Tehran Times That Iran Has Stopped Implementing Some Parts “We Can Pass Problems Through Unity, the U.S

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16 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13390 Thursday MAY 16, 2019 Ordibehesht 26, 1398 Ramadan 10, 1440 Neither a war Rouhani says Iranians Zarif says Iran most Marc Wilmots will happen; nor will can pass problems sustainable, secure named Iran we negotiate 2 through unity 2 partner in region 2 football coach 15 ‘No new limitation in Iran-Iraq trade ties’ Iran has stopped TEHRAN — There is no new limita- bilateral economic relation, the offi- tion in trade relations between Iran cial website of Iran’s Trade Promotion and Iraq and the two neighbors are Organization (TPO) quoted Behzad strongly determined to strengthen as saying. and develop their trade cooperation, The Iranian commercial attaché further Iranian Commercial Attaché to Iraq said that Iran’s monthly exports to Iraq implementing Naser Behzad stressed. is expected to be doubled in the current In this due, the two countries are Iranian calendar month (ends on May 16) following up plans for increasing their from its previous month. 4 parts of JCPOA Israel rushed to seek truce as Gaza See page 2 upped rocket range: Haniyeh TEHRAN — A senior leader of the Pales- Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political tinian resistance movement, Hamas, says bureau, said. Israel scrambled to seek a ceasefire in its Meanwhile, Palestinians are com- recent military aggression against Gaza. memorating the 71st anniversary of the “After the range of the rockets fired Nakba Day (the Day of Catastrophe) in the from Gaza towards the Israeli-occupied occupied West Bank and the blockaded territories, the regime sent representa- Gaza Strip with mass protests against tives for talks with senior members of Israel and the U.S., the regime’s staunch the Palestinian resistance front,” Ismail supporter. 13

Yemeni drones target 10 vital Saudi facilities: Al Mayadeen Yemeni forces have conducted a Al Mayadeen News reported. major drone operation deep inside Meanwhile, Yemeni army forces, sup- Saudi Arabia. Several drones targeted ported by allied fighters from Popular Com- pumping stations in the Kingdom. The mittees, have intercepted and targeted attacks forced Saudi authorities stop an unmanned aerial vehicle belonging pumping crude oil on a major pipe- to the Saudi-led military coalition, as it line across the country. The attacks was flying in the skies over a region in were in response to Saudi Arabia’s the country’s western-central province File photo continued aggression against Yemen, of Sana’a. 13 PERSPECTIVE U.S. does not seek war with Iran, says Mike Pompeo REPORT Hanif Ghaffari TEHRAN — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pom- On Monday, President Hassan Rouhani told Ramin Hossein Abadian Head of the Politics Desk of peo has said the United States does not seek a a meeting with clerics that Iran was “too great to Mehr News Agency the TehranTimes war with Iran, amid rapidly growing tensions be intimidated by anyone”, saying: “God willing journalist between the two countries. we will pass this difficult period with glory and Meanwhile, Supreme Leader of the Islamic our heads held high, and defeat the enemy.” Saudi crown Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also said “No possible confrontation or warlike action is Yemen drone there will be no war with the U.S. envisaged (by Spain) and it is for this reason that prince’s nightmare Speaking during a trip to Russia, where the participation is suspended for the moment,” capabilities turn the he met President Vladimir Putin and Foreign the spokesman added. is coming true Minister Sergey Lavrov, Pompeo said the U.S. On Tuesday, President Trump dismissed tide in the war “fundamentally” did not seek a conflict with Iran, a New York Times report suggesting the mil- rmed drones attacked two oil Al-Jazeera reported. itary had plans to send up to 120,000 troops emeni sources reported of exten- pumping stations in Saudi In remarks carried on state media and on to the Middle East should Iran attack U.S. sive military operations against Arabia on Tuesday, two days A his Twitter account, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei forces there. YSaudi Arabia on Tuesday. after Saudi oil tankers were sab- repeated Tehran’s position that it would not “We have not planned for that. Hopefully we’re An unnamed Yemeni military otaged off the coast of the United negotiate with the U.S. on a nuclear deal to Mike Pompeo met Sergey Lavrov in Sochi to not going to have to plan for that. And if we did source announced that seven drones Arab Emirates. replace the one President Donald Trump with- discuss a range of issues including Iran, Vene- that, we’d send a hell of a lot more troops than attacked some Saudi fundamental in- The drone strikes caused damage to drew from last year. zuela and Ukraine [Pavel Golovkin, Pool/AP] that,” Trump said. stallations. According to the Yemeni one of the stations supplying a pipeline official, “this large military operation running from its oil-rich Eastern Province is in response to the continued ag- to the Yanbu Port on the Red Sea, Saudi gression and blockade of our people Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih confessed [by Saudi Arabia].” in a statement carried by the state-run Trump considering replacing John Bolton: Report Yemeni military spokesman Yahya Saudi Press Agency. TEHRAN — U.S. media reports suggest that Trump and Bolton,” the report added. promise to pull the U.S. military out of Iraq, Saree said seven drones carried out the The reality is that the Saudi President Donald Trump is considering replac- The fighting has also expanded to include U.S. Afghanistan and Syria -- unwinnable post-9/11 strikes on the Saudi oil installations terrorist regime faces a difficult ing his hawkish National Security Adviser John Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, officials say. A wars that have consumed American lives and in towns of Dawadmi and Afif. The situation. US President Donald Bolton over his plans to push the United States State Department official and a former White House military budgets. affected east-west pipeline carried oil Trump seems to have been unable towards a military conflict with Iran, Venezuela official both report that Bolton and Pompeo are That partial retreat remains one of Trump’s from the eastern oil-rich Ras Tanura to rescue Al Saud from the failure and North Korea. “fighting all the time.” strongest points in his pitch to be the so-called oil terminal to Red Sea port city of of the Yemeni war. On the other Bolton “is headed for the exits, having flown A former senior official in the State Department outsider president. Yanbu in the west. hand, the prolongation of the Yeme- too close to the sun on his regime change efforts said Pompeo is enthusiastic about isolating Iran, But Bolton is working in exactly the opposite In a statement carried on state-run ni war has made Western countries for Iran, Venezuela and North Korea,” The Na- but fearful of an actual war that might engulf direction. Saudi Press Agency, Energy Minister look suspicious about the future tional Interest magazine reported Tuesday, citing much of the Middle East. The United States has been ratcheting Khalid al Falih confirmed the attack. and the end of this battle. During sources familiar with the matter. “John Bolton is the problem … Trump’s national up economic and military pressure on Iran, he said at 6-6:30 a.m. local time [on the presidency of Barack Obama “Hearing that Trump wants him out,” a for- security adviser is getting dangerous...particularly with Trump recently urging Tehran to talk May 14, 2019], drones attacked a pe- and the presence of Democrats in mer senior Trump administration official told to the president’s ideals,” Douglas Macgregor, to him. troleum pumping station supplying the White House, the Yemeni war the magazine. a Bolton rival and would-be successor, writes “What I’d like to see with Iran, I’d like to see a pipeline running from its oil-rich began. According to Press TV, there is speculation in in Spectator USA. them call me,” Trump told reporters at the White Eastern Province to the Yanbu Port At that time, the Saudi author- Washington “that there’s now daylight between Trump ran his election campaign on the House on Thursday. 13 on the Red Sea. A fire broke out and ities, and at the head of them, the firefighters later brought it under brutal prince of Saudi Arabia, Mu- control. hammad bin Salman, thought they Such an extensive operation against would be able to capture Sana’a Artists, Saudi fundamental facilities in the and Aden and suppress the revo- city of Yanbu reveals the drone capa- lution of the Yemeni people for a bilities of Yemeni nation and army, very short time (two weeks)! Even experts receive in addition to their powerful missile the Saudi authorities guaranteed work. Tuesday drone operation showed the Obama administration in this Ferdowsi Yemen’s drone capabilities to Saudis. regard. Of course, Yemen drone work is It’s been more than 4 years since Medals not a new development. Two years the start of the Yemeni war! The ago, Yemeni officials displayed their main fear and nightmare of the Saudi TEHRAN – Russian graphic designer Sergey homemade drones in an exhibition crown prince, Mohamed bin Salman, Feofanov, Iranian experts Seyyed Fat’hollah where the variety of drones were in- is that Riyadh will have to retreat Mojtabai and Sajjad Aidanlu, and a performer troduced to the visitors. In fact, Yemen from this battle without reaching of naqqali, Mostafa Saeidi, were honored with started producing drones just 700 days its preset goals in Yemen. This Ferdowsi Medals during a ceremony in Mashhad after Saudi Arabia’s coalition started nightmare is being interpreted! on Tuesday. its brutal attack against the country’s Undoubtedly, in the near future, The University of Ferdowsi was the main defenseless citizens. Saudi officials will have to accept organizer of the ceremony attended by Cinema Ansar Allah drone capability was a major defeat in Yemen. In this huge Organization of Iran director Hossein Entezami beyond expectations. In a recent re- and irreparable failure, American and a number of art and cultural figures. port, Wall Street Journal said that officials and European countries Abdollah Heydari Feofanov is a senior stage and graphic designer. according to the people familiar with like Germany, Britain and France He has also created paintings and sculptures the matter, “they have launched armed share. The role of these countries inspired by the Shahnameh, the epic masterpiece drone attacks with far more precision IRNA/ in killing innocent Yemeni children of the Persian poet Ferdowsi. 16 and reach than the U.S. and its allies is no longer a denial. have publicly acknowledged.” 13 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS MAY 16, 2019

Zarif says Iran most sustainable, Neither a war will happen; secure partner in region TEHRAN (FNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad nor will we negotiate: Leader Javad Zarif said that his country is most reliable and secure TEHRAN (khamenei.ir) — On the economic problems at home. Their gov- country in the region, voicing Tehran’s readiness for broad- eighth day of the auspicious month of ernment lacks coherence. Someone makes ening regional cooperation. Ramadan, the heads of power branches, a claim. The next day another comes out officials and government authorities as well to refute those claims. This is a sign of dis- as a group of senior managers of various array. The Ministry of Agriculture in the sectors, members of parliament, political, U.S. has reported 41 million Americans social and cultural activists met with the in need of food. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Advising his audience, Ayatollah Khamenei Ali Khamenei on Tuesday. further elaborated on the problems the U.S. In that meeting, the Supreme Leader regime is facing within its borders and said: stressed that negotiating certain national Regarding social issues, the U.S. national assets is absolutely harmful and held: Some statistics center has reported that over 40 people in the country claim there is no harm percent of babies are born out of wedlock. in negotiating. Negotiating is poisonous as There are 2 million and 200 thousand pris- long as the U.S. continues with the same oners, and they have the highest rate of drug course of action; besides, negotiating with abuse, while 31 percent of mass shootings the current government of the United States in the world happen in the U.S. This is their “Just had excellent talks in Turkmenistan and India. Those is all the more poisonous. social situation. who actually live in our fragile neighborhood have a real national His Eminence further explained: Nego- The Supreme Leader then advised everyone security interest in promoting peace, stability, cooperation and tiation is a mutual give and take. But the not be awe-stricken by U.S.’s outward glory connectivity,” Zarif wrote in a Tuesday tweet on a two-nation United States has targeted our strengths. and asserted: So beware not to glorify the tour to India and Turkmenistan, adding, “Iran remains a most Ayatollah Khamenei slammed U.S. efforts enemy. Of course, we cannot underestimate accessible, efficient, sustainable and secure partner.” to take Iran’s defensive capabilities away them either; but they are not that strong and The top diplomat stressed that people of Iran’s fragile neigh- and asserted: They talk about negotiating Republic and said: Their president claims over any other governments. Many of their they suffer from a lot of problems. borhood are interested in promoting peace, stability, cooperation our defense capabilities, and question the there is a protest against the establishment actions come upon orders by the Zionists. His Eminence went on to assert: No one and connectivity. range of our missiles. They say: ‘you must in Tehran every Friday. First off, it is not on Pointing to the uproar the U.S. regime should fear the apparent grandeur of the Earlier, upon his arrival in New Delhi, Zarif voiced his sat- reduce this range so that if we ever strike on Fridays, but on Saturdays. Second, it is not makes posing as a superpower, Ayatollah U.S.; neither their grandeur nor the wealth isfaction in the level of bilateral relations between Tehran and your bases you won’t be able to strike back in Tehran, but in Paris. Khamenei maintained: The U.S. government of the Qaruns of the Persian Gulf: their real New Deli, and said that the two countries have always consulted at our bases!’ Or, for instance, they seek to His Eminence mentioned that the U.S. is in need of making uproars. They claim power is much less than their uproar. No on important issues. negotiate about our strategic influence in the regime’s hostility towards the Iranian nation their behavior has changed Iran. They are one should fear the apparent grandeur of “India is Iran’s close partner and both sides have developed region, meaning they want us to back away. started right after the Islamic Revolution right; the change brought to Iran was that the U.S.; this is a big mistake. their relations in various fields,” he added. The Leader of the Revolution described of the Iranians gain victory, adding that: the Iranian people’s abhorrence towards the Finally, Ayatollah Khamenei reminded He noted that Tehran and New Delhi have extended their U.S. authorities as not committed and held: There is no doubt that the U.S.’s animos- U.S. regime increased tenfold; their chance his audience of the many fiascos of the U.S. relations in various fields, and said, “The two countries have Negotiating is wrong, even with an upright ity—which started with the Revolution— of infringing upon the interests of the Islamic in their policies against the Islamic Republic designed special financial system to augment trade and eco- person. Those in the U.S. government are has taken a more overt form today. This Republic grew slimmer; the zeal of our youth and added: Their plots have usually bounced nomic cooperation.” not even upright and they do not abide animosity existed previously, but not as for maintaining the country prepared has back at them and ended up being harmful to The Iranian foreign minister reiterated the fact that India is by anything. explicit as it has now become. Now they increased; and our police and security forces themselves both politics and security wise. one of the biggest customers of Iran’s crude oil. Ayatollah Khamenei reminded his au- explicitly announce it and threaten us. It have become more vigilant. Through their media, the economic experts Before arriving in New Delhi, Zarif, heading a high-ranking dience that: Of course no one among our is important to know the one who makes Ayatollah Khamenei informed his audience in the U.S. are warning their politicians that economic delegation, visited Turkmenistan to hold talks with officials seeks to negotiate. Obviously no an uproar threatening others is actually across the globe that, “The United States will this pressure will lead to an economic boom senior Turkmen officials. dignified and wise Iranian would negotiate weaker than they claim. definitely fail in its policy of countering the in Iran. The domineering powers seek to During his stay in Turkmenistan, the Iranian foreign minister their national strengths. Ayatollah Khamenei referred to U.S.’s Islamic Republic and their plots will end up reach their goals by making uproars, however, met with Turkmen president and foreign minister. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution re- unconditional support for the barbaric Zionist to our benefit. their power is much less than their claims. Zarif and Turkmen officials discussed various bilateral, referred to faulty estimations and perceptions regime and asserted: They [the U.S. officials] His Eminence went on to say: The Unit- Billions of dollars have been spent against gional and international developments. of the U.S. President regarding the Islamic prefer the interests of the Zionist Regime ed States is dealing with many social and us, yet they failed to do anything.

Iran has stopped Rouhani says Iranians can pass Iranian MP criticized Europe for lack implementing parts of problems through unity of actions against U.S. violation JCPOA: source POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian POLITICAL TEHRAN — Deputy deskPresident Hassan Rou- deskChairman of Parlia- hani said on Tuesday that the Iranians ment’s National Security and Foreign Policy POLITICAL TEHRAN — An informed source at the Su- can pass problems through unity and Committee Kamal Dehghani Firouzabadi deskpreme National Security Council (SNSC) tells solidarity. has said that Europe has not stood against the Tehran Times that Iran has stopped implementing some parts “We can pass problems through unity, the U.S. violations. of its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as coordination and better management,” “The European countries have said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). he said during his speech at a meet- they will remain in the JCPOA [the 2015 It came a week after the SNSC announced “The Islamic Republic ing of authorities with Leader of the nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive of Iran upholds its rights under articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Plan of Action]. However, more important and will stop implementing some parts of its obligation under Ali Khamenei. than that is to ask them what they have Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi the JCPOA from today, May 8, 2019, in line with protecting the Rouhani noted, “What the people and that it stops selling stockpiles of en- done to counter the U.S. illegal actions? criticized European delay in implementing Iranian people’s security and national interests.” authorities did in the floods incident riched uranium and heavy water for Are they afraid? Are they weak and de- its special mechanism to save the JCPOA. Iran also gave Europe 60 days to ensure Iran’s interests were was extraordinary. Today, we need a 60 days. However, Iran warned if a pendent?” he told ISNA in an interview Speaking at the 9th round of Iran-Nor- protected under the agreement. Otherwise, Tehran is ready to unity like that to turn a threat into an conclusion is not reached in this time published on Wednesday. way political consultations on April 30, take further steps towards leaving the nuclear deal, President opportunity.” period, it will take other measures step He added, “Trump [U.S. President Don- Araqchi said the international community Rouhani said. He said that it is not possible to man- by step and will accelerate its uranium ald Trump] believes in unilateralism in the has not responded properly to the U.S. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, further age the country without making change to enrichment activities. international relations and has created a illegal act in withdrawing from the JCPOA. said that Iran has stopped complying with the limitations on its structure of budget and economy which Under the Joint Comprehensive whirlpool which hurts credibility of the “The U.S. proved that it does not un- stockpiles of enriched uranium and production of heavy water cannot be done by just the government. Plan of Action, Iran’s stockpile of low U.S. and some of its allies.” derstand language of respect and inter- in the Arak nuclear site which were emphasized in the 60-day “This is not just under the authority enriched uranium is capped at 300kg U.S. President Donald Trump uni- action and can just talk with language of ultimatum last week. of the government. Authorities need to and heavy water reserve at 130 tons. laterally pulled Washington out of the bullying,” he said. In order to raise public awareness about the measures, there converge and the understanding of the “This announcement is for 60 days. nuclear deal in May 2018 and ordered On May 8, Iran officially announced will be programs in the coming days for some journalists to visit parliament and the government about We have announced to the other side, reimposition of sanctions against Iran. that it stops selling stockpiles of enriched Natanz and Arak nuclear sites, which will be announced soon, the country, region and world need to the five countries [Germany, France, The first round of sanctions went into force uranium and heavy water for 60 days. the source added. be the same,” he said. UK, Russia and China], that if they come on August 6 and the second round, which However, Iran warned if a conclusion is He noted that oil income can be re- to the negotiating table in 60 days and targets Iran’s oil exports and banks, were not reached in this time period, it will take placed by non-oil income. we reach a conclusion and safeguard snapped back on November 4. other measures step by step and will accel- “The U.S. imagined that they could our main interests which are oil [sale] Also, on April 22 the U.S. announced that erate its uranium enrichment activities. ‘U.S. not looking for war bring the Iranian great nation to knees and banking relations, we will return to Washington has decided not to extend waivers In an interview with Le Monde published with Iran’ with its miscalculations. They set dates the previous situation of May 7, 2019,” allowing major importers to continue buying on Monday, Kamal Kharrazi, chief of the for this issue. However, the Iranian peo- President Hassan Rouhani told a cabinet oil from Iran. The waivers ended on May 2. Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, said POLITICAL TEHRAN — Brian Hook, the U.S. special ple created golden pages in history of meeting on May 8. On January 31, France, Germany and that Iran seeks to preserve nuclear deal. deskrepresentative for Iran, has said that the U.S. the Islamic Revolution of Iran through Under the JCPOA, endorsed by the Britain announced the creation of INSTEX, “We believe that the European countries is not looking for war with Iran resistance,” he said. UN Security Council Resolution 2231, a special purpose vehicle aimed at facili- have not kept their promises, and we give “We have repositioned our military assets accordingly just to Pointing to the U.S. withdrawal from Iran was tasked to put limits on its nucle- tating legitimate trade between European them two months to do it,” he said. be ready and to be in defensive position. President [U.S. President the 2015 nuclear deal, Rouhani said ar activities in exchange for termination economic operators and Iran. In an interview with ISNA published Donald Trump] has said it clear so has the secretary of state Mike that Iran has given remaining parties of economic and financial sanctions. On March 20, Iran’s central bank gov- on Tuesday, Hossein Naghavi Hosseini, Pompeo] that we are not looking to get into war with Iran,” he to the agreement enough time to fulfil However, since President Donald Trump ernor Abdolnaser Hemmati announced a member of the Majlis National Security told BBC on Tuesday. their duties. pulled the U.S. out of the JCPOA, the that a mechanism similar to INSTEX has and Foreign Policy Committee, said that He said that Iran has taken the legal European countries cut banking ties been registered in Iran, officially called the the Europeans should abide by their ob- path and has stopped implementing two with Iran, stopped purchasing Irani- Special Trade and Finance Institute (STFI). ligations under the JCPOA. of its obligations for 60 days. an oil, annulled agreements, and their During a meeting with a group of Aus- He said that Iran has fulfilled its obli- On May 8, Iran officially announced companies left Iran one after another. trian MPs in Tehran on April 29, Iranian gations and Europe should do the same. ‘No increased threat from Iran,’ says British general in remarks he refuses to restate TEHRAN (Press TV) — The British general overseeing The British senior general refused to reiterate the same the so-called U.S.-led coalition forces in Syria and Iraq stance, when reporters pressed him about remarks he had has asserted that there has been “no increased threat from made moments earlier at the Pentagon news briefing. Iran” amid the U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf, The U.S. immediately announced that the threat level a posture at odds with the United States. was increased in an attempt to debunk Ghika’s allega- According to Al Jazeera, the U.S. has approved the deployment British Major General Chris Ghika said at a Penta- tions, which would question the U.S. motive in escalating of a Patriot missile defense battery and another warship to the gon news briefing Tuesday that the coalition has seen tensions with Tehran. Middle East amid increasing tensions with Iran. “no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces” in “Recent comments from OIR’s Deputy Commander The USS Arlington, which transports marines, amphibious the two countries. run counter to the identified credible threats available to vehicles, and rotary aircraft, as well as the Patriot missiles, will The coalition has observed “no change in their posture intelligence from U.S. and allies regarding Iranian-backed join the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which al- since the recent exchange between the United States and forces in the region,” said Captain Bill Urban, lead spokes- ready passed through Egypt’s Suez Canal on Thursday, and is Iran and we hope and expect that that will continue… We man for the United States Central Command. “U.S. Central currently sailing in the Red Sea, according to CNN. don’t see an increased threat from them at this stage,” Command, in coordination with Operation Inherent Re- The U.S. says the deployments of military hardware to the Ghika told reporters. solve, has increased the force posture level for all service region comes in response to what it claimed “heightened Iranian He refused to admit that his statement defies the White members assigned to OIR in Iraq and Syria… As a result, readiness to conduct offensive operations”. House’s, asserting that “we’re on exactly the same page.” OIR is now at a high level of alert as we continue to closely The Patriot missile system is currently deployed in Bahrain, “I don’t think we’re out of step with the White House A military vehicle with the U.S.-backed coalition is seen monitor credible and possibly imminent threats to U.S. Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). at all,” added that British general, further claiming that in the countryside of the eastern Syrian province of Deir forces in Iraq.” “The Acting Secretary of Defense has approved the movement the coalition keeps a close watch on Iran in the wake of al-Zour on February 14, 2019. (AFP photo) Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) aerospace of USS Arlington (LPD-24) and a Patriot battery to U.S. Central the United States’ unilateral pressure. division General Amir Ali Hajizadeh asserted Sunday that Command (CENTCOM) as part of the command’s original request “We’ve reviewed them obviously in light of the events measures. “We find them completely satisfactory and we the U.S. forces stationed in the Persian Gulf “will be hit for forces from earlier this week,” a Pentagon statement said. of the past week or so,” he said of the coalition’s security don’t intend to change them.” on the head” if they make a mistaken move. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MAY 16, 2019 IRAN IN FOCUS Washington’s threats against Iran are Amoli Larijani donates aimed to gain more leverage: MP $6,000 for prisoners’ cause POLITICAL TEHRAN – A top Ira- In recent days, the U.S. reportedly deployed desknian lawmaker says Iran USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike is not interested in a war with the United group and the bombers into the Persian Gulf States, emphasizing that Washington’s in order to counter Tehran. empty threats are just a tool to gain more Tensions have heightened between Teh- political leverage. ran and Washington after Trump adminis- “Of course, the U.S. won’t take this risk tration’s decision in May 2018 to withdraw to enter a military conflict with Iran since from the nuclear deal, also known as Joint we have strengthened our deterrent ability,” Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and Mojtaba Zonnour, chairman of the Majlis to re-impose sanctions which were lifted un- Nuclear Committee, told Mehr news agency der the JCPOA. on Wednesday. Washington’s anti-Iran measures are not “If the U.S. wages a military conflict on merely limited to sanctions. The U.S. has Iran, it will surely face a response,” Zonnour also put Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards said, adding that Iran will strike more blows Corps (IRGC) on its list of foreign terrorist POLITICAL TEHRAN – Chairman of the Expediency to America than the other way round. organization. deskCouncil Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani has “We are not the one who starts a war and Iran, in response, has designated the U.S. donated 200 million rials (nearly $6,000) for the release of those we are not interested in that. We use our Central Command (CENTCOM) in the Middle imprisoned for committing unintentional crimes. capabilities to avoid any war,” he maintained. East as a terrorist organization. Amoli Larijani also hailed the Diya (Blood Money) Foundation The parliamentarian further pointed Exactly a year after U.S. withdrawal from for raising money to free the prisoners and asked the nation to to Washington’s cost-benefit analysis of a the JCPOA, Iran announced that it would donate money to the cause as well, Fars reported. military action against Tehran, saying the itary conflict between Iran and America,” there will not be a military confrontation as reduce some of its commitments under the Days ago, President Rouhani donated 2.7 billion rials, Judi- Americans certainly won’t do that for their he reiterated. neither Iran nor the U.S. seeks war because deal, urging other signatories to comply with ciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi 500 million rials and Majlis Speaker own benefits. On Tuesday, Leader of Islamic Revolu- the Americans know that the war will not be their own commitments and stand against Ali Larijani 300 million rials to the cause. “Rest assured that there will be no mil- tion Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted that beneficial for them. U.S. unilateralism. According to Asadollah Jolaee, the managing director of the Diya Foundation, the foundation has held several fund raising events in Qazvin, Ardebil and Sistan-Baluchestan provinces to reduce the Diplomat advises U.S. not to test Iran’s determination number of inmates who are in prison for debt and financial issues. By staff & agencies Commenting on incidents for several vessels in the Sea of Oman on Sunday, Baeidinejad said, “It is very suspicious to Political groups must unify Iranian Ambassador to London Hamid Baeidinejad has us and we hope an international fact finding mission could warned about the prospect of war in the Middle East and really find the reasons for these sabotages which are really against external enemy: advised the U.S. not to test Iran’s determination. suspicious to us.” “While we have renounced any escalation in the region, The United Arab Emirates confirmed on Sunday that Mohsen Hashemi I would assure you that Iranian armed forces are fully ready four commercial vessels had been targeted by what it called for any eventuality in the region, so they should not try to acts of sabotage off Fujairah. test the determination of Iran to confront any escalation Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday in the region,” he said in an interview with Sky News aired urging a clarification on the issue. on Wednesday. ‘Europe must do more to stand up to Trump’s He called the U.S. threats of war with Iran “theatrical administration’ maneuvers”. Baeidinejad also said that Europe must do more to stand “Our analysis is they, [or] at least President Trump, doesn’t up to the Trump administration to preserve the 2015 nuclear want to engage in military confrontation with Iran because of deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. accelerate its uranium enrichment activities. how costly it will be for the U.S. and for the region,” he said. “Iran has been implementing all its obligations, but the Under the JCPOA, Iran’s stockpile of low enriched urani- According to Al Jazeera, the U.S. has approved the de- other sides have not been implementing their obligations um is capped at 300kg and heavy water reserve at 130 tons. ployment of a Patriot missile defense battery and another and that’s a situation that cannot continue in this manner. Under the JCPOA, endorsed by the UN Security Council warship to the Middle East amid increasing tensions with Iran. So Iran wanted to give a very important signal that things Resolution 2231, Iran was tasked to put limits on its nuclear “The Acting Secretary of Defense has approved the move- should be rectified and should be redressed,” he said. activities in exchange for termination of economic and financial ment of USS Arlington (LPD-24) and a Patriot battery to U.S. On May 8, Iran officially announced that it stops selling sanctions. However, since President Donald Trump pulled the POLITICAL TEHRAN – The chairman of the Tehran city Central Command (CENTCOM) as part of the command’s stockpiles of enriched uranium and heavy water for 60 days. U.S. out of the JCPOA, the European countries cut banking ties deskcouncil says while disagreements between po- original request for forces from earlier this week,” a Penta- However, Iran warned if a conclusion is not reached in this with Iran, stopped purchasing Iranian oil, annulled agreements, litical factions would never end, they need to unify in the face of gon statement said. time period, it will take other measures step by step and will and their companies left Iran one after another. the enemy’s anti-Iran measures. “All political activists must be united in the face of an external enemy,” Mohsen Hashemi said, Fars reported on Wednesday. He advised political figures to avoid measures that would intensify domestic disagreements, especially in the current Marzieh Hashemi: U.S. turning to oligarchy circumstances. “In President [Rouhani]’s recent iftar dinner, great emphasis TEHRAN (FNA) — Marizeh Hashemi, That was not for females; that was not for was put on this issue,” Hashemi added. broadcast journalist, says only few individ- black people. So it’s always been a qualified Days ago, top political figures who were invited by President uals and families possess the wealth of the freedom. However, after the 9/11 attacks, I Rouhani for an iftar dinner praised the administration’s initiative U.S., as if they own the country, and they stop think that it has got even more controlled. to gather round members of rival political factions and called anyone who tries to unfold the unreported They use other methods from alleged terror- for continuation of such meetings which will help strengthen systematic abuses in the U.S. ism to control various freedoms. unity in the country. Speaking to FNA in an exclusive interview, When you have a capitalist country, that According to the Iran newspaper, all of the attendees acknowl- Marzieh Hashemi said she is an activist and is basically not only capitalist, but also now edged that the Iranian people are faced with harsh economic she has the responsibility of fighting for the turning to oligarchy, because the reality is condition and called on the Rouhani administration to take steps oppressed, whether she returns to the U.S. just a few individuals, a few families have all to remedy the situation. or from elsewhere. the wealth and own the country. Marzieh Hashemi is an American-born The whole country has to work towards Muslim convert who has lived in Iran for their goals. So, if they are in the weapons years. She was detained by the Federal Bu- industry that you will see a push, as you see reau of Investigation (FBI) at an airport in in the U.S. for example, to keep weapons to ‘Germany will spare no Saint Louis on January 13th and transferred make sure that they can be sold or to make the to FBI facilities in Washington DC. She was war machines which are very well-equipped. efforts to salvage nuclear forced to remove her hijab and was only of- If you are trying to work against their goals, fered non-halal food during detention. A U.S. you are going to pay a price. deal’ federal court failed to indict her, and she was If you try to educate the people, if you try released after 10 days without any charges. to make the people aware of what is going on, POLITICAL TEHRAN – German Ambassador to Tehran Below you may read the full text of the they did not expect, and then really did not am an activist and I feel it is my responsibility why the U.S. is getting involved in all these deskMichael Klor-Berchtold said on Wednesday interview: know how to handle it at that point in time. to fight for of the oppressed Mostazafeen wars, not because of protecting anyone, or that his country fully supports the Iran nuclear deal and will Arresting you sounded like a mis- Considering this, will you ever return wherever I am. spreading freedom all over the world, but spare no efforts to salvage the deal, also known as the Joint calculation of the U.S. authorities. What do to the U.S.? If so, would you pursue political Based on your experience, how do actually the opposite: to control and basically Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). you think was the worst consequence of this activities? you assess the status of freedom of rights/ support this oligarchy, they are getting as much Klor-Berchtold made the remarks in a meeting with Hossein misconduct? A: I will continue to be an activist as I speech in the U.S.? wealth as they can for the few individuals at Amir Abdollahian, a senior foreign policy advisor to the parlia- A: I do not think they had really realized have been all my adult life. I will continue A: The status of human rights and rights the top, it is not for the country, though. So, ment speaker, IRNA reported. that it was a risk. They knew I work for Press to fight for the rights of people all over the of free speech in the U.S. has changed a lot. everything is qualified. It depends on what “Because of the capacities existing between the two countries, TV, but I do not think that they expected world. I will return to the U.S. or not, I’m We know from the U.S. constitution that you are saying, to whom you are saying, and Germany welcomes an expansion of relations with the Islamic global action the way that it took place. I do not sure. I was not charged with anything; technically we are supposed to have free- how much you are saying, as far as how much Republic of Iran,” the German envoy said. not think there would be any ways that they so, I should be able to go there; but whether dom of speech and various other rights. This freedom or if you are allowed to speak at During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views about can assess that, or could have thought that I feel like going back there or not, it is a was never absolute; there were clauses to it all. If you are saying something against the regional and international affairs and highlighted their willing- my arrest would get that type of reaction. different story. I can tell you I do not feel more or less. interests of the wealthy, of the oligarchs, or if ness to boost bilateral ties. Thus, if you think that they sounded anx- like it right now. So, when the constitution was originally what you are saying is going to have an effect Amir Abdollahian pointed to Germany’s key status within ious at court and looked anxious, I think it I do not know the future. If I am there or written, even then the freedom of speech, on others, you would definitely be stopped Europe, saying, Iran and Germany should be in continuous di- is because of the reactions that they got that wherever I am, I am always active. Because I and human rights were not across the board. in various ways. alogue in order to deepen their ties. The advisor, however, criticized Europe’s inability to fully implement its trade mechanism with Iran (INSTEX), saying this is while Iran has fully complied with its obligations under Senator Sanders slams John Bolton for trying to drag U.S. into war with Iran the JCPOA. Politically supporting the JCPOA is not enough and Europe POLITICAL TEHRAN – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Iranians will die.” should take practical measures to build Iran’s lost trust toward deskhas denounced national security adviser “I am working right now with my Republican colleagues Europeans, he suggested. John Bolton after the New York Times reported that he has to stop this disastrous rush to war,” he added. Amir Abdollahian further said that Europe’s diplomacy in ordered a plan to be drawn up to attack Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has dealing with Washington’s misconduct has “not worked properly.” “It is almost impossible to imagine that after the horror also strongly criticized Bolton, among others, for trying to INSTEX was introduced in January 2019 by France, Germany of the war in Iraq when we were lied to by the Bush adminis- drag the U.S. into a war with Iran. and Britain – three parties to the 2015 nuclear deal – to facilitate tration and one of the leading architects was this very same, Zarif has classified Bolton, Israeli Prime Minister Ben- legitimate trade between European economic operators and Iran. John Bolton,” Sanders told MSNBC on Tuesday. jamin Netanyahu (bibi), Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed On March 20, Iran’s central bank governor Abdolnaser Hem- “You will remember how we got into the Vietnam war, bin Salman and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin mati announced that a mechanism similar to INSTEX has been the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, and it turns out the so-called Zayed as theB-team who are working hard to push the U.S. registered in Iran, officially called the Special Trade and Finance attack in the Gulf of Tonkin did not actually take place. It was toward a war with Iran. Institute (STFI). based on a series of lies,” Sanders also said. “What worries “While John Bolton and the B-team say the Iranian One year ago, U.S. President Donald Trump formally pulled me is that the architect of the effort right now to get us into people ‘deserve better’, they’ve admitted to targeting them the United States out of the nuclear deal that was struck between a war in Iran is the guy who was the architect to getting us with Economic Terrorism —and even war— in a delusional that “Trump pulled out of the Iran Deal even though Iran Iran on the one side and the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France into the war in Iraq. That is John Bolton. I worry about pursuit of ‘regime-change’. But will Donald Trump let them was complying, and has been trying to provoke Iran into and Germany on the other. provocations on the part of the United States against Iran.” realize their dreams of another Forever War?” Zarif tweeted giving him a pretext for war ever since.” Since then, Trump has introduced economic sanctions on Sanders, who is running for president in the 2020 elec- last month. “He lied to the American people about getting us out of Iran and last month labeled Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards tions, also tweeted that “If we go to war with Iran, we will Meanwhile, Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy national wars, lied about the Iran Deal, and is lying about Iran now,” Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization, a move that heightened destabilize the entire region and thousands of Americans security advisor under Barack Obama, on Wednesday tweeted Rhodes added. the tensions between Tehran and Washington. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY MAY 16, 2019

STOCK MARKET ‘Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey proper markets TEDPIX 211017.9 IFX 2583.46 for Iran’s copper during sanctions’ Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir

ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iraq, Af- the selling of Iranian metals in the interna- deskghanistan and Turkey are tional markets because they always have their CURRENCIES appropriate markets for Iran’s copper during special customers due to their high quality the sanctions time, Kourosh Shabani, the and value,” he added. USD 42,000 rials vice chairman of National Iranian Copper The official also noted that Iran’s exports EUR 47,076 rials Association, said in an interview conducted in the metal industry sector did not decline by the news portal of Iran Chamber of Com- over the past year following Washington’s GBP 54,231 rials merce, Industries, Mine and Agriculture withdrawal from the nuclear deal, but rather AED 11,437 rials (ICCIMA). increased compared to its previous year. In a statement released on May 3, U.S. Last year, Iran produced 25 million tons Source: cbi.ir President Donald Trump said that the new of steel, which make up 1.5 percent of the anti-Iran sanctions target Iran’s revenue world’s steel output, he added. from the export of industrial metals. Iran plans to boost steel output to 55 He also warned other countries that “al- million tons a year by 2025, of which 10-15 COMMODITIES lowing Iranian steel and other metals into million tons would be earmarked for export. your ports will no longer be tolerated.” Meanwhile, many analysts believe that Brent $70.95/b The announcement was made on the the U.S. sanctions on Iran’s metals are not WTI $61.23/b first anniversary of Washington’s unilateral going to have as a great impact on exports withdrawal from the nuclear agreement — as on imports of such commodities. OPEC Basket $71.21/b officially called the Joint Comprehensive Iran is still an importer of some metal Gold $1,299.20/oz Plan of Action (JCPOA). products including steel sheets, since the Since then, the Trump administra- country’s production in the down-stream Silver $14.86/oz tion has reimposed sanctions on Iran’s en- sector does not match the demand in the ergy, shipbuilding, shipping, and banking sec- is not much concerned about the United nificantly affect the country’s metal industry. industry sectors. Platinium $855.45/oz tors under a campaign of “maximum pressure” States’ recent sanctions on its metal exports, “There is not much concern about these Iran has more than enough raw materials Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com against the Islamic Republic. as Iranian steel, copper and aluminum have sanctions as Iranian steel, copper and alu- to completely supply its domestic needs and Iranian officials say the new U.S. sanctions already their own customers. minum have their own special customers the sanctions could in fact push the country’s do not affect Iran’s metal industry signifi- In an interview conducted by Tasnim in the world,” he said. production and processing units to increase cantly as the country has its own customers news agency, Jafar Sarqini said that the fresh Sarqini also stressed that Iranian goods their capacities to process more instead of Iran, Turkmenistan to boost for these products. restrictive measures imposed by the U.S. in the metal sector have high-quality and exporting raw materials. In this way, the On May 12, Iran’s deputy minister of in- president on Iran’s iron, steel, aluminum, meet global standards. need for importing such commodities will trade, transport co-op dustry, mining and trade said the country and copper sectors, seem “unlikely” to sig- “There is no specific problem regarding no longer pressure the economy. ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran and Turkmenistan explored deskways of expanding trade and transportation cooperation in a forum in Ashgabat, IRIB reported. An Iranian delegation including Iran’s Deputy Minister of Roads ‘No new limitations in Iran-Iraq trade ties’ and Urban Development Abdolhashem Hassan-Nia and headed as Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, Iraqi Minister by Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited the 1 As previously reported by TPO, following of Electricity Louay Al Khateeb, Iraqi Trade Minister neighboring country to discuss expansion of ties in various areas an agreement on establishment of an Iran-Iraq trade Mohammad Hashim Abdul Majid Jasim, Iranian Industry, including trade, transportation and customs. committee, officials from the two sides held a meeting Mining and Trade Minister Reza Rahmani, Head of Basra According to Hassan-Nia, regarding the road transportation to discuss the issue in Tehran on May 5. Chamber of Commerce Majed Mozan, and ICCIMA Head sector, the expansion of bilateral transport relations between the According to Masoud Kamali Ardakani, the director Gholam-Hossein Shafeie, along with representatives of two countries and the opening of the Sarakhs border crossing for Industrial and Mineral Products Export Development private companies. were the two main issues raised and it was agreed that the two Office of TPO, in the meeting, the two sides discussed During the business forum, the two sides called for sides would take necessary measures to inaugurate the crossing several issues including joint investment and establishment as soon as possible. of industrial zones, facilitating the transit of goods, further expansion of the trade ties between the two countries and the officials delivered speeches addressing various The official also noted that the two sides considered elimination facilitating business travels, organizing pilgrimage and trade related issues. or reduction of the tolls for cross-roads between the two countries health tourism, as well as solving the existing problems In his speech, the Iranian vice president mentioned and decided to form an expert board to discuss the issue thoroughly. regarding mutual trade. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to Iraq in early Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Zarif The official pointed to a 37-percent increase in Iran’s March, saying that the visit of Iraqi delegation less than a of relations with Iran in all areas and noted that the two arrived in Ashgabat on Sunday for a visit within the framework exports to Iraq in the last Iranian calendar year (ended countries should join hands in order to reach a level of of bilateral consultations between the two states. on March 20), saying “Obviously, the formation of this month after President Rouhani’s visit to their country is an indication of the two sides’ determination for expanding development which they deserve. The visit comes one year after Iranian President Hassan Rou- committee will be an important step towards reaching economic ties. The official further called on Iranian private sector to hani paid an official visit to Turkmenistan. the goal of boosting the trade between the two countries He also pointed to the desirable talks and agreements cooperate with their Iraqi counterparts in reconstruction During the trip in March 2018, Rouhani signed 13 accords to $20 billion by 2021.” which have been reached during the Iraqi delegation of Iraq’s infrastructure. with his Turkmen counterpart in different fields. Also, following the visit of a high-ranking Iraqi delegation to Tehran, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines visit to Iran and noted that “following the agreements He mentioned some of the memorandums of and Agriculture (ICCIMA) hosted an Iran-Iraq business reached during president Rouhani’s visit to Iraq these understanding (MOUs) which were signed between the forum on April 7. new agreements can provide a reliable basis for future two sides, including an agreement on building a cross- Tehran, Prague to explore ways The event was attended by several senior officials from cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors.” border railway, easing travel conditions and exports of of expanding economic ties both sides including Iran’s First Vice President Es’haq Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, for his part electricity and gas from Iran to Iraq and called for the Jahangiri, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi as well expressed his country’s eager determination for expansion two sides’ all-out efforts for their realization. ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran and Czech Republic are deskgoing to explore ways of expanding mutual trade, Shada reported. The decision was announced in the opening ceremony of German auto sector could drop as much as 12% if Trump announces tariffs, analyst says Iran-Czech Republic Joint Economic Committee which was held Germany’s automotive sector could fall probably the place that gets hits worse,” told CNBC via email. in Tehran on Tuesday. as much as 12% over “three bad trading Mark Phelps, chief investment officer at The euro zone economy has lost steam The event was attended by a handful of senior officials from days,” if President Donald Trump imposes AllianceBernstein, told CNBC’s “Squawk recently, with weaker manufacturing and both sides including Deputy Iranian Minister of Finance and tariffs on European car manufacturers, Box Europe” Wednesday. growth data. The European Central Bank Economic Affairs Ali-Mohammad Mousavi and Eduard Muricky, one analyst told CNBC. The EU has made every effort to ensure (ECB) even had to cut its growth projec- the Czech deputy minister of industry and trade. According to cnbc.com, Trump has un- these tariffs are avoided. European Com- tions for the year back in March. Growth As reported, in the meeting the two sides discussed future til Friday midnight (Washington time) to mission President Jean-Claude Juncker in the EU is highly sensitive to external cooperation in a variety of areas including banking, investment, decide whether to impose duties on car traveled to the U.S. last year and agreed with shocks, due to its export-driven economy. industry, mining, and health. imports. This would likely hurt Germany, Trump to work together to bring existing The “euro zone growth engine has lost Speaking in the event, Mousavi who is also the head of Or- the EU’s traditional growth engine, given tariffs toward zero on non-auto industrial a lot of cyclical velocity in the past year, ganization for Investment, Economic and Technical Assistance that it is one of the largest direct car ex- goods; to buy more liquefied natural gas exposing vulnerabilities to slower Chinese of Iran (OIETAI), emphasized the necessity of improving the porters to the U.S. from the U.S. and to find ways to bring growth, weaker global trade and structural level of bilateral trade between the two counties, noting “In this The German stock market could fall Tariffs on European cars their standards closer together. problems in the German auto sector. The regard, strengthening of cooperation between the two countries’ as much as 6% and its automobile and Trump threatened to impose 20% tariffs However, both sides have not yet started fear is that we are just one shock away private sectors in the fields of industry and services is of outmost components sector, specifically, could see on European cars back in 2018, arguing discussing a trade deal. The ongoing esca- from a recession,” Lena Komileva, chief importance.” losses of up to 12%, according to Christoph there’s a trade imbalance threatening the lation in tensions between China and the economist at G+Economics, told CNBC He stated that the Iran-Czech Joint Economic Committee would Schon, executive director of Axioma, a risk U.S.’s national security. The EU is the larg- U.S. has created more jitters in Europe, via email. be an important basis for future cooperation between the two management solutions provider. He told est exporter of motor vehicles in the world, with analysts expecting Trump to keep a Some analysts believe Trump could countries, adding “Important issues, including banking, invest- CNBC over the phone that the losses could whereas the United States is the largest strong stance against the EU too. decide this week to postpone its decision ment, industry, mining, trade and healthcare will be discussed happen over a period of three trading days, importer. “If indeed we get U.S. car tariffs on im- on car tariffs and focus on the ongoing and hopefully agreed upon in the meetings of this committee.” or over five to 10 sessions. “Germany is the tail on the U.S.-China ports from the euro zone — not just their talks with China instead. Muricky for his part highlighted the good political and eco- Germany’s DAX is up by about 14% so trade war dog and at the end of the day, announcement, you could forget our eco- “For the time being Trump will probably nomic relations and cooperation between the two countries and far this year, while the overall European 47% of GDP (gross domestic product) nomic forecasts completely. No chance of a be busy with China and choose to extend called for further expansion of economic ties. auto sector is higher by about 11% this from Germany is exports — the majority sustained pick-up in activity throughout the Saturday’s deadline (European time) before “There are many companies mainly in the energy sector year. Volkswagen and Daimler are up by of that going to those two trading partners. second half as we expect,” Florian Hense, escalating the conflict with the EU over which are eager for cooperation with the Islamic Republic of around 7% and 15%, respectively. If they blow up in a trade war, Germany is European economist at Berenberg bank, cars and car imports,” Hense told CNBC. Iran,” he said. Downward trend in Malaysia’s Investors wrongfooted by downturn at emerging Asian economies economic sentiments deepen The engines of the world economy are sputtering. Last level in more than a decade. week the central banks of Malaysia and the Philippines Mr. Wolfe says the semiconductor cycle is especially Malaysia Independent Economic Research (MIER) consumer cut their interest rates, to the surprise of many observers. problematic, as the industry awaits the roll-out of 5G mobile sentiment index (CSI) and business condition index (BCI) is Indonesia, which begins a two-day policy meeting on internet technology. “Until semiconductor prices firm up on a downward trajectory and with fading optimism, the gross Wednesday, is expected to stay on hold. But, increasingly, and feed into the electronics supply chain, it is hard to see domestic product growth for 1Q19 will moderate at 4.3%. analysts expect the central bank to join the rate-cutting a pick-up in regional growth,” he said. As per theindependent.sg, the rise in trade tension between club by the end of this year. China’s economy has a dominant influence. Steel produc- the U.S. and China shows how vulnerable Malaysia’s economy As per ft.com, this is not what many investors ex- tion there, Mr. Wolfe notes, has been propping up economies is to external factors. The country’s currency is also faltering, pected from emerging Asia, often seen as one of the few in the rest of emerging Asia but has slowed significantly falling to 4.1707 against the Dollar. parts of the world able to deliver solid and sustainable this year. Bloomberg largely blames the current FDI outflow from economic growth. “If that were to turn over, it would point to further down- Malaysia on fading hopes for reform from Prime Minister Tun Capital Economics, a consultancy, blamed a “sharp side risk,” he said. Such concerns are fed by weak housing Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s administration, adding that portfolio slowdown” in Malaysian growth and “underwhelming” demand in China, and limits on the ability of Chinese local managers do not expect to run back to Malaysia soon. growth in the Philippines, along with benign inflation, Data on world trade volumes governments to raise finance for infrastructure investment, It says investors are losing patience and global funds are by- for last week’s rate cuts. It said its proprietary growth Widely followed data on world trade volumes from CPB he added. passing the country in favor of other markets. tracker also pointed to a sharp slowdown in Indonesian of the Netherlands show that global exports, on a rolling Others say fears of a regional downturn have been exag- But Dr. Mahathir’s government is altogether not in a hurry output in the last quarter of 2018, and saw gross domestic three-month basis, began contracting in December and were gerated. Sergi Lanau of the Institute of International Finance to fix the market outflow as it has set its own pace for reforms. product growth slowing further this year. down more than 2 per cent in February, the most recent expects Chinese growth to stabilize around its current level Its priority in its first year in power was to fight corruption Adam Wolfe at Absolute Strategy Research, a consul- month of data. and for other countries to keep up a healthy clip. which bogged down the government apparatus while the freez- tancy, expects the headwinds facing the region’s economies ASR’s proprietary leading indicator for Asia ex-Japan, “Unless you think the world is really going to deglobalise ing of mega projects built on the suspicion of flawed business to last for some time. “You still have significant drag from meanwhile, has just turned negative for the first time in more and Asia won’t be central to the supply chain any more, I foundations impacted the corporate profit. This did not give the (negative) global export growth and we haven’t seen the than three years. Industrial production in the region, too, don’t see why that picture would change in the next four right signal to investors. bottom yet,” he said. has taken a downward turn in recent months, to its lowest or five years,” he said. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MAY 16, 2019 ENERGY 5

Iranian heavy crude oil price up Russian Sokol premium nears 5-year high on medium sweet over $4 per barrel in April: OPEC crude tightness in Asia, wider EFS The premium for Far East Russian Sokol crude oil has soared to a ENERGY TEHRAN — Iranian Iranian oil industry has been under near five-year high amid a dearth of medium sweet crude in Asia deskheavy oil price increased pressure from the U.S. efforts to isolate the and a wider Brent/Dubai spread, market sources said Wednesday. $4.35 in April, according to OPEC’s latest country by reimposing sanctions. The new “Sokol is really expensive this month, but people are willing to monthly report published on Tuesday. round of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil sector buy as there is supply tightness in the market,” S&G Global Platts The country’s average heavy oil price were put in action on November 4, 2018. reported, quoting a Singapore-based trading source. was $68.52 in April, up 6.8 percent from Soon after the sanctions took effect, the In comparison, June-loading Sokol cargoes traded at premiums $64.17 in March 2019. U.S. government agreed to let eight countries, of around $4.3-$4.4/b to Dubai, trade sources said. According to the report, Iran produced including close allies South Korea and Japan, Volumes of Malaysia’s medium sweet Kimanis crude are ex- 2.554 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil as well as India, keep buying Iranian oil. pected to drop sharply over its July program, as field operator in the mentioned month, a 164,000 bpd However on April 22 2019, the U.S. an- Shell carries out maintenance and upgrade works on the offshore decrease from 2.718 million bpd in the nounced that Washington has decided not to facility, crude traders told S&P Global Platts. Shell could not be previous month. extend waivers allowing major importers to immediately reached for comment. The report put average Iranian crude continue buying oil from Iran. The waivers Only three cargoes of the middle distillate-rich crude are ex- output for the Q1 2019 at 2.725 million bar- ended on May 2. pected to load over July, down from a typical monthly program rels per day indicating a near 257,000-bpd Asia’s crude oil imports from Iran rose comprising nine to 10 cargoes of 600,000 barrels each. fall compared to the figure for Q4 2018. to the highest in eight months in March Traders said they do not expect any spot availability of Kimanis The country’s average heavy crude price as buyers rushed for more cargoes to take in Southeast Asia for July, as all three cargoes are expected to be was also reported to be $62.53 since begin- advantage of the last days of the waivers to taken into refining systems by their respective equity holders. ning of 2019 up to the report’s publishing day. the sanctions the United States imposed. Satiating end-users Russia’s middle distillate rich, sweet crude grade could be viewed as a close alternative to the Malaysian regular, with suf- ‘Electricity services account for 70% NPC planning to complete petchem ficient supply from a 10-cargo strong monthly loading program of Iran’s service exports’ value chain in Assaluyeh to satiate end-users in the region, traders said.

ENERGY TEHRAN – Iran’s ENERGY TEHRAN – operating in the region and that will deskDeputy Minister of deskIran’s National lead to a raise in the output,” he said. Energy for International Affairs Farhad Petrochemical Company (NPC) In early December 2018, President Yazdandoust said electricity industry services is planning on completing the Hassan Rouhani officially inaugurated account for 70 percent of the country’s total petrochemical value chain in Assaluyeh three major petrochemical projects in engineering and services exports. petrochemical zone in southwestern Assaluyeh petrochemical zone. According to Yazdandoust the value Bushehr province, Shana reported on As reported, these projects will of the country’s exports of such services Wednesday, quoting an official with increase Iran’s annual capacity of has reached $5 billion, IRIB reported on NPC. petrochemical production to 65.5 million Wednesday. “Development of mid-stream and tons from the current 62 million tons. The official referred to some of the ener- ing guarantees for exporting companies, lack downstream projects in Assaluyeh has The port city of Assaluyeh is home to gy projects implemented abroad including of necessary financial support for marketing for long been considered as a strategy a number of petrochemical complexes the implementation of a water treatment and continuous presence in international for NPC,” Ali Mohammad Bossaqzadeh, which receive gas and gas condensate “Kimanis feeds refiners with ultra-low sulfur regional sweet complex in Iraq and a dam and hydroelectric markets, and the need for easier customs director of projects at NPC, told NIPNA. feedstock from the giant South Pars gas demand and its shortage will surely have an impact on grades plant in Tajikistan. regulations are among the problems in the According to the official, production field, which Iran shares with Qatar in like Sokol,” another crude trading source said. “The reconstruction of Syrian energy way of such exports.” of the country’s petrochemical products the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, supply of Sokol has been capped at 10 cargoes, infrastructure including the implementation “Launching a supporting power supply including methanol is planned to The huge offshore field is estimated to or approximately 7 million barrels/month of production since of Lazigee power plant are also among Iran’s system for Syria and construction of the third increase by 2021. contain a significant amount of natural June, providing additional support to price differentials for the exports in this area,” he said. line of power transmission to Armenia are the “Completion of various phases gas, accounting for about eight percent of grade for Asian end-users, according to trade sources. Referring to some hurdles in the way of energy ministry’s latest activities in exports of South Pars gas field had added to the world’s reserves, and approximately The middle distillate-rich grade typically sees around 12-14 the service exports, he added, “Delay in issu- of technical services,” Yazdandoust noted. feedstock supply of petrochemical plants 18 billion barrels of condensate. cargoes, or between 8.4 million to 9.8 million barrels for loading in a month. For July loading, India’s ONGC and Russia’s Rosneft each have been allocated two cargoes. Other equity holders Sodeco OPEC calls for regional peace after attacks on energy infrastructure and ExxonMobil have three July-loading cargoes each, according to the program seen by Platts. OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said it was The benchmark rose quickly on Monday in response to A widening spread between Brent and Dubai is the third factor “too early” to talk about supply restrictions as he called sabotage attacks off the coast of Fujairah on four tankers, contributing to higher premiums for the Dubai-linked grade, for peace and stability in the Middle East after attacks on including two belonging to Saudi Aramco. traders said. oil facilities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Al Falih said the Saudi tankers, one of which had The second-month Brent/Dubai Exchange of Futures for According to thenational.ae, “We need peace and sta- been heading to the Saudi port city of Ras Tanura to load Swaps pushed past a key price point of $3/b at the beginning of bility,” Mr. Barkindo said in Abu Dhabi. “This region has crude, suffered “significant damage”. May -- the first time in seven months as Brent prices rallied on seen enough turmoil. Cutting or boosting of supplies geopolitical tensions. “It’s not about capacity, it’s about peace. This is a strategic Mr. Barkindo said that during the coming meeting of A wider Brent/Dubai spread makes Dubai-linked crudes rel- region. Whatever happens impacts the rest of the world.” OPEC and outside oil producers in Jeddah, the alliance atively cheaper compared to Brent-linked ones. Buyers could On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest energy would factor in geopolitical risks when considering cuts potentially pay higher premiums for Sokol against Dubai and still exporter, said two of its pumping stations linking a pipe or boosts to supply. get a cheaper deal overall than for a similar Brent-linked crude. that connects the eastern oil-rich region with the western The “master of MT Andrea Victory reported the crew The front-month July EFS stood at $3.35/b as of 04:30 P.M. industrial city of Yanbu came under attack. were unharmed but there was a hole in the hull area of the Singapore time (0830 GMT) on Tuesday, the highest since Sep- The kingdom’s Energy Minister, Khalid Al Falih, de- aft peak tank. The ship is not in any danger of sinking,” the tember 27, 2018. Then, it was assessed at $3.45/b, Platts data nounced the attacks carried out by drones in the early ship’s management company said in a statement. Reuters metals sector. showed. hours of Tuesday morning as “acts of terrorism” against In its latest report, OPEC projected crude demand for The U.S. has also made military maneuvers in the region global oil supply. the third quarter to be higher by 1.17 million bpd. by sending an aircraft carrier, B-52 bombers and missiles He said there were no disruptions to state oil producer Analysts have said the latest attacks on Middle East as it looks to further squeeze Iran. Saudi Aramco’s supplies. The pipeline, which carries 5 million crude supply lines are likely to rattle a very sensitive market. Tehran, which is now likely to see nearly a million barrels Eni strikes more oil in barrels a day of crude, had been temporarily shut down. Tension in the region has been increased after the U.S. of its crude taken off the market, has threatened to close the Angola’s deep offshore After the sabotage, Brent topped a Monday rally ending cancellation of waivers to Tehran’s main oil buyers at the Strait of Hormuz, a significant choke point for global crude, three-weeks of bearishness to reach $71.13 a barrel. end of April, and the imposition of sanctions against Iran’s and stop complying with parts of the 2015 nuclear deal. Italy’s oil and gas major Eni said on Tuesday that it had made a new discovery in Angola’s deep offshore estimated to contain up to 250 million barrels of light oil in place, with further upside. According to oilprice.com, the results of the data collection Central Europe energy reforms help weather supply crisis from the new discovery in Block 15/06 indicates a production capacity of over 10,000 barrels of oil per day, Eni said, adding By Nick Coleman of its crude imports last year, although that the discovery, Ndungu, is the fourth commercially viable it notes diversification is not just about discovery since the Block 15/06 Joint Venture re-launched the The shutdown of Russian oil supplies to Eu- security, but meeting demand for high- exploration campaign in the middle of 2018. rope due to a major contamination problem er-quality fuels. will bolster a decades-long drive by Central But while regional energy security has and Eastern European countries to reduce improved, unresolved issues remain. Some their dependence on their eastern neighbor. experts argue it could take months to deal The company was complaining about with the tainted Russian crude, probably the quality of Russian crude even before by blending it with ‘clean’ crude, creating the latest incident, in which millions of tons particular difficulties for Belarus, which of crude have been contaminated by highly reported the problem on April 18 and sus- corrosive organic chlorides that entered the tained damage to its Mozyr refinery. Belarus Druzhba system in southern Russia in April. remains locked in a symbiotic relationship But the fact the pipeline normally supplies with Moscow. around 1 million b/d of crude to 10 refineries Meanwhile its southern neighbor Ukraine Ndungu is some 2 km (1.2 miles) away from the Mpungi field, across the region does reflect a need: for remains in some disarray, as far as refining so the latest discovery can be fast-tracked to production due to parts of the Central European landmass, is concerned, its capacity much depleted. the proximity to the Sub Sea production system, according to Eni. shipments by sea are not accessible, or cheap. The main surviving refinery, the 240,000 The Ndungu discovery comes two months after Eni made a Following the shutdown of Druzhba, b/d Kremenchuk facility, has not received major oil discovery in Angola’s deepwater in a find that could several governments authorized releases crude via Druzhba in more than five years. help the African OPEC producer to reverse the recent decline of emergency stocks. But the region’s long- Operating at around 13% of its capacity, it in oil production. In March this year, Eni struck oil in Block term objective has been to strengthen its relies on Azerbaijan for crude. 15/06 in the Agogo exploration prospect and estimates that the oil infrastructure and diversify its imports. relations at Vilnius University’s Institute of Grupa Lotos, has taken similar steps at its Weakness can also be found among the discovery contains 450-650 million barrels of light oil in place The Baltic country of Lithuania started this International Relations, wrote subsequently. 210,000 b/d Gdansk refinery. In January it region’s EU members. The Czech Repub- with further upside. in the 1990s following a three-month energy Poland’s assertiveness as regards energy signed a contract to take at least seven crude lic’s Litvinov refinery, for example, has little The data acquired from the well indicates a production capacity blockade by Moscow in 1990. It built a new has only increased under its Law and Justice cargoes from the US, and it says Russian alternative to the Druzhba pipeline. And of more than 20,000 bpd, Eni said back then. import terminal at Butinge and a pipeline to party government, in office since 2015. crude now accounts for around 70% of its Poland’s government shows little inclination Eni, a key player in Africa and in Angola, currently produces its refinery at Mazeikiai, as various parties Poland is the region’s largest oil consumer, throughput. to liberalize the sector, retaining control around 155,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in Angola. wrangled over the refinery’s ownership. with demand of some 700,000 b/d, and It has invested in terminal upgrades over executive appointments. The country The African country, however, has been struggling in recent That culminated in the Lithuanian has continued to strengthen its oil import both to support the Gdansk refinery and also lags in addressing demand aspects of years to offset a decline in production as many fields mature. refinery being bought by PKN Orlen from facilities and to diversify its supply sources. deliveries via the Pomeranian pipeline to energy security, particular air quality, being After the oil price crash of 2014, Angola’s economy had suffered Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s collapsed Yukos PKN Orlen says it has cut the use of PKN Orlen’s refinery at Plock; the pipeline a depository for polluting second-hand cars from the low oil prices and the country had also been struggling to oil company in 2006, a move that cemented Russian crude at its 330,000 b/d Plock was originally built to export Russian crude. from elsewhere in Europe. attract international investments in its deepwater higher-break- PKN’s status in Central Europe. Immediately refinery northwest of Warsaw to 50% of Hungary’s MOL has been on a similar Nonetheless, Professor Vitkus, of Vilnius even oil resources. afterward, Russia permanently cut supplies throughput. The country is sourcing crude drive at its Danube refinery near Budapest, University’s Institute of International Re- Last year, Angola introduced several new measures to try to via Druzhba to Lithuania. from a growing list of suppliers including and the Bratislava refinery in Slovakia, lations, sees a transformation in his region. boost its oil production and its attractiveness for international The episode demonstrated the Iraqi Kurdistan, Saudi Arabia and the US. which it also owns. In 2015 it completed “Even though PKN Orlen is a state controlled investment. President Joao Lourenco signed in the summer of “determined position of the Polish In 2016, PKN signed a deal to take 200,000 rebuilding a pipeline that extends the Adria company, it has to compete on the global 2018 a decree to create an agency that would sell and manage oil authorities, who consistently sought to ensure mt/month from Saudi Aramco and last year pipeline from Croatia’s coast into Slovakia, market, i.e. to be transparent, efficient and blocks instead of Sonangol. Earlier in 2018, Angola halved the energy-related independence from Russia,” increased that by 50%. providing an alternative to Russian crude. competitive,” he told Platts. tax rates on the development of oil discoveries with fewer than Gediminas Vitkus, professor of international Poland’s second refiner, state-owned MOL says Russian oil accounted for 82% (Source: spglobal.com) 300 million barrels of reserves. 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 MAY 16, 2019 German coalition disagreement over defensive issues Can May and Corbyn find a Brexit compromise? Will the German government fall before 2021? By Hamid Bayaty Greens have eclipsed the SPD at 19 percent. The SPD is being squeezed by the Greens TEHRAN — The German Chancellor and on the left and is losing voters to the right- the coalition government are not well placed wing Alternative for Germany party. The in public polls. It seems hard to bear Merkel party is constantly cast as a junior partner at the head of German political and admin- to Merkel, who still gets relatively high fa- istrative equations! On the other hand, the vorability ratings. All that irks SPD voters. Social-Democratic Party has lost its popularity In early March, an Emnid poll found that 73 among German citizens. In such a situation, percent of them would welcome a break-up Germany continues its political life with a of the grand coalition. coalition and inefficient government. By betting on the welfare state and not Meanwhile, the differences between the rolling over to Trump, the SPD thinks it can bipartisans of the coalition government of gain some traction and differentiate itself By James Forsyth Germany, the Christian Democrat and the from the conservatives. The SPD recently Social Democrats, remain on the defensive introduced its “Sozialstaat 2025,” a party Spectator — Can Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn reach a sat- and military issues. These differences are platform that aims to end labor measures isfactory compromise on Brexit? The two leaders’ positions are likely to lead to the collapse of the German enacted under SPD Chancellor Gerhard not, in fact, that far apart. Neither wants a second referendum. state before the year 2021 (the end of the Schr?der in 2005, increase the newly cre- They both think that the referendum result means that Britain fourth term of Merkel’s power). The article ated minimum wage, and establish a basic has to leave the EU. Yet neither wants a dramatic rupture. They we are aiming to mention is in May this year pension to prove its working-class roots. would prefer to inch away from the union. and is set to be held in Munich on the eve Its party leadership has also not minced Gavin Barwell, Theresa May’s chief of staff, has remarked that of the Munich Security Conference. This words about the Trump administration’s half of what Labour has asked for in the cross-party Brexit talks article quite clearly shows to what extent provocations, even as Merkel has shown has already been requested from the EU but to no avail. Even the disagreements between the two Social by 2024. But when the current government that the country run on a near-balanced restraint. on customs, the standout issue, the differences between Labour Democratic and Christian Democrats over was sworn in last year, it quickly became budget, and the guiding star for German Regardless of the SPD’s stance, voters and the Conservatives are more semantic than anything else. military and defense issues are serious: clear that Germany was on course to reach finance ministers of both major parties is have yet to be swayed. The supposed catchall The government’s proposed backstop is, in effect, a provisional As Sudha David-Wilp wrote in Foreign only 1.5 percent. This isn’t a matter of low to maintain the so-called black zero, never party can’t even manage to capture one-fifth UK-wide customs union with the EU, which is not that different Policy,Germany’s coalition government is funds; Germany has had budget surpluses going into the red. of the electorate. Instead of lurching to the left, from the permanent customs union that Labour wants. shaky, and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) for five years running. The reluctance of the With the threat of U.S. automotive tariffs the SPD should consider seizing the middle. The problem for May and Corbyn is the lack of enthusiasm may be the first brick to crumble. Unhappy EU’s largest economy to invest in its military and a looming Brexit, there is a sense in Ger- That has been Merkel’s winning strategy, for a cross-party deal in their respective parties. If Corbyn with its relative weakness—the center-left is thus perplexing. U.S. President Donald many that recession is around the corner. and now there is room to beat her party at compromised, he would infuriate many on his own side. The party has been overshadowed as a junior part- Trump has certainly fumed about its free- With the threat of U.S. automotive tariffs and it since her anointed successor, Annegret most obvious group are those who want a second referendum ner to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative riding on NATO’s security guarantee. a looming Brexit, there is a sense in Germany Kramp-Karrenbauer, has been trying show because they believe that will stop Brexit. This group includes bloc during three out of her four terms—SPD German Defense Minister Ursula von der that recession is around the corner. Scholz off her conservative credentials. the elected deputy leader Tom Watson, the shadow Brexit politicians are desperately looking for ways Leyen of the Christian Democratic Union had has thus defended cuts, warning that the Reneging on Germany’s defense spending secretary Keir Starmer and the Labour whips’ office. I under- to revive their party’s fortunes. To stave off said that regardless of the 2 percent goal, flush years are over. But in reality, this year’s commitments is certainly risky for the coun- stand that the government is trying to work out whether it is existential losses during the European Union her country was on course to expand its de- budget process is turning into an election try’s international reputation, but the SPD a third of Labour MPs who want a second referendum at all parliamentary and German state elections fense budget by 80 percent within a decade. battleground. Notably, agencies receiving is facing crucial electoral tests next month. costs, or two thirds. If it is the latter, then the parliamentary this year, the party is portraying itself as a (That would have taken spending near to reductions in their requests are headed by In addition to the EU parliamentary elec- arithmetic doesn’t work. crusader for welfare issues at the expense of 1.5 percent by 2024.) And now her cabinet conservatives, such as defense and develop- tions, the small state of Bremen will hold a There are others, though, on the Labour benches who are Germany’s international credibility. colleague, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz of ment. Meanwhile, the draft budget allocates state-level vote that will be make or break for not pro-European, just anti-Tory. They don’t see why Labour The SPD has tried to make its mark by the SPD, has proposed shifting more funds approximately 11 percent more funding for the SPD. The party has held the area since should help the government out of this mess unless it is beyond shunning defense and security in favor of to social spending while siphoning euros the SPD-run labor ministry. 1946, and current polling puts it neck and doubt that they’ll split the Tories in doing so. social spending. In an Infratest Dimap poll, from defense and development aid in the Indeed, the SPD is using the budget plan- neck with the conservatives. There is considerable nervousness in Tory circles about what only 3 percent of Germans said they believed next budget. Doing so would give Germany ning process to tempt the breakup of the Conclusion a May-Corbyn deal would mean. One of May’s most likely succes- that any budget increases should go to de- a failing grade on the Strategic Level Report current coalition, and Scholz is positioning German chancellor Passivity to US Presi- sors within the cabinet worries that any agreement with Corbyn fense. Three-quarters of those polled chose it delivered to NATO earlier this year, which himself as a potential chancellor. In this at- dent Donald Trump could lead to the collapse would boost the Labour leader’s chances of becoming prime education, health, or infrastructure. In turn, was meant to track Germany’s good faith in tempt, the SPD is fighting for its life. Current of the German coalition in the near future minister. How could the Tories accuse Corbyn of not being fit for the SPD’s new strategy has yielded a small living up to its NATO obligations. polling numbers would disqualify Germany’s and before 2021. Undoubtedly, if Germany’s office if they had to rely on him to deliver their most important uptick in the polls. Why stoke the ire of Trump and further oldest political party as a major party. Ac- Social Democrats come along with Merkel in policy? Others worry that Labour will only do a deal if it is a bad At the same time, however, the party is weaken European solidarity in a time when cording to ZDF’s Politbarometer, the SPD is this regard, their political future will also be one for the Tories. alienating Germany’s allies. At the 2014 NATO the Atlantic alliance is being challenged on polling at 15 percent if parliamentary elec- jeopardized in Germany. A topic that even There are, it is worth remembering, three different kinds of summit in Wales, Germany pledged to dedicate many fronts? There is a logical explanations were held today. The conservatives have many Social-Democratic Party leaders are compromise. One is more a recognition of reality than anything 2 percent of GDP toward defense spending tion: Germany’s Constitution stipulates double the support, and the once-upstart worried about. else. It is reality that parliament determines what kind of Brexit deal can pass into law. So allowing a parliamentary vote to set the government’s mandate for the next round of the negotiations, as the Nandy-Snell amendment suggests, is really just a recognition of this fact. Yes, the government is diluting its power to negotiate U.S. suffers strategic loss in Venezuela treaties by accepting this Labour backbench amendment. But as the current impasse shows, a treaty that parliament won’t By Bhim Bhurtel ficials and White House advisers.” ratify is rather pointless. The second question is about whether White House aides In any future negotiation, the government will be bound by Asia Times - After the recent American foreign-policy farce had misread the objective reality on the ground. However what parliament would accept. So allowing the Commons a role in Venezuela, a typically Nepal-style mockery of the US has powerful a country is economically, technologically, militarily, early in the process is not as much of a concession as it sounds. been growing popular in Kathmandu. The witty reproach and strategically, and whatever weapons are at its disposal, In truth, the damage was done to the UK’s negotiating position is all about the recent US attempt to topple Venezuelan it won’t win a war if it has misread events objectively in the when Theresa May lost the Tory majority in the 2017 general President Nicholas Maduro’s regime. The Nepalese foreign- field. The US should know this from its bitter defeat in the election. Any prime minister who wants to negotiate a more policy elites, foreign-policy and international-affairs jour- Vietnam War some 45 years ago. emphatic Brexit would have to have a majority, and that would nalists, and academia believe that the failed US attempt to The third question is whether Trump’s impulsive behavior entail a general election. overthrow Maduro’s government depicts the diminishing was responsible for the failed coup. Regime change is only The second kind of compromise is showing that some things size of American global prominence. possible if there is an intense desire or willingness to bring really can’t be done. The point of Barwell’s remark above is People in Kathmandu think the United States of America about the change. If there is genuine desire or willingness, that there are areas where Labour thinks the government is can only put pressure on small and weak countries like Nepal regime change demands the ability to bring it to fruition. That deliberately trying to create distance with the EU, when the but not a country like Venezuela, which has the backing of ability comes from a rationally informed and objective reading actual issue is the EU’s desire to protect its own legal and powerful countries such as Russia and China. As well, they of the situation on the ground in both domestic politics and institutional order. believe that the US sphere of influence now has midget stat- geopolitics. The United States is not in a position to finance Some Tories in government think that you could even extend ure not only globally but even in the Western Hemisphere. the rebuilding of Venezuela if the Maduro regime is force- this argument to Labour’s idea of a customs union. Given that Nepalis have good reason to mock the US. After the US fully ousted eventually. The Trump administration wants to trade in goods is an exclusively EU competence, there is no way recognized Juan Guaid?, head of Venezuela’s National As- see a win in the Western Hemisphere on the foreign-policy that Brussels could accept a customs union in which the UK — a sembly, as the interim president on January 23, a statement in the Venezuelan military would incite a popular uprising front before the US election in 2020; however, it has neither non-member — had a veto over trade deals. So why not go and was issued by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of the ruling and topple a leader they had described as “a reviled despot the willingness nor the ability to finance nation-building in ask Brussels for one, and wait for the EU to say no? Nepal Communist Party (NCP), that disparaged the rec- who must be replaced.” Venezuela post-Maduro. The problem with this approach is that the EU isn’t keen on ognition of Guaid? by the US and its allies. Dahal strongly However, American officials’ claims that their key sup- Last, the most crucial question is how the US can re- May’s alternative, the facilitated customs arrangement. This condemned the move as foreign meddling in Venezuela’s porters in Venezuela were about to defect from the Maduro claim its Monroe Doctrine. Trump says Russia should would allow the UK to operate different tariffs from the EU internal affairs. He said the US had no right to orchestrate regime were not realized. Bolton had cited three names of get out of Venezuela. Bolton says, “The United States will but still preserve many of the benefits of the customs union. a coup against the democratically elected government of top Venezuelan office bearers who supported regime change not tolerate hostile foreign meddling with the Western Indeed, one of the ironies of the cross-party talks is that the President Maduro. after Guaid? appealed for a military mutiny. These three Hemisphere’s shared goals of democracy, security, and EU doesn’t like what either Labour or the Tories want on After the statement was issued by Dahal, Washington people were Vladimir Padrino, the defense minister, Maikel the rule of law.” Both the president and his national se- customs. As one of those involved in the talks admits, neither summoned the Nepalese ambassador to ask him to clarify the Moreno, the head of the Supreme Court, and Ivan Rafael curity adviser mean that the Monroe Doctrine must be what Labour or the Tories are proposing is a ‘simple, turn up government’s official stance on the Venezuela row. Nepal’s Hernandez Dala, the head of the presidential guard. Accord- restored in Venezuela. on day one’ option. Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a diplomatically crafted ing to the plan, the Supreme Court would endorse Guaid? However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on The third type of concession is the most problematic — it statement that did not contradict Dahal. After the clarifica- as the legitimate president and declare Maduro’s election the sidelines of the 11th ministerial meeting of the Arctic creates new facts on the ground. For instance, there is a sig- tion of the official position of the Nepalese government, the illegitimate as cover for the military to defect. Abrams went Council on Tuesday, told his US counterpart Pompeo that nificant difference between a standstill on customs policy and US ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry, skipped the briefing a step further, saying that a 15-point document had been “if the US intervened military in Venezuela, it would be an agreement on a new UK/EU customs union. The former session of the Nepal Investment Summit, organized by the discussed between Guaid?’s allies and members of Maduro’s catastrophic.” would create a presumption that whoever wins the next elec- government, to express America’s displeasure at Nepal’s inner circle. Russia, Turkey, China, Iran, Bolivia and Mexico have tion could seek to negotiate the kind of deal that they want; stance on the Venezuela row. However, Nepal refused to However, on April 30, it appeared that the plot had been supporting Maduro. China and Russia have backed the latter would not. change its stance, and later on, the US sent Joseph Felter, the fallen short, with Padrino appearing alongside Maduro in Maduro for two reasons. First is that they stand to lose hugely If, and it remains a very big if, Labour and the Tories can come deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and South- a high-profile show of support and criticizing those behind if the Maduro’s leftist government is overthrown. China has to a Brexit arrangement, it will be less palatable to Brexiteers east Asia, to Nepal to soothe the strained relations between the attempted military recalcitrance. At the end of the day, invested an estimated $70 billion in Venezuela since 2008, than the deal that May negotiated with the EU. But considering Washington and Kathmandu. Felter is the most senior US President Maduro remained in power. and Russia too has tens of billions’ worth of investment how determined 10 per cent or so of the Conservative parlia- official to visit the Himalayan nation since President Donald Pompeo and Abrams have been blaming Russia and Cuba in the South American country. The second reason is the mentary party are not to vote for any kind of deal, it is hard to Trump was elected in 2016. for sabotaging the plot and frustrating their plans. But the substantial strategic power game to offset America’s sphere see how Brexit can happen without an understanding between Perhaps, having experienced the overthrow of despotic entire project made Trump’s aides look like fools. of influence not only in the Western Hemisphere, but also the two main parties. regimes three times with the help of popular uprising in The failed attempt to overthrow the Maduro regime in the East. As Fred Weir opined in the Christian Science Given this House of Commons opposition to no deal, the only less than 70 years of history, nobody knows better than the raises many questions. First is whether the United States Monitor on Wednesday, “Russia wants to counter that the obvious alternative is to go to the country. But even under a new Nepalis how difficult it is to change a regime had faulty intelligence about the real ability of Guaid? to US needs to end its two-decade-old binge of regime-change leader, the Tories wouldn’t be in a good position to fight a general Perhaps, having experienced the overthrow of despotic attract close Maduro aides to his side. It would not be the operations, which includes supporting anti-Moscow revolu- election and couldn’t be confident what the result would be. regimes three times with the help of popular uprising in first time the US had suffered from intelligence failure. For tions in Russia’s own back yard.” I understand that the deadline for the cross-party talks to less than 70 years of history, nobody knows better than instance, after the US invaded Iraq in 2003 and weapons Whether regime change in Venezuela is peaceful or co- come up with something is the end of next week. If they do not, the Nepalis how difficult it is to change a regime. President of mass destruction were not found, the secretary of state ercive, the US will have to sit at the table with Russia and then — as senior government figures admit — it is hard to see Trump’s top aides – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, na- at the time, Colin Powell, publicly admitted that he had China or through the United Nations Security Council. Its how Brexit will make any progress before October’s EU Council. tional security adviser John Bolton and special envoy to been misinformed. This Wednesday, The Washington Post missteps in its Venezuelan regime-change agenda are lead- At that point, the European Union might try to force a decision Venezuela Elliott Abrams were thinking a regime change in reported that Trump was “complaining he was misled about ing to a grave diminishment of its global influence. The US by giving the Commons 18 days to decide between approving the Venezuela had the strong backing of powerful countries and how easy it would be to replace the socialist strongman with may be able to pressure weak countries like Nepal on the deal, leaving without one, and revoking Article 50. so would be a piece of cake. They believed that a rebellion a young opposition figure, according to administration of- Venezuela row, but not Venezuela itself. 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 MAY 16, 2019 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 Leading British Nationalists in Electoral Polls Is Europe ready to pay the Why is British prime minister worried? costs of defying nuclear deal? By Saeed Sobhani TEHRAN — Britain’s withdrawal from the EU has become a complex puzzle! It seems that in the European Parliamentary elections, this will have an important role to play in electoral campaigns in the UK. While the two traditional British parties claim that supporters of leaving Europe and other nationalists are no longer in London’s political and executive equations, polls in Britain show another reality! Undoubtedly, if the supporters of the British withdrawal from Europe can win the European parliamentary elections, the joint EU-London project will face a stalemate to hold a referendum on exit from Europe. Recent surveys in the UK are very contemplative! As Guardian reported, Senior Tory and Labour politicians have issued frantic calls to their voters to back them in next week’s European elections after a new poll showed support for Nigel Farage’s Brexit party had TEHRAN (FNA) — On Wednesday, May 8, Iranian President soared to a level higher than for the two main Hassan Rouhani gave the Group 4+1 (China, Russia, Britain parties put together.The Opinium survey for and France Plus Germany) two months to fully implement the the Observer places the Brexit party on 34%, 2015 nuclear deal after Tehran modified two of its undertakings when people were asked how they intended under the JCPOA in return for the US abrogation of the deal and to vote on 23 May, with Labour slipping to other signatories’ inability to provide Tehran with any economic 21% and the Conservatives collapsing to just mer prime minister Tony Blair says it is vital the British government, with its widespread straight choice in a second referendum with merits under the agreement. 11%. Ominously for Theresa May, support for that Labour supporters go to the polls, even negative propaganda against the Brexit, is Remain, the PM’s deal and WTO Brexit on According to President Rouhani, after the US withdrawal the Tories at the European elections is now if they choose a party more clearly in favour seeking to re-arrange a referendum. In other the ballot. Only then will we really know what from the deal last year, also known as the JCPOA, the European less than a third of that for Farage’s party, of Remain than Labour.“This is not a vote to words, the European authorities are trying the people’s choice is.” signatories pledged to take actions to neutralize the restrictions and below that for the Liberal Democrats, choose a prime minister or a government,” to direct the public opinion about the Brexit. Sam Gyimah, the former universities caused by the unilateral withdrawal, but to no avail. who are on 12%. Blair says. “It is a vote for the Farage Brexit; Recently, some western news sources are minister, said: “Harnessing grievance is Now as a consequence, President Rouhani says Iran is finding The poll suggests the Brexit party, launched or against it.” speaking of an issue called “repeating the Farage’s only card, but we know he’s never it increasingly hard to fight terrorism, establish regional security, only last month, is now on course for a thump- He adds: “I will vote Labour because I Brexit referendum”, and name it as a pos- had a solid plan for our great country. We prevent the flow of refugees to Europe, and confront illegal drugs ing victory that Farage will, MPs fear, use to believe ultimately Labour will be counted sible option! have vacated the pitch, and voters are flocking traffickers, arguing that these moves require Iran to spend billions back his argument that the UK must leave on the anti-Farage side of the ledger. The However, the victories of nationalists in to him. Time to call him out.” of dollars, which because of US sanctions and EU’s inaction to the EU immediately without a deal. bulk of the Labour party membership, MPs the European Parliamentary elections in Farage’s rise will, however, inevitably provide Iran with the economic merits of the nuclear deal have Recently, Farage was cheered by hundreds and voters are against Brexit and certainly England change the plans and equations raise new doubts about how long May can been undermined. of voters at a rally in Houghton-le-Spring, against that Brexit advocated by the Brexit defined by the European countries. As The survive as Tory leader, as pressure mounts The Wednesday’s message is clear: If the nuclear deal is good near Sunderland, as he described the prime party and its fellow travellers in the Con- Guardian reported, A series of Conservative on her from her own backbenchers to step for regional and global peace, then, everybody should pay for it, minister’s Brexit deal as “like a surrender servative party.” moderates demanded that the party take on down. Cabinet ministers say the party is including those in Europe who expect Iran to finance and fight document of a nation that has been defeated The Guardian, in one of its most recent Farage directly, rather than give him a free haemorrhaging support, with Leavers flock- transit of drugs and stand against the flow of millions of refugees in war”. analyzes on the Brexit, wrote that the in- run in the campaign. The former education ing to Farage’s party and Tory Remainers who are endeavoring to get to Europe single-handedly. There were signs of mounting panic and teractions that have taken place over the secretary Nicky Morgan said it was time to either saying they will refuse to vote or Indeed, Rouhani’s warning is yet another reminder that despite recriminations in both Tory and Labour withdrawal of the UK from the European tackle the “politics of division” head on. “It is back another party. US pressures and sanctions to cash-strap Iran, Tehran has been ranks as their MPs attempted belatedly to Union have “the UK a global joke.” a dangerous path for any democracy and we Ultimately, the victory of nationalists in playing an important role in countering drugs trafficking from mount “stop Farage” operations.May was What does the recent poll in the UK mean? know where it ends – a deeply fragmented the British election means the failure of the its eastern borders with Afghanistan - the world’s largest opium accused by senior Conservatives of “fuelling 3 years has passed since the referendum and weakened country. Those of us who can two traditional British parties. It should not producer. This Iranian devotion, however, is under strike by the populism” with her indecision over the Brexit was hold over the Brexit, which ended up in see the dangers must call this kind of politics be forgotten that the two conservative and western policies and could be undermined to a great degree, if the issue, while Labour politicians urged their the victory of the proponents of the UK exit out at every opportunity we get.” labour parties in Britain are both the main country cannot have access to international banking systems and backers to come out and vote despite the from the EU. But the details of this depar- Another former education secretary, opponents of the British withdrawal from the transactions because of US sanctions. This includes preventing party’s mixed messages on Europe, which ture remains ambiguous among the British Justine Greening, added: “The cabinet’s European Union. Undoubtedly, European millions of refugees from the region who are doing everything are depressing its support. authorities, and this ambiguity seems to be halfway-house fudged Brexit pleases no officials are also worried about European they can to get themselves and their families to European shores. Richard Corbett, Labour’s leader in the intensified in 2019. one. Failing to realise that and ducking parliamentary elections in Britain. They are It begs to emphasize that according to the United Nations European parliament, said: “Labour voters Complicating the process of the British tough decisions is just fuelling populism. also worried about the victory of nationalists Office on Drugs and Crime, Iran ranks first in the world in drug must turn out and vote to stop a far-right withdrawal from the European Union is a In reality the EU election will not break the in the European Parliamentary elections in seizures. The country seizes around 80 percent of the opium extremist claiming he represents Britain.” joint measure taken by the British government gridlock in parliament so it solves nothing Britain, and they are not able to conceal this and 40 percent of the heroin and morphine seized in the world. Writing for the Observer online, the for- and European authorities. At the same time, – the only way to really resolve Brexit is a concern. It also continues to pay a heavy price in the campaign against drugs trafficking. It’s a sentiment also shared by the World Drug Report and its annual overviews of the major developments in drug markets for the various drug categories, ranging from production to traf- Mark Fitzpatrick: Iran’s response to U.S.’ withdrawal ficking, including development of new routes, modalities, and consumption. The annual reports state: “The flow of heroin along the long-established Balkan route, moderate, within N. deal terms from Afghanistan to Western and Central Europe via Iran and Turkey, has declined in recent years. Various factors may have TEHRAN (FNA)— Mark Fitzpatrick, a former Deputy 3.67% limit, this would be a clear and egregious violation contributed to the decline in seizures along this route, including Assistant Secretary for Non-Proliferation at the US State of the deal and European partners would need to re-impose the success of law enforcement authorities in key transit countries Department, believes that Tehran’s decision to abandon sanctions. But I expect that enrichment levels would not like Iran, and a decline in demand in the destination market.” the limits on heavy water and low enriched uranium (LEU) immediately rise after 60 days, so there is probably some If that is the case, which clearly is, then how come the EU stockpiling was the most modest response possible, adding more time for diplomatic engagement to find a path forward. continues to sit on its hands by refusing to offer any help to Iran that the move is still within the framework of the nuclear The Iranian nuclear deal is an agreement based on – diplomatically and logistically – including the implementation agreement. clarity and commitment of both sides. Paying attention to of its commitments under the JCPOA? Speaking in an exclusive interview with FNA, Mark the important role that the US plays on the other side and Just for the record, under the US sanctions regime, Western Fitzpatrick said, “The Trump team does not think the US inaction of the European countries towards the US, Iran governments refuse to provide Iran not just with its own money will bear any costs from the policy of maximum pressure.” remains committed to this agreement. Given the status quo, but with high-tech monitoring tools and screening technology as Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Non-Prolifera- how do you assess the future? well, which are crucial in effectively financing and guarding its tion at the US State Department added, “I think they are A: I admire Iran’s patience and wisdom in adhering to long border with Afghanistan. Surely, they don’t expect Iranian short-sighted because there is both an opportunity cost and the JCPOA even though the US has withdrawn from it. It volunteers to make all those sacrifices when the US economic, a real cost down the road if the policy leads to war.” is wise to do so, because a departure from the deal would banking and crude sanctions and EU’s subordination to Wash- “I admire Iran’s patience and wisdom in adhering to spark new sanctions by Europe and cast Iran as the guilty ington cause and change in Iran’s budget priorities? the JCPOA even though the US has withdrawn from it,” party. Exceeding the nuclear limits could also spark US Moreover, at the UN, Iran has always complained about the Fitzpatrick told FNA. Given the pressure on Iran’s military action. So even though Iran is in a difficult situation, EU and other international bodies’ lack of serious cooperation Mark Fitzpatrick is former executive director of the I believe it can have the patience to wait until US policies with Tehran in the campaign against drugs trafficking from Af- Americas office of the International Institute for Strategic economy, the statement about change, perhaps in 20 months. After all the Iranian people ghanistan. Over the past three decades or so, Iran has spent Studies and former head of the institute’s Non-Proliferation abandoning the limits on have a 7,000-year history. Compared to this, 20 months is billions of dollars to seal its borders and prevent the transit of and Nuclear Policy Program. He previously worked for 26 heavy water and low enriched a fleeting moment. And US policy could even change before narcotics destined to European, Arab and Central Asian coun- years in the US Department of State. His research focuses then. Notice that President Trump is again talking about tries. Its war on drugs trade has also claimed the lives of nearly on regional proliferation challenges and preventing nuclear uranium (LEU) stockpiling personally engaging with Iran’s leadership. 4,000 Iranian police officers and soldiers. Still, many European danger in the era of “nuclear renaissance”. was the most modest response After the failed coup in Venezuela, it seems that John countries are refusing to give any credit to Iran - let alone offer Washington withdrew from the internationally-endorsed possible. It would take some Bolton’s role in Trump’s decision-making process will be any technological, intelligence or financial assistance! 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed the toughest-ever reduced. Is there any possibility that because of the failure In any case, as maintained by President Rouhani on May 8, sanctions against the country and started a plan to zero months before the limits might of Bolton’s aggressive activities, the role of the aggressive Iran’s decades-long war against international drug cartels and down Tehran’s oil sales. be exceeded, and in any case, party in the Trump administration will be reduced? its rigid and much costly efforts to stop the westward flow of the Under the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and A: Despite the news reports about Trump’s unhappiness several-million-strong refugees are under much pressure and six world powers in July 2015, Tehran undertook to put Iran can decide to reduce with National Security Adviser John Bolton’s role regarding could weaken soon as it can no longer afford spending billions limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal production as another way of Venezuela, it is premature to judge that Bolton’s overall of dollars as economic pressures and shortages change and of nuclear-related sanctions. keeping below the limit. It does role will be diminished. He is a very powerful and canny restrict priorities. Because of Washington’s economic warfare, In 2018, all the other signatories — Russia, China, Ger- bureaucratic player and will probably continue to drive the Tehran is unable to fight this war alone. Now is the time for many, France, the UK, and the EU — refused to follow the not have to export heavy water Iran policy. But if Trump begins to fear that Bolton is driv- other nations, including the EU countries, to join Iran in com- US example and confirmed their commitment to the accord, and LEU, and the deal does not ing toward war with Iran, as many analysts suspect, then bating drugs trafficking and plans in line with developing and trying to save the deal with the Islamic Republic. require it to do so. President Trump may decide he needs somebody else. A reconstructing Afghanistan. Tehran believes reconstruction Iranian officials then warned that the European Union’s key factor is that Trump does not want to lead the United and development could likewise help rein in drug production failure in providing the needed ground for Tehran to enjoy the sale of enriched uranium and heavy water. This action States into another foreign war. in Afghanistan. The Europeans who have long enjoyed Iran’s the economic benefits of the nuclear deal would exhaust the will be held for 60 days to bring the parties to the negotiation President Rouhani called the Iranian nuclear deal a benevolence for free should now help Iran continue its efforts country’s patience. table. How do you assess this issue? win-win or lose-lose game. What’s the point of this message against the flow of these refugees. Based on international rules Yet, Iran continued compliance with deal, stressing that A: Given the pressure on Iran’s economy, the statement for the other side? and regulations, they should have contributed to these efforts the remaining signatories to the agreement had to work to about abandoning the limits on heavy water and low en- A: I suppose that President Rouhani is cautioning the in different ways, including through financial assistance. Iran offset the negative impacts of the US pullout for Iran if they riched uranium (LEU) stockpiling was the most modest other major players that if Iran loses, then so will they. has never requested them to pay their share, but they can at want Tehran to remain in compliance. response possible. It would take some months before the The Europeans already know this, because they know the least stop their blows to these devoted efforts, since they are Following is the full text of the interview, where the issue limits might be exceeded, and in any case, Iran can decide non-proliferation benefits of the deal. But the current US now damaging, rather than reinvigorating, Iran’s endeavors has been discussed with Fitzpatrick: to reduce production as another way of keeping below the administration does not see things this way. The Trump team through their economic compliance with the US sanctions in Given that Iran’s needs were not met by the Iran limit. It does not have to export heavy water and LEU, and does not think the US will bear any costs from the policy of breach of the JCPOA. nuclear deal that included a removal of the sanctions, and the deal does not require it to do so. The more worrisome maximum pressure. I think they are short-sighted because The international community, specially the Europeans, should as the result of the US’ withdrawal from that agreement and issue is the threat to abandon other JCPOA limits after 60 there is both an opportunity cost and a real cost down the think it twice before fixing their eyes and minds only on the costs Europe’s passivity, Iran has announced that it is stopping days. If Iran were to produce enriched uranium above the road if the policy leads to war. of standing up to the US bullying policies. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS MAY 16, 2019

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MAY 16, 2019 SCIENCE 9 NASA: Budget boost ‘good start’ to Texas explorer completes put astronauts on moon deepest ocean dive in history A Dallas-based explorer has set a record for the deepest dive ever NASA’s chief said Tuesday that the Trump would not be the case. made in a submersible -- in the world’s deepest ocean trench, administration’s proposed $1.6 billion budget “This is a good out-of-the-gate first start, a his organization announced Monday. boost is a “good start” for getting astronauts very honest proposal from the administration Victor Vescovo reached a depth of 35,853 feet on April 28 during back on the moon within five years. that keeps us all together, moving forward,” a dive to the bottom of Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the Administrator Jim Bridenstine addressed he said. He also plugged NASA’s ongoing deepest known point on earth. The dive was 52 feet deeper than employees a day after the White House Space Launch System megarocket and Orion any previous manned dive, Vescovo’s Five Deeps Expedition said. introduced the budget amendment. spacecraft, both under development, and a The last visit to Challenger Deep also set a depth record at During an hourlong town hall from NASA proposed outpost in the vicinity of the moon, 35,787 feet. That journey was made by filmmaker James Cameron headquarters in Washington, Bridenstine called Gateway. in 2012. During the April 28-May 5 expedition to the Mariana said $1.6 billion is enough for 2020. But more A few hours later, Bridenstine found Trench, the team also completed a dive to the bottom of Sirena money will be needed in the years ahead to himself before the Senate Commerce, Deep, about 128 miles away from Challenger Deep. The team spent land “the next man and the first woman” at Science and Transportation Committee, hours at the bottom of the ocean at these locations, collecting the south pole of the moon by 2024. talking up the Artemis moon plan. The samples, including the deepest piece of mantle rock ever collected. NASA is once again turning to Greek space agency envisions that the effort will Five Deeps Expedition believes it has identified at least three new mythology for the name of the project. It’s being involve private industry as well as other species of marine animal, including a long-appendages amphipod. called Artemis, after the twin sister of Apollo. countries. Just last week, Amazon chief “It’s almost indescribable how excited all of us are about Apollo was the name of NASA’s moonshot Jeff Bezos introduced a mock-up of his own achieving what we just did,” Vescovo said. “This submarine and program that, 50 years ago this summer, planned lunar lander for his Blue Origin its mother ship, along with its extraordinarily talented expedition achieved the first manned lunar landing. currently sees itself, having the opportunity The administration seeks to use money space company. team, took marine technology to an unprecedented new level NASA landed 12 men on the moon over to go to the moon,” Bridenstine said. “In from Pell Grants for college education, for In March, Vice President Mike Pence by diving -- rapidly and repeatedly -- into the deepest, harshest six Apollo missions. For the next go-around, the 1960s, young ladies didn’t have the NASA’s new spending. urged NASA to accelerate its moon-landing area of the ocean. the space agency wants its moonwalkers opportunity to see themselves in that role. Bridenstine said he’s already heard program, moving it up from 2028 to 2024. “We feel like we have just created, validated, and opened a to reflect today’s more diverse astronaut Today, they do.” criticism of how the new spending will be NASA has flip-flopped between the moon powerful door to discover and visit any place, any time, in the corps, thus the name of Apollo’s sister. Bridenstine said he’s heartened by the fact “dead on arrival” in Congress because neither and Mars, a victim of changing presidential ocean -- which is 90 percent unexplored.” Artemis was goddess of the hunt as well that the extra money, if approved by Congress, NASA nor the administration worked in administrations. More recently, President The Pacific Ocean dive is the fourth in Five Deeps Expedition’s as the moon. will come from outside NASA, rather than advance with Congress on it. As a former Barack Obama targeted Mars as astronauts’ plan to dive to the bottom of each of the world’s five oceans. The “I have a daughter, she’s 11 years old, and being taken from the International Space congressman from Oklahoma, he said he next big destination, while President Donald group is using a submersible called Limiting Factor to complete I want her to see herself in the same position Station or other departments within the knows how the process works and assured Trump has favored the moon. its challenge. The team next plans to conduct dives in the Tonga that our current, very diverse astronaut corps space agency. the space agency’s 17,000 employees that (Source: AP) Trench in the South Pacific Ocean. (Source: UPI)

Spiders can use webs to catapult themselves at prey A giant hole in the Martian

Spiders can use webs like bows to catapult themselves at Gs, or 80 times the pull of Earth’s gravity. They calculated the atmosphere is venting all its prey, a new study finds. This may be the first documented 7-milligram spiders would have needed at least 145 milligrams example of tools used in such a way by an animal other than of muscle to generate as much power as the webs did. water into space humans, the researchers say. “There’ve been a growing series of advances over the past A number of creatures accomplish explosive feats that 10-20 years showing how animals can manipulate their energy There’s a hole in the Martian atmosphere that opens once every exceed the limits of muscle power and speed by gradually to carry out incredibly fast motions, and it’s just awesome two years, venting the planet’s limited water supply into space storing energy in anatomical structures and then rapidly how we now see these spiders can use their webs to throw — and dumping the rest of the water at the planet’s poles. releasing it, a strategy researchers call power amplification. themselves around,” said biomechanics researcher Gregory That’s the explanation advanced by a team of Russian and For example, mantis shrimp can punch their fistlike clubs Sutton at the University of Lincoln in England, who did not German scientists who studied the odd behavior of water on the with the force of .22 caliber bullets using curved structures take part in this work. “It would be very interesting to see Red Planet. Earthbound scientists can see that there’s water vapor on their arms that can bend to store tension like a bow, how the properties of the silk from these spiders compares high in the Martian atmosphere, and that water is migrating to and fleas accumulate energy in springlike tissues to jump with that of other spiders that do not carry out this same the planet’s poles. But until now, there was no good explanation up to roughly 200 times their body length, equivalent to a storage and release of energy.” for how the Martian water cycle works, or why the once-drenched 2-meter-tall person leaping 400 meters. In the future, the scientists would like to learn more planet is now a dry husk. Humans also rely on this strategy, using tools such as about how Hyptiotes can hold its web taut for so long and The presence of water vapor high above Mars is puzzling because springs, bows, catapults and slingshots. “With a bow, you structures,” Han said. how it withstands the forces of catapulting and collision. the Red Planet has a middle layer of its atmosphere that seems can use muscles to store energy in the wood of the bow and The spider is about 5 millimeters long, dwells in woods Furthermore, another research team previously found the like it should be shutting down the water cycle altogether. shoot an arrow much farther than you can throw a spear,” across North America, lacks venom glands, and does not use ray spider Theridiosoma may also use their circular webs “The Martian middle atmosphere is too cold to sustain water said study lead author Sarah Han, an entomologist at the adhesive glue in its web, instead creating puffs of feathery like slingshots. Han and her colleagues hope to collaborate vapor,” the researchers wrote in the study, which was published University of Akron in Ohio. silk to entangle prey. It waits in a corner of its triangular web, with that group to investigate ray spiders. April 16 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Now scientists find the triangle-weaver spider Hyptiotes pulling on a thread to hold the web taut for hours. When “There may be more animals who are capable of power So how is water crossing that middle-layer barrier? cavatus can store energy in the silk threads of its web to prey touches the web, the spider releases this line, and both amplification than we know of, and they may be doing it in The answer, according to computer simulations in the current fling itself at prey, the first instance known of animals using it and the web are rapidly hurled forward, with silk threads interesting and novel ways,” Han said. study, has to do with two atmospheric processes unique to the a device they made for power amplification. “I’ve always flying around the victim from all directions to further trap it. The scientists detailed their findings online May 13 in the Red Planet. enjoyed the elegance and function of spider webs, and now Using high-speed video, the scientists found tension in journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. On Earth, summer in the Northern Hemisphere and summer we have learned another way in which they use these amazing the web could drive the spiders at accelerations of roughly 80 (Source: Inside Science) in the Southern Hemispheres are pretty similar. But that’s not the case on Mars: Because the planet’s orbit is much more eccentric than Earth’s, it’s significantly closer to the sun during its southern hemisphere summer (which happens once every two Earth years). Car-size “sea monster” terrorized Triassic oceans So summers on that part of the planet are much warmer than summers in the Northern Hemisphere. A crocodile-like beast the length of a to light, it’s remarkable that this new species before they were studied,” Butler told Live these particular fossils were found in sediments When that happens, according to the researchers’ simulations, Volkswagen Beetle terrorized prey in the late — dubbed Mystriosuchus steinbergeri — is Science. Finally, in 2013, a team of British, from an ancient ocean environment, tens of a window opens in Mars’ middle atmosphere between 37 and Triassic oceans about 210 million years ago, finally being introduced to science. Its species French, Austrian and Swiss researchers began miles from the Triassic shoreline. 56 miles (60 and 90 kilometers) in altitude, allowing water a new study finds. name honors Sepp Steinberger, a member examining the ancient remains. It’s unlikely that all four of these phytosaurs vapor to pass through and escape into the upper atmosphere. Researchers excavated the remains of four of a local caving club, who discovered the Phytosaurs look like a mix of the modern died on land and then were washed out to At other times, the lack of sunlight shuts down Martian water of these now-extinct sea monsters from the fossils while climbing the “dead mountains,” crocodile, alligator and gharial, although they sea, Butler said. “Therefore, we think this cycles almost entirely. Mars is also different from Earth in that rocky slopes of the Austrian Alps. But even a remote area of the Austrian Alps, in 1980. lived long before those animals and are not provides the best evidence to date to support the Red Planet gets frequently overtaken by giant dust storms. at 13 feet long (4 meters), these creatures — A team from the Natural History Museum in particularly close relatives of them, Butler the idea that some phytosaurs lived in marine Those storms cool the planet’s surface by blocking light. But the known as phytosaurs — weren’t fully grown. Vienna excavated the remains two years later said. “This is an example of ‘evolutionary environments,” he said. light that doesn’t reach Mars’ surface instead gets stuck in the The phytosaurs were only about 8 years old and had to use a helicopter to transport the convergence,’ where distantly related groups This newly named species, as well as fossils atmosphere, warming it and creating conditions better suited to when they died, and they were “still actively fossils off the mountain, which was nearly evolve to look alike because they live in similar from a few other phytosaur specimens found moving water around, the scientists’ simulations showed. Under growing,” according to a bone analysis, said 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) high. environments,” he said. The phytosaur is a over the years in marine deposits, suggests global dust-storm conditions, like the one that enveloped Mars study lead researcher Richard Butler, a The museum cleaned off the fossils and put semiaquatic reptile whose remains are usually that some of these animals could live in, or at in 2017, tiny particles of water ice form around the dust particles. professor of paleobiology at the University them on display. But “because there are very found near freshwater lakes and rivers. least pass through, saltwater environments, Those lightweight ice particles float into the upper atmosphere of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. few specialists on phytosaurs — this particular (Although it lived during the early dinosaur the researchers said. more easily than other forms of water, so during those periods Given the difficulty of bringing these fossils group of fossil reptiles — it took many years age, the phytosaur is not a dinosaur.) However, (Source: Live Science) more water move into the upper atmosphere. Dust storms can move even more water into the upper atmosphere than the southern summers, the researchers showed. Once the water passes through the middle boundary, the Science of anger: How gender, age and personality shape this emotion researchers wrote, two things happen: Some of the water drifts north and south, toward the poles, where it’s eventually deposited. Anger is the flash of fire that sparks in your brain when for most of us, most of the time, keeps our primal instincts of this motivation – they said they just liked the objects more. But ultraviolet light in the upper atmosphere can also sever the you feel you have been shortchanged. Perhaps a stranger in check. Outward expressions of anger can also alter the way you bonds between the oxygen and hydrogen in the molecules, causing has nipped into the parking space that you had been about How does anger change the way we think? are perceived. Larissa Tiedens, an American psychologist the hydrogen to escape into space, leaving the oxygen behind. to occupy, or a lazy work colleague has landed you with a Feeling anger can alter the way we view risks. Studies who has conducted extensive research on anger, found that This process could be part of the story of how a once-drenched thankless task. Or maybe you have been confronted with a have shown that it can make us more impulsive and make us participants were more supportive of President Bill Clinton Mars has ended up so dry in its current epoch, the researchers deep, hurtful betrayal by someone you love. underestimate the chances of bad outcomes. In one study, when they viewed him expressing anger about the Monica wrote. Anger is one of the most primitive emotions we experience volunteers who were made to feel angry estimated the chances Lewinsky scandal than when they saw him expressing sadness (Source: Live Science) – animals are equipped with the same basic neural circuitry. of suffering heart disease as being lower and said they were more – and the effect was replicated with an unknown politician. It operates on a spectrum from mild frustration to absolute likely to receive a pay raise, when compared with volunteers Tiedens also found that participants assigned a higher fury, and the intensity with which we feel anger and how we who had been prompted to feel fearful. Depending on the status position and salary to a job candidate who described act on it is very personal. Science is beginning to provide new context, anger can make us brave or reckless. himself as angry as opposed to sad. And showing anger explanations about the ways that personality, age, gender Anger also influences group dynamics. When we feel during a negotiation has also been shown to increase the Franklin College exceeds and life experiences shape the way we feel this emotion. angry, we tend to think more negatively and in a more chances of succeeding in it – people are more likely to yield What is anger? prejudiced way about outsiders, becoming more likely to to someone who is perceived as stubborn, dominant. It’s $10M goal to back science Scientists believe that the capacity for anger has been blame negative traits on a person’s nature rather than their worth noting that these studies related to how angry men hardwired into the brain over millions of years of evolution. circumstances. Angry people tend to seek someone to blame, are regarded – there is some evidence that people view angry facility It forms part of our instinct to fight off threats, to compete research shows. This potentially makes an angry person feel women less favorably. for resources and to enforce social norms. Anger is rooted even more enraged with the offending person or group, in Are men more angry than women? Franklin College says it’s exceeded its $10 million fundraising in the brain’s reward circuit. We are constantly – often some cases perpetuating a spiral of irrational rage. Men are, on average, more outwardly aggressive than goal to support construction and renovation of a new science subconsciously – weighing up what we expect to happen Does anger have benefits? women and so it might be assumed that they are also angrier. facility on its suburban Indianapolis campus. in any situation. When there is a mismatch between what Anger has been viewed fairly negatively over the course But this doesn’t appear to be the case. Research has consistently The school said Monday the goal was topped for the Campaign we’ve learned to expect and the hand we’re dealt, our brain’s of history. In ancient Rome, Seneca pronounced anger found that women experience anger as frequently and as for the Sciences, which is helping to pay for the Franklin College reward circuit sounds the alarm and activity is triggered in a “worthless even for war”, while wrath makes it on to the intensely as men. Men who feel angry are more likely to display Science Center that fully opened in January. small almond-shaped region in the brain called the amygdala. list of deadly sins. But science suggests there could be some aggression, although this does not mean that women are not The school’s President Thomas J. Minar says in a statement Anger can trigger the body’s fight or flight response, benefits for the angry individual, if not for society at large. motivated by rage as frequently. One study, by scientists at that Franklin College is “extremely grateful to the many donors, causing the adrenal glands to flood the body with stress Anger can serve as a powerful motivator. In a 2010 study, Southwest Missouri State University, who surveyed around including trustees, alumni, friends and organizations.” hormones, such as adrenaline, and testosterone, preparing Dutch scientists showed volunteers pictures of objects such 200 men and women, suggested that women were as angry Minar noted that Dr. Margot Lacy Eccles made a $2.5 million us for physical aggression. But whether we actually end up as pens and mugs on a computer screen interspersed with and acted on their anger as frequently as men. The main financial promise and matching challenge before her death in swearing or scowling or even punching someone depends on subliminal images of angry or neutral faces. When an angry difference they identified was that men felt less effective when 2012 that helped get the campaign going. The school says the a second brain area, the prefrontal cortex, that is responsible face had flashed up first, people rated objects as more desirable forced to contain their anger, while women seemed better Science Center will be home to the Lacy Labs, which will honor for decision-making and reasoning. This puts our anger in and worked harder to win them in a subsequent game. able to control immediate impulsive responses to anger. her memory and contributions. context, reminds us to behave in socially acceptable ways and Interestingly, the participants were not consciously aware (Source: The Guardian) (Source: AP) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM MAY 16, 2019

Iranian museums to offer Step inside the most free admission on May 18

TOURISM TEHRAN — On May 18, which marks the deskInternational Museum Day, entry will be free to “valuable” house in the world museums and historical sites affiliated with the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization. TOURISM TEHRAN — Many Iranians believe deskthat Moghadam Museum in downtown Tehran may be the most “expensive” home in the world because the 1960s’ house is chock-full of rare and ancient objects. Its structure is neither very big nor enjoys special facilities. Professor Arthur Upham Pope called this house in an article devoted to the study of arts in Iran; the most valuable house in the world in the 1960s because of the ancient objects used in architecture of house, Mehr reported. The house belonged to Tehran University professor Mohsen Moghadam, son of Ehtesab al-Molk, who was a mayor in Qajar era. Because he was very interested in archeology and historical monuments, he collected the antiquities that were on the verge of destruction or plunder in his house. A visitor tours the National Museum of Iran. Professor Moghadam was a pioneering Iranian “The scheme involves museums and historical sites which are archaeologist who worked with other archaeologists in affiliated with the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism historic sites. He and his wife decided to put their efforts Organization in order to mark the International Museum Day and for establishing a museum of priceless objects exposed to persuade people to visit museums,” Mehr quoted Mohammadreza destruction. This historical house spans about 2117 square Kargar, the director of CHHTO museums and historical properties, meters and it includes three yards. Colorful tiles, columns as saying on Tuesday. and arches are creating a unique authentic atmosphere. Earlier in April, the official announced that over 8.5 million paid The museum consists of the house itself and a beautiful visit to CHHTO-affiliated museums and historical sites across Iran garden, safely hidden from street noise behind thick walls. during the New Year (Noruz) holidays, which ended on April 2. The entrance of the museum is not obvious from the street, According to Kargar, some three million historical objects but ready to open all its beauty for travelers who notice are being kept in the CHHTO-affiliated museums. the modest door of the museum. There are 600 museums across Iran, some half of which are Moghadam collected many valuable monuments running by private collectors or other institutions. including tiles, stone pieces, cloth, hookahs, pottery, glass, paintings, coins and historical documents in the A view of the Moghadam Museum in downtown Tehran. house. Of the manifest features of this museum is the have enjoyed the principles of Iranian architecture such The Moghadam Museum is located on Imam Khomeini relative assimilation of its architecture with the historical as Persian pool, glass and the principles of the gardening. St., Hassan Abad Sq. A cozy-manicured garden welcomes Cannes’ famous hotels have relics inside. Professor Moghadam died in 1987 and after the death of visitors with its turquoise ponds, colorful trees such as The house has been called the most beautiful and his wife in 1990; the house has been ceded to the University pomegranates and cedars. Museumgoers can tour gems, undergone more than valuable house in the world in opinion of many writers of Tehran to be supervised. In 2009, it was opened to the textiles, paintings, handicrafts, pieces of furniture and $1 billion in renovations and visitors. The design and construction of this house public as a museum. ancient objects.

The Cannes Film Festival is, undoubtedly, one of the most glamorous events of the year. Tehran exports $84m of handicrafts About 40,000 people will visit the city on the French coast to watch some of the year’s best films, spot celebrities, and bask HERITAGE TEHRAN — Handicrafts exports from Traditional glassware, mosaic, woodwork, hand-woven desk in the glamour of the French Riviera. And guests at this year’s Tehran province reached some $84.12 textile and rugs constituted majority of Tehran’s exports of festival (which began Tuesday) may be treated to an even more million during the previous Iranian calendar year 1397 handicrafts, he added. glamorous experience than years past. (ended March 20), Mehr reported. Iran’s handicrafts exports reached $190 million in the first The figure shows a 36% year-on-year growth in compar- nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started ison with the year before, when some $62 million worth of March 21, 2018), showing 11 percent growth year on year. handicrafts were exported from the Iranian capital, said According to the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tour- Mohammad Enshaei, the provincial tourism chief. ism Organization, Iran’s exports of handicrafts fetched over Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Russia, Armenia, China, $190 million during the first nine months of the past year, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, increasing 11 percent year on year. Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar were the main importers during the Over two million artisans are currently working in various period, the official said. fields of handicrafts across the country. Virgin Galactic’s space flights will take off from the New Mexico desert Virgin Galactic may be sending the first Mexico but declined to reveal a date when commercial tourists to space from New commercial spaceflights will begin. In Mexico by the end of the year. February, Virgin Galactic completed its Richard Branson’s space tourism first passenger test flight to suborbital space. Historic hotels in Cannes have invested about $1 billion in company announced last week that it will Virgin Galactic’s missions to space renovations for five-star accommodations this year. move headquarters from Mojave California have been widely publicized and hotly “We went to sleep a bit,” Michel Chevillon, head of the Cannes to Spaceport America, New Mexico. anticipated over the past few years, but hoteliers union, told Associated Foreign Press. “Bookings didn’t “The first photograph of Earth from the launch dates have kept getting delayed. fall but there was a drop in customer satisfaction levels. And then space was taken over New Mexico in Among the first people on board the the big international chains arrived. So to keep our share of the October of 1946,” George Whitesides, flights will be celebrities like Justin Bieber market, we had to get it just right.” CEO of Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship and Leonardo DiCaprio, who have already Last year, the historic waterfront Martinez Hotel re-opened Company, said in a statement. “How paid for their $250,000 tickets. Branson after a $168 million renovation, which shut down the hotel for inspiring and appropriate that the state himself wants to be on the first commercial four months. Today, it’s the biggest hotel in town, with 409 rooms. will soon host the first regular commercial flight, which he previously hoped would The old hotel was previously decorated in dark tones. spaceflight service, which will enable happen in July, to coincide with the 50th (Source: travelandleisure.com) thousands of people to see Earth from anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch. space with their own eyes.” “Our future success as a species rests As part of the move, Virgin Galactic will on the planetary perspective,” Branson ROUND THE GLOBE transplant more than 100 employees and flights begin. Consequences. The launch would make told USA Today. “The perspective that their families, plus the aircraft VMS Eve Spaceport America is the first purpose- New Mexico one of the few places in the we know comes sharply into focus when and spaceship VSS Unity over the summer. built commercial spaceport in the world to host regular human flights to space. that planet is viewed from the black sky Bwindi National Park Virgin Galactic still must finalize the cabin world, located in the middle of the New Virgin Galactic is planning a small of space.” design for its rocket ships before final test Mexico desert, near the town of Truth or number of final test flights in New (Source: Travel Leisure) Situated in south-western Uganda, at the junction of the plain and mountain forests, Bwindi Park covers 32,000 ha and is known for its exceptional biodiver- sity, with more than 160 species of trees and over 100 1000s of Neolithic engravings reveal Egyptians’ ancient reverence for animals species of ferns. Inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage list as Bwindi The Ancient Egyptians had a remarkable relationship of a big cat such as a leopard. These animals were once Impenetrable National Park, the property is a biodiver- with the animals, who they respected and revered. An indigenous to this area before climate change turned sity hotspot with possibly the greatest number of tree astonishing discovery in the deserts of north-eastern it into a desert and forced them further south. There species for its altitude in East Africa. Egypt is illustrating that this likely dated back to the late are also images of some domesticated animals such Stone Age. Archaeologists have found a vast number of as cattle, who appear to be grazing. Some images are engravings on rocks, mainly of animals, at an important apparently of a small urban settlement or even a city. Neolithic site. Many of these creatures had great cultural According to Archaeology News network , some of the significance in later periods and the petroglyphs are rock-art ‘bear Egyptian royal signs, such as the falcon demonstrating that the Egyptians’ regard for animals god Horus’. The falcon-god Horus was a symbol of the was very ancient. pharaoh. Another sign represents another Royal symbol, A team of archaeologists, working under the auspices ‘Serekh or the façade of a palace’ reports aljarida.com. of Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities, were recording royal The number of inscriptions apparently stretch over inscriptions in the ‘Eastern Desert northeast of Aswan’ a great period of time indicating the long-standing according to the Archaeology News network. These are Egyptian presence in the area. among the earliest royal engravings that have yet been The special status of animals in Egypt found and they date back to the Neolithic era some The rock art depicting animals near royal inscriptions 4000 years ago, when the present-day desert would indicates the respect that the ancient Egyptians had for many documentary sources they were sacrosanct, have been a much more hospitable environment. While the beasts. They did not see them as inferior creatures and some mummified crocs have been unearthed examining these the mission found a large number of who could be exploited at will. For the subjects of the in Nag Hammadi, Upper Egypt. The crocodile was A Gorilla family in Bwindi National Park ancient petroglyphs that had been made by chipping pharaohs they ‘had symbolic and spiritual power’ representative of both the benign god Osiris and also of the demons of the underworld. Rock-art depicting It is also host to a rich fauna including a number of away the surface of a rock. according to aljarida.com. Even the absolute ruler of crocodiles would indicate that the symbolic and even endemic butterflies and one of the richest mammalian Images in the desert Egypt used animal symbols to legitimize his rule and religious importance of the world’s biggest reptile was assemblages in Africa. It is reported by Ahramonline that Moustafa demonstrate his power. very ancient. Home to almost half of the world’s mountain goril- Waziri, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council As a result, they were typically treated with The discovery of so many animal petroglyphs and their la population, the property represents a conservation of Antiquities has stated that, ‘thousands of stone great deference and even reverence. Animals were location, near royal tombs would indicate that even in the frontline as an isolated forest of outstanding biological inscriptions from the Neolithic period were uncovered manifestations of avatars of the gods of the Egyptian Neolithic, that Egyptians had a particular relationship richness surrounded by an agricultural landscape sup- in a semi-enclosed circular valley’. pantheon. It was, therefore, illegal to kill, for example, with animals. This find may show that the later reverence porting one of the highest rural population densities So the team have found literally thousands of images a cat, who represented the goddess Bastet. The high of the subjects of the pharaoh for animals was possibly in tropical Africa. that had been carved on the rocks. Some of them are status of many animals in ancient Egypt can be seen based on ideas that first emerged in the late Stone Age Community benefits arising from the mountain go- indistinct or are crude images and they required a great by the fact that they were mummified. and the dawn of Egyptian civilization. They may also rilla and other ecotourism may be the only hope for the deal of study before they could be identified. The significance of crocodiles in Ancient Egypt show the great antiquity of some of the religious beliefs future conservation of this unique site. Many of them depict animals that once lived in the Many of the images that were found in the desert and symbolism of the ancient civilization. (Source: UNESCO) area several millennia ago, including elephants, giraffes, valley near Aswan were of crocodiles. These creatures antelope, and crocodile. One of the petroglyphs may be had immense symbolic significance and according to (Source: Ancient Origins) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MAY 16, 2019 TECHNOLOGY 11 Abandoned ICT Ministry to establish system for media credibility company in Yazd assessment

TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN – The Information and to be turned into deskCommunication Technology (ICT) Ministry plans to establish a system for media credibility assessment, Mehr reported on Wednesday. innovation factory ICT Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said that cy- berspace promotes gossips and the media literacy is a method TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN – An collective knowledge and it increases employee through which, one can recognize true and false stories and news. desk abandoned factory in Yazd engagement. Social networks are not news sources and Iran Telecommu- is to be turned into an innovation factory in In late April, the head of the Strategic nication Research Center is providing a system through which, the near future, ISNA reported on Tuesday. Technologies Center Esmaeil Qaderifar said the reliability of sources for released news can be assessed. The vice president for science and that innovation factories will be established technology Sourena Sattari paid a visit to in five cities of Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, the abandoned factory on Tuesday, which is Shiraz and Yazd in the near future. planned to be turned into a place for startups, In Mashhad, an old abandoned factory innovative production line and innovative is being turned into an innovation factory. services. The place is now under construction and will The vice presidency for science and science and technology Sourena Sattari Innovation factory is a platform that probably open during the Iranian calendar technology supports the innovation factories, announced the first innovation factory of efficiently connects people, knowledge month Shahrivar (August 23-September 22), however they are completely private and will the country will start running in Tehran in and ideas and at the same time encourages he explained. be run by private accelerators. the Iranian calendar month Ordibehesht collaboration and innovation. Organizational The establishment of innovation factories The municipality, governorship and the (April 21-May 21). issues are presented as ‘idea challenges’. in Iranian metropolitans diversify the national Ministry of Transport and Urban Development Over 3,500 young entrepreneurs with Inspiring and motivational assignments innovation ecosystem. The innovation are responsible for establishment of the over 10 accelerator centers in different fields like these encourage people to share and factories focus on the regional and local innovation factories. will begin their activity in the innovation The people should have access to tools and systems in order elaborate ideas. It allows you to utilize priorities and based their activities on them. In late February, the vice president for factory, he said. to assess the news they have faced in social media and cyber- space, he said. Silence is not the way to deal with gossips but one should accept to explain about the reliability of the news to the people, Sharif university to host Iranian university grants patent for he explained. 6th IT Weekend innovative product lines to other countries TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN – Sharif TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN – The Sharif deskUniversity of deskUniversity of Technology Knowledge-based companies Technology will host the IT Weekend 6 grants the patents of seven innovative product improve sustainable on July 4, Mehr reported Tuesday. lines to different countries, IRNA reported on During the event, tech experts will Monday. employment: VP share their experiences and knowledge A knowledge-based company at the universi- in the form of short speeches with the ty, which provides raw materials for polymers as TECHNOLOGY TEHRAN – Sustainable employment and attendees. well as High-Performance Parallel and Distrib- deskresistance economy are dependents on today The event aims to share the experience uted Computing (HPDC) designed by Hossein knowledge and development of knowledge-based companies, and create motivation for establishment Asadi and nano products for oil industry signed the vice president for science and technology said. of innovation startups. investors in different fields. an agreement with China, an official with the countries, he added. Sourena Sattari explained knowledge-based economy as the It also creates an opportunity for The IT Weekend also introduces in- Sharif University Hossein Mokhtari announced. Iraq and Syria are other countries to which, new business according to national demands. meeting, negotiation and synergy be- novative ideas in order to be used in new Pipeline inspection robot is another product, Iran grants patents for production lines, he The universities have a great role in knowledge economy and tween innovators, entrepreneurs and businesses and ecosystems. the patent of which is granted to Persian Gulf explained. entrepreneurship, he said. Knowledge cannot be bought by money and the researches which have done by state-run budgets have no result, he said. How virtual reality can help the global mental health crisis Sattari highlighted the impor- The World Health Organization has reported that one in four of the volunteers were able to approach actual spiders without tance of private sector in boosting people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological running away in fear. knowledge economy. disorders at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people Psious is a VR tool for mental health professionals. The plat- The methods for job creation and currently have such conditions. form is “democratizing virtual reality treatments for therapists infrastructures should be correct- Considering that mental disorders are among the leading and patients around the world” by providing mental health ed to have a successful knowledge causes of ill-health and disability worldwide, VR is a welcome professionals with animated and live environments they can use economy, he said. additional treatment. Studies have already shown that VR can in their clinical practice. The various scenarios provided within Traditional business cannot ease certain phobias, treat PTSD, help people with psychotic the platform comprise over 50 resources (virtual reality and meet the demand of job creation disorders experience less paranoia and anxiety in public set- augmented reality environments, 360º videos, etc.) employed for young generation, which is possible through new activities, tings, and reduce social anxiety. for the treatment of anxiety disorders, fears and phobias, as well he said. To date, due to cost and technology limitations, VR has as for the practice of mindfulness and relaxation techniques. He said that oil economy cannot respond to production and not been widely available as a treatment. However, with the Psious is one of the pioneering companies in the develop- job creation for entrepreneurs. rise of affordable standalone and mobile VR headsets, there or other weapon, and were taken through a simulation that ment of Virtual Reality for therapeutic purposes. The new entrepreneurship ecosystem provide 140 services is increased opportunity to use VR and decentralize mental included booming explosions, rumbling engines, and even Limbix helps practitioners to treat patients with anxiety or based on knowledge-based economy, he said. health treatment, allowing more people to benefit. smoke and dust vented into the treatment room. phobias, and helps those who need pain management tech- In mid-April, Sattari announced that the number of knowl- PTSD affects 7.7 million people in the U.S., and one in three Bravemind is considered a success and has been helpful niques. Real-world footage is incorporated into 360° videos edge-based companies were 3,000 ones during the Iranian calendar people who experience a traumatic event will have PTSD. The as part of psychotherapy plans to help veterans process their designed to help patients deal with the challenges they face. year 1395 (March 2016-March 2017), it increased to 3,338 ones symptoms range from insomnia to personality changes. Expo- experiences, reduce panic attacks, and even be able to sleep Patients can face their fears, practice conversations, visit remote during the Iranian calendar year 1396 (March 2017-March 2018). sure therapy - repeatedly exposing patients to their traumatic without medication, sometimes for the first time in years. locations, and relax in tranquil settings while in authentic, Knowledge-based companies exported $450 million of prod- event in a controlled environment until triggers of the event no U.S. Army veteran interacts with the Bravemind VR therapy virtual environments. ucts in the previous Iranian calendar year 1397, which ended on longer lead to anxiety - has been found to be more effective than to safely relive his deployment experiences. In addition to Michelle Craske is a psychiatry researcher at The Univer- March 20, he announced. treatments like medication and psychotherapy. VR is believed the visual stimuli presented in the VR head- mounted dis- sity of California, Los Angeles. Michelle and her colleagues Sattari said that the knowledge-based companies sold 900 to be a particularly successful method of exposure therapy. play, directional 3D audio, vibrations and smells can also are testing whether virtual reality can curb anhedonia: the trillion rials (about $21 billion) of products during the past year. Research clinics have been experimenting with VR as a be delivered. inability to feel pleasure in normally pleasurable activities Meanwhile, the vice presidency announced that Iranian method since 1997. It is believed that the sensory and immersive For years, VR therapy has been used in clinics for the - a common symptom of depression and other serious men- knowledge-based companies have created job opportunities nature of VR helps PTSD patients get better, faster than simply treatment of phobias and other anxiety disorders. Anxiety tal health conditions. The researchers are putting patients for 140,000 applicants until the end of the Iranian calendar describing the trauma, and relapses are less frequent. It also disorders affect at least 40 million people in the U.S (18.1% into pleasant scenarios - like strolling through a sun-soaked year 1397 (March 20, 2019). allows clinicians to measure, document and learn from the of the population) and cost the country $42 billion per year. forest while piano music plays - and coaching them to pay results in order to better understand the brain and biological Specific phobias affect about 19 million individuals in the U.S. close attention to the positive parts by talking through it in factors that serve to inform the prevention, assessment, and Despite the vast number of patients afflicted by some form immense detail. The idea is to help patients learn to plan treatment of PTSD. The virtual environment means people of anxiety disorder, only 36.9% receive treatment. This is where positive activities, take part in them, and reap the benefits Driverless electric truck don’t need to imagine their traumatic experience - the work companies like Mimerse could make a real difference. Since of the good feelings they bring. starts deliveries on Swedish is done for them. 2014, this ‘virtual pharmacy’ has been developing therapeutic “Most treatments, up until now, have done an OK job at Dr. Albert Rizzo is a research professor at the University of VR apps. Mimerse has been working with clinicians, scien- reducing negative [symptoms of depression], but a very poor public road Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technology (ICT). tists, healthcare and platform providers to create a scalable job at helping patients become more positive,” said Craske. The research institute, in partnership with Virtually Better and future of mental healthcare. The company’s products include In a paper accepted earlier this year by the Journal of Con- Resembling the helmet of a Star Wars stormtrooper, a driverless in collaboration with the U.S Army, created Bravemind - a a relaxation and meditation experience for inducing calm and sulting and Clinical Psychology, Craske’s team found that the electric truck began daily freight deliveries on a public road in PTSD treatment system. reducing stress, while apps to tackle phobias like the fear of treatment was more effective than cognitive behavioural therapy Sweden on Wednesday, in what developer Einride and logistics An early project undertaken by Bravemind researchers public speaking and flying are coming soon. Mass-market at boosting positive feelings. Participants who went through customer DB Schenker described as a world first. was intended to aid returning veterans process and deal with apps like this could offer huge value for individuals globally. the treatment also reported lower levels of depression, anxiety, Robert Falck, the CEO of Swedish start-up Einride, said the wartime trauma. Patients were outfitted with a head-mounted Samsung and Mimerse created a VR program, called Itsy, and other negative symptoms than their peers in the standard company was in partnership talks with major suppliers to help display and virtually sent back to Fallujah or other Middle to help people overcome their fear of spiders. Itsy lets users treatment group. scale production and deliver orders, and the firm did not rule Eastern areas of conflict. The soldiers physically held a rifle play with spiders. At the end of their three-hour sessions, each (Source: forbes.com) out future tie-ups with large truckmakers. “This public road permit is a major milestone ... and it is a step to commercializing autonomous technology on roads,” the former Volvo executive told Reuters. “Since we’re a software and operational first company, a What you need to do about the WhatsApp vulnerability partnership with a manufacturing company is something that Political dissidents, human rights defenders, the App Store. Search for WhatsApp. Again, if not answered, gain access to the target›s phone. enforcement agencies. we see as a core moving forward,” he said, adding he hoped to opposition politicians and journalists in 45 you›re not already using the most recent version The only protection is to update the version Critics of the firm, including human rights seal a deal by next year. countries may have been targeted. you can tap update. of WhatsApp. organizations, have claimed that many of the Falck said Einride, whose investors include ex-Daimler Asia WhatsApp has confirmed that a vulnerability How can you safeguard against it? Is this related to the forwarding limit? state agencies it works with are repressive and trucks head Marc Llistosella, is also courting investors for an in its app could allow hackers to take control of The attack is being considered extraordinary WhatsApp introduced a forwarding limit this often target their lawyers and activists. ongoing Series A fundraising, often a company’s first sizable victims› phones just by sending an unanswered by cyber security professionals. year to tackle the spread of fake news. How did it happen? one. It previously raised $10 million. voice call. This is not just because it targeted lawyers, The current bug has nothing to do with these Organizations involved in the production of Auto alliances are on the rise to share the cost of electric and Dozens of WhatsApp users including human who are not usually national security targets changes and was caused by a «buffer overflow» hacking tools - known as «dual-use technolo- autonomous technology. Ford has vowed to invest $500 million rights organisations and a UK-based lawyer may and whose communications with those targets vulnerability in the Secure Real-time Transport gies» because they can have both civilian and in U.S. electric utility truck startup Rivian. have been targeted in the attack. - at least in many common law countries - are Protocol (SRTP) used by WhatsApp - essentially military uses - often hire security researchers Einride’s T-Pod is 26 tonnes when full and does not have a The attack was only used against «a select privileged. a mistake in the way the program handled using to identify vulnerabilities in popular software driver cabin, which it estimates reduces road freight operating number of users» according to WhatsApp, but It has caught their attention because there computer memory. and develop tools to exploit them. costs by around 60 percent versus a diesel truck with a driver. it could be adopted more widely unless people was no way to safeguard against it - not even It is not known exactly how the exploit worked, Last November, UK intelligence agency Besides Schenker, Einride has orders from German grocer update their version of the app. by training users to spot the dodgy message. but it is believed that malicious code may have GCHQ revealed its process for identifying these Lidl, Swedish delivery company Svenska Retursystem and five What do you need to do? Often cyber attacks require some kind of been included in the details which are sent to a vulnerabilities and figuring out whether to Fortune 500 retail companies, underpinning its ambition to have Although it is extremely unlikely that you user input to succeed, whether the user clicks receiver›s phone when a user makes a WhatsApp inform the company that produces the software 200 vehicles in operation by the end of 2020. have been targeted by these hackers, you should «allow» or «yes» on a pop-up, or follows a link, call, such as the caller›s name and number. to get them fixed or whether to exploit them Freight operators are under pressure to reduce delivery times, update your version of WhatsApp. or downloads and executes a malicious file in Who did this? to hack the computers of national security cut emissions and face a growing shortage of drivers. On an Android device, you can do this by a phishing email under the impression that it WhatsApp stated that «a select number of targets. Schenker picked Einride over established truckmakers as the visiting the Play Store app. Tap menu, before is innocent. users» were targeted by an «advanced cyber The export of these technologies is heavily T-Pod straddles the two biggest sector transformations: digiti- entering the apps & games section. If you›re not However, the WhatsApp attack was what was actor», which the Financial Times has identified regulated and Amnesty International is currently zation and electrification, CEO Jochen Thewes said. already on the most recent version of WhatsApp known as a «no-click» attack, meaning there as the Israeli technology company NSO Group. taking the Israeli ministry of defence to court “We believe that Einride is the best concept out there for you can tap update. was no user input needed at all - the hackers NSO Group claims its technology, known to challenge the NSO Group›s export licenses. now,” he said. On an iPhone, you can do this by visiting could just send the voice call, and even if it was as Pegasus, is only used by intelligence and law (Source: news.sky.com) (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY MAY 16, 2019

Welfare Organization collects Animals in captivity: Is there $4.5m for flood-hit provinces

SOCIETY TEHRAN — Within the framework of a cam- deskpaign launched by Iran’s Welfare Organization such a thing as a good zoo? philanthropists donated a total of 190 billion rials (about $4.5 million) to the flood survivors, an official with the Welfare Or- By Faranak Bakhtiari wildlife-related sciences, such as veterinary ganization has said. are expanding in zoos so that veterinarians The financial assistance will be spent on rebuilding and ret- TEHRAN — The recent activities of Tehran can control animal diseases in nature. rofitting the houses damaged by the flood, and providing the Zoological Garden have sparked a heated On the other hand, people are household appliances for those under the Organization’s coverage, debate between advocates of animal rights contemplating how our ancestors destroyed Mehr news agency quoted Farhad Aqtar as saying on Tuesday. and zoo directors, on whether or not zoos the wildlife, and what we should do today endanger wildlife species for their own to preserve the remaining species, he also interests or they have educational and added. protective objectives. Currently, 80 percent of the animal Do wildlife species find contentment habitats in the Zoo is living up to the living in standardized zoos or in nature? internationally defined standards, and it During the past years, Tehran Zoological must be completely in line with the necessary Garden has succeeded in becoming a member standards during the next 5 years to become of the European Association of Zoos and a permanent member of EAZA, he explained. Aquaria (EAZA). Moreover under the Memarian further noted that some thinks population management program aiming that when an animal is in the cage, it is not at endangered species reproduction, the feeling well at the moment, however, one Persian leopard and Asiatic lion have been should bear in mind that animals have transferred to the Zoo for captive breeding. different needs, all of which can be provided In this regard, a male Persian leopard at standard zoos. was sent to Iran from Portugal last year in Today, it is possible to measure the an attempt to revive the species, who mated amount of hormones in the body through Repairing and construction of housing units will be complet- naturally at the Zoo with a female leopard the urine and faeces of animals, so researches ed by the end of the Iranian calendar month of Khordad (June and at the moment, the leopard is pregnant. show that the level of wildlife satisfaction 21), he added. Subsequently, the Zoo transmitted a male in standard zoos is even higher than their Mohammad Nasiri, head of the Red Crescent Society volunteer Asiatic lion from Britain’s Bristol Zoo under level of satisfaction in nature, he added. organization said in early May that Iranian philanthropists have the supervision of EAZA to implement a “Tehran Zoological Garden has gone Over the recent years, Tehran Zoological and membership manager for EAZA, in contributed some 2.4 trillion rials (nearly $57 million) to the revival plan for extinct , while the female far to meet all the standards required to Garden did not have a good record on this regard said that “as a conservation people residing in flood-ravaged provinces across the country. one will also be sent to the country from keep Asiatic lion and leopard, he said, the wildlife conservation, as 14 African lions organization, we realize that there’s a crisis Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation has announced that Iranian Ireland within the next few days. condition is improved, the Zoo is living up have lost their lives due to inappropriate in the natural world, and that we have an donors have made contributions amounting to 880 billion rials No natural habitats, no chances of to the required standards, and take safety nutrition, and two tigers who were relocated obligation to protect species in the wild from (about $20 million) to flood-hit families. bringing animals back from extinction measure strictly,” he further highlighted. from Russia for captive breeding lost their human actions,” adding, “one of the ways we Heavy rainfall, beginning on March 19 has led to flooding in However, animal rights defenders blame “No habitat is yet determined for the lives due to an outbreak of glanders (an do that is through breeding programs. But 28 out of 31 provinces affecting 42,269,129 inhabitants in 253 Tehran Zoological Garden for keeping the Asiatic lion to live in, and there is no infectious disease occurs primarily by we have limited space within EAZA to carry cities and causing widespread damage to municipal facilities, wildlife species, such as Asiatic lion, who once possibility to re-introduce it to the nature,” ingestion of contaminated food or water), out that, and we need to prioritize animals including health centers and hospitals. have been pushed toward extinction in the he lamented, adding, there is no plan for which is mainly related to not meeting the that can contribute to future of the species.” country under the unfavorable conditions, releasing the Persian leopard in nature, standards, he explained. Keeping animals in an unfavorable believing that when their natural habitats but we are ready to work with the EAZA Given that the Asiatic lion’s original condition results in mental illness and have been destroyed and there is no possibility in this regard. habitat no longer exists, why should it be depression, he lamented, adding that zoo China’s third humanitarian for them to return back to the nature, keeping Defending the EAZA operation in reproduced? Their revival only serves the is a purchase and sale center, because the them is violating their right. response to the recent criticisms, Memarian package for flood survivors arrives zoos’ interests, Salimi stated. number of animals are not determined. Breeding species in captivity will not said that the union has so far succeeded in The transfer of endangered species to the Referring to the zoo’s positive attempts, definitely ensure a stable population in captive breeding of endangered species in country takes place under the supervision he noted that zoos can be a great habitat SOCIETY TEHRAN — China has airlifted relief supplies the country once again, therefore, why not zoos and has reintroduced them to their of the EAZA; an association that has given for those injured animals not able to live in deskto the country for the third time to help those allocate the captive breeding costs to protect habitat. Although, there are people who are Tehran Zoological Garden five years to fully natural habitats, while they are not permitted hit by massive floods, Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday. those animals in the nature from extinction? generally opposed to the zoo, ignoring the standardize all animal habitats to become to reproduce the species. Sepehr Salimi, an animal rights advocate, positive functions of zoos. a member of the union, although, it does From the animal right advocates point criticizing the Zoo said that the restoration He further called on the role Department not mean that no violation will happen, he of view, zoo is not a proper place for all the of Asiatic lion or any other extinct species of Environment play to help improving the explained. wildlife species, and all must be shut down, in captivity is impossible, because the most zoos’ condition, as the country’s zoos are Time Magazine reported that many he concluded. important issue for the species’ survival is far below the global standards. European zoos cull animals or violate their Zoos improve wildlife living in the natural habitat, and when it is Zoos’ function is not defined properly; rights, and that EAZA keeps records of this, conservation destructed, then the species eventually will those not aiming at educational and but won’t release them. This is while, Iman Memarian, Tehran disappear, as well. protective plans are violating animal rights, In 2012, Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark Zoological Garden director, said that zoos He further points out that if we are to he concluded. put down, via lethal injection, two leopard should be run for cultural and educational breed extinct species in the zoos, we should While worldwide animals are being kept cubs whose genetics were over-represented. purposes as well as wildlife conservation. not use the term revival because the revival in zoos for various purposes it is not easy In 2010, the decision by officials at Standard zoos are one of the most China sent essential supplies, including diesel generator, of an extinct species occurs when a species is to decide whether the decision will suit the Edinburgh zoo to put down two hog piglets important bases for wildlife conservation, sewage pumps, microphone and amplifier, and tents to help found in its original habitat without human animals in conserving them or they are rather named Sammi and Becca sparked protests. being used to educate people about wildlife thousands of people who have been displaced and suffered great interference for survival, so reviving species being tortured cruelly. loss as a result of the flooding in many provinces in the country. in zoos is meaningless. David Williams Mitchell, communications protection, he said, adding that also, many The plane carrying the equipment landed at the Imam Khomeini International Airport on Sunday, the report added. Heavy rainfall, beginning on March 19 has led to flooding in 28 out of 31 provinces affecting 42,269,129 inhabitants in 253 Tehran Municipality to convert petrol taxis cities and causing widespread damage to municipal facilities, including health centers and hospitals. into hybrid electric SOCIETY TEHRAN — Tehran taxi organization, MAPNA Group is a conglomerate of Iranian companies WORDS IN THE NEWS deskaffiliated to the municipality, is planning involved in development and execution of thermal and re- on converting petrol taxis to plug-in hybrids, the organization newable power, oil and gas, railway transportation and other Turkish Earthquake CEO, Alireza Qannadan, has said. industrial projects as well as manufacturing main equipment. According to the plan some 80,000 fossil-fuel based taxis Qannadan didn’t provide any specific details time span (August 19, 1999) will be transformed into hybrid electrics, in an attempt to or the necessary budget for implementing the plan. BBC Correspondents Richard Hollingham and Pam O’Toole cut emissions, hence air pollution in the capital, Tasnim Not everyone can afford a new hybrid, plug-in hybrid or reported on the reasons for the severity of the recent earthquake news agency quoted Qannadan as saying on Wednesday. electric car, but it is possible to take the conversion route. in Turkey. In collaboration with MAPNA Group all petrol taxis in Tehran is grappling with air pollution and increasing The earthquake struck in an area prone to tremors. It’s at the Tehran will become hybrid, he said, adding that under a carbon emission and developing an electric vehicle junction of the two continents of Europe and Africa where the pilot plan some 80,000 taxis will be converted in the first technology that converts in-use fossil-fuel based vehicles earth’s crust is broken and fragmented. One of the world’s phase and after overcoming setback all taxis will undergo into hybrid electrics, increasing fuel efficiency and major geological faults passes through the region. The North the necessary changes. reducing emissions. Anatolian Fault and its branches cross several built up areas and earthquakes aren’t unusual. However, this latest is particularly violent. Its effects are made worse as the ground is made up of sediment rather than hard rock and can in effect swallow buildings ENGLISH IN USE much like quicksand. Scientists from the British Geological Survey who have visited Turkey have expressed concern over the LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION buildings in the area. The number of deaths from similar tremors in areas of the United States and Japan has been lower largely due to the buildings being designed to withstand earthquakes. Persian leopard to receive artificial نخستین لقاح مصنوعی پلنگ ایرانی هفته One of the problems is that many construction companies simply flout building regulations laid down by the Turkish authorities. Engineers accuse some Turkish builders of using poor quality insemination next week آینده در تهران reinforcing bars and skimping on cement. Such problems are لقــاح مصنوعــی پلنــگ ایرانــی بــرای نخســتین بــار در کشــور طــی هفتــه آینــده compounded by migration from poor rural areas to major cities. For the first time, a Persian leopard will undergo artificial The new arrivals often build their own houses or shacks from insemination in Tehran Zoological Garden next week. در بــاغ وحــش تهــران انجــام می شــود. whatever materials they can find. “The precious female leopard has lost a hand being injured in دامپزشــک و مدیــر بــاغ وحــش تهــران در گفتگــو بــا خبرنــگار مهــر ایمــان Words earthquake: a shaking of the ground caused by movement of a hunting trap in Golestan province, who is being kept in the معماریــان یــادآور شــد: مــا یــک پلنــگ ایرانــی مــاده داریــم کــه متأســفانه یــک the Earth’s crust Garden,” Mehr quoted Iman Memarian, Tehran Zoological دســتش را در تلــه شــکارچیان در اســتان گلســتان از دســت داده اســت و بــاغ .prone to tremors: likely to suffer from earthquakes Garden director, as saying on Monday وحــش تهــران آن را نگهــداری کــرده اســت. earth’s crust: the Earth’s surface broken and fragmented: split into small parts Referring to European Endangered Species Programs (EEP), وی توضیــح داد: برنامــه اروپایــی تکثیــر و حفاظــت EEP برنامــهای اســت کــه North Anatolian Fault: one of several areas, such as the San he noted that EEP is a population management program تحــت نظــر اتحادیــه باغوحشهــای اروپــا تکثیــر گونههــای در حــال انقــراض Andreas Fault in North America, where earthquakes are common aiming at endangered species reproduction by the European built up areas: usually inner cities with a large number of Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). را نظــارت می کنــد. buildings and therefore a large population sediment: soft deposits quicksand: a deep soft sand which people can easily sink into when walking on it PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM to withstand: to resist flout:ignore “dys-” Leave somebody/ Your guess is as good as mine laid down: issued an official order authorities: a word commonly used in news reports for official Meaning: bad something behind Explanation: I do not know either; I have no idea. bodies such as the police, the judiciary or a local council For example: All the siblings in their extremely Typically said in response to a question skimping: using less of a quantity than you really need in order dysfunctional family lost contact as adults. Meaning: if a person, country, or organization is left For example: A: “Where’s Hank?” B: “Your guess is to save money behind, they do not develop as quickly or make as much as good as mine. He didn’t say anything to me.” compounded by: made worse by progress as other people, countries, etc. shacks: small huts or poorly built houses For example: In class, a child with poor eyesight (Source: BBC) can soon get left behind. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MAY 16, 2019 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 Israel rushed to seek truce as Gaza Yemen drone capabilities upped rocket range: Haniyeh turn the tide in the war 1 The American newspaper further refers to the Yem�- en drone attack on Aramco oil stations in Saudi Arabia as well Nearly 50 Palestinians wounded in Nakba Day anniversary protests as the Abu Dhabi airport attack and concludes: “The Houthis, who have been derided by enemies as backward and tribal, have 1 Palestinians have begun mark- of some 700,000 Palestinians from their now launched what Saudi officials estimate to be more than 140 ing the occasion — when the Israeli regime lands in 1948 and their scattering across attempted drone flights.” proclaimed existence and drove hundreds refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and Anyway, it seems that Yemen drone capabilities in addition to of thousands of Palestinians from their neighboring countries. their missile work is now changing the power balance in Yemen homeland in 1948 — with protest rallies in Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the PLO war in favor of the resistance movement. the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Executive Committee, said in a statement Yemen highly-developed, powerful drone and missile tech- According to Press TV, the Israeli military marking the Nakba Day that the Trump ad- nology now sends a message to Saudis and its allies that if they has deployed the so-called Iron Dome missile ministration’s unilateral measures against continue their invasion to Yemen, they will face much graver system across the occupied territories and the Palestinians are a new “Nakba.” consequences. closed some of the Gaza streets. She also called for a “multilateral inter- Undoubtedly, Yemen drone attacks on vital installments at In southern Gaza, Israeli forces have used national gathering to confront the U.S.-Is- the very heart of Saudi Arabia can be a way to prevent further skunk water cannon to disperse Palestinian raeli alliance and schemes,” including the intrusions, especially because Saudis are unlikely to have any protesters. so-called “deal of the century.” intention to end this war, on their own. In a recent communiqué, the National and “We count on peace lovers all over the Islamic Forces, the supreme coordinating world to support our just cause and human body of major Palestinian factions, called for rights in the face of the fascist forces led widespread participation in Wednesday’s by the Trump administration and [Israeli Trump considering replacing demonstrations to mark the forcible eviction Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu,” of Palestinians from their motherland by she added. John Bolton: Report the Tel Aviv regime in 1948. The Palestinian Authority’s ruling Fatah Similarly, the organizing committee of party said that as they commemorate Nakba 1 But then he said he would not rule out the possibility the weekly anti-occupation Great March of Shtayyeh said Israel has targeted Palestine’s defeat us with a financial siege and other Day, the Palestinians are more determined of military action in Iran amid escalating tensions before slam- Return protests in Gaza urged Palestinians geography and demography, while the U.S. measures, including the closure of the to “uphold their principles and legitimate ming former secretary of state John Kerry for his involvement to join the Nakba Day rallies in the coastal has imposed a financial war on the Palestinian PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) rights, including the right of return, self-de- in the issue. sliver and stage a general strike at schools, nation in support of the occupying regime. diplomatic mission in Washington, and termination and the establishment of an His remarks came after Bolton said on Sunday that the United universities and colleges. “Israel is waging a war of geography cutting aid to UNRWA, in order to force independent Palestinian state with east States was sending an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomb- The Hamas resistance movement, which on us by confiscating our land on a daily us to accept ‘the deal of shame,’” he noted, Jerusalem as its capital.” er task force to the Middle East in a “clear and unmistakable” runs Gaza, has also called on Palestinian basis,” he said. “We are also facing a war referring to U.S. President Donald Trump’s On Tuesday, thousands of Palestinians message to Iran. people to attend all the rallies and events of demography to expel our people from controversial yet-to-be-unveiled proposal took part in a rally marking the Nakba Day The Pentagon announced on Friday that the U.S. was deploy- marking the occasion. Jerusalem [al-Quds].” on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. in front of the offices of the UN Relief and ing an amphibious assault ship and a Patriot missile battery to Speaking in Ramallah on the eve of Nakba This U.S. administration and its ally, The Nakba Day is marked annually on Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees bolster an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers already sent to the Day, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Israel, believe that it would be possible “to May 15. It refers to the forcible expulsion (UNRWA) in Gaza. Persian Gulf.

Sudan army and protesters agree on U.S. officer shoots dead black Yemeni drones target 10 vital Saudi facilities: Al Mayadeen three-year transition period woman heard saying ‘I’m pregnant’ 1 An unnamed Yemeni military source told Arabic-lan- TEHRAN— Sudan’s military leaders who Thousands of protesters have been hold- TEHRAN— A Texas police officer fatally Dorris says the officer opened fire after guage al-Masirah television network that Yemeni air defense forces seized power last month by overthrow- ing a sit-in outside the army headquarters shot a black woman who grabbed his Taser the woman grabbed the officer’s Taser and and their allies shot down the US-built MQ-1 Predator combat ing longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir have in the capital, Khartoum, for weeks, de- and used it against him, moments after the used it against him. drone with a surface-to-air missile late on Tuesday. agreed with opposition groups to a three- manding that the army generals, who took woman appears to say “I’m pregnant” in According to Al Jazeera, in the video According to Press TV, the source added that the unmanned year transition period to transfer power to power after toppling al-Bashir on April 11, an altercation captured on video. posted on Snapchat, a woman is heard aerial vehicle was brought down as it was on a mission in the a fully civilian administration, a general step down. Pamela Turner was shot late on Monday saying “You’re actually harassing me” and skies over Dian area in the Bani Matar district of the province. has announced. The army generals had initially in- at an apartment complex in Baytown, about “I’m actually walking to my house” before On April 19, the media bureau of Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah Speaking to reporters in the early hours sisted on a two-year transition period, 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Houston, falling to the ground. movement announced in a statement that Yemeni air defense forces of Wednesday, Lieutenant General Yasser while the protest leaders wanted four and pronounced dead at the scene, said She is also heard screaming, “I’m preg- and their allies had shot down a Chinese-built medium-altitude and al-Atta said a final agreement on the sharing years. Lieutenant Steve Dorris. nant”. The woman, who is on the ground, long-endurance Wing Loong drone with a surface-to-air missile. of power, including the formation of the next Atta also said that, during the Baytown Police Lieutenant Dor- appeared to reach towards the officer, and The statement issued on April 19 added that the drone was ruling body - the sovereign council - would transition period, the Parliament ris said the officer was patrolling the then he fired five shots. struck as it was on a surveillance mission over Bani Muadh area be signed with the protest movement the would be composed of 300 mem- complex and tried to arrest the 44-year- Dorris said they could not confirm in the Sahar district of Yemen’s northwestern province of Sa’ada. Alliance for Freedom and Change within bers, of which 67 percent would be old African American woman because whether she was pregnant and that an It was armed with air-to-surface weapons. 24 hours, Al Jazeera reported. from the Alliance for Freedom and he knew she had outstanding warrants. autopsy will determine that. He said the “We agreed on a transitional period of Change and the rest would be from The officer, who is Hispanic and an 11- officer was not seriously hurt. three years,” Atta said. other political groups. year veteran of the Police Department, “It was a sad situation. Tragic. The lady “We vow to our people that the agree- The first six months of the transitional had previous dealings with Turner, but ... she did live here. We would often see Erdogan, Putin agree to ment will be completed fully within 24 period would be allocated to signing peace Dorris did not provide further details her, see her walk her dog around,” resident hours in a way that it meets the people’s accords with rebels in the country’s war- about the interactions or Turner’s Raquelle Cuellar told local television news convene working group on aspirations,” he added. zones, he added. warrants. channel KTRK-TV Houston. Syria soon

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed that a working group on Syria’s U.S. plots in Middle East will not succeed: Qassem northwest should convene as soon as possible, Turkey’s foreign TEHRAN — A high-ranking member of the Lebanese the Middle East will fail as the anti-Israel resistance front minister said Wednesday. Hezbollah resistance movement says U.S. President is confronting them with all available means. Donald Trump’s administration is in a state of confu- On March 8, the Hezbollah secretary general said the an- sion concerning the developments unfolding in Middle ti-Israel resistance front, thanks to solid and unwavering East, stating that Washington’s schemes in the region support from Iran and Syria, has well managed to frustrate will not thrive. the Tel Aviv regime’s plots in the Middle East. “(The United States of) America knows that its ability “All Lebanese and Palestinian resistance groups, sup- to change equations in the region is weak because there ported by Iran and Syria, thwarted the project to pull the are resistance fighters and a resistance front. Therefore, plug on the front. The steadfastness and resilience demon- it cannot dictate what it wants and impose its Israeli and strated by Hezbollah in Lebanon, Gazans, Syria as well non-Israeli plans,” Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General as Iran foiled the fiendish plot against the region back in Sheikh Naim Qassem said. 2006,” Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said as he addressed his He then advised leaders of the Persian Gulf kingdoms to supporters via a televised speech broadcast live from the review their foreign policy, emphasizing that U.S. plots in Lebanese capital, Beirut.

A recent offensive targeting Syria’s Idlib and surrounding Turkey says discussing S-400 working group with U.S. areas by the Syrian army and its allies, backed by Russia, has TEHRAN — Turkey is discussing with the The United States and other NATO allies for potentially approving the formation of uprooted more than 150,000 people, the United Nations says, United States setting up a working group to that own F-35s fear the radar on the system the working group. while rescue workers and civil defense officials say more than assess the impact of its purchase of Russian will learn how to spot and track the jet, mak- “There is no such thing as postponing 120 civilians have been killed. missile defenses systems, but will not de- ing it less able to evade Russian weapons. or cancelling at this stage,” Cavusoglu said. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that attacks by Syr- lay their delivery, Foreign Minister Mevlut Ankara says U.S. concerns are overstated “It’s not on the agenda either.” ian government forces were damaging prospects of forming a Cavusoglu said Wednesday. and has been pushing Washington to es- The disagreement is the latest in a series UN-sponsored committee to draft a new Syrian constitution. Tensions between Turkey and the United tablish a working group to assess the risks of diplomatic disputes between the United (Source: Reuters) States are running high over Ankara’s decision the system would be posing to the F-35 jet. States and Turkey. They include Turkish to buy the S-400 missile defenses, which “We are exchanging opinions on how demands that Washington extradite cleric are not compatible with NATO systems, this could work, we will continue to share Fethullah Gulen, differences over Middle Reuters reported. our views. Once we agree on that, we will East policy and the war in Syria, and sanc- Brexit-supporting U.S. officials say Turkey’s planned pur- decide if there will be a working group or tions on Iran. chase would jeopardize its role in building not,” Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara. A Turkish court on Wednesday remand- Conservative faction will vote F-35 fighter jets as well as its purchase “The discussions are ongoing, there is nothing ed in jail U.S. consulate employee Metin against PM May’s deal of the aircraft, which Washington says certain yet,” he added. Topuz and set the next session of his trial would be compromised by the presence On Monday, a source familiar with the key to delay taking delivery of the S-400 on espionage charges for June 28, a lawyer TEHRAN — A majority of members of the European Research of the S-400s. matter said the United States had asked Tur- system, currently scheduled for July, in return for Topuz said. Group, a large euroskeptic faction in Britain’s ruling Conservative Party, will vote against Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal when it is brought back before Parliament next month, a lawmaker said. Owen Paterson, a former minister, said he was concerned Polish ambassador spat at in Israel amid rising tensions that her deal would leave Britain following EU laws. He said TEHRAN — Poland’s ambassador to Israel was spat ed over Tuesday’s spitting incident. At a court hearing on it denies. the Democratic Unionist Party, which props up May’s party, at while sitting in his car in Tel Aviv, Israeli police Wednesday, he was put under house arrest until police Hundreds of far-right supporters marched in Warsaw on is concerned it will align Northern Ireland more closely said, and the Polish government condemned the in- complete their investigation, his lawyer said. Saturday in protest against a U.S. law on the restitution of with the EU than the rest of the United Kingdom, Reuters cident, which coincided with rising tensions between The Polish Foreign Ministry summoned Israel’s ambas- Jewish property seized during or after World War Two, an reported. the two countries. sador to Warsaw, Anna Azari, over the matter, a ministry increasingly prominent issue in Polish election campaigns. “Sadly, we will vote against it again, as the DUP put out a “I am very worried to hear of a racist attack on @PLin- spokeswoman told the state-run news agency PAP. David Johan, the suspect’s lawyer, told reporters his statement, because it doesn’t change the essential nature of the Israel ambassador @mmagierowski. Poland strongly con- “The event is under police investigation. We express our client had been turned away from the Polish Embassy on withdrawal agreement, which is unacceptable we will have laws demns this xenophobic act of aggression. Violence against fullest sympathy to the ambassador and our shock at the Tuesday after trying to inquire about restitution. imposed on us by 27 different countries where we are not involved,” diplomats or any other citizens should never be tolerated,” attack,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Later, outside the embassy, the alleged assailant “ap- Paterson told the BBC. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote in a tweet Nahshon said. proached the vehicle of the Polish ambassador to Israel, “And very importantly for the DUP and us it potentially breaks on Wednesday. Polish-Israeli relations have deteriorated in recent months opened the door and then spat (at him),” police spokesman up the United Kingdom by creating a new entity called U.K. and According to Reuters, an Israeli police spokesman said over accusations that Warsaw’s nationalist PiS government Micky Rosenfeld said. I and that means you could end with Scotland wanting to follow on Wednesday a 65-year-old Israeli architect was arrest- has tolerated a revival of anti-Semitic behavior, a charge Johan said the attack had not been premeditated. and that is really dangerous for the union.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS MAY 16, 2019 Doping: Poland’s Banka poised to Pau Gasol, No. 3 scorer in Olympic history, to miss FIBA World Cup become new WADA president

Pau Gasol will miss September’s FIBA World Cup after left foot Poland’s Sport and Tourism Minister Witold a WADA-commissioned report by Canadi- surgery, but Spain’s head coach hopes to have the Milwaukee Banka is set to become the next president an lawyer Dick Pound outlined evidence of Bucks center at a fifth Olympics next year. of the troubled World Anti-Doping Agency state-backed, systematic doping in Russian ”We will try to do the best and get one of the spots for Tokyo (WADA) after a vote on Tuesday left him as athletics. 2020 so he can come with us to the Olympics,” Spain coach Sergio the only remaining candidate. The Russian agency’s reinstatement last Scariolo said, according to an Olympic Channel translation of Banka, an elite athlete who helped Poland year angered a string of sports bodies and an AS report. win a bronze medal in the 4x400 meters athletes around the world. Gasol, 38 and already older than every previous Olympic bas- relay at the 2007 world championships, beat But the long-running saga appears headed ketball medalist, owns silver medals from 2008 and 2012 and a Dominican Republic Vice-Minister of Sport for a conclusion with WADA having forced bronze from Rio. This will be Gasol’s first time missing a global and Tourism Marcos Diaz in a vote to replace Russia, as part of the conditions for rein- championship since the 2010 World Championship, when he the outgoing Craig Reedie. statement, to turn over data and samples cited a need to rest from two major muscle injuries, and Spain Banka will take over an agency in turmoil from the tainted Moscow lab which are now struggled to a sixth-place finish without him. as WADA emerges from a Russian scandal being analyzed. He led the 2004 and 2008 tournaments in scoring. Gasol’s that fractured the anti-doping movement. Restoring confidence and trust will be 623 career Olympic points rank third behind Brazilian Oscar “This is an important moment for Poland. Banka’s first job. Schmidt (1,008) and Australian Andrew Gaze (789), according Being chosen is a great honor, but also a Travis Tygart, the United States Anti-Dop- to reports from the Rio Games. Gasol would likely have to play great responsibility,” Banka told Polish news ing Agency (USADA) chief who had been at least two more Olympics to pass Gaze. channel TVP Info. critical of Reedie and WADA’s handling of It was unknown whether Gasol would continue with the na- The vote was taken by the representatives the Russian affair, offered his congratulations tional team after Rio, but in 2017 he played at EuroBasket and of the Public Authorities — the 21 government to Banka in a statement, adding he hoped became that tournament’s career points leader, passing Dirk members who sit on the WADA Executive the two men might work together. Nowitzki and Tony Parker. Committee and Foundation board — in “We are excited and ready to get to Others from Spain’s golden generation have retired from the Montreal. work with him and those committed to national team, including José Calderón and Juan Carlos Navar- The 34-year-old will be formally confirmed didacy to WADA before a May 31 deadline. was critical of the Executive Committee’s protecting clean sport to achieve the ro. The active pool still includes NBA veterans Marc Gasol and as the fourth WADA president during the Outspoken WADA Vice-President Linda controversial decision last September to mutual goals of restoring trust to the Ricky Rubio. World Conference on Doping in Sport in Helleland was once viewed as a leading con- reinstate the Russian Anti-Doping Agency organization with athletes and the public, The top two European nations at the World Cup will qualify Katowice, Poland from Nov. 5-7. tender for the top job at WADA but Banka (RUSADA), has not given any indication she most importantly giving all athletes a for Tokyo, but it’s not Spain’s only chance. Four more nations If anyone else is to challenge Banka they was chosen by the Council of Europe as its will challenge the Pole a second time. true voice in the fight against doping,” overall will qualify for the Games at a global tournament next year. must have the support of at least one Foun- candidate. RUSSIAN CRISIS said the USADA president. (Source: NBC Sports) dation Board member and submit their can- The former Norwegian minister, who RUSADA was suspended in 2015 after (Source: Reuters)

‘I have taken the decision to leave Former Wales boss Coleman sacked by Manchester City ‘extremely Atletico’ - Griezmann China’s Hebei concerned’ over reports of Champions League ban

Manchester City say they are “co-operating in good faith” with an ongoing UEFA investigation into alleged financial fair play (FFP) breaches but are “extremely concerned” over an apparent leak from European football’s governing body. UEFA launched an investigation into a potential breach of FFP rules in March but the Premier League champions have denied any financial irregularity According to a report in the New York Times, citing “people familiar with the case” UEFA will push for the club to be given at least a one-season ban from the compe- tition, after a meeting at its Swiss headquarters two weeks ago. City issued a strongly-worded statement on Tuesday with concerns that someone said to be close to the investigation, conducted by the investigatory committee (IC) of the Club Financial French striker Antoine Griezmann has World Cup winner. Former Wales manager Chris Coleman ment reached between the two parties, with Control Body (CFCB), has released information. told Atletico Madrid he will leave them “I have had five wonderful seasons was sacked as coach of struggling Hebei immediate effect, Mr Chris Coleman will “Manchester City FC is fully cooperating in good faith with in the close season, the Spanish club said here and you will always be in my heart,” China Fortune on Wednesday after the no longer serve as head coach of Hebei the CFCB IC’s ongoing investigation,” a club statement to ESPN on Twitter on Tuesday. said the affable forward known for doing club’s fans demanded his removal. China Fortune Football Club,” the club said reads. “In doing so the club is reliant on both the CFCB IC’s The 28-year-old Griezmann has a dances from the video game Fortnite, when The 48-year-old’s side have won only in a statement on the Twitter-like Weibo. independence and commitment to due process; and on UEFA’s contract until 2023 with Atletico, but celebrating his goals. once in nine Chinese Super League (CSL) “We sincerely thank Coleman for his hard commitment of the 7th of March that it ‘... will make no further has a buy out clause of 120million euros “The truth is it has been difficult to games this season and languish one place work and contribution to the team and wish comment on the matter while the investigation is ongoing.’ ($134million) and has been the target of take this route but it is what I feel I need off the bottom of the table. him all the best in his future work and life.” “The New York Times report citing ‘people familiar with the several approaches from La Liga rivals and I would like to thank all of you for A Hebei team containing former Bar- Coleman was a defender for Crystal case’ is therefore extremely concerning. The implications are that Barcelona. the love you have shown me during these celona star Javier Mascherano lost 3-2 at Palace, Swansea City, Blackburn Rovers either Manchester City’s good faith in the CFCB IC is misplaced “Antoine Griezmann has told the club five years.” home to mid-table Henan Jianye at the and Fulham during his playing days, and or the CFCB IC process is being misrepresented by individuals he will not continue as a Rojiblanco (red With 133 goals in 252 games at Atletico weekend and had a player sent off for the later became the manager of then-Premier intent on damaging the club’s reputation and its commercial and white, the club’s colors) next season,” the attacker has been ever-present and has fourth time in all competitions this year. League side Fulham. interests. Or both. the club said on Twitter. rarely been unfit or injured. Angry fans held aloft a banner during He spent four years in the hot seat at “Manchester City’s published accounts are full and complete Within a few moments the player then He was a Champions League runner up Saturday’s defeat that said in English: “Hello Craven Cottage and then had a spell with and a matter of legal and regulatory record. The accusation of posted a video explaining himself. in 2016, losing to arch-rivals Real Madrid. Mr Coleman, please go home! You’re fired!!!” Real Sociedad in Spain. financial irregularities are entirely false, and comprehensive proof “After speaking with Cholo (club coach In 2018 however Atletico beat Marseille Above that in Chinese it read: “Coleman, But he enjoyed his most successful time of this fact has been provided to the CFCB IC.” Diego Simeone), then with Miguel Angel in the Europa League final. your mum wants you home for dinner.” in charge of his native Wales, taking them Allegations were made in German publication Der Spiegel, and the people in the hierarchy of the club Griezmann finished third for the Ballon Coleman, who took Sunderland down to a shock semi-final place at Euro 2016. purportedly obtained by whistleblowers Football Leaks, that City I wanted to speak with you, the fans, who d’Or in 2016, after France lost in the final into England’s third tier in his previous job, His sacking at Hebei comes as little circumvented FFP rules by inflating sponsorship deals. have always given me a lot of love,” said to Portugal at the European Champion- was appointed as a replacement for West surprise. The club have already been punished for violating FFP, striking Griezmann, wearing a plain black t-shirt ships and was a huge presence as Les Bleus Ham United-bound Manuel Pellegrini in “We let you down and we can’t make an agreement in 2014 that saw them fined rather than banned in front of a simple white background romped to a memorable World Cup win at June last year. any excuses for the recent performances,” from the Champions League for inflated sponsorship deals with behind him. Russia 2018 after which he also finished But after a decent start, he won only said a statement. companies linked to the club or their ownership. “I wanted to tell you I have taken the third for the Ballon d’Or. seven of his 28 games. “We have to say to you: sorry.” A final conclusion over the current investigations is not like- decision to leave,” said the French 2018 (Source: AFP) “After friendly negotiation and agree- (Source: AFP) ly to be reached before the start of next season’s Champions League. City could also appeal any decision, via the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (Source: ESPN) Woods sets sights on Olympic gold in Tokyo FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (Reuters) — Tiger Woods has Rio and while South Korean Park In-bee triumphed in the collected plenty of Green Jackets and Claret Jugs during women’s event. Klopp plans ‘preseason’ ahead his decorated career, but there is one shiny thing missing The 2020 Olympic golf will be played at the Kasumigaseki from his collection -- an Olympic gold medal. course in suburban Tokyo. of run-up to Madrid That is about the only big thing worth winning that Woods Each country is restricted to a maximum of four does not have, and something he would like to take care of players, and there is no guarantee Woods will qualify, at next year’s Tokyo Games. though based on current form he has an excellent Jurgen Klopp says he will fill the three-week gap before the Cham- “Would I like to play in the Olympics? Yes,” Woods said chance. pions League final against Tottenham Hotspur by putting his on Tuesday during a news conference at Bethpage Black “Getting there and making the team is going to be the Liverpool players through a two-week “preseason.” ahead of this week’s PGA Championship. tough part,” he said. The two Premier League clubs played their final domestic “I’m sure I won’t get many more opportunities going “I just know that if I play well in the big events like I did games of the season on Sunday and are in the unusual position forward at 43 years old to play in many Olympics. this year, things will take care of itself.” of having a lengthy wait for the June 1 clash in Madrid. “That would be a first for me and something I would Woods collected his fifth Green Jacket when he won the Klopp has given his team a few days off to recover from a certainly welcome if I was part of the team.” Masters in April, his 15th major title and first in more than grueling Premier League campaign in which they pushed Man- Golf returned to the Olympics at Rio in 2016 after a cen- a decade. chester City to the final day in the title race, eventually losing tury-long absence, but many players who qualified stayed He also has won three Claret Jugs awarded to the British out by one point. away due to concerns about contracting the mosquito-borne Open winner. They will reconvene next week to prepare for the showpiece Zika virus. Woods will go for a fifth Wanamaker Trophy at this week’s meeting at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. Woods was battling a career-threatening back injury at is healthy again now after a 2017 spinal fusion. PGA Championship and next month he will bid for a fourth “We have to do a couple of things in preparation for the Cham- the time and did not qualify for the United States team. He Justin Rose won the men’s gold medal for Britain in U.S. Open trophy at Pebble Beach. pions League, media stuff,” Klopp told the club’s website. “We have to do that, then the boys will have a couple of days off and then we have two proper weeks as a preseason for the Champions League final. “We will do that, we will play that, [hopefully] win it, come Bulgarian boxer suspended in California home and then the people get what they deserve.” LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — A Bulgarian harassment prevention classes and pay a men, Pulev apologized for his actions during that Ravalo did not appear to be very upset Liverpool, who defeated Barcelona to reach their second boxer who grabbed a female broadcaster’s $2,500 fine before he can fight again in the the hearing as his girlfriend, the Bulgarian about the incident because she joined the consecutive Champions League final, are bidding for their sixth face and kissed her on the lips during a post- state of California. pop star Andrea, sat behind him, wearing boxer and his team at a post-match cele- European Cup, which would be their first piece of silverware fight interview was suspended until July by Pulev, who has only one loss in 27 fights, dark glasses. bration later that night. under Klopp. the California State Athletic Commission on grabbed Jennifer Ravalo’s face and kissed Attorneys for Pulev said that the But Ravalo said in tearful testimony that Tottenham, who produced a superb comeback to beat Ajax Tuesday following tearful testimony by the her in the middle of a live interview moments fighter had got caught up in the mo- Pulev also grabbed her buttocks off-camera Amsterdam in the semifinal and reach their first Champions interviewer. after knocking out Romania’s Bogdan Dinu ment following his big win and “didn’t following the interview, leaving her feeling League final, will hope to use the gap to their advantage with top Kubrat Pulev, a heavyweight contender in the seventh round of a March fight in Costa have his wits about him” when he kissed humiliated, and has not apologized in the striker Harry Kane recovering from an ankle injury. known as “The Cobra,” was also ordered dur- Mesa, California. the reporter. two months since. (Source: Soccernet) ing a commission hearing to attend sexual One of Bulgaria’s most popular sports- Pulev and his lawyers argued in the hearing “I did not want him to kiss me,” Ravalo said. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MAY 16, 2019 SPORTS 15

Marc Wilmots named Iran Igor Stimac appointed new India coach

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has appointed Igor football coach Stimac as the Head Coach of the senior men’s team on a two-year contract. SPORTS TEHRAN — Belgian coach Marc Wilmots Stimac comes with an experience of over 18 years in coaching, desk has been named as new head coach of structuring, and developing football and players in Croatia Iran national football team, Mehdi Taj, the president of the and internationally. Football Federation of Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), said. As a Coach, Stimac helmed The 50-year-old coach will take charge of Team Melli Croatia’s qualification to the until the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Wilmots is reportedly asking for an annual salary of During his tenure as the na- US$ 1.5 million along with two assistant coaches of his tional coach of Croatia, he choice. However, FFIRI is interested in adding former Iran handed debuts to the likes of international and Osasuna midfielder Javed Nekounam to Mateo Kovacic, Ante Rebic, the national team coaching staff. Alen Halilovic, and Ivan Per- The Belgian led his homeland to the 2014 World Cup and isic. He also played a pivotal Euro 2016, but was sacked after that tournament in France. role in developing the likes of Former Spain and Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui, Dario Srna, Daniel Subasic, Morocco national team coach Herve Renard and former Ivan Strinic, Kovacic, Perisic, Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat were also nominated and other players. for this position. His last assignment was Wilmots, who has replaced Carlos Queiroz who left Iran with the Al-Shahania Club to take over as Colombia coach, was without a team after in Qatar. As a player, he was leaving the Ivory Coast coaching position in November 2017. part the of the Croatia team Wilmots will start his work as Iran coach in two friendly which finished third at the 1998 World Cup in France. He was matches against Syria and South Korea. also a member of the team which qualified for the quarterfinals He was one of the best players in Belgium and Europe of 1996 European Championship in England. Besides, he was in his time. He wore the Belgian national jersey 70 times also a part of the Yugoslavia U-19 team which won the U-20 and scored 28 goals for his team. He was also team captain. World Cup in Chile in 1987. Iran, who are top AFC team in the FIFA rankings at No. After Stimac’s appointment, Kushal Das, General Secretary, 21, will host Syria in Tehran on June 6. AIFF said “Indian Football would benefit immensely under Igor Team Melli will also face South Korea five days later at Stimac.” “His credentials as a coach, and experience as a player World Cup Stadium in Seoul. are sure to add immense value to the players, and the Indian Iran are preparing for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers Football ecosystem. The momentum gained needs to be sustained.” that begin in the second half of this year. Former India player Shyam Thapa, who was also a member of the bronze-medal winning squad in the 1970 Asian Games, and currently the Chairman of the Technical Committee men- Iran’s Vahid Nouri claims gold at IBSA Persepolis, Sepahan vying for title in tioned that “Stimac’s recommendation was unanimous.” “All Judo Grand Prix IPL’s final weekend the members of the Technical Committee including the AIFF Technical Director Mr. Isac Doru were immensely impressed, SPORTS TEHRAN — Vahid SPORTS TEHRAN — Both and convinced about him being best suited for the job. He is a deskNouri from Iran won deskPersepolis and Sepa- World Cupper, and has guided Croatia to World Cup as a coach. a gold medal at the International Blind han are trying to be winners of this Who else could have been a better candidate?” he said. “He also Sports Federation Judo Grand Prix in season’s Iran Professional League (IPL) impressed us with his extensive research on Indian Football.” Baku n Tuesday. title but only one team will be lifting Stimac’s first assignment will be the Kings Cup in Buriram, The world bronze medalist and Asian the trophy on Thursday. Thailand where India play Curacao in their first match on June 5. Para Games champion topped the podi- Branko Ivankovic’s team can win (Source: ESPN) um in the men’s up to 90kg, overcoming the title for the third time in a row with Azerbaijan’s Rovshan Safarov. even a draw against Pars Jonoubi in Russia’s Vladimir Fedin and Ukraine’s Abadan. world title holder Oleksandr Nazarenko Sepahan must defeat already-rele- Manchester City: won the bronze medals. gated Esteghlal Khuzestan if they want Mohammadreza Kheirollahzadeh of Iran to keep their hopes alive to win the IPL ‘Battered’ Liverpool fans also claimed a silver at the men’s over 100kg title for the sixth time. song draws criticism after losing to Uzbekistan’s Shirin Sharipov. Persepolis lead the table with 58 Georgia’s Revaz Chikoidze and Japa- points, three points ahead of Sepahan. nese Kento Masaki secured bronze medals. Another Iranian popular football team Manchester City have been criticized over a video that appears to Uzbekistan secured first place in the Esteghlal, who are third in the table, show players and staff joining in a song that celebrates Liverpool medal table, followed by host Azerbaijan will also try to book a place at the AFC fans being “battered in the street”. and Ukraine. Paralympics. Champions League’s next season. The team have a chance of winning a place The video is thought to have been captured on an aircraft as Around 280 judokas from 36 countries A further Grand Prix in Tashkent, Uz- Blues will host Sepidrood, who need a at the AFC Champions League. the club’s travelling party returned from a 4-1 Premier League participated in Baku in an event that is also bekistan, will take place this year from 7-8 win to avoid relegation. Furthermore, Saipa will play Sanat win at Brighton. supported by the International Judo Fed- October. In between there will be the IBSA Padideh, as one of the best teams in Naft in Abadan, Nassaji host Paykan, That victory saw the Blues beat Liverpool to the title by eration. Athletes had the chance to secure Goalball and Judo International Qualifier the current season, will face Machine Naft Masjed Soleyman meet Zob Ahan one point. qualification points for the Tokyo 2020 in Fort Wayne, USA, from 2-5 July. Sazi in Tabriz. Yayha Golmohammadi’s and Foolad face Tractor Sazi. It is unclear which players and staff - if any - are joining in the singing. The song - which City described in a statement as a “regular Female referees create AFC history chant during the 2018-19 season” - recalls Liverpool’s defeat in Asian football history will be made when Japanese referee “This is one of my dreams,” said a proud Yamashita. Bozono said the experience of being an assistant referee last year’s Champions League final in Kiev. Yoshimi Yamashita alongside assistant referees Makoto “We’ve worked very hard and this is the result. I have to at the AFC Cup will help in her preparations for the 2019 It cites fans being “battered in the streets” and “crying in the Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi become the first all-female thank the AFC for giving us this opportunity to join the FIFA Women’s World Cup. stands” and includes a line on Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah cast to officiate an AFC Cup match between Myanmar’s history books in women’s refereeing in Asia. She explained: “I’m very honored to be selected for the being injured - but with the original culprit, Real Madrid’s Sergio Yangon United FC and Naga World of Cambodia at the “It is an important achievement for us because it is the AFC Cup and sure it is a good warm-up for the FIFA Women’s Ramos, changed to City defender Vincent Kompany. Thuwunna Stadium. first time three women will officiate in an AFC club com- World Cup. It is exciting to work with Yoshimi and Naomi. However, many of the party only join in at the “Allez, Allez, This will be the first time three female referees officiate in petition and it comes before the FIFA Women’s World Cup They are very experienced and have been very supportive. Allez” chorus. the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) club competitions, so we will do our best in every match.” I will learn a lot from them.” “It’s honestly embarrassing that some Man City fans think marking a new milestone in Asian refereeing. Assistant referee Teshirogi believes their appointment Female assistant referees Kim Kyoung-min and Lee it’s OK for their players to sing about fans being beat up,” one The trio had to pass a demanding fitness test, matching will inspire female referees in Asia to follow in their footsteps. Seul-gi will also officiate in the AFC Cup match between Liverpool fan tweeted, while many more responded saying the the requirements for men officials before being selected and She said: “I’m excited and happy for the team but we know Ceres Negros FC and Becamex Binh Duong alongside male video was “classless”, “unprofessional” or “naive”. their appointment is a timely boost, as they are also part of it will be a tough match because the players have different referee Kim Dae-yong. City also said in their statement that “any suggestion that 12 Asian match officials representing the AFC at the 2019 personalities and temperament. I worked really hard with Their selection showcases AFC’s commitment to cele- the lyrics relate to Sean Cox or the Hillsborough tragedy is FIFA Women’s World Cup France in June. my personal trainer and I’m glad I passed the fitness test. brate women’s contribution to Asian football and it fittingly entirely without foundation”. The experienced Yamashita was delighted to add another “In the future, we hope to set the example for more fe- marks the continuation of the AFC’s #ItsMyGame campaign Sean Cox was left with brain injuries after being attacked milestone in her career after officiating in the 2016 and male referees to take the leap to officiate in men’s football in 2019 where a series of videos will be launched in the before Liverpool played Roma at Anfield in the Champions 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and AFC Women’s matches. More women passed the men’s fitness test so that coming months. League in April 2018. Asian Cup Jordan 2018. shows how motivated the women referees are.” (Source: the-afc) (Source: BBC)

Son relishing a return to ‘fire mode’ New A-League team Macarthur FC Cagliari escape sanction for against Liverpool confirm name and club colors their fans’ racist Tottenham Hotspur’s Korea Republic su- The A-League’s new club for the 2020-21 perstar Son Heung-min is hoping the long season will be called Macarthur FC. Serie A has decided not to sanction Cagliari for their fans’ rac- layoff will see him return to his goal-scoring The announcement was made on ist abuse of Moise Kean despite admitting their actions were best against Liverpool in the UEFA Cham- Wednesday, with the name decided on “reprehensible”. pions League final at Wanda Metropolitano after extensive community consultation. The Juventus forward, 19, suffered racist abuse from the stands Stadium on June 1. The third Sydney-based team’s colors during his side’s 2-0 win at Cagliari on 2 April. Son, the darling of Korea Republic will be black, white and ochre, and their “It emerged the chants in question, although certainly rep- football, has netted 18 times in all com- logo will include a bull. rehensible, had an objectively limited relevance to race,” the petitions which saw him sweep the board “Like the club, [the colors] are authen- body said. with Tottenham’s end-of-season awards tically fun, tribal, proud, hardworking Juventus sealed their eighth consecutive Serie A title last month. following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Everton and inclusive,” Macarthur FC announced Kean held his arms aloft after scoring Juve’s second goal of the in the English Premier League. in a statement. match, seemingly in response to the chants, and was subjected But the 26-year-old, who did not feature our hands. I hope that I am in fire mode. “Ochre is included to represent one of “The timing was right for me,” said to further abuse. against Everton due to suspension, has I don’t want to talk about winning or los- the traditional colors for the local Dhar- Milicic, who relished to challenge posed After the match the Italy international wrote on Instagram: suffered a recent dip in form after failing ing. There’s a long time to prepare for this awal Aboriginal people on whose land with a start-up club. “The best way to respond to racism.” to find the back of the net in his last five important game. the Macarthur region sits. Previously a Socceroos assistant coach, But Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri and defender Leon- games for Spurs. “Winning the Champions League means “The logo includes a bull which is 45-year-old Milicic believed his interna- ardo Bonucci both said Kean should take some of the blame for “I think everyone needs this time to a lot, but losing would be painful for a long, demonstrative of the club’s physical tional experience, including World Cups, the way he celebrated. rest. We’re trying to get as fit as possible, long time. We just want to be ready and power as well as a tilt to history when a would stand him in good stead at the helm “He shouldn’t have celebrated in that manner,” said Allegri. to make sure we give everything in this then we will see what happens. Liverpool runaway herd of cattle was discovered of an A-League team. “He is a young man and he has to learn, but certain things from game,” Son told British media. are a strong team, so how we play will be in the region in 1795. The Macarthur region has also been the the crowd also shouldn’t be heard.” “I am a really, really positive guy and important.” “[The] three stars of the Southern Cross childhood home of at least 20 Socceroos Italy international Bonucci - who scored the opening goal - it is one of the best feelings to be playing Tottenham return to training on symbolize football’s links with the grassroots and 10 Matildas players with a combined told Sky Sport Italia: “I think the blame is 50-50. Moise should in the Champions League Final, so I just Wednesday as they began their prepa- football community, the National Premier games total of 600 for the Socceroos and not have done that and the Curva [fans] should not have reacted want to make sure that I am ready for every ration for their first European Cup final. League and the A-League.” 433 for the Matildas. in that way.” single ball and every single second.” Son is then expected to join his Korea Matildas coach Ante Milicic will take Five men and five women from the area However, Allegri later said Bonucci “expressed himself badly” Son is confident that a three-week break Republic teammates for international up the reins of the third Sydney-based club have played in at least one World Cup, with in reacting to the racist abuse suffered by his team-mate and will see him return to ‘fire mode’ against friendlies against Australia and Islamic after guiding the Australian women’s team Brett Emerton and Heather Garriock each said: “Racism must always be fought and is never justifiable.” a Liverpool side who fell short of winning Republic of Iran ahead of the 2022 FIFA through this year’s World Cup and next having reached a century of national team Following the incident, Italy manager Roberto Mancini called their first domestic title in 29 years. World Cup Qatar Qualifiers. year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics, when his appearances. the racist abuse “intolerable”. “It is in three weeks, so everything is in (Source: AFP) national contract expires. (Source: Soccernet) (Source: BBC) Prayer Times Noon:13:01 Evening: 20:23 Dawn: 4:19 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 5:58 (tomorrow) MAY 16, 2019 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Artists, experts receive Ferdowsi Medals Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] 1 Mojtabai has so far written Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 and published over 200 books and Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 articles in Persian and English in Iran Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 and out of Iran. www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Aidanlu has also published books Tel: 88911433 and articles on the Shahnameh. Webmaster: [email protected] Saeidi is a naqqal or a performer Printed at: Hamshahri No. 3(Rooztab) - ISSN: 1017-94 of naqqali, a style of storytelling dedicated to Shahnameh epic stories. Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily He performs at teahouses across Lorestan Province. No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran P.o. Box: 14155-4843 In his brief speech, Entezami said Zip Code: 1599814713 that disregard of the Shahnameh might imperil the identity of the Persian language. “If there was no Ferdowsi, Iranians would not have any myths, and returning to this epic spirit manifested in the Shahnameh is necessary indeed,” he remarked. “We need to pay due attention to the Shahnameh while producing our GUIDE TO cultural products, to help them remain SPIRITUAL AWAKENING eternal,” he added. The honoring ceremony was part of an international conference, which If a mistake is made in any affairs, their beginning opened in Mashhad on Monday to and end must be compared. discuss connections between the Imam Ali (AS) Shahnameh and the Silk Road. The conference came to end on Wednesday with a celebration of Ferdowsi Day at the tomb of Ferdowsi in the Persian language scholar Seyyed Fat’hollah Mojtabai (2nd L) accepts a Ferdowsi Medal at the University of Ferdowsi in Mashhad northeastern Iranian town of Tus. on May 14, 2019. (Photoshahr/Hossein Shariat) “Forest of Silence” offered at Cannes Film Market

ARTTEHRAN – Iranian director and producer Painter Parviz Kalantari’s daughter to remember father in new exhibit deskSoheil Abdollahi is at the Cannes Film Market ARTTEHRAN – Negar, a daughter of the dedicated to his daughters. – Marché du Film to promote his debut film, “Forest of Silence”. deskprominent Iranian artist Parviz Kalantari “I think he has meant that he is remembered by others Starring Mahya Dehqani, who was famous for his paintings of desert architectural through the paintings he has created over the years. The Shapur Suri and Alireza Qazvini, structures, plans to commemorate her father in her new good works he has done will always be remembered by the horror film is about Kimia, a exhibition, which will open at Tehran’s Four Gallery on Friday. people and this way life continues,” she explained. young psychologist who is doing Speaking to the Persian service of Honaronline on Wednes- She added that her dad always asked her when she is research on Japan’s Suicide day, Negar said that her new collection represents the grief going to hold an exhibit. Forest. she felt over her father’s death. “Now after three years, my works are ready and my family Another Iranian film “The collection entitled ‘Your Essence in Colors’ also and I decided to hold the exhibit now, which mostly coin- “Cinema Donkey”, a dark represents the influence of dad on my palette,” she added. cides with my father’s death anniversary,” she concluded. comedy by Shahed Ahmadlu, “The paintings reflect the feelings he has bestowed upon The exhibit will be running until May 27 at the gallery is also on display at the Cannes me. I have taken several elements from my father’s artworks located at 4 Eshraqi Alley off Shariati Ave. near Seyyed Film Market, which will run and have mixed them with my own flowers,” she mentioned. Khandan Bridge. until May 23. “The works are very simple, and the colorful flowers show Kalantari died on May 21, 2016. He was most famous for The Marché du Film is the the grief of losing dad while they also portray life,” she added. his paintings of Iranian indigenous nomadic life and desert business counterpart of the “In the book ‘Death Is Not the End of Pigeon’, my father architectural structures, making urban dwellers more familiar Cannes Film Festival, and is said, ‘My dear one, believe that death is not the end of life. with those that move to and fro with the change of seasons. the largest film market in the Life continues,’” she remarked. He was from a generation whose main concern was mak- world. It was created in 1959 Parviz Kalantari is the author of “Death Is Not the End ing a bridge between modern paintings and the venerable A poster for Negar Kalantari’s collection “Your Essence A poster for “Forest of Silence” and has been held annually since of Pigeon”, a book of stories and pictures, which he has cultural heritage, which is a tradition. in Colors”. by Iranian director Soheil then, simultaneously with the Abdollahi. major international film event. NEWS IN BRIEF Photographers bring “Hope” to University of Gottingen ARTTEHRAN – The Ger- people in different countries. “Cross without deskmany-based Iranian Zandieh came to Germany from Iran Love” appears photographers Shirin Abedi and Arasch as a child with his parents. The portraits Zandieh are displaying a collection of works selected for the exhibition were created in Iranian featuring portraits of people in a number during a six-month journey through Asia. bookstores of Asian countries, including Iran, in an His pictures are intended to draw atten- exhibition titled “Hope” at the University tion to “the fact that all people - no matter of Gottingen. where they come from in the world - have ARTTEHRAN – Prominent German writer The exhibition, which opened on May 9, the same basic needs and that everyone deskHeinrich Boll’s novel “Cross without Love” is being organized in collaboration with the has the right to a safe life.” has recently been published in Persian by Negah Publications Gottinger Kommunikations - und Aktionsz- Born in Iran, the photojournalist and in Tehran. entrums (KAZ) and the Centre for Global documentary photographer Shirin Abedi Translated by Sarang Malakuti, the book is about two Migration Studies (CeMig), the organizers now lives in Hannover. In her collection, German brothers, Hans and Christophe, who are sent to the have announced. she puts her spotlight on the stories and West and Eastern Fronts separately during the World War II. The exhibition is organized to make a emotions of all those who do not live where The book was Boll’s debut novel, which was written in contribution to revising the often one-sid- they were born. 1947 but published posthumously in 2002. ed media coverage of migration. The two The exhibit, which will run until June photographers themselves have a history Germany-based Iranian photographer Arasch Zandieh poses with some of his works on 27, is being curated by Ammar Hatem, who Film Museum of migration and whose portraits deal with display in the exhibition “Hope” at the University of Gottingen, Germany. (Zandieh.de) works at KAZ. of Iran to offer free admission Tearful Felicity Huffman admits role in Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg gets “best on Intl. Museum U.S. college admissions scandal fight” MTV Movie award nod

Day BOSTON (Reuters) — Actress Fe- LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — U.S. CULTURE TEHRAN – The Film Museum of Iran licity Huffman tearfully pleaded guilty Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader deskin Tehran along with other museums in on Monday to paying to rig a college Ginsburg scored nominations on Tuesday the country will offer free admission on Saturday to observe entrance exam for her daughter, part of for the 2019 MTV Movie and TV awards, International Museum Day. a wide-ranging scandal in which wealthy where she will compete for top honors with International Museum Day has been celebrated worldwide parents used fraud to secure their children blockbuster offerings “Game of Thrones” since 1977 on or about May 18 to highlight the importance spots at prominent U.S. universities. and “Avengers: Endgame.” of museums and the challenges they face. The onetime star of the television The diminutive liberal justice, 86, got The Film Museum of Iran is located on Vali-e Asr Avenue series “Desperate Housewives” plead- four nods at the youth-oriented awards in the Bagh Ferdows neighborhood. ed guilty in federal court in Boston show, including “best fight” and “best to a conspiracy charge related to her real-life hero” courtesy of the 2018 payment of $15,000 to have someone documentary “RBG” that chronicled secretly correct her daughter’s answers her legal legacy and rise to become an Stan Lee’s ex-manager charged on the SAT exam. unexpected pop culture icon, especially with elder abuse against comic Huffman is among 50 people accused among women. of taking part in a scheme that involved Actress Felicity Huffman leaves the The MTV Movie and TV awards usually U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice book co-creator cheating or bribery. Wealthy parents paid federal courthouse after facing charges in focus on crowd-pleasing movies and TV Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen during a total of $25 million to bribe coaches a nationwide college admissions cheating shows and have become an irreverent a group portrait session for the new LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — The former manager of Stan Lee to help their children gain spots at uni- scheme in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., antidote to the winter Hollywood awards full court at the Supreme Court in has been charged with elder abuse against the late comic book versities like Yale, Georgetown and the May 13, 2019. (Reuters/ Katherine Taylor) season, which honors more serious fare. Washington, U.S., November 30, 2018. (Reuters/Jim Young) legend, a Los Angeles court official said on Monday. University of Southern California (USC). an SAT proctor for her daughter’s exam Winners are chosen by fans voting online Keya Morgan was charged on Friday with five counts of elder William “Rick” Singer, a California correct her daughter’s answers at a test and will be announced at a ceremony airing tennis star Serena Williams and Australian abuse, including false imprisonment, fraud and forgery stem- college admissions consultant, pleaded center he controlled through bribery. on June 17. comedian Hannah Gadsby. ming from an incident last summer when Lee was 95 years old, guilty in March to charges that he fa- Crying, Huffman, who is married to the “RBG”, which also was Oscar- “Game of Thrones” and Marvel a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Superior Court public in- cilitated the cheating and helped bribe actor William H. Macy, stressed that her nominated earlier this year, got nods superhero film “Avengers: Endgame” formation office told Los Angeles City News Service. university sports coaches to present daughter did not know about the crime. for best documentary as well as in the - already the all-time second-biggest The spokeswoman added that a warrant for Morgan’s arrest clients’ children as fake athletic recruits. “Everything else Mr. Rosen said I did, new MTV category, “most-meme-able movie after 2009’s “Avatar” - got four had been issued. Prosecutors have charged 33 parents I did,” she said. moment.” nominations each. They included nods Morgan, a New York-based memorabilia collector who became with participating in the scheme with She exited the courthouse holding her Ginsburg became the first public for stars Robert Downey Jr, Josh Brolin, involved with Lee in 2017, was served with a restraining order Singer, including Huffman, who was brother’s hand while taking no questions figure to be nominated in the popular Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams. last year after Lee’s family accused him of elder abuse. nominated for an Oscar for best actress from reporters. best fight category, in which she was MTV again dispensed with gender The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office on Monday said it was for her role in 2005’s “Transamerica,” Twenty people so far have agreed to cited for battling “inequality.” Her rivals classifications, placing men and women unable to provide any information. An attorney for Morgan could and Lori Loughlin, who starred in the plead guilty since officials carried out include fictional characters in clashes from together in performance categories in a move not be located but last year Morgan denied allegations of abuse. TV series “Full House.” a wave of arrests under the code name “Captain Marvel” and medieval fantasy to embrace equality and gender fluidity. Lee, the co-creator of “Spider-Man,” “Iron Man,” “The Hulk” Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen “Operation Varsity Blues” on March 12. television series “Game of Thrones.” The June awards ceremony from the and dozens of other Marvel superheroes, died in November 2018 said Huffman, 56, arranged through Prosecutors have said the investigation Ginsburg also featured in the new MTV California beach city of Santa Monica will at the age of 95. Singer to have an associate acting as is ongoing. category of best real-life hero alongside be hosted by “Shazam!” star Zachary Levi.