WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

16 Pages Price 20,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13265 Thursday NOVEMBER 29, 2018 Azar 8, 1397 Rabi’ Al awwal 21, 1440 Nuclear chief Chinese bank to back Aliasghar Hasanzadeh Actor Mashayekhi warns EU patience is Iran-China transactions named the 2018 AFC celebrates 84th birthday at

running thin 2 as of Dec. 2 4 Futsal Player 15 Iranian Artists Forum 16

ICCIMA hosts Iran-S. Korea Threat will vanish with business opportunities conference ECONOMY TEHRAN — The 1st South Korean Ambassador to Iran Ryu deskJoint Conference on Jeong-hyun and several other officials Iran-South Korea Business Opportunities and businessmen. was held at the place of Iran Chamber of Addressing the event, Soltani referred Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agri- to the 51-year-background of the mutual increased deterrence culture (ICCIMA) on Tuesday, the portal economic cooperation between the two of ICCIMA reported. sides saying that Iranian and South-Korean The conference was attended by IC- small and medium-sized companies can See page 2 CIMA Vice President Pedram Soltani, continue and improve their cooperation Iranian Head of Iran-South Korea Joint even under the current U.S.-led sanctions Chamber of Commerce Hossein Tanhaie, against Iran. 4

Iranian company produces brain cancer vaccine HEALTS TEHRAN — Iranian tients for two years now, he said, adding deskscientists have managed that the treatment is funded by the Health to produce brain cancer vaccine, an expert Ministry and executed by Urmia University in immunology whose company is involved of Medical Sciences. in production of the vaccine has said. “Our treatment version is closely sim- Dr. Noruz Delirezh explained that the ilar to the model used in other countries; laboratory procedures are already finished however, the cost of this treatment amounts and the vaccine is being injected to the to $94,000 for every patient in the U.S., patients, IRNA reported on Wednesday. but estimated at only around $23,000 in The vaccine has been used on the pa- Iran,” he said. 9

11th round of Syria talks begins in Astana The 11th round of talks on the Syria crisis Syria’s northwestern Idlib Province and has kicked off in the Kazakh capital, with the creation of a constitutional committee the presence of representatives from the in the war-torn country. Damascus government and opposition as Moreover, issues such as confi- well as the three guarantor states of the dence-building measures between Syr- Astana peace process. ia’s opposite sides, fight against terrorist The discussions, which began on outfits and the return of Syrian refugees Wednesday, will mainly focus on the sit- to their homes would be raised during leader.ir uation in the de-escalation zone set up in the two-day negotiations. 13 EDITORIAL ‘I doubt that China or Russia would supply Saudi with enrichment tech’ ARTICLE Mohammad Ghaderi reactor in Abullaziz city while it has not reached Riyadh which doesn’t include enrichment and Dr. Altaf Hussain Tehran Times editor-in-chief EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Journalist from Kashmir By Javad Heirannia an agreement with the U.S. on nuclear activities. reprocessing. Based on 123 treaty, will U.S. finally @ghaderi62 Some believe that this is a message from SA to give up to Riyadh demand? TEHRAN — Professor Frank N. von Hippel, the U.S. that it will advance its nuclear activities A: The Trump Administration is divided former assistant director for national security even without U.S. What do you think of this? on this. Some in the State Department believe France’ unrestful in the White House Office of Science and Tech- A: I am worried about Saudi Arabia’s inter- strongly in nonproliferation and support the “Gold Understanding nology says that “I don’t think that South Korea est in nuclear technologies. Part of its interest Standard.” Some in the Energy Department are days with Macron could sell nuclear power plants to Saudi Arabia may be in generating electricity. But there are more concerned that what remains of the U.S. essence of Islam key if Saudi Arabia does not have a 123 agreement many ways to do that more cheaply today – es- nuclear-reactor supply industry (not much) could rench President Emmanuel Macron with the U.S.” pecially photovoltaics in Saudi Arabia. I think have a rare financial opportunity to sell reactors to fostering unity is going through hard times! On “I doubt that China or Russia would supply that part of the interest is due to the fact that to Saudi Arabia. If those interested in supporting Fthe one hand, Macron’s popularity Saudi Arabia with enrichment or reprocessing some nuclear-power technologies can be dual the U.S. nuclear industry prevail within the Ad- e are fully aware of the dangers and with the French citizens has drastically technology but, if North Korea can do it, Saudi use. They create a nuclear-weapon option. This ministration, I think that there would be a strong challenges facing the Islamic world fallen during recent months, and the Arabia probably could as well,” Frank N. von is of course the cause of the controversy about challenge to a non-gold-standard 123 agreement Wtoday. Evil influences not only threat- continuation of public protests in dif- Hippel tells the Tehran Times in an exclusive Iran’s enrichment program. in the House of Representatives, which will be en its unity, distort its identity, tarnish its tenets ferent cities of France, has created a interview. Saudi Arabia insists on having Uranium controlled by the Democrats starting in January. but brutally attack the very message of Islam. difficult situation for the young French Following is the full text of the interview: enrichment and its reprocessing while the U.S. Whether the Senate would join the House in a Some elements in the West unfairly president. Saudi Arabia started its research nuclear wants “Gold Standard” in it agreement with blocking action, I can’t judge. 7 consider Islam as their enemy; others who Under such circumstances, many claim to profess Islam have admittedly analysts of the French affairs believe committed inhuman and criminal acts in that Macron is not going to have a better Afghan Shia militia commander’s arrest raises many questions its name; some others hide behind the veil fate than Francois Hollande and Nicolas of Islam to brazenly harm the very edifice Sarkozy, and if he’s not removed from By Syed Zafar Mehdi However, there is no clear definition of who is Afghanistan, is not only curious but very com- of the faith. The message that is under power before 2022, he doesn’t have a TEHRAN— While the 17 year old war perpet- a ‘warlord’ and what constitutes ‘illegal militias’ plicated. While government agencies, including attack is the message of peace, universal chance to win in the next presidential uated by the Western powers on the pretext of and how they can be differentiated from groups the National Directorate of Security (NDS), the brotherhood and humanity transcending election. Anyway, the “yellow vests” fighting terrorism has taken its heavy toll on life operating under the ambit of Afghan constitution country’s top spy agency, categorically dubbed the considerations of color, race, ethnicity have severely disturbed the French in Afghanistan, the issue of ‘warlordism’ and and international humanitarian norms. That’s him a ‘warlord’ who has committed human rights and religion. Islam is a righteous religion president’s dreams. ‘illegal militias’ has also been an integral part of where the problem arises. abuses, some others defended him as a champion that embraces the entire spectrum of It should not be forgotten that in 2017, conflict-centric discourse in Afghanistan. Some of these militia leaders claim to fight of human rights and a fierce fighter against the human life, upholding what is good and Macron came to power with the slogan of The recent history of the war-ravaged country against the terrorist groups to protect their re- Taliban and other terrorist groups. forbidding what is evil, accommodating economic development in France and the bears testimony to the fact that warlords have spective communities as Afghan security forces Alipoor was arrested earlier this week over others and honoring all humankind. economic and political leadership of the existed in all forms and manifestations, across are not always able to defend the people. Accord- allegations of human rights abuses, which triggered The goal of world’s 1.6 billion Muslims European Union. However, the French the ethnic lines, and some with overt or covert ing to international human rights charters, any two days of violent protests across the country should be to participate fully in the de- president has failed to become a strong support of the government and law-enforcement armed group working outside the purview of in which many demonstrators were killed and velopment of human civilization and in leader in Europe. Today he’s considered agencies. government and security institutions is illegal dozens of policemen wounded. the progress of humanity by stressing on a defeated figure in the French economy The grave issue of ‘illegal militias’ in Afghanistan but in a conflict-ridden country like Afghanistan, There had been few attempts to detain him in unity of the human race, equal rights and and politics. is also a reality that cannot be dismissed. Some of the issue becomes extremely complex. the past as well and finally he was arrested in the obligations, peace, security, social justice, The polls conducted in France in- these militias are actively supported by security and The latest case of Alipoor, a pro-Hazara and western province of Ghor earlier this week following protection of human life and preservation dicate that Macron’s popularity has intelligence agencies for a host of reasons. anti-Taliban militia commander from central a shoot-out that killed 12 people. 6 of environment. The message of Islam is fallen by %25 over the last months! to bring mercy to all people, emphasize Today, the French president is striving virtue of compassion and urge tolerance to resist the opposition groups in his and forgiveness. Islam upholds human country which are basically against his Tabriz to life. It detests extremism. policies. These opponents are mostly The month of Rabiaul Awal is of special members of the nationalist movement host ashiqlar significance to the Ummah as it marks the of France, along with conservative and birth of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), the socialist activists! messenger of Allah and the seal of all proph- The fact is that in 2021, Chancellor of congress ets. The ‘week of unity’ is observed in this Germany, Angela Merkel, will step down A group performs during the closing ceremony month as a mark of tribute to the man who from power. Many analysts believe Merkel’s of an ashiqlar music congress organized at was sent as ‘mercy’ to mankind. We take successor won’t be able to influence the the Tabriz International Conference Hall on this opportunity to reaffirm our allegiance European equations the way she could, at November 27, 2018 to celebrate the birthday to the pristine principles of this great faith. least not in the near future. On the other anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (S). On religious and moral grounds, we hand, regarding the Brexit, British au- Ashiqs from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and denounce terrorism in all its forms and thorities can’t play an important role as Iran attended the congress, which opened at manifestations. No argument or excuse the leader of the United Europe. the northwestern Iranian city on November 24. can justify the brute acts of terror. Terror Under such circumstances, the Ashiqlar is a unique style of traditional outfits like ISIS, Taliban or Al Qaeda can- French see themselves as undisputed music, which is mainly common in Iran’s not wriggle out of the charge of practicing leaders of Europe (after 2021). There- Azarbaijan region, the Azerbaijan Republic, terror. We reject their campaign of terror fore, Macron’s political and social op- Turkey and several other countries. carried out in the name of Islam. ponents are determined not to let him Ashiqlar music is performed by an ashiq, We equally reject the malicious campaign regain power in the next elections. More- also spelled ashik and ashug. He is a mystic that portrays Islam as a religion of terror, over, in 2017, French citizens practically troubadour or traveling bard, who blends violence and extremism. In Holy Quran, turned their back on their country’s two together instrumental and vocal music, dance, Allah invites believers to ‘the paths of peace’ traditional parties, namely, socialists IRNA poetry and storytelling in his performances. and promises to bring them out of darkness and conservatives. 7 into light (Surah Maidah). 6 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS NOVEMBER 29, 2018 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Ayatollah calls Jaberi Ansari meets de Mistura for Basij-Howza think tank ahead of Astana talks POLITICS TEHRAN — Grand Ayatollah Nasser POLITICS TEHRAN – Hossein Jaberi Ansari, deskMakarem Shirazi has called for launching deska senior advisor to the Iranian foreign a think tank between the Seminary of Religious Teachings minister for political affairs, has met with the outgoing (Howzah) and the Basij Organization. UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. In a Wednesday meeting with Basij Commander Ghola- The meeting was held ahead of the 11th round of talks mhossein Gheybparvar, the ayatollah said such a think tank on the Syria crisis, which began in the Kazakh capital of would be necessary for “harmonizing” the implementation Astana on Wednesday. of Basij’s plans. The two sides discussed the latest developments in “The Basij should be seeking help from the Howzah,” establishing the constitutional committee that will rewrite such as from the currently existing 400 research institutes Syria’s constitution, according to Mehr. of the seminary, he stressed. Earlier, Jaberi Ansari met separately with Turkish Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi noted that the Basij is an asset Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal, Syria’s permanent and the reason for Basij’s popularity is due to the certain air representative to the UN Bashar Jaafari, who represents of religious spirituality it possesses. Damascus at the talks, and Russian president’s Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev. Hanachi Representatives from the Syrian government and opposition groups, as well as senior officials from Iran, confirmed as Russia and Turkey are meeting in the Kazakh capital as Tehran mayor part of efforts to find a permanent political solution to the Syrian crisis. Representatives of Jordan and the United Nations are also expected to attend as observers. POLITICS TEHRAN — Pirouz Hanachi, who was The talks will mainly focus on the situation in the deskelected as the mayor of Tehran by the city de-escalation zone set up in Syria’s northwestern Idlib council on November 13, was finally confirmed by the Interior Province and the creation of a constitutional committee the return of Syrian refugees to their homes are also on establishment of safe zones across Syria and the movement Ministry on Wednesday. in the war-torn country. the agenda of the two-day negotiations. of civilians to those regions. He had served as deputy housing minister for architecture Issues such as confidence-building measures between The Astana talks have so far resulted in the return of a The 10th round of the Astana Peace Process was held and urban development from 2001 to 2005. Syria’s opposite sides, fight against terrorist groups and succession of militant bastions to the government fold, the in Sochi, Russia, in July. Hanachi replaced Mohammad Ali Afshani, who had to give up office as per a newly adopted law which bans em- ployment of the retired. On November 3, Hanachi succeeded to garner 11 votes out of the 21-memebr Tehran city council. His only rival at the Leader: Threat will vanish with increased deterrence last round of competitions was former transport and urban Ayatollah Khamenei urges military commanders to promote power so highly that no one dares to threaten Iran development minister Abbas Ahmad Akhoundi. POLITICS TEHRAN — On Nation- human forces is the key to resolving prob- anyone, however you need to strengthen facing it is necessary to speed up intense Government deskal Navy Day on Wednes- lems in all sectors including the military. your abilities so much so that not only work in all sectors. day, a group of navy commanders and Emphasizing the necessity of increased would the enemy fear attacking Iran, Lauding the armed forces for their names four officials met with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, efforts and preparations, Ayatollah but, as a result of unity, solidarity, and achievements, he said, “The current Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Com- Khamenei said: “Enhance your abilities effective presence of the armed forces generation of the Navy deeply believes new provincial mander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. and preparations so much as you can so in the field, the shadow of intimidation in its ingeniousness and abilities, and the During the meeting in which Defense that the enemies of Iran do not even dare and threats will also go away from the realization of projects such as the addi- governors Minister Amir Hatami and Abdolrahim to threaten this great nation.” Iranian nation.” tion of Sahand destroyer, and Fateh and POLITICS TEHRAN — The cabinet members on Mousavi were also present, the Leader said The Leader added, “The Islamic Re- Ayatollah Khamenei said in view of the Ghadir submarines to the naval forces, deskWednesday voted to elect four new gov- reliance on young, devout and motivated public does not intend to start a war with massive front of the enemies that Iran is heralds the possibility of more progress.” ernors for provinces of Mazandaran, North Khorasan, East Azarbaijan and South Khorasan, Mehr reported. During the cabinet meeting, headed by President Has- san Rouhani, Ahmad Hossein-Zadegahn, Mohammad-Ali Nuclear chief warns EU patience is running thin Shojaee, Mohammad-Reza Pour-Mohammadi and Moham- Iran’s nuclear chief said on Tuesday he was warning the ement of international security. mad-Sadeq Motamedian were appointed as governors of European Union’s top diplomat that Iranian patience The EU and other remaining parties - China and Rus- the aforementioned provinces respectively. was running out on the bloc’s pledges to keep up oil trade sia - have struggled to preserve trade incentives for Iran It comes as the law on prohibition of the employment of despite U.S. sanctions. to respect the deal’s nuclear limits under U.S. pressure. retirees goes into effect. The law is part of the plan to employ Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization Enriched uranium the younger generations in top state jobs. of Iran, said the Islamic Republic could resume enriching In Brussels for talks on civilian nuclear cooperation that uranium to 20 percent purity - seen as well above the EU officials intended as a signal support for the accord, Iran FM urges level suitable for fuelling civilian power plants - if it fails Salehi said the bloc’s efforts were encouraging but added: to see the economic benefit of the 2015 deal that curbed “We have not yet seen any tangible results.” intra-Afghan its nuclear program. He welcomed an EU plan to establish a special financial “If we cannot sell our oil and we don’t enjoy financial vehicle for non-dollar trade with Iran but only if it could dialogue to reach transactions, then I don’t think keeping the deal will benefit preserve Iranian oil exports. peace us anymore,” Salehi told Reuters ahead of a meeting with “It (the SPV) could be helpful in keeping the deal alive,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels. he said. “If there is nothing to reap, then what is the POLITICS TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Mohammad “I will pass certainly a word of caution to her (Mogherini): issues of concern such as Iran’s role in the region” - al- purpose of us staying in because voices in Iran are day deskJavad Zarif on Wednesday underlined the I think the period of patience for our people is getting more luding to Iranian involvement in Middle East conflicts by day becoming more against the deal.” need to facilitate the intra-Afghan dialogue, by helping to limited and limited. We are running out of the assumed from Yemen to Syria. Under the 2015 deal, Iran stopped producing 20 percent bring the Taliban to the negotiating table with the govern- timeline, which was in terms of months.” Under the 2015 deal with world powers, Iran restricted enriched uranium and gave up the majority of its stockpile. ment for inclusive and comprehensive talks. Following the meeting, Mogherini said she and Salehi its enrichment program. Salehi reiterated warnings that Iran has the technical Zarif made the remarks in a speech to the Geneva Con- remained committed to safeguarding the nuclear accord. U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the accord capacity to ramp up enrichment if the deal unravels. ference on Afghanistan, organized by the United Nations “They equally expressed their determination to preserve in May, arguing it was weak because it did not halt Iran’s “It is very easy for us to go back to what we were before Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). the nuclear agreement as a matter of respecting inter- development of ballistic missiles or support for armed - even to a better position. We can start the 20 percent He further said there is no military solution to the prob- national agreements and a key pillar for European and proxies abroad, and reimposed sanctions on Iran’s oil enrichment activity. We can increase the amount of en- lems Afghanistan is facing, reiterating the need for national regional security,” Mogherini’s office said in a statement. export sector earlier this month. riched uranium.” reconciliation and political resolution of the conflicts there. It said Mogherini also repeated the EU stance “on But Europe sees the nuclear deal as an important el- (Source: Reuters) Larijani set to visit Turkey Iran, Russia move to expand security collaboration By Alireza Noori of the Islamic State (IS), intelligence and are for Iran and Russia. linking the two countries’ security and analytical reports by various countries see Transnational terrorism has also creat- military organizations, the new agreement Iran’s deputy interior minister for secu- the potential for attacks by IS as high. As ed many shared concerns for Tehran and can provide a more coherent structure rity affairs, Hossein Zolfaqari, met with a result, the desire by Tehran and Mos- Moscow. The recent terrorist attacks in for security collaboration. If signed and POLITICS TEHRAN — Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani Vasilii Piskarev, the chairman of the cow to expand their security collaboration Iran are an example of this. These include implemented, it can make bilateral co- deskis scheduled to take a trip to Turkey to Russian Duma’s Committee on Security can be viewed as a response to the rising the June 2017 attack on the Iranian par- operation, especially in the fight against attend the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) meeting and Corruption Control, on Nov. 5. At the threat of narcotics and terrorism, which liament in Tehran, which left 23 people the proliferation of narcotics and terror- in Istanbul. meeting, both sides stressed the need to fi- in recent years have found more evident dead, and the September 2018 attack on ism, more organized and extensive, thus Larijani’s trip is upon his Turkish counterpart’s invitation nalize a bilateral security agreement and transnational dimensions. Afghanistan a military parade in the southern city of having a greater impact in eradicating Binali Yildirim, IRNA reported on Wednesday. described cybersecurity, the fight against and the Middle East are the main sources Ahvaz, which claimed 25 lives. Meanwhile, these threats. The APA meeting will start work on Thursday and runs for terrorism and countering drug proliferation of these threats that impact the interests in Russia, terrorist attacks in the year Furthermore, Tehran’s aim in signing three days. The event is to focus on developing Asia economy. and illegal immigration as key aspects of of Iran and Russia. 2016 and 2017 left 64 and 36 people dead, the agreement is not only to improve its Some 23 Asian countries will attend the meeting. such an accord. According to the UN Office on Drugs respectively. domestic security but also to expand bi- APA was born at the seventh session of the Association One of Iran’s goals in signing such an and Crime, the cultivation of opium in Although Nikolai Patrushev, secretary lateral cooperation with Moscow to all of Asian Parliamentary for Peace (AAPP) in 2006. agreement is to boost its domestic security, Afghanistan increased by 63% in 2017 of the Security Council of the Russian aspects of their relations. At the regional particularly considering the threats ema- compared to 2016, going from an area Federation, has stated that the number level, Iran seeks to utilize Russia’s poten- nating from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, of 201,000 hectares to 328,000 hectares. of terrorist attacks in his country has de- tial in the Middle East and Afghanistan Unilateralism which, to be deterred, require transna- The quantity of narcotics produced also creased from 779 cases in 2010 to 24 cases more effectively and in a more predictable detrimental tional cooperation. For Iran, to engage went up from 4,800 tons in 2016 to 9,000 in 2017, the likelihood of such strikes being manner. Tehran has no problems with in security cooperation with Russia, a tons in 2017. According to UN reports, carried out in Russia or Iran is still high. achieving these aims by expanding the to scientific country that has influence in the region the Taliban are one of the main elements This has made both countries realize that sought-after security agreement from a and shares common security concerns, involved in the production and export of effectively dealing with this transnational bilateral deal to a framework for organi- progress: Zarif can help increase the impact of its own narcotics while Iran and Russia are among threat is not possible without transna- zations such as the Shanghai Cooperation POLITICS TEHRAN — In a meeting with the di- safety measures. its key destinations. Iran’s seizure of smug- tional intelligence, military and security Organization or the Collective Security deskrector general of the World Intellectual Tehran and Moscow have signed several gled narcotics has risen by an average of cooperation. Treaty Organization. Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva on Wednesday, security documents in the past. Among some 15% a year during the past five years. This shared feeling of threat is one rea- By promoting its relations with Moscow Iran’s foreign minister said that unilateral actions and illegal these is a document signed in January 2013 In this vein, Iran’s Interior Minister Abdol- son for the military-security cooperation at these two levels, Tehran is also trying sanctions are detrimental to the progress of societies in the by Iran’s then interior minister, Mosta- reza Rahmani Fazli has stated that about between the two countries in Syria. To fur- to use Russia’s international potential to fields of science and technology. fa Mohammad Najjar, and then Russian 785 tons of narcotics were confiscated in ther strengthen this collaboration, the two reduce U.S. pressures, including the Donald Foreign Minister Zarif and Francis Gurry also talked Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Al- Iran in 2017, the main portion of which sides have signed military accords, one of Trump administration’s unilateral sanc- about cooperation between Iran and WIPO and current exandrovich Kolokoltsev, which called for was destined for regional countries and which is a military-defense agreement that tions. Considering Tehran and Moscow’s international procedures regarding intellectual property. adopting joint measures to fight the prolif- Europe. Of this amount, 24 tons was heroin. was concluded in January 2015, between tough approach toward foreign policy, Iran Pointing to a plan by Iran to transform from an oil and gas- eration of drugs and countering transna- Based on available data, Russia has Hossein Dehghan, Iran’s then defense min- sees security cooperation as a starting point based economy to a knowledge-based one, Zarif emphasized tional organized crime. Given the regional the world’s largest heroin market in the ister, and his Russian counterpart Sergei for strengthening relations with Russia the significance of intellectual property in achieving that goal. and international developments since then, world, with about 75-80 tons of heroin Shoigu. That agreement highlights the need at other levels. Gurry, for his part, appreciated Iran’s efforts as an active the new agreement is more extensive and being annually smuggled in from Afghan- for cooperation for maintaining security Alireza Noori is an assistant professor and constructive member in international organizations and places greater emphasis on the need to istan. The country has about 7.3 million and stability and fighting terrorism, sep- of regional studies at Shahid Beheshti defending multilateralism. counter international terrorism. addicts, as indicated by statistics from the aratism and extremism. University in Tehran. His research Zarif also held talks with his German counterpart Heiko Although there have been fewer instanc- country’s Health Ministry and the Federal Given this context, the new security interests focus on Iran-Russia relations Maas and the EU’s chief diplomat Federica Mogherini. es of terrorism around the world following Drug Control Service of Russia. This data accord complements existing political and Russian foreign policy. the collapse of the organizational structure alone show how large a threat narcotics and military cooperation documents. By (Source: Al Monitor) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 29, 2018 INTERNATIONAL Putin accuses Ukraine leader of Hamas leader says he has plotting naval clash to boost ratings been invited to Moscow The top leader of Hamas said he received an invitation to make an official visit to Moscow. The office of Ismail Haniyeh said the invitation was delivered Russia to deploy new S-400 missiles on Crimea, UN chief urges ‘maximum restraint’ Wednesday by a visiting Russian diplomat. Its statement did not Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednes- Several senior European politicians Tues- elaborate on the purpose of the visit. day accused Ukrainian President Petro Poro- day raised the possibility of new sanctions Russia maintains high-level contact with Hamas, which Israel, shenko of orchestrating a naval “provocation” against Russia to punish it for capturing three the U.S. and the European Union classify as a terrorist group. in the Black Sea at the weekend in order to Ukrainian vessels at sea, an incident the West Haniyeh was elected as Hamas’ top leader last year. His pre- boost his flagging popularity ratings before fears could ignite a wider conflict. decessor, Khaled Mashaal, visited Moscow frequently. an election next year. UN chief urges ‘maximum re- In 2007, a year after winning parliamentary elections, Hamas Russia seized three Ukrainian naval vessels straint’ from Russia, Ukraine drove out the Western-backed Palestinian Authority from Gaza and their crews on Sunday over what it said Ukraine and Russia must exercise “max- and took over the coastal enclave. was their illegal entry into Russian waters, imum restraint,” UN chief Antonio Guterres Russia has hosted several rounds of talks aimed at forging rec- something Ukraine denies. said Tuesday, appealing for a quick reduc- onciliation between Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud The episode has raised fears in the West tion in tensions after a naval confrontation Abbas’ Fatah party. of a wider conflict between the two countries sparked the most dangerous crisis in years (Source: AP) and Kiev has since introduced martial law in between the neighbors. parts of the country, saying it fears a possible His call came as Russian President Vladimir Russian invasion. Putin warned Ukraine against any “reckless Some of Ukraine’s Western allies have acts” after Kiev declared martial law in re- Russia working on financial raised the possibility of imposing new sanc- sponse to Moscow’s seizure of three of its system independent from tions on Russia over the incident, which could navy vessels. deliver a blow to the Russian economy. A statement from the UN secretary gen- SWIFT: Putin In his first public comments on the inci- eral urged both sides “to take steps without dent, Putin said the Ukrainian vessels had delay to contain this incident and reduce Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow is working clearly been in the wrong, dismissed the in- tensions through all available peaceful means with its major partners to create financial systems that are not cident as a minor border issue, and accused warship deploying nearby as tensions with that the country is “under threat of full-scale in accordance with the Charter of the United dependent on the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine rose. war with Russia.” Nations.” Telecommunication (SWIFT). having orchestrated the mini crisis in order Fallout from the episode risks derailing Poroshenko didn’t give Russian troop Guterres underscored “the need to fully He made the remarks on Wednesday at the 10th annual ‘Russia to boost his dire ratings. a meeting between U.S. President Donald numbers but said the information on the respect the rights and obligations of all con- Calling’ Investment Forum in Moscow. “It was without doubt a provocation,” Putin Trump and Putin at a G20 summit in Argen- military buildup was based on intelligence cerned parties” under international law and “We are actively working with some countries, with our part- told a financial forum in Moscow. tina later this week. Trump said on Tuesday reports. said “the sovereignty and territorial integrity ners on trade and economy, on setting up systems that would be Ukraine’s martial law provokes Russian that he might cancel the meeting due to the He said that numbers of Russian troops of Ukraine, within its internationally recog- independent of SWIFT”, Sputnik quoted him as saying. threats incident, but Putin said on Wednesday he in Crimea had tripled since Moscow annexed nized borders... must also be fully respected.” The Russian president didn’t specify which countries he was “It was organized by the president ahead still hoped to meet Trump. the peninsula in 2014. The Ukrainian parliament late Monday referring to. However, Russian companies earlier signed a coop- of the elections. The president is in fifth place Ukraine under threat of ‘full- U.S. official urges Europe to con- voted in favor of President Petro Poroshenko’s eration agreement on the issue with Iranian firms following the ratings-wise and therefore had to do some- scale war’ with Russia: Poroshenko sider more Russia sanctions request for the introduction of martial law exclusion of Iran from SWIFT due to U.S. sanctions. thing. It was used as a pretext to introduce Russia has sharply increased its mili- The United States wants its European in border areas for 30 days. Elsewhere, touching upon the need to ditch dollar, he added, martial law.” tary presence on the border with Ukraine, allies to consider further sanctions against Martial law gives authorities the power, “we do not have the goal to move away from the dollar, we are Ukraine was successfully using the episode Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Russia over the situation in Ukraine, the U.S. among others, to mobilize citizens with mil- forced to do this. Let me assure you, we will do this… We just do to sell anti-Russian sentiment and the West on television Tuesday, warning of the threat Special Representative for Ukraine Negoti- itary experience. not want to do anything sudden that would hurt us… We have was ready to forgive Ukrainian politicians of “full-scale war.” ations said Wednesday. The move came after Russian forces fired no goal to leave the dollar, it is the dollar that is leaving us.” their shortcomings because it bought into “The number of [Russian] tanks at bases “We certainly encourage our European on, boarded and captured three of Kiev’s The Russian president added that the ‘lack of stability in dol- the narrative Kiev was promoting, said Putin. located along our border has tripled,” Poro- allies to look harder at what additional sanc- ships on Sunday off the coast of Crimea, lar transactions causes many of the world’s economies to look The Russian leader was speaking after shenko said in an interview, adding that “the tions could be implemented,” Kurt Volker the first major confrontation at sea in the for alternative reserve currencies and set up payment systems Moscow said it would send more of its ad- number of units that have been deployed said in Berlin. “I’ve seen at this point that is long-running conflict pitting Ukraine against independent from the dollar’. vanced S-400 surface-to-air missile systems along our border – what’s more, along its not something Germany and France have Moscow and Russian-backed separatists in (Source: MNA) to Crimea, the Ukrainian region it annexed in full length – has grown dramatically.” said they’re considering but these things, I the country’s east. 2014, and a Reuters reporter saw a Russian He said that the military buildup meant think, can develop over time.” (Source: agencies) UK ramps up no-deal Brexit warnings as May faces Saudi Arabia, Egypt to continue diplomatic, trade battle in Parliament boycott against Qatar Saudi Arabia and Egypt have jointly announced that the ongoing May’s plan best for UK economy under Brexit: Hammond Saudi-led diplomatic and trade boycott against Qatar, which Britain’s government stepped up warnings Wednesday that a they imposed on the energy-rich Persian Gulf kingdom in June “no-deal” Brexit would hammer the economy, but acknowl- 2017, would remain in effect until further notice. edged that Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan, opposed by During a meeting between visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mo- many of her own side, would also leave the economy worse hammed bin Salman and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi off than staying in the EU. at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo on Tuesday, the pair In a scenario resembling the agreement May has struck reiterated their refusal to “make any concessions” to the Doha with other European Union leaders, national output would government, Saudi-owned and Dubai-based al-Arabiya television be 2.1 percent smaller in just over 15 years’ time than if Britain news network reported. remained in the bloc, the government said. They also stated that both countries will continue to confront But if there was no deal, it would be 7.7 percent smaller. what they described as Iranian “interference” in the region. The report was seized on by opponents of Brexit, who said it Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt undermined promises that leaving the EU would make Britain, all cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5 last year, after and Britons, more prosperous. “It took until this morning for the officially accusing it of “sponsoring terrorism.” chancellor [finance minister] to finally admit it: We would be The administration of the Saudi-backed and former Yemeni better off staying in the EU,” said opposition Labour lawmaker president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, Libya, the Maldives, Dji- Alison McGovern. “He confessed that the government’s deal bouti, Senegal and the Comoros later joined the camp in ending would bring ‘impediments’ to trade. That means a threat to jobs.” diplomatic ties with Doha. Jordan downgraded its diplomatic The forecasts assumed for the purposes of comparison that relations as well. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry later announced that there would be no changes to migration rules, but that some the decision to cut diplomatic ties was unjustified and based on non-tariff trade barriers would be introduced. false claims and assumptions. However, perceptions that immigration was too high under On June 9, 2017, Qatar strongly dismissed allegations of sup- the EU’s freedom of movement policy were a key reason why porting terrorism after the Saudi regime and its allies blacklisted many Britons voted in 2016 to leave the EU. dozens of individuals and entities purportedly associated with Assuming there was zero net migration from the EU in the faces a vote on Dec. 11. The government’s forecasts also revived Alongside its Brexit analysis, the BoE will publish its regular Doha. Later that month, Saudi Arabia and its allies released a future, the hit to the economy would be bigger: 3.9 percent protests from supporters of a more definitive break from the Financial Stability Report and the results of its 2018 stress 13-point list of demands, including the closure of Al Jazeera under May’s deal, and 9.3 percent without a deal. EU, who had accused those who campaigned in 2016 to stay tests of banks in Britain. television network and downgrade of relations with Iran, in Four months before Britain is due to leave the EU, May is in the EU of ignoring the benefits and exaggerating the risks. May’s plan best for UK economy under Brexit return for the normalization of diplomatic relations with Doha. struggling to overcome deep resistance within her own Con- “Politically, it looks like a rehash of ‘Project Fear’,” Dominic British Finance Minister Philip Hammond, speaking ahead The document containing the demands by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, servative Party and among other parties to the agreement she Raab, who resigned as May’s Brexit minister earlier this month, of a government report on the economic impact of various the UAE and Bahrain also asked Qatar to sever all ties with sealed with EU leaders on Sunday. told the Daily Telegraph, which reported the government re- Brexit scenarios, said Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan was the Muslim Brotherhood and the Lebanese Hezbollah resist- Wednesday’s report said Britain’s automotive and chem- port’s forecasts overnight. the best one for the economy. ance movement. Qatar rejected the demands as “unreasonable.” icals sectors faced the biggest potential losses from a no-deal “People expect to be inspired, not scared witless into de- Hammond said staying in the European Union would be (Source: Press TV) Brexit – more than 20 percent of output. ferring to the government.” best for Britain in purely economic terms. The message from the government was likely to be echoed But Hammond told BBC television: “I am not trying to scare “If the only consideration, the only consideration, was the by the Bank of England, which was due to announce its own anybody and I reject the term ‘scaremongering’.” economy, then the analysis shows clearly remaining in the shorter-term forecasts for the economy at 1630 GMT. Brexit supporters say May’s deal will in fact hurt Britain’s European Union would be a better outcome for the economy, Both Finance Minister Philip Hammond and BoE Governor economy over the long term by making it harder to strike trade but not by much,” he told BBC television on Wednesday. Afghan president forms team Mark Carney have stressed the importance of a transition period, deals with faster-growing countries and regions beyond Europe, “The prime minister’s deal delivers an outcome that is very as included in May’s plan, to ease Britain out of its four-decade and it is not clear that lawmakers will be swayed by the latest close to the economic benefits of remaining in.” to talk peace, sees five-year membership of the EU. forecasts. The BoE was due later to publish its assessment of He also denied the government was trying to scare lawmakers Carney said last week that the impact of leaving the bloc the implications of different Brexit scenarios for interest rates into dropping their opposition to May’s plan ahead of a vote timeline and its oversight of the banking sector. in Parliament on Dec. 11. without a transition could be akin to the 1970s oil crisis for the Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has formed a 12-strong team Carney has warned investors not to count on a cut to bor- “I am not trying to scare anybody and I reject the term world’s fifth-biggest economy. to negotiate peace with the Taliban, but implementation of any rowing costs in the event of an economic shock, saying it could scare-mongering,” he said. But there remains a real prospect of a disruptive Brexit, given deal will take at least five years, he said on Wednesday. push up inflation sharply and damage growth. (Source: Reuters) the scale of opposition to May’s plan in parliament, where it Ghani was speaking at a U.N. conference on the 17-year-old war between Afghan security forces and an increasingly confident Taliban, which is fighting to drive out international forces and Thirty Afghan civilians killed in U.S. air strike, officials say establish their version of strict law. The Taliban are not at the Geneva talks but will be closely At least 30 Afghan civilians were killed in mad Yasin Khan said troops had called in air but all of the victims of last night’s bombing adapt and improve,” she said. monitoring the gathering of Afghan leaders and international U.S. air strikes in the Afghan province of strikes against Taliban fighters in Garmsir, are civilians,” he said. The deaths are the latest in a growing diplomats, which coincides with efforts by U.S. President Donald Helmand, officials and residents of the area causing both civilian and Taliban casualties. The NATO-led Resolute Support forces civilian casualty toll caused by air strikes and Trump’s administration to push for peace with the group. said on Wednesday, the latest casualties from A resident of the area called Mohammadul- said Afghan forces and U.S. advisers came underline the severity of the Afghan war even “We seek a peace agreement in which the Afghan Taliban a surge in air operations aimed at driving the lah said the clash began late on Tuesday. under fire from Taliban equipped with ma- as moves to begin peace talks have picked would be included in a democratic and inclusive society,” Ghani Taliban into talks. “Foreign forces bombed the area and chines guns and rocket-propelled grenades. up with contacts between U.S. peace envoy said, adding that any deal must fulfil certain conditions, including Afghanistan’s NATO-led force said Afghan the bombs hit my brother’s house,” he said. “At the time of the strike, the ground force Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban representatives. respecting the constitutional rights of women. government forces and U.S. advisers came He said women and 16 children were was unaware of any civilians in or around the The United Nations said last month the Ghani, facing a war-weary public back home, called on Afghans under fire from Taliban fighters in a compound among the dead. compound; they only knew that the Taliban number of civilian casualties from air strikes to back his peace push in an election next April. in Garmsir district and called in an air strike, Another resident, Feda Mohammad, said was using the building as a fighting position,” in the first nine months of the year was al- The two-day Geneva gathering is intended to help resolve the but the ground forces were not aware of any some victims were still buried in the rubble a force spokeswoman said in a statement. ready higher than in any entire year since quagmire created by the war, a development that would pave civilians in or near the compound. of the compound. “We investigate every credible allegation at least 2009. way for the withdrawal of foreign troops. Helmand provincial governor Moham- “The area is under the control of Taliban of error and review every mission to learn, (Source: daily Star) (Source: Reuters) II NN TT EE RR NN AA TT II OO NN AA LL DD AA II LL YY 44 POLITICSECONOMY NOVEMBERNOVEMBER 29,29, 20182018 ELECTION COUNTDOWN STOCK MARKET 13th ICA Regional Summit official TEDPIX 16377.2.1 IFX 1777.48 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir opening ceremony held in Tehran

By Ebrahim Fallahi Parliament will also do its best to support CURRENCIES the realization of this goal.” he said. TEHRAN–The official opening ceremony USD 42,000 rials The official further stressed the need for of the 13th ICA-Asia and Pacific Regional educating the cooperative members in order EUR 47,607 rials Cooperative Conference was held at IRIB to facilitate their growth. Conference Center on Wednesday. GBP 53,838 rials He also mentioned some of the new ar- Senior officials from Iran and ICA includ- eas like IT and ICT as potent fields for the AED 11,430 rials ing Parliament speaker Ali Larijani; Finance country’s cooperatives to enter. Minister Farhad Dejpasand; Cooperative, Source: iribnews.ir During the event, Cooperative, Labor Labor and Social Welfare Minister Moham- and Social Welfare Minister Mohammad mad Shariatmadari, Head of Iran Chamber Shariatmadari also voiced the government’s of Cooperative Bahman Abdollahi as well readiness for assisting cooperatives in various as ICA Chairperson of the Regional Board areas including accessing global markets, COMMODITIES Chunsheng Li along with over 170 foreign networking and branding. WTI $51.08/b guests and 400 Iranian participants attended The official mentioned the history and the ceremony. improvement of cooperatives in Iran, saying Brent $59.85/b Speaking at the ceremony, Abdollahi “In 1357 (1978), only 4.8 percent of the people stressed the importance of ICA Asia and Pacific OPEC Basket $59.29/b in Iran were members of cooperatives, and cooperative conference, saying “The Asia- now the number has exceeded 52 percent.” Pacific Cooperative Assembly is the strongest Gold $1,214.70/oz According to the official, during the last party of the ICA World Assembly in terms 40 years, the number of cooperatives has Silver $14.23/oz of population, organizational membership increased by 11.8 percent on average annu- and financial performance, and has played a Platinium $833.85/oz ally, and now the figure has reached 90,000 significant role in promoting cooperatives in nationwide. Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com comparison with the three African, European cooperatives.” “Cooperatives are the voices of commu- Shariatmadari also pointed to the impor- and American regions.” Chunsheng Li for his part appreciated nities and a voice by which we can create a tance of employment in the cooperative sector “Iran as a country with vast potential Iran’s role in International Cooperative Al- stronger network in the region and around the and said: “There are now 1,700,000 people for investment and cooperative business liance (ICA) especially in the region. world to neutralize many crises”, he added. working in the country’s cooperatives; this in diverse areas such as tourism, industry, ICA chairperson of the regional board Elsewhere in the ceremony, Parliament Chinese bank to back Iran- energy and agriculture can be a model for mentioned the importance of the role of speaker Ali Larijani also addressed the at- number can further grow with the develop- China transactions as of Dec. 2 many Asian countries.” he added. cooperatives in the developing countries’ tendees saying, “We have placed a significant ment of cooperative culture and given the Abdollahi further mentioned the goals economies, noting that cooperatives can help importance on the role of cooperatives in youthful population of the country.” Attendees from over 30 countries are ECONOMY TEHRAN — A Chinese bank is to support of the international conference saying, “The such economies become more resilient and the country’s economy in the sixth five-year desk goal of this meeting is to promote coopera- sustainable. development plan.” participating in Iran’s International Coop- banking transactions between Iranian eratives Conference which is being held at and Chinese businessmen tion among the ICA members and to address Li further noted that cooperatives are “A great deal of work is needed for the IRIB Conference Center from November as of December 2, the Ira- issues like job creation, supporting poverty currently contributing to $2.1 billion of the cooperatives to get to their appropriate 26 to 30. nian head of Iran-China alleviation, and promotion of the status of world’s economy. position in the country’s economy and the Joint Chamber of Commerce announced. As Tasnim news agency ICCIMA hosts Iran-S. Korea business opportunities conference quoted Asadollah Asgaroladi 1 “U.S. attitude towards Iran is As he added, imports from South Korea ambassador, for his turn, said that “South as saying on Wednesday, not a threat but an opportunity for Iran’s has decreased from its previous $4 billion Korea has planned the framework of its eco- regarding that Iran’s ex- economy,” Soltani said, “the agreement in 2017 to $2 billion in 2018. nomic ties with Iran before re-imposition ports of oil to China will be between Germany and France for creating “Trade transactions between the two sides of U.S. sanctions against the country, and commenced in few days and Europe’s intended novel financial system is a have dropped due to U.S. sanctions against has been received some waivers under the China will pay for the oil turning point which can resolve the present Iran which have created some difficulties in sanctions era.” cargos almost in a month, difficulties [of trade with Iran].” transportation sector,” he said, “however, “Iran and South Korea have traded oil and China is to introduce its Iran-South Korea trade volume in 2017 the made obstacles can be overcome by the home appliances till the present time and second bank for conduct- surpassed $8 billion which has decreased help of Europeans.” we plan to develop our ties in other sectors ing financial transactions down to $3.7 billion in 2018, Tanhaie lamented Expressing his country’s tendency for ex- such as science, culture and joint research,” with the Iranian side. during his remarks in the event. pansion of all-out ties with Iran, the Korean Jeong-hyun added. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 29 , 2018 ANALYSISNOVEMBER & 29, 2018INTERVIEW ENERGY5 NOVEMBER 29 , 2018 5ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 5 Oil jumps more than 1 percent on outage OPEC expected to cut oil output in North Sea, expected OPEC supply cuts despite Trump, survey shows OPEC and its allies will announce production cuts to check a slump Oil prices rose by more than 1 percent on policy are expected to be discussed. in oil prices when they meet next week, defying pressure from U.S. Wednesday, pushed up by a North Sea While most analysts expect some form of President Donald Trump, according to a Bloomberg survey. production outage and expectations in the supply cut from the OPEC meeting, sentiment Thirty-one of 36 analysts and traders in a global poll predicted that market that OPEC will next week decide to in oil markets remains negative. the coalition of producers known as OPEC+, led by Saudi Arabia and implement some form of supply cut to counter “Options traders remain focused on Russia, will announce output curbs when it gathers on Dec. 6 to 7. The an emerging glut. downside risks following a 30 percent slide average estimate for the size of the cut was 1.1 million barrels a day. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) in WTI,” Erik Norland, senior economist at Oil prices have collapsed 30 percent in less than two months on crude futures were at $52.36 per barrel at commodities exchange CME Group wrote concern that booming U.S. shale production and faltering demand 0748 GMT, up 80 cents, or 1.6 percent from in a note, referring to the higher number of -- combined with unprecedented output from the Saudis and Russia their last settlement. traders who have placed positions that would -- will trigger a new surplus next year. The Organization of Petroleum International Brent crude oil futures profit from a further fall in crude prices than Exporting Countries and its partners will meet in Vienna. were up 89 cents, or 1.5 percent, at $61.10 those placing bets on a rising market. “We anticipate that Saudi Arabia and OPEC will cut crude supply per barrel. Portfolio managers have slashed their by 1 million barrels a day or more at the upcoming meeting,” said Mike The Buzzard oilfield, which pumps about combined net long position in crude futures Wittner, head of oil-market research at Societe Generale SA in New 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) has closed by a total of 607 million barrels over the York. “This will be necessary to avoid severe oversupply in 2019.” temporarily after the discovery of pipe cor- last eight weeks, the largest reduction over a U.S. pressure rosion. As a result, trade sources said three comparable period since at least 2013, when Trump has repeatedly called on the Saudis to work on lowering cargoes due to load in December had been the current data series began, exchange data prices and could have extra leverage now as U.S. lawmakers threaten cancelled. showed. punitive measures against senior officials following the murder of Saudi “The shutdown...is reducing supply of a A concern to global markets is a slowdown dissident Jamal Khashoggi. North Sea crude that helps set global pric- in global trade as a result of the Sino-American Nonetheless, the survey results suggest the kingdom will disregard es,” said Sukrit Vijayakar, director of energy trade dispute, swelling debt and a strong dol- the pressure from its most important political ally in order to shore up consultancy Trifecta, referring to Buzzards’s lar that puts pressure on emerging markets. revenue while embarking on radical economic transformation at home role in the settlement of Brent futures. The crude oil price slump since October is to discuss output policy. The World Trade Organization (WTO) said and intervening in conflicts abroad. Despite Wednesday’s rise, oil prices have so far on par with the 2008 price crash and The OPEC-meeting will follow a gathering in its latest outlook, published on Tuesday, “What Trump’s asking Saudi Arabia to do is commit the ultimate act still lost around 30 percent in value since steeper than that of 2014/2015. by the Group of 20 (G20) nations, which that “trade growth is likely to slow further of self-harm -- to continue to oversupply a market when they are having early October, weighed down by an emerging The Organization of the Petroleum Ex- includes the world’s biggest economies, into the fourth quarter of 2018”, with growth their own fiscal constraints,” said Helima Croft, chief commodities supply overhang and by widespread weakness porting Countries (OPEC) will meet at its in Argentina this weekend, at which the likely at its slowest since Oct. 2016. strategist at RBC Capital Markets LLC in New York. in financial markets. headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Dec. 6 Sino-American trade dispute as well as oil (Source: Reuters) Many of the respondents expecting a cut estimated a range for the size of the potential reduction. The smallest was 200,000 barrels a day, and the largest 2 million a day. The survey showed that there’s less confidence that Russia, Saudi Tankers going nowhere indicate LNG market becoming more like oil Arabia’s main partner outside OPEC, will join in cutbacks once again. Some liquefied natural gas sellers aren’t in as floating storage globally, two-thirds of which Boil off Of the 31 who forecast a reduction, 12 said that Russia wouldn’t partic- a rush to deliver their multimillion-dollar are in Asia, the biggest LNG consuming region, LNG, the fastest-growing fossil fuel, is starting ipate in actual supply restraints. (Source: Bloomberg) cargoes. according to cargo-tracking company Kpler to resemble the oil market in that sense. Holding With uncertain demand and no signs yet SAS. That’s still a fraction of a global fleet of it back is that some LNG is lost to keep it cool of bitter cold, some traders are preferring to more than 500 vessels. during its journey, known as boil off, and that Iraq finalizes 2019 crude oil keep their fuel inside vessels in the hope prices The practice of using tankers as floating most sales are through traditional long-term will rise. While the sight of stationary cargoes storage is common in the more developed oil contracts without destination flexibility. term deals, 67% to go Asia might not be unusual in the more-established market. It happens during periods of contango But that’s rapidly changing. Modern tankers oil market, technology has only recently made -- when storage on land is used up, immediate are capable of serving as floating storage, espe- global context, Alastair Maxwell, chief financial Iraq has finalized its 2019 crude oil term contracts, with 67 per- it feasible to keep LNG at minus 162 degrees demand is weak and the cost for later delivery cially for markets such as China that lack that officer of LNG ship owner and operator GasLog cent of its exports poised to go to Asia, an oil ministry spokesman Celsius (minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit) for is high enough to cover the expense of storing capacity. They have lower boil-off rates, bigger Ltd., said earlier this month. said Tuesday. longer periods. crude on a tanker. capacity and re-liquefaction units on board to The biggest contributor to flexible supplies “The percentage of the total quantities planned for export From pipes to tankers Trading houses and oil majors from Vitol keep the cargoes cool. is the U.S., where destination-free LNG exports next year 2019: the Asian market (67 percent and the European “There are cargoes parked close to Singa- Group and Glencore Plc to BP Plc and Royal The global LNG fleet has transportation started in 2016. The nation is adding produc- market (20 percent) and the U.S. market (13 percent the spokes- pore, apparently waiting for the right market Dutch Shell Plc collectively made billions of capacity of about 44 million tons, which pales tion terminals and will compete with Australia man, Assem Jihad, said in a statement.Jihad said the ministry conditions to be delivered,” said Dumitru De- dollars from 2008 to 2009 stockpiling crude beside the 372 million tons of the crude oil tanker and Qatar for a top place in LNG trade, which approved the allocation of quantities for the contracts handled diu, an associate partner at McKinsey Energy at sea. At the peak of the floating storage spree, fleet, according to Clarkson Research Services the International Energy Agency expects will by Iraq›s State Oil Marketing Organization. Insights, which monitors LNG flows. “Some sheltered anchorages in the North Sea, the Ltd., a unit of the world’s biggest shipbroker. LNG overtake volumes delivered by pipelines in the The deals involve the exports of Basrah Light, Basrah Heavy of the players are speculating.” Persian Gulf, the Singapore Strait and off South tankers working as storage can tie up transport middle of the next decade. and Kirkuk crude. The ministry did not give further details of There are about 30 vessels currently flagged Africa each hosted dozens of supertankers. capacity, even if volumes are not significant in a (Source: Bloomberg) the term contracts. (Source: Platts)

CEO of Hormozgan Steel Co.: Oil investors still on edge, waiting on OPEC’s word CEO of Hormozgan Steel Co.: Global oil markets are nervously eyeing manager at PIMCO, who co-manages caught wrong-footed after waivers were Development of Rail Transport Fleet Lays GroundOPEC’s upcoming meeting for clarity on more than $15 billion in commodity assets. announced and U.S. production surged Development of Rail Transport Fleet Lays Ground future supply as the dust settles after a He added that if OPEC does not reduce faster than expected. Wall Street banks for Realizing Steel Development Outlook full-fledged rout in crude markets over production, prices could tumble to $40 looking to protect against exposure for Realizing Steel Development Outlook the last several weeks. a barrel. from selling options to oil producers The inaugural ceremony of project So far, there is no clear view if pro- The signals from the Organization of intensified that selling, market sourc- The inaugural ceremony of project for the operation of 200 long-edged duction will be cut or remain steady, and the Petroleum Exporting Countries and es said. for the operation of 200 long-edged wagon in rail line was held at the ven- that uncertainty raises the risk of more its leader, Saudi Arabia, have been mixed. Implied volatility, a gauge of options wagon in rail line was held at the ven- ue of Hormozgan Steel Company on volatile trading after mass selling caused Officials familiar with Saudi plans told demand, soared, with U.S. crude implied ue of Hormozgan Steel Company on Monday Nov. 26 in the presence of oil to drop by more than 30 percent in Reuters they expect it to trim production, volatility hitting its highest level since Monday Nov. 26 in the presence of Nourollah Beiranvand Deputy Manag- little over a month. but an industry source also said Saudi oil February 2016 last week. Nourollah Beiranvand Deputy Manag- ing director of the Islamic Republic of Participants generally expect OPEC output exceeded 11 mln bpd for the first The price swings hit funds hard. Among ing director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways for Transport Economy will trim production at its Dec. 6 meeting time in November. renowned oil bulls, the Andurand Capital Iran Railways for Transport Economy and Planning Affairs, Saeed Rasouli by about 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), The cartel’s deliberations have been Commodities Fund lost 4.1 percent for the and Planning Affairs, Saeed Rasouli Member of the Board of Directors of but there is enough uncertainty to make compounded by the growing influence of month through Nov. 16, putting it down Member of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways traders defensive. Russia, whose production has climbed to 15.7 percent for the year, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) and senior managers and direc- Speculators, once betting on a post-Soviet era high, and by the United HSBC data. (RAI) and senior managers and direc- tors of the company. $100-a-barrel oil, are now going the States, which is now producing at a record Open interest in bearish bets on U.S. tors of the company. Managing Director of Hormozgan other direction, having boosted short 11.7 million bpd. Russian oil executives crude falling to $45 or $40 a barrel by Managing Director of Hormozgan Steel Company Eng. Farzad Arzani was positions in oil to their biggest in more and officials have been skeptical of the the end of 2019 are at record levels but Steel Company Eng. Farzad Arzani was the first speaker who pointed to the rail than a year. The options market currently need to cut output. bets on U.S. oil rising to $80 a barrel by the first speaker who pointed to the rail transport industry and said, “rail trans- shows a record number of open positions Meanwhile, the U.S. decision to re- end-2019 are also high, as some see the transport industry and said, “rail trans- port has direct impact on the sustainable in U.S. oil falling to $45 or $40 a barrel impose sanctions on Iran, only to grant sell-off as having gone too far, too fast. port has direct impact on the sustainable security and development.” by the end of 2019, though bullish bets waivers to major importers of that nation’s “As sharp as the falloff has been, I think security and development.” Development of rail transport have also edged higher. oil, threw the market for a loop. the market is poised to have as sharp a Development of rail transport fleet in the country lays the ground “Getting some resolution around the Macro-focused and commodity trad- comeback,” said Shawn Reynolds, port- fleet in the country lays the ground for the materialization of producing country helps creation of a safe and of steelintent produced of the Saudisin this companyand OPEC was ... would ing advisory funds (CTAs) had bet on folio manager of the VanEck Global Hard for the materialization of producing country helps creation of a safe and of steel produced in this company was 55 million tons of steel according to secure route for both freight and pas- exportedgo a long to other way countries to helping in the the market past feel a further rally ahead of renewed U.S. Assets Fund in New York. 55 million tons of steel according to secure route for both freight and pas- exported to other countries in the past the Development Outlook document, senger, he said, adding, “in line with year better,”(ended Marchsaid Greg 20, 2018)Sharenow, while 30portfolio sanctions on Iran, but instead were (Source: Reuters) the Development Outlook document, senger, he said, adding, “in line with year (ended March 20, 2018) while 30 he maintained. 2025 Outlook Vision, steel production percent of which was delivered to the he maintained. 2025 Outlook Vision, steel production percent of which was delivered to the Turning to the impact of development units in the country should be able to domestic customers.” Turning to the impact of development units in the country should be able to domestic customers.” of rail transport in steel industry and produce 55 million tons of quality steel, MeetingFrance domestic demand signals has been of rail transport in steel industry and produce 55 million tons of quality steel, Meeting domestic demand has been added, “development of rail transport will 10 million tons of which has been pre- prioritized in the country while the extra added, “development of rail transport will 10 million tons of which has been pre- prioritized in the country while the extra help increase security and sustainable dicted to be produced in Hormozgan steel€71bn will be exported, renewables he stressed. help increase security and sustainable dicted to be produced in Hormozgan steel will be exported, he stressed. development in the country.” Steel Company.” Considering chargethe exacerbation of development in the country.” Steel Company.” Considering the exacerbation of Development of rail transport, more- He pointed to the shortage of water sanctions imposed against the country Development of rail transport, more- He pointed to the shortage of water sanctions imposed against the country over increasing security, has direct ef- in the central and northern part of the and givenFrench the President problems Emmanuel created for steelMacron over increasing security, has direct ef- in the central and northern part of the and given the problems created for steel fect in environment and economy of country due to recent droughts and industryhas ofunveiled the country, plans the for management the country to fect in environment and economy of country due to recent droughts and industry of the country, the management the country, he said, adding, “naturally, added, “there is no choice except de- of theinvest company €71bn will to make significantly its utmost boost Foolad Kar System Esfarayen Company intends the country, he said, adding, “naturally, added, “there is no choice except de- of the company will make its utmost Foolad Kar System Esfarayen Company intends Hormozgan Steel Company welcomes velopment of water-saving industries effortsdomestic in order renewable to overcome energy shortfalls capacity Hormozgan Steel Company welcomes velopment of water-saving industries efforts in order to overcome shortfalls development of rail transport and ad- in Hormozgan province, Persian Gulf and bottlenecks,over the next he 10 added. years. to prequalify eligible contractor in implementing hot- and development of rail transport and ad- in Hormozgan province, Persian Gulf and bottlenecks, he added. to prequalify eligible contractor in implementing hot- and dition of 200 fright cars to this fleet due littoral states and Gulf of Oman.” ArzaniPhotovoltaic pointed to the capacity export will promo almost- cold-rolling production lines for producing alloy steel sections dition of 200 fright cars to this fleet due littoral states and Gulf of Oman.” Arzani pointed to the export promo- cold-rolling production lines for producing alloy steel sections to the dire requirement in the sector of Materialization of producing 10 mil- tion quintupleas the main to aim 40GW, of steel while industry onshore (rebar, skein and strap) with the production capacity to the dire requirement in the sector of Materialization of producing 10 mil- tion as the main aim of steel industry (rebar, skein and strap) with the production capacity movement of raw materials and man- lion tons of steel in Hormozgan Steel behindwind production will more growth than double and added, in size to movement of raw materials and man- lion tons of steel in Hormozgan Steel behind production growth and added, ufactured products.” Company needs movement of more than “given35GW the government’sby 2028. plan for in- of 300,000 tons/year with EPCF format according to ufactured products.” Company needs movement of more than “given the government’s plan for in- of 300,000 tons/year with EPCF format according to Arzani added, “inauguration of the 40 million tons, so that preparation of creasingFrance steel willproduction also add acapacity further 2.5GW of the following terms and conditions; Arzani added, “inauguration of the 40 million tons, so that preparation of creasing steel production capacity of the following terms and conditions; first phase of development of rail trans- its infrastructures should be taken into the countryof offshore to 55 wind million to the tons, 3GW over currently 35 first phase of development of rail trans- its infrastructures should be taken into the country to 55 million tons, over 35 port of the country in this province can consideration especially in trail trans- millionplanned. tons of which will be exported 1- Possibility to attract international contractor port of the country in this province can consideration especially in trail trans- million tons of which will be exported 1- Possibility to attract international contractor be influential and effective in movement port sector.” from theThe country.” plans were announced in a owning technology within the framework of joint be influential and effective in movement port sector.” from the country.” owning technology within the framework of joint of raw materials required by Hormozgan Moreover, preparing transport infra- Inspeech conclusion, detailing Managing the Directorgovernment’s of of raw materials required by Hormozgan Moreover, preparing transport infra- In conclusion, Managing Director of Steel Company.” structures, we are in dire need of other Hormozganplans for Steel France’s Company upcoming pointed energy to venture (JV) project, Steel Company.” structures, we are in dire need of other Hormozgan Steel Company pointed to venture (JV) project, Elsewhere in his remarks, the man- infrastructures such as water, electricity, the attractionroadmap. of private sector investor 2- Possibility to finance project Elsewhere in his remarks, the man- infrastructures such as water, electricity, the attraction of private sector investor 2- Possibility to finance project aging director of the company said that gas, etc. in this province for the produc- for materializingThe measures objectives still of needproducing to pass Therefore, eligible companies, meeting the above criteria, aging director of the company said that gas, etc. in this province for the produc- for materializing objectives of producing Therefore, eligible companies, meeting the above criteria, 2,600,000 tons of raw materials are tion of 10 million tons of steel. 10 millionthrough tons several of steel legal in stagesthis indus and- are 2,600,000 tons of raw materials are tion of 10 million tons of steel. 10 million tons of steel in this indus- needed for producing 1,500,000 tons Production of 10 million tons of steel trial likelyand production to be set unitin stone and said,in summer “in can send their working experience and capabilities to the needed for producing 1,500,000 tons Production of 10 million tons of steel trial and production unit and said, “in can send their working experience and capabilities to the of steel product.” in the company is possible in cooperation this regard,next year. Persian Gulf Mineral and following address not later than Dec. 8, 2018: of steel product.” in the company is possible in cooperation this regard, Persian Gulf Mineral and following address not later than Dec. 8, 2018: He reiterated, “fortunately, rail with the private sector and cooperation Mining NewIndustrial renewables Special are Zone set plays to partly a He reiterated, “fortunately, rail with the private sector and cooperation Mining Industrial Special Zone plays a transport capacity of this industrial of responsible officials. leadingreplace role in nuclear this regard. energy. Accordingly, The country First Floor, No. 2/1, Corner of Shoureshi Alley, transport capacity of this industrial of responsible officials. leading role in this regard. Accordingly, First Floor, No. 2/1, Corner of Shoureshi Alley, and production unit has been promoted With regard to winning the title of Hormozganhas set Steela target Company, to reduce Saba nuclear’s Steel Southern Sibouyeh St., Shahid Ghandi Ave., and production unit has been promoted With regard to winning the title of Hormozgan Steel Company, Saba Steel Southern Sibouyeh St., Shahid Ghandi Ave., from 32 to 76 percent in the current exemplary exporter for the fourth consec- Company,generation Kaveh share and toMaadkoush 50 percent steel by 2035 North Sohrevardi Ave., Tehran from 32 to 76 percent in the current exemplary exporter for the fourth consec- Company, Kaveh and Maadkoush steel Iranian calendar year in 1397 (started utive year, he added, “Hormozgan Steel productionfrom 75 companies percent currently. can help materi Paris- will Iranian calendar year in 1397 (started utive year, he added, “Hormozgan Steel production companies can help materi- North Sohrevardi Ave., Tehran 21, 2018).” Company has been planned according alize haveobjectives shut downof steel between industry four in 2025 and six Postal Code: 1554716713, Tel: +9821– 88178541 21, 2018).” Company has been planned according alize objectives of steel industry in 2025 Postal Code: 1554716713, Tel: +9821– 88178541 Outlook vision.” Development of rail sector of the to exports in a way that over 70 percent nuclear reactors by 2028.By: A.Saeidi Development of rail sector of the to exports in a way that over 70 percent Outlook vision.” By: A.Saeidi (Source: renews.biz) ساعت: 17:00 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL NOVEMBER 29, 2018 NEWS IN BRIEF Pakistan PM India turns down Pakistan’s invite to lays stone of Kartarpur PM Modi for SAARC Summit corridor INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — The rela- have paved the ground for resurrection of desktionship between the two ties between two neighbors. But, that doesn’t INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN—While India has categorically estranged neighbors India and India keeps seem to be happening for now. deskstated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi fluctuating. Last week’s developments had India has dismissed the invite. A senior will not be attending the SAARC Summit in Islamabad, some inspired hope that the relations between them government official was quoted saying that Indian union ministers on Wednesday attended the foun- might be back on track. But Indian govern- India is not a special invitee that Pakistan has dation laying ceremony of Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan. ment seems least interested to shake hands the discretion to invite. India is an integral Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan laid stone for the with Pakistan at least for now. part of the SAARC Summit much-awaited corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in In a major development that was seen as On Wednesday, India put to rest any Pakistan’s Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh faith’s an attempt to resurrect the Indo-Pak ties, speculation over Modi travelling to Pakistan founder Guru Nanak Dev - to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in the Imran Khan government in Islamabad to attend the SAARC Summit. India’s Gurdaspur district. decided to invite Indian Prime Minister Nar- Addressing media, External Affairs Min- The Kartarpur Corridor, which will facilitate the visa-free endra Modi for the South Asian Association ister Sushma Swaraj categorically stated that travel of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit. there was no way PM Modi would travel to Kartarpur, is expected to be completed within six months. The announcement drew mixed reactions Pakistan for the summit of the South Asian Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal in India with some seeing it as a ‘ploy’ and Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) told the media in Islamabad on Wednesday that the open- some looking it as a window of opportunity to regional grouping. The minister said no dia- ing of Karatarpur border was the historic step for welfare open a new chapter in their bilateral relations. logue can take place between India and Pa- of minorities. “It shows that Pakistan takes care of minori- Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Mo- kistan till the time the latter puts a curb on ties,” he said. hammad Faisal announced it on Tuesday, terrorist activities emanating from its soil. He credited PM Khan for the initiative to open the border as reported by The Dawn. The announce- “PM Narendra Modi will not go to Pakistan for Sikhs pilgrims and said it was widely appreciated by the ment followed Imran Khan’s previous letter to attend the SAARC Summit,” she declared. people including in India. He said the corridor will facilitate to PM Modi earlier this year that talked about “For many years, the Indian government Sikh pilgrims to visit their holiest sites in Pakistan. constructive engagement between India and has been asking for this (Kartarpur) corri- Pakistan and invited him to Pakistan. of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The letter words between the two sides. dor, only now Pakistan responded positively. EU, Afghanistan Imran Khan wrote the letter on September further highlighted how Vajpayee worked to Last week, Pakistan government made an It doesn’t mean the bilateral dialogue will 14, a month after he was sworn-in as the new better India-Pakistan relations and wanted a effort to repair relations by inviting India’s start because of this, terror and talks can’t sign Prime Minister of Pakistan. Khan was respond- stronger SAARC. foreign minister for the Kartarpur corridor go together,” Swaraj said. crucial aid ing to the greetings sent by PM Modi on his However, soon after the letter was sent, inauguration ceremony. India confirmed that Pertinently in 2016, India and several other election victory. The previous letter talked about relations between the two sides fell off again, two ministers would be attending the event, nations had pulled out of the SAARC Summit agreement constructive engagement and said Pakistan had when stamps were issued in Pakistan in mem- which signaled a thaw in their relations. in Pakistan citing the unfavorable regional shown the spirit to talk by sending Pakistan’s ory of the slain Kashmiri militant commander, The invitation by Pakistan to PM Modi security situation and for India, specifically INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN—The European Union and Minister of Law and Information to the funeral which enraged New Delhi and led to war of for participation in SAARC Summit could the issue was about cross-border terrorism. deskthe Afghan government have signed a financing agreement worth millions of euros during an important summit focused on development and economy of the war-torn country. Afghan Shia militia commander’s arrest raises The two-day summit in Geneva is billed as a platform for the Afghan government to renew its commitment to reform and discuss aid contributions in its bid to achieve stability many questions and security. The United Nations, which is co-hosting the summit 1 The legion of his supporters poured into the streets ordered extermination of all Shias in central Afghanistan, with the Afghan government, said the conference “will in the county’s heartland and protested against the govern- which led to the gory massacre of thousands of Hazara Shias. also be crucial in measuring results against the $15.2bn ment’s decision to arrest him. They questioned the selective The recent attacks targeting the community have brought committed by the international community for Afghani- treatment of government towards militia groups, suggesting back chilling memories of 1990s when the Taliban would raid stan in 2016.” that this Hazara commander was singled out because of his houses, identify and kill Hazara Shias, mostly in northern Within the package, 311 million euros (roughly $351m) ethnicity. There are many militia groups among other ethnic provinces. is allocated to support the Afghan government in pursuing groups like Pashtuns and Tajiks. NDS Chief Mohammad Masoom Stanikzai, addressing the its reform agenda, 80 million euros (roughly $90m) to im- According to some reports, protestors burnt down many Afghan parliament, defended the decision to arrest Alipoor, prove the health and nutrition of the population, and 15.5 police checkpoints. The protestors were particularly enraged saying parliamentarians and people should check online million euros (roughly $16m) to support the presidential after half of dozen of them were killed by security forces, videos which show Alipoor breaching the law. and provincial council elections in 2019. which led to intense street clashes in which many security The issue was discussed threadbare on social media The EU and the Afghan government also signed a new forces were also wounded. with netizens lambasting the government decision to ar- agreement worth 37 million euros (roughly $42m) to “rein- Demonstrators and eyewitnesses said the police opened rest the commander at a time when Hazara Shias are facing force EU assistance to Afghanistan in addressing migration fire “indiscriminately” to disperse the crowd, which resulted unprecedented attacks from the terrorist groups including and forced displacement challenges”. in many civilian casualties, including six killings. Hazara minority. He claims to be protecting his people from Taliban and ISIS. While the government officials claimed that no live am- the Taliban and ISIS, as he has often said that government Ahmad Zubair, a government employee, said peaceful munition was used against demonstrators, protestors like forces alone are not able to protect them. demonstration is people’s legitimate right and the govern- Fleeing Ahmer told Tehran Times that live ammunition was used According to reports, he was active in Jaghori and Mal- ment has to protect the peaceful protestors. “Afghanistan and guns are pointed directly at the demonstrators. “It was istan districts of Ghazni province recently when Taliban government arrested Alipoor who defends Hazarajat against Rohingya sent a direct assault on the people protesting peacefully and it fighters launched coordinated attacks on predominantly Taliban. Hundreds of protests in Kabul and provinces seeking back to has once again exposed the government,” he said. Hazara Shia areas. The local people there in the absence of his release. Kabul police opened fire and killed 3 including After two days of protests that rocked the country, in- Afghan security forces were able to repel the attacks, with a young girl,” he tweeted. Rakhine cluding the capital city of Kabul, Alipoor was released. But it the help of Alipoor. Arif Suleimani, a university student, said government again revived the debate pertaining to ‘warlords’ and ‘militia Known widely as ‘Commander Sword’, Alipoor has built must provide a clear definition of “enemy”. “Either #Taliban INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN —Nearly 100 Rohingya Muslims groups’ with considerable influence in Afghanistan. a large army of his supporters who swing into action every- who kill civilians, blast & burn schools & villages are terror- desk were forcibly sent back to Myanmar’s vola- Alipur’s release, as President Ashraf Ghani flew to Geneva where minority Hazara of the country come under attack. ists or #AliPoor who fights against #Taliban and defends tile Rakhine state after being detained at sea while heading to attend a United Nations conference on Afghanistan, was Alipur formed the army among the Hazara people in people is a terrorist. Being terrorist is based on ethnicity or to Malaysia, country’s police said on Wednesday. announced by Vice President Sarwar Danish’s office. Dan- Maidan Wardak province after a number of civilians were violence and crimes,” he tweeted. According to media reports, three ships carrying flee- ish, who also belongs to Hazara community, was apparently killed in militant attacks three years ago. Mahdi Mesbah, a Twitter user, said Alipoor is the “servant ing Rohingya were seized and returned to Rakhine over under tremendous pressure to secure his release. In conflict-ridden Afghanistan, Hazaras have often been of the honor and dignity of this country.” Baqir Haidery, a the past two weeks, as the monsoon season gives way to After his release, Alipoor was taken in a convoy to the targeted and feel extremely vulnerable. There has been growing social media activist, said by arresting anti-Taliban command- sailing conditions. office of VP Danish. According to some reports, he thanked resentment among many Hazaras against the government, ers like Alipoor, government was paving a safe passage for All on board the third boat were being returned to camps the vice president and committed that he would be ready which they believe does not support them from terrorist Taliban to continue their long and dirty war in the country. around the capital Sittwe in the central part of the state, to respond to allegations leveled against him and will lay groups, leaving them with no choice but to defend themselves. Alipoor’s arrest and release has not only revived the where more than 120,000 people have been confined since down his arms if found guilty. The country has a grim history of ethnic violence, espe- debate over warlords and militia groups but it has once violence broke out in 2012. What makes Alipoor’s case so complicated is the fact cially when it comes to targeted killing of Hazara Shias. In again demonstrated how the government in Kabul looks They were headed for Malaysia when stopped by navy that he is seen as an anti-Taliban commander from the Shia the late 1900s, brutal Pashtun ruler Abdul Rahman Khan had at different ethnicities. officers on Sunday night off the southern town of Dawei, Police Major Min Lwin was quoted saying by AFP. “They were all sent back to Sittwe on a navy boat last night,” he said, adding that the group, two thirds of whom were under Understanding essence of Islam key to fostering unity the age of 18, would arrive on Thursday or Friday. It has been one year since Rohingya Muslims were forced 1 We should renew our commitment ian lines, resulting in enormous human and to leave Myanmar following brutal crackdown by Myanmar to the cause of Islamic unity and brotherhood, material loss to the Ummah. military with tacit support from the government. The sav- and help in the elimination of internecine At that time, Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood agery in Rakhine was described by the United Nations as bickering between Sunni and Shiite sects had issued a statement, asking the people “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing”. of Islam. of Iraq to not fall into the trap of enemies There is no denying that there are dif- who sought to sow discord. “This war is not a ferences of opinion on some doctrinal and liberation war for the oppressed men, women Assassin of theological issues but we tend to forget that and children who neither have a way out Kashmiri Islam is not a monolithic faith, amenable to nor guidance,” read the statement, urging a narrow and singular interpretation. It is people to lay down weapons and join the journalist gunned made up of a rich pattern of diversity although camp of the revolution. If only people had flowing from a common source. What divides paid heed and not fallen into the vicious trap down us pales in comparison to what unites us. set by the enemies. In this context, it is appropriate to refer to Currently, fratricidal wars are being TEHRAN —At least two militants in- INTERNATIONAL the Amman Message of November 9, 2004 fought in Syria and Yemen in the name of deskcluding the one allegedly involved in the endorsed by 200 Islamic scholars from all sects. ISIS is maliciously using the sectar- murder of prominent Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari recognized schools and sects from over 50 ian card in its bloody campaign in Iraq were killed in an encounter with security forces in central Muslim countries. This message is a histori- and Syria. Sectarian clashes continue to be Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday. cal, universal and unanimous religious and fueled in Pakistan and Afghanistan by the One of the militants has been identified Naveed Jatt, political consensus of the Ummah. neo-imperialist forces. Similarly, troubled who alledgedly played a role in Bukhari’s assassination in It focused on definition of a Muslim, excom- relations between people of various sects June this year. munication from Islam (takfir) and principles in Bahrain, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia are Bukhari, editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir, was attacked related to delivering religious edicts (fatwa). a matter of grave concern. by three bike-borne gunmen while coming out of his office. It recognized eight legal schools of Sharia/ All these sectarian feuds have no doc- J&K Police said two of the three gunmen were from Kashmir Fiqh and schools of theology – Hanafi, Maliki, trinal or theological basis. They are either and the third was a Pakistani. Shafii, Hanbali, Jafari, Zaydi, Zahiri, Ibadi. politically motivated or else a result of de- Two security personnel accompanying Bukhari were also It forbade pronouncing takfir upon others nial of political and economic rights. The killed in the attack. “This week was great, those involved recognized as Muslims. international community should realize its in killing of innocent people in Kulgam, Pulwama & Shop- For Muslims, Amman declaration pro- responsibilities and right the wrongs. The ian belt were neutralized. As per ground verification, top vided a basis for unity and a solution to in- United Nations (UN) has a key responsibility Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Naveed Jatt was one of the fighting and for non-Muslims it presented to ensure implementation of its resolutions 2 terrorists killed today,” Jammu Kashmir DGP Dilbagh an authentic picture of what Islam is and to ensure justice to people who continue to Singh was quoted saying by ANI. what it is not. The rationale behind it was be denied their basic rights. The Ummah Jatt was one of the dreaded militant commanders in Kash- to dispel the unfair charge of intolerance, too should pull its socks and set its house mir who was on the hit-list of security agencies for many lack of inclusiveness and pluralism against in order. Sooner the better. years. In recent years, since the killing of former militant view of Islam through their irresponsible differences among Muslims. Following the Islam nurtured by some sections in the West Author is a Kashmir-based doctor, writer commander Burhan Wani, militancy has been resurrected utterances or actions. Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979, the Zionists and others who claim to be Muslims and yet and a prominent member of civil society. He in Kashmir with many locals taking up arms. Imperialist, colonial and neocolonial and Western imperialist forces encouraged willingly or inadvertently present a distorted forces take perverse advantage of sectarian Saddam Hussain to fight Iran on the sectar- is the author of ‘The Wounded Paradise’. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 29, 2018 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 ‘I doubt that China or Russia would supply France’ unrestful days with Saudi with enrichment or reprocessing tech’ Macron 1 Will Saudi Arabia accept a nuclear agreement China, however – just as it was unable to block Russia from with U.S. like the one U.S. has signed with UAE? building the Bushehr reactors in Iran. A: Saudi Arabia indicates that it will not. There is some I doubt that China or Russia would supply Saudi talk of a compromise under which Saudi Arabia would agree Arabia with enrichment or reprocessing technology to be constrained as long as Iran is constrained by the JCPOA. but, if North Korea can do it, Saudi Arabia probably Not being able to do what Iran can do naturally fuels a feeling could as well. This is one reason I find Saudi Arabia’s of grievance in Saudi Arabia. refusal to agree to the Additional Protocol so worri- This is one reason why my preference would be for Iran some. That suggests that it might try to hide some of to turn its national enrichment program into a multina- its nuclear activities. tional program in which Saudi Arabia and other countries Some say that the U.S. will never agree with granting could join. Even better, in my view – although probably a strategic concession like enrichment to Saudi Arabia that even more politically difficult for Iran – would be for Iran can change balance of power against Israel. What do you to abandon its uneconomic national enrichment program think of this? and lead a campaign to ban national enrichment programs A: Israel, obviously, has been campaigning against Iran’s worldwide in favor of multinational programs like Urenco. enrichment program. I am not close enough to the debate to 1 Under such circumstances, Marin Le Pen and French I have been urging this on the U.S. as well. be aware of whether it is campaigning for a Gold Standard nationalists are hopeful about the next year European Parliament Because our national enrichment program was privatized 123 Agreement for Saudi Arabia. elections. They hope that by winning these elections, they can take and then went bankrupt, the only enrichment plant in the will Washington solve this problem? Of course, I don’t think that Israeli or U.S. nuclear weap- an important step in defeating Macron in France’ next presiden- United States today is owned by Urenco. A: I am not an expert but I don’t think that South Korea ons are usable by sane leaderships. I worry, however, about tial elections. It is not unreasonable that some analysts consider U.S. knows very well that if it tries to include firm could sell nuclear power plants to Saudi Arabia if Saudi leaderships that are not entirely sane. In the U.S. and Rus- far-right extremists behind the recent protests in this country. and serious terms in possible agreement with Saudi Ara- Arabia does not have a 123 agreement with the U.S. This sia, where some nuclear weapons are on “hair-trigger,” I Undoubtedly, recent protests in France will not be the last bia, this may result in Riyadh’s tendency to have nuclear is because much of South Korea’s nuclear reactor design also worry about false warnings of incoming attack and, round of protests against the administration of Emmanuel Macron. cooperation with Russia and China or South Korea. How came from the U.S. The U.S. could not block Russia or increasingly, about hackers. These protests will continue until 2022 (The time for France next presidential elections). Without a doubt, the French protests and the political fate of Emmanuel Macron will also affect the equations Muslims need to talk more with each Iran is a role model for uniting Muslim of the united Europe, making this block and the Eurozone even more vulnerable. In such a situation, it’s not exactly clear that other: Bajrami states: Indonesian scholar what would be the European leaders’ final decision and policy towards France’ ongoing protests. It should be noted that France protests occurred just at a time when Europe was more vulnerable than any time before, due to the London’s exit from the EU. This has motivated the opposition groups inside the European countries for departing the European Union and the Eurozone, which consequently resulted in the intensification of nationalism through the Green Continent, an issue that has raised deep concerns among European officials.

Why Trump won’t say Khashoggi deserves justice

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas but it’s important to talk about the problems By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas lems of the Islamic world. We cannot deny that TEHRAN (FNA) — After closing an arms deal with Saudi Arabia of Muslims living in Balkans and other parts today we have many problems from Yemen, worth $110 billion, it makes sense for U.S. President Donald Trump TEHRAN (MNA) – Muiadin Bajrami, Man- of the world. It’s crucial to hear the people TEHRAN (MNA) – Akmal Kamil, Deputy Syria, Palestine, Iraq and also other places to refuse to say whether slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi deserves ager of Foundation Gnosa in Macedonia, is who have come here from different areas that Head of Research and Education at Islamic in the world like Rohingya. And in this con- justice - just as he won’t say Yemen and Syria are entitled to peace of the opinion that Shia and Sunni scholars are never heard, to see what their problems Cultural Center Jakarta, believes that Iran is a ference, scholars have gathered and try their or ending the twin wars is the best way to ensure their people have need to talk more with each other to achieve are and what are the solutions. role model for uniting Muslim countries around best to find the solution for these problems. the security they need. Islamic unity. But I think the organizer here is putting the world. Touching upon the importance of the So this conference is very important because Instead, he has announced the $110 billion deal will go ahead, Touching upon the importance of unity his best effort to gather all these people annual Islamic Unity Conference, he said that scholars at least meet with each other once a even extend up to $350 billion over 10 years, Saudi Arabia is U.S. among Ummah, he said, “Those who think and I’m so pleased with all he is doing it is a great opportunity for finding solutions year. Iran plays a role model in this regard. arms dealers’ most important client, and it is Washington’s No. 1 that Sunni is more important than Shia or here and I pray to Allah to give him much to problems of Islamic countries like Palestine Regarding the issue of Palestine, what ally in the Middle East region, particularly in the forgotten military vice versa would not help.” more power to improve the event more and Yemen. Kamil made the remarks in an will be the results of the U.S. illegal decision aggression against Yemen, which has claimed the lives of thousands Bajrami made the remarks in an exclu- and more. exclusive interview with Mehr News Agency to move its embassy to Jerusalem? And how of people, most of them civilians. sive interview with Mehr News Agency on What are the main barriers in route on Monday on the sideline of the 32nd Islamic can Islamic countries counter this kind of In his view, Saudi client state has every right to murder its critics or Monday on the sideline of the 32nd Islamic to uniting Muslims? Unity Conference in Tehran. measures? incessantly pound Yemen or support terror proxies in Syria. Riyadh Unity Conference in Tehran. A: We need to talk more. Important peo- Here is the full text of the interview: A: First of all, leaders of Islamic countries cannot and should never be punished for its crimes or be allowed Here is the full text of the interview: ple of each country, either Shia or Sunni, I wanted to know your general opinion have to strongly condemn this decision adopted to fail to reach its criminal goals despite suffering great expense; What do you think of this conference should talk with each other. Those who think about the conference and the role of Iran in by the United States President. It’s crucial for and the Saudi regime is free to sponsor Takfiri-Wahhabi terrorists in general and how do you evaluate it? that Sunni is more important than Shia or uniting Muslim states around the world. Islamic countries not to follow this measure. fighting against Syria, which has left hundreds of thousands people A: I believe that this conference is very vice versa would not help. We should see A: First of all, I want to congratulate the The government of my country, Indonesia, dead and millions more displaced. good for the future. Maybe this is the our main aim as an Islamic Ummah. But birthday anniversary of the Prophet Muham- severely criticized Australia when they an- In the president’s view, the White House has every right to con- first step to gather important people to I think this step taken here will improve mad (PBUH) and Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq to all nounced that they want to move their embassy tinue its brutal war on Yemen or help terrorists affect regime change talk about the unity of Ummah [Muslim significantly in the future to unite Muslim Muslims and especially to the Supreme Leader to Jerusalem. This issue was so important that in Damascus; dismiss the de-escalation zones agreement reached community]. The other point is about countries. of Islamic Republic of Iran. the Indonesian President himself condemned between Iran, Russia and Turkey; and strike as many civilians as the problems of Muslims in the world. I So you are hopeful about the unity. In my opinion, this conference is very im- Australia’s decision. possible in terror-held areas. There is room for very minor shifts believe that the conference should ques- A: No, I’m 100 percent sure. I’m Shia portant. The World Forum for Proximity of So first, leaders of Islamic countries should in this excessive policy that make sure war-party Washington does tion some wider issues as well, not only and I believe in the coming of Imam Mahdi. Islamic Schools of Thought and the Islamic condemn this kind of hostile measures. And not harm the most vulnerable allies. Especially for terror proxy for the Middle East. I wish that this would happen as soon as Republic of Iran can play important roles to then, the Muslim community all over the world forces in need, the Trump White House does not want to leave We are always talking about Palestine, possible and we would live in that time, make Muslim people closer to each other and should put their hands together and be united the “moderate” goons without training, weapons and munitions. Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. This is ok, I’m sure, inshallah. to share their opinion about how to solve prob- against these actions. In the interim, no one at the United Nations presses the Saudis on their crimes or the Trumpsters on their views about the coloni- al policy’s underlying philosophy: Is Yemen entitled to peace? Is every Syrian entitled to peace, or is Khashoggi’s family entitled to Imam Khomeini initiated idea of Islamic Unity: Prof. some justice? By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas and the direction given by Iranian govern- cerned. Unity is the reason that caused Imam Trump wants to make sure the deal will never hold, just as the ment to unite Muslims, what I want to tell Hussein to give his Qurbani [sacrifice] with way he is making sure the Saudi-led, U.S.-backed war on Yemen TEHRAN (MNA) — Indian Professor Mah- you through your media is that a day will 72 of his companions whilst, his opposers, will carry on. His massive arms deal with Saudis is merely a set of rukh Mirza said that the idea of achieving come that the entire world will embrace in the Yazid’s troops, didn’t know the true long-term policies that reflect his war priorities. He embarked on Islamic unity started with efforts of late Imam the Islam. You know, many Americans are path which led to the real tenets of Islam. a racialized course of scapegoating and refused to rule out more Khomeini. embracing Islam as they reach their peak Who initiated this unity movement and sanctions against Iran and Russia as part of that process. He wants He went on to say that the main factor or high place because Muhammad (PBUH) what threatens the Islamic unity the most? to have an all-out confrontation. It’s good for business and it creates which threatens the achievement of Islamic is our last prophet and no other prophet will A: Undoubtedly, Islamic unity started American jobs. Though Trump is unable to help regional allies to unity is lack of education and unless this is come now but only one Imam will come and as a result of Imam Khomeini efforts. And regime change Syria and Yemen, he did succeed in destabilizing the not resolved, unity will never be achieved. take ‘Zohur’ and at that time, the entire world very soon you will see all the countries will region for many years to come. His deplorable Saudi arms deal has Mirza, who is the vice-chancellor of ‘Kh- will be praising Islam and say their ‘Shahada’. have to come and join their hands together, effectively cast a shadow of war over the millions of people living in waja Moinuddin Chishti Urdu, Arabi-Farsi You see the high intellectuals from America otherwise, we will be scattered. the Middle East and North Africa without the hope for permanent University’, made the remarks in an exclu- are following thoughts of religion. They may Lack of education is the main factor which peace and tranquility. This shadow accompanies them wherever sive interview with Mehr News Agency on not be following Islam now but I’m sure they threatens Islamic unity. Unless Muslims are they go in their daily lives. This divisive arms deal not only serves Sunday on the sideline of the 32nd Islamic will do so one day; they have started using not well educated, absolute unity is impos- to incite fear of war; it also helps to kill justice and to exacerbate Unity Conference in Tehran. Hijab, their westernization circle is coming sible. Education is different from literacy; And you see the Sunni community of Islam regional insecurity and chaos, and most importantly, mistrust among Here is the full text of the interview: down and other smaller countries are also a literate person is only capable of reading has also studied the message and history Muslims, even among Saudi Arabia’s own allies. What do you think of this gathering following them now. Another point is that newspapers but an educated individual has of Karbala. Mahatma Gandhi told if he had Trump’s discursive policy of weaponizing allies has inspired in general? unity among Muslims is the message of this wisdom and enjoys a far-sighted vision. My 72 soldiers like those of Imam Hussein he sectarian warfare as well because his administration hasn’t hes- A: Regarding the ‘Vahdat [unity] Week’, conference - but I believe that there is still a message to Muslims is that they must pre- would have won the Indian freedom within itated to carry out its threats against Iran and its close allies. In the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), long way to go - as far as global unity is con- pare the grounds for educating their children. 24 hours from Britain. its first months, the Trump administration imposed travel ban on Muslims, particularly Syrian refugees, that despite international outcry is still ongoing. Half the Muslim people applying for visa never get to travel to the United States. And the results have been Only Resistance can solve Palestinian crisis: German analyst predictable, as an eroding trust in so-called “American democracy” By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas Faqih [Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist], you will not and we need to do something politically together to change their and “American dream” across the country. It’s not surprising that succeed, and even other countries will not succeed. So they mind to follow Islam in the right way of ahlul-bayt. Trump’s Islamopbobia campaign has undermined Muslim trust TEHRAN (MNA) — Jurgen Grabmann, the independent have to understand that Iran stands top regarding its foreign Regarding the issue of Palestine, what is the ultimate and instigated resentment, as many pundits have attested. analyst from Germany, said that the only solution for the Pal- policy – no matter you can criticize Iran for its internal solution for this crisis? This has made the region highly vulnerable to exploitation as estinian crisis is resistance. Grabmann made the remarks in an policies. So they have to follow this and we have to follow A: We have to find a strategy together because, in Palestine, attempts to resist American hegemony and wars of aggression and exclusive interview with Mehr News Agency on Monday on the the Velayat. Even if you are not Shia, you need the control it is 70 years that they are fighting beside the Arab armies and deceit have often been met with threatened military attack and sideline of the 32nd Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran. The and leadership of Velayat to wake up all the people, how we now you see Palestine is nothing, they only have 10 percent of coup – even in the case of Qatar which wants better ties with Iran. three-day conference wrapped up on Monday night. make an active strategy. Just talking about revolutions is not their own country. They have not the right leader. In German, So it is no coincidence that, over the past few months, the growing Here is the full text of the interview: enough, you have to be active. That is good when we come we say that the problem is the head. That’s why its 70 years insecurity and chaos has taken place while the region has become What do you think of this conference and how do you here all together and there is a chance inshallah, I’m sure. that they cannot succeed because are not dealing with it right. increasingly militarized and while discussions of ending the twin evaluate the measures adopted by Iran for uniting Muslim What are the main barriers in this route to achieve unity? If you follow ahlul-bayt, you cannot lose. wars on Syria and Yemen have been frequently linked to Iran leaving states? A: Sorry to say that, it is the brainwashed people. It is what Do you think that referendum is a solution for Palestine these two allies to their own devices. A: It is essentially important to bring all the Muslim taught years before. I’m a specialist for Islam even if I cannot or just resistance can solve this? This president and his pro-Israel and pro-Saudi cabinet plan countries together to create a resistance against Zionism speak Arabic but you have to understand Islam in its essence. A: Only resistance can solve this. With peace, you cannot to take the profitability of the permanent war on terror, Islam and and against battles in this world. Bringing Islamic coun- The essence is ahlul-bayt which is a present. Even now you get it. They will not allow making a Palestinian country. My suchlike to new heights by giving massive arms to the Israel-allied tries together needs a special strategy. It is very important have Velayat, it is a diamond. Even Iran does not know. If you theory is that Palestine, Mecca, Medina belong to Muslims, no despots of the Persian Gulf and by imposing further sanctions against to know that Iran is the only country in the world which is lose this diamond, you lose everything. So the main problem matter what and where it is. So if you do not fight for it together, Iran and Russia. Trump cannot maintain this divisive foreign policy seriously interested in the matter. The other governments is that they have to understand to follow Islam in the path of you cannot get it. They are losing for 70 years even when Imam and crimes-against-humanity complicity without escaping inter- are not interested at all. Some people come, just get their ahlul-bayt. If you don’t understand this, you can be professors Khomeini created this Islamic Revolution. You have to fight for national condemnation in the noisy drumbeat of warmongering, money and go. But without the help of Iran and Velayat-e or doctors, but you will not succeed. So that is our work to teach your rights. Otherwise, they will not give it free, never. scapegoating, and perverting of justice. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS NOVEMBER 29, 2018

Apt in Qeytarieh Luxury Villa in the North Office in Saadat Abad Luxury Apt in Mahmoodieh 3th floor, 230 sq.m, 3 Bdrs. duplex, 1200 sq.m built up 2000 administrative office license 4th floor, 120 sq.m, 2 master rooms fully furn, equipped kitchen fire sq.m land, 5 Bdrs., big saloon 2 apts, 110 sq.m, parking spots almost new, luxury lobby, luxury place, elevator, storage parking servant, indoor pool spj renovated Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 & new furn spot, $2200 beautiful and green garden, semi furn Parking spot, spj Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 $18000 negotiable Whole Building in Vanak good access to highway Suitable for Embassies 4 floors, 4 apts, each apt $1800 Apt in Farmanieh Ms.Diba: 09128103206 150 sq.m, furn, balcony Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 2th floor, 250 sq.m, 3 Bdrs. nice view, elevator unfurn, equipped kitchen Villa in Aqdasieh parking spot, storage, $2600 Suite in Elahieh spj, renovated, storage parking triplex, 750 sq.m built up Ms.Diba: 09128103206 40 sq.m, good access spot, $2000 6 Bdrs., nice garden $1500 Ms.Sara: 09128103207 outdoor swimming pool Whole Building in Ms.Diba: 09128103206 servant quarter, parking spot Shariati - Soheil Apt in Darous $6500 2 floors, 600 sq.m totally, 8 Bdrs. Apt in Jordan th 2th floor, 220 sq.m, 3 Bdrs. Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 6 bath rooms, one 40 sq.m suit 5 floor 105 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. fully furn, equipped kitchen renovated, 12 parking spots furn, elevator, storage outdoor swimming pool, Villa in Niavaran 3 storages, 3-side entrances, $6000 $700 renovated, beautiful yard parking spot 900 sq.m land, 1000 sq.m Holder of Ms.Sara: 09128103207 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 $2000 negotiable built up, 8 Bdrs., 7 bath rooms Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 3 kitchens, 3 big reception saloons ISO 9001:2008 Office in Valiasr Apt in Elahieh with one suit for servant, Jacuzzi administrative office license 180 sq.m, 3 Bdrs., fully furn Apt in Zafaranieh swimming pool ISO 10004:2012 3 apts, 102 sq.m, elevator nice & cozy, spj 1th floor, 282 sq.m, 4 Bdrs. outdoor / indoor parking spots ISO 10002:2014 lots parking spots $2500 fully furn, 2 balconies, spj $12000 near Niayesh highway Ms.Diba: 09128103206 2 parking spots, renovated Ms.Sara: 09128103207 From Oxford Cert Universal Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Apartment in Dezashib $6000 3th floor, 100 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Villa in Ajudaniye Whole Building in Mahmoodieh furn, balcony, storage, parking 2 floors, 315 sq.m & 300 sq.m 5 floors, each floor one apt each spot, good access to subway Apt in Elahieh furn, equipped kitchen swimming apt 170 sq.m with 3 Bdrs. th $1300 3 floor, 170 sq.m, 3 Bdrs. pool, sauna unfurn, spj, 8 parking spots Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 fully furn , equipped kitchens parking spot, gym, $4000 storage, elevator yard, nice view, $1500 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Villa / Apt in Elahieh Ms.Sara: 09128103207 2th floor, 300 sq.m, 4 Bdrs Villa in Zafaranieh Luxury Office in Jordan luxury furn, nice garden Apt in Evin 730 sq.m with one suit new, between 180 to 240 sq.m th parking spot 1 floor, 80 sq.m, 2 Bdrs. 7 Bdrs., unfurn, servant parking flat, lobby, high quality security $4000 negotiable fully furn, parking spot, $1300 spot, green yard, $6500 2 side entrances, parking spot Suitable for Diplomats Mr.Shayan: 09128440156 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Ms.Diba: 09128103206

TEHRAN TIMES

Iran’s Leading International Daily Advertising Dept

Tel: 021 - 430 51 450

NIK TEBRID PARS Co. Commissioner of Apartment for rent rebuilding and renovating administrative and residential in Zafar places, installation of HVAC 120sqm 2bdrs fully & Cryogenics, Electricity, Water, Gas and Sewage furnished, Parking Facilities PER 02188073853 $ 600 USD ENG 09025892818 0912 101 8831 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 29, 2018 HEALTH 9

HIV risk from blood transfusion New obesity procedure also reduces muscle mass cut to zero in 16 provinces A study about a new procedure for the treatment of obesity has raised some concerns. This is because, while the treatment leads HEALTH TEHRAN — Risk of others to this worthy duty will support the desk to weight loss, the pounds a person sheds consist of skeletal getting HIV from blood IBTO in raising the quality and quantity of muscle as well as fat. Also, body fat loss seems to be mainly of transfusion in 16 out of 31 provinces was its products and help the patients,” he noted. the subcutaneous — as opposed to the riskier visceral — type. reduced to zero in the last Iranian calendar Ministry of Health center for communi- Visceral fat can harm health, and some people with obesity year (March 2017-March 2018), according cable diseases management has announced resort to surgical procedures to remove it. to the head of Iranian Blood Transfusion that by the end of previous Iranian year some Skeletal muscle is necessary for good health; its loss can result Organization (IBTO). 37,650 were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in in not only physical problems, but it can also impair metabolism Ali Akbar Pour-Fatollah made the an- Iran out of which some 13,393 have died. and raise the risk of injury. nouncement to mark the World AIDS Day The HIV have led to AIDS in 15,278 of the which is on December 1, IRNA reported patients. It is estimated that over 66,000 on Tuesday. people in Iran have AIDS/HIV but over one “In meeting its global obligation, IBTO has third of them don’t know they have the dis- committed itself to put forth all its efforts to ease or deny it. reduce the risk of HIV infection from blood According to the Health Ministry, Some and blood products transfusion,” he said. 83 percent of the patients are men and the With the execution of ‘screening the first- rest are women. Almost half of the patients time blood donors’ national plan and setting are ageing 21-35. up ‘the system of quality control of blood’ According to the World Health Organ- at all transfusion centers, the transmission ization (WHO), since the beginning of the of infections through blood transfusion has epidemic, more than 70 million people have reached its lowest level, a rate comparable been infected with the HIV virus and about to figures in developed and industrial coun- 35 million people have died of HIV. Globally, tries,” he added. 36.9 million [31.1–43.9 million] people were “Over the last year, HIV transmission was living with HIV at the end of 2017. estimated at two in every 100,000 dona- An estimated 0.8% [0.6-0.9%] of adults tions, indicating an incidence rate which is aged 15–49 years worldwide are living with Visceral fat is the type of fat that surrounds the organs deep by far lower that the disease’s incidence rate Over the last year, HIV transmission HIV, although the burden of the epidemic inside the abdomen. Doctors have linked carrying too much of throughout the society,” said Pour-Fatollah. was estimated at two in every 100,000 continues to vary considerably between it to health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. “Iran is the front runner among regional countries and regions. The WHO African The procedure is called left gastric artery embolization. In- countries in guaranteeing the quality of blood donations, indicating an incidence rate region remains most severely affected, with terventional radiologists have been using it for decades to stop and its cellular and therapeutic products. The which is by far lower that the disease’s nearly 1 in every 25 adults (4.1%) living with bleeding in emergencies. young generation’s participation in honest incidence rate throughout the society. HIV and accounting for nearly two-thirds However, the idea of using gastric artery embolization to treat donation of blood as well as encouraging of the people living with HIV worldwide. obesity is new, and clinical trials are currently evaluating its safety and effectiveness for such a purpose. The aim of the treatment is to reduce the effect of an appetite Iranian company produce brain cancer vaccine hormone by injecting microscopic beads to block an artery that supplies blood to the stomach. 1 “The preparations for producing vaccine for treat- mixing them with markers from their tumor before injecting The study’s findings featured recently at the annual meeting ment of breast cancer has also been made and we are waiting them back in to the body to prime it to attack the cancer. of the Radiological Society of North America that is currently for funding to begin the production phases,” said the expert. Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and commonly taking place in Chicago, IL. Brain cancer vaccine is a new treatment for glioblastoma diagnosed types of brain tumor in adults and is currently Need for cost-effective, low-risk treatments (an aggressive form of brain tumors) which is still in late treated with surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemo- Study lead author Dr. Edwin A. Takahashi, who is a vascular stage human trials but results from the 11-year international therapy. Patients who receive this care live for between 15 and interventional radiology fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Roch- study are already “remarkably promising” with some patients and 17 months on average. ester, MN, explains that a lot of research has shown that gastric living more than seven years after treatment. But almost a third, 100 of the 331 patients enrolled in artery embolization can achieve weight loss. According to the Independent, The treatment for people the new trial from the UK, the U.S., Germany and Canada, “However,” he adds, “there has been no data on what is con- with Glioblastoma works by extracting dendritic cells, key are classed as “extended survivors” and lived an average of tributing to the weight loss, whether the patients are losing fat, players in the immune system, from patient’s blood and 3.4 years after surgery. as desired, or muscle mass, or some combination of the two.” Obesity is a significant global public health issue with links to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and other serious illnesses and health problems. IRAPEN ready to launch, aiming to control NCDs Rates of obesity and being overweight have almost tripled worldwide over the last 40 years, according to the World Health HEALTH TEHRAN — The first phase of IRAPEN, scheme, he added. desk Organization (WHO). a program for early diagnosis of non-com- “For example, when a person is detected with some risk The WHO estimates for 2016 suggest that being overweight municable diseases (NCDs), is ready to screen around 3 to 4 factors in the first stage, they might be transferred to the affects more than 1.9 billion of the world’s adults. This figure million people throughout the country, said Afshin Ostovar, second stage of the program for further tests and treatments, includes some 650 million adults with obesity. the Health Ministry’s director for NCDs. so the underpinning facilities are being prepared for such While changes to lifestyle factors such as diet and physical IRAPEN was first launched in July as a pilot program in procedures,” he said. activity can work, for many people, these are not enough, and line with the World Health Organization (WHO) Package of Prevention of Asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases they opt to undergo weight-loss operations that reduce the size Essential Non-communicable (PEN) disease interventions is the third part of IRAPEN. This part of the scheme is being of the stomach. for primary health care in low-resource settings. carried out as a pilot in six cities comprising Kashan, Qazvin, Such surgical procedures have proved effective as treatments According to Ostovar, at the first phase of the program, Bafq, Naqadeh, Shahreza and Maragheh, Ostovar added. for obesity, but they are costly and carry risks and complications. 50,000 people at each medical science university across The WHO’s PEN is an innovative and action-oriented set Left gastric artery embolization the country will be screened and after getting the results of cost-effective interventions that can be delivered to an Left gastric artery embolization — if found to be effective and the program will start to cover the whole population, IRIB acceptable quality of care, even in resource-poor settings. safe — could offer people a less invasive option for the treatment reported last Friday. These tools will enable early detection and management of of obesity. IRAPEN has three main parts. The first part is for early cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory dis- The procedure involves injecting microscopic beads into the detection and management of cardiovascular diseases on eases and cancer to prevent life threatening complications artery that delivers blood to the stomach. The radiologist inserts a scale of 10 years prior to their occurrence. Controlling (e.g. heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, amputations, and a catheter either in the wrist or groin and uses imaging to reach blood pressure, diabetes and blood fat are also part of this blindness). of the diseases are attributed to the NCDs globally. Regard- the artery. program, said Ostovar. Non-communicable diseases are emerging as a health ing Iran the number is pretty much higher; 76 percent of Once released into the artery, the microbeads block the flow Developing proper infrastructure for the prevention and problem and they are responsible for major part of the burden the burden of the diseases comes from non-communicable of blood through the smaller blood vessels to the stomach. This early detection of different cancers is the second part of this of the disease across the countries in the world. 70 percent diseases. has the effect of reducing production of ghrelin, a hunger-stim- ulating hormone. Early trials have shown promising results that the procedure can help people lose weight. However, there is little information ‘DNA origami’ tackles multidrug-resistant cancer cells about where the weight loss comes from, and how it affects body A DNA tool that combines gene therapy scientists can create DNA platforms com- composition of fat and muscle. with chemotherapy could be a promising prising simple and complicated molecular Dr. Takahashi and his team examined computed tomography new way to defeat multidrug-resistant shapes that are small enough to work at scans of 16 overweight people, some with obesity, who had un- cancer cells. the cell level. dergone left gastric artery embolization to stop bleeding. New research shows how a tailored DNA In this case, the team made a simple With help from special software that analyzes tissue density, nanostructure can deliver anti-cancer drugs structure that self-assembles into a tri- they assessed fat and muscle composition on scans taken before selectively. angular DNA nanoplatform. The platform and about 1.5 months after the treatment. The tool is a “tailored DNA nanoplatform” has several sites that can bind to various Results raised some concerns that can carry chemotherapy drugs into “functional units.” All 16 of the individuals who underwent embolization lost a targeted cancer cells while also silencing ’New strategy for multidrug-re- significant amount of weight afterward. On average, they lost 6.4 the cells’ drug-resistance genes. sistant tumors’ percent of their body weight in the ensuing 1.5 months. The technique is the work of scientists The researchers tested the ability of the Their body mass index (BMI) fell by 6.3 percent over the at the National Center for Nanoscience DNA platform to selectively deliver RNA same period. and Technology in Beijing, China. transcription templates and the chemother- The weight loss came as no surprise to the researchers; however, A recent paper in the journal Ange- apy drug doxorubicin first in cell cultures what did surprise them was the alteration in body composition. wandte Chemie International Edition gives and then in mice with multidrug-resistant They calculated that skeletal muscle index reduced by 6.8 a detailed account of how the team devel- tumors. percent. This index reflects the quantity of muscle in the body oped and tested the DNA nanoplatforms. They used “two linear small hairpin RNA that is attached to bone and helps the movement of limbs and Drug treatments have significantly im- transcription templates.” One of these took other body parts. proved rates of survival and quality of life care of gene silencing, and the other took Loss of skeletal muscle can not only reduce physical function, for people with cancer. care of cell recognition and insertion. but it can also damage metabolism and raise the risk of injury. However, there are many cases in which One of the first transporter proteins that pumps is a gene-silencing technique called The results showed that the “tailored “The significant decrease in the amount of skeletal muscle,” cancer responds well to treatment at first they identified was one that is coded by the RNA interference (RNAi). This uses mole- DNA platform” was very effective at both says Dr. Takahashi, “highlights the fact that patients who undergo but then relapses or comes back because Multi-Drug Resistance Gene 1 (MDR1). cules called RNA transcription templates to the selective delivery and release of the this procedure are at risk for losing muscle mass and need to be of drug resistance. Studies have also revealed that when interfere with gene expression in the cells. two items. This also resulted in a high- managed accordingly after [the] procedure.” Drug efflux certain organs become cancerous, their However, for treatment to be effective, ly-selective tumor kill rate. “We must make sure they receive adequate nutrition to min- Scientists have identified several cell tissues start to express MDR1 more strongly. the RNA transcription templates have to The team says that the study demon- imize the amount of muscle tissue they lose.” mechanisms that enable or promote drug One study, in particular, discovered that be released inside the cell body, or cyto- strates how to create a nanostructure that The results also showed that the individuals lost a lot of body resistance in cancer. treatment with the potent anticancer drug plasm. Secondly, this has to take place at delivers chemotherapy selectively to cancer fat; there was an average drop of 3.7 percent in body fat index. One of these is “drug efflux,” a process doxorubicin greatly increased expression the same time as delivering the drug that cells while also suppressing drug resist- However, most of the body fat loss was due to the reduction in which transporter proteins pump drugs of MDR1 in cancerous cells but not healthy kills the cells. And thirdly, healthy cells ance using gene silencing without harming in subcutaneous fat. Loss of visceral fat was insignificant over out of the cell body through its membranes. cells of the lung. must remain untouched. healthy tissue. the follow-up. Efflux mechanisms exist “in all living cells,” Cell targeting and gene silencing The new DNA nanoplatform addresses all They suggest that it should also be pos- Subcutaneous fat is all over the body under the skin. Visceral not just cancer cells. Therefore, while a drug may be very three requirements — it specifically targets sible to tailor the DNA platforms for use fat is fat that surrounds the organs deep in the abdominal cavity. For example, cells in the walls of the gut good at killing cancer cells, if the cells get the cancer cells, it delivers the anticancer in a range of treatments by altering the Science “has been distinctly linked” carrying excessive amounts have an abundance of transporter proteins better at expelling it, eventually, the drug drug to their insides, and it switches off targets, payloads, and delivery strategies. of visceral fat to several health problems and conditions. These that pump drugs and other harmful agents will not be inside the cell long enough to the genes that drive their efflux pumps to The authors conclude: include impaired metabolism, insulin resistance, and increased back toward the digestive tract. take effect. give the drug time to work. “This tailored DNA nanoplatform, which risk to certain cancers, prolonged hospitalization, and higher Thanks to extensive research, scientists To tackle this problem, cancer research- The team used “DNA origami” techniques combines RNAi therapy and chemotherapy, risk of complications. now know a lot about the role of efflux ers are working on ways to switch off the to create a platform that includes all the com- provides a new strategy for the treatment The team now want to focus further studies on individuals mechanisms and transporter proteins in genes that drive drug efflux in tumor cells. ponents necessary for these things to happen. of multidrug-resistant tumors.” who undergo left gastric artery embolization specifically to treat developing drug resistance in cancer. One approach to switching off efflux Using the well-established approach, (source: Medical News Today) obesity. (Source: sgtalk.org) ساعت: امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM NOVEMBER 29, 2018 Sassanid-era Iranian handicrafts to go on show in Beirut structure offers clues about Persian Empire in northeast Iran

HERITAGE TEHRAN — Researchers in Iran have discovered ves- desktiges of an ancient structure in northeast Iran, which is attributed to Sassanid era (224 to 651 CE), and news reports suggest it could provide clues to regional architectural heritage of the famed Persian Empire. Columns decorated with rare plasterwork that may belong to an archi- tectural monument have been identified in Bazeh Hoor, an archaeological site near Mashhad, IRNA reported on Wednesday. Stucco fragments, which are results of previous unauthorized diggings, HERITAGE TEHRAN — Iran’s cultural heritage body is have also been found, the report added. deskgoing to launch a handicrafts exhibit in Beirut Last year, the site yielded some Sassanid-era potteries during a project in late Iranian calendar month of Azar (mid-December). conducted by the Archaeology Department of University of Tehran under The exhibit will put on show works by artisans who are natives supervision of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage & Tourism. of Qom province, CHTN reported. The Sassanid era is of very high importance in the Iranian history, under Carpeting, marquetry, woodcarving, tilework, pottery, stone- which Persian art and architecture experienced a general renaissance. Workmen are seen in an archaeological trench in Bazeh Hoor, northeast Iran. work and personal ornamentation are amongst works selected for the event. “We are hoping that that crafts exhibit will lay the ground for cooperation in the field of tourism between Iran and Lebanon,” Iranian, intl. experts discussing intangible said Hamid Yazdani, the provincial tourism chief, on Wednesday. Dozens of handicrafts from Iran have gained UNESCO Seal of Excellence over the past couple of years. cultural heritage protection HERITAGE TEHRAN — A delega- amines the reform of the periodic report- desktion of Iranian experts are ing mechanism, further discuss the roles of discussing ways with international fellows accredited NGOs, reflect on how to follow Artisans to promote skills in to protect intangible cultural heritage in a up on issues related to elements already in- session running in Port Louis, Republic of scribed, as well as continue its deliberations Bandar Abbas Mauritius, from November 26 to December 1. on the complex role that communities play Presenting relevant reports, consulting in safeguarding their living heritage at risk about global registration of living cultural in emergencies. heritage for 2019 and 2020, and arranging Amongst the Iranian entries to the UN- exhibitions are top on agenda for Iranian ESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list are team during the 13th session of the Intergov- Radif of Iranian music, traditional skills of ernmental Committee for the Safeguarding carpet weaving in Kashan, ritual dramatic of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, CHTN art of Ta’ziye, music of the Bakhshis of Kho- reported. rasan and Qalishuyan rituals of Mashhad-e Twenty-four state members of the com- Ardehal near Kashan. mittee, elected by the General Assembly of “Chogan, a horse-riding game accompa- the 2003 Convention, are attending the event, nied by music and storytelling” won Iran the which is chaired by Prithvirajsing Roopun, same UNESCO status in the 12th session of the minister of Arts and Culture of the Re- the Intergovernmental Committee for the public of Mauritius. Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural On this occasion, the committee also ex- People watch a chogan game in the UNESCO-registered Imam Square, Isfahan, central Iran. Heritage in 2017. Tourism Ireland to increase spending amid HERITAGE TEHRAN — Crafters from all Iranian provinces deskwill promote skills in an exhibit, which opens today in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. Brexit concerns Over 100 stalls have been set up for the event that will be running through December 3, CHTN reported. Tourism Ireland is to increase its spending by €10 million Iran’s handicrafts exports reached $107 million in the first to €45 million next year and mount its first new global ad- half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), vertising campaign in seven years. growing 9.5 percent year on year. Faced with the combined threats of a no-deal Brexit, a Germany, Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, the significantly weaker sterling and a 4.5 percent jump in the Netherlands, France, Italy, South Africa and the Persian VAT rate which applies to the hospitality trade, the tourism Gulf littoral states constitute the main importers of Iranian body said it would be looking to strengthen its marketing handicrafts. programs in the months ahead. Its new global campaign – “Fill your Heart with Ireland” – will begin next month in the United States, Britain, France and Germany, and from January in more than 20 markets ROUND THE GLOBE around the globe. Tourism Ireland said it had plans to grow overseas tourism revenue by 6 percent to €6.5 billion and visitor numbers by Historic town of Zabid 4 percent to 11.67 million. The campaign will include TV, cinema, print, outdoor Zabid is one of the coastal towns in Tehama area west of and online ads, as well as content for social platforms. It will Yemen, sitting on a rise above the river junction and the fertile feature less-visited attractions and locations and aims to flood plain. It is a circular fortified town with four remaining attract visitors all year round, highlighting outdoor activities gates, which was supplied with water by extensive canals. like cycling, walking and kayaking. It was already flourishing when Islam was established in Tourism Ireland also had plans to expand its operations the region in the 7th century. Its development is due to Ibn in China – with new representation in Hong Kong – and jumped by 6 percent on 2017, with growth recorded from He said Ireland was heading into 2019 “in a position of Ziyad (the founder of the Zyadite dynasty), who was sent to the increase its marketing activity in the U.S. and Canada, as all markets. some strength, based on the success of 2018. Our aim is to well as in emerging markets like Japan. “2018 is set to be another record year for Irish tourism, spread this success throughout the year and around the en- Record year surpassing all previous records and coming on the back of tire island of Ireland – ensuring we maintain our renowned This year is set to be a record year for Irish tourism, with a number of years of strong growth,” said Niall Gibbons, welcome and superb visitor experience.” the latest estimates suggesting that by the end of December, the Tourism Ireland chief executive. Minister for Tourism Shane Ross said there were “chal- revenue generated by international visitors will touch €6.1 “And, I am delighted to report that we have seen growth lenges for Irish tourism as a consequence of Brexit” but billion, an increase of 10 percent over last year. from all our main markets around the world – with record he expressed confidence the industry “can adapt quickly A total of 320,000 people are now employed in the sector, numbers arriving here from North America, mainland Eu- to enable continued growth from international markets.” catering for the 11.2 million visitors. The number of visitors rope, Australia and emerging markets.” (Source: The Irish Times) From cave paintings to NASA: How humankind has captured the cosmos On the walls of the Lascaux cave in France, es of the moon, Andy Warhol’s pop art print region by the Caliph al-Mamun in 820 CE to quell a rebellion. prehistoric artists produced one of the oldest of Buzz Aldrin and religious manuscripts The core of the town is its first mosque, Asa’ir. The Great known star maps -- six dots painted above envisaging galactic disasters sent by God. Mosque lies to the west of the town to which spread the souq. images of Paleolithic beasts. Some 17,000 Through them, we can see changes in how Zabid has the highest concentration of mosques in Yemen, years later, in 2017, NASA produced a se- humans understand the universe and our place some 86 in all, mainly simple brick structures but some with ries high-definition photographs showing within it, according to Paul Murdin of Univer- elaborate carved brick and stucco decoration. Jupiter’s stormy south pole. sity of Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy. Fourteen of these date to the Rasulid period - all of them Humankind’s attempts to picture the cos- As he writes in the book’s introduction: “As madrasas - and are the largest group of buildings from this mos have come a long way. But according to we have learned more about (the universe) period in Yemen. a new book on how we depict the universe, physically, we have also come to interpret A network of narrow alleys spreads over the town and its this isn’t just a matter of science. It’s also it in different ways. For that reason, space vernacular buildings, typical of the southern Arabian Penin- about art. has long fascinated scientists, astronomers sula, give the town outstanding visual qualities. Bringing together a collection of 300 im- and visual artists and it remains a recurring The city with its narrow closed streets, traditional houses ages -- from ancient stone carvings to abstract subject in our society and culture. and minarets is an outstanding example of a homogeneous modernist paintings -- “Universe: Exploring “Many of the images (in the book) prove architectural ensemble that reflects the spatial characteristics the Astronomical World” charts our history that, as astronomical research continues, of the early years of Islam. Around the town are cemeteries, of mapping, illustrating and finding meaning the close relationship between the scientific notably the one to the north-west with a mosque, a well and in the skies above. and the artistic will remain as close as it has shady trees. The book features work by artists and been for the last 17,000 years.” (Source: UNESCO) thinkers of the past, including Galileo’s sketch- (Source: CNN) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 29, 2018 SCIENCE 11 Oxygen could have been available to life as early The Milky Way’s central black hole is a hot spot for as 3.5b years ago, team finds astrophysics, researchers say Microbes could have performed oxygen-pro- it could mean it is a relatively simple process ducing photosynthesis at least one billion to evolve. The probability of complex life The discovery of wobbling “hotspots” circling the drain of a years earlier in the history of the Earth than emerging in a distant exoplanet may then massive black hole offers exciting new evidence for the behemoth previously thought. be quite high. that lies at our galaxy’s center — and the study leader shares how The finding could change ideas of how It is difficult for scientists to figure out 13 years of observations have finally paid off. and when complex life evolved on Earth, when the first oxygen-producers evolved and how likely it is that it could evolve on using the rock record on Earth. The older other planets. the rocks, the rarer they are, and the harder Oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere is nec- it is to prove conclusively that any fossil mi- essary for complex forms of life, which use it crobes found in these ancient rocks used or during aerobic respiration to make energy. produced any amount of oxygen. The levels of oxygen dramatically rose in Main proteins the atmosphere around 2.4 billion years ago, Instead, the team investigated the evo- but why it happened then has been debated. lution of two of the main proteins involved Some scientists think that 2.4 billion years ago in oxygenic photosynthesis. is when organisms called cyanobacteria first In the first stage of photosynthesis, evolved, which could perform oxygen-pro- cyanobacteria use light energy to split ducing (oxygenic) photosynthesis. water into protons, electrons and oxygen before cyanobacteria evolved. Their results, cyanobacteria are, for example, 2.5 billion with the help of a protein complex called Accumulating in the air published in the journal Geobiology, show that years old that would mean oxygenic photo- Other scientist think that cyanobacteria Photosystem II. oxygenic photosynthesis could have evolved synthesis could have started as early as 3.5 evolved long before 2.4 billion years ago but Photosystem II is made up of two proteins very early in Earth’s 4.5-billion-year history. billion years ago. It suggests that it might The new study, involving the work of by Avery Broderick, an something prevented oxygen from accumu- called D1 and D2. Originally, the two proteins Lead author Dr. Tanai Cardona, from the not take billions of years for a process like astronomer from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, lating in the air. were the same, but although they have very Department of Life Sciences at Imperial, said: oxygenic photosynthesis to start after the revealed three flares, or visual hotspots, emanating from the Cyanobacteria perform a relatively so- similar structures, their underlying genetic “We know cyanobacteria are very ancient, origin of life.” Milky Way’s central black hole, also known as Sagittarius A*. phisticated form of oxygenic photosynthe- sequences are now different. but we don’t know exactly how ancient. If If oxygenic photosynthesis evolved early, The team detected a wobble of emissions coming from the sis -- the same type of photosynthesis that This shows that D1 and D2 have been flares, allowing the scientists to detect the accretion disk — a all plants do today. It has therefore been In the first stage of photosynthesis, evolving separately -- in cyanobacteria and growing mass of orbiting gas and debris — surrounding the black suggested that simpler forms of oxygenic plants they only share 30 percent of their hole itself. photosynthesis could have existed earlier, cyanobacteria use light energy to split genetic sequence. Even in their original form, Broderick’s black hole theory built on earlier research by before cyanobacteria, leading to low levels water into protons, electrons and oxygen D1 and D2 would have been able to perform two teams that studied the galactic center of the Milky Way in of oxygen being available to life. oxygenic photosynthesis, so knowing how near-infrared. This included the work of Reinhard Genzel, an Now, a research team led by Imperial with the help of a protein complex called long ago they were identical could reveal astronomer from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial College London have found that oxygenic Photosystem II. when this ability first evolved. Physics in Garching, Germany, as well as researchers Andrea photosynthesis arose at least one billion years (Source: sciencedaily.com) Ghez and Mark Morris of University of California, Los Angeles. At the time, their work revealed that the center of the Milky Way wasn’t steady, but instead would drastically brighten about once a day for about 30 or 40 minutes, Broderick said. Climate change poses significant threat to nutritional benefits of oysters Researchers think supermassive black holes exist at the center of most, if not all, large galaxies. Therefore, in 2005, while working The nutritional qualities of shellfish could be significantly graduate students are regularly involved in that research. alongside researcher Avi Loeb at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center reduced by future ocean acidification and warming, a new The oysters were subjected to six different sets of ocean for Astrophysics, Broderick argued that a periodic brightening study suggests. conditions over a 12-week period, from current temperatures observed at the heart of the Milky Way, also known as a bright Research has previously shown that climate change could and CO2 levels to the increased measurements predicted infrared flare, was the result of an incredibly massive object threaten future production, safety and quality by negatively for both the middle and end of the century. such as a black hole. impacting the fitness of marine species. Nutrient levels (Source: Scientific American) Now scientists from the University of Plymouth, in a As well as changes in nutrient levels, researchers also study published in Marine Environmental Research, have observed important changes to essential mineral compo- demonstrated the potential for negative nutritional effects sition, adding that the enhanced accumulation of copper Zapping the olfactory bulb within economically and commercially valuable species. in Pacific oysters may be of future concern in terms of con- The research focused on the Pacific oyster (Magallana sumption safety. produces phantom smells, gigas) and the native flat oyster (Ostrea edulis), with results Dr. Victor Kuri, Lecturer in Food Quality at the Univer- showing that increased temperatures and CO2 levels could sity, said: “With a low environmental impact, shellfish are study says significantly reduce the former’s levels of proteins, lipids a promising highly nutritious alternative to fish and other and carbohydrates. animal products, but their sustainability depends on their Researchers envision a cochlear implant–like device for the nose Aquaculture industry quality attributes including palatability, nutrition and safe- to give people with impaired olfaction a sense of smell. With seafood being the source of more than 15% of animal ty. This work confirms the need to understand the science The sensation of perceiving a smell can be induced in people protein consumed globally, scientists say the aquaculture suggested there could be negative effects in the conditions behind the risks and mechanisms of shellfish production, by using electrodes to stimulate the brain’s olfactory bulb, re- industry may wish to consider a shift in focus toward species predicted to occur in 2050 and 2100. However the fact as this knowledge is needed to build adequate resilience in searchers reported on November 27 in the International Forum that are most robust to climate change and less prone to that Pacific oysters, which currently accounts for around harvesting and aquaculture industries” of Allergy & Rhinology. The results, they suggest, are a proof deterioration in quality. 90% of UK oyster production, can be affected could be a Dr. Antony Knights, Associate Professor in Marine Ecology, of concept that it would be possible to develop an “olfactory Dr. Anaëlle Lemasson, a former Ph.D. student at the cause for concern.” added: “Climate change and the growing global population implant system” to aid people with an impaired sense of smell, University, led the research having previously shown that The research was conducted by scientists linked to are placing arguably unsustainable demands on sources of known as anosmia. although the physiology of the Pacific oyster can be negatively the University’s Marine Biology and Ecology Research animal protein. This comes at a time when increased obesity “Our work shows that smell restoration technology is an impacted by future climate change, its taste might not be Centre (MBERC) and the Food, Health and Nutrition in several regions of the world is leading to greater public idea worth studying further,” says coauthor Eric Holbrook of adversely affected. research group. awareness of the need for healthy and balanced diets. Oysters Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in a press release. The She said: “Identifying changes in nutritional quality, MBERC is one of the world’s leading research centres have the potential to be a sustainable, low-cost alternative “development of cochlear implants, for example, didn’t really as well as species most at risk, is crucial if societies are examining the impact of multiple stressors on marine or- source of protein for humans. accelerate until someone placed an electrode in the cochlea of a to secure food production. Our previous research had ganisms and environments, and undergraduate and post- (Source: eurekalert.org) patient and found that the patient heard a frequency of some type.” Holbrook and colleagues enrolled five subjects in the study who were able to smell. Three of them reported perceiving odors not actually present when the researchers stimulated different parts of their olfactory bulbs with electrodes inserted through Wild bees are dying and ecosystem collapse will follow: new study the nose, a procedure the study authors say caused “minimal discomfort.” The humble honeybee was domesticated by To find out more about why native bees The finding follows a report earlier this year that electrical- humans thousands of years ago, and today it have been overlooked and the potential ly stimulating structures high up in the nasal cavity produced plays an important role in the world economy implications of this, Newsweek spoke to smell sensations. The scientists who conducted that study at as a pollinator of crops. Robert Gegear a professor with Worcester Malaysia’s Imagineering Institute aim to one day transmit smells In recent years, a significant amount of Polytechnic Institute’s Department of Biol- electronically, reportes IEEE Spectrum — for example, to give attention has been paid to the numerous ogy and Biotechnology, in Massachusetts. restaurant-goers a whiff of dishes on the menu as they decide threats that are facing the honeybee. But Gegear’s research is focused on wild bee what to order. contrary to what many people believe, not populations. As in the Massachusetts Ear and Eye study, the Imagineering all bees are in dire straits. For example, The bee diversity Institute researchers weren’t able to control which odor the sub- numbers of the Western honeybee — the Gegear has created a project called Bee jects perceived. The Malaysian team suggests the digital smells most common of the domesticated species - Cology to educate the public on the impor- could be transmitted through a noninvasive headset, rather than — in the United States have actually been tance of bee diversity and the conservation of with electrodes up the nose, which their volunteers found quite rising slowly in recent years (there around bees, particularly bumblebees in America’s uncomfortable. 2.9 million colonies today compared with Northeast. Our conversation has been edited (Source: the-scientist.com) 2.5 million colonies 10 years ago, accord- for length and clarity. ing to data from the U.S. Department of Can you talk a little bit about the prob- Agriculture), and the species is not at risk lem of pollinator decline Pollinator de- of extinction. cline is a problem in two very different Longest time-lapse shot This is not to say that the situation is good. but equally important contexts. On the Huge numbers of hives are being lost every agricultural side of things, which is getting from space for ISS 20th winter and spring, with some beekeepers a lot of attention, we’ve got honeybees anniversary reporting losses exceeding 40 percent, May and the loss of hives. Berenbaum, a professor with the department A number of policy and conservation these native species are classified at risk The other is the ecological context. We The International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting Earth of entomology at the University of Illinois, initiatives have been put in place to ad- of extinction. have many native pollinator species that are as a functional station for 20 years this month, and it’s time to told Newsweek. dress these kinds of issues. But according “We argue that North American honeybee in rapid decline. Some are on the verge of celebrate as only astronauts can — with a really long timelapse Maintaining the current levels to a 2016 paper in Conservation Biology, losses are not a conservation problem,” the extinction, such as Bombus affinis — the first video from space. The ESA has put together a fantastic 15-minute Essentially, honeybee numbers in the while such efforts may sound beneficial, authors wrote. “Rather, they are a domes- bumblebee on the endangered species list video of Earth from the ISS, but the actual length of time shown U.S. are only stable because beekeepers are they may actually be exacerbating another ticated animal management problem. By here in North America. is much greater. In fact, this is the longest timelapse video ever becoming better at compensating for loss- significant problem — the decline of native focusing attention on honeybees, policies In the agricultural context, we’re talking shot in space. es, so it’s becoming a very time-consuming bee species, such as bumblebees, of which and funding priorities may undermine native about managed bees, and in the ecological German astronaut Alexander Gerst captured the video aboard and expensive process just to maintain their there are around 4,000 in North America. bee conservation and have negative impacts, context we’re talking about wild bees. the ISS on Oct. 6. It has a total of 21,375 images of Earth spread current levels. Unlike the honeybee, a small portion of ecologically and socially.” (Source: Newsweek) out over about 90 minutes of real time. Traveling at 28,800 kilometers per hour (17,896 mph), that’s how long it takes the station to make a full orbit of the planet. The video starts over northern Africa with the station cruising BMI Shows Reaction to US Department of Treasury’s News off to look down upon central and then East Asia. It’s nighttime Bank Melli Iran (BMI) shows reaction towards the Trade Law and under the strict supervision of Central Therefore, claim of the Office of Foreign Assets in these regions, so you can see the glowing lights of civilization news published by the Office of Foreign Assets Con- Bank of Iran (CBI) of that countries. It is for about 50 Control (OFAC) on setting up a branch office of as well as some lightning from the station. trol (OFAC) and subsequent republications in online years that branches of the bank in the Persian Gulf Bank Melli Iran in Iraq for sending fund to qua- The ISS then heads across the ocean toward Australia and environment with regard to enlisting the name of littoral states are busy active. Branches of the bank si-civilians of Iraq is beyond reality, the issue of New Zealand. As it crosses the Pacific, you get to see the sunrise the Bank Melli Iran (BMI) in the sanctions list of have been set up in neighboring Iraq in 2007 in line which has been stated with renunciation of vast- from the station’s perspective around the 10-minute mark. the US government, the Public Relations Dept. of with offering quality conventional banking services ness of borders of the two countries and historical, The station might be getting old, but it’s still one of Earth’s the bank reported. after proceeding legal formalities.” cultural, social and economic exchanges as well as most important scientific achievements. Astronauts undertake The notification is read as follows, “the activity Up to the present time, performance of BMI negligence from consecutive presence of pilgrims research on the ISS that can’t happen anyplace else. of branches of Bank Melli Iran (BMI) in regional branch office in neighboring Iraq has been eval- of the two countries as well as the necessity of using However, the current U.S. administration is pushing to end public countries and other parts of the world dates back uated conventionally and accurately, the report banking services, the Public Relations Dept. of the funding of the ISS in the next decade, transferring operation and upkeep to previous decades according to the International added. bank reported. to private entities. There’s no telling how that would affect the ISS. (Source: extremetech.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY NOVEMBER 29, 2018

Relief Foundation grants solar Asserting children’s right requires panels to the underprivileged for income generation govt. legal support: minister ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN – Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation desk(IKRF) has provided solar panels to financially ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — In order to establish desk struggling villagers in Khorasan Razavi province, northeastern children’s right, the government should Iran, to help them gain income. come out in support for it, Justice Minister Alireza Solar-powered photovoltaic panels convert the sun’s rays into Avaie has said. electricity by exciting electrons in silicon cells using the photons Avaie made the remarks over Regional Conference of light from the sun, which is the cleanest, most reliable form on Rights of the Child, opening on Wednesday in of renewable energy, and can be used in several forms to help Tehran, IRNA news agency reported. generate electricity along with income. The 22-million children constituting 30 percent of the country’s total population need legal support from the government, Avaie said, adding that while parents are legal guardians of the children in order for children to enjoy their rights the government should stand up for them. In the Islamic Republic of Iran refugee children or foster and adopted children are all the same regarding their rights and families as well as the government should strive to grant them their right, he added. The minister went on to say that granting citizenship to children born to Iranian mothers and foreign fathers, The Relief Foundation have granted a budget amounting to 250 supporting orphans and children with dysfunctional million rials (nearly $6,000) to each families under its coverage, families, approving law on children’s right, and living in Chah-Nasar village in Neyshabour county located in reforming the law on marriageable age are some of Khorasan Razavi province, Mehr reported on Saturday. the social and legal measures taken in support for So, the residents managed to purchase a number of solar panels children’s right. which constantly generate electricity and help them earn monthly Convention on the Rights of the Child income through selling the generated power to the country’s grid. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the IKRF is an Iranian charitable organization, founded in March Child (commonly abbreviated as the CRC or UNCRC) is 1979 to provide support for deprived families along with helping a human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, them regain financial stability. It focuses mostly on generating economic, social, health and cultural rights of children. sustainable jobs for the low income individuals rather than al- The Convention defines a child as any human being distinct set of rights instead of as passive objects of Iranian vice president for women’s and family affairs, locating only an amount of money. under the age of eighteen, unless the age of majority care and charity. Masoumeh Ebtekar, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Hojatollah Abdolmaleki, an official with the Foundation has is attained earlier under national legislation. The unprecedented acceptance of the Convention Masoud Soltanifar, Prof. Philip D. Jaffé a member of said that the foundation has generated over 34,000 job oppor- The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention clearly shows a wide global commitment to advancing UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and UNICEF tunities for the deprived individuals in the first six months of and opened it for signature on 20 November 1989 (the children’s rights. Representative in Iran Will Parks. the current [Iranian calendar] year (March 21-September 22). 30th anniversary of its Declaration of the Rights of Iran has adhered to the convention since 1991 and The conference aims to highlights the achievements of the Child). It came into force on 2 September 1990, ratified it in the Parliament in 1994. Iran has also Iran on children’s right and set the scene for knowledge after it was ratified by the required number of nations. signed the both optional protocols which relate to the exchange between experts on children’s rights. Earthquake maneuver Currently, 196 countries are party to it, including every special protection of children against involvement 30 of judges, representatives and experts on children’s member of the United Nations except the United States. in armed conflict and the sale of children and sexual right from Russia, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, performed at schools nationwide The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the exploitation. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Palestine and most rapidly and widely ratified international human Regional Conference on Rights of the Child Jordan have taken part in the conference. SOCIETY TEHRAN – The 20th earthquake maneuver, rights treaty in history. The Regional Conference on Rights of the Child The conference is co-organized by vice presidency desk aiming at preparing for the unexpected natural The Convention changed the way children are under the theme of “Justice for Children” will culminate for women’s and family affairs, Ministry of Sports and disasters and practicing personal protective actions, is performed viewed and treated – i.e., as human beings with a on Friday. The opening ceremony was attended by Youth Affairs, and Foreign Ministry. at over a 100,000 schools across the country on Wednesday, YJC reported. If the seismic action is a pro- longed shaking and rolling event, Rare Corsac fox coming to the verge of extinction it is prudent to immediately take ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN – The Corsac food chain, it plays an important role in protective measures, so the event deskfox, a small intelligent conservation of the country’s ecosystem is held annually during the past hunter, having a limited range in Turkmen as well as protecting other species, he 20 years to reduce the damag- Sahara, northeastern Iran, is endangered highlighted. es happens once the earthquake due to habitat fragmentation and lack of He also added that if efficient measures are strikes. safety, Mehr reported on Tuesday. not taken by the DOE and other responsible Many injuries and damages Corsac foxes live in the steppes and semi bodies, these few number of foxes will not occur during unpredictable inci- desert of central and northeast Asia, found survive by the next few years. dents mostly due to many people throughout Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and An environmentalist, Siavash Roshanian, not knowing how to handle the Turkmenistan, and through all except the also said that in the Iranian calendar year earthquake or remain safe. northernmost regions of Mongolia. In the 1389 (March 2010-March 2011), which was The maneuver is carried out south, their range extends into the more unprecedented for the past 60 years, I came under the theme “safe school, re- northern parts of Iran, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, across a carcass of this animal in the region silient society” to increase disaster Afghanistan, and China. and sent documents and photographs to preparedness among students. The major threat posed to the Corsac the DOE. Located on the active Alpine-Himalayan seismic belt, Iran has fox is hunting for the fur trade. In the late Moreover, in the Iranian calendar experienced more than 130 strong quakes with magnitude of 7.5 19th century, up to 10,000 foxes were killed year 1391 (March 2012-March 2013), or more in the past centuries. annually for pelt trade. Their other main when pesticides have been used in the In a recent quake hitting the western province of Kermanshah threat is natural disasters, which can cause area to fight desert locust, I spotted two on November 12, 2017 more than 600 died and at least 12,000 got the numbers of foxes to drop by 90 percent carcasses of a Corsac couple which were injured and hundreds of thousands were displaced. in some areas. poisoned and I reported to the DOE, he A magnitude-6.6 quake that struck early morning on December Iran was not listed as a country within further explained. 26, 2003 devastated the historic city of Bam, killing about 26,000 the distribution range of the Corsac fox since Referring to seven years of research, people and damaging 90 percent of the buildings in the tourist hub. 2005, while it was cited later in 2014. The photography and restoration of the species In June 1990, a powerful earthquake killed at least 37,000 people various distribution maps of the species province, of which only four nests have been such as agriculture, sheep grazing and using in the region, he emphasized that in [the and injured 100,000 in northern and northwestern provinces of often include two separate patches as its active and last year the nests have no longer pesticides to deal with desert locust, limits Iranian calendar year] 1395, I succeeded Gilan and Zanjan. distribution range in Iran, first, on the been active, he added. their habitat and the number of rodents in finding 14 Corsac foxes nests, only four southeastern coast of the Caspian Sea near All Corsac habitats have been destructed and insects, which are the main preys the of which have been active, adding, three LEARN ENGLISH the border with Turkmenistan, and second, turning into agricultural land, animal animal feeds on. nest had twin foxes and a nest was filled around the Tejen Basin near the border with husbandry, manufacturing workshops or It is not possible to declare a huge area with quadruplet foxes, only one of the cubs Afghanistan, although there is no record factories, so that the animal has no place as a protected area to conserve a few foxes; lost life due to flood and nine cubs were Immigration and Customs for the latter. to live, he regretted. but we must try to protect them by training abandoned in nature. An official with the Golestan DOE, In recent years, the animal’s carcasses people on the importance of the precious Last year, from Gomishan to Maraveh A: Good afternoon, passport and arrival card please. have been sighted in the region, the main creature, he noted. B: Here you are. Mahmood Shakiba, said that living conditions Tappeh in Golestan province was monitored, for this rare species in the country is so cause of which has been poisonous baits, as On the other hand, Ramezanali Ghaemi, but no active nest has been found in the A: Where are you coming from? well as livestock guard dogs killing Corsacs, a former official with the Golestan province B: China. improper that spotting a few nests of the area, he regretted. specie is a pleasure. so the region is no longer safe, he further DOE, said that the only way to preserve the “If the Corsac only habitat is not protected A: Is this your country of birth or residence. lamented. limited number of remaining Corsac foxes, B: I just work there. In the Iranian calendar year 1395 (March properly in the country, unfortunately, no 2016-March 2017), some 14 Corsac nests have He went on to explain that this fox needs is to declare the region as a protected area. Corsac will remain within the next few years,” A: What is the purpose of your visit to the United States? a huge area to live, while human activities As the species is at the top of the B: I’m here on vacation. been found in Turkmen Sahara in Golestan he concluded. A: How long do you plan to stay in the United States? B: Almost three weeks. A: Sir, you didn’t fill out the information on your arrival card of ENGLISH IN USE where you will be staying. B: Oh, I’m sorry, but there are a couple of different places I will travel LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION to within the United States, so I wasn’t sure what to put. A: You must specify an address of the place where you will spend most of your time. تنها راه حل مقابله با گرد و غبار، همکاری کشورها با B: Ok, here you are. ‘Regional cooperation, only way to A: Do you have enough means to support yourself while you are here? tackle SDSs’ یکدیگر است .B: Yes. I have some traveler cheques and two credit cards A: Very good. Do you have anything to declare? Sand and dust storms (SDSs) severely hitting the southern part of the country مقدســی گفــت: موضــوع گــرد و غبــار کــه تبدیــل بــه تهدیــد جــدی ای بــرای جنــوب کشــور شــده !B: Nope. I only have my clothes and camera posing threat to human and environmental well-being, requires the cooperation A: Very well sir, welcome to the United States, enjoy your visit. اســت، همــکاری کشــورها بــا یکدیگــر تنهــا راه حــل آن اســت. of neighboring countries to be tackled, head of the international affairs at بــه گــزارش خبرنــگار حــوزه محیــط زیســت گــروه اجتماعــی باشــگاه خبرنــگاران جــوان؛ ناصر مقدســی Key vocabulary passport: a form of identification that allows someone to travel the Department of Environment (DOE) has said. رئیــس مرکــز امــور بی نالملــل و کنوانســیون ســازمان حفاظــت محیــط زیســت، اظهــار کــرد: پدیــده residence: the place, esp. the house, in which a person lives or re- Since the past decade, SDSs have become of increasing concern among گــرد و غبــار در دهــه اخیــر در منطقــه غــرب آســیا و ایــران بدلیــل تاثیــر شــدید بــر ســامت انســان ها، sides; dwelling place; home countries of western Asia and Iran due to its vast damaging effects on human زمیــن هــای کشــاورزی و زیرســاخت هــا، بــه موضوعــی نگــران کننــده تبدیــل شــده اســت. .purpose: reason for doing something health, agricultural land, infrastructure, and transport, Naser Moqaddasi said vacation: have holidays arrival: act of arriving; a coming traveler: a person or thing that travels declare: to state something officially PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM Supplementary vocabulary metal detector: an electronic device for detecting the presence “anti-” Lie with Clinch a deal of metal objects luggage: baggage such as suitcases and personal belongings Meaning: against Meaning: to have the right to make a decision Explanation: to reach agreement on a proposal or offer terrorist: a person, usually a member of a group, who uses or ad- For example: This guide is intended to serve as For example: The decision about the contract lies For example: Paul’s final argument enabled us to vocates terrorism an educational tool for antibiotic use at the hospital. with the courts. clinch the deal. body scanner: a device that virtually strip searches a person in order to look for hidden objects without physically removing clothes or making physical contact ساعت: 19:40 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 29, 2018 WORLD IN FOCUS 13

U.S. impeding UN bid to broker 11th round of talks on Syria crisis begins in Astana peace in Yemen 1 In addition to representatives from the Syrian government and opposition groups, delegations from Iran, The U.S. has urged the UN Security Coun- 50 percent over the past two weeks, making Russia and Turkey, which are acting as the guarantors of an cil to put on hold a draft resolution de- it difficult for local residents to afford their all-Syria ceasefire, as well as international observers - the UN manding an immediate truce in Yemen, basic commodities in the wake of the recent and Jordan - will attend the talks. in what is viewed as an attempt to hinder wave of violence there. The Astana talks have so far resulted in the return of a international efforts aimed at ending the The World Food Programme warned on succession of militant bastions to the government fold, the Washington-backed Saudi war on the im- Tuesday that imports had fallen substantially establishment of safe zones across Syria and the movement poverished country. “because of the high levels of insecurity in of civilians to those regions. In a message sent to other council mem- the city” as Saudi-sponsored militiamen The Syrian government’s delegation, headed by the country’s bers on Tuesday, the U.S. mission signaled loyal to former Yemeni president Abd Rab- UN Ambassador Bashar al-Ja’afari, arrived in the Kazakh that it was reluctant to act on the UK-drafted buh Mansur Hadi are engaged in a fierce capital on Tuesday for the Astana negotiations. resolution until after the talks had taken offensive against fighters from the Houthi Hossein Jaberi Ansari, senior assistant to the Iranian place in Stockholm in early December. Ansarullah movement to establish control foreign minister on special political affairs, Russian Special “We look forward to offering more sub- over Hudaydah. Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev and Turkish Deputy stantive comments to the draft once we “Operations at Hodeida Port have de- Foreign Minister Sedat Onal will also lead the delegations of have more information on the outcomes creased by 47 percent over the past two the guarantor states to the talks. of the upcoming consultations,” the mes- weeks,” WFP spokesman Herve Verhoosel Heydar Beck Tomatov, director of Asia and Africa depart- sage said. told reporters in the Swiss city of Geneva. ment at the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, said in a statement Britain circulated the draft text to the “If this situation persists or further dete- that bilateral and tripartite consultations will be held in the 15-member council a week ago and called on riorates, it would have (a) drastic impact on first day of the Astana meeting and that the second day will parties involved in Yemen’s crisis to restart food availability and prices in the markets feature the general session. peace negotiations. and (would make) it increasingly difficult Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aybek Smadiyarov The draft sets a two-week deadline for for Yemeni families to afford their basic also said journalists from more than 200 media outlets had warring Yemeni parties to remove all barriers needs,” he added. been accredited to cover the event. to humanitarian aid, halt attacks on civilian Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadh’s consulate in which seek to ensure a political solution The UN estimates that 70 percent of The 10th round of talks in the Astana format took place areas and allow unhindered access to the Istanbul, Turkey, early in October. to the Yemeni conflict. all imports into Yemen come through in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on July 30-31. strategic port city of Hudaydah. Yemen was grappling with a domestic Abdul-Malik al-Houthi then demanded the port of Hudaydah, which lies on the A Tuesday UN statement said Staffan de Mistura, the in- Negotiations on the proposed resolution political conflict when the Saudi regime an immediate end to the Saudi-led ag- Red Sea. ternational body’s special envoy for Syria, will join the 11th -- the first to be discussed by the council on and its allies intervened in March 2015 gression, the removal of the blockade and Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional round of the Astana talks. Yemen since 2015 -- began last week, but no and unleashed the military campaign in humanitarian aid deliveries to war-stricken allies launched a devastating military cam- “The Special Envoy, in consultation with the Secretary-Gen- decision has been made on when the draft favor of the government of ex-president people. paign against Yemen in March 2015, with eral, accepted to be in Astana where, within the framework of should be put to a vote. Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a close Riyadh Last week, the administration of Hadi the aim of bringing the government of Hadi the Geneva process and in accordance with Security Council The truce would take effect on the day ally who had earlier resigned and fled to announced that it would take part in the back to power and crushing the country’s resolution 2254 (2015), he will chair a meeting with senior of the adoption of the resolution. the Saudi capital. proposed peace talks in Sweden, hours after Houthi Ansarullah movement. representatives of Iran, Russia and Turkey in their capacity Additionally, the Security Council has Another party to the conflict is Yemen’s the chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary According to a new report by the Armed as the conveners of the Sochi meeting of January 2018,” read demanded that the warring sides in Yemen Houthi Ansarullah movement which has Committee of Yemen, Mohammed Ali al- Conflict Location and Event Data Project the statement. engage with the UN special envoy for the been running state affairs from Sana’a in Houthi, said Ansarullah fighters were halting (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research (Source: Press TV) impoverished country, Martin Griffiths. the absence of an effective government their retaliatory attacks as a goodwill measure organization, the Saudi-led war has so far UN diplomats said that Griffiths was hop- besides defending the country against the to speed up the “peace” process. claimed the lives of around 56,000 Yemenis. ing to bring the warring sides to Sweden Saudi aggression. Griffiths says that he has received “firm The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy Blast kills 22 outside China for negotiations that could begin as early The offensive initially consisted of a assurances” that the warring Yemeni par- toll on the country’s infrastructure, destroying as December 3. bombing campaign but was later coupled ties would attend talks in the Swedish city hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN factory in Olympic city The diplomats, however, said they did with a naval blockade and the deployment of Stockholm. has already said that a record 22.2 million A vehicle carrying dangerous chemicals exploded at the en- not expect a vote this week on the measure of ground forces to Yemen. The Saudi-backed side has, however, Yemenis are in dire need of food, including trance of a chemical factory in a northern Chinese city that will due to the U.S.’s reluctance to put pres- Over the past few months, Saudi-backed stepped up the raids aimed at seizing Hu- 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. host the 2022 Winter Olympics Wednesday, leaving 22 people sure on the Saudi-led coalition, which has militiamen loyal to Hadi and foreign merce- daydah despite the peace efforts. According to the world body, Yemen is suf- dead and 22 others injured, state media and authorities said. Washington’s firm support in the bloody naries have been fighting Houthi Ansarullah Ansarullah has warned that the rise in fering from the most severe famine in more war against Yemen. for the control of the port city of Hudaydah, Saudi assaults on Hudaydah could frustrate than 100 years. The United States made a surprise call a vital conduit and lifeline for the delivery efforts by Griffiths to rekindle peace talks A number of Western countries, the U.S. for a truce in the war-ravaged country last of humanitarian aid to millions of Yemeni in Sweden next month. and Britain in particular, are also accused of month and threw its weight behind the UN- people. UN concerned over falling im- being complicit in the ongoing aggression led effort to hold peace talks. During a meeting with Griffiths in ports at Yemen’s lifeline port as they supply the Riyadh regime with ad- That call came as the war became the focus Sana’a on Thursday, the leader of the Meanwhile, the United Nations has vanced weapons and military equipment as of attention amid international outrage over Houthi Ansarullah movement praised warned that operations at the strategic Yemeni well as logistical and intelligence assistance. the assassination of Saudi dissident journalist positive initiatives and practical steps, port of Hudaydah have plunged by nearly (Source: agencies) French Senate official arrested on charges of spying for North Korea France’s Senate said Tuesday it had suspended a senior DGSE foreign intelligence agency had been arrested last French civil servant arrested on suspicion of spying for December on suspicion of passing information to China. North Korea. Quennedey has traveled extensively throughout the Korean Benoit Quennedey, a senior administrator in France’s peninsula, according to the website of his publisher Delga. upper house of parliament and president of the Franco-Korean In a video posted on YouTube that month, he described Friendship Association, was taken into custody late Sunday. impoverished, isolated North Korea as a “model for devel- Investigators suspect him of the “collection and deliv- opment,” praising citizens’ free access to education and ery of information to a foreign power likely to undermine health care. The blast ignited other vehicles, leaving charred and smoking the fundamental interests of the nation,” a judicial source “I’ve been there seven times since 2005, and in North remains of trucks and cars scattered on a road as firefighters told AFP. Korea, you notice it, there’s no litter on the ground,” he worked at the scene, according to images posted online by He is being held at the headquarters of France’s DGSI says in the video. state media. domestic intelligence agency on the outskirts of Paris. Since 2007, he has been president of the Franco-Ko- A witness told AFP he heard a “very loud bang” after mid- In a statement the Senate said he had been provision- rean Friendship Association, formed in the late 1960s by night and saw a field and trucks engulfed in flames outside ally suspended from his job as chief administrator in the journalists sympathetic to socialist and communist causes. the Hebei Shenghua Chemical Co. factory in Zhangjiakou, a department of architecture, heritage and gardens and that The group pushes for closer ties with Pyongyang and city some 200 kilometres (124 miles) northwest of Beijing. his Senate office had been searched by police. supports the reunification of the divided Koreas. Hopes of a breakthrough were sparked last June when The side of a building was covered in soot in front of a “It’s now time to let justice take its course without inter- Quennedey attended France’s elite Sciences Po univer- U.S. President Donald Trump met with regime leader Kim row of burnt out trucks across the road, footage broadcast ference,” Senate President Gerard Larcher said. sity as well as the ENA school which produces its top civil Jong Un for a historic summit meeting in Singapore. by CCTV showed following the latest deadly incident to hit The French news and talk show Le Quotidien, which servants and political leaders. Both men vowed to improve relations and Kim indicated a factory in China. broke the story, said Quennedey, who has written extensively In regular interviews with the French arm of the Krem- he would abandon the nuclear work. The blast damaged 38 trucks and 12 cars, the local propa- on North Korea, often in admiring tones, was arrested at lin-funded TV network RT, Quennedey is presented as an But despite a string of reconciliation gestures ganda department said on its Twitter-like Weibo social media his home. “expert in international relations” offering commentary between North and South Korea progress has been account. It was not clear what type of information he was sus- and analysis on Korean relations and other subjects. patchy, and Washington is still pushing to main- The injured were taken to hospitals for treatment following pected of trying to pass to Pyongyang. In 2013 he wrote “North Korea’s Economy: Birth of a tain sanctions until Pyongyang’s “final, fully verified the blast at 00:41 am, according to the department. The Senate said the alleged spying, if proven, would New Asian Dragon?”. denuclearization.” The factory’s and exterior archway were blackened. Across be “extremely serious and would deal a blow to the image The book posited model growth in the country despite Researchers have accused Kim Jong Un of using un- from the blast, AFP reporters saw a field of blackened grass of our institution,” adding that it had joined the criminal tough international sanctions over Pyongyang’s nuclear declared bases to hide nuclear-capable missiles, while and trees, with smoke billowing from the embers. Heavy ma- case as a civil plaintiff. program which have crippled the economy. Pyongyang’s state media reported this month that the chinery was brought in to remove debris. It is the second time this year that reports of suspected The UN estimates that some 10.3 million people, or 41 country had developed an unspecified “ultramodern According to a preliminary investigation, a vehicle carrying spying have emerged in France. percent of North Korea’s population, are undernourished tactical weapon.” dangerous chemicals blew up while waiting to enter the plant, In May, officials revealed that two former agents at France’s – even as neighboring South Korea’s economy flourishes. (Source: AFP) igniting nearby vehicles, according to the official Xinhua news agency. CCTV described the vehicle as a tanker. Rescue efforts and the investigation are still underway, Xinhua said. Mueller focused on tip about WikiLeaks plans, document shows “It was after midnight when I put down my phone to go to Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team seeking comment. in London since 2012. Stone said he wanted with Assange and that he didn’t obtain any bed when I heard a very loud bang, followed by a few more,” believes a conservative author and con- Corsi said the document, which mirrors Corsi to try to obtain emails the group pos- advance knowledge of WikiLeaks’ plans. said a man named Zhang who works in another chemical spiracy theorist tipped off Donald Trump’s similar ones filed by Mueller in previous sessed about Clinton. The document says Corsi said he disclosed to investigators factory some 200 metres away from the blast site. confidant Roger Stone months before plea deals, contains portions of emails Corsi passed Stone’s request to an “overseas – including Mueller team members Jeannie “There was a shaking and two pieces of the ceiling fell. WikiLeaks released thousands of emails he exchanged with Stone in the summer individual,” whom Corsi identified as Ted Rhee, Aaron Zelinsky and Andrew Goldstein I thought it was an earthquake so I hid under a bed for a stolen from Hillary Clinton’s campaign of 2016 about WikiLeaks. But he denied Malloch, a London-based academic who has – that he had told Stone that Assange had while,” he said. chairman, according to a document newly that he intentionally lied to investigators said he was also questioned by Mueller. And Podesta emails. “But I maintained and still “When I looked out of the window I saw a large fireball made public. about the emails, and said that was why he on Aug. 2, 2016, the document quotes Corsi’s do that I figured it out,” he said, adding: “I sweep across the area,” said Zhang, whose car was singed. The document, which was drafted as part rejected the plea offer, which would have response to Stone. made it sound maybe like I had a source, He awoke others in his dormitory and they ran to safety. of a plea offer to Jerome Corsi, provides charged him with one count of making “Word is friend in embassy plans 2 more but I didn’t. And I don’t think Stone ever “Even the grass outside our factory was on fire, so we quickly an unprecedented window into an active false statements. dumps. One shortly after I’m back. 2nd in believed me.” put it out,” he said. part of Mueller’s investigation into Russian “I did not ever willfully and knowingly Oct. Impact planned to be very damaging,” Corsi said the prosecutors wouldn’t believe Beijing is hosting the 2022 Winter Games, with some of election interference and possible coordi- give them false information,” Corsi said. He wrote Corsi, who was in Europe at the time. him, thinking he was trying to protect Stone. the mountain sport competitions taking place on the outskirts nation with Trump’s associates. It reveals said he forgot about the emails in question He then told Stone it was time for Podesta to And he believes he was threatened with a of Zhangjiakou. that Mueller is keenly focused on whether during his first interview with Mueller’s team, “be exposed as in bed w enemy if they are not felony charge “because I couldn’t give them The explosion occurred in the city’s Qiaodong district. Americans close to the Trump campaign noting they were among 60,000 contained ready to drop HRC,” a reference to Clinton. what they wanted” by connecting Stone to Snowboard, cross-country skiing and freestyle skiing events had any foreknowledge of WikiLeaks’ plans on the laptop he provided to the special On Tuesday, Corsi told the AP that the WikiLeaks. will be held some 45 minutes away in Chongli. to release hacked material during the 2016 counsel’s office. email he sent Stone – which accurately fore- Corsi said he also believes the plea offer Road and industrial accidents are common in China. presidential campaign. According to the document, the emails cast that WikiLeaks would release derogatory was extended to prevent him from speaking A blast at a chemical plant in southwest Sichuan province The document’s contents were first re- were exchanged in late July and early Au- information about Podesta in October – was publicly about his contact with Mueller’s left 19 dead and 12 injured in July. The company had under- ported by NBC News, and a copy of it was gust of 2016, more than two months before based on his own deduction and not the team. He said he doesn’t know if Mueller taken illegal construction that had not passed safety checks, posted online by The Washington Post. Corsi WikiLeaks published thousands of emails result of any inside information or a source will now follow through with charging him. according to local authorities. told The Associated Press Tuesday evening stolen from the private email account of close to the group. The last time his attorney, David Gray, heard In 2015, giant chemical blasts in a container storage facility that the document had been provided to Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. “It’s all a guess. That email – ‘word is’ from Mueller’s team was on Monday after killed at least 165 people in the northern port city of Tianjin. his attorney by Mueller’s team. Stone has In late July 2016, the document shows, – is 100 percent speculation on my part, a he had publicly rejected the deal. The explosions caused more than $1 billion in damage and denied knowing about WikiLeaks plans’ Stone emailed Corsi, asking him to get in package so that Roger’s not going to dismiss According to Corsi, they told Gray: “We’ll sparked widespread anger at a perceived lack of transparen- ahead of time. Mueller spokesman Peter touch with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, it because I’m real sure I’m right,” he said. take it from here.” cy over the accident’s causes and its environmental impact. Carr did not immediately return a message who has been living in Ecuador’s embassy He said that he has never had contact (Source: AP) (Source: AFP) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS NOVEMBER 29, 2018 Flying water bottles and a stat-off - why it was Postponed Copa Libertadores final to be another colorful night for Mourinho played outside Argentina With his team accused of boring the Old Trafford faithful this season, manager Jose Mourinho is at least providing his own pyrotechnics on the touchline. The postponed Copa Libertadores final second leg between River The Portuguese celebrated Marouane Fellaini’s 91st-min- Plate and Boca Juniors will be played outside of Argentina on ute winner against Young Boys by throwing a crate of drinks 8 or 9 December. bottles to the floor, used his post-match interview to issue a Saturday’s game was initially delayed until Sunday after River message to his “lovers” and finally to declare his goalkeeper Plate supporters attacked the Boca Juniors team bus, before “the best in the world”. being postponed. A statement from South American football’s ’You know I’m right’ governing body Conmebol said a date and venue would be de- First, the celebration. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain cided “as soon as possible”. The first leg of the final ended 2-2. famously marked the end of particularly satisfying gigs, Conmebol president Alejandro Dominguez met with the sometimes just individual songs, by reducing his guitar to presidents of both clubs on Tuesday. splinters against the nearest amp. Mourinho channelled The statement added that Conmebol would co-ordinate secu- his inner rock god as he took out his emotion on a basket rity with the relevant authorities before the rearranged fixture. of bottles. There hasn’t been this much disdain for a wa- The fixture had been poised as the biggest club match in the tercarrier at Old Trafford since Eric Cantona was asked for 127-year history of Argentine football. his opinion on international team-mate Didier Deschamps. But it was marred by the “shameful” attack in which Boca Mourinho was criticised for his reaction by Rio Ferdinand players suffered cuts from the glass from broken windows, and on BT Sport, with the former United defender suggesting it were also affected by the tear gas used by police to disperse the was an attempt to grab the limelight. crowds. A number of players, including Boca’s former Manches- Jose disagreed. “The ones who comment on football, ter City, Manchester United and Juventus striker Carlos Tevez, not a lot of them have been on the touchline,” he said. “For reportedly suffered from dizziness and vomiting and were being those who speak about expressing frustration on the bench treated by club doctors. I would invite them to come and sit there as a manager. The mayor of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, said “Maybe they prefer lots of holidays in Barbados and they River Plate hooligans described as the “mafia of Argentine soccer” can go to the TV and use their electric dummies. were behind the attack. “That is much more comfortable than being on the bench. It came a day after police raided the house of a leader of the I am pretty sure a proper football manager would never Barra Brava - the powerful and violent wing of River’s hardcore criticise another for what they do on the touchline. For the support - and confiscated 10m pesos (£207,285) and 300 tickets ones who have a nice life, it is different.” for the final. Paraguay, Brazil and Italy have all offered to hold This is not Mourinho’s first water bottle-based incident - in the match. On Monday, the city government of Genoa wrote to November 2016 he was sent off and had to serve an additional both clubs offering to host the postponed match because of the one-match touchline ban after kicking a water bottle deliberately goals as rivals Manchester City and Liverpool. I know he wants to stay’ role immigrants from the Italian city played in forming the two during a Premier League game against West Ham. Arsene An ‘expected goals’ graphic produced by number-cruncher Mourinho did have praise for his goalkeeper though after Argentine clubs. Wenger was sent off for booting a water bottle in frustration Michael Caleyafter the weekend draw with Crystal Palace David de Gea produced a superb sprawling stop to keep (Source: BBC) when he was managing Arsenal at Old Trafford in 2009. And showed the goalless stalemate was exactly what they deserved. United level earlier in the match. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp apologised for throwing one “The most important thing is to qualify and for some of The 28-year-old is committed to Old Trafford until the to the floor in last season’s draw with Arsenal. my lovers, and those that like stats, I am 14 seasons in the summer, with the club having an option to extend to 2020. 14 from 14 Champions League and 14 times my teams have qualified “He is a world-class player; the best goalkeeper in the Italian police probe Mourinho was in no mood to discuss the statistical small through to the group stages,” said Mourinho. world,” said Mourinho. “I know he wants to stay and the print of his side’s season either. “The season I was not in the Champions League, I won the agent wants to do what the player wants. The board want Sampdoria owner and United are closer to the bottom of the Premier League Europa League.” The Portuguese has done his homework. him to stay and are working on that.” than the top, while conceding more than four times as many Nothing wrong with that stat. (Source: BBC) Obiang sale Bale hopes Roma display will galvanize Milan, Stockholm present 2026 Winter Italian police said on Wednesday that they had seized 2.6 million euros ($2.9 million) in cash and property from Sampdoria club ‘turbulent’ season Olympic bids as rivals drop away president Massimo Ferrero, the club and five other people as part of a financial investigation. The investigators are particularly interested in funds related to the 2015 transfer of Pedro Obiang, a Spanish midfielder, from Sampdoria to West Ham. The investigation centres on fake receipts and invoices, money laundering and fraud allegations, and relates to the flow of money between different companies in the “Ferrero Group”. Ferrero is a film producer and owns cinemas in Rome. The Guardia di Finanza, the Italian financial police, said in a statement that a sum of 1.2 million euros related to the Obiang sale could have been diverted “and partly reused to clean up the financial positions of other indebted companies in the group and to finance two other related companies in the Ferrero group” as part of the production of a film. The police statement said they had seized financial assets, including more than 200,000 euros worth from the club, and a building in Florence. Ferrero, 68, purchased the Genoa club in the summer of 2014. Gareth Bale has borne the brunt of crit- played the ball like we normally do. We got Milan and Stockholm presented their bids Sala cited a poll commissioned by the They won their only Serie A title in 1991, with their biggest icism for Real Madrid’s recent decline some confidence back and need to build to host the 2026 Winter Olympics at a Tokyo IOC that showed 83 percent of the region’s European success the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1990. but the Welsh forward hopes Tuesday’s on that now,” Bale told reporters. meeting Wednesday, the last two cities citizens were in favour of hosting the games. This season they are 12th in Italian top-flight league, 21 points 2-0 win at Roma to seal top spot in “We know obviously the start of the standing after a string of withdrawals. He said the bid combined the attraction behind champions Juventus. Champions League Group G can act season was not exactly as we would like. The race to host the 2026 Winter Games of the Alps -- “the most beautiful mountains (Source: AFP) as the catalyst to turn their faltering We need to keep working hard together has highlighted a general trend in recent in the world” -- and the city of Milan, which campaign around. as a team to get the performances and get years against staging the expensive show- he said was a “globally recognised brand” The 29-year-old has failed to score in his the results... and get back up the table in case sporting event. The Swiss city of Sion as well as a “symbol of style and elegance.” last nine league appearances and came in the league.” and an Austrian bid based around Graz For Stockholm, the president of the for scathing criticism following Saturday’s Bale has largely failed to fill the huge withdrew, citing a lack of either political Swedish Olympic Committee, Mats Arjes, Mexican referee on hunger stunning 3-0 loss at Eibar, the three-times void left by Cristiano Ronaldo as Real have or public support. Then the Canadian city said the bid was “something bold, something defending European champions fifth league toiled domestically, sitting sixth in the La of Calgary formally pulled the plug on its new and something fun.” strike outside federation defeat of the season. Liga and registering their worst goal dif- bid last Monday after residents roundly Bid head Richard Brisius described the offices in protest at ‘racism’ He gave the ball away 20 times against ference after 13 league games in 18 years, rejected it in a referendum. The northern Swedish capital as a “beautiful, stunning the Basque side and registered just one scoring 20 and conceding 19. Japanese city of Sapporo originally threw and sustainable city which ... offers you shot on goal, with an online survey by He admitted to feeling disappointed its hat into the ring to host the 2026 Games everything you want.” Spanish newspaper Marca revealing with how the season has gone since the but then shifted its focus to 2030. “Our plan reflects the IOC’s new reality Real fans did not want him to start in Portuguese talisman left to join Juventus. Perhaps mindful of recent public support which is ‘use what you have, where you the Italian capital. “It has been a bit of a turbulent start issues, the mayor of Milan -- which plans have it and build as little as possible’,” he Rather like his team, though, he rose to the season but we have to keep fighting to co-host with the nearby ski resort of said, adding that “this is how we have been to the occasion in the Champions League every game no matter what position we Cortina d’Ampezzo -- said his residents doing business in Sweden for many years.” and after a mixed first-half display, Bale are in. That is football, it can be frustrat- were firmly behind the bid. “You have a city and whole country that you broke the deadlock with his third goal in ing sometimes when things are not quite “I’m proud to say that the citizens have can trust to deliver what the Olympic Move- four European outings, later helping set coming off,” he added. responded with remarkable enthusiasm ment needs right now,” concluded Brisius. up Lucas Vazquez to seal victory. “But I know from experience you just to the vision and challenge of becoming IOC President Thomas Bach has admitted “The manager told us at halftime we have to keep working hard, together as a an Olympic host city,” Giuseppe Sala told there was no fall-back plan if something went needed to keep playing the way we know. team, and we did that today.” delegates from 206 Olympic committees awry with the remaining two bids. Mexican referee Adalid Maganda has begun a hunger strike And in the second half, we played very well, (Source: Reuters) from around the world. (Source: AFP) outside the headquarters of the country’s Football Federation (Femexfut) in protest at his dismissal. After being sacked in April, Maganda attempted to return to his job but did not reach an agreement with the country’s Robbie Keane retires: Ireland hero with the record to back it up referees commission for his reinstatement. Former Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland striker best that I could be, so I embraced new challenges be it at The 34-year-old, who originates from the town of Huehuetan Robbie Keane has announced his retirement from profes- Coventry City, Inter Milan, Leeds United and then possibly in the state of Guerrero, accused the referee commission of sional football. the most successful period of my club football career with racism and discrimination. He said Arturo Brizio, president Keane, 38, scored a record 68 goals in 146 international Tottenham Hotspur. of that commission, insulted him for both his skin color and appearances and was recently named as part of new Republic “I had the great privilege to represent and captain Tot- his height. manager Mick McCarthy’s backroom team. tenham over 238 games. I had many wonderful times there The last game Maganda took part in was on Jan. 16 as The former Republic captain scored 325 goals in 737 and I will look back on my days at White Hart Lane with a fourth official. He has set up camp outside the Femexfut appearances for 10 clubs during a 23-year playing career. great fondness. The club will always hold a special place headquarters and is refusing to eat until he gets his job back. Keane retired from international football in 2016. in my heart. “I’m not fighting for money,” Maganda told local media. “Today, after 23 wonderful years, I am formally announc- “There were shorter times spent at Glasgow Celtic and “I’m just fighting for fairness and dignity. ing my retirement as a professional footballer,” Keane said Liverpool, two truly iconic global institutions, and then West “I want my job back as what I achieved I earned by putting in a statement. Ham United, before Los Angeles became our home away in a lot of effort on the pitch, without getting any gifts from “From Crumlin United around the world to the likes of from home. We spent five hugely successful and rewarding anyone. They are the ones to blame for being racists.” Milan, London and Los Angeles, I could never have imagined years, both on and off the field, with LA Galaxy. Maganda said he has no choice but to go on a hunger strike. the path my football life would take. “After a spell with Aston Villa, my playing career con- “We have taken this decision because the Federation has “It has exceeded all the hopes I had as a football-mad Distinguished club career cluded with an exciting few months with ATK, a club which taken us for a ride since this [process] began,” he said. “In boy growing up in Dublin.” He enjoyed two successful spells as a player with Spurs, also gave me my first experience of management. the first hearing, I was told I would not get my job back, then “Leaving home at 15 years of age to pursue my profes- and his other clubs included Inter Milan. Leeds United, “Playing and captaining my country has been the highlight in the second, they said that I would but only officiate in the sional career in England seems a lifetime ago now. I was Liverpool, Celtic (on loan) and LA Galaxy. of my career. I enjoyed every moment of the most incredible second division and in the third, they told me I would get to a street footballer full of hope armed with huge ambitions “From Wolves, my professional career followed a path journey with the Ireland team over an 18-year period and as referee in the first division but that they didn’t know when and a determination to succeed. that took me far and wide, giving my family and I the op- I have said many times before, words cannot express how that would be. “All I needed was that one chance. I would like to pay a portunity to meet and work with so many wonderful people proud I am to be Irish. I hope I have made the fans proud “They are the ones to blame for being racists.” special thanks to Wolverhampton Wanderers for believing and experience several different countries and cultures. wearing the green jersey and armband. (Source: ESPN) in me and giving me that chance.” “I have always wanted to test myself and strive to be the (Source: Sky Sports) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 29, 2018 SPORTS 15 AFC Special awards for Iran match Iran lose to Uzbekistan in CAFA Women’s officials Faghani, Reza and Mansouri Championship Muscat: Islamic Republic of Iran’s Alireza Faghani received the AFC Referees Special SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran lost to Uzbekistan 2-1 at Award 2018 at the 2018 AFC Annual Awards deskthe 2018 CAFA Women’s Championship on in Muscat on Wednesday. Tuesday. The Iranian football team had started the competition Faghani has taken charge of a number of with a 6-0 win over Afghanistan on Sunday. high-profile games in Asia and is up there Team Melli will play Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on Thursday among the best in the world. and Saturday respectively. The 2018 edition of the FIFA World Cup The 2018 CAFA Women’s Championship is the first edition in Russia was Faghani’s second stint at the of the CAFA Women’s Championship, an association football global stage. tournament for women’s national teams from the Central Asian The Iranian was tasked with refereeing Football Association. the 2018 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff It’s being held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from Nov. 23 to Dec. between Belgium and England at the Saint 1, 2018. Petersburg. It was Faghani’s fourth appointment in Russia 2018, after overseeing the Round of 16 tie between France and Argentina; the Group E tie between Serbia and Brazil and the Group F match between Germany and Iranian beat Indian Mexico. opponent in int’l badminton His appointment equalled UAE’s Ali Bujsaim who officiated Sweden’s 4-0 win competitions over Bulgaria in the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA third-place playoff at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. IRNA — An Iranian badminton player in the first day of the In- In his impressive career, the 40-year- ternational Badminton Championships on Wednesday defeated old has officiated finals of the 2014 AFC his Indian opponent. Champions League, 2015 AFC Asian Cup, Cup, AFC Champions League and two years Cup Qualifiers Asian play-off match between AFC competitions as well as the Olympic According to Iran’s Badminton Federation, Amir Jabbari 2015 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2016 later, participated in the 2014 FIFA World Syria and Australia. Football Tournament and the FIFA Con- managed to beat his rival 2-1. Olympic Football Tournament. Cup in Brazil as a support referee. Compatriot Sokhandan Reza, the 2016 federations Cup. The international tournament is being held in India from Faghani started his career in 1994 and The 2016 AFC Referee of the Year built AFC Assistant Referee of the Year, was also Mohammadreza Mansouri began his November 28 to December 2. became a FIFA referee in 2008. In 2009, on the experience and officiated in the 2017 honoured. career about 20 years ago and has been an In addition to Jabari, an Iranian female badminton player he become an elite referee and went on to FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final and He has been an active FIFA assistant ref- international referee since 2012. Sorayya Aghaei has taken part in the competitions. build his career by officiating in the AFC was also tasked with the 2018 FIFA World eree since 2003 and has overseen numerous (Source: AFC)

Aliasghar Hasanzadeh named the Iran wins China at World 2018 AFC Futsal Player U16 Chess Olympiad

Islamic Republic of Iran’s Aliasghar Hasanzadeh uable Player, contributing 12 goals to steer MNA — The Iranian junior chess team defeated China in the has been named the 2018 AFC Futsal Player of them to the AFC Futsal Championship title 4th round of 2018 World Youth U-16 Chess Olympiad in Turkey. the Year, winning the prestigious honour for in Chinese Taipei. The Iranian team edge past China on Tuesday 2.5-1.5. Alireza the fourth time. In continental club competition, Hasan- Firouzja and Arash Daghli outplayed their Chinese rivals while Hasanzadeh, 31, also won the award in 2014, zadeh proved why he is the best when he Amirreza Pour Aghabala conceded a defeat and Mahdi Gholami’s 2016 and 2017, surpassing compatriot Vahid guided Mes Sungun of Iran to their maiden match ended with a draw. Shamsaei who won the accolade in 2007, 2008 AFC Club Futsal Championship in Yogy- Iranian team comprises of the four mentioned boys plus Mot- and 2015. akarta. ahare Asadi as the girl member. In 2018, Hasanzadeh was Iran’s Most Val- (Source: AFC) The team has gained two 4-0 victories over Romania and Slovakia while suffering a defeat to Sri Lanka in the previous rounds. It will face Serbia today at the 5th round. At the end of the 4th round, Belarus tops the table with 8 points IFCPF secretary general lauds organization of while USA and Russia stand next with 8 and 7 respectively. Iran has achieved the rank of 11 till now with 6 points. The 2018 edition of World Youth U-16 Chess Olympiad kicked Asia-Oceania Championship off on November 24 in Konta, Turkey. The event will have 9 SPORTS TEHRAN — The International Federa- World Cup in Spain.” rounds, wrapping up on December 3. desktion for Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) 2018 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships is an impor- secretary general Sam Turner praised the organization of tant event for the participants since the top two teams will the IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championship. advance directly to the 2019 IFCPF World Cup – Pinto The competition has brought Iran, Australia, Jordan, Madrid, Spain. South Korea and Thailand together in Kish Island in southern Football 7-a-side is governed by the Cerebral Palsy In- Iran in Persian Gulf. ternational Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) Iran to participate at Asian “The organization of the IFCPF Asia-Oceania Champi- using the modified rules of the International Federation of Women’s Handball C’ship onship in Kish Island is very good and I think the organizers Associated Football (FIFA). are doing well to host the event,” Turner said. IFCPF became the official IF for cerebral palsy football Asked him about the level of the competition, the Eng- following the sport realizing its independence from January Tasnim — Iran national women’s handball team will leave Teh- lishman said, “The level of the competition is high and some 1 in 2015, after 37 years, from the Cerebral Palsy Interna- ran for Japan on Wednesday to participate at the 2018 Asian good teams are competing for their places in the 2019 IFCPF tional Sport and Recreation Association. Women’s Handball Championship. Team Melli is pitted against Japan (host), Kazakhstan, Aus- tralia and New Zealand in Group A. Group B consists of South Korea, China, India, Hong Kong Friendly: Iran to play Qatar on Dec. 31 and Singapore. Iran will face Kazakhstan on December 1 at the Yatsushiro SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran na- Darwin Daniel Machis found the back Gymnasium. desk tional football team are of Iran’s net in the 35th net. The 2018 Asian Women’s Handball Championship will be scheduled to meet Qatar in a friendly match Seven minutes later, Charleroi strik- the 17th edition of the Asian Women’s Handball Championship, in Doha on Dec. 31. er Ali Gholizadeh equalized the match, which will take place from 30 November to 9 December 2018 in The warm-up match will be held as part dribbling past the Venezuelan defender Kumamoto, Yamaga and Yatsushiro, Japan. of preparation for the 2019 AFC Asian and opened the goal with a shot from The tournament will be held under the aegis of Asian Handball Cup. Iran national football team will hold outside the area. Federation and will act as the Asian qualifying tournament for a training camp at the Aspire Academy in Iran national football team will prepare the 2019 World Women’s Handball Championship. Doha, Qatar ahead of the Asian Cup. for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, where they Team Melli will reportedly play two have been drawn along with Iraq, Yemen friendly matches with Lebanon and Pales- and Vietnam in Group D. tine in Doha. The 2019 AFC Asian Cup will be held in Carlos Queiroz’s team played Venezuela on the United Arab Emirates from January 5 Nov. 20 in Doha and the match finished 1-1. to February 1. IOC chief: Tokyo ‘best- Japan backs incumbent in Asian confederation election prepared’ city for Olympics apan Football Association President Kozo Tashi- success in developing Asian soccer “both on mere one example of the meaningful invest- the FIFA Council in the upcoming election IOC chief Thomas Bach said Wednesday that Tokyo was ma on Wednesday threw his support behind and off the pitch” and for promoting commer- ments AFC has made under the leadership of and “would like to continue working together the best-prepared host Olympic city he could remember, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa’s bid cial stability in Asia’s rapidly evolving market. Sheikh Salman,” Tajima said in a statement with Sheikh Salman for the development with just more than 600 days to go until the 2020 Opening for re-election as Asian Football Confederation “AFC’s recent commercial rights agreement released by the JFC. of world football as well as Asian football.” Ceremony. president.Tashima praised Sheikh Salman’s with DDMC Fortis International Limited is a Tashima said he would run for a place on (Source: Japan Times) Speaking to representatives from 206 Olympic Com- mittees from around the world, Bach noted he had some “unfortunate” experiences with the preparations of some Olympic Games. Boomers close in on World Cup berth But he added: “I do not remember any host city which was The Australian men’s basketball team need just one more Dellavedova for the World Cup. so far in its preparations two years before the Olympic Games win from four qualifiers to clinch their spot at the FIBA “We’re really fortunate at the depth of talent we have in than Tokyo.” World Cup, but coach Andrejs Lemanis wants to get the Australia and not only the skill level but the attitude of the Japan has mostly lived up to its reputation for efficiency, with job done sooner rather than later. players,” Lemanis said. construction projects generally on schedule. The Boomers take on Iran on Friday and Qatar on “And their commitment to playing for Australia and However, there have been concerns over the summer heat Monday, with both matches at Melbourne’s Margaret doing whatever it takes to help the sport.” in Tokyo affecting endurance events such as the marathon and Court Arena. Lemanis said as few as one or upwards of three NBL race walking. Australia are top of Group F and need just one win to players could suit up in China depending on availability There has also been some wrangling over the cost of the Games qualify for next year’s tournament in China, with tricky of US-based stars. -- split between the 2020 Organizing Committee, the Tokyo city away games in Iran and Kazakhstan in February to come. Dellavedova is on the outer at the Milwaukee Bucks, government and the central government -- with disagreements “It would certainly be nice to secure our spot in the World seeing his game time slashed this season, but it appears he over what counts as Olympics-linked expenditure. Cup ... obviously winning (one of) these games at home now need not worry how that will affect his World Cup chances. According to the latest version of the budget, organizers project and ticking that box would be a good outcome,” Lemanis “Delly’s got a body of work already with the Boomers the total cost of the Games at 1.35 trillion yen, or around $12 billion. told reporters on Wednesday. tables on that.” anyway,” Lemanis said. Organizers are expected to release an updated version of the “(Iran) are a good basketball nation, a proud basketball With the NBA in full swing, Lemanis has again filled his “He’s someone who absolutely loves playing for Australia budget next month. nation. 12-man squad with the best NBL talent available. and is 100 per cent committed. Bach said he expected an “excellent Olympic Games from the “This is a top-of-the-table clash. He praised the work ethic and spirit of his players, with “If he’s healthy and available for selection I’m sure he’s organizational point of view, from the engagement point of view “We had a great battle with them in the gold medal game most knowing full well they will make way for the likes a pretty good chance of being selected.” and from the atmosphere point of view.” of the Asia Cup and I know they’ll be keen to try to turn the of Ben Simmons, Dante Exum, Patty Mills and Matthew (Source: ESPN) (Source: AFP) Prayer Times Noon:11:53 Evening: 17:11 Dawn: 5:26 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:54 (tomorrow) NOVEMBER 29, 2018 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 Actor Jamshid Mashayekhi celebrates Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 84th birthday at Iranian Artists Forum Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. ARTTEHRAN – Jamshid Tel: 88911433 deskMashayekhi, star of Webmaster: [email protected] acclaimed TV series such as “Hezar Dastan” Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 and movies like “Qeisar”, celebrated his No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran 84th birthday at the Iranian Artists Forum P.o. Box: 14155-4843 on Tuesday evening. Zip Code: 1599814713 His colleagues, including Reza Kianian, Reza Ruygari, and Alireza Shojanuri, and a number of officials like Farabi Cinema Foundation director Alireza Tabesh, attended the ceremony. Speaking at the ceremony, Kianian called Mashayekhi one of the five actors who made good progress in Iran’s New GUIDE TO Wave cinema during the 1960s. SPIRITUAL AWAKENING Film critic Reza Dorostakar said that Mashayekhi has had a very impressive acting career. “However, he has sometimes One whose desires are endless, will go wrong accepted to collaborate with young filmmakers to help them improve their in his deeds and will suffer loss. works.” Imam Ali (AS) Critic Parviz Jahed also said that actors such as Mashayekhi were allowed to continue working in Iran’s post-revolution cinema due to their impressive acting careers in the New Wave cinema. “For his brilliant acting, he will live Enemy’s full-scale soft war in the memory of Iranian cinema history against Iran undeniable: Leader forever,” he stated. The celebration came to an end with ARTTEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution a brief speech by Mashayekhi, in which deskAyatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that he recited verses from the Divan of Hafez the enemy’s ongoing full-scale soft war against Iran is undeniable. and expressed his thanks to the organizers Actor Jamshid Mashayekhi (C) poses with his colleagues, including Reza Kianian (L), during his 84th birthday celebration at the of the party. Iranian Artists Forum in Tehran on November 27, 2018. (Mehr/Masud Saki)

Shajarian to perform Kamran Shirdel to display rarely-seen at Istanbul music festival photos, docs on Islamic Revolution

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in an undated photo. He made the remarks in a note published by his office on Wednesday. Copies of the note have been sent to a number Iranian filmmakers who met the Leader on November 15. “Today, the enemy’s full-scale soft war is not deniable,” Aya- tollah Khamenei wrote and added, “However, some people deny A poster Homayun Shajarian’s concert at the 1st International Folk Music Festival A poster for Kamran Shirdel’s exhibition at Tehran’s Nabshi Gallery. it and this is part of the soft war.” in Istanbul. ART He said that artists and thinkers are the armed forces, which TEHRAN – Tehran’s the showcase. Author and translator ARTTEHRAN – The the event. deskNabshi Gallery plans Babak Ahmadi has written a preface should fight the war. desk He asked the cineastes to make films on topics such as martyrs, celebrated Iranian His ensemble features Sohrab Purnazeri to organize an exhibition to feature a to the book. the Sacred Defense, revolution, Islamic lifestyle, and Arbaeen vocalist Homayun Shajarian will give a on Kamancheh, Tahmures Purnazeri on collection of Kamran Shirdel’s rarely Shirdel’s credits include “Women’s pilgrimage. concert during the 1st International Folk tar and setar, Hossein Rezainia on daf, seen photos and documentary films on Quarter”, “Tehran Is the Capital of Iran”, Music Festival on December 3 at Cemal Ain Meshkatian on percussion, Mahyar the 1970 Islamic Revolution. “The Morning of the Fourth Day” and Resit Rey Music Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tarihi on santur and Arian Keshishi on The exhibit entitled “Margins: The “Solitude Opus 1”. the organizers announced on Wednesday. bass guitar. Revolution in the Wanderings of Kamran He is also the director of the acclaimed Movies from Iran to compete Songs from his acclaimed albums Ensembles from Spain, South Korea, Shirdel”, will open on Friday. documentary “The Night It Rained”. “Neither Angel Nor Devil Am I”, “The Azerbaijan and Turkey will also give The photos have recently been The exhibit will run until January 25, in Greece Olympia festival Lords of the Secrets” and “The Mirrors” performances at the festival, which will published in a book, which will be 2019 at the gallery located at 51 Khosro have been selected to be performed at unveiled at the opening ceremony of ARTTEHRAN – Two films from Iranian direc- be held from December 1 to 5. Alley, Villa St. desktors will compete in the various sections of the Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People, which will be held in Athens, Greece from December 1 to 8. “SpongeBob SquarePants” creator dies at age 57 “The Skier” by Fereidun Najafi will go on screen in the offi- LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — “SpongeBob partner to everyone at Nickelodeon, and our Hollywood movies and a Broadway musical. cial competition while “Butterfly” by Maryam Khalilzadeh will SquarePants” creator Stephen Hillenburg, who hearts go out to his entire family.” The television series has aired in more than compete in the short animated film section. brought the zany cartoon marine underworld of Hillenburg was a marine biology teacher in 200 nations and has been translated into more Bikini Bottom to television, the movies and the Southern California when he started creating than 60 languages. stage, has died at the age of 57, the Nickelodeon sea creatures as teaching tools. “Steve imbued SpongeBob SquarePants television network said on Tuesday. The first episode of “SpongeBob with a unique sense of humor and innocence Hillenburg had said last year that he was SquarePants,” featuring the cheerful yellow that has brought joy to generations of kids suffering from the neurodegenerative disease sea sponge, who lived in an underwater and families everywhere,” the Nickelodeon ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He pineapple, and his friends Mr. Krabs, Larry statement said. died on Monday. the Lobster, Patrick, and their Krusty Krab “His utterly original characters and the world “We are incredibly saddened by the news that restaurant hangout, aired on U.S. television of Bikini Bottom will long stand as a reminder Steve Hillenburg has passed away following a in May 1999. of the value of optimism, friendship and the battle with ALS,” the network said in a statement. “SpongeBob SquarePants” creator Stephen The series went on to win multiple awards, limitless power of imagination.” “He was a beloved friend and long-time creative Hillenburg in an undated photo. produced a series of spin-off books, two Nickelodeon is a unit of Viacom.

National Board of Review names Predator cities fight for survival in “Green Book” year’s best film Peter Jackson’s “Mortal Engines” A scene from Iranian director Fereidun Najafi’s “The Skier”. NEW YORK (AP) — The feel-good road- Barry Jenkins’ James Baldwin adaptation LONDON (Reuters) — Oscar winning film career off the ground ... He’s done “The Skier” tells the story of a boy from Kuhrang who faces trip drama “Green Book” was named the best “If Beale Street Could Talk” took prizes for filmmaker Peter Jackson is returning to an amazing job.” problems on his way to take a little ibex to a tribal ritual in a snowy, film of the year, and its star, Viggo Mortensen, Jenkins’ screenplay and for Regina King’s the big screen with adventure fantasy In the film, humans live in gigantic remote region in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Province. best actor, by the National Board of Review supporting performance. “Mortal Engines”, a post-apolcalyptic tale moving cities which devour smaller towns. “Butterfly” is a love story about a man who tries to transform in one of the first in a parade of awards sea- Though sometimes called an Oscar of survival in his first feature film project A group made up of an outlaw, outcast 1001 girls to butterflies with his magical musical instrument. son honors. harbinger, the National Board of Review, a since his award-winning adaptations of and mysterious woman lead a rebellion The NBR awards, announced Tuesday, 109-year-old organization of film enthusiasts, J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. against one such predator city, London. gave the Oscar hopes of Universal’s “Green academics and professionals, has typically The New Zealand-born director, “It was the fear of saying yes because NEWS IN BRIEF Book” a jolt. The film, directed by Peter Far- deviated from eventual best picture win- known for his “The Lord of the Rings” I knew how much work it would be and relly (who typically makes broader comedies ners. It last year chose Steven Spielberg’s and “The Hobbit” trilogies, produced it was also a fear of saying no, if I said no like “There’s Something About Mary” with “The Post.” Before that, its top winners were and co-wrote the script for the film, and someone else made it and it wasn’t Al Arz, Farabi his brother, Bobby) was declared an Oscar “Manchester By the Sea,” ?Mad Max: Fury based on the young adult book series any good, I’d be kicking myself,” Rivers CEOs meet in favorite after taking the audience award at Road” and “A Most Violent Year.” by Philip Reeve. said about directing “Mortal Engines”. the Toronto International Film Festival. On Monday night, the Gotham Awards Oscar-winning visual effects artist “It was a freight train, it was a big Tehran But in two weeks of release, it has struggled , which honor independent film, selected Christian Rivers, who worked with film that came in and I had to jump on to latch on at the box office, and some crit- Chloe Zhao’s “The Rider” as its best feature Jackson on the Tolkien adaptations as and take the ride.” ics have called its portrayal of race relations film of the year. Critics groups will soon start well as 2005’s “King Kong” makes his On top of his work in the art ARTTEHRAN – The director of Iran’s Farabi old-fashioned and criticized it for relying on weighing in with their picks, starting with the directorial in the film, set hundreds of department, Rivers was a second unit deskCinema Foundation, Alireza Tabesh, and “white savior” tropes. It stars Mahershala Ali New York Film Critics Circle on Thursday. years after a catastrophic event wipes director on the last two “Hobbit” films, Lebanon’s Alarz Production Company CEO Ali Zaher held as classical pianist Don Shirley, who tours Other prizes from the National Board of out civilizations. the last of which came out in 2014. a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss ways to expand the Deep South in 1962 with a racist Ital- Review included best ensemble for the cast of “Once ‘The Hobbit’ was done, we were Since then, Jackson directed World relations. ian-American driver played by Mortensen. the romantic-comedy hit “Crazy Rich Asians”; looking forward to getting this made,” War One documentary “They Shall Not Ways to collaborate on joint film projects and plans to screen Bradley Cooper’s lauded remake “A Star best documentary to the popular Ruth Bader Jackson told Reuters at the film’s premiere Grow Old”, released this month. Iranian films in Lebanon were also discussed at the meeting. Is Born” also took several top awards, in- Ginsberg chronicle “RBG”; best screenplay in London on Tuesday. “Mortal Engines” features a young Zaher is in Tehran to attend the 15th International Resistance cluding best director for Cooper, best actress to Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed”; best “I didn’t want (Rivers) to make his first cast led by Icelandic actress Hera Hilmar. Film Festival. for Lady Gaga and best supporting actor for animated feature to “Incredibles 2?; best feature with somebody else ... I wanted “Matrix” and “The Hobbit” actor Hugo Sam Elliott. foreign language film to “Cold War.” to be part of helping him get his feature Weaving also stars in the film.