Trump hassoughttouseexchangerate nerable toeconomicwarwithChina. vul more Washington made has desire) The riseofthedollar(inspiteTrump’s regulate theeconomicbattlewithBeijing. W dragon against thered Trump’s defeat economic defeatagainst Beijing? China. Didthe USPresidentimaginean Trump’s failure intheeconomicwarwith to depreciatethe dollar.Thishasledto President US the by requests repeated highest levelinrecenttrading despite ofAmerica. States tionship betweenChinaandthe United important issuesistheeconomic rela most the of one Accordingly, well. very now. Theexistingevidenceshowsthis to up system international the in goals Trump wasn’t abletoachievehiseconomic in thelongrun. Moreover,itseemsthat result, the US economy will be vulnerable all his efforts to fight the Red Dragon! As a telligently control the dollar will destroy in to inability his that well very knows economicmethods. protective apply to rate exchange the manipulate tle, DonaldTrumphaslostthepowerto of theBeijing-Washington economicbat after nearly three years, just at the height Beijing.But with battle economic in the was essentially one of Trump’s backing policies towardBeijinghavefailed. This This showswellthatTrump’s economic this trade deficit has reached $ 419 billion! with China. We are now in year 2019 and billion US trade deficit was due to trade time,the Trumpstatedthat$346 economic confrontationwithChina. At dollar as a deadly weapon in protectionist manipulation andloweringthevalueof failure intheeconomicbattlewithBeijing. the riseofdollarstrengthensUS ury Department. In such circumstances, despite his efforts and his country’s Treas tocounterBeijing’shas failed depreciation and devaluingit. However, DonaldTrump manipulating itscredibleexchangerate and trade battle with the United States by khamenei.ir The reality is that since early 2017, early since that is reality The China is effectively leading the economic The currency(USD) has reached its reached has currency(USD) The The PresidentoftheUnitedStates action toweakenthedollarand Donald Trumphasfailedtotake hat iscertainthatUSPresident Headof theTehran Times PERSPECTIVE Politics Desk Hanif Ghaffari Iran tobe predictable’ unpredictable andexpect ‘Trump cannotexpecttobe The Kashmir wound WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM - - - - - Pages 2 it mightgointhemonthstocome. stands today and at least some insight into where But they can offer a snapshot of where the race with agrainofsalt,orperhapseven afullshaker. election? will happen in the November 2020 presidential away, what do these surveys really tell us about first nominating contest in Iowa still five months bers depending on how they fared. But with the or another’s decline. opinion polls, highlightingonecandidate’srise likely seen headlines on the latest “horse race” to theDemocraticpresidentialcampaignhas TEHRAN— Syrians, against crimes their and terrorism of and tostoptheiraggressivepracticesinsupport their illegal military presence on Syrian territory Turkish occupationforces, mustbeobligedtoend from usingforceagainstthem. refrain and countries other of affairs internal Charter’s principle ofnon-interferenceinthe urged Washington and Ankara to respect the UN rity challenges in New York on Tuesday, Ja’afari (UNSC) session on Middle East peace and secu country and crimes against civilians. to end their “illegal military presence” in the Arab Ja’afari has called on the United States and Turkey TEHRAN — Tehran Times/ Masoud Saki Price40,000Rials Here’s aguidetoreading,andunderstanding, The quick answer: Early polls should be taken Campaigns trumpet, or minimize, the num- “The United States and its allies, including the Speaking at a United Nations Security Council is British legacy Anyone paying the slightest attention Syria’s UN ‘U.S., Turkey presence on Syria soil’ military must end illegal What U.S. early presidential tell usabout the2020race polls 1.00EURO

Ayatollah Khamenei sayseasily-gained Ambassador Bashar oil moneyhasbeena‘great calamity’ and rule’ strategy of Washington’s ‘divide Takht-Ravanchi warns 4.00AED

al- - 39thyear to representamuchlargerpopulation. dred respondents to 1,000 or more - intended a sample of people - anywhere from a few hun have a margin of error - a measure of confidence Reuters, employ online questionnaires. All polls ers, including Ipsos, which conducts surveys for probability of casting ballots. such aspastvotingbehavior,toestimatethe actually do so, forcing pollsters to use other data, voters. Many more people say they will vote than likely or voters registered in specifically ested Democratic contest: polls at this stage of the outsized, 23-candidate Charter and stoppingattemptstodistort international law and the provisions of the UN region requiresupholdingtheprinciplesof the force, investing interrorismandfabricatingcrises. as those aimed at overthrowing governments by interventions in countries’ domestic affairs — such occupation, actsofaggressionanddestructive root causes of the Middle East conflict, including real the on focused stay to body world the for embattled region. the Province insupportofthemilitantsholedup convoy carrying ammunition into Syria’s Idlib civilian installations and infrastructure,” he said. Some pollsters rely on phone interviews. Oth In political surveys, pollsters are often inter Professional pollsters rely on answers from “Success in dealing with the challenges facing The Syrian envoy further highlighted the need He also criticized Turkey for sending a military Howarepolitical pollsconducted? No.13467 3

Thursday

AUGUST unsolved problems on Thursdayamid Iran league willstart 22,2019 - - - polls atthis stage? third ofrespondents. leading the pack with support from nearly one- with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani 12%, around hovered McCain, John nod, ty’s the Democratic nomination the following year. polls over BarackObama,whowouldcapture 20-percentage point lead across a dozen national a mixedbaginpredictingtheeventual winner. dates - this early in the election cycle have been polls that measure support for one party’s candi calculated based on the size of the sample. that the results reflect the broader population - regime. safeguards the International Atomic Energy Agency (NPT) without delay and subject its facilities to gime should join the Non-Proliferation Treaty of weapons of mass destruction, saying the re accumulation Israel’s about concerns pressed cupied Syrian Golan,” he said. occupation ofArab territories, includingtheoc stability has been and continues to be the Israeli dle East and the inability to achieve peace and in theregion. Arab territoriesasthemainreasonforcrisis manipulate its provisions,” he said. See page2 See The man who would win the Republican Par In August 2007, Hillary Clinton held a nearly National presidential primary polls - that is, Ja’afari also described Israel’s occupation of According to Press TV, Ja’afari further ex further Ja’afari TV, Press to According “The main cause of the conflicts in the Mid the Eyvane Shams Hall. awards during the ceremony organized at rus Alvandreceived lifetimeachievement engineer HassanZahedianddirector Si pur, makeupartistBijanMohtashem, sound on Tuesday night. lifetime achievements in a special ceremony fluential figures in Iranian cinema for their Iran Cinema Celebration honored four in 21st the of organizers —The TEHRAN

receive lifetime

What doeshistory tellusabout Mordad 31,1398 Stage and screen actor AkbarZanjan- and screen Stage Four cineastes achievement I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y Iran Cinema Celebration

awards at been approvedbeen fortheimplementation year (March 21-July 22). months of the current Iranian calendar four first the during Trade and Mining Industry, of Ministry the by approved been has (FDI) investment direct eign millionoffor TEHRAN —Some$554.4 General Yahya Saree, announced in a state man forYemeniArmedForcesBrigadier Ansarullah movement,citingthespokes province ofDhamar. in theskiesover the Saudi-led military coalition an unmannedaerialvehiclebelongingto Committees, have interceptedandtargeted ported by allied fighters from the Popular — TEHRAN Guards Corps (IRGC) has said that it is — TEHRAN their malignintention. that Iran has been successful in countering on limiting Iran’s military power shows gance system” has focused its attention day, the IRGC said the fact that “the arro tinuously increase their defense power. on agenda of Iran’s armed forces to con- IRGC: Augmenting defensepower The mentioned amount of FDI has FDI of amount mentioned The The mediabureauofYemen’s Houthi “The totality of the country’s military In a statement published on Wednes Yemen airdefenseforcesshoot 13 Industry ministry approves

20,1440 Dhul Hijjah on agendaofarmedforces 15 16 Yemeni army forces, sup h Ilmc Revolution Islamic The

down Saudi-led drone Yemen’s

(IAEA)’s FDI worth $554m

southwestern ------

while flying Tehran photo exhibit Tehran photoexhibit effects under spotlight in U.S. sanctions’ deadly ------investment. approved with$346.3 millionofforeign industrial, miningandtradeprojectswere ISNA reported on Wednesday.. comparison to the same period last year, of 24 industry, mining and trade projects. Revolution Guards Corps in particular, Islamic the organizations, defense and ultra-regional powers”. region, puttingitataleveltocompetewith country into an “unrivaled power of the the turned have fields defense various read. country’s defense capacity,” the statement about oractingtofocusonimprovingthe will nothesitateamomentinthinking … the near future. the will be showcased during a ceremony in missile whichbroughtdownthedrone oped sion, noting that the domestically-devel was struckasitonasurveillancemis early on Wednesday. Predator B)dronewithaprecisionmissile Atomics their alliesshotdowntheU.S.-built General and forces defense air Yemeni that ment Syrian army. andpressure leverage againstthe edge and theirsupporters willlosetheirwinning freeing Syria from the curse of terrorism. be the last stage of the war for completely Damascus. In fact, operation in Idlib will as they use these areas to put pressure on hands ofAmericansandtheirallies the control of all critical military areas out of is worried that the Syrian army seize the in Syria? the Americans and their military forces surprising strike, how it would influence the province of Idlib. army to wipe out all Takfiri terrorists in is that it will pave the way for the Syrian an areawhichiscalledthetriangleofdeath. gains controloverabigareainnorthernHama, because it means that now the Syrian Army Army Syrian the victoriesfor more for way Sijnah and Maarat al-Numan. to go further north toward cities of Kafar cause it will make it easier for the army critical from a military point of view be of the country. Damascus whichisthepoliticalcapital nects Syria’s economy capital Aleppo to towardreopeningtheroadthatcon step first the is Sheikhoun Khan Capturing easternwestern, andnorthernparts. in Syria and is the intersection of Idlib’s roads key the overlooks it importance; for the Syrian army? why capturing it was an important victory O in Idlib gain strategicwin Syrian army the city. of out fled terrorists the all Sheikhoun, city of Khan Sheikhoun. the enter to able were army Syrian the Nimr, Tal of hilltop key the capturing army captured the city. Syrian the and Idlib of province Syrian In the first four months of last year, 24 The figure shows a 60-percent rise in The statementaddedthattheaircraft It added that Iran’s achievements in With freeing Idlib, the militia forces If the Syrian army free Idlib in a quick, Another important part of the victory The answeristhattheUnitedStates the paves Sheikhoun Khan Capturing also is Sheikhoun Khan Capturing Khan Sheikhoun has a high strategic But why this city is so important and Khan entered army Syrian the After According tothelatestnews, after key city, Khan Sheikhoun, in the that terroristswithdrewfroma reported news local Tuesday, n

MQ-9 MehrNewsAgency

REPORT journalist Ramin HosseinAbadian

Reaper (sometimes called

4 7 7

13

2 16 - - - - I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS AUGUST 22, 2019

Swedish FM describes talks UN backs nuclear deal, says genuine dialogue with Zarif as ‘Frank and constructive’ needed to avoid confrontation in region

POLITICAL TEHRAN – Swedish Foreign Minister Margot By staff and agency following attacks on oil tankers near the deskWallstrom has said that her talks with Foreign UN Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet Maria Strait of Hormuz. Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif were “frank” and “constructive”. Luiza Ribeiro Viotti said on Tuesday that On August 14, President Hassan Rouhani “Frank and constructive discussions with FM Zarif, today “restraint and genuine dialogue are urgently insisted on Iran’s position that there is no visiting Stockholm. Focus on human rights situation in Iran, needed” to avoid a major confrontation, which need to foreign forces to maintain security regional issues, such as Yemen and the Persian Gulf, and the would have disastrous consequences, even in the Persian Gulf region. JCPOA. Dialogue essential in times of uncertainty,” she tweeted well beyond the Middle East region. “Major powers, especially America, seek on Tuesday. Briefing the Security Council on the nothing except causing division and emptying situation in the Middle East, she described treasury of the Islamic countries. The Persian the situation in the Middle East as “troubling Gulf littoral states can maintain security and and complex”. stability in the region,” Rouhani said during Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have a cabinet meeting. been raised to dangerous levels, she said. Zarif said on August 9 that the Persian Gulf She added that the rights and duties is a “national security priority for Iran” and related to navigation must be respected in that Tehran will not “hesitate to safeguard its accordance with international law. security” in this strategic waterway, which he Elsewhere, she expressed the UN support described as a “vital lifeline” for the Islamic for the 2015 nuclear deal. a third of our population spend $87bn from the region, the threats are coming from Republic. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera on military procurement. Let’s make a the U.S. and its allies who are pouring weapons The chief diplomat warned that military on August 12, Iranian Foreign Minister comparison, Iran spent last year $16bn in the region, making it a tinderbox ready to presence of extra-regional forces is absolutely Mohammad Javad Zarif warned against on all its military with almost one million blow up,” Zarif told Al Jazeera. a “source of insecurity”. an arms race in the Middle East. people in the army. Zarif’s comments came after the United “Mindful of this reality, any extra-regional “The U.S. [sold] $50bn worth of “The UAE with a total population of one States announced it is working to form a presence is by definition source of insecurity weapons to the region last year. Some of million spent $22bn, Saudi Arabia spent military coalition to supposedly protect - despite propaganda,” Zarif wrote on his the countries in the region with less than $87bn. If you are talking about threats coming commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf Twitter account.

Carl Bildt, a former Swedish prime minister, also in a meeting with Zarif on Tuesday expressed support for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA, and Leader: The Kashmir wound is British legacy insisted on the need to honor international law in respect to POLITICAL TEHRAN – Leader of Indian-administered region’s special status. Khamenei told President Hassan Rou- “The need to cut dependence on free navigation. deskthe Islamic Revolution India has claimed the decision to strip hani and his cabinet team that “domestic oil export” “Had meeting with Iran FM @JZarif. Emphasis was on possible Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday the Muslim-majority region of its semi-au- production” is the “main key to resolving The Leader urged officials to turn ways back to full respect for the Iran nuclear agreement by that the current tension in Kashmir is a tonomy was necessary for economic devel- existing problems” facing the poor and sanctions into opportunities by cutting everyone as well as on the importance of respect for international “wound” left by “malicious acts” of Brit- opment in Kashmir and to stop “terrorism.” middle classes of society. dependence on oil exports and relying law in terms of maritime security,” Bildt tweeted. ain when it was forced to leave the Indian Ayatollah Khamenei urged India to follow The meeting took place on “government more on domestic capabilities. Zarif started Scandinavian tour on Monday and held talks subcontinent in 1947. a “fair policy” toward the Kashmiri people. week”. The easily gained revenues from with Finland’s top officials including President Sauli Niinisto “For a continuation of conflict in Kash- “We maintain good relations with the The Leader suggested that giving space to oil export has been a “great calamity” at the first leg of the three-nation Scandinavian tour. mir, the British intentionally left this wound Indian government, but the Indian gov- small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for the country, the Leader remarked, Finland currently hold the European Union presidency. open in the region,” Ayatollah Khamenei ernment is expected to adopt a fair policy are the main tools in resistance economy. adding, “This old problem has been really “Fruitful meetings with current EU presidency, Finnish noted. toward the decent people of Kashmir so Ayatollah Khamenei said all officials are detrimental to the progress of the country.” President, foreign minister and trade minister,” Zarif tweeted. Kashmir has been divided between In- that the Muslim people of the region are not unanimous in their view on the importance He said there are countries that have Norway was scheduled to be the last leg of Zarif’s tour of dia and Pakistan since their partition and put under pressure,” the Leader remarked. of SMEs and have promised to work on succeeded to achieve great economic Scandinavian nations. independence from Britain in 1947. The Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah such projects. prosperity without producing a “drop Zarif’s tour of Scandinavian nations took place after he disputed region is claimed in full by both of oil”. visited the two Persian Gulf states of Qatar and Kuwait on sides, which have fought three wars over it. “Small and medium-sized enterprises He added the best possible way to counter August 12 and 18 respectively to renew Iran’s proposal for According to Press TV, Kashmir has been sanctions is shoring up production in maritime security and non-aggression pact. the scene of fresh protests and placed un- are main tools in promoting resistance different sectors, particularly in knowledge- Zarif, who will be visiting France and China in coming days der a lockdown ever since Prime Minister economy.” based projects, agriculture, auto industry, as well, is trying to remind the world about a possible collapse Narendra Modi’s government revoked the housing construction, etc. of the JCPOA and also warn about the U.S. dangerous move in forming a military coalition in the Persian Gulf. On July 4, Britain captured and Iranian oil tanker off Gibraltar, claiming it was carrying oil to Syria. Iran responded in kind by seizing a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz Zarif: ‘Trump cannot expect to be unpredictable and expect Iran to be predictable’ on July 19. By staff and agency waging an economic war against Iran.” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on ‘If Europe observes commitments Iran will Wednesday Tehran may act “unpredictably” in response fully implement JCPOA’ Russia says building to the United States’ “unpredictable” policies under U.S. The chief diplomat also said if the Europeans fully President Donald Trump, Reuters reported. honor their commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran coalitions in Persian Gulf Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risen will immediately reverse its decision in scaling down its since President Trump’s administration last year quit an obligations. may lead to sad consequences international deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and “Even if the United States does not return to the nuclear began to ratchet up sanctions. Iranian officials denounced deal, Iran will return to the first stage in several hours… By staff and agency the new penalties as “economic warfare”. on the condition that the European side fully implements Russia’s acting envoy to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky “Mutual unpredictability will lead to chaos. President its obligations,” Zarif asserted. warned on Tuesday that building coalitions in the Persian Trump cannot expect to be unpredictable and expect oth- U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned the nuclear Gulf may lead to sad consequences, inviting UN Security ers to be predictable. Unpredictability will lead to mutual deal in May 2018 and returned the previous sanctions and Council member states to discuss its Concept for collective unpredictability and unpredictability is chaotic,” Zarif said imposed new ones. security in the region. in a speech at the Stockholm International Peace Research So far, Iran has taken two steps in reducing its nuclear “A scenario of building coalitions of interest leads to sad Institute (SIPRI). commitments: increasing its stockpile of enriched uranium fuel to the purity level of 4.5 percent. consequences,” TASS quoted him as saying in open debates Zarif also said, “You cannot have an island of security beyond the 300 kilograms allowed under the JCPOA – the Under the agreement, Iran was allowed to enrich ura- on the Middle East at UN Security Council. by your fleet in the Persian Gulf when the United States is official name for the nuclear deal – and enriching nuclear nium to 3.67 percent.

IRGC: Augmenting defense power on agenda of Iran’s armed forces 1 It added that Iran’s achievements Pompeo warned against ending an arms is unshackled to create new turmoil, and years after the adoption of the nuclear deal. in various defense fields have turned the embargo on Iran, which will expire on Oc- figure out what it must do to prevent this The push to extend the ban on weapons country into an “unrivaled power of the re- tober 2020. from happening,” Pompeo said Tuesday, sales to Tehran comes amid increasing ef- gion, putting it at a level to compete with “Time is drawing short to continue this during an address at the United Nations. forts by Washington to restrict Iran’s oil ultra-regional powers”. activity of restricting Iran’s capacity…. The The arms embargo covers all weapons exports in line with U.S. President Don- The statement was released on the same international community will have plenty sales and “related material” to Iran. It was put ald Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy day as United States Secretary of State Mike of time to see how long it has until Iran in place by the UN and is set to be lifted five toward Iran.

FM Zarif due in France on Friday, to visit China next week He said, “With an understanding of the relevance of devel- POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Minis- Bahrain on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf. intended to develop bilateral relations, deescalate oping a sustainable mechanism for collective security in the deskter Mohammad Javad Zarif will pay The visits also took place after Britain seized and tension in the Persian Gulf region, and also prevent region on the basis of equal dialogue, Russia has proposed a visit to France later this week for talks with the later released an Iran-operated oil tanker off Gibraltar. the collapse of the nuclear deal. and presented, including at the UN platform, a Concept for French president and foreign minister and will fly Iran called the move “maritime piracy”. In response to Washington’s exit and Europe’s collective security in the Persian Gulf.” to China next week. While visiting Qatar and Kuwait, Zarif renewed failure to compensate for the U.S. absence, Iran has, He noted that the proposal is “aimed at unblocking conflict “I will travel to Paris on Friday to meet French Iran’s proposal for non-aggression pact with the Per- since May 8, twice suspended some of its commitments situations and at developing measures of trust and control.” President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister sian Gulf littoral states. under the nuclear deal in a retaliatory step based on “When it comes to Russian proposals, they can and should Jean-Yves Le Drian,” Zarif said late on Monday while Iran has proposed non-aggression pact while the articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA. be adjusted and specified. In a sense, they represent an in the Swedish capital of Stockholm. U.S. and Israel have been trying to demonize Iran. Europe has already missed a July 7 deadline set by invitation for a constructive dialogue on ways to achieve During his Monday statements, Zarif said that he The Trump administration has claimed Iran wants to Tehran for it to meet its end of the bargain. Tehran long-term stabilization in the Persian Gulf,” Polyansky said. would also visit China “next week”. colonize Arab nations and Israel has said Iran wants has said it will go ahead with the third stage of scaling A roundtable on starting expert dialogue on this topic Zarif’s Friday host France is a partner to a 2015 to revive the Persian Empire. down its nuclear commitments on September 7 if the will be held in Moscow on September 18-19, he said. deal on Iran’s nuclear program — officially known “Fruitful talks” European side keeps failing. On July 23, the Russian Foreign Ministry presented a as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Zarif concluded his visit to Helsinki late on Mon- Zarif further played down the sanctions recently Concept for collective security in the Persian Gulf. The pro- — and has led European efforts to salvage the land- day, where he held talks with Finland’s top officials imposed by the U.S. on him. He said, “America’s sanc- posal envisages forming an initiative group for organizing mark accord since U.S. President Donald Trump uni- including President Sauli Niinisto. tions are not pressuring me. They [the Americans] an international conference on security and cooperation laterally withdrew his country from it last year and Finland currently holds the rotating presidency are after sanctioning the [Iranian] people; therefore, in the Persian Gulf, which would later lead to establishing re-imposed previous sanctions on Iran and introduced of the European Union. we will not use the word ‘sanctions’ anymore, but we an organization for security and cooperation in the region. new harsh ones. “Fruitful meetings with current EU presidency, will, instead, use the term ‘economic terrorism’” to Moreover, Moscow put forward a proposal to create demilita- Zarif’s visit to Paris will follow two phone conversa- Finnish President, foreign minister and trade min- refer to Washington’s pressure campaign, Zarif said. rized zones in the region and suggested to give up permanent tions between Macron and President Hassan Rouhani ister,” Zarif tweeted. In a joint press conference with Finland’s Foreign stationing of groups from non-regional countries, as well of Iran regarding the JCPOA on July 18 and August 6. After Finland, Zarif visited Stockholm, Sweden, Affairs Minister Pekka Haavisto in Helsinki on Mon- as to set up coordination between militaries. Iran has said if the remaining signatories to the on Monday evening. On Tuesday, he held talks with day, the top Iranian diplomat said that the Islamic The United States has called on its European and Asian JCPOA — France, Britain, Germany, Russia and Chi- Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom. Republic has no interest in engaging in a fresh round allies to form a maritime force to supposedly monitor safe na — fail to protect Iran from sanctions it will see no Wallstrom said her talks with Zarif were “frank” of nuclear talks with the United States. shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf. reason to remain the only party loyal to the agreement. and “constructive”. “Iran is not interested in negotiations with the President Hassan Rouhani has said such a move will not Since the U.S. abandoned the accord, the European Zarif also held a meeting with a number of Swedish United States to clinch a new nuclear accord,” Zarif help regional security. sides have failed to abide by their commitments. businessmen. Norway will be the last leg of Zarif’s said, adding, “We had detailed negotiations with the So far, only Britain, Israel, Australia and Bahrain have In his whirlwind tour of the region and Scandi- tour of Scandinavian nations. United States and it was not us who left the negoti- agreed to join the coalition. navian nations, Zarif has already visited Qatar and Zarif’s meetings with foreign officials are primarily ating table.” TECHNOLOGY

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 22, 2019 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 Takht-Ravanchi warns of Washington’s New Zealand says has no boats ‘divide and rule’ strategy to send to Strait of Hormuz

Ambassador Takht-Ravanchi says foreign forces are sowing insecurity in Strait of Hormuz POLITICAL TEHRAN – New Zealand’s defense minister desksays while no formal request for assistance POLITICAL TEHRAN – Majid vicemen as one of the main reasons behind desk was made, Britain approached New Zealand about whether it Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s the instability in the Middle East, stress- had any capacity to help. ambassador to the United Nations, warned ing that the Pentagon has active military “I’ve said right now both of my frigates are in Canada un- on Tuesday that the U.S. is seeking to sow presence in all Persian Gulf states except dergoing refit. We don’t actually have any capabilities avail- discord among regional states through its for Iran. able,” Ron Mark told reporters on Wednesday, according to “divide and rule” strategy. He said the number of foreign military New Zealand Herald. “The sole beneficiary of weapons installations in the Middle East has jumped Britain asked New Zealand whether it could help patrol the stockpiling in the region is the defense from four in 1991 to 41 in 2018, with nearly Strait of Hormuz following the seizure of oil tankers by Iran, but industry of the exporting countries. We all of them belong to the U.S. we didn’t have any boats to send, the minister of defense said. should not ignore the U.S. ‘divide and This marks “the highest concentration Mark’s statements came as Australia’s government on rule’ mechanism, which seeks to sow of military sites in the world,” he remarked. Wednesday announced it was joining a United States-led ef- seeds of permanent discord among re- Takht-e Ravanchi then highlighted that fort to allegedly protect shipping lanes in the waters between gional states,” Takht-Ravanchi told the Tehran will continue to ensure the security the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, a move which has UN Security Council meeting on Middle of maritime navigation in the Middle East, called “provocative”. East peace and security challenges, Press particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, add- TV reported. ing that the United States’ attempts to set The Iranophobic remarks by American up a military coalition in the Persian Gulf officials are meant to accomplish such an to counter what it calls the “Iran threat” objective, Takht-Ravanchi said, adding, will fail. “They have leveled unfounded accusations U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford, against Iran in order to justify their re- chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said gional policies, and prevent the country on July 9 that the U.S. was proceeding with from performing its role in the region.” plans to assemble the coalition purportedly “While we are not seeking confrontation, aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation we cannot and will not remain indifferent to in waters off Iran and Yemen. the violation of our sovereignty. Therefore, Meanwhile, Washington’s call to form in order to secure our borders and interests, lead a coalition in the Persian Gulf, saying He emphasized that the responsibility the coalition has been faced with reluctance we will vigorously exercise our inherent foreign forces are causing insecurity and of ensuring the water body’s security rests even on the part of its close allies. So far, right to self-defense,” Takht- Ravanchi instability in the Strait of Hormuz with only with Persian Gulf littoral states. only a few countries, including Bahrain, Tensions in the region rose after Iran in July seized two told the Security Council. their military presence in the strategic Takht-Ravanchi further described the Britain and Australia have agreed to join oil tankers, shortly after the UK had seized an Iranian tanker He also pointed to the U.S. attempt to sea passage. deployment of more than 70,000 U.S. ser- the coalition. off Gibraltar. “The bottom line that I can barely struggle to keep two P3s [surveillance aircraft] flying ... I just don’t see that we have any Unlike Trump, Obama was a wise enemy: Larijani spare capability right now to engage in that kind of a mission.” POLITICAL TEHRAN – Parliament Speaker Ali JCPOA, which Iran struck with six world powers in 2015. He said, “If we did have the capacity, Cabinet would have to deskLarijani has ruled out the possibility of Lester Holt is visiting Iran and he has already held several discuss the matter and that no official request had been put in.” negotiations with the U.S. under the administration of Donald interviews with senior Iranian officials including Foreign “Everything else is hypothetical beyond that point,” Mark said. Trump, saying Iran accepted Obama’s offer to enter talks Minister Zarif, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, CBI Gov- National Party foreign affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee de- because he was a “wise enemy”. ernor Hemmati, and Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National scribed the admission as embarrassing and said New Zealand “During the previous administration, the U.S. offered talks Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani. needed to join the effort, one way or the other. to Iran and Iran accepted … because our initial impression In his interview with the SNSC secretary, published “This is simply not good enough. New Zealand’s defense force was that Mr. Obama was following some principles in his on Tuesday, Shamkhani said the U.S. sanctions pressure can offer its partners a range of skills and assets in a multilateral policies,” Larijani said in an interview with the NBC’s Lester against Iran are not for negotiation but intended to make effort such as this,” he said. Holt in Tehran. Tehran surrender. “Just as oil and other goods destined for Australia moves “He was our enemy, but he was the wise enemy. It’s easier “As long as this approach is taken by the United States, through the Strait of Hormuz, so too does oil and goods destined to interact with a wise enemy,” he said. Iran will never ever seek negotiations,” Shamkhani said. for New Zealand.” “I think the United States needs to correct its behavior. “We had a case of successful negotiations with the JCPOA He applauded Australia’s effort, saying the clock was now I think Mr. Trump ruined one important opportunity,” the [the 2015 nuclear deal]. How come the United States de- ticking for New Zealand. speaker remarked. parted from it?” he said. Tensions in the region have escalated rapidly in recent months He also said Washington’s behavior has “increased sol- He also said that Iran should never have signed the JCPOA. amid Iran’s increasing frustration that it is not seeing the eco- idarity” of the Iranian public. He said that there were people in Iran who felt that signing nomic benefits of a 2015 agreement to limit its nuclear program. Asked whether he could confirm any backchannel com- the JCPOA was a mistake. JCPOA in May 2018 and imposed the “toughest ever sanctions” U.S. President Donald Trump pulled America out of the deal munication between the two countries, Larijani said, “I don’t Asked if he was one of those people, Shamkhani said, against Iran in line with his administration’s “maximum and re-imposed sanctions last year. To strangulate the Iranian confirm this. There is no backchannel communication.” “Yes. … I’m just following the viewpoints of my nation, the pressure” policy against Tehran. economy, the Trump administration has even banned total ban He stressed that if the U.S. wants to talk with Iran, it needs people of Iran.” At the same time, Trump has pushed for talks with Iran on Iran’s oil exports. to first come back to the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the UN-endorsed but to no avail. Revolutionary diplomacy Iran’s power has driven enemy into despair, says military chief behind release of Iranian POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iran’s power Gulf, saying such efforts have already failed. tanker: MP deskhas reached a level that The top commander further said the efforts it has driven the enemy into despair, says were aimed to lay siege on the Islamic Repub- TEHRAN (MNA) – A senior Iranian lawmaker has said that the Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, lic and undermine its power in the region. Iran-operated oil tanker Adrian Darya 1 was released as the result the Armed Forces Chief of Staff. Baqeri’s comments came after the White of Iran’s revolutionary diplomacy which is based on resistance. In remarks on Wednesday, Baqeri said House announced plans to create a new secu- “The release of the Iranian tanker proved that a diplomacy Iran has emerged as an invincible power on rity initiative in the Persian Gulf by forming based on resistance and revolutionary ideas is effective,” Alaeddin the world stage, Mehr reported. a coalition for escorting commercial ships. Boroujerdi, a member of the parliament’s National Security and Such level of capability and readiness is However, Washington’s call to form the Foreign Policy Committee, told Mehr on Monday. a prelude to further unfolding of the Islamic coalition has fallen on deaf ears. So far, only “Our diplomacy on this issue was based on ensuring national Republic’s power before the eyes of other Britain, Australia and Bahrain have agreed security and interests of the country and also on revolutionary nations, he added. to join the coalition. diplomacy of resistance,” he added. On Monday, General Baqeri said the On Tuesday, IRGC Navy Chief Rear Admi- Islamic Republic, under the leadership of ral Alireza Tangsiri said, “The Islamic Republic Ayatollah Khamenei, continues to advance in of Iran stands firm against trans-regional the path of creating an “Islamic civilization” countries and enemies entering the Persian with all power and deep understanding of Gulf to create instability and insecurity in the current circumstances. the region.” He said despite all the conspiracies, in- er, which was seized by British marines in of our country’s tanker in Gibraltar, prove “The regional countries know that Iran cluding the imposed war (Iraq’s war against the Strait of Gibraltar last month, saying it the fact that the Islamic Revolution strongly has extended the hand of brotherhood and Iran in the 1980s) and all the acts of sabotage demonstrated the Islamic Republic’s power continues on its path to achieve its noble friendship towards Islamic nations and and insecurity in Iran by the enemies, the at the international level. ideals,” the general remarked. countries, and the alliance and escort of the country is at the peak of its power. “The shooting down of an invading U.S. Elsewhere in his remarks, Baqeri slammed vessels cannot interfere in the major mission He also pointed to the release of the Ira- spy drone, the seizure of the violating British the efforts launched by the U.S. to form a of the Guards which is to provide security,” nian-operated Adrian Darya 1 supertank- oil tanker, and last but not least, the release coalition and hatch new plots in the Persian Tangsiri added.

Zarif advises Brian Hook to study National Security Archive on 1953 coup in Iran Despite all U.S. pressures and requests, Gibraltar govern- ment on Wednesday ordered the release of the tanker, formerly POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister known as Grace 1. desk Mohammad Javad Zarif has advised Iran’s Ambassador to London Hamid Baeidinejad confirmed U.S. special representative for Iran Brian Hook to study on Monday that the supertanker had started its journey in inter- National Security Archive which confirms the U.S. role national waters 45 days after being seized in Gibraltar. in the 1953 Iran coup. Britain’s naval forces unlawfully seized the vessel, then known In a message on his Twitter account on Tuesday, Zarif as Grace 1, and its cargo of 2.1 million barrels of oil in the Strait posted a link of National Security Archive which declassifies of Gibraltar on July 4 under the pretext that the supertanker CIA documents on the U.S. role in the 1953 coup in Iran had been suspected of carrying crude to Syria in violation of and American and British involvement in overthrowing the European Union’s unilateral sanctions against the country. Iran’s government, saying, “For those who are either “Seizing Iranian tanker was an illegal measure and an act of unaware of, or willfully revisionist on, the history of US piracy by England upon U.S. order,” added Boroujerdi. involvement in the 1953 Coup against the democratically “In line with its legal authorities and in a bid to ensure the se- elected government of Iran.” curity of Hormuz Strait and the Persian Gulf, the Islamic Republic Reportedly, Hook claimed on Tuesday that CIA had of Iran retaliated against UK’s measure; because the security of no role in Iran’s 1953 coup. the Persian Gulf region is the security of the Islamic Republic,” On August 19, 1953, a foreign-backed coup – known noted the lawmaker, referring to seizure of UK-flagged tanker in Iran as the 28 Mordad coup d’état – was staged in Iran Stena Impero after it had violated international maritime rules which saw the overthrow of the democratically elected in the Strait of Hormuz. government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh “England’s measure was a threat to international maritime in favor of strengthening the monarchical rule of Mo- security, so the Islamic Republic of Iran decided to give a firm hammad Reza Pahlavi. Mosaddegh was then arrested, tried and convicted of the 1953 coup in Iran, saying the Americans and the Brit- response since many countries send tankers to the Persian Gulf Named Operation Ajax by the CIA, the coup was car- treason by the shah’s military court. ish orchestrated the coup following years of “maximum to buy oil and Iran couldn’t let the region face a crisis,” said ried out after an earlier coup attempt failed to overthrow He was sentenced to death, but on the Shah’s personal pressure” on Iranians, hinting at U.S. President Donald Boroujerdi. Mosaddegh and install General Fazlollah Zahedi, the shah’s orders, his sentence was commuted to three years in sol- Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy against Iran. IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri high- reliable ally, as prime minister. itary confinement in a military prison, followed by house “66 years ago today, a coup instigated by the US and the lighted on Sunday that the Port and Maritime Organization of As a result, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the shah of Iran, arrest until his death. UK overthrew the democratically-elected Government of Iran (PMO) and Iran’s Judiciary are responsible to decide on had fled to Baghdad. The Shah ruled until 1979, when he was brought down Iran. This atrocity followed years of ‘maximum pressure’ the fate of Stena Impero, adding, “There is no relation between With the success of the second coup, however, Zahedi during the Islamic Revolution, which led to the establish- on Iranians,” Zarif said in a tweet. the release of Grace 1 from Gibraltar and the British oil tanker was installed as prime minister, and the shah returned ment of the Islamic Republic after a referendum. “Our people put an end to such interference in 1979. detained by the Guards.” to Iran and continued to rule more fiercely as monarch. On Monday, Zarif commemorated the anniversary of Time for some to deal with this reality,” he added. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY AUGUST 22, 2019

STOCK MARKET Industrial unit establishment TEDPIX 266127.2 IFX 3579.29 permits up over 24% Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir ECONOMY TEHRAN– Issuance of significant attention in this planning and deskpermits for setting up in- six specific programs have been defined dustrial units in Iran increased 24.1 per- in this regard. CURRENCIES cent in the first four months of the current In this due, reforming production Iranian calendar year (March 21-July 22), processes and guidelines, eliminating or USD 42,000 rials IRNA reported citing the data released by reducing the timing of license issuances, the Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade. EUR 46,613 rials simplifying rules and regulations impeding As reported, some 8,355 licenses were production, removing barriers in the way GBP 51,106rials issued during the mentioned four months. of production and trade, and providing The units are supposed to create jobs AED 11,437 rials open access to information for the general for 200,972 persons, with 31.2 percent rise public are some of the programs which are year on year. Source: cbi.ir put on the agenda. The ministry has previously announced Establishing a comprehensive informa- that issuance of permits for setting up in- tion system aiming to exchange informa- dustrial units in Iran increased 16 percent in the past Iranian calendar year (ended tion with other governmental institutions COMMODITIES on March 20, 2019). and executive agencies related to industry, Brent $60.95/b Based on the data nearly 970 trillion rials mining and trade sectors, and a strategic plan for managing currency policies, bank WTI $56.73/b (about $23 billion) has been invested in the mentioned industrial units, registering profits and macroeconomic goals to sup- OPEC Basket $59.56/b a 26.3 percent increase compared to thee port production in the industrial sectors as last year’s figure for the same time span. well as ranking and encouraging investors Gold $1,502.45/oz In early July, on the occasion of the and entrepreneurs in order to increase the Silver $17.15/oz National Day of Industry and Mining (July presence of industrial units in the national 1), Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade and international arenas, are some other Platinium $849.00/oz outlined 35 plans covering seven major and mining sectors. associated with the country’s industry, programs which are to be followed by the Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com areas for developing the country’s industry Improving the business environment mining and trade sectors has been given industry ministry.

Industry ministry approves Over 60m tons of goods loaded, unloaded at Iran’s ports since March FDI worth $554m ECONOMY TEHRAN – loading and unloading of directive by President Hassan Rouhani, IRICA is providing deskgoods at ports of Iran has exceeded 60 new facilities for importers of basic goods which makes 1 Iranian industry, mining and trade sectors attracted $3.5 million tons since the beginning of current Iranian calen- them able to clear their commodities in less than an hour. billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the past Iranian dar year (March 21), the portal of the Roads and Urban “For basic goods such as meat, system formalities and calendar year (ended on March 20), which indicates a 75-percent Development Ministry reported quoting the minister as clearance procedures will be carried out in less than an growth from the figure of its preceding year, according to Afrouz saying on Tuesday. hour and importers can transport their goods soon after,” Bahrami, the director general of Foreign Investment Office of Speaking in an event on the occasion of the World Mar- Mehrdad Jamal Orounaqi said. the Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade. itime Day, Mohammad Eslami noted that exports from the Connecting the ports which are the major cargo hubs country’s ports has increased six percent while the imports of the country to the national railway network is another have witnessed a 25 percent rise in the mentioned period. project seriously followed up by the government. While Iran is combatting the U.S. unilateral sanctions on The head of Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (known as its economy, the country’s ports as the major gates of exports RAI) has recently announced that 59 kilometers of railroads and imports play some significant role in this combat. This are planned to be built for connecting the major cargo hubs role makes all-out support to ports and more development in the country to the national railway network by the end of of them serious and vital. current Iranian calendar year (March 19, 2020). Such necessity has led the government to define projects Saeed Rasouli mentioned linking the cargo hubs to the with no halt. for more development of the ports and also take some meas- railway network as one of the main priorities of RAI in the Despite the sanctions and the difficulties resulted from ures to encourage investment making in ports, in addition current year. them, there are still high traffics in the ports which show to facilitate loading and unloading of goods, especially basic All such measures indicate the strong will for strengthening that the country’s shipping and port activities are running commodities, there. the role of ports especially during this time of sanctions. well, Mohammad Rastad has said and underlined taking On May 21, the deputy director of the Islamic Republic And they are bringing results; as the head of PMO has advantage of such potential to materialize economic ob- of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) said following a announced that all port development projects are underway jectives of the country.

Iran expects a 10-fold increase of FDI in industry and mining Iraqi economic delegation to pay 3-day visit to Kermanshah sectors by the end of the Sixth Five-Year National Development ECONOMY TEHRAN – An econom- million were exported from Kermanshah, Plan (2021). deskic delegation from Iraq’s Parvizkhan, Paveh and Khosravi border Based on the latest report of United Nations Conference on Babil Governorate will arrive in the western crossings, indicating an 8% and 15% growth Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Iran has managed to rise Iranian province of Kermanshah next Tuesday in terms of tonnage and value, respective- its FDI 50 percent to $5.019 billion in 2017. for a three-day visit. ly, compared with the similar period of According to the secretary of Kermanshah last year. chamber of commerce Daryoush Panahi, the Kermanshah’s producers offer their Africa’s July consumer delegation is to pay several visits to the prov- products in 36 foreign markets, with Iraq ince’s industrial units active in foodstuff pro- on top of the list. inflation falls to lowest duction, agriculture, petrochemicals and etc. Parvizkhan was the province’s main tran- They will also hold B2B meetings with sit gate through which some 337,000 tons since January Iranian businessmen and officials. of goods worth $183 million were exported, The visit is paid to increase mutual eco- which indicates a 99% jump in terms of South Africa’s consumer inflation fell more than expected to its nomic cooperation between the two prov- value and 28% growth in terms of volume lowest since January on Wednesday due to subdued fuel and inces, he added. year on year. municipal tariffs prices, raising the chances the central bank will Babil Governorate or Babylon Province Detergents, evaporative products, home cut lending rates to support a flagging economy. is a governorate in central Iraq. appliances, tomato, tile, plastic bags, cool- As stated by reuters.com, the South African Reserve Bank It has an area of 5,119 square kilometers, ers and potato are among the main goods (SARB) lowered lending rates to 6.5% in July, but suggested with an estimated population of 1,651,565 exported via the province’s borders. future cuts were not a foregone conclusion despite calls for it to people in 2002. The province’s total exports during do more to support the weak economy. The provincial capital is the city of Hillah, last Iranian year stood at 5.896 million Headline consumer price inflation slowed to 4.0% year-on-year which lies opposite the ancient city of Bab- major border crossings of the western Irani- province’s exports, a senior official said. tons with a value of over $2.907 billion, in July, the lowest since January and under a consensus forecast ylon, on the Euphrates River. an province of Kermanshah during the first Director General of Kermanshah Cus- jumping 44% and 33% growth in terms of of 4.2%, data from Statistics South Africa showed. Over 783,000 tons of non-oil commodities three months of the current fiscal (started toms Administration Khalil Heidari said value and tonnage, respectively, compared Since the bank’s July meeting the rand has suffered a beating, worth $345 million were exported from the on March 21), showing steady growth in the some 783,000 tons of goods worth $345 to its previous year. falling around 10% in August alone, as 230 billion rand ($15.09 billion) bailout for state power firm Eskom and political uncer- tainty around President Cyril Ramaphosa upped the threat of credit downgrades to junk. China may have a new way of boosting its economy China’s Central Bank has changed the monetary policy tool. way commercial lenders set interest rates Instead, the PBOC uses multiple for loans — a move expected to bring methods to control money supply and borrowing costs lower at a time when the interest rates in the world’s second-larg- Chinese economy needs a boost. est economy. According to cnbc.com, growth in Banks to protect profit margins China is slowing down as its trade war Many banks, in a bid to protect their with the U.S. looks set to intensify in the profit margins, refused to price their loans coming months. much lower than the benchmark lending Chinese authorities have used both rate — which has not been adjusted since monetary and fiscal measures to lift October 2015. economic activity, but analysts say cer- Given that the loan prime rate is tain segments of the economy could use charged to the best and least risky cus- more help. tomers, it became the unofficial minimum “This is a welcomed move in lower- interest rates on bank loans in China. ing the costs of borrowing especially for The PBOC has said the implicit lower But the subdued inflation print, which analysts say reflects smaller businesses, and it comes at an bound of bank lending rates is an “im- a weakening economy where consumer spending is stagnating important time as China’s GDP growth is portant reason” why overall borrowing and companies are struggling to eke out profits, is set to push the at risk of falling below 6% in 2020 as U.S. costs in China have not declined even bank to cut rates again to ignite economic activity. tariffs on Chinese goods are repeatedly though other interest rates more sensi- “You’re seeing serious levels of disinflation in the economy ramped up,” analysts from Singapore’s tive to market demand and supply have and the outlook for growth is weak as well. United Overseas Bank wrote in a Mon- moved down. In this environment the SARB is probably justified in pro- day note. Another tool the Chinese Central viding a little bit of monetary stimulus,” said Jeffrey Schultz, an The International Monetary Fund Bank uses to adjust monetary policy is expected to bring down the LPR, leading its economy. economist at BNP Paribas. (IMF) has projected China’s growth to the medium-term lending facility rate. to a decline in overall borrowing costs. It wants to be more in line with the Africa’s most industrialized economy contracted by 3.2% in be at 6.2% in 2019 and 6.0% in 2020. It is considered more aligned to sup- On Tuesday, the first day of the new practices of central banks in major econo- the first quarter as nation-wide power cuts by the ailing utility But those forecasts were made before ply-demand dynamics in China’s money reforms, the new one-year loan prime mies, which mainly adjust interest rates on Eskom hit mining, manufacturing and retailers. the latest escalation in the U.S.-China markets. rate was set at 4.25% — down from 4.31% short-term funds to influence borrowing “There’s probably scope for two more 25 basis points reduc- friction, which is expected to lead to more The one-year rate for the MLF last previously; while the newly introduced costs in the broader economy. tions to rates, one this year and one next year,” Schultz said. tariffs being slapped on Chinese goods stood at around 3.3% — lower than the five-year loan prime rate was fixed at China maintains a so-called command Before the inflation data surprise, a poll in the previous in September and December. central bank’s benchmark lending rate 4.85% — below the five-year benchmark economy — or a centrally planned econo- week by Reuters showed all but two of the 20 economists Unlike the U.S. Federal Reserve, Chi- of 4.35%. of 4.9%. my, where its central bank dictates where surveyed saw lending rates staying on hold at the bank’s Sep- na’s Central Bank — the People’s Bank Linking the new loan prime rate to Beijing has for many years tried to interest rates for bank loans and deposits tember meeting. of China — doesn’t have a single primary the medium-term lending facility rate is change the way interest rates work in should be. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 22, 2019 ENERGY 5 Iran’s nominal electricity generation Rouhani issues d irective on capacity touches 85GW supporting oil and gas industry’s ENERGY TEHRAN – The nominal of 25,083 MW (nearly 31 percent) combined downstream sector deskcapacity of electricity gen- cycle power plants account for the biggest eration at Iranian power plants has reached share in the country’s total power genera- ENERGY TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani has 84,795 megawatts [84.795 gigawatts (GW)], tion capacity followed by gas power plants deskpassed a directive on supporting oil industry’s IRNA reported on Wednesday. generating about 30 percent. downstream sector to the oil ministry, Shana reported on Wednesday. As reported, the capacity of renewable The share of hydroelectric power plants The bill which was passed in a Majlis public hearing on Monday power plants (solar and wind), which stood is 19.87 percent while hydroelectric plants aims to support the development of oil and gas condensate projects at 219 megawatts (MW) in August 2015, generate 14.8 percent of the country’s total in the industry’s downstream sector using public investment. has now increased to 750 MW, indicating a electricity, the share of dispersed generation 512MW increase in the course of the men- units is 1.5 percent and finally the renewable tioned timespan. power plants account only for 0.79 percent Iran’s total power generation capacity stood of Iran’s total power generation capacity. at 80,000 MW in the past Iranian calendar In early May, the energy ministry year 1397 (March 2018-March 2019), up announced that the government plans from the 78,484 MW of its preceding year. to inaugurate 22 new power plant units According to a report by Tasnim news agen- with a total capacity of 3,933 MW in the cy, the country’s power generation capacity current Iranian year along with upgrading is set to reach 85,695 MW by the end of the and increasing the efficiency of existing current Iranian calendar year (March 2020). power plants to add another 461 MW of Currently, with a total generation capacity new capacity.

62 power supply projects operational in Government Week Based on this directive, the Oil Ministry is obliged to grant the following permits for units subject to this law when granting project ENERGY TEHRAN – Head of Tehran’s Power FAHAM is aiming to monitor the electricity consumption approvals: deskDistribution Company said 62 power across the country, especially among the large-scale subscrib- 1 - License for exporting the final products. supply projects are going to be inaugurated in the city on ers by replacing old electricity meters with new smart ones. 2 - Authorization for supplying the units with crude oil as feedstock the occasion of the Government Week (August 24-30). In early June, the portal of Iranian Energy Ministry after the expiry of the unit’s feedstock recess period. “The projects include lighting of streets and public areas, (known as Paven) announced that 18,650 smart electricity The Oil Ministry is required to get the cabinet’s approval on this repairing and optimizing the city’s power grid and etc.,” Haji meters have been installed across Tehran for large-scale directive’s executive by-laws within two months. Reza Teimouri said. electricity consumers. According to the official, in the past Iranian calendar Later in July, Iran’s Power Generation and Distribution year (ended on March 20), 2.95 trillion rials (about $70.2 Company (known as TAVANIR) and the Iranian Electrical Brent oil prices rise above $60, million) was allocated for implementing development pro- Power Equipment Manufacturing and Provision Company jects including construction and optimization of electricity (SATKAB) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) buoyed by U.S. stock drawdown distribution networks, which was six percent more than the for installing five million smart electricity meters. figure for its preceding year. Based on this MOU, five million smart electricity me- Brent crude oil futures rose above $60 a barrel on Wednesday He mentioned the Energy Ministry’s national smart me- ters will be installed across the country within the next two after industry data showed a larger-than-expected drop in tering program (known as FAHAM), noting that it will be also years, part of which are going to be installed in the capital U.S. crude inventories, but ongoing worries about a possible followed seriously by Tehran Power Distribution Company. city of Tehran. global recession capped gains. As per af.reuters.com, Brent crude had gained 33 cents, or 0.6%, to $60.36 a barrel by 0654 GMT, after settling 0.5% higher on Tuesday. New 100,000t SPM system installed in Siraf port U.S. crude was up 17 cents, or 0.3%, at $56.30 a barrel. ENERGY TEHRAN – Iran’s Fajr With this new SPM installed and stabi- tons would be able to load condensate from U.S. crude oil stocks fell by 3.5 million barrels in the week to deskJam Gas Refinery has in- lized, loading of gas condensate from the Siraf Siraf Terminal. August 16, data from industry group the American Petroleum stalled a new 100,000-ton single-point-moor- Export Terminal is resumed after a period Iran’s Fajr Jam Company exports 6.7 mil- Institute (API) showed on Tuesday. Analysts polled by Reuters ing (SPM) system near Siraf Export Terminal of suspension. lion barrels of gas condensates every year had expected a fall of 1.9 million barrels. in southern Bushehr province, Shana reported All the operations pertain to the instal- via Siraf Terminal to East Asian countries “Crude prices should see support from a bullish API stockpile on Wednesday. lation and commissioning of the new SPM including South Korea and Japan. report that could signal the largest Cushing draw since February As reported, the new SPM was installed have been carried out by local experts, and Condensate is pumped to the port by 2018, if the EIA validates it,” said Edward Moya, senior market 1,200 meters off the coast and its loading it is expected for the future condensate load- pipeline from Fajr Jam Refinery. analyst at OANDA in New York. and unloading capacity is 150 percent more ing operations to be carried out with greater The terminal is equipped with four storage “With Canadian heavy crude restrictions being extended, we than the previous one which was used in confidence. tanks each with a capacity of 40,000 cubic should see U.S. refiners … struggle to fill the void from lowered the same area. Following the installation of the new meters and can load 1,200 tons of conden- shipments from Mexico and Venezuela,” Moya said, referring to SPM, vessels with capacities up to 70,000 sates per hour. the Canadian province of Alberta extending mandatory curtail- ments on crude production by an extra year. Oil prices were also supported by data showing lower exports Europe could power the entire world with onshore wind farms alone in June from Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter. higher, even when excluding offshore wind farms. calculated an onshore wind potential three times smaller. Saudi Arabia plans to keep its crude exports below 7 million By Carly Cassella Going nation by nation, and using an advanced sys- Apart from improved resolution, such a huge discrepancy barrels per day (bpd) in August and September despite strong demand from customers, to bring the market back to balance, a When it comes to harnessing renewable wind energy, the tem of wind atlases, researchers sought to answer one may have to do with different definitions of ‘suitable land’ Saudi oil official told Reuters earlier this month. European Union is not even close to reaching its full potential, critical question: How much wind power potential does or new technology. In the ten years since the earlier report But uncertainty over the global economic outlook amid the according to a new study. Europe have? was published, wind power capacity has tripled across the U.S.-China trade war capped gains in the oil markets. If a wind turbine was placed on every suitable spot of Taking into account infrastructure, built up areas, and US as prices drop and wind turbine efficiency improves. The “trade-related tug of war in the oil market will probably land, research shows it could provide more than 100 times protected areas, the authors found suitable lands with A different study, published just last month by German extend until we get some semblance of clarity from the next round the wind energy currently produced on shore. Calculated favorable wind speeds in 46 percent of Europe’s territory. researchers, estimates that wind farms can only be built on of U.S.-China trade discussion,” Stephen Innes, managing partner, at more than 11 million additional turbines, that would be That’s almost 5 million square kilometers, and nearly roughly a quarter of Europe’s land. VM Markets, said in a note. enough to power the entire world between now and 2050. 500 exajoules of power - about 70 more exajoules than This is more similar to past estimates, but by taking new Traders are also waiting for this week’s annual U.S. central “Obviously, we are not saying that we should in- the world will need in 2050. turbine technology into account, researchers have calculated bank seminar at Jackson Hole, where comments from Federal stall turbines in all the identified sites,” says Benjamin The current wind technology a much greater wind energy output. Reserve Chief Jerome Powell will be in focus. Sovacool, an expert in energy policy at the University To be clear, this estimate is wide-ranging. The research In the end, these studies are all hypothetical and they The “biggest risk to crude prices is if Powell disappoints at of Sussex. did not look at site-specific limitations, public acceptance, each come with their limitations. Yet despite the European Jackson Hole and doesn’t signal more easing will be coming,” “But the study does show the huge wind power po- or whether the land was privately owned; it only high- Union’s recent interest in wind power, it is clear that there said OANDA’s Moya. tential right across Europe which needs to be harnessed lighted the areas suitable for current wind technology. is plenty more room for growth. if we’re to avert a climate catastrophe.” As such, the authors say it’s just a guide for policy, not “Critics will no doubt argue that the naturally intermit- Today, the EU is a leader in wind energy output, and a blueprint for development. tent supply of wind makes onshore wind energy unsuitable together its onshore and offshore turbines make up nearly Nevertheless, compared to previous estimates, this is to meet the global demand,” says Peter Enevoldsen who Equatorial Guinea to build West a third of the world’s total wind capacity. one of the most detailed insights yet into Europe’s future researchers wind energy at Aarhus University. The European Commission has promised that by 2050, wind potential. “But even without accounting for developments in wind Africa’s first LNG storage and at least 100,000 more wind turbines will be either updated Using advanced GIS data at national and sub-national turbine technology in the upcoming decades, onshore wind or added. levels, the authors have blown other estimates out of the water. power is the cheapest mature source of renewable energy.” regasification plant But the new findings push the potential ceiling much In 2009, for instance, the European Environment Agency (Source: sciencealert.com) Equatorial Guinea is set to construct the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification plant in West Africa, ad- vancing efforts to monetize gas resources through the creation France’s solar road is a complete failure of a domestic gas-to-power infrastructure. to be. The “Wattway,” as the French solar road the weight and strain of daily driving and By Joel Hruska According to africaoilandpower.com, located at the Port of installation is known, is disintegrating much deliver acceptably efficient power. Akonikien on the country’s mainland, the plant will enable the Remember solar roads? Five years ago, the more quickly than its builders anticipated. Improving efficiency of roads transportation and storage of LNG from the EG LNG plant at idea of building insanely expensive solar panels This is a fairly common issue. One reason Actions taken to improve the efficiency of the Punta Europa Gas Complex on Bioko Island, to Akonikien on the ground and driving pollution-spewing the U.S. highway system requires so much a road for gathering energy — like tilting the on the southern border of the mainland. vehicles over them was all the rage. Scientists more maintenance than its builders ever an- roadbed to match the sun’s travel across the It will then be fed into the regasification plant to be distrib- pointed out the obvious flaws. ticipated is that the weight of the vehicles sky and cleaning oil, dirt, and grime from the uted to smaller-scale power plants and LNG power stations A flat surface that can’t tilt or move to cap- we’ve allowed to travel on the highways has panels — would make it a less-effective road. throughout the country, as well as exported to neighboring ture sunlight doesn’t hit very high-efficiency increased so much. Creating a more effective road by using countries. targets. Roadway damage rises as the fourth power better protective coatings or cheaper man- The Akonikien project is the first gas-to-power development Driving pollution-spewing vehicles over the of axle weight, which means an 18,000-pound ufacturing materials would make the road in Equatorial Guinea’s LNG2Africa initiative. solar panels in question would inevitably hurt truck does 3,000 times more damage to the a less-effective solar panel. Launched by the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons in 2018, their ability to gather sunlight as pollution pavement than a 2,000-pound car. Given that solar roads are already far less the initiative seeks to facilitate the production and trade of LNG built up on the surface. The vehicle weights effective at producing energy than conven- through the creation of a domestic gas-to-power infrastructure Putting solar panels on the ground and French vehicle weights are going to be tional solar installations, one wonders why and intra-African LNG industry. then driving over them is an excellent way to different and farm tractors aren’t going Total power production has fallen every we don’t leave the roads for driving and Spearheaded by local construction and engineering firm Elite smash said solar panels to flinders. In short, to weigh as much as a semi. But the point year the road was in service. optimize the power infrastructure for the Construcciones, the plant will have a storage capacity of 14,000 the grand push for solar roadways left a lot stands: These roads weren’t built to the The roadway targeted 790kWh per day specific job it’s good at. cubic meters with 12 bullet tanks. of very smart people wondering why we required standard, even though the man- but managed just 409kWh/day in its first There are lots of great flavors that go The tanks are currently the largest factory-built cry- didn’t just put the same amount of money ufacturer, Colas, promised that the resin year of operation. together. ogenic bullet tanks in the world with a capacity of 1,228 into building conventional solar panels and would withstand the weight of 18-wheeler It fell sharply thereafter due to damage, Chocolate and peanut butter. Salt and cubic meters and dimensions of 31 meters by 9.3 meters wiring them up in the normal fashion. trucks. producing 215kWh/day in 2018 and has vinegar. by 8.8 meters. Naysayers, all of them. The campaigns According to this report, the proposed slipped down to ~200kWh/day in 2019. Butter and popcorn. Built by American manufacturer Corban Energy Group, to build various solar-powered roads took benefits of the Wattway (above, translation The French government invested a rela- Ham and cheese. There are also a number each tank is estimated to require 12 hours to complete the off. The Dutch, at least, saw reason in one via Google) did not materialize. tively small amount of money in the project of flavors that don’t go well together at all, 12,000-meter distance from the port to the new plant. regard and deployed them as part of a bike The problems, however, go deeper than (5 million euros), but the efficiency problems like steak and tetrachlorodibenzodioxin. Elite Construcciones is also installing a truck loading path rather than attempting to craft a work- just vehicle weight. with the design were fully apparent before We submit that solar roads are much closer station and 12 kilometers of 10-inch gas and diesel pipelines. able system from running pollution-spewing Thunderstorms have damaged the road. ground was broken. to the latter than the former. Other major suppliers include pipe supplier PFF Group, vehicles over a surface that gathers energy Rotting leaves clogged it. “Our system is not mature for inter-urban The idea might not be completely without who manufactured 12,400 meters of pipes, shipping agents from sunlight. Pale splinters of resin have broken off traffic,” Etienne Gaudin, Colas’ chief executive merit if evaluated in very sunny areas where D&B Shipping Ltd. Now, some years after the first solar roads the surface and the end of the road is now of Wattway, told Le Monde. people primarily bike or walk, but it’s never who facilitated the shipment of 22 40-foot open-top opened for business, they’re … well, an abysmal truncated. It’s described as “pale with its The problem is not the system. The prob- going to match the efficiency of a conven- containers, and Meakin Logistics UK. failure. According to French newspaper Le ragged joints,” with solar panels “that peel lem is the concept. tional array. Elite Construcciones also worked closely with German Monde, the roadway-building effort failed in off the road,” and splinters of enamel resin There is no known manufacturing method Outside of specialized applications, it’s companies Noorwerk and ESC on the design and con- part because the builders didn’t consider how falling from the panels they were intended that would allow for the construction of cost-ef- time to turn the light off on this idea. struction of the plant. robust the construction would actually need to protect. fective solar roads that can both withstand (Source: Extreme Tech) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL AUGUST 22, 2019 U.S. to suffer from tech Security ties at risk in Seoul-Tokyo trade row ASIATIMES–With Japan and South Korea locked in a bitter sanctions on China dispute over export controls, the collateral damage may extend By Li Qingqing Since Trump took office in 2017, a series beyond the economic space: It could also impact a bilateral intel- of US moves and diplomatic policies have GLOBALTIMES – The US Department of ligence-sharing pact, the General Security of Military Information hurt US-Japan ties. Commerce on Monday (US time) announced Agreement (GSOMIA). The Trump administration has with- that it had added 46 additional subsidiaries That pact – the only official tie linking the militaries of the two drawn from a number of international of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Northeast Asian democracies, which have separate bilateral al- organizations. This has made Japan feel to its so-called Entity List. More than 100 liances with the United States – is set to expire this Saturday, that the US is no longer reliable. Huawei entities have been covered by the August 24. After Trump was sworn in, he pulled the restrictions since May. From the perspective of US-led security efforts in Northeast Asia, country out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. This is an important US move to com- it is critical that, regardless of the emotive national sentiments Later, the US withdrew from the 2015 prehensively block Huawei. currently roiling South Korea, the agreement be renewed. Paris Agreement, UNESCO, the UN Hu- It also reflects a clear message of the US The risk to GSOMIA originates not in the security field, but in man Rights Council, Iran nuclear deal, the strategy: The US wants to launch a tech- a bilateral export-control dispute that has dragged Seoul-Tokyo Universal Postal Union, and the Interme- nological cold war against China. And the ties to a new low. diate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. war appears to have started. This month, Tokyo removed South Korea from its so-called Such behavior reflects the “America Realistic or not, the US has already adopt- “white list” of preferential export destinations – ostensibly for First” policy and damages trust among ed the strategy to completely decouple with having inadequate export controls on a range of materials. its allies, especially Japan. China in high technology, and to force the That move followed a July action to emplace export restric- According to a joint survey by the Yomiuri world to decouple from China in the field. tions on three key chemicals that are essential to South Korea’s Shimbun and the US survey firm Gallup, To some US elites, Huawei is not a Chinese high-tech sector. Seoul has since retaliated by removing Japan which was released on December 2018, company anymore, nor do they care much from its own “white list.” 30 percent of Japanese respondents said about whether Huawei’s technology is ad- Bilateral trust remarkably deteriorated after Seoul’s Moon they trusted the US, the lowest figure since vanced and practical. In their view, Huawei Jae-in administration, citing negative public sentiment, over- 2000. Meanwhile, 39 percent of Japanese has become a symbol and a representative: turned a bilateral 2015 “comfort women” agreement. Designed respondents said Japan-US relations were Whoever accepts Huawei stands together to be a final and irreversible resolution to that prickly issue, the “good” or “very good,” a 17 percent decrease with China, and whoever shuts Huawei out agreement had been signed between the former Park Geun-hye from 2017. Japanese mistrust for the US chooses the US side. administration in Seoul and the Shinzo Abe administration in is rising, and doubts have emerged over The US is using a company to set the line, Tokyo. In addition to an apology from Abe, Japan offered com- the US role within the alliance - if Japan and this is unprecedented and ridiculous. pensation of $8 million to Korean comfort women. suffers a military attack, would the Trump When facing US suppression, China administration, which has been promoting should cast aside its illusions and get pre- “America First,” step up and offer help? pared. China should keep walking on the On the other hand, Trump’s statements path of independent technological innova- on the Japan-US trade deficit and their tion. For example, Huawei’s self-developed security treaty have caused concerns within Harmony operating system is a good start Japan over whether their alliance can remain for technological innovation. The US Department of Commerce on Monday (US stable. During Trump’s presidential cam- This is an alternative to Google’s Android paign, he repeatedly expressed discontent operating system, and more importantly, time) announced that it had added 46 additional with the trade deficit. it will enable China to have a greater say in subsidiaries of Chinese telecommunications giant Washington will likely pile more pressure technology worldwide. Huawei, as well as on Tokyo during trade talks. Trump has other Chinese high-tech enterprises, needs Huawei to its so-called Entity List. More than 100 directly asked Abe to buy farm products to have a plan B. Huawei entities have been covered by the restrictions worth a “huge amount,” Kyodo news agency The US pressure should never affect since May. reported on August 13. China’s reform and opening-up. Under To deal with the trade deficit, the Abe such pressure, China will open up even on Chinese enterprises, the US will only military bases in Japan. administration has already purchased sig- wider. We always welcome countries and isolate itself and lag behind others. Since However, the alliance has not suffered nificant numbers of US-made jet fighters enterprises willing to cooperate with us, China’s technology has already become in- much, and the risks have been controllable. and weapons. including cooperation and opening-up in dispensable in the world, other countries Meanwhile, the significance of their Now, the US is forcing Japan to purchase technology and markets. will make their own right choice. alliance has increased. its agriculture products, which shows that China provides the world with its technol- Is the sun setting on the U.S.-Japan After the WWII, the purpose of their the US is bullying its Asian ally. ogy, which has the highest possible quality Then, last year, South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled that Japa- alliance? relationship was to contain the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, it was recently reported and the lowest possible price. nese companies Nippon Steel Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy The US plans to send Vice President After the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, that Trump is considering scrapping the Unlike rising unilateralism in the US, Industries had to compensate victims of wartime forced labor. Mike Pence to Japan in October to attend Japan and the US drifted apart for a brief security treaty with Japan because he feels China has always believed that the world Tokyo’s position was that the ruling violated the 1965 Treaty on the coronation of Japanese Emperor Naru- period, but their ties were strengthened it is unfair to the US. is heading toward multipolarism. Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea. As part hito, according to media reports. Pence is soon afterward. Although the US government denied Although the process may be full of of the 1965 agreement, Japan provided aid and loans to resolve likely to meet Japanese Prime Minister In the two decades after the Cold War, the news, the reports have cast a shadow twists and turns, China’s pace will never compensation issues and normalize relations with South Korea. Shinzo Abe during the tour to reaffirm the the US-Japan alliance experienced three on the alliance. be stopped by any external force. After last year’s court ruling, Tokyo demanded third-party US-Japan alliance. significant adjustments. The US-Japan alliance is no longer as Washington should understand that its arbitration, per the 1965 treaty. Seoul rejected that, saying the US President Donald Trump adminis- It went from a defense-oriented rela- solid as what others have imagined. Al- moves will hurt US interests as well. The judiciary’s decision is complete and final. tration’s high-ranking officials frequently tionship to one that deals with the situation though the two will not break up in the US hardly has the ability to form a brand- A senior member of Japan’s foreign ministry commented reaffirming the importance of the alliance in areas surrounding Japan, then shifted near future, whether they can do away with new high-tech system by itself. that such refusal is a violation of an international treaty and shows that relations between Washington focus to supposedly maintaining global wobbly ties will influence the development The situation is completely different could prompt a response from Tokyo.More recently, the court and Tokyo are floundering. peace and security. of their alliance. from what it was during the Cold War has authorized the authorities to seize assets of the defendants In 1951, representatives from the two Japan’s status has risen within the al- Japan and the US may again drift apart years. Complete decoupling from China in Korea. governments signed the Treaty of Mutu- liance, and the mutual trust between the just as they did after the Cold War. will seriously affect and restrain the US Despite this preamble, Tokyo’s recent imposition of export al Cooperation and Security Between the two has also deepened. This time, the estrangement won’t come own high-tech development. controls caught Seoul by surprise. Tokyo accused Seoul of having United States and Japan in San Francisco, Under such circumstances, the Abe about because the two lack a common en- It is unlikely that other countries’ high only included missile- and weapons-of-mass-destruction-related giving birth to their alliance. administration has been proactively im- emy, but because the US has participated technology will completely follow the US dual usages in its export control procedures, while ignoring con- Japan and the US were enemies during plementing the US-initiated rebalance less in global affairs and its moves have hurt and help the US. After all, many of today’s ventional-weapons-related dual usages.Seoul argued back that the WWII. Neither of them thought they to Asia-Pacific strategy and Indo-Pacific international order. high-tech breakthroughs do not happen both parties had agreed on multi-dimensional cooperation, and could become allies later. Even more un- Strategy. That being said, the US-Japan alliance in the US. noted its compliance with relevant international regimes, such expectedly, their alliance lasts until today. As the US strength is believed to be lacks significance to exist. Indeed, Washington can impose an ex- as the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Australia Group, the Missile Since the formation of their alliance declining, it is anticipated that Japan’s The visit by Pence and other high-ranking port restriction on Huawei. But Washington Technology Control Regime and the Wassenaar Arrangement.In more than six decades ago, there have been status in the alliance will continue to rise. US officials may help pacify Japan, but that’s it. can never stop the trend of advancement in the wake of these developments, various figures in South Korea constant disputes within the relationship, But Japan and US relations span an Consolidating the Japan-US alliance will global technology. By imposing sanctions have advocated a withdrawal from GSOMIA, which is set to either including a trade war and the issue of US unequal friendship. take time and efforts. be renewed or go defunct on Saturday. Signed on November 23, 2016, GSOMIA is seen as vital for Japan and South Korea to jointly cope with North Korea’s weap- ons of mass destruction programs. Amid a series of nuclear and Sanctions undermine 1947 U.S. treaty with UN missile tests by North Korea, the Obama administration urged TEHRAN (FNA)– When Yassir Arafat was denied a its responsibilities as UN host country since the travel South Korea to sign the GSOMIA. US visa to visit New York to address the United Nations sanctions will block Zarif from attending UN functions, The agreement was devised as part of Obama’s “Pivot to Asia” back in 1988, the General Assembly defied the United including the UN General Assembly opening session in and represented US strategic interests in East Asia, as it sought States by temporarily moving the UN’s highest policy late September (as well as subsequent sessions later on). to contain North Korea and China. making body to Geneva providing a less-hostile political Such a move would be in breach of the US-UN Head- The idea of the two countries sharing military intelligence environment for the leader of the Palestine Liberation quarters Agreement of 1947. had originally been proposed by South Korea in the late 1980s, Organisation (PLO). Traditionally, the opening session brings high-level when Seoul’s primary concern was its lack of satellite intelligence. Arafat, who first addressed the UN in 1974, took a speakers from around the world. South Korea’s military has acquired substantial capability in swipe at Washington when he prefaced his statement by It is important not only as a moment for high-pro- signal, imagery and voice intelligence over the past few years, saying “it never occurred to me that my second meeting file speeches, but also as a time for discussions and but its area of operation is restricted to the south of the military with this honourable Assembly, since 1974, would take negotiations among world officials. demarcation line (the actual borderline that runs through the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone). place in the hospitable city of Geneva”. There are three deep problems on the American side. Given recent advances in Pyongyang’s missiles and nuke weap- The Trump administration, which has had an on- First, they unilaterally pulled out of a multilaterally-ne- ons, Seoul, which has no military satellites, can only garner so going battle with Iran, has imposed a rash of political gotiated nuclear deal with Iran (the Joint Comprehensive much intelligence. and economic sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Plan of Action or JCPOA) unanimously endorsed by Now, Seoul’s threat to stop sharing military information with Javid Zarif - even as Washington, paradoxically, pro- the UN Security Council. Japan raises a potential rift in the Japan-South Korea-US rela- claims that the Iranian problem can be resolved only The UNSC further called on all states to help im- tionship.Seoul has every reason to cooperate with Tokyo because diplomatically while, at the same time, it keeps the plement the deal, to lift sanctions, and to assist Iran’s Japan’s Self-Defense Force (SDF) already operates three to four negotiator-in-chief away from the US. economic development. intelligence satellites that monitor the northern half of the Korean The sanctions on Zarif will also prevent him from Therefore, by re-imposing unilateral sanctions, it Peninsula. Moreover, Japan is planning to increase the number being a member of the Iranian delegation - and also is the US that is in material breach of the agreement of satellites by up to 12 in the coming years. from addressing the six high-level summit meetings and in violation of UNSC demands. In addition, the Japanese SDF possess world-class anti-sub- scheduled for late September. Second, the sanctions on Zarif contravene their stated marine capabilities. If Zarif is denied a visa, as expected, it will be a position of a solution through diplomacy. These are critical now that North Korea is developing a sub- violation of the 1947 UN-US headquarters agreement You cannot engage in any diplomacy by placing a marine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) program. under which Washington was expected to facilitate the country’s foreign minister under sanctions. Lastly, South Korea’s grand strategy is predicated upon its smooth functioning of the world body. The third is the General Assembly attendance im- alliance with the United States – which includes Japan’s security While the PLO was not a full-fledged UN member plication. enthusiasm internationally for closing the diplomatic in its overall East Asia policy. state, Iran is a founding member of the world body. On this, it would violate the 1947 HQ agreement. doors to this important agreement. As a result, South Korean policy advisers for national security The Trump administration has already reneged or But in the hierarchy of seriousness, violating the Governments world-wide also strongly oppose the have so far kept GSOMIA intact.And it is not just about weaponry. abandoned several international agreements, including JCPOA is actually more serious and shows the complete Trump administration’s strong-arm tactics and the US Seoul and Tokyo have also shared information on North Korea’s the 2015 Paris Climate Change agreement, the 2015 toothlessness of the UN and UNSC to hold to account disregard for an open UN, where all member states are sanctions-busting activities with regard to ship-to-ship transfers Iranian nuclear deal, and most recently the landmark any of the P5 (the 5 permanent members of the Security able to speak. of oil, coal and banned luxury goods. 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty Council, namely the US, UK, France Russia and China). All this makes GSOMIA a solid basis for security cooperation This would not be the only time that the US has refused in interdicting North Korea’s military and illicit trade operations with Russia which helped seal the end of the Cold War. The Trump administration is keen to put further entry to high-level foreign officials, but the push-back in the region. The Trump administration’s sanctions on Zarif at the pressure on Iran and to further collapse the much-dis- may now be especially strong. Despite the ongoing export controls dispute, as recently as end of July have dealt yet another blow to diplomacy cussed nuclear deal, signed after years of delicate ne- In light of the support for the nuclear deal in Europe, August 6 South Korea and Japan shared military information on and the settlement of dangerous disputes. gotiations in 2015. Washington could anticipate intense opposition to US North Korea’s short-range ballistic missile test (SRBM). 7 There is a strong possibility that the US will violate Apart from Israel and Saudi Arabia, there is little high-handedness. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 22, 2019 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7

Trump’s actions against U.S. interference in Hong Kong doomed to fail By Tian Feilong

TEHRAN — The ongoing illegal protests in Hong Kong have Ilhan Omar challenged the bottom line of the “one country, two systems” By Saeed Sobhani principle, harmed the city’s rule of law, business environment, international financial center status, and the city’s ties with the TEHRAN — Donald Trump’s actions against Muslim mainland. representatives of the US Congress, as ordered by the Zionist regime and the AIPAC lobby, illustrate how the devils rule the White House. The same political pressure exerted by Trump and Netanyahu on Ilhan Omar and other Muslims illustrates this fact.The racism of U.S. President Donald Trump has caused outrage and discontent among its citizens. However, it looks like Trump can’t hide his racist ideas! Here is a review of some of Trump’s actions against Muslim congressmen: Barring Members Of Congress From Israel-Palestine As Mitchell Plitnick wrote in LOBELOG, In a sudden reversal, the Israeli government decided on Thursday to bar two members of Congress—Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN)—from entering Israel. This means that they also cannot enter the West Bank, which was where they intended to spend bulk of their However, some people are trying to ratchet up the pressure time in Israel-Palestine. After announcing the ban on to force Hong Kong police to give up protecting the rule of law the two congresswomen, Israel said that Tlaib could and Hongkongers. visit her family in the West Bank if she agreed “not to For example, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican participate in any BDS activities.” Senator Marco Rubio have constantly voiced their support for the The decision to bar entry to the congresswomen met Hong Kong protesters, tried to interfere with China’s domestic with widespread condemnation in the United States, affairs. On June 10, the US State Department even threatened to including by groups that normally march in lockstep revoke Hong Kong’s separate customs territory status. It is such with Israel. AIPAC, for example, said they disagree interference that is the source of chaos in Hong Kong. with Tlaib and Omar, of course, but “We also believe US politicians have suspected the legitimacy of the Hong Kong every member of Congress should be able to visit and ernment. They were planning to meet with civil don’t. They understand that increasing numbers police’s actions. As always, they have applied double standards. experience our democratic ally Israel firsthand.” The society leaders and representatives of Palestinian of Democratic voters are growing uncomfortable Compared with the police forces in New York and London during American Jewish Committee said that “AJC believes groups. Virtually all such groups and individuals with Israel’s brazen defiance of international law the Occupy Wall Street and Occupy London movements in 2011, that, out of two less-than-ideal options, neither of which support BDS—the very basis of the BDS movement and cruel violations of Palestinian human rights. Hong Kong police have used minimal force. Their response was was risk-free, Israel did not choose wisely by reversing is that it’s founded on a call from the full spectrum They cannot afford to have the so-called “moder- guided by law and aimed at protecting the people. its original decision [to allow Tlaib and Omar in].” of Palestinian civil society. There is no evidence ates” who are more open to pro-Israel lobbying The violence by protesters cannot be justified on legal grounds. These were typical reactions from the center-right of at all that the congresswomen were planning any and pro-Israel campaign contributions lose their US politicians have been talking through their hats to meet their the pro-Israel community in the U.S. Senate Minority “activities” of protest of any sort in their packed patience with them as well. agenda and are completely ignorant of the law. They avoid dis- Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), one of the most devoted itinerary. The point about a leader with “ties to the Beyond that, even Republicans had to object to this cussing the force that US police have used in previous protests Israel supporters in Congress, typified much of the PFLP” is probably a reference to Shawan Jabarin, move. Marco Rubio tweeted, “Denying them entry into and they know nothing about the Basic Law and the Public Order congressional response, saying “No democratic society the executive director of the most prominent Pales- Israel is a mistake. Being blocked is what they really Ordinance of Hong Kong. should fear an open debate. Many strong supporters tinian human rights organization, al-Haq. Jabarin hoped for all along in order to bolster their attacks Such interference has not only been limited to rhetoric. The of Israel will be deeply disappointed in this decision, did belong to a student group tied to the PFLP in against the Jewish state.” It is simply unacceptable for US has been trying to trigger a color revolution in Hong Kong. which the Israeli government should reverse.” the 1980s and was convicted in 1985 for recruiting an ally—especially one that gets more foreign aid and The interference is systematic. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the House Majority Leader for them, but that’s the extent of the substantiated diplomatic support than any other—to bar members First, the US has been trying to replace international law with who just returned from leading a congressional del- charges against him. He had a travel ban imposed of the U.S. Congress. its domestic laws, such as the Hong Kong Policy Act that the US egation of dozens of members to Israel and who is as on him in 2006, with the court claiming he was still Trump, of course, cares about none of this. He enacted in 1992, in an attempt to interfere with Hong Kong. lock-step a pro-Israel voice as any Democrat, said, active with the PFLP, based on secret evidence that has decided that his strategy will be to make “The Second, the US has been exporting its values and ideology “The decision of the Israeli government to deny entry the court forbade Jabarin and his lawyers to see, Squad”—and especially its two Muslim members, to the city, infiltrating Hong Kong’s general education, media to Israel by two Members of Congress is outrageous, for alleged “security reasons.” Tlaib and Omar—the face of the Democratic party system, elite networks, and young people’s spirit. Third, the US regardless of their itinerary or their views. This ac- There’s also some domestic Israeli politics in play and ride what he expects to be a renewed wave of has been training and helping key members of Hong Kong’s so- tion is contrary to the statement and assurances to here. Netanyahu wants to curry favor with Trump, hate and bigotry to his second term in office. Ulti- cial movement. me by Israel’s ambassador to the United States that especially now, when he is surely hoping that he can mately, that’s why he pressed Netanyahu on this, Fourth, the US has been interacting with activists who support ‘out of respect for the U.S. Congress and the great get another of Trump’s famous gifts—as he got when and that’s why, despite all these objections, Rashida Hong Kong independence, Taiwan independence, Tibet indepen- alliance between Israel and America, we would not Trump cut off almost all aid to the Palestinians, moved Tlaib and Ilhan Omar will be barred from entering dence, and Xinjiang independence to form an anti-China front. deny entry to any Member of Congress into Israel.’ the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and rec- Israel and the Palestinian territories it occupies. Fifth, the US has been attacking the authority and popularity of That representation was not true.” ognized the Golan Heights as Israeli territory—before Israel barred Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region What was so interesting about these responses, the Israeli election in mid-September. But by itself, Rashida Tlaib from entering the occopied palestin as (SAR), so as to foster populism and paralyze Hong Kong’s rule beyond the unusual tone of rebuke for Israel, is the barring Tlaib and Omar is not that big a deal for him, part of a landmark visit, in a move that quickly set off of law.Continued interference from the US has harmed Hong seemingly deliberate decision not to blame President as they are far less “notorious” in Israel than they are a political firestorm in Washington.Omar and Tlaib Kong society and young people’s mental state. Donald Trump. After all, Israel had made it quite clear among Republicans and the “pro-Israel” groups in — the first two Muslim women in Congress — were Many young people do not have a clear understanding of Hong that they intended to admit Tlaib and Omar, and then the United States. slated to arrive this weekend, but President Donald Kong’s politics and law and tend to misread social problems and reversed its decision quickly after a tweet from Trump, But Interior Minister Aryeh Deri had his own Trump had lobbied Israeli leaders to block them from their own condition. Such a phenomenon is rooted in how the which read: “It would show great weakness if Israel reasons to bar Tlaib and Omar. According to the entering the country and again lashed out at the pair . US misleads others on the idea of democracy. allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit. They hate anti-BDS law, it is Deri who technically has the As politico reported, Omar hit back, saying, The US has been abusing its soft democratic power and global Israel and all Jewish people, and there is nothing that authority to decide whether a foreign citizen who “Trump’s Muslim ban is what Israel is implement- influence while creating turmoil in many countries and regions. can be said or done to change their minds.” supports BDS can or cannot enter Israel. In reality, ing, this time against two duly elected members Now, it is trying to mess up Hong Kong, promote a color revolution, The timing could not have been coincidental. It of course, given the ramifications of the decision of Congress.” and sabotage China’s sovereignty and development interests. doesn’t necessarily mean that Israel reversed itself at especially in a case like this, Netanyahu decides. “The irony of the ‘only democracy’ in the Middle However, such political interference is doomed to fail. A color Trump’s behest, but the president clearly influenced Still, Deri’s voice is an important one in this decision. East making such a decision is that it is both an insult revolution can never succeed in Hong Kong. The city is only a the decision to some degree. The proximity of the tweet It is probably no coincidence that on the same day to democratic values and a chilling response to a visit special administrative region of China. It has no sovereignty to the Israeli reversal renders any other conclusion Tlaib and Omar were barred, the Israeli attorney gen- by government officials from an allied nation,” the or any condition to be independent. China has maintained its unlikely. eral received a recommendation that Deri be indicted Minnesota Democrat added in an afternoon statement. sovereignty under the “one country, two systems” principle. The One would think that Democrats would say something on charges of corruption. Although the AG is not go- The controversial decision by Israeli Prime Minister recent chaos could weigh down China’s national development about this. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mentioned ing to decide on whether to indict him until after the Benjamin Netanyahu came despite pleas from top law- and rejuvenation, but it will never end the “one country, two Trump’s insults to the congresswomen, but did not election, Deri—who has already served time in prison makers in both parties to allow the delegation to make systems” principle. tie his words to the Israeli reversal. But for the most for corruption and came back from that to resume his its trip. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) denounced part, Israel was the target, not Trump. position at the head of the Shas party—surely wanted the decision, saying she was “deeply saddened” by Later Thursday, an explanation surfaced, when to draw attention away from a public scandal that so the move after the Israeli ambassador announced last Israeli ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer resembled his past crimes. Moreover, Shas is consist- month that the two lawmakers would be allowed to visit. Security ties at risk in made his own statement about the reversal. Just last ently polling at the bottom of right wing parties and, “Israel’s denial of entry to Congresswomen Tlaib and month, Dermer stated that “Out of respect for the U.S. while the polls don’t show it to be in danger of failing Omar is a sign of weakness, and beneath the dignity Seoul-Tokyo trade row Congress and the great alliance between Israel and to qualify for the next Knesset, Deri can certainly use of the great State of Israel,” Pelosi said in a statement. America, we would not deny entry to any member of a bump to make sure that the party has a little more Netanyahu defended his decision, saying he changed 6 Seoul’s threat to cease sharing military informa- Congress into Israel.” Clearly, this decision left him breathing room. his mind after learning more details of their trip earlier tion with Japan raises a potential rift in the Japan-South with considerable egg on his face. Now, Dermer said The combination of Deri in Israel and Trump in this week. Korea-US relationship.It appears that Seoul’s presiden- that “We were not pressured by the Trump adminis- Washington is probably what led Netanyahu to change “Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar are leading tial office is using possible withdrawal from GSOMIA as tration to do this and this is a sovereign decision that his mind, but it was Trump who really wanted this. It activists in promoting the legislation of boycotts a bargaining tool against Japan. Kim Seong-jo, Moon’s Israel has to make.” may be an instance where he should be careful what against Israel in the American Congress,” Netanyahu chief of staff for policy, in a radio broadcast spoke of games That was an obvious lie. Trump’s language, accusing he wishes for. said a statement. “Only a few days ago, we received of chance when he mentioned the policy options at the Israel of weakness for letting Tlaib and Omar in, made Soon after Israel reversed its decision, Trump their itinerary for their visit in Israel, which revealed disposal of Korea and Japan in the dispute – an apparent his wishes starkly clear and it’s no secret that Trump tweeted, “Representatives Omar and Tlaib are the that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to reference to game theory and its related risks.However, and some Democrats were talking with Netanyahu face of the Democrat Party, and they HATE Israel!” strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s Korea’s options in intelligence gathering are limited, and and Dermer in the days leading up to the reversal. If it wasn’t clear enough before, Trump, with his legitimacy.” Seoul’s defense ministry may not be on the same page as In the end, the president got what he wanted. The usual subtlety, informs us all that this is another Netanyahu did say that a “humanitarian request” the presidential office. In this sense, for Seoul to abandon Democrats and the center-right Jewish groups don’t part of his project to demonize “The Squad,” and to by Tlaib to visit her relatives in the West Bank would the military information sharing agreement would be a want to get into a public battle against both Trump paint them as both anti-Israel and as representative be accepted “on the condition that she pledges not case of “cutting off the nose to spite the face.” and Netanyahu at the same time. of the entire Democratic party. It is this notion that to promote boycotts against Israel during her visit.” It would also have wider ramifications. Abandoning GSO- Dermer’s stated reasons for the reversal don’t pass motivated Trump to press Netanyahu to bar entry House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who MIA would add security risk to ongoing bilateral economic the smell test. According to the Jewish Telegraphic to the two congresswomen. led a delegation of dozens of House Democrats to Israel discordance, and cleave a potential rift in the Japan-South Agency (JTA), Dermer said their “itinerary listed the But even the Likud Party and its supporters earlier this month, had repeatedly asked Netanyahu and Korea-US relationship.Although there is no official trilateral destination as Palestine, not Israel, and included no understand that destroying what remains of Is- other Israeli leaders to allow the freshman lawmakers alliance linking the three parties, from a security perspective, meetings with Israeli officials.” That’s true, but it also rael’s support in the Democratic party—support to enter the country, only to be rejected. the Japan-South Korea-US partnership is the cornerstone of included no meetings with Palestinian officials either. that is far from as iron-clad as it once was but Hoyer and other pro-Israel Democrats, like Nita US-led multilateral security cooperation in Northeast Asia. The sole exception would have been Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, is still considerable—does not serve their inter- Lowey of New York, Brad Schneider of Illinois, Ted Using GSOMIA as leverage in a trade dispute will not only who facilitated the trip. est. Netanyahu and Dermer worked for years to Deutch of Florida and Josh Gottheimer of New Jer- damage Korea-Japan relations, but also risk a deterioration JTA’s report continued, “Dermer added that make Israel a more Republican issue to diminish sey, also personally lobbied Ron Dermer, Israel’s in trilateral defense efforts. the congresswomen planned to meet with organi- the pressure on the Jewish state to make conces- ambassador to the U.S., to allow the visit. Dermer Colonial-era history is undeniable and is an indivisible part zations promoting BDS, one of whose leaders has sions to the Palestinians. But they never wanted stated several weeks ago that Israel would let the of South Korea’s national integrity. However, related highly ties with the Popular Front for the Liberation of to turn the entire party against Israel, and still trip go ahead. emotive issues are now impacting national policy far beyond Palestine (PFLP), which is designated by the U.S. the history classroom. Amid North Korea’s violations of UN as a terror group. ‘The leadership of our country Donald Trump’s actions against Muslim sanctions and ongoing negotiations on its nuclear arms, national believes that this visit was designed solely with sentiment related to this harsh past should not take the lead in the intention of promoting BDS and they were representatives of the US Congress, as ordered by the policy direction.To preserve regional and state security, Seoul gonna use this visit as platform to BDS activities,’ Zionist regime and the AIPAC lobby, illustrate how must decouple security and economy when it comes to policy the ambassador said.” the devils rule the White House. The same political toward Japan. Furthermore, it must communicate with Tokyo That’s just absurd. To start with, the intent of at the working and senior official levels to avoid future disputes. Tlaib’s and Omar’s visit was clear from the start, pressure exerted by Trump and Netanyahu on Ilhan Lastly, South Korea must be informed by both morality and so all of this was already known to the Israeli gov- Omar and other Muslims illustrates this fact. strategy as it conforms to international norms. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS AUGUST 22, 2019

Apt in Elahieh Duplex Villa in Mahmoodieh Whole Building in Farmanieh Apt in Zafaranieh 2th floor, 220 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. 245 sq.m land, 300 sq.m built up, 3 floors, 760 sq.m land, each floor 3th floor, 176 sq.m, 3Bdrs., furn furn, equipped kitchen terrace, unfurn, yard, parking one apt, each apt 320 sq.m with equipped kitchen, spj, elevator nice view, parking $3000 3 Bdrs., unfurn, 6 parking spots storage, parking spot $2500 Ms.Sara: 09128103207 $8500 $2000 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Ms.Sara: 09128103207 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Duplex Villa in Fereshteh Luxury Apt in Zafaranieh 500 sq.m, 6 Bdrs., unfurn outdoor Whole Building in Zafar Apt in Saadat Abad 12th floor, 270 sq.m, 3 Bdrs. swimming pool renovated, yard, 3 floors, each apt 200 sq.m 8th floor, 52 sq.m, 1 Bdr. furn, equipped kitchen, spj parking clean & nice, elevator furn, spj, renovated, parking coffee shop, roof garden $6500 parking, storage $1000 parking, $4000 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 $3800 totally Ms.Sara: 09128103207 Ms.Sara: 09128103207 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Villa in Elahieh Apt in Mahmoodieh Apt in Jordan Whole Building in Zafaranieh 1th floor, 90 sq.m, 1 Bdr. th duplex, 3000 sq.m land 1 floor, 160 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. furn/unfurn, 500 sq.m built up brand new, 5 floors, each furn, spj, beautiful yard terrace, furn, fire place good Beautiful garden, parking floor 310 sq.m, 3 Bdrs. $1000 light, nice niew, elevator storage, indoor sauna, indoor Jacuzzi Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Price negotiable parking 2 parking spots for each apt Ms.Sara: 09128103207 $1000 Holder of Price negotiable Apt in Andarzgoo blvd Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Ms.Sara: 09128103207 3th floor, 140 sq.m, 3 Bdrs. Triplex Villa in Zafar ISO 9001:2008 fully furn, parking, $600 Apt in Darband 700 sq.m, 5 Bdrs., furn , Jacuzzi Whole Building in Jordan Ms.Sara: 09128103207 7th floor, 3 units, 50 sq.m apt with renovated, green garden, one 100 ISO 10004:2012 3 floors, 500 sq.m land, totally 1 Bdr., 65 sq.m apt with 1 Bdr., 90 sq.m separate suite ISO 10002:2014 650 sq.m built up, swimming pool Apt in Dezashib sq.m apt with 2 Bdrs. 2 parking with 2 Bdrs., $6500 renovated, parking, $7000 3th floor, 100 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. spots for each unit Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 From Oxford Cert Universal Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 furn, balcony, storage, parking $550 to $850 good access to subway, $1300 Ms.Sara: 09128103207 Duplex Villa in Pasdaran Office in Vanak Square Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 550 sq.m land, 630 sq.m built up, 4 administrative office license Brand New Apt in Niavaran Bdrs., unfurn, outdoor swimming almost new, 6 floors, 6 units Apt in Fereshteh 4th floor, 150 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. unfurn, pool, renovated parking, $4000 1000 sq.m flat, 4 lines elevator 185 sq.m, 2 master room with one spj, parking Ms.Sara: 09128103207 roof top, cafe shop room, furn, spj $3000 10 parking spots parking, $1700 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Triplex Villa in Jordan $40 per sq.m Ms.Sara: 09128103207 3700 sq.m land, 1300 sq.m Ms.Sara: 09128103207 Apt in Farmanieh 7 Bdrs., 6 bathrooms, furn outdoor Apt in Zafaranieh 1th floor, 171 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. pool, renovated Office in Saadat Abad ground floor, 150 sq.m furn, balcony, spj, parking 3-side entrances, administrative office license 3 Bdrs., unfurn, spj, lobby $2000 $20000 2 units, 110 sq.m, parking storage, parking, $1800 Ms.Sara: 09128103207 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156

TEHRAN TIMES Modern Stadium of Iran’s Leading Martyrs of Khuzestan International Daily Football Club (KFC)

Advertising Dept

Tel: 021 - 430 51 450

Advertising Dept: [email protected]

+9821 430 51 450 www.tehrantimes.com I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 22, 2019 SCIENCE 9

Space telescope offers rare glimpse Practice does not always make perfect, finds study of violinists of Earth-sized rocky exoplanet With blatant disregard for the public benefits of motivational idioms, researchers have concluded that practice does not, necessarily, Direct observations from a NASA space telescope A negligible amount of heat carried between make perfect. have for the first time revealed the atmospheric the two sides indicates a lack of winds that A study of violinists found that merely good players practiced void of a rocky, Earth-sized world beyond our would otherwise be present to transfer warmth as much as, if not more than, better players, leaving other factors own solar system orbiting the most common around the planet. such as quality of tuition, learning skills and perhaps natural talent type of star in the galaxy, according to a study “The temperature contrast on this planet is to account for the difference. released on Monday. about as big as it can possibly be,” said researcher The work is the latest blow to the 10,000-hour rule, the idea The research, published in the scientific Laura Kreidberg of the Harvard-Smithsonian promoted in Malcolm Gladwell’s 2008 book, Outliers, which has journal Nature, also shows the distant planet’s Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, been taken to mean that enough practice will make an expert of surface is likely to resemble the barren exterior Massachusetts. She is lead author of the study. anyone. In the book, Gladwell of the Earth’s moon or Mercury, possibly covered Similar analysis previously was used to states that “ten thousand hours is in dark volcanic rock. determine that another exoplanet, 55 Cancri the magic number of greatness”. The planet lies about 48.6 light years from e, about twice as big as Earth and believed to be “The idea has become really Earth and is one of more than 4,000 so-called half-covered in molten lava, likely possesses an entrenched in our culture, but exoplanets identified over the past two decades atmosphere thicker than Earth’s. This exoplanet, it’s an oversimplification,” said circling distant stars in our home galaxy, the unlike LHS 3844b, orbits a sun-like star. Brooke Macnamara, a psycholo- Milky Way. The planet in the latest study was detected gist at Case Western Reserve Known to astronomers as LHS 3844b, this last year by NASA’s newly launched Transiting University in Cleveland, Ohio. exoplanet about 1.3 times the size of Earth is Exoplanet Survey Satellite, an orbiting telescope “When it comes to human skill, locked in a tight orbit - one revolution every that pinpoints distant worlds by spotting a complex combination of envi- 11 hours - around a small, relatively cool star periodic, dips in the light observed from their ronmental factors, genetic factors called a red dwarf, the most prevalent and parent stars when an object passes in front and their interactions explains long-lived type of star in the galaxy. of them. the performance differences The planet’s lack of atmosphere is probably astronomers about whether the search for life- The principal finding is that it probably But it was follow-up observations from across people.” due to intense radiation from its parent red sustaining conditions beyond our solar system possesses little if any atmosphere - a conclusion another orbiting instrument, the Spitzer The seed for the 10,000-hour dwarf, which, though dim by stellar standards, should focus on exoplanets around red dwarfs reached by measuring the temperature difference Space Telescope, which can detect infrared rule was a 1993 study of violinists also emits high levels of ultraviolet light, the - accounting for 75% of all stars in the Milky between the side of the planet perpetually facing light directly from an exoplanet, that provided and pianists which found that accumulated practice time rose with study says. Way - or less common, larger, hotter stars more its star, and the cooler, dark side facing away new insights about its features. musical prowess. On average, top-ranked violinists had clocked The study will likely add to a debate among like our own sun. from it. (Source: Reuters) up 10,000 hours of practice by the age of 20, though many had actually put in fewer hours. In the study, the authors rejected an important role for natural talent and argued that differences in Unexplained shapes in the sky could be from ability, even among top musicians, were largely down to how much Black hole holograms they practiced. Gladwell seized on the round number to explain a universe before our own, say scientists the success of notables from Bill Gates to the Beatles. Macnamara and her colleague Megha Maitra set out to repeat A research team from Osaka University, Unexplained shapes in the sky could be part of the 1993 study to see whether they reached the same con- Nihon University and Chuo University has evidence of a universe that existed before clusions. They interviewed three groups of 13 violinists rated as proposed a novel theoretical framework ours, scientists have said. best, good, or less accomplished about their practice habits, before whose experiment could be performed in Astronomers claim that very unusual having them complete daily diaries of their activities over a week. a laboratory to better understand the physics points, spotted in the early universe, While the less skilful violinists clocked up an average of about of black holes. This project can shed light appear to be sources of vast amounts of 6,000 hours of practice by the age of 20, there was little to separate on the fundamental laws that govern the information. It is still not clear why those the good from the best musicians, with each logging an average of cosmos on both unimaginably small and strange parts of the sky would behave in about 11,000 hours. In all, the number of hours spent practicing vastly large scales. such an outstanding way. accounted for about a quarter of the skills difference across the Recently, the world was transfixed when But researchers have now claimed three groups, according to the study published in Royal Society the first ever images of a black hole were that those spots of energy could be Open Science. Those places where the electromagnetic released by the Event Horizon Telescope. Or, strings in a space with an extra dimension. the consequence of “conformal cyclic Macnamara believes practice is less of a driver. “Once you get radiation was especially high – referred to be more precise, the pictures showed the This is sometimes called a “holographic cosmology”, a theory that suggests that to the highly skilled groups, practice stops accounting for the dif- to as Hawking points – could therefore bright circle, called an Einstein ring, made duality,” because it is reminiscent of a two- our universe existed in another form before ference. Everyone has practiced a lot and other factors are at play be left over from the previous universe. by the light that just barely escaped the grasp dimensional holographic plate that holds ours. They could have formed from black in determining who goes on to that super-elite level,” she said. Those anomalous points would of the black hole’s immense gravity. This all the information of a 3D-object. holes, the researchers suggest in a new “The factors depend on the skill being learned: in chess it could therefore be explained by what is known as ring of light was due to fact that, according In the newly published research, the paper. be intelligence or working memory, in sport it may be how effi- CCC theory. Rather than being mysteriously the theory of general relativity, the fabric of authors, Koji Hashimoto (Osaka University), As such, those unexplained swirling ciently a person uses oxygen. To complicate matters further, one glowing points, they would be the final spacetime itself becomes so contorted by Keiju Murata (Nihon University) and areas in the sky could be the leftovers of factor can drive another. A child who enjoys playing the violin, “evaporation” of the supermassive black the mass of the black hole that it acts like Shunichiro Kinoshita (Chuo University) another universe. for example, may be happy to practice and be focused on the task holes that were in the version of the a huge lens. apply this concept to show how the surface “What we claim we’re seeing is the because they do not see it as a chore.” universe that came before ours. Unfortunately, our understanding of of a sphere, which has two dimensions, can final remnant after a black hole has The authors of the 1993 study are unimpressed, however. One Many scientists have objected to the black holes remains incomplete, because be used in a tabletop experiment to model a evaporated away in the previous aeon,” co-author, Anders Ericsson, a psychologist at Florida State Univer- idea of the cyclical universe, and Hawking the theory of general relativity -- which is black hole in three dimensions. In this setup, Roger Penrose, a mathematical physicist sity, said the new paper actually replicated most of their findings. radiation still remains to be confirmed. used to describe the laws of nature at the light emanating from a source at one point at Oxford Universe and one of the authors He said there were no objective differences between Macnama- But the researchers say that they hope scale of stars and galaxies -- is not currently of the sphere is measured at another, which of the study, told New Scientist, which ra’s best and good violinists, so no surprise they put in the same their analysis will at least help to give us a compatible with quantum mechanics, our should show the black hole if the spherical first reported the news. amount of practice. “a significant initial indication of the nature best theory of how the Universe operates material allows holography. If the universe is going through extreme “When the human body is put under exceptional strain during of these anomalous regions and provides on very small scales. Since black holes, by “The holographic image of a simulated contractions and expansions, then it is deliberate practice, a range of dormant genes in the DNA of any an important new input into cosmology, definition, have a huge mass compressed black hole, if observed by this tabletop almost certain that just about everything healthy individual are expressed and extraordinary physiological irrespective of the validity of CCC”. into a tiny space, reconciling these wildly experiment, may serve as an entrance to the from the previous universe is destroyed processes are activated. The benefit of this type of practice is avail- And they conclude by suggesting that successful but thus far conflicting theories world of quantum gravity” says the author when it does, and nothing is carried through able to anyone who wants to improve their performance,” he said. their findings will pose a significant problem is necessary to understand them. Hashimoto. The researchers also calculated into the new one. Another co-author on the 1993 study, Ralf Krampe, a psychologist for the conventional understanding of the One possible approach for solving this the radius of the Einstein ring that would be But the latest study, published on at the Catholic University of Leuven, said nothing in Macnamara’s universe, however they are formed. “It conundrum is called string theory, which holds observed if this theory is correct. website Arxiv, suggests that black holes paper made him question the original findings. “Do I believe that is hard to see, however, that they find that all matter is made of very tiny vibrating “Our hope is that this project shows the way that were around in the previous universe practice is everything and that the number of hours alone determine a natural explanation in the currently strings. One version of this theory predicts a forward towards a better understanding of how would throw out what is referred to as the level reached? No, I don’t,” he said, adding that the quality of conventional inflationary picture,” they correspondence between the laws of physics our Universe truly operates on a fundamental Hawking radiation, after Stephen Hawking. practice, teachers and parental support all matter too. “But I still write. we perceive in our familiar four dimensions level,” says the author Keiju Murata. That radiation could last from one version consider deliberate practice to be by far the most important factor.” (Source: The Independent) (three dimensions of space plus time) and (Source: Science Daily) of the universe into the next, they claim. Macnamara said it was important for people to understand the limits of practice, though. “Practice makes you better than you were yesterday, most of the time,” she said. “But it might not make you better than your neighbor. Or the other kid in your violin class.” A new timeline of Earth’s cataclysmic past (Source: The Guardian) Welcome to the early solar system. Just after the planets formed reworked both by impacts and indigenous events until about more than 4.5 billion years ago, our cosmic neighborhood was a 4 billion years ago,” said study coauthor Ramon Brasser of the chaotic place. Waves of comets, asteroids and even proto-planets Earth-Life Science Institute in Tokyo. “The same is not true for streamed toward the inner solar system, with some crashing the asteroids. Their record goes back much further.” India’s Chandrayaan-2 enters into Earth on their way. But those records, the team discovered, only went back to moon’s orbit Now, a team led by University of Colorado Boulder geologist about 4.5 billion years ago. Stephen Mojzsis has laid out a new timeline for this violent period For the researchers, that presented only one possibility: The Some 30 days after liftoff, India’s Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft successfully in our planet’s history. solar system must have experienced a major bombardment just entered the moon’s orbit on Tuesday after performing one of the In a recent study, the researchers homed in on a phenomenon before that cut-off date. Very large impacts, Mojzsis said, can mission’s most difficult maneuvers, the nation’s space agency said. called “giant planet migration.” That’s the name for a stage in melt rocks and variably reset their radioactive ages, a bit like The spacecraft began orbiting the moon following the completion the evolution of the solar system in which the largest planets, for shaking an etch-a-sketch. of a lunar orbit insertion maneuver that took about 28 minutes to reasons that are still unclear, began to move away from the sun. Mojzsis explained that this carnage was likely kicked off execute, the Indian Space Research Organization said. Drawing on records from asteroids and other sources, the by the solar system’s giant planets, which researchers believe ISRO Chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan said it was one of the most group estimated that this solar system-altering event occurred formed much closer together than they are today. Using com- difficult maneuvers of the probe’s mission as the smallest mistake 4.48 billion years ago -- much earlier than some scientists had puter simulations, however, his group demonstrated that those could have doomed the entire project. previously proposed. To explain those ages, some researchers suggested that bodies started to creep toward their present locations about “A higher-than-expected approach velocity would have bounced The findings, Mojzsis said, could provide scientists with val- our moon, and Earth, were slammed by a surge of comets and 4.48 billion years ago. off the spacecraft into deep space while a slow approach would have uable clues around when life might have first emerged on Earth. asteroids around that time. But not everyone agreed with the In the process, they scattered the debris in their wake, send- led to the moon’s gravity to pull Chandrayaan-2 and crash it on “We know that giant planet migration must have taken place theory, Mojzsis said. ing some of it hurtling toward Earth and its then-young moon. the lunar surface,” he said Tuesday after the craft had entered the in order to explain the current orbital structure of the outer “It turns out that the part of the moon we landed on is very The findings, Mojzsis added, open up a new window for when moon’s orbit. “The approach velocity had to be just right and the solar system,” said Mojzsis, a professor in the Department of unusual,” he said. “It is strongly affected by one big impact, the life may have evolved on Earth. Based on the team’s results, our altitude over the moon rather precise. Even a small error would Geological Sciences. “But until this study, nobody knew when Imbrium Basin, that is about 3.9 billion years old and affects planet may have been calm enough to support living organisms have killed this mission.” it happened.” nearly everything we sampled.” as early as 4.4 billion years ago. He said that with the successful completion of the lunar orbit It’s a debate that, at least in part, comes down to moon rocks To get around that bias, the researchers decided to compile Other co-authors on the study include Nigel Kelly, formerly insertion maneuver, the spacecraft had hit “a major milestone” and collected by Apollo astronauts -- many of which seemed to be the ages from an exhaustive database of meteorites that had of CU Boulder, Oleg Abramov at the Planetary Science Institute was now orbiting the moon at an inclination of 88 degrees. only 3.9 billion years old, hundreds of millions of years younger crash landed on Earth. and Stephanie Werner at the University of Oslo. Next, it is to perform a series of orbit maneuvers to enable it to than the moon itself. “The surfaces of the inner planets have been extensively (Source: Science Daily) enter its final pass over the lunar poles at a distance of about 62 miles from the moon’s surface, before the lander, Vikram, separates and enters its own orbit around the moon. The lander will then perform a series of braking maneuvers to Enabling longer space missions “soft land in the south polar region of the moon on Sept. 7,” the The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon systems can be further extended; their work When these thrusters do stop working, it is of these regions. They then tested their ISRO said in a statement. landing has reignited interest in space travel. was recently published in EPJ D. generally because of surface erosion caused findings by measuring the parameters on After landing, Vikram will release Pragyan, the rover. However, almost any mission beyond the moon, The speed or direction of a spacecraft by the propellant; the pattern of surface a laboratory-scale Hall thruster unit in a Chandrayaan-2 launched from India’s Geosynchronous Satellite whether manned or unmanned, will require operating in a vacuum can be changed erosion depends on where, in the Hall vacuum. Importantly, they found that it Launch Vehicle in July and had been circling Earth for the past few the spacecraft to remain fully operational for using an ion drive, which creates thrust by thruster channel, ions are formed and then was possible to keep the IARs at the same, weeks, slowly using its propulsion system to increase its orbital at least several years. The Hall thruster is a accelerating cations. The Hall thruster is a accelerated: the ionisation and acceleration optimal locations. Stationary IARs are distance to escape its gravity. propulsion system that is often used by craft type of ion drive in which the acceleration regions (IARs). known to prolong the life of Hall thrusters, “On Sept. 7, at 1:55 a.m., lander will land on the moon,” Sivan involved in long missions. A recent study by is provided by an electric field rather than Shashkov and his colleagues used suggesting that these drives could be used in said. “Whatever is humanly possible has been done by us.” Andrey Shashkov and co-workers at the Moscow chemical fuel. It is recommended only for computer modelling to investigate how spacecraft on even longer missions: many The next lunar-bound orbit maneuver is scheduled for Wednesday, Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia use in space missions longer than 3-5 years; changing the rate of gas flow and the size times further than the moon. ISRO said. has shown how the operating lives of these currently, these typically involve satellites. of the magnetic field affects the location (Source: Science Daily) (Source: Science Daily) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM AUGUST 22, 2019

Mounesan named acting Berlin exhibit to turn tourism minister spotlight on medieval, TOURISM TEHRAN — In a decree on Wednesday, Iranian deskPresident Hassan Rouhani appointed Ali-As- ghar Mounesan as the acting tourism minister. The decision came as the final step for creating a long-awaited modern ceramics from Iran ministry for tourism, cultural heritage and handicrafts in the country. Mounesan who doubles as vice president has been steering HERITAGE TEHRAN — Dozens of medieval and he refers to historical objects of Iran and reflects the the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization deskmodern Iranian ceramics, selected radiance of the shell floors - the center of the objects - since August 2017 when he replaced Zahra Ahmadipour who from two German collections, will go on display at as an image carrier and central point of view. For two held the post since November 2016. the Bumiller Collection, Studio X-Berg, in Berlin from decades, Ahrnt has been traveling to Iran on a regular September 12 to November 30. basis, and his artistic work has been influenced both The exhibit titled “Call Me anything but Ordinary” by Persian culture and archeology and by the country’s will also showcase modern works by Iranian crafter presence. In his works he questions his own, western Mansureh Najarpour who is graduated from the Art view of the objects and the examination of the material University Isfahan. and the language of form,” the Islamic Culture and According to the organizers, the event will put on Relations Organization reported. show objects from the Bumiller Collection, which is Mansureh Najarpour (born 1990), a young Iranian affiliated with the University Museum of Islamic Art, artist from Isfahan, has devoted herself to experimen- and the Luschey Collection, arranged as an installation tal firing and glazing techniques. She will showcase by the Frankfurt based artist Jorg Ahrnt in combination an exhibition on contemporary Iranian pottery with with his drawings. her work. Organized in collaboration with Iran’s Islamic Culture Accompanying the exhibition is the first volume of and Relations Organization, the exhibit is intended to the new publication series “Studies on the Bumiller pay homage to ceramics from the Iranian region and to Collection”. “From Ordinary to Luxury” which is a build a bridge between the Orient and the Occident in a scientific documentation and analysis of 190 objects Ali-Asghar Mounesan in an undated photo way to connect tradition and modernity in a lively way. from the Bumiller Collection. Before now, tourism affairs in the country were running by It also aims to stage “outstanding” and various The Bumiller Collection comprises over 6000 ob- the Organization, whose head is installed by the president and achievements of medieval ceramists and to put into jects from the 7th to the 13th century, among them the is acted as the vice-president. dialogue with contemporary art from Germany and Iran. world’s largest collection of early Islamic bronzes. An Earlier this month, the Guardian Council, which is empowered Techniques and motifs spread through the trade important assemblage of ceramics, glass, manuscripts, to vet legislation in the Islamic Republic, gave its approval to form routes between the Near East and China at that time stone and ivory carvings as well as coins complement the ministry in a bid to boost the country’s tourism industry. and led to an artistic syncretism that created new formal the spectrum of early Islamic Art. The bill had already been agreed upon by lawmakers in the languages in Iranian space. The exhibition shows that The objects are mostly from the Iranian region, parliament (Majlis), but it lately gained the approval of the Guard- ceramics is by no means just a commodity, but also which includes the present countries of Iran, Uzbeki- ian Council last year, when lawmakers gave approval to the bill serves as a ubiquitous image and information medium. stan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan as well with 137 votes in favor, 41 against and 1 abstention. “The Frankfurt artist Jorg Ahrnt arranges the frag- as northern India. They enable a fascinating insight The CHHTO was founded in 1985, administered and funded ments of the Luschey collection into an installation into the medieval world along the Silk Road. Objects by the Iranian government. and shows selected drawings. In his graphic work, from Syria, Egypt and Moorish Spain complement the Nearly 7.8 million tourists traveled to Iran in the last fiscal A poster for the ceramics exhibit “Call Me anything but Ordinary” year (ended March 20), showing a 52.5 percent growth compared with the preceding year. collection. They afford a comprehensive overview of Iran is home to hundreds of historical sites such as bazaars, the artisanal work of the Islamic world. Writing instru- museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, ments, medical and cosmetic tools but also objects of churches, towers, mansions, as well as very changing natural daily life such as oil lamps, incense burners, cauldrons, sceneries, and above all, millions of its hospitable people. jugs, locks all the way to mirrors, amulets and jewelry belonged to the basic inventory of a then household. Floral and abstract ornaments as well as pictures of flora and fauna show a rich repertoire of décor, which Climate change ‘could was implemented partly in sophisticated metallurgical methods. Many examples of the manufacture and décor expose more ancient techniques such as repoussé, chasing and damascening monuments and ruins’ exemplify the high standard of eastern artistic work. The entire collection is on display in typologically order. In the foreground is the presentation of all the More ancient monuments and historic ruins will be uncovered as objects, be they novel or rare. In this way the never extreme weather caused by climate change gets more frequent, or rare published objects are accessible, the study of an expert has said. which may close some art history knowledge gaps in The remains of a shipwreck off the Abergele coast dating back Bowl, ceramic, Nishapour (Neyshabur), Iran, 11th century Star-shaped deer-tile, ceramic, Kashan, Iran, 13th century the research of Islamic metallurgy. 150 years was revealed by July’s thunderstorms. A prehistoric forest and 200 archaeological sites were also unearthed following extreme weather. Archaeologist Dr Paul Belford said “you’ll see more and more Iranian marquetry master to hold exhibit in Tehran of this” as the world warms up. Experts have “tentatively identified” the recently-uncovered HERITAGE TEHRAN — A collec- exhibit titled “Resurrection of the Wood” a high diploma of honor from the Inter- Abergele wreck as the 35-tonne wooden sloop Endeavour that desktion of marquetry works will be running through September 2, national Iranian Innovators and Elites sunk without trace in gales in October 1854. by Mehran Amir-Inanlou, a trendsetter, the report said. Institute and has won distinctions in The remains of the 45ft long vessel was found at Pensarn applauded Iranian artist, will go on dis- Born in 1967, Amir-Inanlou is one several domestic and international ex- beach in Conwy county by a member of the public. play at an exhibition in the Sa’dabad of the prominent masters of marque- positions. “The stormy weather created giant waves which moved the Cultural-Historical Complex. try (wood inlaying), known as the Sprawled on about 110 hectares of a sand banks and exposed the boat,” said Dr Belford, chief executive The collection is composed of 30 innovator of a new style in marquetry mountainside parkland, the Sa’dabad of the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. works, of which eight haven’t gone on which involves incorporating color complex was once a royal summer res- “You’ll see more and more wrecks and ancient monuments a public display so for, CHTN reported. rendering into the art, according to idence during Qajar era (1789–1925) uncovered as extreme weather events become more frequent The opening ceremony will be held IRNA. and its subsequent Pahlavi epoch due to the impact of climate change. on August 2 from 15 to 19 local time. The He holds a first-class art degree and (1925–1979). (Source: BBC)

ROUND THE GLOBE What’s it like to live in an over-touristed city? Global travel and tourism continues to grow at break- Travel. “We enjoy a much less busy version of Prague Sinharaja Forest Reserve neck speed, growing faster than the global GDP and Locals explain how the influx in neighbourhoods like Letn? with its beer garden with contributing more than $8 trillion to the economy every of travellers has affected one of the best views of the city, tree-lined avenues The Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which is located in south- year. Yet, in some cities seeing a record numbers of of Vinohrady, trendy Karlin, and hipster Vrsovice.” west Sri Lanka, is the country’s last viable area of primary visitors, governments and residents alike are starting them, how authorities are Barcelona tropical rainforest. More than 60% of the trees are endemic to question whether this growth of tourism might be responding and how visitors Barcelona has struggled in recent years to manage and many of them are considered rare. too much of a good thing. can remain respectful the number of tourists descending on its sun-soaked There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the In order to understand the struggles these cities streets, and ranked in the index’s highest quartile reserve is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic could face in coming years and how they might address of people who live there for overall ‘crunch’. With more than 30 million species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds them, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) year-round. visitors last year, tourists can far outnumber the of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. and real estate firm JLL recently put together the local population of 1.6 million, which puts a strain Destination 2030 index as a way to measure tourism for tourists with its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and on city resources. readiness, based on tourism growth and the cities’ Fisherman’s Wharf, but the Silicon Valley tech boom “Tourists bother me when a group of eight or more ability to manage that growth. The index measures here has put additional strain on the resources of the take the neighbourhood bus – a small minibus that 75 tourism indicators – including the concentration city, even as tourist numbers continue to grow. In the neighbours use to go uphill to their homes, especially of visitors, urban readiness and local policy engage- index, San Francisco ranks in the highest quartile for for elderly and families with kids or strollers or people ment – to determine the challenges ahead for 50 of overall ‘crunch’. carrying heavy shopping bags,” said Barcelona na- the world’s major cities. In the report’s ‘Managing One of the landmark lightning rods in the city right tive Marta Laurent Veciana, owner of tour company Momentum’ group, cities with high growth in tourism now is Lombard Street, known as ‘the crookedest street ForeverBarcelona.com. Big tourist groups also often numbers were flagged as potentially causing strain on in the world’ for its winding, steep hairpin turns. “The block the subway ticket validating machines. “Leave existing infrastructure if steps aren’t taken to manage traffic backup to travel down this little stretch spills at least one machine available for locals so they don’t the growth. We talked to a few residents in these cities over into neighboring streets and blocks the flow of have to wait until your entire group has validated their to find out how the influx of travellers in recent years traffic,” said Kristine Dworkin, whose family has lived ticket to go in.” has affected them, how authorities are responding here for generations. “Groups stop to take selfies at the Toronto and how visitors can remain respectful of the people bottom with seemingly no notice of the cars coming Not every city sees the growing number of visitors who live there year-round. towards them. Pedestrians also don’t seem to realize as a bad thing. “Personally, I love seeing more peo- Covering an area of 8,864 ha and ranging from an altitude Amsterdam that the homes along Lombard are private property ple flocking to our great city of Toronto,” said Kyle of 300 – 1,170 meters, it consists of 6,092 ha of Forest Reserve With 18 million visitors last year and a population and frequently trespass in the yards.” In response to Collier, founder of tech startup Phaze. “I’ve lived in and 2,772 ha of Proposed Forest Reserve. of under 1 million, Amsterdam has seen tourists add the complaints, the city recently approved a toll-based Shanghai, China, so from my standpoint Toronto has This narrow strip of undulating terrain encompasses a to rising real-estate prices due in part to short-term reservation system, which could go into effect as early lots of space.” That doesn’t mean Toronto doesn’t face series of ridges and valleys that are crisscrossed by an intricate rentals, as well as contribute to overcrowded streets as next year. challenges ahead ­– the index ranks the city in the network of streams. Draining to both the south and north, and problems with their relaxed drug laws. In the Prague highest quartile for overall ‘crunch’. this detailed matrix of waterways flow into the Gin River on index, Amsterdam ranks in the highest quartile for Ranking in the highest quartile for overall crunch While the tourism industry seems ready to take on the southern boundary of the property and Kalu River via concentration of visitors and overall ‘crunch’ (the and the density of tourist traffic, the Czech Republic’s the influx of visitors, according to locals, it’s housing the Napola Dola, Koskulana Ganga and Kudawa Ganga on its strain on the city). Unhappy residents have given it capital (a city of just 1.3 million people) attracted a where residents are feeling the real pressure. “Toronto northern boundary. Annual rainfall over the last 60 years has the derogatory nickname of ‘Venice’, a symbol of a record 7.9 million visitors last year. Most tourists never was already facing an affordable housing shortage. ranged from 3614 - 5006 mm with most of the precipitation city overrun by holidaymakers. leave the area of Prague 1, the district with Old Town, Especially in the downtown core, this has been ex- during the south-west monsoon (May-July) and the north- Still, some say the picture isn’t as bleak as the media Mala Strana (The Lesser Quarter) and the castle area, acerbated by the advent of holiday rentals (such as east monsoon (November- January). makes it out to be. “Museums finally have enough which keeps the negative effects contained. Airbnb),” said resident Eric Wychopen, who blogs about Sri Lanka is home to 830 endemic species, of which budget and small businesses are thriving,” said Am- “It’s something of a shame that the centre has now the province at Ontario Away. “It’s common now to see 217 trees and woody climbers are found in the low land sterdam native Hanneke Vroegindeweij, co-founder been surrendered to tourists but even there, locals condo terms and conditions prohibiting renters from wet zone. Of these, 139 (64%) have been recorded in the of private tour company Amsterdam Odyssey. “In 42 can find refuge and cheap-ish beers in places known posting their properties for holiday rent. However, reserve including 16 rare species. years of my life, I’ve never seen my city so beautiful.” mostly to university students,” said Charlie Neville, it’s also common knowledge that some tenants still (Source: UNESCO) San Francisco originally from London, who has lived in Prague since illegally rent their properties.” California’s coastal city has always been a draw 2002 and works for custom tour operator JayWay (Source: BBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 22, 2019 TECHNOLOGY 11

Blockchain, an inevitable part of 26 million Iranians do not use internet: report

TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN – Some 26 million Iranians of six industrial revolution: expert deskyears old and above do not use internet, the Statistical Center of Iran and Information Technology Organization By Setareh Behroozi ITO Sajjad Fallah announced. of Iran announced in a joint report, Mehr reported on Tuesday. The transparency provided by blockchain Of the figure, 11.864 million are men and the rest are women, Blockchain is an inevitable part of the fourth is a great achievement for holding polls according to the report. industrial revolution, which is characterized worldwide, he said. About 18.307 million Iranians have announced that they do by a range of technologies, an expert with The ITO calls for startups active in the field not need internet technology. the Information Technology Organization of blockchain in order to apply blockchain of Iran (ITO) said on Sunday. technology on polls conducted by the unions Mohammadreza Forouzandehdoust made in November 2018, he noted. the remarks during a workshop held for “A total of 26 startups have applied for information and communication technology participation, of which five will be selected (ICT) reporters and journalists at the venue to run the project.” of ICT Ministry. The blockchain will be applied on unions In his speech, he explained about and associations’ polls, which will be held at different aspects of blockchain technology the ministry of science, he said. with an emphasis on its important role in He explained that the project is in its final digital economy and the transparency and stages and will be implemented soon. authenticity of the blockchain technology Fallah then talked about the other project as a peer-to-peer network. of the organization, which is the usage of The challenges of using blockchain, blockchain in Iranian leading football clubs, its history, different kinds of blockchain, Persepolis and Esteghlal. government and blockchain and the One of the main impediments for Over seven million people do not use internet due to lack of application of blockchain in industry were privatization of these clubs is that their knowledge, skills and self-confidence and over 3.5 million people other issues discussed during the event. financial transactions are not transparent, do not use internet due to high cost of internet and 1.3 million He named the effect of blockchain on Cryptocurrency and its challenges Though in late July, the Iranian government he explained. people are concerned about privacy, the report announced. authenticity of legal contracts, polls, smart in Iran approved cryptocurrency mining as an Another factor is that they are considered According to the statistics, 1.250 million people do not have services, e-health, internet of things (IoT) For his part, the ITO director Amir Nazemi industrial activity, the energy ministry and as loss-making firms, he said, adding that access in their cities or villages and 1.769 million people do not and internet-based transactions as the explained about cryptocurrency, threats and the ICT ministry do not agree with the cost of both of the issues can be solved by applying use internet due to cultural reasons including immoral contents, “disruptive technology”. opportunities with an emphasis on the current electricity used for mining, he noted. blockchain technology. the report says. For example, in smart contracts, the data situation of mining in Iran. He said that the emerging technologies Using proof of authority mechanism of Meanwhile, 7.632 million people do not know anything about on loan and refund are coded with blockchain In his speech, he called cryptocurrency should be welcomed in the country, since they blockchain can limit those who have access internet and 7.936 million are illiterate for using internet. technology and the process of refunding the and mining as an important manifestation may become important part of interaction with to information of the clubs to fans, sports A total of 2.709 million people do not use internet because loan is done automatically, he said. of blockchain, in which the public can take other countries in the near future. federations and sport ministry, he said. they do not have permission to use it and 1.231 million people In electronic health record (EHR), which part and reap benefits. ITO plans blockchain projects “They can create token for their fans in believe that there is no good contents and services available on is based on blockchain, the patient can “In fact, hi-tech may not be amongst the To highlight the importance of hi-tech, order to follow the decisions and financial internet, the report added. decide how much of his or her medical public interests, however, some parts of these the ITO plans to secure votes and poll results resources of the clubs.” The statistics say that 59,249 people do not use internet due record can be available for the physician emerging technologies can directly affect the with blockchain technology under a project Fallah said that the infrastructure will be to their physical disabilities. and even the patient can limit the time life of citizens and we are responsible to pave and also urges Iranian popular football teams created in one month, however, “we need According to a report released by the Information Technology for his or her physician to access the EHR, the way for introduction of new technologies,” Persepolis and Esteghlal to use blockchain a common sense to accept these changes,” Organization of Iran in late July, the highest internet penetration he added. he explained. for their clubs’ transactions, an official with he concluded. rate is amongst students with 89.6 percent. A total of 36.5 percent of internet users are employed individuals, 26.7 percent are housekeepers, 23.8 percent are students, and 6.3 percent are unemployed individuals, according to the report. According to the statistics about 29.4 million of Iranians D-8 sec. gen. visits Pardis science, technology park (63.4 percent) are ‘usual’ internet users. TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN — The secretary-general of during the visit. deskthe Developing Eight Organization for The Iranian side proposed negotiating with the Islamic Economic Cooperation (D-8), Dato’ Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, Development Bank to sponsor TTEN activities and visiting Smart cities need to spend more heading a delegation of officials paid a visit to Pardis science innovation factories established in Tehran by the park. and technology park on Monday. The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also on security tech, study suggests Iran National Technomart, Technology Transfer and known as Developing-8, is an organization for development The world’s largest cities need to invest billions of additional Exchange Network (TTEN), Mustafa Prize, International co-operation among the following countries: Bangladesh, dollars into their infrastructure in order to secure citizen data, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (INOTEX) and inter- Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, and new research suggests. national cooperation were discussed with Pardis managers Turkey. Of the roughly $135 billion expected to be spent globally on cybersecurity for critical city infrastructure in 2024, 44% will be split across data protection provisions for energy, health care, It might surprise you where the tech Tech companies may listen when you public security, transport, water and waste industries, analyst jobs are talk to your virtual assistant group ABI Research concluded in a study published Tuesday. That equates to about $59.4 billion and will not be enough, Tech is showing the way – perhaps, as Big tech companies don’t like to talk it clear what happens to any recordings Dimitrios Pavlakis, an analyst at ABI Research, said. its advocates claim, to a glorious future about it. And when users find out it’s from these systems, and what risks there In a statement accompanying the study, he said lackluster of communication and connectivity, but happening, they’re often surprised — may be to your privacy. digital security investments could “jeopardize the key elements more immediately to employment in and disturbed. “If you think about it, why would you of intelligence, efficiency and sustainability of future smart city overlooked regions of the country. That Yes, if you talk to a virtual assistant, want a stranger in your home, listening deployments.” assertion may seem counterintuitive. The such as Amazon’s Alexa, a human may to your private conversations?” asked The concern echoes a growing consensus across government media has consistently described tech in listen to a recording of your chatter. Mainul Mondal, founder and CEO of San and industry that too little oversight is given to the fundamental terms of a focus on the “super cities” of Recent reports have highlighted Francisco-based startup Ellipsis Health, technologies used to build connected cities. The U.S.-led black- the coasts, where presumably it can find what is actually a longstanding practice which uses AI to analyze conversations listing of next-generation 5G mobile networking products made super talent in needs (in other words in meant largely to improve the artificial patients have with doctors and other by Huawei Technologies Co. -- the type being deployed to connect the places where the media lives.) But the intelligence that underpins the virtual healthcare providers. buildings, machines and people -- was driven by fears of espio- statistics from both the tech companies assistant-powered gadgets and services AI is not magic nage or attack by foreign state actors. The Chinese company has themselves and the Labor Department for incomes, that though higher than na- that are popping up throughout people’s Virtual assistants are powered by repeatedly contested such claims. tell a different story. The much-dismissed tional averages, do not go far in New York homes and lives. machine learning algorithms, which In their current states, urban areas with intertwined surveillance, (and dissed) “flyover” might have captured or San Francisco or other such expensive The practice raises privacy concerns comb through massive amounts of data, health care and utilities networks in particular lack appropriate a lot more than the headlines suggest localities. If reporting by the tech compa- for smart-speaker users in particular, searching for patterns. To work, these levels of security to deflect data breaches and cyberattacks, ac- The understandable tendency among nies themselves is any indication, these who might have known that Amazon, assistants need to be trained on lots of cording to ABI Research. most commentators is to look at tech in employees tend to have very short tenures, Google, and Apple create recordings data -— in this case, lots of conversations. The number of wide-area network connections used for objects terms of education. It needs highly edu- giving their firms a few highly stressful each time you speak to Alexa, Google It takes about 20,000 hours of audio such as street lamps, surveillance cameras and air quality sensors cated staff and so people naturally look years in exciting locales to innovate and Assistant, and Siri, respectively, but not to train an assistant that can be rolled is projected to jump to about 1.3 billion by 2024, according to ABI at locations with a lot of college gradu- improve their resumes before moving on that people might review them. out to users, according to Jason Mars, Research, up from about 696 million today. Only half of those ates. Closer examination of the nature to jobs in less stressful, less expensive The companies have said only a small CEO and cofounder of Clinc, an Ann will be set up on networks capable of handling cyber-threats, of tech operations however shows that places. By contrast to these workers and percentage of recordings are listened to Arbor, Michigan-based startup that the group said. they do not always want the same peo- their ilk, there are the many engineers by humans. Still, Google and Apple have builds conversational assistants for (Source: bloomberg.com) ple. It is not all coders, not by a long and managers also in the employ of tech temporarily halted human reviews of their banks and other companies. shot. A more detailed look at what tech firms. They tend to have longer tenures, recordings, while Amazon recently changed These assistants can be trained to firms are doing also shows that since tech 7-8 years in contrast to 2.5 on average its settings to make it easier for people do all kinds of tasks, like telling you World’s longest-running webcam costs lie predominately in salaries and for the urban coder. Accordingly, they to avoid such review at all. Last week, what the weather is or playing a song bonuses, managements of these firms are more likely to stress lifestyle and so Facebook said it, too, had paused human on command. Still, people remain vital going offline after 25 years have a powerful incentive to locate in have preference for less expensive, less review of some users’ audio clips, such as not just for providing the information lower cost areas where they can pay a stressful locales. those sent as audio messages via the social to train these systems in the first place, The founders of the webcam say it is “a throwback to the early lower wage and still buy a good lifestyle These preferences are evident in just network’s Messenger app. Facebook had but also for helping them improve over days of the internet when anyone could do anything”. for their employees. And because of the about all the available statistics. Apple, been using humans to listen in, as part of time, which is why someone somewhere After 25 years of live broadcasting, what is thought to be the nature of tech operations, these firms are for instance, reports that it has located an AI-transcription feature. might be listening to a recording of you longest-running webcam in the world is finally going offline. remarkably flexible in this regard. about at third of its staff and its entire An Amazon Echo Plus smart speaker asking Alexa to play “Truth Hurts” by Students Jeff Schwartz and Dan Wong installed it on the roof Amazon and Apple are exhibits one hardware-engineering division in Aus- photographed on a kitchen counter, Lizzo. of a campus building at San Francisco State University in 1994. and two. The former’s warehouses are tin, Texas instead of the firm’s Cupertino taken on January 9, 2019. (Photo by Justine Cassell, a professor of At the time, Bill Clinton was U.S. president, JK Rowling was seldom located in super cities. Rather, headquarters. Labor Department data on Olly Curtis/Future via Getty Images) language technology at Carnegie Mellon years away from publishing the first Harry Potter, and there were they are found in the exurbs where both the predominance of engineers completes An Amazon Echo Plus smart speaker University, said humans are “essential” still only three Star Wars films. land and labor are cheap. To be sure, the picture. To be sure, Silicon Valley photographed on a kitchen counter, for making AI-powered, voice-controlled The gadget was pointed towards the frequently foggy Holloway Amazon made headlines with talk of lo- still has the greatest number of engineers taken on January 9, 2019. (Photo by products, since the technology is still bad Avenue and became known as FogCam. cating in New York City but only after per capita in the country, but Houston Olly Curtis/Future via Getty Images) at figuring out how people talk -— that It has streamed without much in the way of interruption for receiving huge concessions that would and Bakersfield, even Dayton far outpace Lost in the shuffle of these revelations is, how we choose the way to say what two-and-a-half decades. have protected profitability from New what are usually considered the coastal is whether people are truly needed to we say (which can vary depending on But its creators, known online as Webdog and Danno, have York’s otherwise high living costs, con- super cities. The figures of engineers per make these AI-dependent systems work, whether we’re talking to, for instance, announced that - much like the Walkman and the VHS - the time cessions that eventually scotched the deal. capita for Los Angeles barely match the and how much companies should tell a coworker or a family member). has come for it to be consigned to gadget history. Meanwhile, Apple has gone even further U.S. average, and New York is well below users about this process. AI is also not good at figuring out The long-running feed - found at fogcam.org - will shut down from the expensive coastal cities to do that average. San Francisco has seen its How to stop your Alexa voice how to respond to us appropriately. For at the end of this month. much of its production. Almost all its computer and math-related employment recordings from being reviewed instance, if you ask Siri to tell you a joke, In a tweet from the FogCam account, the pair said: “After 25 assemblies are done in China. fall from ranking third nationally in 2010 by a human and you respond to the punchline by years, FogCam is shutting down forever at the end of August. Aside from these stark contrasts be- to 25th in 2017, the most recent year for Numerous experts in AI, ranging from saying, “That’s not very funny,” it will “Webdog & Danno thank our viewers and San Francisco tween tech behavior and the common which complete data are available. It is academics to startup entrepreneurs, told respond with a robotic, “I’m not sure I State University for their support over the years. The internet narrative, location also takes account of not just tech, either. Cost of living has CNN Business that there is a legitimate understand.” has changed a lot since 1994, but FogCam will always have a the different sorts of employees involved in also driven other sorts of engineering need to listen to some snippets of “Machines are not good at this, and special place in its history.” tech. The popular narrative’s focus seems operations, such as Bechtel and Jacob conversation in order to make all kinds that’s why people listen to human speech: Mr. Schwartz, who goes by Webdog, told local news website to lie entirely on the coders, what are Engineering out of San Francisco, along of voice-operated technology work -— because we’re really good at classifying SFGate that he and his colleague were studying computer science commonly called “youthful creators.” But with Occidental Petroleum and the Jap- no matter if it’s a smart speaker in your that kind of stuff,” Cassell said. “I know when they set up the webcam, which updates every 20 seconds. this approach only captures part of the anese auto manufacturers Toyota and living room or a virtual server at a drive- whether, to some extent, you feel positive “It was just a little pet project that developed a life of its own,” picture. These young people do indeed Nissan. McKesson Pharmaceuticals has through restaurant. about what I’m saying or negative about he said. cluster in the super cities on the coasts. decamped for Dallas. At the same time, they think tech what I’m saying.” “People liked it so we kept it going. Their youthful energy compensates them (Source: forbes.com) companies should do much more to make (Source: CNN) (Source: Sky News) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY AUGUST 22, 2019

‘Traffic-related accidents ‘Govt., judiciary slow to submit incurred $480m loss last year’

SOCIETY TEHRAN — Traffic-related accidents brought deskheavy economic burden amounting to 20 tril- bill on protection of animals’ lion rials (about $480 million) for the country in the past Irani- ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — The govern- the judiciary accepted to review the bill, an calendar year (ended March 20), Tehran traffic police chief deskment and the judiciary however, the process was so slow. Teymour Hosseini has said. have been slow to submit a bill proposed He went on to say that postponing the Road crashes and casualties annually constitute about 5 percent over 3 years ago (to the Majlis) on protection bills which arouse public emotion causes the of the country’s gross domestic product, which is so costly and of animals and wildlife, Mohammad Reza country heavy costs, so, the government and must become the country’s top priority, he stated. Tabesh, head of the Majlis environment the judiciary must take urgent measures in committee has stated. this regard, and resolve the dispute to send Referring to a video emerged online the bill to the Majlis as soon as possible. showing the killings of stray dogs in Tehran “The draft is now ready, and we are wait- suburbs, he lamented that “I declare that the ing for the government and the judiciary to government and the judiciary have delayed submit the bill just because of its financial in submitting the bill to prohibit animal costs,” he said. cruelty, which will incur financial burden.” Referring to the current laws condemning “The issue is on the center of public at- animal right violators, he highlighted that tention; therefore, we are good at procras- if the animals are poisoned or killed, the tination, deferment and causing financial violator would face imprisonment for 91 losses for the country,” he regretted. days to 6 months, or would be fined and in Any animal cruelty and violation of ani- some cases the person will be imprisoned mal’s right is considered a crime and should for 2 to 10 years. be pursued by legal entities, he stressed, However, the law needs to be revised ISNA reported on Wednesday. because it does not fully comply with animal Despite the municipality’s response to rights today, he noted. the recently released video claiming that it He called on the responsible bodies to has been recorded about 2 years ago and pursue the issue and pass the bill, and ex- “We should stop construction and development of roads for at the contractor has been dismissed, it has Postponing the bills which arouse public pressed sorrow toward the incidents that least 10 years and spend all the budgets to improve the existing triggered people’s emotions, he added. triggered strong emotion in the country. situation of roads,” Hosseini suggested. For the past several years, with the help emotion causes the country heavy costs, Since 2016, some animal cruelty cases Cars, roads and human are the leading causes of accidents, of NGOs, artists, and lawyers, a bill was so, the government and the judiciary must have been spotted in the country which however, human is responsible for over 92 percent of the road drafted to ban animal cruelty, and the gov- mounted public criticism and pushed the accidents, he lamented, ISNA reported on Monday. ernment was going to either pass the bill or take urgent measures in this regard, and Majlis to pass a law against cruelty to animals. To reduce the crashes and losses, the first way is using capa- put it forward to the Majlis, he said, adding, resolve the dispute to send the bill to the The Department of Environment (DOE) bilities of Information Technology Services (ITS), which track actually, it might have been rejected by the Majlis as soon as possible. proposed the bill, which must be approved driving violations, he said, adding, “Currently, we only track Expediency Council for its financial burden. by the presidential office for legal affairs driving at an unsafe speed while it can also track the drivers who “Therefore, we have been negotiating as possible with the assistance of NGOs Given that penalties were required by and then to be submitted to the Majlis and run between lines as well as drowsy driving.” with the presidential office for legal affairs and those interested in animal rights,” the law, the judiciary claimed that should in case of approval to be sent to the Expe- “The second way is to eliminate the field of violation so that and have requested to submit it as soon he also said. submit the bill, initially, he stated, adding, diency Council. people do not have to violate the rules. In all suburbs, when comparing speeds in suburban areas with regulatory speeds, we find that people drive at higher speeds.” He went on to highlight that motorcycles should be designed in Forest elephants defend against climate change by promoting carbon-storing trees, study says a way that their power and speed fit the needs of the community Poaching destabilises nations, disrupts ecosystems and “As a tree, there’s a trade-off – you can’t have it all,” to reduce the share of motorcycles in road crashes. threatens biodiversity. A recent study suggests still an- Mr Berzaghi said. “You either invest in growing fast or in Equipping the provincial traffic police with smartphones which other consequence: Some types of poaching may also building a lot of structure with carbon to be more resistant.” send instant massages to the violators can be really efficient in accelerate climate change. Extrapolating their findings to the whole of Africa’s preventing those vehicles from causing crashes, he concluded. Forest elephants – the smaller, endangered relatives of Af- rainforest, Mr Berzaghi and his colleagues found that the Traffic police chief Seyed Kamal Hadianfar in July said that rican savanna elephants – promote the growth of large trees disappearance of elephants would result in a 7 per cent loss of road crashes claimed lives of 4,129 Iranians during the April that excel at storing carbon, according to research published vegetation – the equivalent of 3 billion tons of carbon storage. 21-July 22 period. in the journal Nature Geoscience. Put another way, elephants provide a carbon storage “To reduce car crashes, we must develop facilities and emergen- Should forest elephants disappear, scientists estimat- service valued at $43bn (£35.6bn). cy fleet, both in emergency medical services and traffic polices,” ed, Central Africa’s rainforest will lose about 3 billion “This is the first study I have seen attributing large, he noted, adding, actually, 33 organizations are responsible for tons of carbon – the equivalent of France’s total CO2 multimegaton changes in carbon to a particular species,” traffic accidents reduction. emissions for 27 years. said Rosie Fisher, a scientist at the National Centre for Nearly 1.25 million people die in road crashes each year, on “This new paper points to something that we in Central Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, who was average 3,287 deaths a day. An additional 20-50 million are in- Africa have suspected for a long time, but now this group not involved in the research. jured or disabled. More than half of all road traffic deaths occur has thrown some serious science at the issue,” said Fiona “It really opens a new frontier in how we think about among young adults aged 15-44. Maisels, a conservation scientist at the Wildlife Conservation interactions between large animals and carbon storage.” Society and at the University of Stirling in Scotland. Save for a few surviving populations, forest elephants WORDS IN THE NEWS “With the loss of forest elephants,” she added, “loss of ences between these two continents’ forests,” Mr Berzaghi are functionally extinct in almost all of their former carbon stocks can be added to the list of ecosystem services said. “We also really wanted to know what the long-term 850,000-square-mile habitat. India’s reaction to the that are no longer provided by these animals.” consequences of losing this species would be.” The species declined by 62 per cent from 2002 to 2011, Over recent years, researchers have gained a more detailed Mr Berzaghi and his colleagues selected two field sites. Ms Maisels and her colleagues found, and poaching has Agra summit understanding of the links between animals and climate. One lies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, from which largely continued unchecked since then. Wild grazers, for instance, can reduce the intensity elephants disappeared 30 years ago because of poaching; According to Iain Douglas-Hamilton, founder of Save the (July 18, 2001) and frequency of fires that emit greenhouse gases. Meth- the other is the Republic of Congo, where elephants lived Elephants, a conservation organisation based in Kenya, the India and Pakistan failed to reach an agreement over Kashmir at the ane emissions from livestock significantly contribute at high numbers until recently. killing has most recently spread to Gabon, which holds half Agra summit, the first such meeting in two years. Some opposition to global warming. Both sites were relatively pristine and differed only of the world’s remaining forest elephants and was previously party leaders in India have criticized the Indian government for Scientists have also known for decades that large in the presence or absence of elephants. The researchers protected from poaching by its relative isolation. its handling of the summit. Jill McGivering reports from Delhi. herbivores such as elephants play important short-term measured the trunk size of all the trees in the study areas “This study comes at a time when forest elephants are Opposition leaders aren’t sparing the government any roles in ecosystems by promoting biodiversity, recycling and noted the species, giving them an idea of the short- threatened as never before,” Mr Douglas-Hamilton said. embarrassment. Senior members of the Congress Party nutrients and dispersing seeds. term effects of elephant loss. “It is appalling that just as we are beginning to understand called the summit a lost opportunity - and said the level of Fabio Berzaghi, an ecologist at the Laboratory of Climate To determine the long-term effects, they created a com- how elephants might have a key role in Africa in sequestering expectation created before the meetings had been unrealistic. and Environmental Sciences in France and the lead author puter model that simulated the basic functions of the African carbon, they are under real threat of eradication.” One called on the government to explain in parliament what of the new study, suspected that elephants might also play rainforest, including tree growth and death, competition, One limitation of the study, Mr Berzaghi said, is that we went wrong. In Indian Kashmir, which had been a divisive issue a profound long-term role in shaping Africa’s rainforest, photosynthesis and reproduction. The model allowed them do not know how much carbon has already been lost because at the talks, there was widespread disappointment. Many second in size only to the Amazon’s. to include or exclude elephants. of the elephants’ decline. But it does seem certain, he added, said they feared an increase in violence as a result. The Amazon lost its large herbivores 12,000 years ago, Forest elephants almost exclusively stomp down trees that putting a stop to poaching and restoring forest elephant One separatist leader accused the Indian government of being among them ground sloths that weighed over 3 tons, ele- with a diameter of 12 inches or less, and they prefer to eat populations would bring climate benefits. intransigent. He praised General Musharraf for taking what he phant-like creatures called gomphotheres and armadillo-like fast-growing softwood trees. By clearing the understory “There’s evidence mounting that elephants are a key described as a principled stand in representing Kashmir and glyptodonts that were the size of small cars. of vegetation, the researchers found, elephants not only species that benefit not just their ecosystem, but all eco- called on the two countries to accept the help of a third party The loss of these and other large herbivores likely alter plant composition but also affect light penetration systems,” he said. contributed to the Amazon’s higher density of smaller “Climate change is a complex issue that will probably to resolve the dispute. This is a move the Indian government and water availability. trees, with a lower overall amount of vegetation compared This results in an ecosystem that favours large, slow-grow- require a lot of small solutions, and this might be one of has consistently resisted. with Africa’s rainforest. ing hardwood trees. Such species store significantly more those solutions.” Two militant groups in Indian Kashmir have said the collapse “We were thinking elephants may play a role in the differ- carbon than the equivalent volume of smaller softwood trees. (Source: The Independent) of the summit justifies their position that change will come only through violence and not through political dialogue. Words sparing the government any embarrassment: avoiding ENGLISH IN USE saying anything that will make the government feel ashamed summit: meeting between leaders of different countries to LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION discuss important issues lost opportunity: a missed occasion for doing something positive level of expectation: the degree of hope that something would Iran Association of Social Workers اختصاص دو کرسی به ایران در فدراسیون be achieved called on: appealed holds two seats in IFSW جهانی مددکاری اجتماعی divisive issue: a cause of hostility widespread disappointment: sadness or displeasure caused Iran Association of Social Workers holds two seat in the International ســید حســن موســوی چلــک رئیــس انجمــن مــددکاری اجتماعــی ایــران بــا تاکیــد بــر اینکــه by the non-fulfilment of one’s hopes distributed over a large area Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and has a great potential to become ایــران قــادر اســت تــا الگــوی کشــورهای دیگــر در ایــن عرصــه باشــد از اختصــاص دو کرســی بــه or number of people a role model for other countries, the association’s head Seyed Hasan ایــران در فدراســیون جهانــی مــددکاری اجتماعــی خبــر داد. separatist leader: leader of a group of people who want to establish their own separate government instead of being ruled Mousavi Chalak has said. موســوی چلــک کــه بــه عنــوان کمیســر اخــاق و عضــو هیئــت رئیســه فدراســیون جهانــی by the existing government of the country Mousavi Chalak who is also Asia Pacific Regional Representative for the مــددکاری اجتماعــی در منطقــه آســیا و اقیانوســیه در فدراســیون جهانــی مــددکاری intransigent: having ideas which cannot be changed by other IFSW Global Committees and Ethics Committee went on to say that اجتماعــی انتخــاب شــده اســت همچنیــن گفــت: گســترش خدمــات اجتماعــی نبایــد محدود people social services know no boundaries and Iran is capable of and willing to بــه مرزهــای جغرافیایــی باشــد، و ایــران قــادرو مایــل اســت تــا دســتاوردها و تجربیــات خــود principled stand: behavior based on the moral principles that guide the way people act share its first-hand experience and achievements in this field. در ایــن حــوزه را در جهــان ترویــج کنــد. third party: someone who is not one of the two main people “60 years of social work in Iran” conference, held in Iran with 8 countries وی در گفتوگــو بــا ایســنا گفــت: کنگــره بیــن المللــی» ۶۰ســال مــددکاری اجتماعــی در ایران« or groups involved in a discussion attending the event, was a chance to set the scene for fostering international بــا ۸ کشــور ، منجــر بــه افزایــش تعامــات بیــن المللــی ایــران در این حوزه شــده اســت. .dispute: disagreement cooperation, ISNA quoted Mousavi Chalak as saying on Sunday collapse: a sudden failure of an institution or undertaking justify: show or prove to be right or reasonable (Source: BBC) PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM “-burg, -burgh, -boro, -berg” Have somebody up Burden of proof Without Meaning: to make someone go to a court of law Explanation: the necessity imposed by the law to earth no Meaning: to form name of a city or town because you think they have committed a crime prove that what one says is true. For example: Each year The City of Harrisburg For example: Last year he was had up for stealing For example: The burden of proof lies with the birth! hosts almost 100 family-oriented events. his neighbor’s car. claimant. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 22, 2019 WORLD IN FOCUS 13

Turkey provides clear, support to Syrian army gain strategic win in Idlib terrorists in Syria’s Idlib: Assad 1 After Idlib is freed, the Syrian government goes back to its normal situation before the crisis. This means that all the TEHRAN — President Bashar al-Assad has returning to normal more than eight years people and countries who started this war in Syria will have censured Turkey over sending a military after the start of the Syria crisis. to go back to their countries empty-handed and Damascus convoy to Syria’s embattled northwestern On Monday, Syria’s official news agen- will be the true winner of this war. This is surely contrary province of Idlib, stressing that the move cy SANA quoted an unnamed source in to what American wants, so they would make every effort to clearly shows that the Ankara government is the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and prevent this scenario. offering generous support to Takfiri terror- Expatriates, denouncing Turkey’s move as Anyway, the war in Syria that first started from Aleppo and ists who have lost ground amid government an act of “aggression.” Qalamun Mountains is nearing its end in Idlib which is among forces’ push to retake the last militant-held The source added that the Turkish con- the last areas under the control of the terrorists. area in the country. voy would not affect “the determination of The further the Syrian army goes toward victory, the fur- Speaking in a meeting with a visiting the Syrian Arab Army to keep hunting the ther the terrorists and their supporters try to influence the Russian delegation from the ruling United remnants of terrorists” in the town Khan media and abuse the non-military people to create fake news Russia political party in Damascus on Tues- Shaykhoun or elsewhere. for the media. day, Assad said the recent developments in According to Press TV, the so-called Surely, capturing the city of Khan Sheikhoun in the south Idlib point to Turkey’s clear and unlimited Syrian Observatory for Human Rights of Idlib province is among the most importing victories support for the foreign-sponsored extremists. (SOHR) and local sources reported on of the Syrian army over the last five years; that is why the He added that Syrian army troopers have, Tuesday that militants had pulled out of victory has caused great worries for the Americans and nevertheless, succeeded to score victories Khan Shaykhun in the southern part of Idlib officials of Ankara. against terrorists, particularly in Idlib, ir- province and a nearby area in neighboring Undoubtedly, after this we will see many bigger achievements respective of support provided by Western Hama province. from Syrian army. and regional countries to them. The withdrawal came after Syrian army Now that the terrorists are surrounded in the northern Assad stressed that the territorial gains troops and their allied fighters managed to part of Hama, they have no choice other than death or prove the determination of the Syrian nation Dmitry Sablin, for his part, expressed security and stability across Syria. enter the town of Khan Shaykhun, which had fleeting the region with the help of Turkey. It means and army to continue fighting terrorism until confidence that the incumbent Damascus Sablin added that he has recently toured been occupied by foreign-backed terrorists that the whole northern part of Hama will be freed every inch of the Syrian soil is liberated. government will eventually manage to restore a number of Syrian provinces, finding life since 2014. and cities of Moharade and Al-Suqaylabiyah will reach some peace after suffering daily missile attacks for a long time. Migrants disembark Open Arms rescue ship on Italian island of Lampedusa TEHRAN — Nearly one hundred migrants who had been firmed earlier on Twitter that the ship would be seized Yemen air defense forces stranded on the Open Arms rescue ship off the coast of temporarily, adding it was “a cost that Open Arms assumes Lampedusa disembarked on the Italian island on Tuesday to ensure that people on board can be served.” shoot down Saudi-led drone night, ending a prolonged stand-off between the Spanish “We consider it essential to prioritize the migrants’ charity operating the boat and the government in Rome. health and safety in this humanitarian emergency,” he said. 1 On Tuesday evening, dozens of Saudi-sponsored The migrants, mainly from Africa, were removed from Spain sent a naval vessel on Tuesday afternoon to rescue militiamen were killed when Yemeni army soldiers and the boat after an Italian prosecutor ordered the seizure of the migrants and take them to Mallorca after some of them their allies launched an offensive against their position in the ship and the evacuation of the people on board. jumped overboard. the kingdom’s southern border region of Jizan. The ship docked at Lampedusa’s harbor just after 2330 CET But the Spanish navy is only due to reach Lampedusa in An unnamed Yemeni military source told Arabic-language The Open Arms ship, run by a Spanish charity of the three days and Open Arms repeatedly said that the situation al-Masirah television network that Yemeni soldiers and same name, had rescued the migrants heading for Europe on board was desperate and some migrants were suicidal. allied fighters launched a domestically-developed Zelzal-1 off the Libyan coast. But after Italy refused to let it dock The passengers were sleeping jammed together on deck (Earthquake-1) missile and artillery rounds at sl-Mostehad- the ship had been stranded at sea for nearly three weeks, and sharing two toilets. deth military camp, leaving dozens of Saudi mercenaries with the charity saying that the migrants were distressed After the charity said nine had tried to swim ashore, killed and injured. and urgently needed to find shelter. Reuters footage showed another five people jump, although Yemeni army soldiers and Popular Committees fighters Open Arms’ director and founder, Oscar Camps, con- it was not immediately clear if some were lifeguards. had earlier shot and killed ten Saudi troopers east of al- Doud Mountain in Jizan. According to Press TV, Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating campaign against Trump says ‘could certainly’ back Russia’s return to G8 Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of bringing the govern- ment of former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back TEHRAN— U.S. President Donald Trump Back in 2014, the US, Britain, Canada, sia should participate in a forthcoming G7 it wasn’t a good thing to have Russia in. So to power and crushing Ansarullah. says he would support Russia’s return to the France, Germany, Italy and Japan decided summit in Canada. A Kremlin spokesman, he wanted Russia out,” Trump said. The U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Group of Eight (G8) advanced industrialized to suspend Moscow’s membership in the G8 however, appeared to snub the idea, saying “So, I could certainly see it being the Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organiza- countries if another member proposed such over its alleged role in the Ukrainian conflict. Moscow was “focused on other formats.” G8 again and if someone would make that tion, estimates that the Saudi-led war has claimed the lives a reinstatement. Some of the members later called for re- In his comments at the White House on motion, I would be disposed to think about of over 60,000 Yemenis since January 2016. “I could certainly” support Russia’s return, instating Russia’s membership but the US, Tuesday, Trump also accused his Democrat- it very favorably,” he added. The war has also taken a heavy toll on the country’s Trump told reporters at the White House the UK, and Canada had always conditioned ic predecessor, Barack Obama, of wanting According to Press TV, Trump’s comments infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. on Tuesday. it on resolving the situation in Ukraine. Russia out of the G8, and said he would come ahead of the 45th annual summit of the The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire need “It’s much more appropriate to have Russia, which denied having a role in support a bid by another member to restore G7, in Biarritz, France, which is scheduled of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from Russia in. It should be the G8, because a Ukraine, announced its permanent with- Moscow’s membership. to begin on August 24. extreme levels of hunger. lot of the things we talk about have to do drawal from the G8 in 2017. “I guess President Obama... because Putin Trump is due to host the next G7 meeting with Russia,” he added. In June 2018, Trump suggested that Rus- outsmarted him... President Obama thought in the United States next year. General al-Burhan sworn in as head of Sudan’s new What early U.S. presidential polls tell us about the 2020 race ruling body 1 But in the 2016 cycle, both the eventual is in the best position. nominees, Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, At the moment, Biden stands in a class by himself TEHRAN — General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has been sworn held significant leads in the polls by August 2015. at around 30% support, with a second tier comprised in as chairman of Sudan’s newly-formed sovereign council Like this year’s Democratic contest, the Republican of U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren that will steer the country through a three-year transition to field from which Trump emerged was enormous by holding at half that figure. Another handful of can- civilian rule. historical standards. didates, including U.S. Senator Kamala Harris and “General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdel Rahman was sworn Past results are not necessarily an indicator of what South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, make up in as president of the sovereign council,” the official SUNA news will happen this time around, experts warned. the next group. agency reported on Wednesday. “We only have this happen every four years,” said Joe Lenski said polls often include other information Al-Burhan headed the Transitional Military Council (TMC), Lenski, executive vice president at Edison Research, beyond the top line figures that can illuminate which which ruled the country since longtime leader Omar al-Bashir which conducts national exit polls. “It’s not like we have candidates have more potential upside. was deposed in April. thousands of examples.” For instance, some polls will ask respondents to Prime Minister-nominee Abdalla Hamdok, as well as the re- How trustworthy are primary polls? identify which candidates they support aside from their maining 10 members of the sovereign council, will be sworn in Primary polls are considerably less predictive than first choice, or to say whether they have a favorable or later on Wednesday. general election polls pitting two nominees against each unfavorable opinion of each candidate. Sudan’s pro-democracy movement and the army announced a other. Among lesser-known candidates, someone like joint ruling body on Tuesday, days after they signed a final pow- For one, voters’ preferences are more fluid ahead New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is polling er-sharing deal following pressure from the United States, the of primaries, in part because they cannot rely on party ocratic race, is well known because he was a vice around 1% and has poor favorability ratings, has African Union and its Arab allies amid growing concerns the affiliation alone to determine their choices. In a general president for two terms and has deep ties to the less room to grow than someone like U.S. Senator political crisis could ignite a civil war. election, most voters flock to the candidate who repre- party’s establishment. Amy Klobuchar, who is also at 1% but is well liked The council includes six civilians and five soldiers. It will sents their preferred party. Analysts expect turnout in 2020 to hit levels not seen by those who have heard of her. be headed for 21 months by al-Burhan, followed by a civilian “Primaries are a lot harder, because there isn’t that in decades, given the high level of political engagement Given pollsters use different methodologies and leader appointed by the protest movement for the remaining partisan signaling,” said Chris Jackson, who runs the in the era of Trump. That introduces more uncertainty have varying track records of accuracy, it’s better to 18 months. public polling unit at Ipsos. for pollsters, who must make assumptions about voters look at several polls for a more reliable snapshot. General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the TMC’s deputy head The size of the Democratic field this cycle may also who have not historically cast ballots but who are likely When considering trends, such as whether a candi- widely known as Hemeti, was appointed to the council along contribute to the uncertainty by giving people so many to do so next year. date has gained or lost support over time, comparing with Yasser Atta, Ibrahim Gaber and Shams al-Din Kabashi, Al options. “The pollsters don’t really know who’s going to show previous surveys from the same pollster will yield Jazeera reported. Voters may engage in strategic behavior, shifting up in a primary,” said Michael McDonald, a professor at more accurate results. allegiances based on how candidates are performing. the University of Florida who studies polling. What about state-based polls? Howard Dean led most Democratic primary surveys in General election polls at this stage - pitting Trump The biggest advantage of state-based primary 2003 until John Kerry, the eventual nominee, won the against various possible Democratic nominees - are vir- polls compared to national primary polls is they Italy government crisis: early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, sending tually meaningless, according to research by the polling reference actual elections, since there is no national him skyrocketing in national polls. analysis website FiveThirtyEight. That’s because they are primary. PM Conte quits amid Name recognition also plays a major role at this stage, asking about hypothetical matchups involving candidates A candidate who shows more strength in polls of coalition row when many Americans simply are not focused on the who remain unfamiliar to many Americans. a key state - Iowa, for example - might pull off an campaign. So what should we look for? upset and gain momentum throughout the rest of TEHRAN— taly’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has resigned That said, name recognition is often based on Some analysts suggest looking at tiers of can- the campaign. following a blistering attack on coalition partner Matteo Salvini. factors that reinforce a candidate’s strength. Joe didates, rather than focusing on small differences State polls also have a greater margin for error be- Mr Conte said Mr Salvini had been “irresponsible” in creating Biden, who is leading most polls in the 2020 Dem- between individuals, to get a better sense of who cause they rely on smaller samples, Reuters reported. a new political crisis for Italy for “personal and party interests”. Mr Salvini, the leader of the nationalist League party, had tabled a no-confidence motion against Mr Conte. He also said he could no longer work with his coalition part- ners Five Star. U.S. and Venezuela confirm ‘secret’ talks The League and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement TEHRAN — U.S. President Donald He declined to say which officials were over,” in a message broadcast on radio and He followed up his address with a post on formed a coalition to govern just 14 months ago with Mr Conte Trump and his Venezuelan counter- engaged in the talks, saying only that “we television. Twitter, saying Venezuela was “seeking to as an independent as prime minister. part Nicolas Maduro have said that talks are talking at a very high level,” and adding He described the talks as “secret meet- normalize the conflict that exists with the Italian President Sergio Mattarella accepted the resignation of were under way between senior officials that “representatives at different levels of ings in secret places with secret people that U.S. empire,” and ending with: “I believe Conte and is due to begin consulting party leaders on Wednesday. from their governments to attempt to Venezuela” were involved. nobody knows”. in Dialogue, I believe in Peace!” Mr Mattarella has asked Mr Conte to remain in office while resolve the Latin American country’s Maduro confirmed the talks later on “Just as I have sought dialogue in Vene- Maduro’s comments came a day the discussions continue. deepening crises. Tuesday, saying that “for months, there zuela, I have sought a way in which President after Vice President Diosdado Cabel- If there is not the political will to form a new government, “We are in touch. We’re talking to various has been contact between senior officials Donald Trump really listens to Venezuela,” lo denied allegations that he was in the president will dissolve parliament and call early elections, representatives of Venezuela,” Trump told of the United States, of Donald Trump, and Maduro said, also without confirming which secret talks with members of the U.S. BBC reported. reporters at the White House on Tuesday. the Bolivarian government that I preside officials were involved in the talks. administration. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS AUGUST 22, 2019

Beckham’s proposed Miami Paralympic chief hails Tokyo 2020 stadium site ‘contaminated’

The proposed stadium site for David Beckham’s Inter Miami franchise in the MLS has arsenic contamination levels more than prep but hotels ‘biggest concern’ twice the legal limit, says an environmental report. Melreese golf course has been closed until further notice by Miami’s city council after the findings. The Paralympics chief has said the 2020 take additional measures to cool their body, Plans are in place to build a stadium, shopping mall, hotel and Games are “on track,” but raised alarm bells he said. public park on the site as part of a $1bn development. over a dearth of accessible hotel rooms in Like the Olympics, organizers have “This obviously causes great concerns,” Miami Mayor Francis Tokyo with only one year to go. brought forward the start time for the Suarez said. “I couldn’t be happier with the marathon to beat the blistering sun but “Basically, the site has significantly more contamination than preparations so far. With one year to go, this also brings its own challenges for is commercially reasonable,” Suarez added in an interview with we’re totally on schedule, on track,” Andrew Paralympians. the Miami Herald. Parsons told AFP in an interview to mark “Wheelchair users need more time to Long-term exposure to the chemical arsenic can lead to a 12 months until the start of the games on prepare, so it probably means they will variety of chronic health conditions, including skin disorders, August 25, 2020. have to wake up at 2am but the wellbeing cancers of the lung and bladder and cardiovascular issues. However, he admitted that his “biggest of athletes is the number-one priority for Environmental firm EE&G, commissioned by Inter Miami, concern” was still the poor selection of hotel us,” stressed the IPC boss. found barium and lead levels also exceeded legal limits. The site rooms equipped for the thousands of disabled Tokyo mayor Yuriko Koike has repeatedly used to be a waste site for incinerator ash. supporters, journalists and coaches poised to insisted that Tokyo 2020 will only be a success A deal to build a stadium for Inter Miami on the proposed descend on Tokyo for the 13-day competition. if the Paralympic Games goes off without Miami Freedom Park has not yet been finalised. Athletes and some support staff will be a hitch and the ageing Japanese capital is An Inter Miami spokesperson said: “Miami Freedom Park housed in the Olympic village where there hoping to seize on the opportunity to improve has continued to move forward with the various studies needed will be enough wheelchair-friendly rooms. infrastructure for the elderly. for the redevelopment of the site. But outside the village, currently only half But Parsons emphasized the need to “Our legal team and engineers have been meeting with city of the fully accessible rooms needed for the change attitudes towards disabled people commissioners and staff about the environmental report our Games are available and Paralympic officials in Japan, which he said was “over-protective.” consultants conducted on the city’s land. do not want hotels to be too widely dispersed He noted that despite an accessible “We will be working with the city to implement a remedia- around the vast Japanese capital for fear of transport system, “you don’t see persons tion plan that is thorough, and provides residents and visitors a creating a knock-on transport headache. leisure, for business, so why have accessible organizers and the Tokyo Metropolitan with disabilities moving around because there destination that is safe for all to enjoy.” Japanese legislation previously required hotel rooms?” said the 42-year-old Brazilian. Government were working on a solution. is a cultural barrier. There is an expectation Inter Miami are set to join the MLS in 2020 as a new franchise hotels with 50 or more rooms to have just The change in legislation will be a positive “They understand they have an issue. They that they should stay at home,” said Parsons. and will initially play in an 18,000-seat arena in Fort Lauderdale. one wheelchair-friendly option and although legacy from the Games and Parsons hoped understand this is a problem for us, for the But opinions are already changing in (Source: BBC) this has recently been slightly improved to the competition would also promote a change Games, so we are working on it together.” Japan, he added, pointed to the recent election ensure one percent of rooms are accessible, in attitude. ‘Over-protective’ attitude of two disabled people to the Upper House the change will not come into effect until “What the Games will hopefully show Parsons said he hoped the later start date of parliament. Russian race walker Bakulin after the Games. is that persons with disabilities can travel, for the Paralympics would reduce some of He predicted that an improved Parsons said the lack of accessible hotel they can do anything that anyone else can the problems feared from heat and humidity performance by the home team, which failed to gets eight-year ban for doping rooms highlighted a social stigma sometimes if you offer them the conditions,” he said. during the Olympics but noted that there win a single gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, faced by disabled people in Japan. He cautioned that the hotel problem “may were specific issues faced in disability sport. plus a broad marketing campaign in Tokyo Russian race walker Sergey Bakulin has been suspended for eight “Most probably it is perceived in Japan affect the Games and it may affect the Games For example, many quadriplegic athletes will see packed-out stadiums. years for an anti-doping violation, the Athletics Integrity Unit that people with disabilities don’t travel for experience of some of our clients” but said are unable to sweat, meaning they need to (Source: AFP) (AIU) said on Wednesday. Bakulin, who has served a doping suspension in the past, had already been stripped of his 50 km world title from 2011. The AIU, which oversees integrity issues in international ath- Real Madrid and the final say Mo Salah U-turn on teammate’s letics, including doping, said the ban was linked to abnormalities in Bakulin’s biological passport. on Neymar harassment scandal divides Egyptians It comes into effect as of April 3, 2019, it said. Bakulin had been coached by Viktor Chegin, who was sus- pended for life in 2016 after a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found there had been a “systematic doping regime” under Chegin’s influence at the training facility where he was head coach. Reuters reported in June that Chegin had won state contracts to provide security at the facility after his ban, giving him access to the athletes training there. The Russian athletics federation later said the country would cancel the state contract between Chegin and the facility because his access to athletes is a “sensitive matter for anti-doping services.” Russia’s athletics federation has been suspended since a 2015 WADA-commissioned report found evidence of state-sponsored doping in the sport. Global athletics ruling body the IAAF has nonetheless authorized some Russians to compete as neutrals after having demonstrated they are competing in a doping-free environment. (Source: Reuters)

There are 13 days left until the transfer discretely. Egypt and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has Another young woman enthusiastically Ronaldo: I’d be worth window closes and Barcelona and Real They’re in constant contact with PSG reignited heated views about a sexual harass- posted “we love and support you Mo Salah!”. €300m in today’s market Madrid are constantly being linked with but are working as if the subject of Neymar ment scandal involving his national team-mate Former national goalkeeper Ahmed Sho- a move for Neymar. is not theirs to worry about. With the Amr Warda in a CNN interview which aired bair waded into the debate, noting that Salah’s Cristiano Ronaldo has said transfer fees in football have got out Although there are negatives and risks transfer deadline approaching, they’re Monday. tweets were written in coordination with the of hand and that a player of his calibre in the market would now surrounding signing the Brazilian, the biding their time and waiting for the After Salah sent controversial tweets that federation’s former chairman Hany Abou Rida. sell for €300 million. opportunity to beat your fiercest rival chance to pounce. demanded the disgraced Warda be given The EFA board tendered its resignation His transfer to Real Madrid from Manchester United in the to one of the world’s best players is one Barcelona might have made the first a “second chance” during this year’s Africa after highly-fancied Egypt crashed out of the summer of 2009 was a then world record £80m, but eight years that both clubs are desperate to grasp. move for Neymar, but they didn’t land Cup of Nations held in Egypt, Salah directly tournament at the last-16 stage following a later, Neymar left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain for €222m. Aside from his injuries and off the the knockout blow. addressed his revised stance. 1-0 defeat to South Africa, a match in which Asked what he would likely be sold for now, he told Portu- field antics, Neymar can win you a game Their loan offer for the Brazilian was “What I meant to say is that (sexual har- Warda played. guese TVI: “Based on how football is nowadays? It’s difficult on his own and possesses ability that rejected by PSG, but the French club assment) happened before and is happening Salah, who helped Premier League giants to calculate. very few players have. are open to letting him go on loan if now. He has to get treatment or rehabilitation Liverpool win the Champions League in June, “Today there is a lot of emphasis placed on potential and the Real Madrid and Barcelona are Barcelona agree to an obligation to buy. just to make sure that it is not going to happen reiterated in the interview that “my position football industry is different. I’m going to put aside [Portugal deploying completely different tactics This gives both Barcelona and Real again,” Salah told CNN. is still the same... the people misunderstand international Joao] Felix’s [€120m transfer to Atletico Madrid when it comes to persuading Paris Saint- Madrid the chance to seal a deal and get Warda was kicked out of Egypt’s squad over what I am saying”. from Benfica] case. Nowadays, any player is worth €100m having Germain to let Neymar go. one over on their rivals. multiple claims of sexual misconduct that sur- The outcry on social media is still raging proved nothing, there is more money in football. Barcelona continue to put across their What better way to make a statement faced online in June but was reinstated at the though. “A goalkeeper, a centre-back is worth €70m, €80m -- I don’t desires to bring their former player back, than sign the player you’ve dreamed about request of his team-mates. One woman criticized how Salah had han- agree. But this is the world which we live in, the market is like their negotiations, their offers, their for the last seven years? Florentino Perez Salah denied having a role in Warda rejoin- dled the scandal differently for Egyptian and that and you have to respect it. Is there a football player that has meetings and their journeys, almost is is prepared to play the villain in this story. ing the team. international audiences. more records than me? I don’t think there is a player that has if it’s just an elaborate bluff to keep Lionel After their initial talks with Leonardo, His wide-ranging interview, which also took “What a pathetic attempt to save your im- more records than me.” Messi happy. Los Blancos are doing the Los Blancos know that PSG value Neymar shots at Egypt’s football federation, attracted age in the West, sexual harasser supporter. Ronaldo left Real Madrid to join Juventus for €100m last sum- same thing, but with Paul Pogba instead. at around 250 million euros and they’re both supportive and critical reactions. You’re not fooling anyone but your fans who mer and, pressed on what his worth would now be, he added: “If Having already failed to sign Neymar prepared to include players as well as pay One Egyptian tweeted “Salah is lying... he were already looking the other way,” she posted I were 25, if a goalkeeper is worth €75m, a player that does and three times before (2013, 2017 and around half that figure in cash. did have a direct role in bringing Warda back to on Twitter. has done what I have done in recent years has to have a value of 2018), Real Madrid are operating more (Source: Marca) the team. He supported him with this tweets”. (Source: AFP) three or four times that, easily, but I no longer have that desire.” The 34-year-old also said “the challenge” of winning individual and collective trophies at the top level keeps him motivated to continue playing football. The Juve forward said he could retire Juventus call for earlier kick-off for Asian market next year if he wanted as he has amassed a fortune in wages, endorsements and investments yet the temptation is there to Italian champions Juventus have called on Serie A to including becoming the first Italian club to open a branch, play until he’s 41 as he craves more silverware. schedule more early kick-offs to help the club grow in Asia. in addition to offices in Asia in Hong Kong, is aimed at (Source: Soccernet) Juve are below last season’s Premier League top six increasing revenues as they pursue winning the Champions clubs in revenue and see China as a major area for growth. League for the first time since 1996. The Serie A season begins on Saturday, and every game Juventus have proceeded with their plans despite the Official: Fiorentina sign Ribery in the first two weeks starts at midnight or later in Beijing. recent civil unrest in Hong Kong. “We have to find the right balance between domestic and Juve have also bought high-profile players, signing Fiorentina have officially signed former Bayern Munich and global audiences,” Juventus chief revenue officer Giorgio Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo for £99.2m from France winger Franck Ribery on a free transfer. Ricci told BBC Sport. Real Madrid in 2018 and £67.5m Netherlands defender Ribery has put pen to paper on a two-year contract with Fioren- “It is not just about the broadcasting times, it is also Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax this summer. tina, reportedly worth €4m a season plus bonuses. about the rights distribution and who is showing the games. Although they have won the Italian title on 35 occasions The Viola also confirmed in a statement that he would be “In that sense, the difference between the Premier League - including for the past eight seasons - they have lost five unveiled on Thursday at 16:30 BST. and Serie A is huge. Champions League finals in the past 23 years. The 36-year-old began his career at hometown club Boulogne and “This is a very old story and one of the more frequent of Premier League clubs. Several Premier League clubs have offices in Hong Kong, later played for the likes of Galatasaray and Olympique Marseille. reasons for fights with the league.” All of the Italian top-flight matches on the opening including Manchester United and Manchester City, and However, he is best known for his 12-year spell at Bayern, Italy’s top clubs have long debated with the league about two weekends of the campaign kick off at either 17:00 Federico Palomba, head of Juventus’ Asia-Pacific operation, whom he joined in 2007, going on to win a record nine Bundes- the need for more games to be played at earlier times to BST or 19:45. says it is a region “with huge scope for growth”. ligas and the Champions League in his 425 appearances, which maximize their chances of exposure in China and South Speaking in March, Serie A president Gaetano Micciche Since Ronaldo joined last year, Juventus have carried also yielded 124 goals. East Asia. said the possibility of playing a Serie A match in China out studies that showed their global fanbase has risen by He played 81 times for France, helping them reach the 2006 The bigger clubs do not believe the Italian system, which within the next three years had been discussed, but it was 16% and their ‘digital community’, their combined followers World Cup Final, where they lost to Italy. revolves around evening matches, helps them ‘sell their unlikely to happen in that timescale. on various social media platforms including Weibo, has Ribery becomes Fiorentina’s fifth major summer signing brands’ globally. Deloitte’s Football Money League, published in January, risen by 59% to 81 million. after Pol Lirola, Milan Badelj, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Er- And while there is an acceptance that viewing habits are placed Juventus 11th in the table of the world’s 20 richest “In the 1990s, Serie A was very popular in China. Now ick Pulgar. changing, Juventus are frustrated at the present situation, clubs. it is coming back again,” added Palomba. (Source: Football Italia) which they feel tilts the commercial market hugely in favor Ricci said that an aggressive commercial strategy, (Source: BBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 22, 2019 SPORTS 15

Iran league will start on Thursday Iran win three more golds at Asian Junior Wushu amid unsolved problems C’ships MNA — Iranian practitioners collected three gold, one silver and By Masoud Hossein four bronze medals at the 2019 edition of Asian Junior Wushu TEHRAN — The new season of Iran Professional League Championships, underway in Brunei. (IPL) will kick off on Thursday however there are a num- On Wednesday and in the 12-15 age group of boys’ Nanguan ber of problems that need to be solved. form, Iran’s Shahin Banitalebi snatched the gold medal with Titleholders Persepolis will raise the curtain on the 9.32 points. Representatives from Malaysia and Indonesia stood new season at home against Pars Jonoubi but the Iran next. Banitalebi had already won two other bronze medals in two Football League Organization has announced that Azadi other forms of Taolu. Stadium’s second floor is not ready for the match. Nazanin Bazdar earned the silver medal of Nanguan form in On Thursday, so many football fans will miss the IPL the 12-15 age group of girls’ category on Wednesday with 9.31 opening match at the stadium since the second floor is points. She had earlier gained a bronze medal of Nandao form. under construction. On Tuesday, Iran’s Younes Shahraki overpowered his Indian It›s a weird thing because the new season has been rival in the final of boy’s 45kg Sanda to earn the gold medal. delayed for about one month, but the officials have yet Also, another gold was gained by Soheil Mousavi who defeated to solve the problems. his Chinese rival in the final boy’s 56kg Sanda competitions. Iran League Organization has a duty to provide the Monireh Panahi, who had won a bronze of duel event in the football fans with an adequate standard of attending opening day of the event, received another bronze this time in the match. The league competition should be equipped Jianshu form of girls’ 15-18 age group. with electronic ticketing, seat numbering systems and The 2019 edition of Asian Junior Wushu Championships kicked CCTV cameras in the new season but they need more off on Monday and will go through August 23 in Taolu and Sanda time to be done. categories. 265 athletes from 16 countries are participating in Iran has made change the league regulations in or- the event which is being held in Brunei. der to improve it according to FIFA standards since the previous version needed to be reformed according to new standards. Kamal Kamyabinia All AFC affiliates are mandated to follow, from the professional to amateur leagues. The clubs will be granted undergoes surgery a license after fulfilling five requirements: Infrastructure, personnel administration, business, legal and sporting. Iranian Football Federation is also under pressure TASNIM — Persepolis football team midfielder Kamal Kamya- since FIFA has asked it to provide a timeline towards binia underwent shoulder surgery Tuesday night. women being able to buy tickets for the 2019 World ready, however they can attend the match against inclusive game. Women play the game in Iran, men play Kamyabinia will be sidelined for two months. Cup qualifiers. Cambodia scheduled for Oct. 10. the game, so everybody should be able to watch,” AFC He had already suffered shoulder dislocation several times Iran Deputy Minister of Sports, Mohammad Reza FIFA and AFC also want the Iranian officials to allow general secretary Windsor John told the Thomson Reu- and Persepolis coach Gabriel Calderon asked him to undergo Davarzani, has recently said they are not ready yet the women to attend the league matches. ters Foundation in an interview. surgery to solve the problem. to allow the women to attend football matches in the “We respect the local law, but we also want to pro- It seems there is still a long way ahead of Iranian Persepolis Iraqi midfielder Bashar Resan also underwent league competition because infrastructures are not mote the game. Everybody needs to be catered, it’s an sports officials. shoulder surgery in May. Defending champions Persepolis will begin the new season of Iran Professional League with a match against Pars Jonoubi Brazilian forward Brandão happy to wear Persepolis No. 7 on Thursday. SPORTS TEHRAN — New is previously worn by great name Ali Parvin. ready to win the Iranian league for the fourth deskPersepolis signing José Talking about the iconic shirt he said, time in a row, that’s why I am here,” the Iran players bag gold Brandão Gonçalves Júnior says he is very “First, I wanted to wear No. 99 or No. 9 in Brazilian added. happy to wear No. 7 in the team. the team but I am granted No. 7. I know how “I promise the Persepolis fans to score in World Transplant Brandão has penned a one-year contract important is the jersey for the Persepolis many goals, however Mr. Caderon (Persepolis Games 2019 with Persepolis on loan from Bulgaria’s Lu- fans,” Brandão said in an interview with coach) will decide my position,” Brandão dogorets II. the club’s official website. stated. The 24-year-old striker has been awarded “No. 7 is the most important jersey in Persepolis will open the new season of Iran IRNA — Two Iranian athletes snatched gold medals in Pétanque No. 7 in Persepolis. Persepolis and I want to do my best for my Professional League with a match against category of World Transplant Games 2019 which is underway He is excited to wear the iconic jersey which team but I need my teammates’ help. I am Pars Jonoubi on Thursday. in Newcastle, England. Bahareh Beigi and Elham Mohammadi Taghdir earned gold medals. Mohammadi had earlier grabbed a silver medal in in- Brazilian Elkeson earns landmark China call-up dividual category. China named Elkeson in their squad Wednesday for English defender Tyias Browning, also of Evergrande. their opening World Cup qualifier with the Brazilian Although many other nations, notably 2022 World poised to become the first without Chinese ancestry to Cup hosts Qatar, call up players born in other countries, play for the country. China had resisted doing so until now. The move has divided Chinese football fans and Some fans and pundits, desperate to see China play experts, however, as coach Marcello Lippi attempts at a World Cup again, have backed the naturalization to guide the nation to only their second World Cup. policy. Lippi has long complained about a dearth of attacking Others brand it short-sighted and question why a options and has moved to plug the gap with the 30-year- country with a population of 1.4 billion cannot find old striker, who will use the Chinese name Aikesen. homegrown players that are good enough. The move to naturalize the Brazilian comes after Reacting to Elkeson’s inclusion in the China squad, China similarly gave a passport to London-born mid- one sports think tank was unimpressed. fielder Nico Yennaris. “It’s not in line with the original intention of football Iranian players have so far received 21 medals, including 9 The Beijing Guoan player has taken the Chinese name and the long-term development of the industry in Chi- gold, 8 silver and 4 bronze. Li Ke and made his debut for Lippi’s side in June this year. na,” wrote an opinion piece by Vning on social media. The World Transplant Games (WTG) are staged by the World The former Arsenal man, however, is half-Chinese, The organization also questioned how effectively the Transplant Games Federation. whereas Guangzhou Evergrande striker Elkeson qual- dives on September 10. likes of Elkeson and Yennaris -- who is having intensive Held over seven days, the Summer Games are held every two ifies for China having played in the country since 2013. Elkeson appears likely to be the start of a growing Chinese lessons -- will be able to communicate with years in host cities around the world. Elkeson has scored more than 100 goals in about trend for perennial under-achievers China, who lan- their teammates. This inspiring event is a celebration of a second chance of 150 games in the Chinese Super League. guish 71st in the FIFA rankings and made the World “Whether they can be integrated into the team and living life to the full, demonstrating the success of transplant Along with Espanyol forward Wu Lei and Yennaris, Cup just once, in 2002. whether they can fight with honor in face of difficulties surgery and raising public awareness of organ donation. Elkeson is part of a 35-man squad named by Italian Fellow Brazilians Ricardo Goulart and Fernando are hard to say,” Vning added. World Cup winner Lippi for China’s game in the Mal- are both reportedly set to be naturalized, along with (Source: AFP) Allow Iranian women to Volleyball’s new generation out to shine in first global appearance attend matches, says Asian They’ve performed at home and ex- this World Championship: At 17, they soccer official celled regionally, but volleyball’s new had all already been part the Iran squad generation of under-19-year-olds are that won the 2017 U19 gold in Riffa. Iranian women should be allowed to attend men’s World Cup now making their debut before a world Brazil are the only team in the history qualifiers later this year, a top Asian soccer official said on Tues- audience over the next couple of weeks, of the competition to have competed day, ramping up pressure on Tehran to end a long-running ban. as the 2019 FIVB Boys’ U19 World Cham- in all 15 previous editions and they Iranian women have long been barred from watching men’s pionship got underway on Wednesday lead the medals table with six gold teams play, but Tehran relaxed the rule last year to allow hundreds in the Tunisian capital - though there’s a and one silver. But the South Ameri- of women to watch the Asian Champions League final organized handful of players that do have some im- can powerhouse have not been on the by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). pressive previous exposure to world-level podium in 14 years, since the last time The AFC, the Asian football governing body which has 47 volleyball. the competition was held in Africa, in members that includes Iran, said it was working to help world Iran are in Tunisia to defend the title 2005 in Algiers, when they ended up soccer governing body FIFA find an “amicable solution” that they won two years ago in Bahrain, when with their sole silver after losing in would allow them to attend future games. they beat Russia 3-1 in the final at Riffa. five sets to Russia in the final. “Everybody needs to be catered, it’s an inclusive game. Women That was Iran’s second title in the history Brazil themselves are fielding a couple play the game in Iran, men play the game, so everybody should of the competition, after their success of players who were in at the U21 Worlds be able to watch,” AFC general secretary Windsor John told the in 2007 when they edged China 3-2 in last month in Bahrain. Setter Gustavo Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview. an all-Asia affair in Tijuana. Andre, who celebrated his 17th birthday “For us at the end of the day we respect the local law, but we The Asian powerhouse will also be earlier this month, will be captaining also want to promote the game,” he said at the AFC headquarters looking at replicating the triumph of Brazil here in Tunis, alongside outside in Kuala Lumpur. their men’s U21 team last month, when hitter Nathan Mota. Both were on the FIFA wrote to the Iranian Football Federation in June asking they beat Italy 3-2 in the final of that South American squad that beat Russia it to provide a timeline towards women being able to buy tickets age-group World Championship, also in the bronze medal match at the 2019 favorites and other old hands, there’s public, Colombia, Iran) are in El Menzah; for the qualifiers, which begin on Sept. 5. in Bahrain. U21 Worlds. two countries making their debut in the Pool C (Mexico, Argentina, Egypt, Ger- John lauded the access for Iranian women at the Asian Cham- Indeed, as many as four players from Cuba, who were 10th in Bahrain last competition - Colombia and Nigeria. many, Japan) and Pool D (Dominican pions League final last year, but said the current situation involved that squad from last month’s U21s are month, have the most players carrying The 20 teams are divided into four Republic, USA, Korea, Nigeria, Russia) “different scenarios”. here in Tunis to try and get their personal over to the younger squad in Tunis - as pools of five for the first phase of the are at Rades. “(The concern is) if it starts with football, will there be other second world championship gold of the many as six, including setters Christian competition. The top two of each pool The so-called ‘youth veterans’ will ripple effects, will other forces or entities now ask for the same season. This includes both starting mid- Thondike and Adrian Chirino, outside will advance to play for positions 1-8 in surely form the foundations of their privilege,” said the No. 2 at the AFC. dle blockers, Amir Hossein Toukhteh and hitters Jose Gutierrez and Victor Andreu, a knockout phase, with the rest carrying squads as they seek to excel in Tunis, “A lot of things are on the table at the moment, we really don’t Mehran Feyz, alongside Mahdi Jelveh, middle blocker Luis Allen and libero on until the very end for classification but it’s going to be an exciting two weeks know which direction it is going.” yet another middle blocker, and opposite Ricardo Gomez. matches. coming up, to watch in action for the FIFA has pledged to expand women’s role in the sport, ap- Bardia Saadat. The 2019 FIVB Boys’ U19 World All matches will be played in two first time all the fresh talent that’s bound pointing Fatma Samoura in 2016 as its first female secretary The three middle blockers, despite Championship involves a total of 20 venues, both in Tunis. Pool A (Chinese to keep the volleyball world thrilled for general, and this year’s women’s World Cup drew record crowds their young age, could be considered teams representing all five continen- Taipei, Belarus, Cuba, Brazil, Tunisia) the next decade or more. and television audiences. ‘veterans’, amongst the debutantes of tal confederations. Amongst the top and Pool B (Bulgaria, Italy, Czech Re- (Source: fivb.org) (Source: Reuters) Prayer Times Noon:13:07 Evening: 20:05 Dawn: 4:59 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:29 (tomorrow) AUGUST 22, 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 Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 U.S. sanctions’ deadly effects under [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 spotlight in Tehran photo exhibit www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 ARTTEHRAN — “Silent War”, an Webmaster: [email protected] deskexhibition of photos putting a Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 spotlight on U.S. sanctions and their deadly effect on medical treatment in Iran, will open in the Iranian Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily Artists Forum on Friday. The photos were taken by Seyyed Mehdi Hosseini, No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran who has lived with many people whose lives have been P.o. Box: 14155-4843 affected by sanctions. Zip Code: 1599814713 Hosseini has created a photo book of their lives, some of which will be displayed in “Silent War”. In a statement published for the exhibit, Hosseini wrote, “It all started from the last few days of year 2012 when I heard the sad news of my father’s illness. He was diagnosed with Liver cirrhosis.” “I didn’t know what the cause of my father’s fatal disease was. But I knew something for sure, doctors had great hopes for him. They assured us that there were some treatment procedures which could slow or GUIDE TO delay the progression of his disease.” SPIRITUAL AWAKENING “Unfortunately, however, his condition coincided with some significant changes in the country due to God has given man intelligence to deliver economic sanctions. My father’s illness, along with himself from distress and anxiety. the economic and social instability, caused our family to face a crisis. We had been overwhelmed by lots Imam Ali (AS) of prescriptions for rare medicines while sanction statements were piling up at international agencies,” the statement reads. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had claimed that “the U.S. does not, and never did, sanction food Ceramics from Medieval and and medicine. They are exempt from sanctions.” But A poster for “Silent War”. Modern Iran to be shown in Berlin limits on financial transactions have caused problems are struggling with a critical shortage of specialized operation on my stomach. But the necessary instrument in the process of buying and producing medicine. drugs and medical instruments to treat their patients. has not been delivered to the country due to the sanctions,” ARTTEHRAN — The Bumiller Collection Studio In June, vocalist Mohammad Motamedi said that “It has been two months since I have been waiting he had said in a post published on his Instagram. deskX-Berg in Berlin will be showcasing ceramics due to the U.S. sanctions on Iran, doctors in the country for a simple pH meter to continue my treatment for an The exhibit will be running until September 21. from Medieval and Modern Iran in an exhibition named “Call Me Anything But Ordinary”. The exhibit pays homage to the art of ceramics from the Iranian Khayyam Intl. Exhibition of Iran attends Beijing book fair realm arranged as an installation by the Frankfurt-based artist Jörg Ahrnt in combination with a selection of his drawings. Photography to go to Russia The event opening on September 12 will feature objects from the Bumiller Collection and the Luschey Collection, Bumiller Collection has announced. German archaeologist and art historian of Iran and the Middle East Heinz Luschey (Berlin 1910 -1992), has carried out great achievements through his comparative studies in classical archaeology. Luschey and his studies in Iran have made considerable contributions towards elucidating the history of the land of the Achaemenids. Businessman, economist and tax adviser Manfred Bumiller (1928-2018) decided in the early 1980s to set up an art collection and his collection, the largest worldwide of early Islamic bronzes, is housed in a historical town-house in the heart of the old city of Bamberg as the Bumiller Collection. Also, an exhibition of modern ceramic artworks created by Iranian artist Mansureh Najjarpur from the historical city of Isfahan will open on the sidelines of the exhibit. “Call Me Anything But Ordinary” will be running until November 30. A poster for the 6th Khayyam International Exhibition of Photography in Penza, Russia. Iran’s pavilion at the 26th Beijing International Book Fair. Bojnurd to host Iran, ARTTEHRAN — A cities and later was taken to Konya in ARTTEHRAN — Iran Nematollahi are also attending the deskselection of works Turkey and Bilbao in Spain. deskCultural Fairs book fair. Turkmenistan cultural festival shown during the 6th Khayyam The latest exhibition was held in the Institute (ICFI) is attending the 26th Iran has arranged some programs International Exhibition of Photography Spanish city of Gijon in August and it is edition of the Beijing International Book including teaching painting to children, ARTTEHRAN — A cultural festival putting will go on display in an exhibition opening currently underway in Urmia, the capital Fair, which is currently underway in holding workshops on illustrating and deskthe spotlight on commonalities between today in the Russian city of Penza. of West Azarbaijan Province in Iran. the Chinese capital. holding meetings with Iranian and Iran and Turkmenistan will open today in the northeastern The exhibit will be held at the GBUK Iran’s Focus Photo Club organizes A number of award-winning Iranian foreign publishers. Iranian city of Bojnurd. Penza Regional Library, the director of the exhibition annually with the help books on Persian literature, art, Iran was the guest of honor at the The event will be hosting a delegation of 20 Turkmen artists the exhibition, Ali Samei, said in a press of the Photographic Society of America children, religion and sacred defense Beijing International Book Fair in 2017 in the fields of handicrafts and ritual and traditional dance as release on Wednesday. (PSA) and FIAP. (1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war) are on and China was the special guest of the well as a number of Iranian artists. The 6th Khayyam International The Khayyam exhibit aims to display at a pavilion covering an area Tehran International Book Fair this year. Organized by Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization Exhibition of Photography initially elevate the art of photography and of 18-square meters dedicated to Iran The Beijing International Book Fair, (ICRO), the two-day festival aims at expanding cultural relations opened in January at the Iranian provide facilities for increased at the fair. which is one of the major Asian events between the two countries. Academy of Arts in Tehran. interaction between Iranian and world Iranian illustrators Alireza Golduzian in the publishing industry, will come The exhibit toured several Iranian photographers. and Afsaneh Sanei, and writer Zahra to an end on August 25. James Bond movie gets a title – “No Time to Die” Four cineastes receive lifetime achievement awards

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — The new James Bond film at Iran Cinema Celebration finally has a title - “No Time to Die” - and an April 2020 release “Tonight is a big honor for me to be beside masters of date, producers announced on Tuesday. 1 Speaking at the ceremony, Iranian House of Cinema cinema. I must express thanks to those who I have worked “Daniel Craig returns as James Bond, 007 in… NO TIME director Manuchehr Shahsavari called culture the field of with all these years,” Zahedi said on stage. TO DIE. Out in the UK on 3 April, 3, 2020 and April,8, 2020 friendship, respect and unity, and said ,”If an individual Alvand was the last who went on onstage to receive his in the U.S.,” according to a brief posting on the official 007 enters cinema without these, he/she will not succeed.” lifetime achievement award. Twitter account. “What gives us the opportunity to work in the field cinema, “Four nights are very important for me, one is my birthday Filming for the new movie, despite all these hardships, is our unity, and if we don’t take night, the other is the night I married my only love Nahid previously known only as Bond the time and have patience, the future of Iran’s cinema will Abbasi, the third was the night I received the best director 25, got under way in Jamaica in be dark and painful,” he added. award and the fourth surely is tonight,” Alvand concluded. April when producers announced “Tonight is the night to feel relieved after 53 years of The Iranian House of Cinema organizes the celebration that Oscar winner Rami Malek constant work,” Zanjanpur said after accepting his award. every year to commemorate Iran’s National Day of Cinema, will play the villain in latest entry “I am happy to be honored by my colleagues at the Iranian which is September 12. However, this year’s celebration will in lucrative British spy franchise. House of Cinema. Artists are lonely and this loneliness gives be held a few weeks earlier due to its coincidence with the Craig confirmed in 2017 that credit to an artist, and I am one of the lonely ones,” he added. Muharram mourning season. he would return for a fifth time Mohtashem was the next honoree, and prominent make- “When the Moon Was Full” and “Sheeple” led nominations as secret agent 007. up artist Abdollah Eskandari talked about Mohtashem on at the 21st Iran Cinema Celebration, as each of the movies Producers said on Tuesday stage and said, “The history of make-up in Iranian cinema is From left to right art elites Hassan Zahedi, Sirus Alvand, got the jury’s nods in 14 categories. that the new film would see mingled with Mohtashem. During those years when make- Akbar Zanjanpur and Bijan Mohtashem pose for a The movies are competing in best film, best director, best Bond enjoying a tranquil life up had no meaning in cinema, Mohtashem went to the U.S. photo with their lifetime achievement awards during actor, best actress, best costume design, best stage design in Jamaica after leaving active to learn the art and returned back home and trained many the 21st Iran Cinema Celebration, August 20, 2019. and several other categories. Actor Daniel Craig arrives service before an old friend, Felix students, including me.” (ISNA/ Borna Qasemi) for the royal world premiere Leiter, from the CIA turns up of the new 007 film “Skyfall” asking for help. at the Royal Albert Hall in Bond embarks on a London October 23, 2012. mission to rescue a kidnapped (Reuters/Paul Hackett) scientist, which puts him on “Vico and Herder” comes to Iranian bookstores the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous ARTTEHRAN — and original thinker, who, after being milieu’, and the idea of the autonomy of new technology, they added. deskProminent Russian- overshadowed by Montesquieu, has been cultures and the equal validity of many “No Time to Die” was initially expected to arrive in movie British theorist and philosopher Isaiah rediscovered at intervals ever since, but dissimilar systems of values. theaters in November 2019 but that date was pushed back to Berlin’s book “Vico and Herder: Two has even more to say to the present age Isaiah Berlin was renowned for his 2020 after Britain’s Danny Boyle pulled out as director and Studies in the History of Ideas” has been than to his own. conversational brilliance, his defense was replaced by American Cary Joji Fukunaga. published in Persian in Tehran. Johann Gottfried Herder, the subject of liberalism, his attacks on political The film is also being shot in London, Italy and Norway Edris Ranji is the translator of the of the second study, although commonly extremism and intellectual fanaticism, and actors reprising their roles will include Ralph Fiennes as book, which has been released by Qoqnus regarded as the father of European and his accessible, coruscating writings M, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny and Ben Whishaw as Q. Publications. nationalism, originated three perhaps on the history of ideas. The Bond franchise is one of the movie world’s most lucrative with In the first section of the book written equally influential currents of thought: Photo: Front cover of the Persian version 2015’s “Spectre” raking in $880 million at the box office worldwide, in 1976, Berlin studies the philosophical populism, the idea of artistic commitment of “Vico and Herder: two studies in the while “Skyfall” in 2012 grossed more than $1 billion globally. ideas of Giovanni Battista Vico, a profound and art as the voice of its time and social history of ideas” by Isaiah Berlin.