Iran’s Chamber of Commerce Is Iran’s Wrestling Team Finished To Dispatch a Trade Delegation As Runners-Up in the Freestyle To Sofia, Bulgaria, for a Three-Day World Cup in Yakutsk, Russia, Visit on April 17 to Explore After the Team Lost to Russia Ways of Boosting Trade With Bulgarian Business Activists 9-1 in the Final

VOL. XXIV, No. 6643 TEHRAN Price 10,000 Rials www.irannewsdaily.com MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 - ESFAND 27, 1397 2 4 8 DOMESTIC 3 DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL SPORTS Iran Vows Support for Nicaraguan Trade Man City Storm Yellow Vest Protests Back as Man United Afghan Peace Process Delegation to Visit Tehran Go Wild in Paris Crash Out of FA Cup > SEE PAGE 2 > SEE PAGE 3 > SEE PAGE 4 > SEE PAGE 8 Iran Oil Minister Blames viewPoint President Inaugurates Four New By: Hamid Reza Naghashian..... U.S. for Market Tensions IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK Counterbalancing Missile Attack TEHRAN - Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Phases of South Pars Gas Field With Missile Attack Saturday that frequent U.S. comments about oil prices Nowadays and among senior commanders of Iran’s had created market tensions, the ministry’s news armed forces some remarks are made or echoed which website SHANA reported. are unprecedented in the history of Iran and they are U.S. President Donald Trump, who has made the U.S. source of pride. economy one of his top issues, has repeatedly tweeted Recently advisor and the assistant commander of Iran’s about oil prices and the Organization of the Petroleum Army Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili has said that the Producing Countries. He has expressed concern about success of counter-air defense during the Sacred Defense higher prices, including last month and ahead of has been unprecedented in the past 100 years in the world. OPEC’s meeting in December. Esmaili joined the counter-air defense team of “Americans talk a lot and I advise them to talk less. Abdanan and has experienced different jobs and They [have] caused tensions in the oil market for over responsibilities in the team like being the head of the a year now, and they are responsible for it, and if this radar site and deputy head of operation team and trend continues, the market will be more tense,” deputy head of the team. He then transferred to the SHANA quoted Zanganeh as saying. operation department of Iran’s Air Force and was U.S. crude futures briefly hit a 2019 high on Friday appointed as the head of radar section of the air force. but later retreated along with benchmark Brent oil as Esmaili, due to its experience and performance, was worries about the global economy and robust U.S. appointed by the Supreme Leader as the head of Khatam production put a brake on prices. See Page 7 ol-Anbia Counter-Air Defense Headquarters. He is a young army man who says the only difference between an IRGC and Army personnel is the color of their clothes. All Occupied Territories Within He has always believed in young generation and has paid attention to employing young staff in his unit or division. He claims the current counter-air defense of Range of Hezbollah’s Missiles Iran is an indigenized system which is run by the youths whose ages are between 27 to 28 years. TEHRAN (IFP) - The top commander of Iran’s Islamic When a reporter asks him what is his advice to the Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says all parts of the Palestinian IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK youths, Esmaili replies, “Today youths do not need any territories occupied by the Zionist regime of Israel are within the advice but they want chances to show their potentials.” range of the missiles of Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah. TEHRAN - President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday officially launched four new phases of South Pars, the world’s On the enemies’ claims that they have disrupted In an interview with the Persian-language Soroush largest gas field located in the Persian Gulf in southern Iran. Iran’s missile system, he says, “If they are right, so Magazine, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said over the With the launch of these four new phases, Iran for the first time will overtake Qatar in extracting gas from the why they are after talks with Iran on missile issue, and past 50 years, the Zionists always dreamt of expanding their joint oil and gas field. it means they are liars.” Brigadier General Amir Ali rule over the Nile-to-Euphrates region but the dream never President Rouhani, who has travelled to Bushehr province, attended the opening ceremony of Phases 13 22, 23, Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary came true. “Today, the fake regime of Israel is besieged and 24 of South Pars in the port city of Kangan. Guard Corps’ (IRGC) airspace division, also said that completely, losing main parts of its occupied lands,” he said. In his speech, Rouhani praised Iranian engineers for completing the construction of the new phases in the giant sanctions would not be lifted and Iran should focus on He then referred to the resistance of the Palestinians gas field despite the US sanctions, and once again slammed Washington for its “very unfair” bans. making ineffective those sanctions. He said some particularly the residents of the Gaza Strip against Israeli “This is a crime against humanity. It has affected the quality of our public services, making it difficult to protect managers of banks in Iran act in line with the U.S. aggression and said the current situation in the region is a our environment and public health. However, God is with us. Together, we can and we will defeat U.S. sanctions.” Treasury demands rather than to act in line with Iran’s result of resistance by the Islamic Revolution Front. During the ceremony, the Minister of Oil and the managers and experts of these phases, explained the process Central Bank policies. See Page 7 The top commander then referred to the mobilization of of building this huge complex. 100,000 voluntary forces in Iraq and added some Iranian forces Earlier, Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said the $10-billion projects can produce 112 million cubic meters are stationed in Iraq to share experiences with the Iraqis and of gas per day, overtaking Qatar, with which Iran shares the offshore field. contribute to the organization of the Iraqi forces. He also noted Iran has divided the development of South Pars to 24 onshore phases, all of which are now operational except Iran Sends Naval Group that unlike the U.S. which has spent hefty amount of money in for phases 11 and 14. Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran has managed to make huge Meanwhile earlier yesterday, Rouhani said Iran is ready to establish good relations with all its neighboring achievements without spending any money in the Arab country. countries with an objective of advancing the region’s interests. To Bab el-Mandeb Strait “We are keen to have a good relationship with all our neighbors,” President Rouhani said in an address to a large TEHRAN (PressTV)- Iran’s Navy has dispatched its crowd of people in the southwestern city of Bushehr. 61st naval group, comprising a destroyer and a He said that even if there were strains in the ties between the Islamic Republic and some of its neighbors, they logistical vessel, on a mission to the Bab el-Mandeb New Nuclear Achievements had been initiated by the opposite side. Strait to ensure the security of the shipping routes used “We have a good relationship with our neighbors, including Qatar, Oman, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, by Iranian vessels. and Pakistan, and we want such a relationship to exist between us and all of our neighbors,” he added. See Page 7 Rear Admiral Afshin Tashak, the commander of the To Be Unveiled Next Month Navy’s Southern Fleet, told IRNA on Sunday that the TEHRAN (IFP) - Spokesman for the Atomic Energy fleet was comprised of the Navy’s Sabalan destroyer Organization of Iran (AEOI) said the country is going to and the Bandar Abbas logistical vessel and had set sail unveil 112 achievements of Iranian nuclear scientists in April. from the country’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Behrouz Labour to Force Confidence Motion If May’s Deal Fails Again on Saturday. Kamalvandi said the major achievements to go on LONDON (Dispatches) - Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warns that his party would force a confidence vote in “The naval group is on a mission to provide security display on April 9 will demonstrate the country’s the government of Prime Minister Theresa May if she loses another vote on her Brexit deal. for the routes used by the Islamic Republic of Iran breakthroughs in nuclear material exploration and On Tuesday, lawmakers in the House of Commons rejected May’s Brexit withdrawal deal, sending the country Shipping Lines (IRISL) in the area of the Gulf of Aden extraction, nuclear fuel cycle, technical systems, laser into chaos just 17 days before the planned departure date. and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait,” he said. technology, and power plant construction. He said The prime minister also suffered a similar defeat in Parliament in January where her deal was rejected with a margin The strait, which lies at the mouth of the Red Sea, unveiling of the new products would remind the enemy of 230 votes. However, her government won a vote of no confidence with 325 votes versus 306 later that month. connects it to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The that the sanctions could never undermine Iran. British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government won a vote of no confidence on Wednesday with 325 votes vessels sailing through the strait and the body of water can In 2018, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran unveiled versus 306. next enter the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. 83 homegrown achievements in the nuclear industry in “We’ve had one confidence vote already,” Corbyn told Sky News on Wednesday. Also on Saturday, the Navy’s 60th naval group celebration of the National Nuclear Technology Day. In last “The government is apparently going to bring its proposals once again to parliament this week. I suspect they’ll consisting of two logistical vessels docked at the year’s ceremony, President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated a be defeated again, the whole process they are doing is running down the clock.” country’s southern port of Bushehr after completing a number of the outstanding projects including the process of “I think at that point a confidence motion would be appropriate. At that point we should say there has to be a 5,600-nautical-mile mission. transferring the first shipment of yellow cake (a type of general election.” Over the past decade, the Navy’s naval groups have uranium concentrate powder), produced in a factory in the The warning came after Parliament Thursday allowed the government to seek a delay to its withdrawal from escorted 6,000 oil tankers in international waters, the city of Ardakan, to a Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) in the European Union beyond March 29. commander said. Isfahan. In recent years, Iranian scientists have made Lawmakers in the House of Commons voted 412 to 202 for a motion tabled by the government which is aimed The missions, he added, were undertaken in line with remarkable progress in the field of peaceful nuclear at requesting a one-off delay to Brexit negotiation period for three more months. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali technology despite the sanctions imposed by the West. Members of British parliament approve a government motion to seek a delay to Brexit. Khamenei’s remarks considering the Navy to be a It will be the 13th year Iran celebrates a national day The motion reiterated that such a delay would have a high chance of approval in an EU summit on March 21 strategic force and advising it to expand its operating to mark its achievements in the nuclear industry. if the Commons agree on a withdrawal deal a day before that. range and to confront piracy. See Page 7 2 IRAN NEWS DOMESTIC MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

TEHRAN - Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri has arrived in the Syrian capital of Damascus, where he plans to attend a trilateral meeting with his Syrian and Iraqi counterparts. During the trilateral talks in Damascus, the three top commanders are to discuss issues related to military cooperation and enhancing security along the borderline between Syria and Iraq. Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian Top Generals in Damascus Promoting defense and military cooperation, the fight against terrorism, and boosting collaborations between the three countries of Iran, Iraq and Syria to confront terrorist groups are among the goals of the meeting. Iran Vows Support for Afghan Peace Process Websites Review

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK Special Plan for Eastern Border Security

TEHRAN - Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyed TASNIM* - Iran’s deputy interior minister for security Abbas Araqchi has met Afghan President’s Special Envoy and Senior affairs said a special plan has been formulated to enhance security along the country’s eastern border, noting that Adviser in Reconciliation Affairs, Mohammad Omar Daudzai. Tehran and Islamabad are determined to crush terrorism in joint border areas. During the Saturday meeting, the Afghan official briefed Araqchi on the latest Hossein Zolfaqari said the Interior Ministry has developments of Afghanistan’s peace process. prepared a special plan for east border security that would He also expressed gratitude to the Islamic Republic for its support for the be carried out as soon as being financed. government and nation of Afghanistan as well as its constructive stances towards the Describing protection of borders as a costly job that would peace process in Afghanistan. require at least 780 billion rials for every 100 kilometers, he In turn, the Iranian deputy foreign minister thanked Afghan President for his said Iran and Pakistan are in contact to increase cooperation initiatives to push ahead peace process in the country and underlined that Tehran will after a recent terrorist attack in southeast Iran. do whatever in its power to offer support to the Afghan government and nation and “In all communications, the Pakistani government has preserve the unity and cohesion among all groups and all walks of life in Afghanistan. proved to be seeking to help reduce insecurity. There are He also cast doubt on some reports released on the US intentions in Afghanistan and The presence of ISIS in Afghanistan as a threat against regional peace and security ties between the two major nations of Iran and Pakistan underlined the need for adopting a regional approach towards as well as the active as well as the need to establish cooperation in fight against the terrorist group were and they enjoy strategic relations,” Zolfaqari added. involvement of all neighbouring states in Afghanistan peace process. among other topics of discussion between the two officials. During the meeting, the two sides called for preserving Afghanistan’s They also exchanged views on the new conditions created by the [US] sanctions political structures as well as constitution as the achievements of years of war [on Iran] and explored ways to expand economic ties between Iran and Afghanistan. INSTEX Means and Afghans’ self-sacrifices. They also emphasized the participation of all Daudzai who also serves as the Secretary of Afghanistan’s Supreme Council of Afghan sides in the peace process as the main prerequisite to achieve a Peace is on an official visit to Tehran at the top of a delegation for talks with Iranian For Controlling Oil Revenues sustainable peace in the country. officials on Afghanistan’s peace process. TASNIM* - A member of the Iranian parliament’s presiding board warned that the European Union’s Foreign Ministry mechanism for trade with Iran known as the Instrument in No One Can Undermine Iran-Iraq Ties Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) has been Summons Kenyan Envoy TEHRAN (MNA) – President Hassan Rouhani said at a and appreciated the hospitality of the Iraqi government developed to control the Islamic Republic’s oil revenues. Supreme Council of Economic Coordination meeting and nation. Asadollah Abbasi cast doubt over the sincerity of those behind that no one will be able to undermine the strong and He also stressed that the relations between the two INSTEX and said, “The Europeans are not trustworthy.” amicable relations between Iran and Iraq. neighboring countries are so strong that no one can “So far, they have not properly lived up to their The 28th session of the Supreme Council of Economic undermine them. undertakings so that (we can be assured) they would want Coordination was held on Saturday evening chaired by Rouhani visited Baghdad on March 11 to extend to develop the financial mechanism,” he added. President Hassan Rouhani, and attended by Majlis congratulations to the Iraqi people and government over “INSTEX is an instrument for controlling and managing Speaker Ali Larijani and other members. the successful holding of elections, and to declare Iran’s Iranian oil revenues from Europe,” he went on to say. At the beginning of the meeting, President Rouhani readiness for continued cooperation and support for the referred to the achievements of his recent visit to Iraq country’s democratic process and reconstruction process. UK Urged Not to Foreign Gov’ts Likely Behind New Zealand Attack Interfere Over Zaghari’s Case MEHR* - Tehran’s prosecutor-general Abbas Jafari has IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK said that Nazanin Zaghari has been sentenced in Iran, TEHRAN (IFP) - The Iranian foreign ministry calling on Britain not to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs. has summoned Kenya’s Ambassador to Tehran TEHRAN – Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani says Tehran is suspicious about the terror attack in New Zealand and Tehran’s prosecutor-general Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi Ruqayyah Ahmed Subu to protest at a Kenyan believes foreign governments might have masterminded it. said “Nazanin Zaghari has been sentenced in Iran, and the court’s ruling against two Iranian prisoners, “We are suspicious of whether the New Zealand terrorist incident was just an attack or a racist incident,” British government must not interfere in Iran’s internal Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi Larijani said Sunday. affairs [over the case].” said Sunday. “We are suspicious that more important things are hidden behind the curtains or some governments may be Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a British-Iranian dual According to Qasemi, the envoy was summoned involved,” he noted, adding that the dimensions of the incident must be investigated. citizen who has been sentenced and detained in Iran since after a Kenyan judge revoked an earlier ruling to A gunman broadcast live footage on Facebook of his terrorist attack on Muslim worshippers in two mosques, 3 April 2016 on espionage charges. She was arrested by release two Iranian prisoners, Ahmed Abolfat’hi which killed at least 49 and injured 50 others. Iran’s intelligence forces at the Imam Khomeini and Seyed Mansour Mousavi. 13 people including a 4-year-old are in critical condition. International Airport as she was leaving Tehran for The Director-General of the Iranian Foreign The Friday attack in the city of Christchurch was the worst ever peacetime mass killing in New Zealand. London. She was subsequently tried in an Iranian court Ministry’s Department of African Affairs and sentenced to five years in prison. expressed Tehran’s protest against the court decision in his meeting with the Kenyan ambassador, Qassemi said. Halabja, Unforgettable Disaster for Iran MPs Blast Terror Attack in NZ In the meeting, the official expressed Iran’s dissatisfaction with the unfair ruling, declaring TEHRAN (Iran Press) - Iran’s Foreign Minister has ever will,” wrote Zarif in a post on his Twitter account on MEHR* - Iranian lawmakers have issued a statement in that the Islamic Republic of Iran has recalled its said the horrors of Halabja and Sardasht chemical Saturday, 16 March, which marks the 31st anniversary of condemnation of the Friday terrorist attack on two ambassador to Kenya for consultations. disasters cannot be forgotten by the Iranian nation. the Halabja chemical attack by Saddam’s regime against mosques in New Zealand’s Christchurch, which left as In turn, the Kenyan ambassador said during the Neither Iran nor our Kurdish brethren will ever forget its own Kurds, in which thousands were killed and many as 49 Muslims dead and dozens of others injured. meeting that she will inform the Kenyan the horrors of Halabja and Sardasht chemical disasters, injured, Iran Press reported citing Mehr News Agency. In a statement on Sunday, Iranian lawmakers government about the Islamic Republic’s protest the Iranian foreign minister said in a tweet on the The chemical materials used in the chemical weapons unanimously condemned the Friday terrorist attack on and dissatisfaction. anniversary of the Halabja chemical attack. Halabja is a were supplied to Saddam’s regime by a number of two mosques in New Zealand’s Christchurch, saying “this Qasemi said the Kenyan Supreme Court had town in Iraqi Kurdistan, close to the border with Iran. German, French, and Dutch firms. crime, undoubtedly, proved that being Muslim is in itself issued a ruling to release two Iranian prisoners First they denied it happened—then they blamed Iran. Furthermore, Saddam regime, on June 28, 1987, dropped an unforgivable crime to the terrorists trained and last February after reviewing the cases and When it was clear it was their own ally, using their own mustard gas bombs on the Iranian Kurdish city of Sardasht, in sponsored by hegemonic powers.” cleared them of the charges. chemical weapons, they were silent. The West may like to West Azerbaijan province, killing 110 civilians and injuring “At the same time, this crime proved that for Global However, he added, with non-judicial forget about horrors of Halabja & Sardasht—31 years ago 5000 others. According to figures, out of a population of 20,000, Arrogance, human rights and human life are just tools to intervention in the process, the Kenyan police today—but neither we, nor our Kurdish brethren, ever will. 25% are still suffering severe illnesses from the attacks. advance their inhumane and greedy objectives,” the prevented the release and return of the two “First they denied it happened—then they blamed Iran. statement added, censuring the world’s double-standards prisoners to Iran, and unfortunately last Friday, When it was clear it was their own ally, using their own Iran to Boost Defense and passivity in the face of such crimes against the the Supreme Court of Kenya overturned the chemical weapons, they were silent. The West may like to Muslim community. decision to acquit the two Iranians. forget about horrors of Halabja and Sardasht—31 years Industry Relying on Youths The lawmakers further called on the country’s diplomatic ago today—but neither we, nor our Kurdish brethren, apparatus to be in contact with international organizations TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Defense Minister and OIC and hold an emergency session over the issue in Brigadier General Amir Hatami highlighted the role a bid to prevent any misuse of the name of Islam and of young experts in the progress of the country’s Muslims, and denounce the double-standards employed in INSTEX Not to Fulfill All of Iran’s Expectations defense industry and said the Islamic Republic is the world’s treatment of terrorism. TEHRAN (MNA) – Chairman of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iranian Parliament determined to rely on them to boost the industry. Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said that the proposed financial channel of European countries, known as INSTEX, “The youths ... have always played an effective role does not satisfy all expectations of Iran. in creating change and evolution in Islamic Iran,” Doubt Over CFT Effectiveness After the unilateral withdrawal of U.S. from Iran Nuclear Deal, officially known as JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan Brigadier General Hatami said in a speech on Sunday. of Action), other signatories of the deal vowed to keep it alive. After months of delay, European signatories, i.e. Germany, That is why, he said, Leader of the Islamic MEHR* - Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen UK, and France established a financial mechanism dubbed as INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges) to Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in “the Rezaee voiced doubt about the effectiveness of the facilitate trade ties with Iran and ditch US sanctions; however, the channel is yet to prove its true effectiveness. second phase of the revolution” statement has convention against the funding of terrorism (CFT) in “Still, many European countries delay joining INSTEX,” Falahatpisheh said on Sunday, adding, “only Germany, France and UK are after expounded on believing and trusting in the youth. establishing security in the world. implementing the mechanism.” The senior MP said that he has recently discussed the issue with representatives of some European states. The defense minister went on to say that in his In a Sunday tweet in Persian, he wrote if conventions, “Our trade transactions with Europe should not be limited to just these three countries,” he highlighted, adding, ministry, tapping into the valuable capacities of the such as the one against the funding of terrorism, are “although, Germany, France and UK are Europe’s strongest states, we expect that all European Union member young workforce has always been on the agenda, effective in establishing security, why the world should states, not just the European Troika, will join INSTEX.” “Although INSTEX does not meet all our expectations, adding that the ministry is resolved to continue trusting witness the killing of dozens of people in a peaceful every step taken by European countries in this regard is a blow to U.S.’ unilateralism,” he also added. in young managers in various defense sectors. country like New Zealand? MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 DOMESTIC IRAN NEWS 3

Noon (Zohr) 12:12 105. Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the Message (given to Moses): Evening (Maghreb) 18:31 My servants the righteous, shall inherit the earth.” PRAYER TIME Tomorrow’s Dawn (Fajr) 04:47 106. Verily in this (Qur’an) is a Message for people who would (truly) worship Allah. Tomorrow’s Sunrise 06:09 Surah 21. The Prophets ( 105 - 106 ) Nicaraguan Trade Delegation to Visit Tehran IRENEX Offers Parallel Futures

IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK Contracts Worth 41.6b Rials IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – The Ambassador of Nicaragua to Tehran says a trade TEHRAN - Managing director of Iran Energy Exchange delegation, led by Nicaragua’s foreign minister, is to visit Tehran on Seyed Ali Hosseini says that the IRENEX in the last days of the current year hosted the sale of parallel futures contracts April 16 as the country is determined to expand trade ties with Iran. worth over 41650b rials in the oil derivative market. Hosseini said that in the last days of the current year, Mario Antonio Barquero Baltadano yesterday met deputy head of Iran’s Chamber of Meanwhile Karbasi, for his part, said that there are similarities between economies different parallel futures contracts in different oil Commerce Mr. Mohammad Reza Karbasi and explored ways for expanding trade ties. of both states, adding that despite such similarities, the trade volume between both derivatives were offered on the floor and in the During the meeting, Mr. Baltadano said that Nicaragua is determined to expand countries is unsatisfactory. He said Iran needs some goods which are produced in Samanak 981 indicator. trade with Iran and on April 16, a trade delegation, headed by Nicaraguan Foreign Nicaragua and Nicaragua also needs goods which are produced in Iran but the gate He added that the total volume of the parallel futures Minister, is to visit Tehran and it is a good opportunity for business activists of private for trade between the two countries has not been opened yet. contracts which were offered worth over 41650b rials. sectors of both countries to exchange views. Karbasi reiterated that Nicaragua can take advantage of Iran’s engineering and technical He went on to say that the finance ministry issued He went on to say that economic relations between both countries should be services as it has exported its services to some other Latin American states. He announced standard parallel futures contracts worth 30,000b rials something beyond exchange of trade and it should include investments, too. readiness of Iran’s private sector for cooperation with its Nicaraguan counterparts. to finance the government activities. Hosseini then He said Nicaragua is a big market and it can cover all countries in Latin America and He also said that the chamber is ready for exchange of trade delegations , adding delved into details of more trades in the IRENEX which North America as the U.S. is its major trade partner despite having no good political that the chamber dispatched a delegation to Nicaragua in 2016 and there were good witnessed good growth comparing to the last month. relation. Baltadano reiterated that beef and meat which is produced in Nicaragua is a talks but they were not pursued. Karbasi said that the chamber is eager to send a good quality one and all Islamic principles in its production are observed. delegation to Nicaragua. He also called for finding some solutions for avenues for financial transfer between He reiterated that currently transportation is the major issue for trade between Iran both countries. The ambassador said soya is one of the major imported goods to Iran and Nicaragua, and Iran is currently importing beef and meat from neighboring and Iran can purchase it from Nicaragua. countries because of problems in marine transportation. He noted that Nicaragua has trade agreements with most of the countries and it can He also invited the private sector activists of Nicaragua to accompany Nicaragua’s New Display of Customer Orientation cooperate with Iran in renewable energies. Foreign Minister to Tehran. In Khorasan Steel Complex Tehran, Seoul to East Azarbaijan Welcomes Scientific, IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

Boost Academic Ties TEHRAN – Khorasan Steel Industrial Cooperation With Turkey Complex Company won the ISO TABRIZ (IRNA) - East Azarbaijan governor general said the province welcomes scientific and industrial 10004:2018 certificate for its collaboration with Turkish universities and industries, as a large number of Turkish companies have invested in achievement in implementing Tabriz Foreign Investment Township. the integrated system for Mohammad Reza Pour-Mohammadi made the monitoring or measuring the remarks in a meeting with head of Turkish satisfaction of its customers. Scientific and Technological Researches Council One of the latest standards in the customer Hassan Mandal on Saturday. orientation field is the international standard Referring to the historic and geographic significance “Monitoring and Measuring the Satisfaction of of the province, Pour-Mohammadi said that the Customers 10004:2018” which depicts a new picture of province is one of the main Iranian provinces in an organization in the minds of customers as a terms of industries, mines and infrastructures. customer-oriented organization. Referring to good ties between the Tabrizi Khorasan Steel Complex Company as one of the leading BEIJING (IRNA) - Iran and South Korea have discussed tradesmen and their counterparts, he said that steel companies in the country managed to receive the ways of boosting academic and scientific cooperation. there is extensive cooperation between producers certificate for its successful implementation of the standard. Iran’s Ambassador to Seoul Saeid Badamchi and of the two sides. Head of Sales Department of the company Eng. South Korea’s Minister of Education and Deputy Prime He also hailed East Azarbaijan province’s extraordinary capacities in the field of diplomacy, and said that Tabriz Bakhtiari said that the standard provides some basics and Minister of the country Yoo Eun Hae met on Saturday can be capital of diplomacy in the country, as the construction of diplomatic complex in the city serves as a major principles for evaluating the satisfaction of the customers. and discussed ways of boosting academic cooperation, step in this regard. He added that in a poll conducted in August and including student and professor exchange programs. Head of Turkish Scientific and Technological Researches Council, for his part, said that 2019 will be good year September, 170 major customers of the company The Korean official described Iranian students in terms of promoting scientific and technological collaboration between Turkey and East Azarbaijan. participated in the poll and they hailed the performance studying at the country’s universities as brilliant and of the company in customer orientation. talented, and said that her country will try to offer The certificate and standard helps the company to more facilities to receive more Iranian students. identify the needs of customers and to take action to She also expressed readiness to open centers in Iran’s 11-Month Steel Output Grows resolve the problems. It also will lead to a boost in the Tehran for teaching South Korean language to quality of the products. interested Iranian people. TEHRAN (MNA) – Iranian steel mills produced production with 7.277 million tons, up 3% year-on-year. The two sides also emphasized the necessity of 19.604 million tons of crude steel in the past It was followed by rebar with 7.102 million tons, up strengthening the scientific, academic ties between 11 months of the current fiscal (through Feb 19), up 24% in comparison with last years 11-month period. the two countries. 8% compared with last year’s corresponding period, Production of cold-rolled coil stood at 2.34 million Currently, some 400 Iranian students have according to the data released by Iran Steel tons, up 14%, while the production of coated coil with Over 2 Kilometers of enrolled in South Korean universities with 80 Producers Association. 1.272 million tons observed a 9% fall. percent of them studying at graduate courses. According to the report, production of semis also Iran aims to become the world’s sixth largest steel 16-Inch Pipeline Renewed The number of Iranian students at Korean observed a 13% growth during the period. producer as per the 20-Year Vision Plan, which targets universities has increased by 100 percent over the Billet and bloom output stood at 12.958 million tons, annual production capacity expansion to 55 million past three years. while that of slab reached 9.738 million tons. tons and 20-25 million tons of exports per year by 2025. Hot-rolled coil had the lion’s share of finished steel Iranian steel mills have so far realized just over 30 million tons of the capacity target. Iranian steelmakers produced 21.88 million tons of semis and 19.77 million tons of finished goods last fiscal to register a 19% and 9% YOY growth respectively. They exported 6.87 million tons of semis and 1.62 million tons of finished steel during the period, recording an 84% growth and a 10% downtick YOY respectively. Calls For Investment In IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK «brine extraction, producing evaporates elements and establishment TEHRAN – Over 2.2 kilometers of the 16-inch pipeline Chinese to Invest in for transmission of oil products in the Pol-e Baba of DBM plant and by-products in Iran Namak lake» Hossein-Razan area has been renewed for boosting the N. Khorasan Province safety and sustainability of oil product transfers. Emco intends to identify qualified investor for completing feasibility study and performing BOJNORD (IRNA) - Chines investors will make According to the public relations of the Iranian Oil EPC for «brine extraction, producing evaporates elements and establishment of DBM plant investment worth of five million Yuan in the mines of Pipeline and Telecommunication Company (IOPTC)of North Khorasan province, said deputy governor Lorestan District, head of engineering and maintenance and by-products in Iran Namak lake» project, situated 60 km northeast of the city of Kashan, general of the province. department of the district says the fatigue in some parts Isfahan province, I.R. Iran. Majid Pour-Isa added after a meeting with Chinese of the pipeline needed to be renewed or to be changed. Emco invites all capable, experienced investors to download qualificative document investors that the investments will be made in marble Eng. Saeed Mir said that some parts of the pipeline has mines of Garmeh County. been replaced and renewed. Ha added that assessment form www.emco.ir. “Chinese operation in the province’s mines will start 1.47 kilometers of the pipeline is in Lorestan district All investors should submit their document until 2019.03.17 as of the next Iranian year (to start March 21),” he said. and 770 kilometers in the central district. There are also plans to cede land to the Chinese He pointed to the details of the operation for renewing in Bojnourd special economic zone to set up some parts of the pipeline like hydrostatic test, Address: 2nd floor, No.2, Banisi Alley, Nelson Mandela Blvd., Tehran, I.R. Iran. factories, he said. radiography and sandblast. Phone No.: +9821 88878532-35 (5250) Some 21 types of minerals with reserves of Mr. Mir added that all of the operation was carried out after Mobile phone : +989209513012 775 million tons have been discovered in thorough study and inspection. He noted that the operation E-mail: [email protected] North Khorasan province, the most important of which of renewing and fixing the pipeline in the district was carried are bauxite, marble, limestone and plaster. out successfully and without any casualty or accident. 4 IRAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 Protesters Briefly Break Albanian Police Into Serbia TV Building Clash With Protesters BELGRADE (Reuters) - Protesters briefly broke into Serbia’s state TIRANA (Reuters) - Albanian police used tear gas and water cannon television building in the capital Belgrade on Saturday demanding media on Saturday to disperse protesters trying to break into parliament after freedom and unbiased coverage of more than three months of anti- marching twice around a nearby government building in a campaign government demonstrations. for early elections. The protesters had been taking part in a demonstration by several thousand The initially peaceful protest became violent when a small number in the people against the rule of President Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive several thousand-strong crowd began pushing and throwing stones at police Party (SNS), calling for media freedom as a condition for free and fair elections. protecting parliament. Some protesters and police suffered minor injuries. Anti-Gov’t Protests Yellow Vest Protests Go Wild in Paris Erupt in Nicaragua PARIS (Dispatches) - Rioters looted and torched shops MANAGUA (Reuters) - Protesters targeting Nicaraguan and businesses on the famed Champs-Elysees avenue in President Daniel Ortega took to the streets on Saturday, Paris on Saturday, on the 18th weekend of French demanding the release of all political prisoners and “yellow vest” protests, characterized by a sharp turning up the heat on the political crisis that has increase in violence after weeks of dwindling turnout. consumed the country since last year. President Emmanuel Macron cut short a skiing trip in Protest organizers and witnesses told Reuters that the Pyrenees to return to Paris for a crisis meeting, as some protesters who gathered at various points in hooded protesters went on the rampage in Paris, leaving Managua, the capital, were beaten by police, who since a trail of destruction in the touristic heart of the city. November have enforced a ban on street protests. He vowed to take “strong decisions” to prevent Videos circulating on social media from the protests further violence, following the emergency talks held at also showed police hitting civilians. the interior ministry late Saturday. The national police defended the arrest of 107 protesters “There are people today who try by all means... to in a statement issued late Saturday, arguing that those damage the Republic by breaking, by destroying things detained participated in protests that “were not authorized at the risk of killing someone,” Macron said. and that interrupted public order and local business.” “All those who were there were complicit in” the But the statement went on to note that all those havoc spread across the Champs-Elysees, he added. arrested on Saturday were being released following a The police appeared overrun as protesters swarmed request from a Vatican representative in Nicaragua. the Champs-Elysees, vandalizing and later setting fire Protests in the Central American nation first erupted in to Fouquet’s brasserie, a favorite hangout of the rich April when Ortega’s leftist government moved to reduce and famous for the past century -- as well as luxury welfare benefits, but since then have escalated into handbag store Longchamp, a bank, another restaurant broader opposition to Ortega, a Cold War-era former and several news-stands. their determination to guarantee public order against November 17, but more than the previous weekend. Marxist guerilla leader who has been in office since 2007. The rioters also looted several clothing stores and set “provocateurs and vandals”. Saturday’s protests were markedly more violent than Since April, more than 320 people have been killed fire to barricades in scenes reminiscent of the worst Saturday’s turnout was seen a test of the ongoing in recent weeks. Police said close to 240 people were and some 600 others that the opposition describes as yellow-vest riots in Paris in December. strength of the movement, which began in November arrested, while prosecutors said more than 100 had been political prisoners remain detained, according to “Like the vast majority of French people, I feel very over fuel tax hikes and quickly ballooned into a taken into custody. figures from human rights groups. angry today,” tweeted French Prime Minister Edouard rebellion against Macron’s policies, seen by the The bank set alight was on the ground floor of an Government officials released a group of 50 prisoners on Philippe, who visited the scene. protesters as geared towards the rich. apartment building, and fire firefighters had to quickly Friday following demands by the opposition for more “Today’s actions are not the work of protesters, but of In recent weeks, the protests have dwindled in size. evacuate the residents, including a nine-month-old baby. detainees to be freed before the political talks could continue. looters, arsonists and criminals. No cause justifies this But the interior ministry estimated the turnout in Paris Eleven people suffered minor injuries in the bank The government released 100 others in late February when it violence,” he added. Saturday at 10,000, out of around 32,300 nationwide. blaze, the fire service told AFP. launched a political dialogue with the opposition. In a statement, the national police denounced the That is a fraction of the 282,000 people they said took The violence left 17 members of the police injured, Last month, Ortega said he was willing to reform state “mindless violence, cowardly attacks” and stressed part in the inaugural demonstrations across France on and 42 protesters, said police. institutions ahead of presidential elections in 2021. Anti-Graft Campaigner Wins First India, Pakistan Thousands of Catalan Separatist Supporters Protest in Madrid Round of Slovak Presidential Vote Threatened to Unleash Missiles at Each Other NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The sparring between India and Pakistan last month threatened to spiral out of control and only interventions by U.S. officials, including National Security Advisor John Bolton, headed off a bigger conflict, five sources familiar with the events said. At one stage, India threatened to fire at least six missiles at Pakistan, and Islamabad said it would The simmering dispute erupted into conflict late last respond with its own missile strikes “three times over”, month when Indian and Pakistani warplanes engaged in according to Western diplomats and government a dogfight over Kashmir on Feb 27, a day after a raid sources in New Delhi, Islamabad and Washington. by Indian jet fighters on what it said was a militant The way in which tensions suddenly worsened and camp in Pakistan. Islamabad denied any militant camp BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Zuzana Caputova, an anti- threatened to trigger a war between the nuclear-armed exists in the area and said the Indian bombs exploded corruption campaigner with no experience in public nations shows how the Kashmir region, which both on an empty hillside. MADRID (Reuters) - Thousands of supporters of office, won the first round of Slovakia’s presidential claim and is at the core of their enmity, remains one of In their first such clash since the last war between the Catalan independence marched through central election on Saturday, setting up a tough clash with the the world’s most dangerous flashpoints. two nations in 1971, Pakistan downed an Indian plane Madrid on Saturday in protest at the ongoing trial of ruling Smer party’s candidate. The exchanges did not get beyond threats, and there and captured its pilot after he ejected in 12 separatist leaders who face years in prison for Although voters appeared to spurn Smer a year after the was no suggestion that the missiles involved were Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. their role in organizing a failed independence bid murder of a journalist which sparked mass protests, the anything more than conventional weapons, but they Hours later, videos of the bloodied Indian pilot, from Spain in 2017. party’s Maros Sefcovic, an EU Commissioner, could pick created consternation in official circles in Washington, handcuffed and blindfolded, appeared on social media, Demonstrators, many who made the journey from the up support among those who prefer stability to the change Beijing and London. identifying himself to Pakistani interrogators, deepening northwestern Catalonia region for the protest, offered by Caputova. The killing of Jan Kuciak, who Reuters has pieced together the events that led to the anger in New Delhi. waved Catalan flags and carried signs reading reported on fraud cases involving politically connected most serious military crisis in South Asia since 2008, as With Prime Minister Narendra Modi facing a general “Self-determination is not a crime”. businessmen, triggered the biggest anti-government well as the concerted diplomatic efforts to get both election in April-May, the government was under Protest organizers put the turnout at 120,000 while protests in Slovakia since communism ended three sides to back down. pressure to respond. police gave a figure of 18,000. decades earlier. It also led to the resignation of then Tensions between Madrid and Barcelona have prime minister, Smer leader Robert Fico. thawed somewhat since the political crisis The government remains in power, but Smer’s triggered by Catalonia’s independence declaration popularity has slumped. On the first anniversary of Guaido Starts Domestic Tour to Stir Support in late 2017 but the trial of 12 separatist leaders Kuciak’s murder, thousands of Slovaks rallied to CARACAS (Dispatches) - Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim leader Juan Guaido began a tour of his country for their role in the secession bid and events protest against what they see as a lack of government Saturday aimed at sparking a citizen’s movement to pry President Nicolas Maduro from power. leading up to it has been one of several sticking action on the corruption he uncovered. As Guaido, 35, kicked off his “operation freedom” in the northern city of Valencia, the pro-Maduro military points to derail negotiations. With results from 99.4 percent of polling stations staged the latest in a series of exercises. The 12 are on trial in Madrid on charges ranging from counted, Caputova was in pole position with 40.5 percent The drill focused on defending hydroelectric infrastructure from attack -- a reaction to a weeklong national rebellion to misuse of funds, which they deny. of votes, far ahead of Sefcovic, who had 18.7 percent. blackout that Maduro blamed on U.S. “sabotage” but experts said was more likely the result of years of neglect. The Catalan crisis is set to play a major role in As no candidate secured a majority of all votes cast in the Guaido, the head of the opposition-ruled National Assembly whose claim to be caretaker president is recognized April 28 elections, with three right-leaning parties, European Union and NATO member country of 5.4 million, by the U.S., Canada and much of Latin America and Europe, vowed he would “very soon” take up office in the conservative People’s Party (PP), center-right the pair will now contest a second round on March 30. Miraflores, the presidential palace. Ciudadanos and the relatively new far-right Vox If elected, the 45-year-old Caputova, a pro-European He has been pushing for nearly two months against Maduro party all calling for Spain to take a tougher position liberal who belongs to the small, non-parliamentary after declaring himself acting president during street rallies with separatists. Progressive Slovakia party, will stand out among the by tens of thousands, following Maduro’s swearing-in for a Polls show the support of Catalan parties may prove populist nationalist politicians on the rise across much second term despite elections widely dismissed as a sham. decisive if Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is to form a of Europe. Endorsed by outgoing President Andrej “We are going to reclaim what belongs to the people,” government after the vote. Most polls indicate Kiska, who did not seek reelection, Caputova has Guaido told thousands of supporters on Saturday. Sanchez’s Socialists winning the most seats but falling promised to end what she calls the capture of the state Maduro, he said, “believes that a thieving gang or a palace short of a parliamentary majority. “by people pulling strings from behind,” while makes him president. It’s only the support of our people that Sanchez came to power by winning a confidence maintaining the course of Slovakia’s foreign policy. makes someone president of a nation and he doesn’t have that. motion last year with the support of Catalan separatist “I see the message from voters as a strong call for And not much longer will he be in that palace.” Guaido offered parties but was unable to secure their backing for his change,” Caputova told reporters early on Sunday no timeline for the mobilization across Venezuela, which he said budget, effectively dooming the project and leading after her victory in the first round was clear. will culminate with a march on the presidential palace in Caracas. him to call an early election. MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 PROMOTIONAL ITEM IRAN NEWS 5 6 IRAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019

TOKYO (Dispatches) - The Japanese and Chinese governments are working to arrange high-level economic talks in Beijing in mid-April. They held the dialogue in Tokyo in April 2018, for the first time in about eight years. Japan, China Eye Economic Dialogue in April The Japanese participants are expected to include Foreign Minister Taro Kono, Economy and Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko and Transport Minister Keiichi Ishii.

EU, ASEAN Can Work Together Asia’s Exports Slump to Deepen To Become Global Leaders SINGAPORE (Dispatches) - Asia’s exports slump is expected to deepen, with analysts saying regional trade is heading for its lowest point since 2015. Amid a slowdown in global demand, Asian exports will continue to decline until at least April, according to an index compiled by Nomura Bank. The index combines eight economic elements to predict exports three months in advance for China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand and it shows a rocky road ahead. Among these early gauges are purchasing managers’ index for global manufacturing, which is a finger on the pulse of factory output around the world, semiconductor orders and China’s import growth. China’s import growth, meanwhile, crashed by 4.9 per cent, said Rob Subbaraman, BRUSSELS (Dispatches) - Europe and ASEAN can a managing director at Nomura, who co-authored the research, which is bad news for work together as global leaders in the light of the other economies in the region, which are heavily reliant on Chinese demand. U.S. stepping back and China’s unwillingness to take Nomura’s research shows that global semiconductor sales growth declined by 5.7 on the task - but doing so comes with challenges. per cent year on year – an indicator of a sluggish electronics sector, a dominant This possible new world order was among issues industry in the region. raised by a panel at the second Singapore-France The index feeds into a wider picture of underwhelming official trade data across Economic Forum. “The European Union has a Asia’s exporting powerhouses, including South Korea and Taiwan, and Indonesia – strategic opportunity to play a bigger role on the the largest economy in Southeast Asia. world stage,” said Professor Kishore Mahbubani While a trade war deal between China and the United States may ease extreme from the National University of Singapore. business pessimism, the health of many Asian economies is more closely related to In South Korea, home to a host of leading car and electronics manufacturers, “It’s quite clear that the U.S... under (President) the wider global growth picture, which is negative. exports crashed 11.1 per cent in February. Trump, wants to recede from global leadership, and “Exports by major Asian economies have been on a downward trend since they In the Philippines, the latest available data was for January, when exports declined his policy is America First.” While China wants a peaked at the end of 2017, and the deceleration became more rapid towards the end for the third successive month, by 1.7 per cent. This was, however, an improvement more stable world order, it will not push to lead it so of last year. With the softening global demand and uncertainties related to the from December’s 12 per cent decline. as to avoid waking the “American dragon”, he added, US-China trade dispute, this trend could continue, at least in the first half of 2019,” Exports decreased the most in the electronics equipment and parts sector, followed noting: “The only other natural candidate is Europe.” said Chen Dong, senior Asia economist at Pictet Wealth Management. by metal components, gold, and machinery and transport equipment. But Europe faces challenges in seizing the opportunity, Exports from Indonesia tumbled 11.33 per cent from a year earlier in February, well Japan too is experiencing a tough time in trade terms. In January, Japan’s machine he said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is not below the market consensus of a 4.5 per cent drop. It was the fourth straight monthly orders, which exclude those of ships and electrical equipment, declined 5.4 per cent running for political office after her term ends in 2021, decline and the steepest slump since June 2017. month-over-month, worse than an expected 1.7 per cent fall. Prof Mahbubani said, while British Prime Minister Theresa May remains preoccupied with Brexit. Former World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy said there is a need for a strong Europe to Pakistan, ADB Agree to Implement $6b Loan Program support the multilateral system against Mr Trump’s “attacks in trying to revert to a more bilateral ISLAMABAD (Dispatches) - Pakistan and Asian Mahmood reiterated ADB’s commitment to further pattern”. Mr Lamy was also on the panel, which was Development Bank (ADB) on Friday agreed in strengthen and expand its partnership with Pakistan. moderated by Dr Yeo Lay Hwee, director of the principle to kick-start implementation of three-year Liepach affirmed ADB’s readiness to scale up its lending to European Union Centre in Singapore. country partnership strategy (CPS) program with loan Pakistan including development policy credit and project Prof Mahbubani said in response to an audience portfolio of $6 billion for various economic sectors. financing. The official said ADB supports the public- question that it would be a strategic opportunity and “The CPS for Pakistan from 2019-20 to 2021-22 private partnerships (PPP) initiatives in the country which a “natural partnership” for ASEAN and the EU to will provide lending for energy, trade, play an important role in bridging the huge infrastructure come together as a new powerhouse that can help competitiveness and other sectors during next three investment gap. ADB may provide transaction advisory contain the two superpowers. years period,” a senior official said. services associated with the development and The official told The News that the upcoming CPS implementation of PPP projects, he added. will kick in from the next fiscal year. The ADB plans to Meanwhile, Pakistan and Iran have reiterated their Thai Growth Will Ride Out provide $2 billion lending to Pakistan every year for the desire to enhance bilateral trade which would greatly next three years under the program. benefit the two neighbouring countries. This was Any Election Unrest Pakistan supported an idea of combining sovereign discussed at a meeting between the visiting Managing and private lending under the umbrella of the ADB, the official Director of Iranian Foreign Investment Company said, citing a meeting between an ADB’s delegation and areas and new avenues for future interventions. He (IFIC) Hassan Abghari and Finance Minister. Minister for Finance Asad Umar. The delegation appreciated the proactive approach of Pakistan Resident Finance Minister informed the MD IFIC Pakistan comprised of Executive Director Shahid Mahmood, Director Mission (PRM) and suggested to further enhance the wants great economic engagement with Iran and assured General (Central and West Asia Department) Werner role and capacity of PRM. him of Pakistan’s support to facilitate bilateral trade. Liepach, Director General (Private Sector Operations) The cash-strapped country is slashing its Umar said there was tremendous potential of Michael Barrow and Country Director Xiaohong Yang. expenditures to contain swelling fiscal deficits. It improving economic cooperation and both countries are Umar said the government is keen to devise cut development spending to Rs675 billion for the required to capitalise on the existing opportunities in innovative financing model, develop capital markets current fiscal year and decided to keep it at the same the area of bilateral trade. and mobilise private sector investment in level for the next fiscal year that would suppress The minister also apprised Abghari about the infrastructure and social sector. growth and bring it down to projected 4.1 percent initiatives being taken by Pakistan for the benefit of the “These initiatives will not only provide fiscal space to from 5.8 percent in FY2018. border community. “The government has directed the BANGKOK (Bloomberg) - Thailand’s long-delayed the government but will also be helpful to boost The delegation of Manila-based lender expressed relevant quarters to take measures for facilitation of the elections to be held on March 24 have stirred economic activities in the country,” he was quoted as interest in improving its private sector operations border trade which will be beneficial for both sides,” he concern among some analysts that we will see a saying in a ministry’s statement. through development of capital market and local said in a separate statement. The meeting agreed to fresh round of protests and social unrest. Investors Finance minister acknowledged the ADB’s support currency financing. It said the country has a lot of address the obstacles being faced by the two countries should look past any temporary disruption. Whatever for development of Pakistan and discussed the priorities potential for private investment. in the area of trade. the result, Thai leaders will move forward with a landmark project that will support growth in what has been one of the most economically stable countries in Southeast Asia for the past two decades. Venezuela’s Inflation Ranks Highest Turkish Unemployment Surges to 13.5%, Highest in Nine Years First, a little background: In May 2014, the Royal BOGOTA (Dispatches) - Reeling amid power blackouts and water shortages, ANKARA (Dispatches) - Turkey’s unemployment rate jumped to 13.5 percent in the Thai Armed Forces initiated a successful coup, leading Venezuelans could be forgiven for missing the latest economic report. November-January period, its highest level in nine years, official data showed on Friday, in a to the impeachment of then-Prime Minister Yingluck On Thursday, the opposition-controlled congress confirmed that the country is still fresh sign of the impact of last year’s currency crisis. The economy contracted a sharper than Shinawatra, the dissolution of the senate and trapped in a hyper-inflationary spiral that has made life a misery for the vast majority. expected 3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, its worst performance in nearly a decade, government, and the repeal of the Thai constitution. Year-on-year inflation as of February is running 2.3 million percent by their calculations. indicating last year’s near 30 percent slide in the lira had tipped it into recession. Since then, the military-backed National Council of Venezuela’s Central Bank hasn’t put out inflation data since 2015 and some experts The number of people registered as unemployed jumped to 4.3 million in the three Peace and Order has ruled the country, with retired say the congressional number is itself grossly inflated, but there’s no question that months to January, a surge of more than one million from a year earlier when the General Prayuth Chan-Ocha serving as prime minister. Venezuela remains the global leader in runaway prices. jobless rate stood at 12.7 percent, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute showed. Though the junta regularly detained dissidents and has If there is a silver lining in the new data it’s that inflation in February was 54 percent In the last three months of 2018, the unemployment rate was 12.3 percent. squashed most free speech, the economy grew at a decent for the month — down from 191 percent in January, said Jose Guerra, an opposition In February, the government and Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges clip between 2014 and 2018. Data from last year indicate that deputy and a member of the body’s economic committee. launched a campaign to boost employment, which they say will provide jobs for 2.5 gross domestic product rose by about 4 percent, much of that Guerra said the slowdown was essentially due to the “brutal drop” in consumer million people. Both President Tayyip Erdogan and his son-in-law Finance Minister fueled by tourism and manufacturing. Tourism alone spending, but the regime’s decision to loosen its currency controls have also helped Berat Albayrak have said Turkey has left the worst of its economic troubles behind. represents almost one-fifth of the economy, with the Tourism stabilize the bolivar. Non-agricultural unemployment stood at 15.6 percent in the November-January Authority of Thailand predicting more than 40 million The inflation news comes as Nicolas Maduro is struggling to hang onto power amid period, the data showed, up from 14.3 percent during October-December. international tourists will flock to the country this year. growing unrest and the rise of self-declared interim president Juan Guaido, the man That said, poverty and widespread corruption remain recognized by the U.S. and 50 other countries as the nation’s legitimate leader. pressing issues. Though Thailand’s overall poverty level has Guerra said the only way dropped dramatically in the past two decades, to less than 7 for the economy to right percent of the population in 2017 from 21 percent in 2000, itself was for Maduro to UNICEF estimates that more than seven million people, step down. mostly in rural areas, live on less than $88 per month. “Maduro has to leave And while the junta has promised plenty of initiatives office before the economy to combat political corruption, the simple fact is that will ever start to recover,” graft exists at virtually every level of government. The he said. “He created the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce problem and there’s no way estimates that most businesses pay between 25 percent to solve the economy and 40 percent of contract values under the table to without resolving our politicians and bureaucrats to secure work and get political issue.” projects moving, according to the Bangkok Post. MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 WORLD NEWS IRAN NEWS 7

TEHRAN – Commander of Iran’s Army Ground Force Brigadier General Kioomars Heidari says the Army will unveil a large batch of achievements in the telecommunication and drone sectors in the first month of the next Iranian year (starts on March 21). Brigadier General Heidari added that Army’s Ground Forces have reached high levels of self-sufficiency Army to Unveil New Achievements by indigenously producing all of the equipment they need, including tank transporters, radars, long-range cameras, or telecommunication shelters, which will be employed by the Army in the near future.

Counterbalancing Missile... Unemployment Adds to Erdogan’s Woes FROM PAGE 1 He also reacted to the recent remarks and claims of U.S. ANKARA (Dispatches) - Turkey’s unemployment rate has hit a near-10-year high, officials over disrupting bringing more bad economic news for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of Iran’s missile system, critical local elections. saying, “We took advantage According to figures released Friday, Turkey’s jobless rate surged to 13.5 percent, of their industrial sabotage the highest since 2010. The number of unemployed is a record 4.3 million. and their lie is a disgrace.” The unemployment figures are just the latest economic bad news with soaring He went on to say that inflation and the country in recession. enemies of the Islamic Erdogan is leading his AK Party campaign to maintain control of most of Turkey’s Republic refrained from cities. However, with a slew of bad economic news, the March 31 polls are now selling and delivery of weapons to Iran in the first decade being hotly contested. of the revolution but now in the fourth decade, they fear that With the passing of constitutional reforms, that centralized power in the hands of Iran’s weapons are transshipped to the Resistance Front. the presidency in 2017, the control of Turkey’s main cities is one of the few He said, “In the past they used to topple the remaining sources of political power and patronage outside Erdogan’s control. establishment with guns and tanks but today they form Erdogan is campaigning hard, seeking to draw heavily on his own popularity. In coalition to curb Iran’s power. As they pursued it in the the past, the Turkish president used to make economic prosperity the centerpiece of Warsaw Conference and fortunately they failed.” his campaign strategy. Seventeen years of nearly unbroken growth is widely concern with voters, with unemployment second. The same poll points to the main That today Army and IRGC are two mighty arms of acknowledged as a critical factor for his political success. opposition CHP securing many of Turkey’s cities, including the capital, Ankara. resistance and protection of the Islamic Revolution in However, Erdogan is largely sidestepping the economy, angrily dismissing what he While Istanbul is the economic powerhouse of the country, the AKP lead has been Iran is visible to anyone and that enemies have characterizes as calls for assistance. “Don’t expect anything from us. We gave all whittled down to within the margin of error. always tried to create rift and rivalry between the two that we could. Moreover, don’t provoke this rally,” Erdogan reprimanded an Istanbul CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu, a local Istanbul suburban mayor, was mighty arms of the revolution has become vivid to the audience demanding jobs in the provincial city of Sivas. little known. However, his touring food market places across the city focusing on esteemed nation of Iran more than before. Instead, the Turkish president is looking to highlight other achievements. Tuesday, rising discontent over inflation, appears to striking chord among many. Today Iran is able to answer missile attack with missiles Erdogan opened a new urban rail link in Istanbul, promising crowds an end to the “I don’t understand the prices. One day you come, there is this price and the next and it has been unprecedented in the history. The great city’s chronic traffic problems. “This line will by itself carry the same number of day another price,” said an exasperated trader. “Believe me, I can’t understand how nation of Islamic Iran honors this auspicious solidarity and passengers who are transported with 100,000 vehicles,” he declared to cheering these prices come about,” he added. “The sales are affected. The prices are all shot invites the world via media to know the nature of Iran’s supporters.“ Istanbul’s 10 districts will have the opportunity to use this line. It will to pieces. How come it doesn’t affect us. Prices are all in pieces.” Small-time traders defensive power in order that the country’s enemies realize importantly relieve the Istanbul traffic,” he added. traditionally are a vital constituent of support of the ruling AKP. However, in the well that Iran has never attacked any country and it has been Istanbul is Erdogan’s home, and his political powerbase, ever since he won the mayorship market place, there are still many people who remain loyal to Erdogan. always a center for welcoming warmly its neighbors. back in 1994, which was the springboard to him going on to dominate Turkish politics. “I haven’t personally been affected that much (by inflation) but I am of course Erdogan has never lost an election, a success he uses to silence critics who accuse him of concerned about the effect of it on other people and this makes me sad. Of course, I President... authoritarianism. “Winning the elections constitute the unique sole source of legitimacy for this want the prices to be lower,” said a woman wearing a religious headscarf. “But the regime. So therefore it’s very important for the regime, “said political scientist Cengiz Aktar. president is working to reduce prices, and, God willing, he will continue to succeed.” FROM PAGE 1 “But this (election) is definitely a challenge (to Erdogan)” he added. “Turkey is in Turkey’s large conservative, religious population is the foundation of Erdogan’s electoral stagflation, it’s a recession with inflation and this is why the regime is so nervous.” support. Until now they have remained mostly loyal. Under Erdogan’s rule as prime minister Rouhani said it didn’t matter for Iran whether countries Advertisements for Erdogan’s AK Party saturate the airwaves, listing its and now president, he introduced many reforms, lifting restrictions under Turkey’s secular were Shia-majority or Sunni-majority or whether they achievements. With mainstream media in the iron grip of Erdogan’s supporters, constitution, preventing head-scarved women from going to university and working for the were located north of the Persian Gulf or to its south. “Our watching TV, it is easy to forget that other parties are contesting the polls. state. A dominant, prosperous religious middle class also flourished under his rule. goal must be the development of the entire region.” According to official Turkish figures, during the campaign, the state broadcaster The AKP, with its deep financial pockets and the resources of the Turkish State at He said that in spite of attempts by the US, Israel and TRT, devoted 53 hours to the ruling AKP in contrast to seven hours for other parties. its disposal along with control of mainstream media, still has considerable “some reactionary regional countries” to exert pressure The pro-Kurdish HDP, Turkey’s second main opposition, received only two minutes. advantages over its opponents. However analysts point out, Erdogan’s AKP is facing on the Iranian nation, Iran would continue on its path and However, according to opinion polls, the economic discontent is the main issue of growing anger in the country over rising prices and unemployment. develop better relations with its neighbors day by day. The Iranian president further referred to his recent visit to Iraq and hailed Tehran-Baghdad ties as Apple Watch May Spot Heart Croats Protest Against Domestic Violence “exemplary.” He added that good bilateral agreements had been reached during his trip to Iraq. Elsewhere in ZAGREB (Reuters) - for a 24-hour phone his address, Rouhani said that although enemies could Problem But More Research Needed Several thousand Croats assistance for victims to create problems for the Iranians people, they could not WASHINGTON (AP) - A huge study suggests the Apple Watch can detect a demonstrated in Zagreb report violence. bring the “brave and resistant” nation to its knees. worrisome irregular heartbeat at least sometimes — but experts say more work is on Saturday, demanding “It is evident that the “We all know that our enemies have over the past needed to tell if using wearable technology to screen for heart problems really helps. tougher measures against institutions are failing year employed all their capabilities to exert pressure More than 419,000 Apple Watch users domestic violence and in their job,” Jelena on the Iranian people, hoping to drive a wedge signed up for the unusual study, making it more training for Otasevic Babic, one between the people of Iran and the establishment..., the largest ever to explore screening employees in state of the key organizers, but the people have endured the difficulties and have seemingly healthy people for atrial institutions to help them tackle the problem. told the state television. “The statistical responded to the enemies of their land with a fibrillation, a condition that if untreated The rally was prompted by a recent figures are devastating for our society.” resounding ‘no,’” President Rouhani said. eventually can trigger strokes. case on the Adriatic island of Pag where Between 2012-2017, 90 women Stanford University researchers reported Saturday a father threw his four children out of were murdered by their partners, that the watch didn’t panic flocks of people, an upper floor window. The children, former partners or other persons Iran Sends... warning just half a percent of participants — about 2,100 — that they might have a problem. aged three, five, seven and eight, close to them. In 2017 alone, 11,506 But even among those flagged, “it’s not perfect,” cautioned Dr. Richard Kovacs of suffered severe injuries. cases were reported to police for FROM PAGE 1 the American College of Cardiology, who wasn’t involved with the study. The protest was organized through the domestic violence. The 61st such mission began less than two weeks People who received an alert were supposed to consult a study doctor via social network movement #Spasime (Save Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic was after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said telemedicine and then wear an EKG patch measuring cardiac activity for the next me) which in just two weeks gathered more present among the crowd of in vague remarks that the regime’s navy could take week to determine the watch’s accuracy. Some skipped the virtual check-up to than 45,000 supporters online. demonstrators on Saturday and said he action against Iranian oil shipments. consult their own doctors; overall, about 57 percent sought medical attention. “We want domestic violence to be was ready to address the issue. Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Among those who got EKG monitoring through the study, a third had atrial treated as a criminal act, not just as an “I’m here less as the Prime Minister and Hatami reacted to Netanyahu’s remarks by saying that fibrillation, according to preliminary results being presented at an American College offence,” one of the campaigners said. more as a concerned citizen,” he said. Iran viewed any Israeli naval action against the country’s of Cardiology conference in New Orleans. A-fib tends to come and go, and a week The protesters are demanding better One of the campaign leaders said oil shipments as “piracy,” vowing a “firm” response to of monitoring might have missed some cases, said Stanford lead researcher Dr. education in schools and more training for they would take their demands to the such an assault. Defense Minister Hatami says Iran views Mintu Turakhia. But if the watch detected another irregular heartbeat while someone employees of state institutions to combat authorities on Monday and any Israeli naval action against the country’s oil was wearing the EKG patch, 84 percent of the time it really was a-fib, he said. incidents of violence. They are also calling “we expect a dialogue.” shipments as “piracy” and would firmly respond to them. “This study we believe provides very encouraging evidence that a device, the Apple Watch, can be used to detect a-fib and to point out to people when additional monitoring or testing may be needed,” said Dr. Lloyd Minor, Stanford’s dean of medicine. Iran Oil... Other cardiac experts said the study, which was funded by Apple, suggests FROM PAGE 1 screening with wearable technology might be technically feasible eventually, but needs lots more research. “I would not advise this to the overall general population,” “We do not know whether U.S. waivers would be extended or not. We will do our job but they [the U.S.] say something new every single said Dr. Valentin Fuster, director of Mount Sinai Heart in New York and a former day,” Zanganeh said. American Heart Association president, who wasn’t involved with the study. Instead, Zanganeh was speaking at a news conference ahead of the planned inauguration on Sunday of four development phases at South Pars, the he’d like to see it tested in seniors with risk factors like high blood pressure. world’s largest gas field, by President Hassan Rouhani. A-fib occurs when the heart’s top chambers, called the atria, get out of sync with the He said Iran had invested $11 billion to complete the phases 13 and 22-24 of the giant field, which Tehran shares with Qatar, and expected bottom chambers’ pumping action. Sometimes patients feel a flutter or a racing heart to operate 27 phases by next March, SHANA reported. but many times they’re not aware of an episode. Sometimes the heart gets back into France’s Total and China National Petroleum Corp suspended investment in phase 11 of South Pars last year after the United States rhythm on its own. Other patients get an electric shock to get back into rhythm, or are threatened to impose sanctions on companies that do business in Iran. prescribed blood thinners to counter the stroke-causing blood clots that untreated a-fib But Zanganeh said talks with CNPC were continuing. can spur. A-fib causes 130,000 deaths and 750,000 hospitalizations a year in the U.S. “Negotiations are ongoing. A senior delegation from China is due to come to Iran for talks. They have promised to come to Iran soon,” A-fib is most common in older adults, and other risks include high blood pressure said Zanganeh, according to the semiofficial news agency ISNA. or a family history of arrhythmias. But routine screening isn’t recommended for “As far as gas exports to Pakistan are concerned, legally speaking, we are in the position of claimant, and they also have political excuses, people without symptoms. Studies haven’t yet proved that early detection from saying they are under pressure from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, but we have a valid contract; Pakistan cannot find any gas cheaper than Iran’s.” screening would prevent enough strokes to outweigh risks from unnecessary testing “We had also proposed to export gas through Iraq to that country and the Iraqis have only verbally accompanied us in this,” he added. or overtreatment. A mobile app uses the optical sensor on certain versions of the He said: “The sanctions have not impacted Iran’s gas exports, but there are hurdles regarding receiving gas money from Iraq which are being watch to analyze pulse rate data. If it detects enough variation from beat to beat over resolved.” Meanwhile yesterday Zangeneh said the country’s petrochemical production capacity would reach 92 million metric tons per year by 2021. a 48-hour period, the user receives a warning of an irregular heart rhythm. Addressing a ceremony to officially launch phases 13 and 22-24 of the major joint gas field, that was held in the presence of the Iranian The latest version of the Apple Watch also allows wearers to push a button to take President Hassan Rouhani in the southern city of Assaluyeh on Sunday, Mr. Zangeneh said Iran’s petrochemical production capacity stood an EKG and share the reading with doctors. Saturday’s study didn’t include watches at 27 million tons in 2013 which is currently 31 mt/y and would reach 92 mt/y by 2021. with that capability. No. The study was designed to tell how the watch compared to He said the value of petrochemical products produced in Iran, based on 2011 prices, stood at $36 billion which was more than double the a week of standard EKG monitoring — not if the wearer’s health improved because amount by 2021 compared with 2013. the screening uncovered the arrhythmia. To prove if detecting a-fib early lowers risk Zangeneh also said that Iran’s Euro-4 gasoline output stood at 76 ml/d from nothing back in 2012. Also, Euro-4 gasoil production capacity of stroke would require years of study. was at 44 ml/d currently. German Slalom Expert IRAN NEWS Pato Announces Licence Holder: Sokhan Gostar Institute Tianjin Departure Neureuther Retires ERLIN (Dispatches) - German slalom specialist Felix Switchboard: E-Mail Address: ONG KONG (Reuters) - Brazil international striker (+98) (21) 44253448 [email protected] BNeureuther has announced he will hang up his skis ISSN 1024-6053 HAlexandre Pato shas left Chinese Super League side Public Relations Tel: following Sunday’s race at the World Cup finals. 15875-8551 Tianjin Tianhai, the former AC Milan forward announced on (+98)(21) 44253450 P.O. Box: Address: No 13, Pajouhesh St., “My heart, and above all, my body have made it clear to me Editorial Board: 44253449 social media. Goletan II St, Goletan St.Marzdaran in recent months that it is time to finish this wonderful chapter Pato, who joined the club two years ago from Villarreal, released Public Relations Fax: Blvd., Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran of ski racing,” he wrote on Instagram. a statement on Instagram declaring his stint in China was over. (+98)(21) 44253395 Printed by:Honar Sarzmin Sabz The final race of his career will be the men’s slalom at the Advertising Department: Ditributed by: “I’d like to inform you that my adventure in China has come season finals in Soldeu, Andorra. Tel/Fax:(+98) (21) 44253335-9/44253234 Cities of Iran Cultural and to an end,” the 29-year-old said. Website: Artistic Institute http://www.irannewsdaily.com Managing Director: Fereydoon Taherpour Asl

8 IRAN NEWS SPORTS MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 Federer, Thiem Into Man City Storm Back as Man Shiffrin Makes It Sweet 16 Indian Wells Final IENNA (Dispatches) - Insatiable Mikaela NDIAN WELLS (Dispatches) - The 39th match United Crash Out of FA Cup V Shiffrin won Saturday’s between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal failed to I slalom in Andorra to seal a materialize on Saturday as the world No. 2 Spaniard pulsating 16th World Cup hobbled out of Indian Wells to send Federer into a win of a record-breaking title clash with Dominic Thiem. season, as Alexis Pinturault Nadal, whose longstanding right knee trouble prevailed in the giant slalom. flared up in his quarter-final victory over Karen Last week the all-conquering Khachanov, couldn’t take the court for the American Shiffrin set a blockbuster semi-final with Swiss great Federer. new record for most World “I wanted to try my best to be competitive today,” Cup victories in a season a dejected Nadal said. “I warmed up today in the with her 15th to pull clear morning, and I felt that my knee was not enough of the previous benchmark good to compete at the level that I need to compete, of 14 set by Swiss legend Vreni Schneider who to play semi-finals match of this event.” achieved the feat in 1988-89. Federer, seeded fourth as he pursues a record sixth It was Shiffrin’s 59th career success on Saturday and title in the California desert, will battle 25-year-old it came in the week she celebrated her 24th birthday. Austrian Thiem, who is seeking his first title in one To put that tally of 59 into context, Lindsey Vonn, of the ATP’s prestigious Masters 1000 events. who is ten years older than Shiffrin, retired with Thiem, ranked eighth in the world, was rock-solid 82 career wins in February. Shiffrin had already in a 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 victory over 14th-ranked been assured of the slalom small globe to go Canadian Milos Raonic. alongside her super-G globe and overall title. Thiem, who advanced to the semis on a walkover “I’m not on this circuit just to win Globes and then when Gael Monfils withdrew with a Achilles tendon stop,” Shiffrin told press after the race. “It’s my inflammation, was locked-in from the start, firing 10 passion, I’m always full on. I love this sport and it winners without an unforced error in the opening set. ONDON (Dispatches) - Manchester City produced a Having already won the League Cup and advanced to brings great joy to my life,” she explained. He couldn’t convert his only break point against Raonic Lstunning comeback against Swansea on Saturday to the Champions League quarter-finals, City remain in the in the second, and Raonic managed to seize the tiebreaker reach the FA Cup semi-finals and keep their quadruple hunt for an unprecedented clean sweep of all four major aided by a favorable netcord bounce for a 5-3 lead. dreams alive as Wolves sent Manchester United crashing out. trophies. Twelve-time FA Cup winners United were Thiem gained the first break of the match for a 3-2 Pep Guardiola’s team roared back from a two-goal below par as they followed up last week’s Premier Andreescu Continues lead in the third and after saving the only break half-time deficit to score three times after the break, League defeat at Arsenal with a meek exit at Molineux. point he faced all day as he served for the match with Sergio Aguero grabbing a disputed late winner in Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota sent Wolves into the Fairytale Run at Indian Wells wrapped it up with a sparkling backhand volley. a 3-2 victory. But United were unable to match their semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 21 years “It was an amazing day,” said Thiem, who will be city rivals, slipping to a 2-1 defeat at Wolves to hand with two goals in six second-half minutes, with NDIAN WELLS playing in his third Masters 1,000 final. “His serve interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a second United only having Marcus Rashford’s late consolation I(Reuters) - Bianca is just unreal so even though I played amazing it consecutive defeat. to show for their efforts. United never convinced and Andreescu became the was so close the first two sets.” In a dramatic game in south Wales, Championship could have lost by more, with Sergio Romero turning youngest player to reach The Austrian said it would “mean the world” to side Swansea were 2-0 up against Premier League Jimenez’s header on to the bar and denying Jota. the final at Indian Wells in break through for a Masters crown, but noted it leaders City shortly before the half hour through a “I’m very proud of the players. We had composure, 20 years after the teenager would be a tall order against 20-time Grand Slam Matt Grimes penalty and fine strike by Bersant Celina. shape, good running,” said Wolves manager Nuno beat Elina Svitolina of winner Federer -- who is coming off a remarkable But Bernardo Silva pulled a goal back in the 69th minute Espirito Santo. “It means a lot because we know how Ukraine 6-3 2-6 6-4 at the 100th career title in Dubai last month. and the visitors went for the kill, drawing level after an big Wolves were in the 1950s and 1960s and there are BNP Paribas Open on “It’s not going to be easy,” said Thiem, who has Aguero penalty hit a post and went in off goalkeeper people in the stadium who have memories of that. To Friday. The 18-year-old split four prior meetings with Federer 2-2. Kristoffer Nordfeldt. The City pressure intensified and try to achieve the same is much, much harder now but Canadian continued her Federer was looking forward to the match and the Aguero had the final word in the 88th minute with a we will try step by step.” magical run by overcoming chance to break out of a tie with Novak Djokovic stooping header to complete a stunning fightback. Disappointed Solskjaer, who had only suffered two sixth seeded Svitolina to for most Indian Wells titles, but was sorry to miss a It was a lucky escape for City as replays showed defeats in 18 games before the Wolves match, set up a final with three-time Grand Slam champion meeting with Nadal. Raheem Sterling was fortunate to win the penalty that described the performance as “a big step backwards”. Angelique Kerber who beat Belinda Bencic 6-4 6-2. Their rivalry stretches back 15 years, and Federer led to the equaliser, while Aguero was marginally “We’ve had a great run and now we’ve had two “This past week, it’s been a dream come true couldn’t help wondering how many more chances offside for the winner. “If it is not penalty, and it is defeats. Against Arsenal we just couldn’t score and playing in front of these amazing crowds,” they might have. offside like the people say, I’m sorry,” Guardiola said. today was poor, the poorest we’ve played,” he said. Andreescu said in a courtside interview after putting “We’ve had so many epic battles,” Federer, 38, said. “They ask all the clubs about the VAR “I’m here until the summer, we’ve got loads to play her name alongside Serena Williams who reached “I know that every one that we have now could be our (video assistant referee) and all around Europe the VAR for in the league and the Champions League.” and won the 1999 final at 17. last. So was this our chance at a last one -- I hope not is there and here it’s not. I don’t like to lose games when In the early game on Saturday Andre Gray came off “Today, I believed in myself playing against these top and I believe at the level he’s playing and the level the decisions are wrong but the referees don’t want to the bench to fire Watford into last four with a late players. I’ve watched them play so many times on TV I’m still going there’s definitely going to be more.” make wrong decisions, but they must be helped.” winner in their 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. so it’s so incredible to play against them and win.” Reus Sends Zidane Enjoys Dortmund Top Winning Start ERLIN (Dispatches) - Borussia Dortmund returned ADRID (Dispatches) - Zinedine Zidane brought Bto the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday after MReal Madrid’s outcasts in from the cold and they Marco Reus’s late winner sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory repaid him with a win over Celta Vigo on Saturday but at Hertha Berlin, who finished with nine men. La Liga’s title race could well be over after Atletico Dortmund’s win leaves them three points clear of defending Madrid were beaten by Athletic Bilbao. champions Bayern Munich, who are now under pressure to Isco and Gareth Bale each scored in Madrid’s 2-0 bounce back from their Champions League exit to Liverpool victory over Celta before Atletico lost 2-0 at San by beating Mainz. Ivorian striker Salomon Kalou scored both Mames, giving Barcelona the chance to go 10 points of Hertha’s first-half goals with Thomas Delaney and then clear if they overcome Real Betis. Dan-Axel Zagadou twice equalising for Dortmund. Barca’s superiority has been clear for some time but Reus’ late strike at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium finally saw off Hertha, who had defender Jordan Torunarigha and Zidane’s new era is up and running. Isco, who had not substitute striker Vedad Ibisevic sent off in the final few minutes of a bad-tempered match. Kalou capitalised on a started a single league game under Santiago Solari, gave Real the lead shortly after the hour and Bale got the goal mistake by Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki with just four minutes gone to give Hertha the lead. his own committed display deserved to put sorry Celta out of sight. Delaney equalised by charging through a huge gap in midfield and firing home, his 14th-minute shot deflecting Bale was teed up by Marcelo, who was also dropped by Solari but recalled, while Keylor Navas pulled off a off Hertha defender Karim Rekik. Kalou restored Hertha’s lead by drilling home a penalty after a Julian Weigl superb save in the first half, having been brought back in ahead of Thibaut Courtois. “Nobody can erase what these handball 10 minutes from the break. Dortmund drew level again when French centre-back Zagadou headed home players have done,” Zidane about those players he recalled. “I will count on everyone.” a Jadon Sancho corner two minutes after the break. The victory ends a run of four consecutive home defeats for Madrid and means they are now two points behind With five minutes left, Torunarigha was sent off for a second yellow card after fouling Dortmund defender Achraf Atletico, nine back on Barca. Hakimi, just before Delaney hit the crossbar. With time running out and Dortmund growing desperate after wasting That deficit will surely prove too big to close but Zidane’s job was to restore morale in the 11 league games that a string of chances, Sancho supplied the cross for Reus to convert to claim the three points. are left and to find out what, and who, needs changing in the summer.