Iran condemns violence ‘5+1 suddenly Top 100 Iranian Fajr Film Festival in any part of the world, changed opinion despite brands worth to honor Keshavarz, 2 Rouhani tells Cypriot FM 2 agreement on generalities’ 4 over $8.5b 12 JJafarianafarian NATION NATION ECONOMY ART&CULTUREA RT&CU L T U R E

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12 Pages Price 5000 Rials 36th year NO.12178 Monday JANUARY 12 2015 Dey 22 1393 Rabi Al Awwal 20 1436 Hajsafi stunner highlights Iran’s 2-0 win over Bahrain 9 NATO chief: Zarif says Muslims talks with French President the biggest Francois Kerry will Hollande is victims of surrounded by head of states be just on including (first terror row,LtoR) nuclear European Stoltenberg warns Commission President issue against generalizing European TEHRAN — Irani- Muslims Commission Political Desk President an Foreign Minis- Jean-Claude ter Mohammad Javad Zarif has said NATO Secretary — General Jens Juncker, that his talks with U.S. Secretary of Stoltenberg has warned against Israel’s Prime State John Kerry will just focus on generalizing Muslims in the after- Minister the nuclear issue. math of a deadly attack on a French Benjamin “Only the nuclear issue is on the satirical magazine that killed 12 peo- Netanyahu, agenda of the talks,” Zarif said in a ple in Paris. Mali’s President joint press conference with Cypriot “Terrorists are criminals who Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides should be held accountable. We Ibrahim Boubacar in Tehran on Sunday. should not make any religion or na- Keita, The Iranian foreign minister and tion responsible for these criminals, Germany’s his U.S. counterpart will meet for bi- but fight with the perpetrators,” Chancellor lateral talks over Iran’s nuclear pro- Stoltenberg said in an interview with Angela Merkel, gram in Geneva on January 14. German daily Bild published on Friday. Paris march against Palestinian “In the talks with the U.S. sec- The NATO chief said European President retary of state, we want to see countries faced terrorist threats by Mahmoud whether the negotiations can be fa- various different radical groups and Abbas and terrorism: Real or show-off? Italy’s Prime cilitated or directed forward,” Zarif individuals. added. “I am coming from Norway Minister against terrorism rallies in Paris, off of solidarity, it would once again Matteo Renzi He insisted that Iran will not hold where a white Christian Anders Brei- NEWS ANALYSIS as they attend talks with the U.S. on any other is- vik perpetrated an unthinkable mas- displays a serious resolve to counter make the people around the world If the dramatic attendance of terrorism, it is an honorable and to notice that the West has taken a the solidarity sues. sacre in 2011,” he said. march (Marche presidents and other high-ranking positive move. double-standard approach toward the Zarif also said that Russian Depu- Stoltenberg underlined that it Republicaine) ty Foreign Minister Sergey Rybakov was still early to comment on the officials from many countries, who However, if the move is only a scourge of terrorism. in the streets of gathered in Paris on Sunday to rally temporary and pretentious show- Contd. on P. 11 will travel to Iran on Monday to hold identities and goals of terrorists Reuters Paris January 11, 2015. talks on the Iran nuclear issue. that targeted French magazine Contd. on P. 2 Charlie Hebdo. Contd. on P. 11 U.S. is concerned about Cuba’s future as NEWS PERSPECTIVE Suspect hunted China, Russia’s global ambitions are rising: professor Iran-Saudi over Paris Columbia University professor says many pundits and Latin America experts have relations: attacks left long argued that the U.S. embargo against Cuba is ‘self-defeating’ Toward a France last week INTERVIEW Cuba on Dec. 17 took their couraged by Pope Francis. They measured most assertive step in several culminated with a 45-minute By Payman Yazdani assessment A woman hunted by French po- decades toward normalizing phone call between Mr. Obama Mahmood Monshipouri lice as a suspect in the attacks TEHRAN — A professor of po- relations. The most important and Mr. Castro on December By on a satirical paper and Jewish litical science at Columbia Uni- announcements concerned the 16th. supermarket in Paris left France versity says he believes that a resumption of high-level polit- Obama has the legal author- here is always a limit to power several day before the killings decision by the United States to ical discussions focused on re- ity to immediately implement Tdynamics at work in changing po- and is believed to be in Syria, ease sanctions against Cuba is newing formal diplomatic ties the measures he announced, litical contexts, most notably in situ- Turkish and French sources said “the right thing”. between the countries, which but he left the issue of formal- ations where strategic recalibrations on Saturday. “In my opinion, easing the have been nonexistent since ly lifting the trade embargo up demand new thinking. Iranian-Saudi After killing the gunmen be- 54-year-old embargo on Cuba is 1961. Cuban and U.S. officials will to Congress. Together, the an- relations are the quintessential battle- hind the worst assault in France the right thing to do,” Albert Bin- hold high-level meetings in the nouncements signaled a gradual ground of a regional competition that for decades, French police inachvili tells the Tehran Times. coming months, and the two rapprochement between Cuba can no longer be understood through launched in an intensive search Bininachvili also says China’s countries will work toward es- ing materials, farm equipment and the United States. old lenses. The conditions that have for Hayat Boumeddiene, the strategic calculations in Western tablishing embassies in Havana and telecommunications gear There are still massive stum- prompted the hostile relationship 26-year-old partner of one of Hemisphere and the revival of Rus- and Washington. to the Cuban private sector. The bling blocks on the way of end- between the two countries—both the attackers, describing her as sia’s ambitions to defy U.S. inter- The United States will also im- U.S. State Department will also ing the U.S. embargo on Cuba, a domestically and from a foreign pol- “armed and dangerous”. ests worldwide can’t make Wash- mediately relax some sanctions review Cuba’s designation as a step that requires congressional icy standpoint—have fundamentally But a source familiar with the ington unconcerned that Cuba may on trade and travel to Cuba. state sponsor of terrorism. approval. The United States’ altered. Surrounded by colossal dif- situation said that Boumeddi- fall prey to Beijing or Moscow. President Barack Obama an- These announcements fol- Cuban Liberty and Democratic ficulties, both Iran and Saudi Arabia ene left France last week and Following is the text of interview: nounced that the United States lowed 18 months of secret talks Solidarity Act of 1996 requires now face several unrelenting chal- traveled to Syria via Turkey. A Nowadays, we are wit- would loosen restrictions on fi- in Canada between American visible progress toward Cuban lenges. Some of these challenges senior Turkish official corrobo- nessing a kind of breakthrough nancial transactions with Cuba, officials and the government of concessions such as liberalizing have the potential to paradoxically— rated that account, saying she in U.S.-Cuba relations. What is remove some limitations on U.S. Raul Castro, who replaced his el- political activity, holding free but understandably—bring the long- passed through Istanbul on Jan- your assessment? citizens traveling to Cuba, and der brother Fidel as Cuba’s pres- elections and dissolving state time adversaries closer together. uary 2. A: The United States and authorize the export of build- ident in 2008.The talks were en- security bodies. Contd. on P. 7 Iran’s new President, Hassan Rou- Security forces remained on hani, supported by the country’s su- high alert in the wake of an attack preme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khame- on the Charlie Hebdo weekly on nei, faces fierce economic sanctions Wednesday and ended with Fri- Suicide attack at Lebanese cafe kills at least seven by the West, a tough negotiating day’s dual sieges at a print works road ahead within the context of 5+1 outside Paris and a kosher super- A suicide bomb attack on a cafe in the Leb- the state and its decision to confront terror- the security forces taken captive in that in- talks, and a strong domestic opposi- market in the city. anese city of Tripoli killed at least seven ism and terrorists”. cursion. tion at home. There is a better than French security forces shot people on Saturday, the latest violence to The army said the attack was carried out The last major flare-up in Tripoli was in even chance that if the Rouhani ad- dead the two brothers behind hit a region repeatedly buffeted by violence by a lone suicide bomber, though its inves- October, when at least 11 soldiers and 22 ministration fails in the course of the the Hebdo killings after they took linked to the civil war in neighboring Syria. tigations were still underway. The National militants were killed in fighting between ex- nuclear talks, his presidency is likely refuge in the print works. They The Nusra Front, al Qaeda’s official affili- News Agency said the second bomber had tremists and the army. to collapse into irrelevance, reminis- also killed an associate - Boume- ate in the Syrian civil war, said it carried out blown himself up as people gathered in re- But its communal tensions were eased by cent of the last years of the Khatami ddiene’s partner - who planted the double suicide attack in the predomi- sponse to the first blast. a security plan brought into force last year. presidency. Still, Rouhani’s strong explosives at the Paris deli in a nantly Alawis district of Jabal Mohsen. The Lebanon’s security has been repeated- Leaders from across Lebanon’s political suit could be other foreign policy siege that claimed the lives of statement appeared on a Twitter feed oper- ly jolted by the Syria crisis, which has also divide called for unity. The powerful Shia areas, such as Iraq, Lebanon, and four hostages. ated by the group’s media arm. helped paralyze its government: the country group Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside Syria, where he could act as a formi- On Saturday, police main- Lebanon’s National News Agency gave has been without a head of state since May. the government in Syria, responded to the dable regional balancing agent. tained a heavy presence around the names of two suicide attackers that it Tripoli is the largest city in northern attack by saying terrorist groups must be Saudi Arabia finds itself in the the French capital, with patrols said were from Tripoli. Lebanon and the second-largest city in the isolated. middle of a different conundrum. at sensitive sites including me- Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the attack country. Situated 85 kilometers north of the It urged the people of Jabal Mohsen not On the one hand, it is intolerant of dia offices, and local vigils were killed seven people. Other officials put the capital Beirut, it is the capital of the North to “be dragged toward reactions that would any religion other than its own fun- held across France. The Interior death toll at nine. Three dozen people were Governorate and the Tripoli District achieve the criminals’ vile aims”. damentalist brand of orthodox Is- Ministry said about 700,000 peo- wounded. Militants linked to the Islamic State in Former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, an lam—known as Wahabi and Salafi ple attended including 120,000 in Prime Minister Tammam Salam said in a Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Nusra influential Lebanese Sunni politician backed Islam, and on the other hand, pro- Toulouse, 75,000 in Nantes, and statement the attack was “a new attempt Front mounted an attack on the Lebanese by Saudi Arabia, said the attack aimed to moting its strategic interests in a 50,000 in Marseille. to spread the seeds of strife” in Tripoli and border town of Arsal last August. They are fuel discord in Tripoli. region that has often relied on sta- (Source: Reuters) would not “weaken the determination of still holding around two dozen members of (Source: Reuters) bility, security, and the status quo. Contd. on P. 2 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 2 NATION JANUARY 12, 2015 http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics

MEDIA MONITOR Iran condemns violence in any part of I am ‘no TEHRAN – Former Iranian godfather’ Ambassador to Paris Sadeq Kharazi says he does not con- the world, Rouhani tells Cypriot FM to the to- sider himself as the “godfa- be-formed ther” but a “member” of the Kasoulides says it was a great mistake not to invite Iran to conferences on the Syrian crisis in Geneva NEDA party: to-be-formed NEDA party in Sadeq which he is also the secretary. TEHRAN – President Iran to expand cooperation with Cy- “I am no godfather to Po l i t i c a l D e s k Hassan Rouhani has prus specifically in the economic areas. Kharazi NEDA. I am a member of said Iran strongly condemns violence He said in the future months commer- SHARQ DAILY SHARQ NEDA. However, since I had and brutality against people with any cial delegations from Cyprus will visit held various positions and respon- race or religion in any part of the world. Iran. sibilities, I was better known. I He made the remarks during a meet- Commenting on the European was involved in local and interna- ing with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioan- Union’s policies regarding campaign tional politics,” Kharazi said in an nis Kasoulides in Tehran on Sunday. against terrorist acts, specifically in exclusive interview with the Sharq Iran condemns killing of people in Syria, Foreign Minister Kasoulides said newspaper published on Sunday. Paris, London, Berlin or Washington the EU seeks a peaceful solution to the NEDA, which is a Persian acro- as it condemns killing of the Iraqi, Pa- Syrian crisis and views Iran as a power nym for “the second generation of kistani, Lebanese, Syrian people and player which can help create peace reformists”, is formed from among Afghan people, the president stated. and stability in the region. the members of the two dissolved “We should boost our cooperation The chief Cypriot diplomat also said political groups of Mosharekat (Is- in the area of fighting against violence it was a great mistake that Iran was lamic Iran Participation Front) and and extremism and should not allow not invited to the Geneva conferences Sazeman Mojahedin Engelab Eslami violence and extremism to spread in on the Syrian crisis. (Islamic Revolution Mojahedin Or- the Mideast region and around the The minister added that in his meet- ganization). The party has not been Mediterranean Sea,” he added. ing with the European Union foreign born yet, but has created itself nu- Rouhani also called for expansion of tural and economic spheres, the presi- eration as the two countries are gifted policy chief he will insist that all region- merous opponents and supporters. ties between Iran and Cyprus. dent stated. with the great Persian and Greek civi- al countries should be represented in Iran and Cyprus have many capaci- Rouhani also said Iran and Cyprus lizations. any meeting on the crises in the Middle Kerry TEHRAN – U.S. Secretary of ties to expand relations in political, cul- have great capacity for cultural coop- For his part, Kasoulides called on East region. discusses Iran State John Kerry stopped in Munich briefly on Saturday en nuclear issue route to India to visit the ailing with Sultan of sultan of Oman at his German Iran condemns terrorist blast in Lebanon Oman estate and discussed the status TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry Afkham expressed condolences to the families put the death toll at nine. Three dozen people were of the Iran nuclear negotiations. Po l i t i c a l D e s k spokeswoman Marzieh Aham of the victims and stated that perpetrators of the also wounded. The 90-minute meeting with on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist blast in action have targeted unity, integrity and stability In an interview with the Tasnim news agency pub- Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who has Tripoli, Lebanon. of Lebanon. lished on Sunday, former Lebanese defense minister been receiving medical treat- A suicide bomb attack in Tripoli on Saturday killed According to Reuters, Lebanon's Health Ministry Abdul Rahim Murad said the purpose behind the Tripoli ment in Germany for months, at least seven people and left many injured. said the attack killed seven people. Other officials blast was to trigger “religious fitna” in the country. represented a bow of gratitude to a ruler who served as a back

WASHINGTON POST WASHINGTON channel to get the United States and Iran engaged in negotiations about Tehran’s nuclear program, the Zarif says talks with Kerry will be just on nuclear issue Washington Post reported. Contd. from P. 1 attack in Paris and stated that the ac- Iranian FM calls Spiegel report Iran to adopt policy of “good neigh- The talks are scheduled to re- Commenting on relations between Iran tion has nothing to do with Islam. ‘farcical’ borliness” to help establish peace and sume in Geneva, and Kerry plans a and Cyprus, he said the two countries The terrorist attack will just harm Is- In a report on Friday, the German security in the Mideast region. face-to-face meeting Wednesday have always enjoyed good relations and lam and the Muslims in the world, the magazine Der Spiegel said Iran is building He stated that the terrorist attack with his Iranian counterpart Mo- there is a ground for expanding them. top diplomat noted. underground nuclear facilities in Syria. in Paris indicated that an international hammad Javad Zarif. The Iranian foreign minister also ex- On Wednesday, two masked gun- Zarif said the report is in line with ef- consensus is required to fight against pressed hope that Cyprus would play a men stormed into the Parisian head- forts to create “illusion” about Iran at extremist groups. Iran, Japan TEHRAN – Iran and Japan “positive role” in campaign against ter- quarters of the satirical weekly, Char- the international level. He added that Iran is a regional sign MOU on have signed a memorandum rorism, extremism and violence as an ac- lie Hebdo, killing 12 people, including Cyprus urges Iran to adopt “good “powerful” country that can play an of understanding (MOU) on tive member of the European Union. eight journalists, two police officers, a neighborliness” policy important role in campaign against extraditing ISNA the extradition of convicts to Zarif also condemned the terrorist maintenance worker and a visitor. The Cypriot foreign minister urged terrorism. prisoners their homelands. If ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, the MOU will be the second ever mutual agree- 5+1 suddenly changed opinion despite agreement on generalities: nuclear chief ment between the Islamic republic and Japan. The first mutual agree- Nuclear chief says Iran needs 30 tons of nuclear fuel annually ment was signed between the two TEHRAN – The head of the Atom- agree even on that amount of uranium enrichment. countries 57 years ago. Po l i t i c a l D e s k The MOU was signed between ic Energy Organization of Iran He said a contract with Russia, the country that Iranian Justice Minister Mostafa (AEOI) says Tehran and the 5+1 group of major pow- has built the Bushehr nuclear power plant, will expire Pourmohammadi and Japanese ers were inching close to clinching a comprehensive after 8 years and Iran should be allowed to fuel the Ambassador to Tehran Koji Hane- nuclear deal in November when suddenly the latter plant by itself afterwards. da on Sunday, ISNA reported. side withdrew from the negotiating table. Salehi also said the nuclear dispute could be re- According to the MOU, convicts who In a televised program on Saturday, Ali Akbar Sale- solved soon if the 5+1 group of countries negotiating have served six months of their prison hi said the comments made by Israeli Prime Minister with Iran have a political will to do so. terms can make a request to be extra- Benjamin Netanyahu a couple of days after the No- He also noted that the Supreme Leader has given dited to their homeland to serve the rest vember nuclear talks indicated that the Zionist lob- the final word regarding nuclear activities by issuing a of their sentences, provided that the bies played a role in blocking the deal between Iran fatwa (jurisprudence) declaring the production, stock- governments of Iran and Japan accept and the 5+1 group. piling, and use of nuclear weapons as forbidden. “We had almost reached consensus and the two room for discussion on two questions. The agency Nuclear negotiators from Iran and the 5+1 group the request, Pourmohammadi said. (IAEA) has, however, almost accepted all the an- According to Pourmohammadi, sides had accepted the generalities. Something hap- – the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain, pened that the other side suddenly withdrew [from swers,” he noted. and Germany – wrapped up their latest round of there are currently 200 Iranian na- Salehi reiterated his previous position that the nucle- tionals serving their sentences in the negotiations],” Salehi noted. talks on Tehran’s nuclear program in Geneva on De- He also noted that Iran has answered all the ar dispute between Iran and West can only be settled cember 17, 2014. Japanese prisons, while four Japa- politically. “Our country’s nuclear issue is not technical nese people are in Iran’s jails. questions raised by the International Atomic The three-day Geneva discussions were held al- Energy Agency (IAEA) over Tehran’s nuclear en- and can be resolved only through political will.” most three weeks after Tehran and the six countries Iranian TEHRAN – An Iranian volun- ergy program. Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi said the country failed to reach a final agreement by a November 24 volunteer teer has been killed in Iraq “Western countries attached a political history to needs an annual amount of 30 tons of enriched ura- deadline despite making some progress. during a fight with terrorists our country’s nuclear issue, while we answered all nium for its nuclear power plant in Bushehr. The two sides agreed to extend their discussions

killed in Iraq FARS of the Islamic State of Iraq their 18 technical questions,” Salehi said, adding that He said Iran is now enriching 2.5 tons of uranium for seven more months until July 1, 2015. They also and the Levant (ISIL). the six countries are still expecting answers from each year, while the minimum need is estimated to agreed that the interim deal they had signed in Ge- Mehdi Norouzi was killed on Sat- Iran as they have politicized the issue. be 30 tons a year. neva in November 2013 should remain in place during urday night while defending holy “The 5+1 group has announced that there is still Salehi, however, noted that the West does not the negotiations. shrines in the Iraqi city of Samarra. “Last night (Saturday night), Mehdi Norouzi embraced mar- tyrdom…in a direct firefight with Iran-Saudi relations: Toward a measured assessment members of the terrorist Daesh Contd. from P. 1 ist groups such as ISIS. Thus the Sau- time containing the ISIS influence what is the most logical outcome of group,” a statement carried by Yet, two events in recent years have dis’ decision to open their embassy and expansion in Sunni-dominated such a rapprochement for Saudi Ara- Fars news agency said. created a shift in Saudis’ strategic in Iraq after a quarter century-long areas of Iraq and the eastern parts bia? An empowered but cooperative “He had left for Iraq to defend thinking: 1) democratic movements absence of diplomatic relations with of Syria. The other speculation sug- Iran or a belligerent Republic bent the holy shrines there and de- resulting from the 2011 Arab up- Baghdad, indicates a new thinking gests that the strategic calculation on intensifying its ideological com- fend the oppressed Iraqi nation risings and 2) the common threat on the part of its leaders. The Sau- of the Saudis is premised on the petition with a monarchical regime in against the terrorist mercenaries of ISIS (or “Daesh” as it is locally dis have begun their move toward thinking that by establishing ties Saudi Arabia? Acutely aware of these of Daesh,” the statement said. known) throughout the region, rapprochement after the appoint- with Iraq, they can potentially curtail possible outcomes, Saudi leaders Isfahan TEHRAN – The priest of Arme- both of which are compelling Saudi ment in August of Haider Al Abadi Iranian influence. Still others opine have decided to remain in the game as Iraq’s new prime minister. Finally, that cooperation between these ri- by simply cutting their losses and re- bishop nian Church of Isfahan, Bab- Arabia and its biggest regional rival, ken Charian, has praised the Iran, to resort to increasing level of future plans by the Saudis to set up a val powers in Iraq could have more adjusting their policies toward Iran. hails peace, IRNA prevalent peace, tranquility, long-term strategic thinking at a time general consulate in Erbil, capital of stabilizing effect on Syria and Leba- Time for adopting a cooperative, tranquility in and friendship in Iran. when Riyadh recognizes that playing Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, non—an assumption that remains diplomatic approach toward Iran has Iran In a meeting with members of the sectarian card vis-à-vis Tehran also is emblematic of their interest uncertain at best. never been more prudent. If this sce- the City Council of Isfahan on Sat- has proved to be politically costly to spread their influence throughout In the face of new developments nario unfolds, it could bode well for urday, Bishop Charian said that the and counterproductive, with broadly the country. in the region, most experts con- the region at large. city of Isfahan could be regarded as negative consequences for its own This move has sparked several cur, the rapprochement between Mahmood Monshipouri teaches a symbol of peaceful coexistence power projection in the region. speculations. One such conjecture is Iran and the United States has be- Middle Eastern Politics at San Fran- of followers of different divine reli- Saudi leaders, in the midst of a that Saudis are keen to work toward come not only inevitable but also a cisco State University and University gions, IRNA reported. succession crisis, have turned their some kind of rapprochement with preferred policy option under the of California, Berkeley. He is currently About 25 thousand Armenians attention to Iraq, realizing that their Iran by creating a situation whereby current circumstances. The Saudis editing a volume entitled, Inside the Is- are living in Isfahan whose ances- competition with Iran over Syria has they have to work with Iranians in or- consider this rapprochement detri- lamic Republic: Social Change in Post- tors had moved to the city four been perilously destabilizing and di- der to bring some semblance of or- mental to the balance of power in Khomeini Iran (New York: The Oxford centuries ago, he noted. visive, propelling radical and extrem- der to the region, while at the same the region. The question persists: University Press, forthcoming I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

http://www.tehrantimes.com/international JANUARY 12, 2015 INTERNATIONAL 3 U.S. to boost European contingent Saudi forces attack houses with 3,000 troops, 150 tanks in 2015 in Shia town of Awamiya Security forces in Saudi Arabia reportedly raided a num- The U.S. plans to send 3,000 more ber of houses in the Shia-majority town of Awamiya in troops and over 150 tanks to Europe the Qatif region, as the Saudi regime’s heavy-handed by the end of year to bolster its pres- crackdown on dissent continues unabated. ence on the region, a top commander Activists of the Free Youth Movement (Harakat announced. Shabab al-Ahrar) reported the attacks in a message post- The U.S., which already has around ed on the organization’s Facebook page on Sunday. 67,000 troops in Europe, expects over The Saudi regime forces are said to have surrounded 3,000 soldiers to arrive on the conti- the houses in several neighborhoods in the town where nent between March and the fall, Lt. shooting was purportedly heard. Gen Frederick Ben Hodges, Command- No casualties were reported in the operation and the er of U.S. Army Europe, told The Hill. forces later left the area without making any arrests. “I anticipate that almost the entire On December 20, 2014, at least five people were killed 1st Brigade of 3rd Division will come by Saudi security forces in Awamiya while several people over in March, so you’re looking at were also arrested. The Saudi Interior Ministry only con- probably over 3,000 soldiers that firmed four deaths. would be part of a brigade combat Media reports suggested that the victims were pro- team like that,” Hodges said. democracy activists and anti-regime campaigners. They’ll be followed by more than There have been numerous demonstrations in Saudi 150 tanks and other military vehicles Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province since 2011, with the that will be deployed in Europe “by protestors calling for political reform and an end to wide- the end of 2015,” the commander said. spread discrimination. Several people have been killed “We will have an entire heavy bri- and many others have been injured or arrested during gade combat team of equipment the demonstrations. – that’s enough tanks and Bradley The Persian Gulf monarchy has come under fire from fighting vehicles, self-propelled Howit- international human rights organizations, which have zers, engineer vehicles, on and on, for criticized it for failing to address the rights situation in three battalions and a reconnaissance the kingdom. Critics say the country shows zero toler- squadron plus all the enablers,” he ance toward dissent. stressed. (Source: Press TV) It’s not yet decided where the new tanks are to be stationed, with Ger- bases in Vicenza, Italy, and the 2nd The European Command will re- West claims was masterminded in Rus- many being among the most probable Stryker Brigade in German Vilseck. ceive relevant recommendations from sia – an accusation, which was never locations. “Surely I would love to have more the Army by the end of January, Hodg- backed by any significant proof and Hodges said that the U.S. was not forces that were here, but in terms es said. repeatedly denied by Moscow. Nigeria appeals for support planning to deploy any additional per- of what we need, and what we can More American troops and vehicles There were no American tanks in manent troops to Europe with the afford as an Army, two is about the are available for service in Europe due to Europe in early 2014, but the U.S. be- after ‘deadliest’ Boko equipment as it will be serviced by right number here,” Hodges said. the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. gan redeploying armored fighting Haram attack personnel rotating through the conti- The move is part of Pentagon’s plan The U.S. build-up of forces in Europe vehicles to the continent after Russia nent. to maintain its presence in the region, is aimed at reassuring Washington’s al- reunited with the republic of Crimea Nigeria’s military has called for support in tackling Boko For now two brigades remain in but at the same time save on costs of lies on the continent, who are alarmed last March. Haram after a major attack on a key northeast town that Europe — the 173rd Airborne Brigade permanently basing forces in Europe. by the Ukrainian conflict, which the (Source: RT) is feared could be the worst in the bloody six-year insur- gency. There are still no independently corroborated figures for the huge numbers said to have been killed in Baga, on German newspaper attacked ‘over cartoons’ the shores of Lake Chad in the far north of Borno State. But defense spokesman Chris Olukolade said in a state- A German newspaper in the northern port city of No one was hurt in the attack, which police said Charlie Hebdo cartoons and the attack was the “key ment issued late Saturday that the description of the Hamburg that reprinted caricatures from the French occurred at about 01:20 GMT. Two people were de- question”, the police spokesman said, adding that it assault as “the deadliest” in a conflict that has claimed satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was the target of an tained, while state security has opened an investiga- was “too soon” to know for certain. more than 13,000 lives since 2009 was “quite valid”. arson attack, according to police. tion, police said. Police declined to provide further information “The attack on the town by the bloodhounds and their The regional tabloid daily, the Hamburger Morgen- German news agency DPA reported that the at- about the suspects. activities since January 3rd, 2015, should convince well- post, was attacked on Sunday after it had splashed tack had occurred from a courtyard of the building No one at the Hamburger Morgenpost, known meaning people all over the world that Boko Haram is three Charlie Hebdo cartoons on its front page after and hit the newspaper’s archive room where some locally as the MOPO and which has a circulation of the evil all must collaborate to end, rather than vilifying the massacre at the Paris publication, running the records were destroyed. around 91,000, could immediately be reached for those working to check them,” he said. headline “This much freedom must be possible!” It quoted a police spokeswoman as saying that comment. Nigeria’s military -- west Africa’s largest -- has faced re- “Rocks and then a burning object were thrown the editorial team should be able to continue work “Thick smoke is still hanging in the air, the police peated criticism for failing to end the six-year insurgency, through the window,” a police spokesman told AFP in the building as the damage was relatively minor. are looking for clues,” the newspaper said in its on- as well as allegations of human rights abuses. news agency. “Two rooms on lower floors were Connection to Paris attacks? line edition. (Source: agencies) Soldiers have complained of a lack of adequate weap- damaged but the fire was put out quickly”. Whether there was a connection between the ons and even refused to deploy to take on the better- armed rebels, who want to create a hard-line state in northeast Nigeria. Scores dead Anti-torture activists protest on Dick With elections set for next month, Nigeria’s govern- in Pakistan road crash Cheney’s front porch, two arrested ment has also been accused of playing politics with the insurgency, as most of the areas worst affected by the At least 59 people were killed after an said. About 20 protesters made their way McLean, Virginia. None of the activists violence are main opposition strongholds. oil tanker apparently speeding in the Television channels showed live onto the property of the U.S. former were arrested in that protest. But Olukolade said: “The Nigerian military has not giv- wrong direction crashed into a pas- footage from the fiery crash site Vice President Dick Cheney’s Virginia The protests come one month after the en up on Baga and other localities where terrorist activi- senger bus in southern Pakistan, ig- where rescue workers were busily home, where they protested the 14th Senate Intelligence Committee released ties are now prevalent.” niting a fierce blaze, medical sources evacuating dead bodies and the in- anniversary of the opening of the Guan- its so-called “torture report” that revealed “Appropriate plans, men and resources are presently have said. jured. tanamo Bay detention facility. how the CIA allegedly misled the White being mobilized to address the situation,” he said on de- The bus was en route to the town Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif de- Activists from the anti-war group House and Congress over the brutality of fenceinfo.mil.ng, in the military’s first detailed comment of Shikarpur from the southern port plored the loss of lives and extended CODEPINK and Witness Against Tor- its “enhanced interrogation techniques” on last weekend’s attack. city of Karachi when the collision oc- condolences to the families of those ture, many of them wearing military- –a military euphemism for torture. The military and government often make such state- curred along a stretch of dilapidated who lost their loved ones. He directed issued orange jumpsuits, broke through Cheney expressed no remorse over ments, without giving specific details, yet there are re- road early on Sunday. for provision of best medical facilities an iron gate surrounding the former the cruel accounts of torture techniques ports of attacks on an almost daily basis. Senior police official Rao Muham- to the injured and asked concerned vice president’s sprawling property in performed by the CIA at various foreign On Saturday, two explosions rocked northeast Nige- mad Anwaar told the AFP news agen- authorities to take steps to improve McLean, Virginia, and demonstrated on “black sites” as described in the Senate ria, including one at a crowded market in the Borno State cy that the bus caught fire after the road safety. his front porch. Intelligence Committee’s lengthy inves- capital, Maiduguri, by a girl suicide bomber thought to be accident. The victims included wom- Pakistan has an appalling re- Fairfax County Police soon arrived tigation. just 10. Nineteen people were killed. en and children, some of whom were cord of fatal traffic accidents due to on the scene and escorted the protest- “I’d do it again in a minute,” Cheney told The Baga attack, which local officials said forced at charred beyond recognition, Anwaar poor roads, badly maintained vehi- ers, some of them chanting “arrest Dick Meet the Press’s Chuck Todd last month. least 20,000 people to flee also overran the headquarters added. cles and reckless driving. Cheney,” off the property. This was not the first time Cheney of the Multinational Joint Task Force made up of troops Semi Jamali, a doctor at Karachi’s It was the second major fatal crash Two protesters who refused to leave took to the airwaves to express his sup- from Nigeria, Niger and Chad. Jinnah hospital, told the AFP news in Sindh province in less than three the premises were arrested on trespass- port of the controversial methods in Nigerien and Chadian soldiers were not at the base at agency that “we have received more months. ing charges, police spokesman Roger gaining intelligence, as well as his wish the time. than 57 dead bodies but the death At least 57 people, including 18 Henriquez said, Reuters reported. to keep Gitmo open for business. Olukolade said 14 soldiers were killed and more than toll may rise as most of them are children, were killed in November Police identified the pair as Tighe When Barack Obama attempted in 30 injured as well as “several” insurgents. completely burnt and stuck to each last year when a bus collided with a Barry, 57, and Eve Tetaz, 83, both from the early days of his presidency to close There was no credible estimate yet of the numbers other.” goods truck loaded with coal near the Washington DC area. The two face Guantanamo, as he had pledged to do of civilians killed, after huge numbers cited locally, he A few passengers escaped unhurt Khairpur town, 450km north of Ka- misdemeanor charges of trespassing on the campaign trail, Cheney was sud- added. after they jumped out of the bus win- rachi, the capital of southern Sindh and disorderly conduct, police said. denly ubiquitous on the news channels, “It is necessary to reassure Nigerians that the Nige- dows, another police official Muham- province. The demonstrators carried signs that demanding that Gitmo remain open rian Armed Forces and security agencies are capable mad Jan said, confirming the toll. An average of 4,500 people have read: “Torturer lives here” and “Stop tor- and the prisoners – many of whom are of flushing out the terrorists from Baga and all parts of “We are trying to ascertain if the been killed in road accidents each ture now” and “Close Guantanamo Bay”. innocent of any wrongdoing – appear the nation’s territory where their activities are preva- driver of the oil tanker was solely year since 2011, according to the Paki- Earlier, the group staged a demon- before a secret military tribunal as op- lent.” at fault or whether the bus driver stan Bureau of Statistics. stration outside the home of CIA Di- posed to a civil trial on U.S. territory. Boko Haram’s territorial gains (Source: Al Jazeera) (Source: RT) also showed negligence,” Anwaar rector John Brennan, who also lives in Boko Haram has seized dozens of towns and villages in northeast Nigeria in the last six months and now re- portedly controls the border areas of Borno state with Police: Gunman kills three in Idaho shooting spree Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The territorial gains have led to fears of a total loss of A 29-year-old man killed three people and critically mother at her home before driving to an office build- was arrested. government control in the remote region -- and a claim wounded another during a shooting spree in the ing and shooting and killing his landlord, and wound- Lee was jailed in Washington pending extradition last year by a senior U.S. diplomat that the military was in northern Idaho city of Moscow on Saturday which ing another man who was in the landlord’s office, to Idaho after being taken into custody on a felony- denial about the situation. ended when the gunman crashed his vehicle during a said Moscow Police Chief David Duke. level charge of eluding police, Duke said. Olukolade maintained on Saturday: “No portion of high-speed chase with police, authorities said. Lee then drove to a restaurant and asked to see The victims were identified as Lee’s mother, Terri Nigeria’s territory has been or will be conceded to ter- The shootings occurred in rapid succession in the manager, before shooting and killing the 47-year- Grzebielski, 61, a physician’s assistant, landlord David rorists. downtown Moscow just after 2:30 p.m. local time old woman, Duke said. Trail, 76, and restaurant manager Belinda Niebuhr, all “The use of all available resources within the armed when a caller reported to police that a gunman had The suspect fled and was pursued by police of Moscow. Michael Chin, 39, of Seattle, survived his forces will continue to be maximized to sustain the tem- shot two people at a local business. shortly after he was spotted just over the state wounds and was listed in critical condition at a Mos- po of the counter-terrorism campaign towards contain- Police later identified the shooter as John Lee, border in Pullman, Washington. The chase ended cow hospital. ing and eradicating terrorism in the nation’s territory.” 29, of Moscow. Lee is believed to have first killed his when Lee crashed on an interstate highway and (Source: Reuters) (Source: AFP) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY JANUARY 12, 2015 http://www.tehrantimes.com/economy

NEWS Iraqi oil minister due in Iran Top 100 Iranian brands worth over $8.5b for oil and gas talks TEHRAN — The top 100 Iranian brands Economic Desk worth 300 trillion rials (over $8.5 TEHRAN — Iraqi Oil Minister Adil billion). Economic Desk Abd Al-Mahdi will arrive in Tehran The 10th National Festival of the Champions of today to discuss ways to boost bilateral ties in oil Industry was held on Sunday, introducing the top 100 and gas sectors, the IRNA News Agency reported on Iranian brands. Sunday. The National Festival of the Champions of Industry Al-Mahdi is planned to hold talks with Iranian is one of the most accredited events which are held officials on a range of issue, including the development annually in Iran to announce the most valuable brands of joint oilfields, the exports of Iranian gas to Iraq, and and the most successful companies. the trade of oil products between the two countries. The first edition of the festival was held in 2005. Iran shares Azadegan, Yaran, Naftshahr, Azar, and Karkheh oilfields with Iraq. In November 2014, Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq Hassan Danaifar said Iran has potential to boost its Iran plans to double annual exports to Iraq to $20 billion. renewable energy output The Iran-Iraq annual trade was about $790 million in Iranian calendar year 1385 (March 2006-March by March: official 2007), while the figure is over $7 billion currently, he added. TEHRAN — Iran plans to double its Iraq was the second biggest importer of Iranian Economic Desk renewable energy output, by the end of non-oil goods in the previous Iranian calendar year, current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2015), according to which ended on March 20, 2014, according to the Iran an official with Iran’s power sector. Customs Administration. The country’s renewable power output is scheduled Iran exported $5.9 billion of non-oil goods to Iraq to reach 400 megawatts by the yearend; the Fars News and imported $68.4 million of non-oil goods from the Agency quoted Homayoun Haeri, the managing director of Arab country. the Iran Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Management Company (TAVANIR), as saying on Sunday. In December 2014, Carpets steal the show as Iran expo Industries Qatar drags down Doha Iranian Deputy Energy in Oman wraps up shares Minister Houshang Falahatian said the country Carpets of different designs, magnifying glasses. It is a Shares in major petrochemical recommended a 0.5 riyal per share prioritizes generation of materials and sizes were the star of painstaking process. Here we found producer Industries Qatar tumbled on dividend for 2014, its first in at least electricity from different the show at the Iran solo exhibition a good response in this expo. There Sunday and dragged down the Doha five years, along with issuing one sources of energy. at the Oman International Exhibition are customers who are willing to bourse after the company announced bonus share per four shares held. He said 1000 megawatts Center, which came to a close on shell out any amount of money for a dividend cut, but most Persian Gulf Dubai’s bourse rose 0.7 percent on of electricity should be Saturday. carpets of excellent craftsmanship,” markets edged up. the back of property-related stocks. generated annually from Many visitors thronged the stall he said. Industries Qatar fell its daily 10 Major developer Emaar Properties renewable energies in Iran. of Azimzadeh Carpets to see their Ahad’s company has to its credit, percent limit and was the main drag added 1.7 percent and its smaller In November 2014, range of high-end, hand-made one of the world’s costliest carpets. on Qatar’s index, which dropped 2.3 competitors Union Properties and Iranian Energy Minister Tabriz carpets. Their smallest piece “We have a carpet, which is worth percent. Deyaar climbed 2.5 and 2.7 percent Hamid Chitchian outlined measured 3.5 feet by 3.5 feet while 1.46 million rials. Made of silk with The company said late on Thursday respectively. plans to develop the the larger ones on display were 180 knots, it took four craftsmen that its board had recommended a Abu Dhabi’s benchmark edged national electricity industry, being observed with interest by the seven years to make the carpet, 2014 dividend of 7 riyals per share, down 0.3 percent as lenders Abu placing the priority on the expansion of solar and wind visitors. which was exhibited in London,” down from 11 riyals paid for 2013 and Dhabi Commercial Bank and First power plants. One of their star attractions was a said Ahad. below analysts’ average forecast of Persian Gulf Bank fell 1.4 and 0.6 He said electricity generation, transmission, and big wool and silk carpet with intricate Stalls selling machine-made 11.13 riyals. percent. distribution are projected to be increased by 7 to 8 percent floral designs costing 90,000 rials. carpets of polyester and artificial silk Many investors treat Qatari stocks Oman’s index jumped 2.4 percent annually. “It took five years for that carpet also did brisk business as the items as dividend plays and payouts offered and shares in Oman Cables Industry The administration of Hassan Rouhani envisions a bright to be woven. It’s all hand-woven were affordably priced between one by local companies are usually among rose 4.4 percent after it reported a 4.9 future for solar energy and has allocated $60 million for solar using fabric with natural dyes and rial and 500 rials. the highest in the Persian Gulf. percent increase in 2014 profit. The energy projects in the current Iranian calendar year (March that is why it is so costly,” said Ahad Issa Ahmed Saleh, a businessman, Saudi Arabia’s bourse, however, company earned 17.7 million rials ($46 2014-March 2015) compared to just $12 million in the previous Azimzadeh of Azimzadeh Carpets, said, “I got some wonderful carpets edged up 0.3 percent on the back of million) last year, slightly surpassing year. It especially wants to target rural communities largely adding that there were carpets that for a good price. Their patterns were banking stocks. Al Rajhi Bank added the estimates of analysts, who had cut off from government services across the country. cost more than 90,000 rials. really cool. In fact, they are replicas 1.8 percent and Bank Albilad surged on average forecast a profit of 17.0 Iran’s power generation capacity currently stands at “The threadwork and designs of sixteenth century designs.” 4.8 percent. million rials. 68.38 gigawatts. The capacity has grown by 7 percent are done by craftsmen sporting (Source: Oman Tribune) Albilad’s board last Thursday (Source: Reuters) annually over the past 10 years. Iran currently exports electricity to Turkey, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan (including the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic), Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Russia may demand early repayment of $3 billion lent to Ukraine: government source Iraq. MOSCOW (ITAR-TASS) — A whole future early repayment of the $3 Under the terms of the loan, which on time. One covenant says the range of parameters which are the billion debt.” Russian extended in December 2013 Ukrainian government should not conditions for granting Russia’s $3 Commenting on the information, in the form of a purchase of Ukrainian allow its debt-to-GDP ratio to rise billion bonded loan to Ukraine are a government expert said: “It is Eurobonds, Russia can demand early above 60% TEHRAN STOCK EXCHANGE being violated, a source in the Russian true that one of the conditions for repayment if Ukraine’s debt exceeds “As calculations show and government said on Saturday. granting the Russian loan, which was 60% of its gross domestic product. considering the hryvnia devaluation, Index Value Change Percent “Ukraine’s current economic and put in writing, was that Kiev should Russian Finance Minister Anton the 60% debt to GDP level has been financial situation suggests that a observe a whole range of financial Siluanov said in September that the exceeded,” Siluanov said then, Main Board 48517.5 -586.8 -1.21 number of parameters which are and economic parameters. And they Finance Ministry did not rule out adding that the covenants would not Index Industry Index the conditions for granting Ukraine are actually being violated.” that the bond’s covenants might be be triggered automatically. “This will 55113.7 -485.5 -0.88 a Russian bonded loan are being “This could provide the basis for breached in the third quarter. be our political decision, a decision Overall Index 65512.8 -685.1 -1.05 violated,” the source said, adding demanding early repayment of the The Ukrainian Eurobond issue by the Russian Federation. We’ll look Free Float Index 74651.8 -1013.7 -1.36 that: “Under these circumstances, debt,” the expert added, describing prospectus includes covenants after the covenant is triggered to it is likely that Russia will have to Ukraine’s budget situation in general stipulating that Ukraine should meet decide on how to act further,” the Secondary Index 127157.9 -806.1 -0.63 demand from Ukraine in the near as pre-default. all obligations on its sovereign debt finance minister said.

OVERALL INDEX DETAILS UK’s NIESR estimates Q4 GDP growth slowed to 0.6% LONDON (Reuters) — British growth in gross domestic product high levels seen earlier in 2014. below full-year growth forecasts First 66197.9 economic growth slowed in the eased to 0.6 percent for the period “This is broadly in line with the from the Bank of England (BoE) and Max Value 66126.8 final three months of 2014 but still October-December, down from average quarter-on-quarter growth economists. Min Value 65512.6 recorded its strongest full-year 0.7 percent in the three months to over the last 18 months,” NIESR said. The BoE and private-sector performance since 2007, a leading September. For 2014 as a whole, NIESR forecasts were based on GDP data Closing 65512.8 think tank estimated. Private-sector economists had calculates the economy grew by 2.6 for the first nine months of 2014 Variety (685.1) The National Institute of Economic been forecasting a similar slowdown percent, up from 1.7 percent in 2013 which were heavily revised down by Change end of year(%) 722.35% and Social Research (NIESR) in growth as business surveys and and the strongest annual reading the Office for National Statistics just Historical highest 89500.6 (2014/01/05) estimated that quarter-on-quarter official data fell back from unusually since the financial crisis, but well before Christmas. Source: tse.ir OPEC likely The Organization of the ECB said to European Central Bank Honda fined Honda Motor Co. Petroleum Exporting staff presented policy agreed to pay a record to maintain Countries (OPEC) is study bond- makers with models for record $70 $70 million in fines MAJOR CURRENCIES oil levels, unlikely to change its purchases up buying as much as 500 million for and submit to stricter crude prices decision not to reduce to 500 billion billion euros ($591 billion) underreporting oversight for failing to oil production in the of investment-grade tell the U.S. government To U.S. To IR. To U.S. To IR. Currency Currency to continue euros injuries Dollars Rial* Dollars Rial* short term, meaning assets, according to a about warranty claims free fall: UBS crude oil prices will person who attended a and more than 1,700 US dollar 1 34940 UAE dirham 0.272 9620 continue to fall, analysts meeting of the Governing injuries and deaths linked British Pound 1.516 53340 Euro 1.184 41870 from the UBS global Council. to potential defects in its *The free market rates (Sources: Mehrnews.com & xe.com) financial services Various quantitative- cars. company said. easing options focused Automakers are “Listening to the latest on government bonds required to report such comments from Persian were shown to governors information under a MAJOR COMMODITIES Gulf countries, we on Jan. 7 in Frankfurt, 14-year-old U.S. law, think the probability including buying only AAA- and Honda’s violations Light Crude $ / barrel 48.36 Silver $ / troy ounce 16.42 of a supply cut in 1Q15 rated debt or bonds rated may have hampered the Gold $ / troy ounce 1,216.10 Platinum $ / troy ounce 1,230.10 [first quarter of 2015] at least BBB-, the euro- National Highway Traffic remains below 50 area central bank official Safety Administration’s Copper $ / pound 2.75 Wheat ¢ / bushel 563.75 percent. said. ability to quickly identify Source: cnnmoney.com NEWS IN BRIEF vehicle flaws. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y http://www.tehrantimes.com JANUARY 12, 2015 HISTORY & HERITAGE 5

NOTABLES Braque: 20th-century French painter

Georges Braque was a 20th century French painter who invented Cubism with Pablo Picasso. Along with Cubism, Braque used the styles of Impressionism, Fauvism and collage, and even staged designs for the Ballet Russes. Through his career, his style changed to portray somber subjects during wartime and lighter, freer themes in between. He never strayed far from Cubism, as there were always aspects of it in his works. Braque died on August 31, 1963, in Paris. Born 1882 in Argenteuil, Every corner France, Braque started his of Imam art career using an Impres- Mosque sionistic painting style. in Isfahan Circa 1905, he transitioned boasts eye- into a Fauvist style after catching viewing works exhibited tile work by the Fauves, a group that ranging included such notable artists as Henri Matisse and André De- from single rain. The Fauves’ style incorporated bold colors and loose- motifs to extended form structures to emulate deep emotions. patterns The advent of World War II influenced Braque to paint more somber scenes. After the war, he painted lighter sub- jects of birds, landscapes and the sea. Braque also created lithographs, sculptures and stained-glass windows. In his elder years, his failing health prevented him from Islamic art developed distinct taking on large-scale commissioned projects. Braque died on August 31, 1963, in Paris. characteristics of its own (Source: biography.com) CLOSE-UP A glance at plant-based motifs in Islamic art Jan. 12, 1879: From the 7th century onwards, and luxury objects in order to high- the stylization tended to become peony flowers within dense pat- British-Zulu War begins Muslim artists have drawn inspira- light the power and wealth of the increasingly complicated, with tern systems. As well as these tion from different types of plants new empire. In effect, Islamic art ever more complex patterns de- stylized elements, early 16th cen- and flowers. Patterns were cre- inherited motifs and ways of using rived from scrolling leaves and tury Ottoman design favored the The British-Zulu War begins as British troops under Lieuten- ated using a range of techniques, them from other artistic traditions flowers. This element of Islamic 'saz leaf' - a twisting serrated ant General Frederic Augustus invade Zululand from the including repetition of a motif that were also inspired by plants. art was admired and emulated leaf, which features in complex southern African republic of Natal. within various grids, reflective and These include the art of the Byz- by some European artists, par- compositions on many different In 1843, Britain succeeded the Boers as the rulers of Na- rotational symmetry, and free- antine Empire from the eastern ticularly during the 19th century. media. By the mid 16th century, tal, which controlled Zululand, the neighboring kingdom hand design. Mediterranean, of Coptic Egypt, William Morris found inspiration there was also a new fashion for of the Zulu people. Boers, also known as Afrikaners, were Plants appear in many differ- and of the (pre-Islamic) Sasanian in the ordered patterns of Islam- more natural im- Islamic designers the descendants of the original Dutch settlers who came ent forms in Islamic art, ranging Empire of Iran as well as Roman ic art and particularly admired ages flowers such to South Africa in the 17th century. Zulus, a migrant people from single motifs to extended art. For example, the vine 'scroll' the magnificent Ardabil Carpet, as tulips, carnations seem to have from the north, also came to southern Africa during the 17th patterns, and natural depictions of is a common motif in both classical which is the V&A's largest and and roses. had an endless century, settling around the Tugela River region. flowers to plant forms which are and Islamic art and contains recog- most famous piece of Islamic art. In textile design, complicated and heavily stylized. nizable plant forms. Overseas influences the ability of weav- and ingenious The origins of plant designs Over time, Islamic art devel- In the 13th century the Mongols ers to repeat a pat- appetite for The Islamic Empire expanded oped distinct characteristics of invaded western Asia and estab- tern efficiently may exploring the rapidly from the 7th century on- its own that distinguished it from lished a Mongol court in Iran that have contributed to Jan. 12, 1984: wards across regions in which the earlier artistic traditions. De- lasted from 1258 until the 1330s. the development huge range Pyramid mystery unearthed earlier artistic traditions were es- tailed surface decoration on ob- Many motifs that were common of stylized plant de- of design tablished. Many of the craftsmen jects and buildings became popu- in Chinese art, such as the lotus signs in Ottoman possibilities On this day, an international panel overseeing the restora- who made the earliest Islamic lar. Plant-based design was one and peony flower, began appear- textiles. These be- tion of the Great Pyramids in Egypt overcomes years of frus- monuments and artifacts were of the most common decorative ing in Islamic designs. These, too, came increasingly offered by the tration when it abandons modern construction techniques not yet Muslims themselves, but elements, in addition to Arabic became stylized, acquiring beauti- formulaic. In this natural variety in in favor of the method employed by the ancient Egyptians. artisans working in the service of calligraphy, geometry, and to a ful and fantastic forms unlike any- example the motif Located at Giza outside Cairo, some of the oldest man- new Islamic rulers. These earli- lesser extent, figural images. The thing in nature. is just recognizable plant life. made structures on earth were showing severe signs of de- est craftsmen continued to use great geographical extent of the The plant-based designs as a carnation with cay by the early 1980s. Successful repair work began on the techniques and semi-naturalistic Islamic world led to a wide vari- found in Ottoman ceramic and its lightly serrated petals, but has 4,600-year-old Sphinx in 1981, but restoration of the pyra- motifs with which they were ex- ety of design traditions. textiles are particularly distinc- now been heavily stylized. This mids proved destructive when water in modern cement pertly familiar. Islamic designers seem to tive, ranging from the natural to was the direct inspiration for a caused adjacent limestone stones to split. On January 12, Some scholars think that the have had an endless and ingen- the highly stylized, In the early pattern produced by a contempo- 1984, restorers stopped using mortar and adopted the sys- earliest rulers did not feel the ious appetite for exploring the 15th century, Ottoman art was rary textile design company, illus- tem of interlocking blocks practiced by the original pyramid need to invent an entirely new huge range of design possibili- strongly influenced by design in trating how modern these designs builders. From thereon, the project proceeded smoothly. visual language, but concentrated ties offered by the natural vari- contemporary Iran; using motifs may appear to us today. The ancient Egyptians built nearly 100 pyramids over a (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum) instead on producing large scale ety in plant life. As time passed, of scrolling leaves and lotus and millennium to serve as burial chambers for their royalty. They believed that the pyramids eased the monarchs’ pas- sage into the afterlife, and the sites served as centers of reli- gious activity. During the Old Kingdom, a period of Egyptian Lyons illustrates two-millennium architecture history that lasted from the late 26th century BC to the mid- 22nd century BC, the Egyptians built their largest and most Lyons bears exceptional testimony to the the latter prolonged by a peninsula formed by al- ambitious pyramids. continuity of urban settlement over more than luvial deposits laid down at the confluence of the The Great Pyramid is composed primarily of yellowish two millennia on a site of great commercial and two rivers. The Rhône is a strongly flowing river limestone blocks and was originally covered in an outer cas- strategic significance, where cultural traditions that comes from the Alps. The Saône, by contrast, ing of smooth light-colored limestone. This finer limestone from many parts of Europe have come together is a gentler and more easily navigable river, linking eroded and was carried away in later centuries, but the to create a coherent and vigorous continuing Lyons with the plains of north-eastern France. material can still be found in the inner passages. The inte- community. By the mid-15th century it was one of the rior burial chamber was built of huge blocks of granite. It By virtue of the special way in which it has mostly heavily populated cities in Europe: there is believed that construction of the pyramid took 20 years developed spatially, Lyons illustrates in an ex- were 36 districts, each with its own mercantile and involved over 20,000 workers, bakers, carpenters, and ceptional way the progress and evolution of ar- attribution, and only the slopes of Croix-Rousse water carriers. The exact method in which this architectural chitectural design and town planning over many were not densely built on, being reserved for the masterpiece was built is not definitively known, but the centuries. 'rural' villas of rich German and Italian merchants leading theory is that the Egyptians employed an encircling The site of Lyons is dominated by two hills: to and for vineyards. embankment of sand, brick, and earth that was increased in Lyon in 1860 (Source: UNESCO) the west Fourvière and to the east Croix-Rousse, height as the pyramid rose. (Source: history.com) Renaissance-era Italian warlord was poisoned, mummy reveals Forensic scientists in Italy have un- Verona, and through successful mil- from a polluted spring. There were palaces without fireplaces and mili- ON THIS DAY covered a mummy murder mystery. itary campaigns, he conquered the also rumors that Cangrande was inten- tary camps. The nobleman’s bones A long-distance radio message is sent from the Eiffel Tower for 1908 A Renaissance-era warlord who nearby cities of Vicenza, Padua and tionally poisoned, but Gino Fornaciari, also showed signs of arthritis con- the first time dropped dead in 1329 wasn’t killed Treviso. And Cangrande wasn’t just a paleopathology researcher from the sistent with regular horse riding. by a nasty stomach illness, as had a powerful leader in battle; a true University of Pisa, who led the new In an examination of the mum- 1945 The Soviets begin a large offensive against the Nazis in Eastern Europe been previously suspected; he was Renaissance man, he was also the study, told Live Science that he consid- my’s digestive system, Fornaciari actually poisoned, an autopsy of his leading patron of the poet Dante ered that possibility a legend. and colleagues found that Can- 1950 USSR re-introduces death penalty for treason, espionage & sabotage corpse reveals. Alighieri. Nearly 700 years later, scientists grande had consumed chamomile Scientists say they’ve found On July 18, 1329, Cangrande made exhumed Cangrande from his richly and black mulberry before his 1954 Austria's worst avalanche kills 200; 9 hours later second one kills 115 traces of digitalis, or foxglove — a triumphant entrance into Treviso, decorated tomb at Verona’s church death. But then, they discovered 1970 Boeing 747 makes its maiden voyage a beautiful but potentially heart- months after taking control of the of Santa Maria Antiqua and sub- something more unusual: foxglove stopping plant — in the digestive city. But days later, he fell ill, with jected his mummy to several medi- pollen in Cangrande’s rectum, as 1995 Major earthquake kills 5,092 in Kobe, Japan tract of Cangrande della Scala of symptoms that included vomiting, cal investigations. They found that well as toxic concentrations of Verona. fever and diarrhea. He died on July Cangrande suffered from a mild digoxin and digitoxin, two mole- 2010 Earthquake occurs in Haiti, killing 230,000 At the time of his death, Can- 22, 1329, at the age of 38. form of black lung and emphysema, cules from foxglove plants, in Can- Beijing’s level of air pollution is declared to be at levels that are grande had a grip on an impressive Historical sources from that time probably because he was often ex- grande’s liver and feces samples. 2013 chunk of northern Italy. He ruled said Cangrande died after drinking posed to smoky environments — (Source: Live Science) hazardous to human health I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

6 INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 12, 2015 http://www.tehrantimes.com/international

FEATURE Paris attackers hijacked Islam but there ‘Stable Afghanistan makes for a safer world’ is no war between Islam and the West

The Los Angeles Times believes America’s job in Af- France faces difficult days ahead, but let’s not hand the extremists a victory they could not achieve for themselves. ghanistan is not done yet. “After 13 years of war, more By Tariq Ramadan difficult of late in France. Two re- than 2,300 dead U.S. troops and the replacement of the cently published books reflect the Taliban regime with an elected government, the United he attack on Charlie Hebdo compels atmosphere: very negative and States declared a formal end to its combat mission in Af- Tus to be clear and to be consistent. very demoralizing. The French Sui- ghanistan”. We have to condemn what happened cide by Eric Zemmour expresses That’s an important symbolic marker, but no one in Paris absolutely. I said the same after the fear that millions of Muslims should interpret the declaration as the end of anything. 7/7 and after 9/11. And after Jordan and might be colonizing and transform- Some 10,800 U.S. troops remain behind to train and sup- Bali and Mali. ing the country (he is hoping they port the still-young Afghan military. Surviving Taliban It is particularly important to be will be helped to leave), and Michel forces — which operate with relative impunity from the clear about where we stand, for the Houellebecq’s novel Submission, lawless border region of Pakistan — have been mounting attackers said things that cannot be which predicts that in 2022 an Is- fresh attacks, making it clear that the fighting will con- allowed to go unchallenged. They lamic party will take over France. tinue. The best that can be hoped for is that the Afghans said they were avenging the Prophet In the UK, in terms of daily life, the take over the job of defending themselves and their gov- Mohammad(PBUH). That was wrong. situation is better. There isn’t that ernment, allowing the U.S. presence to diminish. In fact, it is the message of Islam, our feeling of permanent stigmatization “Lesson learned, we hope. Still, the United States has principles and values that have been in the discourse as happens in France. a responsibility to continue helping Afghanistan move betrayed and tainted. They refer to But even so, things feel as if they are to a more independent and self-sustaining government. Islam to justify what they did. From a changing for the worse. It is no acci- That’s not only because it is the right thing to do, but also religious viewpoint, I feel it is my re- dent that Ukip has been on the rise, because it is in the U.S. national interest. As the world sponsibility to say that this has nothing and in such a climate one feels the pub- was reminded in 2001, instability creates haven for terror- to do with the message of our religion. lic discourse changing. There are par- ists. A stable Afghanistan makes for a safer world.” I would expect anyone, if something Vigil for murdered Charlie Hebdo journalists in Paris. ties happy to target migrants and to The U.S. News & Observer backs U.S. President Barack was happening in the name of their target Muslims. It’s a drift we have to Obama’s decision to the hilt. “President Obama can do no country or in the name of their religion, stop, for in my view we actually have right as far as some political opponents are concerned. It to take a stand. As a Muslim scholar I ever he wanted to say, and that much courage. a shared responsibility. Politicians, in- doesn’t matter whether he’s helping to bring the nation have to take that stand. there was no justification for any The shootings have been described tellectuals, journalists, Muslims and back from the economic brink, saving the automobile in- That said, there is also a wider politi- kind of censorship. as an act of war. I can understand why people of other faiths (or none) must dustry along the way, having the courage to take on health- cal side to this equation. We condemn But I also told him that he had to some might characterize it that way. be clear and united about our common care reform or improving America’s standing in the world. what happened in France. We con- be clear about the way he was using But they are wrong to do so, for isn’t principles. We need politicians with Or even, in noting with appropriate restraint the end of demn the violent extremism that is that right. In 2008 his magazine fired this exactly what the violent extrem- more on their minds than winning the America’s war in Afghanistan.” The most important thing, targeting Westerners. But it is not only a cartoonist who made a joke about ists such as Daesh, so-called ISIL, want? next election. it believes, was exactly what the president said: “Compared Westerners. We are reacting emotion- a Jewish link to president Sarkozy’s They want to say the West is at war One sees difficult days ahead as the to the nearly 180,000 American troops in Iraq and Afghani- ally because 12 people were killed in son. Where was the freedom of ex- with Islam, but if we are to take the ac- dramatic events in France showed; stan when I took office, we now have fewer than 15,000 in Paris, but there are hundreds being pression there, I asked the satirical tion of marginal groups and use that as and there is the issue of media organi- those countries. Some 90 percent of our troops are home.” killed day in, day out in Syria and Iraq, magazine. I was told that when it evidence that there is a war between zations intent on publishing the most The New York Times too believes that the rearview and still we send more bombs. comes to freedom of expression that Islam and the West, aren’t we merely offensive Charlie Hebdo cartoons, mirror viewpoint is at best partial view of the Afghan sit- We have to look at the big pic- there are limits, not everything can falling into a trap? claiming that it would strike a blow for uation. Commenting on the stance of Afghan President ture. Lives matter, but it is impor- be said. The double standard is trou- George Bush fell into that very trap free speech. I support free speech, but Ashraf Gani on the United Nations Development Fund’s tant to be clear that the lives of bling, to say the least. immediately after 9/11 by calling it the I would urge them to desist, for what monitoring, its editorial looks beyond the present. “As Muslims in Muslim majority coun- I am shocked that something as ter- war on terror, but actually he promot- they plan to do is not courageous and tempting as it is to think of the Afghan war as receding tries have as much value as our own rible as this has happened to Charb and ed it with his rhetoric. The most we will do nothing to afford people dig- in the rearview mirror, the United States remains deeply lives in the West. his colleagues, but less surprised that can reasonably say now is that we are nity. It will be another example of tar- embroiled in the conflict. What happened this week is a there was a backlash against them. at war with violent extremists, wher- geting all Muslims. It would say that if President Obama celebrated the nominal end of Amer- tragedy heightened by familiar- There had been controversy ever they are coming from. But why our fellow Muslim citizens are not part ica’s combat mission last month, vowing, with unfounded ity, for I met the cartoonist Charb concerning Charlie Hebdo on an play that game at all? Let’s be specific: of the equation, we will target not the optimism, that the country was ‘not going to be a source (Stéphane Charbonnier), the editor almost six-monthly basis, and lots these are criminals exploiting Islam. extremists – but Islam itself. It would of terrorist attacks again’. However, his administration of Charlie Hebdo, who was among of threats. To have a sense of hu- The great majority of the victims are hand the extremists a victory they opted to retain significant military operations in Afghani- those killed on Wednesday. We had mor is fine, I told them, but to tar- actually Muslim. could scarcely have achieved for them- stan, where roughly 10,600 troops continue to serve. a debate in which I told him that I get an already stigmatized people There are tensions in many coun- selves. Contd. on P. 11 respected his freedom to say what- in France is not really showing tries, but things have been very (Source: The Guardian)

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http://www.tehrantimes.com/international JANUARY 12, 2015 INTERNATIONAL 7

U.S. is concerned about Cuba’s future as China, ANALYSIS Russia’s global ambitions are rising: professor Modi’s chauvinism dilemma As the New Year dawns, it has become increasingly clear that Contd. from P. 1 government. The coming year will be a India’s new government faces a dilemma entirely of its own critical one for Maduro, and he is looking making — one that its predecessor never had to confront. Nonetheless, the measures for any lifelines that could provide an Narendra Modi’s election as prime minister in May 2014 announced by Obama will allow the economic reprieve. was initially hailed worldwide as marking the advent of a administration to deepen ties with Q: Considering the meeting more business-friendly government in the world’s largest Havana before it approaches Congress between U.S Vice President Joe Biden democracy. to request the lifting of sanctions. and Venezuelan President Maduro on Encouraged by Modi’s Talks between U.S. and Cuban officials the sidelines of new Brazilian president’s pro-market sound bites — he will continue into the next year, with inauguration, can we say that we will see vowed to “replace red tape the April summit of the Organization of some changes in the U.S. policy toward with a red carpet,” declared American States serving as the largest Latin America? that the government has “no public forum at which the two sides A: The changes in reciprocal attitudes business” in business and can meet. Given Cuban President Raul are so evident that as your beautiful campaigned on the slogan Castro’s advanced age, it is likely the Persian proverb says “Is there need for “Make in India” — investors talks will discuss an eventual political words where everything is clear” (anja rushed to praise him as a new transition in the country. ke ayan ast che hajat be bayan ast). messiah of development. It was a modest agreement, striking The U.S. policy to Latin America is Modi’s Bharatiya Janata only because there was any agreement undergoing serious changes reacting and Party (BJP) gained the first at all. U.S.-Cuba relations had been frozen adjusting to the changes of the regional absolute majority in the for decades, with neither side prepared environment. Lower House of parliament to make significant concessions or even The scene is set for a new realism in a quarter-century, thereby first moves. in Latin America. As not only oil, but freeing it from the pressures and constraints of coalition The cause was partly the domestic practically all commodity prices tumble governance. politics of each country that made it and economic growth stalls, the region Modi’s trips abroad brought talk of new business easier to leave the relationship frozen. On needs open markets, trade and regional opportunities, a wave of foreign investment and joint ventures. the American side, a coalition of Cuban- co-operation—including with the yanquis He vowed to improve India’s ranking in the World Bank’s global Americans, conservatives and human to the north. With his move on Cuba, Mr. “Doing Business” report, from a dismal 142nd place to at least rights advocates decrying Cuba’s record Obama has opened the way for the sort 50th. of human rights violations blocked the of diplomatic engagement that Latin Such talk continues, but it seems increasingly removed from effort. On the Cuban side, enmity with America rarely enjoyed during his first six the BJP’s central preoccupations. In fact, Modi rose to power the United States plays a pivotal role in years in office. But Latin America needs at the head of a family of right-wing organizations that largely legitimizing the communist regime. power: the Soviets. Cuban independence theoretically, force regime change in to return the compliment. The time for do not share his economic priorities and that are obsessed Nonetheless, in my opinion, easing from the United States required a Cuba from internal pressure. sulking and striking poses is over—in with so-called “cultural nationalism” — which is essentially just the 54-year-old embargo on Cuba is the dependence on the Soviets. Moreover, Raul Castro is old and Brasília and Caracas as well as Havana repackaged Hindu chauvinism. right thing to do. The measures that Mr. For the moment, there are no Fidel Castro is very old. If the Cuban and Miami. The tension between Modi’s avowed economic reformism Obama and Mr. Castro announced on major powers able to exploit Cuba’s government is to be preserved, it must With Cuba openly engaging the United and the cultural nativism that animates his government’s December 17th will do much to normalize geographical location in a way hostile to be secured now, because it is not clear States, Maduro may have an additional electoral base is a major impediment to progress. a relationship that has been trapped in U.S. interests, as the Soviets have done in what will succeed the Castros. incentive to seek his own rapprochement Economic policies the sterile logic of the cold war. 1962 by deployment of their intermediate But the United States has time, and with the United States. In fact, several After all, the political majority that Modi needs to pursue his But its significance goes beyond that. range nuclear missiles on the island and its concern about Cuba is part of its DNA. hours after the announcement of U.S.- economic policies depends on the organizational capacity of The embargo warps the United States’ placing the whole continental U.S. within Having no interest now, maintaining Cuba accord, Maduro publicly said the very people whose chauvinism is undermining him. relations with other Latin American their range. A move that caused the pressure makes no sense. But neither Venezuela would be willing to improve In fact, Modi’s rise was followed almost immediately by a countries, as well as their relations with famous Cuban missile crisis and brought is there an urgency for Washington to its stagnant political ties with the United series of attacks on India’s minorities, particularly Muslims. one another. the U.S. and the USSR on the brink of the let up on Havana. Obama may want a States. A legislator from Shiv Sena, a far-right regional party Many pundits and Latin America nuclear war. legacy, but the logic of the situation is Maduro would not be starting from allied with the BJP, forced a Muslim cafeteria employee to experts have long argued that the Seemingly at present there are no that the Cubans need this more than scratch. Earlier this year, without much eat bread during the Ramadan fast. A more tragic fate befell embargo is self-defeating. Rather than critical geopolitical issues. But no one the Americans, and the American price publicity, he designated an ambassadorial a young Muslim tech worker in Pune, who was beaten to ending the Castros’ rule, it has provided knows the future. The U.S. is far from for normalization will be higher than it nominee to the United States and held death in “retaliation” for a defamatory social-media post, with an evergreen excuse for their failures and settling a strategic dispute rooted in appears at this moment, whether set by discussions — albeit inconclusive ones which he had no connection. Then came a nationwide scare so helped maintain them in power. The Cuba’s location and the fact that its Obama or his successor. — with Washington to restore normal about “love jihad” — an alleged Muslim ploy to make India a embargo kept Cuba out of international location could threaten U.S. interests. Q: To what extent economic diplomatic relations. Over the past year, Muslim-majority country by seducing Hindu girls into romantic bodies such as the Organization of The revival of Moscow’s imperial factors, such as the fall of oil price, have several reports emerged that Caracas entanglements that would lead to their conversion to Islam. American States, where other countries ambitions and increasing willingness to pushed the two sides, especially Cuba, to was negotiating the resumption of No sooner had this BJP-fueled hysteria been widely could have prodded the island towards challenge the U.S. interests worldwide, put an end to years of conflict? direct counternarcotic activities with the dismissed — Muslims comprise 13 percent of India’s population greater openness. including its Latin American backyard still A: As for Mr. Castro, it is not hard to see U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and there have been only a handful of such marriages — than At the same time it put the United leaves open the possibility of restoration why he is interested in closer ties with the though no deal has been reached yet. the inflammatory rhetoric mounted. States at odds with most of its allies of full scale strategic cooperation United States. For the past dozen years, These discussions could be renewed as A prominent Modi supporter declared that all Indians had and nearly every other country in the between Havana and Moscow. Cuba’s moribund economy has been a result of today’s agreements between to acknowledge that they were culturally Hindu. A member of Western hemisphere. Strategic planners in Washington propped up by subsidies from Venezuela, Cuba and the United States. the Council of Ministers divided the country into “Ramzada” I am certain that recent developments can also hardly afford to underestimate mainly in the form of cheap oil. The fall in Restoring relations with the United (believers in the Hindu deity Ram) and “Haramzada” (bastards) signal the first step in a long process of the seriousness of Beijing’s strategic the oil price has pushed Venezuela on the States will not solve all of Maduro’s and was still allowed to retain her post. Another BJP legislator reconciliation. While the details of the calculations in the Western Hemisphere. brink of economic collapse, fraught with problems, however. Venezuela’s declared Mahatma Gandhi’s Hindu-nationalist assassin to be rapprochement have yet to be solidified, Apart of the massive economic severe political instability. The approval plummeting economy and its negative a patriot, while a fringe party in the Modi camp announced Obama’s announcement sets a clear goal presence in the area, China started to rating of its president Nicolás Maduro, impact on the ruling United Socialist a campaign to install the assassin’s busts throughout the for U.S.-Cuban relations, one that could consolidate its control over the maritime has plunged to 25%, casting uncertainty Party of Venezuela is largely the result country. over the durability of Venezuelan aid. have broader implications throughout chokepoints. of long-term structural problems that The galloping chauvinism has known no bounds. Modi the region. cannot be easily reversed. It is highly himself made the embarrassing declaration — in a speech at Q: Was it necessary for the U.S. or Isolated and impoverished Cuba might become an unlikely that Maduro will be able a new hospital, no less — that the figure of the Hindu deity Cuba to decide to normalize ties? to address these problems without Ganesh, with its elephant’s head on a human body, attested to A: In seeking to normalize diplomatic easy object for Chinese geopolitical expansion in incurring major political costs. the ancient Hindus’ knowledge of plastic surgery. relations, the U.S. administration the area that might be characterized as the U.S. soft Consequently, restoring political ties The education ministry abruptly withdrew German as an recognized what has long been clear underbelly and pave the way for Cuba’s alliance with the United States will depend more optional third language in government schools and replaced it to the outside world: the embargo has on domestic factors than moves from with Sanskrit. manifestly failed to reach its main goal- with a rival world power –a scenario strategically Obama or a subsequent U.S. president. And the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a volunteer to undermine the communist Castros’ unacceptable for the United States. The United States’ Cuba policy also organisation modelled on the fascist groups of the 1920s — regime. Under Raúl Castro change has complete with khaki shorts and staves — declared a campaign put it at odds with the whole of Latin slowly started to come to Cuba from Having become the major share Cuba fears that a declining of “ghar wapasi” (home-coming) or reconversion of minorities America, which now favors normal ties. within. holder of the Panama Canal the Chinese Venezuelan economy will limit one of to the Hinduism from which their ancestors had allegedly Mr. Obama said he would attend the In a statement from the White House, signed an agreement with Nicaragua for the island nation’s sources of financing lapsed in the distant past. Summit of the Americas in Panama in Mr. Obama questioned the logic of the digging a second waterway connecting and low-cost petroleum shipments in a The resulting controversies have convulsed India and April, to which Mr. Castro has also been embargo. “These 50 years have shown two oceans across this country. crucial moment when it is attempting to dominated political discourse, sidelining Modi’s economic that isolation has not worked. It’s time Isolated and impoverished Cuba transition toward a new leadership and invited. policies in the process. for a new approach,” he argued. might become an easy object for Chinese economic model. But the biggest prize for the U.S. Indeed, protests by opposition parties have paralyzed It has long been one of the great geopolitical expansion in the area that In this juncture, a more immediate should be the advance of democracy parliament, making it impossible for the government to anomalies of American foreign policy. might be characterized as the U.S. soft question is how the budding and open markets in Latin America. introduce — let alone pass — important elements of pending The United States normalized relations underbelly and pave the way for Cuba’s rapprochement between the United The Castros are not the only ones who economic-reform legislation, such as a law raising the limit on with Communist China and even with alliance with a rival world power –a States and Cuba will affect the behavior will be discomfited by the loss of the foreign-owned stakes in the insurance sector to 49 percent. Vietnam, with which it fought a bitter scenario strategically unacceptable for of Venezuela, Cuba’s most important ally American alibi. Venezuela leads a loose Yet, Modi has said nothing to quiet his supporters or mollify war costing more than 50,000 American the United States. in Latin America. coalition of countries that uses defiance his critics, raising concerns among investors — especially lives. But ties with Cuba, which long ago The Cubans are now under some Havana has intense multifaceted of the United States as an excuse for foreigners — about his ability to manage his own constituents. ceased to pose any threat to America, pressure to shift their policies. They have relations with Caracas, revolving around policies that stunt economic growth and For example, Lorenz Reibling of the German-American firm remained frozen in the Cold War. managed to survive the fall of the Soviet Venezuela’s role as the main economic democratic rights. Taurus Investment Holdings had a few questions — beginning Maintaining the economic embargo Union with some difficulty. donor of the Castro regime providing it Even for robustly democratic with the implications of recent anti-Christian and anti-Muslim against the communist island first They now face a more immediate with oil at symbolic prices. In turn, using countries like Brazil, the American tirades and conversion propositions — before committing to a imposed in 1961 was about revanchism problem: uncertainty in Venezuela. its developed intelligence capabilities in bogeyman makes it easier to justify major investment in India. and Congressional politics, not foreign Caracas supplies oil to Cuba at deeply Latin America, Cuba shares intelligence resistance to trade deals and economic As Reibling put it: “Conversion and ethnic/religious cleansing policy. discounted prices. It is hard to tell just with Venezuela, enabling Caracas to liberalization. doesn’t ring well here in Germany particularly. The bizarre To understand the U.S. response how close Cuba’s economy is to the edge, detect threats from within the country Now this depressing narrative may dream of a 100 percent Hindu India would be an India with little to Cuba in the past half century, but there is no question that Venezuelan — though at the cost of fomenting change. Venezuela’s government, or no foreign support. That is not what India deserves.” understanding Cuba’s geopolitical oil makes a significant difference. discontent within the Venezuelan armed reeling from the drop in oil prices, faces If Christians, in particular, are exposed to an “inquisition challenge to the United States is Venezuelan President Nicolas forces. difficult parliamentary elections in 2015. in reverse”, he observed, they would scale back investment important. Maduro’s government is facing While Cuba’s rapprochement with Argentina’s next president is likely considerably. Since the Louisiana Purchase in the mounting unrest over economic failures. the United States may not immediately to be less prickly towards the rest of Similarly, Reibling added, Middle Eastern investors would 19th century and expansion of the U.S. If the Venezuelan government falls, Cuba change Caracas’ relationship with the world than Cristina Fernández de respond to an anti-Muslim policy by cutting India out of their territory until the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba would lose one of its structural supports. Havana, Venezuela’s mounting economic Kirchner, who will stand down in 2015. portfolios. has been a hypothetical potential threat Venezuela’s fate is far from certain, distress and potential for unrest may Colombia, an American ally, may end Reibling is far from the only investor to harbour these fears. to the United States if held by or aligned but Cuba must face the possibility of a make it see Cuba’s improved ties with its 50-year war with the leftist FARC Indeed, he was merely expressing what his fellow investors with a major European power. The worst-case scenario and shape openings. the United States as a potential threat in guerrillas if peace talks succeed. Dilma abroad have been discussing among themselves. The alarm United States therefore constantly tried Opening to the United States makes the long run. Rousseff of Brazil could be a more bells have already rung. to shape Cuba’s policies, and therefore, sense in terms of regime preservation. Ultimately, Venezuela’s future will pragmatic president in her second Modi has found himself in an unenviable position vis-a-vis his its internal politics. Cuba needs better relations with rely on global oil prices and Venezuelan term. own supporters: He cannot live with them and he cannot live Fidel Castro’s goal was to end the United States, particularly if President Nicolas Maduro’s ability to My overall assessment is that we are without them. Unless he can find a way to resolve his political American influence, but he could only the Venezuelan government falls. simultaneously manage unrest on the on the threshold of significant changes dilemma, hope for a “Modi miracle” in India’s economy will achieve that by aligning with a major Venezuela’s poor economy could, streets and from challengers within the in intra-American relations. ebb as rapidly as it rose. (Source: Project Syndicate) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

8 MED & SCI JANUARY 12, 2015 http://www.tehrantimes.com

IN THE NEWS More sun means fewer children, Iran designs magnetic Nano-absorbents cleaning chemical pollutants grandchildren, study finds TEHRAN — Iranian researchers at Shaheed Beheshti Uni- versity designed Nano-absorbent separating chemical pol- lutants by high percentage. A new study from the Norwegian deal of solar activity was 5.2 years fields were more exposed to the sun Sarah Karimi Behzad, a mineral chemistry student at the University of Science and Technol- shorter than other children. The than other women. In many cases university and lead author of the study, said that the Nano- ogy shows that increased UV radia- largest difference was in the prob- they also had a poorer diet. absorbent is separated from the environment in less than tion can have an effect on human ability of dying during the first two Both climate change and variabil- a second and can be reused, the Iranian students’ news fertility over generations. years of life. ity in the ozone layer are expected to agency reported. Gine Roll Skjarvo at the Norwegian Children who were born in years increase the amount of UV radiation The outcomes of the study can be adopted in different University of Science and Technol- with lots of sunshine and who sur- reaching the Earth in the future. At industries, including water and wastewater treatment. ogy’s (NTNU) Department of Biol- vived were also more likely to have the same time, there have been many Heavy metals including lead and cadmium are not re- ogy has studied church records from fewer children, who in turn gave societal changes since the 1900s. moved from the body and deposit in tissues such as fat, 1750-1900 and looked at life history birth to fewer children than others. Nevertheless the NTNU research- muscles, bones and joints, leading to different diseases. The variables: how old were women when This finding shows that increased UV ers felt it prudent to caution women issue also raises probability of neural disorders such as par- they had their first child, and their last? radiation during years of high solar who want to have children. kinson’s, alzheimer’s, depression, schizophrenia, cancer. How many years passed between the activity had an effect across genera- “There are probably many fac- The study is focusing on use of magnetic nano-particles birth of each child, and how many of tions. tors that come into play, but we have to concentrate and adsorb the pollutants. these children survived? How many of Skjarvo used information on the measured a long-term effect over gen- She further added that the research is also measuring these children were in turn married number of sunspots as an indication erations. The conclusion of our study the lead and cadmium ion in certain food by solid phase ex- and had children? of the amount of UV radiation in a is that you should not sunbathe if you traction method, adding the synthesized nano-combination All told, she studied information given year. The number of sunspots are pregnant and want to have a lot of showed high capability in concentration and absorption of from more than 9,000 people listed reaches a maximum every 11 years grandchildren,” says Skjarvo. pollutants (roughly 90 percent). in the church records she examined. on average, which results in more Scientists are particularly con- The method enjoys certain advantages including simplic- Part of this information was com- UV radiation on Earth during years cerned about people with light skin ity, high speed in separating and determining metal ions in pared with environmental factors, with high sunspot and solar activity. who move to warmer climates with natural samples. including solar activity. UV radiation can have positive ef- lots of sun. (Source: Fars News) Skjarvo and her colleagues found fects on human vitamin D levels, but (Source: Science Daily) that children born in years with lots it can also result in a reduction of vi- of solar activity had a higher proba- tamin B9 (folate). It is known that bility of dying compared to children low folate levels during pregnancy who were born in years with less so- are linked to higher child mortality. STUDY lar activity. Low-status women most af- An 11-year cycle fected Optimistic people have On average, the lifespan of chil- The NTNU study showed that healthier hearts dren born in years that had a great families from the lowest socio-eco- nomic groups were most affected by Using the American Heart Association’s criteria, a study UV radiation. This is probably related of 5,000 adults found that the most optimistic people to the time period Skjarvo studied, had twice the odds of being in ideal cardiovascular health which was a time of clear class dis- as their pessimistic counterparts. tinctions in Norway, especially in ru- “Individuals with the highest levels of optimism have ral areas. Women who worked in the twice the odds of being in ideal cardiovascular health compared to their more pessimistic counterparts,” said lead author Rosalba Hernandez, a professor of social work at the University of Illinois. “This association re- mains significant, even after adjusting for socio-demo- graphic characteristics and poor mental health.” Participants’ cardiovascular health was assessed using seven metrics: blood pressure, body mass index, fasting Tablet users expected to soar past 1 billion, but growth will slow plasma glucose and serum cholesterol levels, dietary in- By Lance Whitney take, physical activity and tobacco use -- the same metrics Tablets are facing greater competition the largest number of tablet users this year, used by the American Heart Association to define heart from big-screen smart phones, aka phablets, with more than 328 million people using their health and being targeted by the AHA in its Life’s Simple early 15 percent of people around the as well as other connected devices. Tablet devices at least once a month, according to 7 public awareness campaign. Nworld will use a tablet this year. But owners are holding onto their devices longer eMarketer. The US will take second place with In accordance with AHA’s heart-health criteria, the re- growth in the number of users is expected to and sharing them with family members, re- 156 million tablet users in 2015. searchers allocated 0, 1 or 2 points -- representing poor, drop dramatically, says research firm eMar- ducing the need to buy new ones. eMarketer eMarketer said it bases its information intermediate and ideal scores, respectively -- to partici- keter. also chimed in on some of the factors affect- and forecasts on data from various research pants on each of the seven health metrics, which were More than 1 billion people throughout the ing tablet growth. firms, government agencies, media outlets then summed to arrive at a total cardiovascular health world will use a tablet this year, predicts a re- “The shared nature of tablets and increased and company reports. (Source: cnet.com) score. Participants’ total health scores ranged from 0 to port from eMarketer. competition from other connected devices 14, with a higher total score indicative of better health. The research firm projected that almost 15 reduce the likelihood that The participants, who ranged in age from 45-84, also China will be home percent of people worldwide the tablet audience completed surveys that assessed their mental health, to the largest will use a tablet in 2015, more will match the levels of optimism, and physical health, based upon self- than double the percentage size of the reported extant medical diagnoses of arthritis, liver and number of tablet from three years ago. The smartphone kidney disease. users this year, number of tablet users will audience Individuals’ total health scores increased in tandem rise from 1 billion this year to worldwide,” with their levels of optimism. People who were the most with more than 1.06 billion in 2016 and 1.43 eMarketer sen- optimistic were 50 and 76 percent more likely to have 328 million people billion by 2018. ior analyst Cathy total health scores in the intermediate or ideal ranges, using their devices For the study, the com- Boyle said in the respectively. pany defined tablet users as study. “The most limit- (Source: Science Daily) at least once a “individuals of any age who ing factor is the use case for month. use a tablet at least once per a tablet: It is not as clear-cut or month.” compelling as a communication tool Despite the rise in users, the overall growth -- the core capability and use case for a will drop this year and over the next few years, smartphone.” SUBSCRIPTION FORM according to the study. The reason? Currently, Growth in tablet users is forecast to drop there’s an “abundance” in the number of us- from 29 percent last year to 17 percent this WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y ers in developed markets, and emerging mar- year, followed by 13.3 percent in 2016, 10 per- kets aren’t “expected to pick up much slack,” cent in 2017 and 7.9 percent in 2018. eMarketer said. Across the globe, China will be home to Tehran Times subscription form Second Announcement F i r s t n a m e : ...... 1,000 alien planets! Family name: ...... NASA’s Kepler space Company: ...... telescope hits big milestone  12-month subscription: 1,600,000 rials TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY (PLC)  6-month subscription: 800,000 rials NASA’s Kepler spacecraft has discovered its  3-month subscription: 400,000 rials 1,000th alien planet, further cementing the prolific exoplanet-hunting mission’s status as Tender invitation Phone No.: ...... a space-science legend. 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Tender No Quantity deposit receipt to No. 18 Bimeh Lane, Ne- “Kepler was designed to find these Earth jatollahi Street, Tehran, or fax to number analogues, and we always knew that the Anti Block & Slipagent PVS-9341342-TA Each one 50,000 kg 88808895 (special for Tehrani citizens). most interesting results would come at the Interested individuals in other cities can end,” Kepler mission scientist Natalie Batalha, Public Relations contact the subscription office at of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett 8880-3025 Field, California, told Space.com last month. Tabriz Petrochemical Company (Source: Live Science) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y http://www.tehrantimes.com/sports JANUARY 12, 2015 SPORTS 9

We deserved win against Bahrain, 2015 AFC ASIAN CUP UAE roar back to thrash Nekounam says rivals Qatar United Arab Emirates stormed back from behind to defeat Melbourne – Iran Persian Gulf rivals Qatar 4-1 as they displayed their Asian Cup Sport D e s k national football credentials with a fluent win on Sunday (Jan 11). Top-rated team captain Javad Nekounam be- midfielder Omar Abdulrahman was at his creative best as lieves that they were the better team both Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout grabbed a brace after against Bahrain and deservedly won "Qatari Maradona" Khalfan Ibrahim put his side ahead. the game. Khalfan's deftly taken chest and volley proved Qatar's Iran defeated Bahrain 2-0 in its first best moment as the 2022 World Cup hosts proved fragile at step of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup cam- the back, with goalkeeper Qasem Burhan committing two paign on Sunday to earn a crucial three costly blunders. points. UAE started the brightest and Mabkhout almost “Bahrain is a good organized team opened the scoring after 10 minutes when he smashed but today we played better and de- the ball into the side-netting. Shortly afterwards, mid- servedly took the three points. Each fielder Mohamed Abdulrahman blazed over the bar after game has special situation depending the ball broke kindly to him on the edge of the box. on our rival. In my opinion, the referee The Emiratis rued their misses when the pint-sized Ibra- was lucky because there was no con- him took a rebound on the chest and acrobatically lobbed troversial moment during the game,” goalkeeper Majed Naser to open the scoring after 22 min- Nekounam told reporters. utes. Qatar grew in confidence and they almost went 2-0 United Arab Emirates stormed back up when left-back Abdelkarim Hassan drilled a powerful from behind to defeat Persian Gulf shot narrowly past the post. rival Qatar 4-1 in the other Group C However, UAE always looked dangerous through the match. trickery and imagination of Omar Abdulrahman, allied with Iran will play Qatar on Thursday. qualifying top-scorer Makbhout and powerful targetman Khalil. And it was Khalil who grabbed the equaliser after 37 minutes after Omar Abdulrahman caused panic in the defence by twice stealing the ball down the right. Hajsafi stunner highlights Iran’s 2-0 win over Bahrain Qatar failed to deal with the subsequent cross and af- ter Khalil's powerful header was cleared off the line he (Reuters) — Ehsan Hajsafi and Masoud Shojaei mess of the header, sending it soaring over the knocked in the rebound to put UAE level eight minutes each scored volleyed goals to fire Iran to an em- cross-bar. from half-time. The goal buoyed UAE and they came flying phatic 2-0 win in their Asian Cup opener against The hot chance followed a tougher opportunity out of the traps at the start of the second half, before go- Bahrain in Melbourne on Sunday. in the eighth minute by Nigeria-born striker Jaycee ing ahead seven minutes later. Utility player Hajsafi struck a brilliant, blistering Okwunwanne who volleyed a poor attempt at a Goalkeeper Burhan reacted too late as Khalil's pen- volley from outside the area a minute into stop- clearance but sent the shot wide of the left post. etrating free-kick from the left edge of the box evaded page time of the first half. Iran, the tournament’s top-ranked side, could everyone and sailed past into the far corner. Four min- Midfielder Masoud Shojaei netted a far less el- have made Bahrain pay four minutes after Shub- utes later, Burhan again failed to deal with a setpiece egant shot in the 71st minute that nonetheless bar’s errant header when Shojaei crossed from the and he palmed the ball to Mabkhout, who gratefully sealed the match for Team Melli in front of a bois- left to the dangerous Ashkan Dejagah in the area. slotted it home for UAE's third. terous crowd of Iranian fans at the Melbourne Rec- The attacking midfielder had only to beat the Qatar worked tirelessly to get back into the game and tangular Stadium. keeper but waited too long for his shot and it was they hit the post with five minutes to go in what was Bahrain, ranked 122nd in the world and out- well cut off by keeper Abbas. their best spell of the game. But all-out attack left them gunned by Iran’s playmakers, battled hard but will A well-organised Bahrain defence frustrated exposed at the back and Omar Abdulrahman combined rue the loss of a gilt-edged chance early to mid- Iran’s main attacking threats but conceded a free with Mabkhout to set up the prolific striker's second of fielder Sayed Shubbar who headed a shot over the tioning his marker to swing a right foot at a corner kick just outside the box in the 39th minute when the game on 89 minutes. bar when unmarked in the area. kick, the inelegant shot dribbled low and slow, but Dejagah was brought down in a challenge. (Source: AFP) Hajsafi’s goal, however, may be among the finest of was enough to beat lunging keeper Sayed Mo- Captain Javad Nekounam blasted the shot over the tournament when it ends with the final on Jan. 31. hamed Abbas. the bar. Controlling a rebound out of goal from a set- Both sides had their chances early and it ap- Coach Carlos Queiroz lamented in the lead- piece, the seasoned 24-year-old hammered the peared the match would be locked at 0-0 at the up that Iran were the least prepared of all the Pep Guardiola: I am not ball with his right foot into the top-right corner of half until Hajsafi’s wonder strike. sides in the tournament, but their controlled Barcelona’s solution the net, raising thunderous cheers from a 17,000 Shubbar ghosted into the area unmarked in display may have fellow Group C rivals United crowd dominated by Irani fans. the 16th minute to latch onto a superbly weighted Arab Emirates and Qatar concerned about Shojaei’s shot was more fortunate. Outposi- ball from Sami Al Husaini but he made an absolute what lies ahead. Pep Guardiola has distanced himself from a return to the Camp Nou in the wake of the continuing crisis at Barcelona. A bust up between Lionel Messi and coach Luis En- The future is bright for Iran Prince Ali calls for 10-year reform rique and the firing of sports director Andoni Zubizarreta enthuses Queiroz of "secretive" FIFA in the aftermath of the club’s transfer ban has pushed an already tainted Barcelona board into crisis. The chaos that has en- gulfed the club has been so all consuming that president Josep Maria Bartomeu has called presidential elections for the end of the season as a result of dissatisfaction with his running of the La Liga club. Joan Laporta, who ap- pointed Guardiola following the sacking of Frank Rijkaard in 2008, is rumoured to be Coach Carlos Queiroz believes Iran’s in the national team. One player FIFA presidential candidate Prince saying the bloc was unanimously considering running again 2-0 win over Bahrain in Sunday’s AFC with 90 caps and the second player Ali Bin Al Hussein will launch a 10- behind Blatter. which has led to suggestions of a return for Guardiola. Asian Cup Australia 2015 opener high- with zero caps. Today things have year programme to restore con- On announcing his candidacy, However, the current Bayern Munich manager was quick lights a bright future for Team Melli. changed after four years and the fidence in football's "secretive" Prince Ali said he wanted to shift to dispel those rumours at a press conference in Qatar, With defenders Pejman Montaz- work that we have done has start- world governing body if elected. the focus on FIFA from "administra- where his side are playing mid-winter friendlies. eri and Hashem Beikzadeh ruled ed to prepare the new options and The Jordanian prince last week tive controversy" back to the sport. “I am not Barcelona’s solution”, said Guardiola. “There out of the tournament in Australia new players that will be the future announced he would run for soc- FIFA has been under fire over its are many options – the right people will make the right due to injury, Queiroz chose to field of the Iranian national team.” cer's top job and is in campaign handling of an investigation into al- decisions to maintain Barca as one of the best clubs in the untested duo Morteza Pouraliganji Iran had made a slow start to the mode to drum up support to unseat legations of corruption in the bid- world”. and Vouria Ghafouri in defence at opening Group C contest, but after incumbent Sepp Blatter who is bid- ding for the 2018 and 2022 World Speaking specifically of the Laporta link, Guardiola add- Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. Hajsafi netted a sensational opener in ding for a fifth consecutive term. Cups which were won by Russia and ed: “He has not said that [Laporta could secure Guardiola And despite the pair having only first half stoppage time, Shojaei sealed "I believe we should be totally Qatar respectively. as technical director], you’ve read it but he did not say it.” a handful of friendly caps between the win with 19 minutes remaining. transparent," the BBC on Saturday In November, FIFA's ethics judge (Source: Eurosport) them, they performed admirably “The game was difficult as we ex- quoted Prince Ali as saying. "I will Hans-Joachim Eckert issued a sum- alongside Mehrdad Pooladi and pected in the first game and Bahrain look to a 10-year programme for the mary of chief investigator Michael Seyed Jalal Hosseini as goals in ei- started better than us in the first 10 organisation, where everyone is a Garcia's report. ther half from Ehsan Hajsafi and Ma- minutes until we were able to settle part of it and ourselves as the exec- The summary identified cases of soud Shojaei secured victory for the down our game,” added Queiroz, who utive committee will implement it. "inappropriate conduct" in a num- Roger Federer claims three-time continental champions. had the luxury of withdrawing Sho- "In the coming months, I will be ber of the bids but said there was 1,000th career win “We came here with some limita- jaei, Reza Ghoochannejhad and Ash- looking to sit down and talk to all not enough evidence to justify reo- tions, but when you play the Asian kan Dejagah inside the final 15 minutes our member associations and listen pening the process. Cup which is the most important ahead of Thursday’s meeting with Gulf to them. Under pressure to release more Roger Federer beat Milos Raonic 6-4 6(2)-7 6-4 in the final of competition for nations in Asia and Cup champions Qatar in Sydney. "I'm not coming in to dictate. I details, FIFA said last month it would the Brisbane International to become the third man to reach you come here and play the open- “After 10 minutes we started to have my ideas and progress I want publish an "appropriate" version of 1,000 career victories. ing match against Bahrain and you put the ball on the grass and we to implement, but I have to hear the report but the Russia and Qatar The Swiss dominated the head-to-head coming into this put on the pitch two kids who have started to create opportunities and back from my colleagues." World Cups would still go ahead. encounter having won seven of their previous eight meet- never played an official match like we should have scored earlier with The 39-year-old prince's decision "Reform is crucial," Prince Ali ings and a clinical Federer took the first set in just under half centre-back Morteza, he is not even the Dejagah one-on-one with the to run has breathed new life into said. "I was the first to ask for the an hour. a centre back, and you play like goalkeeper. But after the first 10 the presidential run-off but he faces Garcia report to come out. We Federer then broke early in the second but big serving that, you must be happy,” said for- minutes, I think we controlled the an uphill battle to beat Swiss Blatter should have nothing to hide. Raonic regained his composure and managed to secure the mer Portugal coach Queiroz. game and created the best oppor- in the May election. "FIFA as an organisation tends to set on a tie-breaker and send the match to a decider. “We need to make decisions ac- tunities in the game to score and I Frenchman Jerome Champagne be a bit secretive, but we should be The Swiss managed to secure the decisive break in the cording to the reality. We lost a think we deserved to win the game. is also standing. confident and happy to be open and tenth game of the decider to secure the title and, in doing couple of players who are not here, “It was a good win, but it was al- A member of FIFA's powerful engaged with everyone. so, claim his 1,000th career win. so if they are not here, we need to ways difficult as the team from Bahrain executive committee and a vice- "I don't see a reason to be guard- The win puts Federer third on the all-time list behind Jim- make decisions with the players we always played with a positive mind, and president of the Asian Football ed. We have to bring the admin- my Connors (1253) and Ivan Lendl (1071). trust and believe they are ready to even when they were losing 2-0, they Confederation, Prince Ali attend- istration of sport into the current The Swiss maestro has also won 17 Grand Slam titles, one serve the national team. always tried to attack and they always ed an AFC meeting in Melbourne time we live in. I want to bring back Davis Cup, one Olympic gold medal, a Hopman Cup and 83 “When I arrived in Iran we had 12- tried to surprise us moving forward.” on Friday but senior officials there that confidence." ATP titles. 14 players who were ready to play (Source: AFC) declined to back his candidacy, (Source: Reuters) (Source: Eurosport) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 SOCIETY JANUARY 12, 2015 http://www.tehrantimes.com/society

BRAINY QUOTES Trip to Iran a memorable and unique experience: La Repubblica

TEHRAN — The Ital- of attracting 10 million international Social Desk ian newspaper La tourists, and the recent estimate also Repubblica has written of Iran as a fanci- indicates the progress in the industry. ful place suitable for winter trips where Italian tour agencies are organiz- hospitable people and mountain ranges ing single and group tours to Iran, it clad in snow leave an unforgettable ex- added. perience for those in search of a place to The ski resorts of Iran are located ski, IRNA reported on Saturday. about 3,600 meters above sea level The newspaper wrote that despite and open to public from November to Power is given only to those who dare to lower them- common political clichés in the West March, the newspaper explained. selves and pick it up. Only one thing matters, one thing; which try to give a wrong picture of There are two well-maintained to be able to dare! Iran, the country showers you with ex- ski resorts in north of Tehran namely Fyodor Dostoevsky quisite and natural beauties as soon as Dizin and Shemshak which rent out you walk in. equipment at a good price. La Repubblica said the government Dizin is the first ski resort estab- of President Hassan Rouhani is heav- lished in 1969. It is one of the 40 re- LEARN ENGLISH ily investing in tourism with the aim sorts with the highest lift in the world. Dizin Ski Resort Visiting a Museum

I wanted to visit the National Museum, but when I ar- Iranian researcher awarded $12 million to study traumatic brain injury rived, it was closed. Rudy: Can you tell me the hours of operation for the The Department of Defense-funded grant is Jamshid Ghajar, MD, PhD, tion. While millions of concussions oc- Museum? consortium led by Jamshid Ghajar will clinical professor of neurosurgery and cur annually, only a small proportion Guard: It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday work to establish rigorous, evidence- director of the Stanford Concussion of clinical studies have incorporated through Saturday. It’s closed on Sunday. based diagnosis and treatment guide- Center. The consortium will involve a evidence-based methods, yielding lit- Rudy: Thanks. I’ll be back tomorrow. lines for brain trauma. number of Stanford researchers, as tle data to improve concussion diag- The next day, I arrived at the Museum at 10 a.m. and The U.S. Department of Defense well as colleagues at the Brain Trau- nosis. A key goal of the consortium the same guard was there. has awarded $12 million over a three- ma Foundation, a recognized world is to leverage existing studies and ad- Rudy: Hello, again. Can you tell me if the Museum has year period to the School of Medicine leader in evidence-based severe brain vise future studies in order to develop any tours? to establish a multi-institutional con- trauma guidelines. evidence-based guidelines for the Guard: The Museum has a self-guided tour. You can sortium to develop a new brain-trau- Traumatic brain injury, including screening, diagnosis, prognosis and get information at the ticket window. ma classification system that will lead concussions, is the leading cause of treatment of brain trauma across the Rudy: Oh, thanks. Do you know if I can use my flash to to effective diagnostics and therapeu- death and disability in children and spectrum of severity from concussion take photos in the Museum? tics. young adults around the world, ac- to coma. Jamshid Ghajar (Source: med.stanford.edu) Guard: You can take pictures, but flash photography is The principal investigator for the cording to the World Health Associa- prohibited. Food and drinks are prohibited, too. Rudy: Oh, I guess I need to get rid of this bottle of juice before I go in. Do you know if all of the exhibits are open to the public today? Cable cabin connects far-flung village in Isfahan Guard: The east wing is under construction, but the rest of the galleries are open. The sculpture and painting galler- to outside world ies are to your left, and the artifacts are to your right. Social Desk TEHRAN — The residents of Hi- in winter. Rudy: Thanks a lot. How much is the admission charge? ran Village in Isfahan Province Fereydunshahr is situated 200 kilometers west of Guard: It’s $10.00 for adults, $3.00 for children, and have built a cable cabin over the river of Algen so Isfahan. $5.00 for seniors and students with picture ID. The peo- that they can be connected with the world outside The local officials have allocated 15,000,000 to- ple at the ticket window can help you with that. during winter, the IRNA news agency reported on mans ($4,285) to the construction of the bridge Rudy: Thanks. Just one more question. Saturday. whereby the villagers can reach Chahar Mahal Bakh- Guard: Yes? The village is located near the city of Fereydun- tiari after three hours of walk. Rudy: If I leave after I pay, can I come back in? shahr and shares border with Chahar Mahal Bakh- There is no paved road in Hiran and no vehicle has Guard: Yes. You just have to show your stub. Anything tiari Province, but it is cut off from Isfahan Province ever been there, an official said. else? Rudy: Oh, no. Thanks a lot. Sorry to have bothered you. Guard: No trouble at all. 10,000 chickens die in poultry farm fire in Zanjan (Source: eslpod.com) Words & Phrases Social Desk TEHRAN — A police official in the IRNA news agency reported. Colonel Kordloo said the firemen were able to put out self-guided: (of a walk or visit to a tourist attraction) Zanjan said on Saturday that Colonel Jafar Kordloo said the 37-day-old chickens the fire, but it was too late for the already roasted chickens. undertaken without the supervision of a tour guide. 10,000 chickens were burned alive in a chicken were kept in the poultry farm house which caught Fortunately, the incident resulted in no human prohibited: that has been forbidden; banned. house in the village of Zangi Kuh in Zanjan Province, fire as a result of the malfunctioning heating unit. death, he added. get rid of: take action so as to be free of (a trouble- some or unwanted person or thing). exhibit: an object or a collection of objects that have Indiana couple arrested after video shows handgun in toddler’s mouth been put out in a public space for people to look at : something shown in an exhibition. An Indiana couple has been charged with child ne- covered the video of the one-year-old baby putting was a .40 caliber handgun. wing: a part or feature of a building usually projecting glect after cell phone video obtained by authorities a gun in her mouth. In the background, two adults, Both Barnes and Wilson face multiple charges from and subordinate to the main or central part. recorded the pair telling a one-year-old baby to put a identified as Barnes and the toddler’s mother, Toni in the incident, including child neglect and criminal under construction: an object is in the midst of being gun in her mouth and instructing her to make sounds Wilson, 22, encouraged the child to play with the recklessness with a deadly weapon. Barnes also fac- built and is not yet ready for use. like the weapon was firing, police said. weapon, police said. es charges in connection with the thwarted gun sale, gallery: a room or building for the display or sale of Authorities in Evansville said on Friday they found “Barnes can be heard telling the child to say police said. works of art. the video on the phone of Michael Barnes, 19, who “pow” on multiple occasions while the child plays The 12-month-old girl and one-month-old twins sculpture: a piece of art that is made by carving or was arrested Thursday after he agreed to sell a with the gun,” police said. “The video also shows the in the home were placed in emergency care, police molding clay, stone, metal, etc. handgun to an undercover officer through a transac- child placing the muzzle of the gun in her mouth. At said. artifact: a simple object (such as a tool or weapon) tion made on social media, Evansville police said in a no point does Barnes try to stop the child from play- Barnes and Wilson were in custody and not availa- that was made by people in the past. statement. ing with the gun,” the statement said. ble for comment. It was unclear if they had obtained admission charge: entrance fee. During what police called a “follow up investiga- The child’s mother told police that the firearm attorneys or how they intended to plead. senior: a person who is older than another person. tion,” officers looking through Barnes’ phone dis- was a pellet gun. Evansville police said the weapon (Source: Reuters) ID: identification; identity. Go on the road right now WORD OF THE DAY We are smart when we look out, but dumb when we look in advocate One of the things that is unique to humans is that we uselessly repeat, we must somehow try \AD-vuh-kayt\ our ability to find patterns, to naturally seek and to step outside of ourselves, and try to examine identify structure in everything we observe. Abili- life from the outside, to go away to a place where (DEFINITION) ties like recognizing visual shapes, spotting har- we can see ourselves without the debilitating bias (verb) monious musical arrangements, and detecting of looking inside. When I turned 40, I did exactly to plead in favor of consistent concepts, all lie at the heart of human that. I went away, rode my motorcycle across the intelligence. In fact, we are so focused on finding country for a few weeks, alone on the road, and EXAMPLES patterns in the world, that we often falsely iden- separated from my daily routine. I looked at my tify meaningful patterns in random, meaningless life from the outside did some pattern recogni- Many parents throughout the district have long advo- situations. This phenomenon, called Apophenia, tion. Once I could see the things that I was do- cated full-day kindergarten. is something that all of us have experienced at ing repeatedly and ineffectively, it became easy some point: The hidden messages when you play to change them, and I came back knowing what “The task force advocates revising the state’s social the Beatles records backwards, the tree that steps I should take to turn my life around. studies standards to promote news literacy and the im- looks like a crying man, and of course the face As the New Year starts, go on the road. Think portance of voting.” — Laurie Levy, ChicagoNow.com, that stares at you from the power outlet. of a way you can detach yourself from your eve- December 4, 2014 In the extreme, the inclination to see patterns ryday schedule for a little while. Go on a silence (Source: merriam-webster.com) everywhere makes us superstitious. We come up havior, our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, we of- retreat, take a road trip, or simply visit someplace with patterns and rules that make no sense, so ten fail to recognize even the simplest patterns. where you’ve never been before. It’s not a vaca- we can meet our desire to see structure in the We are smart when we look out, but dumb when tion, just a means of introducing some distance chaos: Shooting a paper ball into the bin will we look in. Albert Einstein said that the definition from your life, so you can look at it from a differ- make me pass the test (or if I miss the first time, of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over ent vantage point. Being away and alone will al- PERSIAN PROVERB two out of three), a sighting of a black cat will again and expecting different results”. So true, low you to do the thing that we all do best when yet we all do it. We repeat the same mistakes or bring me bad luck (but spitting on the ground will we look outside: identify the patterns, especially ﻛﺎﭼﻰ ﺑﻪ ﺍﺯ ﻫﻴﭻ ﭼﻴﺰ ﺍﺳﺖ bring things back to normal). We are sensitive to continuously miss out on opportunities, failing to the ones that do not get you the results that you Half a loaf is better than none the existence of patterns in the world, even over- recognize the patterns that emerge from the way want. Once you see them, you can easily resolve Getting only part of what you want is better than not get- ly sensitive. we act. to change them and create the new you in 2015. ting anything. Yet when it comes to our own life; to our be- To stop the insanity circle and detect what it is (Source: psychologytoday.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y http://www.tehrantimes.com/international JANUARY 12 , 2015 WORLD IN FOCUS 11 Paris march against JUMP terrorism: Real or show-off? ‘Stable Afghanistan makes for a safer world’ Contd. from P. 1 spelt out the word Pourquoi? (Why?) The world public has now ex- and small groups sang the “La Marseil- pressed solidarity with the affected laise” national anthem. Contd. from P. 6 people and condemned the terror at- German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Washington has also committed to continue spending tack on the Charlie Hebdo office. At British Prime Minister David Camer- billions of dollars to keep Afghanistan’s fledgling security the same time, the public asks a simple on and Italian Prime Minister Matteo forces afloat.” question: Why doesn’t the world wit- Renzi were among the 44 foreign The Desert Sun, a Texan newspaper, says Americans ness such rallies in other parts of the leaders marching with Hollande. UN shouldn’t act like the war is over. The “reality is that the world to condemn terrorist attacks in Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Isra- war is not over,” says its editorial. “Though Al Qaida, the countries like Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, el’s Benjamin Netanyahu - who earlier architects of the 9/11 attacks and other terrorist plots, has Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Soma- encouraged French Jews to emigrate been partly dismantled and the Taliban is a shadow of its lia where hundreds of people fall vic- to Israel - and Palestinian Authority former self, extremism still has a foothold in the war-torn tims to terror acts day in and day out? President Mahmoud Abbas were also nation.” (Source: Reuters) World leaders join mass Paris present. the worst militant extremist assault as politicians. It ended on Friday with march to honor attack victims Immediately to Hollande’s left, on a European city in nine years. a hostage-taking at a Jewish deli in Dozens of world leaders including walked Merkel and to his right Malian For France, it raised questions of free which four hostages were killed. Muslim and Jewish statesmen liked President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. speech, religion and security, and be- Overnight, an illuminated sign on NATO chief: Muslims the arms leading hundreds of thousands Some 2,200 police and soldiers pa- yond French frontiers it exposed the the Arc de Triomphe read: “Paris est biggest victims of terror of French citizens in an unprecedent- trolled Paris streets to protect march- vulnerability of states to urban attacks. Charlie” (“Paris is Charlie”). ed march under high security to pay ers from would-be attackers, with “Paris is today the capital of the A video emerged featuring a tribute to victims of militant attacks, police snipers on rooftops and plain- world. Our entire country will rise up man resembling the gunman killed Contd. from P. 1 Reuters reported. clothes detectives mingling with the and show its best side,” said Hollande in the kosher deli. He pledged al- “It is important now to first arrest these perpe- President Francois Hollande and crowd. City sewers were searched in a statement. legiance to the ISIL (Islamic State trators and then give them the punishments they de- leaders from Germany, Italy, Israel, Tur- ahead of the vigil and underground Seventeen people, including jour- in Iraq and the Levant) insurgent serve,” he said. key, Britain and the Palestinian territo- train stations around the march route nalists and police, were killed in three group and urged French Muslims Most Muslims condemn terror ries among others, moved off from the are due to be closed down. days of violence that began with a to follow his example. A French an- Asked about the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq central Place de la Republique ahead of The silent march - which may prove shooting attack on the weekly Charlie ti-terrorist police source confirmed and the Levant (ISIL), the NATO chief underlined that Chris- a sea of French and other flags. Giant the largest seen in modern times Hebdo known for its satirical attacks it was the killer, Amedy Coulibaly, tians and Muslims should join forces to counter the terrorist letters attached to a statue in the square through Paris - reflected shock over on Islam and other religions as well speaking before the action. threat. “My expectation is that all of us, Christians, Muslims Netanyahu steps up appeal to French Jews after attacks or whoever we are, should stand up for universal val- Hollande slams Netanyahu for turning visit into a campaigning opportunity ues. We can have different opinions, but we have to de- This week’s deadly attacks in Par- Sunday’s mass rally of national solidar- elry and bank cards. That triggered a war of words with fend our values?? And also is have again set off a competition ity in memory of the 17 victims of this Hollande: Netanyahu came to Hollande, who slammed Netanyahu help overcome prejudices,” between the French and Israeli gov- week’s attacks including an assault on France to campaign for turning the visit into a campaigning Stoltenberg said. ernments to reassure and secure the the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and The Israeli prime minister has tried opportunity ahead of elections a few “Muslims are the big- affection of France’s increasingly nerv- the supermarket. to lure France’s Jews to his country months later. gest victims of Islamist ter- ous Jewish population. A spate of anti-Semitic incidents on a previous occasion, following “Netanyahu came to France to ror. Most of the Muslims Not for the first time, Israel’s Prime had already put France’s Jewish com- attacks by Mohamed Merah in and campaign,” Hollande said in private re- condemn the terror and Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used an munity -- the third largest in the world around Toulouse in southwest France marks leaked by a French newspaper. we are condemning the attack by extremists in France to urge at 500,000-600,000 -- on edge. in March 2012. “Since I was there, he toned down terror. We must fight to- the country’s Jews to relocate. In what President Francois Hol- During a visit to France for a com- his speech but it wasn’t good to trans- gether against terrorism,” he said. “To all the Jews of France, all the lande described as an “unbeara- memoration service the following Oc- form this ceremony into an electoral European countries have witnessed an increase in sus- Jews of Europe, I would like to say that ble” attack, assailants last month tober, Netanyahu declared: “I always meeting. It wasn’t appropriate,” Hol- picion and negative feelings towards Muslims in recent Israel is not just the place in whose di- stormed the flat of a young couple, say to Jews wherever they are -- come lande said. months as far-right and right-wing populist parties cash rection you pray, the state of Israel is raping the woman and stealing jew- to Israel and make it your home.” (Source: AFP) on a growing fear of Islam. your home,” he said in a statement on Many have been influenced by reports of atrocities Saturday. committed by ISIL in the Middle East. Responding from outside the Jew- Indonesia divers find black box of AirAsia plane Muslim organizations underline that the source of ish supermarket in Paris where four Indonesian divers on Sunday found the seabed less than one kilometer reaching that part of the wreckage the radicalization of some young immigrants is not Is- hostages died on Friday, French Prime the crucial black box flight recorders (0.6 miles) from where the tail of was also a top priority. lam itself, but the sociological problems they face such Minister Manuel Valls sought to coun- of the AirAsia plane that crashed in the plane was found, Malaysian Navy The tail of the plane, with its red as discrimination, unemployment, or lack of future ter Netanyahu’s words. the Java Sea two weeks ago with 162 chief Abdul Aziz Jaafar said in a post AirAsia logo, was lifted out of the wa- perspectives. “France, without its Jews, is not people aboard, the transport ministry on Twitter. Malaysia’s Navy is helping ter on Saturday using giant balloons (Source: World Bulletin) France,” he said. said. in the search. and a crane. “The Jews of France, for several But they failed to retrieve it im- The Indonesian meteorological It was brought by tugboat on Sun- years, have been frightened,” he add- mediately from the seabed because agency has said stormy weather likely day to a port near the search head- ed, before trying to reassure them it was stuck under debris from the caused the Airbus A320-200 to crash quarters, at Pangkalan Bun town on Belgian paper that ran that “today, we are all Charlie, all po- main body of the plane, the ministry as it flew from the Indonesian city of Borneo island. lice officers, all the Jews of France.” added. Surabaya to Singapore on December All but seven of those on board the Charlie cartoons evacuated President Francois Hollande met “The navy divers in Jadayat state 28. flight were Indonesian. leaders of the French Jewish commu- boat have succeeded in finding a very But a definitive answer is impos- While the cause of the crash is un- after bomb threat nity at the Elysee Palace on Sunday important instrument, the black box sible without the black box, which known, the disaster has once again morning where he vowed to protect of AirAsia QZ8501,” said Tonny Budi- should contain the pilots’ final words placed Indonesia’s chaotic aviation The offices of a Belgian newspaper that republished car- Jewish schools and synagogues with ono, a senior ministry official. as well as various flight data. industry under scrutiny. toons from the French satirical magazine Charlie Heb- the army if necessary. The recorders were at a depth of 48 bodies found Indonesian officials have alleged do were evacuated on Sunday after receiving an anony- Speaking after the meeting, Joel 30-32 meters (99-106 feet), he said in S.B. Supriyadi, a director with the that Indonesia AirAsia did not have a mous bomb threat, its staff said. Mergui, president of Central Israelite a statement. National Search and Rescue Agency, license to fly the route on the day of The evacuation of Le Soir, a French-language daily, Consistory of France, said: “We can’t Divers will on Monday try to shift told reporters earlier in the day that the crash, although the airline rejects came as thousands of people marched through Brussels reproach any community for thinking the position of the wreckage to ac- an object believed to be the plane’s the claim. in solidarity with France following extremist attacks on about where to raise their children in cess the black box. main body had also been detected Indonesia’s transport ministry Charlie Hebdo and other sites. security... but if France stands up for After a frustrating two-week near the source of the pings. quickly banned AirAsia from flying “An anonymous caller made threats against the edi- its democratic society that terrorists search often hampered by bad The search, which has involved the Surabaya-Singapore route. torial side of the paper, after which it was decided to want to destroy... then Jews will cer- weather, officials earlier on Sunday U.S., Chinese and other international On Friday it suspended dozens evacuate the building,” Maroun Labaki, in charge of the tainly have fewer doubts about their raised hopes by reporting that strong naval ships, has recovered 48 bodies more routes operated by five other paper’s foreign pages, told the Belga news agency. future.” ping signals had been detected by so far. domestic airlines for similar license The caller told journalists the bomb was “going to go off in Hollande also said he would visit three vessels involved in the search. Supriyadi said many bodies were violations. your newsroom,” Le Soir journalist Martine Dubuisson tweet- the Grand Synagogue in Paris after Those signals were coming from believed trapped in the cabin, so (Source: AFP) ed. Police closed off the road around the paper’s offices. Le Soir was one of many European papers that reprinted car- toons from Charlie Hebdo including some mocking Muslims. Britain ups terror alert Merkel speaks with Putin, A German tabloid that reprinted them was firebombed over 150 ISIL-linked Britons Poroshenko on Ukraine on Sunday. (Source: AFP)

British security chiefs have warned where 17 people were killed. Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke At the end of December, Poro- that up to 150 ISIL-linked British vet- The Times further reports that with Russian President Vladimir shenko announced Normandy-style Israeli settler opens fire on erans of the foreign-backed war in over 30 extremists were currently Putin and Ukraine’s Petro Poro- talks for January 15 in the Kazakh cap- Syria could launch terror attacks in under MI5 surveillance because they shenko on the situation in Ukraine, ital Astana. a Palestinian in West Bank Britain similar to the ones waged in are considered a serious threat and the German government spokes- Merkel stressed on Thursday that France in recent days, Press TV re- another 120 were being reassessed, man said. the date of the meeting had yet to be An armed fanatic Israeli settler provocatively entered a ported. prompting what it described as the The separate conversations came confirmed “after discussions planned Palestinian market, in the Old City of occupied East Jeru- The warning placed Britain on the biggest security operation since the ahead of a meeting on Monday in in the coming days”. salem (al-Qods), started insulting local residents before verge of raising the country’s terror- 2012 London Olympics. Berlin of the Russian, Ukrainian and “A substantial coming together of attacking a young man, and opened fire, Ma’an News ist threat level to the highest in sev- It added that an entire squadron German foreign ministers. positions on a ceasefire and the es- Agency reports. en years on Saturday evening, Brit- of SAS soldiers was placed on perma- Merkel’s talks concerned the tablishment of a demarcation line are According to Press TV, the Palestinian, identified as ain-based Sunday Times newspaper nent standby to respond to potential situation in Ukraine and the Minsk needed,” Seibert said. Ibrahim Issa Suleiman al-Tubassi, suffered injuries. reports. incidents along with counter-terror agreement for a truce, government To Putin, Merkel also hoped Al-Tubassi was taken to hospital for treatment, with Citing what it described as senior police. spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a that each party would contribute medical sources clarifying that he was shot in the thigh. security sources, the paper described “Separately, members of a covert statement. “quickly to make progress on the On Friday, Israeli settlers raided lands belonging to local the risk to Britain as nearing critical ‘human intelligence’ unit based in “The chancellor expressed con- basis of the Minsk accords” signed farmers in the area of Shaab al-Butm in al-Khalil and uproot- amid fears that the country would be the Midlands are working alongside cern about the continuing tensions in September. ed 45 olive trees that were at least three decades old. the next target for a terrorist “spec- police and secret service officers to and the humanitarian situation in the On this point, Moscow should Armed settlers regularly attack Palestinian villages and tacular.” identify threats,” the paper added, east of Ukraine,” he said. use its influence with separatists, farms and set fire to their mosques, olive groves and other According to the report, a British noting that the unit consists largely In her conversation with Po- Seibert said. properties in the West Bank under the so-called “price tag” minister ordered border staff to step of Asian and Muslim operatives used roshenko, Merkel stressed her The Kremlin denies Ukrainian and policy. However, Tel Aviv rarely detains the assailants. up the search for illegal firearms af- in Afghanistan. support in principle for a Nor- Western charges of backing the re- Price tag attacks are acts of vandalism and violence ter Britain’s security chiefs warned According to the report, the new mandy-style meeting of heads of bellion in eastern Ukraine in order carried out with impunity by Israeli settlers against Pal- that half of the terrorists that had force will be about 300-strong and state and government (grouping to extend its influence in the former estinians and their property as well as Islamic holy sites. returned from fighting in Syria were based in secret locations in London, Russia, Ukraine, France and Ger- Soviet republic after the ouster of a More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal capable of assaults similar to those the North West, Midlands, the South many) while linking the results of Moscow-backed president in Febru- settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Pales- waged against Charlie Hebdo Mag- West and North East. such a summit to “concrete pro- ary 2014. (Source: agencies) (Source: AFP) tinian territories of the West Bank including East al-Quds azine and a supermarket in Paris, gress”. (Jerusalem) in 1967. (Source: agencies) b

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NEWS Statue of Amir Kabir adorns Fajr Film Festival to honor Keshavarz, Jafarian Tehran museum TEHRAN — Veteran Iranian actor Art Desk TEHRAN — A life-sized silicon Mohammad-Ali Keshavarz and the Culture Desk cinematographer Hossein Jafarian will be honored during statue of Mirza Taqi Khan Farahani the 33rd Fajr Film Festival. (1807-1852) known as Amir Kabir, the chief minister of The festival will honor two veteran artists for their the Qajar king Nasser ad-Din Shah, was unveiled at the achievements in Iranian cinema, festival secretary Alireza Museum of Luminaries of Tehran’s Milad Tower. Rezadad said during a press conference on Sunday morning. The ceremony was attended by the director of Jafarian worked as the director of photography for the the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) Reza acclaimed films “About Elly” Salehi-Amiri, and Cultural Heritage, Tourism and by Asghar Farhadi, “Gold Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) Director Masud and Copper” by Homayun Soltanifar, the Persian service of MNA reported on CHTHO Asadian, and “Che” by Sunday. Director Ebrahim Hatamikia. Salehi-Amiri called Amir Kabir the symbolic national Masud Mohammad-Ali capital of the Iranian nation. Soltanifar Keshavarz, 84, has played “Amir Kabir is regarded a charismatic character (L) unveils a several memorable roles in the history of Iran, and despite the impression he silicon effigy in Iranian cinema. Among made in his time, he was effective over the course of of Amir his credits are “Mother” years,” Salehi-Amiri added. Kabir at the “The significant attributes of Amir Kabir were his Museum of and “Love-Stricken” by Ali Luminaries Hatami. thoughts and decisions which moved beyond his of Tehran’s “We also plan to honor time,” he said. Milad Tower the owners of some film He established Dar-ul-Fonun, the Iranian on January laboratories,” he added. polytechnic institute, in 1851 and was the pioneer in 11, 2015. He said that three establishing modern education in Iran. (Mehr/Yunes The secretary of the 33rd Fajr Film separate books will be Soltanifar in his brief speech talked about the Khani) Festival, Alireza Rezadad, attends a published on the honorees. historical and cultural identity of Iran. to show that Iran has been influential on other Khaqani, whose large collection, comprised of statues press conference in Tehran on January A total of 29 theaters and “It is our duty to showcase the cultural and civilizations in the world,” he concluded. of a number of contemporary Iranian luminaries, are 11, 2015 to brief the media about the 13 cinematic complexes will historical identity of Iran over the past years in order The statue has been made by sculptor Alireza on permanent display in the museum. festival’s program. (Mehr/Majid Asgaripur) host the festival, which will be held from February 1 to 11, he said. 12 films from European directors to go on screen at Iranian festival Majid Majidi’s “Muhammad (S)” will premiere at the TEHRAN — Twelve Award for short animation in 1981. Haanstra’s “Zoo” (1962) also will be will also be reviewed at the event, opening ceremony of the festival on February 1. Art Desk Twenty four films will compete in this edition of the films by directors The festival also will screen Rofusz’ shown during the festival. which will take place at the Iranian festival and 11 movies will premiere in the New Vision from Germany, France, Hungary, “Gravity” (1984) The lineup also comprises seven Artists Forum. section, which is dedicated to screening works from first- and the Netherlands are scheduled In addition “Glass”, a 1958 French films, including “Ego” (2006) Over 70 films from Iranian directors time filmmakers. to be screened at the 4th Khorshid short documentary film by Dutch by directors Louis Blaise, Thomas will also be competing in the festival. “Sweet Taste of Dream” by Kamal Tabrizi, “I am Diego Independent Short Film Festival, which director Bert Haanstra, which Lagache, and Bastien Roger, “The The Khorshid Independent Short Maradona” by Bahram Tavakkoli, “The Fish’s Death” will be held in Tehran from January 13 won the Academy Award for Death of Tau” (2002) by Jérome Film Festival was established by by Ruhollah Hejazi and “The Long Goodbye” by Farzad to 15. Documentary Short Subject in Boulbès, “Ombre portée” (1988) by shortfilmsupport.com, an Iranian Motamen are among the competitors. Among the highlights of the lineup 1959, will be screen at the festival. Marianne Visier. website, which is promoting Director Amir-Hossein Asgari’s anti-war drama is “The Fly”, which won Hungarian The film is about the glass industry “Timpe Te” by German directors independent short films and “Borderless”, Hamidreza Qotbi’s social drama “Rending animator Ferenc Rofusz an Academy in the Netherlands. Claus Oppermann and Daniel Schreiber documentaries. a Garment”, and Soheila Golestani’s social drama “Two” starring Parviz Parastuii are among the films, which will go y on screen at the New Vision section of the festival. B Abutaleb Nadri/Mehr Iranian young This is first time the national section of the festival will be PICTURE OF THE DAY held independently of the international competition section adults to enjoy new and at a different time. The international section of the festival will be held from translation of world April 25 to May 2. popular novels TEHRAN — Musician Mostafa Kamal Culture D e s k Thirteen popular Purtorab honored novels from world literature have recently been published for young adult readers in Iran. TEHRAN — The Persian literary Art Desk The Parseh Publishing House is the monthly Bokhara paid tribute to publisher of the books, which were musician and composer Mostafa Kamal Purtorab, famous translated by Parvin Adib and Armin for his book “Theory of Music”, during a ceremony at the Hedayati. Mahmud Afshar Foundation on Saturday. The books are “David Copperfield” The ceremony was attended by a number of literati by Charles Dickens, “Pride and including Managing Director of Bokhara Ali Dehbashi, Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “Around the chairman of the Board the World in Eighty Days” and of Directors of the Music “Journey to the Center of the Earth” Office Mohammad Sarir, by Jules Verne and “The Coral Island” and musicians Nader by R. M. Ballantyne. Mashayekhi, and Davud “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Ganjeii. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson, Speaking at the “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë, ceremony, Sarir praised “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, Purtorab for his efforts over “The Swiss Family Robinson” by the past 70 years to train Johann David Wyss, “King Solomon’s students who are seriously Mines” by H. Rider Haggard, “The active in the field of music Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark now. Twain and “What Katy Did” by Susan “Most of those who are M. Coolidge are the other books currently active in music published. were either directly or The books were previously Mostafa Kamal Purtorab addresses indirectly his students,” he Polish maestro Maria Pomianowska (4th from left) along with a number of her compatriots and Iranian musicians performs a fusion of Polish and Iranian the audience during a ceremony that music at the Fakhreddin As’ad Gorgani Hall in the northern Iranian city of Gorgan on January 10, 2015. published in Persian by other added. translators. Bokhara held at the Mahmud Afshar He called Purtorab Foundation on January 10, 2015 to one of the distinguished commemorate the composer. musicians of the country (Mehr/Mohammad Khodabakhsh) Film director Rosi, who explored Italy’s dark side, dies at 92 who relied on national music, and who used world music as a tool for him to ROME (Reuters) — Francesco Rosi, an bandit said to have been killed in 1950 American actor Rod Steiger played a develop and promote national music. Italian director whose gritty films offered either by police or a fellow mobster. leading role in “Hands over the City”, and Composer Nader Mashayekhi who was once the a socially charged look into the country’s “The Mattei Affair” (1972) was about Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif were stars conductor of Tehran Symphony Orchestra, expressed underworld of crime and corruption, died oil executive Enrico Mattei who died in Rosi’s 1967 film “More Than a Miracle”, his gratitude to his master Purtorab for giving him the on Saturday at age 92, officials said. when his plane crashed in mysterious a fairy-tale story of romance that diverged courage to pursue the activity he liked. Rosi was born and raised in a middle- circumstances in 1962. from his more serious work. House of Music Director Hamidreza Nurbakhsh said class home in Naples, a city long infested “The Mattei Affair” won the top prize Rosi’s politically hued films resonated in his short speech that he regarded Purtorab a clear by mafia and graft, and later moved to at the Cannes Film Festival in 1972. Rosi deeply in Italy during the 1970s, when the example of a fine man in different moral, academic and Rome, where he died, the mayor and also won the Golden Lion at the Venice in country was torn by rightist and leftist artistic aspects, and said “Purtorab is a good symbol in all culture minister said in a statement. The 1963 for “Hands over the City”, a drama violence - the so-called “Years of Lead”. dimensions”. cause of death was not given. about political corruption in Naples. He was awarded a second Golden He added that the master has made lengthy efforts to “With Rosi we lose a master, a man Italian director Francesco Rosi holds the Golden At the beginning of “Hands over Lion in Venice in 2012 for his career develop the academic education of the members of the of culture, a lucid eye with a great Lion Lifetime Achievement award at the 69th Venice the City”, Rosi describes his cinematic contribution to cinema. House of Music. commitment to civil society,” Rome Film Festival on August 31, 2012. approach on screen, as words appear “His work has influenced generations Purtorab expressed his thanks to organizers of the Mayor Ignazio Marino said. (Reuters/Tony Gentile) overlayed on panoramic images of the of filmmakers around the world for its event and asked the officials to pay due attention to the Inspired by Italy’s post-World War shadowy webs of power that ultimately city below, reading: “The people and method, style, moral severity and the academic education of young musicians. Two neo-realist filmmakers, some of led to their demise. facts in this narrative are imaginary, but ability to bring urgent social issues onto The book “Theory of Music” has been published by Rosi’s best movies delved into the “Salvatore Giuliano” (1962), for the social and environmental reality that the screen,” Venice artistic director Cheshmeh Publications. stories of real people entangled in example, was about a flamboyant Sicilian produces them is authentic.” Alberto Barbera said of Rosi at the time.