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16 Pages Price 20,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13301 Thursday JANUARY 10, 2019 Dey 20, 1397 Jumada Al Awwal 3, 1440 Can EU make decisions Adil Abdul-Mahdi Iranian weightlifter “Ganjur” to celebrate independently of U.S., calls Iran-Iraq Moradi nominated for centenary of children’s

asks VP 2 ties friendly 2 lifter of the year 15 theater in Iran 16 Persian Gulf Star Refinery’s 3rd phase comes on stream See page 2 ECONOMY TEHRAN— The third As reported by ISNA, after the inaugural deskphase of Persian Gulf ceremony, a press conference was also held at First-class Star Refinery (PGSR), in south of Iran, the refinery complex during which the managing was put into operation on Wednesday, director of National Iranian Oil Refining and IRNA reported. Distribution Company (NIORDC) noted that Speaking in the inaugural ceremony, the average gasoline production in the country Mohammad-Ali Dadvar the managing stood at 67.28 million liters per day in the past director of the refinery, put the output of Iranian calendar year (March 2017 – March the 3rd phase at 12-15 million liters per day, 2018), and with phases two and three of PGSR idiots in saying that the total output will be stabled going operational the figure reached 87.95 mil- at 45 million liters per day within a week. lion liters per day in the current year. 4

Iran to downgrade security ties Washington with EU: diplomatic source POLITICS TEHRAN – Some six unnamed diplomat said Tehran is con- deskEuropean ambassadors sidering a downgrading of security ties and charges d’affaires in Tehran were dis- with the EU. “Soon due decisions will be missed in less than ten minutes after they made and they will cover vast areas,” the visited the Foreign Ministry to justify the source added. European Union’s reasons for sanctioning Anders Samuelsen, the Danish foreign an Iranian intelligence service and two minister, tweeted on Tuesday that the related people, an unnamed diplomatic European Union agreed to enact sanctions source told IRNA on Wednesday. against an Iranian Intelligence Service In retaliation for the sanctions, the over claims of assassination plot. 2

Turkey calls for joint control with Russia & Iran over U.S. troop pullout from Syria As the U.S. is experiencing “certain difficulties” Iran, with which we had arranged work with the withdrawal from Syria, it should be in the framework of the Astana process, coordinated with Iran and Russia to prevent “Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavu- “terrorists” from taking up the vacated space, soglu said Wednesday. the Turkish foreign minister said. Cavusoglu visited Moscow late in De- “The United States [has] been facing cember to discuss the situation in Syria. certain difficulties with the process of the On Wednesday, he mulled bilateral talks troops’ withdrawal from Syria. We want between Turkey and Iran, giving no time- khamenei.ir to coordinate this process with Russia and frame, however. 13 ARTICLE We extend ‘hand of friendship’ to Persian Gulf neighbors, Iran’s FM says REPORT Hanif Ghaffari In a speech to the Raisina Dialogue conference in on Dialogue Among Civilizations adopted unani- Many criteria were either found, or invented, Syed Zafar Mehdi Political analyst New Delhi on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Zarif mously by the UN General Assembly a few weeks to construct “the other side”, in other words, the Journalist reiterated that Iran extends “hand of friendship” after the September 11 tragedy in 2001, dialogue side to be excluded. Diversity—be it geographical, from New Delhi to its neighbors in the Persian Gulf region. is “founded on inclusion, and a collective desire to political, civilizational, cultural, religious, pat- Zarif also said, “We need a strong region rather learn, uncover and examine assumptions, unfold terns of military alliances and level of economic Macron’s economic than the dominance of strongmen in the region.” shared meaning and core values and integrate development—has been perceived as a threat Iran, India trade ties Following is the text of his speech: multiple perspectives.” and thus a justification for exclusion. suicide It is a great pleasure to participate in the 2019 Indeed, a genuine dialogue requires “equal Enemies—based on real or perceived differ- on strong footing Raisina Dialogue. Allow me to thank the peo- footing and mutual respect”, as well as “recog- ences—serve not only to justify exclusion but in he French president’s popular- ple and government of India and the Observer nition of diversified sources of knowledge” and fact as a convenient managerial tool. The need ran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif has ity is falling in polls conducted Research Foundation for their hospitality and wisdom. It should aim at achieving “mutual en- for an enemy as a managerial tool has been so displayed astute statesmanship while Tthroughout his country. According excellent arrangements and for providing this richment” and “identification and promotion of prevalent that at times enemies have been ac- Irepresenting his country in foreign to the latest polls in France, 75 percent opportunity to engage in a “Dialogue” on “A common ground … in order to address common tually forged. lands. Known for his sharp political acumen of French citizens are unsatisfied with World Reorder.” challenges”. Demonization requires and breeds igno- and tactful diplomacy, he knows how to the performance of Emmanuel Macron I think these two pivotal concepts—Dialogue In this vein, dialogue becomes a new global rance of “the Other”, and not only produc- bring friends closer and keep adversaries and his administration. and World Reorder—are very apt for our contem- paradigm as opposed to the prevailing paradigm es enemies, but creates a perpetual state of on their toes. “Three-quarters of French people are porary situation and deserve serious attention. of exclusion. For centuries—even millennia— confrontation. On his three-day visit to New Delhi, unhappy with the way President Emmanuel First, Dialogue. Dialogue by definition re- politicians defined relations within a zero-sum The realities of our globalized world have Zarif held wide-ranging deliberations with Macron and his government are running quires a readiness to listen and to re-examine paradigm: that there had to be winners and losers shattered the applicability of the zero-sum the top political leadership in India, at- the country, with a majority keen to see assumptions. As defined by the Global Agenda in every given situation. perspective. 13 tended the inaugural session of India-Iran more measures to boost household in- Business Forum and spoke at the annual comes, a poll showed on Thursda,” Reuters Raisina Dialogue organized by popular reported. think-tank Observer Research Founda- “A wave of “yellow vest” street protests Taliban call off talks with U.S. officials over ‘agenda disagreement’ tion (ORF). in the past two months have rocked Ma- INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Much to the cha- U.S. officials reportedly due to involvement of a ban on movement of Taliban leaders, Reaffirming his country’s commitment cron’s presidency, forcing him into policy deskgrin of mandarins in Wash- of Afghan officials in the process. a Taliban leader was quoted saying by to expand ties with India, Zarif said the concessions including scrapping a planned ington, Taliban have called off ‘peace talks’ with “The U.S. officials insisted that the Reuters. two countries have had engagements with fuel tax rise to try and defuse anger over the U.S. officials in Qatar this week due to an Taliban should meet the Afghan author- The report, quoting Taliban sources, said each other for millennia, which includes a perceived squeeze on family budgets,” “agenda disagreement”. ities in Qatar and both sides were in dis- they had demanded U.S. authorities release trading with each other. He said Iran was it added. This month’s talks, the fourth in a series of agreement over declaring a ceasefire in 25,000 prisoners and they would free 3,000, one of India’s major suppliers of energy The increase of the poverty rate, and talks between the two sides in recent months, 2019,” a Taliban source was quoted as but that U.S. officials were not keen to discuss and urea fertilizers. rising unemployment in France have aimed was scheduled between Taliban leaders saying by Reuters. the exchange at this stage. While Iran has always relied on its been among the factors that led to these and U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to Earlier Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mu- “We would never announce any ceasefire domestic population to support its results. The fact is that Macron’s policies discuss the withdrawal of foreign forces and jahid said the two sides were still working on until and unless we achieve major gains on growth and development objectives, of economic reform in France led to the a possible ceasefire in 2019. the technical details and were not clear on the the ground. We have the feeling that Zalmay it is always keen to explore comple- “political and economic suicide” of this Taliban, which has vehemently rejected agenda for the talks. Khalilzad doesn’t have enough power to make mentarities with other countries, Zarif country. the offers of Afghan government to engage in This week’s talks involved U.S. with- important decisions,” a Taliban official is quoted said, in his keynote address at the In- These policies, which were supposed direct talks, canceled this week’s talks with drawal, prisoner exchange and the lifting as saying. 6 dia-Iran Business forum. to strengthen Macron’s position in Zarif also spoke about the challenges France, and subsequently within the posed by the outside world, reaffirming that EU borders, prepared the ground for Iran has always managed to survive and his removal from power. Indeed, what A heaven work with the sanctions in place, which, was the main reason behind Macron’s he said, wont affect Iran’s relations with failure? What’s happened in France and friendly countries, like India. which policies went wrong? for Taking a dig at European countries, Accordingly, there are some points Zarif said European Union (EU) was that can’t be easily ignored. The most moving slower than expected in facili- important point is that Macron was wintering tating non-dollar trade with Tehran to planned to assume the title of the skirt U.S. sanctions, forcing it to explore Europe’s economic leader in the birds in other avenues. short term, and that was to be after We continue to work with the Euro- succeeding in creating and sustain- peans for the special purpose vehicle ing economic reforms in France and Iran (SPV) but we are not waiting for them, the Eurozone. Meanwhile, European Nayband National Sea Park in the south- he told media persons in New Delhi. We citizens expressed their satisfaction ern province of Bushehr, stretching over are working with our traditional partners with the election of Macron as French 42,000 hectares of area, is a heaven for like India, like China, like Russia so that President in 2017. wintering birds in Iran. we continue to work in the interest of They thought that the French president, The park is a protected area and is our people. while challenging austerity policies, would Milad Rafat home to eye-catching sceneries includ- To streamline their business partner- strengthen the components of economic ing mangrove forest, rare plant species, ship and circumvent U.S. sanctions, India growth in the European Union. Moreo- and coral reefs. has allowed Iran’s Pasargad Bank to open ver, EU leaders also hoped that Macron’s It is also home to native and migratory a branch in India. The bank will open its success in pursuing economic reforms in birds such as flamingos, curlews, great branch in Mumbai in next three months, France would be a solid step in pushing according to India’s shipping minister Ni- Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ white pelicans, plovers, sandpipers, large the entire Eurozone out of the economic white-headed gulls, terns, and egrets. tish Gadkari, who held talks with Zarif on crisis. 7 Tuesday. 6 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS JANUARY 10, 2019 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Europe owed to Can EU make decisions Iran’s war on terror, Iran says in response to EU independently of U.S., asks VP POLITICS TEHRAN — The Iranian Foreign Ministry Jahangiri says: In reality, we haven’t seen any effective performance from the EU deskon Wednesday strongly denounced a recent decision by the European Union to impose sanctions against Much depends on the position of the posts after this election. How do you see the several Iranian nationals on terrorism charges on the basis European Union. European leaders have perspective of Tehran-Brussels relations of “groundless charges”, threatening “retaliatory measures”. committed to maintaining the Joint with the departure of Mrs. Mogherini? Calling the EU decision “illogical” and “surprising”, ministry Comprehensive Plan of Action with or A: Governments come and go. Even spokesman Bahram Qassemi said the move shows European without Washington’s support. But Tehran commitments undertaken by figures like countries are not “honest” in fighting terrorism. accuses Europe of failing to match its words Mrs. Mogherini who is affiliated with the “Instead of putting the names of such criminal and terrorists with concrete action. whole EU are not individual commitments. groups such as the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) It is in this context that, Javad Montazeri, This is a commitment of an entity called and al-Ahwaziya on its list of sanctions, the European Union Euronews correspondent in Tehran, spoke the EU and from Germany, France and the has given them a free hand to commit inhumane terrorist acts with Es’haq Jahangiri, senior vice-president UK. Who is in office and holds power is and is even supporting them,” Qassemi said in a statement of the Islamic Republic of Iran. not the main determinant. We expect the posted on the Foreign Ministry website. Euronews: Mr. Jahangiri, welcome EU to fulfil all its commitments under the Noting that Europe is owed to Iran for the war on ter- to Euronews’s “Global Conversation”. Plan of Action regardless of any change rorism, he said the bloc is making accusations against the The first question I’d like to ask you is, that may happen. Islamic Republic which is standard-bearer of the war against where are we on the nuclear deal, the Joint The question of the EU opening an terrorism. Comprehensive Plan of Action? It feels as office in Tehran is still on the agenda. What though the Iranian people have grown tired is the latest on this? of endless arguments about the Plan. How A: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Adil Abdul-Mahdi can you defend it? the Islamic Republic of Iran is following calls Iran-Iraq Es’haq Jahangiri: The Plan of Action up the issue. I hope the Ministry of Foreign has been one of the important measures Affairs and the EU will come to some sort ties friendly taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran. This of arrangement as soon as possible. agreement was concluded to answer an Recently, there’s been a movement allegation that had resulted in pressures general and Germany, France and the UK and our national interests into account. in France called the Yellow Vests. I am POLITICS TEHRAN — Iraqi Prime Minister Adil being imposed on the Islamic Republic of in particular have behaved well and in a Where the benefits outweigh the costs, we sure you’ve heard about it and followed deskAbdul-Mahdi said on Tuesday that Iran Iran and the Iranian people. timely fashion when it comes to the politics stand by our decisions. Although we have the news. Do you see any point of and Iraq have brotherly and friendly ties. Whether it’s been during the course and adopting diplomatic stances and we are been largely disappointed with the EU’s convergence and similarity between the During a press conference, he said that Iraq focuses on inter- of negotiations or now, we’ve always satisfied with them. However, in terms of efficiency in taking concrete measures, demands made by the Yellow Vests and action with the neighboring countries based on commonalities. tried to share the issue honestly with practical, concrete measures, we are yet to there is still hope that the EU could do the events recently witnessed involving He said in December that Iraq will seeks to find an ex- our people. Unfortunately, U.S. sanctions see any concrete measures from these three something so we can reap the benefits of Iranian workers in Tehran? emption from U.S. sanctions against Iran. were reinstated - and in a more damaging countries that would enable us to implement the Plan of Action. Inside the country, A: These two don’t share any similarities. way - following Washington’s decision to this deal to serve the interests of our people the government has been under massive The Islamic Revolution emerged victorious pull out of the deal unilaterally. With this and our economy. I think that since World pressure from those who believed all along 40 years ago and now we are about to Karzai: new round of sanctions, the U.S. has used War II, Europe has faced a crucial test. the EU would not fulfil its commitments and celebrate the anniversary of this victory. Iran-Taliban every possible means, incentivizing and Can it make decisions independent of the is not to be trusted. As a matter of fact, this The most important objective of the Islamic threatening other countries and companies U.S. government, in particular when an pressure has been mounting given the EU’s Revolution has been to address the needs of talks will benefit to impede them from working with the administration like Trump’s is in office? Can failure to fulfil its commitments. However, the underprivileged, protect and contribute Islamic Republic of Iran. In response, we’ve it defend its interests and its international we believe that the Plan of Action should to the development of deprived regions Afghanistan adopted some measures in a number of commitments? In reality, we haven’t seen remain in place so long as the interests of and create the freedom and justice that POLITICS TEHRAN — Former Afghan President areas. For one, we’ve stated that so long as any effective performance from the EU. the Iranian people require it. the public demands. During the last 40 deskHamid Karzai has said that Iran-Taliban other JCPOA signatories keep their sides Do you think the EU has the necessary Could the Iranian government take years, we’ve witnessed peaceful rallies and talks is quite beneficial to Afghanistan. of the bargain, and in particular as long willpower or capability to stand up against other voluntary steps in exchange for gatherings in big cities across the country “Iran is in contact with the Taliban which is definitely as the European Union takes concrete Trump? promises from the EU? such as Tehran. The slogans voiced during beneficial to Afghanistan,” he told ISNA in an interview measures in this regard, we are prepared A: We had assumed the EU has such A: The JCPOA is a deal in which these gatherings were in line with the slogans published on Wednesday. to see the deal remain in place and will a capability. Theoretically, and in terms everything has been defined. The measures of the Revolution and the public demands The Foreign Ministry announced that Iranian diplomats continue to honor it. of its approach, it’s done well so far. Iran has to adopt or steps it must take have are a far cry from what is happening now in held a meeting with a Taliban delegation in Tehran on De- Take for example three countries However, when it comes to practice, the been specified in the deal. France and some other European countries. cember 30. Abbas Araqchi, the deputy foreign minister for from the EU: Germany, France and the EU financial structure and in particular I mean commitments beyond the These are classified as labour union political affairs, headed the Iranian negotiating team. UK. What have these countries done to the EU banking system has revealed that scope of the Plan of Action. demands. Opponents of the Islamic Republic Araqchi visited Kabul on January 5 to brief senior Afghan salvage the JCPOA? this Union isn’t capable of standing up for A: No, we won’t make any commitments of Iran outside the country and detractors officials, including President Ashraf Ghani, on Iran’s talks A: The three countries you mention itself as an independent decision-maker... beyond the scope of the Plan of Action. The of this government inside have attempted to with Taliban representatives. are among the countries that agreed a powerful entity that can conserve what it Plan of Action is our situation now. Under misrepresent these demands as politically Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Monday that to implement their commitments and has achieved and fulfil its commitments. the Plan of Action, all parties to the deal motivated. Of course workers can have some Iran’s talks with Taliban are aimed at restoring peace and obligations under the deal if Iran kept its However, we’re still hopeful it will keep who have negotiated and signed it must political demands. However, there’s no way stability to Afghanistan. side of the bargain. They, as well as Russia its end of the deal. keep their sides of the bargain. you can interpret these demands as a public and China and the other remaining five What’s your red line? EU parliamentary elections are protest triggering a movement like that of parties to the deal, are expected to keep to A: When it comes to making any scheduled to be held in May and it’s possible the Yellow Vests in France. Austrian all their commitments. So far, the EU in international decision, we take the costs Mrs. Mogherini and her team may leave their Read full on website president: It’s important to keep Military advisor: Iran can help Taliban, Afghan govt. reach common understanding nuclear deal alive POLITICS TEHRAN — Major General Hassan “In the current situation, Iran’s role and view are very important desk POLITICS TEHRAN — Austrian President Alexander Firouzabadi, a top military adviser to the for establishing security in the region,” the general stated. deskVan der Bellen has supported efforts to Leader of the Islamic Revolution, has said Iran can help He noted that Iran respects the views of countries on preserve the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint the Taliban and the Afghan government reach a common “collective security”. Comprehensive Plan of Action. understanding for stabilizing Afghanistan. ‘U.S. should leave the region’ The Der Standard reported on Wednesday that Van der In an interview with IRNA published on Wednesday, Firouzabadi also said that the U.S. should leave the Bellen said that it is very important to keep the JCPOA alive, Firouzabadi said security in Afghanistan is very region and end its interferences in the internal affairs IRNA reported. important for Iran. of countries. The European Union’s spokesperson said Monday that “Iran holds talks with the Taliban with the framework On December 19, President Donald Trump announced the bloc is still working on setting up a payment mechanism of international law and this group is willing to play role in that U.S. troops had defeated the Daesh terrorists in Syria to facilitate trade with Iran and bypass U.S. sanctions. Afghanistan’s security,” said Firouzabadi, who was Iran’s and he sought to pull some 2,000 U.S. troops out of Syria. “Actually, this is the work that is carried out by the (EU) Armed Forces Chief of Staff for more than a decade. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi member states. And according to the information that we The Foreign Ministry announced that Iranian diplomats has welcomed Trump’s decision, saying the U.S. military have, the work is continuing and advancing well,” Maja Ko- held a meeting with a Taliban delegation in Tehran on presence in the Middle East fuels insecurity. cijancic, spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica December 30. Abbas Araqchi, the deputy foreign minister Defense Minister Amir Hatami also said on Monday that “Basically, U.S. forces’ arrival and presence in the region Mogherini told a news conference in Brussels on Monday, for political affairs, headed the Iranian negotiating team. Iran’s talks with Taliban are aimed at restoring peace and was a wrong, illogical, tension-provoking and crisis-inducing the Kuwait News Agency reported. Araqchi met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul on stability to Afghanistan. move from the outset, and has always been one of the key Saturday. The office of the Afghan president said Araqchi ‘Iran plays important role in regional security’ contributors to instability and insecurity in the region,” briefed Ghani about the meeting between Iranian officials Firouzabadi also said that Iran plays an important role said Qassemi in a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry MP calls Pompeo’s and the Taliban. in regional security. website on December 22. sanctions Ayatollah Khamenei: First-class idiots Zarif likens Pompeo and Bolton to remarks in Washington ‘psychotic stalker’ too obsessed with Iran ‘disgraceful’ POLITICS TEHRAN — The He compared the calculation ability POLITICS TEHRAN — Iranian diplomatic but our commercial efforts to POLITICS TEHRAN — Alaeddin Boroujerdi, an deskLeader of the Islamic of the U.S. statesmen to former Iraqi deskForeign Minister put real pressure on Iran.” deskIranian lawmaker, has said that U.S. Revolution said on Wednesday that dictator Saddam Hussein who had Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday likened U.S. He also said the U.S. decision to pull Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s claim that sanctions are some U.S. officials are “first-class hoped to conquer Tehran within a week Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National out troops from Syria would not jeopardize aimed at giving the Iranian people a chance to have better idiots”, questioning the sensibility at the beginning of his invasion of Iran Security Advisor John Bolton to “psychotic Washington’s efforts to counter threats in the lives is “invalid” and “disgraceful”. of their failing plots against Iran. in September 1980. stalkers” who are extremely obsessed with Iran. region, which, he alleged, came from Iran and “It is obvious that these remarks are disgraceful and have Addressing a large gathering of The Leader said the Americans speak “While ordinarily it might be flattering, @ the Daesh terrorist group, Press TV reported. no value,” ISNA quoted him as saying on Wednesday. people from the central holy city of Qom, gleefully of “strongest sanctions in history” SecPompeo’s and @AmbJohnBolton’s pure “The most significant threats to In an interview with Newsmax TV on January 3, Pompeo Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the 1979 against Iran, “but the Iranian nation obsession with Iran is more and more like the region are Daesh and the Islamic said, “The sanctions on Iran have this ultimate goal: creating Islamic Revolution is the main reason will, God willing, make them suffer an the behavior of persistently failing psychotic Revolution,” Pompeo said. an outcome where the Iranian people can have better lives behind Washington’s deep and lasting unprecedented defeat in history.” stalkers,” Zarif tweeted. Bolton also claimed on Sunday that Iran than they have today.” hostility toward Iran. He urged steadfastness in the face Zarif the U.S. is in fact “substituting a real poses a threat to the region through its “quest In particular he pointed to a U.S. of the U.S. and Europe’s “militarism, foreign policy with Iran- obsession and -phobia.” for deliverable nuclear weapons.” statesman’s promise, in a gathering of bluster, and idle talk,” saying, “Neither Speaking during a news conference “We’ve got the continuing threat of Iran’s Iran to downgrade security ties “terrorists and thugs” months ago, that their threats, nor their words and with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman quest for deliverable nuclear weapons,” Bolton with EU: diplomatic source they would celebrate New Year 2019 in promises, and not even their signatures Safadi in Amman on Tuesday, Pompeo said during a joint declaration with Israeli Prime Tehran. are creditworthy.” said the U.S. was “redoubling not only our Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

1 Danish intelligence chief Finn Borch Andersen claimed in October that an Iranian intelligence service had tried to ‘Accusing Iran won’t absolve Europe of responsibility for harboring terrorists’ carry out a plot to assassinate an Iranian Arab opposition POLITICS TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Iran won’t absolve Europe of responsibility for harboring sanctions against an Iranian Intelligence Service over figure on Denmark’s soil. deskMohammad Javad Zarif has told terrorists,” Zarif tweeted Tuesday. claims of assassination plot. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi dis- Europeans that making accusations against Iran won’t Danish intelligence chief Finn Borch Andersen claimed The MKO did numerous terrorist acts in Iran, especially missed the claim as a plot by enemies to undermine Tehran’s absolve them of the responsibility for harboring the in October that an Iranian intelligence service had tried to in the early years of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It also growing relations with European countries. terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) - also carry out a plot to assassinate an Iranian Arab opposition sided with Saddam Hussein’s army in the war against A few weeks ago, U.S. officials had called European ambas- called Mujahideen-e Khalq (MEK) -- who has murdered figure on Denmark’s soil. Iran in the 1980s. sadors in Tehran to a meeting in the United Arab Emirates, tens of thousands Iranians. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi Saddam also used the extremist group in violent crackdown discussing with them their Iran policy and promising an end “Europeans, incl Denmark, Holland & France, harbor dismissed the claim as a plot by enemies to affect Tehran’s on the Iraqi Kurds in the north and the Shiites in the south. of the Islamic Republic in months. The U.S. officials had held MEK—who killed 12000 Iranians & abetted Saddam’s growing relations with European countries. MKO has been renamed as the so-called National Council a separate meeting in the same vein with regional intelligence crimes against Iraqi Kurds—as well as other terrorists Anders Samuelsen, the Danish foreign minister, tweeted of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which its office is in Paris. services as well. staging murder of innocent Iranians from Europe. Accusing on Tuesday that the European Union agreed to enact France hosts annual gathering of the MKO. ADVERTISEMENTS

II NN TT EE RR NN AA TT II OO NN AA LL D A I L Y JANUARY 10,10, 20192019 INTERNATIONALADVERTISEMENT 3 France, Germany approve extension of U.S. official Rosenstein, reconciliation treaty to shore up EU overseeing Russia probe, set France and Germany have agreed to deepen reshape Europe in his quest for a eurosceptic to leave a 1963 treaty of post-war reconciliation in a alliance ahead of the European Parliament bid to show that the European Union’s main elections in May. Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who has overseen axis remains strong and counter growing “Germany and France are making clear that the Russian election meddling probe, is preparing to leave the eurosceptic nationalism among some other to solve future questions, we need more, not U.S. Department of Justice in coming weeks as President Donald members. less cooperation,” German Foreign Minister Trump’s nominee to lead the department is set to take over, a The extension to the Elysee Treaty ap- Heiko Maas said. department official said Wednesday. proved by the German and French cabinets will Facing new challenges from U.S. Pres- Rosenstein has had oversight of the U.S. Special Counsel’s be signed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and ident Donald Trump in the United States probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential French President Emmanuel Macron in the as well as EU governments in Italy, Poland election and possible connections to Trump’s campaign. German border city of Aachen, an historical and Hungary, Merkel and Macron are keen Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, an early Trump symbol of European concord, on Jan. 22. to head off any breakthrough for eurosceptic supporter during the presidential campaign, had recused “Both states will deepen their cooperation parties in the European Parliament vote. himself. in foreign affairs, defence, external and in- The treaty further outlines closer cooper- William Barr, Trump’s pick to replace Sessions who was fired ternal security and development and at the ation between national intelligence services soon after the November midterm congressional elections, is set same time work on strengthening the ability and police in fighting terrorism and organized to appear for a confirmation hearing next week before the Senate of Europe to act independently,” states the crime, and a commitment to moving toward Judiciary Committee, which must weigh his nomination before treaty text, seen by Reuters. economic convergence. the full Senate considers his approval. In Paris, Macron’s office said the Elysee “Both states will deepen the integration of The official, who asked not to be named since no announce- Treaty extension would help both European their economies towards a German-French ment has been made, said there is no specific plan for Rosen- powers tackle “the challenges they will be economic area with common rules,” said the stein’s departure and that he plans to leave sometime after Barr’s confronted with in the 21st century”. treaty text, referring also to calls for the har- confirmation. “(We) envisage deepening our engagement monization of economic law. In addition, they If confirmed, Barr, who was U.S. Attorney General under in favour of security and prosperity of our will set up a panel of experts to give economic the late President George H.W. Bush from 1991 to 1993, would peoples in the framework of a more sover- recommendations to each government. oversee the investigation led by U.S. Special Counsel Robert eign, united and democratic Europe,” it said. Other areas of cooperation include culture, Mueller, a fellow Republican chosen by Rosenstein. The treaty extension, negotiated over the health, innovation and transport. Barr’s nomination is likely to meet heavy scrutiny regard- influence within the international body, to that Berlin and Paris will combat efforts by past year though short on details, stipulates Aachen, the venue of the signing ceremo- ing the ongoing investigation, particularly from Democrats, which its closest allies the United States, some nationalist politicians in Europe to that it will be a priority of German-French ny, was the residence of Charlemagne, often following reports he had written a memo in June questioning Britain and France belong. erode the 28-nation EU. diplomacy for Germany to be accepted as a called the “father of Europe”, who managed the probe. Rosenstein has said the memo had no impact on the While making clear that Germany and On Wednesday, Italian far-right Deputy permanent member of the United Nations to unite much of western Europe in the early department’s work. France remain committed to the EU and NATO Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said he want- Security Council. ninth century. Rosenstein will stay on to ensure smooth transition with Barr, defense alliance, the agreement also signals ed his country and Poland to join forces to Germany has for years sought greater (Source: AFP) the official said, adding that he has seen his job as deputy as a two-year stint and is not being forced out. Asked about Rosenstein’s departure, first reported by ABC News, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said she had U.S. to blame if any South China Sea clash not spoken to Rosenstein and would leave any announced de- partures to him or the president. U.S. naval operations in the South China Sea could disputed islands the South China Sea in what China called Military Sciences, said “foreign forces” that attempted “Certainly, I don’t think there’s any willingness by the pres- spark conflict and the United States would be to blame a “provocation”, just as the trade talks began. to prevent the unification of China and Taiwan could ident or the White House to push him out,” Sanders told Fox if a clash occurred, a Chinese military researcher said Zhang said whenever U.S. warships entered waters that compel Beijing to use force to bring the self-ruled island News in an interview. on Wednesday. China claimed, China had no option but to send warships under its control. Rosenstein has stayed on under Acting Attorney General The warning came as Chinese and U.S. trade teams ended to deal with them. “Foreign forces that pose as world police to inter- Matt Whitaker, whose controversial appointment has sparked talks in Beijing that have raised hopes an all-out trade war Since Trump took office, there have been 14 incidents fere in China’s affairs, to obstruct and damage China’s numerous legal challenges and raised questions about what role could be avoided, but fears remain that strategic tension of U.S. Navy vessel entering waters that China claims to unification, are the main culprits that could force the he would play regarding the investigation. between two countries are growing. carry out what the U.S. military calls freedom of navigation mainland to use force to resolve the Taiwan issue,” he Rosenstein has been frequently criticized by Trump, who “Both countries warships definitely have to come into close operations, Zhang said. told reporters. calls the Russia investigation a “witch hunt” and denies any proximity and it’s easy for there to be a misunderstanding China claims almost all of the South China Sea and de- U.S. President Donald Trump last week signed into law collusion with Moscow. Russia has also denied any election or an error of judgment, even a collision,” Zhang Junshe, a nounces the United States and its allies over naval operations the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act, which reaffirms the U.S. interference. researcher at China’s PLA Naval Military Studies Research near Chinese-occupied islands. commitment to Taiwan, including arms sales. U.S. intelligence agencies have found that Russia sought to Institute, told reporters. Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia Chinese President Xi Jinping on Jan. 2 said nobody could sway the 2016 presidential vote to Trump over Democratic chal- “If there is a collision, the root cause is the United States.” and Taiwan have competing claims in the region. change the fact Taiwan was part of China. lenger Hillary Clinton. On Monday a U.S. guided-missile destroyer sailed near He Lei, former vice president of China’s Academy of (Source: Reuters) (Source: Reuters) Afghanistan says end to war a ‘dream’ without Taliban talking to government Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said on Wednesday that the Taliban’s refusal to involve the government in peace talks means the end to a conflict that has lasted 17 years can only remain a dream. Abdullah’s remarks came a day after the Taliban called off a fourth round of talks with U.S. officials in Qatar, due to start this week, over disagreements about the involvement of Afghan officials, a possible ceasefire and prisoner exchange. Efforts for a negotiated settlement have gathered pace in recent weeks, even as reports that U.S. President Donald Trump plans to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops triggered uncertainty. The United States is pressing Taliban leaders to sit down with Afghan government officials but the Taliban see the United States as the main power and dismiss the Kabul administration have involved discussion about the formation of an interim as a puppet. administration known as the “peace government” after U.S. “In any peace deal in which the rights of our citizens, that forces announce a withdrawal and the Taliban accept a ceasefire. have been gained with a lot of sacrifices, are not respected, The peace government would bring all warring parties under the deal is a dream and will never happen,” Abdullah told one administration until the Taliban are fully integrated and gathering in Kabul, commemorating the 15th anniversary of election are held. the constitution. But Ghani has strongly opposed any interim government. “Today the talk about the withdrawal of foreign forces is an Abdullah called on Afghans to support the current admin- excuse for continuation of war and gaining more opportunities.” istration instead. A Taliban leader told Reuters that the talks, which would “They say they are not the Taliban of the past and they have have been the fourth round with U.S. special envoy Zal- learnt lessons and are in favour of an inclusive government, may Khalilzad, would have focused on a U.S. withdrawal, but they instead go and talk to some individuals and call them prisoner exchange and the lifting of a ban on movement of elders which is against our national interest,” Abdullah said, Taliban leaders. referring to political figures. Taliban sources said that they had demanded that U.S. author- “They do this to show that the government is either weak ities release 25,000 prisoners and that they would free 3,000, or does not exist,” he added. but that U.S. officials were not keen to discuss the exchange. The impasse over the talks comes as Afghanistan prepares The war in Afghanistan is America’s longest overseas mil- to hold presidential elections in July with many Afghans be- itary intervention. It has cost Washington nearly $1 trillion lieving the vote may be cancelled if a peace deal is reached and killed tens of thousands of people. with the Taliban. “No change in Taliban” Presidential candidates, including Ghani who seeks a second Abdullah, who shares power with President Ashraf Ghani five-year term, have not officially announced they are running after a U.S.-brokered political deal in 2014 that led to for- as coalition-building among leaders of various ethnic groups mation of a coalition government, said the Taliban have not debated whom to support. changed since their austere regime was toppled by U.S.-led The United States sent troops to Afghanistan after the Sept. forces in 2001. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. At its peak “We haven’t seen any change in the Taliban so far and that the U.S. deployment involved more than 100,000 troops, but country that supports them, has not unfortunately changed its Washington withdrew most in 2014 and now has around 14,000 policies toward us either,” said Abdullah, referring to neigh- troops in the country as part of a NATO-led mission aiding bouring Pakistan which Kabul accuses of harbouring Taliban Afghan security forces and hunting militants. leaders. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on a Pakistan denies the charge and says it is encouraging the visit to India on Wednesday that the Taliban must have a role Taliban to talk directly with the Afghan government. in Afghanistan in future, but not a dominant role. A senior Afghan government official said the talks also would (Source: Reuters) UK government defeated as lawmakers vote for quick action if May’s Brexit deal rejected The British government was defeated Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal is a plan B, rather than the 21 days specified in parliament on Wednesday as law- defeated next week. in Brexit law. The change is unlikely to makers voted for a procedural change The 308 to 297 defeat tries to force supersede the 21 day time limit in law, that reduces the time it has to come the government to come back within but adds political pressure. up with an alternative plan if Prime three working parliamentary days with (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY JANUARY 10, 2019

STOCK MARKET Turkey resumes import of TEDPIX 164829.4 IFX 1944.55 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir oil from Iran ENERGY TEHRAN — Turkey two tankers carrying Iranian crude, equiva- CURRENCIES deskhas resumed imports of lent to about 54,000 bpd during December, USD 42,000 rials Iranian crude oil under the U.S. sanctions according to a shipping and trading source EUR 48,116rials waiver, according to the trading and ship- familiar with the matter. ping sources. The Solan tanker delivered into the port GBP 53,493 rials The country restarted oil imports from of Aliaga, while the Sea Topaz I discharged Iran after a one-month stop in November at Tutunciftlik. AED 11,437 rials when U.S. sanctions on Iran were reimposed, So far in January, Turkey is set to receive Source: iribnews.ir Reuters reported on Tuesday. a cargo from the Iranian-owned tanker Sin- Turkey used to import about 200,000 opa, the sources and Refinitiv Eikon ship barres per day (bpd) of Iranian crude before tracking showed. the U.S. withdrawal from Iran’s nuclear deal Turkish officials and Tupras were not in last year and re-imposition of sanctions. immediately available to comment. COMMODITIES Turkey had reduced its imports from Iran In an interview with NTV in Ankara, WTI $51.23/b in the months prior to sanctions coming into Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan Brent $60.25/b force in early November. Its imports fell to had said that Turkey expected the U.S. to zero in November. extend its sanctions waiver on importing OPEC Basket $56.43/b But in December Turkey took delivery of Iranian oil. Gold $1,228.00 /oz Silver $15.74/oz Platinium $825.20/oz India begins paying Iran for oil in rupees: official ECONOMY Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com TEHRAN— India has begun paying Iran ments to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for crude deskfor oil in rupees, Reuters reported quot- oil imports from steep withholding taxes, enabling refiners ing an Indian senior bank official as saying on Tuesday. to clear an estimated $1.5 billion in dues. NEWS IN BRIEF It is the first such payment since the United States im- An industry source said India’s top refiner Indian Oil posed new sanctions against Iran in November. Corp and Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals have made The U.S. has given a six-month waiver to eight countries payments for Iranian oil imports. Neither was immediately Persian Gulf including India for imports of Iranian oil. available for comment. Star Refinery’s India, the world’s third biggest oil importer, wants to Meanwhile, in a meeting with Indian Minister for Road 3rd phase continue buying oil from Iran as it offers free shipping and Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources Nitin an extended credit period, while Iran will use the rupee Gadkari in New Delhi on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister comes on funds to mostly pay for imports from India. Mohammad Javad Zarif said the European Union was moving stream “Today we received a good amount from some oil com- slower than expected in facilitating non-dollar trade with panies,” Charan Singh, executive director at state-owned Tehran to circumvent U.S. sanctions, forcing it to explore 1 Alireza Sadeq-Abadi also announced that the country’s UCO Bank told Reuters. He did not disclose the names of avenues with other nations, adding, “We are working with gasoline imports have been reduced to zero since the Iranian refiners or how much had been deposited. our traditional partners like India, China, and Russia so calendar month of Mehr (started on September 22). New Delhi recently issued a notification exempting pay- that we continue to work in the interest of our people.” Persian Gulf Star Refinery in the southern province of Hor- mozgan is the first of its kind designed based on gas condensate feedstock received from South Pars gas field which Iran shares with Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Construction of the refinery started in 2006, but the project ‘Banking system reformations on CBI agenda’ was delayed as the result of some mismanagement and also ECONOMY TEHRAN— “The plan on amending do- on foreign currency’. financial limitation due to the West-led sanctions against Iran. deskmestic banking system is being investigated “At the organized market, foreign currency exchanges Persian Gulf Star, the Middle East’s largest processing fa- comprehensively and will become operational after getting will be done in cash and in an electronic framework, cility for gas condensate, is planned to play a big role to turn prepared,” the governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) relying on the approved regulations,” Hemmati an- Iran into an exporter of gasoline. announced in social media. nounced. According to Abdolnaser Hemmati, CBI’s Money and “In rial-based accounts, the CBI utilizes the made accounts Credit Council has approved two major foreign currency of its customers for making foreign currency investments,” TPO to dispatch exchange mechanisms, the first is formation of ‘an organ- he wrote, “the exchange rates for opening such accounts are trade delegation ized market for foreign currency exchange and related daily set at CBI’s online Sana system (accessible at sanarate. trades’ and the second is preparation of ‘instructions ir, a website that records daily forex trade from across the to Japan in early about letting customers open rial-based accounts relying domestic exchange bureaus).” March

ECONOMY TEHRAN— Iran’s Trade and Promotion U.S.-China trade talks conclude as hopes of a deal build deskOrganization (TPO) plans to dispatch a trade and marketing delegation to Japan in early March. Chinese and U.S. teams ended trade talks Speaking at a daily news briefing, Chi- nese structural reforms that the Trump China, though Vice Premier Liu He, a top The delegates active in the agriculture and food sectors in Beijing on Wednesday that lasted longer nese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang administration is demanding in order to economic adviser to Xi, made an appearance are to visit the 44th International Exhibition of Food and than expected and officials said details will confirmed both sides had agreed to extend stop alleged theft and forced transfer of at a meeting on Monday. Beverages (Foodex 2019) which is planned to be held at be released soon, raising hopes an all-out the talks beyond Monday and Tuesday as U.S. technology, and on how Beijing will China is keen to put an end to its trade Makuhari Messe in Japan during March 5-8, the portal of trade war that could badly disrupt the global originally scheduled. be held to its promises. dispute with the United States but will not TPO published. economy can be avoided. Asked if that meant they were difficult If no deal is reached by March 2, Trump make any “unreasonable concessions” and The exhibition is going to be attended by exhibitors from The talks were extended into an unsched- talks, Lu said: “I can only say that extending has said he will proceed with raising tariffs any agreement must involve compromise over 83 different countries active in a variety of areas including uled third day, showing both sides were “seri- the consultations shows that the two sides to 25 percent from 10 percent on $200 on both sides, state newspaper the China agricultural products, food industry, protein and meat products, ous”, China’s Foreign Ministry said. were indeed very serious in conducting the billion worth of Chinese imports, at a Daily said on Wednesday. dairy products, dried fruits, organic products and vegetables, Share prices jumped in Asia and markets in consultations.” time when China’s economy is slowing The paper said in an editorial that Beijing’s cold and hot drinks as well as packaging equipment, and related Europe and the United States were expected This week’s meetings are the first face- significantly. Beijing has retaliated in stance remains firm that the dispute harms industries and machinery. to follow suit as the lengthened talks fueled to-face talks since U.S. President Donald turn to U.S. tariffs. both countries and disrupts the international optimism that the world’s largest economies Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping But as meetings wound down in Beijing trade order and supply chains. were inching toward an agreement. agreed in December to a 90-day truce in on Tuesday evening, Trump tweeted: “Talks In what is widely seen as a goodwill ges- Ted McKinney, U.S. Under Secretary of a trade war that has roiled global financial with China are going very well!” ture, China on Tuesday issued long-awaited World Bank sees global Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricul- markets. The U.S. team is led by Deputy U.S. Trade approvals for the import of five genetically tural Affairs, said the U.S. trade delegation The extra day of talks came amid signs Representative Jeffrey Gerrish, and includes modified crops, which could boost its pur- growth slowing in 2019 would return to the United States later on of progress on issues including purchases under secretaries from the U.S. Depart- chases of U.S. grains as farmers decide which Wednesday after a “good few days”. of U.S. farm and energy commodities and ments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy crops to plant in the spring. The growth of the global economy is expected to slow to 2.9 per- “I think they went just fine,” McKinney increased access to China’s markets. and Treasury, as well as senior officials from On Monday, Chinese importers made cent in 2019 compared with 3 percent in 2018, the World Bank said of the talks. “It’s been a good one for us,” However, people familiar with the ne- the White House. another large purchase of U.S. soybeans, said on Tuesday, citing elevated trade tensions and international he told reporters at the delegation’s hotel, gotiations told Reuters on Tuesday that Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shou- their third in the past month. trade moderation. without elaborating. the two sides were further apart on Chi- wen heads the vice ministerial level talks for (Source: Reuters) Trump is probably going to get his way with the Federal Reserve this year As President Donald Trump continues to muse about the Obama — enjoyed for seven years the fruits of near-zero change notably. The balance sheet has been reduced by Federal Reserve, the likelihood that he’s going get what he interest rates and quantitative easing that helped push the about $400 billion. wants this year from the central bank continues to grow. market up more than 300 percent, the current climate is The market is firm in its view as well: Traders are Markets currently expect the Fed to hold off on rate hikes one of rising rates and no Fed money-printing. pricing in virtually no chance of a rate hike this year and are even anticipating the possibility of a cut over the Rethinking rates and the balance sheet and in fact are now starting to view a cut as more likely next year or two, playing into the low-rate environment the As Trump pointed out, the market has gained sub- heading into 2020-21. In the chart below, the fed funds president has espoused. stantially since his election, but the latest leg in the futures curve rises as the settlement price gets higher, That in turn would decrease the chances that Trump might bull market was tempered by a sharp sell-off in the indicating a lower funds rate. The terminal date on the try to fire Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, a move universally fourth quarter of 2018 spurred in part by fears of a chart is Dec. 31, 2021. regarded as difficult to achieve and likely disruptive if not Fed policy mistake. Firing without ‘cause’ disastrous for the market. Economists expect 2019 to feature the Fed rethinking All of that might mollify Trump, though questions remain “Replacing Powell might prompt initial disruptions in its strategy on rate normalization as well its approach to about whether he would try to remove Powell should the “At the beginning of 2018 the global economy was firing on markets. Reduced US central bank independence could lead reducing the size of the balance sheet bond portfolio by Fed not do as the president likes.’ all cylinders, but it lost speed during the year and the ride could to longer-term damage to the US economy,” Dana Peterson, $50 billion a month. In Wall Street’s view, Trump may have the authority get even bumpier in the year ahead,” World Bank Chief Execu- North American economist for Citigroup, said in a note that Economists will get another look inside the policymaking to remove the Fed chair for “cause” but likely would have tive Officer Kristalina Georgieva said in the semi-annual Global called the threat of Powell getting ousted “deep within the Federal Open Market Committee’s thinking Wednesday a hard time proving his case just because he doesn’t like Economic Prospects report. realm of tail risks.” when the minutes from December’s meeting are released where interest rates are heading. The World Bank outlook comes as the United States and China That chance may have declined even more in recent days at 2 pm ET. The FOMC approved a quarter-point rate hike “Removing Powell for ‘cause’ likely would involve a se- have been engaged in a bitter trade dispute, which has jolted fi- as market conditions improved and Powell in a public forum at the meeting, the fourth of the year. ries of lawsuits without timely resolutions,” Peterson, the nancial markets across the world for months. The two economies Friday provided assurance that the Fed will be “patient” in “If there were to be a sharp enough deterioration in the Citigroup economist, said. “Indeed, President Trump would have imposed tit-for-tat duties on each other’s goods, although how it normalizes monetary policy, attentive to what the outlook that threatens outright recession, we think the Fed have to prove that Powell should be removed for ‘cause,’ in there were signs of progress on Tuesday as the two countries market is signaling, and flexible in how it proceeds with would pivot aggressively on both rates and balance sheet, which legal precedent alludes to dereliction of duty, moral prepared to enter a third day of talks in Beijing. interest rates and its balance sheet reduction. cutting rates sharply and putting the balance sheet on hold,” turpitude, physical or mental incapacity, or similar failings Growth in the United States is likely to slow to 2.5 percent this Trump nonetheless made it clear he’s still keeping an wrote Krishna Guha, head of global policy and central bank that demonstrate an unfitness for the office, not disagree- year from 2.9 percent in 2018, while China is expected to grow eye on things. strategy at Evercore ISI. ment over policy.” at 6.2 percent in the year compared with 6.5 percent in 2018, “Can you imagine if I had long term ZERO interest rates One difference he sees is the Fed making more use of As a practical matter, removing Powell wouldn’t guar- according to the World Bank. to play with like the past administration, rather than the forward guidance on its intentions than on the massive antee Trump a Fed reluctant to hike rates. Emerging market economies are expected to grow at 4.2 per- rapidly raised normalized rates we have today,” the president bond purchases it conducted during the three rounds of QE. Of the remaining group, only St. Louis President James cent this year, with advanced economies expected to grow at 2 said in his latest Fed-related tweet Tuesday. Powell in the past has voiced skepticism about the balance Bullard has professed a strong commitment to pausing on percent, the World Bank said in the report. Conditions indeed have changed. sheet expansion and has said he doubts the monthly roll-off rate hikes. (Source: CNBC) Whereas the market — and Trump’s predecessor, Barack of bond proceeds would be interrupted unless conditions (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 10, 2019 ENERGY 5

Oil rises by over 1 percent on OPEC Dec. crude oil output falls to 6-month low of 32.43m bpd U.S., China trade talk optimism OPEC crude production in December tumbled 630,000 bpd month on month, an S&P Global Platts survey of industry officials, an- Oil prices rose by around 1 percent on has said he will proceed with raising tariffs to alysts and shipping data showed Tuesday, but the organization Wednesday, extending gains from the 25 percent from 10 percent on $200 billion still has much more cutting to do to reach its new quotas for 2019. previous session on hopes that Washington worth of Chinese imports at a time when OPEC’s 15 members pumped 32.43 million bpd in December, and Beijing may soon resolve trade dis- China’s economy is slowing significantly. a six-month low, the survey found. putes that have cast a dark shadow over Citing the trade tensions, the World ICE Brent futures were trading up 2.18 percent at $58.58/b the global economy. Bank expects global economic growth at 1717 GMT Tuesday and have bounced 16 percent from their U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) to slow to 2.9 percent in 2019 from 3 17-month low of $50.47/b on Christmas Eve, amid signs the crude oil futures were at $50.42 per barrel percent in 2018. market was oversold and strong signals from OPEC kingpin Saudi at 0752 GMT, up 64 cents, or 1.3 percent, “At the beginning of 2018 the global Arabia it was serious about cutting supply levels. from their last settlement. That marked economy was firing on all cylinders, but it Saudi Arabia, whose energy minister, Khalid al-Falih, was the first time this year that WTI has topped lost speed during the year and the ride could a driving force behind the forging of the latest output cut $50 a barrel. get even bumpier in the year ahead,” World agreement aimed at shoring up slumping oil prices, lowered International Brent crude futures were Bank Chief Executive Officer Kristalina its output by 401,000 bpd in December to 10.60 million bpd, up 69 cents, or 1.2 percent, at $59.41 per Georgieva said in a semi-annual report according to the survey. barrel. released late on Tuesday. Falih has pledged that Saudi output in January would come Both crude price benchmarks had al- More fundamentally, however, oil prices in around 10.2 million bpd, compared with its 2019 quota of ready gained more than 2 percent in the have been receiving support from supply 10.31 million bpd. previous session. cuts started at the end of 2018 by a group of Saudi Arabia is not the only OPEC member that would need to “Crude continues to extend gains as producers around the Organization of the significantly slash output to become compliant with new quotas. early reports from Beijing regarding trade Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as Stripping out Qatar, which exited OPEC at the end of 2018, negotiations are fueling optimism around well as non-OPEC member Russia. and Iran, Libya and Venezuela, which were granted exemptions successful trade talks between the U.S. The OPEC-led cuts are aimed at reining from the latest round of cuts, the remaining 11 members pumped and China,” said Stephen Innes, head of in an emerging supply overhang, in part 26.89 million bpd -- almost 1 million bpd above their collective trading for Asia-Pacific at futures brokerage 3-1/2 week highs on Wednesday. State newspaper China Daily said on because U.S. crude oil output surged by deal ceiling of 25.94 million bpd, which went into effect January 1. Oanda in Singapore. Trade talks in Beijing between the Wednesday that Beijing is keen to put an end around 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in Iraq, OPEC’s second largest producer, raised its output to “After a dreadful December for risk world’s two biggest economies entered a to its trade dispute with the United States, 2018, to a record 11.7 million bpd. 4.67 million bpd in December, the survey found, some 160,000 markets, crude oil continues to catch a third day on Wednesday, amid signs of but that it will not make any “unreasona- Official U.S. fuel storage data from the bpd above its new cap of 4.51 million bpd. positive vibe,” Innes said. progress on issues including purchases ble concessions” and that any agreement Energy Information Administration (EIA) Iraq’s oil ministry vowed last week to hold the country’s output The oil price jumps were in line with of U.S. farm and energy commodities and must involve compromise on both sides. is due at 1800 GMT on Wednesday. right at its quota level through the deal’s six months. Asian stock markets, which climbed to increased U.S. access to China’s markets. If no deal is reached by March 2, Trump (Source: Reuters) The UAE pumped 3.25 million bpd in December, but will be required to hold production at 3.07 million bpd starting this month. Nigeria was also far above its quota of 1.69 million bpd, with December output of 1.90 million bpd, though its officials say U.S. threatens sanctions against Nord Venezuela congress slams oil deals some of the country’s crude should be categorized as condensate, Stream 2 contractors with U.S., French companies which is not subject to production limits. Exempt members Washington might slap sanctions on Venezuela’s opposition-run congress on The quotas are part of OPEC’s deal with 10 non-OPEC allies to two European contractors that are laying Tuesday issued a resolution calling deals cut a combined 1.2 million bpd of output compared with October’s the pipeline for the Nord Stream 2 pro- between state-run oil company PDVSA and levels during the first half of 2019 to prevent a supply glut in a ject, German newspaper Handelsblatt U.S. and French companies announced market with a lukewarm demand growth outlook. has reported. this week illegal, since they had not been OPEC committed to about two-thirds of the collective cuts, Sources in the German federal gov- sent to lawmakers for approval. but left its most imperiled members exempted, which means any ernment told Handelsblatt that the White The body said the oilfield deals with of their involuntary declines will not count toward compliance. House would primarily levy sanctions on France’s Maurel & Prom and little-known Sanctions-hit Iran continued to struggle to find buyers for its the highly specialised companies laying U.S. company Erepla violated article 150 of crude, forcing its output to drop to 2.80 million bpd, its lowest the Nord Stream 2 pipeline on behalf of Venezuela’s constitution, which requires since January 2014, according to the survey. the operating company, Nord Stream 2 that contracts signed between the state Production in Libya, whose largest oil field, Sharara, shut down AG. These two contractors are Swiss-based sanctions would force these companies and foreign companies be approved by up to $500 million in three fields, while for much of December, fell to 970,000 bpd, the survey found. Allseas Group and Italian-based Saipem. pull out of the project all by themselves. the National Assembly, as Venezuela’s Maurel & Prom said it would invest up to Venezuela, in the throes of an economic crisis, managed to A spokesperson from Allseas, which is set The Trump administration has long congress is known. $400 million for a 40 percent stake in an hold output steady at 1.17 million bpd. to lay over 90 percent of the pipeline, was opposed Nord Stream 2; it said that the “They are giving concessions that vio- oilfield joint venture. Old deal ends quoted as refusing to speculate about the Gazprom-led venture, which is set to divert late the law,” said lawmaker Jorge Millan, PDVSA did not respond to a request for The December figures close the books on the previous round possible impact of U.S. sanctions. Saipem gas flows away from Ukraine to Germany mentioning the two contracts. comment. Maurel & Prom did not imme- of output cuts, which ran for 2017-18, and committed OPEC and did not respond to a request for comment through the Baltic Sea, poses a threat to Congress, largely stripped of its power diately respond to a request for comment its allies to a combined 1.8 million bpd of supply reductions. but industry sources, as per the report, European energy security and could be since the opposition took it over in 2016, is outside of normal business hours in France. That agreement imposed quotas on 13 OPEC members, ex- called sanctions against the Italian firm used by Russia to obtain economic and unlikely to be able block the deals from going A spokesman for Erepla, registered in empting Libya and Nigeria. “pointless” as it has already completed its political leverage. Donald Trump has called forward. But the rejection could create legal Delaware in November and part-owned by For the entire two-year run, those 13 members achieved a part of the work. on European countries that support the complications under a future government. a prominent Florida Republican donor and collective compliance level of 123 percent, aided in large part by U.S. President Donald Trump has been project to scrap it in favour of American Maduro is set to be inaugurated for his sec- shipping magnate, said Venezuela’s hydro- Venezuela’s collapse. The country began the deal by pumping a vocal critic of Nord Stream 2; he earlier liquefied natural gas (LNG). ond consecutive term on Thursday following carbons law “allows PDVSA to contract with 2.01 million bpd in January 2017, but dropped 840,000 bpd in said that it was “unfortunate” for Germans Both Moscow and Berlin have dismissed a May vote considered a sham by the domestic companies like Erepla to execute field services the two years, resulting in a 458 percent conformity level with but vowed not to go hard on investors in the allegations, saying that Nord Stream opposition and many foreign governments. without any additional approvals required.” its quota, according to Platts calculations. the pipeline. However, U.S. Ambassador to 2 is a purely economic project. Kremlin A regional bloc of Latin American countries Referring to the Erepla deal during the Kingpin Saudi Arabia, after having exceeded its required cut for Germany Richard Grenell, Trump’s close spokesman Dmitry Peskov slammed the last week called on Maduro, a protege of the congressional session earlier on Tuesday, most of the deal, ended up with a two-year compliance level of just ally, delivered a more ominous message. U.S. claims as a “camouflaged dishonest late Hugo Chavez, not to take office. Millan said that while PDVSA referred to 86 percent, after ramping up its output over the last six months, He told Handelsblatt that companies competition”. The European Commission The deals are part of Maduro’s effort the agreement as an oilfield service con- including an all-time high of 11.02 million bpd in November. participating in the construction are “always said that it did not support the venture but to reverse a sharp decline in the OPEC tract, “the company will be conducting oil (Source: Platts) in danger, because sanctions are always refused to prohibit it. nation’s crude output that has crippled exploration and production activities.” possible”; he is also convinced that looming (Source: Sputnik) its economy. Erepla said it would invest (Source: Reuters) BP just discovered a billion China trade war and US shale are the biggest concerns for outgoing OPEC chief barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico The U.S.-China trade war and booming American shale from the White House, Mazrouei maintained that OPEC BP’s investment in next-generation technology just paid off to production are among the top worries for the United Arab listens to what the U.S. has to say when it comes to oil the tune of a billion barrels of oil. Emirates’ energy minister and former OPEC president. prices and production but insisted that the cartel “always The British energy company has discovered 1 billion barrels After a volatile year for oil prices, hydrocarbon-export- does the right thing.” of crude at an existing oilfield in the Gulf of Mexico. BP also ing countries are buckling down for what could be more “When it comes to politics or ‘political games’... we’re not announced two new offshore oil discoveries and a major new turbulence ahead. playing with President Trump or any other president,” he said. investment in a nearby field. In terms of geopolitical headwinds for 2019, “One is “I think what we do is we hear them (the U.S.). They are the potential of heated war between China and the United major consumers versus the major producing nations, we States,” Suhail Al Mazrouei told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble hear what they say but we will always do the right thing on Wednesday. Mazrouei finished his term at the helm of from our perspective which is always trying to maintain OPEC on January 1. the balance (in supply and demand).” “I think this is one fundamental, not only affecting us but OPEC and its non-OPEC counterparts led by Russia affecting the whole economics of the world. And I tend to agreed to a production cut of 1.2 million barrels per day in be... more optimistic that we are not going to see a war. It’s early December to put a floor under falling prices, despite negotiation tactics, they will end on a resolution, whatever Trump’s calls to keep the crude flowing. it takes, this year or next year.” as West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were fetching “We are not in the business of trusting or not trusting While cautiously optimistic on the outcome of ongoing $50.34 a barrel. presidents,” the minister said when asked if he could trust trade negotiations between the world’s two largest economies, The U.S.-China trade war, political turmoil in Europe Trump. “We are in the business of watching the market Mazrouei stressed the impact of U.S. shale production on and fears of an impending slowdown in global economic and correcting it every time the geopolitics (are) a factor, the market -- something that’s increasingly putting OPEC growth have also seriously clouded the demand outlook. affecting the market.” BP is the Gulf of Mexico’s biggest producer, and it’s making members under pressure. “But this is one thing, how much is And the Energy Information Agency has upgraded its Al Mazrouei’s comments follow a tumultuous 2018 for strides to hold that title. coming from the shale oil production I think that’s another supply growth outlook for American crude. U.S. domestic oil which was characterized by price fluctuations as OPEC BP now expects its fossil fuel output from the region to reach factor we need to watch and we need to advise that it has to oil production is now expected to increase by 1.18 million and its non-OPEC allies, including Russia, vacillated be- 400,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by the middle of the be reasonable,” the minister said. bpd next year with output averaging 12.06 million bpd. That tween cutting and increasing their oil production in a bid next decade. Today, it produces about 300,000 boepd, up from Oil prices have plunged since reaching highs of more flood of fresh U.S. crude supply “will cement its newfound to stabilize prices. less than 200,000 boepd about five years ago. than $86 per barrel in early October over concerns of global position as the world’s top oil producer,” according to con- President Trump remained critical of OPEC’s strategy to On Tuesday, the company said it will spend $1.3 billion to oversupply and weakening demand. On Wednesday, bench- sultancy firm PVM Oil Associates. restrict output, saying that prices were “too high.” develop a third phase of its Atlantis field off the coast of New mark Brent crude futures stood at $59.28 per barrel where- Asked about the growing criticisms of OPEC coming (Source: CNBC) Orleans. Scheduled to start production in 2020, the eight new wells will add 38,000 bpd to BP’s production at Atlantis. The decision comes after BP found another 400 million barrels of Nigeria lost $2.8b to oil-related crimes last year oil at the field. BP made the massive 1 billion-barrel discovery at its Thunder Oil-related crimes in Nigeria cost the Afri- ber 23, as many as 82 incidents of maritime According to the Nigerian National Pe- Bloomberg in the middle of 2018. Horse field off the tip of Louisiana. can OPEC producer US$2.8 billion in lost crime and piracy were reported in the Gulf of troleum Corporation (NNPC), the country’s “Security in parts of the Niger delta Executives are crediting their investment in advanced seismic revenues in 2018, News Agency of Nigeria Guinea on Africa’s Atlantic Coast, according oil production increased by 9 percent in remains a major concern with persisting technology and data processing for speeding up the company’s (NAN) reported on Tuesday, citing a United to the UN report cited by NAN. 2018 compared to 2017, the NNPC Group’s incidents of criminality, kidnapping and ability to confirm the discoveries at Atlantis and Thunder Horse. Nations report on West Africa. “Maritime crime and piracy off the coast Managing Director Maikanti Baru said in a vandalism as well as onshore and offshore BP says it once would have taken a year to analyze the Thunder “Oil-related crimes resulted in the loss of West Africa continued to pose a threat statement NNPC issued last week. piracy,” Igo Weli, general manager for ex- Horse data, but it now takes just weeks. of nearly 2.8 billion dollars in revenues last to peace, security and development in the Although Nigeria has managed to restore ternal relations at Shell’s Nigerian unit, told “We are building on our world-class position, upgrading the year in Nigeria, according to government region,” the UN says. its oil production to around 1.8 million bpd, Bloomberg in June. resources at our fields through technology, productivity and figures,” says the semi-annual ‘Report by In Nigeria, following a wave of militant following major militant attacks on oil in- Crude oil theft on Shell’s pipeline net- exploration success,” Bernard Looney, BP’s chief executive for the Secretary-General on the activities of violence on onshore oil installations in 2016 frastructure in 2016, sabotages in parts of work resulted in a 50-percent increase in production and exploration, said in a statement. the United Nations Office for West Africa and early 2017, oil production started to the oil-rich Niger Delta continue to plague oil losses, the oil supermajor said in its 2017 Just northeast of Thunder Horse, BP also announced new and the Sahel (UNOWAS)’. recover in the latter half of 2017, when at- its oil production and the oil majors oper- sustainability report published in April 2018. discoveries at fields near its Na Kika platform. Last year, between January 1 and Novem- tacks subsided. ating there, a local manager for Shell told (Source: oilprice.com) (Source: CNBC) ساعت: 17:00 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 10, 2019 NEWS IN BRIEF Raisina Dialogue: ‘Ensuring zero tolerance India’s GDP to grow at 7.3% in towards terrorism need of hour’ INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Asserting he said. 2018-19 deskthat no country is immune Gen Rawat also added that terror group INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — India’s Gross Domestic to the “existential threat” of terrorism, India’s ISIS has not been able to gain foothold in deskProduct (GDP) rate is expected to grow External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the manner “it has in some other countries, at 7.3 per cent in the fiscal year 2018-19, and 7.5 per cent in Wednesday said the need of hour is to ensure despite large number of Muslims (in India).” the following two years, according to World Bank forecast. zero tolerance towards terrorism and those “Radicalization is happening through the The forecast has been attributed to an upswing in con- using it as an “instrument of convenience”. media,” he stated and added that so long as sumption and investment in one of the fastest growing Swaraj made these remarks while speaking media keeps giving coverage and focus to economies in the world. at the Raisina Dialogue organized by India’s terrorist activities it is there to stay. China’s economic growth is projected to slow down to leading think tank Observer Research Foun- Earlier, on Tuesday, inaugurating the 6.2 per cent each in 2019 and 2020 and 6 per cent in 2021, dation in collaboration with India’s Ministry fourth Raisina Dialogue 2019, Norway’s according to the January 2019 Global Economic Prospects of External Affairs in New Delhi. Prime Minister Erna Solberg cautioned that report released by the World Bank on Tuesday. She said that with unwavering belief in the economic rivalry between nations can- In 2018, the Chinese economy is estimated to have grown multilateralism, India speaks not just for not be “allowed” to dominate world order. by 6.5 per cent as against India’s 7.3 per cent. itself but also for the cause of justice, op- “We cannot afford to let protectionism, “India’s growth outlook is still robust. India is still the portunity and prosperity around the world. economic rivalry take a dominant role. Free fastest growing major economy,” World Bank Prospects “For us, transformation is not just a do- trade creates winners, protectionism does Group Director Ayhan Kose was quoted as saying by India’s mestic agenda but a global vision,” she said, not,” she said. state-run news agency PTI. while maintaining that terrorism was first Solberg, who delivered the inaugural ad- In India, the growth has accelerated, driven by an up- among the “critical challenges” confronting dress, stressed on the need for global coop- swing in consumption, and investment growth has firmed the world. eration in solving international problems, as the effects of temporary factors wane, the report noted. “There was a time when India would talk and pushed for all countries to work towards Private consumption is projected to remain robust and about terrorism and it would be treated as meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, investment growth is expected to continue as the benefits a law and order issue at many global plat- as long as they do not come out with any Iran, Russia, UAE and China. even though it is “tough”. of recent policy reforms begin to materialize and credit re- forms. Today, no country, big or small, is preconditions and so long as they are look- While the talks between Taliban and U.S. Speakers from over 92 countries, including bounds, based on report findings. immune to the existential threat, particularly ing at lasting peace in Afghanistan and bring have failed to produce a breakthrough, as Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, former terrorism actively supported and sponsored stability in that country. It is in our interest, Taliban has listed withdrawal of all foreign Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, former by states,” Swaraj said. Indian army chief in the regions interest and in Pakistan’s in- forces from Afghanistan as their main de- UK Prime Minister Tony Blair are participat- CPEC to General Bipin Rawat, while participating in terest,” he stressed. mand, the talks hosted by Moscow and Tehran ing in the fourth edition of the high-profile a panel discussion at the Raisina Dialogue, Gen Rawat said preconditions in a dialogue have been purposeful, according to sources. dialogue hosted by Indian government. create 7 said talks with Taliban are in the interest process gives undue advantage to one of the Responding to questions on the phenom- This year, discussions at the dialogue, lac jobs in of stability in Afghanistan as long as there parties. “When you start attaching precondi- enon of radicalization globally and the trend which has the theme of ‘A World Reorder: are no preconditions attached to the talks. tions, it gives a sense of a notional victory in India, General Rawat said it has taken a New Geometries; Fluid Partnerships; Un- Pakistan Noting that Pakistan treated Afghanistan that one or the other side is taking from a different form in India as seen in Jammu certain Outcomes’, will seek to address is- as its backyard, Gen. Rawat said Islamabad position of strength,” he noted. and Kashmir. sues arising from ongoing global transitions INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — In a great news for un- wants a situation in the war-ravaged country There have been several rounds of talks “We see a different form of radicalization and changes to the world order, triggered by deskemployed people in Pakistan, as many that is favorable to it. in recent months between Taliban and U.S, in Jammu and Kashmir. Youth are being unique leaders, innovative partnerships and as 700,000 new job opportunities are estimated to be cre- “Yes, there should be talks with Taliban besides some regional countries including radicalized due to lot of misinformation,” new technologies. ated by 2030 under the ambitious project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Various CPEC projects have thus far provided direct job opportunities to around 75,000 people across the country, Iran, India trade ties on strong footing according to the Chinese Embassy documents, quoted in 1 India’s UCO Bank has also got clearance to open During President Rouhanis visit last year, the two countries Pakistani newspapers. a branch in Iran, said a report in India’s state-run news with age-old historical, commercial and cultural ties had A recent study conducted by CPEC Centre of Excellence, agency PTI. We are very happy that both UCO Bank from pledged to deepen bilateral ties and enhance cooperation in Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform of Pakistan India and Pasargad Bank from Iran are getting started with areas of mutual interest, including energy, petroleum and gas. showed that indirectly, CPEC could help create even 1.2 the business, Zarif was quoted as saying. In recent months, following the re-imposition of economic million jobs under this project. The two banks will facilitate transactions related to India’s sanctions on Iran, the oil trade between the two countries has In order to promote economic development of Pakistan, operations at Chabahar Port and help Indian companies do been affected but the imports have not completely stopped. Chinese companies also outsourced a large number of projects trade with Iranian companies without hassles. India is the world’s third biggest oil importer, and Iran to local Pakistani companies, said a report in Express Tribune. Gholamhossein Shafei, the head of Iranian chamber of became Indias third largest oil supplier during the period Chinese companies have engaged themselves in three commerce and industries, who accompanied Zarif on the April-June 2018, surpassing Saudi Arabia. The total imports areas to fulfill their social responsibilities in collaboration visit, mooted the proposal of joint Indo-Iranian chamber of stood at $11 billion in April-November 2018, out of which with the Chinese government. commerce to facilitate better business partnership. 90 percent comprised crude oil. The Chinese side has proposed to conduct social cooperation During Zarifs meetings with top political leaders, includ- Iran recently announced investments to the tune of Rs on agriculture, education, medical care, poverty alleviation, ing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister 1,500 crores to expand a refinery operated by Chennai Pe- water supply and vocational training. Sushma Swaraj, the other issues that figured prominently troleum Corp., which is planning to increase oil production He added that government’s biggest challenge is to en- were Iran’s nuclear deal and Afghanistan peace process, to 9 million tonnes per year from about 1 million tonnes announced on Monday that it has taken over operations of sure that every person entering the job market is equipped according to sources. at present. the strategic port. This is the first time India will be operat- with modern skills with a certain amount of hands-on work India, which is torn between Tehran and Washington, On Tuesday, Reuters reported that India has begun paying ing a port outside its territory. experience. has not clearly spelt out its official position on Iran’s nuclear Iran for oil in rupees, the first such payments since the U.S. The work at Chabahar is being carried out within the deal, although it managed to convince U.S. to keep Chabahar imposed new sanctions against Iran in November. Quoting framework of 2016 trilateral deal that also includes Afghani- Myanmar out of sanctions purview, and to continue oil trade with Iran. an industry source, the report said India’s Indian Oil Corp stan and is aimed at developing the port as a regional trade Zarif, according to sources, discussed recent talks between (IOC) and Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals (MRPL) hub. It will heavily reduce the dependence of Afghanistan wants to ‘work Iran and Taliban in Tehran and Iran’s position on the Afghan- have made payments for Iranian oil imports. on Pakistan’s ports. led and Afghan-owned peace process. U.S. withdrawal from Pertinently, India and Iran had been exploring the Zarifs visit to India can be termed a success the way he closely’ with Syria and Afghanistan and Saudis war crimes in Yemen also possibility of rupee payment for Iranian crude. Iran is managed to convince the Indian leadership that strong ties Bangladesh came up for discussion, sources said. likely to use the rupee payments to recompense for im- with Tehran are in New Delhi’s best interests, said Vikas India and Iran have deepened their civilizational and ports from India. Swarup, a New Delhi based commentator. The two countries INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Myanmar President Win trade partnership in recent years, despite the pressure from The work on the strategic Chabahar port in Sistan-Balu- need to join hands and do business, without bothering about deskMyint has expressed his interest in working U.S., an important ally of New Delhi. chistan has also progressed smoothly. Indian government what the superpowers say or do. closely with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to address the common challenges of both countries. “Notwithstanding the challenges facing our two countries, Taliban call off talks with U.S. officials over ‘agenda disagreement’ I believe that, through our joint efforts based on genuine 1 The U.S. imposed war in Afghani- by Pakistan’s foreign office said. goodwill and good neighborliness, the bonds of friendship stan has stretched into its 18th year now and The special envoy also relayed “deep ap- and cooperation between Myanmar and Bangladesh can be security situation has only deteriorated in preciation of the sincerity and vision of Prime nurtured strengthened,” he said in a congratulatory mes- all these years, raising big question marks Minister Imran Khan for peace and stability sage to Hasina, who was re-elected as the country’s Prime over America’s longest war and its objectives. in Pakistan”, the press release added. Minister last month. Last month, Donald Trump ordered the Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Me- President Win Myint extended his best wishes for the withdrawal of half of U.S. troops from the hmood Qureshi assured him of Pakistan’s continued economic development, peace and prosperity of war-ravaged country, a decision that was commitment to peace in the region. He said Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina’s new term, Bangladesh’s welcomed by world leaders, considering the stability in Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s own Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. failure of successive U.S. regimes to bring national interest, and necessary for economic Bangladesh and Myanmar have been at loggerheads peace to the country. development and prosperity in the region, over the repatriation of Rohingya refugees’ current living Meanwhile, regional countries including the statement said. in makeshift camps in Bangladesh. Pakistan and Iran have stepped up efforts Qureshi highlighted the growing global Bangladesh, the largest destination for Rohingya refugees, to help bring to end the protracted war in view that the suffering of the Afghan peo- has received a large number of Rohingyas since 1978 in four Afghanistan. ple needs to be brought to an end through a phases— before the 1990s, after the 1990s, post-2012, and Iran hosted a Taliban delegation recently peaceful resolution of the conflict. post-2017. Bangladesh government last week stressed the and discussed ‘post-occupation scenario’, He assured the envoy that Pakistan “would need for political will of Myanmar for expediting the process according to reports. The talks were held in do all to help the people of Afghanistan see of repatriation of Rohingya people to Bangladesh. coordination with the Afghan government. the earliest possible end to bloodshed and Following the talks, deputy foreign min- enter a new phase of peace and prosperity”. Norwegia ister Abbas Araqchi visited Kabul to discuss peace process with Indian officials. the officials there. The Afghan special envoy noted that the it with Afghan government officials. Foreign Mohammad Umer Daudzai, Afghan Presi- He conveyed Afghan government’s “strong two countries had a “unique relationship offers to mediate Minister Javad Zarif, who was on three-day dent Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy for peace, desire to work closely with Pakistan in all marked by commonalities and similarity on Kashmir visit to India also discussed the Afghan-led visited Pakistan this week to hold talks with areas of mutual interest”, a statement issued of interests”. dispute Israel must respect intl. law, leave occupied Golan Heights: Jordan INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Norwegian Prime Minister deskErna Solberg has said that her govern- Jordan has hit out at Israel over its recent call for the United broke out. A year later, a United Nations-brokered ceasefire ment is willing to mediate between Pakistan and India for States to recognize the regime’s occupation of the Golan came into force, according to which Tel Aviv and Damascus the settlement of the Kashmir dispute. Heights, saying Tel Aviv will have to eventually pull its forces agreed to separate their troops and create a buffer zone in Erna Solberg in an interview with Indian news channel out of the Syrian region. the Golan. Israel has over the past decades built dozens of NDTV said the Kashmir dispute cannot be solved only from “The Golan Heights are occupied Syrian territory. Inter- settlements in the Golan Heights in defiance of international a military standpoint and that popular support was also national law is clear on that. It has to be treated as such,” calls for the regime to stop its illegal construction activities. important, a report in Kashmir Media Service said. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told a press con- Syria has repeatedly reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Last November, former prime minister of Norway Kjell ference with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Amman Golan Heights, saying the territory must be completely re- Magne Bondevik had visited the Indian controlled Kashmir on Tuesday. He then called on the Tel Aviv regime to leave stored to its control. and held talks with separatist leaders. the Golan Heights based on the 1974 Golan ceasefire deal Since 2011 – when foreign-sponsored militancy first broke with the Damascus government. out across Syria – Israel has been using Golan to prop up As part of his private visit, he then visited Pakistan con- Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (R) speaks at “Our position is that Israel needs to withdraw from that anti-Damascus Takfiri terrorists. trolled Kashmir as well and met the leadership there. a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Mike territory in the framework of a peace agreement,” Safadi said. Elsewhere in his remarks, Safadi, whose country is the cus- Responding to a question on Bondevik’s view that there Pompeo in Amman, Jordan, January 8, 2019. can be no military solution to the Kashmir dispute, Solberg Just two days earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu todian of Jerusalem al-Quds’ Muslim holy sites, described said there is no military solution to any situation like this. stressed that Israel would “never leave the Golan Heights,” In 1967, Israel waged a full-scale war against Arab ter- the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the region’s When asked if Norway saw any role for mediation between urging all countries to recognize the regime’s grip over the ritories, during which it occupied a large swathe of Syria’s central problem. While Amman and Washington “don’t al- Pakistan and India, Solberg said, “If there is an interest from occupied territory. Netanyahu made the comments in a Golan and annexed it four years later, a move never recog- ways agree on every issue, we will continue to work together the partners, we will try to use the mechanisms that we know.” meeting with U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton nized by the international community. to solve the region’s problems,” he added. in the occupied Jerusalem al-Quds. In 1973, another war, known as the Arab-Israeli War, (Source: Press TV) ساعت: امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 10, 2019 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 40 years of China’s open-door Macron’s economic suicide economic policy and great changes By Reza Amouei than 15 years after the start of its economic reforms, and, following the establishment of China held a grand gathering on December the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 18, 2018, to celebrate the 40th anniversary 2001, it sought to establish an international of the country’s reform and opening-up in and non-international institution. Beijing, a great revolution that has changed In fact, the Shanghai Cooperation Or- the destiny of the Chinese nation and the ganization, as an international organiza- world that began in 1978. tion in the field of security and economic The ensuing four decades has painted a affairs with Russia and Asian countries, completely different picture for China. The has more than anything else a political country maintained an average annual growth function against Western political and se- rate of more than 9 percent and became the curity institutions, including the G7. Its world’s second-largest economy; China’s share future vision is to develop partnership in 1 In other words, in the midst of anti-Euro and extremist in the world economy increased from 2.7 to security spheres. And the military can be and far-right movements in Europe, Macron was the last hope of 16 percent; and 800 million Chinese were seen as an eastern alternative to NATO, European authorities to “manage the economic crisis” which was lifted out of poverty. although it has a long way to go. raising inside the Eurozone: the hope that has soon faded away! How did China warm up to the China’s hands-off policy system “Failing to persuade French citizens” on his economic reforms, intl. community? Unlike Western leaders, China’s leaders and Macron’s miscalculations about the support of French citizens The 11th Central Committee of the Com- have never claimed to impose their political for himself, were among the important factors in shaping this munist Party of China held its third plenary norms on their political and even strategic process. Macron had to give concessions to protesters to pre- session in Peking December 18- 22, 1978. partners. Unlike Western leaders in Wash- vent further tensions in France. After the country’s month-long It was attended by 169 Members and 112 ington, London or Paris, who have always demonstrations, Macron was forced to retreat from his decision Alternate Members of the Central Committee. been criticizing other countries for alleged on raising the fuel price. It was announced at the meeting that the human rights issues, China has never em- Besides, he had no way but to make promises to the French party would focus on economic development phasized political norms in deepening ties citizens on issues such as raising the minimum wages and reducing and would use all available tools to achieve China’s doors were open for business to the demonstrate their capacity to reform and with its partners. the income tax. This had but one meaning: Macron’s economic this goal. world. The model of the Guangzhou Harbor spur growth. Perhaps the best description of this feature reforms came to an end. Right now, European authorities know In the winter of the same year, for the was implemented in 1988 in at least in 14 Pragmatism and transitional is the Chinese President’s remarks on the well that Macron is incapable of regaining his initial power in first time since the establishment of China’s other Chinese cities. institutions occasion of the 40th anniversary of reforms France and the Eurozone by 2022 (the time for the France gen- communist system, the lands of the extremely The secret behind China’s reforms China’s approach to reforms provided when he said China will “never seek hegemony eral elections). poor Xiaogang Village in east China’s Anhui Bert Huffman, the author of an article the room for the country’s own particular no matter how developed it becomes one day.” Therefore, Macron has to forget the dream of EU’s economic Province were transferred to its residents titled “Reflections on forty years of China’s institutions to emerge, which suited the Indeed, China is trying to show non-inter- leadership until the last moments of his presence at the Elysees and the government ordered the purchase reforms”, cited four key features of the success country’s purposes well at any given point ference from its political behavior, and this Palace. Of course, this is if the young French president isn’t forced of their products. of China’s economic reforms: on its reform path. It allowed a continuation is contrary to the Western-style approach to to resign before 2022! The European authorities and the Euro- A year later Xiaogang Village, which was Gradual reforms of the planning system at planned prices, foreign policy, which seems to have a mania zone leaders have no alternative for Macron and his economic already suffering from poverty and famine, Reforms in China developed only grad- which avoided the collapse of production, for interventionist policies. reforms in Europe. was the pioneer in selling private agricultural ually, starting in the rural areas with the but at the margin the system allowed a non- Deepening political influence in That’s why they’re so worried about the emergence of anti-EU products in China, and the same pattern of household responsibility system and town- planned economy to emerge. light of China’s global market movements in countries such as France and Germany. For exam- privatization of China’s rural areas expanded. ship and village enterprises and some initial China’s effort to promote intl. According to United Nations statistics ple, they are well aware that if Marin Le Pen can defeat Macron Also, the legal amendments related to steps to open up the economy to foreign trade political standing released by Bloomberg, in 2015, America and come to power in France during the upcoming elections, recognition of the right to land for peasants and investment, which only started to play Four decades after the start of its reforms, had $502.6 billion worth of imports from then the whispers of the collapse of the Eurozone, and even the paved the way for membership of the World a significant role in the 1990s. China has seized the Western liberal market, China and $116.2 billion worth of exports to European Union, will be clearly heard, this time with a loud Trade Organization (WTO) eight years from Decentralization and incentives and since 2016 it has become the world’s the country. In the Trump era some change voice, all over the Europe. the date of privatizing agricultural land in Decentralization to local governments second-largest economy after the U.S. has been apparent, of late related to the tariffs 1978. China adopted the World Trade Or- became a powerful tool for progress within According to statistics, the past decade, and trade war started by Trump. ganization (WTO/GATT) agreement in 2001. the confines of central political guidance. The from 2008 to this year, has been the decade Chinese President Xi Jinping offered The easing of restrictions on foreign direct provinces and local governments received of China’s economic peak since its foreign another $60 billion in financing to Africa investment (FDI) allowed foreign businesses increasing authority over investment approv- investment in the country, which was $55 in September 2018. China is also investing easier entry to the marketplace than in the als, fiscal resources, and policies. Provinces, billion in 2008, reached $196.2 billion in 2018. heavily in the South Asian region, both in Human Rights: Time for U.S. past, which made the switch for China easier municipalities and even counties were allowed, All these statistics threaten the position Pakistan and simultaneously in Afghanistan, to walk the talk in the 1980’s. even encouraged, to experiment with reforms of powerful economies, especially the U.S., and is now becoming the economic part- China’s has witnessed a queue for the entry in specific areas, and successful experiments to the extent that China’s global positioning ners of these countries. China’s presence of U.S. and European employers seeking both then became official policy and were quickly is improving. in other regions, including the Arab states TEHRAN (FNA) — There is an explanation as to why the Unit- cheap labor and tax-free profits. adopted throughout the country. In a way, Indeed, China, despite its undeniable of the southern Persian Gulf, is rapidly ed States continues to support Saudi Arabia’s war and says the Deng was purged twice during the Cultural by decentralizing, China turned the country economic status, has faced challenges from expanding. Saudis and their coalition partners don’t have to answer to the Revolution in the 1960s, but after Chairman into a laboratory for reforms. Within the Western rivals in the international political Based on this, now 40 years after the suffering they inflict on the besieged people of Yemen. Mao Zedong’s death in 1976, Deng led Chi- party, the personnel promotion system was arena, and the Chinese have not stopped start of China’s open economic reforms, the The Trump administration’s record of human rights viola- na through far-reaching market-economy largely based on the achievement of growth. working in this area, seeking to promote country has been able to deepen its political tions is poor and the State Department has just announced that reforms. Experience in the regions also counted heavily their political status. influence in different regions by developing it won’t cooperate with United Nations investigators regarding In 1979, a year after he came to power, in the promotion to higher?level party posts, Institutionalization of reforms its economic ties in world markets, even if their complaints about such issues in the US. he established the export-processing zones which provided the most talented with the China began the movement in the polit- Chinese political development is not wel- This is while the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty for the first time in Guangzhou to show that incentives to gain that experience, and to ical context of the international system less comed by the West. and human rights has issued a report on “devastating inequality” in the US and the Trump White House has left unanswered at least 13 official requests from UN special rapporteurs on human rights since last May. The deliberate failure to respond began a Mick Napier: Nation State Law explicitly shows the month before Philip Alston, special rapporteur on extreme pov- erty, issued a scathing report detailing “devastating inequality” in the US, made worse by the anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant policies of President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers. nature of Apartheid Regime in Tel Aviv According to Alston, Washington’s refusal to answer questions TEHRAN (FNA) — Human rights activist Mick Napier porters to defend and support Israel actions thus opening tlement activities have hammered and cooperate not only leaves issues including inequality and the believes that nation state law exposed and made official wider possibilities to build the BDS campaign. Since the BDS nail after nail into the coffin of a rights of immigrants and asylum seekers unaddressed in the US, what was factual since the creation of the Israeli regime: call was launched in 2005 this movement has broadened and diplomatic solution. What do you but also sends a harmful message to other human rights abusers the apartheid nature of Israel. deepened its support around the world year after year but it think about that? leading countries around the world. In his words, “This sends a Mick Napier, in an exclusive interview with FNA, said has not been a gradual process; it has also increased by large A: To achieve a diplomatic message that you can opt out of routine scrutiny if you don’t like that by implementation of the nation state law “Israel has steps following particular high-profile Israeli crimes such solution at least two sides must what is being said about your record on human rights.” shot itself in the foot by labeling itself internationally as an as operation cast lead, operation protective Edge and for be willing to reach an agreement Obviously, the dismissive Trump administration officials see apartheid state while gaining no particular advantage for example the massacre of Turkish aid workers on the Mavi which concedes at least some of the domestic human rights violations as an internal matter - the same its program of ethnic cleansing.” Marmara. The work of the Israeli snipers also has Israel positions of the other side, howev- officials that draft resolution after resolution against other nations According to the activist, the Great March of Return crossing a new red line and producing a surge in hostility er minimal. The Israeli regime has at the UN regarding similar issues. They even call the UN study protests and Israel’s brutal reaction have further diminished towards the apartheid state and sympathy for the Pales- however declared time after time “patently ridiculous” and claim no human rights violations exist the “minimal support for Israel in world public opinion tinians by virtue of the obvious callus cruelty involved. At that it will never allow any Pales- in the US, which is ridiculous. There is well documented evidence and have also made it more difficult for Israel supporters the same time Israel continues with house demolitions and tinian state, however weakened and of growing income inequality, the police brutality against people to defend and support Israel actions thus opening wider full spectrum criminality against the Palestinians which subordinated to Israel, and that the Israeli state intends to of color, the Muslim travel ban and anti-immigrant policies, the possibilities to build the BDS campaign.” contributes to this trend. maintain undivided control over the entire land surface of use of solitary confinement in prisons, and the Department of Mick Napier is an activist and campaigner for the rights How do you think the US and some Arab states are Palestine, with the partial exception of Gaza which will be Homeland Security’s forcible separation of thousands of children of Palestinians. He is a founding member of the Scottish complicit in crimes against the Palestinians, specially in subjected to a harsh regime on its perimeter possibly until from their parents. Palestine Solidarity Campaign and has been interviewed by light with the discreet links between Israel and Saudi Arabia sometime in the future when the people of Gaza could be Such attitude demonstrates a rather inappropriate arrogance, at international news outlets such as Press TV and Al Jazeera and other Persian Gulf states? driven into the Sinai. a time when human rights not just in the US but also in neighboring English to comment on issues related to Palestine. A: The crimes against the Palestinian people could not As long as Israel remains a Zionist, i.e. a settler colonial Canada are far from perfect, where three quarters of a century FNA has conducted an interview with Mick Napier about take place without strong US support, with a green light from state with ambitions for Jews from every country to move after the UN Charter, human rights are similarly and manifestly Israel’s brutal crackdown on Palestinian protesters, the Israeli the EU, the Arab Royal dictatorships and Egypt. I would there, while Israel is committed to the dispossession of the far from being realized (enjoyed) by far too many people. Despite legislation known as the nation state law and also Trump’s suggest the links between Israel and Saudi Arabia UAE and native Palestinian people, and sees herself as an extension of some progress, the gap between declaration and real experience so-called deal of the century. Oman are no longer concealed but are increasingly open and American military power into the region, the only diplomatic remains wide and, for some, stark, and the persistence of that Below you will find the full text of the interview: above board. Millions around the world would be shocked solution one can envisage would be built upon the crushing shortfall brings into doubt the sincerity of their commitment It seems that killing scores of people and maiming but not surprised if Saudi Arabia opened an embassy in Tel of the Palestinian people. Even then one could not be sure and even their values. thousands more over the past several months are not indica- Aviv or even al-Quds. that Israel’s territorial ambitions would be delimited by On the other hand, the US has already withdrawn from the UN tions of what Israel thinks is enough to keep Gaza in check. In July 2018, the so-called nation state law was adopted the Jordan River. In fact everything in the record of Zionist Human Rights Council, for being “preoccupied with Israel”. But Do you think Israel’s deadly clamp down on Palestinian by Israeli Knesset. What do you think the legislation shows colonization tells us that Zionist expansionary appetites not why is the Council preoccupied with Washington’s surrogate? protesters is going to end anytime soon? about the nature of the regime in Tel Aviv? sated but whetted by success. For a start, Israel has committed serious human rights abuses A: Usually no one can predict when major political devel- A: Many people around the world have denounced Israel’s The current administration in the US has been boast- that are worthy of the Council’s condemnation. It is absurd for opments will occur, such as the Berlin Wall coming down, so-called nation-state law because it states unreservedly that ing about their new plan for Palestine and even calling it Washington to claim that Israel has “committed no offence”. The the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Shah of Iran being in Palestine, the whole of Palestine, the democratic right the deal of the century. What do you think would be in the recent killings of Palestinian protesters, targeted killings, illegal overthrown, or Israel’s siege of Gaza being defeated. It is to self determination, self-organization of the two building new deal for Palestinians? settlements, forced evictions, war crimes, the Gaza blockade and, actually a joint Israeli-Egyptian siege supported by the USA communities under collective political control is reserved A: Even those who embraced the Oslo peace process now most fundamentally, an ongoing occupation of Palestine that has and the EU and, despite their public statements, many of exclusively for Jews and Palestinians are explicitly denied realize it was a swindle and a cover for continued Israeli lasted for more than 50 years, will cause critics to proliferate. the Arab regimes as well. So given the present balance of the same rights. Actually I think we should welcome Israel’s settlement expansion and disposition of the Palestinian Nevertheless, that does not explain the Trump administra- power, together with the refusal of the Palestinians to submit, nation state law for it only makes explicit that which was people. A glance at a quality map shows that a solution tion’s dismissive attitude toward the UN, rejecting even legitimate it is difficult to see an end to this harsh siege and Israel’s real since the state of Israel was founded out of the ethnic based on two separate States between the Jordan river and condemnation by the Council, and deliberate refusal to walk the ongoing mass killing of Palestinians. Israeli strategists may cleansing of Palestinians in 1948. After that initial huge the Mediterranean is an illusion which is only kept alive so talk and end scale of human rights abuses within its borders. conclude that they need another huge massacre of Pales- wave of ethnic cleansing most of Palestine groaned under a that Netanyahu’s government can postpone the timetable Regardless of its causes, it is fair to expect that US human rights tinians in Gaza or to continue with Netanyahu strategy of harsh apartheid regime and vain all of Palestine after 1967. for reaching an agreement for Palestinians to the indefinite violations not be dismissed outright. constantly expanding settlements and maintaining a harsh In passing this law Israel has merely made public and official future when such a two state solution can be achieved while Long story short, the US, the only country in the world that regime which does not come too much to the attention of what previous Israeli governments tried to conceal. If we in the meantime maintaining a brutal regime over those Pal- has failed to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, world public opinion. remember that apartheid has been condemned as a crime estinians and constantly expanding the land surface under cannot play a leadership role in human rights. It has withdrawn What do you think the protests known as ‘Great against humanity in international law it looks like Israel has Jewish control and shrinking the areas where Palestinians from the Human Rights Council and refuses to cooperate with March of Return’ have accomplished so far? shot itself in the foot by labeling itself internationally as an be live and work. Trump’s so-called deal would merely be United Nations investigators regarding their complaints about A: The protests and the savagery of Israel’s reaction have apartheid state while gaining no particular advantage for the imposition of further pain on the Palestinians, the con- human rights violations in the US, which are too numerous to further eroded minimal support for Israel in world public its program of ethnic cleansing. solidation of past ethnic cleansing, and would copper fasten mention, but which include torture and the highest proportion opinion and have also made it more difficult for Israel sup- Many believe that the continuing illegal Israeli set- a military apartheid state onto the whole of Palestine. of incarceration in the world. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS JANUARY 10, 2019

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II NN TT EE RR NN AA TT II OO NN AA LL DD AA II LL YY JANUARYJANUARY 10, 2019 HEALTHADVERTISEMENT 99

‘U.S. committing war crime by Iran, Germany to fund joint hampering medicine transfer to Iran’ medical research projects HEALTH HEALTH TEHRAN — Iran National Institute for TEHRAN — U.S. un- and problems into legal terms and state- desk deskfair sanctions against ments,” Qavidel finally remarked. Medical Research Development (NIMAD) Iran is indeed an obvious example of Over the meeting, the director of drugs has reached an agreement with German Federal Ministry of war crime as it has denied Iranian pa- department at the Iranian Food and Drug Education and Research (BMBF) to financially support joint tients having access to medication and Administration said there are foreign medical researches that have certain features. their basic needs, said the head of Iran currencies available but no banks would According to the agreement, the budget assigned to Iranian med- Hemophilia Organization. accept them, so supplying medications ical-science researchers is 3 billion rials (around $70,000) that will “Imposing sanctions on a country is the is disrupted and the prices keep rising. provide each of the ten top chosen projects with a 300 million rials same as getting into a war, but there are no “Our only option now is to seek legal help, (around $7,000) grant, Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday. rules when it comes to sanctions; however, as the patients expect us to provide them with The projects shouldn’t take no longer than two years. The there should be certain rules and restric- medicine,” Mohammad Abdzadeh noted. proposal for projects were being received since December 22, tions so that people do not have to suffer “U.S. has the temerity to threaten to 2018 and the deadline is April 15. irreversible damages,” said Ahmad Qavidel stop its collaboration with the companies The fund is aimed to encourage joint projects between researchers in a meeting on Tuesday to analyze sanctions’ who work with Iran; this, has even a more and make them familiar with research potentials of one another. effects on the right to health. adverse effect than the sanctions itself,” Exchange of knowledge between researchers, putting research U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew Abdzadeh added. into practice, facilitating cooperation between the two countries’ Washington unilaterally from the 2015 nu- “We can’t transfer the money to supply medical partners as well as setting up joint workshops, cam- clear deal in May 2018 and ordered sanctions bandages for patients suffering Epidermol- paigns, research consortiums and events are among the main against Iran. The first round of sanctions went ysis Bullosa (EB), and we have resorted objectives of the plan. into force on August 6, 2018 and the second to asking one company to do it for us,” Another purpose of the scheme is to initiate projects that could round, which targets Iran’s oil exports and the official regretted. attract funds from other European Union support programs such as Horizon 2020 and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). banks, were snapped back on November 4. Ahmad Qavidel in a meeting on Tuesday to analyze sanctions’ effects on the right to health. “People are being very tolerant, but the “U.S. is lying that sanctions do not in- authorities must increase their efforts, many DFG is a German research funding organization and Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation program with clude medication. Currently, many foreign “U.S. is lying that sanctions do not sectors are mismanaged, and we even have pharmaceutical companies have repre- problem in transporting the medications nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020). sentatives in Iran but we cannot purchase include medication. Currently, many properly,” Abdzadeh remarked. their products because sanctions have foreign pharmaceutical companies have Over the meeting, the head of EB Health restricted our banks in their transactions,” House in Tehran announced that EB pa- Diet soda linked to risk for IRNA quoted Qavidel as saying. representatives in Iran but we cannot purchase tients have been out of bandages since the “Lawyers should help us, so that the their products because sanctions have beginning of the second Iranian calendar diabetic blindness enforcement of sanctions are controlled restricted our banks in their transactions.” month, Ordibehesht (April 21, 2018). by certain rules and restrictions. We can’t “The former health minister had pro- just sit back and watch people die; we have try to start negotiating with Europeans indifference in the world.” vided EB patients with free bandages but Drinking diet soda may raise the risk for a severe type of dia- to take actions.” and we should also reveal the true face of “We appreciate the support of Iran BAR with the current shortage, the patients have betic eye disease that can lead to blindness, a new study says. “Nothing will be solved with Europe- Trumpism to the world, the idea behind association, as the medical associations and become desperate,” added Hojjatoleslam The study, published in Clinical and Experimental Ophthal- ans’ words of sympathy; rather, we should Trumpism will encourage racism and organizations have to translate their needs Seyyed Hamid Reza Hashemi Golpaygani. mology, is the first to evaluate the link between soft drinks and what’s called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. “In our clinical sample of people with diabetes, consuming Millions of people wrongly believe they have food allergies more than four cans, or 1.5 liters, of diet soft drinks per week was associated with a twofold increased risk of having prolif- These days, it can seem like just about everybody has a experience wheezing, hives and anaphylaxis.) shellfish (2.9%), milk (1.9%), peanuts (1.8%), tree nuts (1.2%) erative diabetic retinopathy,” first author Eva Fenwick, PhD, food allergy. But according to a new study, about 11% of The new estimates were based on survey responses from and fin fish (0.9%), according to the study. Extrapolated told Medscape Medical News. Fenwick is a clinical research fellow American adults actually do. almost 40,500 American adults who were asked if they had to the national level, that means an estimated 7.2 million at the Singapore Eye Research Institute and an assistant professor Yet 19% of adults believe they have a food allergy, even any diagnosed allergies, symptoms or hospitalizations. The American adults are allergic to shellfish, 4.7 million are at the Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore. though some don’t have the diagnosis or symptoms to back it researchers couldn’t independently confirm whether each allergic to milk, 4.5 million are allergic to peanuts, 3 million The study did not find the same results among those who up, according to findings published in JAMA Network Open. survey respondent actually had a food allergy, but allergies are allergic to tree nuts and 2.2 million are allergic to fin fish. drank regular, sugar-sweetened soft drinks. This discrepancy suggests that quite a few adults are were considered “convincing” if the person reported a phy- About 45% of the adults with a food allergy had more More studies are needed to tell whether soft drinks are un- conflating allergies with less-severe food intolerances, which sician’s diagnosis or significant symptoms such as swelling, than one, the researchers found. healthy alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages, Fenwick says. typically come with minimal digestion-related symptoms, trouble breathing, chest pain, vomiting or fainting after Food allergies are also common in children, affecting Diet soft drinks have been marketed as healthier than reg- the researchers write. If someone is truly allergic to a food, eating a certain food. Reports of an allergy that were only about 8% of American kids, but many childhood allergies can ular soft drinks, yet a growing body of evidence has suggested eating it can trigger a potentially life-threatening immune backed by milder symptoms, such as itching, stomach pain be outgrown. Other times, allergies can start in adulthood: that artificial sweeteners may also harm your health. Past response. (People who are lactose intolerant, for example, and rashes, did not meet the researchers’ criteria. About 48% of people with allergies in the new study report- research has linked diet soda to a higher risk of diabetes, may experience bloating, stomach pain and gas after eating They found that almost 11% of people had at least one ed developing at least one of their conditions as an adult. heart disease, and stroke. dairy products, while those with a true milk allergy can convincing food allergy. The most common allergens were (Source: Time) (Source: WebMD)

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM JANUARY 10, 2019 How tech can help Southeast Asia keep Oman’s nationalization of tourism sector creates more up with surging tourist arrivals job opportunities for youth Last year, popular tourist destinations Maya for other tasks such as managing check-in Bay in Thailand and Boracay in the Philippines and check-out procedures, facilitating room were temporarily closed for rehabilitation, turnovers, and carrying out customer requests. as both suffered from the environmental The system’s ability to act as a translator impact caused by a surge in tourist arrivals. also eases the burden of having to hire staff In 2017, the Asia-Pacific region logged a fluent in different languages. 6 percent increase in inbound tourism, ac- Yoshiki Toda, CEO and founder of Trad- cording to the United Nations World Tourism Fit, explains that this functionality also puts Organization. Southeast Asia saw tremen- guests at ease, as they can communicate with dous growth, welcoming over 120 million the hotel via a language they’re comfortable international visitors and US$130.7 billion using. And for guests who dislike calling the worth of tourism receipts. reception at odd or late hours, they can use That uptick continued in 2018, with tour- the company’s voice recognition and chatbot ist numbers in the region going up by 10 services instead. percent in the first quarter, exceeding the Equipping TradFit’s systems with infor- international average of 6 percent. mation on local attractions and dining options The impact of more tourism also helps hotels provide value-added services. This growth, however, comes at a price. Guests can look up in-house services, such as A group of female Omani diploma students are taken to Nakhal Aside from its impact on the environment, restaurants and spas, and make reservations Fort in north Oman to receive lessons in being a tour guide. the tourism boom also affects related busi- accordingly. They can also search for nearby nesses such as hotels. attractions and activities and make bookings Ambling between the sand-colored buildings of Nakhal Fort in Boracay’s tourism industry, for exam- vicious cycle only exacerbates the situation. application, allowing hotels to optimize the through the smart speakers and chatbots. north Oman, a hospitality professor instructs his students on ple, is expected to lose millions of dollars This is especially true for hotels in rural way they handle client requests. According to Toda, this lets hotels pro- how to become successful tour guides. in revenue as a result of the closure, with 11 destinations. On the island of Ishigaki in The central application also enables ho- mote their in-house services and potentially The group is comprised only of Omani women – a scene deemed hotels predicting combined losses of over Japan, for instance, several hotels offer dis- tels to manage the smart speakers, analyze receive additional advertising revenue from unusual in a country where foreigners vastly outnumber locals US$10 million. counted rates to forego the daily cleaning of customer statistics, and provide additional the other businesses they promote through in the private sector. Hotels across the world also encounter rooms and curb the demand for manpower. information to guests. TradFit’s systems. The 10 female students walk across the pre-Islamic fortifi- other difficulties due to the surge in tourism. The role of tech TradFit also has a chatbot that can translate Transforming the hotel industry cation, some in the black flowing over-garment typical of the One concern that plagues them is the lan- Hotels are turning to technology to deal up to 17 languages. It can be implemented The use of technology can transform the region and others in brighter colors. All listening attentively to guage barrier, which is the “biggest anxiety with struggles like managing the influx of on the hotel’s website and smart speakers hotel industry. Aside from streamlining pro- their professor. “The tourists you will guide are often elderly, in travel,” according to Booking.com. guests. One player in hotel tech is Japan-based to assist guests at all stages of their visit. cesses and reducing workload, tech solutions don’t hurry them,” he tells the young women. It also hampers the ability of hotels to TradFit. Using artificial intelligence, inter- Through machine learning, the chatbot draws allow hotels to focus on what really matters Omani parents once discouraged their children from work- deliver quality service to their guests, with net of things, and voice recognition, TradFit on information from the questions asked by – delivering quality service to their customers. ing in the tourism industry – an activity often associated with miscommunication happening or commu- supplies hotels with screen-equipped smart guests to improve its answering capabilities. With international visitors to Asia pre- nightlife, alcohol and moral decay. Instead, they pushed for jobs nication being reduced to a cursory level. speakers and a chatbot that acts as a digital A help to both customers and staff dicted to grow at a rate of 5 percent each year, in the public sector, or the profitable oil industry. Hotels also face high employee turnover concierge. The use of technology in hotels benefits implementing tech solutions will go a long This shifted when the Omani government in March 2016 rates because of low pay, strict industry disci- These speakers let customers make calls, both guests and hotel staff. way in improving hotel services in the region announced a plan to create 500,000 new jobs in the tourism pline, and long working hours. And with some send in requests for housekeeping or room TradFit’s technology helps reduce the and enabling travel and tourism businesses industry by 2040 and that 70 percent of the positions would go hotels struggling to train new hires sufficiently, service, and search for recommendations. manpower required in handling customer to operate in the most effective way. to local men and women. existing staff face a heavier workload. This Staff can respond to inquiries from a central enquiries, freeing up the staff’s workload (Source: techinasia.com) In a country where the number of unemployed graduates is nearly 60,000 and expatriates account for more than 87 per- cent of the private sector, young men and women jumped at Last chance tourism: Is this trend just causing more damage? the opportunity. Our love of travel is damaging the world to an almost ir- cording to ecologist Peter Mumby. Sector growth is key in motivating students, explained Dr Ab- reconcilable state. So instead of rushing to see something “The reef has experienced a very serious impact over the dulkarim bin Sultan Al Mughairi, the Dean of the Oman Tourism ‘before it’s gone’, Jessica Brown asks what we should be doing last few years in particular, but remember that it’s the size College (OTC), the sultanate’s only academic institution special- One of the greatest ironies of our time is that humans are of Italy,” he says. “There remain many wonderful areas, izing in tourism. simultaneously intrepid travelers, and one of the main causes and I’ve little doubt that tourists will always find something Established in 2001 in Muscat, the college aims to profes- of the irreversible damage happening to our planet. Rising valuable to enjoy. sionalize all components of the labor force – from tour guides sea levels, erosion, deforestation and urban development “Yes, the reef is likely to deteriorate, and we need to and chefs to managers and receptionists. To date, 818 full-time are just some of the man-made reasons our most treasured accelerate action to protect it, but the notion that it will students have enrolled, twice as many as in 2013, in addition corners of the earth are changing beyond recognition. die is wrong.” to the 300 attending one-day programs and short courses. The But this irony is big business; visiting parts of the world Similarly, while you can see climate change having an college aims to offer Russian lessons – on top of English, French before they disappear is becoming increasingly common. impact on the people and wildlife living in the Arctic, it and German – to cater to the growing number of Russian tourists Last chance tourism, which Forbes named as one of this isn’t disappearing or melting, as media reports may have in the country. year’s top travel trends, is attracting visitors to the Amazon us believe. At least, so says Edda Falk, of the Association of Since its establishment in 2004, the Ministry of Tourism rainforest, the retreating mangroves in the Everglades in Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), which helps has marketed Oman as the hidden jewel of the Arabian Penin- Florida, Australia’s bleaching Great Barrier Reef, the melt- regulate tourism in the region. sula, blessed with Rocky Mountains, wind-swept deserts and ing ice in Montana’s Glacier National Park and the sinking “It’s such a massive area of land, and species and people a 3,165 kilometers-long coastline. In 2017, 3.3 million tourists city of Venice. adapt and develop. It’s not disappearing, it’s just going to change. visited the sultanate, an additional 1 million compared to a Since 2003, tourism to the Maldives has increased by 68 might offset their emissions as a result of their experience. Polar bears are considered vulnerable and climate change is decade earlier. per cent, and the number of visitors to the Galapagos Islands Eke Eijgelaar, researcher and lecturer at the Centre for affecting their habitat, but it’s not disappearing,” she says. By 2040 the tourism industry is expected to account for six have increased by 38 per cent, according to travel insurance Sustainability, Tourism and Transport at NHTV Breda Uni- Eijgelaar says last chance tourism is happening mostly percent of Oman’s GDP and play a major role in job creation for comparison site Squaremouth. But with these increasing versity of Applied Sciences, says he doesn’t believe last- chance in areas that “make it into the headlines”. Omani nationals. “A $110 million hotel would create 300 jobs, numbers comes more damage to already fragile areas. Tour- tourism raises people’s awareness of the effects of climate “Tourism’s constantly on the rise. Perhaps, with more just like a $7 billion oil refinery,” Director General of Tourism ism to the Glacier National Park, which is warming at twice change enough to outweigh the unwanted effects they can and more tourists looking for new and exotic things, they Promotion Salim Aday Al Mamari, told The National. the overall rate of the planet, rose 15 per cent between 2001 have on fragile environments. are a bit more attracted by media accounts of coral losses (Source: The National) and 2005, but tourists there are trampling over vegetation, “The impact of these mostly long-distance journeys is at the Great Barrier Reef and sinking images of Venice, and introducing non-native species to the ecosystem, littering just too big. Just imagine all 500 million Europeans trav- then choose that as their destination,” he says. and causing pollution, the National Park Service has said. elling to either the Great Barrier Reef or Antarctica. Their But these areas are suffering greater numbers of tourists ROUND THE GLOBE Damage is also on a much wider scale. A longhaul journey total carbon footprint would amount to the annual carbon year-on-year. Mumby says the majority of the tourism industry to view polar bears in Churchill, a town in the Canadian footprint of 250 million British or Dutch people,” he says. acts responsibly, particularly in Australia, and aware of the province of Manitoba which is the only easily accessible place Another argued benefit of last chance tourism is that it impacts of climate change, but this isn’t the case globally. Archaeological site of Troy to view the creatures in their natural habitat, can contribute raises money and publicity for conservation efforts. The “I’ve seen unregulated mass tourism in much of Asia up to 8.61 tons of carbon dioxide per person per trip. president of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen, said last year and Micronesia, where snorkellers and divers are let loose With some 4,000 years of history, Troy is one of the most This is compared to the 10.9 tons someone living in the that mass tourism will create the funds it needs to adapt to with no instructions.” famous archaeological sites in the world. UK contributes over the course of an entire year, according climate change, and has backed plans to increase tourism from Regulations on tourism are increasingly being implemented Its extensive remains are the most significant and substan- to a 2010 study published in the journal Current Issues. 1.3 million people a year to more than 7 million in 10 years. to combat damage to precarious and threatened ecosystems tial evidence of the first contact between the civilizations of One defence of last chance tourism is that it helps raise Money from tourism to the Great Barrier Reef contributes in places including the Antarctic, where regulation is left up Anatolia and the burgeoning Mediterranean world. awareness of climate change, which offsets the damage to the marine park that is tasked with protecting the reef. But to the private sector because no country is allowed to own Excavations started more than a century ago have estab- caused. But the researchers have found that while tourists the downside to this is that human activity also pollutes the sovereign territory on the continent, in accordance with the lished a chronology that is fundamental to the understand- to Churchill perceive climate change to have a negative im- individual reefs, which can be damaged by tourists getting Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 by 12 countries. ing of this seminal period of the Old World and its cultural pact on polar bears, they don’t necessarily understand how sun lotion into the sea, research has found. Amanda Lynnes, of the International Association of development. Moreover, the siege of Troy by Mycenaean they themselves contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. In 2012, scientists estimated that the Great Barrier Reef Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), AECO’s equivalent warriors from Greece in the 13th century BC, immortalized Similarly, a survey of Antarctic cruise passengers found had already lost more than half of its coral cover since 1985, in the Antarctic, says the Antarctic can be a role model for that 59 per cent felt that their travel did not impact on cli- but the way research is reported, and the threats that drive managing tourism in other wilderness areas. mate change, and fewer than 7 per cent said they had or tourists to visit such endangered places, are misplaced, ac- (Source: independent.co.uk) Ten key tips for your winter road trip Taking a road trip in the winter can be a won- challenging for the operation of your vehicle, and one of the most important things you can ning a winter road trip is to over-estimate derful adventure, but if you are planning on with water freezing and oil not working as well do is to drive smoothly, and leave plenty of the miles that you can cover comfortably exploring areas where you are likely to encounter as it does in warm temperatures. As well as space between you and the car ahead in case during your trip, so make sure that you give snow and ice, then it is important to make sure these, make sure you check your antifreeze is you skid while braking. Reading up on the full yourself plenty of time for stops, and certainly that you and your vehicle are ready to handle the well topped up, and it is worth making sure range of techniques, and practicing them if you don’t assume that you will be able to travel different conditions. It is also worth considering you have some de-icer in the car too for those can will really help you if you encounter poor along at the same pace as you would on the whether you should take a course to learn how mornings when you have to clear the windows. driving conditions. highway in the summer. to drive in such conditions if you have never Research your route for roads Pack an emergency kit in case Avoid traveling during rush hour encountered the different road surfaces that prone to snow you become stuck The rush hour in cold weather is certainly can be produced when you encounter ice and In many of the mountainous areas that can While nobody likes to think of having an not somewhere to be if you are driving in by Homer in The Iliad, has inspired great artists throughout snow. However, by making these preparations, make for magical winter road trips, many roads accident while you are on a road trip, it is some- winter weather for the first time, and the crush the world ever since. you can help to give yourself the best chance will often be prone to either being closed or being thing you should consider, as even a small prang of vehicles close together makes accidents Troy is located on the mound of Hisarik, which overlooks possible of having a great road trip. restricted to slow speeds, so make sure that you in wintery conditions can become very serious all the more likely. the plain along the Turkish Aegean coast, 4.8 km from the Have your tires ready for the take into account any such roads which may if you cannot move the vehicle and the temper- As well as making your road trip safer, southern entrance to the Dardanelles. The famous archaeologist conditions have an impact on your route during the trip. atures drop below zero. Having an emergency it is much more enjoyable to drive when Heinrich Schliemann undertook the first excavations at the The tires are the point where your vehicle Pack the essential equipment for kit with basic first aid equipment, emergency the roads are quieter, as nobody enjoys the site in 1870, and those excavations could be considered the touches the ground, so making sure that they releasing your vehicle from the snow blankets and food and drink can be a life saver frustrations of a traffic jam! starting point of modern archaeology and its public recognition. are in good condition is vital, otherwise you If you have ever had to clear snow to get if things take a turn for the worse. Take the numbers of a few local Research and excavations conducted in the Troia and Troas will quickly find your vehicle sliding all over your car from your driveway, then you will Service your vehicle before you recovery services along your route region reveal that the region has been inhabited for 8,000 the road. If you are going to be driving a fair know how difficult a job it can be. Imagine travel The emergency recovery is not something years. Throughout the centuries, Troy has acted as a cultural amount through snow, then consider getting trying to do this with your bare hands, and Traveling in colder weather takes a much that you will want to use, but if you are trav- bridge between the Troas region and the Balkans, Anatolia, the specialist tires to deal with these conditions, you will realize it makes sense to have at least greater toll on the mechanical parts of your eling in rural areas you may not always have Aegean and Black Sea regions through migration, occupation, or if you are going to very snowy areas make a shovel and a small amount of grit with you vehicle, so making sure you give the vehicle a cell phone signal to check for phone numbers, trade and the transmission of knowledge. sure you have snow chains to allow you to to help move your vehicle, otherwise you may service before you travel should help to identify so having the number of a few services, or A total of 24 excavation campaigns, spread over the past travel safely. be waiting for the snow plow for some time. any potential problems so they can be rectified your own national recovery service if you 140 years, have revealed many features from all the periods Check the fluid levels before Be familiar with winter driving before you find yourself on the winter roads. have one, can help avoid a series of wast- of occupation in the citadel and the lower town. traveling techniques Give yourself extra time in your ed phone calls from a phone booth in poor (Source: UNESCO) The low temperatures that are encountered There are several techniques that you can use itinerary weather conditions. when taking a winter road trip can be particularly when driving in snowy and wintery conditions, One of the biggest mistakes when plan- (Source: tripsavvy.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 10, 2019 SCIENCE 11 Scientists inch closer to fusion energy with Scientists discover new type discovery of a process that stabilizes plasmas of carbohydrate Australian researchers have discovered a new type of complex Scientists seeking to bring the fusion reac- bilization of larger islands than previously carbohydrate in barley, according to a study published in the tion that powers the sun and stars to Earth thought possible.” journal Central Science. must keep the superhot plasma free from This process can be particularly beneficial The new compound is a type of polysaccharide — a carbohydrate disruptions. Now researchers at the U.S. to ITER, the international tokamak under which is made up of chains of different, simple sugar molecules Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton construction in France to demonstrate the bonded together — and is the first of its kind to be discovered in Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have dis- feasibility of fusion power. “There is wor- more than three decades. covered a process that can help to control the ry about islands getting large and causing According to the team from the University of Adelaide which disruptions thought to be most dangerous. disruptions in ITER,” Reiman said. “Taken made the discovery, the new carb is essentially a combination of Replicating fusion, which releases bound- together, these new effects should make it glucose — the most abundant simple sugar — and xylose, which less energy by fusing atomic nuclei in the state easier to stabilize ITER plasmas.” is found in the embryos of most edible plants. of matter known as plasma, could produce Confining tokamak plasmas The hybrid carb could take the form of either a viscous gel clean and virtually limitless power for gen- Reiman worked with Professor Nat Fisch, or a stronger substance depending on the ratios between the erating electricity for cities and industries associate director for academic affairs at glucose and the xylose. everywhere. Capturing and controlling PPPL and coauthor of the report. Fisch had Alan Little, senior research scientist with the Adelaide team fusion energy is therefore a key scientific demonstrated in a landmark 1970s paper that and author of the Central Science study, said and engineering challenge for researchers RF waves could be used to drive currents to that the polysaccharide could have a host of potential appli- across the globe. confine tokamak plasmas through a process cations in food, medicine, cosmetics and other domains. The PPPL finding, reported in Physical now called “RF current drive.” “Plant cell walls contain components that are of major interest Review Letters, focuses on so-called tearing “Hence,” he said, “Reiman’s 1983 paper for many industries such as renewable sources for energy produc- modes — instabilities in the plasma that cre- essentially launched experimental campaigns tion, composite materials or food products,” he said in a statement. ate magnetic islands, a key source of plasma on tokamaks worldwide to stabilize tearing “Knowledge of this new polysaccharide will open up further disruptions. modes.” Moreover, he added, “Significantly, research to determine its role in the plant,” he continued. “We Researchers found in the 1980s that using in addition to predicting the stabilization of know that it can be found in the roots of barley suggesting it may play a role in plant growth or resistance to external stresses such radio-frequency (RF) waves to drive current inside the island that keeps it from growing. “When the power deposition in the island tearing modes by RF, the 1983 paper also as salinity or disease. in the plasma could stabilize tearing modes The “power deposition is greatly in- exceeds a threshold level, there is a jump pointed out the importance of the temperature By observing natural variation of the polysaccharide in dif- and reduce the risk of disruptions. However, creased,” said Allan Reiman, a theoretical in the temperature that greatly strengthens perturbation in magnetic islands.” ferent cereal crops we will aim to identify links to important the researchers failed to notice that small physicist at PPPL and lead author of the paper. the stabilizing effect. This allows the sta- The new paper takes a fresh look at the changes — or perturbations — in the tem- impact of these temperature perturbations on agricultural traits.” perature of the plasma could improve the “There is worry about islands getting the islands, a feature which has been under- Once researchers understand more about the new compound, stabilization process, once a key threshold appreciated since the 1983 paper pointed to its potential applications will become clearer. in power is exceeded. large and causing disruptions in ITER,” it. “We basically went back 35 years to carry Currently, polysaccharides are being used to improve the quality The overall impact Reiman said. “Taken together, these new that thought just a bit further by exploring the of nutrients in certain foods, among numerous other applications. The overall impact of this process creates effects should make it easier to stabilize fascinating physics and larger implications The “properties of the new polysaccharide could be manipu- what is technically called “RF current con- of positive feedback,” Fisch said. lated to suit the desired function, increasing the range of potential densation,” or concentration of RF power ITER plasmas.” (Source: newswise.com) uses,” Little said. (Source: Newsweek)

How radio astronomers will tune into the cosmic dawn from the far side of the moon Space bacteria adapting China’s history-making Chang’e-4 spacecraft touched down we use to collect radio waves on Earth are only painting to harsh environment to on the far side of the moon last week and it opened up part of the picture. some exciting new avenues of scientific enquiry. While Our atmosphere blocks radio waves at lower frequencies survive, scientists explain the rover goes to work examining the makeup of the lu- before they can reach us, but scientists theorize that we could nar crust and mantle, a small radio instrument aboard learn a lot from them, particularly about the early universe, A new study sheds light on why bacteria in space are adapting to a satellite parked in lunar orbit will allow scientists to if only we could tune in. harsh conditions. Researchers further said that these microbes listen into low-frequency signals that are blocked by the While suitably equipped instruments have been sent don’t actually mutate into antibiotic-resistant organisms but Earth’s atmosphere. So, after falling on deaf ears for so to space for this purpose before, their visits were short- were just coping with their new environment. long, what could these secretive radio waves tell us? lived. And though modern space probes are fitted with Bacteria in the International Space Station are just trying to We first detected radio waves from space in the 1930s, radio instruments, they are not designed with radio as- make it through in space, but that doesn’t mean these microbes but it wasn’t until after World War II and advances in radar tronomy in mind. are mutating, scientists explain. technology that things really got interesting. Conversely, a small instrument developed by astron- Scientists found that these were not mutating into something One well-known example of this was the detection of omer Marc Klein Wolt’s team at Radboud University and as dangerous as antibiotic-resistant organisms. Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation in the 1960s, the sent along as part of the Chang’e-4 mission to the moon, Although these space bacteria were found to have different lingering glow of the Big Bang, which earned the discoverers very much was. genes than those found on Earth, experts say this doesn’t make the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physics. Hitched a ride to the moon it harmful to humans. They went on to explain that these mi- Radio waves Developed in partnership with Dutch radio astronomy In this case, scientists have done so via a satellite parked crobes were simply adjusting to the environment and the stressful Since then, radio waves have been instrumental in fur- organization ASTRON and private company Innovative Solu- out beyond the moon with clear communication lines both conditions. thering our understanding of the universe. tion in Space, the NCLE – Netherlands-China Low-Frequency down to the surface and back to Earth. The findings debunk rumors that bacteria traveling in space By processing the information gathered by these tele- Explorer – instrument hitched a ride to the moon on the We put a few questions to Klein Wolt about the tra- along with astronauts are becoming more and more immune scopes, astronomers have been able to detect new kinds of Queqiao satellite back in May. ditional troubles in getting radio astronomy into space, against antibiotics and address concerns regarding the effects objects, such as pulsars and quasars, and use radio waves This satellite was sent ahead of the Chang’e-4 lander how these challenges were overcome and his hopes of the stressful conditions on these organisms. emanating from distant hydrogen clouds to map out the itself, because the moon blocks all radio contact from Earth for this relatively small but potentially game-changing “People will be in little capsules where they cannot open win- structures of faraway galaxies. and so to land on its far side requires signals to be relayed instrument. dows, go outside or circulate the air for long periods of time. We’re While they have taught us a lot, the huge dish antennas somehow. (Source: New Atlas) genuinely concerned about how this could affect microbes,” lead author Erica Hartmann of Northwestern said. This study sheds light on the safety of astronauts traveling for longer periods across space and is especially important for Ancient gene duplication gave grasses multiple ways to wait out winter future missions to farther places in the solar system. Along with New research provides valuable insight into biochemistry and genetics at the University be helpful for improving crops, like winter that, out of 51 varieties of Brachypodium, 40 their human co-passengers, bacteria are usually brought on board how winter-adapted grasses gain the ability of Wisconsin-Madison. wheat, that rely on this process. could sense short days as a sign of winter, either by the astronauts themselves or in their cargo. to flower in spring, which could be helpful for Florigen induces flowering Vernalization, the requirement for a showing there was variation for this trait Researchers used data from the National Center for Biotech- nology Information to differentiate Staphylococcus aureus and improving crops, like winter wheat (above), Now, more than 80 years later, Daniel period of cold before flowering can take among the varieties. Bacillus cereus from those on Earth. The former bacteria are usu- that rely on this process. Woods and others in Amasino’s group have place, evolved multiple times in diverse “If you have variation, you can do ally thriving on human skin and the latter microbe, found in soil. If you’ve ever grown carrots in your garden finally discovered how grasses count the short plant families. genetics,” says Amasino, who is a mem- (Source: Tech Times) and puzzled over never once seeing them days of winter to prepare for flowering. In Scientists believe that vernalization allows ber of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Re- flower, don’t blame your lack of a green thumb. most plants, a protein called florigen induc- plants to fill a new niche, one where they search Center, a U.S. Department of Carrots, beets and many other plants won’t es flowering during the lengthening days of store up energy one year and flower quickly Energy-funded institute headquartered flower until they’ve gone through winter. The spring and summer. the next spring before they get shaded out at UW-Madison. Giant singers from extended cold gives them the signal to flower Grasses have multiple copies of the flori- or outcompeted by other plants. The team found that the duplicate, named quickly once spring arrives, providing the gen gene, thanks to an ancient duplication Vernalization genes identified FTL9, has evolved to act as a sort of inverse neighboring oceans share plants an edge in the race to produce seeds. in their genomes. One of those copies has In the past, Amasino and his group have of its parent gene florigen. Where florigen song parts over time But cold isn’t always required. In the 1930s, been repurposed to be expressed during the identified genes regulating vernalization in builds up in leaves during long days to cause two English scientists discovered that some short days of winter, giving some grasses a a member of the cabbage family known as flowering, FTL9 accumulates during the short Singing humpback whales from different ocean basins seem to crops in the grass family, like rye or wheat, new way to prepare for spring. Arabidopsis. days of winter. While enough florigen makes be picking up musical ideas from afar, and incorporating these can use short days instead of cold to tell them The work is published Jan. 8 in the journal To get at the use of daylength as a winter flowering inevitable, FTL9 only makes flow- new phrases and themes into the latest song, according to a newly when winter has come. eLife. The new research provides valuable signal, Amasino’s group turned to Brachypo- ering possible by releasing the brakes on published study that’s helping scientists better understand how “But nothing was known about how it insight into how winter-adapted grasses gain dium, a grass used in the lab that is related to florigen once spring arrives. whales learn and change their musical compositions. works,” says Rick Amasino, a professor of the ability to flower in spring, which could crops like corn, rice and wheat. They found (Source: phys.org) Singing humpback whales from different ocean basins seem to be picking up musical ideas from afar, and incorporating these new phrases and themes into the latest song, according to a newly published study in Royal Society Open Science that’s helping Study shows algae thrive under Greenland Sea ice scientists better understand how whales learn and change their musical compositions. Microscopic marine plants flourish beneath the ice that Greenland Sea, which has historically been difficult. Extensive sea The new research shows that two humpback whale popula- covers the Greenland Sea, according to a new study in the ice and the long polar night prevent both ships and satellites from tions in different ocean basins (the South Atlantic and Indian Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. These phytoplank- capturing the huge amount of biological activity under the ice. Oceans) in the Southern Hemisphere sing similar song types, ton create the energy that fuels ocean ecosystems, and the Sampling with floats gave the researchers access to this but the amount of similarity differs across years. This suggests study found that half of this energy is produced under the concealed ecosystem. The data they collected revealed that, that males from these two populations come into contact at some sea ice in late winter and early spring, and the other half at once light arrives at these northerly latitudes, half of energy point in the year to hear and learn songs from each other. the edge of the ice in spring. production occurs beneath the sea ice, and the other half The study titled “Culturally transmitted song exchange between The researchers pioneered new technology and methods occurs at the ice edge. humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the southeast to make this discovery. About 4,000 oceanographic instru- In summer, the phytoplankton communities move deeper Atlantic and southwest Indian Ocean basins” appears in the latest ments called Argo floats are currently bobbing around the in the water to access nutrients - another place that cannot edition of the Royal Society Open Science journal. The authors are: global ocean, moving between the deep sea and surface as be seen by satellites, but can be sampled by floats. These Melinda L. Rekdahl, Carissa D. King, Tim Collins, and Howard they take vital measurements such as water temperature and results suggest that previous studies might have significantly Rosenbaum of WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society); Ellen C. salinity. This study used some of the first floats equipped to underestimated the amount and productivity of phytoplank- Garland of the University of St. Andrews; Gabriella A. Carvajal navigate icy waters and measure biogeochemical properties ton in this region. of WCS and Stony Brook University; and Yvette Razafindrakoto like nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton biomass. “By the time the ice has receded and the water is accessible of COSAP and Madagascar National Parks. The floats sampled in the difficult conditions around and to boats and satellites, half the annual production has already “Song sharing between populations tends to happen more in below the Greenland Sea ice continuously for four years, happened,” said Nico Mayot, a postdoctoral researcher at in this important region opens the door for further study, the Northern Hemisphere where there are fewer physical barriers giving the researchers an unprecedented and invaluable Bigelow Laboratory and first author on the paper. “If you and the researchers have made the project data available to to movement of individuals between populations on the breeding look at this previously impenetrable region. only look at those data, you only have half the story. These the global scientific community. The researchers anticipate grounds, where they do the majority of their singing. In some popu- “These floats gave us the opportunity to gather data through float data give us the full story, from winter to summer, and that the under-ice floats will become a key component of lations in the Southern Hemisphere song sharing appears to be more the annual cycle and across multiple years, which is crucial from the surface to the deep ocean.” Arctic observation and believe that coupling these data with complex, with little song similarity within years but entire songs can for understanding this changing region,” said Paty Matrai, Climate change satellite measurements can make it even more powerful. spread to neighboring populations leading to song similarity across Bigelow Laboratory senior research scientist and study author. The Greenland Sea is an important transition zone between “Now we are able to ask a whole set of new questions, years,” said Dr. Melinda Rekdahl, marine conservation scientist for “We now have an incredible observational dataset and are the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, both of which are being like whether this pattern is the same elsewhere in the Arctic WCS’s Ocean Giants Program and lead author of the study. “Our able to see the full picture of the phytoplankton community profoundly impacted by global climate change. The way it Ocean,” Mayot said. “Understanding how energy is produced study shows that this is not always the case in Southern Hemisphere through the seasons.” functions and changes may have important consequences in these rapidly changing environments will allow us to populations, with similarities between both ocean basin songs oc- Biological act for how food webs in these waters evolve. anticipate and plan for the future.” curring within years to different degrees over a 5-year period.” This new approach represents a breakthrough in studying the An accurate picture of the phytoplankton community (Source: eurekalert.org) (Source: Science Daily) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY JANUARY 10, 2019

Government must consider No water transfer meat tax to tackle climate change, says British MP from enclosed

The government must consider a meat tax in order to slash green- house gas emissions from British farming, according to Green bodies of water: MP Party MP Caroline Lucas. ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — According to need for this vital element for development, Emissions from agriculture make up 10 per cent of the UK’s deskthe national budget bill for a plan was proposed for transferring the total, prompting calls for massive changes to encourage farmers the next Iranian calendar year (starting on Caspian Sea water to Semnan province in towards more environmentally friendly practices. March 21, 2019), no water will be transferred 2005 and the project was approved by the from enclosed bodies of water regarding its administration in 2012. probable environmental consequences, MP However, the Department of Environ- Nour Mohammad Torbatinejad has said. ment (DOE) has delayed the project due to It is approved that water transfer from its potential environmental issues. enclosed bodies of water will not be carried In May 2018, Parvin Farshchi, deputy head out unless extensive studies and researches of the DOE for marine affairs, said that Iran are done in advance, Torbatinejad, who was weighing up the option of transferring is the spokesman for agriculture commit- water from Sea of Oman to drought-ridden tee of Majlis (Iranian Parliament) added, provinces of Sistan-Baluchestan, Hormozgan IRNA reported. and Khorasan Razavi. An aerial view of the Caspian Sea Referring to other subjects revised at the Farshchi also explained that each ma- the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, in President Hassan Rouhani presented commission, he noted that it is necessary to rine environment has its distinguishing that it is deeper and unlike the Caspian the administration’s draft of the national allocate a larger proportion of subsidies to characteristics and this is why we said no Sea which is in fact an enclosed inland budget bill for the next year to the Majlis support agriculture and farmers. to water transfer schemes from the Per- body of water and the Persian Gulf which on December 24. Preserving water re- Due to the lack of water resources in the sian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. She also is partially enclosed by land Sea of Oman sources and environment is among the central regions of Iran and the ever increasing stated that Sea of Oman is different from is connected to the Indian Ocean. focal points of the bill.

The former Green leader was addressing attendees at the Tehran subway to add 376 new cars: 500 job creation plans launched in Oxford Farming Conference, where speakers including envi- ronment secretary Michael Gove had already laid out a vision deputy mayor western province of Lorestan for making British agriculture greener. On Thursday the National Farmers’ Union president Minette Batters said UK farming must aim to effectively cut all emissions within two decades, a target that was welcomed by Ms Lucas. But to ensure farming operates “within planetary bounda- ries”, she suggested a meat tax to help curb consumption could be necessary, despite opposition to such action by ministers. “At the risk of incurring the wrath of the energy secretary in particular who said recently that encouraging people to eat less meat would be ‘the worst sort of nanny state ever’, I’d add that we need serious consideration of measures like a meat tax, particularly for beef,” said Ms Lucas. She said such a tax could potentially be offset for more sus- tainable meat producers, such as organic farmers, by pumping money into environmental schemes on farms. This echoes recent calls from Oxford University scientists for SOCIETY TEHRAN — Some 376 adding, so with learning new manufacturing SOCIETY TEHRAN — Head- ment and over the past few years some a tax on red and processed meats in order to tackle the cancers, desksubway cars will be built methods, some 376 metro cars will be built deskquarters for Executing 400,000 jobs were provided nationwide. heart attacks and strokes linked to their consumption. to enter Tehran’s underground transport for line 7 of the metro. the Order of the Imam also known as Se- Last year (March 2017-March 2018) Ms Lucas noted that British diets are already shifting away fleet by the next 48 months, Mohsen Tehran mayor, Pirouz Hanachi, for his tad-e Ejraiye Farman-e Hazrat-e Emam some 30 trillion rials (nearly $715 mil- from meat, with one in eight people describing themselves as Pourseyyed Aqaei, deputy mayor for traffic part said that while currently some 1,350 has launched 500 job creation plans in lion) including donations made by the vegetarian or vegan. and transport affairs has said. railway cars are running in the capital’s the western province of Lorestan, Tasnim benefactors, low interest loans as well Many scientific studies have highlighted global livestock farm- The Municipality of Tehran, a Chinese subway system, it is still facing lack of news agency reported on Tuesday. as the investments made by Barekat ing as a major threat to the climate due to the methane and CO2 company and an Iranian wagon company 2,000 cars. Moreover 110 projects, including set- charity foundation affiliated to the gases it produces. have signed a contract, through which Pointing to 2.5 million metro trips daily, ting up medical and cultural centers, was Headquarters for Executing the Order However, many farmers oppose the idea of additional taxes, the Chinese company will share the he said that it must enhance amounting to launched in the region, the report added. of the Imam was spent on job creation, which they say demonise meat unfairly and ignore the positive knowledge of a special manufacturing 7 million trips. Headquarters for Executing the Order he highlighted. role livestock play in environmental management. process, then building some 376 railway Clearly, air pollution is mitigated by re- of the Imam has so far executed some 1,402 So far some 10,000 housing units were (Source: The Independent) cars will get underway, he stated, Mehr ducing private transport vehicles and to do projects worth of 15.7 trillion rials (nearly built in underprivileged areas and this year reported. that, subway system should be developed as $374 million) in Lorestan in an attempt (starting on March 21, 2018) some 200 LEARN ENGLISH Touching upon some 1,050 subway cars the most efficient public transport, Hanachi to eradicate poverty and socially and eco- schools and 200 mosques and cultural the government was supposed to supply highlighted. nomically empower the citizens. centers are set up in such areas, he added. for Tehran metro fleet, he highlighted that Tehran subway system consists of five Mohammad Mokhber, director of Head- Providing dowries for girls, medica- Movie Review through a tender launched between China operational lines, stretching to 170 kilo- quarters for Executing the Order of the tions for cancer patients, wheelchairs and Iran, 630 cars for the Tehran subway meters, and two lines of 6 and 7 are under Imam, also explained that “we are plan- for people with physical disabilities, A: Welcome back movie lovers to another “Premier Movie Review”. is planned to be supplied, while some 420 construction. The lines link south to north, ning on implementing resistance economy students stationery, and also cochlear My name is Richard Clarke and I am joined today by the very cars is yet to be provided. east to west and are gradually covering strategies in this province.” implants are among other services of the erudite David Watson. Pourseyyed Aqaei further stated that it is more neighborhoods. By completing the Mokhber went on to say that the main Headquarters for Executing the Order B: Thank you, Dick. Today we are going to talk about the movie “Lion King”. Tell me Dave, what is your impression of this film? planned to increase the share of manufac- two aforementioned lines 70 kilometers objective of the Headquarters for Executing of the Imam to the underprivileged, A: Well, I think this film is simply afable , depicting man’s eternal turing railroad cars from 30 to 50 percent, will be added to the current railways. the Order of the Imam is to boost employ- Mokhber concluded. greed for power, and in my opinion, it’s a very fine film. Even despite the accusations of plagiarism traditional folk tales from other countries. The musical score was amazing, the animation was very Air pollution should become main issue for theses: academic well done, and the story was simply enchanting. ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — The budgets for developing management has been held in recent years in this regard. is one of the most air polluted cities in the world. Tehran B: I think otherwise. Even though the animation was technically deskmaster’s or doctoral theses and researches Six editions of the conference have been held with foreign is ranked 12th among 26 megacities in terms of ambient strong, and as you say, the score and songs performed by Elton should be directed towards finding ways to mitigate air pol- experts in attendance, aiming to share the latest scientific PM10 levels. In 2016, the annual ambient level of PM10 John were great, the film lacks a certain originality; it lacked heart. lution, as the issue has been the main challenge for metrop- achievements in reducing air pollution and preventing repeating was estimated at 77 micrograms per cubic meter. This is And I would dare to say, it was too predictable. olises across the country in recent years, Shahid Beheshti the inefficient methods other countries tried before, he added. almost four times the WHO’s recommended threshold of A: Predictable! How! Come on, It’s a G-rated movie! It’s for the University faculty member Yousef Rashidi has said. The 7th national conference on air and noise pollution 20 micrograms per cubic meter. kids! It’s not a thriller! Stressing the need for exchanging knowledge among management organized by Tehran Municipality, Sharif Uni- According to WHO, air pollution is a major environ- B: Well, that’s just it. It did have some very dramatic and intense experts and academics in the field of air pollution, he stated, versity of Technology and Iranian scientific association of mental health problem affecting 92 percent of the people scenes. For example, when Mufasa dies, or the dark, grim given that air pollution imposes numerous threats to the clean air, will be held in Tehran on January 28-29. globally, which was estimated to cause 4.2 million prema- portrayal of Scar. Even so, the film is linear. Mufasa dies, public health and brings environmental damages to the He went on to say that all the advanced achievements ture deaths worldwide per year in 2016; this mortality is Simba runs away thinking it’s his fault. Falls in love and returns country, research budget allocation should focus on air on this field will be analyzed by the experts and will be due to exposure to small particulate matter of 2.5 microns to retake what is rightfully his. It’s just too cliché. pollution in order to ultimately present to the responsible gathered as a package of proposals and granted to the or less in diameter (PM2.5), which cause cardiovascular A: How can it be cliché? It’s a fable! It’s telling a time-honored story! bodies as executive plans. Department of Environment (DOE), municipalities and and respiratory disease, and cancers. The movie makes a point of how the hunger for power leads to Touching on the need for quality content to come up with other air pollution control agencies. People living in low and middle-income countries dis- corruption, and teaches children the value of respect, life and love. solutions for curbing air pollution, he highlighted that the He further called on the DOE to cooperate more on this field. proportionately experience the burden of air pollution B: You have always been so soft, Dave! A: Open your heart Dick. Don’t shut us out. 6th rounds of national conference on air and noise pollution World Health Organization (WHO) asserts that Tehran with 91 percent. B: Anyway... That’s all for today folks! Join us next time as we talk about a movie; How to lose a guy in 10 days; I’m sure ENGLISH IN USE you’ll love that one Dave! Key vocabulary erudite: having a lot of knowledge; especially gained from studying LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION impression: the feelings one has after a specific event fable: beautiful story about animals that has a moral or lesson depict: describe, show, especially in art or pictures دولت 10 هزار و 20 میلیارد ریال اعتبار برای کاهش eternal: lasting forever Govt. allots $240m to mitigate water accusation: action of claiming something is wrong تنش آبی در کشور اختصاص داد plagiarism: practice of copying others› ideas shortage score: written work showing notes of music Iran’s government has allocated some 10.02 trillion rials (nearly اســماعیل نجــار رئیــس ســازمان مدیریــت بحــران کشــور از اختصــاص ۱۰ هــزار و enchanting: attractive, holding one›s attention ۲۰ dare to say: have the confidence to say $240 million) to reduce water shortage nationwide, Ismail Najjar, میلیــارد ریــال اعتبــار بــرای کاهــش تنــش آبــی در کشــور از ســوی دولــت خبــر داد. .predictable: easy for others to foresee what is going to happen head of the National Disaster Management Organization has said نجــار در گفتگــو بــا باشــگاه خبرنــگاران جــوان گفــت: ایــن اعتبــار بــرای کاهــش grim: unpleasant The amount is allocated to the Energy Ministry for taking necessary portrayal: the act of showing or describing something, especially in art تنــش آبــی بــا مصوبــه دولــت بــه وزارت نیــرو اختصــاص یافتــه اســت. .linear: moving in logical way, from start to end measures to tackle the issue, YJC quoted Najjar as saying on Monday وی تغییــر اقلیــم در ایــران را یــک واقعیــت دانســت و افــزود: بــا ایــن تغییــر اقلیــم، ,rightfully: according to law Climate change is actually happening in Iran, and with climate change Supplementary vocabulary بــروز خشکســالی و خشــک شــدن منابــع آبــی، خشکســالی هــای پــی در پــی، کاهش ,depletion of water resources, drought spells, low precipitations screen play: the written words from a film changes in precipitation, temperature rise, desertification, and land بــارش، گــرم شــدن زمیــن، بیابــان زایــی، فروچالــه رخ داده اســت. performance: the activity of an actor in a play central character: the main person in a movie subsidence also occur, he concluded. plot: story in a movie or book cinematography: used to describe the camera work in a movie cial thing or ability that a person has triumph common noun, sin- PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM gular a great success or achievement a person has/ triumph “noct-, nocti-” Wipe something away Between a rock and a hard place Without Meaning: night Meaning: to stop something existing Explanation: to have a choice between two things, For example: The most notable feature of nocturnal For example: A frown quickly wiped away both of which are unpleasant or dangerous earth no animals is the size of their eyes. her smile. For example: You were really between a rock and a hard place when you had to choose between your career birth! and your relationship. ساعت: 19:40 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 10, 2019 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 Turkey calls for joint control with Russia Pompeo makes unannounced & Iran over U.S. troop pullout from Syria visit to Iraq 1 At the same time, Cavusoglu resolve to fight “terrorism” in Syria, stressing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made an unannounced revealed that a summit between all three that it actually seeks to protect the “Kurdish visit to Iraq, involving meetings with high-ranking officials and parties is being prepared in Moscow. brothers” in the neighboring country. no statement to media. The proposal comes as Ankara and Washing- Russia, along with Turkey and Iran, is a ton are engaged in a bitter war of words over the guarantor of the ceasefire in Syria, which has U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria. On Tuesday, been successfully implemented in several areas U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton blast- throughout the country. Moscow has active- ed an opinion piece penned by Turkish President ly undertaken efforts to settle the years-long Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the New York Times conflict, supporting the Syrian government as both “offensive and wrong.” forces in the fight against terrorism, bringing Erdogan praised his own efforts in com- humanitarian relief to civilians, and working on batting terrorism in Syria, while criticizing the bringing warring parties to the negotiating the U.S.-backed operations in Raqqa and table. The abrupt decision to withdraw troops the Iraqi city of Mosul, as well as recalling from Syria announced by President Donald the “lesson of Iraq” and the “premature Trump in December was met in Moscow with declarations of victory” which led to the a great deal of skepticism. The American top diplomat landed in the capital Baghdad on emergence of ISIL (formerly ISIS). “Concerning the pullout of U.S. troops, I Wednesday amid conflicting statements from the White House Prior to that exchange, Bolton demand- don’t know what that is. The U.S. has been in over troop withdrawal from Syria. ed safety guarantees for Syria’s Kurds from Afghanistan for 17 years already, and almost He met with Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, President Turkey, calling it a precondition for U.S. every year they say that they’re pulling their Barham Salih, Foreign Minister Mohamed al-Hakim and Par- withdrawal. The Turkish president called Bol- troops out. But they’re still there,” President liament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi. ton’s demands a “huge mistake” and refused Vladimir Putin said at the time. During his Middle East tour, the American hawk has been to “swallow” them. He also reiterated Ankara’s (Source: RT) keeping up with his campaign of anti-Iran threats. Last month, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry led a trade delegation to Baghdad to urge the Iraqi government to sever its energy ties with Iran and turn to Washington. We extend ‘hand of friendship’ to Persian Gulf neighbors, Iran’s FM says The former CIA chief’s visit is the third high-profile one by Zarif: We need strong region rather than strongmen an American official to Iraq in the last month. He was expected to visit the Egyptian capital Cairo later in the day. 1 Our approach to challenges ranging from the en- the easiest diversion. Meanwhile, efforts are underway in U.S. Congress that could vironment, global economy, trade and transfer of knowledge But the situation is far too serious for a game of blame. possibly result in hearings on Trump’s Syria policy. and technology to eradication of extremism and terrorism, While there is a lot of blame to go around, we need to break “It may be one of those issues that would be appropriate to have organized crime and weapons of mass destruction can bring the habit of always throwing the ball in the other’s court. a hearing on to see exactly what the administration intends to do about either “positive sum” or “negative sum” outcomes. As I elaborated in the opening of my thoughts here, it and when,” Texas Republican Representative Mac Thornberry If we approach these common challenges with a “zero sum is high time for the countries in our region to abandon two told reporters in Washington. “I think currently there are a fair mentality”, we will all lose and end up with “negative sum” illusions: that security can be bought or imported AND that number of folks here and around the world trying to figure out what outcomes. In the era of globalization of information and security can be achieved at the expense of the insecurity we’re going to do and when. And I don’t have any good answers.” emotions, there can be no island of stability, security, or of others. We need to stop rehashing our grievances and A withdrawal framework for Operation Inherent Resolve prosperity. our narratives of past history and move in the direction of (OIR) has been approved and is currently being executed by U.S. So “Dialogue” in the theme of this conference represents establishing a working and yet modest and realistic regional forces, said Pentagon spokesman Commander Sean Robertson a revolutionary departure, where our common humanity mechanism. in a statement on Tuesday, failing to offer any timetable for the and common vulnerabilities become better tools for global We cannot wish away our differences, nor can we neglect allegedly finalized plan. governance than perceived or manufactured enemies. To the anxieties born by divergences in size, or human and Operation Inherent Resolve is the name of a U.S. military sum up, “Dialogue brings with it equal footing….as it is natural resources. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held campaign launched in August 2014 after the Daesh terrorist a process by which we accept, as much as we want to be We can start with a “Regional Dialogue Forum”, par- talks with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj in New Takfiri group overran large swaths of Syria and Iraq. accepted. We include, as much as we want to be included. ticularly in the Persian Gulf region which has been the Delhi on Wednesday. The U.S. has ever since maintained military presence in Syria We listen, as much as we want to be listened to… dialogue scene of so many wars in the last 4 decades; from Saddam a par with regional security; and, without any authorization from the Damascus government or can be a framework where the weakest is accorded the Hussein’s aggression against Iran and later against Kuwait, 8- A sustainable regional environment. a UN mandate. privilege to be listened to, and where the strongest finds it to US operations and finally to the humanitarian nightmare We in Iran have been forced into the privileged position (Source: agencies) necessary to explain its case to others.” in Yemen. of relying solely on our own population as the source of our Let me now turn to the second pivotal concept: “A World Admission to such a forum should be based on accept- security and advancement, while welcoming the opportu- Reorder.” We live in a transitional phase where the con- ing generally recognized principles and shared objectives, nity to progress through regional and global cooperation. Kuwait to distance itself venience of a global order which channeled and organized notably, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and We have also learned that we can only attain security in a our expectations is no more. It brings with it the danger of the political independence of all states? the inviolability secure region, where our neighbors also enjoy internal and from PGCC as Israel expand miscalculations which can make the difference between rise of international boundaries? non-interference in internal external stability. Guided by commonsense, we recognize and conversely demise for countries and regions. This all affairs of others? the peaceful settlement of disputes? the that the era of global and regional hegemony is long gone ties with Arab states highlights the fundamental challenge here: namely, cor- impermissibility of threats or use of force, and the promotion and that a stronger region is in our interest, in the interest recting cognitive disorders. of peace, stability, progress and prosperity in the region. of the entire region, as well as ultimately in the interest of Although Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) states concur Allow me to put forward a proposition. The emerging A forum such as this could help promote understanding the entire world. on many policies, such as Syrian government being admitted global order is “post-western”. This is not derogatory to and interaction at the levels of government, the private Thus, we are prepared to engage our neighbors and all back into the Arab states community, some issues remain unre- the West, but simply a statement of reality that the West— sector and civil society, and lead to agreement on a broad those interested in the stability of this pivotal—yet vola- solved within the council as Kuwait is apparently not following as a geographic or political construct—does not possess spectrum of issues, including confidence-building meas- tile—region based on mutual and collective compliance in the footsteps of others to normalize diplomatic ties with the a monopoly over all consequential global developments. ures? combating terrorism, extremism and sectarianism? with the following principles and objectives: Israeli regime. Today it is evident that unlike the early 20th century, ensuring freedom of navigation and the free flow of oil and 1- Preservation of territorial integrity and the stability According to a commentary published by the United States- all important events do not take place in the West. And other resources? and the protection of the environment, of the countries in the region through the strengthening based al-Monitor media site, Kuwaiti officials are not on board unlike only a few decades ago, the West no longer controls which is an imminent existential challenge, particularly for of domestic governance and the prevention of external with their PGCC counterparts on establishment of relations with or even influences all significant developments. I will spare our neighbors in the southern Persian Gulf region. aggression; Tel Aviv. you from the many examples of the latter, and rather posit We need a strong region rather than the dominance of 2- Promotion of good governance throughout the region; It noted that Kuwait threw its backing behind Lebanon at the that the practical implication of this shift for our volatile strongmen in the region. From our perspective a strong 3- Exercise of strategic self-restraint by all regional actors; United Nations Security Council on December 19, 2018, saying neighborhood in West, Central and South Asia is that we region is characterized by the following attributes: 4- Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, eradication the Israeli military’s operation to block what it claims are tunnels cannot expect the West to provide us with all the reme- 1- Homegrown political and territorial stability; weapons of mass destruction, and prevention of costly and the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has dug into the dies—nor can we blame it for all our ills. 2- Reliance on the populace as the source of legitimacy, destabilizing conventional arms race; occupied territories are in violation of Lebanese sovereignty. Distinguished friends, security and prosperity; 5- Promotion of regional balance and rejection of he- “Lebanon has been living for years with Israeli violations. Israel Our region—however we choose to define it since regions 3- Harmonization of national identities and regional gemony by regional or supra-regional powers; has tried to exaggerate this incident militarily, and in the media,” are not rigid geographies but rather flexible constructs— citizenship; 6- Strengthening of regional economic prowess and Kuwaiti Ambassador Mansour Ayyad al-Otaibi asid at the time. is seen as the locus of many global problem, particularly 4- Participation of all relevant regional countries in en- governance; Otaibi then condemned “Israeli violations against Lebanese extremism and terrorism. Be it West Asia, Central Asia suring peace in the region through regional institutions, 7- Adherence to multilateralism; and sovereignty, in land, air and sea,” stressing that efforts by Hezbollah or South Asia. organizations or ad hoc arrangements; 8- Connectivity and more efficient utilization of transit to counter Israel are “legitimate” resistance and not terrorism. It is easy for us in this neighborhood to blame the West 5- More confidence, more trade and more interaction routes between north and south, and between east and west. The Kuwaiti government even considered opening an em- as the ultimate culprit in our problems. There is no shortage between and among the countries in the region, than with We share with India many commonalities in forging bassy in Palestine last year as part of attempts to strengthen its of historical facts here. At the same time, it has been even external powers; such a neighborhood in South, Central and West Asia. diplomatic presence in the occupied territories. more convenient for the West to blame us–particularly Mus- 6- Economic relations and people-centered interactions, We also extend our hand of friendship to our neighbors President of the Kuwait Football Association, Sheikh Ahmad lims–for problems arriving on its shores. Finger-pointing making any resort to war costly and untenable; in the Persian Gulf region again, in order to move in Yussef, recently told the Kuwaiti Arab-language al-Rai daily news- in both directions—and even within our region—is perhaps 7- A regional culture that will place national security on this direction. paper that his country would not co-host the 2022 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament with Qatar as the Persian Gulf kingdom would not issue entry visas for Israelis – something that is against FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) regulation. Deal reached for 49 migrants to disembark This is while Israeli politician and the leader of the opposition Malta has reached a deal with other EU ing the dangerous Mediterranean crossing boat since late last year, with no country 249 rescued migrants already on the island. Israeli Labor Party, Avi Gabbay, secretly visited Abu Dhabi, the member states to allow 49 migrants aboard from North Africa to Europe. allowing them to dock, suffering sea sickness “Malta never closed its ports and it is still United Arab Emirates (UAE), last month and discussed various two rescue ships off the coast of the island Muscat said that of the total of 298 mi- and dehydration, with some briefly refusing a safe port,” said Muscat, who has previously regional issues with three senior Emirati officials. nation to disembark, Prime Minister Joseph grants, 176 would be sent to Germany, France, food.They have been unable to disembark complained that his country has to bear an Israeli Transportation and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz Muscat said Wednesday. Portugal, Ireland, Romania, Luxembourg, because of a diplomatic deadlock among unfair share of migrant numbers. visited Oman on November 4 last year to attend an international “An ad hoc agreement has been reached,” the Netherlands and Italy. EU member states, despite an appeal by “We wanted to send a strong political transport conference and pitch a railway project that would link the Muscat told journalists, adding that it also Another 78 will be allowed to stay in Pope Francis on Sunday for EU leaders to message that the burden must be shared Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean via the Israeli-occupied territories. included a decision on the fate of 249 rescued Malta, and 44 Bangladeshi migrants will show solidarity. because it is a European issue... Every hour Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late November migrants already in Malta. be sent back to their country. On Tuesday Malta appeared to raise the that passed without a solution was not an 2018 visited Oman, where he met Sultan Sayyid Qaboos bin Said The 49 migrants, including a baby and The migrants have been stranded off the stakes still further, saying that any deal on hour I was proud of,” he said. Al Said at the Bait al-Barakah Royal Palace in the coastal city of several children, were rescued while attempt- coast of Malta on the Sea-Watch and another the fate of the 49 must include that of the (Source: Daily Star) Seeb near the capital Muscat. Israel’s English-language daily newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported that the two men had discussed ways to advance the so-called Middle East peace process as well as mattes of mutual Putin is the ‘greatest gift’ to NATO since end of Cold War: Petraeus interest with regard to the region’s stability. Netanyahu was accompanied by senior officials, including the Russia successfully ‘breathed new life’ into NATO by giving Europe “for the first time in a number of years.” It is cur- head of the Mossad spy agency and his national security adviser. it a reason to boost military expansion into Eastern Europe rently stationed in Poland. Netanyahu’s unpublicized visit to Oman came on the same and strengthen the U.S. foothold on the continent, ex-CIA The former CIA head told the audience that despite the day that Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev traveled boss, retired four-star general David Petraeus said. occasional tensions between the U.S. President Donald to the UAE to accompany Israel’s judo team at the Abu Dhabi Russia singlehandedly gave the American-led military Trump and NATO, Washington remains the “backbone” of Grand Slam 2018. bloc “a new reason for living,” the former general told the the alliance as its chief armed force and financial backer. Regev arrived in Abu Dhabi on October 26, and she partici- audience at an international conference in New Delhi, India In recent years, the U.S. and its allies have been boosting pated in the opening ceremony of the international event at the on Wednesday. Petraeus stressed that Moscow prompted military might in Europe, citing the need to deter Moscow Emirati capital’s Zayed Sports City, Palestinian Arabic-language the alliance to deploy more troops and aircraft into Eastern following the Ukrainian crisis and the accession of Crimea Ma’an news agency reported. Europe and the Baltic States as well as set up new command into Russia. This strategy led to the increase of the number Her visit to the UAE marked the first of its kind by an Israeli HQs in the region. of combat-ready troops and large-scale military drills near minister to a Persian Gulf littoral state. It was done under the pretext of fighting ‘Russian ag- the nation’s borders. Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi have no diplomatic ties and the UAE gression’ as relations between NATO and Moscow steadily The Kremlin, in turn, had been blasting NATO’s contin- does not recognize Israel, but the two sides have increased back- deteriorated during the presidency of Vladimir Putin. In that ued expansion eastward. Russian politicians said that the channel cooperation in recent years. There have been numerous sense, Putin is “the greatest gift” NATO has received since growing militarization of the region undermines European the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. reports of growing contacts between Saudi and Israeli officials too. the conclusion of the Cold War, the American general said. security and may lead to destabilization in the region. Before being appointed the head of the CIA, he led the U.S. Among Arab countries, Israel has diplomatic relations only He also ‘credited’ the Russian leader for providing the Four-star General David Petraeus was considered to Central Command. with Egypt and Jordan. U.S. with the rationale to return an armored brigade to be one of the most influential military policy-makers in (Source: RT) (Source: Press TV) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS JANUARY 10, 2019

Police injured as Lazio’s Unified Korea men’s handball team 119th anniversary celebrations turn violent keep rivals guessing at world champs Eight police officers were injured after celebrations to mark Lazio’s After a unified Korean women’s ice-hockey broken at an evening team-building event, 119th anniversary in the centre of Rome turned violent, police team became a feature of last year’s Win- “since then we are connected by friendship”. told Italian media on Wednesday. ter Olympics, a men’s team of North and At least one North Korean player will The skirmishes took place at Piazza della Liberta in the centre South Korean players is an unknown factor feature in each of their five preliminary of the Italian capital where up to 2,500 Lazio fans gathered late for Thursday’s opening game of the world round games. Tuesday at the spot of the club’s foundation. handball championships. The Koreans are in Group A, alongside The gathering had also been attended by the club’s president A unified Korean team, with four players reigning world champions France and Eu- Claudio Lotito who addressed the crowd but left before tensions from the communism-ruled North added to ropean powerhouses Russia, Germany and mounted. Shortly after midnight, an estimated 300 fans, with the 16-strong squad of South Korea players, Serbia. The team will play under the blue and their faces covered, broke away from the main group and began face Germany, the co-hosts alongside Den- white flag showing a unified Korea and are throwing bottles and other objects at police, who responded with mark, when the 2019 World Men’s Handball an unknown factor for the Germans, who tear gas and water cannons. Championships opens in Berlin on Thursday. had problems getting video footage of the Police said eight officers had injuries, mostly with cuts and The unified Korean women’s ice hockey North Koreans to analyses. bruising, one fan was arrested and three others detained, all with team was a colorful attraction at the 2018 “They play a fast ball game and are tacti- links to the club’s hardcore ‘Ultra’ fans. Pyeongchang Winter Olympics despite losing cally very disciplined. They will be a hard test All will receive DASPO Urbano exclusion orders, a ‘Sports all their games and finishing last. for us,” said German head coach Christian Event Access Ban’. Likewise, the men’s handball team is not Prokop. Tensions are running high in Italy after violent clashes before expected to survive the group stages at the Goalkeeper Silvio Heinevetter expects a Inter Milan’s league game against Napoli on December 26 in 2019 finals, contested by 24 teams. tough afternoon after Germany struggled the San Siro, which was also overshadowed by racist chanting. However, the significance of a unified to beat South Korea four years ago, “it was A 39-year-old Inter Milan fan was killed after being struck team playing in Germany’s capital, which extremely unpleasant -- these little fast guys by a car. There were also clashes in Rome before Lazio’s Europa celebrates the 30th anniversary of the fall Germany, a handball powerhouse, among dent Hassan Moustafa, who invited a unified are not as bad as you’d think.” League game against German club Eintracht Frankfurt last month. of the Berlin Wall this November, is not lost the favourites to win a fourth world title. Korean team after South Korea qualified for The IHF invited both German Chancellor Lazio were founded at Piazza della Liberta on January 9, 1900 on the Koreans. “This game is steeped in history and will the world championships by finishing third Angela Merkel and North Korea’s leader Kim by a group of army officers. “With the fall of the Wall, one went on bring a lot of attention to our sport,” beamed at the Asian Cup. Jong Un to the opening match, but neither City rivals AS Roma were formed 27 years later following the the path of peace. We want to show, as a Bob Hanning, vice-president of the German Breaking the ice are expected the attend. merger of various capital clubs. unified team, that we Koreans can also follow Handball Association (DHB). The full Korean team first set eyes on each Instead, guests of honor will be Germa- (Source: France 24) a similar path,” said the team’s coach Cho The Koreans have been granted special other just before Christmas on 22 December ny’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Young-shin, a South Korean. permission by the International Handball in Berlin. Thomas Bach, president of the International This will be Korea’s debut at a men’s world Federation (IHF) to compete and they are “At the first meeting, we were a bit out Olympic Committee (IOC), a keen observer championships and the opening match is a the only team allowed to have 20 in their of touch with one another”, admitted team with North and South Korea having agreed Liverpool’s Salah named 14,500-seater sell-out in Berlin with mil- squad, four more than their rivals. captain Jung Su-young, but his North Ko- to bid for the 2032 Olympic Games. lions expected to tune in on television with The idea is the brainchild of IHF presi- rean team-mate Ri Song Jin said the ice was (Source: AFP) African Player of the Year again

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is the 2018 Confederation of Af- Buffon: I suffered with depression, South Africa blame ‘politics’ for rican Football Player of the Year - the second consecutive year had panic attack at Juventus humiliating loss to Egypt he has won the award. Egypt forward Salah, 26, beat Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Arsenal and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the title. He received the award at a ceremony in Senegal on Tuesday. “I have dreamt of winning this award since I was a child and now I have done so twice in a row,” Salah said. Houston Dash and South Africa forward Thembi Kgatlana was named Women’s Player of the Year. Salah was voted the BBC African Footballer of the Year for the second time in December. He scored 44 goals for Liverpool during the 2017-18 season, helping the Reds to the Champions League final before scoring twice for Egypt at the World Cup in Russia. He has scored 16 goals in 29 appearances across all compe- titions for Liverpool this season. Salah, Mane and Aubameyang were joined in the Team of the Year by Manchester United defender Eric Bailly, Manchester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez, Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita and Tottenham full-back Serge Aurier. (Source: BBC)

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi him to move forward. As South Africa reeled Wednesday after a the Egyptians had been there for a while, Barcelona icon Iniesta Buffon has said he suffered with depression “If I had not gone through this expe- humiliating defeat by Egypt in a contest to with government representatives, ready early in his career and once missed a match rience, that cloud and that turmoil with decide the new 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to present their case.” apologises over blackface for Juventus due to a panic attack. other people, I may have never have got out hosts, the blame game began. Speaking in Dakar, Ahmad said the two Buffon has enjoyed an incredible career of it,” he said. “I had the clarity of under- South African football officials said candidates had equally good infrastruc- photo which has so far seen him win 23 major standing that it was a watershed moment the 16-1 vote in favour of Egypt in Senegal ture and the greater political enthusiasm trophies -- including a World Cup -- and he between giving up and confronting those Tuesday was “political” without offering of Egypt was the key factor. Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta has apologised after posting is still fighting to win his first Champions insecurities we all have. insight. “Our audit firm said the infrastructure a photo on social media with two people in blackface as part of League medal at the age of 40. “I was never scared of showing them nor Confederation of African Football (CAF) was equal so we assessed the political com- Epiphany celebrations. But, despite enjoying success from an of crying -- something which happens to me president Ahmad Ahmad said Egypt poli- mitment in the two countries and Egypt The 34-year-old superstar who currently plays at Japan’s early age, there have been difficult moments and of which I am not at all embarrassed.” ticians were more enthusiastic than their came out on top. Vissel Kobe had no intention “to upset anyone by displaying for the ex-Italy international -- in particular Meanwhile, Buffon also spoke about South African counterparts about the June “Members of the (CAF) executive com- that photo,” according to a statement by his agency sent to AFP during his early period with Juve. the racist abuse aimed at Napoli’s Kalidou 15-July 13 event. mittee did not feel any real support from on Wednesday. “He would like to apologise to those people who “For a few months, everything just Koulibaly by Inter Milan fans during a Serie A CAF insider told AFP that South the South African government to carry the may have felt offended,” the statement said. stopped making sense,” Buffon told Vanity A clash on Dec. 26, and said the situation Africa have not been forgiven for back- project forward.” Iniesta’s picture on Twitter and Instagram posted on Sunday Fair. “It seemed like no one cared about reflected the social tensions of the country ing the winning Canada/Mexico/United - Security concerns - showed his family and a group of people in costumes, taking part me, just the footballer I represented. following the recent refugee crisis. States 2026 World Cup bid instead of sole Malagasy Ahmed acknowledged that in the Three Kings Day celebration also known as Epiphany, “It was like everyone was asking about “If a boat goes down outside of Italy rivals Morocco. there were security concerns regarding which is widely celebrated in Spain. Buffon and nobody about Gigi. It was a and 300 people die, we are all sad and Acting South African Football Asso- Egypt, with three Vietnamese tourists The midfielder, who lifted 32 major trophies and made 674 really difficult moment. consider adopting some those who are now ciation chief executive Russell Paul said: killed in a recent terror attack there. appearances for Catalan giants Barca, joined Vissel Kobe in May, “I was 25, riding the wave of success orphans,” he said. “But if they don’t drown, “Technically, there is no country in Africa “Before the 2018 World Cup, people calling his J-League move an “important career challenge”. but one day, before a Serie A match, I went we complain about 300 immigrants being better suited to host the Cup of Nations were worried about the security situation The Spain icon’s decision to choose Vissel arguably repre- to Ivano Bordon, the goalkeeper coach, allowed in and what they’re coming here than South Africa. in Russia, but they worked hard and there sents Japanese football’s biggest transfer coup, with many top and told him: ‘Ivano, get [No. 2 goalkeeper to do. “It’s difficult to try and contextualise “We do not have a fight with Egypt, were no incidents,” he said. players now moving to cash-rich Chinese clubs in the twilight Antonio] Chimenti to warm up and play. what happened in Milan. Hate is an ill wind we have a fight with the way the process South Africa have had cool political re- of their careers. It also came as a timely boost to the J-League, I’m not feeling up to it. regardless of where it came from. Not just unfolded,” he added, referring to the vote lations with Morocco because the republic which used to attract luminaries such as Brazilian great Zico and “I had suffered a panic attack and was in a stadium. being brought forward 24 hours without backs the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Re- former England star Gary Lineker when it began in 1993, but has in no state to play the match.” “Because I have the strong suspicion an explanation. public, who are contesting land occupied struggled to attract marquee players in recent years. However, Buffon said it was important that, in all of this, football is just a pretext.” “A delegation had been prepared for a by the Moroccans. Iniesta -- who famously scored Spain’s winning goal against the situation reached this point as it allowed (Source: ESPN) Wednesday presentation only to find that (Source: AFP) the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final -- had been top of the wishlist of Vissel owner Hiroshi Mikitani. The billionaire businessman is also the founder and CEO of Djokovic, Federer, Serena remain favourites to win opening Grand Slam Rakuten, Barcelona’s main sponsor, and was heavily involved in the deal that brought Iniesta to Japan. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer loom over Melbourne younger generation hoping to end the world’s top three’s (Source: AFP) Park for the year’s opening Grand Slam as favourites for domination of Grand Slams, having beaten Federer and the Australian Open as questions remain as to whether one Djokovic at the ATP Tour Finals in London last November. of Generation Next could finally end their stranglehold. While others in ‘Generation Next’ like Austria’s Dominic The Serbian world number one and his Swiss opponent Thiem and the 22-year-old Russians Karen Khachanov and World Cup winner Pavard have won eight of the nine titles on Rod Laver Arena since Daniil Medvedev could cause upsets, it is debateable whether 2010 and 11 of the last 13 on the bright blue courts in central they can win seven matches over 14 days. to join Bayern Munich from Melbourne. Two of the older generation who have shown they do Both have six titles each, and are seeking to break a three- have that ability — Britain’s Andy Murray and Switzerland’s July 1 way tie for the most victories with Australia’s Roy Emerson. Stan Wawrinka — could be dangerous floaters in the draw. While Federer has won the tournament for the last two Murray, a five-time finalist at Melbourne Park, spent French World Cup winning defender Benjamin Pavard will join years, Djokovic’s history in Australia and rediscovery of most of last year recuperating from hip surgery and looked Bayern Munich from Stuttgart on a five-year contract as of July his form last year means the world number one will be the rusty last week in Brisbane but declared himself pain free. 1, the defending German champions revealed Wednesday. man to beat. Wawrinka, the 2014 champion, is also coming back from Media reports in Germany put the transfer at 35 million euros The 31-year-old went into a bewildering slump in mid- knee surgery and a back injury in the second half of 2018, ($40 million) for the 22-year-old who can play at right-back or 2016 that only ended when he won Wimbledon last year but typically flies under the radar through Grand Slams. centre-back. “He is young and a world champion, so we are happy before he went on to claim his third U.S. Open crown and The women’s draw looks more open even with Serena and proud to have won over such a player,” said Bayern’s sports move to 14 Grand Slam titles, three behind Rafa Nadal. prepared for his title defence with some convincing perfor- Williams, the most dominant force in the sport, back and director Hasan Salihamidzic at their winter training camp in Doha. The Spanish world number two, however, is battling mances in the Hopman Cup in Perth last week. chasing a 24th grand slam singles title to tie Margaret Court’s Pavard’s status skyrocketed last summer when the centre-back another leg injury that forced him out of the Brisbane In- The 20-times Grand Slam winner’s victories over Greece’s all-time record. scored the goal of the World Cup with a stunning net-busting ternational last week and it is apparent that hard courts are world number 15 Stefanos Tsitsipas and world number four The American was eight weeks pregnant when she won her strike in a 4-3 last-16 win over Argentina that set France on their putting undue stress on the 32-year-old’s body. Alexander Zverev prompted the German to playfully quip 23rd title at Melbourne Park in 2017 and returned to action way to the Russia 2018 title. He retired in the quarter-finals against Marin Cilic last that he was tired of Federer winning everything. last year where she reached finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Pavard has been at struggling VfB Stuttgart, who are currently year in Melbourne and suffered yet another knee injury that “I mean, you’re 30-whatever. Why? Just why?,” Zverev Open. Williams enters the year’s first Grand Slam ranked third from bottom in Germany’s top flight, since 2016 after he forced him out of the U.S. Open semi-finals before he had asked jokingly of Federer at the Hopman Cup trophy pres- 16th but she still remains the favourite in Melbourne even joined from French side Lille for five million euros. ankle surgery in November. entation. if she lost to Naomi Osaka in the Flushing Meadows final. (Source: Goal) Federer, however, continues to defy the odds at 37 and The 21-year-old Zverev appears the most likely of the (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 10, 2019 SPORTS 15

Iran sweat on Jahanbakhsh Iranian weightlifter Moradi nominated for lifter of the year fitness for Vietnam match SPORTS TEHRAN — Sohrab Moradi from Iran has deskbeen nominated for the Best Male Lifter in 2018 by the International Weightlifting Federation. SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran national football team are sweating The Iranian weightlifter has had an incredible 2018 compet- deskon star man Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s fitness in the itive season. In August, he blew the weightlifting community’s 2019 AFC Asian Cup. mind with his 189kg world record snatch in the -94kg weight Jahanbakhsh has been added to the team training and will likely class. Then in November at the IWF World Championships, be fit for Team Melli’s next match. Moradi swept gold and set three world records in the brand He told reporters his recovery process is going well and raised new -96kg weight class. hopes that he will be fit for Vietnam’s clash. Albion’s record signing, who sustained hamstring damage in the 3-1 defeat at Everton in October, missed Iran’s opening match against Yemen. Team Melli have been scheduled to meet Vietnam in Group D of the competition at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Iran sit top of the table after beating Yemen 5-0 in their opener on Monday. Iraq are second thanks to a 3-2 late win over Vietnam. Iran last won the Cup in 1976 and the Persians are looking forward to end their 43-year trophy drought in the UAE. The 2019 AFC Asian Cup is being held in the UAE from Jan. 5 to Feb. 1. A total of 24 teams are separated into six major groups with four team members per group. The significant nations included in the AFC Asian Cup 2019 are India, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Vietnam, Oman, Lebanon, China Moradi must vie with Indonesian Eko Yuli Irawan (61kg), & many more. Xiaojun Liu from China (81kg), Armenian Simon Martirosyan (109kg) and Lasha Talakhadze from Georgia (+109kg). Japan fight back to survive Uzbekistan score late winner to pick The deadline to register to vote is Jan. 31. The Lifter of the Year election was initiated by the late Jeno Turkmenistan scare up huge win against Oman Boskovics (Hungarian), the founding Editor-in-Chief of the magazine. After his death in 2010, World Weightlifting created a Challenge Trophy in Memoriam Jeno Boskovics. The same Trophy – one for Men, one for Women – has been awarded annually ever since to the Best Male and Best Female Weightlifter of the World. Every year, the new names are en- graved on the Trophies.

Igor Kolakovic returns to Iran

SPORTS TEHRAN — Montenegrin coach Igor Kolakovic deskheld a meeting with Iran Volleyball Federation acting president Afshin Davari on Wednesday. The 54-year-old coach failed to meet expectations in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship held in September. Under guidance of Kolakovic, Team Melli finished in 13th Japan produced a stirring second-half themselves ahead with Osako on target once Uzbekistan took home all three points The super sub came up with the goods place out of 24 teams. fightback to ensure they got their AFC more although most of the work was done after they scored a late winner through for his nation, making a good run and Now, Kolakovic has returned to Iran to negotiate with the Asian Cup 2019 Group F campaign off to by Yuto Nagatomo, who did well to keep Eldor Shomurodov, handing the White calmly slotting the ball past Nesterov to country’s federation about his future. a winning start by beating Turkmenistan the ball alive down as he ghosted inside Wolves a crucial victory at the AFC Asian send the Omani fans into delirium. He held a meeting with Davari at the federation’s headquarters 3-2 on Wednesday. Mekan Saparov and lifted a cross over the Cup 2019. That goal from Oman prompted changes amid speculation surrounding his future It initially looked as though an upset was opposition goalkeeper to leave his striker The game burst into life in the second from the Uzbekistan camp, and young on cards at the Al Nahyan Stadium as the with a simple tap-in. half, but the first half presented chances for Eldor Shomurodov was the player who Samurai Blue were made to pay for sluggish A third goal arrived for the Samurai Oman, who were denied by the expertise won it from his team in the 86th minute as start to the contest in the 26th minute. Blue in the 71st minute and this time it and experience of Uzbekistan’s veteran an unlikely attack from the White Wolves Iran to meet Australia in There appeared to be no apparent dan- was Osako’s turn to play his part in the goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov. saw the youngster in space. ger when Arslanmyrat Amanow picked up build-up, as he linked up with Takumi The keeper made one sensational save His finish was that of a seasoned cam- AFC U-16 Women’s C’ship possession 30 yards out from goal down Minamino to release Ritsu Doan. to deny Oman in the first period, and that paigner, slotting home past a shell-shocked the left. The Groningen starlet cleverly got onto gave the White Wolves the confidence Faiyz, making it 2-1 to Uzbekistan. qualification opener Gonda did however make amends ten his preferred left foot with a neat swivel to head forward and make an attack of The game saw further late action after minutes later with a smart save to deny and create just enough space to clip a neat their own. Oman appealed for what could have been IRNA — Iran will start the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Ahmet Atayev, after the opposition midfield- effort past Mammet Orazmuhammedov One such attack from the Uzbekis re- a penalty, but the appeals were waived off qualification with a match against Australia on March 3. er had latched onto a Vahyt Orazsahedov with the help of a deflection. sulted in a free-kick, but what transpired by the referee who saw nothing wrong. The match has been scheduled to take place at the New Laos layoff and fired away a snapshot. There was still time for one final next was a touch of class from who else As the game neared a close, Oman National Stadium in Vientiane, Laos. Only five days old, the Asian Cup has twist of the tale when Japan sloppily but Odil Ahmedov. The skipper struck a found themselves attacking again, but Iran will face Laos and Vietnam on March 5 and 7 respectively already produced its fair share of shocks gave away possession inside their area sweet set piece past Faiyz Al Rusheidi, and last man Egor Krimets would have none in Group A. and upsets and it was beginning to look and allowed Altymyrat Annadurdyyev gave his nation an unlikely lead. of it, blatantly pulling back the opposition Group B consists of China, the Philippines, Bangladesh and like another would be on the cards. to race through on goal, where he was Despite all the pressure, Oman were and giving a foul away. host Myanmar. However, just 11 minutes into the sec- unceremoniously brought down inside unable to score in the first half, but that all It turned out to be a red card offence, The group winners and runners up will qualify for the 2019 ond half, the Japanese responded when the box by Gonda. changed in the second forty-five minutes. but the defender took one for the team and AFC U-16 Women’s Championship, to be held in Thailand next Genki Haraguchi’s drilled pass from the Ahmet Atayev made no mistake in em- The Reds continued their assault on ensured his team hold on for a famous win. September. left found Yuya Osako and he brilliantly phatically converting from the spot but it the Uzbeki goal, and Ignatiy Nesterov was Uzbekistan held on in the end, but it North Korea, South Korea, and Japan as the top three teams took it into his stride, sold a dummy to a ultimately proved to be a consolation, as there again for the large part to ensure was certainly a lucky escape. With tougher of the 2017 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship and host Thailand defender before sending a shot nestling Japan held out for their first win of Asian his team keep the lead, but a smart sub- opposition to come, it will be interesting to have automatically qualified for the final tournament into the bottom corner. Cup 2019. stitution resulted in the introduction of see how this particular group shapes up. Right on the hour mark, Japan found (Source: Fox Sports Asia) Muhsen Al Ghassani. (Source: Fox Sports Asia) Bayern Munich coach Kovac Katanec hails Tareq impact following late win meets Branko Ivankovic Head coach Srecko Katanec has revealed his delight after cannot play going forward, who is in a good condition and Humam Tareq came off the bench to help inspire Iraq to who is not.” a vital 3-2 win over Vietnam in Group D of the AFC Asian Meanwhile, opposite number Park Hang-seo was left TASNIM — Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac met his old tutor Cup UAE 2019 on Tuesday. to reflect on what could have been for Vietnam given that Branko Ivankovic in Doha, Qatar. Originally named as a substitute, the livewire Tareq was the Southeast Asians were leading twice in a game that Bayern Munich and Persepolis are holding training camp in brought on in the 58th minute and duly netted a vital equal- repeatedly swung one way and then the other. their winter break at the Aspire Academy in Doha. izer just two minutes later courtesy of a thunderous finish. “Even though we lost, I think my players played well Kovac was a member of Croatia national football team at With the Esteghlal star to the fore, Iraq pressed for a and did their best,” he said. the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifications, but missed the finals winner and their persistence paid handsome dividends “We already knew that Iraq were at a higher physical and in France because he did not fully recover from injury until the when Ali Adnan converted a last gasp free-kick to seal all technical level than us, but we did well. Of course, I regret beginning of the preparations for the tournament. three points for the Lions of Mesopotamia. the last goal we conceded from a free-kick, but overall my Ivankovic was part of the competition’s eventual bronze “Honestly, it was entirely my mistake that I put him any chance of progressing further in the tournament they team played well and fought hard although I do think Iraq medalist as assistant coach. [Tareq] on the bench and he was undoubtedly the key player,” won in 2007. probably deserved the win.” a relieved Katanec said of the 22-year-old. “I expected a tough and very difficult match, and in the Vietnam will look to put their campaign back on track “He gave us energy and he scored the equalizer. He did first half we played badly, but after the break I believe we when they face the Islamic Republic of Iran on Saturday, everything. Every team needs a player like this, without were the better team,” he explained. although Park is expecting another tough test for the team Shevchuk named Best energy you have nothing. “It is very important to get three points in the [group who were recently crowned AFF Cup champions. “In the first half we were lacking in just that and did stage] of this tournament. It was tough at times, and I made “We planned to at least get one point from this game Powerlifter of 2018, not have one player who was willing to push and push. His some mistakes and I learned a lot from this game, but I know with Iraq, because our next game is against Iran who are Siamand comes third attitude was excellent.” we will develop as the competition goes on. one of the favorites in this competition,” he said. The victory saw Iraq go second in the group behind the “If I am honest though, we also need to be even better “We must now review our performance and prepare Islamic Republic of Iran, although Katanec, with one eye than we were in the second half which was obviously better well. Iran are a very strong side and we know that we must Mariana Shevchuk has been chosen as ‘Best Powerlifter of 2018’ already on Saturday’s fixture against Yemen, was quick than the first. We have many things to improve and I hope be at our very best when we play them.” by public vote in a close contest ahead of Jhon Castaneda, Sia- to declare that his side must improve if they are to stand our second game will be better. I saw today who can and (Source: the-afc) mand Rahman and Sherif Osman. The 22-year-old Ukrainian broke the women’s up to 55kg world record to win gold at the Berck-sur-Mer 2018 European Saudi Arabia delight Pizzi Open Championships. The vote was carried out on World Para Powerlifting’s Face- Dubai: Head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi was Two goals in each half from four different late 2017, with the aim of guiding the West more consistent. book, Twitter and Instagram, with Shevchuk collecting the most more than satisfied with his side’s perfor- goalscorers sealed Saudi Arabia the three Asians in the 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign. “After our first loss in the World Cup in combined votes across all social media pages. mance in their 4-0 win over DPR Korea in points ahead of matches against Lebanon While he admits his team have to improve 2018, I think the team understood perfectly Castaneda received massive support from his Colombian fans their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Group E and Qatar. offensively, the 50-year-old Spaniard was that they had to do everything, to be organized, to end in second place. The 38-year-old won the men’s over opener on Tuesday, attributing the convincing “I’m personally very happy because nor- also quick to hail his players determination to obey orders in order to be a better team. 107kg continental title with an Americas record lift of 212kg on victory to their playstyle. mally the first game of the tournament there to excel since Russia 2018. “It is possible that we might lose against home soil in Bogota. “We are so happy to start the tournament are nervous moments, especially when we “There is no doubt that the time that you other opponents, but the most important Iran’s Siamand Rahman ended third overall. The world’s this way and to win this game, especially with knew Australia lost their opening game, and spend with a team allows you to gain con- thing is that this is the plan we will follow strongest Paralympian comfortably won the men’s over 107kg the number of goals we scored,” said Pizzi. we didn’t want that to happen to us. fidence of the players, but we also noticed into the next phase.” with a 285kg lift at the 2018 Asia-Oceania Championships. “What was most important was that we “I’m so happy and, hopefully, we will our players are ready to learn and ready to As for DPR Korea, the defeat was a repeat Egypt’s Sherif Osman, who successfully defended the conti- implemented our own style of play today. continue with the same level throughout do what we ask as technical staff.” of their 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign, where nental title in Algeria with a 206kg lift in the men’s up to 59kg, We will follow the same ambition for the the tournament.” “The have a high commitment, even the they lost 4-1 to the Saudis. finished fourth. coming matches.” Pizzi took charge of the Green Falcons in new players, and day after day, they became (Source: the-afc) (Source: Paralympic.org) Prayer Times Noon:12:12 Evening: 17:29 Dawn: 5:46 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:14 (tomorrow) JANUARY 10, 2019 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi “Ganjur” to Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 celebrate centenary Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 Webmaster: [email protected] Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 of children’s No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Zip Code: 1599814713 theater in Iran

ARTTEHRAN — The cast The guests are also scheduled to visit an deskand crew members of exhibition of puppets created by students “Mystery of Ganjur”, a play on stage at of veteran puppet maker Homa Jeddikar. the Institute for Intellectual Development The celebration will come to an end of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA), with a performance of “Mystery of Ganjur” GUIDE TO plan to mark on Saturday 100 years from directors Hani Hosseini and Marzieh since early modern children’s theatrical Naderi. SPIRITUAL AWAKENING performances were staged by Jabbar The story of the play is set in an Guide to spiritual awakening Baghcheban in Iran. unknown country where Palasht, the Veteran children’s theater experts, monster of evil, robs the people of all God must be thanked for every blessing, and including Davud Kianian, Hassan their happiness and they gradually forget he who is thankful, receives more blessings, Dadashgar and Adel Bozdudeh, are happiness. However, Ganjur, a boy that and he who neglects it, endangers that expected to attend the celebration. lives with Simorgh, a mystical bird in A group of labor children have also Iranian mythology, decides to fight the Imam Ali (AS) blessing and may soon lose it. been invited to attend the event, which monster to bring back happiness. But will be followed by cutting the cake for he needs the people to help him in this 100 years of Iranian children’s theater. struggle. A poster for “Mystery of Ganjur” by Hani Hosseini and Marzieh Naderi. “The End of the World” set for Jan. 12 “The Street Performer of Manhattan” explores ARTTEHRAN — A reading of French playwright deskJean-Luc Lagarce’s 1990 play “Only the End impacts of systemic cultural dysfunction of the World” will be performed at the Qashqai Hall of Tehran’s ARTTEHRAN — “The Street Performer of The play also includes soliloquies of main characters in City Theater Complex on Saturday. deskManhattan” came to a Tehran theater Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, “Hamlet”, “Othello”, “King Lear”, on Wednesday to demonstrate the devastating effects of “Julius Caesar” and “The Merchant of Venice”. a cultural system dysfunction. “Playing the roles of ten characters makes things difficult Mikail Shahrestani is the actor and director of the monolog for me because I have to change my costume for each character that he has co-written with Nima Mehr. almost instantly, but there are some people present backstage “The play is about a retired actor who has been badly treated in to help me with this,” Shahrestani said. his society, which is suffering from systemic cultural dysfunction “I hope everything will go well during all performances, that has not allowed him to demonstrate his inner values,” because any dissonance would ruin the whole work,” Shahrestani told the Persian service of MNA on Wednesday. he mentioned. “He has always been dreaming of performing Shakespeare’s Shahrestani has previously performed Eric-Emmanuel Actor and director Mikail Shahrestani rehearses for “The plays, but now he has to record his performances on the Schmitt’s “Partners in Crime”, Tennessee Williams’ “The Street Performer of Manhattan” in an undated photo. (Ti- streets to send to his daughter to convince her to visit him Glass Menagerie”, Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” and wall/Babak Haqqi) after 20 years,” he added. many other plays by outstanding playwrights in the world.

A poster for the reading performance of French writer Jean-Luc Lagarce’s play “Only the End of the World”. Jordan Peele’s “Us” to premiere as opening Ziba Khadem, the translator of the play, will direct the reading performance, which will be followed by a review session by scholars film at SXSW Kamran Sepehran and Mohammadreza Khaki. NEW YORK (AP) — Jordan Peele’s “Us,” his anticipated children. On the vacation, an unresolved trauma from her The play is about Luis, a man in his forties, who decides to visit follow-up to “Get Out,” will make its world premiere at the past is unearthed leading to an eerie confrontation for the his family after a long absence to inform them that he is dying. South by Southwest Film Festival. family with doppelgangers of themselves. SXSW announced Tuesday that “Us” will open the 26th “Us” will be released March 22 by Universal Pictures. edition of the Austin, Texas, festival on March 8. Like Peele’s Peele also produces along with Jason Blum of Blumhouse “The Invention of the Jewish “Get Out,” ?Us” is a socially minded horror thriller. Productions. Co-stars include Winston Duke, Elisabeth The film stars Lupita Nyong’o as a woman returning to Moss and Tim Heidecker. In this March 4, 2018 file photo, Jordan Peele arrives in People” appears in Iranian her beachside childhood home with her husband and two SXSW runs March 8-17. Los Angeles. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) bookstores

ARTTEHRAN — Israeli professor of history Margot Robbie to play Barbie in doll’s Tom Hanks to present SAG’s lifetime deskShlomo Sand’s 2008 book “The Invention of first live-action film award to Alan Alda the Jewish People” has recently been published in Persian by Now Publications in Tehran. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — NEW YORK (AP) — One of America’s Translated by Ahad Aliqolian, the book is a study of the Australian actress Margot Robbie is to sweethearts hands the torch to another historiography of the Jewish people. play Barbie in the first live-action feature when Tom Hanks presents Alan Alda with a movie about the iconic and controversial lifetime achievement award at the upcoming doll, who has enjoyed multiple careers Screen Actors Guild Award ceremony. in her 60-year lifetime. The 82-year-old Alda, a Golden Globe- Toymaker Mattel and movie studio and Emmy-winner, will become the 55th Warner Bros on Tuesday announced they recipient of the annual award given to an were partnering to make the film, which actor who fosters the “finest ideals of the will star the Oscar-nominated actress. acting profession.” Hanks will hand it to Robbie, 28, will also co-produce the film, him in a Jan. 27 ceremony. the companies said in a statement “I’m so thrilled that Tom agreed to that. This combination photo shows actress In this Oct. 25, 2018 photo, actor Alan No plot, title or release date was I had no idea they were even asking him. Margot Robbie and Barbie. (Reuters/ Alda poses for a portrait in New York. announced for the film, which comes And it’s so generous of him,” Alda told Phil Noble/Mattel) (Matt Licari/ Invision/AP) 60 years after the adult-figured Barbie The Associated Press. fashion doll was launched in March 1959. by the likes of Andy Warhol, the Paris Alda and Hanks worked together on charities and organizations that have Robbie, who was Oscar-nominated for Louvre museum, and the 1997 satirical the film “Bridge of Spies,” and Alda said supported children’s causes, women’s Copies of the Persian version of Shlomo Sand’s “The Invention her starring role in the 2017 ice-skating song “Barbie Girl” by Scandinavian pop they “have run into each other casually issues and the sciences. The latter inspired of the Jewish People” are seen in the photo. movie “I, Tonya” and who appeared in group Aqua. over the years at awards ceremonies and the formation of the Alan Alda Center for Sand tries to find historical evidence of the forcible exile the 2016 superhero movie “Suicide But critics said her curvy body on airplanes and things like that. So, I Communicating Science at Stony Brook of Jews from the area now bordered by modern Israel, and its Squad,” said she hoped the film would promoted an unrealistic image for young remember him when he was just a kid.” University in New York. surrounding regions at the study but as he couldn’t find any proof, “have a tremendously positive impact girls, and sales began dropping in 2014, Throughout a career that has spanned That combined with his affable he concludes that the expulsion simply did not happen and no on children and audiences worldwide.” leading California-based Mattel to add a seven decades, Alda has appeared in “The personality has earned Alda his “nice guy” one exiled the Jewish people from the region, and therefore the “Barbie has empowered kids to wider variety of skin tones, body shapes, West Wing,” ?The Aviator” and “Manhattan reputation over the years. He jokes that the Jewish diaspora is a modern invention. imagine themselves in aspirational roles hijab-wearing dolls and science kits to Murder Mystery,” but is perhaps best “niceness” compensates for a profession from a princess to president,” the actress make the products more educational. known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the that is not always viewed kindly. said in a statement. The live-action Barbie film is the first television series ”“M(asterisk)A(asterisk) “It’s a counterbalance, I guess, to the Barbie has adopted more than 200 venture from the recently established S(asterisk)H.” Alda has won six Emmy rowdy reputation that a lot of actors have “Katyusha” to go on screen at careers in her lifetime, including robotics Mattel Films unit set up in September Awards and was also nominated for an had over the last couple of hundred years, engineer, astronaut and teacher. to develop the franchise of Barbie and Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2004 including the guy who shot Lincoln. So Rajasthan film festival She is the best-known doll in the other toys, such as Hot Wheels and for his role in “The Aviator.” it’s good to balance the reputations of the world and a cultural icon celebrated American Girl. Alda has also been involved in numerous acting profession,” Alda said. ARTTEHRAN — Iranian director Ali Atshani’s deskcomedy “Katyusha” will go on screen at the 5th Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF) in Jaipur, India. ‘I’m over it:’ Comedian Kevin Hart rules out hosting the Oscars NEW YORK (Reuters) — The actor Kevin Hart ruled he could not rule out hosting in future years. out hosting this year’s Oscars because he no longer had Hart, known for his stand-up comedy and roles in films enough time to prepare for the show, days after saying he including “Ride Along,” said he would not have enough was evaluating his December decision to step down over time ahead of the Feb. 24 ceremony in Los Angeles to criticism of past homophobic comments. prepare to do a professional job: “If I do something I He told ABC that he was no longer willing to discuss the want to give it my all.” anti-gay comments he had made on Twitter in 2010 and The Academy, which hands out the Oscar awards, has 2011, which caused the uproar that led him to step down not announced a replacement host. as host, saying his previous explanations and apology In one of his old Twitter posts, Hart had described an were sufficient. actor’s picture as a “gay billboard for AIDS.” In another, “I’m over it,” he said repeatedly to almost every question he said if his son were to play with a doll’s house, he on the topic during a sometimes testy interview on ABC’s would break it over the boy’s head and tell him to stop ‘Good Morning America.’ being gay. Ahmad Mehranfar (L) and Hadi Hejazifar act in a scene from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences named Hart apologized in December for “insensitive words from “Katyusha” by Ali Atshani. Hart as Oscars host in December, but he stepped down soon my past” and told DeGeneres last week in an interview on Cast member Kevin Hart poses at the premiere for “Jumanji: after amid criticism of his past tweets. her talk show that he does not “have a homophobic bone The film is about a middle-aged religious man, Khalil, who Welcome to the Jungle” in Los Angeles, California, U.S., Last week, Hart had said he was re-evaluating that decision in my body.” is supposed to take care of a spoiled son of a wealthy man as his December 11, 2017. (Reuters/Mario Anzuoni) bodyguard for a number of days. The gap between their social after the openly-gay comedian Ellen DeGeneres, a past Oscars Pressed repeatedly in Monday’s ABC interview to elaborate levels and worldviews creates some problems. host, said she had called the Academy to advocate for Hart. “No, I’m not hosting the Oscars this year,” he said in an on those comments, Hart declined. The festival will run from January 19 to 23. By Wednesday, the evaluation appeared to be over. ABC interview. “It’s not in God’s plan right now.” He said “I’ve said everything I can possibly say and I’m over it.”