Iran’s car output hikes Iranian female carpet Naft Tehran marches Iranian artist Javad Alizadeh 41516above 39% 12 weaver works her way into Iran’s Hazfi Cup honored at UN/Ranan Lurie through entrepreneurship final Political Cartoon Awards

WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MP:MP: NetNetanyahu-a AbbaAbbas talks doomeddoom to fail 2

16 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 38th year No.12731 Saturday DECEMBER 31, 2016 Dey 11, 1395 Rabi’ Al Thani 1, 1438 Zarif, Lavrov Daelim welcome Iran marks 2009 rallies wins $1.9b truce in Syria Hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets People rallied in various cities, including the cap- dential election in June of the same year. refinery POLITICS TEHRAN — Irani- across the country on Thursday to mark the seventh ital Tehran to celebrate “Dey 9 epic” which restored Hojjatoleslam Abdollah Haji Sadeqi, the deputy represent- deskan Foreign Minis- anniversary of mass rallies staged on December 30, tranquility to the nation after months of political ative of the Leader in the IRGC, said the massive participation construction ter Mohammad Javad Zarif and his 2009 to guard the principles of the Islamic Revolution. wrangling and unrest that had ensued the presi- of people on December 30, 2009 was a “divine miracle”. Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, deal in Iran held a phone conversation on Thurs- See page 2 day welcoming a nationwide truce in Daelim Industrial Co., a major South Syria. Korean construction firm, said Thurs- The two sides agreed to hold day that it has secured a 2.3-tril- constant consultations in line with lion-won ($1.9 billion) deal to expand coordination between Iran, Russia refinery facilities in Iran. and Turkey to arrange dialogue be- Daelim said it has received a letter tween the Syrian government and of award on the contract to improve opposition groups in in Astana, Ka- and expand the facilities of Iran’s Isfa- zakhstan. han Oil Refinery, located around 400 Russia and Turkey brokered a truce kilometers south of Tehran. across Syria despite initial efforts to vi- The two sides plan to sign a formal olate it. The truce took effect on Friday. contract next month for the four-year In a post on his Twitter Zarif said, construction project. “Ceasefire in Syria is a major achieve- It marks the largest-ever construc- ment. Let’s build on it by tackling the tion deal with Iran by a South Korean roots of extremist terror.” company, according to Daelim. The deal was announced by Rus- The firm’s share price jumped 2.66 sian President Vladimir Putin and percent to 84,900 won as of 10 a.m. confirmed by Turkey. The two nations, Daelim is South Korea’s which back opposing sides, will act as front-runner in construction busi- guarantors. ness in the Middle Eastern country Syria’s military said it halted op- which forged diplomatic ties with erations at midnight, except against Seoul in 1962. ISIS and other terror groups, state-run Since its first contract with Iran in news agency SANA reported. 1975, Daelim has carried out more A Syrian opposition group based than two dozen construction pro- in the UK said indications were there jects there worth a total of $4.55 were pockets of violence, but large ar- billion. eas of the country were calm. Company officials expect additional

The High Negotiations Committee Kazem Qane contracts with Iran, which is rich in nat- (HNC), regarded by the UN as Syria’s ural resources such as oil and natural main opposition body, confirmed the IRNA/ gas. deal. 2 (Source: Yonhap)

Indian FM looks into Narges Ashtari case Nearing exit, U.S. must On Thursday, in a tweeter text message Sush- Over the past few months a big online the online campaign for freedom of Narges. Obama seeks ma Swaraj, India’s minister of external affairs, campaign has begun in the support of Narg- In a letter, the top Iranian celebrities asked ‘make the stated that she will look into the case of Narg- es, the benevolent Iranian-British woman Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad to tie Trump’s es Kalbasi Ashtari. who left the comfort of West to help the un- Zarif to help resolve the Narges case. hands Russians feel “I have asked for a report from Government derprivileged children in India. To that letter Zarif responded: “I, too, have of Odisha regarding the case of Narges K. Ash- Two weeks ago, in a fresh second move- personally been involved in Ms. Kalbasi’s case The United States President Obama pain’: John tari,” Swaraj wrote in her tweeter account. ment, top Iranian celebrities, actors, artists, in my latest trip to India and held talks with has taken a flurry of unilateral ac- In the past few weeks, thousands of mes- as well as some Indian actors asked for the high level Indian officials regarding her. I as- tions in the waning days of his tenure Bolton sages have been flooding into Minister Swa- freedom of Narges. sure you our goal is to immediately free her that appear designed to box in Presi- raj twitter accounts asking her to help release Famous Iranian people like Mahmoud Farshchi- from all hardships and troubles and ask for dent-elect Donald Trump. The United States Republican hawk Narges who is sentenced to a year in jail by an, Ezatollah Entezami, Parviz Parastui, Asghar Far- a fair hearing with respect to her charitable Obama’s decision on Thursday John Bolton has described the sanc- the court of law in Rayagada in eastern India. hadi, Majid Majidi, and many more came to join in services to the poor.” 13 to sanction Russian entities for elec- tions against Russia announced by the tion-related hacking is just the latest Obama administration as an insuffi- obstacle he has placed in Trump’s way. cient response for Moscow’s “attack on Stocks rise as strong 2016 nears the end Day before the sanctions were un- our constitutional system.” Global stocks mostly rose on the helped boost their share prices. can cause big fluctuations in 225 fell 0.2 percent to 19,114.37 veiled, the Obama administration allowed On Thursday, outgoing Democratic year’s last day of trading. The France’s CAC 40 gained 0.1 markets when trading is thin, as and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng in- the United Nations Security Council to President Barack Obama announced a euro jumped higher against the percent to 4,842 and Germany’s it is this week. By midmorning dex rose 1 percent to 22,000.56. condemn Israeli settlement activity - series of economic sanctions against dollar for no clear reason, with DAX was flat at 11,450. Futures in Europe, the euro was up 0.5 China’s Shanghai Composite something that could have an indelible Russia, as well as expulsion of 35 Rus- thin trading volumes likely exac- augured some gains on Wall percent at $1.0548. The dol- Index was up 0.2 percent to impact on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. sian diplomats, over allegations that it erbating volatility. Street, where major indexes have lar strengthened to 117.05 yen close at 3,103.64. Australia’s KEEPING SCORE: Obama has also permanently interfered in the 2016 presidential elec- Britain’s hit a series of record highs in re- from 116.37 yen. S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.6 ANALYST’S TAKE: banned oil and gas drilling large swaths tion through cyber-attacks. FTSE 100, which was trading for cent months. Dow futures were “Today’s percent to 5,665.80. Markets of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, closed The sanctions target Russia’s FSB only a half day, jumped in the fi- up 0.2 percent and S&P futures price-action proved that shallow in Southeast Asia were high- off 1.6 million acres of Western land to and GRU intelligence agencies, four nal minutes to close at 7,142.83, were 0.3 percent higher. market depth can trigger some er. South Korean markets were CURRENCIES: development and scrapped the last ves- individual GRU officers, and three an all-time high. That leaves it The euro saw sharp and volatile moves, with- closed for holiday. OIL: tiges of a registration system used large- companies who allegedly provided 14.4 percent higher over 2016, a mysteriously big rally during out any major news releases,” Benchmark U.S. crude ly on Muslim immigrants. support to the GRU, and two Russian a year that included tumultuous Asian trading hours, jumping said Haresh Menghani, analyst dropped 6 cents to $53.71 per Those actions, as well as Obama’s claim individuals for using cyber-attacks to news like the country’s vote to from $1.0490 to $1.0650 in a at FXStreet. “Hence, investors barrel in New York. The contract he could have won a third term, seem to cause misappropriation of funds and leave the European Union. The matter of minutes before eas- are likely to remain cautious and fell 29 cents on Thursday. Brent have irked Trump and his associates as the personal identifying information. index is largely composed of ing back somewhat. Analysts would refrain from committing crude, used to price international transition period enters its final weeks. Under Thursday’s actions, the U.S. multinationals that earn most of said there was no apparent rea- to any directional bets ahead of oils, shed 8 cents to $56.14 a bar- Trump on Wednesday morning also shut down two Russian com- their money outside the UK, so son, though end-of-year book New Year’s weekend.” rel in London. ASIA’S DAY: (Source: AP) went on the attack against Obama. pounds in New York and Maryland the pound’s drop this year has settling by traders and banks Japan’s Nikkei “Doing my best to disregard the that the United States says are used many inflammatory President O state- “for intelligence-related purposes.” Sadeghzadeh ments and roadblocks,” he tweeted. However, Bolton, former U.S. am- “Thought it was going to be a smooth bassador to the United Nations, re- crowned Pahlavani transition - NOT!” mained unimpressed by the Obama Later in the day, Trump spoke on administration’s harsh actions against wrestling champion the phone with Obama and turned Russia. Jaber Sadeghzadeh has been named down the temperature on the spat, “I don’t think they will have much as the new Pahlavan of Iran on Friday. telling reporters roughly six hours af- impact at all,” Bolton said on Fox News In the final match held at the Be- ter his initial comments the transition is in a Friday morning interview. heshti Hall in Mashhad, northeast of going “very, very smoothly.” “The Russians have walked all Iran, the +100kg wrestler defeated Ah- Yet it’s clearly not lost on Trump or over the Obama administration for mad Mirzapour and claimed the title. his team that the president is using his eight years. It’s really been a pathetic Sadeghzadeh became Iran’s cur- power in aggressive ways. performance. So what this last burst rent year Pahlavan. Incoming White House press secre- of activity has to do is hard to say. I Pahlavan of Iran is an annual Pahl- tary Sean Spicer on Thursday said Oba- do think it’s intended to try and box evani Wrestling competition held in ma’s actions could hamper his successor, the Trump administration in. I think Iran, in which athletes from across the even as he praised the president’s team it will fail. This is simply an executive country participate to achieve the ti- for being “very helpful” with the logistical order,” he said. tle. aspects of the transition. “If President Trump decides to re- Though the competition has an- “Both the regulatory stuff, the exec- verse it, it’s easy enough to do,” he cient roots, its modern form has been utive orders that are on the way out ... added. held since 1944. that [is] something that I believe, you Bolton said that if the sanctions are Mohsen Bakhshandeh Winner of this title is called Pahla- know, makes it a little bit tougher in meant to deter Russia, then the Unit- van and wears the special Bazouband terms of the transition on the policy

ed States must “make the Russians feel IRNA/ (Armband). side,” Spicer told conservative talk ra- pain.” 13 dio host Hugh Hewitt. 13 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS DDECEMBERECEMBER 31,31, 20162016

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS MP: Netanyahu-Abbas Vision won over 2009 sedition: talks doomed to fail cleric POLITICS TEHRAN — Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head ‘In the end, what is importantportant is that the Pales- deskof the Iranian parliamentary committee tinians should manage theirir affairs themselves,” the for national security and foreign policy, says the planned senior lawmaker concluded.d. POLITICS TEHRAN — The interim Friday talks between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and The negotiations will mostmost likely be influenced desk prayer leader of Tehran has said Zionist regime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will by the recent anti-Israeli stance by the outgoing clear vision was the real reason why the Iranian na- bear no fruit, insisting that resistance defines the fate of the Obama administration. tion found precedence over the 2009 sedition. Palestinians. In a recent development, thehe U.S. allowed the UN Se- “The people who showed their clear vision on “Negotiations between the Palestinian Authority curity Council to pass a resolutionolution condemning Israeli 9 Dey (December 29, 2009) should continue with president and the prime minister of the Zionist regime settlements in the occupied territories.erritories. their vision,” Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi are doomed to failure,” the parliamentarian said, IRNA Kerry, the outgoing secretarysecretary said. reported on Friday. of state, censured Netanya-anya- This day is a day for renewing of pledge to the Abbas formally took office as Palestinian Author- hu’s government as the “mostmost rule of jurisprudence, Movahedi Kermani said. ity president in January 2005. rightwing coalition in Israelisraeli In September, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Mahmoud history” and warned thatt the Iran, Armenia Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed in principle rapid expansion of settlementsements agree on to meet in Moscow while giving no date. meant that “the status quoo is lead- prisoners’ swap “Ever since the Palestinian Authority president chose ing toward one state and perpetual an ill-fated appeasement with the Zionist regime, whose occupation.” output turned out to be multiple fruitless pacts of Camp David, Oslo, and Madrid, it has been incurring loss,” Senior parliamentarian says negotiations between the TEHRAN — POLITICS In a meeting in Ye- Boroujerdi further stated. Palestinian Authority president and the prime minister of the deskrevan on Thursday Iranian Am- On the negotiations due to be held in Moscow, he said bassador to Armenia Kazzem Sajjadi and Chairman that is a bilaterally agreed-upon decision. Zionist regime are doomed to failure. of the Armenian Investigative Committee Aghvan Hovsepyan agreed on a prisoners swap deal be- tween the two countries. IRGC figure: Satellite channels Rafsanjani calls for efforts based on Sajjadi and Hovsepyan discussed judicial coop- depicting gloomy picture of Iran ‘Islam’ and ‘wisdom’ eration as well as extradition of Iranian prisoners from the country, Fars reported on Friday. POLITICS TEHRAN — Per- The construction body is the eco- POLITICS TEHRAN — To ing a ceremony held to commemo- Describing achievements of his recent Tehran desksian-speaking sat- nomic muscle of the Islamic Revolu- deskmaintain dignity of rate quality experts. visit as valuable, Hovsepyan said that negotia- ellite channels and some of the Per- tionary Guards Corps. Abnoush also the country and the people, efforts He said that giving importance to tions centered on boosting cooperation between sian Gulf littoral states are depicting stressed that the channels are funded should be made based on “Islam” and the issue of quality is of “internation- judicial and supervisory institutes of the two a gloomy picture of Iran, working to- by the Zionist regime. The remarks “wisdom”, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi al importance” especially in advanced countries. wards the goals of the Israeli regime. comes after photos of homeless peo- Rafsanjani, chairman of the Expedi- countries. “Anti-revolutionary satellite chan- ple sleeping in empty graves outside ency Council, said on Thursday. “Quality includes all dimensions S. Arabia invites nels magnify the problems of the Irani- Iran’s capital shocked even the coun- “Iran enjoys many remarkable of the humans’ lives and cannot Iran to discuss an nation, and think that the sanctions try’s president on Wednesday. geographic, scientific and academic limit this word to certain issues,” he Hajj: reports have been influential in Iran,” Salar While the homeless were most- characteristics, so we should make added. Abnoush, an official with the Khatam- ly drug addicts, foreign media outlets efforts based on Islam and wis- Rafsanjani attached great impor- al Anbiya Construction Headquarters, linked the report to economic strug- dom to maintain dignity of Iran and tance to adoption of general policies said on Friday. gles gripping the nation. every single Iranians,” he said dur- on quality. POLITICS Reports say Saudi Arabia has in- deskvited Iran to discuss the resump- tion of Hajj pilgrimages by Iranians, a process that Zarif, Lavrov welcome truce in Syria has been halted over a litany of Hajj-time disasters and moves by Riyadh impeding the performance of 1 If the truce holds, peace talks country to seek refuge in neighboring Russian and Turkish counterparts in As- to hold talks on Syria in Kazakhstan, he the Islamic ritual by Iranians. will be held in Kazakhstan within a month. states or Europe. tana, Kazakhstan, to discuss a solution to [Rouhani] has welcomed the invitation,” the London-based daily al-Hayat reported that Saudi At least 300,000 people are believed Rouhani welcomes meeting with the protracted Syrian crisis, an informed source told Mehr news agency. Pilgrimage Minister Mohammed Bentin had opened to have been killed in the Syrian war Putin, Erdogan on Syria war: source source said on Friday. Russia and Turkey brokered a truce across discussions with more than 80 countries, including which started in March 2011. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has “Following invitation of Vladimir Putin, Syria despite initial efforts to violate it. Iran, to work out the details of the 2017 Hajj. A further four million have fled the welcomed attending a meeting with his the Russian president, for our president The truce took effect on Friday. “Iran’s hajj delegation was invited to come to the kingdom” for talks, the daily reported. Iran marks Iranian officials have not commented on the re- port, yet. Jannati to 2009 rallies head election 1 Addressing worshippers in the shrine monitoring city of Qom on Friday, Haji Sadeqi likened the council massive rallies to an “epic”, saying, “This epic neu- tralized the greatest sedition after Islamic Revolu- POLITICS TEHRAN — Ayatollah Ahmad tion and proved that people are loyal to the rule deskJannati has been selected as of supreme jurisprudence.” head of the central council for monitoring incom- Expediency Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei ing elections, according to a report by Mehr news described the event as a true manifestation of the agency published on Wednesday. nation’s and the Islamic establishment’s political The council will monitor the presidential, council progress. and mid-term parliamentary elections which will be “Such a glorious and matchless demonstration held in May 2017. was a shot at the heart of the United States, Isra- The report adds that Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei has el and enemies of the Islamic establishment," he also been appointed to the position of the council’s said in a speech in the central city of Yazd. spokesman. "Enemies were seeking to pit political parties Other members are Ayatollah Mohammad Yaz- against each other and accomplish their vicious di, Ebrahim Raisi, Mohsen Esmaili, Mohammad plots against the establishment and our sa- Reza Alizade, and Siamak Rahpeyk. cred Islamic Revolution but they failed,” added Rezaei, the former chief of the Islamic Revolu- Continued tion Guards Corps. settlement will lead to Israel’s demise: IRGC

POLITICS TEHRAN — A spokesman for deskthe Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday said that, by going ahead with settlement constructions, the Israeli regime is risk- ing “complete destruction,” as it will “definitely pro- voke a reaction,” Tasnim reported. The statement from the IRGC comes a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry criticized Israel’s activities in occupied Palestine, while playing down the United States’ role in facilitating the passage of the UN Security Council’s anti-settlement resolution. Police seize over 3 tons of illicit On December 30, 2009, millions of people drugs took to the streets in Tehran and several other major cities to condemn the unrest, which erupt- ed following the 2009 presidential poll. POLITICS TEHRAN — Iran’s anti-narcotics Protesters also sought to vent their anger deskpolice seized 3,000 kilograms of at the incidents that had taken place days earli- illicit drugs in Sistan-Balouchestan on Thursday. er in Tehran, where a group of demonstrators of- Specialized police forces in the city of Nikshahr fended the sanctities on the day of Ashura, which received information about an armed drug gang marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hus- attempting to transit a big haul of illicit drugs using sein (AS), the third Shia Imam and grandson of two pickup trucks, provincial police chief General Prophet Muhammad (S). Hossein Rahimi said, the IRIB reported. The unrest was orchestrated by Mehdi Karrou- In an overnight operation, police forces man- bi and Mir Hossein Musavi, two of the candidates aged to identify the vehicles belonging to the who had lost the election. They claimed vote rig- members of the drug gang, and chased them into ging. Both remain under house arrest on charges capture. of provoking the public unrest and harming the national security. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 31,31, 20162016 INTERNATIONAL Syrian government forces regain Commission clears draft control over western village expanding Erdogan's power A Turkish parliamentary commission has approved draft constitutional amendments that introduce a new executive By staff & agencies Meantime, the Turkish military claimed presidential system, giving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday that Russia carried out three more powers. Syrian army soldiers, supported by fight- air strikes against the Islamic State in The commission's nod on Friday after nine days of debate, ers from popular defense groups, have Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) terrorist paves the way for a vote in parliament and is supported by managed to liberate a village in the west- group near al-Bab, killing at least 12 ISIL politicians from the ruling Justice and Development Party ern province from the grip of the Islamic terrorists. (AKP/Adalet ve Kalk?nma Partisi) and the far-right Nationalist State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) At least one Turkish soldier was killed Movement Party (MHP/Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi). terrorist group as a nationwide ceasefire in an attack on ISIL in northern Syria, Under the changes, the prime minister's post will be abol- brokered by Russia and Turkey, which ex- Turkey's army added, claiming that its ished, while the president and vice president will have full cludes the Takfiris, appears to be largely air strikes killed another 26 ISIL terrorists executive powers. holding. in al-Bab and Daglabash. ISIL terrorists The commission completed approval of the draft in a A military source, speaking on condi- group is excluded from the ceasefire. marathon 17-hour session, parliamentary sources told Reu- tion of anonymity, said Syrian troops and The ceasefire agreement, hailed by ters news agency. their allies wrested control over Sharifa Syria's government as a “real opportuni- The draft proposal allows the president to be a party village, situated about 60 kilometers west ty” to find a political solution to the for- member. Erdogan had to nominally step aside as AKP leader of the ancient Semitic city of Palmyra, eign-sponsored war, comes a week after after he was elected president in 2014, as the constitution on Friday following intense clashes with government forces recaptured the city of designates the head of state as a non-partisan office. ISIL terrorists, Syria’s official news agency Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces. The number of parliamentarians will increase from 550 to SANA reported. Russia and Turkey back opposing 600 and general elections will be held every five years, in- The source added that scores of sides in the conflict, and the ceasefire stead of four years, the report said. terrorists were killed and their military does not involve the United States, which It calls for the next parliamentary and presidential elec- equipment destroyed during the fierce has negotiated previous ceasefires with tions to take place on November 3, 2019. exchanges of gunfire. ture was deliberately targeted and dam- Friday. Moscow. Critics fear the proposed reforms would allow Erdogan, Separately, Syrian government forc- aged.” The terrorists in Wadi Barada have cut A statement carried on Thursday by who already has outsized influence over his party and the es and their allies clashed with for- “The UN is concerned the water water supplies several times in the past to Syria's state news agency SANA said levers of government, to rule unchecked. eign-sponsored militants near the capital cut could lead to diseases transmitted prevent the Syrian army from recapturing the truce, as well as excluding ISIL, also The changes will be put to a referendum, which the gov- Damascus. through dirty water, especially in children, the area. leaves out terrorists from Jabhat Fateh ernment expects will be held in spring. The so-called Syrian Observatory for in addition to the extra financial burden Last week, the Ministry of Water Re- al-Sham (Front for the Conquest of the Erdogan has turned a largely ceremonial presidency into Human Rights (SOHR) said it was not for families,” the statement said. “(People) sources and the Ministry of Local Ad- Levant), formerly known as the al-Nus- a powerful platform by drawing on his unrivalled popularity. clear who had started the clashes in the have to purchase water from private ven- ministration ordered authorities in the ra Front (Jabhat al-Nusra), and “groups The ruling AK Party, founded by Erdogan more than a Wadi Barada region. dors, where prices and water quality are provinces of Rif Dimashq and Damascus linked to them”. decade ago, wants the backing of the nationalist MHP oppo- UN: Four million in Damascus unregulated,” it said. to start using water reserves until the Russian Defense Minister Sergei sition to see the plan through parliament. without safe drinking water Each neighborhood in Damascus re- problem was resolved. Shoigu said seven opposition groups, Erdogan has repeatedly blamed coalition governments The development follows as the Unit- portedly gets water for about two hours Truce 'holding' despite isolated including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham for what he calls Turkey's political instability and economic ed Nations has warned that four mil- a day and bottled water prices had in- clashes in Idlib, Hama (Free People of the Levant), had signed downfall, which was the situation when his party came to lion people in the Syrian capital city of creased dramatically in the free market. Elsewhere, a nationwide ceasefire in the deal and those who failed to adhere power the first time in 2002. Damascus have been deprived of safe According to the OCHA, 15 million Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey was would be considered “terrorists”. Five senior PKK figures detained in southern Tur- drinking water supplies for over a week people across Syria are in need of help in effect early on Friday, a potentially ma- Syria has been the scene of a for- key: Interior Ministry after springs outside the city were delib- to access water and households spend jor breakthrough in the nearly six-year eign-backed crisis since early 2011. Meantime, the Turkish Interior Ministry says at least five erately targeted. nearly a quarter of their income on water. conflict, despite reports of isolated clash- The United Nations Special Envoy high-profile figures of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK/Par- The UN’s Office for the Coordination The Syrian army and its allies have es. for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates tiya Karkerên Kurdistanê) have been arrested during a series of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) an- been conducting an operation to liber- While the truce was standing in most that over 400,000 people have been of counter-terrorism operations against the militant group as nounced in a statement on Thursday that ate the Wadi Barada valley from terrorists parts of the country, some fighting broke killed since the onset of the militan- well as its affiliate, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK/ water supplies from Wadi Barada and Ain since last week. out near a Christian town in central cy. The UN has stopped its official Koma Civakên Kurdistan), in the southern part of the country. al-Fija springs in northwest of Damascus The government says the terrorists Hama province between rebels and Syri- casualty count in Syria, citing its in- A Ministry source, requesting not to be named, said the which serve 70 percent of the population have polluted the springs with diesel, an government, according to a monitor- ability to verify the figures it receives five were arrested in the southeastern provinces of Sanliurfa in the city have been cut after “infrastruc- forcing authorities to cut the supplies on ing group. from various sources. and Diyarbakir in addition to the Mediterranean southwest- ern province of Antalya. They were charged with establishing, controlling and Civilian casualties possible in U.S.-led strike on Iraq hospital: Pentagon membership in a terrorist group. One of the detainees, identified only by the initials H.A., Scores of civilians are believed to have lost their lives Staff Lieutenant-General Abdulghani al-Assadi, a reportedly worked in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli when the so-called United States-led coalition carried senior officer in Iraq's counterterrorism service, said the on the border with Turkey for Hawar News Agency (ANHA). out an airstrike against purported positions of the Islam- second phase of the operation, now in its third month, Two others, who went by the initials S.A. and E.A., met ic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) Takfiri terror- began on Thursday. and held talks with top terrorists at PKK positions in Mount ists in Iraq’s troubled northern province of Nineveh. He told the AFP news agency that forces began ad- Qandil in the far-flung mountains of Iraq’s semi-autonomous The U.S. military said the aerial attack was initially vancing towards the Quds neighborhood. Kurdistan region. thought to have struck a van carrying ISIL terrorists near “Now our forces clashed with the enemy and there A shaky ceasefire between the PKK, which has been call- the militant-held city of Mosul, located some 400 kilom- is resistance,” al-Assadi said, adding that forces on the ing for an autonomous Kurdish region since 1984, and the eters north of the capital Baghdad, on Thursday. northern and southern fronts were also advancing. Turkish government collapsed in July 2015. Attacks on Turkish The strike took place “in what was later determined to Special elite forces also pushed into the Karama security forces have soared ever since. be a hospital compound parking lot resulting in possible neighborhood, while army troops and federal police ad- Over the past few months, Turkish ground and air forces civilian casualties,” the Combined Joint Strike Force said vanced into nearby Intisar, Salam and Sumor neighbor- have been carrying out operations against the PKK positions in a statement on Thursday. hoods, the AP news agency reported. in the country’s troubled southeastern border region as well The statement asserted that ISIL terrorists had been The counterterrorism forces, also known as the Gold- as northern Iraq and Syria. (Source: agencies) detected firing an anti-tank gun “before loading the en Brigade, captured about half of the Quds neighbor- weapon in the van and driving off.” On October 5, at least 20 Iraqi pro-government fight- hood by early afternoon. It stated that the fatal attack would be “fully investigated ers were killed and five others injured when the US-led Stiff resistance by ISIL terrorists, together with civil- and the findings released in a timely and transparent manner.” coalition targeted their position in the Kharaeb village of ians trapped inside their houses and bad weather have On December 9, at least 90 Iraqi soldiers were killed when the al-Qayyarah region, located approximately 300 kilo- slowed advances in the offensive to recapture Iraq's sec- Italian minister: Berlin U.S. Air Force fighter jets struck their position in Mosul. meters north of Baghdad. ond largest city, the armed group's last urban bastion in An Iraqi army source, speaking on condition of ano- The United States and some its allies have been car- the country. truck attacker ‘lone wolf’ nymity, said some 100 soldiers were also wounded as a rying out airstrikes in Iraq since June 2014 allegedly tar- A statement by the U.S.-led coalition said Thursday's result of the attack. Eight infantry fighting vehicles and geting ISIL terrorists in the northern and western parts of offensive opened two new fronts in eastern Mosul, in- when on run in Italy four Humvee military trucks were also destroyed during the conflict-plagued country. creasing pressure on ISIL's “dwindling ability to generate The Italian interior minister says the prime suspect in a deadly the U.S. strike. Iraq resumes Mosul operation after a two- forces, move fighters or resupply”. At least 15 women lost their lives and scores of other week lull ISIL overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in terrorist attack in the German capital moved like a “lone wolf” while at large in Italy. civilians sustained injuries on October 21, when U.S.-led Meantime, Iraqi troops have pushed deeper into 2014, but Iraqi forces, backed by U.S.-led air strikes, have The remarks by Marco Minniti to reporters on Friday was military aircraft targeted a Shia place of worship in the eastern Mosul after a two-week lull in the operation to since regained much of the territory they lost to the group. (Source: agencies) in keeping with the findings of investigators so far that Anis town of Daquq, located 30 kilometers south of Kirkuk. retake the city held by the ISIL. Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian, lacked any significant contacts in Italy as he fled. Flotilla planned to help Rohingya in muslims Myanmar Minniti said that “from when he arrived in Italy, Amri moved like a lone wolf.” An aid flotilla carrying food and emer- said. agency. mitted against Rohingya Muslims. Amri had spent three and a half years behind bars in Sicily gency supplies for Rohingya Muslims is to Malaysia has been an outspoken critic “No non-Myanmar citizens can enter Both Malaysia and Myanmar are mem- before ending up in Germany after Italy tried unsuccessfully sail from Malaysia for Myanmar's Rakhine of the Myanmar government's handling our body of water without our permis- bers of the 10-nation grouping, which has to expel him to Tunisia following his 2105 release from prison. State in January. of a violent crackdown in Rakhine, which sion. If they do, we will respond - we will a long-standing policy of not getting in- He plowed a hijacked truck into a crowd shopping at a Zulhanis Zainol, secretary-general of has killed scores of people and displaced not attack them, but we will not receive volved in each other's internal affairs. Christmas market in the German capital of Berlin on Decem- the Malaysian Consultative Council of Is- a very large number of Rohingya, amid them.” An estimated 150,000 to 200,000 Ro- ber 19, killing 12 people. Amri was at large for four days be- lamic Organizations, said on Friday that allegations of abuses by security forces. The flotilla, departing from Malaysia hingya, displaced by previous violence, fore he was shot dead by police in Milan. the coalition organizing the flotilla had Myanmar's presidential office denied it on January 10, would be carrying 1,000 live in Malaysia. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) ter- applied for permission to enter Myanmar had received a request and said it would tons of rice, medical aid and other essen- Myanmar has previously said that ac- rorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying Amri through its embassy in Kuala Lumpur, but not accept the flotilla's arrival without pri- tials for the Rohingya population. cess to Rakhine for humanitarian assis- was a follower. In a video message released after the attack, had yet to receive a reply. or permission. Earlier this month, Malaysia urged the tance would be open, but certain Rohing- the Tunisian had pledged allegiance to the Takfiri terrorist “Even if we do not receive a response, “If they are looking for trouble, we will Association of South East Asian Nations ya communities have remained off-limits group mainly operating in Syria and Iraq. we will continue to sail as we believe this not accept that,” Zaw Htay, spokesman for (ASEAN) to coordinate humanitarian aid to aid agencies on security grounds. Sources close to the investigation said on Wednesday that is an important humanitarian mission,” he the presidential office, told Reuters news and investigate alleged atrocities com- (Source: agencies) Amri had traveled by bus from the Netherlands to France be- fore heading to Italy. Investigators are trying to understand how the Tunisian had managed to leave Berlin and traverse Body found in Rio feared to be Greek ambassador most of Germany to reach the Netherlands. Following the deadly attack, German Chancellor Angela The discovery of a body in a burned-out car in Rio state The website published photos of the burned car found on Wednesday. The Greek foreign ministry had earlier is- Merkel declared plans to hasten the expulsion of rejected has sparked fears that it might be that of the Greek am- the slope of a busy suburban thoroughfare. It reported that sued a statement saying that after Amiridis was declared asylum seekers. bassador to Brazil. police “suspected” the body inside to be that of the ambas- missing, saying “the full mobilization of all the competent A survey in Germany indicated that support for the Kyriakos Amiridis had been missing for three days and sador. Amiridis had been on holiday with his family in Rio de Brazilian authorities was requested”. country’s anti-refugee AfD party surged after the truck was last seen on Monday in the Baixada Fluminense re- Janeiro's northern Nova Iguacu area since December 21. Amiridis was named ambassador this year. He had attack. According to the poll, conducted by the Insa in- gion north of Rio de Janeiro. He was due to fly back to Brasilia on January 9, a previously served as Greece's consul general in Rio from stitute for the local Bild daily, the right-wing populist The car, which had license plates matching that of Greek embassy official told AFP news agency. 2001 to 2004. He served as Greece's ambassador to Lib- Alternative for Germany party registered a 2.5-point the rental car the 59-year-old was using, was found on But he went missing after he left the apartment he ya from 2012 to 2016. climb to 15.5 percent approval rating compared to the Thursday in the Nova Iguacu district of the Brazilian cap- was renting and took the car, according to Brazilian me- He is married and has a daughter, according to the previous week. ital, the news website G1 reported, citing police. dia. His Brazilian wife formally declared him missing on embassy in Brasilia. (Source: agencies) (Source: Press TV) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY DDECEMBERECEMBER 331,1, 22016016 Iran’s Establishment of free economic zone in Armenian-Iranian border car output expected in April 2017 hikes Armenia’s Government takes steps to ensure the access of the Armenian products to the regional states, as well as to significantly increase the export volumes, Armenia’s Minister of Economic De- velopment and Investments Suren Karayan told reporters. above 39% “We are holding talks with Iran’s Institute of Standards and In- dustrial Research on making the certification results conducted in Armenia recognizable in Iran, as well as on opening representa- ECONOMY TEHRAN — The number of automo- tions or branches of food and non-food products conformity as- deskbiles manufactured in Iran during the sessment bodies in Armenia. This will allow the Armenian prod- first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year ucts to enter the Iranian market without any barrier after receiving (ending December 20) registered a 39.1 percent increase compliance standards in Armenia”, the Minister said. compared to the same period last year, Tasnim news The Government expects that Iran’s respective authorities will agency reported. visit Armenia in the first quarter of 2017, and the respective agree- Some 949, 497 vehicles of various types have been increase compared to the same period in 2015. in early April. ments will be signed in order to implement the outlined steps. produced by the Iranian auto makers in the said time. Iran is scheduled to manufacture 1.35 million of cars by As Salehinia underlined, the government seeks to im- At the same time, measures are taken to establish free eco- From the total announced figure, 881,935 passenger cars the end of the current calendar year, Deputy Minister of prove the quality as well as the quantity of the domestical- nomic zone in the border with Iran. The Minister informed that were manufactured in the nine months showing a 40.9 Industry, Mining and Trade Mohsen Salehinia announced ly produced cars on the way to boost their exports. the concept of that free economic zone has been prepared and submitted to the Government’s discussion. “It is expected that we will launch the establishment of that free economic zone in April DSME to help Iran shipbuilding industry which will also provide broad opportunities for attracting new in- The South Korean shipbuilder signed a said. industry. South Korea “has for a long dustries. vestment projects and will intensify Armenia-Iran trade turnover”, deal with Iran’s Industrial Development Since 1983, DSME has delivered 38 time been a preferred partner for many Korea’s Yonhap News Agency said in a he said. and Renovation Organization (IDRO) to ships valued at $1.65 billion to Iranian shipowners, especially for container, gas report this week that 300 office workers He identified one more important step in order to have an help spur Iran’s shipbuilding industry. companies, including the Islamic Repub- and tanker orders.” at DSME will go on a month-long unpaid access to the Iranian market. “The talk is about replacement of ex- Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine lic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) and the During the first ten months of 2016, leave as part of a cost-cutting plan. cessive contribution charges set for passenger vehicles with insur- Engineering Co., Ltd. (DSME) said it has National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC). new ship orders were 70 percent lower “They will be the first batch of DSME’s ance payments as a result of which the amount of payments has signed an agreement to help develop Shipyards globally, but especially than in the same period the prior year, 4,700 desk-job employees who will take been cut by nearly 3 times. This will also provide great opportu- Iran’s shipbuilding industry. those in South Korea, have been hard hit and South Korea only attracted 16 per- turns on unpaid leave from January in nities for the movement to further increase, our businessmen will The South Korean shipbuilder signed by the slowdown in the world economy cent of those orders. line with the company’s self-help meas- be better get acquainted with the Iranian market and will increase the deal with IDRO to establish a joint and excess capacity in many segments It was big news earlier this month ures aimed at helping the ailing shipyard the cooperation opportunities”, the Minister said. venture company that will develop an of the shipping industry. when IRISL ordered 10 ships - four stay afloat,” Yonhap reported, noting (Source: ArmenPress) Iranian shipyard in cooperation with “The dearth of new ordering has hit 14,400-TEU containerships and six how the company has about 11,200 em- DSME’s Okpo shipyard. The joint ven- especially hard in South Korea,” Dan- 50,000 DWT product/chemical tankers ployees, with 42 working in offices and ture company will engineer and build marks Skibskredit (Danish Ship Finance) - not from DSME, but from rival South the remainder doing production work. the types of ships needed by Iran, DPME said earlier this month in a review of the Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy In- (Source: American Shipper) Asia stocks to end 2016 on buoyant note, oil set for Canada-EU trade deal could survive Monte Paschi to issue $15.8 billion in biggest gains since 2009 Brexit in UK, Freeland says debt after EU approves support Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland says 21 phone interview from Toronto, when Italy’s Banca Monte dei Paschi di sions on a case-by-case basis, as it did Asian stocks looked set to end 2016 on an upbeat note, with the Canada will seek to build on its EU trade asked if Canada will begin bilateral talks. Siena, which is being bailed out by for Monte dei Paschi. benchmark headed for its first annual gain in three years, while the deal within the U.K. once Brexit occurs, “And the job at that point would be to the state, plans to issue 15 billion eu- According to daily La Repubblica, dollar reversed earlier losses and oil was poised to record its biggest rather than striking a separate bilateral build on it and make sure nothing hap- ros ($15.8 billion) of debt next year to Monte dei Paschi would issue the debt gains in seven years. pact. pens to undermine it.” restore liquidity and boost investor in the form of bonds and commercial European stocks are set for a more subdued start, with financial The Canada-EU Comprehensive The U.K. is Canada’s biggest trading confidence, several newspapers said paper. A third of that debt would have spreadbetter IG Markets expecting Britain’s FTSE 100 .FTSE to open Economic and Trade Agreement is set to partner in the EU. Freeland signaled she’s on Friday. a short-term maturity date, while the marginally lower, France’s CAC 40 .FCHI to start the day fractionally go into force provisionally in early 2017, optimistic CETA will kick in and remain in The debt sales would be support- rest would mature in three years, it higher, and Germany’s DAX .GDAXI to climb about 0.1 percent on about the same time the U.K. only begins effect even after any U.K. withdrawal. ed by government guarantees which added. the open. official talks to exit the European Union. “Whatever Britain does, whatever for- form part of a liquidity scheme for The bank could not immediately be MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan The timing leaves Freeland optimistic the mula it finds with the EU, I think we are banks in need which the European reached for comment. .MIAPJ0000PUS advanced 0.5 percent on Friday, diverging from Wall pact will take effect in the U.K. -- and, determined on both sides of the Atlantic Commission has agreed to extend for Monte dei Paschi, Italy’s third big- Street, which posted slight declines overnight. once it does, both sides can reach a deal to preserve that CETA-level of closeness, six months. gest lender and the world’s oldest, had Europe’s STOXX 600 index also closed lower as appetite for risk to preserve it. or get even closer,” she said. “But we’re Under EU state aid rules, banks with to ask Rome for help after failing to remained subdued ahead of the new year. “If CETA can be passed by the Euro- already going to have CETA, which is a a capital shortfall cannot benefit from win investor backing for a share issue In a year marked by major political shocks, including Brexit in June pean Parliament, we will have a trade very close trading relationship.” general liquidity support schemes, meant to keep it afloat. and the unexpected election of Donald Trump as U.S. president in deal with Britain,” Freeland said in a Dec. (Source: Bloomberg) meaning the Commission takes deci- (Source: CNBC) November, Asia Pacific ex-Japan stocks are poised to record a 3.8 percent gain. PICTURE OF THE DAY IRNA/Ali Hamed Haqdoust Despite the modest figure -- the Dow Jones Industrial Average, ICCIMA head appointed in contrast, is up a whopping 14 percent -- 2016 had the Asia-Pacific index’s best performance in four years. as SRCIC’s vice chairman China’s CSI 300 index .CSI300 added about 0.1 percent in its first ECONOMY TEHRAN — Head of Iran session of gains this week. But mainland stocks are poised to be this desk year’s worst performers in the Asia Pacific with declines of about 12 Chamber of Commerce, In- percent. dustries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) has Hong Kong’s Hang Seng .HSI rose 1 percent, its biggest one-day been appointed as the vice chairman of Silk rally in 5 1/2 weeks, helping the index eke out a 0.6 percent gain for Road Chamber of International Commerce (SR- the year. CIC). Thailand, after an almost 20 percent surge, is set to be the re- As IRNA reported on Friday, World Com- gion’s best-performing major market, followed by Indonesia, which merce Chamber (WCF) elected Gholam-Hossein has soared 16 percent. Along with China, Malaysia, down 3.4 per- Shafeie as the new SRCIC vice chairman. cent, and the Philippines, down 1.5 percent, were the only other The SRCIC is an international, non-govern- markets poised to post losses for the year. mental organization that aims to promote the Japan’s Nikkei .N225 closed down 0.2 percent on Friday, erasing renaissance of the Silk Road trade and culture. It most of this year’s meager gains and ending 2016 up only 0.4 per- was founded to answer the calls to develop the cent. While this is its fifth straight year of increases, it is also its worst “Silk Road Economic Belt” and a “21st Century performance in the time, with the index slammed by the safe-haven Maritime Silk Road” (the Belt and Road) with joint yen’s 21 percent surge from the start of 2016 to its peak after the efforts. The Belt and Road are two major initia- Brexit vote. tives that China has announced to advance trade The Japanese currency has fallen more than 15 percent since that and investment. In the initiative, SRCIC serves as peak -- with most of the losses since November driven by a surge in an advocate for the Belt and Road and look to the dollar, reflecting exuberance over Trump’s anticipated stimulatory advance its members’ growth and prosperity by policies -- but is still set for a 3 percent gain versus the dollar this year. offering trade and investment opportunities. “2016 has been a year of changes and these changes have hard- In addition to the endeavor in trade and ly been slight,” Jingyi Pan, market strategist at IG in Singapore, wrote investment development, cultural exchanges, in a note. “A preference for safe haven assets to tide through the membership services and membership devel- year-end have set in, with gold and yen taking off.” opment, SRCIC offers unique opportunities for The dollar, which earlier fell to the lowest in more than two weeks, Nakhchivan-Tabriz-Mashhad train route started running on Thursday in the presence of Iranian Telecommunications Minister its members to forge cooperation with ministries climbed 0.1 percent to 116.74 yen JPY=D4, recording gains of 10.7 Mahmoud Vaezi (4th left) and Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev (2nd left) in Azerbaijan’s city of Nakhchivan. and departments of the governments within Silk percent against the yen since its pre-election close. Road Economic Belt. The dollar index .DXY, which tracks the greenback against a bas- ket of six major global peers, dropped 0.25 percent to 102.41 on Unemployment Friday, following a 0.6 percent slide on Thursday, but is poised to end China’s Huawei Bonds in India see 2016 3.8 percent higher. sees slower best year since reaches record high The euro EUR=EBS jumped as much as 2 percent early on Friday, revenue growth 2008 on Modi, RBI in Brazil its biggest intraday gain since Nov. 8, before settling back down to for 2016 surprises trade 0.3 percent higher at $1.0525. “It’s a really thin market today, and suddenly, offers disappeared and short-term players pushed the euro higher and took out stops. China’s Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL], India’s benchmark sovereign bonds are set to Brazil`s unemployment rate from September That’s all,” said Kaneo Ogino, director at foreign exchange research one of the world’s largest telecom equipment makers, cap their best performance since the global finan- to November reached a record high of 11.9 per firm Global-info Co in Tokyo. said on Friday it expects 2016 revenue growth to slow cial crisis amid record debt purchases by banks, the cent, the country`s statistics agency IBGE said. The common currency is still down 3 percent for the year. slightly to 32 percent and forecast greater uncertain- biggest holders of government securities. This new rate is a significant year-on-year hike The Chinese yuan CNY= is on track to record its biggest annual ties next year. Lenders gorged on debt this year as the cen- over the same period in 2015, when it stood at 9 loss since 1994. The dollar has strengthened 7 percent versus the The Shenzhen-based company, which competes tral bank boosted cash availability in the financial per cent, Xinhua news agency reported. Chinese currency this year, as China’s efforts to shore up its curren- with Sweden’s Ericsson (ERICb.ST) for the top spot in system and deposits surged following the govern- The IBGE on Thursday said the rate means that cy by selling the greenback have been undercut by worries about the global market for telecoms equipment, sees 2016 ment’s recall of high-value currency notes. That, 12.1 million people were unemployed during that slowing Chinese economic growth and expectations for faster U.S. revenue hitting 520 billion yuan ($74.8 billion), said along with a reduction in benchmark interest rates, period, up 33.1 per cent from last year. expansion. Eric Xu, Huawei’s rotating chief executive. The expect- offset the impact of foreign outflows stemming The employed population fell by 2.1 per cent U.S. bond yields, which had been climbing since the U.S. election ed growth rate for this year represents a slowdown from the Brexit vote, the Federal Reserve’s mone- to 90.2 million. The number of people employed on expectations of higher interest rates, have reversed course over from the 35 percent rate posted in 2015 and the com- tary tightening and a change at the Reserve Bank in the private sector with a formal contract fell by the past two weeks as investors have sought shelter from risk. They pany said it would face greater global political and of India’s helm. 3.7 per cent to 34.1 million.

were little changed at 2.4774 percent on Friday, lingering near a two- NEWS IN BRIEF economic uncertainties in 2017. week low touched overnight. (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 331,1, 22016016 ENERGY 5 Asalouyeh featuring Iran’s Gazprom plans to lend subsidiary $326m to petrochemical progress finance Turkish stream

By Mahnaz Abdi Russia’s Gazprom Energy Company will lend its subsidiary TEHRAN — Iranian port of Asalouyeh demonstrated South Stream Transport 310 million euros ($326 million) to fi- some of its new changes to a group of reporters and jour- nance expenses associated with the construction of the Turkish nalists who visited the area during a two-day media tour Stream project, the firm said Friday. organized by the National Petrochemical Company (NPC). The $326 million will cover expenses on tubular and equip- Asalouyeh in Iran’s southwestern province of Bushehr ment deliveries, storage and execution of construction and in- is home to a number of petrochemical complexes which stallation work, as well as other procurement contracts, works receive gas and gas condensate feedstock from the giant and services, and general administrative expenses, Gazprom South Pars gas field, which Iran shares with Qatar in the specified. Persian Gulf. “PJSC Gazprom provides the company South Stream Trans- The huge offshore field is estimated to contain a signif- port B.V. 310 million euros… while South Stream Transport B.V. icant amount of natural gas, accounting for about eight shall repay the provided loan in full… and to pay interest on percent of the world’s reserves, and approximately 18 bil- borrowings in the order and terms established by the contract,” lion barrels of condensate. Gazprom said. The Turkish Stream project was announced in Iran’s petrochemical industry has witnessed promi- late 2014 by President Vladimir Putin on his state visit to Tur- nent progress over the recent years in a way that “Arya key. The project envisions the construction of two underwater Sasol Polymer Company, a major petrochemical complex legs in the Black Sea, with the annual capacity of 15.75 billion in Asalouyeh, has one of the largest polymer production cubic meters each. It is expected to deliver gas from Russia units in the region”, a director of the company told the to Turkey and continue to a hub on the Turkish-Greek border, journalists who visited different units of the company dur- from where the gas could be transferred to other European countries. ing their tour. (Source: Sputnik) Also, after the implementation of Iran nuclear deal, NPC has received high willingness from European companies for cooperation with Iran in the petrochemical sector both in financing and licensing, according to Farnaz Alavi, the com- pany’s director for planning and development. Egypt welcomes oil and Iran’s petrochemical production which stood at 46.4 mil- lion tons in the past Iranian calendar year (which ended on gas interest with three new March 19, 2016), is anticipated to reach 50-51 million tons exploration agreements by the end of current calendar year (March 20, 2017), and Port has three docks, one for export of LPG, the other one which provides welfare services in the region, said that his is planned to rise to over 180 million tons in a course of ten for condensate and the last one for bulk cargos such as company welcomes any foreign investment to set up wel- As a part of an ongoing effort to revive its domestic energy years, Alavi said on December 10. polymer. fare infrastructures in Asalouyeh. production efforts, Egypt has announced the completion of ‘Urea, LPG major exported products’ He said vessels with the capacity of 7,000-70,000 tons “A Canadian company will provide $4.5 billion finance three new exploration agreements to help develop offshore Another site visited by the journalists was Pars Petro- load cargos in this port. for the establishment of an aqua park in the region in the projects. chemical Port from which products produced in the petro- Iran’s annual petrochemical exports, which stood at 18.8 next year and we are supposed to return the fund to this According to media reports, the agreements were signed chemical complexes of the region are exported. million tons in the past calendar year, is forecast to be 20 company in a course of five year,” he stated. with France›s Total, a subsidiary of Italy›s Eni and BP, all of Sadeq Hajipour, one of the directors of the port, men- million tons by the yearend, and the worth of petrochemi- The official went on to explain that the operations his which have moved to expand their presence in the Eastern tioned urea and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) the main cal exports, which was $9.6 billion in the preceding year, is company conducts are aimed at two objectives, one is to Mediterranean over the last year. The agreements will be products exported from the port and United Arab Emirates anticipated to reach $9 billion by the yearend, according provide welfare services to create incentives and encour- worth an estimated $220 million. (UAE), India and Iraq the major export-destinations of the to Alavi. age the people who work under the difficult weather con- Citing Daily News Egypt, the report points to interest in products. ‘Asalouyeh welcomes foreign finance for wel- dition of the region and the other one is to create jobs for offshore efforts, including North El Hammad, North El Tab- He said each week one or two 40,000-ton vessel carry fare infrastructures’ the local people. ya, and North Ras El Esh. LPG from this port to the three mentioned countries. Mohammad Safaian, the managing director of He referred to the establishment of a tourism hub in the “Signing the three agreements is the result of a global bid The official went on to explain that Pars Petrochemical Pazargad Non-Industrial Operation Services Company, region as one of the projects carried out by his company. launched by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company for gas and petroleum exploration,” said Egyptian Minister Oil prices on track for greatest yearly percentage gain since 2009 of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla, according to the Daily News Egypt. Oil prices are on track for their biggest since the 2009 rally, when Brent and WTI lysts had expected a decrease of 2.1 mil- Gasoline stocks fell 1.6 million barrels, The Eni agreement will be through its subsidiary, IEOC. annual percentage gain since 2009 on rose 78 percent and 71 percent respec- lion barrels in the period. compared with analysts’ expectations in a The Italian energy giant recently moved to reduce its stake the back of an agreement struck be- tively. Still, the rise in crude stocks in the Reuters poll for a 1.3 million-barrel rise. in the «super giant» Zohr gas field, selling 10 percent of tween OPEC and non-OPEC countries In a sign that producers are adhering EIA data was significantly smaller than in The market is likely to have focused its 50 percent stake to BP, which it reportedly said would to cut crude production output. to an agreed production cut, Oman no- Wednesday’s American Petroleum Insti- on the surprise draw in product stocks free up additional funding for other exploration efforts in U.S. benchmark West Texas inter- tified some of its term customers that it tute (API) data that indicated a 4.2 mil- and taken a slightly more bullish view the region and provide a source of reliable technology and mediate (WTI) crude futures were up will cut term allocations by five percent lion barrel build in U.S. crude oil stocks towards the WTI contract, traders said. expertise for efforts in the region. 23 cents to $54.00 at 0746 GMT. Brent in March, but did not state if the reduc- in the same period. Oil prices will gradually rise towards “Signing the three agreements is the result of a global bid front-month March crude oil futures rose tion in supply would continue after that. “Today’s Department of Energy re- $60 per barrel by the end of 2017, a launched by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company 31 cents to $57.16. The market also shrugged off an un- port was positive for light products due Reuters poll showed on Thursday, with for gas and petroleum exploration,” said Egyptian Minister Brent futures have risen about 53 expected increase in U.S. crude inven- to draws in gasoline and distillate inven- further upside capped by a strong dollar, of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla, according to the Daily News percent this year while WTI futures have tories, which rose 614,000 barrels in the tories compared to consensus’ build ex- a likely recovery in U.S. oil output and Egypt. climbed around 46 percent. The 2016 week to Dec. 23, U.S. Energy Information pectations,” British bank Barclays said in possible non-compliance by OPEC with Egypt has a long history of energy challenges, though gains in the oil market were the best Administration (EIA) data showed. Ana- a note. agreed cuts. (Source: Reuters) they have grown especially daunting over the last six years. With the collapse of the long-standing government of Hosni PICTURE OF THE DAY SHANA/Mojtaba Mohammadgholi Mubarak, the country of over 80 million found itself eco- nomically isolated, which served to reduce its foreign re- Sinopec starts serves and with it, the ability to keep up payments to oil and gas importers. At the same time, the country’s domestic production has supplying cleaner slowed significantly due to a decline in investment interest and a host of political and security challenges, especially in the country›s eastern Sinai region, where attacks on gas fuel to Beijing pipelines to Israel and Jordan were frozen due to repeated attacks. China’s largest state refiner Sinopec Corp on (Source: Forbes) Friday began supplying the Chinese capital with a new, lower-emission grade of petrol and die- sel in line with efforts to combat smog that has plagued the country just a month into the winter. Beijing will be the first city in China to adopt Asian spot LNG Sinopec’s new fuel standard - known as ‘Beijing Six’ - with the country as a whole set to roll out a prices steady at near grade dubbed ‘National Five’, similar to Europe’s two-year high ‘Euro V’ grade fuel, for petrol and diesel from Jan 1. Asian spot liquefied natural gas prices held steady at a near In a statement Sinopec said between Friday two-year high this week amid thin trade during the year-end and mid-February it plans to equip all of its 562 holiday season. petrol stations in Beijing to supply Beijing Six fuel. The price of LNG LNG-AS for February delivery to North The refiner didn’t say how much the project will Asia was flat at $9.50 per million British thermal units (mmB- cost. tu), trading sources said. While National Five caps sulfur content at 10 Spot LNG prices in Asia are supported by cold weather parts per million, Beijing Six fuel also has a lower and tighter supplies caused by outages at various plants emission of nitrogen oxides and olefins, among such as Chevron’s Gorgon project in Australia. other specifications. Chevron, which halted production at its Gorgon train 1 in Sinopec said three of its refineries - Cang- late November, is likely to still be seeking cargoes to make zhou, Yanshan and Qilu - will be the main pro- up for its production shortage, traders said. Chevron did not With a daily refining capacity of 250,000 barrels of crude oil, Iran’s Imam Khomeini Oil Refining complex in ducers of the new grade. The Yanshan plant, lo- respond to multiple queries from Reuters about the project’s Shazand, Markazi province, is the most modern refinery in the country and among the up to date refineries cated in suburban Beijing, supplies 75 percent of train 1 status this week. in the Middle East. all the petrol required for Sinopec’s filling stations LNG prices in South America may have crossed the $10 in Beijing. (Source: Reuters) mmBtu mark after Trafigura and Shell were heard to have sold end-January delivery cargoes to Mexico’s CFE via ten- UK GAS-Prices rise on higher der, traders said. The urgent requirement from the Mexi- can state-owned utility company is likely to have supported demand expectations prices in the region, they added. British wholesale gas prices rose to around “There has been a bull run for the past Egypt will need around 100 cargoes of LNG in 2017, two-month highs on Friday on expectations few days, partly due to colder weather but a high-ranking official from the country’s state gas board of higher demand over the weekend and as also due to oil prices and gains in UK power,” EGAS said this week. Egypt will have to procure about 40 oil prices gained ground. a trader said. more LNG cargoes after it secured 60 shipments through a Gas for immediate delivery was up 0.70 Volume is also quite thin due to the tender that was awarded in late November. pence at 52.25 pence per therm at 1007 Christmas-New Year holiday period, he add- The North African country will secure its remaining 2017 GMT, having fallen to an intra-day low of ed. Thomson Reuters analysts said the tem- LNG needs via memorandums of understanding (MOUs) it 50.50 p in earlier trade. perature forecast for Saturday is 2.8 degrees has signed with other countries and would pay a total of The day-ahead contract rose by 2.40 Celsius below normal, which should boost around $2.2 billion for all of its 2017 LNG requirements, the pence to 53.55 p/therm, its highest level demand for gas for heating. official said on condition of anonymity. since the beginning of November. (Source: Reuters) (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL DDECEMBERECEMBER 31,31, 20162016

African leaders should rally John Kerry and Israel: against Gambia’s bully-in-chief By John Yearwood Too little and too late

n a recent visit to New York City, I looked down from By Rashid Khalidi several more, equally firmly worded Se- Oa subway overpass on a fight between two men. The curity Council resolutions over the past shorter of the two pummeled his opponent, who n a speech this week laying out the eight years, that might have tempered raced across a busy intersection to escape the blows. Then a Obama administration’s parameters the sense of impunity that the Israeli surprise: He stopped, stiffened his back, rolled up his sleeves I for a final peace agreement between government and the settler movement and challenged his attacker to come get him. The short guy, Israel and Palestine, Secretary of State have enjoyed for so long. Perhaps in suddenly fearing the worse, turned and ran away crying. John Kerry stated what has been obvious that case Israelis would have discov- to most observers for many years: that ered that they could not continue with Israel’s construction of Jewish settlements endless settlement expansion and ob- on occupied Palestinian land has all but tain American largess at the same time. destroyed the two-state solution. Unfor- Perhaps being confronted by enough tunately, Kerry’s speech offers far too little, 14-0-1 votes, representing the view of and comes much too late. virtually every country on the planet, In 2013, shortly after he became would have caused the Netanyahu gov- secretary of state, Kerry warned that ernment to pause in its frenzied coloni- there was only a two-year window left zation campaign. for creating a Palestinian state. Now, Or perhaps not. Since Friday’s vote, almost four years later and in the last Netanyahu has recalled Israeli ambassa- days of his tenure, he has finally laid out dors to two of the countries that spon- parameters for a two-state solution. But sored the resolution and temporarily with President-elect Donald J. Trump limited working ties with 12 of the Se- suggesting he will align the United curity Council members that voted for States with Israel’s extreme pro-settler it. He has accused the Obama admin- Yahya-Jammeh government, the Obama/Kerry param- istration of a “shameful ambush,” as if eters will most likely be consigned to the resolution were a dirty trick instead That scene has been on repeat in my mind as I follow oblivion like those promulgated by Bill A recent poll conducted by the Brookings of a statement in line with longstanding recent developments involving a diminutive thug in West Af- Clinton 16 years ago. Institution found that 46 percent of Americans American policy and international law. rica: Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh. On December 1, a mas- During Obama’s eight years in of- believed that their government should impose And his government has vowed to press sive number of Gambians went to the polls in elections that fice, the illegal Israeli settler popula- forward with plans to build even more African Union observers hailed as “orderly, peaceful and re- tion has swelled by 100,000, to well sanctions against Israel over the construction settlements. ally serene.” They voted for businessman Adama Barrow, who over 600,000. Simultaneously, for eight of new settlements; the figure rises to 60 What is clear is that the Netanyahu represented the opposition Independent Coalition of Parties. years Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- percent among Democrats. government will never willingly endorse a Jammeh has ruled Gambia for the past 22 years, after stag- yahu of Israel has directed a barrage peaceful and fair resolution of this con- ing a coup at the age of 29. of calculated slights, insults and acts of flict. If the Trump administration chooses Jammeh was regarded as a statesman when he said after As Kerry asked in his speech: “Would an relevant dealings, between the territory disrespect at the president of the United Israeli accept living that way? Would an of Israel and the territories occupied to join Netanyahu on such a course, that the results were announced that he accepted the will of the States. The Obama administration has makes the need for pressure in forums people and will step aside when his term ends on Jan. 19. In American accept living that way?” It is no since 1967.” This provides the interna- finally reacted with Kerry’s speech and wonder that the hopelessness caused tional legal justification for sanctions by such as the United Nations, as well as a stunning reversal a few days later, Jammeh, one of Africa’s by allowing Resolution 2334, which through boycotts, divestment and sanc- few remaining strongmen, announced his change of heart. by Israeli settlement expansion and land states, boycotts of goods produced in condemns Israeli settlement expansion, theft in East Jerusalem and the West Bank settlements, and divestment by unions, tions, all the more necessary. European The elections, he declared, were tainted by “unacceptable to pass in the United Nations Security countries, Russia, China, India, and civil abnormalities.” He ordered the military to seal off the election and the closing of all avenues for realiza- foundations and universities of assets in Council. By doing so, the United States tion of the aspirations of Palestinian youth companies that support the coloniza- society in the United States and else- offices and removed election officials from their posts. simply acted in accordance with inter- where must act decisively to underscore How African leaders handle this crisis could determine have produced grave social ills, as well as tion of Palestinian land. national law and the global consensus outbreaks of violence. Wide support for such actions al- the global isolation of the proponents of whether the continent continues on a path toward further of nearly 50 years. The Kerry parameters unending occupation and colonization in political pluralism or sur- ready exists, even in the United States. The president Meanwhile, a third generation of Pal- The Kerry parameters and Resolu- A recent poll conducted by the Brook- Palestine. As too little and too late as Res- render to the rule of the estinian children is growing up under a olution 2334 and the Kerry speech were, of ECOWAS malevolent dictator. A team tion 2334 are not going to change ings Institution found that 46 percent of brutal occupation and Gaza has been much in this dismal picture nor will they Americans believed that their govern- they do offer an opening for an overdue said that the of presidents from the Eco- under siege for a decade. Palestinians global response to the arrogance of the nomic Community of West save Obama’s tepid legacy where Pales- ment should impose sanctions against economic bloc are obliged to seek the permission of tine is concerned. The resolution has no Israel over the construction of new set- Israeli and American enablers of the de- African States (ECOWAS) the Israeli military for the most basic of nial of the inalienable rights of the Pales- is prepared to flew into the capital of Ban- built-in enforcement mechanism, and it tlements; the figure rises to 60 percent needs, such as medical treatment, or to is not necessarily binding. However, it among Democrats. tinian people. dispatch troops jul to plead with Jammeh travel abroad or even just to Jerusalem. (Source: The NYT) to cede power, including calls upon states to “distinguish, in their Maybe, just maybe, had there been from Senegal to Muhammadu Buhari of Ni- remove Jammeh geria, out-going president if he stays John Mahama of Ghana, With attacks in Turkey, PKK sends a message to Erdogan and to Trump beyond Jan. and President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone. By Hannes Cerny dropped by their newfound international Exiting State House, Libe- backers and left at Turkey and Assad’s rian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who led the delegation, n December 17, Turkey was hit by mercy. looked like she had been sickened by the encounter. Oyet another terrorist attack, a car Turkey’s strategic position Annulling the elections bombing that killed 13 soldiers By the same token, in contrast to the Jammeh has held his ground, going on national televi- and wounded 55 others in the central Obama administration or a once-possible sion Dec. 20 to reiterate that he was “annulling the elections” Anatolian city of Kayseri. Although quick- Clinton administration, a Trump adminis- because not all registered voters cast a ballot, and he gave ly overshadowed days later by the assas- tration is unlikely to be troubled much by a tortured explanation of polling figures. He then blasted the sination in Ankara of Russia’s ambassa- Turkey’s ever-deteriorating human rights West for interfering in Gambia’s internal affairs. He also took dor to Turkey, the bombing came just a situation. What matters for Trump is Tur- on ECOWAS, condemning the organization for its “interven- week after a twin suicide bombing killed key’s strategic position in defeating the tion into the internal affairs of the country as a sovereign 44 policemen and wounded another 150 Islamic State (ISIL)—not the fate of a free state.” outside the Besiktas football stadium in press, its Kurdish minority or the rights of French President Francois Hollande has said that Barrow Istanbul. political dissidents. “must be installed as soon as possible.” The United States, the While no immediate claim of respon- All this gives Erdogan free rein to deal European Union and the UN Security Council have called for sibility has been issued for the Kayseri with the PKK and the PYD in Syria as he the will of the people to be respected. Even Jammeh’s own bombing, solid evidence points to the sees fit. In Syria, the battle for the stra- U.S. ambassador has abandoned him, saying his boss has same perpetrators as the earlier Dec. 10 tegic northern town of al-Bab, near the “put The Gambia on a dangerous path.” attack: the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons Turkish border, continues to rage, pitting West Africa, indeed Africa, is at a critical intersec- (TAK), a well-known offshoot of the Kurd- pro-Turkish rebel forces and the Turkish tion. The continent’s presidents have too often pro- istan Workers’ Party (PKK). The quick suc- army against the PYD’s militia, known as tected autocratic members of their leadership clique cession of attacks was a grim reminder the YPG, as much as against the Islamic to stifle any wind of change blowing from their peo- that after 20 months of renewed fighting State (ISIL). Meanwhile, in the aftermath ple. ECOWAS, which has taken the lead in Gambia in eastern Turkey between the PKK and For a Trump administration, the PYD and the of this month’s terrorist attacks, Erdogan’s mediation, has said it will take “all necessary action the Turkish military, the PKK is far from Syrian Kurds matter only for as long as they government continues its domestic to enforce the results” of the election. The president broken. In fact, it appears that the elec- crackdown on the Kurdish-rooted Peo- of ECOWAS said that the economic bloc is prepared tion of Donald Trump as president of the provide the forces on the ground dealing the ples’ Democratic Party (HDP). Its lead- to dispatch troops from Senegal to remove Jammeh United States has made a bad situation in Islamic State (ISIL) blow after blow. ing politicians have been arrested, and if he stays beyond Jan. 19. That’s a good move, but Turkey even worse for the PKK and left it pro-Erdogan mobs have ransacked the not the only one that should be played. The African with no other option than to step up at- party’s offices across the country. Union should make it clear now that Jammeh will not tacks on the Turkish state. and the country’s Kurdish conflict, but he is willing to pay. This change in U.S. In this context, and with a peaceful be welcomed when heads of state gather for the AU TAK rose to prominence in 2005 with there is good reason to believe that, policy obviously harmonizes with Russia’s solution to Turkey’s Kurdish conflict more summit in Addis Ababa at the end of January. He terrorist attacks on Turkish coastal re- for the PKK, his election is bad news. It objectives in Syria. The Turkish govern- distant than ever, there are few options needs to get the clear message that he has become sorts that were designed to hurt the doesn’t take much imagination to fore- ment has sent out its own signals over left to the PKK other than to signal that persona non grata on the continent. tourism sector. It has been argued that see a gradual rapprochement between the past several months that Erdogan’s seeking a military solution to the Kurdish ECOWAS and other African leaders should realize by now the PKK draws on TAK for attacks on Trump, Erdogan and Russian President previously open commitment to toppling question will cost all the parties involved that Jammeh is nothing but a thug, whose sole goal is to soft targets that would either damage Vladimir Putin when it comes to Syria. Assad is no longer Ankara’s first priority. dearly. The message from the PKK and its bully his people and the international community. Allowing the former’s reputation or exert pres- The military and political dynamics on Instead, that has been replaced by pre- offshoot, TAK, to the Turkish government him to remain in office beyond Jan. 19 sends a strong mes- sure on the Turkish state during peace the ground and what is known about venting the Syrian Kurdish Democratic and the incoming Trump administration sage that elections are meaningless just as more and more negotiations. While it is believed to be Trump’s strategic priorities suggest as Union Party, or PYD, a PKK affiliate, from appears loud and clear. Africans cry out for electoral change. financed and logistically supported by much. establishing an autonomous quasi-state Yet there is no reason to believe re- Many on the continent who run for office or even the PKK, TAK appears to be independ- Unlike Hillary Clinton, for whom both in northern Syria, similar to Iraqi Kurdis- newed Kurdish violence will weaken Er- participate in elections at high personal risks will no ent in selecting targets and timing at- fighting the self-proclaimed Islamic State tan. dogan’s resolve or, after a brief interlude doubt question why bother at all to get involved. That tacks. (ISIL) and finding a political solution for Such a realignment of interests be- since 2014 with the rise of the Islamic is not the message that ECOWAS or the African Union The attacks’ message the Syria’s civil war would have been tween the U.S., Turkey and Russia bodes State (ISIL), prevent a return to tradi- wants to send. In the case of the Kayseri and Istan- equally important, Trump has repeatedly ill for the PYD and by extension for the tional dynamics between Washington There have been some victories for democracy, such as bul attacks, though, there is reason to made his priorities clear. “I’ve had an op- PKK, which has benefited from having its and Ankara over the Kurds. How Wash- in Ghana and Senegal, when losing presidents announced believe that the strikes were fully co- posite view of many people regarding ally, the PYD, play such a key role in the ington sees the PKK and its regional af- after results were released of their intentions to step aside ordinated with the PKK command in Syria,” he said soon after his election. “My international coalition against the Islamic filiates is first and foremost dictated by – and kept their word. It stains the fabric of an Africa enjoy- the Qandil Mountains bordering Iraq attitude was you’re fighting Syria, Syria is State (ISIL). For a Trump administration, Turkish sensitivities. The U.S. has, after ing economic and democratic gains to be held hostage by and that the intended recipient of the fighting ISIL, and you have to get rid of the PYD and the Syrian Kurds matter only all, considered the PKK a terrorist group a thug from the tiniest country on the African mainland. It’s attacks’ message was not only Turkish ISIL.” for as long as they provide the forces since 1997. Concerns for Kurdish rights time for ECOWAS, the EU and other leaders on the con- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but He has left no doubt that if a defeat of on the ground dealing the Islamic State to national self-determination, whether tinent to stiffen their backs and roll up their sleeves. Jam- the U.S. president-elect. It is far too ear- the Islamic State (ISIL) and a stabilization (ISIL) blow after blow. Once the Islamic in Turkey or Syria, have never been an meh, like the New York City bully, is sure to scurry in the ly to tell what policies a Trump admin- of Syria mean Bashar al-Assad’s regime State (ISIL) is defeated or significantly de- American priority. other direction. (Source: The Washington Post) istration will be pursuing with Turkey should stay in power, then that is a price graded, chances are Syria’s Kurds will be (Source: WPR) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 3311 22016016 ANALYSIS 7

By Prof. Michel Chossudovsky important” that the statement by Mos- Who is supporting ISIS-Daesh cow, Tehran and Ankara “contained an n an unusual turn of events, Washing- invitation to other countries that have Iton accuses Ankara of supporting the influence ‘on the ground’ to join such ef- ISIS-Daesh. forts,” (RT, December 22, 2016) And Turkey’s president Erdogan re- in Syria? Erdogan or Obama? The underlying objective would be to sponds by accusing Washington of sup- weaken the allegiance of Saudi Arabia porting ISIS-Daesh. “Now they give sup- and the Gulf States to U.S.-NATO. It is port to terrorist groups including Daesh, worth noting, in this regard, that Moscow YPG, PYD. It’s very clear. We have con- “Cross-cutting coalitions”, NATO military alliance in crisis has built a strategic alliance with Qatar firmed evidence, with pictures, photos following a major deal in the area of nat- and videos.” said Erdogan. the YPG as a part of the overarching Syr- weapons to its border and blamed the ural gas. Until recently Qatar alongside And Washington responds “”he [Erdo- ian Democratic Forces. So the YPG is not U.S.-led coalition for inadequate air Saudi Arabia was supporting and funding gan] continues to supply arms [into Syria] the sole group that we’re working with on support after Erdogan’s forces which the insurgency in Syria, including both the as well, with his ultimate aim [being] to go the ground. We’re working with Syrian encountered deadly resistance from ISIS Islamic State and Al Qaeda on behalf and after the Kurds, and ISIS is secondary.” Arabs, Syrian Turkmen, and other groups militants – 14 Turkish troops were killed. in close liaison with Washington. Accord- While Washington has strongly denied that are fighting Daesh,” (Daily Express, December 27, 2016) ing to Thierry Meyssan: Erdogan’s latest allegations, the structure Officially the U.S. is fighting the ISIS, Cross-cutting alliances Moscow has managed to turn Qa- of political and military alliances is in crisis. unofficially it is supporting it. While Ankara accuses Washington, tar and make it an ally. Qatar’s change of Who is supporting the ISIS? And now in an about turn, the ISIS Moscow is playing at the diplomatic level heart was sealed by the sale by Moscow The fact of the matter is that both the which is integrated (covertly and unof- a skilful “double game”: Foreign Minister of one fifth of the capital of Rosneft, at U.S. and Turkey provide covert support ficially) by Western Special Forces (often Lavrov is talking to John Kerry on the one the beginning of December, in Doha. to the terrorists including ISIS-Daesh and on contract to private mercenary compa- hand as well as negotiating with Ankara Rosneft, the jewel in Russia’s crown, is the Jabhat Al Nusra. nies) has turned against Turkey, a NATO on the other hand. largest company in the world. By imple- Both Turkey and the U.S. have collab- member state. This action is largely on On December 21, the Foreign Minis- menting this transaction, Vladimir Putin orated in supporting the ISIS-Daesh in behalf of YPG forces, which are also fight- ters of Russia, Iran and Turkey (See image [has] inextricably united the political en- Northern Syria. ing Turkish forces: below) met in Moscow “to draft a joint ergies of the two greatest gas exporters From the very outset, the Islamic ”ISIS claims it has killed 70 Turkish statement aimed at resolving the long in the world. De facto, Qatar dropped the State has been supported (unofficially of Turkey as a NATO member state is an ally soldiers during the conflict and just a few term conflict in Syria.” (RT, December 22, jihadists, although since last May, it has course) by the broader U.S.-NATO coali- days ago the warped death cult released 2016) disposed of a permanent office at NATO tion which includes several NATO mem- of the U.S. But the U.S. is now supporting a video of two Turkish men being burned Moscow also intimated that other headquarters in Brussels. ber countries (including the U.S., France, the YPG which is fighting both the ISIS alive. countries including Saudi Arabia would Typically, Moscow has favored Britain as well as Turkey) and their Middle Turkey has rushed tanks and heavy be invited to join this initiative. ”It is “very “cross-cutting coalitions” with Ameri- East allies including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. ca’s staunchest Middle East allies. While and Israel. Turkey as a NATO member state is an Washington is firmly opposed to Er- these alliances with U.S. proxy States are What is of concern to Erdogan is that ally of the U.S. But the U.S. is now sup- dogan’s territorial ambitions in Northern fragile by their very nature, they none- the U.S. is ALSO supporting the Kurdish porting the YPG which is fighting both Syria. The U.S.-NATO objective is to frag- theless constitute a wedge in the con- separatists YPG forces which have been the ISIS and Turkey. ment both Syria and Iraq. Washington’s duct of U.S. foreign policy. They also combating the ISIS. And until recently In turn, Turkey, which is a staunch ally strategy in Northern Syria consists in sup- contribute to weakening Washington’s Turkey has used the ISIS rebels to combat of the U.S. is negotiating with Russia and porting and controlling the Kurdish YPG geopolitical clutch in the Middle East. YPG forces, which are also supported by Iran. separatists. The important issue is: how will the new the U.S. Already in May 2016, Erdogan ac- Mark Toner, the U.S. State department Trump administration respond to these From the outset in 2011, the recruit- cused U.S.-NATO of supporting YPG spokesperson confirmed that Washing- developments. ment of jihadist mercenaries to be de- forces: ton would continue to support the YPG According to media reports, Turkey ployed in Syria was coordinated by NATO “The support they give [U.S., NATO] “despite the Turkish government oppo- has Moscow’s support in the siege of the and the Turkish High Command. In this to… the YPG (militia)… I condemn it,” Turk- sition towards Kurdish-U.S. cooperation”. Northern Syrian city of Al-Bab which has regard, Turkey has played a central role ish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said (See Ara New Network, December 27, been under the clutch of the ISIS since in relation to logistics, weapons supplies, on Saturday during an airport ceremony 2016): 2013. Fierce fighting is ongoing. Ankara recruitment and training, in close liaison in the Kurdish city of Diyarbakir. “Those “…there are disagreements among reported on December 26 that “the an- with Washington and Brussels. who are our friends, who are with us in members of the coalition as to how we ti-ISIS coalition was making progress in The Ankara government has also NATO… cannot, must not send their sol- proceed and with whom we’re cooperat- al-Bab”. played a strategic role in protecting the diers to Syria wearing YPG insignia.” (Ara ing on the ground? I’m not going to say Moscow has managed to turn Qatar and Michel Chossudovsky is an award-win- movement of jihadist rebels and supplies News Network, May 28, 2016) that there aren’t. And obviously, Turkey’s make it an ally. Qatar’s change of heart was ning author, Professor of Economics across its border into Northern Syria What is the underlying cause of this made very clear their feelings about the sealed by the sale by Moscow of one fifth (emeritus) at the University of Ottawa, What is now occurring is a rift in the clash between the U.S. and Turkey, which YPG. We have also been equally clear, of the capital of Rosneft, at the beginning Founder and Director of the Centre for Re- structure of military alliances, through the strikes at the very heart of the Atlantic Al- while we understand Turkey’s concerns search on Globalization (CRG), Montreal, emergence of “cross-cutting coalitions”. liance? that we’re going to continue to work with of December, in Doha. Editor of Global Research. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS DDECEMBERECEMBER 31,31, 20162016

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But personal life (this includes family), profes- Have you ever felt like a piece of information has just van- as the New Year hovers just around the sional life, romantic life, physical life (for ished from memory? Or maybe you know that it’s there, you corner, regardless of how this one went, instance, sleeping more or drinking more just can’t seem to find it. The inability to retrieve a memory is reflecting can be helpful—and not in a water—not necessarily something related one of the most common causes of forgetting. ‘learn from your mistakes’ way. to fitness), spiritual life, and financial life. “Looking back on the year is not about Go one step further beating yourself up and seeing what you 1. Plan for next year need to do better,” says Lodro Rinzler, Close your eyes again, and this time meditation expert and teacher at MNDFL play what you want your 2017 life to in New York City. “It’s about rejoicing.” Even look like. “You’re not limited by time or if you have plenty to rejoice about—a job, finances or anything really,” Fletcher says. good friends, daily meals—it can be tough “The point of this exercise is to get clear to know where to start. Or it can feel all too on what you want.” easy to dwell on disappointments. After a few moments, begin to “We tend to spend a lot of time and zero in on some of the bigger aspects attention watering the weeds,” says Emily of 2017: your birthday or a vacation Fletcher, founder of Ziva Meditation. “And you’re planning. Like before, pick a then we’re growing the weeds. So this is new film genre for 2017. “Once you a moment to water the flowers and pay feel like your imagination has kicked So why are we often unable to retrieve information from attention to those.” Think of one quality you’re looking to in, you can stop,” Fletcher says, “But memory. One possible explanation retrieval failure is known In other words, as you think about the cultivate in the upcoming year. Some ideas the most important thing is that the as decay theory. According to this theory, a memory trace past year, if negative thoughts start to creep things you’re thinking of bring a smile is created every time a new theory is formed. Decay theory in, it’s OK to sit with them for a moment, but include: discipline, compassion, patience, to your face.” suggests that over time, these memory traces begin to fade then bring your attention back to the posi- drive, joy, and bravery. 2. Write down one goal for each and disappear. If information is not retrieved and rehearsed, tive. “Remember to be gentle with yourself,” area of your life it will eventually be lost. says Ellie Burrows, a personal development Similar to your review of 2016, now it’s time One problem with this theory, however, is that research coach and one of the founders of MNDFL. you loved, or your friend’s wedding. a (quick) daily practice, you’ll also make to write down one goal for each area in the has demonstrated that even memories which have not been For these exercises, it’s important to let your 3. Name one quality you appreciate your next end-of-year review much more coming year. Pick something for your per- rehearsed or remembered are remarkably stable in long- thoughts flow freely rather than scrutinizing about yourself manageable, Burrows says. “Think of it as sonal, professional, romantic, physical, spir- term memory. them, Burrows says. In an effort to be thankful for the year crawling before walking—easy and ap- itual, and financial lives. They can be simple The two 2. Interference With that in mind, we’ve outlined two you just had, Rinzler suggests taking a proachable,” she says. like reading a book. If a big idea doesn’t jump basic forms Another theory known as approaches for reflecting on your year: few moments to sit quietly with your own The life area review out, pick something small and concrete. of motivated interference theory suggests One involves a month-by-month break- breath and think about one quality you 1. Go somewhere quiet and block 3. Pick one word to help guide you that some memories com- down, and the other looks at the differ- enjoy or one quality you’re working on. off about 20 minutes in 2017 forgetting are: pete and interfere with other ent areas of your life. Pick the one that “It could be something I’m currently Like in the first approach, make this Don’t get bogged down trying to come suppression, a memories. When information feels most appropriate. After that, we’ve enjoying in my work, or it could be one one feel a little sacred, Fletcher says. And up with the perfect word, Fletcher says. conscious form is very similar to other infor- included a few easy (and fun!) steps to aspect of my body,” Rinzler says. And that yes, that means closing your laptop. (If Think of one quality you’re looking to cul- mation that was previously help focus your year ahead. doesn’t mean you need to be in peak you’re following along with this story, tivate. Some ideas include: discipline, com- of forgetting, and stored in memory, interfer- The month-by-month review physical condition either. You could de- close all other windows, and disable any passion, patience, drive, joy, and bravery. repression, an ence is more likely to occur. 1. Find a quiet place, and block off light in your hearing and all the great mu- pop-up notifications). The takeaway unconscious form There are two basic about 30 minutes sic you get to listen to, or the use of your 2. Let your imagination wander After you’ve taken time to get clear on of forgetting. types of interference: Do whatever you need to relax (maybe legs and the long walks you’ve taken. For the first few minutes, simply let your past year and where you’re headed, . Proactive interference make yourself a cup of tea or take a few 4. Practice a mini-review each your mind wander back on the year. Fletcher says it’s equally important that is when an old memory makes it more difficult or impossible deep breaths), free yourself of distrac- morning Fletcher asks: What were the happy mo- you put your notes away. Hide them in to • Retroactive interference occurs when new information tions, and get out a pen and some paper. This last step might not be for everyone ments? The sad moments? What was the the bottom of a drawer, put them under interferes with your ability to remember previously learned 2. Deep dive into 2016 month by (what is this, homework?!), but it can be very best part of your vacation? Did you start your bed—don’t have them in a place information. month helpful to take a few moments each morn- a new job? When did you cry the loud- where you see them every day. 3. Failure to Store Write down one thing you can rejoice in ing in the new year to think about everything est? Laugh the hardest? “Get clear on your intentions, and then Sometimes, losing information has less to do with forget- from each month, Rinzler says. And don’t on your plate. “What are you tackling? What 3. Ask yourself: What type of movie take inspired action,” Fletcher says. “But ting and more to do with the fact that it never made it into be afraid to have your calendar or iPhone qualities do you need to cultivate to accom- would 2016 be? don’t stay too rigidly attached to how long-term memory in the first place. Encoding failures some- nearby to refresh your memory. “It can be plish the day?” Rinzler says. Would the film be a documentary—be- you think it should be.” Translation: If you times prevent information from entering long-term memory. any number of things,” Rinzler says. “Noth- Then again in the evening, reflect on cause you learned a lot? Was it a hapless get to June and things aren’t shaping up In one well-known experiment, researchers asked par- ing is too small, and nothing is too big.” your day. Did you accomplish what you rom-com of failed Tinder dates and hilari- exactly how you envisioned, don’t beat ticipants to identify the correct U.S. penny out of a group of Think: a summer weekend outdoors, that wanted? If so, be happy about it, Rinzler ous friends-only nights? Was it an action yourself up—it’s simply time to reevalu- incorrect pennies. Try doing this experiment yourself by at- time your boss complimented your work, says. And if not, remind yourself that to- film filled with exciting adventures? A drama ate and pivot your goals. tempting to draw a penny from memory, and then compare your birthday, trying a new workout class that morrow is a new day. By making reflection because, well, the year made you sad? (Source: greatist.com) your results to an actual penny. How well did you do? Chances are that you were able to remember the shape and color, but you probably forgot Easy steps to breaking bad habits other minor details. The reason for this is that only details necessary for distinguishing pennies from other coins were We may be loath to admit it, but most of us have at least Step no.1: Make it conscious Wolfe suggests keeping the log for at least a week. encoded into your long-term memory. one bad habit. And while some bad habits -- such as The first step is to figure out when -- and why -- you The next step is to analyze the data and look at what 4. Motivated forgetting smoking -- can pose serious health risks, others like nail bite your nails, crack your knuckles, or engage in any your usual triggers are. "Do you do it when you are anx- Sometimes, we may actively work to forget memories, biting, throat clearing, and knuckle cracking are really other bad habit. "If you can notice when you are doing ious or bored?" especially those of traumatic or disturbing events or experi- just plain irksome (for us and for the people that love us). it and under what circumstances and what feelings are Step no. 3: Bait and switch ences. The two basic forms of motivated forgetting are: sup- Odds are you have been biting your nails or crack- attached to it, you might be able to figure out why you Once you realize when and why you are biting your pression, a conscious form of forgetting, and repression, an ing your knuckles for a long time. So how can you be are doing it and be able to stop," says Susan Jaffe, MD, a nails, cracking your knuckles, or engaging in any other unconscious form of forgetting. expected to break these bad habits now? psychiatrist in private practice in New York City. bad habit, the next logical step is to find a not-quite-as- However, the concept of repressed memories is not uni- Where there is a will, there is a way. No matter what your Step no. 2: Put it in writing so it really sinks in annoying temporary or permanent replacement for it. versally accepted by all psychologists. One of the problems bad habit -- whether nail biting, knuckle cracking, cuticle "Log it," says Janet L. Wolfe, PhD, a clinical psycholo- "If you are a nail biter, try gum," Jaffee says. with repressed memories is that it is difficult, if not impossible, picking, chronic coughing, or throat clearing -- WebMD's gist in New York City and author of several books includ- "For throat clearing, the competing response may be to scientifically study whether or not a memory has been re- cadre of experts have a simple three-step solution that can ing What to Do When He Has a Headache. This will help some sort of slow exhaling because it is impossible to do pressed. be customized to whatever habit needs breaking. you establish a baseline, she says. "Put down the ante- that and clear your throat at same time," Claiborn says. Also note that mental activities such as rehearsal and re- "The more you do it, the more difficult it is to get rid cedents, the emotions surrounding the knuckle cracking "Develop a way of breathing whenever you feel the urge membering are important ways of strengthening a memory, if it, but every single bad habit can be broken," says Pa- and what goes through your head when you crack your to clear your throat. You can see some changes in a very and memories of painful or traumatic life events are far less tricia A. Farrell, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Englewood, knuckles," she says. "This will make your bad habit more short period of time. There will be a major reduction in likely to be remembered, discussed, or rehearsed. N.J. and author of How to Be your Own Therapist. conscious." throat clearing within days." (Source: webmd.com) (Source: verywell.com)

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Since:Since: 1 1969969 Address:s: No.52, No 52 Darya-NooraniDarya Noorani Blv.Crossroad,Blv Cr +9821 430 51 450 PRIVATE PARKING LOT Farahzadi Blv, Shahrak-e-Gharb Jahan Hotel (Exelsior) – Rahimzade Alley – Taleqani Tel: 88562040 - 88562050 www.tehrantimes.com Crossroads – Valiasr St. Tell: 66476855 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 TECHNOLOGY DDECEMBERECEMBER 31,31, 22016016 CES 2017: 20,000 consumer electronics products 10 hot titles of IT world Here are high rated IT titles in the world that reviewed will be launched despite ‘gadget apocalypse’ by savvy tech users: By Chris O'Brien 1 Battery Drain Issues this time with Apple Air- pods! arlier this month, the New York Yes, Some AirPods Users Facing Battery Drain Issues With ETimes offered some bad news for Charging Case. The unlucky set of users facing the battery the more than 180,000 people issues, however, are noticing that the AirPods case drains by preparing to descend on Las Vegas next upwards of 40 percent in mere hours, with the AirPods at 100 week for the world’s largest consumer percent inside and minimal Bluetooth activation. electronics trade show. This will no doubt come as a shock to 2 Havana citizens recieved special christmas gift this the companies set to launch an estimated year: Internet. Web access coming to Cubans with 20,000 new gadgets when the Consumer pilot project while Only 5 percent of people are estimated Electronics Show 2017 starts on January 5. to enjoy internet at home, which requires government per- For perspective on what Times column- mission. ist Farhad Manjoo dubbed the “Gadget Apocalypse,” I called up Shawn Dubravac, 3 A good news for gamers: Super Mario Run coming chief economist of the Consumer Tech- to android phones and tablets soon. nology Association, which organizes CES. So you can pre-register now on the Play Store for $10. “We sold more gadgets in 2016 than we have ever sold in the history of the 4 President Barack Obama ordered the expulsion of planet,” Dubravac said. “And we’ll sell 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions more in 2017 than we have ever sold.” on two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB Each year, on the eve of CES, Dubravac over their involvement in hacking U.S. political groups in the and his team deliver a dense report full 2016 presidential election. of statistical analysis about the consum- er electronics market around the globe. “We sold more gadgets in 2016 than we they will begin to support use cases that 5 According to a new rumor, Samsung will launch a We’ll have to wait a few more days for we probably can’t even predict at this couple of Windows 10-powered tablets at the up- the detailed data. But in advance of its re- have ever sold in the history of the planet,” point. Dubravac points to the iPhone as coming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017. One of the lease, we discussed some of the flaws in Dubravac said. “And we’ll sell more in 2017 a recent example of this. tablet will carry the model number SM-W720, the other will the Times’ analysis and talked about how than we have ever sold.” Back when Apple founder Steve Jobs be SM-W620. the gadget market is actually evolving. first announced the iPhone, he said it was In sum: Manjoo has taken the prob- a combination of three gadgets: an iPod, 6 AMOLED panels for new iPhone will supply by lems experienced by a handful of hard- mass market appeal, particularly on the home involved installing tons of wires a phone, and an internet communica- Samsung in 2017. Apple will release not two, but ware makers, such as Pebble and Go- scale of something like the iPhone. Most in the walls to network an array of very tions device. three new iPhone models next year. The usual 4.7" and 5.5" Pro, and extrapolated them into a of the gadgets introduced this year will expensive appliances that had to be pur- One thing he didn’t really highlight: sizes will come with LCD screens and a new 5.8-inch model larger gadget crisis. He also repeated the die a quick death. It’s unlikely that the chased concurrently. Now, people are the camera. will be outed too with an AMOLED display made by Sam- lament that new gadgets don’t offer the ones that live on will ever become mass doing this step by step, aided by increas- Nowadays, much of the hype around sung. Shazam-like impact of smartphones, a market products. ingly robust Wi-Fi systems. Dubravac said the iPhone upgrades and its marketing single gadget that massively transforms “There are lower ownership rates in he is expecting a lot of announcements at campaigns focuses on the increasing- 7 Game Mode coming soon on Windows 10. everyone’s lives. these other categories,” he said. this year’s CES about more powerful Wi- ly powerful camera. That has driven an According to Microsoft tipster WalkingCat, the On the former point, Dubravac flat-out Amazon’s Echo products are a good Fi options. These won’t necessarily grab explosion in the number of photos we’ve latest build of Windows 10 (14997) has a DLL file named disagrees, just based on the sales num- example. They have proved to be a sur- big headlines, but they will enable that taken, which in turn drives sharing on “gamemode.dll”. bers that he references above. But be- prise hit, and many were sold out through steady expansion of gadget connectivity. Facebook and Twitter and has laid the Windows 10 quickly made gamer fans thanks to perks like yond that, even if software has become the holidays. It’s true that the universe of These networked gadgets are also foundation for growing use of mobile DirectX12. more critical, we still have seen major potential buyers and owners is likely to being driven by the rapid advances in video. And with the front-facing camera, companies like Google and Amazon and remain small. But the products only be- voice recognition technologies. In 2013, we got Snap and (gods help us!) the tidal 8 Qualcomm officially announced via a series of Snap pushing into the hardware space. come failures if you compare them to the standard word-error rate for voice wave of selfies. tweets the debut of Snapdragon 835 at a CES Content and software remain tightly the millions of smartphones being sold recognition had dropped to around 25 “They did not foresee at that time and keynote 2017. The highly anticipated chipset will come with linked to the success of any hardware. It around the globe. percent, Dubravac said. More recently, in that way that the iPhone would become Quick Charge 4 technology which will give devices 5 hours may be true, as Manjoo argues, that it’s Instead, Dubravac sees gadgets be- Microsoft announced that it had lowered the default camera for a large number of of battery life with 5 minutes of charging. Qualcomm also hard to be a company whose sole focus coming more like building blocks. Differ- that to almost 5 percent. users,” Dubravac said. “We underestimate claims that a smartphone with the CPU could be charged is hardware, but that’s always been true, ent consumers will begin to select differ- “We’ve seen more progress in the last the flow of innovation. There’s a tremen- from 0 to 50% within 15 minutes. Dubravac points out. ent ones that fit their lives. As people add 30 months than we saw in the first 30 dous amount of experimentation that Regarding Manjoo’s other point, more and more devices, they are begin- years,” Dubravac said. “And that enables happens in the world of gadgets. And it’s Windows 10 Creators Update will let you pause up- Dubravac says we’re now moving toward ning to gradually lay the foundation for these hub devices [like Google Home and only after that experimentation that we 9 an era where it is harder, if not impossible, things like smart homes. the Amazon Echo].” discover some of the use cases.” dates from being installed for up to 35 days. (Source: venturebeat) This has been revealed by people who are currently run- to create a gadget that is going to have It used to be that the idea of the smart As those networks of gadgets increase, ning a leaked pre-release build of the Creators Update, and have spotted a new entry in the Advanced Options menu for Windows Update Settings. Samsung QLED as New Premium TV Brand Instead of SUHD 10 Wireless HTC Vive 2 rumored for CES unveiling. The Vive 2 will reportedly be wireless. The new Samsung Electronics' 2017 premium QLED TV line- Samsung, the world's largest TV maker, introduced headset is said to sport two 4K screens, one for each eye, up, which will debut at the Consumer Electronics Show QD LCD as a premium line-up at CES 2015 and branded with a refresh rate of 120Hz (up from 90Hz on the current (CES), has applied 'metal coating' to improve the integri- it as SUHD TV. Its compatriot and runner-up LG Elec- model). The Vive 2 won't however be standalone, so you'll ty of the quantum dot (QD) materials, company insiders tronics has been using OLED for its premium line-up of still need a PC to use it. say, allowing colour in a wider range to be accurately TVs. Sony is also planning to launch OLED TVs, using LG represented at higher brightness level or better than Display's panels. those reached in OLED TVs. Using QD materials has advantages over OLEDs: they WeChat daily active users Internally called the "Q Project," the business set a are cheaper to make; QD process can be added to ex- target resolution for 2017 and tested out the quantum isting Liquid Crystal Display production lights; they have top 768 million dot materials in various ways. a longer lifespan; and they do not suffer "burn-in". While The breakthrough was made by "metal coating" pro- more accurately representing black, OLED's main prob- The usage of popular messaging app WeChat continues to cess, where metal is coated around the nanocrystals to lem has been high costs and long playing time resulting expand, with the number of daily users exceeding 768 million form a shield to make them more stable and circular, volume -- it covers all of DCI-P3 standard colour space in images burnt in on to the screen. in September, up 35 percent over the same period last year, and the same size, they said. Having the crystals circular -- even at 1500 nit, the company said. Compared to con- OLED has the diode emitting light without the need according to a year-end report on WeChat released by the and in the size is crucial to increasing colour accuracy. ventional WRGB displays' 67 percent, using quantum dot for a backlight. Because of the name QLED, there was Chinese technology giant Tencent on Wednesday. Insiders declined to comment on the metal used as it is allowed Samsung to achieve 104 percent colour space of some speculation on whether Samsung had succeeded a trade secret. the standard, they added. in making the crystals emit light in a similar fashion to The TVs also accurately express High Dynamic Range The TVs will be branded QLED, while the SUHD used OLEDs. (HDR) at peak brightness of 1500 nit, they said. There for 2015 and 2016 models will be dropped. The new Chinese firms TCL and Hisense, the third and fourth will be no trade-off between colour and brightness. In- brand represents the quantum dot's importance, func- largest TV vendors respectively, are also pushing to creasing the brightness tends to kill the colour volume, tions and advantage over rival technologies better, they make quantum dot TVs. and vice-versa. The new models achieve a wide colour said. (Source: channelnews)

Facebook is building a tool to hunt Uber and Lyft answer concerns copyright infringing videos about discrimination

YouTube isn't the only site record labels equately compensate artists and A study published earlier this year document- sistently use codes," he wrote, per- are taking issue with when it comes rights holders for the content it ing the discrimination ride-hailing passengers taining to Franken's suggestion to use to copyright infringement. Financial hosts. Earlier this month, the video face compelled Senator Al Franken to call unique identifiers instead of names. Times reports that music publishers site announced that it paid $1 billion Uber's and Lyft's attention. Now, the Senator's He added that "riders might enter the want Facebook to license music that in ad revenue to the music indus- office has published the companies' respons- wrong vehicle or even ride with some- The report, which unveiled a series of key figures of the gets posted on its site and take down try in the last year. Facebook has es to the letter he sent on November 2nd. one illicitly posing as a ridesharing most popular messaging app in China, said 50 percent of any user-submitted videos that contain revenue deals in place with pub- While it sounds like both services are already driver." However, he also clarified that WeChat users spent 90 minutes on the application every day. copyrighted content. The first step is lishers, but doesn't currently have making changes, both stand by their prac- Uber's system doesn't show riders' sur- Typical WeChat users are those born in the 1980s and said to be handling all the copyrighted any licensing agreements for music. tices. The study conducted by the National names and photos to drivers, only their 1990s, accounting for 65 percent of the overall users, and material that's posted to the site's News As you might expect, labels want a Bureau of Economic Research analyzed 1,500 first names. have sent 80 percent of the total messages. Feed in the form of cover songs and piece of that ad money like they're rides in Boston and Seattle. It found that rid- Lyft gave Franken a similar response. Youngsters aged between 17 and 21, and seniors over other footage. As part of the effort, receiving from YouTube for having ers with black-sounding names usually have It gives drivers the name of their riders 55 years, are responsible 14 percent and 1 percent of overall Facebook is said to be working on a their music available to users. to wait 35 percent longer to be picked up and vice versa as a "digital trust profile" to population on the app, according to the report. copyright identification system, similar According to a National Music and are twice more likely to have their ride ensure they're picking up the right per- Overall messages sent through the app in 2016 surged to YouTube's Content ID, to help police Publishers' Association op-ed on canceled. son, or in the passengers' case, getting in by 67 percent over last year. Typical WeChat users sent 74 what's published. Billboard this fall, the songwriters' Franken, who also once questioned the right car. The company did promise messages on the daily basis, while seniors over 55 years sent Financial Times explains that once trade group said it identified near- Uber's privacy policies, asked if the com- to enhance its regular review of ride can- 44 messages every day. the ID system is in place, Facebook will ly 900 videos that contained 33 top panies can consider withholding passen- cellations, though, with a focus on can- The use of voice chat and video chat functions on WeChat work with record labels on a licensing songs on the music charts at the gers' names and photos from the requests cellation rates and quality of service in reached 100 million daily calls this year, up 180 percent from deal for all the music that's available on time. Those clips garnered well over drivers get. The study concluded that those minority census tracts. As for Uber, Kalan- 2015. the site. Those talks are said to be in 600 million views total, so it's easy pieces of info contribute to drivers' ability ick said the company is meeting directly The report said typical WeChat users walked 5,900 steps the early stages and a final agreement to see why the music industry wants to discriminate after all, and withholding with the researchers to discuss the study daily, while seniors above 55 walked 6,700. WeChat users isn't expected before this spring. to be compensated for having its them seems like a possible solution. Both and launching experiments designed to sent out on average of 28 "red envelopes" on the app every The music industry has been tak- material on display in Facebook ride-hailing services, however, told Franken "guard against the effects of discrimina- month, with an average amount of 580 yuan ($83). ing issue with YouTube for years, videos. that doing so isn't ideal. tion" on the platform. (Source: tech.qq.com) claiming that the site doesn't ad- (Source: ft) "It is unlikely that riders would con- (Source: washington post) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 31,31, 20162016 SCIENCE 11 World’s highest bridge opens Many smokers with serious in Southwest China mental illness want to kick habit Among American adults who have a serious mental illness Another architectural marvel to add to development. We developed a new kind such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or clinical depression, the country which already has more than of technology called cantilever erection by 57 percent are smokers. In contrast, only 15 percent of U.S. its fair share of construction wonders. Sit- longitudinal launching, and this significantly adults overall smoke. uated in rugged mountains and gorges, shortened construction time.” Many with such psychiatric the 1,341-meter-long structure, soars 565 High degree of precision problems want to quit smok- meters above the Baipanjiang Valley. Experts say construction was affected ing, but their psychiatrists and Equivalent to a 200-storey building, by wind, requiring a high degree of pre- caseworkers typically don’t Beipanjiang has just overtaken the Sidu cision. prescribe medications to help River Bridge in Hubei Province to be- Normally, crews transport pre-assem- them or refer them to services come the world’s highest. bled sections and install them on the aimed at smoking cessation, China has completed many notewor- bridge. But on this project parts were researchers at Washington thy feats of engineering in recent years. assembled on-site. The engineering side University School of Medicine Now another milestone has been passed also presented many challenges. and BJC Behavioral Health in in the field of bridge construction. Walk- ”Where to place the bridge piers St. Louis have found. ing on the bridge above the gorge, one was a problem. The gorge here is over “Patients with serious men- appreciates what cutting-edge technolo- 500 meters deep, so how are we going tal illness die an average of 25 gy has made possible. to design the structure of the bridge to years younger than people who don’t have these problems, and Bridge shortens travel deal with the strong wind field problem?” smoking is a big factor,” said Li-Shiun Chen, MD, an assistant The bridge connects the mountainous said Liu Bo, deputy chief engineer, CCCC professor of psychiatry and the study’s first author. “Smoking is provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan. It’s Highway Consultants Co., LTD. a common and serious problem for our patients, and although expected to shorten the travel time be- “In October 2013, the Ministry of of around 6 point 1 million yuan, bringing Despite these challenges, the bridge smoking rates have been decreasing in the general population, tween the two places to an hour and a Transport approved the Beipanjiang the research fund to around 15 million. is now part of the highway network in the rates remain very high in this vulnerable population.” half from five hours in the past. Bridge and gave us 8 point 9 million yuan Many institutes, including Jiaotong Univer- Guizhou, integrated into the regional Traditionally, psychiatric wards were among the few places The bridge, which spans the Beipan- in scientific research funding,” said Zhou sity, Guizhou Highway engineering group, grid in southwest China which includes in hospitals where smoking was allowed. Psychiatrists used to jiang Valley, is part of an extensive high- Ping, Director of the Beipanjiang Project. and the Guizhou office of transportation the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan as feel it was acceptable to allow seriously ill patients to smoke way linking Hangzhou City in eastern “Our project provided match-funding joined together to conduct research and well as Chongqing municipality. since the key focus in treatment was psychosis or depression. China’s Zhejiang province to Ruili City in The increased traffic flow through this “But in the past few years, research has shown that smok- southwestern Yunnan Province. Construction of the massive suspension region thanks to the Beipanjian Bridge is ing cessation is beneficial to the mental health of psychiatric Construction of the massive suspension bridge began in 2013, at a cost of around 1 expected to boost logistics and attract patients,” said Laura Jean Bierut, MD, the Alumni Endowed bridge began in 2013, at a cost of around 1 billion yuan or 143 million U.S. dollars. new investment. Professor of Psychiatry and the study’s senior author. “When billion yuan or 143 million U.S. dollars. (Source: cctv.com) they stop smoking, it decreases the risk of recurrent depres- sive episodes that can lead to hospitalization. It also decreas- es the amount of medication they need. Our understanding Weird clouds linger on Saturn’s moon Titan has evolved. Twenty years ago, doctors might have thought NASA’s Cassini spacecraft flew over Titan on June 7 and Based on atmospheric models, scientists have pre- that continuing to smoke didn’t have mental health repercus- July 25 and captured strikingly different photos of the dicted that clouds will become more common at high sions, but now we know better.” moon’s high northern latitude using the probe’s Imaging northern latitudes during summer on Titan. (Source: EurekAlert) Science Subsystem (ISS) and Visual and Infrared Map- Titan’s lakes ping Spectrometer (VIMS). Since 2004, Cassini has documented alterations in Only the VIMS (the bottom, color image) was able to weather patterns as seasons change on Titan. Images Obese fathers may harm peer through the moon’s hazy atmosphere to capture collected by Cassini will help track the onset of clouds an infrared view of the elusive clouds. in the north, where Titan’s lakes and seas are located, their child’s ability to make The different views captured by Cassini’s two onboard NASA officials said. friends imaging cameras raise the question of why clouds would The “answer to what could be causing the discrep- be visible in some images but not others, according to a ancy (between the ISS and VIMS images) appears to Scientists in the U.S. found that the children of obese parents are NASA image description. lie with Titan’s hazy atmosphere, which is much easier at much greater risk of developmental delays by the age of three. The monochrome image at the top was captured by to see through at the longer infrared wavelengths that When mothers were obese, children were far more likely to fail ISS from a distance of about 398,000 miles (640,000 kilo- VIMS is sensitive to (up to 5 microns) than at the shorter, tests of their fine motor skills, which examines how well youngsters meters) and is almost cloud-free. However, the bottom near-infrared wavelength used by ISS to image Titan’s the ISS observations, could be detected by VIMS and can manipulate objects using their fingers and hands. image was captured from about 28,000 miles (45,000 surface and lower atmosphere (0.94 microns),” NASA of- simultaneously lost in the haze to ISS — similar to try- Similarly, children whose father was obese - but not their km) by the VIMS at the longer, infrared wavelength, and ficials said in the statement. ing to see a thin cloud layer on a hazy day on Earth,” mother - were also less likely to pass social skills tests, mean- bright clouds are visible in Titan’s northern skies. Differences in illumination geometry or changes in the NASA officials said. “This phenomenon has not been ing they would struggle in social situations and may find it “Even though these views were taken at different clouds themselves were ruled out, as the images taken by seen again since July 2016, but Cassini has several more harder to make friends. wavelengths, researchers would expect at least a hint of ISS and CIMS were made over the same 24-hour period. opportunities to observe Titan over the last months of He “previous studies in this area have focused on the the clouds to show up in the upper image,” NASA offi- “High, thin cirrus clouds that are optically thicker than the mission in 2017, and scientists will be watching to see mothers’ pre- and post-pregnancy weight,” said the study’s cials said in a statement. “Thus, they have been trying to the atmospheric haze at longer wavelengths, but opti- if and how the weather changes.” first author, Dr. Edwina Yeung, of the National Institutes of (Source: space.com) understand what’s behind the difference.” cally thinner than the haze at the shorter wavelength of Health Division of Intramural Population Health Research. “Our study is one of the few that also includes information about fathers, and our results suggest that dad’s weight also Global warming has caused biggest ever coral die-off on Great Barrier Reef has significant influence on child development.” A colorful underwater habitat replete of emissions. Around 15 to 20 percent of women in Britain are overweight a wide variety of biodiversity was found Emission of CO2 into atmosphere or obese during pregnancy and the NHS warns that it can lead in the least expected place -- Antarctica. A quarter of the carbon dioxide emit- to complications with the birth, for example the risk of miscar- Footage from an underwater robot ted into the atmosphere is absorbed by riage rises from one in five to one in four, and there is a greater captured a rare glimpse of a hidden hab- the ocean, which escalates water’s acidi- chance of needing a Caesarean section and delivering early. itat beneath the sea ice in East Antarctica, ty, says Dr. Johnny Stark of the Australian Many studies have found a link between obesity of par- the Australian Antarctic Division recently Antarctic Division. Since carbon dioxide ents and poorer child health, but few have looked at how it revealed. is more soluble in cold water, and polar impacts development. The community is filled with coco- waters are acidifying at twice the rate of To find out if there was link, the researchers contacted nut-shaped sponges, dandelion-like tropical or temperate places, Stark ex- 5,000 women who were enrolled in the Upstate KIDS study worms, pink encrusting algae and spi- pects cold and polar water to be among which originally set out to find out if fertility treatments af- dery starfish. Scientists stumbled into the the first to be impacted by ocean acidifi- fected child development from birth up to the age of three. hidden habitat while retrieving a SeapHox cation. That can be a threat to the marine (Source: The Telegraph) pH data logger, which has been record- environment. ing the acidity, oxygen, salinity and tem- “Research shows the pink encrusting perature of the seawater on an hourly algae, known as crustose coralline al- This researcher wants basis since November last year. gae, may decrease in extent in a more to initiate contact with Coastal marine environment acidic future ocean, as it incorporates “When you think of the Antarctic calcium into its structure, and this be- Proxima Centauri b coastal marine environment, the icon- comes harder for organisms to obtain ic species such as penguins, seals and -1.5°C year round and are covered in 1.5 phase of understanding the biodiversi- as the acidity of the seawater increases,” You’ve heard of SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial In- whales usually steal the show,” Dr. Glenn meter thick sea ice for nearly most of the ty and complexity of the Antarctic near- said Stark. telligence. It involves tuning in for alien radio signals Johnstone, an Australian Antarctic Divi- year, Johnstone says. shore ecosystem, as well as the threats it “Antarctica may be one of the first or light beacons. But a group called METI Internation- sion biologist, said. “This footage reveals “Occasionally an iceberg may move faces in the future, Johnstone says. places we see detrimental effects of al (short for Messages to Extraterrestrial Intelligence) a habitat that is productive, colorful, dy- around and wipe out an unlucky commu- Scientists in the Australian Antarc- ocean acidification on these organisms.” wants to take a more proactive role by beaming out namic and full of a wide variety of bio- nity, but mostly the sea ice provides pro- tic Program project are in the final field Climate change is a major threat to messages from Earth. diversity, including sponges, sea spiders, tection from the storms that rage above, component of an experiment which will Antarctica. Scientists recently confirmed Douglas Vakoch, the former Director of Interstellar Mes- urchins, sea cucumbers and sea stars.” making it a relatively stable environment determine the impacts of ocean acidifica- that Totten, East Antarctica’s largest gla- sage Composition at the SETI Institute, is launching the METI The biodiverse community lives 30 in which biodiversity can flourish.” tion on Southern Ocean sea-floor com- cier is melting from below. Initiative with one planet in mind: the recently discovered meters below the surface, in water that is Researchers are in the beginning munities under increasing carbon dioxide (Source: IBT) planet around Proxima Centauri, the closest star to Earth (and thus the closest exoplanet.) Vakoch says that METI has more than a few targets in Searching for the human factor in deadly avalanches mind, there are a few advantages to Proxima Centauri b. Every year, about 30 Americans die in avalanches, with an terrain. What they are unaware of, Dr. Hendrikx believes, Some evidence suggests larger groups make riskier “First, it’s close to our solar system, keeping the time for a additional 110 deaths in Canada and Europe. Skiers and “is how they make decisions in a group, under different decisions. Part of that may be peer pressure or a desire roundtrip exchange as short as possible,” Vakoch says. “Sec- snowmobilers account for the vast majority of these deaths. settings and different pressures.” to show off. Part of it may be the so-called expert halo, ond, some have suggested that this exoplanet is potentially Jordy Hendrikx has lost friends and a student to such To untangle these decision-making processes, Dr. which causes people to blindly defer to the perceived habitable.” disasters. An earth sciences professor and director of the Hendrikx teamed up with Jerry Johnson, a professor authority in the group instead of communicating about In 1974, Frank Drake, Carl Sagan, and others composed Snow and Avalanche Laboratory at Montana State Uni- of political science at Montana State University, to start perceived dangers. the Arecibo Message, an uncoded message of scientific facts versity, Dr. Hendrikx studied the geophysics of snow for their Tracks Project in 2013. Avalanche conditions in a simple graphic format meant to announce our existence a decade before he decided that, to prevent avalanche The project relies on backcountry skiers and snow- Faced with the same avalanche conditions, experts in a readily comprehensible format. accidents, human behavior in the backcountry needed mobilers who record their slope movements and answer chose steeper terrain, where avalanches are more likely But in 2008, Doritos also launched a message to the stars, to be better understood. survey questions using their smartphones. The research- to be triggered, than others. beaming a video of a “tribe of Doritos escaping from the pack Scientists have a good grasp on how weather and ers have collected reports from more than 800 people The Tracks Project follows work from an avalanche and sacrificing one of their own to the God of Salsa, as soon terrain contribute to avalanches. Research suggests av- around the world. researcher named Ian McCammon, who, in the early as there are no humans around.” alanche forecasts have about an 80 percent accuracy Among their preliminary findings, some are intuitive. 2000s, analyzed 715 recreational avalanche fatalities in But Vakoch isn’t about to send something the aliens won’t rate. But human activity is a huge — and unpredictable Older people, especially those with children, make more the United States across three decades. Among other understand. After all, he’s been in the business of all things — factor in avalanches. conservative decisions. Young, all-male groups take findings, he suggested that skiers took more risks when alien for more than a decade. “Avalanches aren’t just acts of God,” Dr. Hendrikx said. more risks. Those firmly set on a goal, like conquering a they were familiar with a route or when competing for “To be intelligible, any message to extraterrestrials needs “About 90 percent of avalanche victims trigger the ava- new slope, make riskier choices. “first tracks” on fresh powder. to be written in a universal language, and that won’t be Eng- lanche themselves.” Other findings are more surprising. Though going out Unlike Dr. McCammon, Dr. Johnson explained, “we’re lish or Swahili,” Vakoch says. “We begin with mathematics, be- Forecasting avalanches alone in the backcountry tends to be seen as risky, project also looking at the good side of the story, which is that cause it seems likely that scientists on any world will need to People traveling in the backcountry usually under- respondents who were solo travelers tended to make safer 99 percent of people are using the terrain appropriately.” know at least the essentials of math.” stand avalanche forecasts and know how to read the choices than those who traveled in larger groups. (Source: The NYT) (Source: astronomy.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 IN FOCUS DDECEMBERECEMBER 31,31, 20162016

Iranian female carpet weaver works her way through entrepreneurship

Nahid Hosseini, 49, is a carpet weaving instructor who exports hand-woven carpets made by her trainees to European countries. Hosseini learnt carpet weaving in her childhood from her father, Seifoddin Hosseini, who himself was an exemplary carpet producer and a top carpet weaving instructor. After marrying Darab Darabi, a principal, she moved from the western city of Bijar to the north-central city of Karaj in 1991 and started studying at a seminary in 2000. She started teaching carpet weaving in 2007. Currently, she has some 1,200 trainees nationwide. She is now teaching carpet weav- ing at free of cost classes to women. Additionally, once women learn how to weave a carpet she will task them with weaving carpets made to orders placed by European countries such as Russia, England, Germany, etc. What’s intriguing is that Hosseini doesn’t earn much profit from exporting the carpets to other countries herself and pay almost all the money she makes from selling the carpets to women who weaved the carpets in the first place.

PHOTOGRAPHER Mojtaba Heidari Photographer at the Tehran Times and Mehr news agency Nahid Hosseini is checking up on a carpet ordered by Russia.

Hosseini and her husband, who is always accompanying her with his taxi, are asking for the address of one Hosseini is talking on the phone with one of her trainees in the carpet weaving workshop. of her trainees.

In addition to carpet weaving Hosseini is holding a workshop to teach Hosseini is following up on the improvements of a carpet her trainee is A tableau rug woven by one of Hosseini’s trainees dressmaking to the trainees. weaving ordered by England.

Hosseini is checking up on one of the carpets her trainee is weaving Family members of one of Hosseini’s trainees posing in front of the camera. Sitting next to her husband, Hosseini is talking on the phone with her ordered by Portugal. mother who lives in Bijar. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 31, 2016 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 Putin: Russia won’t expel U.S. Sorin Grindeanu named diplomats in tit-for-tat measure new Romanian prime minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said national affairs committee in the upper house Romania’s president has named social-democrat Sorin Grin- Russia will not expel any U.S. diplomats in re- of the Russian parliament, was quoted by the deanu as the nation’s new prime minister, after turning down sponse to the United States decision to kick RIA news agency as saying the U.S. move rep- an economist who could have become the country’s first fe- out Russian officials over allegations of inter- resented “the death throes of political corpses”. male Muslim premier. ference in the U.S. presidential election. The Twitter feed of the Russian em- The center-right president Klaus Iohannis signed The foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said bassy in London, meanwhile, called the the official decree naming Grindeanu, a 43-year-old earlier on Friday that he was recommend- Obama administration “hapless” and at- former communications minister, as the new prime ing that Putin expel 35 American diplomats tached a picture of a duck with the word minister. in a tit-for-tat response to the U.S. move. “lame” emblazoned across it. Grindeanu is a member of the Social Democratic Party Putin said Russia’s response would A Russian diplomatic source told In- that won December 11 elections, and chairman of the Timis depend on U.S. attitudes to Russia under terfax that the U.S. move was “completely county council. He now faces a confidence vote in parliament the new administration of the U.S. Pres- unexpected” and many of the diplomats on his program and cabinet nominees. ident-elect Donald Trump, who has re- had been preparing to celebrate New The nomination sought to put an end to a political crisis peatedly spoken positively of Russia and Year’s Eve, the biggest Russian holiday. sparked when Iohannis rejected Sevil Shhaideh, who would Putin. Russia is accused of intervening in Many were struggling to find tickets back have been the country’s first female and first Muslim govern- the election in support of Trump. to Russia, as planes were full because of ment leader. “While we reserve the right to respond, the holiday season, the source said. The president offered no reasons for his rejection of Shhai- we will not drop to this level of irrespon- On Thursday, Trump, who has previous- deh, initially put forward by the Social Democrats (PSD), but sible diplomacy, and we will make further ly dismissed reports of Russian interference there was speculation that it was due to her Syrian husband’s steps to help resurrect Russian-American sia ordered cyber-attacks on the Democratic with reciprocal action. In 2001, the George in the election, said: “It’s time for our coun- background. relations based on the policies that the National Committee, Hillary Clinton’s cam- W Bush administration kicked out 51 Russian try to move on to bigger and better things.” Sources close to the president had indicated on administration of D. Trump will pursue,” paign and other political organizations, in an diplomats it said were spies. Russia respond- He added, however, that “in the inter- Thursday that Grindeanu was considered a “better solu- the Russian president said in a statement attempt to influence the election in favor of ed by telling 50 U.S. diplomats to leave Russia. est of our country and its great people, I tion”. on the Kremlin’s website. the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. Russia, which has repeatedly denied will meet with leaders of the intelligence He is seen in Romania as a “disciplined soldier” within the The statement also wished Obama, Trump The U.S. move, announced on Thurs- the hacking allegations, reacted furiously community next week in order to be up- PSD ranks and said himself in a recent interview that he had and the American people a happy new year day, involved the sanctioning of Russia’s to Obama’s measures. dated on the facts of this situation”. joined the party very young as an outlet for his leftist con- and invited “all the children of American dip- GRU and FSB intelligence services, individ- Overnight, foreign ministry spokes- In a conference call with reporters, victions. lomats accredited in Russia to the new year uals and companies linked to them, and the woman Maria Zakharova launched a senior White House officials said the pres- The PSD had proposed the previously little-known and Christmas Tree in the Kremlin”. expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats the U.S. stinging attack on the outgoing U.S. ad- ident-elect’s transition team had been in- Shhaideh after its thumping poll victory on December 11 Earlier, Lavrov had suggested that believes are engaging in espionage. They ministration, writing on Facebook: “The formed of the sanctions before they were when it won 45 percent of the vote, enough to form a Russia would cut off use of a warehouse were given 72 hours to leave the country. people who have spent eight years in the announced on Thursday. Trump and majority coalition with its partners the Alliance of Liberals building in Moscow and an embassy da- Obama said Americans should “be White House are not an administration, Obama spoke on Wednesday, they said. and Democrats. cha on the outskirts of the Russian capi- alarmed by Russia’s actions”. He added they are a group of foreign policy los- The officials added that the actions were Shhaideh, 52, who has only five months ministerial expe- tal. Putin said this would not happen, at that more actions would be taken, “some ers, embittered and short-sighted. Today, a necessary response to “very disturbing rience, is from Romania’s small and long-established Turkish least over the New Year period. of which will not be publicized”. Obama officially proved this.” Russian threats to U.S. national security”. minority, but her Muslim faith is not thought to have been (Source: The Guardian) The U.S. intelligence services believe Rus- Diplomatic expulsions are normally met Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the inter- the problem. Instead the focus was probably on her husband, 54, who worked in the Syrian agriculture ministry for 20 years before U.S. must ‘make the Russians feel pain’: John Bolton immigrating to Romania in 2011 and marrying Shhaideh in 1 The White House said in a statement on Thurs- against some Democratic organizations were carried a piece of what is alleged about this Russian activity is the same year, according to the PSD. day that there was the consensus from the U.S. Intelligence out by Russia as part of Moscow’s plan to interfere in true, it is utterly unacceptable.” Website HotNews cited unnamed sources as saying that Community that Russia’s intervention in the U.S. election the election process in order to sway the vote in Presi- “It is an attack on our constitutional system. It is not the security services had “strongly cautioned” against Shhai- via cyber hacking as “unacceptable and will not be toler- dent-elect Donald Trump’s favor, a claim that has been enough to say, and people should be very careful about deh’s nomination because of the closeness of her husband ated.” rejected by Moscow. this, to say, well, it didn’t actually have an impact on the and his two brothers to President Bashar al-Assad’s govern- “Russia’s cyber activities were intended to influence According to Obama, U.S. intelligence agencies are election. You know, the fact that Russian efforts were in- ment. the election, erode faith in U.S. democratic institutions, in possession of evidence that shows Russian President competent or insufficient shouldn’t make us feel better,” he The PSD’s election triumph came barely a year since anger sow doubt about the integrity of our electoral process, Vladimir Putin supervised the hacking, which targeted added. over a deadly nightclub fire that killed 64 people forced it and undermine confidence in the institutions of the U.S. the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and John Moscow has rejected the U.S. hacking accusa- from office. government,” the statement said. “These actions are un- Podesta, a top aide to defeated Democratic candidate tions as “unfounded,” while calling on the Obama The inferno was blamed on corruption, something Brus- acceptable and will not be tolerated.” Hillary Clinton. administration to provide proof of its interference sels has long complained about since Romania joined the The Obama administration has repeatedly claimed Bolton, who was once tipped to be secretary of state in the election. European Union in 2007. that the hacking attacks weeks before the election in the incoming Trump administration, said that “if even (Source: agencies) (Source: agencies) Nearing exit, Obama seeks to tie Trump’s hands 1 It’s unclear how many of Oba- troversy in a statement, he also suggest- Video shows Israeli forces ma’s late actions Trump will able to re- ed he’s willing to hear out the intelligence abuse Palestinian child verse upon taking office. officials who say Russia targeted the U.S. Should Trump seek to scrap the sanc- The UN vote on Israeli settlements is An Israeli rights group has shared a video showing a group tions on Russia next year, it could trigger another late move by Obama that com- of masked Israeli forces grabbing and detaining a child amid a fight with congressional Republicans, plicates Trump’s policy goals. clashes with Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank. who mostly praised the retaliatory steps Trump has vowed to break with past The incident occurred on Wednesday when a group of Palestin- on Thursday even as they lambasted the administrations on Israeli settlement ac- ian protesters from the village of Kafr Qadum were staging a weekly Obama administration’s foreign policy. tivity and move the U.S. embassy to Je- protest against the expansion of an Israeli settlement which has cut Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) called rusalem (al-Quds). Those moves would off the main rout of the area to Nablus, B’Tselem said. the sanctions “overdue.” Senate Majority align the U.S. closer with Israeli Prime The masked men grabbed the seven-year-old boy and Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called it Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. detained him for 10 minutes after they ambushed the group a “good initial step, however late in com- But even if Trump follows through on of protesters from the roadside, ing.” changing U.S. policy toward Israel, it’s un- “I cried and screamed because of how they looked. The sol- Senior administration officials argued likely he will be able to repeal the UN res- diers detained me for about 10 minutes. They shot at the pro- that any effort to roll back the sanctions olution condemning Israeli settlements. testers with me next to them,” B’Tselem cited the boy as saying. would be “inadvisable” because they ap- To do so, he would need to convince According to the Palestinian International Solidarity Move- ply to Russian intelligence agencies work- nine members of the Security Council - ment designations - the latest protecting them.” ment and the Palestinian Ma’an News Agency, three Palestini- ing against America’s national interest. and the four other members with veto two massive areas in the American West Meanwhile, by dismantling the ans were injured by rubber bullets during the protest. “Hypothetically, you could reverse power, China, France, Russia and Britain - could prove a heavy lift as well, likely dormant National Security Entry-Exit Residents of Kafr Qadum started their weekly protests in 2011, eight those sanctions,” one official told report- - to back a measure scrapping the res- requiring a prolonged legal battle. Registration System, Obama could slow years after the 2003 expansion of the illegal Kedumim settlement. ers. “But it wouldn’t make a lot of sense.” olution. No president has ever reversed a pre- any possible effort Trump makes to set The protest was held a few days after the United Nations The actions against Russia includ- The settlement resolution passed the decessor’s actions to create a monument up a registry for Muslims in the U.S. The Security Council passed a resolution, condemning the Israeli ed booting 35 officials from the United council 14-0, with the U.S. abstaining. under the Antiquities Act. system could have served as a founda- settlement construction in the Palestinian occupied lands. States and closing down two compounds While the resolution has no direct, The Obama administration and envi- tion for a new Trump program. Israelis shoot Palestinian woman that were suspected of being used by practical effect on current settlement ac- ronmental groups argue it can’t legally But Trump has signaled he plans to In another development, Israeli forces shot and wounded Russian intelligence. tivity, it could make peace talks between be done, though some Republican law- forge ahead with controversial counter- a Palestinian woman near Jerusalem (al-Quds) on Friday. Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on Israel and the Palestinians more difficult makers argue otherwise. terrorism efforts, including his proposal Israeli police claimed the 35-year-old was approaching a claims of Russian election interference, in the future. “In terms of whether it can be over- to ban immigration from countries with checkpoint in the area with a knife. and has said the U.S. should try and “get The Palestinians could use it as lever- turned, no,” said Christie Goldfuss, ties to Islamic extremism. Witnesses at the site said she was left for around an hour along” with the country and seek to fight age in negotiating land swaps and the managing director of the White House “You’ve known my plans all along and after the attack on the ground before receiving treatment. terrorists. final status of holy sites in East al-Quds, Council on Environmental Quality. “The I’ve been proven to be right, 100 percent (Source: Press TV) Yet his response to the sanctions on which the resolution refers to as occu- Antiquities Act gives the president the correct,” Trump said last week in response Thursday was muted. While he called for pied Palestinian territory. authority to create monuments, but does to a string of attacks in Europe. (Source: The Hill) the country to “move on” from the con- Undoing Obama’s national monu- not provide explicit authority to undo Indian FM looks into Not any ordinary presentation Narges Ashtari case Going local in advertising 1 After just two days of Zarif’s reply to the celebrities, came the twitter message of the Indian foreign minister which By Marjan Golpira traditional Iranian pottery plates. brought much hope to supporters of Narges. All of the students of an advertising class were in for The presenter certainly looked the part in her beau- Following Swaraj’s message, Narges expressed happiness a big surprise as they walked into their classroom on tiful, native, red velvet outfit. in a personal message she left for one of the journalists at the Thursday afternoon. As she presented the topic, Native Advertising, there Tehran Times, saying “I’m counting down the days to freedom.” Some undergrad pupils at Soore University in Tehran was plenty of time for the remaining students to nibble “Within the space of just a few days, both Dr. Zarif and Sush- delivered a class presentation that went above and be- on the simple fare. The presentation was accompanied ma Swaraj made public statements regarding my case which I yond any one’s expectation. by variety of pictures and short clips to power it up, giv- am extremely grateful for. Obviously because this has happened The aroma of burning incense sticks in the class was just ing it a more concrete and evidence-based foundation in India, it is a huge step that Sushma Swaraj has now gotten enough to take you to the deep jungles of northern Iran. while making it more interesting for the audience. involved. It just shows that if you fight for your rights, eventually A couple of oil lamps were hanging off the ceiling A question was thrown in to stimulate students think- you will have to be listened to. That’s all I ever wanted, to be while a couple of long tangerine branches, of course ing and grab their attention and the one who gave the heard and to be given a fair chance”, She noted. with tangerines still on them, was wrapped around the right answer was awarded with a prize. In 2014, when Narges had set an excursion for her blind lamps giving it an exotic look. In the end, the group received a warm round of children, a child who was not part of her children’s home and A beautiful table was set in the middle of the room applause and was offered a final exam exemption, a was tagged along by his parents to the picnic, went missing. with variety of simple organic foods, from free-range well-deserved call by the professor. After the disappearance of that healthy 5-year-old boy, A group of students outperformed their class presenta- eggs to homemade bread and yogurt, organic olives You cannot ever go wrong with going beyond your the Rayagada court found Narges guilty of involuntary man- tion at Soore University in Tehran with their professor and walnuts to local spices and cookies all in either call of duty, be it as a student or as an employee, as the slaughter and sentenced her to a year in jail and $4,300 in at their side. hand-woven baskets, attributed to northern of Iran, or reward will come along with it. fines. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORT DDECEMBERECEMBER 31,31, 20162016

Ronaldo rejected €300m BBarthez:arthez: ZidaneZidane kknowsnows ffootballootball China move with €100m salary - Jorge Mendes The date is 17 August 1994 and France are trailing 2-0 to Czech Republic in a Cristiano Ronaldo's agent says the superstar rejected an offer Bordeaux friendly. On the bench, Fabien from a Chinese Super League club that would have paid him Barthez has just one cap to his name and over €100 million ($105,581,500) per year. Zinedine Zidane is awaiting his debut. Jorge Mendes confirmed to Sky Sports Italia in an in- With 63 minutes gone, the young play- terview released on Thursday night that the unnamed club maker enters the fray for Corentin Mar- were willing to pay Real Madrid a transfer fee of €300 million tins – and promptly turns the match on ($316,744,500). its head. "It was his first appearance," recalls Barthez, reliving that landmark night for FIFA.com. "He came on and immediately took control. He took responsibility for our play." He also weighed in with a sumptuous pair of goals: one netted from 25 metres with the outside of his left boot and the other a header planted high into the net. Like everyone else, Barthez was left as- tonished by what he had just seen – and not for the last time. Plenty more breath- taking moments lay ahead before the two brothers in arms retired together in 2006, but Barthez has stopped being surprised by "From China, they've offered €300m to Real Madrid and his old friend's exploits. Back in the present more than €100m per year to the player," Mendes said. day, the former France goalkeeper is not in "But money is not everything; the Spanish club is his life." the least bit shocked to see Zidane flour- The €300m transfer fee would have nearly tripled the record ish at the Real Madrid helm, nor to see his €105m price that Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pog- name on the list of candidates for The Best ba in the summer. FIFA Men's Coach 2016. Ronaldo's proposed salary of €100m -- or €1,923,077 "Everyone talks about success, but that's per week -- also would have blown away the €17,453,800 not how I see it," explains the 1998 FIFA (€335,650 per week) he is reported to make at his current World Cup™ winner. "It's not success in the deal at Madrid. sense that it hasn't just fallen into his lap. Last year, Mendes told the BBC that "someone will pay" You have to go looking for luck and, when it £300m (then €396m) for Ronaldo should Real Madrid put him appears, you have to know how to seize it. up for sale, but Mendes also claimed the Portuguese star had a Like [Johan] Cruyff, [Diego] Maradona and £1 billion (€1.32bn) release clause. Pele, Zidane was always able to make the Ronaldo, who won his fourth Ballon d'Or earlier this month, difference in big games. signed a new contract at Madrid in November, extending his "Zidane knows football," adds Le Divin commitment to the club until 2021. Chauve (the Divine Bald One). "He loves Mendes was speaking in a taped segment from Dubai, where attacking play. Never forget that football is Ronaldo last week accepted the honour of best player at the above all about enjoyment and attractive Globe Soccer Awards. play. Some people tend to forget that, but The video was released a day after Carlos Tevez, Ronaldo's not Zidane. I listen to him talk about it and likes to speak up. Zidane was a leader on apply the same things that made him suc- stock in personal awards – so he will surely former teammate at Manchester United, signed a major deal watch him put it into action. I've seen that the pitch above all else. He said a few words cessful. When you play for fun, that breeds forgive his friend for pinpointing another fa- with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. he relies on that notion of enjoyment and from time to time, but it was when he had victories." vourite for The Best FIFA Men's Coach 2016, It was initially thought that Tevez could make as much as work." Those ingredients have clearly borne the ball at his feet that he took most re- Santos the favourite with Claudio Ranieri and Fernando Santos £615,000 a week, but subsequent reports said the deal was clos- fruit too, with Zidane winning the UEFA sponsibility for the team, although he did Coaching one of the best teams in the the rival candidates. "It's wonderful that he's er to £226,000 weekly -- a salary of £11,752,000. Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and express himself more as time went on and world is not all about fun and victories, of on the list to begin with," says Barthez, who Last week, Shanghai SIPG signed Brazil midfielder Oscar from FIFA Club World Cup – all in the space of he became a senior player." course. The critics are always poised and – as a UEFA European Championship win- Chelsea for around £52m, but Mendes was confident Ronaldo less than a year. Promoted to head coach at Madrid in the threat of dismissal is only ever a few ner in 2000 – is backing the Portugal boss would not be the next in line. Natural progression January, Zizou had to display his man-man- poor results away – even if your name is to prevail. "The Chinese market is a new market," Mendes said. "They For Barthez, the former midfield maes- agement skills right from the start. Los Zidane. "His decision was based on his "I think it's more difficult to win a EURO can buy a lot of players, but then again it is impossible to go tro's switch to coaching was a natural pro- Merengues were riven by crisis at the time, passion for football," explains Barthez, than the Champions League. The stand- for Ronaldo. gression. "Zidane has the qualities of a but the new man in charge soon calmed who turned to motorsports after his own ard is higher and it only happens every "Cristiano is the best player in the world and best ever. It is top-level sportsman, namely the ability to the storm and got everyone pulling in the retirement. four years. Portugal fully deserved to win normal to have some offers. listen and observe," he says. "That's what same direction. "He's respected because he "As for the rest, he doesn't care. Media because they played as a team. The cred- "He won the European Championship with Portugal. It's like he did throughout his career to become was a great player, but above all because pressure, money… I'm sure that's all second- it for that goes to the players on the pitch winning the Italian league with Genoa -- they were not the fa- a great player, and that's what he's done he's a good person – sound and sincere," ary to him and he doesn't even think about but also to the coach, who was able to lead vourite." (Source: ESPN) to get where he is today. He never went says Barthez. it. He's not doing this for the recognition. them to victory." around claiming he was going to coach "He'll always speak the truth, even if it He's doing it out of pleasure alone and be- So it does, but Zidane might just end up Real Madrid. That's not his style. causes pain, and that's important in terms cause of his love of the game. He also wants astonishing his old friend once again when the "The fact that Didier Deschamps be- of earning your players' trust. I don't say to pass something on, which is an impor- results are announced in Zurich on 9 January, 22 came a coach was even more predictable, that because he's a friend. Looking at it tant factor for him." years after that famous night in Bordeaux. World No1 Andy Murray given his nature as a leader of men who objectively, he's been able to call upon and If Barthez is correct, Zidane puts little (Source: FIFA) changes tack as Australian Open challenge looms Andy Murray, the world No1, returns to the court in Chelsea's title to lose, says Ibrahimovic: Ronaldo was better than Abu Dhabi on Friday hoping a change of preparations can help deliver an elusive Australian Open title next Arsenal's Wenger Ronaldinho and Cristiano month. The Scot ended the 2016 tour at the top of the ATP rank- ings after winning both the Wimbledon and Olympic titles. He then defeated the previous No1, Novak Djokovic, to win the year-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Arsene Wenger believes the Premier "At the start of the season, they had a Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Ronal- This type of player isn’t build; he’s born. League title is "Chelsea's to lose" and the little bit of a dodgy start, but after, since do was better than Ronaldinho and He is unique.” Arsenal manager is ready to salute An- they've changed their system, they are on a Cristiano Ronaldo. O Fenômeno “Ronaldinho was also phenom- More than a month on from that victory, Murray faces tonio Conte's men should they surpass run where the confidence plays a big part." won his third FIFA World Player of enal. We played together at Milan, David Goffin of Belgium in the semi-finals of the Mubadala the Gunners' record of 14 consecutive Records are there to be beaten and if the Year prize after inspiring Bra- but he wasn’t at his best like be- World Championship, which Rafael Nadal and Milos Raon- top-flight victories. somebody does better than you, you have zil to 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/ fore. But I loved it when we played ic have also entered. He will contest the Qatar Open next Chelsea lie six points clear of the field, to acknowledge it and say 'well done'." Japan™ glory. Ronaldinho went on and he ran around with his hair week, after deciding to enter a Tour event prior to the nine ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal, and Wenger's side were the last to beat to lift that award twice, while the all over the place, dribbling at Australian Open. will strengthen their position further if they Chelsea in the league, thrashing them 3-0 31-year-old Portuguese is vying with speed. And when he wanted to, he It is the first time in three years Murray has elected to extend their club record winning streak to in September, a humbling reverse that Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Mes- made opponents look like children take such an approach and his hope is that it can help him 13 by beating Stoke City on Saturday. prompted Conte to change his formation. si to become The Best FIFA Men’s around him. be victorious in Melbourne, where he is a five-times run- "At the moment Chelsea are the su- They have not looked back since. Player for 2016. “As for [Cristiano Ronaldo], we didn’t ner up. “This year I just fancy doing something different,” per-favourites (for the title)," Wenger told "They have addressed their problems When asked by ESPN Brasil which play together. He is different, because he told The National newspaper. “It hasn’t worked for me a news conference on Friday. "But it is well. You have to give credit to Conte to of the trio was superior, Ibrahimov- he’s the fruit of a lot of training. He’s not at the Aussie Open in the last few years. Probably nothing theirs to lose as we say here in England. find a solution that has balanced well his ic responded unwaveringly: “I think natural.” to do with my preparations, but it [going to Doha] splits "At the moment they have won it but team," Wenger said. Ronaldo ‘Fenômeno'. For me he In iconic footage before a Mi- the journey a little bit as well. they can still lose it. It's still a long way to "They bought David Luiz who stabi- was an example of what football is. lan Derby in 2007, Ibrahimovic “So to split that trip up from doing one long trip to go and so the head-to-head (matches) lised their defensive record and I think Everything he did was like ‘wow’. The was captured gazing admiringly at Australia might help. But I have enjoyed playing in Abu will have a vital importance." overall they are the team that has been way he dribbled, the way he ran, the opponent Ronaldo. A superb goal Dhabi and Doha in the past. I have had some success in If Chelsea win their next three match- the most consistent until now." way he scored goals, he was a genu- from the Brazilian put AC Milan Doha, so hopefully it will work well for me. It seems to es against Stoke, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has ine phenomenon. ahead, but the big Swede’s right- have worked well for Novak as well over the years; hope- Leicester City they will surpass the re- recovered from a hamstring injury for the “What he did, I don’t think anyone foot snatched Inter Milan a 2-1 vic- fully it works for me too.” cord of consecutive top-flight wins set by London derby against Crystal Palace but will do again. Because it was all natural tory. Murray has been busy with winter training in Florida as usu- Wenger's team stretching across the 2001- winger Theo Walcott and left back Kieran to him, it wasn’t anything constructed. The Best FIFA Men’s Player will be al, where he received his BBC sports personality of the year 02 and 2002-03 seasons. Gibbs will miss Sunday's Premier League He wasn’t designed. Ronaldo was nat- crowned at The Best FIFA Football award by videolink the week before Christmas. "If they do it, it's absolutely marvellous be- clash at the Emirates Stadium. ural, he was born to be what he was. It Awards™ ceremony in Zurich on 9 Jan- (Source: Guardian) cause nobody expected that," Wenger said. (Source: Reuters) wasn’t something he trained to become. uary 2017. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 331,1, 22016016 SPORT 15 WWhathat a yearyear iit’st’s bbeeneen fforor AAsiansian 2016 in Numbers ffootballootball powerhousepowerhouse With FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers, the UEFA EURO and the Copa America, as well as club football, FIFA.com reviews 2016 in stats. It has been another phenomenal year for Asian football – twelve scintillating months years and 275 days was the age at which Aritz that have witnessed the continuing 35 Aduriz broke an 86-year-old record to become evolution of the game throughout the Spain’s oldest all-time marksman. Jose Maria continent. Highlights of Iran’s footballing Pena, who the Athletic Bilbao striker wrestled the year are as follows: distinction off by netting against FYR Macedonia, had February been 50 days younger when he scored the only goal in a AFC Futsal Championship 1930 friendly against Portugal. Uzbekistan Finals Iran secured an 11th AFC Futsal World Cup qualifiers unbeaten at home – Championship title after edging out 32 including 30 victories – was the run that USA hosts Uzbekistan 2-1 in the final. Ali had ended by their bitterest rivals in November. Hassanzadeh was awarded the Most Mexico became the first team to win a qualifier in the US Valuable Player for his incredible displays since Milton Nunez propelled Honduras to a 3-2 triumph throughout the tournament. Thailand’s in Washington D.C. in 2001. It was El Tri’s first win away to Suphawut Thueanklan was named the the Stars and Stripes in World Cup qualifying in 44 years, top scorer after netting four goals. with the Americans having won each of the previous four, August all in Columbus, 2-0. A few days later, Costa Rica made it Olympic Football Tournament Rio nine straight home wins over USA, who lost back-to-back de Janeiro, Brazil World Cup qualifiers for the first time in 15 years. Korea Republic reached the quarter- finals of the Men’s Olympic Football straight losses to France is the run Portugal tournament, while China PR and Australia 10 unexpectedly extinguished to win their first reached the same stage of the Women’s major trophy. They had last avoided defeat in Olympic Football extravaganza. History the fixture fully 41 years ago, also in Paris, with a 2-0 was also made when referee Alireza Faghani and his assistants Reza Sokhandan and Mohammadreza Mansouri from the Islamic Republic of Iran became the first Asian match officials to officiate the Men’s Olympic Football final. the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia, AFC U-16 Championship India out victory. Iraq’s Mohammed Dawood September displaying the growth of Asian futsal. Finals bagged the Most Valuable Player and Top FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia Iran’s Ahmad Esmaeilpour won the Iraq defeated Iran after an intense Scorer awards. Iran claimed a historic third place at tournament’s Bronze Ball award. match culminating in a 4-3 penalty shoot- (Source: AFC)

Naft Tehran marches into Zob Ahan set to sign Hazfi Cup final Lebanese midfielder

friendly victory. The first goalless UEFA EURO final was a little over ten minutes away when Eder became the first player born outside Europe to score in it. The man from Guinea-Bissau also became the second non-French Ligue 1 player to score in a major international decider after Jorge Burruchaga at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Portugal conquered the EURO having been ahead in only 73 of the 720 minutes they played in France.

straight trophy matches is what Paris Saint- 9 Germain have conquered. Since losing the Coupe de France final to a Lille side comprising Adil Rami, Yohan Cabaye, Eden Hazard and Gervinho in 2011, PSG have won that competition twice and the Coupe de SPORTS Naft Tehran football awarded a penalty kick to Sepahan but SPORTS Lebanese with his countryman Ali Hamam in la Ligue three times, while August’s 4-1 win over Lyon deskteam defeated Ehsan Haji Safi missed that. deskmidfielder Rabih the Iranian football club. in Austria gave the capital giants a fourth successive Sepahan 1-0 in the Iran’s Hazfi Cup Shoja Khalilzadeh from Sepahan Ataya is on the verge of joining Zob Ahan will represent Iran in Trophee des Champions. semi-final on Friday. and Naft Tehran’s Abbas Bouazar were Iranian side Zob Ahan on a three- the 2017 AFC Champions League In the match held in Naghsh-e sacked in the injury time due to a clash. year contract according to Kooora. where the team has been drawn consecutive World Cup qualifying victories is what Jahan Stadium, Iman Mobali scored “We deserved to win the match. Ataya who is under contract in Group C along with Al-Ahli of 6 Brazil have made it for the first time in 47 years. the winner from the penalty spot in the Naft Tehran is determined to win the with Al Ansar will move to Zob Saudi Arabia and Al-Ain of the The last time came when ten goals in six outings 45th minute. title. I think the referee was wrong to Ahan with a 400,000 USD fee while UAE. from Tostao helped Brazil win all six of their Mexico 1970 The visiting team went down to 10 award Sepahan a penalty kick,” Daei, the Lebanese club will earn 30% of Zob Ahan who is the Hazfi Cup preliminaries – two apiece against Colombia, Venezuela men in the 79th minute after Tohid who was sent to stands, said. the fee to let him join the Iranian defending champions will take and Paraguay. Back then, however, the standard of Gholami was shown a straight red card. On Saturday, Tractor Sazi will host side. on Tractor Sazi in the Hazfi Cup South American sides outside the big three – Argentina, In the 86th minute, the referee Zob Ahan in another semis in Tabriz. Rabih Ataya is going to reunite semifinal on Saturday. Brazil and Uruguay – was nowhere near as high as it is today, making Tite’s team’s achievement all the more impressive. Since the 55-year-old assumed the reins in Three coaches on target after Bulgarian Stoychev rejects Iran offer June, A Seleção have beaten Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Argentina and Peru, scoring 17 goals and The Islamic Republic of Iran Volleyball Federation (IRIVF) since he was concerned that he could not accomplish conceding just one. has entered into negotiations with three coaches after such a task. former Bulgarian volleyball player and head coach Davarzani went on to name 47-year-old Italian Mauro hours and three minutes: that is how long Radostin Stoychev decided not to take charge of Iran Berruto among the three volleyball head coaches whom 5 Argentina have played without scoring in a men’s national volleyball team. the IRIVF is in talks with, noting that the trio have been Copa America final. After Cesar Delgado gave IRIVF President Mohammad Reza Davarzani said on requested to present their plans. them an 87th-minute lead in the 2004 decider, Adriano Wednesday that Stoychev told Iranian sports officials last The senior Iranian official said the names of the volleyed home an 11th-hour equaliser before Brazil night that his primary coaching objective was to claim other two candidates will be publicized once they have won on penalties. A Seleção then beat La Albiceleste the podium, and that he would not get to grips with mapped out their own strategies. 3-0 in the climax to the 2007 edition, while the last two the task unless he was fairly sure he could accomplish Davarzani highlighted that IRIVF aims to sign a Copa finals have both finished 0-0 after 120 minutes the task. head coach, who has produced dramatic results with and ended with Chile winning penalty shoot-outs. La “Stoychev did a month-long survey of Iran’s volleyball his team in the Olympics, the FIVB world leagues and Roja, who took 99 years to finally lift the trophy, became situation, and finally came to the conclusion that he championships. the first country to win it in consecutive years since cannot lead the Iranian team to a top podium given The IRIVF refused to renew the contract of Iran Argentina in 1947. the status quo; so he refused to take the helm at Iran’s national volleyball team coach Raul Lucio Lozano after team,” Davarzani stated. the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Iran finished fifth in the successive world transfer records had been The IRIVF chief further noted that his federation among the best four in the world within the next four games under Lozano’s tutelage. 5 broken by Real Madrid until Manchester United (Source: PressTV) plans to accommodate the national volleyball team years, and that is the reason behind Stoychev’s decision spent €105 million to land Paul Pogba from Juventus. Los Merengues had previously made Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Pocket Billiards coach Johan Ruijsink to visit Iran Bale the sport’s most expensive player. British clubs had Former Team Europe Mosconi Cup charge of the Iranian team in the Asian participated in many world tour and retired from the position undefeated been responsible for 15 of the first 16 biggest signings captain Johan Ruijsink has been invited championship which will be held in European championships. through seven editions. – Bernabe Ferreyra’s move from Tigre to River Plate was to Iran to coach the national team. Turkmenistan in September. Ruijsink was captain of Team Europe He was the Netherlands’ coach the exception. They had, however, broken the record only The 50-year-old Dutchman will take The world renowned coach has Mosconi Cup for many years and from 2003 to 2010. (Source: Tasnim) once in 65 years – Newcastle United’s 1996 capture of Alan Shearer – until Pogba, 23, became the youngest holder of the title since a 20-year-old Denilson joined Iran national football team not to play friendly with Iraq: report Real Betis in 1998.

The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic and Saudi Arabia scheduled for March 23 and 28 Quick hits of Iran (FFIRI) has rejected an offer from its Iraqi respectively in Group B of the 2018 FIFA World Cup years and 163 days is what Yokohama FC’s Kazu counterpart to play a friendly match, according to Qualification. 49 Miura extended his own record to as Japanese an Emirati newspaper. Carlos Queiroz’s men, meanwhile, will play Qatar professional football’s oldest scorer in August. Iraq had asked Iran to arrange a friendly match in and China on March 23 and 28 respectively in Group Tehran’s Azadi Stadium in Tehran on March 18 but A. 6 players have now scored in the English, German, the FFIRI has rejected that, eremnews.com reported. Iran national football team was supposed to Italian and Spanish top flights after Kevin-Prince The Emirati newspaper wrote that the Iranian play a warm-up match with Morocco at the Al Ain Boateng bagged on his Las Palmas bow. The officials rejected the match just because it is not in Stadium in Dubai on January 6 but it seems the former Ghana international emulated Florin Raducioiu, on their plans. match will be called off because Emirati officials will Gica Popescu, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Pierre Wome and Iraq national team Radhi Shenaishil is preparing only let the game to be held behind closed doors. Obafemi Martins. his team for two crucial matches against Australia (Source: Tasnim) (Source: FIFA) b

Managing Director: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Hassan Lasjerdi Poem of the day Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98(21) 88808214 [email protected] I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 From Canaan Joseph shall return, whose face Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 [email protected] http://www.tehrantimes.com/culture A little time was hidden: weep no more-- Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Oh, weep no more! in sorrow’s dwelling-place Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 The roses yet shall spring from the bare floor! www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran Hafez Webmaster: [email protected] P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Prayer Times SINCE 1979 Printed at: Kayhan - ISSN: 1017-94 Zip Code: 1599814713 Noon:12:07 Evening: 17:21 Dawn: 5:44 tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:14 (tomorrow) DECEMBER 31, 2016 Berlin cancels show of TMCA Iranian artist Javad Alizadeh honored at UN/ Ranan Lurie Political Western collection Cartoon Awards CULTURE TEHRAN — The Prussian Cultural desk ARTTEHRAN — Iranian cartoonist Javad Heritage Foundation announced deskAlizadeh received one of the ten last Wednesday the planned exhibition of the Western honorable mentions at the United Nations/Ranan collection of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art Lurie Political Cartoon Awards for 2016, the organizers (TMCA) in Berlin has been called off after Iran had not announced on December 15. granted export permits for any of the artworks scheduled to be sent to Germany, Deutsche Welle reported on Wednesday. The president of the foundation, Hermann Parzinger, said that he “regrettably had to decide to take this step.” Based on an agreement signed between the foundation and the TMCA in October 2015, the museum agreed to send a selection of artworks from its Western collection, which is considered to be the most important outside of North America and Europe, for a show in Germany. The exhibition was set to open at the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin on December 4, but was postponed in November after Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi-Amiri halted the plan to send the collection to Germany and ordered further investigations. Earlier in September, the plan faced opposition from Iranian art experts and gallery owners. The opponents said that the collection could be Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art impounded by legal claims from the family of Mohammad The collection was scheduled to travel to Italy for a the exhibition in Rome. “We are now asking our Iranian Reza Pahlavi, the last monarch of Iran, and the relatives show at the Maxxi Museum in Rome from March through counterparts” if they will meet “their commitments” to This combination photo shows Iranian cartoonist Javad Alizadeh and his of the royals. August. Maxxi and to the Italian government, and will know in untitled work that won an honorable mention at the United Nations/Ranan Some works of the collection were confiscated from Giovanna Melandri, president of the Fondazione Maxxi early January, she said. Lurie Political Cartoon Awards for 2016. homes of the royal family and their relatives after the told the New York Times on Wednesday that she and her Iranian officials have made no comment after the cancellation of the show at the Berlin gallery. He received the honor for his untitled work, which victory of the Islamic Revolution. team were “verifying” whether it was still possible to hold depicts a poor barefoot man who puts his shoes up for sale. Miroslav Barvircak from Slovakia won the first prize Writer Puran Farrokhzad dies at 84 while Yonatan Wachsmann from Israel and Steve Sack from the U.S. received second and third prizes. ARTTEHRAN — Puran Noshahr in 1932, she taught her celebrated poet Forugh Farrokhzad Winners were selected by a jury composed of former deskFarrokhzad, the brothers and sister to read and who is also her sister. secretary-general of the United Nations Kofi Annan, author of “Woman from Writing to write before school age. She also composed poems several political and cultural figures and a group of History”, an encyclopedia of world’s She was the writer of dozens of published in several books, envoys at the United Nations. most influential women in the books, including “The Databank including “Happiness in Having Red Nine more cartoonists from Afghanistan, Denmark, cultural field, died of heart failure of Iran’s Most Influential Women”, Apples” and “The Chaotic War”. Portugal, Switzerland, China, Turkey, Thailand, the U.S. at Tehran’s Iranmehr Hospital on “The Red Imaginations of a Poppy”, Among the novels she wrote and Brazil were also honored. Thursday, some Persian media a selection of poems by female are “Behind the Mirror”, “Fire and The annual political cartoon awards was established announced. She was 84. writers of the world, and “One Who Wind”, “At the End of Fire and by the United Nations in 2000 and named after Born in the northern Iran city of Does Not Resemble Anyone”, about Mirror”. cartoonist Ranan Lurie. PICTURE OF THE DAY TEHRANA TIMES/Mehran Riazi “The History WHAT’S IN ART GALLERIES of Love” Painting An exhibition of paintings by Hadi Taqinasab is currently underway published in at Mojdeh Gallery. The exhibition will run until January 9 at the gallery located Persian at 27 North Allameh Blvd., in the Saadatabad neighborhood. ARTTEHRAN — A Persian deskversion of American A collection of paintings by Farnaz Shoar is author Nicole Krauss’ “The History of on display at Sayeh Gallery. Love” has recently been released by The exhibition entitled “Cold Markaz Publications in Tehran. May” runs until January 4 at the Taraneh Alidusti, the star of gallery located at 3 Aqakhani Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi’s Alley, Omidvar St. in the acclaimed dramas “About Elly” and Niavaran neighborhood. “The Salesman”, is the translator of the book. Paintings by Narenj Kazemi are on display “The History of Love”, is about in an exhibition at E1 Gallery. Leo, a Polish-Jewish old man who The exhibit named “Deep immigrated to New York after World Oath” will be running until War II, his heart having been broken January 13 at the gallery, which by Alma, his childhood love. Now, can be found at 1 Hamid Dead nearing the end of his life, Leo reflects End, off Lesani Alley, Jebheh St., often on the meaning of his life and off Mahdieh St. in the Elahieh neighborhood. on what will be left of him after he is gone. Alidusti is also the translator of Woodturning Canadian writer Alice Munro’s “My Mess-Negar Gallery is playing host to an Fans hold pictures of puppeteer Donya Fannizadeh and Iran’s most popular puppet Kola-Qermezi during her funeral in Tehran on December Mother’s Dream” published by Markaz exhibition of woodturning works 29, 2016. Fannizadeh died last Wednesday at 49 after about ten years of battling sarcoma. Publications in 2011. by Davud Molai. The exhibition will run until January 2 at the gallery Actress Debbie Reynolds dies of a “Watership Down” author Richard located at No. 5 in the Park Prince Building on Molla Sadra stroke, a day after daughter Adams dies at 96 Highway. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) —Debbie broken heart.” LONDON (Reuters) — British after realizing the city was not for Reynolds, a leading lady in Hollywood One of the most enduring and novelist Richard Adams, the author him. Illustration musicals and comedies in the 1950s endearing Hollywood stars of her of “Watership Down”, which sold “Watership Down” was created, A collection of illustrations by Mostafa and 1960s, including “Singin’ in the time, Reynolds received a best actress millions of copies and captivated he told Britain’s Telegraph Akbari is on show in an exhibition Rain,” died on Wednesday, her son Academy Award nomination for the a generation of children, has died newspaper in 2014, out of a desire at Mehrva Gallery. said, just one day after the death of 1964 musical “The Unsinkable Molly aged 96, his family said. to be a constant parental presence, The exhibit entitled “From her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher. Brown.” The tale of brave rabbits telling his daughters the rabbit Eyes’ Secret” runs until January 9 Reynolds, 84, an Oscar-nominated Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame searching for safety when their stories on the way to school. at the gallery that can be found singer-actress, was rushed to Cedars- as Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” warren is threatened was at first “I’ve got a thing about that. at 38 South Aban St. off Karim Sinai hospital earlier on Wednesday, films and later battled through drug rejected by major publishers. But Parents ought to spend a lot of Khan Ave. “It’s true, she’s with Carrie,” her addiction before going on to tell her the adventures of Hazel and Fiver time in their children’s company. A son, Todd Fisher, told Reuters, adding story as a best-selling author, died on went on to become a best-seller lot of them don’t, you know,” he Multimedia that shortly before suffering a stroke Tuesday at age 60 after suffering a and the book is now considered a said. Mah Gallery is showcasing paintings Reynolds had said she missed her heart attack last Friday. classic. He wrote many other novels and sculptures by Reza-Amir daughter and wanted to be with her. After Fisher’s death, Reynolds It was also made into a hugely about his childhood and youth, Yarahmadi. “She left very shortly after that and said on Facebook, “Thank you to successful animated film and won as well as about a period serving The exhibition entitled “Trees those were the last words she spoke,” everyone who has embraced the the Carnegie Medal and Guardian in the army in wartime. Adams and Crows” runs until January Todd Fisher said. gifts and talents of my beloved and Children’s Fiction Award. also wrote a sequel to Watership 14 at the gallery located at 26 After the news of Reynolds’ death, amazing daughter. I am grateful for Adams, a self-confessed Down, the name of hill in the north Golestan Blvd., off Africa Ave. numerous people took to social your thoughts and prayers that are countryside-loving man, was a of Hampshire, near where he grew media and wrote that “she died of a now guiding her to her next stop.” civil servant who left government up in the English countryside.