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16 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13569 Wednesday JANUARY 1, 2020 Dey 11, 1398 Jumada Al Awwal 5, 1441 Germany has turned Rouhani inaugurates Kolakovic optimistic blind eye to U.S. illegal metro line worth $238m about securing spot interferences 3 in north-central Iran 4 at Olympics 15

See page 13 Iran’s 9-month trade balance positive TEHRAN – Iran’s non-oil trade with while the imports stood at $31.8 billion,” other countries registered a $100-million IRNA quoted Hamid Zadboum as saying Den of positive balance in the first nine months of on Tuesday. the current Iranian calendar year (March Mentioning the great potentials of the 21 – December 21), according to the head country’s neighbors for increasing exports, of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization Zadboum said: “According to TPO studies, (TPO). Iran’s 15 neighboring countries imported “In the first nine months of the current about $1.16 trillion of non-oil commodities espionage, year, our exports reached $31.9 billion in 2018.” 4 Zarif says Iran, China interested in terror expanding strategic ties TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Mohammad unilateral sanctions on Iran and urged Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that Iran and the international community to counter China have developed ties to strategic level unilateralism and support multilateralism. which shows the two countries are interest- For his part, Wang said Iran and China ed in expanding relations and interaction. should continue talks and consultations. During a meeting with Chinese Foreign During a press conference on Tuesday, sieged Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, Zarif said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng that China plays a very important role in Shuang said, “Wang noted that important international developments, especially changes are brewing surrounding the Ira- issues related to Iran. nian nuclear issue and the JCPOA is facing He condemned the United States’ severe challenges. 2

National unity newspaper comes into bookstores over 100 years after its publication TEHRAN — Copies of Ettehad News- titled “Ettehad Newspaper” (“Unity News- paper, a leading paper that sought na- paper”), publisher the National Library tional unity in the early years after and Archives of Iran (NLAI) announced the Constitutional Revolution (1905 on Tuesday. to 1911), have been published in a book The editions were published over a century after the publication between May 12, 1914 and May 4, of its first edition. 1915. Sheikh Musa Dastjerdi was the Eighty-two copies of the newspaper, license holder and manager of the which was published in two editions every newspaper. The license of the paper week, along with three special editions of was transferred to Seyyed Moham- the paper have been published in the book mad Yusefzadeh. 16 EDITORIAL Cuban envoy raps U.S. sanctions, urges continued resistance REPORT Mohammad Ghaderi TEHRAN (Tasnim) — Cuba’s ambassador to and we are opposing the abuse of politics and that the relations between Iran and Cuba would Faranak Bakhtiari Tehran Times editor-in-chief Tehran condemned the U.S. sanctions against unilateralism.” reach the highest level, and we would achieve Tehran Times journalist @ghaderi62 independent nations, including Iran, calling for Bandrich Vega also noted that a series of such perfect relations in spite of the distance efforts to maintain the anti-U.S. resistance. problems have obstructed the efforts to en- and the sanctions,” he added. In an interview with Tasnim in Tehran, Alexis hance the trade, economic and business coop- On the Trump administration’s decision The secret of U.S. Bandrich Vega expounded on his country’s policies eration between Tehran and Havana, saying, to roll back the Obama administration’s deal WHO keeps silent to counter the US, and highlighted the common “The economic war that the United States has with Cuba or the move to scrap the Joint Com- attacks on PMU values of the revolutions in Cuba and Iran. waged and has entangled all countries has also prehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Bandrich on U.S. sanctions Asked about the common revolutionary affected Cuba.” Vega said all American administrations pursue positions in al-Qa’im sentiments in Iran and Cuba and both nations’ According to the ambassador, Cuba’s main the same path, which is using every method affecting Iranian refusal to give in to the Western imperialism, the trade partners are Russia, Venezuela, China and to reach their goal. n an unprecedented move, which in- ambassador said, “The political relations between Vietnam, and they are working with Havana on “When Trump took power, his main purpose MPS patients dicates the beginning of direct conflict the two governments and nations are good, and the basis of a mid- and long-term plan. was to intensify the economic and trade sanctions between U.S.-Israeli coalition and the I we have a lot in common. Both countries are He also highlighted Cuba’s efforts to settle (on Cuba) and to mount violence against the he World Health Organization (WHO) axis of resistance, the U.S. attacked the working against imperialism. We have common its debts as soon as possible, maintain its unity country… This (US) administration is by no means has kept silent on supplying medicine bases related to Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah, stances in various areas, from human rights to in all conditions, and find new solutions in a trustworthy, because lies and irresponsibility are Tneeded for Mucopolysaccharidosis near the al-Qa’im border crossing. The the United Nations (issues). constantly changing world. among its mechanisms, and in general, I can say (MPS) patients in Iran because of the move by the Americans reveals the U.S. “We have issued many statements against “One of the revolutionary tips that (late Cuban they (Americans) are not reliable.” sanctions imposed by the United States. desire to occupy Iraq and meet the interests the United States’ unilateral sanctions… In the leader) Fidel (Castro) taught us was that we should Cuba does not insist on negotiations with MPS are a group of metabolic disorders of the Zionist regime. areas that the Western countries are conducting think positively despite all problems, and we the US, but it is always ready for dialogue, the caused by the absence or malfunctioning considering the sensitive circumstances a propaganda campaign against us, we tried to should struggle and hope to overcome all prob- ambassador added, stressing that Havana has a of lysosomal enzymes needed to break in Iraq and increased concern by the Zionist down molecules called glycosaminogly- counteract them and observe multilateralism, lems. I also hold such a hope and positive attitude series of preconditions for talks. 11 regime over boosting the missile power cans (GAGs). of the axis of resistance, the Americans Individuals with MPS either do not targeted the bases that they knew were of produce enough of one of the eleven great importance for the axis of resistance. ‘U.S. attack on PMU aggression against sovereign Iraq’ enzymes required to break down these The beginning of a harsh re- TEHRAN (MNA) — Hailing PMU and behind the U.S. illegal act against an inde- Being questioned about the reasons sugar chains into simpler molecules, or sponse to U.S. aggressors other resistance groups’ role in challenging pendent country, the issue was discussed behind the U.S. attack on PMU, he re- they produce enzymes that do not work The U.S. intervention was directly aimed the U.S. policy in Iraq and Syria, American with American analyst and columnist Ste- iterated, “The U.S. is waging forever re- properly. at fulfilling the Israeli plans, as it could carry analyst and columnist Stephen Lendman phen Lendman. gional wars, inventing pretexts to keep Over time, these GAGs collect in the out the attacks elsewhere in Iraq. Choosing says U.S. attack on PMU is aggression against Commenting on the role of Iraq’s Popu- waging them.” cells, blood and connective tissues. The al-Qa’im as the target indicates that the raids sovereign Iraq. lar Mobilization Units (PMU) in foiling the Touching upon the illegitimacy of the result is permanent, progressive cellular were far beyond a reaction to the attacks U.S. forces launched deadly airstrikes U.S. plots for the country and the region, U.S. attack on a sovereign country, he damage which affects appearance, physical on the K1 base in Kirkuk, suggesting that against Kata’ib Hezbollah bases, which is Lendman said, “The PMUs and other resist- added, “I’m sure they’ll be more incidents abilities, organ and system functioning, the strategic phase of confrontation of the part of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units ance groups in Iraq, Syria and throughout like Sunday’s. They’re aggression against and, in most cases, mental development. two sides has begun. (PMU), on Sunday night, claiming that the the region are important to challenge the sovereign Iraq and Syria, and of course, On November 17, Iran’s Health Min- Although, the Israelis were deeply attacks have been in response to alleged hostile U.S. presence in the region where U.S. proxy war on Iran goes on by incidents ister Saeed Namaki in separate letters pleased by the attacks, the U.S. Arab allies, attacks targeting U.S. and coalition forces. they’ll never be peace as long as Pentagon like days of riots, violence, vandalism, and to UN Secretary-General António Gu- with the exception of the Khalifa family To know more about the real reasons forces remain.” chaos last month.” terres, United Nations Children’s Fund that strongly backed the move, remained (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta silent in the face of extreme backlash by H. Fore, and World Health Organization Iraqi political groups. (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adha- What are the Americans nom, urged the international commu- looking for? nity to break the silence on inhumane The U.S. in fact is trying to take the sanctions imposed by the United States control of areas that it considers to be in against the country. favor of its projects. It does not intend But so far no action has been taken to step back in the face of the axis of the by the international community and it resistance. The sources affiliated to the has remained silent on this inhumane PMU have said that behind the scene game behavior of the U.S.. is over and the confrontation has emerged. Mehdi Shadnoush, head of the Health From the perspective of the Iraqi resist- Ministry’s center for transplantation and ance groups’ leaders, the U.S. has made a disease management, said that “Cruel mistake in its calculations and adopted the sanctions in the health sector, especially game of “blood versus blood”, so the Iraqi Tehran Times those targeting patients suffering from resistance movement insists on a proper rare diseases, have created a great deal response in proportion to the U.S. air raids. of anxiety and stress for the patients,” Why the U.S. chose al-Qa’im? says hello IRNA reported on Tuesday. The al-Bukamal-al-Qa’im border cross- Eshrat Mardi He added that companies exclusively ing is 450 km to Damascus and 340 km to producing medicine for MPS patients, Baghdad. The border crossing connects two to 2020 such as BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. of cities of al-Qa’im in Iraq’s Anbar province the U.S. and a South Korean company, to the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor by Tehran Times staff celebrate New Year’s Eve have refused to export these drugs to land, which are the closest cities to the Tehran Times/ along with their sole Christian writer Hrand Iran, threatening the lives of 335 patients Baghdasaryan (C). common border. 3 in Iran. 12 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS JANUARY 1, 2020

Rouhani congratulates heads of states on New Year Iran in worst days of POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rou- deskhani has congratulated heads of states on the New Year of 2020. “I hope that in the coming year, world leaders exercise col- sanctions: Rouhani laboration away from unilateralism, and use thought and action based on justice and freedom, make a year full of peace and kindness for all human beings, and bring about a life full of Rouhani says Iran has lost $200 billion due to sanctions peace and security and welfare for their nations by overcoming the challenges faced by the humanity,” the presidential website POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian the sanctions effects, Iran has started to quoted Rouhani as saying in his message. deskPresident Hassan partially reduce its commitments to the First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri also issued message to Rouhani said on Tuesday that the country JCPOA in accordance to the paragraph 36 his Christian counterparts, congratulating the New Year. is passing “the worst days” of sanctions of the multilateral agreement. He expressed hope that steps would be taken in line with imposed by the U.S., praising the people (Paragraph 36 provided a mechanism to promoting peace. for their resistance and patience. resolve disputes and allows one side, under Addressing a ceremony arranged to certain circumstances, to stop complying with inaugurate subway train in the western the deal if the other side is out of compliance.) Zarif says Europe’s part of Alborz province, Rouhani hailed Iran started to scale down its commitments people for their firm stance and resistance after waiting for a full year that the remaining withdrawal from nuclear in hard days of sanctions. parties honor their obligations. deal is unlikely Pointing to the consequences of sanctions However, Tehran has insisted if sanctions on the country, he said, “If we were not are lifted it will immediately reverse its POLITICAL TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad engaged in an imposed-economic war, we decisions. deskZarif has told IRNA in an interview published could enjoy a sum of $200 billion out of Rouhani says Iran-Russia-China on Tuesday that it is unlikely that Europe withdraw from the 2015 which $100 billion was income of crude joint drills angers U.S., vassal states nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan export. Now we do not have that hefty Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani of Action. amount of money.” highlighted the significance of the recent However, the chief diplomat said Europeans are unable act “We are managing the country without naval drills jointly held by Iran, Russia and independently from Washington in regard to the JCPOA. that $200 billion income. People are not China in the Indian Ocean and the Sea of “Unfortunately, the Europeans could not take practical actions living comfortably, however we (the Oman, stressing that the unprecedented on the JCPOA independent from the United States,” Zarif remarked. government) try as much as we can,” he military maneuvers infuriated the U.S. and Zarif added, “It is essential for the Europeans to take practical went on to say. its vassal states in the region. actions on JCPOA.” Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani said, “Holding such drills is not a simple issue He noted that Iran will reverse its decision to reduce commit- “People should expect the government and has made the predatory world [countries] ments under the deal if Europeans take practical actions. to understand (the problems), to draft very angry. They are upset and outraged at to meet the leaders of the countries party and Israel, started harsh attacks against U.S. President Donald Trump quit the nuclear deal in May required plan (to solve the problem) and the fact the two major powers (Russian and to the 2015 nuclear deal. the JCPOA, vowing to tear it up if elected 2018 and introduced the harshest ever sanctions on Iran as try (to implement its plan) as much as it China) have staged joint maneuvers along “If they remove sanctions, we are president. part of his administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign can. If the government does not manage to with the naval forces of Iran’s Army and the prepared for talks at the level of 5+1 group’s Finally, in May 2018, he officially against Iran. do its duty it should be criticized.” Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC),” heads of states,” Rouhani remarked. abandoned the JCPOA and introduced Under the JCPOA, Iran promised to put limits on its nuclear Noting that no ruler or government in Press TV quoted Rouhani as saying. The nuclear deal was signed between the harshest ever sanctions in history activities in exchange for the termination of economic and finan- the world will last long, the president said, Neither the U.S. nor the smaller regional Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent against Iran. cial sanctions. “The only issue that will remain forever is states that feel “humiliation in front of members of the UN Security Council) plus The Trump administration not only Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, and Iran have been rendering services to the people.” America” could tolerate the drills, he added. Germany in July 2015. returned the previous sanctions lifted trying to salvage the pact. However, Europeans’ efforts to protect Earlier this month, Rouhani said that Naval forces of Iran, Russia and China Under the agreement, officially known under the nuclear deal it added new ones, trade with Iran against the U.S. sanctions have yielded nothing Iran was resisting sanctions but his country kicked off the large-scale maritime exercise as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action including a total ban on Iran’s oil exports. concrete so far. had not closed the door to negotiations. in the northern part of the Indian Ocean (JCPOA) and confirmed by the UN Security Trump’s administration has even On May 8, exactly one year after the U.S. abandoned the deal, “We have no way but resistance against and the Sea of Oman on Friday morning. Council Resolution 2231, Iran was obligated threatened to penalize any country or Tehran announced that its “strategic patience” is over and began to sanctions, however, we have not closed The wargame ended on Monday. to put limits on its nuclear program in company that does business with Iran. partially reduce its commitments to the agreement at bi-monthly door of negotiations,” Rouhani said during The joint military exercise was viewed exchange for termination of economic In response to the abrogation of the intervals. a speech at Insurance and Development by some analysts as a show of power and and financial sanctions. JCPOA by the U.S. and a failure by the Iran’s moves are based on paragraph 36 of the JCPOA which Conference. solidarity between Iran and the great powers However, Donald Trump, a presidential remaining parties, particularly the “allows one side, under certain circumstances, to stop complying The president said if the sanctions of China and Russia in the face of pressure candidate favored by hawks in the U.S. Europeans, to protect Iran’s economy from with the deal if the other side is out of compliance.” against Iran were lifted, he would be ready by Washington. In the first stage, Iran announced that it will not limit its stockpile of the nuclear fuel to 300 kilograms allowed under the deal. On that date (May 8) Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said if the remaining parties to the JCPOA, especially Europeans, Zarif says Iran, China interested in expanding strategic ties devise a mechanism to protect Iran from the sanctions’ effect in 1 The U.S. has unilaterally withdrawn from the JCPOA, with China to scale new heights in China-Iran comprehensive the two-month deadline it will reverse its decision. shirked its international obligations and exerted maximum strategic partnership,” he said. But since European parties missed the deadline, on July 7 pressure on Iran. This is the root cause of the current tension Zarif hopes cooperation with China would ex- Iran announced that it has started enriching uranium to a higher over the Iranian nuclear issue. Wang stressed that the JCPOA, pand in 2020 purity than the 3.67%, thereby starting the second step. approved by the security council resolution, is an important In a tweet in Chinese language on Tuesday, Zarif expressed Again, as Europe missed the second 60-day deadline, Iran outcome of multilateral diplomacy. To uphold the authority and hope that Iran-China “strategic cooperation” would expand moved to take the third step, removing a ban on nuclear research effectiveness of the JCPOA means to uphold multilateralism, in 2020. and development (R&D). international law and basic norms governing international He also said that he was happy to spend the last night of In the latest step, which started on November 6, Iran began relations. China supports all constructive efforts to ease the 2019 in Beijing. injecting uranium gas into 1,044 centrifuges at the Fordow nu- current tension and safeguard the JCPOA. We hope that all Prior to his visit to China, Zarif visited Russia on Sunday clear site. It was done at the presence of inspectors from the parties to the JCPOA will stick to the right direction, stand and Monday and held meeting with Russian Foreign Minister International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). up to external pressure, resolve existing differences through Sergey Lavrov. Iran has said it will reverse its decision if its economic inter- dialogue and consultation, and firmly uphold and implement During the meeting, Zarif said that the U.S. has spread ests are guaranteed. the Iranian nuclear deal. China will resolutely safeguard in- unilateralism and seeks to impose its demands on others ternational fairness and justice, opposes unilateralism and and noted that collective cooperation is required to counter bullying behavior, and work for the political and diplomatic unilateralism. Security forces disband arms settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.” ‘Russia, China are Iran’s strategic partners’ trafficking gang in western Iran “Zarif commended and appreciated China’s important role In an interview with IRNA published on Tuesday, Zarif in upholding the JCPOA and briefed the Chinese side on what also said that Russia and China are Iran’s “close political POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian security forces, in a complicat- has been discussed regarding the nuclear issue with Russia, and strategic partners”. desked operation, have dismantled an arms trafficking Europe among others. He said Iran is willing to maintain He said that the three countries must continue political gang in the border areas of the western province of Kermanshah, a close communication with China, adhere to multilateralism consultations. local official announced on Tuesday. while opposing unilateralism, earnestly uphold the JCPOA Pointing to Iran-Russia-China naval wargame, Zarif said “In line with restoring security to the country’s borders, the and defend its legitimate rights and interests. Iran attaches that the exercise bore the message of opposing the U.S. uni- intelligence forces along with border regiment of Paveh city man- great importance to relations with China. It is committed to lateralism. codenamed “Marine Security Belt”, in the Sea of Oman and aged to disband an arms trafficking gang and seized a quantity deepening cooperation with China and stands ready to work Iran, Russia, and China launched the naval wargame, the north of the Indian Ocean from December 27 to 30. of weapons and ammunition,” said Parviz Idepour, the governor of Paveh. He further explained, “Seven arms traffickers affiliated to enemies’ spy agencies were arrested and a sum of 55 fire arms, which are mostly Kuwait says respects Iran’s territorial integrity used in street fighting by guerrillas, were seized in the operation.” TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Kuwaiti Deputy terference in internal affairs and good and a representative of an anti-Iran ter- undertaken in a “private” capacity. Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah has neighborliness,” al-Jarallah told Iran’s rorist group. According to reports, the speaker of the said that his country respects territorial Ambassador to Kuwait City Mohammad Jarallah said the anti-Iran meeting had Kuwaiti National Assembly, Marzouq al- integrity of Iran and that its foreign policy Irani on Sunday, KUNA reported. taken place without permission from rel- Ghanim, recently met with a member of the is based on “non-interference in internal The meeting came after Iran’s Foreign evant Kuwaiti authorities. al-Ahwaziya terrorist group on the sidelines affairs and good neighborliness”. Ministry on Saturday summoned Kuwait’s Kuwaiti officials, the report added, have of a parliamentary conference calling for Kuwait’s foreign policy was “based on charge d’affaires to Tehran to protest a “begun taking necessary legal measures” the breakaway of the southwestern Iranian respecting the sovereignty and non-in- recent meeting between Kuwaiti officials over the “disappointing” affair, which was city of Ahvaz from the country.

According to the report, the arms trafficking gang was organized in coordination with the enemies’ spy agencies to foment insecurity in Iran. Kataeb Hezbollah blasts U.S. for turning Iraq into ground for avenging Iran In a similar operation late in October, the Iranian intelligence TEHRAN (FNA) — Kataeb Hezbollah group, affiliated deployment in Iraq as a threat to the country, calling on and security forces disbanded a notorious arms trafficking gang in to Hashd al-Shaabi (popular forces), condemned the U.S. all political groups to react to Washington’s “cowardly the border areas of Kermanshah province. for attacking its positions in Iraq and using the country’s attack”. The anti-terrorism forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps soil as a ground to take revenge for its failures against Iran. Meantime, Qassem Moslih, the commander of Hashd (IRGC)’s intelligence organization discovered and seized 259 rifles, “When the U.S. wants to target a group in Iraq, it al-Shaabi in al-Anbar province, said that the U.S. wanted 2 combat weapons and 3 hunting guns from the gang at the time. attributes them to Iran. The Americans label the Iraqi to change the equations by bombing the popular forces’ sons who have confronted the ISIL as affiliated to Iran,” positions. spokesman of Iraq’s Kataeb Hezbollah Mohammed Mohei Also, resigned Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi Russian FM Lavrov to visit told the Arabic-language service of RT on Tuesday. in a message to the U.S. secretary of defense underlined Iran in 2020 He added that the strategic agreements signed between his opposition to the attack, warning that bombing Hashd Baghdad and Washington do not allow the U.S. to establish al-Shaabi positions is a dangerous tension which threatens TEHRAN (ISNA) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov permanent bases in Iraq, use Iraq’s land as a platform the security of Iraq and the region. announced on Moday that he will travel to Tehran in 2020. against other countries or attack any Iraqi groups. Meantime, Head of the National Wisdom Movement of After meeting with his Iranian counterpart in Moscow, Lavrov Separately, Mohei said in an interview with the Arabic- Iraq Ammar al-Hakim condemned the attack, describing said he would gladly travel to Tehran next year upon an invitation language Baghdad al-Youm news website that the leaders it as clear violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. by his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. of Kataeb Hezbollah have in a meeting studied ways to drones bombarded the base of Hashd Shaabi’s 45th Brigade Also, Falih al-Khazali, a member of al-Fatah coalition “We are very pleased with the results of our talks” Lavrov stressed. respond to the U.S. attacks, and stated, “A proper response near the border town of al-Qaim, the statement said. in the Iraqi parliament, warned that the U.S. forces have “My friend and colleague has invited me to visit Tehran next year. at a desirable level should be given to the aggression. The bombardment left tens of the brigade’s members started an obvious war against Iraq. It is my pleasure to accept the invitation,” Lavrov told reporters. The U.S. Sunday night attack flagrantly violated Iraq’s killed and wounded. Meantime, Iraq’s Hezbollah Brigades in a statement The two chief diplomats discussed a wide range of topics, sovereignty.” In reaction, Hashd al-Shaabi Lieutenant Commander deplored the attack, terming it hostile aggression against from bilateral relations to the 2015 multinational nuclear deal, The U.S. drones on Sunday bombarded a Hashd al- Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis warned of a harsh response to the the defenders of Iraq’s borders. the escalating war in Libya, tensions in the Persian Gulf and the Shaabi base near the border with Syria in Iraq’s Western attack, saying that the blood of martyrs will not be wasted. Also, Iraqi President Barham Salih underlined that the joint naval drills of Russia, Iran and China in the Gulf of Oman, province of Anbar, a Hashd Shaabi statement said. Also, Asa’eb al-Haq Movement, affiliated to the Iraqi attack was conducted against the two countries’ agreements, Sputnik reported. The attack took place in the evening when the U.S. popular forces of Hashd al-Shaabi, described the U.S. describing it as unacceptable. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 1, 2020 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 IRGC slams U.S. attacks as One ton of opium seized in Bushehr

violation of Iraq’s sovereignty POLITICAL TEHRAN — Bushehr Province’s Navy com- deskmander said forces have seized a ton of opium POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iran’s Is- ing for the U.S. mission to be shut down during two separate operations in the province. desklamic Revolution Guards and for the parliament to order U.S. forces Valiollah Rezaee Nezhad said on Tuesday that maritime guards Corps (IRGC) has strongly denounced the to leave Iraq. seized some 600 kilograms of opium during a clash with traffickers U.S. attacks on the Iraqi popular forces, Hashd al-Shabi commander Faleh al- in Bushehr’s Bandar Ganaveh area, Mehr reported. emphasizing that the Popular Mobilization Fayyadh and Kata’ib Hezbollah commander Rezaee also said that in another operation, Bushehr’s police Units (PMU) – also known as al-Hashd Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes along with oth- confiscated 400 kilograms of opium in collaboration with Hor- al-Shaabi – has the right to avenge the er senior Hashd leaders were among the mozgan province’s police. attacks. protesters. Two boats and three motorcycles were seized during the two According to international law and Speaking to Reuters, Qais al-Khazali, the operations, and nine smugglers were arrested, he added. charters, the people of Iraq and al-Hashd head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq — another PMU Above 5 tons of illegal drugs have been seized during the first al-Shaabi reserve the right to take revenge faction — said “Americans are unwanted nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (ending November and respond to the recent crime commit- in Iraq. They are a source of evil and we 22, 2019) in the province, he said. ted by the Americans, the IRGC said in a want them to leave.” Iran is at the forefront of the fight against drug trafficking. So far, statement on Monday, Tasnim reported. Also on Tuesday, Iraqis held a massive Iran has lost 3,800 forces during the fight against drug smuggling. The statement also described the attacks funeral procession in the capital Baghdad According to reports, in 2018 alone, Iranian forces carried out as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. for the victims of the attack, according to 1,557 operations against drug traffickers, seizing approximately The IRGC also stressed that the crimi- Press TV. 807 tons of different types of narcotic drugs and psychotropic nal act by the American forces once again Caretaker Prime Minister Adel Ab- substances. proved that the U.S. is the root cause of dul-Mahdi has announced three days of The Iranian anti-narcotics police have always staged periodic insecurity, chaos and tensions in the region. public mourning. operations against drug traffickers and dealers, but reports - which Eviction of “American occupying ter- U.S. President Donald Trump accused among others indicate an improved and systematic dissemination rorists” from Iraq will guarantee the Arab Iran of being behind an attack on the U.S. of information - reveal that the world’s most forefront and dedicated country’s stability and sustainable security, embassy in Iraq, saying the U.S. will hold anti-narcotic force (as UN drug-campaign assessments put it) has the statement added. attacks targeting American forces. into the U.S. embassy in Baghdad after Iran “fully responsible”. embarked on a long-term countrywide plan to crack down on the On Sunday, U.S. forces conducted drone Baghdad and Tehran condemned the smashing a main door and setting fire to “Iran killed an American contractor, drug trade since more than a decade ago. strikes on a number of Kata’ib Hezbollah attacks. a reception area. wounding many. We strongly responded, bases in Iraq’s western Anbar province, Iraqi President Barham Salih condemned The embassy was evacuated as many and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating killing at least 25 individuals and leaving the attacks as being unacceptable and angry Iraqi demonstrators gathered outside an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq,” IRGC seizes tanker smuggling another 51 injured, according to PMU. damaging for the country, adding that the the gates of the compound to condemn Trump said via Twitter on Tuesday. over one million liters of fuel Following the strikes, the Pentagon is- strikes were contrary to security agreements Washington’s attack. “They will be held fully responsible. In sued a statement saying that it had targeted inked between Baghdad and Washington, The protesters chanted “Death to Amer- addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces near Hormuz Strait three locations of the PMU forces in Iraq according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA). ica” and burned the U.S. flag. to protect the Embassy, and so notified!” and two in Syria in response to alleged On Tuesday, dozens of protesters broke The protesters further held up signs call- he added. POLITICAL TEHRAN — A tanker smuggling over one million deskliters of fuel was seized by the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) navy forces near the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz, an IRGC commander said on Monday. Germany has turned blind eye to U.S. U.S. officials vow to intensify Iran Brigadier General Ali Azmaei, the commander of the 5th region of the IRGC navy, said that a sum of 16 crews, who were all Malaysian illegal interferences: Iran sanctions in 2020 nationals, were arrested in the IRGC operation in Abu Musa Island waters in the Persian Gulf. “A total quantity of 1,312,000 liters of fuel has been confiscated from the seized tanker,” the commander added. He further said that the IRGC navy has thus far seized six smug- gling vessels. In October, Police Chief of the southeastern province of Sis- tan-Baluchistan Brigadier General Mohammad Qanbari said that the lucrative crime of fuel smuggling out of Iran was being seriously fought, adding that his forces confiscated nearly 7.8 million liters of smuggled fuel since the start of the local calendar year on March 21, 2019. Brigadier General Qanbari said that through extensive operations carried out by police forces 7,796,792 liters of smuggled fuel had been seized in the province during the first 7 months of the current Iranian year (March 21- October 22), and it shows an increase com- pared to the corresponding period in last year.

POLITICAL TEHRAN – Irani- between Baghdad and Washington, ac- POLITICAL TEHRAN — U.S. State limits on its nuclear activities in exchange deskan Foreign Ministry cording to the Iraqi News Agency (INA). deskDepartment officials have for termination of economic and financial spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Tuesday On Monday, the Iranian Foreign Minis- said Washington’s maximum pressure policy sanctions. that Germany has turned a blind eye to try spokesman said the attacks once again against Iran will intensify in 2020. Tehran has described the U.S. sanctions the United States’ “illegal interferences” exposed Washington’s lies in fighting the “There will be more sanctions to come, and as “economic terrorism”. in the Middle East region. Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group because it Trump himself has used the term “eco- Iran’s economic problems and challenges are 3.9 million liters of diesel, 1.1 million liters of oil, 835,000 liters of “Germany accuses Iran of destabilizing has “targeted positions of forces who have nomic war” on Iran. going to compound in 2020,” a senior State gasoline, and 1.9 million liters of other types of fuel had been seized the region while it has turned a blind eye dealt heavy blows to Daesh terrorists in On Monday, U.S. special representative Department official said Monday, according during the operations in addition to the dismantling of 104 fuel smug- to the United States’ illegal interferences recent years.” for Iran Brian Hook also emphasized that to CNBC. gling bands, he added. as the main reason behind instability in Mousavi urged the U.S. to respect Iraq’s the Trump administration will continue its “They are already deep into a recession, 149 fuel depots and 241 tank-trucks were confiscated, he said at West Asia,” Mousavi tweeted. independence, sovereignty and territo- maximum pressure campaign in 2020. and we are also seeing Iran come under greater the time. He added, “Continuation of adopting rial integrity and stop intervening in the Hook said the Islamic Republic is facing diplomatic isolation.” As reported in early June, Iran launched a border market to sell such stances will seriously question Berlin’s country’s domestic affairs. the worst financial crisis and political unrest Another senior State Department official diesel fuel to buyers in Pakistan and Afghanistan to counter smuggling claim about playing effective role on the “With these attacks, the U.S. demon- in its 40-year history and in 2020 will face was quoted by CNBC as saying that the Trump of fuel at border areas. path of peace and stability.” strated its unswerving support for terror- administration has sanctioned approximately an even more difficult period. Following the U.S. airstrikes against ism and disregard to independence and 1,000 individuals and entities. “What we saw was an erosion of deter- Iraqi forces on Sunday, the German Foreign sovereignty of countries,” the spokesman “What we are doing is denying the regime rence of Iran for the many years preceding Ex-minister’s daughter Ministry on Monday said in a tweet on its asserted. the revenue that it needs to run an expansionist president’s election three years ago,” he said, website that “the increasing number of Mousavi also said the United States foreign policy, and by that policy, Iran has according to Radio Farda. sentenced to 20 years in prison attacks by non-state militias is threatening must accept responsibility for consequences less money to spend today than it did almost On Monday, Iranian President Hassan the stability of #Iraq. Iran must end its of this “illegal measure”, and described three years ago when we came into office,” Rouhani said the enemies have realized that TEHRAN (MNA) — Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaeili policy of regional destabilization.” presence of foreign forces in the region as the official said. they cannot bring Iran to its knees through said that Shabnam Nematzadeh has been sentenced to 20 years in U.S. forces conducted drone strikes on a source of insecurity, unrest and crisis. U.S. President Donald Trump has adopt- maximum pressure. prison for economic corruption. a number of Kata’ib Hezbollah bases in “The U.S. must end its occupying pres- ed a maximum pressure policy against Iran “Their entire goal was to get us to the ne- In a Tuesday press conference, the spokesman said that the Iraq’s western Anbar province, killing at ence,” he stated. since he walked away from the JCPOA. The gotiating table so that we resign ourselves court has also sentenced Nematzadeh to 74 lashes and fined with least 28 individuals and leaving another Foreign Minister Zarif also reacted to policy includes sanctions on Iran’s econo- to whatever demand they have, but this is some $345,000 on charges of creating “major disruption in the 51 injured, according to the PMU. the incident, saying the U.S. kills people my, especially its oil exports, and bans on impossible in our Islamic Iran,” Press TV distribution of public goods”. The targeted Kata’ib Hezbollah forc- thousands of miles beyond its borders in top Iranian figures and organizations. At the quoted Rouhani as saying. Nematzadeh, along with the other convict Ahmad Reza Lash- es belonged to brigades 45 and 46 of the the name of self-defense. same time, the U.S. president has pushed for Washington is engaged in an all-out karipour, has also been permanently barred from public service. PMU, according to PMU official Jawad “The recent U.S. measure in Baghdad talks with Tehran. economic war against the Islamic Republic, She was arrested in September on charges of economic corrup- Kazim al-Rabi’awi. was merely an example of such U.S. behav- Iranian leaders have openly rejected the Rouhani said, adding, “It is wartime now and tion in the medicine industry. She is the daughter of Mohammad Iraqi President Barham Salih called the ior in the region,” he said in Moscow on notion of talks with the U.S. as long as its we haven’t either chosen or begun this war.” Reza Nematzadeh, former minister of industry, mines, and trade. attacks unacceptable, saying the strikes Monday, upon meeting with his Russian illegal sanctions against Tehran are in place. The president added, “We have not even The spokesman also said that the case of Vice-President Jahangiri’s were contrary to security agreements inked counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. Under the JCPOA, Iran had agreed to put given a pretext for this war.” brother, who has also been charged with corruption, will be sent to the court and proceedings have already begun. The secret of U.S. attacks on Advisor condemns U.S. attacks in Iraq PMU positions in al-Qa’im POLITICAL TEHRAN — Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Major General Abdul Karim Khalaf, spokesman for deska senior foreign policy advisor to the the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, also 1 1. Washington is against the presence of the PMU in Iranian parliament speaker, has condemned the U.S. said that Adel Abdul-Mahdi, currently Iraq’s caretaker this area because the al-Bukamal-al-Qa’im border crossing raises attacks on Iraqi soil, suggesting that the U.S. has been prime minister, has voiced his opposition to the attacks the sensitivity of Tel Aviv. Israel considers the border crossing as supporting Daesh (ISIS) all along. in a message to U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Tehran’s safe road to Beirut, and is therefore seeking to block it. “During #ISIS crisis in #Iraq, the #US was informed “Bombing PMU bases is a dangerous aggravation 2. Al-Qa’im is the closest area to Ain Assad Air Base, where abt its commanders’ links w/Daesh leaders in Mosul. which endangers the security of Iraq and the region,” hundreds of U.S. troops are stationed. All U.S. troop commuting No convincing response was given,” Amir Abdollahian Iraqi media sources cited Abdul-Mahdi as saying. between Iraq and Syria is monitored by the base, so the Americans tweeted on Monday evening. Iran also denounced U.S. airstrikes against Iraqi do not want any of PMU forces to be present there. “The US is now violating Iraqi territorial integrity, forces as a “clear example of terrorism”. 3. Kata›ib Hezbollah has been targeted along with other units independence & bombing antiterrorism stronghold,” “U.S. military aggression against the Iraqi soil and operating under the PMU because brigades 45 deployed in Syr- Amir Abdollahian said. positions of al-Hashd al-Shaabi forces is a clear exam- ian-Iraqi border is one of the strongest units. “#WhiteHouse apparent backing for ISIS,” he added. ple of terrorism and is strongly condemned,” Foreign It can be concluded that the attacks on the PMU positions On Sunday, U.S. forces conducted drone strikes on Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a statement were in line with the ongoing U.S. and Zionist regime’ moves to a number of Kata’ib Hezbollah bases in Iraq’s west- on Monday, using the Arabic name of the PMU. weaken the resistance movement against the aggressors. ern Anbar province, killing at least 25 individuals and Foreign Minister Zarif also reacted to the incident, The U.S. strikes are a violation of the Iraqi sovereignty and leaving another 51 injured, according to the Popular saying the U.S. kills people thousands of miles beyond all international charters. The attacks show that U.S. troops in Mobilization Units (PMU). its borders in the name of self-defense. Iraq are acting against Iraq and its organizations. The targeted Kata’ib Hezbollah forces belonged to being unacceptable and damaging for the country, adding “The recent U.S. measure in Baghdad was merely an The attacks will result in the unity of the Iraqi people with the brigades 45 and 46 of the PMU, according to PMU of- that the strikes were contrary to security agreements example of such U.S. behavior in the region,” he said PMU and efforts to dislodge U.S. troops from Iraq. ficial Jawad Kazim al-Rabi’awi. inked between Baghdad and Washington, according to in Moscow on Monday, upon meeting with his Russian Undoubtedly, Washington will face a very dangerous situation, Iraqi President Barham Salih condemned the attacks as the Iraqi News Agency (INA). counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. following the recent blunder against the PMU. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY JANUARY 1, 2020

STOCK MARKET Rouhani inaugurates metro TEDPIX 377012.7 IFX 4946.93 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir line worth $238m ECONOMY TEHRAN — President ceremony, transport minister told the press CURRENCIES deskHassan Rouhani that the Tehran-North (Tehran-Shomal) USD 42,000 rials inaugurated the Golshahr-Hashtgerd metro Freeway is going to be inaugurated sooner line in Alborz province, north-central Iran, than scheduled and before the Ten-Day EUR 47,055 rials on Tuesday, in a ceremony attended by Dawn (which starts on February 1 marking GBP 55,108 rials senior officials including Transport and the victory of the Islamic Revolution). Urban Development Minister Mohammad “The construction of Section-1 of the AED 11,437 rials Eslami. freeway is nearly completed and currently Source: cbi.ir As reported by IRNA, over 10 trillion rials over 3000 people are working to finish the (about $238 million) have been spent on projects sooner than scheduled,” Eslami said. this project which was started in July 2018. Back in August, the official had said With this new line going operational, that sections 2 and 3 of the freeway, had the Hashtgerd Subway Station will be nearly 30 percent of physical development. COMMODITIES linked to the Golshahr Subway Station in The Tehran-North Freeway mega project Brent $66.51/b Alborz Province’s center city Karaj (about consists of four phases spanning 121 km 26 kilometers away) which is currently in total. WTI $61.55/b the last station of Tehran Metro’s Line 5. Sections 2 and 3 pass through OPEC Basket $67.93/b According to the officials, the new section mountainous terrain, are not easily has the capacity to transport 250,000 accessible and will take longer to complete. Gold $1,523.35/oz passengers per day. Section-4, which is 20 kilometers long Silver $$18.10/oz Considering the increasing traffic and and connects Marzanabad in Kelardasht air pollution in Karaj and its satellite cities, District to Chalous (both in Mazandaran), Platinium $973.10/oz the line can help alleviate both. was inaugurated in March 2014. Tehran-Shomal Freeway to be Tehran-North Freeway is perhaps one Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com inaugurated before Feb. of the most notorious projects in Iran, as On the sidelines of the inauguration President Hassan Rouhani inaugurates a new metro line in Alborz Province on Tuesday. it is above 20 years in the making.

ICCIMA’s head to lead TEDPIX, IFX rise on Tuesday Iran’s 9-month trade balance positive Iranian trade delegation to ECONOMY TEHRAN — On 1 The official further underlined Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Portugal in Feb. deskTuesday, Iran’s stock the free trade agreement with the Eura- Oman, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kuwait, market experienced growth for the fourth sian Economic Union (EAEU) and said: Qatar, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Bahrain, and ECONOMY TEHRAN— Iran Chamber of Commerce, “Three of the mentioned 15 neighbors, Saudi Arabia. desk consecutive day since the start of current Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Iranian week (Saturday). namely Russia, Armenia and Kazakhstan, Based on the data published by TPO, the will dispatch a delegation of Iranian traders and businessmen to TEDPIX, the main index of Tehran are part of Eurasia and next year, when value of trade with the neighboring coun- Portugal on February 20, news portal of the chamber published Stock Exchange (TSE), rose 1,464 points the free trade negotiations begin, we can tries stood at over $36.5 billion in the past on Tuesday. to 377,012 on Tuesday, IRNA reported. make up to 85 percent of our trade with Iranian calendar year, which is about 41 Some 6 billion securities worth 33.012 these countries under the free trade deal.” percent of the country’s total non-oil trade trillion rials (about $786 million) were Iran’s value of non-oil trade with other in the mentioned time span. reportedly traded at TSE. countries stood at over $42 billion during Iran plans to launch 15 mega export As previously announced, TEDPIX witnessed growth of its index on Tuesday. the first half of the current Iranian calen- projects to identify more target markets, rose 49,000 points, or 16.7 percent, to IFX, the main index of IFB, jumped dar year (March 21-September 22, 1019). according to TPO former head. stand at 353,997 points at the end of rose 15 points to 4,946. According to a report released by Islamic Mohammadreza Modoudi said with the the past Iranian calendar month of Azar Some 2.934 billion securities worth Republic of Iran Customs Administration implementation of these projects, which (ends on December 21). 20.053 trillion rias (about $477.4 million) (IRICA), the country exported 70 million mainly focus on the markets of neighboring Reportedly, some 82.215 billion were traded at IFB on Tuesday. tons of commoditized worth $20.948 billion countries, identifying professional trade and securities worth 432.151 trillion rials IFX rose 15 percent in the past and imported 16.5 million tons of products promoting export of non-oil commodities (about $10.29 billion) were traded Iranian calendar month of Azar, while valued at $21.221 billion during the first half. will be put on agenda, Mehr news agency through 10.153 million deals at TSE experiencing a 102-percent rise since the China, Iraq, Turkey, United Arab Emir- reported. during the previous month, with growth beginning of current Iranian calendar ates (UAE), and Afghanistan are among the The official further referred to the of 61 percent and 76 percent in the year (March 21, 2019). top export destinations of Iranian products, $1.7 billion positive trade balance in the number and value of traded securities, The index stood at 4,559 points at while China, UAE, Turkey, India, and Ger- country’s non-oil trade in the past Ira- ICCIMA Head Gholam-Hossein Shafe’i will reportedly lead respectively, while 71 percent rise in the the end of the past month. many are mostly the five major exporters nian calendar year (ended on March 20, the Iranian delegates during their trip to the European country. number of deals. Value of trades at IFB rose 16 percent of goods to Iran. 2019), and said this positive balance was The visit is being coordinated by ICCIMA and Isfahan Chamber Iran’s over-the-counter (OTC) market in the previous month and 85 percent Iran shares border with fifteen countries, achieved through cooperation with the of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. known as Iran Fara Bourse (IFB), also since the year start. namely the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, private sector. World Bank: L.A., Caribbean lag behind in business reforms Industry Ministry, ICCIMA to set up taskforce on free trade with Eurasia ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iranian Industry, Mining between the two sides. The World Bank (WB) says economies in Latin America and deskand Trade Ministry and Iran Chamber of As announced by the head of Islamic Republic of Iran the Caribbean continue to lag in terms of reforms as it relates Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture are planning Customs Administration (IRICA), the value of Iran’s preferential to doing business in the region. to form a taskforce on Iran’s free trade with the Eurasian trade with Eurasian countries reached $194.2 million since In its flagship publication Doing Business 2020, in which Economic Union (EAEU) countries, the head of Iran’s Trade the trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union was the World Bank Group flagship the regulations that enhance Promotion Organization (TPO) announced. implemented on October 27 up to the end of November. business activity and those that constrain it, the financial insti- Hamid Zadboum made the announcement during a In the mentioned period Iran exported $28.2 million worth tution noted that of the 294 regulatory reforms implemented ceremony on honoring the exemplary exporters of Tehran of commodities to the EAEU nations while importing $166 between May 2018 and May 2019 worldwide, 115 economies Province held by Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, million of commodities through preferential trade, Mehdi made it easier to do business. Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) on Tuesday, ILNA reported. Mirashrafi informed. “Economies in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and The official said, “To have free trade with the EAEU countries According to the official, the value of Iran’s total (preferential the Caribbean continue to lag in terms of reforms. Only two we should put at least 85-90 percent of the commodities under and non-preferential) exports to Eurasia stood at $137.9 million Sub-Saharan African economies rank in the top 50 on the ease the free trade condition. Some studies have been already in the mentioned period, while the total imports reached of doing business; no Latin American economies rank in this started in this regard and as ICCIMA is strong in such studies $193 million. group,” the World Bank noted. we will set up a taskforce jointly with the chamber to specify “In the current situation [the U.S. sanctions], the Eurasian “Those economies that score well on Doing Business tend TPO Head Hamid Zadboum speaking in a ceremony on hon- such goods”. countries have a very good potential [for trade] that we need to benefit from higher levels of entrepreneurial activity and oring the exemplary exporters of Tehran Province on Tuesday. After several years of negotiations, Iran and EAEU reached to utilize this capacity to boost our exports and also to import lower levels of corruption. While economic reasons are the a free trade agreement earlier this year and the agreement Iran is a very important market in the region and our needed commodities,” Mirashrafi said. main drivers of reform, the advancement of neighboring econ- officially came into force on October 27. development of ties with this country is of high significance He also noted that the two sides of the agreement are omies provides an additional impetus for regulatory change,” Based on this agreement, about 840 commodity items are for the EAEU members. trying to avoid using dollar in their economic exchanges and the World Bank said, noting that “26 economies became less subject to preferential tariffs, which means tariffs on some Signing the free trade agreement between Iran and this use their national currencies or other common currencies business-friendly, introducing 31 regulatory changes that stifle goods are reduced and for some commodities, tariffs are levied. union has laid the ground for the expansion of trade ties like the euro instead. efficiency and quality of regulation”. Jamaica was the top named Caribbean Community country, ranked at number 71 of the 190 countries surveyed, followed by St Lucia (93) Trinidad and Tobago (105), Dominica (111), Anti- gua and Barbuda (113), The Bahamas (119), Barbados (128), St These developing Asian economies will grow the fastest in2020 Vincent and the Grenadines (130), Guyana (134), Belize (135), St By Ralph Jennings stop the economy from growing faster in 2020. However, Kitts-Nevis (139), Grenada (146), Suriname (162) and Haiti (179). the central bank has offered monetary stimulus and a tax The World Bank The U.S.-China trade war and a slowdown in global im- cut this year for a bit of relief. The World Bank noted that economies that score highest port-export traffic are taking a toll on economic growth Tajikistan is forecast to grow 7% as the former Soviet on the ease of doing business share several common features, in developing Asia, prompting to the Asian Development republic gets a boost from its gold and silver mines, metal including the widespread use of electronic systems. It said all Bank to cut its forecasts for the region. The Manila-based processing and remittances from about a million citizens of the 20 top-ranking economies have online business incor- regional lender now expects to see 5.5% growth in 2020 who live abroad. Tajikistan’s GDP had expanded 6.9% in poration processes, have electronic tax-filing platforms, and for developing Asia, a group of 45 economies that includes 2016, 7.1% the following year and 7.3% last year. “Industry allow online procedures related to property transfers. China and India but not Japan. and services” has led growth along with “buoyant” domestic The regions with the most cumbersome tax compliance pro- The ADB says prolonged trade tensions are still the pri- demand, the World Bank says. cesses remain Latin America and the Caribbean and Sub-Sa- mary risk to the region’s outlook, but a handful of countries Starting from a low base haran Africa. are expected to outperform their neighbors next year. These Myanmar’s economy should grow 6.8%. This country The World Bank notes also that no economies from Latin are the economies it says will grow the fastest in 2020: with a GDP of just $67 billion is starting from a low base. America and the Caribbean appeared in the 10 top improvers Bangladesh is forecast to add another 8% to its GDP “Myanmar’s manufacturing export sector has been growing list over the past two years. on the back of increased foreign investment in low-cost rapidly over the past five years, which is helping to support “Moreover, not a single economy in Latin America and the textiles, garments and shoes. The country has grown at rapid economic growth,” Biswas says. The Southeast Asian Caribbean ranks among the top 50 on the ease of doing business. least 6% per year since 2011. Wages that average just $101 country been transitioning to a civilian-led government fail Cambodia’s 7%-plus growth as logged by the World The regional leader on the ease of doing business score, Mexico, per month help bring in some of that investment. Domestic and adopting economic reforms aimed at attracting more Bank every year since 2011. is still almost 12 percentage points below the average score of demand and higher living standards add to the South Asian investment. Infrastructure outlays and consumer spending Vietnam should grow 6.7% next year. The Southeast the 10 top-ranking economies,” the report said. country’s growth, says Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief econ- are coming in behind the factory investment to raise the Asian country that has grown at more than 6% per year since Globally, reforms in the areas of dealing with construction omist with the market research firm IHS Markit. Foreign GDP. The economy has expanded accordingly at more than 2012 is doing a lot of what Bangladesh does but shifting into permits and getting electricity have risen sharply in recent years, direct investment rose 19.5% in the first half of 2019 to 6.5% annually over the past three years. more value-added manufactured goods such as electronics. peaking in 2018/19 at 37 and 34, respectively. $1.7 billion on growing ease of doing business, according Cambodia is expected to grow 6.8%. China’s investment Foreign investors still power the economy, to wit a 69.1% “In the area of getting electricity, several Caribbean coun- to local media reports. in Cambodia has accelerated the GDP of this Southeast Asian year-on-year increase in direct investment in the first five tries, including Barbados and Belize, invested in training utility India should grow 7.2% as it seeks to become a new pow- country of 16.5 million people, piggybacking on a pickup months of this year to $16.74 billion. personnel and capacity-building,” the World Bank said, noting erhouse for manufactured goods including electronics, per in garment manufacturing like that seen in Myanmar and The other developing Asian economies that the ADB that the most common features of property registration reform government policy. A 7.2% GDP growth rate would mark a Bangladesh. Chinese investors are adding real estate, coastal forecasts will grow more than 6% include Nepal and the included greater transparency of information, better reliability fall from 8.17% in 2016, and hover near levels of the past two resorts and infrastructure such as roads and, eventually, Maldives at 6.3% each, Laos and the Philippines both at of infrastructure, and reduced taxes and fees. years, World Bank figures show. A decline in output for eight two airports. China had invested some $2 billion in Cam- 6.2% and Mongolia at 6.1%. (Source: thestkittsnevisobserver.com) core industries, some of which face a lack of credit, would bodian infrastructure as of 2018. But 6.8% growth would (Source: forbes.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 1, 2020 ENERGY 5

Iran’s 2nd condensate refinery SP phases’ offshore pipeline to go operational soon

ENERGY TEHRAN – Managing Director of Iran’s Piroozi deskrefinery which is the country’s second gas con- densate refinery said the refinery, which was ravaged by fire soon installations completed after it was inaugurated in 2016, is planned to go operational by ENERGY TEHRAN – Managing should consider maintaining production the Iranian month of Bahman (starts on January 21, 2020), IRNA deskdirector of Pars Oil and based on the prospect of supplying 75 percent reported. Gas Company (POGC), which is in charge of the country’s gas consumption for 25 “If the barriers are removed, of developing Iran’s South Pars gas field in years,” the official said. the capacity of the refinery will the Persian Gulf, said the offshore pipelines The development of South Pars field reach 50,000 barrels a day, which for all the remaining phases of the field have started 22 years ago and 29 different phases could generate up to $1 billion of been installed and will go operational by end were defined for the project along with a revenues for the country,” Hamid of the current Iranian calendar year (March separate oil block. Varesi told the press on Tuesday. 19, 2020). The field, which Iran shares with Noting that the refinery was “The offshore pipelines of the second Qatar, is estimated to contain a significant inaugurated in 2016 but was set on chain of South Pars’ phases 13, 14 and 22 amount of natural gas, accounting for fire in the same year, he said: “after to 24 will be operational this year to send about eight percent of the world’s reserves, the incident the refinery went out gas to onshore refineries,” Shana quoted and approximately 18 billion barrels of of operation, the reconstruction Mohammad Meshkinfam as saying. condensate. operations were started earlier this Meshkinfam said that the last platform of Back in October, Iranian Oil Minister year and we hope that it will go the phase 14 is loaded and will be transported Bijan Namdar Zanganeh announced that operational by Bahman.” to its designated offshore spot within a week, phase 14 of the South Pars gas field will According to the official, when adding that the two remaining platforms of be fully operational in the present Iranian inaugurated, the refinery will be the phase 13 will also be loaded and installed calendar year. able to process 15,000 barrels of condensate per day. by the yearend. Speaking to the press after a meeting Pointing out that the refinery’s products include LPG, crude gas- Back in September, Meshkinfam had with the representatives of the parliament’s oline, kerosene and diesel, the official said the destination markets announced that all the remaining platforms planning, budget and accounting committee, for the refinery’s products will be the eastern neighbors and then of the South Pars field will be installed by the minister emphasized that the oil the Persian Gulf states. the end of the current Iranian calendar year. Yard will be installed [on their designated be realized.” he told the state TV. ministry’s plans for the next Iranian calendar He explained the reason for the refinery fire in 2016 as a human “By the end of this year, the five remaining offshore spots] and recovery from all South “After the full development of the South year are mostly focused on the development error and added: “In the reconstruction operations various new South Pars platforms at Sadra industrial Pars gas blocks (except for phase 11) will Pars joint field [Iran shares with Qatar], we of joint oil and gas fields. safety and security layers have been designed and implemented.” Oil prices face double Tehran’s daily gasoline consumption falls 11% whammy in 2020 By Simon Constable ENERGY TEHRAN — Average daily gasoline main goals for implementing the rationing scheme which deskconsumption in Tehran fell to 14.8 million will ultimately result in preserving the country’s wealth and Oil traders should look out below for the next 12 months. liters in the current Iranian calendar month of Dey (started the environment. Next year, the energy market faces a double whammy of a supply on December 22) from 16.6 in the past year’s same month Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh had earlier glut and lackluster demand that could send prices for crude oil down to register an 11 percent fall year-on-year, IRNA reported. pointed to curbing consumption and increasing export capacity more than 10% from current levels. According to the data released by the National Iranian Oil as the most important goals of the gasoline rationing plan. While that might mean lower gasoline prices at the pump, it Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) following In mid-November, The Iranian government started rationing could put the squeeze on countries in the Middle East that rely on the implementation of the rationing scheme, daily gasoline of subsidized gasoline and increased fuel prices as part of a oil revenues. consumption in the country has also fallen to 75 million liters plan to reduce the energy subsides to use the revenue for The “oil market continues to see robust crude oil production from from an average of 95 million liters last year. supporting underprivileged families. the U.S., Canada, and Brazil, which could lead to a supply glut in Last week, the managing director of National Iranian Oil Later that month, deputy finance and economic affairs 2020,” states a recent report from the Washington D.C. think tank Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) Amir Vakilzadeh minister said the fuel rationing plan would make the country the Institute of International Finance. said the average daily consumption of gasoline in the last able to export 3.65 billion liters of gasoline every year and earn The report, written by a team led by Garbis Iradian, IIF chief Iranian calendar month of Azar (November 22-December about 14 trillion rials (about $3.3 billion) from the exports. economist for the Middle East and North Africa, forecasts world 21) reached 75.5 million liters, a decrease of 15.9 percent “On average, 100 million liters of gasoline is produced in the oil production to expand by 1.9 million barrels of oil a day in 2020 compared to 89.8 million liters in the same period last year. country on a daily basis. If we could reduce fuel consumption versus 2019. More than half that total will come from the U.S. Reducing the consumption of gasoline and gasoil and by 10 million liters and sell it to other Persian Gulf neighbors, day, that would be 14 trillion rials a year,” Mohammad-Ali While that increase in supply is a little less than 2% of the total, replacing them with natural gas is one of the government’s we would export about four billion rials (about $952,000) a Dehghan Dehnavi told ILNA. the oil market is always finely balanced, so seemingly small changes in supply or demand can have a significant impact on prices. IIF also states that the increase in supply will not get met by an equivalent jump in demand. Oil prices edge down but set for biggest yearly rise since 2016 Slower global growth Oil prices edged lower on the final day of the benchmarks are set for the biggest yearly gain Tensions remain high in the Middle East ures, set to come out later on Tuesday. “Slower global growth, even with an agreement on de-escalation year on Tuesday, but were on track for their in three years, backed by a breakthrough after U.S. air strikes on Sunday against the “It’s expected to show robust continuous of the trade war between the U.S. and China, could mean slower oil biggest annual rise since 2016, supported in U.S.-China trade talks and output cuts Katib Hezbollah militia group in Iraq and growth in the agency’s short-term outlook,” demand in 2020,” the IIF report states. by a thaw in U.S.-China trade dispute and pledged by the Organization of Petroleum Syria. Operations resumed at Iraq’s Nassiriya he said. “Slower global growth, even with an agreement on de-escalation ongoing supply cuts. Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies. oilfield resumed on Monday after protesters The United States is on track to become of the trade war between the U.S. and China, could mean slower oil Brent crude futures for March delivery The White House’s trade adviser said on briefly halted production. a net petroleum exporter on an annual basis demand in 2020,” LCOc1, the new front month contract, were Monday that the U.S.-China Phase 1 trade Looking ahead, U.S. crude inventories are for the first time in 2020, with its oil output down 11 cents, or 0.2%, to 66.56 a barrel by deal would likely be signed in the next week. expected to fall by about 3.2 million barrels expected to rise by 930,000 barrels per day 0158 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Interme- “Oil prices have followed the general in the week to Dec.27, heading for a third (bpd) to a record 13.18 million bpd next year, diate (WTI) crude for February CLc1 was de-risking drift into year-end despite a rise consecutive weekly fall, a preliminary Reuters the EIA said earlier this month. down 11 cents, or 0.2%, at $61.57 per barrel. in Middle East tensions and last week’s poll showed on Monday. U.S. stockpiles fell Brokers and analysts expect the growing Brent for February delivery LCOG0 closed bullish-for-oil-price inventory draws as the by 5.5 million barrels in the week to Dec. U.S. supplies to offset cuts from OPEC in on Monday at $68.44. broader markets appear to be losing some 20. The figures will be released on Friday. 2020 amid weakening worldwide demand, Brent has gained about 24% in 2019 and of that holiday cheer,” said Stephen Innes, Innes said traders would also closely watch keeping oil prices rangebound. WTI has risen roughly 36% for the year. Both chief Asia market strategist at AxiTrader. the EIA’s U.S. October crude production fig- (Source: reuters.com)

Qatar makes huge leap in North Field Expansion, LNG production boost in general energy Qatar’s recent decision to scale up its liquefied natural gas to export its products from Mesaieed ports to the world, and In other words, next year will see weak demand growth and (LNG) production capacity to 126mn tons per year (TPY) the first company to train and develop Qatari capabilities surging supply. by 2027 is among the major strides the country’s energy to work in and lead the petrochemical sector. As a result, Iradian and his team see prices for Brent crude, the sector made in 2019. Qafco was also the “cornerstone” of the establishment of European benchmark price, averaging $60 a barrel in 2020. That’s The huge production boost by 64% (on the current 77mn Industries Qatar, the largest listed company on the Qatari down 12.9% from the recent futures price of $68.71, according to TPY) will have a multiplier effect on the national economy stock market. This listing has benefited the national economy. Bloomberg data. over the coming decades and help Qatar consolidate its In the energy sector Don’t expect the recent agreed cuts from the Organization of position as the world’s top transhipper and producer of This month Qatar Petroleum announced the implemen- Petroleum Exporting Countries cartel (OPEC) to help either. liquefied natural gas. tation of the ‘In-Country Value Policy’ in the energy sector Central to the matter is that while some key OPEC members are Effectively, Qatar’s LNG production capacity will exceed (starting January 2020) through ‘Tawteen’, the localisation producing far more than their allocated production quota, Saudi 142mn TPY annually (by 2027), when the output from the program for services and industries in Qatar’s energy sector. Arabia has offset that overproduction by pumping far less oil than Golden Pass LNG export facility located in Sabine Pass, The ICV Policy will impact the tendering and awarding it agreed. Texas, is also accounted for. process, where suppliers and contractors who are contrib- That ‘helping hand’ from Saudi may not last long now that it has The Golden Pass LNG export project, which is owned uting the most to the local economy will acquire a com- successfully sold off a small stake in the state-owned oil company by the Golden Pass Products, is a joint venture of QP (70%) mercial advantage. Aramco. and ExxonMobil (30%). Launched in February, Tawteen received hundreds of “We expect Saudi oil production to increase slightly in 2020,” Overall, Qatar’s hydrocarbon production will account production from Qatar’s northern coastal onshore areas. applications through its investor portal from local investors states the IIF report and adds that the increase will lead to a rise in for nearly 6.7mn barrels oil equivalent per day with the The year saw the world’s top LNG producer and ex- and leading global suppliers for about 100 new investment oil inventories and then falling prices. LNG production capacity boost to 142mn TPY. porter Qatargas achieving the “best in class” reliability opportunities it offers in various fields, including engineering What does this mean for investors? There are three things to watch. The expansion of Qatar’s LNG facilities is considered performance of 98.8%. The company’s production was services, maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO), digital The falling oil prices as the world’s largest and one of the energy sector’s most also on target in 2019. technologies, subsurface operations, chemicals and metals, First, the lower prices will help U.S. consumers in the form of lucrative projects. Qatargas maintained a “strong environmental and safety as well as light equipment, business services and other lower fuel costs. The cost of gasoline pump prices and futures prices The country may also maintain its position as the holder performance” as it achieved a flaring rate of 0.38 against a services across the energy sector supply chain. for crude are inextricably linked over the long term. In other words, of the largest non-associated gas reserves in the world target of 0.44 this year, thanks to a successful flare reduction Another major Qatari company, Qatar Steel, was recently sooner or later, the falling oil prices translate into lower pump prices. for the foreseeable future by establishing confirmed gas project whereas the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rate accredited with an exclusive recognition by TURKAK (Turk- Still, as the crude market slumps expect gas prices to dip and reserves of 1,760tn cu ft at the North Field. showed 0.35 against a target of 0.42. ish Accreditation Institution, Turkey), for chemical and U.S. consumers to spend the cash they’ve saved at the pump, thus This is in addition to more than 70bn barrels of conden- In the year under review, Laffan Refinery 1 marked 10 mechanical testing of carbon steel used for reinforcement helping boost the economy. sates, and massive quantities of LPG, ethane, and helium, years of operation without any Lost Time Incident (LTI) and of concrete in Qatar and around the world. That should help lift prices of consumer discretionary stocks a huge quantity by any standard. the company successfully completed two key environmental In addition, Qatar Steel is the first steel company to achieve such as those held by the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector New studies have revealed that the North Field’s pro- projects — the Waste Materials Management facility and a performance rating of ‘very good’ for the prestigious BES SPDR (XLY) exchange-traded fund. These companies, which include ductive layers extend well into Qatari land in Ras Laffan, the Treated Industrial and Process Water facility. 6001 Responsible Sourcing Certification from CARES UK General Motors and Amazon.com, typically sell things that people paving the way for a new LNG production project in the Laffan Refinery, operated by Qatargas, achieved a “strong after the successful reassessment audit conducted along want but don’t always have to buy, such as a new car. north of Qatar. reliability” of 98.6%, well ahead of the current year targets. with CARES SCS Scheme Surveillance Audit. On the other hand, energy stocks, such as those held in the Energy Last month, QP completed fabrication of the first two Qatar’s first condensate refinery, Laffan Refinery, started Qatar Chemical Company (Q-Chem) recently received Select Sector SPDR (XLE) ETF, might not do so well because of the jackets required for offshore facilities as part of its North production in September 2009. certification on the latest ISO Standard for occupational subdued crude prices. Field Expansion (NFE) Project. The refinery processes untreated gas condensate to health and safety management system — ISO 45001:2018 Then there is Saudi Arabia and the other the oil-producing countries The installation contract produce LPG, naphtha, jet fuel and gas oil. — and re-certification on other internationally recognised in the region. Lower oil prices mean lower government revenues. The NFE project’s Engineering, Procurement, Construc- Another major accomplishment this year was the golden standards. Unfortunately, unlike in the U.S. or European Union, there are few tion and Installation contract for the jackets was awarded jubilee of Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO). At the ‘Mustaqbalna’ event earlier this month, HE the other sources of revenue to offset the decline. to McDermott in April this year. Qafco has a total production capacity of 3.8mn tons of Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaa- In the case of Saudi Arabia, any oil price below $77 means that McDermott was also awarded the Front End Engineer- ammonia and 5.6mn tons of urea annually. The fertilizer bi, also the President and CEO of Qatar of Petroleum, had the government is spending more than it is raking in. While Saudi ing and Design contract for the associated topsides and major has become the largest single-site producer of am- emphasized that Qatarization was one of QP’s top priorities. has a large stash of cash in its coffers, other countries have less and pipelines in May. monia and urea in the world through six export-oriented “Our corporate strategy is focused on developing a highly may feel the strain in their economies more. During the past two years, Qatar Petroleum worked integrated production lines. capable and motivated workforce across the whole of QP with In other words, investors should expect growth in the region to diligently to determine the degree to which the North Field The company was the “first building block” of Mesaieed special emphasis on Qatari development,” al-Kaabi noted. get hampered by falling energy prices next year. extends towards the south west, as well as the possibility of Industrial City, the first Qatari petrochemical manufacturer (Source: Gulf Times) (Source: forbes.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 1, 2020

Worst case for climate 45 mass killings leave 211 dead as United change isn’t realistic By Noah Smith States hits horror high mark in 2019 NEW YORK – In recent years, much of the commentary about climate change has gone from sternly serious to wildly The United States has seen more mass killings in 2019 despairing. than any year since the 1970s as the nation again fell A new report from the United Nation’s Intergovernmen- victim to a large number of gun-related fatalities. tal Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that the effects Thirty-three of the 41 mass killings — listed in a of climate change are accelerating and that the world has database compiled by The Associated Press, USA To- barely more than a decade to make deep cuts to greenhouse day and Northeastern University, which considers gas emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by ‘mass killings’ to be where four or more people have century’s end. been killed, excluding the perpetrator — were mass Such reductions are extremely unlikely, given that global shootings. emissions rose this year and last. China, the world’s biggest The second-most mass killings in a year prior to emitter by far, is still building coal-fired power plants, while 2019 was 38 in 2006. the United States under President Donald Trump has abdi- The 211 people killed in this year’s cases is still eclipsed cated leadership on the climate issue. by the 224 victims in 2017, when the deadliest mass Warming of more than 1.5 degrees seems certain at this shooting in modern US history took place in Las Vegas. point and the world will have to deal with the consequences. The mass shootings this year included three in Au- But how much, exactly, will Earth warm before the fos- gust — one at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, another sil-fuel era runs its course? That’s harder to forecast because at Dayton, Ohio and a workplace shooting in Virginia it depends not just on climate science but also on assumptions Beach, Virginia, where 12 were killed. about emissions. And that, in turn, depends on technology James Densley, a criminologist and professor at and economics, both of which are notoriously hard things Metropolitan State University in Minnesota, said the to predict. database confirmed and mirrored what his own research The IPCC lays out several business-as-usual scenarios for into exclusively mass shootings had shown. how much greenhouse gas would be emitted without major “What makes this even more exceptional is that mass policy action, but it doesn’t say which scenario it thinks is killings are going up at a time when general homicides, more likely. The direst of these, called RCP8.5, implies that overall homicides, are going down,” Mr Densley said. the planet would warm by an average of 5 degrees Celsius “As a percentage of homicides, these mass killings by 2100 — an absolutely catastrophic, civilization-ending are also accounting for more deaths. level of warming. It’s typically this doomsday scenario that Attacks leave victims scarred motivates some observers to despair and others to call for While the large death tolls attracted much of the Daniel Munoz has been left scarred both mentally and physically from the aftermath of a mass shooting. (AP: Sue Ogrocki) reckless, flailing policies like the dismantling of capitalism. attention, the killings inflicted a mental and physical toll on dozens of others. The database does not have He remembers calling his mother after the El Paso Family often involved a complete count of victims who were wounded, but shooting to encourage her to have a firearm at home or While August was the month with the most killings, among the three mass shootings in August alone, more with her in case she needed to defend herself. He would they began early in January, when a man used an axe to than 65 people were injured. say the same to friends, telling them before they went kill four family members including his infant daughter. Daniel Munoz, 28, of Odessa, was caught in the to a Walmart to bring a firearm in case they needed to The 42-year-old man stabbed to death his mother, crossfire of the shooting that took place within a protect themselves or others during an attack. stepfather, girlfriend and nine-month-old daughter 16-kilometre stretch in West Texas. “You can’t just always assume you’re safe. In that in Clackamas County, Oregon. Two others, a room- He was on his way to meet a friend at a bar when he moment, as soon as the El Paso shooting happened, mate and an eight-year-old girl managed to escape; saw a gunman and the barrel of a firearm. Instinctively, I was on edge,” Mr Munoz told The Associated Press. the rampage ended when responding police fatally he got down just as his car was sprayed with bullets. In the months since, he has stayed clear of crowds shot the killer. Mr Munoz, who moved to Texas about a year ago and can only tolerate so much socializing. The incident in Oregon was one of 18 mass killings to work in the oil industry, said he had actually been He still drives the same car, still riddled with bullet where family members were slain. on edge since the Walmart shooting — which took holes on the side panels, a bullet hole in the head- The majority of the killings involved people who place just 28 days earlier and about 480 kilometers rest of the passenger seat and the words “evidence” knew each other — family disputes, drug or gang vi- away — and worried a shooting could happen any- scrawled on the doors. His shoulder remains pocked olence or people with beefs that directed their anger where at any time. with bullet fragments. at co-workers or relatives.

The human race probably isn›t doomed, but climate change is still an enormous catastrophe in the making that must be addressed. |

But a growing chorus of climate scientists and energy policy Africa faces major challenges in 2020 analysts has begun to question whether the dreaded RCP8.5 Terrorism, conflict resolution, border closures and immigration among issues expected to continue to dominate continent scenario should be taken seriously. The scenario assumes that after a brief flirtation with natural gas and renewable energy, JOHANNESBURG — Africa made great deadliest on record after a 2014-2016 the world returns to fueling industrialization primarily with progress in a number of fields in 2019, outbreak in West Africa that killed more coal. But it seems vanishingly unlikely that the global coal including holding peaceful elections in than 11,300 people. industry will increase sevenfold, as RCP8.5 envisions, even many parts of the continent and increased Destruction due to floods if natural gas proves to be a temporary phenomenon. economic growth. Recent floods in East Africa killed more First of all, there probably just isn’t that much accessible But a number of unresolved challenges than 200 people in the region and displaced coal in the ground. Second, burning coal creates air pollu- including terrorism, conflict resolution, at least three million others. tion in addition to greenhouse gases, which gives countries border closures and immigration are among Crops and homes were destroyed. Ex- an additional incentive to reduce its use. Third, the price of those expected to continue to dominate perts fear the region might experience a renewables has dropped to the point where building new coal the continent in 2020. food shortage in 2020 that could prompt plants is simply not economical in most places. Terrorism calls for assistance from humanitarian Despite China’s new plants, overall global coal use fell 3 percent Barely four days before the end of 2019, agencies. Countries affected by the floods in 2019. India is turning away from coal, and so is Southeast Asia. a truck filled with explosives blew up at included Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan Even Trump, despite his promise to restore the coal industry to a busy intersection in Somalia’s capital, and Somalia. its former glory, has managed to do nothing of the kind. Mogadishu, killing at least 80 people Poaching of rhinos, other wild And as renewables get cheaper, it will become economical and injuring 149 others. animals to retire existing coal and gas plants. McKinsey predicts that Saturday’s terror attack, which also Wild animals, especially rhinos, this will be the case in most of the world by 2030. claimed the lives of Turkish expats work- have been a target of poachers in Africa Banks are already beginning to pull out of the coal-power ing in Somalia, was the worst in the past throughout the year and this is expected to industry, not because of environmental pressure (since they’re two years in the country, which faces continue to be a major challenge in 2020 still funding coal for other industrial uses), but because they attacks by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Al- if governments are to conserve wildlife. know there’s just no future in coal plants. Gas won’t be far Shabaab terrorist group. According to the International Rhino behind, though a few gas plants will probably remain in service The terror outfit, which has carried out Foundation, poachers killed nearly 900 to back up solar plants when the sun isn’t shining. several terrorist attacks beyond Somalia rhinos last year in Africa. While this is a So the IPCC’s commonly cited doomsday scenario looks in neighboring Kenya and Uganda, has decrease from 3.7 rhinos lost per day in like a rash flight of imagination. A group of climate scientists been fighting to topple the UN-backed 2015, 2018 still saw 2.4 rhinos killed per recently got together on Twitter and tried to figure out what Somali government for years. come part of a unity government which of Congo (DRC), which has many rebel day – or one rhino every 10 hours. a more realistic scenario looked like. Al-Shabaab wants to introduce a was expected to be formed on Nov. 12. groups operating there, has been volatile The global rhino population has seen They fed energy predictions from the International En- strict version of Islamic law in Soma- But politicians failed to agree on a and conflicts are expected to continue a steady decline, dropping from a high of ergy Agency (IEA) into climate models and found out that 3 lia, a country with a majority Muslim number of issues, including the number to dominate the region. 29,000 in 2017 to 27,300 today. Conserva- degrees of warming is a much more likely business-as-usual population. of states and their boundaries, leading Ebola tion groups, individuals and governments scenario than 5 degrees. Incidents of terrorism are also expect- to a deadlock. Ebola viral hemorrhagic fever, which will need to do more to save wildlife in 2020. But as the climate scientists noted, the IEA has consist- ed to continue causing havoc in northern South Sudan, which reached a cease- broke out in the eastern Democratic Tensions between Uganda, ently underestimated the growth of solar power; each year Nigeria, where the Boko Haram terrorist fire recently, has been mired in conflict Republic of Congo (DRC) on Aug. 1, Rwanda the agency predicts that growth in solar-power generation group mainly operates, and in the Sahel between the government of President 2018, has so far claimed the lives of 2,231 Ugandan and Rwandan officials failed will slow, and each year it grows rapidly. If renewable tech- region -- home to many terrorist groups Kiir and rebels led by Machar since De- people as of Sunday (December 29) out to reach an agreement this month after nologies continue to surprise on the upside, warming could including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magh- cember 2013. of 3,373 declared cases of the disease. accusing each other of attempting to dest- be limited to 2.5 degrees. reb (AQIM) and Daesh/ISIS. The conflict has killed tens of thou- The disease, which presents signs and abilize their countries. Now for the bad news: 2.5 degrees of warming will still be South Sudan peace talks sands and displaced almost four mil- symptoms including fever, headaches, Rwanda claims there are some armed catastrophic for many people and countries, and 3 degrees even Politicians in South Sudan are ex- lion people from their homes, including vomiting and diarrhea, is expected to groups operating in Uganda that want to more so. Heat waves will become unbearable without air con- pected to continue holding talks to form over a million refugees, who have fled remain a challenge in the DRC in 2020 as destabilize it. ditioning, even in high latitudes. All coral reefs will probably a government of national unity in the to neighboring countries. conflicts pose a danger to health workers The former staunch allies have been at die. Many major cities will be drowned. first three months of 2020 after parties Conflicts in Libya, DRC, CAR and patients. loggerheads since March 2019, with their Even just 2 degrees of warming, which will be exceeded in involved in talks failed to agree on a Conflicts are also expected to con- Armed groups have attacked Ebola armies massing around their boundaries. any business-as-usual scenario, will have very serious global number of issues before the end of 2019. tinue in a number of countries in 2020, health workers and health sites treat- Rwanda closed its borders with Ugan- repercussions. President Salva Kiir and opposition including Libya and the Central African ing Ebola patients, hindering treatment da and the issue is expected to remain a That’s why a business-as-usual scenario is unacceptable. leader Riek Machar signed a peace agree- Republic (CAR), where various rebel efforts. challenge for the two countries to address The human race probably isn’t doomed, but climate change ment in September 2018 requiring all groups have been fighting along religious According to reports, the current in 2020. is still an enormous catastrophe in the making. parties, including rebel groups, to be- lines. The Eastern Democratic Republic Ebola outbreak in DRC is the second (Source: Andalu Agency) Big policy changes are needed — in the U.S., in China and in many other countries. Instead of embarking on the fool’s errand of trying to dismantle capitalism, governments should utilize the combined resources of the public and private sectors. They should retire all coal plants as quickly as possible, steadily Woman dies after being set on fire during surgery in Romania reduce natural gas usage and convert to all electric vehicles. Electric scalpel used despite patient treated with an alcohol-based disinfectant. December. system is still beset by dilapidated equip- Buildings need to be retrofitted to use electricity instead of being treated with alcohol-based dis- Contact with the flammable disinfectant “The surgeons should have been ment and a shortage of doctors, and finds gas. And new technologies for producing low-carbon steel and infectant caused combustion and the patient “ignit- aware that it is prohibited to use an al- itself at the heart of repeated scandals. cement, and for carbon-free aviation, need to be researched, A woman has died after being set on fire ed like a torch”, Emanuel Ungureanu, a cohol-based disinfectant during surgical In relation to a nightclub fire in 2015 scaled up and disseminated internationally. during surgery in Romania, the country’s Romanian politician, said on his Facebook procedures performed with an electric that killed 64 people – 26 on site and More rational climate scenarios don’t give any excuse for health ministry has said, in a case that has page, citing medical staff at Floreasca scalpel,” the deputy minister, Horatiu 38 others later – a former health min- complacency. But they do give human civilization a fighting cast a spotlight on the ailing Romanian urgent care hospital in Bucharest. Moldovan, said. ister stands accused of having delayed chance. health system. A nurse threw a bucket of water on The victim’s family said medical staff or blocked the transfer of burn victims Noah Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He was The patient, who had pancreatic cancer, the 66-year-old woman to prevent the had spoken of an “accident” but declined abroad. Many subsequently died in ill- an assistant professor of finance at Stoney Brook University, died on Sunday after suffering burns to fire from spreading. The health ministry to offer details. equipped Romanian hospitals. An inquiry and he blogs at Noahpinion. 40 percent of her body when surgeons said it would investigate the “unfortu- Despite some improvements after an is still ongoing. (Source:Bloomberg news) used an electric scalpel despite her being nate incident”, which took place on 22 increase in funding, Romania’s hospital (Source: Guardian) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 1, 2020 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7

WikiLeaks releases even more Iran, Russia, China countering U.S. influence in region: analyst OPCW Douma documents TEHRAN (Tasnim) — The joint naval drills of Iran, Russia By Dave DeCamp and China in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman were aimed at countering US influence in the region, an American political ANTIWAR — On Friday, WikiLeaks released even more analyst said. internal emails and documents from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) related to the alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria, on April 7th 2018. The release is the fourth leak related to the alleged attack, an incident that was used as the pretext for an airstrike launched by the US, UK, and France against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The OPCW published their final report on the Douma attack in March 2019, they concluded that the evidence provided “reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chem- ical as a weapon took place” and that chemical was “likely molecular chlorine.” But since that report was published, multiple whistleblowers have come forward, and many documents have been leaked that suggest otherwise. The mounting evidence points to a cover up within the OPCW, a possible scandal that has gained virtually no attention from the mainstream media. One of the new leaks is a series of emails between OPCW “The three countries appear to have as their primary objectives employees dated February 28th 2019, just two days before the protection of the security of these routes, and countering the the final report was published. The emails show Sebastien influence of the US in the region,” Keith Preston, the chief editor Braha, the OPCW Chief of Cabinet, ordering the removal and director of attackthesystem.com, told Tasnim in an interview. of a document from the OPCW’s secure registry. The email The following is the full text of the interview. says, “Please get this document out of DRA (Documents On Friday, Iran, Russia and China started four days of Registry Archive) … And please remove all traces, if any, of joint maritime exercise, dubbed the “Marine Security Belt”, in its delivery/storage/whatever in DRA.” Another document released on December 14th is a memo gas, phosgene or cyanogen chloride.” This part of the report an area of 17,000 square kilometers which consist of various The document Braha ordered to be removed is an engi- addressed to OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias dated was completely removed from the highly altered version tactical exercises, such as target practicing and rescuing ships neering assessment that studied two cylinders found in two March 14th 2019. In the memo, the author, who is likely Ian of the interim report that was published on July 6th 2018. from assault and incidents such as fires. What is your take on separate locations in Douma. The allegation was that these Henderson, explains that the final OPCW report was not WikiLeaks published an email on November 23rd from the joint naval drill? cylinders were dropped out of a Syrian government aircraft prepared by the FFM that went to Douma. The memo says a member of the FFM that went to Douma, expressing his A: The fact that Iran, Russia, and China are engaged in joint and were the source of the chlorine gas. But this engineering the report was prepared by a “FFM core team” that only concern over the altered interim report. That email’s author naval drills indicates that the leadership of each of these nations assessment points to a different possibility. operated in “Country X,” with the exception of a paramedic had many issues with the changes to the interim report, perceives potential threats that warrant their cooperation. The The assessment was prepared by Ian Henderson, a longtime that did go to Douma. “Country X” is likely Turkey since among them was the section addressing the victim’s symp- tensions that have taken place in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait OPCW engineer. Henderson’s report concludes, “observations OPCW investigators went there to interview alleged witnesses. toms. The email reads, “The original report discusses in of Hormuz during the past year indicate a certain degree of in- at the scene of the two locations, together with subsequent This memo shows that there are two groups that can be detail the inconsistency between the victims’ symptoms, as stability in the region. Of course, the sea lanes that are present in analysis, suggest that there is a higher probability that both called the “FFM.” One that went to Douma and had no say reported by witnesses and seen in video recordings. Omitting the region are essential to international commerce, including the cylinders were manually placed at those two locations rather in the final report, and a team that only operated in “Country this section of the report has a serious negative impact … trade in petroleum. Iran, Russia, and China each have a vested than being delivered from aircraft.” If the cylinders were X.” Henderson was likely a member of the FFM that went The inconsistency was not only noted by the FFM team but interest in maintaining the security of the region, particularly manually placed where they were found, it would point to to Douma, whose findings were ignored. strongly supported by three toxicologists with expertise in after the attacks on oil tankers that occurred some months ago. the theory that the attack was staged by Jaysh al-Islam, the Another document released Friday was the minutes exposure to CW agents.” Each of the three nations is clearly concerned about the United opposition group that the Syrian government was driving from an OPCW meeting with toxicologists that took place The final report mentions two consultations with toxicol- States’ role in the region as well, which they consider to be over- out of Douma. But Henderson’s assessment was left out of on June 6th 2018. According to the document, four OPCW ogists, one in September 2018, and one in October 2018, but ly belligerent in a way that threatens the stability and security the final report. employees met with “three Toxicologists/Clinical pharma- no details from the consultations are given. The final report of the region’s seal lanes and naval transportation routes. The This new leak corroborates a story Peter Hitchens wrote cologists” and “one bioanalytical and toxicological chemist” says the symptoms of the alleged victims as described by three countries appear to have as their primary objectives the for The Mail on Sunday earlier this month. According to who all specialize in chemical weapons. The meeting had two witnesses and observed in open-sourced videos “indicate protection of the security of these routes, and countering the Hitchens, after making every effort to have his assessment purposes. One was “to solicit expert advice on the value of exposure to an inhalational irritant or toxic substance.” The influence of the US in the region. included in the final report, Henderson decided to upload exhuming suspected victims of the alleged chemical attack,” report also says, “it is currently not possible to precisely link In a post on his Twitter account on Friday night, Iranian it to the DRA. After the document was uploaded, a senior and the other purpose was “to elicit expert opinions from the the cause of the signs and symptoms to a specific chemical.” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi published a photo OPCW official nicknamed “Voldemort” ordered it be erased. forensic toxicologists regarding the observed and reported If the FFM that prepared the final report had proof that of the logo of the naval drills and said, “The fact is that in the Hitchens wrote, “when ‘Voldemort’ heard about it, he sent symptoms of the alleged victims.” the symptoms of the alleged victims were consistent with current transitional era, not everything happens in, nor by the an email to subordinates saying: ‘Please get this document According to the minutes, the OPCW team was advised chlorine exposure, it would no doubt have been included West. We are truly living in a #Post_Western_world in which out of DRA … And please remove all traces, if any, of its by the experts that there would be “little use” in exhuming in the report. The absence of such an allegation shows that all global players have their share in its reality”. What are your delivery/storage/whatever in DRA.’” the bodies and conducting autopsies, something the FFM despite further consultations with toxicologists, that con- thoughts on a post-western world? Henderson leaked his engineering assessment to the never did. clusion was never reached. Instead, the reader is lead to A: I suspect that claims of a post-Western world are somewhat Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media, and it With regards to the symptoms of the alleged victims, believe that the victims were killed by a chlorine gas since premature in the sense that Western powers continue to maintain was published in May 2019. Since Henderson’s leak was according to the minutes, “the chief expert summed up his the ultimate conclusion of the report is that an attack using the ability to exercise hegemony over much of the world. While published, his character has been smeared as a way to del- conclusions by offering two possibilities that included on a toxic chemical that contained chlorine likely occurred. Russia is a formidable military power on the Eurasian landmass, egitimize his assessment. The common allegation is that the one hand a real chemical attack and on the other, the Since these OPCW leaks have been coming out, em- and possesses a sizable nuclear arsenal, it is also true that Russia Henderson was not part of the OPCW Fact Finding Mission possibility of the event being a propaganda exercise.” As far ployees of the investigative research website Bellingcat has less than half the population of the United States, and less than (FFM) that went to Douma to investigate the alleged attack. as the symptoms being consistent with exposure to chlorine have been trying to sweep them under the rug (it is worth half the population of the European Union. Additionally, Russia’s The OPCW even told the Working Group in a statement that gas, “the experts were conclusive in their statements that noting that Bellingcat receives grants from the US-govern- Gross Domestic Product measures that of South Korea. Russia is Henderson “has never been a member of the FFM.” there was no correlation between symptoms and chlorine ment funded National Endowment for Democracy). The a long way from being able to compete with the West on an even After Braha orders the engineering assessment to be re- exposure.” “investigators” at Bellingcat are now accusing WikiLeaks footing. At present, China has approximately one half the GDP moved from the DRA, he sends another email questioning The document says the OPCW team that attended the of selectively releasing these documents to fit a narrative, of the United States, even with four times the population. The Henderson’s work. The email reads, “Under whose authority meeting all agreed “that the key ‘take-away’ message from the and are claiming that each new leak discredits the previous United States maintains a network of hundreds of military bases was this work conducted, outside FFM authority and ded- meeting was that the symptoms observed were inconsistent ones. It is more likely that WikiLeaks’ sources expected across the world while Russia has no international bases outside icated highly secured network, by someone who was not with exposure to chlorine and no other obvious candidate their original leaks to make a bigger splash, and decided of Syria and the CIS states, and, outside of the mainland, China part of the FFM?” This is the last email we can see in the chemical causing the symptoms could be identified.” WikiLeaks to release more since they gained so little attention. And, only has a formal military presence on one base in East Africa. exchange. Critics of Henderson are pointing to this email also released a set of emails from OPCW employees discussing as demonstrated above, the new leaks clearly support Both Russia and China have demonstrated impressive economic as proof that he was not part of the FFM. the meeting, affirming the content of the leaked minutes. earlier ones. development in recent decades, and China’s efforts to engage in But evidence from previous leaks show that Henderson The conclusion of the toxicologists and the OPCW team No honest journalist or investigator can look at all the development of Africa are quite significant as well. Iran has was indeed a member of the FFM that went to Douma. An members that attended the meeting are consistent with these leaks and say there is nothing here. The evidence successfully forged a coalition of forces in the Middle East that email from a set of documents released by WikiLeaks on the original interim report that was never published by the shows that the OPCW ignored its investigator’s findings are in resistance to Western hegemony. Certainly, an alliance December 14th, addressed to a senior OPCW official, calls OPCW and was only made public after WikiLeaks released to prepare a report that fit a particular narrative. The between Russia, China, and Iran (and, by extension, between the allegation that Henderson was not part of the FFM a it on December 14th. That interim report says, “Some of OPCW needs to release all of its member’s findings and the BRICS and the Axis of Resistance) would be formidable. “falsehood.” The email dated May 20th 2019, reads, “Ian the signs and symptoms described by witnesses and noted explain why they chose to ignore some. The fact is, the However, it is still premature to suggest that this alliance will be Henderson WAS part of the FFM and there is an abundance in photos and video recordings taken by witnesses, of the alleged Douma chemical attack led to a US airstrike. If able to successfully challenge Western hegemony. It is likely that of official documentation, as well as other supporting proof alleged victims are not consistent with exposure to chlo- that airstrike was carried out under false pretenses it a more multipolar world order will evolve in the future, however, that testifies to that.” rine-containing choking or blood agents such as chlorine needs to be revealed. as the rift between the United States and the European Union potentially widens, and as the United States’ repeated imperial expeditions around the world continue to produce failure. “The message of this exercise is peace, friendship and lasting security through cooperation and unity … and its effect Did Hamas and Zionism secretly line up against Iran’s allies in Gaza? will be to show that Iran cannot be isolated,” according to Iranian flotilla chief Rear Admiral Gholamreza Tahani. How By Damir Nazarov Jihad, A - possessed considerable weight in much do you think such drills can help improve security in the Gaza Strip (martyr Abu al-Atta), B - had the region? WEST SIBERIA/ TYUMEN — Hamas a clear pro-Iranian orientation. For its part, A: The principal security threats that exist in the region at silence over the November aggression of Hamas is gradually losing credibility in Gaza present are the ongoing efforts by the United States to dest- Zionism during which the leaders of the due to a move away from direct resistance abilize nations that refuse to be incorporated into the global Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip to the enemy, has moved away from Iran system of American hegemony, acts of aggression carried out and Damascus were killed, suggests certain amid crises in Syria, Iraq and Yemen to the by Saudi Arabia and the (Persian) Gulf States and terrorist thoughts about the conformism and apathy camp of enemies of the Islamic Republic, activity sponsored by these regimes, ongoing Israeli expansion- of the ruling party in the Gaza Strip. This is which automatically created and polarized ism and aggression by Israel against surrounding countries, not about secret agreements between the the balance of forces within the blockade and terrorist insurgences that are often supported, at least invaders and Hamas, but rather about a secret Sector between Hamas as a political party tacitly, by the West. The recent incursions into Syria by Turkey alliance against the leading Palestinian forces and resistance factions oriented to Tehran, are also a cause for concern. A greater level of cooperation seeking to fight the colonialists. Otherwise, where the key figure is precisely the Palestinian by Russia, China, Iran, and by the forces represented by the how to explain a number of facts, such as Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Remembering the hero, BRICS and the Axis of Resistance, may serve as a deterrent the non-interference of the military wing the martyr Abu al-Atta, he could be described to acts of aggression carried out by parties within the Atlan- of Hamas - the Al-Qassam Brigade in the as a strong national leader who possessed ticist-Zionist-Wahhabi axis in a way that increases the level fight against the Zionists, on the side of the charisma that overshadowed giants such as of stability and security in the region. However, there is also a Al-Quds Brigade (military wing of the Pales- Ismail Haniya and Yahya Sinwar. His oratory, greater risk for potential confrontation between the Western tinian Islamic Jihad)? Different theories go political skills, commitment to the ideology of and Eastern powers as well. on this score, some write about the alleged his movement in addition to military talent, and in many vectors of its policy coordinates anti-Iranian behavior by banning the move- In your perspective, what has prompted the three countries “reluctance of Hamas to increase the scale of made him a powerful politician who, in the with the IRGC. Accordingly, attacks on PIJ are ment of Al-Sabirin in Gaza. Al-Sabirin is a PIJ to form a triangle of sea power and hold the drills? the confrontation, which will aggravate the event of open elections of any format in the an element of the fight against the Iranians, breakaway organization that positions itself A: A convergence of interests has taken place where Russia, situation in the Gaza Strip.” Others indicate Gaza Strip, could easily squeeze influential which Zionism did not hide during the latest as “followers of the ideas of the martyr Fathi China, and Iran each regard the maintenance of the stability that, with their silence, “Hamas showed Zi- officials from Hamas. conflict in Gaza. Moreover, the killings of the Shakaki” with reliance on Iran. Dependence and security of the region as being in their individual and onism about the existence of a strong ally in Speaking of Iran, there are obvious traces “pro-Iranian” PIJ politicians according to on Qatar, the inability to strategically assess collective interests. Each of these nations is dependent on Gaza,” alluding to the military potential of the of the provocations of Zionism. Over the past the plan of Zionism should open the way to the situation, the gradual ideological degrada- the security of the sea lands and naval transportation routes Palestinian Jihad, which carried out a series 40 years, all the fears, phobias and complexes power within the movement for those who tion and the absence of a tendency to develop, in the region in relation to the economies of these nations, as of shelling of Zionist positions in response of the invaders are associated with the Islamic seek to join the “Axis of Conformism and gradually transforms the once vivid Islamic well as their defensive and national security needs. Clearly, to terrorist attacks by the invaders. But the Republic and its allies. PIJ plays one of the Cooperation” with radical cosmopolitans, resistance movement into a pale shadow of the Western presence in the region, in collusion with Israel opinions of political scientists loyal to Hamas key roles in Tehran’s foreign policy, the Pal- we are talking about the Qatar-Turkey-Saudi itself. Hamas often criticizes Fatah, but in its and the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council, has been highly fade against the backdrop of one important estinian resistance movement is ideologically Arabia-Egypt alliance. political moves, it increasingly resembles its disruptive, and counter to the economic and military needs point, the killed figures of the Palestinian connected with the Islamic Republic of Iran P.S. Hamas has previously been noted for long-standing opponents. of the leading Eastern powers. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS JANUARY 1, 2020

The Tehran Times new pocket-sized glossary is now available on the market. The reader-friendly is a rich source of the most common journalistic terminology collected by the daily’s retired staff. It can benefit a wide range of tastes from students to professional journalists. Persian equivalents have been given for all entries, including idioms and expressions. The glossary also includes example sentences for entries the authors thought it would be a bit difficult to learn. For more information contact: Tel: 021 - 430 51 450 [email protected] I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 1, 2020 SCIENCE 9

The Quadrantid meteor shower ‘Are we alone in the universe?’ NASA’s 2020 Mars is coming in 2020 rover will search for clues Like any tourist, NASA’s next Mars rover will want to bring home If your New Year’s resolution is to spend more time appreciating a few souvenirs. the wonders of space, you won’t have to wait very long to But instead of piling them into a suitcase, the rover is going to put your plans into action: 2020’s first meteor shower is have to drop its precious cargo onto the surface of the Red Planet coming between January 3 and January 4. and await another spacecraft to fetch them for the trip home. According to Inverse, the Quadrantid meteor shower consists It’s all part of the most ambitious mission to Mars yet. Work is of fireball meteors, which shine brighter and bolder than other almost complete on the rover at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory meteors because they’re made from larger particles of matter. And near Los Angeles well ahead of a launch window that starts July since the moon won’t be visible during the Quadrantids›s peak, 17 at the launch site in Florida. the already-bright meteors won’t have to compete with moonlight. They will, however, have to compete with your habit of being soundly asleep in the middle of the night. The International Meteor Organization predicts that the shower’s peak will occur around 3 a.m. EST on January 4, and only last for about four hours. It will take place in the northern part of the sky, so your chances of seeing the shower are better if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. The meteor shower was named the Quadrantids because its radiant point—or the location in the sky from which the meteors seem to originate—was in a now-obsolete constellation called the Quadrans Muralis, identified in 1795 by French astronomer Jérôme Lalande and then omitted from the International Astronomical Union’s list of constellations in 1922. Luckily, there are a couple other recognizable landmarks, With previous rovers having shown Mars had the building so to speak, to help you figure out where to direct your blocks of life, the goal of the next mission is to establish whether gaze come next Friday night. According to EarthSky, the life has existed. Quadrantids’s updated radiant point is near Arcturus, the “This is the one we have been working toward,” said Matt brightest star of the Bootes constellation, and it’s also not the Quadrantids’s parent body was the asteroid 2003 EH1, one thing: The chance to ring in the new year with a fireball Wallace deputy project manager of Mars 2020. “Now we are far from the Big Dipper. rather than an icy comet like many other meteor showers. sighting is worth losing a little sleep over. really asking the question, ‘Can we find any sign of life?’” In 2003, astronomer Peter Jenniskens suggested that Though we don’t know if that’s true, we are pretty sure about (Source: msn) The trip will take about seven months. If all goes according to plan, the rover will come to life next February in an ancient river delta in a lake that filled the Jezero Crater. Its mission is Scientist who edited babies’ genes jailed Scientists say they’ve found a way to solve expected to last two years. The lakebed is considered ripe for exploration because life is for three years the ‘oldest open question in astrophysics’ supported by water. Just finding evidence of a single-cell organism would be a breakthrough. “For all of human history we have asked, ‘Are we alone in the universe?’” said Luther Beegle, principal investigator for one of the spacecraft’s unique instruments, a new type of spectrometer with an ultraviolet laser. The six-wheeled rover, yet to be given a formal name, looks similar to the last one, dubbed Curiosity. It’s about the same size – about 10 feet long and 9 feet wide – but will weigh 278 pounds more than Curiosity. JPL engineers compare it to a Mini Cooper. Where the vehicle at the heart of the $2.5 billion exploration will really stand apart, however, is in its ability to analyze and process samples, then drop them into tubes for pickup by another Mars mission expected to launch in 2026. Samples will be carried inside the rover until they are deposited in individual tubes or in a bunch on the planet’s surface. Then, the future mission would robotically accomplish what it took humans to do on the moon 50 years ago by bringing back China has jailed a researcher who Yuan fine. After almost 350 years, physicists have just between acceleration and applied force samples of soil and rocks for detailed study by scientists on Earth. made headlines around the world Dr. He had been held under armed arrived at a statistical solution for Newton’s is force equals mass times acceleration Only in laboratories can samples be closely examined with electron after announcing his involvement in guard at a university guesthouse since three-body problem – that is, the problem (F=ma), and that for every action there microscopes and other advanced instruments. the births of the first genetically-edited he declared his work to the world, of figuring out how three similar objects is an equal and opposite reaction. That next spacecraft is yet to be developed. Wallace said it babies. including in major interviews with or bodies are going to travel in space in So far so brilliant, as far as the basic seemed wiser to divide the missions rather than try to design He Jiankui told an international gene western media. a way that fits in with the laws of motion physics of the Universe are concerned. But one to fly to Mars, collect samples and then bring them home. editing conference in November last The court said he and his team and gravity. Newton ran into difficulties applying his The space program has been successful in not overreaching, so year he had led a project that resulted “crossed the bottom line of ethics” The researchers behind the latest rules to the Earth, Moon and Sun – the “breaking it into pieces made more sense,” he explained. in the births of twin babies with an and “in seeking fame and wealth, study describe the three-body problem original three bodies. It actually became There was the challenge of dealing with the prospect of Mars’ added resistance to the Aids infection. deliberately violated national as “arguably the oldest open question much harder to track three bodies with extreme temperature swings, developing seven major instruments While Dr. He did not provide any regulations in scientific research and in astrophysics”, and while they haven’t these mathematical rules. for collecting and analyzing samples and equipping the rover with corroborating evidence or submit medical treatment”. completely cracked the case, they’ve gotten While scientists have found fixes for more than 20 different cameras and sensors. But the hardest his research for peer review, after Dr. He used gene-editing technology closer than most by finding a statistical special cases, a general formula for the part was trying to build it in a way that ensures samples will not an investigation Chinese authorities called Crispr to alter the genomes of formula that fits this open question in three-body problem has proved elusive. be contaminated with anything from Earth. confirmed the work had been carried embryos during the IVF process. Crispr certain scenarios. It’s like trying to apply a mathematical Engineers and scientists building it had to wear sterile gloves, out and that the researchers had is a low-cost, easy-to-use technique In particular, they looked at a couple template to the butterfly effect – it’s just boots and clothing to avoid leaving any hairs or skin cells that “deliberately evaded oversight”. whereby an enzyme is targeted to cut of centuries of previous research that puts too chaotic to track. could work their way into the sample collection system. The tools Dr. He was convicted on Monday out an unwanted section of DNA. forward the following idea: in unstable, In this case, the researchers applied a used to be build that system were also sterilized. Media allowed of practicing medicine illegally and Since the method of teaching the chaotic three-body systems, one of those probability hypothesis called ergodicity to in the clean room last week to view the craft were issued special violating Chinese scientific research enzyme which DNA to target was bodies eventually gets expelled, leaving help guide them to their answers, which clothing, headgear and booties even though they didn’t come regulations, as well as forging ethical first described in 2012 and 2013, the behind a stable binary relationship between uses the principles of averages to work within 10 feet of the rover. review documents. He was sentenced technique has already led to major the two that are left. out what’s going to happen in a particular Building it was “akin to a Swiss watch,” said Zach Ousnamer, a to three years in prison and fined 3 breakthroughs in crop development While the researchers point out that they system. Importantly, over time, ergodic rover assembly and test engineer. “It’s the most complex mechanism million Yuan (£330,000). and fixing genetic diseases in animals. haven’t come up with an exact, complete processes bear little relation to their original we have put into any rover. The fact you can’t touch that to do The sentencing, reported by the But ethicists say using it to alter the solution for the three-body problem, they have state (just like a three-body system). tweaks makes it very difficult.” state-run Xinhua news agency, DNA of human embryos is inherently developed a working statistical method that What the new solution does is give Though the rover is nearly complete and will be ready to be confirmed for the first time that a problematic. Not only will the desired covers a lot of these three-body to two-body scientists an understanding of how the shipped to Florida in about a month, installing the sample tubes will third baby – from a different mother genetic change be passed on to all the events, one which can be very useful in helping two survivors of a three-body problem are be one of the final steps as another protection from contamination. to the twins – was born as part of the subject’s future offspring, but it is also physicists visualize complicated processes. going to behave in a variety of newly stable “You’re always a little nervous at this stage because this is the last project before it was shut down by the impossible to know for sure what “When we compared our predictions to scenarios – and that sort of understanding opportunity to get in all the tests you want to get in,” said Jessica authorities. untended consequences the editing computer-generated models of their actual can be crucial in astrophysics. Samuels, the lead flight system engineer. “But it’s exciting. We’re on Two other people, researchers process might have. movements, we found a high degree of “Take three black holes that are orbiting track for a 2020 launch in July, and everything’s coming together.” working under Dr. He, were convicted Human clinical trials have been accuracy,” says astrophysicist Nicholas Stone, one another,” says Stone. “Their orbits will (Source: msn) and received lesser sentences. Zhang carried out with Crispr – but as from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. necessarily become unstable and even after Renli was sentenced to two years in therapies for treating blood disorders The three laws of motion laid down one of them gets kicked out, we’re still very prison and fined 1 million Yuan. Qin like sickle cell anemia, not to alter a by Isaac Newton in 1687 are these: that interested in the relationship between the Jinzhou received an 18-month sentence, person’s entire genetic make-up. objects remain in a state of inertia unless surviving black holes.” The coolest LEGO in the suspended for two years, and a 500,000 (Source: The Independent) acted upon by force, that the relationship (Source: sciencealert.com) universe

These are the most-read Science News stories of 2019 For the first time, LEGO has been cooled to the lowest temperature Science News drew more than 15 million visitors to our heart disease, cancer and other ailments. But a series of possible in an experiment which reveals a new use for the popular toy. website this year. Here’s a rundown of the most-read news studies has cast doubt on these supposed benefits. Its special properties mean it could be useful in the development stories of 2019 that didn’t make our Top 10 list, as well as 2. Measles erases the immune system’s memory of quantum computing. the most popular longer reads. Measles wipes away the immune system’s memories of A world leading team of ultra-low temperature physicists at Top news stories germs it has previously fought. This “immune amnesia” can Lancaster University decided to place a LEGO figure and four 1. A chip made with carbon nanotubes, not silicon, marks leave people at risk of infections from harmful viruses and LEGO blocks inside their record-breaking dilution refrigerator. a computing milestone bacteria for months to years. This machine — specially made at the University — is the Researchers built a new kind of computer chip with 3. With its burning grip, shingles can do lasting damage most effective refrigerator in the world, capable of reaching 1.6 thousands of carbon nanotube transistors. Though the The virus responsible for chicken pox can lay dormant for millidegrees above absolute zero (minus 273.15 Centigrade), prototype can’t yet compete with silicon chips, carbon nanotube decades, only to reemerge later in life as shingles. The disease which is about 200,000 times colder than room temperature computing technology could lead to faster electronics. is more than just a painful rash. Shingles can damage arteries and 2,000 times colder than deep space. 2. People can sense Earth’s magnetic field, brain waves retardant couches had higher levels of some potentially harmful and may raise the risk of stroke and dementia, scientists The results — published in the journal Scientific Reports — suggest chemicals in blood and urine than other kids did, one study are finding. were surprising. People’s brain waves showed a distinct pattern when found. The finding suggests that these home furnishings 4. The CBD boom is way ahead of the science Dr. Dmitry Zmeev, who led the research team, said: “Our results exposed to an Earth-strength magnetic field pointing in a release the chemicals quickly enough for them to build up Food, health and wellness products infused with are significant because we found that the clamping arrangement specific direction in the lab. That finding hints that humans in residents’ bodies. cannabidiol, also known as CBD, are becoming increasingly between the LEGO blocks causes the LEGO structures to behave may have magnetoreception, similar to birds and certain 5. Archaeologists tie ancient bones to a revolt chronicled popular. The substance, derived from cannabis plants, is as an extremely good thermal insulator at cryogenic temperatures. other organisms. on the Rosetta Stone sold as a remedy for pain, anxiety, insomnia and other “This is very desirable for construction materials used for the 3. In a first, scientists took the temperature of a sonic An ancient soldier’s skeleton unearthed from Egypt’s Nile conditions without getting the user high. But most health design of future scientific equipment like dilution refrigerators.” black hole Delta may be physical proof of a revolt around 2,200 years ago. benefits attributed to CBD don’t yet have scientific backing. Invented 50 years ago, the dilution refrigerator is at the center The temperature of a lab-made black hole that traps The Rosetta Stone describes the victory of pharaoh Ptolemy 5. How the periodic table went from a sketch to an enduring of a global multi-billion dollar industry and is crucial to the work sound instead of light agrees with a prediction by cosmologist V, from a Greek dynasty, over a faction of the native Egyptian masterpiece of modern experimental physics and engineering, including the Stephen Hawking: that black holes emit a small stream of revolt. But archaeological evidence of the uprising is scarce. Science News kicked off its coverage of the periodic table’s development of quantum computers. particles called Hawking radiation. Top feature stories 150th anniversary with a look at Russian chemist Dmitrii The use of ABS plastic structures, such as LEGO , instead of the 4. Why kids may be at risk from vinyl floors and fire- 1. Vitamin D supplements aren’t living up to their hype Mendeleev, whose original table had just 63 elements. solid materials currently in use, means that any future thermal resistant couches Vitamin D’s popularity soared after findings hinted that it Scientists have since added many more elements. insulator could be produced at a significantly reduced cost. Children from homes with all vinyl flooring and flame- could protect against multiple sclerosis, asthma, depression, (Source: Sciencenews.org) (Source: Science Daily) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM JANUARY 1, 2020

Life may have first emerged ECO Cultural Institute seeks in phosphorous-rich lakes

Phosphorous is one of the six main chemical ingredients necessary for life. Phosphorous atoms form DNA and RNA molecules, the tourism boom, new president says building blocks of life’s genetic code, but until now, scientists assumed the element was in short supply on primordial Earth. TEHRAN — The newly-appointed In a new study, published Monday in the journal PNAS, scien- TOURISM deskpresident of the Economic Cooperation tists provide evidence that ancient soda lakes could have provided Organization Cultural Institute said on Monday that de- sufficient levels of phosphorous to spawn life. velopment of tourism industry is a priority of her mission through launching joint projects with other member states. Sarvar Bakhti made the remarks in her inauguration ceremony which was held in Tehran, saying tourism causes nations of the region to gain a deeper understanding of each other, ISNA reported on Monday. “Culture is the foundation of every society,” she noted. “Today, more than ever we need to work on tourism and traveling in order to prepare for the recognition of nations. In this regard, conferences and workshops will be arranged to create an opportunity for nations to get to know each other.” Bakhti also held a meeting with ECO Secretary General Hadi Soleimanpour on the same day in which she presented main themes of programs which are to be implemented dur- ing her tenure, according to the institute’s public relations. Soda lakes, sometimes called alkaline lakes, are lakes featur- Founded in 1985, ECO is an inter-governmental regional ing high rates of evaporation. The water left behind is salty and organization encompassing countries from Europe, Caucuses features a high pH, or low acidity. Samples collected from soda and Central Asia, Middle East and South Asia with more than lakes across the world showed the carbonate-rich water can boast 460 million inhabitants and over 8 million square kilometers up to 50,000 times the levels of phosphorous found in the ocean. connecting Russia to the Persian Gulf and China to Europe. “In most lakes, phosphate is limited because calcium com- Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakh- bines with the phosphate to precipitate minerals called apatite,” stan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Jonathan Toner, a University of Washington research assistant are the members of the organization. professor of Earth and space sciences, told UPI in an email. “This ECO Cultural Institute is affiliated with ECO and aims doesn’t happen in soda lakes because these lakes have very high at fostering understanding and the preservation of the rich concentrations of carbonate.” cultural heritage of its members through common projects “Carbonate competes with phosphate to combine with calci- in the field of the media, literature, art, philosophy, sport um, and at the very high carbonate levels found in these lakes, and education. calcium is removed by carbonate, not phosphate,” Toner said. Travelers visit Naqsh-e Rostam, an Achaemenid-era rock-hewn necropolis in southern Iran “This allows phosphate to accumulate. It’s a fairly straightforward idea, which is part of its appeal.” To ensure the modern soda lakes were representative of the Italian tourism group visiting Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan kind of environments that might have existed on early Earth, TOURISM TEHRAN — A group ish tourists who had a ten-day tour, visiting scientists conducted experiments and built models to measure deskof seventeen Italian attractions in Zabol, Nimruz, and Hamun. the effects of modern biological activity on soda lake chemistry. sightseers have commenced an excursion They also set up an overnight camp in the “First, we did lab experiments in the absence of biology to show across the southeastern Sistan-Baluch- [UNESCO-registered] Lut desert. that phosphate accumulates. Second, our models only take into estan province, which is amongst Iran’s The vast province was long shunned by account inorganic chemistry,” Toner said. “Regardless, biology lesser-known destinations. potential foreign and domestic travelers is active in many lakes all over the world, but all lakes (except “Members of the group, who arrived in though it is home to several distinctive ar- for carbonate-rich ones) do not have high phosphate. So biology the province two days ago (on Saturday), chaeological sites and natural attractions, alone cannot cause high phosphate in lakes.” first made a two-day visit to Zahedan (the including two UNESCO World Heritage sites, The analysis showed that even without biological activity, provincial capital), before they leave for namely Shahr-e-Soukhteh (Burnt City) and there would have been plenty of phosphorous available in soda [the port city of] Chabahar,” provincial Lut desert, parts of latter is situated in Ker- lakes. There also would have been plenty of soda lakes. tourism chief Alireza Jalalzaei said on man province. “Soda lakes form in atmospheres high in carbon dioxide, and Monday, IRNA reported. For mainstream Iranians, the name of in the presence of fresh volcanic material,” Toner said. “The early Another Italian group will start a famil- Sistan-Baluchestan conjures up stories of Earth satisfies both of these criteria. Models of the atmospheres iarization tour in the province in the month drought, desiccated wetlands, and dust storms. of the early Earth indicate up to 1000 times more carbon dioxide of Esfand (starting Feb. 20), Jalalzaei added. On the international scale foreigners may than today. Plus, the early Earth would have been much more Back in December, Sistan-Baluchestan consider it a reminiscent of the big red blot volcanically active because of a hotter mantle.” welcomed a group of ten French and Brit- on the Iran safety map. Previous research conducted by Toner and his colleague David Catling, a Washington professor of Earth and space sciences, sug- gested soda lakes can also generate significant levels of cyanide, which assists the formation of amino acids and nucleotides, the Imam Khomeini Intl. Airport ready to Tourism minister opens 11 eco-lodges building blocks of proteins, DNA and RNA. Most researchers investigating the origins of life are biochem- operate domestic flights in eastern province ists, but Toner’s expertise is in geochemistry. One reason the phosphate problem persisted for so long, Toner estimates, is that biochemists didn’t know where to look for large amounts of natural occurring phosphorous. Toner and his colleagues hope to learn more about the potential for soda lakes to support primordial life by conducting further investigations of the inorganic and organic chemistry present in modern carbonate-rich lakes. ROUND THE GLOBE Kakadu National Park

A World Heritage, Kakadu National Park is an archaeo- logical and ethnological reserve in Australia, which has been inhabited continuously for more than 40,000 years Kakadu National Park is a living cultural landscape with exceptional natural and cultural values. Kakadu’s rock art provides a window into human civilization in the days before the last ice age. TOURISM TEHRAN — Imam ates domestic flights from the capital city. TOURISM TEHRAN — Iran’s in the countryside and rural areas. deskKhomeini Interna- According to the official, no par- desktourism minister “Each eco-lodge unit averagely gener- tional Airport has announced readiness ticular route has been considered for Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Monday inau- ates jobs for seven to eight people so that to add domestic flights to its services, permanent relocation to IKIA and the gurated eleven eco-lodges during his visit the scheme could create 160,000 jobs,” IKIA deputy director for airport oper- number of flights will be determined to the eastern South Khorasan province. Mounesan said in 2018. ations has said. by market demand. The private sector has invested 103 Varied natural setting of the cultur- “Passengers will have more options Imam Khomeini International Airport billion rails (some $2.5 million) and re- ally-diverse country never disappoints to choose from the domestic flights registered 47,446 takeoffs and landings ceived 20 billion rials (some $475,000) visitors when it comes to eco-tourism, which are transferred to the airport,” in the last fiscal year that ended on March in bank loans to complete the projects, sightseeing and even tribal tourism as it IKAC News quoted Hassan Khoshkhoo 20, 2019. Over 7.27 million passengers IRNA reported. is home to many regional people includ- as saying on Tuesday. and 141,704 tons of cargos were trans- Iran’s tourism ministry has set a target ing ones with Turk and Arab elements in The measure is expected to considera- ported from the airport during the period to help build 2,000 eco-lodges by 2021, addition to the Kurds, Baloch, Bakhtyari, bly reduce traffic at Tehran’s International to rank third on the list of Iran’s busiest believing such guest houses could cater to Lurs, and other smaller minorities such as Mehrabad Airport, which currently oper- airports in 2018. sustainable development and job creation Armenians, Assyrians, Jews, and others. The four biggest travel trends for 2020 Detailed paintings reveal insights into hunting and By Alexandra Talty And when it comes to high-end experiences, zero-waste a ban on most internal flights. gathering practices, social structure and ritual ceremo- and carbon neutral will be the industry standard. Thanks According to Booking.com, over half of travelers don’t nies of Indigenous societies from the Pleistocene Epoch From increased connectivity internationally to the advent to technology developments in sectors like solar, as well as mind taking time to reaching their destinations if they’re until the present. of responsible tourism, the world of travel has changed consumer interest in green, luxury won’t necessarily mean traveling by a unique form of transport. As more consumers The largest national park in Australia and one of the dramatically in the past ten years. wasteful in 2020. think about their environmental impact, there will be an largest in the world’s tropics, Kakadu preserves the greatest People are talking about green travel and with the rise 2. Traveling off-the-beaten-path is the new Paris increase in interest in older, most sustainable forms of variety of ecosystems on the Australian continent includ- of carbon offsets for flying or hotels eschewing miniature As some destinations continue to dominate our social transport like trains or boats. ing extensive areas of savanna woodlands, open forest, bottles, it seems like the corporations have caught on. We’re media feeds – Bali, I’m looking at you – there will be rise 4. Motion-based travel is here to stay. floodplains, mangroves, tidal mudflats, coastal areas and seeing social media influencers post non-descript locations in so-called second-city travel. From walk throughs in beautiful places like the Pacific monsoon forests. in an effort to decrease over-tourism to beautiful places. Motivated in part to avoid crowds as well as higher prices, Coast Trail or Camino de Santiago to cycle-based trips in The park also has a huge diversity of flora and is one of the So which of these trends are here to stay for 2020? With the vacationers are beginning to see the benefit of checking out picturesque places like Ireland or Taiwan, motion-based least impacted areas of the northern part of the Australian help of experts and data crunchers, here are my predictions places that are a bit off the typical path. travel is having a moment. continent. Its spectacular scenery includes landscapes of for the biggest trends in travel for 2020. And the numbers support this. According to Booking. And the numbers back it up. According to Saddle arresting beauty, with escarpments up to 330 meters high 1. Sustainability will be cornerstone for high- com, 54% of global travelers want to play a part in reducing Skeddaddle, UK’s leading cycling vacation specialist, there was extending in a jagged and unbroken line for hundreds of end luxury travel experiences. over-tourism and 51% interested in swapping destinations a 140% in cycle trip bookings from North America between kilometers. Now that hotels and airlines are getting into the for a lesser known but similar alternative. 2014 and 2018. Many of the art and archaeological sites of the park are environmentally-friendly game, green travel is only going Either way, travelers are more likely to be taking the With the rise of motion-based travel, the options for thousands of years old, showing a continuous temporal span to become a bigger trend. And while the sector has a long road less traveled in the year ahead. vacationers are more varied than ever. Think: bike-to-boat of the hunting and gathering tradition from the Pleistocene way to go – some say it is one of the worst when it comes 3. Big interest in ‘new’ ways of transport. vacations in Croatia and swim-specific tours in the Maldives Era until the present. While these sites exhibit great diver- to single-use plastics – it is a step in the right direction. Call if the Greta Thunberg effect. As flight shame increases or the Bahamas. sity, both in space and through time, the overwhelming With brands like Marriott swearing off single-use plastic consumers are looking to more and different ways to travel. So if you want your vacation to include some sweat in picture is also one of a continuous cultural development. toiletries, airports in Dubai banning all single-use plastic In Europe domestic flights are reportedly down in a bid 2020, you’re in luck. (Source: UNESCO) by the end of 2020, we’re going to see green travel grow. by people to decrease climate change. France has proposed (Source: Forbes) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 1, 2020 INTERNATIONAL 11

Cuban envoy raps U.S. It doesn’t have to be this way sanctions, urges continued By Scott Horton resistance ANTIWAR — This is all wrong. The entire war on 1 “In the negotiations, both countries must be respected, terrorism, and every bit of the suffering, spending and lost both countries must be considered equal, the values of both liberty that has come with it, has been an unnecessary evil. nations must be respected, and the independence and sover- At the time of the September 11, 2001 attack which eignty of both countries must be recognized,” he underlined. got this new era of war started, the enemy in Afghanistan “An important issue on which I insist is that neither the numbered only 400 men. Their closest acolytes spread US nor any other foreign country could interfere in the basic across the region, another few hundred. The George tenets of our revolution or talk about them.” W. Bush administration could have negotiated their Asked about the US’ hostile policies against Cuba and Iran extradition. Short of that, special operations forces and its attempts to counter their common revolutionary values, and the CIA Special Activities Division paramilitaries the envoy said Fidel Castro attached great significance to Iran. could have made short work of the small number of al “One of the approaches we are trying to continue under any Qaeda fighters, including Osama bin Laden and Ayman administration is that we follow Fidel Castro’s path.” al Zawahiri, if only they’d been allowed to. The whole Hailing the Iranian nation and leadership for warding off mess could have been over by New Year’s Day. the aggressors and sticking to the policy of resistance, Bandrich Instead, regime change was declared in Kabul and Vega said Cuba has been slapped with unfair sanctions for 60 Baghdad, and later Tripoli, Sana’a and Damascus. The years, but has always maintained its unity and safeguarded combination of Bush’s Iraq War II and Barack Obama’s the Constitution. half-regime change in Syria even led to the creation for “I must mention that unity was a key and a basic principle three years of the “Islamic State” Caliphate of W. Bush’s for reaching our goal… I can say it confidently that there is no old war propaganda and bin Laden’s wildest dreams doubt that we will never return to capitalism and the former in the lands where the Baathists used to rule; another situation, in which the country was under the hegemony of regime which had to be changed. other countries,” the Cuban ambassador underlined. Broadly defined, those fighters, not necessarily Asked about Washington’s push for regime change in other international terrorists, but fighters declared loyal to countries by fomenting unrest and imposing economic sanc- al Qaeda and its Islamic State spinoff, now number tions, the envoy said history has proved that the US’ ploys have somewhere in the low tens of thousands from West been futile in Cuba and Iran. Africa to Pakistan. Some war on terrorism. “These (American) sanctions have failed, and will fail in Nevermind a counterfactual where a hero like Ron future as well. Not only are the sanctions illegal, but they also Paul or Harry Browne, or even the horrible Al Gore had violate international law and human rights.” won the presidency in the year 2000. If only George Highlighting Cuba’s com- W. Bush had not hired Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld “How in the world can you-all be so stupid?!” screamed in order to make matters a hundred times worse. mitment to even distribution of and the neoconservatives, but instead had relied on the the other half back at them. Abortion, gay marriage and Now, three years into Trump’s presidency, despite resources and social justice, the man the American people assumed would be running other major cultural fault lines seemed like nothing in all his talk about how invading the Middle East was ambassador said Havana is also his foreign policy, his Secretary of State, Gen. Colin comparison at the time. the “worst decision ever,” the commander in chief has engaged in a battle against the Powell, none of this would have happened. The entire edifice of the Homeland Security state only escalated every single one of the wars, excepting US in the international arena. Of course in real life Powell clicked his heels and erected around Washington since 2001 never had to Pakistan: in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, “In the United Nations polls, lied the American people into war with Iraq anyway. be. The liberty lost to these institutions in this era will Libya and on down into West Africa. And there’s no you can see how all countries But there’s little doubt that if Jr. had picked a run-of- likely never be regained. In the late 1990s, when the end in sight. vote in our favor and how we the-mill VP and Secretary of Defense, and that they had Bill Clinton administration tried to institute new “Know One of the worst parts of it all is that our government win by a majority.” kept the crazies in the basement, the former Chairman your customer” regulations requiring banks to turn over committed so much of this violence in the name of liberty The envoy further reaf- of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Bush Sr.’s Iraq War records on all of their depositors to the feds on a regular and self-government, which has only helped to discredit firmed Cuba’s commitment to I in 1991 would have advised the son the same way he basis, there was a huge outcry and the program was the very best of what America truly does have to offer supporting a peaceful solution had told his father before: Don’t go to Baghdad. rolled back. But in the era of the War on Terrorism the world, if only we would live up to our ideals and to the crisis in Syria, stressing Without the destabilization of the region wrought by such regulations amounted to nothing but a footnote show the rest of humanity what it looked like. that the Syrian people must the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003-2011, on massive power grabs such as the PATRIOT Act and Instead, we got the whole dang century off on the decide their own fate without including the rise of “al Qaeda in Iraq” and its veterans the FBI, CIA and NSA’s legal and illegal domestic spying wrong foot. any direct or indirect interfer- coming home to countries like Libya and Syria in the programs. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The American people ence of outsiders. aftermath, there’s little reason to think that there would Millions of people have been made to suffer the worst can change it. As powerful as the war machine is, the “Cuba also condemns the Israeli regime’s attacks on Syria have been major uprisings in those countries for Bush’s indignities at the hands of TSA goons at our airports. question really all just comes down to public consensus. and the measures taken against that country (Syria). Cuba also successor Obama to arm and support. Hundreds of Americans have been entrapped by As this era comes to an end and a new one begins: do condemns any support for paramilitary groups in Syria. We Powell and Bush would’ve still probably wanted to stay government informants into bogus declarations of loyalty we believe in the government’s bogus narratives still, or always pursue the negotiations held in Astana and Geneva. on and expand the mission in Afghanistan, but contrary to terrorists and fake terrorist plots just to keep your don’t we anymore? Liberals, leftists and progressives care We wish Syria and its people peace and independence, and to some of the narratives spun in the new Afghan Papers family afraid while watching the nightly news. more about their own victimhood politics or they care hope that the country could safeguard its sovereignty and release, there’s no reason to think any of it would have In short, the American war on terrorism, in a mirror more about what’s happening to others? Conservatives independence. gone any better if the U.S. kept its eye on the ball and image of the tactics of our asymmetric enemies, has just love to kick Arab ass or they’re sick and tired of “Cuba is proud to be the only Latin American country that not gone off to invade Iraq. Afghanistan’s problems amounted to one big suicide attack itself. Our government seeing good people die in no-win wars based on lies? deployed a military group to Syria and fought against the Zi- were never going to be fixed with infantry divisions lashes out in unreasoned violence and succeeds only in Government and TV cannot dictate the answers to onist regime.” either way. destroying everything it claimed it was here to protect. these questions. It is up to the public to get it right and The ambassador further denounced the illegal US occu- But more than a million Iraqis, Libyans, Syrians and This is what bin Laden wanted. He said it repeatedly make it clear that this is what matters the most to us. pation of an area in Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay, stressing that Yemenis would not have been killed. Nor would the more back before the turn of the century. He would provoke At some point power will have to give in. What will the US must lift the sanctions on Cuba and also pull out of the than 4,500 American soldiers who have been killed in the U.S. into the Afghan trap, destabilize the region, it take to make them? Guantanamo military zone. the wars outside of Afghanistan in that time. Tens of break America’s bank, collapse our empire and force Here at Antiwar.com, we’ve been doing our part for “Fortunately, no military action has been taken against thousands of Americans have been wounded. No one us out the hard way, just the same way the CIA had 25 years, bringing you the truth behind all of America’s Cuba from that region in recent years, unlike the early years knows how many on “the other” side. helped them to do to the Soviet Union in Afghanistan wars. Please join us by supporting our efforts at Antiwar. of the revolution. However, they (Americans) must withdraw More than six trillion dollars would not have been a generation before. Bush, Obama and Trump’s wars com/donate. Antiwar.com is a 510(c3) not-for-profit from that area.” diverted to such wasteful, destructive ends. Just two. in the Arab countries have just been icing on the cake. organization that relies on your support to do our Bandrich Vega further decried the US plan for a maritime Another major consequence for the U.S. has been The U.S. has turned the entire region upside down and important work. And you can write off your donations coalition in the Persian Gulf, stressing that regional security the exacerbation of enmity and resentment between created open spaces for bin Ladenite militias to fight, on your income taxes! What more can I say, besides, must be ensured by regional countries alone. American political factions. Much of our current state where states used to be, for a thousand miles in every Thank you. It means everything. “The United States must shut down all of the military zones of tension can be traced back to the fight over invading direction. Scott Horton is editorial director of Antiwar.com, it has in other countries, and must return its military groups Iraq in 2003 and the torture the Bush administration And as the current chief administrator of America’s director of the Libertarian Institute, host of Antiwar Radio and corps to home,” he said, adding, “Interference in the in- used to generate the lies to justify that war. Families were attempted military hegemony in the Middle East might on Pacifica, 90.7 FM KPFK in Los Angeles, California ternal affairs of other countries has never yielded results and torn apart over partisan loyalty to horrible, dishonest complain, we, the American people, get absolutely nothing and podcasts the Scott Horton Show from ScottHorton. has always backfired.” men. It may be hard to remember or describe accurately out of it whatsoever. org. He’s the author of the 2017 book, Fool’s Errand: “Nobody has allowed the United States to interfere, and now, but the stress was real. “How could fully half the Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan’s governments Time to End the War in Afghanistan and editor of the nobody would interfere in the internal affairs of that country population of this country not want to fight against created this monster, Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton’s 2019 book, The Great Ron Paul: The Scott Horton Show either. The world doesn’t want to be like the US. The US must Saddam Hussein who attacked us on 9/11?! — filthy liberal governments turned them against us, then W. Bush and Interviews 2004–2019. He’s conducted more than 5,000 leave the world alone,” the envoy underscored. traitors!” thought a hundred-million or so Americans. Barack Obama’s governments exploited their violence interviews since 2003. As regards the US’ meddlesome policies on Bolivia, the Cuban ambassador said, “Latin America, referred to by some as the US’ backyard, is facing a complicated situation. The US has always tried to put pressure on the independent countries Joint naval drill with Russia, China shows Iran is not isolated: energy expert (in the region) not only by imposing sanctions, but also through By Payman Yazdani companies active in the Rolling Stream acts of interference, coups, and violent protests.” and Leaving Stream projects. Russian- He went on to say that the US government resorts to force TEHRAN (MNA) – Dr.Omid Shokri American competition in the global energy whenever it encounters pressure. “I believe that tough times are is of the view that the recent joint naval market is increasing day by day. Reducing ahead, and I think the countries in the region (Latin America) drill of Iran, Russia, and China shows Russia’s share of EU energy exports to must unite together and make efforts.” that Iran is not isolated and shares some the EU market is America’s main goal. mutual interests with Russia and China. China and Russia have incentives for The naval drills, the first of their kind, a coalition with Iran, particularly the Socialists pin Spain’s future were launched on Friday with the aim of Russians who have suffered numerous promoting the security of international sanctions and conflicts between the government formation on trade in the strategic regions, as well as Russians, Americans, and Europeans Catalan’s release sharing experience among participants after the invasion of the Crimea. The against piracy and marine terrorism. Chinese were attacked by Washington Spain’s state attorney called Monday for an imprisoned The joint maneuvers with China and because of their political rivalries with the Catalan politician to be allowed to be sworn in as a member Russia can be considered as one of the US. Chinese want to secure the Persian of the European Union Parliament, a step that could ease greatest achievements of Iran’s defense Gulf, the strategic region of the Islamic the way for a center-left governing alliance to take office diplomacy, sending messages to the West Republic of Iran. in the country. The European Union’s top court ruled this amid US efforts to woo countries into Can Iran reach an alliance with month that Oriol Junqueras, who served as Catalonia’s vice a maritime coalition for patrols in the Russia and China through the drill? president until 2017, had the right to parliamentary immunity Persian Gulf. A: Looking at the larger geopolitics, when he was elected to the bloc’s Parliament in May, when To shed more light on the issue we of the world oil market. Iran was able to beneficiaries of the Strait of Hormuz; they it can be said that the Iran-China-Russia he was already on trial. reached out to Dr.Omid Shokri Kalehsar, retain some of its share of the oil market, receive about 4 million barrels of oil per coalition is likely to form, and the joint In response to the ruling, the Spanish state attorney’s Senior Energy Diplomacy, and Energy especially East Asia, by selling oil on the day from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, patrol between Russia and China in the office Monday said that Junqueras should be allowed to leave Security Analyst, contributor for United gray market. The control of resources and and the United Arab Emirates. Around 42% waters of Japan and South Korea in the prison to take his seat. But it said that a request should be World International, an analyst at Gulf energy pathways (which play a role in of China’s imported oil passes through the East China Sea reinforces the possibility made immediately for the European Parliament to drop the State Analytics. energy security and economic growth of Strait of Hormuz. China’s main goal for of becoming partners. The drone attacks separatist politician’s immunity, so that he would serve the Following is the text of our interview major energy-consuming countries) has participation in the naval drill is energy on the Aramco refinery facility and drop 13-year prison term for his role in a secession bid two years ago. with him: always been a priority of world powers security, China has good relations with in production and exports of the world’s The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision in What is the importance of Iran, and factored in heavily to global political both Iran and Saudi and trying to solve largest oil company made the US send coming days. Russia, and China’s joint military drill equations. The United States sees an any problem in the region which directly more troops to Saudi Arabia at the request Junqueras remains the leader of the Catalan ERC party, for these three countries from the energy opportunity to control oil trafficking or indirectly treats china’s energy security of bin Salman. whose 13 lawmakers’ abstention from the 350-seat Congress perspective and also the importance of in important export zones such as the and china’s economic growth. This naval drill shows that Iran is not of Deputies would allow the Socialists of caretaker Prime the region which the drill was held? Strait of Hormuz to reduce the economic After playing an active role in isolated and shares some mutual interests Minister Pedro Sanchez and the anti-austerity United We Can A: US sanctions against Iranian oil growth of China and other countries. the Syrian crisis, Russia is trying to with Russia and China at the moment, (Unidas Podemos) to form a minority coalition government exports aimed at reducing Iran’s oil For China, oil security is the most increase its influence and presence in but it is not clear how long such collation after months of political impasse in Spain. exports not only reduced Iran’s oil important issue in regard to energy the Middle East. Russia is by no means will last; it should be noted that after the The state attorney’s move could lead ERC to abstain from production and exports but also provided security, while for other countries it is willing to control the US transit route US withdrawal from JCPOA, both China the confidence vote, expected as soon as next week. ERC has an opportunity for Iran’s rivals in the often gas or other fuels. According to and energy control resources. Last week, and Russia energy firms’ left Iran energy said it will make its final decision in a party meeting next week. oil market to gain part of Iran’s share the latest statistics, China is the biggest the US Senate approved a plan to ban sector and other industries. (Source: AP) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY JANUARY 1, 2020

Convert half of UK farmland WHO keeps silent to nature, urges top scientist on U.S. sanctions Half of the nation’s farmland needs to be transformed into woodlands and natural habitat to fight the climate crisis and restore wildlife, according to a former chief scientific adviser to the UK government. affecting Iranian Prof Sir Ian Boyd said such a change could mean the amount of cattle and sheep would fall by 90%, with farmers instead being paid for storing carbon dioxide, helping prevent floods and providing beautiful landscapes where people could boost their health and wellbeing. MPS patients 1 EB patients wounded by U.S. per 50,000 live births, it is suggested that sanctions in Iran 1,200 people are suffering EB. Although food and medicine are In Iran, these patients are known as claimed to be exempted from U.S. sanc- “butterflies” because their skin is as fragile tions, financial and banking sanctions as butterflies’ wings, EB patients are in have limited the life-saving medicine desperate need of special bandages as trade which harshly targeted the patients even minor frictions cause severe painful Exemptions for humanitarian trade dressing was relatively easier for EB pa- suffering from Epidermolysis Bullosa blisters. (such as food, medicine and medical tients, but with the return of sanctions, (EB), a rare genetic disease that causes Without the bandages, they face diffi- equipment) have not been effective in over a year (May 2018-May 2029), 15 painful blistering of the skin. culties even in their daily routine, includ- protecting Iranian patients from access to patients covered by EB Health House Across the country, 700 people have ing walking, eating or even breathing, imported medicine, such as the bandages lost their lives like Ava a two-year-old been diagnosed with EB, but considering and unfortunately there is no alternative used for EB patients’ treatment. girl in Ahvaz city who died of infection that EB is estimated to occur in 1 newborn treatment for such pain. Two or three years ago, access to wound and lack of skin care.

Boyd said the public were subsidising the livestock industry to produce huge environmental damage. The professor spent seven years at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Dutch vet dedicates years to save Caspian seals in Iran Affairs before stepping down in August. Half of farmland, mostly TEHRAN — Lenie ‘t Hart, a 78-year- ing, seals are likely to migrate due to insufficient food. uplands and pasture, produces just 20% of the UK’s food and ENVIRONMENT deskold Dutch animal caretaker and ani- The Caspian Seal life can be divided into three pe- would be better for used other public goods, he said. mal rights activist, has spent 50 years on preserving riods, he said, adding, they spend the first period on Boyd, who became vegetarian during his time in Defra, said seals, especially Caspian seals, which are exposed to breeding, the second period on hair shedding cycle farmers were potentially “sitting on a goldmine” in terms of the environmental pollution and are at risk of extinction. and the final period of their life spends on migration payments they could receive for growing trees and removing In 2008, Iran’s Department of Environment started to southern and central parts of the Caspian Sea in- carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. the seal conservation program with the support of the cluding Iran, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. He said: “We need a large, radical transformation and we Zeehondencreche, a seal protection center founded Caspian seals are usually born in Russian ice lands need to do it quickly, in the next decade. You can tick an immense by Lenie ‘t Hart. and due to the possibility of camouflage in ice and snow, number of boxes simultaneously.” She comes to Iran annually to help the endangered or less likely to be hunted, but habitat destruction in Farmers argue that uplands and pasture where livestock are species of seals. Iran has resulted in a rare sad event, as two pups were reared cannot be used to grow crops. But Boyd said: “It would be Caspian seal, the sole marine mammal inhabit- born in Gilan province last year, but their carcass was much better to store carbon and water, grow trees and make the ing the Caspian Sea, is endangered according to the found off the coast after a short time, he regretted. land available for people to improve their health and welfare.” International Union for Conservation of Nature and Due to the occupation of the Caspian coastline in He said the 20% of food production lost by converting half Natural Resources (IUCN), as recently demonstrated Iran by government agencies and individuals con- of farmland could be made up by the development of vertical to have declined by more than 90 percent since the structing villas and settlements, the Caspian seals can farms, where food is produced indoors in controlled and more start of the 20th century. only rest on small parts of the shores of Miankaleh efficient conditions. Boyd said: “I know there are big companies According to the latest census conducted in 2016, Wildlife Refuge and Ashuradeh Island if there are no looking at how to really scale this up.” the population of Caspian seals has reached less than fishermen, he lamented. A series of studies have concluded that people in rich nations 70,000; while their population once stood at about Increasing public knowledge and awareness of local need to eat much less meat to tackle the climate emergency one million in the country. communities is an effective step in achieving goals and improve their health. “Most of the livestock production in Oil spill, industrial waste as well as heavy metals, of protecting the seals in addition to involvement of the UK is unprofitable without public subsidy,” said Boyd. “The agricultural pesticides, radioactive waste, wastewater prominent groups such as artists, athletes, and other public are subsidising the production of livestock to produce and household waste entering the sea, and noise pol- social, cultural and political influencers, he concluded. huge environmental damages, all the way from greenhouse gas lution caused by oil and gas refineries, and excessive emissions to water pollution. Why should we continue to do Caspian seals included on CMS boat traffic have pushed the species toward extinction that? It’s not sensible. Caspian seals are included in Appendices I and through poisoning them. “If anybody asked me: ‘If there is one thing I can do to help II of the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Releasing and treatment of injured seals caught save the planet, what would it be?’ I would say just eat a lot less Animals (CMS). in fishing nets, recording data of seals, sampling live meat. It’s the easiest thing to do. I’ve done it.” As per the Appendix I of the Convention, poach- animals, and collecting tissue samples from carcasses People could reduce the meat they eat by 90% and have a per- ing and illegal fishing activities is banned to save the to control Caspian ecosystem and its biological health, She sells the rugs in the Netherlands and the revenue fectly balanced diet, Boyd said: “Freeing up 50% of the land animals from extinction, while Iran has not had a are among the measures Hart has taken in Iran. is provided to the fishermen’s families. would probably result in a reduction in the amount of livestock share in illegal fishing of the species since the very She emphasizes that cooperation among Caspi- by about that amount, because it would be mostly livestock land Caspian seals population shrinking beginning, she concluded. an Sea littoral states is essential to rescue the seals, we would be taking out of production.” alarmingly Over the 12th Meeting of the Conference of the adding “If the neighboring Caspian countries fail to Farmers should be paid for changing the way land is used, Amir Shirazi, representative of the Caspian seal Parties (CMS COP12) to the Convention on the Con- find a suitable mechanism for rescuing the specie, the he said. Current subsidies are largely based on the amount of medical and research center in Iran, told IRNA on servation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), remaining population will be completely disappeared land owned, but the government has pledged it will “move to a Monday that despite the sharp decline in this endan- administered by UN Environment on October 28, 2017, over the next ten years.” system based on public money for public goods” after the UK gered population, hunting and exploitation of seals Caspian seals were included on Appendices I and II She has set up a medical and research center with leaves the EU’s subsidy regime. in Russia continues to be a serious problem which of the Convention. the help of Iranian colleagues in Ashuradeh, the only Farmland covers 70% of the UK, meaning that converting half needs to be tackled. According to the Conservation of Migratory Spe- island of the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea, to assist to woodlands and parks would create new landscapes across a The population of the valuable species in Iranian cies of Wild Animals Website, Appendix I comprises locals in rescuing the seals. third of the country. In May, a report from Rewilding Britain called part of the Caspian Sea has also fallen sharply, which migratory species that have been assessed as being The Caspian seal medical and research center teaches for a quarter of the nation to be returned to natural habitat. is mainly caused by being caught in the fisherman’s in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant fishermen the importance of seal protection by holding The National Farmers Union recently published its plan to net, he lamented. portion of their range. workshops. Now, fishermen cautiously rescue the seals end the climate-heating emissions from agriculture by 2040. During the past hunting seasons (beginning on Appendix II covers migratory species that have trapped in fishing nets, and no longer see them as a It said this could be done without cutting beef production or October 7), a number of Caspian seals were caught an unfavorable conservation status and that require dangerous piscivore. Moreover, the center rewards converting large areas of farmland into forest. Instead, the NFU daily in the fisherman’s net, but this year only 4 cases international agreements for their conservation and anyone who rescues a seal. said 75% of the UK’s agricultural emissions could be offset by have been reported, he stated. management, as well as those that have a conserva- In addition to training the fishermen, she has asked growing plant fuel for power stations and then capturing and He went on to say that another reason behind the tion status which would significantly benefit from the Iranian Turkmen women whose husbands were fisher- burying the carbon dioxide. decline of seals population in the country is the decline international cooperation that could be achieved by men to make carpets and rugs displaying seals’ picture. (Source: The Guardian) of fishes favored by seals such as Black Sea sprat, add- an international agreement.

WORDS IN THE NEWS ENGLISH IN USE Chinese poisoning LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION (September 18, 2002) The authorities in China say a man has confessed to carrying out a mass poisoning last Saturday that has left at least thirty-eight Miankaleh peninsula faces serious people dead and hundreds of others severely ill. According to state تاالب میانکاله در معرض خشکی کامل run media the man has admitted to spreading powerful rat poison risk of disappearing حســین علــی ابراهیمــی مدیــر کل محیــط زیســت اســتان مازنــدران20 درصــد از :on food. This report from Rupert Wingfield-Hayes In the aftermath of Saturday’s mass poisoning in central China Hossein Ali Ebrahimi, head of Mazandaran province تــاالب میانکالــه کامــا خشــک شــده اســت. authorities imposed a virtual news blackout, refusing even department of department, has said that almost 20 percent to confirm how many people had died. Four days later they say of the peninsula’s wetlands have dried up. بــه گزارش روز چهارشــنبه باشــگاه خبرنــگاران جــوان ابراهیمی ادامــه داد: تغییرات .they have the case wrapped up They say police have arrested a man who has admitted to spreading Drought spell and climate change are two of the key factors اقلیــم شــده و خشکســالی نیــز بــر این تــاالب تاثیــر گذار powerful rat poison on food at a popular snack shop in the town of contributing to the Miankaleh peninsula dryness, YJC Tangshan. Hundreds of people became suddenly and violently ill quoted Ebrahimi as saying on Wednesday. گفــت: متاســفانه اســتان مازنــدران نیــز ماننــد ســایر اســتا نهای کشــور درگیــر .after eating food at the shop on Saturday morning Authorities now say thirty-eight people died, many of them children, Unfortunately, the province of Mazandaran has also been تغییــرات اقلیــم شــده و خشکســالی نیــز بــر ایــن اســتان تاثیــر گــذار بــوده اســت on their way to a nearby school. State-run media says the man, negatively affected by climate change and less precipitation بــه همیــن دلیــل قســمتی تــاالب میانکالــه کامــا خشــک شــده اســت. وی در ,who has admitted to carrying out the attack, claims he did so out has increased the peninsula water deficits, Ebrahimi said of revenge over a business dispute with the owner of the shop. stating that additionally mismanagement, unsustainable ادامــه افــزود: عــاوه بــر تغییــرات اقلیمــی و کمبــود نــزوالت آســمانی، نبــود While the police account may well be true, there are serious concerns in China over the use of confessions. They’re agricultural practices, and severe depletion of the wells مدیریــت صحیــح منابــع آبی برداشــت غیرمجــاز از چاههــا و و منــاع آب زیرزمینی often extracted under duress and, in such a high profile crime and groundwater resources have exacerbated Miankaleh case as this, the police will have been under tremendous pressure peninsula’s condition. و کشــاورزی ناپایــدار در منطقــه، وضعیــت ایــن تــاالب بحرانــی اســت. .to get a quick result Words aftermath: the situation that results from an important event imposed: forced to accept something PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM virtual: almost total news blackout: censorship of all news “-ization, -isation” Gnaw (away) at A breeze wrapped up: completed successfully dispute: argument somebody/something Meaning: say that something was a breeze means revenge: the action of hurting or harming someone in return for Meaning: a word ending that indicates process that it was very easy or that everything went smoothly an injury or wrong suffered at their hands or result Meaning: to make someone feel worried or fright- For example: The interview was a breeze - barely extracted: remove or take out, especially by effort or force For example: The characterization is believable, ened, over a period of time 10 minutes and I got the job! duress: forced to do something unwillingly but it’s still not a very good book. high profile:very important For example: Something was gnawing at the back (Source: BBC) of his mind. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 1, 2020 WORLD IN FOCUS 13

Den of espionage,terror Sultan Qaboos ‘stable’, treatment ongoing sieged Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said is in a “stable condition” and Dozens of protesters broke into the U.S. Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes along with oth- continuing a program of medical treatment, state television said embassy compound in Iraqi capital Baghdad er senior Hashd leaders were among the on Tuesday, citing a statement from the sultan’s office. on Tuesday after smashing a main door and protesters. Concern had grown over the sultan’s health after he spent a setting fire to a reception area, prompting Speaking to Reuters, Qais al-Khazali, the week in Belgium undergoing medical treatment this month and tear gas and sounds of gunfire. head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq — another PMU Omani authorities said nothing about his health after his return. Witnesses at the scene reported flames faction — said “Americans are unwanted An ally of the West, Qaboos, 79, has ruled the Gulf Arab state rising from inside the compound and at in Iraq. They are a source of evil and we since leading a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of Britain, least three U.S. soldiers on the roof of the want them to leave.” Oman’s former colonial power. main building inside embassy. Many protesters have set up tents, an- Qaboos has no children and has not publicly named a succes- Iraq’s caretaker prime minister Adel nouncing plans for an indefinite sit-in until sor. A 1996 statute says the ruling family will choose a successor Abdul Mahdi said that crowds should leave the embassy is closed and the ambassador within three days of the throne’s becoming vacant. the compound “immediately.” expelled from the country. If they fail to agree, a council of military and security officials, “We recall that any aggression or har- Earlier in the day, Iraqi lawmakers Supreme Court chiefs and heads of the two assemblies will put assment of foreign embassies will be firmly chanted anti-U.S. slogans during a par- in power the person whose name has been secretly written by prohibited by the security forces,” Abdel liamentary session. the sultan in a sealed letter. Mahdi’s office said several hours after the Sadr says ready to work with In his first comments to the country since returning, the state- attack began. Hashd al-Sha’abi to end U.S. presence ment from the royal court said Qaboos thanked his people for Meanwhile, U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Senior Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr the good wishes they had sent him. has been evacuated after thousands of an- says he is willing to work with the Popular (Source: AFP) gry Iraqi demonstrators gathered outside Mobilization Units (PMU) -- better known the gates of the compound to condemn as Hashd al-Sha’abi -- to end the United Washington’s fatal military aggression States military presence in Iraq through Death toll from tribal clashes that targeted Iraq’s Popular Mobilization to leave Iraq. surveillance cameras around the building. political and legal means. Units (PMU). “Parliament should oust U.S. troops, Outside the mission, Iraqi security forces In comments on Monday, Sadr warned in Sudan’s Darfur rises to 24 Also on Tuesday, Iraqis held a massive or else we will,” one poster read. fired teargas as they tried to prevent the that he will “take other actions” in co- funeral procession in the capital Baghdad Reuters cited two Iraqi Foreign Ministry protesters from making their way into the operation with his rivals to kick out Sporadic tribal clashes between Arabs and non-Arabs contin- for the victims of the U.S. air raids, which sources as saying that the U.S. ambassador diplomatic compound. U.S. troops if political and legal means ued Tuesday in Sudan’s West Darfur province, as the death toll killed at least 25 PMU fighters from the and other staff were evacuated from the Only a small amount of teargas was do not work. climbed to at least two dozen people, some of them burned to Kata’ib Hezbollah faction and injured over embassy out of security concerns as protests used and the PMU members taking part He at the same time called on Iraqis to death, according to a local aid group working in the area. 50 others in Anbar Province. raged outside. in the rallies, using loud speakers, urged the avoid “irresponsible actions” that can be Some of the 24 dead were children, said Adam Regal, a spokes- Caretaker Prime Minister Adel Ab- Only a few embassy protection staff crowd to disperse, a Reuters witness said. used to justify attacks on the Arab country. man for a local organization that helps run refugee camps in the dul-Mahdi has announced three days of were left behind, according to the Reuters. The Iraqi caretaker premier called on Fighters loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr fought area. He said at least 17 others were wounded. public mourning. American forces deployed inside the the protesters to “immediately” leave the U.S. troops for years following Washington’s The clashes, which erupted over the weekend, pose a challenge Thousands of angry protests managed compound have fired tear gas, flash compound. invasion of Iraq in 2003. to efforts by Sudan’s transitional government to end decades to reach the U.S. diplomatic mission which bangs and stun grenades to disperse “We recall that any aggression or har- Sadr’s comments came after the U.S. long rebellions in areas like Darfur. Rebel groups from Darfur is located in Baghdad’s heavily fortified the crowd. assment of foreign embassies will be firmly forces in Iraq carried out an airstrike on have now suspended their peace talks with the government in Green Zone, chanting ‘Death to America’ The protesters have breached the outer prohibited by the security forces,” Abdel a number of PMU facilities in the western response to the tribal clashes and called for an investigation. and burning U.S. flags. wall of the high-security compound. They Mahdi’s office said. Anbar Province, which led to the killing Sudan is on a fragile path to democracy after a popular upris- The protesters further held up signs call- have sprayed the words “Closed in the name ‘U.S. unwanted in Iraq’ of nearly 30 people and injuring of over ing led the military to overthrow longtime autocratic President ing for the U.S. mission to be shut down of the people” on the gates of the American Hashd al-Shabi commander Faleh al- 50 others. Omar al-Bashir in April. A military-civilian government now and for the parliament to order U.S. forces mission, throwing bricks and stones at the Fayyadh and Kata’ib Hezbollah commander (Source: agencies) rules the country. One if its key priorities has been ending the insurgencies in Sudan’s far-flung provinces in order to slash military spending, which takes up much of the national budget. Trump, Putin discussed Russia attack, arms U.S., German, Israeli envoys weigh in Regal shared footage showing burned properties, as well as graphic images of dead bodies and wounded people with blood- control, relations:White House on Russian WWII claims stained clothes. His aid group said looting and destruction of property by militias took place in at least three refugee camps The U.S, German and Israeli ambassadors the U.S. and the international Jewish The U.S, German and Israeli ambassadors “creating discord between Poland and in the town of Genena. in Warsaw weighed in Monday against diaspora.” in Warsaw weighed in Monday against the U.S. and the international Jewish Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council said Monday they would claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin He said Putin is trying to erase Stalin’s claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin diaspora.” deploy “sufficient” troops to the region to help contain the deadly that Poland bears part of the blame for alliance with Hitler from history. that Poland bears part of the blame for He said Putin is trying to erase Stalin’s clashes, which grew out of a skirmish between two people, one the outbreak of World War II. British historian Roger Moorehouse the outbreak of World War II. alliance with Hitler from history. of whom, an Arab, was stabbed to death. “Dear President Putin, Hitler and Stalin tweeted to say that Putin’s words “provoked “Dear President Putin, Hitler and Stalin British historian Roger Moorehouse (Source: AP0) colluded to start WWII. That is a fact. Po- a much better popular understanding of colluded to start WWII. That is a fact. Po- tweeted to say that Putin’s words “provoked land was a victim of this horrible conflict,” the pact’s true nefarious nature and sig- land was a victim of this horrible conflict,” a much better popular understanding of Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher said nificance.” Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher said the pact’s true nefarious nature and sig- on Twitter in English and Polish. On Sunday, Polish Prime Minister on Twitter in English and Polish. nificance.” UN envoy says UK The Russian Embassy countered with Mateusz Morawiecki protested Putin’s The Russian Embassy countered with On Sunday, Polish Prime Minister ‘contributed’ to Assange’s a tweet saying: “Dear Ambassador, do you comments, saying they are deliberate a tweet saying: “Dear Ambassador, do you Mateusz Morawiecki protested Putin’s really think that you know about history “lies” and arguing that Putin is trying to really think that you know about history comments, saying they are deliberate torture, urges British govt. to any more than you do about diplomacy?” deflect attention from recent political any more than you do about diplomacy?” “lies” and arguing that Putin is trying to World War II began on Sept. 1, 1939, failures by Russia. World War II began on Sept. 1, 1939, deflect attention from recent political release him immediately when Nazi German troops invaded Poland. Poland did not invite Putin to inter- when Nazi German troops invaded Poland. failures by Russia. Two weeks later, the Soviet Red Army also national ceremonies Sept.1 in Warsaw Two weeks later, the Soviet Red Army also Poland did not invite Putin to inter- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer has published attacked embattled Poland from the east, marking the 80th anniversary of the war’s attacked embattled Poland from the east, national ceremonies Sept.1 in Warsaw a letter to the UK government, asking it to end the detention in what Poles still refer to as a “stab in the outbreak. He is also not to attend Jan. in what Poles still refer to as a “stab in the marking the 80th anniversary of the war’s of Julian Assange, warning that his health may soon reach a back.” Days earlier, Germany and Russia 27 observances of the liberation of the back.” Days earlier, Germany and Russia outbreak. He is also not to attend Jan. “critical” stage, including risk of death. had signed a pact with a secret protocol Auschwitz-Birkenaudeath camp that Nazi had signed a pact with a secret protocol 27 observances of the liberation of the The scathing letter, which was penned by Melzer on Octo- to carve up Poland and the Baltic states Germany operated in occupied Poland. to carve up Poland and the Baltic states Auschwitz-Birkenaudeath camp that Nazi ber 29, urged the British authorities to review the WikiLeaks between themselves. Some six million Poles Relations between Russia and Po- between themselves. Some six million Germany operated in occupied Poland. founder’s prison conditions or release him immediately. How- lost their lives during the whole of WWII. land have been tense since Poland threw Poles lost their lives during the whole Relations between Russia and Poland ever, having received no response from London in the last 60 Recently, Putin has argued that collu- off Moscow-controlled communist rule of WWII. have been tense since Poland threw off days, Melzer decided to go public and publish the document sion between Western powers and Adolf 30 years ago and began moving closer Recently, Putin has argued that collu- Moscow-controlled communist rule 30 in full on Tuesday. Hitler paved the way for World War II. to the West. Poland has since joined sion between Western powers and Adolf years ago and began moving closer to the In the letter, the UN special rapporteur described the detention He also cast Poland as an anti-Semitic NATO and the European Union, and Hitler paved the way for World War II. West. Poland has since joined NATO and regime that Assange has to endure in the clandestine top-securi- country that welcomed Hitler’s plans to has cultivated a close alliance with He also cast Poland as an anti-Semitic the European Union, and has cultivated ty Belmarsh Prison as “unnecessary, disproportionate, and dis- destroy Europe’s Jews. the United States. country that welcomed Hitler’s plans to a close alliance with the United States. criminatory.” He said it was designed to “perpetuate [Assange’s] German Ambassador Rolf Nikel and Poland has also been making efforts to destroy Europe’s Jews. Poland has also been making efforts to exposure to psychological torture or other cruel, inhuman or Israeli Ambassador Alexander Ben Zvi reduce its dependence on Russian gas and German Ambassador Rolf Nikel and reduce its dependence on Russian gas and degrading treatment or punishment.” took a stand Monday to blame the war’s oil and has vocally opposed Nord Stream Israeli Ambassador Alexander Ben Zvi oil and has vocally opposed Nord Stream Melzer proceeded to admonish the British government for outbreak on the August 1939 Nazi-So- 2, a major Russian-German gas pipeline took a stand Monday to blame the war’s 2, a major Russian-German gas pipeline taking four months to respond to his previous letter of May 27, viet pact. under construction that will transport Rus- outbreak on the August 1939 Nazi-So- under construction that will transport which was penned after Melzer visited Assange in the high-se- Polish historian Mariusz Wolos told sian gas to Western Europe, bypassing viet pact. Russian gas to Western Europe, bypassing curity facility on May 9. the Onet portal that Putin is aiming at Poland and Ukraine. Polish historian Mariusz Wolos told Poland and Ukraine. Melzer wrote that a “thorough forensic and psychiatric exam- “creating discord between Poland and (Source: daily Star) the Onet portal that Putin is aiming at (Source: AP0 ination” performed during his visit showed “a clear pattern of symptoms typical for persons having been exposed to psychological torture for a prolonged period of time.” But instead of heeding his recommendations, the UK turned a blind eye to the findings, Thousands trapped on Australian beaches by dangerous bushfires preferring not to do anything to alleviate the journalist’s suffering. (Source: RT) Thousands swarmed to beaches on Australia’s east coast three-year drought. About 4,000 people in the town of Mallacoota in Vic- on Tuesday to escape fierce wildfires bearing down on Fueled by searing temperatures and high winds, more toria headed to the waterfront after the main road was several seaside towns, as the government readied naval than 200 fires are now burning across the southeastern cut off. Those who could not make it there scrambled for vessels and military helicopters to aid firefighting and states of New South Wales and Victoria, threatening several shelter in a gymnasium and other public buildings, as Kim calls for ‘military evacuations. Government officials called for Australian towns and snapping their power, mobile and internet links. emergency sirens wailed. military support and assistance from U.S. and Canadian “This is absolutely one of the worst fire seasons Some of those trapped in the town posted images of countermeasures’ fire crews as authorities confirmed two people had died we’ve seen,” Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of blood-red, smoke-filled skies on social media. One beachfront overnight, taking to 11 the total deaths in wildfires since the NSW Rural Fire Service, told a briefing in Sydney. photograph showed people lying shoulder-to-shoulder North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for active “diplo- the beginning of October. “It’s going to be a very long, difficult dangerous night on the sand, some wearing gas masks. matic and military countermeasures” to preserve the country’s The huge bushfires have destroyed more than 4 still ahead. It’s going to be another difficult day again to- It looked “a lot like Armageddon,” said David Jeffrey, security in a lengthy speech at a key political conference possibly million hectares (10 million acres), with new blazes morrow.” Authorities said the main firefront was moving the owner of the Wave Oasis guesthouse, adding, “It’s meant to legitimize important changes to his nuclear diplomacy sparked into life almost daily by extremely hot and up the coast and warned those in its path to seek shelter terrifying.” with the United States. windy conditions in bushland left tinder dry after a close to the beach. (Source: reuters) Kim spoke during the ruling Workers’ Party meeting, which is expected to continue for the fourth day on Tuesday, according to the Korean Central News Agency. During his seven-hour speech on Monday, Kim issued national Israeli top court hears case on Netanyahu’s future goals for rebuilding North Korea’s economy and preparing active and “offensive political, diplomatic and military countermeasures Israel’s Supreme Court has convened to hear an immediate ruling and may ask for a full he emerges victorious. languish under the current parliament. for firmly preserving the sovereignty and security of the country,” a petition on whether an indicted member panel of the court to convene on the matter. Given the shaky legal ground, the court Normally, a request for immunity the state media said on Tuesday. of parliament can form a new government, Either way, it was wading into uncharted could deem the scenario hypothetical and would need to be approved by a parlia- On Wednesday, Kim is expected to use his annual New Year’s a key test case for Prime Minister Benja- territory. delay the case until that happens. mentary committee and then submitted address to announce significant changes to his economic and min Netanyahu to see if he can prolong his Israeli law requires Cabinet ministers The hearing comes as Netanyahu ap- to a full vote. But the committee charged security policies. political career after elections in March. and mayors to resign if indicted, but does pears poised to seek immunity from the with handling such matters does not exist Some experts believe Kim could use the speech to declare he is If the court decides Netanyahu is inel- not specify so for a sitting prime minister. corruption charges against him, delaying because a government was never formed suspending his nuclear negotiations with Washington, which are igible, it could precipitate a constitutional There are no restrictions on Netanyahu to the prospect of a trial until the elections after September’s election. in a deadlock over disagreements in exchanging sanctions relief crisis in Israel, and exacerbate the already run in the March 2 election - the third polls when he hopes to have a parliamentary The attorney general cannot file the in- and disarmament, and he could possibly revive confrontation tenuous ties between the Israeli government in less than a year - but good governance majority coalition that will shield him from dictment until the question of immunity by lifting a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range and judiciary. groups are appealing whether he could be prosecution. is settled, delaying any court proceedings. missile tests. The court is not expected to hand down tasked with forming a new government if The request for immunity is likely to (Source: al Jazeera) (Source: al Jazeera) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS JANUARY 1, 2020

Moreno happy to be ‘number WADA better positioned to one’ at Monaco after Spain split

Robert Moreno was unveiled as the new coach of Monaco on Monday, admitting his bitter bust-up with Spain boss Luis Enrique had paved the way for him to become “number one”. wipe out drug cheats, chief says Moreno, 42, takes over at 2004 European and 2017 French cham- pions Monaco after Leonardo Jardim was sacked for the second time. Outgoing WADA President Craig Reedie be able to participate in the competitions, However, he arrives at the Ligue 1 outfit having been accused says the Russian doping scandal shows but under a neutral flag and without the of “disloyalty” by Enrique. that clean sport is under attack, but the national anthem being played. Moreno was previously Spain assistant coach but was pro- anti-doping organization now has the tools WADA estimated that Russia had moted to the top job after Enrique resigned to take care of his to better weed out drug cheats. “manipulated” the data of the Moscow nine-year-old daughter Xana, who died in August of cancer. Taking stock of his six years at the helm anti-doping laboratory which were trans- “I had nine extraordinary years at his side,” said Moreno on of the World Anti-Doping Agency, the mitted to it at the beginning of the year, Monday. “But that is all in the past. Today is my presentation 78-year-old Briton insists the group is an umpteenth rebound in a scandal which as Monaco coach. I have coached since I was 14 and obtained “stronger” than ever as it faces the “un- started with the revelation in 2015 of an my UEFA licence at 25. precedented” challenge of the doping institutional doping practiced since 2011 “I always wanted to become the number one. This is the start crisis in Russia. and involving senior officials, secret agents of that stage,” added Moreno who guided Spain through qualify- “Considering the last six years in par- and trafficked urine vials. ing for Euro 2020 in the absence of Enrique. ticular, I am especially pleased to see how The significant extent of state-sponsored He arrives at the Russian-backed principality club with the WADA responded to the challenges it faced doping in Russia, notably between 2011 team in seventh place in Ligue 1 and 17 points behind leaders since 2014, in particular the Russian doping and 2015, was revealed in an independent and defending champions PSG. crisis,” he said in his end-of-term message. report by sports lawyer Richard McLaren, Jardim, who took Monaco to the league title in 2017, was fired at The crisis, he recalled, led to the crea- released in 2016. the weekend, just over a year since he was previously sent packing. tion within WADA of an “intelligence and The issue has dealt a colossal blow to Moreno said he had been considering a range of offers since his investigations” service, which played “a the status of post-Soviet Russia as a major acrimonious November departure from the Spanish national team. decisive role” in the recent decision to sports power after hosting events such as “The Monaco project had the best guarantees and conditions,” exclude Russia from major world sports Arbitration for Sport to rule on the matter, corruption,” he said. the 2013 World Athletics Championships, he said after signing a deal until June 2022. competitions for falsifying anti-doping said Reedie, whose term officially ends WADA decided on December 9 to ban the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and “I knew that I wanted to work at a high level and I wanted a data. Tuesday. Russia from participating in major inter- the 2018 World Cup. project that matched this desire. Coming here means growing The Russian anti-doping agency RU- “Throughout this process WADA has national events for four years, including The Sochi Games later became notori- as a coach and a person.” SADA announced Friday that it has chal- shown it has the will, the expertise and the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games and ous for the number of doping violations (Source: Mirror) lenged the exclusion. the legal tools to stand up effectively to the 2022 World Cup. by prominent Russian athletes. Ultimately, it will be up to the Court of this unprecedented level of cheating and Only handpicked Russian athletes will (Source: AFP) Rangers say striker Morelos ‘racially abused’ in win over Celtic Raiola claims Manchester United could Arsenal against United recalls brighter ruin Diego Maradona or Pele times for faded giants Glasgow club Rangers have said striker Alfredo Morelos was racially abused during their 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory at ‘Old Firm’ rivals Celtic on Sunday. Rangers got their first win at Celtic Park since 2010, clos- ing the gap on the leaders to two points with a game in hand. Colombian striker Morelos was sent off in stoppage time after receiving a second booking for a dive in the box. Morelos appeared to make a gesture with his hand across his neck to Celtic fans following his dismissal. “We believe Alfredo was racially abused and we would expect now that all measures will be taken to identify and deal with those responsible,” a Rangers spokesman told Sky Sports. Celtic said in a statement that they had not received any re- ports that the 23-year-old was racially abused. “We are aware of the gestures made by the player towards Celtic supporters,” Celtic said. “We have received no reports of any racial abuse but would fully investigate any should these be brought to our attention.” (Source: Goal) Mino Raiola is a very busy man as we United until at least the summer, going At the start of this decade, clashes be- used to hate coming here as an opponent, approach the January transfer window. forward he needs to be “in a club that I tween Arsenal and Manchester United and we need to use that power. The op- Days after securing Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s hope fights for the league and hopefully were still potentially title-deciding affairs, ponent must be uncomfortable playing Rooney gets starting nod return to AC Milan, the controversial the Champions League”. but when the pair meet on New Year’s here,” he said. agent has set his sights on a cut of another His warning that he won’t allow his Day at the Emirates they will have more “It was incredible to play here as an from Derby boss big move: Paul Pogba. clients to join the 20-time English cham- modest goals in mind. Arsenal player. It’s one of the most beauti- As much as Manchester United fans pions may sound like an empty threat United have not won a league title since ful, exciting stadiums in the world. When Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge seven England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney will make his debut might want to ignore Raiola, he is po- and a needless insult, but his prophecy this crowd gets going, and you feel them years ago, while Arsenal have to go back for second-tier Derby against Barnsley on Thursday, the club’s tentially the one person who knows the has already started to come true this right behind the team, it’s an incredible to 2004 for the last time they raised the manager Phillip Cocu confirmed. truth about whether the World Cup win- week after he oversaw the transfer of place,” he added. Premier League trophy, during the reign Rooney, 34, joined Derby as a player-coach from MLS side DC ner will leave Old Trafford next month. United target Erling Haaland to Borus- United head to London on the back of Arsene Wenger. United but has been ineligible to play for his new side until January. We say he has been busy, not just sia Dortmund. of wins over Newcastle and Burnley, and Both clubs entered this season hoping “If a player with the qualities, career and the experience of because he is preparing for the market Reports quickly emerged suggesting with French forward Anthony Martial and to finish in the top four, but while Ole Rooney (is available) you have to be very happy and glad he is to open, but also because of his extensive the Red Devils had themselves backed England’s Marcus Rashford having struck Gunnar Solskjaer has guided United to here,” said Cocu after Monday’s 2-1 home win over Charlton in media duties. out of the deal because of Raiola’s de- five times in those games. fifth place, just a point off the Champions the Championship. He has already spoken to The Tel- mands, including a low buyout clause French midfielder Paul Pogba is expected League spots, Arsenal languish in 12th, “He’s fit, he can start but he will need a few games. Expectation egraph and Sky Sports about Pogba’s and a percentage of any future sales. to be part of the United squad for the clash 11 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea will be high when he starts playing but we have to give him a few future, always saying conflicting things Yet he is likely to further irk Ed Wood- with the Gunners as he continues his return after their home defeat to Frank Lam- games to build up his minutes and get in the team. about the Frenchman’s situation. ward and co. by hinting to the Telegraph from a three-month injury absence. pard’s side on Sunday. “So maybe not perfect from the start but it’s important he will get However, his most damning comments that United were the architects of such Runaway leaders Liverpool host Sheffield Arsenal’s poor form led to the dismissal in the team as soon as possible so we get a certain shape in our team.” come in Italian outlet La Republicca, rumors. United on Thursday, looking to maintain of their Spanish manager Unai Emery and Rooney’s debut can’t come soon enough for Derby. with whom he was speaking following “I do not know if Manchester United their unbeaten run and 13-point advantage the arrival of his compatriot, former Gun- Their win on Monday moved them into 17th place in English Ibrahimovic’s arrival at the San Siro. are briefing this but if they are then they over second-placed Leicester City. ners midfielder Mikel Arteta. football’s second-tier. This time, it was a brief dig at United are covering their own loss and that I find Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes are at New- Having left his role as Pep Guardiola’s However, they are still nine points shy of the play-off spots but one which makes it clear in no un- strange and disappointing,” he added. castle, while third-placed Manchester City assistant at Manchester City, Arteta is talk- and 21 behind the two automatic promotion places. certain terms that he does not intend to While United were the team with “the have a tricky test at home to Everton, who ing big despite beginning with a draw at On Monday, teenage midfielder Jason Knight scored his first do business with them again. most direct contact” with the Norwegian have won both their games since appoint- Bournemouth before Sunday’s loss. goals in professional football to give Derby the three points, “Today, I wouldn’t bring anyone there,” striker, he chose not to go to the Premier ing Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager. “We are the biggest football club in ending a run of seven games without a win. he said. “They would also ruin [Diego] League because he felt Dortmund would David Moyes begins his second spell as England, and we have to play a little bit (Source: Sun) Maradona, Pele and [Paolo] Maldini. be better for his development. West Ham United manager, following the “Paul needs a team and a club, one Judging by his latest comments, no- with that arrogance, that belief,” Arteta dismissal of Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, like the first, Juventus.” body would bet against Raiola having told Sky Sports, urging the club’s fans to when the Hammers host fellow strugglers Raiola also told Sky Sports that while had a quiet word in Haaland’s ear either. make the Emirates a fortress again. Bournemouth. ‘Still a lot of fire’: Sharapova he does, in fact expect Pogba to stay at (Source: Daily Mail) “This stadium has to create fear again. I (Source: Reuters) accepts Brisbane wildcard Major progress made across Qatar’s FIFA World Cup™ stadiums portfolio in 2019 Former world number one Maria Sharapova said Tuesday she One of the Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s Al Rayyan Stadium still had “a lot of fire” as she attempts to resurrect her career major highlights during 2019 was the inauguration of the The pitch was recently laid at this 40,000-capacity venue, after an injury-plagued 2019. spectacular Al Janoub Stadium. The 40,000-capacity venue, which will host matches up to the quarter-finals stage in The five-time major winner will open her 2020 campaign designed by architectural legend Zaha Hadid, was unveiled 2022. Seats are being installed at the stadium, while the in Brisbane after being awarded a wildcard by organizers in to the world in May when it hosted the Amir Cup final. external render has almost been completed. Roof cladding preparation for the Australian Open later in January. Al Janoub Stadium became the second FIFA World Cup is also in progress. “To be fair when I was younger I never saw myself playing Qatar 2022™ tournament venue to open after Khalifa In- Lusail Stadium past 30,” the 32-year-old Russian told reporters in Brisbane. ternational Stadium’s successful redevelopment was com- The venue for Qatar 2022’s opening match and final “But I still feel there is a lot in me to give. I still have a lot of pleted in 2017. is progressing well. All 48 structural V-frames have been fire in me and I am big competitor.” Six more stadiums are being constructed for Qatar 2022, installed, along with six out of the 24 roof compression ring Sharapova has not played since a first-round loss to career- with three of them – Education City Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium sections. Preparations for the cable net roof installation long rival Serena Williams at the US Open in August. and Al Rayyan Stadium – in the final stages of delivery. All have commenced at the field of play level. She has slipped to 133 in the world rankings after a 2019 the venues will be completed and tested well in advance semi-final between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Ras Abu Aboud Stadium season ruined by a shoulder injury which limited her to 15 com- of the tournament, which kicks off on 21 November 2022. Education City Stadium This 40,000-capacity stadium will be constructed us- petitive matches. Here is a rundown of the latest progress update from Construction has been completed at the 40,000-capacity ing the shipping containers which transport materials for “As long as the shoulder stays healthy and my body allows me each of the stadiums: venue, nicknamed the ‘Diamond in the Desert’. The stadium its development. Post-2022, it will become the first fully to, I hope there is a lot of time left for me,” she said. Khalifa International Stadium had been due to host the second semi-final and final during demountable stadium in FIFA World Cup™ history. 158 Sharapova won the Brisbane title in 2015 and joins a high-class It’s been a busy year for Qatar’s national stadium. It the FIFA Club World Cup™ – but it wasn’t possible to organ- containers have been delivered to the construction site, with field for next week’s event spearheaded by Australia’s world number hosted the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Sep- ize the necessary test events and obtain the relevant health 30 already installed. The fabrication for the steel structure is one Ashleigh Barty and Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka. tember and October before being a host venue for two major and safety permits prior to the tournament. The stadium 25% complete, while the fabrication of bleachers, concourse World number two Karolina Pliskova is also playing as are football tournaments: the Persian Gulf Cup and FIFA Club will now open in 2020. slabs and roof steel continues. Underground utilities, includ- fellow top 10 stars Elina Svitolina, Petra Kvitova and Kiki Bertens. World Cup™. Al Bayt Stadium ing the drainage network, are more than 50% complete. “It’s a fresh start after a tough last season,” said Sharapova. Al Janoub Stadium Designed to resemble a Bedouin tent, the 60,000-capac- Al Thumama Stadium “There were a lot of ups and downs, there were times when I was Al Janoub Stadium became the first Qatar 2022 to be ity Al Bayt Stadium will host matches up to the semi-finals Once complete, this 40,000-capacity venue will resemble ready but the shoulder wasn’t. built from scratch when it was inaugurated in May ahead stage in 2022. Fit-out works are advancing rapidly, including the ‘gahfiya’ – a cap worn by men across the Middle East and “But I have had a fairly good off season and I am motivated of the Amir Cup final between Al Duhail and Al Sadd. Since the installation of furniture in the skyboxes and executive Arab world. At present, 26 of the 40 façade columns have been to compete. At this point in my career when I have that feeling, then, the stadium has hosted a number of high-profile foot- lounges. Access bridges are being built, while external work installed, along with 14 out of 20 roof trusses. The bleacher instal- it’s a good sign.” ball matches, including FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers for – such as tree planting, landscaping and the development lation has reached 90%, while blockworks are 97% complete. (Source: Mirror) the Qatar national team and the sold-out Persian Gulf Cup of roads and car parks – is progressing. (Source: Sc.qa) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 1, 2020 SPORTS 15

Kolakovic optimistic about IOC confirms Iran’s Marouf candidacy for election to Athletes’ Commission securing spot at Olympics MNA —The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has con- firmed the candidacy of Saeid Marouf, captain of the Iranian SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran volleyball head coach national volleyball team, for election to its Athletes’ Commission. deskIgor Kolakovic is optimistic that his team The captain of the Iranian national volleyball team successfully can finish first at the 2020 Men’s Asian Olympic Qualifi- passed the second round of requirements that would determine his cation Tournament. eligibility as a candidate for the election to the IOC Athletes’ Commis- Iranian have been drawn in Pool A along with China, sion, and will now officially represent Iran among other candidates. Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan. This stage included a test administered by the International Pool B consists of Australia, Qatar, India and Korea. Olympic Committee that confirmed Saeid Marouf’s full eligibility Eight teams will strut their stuff in the Men’s Tokyo to run for IOC Athletes’ Commission election. Volleyball Qualification 2020 at Jiangmen Sports Center The IOC Athletes’ Commission is a body maintained by the Gymnasium, China from Jan. 7 to 12, 2020 to vie for the International Olympic Committee for the purpose of representing top honor and the lone ticket for the Tokyo 2020. athletes. Established in 1981, its function is to act as “the link The volleyball training camp for the competition has between active athletes and the IOC.” kicked off in Tehran’s Azadi Hall. The Commission meets once or twice a year, and organizes “We have an important tournament ahead and know an Athletes’ Forum once every two years. that it will be difficult task because all participant teams An election for Commission members is held at each edition will take part at the competition looking to book a berth at of the Olympic Games, with members being chosen by a secret the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” Kolakovic told the reporters. ballot of the athletes competing at those Games. “The year 2019 has been a busy calendar year for FIVB Four or five members are elected at each Summer Games and and we have little time for recovery,” he added. two or three at each Winter Games. They replace the group that “We have a lot of faith in our team and are hopeful of was elected at the Games of the same series eight years earlier. winning a berth at the Olympics, that’s why we are here. Marouf’s candidacy makes Iran’s first serious presence at We have no choice but to win a place at Tokyo,” the Mon- the election to IOC Athletes’ Commission. Iran has had no rep- tenegrin coach stated. resentative at this Commission so far. Iran will participate at the 2020 Men’s Asian Olympic The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit in- Qualification Tournament without warm-up games. dependent international organization made up of volunteers, “We invited Tunisia, Egypt and Qatar to Iran but they which is committed to building a better world through sport. It didn’t accept our invitation. France also said they will host redistributes more than 90 percent of its income to the wider us in January and it doesn’t work,” Kolakovic concluded. sporting movement. Iran will start the campaign with a match against Chi- nese Taipei on Jan. 7 and meet Kazakhstan and China in the following days. FFIRI General Assembly to Iran chosen to host FIBA U16 Asian Jaber Sadeghzadeh retains Iran’s be held in May 2020 Championship Pahlevan title TASNIM — Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) General Assembly will be held on May 7, 2020. On Monday, Heydar Baharvand was appointed as the feder- ation’s acting president. Iran’s Sports Minister Masoud Soltanifar has said that the activities should be carried out in accordance with the regulation by Baharvand until May. Baharvand will work as acting president until the General Assembly elects its president in May. Mehdi Taj resigned as president of Iran football federation on Sunday due to the heart problems. He was hospitalized last week and the doctors recommended him to step off from his role.

Esteghlal eye Irish forward Anthony Stokes SPORTS TEHRAN – Iran has at the World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria. SPORTS TEHRAN – Jaber in which athletes from across the country deskbeen chosen to host Iran have never participated in the last deskSadeghzadeh retained participate to achieve the title. the 2020 FIBA U16 Asian Champion- five editions of the FIBA U17 Basketball title of Iran’s Pahlevani Wrestling Cham- Though the competition has ancient roots, IRNA — Iranian football giant Esteghlal have set sight on signing ship by FIBA Asia. World Cup. pionship for the sixth time on Monday. its modern form has been held since 1944. Ex-Tractor forward Anthony Stokes. The competition, which will be held The FIBA U16 Asian Championship is He defeated Mehdi Hassanpour in the Winner of this title is called Pahlavan and The 31-year-old hitman left Tractor in July to Join TFF First Tehran from March 23 to April 2, 2020, an under 16 basketball championship in final match of the +100kg weight class. wears the special Bazouband (Armband). League club Adana Demirspor on a two-year contract, with the brings 16 Asian teams together at the the International Basketball Federation’s The final day of Iran’s Pahlevani Wres- The United Nations Educational, Scien- option of a third. Azadi Hall. FIBA Asia zone. The event started in 2009 tling Championship was held on Monday tific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) The former Arsenal forward joined Tractor in June 2018 and The event will also act as the FIBA U17 and is held bi-annually. in Tehran’s Iran Mall. registered Pahlevani and Zourkhaneh rituals scored 15 goals in 23 matches for the Iranian top-flight football club. Basketball World Cup qualification. Iran won a bronze medal in the first edi- Pahlavan of Iran is an annual Pahle- in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage Now, Esteghlal are going to sign Stokes in the January trans- The top four teams will book their places tion held in 2009 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. vani Wrestling competition held in Iran, in 2014. fer window. The Blues also want to hire Zob Ahan striker Arsalan Motahari. Esteghlal sit fifth in Iran Professional League, five points Asian Paralympic Committee launch new Strategic Plan behind leader Persepolis. The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) launched its new cellence from grassroot to elite level’ reflects the role of the veloped. These are: Strategic Plan which will take the organization through to APC as the IPC’s representative in the region and organizer * Enhance the positive impact of the Paralympic Move- Iranian top sports officials to 2023 and follows the launch of the International Paralympic of the Asian Para Games, the largest multi para-sport event ment in Asia Committee’s new plan which was unveiled in July. outside of the Paralympic Games. * Improve the standard of the Asian Para Games and meet IOC chief Work began on the new plan in February at the APC’s Speaking about the new Vision and Mission, APC Pres- leave a legacy General Assembly and Conference when the NPCs who ident Majid Rashed said: “The Paralympic Movement in * Drive a cultural shift through Para Sport for an in- make up the APC’s membership took part in facilitated Asia has been growing rapidly, fueled in part by having clusive Asia TASNIM — Iran’s National Olympic Committee President workshops. These identified the key challenges that the three Paralympic Games in quick succession in our region. * Strengthen APC and Asian Para Games brands Reza Salehi Amiri and Sports Minister Masoud Soltanifar plan Paralympic Movement in Asia faces and outlined the mem- However, there is still a long way to go to ensure that Asian * Develop excellence in our organization, operations to travel to Lausanne, Switzerland in January. bership’s vision for the role that the APC should play in para-athletes get the opportunities and recognition that and governance The Iranian officials will travel to the Swiss city to meet Inter- meeting these challenges. they deserve. Our new strategic plan will shape the APC’s Tarek Souei, APC CEO, said: ”We welcome the new Stra- national Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach. The process, led by an outside expert Eng. Hatim Ab- activity through to 2023 to make sure that the organization tegic Plan and the sharper focus that it puts on our Executive A total of 1880 athletes aged 15-18 from 80 countries will dulrahim, has seen the new Board of the APC discuss and is focused on doing everything that we can to grow, develop Team to deliver on behalf of the Paralympic Movement in descend upon Lausanne for the 2020 Youth Olympic Games, develop a new Vision, Mission and Values for the organization and sustain the Movement right across Asia. We’re looking Asia. We are a very diverse region and face many different which will be held from January 9 to 22. and set five new strategic priorities with targeted outcomes. forward to delivering the plan on behalf of our members challenges but we all share the same vision to use the power Iran will also send six athletes to the competition. The new vision is ‘Make for an inclusive Asia through and for the benefit of Asian para-athletes.” of para-sport to drive inclusion not just for para-athletes Para-sport’ which aligns closely with the new IPC vision The plan also identifies three new values for the APC: but for all people with impairment across the region. ‘Make for an inclusive world through Para-sport’. The new Solidarity, Diversity and Sustainability. These are designed We saw this power in action in Indonesia in 2018 at the North Korea pulls out Mission ‘To lead the Paralympic movement in Asia, deliver to specifically meet the needs of the region whilst comple- Asian Para Games and determined to build on this for the successful and sustainable Asian Para Games and support menting the Paralympic Values. Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games” of women’s 2020 soccer the NPCs to enable Para-athletes to achieve sporting ex- In addition, five new Strategic Priorities have been de- (Source: Mediaoffice.ae) qualifiers in South

Lee, Paik out of Korea Republic squad Redskins fire Allen, begin offseason overhaul North Korea has withdrawn its women’s soccer team from the Korea Republic will be without Lee Kang- Redskins owner Daniel Snyder fired team final round of 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifiers being staged in in and Paik Seung-ho for their challenge in president Bruce Allen and the overhaul in South Korea in February, the Asian Football Confederation AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020. Washington officially began Monday morning. (AFC) has said. The Korea Football Association Before a well-publicized meeting with The AFC said on Tuesday the North had sent a letter informing announced on Monday that Valencia former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron it of its withdrawal from the tournament and that global governing CF midfielder Lee and SV Darmstadt Rivera began, Snyder made the announce- body FIFA was also aware of the decision. 98 midfielder Paik Seung-ho are not ment regarding Allen’s ouster. The two Koreas remain technically at war after the Korean available for the tournament which also “As this season concludes, Bruce Allen War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty, and while there was serves as the Qualifiers for the 2020 the senior national team. has been relieved of his duties as presi- ning the Sporting News Executive of the a flurry of sports diplomacy between the neighbours last year Tokyo Olympics. Lee had an outstanding FIFA U-20 dent of the Washington Redskins and is Year award in 2002 when the Raiders won ties have again cooled over stalled negotiations over the North’s Head coach Kim Hak-bum had an- World Cup in June, winning the Gold- no longer with the organization. Like our the AFC championship. nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. nounced his 22-man roster last Tuesday, en Ball as Korea Republic emerged run- passionate fan base, I recognize we have not Starting with the 2010 season, the Red- “The AFC can confirm that DPR Korea Football Association leaving one spot open in hopes of filling ners-up. lived up to the high standards set by great skins own the NFL’s fourth-worst record sent an official letter to withdraw from the Women’s Olympic it with either Lee or Paik. The KFA said FC Seoul defender Yoon Redskins teams, coaches and players who at 62-96-1 under Allen’s watch, including Football Tournament 2020 Asian Qualifiers Final Round,” the According to the KFA, Valencia would Jong-gyu is the 23rd player in the squad have come before us. As we reevaluate our a 3-13 mark this season. AFC said in an emailed statement. have agreed to release Lee if not for his and he will train Korea Republic for their team leadership, culture and process for Washington made the playoffs twice in The third round of group stage matches for the qualifying quad injury while Darmstadt wanted Paik training camp in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. winning football games, I am excited for the past 10 seasons, losing both times in the tournament will be held from Feb. 3-9 in South Korea and China. to play in the group stage only, whereas Korea Republic will face defending the opportunities that lie ahead to renew wild-card round. In the Allen era, the Redskins North Korea were drawn in Group A alongside hosts South Korea Republic wanted the 22-year-old champions Uzbekistan, China PR and our singular focus and purpose of bringing have hired and fired two head coaches — Mike Korea, Vietnam and Myanmar. Australia are in Group B with for the entire competition. Islamic Republic of Iran in Group C at championship football back to Washington Shanahan and Jay Gruden. The Redskins also hosts China, Taiwan and Thailand. German club SC Freiburg, how- Thailand 2020. D.C.,” Snyder said in a statement. fired then-head coach Jim Zorn less than three The top two teams from each group advance to a two-legged ever, have released midfielder Jeong They will open their campaign against Allen was hired as Redskins general weeks into Allen’s tenure in Jan. 2010, and playoff in March. The two playoff winners will join Japan, who Woo-yeong. The 20-year-old is the only China on January 9, before facing Iran manager in December 2009. He previously Bill Callahan is finishing this season as interim have already qualified by virtue of being hosts, at next year’s Europe-based player on coach Kim’s team. (January 12) and Uzbekistan (January 15). worked in the front offices of the Oakland coach after Gruden was fired in early October. Olympics in Tokyo. Both Lee and Paik have played for (Source: the-afc) Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, win- (Source: Reuters) (Source: Reuters) Prayer Times Noon:12:08 Evening: 17:21 Dawn: 5:44 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:14 (tomorrow) JANUARY 1, 2020 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: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 Fajr festival announces New Look [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 competition lineup www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 ARTTEHRAN — Ten Webmaster: [email protected] deskdirectorial debut Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 feature-films will premiere in the New Look section of the 38th Fajr Film Festival, Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily the organizers announced on Tuesday. “The Night”, a co-production between No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Iran and the U.S. by Iranian-American Zip Code: 1599814713 director Kurosh Ahari, and “Skin” co- directed by Bahram and Bahman Ark are among the films. “The Night” tells the story of a young Iranian couple who are trapped in a hotel in the U.S. and are threatened by some strangers. “Skin” tells the story of a mother and a son, who try to solve their problems by using dark magic. GUIDE TO The lineup also includes “Silent SPIRITUAL AWAKENING Snail” by Behrang Dezfulizadeh about a woman who faces the dilemma of choosing He upon whom death rushes, offers an excuse between devotion and logic, “Enemies” by and begs for respite, and he whose life is made Ali Derakhshandeh about the loneliness long by God, shows negligence in worship and of a middle-aged woman, and “Fathers” benevolence. by Salem Salavati about generation gap. Also included are “Slaughterhouse” Imam Ali (AS) by Abbas Amini, “The Plainclothes” by Amir-Abbas Rabiei and “Day Zero” by Saeid Malekan. Successful documentarian Mohammad Kart’s directorial debut feature film National unity newspaper “Butterfly Stroke” and Mohammadreza comes into bookstores over Lotfi’s “Reset” are other entries to the New Look category. 100 years after its publication The 38th Fajr Film Festival will be held in Tehran from February 1 to 11. A scene from “The Night” by Kurosh Ahari. 1 As the managers had their origins in western Iran, the articles published in the newspaper about the impacts of World War I on the region are still informative. Moradi Kermani’s “Water Urn” published in Italian CULTURE TEHRAN — Iranian children’s book Iran, “The Water Urn” is a heartwarming story about deskwriter Hushang Moradi Kermani’s “The the daily misadventures and experiences of the village Water Urn” has been published in Italian. children and their beloved schoolmaster, Mr. Samadi. The Italian version named “L’Anfora” has been It provides an inspiring look at provincial life in a released by the publication of the Ca ‘Foscari University quintessential Iranian village where survival means of Venice on December 13, the publisher announced. that all members of a community must learn to work “The Water Urn” has been rendered into Italian together to achieve a common goal. by Daniela Meneghini, an associate professor at the The 75-year-old Moradi Kermani is mostly known as Department of Studies on Asia and Mediterranean a children’s writer, but his works also appeal to adults. Africa of Ca ‘Foscari University. He is the author of numerous bestsellers such as Having been translated into different languages, “You’re No Stranger Here” and “A Sweet Jam”. Most of “The Water Urn” has so far gained several international his works have been translated into English, German, Cover of “Ettehad Newspaper”. Front cover of the Italian version of “The Water Urn” by awards. French, Spanish, Dutch, Arabic, Armenian, Turkish Iranian children’s author Hushang Moradi Kermani. Set in a two-room schoolhouse in mid-20th century and several other languages. The newspaper has a slogan on the top of its front page reading, “This newspaper is an adherent of freedom and independence in Iran and its policy is to call for unity and unanimity.” The slogan was changed into “The newspaper is an independent national newsletter” from the third edition onward. Iran Music Association, Turkish universities The book has been published with help from media scholar Mehdi Khial. sign MOU ARTTEHRAN — The Iran Music Associa- centers will organize research panels on Iranian and Turkish desktion has signed two memorandums of music, and some albums of Iranian regional music will be Rotterdam festival picks understanding (MOU) with Turkey’s Kafkas University and recorded in Turkey. Ankara University to expand bilateral cooperation on music. According to the MOUs, the Iran Music Association will movies from Iran The MOUs were inked in Tehran on Monday by Iran collaborate with some musical centers in the Turkish cities Music Association director Ali Sabetnia, and Ali Kafkasiyali of Ankara, Istanbul and Erzurum. TEHRAN — Three Iranian films will go on screen in the various and Yavuz Selim Kafkasyali from Turkey, the association Ali Kafkasiyali is the founder of the Union of Ashiqs in sections of the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands. announced. Turkey and the writer of “Anthology of Iranian Turkish Saeid Rustai’s acclaimed drama “Just 6.5” will be screened at the Voices The MOUs will help facilitate the participation of the Literature”. Members of the Iran Music Association and officials of Section of the festival, which will be held from January 22 to February 2. countries’ musicians in each other’s festivals, Sabetnia said. Yavuz Selim Kafkasyali teaches at the Department of Turkey’s Kafkas University and Ankara University meet The film is about a police squad under the leadership of Samad Based on the MOUs, the association and the academic Education of Kafkas University. in Tehran on December 30, 2019. who has been assigned to arrest Nasser Khakzad, a major drug trafficker in Tehran. Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes “Murder Mystery” tops Netflix 2019 dies at age 75 shows, “The Crown” out of top 10

A scene from “Just 6.5” by Iranian director Saeid Rustai. Documentaries “Filmfarsi” by Ehsan Khoshbakht and “Women According to Men” by Saeid Nuri will go on screen in the Deep Focus section of the festival. “Filmfarsi” is about the Iranian pre-revolutionary popular cinema including low budget thrillers and melodramas known as filmfarsi. “Women According to Men” with over 120 clips from archival films shot almost exclusively by male filmmakers portrays the domestic and social position of Iranian women from 1932 to the 1979 revolution. In this Oct. 2, 2011 file photo, Monty Python collaborator and Rutles singer Neil Innes The complete lineup of the festival will be announced on attends the screening of “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” at the BFI in January 15. London. (Ian West/PA via AP) Actors Jennifer Anniston and Adam Sandler in a scene from “Murder Mystery”. LONDON (AP) — Comedic writer and collaborator of the Monty Python NEW YORK (Reuters) — Netflix Inc’s British royal series “The Crown”, actor Neil Innes, who created a Beatles troupe that he sometimes was called original film “Murder Mystery”, starring whose first two seasons cost a reported UK publishes celebrity home parody group called the Rutles and the “seventh Python”. A musician as Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, topped $130 million to make, did not appear in frequently worked with the members well as a writer, he wrote songs for the a list of the streaming service’s most popular the top 10 list for either the U.S. or the addresses by mistake of Monty Python, has died at age 75. popular film “Monty Python and the releases of 2019 in the United States but UK or Canada despite having won major His agent confirmed Monday. Holy Grail,” appeared in “Life of Brian” its award-winning “The Crown” failed to awards, including for its leading actors. Innes died of natural causes Sunday and toured the U.K. and Canada with make the top 10. Season 3 was released in November and LONDON (AP) — British officials have apologized after night, agent Nigel Morton said. the group. Netflix said on Monday that science fiction Netflix did not supply any viewing data. mistakenly publishing the home addresses of more than 1,000 A statement released on behalf of his He was also a member of the Bonzo series “Stranger Things” came in second, followed Netflix, which boasts more than 158 people who received special honors including singers Elton family said: “We have lost a beautiful, Dog Doo Dah Band, later renamed the by the Michael Bay action movie “6 Underground.” million subscribers around the world, only John and Olivia Newton-John. kind, gentle soul whose music and songs Bonzo Dog Band. One of the band’s hit The animated movie “Incredibles 2” and Martin selectively releases viewership figures for The list also included Oscar-winning film directors, senior touched the heart of everyone and whose songs, “I’m The Urban Spaceman”, won Scorsese’s gangster film “The Irishman” took the programming it considers a hit, and the politicians and diplomats, popular athletes and people in intellect and search for truth inspired Innes an Ivor Novello award. fourth and fifth spots, respectively. numbers are not verified by a third party. sensitive defense roles. us all,” the statement said. “He died of Colleagues posted tributes to Innes The ranking was based on the number of Executives at Netflix have said they plan The addresses were published online for about an hour natural causes quickly without warning on Twitter, including the prominent households watching at least two minutes of a to be more transparent with audience data to late Friday when the Cabinet Office posted the recipients of and, I think, without pain.” British actor Mark Gatiss, who fondly series, movie or special during its first 28 days satisfy Hollywood producers and stars and to New Year’s Honors, including knighthoods. Innes was such a frequent wrote “Sweet dreams, sweet idiot.” on Netflix in 2019, the streaming service said. help viewers decide what to watch.