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IRNA/ Amin Jalali pharma rawmaterialsimport Anyway, itiscrystalclearthattheZi According Alahednews,theZion Alahednews notedthattheexplosive According toaLebanesenewsagency, Raqif madetheremarksinaninterview To carryoutthisplan, Washington an ago, month a Moreover,around In thisregard,asecurityanalyst ecently, some news are publishedare news ecently,some tivities oftheZionistregimein in themediaaboutsuspiciousac IRCS: Sanctions hindering IRCS: Sanctions hindering MehrNewsAgency REPORT journalist Ramin HosseinAbadian 13 seizing British tanker downing U.S.spydrone, Leader thanksIRGCfor WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM ------Pages not been confirmed by the military yet. is alreadyincontrolofTalNar; however, thishas town ofRakayaandhilltopTalNar. nearby began stormingthe Farms,SyrianArmy the under theircontrol. thattheKhanSheikhounFarmswere declared Tahrir Al-Sham inthisarea, theSyrianArmy Farms nearthestrategiccityofKhanSheikhoun. tonight’s attackbystormingtheKhanSheikhoun recently captured. to securetheareasthey a 24hourhiatus taking after evening this Idlib southern in offensive — TEHRAN officials at this point in time is to accept the less costs, toWashington. SothebestwayforU.S. and, ofcourse,irreparable bringcosts more more other unreasonable actionbyWashingtonwill United States, itshouldnotbeforgottenthatany caused acostlypoliticalandlegaldefeatforthe not yetcomeoutofthewatersGibraltar. has tanker oil Iranian the while is warrant. This tanker,the aU.S. courthaveissuedare-arrest court,the buthavefailed. Sincethereleaseof efforts to extend this illegal detention by pressing The UnitedStatesandBritainhavemadegreat Iran, wasreleasedbyGibraltar’sSupremeCourt. which carries oilfromtheIslamicRepublicof illegal detention, theAdrianDaryaoiltanker, — TEHRAN Analysis Tehran Times/ Behnam Tofighi 2 Preliminary reportssaythattheSyrianArmy Following thecaptureofKhanSheikhoun Hay’at of defenses the storming long after Not TigerForces,Led bythe SyrianArmybegan Although theIranianoiltankerbanshave Price40,000Rials Syrian Army captures Farms Sheikhoun insouthern Khan Idlib The SyrianArmyresumedtheir Finally, afteraboutamonthof The catastrophicThe costs of America’s mistakes repeated 1.00EURO bullying only waytoconfront Resistance is the 4.00AED 3 39thyear Sheikhoun. Khan of stronghold extremist the of northwest Khan Shaykhun that aSaudiringleaderofterroristsinSyriahas from theterrorists. recaptured fourstrategicvillagesinIdlibprovince to flee to the north. Last week, The Syrian army Sheikhoun forthepasttwodays,forcingthem Nusra Front terrorists intheoutskirtsofKhan near KhanSheikhoun. important townintheprovinceandasmallvillage byreportedlycapturingastrategically terrorists territorial integrityofIran, andsubsequently, the that theydonottoleratethesmallestviolationof showed U.S.drone the overthrowof the eventof the expensive failureoftheAdrianDaryaoiltanker. The army forcesdealtaheavyblowtothe The recentlycapturedareasarealllocated Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports unconfirmed are there Meanwhile, The IslamicRepublicofIran’s ArmedForcesin The armyhasbeenengagedinclasheswith TopSaudi ringleaderkilled in No.13465

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lies - - - Commerce MohammadHamshou. of theFederationSyrianChambers businessmen headedbysecretarygeneral Tehran withtheparticipationof50Syrian forum inOctober2018. a jointchamberofcommerceinbusiness assessed inorderforregistration. hand intherequireddocumentstobe against Iran. U.S.sanctions support countries whose representatives offoreignmediaoutlets gance researchinstitutes,aswellbarring anti-arro- plansalsoisonetosupport the of thecoup.” victimsthe the rightsof redeem to Mordad (1953)coupd’etat andalso the environmental havoc. mention to not them, on rely to havecome no longersupport societies totheextentthey can they that such an extent be depletedto because resourceseventuallyrunout orcan the longerrun,anddangerous.Dangerous It isascenariothatlargelyinsoluble in U.S. the includes this and resources, gas that, likeIran, isrichinpetroleum and house multitudesofcitizens. means ofearning “money”tofeedand resources bothforinternaluseandasa by agrowingpopulationonthosenatural expanded inthefaceofevermoredemands and basicprosperityhasexpanded,it rich countrywithitsnaturalresources, much assayIran, forexampleisarelatively the MiddleEastandinotherlocations.As Russia andafewothersscatteredacross like theU.S., SaudiArabia, Kuwait, Iran, and cheapoilgas(energy)incountries prosperity –thediscoveryofabundant population explosionandevenrelative the ever inthepast100years,whichsparked what mayhavebecomethebiggestbane to almost8billion,andlargelybecauseof people billion from some2 has burgeoned just inrecentlifetimes, worldpopulation environmentalwhere, the crisisinaworld and intime. turn in solution adequate an find may crises various the of rest disputants,the of that generally satisfies the basic interests outcome an with positivelyand resolved that ifjustoneortwoofthemissomehow the mostattentiononpresumption crises aroundtheworldwarrants ding out whichofnumerousextantorbud case oftheU.S. withTrumpasPresident. dominance. Andthisinparticularthe maintain variousnarratives ofcontroland to desperate become have who “leaders” Westernby fomented or less more er, all towardsonedisasteroranoth careening it mayhaveoncehadandseemstobe moorings has lostwhatever that a world is F completely vapid supporters are and Trump and Crises everywhere forces andtheTaliban. government andU.S.-led international involved inthetalks. Theyarebattling inroads intheeastandnorth, arenot Afghanistan in2014andhave sincemade Afghanistan’sU.S.-backedgovernment. mitment onsecurityandpeacetalkswith com a Taliban in exchangefor U.S. forces The forumwasheldonOctober20in Iran andSyriaagreedonestablishing At thetopoflistmustbe, ultimately, And it is exceedingly difficult to figure in appeared first who fighters, ISIL According tothelawmaker,among This is the case across every country This isthecaseacrosseverycountry overwhelming impressiononegets read onmediaapplicationsandthe ollow thebestmindsonehasever North Carolina North Political analystfrom ARTICLE Martin Love Martin

2 13 13

4 - - - I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS AUGUST 19, 2019

Iran assembles several IR6 Multiple ambassadors submit centrifuges in new hall

POLITICAL TEHRAN – Several IR6 centrifuges have deskbeen assembled in a newly-built hall and are ready for operation, according to the Head of the Atomic Energy credentials to Rouhani Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi. “We have built new and modern halls to assemble centrifuges POLITICAL TEHRAN – In separate meetings on and nearly 20 IR6 centrifuges have been assembled in the hall,” deskSunday, President Hassan Rouhani MP Hamidreza Haji Babayee quoted Salehi as saying in a meeting received the credentials of the new ambassadors of with a number of MPs in Tehran on Sunday. Afghanistan, Italy, Bangladesh and Bolivia to Iran. During the meeting with Afghanistan’s ambassador Abdulghafour Lival, Rouhani said that any peace initiative which is not engaging the people of Afghanistan or their representatives is doomed to failure, reiterating that Tehran is after sustainable peace in its astern neighbor. “Any peace without the vote of the Afghan nation and their representatives is meaningless and surely it will not last,” Rouhani said while receiving Lival’s credentials. “Tehran supports Afghanistan’s national sovereignty and unity and is always ready to help establish lasting security and peace in the country,” Rouhani highlighted, according to his official website. Italy to Tehran, Giuseppe Perrone, Rouhani said, “We Bangladesh is expected to host the next D-8 summit “The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the presence are determined to develop the friendly, long-standing towards the end of 2019 or early 2020 and assume the of foreign forces in any regional countries creates problems relations with Italy, and we consider this beneficial to D-8 chairmanship. and we are certain that the military presence of America both nations”. ‘Tehran, La Paz stand together to realize According to the source, Salehi said the move comes after in Afghanistan is not beneficial to the security in the “We are also determined to prevent the unilateral, strategic goals’ Iranian officials recently held a meeting on options for the country and its people,” Rouhani remarked. illegal sanctions of the United States from affecting these In his meeting with Bolivia’s new ambassador Romina third step of the nuclear undertakings modifications. The president added, “Iran has always stood alongside relations,” he added. Guadalupe Perez Ramos, Rouhani also said, Salehi also underlined Iran’s capability to return to the the people of Afghanistan and we have given services Rouhani also referred to economic relations, saying, “Our region and Latin America have long been facing pre-nuclear deal conditions, saying, “You will hear good news to the dear people of Afghanistan, like we have to our “The current (sanctions) conditions are temporary, and issues, which we consider as having one root cause, and from Arak (heavy water reactor) in the next few months.” own people.” the efforts of the two governments and how they treat that is the interference and abuse by major powers.” He added that the Iranian experts have worked on the IR6 Tehran is ready to strengthen sustainable peace and these conditions will remain in both nation’s memory”. Rouhani also praised Bolivians for following an and IR7 centrifuges, noting that designing and building IR8 security in Afghanistan, he said, adding, “Sustainable He added, “In the current conditions, we need to take independent policy. “The Bolivians are a revolutionary is also on their agenda. security will encourage Afghan immigrants to go back to advantage of initiatives to promote the cooperation and nation who have always attempted to keep their Following sanctions which were imposed last year when their homeland and enhance trade relations and investment increase investment for stronger relations, which will independence.” U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear in both countries.” be beneficial to both nations and the region”. The president added, “We deeply believe that any deal, Tehran has rowed back on its nuclear commitments Rouhani pushes for religious unity in The president also praised Italy’s constructive approach nation that stands up for its interests against aggressors twice in accordance to articles 26 and 36 of the 2015 deal, Afghanistan toward Iran’s nuclear negotiations, saying, “After the will win, and history is a witness to this fact.” known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Stressing the need for unity among different ethnic and nuclear deal, very constructive and positive economic On the two countries’ strategic and common goals at As a first step, Iran increased its enriched uranium stockpile religious groups in Afghanistan, the president said, “Shiites relations were established between the two countries, international level, Rouhani said, “The two countries to beyond the 300 kilograms set by the JCPOA. and Sunnis, and different religious groups must feel that which needs to be continued by relying on the political have always stood alongside each other for realizing In the second step, Tehran began enriching uranium to they are members of a big family named Afghanistan.” will of both governments”. their goals, and will continue to do so.” purity rates beyond the JCPOA-limit of 3.76 percent. “Any terrorist act by any group is condemned by Iran, Perrone, for his part, said that Rome is willing to Rouhani also expressed hope that economic, political Iran has said its reciprocal measures will be reversible and Tehran is determined to deepen its friendly relations deepen ties with Tehran in all fields of mutual interest. and cultural relations between the two countries would as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the Iranian with the Afghan nation and government,” Rouhani said, He added, “We believe that the current conditions are strengthen during the term of the new Bolivian ambassador. economy from unilateral U.S. sanctions. condemning recent terrorist acts in Afghanistan. short-lived and the relations between the two countries For her part, Ramos said, “Iran and Bolivia have many Last week, AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi announced Earlier on the day, the Iranian Foreign Ministry must keep growing and developing”. common points with each other”. that the volume of the country’s enriched uranium stockpile strongly deplored a recent suicide attack in a wedding Rouhani thanks Bangladesh for hosting She also delivered the greetings of President Evo Morales has reached close to 370kg. ceremony in Kabul which killed and wounded hundreds Rohingya Muslims to Rouhani and said, “Tehran and La Paz both oppose to Earlier this month, Kamalvandi asserted that his country of people, emphasizing Tehran’s continued support Also, receiving Bangladesh’s new ambassador Gousal the United States’ unilateral policies and arms race in will take the third step of modifying its commitments under for Afghanistan. Azam Sarker, Rouhani expressed thanks to the Bangladeshi the region, and we support each other’s independence the nuclear deal in a month if European signatories to the Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyed Abbas Moussavi nation and government for hosting Rohingya Muslims. and democracy”. deal fail to meet their obligations. extended his condolences to the Afghan people and Rouhani stressed that Iran is willing to help the refugees Iranian ambassadors to Ivory Coast, and “Iran will take the third step in scaling back its commitments government as well as the family members of the victims pouring into Bangladesh. Uzbekistan meet with Rouhani under the JCPOA with world powers in a matter of a month of the inhumane act, and described the culprits behind The president also said that relations between Iran and Also, before leaving for their countries of mission, if European signatories to the JCPOA, continue to renege on the attack as enemies of humanity, peace, security and Bangladesh have always been friendly and expressed hope the newly-appointed ambassadors of Iran to Ivory Coast their obligations,” Kamalvandi told reporters on August 5. stability of Afghanistan. that these relations expand bilaterally and internationally. and Uzbekistan met with Rouhani. “If the opposite side fails to live up to its commitments For his part, Lival said, “The number of Afghan Rouhani said, “Tehran and Dhaka have many common In the meeting that took place on Sunday, Rouhani in the remaining one month [set as a deadline], the third immigrants in Iran is higher than some other countries’ cultural points and we are ready to develop our economic, wished them success in carrying out their responsibilities phase of reducing JCPOA obligations will start as per what the population, and the Afghan government and nation political and cultural relations”. and called on them to introduce the potentials and president has previously declared in his capacity as head of appreciate the great Iranian nation’s hospitality.” For his part, Ambassador Sarker said, “My mission is capabilities of the country, as well as encourage investors Iran’s Supreme National Security Council,” Kamalvandi added. Afghanistan is ready to develop cooperation and deepening relations between the two countries”. and private sectors for development of cooperation and As previously announced, the AEOI official said, “Iran’s relations with Iran, he said, adding, “Afghanistan will “The two countries’ cooperation has been based on relations. next steps will lead to suspension of its commitments. Therefore, not let any country to use its soil to attack the Islamic long-standing relations and close cultural roots and Kourosh Majidi, Tehran’s ambassador to Ivory Coast; those commitments are not totally discarded, but are rather Republic of Iran.” stances in international stages,” he added. and Hamid Nayyerabadi, Iran’s ambassador to Uzbekistan, suspended, and if they (the European signatories to the JCPOA) ‘Iran firm to deepen ties with Italy’ Saker also invited Rouhani to attend the upcoming also presented reports on relations between Iran and start to honor their commitments, Tehran will also reciprocate Also in his meeting with the new Ambassador of D8 Summit in his country. their countries of mission. and go back to its obligations.” Kamalvandi went on to say that the reduction of Iran’s nu- clear commitments would include surpassing a 130-ton limit on heavy water production. Leader thanks IRGC for downing U.S. spy drone, seizing British tanker POLITICAL TEHRAN – The Leader of the Islamic Using indigenously built Sevvom Khordad surface- Strait of Hormuz en route to Saudi Arabia “for failing Zarif: Our active diplomacy deskRevolution has praised the Islamic to-air missile system, Iran’s air defense forces shot down to respect international maritime rules”. Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) for downing an invading a U.S. spy drone, a MQ4-C Triton, over Iran’s territorial “British tanker ship, the Stena Impero, has been continues U.S. spy drone and capturing a British oil tanker at the waters on June 20. detained by the vessels unit of the Guards Navy’s First POLITICAL TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Persian Gulf. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Naval Zone at the request of the Ports and Maritime deskJavad Zarif tweeted late on Saturday that Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s message of thanks was Force, said that his forces could have also shot down a Organization’s office of Hormozgan province for will continue its “active diplomacy”. delivered by his representative in the IRGC, Hojjatoleslam U.S. P8 aircraft with 35 personnel on board which was disregarding international maritime rules and regulations Zarif made the tweet after he addressed a meeting held to Abdollah Haji Sadeqi, on Sunday when he visited military violating Iran’s airspace, but decided to shoot down the as it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz this celebrate the return of the first group of Iranian prisoners of forces in southern Iran. drone to only send a message to Washington. afternoon,” an official statement by the Iranian authorities war (POWs) from Iraq and his meeting with Japanese Deputy “Before I went to visit the Persian Gulf islands, I met “We intended to send a message to American terrorists said. Foreign Minister Takeo Mori. the Supreme Leader and asked for his recommendations in the region,” General Hajizadeh said on June 21, adding The statement added that the ship had been escorted Zarif also boasted the growing ties between Iran and Iraq, about the trip,” Haji Sadeqi said. that his forces had also traced a military P8 aircraft to the Iranian coastal waters in Hormozgan province saying despite eight years of war between Iran and Iraq in the “He told me to relay his greetings (to the IRGC forces) violating the airspace of Iran. and its control had been transferred to the Ports and 1980s, now Iraq is Iran’s top economic partner. and thank them and tell them that they have done a Also, on July 19, the IRGC Navy impounded the British Maritime Organization for further legal procedures and The chief diplomat also praised a trilateral meeting on the great job,” he added. tanker Stena Impero when it was passing through the investigations. Yemen conflict in Tehran involving Iran, Ansarullah and the ambassadors of Germany, Italy, France, and Britain to Tehran. Zarif also headed to Kuwait on Sunday for talks with top officials of the country. Iran, Ansarullah, European diplomats urge end to Yemen crisis “Our active diplomacy continues. Today: - Addressed war vets on the 29th anniv of freedom of our proud PoWs. Today, Iraq is (Press TV) — Representatives of Iran, leading a military campaign against Yemen top trade partner. - Fruitful meeting with Japan DFM - Interview Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement — are after partitioning the war-torn Arab with NBC’s Lester Holt - Yemen-E4-Iran mtg in Tehran - Now and four major European countries have country, calling for strong resistance in in Kuwait for high-level talks,” Zarif tweeted. stressed the importance of putting an im- the face of the plot. mediate end to the ongoing devastating The Leader said the Saudis, the Emiratis war in Yemen. and their supporters, who have perpetrat- An Iranian delegation, headed by Foreign ed great crimes in Yemen, are after “dis- Majlis moves to retake Minister’s Senior Aide for Special Political integrating Yemen, a plot that should be Affairs Ali Asghar Khaji, Ansarullah repre- confronted decisively,” adding, however, oil money from UK, U.S. sentatives, led by its spokesman Moham- that the scheme is doomed to failure. after 1953 coup med Abdul-Salam and ambassadors and The U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location heads of missions of the four European and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit 1 Another plan calls on the government to sue Hol- countries of Britain, France, Germany, conflict-research organization, estimates lywood and the U.S. cinema and TV industries “for insulting and Italy, known as the EU/E4, held a that the Saudi-led war has claimed the lives the Iranian nation and history,” according to Yusofnejad. trilateral meeting in Tehran on the latest of over 60,000 Yemenis since January 2016. developments in Yemen. The war has also taken a heavy toll on During the meeting, the participations al allies launched a devastating campaign city of Stockholm in 2018 as a prelude to the country’s infrastructure, destroying elaborated on their respective countries’ against Yemen in March 2015, with the the final settlement of the crisis in Yemen. hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN views regarding the war-torn Arab coun- goal of bringing the government of former In December 2018, representatives says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire try’s situation, including the political and president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back from Ansarullah and the Riyadh-sponsored need of humanitarian aid, including 10 humanitarian issues. to power and crushing Ansarullah. government of Hadi reached a truce deal million suffering from extreme levels of They expressed deep regret over the A number of Western countries, the during UN-mediated peace talks in Sweden. hunger. continued critical situation in Yemen, which U.S., France and Britain in particular, Under the deal, they agreed to the with- An international law group has submit- has resulted in the killing and injuries of are also accused of being complicit in the drawal of their troops and the deployment of ted a new report to the British government tens of thousands of Yemenis and the de- ongoing aggression as they supply the Ri- UN monitors to the port city of Hudaydah, providing evidence that the Saudi-led co- struction of the country’s infrastructure. yadh regime with advanced weapons and a lifeline for millions of Yemenis. alition has been covering up its unlawful The participating delegations emphasized military equipment as well as logistical In a meeting in Tehran last Tuesday with airstrikes on civilian targets and its war The source added that another plan “obliges military forces that the ongoing crisis in Yemen should only and intelligence assistance. the visiting delegation from Ansarullah, crimes in the war on Yemen. to reveal America’s military and security information in West be settled through political approaches and At the end of their talks, the Iranian, led by Abdul-Salam, Leader of the Islamic The 288-page report said the Saudi Asia within national interests.” urged immediate delivery of humanitarian Yemeni and European representatives Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khame- attacks violate international humanitar- There are also plans to support the production of anti-Amer- aid to the Yemeni people. called for the full implementation of an nei warned that the Saudi regime and the ian law by “targeting civilians and civilian ican movies as well as to sanction some U.S. officials, he said. Saudi Arabia and a number of its region- agreement reached in the Swedish capital United Arab Emirates — which have been infrastructure.” TECHNOLOGY

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 19, 2019 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 If a nuclear battleship attacked there will be no drinking Resistance is the only way water for Persian Gulf states: IRGC Navy chief to confront bullying, says U.S., Britain presence in Persian Gulf brings insecurity, Tangsiri warns Kharrazi POLITICAL TEHRAN – Rear Admiral Israel’s welcoming of the U.S. plan has POLITICAL TEHRAN – Kamal Kharrazi, chief of the Stra- deskAlireza Tangsiri, the IRGC been met with condemnations by Iranian desktegic Council on Foreign Relations, has said Navy chief, said on Sunday that the presence officials and commanders. the only way to stand up to the enemies’ bullying is resistance. of the U.S. and Britain in the Persian Gulf In an interview with the Lebanese TV chan- “Today, the Iranian people are glad that they managed to resist brings insecurity to the region. nel Al Mayadeen last week, Tangsiri warned against U.S. bullying and show their power,” Kharrazi said on “We warn the Persian Gulf countries that that any Israeli presence in the Persian Gulf Sunday, Mehr reported. if an incident was to occur for one of the may result in a war in the region, and the He said the country should be ready to confront the threats atomic battleships in the Persian Gulf, they responsibility for the consequences of such since there is no end to the enemies’ plots against Iran. wouldn’t even have drinking water anymore,” illegal presence lies with the U.S. and the UK. Kharrazi, who has served as Iran’s foreign minister under Tangsiri said, ILNA reported. “The United States and the United King- President Khatami, also described the release of the Grace 1 oil Tensions have spiked between Iran and dom must assume responsibility for the Zionist tanker as a diplomatic victory for Iran and a defeat for Britain, the U.S. in the Persian Gulf after the U.S. regime’s illegal presence in the Persian Gulf which had detained the supertanker illegally. announced plans to form a military coalition waters,” he warned. to counter what it calls the “Iran threat”. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Only Israel and the UK have welcomed Mousavi also warned that the Islamic Re- the call, which has been rejected by other public considers possible Israeli presence allies of Washington. in the U.S.-led coalition as a clear threat to The U.S. claims Tehran has played a role its national security, and reserves the right in two attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of to counter it. Oman in May and June, which Iran has cat- vergence of other countries,” Tangsiri said. He further said that the seven countries “The U.S. regime and the illegitimate egorically denied. “Iran is the flag-bearer of establishing to the south of the Persian Gulf plus Iran Zionist regime are responsible for all the “Today, we can establish security in the security beyond its borders in the Indian were fully capable of establishing security consequences of this dangerous move,” the Persian Gulf through the empathy and con- Ocean and other regions,” he stressed. in the region. spokesman added.

“Surely, these actions of the enemies will not end here and they will always plan new conspiracies against us and we should Foreigners have no choice but to leave Persian Gulf, Zarif says in Kuwait be ready to confront them,” he reiterated. “Iran’s proposal for Regional Dialogue Forum and non-aggression pact trumps reliance on extraneous actors,” Zarif notes On Thursday, Gibraltar’s government announced it was re- leasing Grace 1 supertanker despite pressure from the U.S. for POLITICAL TEHRAN — “Foreigners” have no place the existing conditions in the Persian Gulf region with his the vessel’s continued detainment. deskin the Persian Gulf region and have to Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad. The announcement came just before the U.S. Department of leave, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif The two chief diplomats reviewed ties, regional issues Justice (DOJ) unveiled a warrant for the seizure of the Iran-op- said in a meeting with Kuwait’s crown prince on Sunday. with special emphasis on Syria and Yemen, the ongoing erated ship. Zarif, who received a warm welcome from Kuwait’s situation in the Persian Gulf region, important international Tensions broke out between Tehran and London on July 4, Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, issues as well as other topics of mutual interest. after Britain’s naval forces unlawfully seized oil tanker Grace 1 reiterated Iran’s long-held policy that Tehran is prepared The Iranian foreign minister visited Kuwait on Saturday. and its cargo of 2.1 million barrels of oil in the Strait of Gibraltar, to expand ties and dialogue with Kuwait, noting it will serve Later in the day, he held an official meeting with members of under the pretext that the supertanker had been suspected of the interests of the region. Iran-Kuwait Friendship Association, exchanging views on carrying crude to Syria in Zarif also hailed “brotherly” relations between Iran and regional issues. In a post on his Twitter account on Saturday violation of the European Kharrazi Kuwait, calling for deepening relations, Press TV reported. night, Zarif said he is “in Kuwait for high-level talks” after Union’s unilateral sanctions Pointing to escalating tensions in the Middle East and the a busy day of “active diplomacy”. against the Arab country. describes the need for increasing cooperation among the regional states, After concluding his talks with the top-ranking Kuwaiti Tehran strongly rejected release of the Zarif said, “We are the ones who will definitely remain in officials, Zarif wrote on his Twitter post that Iran’s proposal the claim. this region and foreigners are meant to leave.” for non-aggression pact with the Persian Gulf states “trumps Leader of the Islamic Grace 1 oil tanker Later on Sunday, Zarif discussed regional issues and reliance on extraneous actors”. Revolution Ayatollah Ali as a diplomatic Khamenei and other top victory for Iran Iranian leaders had de- nounced the seizure as act and a defeat for No U.S. politician wants Islamic Republic to exist: ex-diplomat of “piracy” which would not Britain. POLITICAL TEHRAN – No Ameri- Asefi, who has served as Foreign Min- go “unanswered”. deskcan politician – whether istry spokesman and ambassador to Paris, Nearly two weeks after, Iranian forces seized a British-flagged Republican or Democrat – wants the Islamic said while Zarif is bound by the policies of oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz for involvement in an accident Republic of Iran to exist, says Hamid Reza the Islamic Republic, some of his policies with an Iranian fishing boat, after the tanker ignored distress calls. Asefi, a former Iranian diplomat. can be criticized. Allah-Morad Afifipour, head of Ports and Maritime Organiza- “The mistake began when we thought the Iran and six world powers, including the tion in southern Hormozgan Province, said that the 30,000-ton Americans wanted us to exist but change,” U.S., France, Russia, Britain, China and Ger- Stena Impero tanker had collided with a fishing boat on its route, Mehr on Sunday quoted Asefi as saying, while many, struck the JCPOA in 2015, with Zarif adding that according to law, after an accident it is necessary that referring to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, of- acting as Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator. the causes are investigated. ficially known as the Joint Comprehensive The JCPOA has since been widely criticized Plan of Action (JCPOA). by Iran’s conservative figures, some of whom He made the remarks in a TV program. have described the accord as “treasonous”. Minister: Iran intends to help “I do not believe that Barjam (JCPOA) Domestic attacks against the JCPOA was based on optimism or misplaced trust,” reached its peak right after U.S. President Iraq boost its defense power he said, adding, “Rather, it might have been Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the based on inaccurate analysis.” deal and reimposed sanctions on Tehran, TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier The former diplomat continued, “No Amer- Barack Obama was still president, he would possible that some experts in the Foreign which had scaled back its nuclear activities General Amir Hatami has described efforts to strengthen Iraq’s ican politician wants the Islamic Republic to have done the same but in a different way. Ministry think to resolve the problems, and remained fully committed to the deal. military capabilities as a main policy of the Islamic Republic. be, and in this regard, there’s no difference Asked if there are people in the For- [Iran] should cooperate or establish good However, as tensions grew between Teh- between the Republicans and Democrats.” eign Ministry who believe the country’s relations with the U.S.” ran and Washington, Iranian politicians Pointing to the Trump administration’s problems can be resolved through di- “There are also diplomats on the other preferred to take steps toward unity in the anti-Iran policies, Asefi said he believes if alogue with the U.S., Asefi said, “It is side who do not think this way,” he added. face of the foreign threats. Renaming supertanker not aimed to bypass U.S. sanctions: envoy POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian Ambassador to Tehran, however, rejected London’s claim, slamming deskLondon Hamid Baeidinejad has said the the seizure as “maritime piracy”. renaming of the Iranian oil tanker, Grace 1, has no relations On Thursday, a Gibraltar judge ordered the release with circumventing the U.S. sanctions. of the Grace 1, six weeks after it was detained, rejecting a “The renaming of the oil tanker carrying Iranian oil in last-minute legal move by Washington demanding that the Gibraltar sent out this false implication that this act was ship remain detained. carried out for circumventing the sanctions,” Baeidinejad However, the United States on Friday issued a warrant “Fortifying Iraq’s defense power is one of the main strategies tweeted on Sunday. for the seizure of the tanker. of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Brigadier General Hatami “This is while this measure was necessitated after Pana- According to the warrant, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a meeting with Iraq’s Interior Minister Yassin Taher ma’s objection to continuation of the oil tanker’s path under also ordered the seizure of $995,000 in an account at an al-Yasiri in Tehran on Sunday. that country’s flag,” he added. unnamed U.S. bank associated with Paradise Global Trading Highlighting the need to enhance the capabilities of the The Iranian ambassador underscored that the tanker is LLC, which it called a shell company associated with businesses Iraqi military and police forces, the Iranian defense minister under no sanctions and is carrying oil under the permission which act for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). added, “We deem the security of Iraq as being in line with of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). There was no immediate word from Britain or Gibraltar our own security, and care about Iraq’s security to the same In another tweet, the envoy said the oil tanker was regis- over whether they would act on the warrant, as Iran said it extent that we make efforts for our own stability and security.” tered under its new name, Adrian Darya, on July 15, which was sending a new crew to pilot the tanker. States to the UK.” On July 19, Reuters reported, “Several The general also stressed the need for constant consultations is more than a month ago. “This U.S. complaint alleges that Iran has violated U.S. diplomatic sources said the United States asked the UK to between Tehran and Baghdad, saying that Iran’s support for Britain’s naval forces unlawfully seized the Grace 1 and sanctions after the U.S. pulled out the 2015 nuclear deal seize the vessel.” Iraq in the fight against terrorism was not a short-term or its cargo of 2.1 million barrels of oil in the Strait of Gibraltar last year,” said Al Jazeera’s John Hendren, reporting from Lina Khatib, head of the Middle East and North Africa tactical measure, but a decision deriving from faith and part on July 4 on the pretext that the supertanker had been sus- Washington, DC. program at Chatham House, said the U.S. request on the of a long-term strategy. pected of carrying crude to Syria in violation of the European On July 4, acting Spanish Foreign Minister Joseph Borrell Grace 1 was based on its own imposed sanctions on Iran, The visiting Iraqi minister, for his part, expressed gratitude Union’s unilateral sanctions against the war-torn country. said the seizure had followed “a demand from the United and not the EU’s sanctions on oil exports to Syria. to Iran for assisting Iraq in the war on terrorism, saying close military and security cooperation with Tehran is a top priority for the Baghdad government. Attack at wedding ceremony in Kabul shows enmity against humanity: Iran Iraqi politicians and military forces regard Iran as a reliable backing in times of crises, Yasiri added. TEHRAN — The Iranian Foreign Ministry problems by unity among the government, In July 2017, Iran and Iraq signed an agreement to boost has denounced suicide attack at a wedding nation and all groups and tribes as well as military cooperation in a host of fields, including counter- ceremony in Kabul which resulted in the death patience and prudence,” he said, Fars reported. terrorism. of about 70 people and injury of 180 others, At least 63 people were killed and scores Based on the deal, Tehran and Baghdad try to promote in- reiterating Tehran’s unwavering support for wounded in an explosion targeting a wedding teraction and share experiences in the fight against terrorism peace and security in Afghanistan. in the Afghan capital, officials said on Sun- and extremism, work together to ensure border security, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas day, the deadliest attack in Kabul this year. provide each other with training and logistical, technical and Mousavi described the attack as “inhumane” The suicide blast took place on Saturday military support. and said the culprits behind the attack are evening in the men’s reception area at the In June 2019, Commander of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense enemies of humanity, peace, security and Dubai City wedding hall in Western Kabul, Base Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard, said the Iranian stability in Afghanistan. in a minority Shiite neighborhood, packed Air Defense was fully prepared to satisfy Iraq’s air defense He also extended his condolences to the with people celebrating a marriage. demands in all areas. Afghan people and government as well as Women and children were among the By relying on local experts, the Iranian Air Defense is ready the bereaved families. casualties, interior ministry spokesman to help Iraq in manufacturing and providing technical support “Afghanistan is living through a diffi- Nasrat Rahimi said on Sunday. for various air defense systems, the Iranian general said at cult and decisive period and is facing many The Taliban denied any involvement in a meeting with Major General Tariq Abbas Ibrahim Abdul problems and obstacles on this path; we rest the attack, calling the blast “forbidden and Hussein, chairman of the Iran-Iraq joint commission, held assured that Afghanistan can go through these unjustifiable”. in Tehran. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY AUGUST 19, 2019

STOCK MARKET Over €840m allocated to support TEDPIX 260992.0 IFX 3509.98 domestic auto parts manufacturers Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir ECONOMY TEHRAN - The indus- the number of vehicles that are anticipated desktry ministry has allocated to be manufactured in the country during the €844 million to support the country’s auto current calendar year, the part manufacturers parts manufacturers, director general of the will need 150 trillion rials of working capital CURRENCIES industry ministry’s automotive and trans- (about $3.571 billion) for the purchase of raw USD 42,000 rials portation industries office said. materials and other required items. Seyed Reza Mofidi noted that according to In mid-May, Iranian Industry, Mining EUR 46,634 rials the ministry’s plans, domestic manufacturers and Trade Minister Reza Rahmani issued a GBP 51,031 rials are set to produce 1.3 million automobiles by directive on “strengthening domestic man- the end of the current Iranian calendar year ufacturing of imported auto parts”. AED 11,437 rials (ends on March 19, 2020) of which 310,000 The ministry has also unveiled a 10-sec- Source: cbi.ir was manufactured up to August 10. tion plan on early February for improving According to the official, the country’s the status of car makers, in which the two total car output reached 950,000 last year. major car makers of the country have been Mofidi also mentioned establishment of ordered to support auto part manufacturers. a roundtable for domestic auto parts manu- Following the orders of Industry Ministry, COMMODITIES facturers at the ministry’s Automotive and domestic car makers have started a research Brent $58.64/b Transportation Industries Office, saying that movement in recent months titled “Domestic WTI $54.87/b “So far nearly 7.4 trillion rials (about $177 Manufacturing of Imported Parts”. million) worth of deals have been signed with The movement is aimed at creating the OPEC Basket $58.87/b domestic manufacturers in this office, which condition and opportunity for cooperation have saved the country over €85 million.” among domestic manufacturers, knowl- Gold $1,523.60/oz According to the industry ministry, given edge-based companies and startups. Silver $17.08/oz Platinium $851.80/oz Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com Iran-Bulgaria business forum slated for August 24 ECONOMY TEHRAN – An Iran-Bulgaria business As announced by the Iran-Bulgaria Joint Economic Com- deskforum is due to be held on August 24 in mittee, the Iranian businessmen attending the forum are Tehran, the portal of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, representatives of companies active in a variety of areas Iran-Syria joint chamber Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) reported. including petrochemicals, plastic, building materials, glass As reported, the event will be attended by senior offi- and glass products, lighting industries, minerals, food, in- of commerce to recruit cials and businessmen from both sides including Iranian dustrial cables, nuts and pharmaceuticals. Ambassador to Sofia, Seyed Mohammad Javad Rasouli. The Bulgarian companies participating in the event are members In the forum which has been organized by the Iran-Bul- also active in the fields of dairy products, crane and forklift, 1 Hamshou and Tehran Chamber of Commerce Chairman garia joint economic committee, the two countries’ private renewable energy, food industry, batteries, tobacco, agricul- Masoud Khansari co-chair the forum. sectors will explore avenues of mutual cooperation and dis- tural machinery, industrial robots and switches, industrial The two sides also agreed on the optimal benefit from the cuss expansion of trade ties. washers, hydraulic pumps, PVC profiles and transformers. potentials provided by the Free Trade Agreement signed be- tween the two countries in 2011 with the aim of developing and upgrading the level of trade exchange between Syria and Iran. 630,000 tons of goods exported to Iraq via Mehran border Iranian private sector has repeatedly expressed readiness to ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran ex- of 1,000 trucks from the mentioned border merchants exporting products to Iraq cooperate with Syria in various areas including construction, deskported 630,000 tons of and added, “About 630,000 tons of goods, and said, “With the coordination made in transportation, power plants, renewable energy, infrastructure goods to neighboring Iraq through Mehran valued at $404 million, were exported to this regard, problems such as paying tolls and etc. border in the first four months of the cur- neighboring Iraq in the same period.” and duties for exporting goods in the bor- The two countries have also been exchanging numerous trade rent Iranian calendar year (March 21-July “The volume of goods exported to Iraq der is seriously being followed up between delegations in the past few months and Iranian private com- 21), Mehr news agency reported, quoting through Mehran border has registered provincial and Iraqi officials.” panies are already investing in different areas like providing a customs official as saying on Sunday. 26 and 43 percent hike in terms of value Fresh fruits and vegetables, construction construction materials especially cement and working on several According to the Director General of and weight respectively as compared to materials, auto spare parts, plastic and reconstruction projects in Syria. Ilam Customs Office Rouhollah Gholami, the last year’s corresponding period,” rubber materials, glass and evaporative In August 2018, a delegation comprised of Iranian economic Mehran border is considered one of the he reiterated. coolers are main products exported from experts traveled to Syria to explore investment opportunities and main gateways for Iran exports to Iraq. The official further pointed to the Mehran border to neighboring Iraq in the finalize the reconstruction plans of the war-stricken country. Gholami pointed to the daily commuting problems facing Iranian traders and same period, the director general added. Also in January, the 14th preparatory meeting of Iran-Syria high joint technical committee of economic cooperation was held at Damascus. Easy credit poses tough challenge for Russian economy New machines popping up in Russian shopping centers imbursement eats up 60 percent of their monthly income, Africa development bank says seem innocuous enough -- users insert their passport and pushing many to take out new loans to repay old ones. risks to continent’s growth receive a small loan in a matter of minutes. The national output According to france24.com, the devices, which dispense Alfa Bank’s Orlova said other countries in the region, for ‘increasing by the day’ credit in Saint Petersburg malls at a sky-high annual rate example in Eastern Europe, had even higher levels of overall of 365 percent, are another sign of a credit boom that has consumer debt as a percentage of national output or GDP. The U.S.-China trade war and uncertainty over Brexit pose risks authorities worried. But Russian debt is “not spread equally, it is mainly held to Africa’s economic prospects that are “increasing by the day,” Russians, who have seen their purchasing power decline by lower income classes,” which are less likely to repay, she the head of the African Development Bank (AfDB) told Reuters. in recent years, are borrowing more and more to buy goods said.The situation has led to friction between the government According to arabnews.com, the trade dispute between the or simply to make ends meet. and the central bank, with ministers like Oreshkin criticizing world’s two largest economies has roiled global markets and The level of loans has grown so much in the last 18 months it for not doing enough to restrict loans. unnerved investors as it stretches into its second year with no that the economy minister warned it could contribute to Meanwhile, economic growth slowed sharply early this another recession.But it’s a sensitive topic. Limiting credit end in sight. year following recoveries in 2017 and 2018, with an increase Britain, meanwhile, appears to be on course to leave the Euro- would deprive households of financing that is sometimes of just 0.7 percent in the first half of 2019 from the same pean Union on Oct. 31 without a transition deal, which economists vital, and could hobble already stagnant growth. period a year earlier. fear could severely disrupt trade flows. The Russian economy was badly hit in 2014 by falling oil prices and Western sanctions over Moscow’s role in Ukraine, That was far from the 4.0 percent annual target set by and it has yet to fully recover. President Vladimir Putin -- a difficult objective while the that range from health to infrastructure -- is estimated at “Tightening lending conditions could immediately country is subject to Western sanctions. $400 billion by 2024, of which $115 billion is to come from damage growth,” Natalia Orlova, chief economist at Alfa With 19 million people living below the poverty line, private investment. Bank, told AFP. Russia is in dire need of development. A rise in value-added tax on January 1 that was present- “Continuing retail loan growth is currently the main The “problem is that people don’t have money,” Andrei ed as crucial for the projects contributed to Putin’s fall in supporting factor,” she noted. Kolesnikov of the Carnegie Centre in Moscow wrote recently. popularity over the last year. But the “situation could blow up in 2021,” Economy “This is why we can physically feel the trepidation of the “If the debt bubble suddenly bursts, how will people be- Minister Maxim Oreshkin warned in a recent interview financial and economic authorities,” he added. have?” Kolesnikov asked. with the Ekho Moskvy radio station. Kolesnikov described the government’s economic pol- “They will be left without money” while authorities con- He said measures were being prepared to help indebted icy as something that “essentially boils down to collecting tinue to spend on grand but ultimately unprofitable projects, Russians. additional cash from the population and spending it on the analyst warned. According to Oreshkin, consumer credit’s share of goals indicated by the state.” He cited grandiose “patriotic” undertakings such as a bridge household debt increased by 25 percent last year and now At the beginning of his fourth presidential term in 2018, connecting Sakhalin island to the mainland in far eastern Russia, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the AfDB, said the bank represents 1.8 trillion rubles, around $27.5 billion. Putin unveiled ambitious “national projects.” and the creation of a “Russian Vatican” in the ancient monastery could review its economic growth projection for Africa — of 4 For a third of indebted households, he said, credit re- The cost of those projects -- which fall into 12 categories town of Sergiev Posad outside Moscow. percent in 2019 and 4.1 percent in 2020 — if global external shocks accelerate. “We normally revise this depending on global external shocks that could slowdown global growth and these issues are increasing Malaysia’s economy to be driven by ongoing mega projects in 2H 2019 by the day,” Adesina told Reuters late on Saturday on the sidelines Malaysia’s economic growth for the second half the country going forward, contributed by in 2008 because it does not involve a global moved at a fast pace with ten attempts during of the Southern African Development Community meeting in of this year is set to be healthy and driven by manufactured products. financial crisis. the first half of the year (1H2019) as the broad Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar es Salaam. the ongoing mega projects, despite the current She also said Malaysia was the only country “(We don’t expect to see a recession yet in market weakness had unlocked values. “You have Brexit, you also have the recent challenges between global economic uncertainties, says Maybank in the region to not have slashed the growth 2019, but in 2020, it does look possible if the “Companies in the Property, Steel, Plantation Pakistan and India that have flared off there, plus you have the Kim Eng Group economist, Lee Ju Ye. forecast which resulted into a better number two countries continued to spar on trade as and Technology sectors are among those that trade war between the United States and China. All these things As per nst.com.my, she said among the mega in the 2Q19. well the technology side. may see further M&A activity, as these sectors can combine to slow global growth, with implications for African projects are the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Domestic product “So, I think ASEAN will probably go into are in the midst of a down cycle. countries.” which has been revived and the Klang Valley “Malaysia’s second quarter gross domestic 2020 in a cautious mood, especially external “Valuations have come to an optimum level The bank chief said African nations need to boost trade with MRT 2 as well the LRT 3 project that would product (GDP) was a surprise on the upside at oriented countries like Singapore and Thai- where corporates are actively looking to con- each other and add value to agricultural produce to cushion the become the factors underpinning growth over 4.9 percent, higher than consensus estimates land, and Malaysia to some extent,” she added. solidate and acquire new assets and capacity. impact of external shocks. the long term. at 4.7 percent and I think this is positive news Lee said the crisis at present is more inclined In this regard, the current down cycle in some “I think the trade war has significantly impacted economic “There are of course downside risks going for the country. towards trade-related issues when compared sectors has revealed long term investment op- growth prospects in China and therefore import demand from into the second half and I think Malaysia will “Among the areas driving growth is still to the recession environment of 2008, result- portunities that can weather the current short China has fallen significantly and so demand for products and not be spared the China-U.S. trade tensions. private consumption which remains resilient ing in a bigger spillover effect to the rest of term volatility,” he added. raw materials from Africa will only fall even further,” he said. Export is still negative and consumer senti- and you have private investments doing better the economy. Maybank IB Research has forecast Malay- “It will also have another effect with regard to China’s own ment has been coming down a bit as well as as well. I think Malaysia is seeing all the benefits The negative growth sian equities to continue showing resilience outward-bound investments on the continent,” he added, saying the business sentiment. coming from the China-U.S. trade war to some “Even for a country like Singapore, we don’t amid a weak broader market environment, these could also affect official development assistance. “So, I think we’re quite cautious over the extent,” she added. think the recession will be as deep as what we caused by an expected moderation in global Adesina said a continental free-trade zone launched last month, second half, because there is so much down- According to Lee, Malaysia saw its foreign saw back in 2008, when there were three con- GDP growth, as well as the intensifying Chi- the African Continental Free Trade Area, could help speed up side risks. But, having said that, Malaysia in direct investment (FDI) approval surging strong- secutive quarters of negative growth. ASEAN na-U.S. trade dispute. economic growth and development, but African nations needed the longer term, will benefit from all the in- ly at around 100 percent in 2018 as well as will also see some opportunities as investment The “market remains supported by sizeable to remove non-tariff barriers to boost trade. vestments and trade diversion coming from in the first quarter of 2019, with more firms diversion takes place,” she added. holdings of strategic and long term investors, The “countries that have always been facing lower volatilities China-U.S. trade conflict,” she told reporters on interested in relocating to Malaysia. Meanwhile, Maybank Investment Bank while at the same time, policy risks are dis- have always been the ones that do a lot more in terms of regional the sidelines of the Maybank Investment Bank Meantime, commenting on the possibility Bhd’s chief executive officer Fad’l Mohamed sipating. trade and do not rely on exports of raw materials,” Adesina said. Market Outlook, Second Half 2019 here, today. of an expected technical recession in 2020, said that mergers and acquisitions (M&A) ac- Malaysia is also well-placed to benefit from The “challenges cannot be solved unless all the barriers come She said the interest shown by international due to the economic uncertainties and the tivity will be a recurring theme for Malaysian rising manufacturing investments from overseas down. Free mobility of labor, free mobility of capital and free firms in relocating their operations to Malaysia effect of the China-U.S. trade war, she said corporates in the second half of the year. as a result of China’s diversion of its supply mobility of people.” would result in positive export numbers for the situation would not be as bad as it was He said that M&As and privatization had chain into ASEAN,” it said. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 19, 2019 ENERGY 5 New records marked in Iran’s electricity sector: minister The solar storage ENERGY TEHRAN – Iranian Ener- also been able to fulfill our energy export energy revolution deskgy Minister Reza Ardaka- commitments to our neighbors due to good nian said the country’s electricity sector has rainfalls this year.” By Jason Margolis witnessed new records in production, exports “About 2.3 billion kWh of electricity was and consumption management during the exported in the June to August period, the In Kenya, the electric grid is notoriously unreliable. It goes out a lot. current calendar year (started on March 20), highest amount of exports in recent years,” “At least once a day,” says Colin le Duc, a partner at Generation IRNA reported on Sunday. he added. Investment Management, a London-based firm co-founded by “This year we have set new records in Iranian energy ministry has been fol- former Vice President Al Gore that finances companies pushing this sector by inaugurating 3,250 megawatts lowing new strategies in recent years to towards sustainable solutions. (MW) capacity of new power plants, saving manage the consumption and lessen the “If you’re watching a Champions League soccer game and 3,874 MW in peak consumption period in electricity losses in the national grid during the grid goes down in the middle of the game, that’s not a good summer, and exporting 2.3 billion kilowatt the hot season. outcome.” hours (kWh) of electricity to neighboring In the past decade, constant temperature Le Duc’s firm is trying to avoid that outcome by investing in countries in the hot season,” Ardakanian rising and significant decrease of rainfalls the Kenyan company M-Kopa, which installs solar panels cou- said in gathering of energy ministry’s public across Iran has put the country in a hard pled with lithium-ion batteries. And they’re not just targeting relation offices in Tehran. situation regarding electricity supply during customers who lose power during soccer matches. According to the official, based on the peak consumption periods, “There are obviously areas of Kenya where there is no grid at all. ministry data and statistics, the country’s Last year, the volume of water behind And you have the opportunity to leapfrog directly to a distributed electricity consumption was expected to reach the country’s dams went so down that elec- model of clean energy and thereby basically negate the need to nearly 61,000 MW in the summer peak peri- tricity output from hydropower plants fell build centralized grid systems,” says Le Duc. od, however so far the highest consumption to a decade low. level has not exceeded 57,000 MW. The situation was worsen by a jump “This summer, about 3,874 MW of elec- in electricity consumption due to a heat- tricity was managed and this amount of wave that blanketed the country during saving prevented the constructing of a new He added that 15 new power plants have cord 3,250 MW of output growth in a year summer and consequently led to a huge 5,000-MW power plant with $5 billion of gone operational in 12 provinces across the has been achieved. gap between actual power generation and investment,” he said. country with their exploitation which a re- The official went on saying that “We have consumption. Sinopec still negotiating to develop Iran’s Yadavaran oilfield ENERGY TEHRAN – Managing director of Iran’s field has stopped, however, negotiations will continue. desk Petroleum Engineering and Development Yadavaran is a joint hydrocarbon deposit with Iraq located To combat climate change, solutions like this help countries Company (PEDEC) has said the company is still negotiating 70 kilometers west of the city of Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province. to transition away from dirty fossil fuels and replace them with the second phase of Yadavaran oilfield’s development project The field is located within the West Karoun oil block that holds renewables, like solar and wind. with China’s Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, known an estimated 67 billion barrels of oil in place. Both have made tremendous leaps in recent years — think of as Sinopec. Earlier this month, PEDEC announced that the company all the solar panels you now see on people’s roofs versus decades “Talks are still ongoing, but the process is going on at a slow plans to connect Yadavaran Oilfield to West Karun Power plant, ago. But there remains a major hang-up with solar panels: They pace,” Touraj Dehqani told ISNA on Sunday. a measure that will ensure continuous and uninterrupted pro- only work when then the sun is shining. According to the official, the second phase of the field’s duction of oil in this joint field. But the field of solar-powered battery storage is booming. development project entails boosting output from the cur- “The Yadavaran Oilfield development project is the first Back in Kenya, there remains another big problem: affordability. rent 110,000 barrels per day to 180,000 bpd and eventually project which will be powered through the West Karun Power To overcome this, Le Duc says M-Kopa leases its solar systems to 270,000 bpd. Plant,” Hojat Norouzi, director of Yadavaran Oilfield develop- for the same cost as a daily supply of kerosene or wood: “So 50 A total of 105 wells need to be drilled in the second devel- ment project at PEDEC, said.The official said connecting the cents a day for the Solar System. opmental phase of Yadavaran oilfield in order to realize the field to West Karun Power Plant was one of the prerequisites And what typically happens, is (customers) will pay that for aim of producing the mentioned 180,000 barrels. of the Yadavaran Oilfield development plan. about a year, and by that stage they would have paid off the solar The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) started negotia- Yadavaran is one of the five oilfields known as West Karoun system.” tions with Sinopec on development of the field in 2016, however oilfields. Supplying enough energy due to some disagreements between the parties the project West Karoun region which includes five major fields namely Customers without a bank account can pay through their hasn’t yet begun.In early May, Reza Dehqan, deputy director North Azadegan, South Azadegan, North Yaran, South Yaran phones. The batteries in Kenya supply enough energy to charge of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) had said that the and Yadavaran is prioritized among the country’s top devel- a cellphone and run a radio for a few hours. contract for development of the second phase of Yadavaran opment projects. “These are not massive systems, that’s why they’re so cheap,” De Luc says. M-Kopa is exploding. It has about a million customers in Kenya, Development of upstream oil sector atop agenda: Zanganeh Tanzania, and Uganda. “If you think about solar penetration in the U.S., the U.S. is ENERGY TEHRAN – Iranian Oil ministry. try to implement the projects in a parallel far behind Kenya relatively, just because of the strength of the deskMinister Bijan Namdar Earlier this month, the National Ira- approach, during the current year and the existing grid in the U.S.,” Le Duc says. Zanganeh has said that the development nian Oil Company (NIOC) Exploration next calendar year (March 2020-March In the U.S., we don’t really need big batteries in our garages of the upstream oil sector in collaboration Directorate signed four agreements with 2021), Ebrahim Taleqani told Shana. because we have a reliable electricity grid. That said, more and with universities and research institutions universities and knowledge-based com- Taleqani also noted that other NIOC more U.S. homeowners are giving it a go. is the ministry’s top priority in the cur- panies to conduct research in a variety of subsidiaries have also been tasked to For some Californians, it’s for similar reasons as for Kenyans. rent Iranian calendar year, 1398 (March oil-related areas including geophysics, increase their research activities and in The California utility Pacific Gas & Electric says it may temporarily 2019-March 2020). geochemistry, unconventional hydrocar- this regard almost all of them are going shut off some high-voltage lines as part of a new wildfire safety “The first phase of developing the up- bon resources as well as drilling. to sign similar research agreements in protocol, potentially causing rolling blackouts for up to 5 million stream sector includes boosting production The Exploration Directorate is tasked near future. California customers. and rising recovery rates in 20 oil and gas by the oil ministry to sign seven research Since the reimposition of the U.S. “We just don’t want to deal with that,” says Susi Polos, who fields comprising 52 reservoirs in coopera- agreements, four of which have been sanctions, Iran has been encouraging lives near Berkeley. tion with universities and research centers,” signed. domestic companies’ presence in its oil During the day, her new rooftop solar panels produce en- the minister said. NIOC Research and Technology Di- and gas projects, in all sectors including ergy. She can then use that energy, stored in batteries in her In an order, Zanganeh appointed his of resistance economy in 1398. rectorate also announced that it is going research, exploration and development garage, to help power much of her home during times of peak deputy for research and technology, Saeed Mohammadzadeh is accordingly re- to conduct 25 major research projects sectors. electricity demand to lower her costs, or for eight to 12 hours Mohammadzadeh, as the executive man- quired to submit regular reports on im- worth nearly 700 billion rials (about $16 Currently about 300 knowledge-based during a power outage. Polos was also motivated to install so- ager of the project underlining that it is the plementation of the project to research million) in two years. companies are active in the field of oil lar-powered batteries for environmental reasons: the “current ministry’s priority within the framework and technology department of the oil Following a well-established plan, we will industry in Iran. world, climate change.” Polos recently began leasing a system from the Bay Area Company Sunrun and has seen her monthly electricity bills China’s Shenzhen Gas to launch new LNG terminal with cargo from ENI decrease dramatically. Chinese city-gas distributor Shenzhen Gas consumer and second-largest LNG importer in for years, said Qiu. peng LNG terminal, in which Shenzhen Gas “Just for electricity, we usually paid about $150, and we now (601139.SS) will launch next week in southern after Japan. The first cargo of 65,000 cubic meters of has a minority stake. pay $10,” says Polos. (That $10 covers the interconnection fee China its first fully-owned terminal to import Qiu Lihua, general manager of Sino-Benny, LNG is to arrive at Yantian on Sunday, supplied Qiu expects natural gas demand in Shen- to the grid.) liquefied natural gas (LNG), reports Trend re- a unit of Shenzhen Gas that will operate the by Italy’s ENI (ENI.MI) at a time when Asian zhen, a bustling city bordering Hong Kong, to Now, Polos does also pay Sunrun $120 a month to lease her ferring to Reuters. terminal, said the new facility at Yantian port spot LNG prices LNG-AS are near their lowest maintain double-digit growth in the coming system. Still, she’s saving $20 a month and supplying clean energy According to azernews.az, this will make in the city of Shenzhen has an annual capacity in nearly three years due to ample supplies few years, led by residential use and power into California’s electricity mix. Shenzhen Gas the second city gas distributor of 800,000 tons of the super-chilled fuel. and weak demand. generation. Audrey Lee, Sunrun’s vice president for energy services, en- backed by a local government that owns an “This will be our own facility that will be Qiu declined to comment on the price of The number of households using piped visions home-storage solar batteries as another iteration of the LNG import facility. The first was Shenergy connected to the existing municipal grid that the cargo but said his company is exploring natural gas will double by the end of 2020, sharing economy, similar to the Airbnb model. But this time, Group, which opened an LNG import terminal takes in piped gas from CNOOC and PetroChi- taking regular supplies under a term contract from 2.1 million now, under a government-led instead of sharing our homes, we’ll be sharing electrons. in Shanghai in 2008. na,” Qiu told Reuters over the phone. of three to five years. switch from LPG canisters, said Qiu. Lee says while the cost of generating power is declining, the Most of China’s import terminals are owned The new LNG berth “As our berth is not of a standard size, we Following a gas supply crunch in the winter cost to deliver it is going up. by the dominant state-run oil and gas companies The new LNG berth and an 80,000 cubic can’t really rely on random spot supplies as the of 2017/2018, Beijing urged local governments “By 2030, the (U.S.) electricity utility industry will need like China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) meter storage tank have been built next to an cargoes available may not fit our berth,” he said. and city-gas distributors to build storage facilities to make a total investment of $1.5 to $2 trillion in order to and PetroChina (0857.HK). import facility for liquefied petroleum gas The terminal is located about 10 km (6 under a broad nation-wide campaign to boost maintain this electricity grid,” Lee said, speaking recently at China is the world’s third-largest natural gas (LPG), a business that Sino-Benny has been miles) from the larger CNOOC-operated Da- the use of natural gas to cut pollution from coal. the MIT Energy Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “So, to me, it doesn’t make sense. Why are we transporting electricity large distances when it costs so much to do so when we can just generate that electricity at the home where it’s Will further output ‘cuts’ help stem oil price drop? being used in the first place?” By Kamel Al-Harami Also, there is surplus crude oil available in the market Solar panels as well as in Iran and Venezuela that are not produced or Since 2010, the cost to install solar panels has decreased Oil prices are indeed falling but will further cuts in production exported to the world. by nearly two-thirds, and batteries have fallen in price by 84 help as we struggle to reach the magic number of $60 per The unproduced available capacity percent, according to the energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. barrel which is currently within reach? Did the settling of This hidden or unproduced available capacity is preventing Impressive. But the solar storage revolution may just be the trade war between the U.S. and China push the demand further improvements in the barrel price. Once they return getting started. for oil? Or is it the basic structure of the oil market which is to the market, they as well as the current excess will push “Today, it’s considered to be sort of the sexy thing in the awash with surplus from almost every corner of the world? the oil price down to $40 level. world of energy, but it’s still a fairly new technology, if you step It is hard to see the oil prices reaching $60 per barrel and This is the concern for now and the future. It seems difficult back and think about the overall grid,” says Ravi Manghani, even harder for the same level next year. for any improvements in the oil price. This was illustrated Wood MacKenzie’s head of energy storage. The production cuts agreed by OPEC+ two years ago are in the last flare-up in the Persian Gulf during the standoff Manghani says the U.S. is a leader when it comes to so- still effective, and the compliance rate is above 150 percent. between Iran and U.S. lar-powered batteries. However, this has not been effective in translating it into Nevertheless, oil prices remained weak and hit the $55 level. Still, he says we need better state policies to encourage a solid number for the oil price, which is hovering within The question remains whether the strategy of production more homes and businesses to install them. the rage of $56 and $57. cuts will work again with the surplus and readily available “There are some other countries that have done extensive This is despite the fact that the agreed level of reduction will capacity. work on energy storage, and we’ve seen deployments in those be maintained until the end of the first quarter of next year. There has been further warnings from the IEA that next countries, namely South Korea, the United Kingdom and now Now it seems OPEC might be looking for further pro- year will witness more surplus oils in the market. This again increasingly China as well,” says Manghani. duction cuts or voluntary reductions in the hope of bringing is in the absence of Iranian and Venezuelan oils, which one Australia, Germany, Japan, Canada, and India round out the oil price to at least the magical price level of $60, which day will return to the market to heap more pressure on the the list of global leaders. is more reasonable and acceptable now to all oil exporting oil prices. Manghani says in the past five years, the “world began to countries. It is now their desired price level. The future oil market’s outlook certainly does not look experiment with storage.” In the next five, he says it will become However, the worry is that further reduction may not positive, with current reduction or with future additional a key asset for the electricity grid, and he projects that energy help when considering the ongoing increase in shale oil cuts. Is it the end of the era of $60 per barrel? storage deployments will increase 13-fold. production by the U.S. and non-OPEC countries. (Source: arabtimesonline.com) (Source: theweek.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL AUGUST 19, 2019 Leading the state of New Hampshire China wins another Hopeful signs for Sanders round in the Pacific and respond to survey questions, which of- By Saeed Sobhani tentimes results in smaller sample sizes or ASIA TIMES–Pacific summit ends in furor as Australia folds on polls of adults who are unlikely to vote in climate change commitment and China antes up more regional aid TEHRAN – Democratic candidate Bernie the primary. China has moved swiftly to capitalize on divisions in the Sanders is still hopeful about winning the The massive field of contenders is also Pacific over climate change at an acrimonious summit in Tu- Democratic primary. Polls show Sanders a challenge for pollsters, particularly when vula, offering a regional “step up” initiative to counter cash in the race could also challenge former US the 2 percent threshold to qualify for the fall handouts by Australia and New Zealand.Beijing’s Pacific am- Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders, however, debates might require a pollster to randomly bassador Wang Xuefeng told delegates to the Pacific Islands has a tough game to win in the Democratic stumble upon six individual supporters for Forum (PIF) gathering that their demands for stronger action intra-party election race. Here’s a review of a candidate. on carbon emissions to halt rising seas were “legitimate” and news and analysis about Bernie Sanders and The Gravis Marketing survey of New his country would be “a good friend, partner and brother of other Democratic candidates: Hampshire found eight low-polling can- Pacific Island countries.” Sanders overtakes Biden in New Hamp- didates combining for 22 percent, a large “China will also step up its efforts in South-South co-op- shire poll chunk of support that most believe will ul- eration and do its best to make a positive contribution to the As The Hill reported, Sen. Bernie Sanders timately go elsewhere and fundamentally sustainable and green development of Pacific island countries (I-Vt.) leads the Democratic presidential field reshape the race. and jointly rekindle confidence in global cooperation against in New Hampshire with 21 percent in a Gravis “Voters are overwhelmed,” said Kofinis. climate change,” Wang said in his speech. Marketing poll released Tuesday.Sanders is “The size of the field is having a freezing effect He did not give any details of what this might entail, but followed by former Vice President Joe Biden on a lot of people, so contrary to the way officials of some island nations said they have been offered with 15 percent and by Sen. Elizabeth Warren these polls are sometimes used and abused Chinese aid to build up defenses against encroaching seas and (D-Mass.) at 12 percent.The poll stands in by the media, these current surveys are not to promote environmentally sustainable policies. contrast from the most recent polls in New meant to predict who is going to win where Australia made the same offers in a US$338 million package Hampshire compiled by RealClearPolitics, in 2020. These are snapshots of a race at a of assistance announced on the eve of the summit, but it got a cold which have showed Biden leading in the very early stage.” shoulder from 17 Pacific countries because there was no offer to critical primary state, followed by Sanders. Younger Democratic black voters aren’t cut carbon emissions that some low-lying island nations blame Gravis Marketing polled 250 Democratic as interested in Biden. Here’s why for climate change impacts. primary voters on Aug. 2-6 using interactive CNN reported that A new national Fox Hopes that the 18 participating countries might heal their voice responses and an online panel of cell News poll finds that among black Demo- widening rift on the issue quickly faded in a heated 12-hour de- phone users. The primary question had a cratic primary voters, former Vice President bate by national leaders on August 16 that even reduced Tonga margin of error of 6.2 percentage points. Joe Biden is their first choice for the party’s Prime Minister Samuela Akilisi Pohiva to tears. “It is important to note that Sen. Sanders presidential nomination at 37%. He is fol- won the New Hampshire Democratic Primary and Warren but also Sen. Kamala Harris third place overall, a much more dismal result lowed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at in 2016,” Doug Kaplan, president of Gravis 18%, California Sen. Kamala Harris at 10% Marketing, said in a statement. (D-Calif.).The different signals in the polls than several other recent surveys. has even experts questioning who is up, who Pollsters attribute the different findings and Massachusetts Sen. “However, it is unlikely that Sen. Sanders Elizabeth Warren at 8%. will have a repeat of his 2016 performance is down and whether the horse race surveys in various polls to the generally soft support can be trusted.Anxiety is also growing among for candidates at this early stage in the race. The Fox News poll is the latest to show in the state due to the number of candidates that Biden holds a large lead among black in the race this time.” the campaigns, as candidates and aides rush They say it is causing a “sloshing” effect that to highlight their incremental gains or ques- results in support shifting back and forth voters in the Democratic primary. The Gravis poll found South Bend, Ind., What’s the point: This polling might give Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Kamala Harris tion surveys that show them losing support. between the candidates.Some also point the Some say the political amateurs and pro- finger at the media, saying voters are quick you the sense that Biden will be a heavy fa- (D-Calif.) rounding out the top five, with 8 vorite among those attending the predom- percent and 7 percent, respectively. fessionals should just give it a rest when it to change their minds based on the latest comes to polls.“It’s August of 2019, the horse news cycle.“This particular election has been inantly black Young Leaders Conference The poll also found President Trump this weekend. After all, just look at his lead losing to every candidate in the top five in race polls are absolutely worthless,” said Chris nationalized in the media unlike any before, Kofinis, a Democratic pollster. from the logistics of getting into debates to among black Democrats nationally. Yet, our the Granite State in a hypothetical match-up last three CNN polls (April, May and June) among registered voters, with Biden beating Pollsters interviewed by The Hill defend- the national media environment in the age of ed their findings and methods, even as they Trump,” said Monmouth University pollster aggregated together reveals that younger him 53 percent to 40 percent and Sanders black voters aren’t as enthusiastic about beating him 51 percent to 41 percent.Warren, warned against reading too much into their Patrick Murray. results. “Talking to voters in Iowa, they will rattle Biden’s candidacy as older black voters are. meanwhile, leads Trump 49 percent to 44 Overall, our last three CNN polls have percent, while Buttigieg beats him 49 per- An Iowa Starting Line-Change Research off six or seven names sometimes, very few survey of Iowa drove red-siren headlines people are fully committed,” he continued. Biden at 44% among black voters. cent to 42 percent and Harris leads him 47 No one else is anywhere close; Harris is in percent to 44 percent. this week, finding Warren jumping out to a “They say it’s difficult to focus on just one double-digit lead with 28 percent support, candidate, so I don’t see the polls right now second at 14%. Biden’s big league advantage Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton beat in these polls is similar to the Fox News poll. Trump by fewer than 0.5 points in the 2016 followed by Biden at 17 and Sanders at 17. as predictive at all of what will happen here “China will also step up its efforts The same poll from May found South Bend, in February. Things will shift right up until However, Biden’s standing drops to 36% presidential election.The poll for the general among black voters under the age of 50. This in South-South co-operation and questions on Trump was conducted through Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg with a small lead the last minute. in Iowa, the only survey of the cycle to find Many of these voters will change their is lower than the 51% he has among black do its best to make a positive a random survey of 505 individuals in New voters aged 50 and older. Hampshire and has a margin of error of 4.4 him leading anywhere. minds from their first choice and have no contribution to the sustainable and The Change Research online survey re- idea who their second choice will be.” We don’t have a large enough sample size percentage points. to break it down further than that, but we can green development of Pacific island Bernie Sanders Leads 2020 Democratic cruited respondents through ads on social The Sanders campaign has flat-out reject- media, which some experts say is prone to ed polls that find him losing ground, saying model it out using age and race as predictors. countries. Field Among College Students: Poll Our model suggests that Biden’s support A Chegg-College Pulse poll released Thurs- manipulation, particularly around the Iowa the surveys don’t reach his young support- Despite an impassioned plea by Tuvalu leader Enele Sopoaga, State Fair, when enthusiastic supporters are ers or capture the activist energy around probably drops to below 30% among voters day showed Sen. Bernie Sanders leading the under the age of 30. It also suggests that the the summit’s host, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison 2020 Democratic presidential field among vetoed several sections of a joint communique, as did New former vice president’s support is likely closer college students, a voting bloc that could to 60% among black voters age 70 and older. Zealand’s leader Jacinda Ardern. play a major role in the upcoming election. These included all references to coal and efforts to set spe- That is, his support probably doubles The survey found that 29 percent of likely between the youngest and oldest Democrats. cific emission targets. Democratic voters attending college or uni- Such a split within the black community Morrison also refused to back a separate statement issued versity chose Sanders as their top pick for shouldn’t be surprising. Back in the 2016 by small island nations who belong to a sub-section within the presidential nomination. Democratic primary, the age gap was huge. the PIF that demanded all nations commit to phasing out the Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) took Hillary Clinton won the black vote with some- use of coal in their power sectors. second place with 22 percent support.The where around 75% in 2016. This large vote “It’s not incumbent on any member state to endorse that rest of the 2020 Democratic presidential pack share came primarily from black primary statement, it’s a statement of the small Pacific states,” Morrison trailed far behind Sanders and Warren, with voters older than 30. argued. The communique will be presented to next month’s former Vice President Joe Biden, who leads She took 70% among black voters ages United Nations Climate Action Forum. most national polls, placed a distant third 30 to 44, 85% from those ages 45 to 59 and China has the highest carbon emissions of any country in at 10 percent. 89% from those 60 years and older. Blacks absolute terms, along with the United States, but was oddly In response to the survey, Sanders tweeted under the age of 30 actually went for Sanders not singled out for any criticism in Tuvalu. that “young people are the most progressive by a 52%-to-47% margin.This year, Sanders Australia and the US have the biggest emissions per pop- generation in American history.” isn’t benefiting from quite the same age gap, ulation.American and Australian officials privately described “We are going to build a nationwide move- though an age gap still exists. He stood at 9% ment of young people,” said the Vermont Beijing’s stance as “hypocritical”, while denying there was with all black Democratic primary voters in senator, “to create a government and an competition for influence in the region. Morrison said he was our CNN polls from April to June. Breaking economy that works for all of us.” committed to the “Pacific family of nations.” it down by age, he does do better with black Terren Klein, CEO of College Pulse, told Democrats under 50 (12%) than those 50 “We will keep doing this because it is in Australia’s national HillTV that where candidates stand on ma- interest to support a secure and stable Pacific region,” he years and older (6%). Using the modeling jor issues such as the environment, school technique that we did with Biden, we can declared on Twitter today (August 17). “That is what the last affordability, and income inequality is more few days in Tuvalu have been all about.” estimate that Sanders likely has somewhere important to college students than perceived between 15% and 20% support with black However, other Pacific nations signaled that it would not “electability.” be business as usual in their relations with Australia, confirm- voters under the age of 30. Our model indi- Sanders is the only 2020 Democratic cates it’s probably well under 5% with black ing Canberra suffered a substantial diplomatic setback at the presidential candidate to put forth a plan voters over 70 years old. summit as it tries to counter China’s aid offensive in a region that would erase all $1.6 trillion of student No other candidates generate the same sort it has long considered its sphere of influence. eager to pump up their preferred candidates. his campaign.They were irritated with the loan debt in the United States.”In a generation generational split within the black community. The Pacific Western bloc, led by Australia and the US, hard hit by the Wall Street crash of 2008,” A Pew Research study from 2018 warned Monmouth poll that found him with just 9 that “even the most effective adjustment pro- percent support in Iowa. Harrris is at 14% among those age 50 has tried to counter China’s ascendancy by drawing island Sanders said in June after introducing his and over as well as those under 50. Warren nations into security partnerships, partly to prevent China plan, “it forgives all student debt and ends the cedures were unable to remove most of the Murray said he stands by the poll’s meth- bias” from internet polls and that “very large is at 12% among those age 50 and over and from opening naval bases of its own. absurdity of sentencing an entire generation odology, noting that his sample reflects the sample sizes do not fix the shortcomings of voters that traditionally turn out to caucus. at 9% among those under 50. But they have failed to realize that island nations see to a lifetime of debt for the ‘crime’ of getting online opt-in samples.” If Sanders is drawing new voters, Murray This age gap is partially a reflection of party climate change as their key security threat. a college education.” Pat Reilly, the co-founder of Change Re- is confident that will show up in the polling identification. Biden does better among Dem- Pacific nations also did not support the geopolitical ar- Volatile presidential polls spark new search, told The Hill they have a “unique data as the caucuses near.Of course, Sanders ocratic black primary voters who self-identify guments espoused by Australia and the US in Tuvalu. round of anxieties as Democrats than he does among those who Also The Hill reported that Trying to figure patent-pending” bias correction mechanism has also benefited from a survey that is an Samoan leader Tuilaepa Malielegaoi, whose nation is that “enables us to quickly and dynamically apparent outlier. call themselves independents. For Sanders, considering switching its allegiance from Taiwan to China, out the state of the Democratic presidential it’s the reverse -- just as it was in the 2016 race? Get in line.Public opinion surveys have build a sample that reflects the population.” The Gravis Marketing poll released this said he would not take sides, as “their enemies are not our The weekly Economist-YouGov poll found week found him leading Biden 21 percent primary. enemies.” varied by the day, particularly in the early Younger black Democratic primary voters voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, Warren in a statistical tie with Biden for first to 15 percent in New Hampshire, the first Beijing is viewed as a desirable partner because it is less are much more likely to call themselves in- where some candidates can point to individual place nationally. Granite State poll to find him in the lead. judgmental than the Western powers, which often package dependents than older ones, according to an polls to argue they are building momentum. That survey put Biden at 21 percent and Sanders won big in New Hampshire in aid with stipulations on the treatment of human rights, labor Warren at 20 percent. 2016 and his 21 percent in that poll is not aggregate of the last three CNN polls. Among Former Vice President Joe Biden has held a black Democratic primary voters under 50 standards and other democratic requirements. relatively steady lead in national polls, though It was a striking finding since only a far off from where other polls have found Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, whose coun- handful of national surveys conducted this his support. in our aggregated dataset, 68% say they are an Economist-YouGov poll this week found Democrats. About a third (32%) say they are try was ostracized by Australia and New Zealand in 2009 him holding just a 1 point lead over Sen. cycle have registered Biden with less than But the survey raised questions among for refusing to call elections after a 2006 coup, accused 30 percent support nationally, and none experts about the small sample size of only independents. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). For those older than 50, 86% call them- Morrison of being heavy-handed in the summit debate and A poll from The Hill-HarrisX found Biden have found a second-place candidate that 250 Democrats. trying to impose Australia’s political will on the region. close to the front-runner.Representatives “Biden and Sanders are within the mar- selves Democrats. Only 14% call themselves with a healthier 15 point lead over Sen. Bernie independents. He said Canberra’s approach would push Pacific nations for the Economist-YouGov poll were not gin of error in our poll, so this just tells you Sanders (I-Vt.), who stood in third place in The fact that older and younger black closer to China. available to comment. That survey, which that it is a very, very close race,” said Doug the Economist poll. Democrats are more likely to call themselves “After what we went through with Morrison, nothing has consistently found Biden in the low 20s, Kaplan, the president of Gravis Marketing. Warren was further behind, winning 10 Democrats than independents works to Bid- can be worse than him. China never insults the Pacific,” percent support compared to 31 percent for is not a traditional likely voter model, but The polling industry is still grappling with rather is pulled from a recruited panel of big picture challenges, such as the migration en’s benefit. Biden’s hoping that this loyalty he told The Guardian. Biden and 16 for Sanders.Most polls have to the Democratic brand helps propel him “They [Australians] keep saying the Chinese are going found Biden with a lead in New Hampshire, more than 10,000 respondents who are away from landlines to cellphones and the surveyed regularly. proliferation of online polls, which some among black Democrats of all ages. to take over. Guess why? You don’t have to be a high-school though a Gravis poll this week put Sanders in The Hill-Harrix X survey found Warren view as unreliable.It is harder than ever to So far, it has, though more so with older graduate to know that,” he said. first place.A Monmouth poll found Sanders black Democrats. trailing badly in Iowa, behind not only Biden with 10 percent support nationally and in get likely voters to answer their cellphones I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 19, 2019 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7

The continuing tragedy of South Korea should not bow to Trump’s demands Yemen must not be overlooked By Maa Zhi Hong TEHRAN (FNA) — The United Nations nation per se is not enough. There is an urgent ASIATIMES — Iam writing in response to the Nikkel Asian Human Rights Council continues to remind need to a halt in the war. The UN should call Review article “If Trump wins in 2020, he will pull US troops us that airstrikes in which civilians are killed, for an end to the criminal strikes against out of South Korea.” The author has suggested that if US Presi- including children, are an example of the civilians. It’s the only way to ensure no more dent Donald Trump wins re-election in 2020, he will withdraw “disregard” for civilians’ safety shown by the lives are lost in the blockaded country. American troops from South Korea. He also suggested that South Saudi-led coalition in the war. So far the Saudi-led, US-backed airstrikes Korea should pay the $5 billion dollars requested by the Trump These daily “incidents” are an example of have failed to force Yemen into submission. administration for keeping US troops in the country. The author’s the “brutality” of the conflict. The Saudis and The country is facing a humanitarian disaster. reasoning is that by paying the $5 billion dollars, the South Korean their allies continue to show a disregard for Aid agencies say the air and sea blockade government would be able to call the Trump administration’s the protection of civilians and the principle of is preventing the country from importing bluff as it tries to wriggle its way out of South Korea. distinction between civilians and combatants food on which it is wholly reliant. Hospitals in the conduct of hostilities. are closing because they have no medicine The same brutality is still happening in and no fuel for generators. But the nation Afghanistan and Syria as well, where the and the resistance group of Ansarullah are United States and its allies target civilians still standing. in their indiscriminate airstrikes. The casual- The continuing national tragedy of Yemen ties are always overwhelmingly civilians. The must not be overlooked. Women and chil- Syrian government has complained many dren have borne the brunt of the increase in times to the UN Security Council about the civilian casualties, with UN blaming the use US airstrikes, saying they are excessively of improvised explosive devices and aerial targeting civilians and basic infrastructure, operations in populated areas for the jump. but to no avail. The Saudi coalition has hit markets, hospitals, Tragically, the only thing the UN has done clinics, schools, factories, wedding parties and thus far is condemning these repeated kill- criminal reasons. This unqualified alliance humanitarian situation has now become hundreds of private residences in villages, ings – even though the world body is fully stems from motives for regional domination catastrophic. towns and cities. And it continues to do so in the know that the unprovoked aggression and more. They now want to split Yemen, with The current conflict and prospects of “with unacceptable regularity,” according against Yemen is for all the wrong reasons. The no intention to comply with International division have already caused extreme hard- to the UN. unprovoked conflict is in fact a smokescreen. Humanitarian Law, let alone take feasible ship for the population across the country. For all the Saudi diplomatic postur- The alliance between Saudi, American and measures to minimize harm to civilians and The destruction of logistic infrastructure ing, the massacre of defenseless civilians Israeli interests gives the false story about end the conflict. means countless lives are now more at risk, is state-sationed murder in its most per- For a start, the idea that Trump will withdraw US troops from the alleged Iranian takeover of Yemen addi- Little wonder the United Nations and the and the UN can no longer afford to stand fect form. The International Law is clear: South Korea is a non-starter as the John S McCain National De- tional legs, passed on to “fakestream” media International Committee of the Red Cross say and watch as people suffer and die of pre- Saudi Arabia and its allies have no right fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which was enacted from Tel Aviv. Fanning a bogus Shiite-Sunni they condemn these atrocities and they are ventable causes. The world body has a duty to drop bombs over civilians and divide in 2018, explicitly states no authorized funds may be used to conflict seems to be a great idea for Riyadh, extremely worried about the severe damage to demand that robust and unobstructed their coutnry. The airstrikes are lawless reduce the number of US troops in South Korea below 22,000 enthusiastically seconded by its protector caused by the Saudi-led attacks on civilian channels for the provision of humanitarian and unaccountable to the United Nations. unless the secretary of defense certifies to the congressional de- and close ally, Israel. infrastructure. The destruction of key logistic assistance are opened and respected by the The war and the division benefits terrorist fense committees that: With these in mind, the blitz boys of so infrastructure, including airports, seaports, warmongers in this increasingly desperate groups like ISIL and Al-Qaeda. In fact, it is (1) a reduction is in the US national security interest and “will many Arab and Western states are attacking bridges and roads is having alarming con- situation. compounding rather than diminishing the not significantly undermine the security of United States allies in and destroying Yemen’s lifelines for all the sequences on the civilian population. The The UN should also realize that condem- threat of international terrorism. the region”; and (2) the secretary of defense has consulted with US allies, including South Korea and Japan, regarding such a reduction in the troop level.Section 1265 of the act also directs the defense secretary, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, to report to Congressional defense committees reg- Mnar Muhawesh: Trump making racism norm in America ular reports and updates on the scale and operational status of TEHRAN (FNA) — Mnar Muhawesh, American journalist, four Congresswomen who are elected officials? North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The Trump says the president of the United States, who is literally the A: It’s a type of character assassination against these administration would require additional justification for a US role model of Americans, is promoting racism in the US. Congresswomen to dismiss the real social justice con- troop withdrawal below 22,000. Speaking in an exclusive interview with FNA, she said cerns they are bringing to the forefront of the political Contrary to Trump’s repeated public remarks that North Ko- Trump has a racist character, which attracts other racists conversation, which are root issues that have historically rea no longer poses a threat to the US, the American intelligence and extremists, “…and give them a weapon to use to exert not made it to mainstream American politics including: community has consistently gathered intelligence concluding their anger at the lack of jobs and failing economy. This also income inequality, racial injustice, the right to boycott that North Korea has not taken any substantial steps toward emboldens groups like the KKK”. Israeli apartheid, and the influence of foreign nations on dismantling its nuclear program. Without explicit backing from “[Racial divide] is an unfortunate technique used by the our elected officials like Israel and Saudi Arabia, getting the US intelligence community, Trump would find it very hard two party systems (both Democrats and Republicans) to money out of politics and ending war. These were once to gather the justification he needs to order the drawing down keep the nation divided and distracted while the 1% exploit considered fringe issues by the establishment, but are in of US forces in South Korea. we the people”, she added. fact issues that have destroyed our democracy and turned And the bill has effectively stymied any potential US troop Trump made several postings on his Twitter page, urging our nation into an oligarchy. withdrawal by barring the use of US funds for withdrawal pur- four non-white female Democratic members of Congress Q: Do you think Trump’s rhetoric gives a green light to poses, and troop withdrawal is a very expensive endeavor.The to “go back to the countries they came from”, which in all racism and racist acts by others? barring of usage of funds for the withdrawal of US troops creates but one case was the US. The firestorm tweets are banded A: The role of the president is to lead the nation wheth- a major obstacle for Trump. as racist by many political analysts. er through action or character. If the commander in chief The recently passed 2020 National Defense Authorization Act Mnar Muhawesh is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of is normalizing racism, then it will only empower others further tied the president by specifically barring the drawing down MintPress News, and is also a regular speaker on respon- to act in that way. Unfortunately, his racist character will bated in recent years; but. it did not start with Trump. of US troops from the current level of 28,500, and the bill passed sible journalism, sexism, neo-conservativism within the attract those whom are frustrated in society and give them Trump is just the wolf without the sheep’s clothing. in Congress with a veto-proof majority. The massive support for media and journalism start-ups. Also, she produces and a weapon to use to exert their anger at the lack of jobs and Racism and division is not unique to the Republican the law will deter the president from exercising his right to veto hosts TV programs covering Midwest and national politics failing economy. This also emboldens groups like the KKK. party. It is an unfortunate technique used by the two the bill. It is one thing to want to be friends with North Korea, it while focusing on civil liberties and social justice issues. Q: Is it Trump, or is it “divide” which is dominating today’s party systems (both Democrats and Republicans) to is another matter to withdraw US troops from South Korea. Any Below is the full text of the interview: United States politics? keep the nation divided and distracted while the 1% withdrawal of US troops is bound to face strong resistance from Q: Why has Trump initiated such a racist tirade against A: The racial divide in the United States has exacer- exploit ‘we the people’. Congress and the US foreign policy establishment, and the fear that Trump may withdraw troops from South Korea has led to Congressional provisions to stymie his move. With the US currently in a tussle with China for influence President Moon loses the trust of North Korea as prospects for peace look grim after naming China as a strategic competitor, any withdrawal of US troops from South Korea would be a strategic gift to By Stu Smallwood Jong-un at the Singapore summit (no The North Korean spokesperson here from North Korea’s eventual economic China and be the death knell for US influence in South Korea more provocative training exercises for refers to an obvious trend: While appealing modernization: China is bound to cease ANTIWAR — ”His shameless talk of and Japan. The present arrangement allows the US to make a suspension of North Korean intercon- for peace and glorifying the potential boon abiding by US-UN sanctions as America its presence felt in the region and the presence of US troops dialogue between the North and South tinental ballistic missile tests). North-South economic cooperation will pursues its self-destructive trade war and [at a time like this] raises questions about is a physical embodiment of that influence. With North Korea South Korean and American officials bring, up to this point President Moon has strives to undermine China’s rise through failing to take meaningful steps toward fulfilling the stated his mental faculties… We have nothing insisted North Korea had no reason to be been very careful not to directly challenge overt and covert means. to say to South Korean authorities and irreversible denuclearization as set by the Trump adminis- affronted by the exercises; that they had the US position on maximum pressure or There is, of course, an alternative. By tration, it is politically and legally impossible for Trump to have no intention of sitting down with been scaled back to accommodate the interfere with US-South Korean military unilaterally pursuing peace and economic them again.”* draw down troops in South Korea. peace process, were defensive in nature, affairs – both which have proven toxic to initiatives with North Korea – sanctions Lastly, South Korea would be foolish to agree to pay $5 bil- These are just some of the highlights and – most importantly – were critical the diplomatic process. be damned – South Korea can force the of a North Korean spokesperson’s ruth- lion yearly to the US. Total yearly costs for the presence of US to testing the South Korean military’s This makes allusions to peace seem US to consider just how much it values its troops in South Korea is around US$2 billion, and South Korea less response to Moon Jae-in’s August 15 readiness to be transferred operational like nothing more than rhetoric. Moon foothold in Asia. Rather than punishing Liberation Day speech in which the South has contributed substantially to alleviate the costs borne by the control in wartime. But North Korea has once called for a peace treaty by the end South Korea, the US is just as likely to US. Paying $5 billion will mean paying the US a surplus of $3 Korean president called for unification of been vindicated now that details have of 2018 – almost eight months ago. In relent for fear of angering the politically Korea by 2045 and the establishment of billion and it is virtually impossible for South Korea to agree to emerged of the exact nature of the drills. his Liberation Day speech he pledged “… active South Korean populace and losing this one-sided deal. The idea of a fresh cost-sharing review has a North-South peace economy. No honest observer can argue practic- to solidify [a] denuclearization and peace more influence to China if it is pushed out The “time like this” mentioned by always been disliked by South Korea as at each fresh review, it ing counterinsurgency has anything to regime on the Korean Peninsula during of the country. If the US does relent, the has to pay more to the US to keep its troops in the country. Suc- the spokesperson for the North Korean do with testing South Korean military [his] term in office.” These declarations two Koreas will be able to pursue gradual Committee for the Peaceful Reunifica- cessive South Korean governments have tried to limit increases readiness. must appear insane and insulting to North inter-Korean economic integration. This in contributions to the US government through hardnosed ne- tion of the Country is a reference to the This raises serious questions about what Koreans with the occupation drills ongo- is the sole path to eventual Korean uni- insulting training drills ongoing between gotiations and cajoling. President Moon knew about them – and ing. Cue the North Korean spokesperson: fication, and it is critical for the future of Hence no South Korean leader will agree to pay upfront South Korean and US forces – specifically a when. It seems impossible someone who “How dare he speak of establishing an the peninsula: only a united Korea will be simulated counterinsurgency campaign in $5 billion yearly to the US as it will lock South Korea into a has staked his presidency on the peace atmosphere for dialogue, a peace economy, strong enough to establish the position of precedent that will be virtually impossible for the country to North Korea after successfully conquering process would approve of these extremely a mechanism for maintaining peace when neutrality necessary to survive the great Pyongyang in 90 days. deviate from.For political reasons, at every fresh cost review provocative exercises. Still, even if Moon the joint military drills that we oppose are power conflict forthcoming in East Asia. negotiation session, the US government must secure an in- Laughable as this simulated scenario is was unaware of their nature or unable to at the height of implementation in South It may sound implausible – and incred- (China and Russia would never sit back and crease from South Korea. stop them, it suggests he has no control Korea as we speak?” ibly risky. But if the South Korean leader Every US government, regardless of political affiliations, will let North Korea be conquered so swiftly), over the military of his country – and that To Achieve Peace, Moon Must Take a fails to take up this mantle, his govern- the comments embody the all-too-predict- not allow the South Korean government to decrease its costs perhaps an act of sabotage has occurred. Bolder Approach ment will become increasingly irrelevant to contribution toward keeping US forces in South Korea. No US able outcome of these offensive drills: the North Korea Rightly Views Talk of Peace Words are only meaningful for so long; North Korea as it seeks direct negotiations North Korean government is upset and has political leader can afford to be seen as weak in standing up for with a Jaundiced Eye at some point, intentions must be measured with the US in the short term, and turns US interests. Hence at every review, there was always tension lost complete trust in the South Korean Though President Moon’s domestic by actions and results. The latest North to China after the inevitable failure of US president who once led the peace process. as the US has pushed for more increases and South Korea has approval is holding strong, buoyed by the Korean diatribe makes it painfully obvious diplomacy in the long run. pushed for the smallest possible increase. North Korean Missile Tests a Response, trade war initiated cynically by Japanese that South Korea needs to take a different This entire process began with President not the Cause of Tension However, past US administrations have been aware of the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his standing approach or forget about peace in the near Moon doing what at the time was a radical political sensitivity of this issue in South Korea and have not As arms-control wonks and North Ko- in the peace process has never been lower. term. The Moon administration must make act: meeting a North Korean leader when rea analysts breathlessly report each and pushed their luck too far with their counterparts. Past American It is becoming painfully clear that his a decision, and the stakes are high. diplomacy was not on the US agenda. Moon administrations have understood that having US troops in every short-range ballistic missile test cautious approach as liaison between South Korea can choose to remain must take control of this process once again, carried out by North Korea since June South Korea is a great plus for American power projection in the US and North Korea is no longer tied to the sinking American ship and or the prospects for peace and unification the region. There was always a give and take spirit. However, 25, the context often goes unmentioned constructive. give up the dream of Korean integration. – crucial to long-term Korean prosperity – perhaps intentionally. Justifying the that is not the case with the current US administration.Any “He often calls for peace, but is he This will require South Korea’s continued and independence – will slowly die. South Korean leader who signs this deal will be committing testing of these missiles, North Korea then going to say the purchase of drones membership in the unnatural “trilateral *Translations of the original Korean criticized the upcoming drills, calling political suicide. Acceding to Trump’s request will expose South and fighter jets [F-35s] from the US is alliance” with the US and Japan that is on by this author. A distinct English trans- Korea to more extortion by the Trump administration and set them a violation of the understanding for spreading agrochemicals and air course for an eventual clash with China. lation of the entire document by another made between Donald Trump and Kim a bad precedent for Japan whose cost-sharing agreement is shows?”* This also guarantees long-term isolation translator can be found here. up for review in 2021. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS AUGUST 19, 2019

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Scientists work out how many planets Near-Earth asteroid 2006 QV89 not a threat for next century like Earth are in the universe The existing astronomical observatories on Maunakea returned to operations this weekend, and it didn’t take long for a significant Scientists have worked out just how many “We used the final catalogue of planets result to be achieved, not only for science, but for assuring the planets like our own might be waiting out identified by Kepler and improved star prop- safety of Earth. in the universe. erties from the European Space Agency’s Observations of the near-Earth asteroid 2006 QV89 made The new study gives the best estimate yet Gaia spacecraft to build our simulations,” on August 11 with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) of how many Earth-like planets are orbiting said Danley Hsu, a graduate student at Penn have ruled out any potential future impact threat to Earth by this around Sun-like stars. State and the first author of the paper. asteroid for the next century. The discovery will help guide astronomers “By comparing the results to the planets as they search those planets for signs of alien catalogued by Kepler, we characterised the life, by trying to understand more about the rate of planets per star and how that depends planets. on planet size and orbital distance. Our novel NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope helped find approach allowed the team to account for that there are thousands of planets waiting several effects that have not been included outside of our solar system, orbiting around in previous studies.” their own suns. Over the nearly ten years Scientists can now use the findings to comb it scanner the sky, it was watching out for through the rest of the universe looking for transit events – the slight dips in light that planets that look like our own, with the hope happen when a planet moves in front of a of launching a major mission to study them. star, which can be used to understand those How ambitious that mission needs to be will planets’ size and characteristics. depend partly on just how many planets there But scientists want to know how many of are waiting to be found, and so the discovery 2006 QV89 was discovered on August 29, 2006, with a tele- those alien worlds are like ours, sitting close will help decide the scale of that search. scope in Arizona, and observations were only possible through enough to their star that they get enough light The researchers found that there are September 8, 2006, when the asteroid became unobservable from to provide energy for life. probably planets like our own – between telescopes on Earth. The orbit determined from these limited “Kepler discovered planets with a wide three-quarters and one-and-a-half times as observations had significant uncertainty, and it was not possible variety of sizes, compositions and orbits,” big as our planet, and similar length years to rule out the low probability of the asteroid impacting Earth in said Eric B. Ford, professor of astronomy – waiting to be found around roughly one the future, possibly as early as 2019. Last month, observations and astrophysics at Penn State and one of or orbital distance is misleading, since it’s how many planets might have formed. They in four stars. with the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope the leaders of the research team. much harder to find small planets far from developed a model that allowed them to cre- But they also worked out how accurate (VLT) in Chile did not find the asteroid where it would have “We want to use those discoveries to im- their star than to find large planets close to ate new, imaginary universes of stars and that estimate could be. The potential uncer- appeared if it was on a trajectory that would impact Earth this prove our understanding of planet forma- their star.” planets – and then watch to see how many tainty means that missions should plan to September. This ruled out an impact in 2019, but an impact for tion and to plan future missions to search for To try and understand how many of those of those would have been picked up by the find such worlds as often as every two stars, 2020 remained a possibility, along with nearly two dozen more planets that might be habitable. However, planets might be out there waiting, scientists Kepler Space Telescope, and how many would they suggest. over the next hundred years, with eight of those in the next decade. simply counting exoplanets of a given size came up with a new method to help estimate have been missed. (Source: The Independent) “There is a big difference between knowing where a hazardous asteroid isn’t, and knowing where it is,” said David Tholen, as- tronomer at the University of Hawai’i’s Institute for Astronomy, who led the effort to recover 2006 QV89. Glitch in neutron star reveals its NASA picks headquarters for This summer provided the first clear opportunity to recover the asteroid since its discovery, but the uncertainty in its position hidden secrets Moon lander on the sky spanned roughly 30 degrees (60 times the diameter of the moon) in mid-July, growing even larger as the asteroid Neutron stars are not only the most dense A NASA facility in Alabama that developed approached Earth. “That made the use of a large telescope with objects in the Universe, but they rotate the giant rocket for the Apollo program in the a wide-field camera absolutely essential,” noted Tholen. Only a very fast and regularly. 1960s will play a key role in sending astro- fraction of that uncertainty region had been imaged with CFHT on Until they don’t. nauts down to the Moon’s surface in 2024. July 14, but operations at the existing telescopes were suspended Occasionally these neutron stars The Marshall Space Flight Center in on July 16, due to the protest on Maunakea. start to spin faster, caused by portions Huntsville will lead the development of a “We found at least a dozen asteroids in the July 14 data that of the inside of the star moving outwards. vehicle that will land astronauts on the body fell close to the region where 2006 QV89 could have been, but the It’s called a “glitch” and it provides for the first time since 1972. suspension of operations prevented us from confirming which, astronomers a brief insight into what The decision was announced by NASA’s if any, of those objects was 2006 QV89,” said Tholen. lies within these mysterious objects. administrator Jim Bridenstine. With access to the Maunakea telescopes blocked, Tholen enlisted In a paper published today in the But it’s a disappointment for Texas, which the aid of Marco Micheli of the European Space Agency’s NEO journal, Nature Astronomy, a team from -- revealing that the inside of the star was in the running. these areas, it is the Johnson Space Center, Coordination Centre in Frascati, Italy. Micheli is a UH graduate Monash University, the ARC Centre actually has three different components. The White House wants to send a man which has been, and continues to be, ground who led the effort to rule out the 2019 impact scenario with ESO’s of Excellence for Gravitational Wave “One of these components, a soup of and a woman to the South Pole of the Moon zero for human space exploration. VLT. He pointed a telescope in Spain at the position for the best Discovery (OzGrav), McGill University in superfluid neutrons in the inner layer of in five years, under a program called Artemis. “We are deeply concerned that NASA is of the candidate objects, but after two hours of data collection, Canada, and the University of Tasmania, the crust, moves outwards first and hits Huntsville in northern Alabama is known not only disregarding this history but that the object at the predicted position could not be convincingly studied the Vela Pulsar, a neutron star the rigid outer crust of the star causing as “Rocket City”, because of its long associa- splitting up the work on the lander between distinguished from electronic noise in the data. It came as a great in the southern sky, that is 1,000 light it to spin up,” Dr Lasky said. tion with the space program. It was here that two different geographic locations is an un- relief to learn that CFHT would resume operations last weekend. years away. “But then, a second soup of superfluid the huge Saturn V launcher, which lofted necessary and a counterproductive depar- “Our highest priority target for Saturday night was the best According to the paper’s first author, that moves in the core catches up to the humans into orbit during the Apollo pro- ture from the unquestionable success of the 2006 QV89 candidate, and despite some thin cirrus clouds and Dr Greg Ashton, from the Monash School first causing the spin of the star to slow gram in the 1960s and 70s, was designed, previous lunar lander program.” a lot of moonlight, we needed only four minutes of data to obtain of Physics and Astronomy, and a member back down. built and tested. Johnson Space Center was in charge of proof that we had found the right object,” said Tholen. of OzGrav, Vela is famous -- not only This overshoot has been predicted a Mr. Bridenstine made the announce- lunar lander development during the Apollo The International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center because only 5% of pulsars are known to couple of times in the literature, but this ment at the Marshall facility in front of a test program. announced the recovery to the world on Sunday, and the impact glitch but also because Vela “glitches” is the first real time it’s been identified version of the 45m- (149ft-) tall hydrogen Responding to the objections, Mr. Bri- monitoring services at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the about once every three years, making in observations,” he said. tank for the Space Launch System rocket, denstine pointed out that of 363 jobs asso- University of Pisa/SpaceDys in Italy immediately began crunching it a favorite of “glitch hunters” like Dr One such prediction of the overshoot which will launch the astronauts on their ciated with the lander, 140 would be based the numbers to update the impact predictions. A little over an hour Ashton and his colleague, Dr Paul Lasky, came from study co-author Dr Vanessa journey from Earth in 2024. at Huntsville, while 87 would be at Johnson later, Davide Farnocchia of Center of Near-Earth Object Studies also from Monash and OzGrav. Graber from McGill University, who “This was not a decision that was made Space Center. at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena reported that By reanalyzing data from observations visited the Monash team as an OzGrav lightly. A lot of hard work has been done “Johnson Space Center, when it comes all the impact scenarios for the next century had been eliminated. of the Vela glitch in 2016 taken by co- international visitor earlier this year. here in Huntsville over well over 10 years to human-machine interface, all the great “This result is only one example of the telescopes on Maunakea author Dr Jim Palfreyman from the Another observation, according to now regarding landing systems,” Mr. Bri- capabilities that they have throughout time, protecting Earth by observing and studying the asteroids that University of Tasmania, Dr Ashton and Dr Ashton, defies explanation. denstine said on Friday. with the astronaut corps being headquartered enter Earth’s neighborhood,” said Kelly Fast, manager of the his team found that during the glitch “Immediately before the glitch, we But not everyone will be happy about there, there’s going to be lots of opportunity Near Earth Object Observations Program in NASA’s Planetary the star actually started spinning even noticed that the star seems to slow down the decision. Before the formal announce- for them,” Mr. Bridenstine added. Defense Coordination Office, which supported the observations. faster, before relaxing down to a final its rotation rate before spinning back ment, Texas legislators including Senator He also said NASA Johnson would be Much in the same way that meteorologists use weather satellite state. up,” Dr Ashton said. Ted Cruz had written an open letter to Mr. leading work on the Gateway, a small space imagery to track hurricanes to determine whether they represent According to Dr Lasky, an ARC Future “We actually have no idea why this is, Bridenstine pushing for NASA’s Johnson station in lunar orbit where astronauts a hazard to people and property, astronomers use telescopes to Fellow also from the Monash School of and it’s the first time it’s ever been seen. Space Center, based in Houston, Texas, to will dock before going down to the lunar track asteroids near Earth to determine whether they represent Physics and Astronomy, and a member “It could be related to the cause of lead the lander development. surface. an impact hazard. “A different asteroid, 2019 NX5, got away of OzGrav this observation (done at the glitch, but we’re honestly not sure,” Responding to a report that Marshall Last month, NASA called on industry from us while the Maunakea telescopes were shuttered, which is the Mount Pleasant Observatory in he said adding that he suspects this new would be announced as the lead, the law- to submit ideas for an initial version of the regrettable,” Tholen said. “We are relieved that we were able to Tasmania) is particularly important paper to inspire some new theories on makers said: “While the Marshall Space Flight lander that could take two astronauts down catch 2006 QV89 before our window closed. We are even more because, for the first time, the scientists neutron stars and glitches. Center specializes in rocketry and spacecraft to the Moon in 2024. relieved that it won’t impact the Earth.” got a glimpse into the interior of the star (Source: Science Daily) propulsion, and is undoubtedly the leader in (Source: BBC) (Source: Science Daily) China state agency Lizards from cold climates may face rapid extinctions in next 60 years, study shows successfully launches rocket Lizards that produce live young are significantly more likely will remain largely unaffected. Of all the climatic factors for commercial use: CCTV to be driven to extinction through climate change than those studied, temperature was the dominant factor responsible that lay eggs, new research suggests. for these extinctions. A Chinese government space agency successfully launched on Sat- The study, involving Nottingham Trent University and “Human-induced climate change has forced the modern urday its first rocket meant for commercial use, state television the University of Lincoln, suggests that live-bearing lizards world to face one of the most severe periods of global-scale CCTV reported, as firms in the country compete to join a commercial face high risks of extinction within the next 60 years, driven extinctions of species since life began,” said researcher Dr. satellite boom. predominantly by rising temperatures. Daniel Pincheira-Donoso, a bioscientist at Nottingham Smart Dragon-1 rocket, which Researchers investigated how strategies for reproduction Trent University. weighs 23 tons and was developed that live-bearing (viviparous) or egg-laying (oviparous) modern He said: “Our results highlight the extent of the extinction by a unit of China Aerospace Sci- lizards evolved in the past can affect their chance to survive crisis that modern biodiversity is currently facing. By 2080, ence and Technology Corp (CASC), ongoing climate change caused by humans. more than half of the current ‘cold lands’ in the area we successfully delivered three sat- As part of the work, the team argue they have confirmed investigated in South America will have become warm, ellites into orbit after a launch in the emerging ‘cul-de-sac’ theory, which suggests that live- leading current resident species to extinction. Jiuquan, Gansu, CCTV said. bearing reproduction evolved in lizards that colonized cold “Extinction risks are known to increase as a result of China envisions constellations climates, such as high elevations and latitudes. are eventually wiped out. rapid climatic alterations and environmentally sensitive of commercial satellites that can This adaptation, however, is dragging them to extinction. The study looked at three groups of highly-diverse lizards species traits that fail to adapt to those changes. offer services ranging from high- The theory—developed by NTU’s Dr. Daniel Pincheira- from South America: one which only has viviparous species, “Viviparous lizards appear to have undergone a ‘double- speed internet for aircraft to track- Donoso—suggests that following colonization of those harsh one with only oviparous species, and one which has evolved edged adaptation’ – life births evolved because it was the ing coal shipments. Reliable, low- environments, mothers ‘retained’ the eggs in their bodies both forms of reproduction. critical adaptation that reptiles needed to colonize cold cost and frequent rocket launches to act as incubators, and this provided embryos with stable To investigate whether ongoing climate change will cause climates, but it will also accelerate their extinctions. will be key for that. conditions of temperature and oxygen. extinctions predicted by the theory, the researchers used “This work provides us with an opportunity to identify Smart Dragon-1, whose re- It is thought that, over time, this egg retention evolved computational modeling of current climate change, combined specific areas that need more urgent protection—such as high search and development budget into birthing live young. with real data on the conditions that lizards live under. mountain elevations where extinction risks will concentrate. came from social capital rather than state funding, is a demonstration Reproducing live young is not very effective in hot Their team, led by Dr. Pincheira-Donoso, found that “This phenomenon would apply to other reptiles, such of China’s drive to commercialize the rockets sector, where more environments, however, and once reptiles evolve in this live-bearing species will displace towards the mountain as snakes, anywhere in the world.” private rocket firm are allowed to enter the market to compete way, they remain ‘trapped’ in cold areas. tops at significantly faster speeds than egg-laying species— Researcher Manuel Jara, who was at the University of with each other, CCTV said. As climate warming rapidly progresses towards higher displacing at a rate of 0.3% of the current geographical Lincoln when the work was carried out, added: “Live-bearing Last month, Beijing-based iSpace became the first private firm elevations and latitudes, the ‘suitable’ cold climates where range per year. lizards are predicted to follow their dramatically shrinking to deliver a satellite into orbit on its rocket. Since late last year, two live birthing species live will be pushed towards mountain While this means that viviparous lizards will face high cool habitats, increasing their risk of extinction.” other startups have attempted to launch satellites but have failed. tops and continent edges until lizards run out of space and extinction risks within just six decades, oviparous species (Source: phys.org) (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM AUGUST 19, 2019

Tehran exhibit showcasing Major exhibits of tourism, handmade jewelry

HERITAGE TEHRAN — Sets of handmade jewelry, made desk handicrafts underway in Urmia by a group of female Iranian jewelers, are cur- rently on show at the headquarters of the Cultural Heritage, TOURISM TEHRAN — Urmia, the With its rich culture and unique natural Handicrafts and Tourism Organization in Tehran. deskcapital of West Azarbai- landscapes, West Azarbaijan province is be- The exhibit, running from August 17 to 21, presents sev- jan province, is playing host to major ex- coming an increasingly popular destination enty works produced by the Kouben art group and it aims hibits of tourism and handicrafts from for domestic and foreign travelers, a provincial to introduce authentic Iranian poems in the form of silver August 17 to 20, CHTN reported. tourism official said earlier in August. jewelry, CHTN reported. The Urmia Permanent International “The province has seen a nearly 100 percent Fairground hosts the 6th National Handi- rise in the number of visitors to its museums crafts Exhibition concurrently with the 2nd during the Iranian calendar month of Tir Tourism Exhibition, provincial tourism (June 22-July 22) in comparison to the same chief Jalil Jabbari said. month last year.” Exhibitors, travel marketers and tour op- Two UNESCO sites of Takht-e Soleyman erators from 18 provinces along with craft- and Qareh Klise (St. Thaddeus Monastery), speople from 30 provinces have taken part the archaeological site of Teppe Hasanlu and in the event, which also features everyday the ruined Bastam Citadel are among the life of Iranian nomads, Jabbari explained. top travel destinations in the northwestern A total of 160 stalls and 13 nomadic black province. tents have been set up for the event, the A center for some ancient civilizations, official added. Azarbaijan is bounded on the north by the Referring to various exhibitors, folk and art Aras River, which separates it from Azerbai- The group has developed typographic designs of authentic groups performing their rituals, Jabbari said, jan and Armenia, and on the west by Iraq (classical) Iranian poetry pieces using a combination of silver and “The layout of stalls follow a kind of content and Turkey. According to Britannica, it was warm enamel, which is the first of its kind in Iran, the report added. order so that visitors can have complete and conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th The group, which is composed of five artisans who have grad- proper visits to the exhibitions.” century BC and was named Atropatene after uate degrees in handicrafts, is named after an ancient tool being “As top artisans from across the country one of Alexander’s generals, Atropates, who used to create jewelry. are presenting their latest products at the Local officials cut ribbon on concurrent exhibits of tourism and handicrafts at established a small kingdom there. Ultimately, Iran earned some $99 million from exporting handicrafts via event, it is a great opportunity for the people the Urmia Permanent International Fairground, in the capital of Iran’s West the area returned to Persian (Iranian) rule suitcase trade (allowed for customs-free and tax-free transfer) to visit and buy [handicrafts] at fair prices.” Azarbaijan province, August 17, 2019. under the Sasanians in the 3rd century CE. during the past Iranian calendar year 1397 (ended March 20), CHHTO deputy director Pouya Mahmoudian said earlier in July. In addition, the country’s handicrafts exports through customs reached $289 million in 1397, showing three percent growth year European bikers on way to Isfahan, Shiraz on year, Mahmoudian said. TOURISM TEHRAN — A group of European bik- They are riding on 25 motorcycles and four cars for an deskers arrived in Iran late on Saturday to 11-day tour in the Iranian soil, Namdar explained. follow their rally itinerary that includes Isfahan and Shiraz Foreign arrivals from Bazargan border, shared with in heartland of the ancient country. Turkey in northwestern Iran, surged 57 percent in the first ‘Mystery’ volcano that cooled the “A Paris-Isfahan motorcycle rally tour entered the country four months of the current Iranian calendar year (started ancient world traced to El Salvador from Bazargan border terminal on Saturday for the purpose on March 21) from a year earlier, director of the border of visiting nature charms and historical sites,” IRNA quoted terminal has said. Sadeq Namdar, the head of Bazargan customs office, as saying. Nearly 7.8 million foreign nationals visited Iran during The sixth century was a rough time to be alive: Lower-than-av- “The group is composed of 40 people who are from France, the past Iranian calendar year 1397 (ended on March 20) erage temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere triggered crop Switzerland and England. And Isfahan and Shiraz are their that shows a 52.5 percent increase year on year. The Islamic failure, famine, and maybe even the onset of bubonic plague. The major destinations [in Iran],” the official said. Republic hosted 5.1 million travelers in 1396. ultimate culprit, scientists say, were two back-to-back volcanic eruptions—one in 536 CE and another around 540 CE. The first likely happened in Iceland or North America. But Explore “Everest of all caves” in western Iran the location of the second one has TOURISM TEHRAN — Photos show rock remained a mystery—until now. deskclimbers rappelling through Iran’s Researchers studying ancient Parau Cave, locally renowned as “Everest of all caves”. deposits from El Salvador’s Il- Looking for adventure? This limestone vertical cave, opango volcano knew that a which is one of natural attractions of Kermanshah massive eruption had taken province in the Zagros Mountains, offers a wild and place there sometime between challenging expedition for experienced rock climbers! the third and sixth centuries. That At 751 meters deep, Parau is the deepest cave in event, dubbed Tierra Blanca Joven the country. Joujar Cave, at 568 m deep, has been (TBJ), or “white young earth,” reported as the second deepest. sent a volcanic plume towering Stretched at about 3050 meters height in Parau nearly 50 kilometers into the Mountain, it was the greatest vertical cave in the world atmosphere. at the time of its discovery, more than 40 years ago To better pin down the date of this eruption, the scientists (1971), Tasnim reported on Friday. collected slices from three tree trunks embedded in TBJ vol- “That was why it is called Everest of all the caves canic ash 25 to 30 kilometers from the present-day lake that in the world. This cave is registered as the second covers the caldera (above). The tropical hardwood trees likely natural and national monument in Kermanshah in died after being engulfed by the searing hot, gale-force winds [the Iranian calendar year] 1388 (March 2009-March containing the volcanic gases, ash, and pumice that would 2010) by Environmental Protection Agency in Iran.” have swept outward after the eruption. Today, many deep caves are discovered throughout Back in the lab, the researchers estimated the ages of different the world which are even deeper than Parau Cave parts of the slices by counting their rings and using carbon-14 and have sent this cave down to rank 221 in the list dating. The multiple measurements yielded much more precise of deepest world caves, the report said. dates than could have been gotten from single measurements. One of the exquisite features of Parau Cave is its three (Source: sciencemag.org) thousand meters height from sea level which is the highest level from sea among all the caves in the world. The western province welcomed 5,664 foreign ROUND THE GLOBE travelers during the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), according Agave landscape and ancient to data compiled by provincial tourism department. It embraces a variety of awe-inspiring historical industrial facilities of Tequila sites including Bisotun and Taq-e Bostan, both on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The Agave Region, in the Valles Region of the Jalisco State, is one of the most important cultural landscapes in Mexico, not only for the importance of the natural landscape that offers, but for the cultural tradition that has kept for several Why you probably shouldn’t book a flight through a third-party travel site centuries and from which has arisen one of the main icons Last month, scammers posing as Expedia There are exceptions, however. If you’re by providing additional points or miles. an airline comes with one major perk: that identify this country: the tequila. stole thousands of dollars from travelers making changes within 24 hours of booking (You might also receive more points for They have your email or phone number hoping to confirm or change their bookings your reservation, you can likely cancel or a direct booking while using an airline and will reach out with changes to your over the phone. But booking flights with the change your itinerary for free, depending on co-branded credit card as well.) itinerary. If you’re booking a flight through real Expedia—and any other third-party the site’s policy (a rule that also exists if you There are other basic benefits, too. As a third-party website, download your air- site like Travelocity—comes with certain had booked through a U.S. airline directly); Travel and Leisure writes, third-party sites line’s app and pay attention to any news (legal) risks, too. Expedia allows for free changes/cancellations may not account for flight sales or promo- regarding your flight. If your plans change, you might not be within one day of booking. If you bought tional offers in their results. And when Booking through third-party sites entitled to a refund, as one Redditor recently additional insurance while checking out on you book, you’re not given the option to does have a few benefits discovered (and almost lost $5,000 in the the site, you also may be covered, but that reserve seats; you’ll have to contact your Given all that we’ve said to convince process). If you’re planning to book a flight depends on the terms and conditions of your airline instead, making the overall booking you that booking through third-party sites through Expedia or Kayak (a search engine particular insurance type. process more annoying than you’d like if isn’t a good idea, it’s not always a terrible that takes you to other booking sites), here’s As for canceling nonrefundable tickets pur- you just want to reserve an aisle seat and decision. For one, if you’ve found a cheap our warning: Always comparison shop first chased through third-parties, well, there’s no be done with it. itinerary combining flights from different and carefully read the fine print before you hit easy answer. Over on Reddit, u/1exp purchased Before you book, always compare an itin- airlines and have no intention of changing the confirm button. You might save yourself five tickets costing $5,000 via Travelocity, erary on an airline website with one you’ve your plans, then by all means, book the from hefty fees and a few lengthy phone calls only to discover he’d booked the wrong dates; found on a third-party site to see what you flights! It’s easier and might save you the The 35,019 ha site, between the foothills of the Tequi- with customer service. in short, after a conversation with the airline might be missing out on, particularly points time and effort it would take to book on la Volcano and the deep valley of the Rio Grande River, Changing or canceling your plans and another with Travelocity, he didn’t see or miles. Some third-party sites like Orbitz different airline websites. is part of an expansive landscape of blue agave, shaped won’t be easy or cheap a dollar back until his bank finally stepped and Expedia also have their own rewards Always comparison shop, understand by the culture of the plant used since the 16th century to To change your plans booked via a third in (and miraculously negated all charges for programs, but they’re only really worth it if the risks, and read the fine print of any produce tequila spirit and for at least 2,000 years to make party, it will require you to contact that book- unclear, legal reasons). you’re a frequent buyer from the site. site’s contract before you book. (You should fermented drinks and cloth. ing site’s customer support line; these lines And what happens if an airline cancels You may not be notified of changes review change and cancellation policies, in Within the landscape are working distilleries reflecting often handle travelers’ requested changes on your trip? Well, as Christopher Elliott or updates particular.) And never book flights with the growth in the international consumption of tequila in a case-by-case basis. (If you booked a low- writes for Mercury News, an airline should Here’s another factor: You might not a debit card—if you request a refund, it the 19th and 20th centuries. cost carrier like Frontier or Spirit, however, a refund the fare and your third-party site even be notified of any status updates on might take weeks or even months to see Today, the agave culture is seen as part of national iden- third-party site may require that you contact should step in to provide you with a refund. your itinerary. As the Points Guy writes, it reflected in your checking account. And tity. The area encloses a living, working landscape of blue them directly.) Of course, it will be a pain in the ass and one traveler wasn’t notified that his flight while browsing through third-party sites, agave fields and the urban settlements of Tequila, Arenal, At the very least, you should expect to you may not immediately see the refund from Paris to Newark, New Jersey on a use websites like Skyscanner to browse and Amatitan with large distilleries where the agave ‘pine- pay change fees for both the website and until you contact the website yourself and business-seat-only plane had been switched through flight options, too. It’s a search apple’ is fermented and distilled. the airline. Vayama, for example, charges likely follow up again and again. out for an all-economy flight with little leg- engine, rather than a booking site, so it’ll A World Heritage, Agave landscape and ancient industri- $100 for a change. Meanwhile, airlines like You might miss out on sale pricing room and no TVs (gasp). According to the help you make the best possible decision. al facilities of Tequila is also a testimony to the Teuchitlan American and Delta charge change fees that or other options for flights passenger, he had booked via a third-party And don’t forget: Some low-cost carriers cultures which shaped the Tequila area from 200-900 CE, start at $200. In other words, changing your Airlines would much rather you book site but his contact information was not like Southwest don’t appear on most major notably through the creation of terraces for agriculture, hous- flight via third-party sites will almost always directly to avoid referral fees given to passed onto the airline, so he was never third-party booking sites, so always do your ing, temples, ceremonial mounds and ball courts. be more expensive than if you had booked booking websites. For this reason, airlines informed of the change. own research, too. (Source: UNESCO) directly through an airline and changed plans. might incentivize you to book directly Obviously, booking directly through (Source: lifehacker.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 19, 2019 HEALTH 11

IRCS: Sanctions hindering pharma Venomous animals kill 10 since March

HEALTH TEHRAN — Ten people have died of bites from raw materials import deskvenomous animals since the beginning of the current [Iranian calendar] year (March 21), said Mohammad Mahdi HEALTH TEHRAN – Problems The report was written by Abbas Guya, the director of Communicable Diseases Department at the deskin transferring money Kebriaeezadeh, a professor of pharmacology Ministry of Health. from foreign banks and using foreign at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences According to Guya, out of these ten deaths, nine were caused exchange has been hindering the import and the vice chairman of the Iranian by the sting of scorpion and one was due to the snake bite, ISNA of pharmaceutical raw materials into the Pharmaceutical Industries Syndicate. reported on Saturday. country for a long time, announced the According to the report, Washington Guya made the announcement over a scientific seminar on “Stings director of medical supply department at claims that maximum pressure won’t and Bites from Venomous Animals.” the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS). stop the supply of medicine and other “With not having the required raw humanitarian necessities, but banking materials, we have many problems producing sanctions are driving up import prices, some medicines, and the production of some blocking supply chains, and creating deadly medicines has stopped all together,” Mehr drug shortages. news agency quoted Ali Faraji as saying According to Kebriaeezadeh, “Last on Sunday. month, the U.S. Department of State released “We hope that the problem will be solved a video addressed to the people of Iran. In with the help of the Central Bank and the the video, Trump administration official Food and Drug Administration,” said Faraji. Brian Hook claims that it is a ‘myth’ that “As an international agency, we have sanctions target Iran’s access to medicine. offered the Health Ministry to help them For more than a decade, my fellow Iranian in importing raw materials. They are still medical professionals and I have been reviewing our offer and has not responded struggling to protect patients from the yet.” food and humanitarian aid are not subject affects importation of food and medicine. fallout of U.S. sanctions. We have studied “The main problem now is not having to sanctions is “ridiculous”. Sanctions are killing Iranian sanctions impacts on Iran’s health care access to some foreign raw materials that are According to Alireza Raeesi, It is true patients sector and advocated for better responses critical in producing medicine,” he added. that medicines and humanitarian goods are Last week, Foreign Policy released a from our own government. Our findings He further noted that people must receive more information about Last week, the deputy health minister exempt from sanctions but the sanctions report about how sanctions are “killing make clear that the harms being inflicted the precautions against venomous stings and the consequences of said that the American claim that medicine, have restricted transfer of money which cancer patients in Iran.” on Iranian patients are not mythology.” such stings. Also, the disease registration system must be revised so that it includes cases of venomous stings and the number of deaths. According to World Health Organization (WHO), animal bites are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. How you can ‘reprogram’ your taste New insights into how exercise Worldwide, up to five million people are bitten by snakes every buds to like vegetables can lift mood in depression year; the majority in Africa and South-East Asia. Prompt medical treatment with appropriate antivenom is re- quired for poisonous snake bites.

Why are kids in Waycross getting cancer?

Fourteen-year-old Lexi Crawford was attacked by lower back pain so sharp that she couldn’t even sit up to eat. Her mother had to bring her food while she was lying flat on her back. Doctors in Waycross, GA, the small town where she lives, thought it was a kidney infection. But after months of antibiotics didn’t clear it up, a visiting doctor in the local ER suggested an X-ray. What he saw on the scan was terrifying. Black spots covered Lexi’s spine. “That’s cancer,” he told her mother, Cristy Rice. “I don’t know what kind it is, or where else it is, but that’s cancer.” As Lexi first started feeling sick, in a house across town, 2-year-old Harris Lott began complaining that his stomach hurt. He suddenly Don’t say no to that asparagus just yet. the bitter tastes like water. It’s gone,” There is growing evidence that exercise den on society and can damage people’s lost the ability to urinate, and his parents, who are both doctors, New research suggests people may find Torregrossa told UB’s news service. can help to treat symptoms of depression functioning more severely than other rushed him to an emergency room. He was diagnosed with an infec- the taste of bitter green vegetables more The research, published in the journal and lift mood, although the reasons have lasting conditions, such as arthritis and tion. After treatment, he was fine for a while, but a few weeks later, enjoyable if they eat them more often. Chemical Senses, suggests that repeated been unclear. Now, a new study finds diabetes. the problem returned, and a urologist said it was time for more Don’t like the taste of bitter green exposure to bitter foods can change the that the body’s endocannabinoid system Prescribed versus preferred tests. They found a tumor the size of a grapefruit in his abdomen. vegetables? Good news! The way they proteins in saliva, essentially calming the may play a role. exercise A few days later, doctors told the grandparents of 5-year-old taste can improve the more frequently initial distaste for bitter and other flavors. The researchers propose that a better For the new study, the team investi- Gage Walker, who lives 14 miles east in nearby Hoboken, GA, that you eat them. Getty Images “If we can convince people to try appreciation of the relationship between gated 17 adult females aged between 20 the unrelenting stomach pain he’d had for weeks was probably Christopher Gardner’s son was the broccoli, greens, and bitter foods, they exercise, mood, and the endocannabinoid and 60 years with a current diagnosis constipation. For 2 months, doctors sent him home with laxatives. typical picky eater. He knew what he liked should know that with repeated exposure, system could result in better treatments of major depression. “He would just cry and cry and cry. I thought something was really and knew what he didn’t like. they’ll taste better once they regulate these for depression. Each participant completed two wrong,’” says his grandmother, Ellen Walker. It, too, turned out to That suddenly changed right around proteins,” Torregrossa said. The study investigated changes in 30-minute exercise sessions on a sta- be cancer. the time he became a teenager. He began While rats and humans are drastical- mood and endocannabinoid levels tionary bike. In one session, the partic- All three kids were facing a liking “adult” foods and became more ly different in many ways, the research in people with major depression who ipant cycled at a prescribed moderate common enemy: a soft-tissue adventurous. does offer insight into how our palates exercised at different intensities on a intensity, and in the other session, they cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. Gardner was surprised at how abruptly can adapt to the foods we’re given with stationary bike. could cycle freely at any intensity that It’s rare. Only about 350 cases the change came about, but, as a nutrition repeated exposure. The investigators found a significant they preferred. of rhabdomyosarcoma are diag- science PhD-holding researcher and pro- Experts say repetition and engaging increase in endocannabinoid levels and All the participants completed both nosed in the U.S. each year. Even fessor at Stanford University’s Prevention picky eaters into the cooking process are improvement in mood after a session of types of session, with a gap of at least 1 more puzzling, at about the same Research Center, he was glad to see his surefire ways to help change the minds — prescribed exercise of moderate intensity. week between them. time, another child in the area, son embrace new and different flavors. or at least the saliva — of stubborn eaters. The endocannabinoid system is a cell The researchers took blood samples 5-year-old Raylee Metts, was diag- “Gen Z is really great at exploring food,” Our taste buds aren’t made signaling system comprising the body’s before and immediately after the sessions. nosed with a related but even rarer Gardner told Healthline. “They want to of stone own cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids, In addition, the participants filled in cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma. There blow their taste buds away.” Catherine Brennan, a registered and receptors. It extends throughout the questionnaires before and at 10 minutes are about 250 cases of Ewing’s But that doesn’t mean they all come dietitian nutritionist who writes for body and influences the function of the and 30 minutes after the sessions. in the U.S. annually. out of the womb as adventurous eaters. FeelingFullNutrition.com, says while immune, cardiovascular, and nervous The results showed that mood im- All told, within 60 days in Some take longer, and new research several factors like genetics, culture, systems. proved after both sessions, but that a rise 2015, four children with rare suggests our dietary likes and dislikes environment, and upbringing all play a When a particular endocannabinoid in endocannabinoid levels only occurred sarcoma cancers were being aren’t ingrained in our DNA. role in developing our palates, the ear- binds to a matching cell receptor, it sends after the prescribed moderate-intensity treated with intensive chemotherapy, fighting for their lives, fam- Because even when we think we don’t liest influenceTrusted Source could be a signal into the cell that alters its be- exercise session. There was no such rise ily members said. like the taste of something, our tongues our mother’s milk. havior and functioning. following the preferred-intensity session. In the southeast Georgia community where the children live in haven’t quite made up their minds yet. Into childhood, developing brains prefer Need to find new treatments Meyer says that he and his colleagues and around, some suspected it was more than just a coincidence. But Bitter, for example, is a complicated foods with energy return and replenish- for depression found the results of the preferred-inten- in trying to prove that, worried residents didn’t know they would be taste. It typically serves as a warning sign; ment, like sugars and saltsTrusted Source. In a recent paper about the research, sity session surprising. facing obstacles nearly as formidable as the cancer itself. as in, if something tastes bitter, then it While those same children may be re- which features in the Medicine & Science One explanation could be the small A history of pollution might be poisonous. jecting new foods, Brennan recommends in Sports & Exercise journal, the authors number of participants and the variation Lexi’s house sits on the corner of Hamilton and Brunel streets in Unfortunately, that includes cruci- people follow the advice of most pediatric conclude that the mood-enhancing ef- in intensity levels in the preferred-inten- Waycross, a town of about 15,000 people. Drive east on Hamilton, ferous vegetables, like broccoli, Brus- dietitians: Try a new food 10 or more times fects of exercise likely involve several sity session. Some participants complet- and within a block, you’ll see rusty pipes sticking up out of the ground sels sprouts, cabbage, kale, radishes, before finally throwing in the towel. biological mechanisms, of which the ed the preferred session at a constant, like straws. These are monitoring wells, and they are planted in and arugula. “Think about it: How many of us took a endocannabinoid system is just one. light intensity, while others varied the empty fields that border Hamilton Street behind a chain-link fence. Otherwise known as the short list sip of our parent’s coffee or beer as a child “Finding alternatives to medication intensity. Railroad Company CSX Transportation owns the fields -- part of foods lots of kids often don’t like. At and spit it out, wondering how anyone is important for the treatment of de- Another explanation for the differ- of the sprawling Rice Yard complex in the center of town -- and the least at first. could ever like the bitter taste?” she told pression,” says first study author Jacob ence in results between the preferred 755 acres beyond them. Recent research out of the University Healthline. D. Meyer, Ph.D., an assistant professor and prescribed exercise sessions could The wells have been there since the early 1990s to monitor an at Buffalo (UB) conducted on rats suggests Brennan, like so many of us, did. Now of kinesiology at Iowa State University, be that exercising at a level that someone enormous spill, or plume, of toxic chemicals that has been moving that trying more bitter foods — particularly she has a hard time imagining her life in Ames. else prescribes has a psychological as underground for decades. those found in a healthy plant-based diet without coffee or beer. “If we can figure out how exercise well as a biological effect. tate environmental inspectors first ordered the site to be cleaned — changes proteins in saliva that affect That’s because we experience the works with the endocannabinoid system,” Lasting effect of moderate-in- up in 1985, when they found a stew of hazardous chemicals that were how we perceive the taste of food. world of five key factors: sight, smell, he adds, “we could then design optimal tensity exercise being handled carelessly. Paint strippers were poured into shallow The researchers filled two water bot- sound, touch, and taste. We experience exercise interventions.” Another significant result of the study pits. Solvents were poured down floor drains. tles with different tasting solutions and them best through complex foods, where Feeling sad or lonely can be a part was the long lasting effect of moder- The state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) ordered trained rats, some genetically modified taste is broken down even further into of the everyday ups and downs of life, ate-intensity exercise. the railroad to find out exactly how much hazardous waste it was with activated salivary proteins akin to five more categories: sweet, sour, bitter, especially when times are hard due to The increase in endocannabinoid generating and where it was going. They fined Seaboard System those who had been raised on a diet of bitter salt, and umami. loss or stress. Depression, however, is levels appeared to correlate to mood Railroad, then the owner, $30,500. foods, to choose from the two bottles to Dr. Clifford Segil, a neurologist at a condition in which these and other improvements up to 30 minutes after When the state returned for a follow-up inspection a few months indicate whether it tasted bitter or sweet. Providence Saint John’s Health Center symptoms persist. the session. later, they caught workers dumping toxic waste onto the ground in But Ann-Marie Torregrossa, PhD, an in Santa Monica, California, says differ- According to information from the This would suggest, says Meyer that an area of the property that sits near Lexi’s neighborhood. assistant professor in UB’s department ent flavors affect different parts of our Centers for Disease Control and Preven- the endocannabinoid system was con- A few months later, the company received a second fine of $50,000 of psychology and the associate director brains. He believes the “taste” part plays tion (CDC), depression affected 8.1% of tributing to the mood-lifting effects of when inspectors found workers dumping toxic waste onto the ground of the university’s Center for Ingestive a less important role than sight or touch. adults aged 20 and older in the United the prescribed exercise. near Lexi’s neighborhood. Inspectors who tested the waste found Behavior Research, says those rats with That makes it harder to teach such States during 2013–2016. “These results show us that the effect high levels of volatile organic compounds including cancer causing the bitter-induced salivary proteins turned a small part of the brain to inherently Major depression is a treatable, com- of prescribed moderate-intensity exercise trichloroethylene (TCE), and methylene chloride, a paint stripper on couldn’t taste the bitterness at higher like healthier foods lacking the sugar, mon condition in which changes in mood on mood is generally pretty quick and that is thought to cause cancer. concentrations when compared to others caffeine, and salt the larger parts of our and other mental and physical symptoms lasts for a while at a relatively sustained The state issued a second fine to the railroad for $50,000, and that didn’t have the same protein activated. brains prefer. last for at least 2 weeks. rate,” he concludes. required it to establish plans to monitor the pollution and clean it up. “Once these proteins are on board, (Source: Healthline) The illness poses a considerable bur- (Source: medical news today) (Source: WebMD) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY AUGUST 19, 2019

British hunters ‘paying Father of nature: to kill endangered giraffes in Africa’, campaigners say a lifetime dedicated

A growing number of British trophy hunters are paying to kill giraffes in Africa despite fears of extinction, campaigners say. to environmental British-run companies are also selling package trips where hunters can shoot threatened animals. It comes as 180 countries meet to consider proposals to protect giraffes and other threatened animals under the Convention on protection International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites). By Faranak Bakhtiari “Illnesses are a sign of disrespectful be- havior towards nature,” he once noted. TEHRAN — Gholam-Ali Beski, physician He spearheaded a movement when he and environmentalist who dedicated a lifetime established a hospital, a high school, a school protecting the environment and promoting for gifted students who are financially strug- public awareness on climate change, passed gling, and a mathematic center in Gonbad-e away on Wednesday, leaving the nature to Kavus in Golestan province. the people hoping for tougher measures to He also founded the Dr. Beski’s world preserve the remaining natural resources. foundation for preservation of life with the Born in 1931 in the northeastern city of aim of safeguarding the environment. Sabzevar, Beski was known as the “father of He completed his education in Tehran nature”, for his courageous efforts on prevent- University of Medical Sciences in 1966; ing deforestation and conserving the nature. receiving his PHDs in medicine, obstetrics Quite unlike many, Beski spent his life and gynecology. In 1952, he married and perfectly delightful of living in the middle of had four children when he passed away at a forest, away from most luxuries, in some the age of 88. cases even necessities. In 1970, he left the city to Golestan forest, A physician, environmentalist and ben- where his several chronic diseases, such as efactor; what truly sets Beski apart was his cataract and purulent bronchitis, back pain There are currently no international trade rules that protect love for the environment, natural resources, and skin problems were treated. giraffes, meaning that trophies and body parts can be exported and forests. So committed was he to raise Voicing concerns about deforestation in the and imported without any checks or records. awareness on climate change and environ- country, and urging responsible bodies to take But if a proposal from six African countries is approved, coun- mental protection, he also has made curing action in this regard was an inseparable part of tries that export body parts from giraffes would have to keep illnesses his life’s mission. his life even until the last moments of his life. records of the exports and trophy hunting would be regulated. For over 40 years, he worked to promote Beski spent a part of his wealth in research Voicing concerns about deforestation In what has been described as a “silent extinction”, giraffe healthy living among people being a raw vege- of environment and lectures on environmental numbers have fallen by up to 40 per cent over the last 30 years tarian, after dealing with his multiple illnesses. issues, climate change, chemical wastes and in the country, and urging responsible due to threats including trade in their parts, as well as habitat Beski also spent years to study herb- the benefits of healthy diet in order to raise bodies to take action in this regard was an loss, illegal hunting and civil war, conservationists said. al medicines believing that the illnesses public awareness. Despite these concerns, hunters can pay less than £2,000 are not cured with medicines but with The body of father of nature was buried in inseparable part of his life even until the to kill a giraffe. healthy lifestyle. the village of Tangra, in Golestan province. last moments of his life. Eduardo Goncalves, of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, told The Independent: “There is a greater number of British trophy hunters then there were a decade ago. “There are also now British safari companies that organize World’s nations gather to tackle wildlife extinction crisis hunting expeditions where you pay to shoot these things.” From giraffes to sharks, the world’s endangered species Cites to spur real action to save the vaquita. [Otherwise] He added: “The other thing is there is more and different could gain better protection at an international wildlife that will be on us, a major extinction on our watch at the species that trophy hunters are now going after. conference. hands of criminals.” “Traditionally people thought it was things like leopards, The triennial summit of Convention on International Vietnam will also come under pressure, after independ- elephants, lions or zebra. Now you are looking at some really Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), that began on Sat- ent analyses found it was the largest destination for illegal bizarre creatures that are on the menu – like giraffes and monkeys. urday, will tackle disputes over the conservation of great elephant ivory and rhino horn. Margaret Kinnaird, head of “There are actually quite a number of British trophy hunt- beasts such as elephants and rhinos, as well as cracking global wildlife at the WWF, said: “Vietnam has been of great ers out there.” down on the exploitation of unheralded but vital species concern for many years now – much more has to be done.” Hunters say that income generated by people paying to shoot such as sea cucumbers, which clean ocean floors. Another flashpoint will be opposing proposals on ele- animals helps protect the remainder, and that culling is an im- Extraordinary creatures being driven to extinction by phants, of which about 20,000 are poached every year for portant part of conservation. the exotic pet trade, from glass frogs to star tortoises, may the illegal ivory trade. Southern African countries, home Matt Collis, director of international policy at the International win extra protection from the 183-country conference. It to large populations, want to loosen restrictions to raise Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), said: “It is important that giraffes may even see an extinct animal, the woolly mammoth, funds for conservation. But others on the continent want are listed by Cites because currently we can’t say for certain how get safeguards, on the grounds that illegal elephant ivo- to make the ivory ban even broader. much of their huge population decline is due to trade. ry is sometimes laundered by being labelled as antique Higuero hoped progress might be made by focusing on “We do know it is a significant factor though as the only mammoth tusks. a goal all the countries share – to improve their citizens’ country that currently collects data on trade in giraffes, the US, Ivonne Higuero, the secretary general of Cites, said: lives. “[Local communities] want to put food on their tables, has reported almost 40,000 giraffe items traded in a decade, “Cites is a powerful tool for ensuring sustainability and In the run-up to the meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, education for their children, hospitals and healthcare,” she from 2006 to 2015.” responding to the rapid loss of biodiversity – often called conservationists have called for sanctions against Mexico, said. “It is very easy for people from outside to say ‘don’t (Source: The Independet) the sixth mass extinction – by preventing and reversing home to the vaquita, a porpoise on the edge of extinction do this, don’t do that’ but what are the options we can give declines in wildlife populations.” with only about 19 left alive. The vaquita’s demise also them so they feel they are gaining something from taking WORDS IN THE NEWS The destruction of nature has reduced wildlife popula- illustrates the deadly role of criminals in the destruction of care of nature?” tions by 60% since 1970 and plant extinctions are running wildlife. The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth The most unusual proposal at the summit is to put an at a “frightening” rate, according to scientists. In May, the $7bn to $23bn a year, ranking only behind drugs, human extinct species – the woolly mammoth – on the list of species Goran Ivanisevic wins world’s leading researchers warned that humanity was trafficking and weapons. for which trade is restricted. “It would absolutely be the Wimbledon in jeopardy from the accelerating decline of the planet’s “The vaquita is really a poster child for what is happening first time,” Higuero said. “The fear is that elephant ivory natural life-support systems, which provide the food, clean in terms of international criminal networks and wildlife,” is being traded as if it were mammoth ivory.” (July 11, 2001) air and water on which society ultimately depends. said Higuero. “They use wildlife like drugs, prostitution The summit may also bring good news, with some spe- Tennis player Goran Ivanisevic’s victory at Wimbledon this week “We do depend on biodiversity,” Higuero said. “It is not and arms, because the financial rewards are high.” cies being taken off danger lists because their populations was a surprise to everybody as he hadn’t even qualified for the just an environmental issue. There are so many species The vaquita is killed as bycatch when fishers target the are recovering. One, the vicuña, is a relative of the llama that, if they went extinct, would be sorely missed and we and provides extremely valuable wool. Higuero said the tournament through the normal processes. Nicholas Woods reports totoaba, a large fish whose swim bladder can sell illegally just don’t realise it.” for $20,000 a kilogram in China because of its supposed prospects of the animal had been improved by getting lo- on the massive reaction to the win in his home country of Croatia. Matt Collis, the head of the NGO IFAW’s delegation at medicinal properties. cal communities involved in their conservation. “This is Like tennis critics across the world most Croats had written Cites, said: “Illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade, cou- “People have been killed,” Higuero said. “The [drug] definitely a demonstration of how successful you can be off Goran Ivanisevic. It was with some surprise then that people pled with habitat loss and other human-made threats, has cartels are involved, they are heavily armed and it seems when there are issues of humans and wildlife living side greeted his entry into the Wimbledon finals. The news was big decimated many species so that they are now at a tipping the navy and police can’t control it, so you have a govern- by side,” she added. enough to merit a picture on the front pages of several newspapers. point for future survival. It is vital that countries come ance crisis.” A quartet of Australian rodents may also be struck This has been all the more surprising at a time when most headlines together to do all they can.” She said the area of sea involved was just a quarter of off the list of species in which all trade is banned, for the have been dominated by a political crisis prompted by a The Cites agreement regulates the international trade in the size of Los Angeles: “If we can’t protect this, what hope simple reason that no one wants to buy the greater stick government decision to hand over war crime suspects to the wildlife, from live animals to skins and timber, and unlike is there for anything else?” nest rat, the false swamp rat, the central rock rat and the UN tribunal in The Hague. For several hours though most Croats other international conventions can punish countries that Clare Perry, a senior campaigner at the Environmen- Shark Bay mouse. forgot about politics. They’ve been glued to their television sets. flout bans by barring them from lucrative markets. tal Investigation Agency, said: “This is the last chance for (Source: The Guardian) Cafes and bars have been filled withenthusiasts who’ve never shown much interest in tennis and finally when the outsider clinched his final set the reaction could be heard across the city. Cars have been tooting their horns and people have been ENGLISH IN USE setting off fire crackers. So distracted was one driver listening to his radio he crashed LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION his car at a Zagreb traffic junction. Now Goran Ivanisevic is guaranteed to be remembered as a national hero. Words ‘Pharmaceutical industry unfazed سخنگوی وزارت بهداشت: خروج آمریکا از written off:decided that he was likely to fail to merit: to deserve by U.S. withdrawal of nuclear deal’ برجام تاثیری در دارو ندارد dominated: heavily influenced prompted by: caused by Given Iran’s low volume of imports in pharmaceutical and medical ســخنگوی وزارت بهداشــت تاکیــد کــرد: خــروج آمریــکا از برجــام تاثیــری بــر hand over: give equipment industry, the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal glued to their television sets: giving their televisions their بــازار دارو و تجهیــزات پزشــکی نخواهــد گذاشــت؛ چراکــه وابســتگ یمان بــه دارو و full attention won’t affect the industry, the Ministry of Health spokesman said تجهیــزات وارداتــی بســیار انــدک اســت. .enthusiasts: people who are very interested on Wednesday outsider: person who is not considered as having a good chance “Due to the technical know-how we possess we do not depend on دکتــر ایــرج حریرچــی در گف توگــو بــا ایســنا گفــت: بــا تکیــه بــر تــوان دانشــمندان of winning خودمــان و تولی داتمــان، وابســتگی داروی یمــان بــه محصــوالت خارجــی بســیار انــدک clinched: succeeded in winning import and we are capable of manufacturing many pharmaceutical tooting: sounding products domestically,” ISNA quoted Harirchi as saying. اســت و میــزان قاب لتوجهــی از داروهــا را خودمــان تولیــد م ی کنیــم. distracted: unable to concentrate Harirchi further highlighted that the country has enough foreign وی تاکیــد کــرد: بــا توجــه بــه توانــی کــه دولــت در حــوزه ارز و منابعــی کــه بــرای ایــن Zagreb: capital of Croatia (Source: BBC) exchange reserves and ensured the public that the current conditions حــوزه دارد، مــردم مطمئــن باشــند کــه مشــکلی در ایــن زمینــه نخواهیــم داشــت. .won’t raise any problems for the pharmaceutical industry Without water, PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM everything “fore-” Go about something Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Meaning: before or in front Meaning: to start to do something: Explanation: a person who is very enthusiastic and withers For example: Can dreams foretell the future? For example: I want to learn German but I don’t full of energy know the best way to go about it. For example: Gary was fantastic. He arrived bright- eyed and bushy-tailed at 7am and worked with us all day. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 19, 2019 WORLD IN FOCUS 13

Yemeni drone attack on Saudi oil field Tel Aviv’s new plot against Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi

biggest ever against kingdom: Houthi 1 The truth is that none of the Iraqi parties and polit- ical movements who criticize the government wants to cause TEHRAN — The leader of Yemen’s Houthi in the massacre of Yemeni people, saying that turmoil or division in the country as they fully understand Ansarullah movement has lauded a drone long-standing feuds and attempts to settle that Iraq can only make progress if the country is in peace attack by Yemeni army forces and fighters old scores with other factions have led them to and stability. from allied Popular Committees against the play in the hands of the aggressors and provide This is exactly the reason that Americans are so furious, as Shaybah oil field in eastern Saudi Arabia, a cover for them. “Hadi has no legitimacy and they know that this kind of attitude will not result in the failure of saying the assault was the biggest of its kind no popular support in Yemen. Saudi Arabia Iraq’s current government that is indeed the goal of Washington in retaliation for the Riyadh regime’s dead- and the UAE are caught in the Yemen quag- and Tel Aviv, not the Iraqi political parties. ly military campaign against its southern mire with no end in sight. Hadi loyalists have Anyway, it seems that the U.S. and the Zionist regime are neighbor. become pawns in their sponsors’ hands, and adamant to create crises in Iraq and bring back instability and Addressing his supporters via a televised are providing enemies with pretexts to occupy insecurity to Iraq. Americans are well aware that if Iraq becomes speech broadcast live from the Yemeni capital, Yemen,” Houthi pointed out. a powerful and independent country, the power of the Zionist Sana’a, on Saturday afternoon, Abdul-Malik “Hadi can enter [the southern Yemeni regime in the region will decrease, so they do everything to ensure al-Houthi said no matter how appalling the port city of] Aden only after having obtained that it will not happen. crimes being perpetrated by the Saudi-led permission from the UAE. What is described coalition against Yemen could be, such acts as the legitimate Yemeni government is sim- will fail to destroy the Yemeni nations’ morale. ply a sham administration, whose head only “Today’s drone strike was the biggest of makes short trips to the country. Socotra Island Crises everywhere and its kind ever since retaliatory attacks against together with the province of al-Mahrah and the coalition of aggression have started. This Hadhramaut were under Hadi control. Aggres- Trump and supporters are major operation, dubbed Operation Deter- sors, nevertheless, crossed into the regions and rent Balance 1, proved that the aggressors wrested control over them. The invaders well completely vapid satisfy the alliance’s demands. Aggressors and Brigadier General Yahya Sare’e. have failed to bring the Yemeni nation to know that the situation in Yemen is volatile, 1 And worse, in Iran’s case, the existence of resources its knees. The aerial assault was launched culprits liable for Yemen’s destruction have Houthi further noted that the United and they cannot control the entire Yemen from has often created political nightmares where Westerners, in using a squadron of ten combat drones and no legitimacy at all,” Ansarullah chief said. States and its regional allies are exploiting there,” the Ansarullah head stressed. particular, have tried to get their hands on or a controlling targeted Saudi Arabia’s biggest oil refinery Oil facilities at Shaybah, which has the the Saudi-led military campaign against Ye- Houthi then advised Hadi loyalists to interest in another country’s natural abundance for their own near the border with the United Arab Emir- largest strategic oil reserve in Saudi Arabia, men to their own advantage, emphasizing end deception and return to the Yemeni selfish ends. Just look at what the U.S. has tried to do to Iran ates,” Houthi said. were targeted by 10 Yemeni drones, the Ye- that the aggression has failed to shatter the nation’s side, Press TV reported. since Mossadegh’s deposition decades ago, and what the U.S. “The main goal of the [Saudi-led] coalition meni broadcaster said Saturday. Yemeni nation’s unity. He said the Ansarullah movement wishes has been trying to do of late: destroy Iran’s sovereignty and was to occupy Yemen and plunder its [natural] The facilities attacked included a re- The Ansarullah leader also censured the to forge strong relations with Iran, empha- current political system. (One has to wonder that curtailing resources. Crimes, acts of aggression and finery and oil storage, al-Masirah TV said, involvement of militiamen loyal to Yemen’s sizing that his group is seeking to cooperate Iran’s petroleum output at least for now will in some ways violation of Yemen’s sovereignty will not citing Yemen’s armed forces spokesman former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi with all Muslim states. push Iran to figure additional ways to grow or just maintain its economy even while any depletion of its resources may be delayed somewhat.) And just look at what the U.S. has been trying to do to Venezuela, or Syria, and what it has done to Trump to quit 2020 race within months: Former top aide Iraq and Afghanistan and even Yemen this century. TEHRAN — U.S. President Donald Trump will drop out Last week, Trump took to Twitter, charging that Scara- Perhaps there is no grand solution to the looming crises of the race for the 2020 presidential election and will not mucci was “totally incapable of handling” the role of White involving energy extraction and the environment, unless across seek re-election, a former top aide says. House communications chief. the world countries are literally forced to adopt solar energy Former White House Communications Director Anthony A day later, Scaramucci said on CNN that Trump had solutions and unless, by some scientific breakthrough, nuclear Scaramucci made the remarks in an interview with Vanity “gone off the rails,” adding, the president was “sounding fusion energy can be developed to replace fossil fuels. But Fair, saying, obviously, Trump would not be able to win more and more nonsensical.” this will require a degree of political and social and scientific the election. Scaramucci compared the U.S. president to a “dema- cooperation and sharing across the planet that seems a com- “He’s gonna drop out of the race because it’s gonna gogue” and insisted the Trump administration’s conservative plete chimera for now. become very clear. Okay, it’ll be March of 2020. He’ll likely policy agenda is not worth the damage the Republican has And the greatest obstacle (this seems undeniable) is and has drop out by March of 2020. It’s gonna become very clear inflicted upon America’s democratic institutions. been the United States insofar as dominance and hegemony that it’s impossible for him to win.” According TO Press TV, a new poll showed on Wednesday remain the primary aims, and this thrust has gone berserk “He’s got the self-worth in terms of his self-esteem of that Trump’s disapproval rating had risen to 56 percent. with Trump and the current leadership in Washington. It a small pigeon. It’s a very small pigeon. And so you think The Fox News poll found a 5 percentage point boost may be said that if things literally fall apart worldwide, and this guy’s gonna look at those poll numbers and say — in Trump’s disapproval rating from last month when 51 there is yet another “world war”, the primary culprit will be he’s not gonna be able to handle that humiliation,” added respondents disapproved the president’s performance. the U.S. And if there is another vast war, humanity may not Scaramucci, who worked under Trump for 11 days only. In October 2017, Trump’s disapproval rating reached a survive. Such considerations, as self-evident as they seem, are no secret and many leading thinkers have expressed the The battle of words between Scaramucci and Trump record high of 57 percent, according to Fox News. approve of Trump’s job performance, down from 46 per- has escalated in recent weeks. Only 43 people contacted for the latest survey said they same, and as simplistically as they are expressed here they cent last month. are still worth expressing again and again to alert all to the current and expanding dangers ahead. Trump (and his administration), in any case, seems to be the worst possible leader of an alleged “superpower” who could ever India reimposes movement curbs on parts of Kashmir’s main city after clashes have been elected. He (and his gang including people like Mike TEHRAN — Indian authorities reimposed 5 revocation of the region’s autonomy. This there is a curfew. immediately return calls asking about the Pompeo and John Bolton) have a mania for the destruction of restrictions on movement in major parts followed an easing in curbs on movement Two senior government officials told latest clampdown or seeking an assessment extant accords and any possible constructive accord with many of Kashmir’s biggest city, Srinagar, on on Saturday morning. Reuters that at least two dozen people were of the number of injuries and clashes. other countries. Just this past week, for example, on what may Sunday after violent overnight clashes The state government has said that it admitted to hospitals with pellet injuries One of the official sources said that appear to be a minor issue (it’s not minor) Trump trashed pro- between residents and police in which has not imposed a curfew over the past two after violent clashes broke out in the old people pelted security forces with stones tections for endangered species in the U.S. in the same way that dozens were injured, two senior officials weeks, but on Sunday people were being city on Saturday night. in around two dozen places across Srina- Bolsonaro in Brazil seems to be aiming to destroy Amazonia, and eyewitnesses said. turned back at multiple roadblocks set up Representatives in the Jammu and gar. He said that the intensity of the stone the “lungs” of the planet. It’s a kind of willful immorality that In the past 24 hours, there has been a in the city in the past few hours. Security Kashmir government in Srinagar and the pelting protests has increased over past has gripped not just Trump and minions, but whoever supports series of protests against New Delhi’s Aug. forces at some roadblocks have told residents federal government in New Delhi did not few days. him – his ignorant political “base” in the U.S. The sole candidates for the 2020 election with any serious merit to displace Trump seem to be Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard and perhaps Eliz- abeth Warren, whom the corporate, mainstream media in the Maduro accuses Trump of doing to Venezuela what Hitler did to Jewish people U.S. despise. It was Sanders, a Jew, who came out strongly against TEHRAN (FNA) — Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, Last month, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Trump’s demand that compliant Netanyahu disallow Con- an outspoken critic of the current US administration, has (ICE) added El Aissami to its list of 10 most wanted fugitives gressional Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar to visit Israel reportedly made somewhat unflattering parallels between over drug trafficking allegations. He has described his black- and also take a studied look at the horrors long inflicted President Donald Trump and the Nazi leader following the listing as “infamous aggression of imperialism”. on the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Trump and introduction of new crippling sanctions against Caracas. This is not the first time that Maduro has compared the Netanyahu are both, quite simply, racists, and little more. Maduro has compared Trump’s actions against the Latin US president to the Nazi Führer. Last November, he stat- If anything of late could alert U.S. voters to the crimes of American country to Adolf Hitler’s persecution of Jews, El ed, “Just like Hitler persecuted the Jewish people, Donald U.S. and Zionist actions in the Middle East, Trump’s and Periódico reported. Trump persecutes the people of Venezuela”. Netanyahu’s strike against these two Muslim ladies of clear “They are doing to us, more or less, what the Nazis did to Last week, the Venezuelan president called on his com- mind and courage is it. Justice for Palestinians and for those the peoples of Europe in the 1940s, what the Nazis did to the patriots to join protests against the “hostile policies” of the who have long been concerned about their plight is the sine Jewish people, and I condemn it. Donald Trump is doing to Trump administration, and announced that he would submit qua non action that indisputably can lead to other changes Venezuela what Hitler did to the Jewish people — persecuting a letter, signed by millions of Venezuelans, condemning U.S. of all kinds that will guarantee a better future. Nothing else it, attacking it, blocking it”, he said in a Caracas speech. sanctions on Caracas, to the UN. Washington, which has been has such potential for good. He has, however, added that he has a plan to fight the seeking to depose Maduro and install opposition leader Juan And Iran’s Islamic Republic, whatever its shortcomings and blockade imposed by the Trump administration, even though Guaido, whom it has endorsed, has introduced multiple rounds to its everlasting credit, has known this for decades. his Minister of Industries and National Protection Tareck of economic and diplomatic sanctions against Venezuela. El Aissami, who is being accused of drug trafficking in the Particularly, Trump issued an executive order to freeze US, is “the most persecuted by imperialism official” in his Aissami because he had dealt a severe blow to international assets held by the government of Venezuela in the United government. drug trafficking during his tenure as Venezuela’s interior States. Moreover, Trump has promised to impose an eco- ISIL claims Afghan wedding minister (2008-2012). Maduro continued by claiming that the US went after El nomic blockade on Venezuela. suicide blast that killed 63

1 The group, in a statement on the messaging website UK faces food, fuel and drugs shortages in no-deal Brexit Telegram, claimed responsibility for the attack at a west Ka- bul wedding hall, in a minority Shi’ite neighborhood, saying its TEHRAN — Britain will face shortages “Compiled this month by the Cabinet a deal unless it agrees to renegotiate the parliament must now be recalled in bomber had been able to infiltrate the reception and detonate of fuel, food and medicine if it leaves the Office under the codename Operation Yel- Brexit divorce. August and sit permanently until Oc- his explosives in the crowd of “infidels”. European Union without a transition deal, lowhammer, the dossier offers a rare glimpse After more than three years of Brexit dom- tober 31 so that the voices of the people ISIL has claimed some of the most bloody attacks in Afghan jamming ports and requiring a hard border into the covert planning being carried out inating EU affairs, the bloc has repeatedly can be heard, and that there can be cities over the past couple of years, with some aimed at the Shi’ite in Ireland, official government documents by the government to avert a catastrophic refused to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement proper scrutiny of your government,” minority. leaked to the Sunday Times show. collapse in the nation’s infrastructure,” the which includes an Irish border insurance the letter said. The Taliban had earlier denied responsibility for the Kabul The Times said the forecasts compiled Times reported. policy that Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa Johnson will this week tell French Presi- attack and condemned it. by the Cabinet Office set out the most likely “The file, marked “official-sensitive” — May, agreed in November. dent Emmanuel Macron and German Chan- More than 180 people were wounded with many women and aftershocks of a no-deal Brexit rather than the requiring security clearance on a “need to Brexit minister Stephen Barclay said on cellor Angela Merkel that the Westminster children among the casualties, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat worst case scenarios. Prime Minister Boris know” basis — is remarkable because it gives Twitter he had signed a piece of legislation parliament cannot stop Brexit and a new Rahimi said on Sunday, as families thronged to Kabul’s crowded Johnson’s office said it did not comment on the most comprehensive assessment of the which set in stone the repeal of the 1972 deal must be agreed if Britain is to avoid cemeteries. leaked documents. UK’s readiness for a no-deal Brexit.” European Communities act - the laws which leaving the EU without one. “We want peace, not such brutal suicide attacks,” said Ahmad The newspaper said up to 85% of trucks Asked about the Yellowhammer docu- made Britain a member of the organization The prime minister is coming under Khan, who was burying a relative. using the main channel crossings “may not ments, energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng told now known as the EU. pressure from politicians across the po- Ghani says Taliban can’t escape blame for dead- be ready” for French customs, meaning dis- Sky News: “I think there’s a lot of scare- Though his move was largely procedural, litical spectrum to prevent a disorderly ly bombing ruption at ports would potentially last up mongering around, and a lot of people are in line with previously approved laws, Barclay departure, with opposition leader Jeremy Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Sunday to three months before the flow of traffic playing into ‘Project Fear’ ... We’ve got to said in a statement: “This is a clear signal to Corbyn vowing this week to bring down the Taliban could not escape blame for a “barbaric” suicide improves. prepare for no deal.” the people of this country that there is no Johnson’s government in early September bomb attack on a wedding hall in the capital, Kabul, that killed The government also believes a hard bor- “We will be fully prepared to leave without turning back (from Brexit).” to delay Brexit. 63 people. der between the British province of Northern a deal on the 31st of October.” Recall parliament It is, however, unclear if lawmakers have “The Taliban cannot absolve themselves of blame for they Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an EU The United Kingdom is heading toward A group of more than 100 lawmakers the unity or power to use the British parlia- provide platform for terrorists,” Ghani said in a post on Twitter. member, will be likely as current plans to a constitutional crisis at home and a show- wrote to Johnson calling for an emergency ment to prevent a no-deal departure - likely The blast late on Saturday wounded more than 180 people, avoid widespread checks will prove unsus- down with the EU as Johnson has repeatedly recall of parliament to discuss the situation. to be the United Kingdom’s most significant with many women and children among the casualties, officials tainable, the Times said. vowed to leave the bloc on Oct. 31 without “We face a national emergency, and move since World War Two. said, Reuters reported. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS AUGUST 19, 2019

Bale is part of Zidane’s plans Old grudge between Honduras football once again It was becoming a familiar scene at Valdebebas during pre-season, fans sparks riot that kills three with Gareth Bale missing from Real Madrid training, and instead cast aside by coach Zinedine Zidane to work alongside James Three people were killed and at least 10 in- transferred to hospital with facial wounds, Rodriguez and Mariano. jured in riots Saturday night before a football the Motagua club said. While the rest of the group worked with the head coach, Bale match between rival teams after suspected Accompanying video purported to show and company were reduced to keep-ball sessions. It was a far cry fans attacked a bus carrying one of the two players in blue uniforms standing in the still- from the work carried out by the bulk of the squad, who were teams to the game, wounding three players, moving bus beside smashed windows and busy implementing Zidane’s plans. officials and the team said. a glass bottle rolling on a seat. “A rock! A Yet, barely a week later, Bale was back in Zidane’s plans. Despite Fans of the Olimpia and Motagua foot- rock! There! There!” someone shouts as a his absence from much of the team’s previous preparations, the ball teams, bitter local opponents, rioted siren blares. Welshman did not look out of place in Los Blancos’ first LaLiga outside Tegucigalpa’s National Stadium A statement from the Ministry of Secu- Santander game of the season, which they won 3-1 away to Celta after a crowd of people believed to be rival rity confirmed the bus attack and said its Vigo. supporters intercepted and vandalized a bus perpetrators wore the uniforms of the rival Previously Bale had been out of favour, and somewhat out of transporting Motagua players, police said. Olimpia team. The ministry added in the touch with Zidane. Having missed early pre-season preparations, “Three people died and seven were shot statement that it had set up “five rings of and with a move away almost imminent, it seemed his Real Madrid and stabbed. One of them is a boy. Three of security” ahead of the game. career was over. the injured adults are in critical condition,” The National Football League suspended Now it seems that Zidane wants Bale, whose career with the club Laura Schoenherr, a spokeswoman for the the game after the incident. It had expected has peaked and troughed, to become part of his plans once again. state University School Hospital, told Reuters. some 20,000 fans to attend. The narrative at Real Madrid looks to have changed. Like Bale, The riot broke out after crowds threw The president of Olympia club, Rafael James has re-entered the fray, while Mariano could become an stones at the bus carrying members of the Villeda, told local press that he would meet important player for Zidane once he recovers from injury, which Motagua team, sending shards of window with the leadership of the National League proves just how much can change in so little time. glass at the players inside, according to the “This has to be severely sanctioned by lamentable,” it added in another tweet. and Motagua to decide on the future of the (Source: AS) Motagua club, which blamed members of the corresponding authorities,” the Mota- Three of the players - Emilio Izaguirre, game. the Ultra-Faithful Olimpia fan club. gua club said in a tweet. “Reprehensible and Roberto Moreira and Jonathan Rougier - were (Source: Reuters) French media claim Another VAR controversy as Barcelona’s Neymar interest Relief for Tokyo 2020 after smooth Manchester City are held by Spurs is a bluff to keep Messi happy triathlon mixed relay test

Philippe Coutinho is on the verge of completing a move to Bayern Munich, but Neymar’s situation is the one preoccupying Barcelona the most at the moment. Barcelona representatives have been in Paris this week to discuss a deal for Neymar with Paris Saint-Germain, but all may not be as it seems. According to Le Parisien, the approach for Neymar might not really be serious and might simply be a way of keeping Lionel Messi happy. The Argentine became good friends with Neymar during their time together at Barcelona and wants to see his former teammate back at the club. Le Parisien claim that Barcelona’s talks for Neymar could be designed to make Messi happy, with the suggestion being that they’re not genuinely trying their hardest to sign the Brazilian. Neymar does want to return to the Camp Nou and his representatives are insisting that he doesn’t want to stay at PSG beyond this summer. For Barcelona, though, it would be a complicated deal to do in terms of finances. France won a thrilling mixed triathlon test here for long. I’ve been here five days and The Catalan giants could try to take Neymar on loan initially, or Manchester City had a late goal from “For me, the game was lost [when Jesus event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Sunday, I think you need two or three weeks. So they have the option of exchanging players like Ousmane Dembele, Gabriel Jesus ruled out by VAR review scored]. It was completely different in the which passed off as planned in a welcome it’s a really good learning curve,” said the Nelson Semedo and Ivan Rakitic in the deal. as they drew 2-2 at home to Tottenham Champions League last year. To be fair, boost for organizers after difficulties with 37-year-old. The opening day defeat to Athletic Club on Friday has underlined Hotspur on Saturday — their first league it was a great finish from Gabriel Jesus high temperatures and water pollution. - ‘Realistic measures’ against heat - the problems that Barcelona have in attack and now it might not home game without victory in nearly eight but VAR is part of football now,” he said. The swimming leg of the paratriathlon Battling the heat of the sweltering sum- only be Messi who is pushing for Neymar’s return. months. “It depends on the interpretation of on Saturday was scrapped after water tests mer has become the main challenge for (Source: AS) An outstanding game of football, with people. Everyone is free to talk about it two teams of technically gifted players but the referee has to make a decision showed levels of e-coli bacteria more than Tokyo 2020 organisers, who have otherwise competing at a relentless tempo, was and this time it’s unlucky for City and a double the acceptable standard and the won widespread praise, including from decided by a ruling which would never help for Tottenham.” running section of a women’s test event the International Olympic Committee, for Pep downplays Aguero row: have been given under the previous laws The drama and controversy will on Thursday was curtailed in blistering their preparations. on handling. overshadow an excellent encounter which temperatures, with French athlete Cas- Yasuo Mori, deputy executive director I ‘love him a lot’ Jesus drove in what looked like the City dominated for large stretches, playing sandre Beaugrand treated for heatstroke. of the Tokyo 2020 Games Operations Bu- winner in added time but while City were what Guardiola said was some of the best But on Sunday in the Japanese capital reau, said athletes needed to have greater Pep Guardiola has played down his touchline row with Sergio celebrating, the VAR review had spotted football under his charge. with the temperature a slightly cooler 30 access to water during the race. Aguero by insisting he still loves the Manchester City striker. the ball brushing the arm of City defender City had taken the lead in the 20th Celsius, the levels of bacteria reduced to “That alone would lower the risk of ath- Guardiola and Aguero appeared to have a heated exchange Aymeric Laporte before the Brazilian minute when Kevin De Bruyne swung in within permitted levels. letes getting heatstroke. That may be one of after the Argentinian was substituted in the 66th minute of the struck home. a cross from the right which Sterling met The mixed relay, a new event for Tokyo the realistic measures,” he told reporters. 2-2 draw with Tottenham but the City boss insisted the issue The new handball rule has removed at the back post with a textbook header. 2020 involving two men and two women, The International Triathlon Union would had only been caused by a misunderstanding. the need for intent to be considered. Even But City’s advantage lasted less than was won by France in a photo finish from examine increasing the number of water “He believes that I was upset with him for the goal we conceded accidental contact with the hand is enough three minutes as Erik Lamela fired Spurs Great Britain after a nail-biting final sprint. supply points and was deploying medical but that was a corner,” said Guardiola. “It was a one versus one to rule out a goal. level after he was expertly picked out by Dorian Connix chased down Alex Yee staff every 500 meters along the course in movement. He thought I was upset with him, I am animated but The drama — and the bitter feeling of Tanguy Ndombele. on the final straight despite being behind case of an emergency, Mori added. I was a player, I know what it’s like. We talked after and during, celebrating victory only to end up seeing it The setback failed to hold back for most of the race and breasted the tape Aside from the problems at the triathlon, I love him a lot as a player.” taken away — was all too familiar for City Guardiola’s side and it was no surprise fractionally ahead of his British competitor. about a dozen people, including a spectator, Aguero had earlier put City 2-1 up against Tottenham after who had exited the Champions League in when Sergio Aguero restored their lead A powerful United States team came third. were taken ill at a rowing test event last Raheem Sterling’s opener had been cancelled out by Erik Lamela. April to Spurs when they had a late ‘winner’ in the 35th minute, with De Bruyne once The format is much shorter than the week with suspected heatstroke. Lucas Moura scored a second equaliser in the second half before from Raheem Sterling ruled out by VAR. again the provider with a low ball superbly individual race with each athlete completing A construction worker also died on an City were denied all three points when Gabriel Jesus’ stoppage- “Deja vu. It’s deja vu,” said City manager turned in at the near post by the Argentine. a 300 metre swim, a 7.4 kilometre cycle and Olympic site as Tokyo sweats through a time goal was chalked off by the VAR when Aymeric Laporte was Pep Guardiola, who was quick to point Again City camped in the Spurs half, a 2km run before handing off to a teammate, prolonged and deadly heatwave. adjudged to have handled in the build up. out several inconsistencies in the use of peppering Hugo Loris’s goal, but once making it less demanding in hot weather. The triathlon test events have courted It was more VAR misery for City against Spurs after they VAR, including what he felt should have more the visitors fought back. “I don’t think conditions were as bad as controversy even without the heat -- two were knocked out of last season’s Champions League thanks to been a penalty for a Spurs foul on Rodrigo. Mauricio Pochettino sent on Lucas Thursday when we raced,” South Africa’s British athletes were disqualified on Thurs- a Fernando Llorente goal that was given and a late Sterling strike “It’s a penalty and Rodri went down but Moura as a substitute and the Brazilian Gillian Sanders told AFP. day for crossing the line first holding hands. that was ruled out by the television ref. VAR in that moment was taking a coffee,” scored with his first touch, beating Kyle “I don’t think it’s too hot not to race Jess Learmonth and Georgia Taylor- “Why is it not hands with Llorente last season and why hands said the Spaniard, who said questions Walker to head in a Lamela corner. or too hot to reduce the distance,” added Brown fell foul of ITU rules stating that today?” said Guardiola, who was also left frustrated when VAR about the incident should be directed at Then came the late drama and Sanders, who said that the water quality “athletes who finish in a contrived tie situa- failed to spot Lamela bundle over Rodri in the penalty area in the officials. controversy as VAR once again stole the also felt better. tion, where no effort to separate their finish the first half. Spurs skipper Hugo Lloris said he felt headlines. “Personally, I don’t think I’ve accli- times has been made, will be disqualified”. “Why? That is what we need to qualify, [Andreas] Christensen the game had been lost. (Source: Mirror) matized properly because I haven’t been (Source: AFP) not hands [against Liverpool in the Super Cup] and Laporte today is hands. You have to see it quite properly. (Source: Soccernet) ‘Top of the league by six o’clock,’ but will Borussia Dortmund still be there in May? There were several new developments the Dortmund line-up — unchanged from Arsenal and Chelsea legend around the Westfalenstadion as the last week’s 2-0 cup win over KFC Uerdingen Bundesliga returned to Dortmund for a — was read out. Ashley Cole announces new season. Such was the mood in Dortmund: the retirement from football Beneath the famous Yellow Wall, creative title charge begins here. But for all the supporters had been busy during the novelties and newfound confidence, some Former England international Ashley Cole has announced his summer months decorating the cavernous things never change. Overcast weather in retirement from professional football, aged 38. grey concourse areas with graffiti, murals the Ruhrgebiet, for one thing. Disastrous The ex-Chelsea and Arsenal great revealed the news as he and other artwork paying tribute to their Dortmund defending, for another. It cost appeared as a pundit on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday. city and club. them a nine-point lead and a first league The left-back returned to English football after a stint in the Above it, the hardcore ultras had decided title since 2012 last season, and it took MLS with LA Galaxy to play under former team-mate Frank that, while the team had played “very well” just 31 seconds to cost them again here. Lampard at Derby last season. last season, the atmosphere at home games DW had barely settled down on the main He has been without a club since leaving Derby at the end of wasn’t up to scratch, and so had spread stand when Ruben Vargas found Carlos last season and has now confirmed his trophy-laden career has themselves out across the terrace in an Gruezo in yards of space inexplicably come to an end. attempt to boost the noise levels. vacated by Lukasz Piszczek and Manuel Cole said: “After hard thinking and consideration, it was There had been a marked change of Akanji. The Ecuadorian squared and Florian obviously time to hang my boots up. approach in the dressing room and at Bayern Munich to a draw the previous “Whatever the sporting merits of the Niederlechner finished. “I can look forward to my next chapter which will hopefully board level, too. Dortmund have nailed evening. transfer, it won’t surprise anyone to learn It wasn’t the first time Dortmund had be coaching. I’m doing a course at the moment.” their colors to the mast and made their And why not? After finishing just two that we could have done without him coming conceded quickly on the opening day. After coming through the Arsenal academy, making his debut aim for the season abundantly clear: they points behind the Bavarians last season, back,” wrote the ultras, as implacable as Twelve months ago, Jean-Kevin Augustin in 1999, Cole made over 150 Premier League appearances and want to win the Bundesliga. Dortmund moved quickly in the transfer ever, in their matchday flyer. gave RB Leipzig the lead here inside the was a member of their Invincibles side in 2003/04, “We’ll be top of the league by six o’clock!” market this summer to snap up Nico Schulz, They haven’t forgiven the former opening minute. Five years ago in 2014, it He departed for London rivals Chelsea in 2006, where he one fan had shouted earlier from the back Thorgan Hazard, Julian Brandt and Mats captain for the manner of his departure took Karim Bellarabi just nine seconds to went on to play over 200 top flight games and win the Champions seat of a bicycle taxi outside club legend Hummels – the latter making a controversial three years ago, but others apparently put Bayer Leverkusen ahead. Some things League in 2011/12. Kevin Grosskreutz’s pub in the city center, return to BVB from Bayern Munich to add have, and Hummels’ name was cheered never change. (Source: The Sun) full of confidence after Hertha Berlin held some much-needed experience at the back. just as loudly as any other player’s when (Source: Deutsche Welle) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 19, 2019 SPORTS 15

S. Korea too strong for Iran at Asian Iran U19 volleyball beat Brazil in friendly Women’s Volleyball Championship MNA — Iranian boys volleyball team gained a 3-1 victory over Brazil in a friendly match in Tunisia. SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran started the 20th Asian The team are preparing to defend their title at 2019 deskSenior Women’s Volleyball Champion- FIVB Boy’s World Championship which is going to start ship with a 3-0 defeat to hosts South Korea on Sunday. in the African country on August 21. Team Melli were defeated by Korean team in straight sets (25-17, 25-9, 25-14) at the 13,500-seater Jamsil Indoor Stadium, the main competition venue in Pool A. Iran will meet Hong Kong on Tuesday. The 13 participating teams in the eight-day event comprise hosts Korea, Iran, Hong Kong China in Pool A, defending champions Japan, Kazakhstan, Australia and India in Pool B, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and New Zealand in Pool C and China, Indonesia and Sri Lanka in Pool D. After the three-day pool plays, top two teams from each pool will advance to the round of the top 8 teams, split into Pool E and Pool F. Top two teams from Pool A and C will compete in Pool E, with teams from Pool B and D playing in Pool F. Teams finishing third and fourth places at the pool round-robin preliminaries will be relegated to classification round for 9th-13th places. Advancing to Pool E and Pool F, teams will again play a round-robin format and will be ranked 1-2-3-4 respectively up to their performances at the end of this round. Only Iranian boys came from one set behind to defeat the top two teams from Pool E and Pool F will enter the cross powerful Brazil 3-1 on Saturday (20-25, 25-20, 25-23, semi-finals, while teams finishing 3rd and 4th places of 25-20). Iran had earlier defeated Cuba and Egypt in both pools will contest the 5th-8th playoff encounters, two other friendly games. asianvolleyball.net reported. “This friendly game was very useful for Iran. We will Semi-finals, 5th-8th playoffs and 9th-12th playoffs also face the winner of Tunisia and Italy which will be will be held on Saturday, August 24, while the finals, the the final match of the tournament and our last pre- awards presentation and closing ceremony will take place Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament, which will event. Only the eventual winning team in the Continental paring game before the world event,” the team’s coach the day after. see top eight teams, except the Tokyo 2020 hosts Japan Olympic Qualification Tournament will join the other 11 Mohammad Vakili said after the game against Brazil. More importantly, the Championship also serves as the and qualified China, make the cut for the January 6-12 teams in the Tokyo 2020. The 2019 edition of FIVB Boy’s World Championship will be held from August 21 to 30 in Tunis, Tunisia. According to FIVB, the 20 participating teams will be Tractor complete signing of Peruvian Abel Issa Camará signs for Iran’s divided into four pools of five teams each and will play a round-robin tournament. The bottom-ranked team of forward Mimbela Machine Sazi each pool will play classification matches for 17th-20th place in a round-robin system. Iran are seeded in Pool B of competition along with Czech Republic, Italy, Colombia, and Bulgaria. Vak- ili’s boys will face Bulgaria on August 22, the Czech Republic on August 23, Colombia on August 24 and Italy on August 25. With two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, Iran are the third most decorated team in the event after Brazil and Russia. Iranians won their first title in 2007 where they defeated China in the final. Iran have taken part in 11 out of 15 editions of the games so far managing to advance to the semifinal in eight ones.

Iranian Greco-Roman wrestlers win four medals at World Junior C’ships

SPORTS TEHRAN — Iranian Mimbela has most recently played at SPORTS TEHRAN — Bis- team Cremonese, Irtysh from Kazakhstan Iranian Greco-Roman wrestlers claimed two gold and deskfootball club Tractor his homeland team Unión Comercio and desksau-Guinean forward and Turkish club Elazigspor. two bronze medals at the United World Wrestling World have completed the signing of Peruvian scored 13 goals in 28 matches. Abel Issa Camará joined Iranian football He was a member of Portugal U21 Junior Wrestling Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. forward Willyan Mimbela on Sunday. He will replace Irish striker Anthony club Machine Sazi on Sunday. and has also five matches under his Mohammad Aziz Naghousi of Iran defeated Russian The 27-year-old striker has joined the Stokes who left Tractor at the end of the The 29-year-old player has joined Ma- belt for Guinea-Bissau national foot- Damir Rakhimov 2-1 in a tight match in the 77kg final. Tabriz based football team on a three-year last season. chine Sazi on a two-year contract for an ball team. Iran’s Aliakbar Hossein Yousofi also won 2-1 contract. Mimbela is the third Peruvian player undisclosed fee. On 16 November 2010, Camará played against American Cohlton Michael Schultz to claim The details of the Mimbela’s contract in Iran’s football after Diego Chávarri and Camará started his football in Belen- for Guinea-Bissau at the Estádio do Restelo, the 130kg gold. have not been disclosed. Rinaldo Cruzado who played for Gostaresh enses in 2009 and has also played for the in a friendly with Cape Verde. Iranian representatives Pooya Soulat Dad Marz and Mimbela is Tractor’s third foreign player Foolad and Esteghlal respectively. Portuguese teams Estrela Amadora and Additionally, he appeared in several Shahin Eidi Badaghi Mofrad won two bronze medals after Japanese midfielder Yukiya Sugita Tractor will begin Iran Professional Beira-Mar. games for Portugal during the 2013 UEFA in 55kg and 63kg respectively. and Brazilian forward Marcelino Junior League new season with an away trip to He has played for Saudi Arabian football European Under-21 Championship qual- The Russian Federation (97 points) has a seven-point Lopes Arruda. Masjed Soleyman on Aug. 22. team Al-Faisaly, Cypriot club Pafos, Italian ification campaign. lead over second-place Iran (90 points). (Source: unitedworldwrestling) Vietnam, Myanmar book semi-final places Group B powerhouses Vietnam and Myanmar sealed their temporarily at bay. passage to the 2019 AFF Women’s Championship knockout But Myanmar’s opening goal finally arrived in the 30th Iran, Qatar futsal teams to stage with a match to spare after both registered emphatic minute, when a scramble after a corner kick ended with a play friendly match wins at Chonburi IPE Stadium on Sunday. May Thu Kyaw tap-in, and they had a second when Khin Vietnam made it 17 goals in two matches with a 7-0 win Marlar Thun thumped in a sensational long-range effort over Indonesia, while Myanmar continued their perfect start just over a minute later. IRNA — Iranian and Qatari national futsal teams are to the competition with a 10-1 victory against Cambodia. Yee Oo lobbed goalkeeper Chen Soveat to pounce on a to play friendly matches in Iran during September 3-4. The results set up a battle to top the group when the two dreadful Cambodian turnover following a short goal-kick The two teams are set to play in presence of Iran’s best sides meet on Tuesday, while both Cambodia and Indonesia just before half-time, before the prolific Win Theingi Tun futsal player Vahid Shamsaee on two consecutive days. can no longer advance to the semi-finals. scooped in her customary goal on the hour-mark to put Qatari national futsal team are scheduled to visit INDONESIA 0-7 VIETNAM Myanmar four goals clear. Iran on September 1. Hunyh Nhu bagged a hat-trick as Vietnam sealed a after half-time, with Nguyen Thi Tuyett Dung’s rapid-fire Another failed Cambodian attempt at playing out from trouble-free path to the semi-finals, outclassing Indonesia brace, in the 63rd and 66th minutes, the only further damage a goal-kick was punished, with substitute Khin Moe Wai to register a 7-0 win. incurred by Rudolf Nere’s side. the beneficiary this time, before history repeated itself As in Friday’s 10-0 win over Cambodia, Vietnam once With a place in the knockout stage now mathematically once more when a similar sequence of events led to Yee Avramovic steps down as again flew out of the blocks in the first-half, racking up five beyond them, Indonesia will fancy their chances of a first Oo’s second of the day. Home United head coach goals before the interval in another comprehensive display. AFF Women’s Championship win since 2011 when they After spending most of the match in their defensive half, Mai Duc Chung’s side were ahead within the opening meet Cambodia on Tuesday, while Vietnam will vie for top Cambodia’s moment to savour arrived in the 77th minute, minute, as Nguyen Thi Buch Thuy took just 46 seconds spot in the group against Myanmar. when captain Somrit Nimol opened their account with a Raddy Avramovic has stepped down as head coach of to add to the four goals she scored in Vietnam’s opener CAMBODIA 1-10 MYANMAR successfully converted penalty kick. Home United “due to health reasons,” the Singapore with a close-range finish. In the later match, Myanmar eased into the last four, But normal service resumed with a seventh Myanmar goal Premier League club announced on Sunday. A succession of Vietnamese chances followed before and set up a mouth-watering Matchday Three clash against from Thin Thin Yu two minutes later, and Yee Oo made it two Avramovic, who helped Singapore win the AFF Cup Huynh Nhu fired home the second in the 19th minute, with Vietnam, with a comprehensive 10-1 win over Cambodia. hat-tricks in as many matches, before Theingi Tun and Yee in 2004, 2007 and 2012, had only returned to working Pham Hai Yen – Vietnam’s other hat-trick scorer on Friday Yee Yee Oo followed up Thursday’s hat-trick with a four- Oo rounded out the win with further goals in stoppage time. in Southeast Asia last July when he was confirmed as – extended the lead three minutes later. goal haul, as Win Thu Moe’s side thoroughly outclassed a Despite Myanmar’s late surge, they remain behind Vi- the head coach of the Protectors. With Indonesia overwhelmed by Vietnam’s organization Cambodian outfit who have now conceded double-figure etnam on goal difference, meaning they will need to beat However, the 69-year-old has called it quits with the and quality, Huynh Nhu slammed home another one from score lines in successive matches. Mai Duc Chung’s side in Tuesday’s top-of-the-table clash team sitting fifth in the nine-team SPL having collected close range in the 40th minute, before completing her treble Hoping to avoid the type of onslaught which saw them to advance as Group B winners. 27 points from 20 matches. with a lovely flick three minutes later to become her side’s concede eight goals in the opening 24 minutes against Monday’s matches (all times local): Thailand v Timor-Leste In eight matches since Avramovic took charge, the third hat-trick scorer in as many days. Vietnam, Cambodia were more organized and made fewer (15:00), Malaysia v Singapore (18:00). Singapore Premier League recorded four wins, one It was plain sailing for Vietnam, but Indonesia did improve mistakes in the early stages, keeping the heavy favorites (Source: the-afc) draw and three defeats. His last match in charge of the side was a 3-1 win over Warriors FC at the Jurong East Stadium on Saturday. “Radojko Avramovic will be stepping down as head Inter Milan and Manchester United hold talks over Chile forward coach of Home United FC with immediate effect due to Alexis Sanchez’s agent is in the UK to hold striker has opted to extend his stay at Roma, to stay at the club - despite reports to the health reasons. He will be returning to Serbia to seek talks with Manchester United on behalf of meaning Inter have to look elsewhere. contrary - and backed him to “end up play- medical treatment,” the club said in a statement. Inter Milan regarding a potential loan deal Besides Sanchez, Inter are also consid- ing a lot more games than you expect”. “We are shocked by this unexpected news and every- for the forward, according to Sky in Italy. ering free agent and former Tottenham If United did sanction the sale of one at the club wishes him a speedy recovery. We are Sanchez, the Chile international forward, striker Fernando Llorente, Ante Rebic from Sanchez, it would leave them with honored that someone of his stature has led the club, is keen on a move to the Serie A side, who Eintracht Frankfurt, RB Leipzig’s Timo Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and despite the short tenure. He has definitely made a pos- are interested in striking a loan deal with Werner, and Arkadiusz Milik at Napoli. Mason Greenwood as the only strikers itive impact on everyone at HUFC during his time with an option to buy for the 30-year-old. Since moving to Old Trafford from in their squad. us,” Home United general manager Badri Ghent said. Inter head coach Antonio Conte wants to Arsenal in January 2018, Sanchez has They have already sold Lukaku, the Former Singapore international defender Noh Rah- add another forward to his squad alongside struggled for consistency, scoring five Belgium striker, to Inter this summer, man will be the interim head coach while the 2018 AFC Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez. goals in 45 games. agreeing a £73m fee after a summer of Cup ASEAN Zonal winners search for a long-term re- Edin Dzeko was one of their primary However, United manager Ole Gunnar protracted negotiations. placement. targets, but the former Manchester City Solskjaer said on Friday Sanchez wants (Source: Sky Sports) (Source: Home United) Prayer Times Noon:13:08 Evening: 20:09 Dawn: 4:56 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:27 (tomorrow) AUGUST 19, 2019 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 Iranian documentary “Finding [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 Farideh” to represent Iran at Oscars www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. ARTTEHRAN — Iranian documentary Tel: 88911433 desk“Finding Farideh” has been selected as Webmaster: [email protected] Iran’s submission to the 92nd Academy Awards in the best Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 foreign-language film category. Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily A committee of nine cineastes picked the film on Saturday from a shortlist of 10 films including “Qasre Shirin” directed No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran by Reza Mirkarimi, “Just 6.5” by Saeid Rustai, “Sheeple” by P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Hooman Seyyedi, “Lovely Trash” by Mohsen Amiryusefi, Zip Code: 1599814713 “The Warden” by Nima Javidi and “When the Moon Was Full” by Narges Abyar. Co-directed by Azadeh Musavi and Kurosh Atai, “Finding Farideh” is about a Netherland-based Iranian woman who was adopted by a Dutch couple forty years ago, and returns to Iran to search for her family. The doucmnatray has been acclaimed in several Iranian events. It was selected as best documentary at the 20th Iran Cinema Celebration in Tehran in September 2013. Last year, Iran submitted the acclaimed drama “No Date, GUIDE TO No Signature” to the 91st Academy Awards in the best foreign SPIRITUAL AWAKENING language film category. Directed and written by Vahid Jalilvand, the movie is about Dr. Nariman, a forensic pathologist who has a car The people dislike what they do not know. accident with a motorcyclist and injures his 8-year-old son. Imam Ali (AS) He offers to take the child to a clinic nearby, but the father refuses his help and money. The next morning, in the hospital where he works, Dr. Nariman finds out that the little boy has been brought for an autopsy after a suspicious death. The anti-war drama “Breath” by director Narges Abyar represented Iran at the 90th Academy Awards in the best Bust of actor Ezzatollah foreign-language film category in 2017. A scene from the documentary “Finding Farideh” co-directed by Azadeh Musavi and Kurosh Atai. Entezami set up in Tehran “Breath” is about four children whose mother had died a few years earlier and their father decides to join the was selected as Iran’s submission to the 89th Academy A Memento production, “The Salesman” is about Emad ARTTEHRAN — The Tehran Municipality has set Iranian volunteers on the warfront following Iraq’s attack Awards in the best foreign language film category and and Rana who move into a new flat in the center of Tehran. An deskup a bust of veteran actor Ezzatollah Entezami in September 1980. the film won the Oscar for best foreign-language film at incident linked to the previous tenant dramatically changes near his house in the Aqdasieh neighborhood. Asghar Farhadi’s acclaimed movie “The Salesman” the 89th Academy Awards. the young couple’s life. The bust was unveiled on Saturday concurrent with the first anniversary of the passing of the veteran actor of stage and screen during an event attended by Entezami’s family, Tehran Mayor Power and social identity under “The Silent Patient” comes to Iranian Piruz Hanachi and several art and cultural figures. The actor’s son Majid, who spotlight in Tehran exhibit bookstores is a famous composer and ARTTEHRAN — A group CULTURE TEHRAN — English- conductor, in his brief words deskof Iranian and foreign deskCypriot writer Alex at the ceremony said that his artists is showcasing their latest works in Michaelides’ debut novel “The Silent father lived as he liked and the Tehran in an exhibition that aims to put Patient” has recently been published in future will judge him. a spotlight on power and social identity. Persian by Sang Publications in Tehran. “He lived with glory and Asieh Salimian from Tehran is the Translated by Maryam Hossein-Nejad, died in glory, and it is me who curator of the exhibition “Probable the 2019 book is about a young woman, is unable to cope with his death Truth”, which is being organized in Alicia Berenson, whose life is seemingly and the pain of his demise,” he collaboration with the Factory TT perfect. A famous painter married to a said. Berlin/Tehran. fashion photographer, she lives in a grand The bust has been made by The exhibition will open in the Vista house in one of London’s most desirable sculptor Iraj Mohammadi who Gallery in Tehran on August 23 and will areas. One evening her husband Gabriel Ezzatollah Entezami’s son Ma- says the bust was made while jid poses beside his father’s bust be running until September 6, Factory returns home late from a fashion shoot, the actor was alive, “I am happy TT has announced on its website. and Alicia shoots him five times in the set up near the actor’s house. that Mr. Enezami had seen the (Mehr/Asghar Khamseh) Negar Alemzadeh Gorji, Ali Babaizad, face, and then never speaks another word. bust and was satisfied with it.” Shahram Entekhabi, Behnam Kamrani, Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind Sepand Street in the Aqdasieh neighborhood where the actor’s Ali Soltani Tehrani and Zartosht Rahimi of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy house had been located was named Ezzatollah Entezami Street are the Iranian members of the group. into something far grander, a mystery that after the late legendary actor also on Saturday. The exhibition also showcases works captures the public imagination and casts A decision was made in April whereby the Tehran City Council by Andrew Gilbert from Scotland, Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art Front cover of Persian version of “The approved the renaming of several streets after contemporary Silent Patient” by English-Cypriot Niklas Goldbach and Bjorn Melhus A poster for “Probable Truth” in Vista skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, Iranian artists. writer Alex Michaelides. from Germany. Gallery. is hidden away from the tabloids and In addition, the restoration project which was underway in Vista Gallery is located at No. 11, 12th spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic opportunity to work with Alicia. He intends the house of the actor was completed and the museum house Alley, Mir Emad St. curated the exhibition “Power Struggle” unit in North London. to get her to talk and unravel the mystery was also reopened on Saturday. Salimian also in collaboration with in the Mah-e Mehr Gallery in Tehran Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist of why she shot her husband, but he has Ezzatollah Entezami, the veteran actor of stage and screen who Katharina Maria Raab from Berlin in January. who has waited a long time for the his own motivations. was named “master actor” in his memoirs written by Hushang Golmakani, died in August 2018. He was 94. He was one of Iran’s golden generation of actors such as Mohammad-Ali Keshavarz, Ali Nasirian and Jamshid Mashyekhi, Traditional and Ritual Theater Festival who began his career in acting with traditional Iranian performances at theaters located on Tehran’s Lalezar Street, which was considered honors four veterans as Iran’s Broadway during 1950s and 1960s. 1 shab-bazi, ru-hozi and naqqali, Nasirian said, “We have Entezami made his acting debut in “The Spring Variety” directed The ceremony was attended by a number of cultur- adapted cinema and theater from the west, while we have by Parviz Khatibi in 1949. He rose to fame in 1969 by his portrayal al officials, theater experts and artists including Minister of our own performances.” of Mash Hassan in director Dariush Mehrjui’s acclaimed drama Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi, veteran “I ask the Tehran Municipality to prepare suitable halls “The Cow”, which was among the forerunners of the Iranian actor Ali Nasirian and Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic for these Iranian performances, so the troupes could use New Wave cinema. Affairs Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini. them in winters and summers,” he concluded. Appearances in over 50 movies and dozens of theatrical In his brief speech, Salehi noted that these types of festi- Other honorees at the ceremony were Shahnaz Rustai, performance brought him numerous honors. He won four Crystal vals can familiarize people with old traditions, as the ritual the writer of “The Basis of Playwriting”, Mehdi Dariai, the Simorghs awards at the Fajr International Film Festival, Iran’s performances are rooted in Iranian traditions and beliefs. Veteran traditional and ritual theater artist Parviz Sang- writer of “Homaye Rahmat”, Hushang Javid, the writer of most prestigious film event, for his roles in “Grand Cinema”, “Theater is the art of dialogue, and traditional theater Soheil (C) acknowledges the audience during the closing “The History of Storytelling and Music in Iran” and Mo- “The Day of the Angel”, “A House on Water” and “The Marsh”. can lead to communication among the ordinary peo- ceremony of the 19th Traditional and Ritual Theater hammad-Hossein Nasserbakht, the writer of “A Research In September 2006, UNESCO honored Entezami for his lifetime ple,” he added. Festival at Tehran’s Sangelaj Hall on August 17, 2019. on Fun Traditional Performances”. achievements at its headquarters in Paris, where Golmakani Pointing to Iranian performances such as kheimeh delivered a speech. “Easy Rider” actor Peter Fonda dead ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ animator “23 Individuals” to come at age 79 Richard Williams has died to Iranian theaters LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Oscar Fonda, helped usher in a period known as LONDON (AP) — Richard Williams, a audience in 2013 that all it took was for nominated actor Peter Fonda, who played the “New Hollywood” era of filmmaking, Canadian-British animator whose work the director, Robert Zemeckis, to leave in November a cool and introspective motorcyclist in the which often avoided happy endings and on the bouncing cartoon bunny in “Who enough room in each shot for the cartoon 1969 film “Easy Rider” that captured the other conventions of the Hollywood studio Framed Roger Rabbit” helped blur the characters and for the animators to whack ARTTEHRAN — Mehdi Jafari’s acclaimed movie spirit of the era’s counterculture movement, system. boundaries between the animated world them into each frame very, very quickly. desk“23 Individuals”, about 23 young Iranian died on Friday at age 79, his family said Fonda was nominated for an Academy and our own, has died. He was 86 years old. “I used to stand at my door every once in volunteers who were captives during the 1980-1988 Iran- in a statement. Award for his work on the script of “Easy The Oscar-winning artist died from a while and yell, ‘DRAW FASTER!’” he said. Iraq war, is scheduled to go on screen at Iranian theaters Fonda, the son of Hollywood leading Rider” and went on to act in movies and cancer at his home in Bristol, England, Williams was born in Toronto in 1933 to a during November. man Henry Fonda and the brother of Jane television shows at a steady pace in the on Friday, his daughter Natasha Sutton pair of commercial artists, and his stepfather The film is based on “Those 23 Individuals”, the memoirs Fonda, died at his home in Los Angeles on decades after, achieving a second career Williams said Saturday. worked on the business side of the commercial of Ahmad Yusefzadeh, one of the 23 volunteers who were held Friday morning of respiratory failure from highlight when he was nominated for a Williams’ career straddled the “Golden art world, his daughter, Sutton Williams, captive for a long period of time in Iraq. lung cancer, the statement said. best actor Oscar for his role as a beekeeper Age of Animation,” which petered out said in a telephone interview. The book tells of the early months of the volunteers’ captivity “It is with deep sorrow that we share the in the 1997 drama “Ulee’s Gold.” between the 1950s and 1960s, and the She said her father’s interest in and the events they confronted, and later their visit with Iraqi news that Peter Fonda has passed away,” His other notable film appearances rise of computer-assisted animation in animation was piqued when he saw Disney’s dictator Saddam Hussein. it said, adding: “In honor of Peter, please included supporting roles in the remake the 1990s and beyond. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” as a At that time, Iraq tried to manipulate the volunteers in its raise a glass to freedom.” of the western “3:10 to Yuma” and the His best-known work may be as director of 5-year-old. He won critical acclaim with propaganda campaign against Iran. However, all their attempts “While we mourn the loss of this sweet action-fantasy “Ghost Rider”, which both animation for “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” a his first film, a no-dialogue short called failed miserably, thwarted by magical tricks done by the volunteers. and gracious man, we also wish for all to came out in 2007. 1988 film that married live action cinema and ”The Little Island ” in 1958 and he won “23 Individuals”, which premiered at the 37th Fajr Film Festival celebrate his indomitable spirit and love Jane Fonda, who is known for her role cartoons from all eras, a process involved the his first Oscar for an animated version of in February, has received several awards. of life,” the family said. in the 1968 film “Barbarella” and in the laborious insertion of animated characters into ”A Christmas Carol ” in 1971. Two more It won the Golden Simorgh for best film from the national Fonda played the wanderer Wyatt in ongoing Netflix series “Grace and Frankie”, each individual frame and complex lighting Oscars would follow for “Who Framed Roger point of view at the Fajr festival as well as the best film award at “Easy Rider,” opposite the late Dennis expressed sadness at her brother’s death. effects. The result — a madcap and slightly Rabbit.” Williams was part of a team that the 8th edition of the Qoqnus Screen Awards. Hopper who co-starred as fellow biker “He was my sweet-hearted baby brother. dark comedy where “toons” and humans took home the Oscar for visual effects for the It also came in first with six awards at the National Will Billy and directed the film. The talker of the family,” she said in a interact seamlessly against a live action film, and he also won a special achievement Manifestation Awards, which are presented to those films that In the movie, Wyatt and Billy set out statement. “I have had beautiful alone film noir background — was commercial award for animation direction at the 1989 promote issues being pursued by some public organizations and on their motorbikes to discover America time with him these last days. He went and critical hit and helped revitalize Disney’s Academy Awards. institutes, and the winners are selected from the films screened and have a number of misadventures, out laughing.” flagging animation department. Sutton Williams said her father’s best- at the Fajr Film Festival every year. befriending an attorney played by Jack Peter Fonda, born in 1940 in New York Famed film critic Roger Ebert selling book, ”The Animator’s Survival Kit ,” was “23 Individuals” was named best film of the year for its promotion Nicholson, before meeting violent City, lost his mother, the socialite Frances declared the movie “a breakthrough in a distillation of decades’ worth of experience of peace and sacrifice, by the Iranian National Commission for deaths. Ford Seymour, as a child when she took craftsmanship,” but Williams gave a more and is still “essentially the bible that every UNESCO in March. “Easy Rider,” with a script co-written by her own life. self-deprecating account, joking to an single animator has around the world.”