Rafsanjani: 110 foreign companies Iran’s Ehsan Hadadi Top Iranian 21112Iran has a humanitarian 4 to attend Tehran to participate at IAAF stage actors

NATION view toward Iraq ECONOMY RAILEXPO 2016 SPORTS Diamond League ART& CULTURE honored

WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y U.S. confiscation of Iranian assets violates JCPOA: Haddad-Adel 2

12 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 37th year No.12542 Monday MAY 2, 2016 Ordibehesht 13, 1395 Rajab 24, 1437 Tehran Intl. Seoul Book Fair to Rouhani upbeat over determined experience new to boost atmosphere this Majlis election results trade with year: official POLITICAL TEHRAN — President Has- him more leeway in advancing his economic an event celebrated worldwide on May 1 as Tehran to desksan Rouhani on Sunday policies. well as Teacher Day, an annual event named CULTURE TEHRAN — Deputy expressed happiness over the results of par- Rouhani said this in a gathering of laborers after Martyr Morteza Motahari. $30 billion deskCulture Minister for liamentary election which is expected to give on the occasion of International Workers’ Day, 2 Cultural Affairs Seyyed Abbas Salehi ECONOMY TEHRAN — South who is also the director of the Tehran desk International Book Fair has said that the Leader receives Islamic Jihad chief Ramadan Abdullah Korea is determined event will experience a new atmosphere to enhance the worth of trade with this year at Shahre Aftab, a newly-con- Iran to $30 billion, the Korean minis- structed fairground in southern Tehran. ter of land, infrastructure, and trans- He made the remarks on Sunday port Kang Ho-in told reporters after during a press conference held after a meeting with Iranian Energy Minister a visit by journalists to the fairground, Hamid Chitchian in Tehran on Satur- which will host to the 29th edition of day. the cultural exhibition from May 5 to South Korea is fond of expanding 15. its energy and water ties with Iran and He regarded Shahre Aftab, cover- the country’s state-run as well as pri- ing an area over 300,000 hectares, as a vate companies desire to find a route good and suitable location for the fair. to the Iranian domestic market, the “It is a good place for a big cultural Energy Ministry’s website quoted the event and fortunately the fairground South Korean minister as saying. will be launched with the opening of Also in a Sunday meeting with Ira- the book fair,” he added. nian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zan- “From now on, Tehran’s citizens will ganeh, the Korean official announced possess a city of culture and books,” he that his country is slated to sign a said, adding that the officials are well $20-billion-agreement with Iran dur- aware of the deficiencies of the fair- ing the South Korean President Park ground and that they will do their best Geun-hye’s visit to Tehran, the Shana to remove the obstacles in the coming news agency reported. days. Highlighting the pivotal role that He further noted that after all these Iran can play as a bridge between Asia years the Tehran Book Fair is proud and Europe, the Korean senior official to be a landlord now and has finally khamenei.ir underlined that South Korea tries to found its own permanent location. seize Iran’s geographical location to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, received the Islamic Jihad movement chief Ramadan Abdullah improve bilateral relations. 12 late on Sunday. (See the full story on the Tehran Times website) 4

PERSPECTIVE Park on landmark visit to Tehran, economy high on agenda ARTICEL By Matin Moslem By: Haniyeh Sadat By Ali Kushki due to the sanctions imposed on international Jafariyeh Iran internationally and unilater- relations expert TEHRAN — South Korea Pres- ally by Seoul, lifting of sanctions Tehran Times journalist ident Park Geun-hye arrived at against Tehran after the nuclear Tehran on Sunday evening, com- deal, and finally, the slowing global Mr. Blair, please ing under the spotlight in domes- economy which has influenced the Aviation industry’s do not beat the tic and international media outlets. South Korean economy. renewal riddled with President Park’s three-day visit The sanctions regime shrank drums of war assumes both political and eco- trade to as low as $6.1 billion politico-economic nomic significance, considering much lower than $10 billion in n spite of being sinful, President that Iran is emerging from years of 2011. The trade is meager, ac- challenges INixon was on the belief that “a sanctions. cording to people familiar with good politician is the one who lis- Politically, Park is the first South the matter, given the two coun- s of the initial annulment of ten more than talk, do not take action Korean president visiting Iran, tries’ great capacities in different Adraconian anti-Iranian sanc- hastily and learn lesson from the past!” showing political maturity, without From an economic angle, there so tempting to ignore and South technological and industrial sec- tions on January 1, which was However, the 37th U.S. president had which the trip might have been are quite strong signs, indicating Koreans know this well. They have tors, to name only few. assumed to open gateways to the in- not observed this moral principle dur- delayed to a much later time. that Seoul and Tehran are bent on been present in the Iranian market In a meeting with Iranian En- ternational markets, Iran awaits seismic ing his professional work, but many Also, back in November 2015, opening a new chapter in already long before. ergy Minister Hamid Chitchian in changes in various domestic econom- politicians like him make claims con- South Korean Foreign Minister Yun robust bonds. Now with removal of sanctions Tehran on Saturday, the Korean ic sectors most eminently in its cast- trary to the reality. We can conclude Byung-se met in Tehran with his A strong sign is the 236-strogn against Iran, South Korean compa- Minister of Land, Infrastructure, ed-out, time-worn aviation industry. that Mr. Nixon’s advice has no use in Iranian counterpart Mohammad delegation accompanying Presi- nies are even thriftier to win ven- and Transport Kang Ho-in said his With the financial embargo rolled the world of politics. An example is Mr. Javad Zarif, where the two sides dent Park, the largest team ever tures in the country. country is determined to enhance back, thanks to the implementation of Blair. 9 highlighted stronger ties between dispatched to a foreign country. There are at least three reasons trade with Iran to $30 billion. the nuclear agreement - known as the Seoul and Tehran. The lucrative market of Iran is for this: A drop in bilateral trade 2 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – by Iran and world powers, the Iranian aviation authorities have Swiss author Peter ‘Less dependence on imported oil has sought to revamp the country’s aviation Stamm to meet with fleet through upgrading the existing air- reduced Saudi importance to U.S.’ crafts or purchasing new ones as well fans in Tehran as improving technical infrastructure on INTERVIEW Following is the text of the interview: di Arabia. This part of the report may not a massive scale. In this regard, some ARTTEHRAN — The White House has threatened to Prolific By Javad Heirannia actually contain any new information that is prominent international aviation manu- deskSwiss author Peter veto a bipartisan bill to let families victim- particularly important, but the speculation facturers and carriers have voiced will- Stamm is scheduled to meet with Ira- TEHRAN — Saudi Arabia is losing its im- ized by the 9/11 terrorist attacks sue Saudi about what it may contain has sustained ingness on hammering out deals with nian readers of his works on Thursday portance to Washington as the United Arabia. Why? public interest in a possible Saudi role. Pres- Iran. However, Iran and foreign aviation at Ofoq Publications, the Persian pub- States’ dependence on “imported oil” is de- A: The bill has had substantial support ident Obama has said he would veto the companies have met some challenges lisher of his books in Tehran. creasing due to “the development of frack- from both Republicans and Democrats. This legislation partly because he realizes that on the way to finalize new contracts. ing technology”, says Paul Pillar, a former support reflects a broad sentiment among the legislation would needlessly complicate On January 16, i.e., on the JCPOA senior CIA analyst and now a professor in the American people that anyone who had relations with Saudi Arabia while serving no implementation day, the Treasury De- security studies at Georgetown University. anything to do with 9/11 ought to be called useful purpose in either finding out anything partment’s Office of Foreign Assets “However,” Pillar tells the Tehran Times, “the to account. There has been much pub- more about 9/11 or undoing the damage Control (OFAC) issued a Statement of U.S. economy still can be affected significant- lic attention lately to possible connections from that attack. The president probably Licensing Policy (SLP) establishing a fa- ly by anything that happens to the global oil between Saudi Arabia and the 9/11 attacks also believes that individual lawsuits against vorable licensing policy towards the sale market, in which Saudi Arabia continues to be because of a still-secret passage in a Con- foreign countries are not a very effective of commercial passenger aircrafts and a very important player.” gressional report on 9/11 that refers to Sau- way to run foreign policy. 9 related parts and services to Iran, pro- vided such transactions do not involve He will also autograph some of his any person on OFAC’s Specially Desig- works for the Iranian readers during a Conference on environmental pollutants kicks off in Tehran nated Nationals List (SDN List). Moreo- session. ver, on March 24, the OFAC issued Gen- By Maryam Qarehgozlou Stamm, who is also an established The three day conference is comprised of 13 and monitoring standards, new technologies eral License I authorizing U.S. persons TEHRAN — playwright and radio dramatist, plans The first international conference workshops which specifically center on monitor- on environmental pollutants analysis, global to undertake certain transactions “or- to hold several meetings and read- on environmental pollutants sampling and ing and sampling environmental pollutants. warming and environmental monitoring role dinarily incident” to the negotiation of, ing sessions at the 29th Tehran Inter- monitoring kicked off in Tehran on Sunday. New technologies in environmental pol- and sampling and monitoring of seas are the and entry into, contingent contracts for national Book Fair, which will be held The conference, co-organized by the De- lutants sampling, sampling standards of en- topics which will be discussed over the con- licensable activities under OFAC’s SLP. from May 5 to 15. partment of Environment (DoE) and the Uni- vironmental pollutants, sampling method- ference. OFAC also updated its Frequently Asked His literary debut “Agnes”, a 1998 versity of Tehran, additionally brought together ologies of hazardous pollutants in wastes, The DoE director, Masoumeh Ebtekar; the Questions (FAQs) on sanctions relief un- novel that follows a romance between United Nations Industrial Development Organ- online sampling and monitoring methodolo- DoE deputy director Sa’eed Motesaddi; and the der JCPOA to address inquiries related a nameless older man and Agnes, ization (UNIDO), ministries of oil, energy, in- gies, international protocols and agreements national standards organization director, Nayye- to General License I and provided addi- and “Ice Moon” are among the works dustry, agriculture, and science, as well as the in environmental sampling and monitoring, reh Pirouzbakht delivered speeches during the tional guidance on license applications translated into Persian. national standards organization. localizing environmental pollutant sampling opening ceremony of the conference. 10 pursuant to the SLP. 4 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NATION 2 MMAYAY 22,, 22016016 http://www.tehrantimes.com/international

Leader.” Iran and 5+1 countries (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) forged the MEDIA MONITOR Rouhani upbeat nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehen- sive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in July 2015, ending years U.S. confiscation of of sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restraints on Iranian assets the country’s nuclear activities. over Majlis “The day we reached the agreement with the 6 world violates JCPOA: powers, worriers and pessimists said the agreement Haddad-Adel wouldn’t take effect,” Rouhani stated. The deal’s proponents used the moniker “worrier” to TEHRAN — An Iranian MP and senior political election results identify those in the “nay” camp. figure has said America’s recent confiscation of $2 Some of these nagging voices were kept being raised billion of Iranian assets violates the Joint Compre- President raps JCPOA opponents by MPs, who saw the pact antithetical to the anti-arro- hensive Plan of Action, the official name for Iran’s gant and inconvincible spirit of the 1979 Revolution. nuclear deal with world powers. MIZAN However, many of the “nay” figures failed to secure The Majlis has to question the foreign minister victory in the February parliamentary elections and the what actions the ministry has taken to confront the 1 of candidates are moderate-reformist figures, strong ensuing runoff, giving the Rouhani administration more U.S. move, said Qolam Ali Haddad-Adel, who is “I congratulate the great Iranian nation on the im- enough to cushion the government against the conserv- leeway for implementing economic reforms. also a senior advisor to the Supreme Leader, Mizan pressive February and April elections and selecting the ative principlist bloc which won only 29 percent of the Knowledge-based economy is the only way forward reported on Sunday. best,” he said, hoping for a better coordination among 290-seat parliament. Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani laid emphasis on The U.S. has to act according to the very deal the three branches of the government: legislative (par- President raps nuclear deal opponents the importance of knowledge-based economy, saying that it has signed, he said, adding that Washington liamentary), judiciary, and executive. Rouhani also rapped opponents of the nuclear deal a more efficient and prosperous economy is contingent proved that the Supreme Leader was right that the “God willing with more coordination between the for “belittling” the major political breakthrough. upon moving toward such orientation. U.S. is not trustworthy. Majlis and other two bodies, the administration manag- “Why do you belittle the performance of a great na- “Iranian companies should upgrade their compat- es to deliver its election promises.” tion? This great work was not done by the government, ibility against giant international firms and a healthier Majlis condemns Finalized first and second rounds of parliamenta- rather by a great, powerful and resistant nation… a work economy and better conditions for workers will hang on U.S. court ruling ry elections just hit the spot as more than 41 percent done by all people and the guidance of the Supreme moving in the direction of knowledge-based economy.” Park on landmark visit to Tehran, economy high on agenda TEHRAN — The Majlis on Sunday once again impacts of the slowing global economy. called on the government to do whatever is need- 1 Iranian ambassador to South According to Iranian Ambassador to Seoul Hossein Taherian- ed to improve Iran’s military power evermore in There are many fertile grounds for the potential to flourish, far, the export-oriented economy of South Korea has been neg- defiance of Western pressure. including energy, technology, industry, transportation, and in- Korea says Iran is a golden

FARS atively influenced by the sagging global economy and given this, The request was made during the consideration frastructure. opportunity for South Korean South Korean companies are looking for foreign markets. of an amendment to five-year development plans, Just before the arrival of President Park, more than 17 con- companies now that their In such situation, Iran can be a golden opportunity, Tahe- Fars reported. tracts between the two countries were inked in gas, water, and rianfar said. Also, addressing the MPs, Deputy Parliament electricity sectors. country’s economy has been Given the background, there is no doubt that closer rela- Speaker Mohammad Hassan Abutorabi Fard con- However, South Koreans should bear in mind that trade negatively influenced by tions between Tehran and Seoul are in the interest of both and demned a ruling by the U.S. Supreme court which with Tehran is not a one-way street. Stronger ties with Tehran sagging global economy. this requires presidential-level visits. last week ordered to confiscate $2 billion Iranian can help South Korean companies cushion against negative assets in the United States. Iran launches 16 Rafsanjani: Iran has a humanitarian view toward Iraq postgrad passive POLITICAL TEHRAN — Ayatollah divisive policies adopted by certain polit- have camped out near parliament, de- deskAkbar Hashemi Rafsan- ical groups. manding a change in government. defense-related jani, the chairman of the Expediency Coun- For his part, Kubis highlighted the im- Protesters have accused the govern- programs cil, said on Saturday that Iran supports the portance of Iran’s role in supporting Iraq. ment of neglecting much-needed re- Iraqi government and people based on hu- He also said that Iraq’s territorial integ- forms, as it is in war with Daesh. TEHRAN — Iranian Minister of Science Moham- manitarian and Islamic principles. rity and national unity should be main- Declining oil revenues have also add- mad Farhadi and Passive Defense Organization “Iran is ready to cooperate in various tained. ed insult to injury. chief Qolamreza Jalali on Monday signed an MOU areas if the international community and Plot to divide Syria and Iraq will Daesh claimed a twin suicide bombing for closer cooperation. the UN are honest and determined to fail: Velayati on Sunday that killed at least 33 people Accordingly, the Ministry of Science will launch 16 solve Iraq’s problem,” he said during a During a separate meeting with Kubis and wounded more than 50 in the south- postgrad university programs in areas related to passive TASNIM meeting with Jan Kubis, the UN special on Sunday, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior ern town of Samawa. defense, Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday. will see the consequences of their behav- envoy for Iraq. foreign policy adviser to the Supreme ior in various countries, he said. In parliament, some leading parties Supreme Leader Rafsanjani highlighted the impor- Leader, said a plot by certain countries The former foreign minister went on have locked horns over their share in the tance of fight against terrorism and said to disintegrate Iraq and Syria will end in to say that Iran supports democracy in new cabinet line-up. Many prominent appoints envoy to people’s dissatisfaction with elements of failure. Iraq. politicians, like former Prime Minister Syria arrogant powers in various countries fa- Velayati also said Iran has taken “se- Kubis said that Iran has a “very good” Nouri Maliki, are highly critical of Moqta- cilitates a recruitment of terrorists such as rious” and “practical” actions in fighting cooperation with the UN in helping Iraq. da Sadr. Maliki said change could not be Daesh, also called ISIL/ISIS or IS. terrorism and extremist movements. Iraq is entangled in a new crisis as the achieved through “intimidation or the oc- TEHRAN — Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei He also said that Iraq is suffering from The countries that support terrorism demonstrators loyal to Moqtada Sadr cupation of the Green Zone.” has appointed an envoy to Syria, a new report says. Abolfazl Tabatabaei Ashkazri met the Leader last Wednesday to receive his credential as envoy Iran’s parliament ratifies bill to increase missile power

ALALAM to Damascus, Alalam reported on Sunday. POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Iranian MPs voted endorsed the JCPOA. Aref thanks nation for deskfor a bill on Sunday to increase the However, the resolution does not ban the testing of country’s missile power with the aim of boosting the Is- conventional weapons by Iran. Foreign Minister Mo- participation in runoff lamic Republic’s deterrent and defense capability. hammad Javad Zarif also said the missiles tested by Iran election The MPs listed the following steps that should to be are not programmed to carry nuclear warheads. taken to upgrade the country’s deterrence power: “It (Resolution 2231) doesn’t call upon Iran not to test bal- - Upgrading and increasing missile production listic missiles, or ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear TEHRAN — Mohammad Reza Aref, a leading can- - Developing and strengthening anti-aircraft warfare warheads ... it calls upon Iran not to test ballistic missiles that didate who won the highest number of votes in the system at various short, medium and long ranges were ‘designed’ to be capable,” Zarif said in a speech at the Tehran constituency in parliamentary elections in - Developing and updating secure communication Australian National University in Canberra on March 16. February, on Sunday thanked the nation for their networks. “That word took me about seven months to negoti- significant turnout in the runoff held on Friday. - Strengthening electronic warfare power ate, so everybody knew what it meant,” he said, referring In a letter he said the massive participation is a - Making armed systems smart to “designed.” siles probably Saddam Hussein did not invade Iran or TABNAK national achievement and marks a golden chapter - Designing and producing necessary items to coun- Zarif added that under the international nuclear refused to bombard civilians. in the history of the Islamic Republic, Tabnak re- ter terrorist groups agreement that resulted in the lifting of UN sanctions, “If we had missiles during Saddam’s war on us, they ported. - Equipping navy forces with advances weapons which he had also negotiated, Iran would never develop may have discouraged or at least reduced his indiscrim- After a successful test-firing of two ballistic missiles nuclear weapons. inate attacks on our civilians.” Aref’s speakership by the IRGC in March the U.S. launched a propagan- Iranian officials have said Tehran will not compromise He also said, “Iran hasn’t attacked any country in not in his interest: da campaign against Iran, claiming that the tests were a on its defense capability. 250 years. But when Saddam rained missiles on us and lawmaker-elect breach of the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that Zarif said in a tweet on March 15 that if Iran had mis- gassed our people for 8 yrs, no one helped us.”

TEHRAN — A lawmaker-elect has tried to discour- U.S. lobby group to campaign against business investment in Iran age Tehran’s top choice into the next Majlis from An influential American lobby group the agreement is being implemented. Iran deal is not solid yet” and continued running for the position of the speaker, ISNA said that tried to block the Iran nuclear deal is UANI plans to send letters warning uncertainty about how the remaining on Sunday. ISNA launching an international campaign to about the continued risks of doing business sanctions will be applied. “It will not be in his interest to become the speaker,” discourage big western companies from with Iran to 140 international companies, 30 The companies UANI has written to Mohsen Kuhkan Rizi said of Mohammd Reza Aref. doing business in the country, warning that of which have already been written. It will so far include General Electric, Bombar- “Speakership needs insight,” ISNA quoted him as they could fall foul of remaining sanctions. also publish a series of newspaper adverts, dier, Maersk and Siemens. In its letter to saying.Aref served as telecommunication minister United Against Nuclear Iran, a bipar- starting in Europe this week ahead of a ma- GE, which has said it intends to do some as he holds a PhD in electrical and communication tisan group which was at the forefront of jor conference in Zurich to encourage trade business with Iran, UANI said the compa- engineering from Stanford University. He has also the campaign against last year’s landmark and investment in Iran. ny’s decision would “give aid and comfort served as Iran’s first-vice president. He also with- nuclear agreement, will use a mixture of “As they get on a plane to Tehran, to a lawless regime that foments terror- drew his candidacy in the last hours of the 2013 newspaper adverts and public letters to companies need to have a hard look at the U.S., said: “We always believed that ism and unrest”. GE responded that any presidential elections. put pressure on multinationals that have the business risk,” said Mark Wallace, a some trade resumption was part of the business it conducted in Iran would be either returned to Iran since the deal or former U.S. ambassador to the UN who is nuclear deal. This is what sanctions relief “allowed by [U.S.] laws and regulations” Iran, Russia, Iraq, are thinking of doing so. chief executive of UANI. “The risk profile means.” Although the Iranians argued and would be “consistent with the foreign Syria study ways to The ramped-up lobbying against has not fundamentally changed.” that they had not received the economic policy of the United States and in the best business with Iran comes at a sensitive Responding to the charge that he was benefits they were promised, he said, “We interests of GE’s shareholders”. fight financing of time when Tehran is already complaining using public pressure on multinationals are not yet arriving at a breaking point”. UANI was set up in 2008 by a bipar- Daesh loudly about what it believes to be the to try to unpick the Iran deal, Mr Wallace Trita Parsi, president of the National tisan group of former officials, including Iranian American Council and a strong TEHRAN — Iran, Russia, Iraq, and Syria held a sec- lack of economic benefits it has received said that the agreement did offer “limited former CIA director Jim Woolsey, Richard supporter of the nuclear deal, said that a ond meeting in Tehran on April 23 to study ways to so far from the agreement. sanctions relief” to Iran “but in terms of Holbrooke and Dennis Ross, a Middle “successful campaign that puts a stigma stop the flow of money to Daesh. Western diplomats say that the ten- a flood of businesses going back in, that East expert who played a key role in sev- on doing business with Iran would be a The meeting, aimed at detecting and suppress- sions over sanctions relief have so far not was never the idea”. eral administrations. reached a point that could undermine Since the nuclear deal was implemented de facto sanction”. Gary Samore, a former senior Obama

MEAF ing financial flows linked to ISIL, was highly success- However, he said that the campaign ful in strengthening cooperation in fighting financ- the deal but acknowledge that Iran feels in January, European banks have been par- administration official, resigned as the would only have a genuine impact if it ing of the terrorist organization, Iran’s Ministry of it has been short-changed. John Kerry, ticularly reluctant to do business that involves group’s president last year after he con- was accompanied by more “harsh rhet- Economic Affairs and Finance said in a press release U.S. secretary of state, has met his Irani- Iran for fear that they will be caught up in the cluded that the nuclear deal was in the oric by the Republican candidate that on Sunday. an counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif remaining sanctions and restrictions. national interests of the U.S. twice in the past fortnight to discuss how Peter Wittig, German ambassador to gives companies the impression that the (Source: FT) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

http://www.tehrantimes.com/international MMAYAY 22,, 22016016 INTERNATIONAL 3

Russia, U.S. in bids to halt fighting NEWS No difference between in Syria’s Aleppo Saudi regime and ISIL, Al-Qaeda: Saleh Russia said on Sunday it was working to to the end of Sunday and that another freeze fighting in Syria’s Aleppo as United freeze was holding in northern Latakia States Secretary of State John Kerry was province. due in Geneva in a bid to restore a na- “We are calling on all sides inter- tionwide ceasefire. ested in establishing peace in Syria More than a week of fighting in Syria’s to support the Russian-American in- second city has killed several hundred ci- itiative and not to allow a regime of vilians and left a United Nations-backed silence to be disrupted,” Kuralenko peace process hanging by a thread. said, speaking from Russia’s Hmeimim Concern has been growing that the air base in Syria. fighting in Aleppo will lead to the com- Kerry was due to arrive in Geneva plete collapse of a landmark ceasefire later on Sunday for talks with UN envoy between the Syrian government and Staffan de Mistura and the Saudi and Jor- rebels fighting the government that was danian foreign ministers on reviving the brokered by Moscow and Washington. ceasefire. On Saturday Moscow said it would In calls to De Mistura and the lead In the aftermath of thousands of Yemeni civilians’ deaths at not urge President Assad’s forces to halt Syrian opposition negotiator on Sat- the hands of the House of Saud regime-led coalition, Yem- air raids on the war-ravaged city as they urday, Kerry expressed “deep concern” en’s ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh told RT that there is no were targeting militant groups not cov- about Aleppo, which has suffered some difference between the “Saudi regime” and terrorist groups ered by the ceasefire, which took effect in of the worst fighting in a war that has like ISIL terrorist group and Al-Qaeda. late February. killed more than 270,000 people and dis- “A plot has been made against the Yemeni people. An un- But on Sunday, after Washington placed millions. reasonable aggression against us has been prepared. Strikes called on Russia to push its Syrian ally to Kerry made clear that ending the tal’s rebel-held east was eerily quiet after The same “freeze” was set to hold un- at military, economic, cultural and social targets have been end the strikes, the head of Moscow’s co- violence in Aleppo and returning ulti- days of bombing, an AFP correspond- til 1:00 am Tuesday in Latakia, a regime conducted; the whole infrastructure [has been targeted]. A ordination centre in Syria said talks on a mately to a durable, nationwide cease- ent said, with the last air strike there at stronghold. total destruction of everything is taking place... I’m talking freeze had begun. fire was a top priority, spokesman John around 1:00 am (2200 GMT Saturday) The fighting has dampened hopes about Saudi aggression,” Ali Abdullah Saleh told RT Arabic in “Currently active negotiations are un- Kirby said. local time. that the ceasefire could finally lay the an exclusive interview this week. derway to establish a ‘regime of silence’ At least 253 civilians -- including 49 There were no reports of fighting in groundwork for an end to Syria’s five- The former Yemeni president, who headed the Middle in Aleppo province,” Lieutenant General children -- have died in shelling, rocket the city’s government-controlled west, year conflict. Eastern country for decades until February 2012, said that his Sergei Kuralenko was quoted as saying fire and air strikes in both sides of the di- the Observatory said. Peace talks last month in Geneva nation has no conflict with any country in the world, but the by Russian news agencies. vided city since April 22, according to the The Syrian army said on Sunday it was failed to make any headway, though De House of Saud regime. He said that a freeze in fighting in so-called Syrian Observatory for Human extending the freeze in fighting in Da- Mistura has said he hopes they can re- “They attacked us, we didn’t attack them. They are killing Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, Rights monitoring group. mascus and Eastern Ghouta to 1:00 am sume “during the course of May”. our women, our elderly and children. Why? We’ve never had had been extended by another 24 hours Early on Sunday the provincial capi- Monday (2200 GMT Sunday). (Source: AFP) any religious disputes. Why have they appeared now? We have our religious views, you have yours. Why are you [Sau- Police officers killed, dozens wounded in attacks near dis] killing the Yemeni people, who are your neighbors and brothers?” Saleh said. Saleh believes that the major terrorist groups are all de- Turkey’s southeast border rived from the Muslim Brotherhood organization, which itself, according to him, “is an invention of the Saudis.” Man hit by police water cannon dies in Istanbul “Al-Qaeda, ISIL and al-Nusra are all derivatives of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was invented and raised in Sau- Two police officers were killed and 23 people wound- other provincial government buildings whose windows May Day di Arabia. These organizations also operate in Russia and in ed in a car bomb attack on police headquarters in the were shattered. Meanwhile, a man hit by a water cannon security ve- Europe. All of them are Saudi Arabia’s invention. Later Qatar southeastern Turkish city of Gaziantep, the provincial Footage from broadcaster CNN Turk showed foren- hicle (TOMA) died in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district on May 1, and Turkey have also started using them, and finance them governor and police sources said, in one of two attacks sics experts collecting pieces of the wrecked vehicle as Dogan News Agency reported. to achieve their own goals. There were none of them in Yem- on security forces on Sunday. well as rubble strewn by the blast felt across the city. The 57-year-old Nail Mavus was hit by a TOMA while en for a long while, and everything that then appeared came There was no immediate claim of responsibility; but Police cordoned off the scene and police carrying ri- crossing the street in the Tarlabasi area of Beyoglu, near from Saudi Arabia under different names, [such as] Salafis, Turkey has suffered attacks recently both from Kurdish fles patrolled the area. Gunfire was heard at the time of Taksim Square. Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Qaeda.” militants and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant the explosion and a second car was reported to have The heavily wounded Mavus was taken to a hospital in The politician added that both Russia and Europe have (ISIL/Daesh) terrorist group fighters, raising uncertainty been driven away from the scene, CNN Turk’s corre- Istanbul’s Sisli district, where he succumbed to his wounds. the wrong idea about the essence of the Muslim Brother- at home and among NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Or- spondent said. Police took strict security measures around Taksim hood movement. Being the “creation” of Saudi Arabia, “they ganization) allies about spillover of conflict from neigh- Nineteen police officers and four civilians were wound- with TOMAs and thousands of police officers, in order to have no concrete political program, their program is money,” boring Syria, Reuters reported. ed in the attack, a statement from Gaziantep governor Ali prevent groups trying to celebrate International Work- Saleh said. A bomb-laden vehicle was detonated outside the Yerlikaya’s office said. One police officer died at the scene ers’ Day from entering Taksim Square. The former president, told RT that the damage to his gates of police headquarters on a street housing several and a second in hospital, a security source said. (Source: agencies) country “amounts to billions” of dollars. “More than 8,000 people have been killed. There were a lot of children, women and elderly among them. And I’m Saudis free 40 Yemeni prisoners talking only about the number of casualties among the civil- ian population. Furthermore, 27,000 people have been in- Yemen’s Ansarullah (Houthi) movement political prisoners before elections. jured. All of these people are casualties of the Saudi regime,” says Riyadh has released dozens of its The Asarullah have demanded the ex- Saleh said. fighters under a deal to quell fighting on clusion of Hadi from the future vote, ac- The former president said that his country has been dev- the Saudi-Yemeni border as peace talks cording to a negotiating source. Mean- astated, with no income from tax, very little from customs, between the warring sides continue in while, the Hadi side wants the Asarullah and no money from oil or gas. The latter is only produced for Kuwait. and allies to hand over arms and with- domestic needs, he said. “We received 40 prisoners, 20 of draw from the areas under their control. “And if there is some oil, it’s being controlled and sold by those were captured inside Yemen,” Reu- The Asarullah have been demanding Al-Qaeda in Hadramaut [a region in Yemen on the south- ters quoted an Ansarullah movement a complete lifting of the blockade which ern end of the Arabian Peninsula] and Shabwah [a governo- spokesman, Mohammed Abdulsalam, as has been imposed on Yemen by Saudi rate in central Yemen]. They sell it on the market within the saying in a statement on Saturday. Arabia since March 2015. Hadi’s dele- country. Al-Qaeda gets all the money from it. And this all The official, however, did not elabo- gation, says, however, that the Asarullah happens in full view of the Saudi regime. They tell the world, rate on the location where the remaining must first implement the terms of a UN which doesn’t want to understand anything: ‘We are against prisoners are being held. resolution and withdraw from the areas Al-Qaeda.’ What Al-Qaeda, what ISIL? They are ISIL. They The development comes as Ansarul- they have captured in Yemen. are Al-Qaeda. Everyone knows what this regime is about. lah fighters and their allies, on the one Yemen has seen almost daily mili- It buys people’s conscience by making buy and sell deals on hand, and Saudi-backed loyalists to fu- tary attacks by the House of Saud re- weapons, as well as inking political deals by paying money to gitive ex-president, Abd Rabbuh Man- gime since late March 2015, with internal influential people in different countries of the world... Saudi sur Hadi, on the other side, are holding sources putting the toll from the bloody Arabia pursues only its own interests.” United Nations-brokered negotiations aggression at more than 9,500. Yemen’s ex-leader also said Saudi Arabia uses the claims aimed at ending the conflict gripping the face negotiations for the first time on work that builds on commonalities. Does The Ansarullah fighters took state that there are Iranian forces in Yemen “to justify its aggres- impoverished state. April 30. this mean we removed all obstacles to a matters into their own hands after the sion.” He went on to say that we would like to receive some The discussions, which started in Ku- Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, political solution? No, but we are getting resignation and escape of Hadi, which military and other aid from Iran. Saleh called Iran’s presence wait City on April 21 after a three-day delay, the UN special envoy for Yemen, de- there,” he added. threw Yemen into a state of uncertainty in his country a “fiction,” and added the U.S. “has the most are underway against the backdrop of an scribed the atmosphere of the talks as On Saturday, an Asarullah delegation in and threatened a total security break- powerful intelligence services working in all countries and open-ended ceasefire that began in the con- positive, saying “everyone renewed their the peace talks presented a plan to the UN down in the country, where an al-Qaeda knowing and seeing everything,” not a single Iranian military flict-ridden country at midnight on April 10. commitment to cease hostilities.” for a transitional government to oversee a affiliate is present. and no Iranian weapon has been discovered in Yemen. Warring parties also began face-to- “We are working to develop a frame- handing over of weapons and freeing of (Source: Press TV) Saleh believes that the exiled President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, whose forces are based in Aden and who is supported by Saudi Arabia, “has no legitimacy.” He should Iraqi PM calls for arrest of parliament protesters “render himself to the international tribunal as a war crimi- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has called for As it stands, entrenched political blocs representing the the center of Samawa, while the second blast occurred nal,” Saleh said, adding that opposition forces only support the arrests of protesters who stormed the parliament, country’s Shias, Sunnis and Kurds rely on patronage, result- minutes later at a bus station in an open-air area. dialogue with the people of Yemen. clashed with police and broke the barricades of Bagh- ing in widespread corruption and poor public services. The “The hospitals have received 33 dead,” AFP quoted a The future of Yemen “should not be discussed neither in dad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone. major blocs have until now blocked Abadi’s reform efforts. senior official in the Muthanna health department, which Geneva, nor in Kuwait,” the politician said, adding that he Abadi’s statement on Sunday came a day after hundreds On Sunday, protesters vowed to continue their sit-in covers Samawa, as saying. and his supporters only recognize the unity of the country of followers of the influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr tore inside the Green Zone until their demands are met. Samawa, a Shia-dominated city, is located some in accordance with its constitution and people’s referendum down blast walls and poured into the parliament building, ex- Iraqi security forces initially responded to Saturday’s 370km south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. on the matter. acerbating a long-simmering political crisis. events by tightening security across the capital, sealing The official also noted that the death toll from both “A government of national unity with participation of Iraq crisis deepens with storming of parliament off checkpoints leading to the Green Zone and stopping blasts is expected to rise. A medical official also con- various political forces should be formed in the first place,” Videos on social media showed a group of young traffic on main roads into the city. firmed the number of casualties. Saleh said, adding that new parliamentary and presidential men surrounding and slapping two Iraqi legislators as The United Nations mission to Iraq said it was gravely Online photographs showed huge plumes of smoke elections should be prepared in Yemen in accordance with they attempted to flee the crowd, while other protesters concerned. It issued a statement condemning violence rising above buildings and a number of burnt out cars and its constitution. “But not the constitution of Hadi, which has mobbed motorcades. against elected officials and urging “calm, restraint and bodies lying on the ground at the site of the first attack. divided Yemen,” he added. Protesters were also seen jumping and dancing on respect for Iraq’s constitutional institutions at this crucial The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) Saying that he now heads an opposition party which is the parliament’s meeting hall tables and chairs and wav- juncture”. terrorist group claimed responsibility for both attacks. “in opposition to any power in principle,” but is in coalition ing Iraqi flags. 38 killed, 86 injured in twin car bombs in Iraq Iraq has been mired in political crisis for months, with other forces “to fight the aggressors,” the former presi- The protesters eventually left the parliament on Sat- Elsewhere, at least 38 people were killed and 86 oth- hindering the government’s ability to combat the ISIL dent told RT that he would never again agree to be in power urday night and rallied in a nearby square. ers injured in two car bombs in the southern Iraqi city of terrorist group, which still controls much of the coun- himself. Sadr and his supporters want the political system, put Samawa, security and medical officials say. try’s north and west, or address a financial crisis largely “I’ve been part of the political process for 45 years. Enough for me,” he said. in place following the United States-led invasion in 2003, A police official said the first explosion took place prompted by the plunge in global oil prices. (Source: RT) to be reformed. around midday on Sunday near government offices in (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY MMAYAY 2,2, 22016016 http://www.tehrantimes.com/economy

JUMP Seoul determined to boost trade Aviation industry’s renewal riddled with politico- economic challenges with Tehran to $30 billion

1 1 But as some hurdles fall, others raise; companies en- Park arrived in the Iranian capital on Sunday. Accom- gaged in the aviation trade should structure their ap- panied by a large business delegation, she will explore proach to this new General License I with some uncertain- avenues for further ties with the Islamic Republic during ties and limitations in mind. For example, neither General her three-day stay. It will be the first presidential visit to License I nor the updated FAQs define what transactions Iran since South Korea and Iran established diplomatic are “ordinarily incident” to the negotiation of, and entry relations in 1962. into, a contingent contract. Therefore, OFAC’s imprecision ‘Iran’s crude oil, gas condensate exports to S. has stopped western and some European top aircraft ex- Korea up 300,000 bpd’ ecutives from showing initiatives in making aviation deals Iran currently exports 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of with Iran. Presently, they prefer to establish compliance oil and gas condensate to South Korea, a 300,000 bpd rise procedures to avoid running afoul of the OFAC’s require- in the post-sanction era,” Zanganeh told reports after the ments, which would definitely bring them hefty fines. In meeting with the Korean minister. better words, foreign entities prefer to stay back to get Addressing the issue of the contract that will be penned a panoramic view of Iran-U.S. ongoing political relations. with the South Korean energy minister simultaneous with In addition, Iran is still locked out of American financial President Park’s trip to Tehran, the Iranian oil minister clari- South Korean Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kang Kang shaking hand with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar system (U-Turn), thanks to some lingering sanctions im- fied that Iran LNG project as well as the second stage of posed by OFAC, while aircraft financing agreements are developing South Pars gas field’s phase 12, and the pro- Ho-in (L) visited Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian (R) Zanganeh in Tehran on Sunday majorly U.S. dollar-based across the globe. It is worth ject of Bid Boland II Gas Refinery are among the favorites in Tehran on Saturday. On April 26, the Korea Times reported that South Ko- noting that Iran has been eliminated from reinstituting of South Koreans for future cooperation. ments in petrochemical sector and LNG projects. “Some rea intends to more than double its imports of crude oil the U-turn in accordance with U.S.-led primary sanctions, According to Zanganeh, Iran seeks selling oil to the negotiations have been conducted in this regard and and natural gas condensate from Iran. Seoul’s bid is aimed those which would not be removed via JCPOA implemen- eastern Asian country and tries to attract their invest- conclusions have been made,” he added. at ramping up energy ties with Tehran, the report said. tation. Additionally, under the current circumstances and for politico-economic reasons, Tehran does not express tendency towards getting relinked to U.S. financial sys- tem. “Being re-connected to U-Turn entails some risks for 110 foreign companies to attend Tehran RAILEXPO 2016 Iran’s financial resources; a good example would be the ECONOMY TEHRAN — Some 110 ment, dubbed RAILEXPO 2016, Head of Iran ment wishes to make Tehran RAILEXPO a hub The official underscored that this exposi- U.S. recent decision to seize nearly $2 billion of the Cen- deskforeign companies from Railroad Industries Association told reporters of the regional railroad exhibitions. tion focuses on recovering from effects of the tral Bank of Iran’s blocked assets in an American bank,” Russia, Germany, Turkey, China, Italy, the Czech on Sunday. As reported, the exhibition will be held at draconian anti-Iranian sanctions, increasing the Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal Republic, Bangladesh, and India are to take According to Mohammad Hossein Qanbari, the Tehran Permanent International Fairgrounds exports volume, localizing railway industry, and and international affairs, said in a televised interview on part in Iran’s 4th International Exhibition of Rail in a bid to encourage domestic and foreign from May 15 to 18, where besides the 110 for- introducing new technologies to domestic rail- April 24. In better words, rejoining the U-Turn may open Transportation, Related Industries and Equip- companies’ participation, the Iranian govern- eign companies, 90 Iranian ones will take part. way companies. the way for the U.S. Judicial System and courts to seize Iranian assets based on reasons that are not justifiable to Iranian authorities. Consequently, the Islamic Republic Seven reasons Iran could become an entrepreneurial powerhouse desires to pick up non-western aviation lessors and fi- A couple of months ago I spoke to Nasser Ghanemza- nomic freedom and personal freedom usually go hand- nancers, Chinese banks for instance, to be an alternative By Elizabeth MacBride for American ones. However, the country has had limited deh, founder of Opatan, an Iranian cloud startup. He in-hand. international banking and financial interactions for dec- he headlines about Iran’s economy have faded, was in San Franciso attending a workshop organized in But here are seven reasons to look to Iran to produce ades and reviving brokerage relations would for sure be Tbut the momentum hasn’t. The $400 billion econ- part by the venture capital firm 500 Startups. a generation of fast-growth companies. a time-consuming procedure. omy, the second largest in the Middle East after “The most important thing we want is the expertise is The size of the economy and the lifting of world sanc- The other issue raises when it comes to the question Saudi Arabia, is expected to grow by almost 7% next the mentorship and the knowledge, ” he said. “ Most of tions: The country has a population of nearly 80 million; about how the intended aviation joint deals will be fi- year, according to the World Bank. the experiences are here in Silicon Valley. and manufacturing capacity unrivaled in the Middle East. nanced. The recent fall in oil prices and Iran’s affordability Consider what happens if you match that kind of “In the last three years, more than 200 startups have Oil and gas account for only 10% of the GDP, meaning in financing joint projects has set the alarm for interna- economic growth with a university system that produces formed in Iran. A movement has begun. It’s accelerating.” the country has a diversified base to grow from. Most tional aviation activists. The concern, however, could be 233,000 scientists and engineers a year, in an environ- The business environment there still faces big hurdles. American sanctions remain in place, so we won’t see alleviated relying on Iran’s income of the increasing num- ment newly connected to most of the world’s economy. Whether the businesses thrive or not will depend in part big American deals – but meanwhile, investments from ber of commercial aircraft using Iranian safe and sound The product could be thousands of startups and small on how much government policies support them, and companies in Europe and Asia are pouring in. airspace. “The ever-increasing number of overflights can businesses — if nothing gets in the way. whether geopolitical turmoil interferes with growth. Eco- 9 guarantee Iran’s financial credit in common investments made with foreign companies,” Ahmad-Reza Bayatidoosti PICTURE OF THE DAY SHANA Pedram Mohiti an official in The Civil Aviation Organization of Iran (CAO) Iran among 8 said after a meeting with a visiting English investing del- egation, the company’s public relations reported in early producers of April. The issue of property rights in Iran is the other factor antimony ingot which makes foreign entities startled. Prior to doing busi- ness with the Asian country, foreign lessors and aircraft ECONOMY TEHRAN — Having owners wish to get fully informed of regulatory proce- deskits first antimony in- dures and aircraft ownership rights, mainly because Iran got plant operational in the southeast- is not yet a signatory to the Cape Town Treaty, which ern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, protects the interests of aircraft lessors and owners by Iran now stands among the eight pro- guaranteeing rights concerning aircraft ownership, de- ducers of the product in the world, faults on leases, recouping debts and repossessing air- IRNA reported on Sunday. craft. Iran is reportedly taking preparatory measures to The antimony plant kicked off oper- sign up to the convention, which also takes time. ation in presence of the Iranian Deputy The aforementioned reasons, however, do not seem Industry Minister Mehdi Karbasian, the to stop Iran from making aviation deals with foreigners, report said. for the country is currently in the course of finalizing a It has the capacity of producing 300 contract with the civil aircraft manufacturer, Airbus. For kilograms of antimony ingots per day. those international aviation entities that remain bullish to China, Russia, Bolivia, Australia, finalize deals with the Islamic Republic in post-sanction South Africa, Tajikistan, Mexico, and era, this contract can be a good sample of feasibility of the United States are the producers of signing pacts with Iran. antimony ingot in the world. As reported, Iran inked an agreement to buy 118 Air- Antimony ingots are mainly used bus planes by 2024 during a visit by Iranian President in high-tech, electronics, aerospace, Hassan Rouhani to France, in late January. Although the and chemical industries. Its trioxide deal has not been finalized yet, having a brief overview is used in making flame-proofing on the published data about the contract declares that compounds. Three other applications Airbus has won the U.S. export license to pen the agree- make up nearly all the rest of the con- ment with Iran, Deputy Road Minister Asghar Fakhriyeh sumption. One of these uses is as a Kashan said, Tasnim reported on April 17; the deal is stabilizer and a catalyst for the pro- possible to be financed by Chinese and some European duction of polyethylene terephtha- countries, ISNA quoted the Head of CAO Ali Abedzadeh; late. Another application is to serve and all the 118 aircrafts are purchased under a lease-pur- Alireza Kameli (L), the managing director of National Iranian Gas Exports Company (NIGEC), and Lee Seung-hoon, the CEO of Korea Gas as a fining agent to remove micro- chase agreement, Iranian Road Minister Abbas Akhundi Corporation (KOGAS), shaking hand after signing a deal in Tehran on Sunday. Iran’s export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to South Korea, scopic bubbles in glass, mostly for TV announced, Tasnim wrote on January 28. issues related to the gas market, and exchange of experiences in the field of gas trade are the main pivots of the deal. screens. The third major application is Although Iran’s political ties with the U.S. are still tenuous, the use as pigment. the country is struggling to give its economic ties enough room to breathe and grow independently of political up- heavals. The country’s comprehensive negotiations with Hackers’ $81 million German fin-min Facebook hit with aviation companies expected to achieve the intended goal. sneak attack on criticizes Volkswagen lawsuit over plan to Yet, Iran-U.S. political stand-off holds the fate of the Is- world banking management over issue new stock lamic Republic’s international economic relations in its hand. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on April 22 that bonuses: paper the U.S. would not stand in the way of foreign banks or firms doing business with Iranian companies that are no longer Tens of millions of dollars siphoned from the Fed- Germany’s finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble A Facebook Inc shareholder filed a proposed class subject to U.S. sanctions. Kerry also said the administration eral Reserve Bank of New York. A shadowy set of has criticized the executive board of scandal-ridden action lawsuit on Friday in a bid to stop the compa- was willing to further clarify what transactions are now per- casinos in the Philippines. A large bank in Bangla- carmaker Volkswagen for not waiving bonuses despite ny’s plan to issue new Class C stock, calling the move mitted with Iran and urged foreign financial institutions to desh with creaky technology. An unknown group of bringing the company to the brink of collapse. an unfair deal to entrench Chief Executive Mark Zuck- seek answers from U.S. officials if they have questions. They anonymous thieves with sophisticated hacking skills. “I have no sympathy for managers who first drive erberg as controlling shareholder. should not assume, he said, that was once prohibited is still What unites this curious cast of characters and a large blue chip-listed company into an existence- The lawsuit, filed in the Delaware Court of Chan- prohibited. Nor, he added, should they assume that trans- enabled one of the most brazen digital bank heists threatening crisis and then defend their own bonuses cery, followed the social networking company’s an- actions with Iran that remain illegal for U.S. companies are ever is a ubiquitous and highly trusted international in a public debate,” Schaeuble told German weekly nouncement on Wednesday of its plan to issue the illegal for foreign firms, AP reported. bank messaging system called Swift. Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. “That shows shares. But, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed SWIFT is billed as a super-secure system that that something is not working.” The rejiggering of Facebook’s share structure is Ali Khamenei said on April 27 that major global banks’ reluc- banks use to authorize payments from one account Volkswagen plans to pay the 12 current and former effectively a 3-for-1 stock split. Zuckerberg’s said in tance to work with Iran results from Washington’s intimidat- to another. “The Rolls-Royce of payments networks,” members of its management board 63.24 million euros December that he intends to put 99 percent of his ing policies and its push for provoking Iranophobia. “On the one financial analyst said. ($72.44 million) for 2015, a year when Europe’s largest Facebook shares into a new philanthropy project fo- paper, the Americans claim that banks are free to work with carmaker posted a record loss due to legal and com- cusing on human potential and equality.

Iran, but in practice, they take different measures to foment NEWS IN BRIEF pensation costs for cheating diesel emissions tests. Iranophobia,” the Leader noted. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y http://www.tehrantimes.com MMAYAY 22,, 22016016 HISTORY & HERITAGE 5

Iran is one of the safest countries I have NEWS Turkey’s tourism revenue drops 16.5 percent in first visited as a woman: German tourist quarter

By Setareh Behroozi explained. During their stay on Qeshm, Dorothea Turkey’s tourism revenue decreased by 16.5 percent in the ran is one of the safest countries and her fiancé visited Mangrove forests, first quarter of the year compared to the same period of 2015 that I have visited as a woman,” the geo-park sites, Star Valley, Chahku due to a significant decrease in the number of Russian tour- “I ists visiting the country and rising security concerns after a German tourist Dorothea Wisse, Valley, and Qeshm roof. 26, told the Tehran Times. She said she was fascinated by see- number of suicide attacks. On a hot afternoon, I met Dorothea ing turtles and sharks on Hormuz and In the first three months in a cozy room at the Nakhoda Amini Hengam islands. of 2016, tourism revenue de- homestay in Tabl village on the Persian “As a Western tourist, I find Iran very creased to $4.07 billion, ac- Gulf island of Qeshm. She, along with her different from what you see in European cording to data that was fiancé, was on a 21-day visit to Iran, plan- countries. In France, the U.S. and many released by the Turkish Statis- ning to stay on Qeshm for four days. other Western countries, the lifestyle of tical Institute (TUIK) on April Dorothea had already visited many people are the same,” she said. 29. While 71.3 percent of the European countries as well as several The reason is that Iran has a differ- revenue came from foreign other places including Canada, South Af- ent civilization and religion, different visitors, some 28.7 percent was rica, and Ecuador. history and even different climate, she obtained from citizens who re- “No one threatened us nor tried to rob explained. side abroad, the data showed. us during our excursion in Iran,” she said. “Iran opens its door to tourists and Tourism revenue was $31.5 The couple had visited several cities in you can experience what you have heard billion in 2015 with an 8.3 per- Iran, including Kashan, Abyaneh, Natanz, about the country,” she smiled. cent decline compared to the Isfahan, Shahr-e Kord, Koohrang, Khur, She said that from the political view- previous year. and Yazd, and had come to see Hormuz Abyaneh village, Kashan point, media in the world only cover nu- The number of foreign ar- Cappadocia, Turkey and Qeshm islands. central province of Isfahan. Even in historical sites, Iranian visitors clear program, economic and political rivals in Turkey declined ap- “It is very hard to say, which one of In her view, Iran is not an expensive are the majority in comparison to foreign problems of Iran. proximately 13 percent in March to 1.65 million compared to these places is the most beautiful. Each of destination. “Food is quite cheap but it tourists, she said. “Many people live a happy life in the same month of 2015, the sharpest drop since October them has its own fascination and is very is not the case for tourist and historical I think this is good. In cities like Paris Iran and they are very open-minded 2006, according to data from the Tourism Ministry. beautiful,” she said. sites,” she added. you only see tourists and there are no Pa- people and daily life is more relaxed The number of foreign arrivals to Turkey declined by 10.3 However, Khur was her choice as the “I have some problems with delicious risians in historical sites, Dorothea added. than it is portrayed by media. The percent to around 4 million in the first three months of the best place she visited in Iran. Khur is a Persian food since I am a vegetarian. I “Friendly and nice people in Iran make young generation is very modern and year compared to the same period of 2015, according to desert city located near Lut Desert in the miss German bread as well,” she laughed. our trip to the country very special,” she open,” she said. the ministry data. The number of arrivals from Russia saw a roughly 59 percent decline in the period in question, accord- ing to the data that was released on April 28. Historical gardens in Tehran to escape the city life According to official figures, the number of arrivals from Germany declined 17 percent in March compared to the When the hectic city life of Tehran tightens its grip front of Ahmad Shah’s Pavilion. Prices are high and the same month of 2015. Meanwhile, the number of Japanese around our neck, most Tehraners usually hit the road to service is average but I’d say the view is totally worth it. tourists dropped by 48 percent in the same period. the Caspian Sea to catch some breath and refresh. But When to visit: Anytime really. The Hoteliers Association of Turkey (TUROB) said the associa- what if work, schedule and a ton of other stuff are trap- Negarestan tion expected a significant loss in the number of European tourists, ping you in the capital? Then what? This place is unknown to tourists and even many Ira- mainly from Germany, this year, adding that many reservations and Tehran is big, crazy and a bit hard to get around. But nians but it’s one of my favorites to escape the hustle events had already been canceled due to security concerns. it doesn’t mean we don’t have our own little gems scat- and bustle of Tehran every once in a while. This Persian The number of reservation cancelations from the German tered across the city. Who says you have to go all the garden and its pavilion have seen a lot of important po- market has been around 40 percent, TUROB said April 4, ac- way to Shiraz for gardens or drive the extra kilometer litical events through the years and were once home to cording to Reuters. to Esfahan for palaces? We have them all here! You just the first art school of Iran. The latest terror attacks in Turkey have created a big secu- need to know where to look. When to visit: Head over here in Noruz and there rity concern for European tourists, so a significant loss in the Sa’d Abad Complex are concerts, exhibitions and many other activities to be number of foreign arrivals to Turkey from Germany, France, This over 110 hectares mountainside garden is a pop- done. Spain and Italy is expected over this year, said TUROB. ular spot for Tehraners to go for long walks and observe Masoudieh Palace (Emarat-E Masoudieh) German travelers’ bookings for summer holidays in Turkey nature’s seasonal changes at its fullest. It was first built by Built for Prince Masoud Mirza, son of Nasered- have dropped around 40 percent compared to a year ago, the Qajars as a summer resident and later expanded by din Shah of Qajar and the governor of Esfahan as his reflecting tourists’ concern over security, German travel as- the Pahlavis. residence in the capital, this beautiful Qajar palace is sociation DRV said in March. A meeting of around 600 tour There are 18 mansions and palaces erected between adorned with European inspired moldings, coloured agencies, which was scheduled to be held in the Aegean re- sort of Kusadasi in April, was canceled. aged plane trees and cypresses which are currently func- glasses and Persian tiles. Persian Garden, somewhere in the heart of Tehran! tioning as museums. A gushing river flows through the Due to it being close to the parliament, the palace In order to support the sector during the current downturn, the park and spectacular views of snow topped mountains has seen some historic events through the decades such heart of Tehran! I was totally staggered by the variety of government has announced a number of economic packages. embellish your photo backdrops. as the unsuccessful assassination of Mohammad Ali plants and flowers. (Source: hurriyetdailynews.com) When to go: Serene at any time the garden doubles Shah. It was also once the first national library, national Moghaddam House in beauty during autumn when planes decide to show museum of Iran and home to the first independent min- Hidden in the hustle and bustle of Imam Khomeini off their coloured foliage. Spring is also a great time to istry of education. While the palace is not open due to street close to the Grand bazaar is one of the most ex- visit since there’s usually a huge Haftseen festival going major renovations, the exterior and other buildings are pensive houses of Iran. This house belonged to Mohsen A CLOSER LOOK on. Want to escape the summer heat? We make sure open to visit. Moghaddam a late professor of Tehran University and Best travel advice ever we head over here during summer to cool off from the Tip: Don’t forget to check out the designer shops in- one of its pioneers. mountain breeze. side the complex. Their stuff are just amazing! He was an archeologist with a lust for collecting rare Tip: I’d suggest visiting Darband (very close-by) early Museum Garden of Iranian Arts (Bagh-e Honare pieces from all over the world which are now exhibited With a new season of travel just around the corner, we asked our in the morning, having lunch over there and heading here Irani) in his house. Him and his French wife’s peaceful spirit is Facebook fans to share the best travel advice they’ve ever received. after, for an afternoon walk. You can either just buy an en- I guess this one doesn’t count for historic since it resembled in the detailed yet careful architecture of their Their responses ranged from practical tips to inspirational musings. trance ticket and enjoy the outdoors or also buy tickets for was opened in 2006 but the atmosphere resembles his- home. But above all it’s the blissful garden that takes me To kick things off, Ben C. had wise words for those of us a few palaces. Beware that you’d have to make up your tory and I guess that’s good enough. The garden itself here on an afternoon. with wanderlust: “Travel with an open mind, light heart, and mind at the entrance since that’s the only place where tick- is a museum of replicas of ancient national monuments When to visit: Definitely in spring when the trees are as insatiable curiosity.” ets are sold. I would advice on visiting the Nation’s Palace, and contemporary works of art. The mansion inside is a green and the water is flowing. Cheryl C. suggested travelers carry two debit cards, one the Nation’s museum and the Green Palace. display of precious cultural heritage pieces of Iran and Ferdows Garden (Bagh-e Ferdows) that stays in the hotel, and one to carry with you. That way, Niavaran Complex many items are for sale. If you’re looking to buy some Another summer resident for the Qajar royals and she said, “if you mess up with one (lost, stolen, ATM eats it) Not as big or extravagant as Sa’d Abad but Niavaran really unique Iranian handicrafts I’d highly recommend nobles and currently the museum of cinema. It was left you have a back up.” was also built as a summer home during the Qajar pe- here. They are quite pricy but extremely beautiful. abandoned after the death of Mohammad Ali Shah of Along the same lines, Maria F. recommended carrying the riod. The modern mansion of Niavaran was built for Mo- Persian Garden (Bagh-e Irani) Qajar but further constructions took place during the “name of your hotel and the address” in case you get lost– hammad Reza Pahlavi and his family where they lived If you want a true Persian garden, then head over reign of Naseredin Shah. The museum is actually a really and to help get around any potential language barriers. during most of his reign. here. I was blown away when I visited last spring. It was good one if you’re interested in cinema. Sally W. testified to the importance of keeping a diary and taking Where to eat: I specifically love the cute cafe right in as if I’ve stepped into Keukenhof, only somewhere in the (Source: travestyle.com) “souvenirs of your home country to give out to locals.” Spreading a little goodwill is never a bad idea–no matter where you are. PICTURE OF THE DAY Mehr/Payam Ahmadi Walk with confidence so “you look like you know what Irish tourism you are doing” was Melissa J.’s advice to avoid being pick- benefits from pocketed. Shawn W. also had some tips for avoiding theft, counseling travelers to avoid wearing flashy clothing and Europe attacks jewelry–and to always “be aware of your surroundings.” Dina M. had the right idea when she suggested bring-

Ireland’s tourist industry has benefited ing “a good sense of humor” along with your luggage. You from the Paris and Brussels attacks, with never know what will happen when you’re on the road–and it Ireland seen as a safer place to visit than always helps to be able to shrug off the small stuff. other European countries, according to Many of our fans recommended brushing up on the local the head of Tourism Ireland. language before arriving in a destination. “When you show “Certainly all the operators that we’re them you are willing to try with them, they are usually more talking to would appear to indicate that than willing to try with you,” wrote David H. In terms of pre- additional business is now being driven trip preparations, Anne-Marie R. also advised learning about into Spain, Portugal, and Ireland, which “the customs and culture of the country.” would be seen as safer haven destina- Savis JS and Patricia P. are all about serendipity. Savis be- tions,” Niall Gibbons said. “It’s not the basis lieves you should “put down the map and get wonderfully on which you want to build your brand, lost,” while Patricia put it this way: “Say yes to the adventure, but is it an interesting observation?” and trust in the mystery of whatever happens.” Gibbons said the agency is seeking to Tina G. encouraged travelers to carry an extra supply of grab a greater share of the Chinese market their own medications. You “never know what will happen, and has recently appointed in its first di- and not all countries have the same medicines,” she wrote. rector in that country. “We’re likely to have Pamela M. also suggested carrying “large Ziploc bags” to over 50,000 visitors in 2016... we’re leading help globetrotters keep organized–and safe–on the road. out 17 companies in May, which will in- From storing dirty laundry to protecting valuables in a rain- clude the likes of the Guinness Storehouse, storm, these simple (and highly packable) tools can prove Titanic, the Merrion Hotel, and others”. incredibly useful. He said keeping Ireland financially com- Before embarking on her first solo adventure, Jessalyn J. petitive is “absolutely vital”. “It’s been great said the following advice gave her the confidence to follow to have the dollar and sterling go the way they have, but these are factors beyond our through: “Once you travel by yourself, you will fall in love and control. If they go back to where they were want to do it over and over again.” five years ago, we need to ensure that what Last, but certainly not least, Jonathan S.’s words ring true: “Just go.” Saraye Ameriha in Kashan is the most outstanding mansion with seven nested yards and the longest windward of the city. we’re offering is value for money.” (Source: independent.ie) (Source: National Geography) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

6 INTERNATIONAL MMAYAY 2,2, 22016016 http://www.tehrantimes.com/International Tunisia’s security first approach

By James Denselow modern terrorism. well as the rise and rise of ISIL. passengers and the package holiday tour- The brutal attacks at the Bardo museum in Tunisians are cited as having the larg- ists to return to enjoy the country’s beautiful unisia may be getting a grip on the holes the heart of Tunis last March, followed in June est number of foreign fighters operating beaches, ancient ruins and hospitable peo- Tin its domestic security, but emergency by a lone gunman killing of dozens of tour- under the black flag, with some 5,000 ple. powers becoming permanent pose a ists in the resort city of Sousse, were a sucker estimated to have traveled to Syria and On a recent trip to the country I saw first challenge to the ideals that underpinned the punch to the emerging post-revolution body Iraq. hand what this effort looks like. Bag scanners in country’s 2011 revolution. politic. Yet with tourism such a huge part of the every hotel lounge, CCTV everywhere, police After the intoxicating excitement of the rev- It’s no fault of the Tunisians that their emer- Tunisian economy, comprising 8 percent of with automatic weapons guarding tourist sites olution and a moment when Tunisia claimed to gence into the sunlight of a post-authoritarian GDP directly but much more in associated in- and military humvees on resort town rounda- be the only success story of the Arab Spring era coincided with a civil war and the state col- dustries, it has been a priority for the country bouts. came the cold, hard reality of the threat of lapse of their Libyan neighbor to the east as to be seen as safe again for the cruise ship 9

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U.S. opposes placing Saudi, Turkish COMMENT Mismanagement is killing Iraq ‘proxies’ on UN terror list Forget corruption. Waste, inefficiency and economic distortion have brought Baghdad to the brink. The United States objects to adding Ah- rar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam to the Ever since Stuart Bowen led the first attempt to account for Ira- UN sanctions list because they operate as qi reconstruction funds in mid-2004, it has been clear that Iraq proxy forces inside Syria for key allies like hemorrhages money through corruption. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, experts Since then, things have got worse as last year the late Ahmed told Sputnik. Chalabi found twenty-nine companies who were stealing over Last Wednesday, U.S. State Depart- $4 billion with fake contracts. Stories of phantom projects and ment spokesperson Mark Toner said put- ghost employees abound, even after the last scandal in 2014 ting Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam where fifty thousand names were found on the Ministry of De- on the sanctions list would be damaging fense payroll, men no longer turning up to work. Commanders to the cessation of hostilities in Syria. pocketed their salaries. Russia submitted a request to the Unit- Years of mismanagement ed Nations last Wednesday to add the But Iraq has another silent economic killer: years of misman- two groups to the terrorist list, which al- agement, which have seen around $700 billion in mostly oil ready contains the Daesh and al-Qaeda. revenues produce little beyond a staggering seven million gov- “Jaish al-Islam is Saudi Arabia’s proxy ernment employees, but not enough schools and infrastructure. [in Syria]. Ahrar ash-Sham is mixed… [they And while every administration promises to end corruption, are] Saudi, Qatari and Turkish proxies,” many politicians in Iraq are oblivious to the financial black hole of University of Ottawa Countering Violent mismanagement. This includes generous subsidies for anything Extremism specialist Kamran Bokhari told that moves and the propping up of a host of failed state-owned Sputnik. companies, as well as absurdly bloated ministry payrolls and The United States, Bokhari continued, high politicians’ salaries. In fact, ministry payrolls have become a objects to designating Ahrar ash-Sham kind of jobs-for-votes scheme. and Jaish al-Islam as terrorist entities Therefore, $60 billion of Iraq’s $99 billion budget goes to state because three of Washington’s key al- wages, blank checks for political hiring schemes. The Kurdish re- lies in the region are supporting these gion has been no different, with over 70 percent of its budget groups. Americans.” but the United States as well. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, going on government jobs. U.S. opposition to the move, Bokhari Radio show host and political activist “These terrorist groups are U.S. proxy Lendman added, and other Russian offi- In Iraq, mismanagement is driving the country off a cliff edge added, has nothing to do with a cease- Stephen Lendman told Sputnik that Ah- foot soldiers, serving U.S.-led Western cials have known all along that all of the because of the oil price collapse. fire in Syria that never existed in the first rar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam are not and Israeli interests along with Riyadh’s Syrian anti-government groups are ter- Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi is now seeing his call for re- place. only proxies of Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and Ankara’s,” Lendman claimed. rorists, not so-called “moderate rebels.” forms shot down, because few have the will to admit what needs Bokhari claimed that what these “Washington’s goal from the outset to be done. As such, Abadi has managed to cut civil-servant groups want, however, is irrelevant be- “Jaish al-Islam is Saudi Arabia’s proxy [in of the conflict along with its NATO and re- salaries by a pathetic 3 percent. Iraq’s government revenues fell cause of their limited territorial reach and gional partners is regime change,” Lend- 60 percent, so salary reform should reflect that. dubious connections. Syria]. Ahrar ash-Sham is mixed… [they are] man noted. Ironically, this lack of strategy fosters corruption. It hinders “One of the biggest problems with Ah- Saudi, Qatari and Turkish proxies,” University The United States wants to replace a the aim of successive Iraqi governments to attract private en- rar Ash-Sham’s is that one of their biggest of Ottawa Countering Violent Extremism sovereign independent Syrian govern- terprise. Housing developments are often reserved for govern- allies is Jabhat al-Nusra,” Bokhari pointed ment with a U.S.-controlled puppet state, ment employees, while other land is held back for state-owned (Source: Sputnik) out. “This is a big complication for the specialist Kamran Bokhari told Sputnik. he suggested. enterprises. Private investors that Iraq desperately needs find themselves walking into a minefield of political interests. Iraq is now ranked 161 out of 189 countries in the World Bank’s ease-of-doing-busi- ISIL is competing with al-Shabaab for recruits in Somalia and appears to be gaining traction ness ratings. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in Somalia taken back by African Union Take natural gas. Iraq’s oil and gas fields already produce (ISIL / Daesh) terrorist may be gaining forces, supported by the United States enough to keep power stations running and electric lights on a foothold in East Africa. The militant and other African nations. (Al-shabaab, every summer, when demand peaks at 21,000 MW, 8,000 MW group took responsibility for an IED whose name means “the youth,” aims to higher than what is generated. This gas could keep factories attack on a convoy of African Union oust the government. It declared alle- humming with plenty left over for export. There is one prob- peacekeepers traveling outside of So- giance to Al-Qaeda terrorists, ISIL’s rival, lem: most of this gas is burned or “flared.” Iraqi National and malia’s capital of Mogadishu on April 25. in 2012.) International Oil Companies African Union officials have said that Earlier this month, a previously un- While every have failed to invest in the ISIL may not have been behind the at- known group called Jahba East Africa, administration right technology to capture tack, which left no casualties. Still, there or the East Africa Front, came out in promises to end it, costing Iraq billions. are worrying signs that the group is support of ISIL and called on fighters to Therefore, the plan to gaining traction in war-torn Somalia, desert al-Shabaab. corruption, many eliminate flaring is now years where another extremist group, al- Analysts believe that younger al- politicians in Iraq behind schedule. Iraq burns Shabaab, could serve as a ready pool of Shabaab supporters might be attract- are oblivious away 1.9 billion cubic feet of recruits for ISIL. ed to a mission that goes beyond just gas, enough to keep power ISIL, which has been competing Somalia. ISIL has pockets of support to the financial stations running and elec- with al-Shabaab for recruits in “the lit- in northern and western Africa. When black hole of tric lights on in four million tle emirate” since last year, appears to Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIL mismanagement. homes. However, gas flar- be ramping up its efforts. It released a last year, it called on all sub-Saharan ing will triple at the current propaganda video on April 14 in which fighters to join its forces. For ISIL, So- rate if the oil production goal of seven million barrels per day a group of fighters trains in an undis- One of the fighters featured in that with him. While the group’s following is malia’s attraction may be that it borders is reached. closed location in Somalia and pledges video is ex-al-Shabaab leader Abdiqa- likely still small, its appeal may be grow- key U.S. allies in East Africa like Kenya, Gas isn’t the only thing Iraq has been short of. Refined fuel allegiance to ISIL’s leader Abu Bakr al dir Mumin, a cleric who defected to ISIL ing among disenchanted al-Shabaab Ethiopia, and Djibouti. has run out in the past too. Iraq doesn’t have enough refineries, Baghdadi. last year, reportedly taking 20 fighters members who have seen their territory (Source: Quartz) despite saying for years that enough will be built. Worse, the massive Baiji refinery has been destroyed in the anti-ISIL cam- paign, knocking out over a third of Iraq’s refining capacity. Most of Iraq’s subsidies therefore legitimize corruption, al- Whichever candidate gets elected in November should expect a miserable honeymoon lowing government officials dangerous oversight over a poor- political pollster, told me. presidency: constant confrontation, Among the proposals: Allowing ly accounted distribution system. Many of these subsidies help By Doyle McManus And that has troubling implications instead of bipartisanship, to heighten Medicare to negotiate with drug com- middle-income government employees, not the most vulnera- he presidential primaries are a for the next president, no matter who the chance of gaining ground in the panies to lower prices, which gets 82% ble people. long way from over, but they've he or she turns out to be. After an next election. support. Passing a “no budget, no pay” Ending this waste will involve overhauling the political quo- T ta system that has turned Iraqi politics into a mad scramble for already produced an unhappy election, presidents must bridge the “We worked very hard to keep our law to withhold Congress' paychecks if paradox: Both parties appear headed partisan divide to get much done. But fingerprints off [Obama's] proposals,” a federal budget isn't passed, which ministries. toward nominating the two most un- no need to wait for inauguration day McConnell explained [to The Atlantic, gets 81% support. Increased funding Ministries have hiring power in a land of high unemployment, popular candidates in the country. 2017. We already know how this is go- in 2011]. “The only way the American for childcare and early education; 79% so they seek to dominate recruiting power, crowding out invest- Donald Trump, the Republican ing to turn out: We're pre-polarized. people would know a great debate support. ment. front-runner, has accomplished an It's easy to forget, but in 2009 Oba- was going on was if the measures were The group has assembled a centrist Unless the government can stop this, there will be a political unprecedented feat: More than two- ma arrived at the White House with a not bipartisan.” “problem solver” caucus in Congress, train wreck. The next crisis in the world’s fastest-growing energy thirds of voters say they can't stand massive 68% positive rating in the Gal- Most voters still tell pollsters they with almost 80 members drawn equal- provider can be avoided if we take action now. The internation- him. In the same unpopularity contest, lup Poll, including 41% of Republicans. want Congress and the president to ly from both the parties. al community must rally together to put funds where they will Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic Eight years earlier, the newly elected work together and get something “We're trying to disrupt the dys- count the most, and this is in building capacity in ministries. nominee, is runner-up: more than half George W. Bush enjoyed a 63% pos- done, of course. But that sentiment function,” said former Sen. Joseph I. A drop in the ocean the voters don't like her. Ted Cruz, who itive rating, including 37% of Demo- never seems to be powerful enough Lieberman, the Connecticut Democrat This is a drop in the ocean and would be an obvious tar- still has a shot at the GOP nomination, crats. to overcome partisan distaste for the who chairs the organization along with get for more foreign assistance, which is dominated by military is almost as unpopular as Clinton. The honeymoon didn't last, but the other side. Political scientists call this former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a Re- funding. Ongoing aid for Iraq’s millions of displaced people is of In every major poll conducted since numbers meant that these presidents “affective polarization” — meaning the publican. course vital, but without ministerial capacity, the next administra- February, all three leading candidates at least had the benefit of the doubt two sides just dislike each other more. “How do we encourage members tion will flounder, no matter who is in charge. are “underwater”: more voters view from most independent voters and a Whatever you call it, it produces the of Congress and the next president One interesting reaction has been from the Kurdistan Region- them unfavorably than favorably. The significant minority in the other par- central political frustration of our time: to take these risks? Part of it is to say al Government. The Kurds have suffered many of the bloated negative numbers are driven mostly by ty. They both had a base of popular political parties that see little reason there is more support for these ideas state ailments of Baghdad, but the government has front-load- partisan animosity. Republicans are di- support from which to negotiate with to cooperate, and plenty of reasons to than you think,” Lieberman said. “The ed economic pain, preparing their people for more shocks by vided over Trump, and Democrats are Congress. But that's unlikely to happen fight. next president has to ask: What's my taking a massive salary cut that includes the top tier of the civil divided over Clinton — but voters in this time. Is anyone pushing back? goal here? Do I just want to get ree- service. But ominously, mass demonstrations have continued each party are united in disliking the Strategy example Last week, a bipartisan group called lected, or do I want to build a record?” against Massoud Barzani’s government. other sides' front-runners by roughly With the next president already held “No Labels” unveiled a hopeful centrist The group has a practical side, too. For Baghdad, international donors could help Iraq swallow 90% in each case. in record low esteem, both parties will program: a glossy catalog of sensible It's raising money to protect centrist this bitter medicine, which would help cool anger on the Iraqi When the Pew Research Center be tempted to follow the strategy ex- policy ideas, complete with poll num- members of Congress from being street, by toughening up the IMF and World Bank demands at- asked voters how good a president ample set by Senate Republican Lead- bers to show that each has wide public knocked out of office in primary elec- tached to loans. If not, there is a real danger the loans will simply each candidate would make, the re- er Mitch McConnell during Obama's support. tions. add to the factional money scramble, kicking a debt problem to sults were striking: 67% of Democrats It's a worthy effort. But the hill they the next administration. said they thought Trump would make 67% of Democrats said they thought Trump are climbing looks steeper than ever — Of course, regardless of lending conditions, only Iraqis can a “terrible” president. Almost as many because in the presidential campaign take the radical steps needed to overhaul their political system. If Republicans, 58%, said they thought would make a "terrible" president. Almost each side is already demonizing the Iraq does indeed get $15 billion in loans, there is a chance politi- Clinton would be terrible in the White as many Republicans, 58%, said they other. That will make it even more diffi- cians will simply play along until oil prices “rise”. This is a mistake House. thought Clinton would be terrible in the cult for the next president to bring the Iraq cannot make again. When reforms come, they will already “We've never seen numbers like this two parties together after January 2017. be years too late. before,” Carroll Doherty, Pew's chief White House. (Source: LAT) (Source: The National Interest) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

8 MED & SCI MMAYAY 2,2, 22016016 http://www.tehrantimes.com

EAT YOUR FRUIT Insulating layer of air above the Banana Greenland ice sheet reduces precipitation The Earth’s climate has been warming, fore linked to temperature. But research- but even though the Greenland ice sheet ers with participation of the Niels Bohr is melting rapidly in the coastal regions, Institute discovered that even though the there are large parts of the ice sheet (40 temperature has risen over the last 10 percent) where there has hardly been years, the amount of precipitation over any melting on the surface. the central parts of the Greenland ice A warmer climate usually also means sheet has not increased. Measurements that there is more precipitation, but there showed that the amount of precipitation has been no increase in the amount of actually decreased. Why so? precipitation on the ice sheet. Because of low-lying clouds and driving New research with participation of the snow, direct observations of the ice sheet Niels Bohr Institute shows that this is due to surface can be very uncertain. Instead, an an insulating layer of air that forms near the international team of researchers from the surface during the winter, which insulates United States and the Niels Bohr Institute They are wonderfully sweet with firm and creamy flesh. You the ice sheet from the upper atmosphere in Denmark have studied the atmosphere guessed it right. Bananas are great to have every day and here is why: and reduces both evaporation and pre- over the 3½ km thick ice sheet. Support cardiovascular health cipitation. The results are published in the “We decided to investigate whether Improve digestive health scientific journal, Science Advances. you could find the answer in the atmos- Increase athletic performance for endurance exercise When the air gets warmer, it can hold phere above the ice sheet by measur- Relieve muscle cramps caused by exercise more water vapor. The laws of physics ing the atmospheric processes directly. Moderate blood sugar level state that for every degree the tempera- We therefore took measurements of the Can help with weight loss ture rises in the air, the water content can water vapor in the atmosphere for three Contain powerful antioxidant increase by 7 percent, so the air in tropi- The laws of physics state that for every degree the years,” explains Hans Christian Steen- Help you feel fuller cal regions is much more humid than in temperature rises in the air, the water content can Larsen, a postdoc at the Centre for Ice Unripe bananas improve insulin sensitivity Arctic Regions. increase by 7 percent, so the air in tropical regions and Climate at the Niels Bohr Institute at Improve kidney health Amount of precipitation the University of Copenhagen. The amount of precipitation is there- is much more humid than in Arctic Regions. (Source: phys.org) NEWS IN BRIEF Tailless comet could offer more New brain map shows where Iranian physician properly information about origin of Solar System words are stored inside your head diagnoses very rare disease

MEDICAL BUSHEHR — An allergist in the southern deskcity of Bushehr has managed to correctly diagnose and properly treat a rare allergic disease in a three- year-old baby, IRNA reported on Sunday. The doctor, Afshin Shirkani, called the toddler’s condition ‘good’ and said once his pa- tient receives bone marrow transplants, he will be back to his normal life. SCID is an inherited disor- der that damages the immune Scientists have discovered a new that it was lacking ice. More observa- Researchers have created a new map can explore the findings on their interac- system. ZAP70-related SCID is type of tailless comet. The comet tions were carried out of the dust in of the human brain which shows where tive website. one of several forms of severe that has returned from the edge of the comet’s short tail. It revealed that we organize words depending on their The map, which combines data from combined immunodeficiency, the solar system has been named it S3 more closely resembled stony aster- meaning — and it could help us read six of the participants, shows words be- a group of disorders with sev- as Manx object, named after Manx oids from the asteroid belt than a typical minds more accurately than ever. ing stored in over 100 areas of the brain, eral genetic causes. cats, which are mostly tailless. comet. Scientists from the University of Cali- spread across both the left and right The disease, which has Study’s lead researcher Karen Meech, Study’s co-author Olivier Hainaut, fornia, Berkeley, have published an inter- hemispheres. That, itself, is an interesting been spotted only in 14 pa- an astronomer at the University of Hawaii, an astronomer at the European South- active version of the map online. It allows finding, as the left side is usually consid- tients worldwide, had the first said that the newly discovered comet may ern Observatory in Garching, Germany, you to explore the whole brain, clicking ered the one to be used for processing occurrence in Iran. help solve the mystery as to how the so- informed that they have found the first around to see where different types of language. Individual words actually ap- Children with SCID lack virtually all immune protection from lar system has formed. With the help of rocky comet. Lack of ice in the newly words — from social and spatial, to vio- pear in multiple spots across the brain bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They are prone to repeated and the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii, as- discovered comet suggests that it might lent and visual — are stored. map, and a single point can be related persistent infections that can be very serious or life-threatening. tronomers focused on a comet known as have come from the Oort cloud. The team constructed the maps by to more than one word. The combination C/2014 S3. “It is very exciting -- S3 would have playing seven different participants a in which different spots light up as we In 2014, the comet was discovered been kicked out while the Earth was two-hour chunk of The Moth Radio process language appears to help lend and was little more than twice as far away being formed, possibly even by the Hour while scanning their brains us- meaning, allowing a single word to mean Baby born in midair in Iran from the Sun compared to the distance early-days Earth. S3 would then be a ing functional MRI. The brain scans different things. between Earth and the Sun. The comet, planetesimal like those which formed showed how the oxygen levels in The researchers reckon that the map MEDICAL TEHRAN — A baby arrived in a helicopter, known as S3 in short, had long orbit, the Earth, but preserved since that blood across the brain changed, and could be used to help understand with deskwhile flying over Kalat-e-Naderi, a city in north- which suggested that it came from the time in the cold of outer space”, said this data was then used as a measure more accuracy what people with condi- eastern Khorasan Razavi Province on Tuesday, IRNA reported. distant Oort cloud. Hainaut. of how active a particular part of the tions like Alzheimer’s are thinking just S3 was different from others, as it Four and a half billion years ago, brain was. from fMRI data. It even goes as far as Shahram Taherzadeh, the head of disaster management bu- Observed brain activity reau at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, delineating the was almost tailless and also, it was chunks of the same material that formed claiming that the insights could be used event, said an emergency call taker at the center received a dis- up to 100,000 times or so less active Earth and the other rocky planets are The team then set about comparing to build a new kind of “language de- tress call about an expectant mother experiencing a life threat- than typical comets. Comets become thought to have been flung into the Oort the observed brain activity to the types of coder” that could be used to help people ening complication during labor. active when they approach the sun cloud, a ring of icy debris encircling the word that the participants were hearing who are unable to speak to communicate The center then immediately dispatched a helicopter to the and their ice heats up that make a outermost edge of the Solar System. Un- at that exact moment. It allowed them to with others. Though we may still have to mountainous area to airlift the pregnant woman to a hospital in comet’s tail. touched, they’ve been preserved for eons build 12 categories of words, which can wait a little while for that particular tech- Lacking ice in the deep freeze of space. be seen to appear all over the brain. The nology to arrive. Mashhad, Taherzadeh explained. (Source: mainenewsonline.com) (Source: Gizmodo) However, he added, on the way to the hospital, while still in Lack of this activity in S3 suggested results are published in Nature, but you the chopper, the woman delivered her baby boy. Thanks to the assistance of two midwives and a couple of par- amedics in the air services, the mom and her newborn, who were Scientists are working to make cows obsolete having a close brush with death, are now safe and in good health. We depend on cows for food, clothing, and sometimes vine cells to grow sheets of collagen, which are then tanned Janne Ylärinne. even insulin. Cattle, though, are expensive and ineffi- and cut into leather goods, such as jackets. A bonus: Work- Muufri, a bioengineering startup, makes milk that’s cient — each cow drinks a bathtub of water and emits ers don’t have to deal with the hair or subcutaneous fat more dairylike than almond or soy. The company adds How this French satellite three times that volume of methane daily. There are also that comes with animal skin. 3D-printed cow DNA into yeast cells, then harvests the could ‘shake the the ethics of animal slaughter. But we might no longer Foreign antibiotics milk protein it produces—like making penicillin or beer. need the cow. Foreign antibodies can prevent animal tissue from Adding calcium and potassium, the mixture emulsifies foundations of physics’ Scientists are synthesizing the substances we normally being used on human injuries. But KOD — a syntheti- and gives it the same nutritional and textural qualities get from cows by using bovine cells, yeast, and even bac- cally derived collagen, stops bleeding, promotes tissue as milk. A team of French scientists launched a satellite on Monday teria. regrowth — and, because it lacks bovine genes, won’t Cow insulin moderates diabetics’ blood-sugar that will test an element of Albert Einstein’s famous General Since tissue engineer Mark Post debuted an in vitro be rejected. levels but can cause allergic reactions, and synthetic Theory of Relativity. burger in 2013, several companies have tried to create Biologists in Sweden are engineering cartilage tissue analog insulin must be carefully dosed. Now, research- Formulated in by Einstein in 1907, the Equivalence Principle tasty, scalable test-tube meat. Though Memphis Meats for human joints using cells from cow knees. Cartilage is ers at MIT are synthesizing a new form of insulin that states that there exists no observable distinction between inertial recently unveiled a cultured meatball, two challenges — tricky—it has to bend and stretch, but it regenerates slowly. stays in the blood and activates only when sugar lev- mass and gravitational mass. chewability and cost — have derailed other attempts. “If we can make the process work with bovine cells, we can els are too high. Put another way, if you’re standing in a sealed box and ex- To make lab-grown leather, Modern Meadow uses bo- one day do the same with human cells,” says team member (Source: Business Insider) periencing a “downward” force as though you were on Earth, there is no way to tell, from the force alone, if the box is actually on Earth or if it is inside a rocket, far from any planet, smoothly Radiation and immunotherapy can destroy both primary and secondary tumors accelerating at 1g. Similarly, if you’re floating weightless inside the box, expe- Radiation therapy not only kills cancer cells, tion field. signaling in the immune system. periments is that we have been able to create riencing no acceleration, there is no way to tell if the box is in but also helps to activate the immune sys- Ms Nicolle Rekers, MSc, from the De- Cancer cells a so-called abscopal effect, where a localized deep space or plummeting toward Earth. Einstein’s Equivalence tem against their future proliferation. How- partment of Radiation Oncology, Maastricht The researchers found not only that the mice radiation treatment has also had an effect on Principle helped him generalize his Special Theory of Relativity. ever, this immune response is often not University Medical Center, Maastricht, The were tumor-free following treatment, but also other tumor sites outside this radiation field.” Developed by Einstein while working as a patent clerk strong enough to be able to cure tumors, Netherlands, will describe to the conference that when re-injected with cancer cells 150 days The lifespan of mice is quite short - in Switzerland in 1905, special relativity describes how, be- and even when it is, its effect is limited to how a combination of radiation therapy after cure, they did not form new tumors. There about two years - so 150 days is a rela- cause the speed of light remains constant regardless of the area that has been irradiated. and L19-IL2, an immunotherapy agent, can was also an increase in the number of cells with tively long time. “Of course, these mice are how fast the light source is moving, observations of space Now, however, research has shown that increase significantly the immune response an immunological memory. models of human disease and can never be and time can vary according to an object’s velocity rela- the addition of an immune system-strength- when given to mice with primary colorectal “Radiation therapy damages the tumor 100% comparable with a patient, but the tive to the observer. Special relativity carries with it several ening compound can extend the radiation tumors. creating a sort of tumor-specific vaccine,” Ms fact that the cured mice never formed new implications that have become fundamental to modern physics, therapy-induced immune response against L19-IL2 is a combination of an antibody Rekers will say. “It feeds the immune system tumors, compared with a 100% tumor for- including Einstein’s famous formulation of the equivalence of the the tumor sites and that this response even that targets the tumor blood vessels and a and ensures that it notices that something is mation in untreated mice of the same age, properties of mass and energy: E = mc2. (Source: The CSM) has an effect on tumors outside the radia- cytokine, a small protein important in cell wrong. What is unique about our latest ex- is significant. (Source: eurekalert.org) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y http://www.tehrantimes.com/international MAY 2, 2016 WORLD IN FOCUS 9

Despite deep public misgivings in some at the peak last October. countries, the European Union will this EU set to drive forward visas for Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davu- week drive forward a plan to grant Turks toglu has warned that Ankara would visa-free travel to Europe as a reward for Turks in migrant deal stop implementing its side of the bar- NEWS having reduced a flood of refugees and gain to take back all those who reach ‘Less dependence on migrants into Europe to a trickle. Greece from its shores if Europe does The European Commission is set to not deliver on what he calls its commit- imported oil has reduced declare on Wednesday that Turkey has ment. broadly met the criteria for early visa EU officials insist the union made no Saudi importance to U.S.’ liberalization in a blaze of last-minute promise, and the offer applies only if legislation and ask EU governments and Turkey meets 72 legal and technical con- 1 Some argue that the strategic important of the European Parliament to approve the ditions. The Commission reported this Saudi Arabia to the U.S. has diminished. Do you agree decision by the end of June, several EU month that Ukraine and Georgia had met with this view? sources said. those benchmarks, and will add Kosovo A: Oil has always been the main topic mentioned when the “We have not lowered our standards. on Wednesday. strategic importance of Saudi Arabia is raised. The lessened Turkey has raised its game,” a senior EU Turkey is the most sensitive because it dependence of the United States on imported oil, mainly official familiar with the negotiations said. has the biggest population with 79 million because of the development of fracking technology, reduc- He was seeking to explain how the EU and due to its flawed record on civil and es the direct importance of Saudi oil to the United States. executive could certify compliance after minority rights, freedom of expression and However, the U.S. economy still can be affected significantly telling lawmakers just two weeks ago that the rule of law. Turkish officials warn against by anything that happens to the global oil market, in which Ankara had met fewer than half the so- any anti-Muslim discrimination. Saudi Arabia continues to be a very important player. Saudi called benchmarks. So in the time-honored EU manner, has all but shut the main Aegean route “No discount” Arabia also is a vital player in any security arrangements for The political reality is that Brussels the Commission will present a package for people fleeing war and poverty in Skeptics in the European Parliament the Persian Gulf. cannot say “No” and risk a collapse of a aimed at offering something for every- Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East and key member states such as France, It seems that Arab states bordering the Persian Gulf much criticized March 18 EU-Turkey deal one. and Asia. Germany and the Netherlands, where like to involve the U.S. in a military bloc. For example, in Aegean route shut that was a turning point in Europe’s mi- Figures delivered daily at 6 a.m. to there is substantial public opposition to a summit between President Obama and leaders of GCC gration crisis. Determined action by Turkey, in European Commission President Jean- opening borders to more Turks, insist countries in Riyadh on April 21 the sides agreed on com- It may lack political support to sustain concert with Greece and NATO (North Claude Juncker show new arrivals on they will examine Turkey’s compliance mon patrol forces against Iran. Is this a huge achieve- a “Yes”, but the Turkish government won’t Atlantic Treaty Organization), and the the Greek islands were down to 63 last with a microscope. ment for them? take “Later” for an answer. closing of borders across the Balkans, Thursday from an average 10,000 a day (Source: Reuters) A: The GCC states undoubtedly would consider as very important any joint military endeavors in which the GCC states themselves are cooperating as well as involving the Mr. Blair, please do not beat the drums of war United States. So yes, they would consider that a very big achievement. It probably would be important to them not so 1 The former British prime min- in the world and noted, “If we want the opponents’ position, will Pentagon compensate for this lack of determina- ister does not follow ethics and talk too the U.S. power be used (in) the world, be determined to dispatch more forces tion? Mr. President tries to underestimate much for the direct military effects as it would as a symbol of much and listen little and does not learn I support the issue, regardless of the to the region? Or will the White House the issue in an interview with the CBS continued U.S. support. lesson from the past. probable future problems, it is essential embark on sending forces in case of a News, saying, “The U.S. forces are not He has been one of the culprits of to use this power.” more worrisome situation in the region- supposed to confront Daesh directly”. Seven reasons Iran could many wars during the last fifteen years It is not difficult to understand the al countries like in Afghanistan, Iraq of Neither the public opinion nor the politi- become an entrepreneurial and incited the U.S. to wage war on Af- reason behind Blair’s war mongering Libya? If the Pentagon’s answer is yes, cal critics in Washington described Oba- ghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria and is language and his support for dispatch- it is considered a clear contradiction ma’s new decisions in contradiction to his powerhouse known as a liar by the Chilcot Inquiry and ing forces to the Middle East as far as we to Mr. President’s former and current earlier promises. know him. Unfortunately, he is not able policies. Is this approach a failure for Now that no clear prospect is seen has once again incited the U.S. to inter- 4 The population is highly educated: Some 9.4% has fere militarily in the Mideast. to distance himself from neo-militarism President Obama’s strategy based on in the Middle East crises and the U.S. a tertiary education — that’s about 7.5 million people with a In response to the sending of 250 of his Atlantic conservatives. According providing security to the governments expectations are rising, is the prom- university education. “This is as large as the country of Jordan U.S. commandos to Syria, the former to some political analysts in Washington, and local forces? ise of “we will not send the country’s or Israel,” said Nadereh Chamlou, former senior advisor to British prime minister, in an interview he incites the U.S. to militarily intervene Mr. President is being strongly criti- youths to war anymore” fading away the World Bank, at a recent event at the Washington, D.C.- with CNN, expressed support for the and get out of quagmire at the right time. cized for not having a clear strategy and after eight years? And will the U.S. re- based Atlantic Council’s Future Of Iran Initiative. (I listened act. He said, “The U.S. decision to Presence of 250 soldiers may not be not being determined in settling crises turn to the 2008 starting point in a way to it online). dispatch 250 soldiers to Syria to fight remarkable. But the question is that if like those in Syria and Iraq and not sup- is not sought by Blair and even allies Iran has particular strength in tech fields: The country is Daesh will make a big change.” He used the Syrian crisis exacerbates and Pres- porting the Afghan government. But will like Israel and Arabs? I am not willing to home to a university known as the MIT of Iran. In Cairo a few classic interpretations from the U.S. role ident Assad’s forces advance towards a sending of military forces to the region respond to this question. months ago, the Iranian businessman Kamran Eliahian high- lighted nanotechnology as nascent area of growth. Despite the American sanctions, ties are forming between Tunisia’s security first approach entrepreneurial communities in Iran and the United States. At 6 Security forces has taken to improve security, the British government such a flux against the backdrop of such an unpredicta- the Atlantic Council event, Lily Sarafan, an Iranian American who A huge amount of resources has been rushed into advice currently states that “further attacks remain likely”. ble security situation. What is perhaps a more important is co-founder of Home Care Assistance, talked about iBridges equipment and training for the security forces. The This advice, powerful enough to ward off most British debate for the longer term is what sacrifices the new conferences and TedxKish, a tech community gathering held on country’s army - the smallest in the region at some tourists on its own, also affects their ability to get travel Tunisian government makes to ensure great security. an island off Iran. Americans aren’t legally permitted to mentor 45,000 active soldiers - is being invested in and saw ac- insurance, which has led the larger British tour operators A state of emergency is currently in effect in the Iranians, Sarafan said, but they can communicate. tion in March with fierce clashes with ISIL (also known to cancel trips to the country for now, with the obvious country after a suicide attack against the police in No- The fight over visa restrictions that make it more difficult as ISIS) that resulted in 50 of their fighters being killed. knock-on effect for the tourism industry in a country vember. This has been extended a number of times with for Iranian Americans to travel to Europe is also coalescing Officials from the Tunisian Ministry of Tourism admit where youth unemployment remains a big issue. the latest pushing it to late June of this year. the Iranian American community, which could become a that traditions around welcoming guests and hospitality Attack on plane According to Human Rights Watch, the new counter- force advocating for more ties between the new countries. were unsuited for the security challenges of the modern Ironically, Tunisia’s 5.5 million visitor number target terrorism laws “imperil human rights and lack adequate “Where you have an organized group of companies advo- day. has been helped with increasing numbers of Russian safeguards against abuses”. cating,” she said “the next step might be advocating for sanc- The gun attacks in Sousse lasted for hours, pointing tourists traveling to the country after Turkey’s dropping Yet the governor of Sousse told me that Tunisians val- tions relief.” to shortfalls in coordination among the security forces off their agenda for political reasons and Egypt’s suffer- ue “security above freedom” and his beliefs were backed The country’s infrastructure is undergoing a renewal. At that the new governor of the city claims have been ad- ing following the attack on a passenger plane in No- up by the recent Arab Youth Survey which showed that the same Atlantic Council event, Chamlou said that on a trip dressed. vember. 58 percent of responders from North Africa agreed with to the country in January, “some people in the telecom sec- His manpower has been doubled and the restoration What this shows is how the short-term picture is in the statement that “given the current circumstances in tor told us some of the plans that are in the books,” she said. of power and influence by the Ministry of Interior means the Middle East, promoting stability in the region is more “The sector will be radically restructured.” there is far more intelligence available to thwart attacks. After the intoxicating important than promoting democracy”. Change is happening faster than people expect. Christo- Tunisia expects to attract 5.5 million visitors this year excitement of the revolution The overall picture highlights again the incredible im- pher Schroeder, a U.S. based venture investor and author of - the same as last year - as it increasingly believes that pact that a handful of high-profile terrorist attacks can Startup Rising: the Entrepreneurial Revolution Remaking the it has taken the necessary measures to protect tourists and a moment when Tunisia have on the direction of a country. Middle East, told the story of two visits to Iran. “My first trip from harm. claimed to be the only success It seems that despite the fires burning in Libya, Tunisia to Iran, there was very little access to 3G and 4g. It’s coming, However British Foreign Office Travel advice contin- story of the Arab Spring came has made significant strides in making the country a safer people told me. But the oligarchs told me, ‘No way, it won’t ues to warn its nationals against all but essential travel place. However, whether this trade-off with political free- happen,’” he said. “A year later, I came back and there were to the country. the cold, hard reality of the doms is worth it in the longer term remains to be seen. 20 million subscribers.” Despite the wide-ranging steps that the government threat of modern terrorism. (Source: The CSM) One of the hallmarks of an entrepreneurial economy is the pace of change and that the rate of change increases over time. The startup scene is just entering what could be a hey- Iran’s 21st Oilshow: bigger and richer than before day. In the United States, many industries have already been ECONOMY disrupted by technology: entrepreneurs come up with ideas, TEHRAN — On the International marketing and regis- 3,750 sq.m. The outdoor space of 10102 tered in the show. desk and hope they find a market or a problem. Sarafan said that in eve of Iran’s 21st inter- tering foreign companies was started sq.m sold to domestic companies indi- Which countries have registered for Iran, the young entrepreneurs are facing real issues, whether national oil, gas, refining and petrochem- in Iranian calendar month of Shahrivar cates that the number is nearly constant this year’s show? it’s pollution or climate change or the sociopolitical change. At ical exhibition (known as Iran Oilshow) (August) last year and in this regard, 17 compared to last year. More than 35 foreign countries are TedxKish, she said, “we had startup workshops where entre- Mohammed Nasseri, head of the public organizers and marketing companies Regarding the indoor space reserved showcasing in this exhibition. For instance preneurs were bringing their ideas … it wasn’t a matter of the relations of National Iranian Oil Company worked with us which was twice the num- by foreign companies, the number is China, South Korea, Turkey, Germany, It- transactional value of my company. It was how do I play a role (NIOC) and the director of the exhibition ber of last year. 15550 sq.m which has increased by 1002 aly, France, Austria and Finland have an in the progress of my country?” (Source: Forbes) had an interview with NIOC’s web site. How much space is allocated to the sq.m compared to the last year show. The active participation in the show and have Below a summary of this interview is 21st Iran OilShow? total outdoor space sold to foreign com- been settled in halls number 35 and 38. presented. The total indoor area allocated to this panies is reported to be 2213 sq.m which What other features can be men- Majlesi Appointed as Considering the fact that the main axis year’s show is 80000 sq.m which is in- is nearly doubled compared to the last tioned for the show? of the twenty-first exhibition is attracting in- creased by 10000 sq.m compared to the year’s 1002 sq.m. In this year’s show, a number of pres- IKCO-Peugeot JV CEO vestors and enhancing technology transfer last year’s 70000 sq.m. This increase is a How many domestic and foreign tigious international firms which have to the country, what has been done to in- result of utilizing number 20, 21 and 22 companies participate in the 21st show? been absent for a few years are partici- ECONOMY TEHRAN — Morad Majelsi has been ap- crease the participation in this event? Halls, number 26 whole series and con- So far 996 local companies, 634 for- pating again. deskpointed as the IKCO-Peugeot JV CEO by By implementing new marketing and structing B38 and C38 new Halls. eign companies and 157 representatives In the end, Mohamad Naseri invit- IKCO CEO, Hashem Yekehzare. promoting methods the event’s organiz- The total indoor space sold to domes- of foreign companies have completed ed specialists and experts in the field Majlesi’s previous appointments in IKCO were Advisor er has tried to provide a better condition tic companies this year is 24,500 aq.m their registration process and have been of oil, gas, refining and petrochemicals to IKCO Senior Vice-president in Technical Affair, Produc- for companies’ participation and pres- which given the increasing presence of settled on the floorplan, this means a to- to participate in this event and make it tion and Product Engineering, Brands Manger, Body Shop ence in the show. foreign participants shows a decrease of tal of 791 foreign companies are regis- richer as it is. Manager, IKCO Board of Director’s Member, IKCO Deputy CEO in Design and Development and Passenger Car Pro- ject Executive. He had also worked in other organizations as the Bus Azerbaijan to assemble IKCO’s vehicles Plant Manager, Engineering Organization Manager, Kerman ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran Khodro Company are well-known in the country. “With the assembly line establishment, Azerbaijan will Motor Vice-president, Bam Carmakers’ Chairman of the deskhas signed a letter of understanding Iran Khodro Company has produced various vehi- turn into IKCO’s export hub in the region,” he noted. Board, Chairman of the Board in Kerman Khodro Company with an Azeri company to assemble completely knocked cles in Azerbaijan including Samand. With its adopta- Tafazzolie cited Samand, Soren and Runna as the ve- and Kerman Khodro Parts Engineering and also Rayen Vehi- down (CKD) vehicles in Azerbaijan, said IKCO’s Deputy bility with the cold weather of Azerbaijan, Samand has hicles to be assembled in first phase of cooperation with cle Manufacturers’ Chairman of the Board. CEO for Export and International Affairs. been among the most popular passenger vehicles in the the Azeri side; the production of commercial vehicles According to the agreement between IKCO and Peugeot Saeed Tafazzoli said IKCO would not make any in- country. for public transport fleet of Azerbaijan has also been companies, a 50-50 JV will be established, while the CEO and vestment in Azerbaijan adding the partnership with the “Iran Khodro used to export vehicles’ CBU to Azer- predicted in the LOU. chairman of the board will be appointed by the two partners Azeri company is set to offer only technical and engi- baijan” Tafazzoli stated, adding that given to the warm The letter of understanding was signed by Irani- every two years. neering services to set up an assembly line. welcome the vehicles are receiving in Azerbaijan, IKCO an and Azeri ministries. The line is set to be estab- In the meantime, 30% of the jointly manufactured vehi- He also noted that many studies have already been has come to the conclusion to set up an assembly line lished in Neftchala city with the direct investment cles are to be exported and the production capacity will be made on Azerbaijan’s markets adding IKCO’s products there. of Azeri side. boosted from 15,000 sets to 200,000 sets in four years. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y ENVIRONMENT MMAYAY 22,, 22016016 10 http://www.tehrantimes.com/society

IRAN’S WILDLIFE Conference on environmental Iranian zoologist discovers unexpected species of rare intertidal spiders pollutants kicks off in Tehran

By Farnaz Heidari 1 from us they can detect traces of dioxin in Monitoring and sampling fundamental it which can affect and wreck our immune In a recent study by Iranian Alireza Zamani, Russian Yuri M. to environmental strategies system,” she lamented. Marusik and American James W. Berry, arachnologists, a new Motesaddi explained the significance This shows how important monitoring species of intertidal spiders has been discovered in shores of of monitoring and sampling of pollutants is and it is not just limited to our coun- the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in Iran, and named as as being the fundamental components of try but it is one of the important subject Paratheuma enigmatica, hence its quite unexpected, enig- environmental strategies. matters discussed in Paris climate change matic distribution. “Regular monitoring and sampling of conference as well, she said. pollutants indicates if we are succeeding Fortunately this conference which in minimizing the pollutants or not or particularly aims at training the environ- whether they are increasing or decreas- mental experts can pave the way for fur- ing,” he noted. ther improvements, she added. “What we seek in this conference is to 600 environmental standards set make improvement on the accuracy and by ISO validity of the monitoring and sampling Pirouzbakht, for her part, pointed that measures,” he added. “out of 19,000 standards set by the Inter- What DoE accomplished so far national Organization for Standardization Motesaddi went on to say that “we (ISO) 600 are related to the environment succeeded in decentralizing monitoring which emphasizes the global importance bodies and currently they all have distrib- of the environment.” uted to all the cities across Iran.” [From left to right] Nayyereh Pirouzbakht, Sa’eed Motesaddi, and Masoumeh Ebtekar Iran’s national standard organization has Over the past two years 29 online riv- been working side by side with the DoE for er monitoring satiation are added to the smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter.” Ebtekar warned that based on a report almost three years and plays a key role in “We are now able to monitor 200 in- by World Health Organization (WHO) promoting sustainable growth, she added. Alireza Zamani system and there are 188 air monitoring stations over the country, he highlighted. dustrial units online and we are hoping to one death out of seven is caused by air She also highlighted that after the re- Discovering the genus Paratheuma in Iran was particularly Motesaddi also noted that “our dust increase the number in the future,” he said. pollution and at least 35 million Iranian moval of the sanctions Iran’s standards interesting. Previously, they were known from Australia, USA, monitoring stations are now completed Air pollution accounts for one are affected by air pollution. are approved by the countries in Asia and West Indies, Mexico, Japan, Korea and a few islands in the with 50 stations for monitoring particles death out of seven “Right now if someone draw blood Oceania. Pacific Ocean. The closest reported locality of this genus is in Korea, more than 6000 kilometers far to the east from one of the localities in southeastern Iran. As a result, this record fills a gap in the middle of the whole Mane event: 33 lions flown home after rescue from life in the circus known distribution range of the genus. The distribution of P. Big cats arrive in South Africa, where sanctuary beckons, after having suffered cruel treatment enigmatica supports the previous observation that there is only one species per island, but one species may be found in Colombia and Peru on several islands. The roars of lions filled the cargo section of Johannes- It seems that dispersal must have been of primary im- burg’s main international airport on Saturday evening as portance in the evolutional history of the Pacific Paratheu- 33 lions rescued from South American circuses landed ma. These spiders are of particular ecological interest as they in South Africa. inhabit broken coral rubbles below the tide mark, and feed The animals will now be released into a bush sanc- upon intertidal crustaceans, but the ecology and full distribu- tuary for big cats. tion range of this particular rare species remains unknown. It was the largest airlift of lions in history, said Jan As a result of this study, the whole genus Paratheuma Creamer, president of Animal Defenders International, which have had a doubtful systematic position is moved from which carried out the operation. Desidae to Dictynidae using both molecular and morpho- “These lion have suffered tremendously,” Creamer logical evidence. The study›s findings were published in the said as the lions were loaded in crates on to trucks. recent issue Zoology in the Middle East. “They lived in small cages on the backs of trucks for their entire lives. Some of them had their teeth bashed in with steel pipes in circuses in Colombia and Peru. Some of them had their claws removed ... it is a won- One of the 33 rescued lions in its travelling crate at The lions’ crates are loaded on to a lorry prior to their derful feeling to bring them back to their home.” Johannesburg’s airport. Photograph: Dan Kitwood transportation to a sanctuary. Photograph: Brett Eloff Nine of the lions were surrendered by a circus in Co- lombia. The remaining 24 were rescued in raids on cir- food and water for the rest of their lives. The Emoya “The animals have no conservation value whatsoev- cuses in Peru by the animal defense group and officials sanctuary will feed the cats with game meat which it er. Many of them have been inbred,” she said. enforcing a crackdown on wildlife trafficking. buys in bulk. “When we are sure that no breeding will take place, The lions will be placed in quarantine in enclosures at The enclosures will be fitted with drinking pools, we allow males to interact with females. By then a pat- the 5,000-hectare (12,355-acre) Emoya big cat sanctuary in platforms and toys to ensure the lions do not become tern will have emerged ... and we will know which lions Vaalwater in northern South Africa, started three years ago bored and will be steadily expanded as they become can be placed together.” by Savannah Heuser and her mother Minunette. familiar with their new life, said Savannah Heuser. Emoya was opened in 2012, when Savannah Heuser The 33 lions will be monitored by a vet for their first Emoya, in an area with a mix of habitats including was 16. The sanctuary’s first cat, a lion rescued from Cai- weeks in Africa. They will then be introduced to each mountainous regions, rolling grasslands, forests, cliff ro, arrived in June 2013. The sanctuary is currently home other in a 1-hectare bonding enclosure. Many of the li- caves and river gorges, has a strict non-breeding policy, to eight big cats, including two Siberian tigers. ons were never allowed to have direct physical contact Heuser said. The lions are part of a group of 100 animals which with other lions and have never been together without Female lions may receive contraceptive medications were rescued in Peru. Bears, monkeys, birds and oth- Unexpected for Iran biodiversity a fence or a cage separating them. so they can remain with their mates, while males may er native wildlife have been relocated to sanctuaries in In order to gain a better knowledge of the spider fauna of Their poor physical state means the lions will never undergo vasectomies to make sure that no lions are Peru and a tiger has been sent to a new home in Florida. Iran (currently comprising more than 600 species in 48 fam- be able to hunt again and will have to be cared for with bred in captivity. (Source: The Guardian) ilies), several surveys in various regions of the country have been recently carried out especially by Alireza Zamani and his colleagues during 2014, 2015a, 2015b. Zamani told Tehran Times that “While studying the spi- 3 Sumatran tiger cubs step out at San Diego Zoo der fauna of the coastal and tidal zone of the Gulf of Oman Three endangered Sumatran tiger cubs the 3-month-old cubs romped and Joanne is a doting mother. Fewer than 350 Sumatran tigers are and the Persian Gulf in Iran, several interesting species were have made their debut at San Diego Zoo munched on plants in their habitat. They say Nelson, the male, is the larg- thought to exist in the wild. They are found in the collected material e.g. Filistatidae.” Safari Park. The trio was born in late January to est and calmest of the three cubs. His sis- found only on the Indonesian island of Zamani added that “perhaps the most unusual finding was Visitors got their first glimpses Tues- Joanne, a Sumatran tiger that’s a popu- ter Cathy is the most vocal, and Debbie is Sumatra. the occurrence of Paratheuma, a genus previously unknown day of Nelson, Cathy and Debbie as lar attraction at the zoo. Zookeepers say the most adventurous. (Source: Washington Post) from the shores of the Indian Ocean. This genus currently comprises 10 species of intertidal spiders, distributed in Aus- tralia, Hawaii, Florida, West Indies, Mexico, Japan, Korea and a IN FOCUS iew.ir few islands in the Pacific Ocean (World Spider Catalog, 2015).” 1 million goldfish Pristine ecosystems Zamani as a corresponding author told that “the first dive into Tempe series of ten Paratheuma species are remarkably similar in size, setae, elongated spinnerets and general body mor- Town Lake near phology. The new species reported in Chabahar, south- west Asia, has several differences: individuals have more Phoenix setae, shorter, less conspicuous spinnerets and more neu- tral coloring.” TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — More than However, he said, the copulatory organs are similar to 1 million goldfish now have a giant those of the previously described species and the distribution fishbowl to call home in a Phoenix of this species supports observation that there is only one suburb. species per island, but one species may be found on several Tempe officials dumped roughly islands. 1.2 million goldfish and minnows into Dispersal must have been of primary importance in the Tempe Town Lake on Friday. evolutional history of the Pacific Paratheuma. There is a They say the fish will serve as a strong possibility that several, perhaps many, species of the natural insect control for midge flies’ genus await discovery; perhaps, their characters and distri- larvae, which are at the bottom. bution may considerably change interpretation of their rela- KPNX-TV in Phoenix reports that tionships and natural history with further studies. the fish were transported from Arkan- Importance of intertidal spiders sas by truck. The intertidal spiders’ family Desidae which is now moved The man-made lake already to Dictynidae, are named for members of which live in a very has a variety of fish including unusual location or better say between the tides. The family bass and carp. The goldfish are has been reevaluated in recent years and now includes inland expected to be a food source for genera and species as well, such as Badumna and Phryga- the larger fish. noporus. The lake was drained in March to Those intertidal spiders that are truly marine commonly replace a dam its west end. The lake is live in barnacle shells, which they seal up with silk; this al- expected to reopen in May. lows them to maintain an air bubble during high tide. They A Persian fallow deer calf named Javid, literally meaning eternal, was born in Pardisan rehabilitation center on Sunday morn- Officials say the new dam will be emerge at night to feed on various small arthropods that live ing. Another calf was born on April 21 in this center. The species are on the verge of extinction and only some are being kept more cost-effective, dependable and in the intertidal zone. in captivity in preserved areas or rehabilitation centers. last for at least 50 years. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

http://www.tehrantimes.com/sports MMAYAY 2,2, 20162016 SPORTS 11

AAFCFC AAsiansian UU-19-19 CChampionship:hampionship: IranIran PARALYMPIC GAMES Iranian para-archer Zahra Nemati among ones to ddrawsraws hholderolder QatarQatar inin GroupGroup C watch

SPORTS Iran was placed in Group C of the Here are some of the para-archers to keep an eye on deskAFC Asian U-19 Cup to be held in as they focus on the target at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Bahrain in October this year. Games. Iran has been pitted against defending champions Familiar faces such as Iran’s Zahra Nemati and the USA’s Qatar, Japan and Yemen in Group C. “armless archer” Matt Stutzman are expected to return Sixteen nations discovered their AFC U-19 Cham- to the Paralympic Games this summer, whilst there were pionship Bahrain 2016 fate on Saturday when the other names who emerged from the 2015 World Champi- draw for October’s competition was held in the Bah- onships and could be on target for Rio 2016. raini capital of Manama, the-afc.com reported. MEN Draw Result Eric Bennett (USA) Group A: Bahrain, Thailand, Korea Republic, Saudi Bennett surprised many Arabia at the 2015 World Archery Group B: DPR Korea, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Para Championships in Vietnam Donaueschingen, Germa- Group C: Qatar, Japan, Yemen, IR Iran ny. Although the eighth Group D: Uzbekistan, China PR, Australia, Tajikistan seed in the recurve men’s Each group will play a one-round league, from open division, he defeated which the top two teams in each group (eight teams Russia’s top-ranked Bato in total) will qualify for the knockout stage (quarter-fi- Tsydendorzhiev and Iran’s nals). eventual bronze medallist The four winners of the quarter-finals will qualify Gholamreza Rahimi, en for the semi-finals and the winners of semi-finals will route to winning gold. Ben- advance to the final. nett changed his recurve The Championship’s top four ranked teams will technique just months be- then fly the Asian flag at the FIFA U-20 World Cup fore World Championships and shoots with a mouth-tab. Korea Republic 2017. He is currently ranked third in the world. If Korea Republic finish among the Championship’s David Drahonisky (CZE) top four teams, three play-off matches will be organ- Drahonisky has consistently been one of the top pa- ized among the four losing teams of the quarter-fi- ra-archers in the world since his debut in 2003. He is cur- nals to determine the fifth placed team that will qual- rently ranked No. 1 in the world and won gold in the W1 ify for Korea Republic 2017. category at the 2015 World Archery Para Championships, which turned out to be his first world gold ever. Drahon- isky took gold at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics and silver Iran’s Hajisafi set to leave Iran’s Ehsan Hadadi to participate at at London 2012. The veteran para-archer has been shooting for 26 years FSV Frankfurt IAAF Diamond League and has shown he can still contend for the podium at Rio. He won gold at the 2015 World Archery Para Champi- onships, in the men’s compound open. During Barcelona 1992, his first Paralympic Games, Lee won a bronze medal in the team event. His team defended that medal at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympics, where he also won a gold med- al in the men’s individual W2. Lee added another team Paralympic bronze medal in Sydney 2000, which was the last time he medalled at a Paralympic Games. Matt Stutzman (USA) Stutzman gained fame and notoriety as the iconic “armless archer” during London 2012. He won silver in the men’s individual compound open and hopes to turn that into gold at Rio. On 9 December 2015, Stutzman hit a tar- get from 310 yards, breaking the longest Guinness-ratified distance by any individual in the world. Bato Tsydendorzhiev (RUS) SPORTS Iranian interna- division. SPORTS Iranian discus 2016 IAAF Diamond League calen- The top-ranked Russian para-archer in the recurve desktional player Eh- Hajisafi’s agent revealed that deskthrower Ehsan Ha- dar open men’s division had a disappointing finish at the 2015 san Hajisafi is set to leave Ger- he has offers from Belgium and dadi will take part at the 2016 IAAF 6 May – Doha, QAT World Archery Para Championships where he finished man second division side FSV Austria while playing in Bundesli- Doha Diamond League set to be 14 May – Shanghai, CHN sixth. Tsydendorzhiev started archery in 2011 and made Frankfurt as the team nears rel- ga is an option. held in Doha at Qatar Sports Club 22 May – Rabat, MAR his international debut in 2012, and he is looking for a egation. The 25-year old winger has on Friday May 6. 28 May – Eugene, USA comeback in Rio. Following the 4-1 loss against scored two goals in 24 appearanc- The IAAF Diamond League brings 2 Jun – Rome, ITA WOMEN Kaiserslautern, FSV dropped to es for FSV this season. His superb together the world's finest track and 5 Jun – Birmingham, GBR Zahra Nemati (IRI) 16th place two weeks before the long-range goal against Freiburg field athletes to compete in an annual 9 Jun – Oslo, NOR Nemati is one of the most popular Paralympians from end of the season. nominated as one of the best goals series spread across four continental 16 Jun – Stockholm, SWE Iran. She took gold at the 2015 Asian Para Championships Hajisafi, who joined FSV from of the month. areas. 15 Jul – Monaco, MON and qualified to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympics. At Sepahan in August 2015 with a Hajsafi has represented Iran at Olympic silver medallist Ehsan Ha- 22-23 Jul – London, GBR London 2012, Nemati set a Paralympic record and won two-year contract, is set to leave the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, 2014 FIFA dadi of Iran has also won the 2011 world 25 Aug – Lausanne, SUI the gold medal in the women's individual recurve W1/W2. the club in the summer. He has a World Cup and the 2015 AFC Asian bronze as well as multiple gold med- 27 Aug – Paris, FRA She also claimed a bronze medal in the women's team term in his contract which let him Cup, in addition to Sepahan at the als from the Asian Games and Asian 1 Sep – Zurich, SUI recurve open. Nemati’s success resulted in significant me- go if FSV relegates to the third 2007 FIFA Club World Cup. Championships. 9 Sep – Brussels, BEL dia coverage in Iran and inspired other women to take up para-sport, especially archery. Eleonora Sarti (ITA) Sarti started her archery career in 2013 by winning a President congratulates national archery team’s championship team bronze medal at the World Championships in Bang- kok, Thailand. She switched sports from wheelchair bas- President Rouhani sent a message to congratulate the heroes. ketball after discovering archery.. In just two years, Sarti championship of the national team of archery at 2016 I hereby congratulate this success and appreciate the has become world No. 1 and won gold in the women’s Shanghai Archery World Cup. athletes, coaches, managers and all people working hard compound open at the 2015 World Archery Para Cham- President’s message is as follows: in the archery team, as well as the officials of the Ministry pionships. Now she has her eyes on the podium in all her In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most of Youth Affairs and Sports and wish for increased pride events at Rio 2016. Merciful for the youth of the country in all sport fields. (Surce: Paralympic) Once again, the Iranian compound men’s champion- Hassan Rouhani ship at Shanghai Archery World Cup caused happiness President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and pride for the Iranian nation which has raised many (Source: President.ir) Ronaldo returns to Real Madrid training ahead of Qatar investigates death at World Cup site as labour rights under scrutiny Manchester City clash The organisers of Qatar's 2022 Bayt stadium in Al Khor, 50 km (31 dissent with jail terms or immediate "Workers dying suddenly from World Cup said on Sunday they miles) north of Doha, a witness told deportation. heart attacks is something we hear Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Real Madrid training as were investigating the death of an Reuters. Prasad is the third Indian em- about often, the causes are not al- he battles to be fit in time for his side's Champions League Indian labourer at one of its sites Organisers said the death was ployed on a World Cup site to die of ways clear. But we're moving now semi-final second leg against Manchester City. but denied it was caused by work- not caused by working conditions. a heart attack in the last six months, into the hottest time of the year The Portuguese star has missed Madrid's last three ing conditions which the wealthy "Al Khor Hospital reported the according to a February report by when the risk of fatality increas- games due to a hamstring Gulf country is under pressure to cause of death as cardiac arrest," the Supreme Committee. es," said Amnesty Gulf researcher injury but has taken to so- improve. the Qatar's Supreme Committee Qatar's Supreme Committee Mustafa Qadri. "When a worker dies, cial media in recent days to Along with accusations of corrup- for Delivery and Legacy of the 2022 says there have been no work-re- Qatar needs to get to the bottom of show he is working hard to tion during its World Cup bid, Qatar World Cup said in a statement. lated fatalities on World Cup sites, what happened. People's lives are in regain his fitness. has long been under fire from rights "The family of Mr Prasad were in- but law firm DLA Piper, in a review danger". Zinedine Zidane admit- groups for labour abuses. Last week, formed of the tragedy immediately. for the government in 2013, found Amnesty reported on abuses at a ted prior to Saturday's 1-0 world soccer body FIFA urged Qatar A full investigation is underway." evidence of dozens of work-related World Cup stadium in a wide-rang- win over Real Sociedad that to hasten improvements for builders Qatar's efforts to become the deaths among migrant labourers ing report three weeks ago based both Ronaldo and Karim on World Cup sites and said it would competition's first Arab host have from South Asia. on the accounts of 132 workers. Benzema were doubts for monitor conditions. been dampened by accusations in- Qatar's government has also de- DLA Piper recommended that the clash with the tie deli- Qatar, an energy exporter which cluding that workers were forced to nied claims there are higher instanc- Qatar launch an independent study cately balanced at 0-0 after has the highest income per capita live in squalor and to work without es of heart attacks among construc- into cardiac deaths among migrant the first leg at the Etihad. in the world, is also under pressure proper access to water and shelter tion workers and does not publish workers. However, Real Madrid from the United Nations to address in the blazing sun. independently-verified statistics on The head of Qatar's Supreme have now confirmed that workers' rights before World Cup About 5,100 construction workers worker-related injuries and fatalities. Committee has said Doha is work- Ronaldo, who is the top construction peaks in 2017. from Nepal, India and Bangladesh Autopsies and post-mortems on ing to reduce abuses he described scorer in this season's Champions League with 16 goals Labourer Jaleshwar Prasad, 48, are building stadiums in the country. people who die sudden and unex- as occurring on construction sites all already, is back in training as they begin their preparations fell unconscious on Wednesday Unions and labour protests are pected deaths are forbidden by Qa- over the world. for the clash at the Bernabeu. while performing steel work at Al banned and authorities penalise tari law unless a crime is suspected. (Source: Reuters) (Source: Goal) b

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NEWS Tehran Intl. Book Fair to experience Iranian troupe to perform musical “Scheherazade the Storyteller” new atmosphere this year: official

ARTTEHRAN — Shiftegan-e Del, a troupe of 1 Salehi explained that based on the agreement with deskabout fifty female performers, is sched- the Tehran Municipality, the fairground has been ded- uled to stage “Scheherazade the Storyteller”, which is a icated to the book fair for the next ten years. musical about Scheherazade, the legendary Persian queen “The place has been constructed purposefully for and the storyteller of “One Thousand and One Nights”. the fair, and we are happy that when the fair ends this The musical will be di- year on May 15, we will be able to begin planning rected by choreographer the next edition of the fair right off. Since during the Hayedeh Kishipur at Tehran’s previous years, we always had doubts about the next Niavaran Cultural Center on location of the fair,” Salehi explained. Thursday and Friday. Only Iran Cultural Fairs Institute Director Amir-Masud women are allowed to at- Shahramnia, also present at the conference, said that tend the performances. the progress of construction has been good. The group performed He added that there are good number of buses the musical under the title and taxis situated in major squares of the city which of “A Scheherazade Should will carry the passengers to the fairground, while Teh- Be” at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall ran’s Metro Line 1 will also take passengers directly to in January 2015. the venue. “One Thousand and One “Russia is the guest country this year and is at- Nights” is the story of the tending with large number of officials and writers, Persian king Shahriar who some of whom will arrive in Tehran today. Officials marries a girl each night from the former guest countries of Oman and Italy A poster for “Scheherazade the and the next morning he will also attend the fair this year,” he asserted. Storyteller” beheads her to take revenge There are also several more officials, publishers from his unfaithful wife. and writers who will be visiting the fair coming from A view of He had killed 1,000 such women by the time he was in- different countries such as Kuwait, Algeria, Germany, Shahre troduced to Scheherazade. She begins to tell a fascinating Aftab Spain and India, he concluded. story during the night for the king but she does not finish it. And so the king kept Scheherazade alive day by day, as he eagerly anticipated the finishing of the previous night’s story. At the end of 1,001 nights, and 1,000 stories, Sche- Top Iranian stage actors honored herazade told the king that she had no more tales to tell ARTTEHRAN — Stage artists came honored for their collaboration in “Veronica’s Room” him. desk Over these 1001 nights, the king had fallen in love with together at Tehran’s City Theater directed by Reza Servati. Scheherazade, so he spared her life and made her his Complex on Saturday night to participate in the Also presented with awards were Elham Korda queen. 13th Iranian Stage Actors Celebration, which was for her role in “Hearing”, directed by Amir-Reza Ku- organized by the Iranian Theater Forum to honor hestani, and Giti Qasemi for her role in “Deliberately, top actors of the past year. Romantically, Ruthlessly” directed by Sanaz Bayan. Eight actors and actresses were awarded at the The celebration also honored the casts of the Tehran center to showcase gala, which was stirred with criticism from artists plays “Beizai” by Seyyed Mohammad Mosavat, “The about the government’s disregard for theater. Season for Sour Orange Blossom” by Gholamreza portraits of Persian music Farid Qobadipur was awarded for his role in Arabi, “The Chairs” by Hossein Rahimi, “Vertigo” by luminaries “Terror” by director/writer Hamidreza Naeimi while Puya Sadeqi and Iman Sayyad-Borhani, and “In the Hassan Majuni war honored for his collaboration Dock” by Amir Kaveh-Ahahaninjan. in “The Name”, a stage adaptation of “What’s in a Yalda Abbasi for her role in “Mother Courage ARTTEHRAN — Portraits of fifteen luminar- desk Name” by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu and Her Children” and Davud Moinikia for his role ies of Persian music will be put on display Delaporte. “Thousands Lashes” were selected as Young Prom- in an open-air exhibition at the Niavaran Cultural Center. Hesam Mansur for “Odyssey” by director Arash Actor and director Akbar Zanjanpur (L) plants a kiss on the award that ising Actors. Portraits of vocalists Gholam-Hossein Banan, Moham- he received from actor Jafar Vaali (R) for his lifetime achievements Dadgar and Saber Abar for “Caligula” by director during the 13th Iranian Stage Actors Celebration at Tehran’s City The organizers also honored actors Akbar Zan- madreza Shajarian and Shahram Nazeri; santur virtuoso Homayun Ghanizadeh also received awards. Theater Complex on April 30, 2016. Host Ehteram Borumand is janpur and Sirus Ebrahimzade for their lifetime Parviz Meshkatain; and tar virtuosos Mohammadreza Lotfi Actresses Setareh Pesyani and Behnaz Jafari were also seen in the photo. (Tasnim/Hamed Malekpur) achievements. and Hossein Alizadeh will be showcased at the ten-day exhibit, which will open on May 5. ISNA/ The exhibition has been organized by art teacher Hiva PICTURE OF THE DAY Erfan Karami Pashai to commemorate the 105th birth anniversary of Ba- Ali Rahbari to nan (1911-1986). The portraits have been created by fifteen students of conduct St. Pashai, including Elena Parvin Namin, Sadaf Taherian, Avi- deh Mehrani and Fatemeh Taeb. Petersburg State Symphony NEWS IN BRIEF Orchestra Book on Rakhshan ARTTEHRAN — The Bani-Etemad films deskconductor and mu- sic director of the Tehran Symphony released Orchestra, Ali Rahbari, will be leading the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra as a guest conductor during ARTTEHRAN — Iranian researcher a performance. deskSaeid Aqiqi has recently released The decision to collaborate as a his new book “Under the Skin of the Tales” that guest conductor of the orchestra was spotlights works by filmmaker Rakhshan Bani-Ete- made after Rahbari received an invi- mad. tation from Russian conductor Valery The book composed of eight chapters explores Gergiev who is also the longtime ar- connections between reality and films in the Iranian tistic director of the Mariinsky Theater, motion picture industry with a sharp focus on Ba- the Persian service of ILNA reported ni-Etemad’s “Under the Skin of the City”, “The May on Sunday. Lady” and “Tales”. No exact date has been set for the Rozaneh Publications will showcase “Under the performance as yet. Skin of the Tales” at the 29th Tehran International Gergiev has strong ties to major Book Fair, which opens to public on Thursday. orchestras throughout Europe and the U.S. He is an old friend of Rahbari, going back to the years when Rahbari Pallet to promote Intl. led the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Green Film Festival Tar virtuoso Hossein Alizadeh performs during a duet with tombak player Hamid Qanbari (not seen in the photo) at the University of Art and and served as an assistant to Herbert Culture in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah on April 30, 2016. von Karajan at a very young age.

Comcast buy of “Kung Fu Panda” producer aids Asia strategy ARTTEHRAN — The Iranian pop NEW YORK (Reuters) — deskband Pallet will promote the 5th Comcast The $3.8 billion purchase of the spend on entertainment. far as the Hollywood entities go, I International Green Film Festival, which will be held Corp’s planned purchase of Dream- company founded by movie mogul This year’s hit “Kung Fu Panda 3”, think they seem to understand the from May 13 to 20 in Tehran and several other Ira- Works Animation would increase the Jeffrey Katzenberg is expected to for example, was the first movie ani- nuances of the market better than nian cities. media giant’s foothold in Asia, par- help drive traffic to Comcast theme mated in both English and Mandarin. most.” Pallet led by clarinet virtuoso Ruzbeh Esfandar- ticularly China, as it competes in an parks in the region, Wall Street ana- When it opened in February, it set a Comcast’s plan to purchase maz has performed in various countries such as increasingly global battle for enter- lysts said. The animation studio’s re- record for the biggest animated film DreamWorks was announced on France, the U.S., Germany, Sweden, Italy and the tainment dollars. lationships also could make it easier opening in China. Thursday and requires approval from Netherlands. DreamWorks, producer of the for Comcast to distribute content in “DreamWorks has done a very regulators. Actors Reza Kianian and Fatemeh Motamed-Ar- “Kung Fu Panda” and “Shrek” fran- China. good job in building a team in Chi- From January through March, 37 ya are the ambassadors of the festival that aims to chises, was one of the first Hollywood DreamWorks has aggressively na and learning the market,” said percent of Comcast’s total revenue raise awareness about conservation of the environ- studios to open a production studio courted audiences in that country, Larry Namer, president and CEO of came from its content and theme ment and protecting limited water resources across in China. It formed a joint venture which is the world’s second-largest Metan Global Entertainment Group, park unit, NBCUniversal. Tapping into the country. with local companies in 2012 called film market and home to a growing which produces entertainment Asian markets could help that grow Oriental DreamWorks. population of city dwellers ready to content for Chinese audiences. “As further, analysts said.