009 and says the Russian operatives were able to solicit donations, or- future of Afghanistan.” media platforms — Google+, Tumblr and Pinterest — that that ambitions shifted to include U.S. politics as early as ganize real-world protests and rallies, and direct online Khalilzad said he would like to see this agreement reached have received relatively little scrutiny. The Russian effort 2013 on Twitter. Of the tweets the company provided to traffic to a website that the Russians controlled. before Afghan presidential elections, scheduled for next April. also used email accounts from Yahoo, Microsoft’s Hotmail the Senate, 57 percent are in Russian, 36 percent in English The researchers found that when Facebook shut down the Since his appointment in September, Khalilzad has tried to service and Google’s Gmail. and smaller amounts in other languages. page in August 2016, a new one called “BM” soon appeared jumpstart peace talks and has made several tours of the region. The authors, while reliant on data provided by technology The efforts to manipulate Americans grew sharply in with more cultural and fewer political posts. It tracked closely Earlier this month, he held meetings in Islamabad. Pakistani companies, also highlighted the companies’ “belated and 2014 and every year after, as teams of operatives spread to the content on the @blackmatterus Instagram account. Prime Minister Imran Khan later said Khalilzad asked Pakistan uncoordinated response” to the disinformation campaign their work across more platforms and accounts to target (Source: Washington Post) to assist in getting the Taliban to the negotiating table. Khan said Pakistan would sponsor the UAE talks and insisted that a military solution is not the answer. President Donald Trump has long accused Islamabad of taking Israel sentences Palestinian teen to 35 years in prison over alleged stabbing attack billions of U.S. dollars while doing nothing to aid peace efforts An Israeli court has sentenced a Palestinian Israeli shekels ($264,700). Israeli police spokesperson Luba al-Samri mother to eleven months in jail for “in- and has assailed Khan since his election as prime minister last teenage boy to 35 years in prison on the Sabbah and 14-year-old Omar Salim said at the time that two Palestinians had citement” summer. Washington has suspended hundreds of millions of allegation of carrying out a stabbing attack Rimawi were both shot and critically in- “infiltrated” the Israeli settlement and en- Separately, an Israeli court has sen- dollars in military aid to Pakistan. in the occupied West Bank. jured on February 18, 2016 after carrying tered the supermarket before stabbing the tenced the mother of a young Palestinian Khan meanwhile has responded to Trump’s rebukes by saying The Ofer military court passed the verdict out a stabbing attack that left one Israeli two Israeli settlers. man, who was killed by Israeli military that his country was drawn into the war on terror although no Paki- on 18-year-old Ayham Bassem Sabbah, a settler killed and another injured at the Rami Both Palestinians were shot and critically forces last year, to eleven months in prison stanis were involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and that resident of the Qalandia refugee camp north Levi supermarket in the Shaare Benyamin injured by an armed civilian present at the on charges of “incitement on social media the war has cost Pakistan $123 billion. Khan has also described the of al-Quds (Jerusalem), late on Sunday, and industrial complex northwest of al-Quds scene, al-Samri noted. networks.” U.S. contribution of $20 billion to Pakistan as minuscule. also ordered him to pay a fine of one million (Jerusalem). Israeli court sentences Palestinian (Source: Press TV) (Source: AP) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS DECEMBER 18, 2018

Chelsea travel to Sweden Bayern Munich to face Liverpool, to face Malmo in Europa League last 32 PSG meet Man Utd Bayern Munich and Liverpool, both five-times fixtures and conceding only two. Former champions Chelsea will face Malmo in the last 32 of the European champions, will meet in one of three They were 4-1 victors both in the Nether- Europa League while Arsenal will lock horns again with BATE England-Germany clashes in the Champions lands and Spain in the most recent contests, Borisov. The two sides met in the Europa League last season, the League round of sixteen following the draw in the 2012-13 group stage. Gunners hammering the Belarussian side 6-0 at the Emirates. made at UEFA headquarters on Monday. History is also in Barcelona’s favour against Five-time champions Sevilla, currently second in La Liga, face English champions Manchester City will Lyon as the Catalans have won five and drawn a difficult tie against Lazio, beaten finalists in this competition take on Schalke 04 and Tottenham Hotspur one of six previous meetings. in 1998, who are fifth in Serie A. will face Borussia Dortmund in the other Juventus and Atletico Madrid have met The 2004 champions Valencia will have to overcome Scottish clashes between the Premier League and only twice before, in the Champions League champions Celtic while another Spanish side Villarreal, currently the Bundesliga. group stage in 2014-15. hovering just above the Liga relegation zone, face an Iberian Holders Real Madrid will face four-times Those games produced one goal between battle when they take on Sporting. winners Ajax Amsterdam, who have reached them and with the same coaches still in Napoli, demoted to the Europa League after they were knocked the knockout stages for the first since 2005-06. charge — Massimiliano Allegri at Juve and out of the Champions League at the group stage, face Zurich. In other ties, Manchester United take Diego Simeone at Atletico — another cagey Portuguese giants Benfica, three times runners-up, tackle on Paris St Germain for the first time while encounter is likely. Turkish side Galatasaray, UEFA Cup winners in 2000, and Inter Serie A champions Juventus face Europa “We have a very strong team so we are Milan, another team who failed to progress to the Champions League winners Atletico Madrid, Barcelo- confident,” said Juventus director Pavel League knockout stage, will play Rapid Vienna. na meet Olympique Lyonnais and AS Roma Nedved. “Atletico are a very balanced team, The ties will take place on 12-14 and 20-21 February. tackle Porto. difficult to face. (Source: AFP) Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp has the “They can defend deep and always cre- chance to renew a fierce rivalry with Bay- ate trouble with Diego Costa and Antoine ern which dates back to his days in charge Griezmann. I see two hard-fought games, of Borussia Dortmund where he won two maybe with not many goals.” successive Bundesliga titles. However, Atletico are also one of Juven- Chelsea chairman greets fans Overall, however, Klopp’s record against Recent form would appear to favour be looking forward to facing Dortmund, tus forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s favourite Bayern is not the greatest with eight wins, Manchester City against Schalke as Pep having scored three times in two matches opponents — the former Real Madrid player after allegations of racist five draws and 16 defeats. Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their last against them. has scored 22 goals against them, a total he Liverpool, who finished second in their seven matches against German clubs, win- Real Madrid are firm favourites against has bettered only against Getafe (23) and chanting group behind Paris St Germain, will play ning six of those. Ajax, having won their last six games against Sevilla (27). the first leg at home. Tottenham forward Harry Kane will also the Dutch side, scoring 20 goals in those (Source: Eurosport) Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck greeted Blues fans at the turnstiles before the Premier League win at Brighton, following allegations Ex-captains Keane, Neville slam Man Ajax’s De Ligt beats Alexander-Arnold of racism levelled against the club’s supporters. Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police are investigating claims Utd after Anfield loss to Golden Boy award Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling was subject to racist abuse earlier this month. Chelsea say Buck was a visible presence at Brighton’s Amex stadium on Sunday. A spokesman said some fans stopped to shake the chairman’s hand. Chelsea officials, who condemned anti-Semitic chanting during the Europa League tie midweek, said the atmosphere among the away support at Brighton was positive, but fans were reminded that they are currently the focus of attention. However, the club are also keen to stress that only a small minority of supporters are to blame for recent incidents. Chelsea say they will continue to take a lead to address any issues that arise and will continue the club’s anti-Semitism ed- ucation programme, which involves workshops in schools and awareness courses for fans. The club released a statement following Thursday’s 2-2 draw with MOL Vidi in Hungary, after reports of offensive songs aimed at Tottenham fans. They said the vocal minority of supporters had “shamed the club” and questioned the “brainpower” of sup- porters engaged in the chanting. Earlier this week, four Blues fans were suspended following the alleged racial abuse of Sterling, during the 2-0 win over City Former Manchester United captains Gary finger at the club’s directors for extending Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt has been De Ligt also paid tribute to run- at Stamford Bridge. Neville and Roy Keane turned their fire on the manager’s contract last season. named Golden Boy 2018 by Italian news- ner-up Alexander-Arnold as two de- A club statement said evidence of racist behaviour will result their old club after Jose Mourinho’s side “The board are so naive, giving him a paper Tuttosport, with Liverpool’s Trent fenders stood on the highest steps of in “severe sanctions, including bans”. fell to a dispiriting 3-1 defeat to old rivals new contract. Manchester United need to Alexander-Arnold coming second. the podium for the first time, after 15 (Source: BBC) Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. reset. It’s not just the manager, it’s deeper De Ligt, 19, who has been linked with years in which either a forward or a United are now 19 points behind Juergen than that. They lost control of the football Barcelona and Juventus, succeeds Kylian midfielder had won. Klopp’s Premier League leaders and sit club when they gave him a contract exten- Mbappe, who won the 2017 award. He “He’s a great player with huge talent,” 11 points off fourth place and Champions sion 18 months in. picked up 224 votes from a panel of sports he said. “He’s shown his quality and abil- League qualification. “The minute he came back from writers across Europe, with Alexander-Ar- ity as Liverpool’s right full-back and he’s Anderlecht fire coach But while the numbers speak for them- pre-season he was at it and the club lost nold earning 149 votes and Roma’s Justin already played a Champions League final. selves, Neville and Keane, both working as control. There is not that experience or Kluivert coming third with 101. I think that says more than something for Vanhaezebrouck after poor analysts on Sky Sports television, suggested knowledge in the football club above him He will pick up his award at a ceremony a player of his age. the club’s problems ran much deeper than to be able to manage or control him and in Turin on Monday evening. I love the way he attacks down the run of results just their current league position. handle him.” “I’m really happy and also very proud wing, but doesn’t forget his defensive Mourinho’s decision to leave Paul Pogba Keane said he was not surprised by the to have won this trophy, particularly duties in a more than perfect manner. Belgian soccer club Anderlecht have dismissed coach Hein Van- as an unused substitute raised eyebrows performance he witnessed at Anfield. when I look at who has won it before I’m sure we’re going to hear a lot about haezebrouck after a series of poor results that led to their exit from with Neville saying the midfield was not “I looked at United and thought they’re me,” De Ligt told Tuttosport. “It’s al- him in the future. the Europa League and drop to fourth in the domestic first division. up to scratch. going to be found out today. And they were. most incredible to see my name added “I’m delighted to become the first de- Anderlecht finished bottom of their Europa League group after three “I can’t get over United’s central midfield. “It’s a huge concern going forward. I to a list which includes [Paul] Pogba, fender to win this prize, and knowing that draws and three defeats and lost 2-1 to Cercle Bruges on Sunday to If you’re Paul Pogba watching (Nemanja) certainly believe a lot of their players are Mbappe, [Lionel] Messi and [Rafael] only forwards or midfielders have won it leave them 11 points beyond league leaders Genk. Their previous Matic, (Ander) Herrera, (Marouane) Fel- not good enough to be playing for Man- van der Vaart. Amazing. so far makes it all the more special. Usu- three league matches had been a draw and two losses. laini, Fred, who played the other night ... chester United. They’re good players but “I know who won this prize almost by ally you see forwards or midfielders in the “The team does not have enough points in the Belgian cham- not one of them can pass a football,” he said. not good enough for Manchester United. heart and to be honest, I appreciate it a photos so this means a lot for me since I pionship and we have been eliminated from the Belgian Cup and “None of them can actually receive the “They’re so far behind the likes of Man lot. There are lots of very big names on the play a different role.” the Europa League. We need to stop this trend soon,” Anderlecht ball and pass the ball. I just find it absolutely City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea. list, but if I were to name one, then Messi De Ligt only came fourth in a separate sporting director Michael Verschueren said in a statement late staggering. I thought United were awful The biggest problem is defensively; you stands out for me. Everybody recognises poll conducted on Tuttosport’s website on Sunday. “We want to thank Hein Vanhaezebrouck for his today....It’s not good enough,” added the have to have some foundation to go forward. what he has done for and in football. I really in which fans instead picked Kluivert hard work for the club.” former full-back who won eight titles in They look like they’re all over the place.” like him a lot as a footballer so I’m very as their favourite, ahead of Everton’s Vanhaezebrouck steered Ghent to their first ever league title Alex Ferguson’s team. The Irishman suggested that Pogba proud to have won the same trophy which Thomas Davies and Vinicius Junior of in 2015 and helped them become only the second Belgian side Neville said it would not make sense to might not have a long-term future at the club. he lifted before me, 13 years ago, when I Real Madrid. to advance beyond the group stage of the Champions League. sack Mourinho mid-season and pointed the (Source: Reuters) was only six.” (Source: ESPN) He joined Brussels-based Anderlecht at the start of last season, ending third in the league. (Source: Reuters) Five talking points from the Premier League weekend Liverpool regained top spot in the Premier League with a the crucial breakthrough in manager Mauricio Pochettino’s 3-1 victory over rivals Manchester United on Sunday while 100th Premier League victory. Tour de France winner Thomas Arsenal’s unbeaten run came to an end against Southamp- Referee questions ton. There were also wins for Manchester City, Tottenham Watford and Cardiff City could dominate the goal of the voted UK sports personality Hotspur and Chelsea. month contenders all on their own after the 3-2 victory by Here are five talking points from the weekend’s action: the Hornets at Vicarage Road on Saturday. Geraint Thomas was crowned the BBC’s UK sports personality Shaqiri completes Liverpool But Cardiff manager Neil Warnock was aggrieved at some of the year on Sunday after his maiden Grand Tour triumph in While much of the focus has been on Manchester United’s of the decisions by referee Andrew Madley, who was offi- the Tour de France. Welshman Thomas beat out Formula One dire play, it should not be overlooked just how good Juergen ciating only his second Premier League game of his career world champion Lewis Hamilton and World Cup Golden Boot Klopp’s Liverpool are playing right now. and his first of the season. winner Harry Kane into second and third respectively. The unbeaten league leaders had 36 shots on goal and “When I’ve got Andre Marriner (fourth official) beside “It is insane that I am stood here,” said Thomas after collecting dominated possession throughout the emphatic win, their me and I’ve got a young referee, first game of the season, I the prestigious prize in Birmingham. passing at times seeming to force United’s players to twist don’t understand that at all, me,” Warnock said. “Seeing kids on their bikes back home, you take great pride and contort in circles. It was the introduction of Xherdan “Whether it’s because it’s only Cardiff City, ‘we’ll let some- in winning this. “It’s been an amazing year for British sport and Shaqiri after 70 minutes that really turned the screw, as the one have an experiment today.’ We’ve got one of the best long may it continue.” There was some success for England’s Swiss forward showed why he could be the missing piece referees (Marriner) at the side of me. I’m flabbergasted.” World Cup team as Gareth Southgate picked up the coach of the of the puzzle for Liverpool to go from Champions League in order to lift spirits. Warnock’s frustrations may hint at a wider problem in year award. “I’m incredibly proud of the team,” said Southgate. runners-up last season to trophy winners. Spurs late show the English game, that the level of top-class officials is drop- “There was a disconnection with the fans for a long period New boss beer bounce at ST MARY’S The story goes that Spurs often crack under pressure. Yet ping off and younger blood has to be brought in quickly to and that was understandable. Southampton’s new manager Ralph Hasenhuettl had Christian Eriksen’s stoppage-time winner against Burnley fill the widening gaps. “Huge credit to the players, they played with great pride, great quite a task to rescue a side without a win since the beginning on Saturday was the fourth time in nine games in all com- Goal gap style and I think people really appreciated how they conducted of September, although he put that to bed quickly with a petitions they have scored a decisive goal within the final Worries of a growing chasm between the top sides in the themselves and represented their country.” thrilling 3-2 win over Arsenal on Sunday. 10 minutes of a match. Premier League and the rest are highlighted by the fact that Francesco Molinari, a 36-year-old Italian golfer who won After defeats in his first two games, it was the Austrian’s Indeed, the strike was almost identical to the Dane’s only six sides have a positive goal difference while 10 have the British Open and claimed five points as part of the winning opening match at home that got his Southampton project winning goal against Inter Milan at Wembley last month all conceded more than they have scored. European Ryder Cup team, was named ‘world sports star’. up and running, as he opted for a 3-4-3 formation made to that rescued their Champions League hopes. Bottom side Fulham have already shipped 42 goals, just England’s footballers lost out to England’s netballers, though, get the best out of strikers Danny Ings, Stuart Armstrong Eriksen and Heung-min Son both came off the bench a few less than the top four, combined, have conceded this for the team of the year prize courtesy of their Commonwealth and Nathan Redmond. to help break down a dogged and ultra-defensive Burnley season. Not that it is just a problem for Fulham, as the four Games gold medal. Tennis legend Billie Jean King was awarded Perhaps the new manager bounce at St Mary’s was not side who had frustrated their more talented opposition. teams directly above them all have a goal difference of more the lifetime achievement award. just about what was on the pitch, as Hasenhuettl had sent But Spurs did not panic and, as is becoming part of the than minus-10. (Source: France24) drinks vouchers to season ticket holders before the game narrative now in north London, bided their time to find (Source: Mirror) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 18, 2018 SPORTS 15

Iran football team Iran wins silver at world ice named for Qatar climbing champs IRNA — Iran national team finished runner-up to grab the silver medal of 2018 UIAA Ice Climbing World Com- bined Championships which was held in Russian capital training camp of Moscow. The award ceremony of the event, which was held in both lead SPORTS TEHRAN — Carlos Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Hossein and speed categories, was held on Sunday to announce Iran as deskQueiroz has named his Hosseini (Esteghlal), Payam Niazmand the second team in overall rankings. 21-man Team Melli squad for the AFC (Sepahan) Mohammadreza Safdarian and Mohsen Beheshti Rad in Men’s Asian Cup 2019 on Sunday. Defenders: category and Zeinab Mousavi and Shabnam Assadi in Women’s Queiroz will announce his main team Ramin Rezaeian (Al-Shahania SC), category represented Iran. on Dec. 26. Mohammadreza Khanzadeh (Qatar’s The competition was held in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium area Those selected do not include Iran players Al Ahli), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), on December 14-16, where the opening and closing ceremony of who are plying their trade in Europe. Milad Mohammadi (Akhmat Grozny), 2018 FIFA World Cup took place. Iran national football team traveled to Vouria Ghafouri (Esteghlal), Mohammad- Doha on Monday to hold a training camp hossein Kananizadegan (Machine Sazi), in the Persian Gulf country until Dec. 24. Ehsan Haji Safi (Tractor Sazi), Pejman Team Melli will also play a friendly Montazeri (Esteghlal) Iran U23 football team match with Qatar as part of preparation Midfielders: to participate in Qatar for the Asian Cup. Omid Ebrahimi (Qatar’s Al Ahli), Iran national football team have been Ashkan Dejagah (Tractor Sazi), Masoud tournament drawn along with Iraq, Yemen and Viet- Shojaei (Tractor Sazi), Ahmad Nourollahi nam in Group D. (Persepolis), Ali Karimi (Esteghlal) The 2019 AFC Asian Cup will be held in Strikers: TASNIM — Iran U23 football team will take part at the Qatar the United Arab Emirates from January Ali Gholizadeh (Charleroi), Mehdi four-team tournament, Hamid Estili, technical manager of 5 to February 1. Taremi (Al Gharafa), Sardar Azmoun the team, said. Squad: (Rubin Kazan), Mehdi Torabi (Persepo- The Iranian team are now holding a training camp in southern Goalkeepers: lis), Ali Alipour (Persepolis) island of Kish in the Persian Gulf and are scheduled to play two friendly matches with Syria. “We will likely participate at the four-team tournament in Esteghlal, Persepolis to be ceded to Ex-Iran defender Hossein Kaebi retires Qatar with the participation of Qatar, Kuwait and probably China. The tournament will kick off on January 14. Iran will also take private sector from football part at the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) champi- onship,” Estili said. Iran prepare for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 Championship 2020. Zlatko Kranjcar’s team have been drawn along with Iraq, Yemen and Turkmenistan in Group C. The AFC U23 Championship 2020 is scheduled to take place in Thailand. It will act as the AFC qualifiers for the men’s football tournament at the 2020 Olympics.

Club World Ranking: Persepolis, Esteghlal move up

SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran’s Persepolis and Esteghlal deskfootball teams have climbed up at the Club World Ranking. Persepolis have climbed one place up to 196th with 3624 points. Persepolis’ arch rivals Esteghlal have climbed up four places SPORTS TEHRAN — Iranian calendar year. SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran’s Games in Busan, South Korea. to 192nd with 3185 points. deskMinister of Youth Af- Soltanifar said the enactment of the deskSepidrood right back In the 2006 World Cup, Kaebi brought Zob Ahan, the third Iranian club in the ranking, moved up fairs and Sports Masoud Soltanifar has order has been confirmed by the gov- Hossein Kaebi brought an end to his 16- down Portugal captain Luiz Figo with a kick 10 spots to 290th with 2124 points. confirmed that the country’s most popular ernment cabinet. year playing career on Monday. in the face and picked up a yellow card. Tractor Sazi have also climbed one place to 518th with football teams Esteghlal and Persepolis will Pricing procedure of the two clubs Kaebi, 33, has been added to Sepidrood He won two titles in Iran Professional 1170 points. be ceded to the private sector by auction. should be conducted within the next two coaching staff. League (IPL) with Foolad Khuzestan (2005) Clubworldranking.com is a weekly ranking system of the best The government cabinet has agreed months, Soltanifar said. He made 84 appearances for Iran na- and Persepolis (2008). soccer teams, top scorers and coaches in the world, based on abandoning the two big cultural-sport Iran President Hassan Rouhani had tional football team from 2002 to 2010 and Kaebi joined English championship match results over the past 52 weeks. companies to the private sector, Soltan- already said that the government cannot scored one goal for Team Melli against New side Leicester City in July 2007 for an un- ifar said. get involved in business and manufac- Zealand at the AFC–OFC Challenge Cup disclosed fee, but left the team by mutual The long awaited privatization of the turing sector so that they back economic in October 2003. Kaebi was a member of consent in February 2008 after playing clubs will be done before the next Iranian privatization. the Iranian team who won the 2002 Asian just three matches. Carlos Queiroz rues lack of Jaber: This is Palestine’s strongest generation respect for Team Melli Palestine left-back Abdallah Jaber is confident his good result. We know our group is very difficult but TASNIM — Iran national football team head coach Carlos Que- side can produce a strong showing at next month’s we’ve developed ourselves a lot, we have confidence iroz said that the Iranian sports officials had to attend the Team AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, declaring the current squad in ourselves and we hope we can create something,” Melli’s goodbye ceremony. the nation’s best in living memory. he revealed. Iran national football team left Tehran for Doha on Monday Palestine, ranked 99th, are returning to the Finals “In football everything can happen - the last World to hold a training camp in the country but the top officials didn’t after conceding 11 goals in three successive defeats in Cup was a lesson for everyone - if we believe we can attend the ceremony. their debut on the Asian stage in Australia in 2015, do it, and until now we are believing and working “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Queiroz told but the experienced side will surely present a more very hard. reporters. determined challenge this time around “Our dream is to qualify from this group. That’s the “We are going to make the Iranian people happy but I think, Buoyed by strong showings against some of the dream, but we want to start with getting points. Our as the players said, the sports minister had to come here to see Continent’s heavyweights since 2015, Jaber, the No. mission is to get points from this group, because if we off the team before leaving Iran to participate at the 2019 AFC 14 defender, believes anyone expecting his side to be get points it will be the first time for our country in this Asian Cup,” the Portuguese added. pushovers in the United Arab Emirates in is for a shock. competition - the Asian Cup. So let’s start from this Iran national football team will be based in Doha from “We have improved a lot,” said the 25-year-old. and then develop ourselves and see where we can be.” December 17-24, with a friendly against Qatar also part of “Now almost 90 percent of the national from the first been a revelation since his 2016 call-up, scoring six Now a senior member of the national team with the training plan. Asian Cup have changed. This generation is a very goals in 12 matches. over 40 appearances, Jaber also sees bright futures Three-time champions Iran are in Group D of the AFC Asian good generation. I think it’s the best generation of Now under the tutelage of Algerian head coach for many of his teammates at club level, stating Cup UAE 2019 with Iraq, Yemen and Vietnam. Palestine.” Noureddine Ould Ali, the team dreams of a first ever success in UAE 2019 could lead to high-profile “When we are facing Saudi Arabia, (United Arab) appearance in the AFC Asian Cup knockout stage, transfers. Emirates, Qatar - these big countries who have a history but their path is by no means easy. “All of our group are talented and, for anyone who in football - we can look at them in the eyes. Before In UAE 2019, Palestine have been drawn alongside will do well in this competition, we know that a lot of Blackhawks G Crawford it wasn’t like this. the reigning champions - this time Australia - and agents and clubs are searching for talent,” he declared. “We are going to matches and starting from 2-0 neighboring Jordan, with a Syrian side boasting some “(The AFC Asian Cup) will be a good opportunity diagnosed with concussion (behind). Now we can challenge them and get good of the Continent’s most prolific forwards completing to show the world that Palestinian players deserve to results against these teams.” what looms as a testing Group B. play in the biggest leagues. Why not?” Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford left Sun- Knockout stage appearances at this year’s AFC U23 But Jaber isn’t interested in conceding defeat, in- Palestine’s AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 campaign day’s game against the San Jose Sharks late in the first Championship and Asian Games underline the promise sisting Palestine are more than capable of challenging gets underway on January 6, with their first match period and was later diagnosed with a concussion after of Palestine’s young brigade, including 20-year-old their illustrious opponents. against Syria to be held in Sharjah. hitting his helmet on the goal post during an ugly collision Oday Dabbagh, while Chilean-born Yashir Islame has “I hope from this Asian Cup to do well and get a (Source: the-afc) with multiple players. Crawford made an initial save on Logan Couture’s mi- ni-breakaway, but Evander Kane drove the net and knocked Blackhawks defenseman Dylan Strome into Crawford, who Pepe leaves Besiktas staff cash tip as parting gift was down in his butterfly. Crawford was bowled over, and the back of his helmet hit the post, with the net giving way as Strome fell on top of him. Kane was given a minor penalty after contract terminated for goaltender interference. Pepe left Besiktas club staff a cash tip cooking staff at Besiktas. expired. The experienced centre-back After remaining down on the ice for a minute or two, as a parting gesture after agreeing to Pepe enjoyed a close relationship also received a bonus of €4,000 per game. Crawford skated off under his own power and walked with have his contract with the Turkish club with the staff at the club and has paid Pepe was part of the Besiktas side trainers to the locker room. He was replaced by Cam Ward terminated, sources have told ESPN FC. out generous tips in the past as well, that topped their Champions League and quickly ruled out by the team. The Blackhawks signed The former Real Madrid defender’s the source added. group last season before being eliminated Ward in free agency as insurance for Crawford. deal was set to run until June 2019 but Considering the strength of the Euro by Bayern Munich in the round of 16. The longtime starter for Carolina is on a one-year deal he has left with the Istanbul-based club to the Turkish Lira (1/6.1 on Dec. 17), The Black Eagles did however, struggle worth $3 million. in the process of slashing their wage bill the payment will serve as a considerable towards the end of the season, finishing Crawford, who turns 34 on New Year’s Eve, missed to reduce expenses amid struggles with bonus to their monthly wage. fourth in the league, four points behind most of last season and the first five games of this sea- growing debts. Pepe ended up leaving Besiktas on reigning champions Galatasaray. son while recovering from a concussion sustained on Reports in Spain over the weekend good terms with the club and attended Besiktas have yet to release an official Dec. 23, 2017. He entered Sunday’s game with a 6-14-2 had claimed Pepe had covered the wages the 2-2 draw against Trabzonspor where statement confirming the centre-back will not be offered a new deal, a source record, a 3.23 goals-against average and a .903 save of several members of staff who had he bid a final farewell to the fans at the has left. told ESPN FC. The Dutchman has been percentage, and had allowed two goals on eight shots not been paid. Vodafone Park Stadium. The Black Eagles also parted ways told to find a new club. before departing. However, sources told ESPN FC Pepe was one of the highest paid play- with Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo, Besiktas are third in the Super Lig, The 12th-year goalie has been a part of three Stanley Cup that, while the Portugal international ers in the Besiktas squad. The 35-year- who joined Dubai-based club Al-Nasr eight points behind leaders Basaksehir, champion teams in Chicago, and he topped 30 wins in six did not make up for unpaid salaries, he old signed a two-year deal worth €9.5 in September. Netherlands internation- but crashed out of the Europa League of seven seasons from 2010-11 to 2016-17. He has never did leave an envelope with a large tip as million before bonuses when he joined al Ryan Babel, meanwhile, has just six in the group stage. finished a season with a record below .500. a gesture to the maintenance, kit and in 2017 after his Real Madrid contract months remaining on his contract and (Source: ESPN) (Source: Reuters) Prayer Times Noon:12:01 Evening: 17:13 Dawn: 5:39 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:09 (tomorrow) DECEMBER 18, 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 “Exodus” on return of Afghan migrants Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 from Iran named best doc at Cinéma Vérité Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 ARTTEHRAN – “Exodus”, Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 deskBahman Kiarostami’s www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. latest documentary that studies the return Tel: 88911433 of undocumented Afghan migrants from Webmaster: [email protected] Iran following the deep recession facing the Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 country, was selected as best feature-length No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran documentary in the international competition P.o. Box: 14155-4843 of the 12th Cinéma Vérité festival, the organizers Zip Code: 1599814713 announced on Sunday. “I just came on stage to express my thanks for your participation, especially for the guests coming from other countries,” director of the festival, Mohammad-Mehdi Tabatabainejad, said during the closing ceremony of Iran’s major documentary film festival at Tehran’s Andisheh Hall. The special jury award in the feature-length GUIDE TO category went to “Alicia” by Dutch filmmaker SPIRITUAL AWAKENING Maasja Ooms. It tells the heartrending story of Alicia, who is removed from her home when Why should a human being boast? His beginning she was just a year old and is placed in an is a sticky embryo, and his end a terrible corpse. orphanage. “Lulu: The Pearl Boxer” by Tanzanian He can neither secure his subsistence, nor filmmaker Asimwe John Bibagamba received ward off death. the special jury award in the medium-length Imam Ali (AS) and short documentary sections. “Shouting at the Wind”, the story of a teenage boy who lives along with his family in the slums of Tehran and dreams of becoming Jamal Shurjeh fills in for late a singer, won the award for best medium- length documentary. Filmmaker Manuchehr Moshiri (C) poses after receiving his lifetime achievement award from director Rakhshan Bani-Etemad (R) and film The award for best director was presented to director in TV series expert Fakhreddin Anvaar during the 12th Cinéma Vérité festival at Tehran’s Andisheh Hall on December 16, 2018. (IRNA/Amin Jalali) Farah Zare’ for her short documentary “Mahiak” on Moses (AS) about a young woman who plans to marry, but Shahmohammadi about a young bankrupt of the Spider-tailed Viper” by Fat’hollah Amiri about the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and her strange skin problem thwarts her plan. person who makes new decisions after he about the spider-tailed viper that lives in the Manuchehr Moshiri, who is famous for his ARTTEHRAN – Jamal Shurjeh, the director of Winners in the national competition were is diagnosed with an advanced cancer, was western Iranian province of Ilam. social and biographical documentary films, desk “Ahmed Bey”, has replaced late director Farajollah also honored at the ceremony. picked as best documentary. In addition, Hossein Torabi, the director were honored with lifetime achievement Salahshur to complete a TV series on Prophet Moses (AS). “A House for You”, produced by Mehdi The audience award went to “In the Realm of the acclaimed documentary “For Freedom” awards. He along with producer Seyyed Ahmad Miralai held a meeting with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Managing (IRIB) Director Abdol Ali Ali-Asgari on Sunday to officially launch the project, which remained unimplemented due Iranian shorts to compete Sri Lanka hosts Iranian to Salahshur’s death, the Persian service of IRNA reported. in Polish film festival film festival “The series should be produced with the highest quality because there are numerous rivals for its subject matter and we should surpass them all,” Ali- Asgari said at the meeting. “IRIB will do it best and exploit all its potentials to produce a beautiful and compelling series,” he added. Hojjatoleslam Saeid Bahmanpur is the writer of the project, which will be made in Director Jamal Shurjeh in an un- 52 episodes. He has completed dated photo. (Tasnim/Siamak writing 44 episodes of the TV Ebrahimi) series. Shurjeh also spoke about his plan to pick an obscure stage actor who is familiar with Quranic teachings to star as Prophet Moses (AS). Earlier in 2010, Farajollah Salahshur, the screenwriter and director of the TV series “Prophet Joseph (AS)”, announced his plan to make a TV series on Prophet Moses (AS). A scene from “The Fox” by Sadeq Javadi. A poster for a festival of Iranian films in Colombo, Sri Lanka. However, he failed to fulfil the plan after he was diagnosed with ARTTEHRAN – Five ARTTEHRAN – A festival “The Girl in Sneakers” by Rasul Sadr-Ameli, lung cancer. He ultimately died in 2016 after which IRIB decided Bakhshi, “Year of the Dog” by Ramin Kupai deskIranian short films will deskof Iranian films entitled “M for Mother” by Rasul Mollaqolipur, “Tears to implement the project with another director. and “Animal” by Bahram and Bahman Ark go on screen in various sections of the 22nd will go on screen in the short fiction film “Cinema of Post Islamic Revolution Iran” was of Cold” by Azizollah Hamidnejad and “The edition of the International Film Festival competition. held in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo from Sand Storm” by Javad Shamaqdari were among ZOOM – ZBLIZENIA, which will be held “Snowy Roads” by Hayedeh Moradi will December 12 to 16. the films. Iranian, American films share in Jelenia Gora, Poland from February 18 compete in the short documentary section, Seven Iranian films with English subtitles “The Song of Sparrows” by Majid Majidi, to 24. while “The Fox” by Sadeq Javadi will be were screened during the festival, which was “Superstar” by Tahmineh Milani and “The Secret award at Japanese festival “Are You Volleyball?” by Mohammad screened in the short animated film section. organized by Iran’s cultural office in Colombo. Club” by Jamal Shurjeh were also screened. ARTTEHRAN – Iranian director Kaveh Moein- deskfar’s movie “Life without Life” and American director April Mullen’s film “Badsville” shared the award for the Anti-harassment groups share $20 best drama film at the 4th Bloodstained Indie Film Festival in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” swings to Tokyo, Japan on December 7. $35 million debut, “Mortal Engines” sputters million CBS handout after Moonves exit “Life without Life” is about Satyar, a music teacher whose father is fighting cancer, but amid music and death, life goes on. LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) —“Spider- LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — CBS Corp “Badsville” tells the story of the leader of a violent gang, who Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is the new box on Friday named the Time’s Up anti- finds love and wants to leave Badsville, a town where love doesn’t office king, collecting a solid $35.4 million sexual harassment group and 17 other exist. during its first three days of release. organizations that will share a $20 million Abbas Atai, the star of “Life without Life” received the best actor That’s hardly the biggest opening for an donation stemming from the exit of its award, while Madeleine Coghlan from the U.S. was named best animated film this year, but it does rank as chief executive Les Moonves following actress for her role in “Still Hungry” directed by Rowan Russell. the best start for a cartoon in the month of allegations of sexual misconduct. Sky Wang from China was selected as best director for his December. Illumination’s “Sing” previously Time’s Up and the body representing film “Lost in Apocalypse” and “I Am the White Tiger” by Chiu held that title, debuting with $35 million Hollywood producers swiftly announced Lee from Hong Kong won the best documentary award. in 2016. that they will spend their share of the Another weekend release, Warner Bros.’ funds on programs to increase diversity in “The Mule,” snagged the No. 2 spot with Actor Garcelle Beauvais attends the world the entertainment industry, and provide CBS chairman Moonves arrives for “The Ivory Coast painter gives new $17 million. Clint Eastwood directed and premiere for the movie “Spider-Man: anti-sexual harassment training. Late Show with Stephen Colbert” at the Ed stars in the R-rated crime drama about a Into the Spider-Verse” in Los Angeles, CBS said in a statement that the $20 Sullivan Theater in Manhattan, New York, life to e-waste nonagenarian who gets caught smuggling California, U.S., December 1, 2018. million grant was part of the company’s September 8, 2015. (Reuters/Brendan drugs for the cartel. “The Mule,” Eastwood’s (Reuters/Monica Almeida) separation agreement with Moonves McDermid) ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Desire Koffi often walks through Koumassi, first acting gig since 2012’s “Trouble With expensive price tag. and “was deducted from any severance the numbers of women and people of a popular district of Ivory Coast’s main city Abidjan, to collect the Curve,” brought out a much older crowd. “Spider-Verse,” based on Sony’s catalog benefits that may be due to him.” color rising through the producer and old mobile phones that he buys from people for 500 CFA francs Moviegoers over the age of 35 accounted of Marvel heroes, is resonating with a Moonves, a major figure at the CBS executive ranks of the entertainment ($0.8726) a pair. for 78 percent of audiences. In addition to slightly older audience than most animated broadcast network for more than two industry. The program will also offer Back home, the 24-year-old Ivorian artist dismantles the phones Eastwood, “The Mule” cast includes Bradley adventures. It also has plenty of time to decades, was forced out in September financial support to low-paid juniors with a hammer to pull out the screens and keyboards. He uses them Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Pena, make up ground during a holiday frame, after multiple allegations of sexual and assistants. for his paintings. One can take him up to three or five days of work. and Dianne Wiest. though Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman” might misconduct. “There is nothing short of an urgent Koffi grew up in Koumassi and says he was drawn to recycling Not all newcomers were able to stick cannibalize a bit of the superhero crowd. Moonves has acknowledged three need to have the people who buy, create and incorporating e-waste in his art, after seeing how it affected the landing. Philip Lord and Christopher Miller of the encounters but said they were and promote entertainment content be his environment. Universal’s “Mortal Engines” launched produced “Spider-Verse,” which cost $90 consensual, and denied others. He was more representative of the people we “My number one goal is to try, in my own small way, to reduce in fifth place with a disastrous $7.5 million million and takes place in a universe where the most powerful U.S. figure to have been serve,” film producer Jenno Topping electronic waste that is found in the streets and in the bins,” he said. when it debuted in 3,103 venues. That more than one Spider-Man exists. Miles brought down in the #MeToo scandal said in a statement. “Here, we are in one of the city’s most popular neighborhoods, could be catastrophic for the sci-fi saga Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), a that has roiled Hollywood, politics and The Producers Guild of America where you usually find old phones which can no longer be repaired.” that cost over $100 million to make. The Brooklynite with a Puerto Rican mom boardrooms since October 2017. Foundation said it would use its $2 With a population of about 5.5 million, Abidjan generates up post-apocalyptic steampunk adventure and an African American dad, puts on the The organizations receiving the CBS million grant from CBS to provide free to 1,500 tons of e-waste per year, according to the European Un- has fared slightly better overseas, picking Lycra-tights for this rendition. Mahershala funds, including the #MeToo social media anti-sexual harassment training and legal ion-funded E-waste Implementation Toolkit. Koffi says a significant up $34.8 million from 54 international Ali, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Brian movement and the anti-sexual violence consultation on smaller, independent amount of this waste can be used to make money. territories, but “Mortal Engines” looks Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, and John Mulaney group RAINN, said the money would film and television sets. With several exhibitions abroad and at home under his belt, like it could still lose a sizable chunk of round out the voice cast. “drive real progress” in ending sexual RAINN, which also received $2 Koffi is quickly becoming one of Ivory Coast most important figures change. Peter Jackson produced the CGI “Spider-Verse” has already racked up harassment. million, said it will support its national in contemporary art. spectacle, adapted from Philip Reeve’s YA plaudits, including a Golden Globe nod But they added in a joint statement: sexual assault hotline, which has seen “I think his work is great. He has decided to go into recycling, novel. The middling reviews haven’t helped for best animated feature, and boasts an “We also recognize that these funds a huge surge in calls. and it really suits him because his work stands out from all others,” build momentum, and it carries a paltry impressive 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. are not a panacea, nor do they erase RAINN said that by the end of fellow Ivorian artist Ezechiel Guibe said. 28 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. It’ll be an Weeks before “Spider-Verse” opens in or absolve decades of bad behavior.” December, more than 270,000 people “Despite incorporating recycling material into his work, he uphill battle for “Mortal Engines” to break theaters, Sony announced the development The entertainment unit of Time’s Up will have received help from RAINN’s manages to capture all these forms, faces and emotions in his work, through a crowded holiday frame and attract of a sequel and spinoffs set in the shared said it would use its $500,000 grant on a victim services programs in 2018, up which really blew us away,” added art gallery director, Olivier Pepe. the kind of audience it needs to justify its multiverse. mentoring program aimed at increasing more than 60,000 from the prior year.