5 International South Africa Starts Voting amid Neighbor News Corruption, Unemployment Pakistan Keen to Complete JOHANNESBURG – South Iran Gas Pipeline: PM Khan Africans have started voting ISLAMABAD - Pakistani pertaining to the project in presidential and parlia- Prime Minister Imran through mutual under- mentary elections amid issues Khan says his country is standing and reconcilia- of corruption and unemploy- keen to complete the con- tion. ment. struction of a much-de- The prime minister said Wednesday’s vote comes 25 layed pipeline designed Tehran and Islamabad years after the end of apart- for receiving Iran’s natu- should work jointly and heid, but despite the demise ral gas, weeks after he review the agreed price of the system of racial dis- paid a visit to the neigh- of the gas and also com- crimination the country re- boring state. plete the project. mains divided by economic Local media reported on Khan further described inequality . Tuesday that Khan had the sanctions against Iran The party of Nelson Mandela issued fresh directives as the biggest hurdle for that has been in power since to relevant Pakistani au- the implementation the 1994, The African National thorities on the comple- mega project. While Iran Congress, is likely to win a tion of the Iran-Pakistan has completed its part of majority but it will face a dif- gas pipeline, also known the gas pipeline project ficult challenge to do as well as the peace pipeline. with a total investment as five years ago. He has also urged Paki- of above $2 billion of in- The party has been tarnished stani Foreign Minister vestment, Pakistan has by widespread corruption Shah Mahmood Qureshi fallen behind the target scandals and a national un- has left many voters disillusioned. ANC paigned on promises to clean up his party, forced his predecessor to re- to adopt the necessary to take delivery of gas, employment rate of 27% that head President Cyril Ramaphosa has cam- an acknowledgment of the problems that sign last year. (Fox News) measures and work to initially scheduled for solve all issues with Iran 2014. (Press TV) European-Led Group Seeks to US Lifts Sanctions for Venezuelan General Help End Venezuelan Crisis China Regrets US Pressure on SAN JOSE, Costa Rica in San Jose on Tuesday. Who Defied Maduro Iran, Calls for Full — A mostly European The group formed after CARACAS, Venezuela – others in the military to Implementation of Nuclear Deal group of nations said Juan Guaidó, the leader The U.S. has lifted sanc- abandon their support TEHRAN - Beijing to prevent the situation Tuesday it will send a of Venezuela’s oppo- tions on a top Venezue- for Maduro. wants the nuclear deal from escalating.” high-level delegation to sition-controlled con- lan general who broke The move was a display with Iran to be pre- The official criticized Venezuela to propose gress declared himself ranks with President of “good faith” designed served after Tehran US pressure on Iran, solutions to that coun- early this year interim Nicolás Maduro, trying to elicit “concrete and announced its partial saying such measures try’s protracted crisis. president in a direct to help the opposition meaningful actions to suspension. China said only raise tensions over European Union for- challenge to Nicolás regain momentum in restore democratic or- US pressure on Iran was the Islamic Republic’s eign policy chief Fed- Maduro’s rule. the face of a government der” by dozens of other regrettable and said it nuclear program. Geng erica Mogherini said It reiterated its goal of crackdown following sanctioned Venezuelan will protect its compa- said China will protect in Costa Rica that the a peaceful resolution last week’s failed upris- insiders, the Treasury nies from the threat of companies dealing with delegation will travel through the holding of ing. Department said in a American sanctions. Tehran from the threat in the coming days. The free and fair elections Vice President Mike statement. China, one of the signa- of American sanctions. International Contact as soon as possible. Pence said in a speech Figuera was the sole re- tories of the 2015 agree- Beijing is one of the Group, consisting of It also expressed con- Tuesday that the imme- gime insider to defy Ma- ment on Iran’s nuclear leading buyers of Irani- eight European coun- cern for Venezuela’s diate lifting of financial duro during the upris- Padrino, had had been the last minute. program, said the deal an crude, while Wash- tries, the European humanitarian situation sanctions for Gen. Ma- ing, although the White in talks for weeks with As the U.S. looked to needs to be saved and ington threatens to Union and four Latin and called for unre- nuel Figuera, who was House contends several the opposition to oust lure the Venezuelan fully implemented. punish purchasers with American countries, stricted access for aid. Venezuela’s spy chief, others, including De- Maduro but backed military, which is the “Defending and imple- secondary sanctions. concluded its meeting (AP) is intended to encourage fense Minister Vladimir away from the plan at ...(More on P4)...(14) menting the JCPOA is a Tehran announced on joint responsibility of all Wednesday that it was China’s April Exports Fall amid parties,” Foreign Minis- partially suspending Iran Tells Foreign Envoys It Will ‘Stop try Spokesperson Geng its commitments under US Tariff War; Imports Rise Shuang said during a the deal, calling for Eu- Implementation’ Of Some Nuclear Deal Commitments BEIJING — China’s ex- That was well below daily briefing, using ropean signatories to plementation of the 2015 compensate to Iran the ports fell unexpectedly private sector forecasts the acronym for the full deliver on their promise deal, which is officially damage done by US uni- in April, adding to pres- of growth in low single name of the agreement. to stand up to American called Joint Compre- lateral sanctions after sure on Beijing ahead of digits. “We call on all relevant pressure and protect hensive Plan of Action Washington broke its negotiations on ending Imports rose 4% to parties to do everything Iran. (RT) (JCPOA). He said the part of the bargain. a tariff war with Wash- $179.6 billion, rebound- Iranian move was recip- Iranian Foreign Minister ington over Chinese ing from the previous Turkmenistan Starts Developing rocal action to US com- Javad Zarif earlier told technology ambitions. month’s 7.6% decline. Area Around Artificial Lake plete withdrawal from it reporters Tehran would Wednesday’s announce- That added to signs ASHGABAT - Turk- the Karakum desert, under President Donald be backing out of some ment of trade data came government efforts to men President Gurban- besides its ecological Trump. “voluntary commit- after President Donald reverse an economic guly Berdimuhamedov and national economic Rouhani announced that ments” under the 2015 Trump sent global fi- downturn might be attended the ground- mission, is of tremen- Tehran will be gradually agreement as a response nancial markets plung- gaining traction. breaking ceremony for dous social impor- suspending its commit- to the EU’s inability to ing with a surprise Imports of American the new social-indus- tance, the whole extent TEHRAN - Iran told but will not quit the pact ments under the deal, stand up to the pres- threat of more penalties goods fell 26% from trial complex in the of which is difficult to ambassadors from the completely. giving other parties sure of Washington’s at- on Chinese imports. a year earlier to $10.3 area around the Altyn be assessed, since this UK, France, Germany, Iran’s President Has- subsequent periods of tempts to isolate Iran. April exports sank 2.7% billion. Exports to the Asyr lake, Trend re- mega-project implies a China and Russia that san Rouhani appeared 60 days to negotiate a The JCPOA was signed from a year ago to $193.5 United States, China’s ports with reference to long-term multiplica- it will renege on “some Wednesday on national reversal of those actions. under Barack Obama billion, a reverse from biggest foreign market, the Turkmenistan State tive effect. commitments” under TV to announce the de- He blamed European and offered Iran lifting March’s 14.2% growth, were down 13% at $31.4 News Agency. This project is estimat- the 2015 nuclear deal, cision to scale down im- signatories of failing to of ...(More on P4)...(15) customs data showed. billion. (AP) The area is located in ed at several billion US the Balkan region of dollars. This cave is lo- Boxing Chief Criticizes Tomorrow’s Guard of Indian Borders: Suicide Bombing Turkmenistan. The con- cated in the territory of IOC Comments on Outside Pakistan cept for the develop- the Balkan region, and Behind the Armor of Russian-Designed T-90 Shrine Kills 10 ment of the area around it holds about 580 mil- Olympic Competition NEW DELHI - The In- the artificial lake “Altyn lion cubic meters of ac- LAHORE, Pakistan — A suicide GOLD COAST, Australia — The head of dian Armed Forces are Asyr” in 2019-2025 has cumulated water there. bomber attacked security forces the international boxing federation has to be reinforced by more been approved. The water can also be guarding a famous Sufi shrine in criticized IOC president Thomas Bach’s than 460 cutting-edge The project includes used on lands that are Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on comments that Olympic officials could or- Russian-designed T-90 construction of social resistant to salinization, Wednesday, killing at least 10 people ganize the Tokyo 2020 boxing tournament tanks in the near future. infrastructure, produc- and the work can be and wounding 20 others, police said. if the sport’s federation can’t get its affairs RT takes a closer look at tion facilities, livestock, intensified to develop Hizbul Ahrar, an offshoot of the Paki- in order. Bach said last weekend that the what the advanced war fish breeding and ag- fisheries, animal breed- stani Taliban, claimed responsibility IOC wants the sport at next year’s Tokyo machine has in store. ricultural complexes. ing, in particular, camel for the attack, saying their target was Games and is prepared to organize both The Indian Army is ex- This unique structure, breeding in areas adja- the police. Hundreds of pilgrims were the qualification and the competition if pected to purchase 464 located in the center of cent to the lake. (Trend) inside and outside the shrine, where boxing’s troubled international governing upgraded T-90 ‘Bhish- a local Sufi saint is buried, when the body, the AIBA, loses its Olympic status ma’ main battle tanks blast took place. Samsung, Uzbekistan Sign over leadership and financial problems. between 2022 and 2026, “shock and awe” capa- sembled at the Avadi Sufism is a mystical strain of Islam Agreement on Postal “Organizing a sports event is also not the Times of India re- bilities. Heavy Vehicle Factory that often involves reverence for lo- rocket science,” Bach told a meeting in porter citing sources Infrastructure Modernization Indian Army’s T-90 (HVF) from prefabri- cal holy figures and shrines. Sunni Sydney on Saturday. (AP) within the Defense Min- TASHKENT - Uz- provide its own prod- Bhishma tanks (front) cated parts supplied extremists view Sufism with hostility istry. The military hard- bekistan Pochtasi JSC ucts for this project. Trump Puts Deal are driving during the by Russia. Moscow has and have carried out attacks on Sufi ware acquired under and the South Korean The corporation will Republic Day parade in extended the manufac- celebrations and shrines across the Making Credentials to the $1.93 billion con- corporation Samsung begin deliveries of mo- New Delhi, India, Janu- turing license for New Muslim world. In Pakistan, militants tract will be deployed Electronics signed a bile jobs for employees Test with China Talks ary 26, 2016. © Reuters / Delhi in early April. The carry out near-daily attacks targeting to India’s border with memorandum of coop- and postmen. This will WASHINGTON - As he cranks up the Altaf Hussain Indian Army already security forces. Pakistan to enhance its eration, Trend reports be an important step pressure on China in pursuit of a new The tanks will be as- has ...(More on P4)...(16) Lahore police chief Ghazanfar Ali with reference to the in streamlining work- trade accord, President Donald Trump said five police and five passers-by official website of the flows and structure is putting his deal-making persona on were killed in the attack, adding Pompeo Briefs Iraqi Leaders on U.S. Uzbekistan Post. upgrades. Moreover, the line and injecting new risk into his that the toll could rise as some of the The parties approved Samsung will train em- bid for another four years in the White Security Concerns over Iran wounded were in critical condition. the provisions that ployees of the post ser- House. BAGHDAD - U.S. Secretary of State by Iranian regime forces”. Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, the formed the basis for the vice in management of Trump has raised the already high Mike Pompeo made an unannounced Washington has ramped up sanctions governor of Punjab province, told signed memorandum the equipment. stakes of this week’s talks between U.S. visit to Baghdad on Tuesday and on Tehran over its nuclear program reporters that those who carried out during a meeting held At the signing ceremo- and Chinese negotiators as he seeks to met Iraq’s prime minister and other in recent months and designated the Wednesday’s attack were the “enemy back in April 2019. ny, Director General seal an agreement he can brandish on top officials to discuss the safety of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps of Islam and humanity.” Samsung highly appre- of Uzbekistan Pochtasi the campaign trail. The push to bring the Americans in Iraq and explain U.S. as a terrorist group. “God willing, the security forces with ciates the initiative of JSC Evgeny Birger talks with China to a conclusion comes security concerns amid rising Iranian “We talked to them about the impor- the cooperation of whole nation will Uzbekistan Pochtasi to and Vice-President of as his administration gears up for a diffi- activity. tance of Iraq ensuring that it’s able defeat these terrorists,” he added. introduce digital tech- Samsung Electronics cult fight in Congress over its new North The visit came two days after U.S. to adequately protect Americans in Prime Minister Imran Khan also con- nologies into the postal for Central Asia Sang American trade deal. Progress or failure national security adviser John Bolton their country,” Pompeo told report- demned the bombing. infrastructure, the news Kim stressed the im- on the twin agenda items stands to be said the United States was deploying ers after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Pakistanis in large numbers visit the report says. At the cur- portance of such initia- a key selling point for his reelection or the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lin- Adel Abdul Mahdi. shrine, where a pair of suicide attacks rent stage, Samsung tives for both countries. a sobering verdict on his unpredictable coln and a bomber task force to the Abdul Mahdi said the United States in 2010 killed and wounded dozens of Electronics is ready to (Trend) stylings. (AP) region because of a “credible threat was an ...(More on P4)...(17) people. (AP)