Iran aiming for a Organic products Radostin Stoychev Georgian version of 51516renewable-supplied 12 festival to open close to Iran volleyball “The Colonel” unveiled future next week hot seat in Tbilisi

WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y IranIran sayssay S. Arabia shoshoulduld be barred ffromrom SSyriay peace processprocess 2

16 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 38th year No.12729 Wednesday DECEMBER 28, 2016 Dey 8, 1395 Rabi’ Al Awwal 28, 1438

Expatriate Russia: Syrian designer plans Leader: Strength needed government Iran image and remake to face hegemons opposition INTERVIEW By Samaneh Aboutalebi in talks TEHRAN — Australia-based Irani- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov an designer Sadegh Roushani plans See page 2 said on Tuesday that the Syrian gov- to use fashion to remake Iran’s im- ernment was holding talks with the age in the world. opposition ahead of possible peace In 2014, he launched his fashion talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, the Inter- label Roushani Design in the Gold fax news agency reported. Coast to produce apparel with dec- Lavrov did not say where the current orative Iranian motifs and images of talks were being held and it was unclear the historical sites in his homeland. which opposition groups were taking part. Earlier in November, he was in Iran The High Negotiations Committee to visit his relatives as well as to take (HNC), a body grouping armed and photos of some sites in the country political opponents of Syrian President for use in fashion design work. Bashar al-Assad, said it had no knowl- Speaking to Tehran Times in an edge of the negotiations. exclusive interview, Roushani, 51, said The HNC includes armed groups fight- that he hopes his work can repair the ing Assad under the banner of the Free false image of Iran that exists in the Syrian Army, and took part in a failed bid world. Currently, his designs have to launch peace talks earlier this year. customers in over 20 countries. Russia, Iran and Turkey said last “People in Australia know of Iran week they were ready to help broker a due to the nnuclearuclear iis-s- peace deal after holding talks in Mos- sue and thehe many cow where they adopted a declaration Iranians whoho hhaveave setting out the principles any agree- sought asylumylum in ment should adhere to. their country.ry. Some President Vladimir Putin has said of them do not hhaveave that all three countries and Assad had any knowledgewledge agreed that the Kazakh capital should about Iran andnd be the venue for new talks. how beau-- Lavrov spoke to his Turkish tiful it is,” hee counterpart by telephone on Tues- mentioned. day and they agreed to push for a ceasefire and to prepare for the See page 16 khamenei.ir Astana talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. 13

Move over, Silicon China, U.S. will suffer if ties worsen: ex-CIA official ARTICLE Valley: Finding By Javad Heirannia Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recogni- A: The telephone call reportedly was By Yuram Abdullah Weiler innovation in TEHRAN – China and the U.S. are both eco- tion from Taiwan to China in 1979, acknowl- planned well in advance and was arranged Analyst and journalist nomically dependent on each other and the edging Taiwan as part of “one China”. partly through the efforts of lobbyists Tehran two sides will suffer in case their relationship Pillar, now a nonresident senior fellow at who work on behalf of Taiwan. Obviously By S. F. Z. Jalili deteriorates, a former CIA official says as the Center for Security Studies at Georgetown there is an interest on the part of Taiwan President-elect Donald Trump’s phone call University and at the Brookings Institution, says, in favor of anything that signals contin- Corporate cover-up: Technology is evolving fast, and we’re with the Taiwanese President early December “Almost everything about Mr. Trump’s foreign ued close relations with, and support The suspicious death both fascinated and uneasy about where risked China’s wrath. policies while once in office remains uncertain, from, the United States. From Mr. Trump’s it could potentially lead. When we reflect “China and the United States are both and this includes policy toward China.” viewpoint, this call appeared consistent of Karen Silkwood on the evolution of technology in the economically dependent on each other, and Following is the text of the interview with with his stated intention to make use of realm of communication, we’ve come a both sides would suffer if relations wors- Paul Pillar: sources of leverage against the People’s “How do we know what they’re saying long way in a very short time. In particu- ened in a way that disrupted that economic President-elect Donald Trump and Republic of China, and he evidently sees is the truth?” lar the instant messaging phenomenon tie--particularly with a military clash,” Paul Taiwan’s president had a telephone con- matters related to Taiwan as one source —Robert Pollard, senior nuclear hit a home run with the coming of ver- Pillar tells the Tehran Times. versations, a move which contrasted of leverage. The president-elect proba- safety engineer satile communication platforms such as The telephone call was the first by a U.S. Washington’s one-China policy. What was bly had not thought about the topic any Karen Silkwood was a young Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, and later president-elect or president since President the motive behind the call? more thoroughly than that. 13 with the emergence of Instagram, Snap- chemical technician who worked in a chat, Vine and Tumblr that focused on Kerr-McGee Corporation plant mak- visual-sharing. Global stocks mostly gain in thin trading ahead of New Year ing plutonium fuel rods for nuclear What all these online social media TOKYO (AP) — Global stocks expects to record a loss of “several ing, but failed, to raise 5 billion Shares gained in Southeast Asia. reactors. She had documented her services have in common, besides mostly edged higher as the last hundred billion yen” (several billion euros in new capital. On Monday, Markets in Hong Kong and Aus- concerns over the quality of welds their net worth of billions and focus week of trading for the year began dollars) related to Westinghouse it said that the estimated amount tralia were closed for Boxing Day. on the rods and had shown the ev- on social networking, is that they are Tuesday after Christmas holidays. Electric Co.’s purchase of CB&I it needs to raise is even higher, CURRENCY: The dollar rose idence to other union members at simultaneously the perpetuators and KEEPING SCORE: Germany’s Stone & Webster, Inc. It said West- at 8.8 billion euros. The amount to 117.41 yen from 117.18 yen on a meeting on November 13, 1974. the products of an unprecedented DAX gained 0.1 percent to 11,464 inghouse found costs for complet- should be covered by 20 billion Monday. The euro fell to $1.0441 After the meeting while enroute to startup movement that was initially and the CAC 40 of France was up ing U.S. nuclear power projects will euros the Italian government from $1.0453. deliver the documents to a New York started in the West but has since then 0.2 percent at 4,849. Markets in “far surpass” original estimates. has set aside, but the jitters have ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude Times reporter, she died in a suspi- spread even to the very isolated cor- Britain are closed for Boxing Day. Tokyo-based Toshiba also is en- weighed on financial stocks. gained 15 cents to $53.17 a barrel cious single-car accident. Strangely, ners of the world. Wall Street looked set for a quiet meshed in an accounting scandal. ASIA’S DAY: Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 in electronic trading on the New no papers were found at the acci- In the Islamic Republic of Iran, with open, with Dow and S&P 500 fu- ITALY BANKS: Shares in was nearly flat at 19,403.06 and York Mercantile Exchange. Oil mar- dent site. a population of nearly 80m people, of tures roughly unchanged. troubled Italian bank Monte dei the Kospi of South Korea rose 0.2 kets were closed Monday for the Karen Silkwood was 26 years which over 60 percent are under 30, TOSHIBA’S TRIBULATION: Paschi di Siena were suspended percent to 2,042.17. India’s Sensex holiday. On Friday, benchmark U.S. old when she went to work in the we haven’t lagged behind in establish- Shares of electronics and energy since the government agreed added 0.8 percent to 26,009.86. crude gained 7 cents. Brent crude, Kerr-McGee Cimarron, Oklahoma ing new innovative businesses that have giant Toshiba Corp. fell 13 percent Friday to rescue the company. The Shanghai Composite index used to price international oils, ad- fuel fabrication plant, which made went onto become success stories. after the company announced it Monte dei Paschi had been try- slipped 0.3 percent to 3,114.66. vanced 1 cent $55.17 a barrel. plutonium fuel rods for the United In July 2014, the Economist valued States government Hanford, Wash- the top three Iranian start-ups with ington facility. At that time, Kerr-Mc- Digikala coming on top with an esti- Life Gee was attempting to break the mated $150m; then Aparat at $30m; union representing employees at the and Cafe Bazaar at $20m. Since then, plant, the Oil, Chemical and Atomic their respective net worth has skyrock- returns to Workers Union (OCAWU), through eted, and new players have entered a decertification campaign. More- the pitch, such as an online shopping Aleppo over, any employees suspected of platform Bamilo and a widely successful union activity were subjected to har- assment and even polygraph exam- ride-sharing network, Snapp. 11 Ten months have passed since inations. the liberation of the two Syr- Just when it appeared that Kerr-Mc- ian Shia cities of Nubl and Gee was going to accomplish its ob- Al-Zahraa in north Aleppo. jective of scuttling the union, Karen Silkwood was elected to the union’s The residents of the two cit- 3-person bargaining team to lead in ies struggle to cope with the matters of health and safety. While she REQUESTST FOFORR EXEXPRESSIONSPRE hardships and burden the af- had only been with the company two OF INTEREST termath of the war. The cities years, she already had voiced serious (CONSULTANT SERVICES) have come under scattered concerns over dangerous and abusive Iran Azarbaijan Power Transmission project conditions found in the plant, and flew Finance attacks by terrorist groups in to Washington, D.C. to meet with the CONSULTING SERVICES Ali Khara recent days. Nubl and Al-Zah- union’s national leaders, who felt the Project ID No.: IRN-0105 raa have 35 and 20 thousand best way to counter the “decert” was

Fars/ inhabitants respectively. to expose Kerr-McGee’s abysmal safety See page 5 record. 13 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS DDECEMBERECEMBER 28,28, 20162016

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Tehran, Baku push Iran says S. Arabia should be barred from Syria peace for closer ties process: RIA POLITICS TEHRAN — In a meet- desking attended by senior POLITICS TEHRAN — Saudi Arabia should Iranian and Azeri officials in Baku on Tues- desknot be allowed to take part in day, the two sides underscored the im- the Syrian peace process, Iranian Defense Minister portance of all-encompassing relations, Hossein Dehghan told Russia's state-backed RT TV particularly in the economic sector. station in an interview, according to the RIA news “Economic relations between the two agency on Tuesday. countries have made great progress as He was cited as saying that he thought compared to the previous year,” Iran’s Saudi Arabia's insistence that President ICT Minister Mahmoud Vaezi was quoted Bashar al-Assad should step down meant Ri- as saying at a meeting with Azerbaijan’s yadh should not participate in future Syrian President Ilham Aliyev. peace talks. Vaezi arrived at Baku on Tuesday for a three-day visit to attend the 11th meeting ‘Aleppo of the Azerbaijani-Iranian intergovern- liberation, a hard mental commission on economic, trade and humanitarian issues. blow to arrogant In the meeting, Vaezi highlighted powers’ trade opportunities in Azerbaijan’s Na- khchivan, saying he will visit the auton- POLITICS TEHRAN — Through liberation omous republic to discuss investment-re- Iran’s ICT Minister Mahmoud Vaezi says economic relations between Iran deskof Aleppo, Syria “broke the neck” lated issues. and Azerbaijan have made great progress over the past year. of arrogant powers including the United States in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic the Middle East, the Strategic Research Center of is a landlocked exclave of Azerbai- adding that the two sides will review the rochemicals, etc. and Iran amounted to $175 million in Jan- the Expediency Council has said. jan with an estimate population of construction process of a dam over Aras Also, Iran and Azerbaijan have been uary-November 2016, $130.13 million of Ali Akbar Velayati described the resistance vic- 430,000 people, according to Trend River in Nakhchhivan’s Ordubad, as well. working on a key North-South transport which explained by imports from Iran, ac- tory in Aleppo as a turning point in the history of news agency. Relations between Tehran and Baku corridor, which is expected to connect cording to the State Customs Committee the ongoing wars in the region, IRNA reported on He also expressed Iran’s readiness to has expanded over the past years par- Northern Europe to Southeast Asia through of Azerbaijan. Tuesday. shore up cooperation between the two ticularly during the Rouhani administra- their territories, a key theme in Vaezi’s talks Iranian companies have so far invested He went on to say that “Syria constitutes the countries concerning Nakhcivan in var- tion. with Azeri officials during his visit. $2.6 billion in Azerbaijan’s economy, some golden link in the chain of resistance against the ious fields, including gas, transport and In a February visit to Tehran by Pres- According to preliminary estimates, $145 million of which is accounted for by Zionists and their supporters.” medicine. ident Aliyev, the two sides signed 11 the overall capacity of the rail link will be investment in the country’s non-oil sector. A document on cooperation be- memorandums of understanding in ar- 1.4 million passengers and 5-7 million The investment has been the result of Iran successfully tween the two countries will be signed eas of transportation, electricity swap, metric tons of cargo a year. more than 450 Iranian companies oper- tests new in the autonomous republic, Vaezi said, health and medicine, oil, gas, and pet- Trade turnover between Azerbaijan ating in Azerbaijan homegrown missile system Leader: Strength needed to face hegemons POLITICS TEHRAN — Iran’s air defense POLITICS TEHRAN — Supreme tion of being robbed of its spiritual pow- they call ‘American values’alues’ in accumu- desk forces employed an upgrad- deskLeader of the Islamic er by arrogant powers in their efforts to lating wealth and dominatinginating thethe worworld,ld, ed version of a locally-made missile system says the animosity shown by the global bring the nation to its knees. but Islam sees the being’sng’s happiness in to intercept intruding aircraft in a massive hegemony toward Iran has its roots in “Today, the confrontation geometry of achieving humane perfectionsfections and partsparts maneuver underway in southern parts of the the country’s huge natural, economic, arrogant powers vis-à-vis Iran has shifted and parcels of the societyciety being influ- country. and political resources, and to stand up towards stripping the Iranian nation of its enced by Quranic thoughtght and practice.” On the second day of the large-scale exercise to the global hegemony Iran needs to material and spiritual power and convic- The Leader also stronglystrongly rejected on Tuesday, codenamed Defenders of Velayat Skies shore up its strength. tion,” the Leader said. the possession and use of nucleanuclearr 7, the Air Defense forces detected and hit hypo- “In the face of such enmities, the The enemy will seek to achieve its weapons, saying, “Thehe prohibition ooff thetical enemies’ aircraft with Ya Zahra-3 missile Islamic Republic should increase its goals by trying to fight back anti-arro- nuclear weapons hass very importaimportantnt system, the newest version of its family which has strength, and that is the very reason for gant movements in the world, Ayatollah jurisprudential and intellectualntellectual ffoun-oun- been paired with indigenous missile Shahab Saqeb, the insistence [made] on boosting do- Khamenei remarked. dations, but the governmenternment and na- Tasnim reported. mestic power and reinforcing domestic “The hegemonic establishment is tion can endeavor to obtainobtain otherother structures.” against any sort of anti-oppression types of power.” Hossein Nejat Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks and -discrimination thought and cur- Ayatollah Khamaneinei has ffor-or- on Tuesday during an address on the eve rent, but will stand up to a current merly issued a fatwa (religiou(religiouss named deputy of the anniversary of large-scale pro-estab- with full force once that current has verdict) forbidding thee pos-pos- chief of IRGC lishment demonstrations that took place managed to set in motion the ocean session and use of atom-om- throughout Iran on December 30, 2009. of a nation.” ic bombs. intelligence office The day witnessed massive demon- Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader POLITICS TEHRAN — Brigadier General strations in support of the ruling estab- referred to intrinsic differences between deskHossein Nejat was on Tuesday lishment in reaction to unrest that had what Islam says and what the global arro- “The prohibition of nuclear weapons has very appointed to the position of deputy chief of the ensued the presidential election in June gance preaches. important jurisprudential and intellectual Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ Intelligence Or- of the same year. “Arrogant powers such as America foundations, but the government and nation ganization. Ayatollah Khamenei warned the na- seek the society’s happiness and what Nejat was named to the job by IRGC Command- can endeavor to obtain other types of power.” er General Mohammad Ali Jafari, Fars news agency reported. The organization is headed by Hojjatole- slam Hossein Taeb. Vice president says previous backlog hindering progress Nejat was formerly Jafari’s deputy for cultural and social affairs, but was recently superseded by POLITICS TEHRAN — Against dent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ffromrom ment anandd PPlanninglanning Organization in succeeded to control the untamed infla- Mohammad Reza Naqdi, who used to act as the deskexpectations for a 2005 to 2013. an efforteffort to implementimp his own tion in the first few months of his pres- Basij chief. better economic progress after an in- Inflation skyrocketedkyrocketed be- eeconomicconomic agenagenda,d later on re- idency, yet he has failed to grease the ternational nuclear deal with world yond 40 percentent as Ahmad-Ahmad- vivevivedd byby PresidentPresiden Rouhani. wheels of the economy. Azerbaijan to ease powers, Iran’s vice president says huge inejad’s secondd term neared In the internainternationalt arena, Ah- The cabinet has managed to reduce backlog from previous administrations its end. madinejadmadinejad showedshowe a blatant dis- inflation to a low of 7.2 percent in the 10 visa regime for is thwarting growth. “In 2012 andd 2013, inin-- regard for reresolutionss against month of the Iranian calendar (November Iranian citizens in “Although the government has been flation and thee stastag-g- Iran in the United Na- 21-Decemebr 20). 2017 doing its best, it has failed to compensate nation from it reducededuced ttionsions SecurityS Council, Also, the economy posted a 7.4-per- so far,” Is’haq Jahangiri said at a session the people’s per capitacapita brandibrandingn them “scraps cent growth in the first half of the current POLITICS TEHRAN — Azerbaijan plans to on progress of economic projects host- income drastically,”ly,” JJa-a- ooff ppaper,”ape what Jahangiri year (March-September), a record high desksignificantly simplify the visa re- ed by the Ministry of Industry, Mines and hangiri added. saisaidd costco the country a rate, itself resulting from a 2015 interna- gime for Iranian citizens in 2017, Azerbaijan’s Econ- Commerce. Ahmadinejad also huhugege price.p tional nuclear deal between Tehran and omy Minister Shahin Mustafayev has said. “A country that had been sent deep dissolved Manage-age- HHassanass Rouhani five-veto holding countries of the U.S., Mustafayev made the remarks during the into a valley is now a few steps higher China, Russia, England, and France, plus 11th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran intergov- though it’s still at the bottom of the Jahangiri says although the government has Germany. ernmental commission on economic, trade and valley.” been doing its best, it’s failed to compensate Under the deal, Iran accepted some humanitarian cooperation in Baku on Tuesday, In making the comments, the outspo- limits on its nuclear program in exchange Trend reported. ken vice president was referring to the so far, mostly due to huge backlog from for relief from international sanctions Starting from Jan. 10, 2017, Iranian citizens will economic mismanagement under Presi- previous administrations. against the country. be able to register visas for entry into Azerbaijan via the ASAN Viza system, as a result of which, they will be able to obtain visas within three days, the Protests for Iranian philanthropist spread from India to Canada minister added. POLITICS TEHRAN — On Tues- paying damages by an Indian court. ver, Canada published a call in support center for orphans and disabled children 3,000 real estate deskday scores of students The students held placards saying of Narges. in India. held demonstrations in Bengaluru, India, Narges Kalbasi is innocent and his verdict Born in Iran in 1989, Narges moved to Recently she was charged with murder documents go to in support of an Iranian female philanthro- should be repealed. Britain at the age of 4. She lost her par- after one of the children under her care Sunnis in northern pist who has been sentenced to prison and In a related move, students in Vancou- ents there. Later, she founded a charity drowned in a river during a camping trip. Iran POLITICS TEHRAN — 3,000 real estate China welcomes Tehran-Moscow-Ankara talks over Syria deskdocuments have been issued in names of Sunni citizens of northern Iran which POLITICS TEHRAN — China has welcomed an sian, Turkish, and Iranian counterparts. that the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are “will- desk will be presented to them during a ceremony on initiative by Iran, Russia, and Turkey to The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson also ing” to join the campaign championed by Tehran, Mos- Wednesday. hold talks on Syria in Kazakhstan in the near future. welcomed Putin’s ceasefire proposal, adding a ceasefire cow, and Ankara. The real estates, which include 220 hectares of Beijing thinks peace talks are the only practical ways would guarantee the political solution to the Syrian con- In their joint statement, Iran, Russia, and Turkey farm and residential pieces of land, will be handed to end the Syrian crisis, China’s Foreign Ministry spokes- flict. stressed the necessity of a ceasefire between the Syrian over to the residents of Aqqala County in Golestan person Hua Chunying said on Tuesday. “China is very eager to see Syrian peace talks opposition forces and government. province, Nasim reported on Tuesday. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Monday start as soon as possible, considering them vital to They also stressed a political solution to the The value of the lands is about 180 billion rials, said his country will create the necessary conditions to national reconciliation and an end to the conflict,” conflict, the territorial integrity of Syria, as well about $5.5 million. organize negotiations on Syria. she said. as the country’s independence throughout the Nazarbayev said he shared the proposal with his Rus- On Tuesday, ISNA quoted Russian sources as saying peace process. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 28,28, 20162016 INTERNATIONAL

Iraqi PM: three months Nasrallah defends resistance against extremists

The secretary-general of the Lebanese resistance movement needed to eliminate ISIL of Hezbollah Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah on Tuesday defended the resistance, criticizing the support offered to takfiri and ex- U.S.-led coalition’s commander hails Hashd al-Sha’abi tremist groups in the region to spread sedition and division. “Our Islamic world is today facing a very dangerous phe- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said a self-styled caliphate, but the terrorists nomena with takfiris given the right to express viewpoints on Tuesday it would take three months to could still mount a more traditional insur- without any boundaries,” Nasrallah said in his third video ad- eliminate the Islamic State in Iraq and the gency in Iraq, and plot or inspire attacks dress this month. Levant (ISIL/Daesh) terrorists, as the Iraqi on the West. and United States-backed forces battle Hashd al-Sha’abi to dislodge the terrorists from their city In another event, the American gen- stronghold of Mosul. eral commanding foreign coalition forc- Abadi previously said the city would es in Iraq and Syria has hailed pro-Iraqi be retaken by the end of this year but government fighters with the Popular commanders blame the slower pace on Mobilization Units (PMU/Hash al-Sha’abi) the need to protect civilians who have as “remarkably disciplined” in their op- mostly stayed in their homes rather than erations against the Takfiri ISIL terrorist fleeing as was expected. group. “Conditions indicate that Iraq Speaking in an exclusive interview needs three months to eliminate with The Daily Beast at his headquarters Daesh (ISIL),” state TV quoted Abadi in Baghdad on Monday, Lieutenant Gen- as saying. eral Stephen Townsend said the forces, More than two months into the oper- better known by their Arabic name Hash ation, elite Iraqi soldiers have retaken a al-Sha’abi, have made great achieve- He said that takfiris were granted all the capabilities to quarter of Mosul, but entered a planned ments in their military action against ISIL insult, kill and slaughter with media access, while the resist- “operational refit” this month. in the city of Tal Afar, located 63 kilome- ance was banned from broadcasting on Egypt’s Nilesat and A U.S. battlefield commander told ters west of the city of Mosul. regional satellite operator Arabsat and in Europe. Reuters on Monday that Iraqi forc- Townsend said Hash al-Sha’abi forces Arabsat stopped broadcasting Hezbollah's Al-Manar es would resume their offensive in have kept off Takfiri militants from trave- TV abruptly in December 2015, citing violations of contract the coming days, in a new phase of ling back and forth with supplies or in- terms, and moved its offices to Jordan after demanding the the operation that will see American formation. Lebanese government take action against Al-Mayadeen TV troops deployed closer to the front “The PMU did advance more rapidly for hosting a guest critical of the House of Saud regime. line inside the city. than we expected and they’ve done a Arabsat is jointly owned by all Arab League states, except Mosul, the largest city held by the ISIL good job,” he said. Comoros. The House of Saud regime is the largest single anywhere across the once-vast territory Townsend commands the U.S.-led co- state owner, with nearly 37 percent of company shares, and it controlled in Iraq and neighboring Syr- alition that has been hitting purported ISIL Arabsat’s headquarters are located in Riyadh. ia, has been held by the terrorist group targets in Syria and Iraq since 2014. The In April, Egypt’s Nilesat also pulled Al-Manar off the air. since its terrorists drove the Iraqi army “Conditions indicate that Iraq needs three forces under his command are collectively The move came at the height of diplomatic tensions between out in June 2014. known as Combined Joint Task Force – Op- months to eliminate Daesh (ISIL),” state TV Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Its fall would probably end ISIL's am- eration Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). Nasrallah was speaking in a ceremony in honor of Sheikh bition to rule over millions of people in quoted Abadi as saying. (Source: agencies) Abdul Nasser al-Jabri, a senior Lebanese scholar who died on Thursday. “This is not a spontaneous matter; rather there are in- President rejects Muslim PM Egypt ratifies new law telligence agencies that discovered that the Islamic nation began taking clear stances.” candidate Sevil Shhaideh regulating media outlets Nasrallah said takfiris were “serving the Zionist project,” Romania's president has rejected the Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, calling on Islamic nations to assume their responsibilities in left-wing Social Democrats' candidate has ratified a new media law that crit- order to isolate and silence extremists. for Prime Minister, Sevil Shhaideh, who ics say is a blow to pluralism and press “We should collaborate, unite and cooperate” to fend off would have been the European Union freedom in the country. these dangers, he said. nation’s first female and Muslim prime The new law, approved by parlia- The Hezbollah secretary-general warned that “takfiris, the minister. ment and signed into law by Sisi on U.S. and Zionists are seeking to divert (Muslims) and crack Klaus Iohannis has not elaborated Monday, will see the creation of a Su- them down.” on his reason to reject the candidacy preme Council for the Administration “Our unity is the response.” (Source: The daily Star) of Shhaideh, a 52-year-old politician of of the Media, a body that can revoke Turkish origin who comes from Roma- licenses to foreign media and fine or nia's 65,000- strong Muslim community. suspend publications and broadcasters. Dozens feared dead as boat “I have properly analyzed the argu- The council, whose chairman will be ments for and against and I have de- vious PSD-led government resigned in picked by Sisi, will create a list of pen- state institutions and broadcasting false capsizes in Lake Albert cided not to accept this proposal,” Klaus late 2015. alties and sue media organizations that news with the aim of spreading chaos”. Iohannis said in a televised statement This and her personal closeness violate its regulations and fine outlets Al Jazeera has denied the charges At least nine people have been killed and 21 others are miss- on Tuesday. to Dragnea - he was a witness at her that break license terms. and demanded his immediate release, ing, according to local news media, after a boat carrying a “I call on the PSD coalition to make 2011 wedding to a Syrian businessman Yehia Qalash, chief of the press syn- saying Hussein was in Egypt on holiday Ugandan football team and their fans capsized in Lake Albert another proposal.” - have spurred opposition accusations dicate, told the Reuters news agen- and not for work. - Africa's seventh largest lake. The Social Democratic Party (PSD/ that she would merely be a puppet. cy that the law and the council were “[Hussein] is a news producer in the The passengers, who were from Kaweibanda village in the Partidul Social Democrat), which has Rise Project, a member of the Or- mostly concerned with administrative Al Jazeera Arabic newsroom and not a western district of Buliisa, were travelling to Hoima District for yet to comment on the issue, had put ganized Crime and Corruption Re- affairs and did not compromise media correspondent supervisor as alleged by a football match as part of the Christmas Day festivities on forward Shhaideh after its sweeping porting Project of investigative jour- freedoms. the statement ... [he] would not have Sunday, the Ugandan news agency Daily Monitor said. election victory on December 11 when nalists, said this month that Shhaideh's However, earlier this month, when travelled through the airport at Egypt if Daily Monitor quoted John Rutagira, a police official from it won 45 percent of the vote. husband had posted messages on his the law was still being deliberated in he was undertaking any illegal activities Buliisa, as saying out of a total of 45 people on board the The PSD, along with its junior coa- Facebook account in support of Syrian parliament, the press syndicate con- as alleged by the MOI statement,” the boat, nine bodies had been recovered and 15 others were lition partner and long-time ally ALDE President Bashar al-Assad. demned the legislation as an infringe- network said. confirmed as survivors of the accident. (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats0, The PSD, which promised higher ment on the media. Over the past few years, Egyptian “They overloaded the boat. Eyewitnesses have told police control 250 of the combined 465 seats wages and pensions during the election “The law allows the executive pow- authorities have arrested several Al Ja- that most of the passengers sat on one side of the boat mak- in the two-house assembly - enough campaign, had hoped Dragnea would er to take control of media outlets,” it zeera employees, with some being ac- ing it lose balance,” Rutagira said on Monday. majority for their leader to be elected stand for prime minister but Iohannis said in a statement published by local cused of conspiring with “the devil” to The news agency also quoted a witness by the name of as the prime minister. made clear he would refuse any candi- media. destabilize the country. Opira as saying that there were no strong winds at the time Liviu Dragnea, leader of the PSD, date with a criminal record. The new law comes amid rising con- According to the Committee to of the accident and whoever could swim to shore survived it. had withdrawn his bid to become prime The PSD's election triumph came cerns over press freedom in the coun- Protect Journalists, 25 journalists According to The Ugandan, another local news agency, minister because he is serving two-year barely a year since anger over a dead- try. have been imprisoned in Egypt in Lake Albert, which is one of the world's largest lakes and suspended sentence for electoral fraud. ly nightclub fire that killed 64 people On Sunday, the interior ministry 2016, making it the world's third- also borders neighboring DR Congo, has a history of boat Shhaideh's political experience is forced it and Victor Ponta, the prime confirmed it had arrested Mahmoud worst jailer of reporters after Turkey accidents. limited, having served as development minister, from office. Hussein, an Al Jazeera news producer, and China. It cited some of the most tragic examples, including one minister for six months before the pre- (Source: agencies) accusing him of “incitement against (Source: agencies) that occurred in 2014 when about 250 people - most of whom were Congolese refugees - died after their boat cap- sized as they tried to cross into Uganda. And in August 2010, a boat accident claimed the lives of U.S. committed to NATO, Baltic security: McCain 33 people while 17 others survived while travelling on the lake. (Source: agencies) The United States is committed to the security of the “There is fear in the Baltics about the incoming Trump Baltic region and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organi- administration's relationship with Russia, that sanctions zation), Republican senator John McCain said in the Es- against Russia will be weakened or called off, and not Jakarta: Court to proceed tonian capital on Tuesday, during a visit seen as a bid strengthened as the Congress would want,” Zygimantas to soothe concerns over the policy of President-elect Pavilionis, Lithuania's former ambassador to the U.S. told with Purnama blasphemy trial Donald Trump. Reuters. Trump unnerved many in Estonia, Lithuania and Lat- He said Russia had gained confidence after the mut- An Indonesian court will proceed with a controversial via by saying on the campaign trail he would consider ed response to its actions in Georgia. blasphemy case against Jakarta's Christian governor, who is a country's contributions to the NATO alliance before “If its actions in Ukraine are also forgiven, its next step accused of insulting the holy Quran, a judge said. coming to its aid. is an open question,” he said. A panel of judges on Tuesday rejected a call by lawyers Russian military involvement in Ukraine and McCain and Graham, who travel to Latvia on Wednes- defending Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to strike down Georgia has stoked fears in the Baltics their former day and Lithuania on Thursday have expressed alarm at the case because it had violated the ethnic Chinese politi- Soviet master might eventually try something sim- Trump's attitude towards Russia. cian's human rights and breached procedures. ilar there. They want Trump to take a tough line over what they “The exception by the defendant will be considered and de- “I think the presence of the American troops here in posed after its annexation of Crimea in 2014. termed Russia's “military land grab” in Ukraine and have cided by the court after examination of all evidence. The de- Estonia is a signal that we believe in what Ronald Reagan “That is certainly not the case today as I know it”, he also called for a bipartisan panel to investigate cyber-at- fendant's exception is not accepted,” said Judge Abdul Rosyad. believed, and that is peace through strength,” McCain said. tacks against the United States, including Russia's alleged A tearful Purnama denied the charges in the first hearing told reporters in the Estonian capital. He also said that the United States, regardless of efforts to influence the U.S. presidential election. on December 13. The case is seen as a test of religious free- “And the best way to prevent Russian misbehav- who was its president, would have “a strong and signif- “There is no doubt that the Russians were hacking, dom in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. ior by having a credible, strong military and a strong icant response” as long as Putin continued “to occupy but there is doubt whether it had any effect on the out- Purnama, better known by his nickname Ahok, ignited NATO alliance.” Crimea and has invaded eastern Ukraine and continues come of the election,” McCain said. a storm of criticism in September when he controversially The U.S. stationed about 150 troops in each of the to threaten other nations in the region.” “There is no evidence right now that indeed the Rus- quoted a Quranic verse while campaigning in elections for three Baltic countries and Poland in April 2014. Russia's annexation of the Crimea in 2014 has fue- sian cyber-attacks and the leaking of the information the Jakarta governorship. On a three-day visit to the Baltics with fellow Repub- led concerns in the Baltic states, all NATO members, had any tangible effect on the outcome of the American He is running for re-election against two Muslim candidates. lican senator Lindsey Graham, McCain said he did not that Moscow may want to reassert control across the election.” He could be jailed for up to five years if found guilty of break- expect the U.S. to remove sanctions against Russia, im- whole region. (Source: Reuters) ing Indonesia's tough blasphemy laws. (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY DDECEMBERECEMBER 228,8, 22016016

Iranian-Afghan joint trade Iran, EAEU may sign temporary exhibition opens in Kandahar deal for future free trade zone ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iranian-Afghan joint trade exhi- deskbition inaugurated in Kandahar, Afghanistan The Eurasian Economic Union and logistics joint projects, including on Tuesday, the website of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (EAEU) and Iran may sign a temporary the creation of a transit route from the (TPO) reported. agreement that could lead to the cre- Persian Gulf to the Black Sea, which As the website quoted Iran’s Commercial Attaché in Afghani- ation of a free trade zone, Armenian would “create the platform for a safe stan Mohammadreza Karimzadeh, around 40 Iranian companies President Serzh Sargsyan said Mon- and convenient access to the Persian and 25 Afghan ones active in various sectors including foodstuff, day. “The president of Iran has shown Gulf and on to the Indian Ocean for home appliances, construction materials, and etc. are taking part interest in signing a temporary deal our EAEU partners.” in the event. with the EAEU, leading to the creation Sargsyan has arrived in Russia to Noting that holding various exhibitions across Afghanistan of a free trade zone. Armenia is active- participate in the sessions of the Col- paves the way to expand bilateral ties, Karimzadeh called for mak- ly assisting the negotiations between lective Security Council of CSTO and ing joint venture, transferring some parts of production lines and Iran and the Eurasian Economic Com- the Supreme Eurasian Economic Coun- recognizing the Afghan market needs. mission, aiming to sign the agreement cil. The Eurasian Economic Union, initi- The exhibition started operation in the presence of a visiting fast,” Sargsyan said. ated by Russia in 2015, aims to simplify delegation from Iranian southeastern province of Sistan-Balouch- Armenian president said that his and modernize trade of good and ser- estan. country, as the only EAEU member that vices between Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Ka- has a land border with Iran, was focus- zakhstan, Belarus and Armenia. ing on the development of transport (Source: Sputnik) Iran’s industrial expo in Baghdad rescheduled for Tehran to buy Belarusian electric buses There are plans to sell electric buses made for electric buses for oblast cap- of a new kind of urban transportation — will be able to travel for 15-16km without mid-Feb. made by the Belarusian mechanical en- itals. There are orders for electric buses electric buses and hybrid buses — have recharging,” explained the official. gineering company Belkommunmash to for Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Teh- emerged,” stated the Deputy Prime Min- The Deputy Prime Minister also men- ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’s 3rd specialized exhibi- Tehran, Iran, BelTA learned from Dep- ran.” ister of Belarus. tioned environmental advantages of desktion of industrial equipment and production uty Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir In his words, urban transportation is Vladimir Semashko also mentioned electric buses. “Apart from that, the cost lines’ machineries, which was due to be held in Baghdad In- Semashko after the vehicles were tested evolving. “Up till now urban transport several advantages of electric buses. of electric buses is much lower. Capac- ternational Fairgrounds in mid January, is rescheduled for mid in city conditions on 26 December. has been limited to trams, trolleybuses, “Electric buses don’t need overhead itors can recuperate energy, reducing February. Vladimir Semashko said: “Minsk has and buses. But these days all the coun- lines. In other words, electric buses don’t energy consumption by 30-40%. It is ob- According to the Public Relations Department of Trade orders for 20 electric buses. Two electric tries are fighting to reduce the cost and require additional capital outlets. An vious that electric buses are the future,” Promotion organization of Iran (TPO), the exhibition will be bus lines will work initially. Later on the environmental impact of urban transpor- electric bus uses a capacitor. After charg- summed up Vladimir Semashko. held from February 12 to 15. number will be increased. Orders will be tation. This is why the first few samples ing it at a terminal stop the electric bus (Source: BelTA) The exhibit will provide Iranian private sector’s industrialists the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the Iraqi customers. 9-month rail freight transport Nairobi to host Iran’s exclusive in Iran up 14% yr/yr expo in early Feb. ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’s preceding year,” IRIB quoted Ebrahim ECONOMY TEHRAN — The ramic tiles, cement and clinker, valves ECB sets Deutsche deskrail freight transport Mohammadi, a deputy head in Rail- deskIslamic Republic of and fittings, and electrical products in- reached 30 million tons in the first ways of the Islamic Republic of Iran Iran’s exclusive exhibition in Kenya is cluding sockets and cables, as well as Bank CET 1 capital ratio nine months of the current Iranian (RIRI), on Tuesday. due to be held from February 3 to 6 in hygienic and cleaning products. requirement of 9.51 percent calendar year ended on December Total rail freight transport in the Nairobi, according to the official web- It will also showcase various prod- 20, showing 14 percent increase year- previous Iranian year (ended on site of Trade Promotion Organization ucts in textiles, carpets and rugs, tech- The European Central Bank (ECB) lowered the minimum cap- on-year. March 19, 2016) stood at 35 million of Iran (TPO). nical and engineering services, home ital requirements for Deutsche Bank AG on Tuesday, giving “Rail freight transport reached 21 tons and the volume is predicted to The exhibition is supposed to be appliances, petrochemicals, automo- the lender more leeway to structure bonus payments and billion ton-kilometers in the said nine hit 39 million tons by the end of the held focusing on exposition of Irani- biles, auto parts, and food stuff, in ad- dividends. months rising from 18 billion ton-kilo- present calendar year (March 20, an products in various sectors such as dition to those from agriculture, metal- Deutsche Bank said the ECB requires it to maintain a meters in the same period in the 2017), he added. constructional materials including ce- lurgy, and some other sectors. phase-in common equity tier 1 (CET 1) ratio of at least 9.51 percent on a consolidated basis, starting January 2017. This is below Deutsche Bank’s current requirement of Spain’s property market goes through the roof 10.76 percent, a threshold the bank cannot fall below this year without having to limit dividends, variable remuneration According to a Spanish proverb, it is a bad idea to start Madrid’s Letras neighbourhood, says around 1.8 billion eu- and coupon payments to holders of Additional Tier 1 instru- building a house from the roof. But that is just what a Spanish ros is expected to be invested in hotels in 2016, or 20 per- ments, the bank said. firm is doing and business is booming. cent of the total investment in real estate, compared to just The drop in requirements for 2017 comes after a change Faced with a lack of available land in big cities such as Ma- 7 percent in 2014. in the rules. The ECB now expresses parts of its capital de- drid and Barcelona, construction firm La Casa por el Tejado However, he said a “mini-bubble” was forming around mands as voluntary guidance. is building new apartments on rooftops- a sign that Spanish luxury hotels in Madrid where the lack of properties on offer The ECB demanded that, on average, banks hold Core property is bouncing back eight years after a brutal crash. and the high demand from institutional investors for those Equity Tier 1 capital, a key measure of their own funds, equal Home prices are nearing pre-crisis levels in downtown assets was driving prices up very rapidly. to 8.3 percent of their risky assets if they are to pay out to areas of major cities, rents and mortgages are surging, the The five-star Villamagna hotel and its 150 rooms was sold staff and investors. Once capital guidance is factored in, the prices of hotels and resorts are sky-rocketing and a round for a record 180 million euros earlier this year, or 1.2 million ECB’s demands were stable year on year at 10.1 percent. of mergers and acquisitions have broken out among major euros per room. (Source: Reuters) property investors. The competing Ritz hotels, just a few hundred meters Though the market overall is still a long way from its giddy away on Paseo Castellana sold last year for 132 millions eu- peaks, before the global financial crisis, few would have pre- ros, or less than 1 million euros per room. dicted today’s recovery when a decade-long boom ended in “At this price, you can’t have a high yield,” Vazquez said, 2008, destroying two million jobs and holing the economy. adding that yields have now fallen to around 5 percent in Japanese Stocks swing “In Spain, we have identified more than 4,000 buildings or for premium homes, according to property website Ide- Madrid for those luxury assets. while crude extends rally which have available roof tops to build on,” said La Casa’s alista. It is 7.4 percent and 8.4 percent respectively for office Mergers and acquisitions are also heating up, with at least founder, Joan Artes, whose firm hoists prefabricated apart- and shopping space. two dozen players, both property firms and investors, ex- Japanese stocks fluctuated and the yen halted a four-day advance, ments by crane onto building roofs. Those yields compare to just 1.4 percent of Spain’s 10- pected to disappear in a wave of consolidation driven by while oil continued the longest winning streak in four months as “At a time when we lack space to build, we’re talking of year debt rising real estate prices rather than a desire to cut costs. major financial markets began to reopen after a long holiday more than two million square meters.” A new eldorado with yields of up to 11 percent is now Premium real estate firm Colonial, one of the few big weekend. The revival has helped Spain to become one of Europe’s taking the center stage: hotels and tourist resorts. names that made it though the crisis, is rumored to be con- Japan’s Topix index swung between gains and losses after a few economic success stories, with estimated growth of 3 Leading the pack is Hispania, partly owned by billionaires sidering a takeover of boutique investor Axiare. three-day decline, as data showed consumer prices dropped for percent next year. Construction accounts for 10 percent of George Soros and John Paulson, which has bought 16 ho- Asset manager Pimco has raised its stake in mid-sized a ninth straight month in November. The yen slipped after climb- gross domestic product. tels in Spain, mostly in the Canary Islands and in the Balearic property investor Lar, while sources say that Neinor, a Ma- ing 0.7 percent over the previous four sessions. Crude climbed But there are concerns that the market could slow if in- Islands. drid-based property developer partly owned by U.S. private for a seventh straight session before OPEC and other producing terest rates rise. Enrique Losantos, who heads the Spanish In a recent presentation to investors, the firm said its equity fund Lonestar, is considering an initial public share nations start reducing output. Financial markets in Australia, New operations of real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle, says the 1.1 billion euros investment in 10,532 hotel rooms was offer. Zealand and Hong Kong are shut on Tuesday, while those in the main risk would come from a change in monetary policy. landing an average annual return of 10.1 percent, com- “It is fundamental to gain size. So there will be mergers U.S. and most of Europe will resume trading after a holiday Mon- European Central Bank interest rates are still at rock bot- pared to 6.5 percent and 4.4 percent for its office and and acquisitions and at the end of the day, just a dozen big day. tom but it is due to start cutting its asset purchase program residential assets. groups will remain,” said Colonial Chairman Juan Jose Bru- Trading is expected to be thin this week as financial markets next year. The U.S. Federal Reserve has already raised inter- Hispania has recently bought 4 more hotels in Ibiza and gera. He declined to comment on Axiare. close out a volatile year. U.S. equities are trading near a record, est rates and signaled a faster pace of increases in 2017. Lanzarote for a total investment of 113 million euros, from Neinor Chairman Juan Velayos also declined to comment the dollar is around a multiyear high and crude oil has climbed “Some deals are made at very low yields and could suffer which it expects returns of between 8 and 10.2 percent. on specific plans for his company, including a potential listing, to a 17-month peak as traders have powered past shocks from if there is some sort of shock on interest rates,” said Losantos. Miguel Vazquez, managing partner at real estate con- but said the rebound had just started, with new promotions the Brexit vote in the U.K. to Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. Yields in the residential market stand at 5.9 percent or sulting firm Irea, which recently advised German investment expected to reach 200,000 a year, from 50,000 currently. presidential election. closer to 3 or 4 percent in downtown Barcelona and Madrid fund Aquila on the acquisition of a small boutique hotel in (Source: CNBC) “The financial markets seem to have already priced in expecta- tions toward a Trump presidency, and are shifting toward a market that’s waiting to gauge his actual policies,” said Hideyuki Ishiguro, a Greece’s Panasonic to invest Italy set to put in senior strategist at Daiwa Securities Co. in Tokyo. “We also have a Eurobank over $256m in around $6.8b to lack of market participants with overseas markets closed.” concludes sale Tesla’s U.S. plant for salvage Monte Stocks of Ukrainian solar cells Paschi Japan’s Topix was little changed as of 9:43 a.m. after falling as much as 0.3 percent and rising less than 0.1 percent. The bench- unit mark gauge is down 0.6 percent for the year, while the Nikkei 225 Greece’s Eurobank has concluded the sale of its Panasonic Corp will invest more than 30 billion yen The Italian government is likely to have to put Stock Average has gained 1.9 percent. Japan’s consumer prices Ukrainian unit Universal Bank to Ukraine’s financial ($256 million) in a New York production facility of Elon in around 6.5 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to rescue dropped in November while household spending fell, underscor- group TAS Group, it said on Tuesday. Musk’s Tesla Motors to make photovoltaic (PV) cells and Monte dei Paschi di Siena, three sources close to ing the challenge the Bank of Japan faces in stoking inflation. The transaction is in line with Eurobank’s re- modules, deepening a partnership of the two companies. the matter said on Tuesday. Toshiba Corp. dropped as much as 16 percent on reports it structuring plan as agreed with the European Japan’s Panasonic, which has been retreating from An additional 2-2.3 billion euros will come may book a loss of as much as 500 billion yen ($4.3 billion) on its Commission and is capital neutral for the group, low-margin consumer electronics to focus more on auto- from the conversion of subordinated bonds held U.S. nuclear operations. Eurobank said in a bourse filing. motive components and other businesses targeting cor- by institutional investors. South Korea’s Kospi Index added 0.2 percent, advancing for a The transaction, concluded on Dec. 23, was porate clients, will make the investment in Tesla’s factory The European Central Bank has told the bank third day. capital neutral on a Group level, Eurobank said. in Buffalo, New York. its capital shortfall has risen to 8.8 billion euros, Futures on the FTSE China A50 fell 0.3 percent in most recent The U.S. electric car maker is making a long-term pur- from 5 billion euros indicated previously, the trading. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.4 percent on Mon- chase commitment from Panasonic as part of the deal, bank said on Monday. day. Earlier in the day, it fell to the lowest since October as reports besides providing factory buildings and infrastructure. of further curbs on the property market weighed on the sector. Global stocks were little changed last week after reaching an NEWS IN BRIEF almost 17-month high Dec. 13. (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 228,8, 22016016 ENERGY 5

Iran aiming for a renewable- Oil extends longest run of gains since august before OPEC cuts supplied future Oil extended the longest winning streak in more than four months before OPEC and other producing nations start re- ECONOMY TEHRAN — Supply- ducing output to stabilize the market. desking five percent of Futures advanced 0.1 percent in New York, climbing for a the country’s electricity need from seventh session. Prices are set to recover next year as pro- renewable energies is a priority for duction cuts help to re-balance an oversupplied market, Iran’s energy industry, IRNA quoted Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said last week. an energy official as saying on Mon- OPEC and 11 nations from outside of the group including day. Russia have agreed to trim According to Seyed Mohammad about 1.8 million barrels a Sadeqzadeh, the managing director day from January. of Renewable Energy Organization of Oil has traded near $50 Iran (known as SUNA), the country a barrel since the Organiza- is aiming to install some 100 meg- tion of Petroleum Exporting awatts (MW) capacity of renewable Countries agreed last month power plants during the current Ira- to curb production for the nian calendar year (which ends on first time in eight years. Iraq, March 20, 2017). the second-biggest OPEC “The figure for installed renewable producer, is fully committed capacity for the current year shows a to the accord, Oil Minister 700 percent rise compared to that of Jabbar Al-Luaibi said Thurs- the last year,” Sadeqzadeh said. day in Cairo at a meeting The official noted that the Energy of the Organization of Arab Ministry has it on agenda to install Petroleum Exporting Coun- over 300 MW capacity of renewable tries. plants in the upcoming Iranian calen- “Current oil prices reflect positive factors we’ve been see- dar year of 1396 (March 2017-March ing recently, including expectations about output cuts by 2018) to boost the country’s renewa- OPEC and non-OPEC nations,” said Will Yun, a Seoul-based ble capacity to 600 MW. commodities analyst at Hyundai Futures Corp. “Questions “Hopefully by the Iranian calen- remain on whether the rally will continue because unless dar year of 1397 (March 2018-March there are new bullish items, the market may see more un- 2019) Iran’s generation capacity of the country’s total power capacity,” stalled capacity of renewable pow- by the wind power plants and the rest certainties in the long term.” renewable energy will reach 1300 he said. er plants in Iran stands at 243 MW, by solar power plants, small hydro- West Texas Intermediate for February delivery rose 6 cents MW which would be two percent of For the time being the total in- about 158 MW of which is generated power and biomass plants. to $53.08 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 3:55 p.m. in Tokyo after climbing as much as 0.6 percent ear- lier. There was no trading Monday because of the Christmas Russia’s Lukoil appoints new VP for holiday. Total volume traded was about 56 percent below the 100-day average. Prices are up about 43 percent this year. sales and supplies: sources January meeting Russia’s second biggest oil producer Lukoil gas processing and petrochemicals, accord- Brent for February settlement lost eight cents to $55.08 a has appointed a new vice-president for sales ing to the sources familiar with the matter. barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. and supplies after state-owned rival Rosneft Subbotin, who holds a 0.0152 percent The contract rose 11 cents to $55.16 on Friday. The global clinched several major deals at its expense, stake in the company, will take a senior benchmark was at a premium of $2.01 to WTI. three sources told Reuters. management position at Lukoil’s trading OPEC and its partners have established a monitoring Valery Subbotin, Lukoil’s vice-president arm Litasco, the sources said. committee to ensure that producers abide by their pledges. for oil sales and supplies, ended his 18-year Lukoil’s press office declined to comment The committee will hold its first meeting in January, at a lo- tenure at the company last week and has and Subbotin did not respond to Reuters re- cation yet to be decided, Kuwaiti Oil Minister Essam Al-Mar- been replaced by Vadim Vorobyov, previ- quests for comment. zouk said Thursday at an industry gathering in Cairo. ously Lukoil’s vice-president for oil refining, (Source: Reuters) (Source: Bloomberg)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTANT SERVICES) Iran Azarbaijan Power Transmission project Finance CONSULTING SERVICES Project ID No.: IRN-0105

The Azarbaijan Regional Electric Company (AREC), a subsidiary of Tavanir, is an Iranian public sector company which is wholly owned by the Ministry of Energy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has received inancing from the Islamic Development Bank toward the cost of the Azarbaijan Power Transmission project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consultant services. The services include Audit of Teacher Project’s Financial Statement and preparation of its Report. Please refer to the General Procurement Notice for this project that appeared in Iran daily newspaper, AREC website, www.devbusiness.com and www.isdb.org , dated 3 December 2012. The Azarbaijan Regional Electric Company (AREC) now invites eligible consultants to indicate their inter- est in providing the services. Interested consultants who has experience of auditing speciically prepa- ration of audit report for at least one project funded by Multi-Development Banks or any interna- Recruitment tional organizations must provide information indicating that they are qualiied to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropri- ate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualiications and clearly specify the type of association (a joint venture or sub consultancies)as well as the nature of its business (commercial or not-for proit). A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedure sets out in the Guidelines for the Use of Winter 1395 Consultants under Islamic Development Bank Financing (current edition). All procedures of holding the qualitative assessment (from receipt and delivery of qualitative evaluation inquiry as well as preparation of a qualiied bidders list) will be done via State E- procurements system The Iran Language Institute (ILI) is currently seeking website, www.setadiran.ir . Regarding the unregistered bidders, registration on the mentioned site and reception of an electronic highly qualified teachers preferably with a degree in signature certiicate in order to make the participation in the tender possible must be done. The propagation date of invitation was at 8:00 AM on Thursday, 22.DEC.2016.

relevant academic fields for its language departments • The interested consultants are able to receive the qualitative evaluation inquiries from 8:00 AM on 22.DEC.2016 until 19:00 PM on 14.Jan.2017. (English, French, German, Arabic and Spanish) at • The consultants must send the response to qualitative evaluation inquiries from 15.Jan.2017 until 19:00 PM on 04.Feb.2017 various ILI centers nationwide. • Contact number of client is +9841-33281263 and the contact number of procurement and contracts manager is +98914-1056846

• Contact number of supporting center:+9821-27313131 • Contact number of registration center of Tehran:+9821-85193768, +9821-88969737 • Contact number of registration center of Eastern Azarbaijan: +9841-35268459

Interested applicants are invited to visit www.ili.ir for more • Contact information of the centers located in other cities can be found in www.setadiran.ir website. informaon on recruitment procedures and deadlines. www.Tavanir.org www.Iets.mporg.ir www.azrec.co.ir 10984 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL DDECEMBERECEMBER 228,8, 22016016

The politics of a It’s Official: America has two constitutional crisis By Noah Feldman

Many constitutional systems around the globe have presidents at one time been tested in 2016. Turkey, Poland, the UK, the U.S. -- each case sheds some light on how different The United States has voiced its displeasure with Israeli settlements. Or has it? constitutional arrangements respond to the challenges of political factions. By Uri Friedman Begin with the worst constitutional crisis, the one that is taking place in Turkey in the aftermath of a coup hat happens when the most attempt against the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Wpowerful country in the world The background is complicated: Erdogan’s AK Party won effectively has two presidents national elections in 2002, 2007 and 2015; Erdogan at once? Its policy regarding one of the himself was directly elected president in 2014. All these most complex conflicts on the planet elections were pretty clean, and most observers accept collapses into a muddled mess. that a plurality of Turks have preferred Erdogan’s party for Or, more precisely, you have what a decade and a half. unfolded over the last 48 hours: The During that time, the Turkish constitution has come Egyptian government submits to the under pressure both from AK’s attempts to make it more UN Security Council a resolution against religion-friendly and from the efforts of the constitutional Israeli settlements in the West Bank and court to maintain the radical secularism enshrined in the East Jerusalem. This raises the possibility document. Beyond that, Erdogan has been slowly but that the Obama administration clearly eroding freedom of the press as he has become could express its opposition to Israeli increasingly authoritarian. settlement policy by abstaining from the But the failed coup this past summer changed Turkey’s vote, rather than vetoing the resolution constitutional landscape drastically. Not only did Erdogan as it had with a similar one in 2011. purge the military, but he took the opportunity to purge Enraged Israeli officials call up Donald the judiciary, too, badly undermining the rule of law. The Trump, who tweets that the United purge was based partly in party politics, and partly on States should veto. the religious-cultural movement led by Fethullah Gulen, a Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the president Turkish leader in exile in the U.S. whom Erdogan blames of Egypt, abruptly calls off the vote. At Obama argued that “we can’t have two voices coming out of the for the coup attempt. some point during all this, Trump has The lesson is that when a government believes one a phone conversation with Sisi where United States when you have so much at stake.” faction is trying to bring it down undemocratically, it will they chat about jointly solving various for example, allegedly interfered with one president at a time” to explain why the Chinese just “keep” the darn thing. be sorely tempted to suppress that faction outside the issues in the Middle East. Anonymous Vietnam War peace talks organized by Obama was staying silent on issues Obama is dismantling a registration constitution. Although Turkey’s constitution has been Israeli officials, essentially siding with Lyndon Johnson. But Donald Trump has like the Gaza War. That “constitutional system for visitors from many Muslim- fairly functional, the country’s prospects for remaining the incoming Trump administration, involved himself in international affairs principle,” Obama’s incoming press majority countries; Trump might soon democratic have been weakened considerably. criticize Obama in unusually harsh like no U.S. president-elect in recent secretary said at the time, is “extremely revive it. Poland represents a less drastic but still worrisome case. terms for plotting with the Palestinians memory. NBC News reviews some of important in the arena of foreign policy,” These contradictions have created Poland’s ruling right-wing nationalist PiS party began 2016 to abandon Israel at the United Nations. the history: where it must be “clear who is speaking such confusion in recent weeks by trying to rig the constitutional court so it wouldn’t block A day later, Malaysia, New Zealand, President Bill Clinton told the press on behalf of the United States.” Noting that Jared Huffman, a Democratic the party’s planned encroachments on democratic rights. Senegal, and Venezuela reintroduce after his 1992 victory that he would the “delicate negotiations” that were congressman from California, has By spring, there had been major protests by a democracy the resolution, which comes to a vote “reaffirm the essential continuity occurring at the time between Israelis introduced legislation to amend the movement, and the government hardened its position and is adopted by the Security Council, of American foreign policy” and and Palestinians, Obama argued that 1799 Logan Act, which prohibits despite warnings from the European Union. including Egypt, with the United States recognized “that America has only one “we can’t have two voices coming out unauthorized private citizens from This month, PiS imposed new restrictions on journalists abstaining. Barack Obama delivers a president at a time.” of the United States when you have so conducting U.S. foreign policy. Huffman covering the parliament, which in turn triggered a new powerful parting message to Israel’s President George W. Bush declined much at stake.” wants to clarify that the law applies round of protests. leaders that is powerfully undercut by questions on topics like North Korea Two conflicting voices to presidents-elect, since “only the PiS has an outright parliamentary majority -- the first Donald Trump’s opening message. “As and Israel until he took the oath of office Yet in the waning days of 2016, president, not the president-elect who since Poland became a democracy. The Polish constitution, to the UN, things will be different after in early 2001. “We have one president, two conflicting voices on high-stakes is fresh off the campaign trail and not which has held up better than almost any other Eastern Jan. 20th,” Trump tweets shortly after and we’ll have one president, and the international issues is exactly what we yet in office, has the authority to make European post-communist government system, hasn’t the vote. current president is President Clinton, have. Obama’s Pentagon demanded critical foreign-policy decisions that been given a chance to establish norms for dealing with Transitions of power and our nation must speak with one that China return a U.S. underwater impact America’s safety, economy, a government that wants to marginalize minority voices. Transitions of power are always voice,” Bush said at a press conference. drone seized in the South China and global standing.” The legislation is The turn to street-based protests is a consequence. awkward, uncertain moments in the In 2008-2009, Barack Obama’s Sea; Trump elevated the incident to still pending, with weeks to go before Political liberties life of a nation and its relations with the transition team repeatedly invoked the an “unprecedented act” and then inauguration. Poland’s constitutional system may rally if international world. Richard Nixon’s campaign aides, norm that the United States has “only suddenly reversed course, suggesting (Source: The Atlantic) support and civil society can pressure PiS to respect political liberties. The next year will be crucial -- and if the system doesn’t succeed, Poland could become a victim of The lesson from Pearl Harbour is that trade is the best way to gradual constitutional failure, like Turkey and closer to the heart of Europe. The UK has the oldest continuously operating calm tensions in Asia constitutional system in the world, and unlike Turkey or Shinzo Abe has become the first Trump has also had hard words Poland, it’s got lots of experience in dealing with partisan Japanese prime minister to visit Pearl for China, raising fears of a trade war politics. Broadly, the British solution has long been to rely Harbour since his country’s attack on between the world’s leading economies, on constitutional traditions that aren’t found in a single, the U.S. base there brought America another unnerving prospect. written document, creating a system based on the theory into the Second World War. American In Franklin Roosevelt’s phrase, the of parliamentary sovereignty, one that respects the rights involvement in the war helped make bombing of Pearl Habour still lives in of minorities. It’s a kind of miracle, constitutionally speaking the U.S. into the ultimate guarantor of infamy. But the long and effective post- -- and no other country has really been able to replicate it. Western security and thus the greatest war partnership between the U.S. and Yet Britain is changing. Since its accession to the cause of peace and prosperity in the Japan offers a much happier lesson: European Union, the country has been exposed to steady modern world. when nations swap goods and services pressure to judicialize those constitutional protections The Pearl Harbour visit is timely, instead of bombs and bullets, the profits -- the approach mostly used in Europe and modeled and not just because Japan is debating are not just financial ones. Trade makes in large part on the post-World War II U.S. Supreme amending the post-war constitution the world richer, but also more secure; Court. The risks and benefits of that shift have been very written for it by its U.S. conquerors that business partners may disagree, but much in evidence during the debate about whether the forbids an active military role in the rarely do so militarily. These are tense Conservative-led government can formally leave the EU world. The election of Donald Trump times in Asia. Trade is a good way to calm after a referendum without a separate parliamentary vote. as U.S. president raises questions about nerves and ensure that the mistakes of In the past, this debate would have been decided American willingness to go on providing seen as cornerstones of the global order. appeared to question America’s promise history are not repeated. in Parliament. Now it’s taking place in the courts. In security guarantees that were previously During his election campaign, Trump to defend Japan. (Source: The Telegraph) advance of the Supreme Court vote, Britons are learning the pleasures of court-watching and vote-counting and partisan-based predictions of who will win. New constitutional technologies Kabila has overstayed his welcome In comparative constitutional terms, this may seem like progress -- but it’s probably regress. Faced with a The longer the president of the Congo remains in Joseph Kabila if an election were held now. deep political divide over Brexit, Britain is relying on new power past the end of his constitutional term, the more Investigations have shown troubling ties between constitutional technologies rather than its own traditions, resentment will build. the president and a vast array of businesses owned which have historically handled partisan division well. The fourth-largest African country (by population) by his family members. The president’s siblings are The U.S. is the archetypal example of how a possesses vast deposits of mineral wealth, from cobalt involved in at least 70 businesses across the country, constitutional system grapples with partisan division and copper to diamonds and gold. Yet it suffers from according to an investigation by Bloomberg News. The using courts -- and the limits of that approach. The two familiar troubles that have vexed countries on that Kabilas’ sprawling network has put hundreds of millions Republican Senate managed to block Barack Obama from continent in recent decades: It has a large proportion of dollars in the pockets of family members. Besides naming a Supreme Court justice who would have helped of its people who live in extreme poverty and a political mining interests they include banks, farms, hotels, and balance constitutional rights in the face of a Republican leader who refuses to leave power. nightclubs. government. Joseph Kabila has served two terms as president The concern that the legitimacy of these business ties To be fair to Senate Republicans, they didn’t expect of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the limit under to the president might come under scrutiny when a new Donald Trump to win. They were trying to defend their that country’s constitution. Yet when his term of office government takes office may be one of the strongest position rather than expand their party’s power. But now officially ended Dec. 19 he was still in the executive’s reasons why Kabila is refusing to leave. a Republican Congress and Republican president will be chair, arguing that the nation was not yet prepared to In April U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Congolese President Joseph Kabila limited by the court only as long as the court does not hold an election. Kabila and urged him to hold timely and credible have a strong Republican majority. He has offered to conduct an election in 2018, but Kabila has offered to conduct an elections. And more recently the U.S. and the European The fault lies partly with the Founding Fathers, who opponents say that isn’t good enough – not just because Union froze the assets of, and banned travel by, nine designed the Constitution to avoid the creation of political it flouts the constitution but because they suspect he election in 2018, but opponents senior members of Kabila’s government who are parties, not take account of them. It’s hard for the party will use the intervening time to change the law to allow say that isn’t good enough – thought to have played a role in repressing dissent in that controls Congress to check the president when he himself a third term. not just because it flouts the recent years. comes from their party. The courts have stepped in to try In September some 50 people protesting that Whether Kabila is listening to either outside to fix this problem by protecting minority rights. elections be held on schedule were killed. Another 40 constitution but because they governments or his own people remains to be seen. He But the worrisome fact is that constitutional protections protesters have been killed within the past week. A suspect he will use the intervening may struggle awhile longer looking for a way to keep in the U.S. now rest at least partly on a gamble on the compromise being bartered by the Roman Catholic time to change the law to allow the status quo. health of the court’s older, liberal justices. For the most church in the Congo, a nation of some 80 million But the sooner he voluntarily leaves office, as the part, the U.S. system has worked. It’s going to be tested in people, is being hastily negotiated this week. himself a third term. constitution demands, the less likely it is that a succeeding the months and years ahead. Kabila has served as president ever since his father, 1997 to 2001, was assassinated. One poll has found that government may take severe action against him. (Source: Bloomberg) Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who served as president from only about 8 percent of Congolese say they’d vote for (Source: The SCM) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 2288 22016016 ANALYSIS 7

By Mohammad Hossein Azari ecently, a 300-strong Rus- New chapter in Iran-Russia trade ties Rsian trade delegation visited Iran and seminal commercial sia as well as one which aimed to agreements were inked between finance Iran’s thermal power plant Tehran and Moscow who have set projects. out to reach unprecedented levels Also on the sidelines of the 13th in bilateral turnover. joint commission, Memoranda of The visit of the huge Russian del- Understanding (MoUs) were sealed egation to Iran, which came as a se- to finance electrification projects in quel to Iranians’ visit to Moscow in Garmsar-Incheh Borun railway. February, is promising of stronger The final accord between Iran commercial relations between Teh- and Russia pertained to the MoU ran and Moscow. of the 13th Joint Economic Com- Iran and Russia enjoy age-old mission between the two countries strategic and irrevocable relations which were signed by Iran’s Vaezi in the international and regional and Russia’s Novak. levels though their collaboration Yet, oil industry had the lion’s has been more of a political nature share during the visit by Russians than an economic one. since joint session also established In other words, Russia remains as the first ever joint energy commis- Iran’s most important political part- sion to bolster ties in the energy ner though the two sides lack ap- sector. fortunately reached as evidenced ganizations have been among oth- propriate trade and economic ties The Iran-Russia Economic Commission Indeed, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan by two banking documents which er problems on the path to com- hence the efforts in recent years mainly addressed effective Zanganeh and Russian Energy Min- were inked. mercial success in global markets, aim to find venues for expansion of ister Alexander Novak began their Accordingly, foreign branches of including Russia. economic collaborations between implementation of Putin-Rouhani meeting behind closed door before banks will be established in both Nevertheless, the opening of the two parties. strategy to boost bilateral trade. the economic mission officially got states in a bid to overcome one a new chapter in cooperation be- The need for closer economic underway. major issue faced by traders, which tween the two major regional pacities in different areas as regards ties between the two countries was sector. Oil contracts is absence of broker relations be- countries seem to gradually allevi- meeting their demands and the better felt after the European Un- Tehran session also sought to During a follow-up press con- tween Tehran and Moscow in addi- ate obstacles leading to increased visiting board sought to find trade ion (EU) imposed sanctions against make efficient the legal and official ference, Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan tion to the fact that banks of each collaboration between Tehran and partners and launch cooperation Moscow and it was when Russian frameworks of bilateral coopera- Zanganeh reported on signing side had no branches in the other Moscow. on technology transfer. traders voiced eagerness for co- tion; on the sidelines of the event, research and development MoUs country. The issue is being followed up A relevant conference was also operation with Iran’s private sector a 1-day session of tradesmen and with Russian firms like Lukoil, Tat- Nevertheless, the issue of re- by Iranian and Russian officials and held at presence of 500 to 600 Ira- though certain barriers, including heads of 200 companies was held, neft, Zarubezhneft and Gazprom placement of dollar with rial and businessmen as they possess strong nian economic activists to discuss high tariffs and lack of familiarity where Russia participated with 320 for expansion of seven Iranian oil- ruble was also raised during bilater- determination to surmount ob- venues for reinvigoration of ties be- with the Russian market, prevented members, which turned the session fields including Mansouri, Ab Tei- al negotiations though the curren- stacles and it is hoped that recent tween the two sides. elevation of trade ties between the into the greatest ever such congre- mour, Aban, West Paydar, Dehloran, cy replacement initiative demands measures would trigger further The parties also touched upon two parties. gation of businessmen in the histo- Cheshmeh Khoshk and Chenguleh. certain mechanisms and despite economic activities. issues like oil, gas, petrochemical With Rouhani having assumed ry of bilateral relations. The documents cover the co- the overall agreement, the process Outlooks and financing of projects in addition the power, there has been a giant All in all, the most considerable operation in oil exploration and will continue until it becomes final- To recapitulate, in its recent vis- to looking for solutions to banking leap forward in bilateral trade and outcome of the joint session was extraction, the development of oil ized. it to Iran, the Russian delegation issues as the main obstacle to de- economic ties between Iran and signing of nine joint cooperation fields, petrochemical production On this topic, Novak said central signed nine agreements in indus- velopment of bilateral cooperation. Russia which culminated since then; agreements in a wide variety of ar- swaps, gas deliveries cooperation banks and monetary institutions tries ranging from energy to rail- While calling for formation of both countries saw a low point of eas between Iran and Russia. and cooperation in the sphere of oil of the two countries have paved ways. Upon arrival in Tehran on De- broker relations between banks of a little more than 1 billion dollars The agreements were sealed facilities production technologies. the path in this regard and money cember 18, Russia’s Energy Minister each other, Tehran and Moscow in 2013. by Iran’s Mahmoud Vaezi and the He also appreciated Russia’s transfer is being performed. Alexander Novak outlined Mos- Russian Energy Minister Alexander constructive role in the recent Russian energy minister recalled cow’s ambition to become a major Novak as heads of the 13th Joint All the preliminary deals inked between OPEC meeting saying “the accord Economic Commission between the between OPEC and non-OPEC pro- Zanganeh voiced Iran’s readiness to launch Iran and Russia in energy, trade, finance, two countries. ducers holds greater significance cooperation with Russian oil firms adding industry, mining and agriculture fields Insurance, banking and fi- than figures or numbers since it “development of oil fields and boosting nance leads to a healthy and balanced could end up in final contracts worth 10 Accordingly, two cooperation market, a fact which has been real- recovery factor remain as main axes of billion dollars. documents were inked between ized by the market.” negotiations with the Russian side.” Export Insurance Agency of Rus- Zanganeh voiced Iran’s readiness also touched upon non-oil exports Meanwhile, the volume of bi- sia (EXIAR) and Iran’s private sec- to launch cooperation with Russian that 10 major banks of Iran and investor in the Persian Gulf nation. lateral trade between Tehran and by exchanging views between Irani- Russia had embarked on the pro- Later on Tuesday December 20, Moscow is still standing at the very an and Russian authorities. ject as well as that a team was put while speaking during one of many small figure of 1.5 billion dollars, a “Russia enjoys excellent capac- in charge of tackling existing bank- signing ceremonies, Novak said his figure which has remained constant ities in various economic sectors,” ing difficulties. country’s priority was to develop due to trade and banking barriers. stressed vice chairman of Iran-Rus- Also, both parties agreed that Iran’s big projects; “these agree- Iranian and Russian senior of- sia Chamber of Commerce saying tariff obstacles in exports of goods ments will have a significant influ- ficials, including President Hassan that share of Iran in Russia’s import to Russia faced by Iranian business- ence on the relationship between Rouhani and Vladimir Putin have volume stood at the negligible fig- men will be abolished once free our two countries,” he underscored. repeatedly emphasized the fact ure of 350 to 450 million dollars. trade agreement between the Eur- It needs to be recalled that fol- that expansion of ties between Teh- He maintained the Iranian trad- asian Economic Union and Iran be- lowing the removal of international ran and Moscow plays an important ers lacked proper familiarity with comes finalized. Presently, export sanctions against Iran in January, role in ensuring regional peace and the Russian market urging state tariffs for 24 types of commodities countless economic delegations stability. and private sectors of both sides to have been removed paving the have visited Iran, which possesses Nevertheless, recent commutes spare no effort in introducing their path for exports to Russia. a 400-billion-dollar economy. Yet, between the two sides are indica- potentials. Other trade-related agreements several international firms have tions of a joint effort by Tehran and Ghiafeh recalled that volume of between the two sides pertained abjured from inking final contracts Moscow to bolster commercial re- trade turnover between Tehran and to launching of customs green cor- with Tehran mainly due to the fact lations as they are experiencing an Russia has become eightfold in the ridor, facilitation of visa issuance, that certain sanction-related barri- unparalleled period of time of their current year though the figure is resolving legal and banking is- ers are still force giving rise to hes- relations. still considered as insignificant. sues, sealing MoUs on large-scale itation of eager foreign parties who It could therefore be inferred that The official further underscored projects like to construction of are also unsure about outcomes of both sides, in addition to strength- that currencies of both countries Negotiations are also underway on Boushehr Power Plant and electri- Iranian elections in May. ening of ties to fight with non-re- were affected by global market fication of Iranian railways as well Russian investors however seem gional powers and certain regional which made it difficult to use lo- sales of Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) as allocation of a 2.5-billion-dollar to have an easier task for entering states who have threatened stability cal currencies instead of dollar for aircraft to Iran. credit to proposals. the Iranian market than European in the region by shaping and sup- monetary transactions. Aviation industry rivals like the UK, France or Ger- The recent visit also led to sign- porting terrorism, are after reinvig- tor. Additionally, another MoU was oil firms adding “development of oil Negotiations are also underway many since Russian banks are less ing Memoranda of Understanding oration of economic cooperation signed between Institute of Stand- fields and boosting recovery factor on sales of Sukhoi Superjet 100 affected by persisting US sanctions (MoUs) in numerous fields includ- between one another. ard and Industrial Research of Iran remain as main axes of negotiations (SSJ100) aircraft to Iran. The plane against Iran. ing commerce, gas in addition to Russia has on agenda to acceler- (ISIRI) and Federal Agency for Tech- with the Russian side.” enjoys a special technology as it Iran has also nearly reached removal of exports tariffs for 24 ate its trade cooperation with Iran nical Regulation and Metrology of The official emphasized that Iran has been manufactured in partner- pre-sanction levels in crude oil categories of commodities which and to raise the trade volume to Russia. sought to assign developmental ship with several European compa- production and exports following will greatly assists Iranian traders. annual staggering figure of 4 billion National Iranian Gas Company projects for seven oilfields to Rus- nies like Italy and France. implementation of the Joint Com- The Iran-Russia Economic Com- dollars. Experts in Moscow would (NIGC) and Russia’s Gazprom also sian companies; “so far, Memoran- Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company prehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). mission mainly addressed effective see that prospect bright, since Iran hit an accord aimed at bolstering da of Understanding have been (SCAC) had previously announced During a recent OPEC meeting, implementation of Putin-Rouhani provides low-cost transportation cooperation in gas industry. More- signed with several companies on readiness to sell SSJ100 aircraft to which ended in the agreement to strategy to boost bilateral trade. which is at the same time diverse. over, three compacts were formed development of seven Iranian oil Iran affirming “in case a sales con- cap oil output in a bid to bump up The 13th joint commission, In line with the recent efforts to between Iranian and Russian in- fields.” tract is inked, the possibility for Ira- falling prices, Iran was given the which was unprecedented in re- bolster bilateral relations, a Russian dustry ministers over expansion of As regards banking cooperation, nians to enter the production pro- authorization to go against the cent years by Iran and Russia, was delegation, comprising numerous the industrial roadmap between the several commission meetings were cess will be investigated.” stream and increase its output by headed by Iran’s Mahmoud Vaezi, people from 180 firms, arrived in two parties. conducted during the Russians’ Nevertheless, Russia cannot be 90,000 barrels per day to a maxi- Minister of Information Technology Tehran to conduct face-to-face Other deals were inked between stay in which barriers were dealt the final decision maker on sales of mum of 3.8 million barrels per day and Russia’s Minister of Energy Al- meetings with state and private Joint Business Councils and Cham- with and future plans were talked Sukhoi Superjet 100 to Iran though as of the beginning of 2017. exander Novak who arrived in Teh- sectors of Iran. bers of Commerce of Iran and Rus- over and good agreements were Russian media has announced ear- Therefore, Iran has been looking The presence of Russia’s biggest ran on Sunday along his entourage, lier that Tehran and Moscow have for credible partners among in- trade delegation in Iran targeted to among whom were important en- reached primary agreement in the ternational oil companies in order increase the level of trade turnover trepreneurs. course of SSJ10 talks. to develop oilfields and shore up between the two countries to 10 Russian quota in the economic Agricultural cooperation production. Although agreements billion dollars. commission was 270 participants Russia is one of the suitable and have been signed with Royal Dutch Vice Chairman of Iran-Russian and a workgroup was in charge of huge markets for Iran’s agricultural Shell Plc. and Total SA on develop- Chamber of Commerce Ghad- addressing issues in energy and products though grounds for el- ment of several Iranian oil and gas ir Ghiafeh said the delegation was telecommunications, new oppor- evation of exports of these prod- fields, Russia also, during the recent visiting Tehran in the form of a joint tunities in sectors, and implemen- ucts had not been prepared due to visit, managed to secure a consid- commission on economic, cultural tation of past agreements. Prior trade, economic reasons as well as erable place in developmental pro- and scientific cooperation between to the event, Iran’s Ambassador to structural weaknesses. jects of the Iranian industry. Iran and Russia; “the commission Moscow Mehdi Sanaei had already Other influential factors in this Finally, all the preliminary deals aims to boost ties with a panel of negotiated with Novak construction regard, in addition to trade costs, inked between Iran and Russia in private and state sectors while by Russian contractors of Bandar included economic and financial energy, trade, finance, industry, specialized committees will be in Abbas thermal power plant worth obstacles like banking issues as well mining and agriculture fields could charge of investigating various sub- €1.29bn, along with other projects as currency rate fluctuations. Along end up in final contracts worth jects,” he had noted prior to the which included metrology, stand- with trade and economic variables, 10 billion dollars, an aim which is visit. ardization, good quality assess- poor logistics, lack of institutions or being seriously pursued by both Russians had identified Iran’s ca- ment, and other projects of private structured and systematic trade or- sides. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS DDECEMBERECEMBER 28,28, 20162016

Villa in Elahieh Brand New Bldg. Apt. in Zaferanieh Flat, 400 sq.m built up, 3 rooms + in North of Tehran 4th Fl., 220 sq.m, 3 bdrs, one office, modern furn, garden, 3500 sq.m built up in 1000 sq.m fully furn, nice balcony, excellent view, pool, Pkg, $6500 land, 3 rooms, indoor pool, Pkg Pkg, 3000 USD Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Mr.king: 09128440154 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Adorable Apt. in Kamranieh Duplex Villa in Niavaran 5th Fl., 4 bdrs+ guest suite, EIK, 800 sq.m built up in 1200 sq.m Whole Bldg. in Zaferanieh Apt. in Jordan S/S APPl., elegant fireplace, fully land, 3 bdrs, guest suite, $15000 2-Storey, 840 sq.m built up, 2nd Fl., 150 sq.m, 3 bdrs, furn,3 Pkgs, SPJ, gym, Mr.king: 09128440154 4 units with 140 sq.m, 8 units with fully furn, Pkg, lobby, Good access

Suitable for Foreigners 260 sq.m, Pkg, renovated, to highway, 1800 USD Duplex Villa in Jordan Mr.Nader: 09128440157 Suitable for Embassy Ms.Diba: 09128103206 560 sq.m built up in 850 sq.m land with 3 suites, 5 rooms, 2 Pkgs, Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Luxury Apt. in Elahieh renovated, Suitable For Embassies Apt. in Farmanieh 1st Fl., 165 sq.m, 3 bdrs, furn, Spj, & Residencies, $15000 Bldg. in Ajudaniyeh 1st Fl., 90 sq.m, 2 bdrs, nice balcony, lobby, $3200 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 4000 sq.m built up in 1500 sq.m fully furn, Pkg, 3000 USD Ms.Diba: 09128103206 land, totally 8 Apts, 4 units are 250 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Duplex Villa in Zaferanieh sq.m & 4 units are 350 sq.m 1700 sq.m built up in 2000 sq.m Apt. in Elahieh Mr.king: 09128440154 Luxury Apt. in Jordan land, 5 rooms, indoor/outdoor th 170 sq.m, 4 bdrs, furn, $3500 pool, garden, Pkg, 30000 USD 4 Fl., 200 sq.m, 3 bdrs, Mr.king: 09128440154 Mr.king: 09128440154 Whole Bldg. in Mahmoudieh fully furn, Pkg, 3000 USD Ask Us Your Required Short 3-Storey, each floor 170 sq.m with Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Apt. Zaferanieh Duplex Villa in Farmanieh Term / Long Term Furnished 3 bdrs, extra Apt. with 2 bdrs, 205 sq.m, 3 bdrs, fully furn, Nice Location in Tehran &Unfurnished Apartments. Pkg, lobby, $14000 700 sq.m, 4 bdrs, very reasonable indoor pool, Pkg, $3500 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 ﺁﭘﺎﺭﺗﻤﺎﻥ ﻫﺎﻯ ﻛﻮﺗﺎﻩ ﻣﺪﺕ ﻭ ﺑﻠﻨﺪ ﻣﺪﺕ ﻣﺒﻠﻪ price, $5000 ﻭ ﻏﻴﺮ ﻣﺒﻠﻪ ﻣﻮﺭﺩ ﻧﻴﺎﺯ ﺧﻮﺩ ﺭﺍ ﺍﺯ ﻣﺎ ﺑﺨﻮﺍﻫﻴﺪ. Mr.king: 09128440154 Mr.king: 09128440154

ﻓﺮﺷﺘﻪ 280ﻟﻮﻛﺲ، ﻣﺘﺮ، 4 ﺧﻮﺍﺏ، ﻧﻮﺳﺎﺯ .Administrative license Office in Argentine New Administrative license Bldg ﺗﻜﻮﺍﺣﺪﻯ، ﻣﺘﺮﻳﺎﻝ ﺍﺭﻭﭘﺎ، ﻻﺑﻰ ﻣﺠﻠﻞ ﺗﺎپ ﺗﺮﻳﻦ ﻓﺮﻋﻰ، ﺟﻬﺖ ﻣﺸﻜﻞ ﭘﺴﻨﺪﺍﻥ nd 500 sq.m office, open office, Pkg, highway, ,Fl., 480 sq.m, open space 2 ﻓﺮﺑﺪ: 09128484216 2 Pkg, 28000 USD Suitable for Foreign Companies, per Sq.m 45$ ﻣﺤﻤﻮﺩﻳﻪ Mr.King: 09128440154 ﺗﺎپ ﺗﺮﻳﻦ ﻣﺠﻤﻮﻋﻪ ﺁﺭﺷﻴﺘﻜﺖ ﺑﻨﺎﻡ Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Luxury Office in Vanak 340 ﻣﺘﺮ، 3 ﺧﻮﺍﺏ + ﺳﻮﺋﻴﺖ ﻣﺠﺰﺍ، Administrative license Office ﻻﺑﻰ ﻣﺠﻠﻞ، ﺳﻮﭘﺮ ﻟﻮﻛﺲ Duplex, 1200 sq.m built up, lobby, Pkg, Open space ﻧﺎﺩﺭﻧﻴﺎ: 09128440152 Suitable for Foreign Companies Brand new, stone floor, 4 Pkgs, ﺯﻋﻔﺮﺍﻧﻴﻪ Ms.Diba: 09128103206 Price: $70 per Sq.m ﺧﺎﺹ ﺗﺮﻳﻦ ﺑﺮﺝ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﻪ Administrative license office Mr.King: 09128440154 300 ﻣﺘﺮ، 4 ﺧﻮﺍﺏ، ﻻﺑﻰ ﻣﺠﻠﻞ، 2 ﭘﺎﺭﻛﻴﻨﮓ، ﺳﺎﻟﻦ ﺍﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﺎﺕ in Elahieh Office in Vozara ﻓﺮﺑﺪ: 09128484216 Brand new, 120 sq.m, facility, 2-Storey, each floor 500 sq.m, ,stone floor with Pkg Flat, 15 Pkgs, renovated ﺯﻋﻔﺮﺍﻧﻴﻪ 300 ﻣﺘﺮ، 3 ﺧﻮﺍﺏ + ﺳﻮﺋﻴﺖ ﻣﺠﺰﺍ، Good for foreign Companies, Mr.King: 09128440154 ﺩﺭ ﺑﻬﺘﺮﻳﻦ ﻓﺮﻋﻰ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﻪ، Administrative license Bldg. Price: $40 per each Sq.m ﺑﺎﺯﺳﺎﺯﻯ ﺑﺴﻴﺎﺭ ﺷﻴﻚ، %100 ﻓﺮﻭﺷﻨﺪﻩ Ms.Diba: 09128103206 ﻧﺎﺩﺭﻧﻴﺎ: 09128440152 In North Jordan Office in Jordan Brand new, 170 sq.m, Between 100 Sq.m up to 1000 Sq.m, good ﺯﻋﻔﺮﺍﻧﻴﻪ Stone floor price, Suitable for Foreign Company ﺗﺎپ ﺗﺮﻳﻦ ﺑﺮﺝ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﻪ Mr.King: 09128440154 Ms.Diba: 09128103206 260 ﻣﺘﺮ، 4 ﺧﻮﺍﺏ، ﺩﺭ ﺑﺎﻻﺗﺮﻳﻦ ﻃﺒﻘﺎﺕ، ﻧﻘﺸﻪ ﻭ ﻭﻳﻮ ﺑﺴﻴﺎﺭ ﻋﺎﻟﻰ، 4 ﭘﺎﺭﻛﻴﻨﮓ ﻓﺮﺑﺪ: 09128484216 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 28,28, 22016016 HEALTH & MEDICINE 9

How much protein We’re all putting on perfume in the wrong places do you need every day? By Rachel Nussbaum ertain habits are instinctual: You grab a dryer sheet to By Daniel Pendick would supply as little as 10% of his or the RDA of protein “is a safe and good many plant foods — including whole stop static, rub your lips together to spread chapstick, her total daily calories. In compari- range to aim for.” This equates roughly grains, beans and other legumes, nuts, C and apply perfume to your wrists and neck... right? rotein is essential to good health. son, the average American consumes to 15% to 25% of total daily calories, and vegetables. The table below pro- While we don’t want to say we’ve all been living a lie (that’d PThe very origin of the word — around 16% of his or her daily calories although it could be above or below vides some good sources of protein. be melodramatic), that last one isn’t exactly correct. Turns out from the Greek protos, meaning in the form of protein, from both plant this range depending on your age, sex, It’s also important to consider the there’s no actual science behind why we’ve been spritzing “first” — reflects protein’s top-shelf sta- and animal sources. and activity level. That range fits nicely protein “package” — the fats, carbo- our pulse points with perfume and cologne all these years tus in human nutrition. You need it to The Protein Summit reports in AJCN into the recommendation from the hydrates, vitamins, minerals, and other (besides the undeniable glamour of it all, that is). put meat on your bones and to make argue that 16% is anything but exces- current Dietary Guidelines for Ameri- nutrients that invariably come along Can you smell me now? hair, blood, connective tissue, antibod- sive. In fact, the reports suggest that cans that we get 10% to 35% of daily with protein. Aim for protein sources Spraying your wrists and neck is purely tradition and has ies, enzymes, and more. It’s common Americans may eat too little protein, calories from protein. low in saturated fat and processed car- little to no effect on the scent or intensity of the perfume, for athletes and bodybuilders to wolf not too much. The potential benefits of What should you do? bohydrates and rich in many nutrients. says Perry Romanowski, a cosmetic chemist and co-founder down extra protein to bulk up. But the higher protein intake, these research- Research on the optimal amount of One more thing: if you increase pro- of The Beauty Brains. “The traditional belief is that the pulse message the rest of us often get is that ers argue, include preserving protein to eat for good health tein, dietary arithmetic demands that points are places where the body generates extra heat and we’re eating too much protein. muscle strength is ongoing, and you eat less of other things to keep this can intensify the fragrance. There’s no evidence to sup- The Recommended Dietary Allow- your daily calorie intake steady. The port this.” ance (RDA) for protein is a modest switches you make can affect your nu- According to Romanowski, heat can increase the volatil- 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of trition, for better or for worse. For ex- ity of ingredients in your perfume, leading the molecules to body weight. The RDA is the amount ample, eating more protein instead of evaporate more quickly and come off as a stronger burst of of a nutrient you need to meet your low-quality refined carbohydrates, fragrance. But that only holds up if the skin at your pulse basic nutritional requirements. like white bread and sweets, is a points is actually hotter than elsewhere on your body—and In a sense, it’s the minimum healthy choice — though how as cardiologist Jeffrey Schussler, M.D., explains, that’s not ac- amount you need to keep healthy the choice is also tually the case. from getting sick — not depends on the total pro- Perfume of the past the specific amount you tein package. The practice of spritzing your wrists and neck came about are supposed to eat “If you are not eat- in the early 1900s, before atomizers (perfume bottles’ spray every day. ing much fish and you mechanisms) were widespread, says Raymond Matts, a fra- To determine your want to increase that grance designer and instructor at the Pratt Institute’s per- RDA for protein, you — yes, that might fumery certificate program. Perfumes back then were highly can multiply your improve the overall concentrated and came in bottles with crystal stoppers (think weight in pounds by nutrient profile that Dior Poison), so women would wipe the stoppers on their 0.36, or use this on- would subsequently wrists, and then rub their wrists on their ears. Due to the way line protein calcula- improve your health,” those heavy perfume notes were structured, the fragrances tor. For a 50-year-old says registered di- were rich enough that the scent would waft from their bodies. woman who weighs 140 etitian Kathy McManus, But that was then, and this is now. pounds woman and who director of the Depart- The Sprays of today is sedentary (doesn’t ex- ment of Nutrition at These days, Romanowski says perfumes are structured ercise), that translates into Harvard-affiliated Brigham with top, middle, and bottom notes. You smell the top 53 grams of protein a day. and Women’s Hospital. “But notes—usually citruses and florals—first. Then they disap- But use of the RDA to set I think the data are pretty pear after a few minutes, whereas floral, fruity, and green daily protein targets has actually strong against significantly middle notes last for a couple of hours. Base notes—musks caused a lot of confusion. “There’s increasing red meat, and and pines—hang around and evaporate last. a misunderstanding not only among certainly processed meat, to To make the most of today’s perfumes, Matts recom- the public, but also somewhat in our get protein.” mends spraying perfume across the top of your forearm, profession about the RDA,” says Nancy If weight loss is your main where it will catch the air, or on your hair and shirt collar if Rodriguez, a registered dietitian and is far from concern, trying a higher-protein diet is you want it to really last. “People just take the atomizer, put professor of nutritional science at the despite aging and settled. The value reasonable, but don’t expect it to be a it really close to their wrist and give a little squirt,” Matts University of Connecticut in Storrs. maintaining a lean, fat-burning phy- of high-protein diets for weight loss panacea. “Patients come to me all the says. “They hope that magically, because it’s a hot spot, it’s “People in general think we all eat too sique. Some studies described in the or cardiovascular health, for example, time asking if more protein will help going to be like a furnace blowing air—but that’s not what much protein.” summit reports suggest that protein is remains controversial. them in weight loss,” McManus says. “I happens.” Rodriguez was among more than more effective if you space it out over Before you start packing in more tell them the verdict is still out. Some The reality: Spraying onto hair and fabric is a better plan, 40 nutrition scientists who gathered the day’s meals and snacks, rather than protein, there are a few important studies support it, some studies don’t.” because the oils sink into the structure of the fibers and take in Washington, D.C., for a “Protein loading up at dinner like many Ameri- things to consider. For one, don’t read Good sources of protein longer to evaporate. Just be careful spraying onto silk and Summit” to discuss research on pro- cans do. “get more protein” as “eat more meat.” • 3 ounces tuna, salmon, haddock, other delicate fabrics—that’s one area Matts says you should tein and human health. The summit Based on the totality of the research Beef, poultry, and pork (as well as milk, or trout stick with your first instinct. was organized and sponsored by presented at the summit, Rodriguez cheese, and eggs) can certainly pro- • 3 ounces cooked turkey or chick- The takeaway beef, egg, and other animal-based estimates that taking in up to twice vide high-quality protein, but so can en While applying perfume to your pulse points may have food industry groups, but it also gen- • 6 ounces plain Greek yogurt made sense with fragrance’s earliest iterations, there’s no erated a set of scientific reports that Don’t read get more protein as eat more • ½ cup cottage cheese real science that says spraying it on your neck and wrist will were independently published a spe- meat. Beef, poultry (as well as milk, cheese, • ½ cup cooked beans enhance the scent. Luckily, today’s formulas are advanced cial supplement to the June issue of and eggs) can certainly provide high-quality • 1 cup of milk enough that perfume will “lift off” anyway (so people will be the American Journal of Clinical Nu- • 1 cup cooked pasta able to smell it), and where you put it won’t really make a trition (AJCN). protein, but so can many plant foods — • ¼ cup or 1 ounce of nuts (all difference. Try spritzing your forearm, clothes, or hair if you Protein: Is more better? including whole grains, beans and other types) really want people to smell the scent. Want to keep the scent? For a relatively active adult, eat- legumes, nuts, and vegetables. • 1 egg Pulse point away. ing enough protein to meet the RDA (Source: health.harvard.edu) (Source: verywell.com) IraniaHOME Realea Estate s a e

SH.LAVASANISH LAVASANI 09123103526 TEHRAN TIMES Tel: 88888007

Iran’s Leading International Daily Fax: 88675936 www.iraniahome.com Email: [email protected]@

Since:Since: 11969969 Advertising Dept Address:s: No.52,No 52 Darya-NooraniDarya Noorani Blv.Crossroad,Blv Cr HappyH NewN Year Farahzadi Blv, Shahrak-e-Gharb Nice APT. and nice villas in north Tehran and downtown Tel: 88562040 - 88562050 Affordable price

Indian Restaurant Te l : [email protected] PRIVATE PARKING LOT 021 - 430 51 450 Jahan Hotel (Exelsior) – Rahimzade Alley – Taleqani Crossroads – Valiasr St. Tell: 66476855 [email protected] I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 TECHNOLOGY DDECEMBERECEMBER 28,28, 22016016

10 hot titles of IT world 9 predictions for AI in 2017 Here are high rated IT titles in the world that reviewed by savvy tech users: AI-powered software will process the By Matt Bencke resulting data to help farmers make Galaxy S8 to come with 8GB RAM. better decisions. After all, we have the 1 According to a new rumor out of China, 2017 I (Artificial intelligence) has “minds of hunter-gatherers, but our cui- Samsung flagship will come with 8GB of memory and UFS2.1 Abeen hot in 2016, and it’s not sine is that of ancient farmers.” flash memory as well. The phone will come in two sizes: cooling off anytime soon. The We’ll automate some jobs around 5-inch (Galaxy S8) and 6-inch (Galaxy S8 Plus). Both investments, acquisitions, trials, reor- Traditional jobs in transportation are expected to be unveiled at an event in New York in April. ganizations and breakthroughs of the past year have set the AI industry up to (e.g., trucking, taxis), plus warehouses and manufacturing, will get increasingly According to a new report, three well known Tai- have tremendous impact over the next supplemented and replaced by robots 2 wan-based smartphone manufacturers - HTC, twelve months. Here are nine predic- operating in part based on AIs, with the Asus, and Acer - will fall short of their shipment targets for tions to watch for in 2017: aid of computer vision, autonomous the year 2016. HTC will likely ship a total of around 10-12 mil- We’ll end the hyperbole navigation, and other forms of remote lion smartphones this year, down from the 18 million figure it AI will “land.” We’ll stop talking about sensing and decision making. It’s a hit in 2015. Asus is expected to ship around 20 million smart- far-fetched, man-versus-machine mixed bag. Jobs that used to be manu- phones in 2016, down from the target figure of 25 million Skynet predictions and instead figure al, dangerous, expensive, or impractical and Acer, the final figure will be less than 5 million, a drop of out how to harness AI to turn the slag will become automated. But we need around 50% compared to the company's target. pile of big data into the orderly summit of our dreams. The hype curve will calm to proactively retrain people and create scarcity ooff accu- as a prprimaryimary new jobs. LG G6 could be available much sooner than Galaxy down as people realize what AI can do rate, domain-specidomain-specificfic meansmeans ofof inin-- We’ll enhance security 3 S8. LG might be able to announce the G6 at MWC and is doing, and thus form more re- human insights.insights. After all, teractingteracting witwithh AI will become vital to our national and then launch a commercial release much more quickly. alistic pictures of what it will do. We’ll embrace AI as critical for our econom- alalgorithmsgorithms such as neural computerscomputers across a security. We don’t talk about securi- networks can learn without explic- number of more useful, specific, reliable ty enough in startup-land, and I don’t M2017, China's latest luxury phone packs a massive ic productivity. From business process it instructions but need a tremendous scenarios. just mean cybersecurity. We need AI to 4 7,000mAh battery. M2017 with 5.7-inch QHD plus outsourcing to computer vision to natu- amount of training data. We’ll advance health care keep our borders, electrical grids, police 6GB of RAM goes on sale in China on January 6th, it'll start ral language processing and more, we’ll We’ll build ‘smart’ apps only It’ll be slow, but it’ll be in ways we officers, first responders, and “soft” in- at RMB 6,999 (about $1,007) for a 128GB version and jump to strengthen today’s AIs, integrate them For example, shopping will be desperately need. My personal dream is frastructure safe. RMB 16,999 ($2,446) for a 256GB model. into our existing systems, and enrich lives and improve businesses as we go. smart(er). We’ll see computer vision, that we digitize the tremendous backlog We’ll solidify ethics and guidelines coupled with the ability to intelligently of medical records in a way that helps We need to do all of this ethically. CyanogenMod website unreachable, project will We’ll incorporate and develop crunch massive amounts of market and medical professionals provide more in- Think of AI as an incredibly powerful 5 continue as LineageOS. Team member haggertk AI broadly personal data, serve up better online telligent care more efficiently, like our scalpel. If we cut at the wrong angle, calls LineageOS "a 100% bare fork -- LineageOS source == AI will become pervasive in all soft- shopping experiences (securely). As economy needs them to. My audacious even slightly, the implications for soci- CyanogenMod source," while another member said the plan ware, business processes, and big data another example, today Siri, Cortana, dream is that the Department of Veter- ety are profound. I hope that our new is for users to be able to update from CyanogenMod without solutions. Disruption will come from Google Now, Alexa, and other natural ans Affairs leads the way. federal government 10X-es investment reformatting. small companies (e.g., Algorithmia, Cla- rifai, GumGum, Init.ai, Orbital Insights, language interfaces are exciting, but We’ll advance agriculture inside the Defense Advanced Research often generic, frustrating, and hilari- Drones will monitor and service Projects Agency (DARPA), and publish- As part of a government effort to reduce public Sentient Technologies) and large en- ously wrong. In 2017, we will use voice crops from the air and ground, and es voluntary guidelines the industry can 6 urination in India, Google is now mapping public terprises (e.g., Amazon, Apple, Baidu, adopt to reduce bias in AIs, and that it toilets on smartphones. Facebook, Google, IBM, Microsoft, does so after listening to industry lead- Users can find their nearest public toilet by typing in “toi- Salesforce, Softbank, Tencent). AI will become pervasive in all software, business ers at large and small companies. let” or the Hindi word for toilet, swachh, into Google Maps on We’ll seek specialized human processes, and big data solutions. Disruption will Maybe I’m feeling optimistic with the their smartphones, CNBC reports. knowledge We’ll have the broad epiphany that come from small companies (e.g., Algorithmia, clean slate of a new year, but I believe AI is poised to revolutionize our lives in HTC 10 again gets $200 price cut, valid until De- we need the right humans, in the right Clarifai, GumGum, Init.ai, Orbital Insights, many ways. I for one can’t wait to see 7 cember 27. loops, to make AIs work with and for Sentient Technologies) and large enterprises what 2017 brings to the industry. Would The deal is available on the purchase of unlocked, T-Mo- us. I’ve worked with world-leading ex- (e.g., Amazon, Apple, Baidu, Facebook, Google, love to hear your thoughts, dreams, bile, Verizon, and Sprint models. perts at dozens of companies who are struggling to apply AI because of the IBM, Microsoft, Salesforce, Softbank, Tencent). and fears, too. (Source: venturebeat) The Huawei Mate 9, which was unveiled back in 8 November this year, already comes in several color options. And now, the Chinese company has added a new color to the list: obsidian black. Could online tutors and artificial intelligence be the future of teaching?

The new Black Pearl color variant of the Samsung As the technology evolves, the interventions could 9 By Hannah Devlin Galaxy S7 edge will be launched in India early next become more sophisticated and the software might play month. The model will go on sale in the country January 1 for mbar presses her hand to her forehead, nose a more active role in teaching, raising questions about INR 56,900 (around $840). Acrinkled in concentration as she considers the the extent to which intelligent software could replace question on her screen: how many sevens in 91? human teachers. Sony Xperia XZ and X Performance updated with The ten-year-old has been grappling with it for about a Rose Luckin, a professor of learner centered design 10 December’s security patch. minute when she smiles: “13!”. at University College London, who is collaborating with The Xperia XZ and Xperia X Performance are getting a Her tutor responds by posting a large smiley cat pic- Third Space Learning on the project, said: “What we are new update that rolls up the build number from 39.2.A.0.237 ture on her screen – the virtual equivalent of a pat on the very interested in is the right blend of human and artifi- to 39.2.A.0.361. The update also brings the Sony handsets back. He is sitting on the other side of the world in an cial intelligence in the classroom – identifying that sweet to the latest security bulletin from Google for the month of online tutoring centre in India. spot.” December. Ambar, who attends Pakeman primary school in north According to Luckin, AI provides a unique opportuni- London, is one of nearly 4,000 primary school children in ty to assess which teaching strategies are working and to Britain signed up for weekly one-to-one maths sessions individualise teaching. 950 million Indians not on with tutors based in India and Sri Lanka. The lessons, However, she predicts that the insights gleaned Internet provided by a company called Third Space Learning, are completed, how useful the pupil found the session, how from AI will often be applied by human teachers. targeted at pupils struggling with maths – particularly the tutor rated it. Using machine learning algorithms to “What I’m really concerned about is that people don’t India may have the world’s second largest internet user base, those from disadvantaged backgrounds. sift through the dataset, the UCL team has started to run away with the idea that kids have to be plugged but connectivity remains out of reach for nearly 950 million From next year, the platform will become one of the look for patterns. into the computer,” she said. “It’s about so much more citizens, a report said today. first examples of artificial intelligence (AI) software being An early analysis found, perhaps unsurprisingly, that than that.” “Even with the internet data plans in India being among used to monitor, and ideally improve, teaching. when tutors speak too quickly, the pupil is more likely Hooper agreed that the aim is not to replace teach- the cheapest in the world and the average retail price of Together with scientists at University College London to lose interest. Leaving sufficient time for the child to ers with robots. “There’s a slightly dubious conversation smartphones steadily declining, connectivity is still out of the (UCL), the company has analysed around 100,000 hours respond or pose their own questions was also found to about how AI will make humans irrelevant, but it’s not at reach of nearly 950 million Indians,” according to the Asso- of audio and written data from its tutorials, with the goal be a factor in the lesson’s success, according to Hooper. all about replacing humans,” he said. “Our whole belief cham-Deloitte joint study of identifying what makes a good teacher and a suc- is that for children disengaged with the subject, who are India currently has about 350 million Internet users, sec- cessful lesson. Hooper agreed that the aim is lacking in confidence, people is what matter. An algo- ond only to China. Tom Hooper, the company’s CEO, said: “We’re looking rithm can’t provide that.” Internet penetration is increasing in India and the access to optimize lessons based on the knowledge we gain. not to replace teachers with Shazli Mahroof, 27, a tutor team leader based in Co- to affordable broadband, smart devices and monthly data We’ve recorded every lesson that we’ve ever done. By robots. “There’s a slightly lombo, Sri Lanka, said he was not worried about being packages are required to spread digital literacy to make their using the data, we’ve been trying to introduce AI to aug- dubious conversation about replaced by a teaching robot in the near future. “It’s not ment the teaching”. the computer who is going to teach,” he said. ends meet, the study titled ‘Strategic national measures to how AI will make humans combat cybercrime’ said. Initially, the company’s 300 tutors will receive re- The tutors already have one lesson each week as- Existing government infrastructure assets should be fur- al-time, automated interventions from the teaching irrelevant, but it’s not at all sessed by supervisors, and it is fairly obvious, subjec- ther leveraged for provision of digital services at remote lo- software when it detects that a lesson may be veering about replacing humans,” he tively, when things are progressing well, according to cations, it said. off-course. said. “Our whole belief is that Hooper. The study added that digital literacy needs to be increased Pupils on the program have a 45-minute session with Companies entering this sphere also need to convince by providing institutional trainings in schools, colleges and the same tutor each week. They communicate through a for children disengaged with parents and teachers that the data being collected is universities. It pitched for accelerating partnerships with headset and a shared “whiteboard” (they can’t see each the subject, who are lacking both secure and will ultimately benefit pupils. A previous global technology leaders and using the workforce trained other). The lessons at Pakeman school are tailored to the in confidence, people is what data analytics project in New York state schools, run by under Skill India to impart trainings. individual, including visual rewards linked to the child’s the company InBloom, collapsed in 2014 after becoming An integrated approach between Digital India and Skill interests. matter. An algorithm can’t embroiled in privacy concerns. India needs to be constructed to design programmes and In addition to the raw audio data, each lesson has provide that.” “The whole thing became toxic,” said Luckin. “It’s really impart training, it said. various success metrics attached: how many problems important that we do it right.” (Source: Guardian) The report called for incentivising private sector players for developing infrastructure, providing services and promoting digital literacy as part of the Digital India Nokia and Ooredoo Qatar achieve 40Gbps programme. “Start-ups should be involved to create and customise apps to local needs to increase adoption of digital technolo- download and upload speeds in pilot test gy,” it said adding that a framework needs to be defined for participation of private sector in skill development programs Nokia and Ooredoo Qatar announced work), alternatively known as NG-PON2 The current system works on GPON defining their role, expectations in terms of investments, con- that they have broken the 40Gbps down- (Next Generation PON 2). which provides 2.5Gbps speeds, and the tent and job guarantees. load and upload speed landmark during This technology delivers four addi- company is planning to upgrade to XGS- Besides, integration of local language and technology is a pilot test conducted in Doha. Accord- tional wavelengths than conventional fi- PON. The pilot program ensures that also required to drive digital literacy. ing to the announcement the companies bre cables with each layer giving 10Gbps the company can effortlessly upgrade The report said fear of cybercrime and breach of privacy used Nokia’s next generation fibre tech- upload and download speeds at the to TWDM-PON in future using the same have been deterrents in adoption of digital technologies in nology over the existing single fibre net- same time. One interesting fact is that the ISAM FX access node as reported by Ad- the country. work as the overlay to achieve the speed. overlay technology employed by Oore- vanced Television. This test is the part of In order to encourage people to switch to digital means, The new technology used in achieving doo Qatar can easily add more capacity initially launching 1Gbps Fiber services Qatar National Vision 2030 that aims at it is important to provide awareness and education on cyber the overlay is dubbed as TWDM-PON to existing networks without the need to along with trials for 10Gbps fiber-to-the- boosting knowledge to indirectly boost security, risks and safeguarding of information on the inter- fibre technology (Time and Wavelength add any new fibre. Ooredoo is experi- Home earlier this year as reported by The the economy. net, it said. (Source: thehindu) Division Multiplexing Passive Optical Net- menting on increasing the speed after Peninsula Qatar. (source: Firstpost) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 28,28, 20162016 SCIENCE 11 Cheetah numbers crashing, Researchers use world’s smallest diamonds to make extinction possible wires three atoms wide The world’s fastest land animal could be “We need to uplist cheetah threat Scientists at Stanford University and the Department of Ener- sprinting toward extinction, a new study status from vulnerable to endangered,” gy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have discovered reported Monday. she added. The group that oversees a way to use diamondoids - the smallest possible bits of dia- Only about 7,100 cheetahs are left in these listings is the International Union mond - to assemble atoms into the thinnest possible electri- the wild on Earth, scientists say in the for the Conservation of Nature, which cal wires, just three atoms wide. study. This is the best estimate yet of the maintains the Red List of Threatened By grabbing various types of atoms and putting them global cheetah population, according to Species. together LEGO-style, the new technique could potentially study lead author Sarah Durant of the About 77% of cheetahs live outside of be used to build tiny wires for a wide range of applications, Zoological Society of London. wildlife reserves and other protected ar- including fabrics that generate electricity, optoelectronic de- Most of the decline has been in the eas, the study said. This requires govern- vices that employ both electricity and light, and supercon- past 100 years. ments and villages to promote tolerance ducting materials that conduct electricity without any loss. The current number is down from an esti- for a carnivore that sometimes hunts live- The scientists reported their results today in Nature Materials. mated 100,000 at the end of the 19th century, stock, the Associated Press said. “What we have shown here is that we can make tiny, con- the National Wildlife Federation reports. Cheetahs face attacks ductive wires of the smallest possible size that essentially as- The remaining cheetahs live mainly in Besides habitat loss, cheetahs face at- semble themselves,” said Hao Yan, a Stanford postdoctoral Africa, although there is also a small pop- tacks from villagers, loss of antelope and researcher and lead author of the paper. The “process is a ulation hanging on in Iran. other prey that are killed by people for their simple, one-pot synthesis. You dump the ingredients togeth- The population is declining meat, an illegal trade in cheetah cubs, the er and you can get results in half an hour. It’s almost as if the The “population is in decline,” Durant trafficking of cheetah skins and the threat of information on the species, leading to its with the complex range of threats faced diamondoids know where they want to go.” said, noting that of the 18 groups of wild getting hit by speeding vehicles. plight being overlooked,” Durant said. by the species in the wild, mean that it Although there are other ways to get materials to self-as- cheetahs that scientists have studied in Scientists estimate the cheetah has “Our findings show that the large is likely to be much more vulnerable to semble, this is the first one shown to make a nanowire with Africa, 14 were decreasing. been driven out of 91% of its historic space requirements for cheetah, coupled extinction than was previously thought. a solid, crystalline core that has good electronic properties, For instance, Zimbabwe’s cheetah range. said study co-author Nicholas Melosh, an associate profes- population has plummeted from 1,200 to The study appeared in the peer-re- “Given the secretive nature of this elusive sor at SLAC and Stanford and investigator with SIMES, the about 170 animals in just 16 years, repre- viewed journal Proceedings of the Na- Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences at SLAC. senting an astonishing loss of 85% of the cat, it has been difficult to gather hard tional Academy of Sciences. Other groups The needle-like wires have a semiconducting core - a country’s cheetahs. involved in the study were the Wildlife information on the species, leading to its combination of copper and sulfur known as a chalcogenide “Given the secretive nature of this elu- Conservation Study and Panthera. plight being overlooked,” Durant said. - surrounded by the attached diamondoids, which form an sive cat, it has been difficult to gather hard (Source: usatoday.com) insulating shell. Their minuscule size is important, Melosh said, because a China plans to land probes on far side of moon, Mars by 2020 material that exists in just one or two dimensions - as atom- ic-scale dots, wires or sheets - can have very different, extraor- China vowed Tuesday to speed up the development of its The white paper, released by the information office of Chi- Since China conducted its first crewed space mission dinary properties compared to the same material made in bulk. space industry as it set out its plans to become the first na’s Cabinet, points to the growing ambitions of China’s al- in 2003, it has staged a spacewalk and landed a rover (Source: phys.org) country to soft land a probe on the far side of the moon, ready rapidly advancing space program. China places great on the moon in 2013 — the first time humans had soft by around 2018, and launch its first Mars probe by 2020. emphasis on the development of its space industry, seen as a landed anything on the moon since the 1970s. To “explore the vast cosmos, develop the space in- symbol of national prestige that will raise the country’s stand- Last month, two astronauts returned from a month- NASA spots Tropical Storm dustry and build China into a space power is a dream ing in the world. Although the white paper doesn’t mention long stay aboard China’s Tiangong 2 experimental space we pursue unremittingly,” read a white paper setting it, China’s eventual goal is to land an astronaut on the moon. station, the country’s sixth and longest crewed mission. Nock-ten intensify out the country’s space strategy for the next five years. While Russia and the United States have more expe- A fully functioning, permanently crewed space station is It says China aims to use space for peaceful purposes rience in manned space travel, China’s military-backed on course to begin operations six years from now and is NASA’s Aqua satellite flew over the Northwestern Pacific and to guarantee national security, and to carry out cut- program has made steady progress in a comparatively slated to run for at least a decade. Ocean and captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Nock- ting-edge scientific research. short time. (Source: whio.com) ten after it strengthened from a tropical depression. On Dec. 22 at 0348 UTC (Dec. 21 at 10:48 P.M. EST) the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument Move over, Silicon Valley: Finding innovation in Tehran aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided a visi- ble-light image of the storm. The image showed bands of 1 The significant section that is word. forego the services we already use. also increases our efficiency in the work left in the shadows, then, is communica- This is where Nested decided to come “Leadership and collaboration is all sphere. “It’s not that I’m endorsing our thunderstorms wrapped around the low-level center of cir- tion. There has been a widening gap in in; a recently launched team-to-team about effective communication, but our product,” he laughs, “I’m just stating the culation and a fragmented band of thunderstorms east of the market that has not been acknowl- messaging platform that is self-funded by current tools don’t allow this without ex- truth. We’ve worked very hard to develop the center. edged in Iran due to the popularity of four Iranian young men that wish to build tra hassle. For example, emailing wasn’t a platform that would improve our com- The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a warn- Western messaging platforms and their a bridge between what we want to com- built for the way we use it today, but now munities and enhance our communica- ing on Nock-ten on Dec. 22 at 10 A.M. EST (1500 UTC). At convenience. Considering the amount municate and how we want it communi- we’ve come to build our most important tions without cluttering our digital space, that time, Nock-ten’s maximum sustained winds were near 52 of inconsistencies and hindrance we face cated, so that it would be addressed in interactions around it,” he asserts. and I think our development team has mph (45 knots/83 kph). in our daily communication apps, it is the right manner, with the right context, Farzin Nami, Nested’s Executive Di- done an incredible job in building a neat The storm was centered near 10.4 degrees north latitude surprising that the lack of more efficient to the right persons, and at the right time. rector, and Sina Boostani, the Chairman, and easy-to-understand user-friendly in- and 135.9 degrees east longitude, about 96 nautical miles communication platforms in the country, The platform is available on iOS, An- both agree that there was a need for a terface,” he says. west-northwest of Yap. Tropical Storm Nock-ten is moving to or even in the region, haven’t been chal- droid and the usual web application, and legitimate digital space where people For the paradox of increased compe- the west-northwest at 17.2 mph (15 knots/27.7 kph). lenged by local entrepreneurs. promises time-saving and productivi- could be assured in having all their com- tition but relatively little available funding, JTWC’s forecast track carries Tropical Storm Nock-ten in a There is a major communication un- ty-enhancing features: one of their most munications and related files secured into it is undoubtable that profitability is crit- west-northwesterly path and it is expected to intensify to ty- certainty that affects the way we interact distinguished features is called ‘Place’ one single platform without fearing disar- ical to the perseverance and success of phoon strength on Dec. 24. The storm is then forecast to track in today’s world. The nature of human which allows you to organize your com- ray, miscommunication or losing trace of a company. The boys all affirm that the through the north and central Philippines Dec. 25 and 26. communication is contextual, requiring a munication the way you would in real life: the origins of the messages. support of the Iranian nation can be a (Source: EurekAlert) demonstrative backdrop for the discus- housing your interactions with different “Iranians have great potential in creat- make-or-break deal for them. sions we have, but present communica- people and groups into different com- ing new ideas and we have an admirable “Essentially, it’s a platform made to tion methods people are using are not munal ‘Places’ according to their context. history of innovators and pioneers,” Nami be used internationally, from the little Farewell to Vera Rubin: built this way; meaning we are obliged The brain behind Nested is Ehsan claims with a contagious smile, “and I towns in Ireland and New Zealand to Badass astronomer and to jump from platform to platform, and Nouredin Moosa who is currently devel- think the time has come we contribute to the megacities like Tokyo and London,” app to app, to cover our ever-increasing oping Nested with a team of 20 talented the future of digital communication and Nami continues with an expression of feminist icon communication needs. This does not only developers and visionaries. He introduces technology with a product that has had heavy cognizance, “but, you know, this fragment our linear and otherwise coher- Nested as a purpose-built platform that its inception in Iran.” time it’s not going to be from Silicon The pioneering astronomer Vera Rubin is known globally ent communication but also decreases seeks to enhance our existing methods Boostani describes the platform as Valley. This time everyone will say, it’s for discovering powerful ev- the power of our spoken and written of communications without forcing us to an easy communication platform that made in Tehran.” idence of dark matter in the universe. But Rubin, who died Sun- day at age 88, is also re- Negin Khodro to Unveil Renault “KOLEOS” in Auto Exhibition nowned for her passionate As the official and exclusive agency for importing French in Car Show in Shahr-e Aftab located in southern capital efforts to make space for “Renault” luxury cars into Iran, NEGIN KHODRO Company Tehran on a land area as large as 1,000 square meters. women in the male-dominat- will unveil Renault “KOLEOS” in upcoming car exhibition, Recently, Negin Khodro Company unveiled another ed field of astronomy. Public Relations Department of the company reported. luxury product of Renault Company named “TALISMA” The astronomer was Given the above issue, the company will partici- in Iran which was highly welcomed by Iranian car en- never awarded a Nobel pate in the exhibition powerfully, so that Negin Kho- thusiasts, the report added. Prize in physics, despite her dro Company is going to unveil French prestigious It is worth mentioning that “Koleos” made its inter- ground-breaking work and “Renault” Company’s product named “KOLEOS” in car national debut in 2008 and this is the first facelift the her supporters’ efforts to highlight Rubin’s achievements show which will be held in Tehran in very near future. vehicle has received since its launch. In the Indian mar- to the committee. In fact, no woman has won the prize for It should be noted that the company will showcase ket Renault introduced its premium SUV Koleos on 8 physics in more than five decades. Renault’s latest SUV named “KOLEOS” as well as a wide September 2011. The popular Koleos registered a 51% Vera Rubin was born July 23, 1928 in Philadelphia. She spectrum of other products French “Renault” Company YOY growth in the first half of 2011. began working in astronomy at a time when no woman had worked inside the Palomar Observatory, a world-renowned research facility in San Diego, California. Calling for Optimal Management of Water Resources in Coming Year: Official Only a few universities even accepted women in their as- tronomy programs, and virtually none of the nation’s pres- Effective steps and logical measures calendar year in 1394 (ended March 19, making effort to promote productivity tigious scientific organizations counted women as members. should be taken for the optimal man- 2016). in this field should be taken into serious She only had to look to her childhood icon, the 19th cen- agement of water resources in coming Rural and urban Water & Wastewa- consideration.” tury astronomer Maria Mitchell, to know the field wasn’t lim- year (to start March 20, 2017). ter Company will seriously affected by The senior official of the company ited to men. Deputy Energy Minister Sattar drought and reiterated: “Suitable ways also pointed to the cooperation of his “It never occurred to me that I couldn’t be an astronomer,” Mahmoudi announced the above state- have been provided for water and company made with French Suez Com- she said in a 1989 interview. ment and said: “From now onwards, wastewater companies in order to gain pany which has defined income-free wa- Rubin studied astronomy at Vassar College, where shortfalls and bottlenecks facing water satisfaction of subscribers in the best ter with the aim of reducing water loss. Mitchell had taught until 1888. After graduating in 1948, resources of the country should be re- form possible.” Technical problem with this French she initially considered Princeton University for graduate moved optimally.” Elsewhere in his remarks, he put the company has been resolved but the con- school. Speaking in an annual meeting among investment made in operation sector of tract is yet to be finalized, he maintained. But the dean of the Princeton program declined to send operation deputies of urban and rural wa- the company at 45,000 billion tomans. Water and Wastewater Company Mo- He put the water loss at 23 percent in her the academic catalogue, explaining that since the school ter and wastewater companies, he said: In the end, Deputy Energy Minister hammad Parvaresh was the next speak- the country and this problem will be set- didn’t accept women, there was no point. “It is predicted that the country will face Sattar Mahmoudi said: “Repair and main- er who evaluated the workbook of sew- tled in cooperation with this prestigious The young astronomer persisted, earning a master’s de- serious water shortage problem in next tenance services should be taken into age companies in the field of operation French Company, he opined. gree from Cornell and her doctorate at Georgetown Univer- year (to start March 20, 2017) and drastic consideration and water and wastewater as “constructive and positive”. It should be noted that Suez Envi- sity. In 1965, she joined the Carnegie Institution’s Department measures should be taken in this respect.” sector, because, occurrence of relevant In the contemporary world of today, ronnement S.A. is a French-based utility of Terrestrial Magnetism. He put the average nationwide rain- incidences is an inseparable and integral modern-day technology in the field of company which operates largely in the Then she took a trip out West. That same year, she be- fall in current year at 40mm, the rate of part of activities of the company.” operation should not be ignored, he water treatment and waste manage- came the first woman to officially access the Palomar Obser- which stood at 99mm in the last Iranian Chief Executive of Tehran Province said, adding: “Eyeing new energies and ment sectors. vatory as a guest investigator. (Source: Mashable) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY DDECEMBERECEMBER 228,8, 22016016 OOrganicrganic pproductsroducts ffestivalestival ttoo oopenpen nnextext wweekeek Sri Lanka claims world’s tallest artificial Christmas tree SOCIETY TEHRAN — The 9th organic markets throughout the capital,” deskorganic products he added. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka unveiled a towering festival will kick off on Saturday, “The festival would open up equal Christmas tree, claiming to have surpassed the world record December 31, at Tehran’s Goftogu park. opportunities for organic foods despite constructions delays and a shorter-than-planned fin- During the 7-day event, participants producers to publicize their products,” ished product. will offer organic agricultural products he noted. The 73-meter (238-foot) artificial tree in capital Colombo and medicinal herbs to the public, Mehr Rahimi went on to say that “the is 18 meters (59 feet) taller than the current record holder, or- news agency reported on Tuesday. government must support such producers ganizers said. The tree’s steel-and-wire frame is covered with Currently, out of 206 fruit and as their products are more expensive and a plastic net decorated with more than 1 million natural pine vegetable markets in Tehran, 23 that we should not let people consume cones painted red, gold, green and silver, 600,000 LED bulbs are offering organic products, the genetically modified food imported to our and topped by a 6-meter (20-foot)-tall shining star. director general of fruit and vegetable country.” organization affiliated with Tehran “In addition to financial supports Municipality said. required to expand organic products Raising public awareness about market we must spur and stimulate organic foods and informing them of public demand in order to increase advantages of such products would production of organic food stuff by lead to healthy diet and healthy citizens, letting people know about organic Abdolhossein Rahimi suggested. agricultural commodities,” he “We are trying to evenly distribute highlighted. Despite frigid weather, Mongolians protest worsening smog Hundreds of Mongolians braved frigid weather Monday The protesters demanded that the government to stage a protest in the country’s capital demanding increase the number of beds in hospitals that have been that the government do more to address worsening air overcrowded with sick children and develop a plan to pollution that they fear is sickening their children and reduce air pollution by 80 percent by 2018. They also urged shortening their lives. the government to install air filters in kindergartens in the The tree costs $80,000 and was criticized by the Catholic The demonstrators gathered in a public square capital’s slum areas, which are worst-hit by the pollution. Church as a “waste of money.” The church suggested that the in front of government offices, holding banners with Ulaanbaatar is one of the world’s coldest capitals, funds better be spent on helping the poor. slogans such as “Let’s give fresh air to our future children,” with temperatures sometimes falling to -40 C (-40 F) in Hundreds of port workers and volunteers struggled for ‘’Smog is silent killer” and “We can’t breathe.” January, the coldest month of the year. More than half four months to put up the tree in time for the holidays. Work “We are desperate and we are organizing this of the city’s 1.3 million residents have to rely on burning was suspended for six days in early December after Cardinal demonstration to make authorities feel our frustration raw coal, plastic, rubber tires and other materials to stay Malcolm Ranjith — representing the island nation’s 1.5 mil- and anger,” said Purevkhuu Tserendorj, one of the warm and cook meals in their homes. Such areas, where lion Catholics — lambasted the project. Prime Minister Ranil protest’s organizers and a mother of two. residents live in traditional round tents that do not have Wickremesinghe responded to the criticism by saying the The air temperature hovered around minus 20 centralized heating, have been shrouded in choking tree was not being built with public money, but with dona- degrees Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit). smog in recent days. tions from individuals and private firms. According to UNICEF, the United Nations’ children’s Responding to the protesters’ calls, Mongolian Minister The Guinness World Records is yet to confirm if this is the agency, air pollution is linked to the three diseases that age of 5. It said that the lungs of children living in highly of Environment and Tourism Oyunkhorol Dulamsuren tallest artificial Christmas tree. Currently, the record is held have resulted in the most “lost life-years” in Mongolia. polluted districts of Ulaanbaatar, the capital, do not said that between 2011 and 2015, the government spent by a Chinese firm that put up a 55-meter (180-foot) tree-like The agency said in February that pneumonia and function as well as those living in rural areas, with real more than $37 million while international donors spent tower of lights and synthetic foliage, ornaments and lamps in other respiratory infections were among the leading risks of them suffering chronic respiratory diseases when $47 million on measures aimed at curbing air pollution. the city of Guangzhou last year. causes of death among Mongolian children under the they’re older. (Source: New York Times) Sri Lankan organizers said they wanted the tree to help promote ethnic and religious harmony in the Buddhist-ma- jority island nation, where a long civil war ended in 2009 but What will be the big environment events in 2017? reconciliation remains a challenge. “This is just to show the world that we can live as one From air pollution to Trump and droughts, searing temperatures and food country, one nation,” said Arjuna Ranatunga, a former cricket wildlife extinction, we look at the major shortages to much of Africa, Latin America player and the minister of ports and shipping. He said Sri environmental issues for the year ahead and south-east Asia. In 2017, we can expect Lanka still is still grappling with issues regarding religion, After five years of false starts and delays, a weak La Niña, a natural cooling of Pacific caste and race. 2017 will see exploratory fracking for shale Ocean waters. This is likely to bring above Minority Christian and Muslim communities complain of gas begin in earnest in England. The first average rainfall and cooler temperatures state-sponsored discrimination, and there are allegations of wells will likely be drilled in Lancashire and across much of the globe. widespread abuses against minority ethnic Tamils both dur- Yorkshire by the summer, and Cuadrilla, Wildlife losses are expected to continue ing and after the war. Third Energy and other companies will hope through 2017, despite more and more to confirm commercially viable quantities of animals having been put on the IUCN’s the gas by the end of the year. With only red list of threatened species and action 17% of people in Britain in favor of fracking, to tackle the illegal trade. Candidates for LEARN ENGLISH local and national protests are certain. effective extinction in 2017 include the Brexit negotiations will affect farming Bornean orangutan, the South China tiger, subsidies and possibly all European nature the giant otter, the Amur leopard, the black- Hotel Upgrade protection laws, including those for birds footed ferret and Darwin’s fox. and habitats, air and water pollution, GM The Eurasian lynx could be reintroduced foods and animal welfare. If ministers in small numbers to the Kielder forest in A: Good afternoon. What can I do for you? attempt to roll back or trade off decades Northumberland, and to remote areas of B: I’d like to check in please. I have a reservation under the of environmental regulation, as some have London will also come under pressure to oil, gas and coal production. If he pulls southern Scotland. The last time this wild name Anthony Roberts. threatened, they are likely to meet the most join Paris, Madrid, Athens, and Mexico City the U.S. out of the Paris deal, it would gift cat was seen in what is now the UK was A: All right R.O.B.E.R.T.S... Oh, Mr. Roberts we’ve been intense opposition. in pledging to ban diesel vehicles in the city China climate leadership, set back efforts to in about AD700. Other provisional sites expecting you and here is your keycard to the presidential Air pollution, now known to kill nearly center within a few years. The movement brake emissions and do untold diplomatic have been selected including Cumbria, suite. 40-50,000 people a year in Britain, will be of world cities signing up to be fossil-free damage with hundreds of countries who Aberdeenshire, the Kintyre pensinsula and B: But there must be some mistake; my reservation was for a high on the political agenda in the spring within 30 years is expected to grow too. followed Obama’s leadership in 2015. Thetford forest in Norfolk. standard room. with the government under court orders The global climate debate will be Insiders expect him to ignore the voluntary Marine protection will be raised up the A: Are you sure? Let me double check. to publish a new plan to meet EU legal dominated by whether the president-elect commitments the U.S. has made and to political agenda with the first UN oceans Donald Trump withdraws the U.S. from the increase fossil fuel emissions. Many U.S. B: Yeah. Here, this is my confirmation number. limits. The draft, to be published in April, conference in June. This will focU.S. on the is almost certain to propose more fully Paris global agreement to reduce emissions. climate scientists expect to lose research increasing quantities of plastics polluting the A: You’re right Mr. Roberts, there seems to be a mix-up, funded clean-air zones in major cities, He has appointed climate sceptics to grants in what some expect to become a oceans, overfishing, the effects of climate unfortunately we’re overbooked at the moment. tighter restrictions on some vehicles and head all the key agencies responsible for witch-hunt. change, and the need for more marine B: So… fuels, and further measures to encourage either monitoring or dealing with climate 2016 saw the tail end of El Niño, a naturally national parks. A: Not to worry. We’re pleased to offer you a complimentary walking and cycling. change and is known to want to increase occurring warming of the Pacific, bring (Source: The Guardian) upgrade. B: Presidential suite baby! Key vocabulary ENGLISH IN USE check in: register at a hotel or airport ??? reservation: booking ???? LLEARNEARN NEWSNEWS TRANSLATIONTRANSLATION under the name: name used for the reservation ﺟﻤﻌﻴﺖ ﺍﻳﺮﺍﻥ ﺍﺯ ﻣﺮﺯ 80 ﻣﻴﻠﻴﻮﻥ ﻧﻔﺮ ﮔﺬﺷﺖ presidential suite: the best suite in the hotel double check: to check something again so that you are Iran’s population exceeds 80 million ﺭﺋﻴــﺲ ﺳــﺎﺯﻣﺎﻥ ﺛﺒـ ـﺖ ﺍﺣــﻮﺍﻝ ﻛﺸــﻮﺭ ﮔﻔــﺖ: ﺩﺭ ﭘﺎﻳــﺎﻥ ﺷــﻬﺮﻳﻮﺭﻣﺎﻩ ﺍﻣﺴــﺎﻝ ﺟﻤﻌﻴــﺖ ﺍﻳــﺮﺍﻥ ﺍﺯ ﻣــﺮﺯ completely sure it is correct, safe etc. Iran’s population exceeded 80 million by the end of the first half of the current Iranian 80 ﻣﻴﻠﻴــﻮﻥ ﻧﻔــﺮ ﮔﺬﺷــﺖ. .confirmation: an approval, verification calendar year (September 21), Civil Registration Organization director has said mix-up: confusion Currently Iran’s population is growing at a rate of 1.43 percent per annum ﺑــﻪ ﮔــﺰﺍﺭﺵ ﻧﺴــﻴﻢ ﺁﻧﻼﻳــﻦ ﺣﻤﻴــﺪ ﺩﺭﺧﺸــﺎﻧﻰﻧﻴﺎ ﮔﻔــﺖ: ﺩﺭ ﺣــﺎﻝ ﺣﺎﺿــﺮ ﻧــﺮﺥ ﺭﺷــﺪ ﻃﺒﻴﻌــﻰ overbooked: full regardless of the number of the immigrants, Hamid Derakhshaninia said, ﺟﻤﻌﻴــﺖ ﺩﺭ ﻛﺸــﻮﺭ ﻣــﺎ ﺑــﺪﻭﻥ ﺩﺭ ﻧﻈﺮﺩﺍﺷــﺘﻦ ﻣﻬﺎﺟﺮﺕﻫــﺎ 1,43 ﺩﺭﺻــﺪ ﺍﺳــﺖ. at the moment: now Nasimonline reported on Tuesday. ﻭﻯ ﺍﺩﺍﻣــﻪ ﺩﺍﺩ: ﻣﻴــﺰﺍﻥ ﺛﺒــﺖ ﻣﻮﺍﻟﻴــﺪ ﺑــﻪ ﺍﺯﺍﻯ ﻫــﺮ ﻫــﺰﺍﺭ ﻧﻔــﺮ ﺟﻤﻌﻴــﺖ ﺩﺭ ﻛﺸــﻮﺭ 19,8 ﺩﺭ ﻫــﺰﺍﺭ ﺍﺳــﺖ pleased: happy complimentary upgrade: free improvement of quality He went on to say that average birth rate in Iran is 19.8 per 1000 of a population ﻭ ﺑــﺎ ﺑﻴــﺶ ﺍﺯ 783 ﻫــﺰﺍﺭ ﻭ 230 ﺗﻮﻟــﺪ ﻛــﻪ ﺩﺭ ﺷــﺶ ﻣﺎﻫــﻪ ﺍﻭﻝ ﺍﻣﺴــﺎﻝ ﺩﺭ ﻛﺸــﻮﺭ ﺭﺥ ﺩﺍﺩﻩ ﺟﻤﻌﻴــﺖ Supplementary vocabulary yearly and with more than 783,230 births registered over the first half of the year ﺍﻳــﺮﺍﻥ ﺑــﻪ ﺑﻴــﺶ ﺍﺯ 80 ﻣﻴﻠﻴــﻮﻥ ﻭ 307 ﻫــﺰﺍﺭ ﻧﻔــﺮ ﺭﺳــﻴﺪ. .check out: pay and leave a hotel (March 20-September 21) the population reached some 80,307,000 ﻭﻯ ﺍﻓــﺰﻭﺩ: ﺯﻧــﺎﻥ ﺍﻳﺮﺍﻧــﻰ ﺑﻪﻃــﻮﺭ ﻣﺘﻮﺳــﻂ ﺩﺭ 28,5 ﺳــﺎﻟﮕﻰ ﻣــﺎﺩﺭ ﻣﻰﺷــﻮﻧﺪ ﻭ ﻣــﺎﺩﺭﺍﻥ ﮔــﺮﻭﻩ ﺳــﻨﻰ booking: reservation Iranian woman give birth to their first born at age 28.5 on average and mothers aging 25 to 29 constitutes the biggest population of mothers among other aging 25 ﺗــﺎ 29 ﺳــﺎﻝ ﺑﻴﺸــﺘﺮﻳﻦ ﺳــﻬﻢ ﺭﺍ ﺩﺭ ﺑﻴــﻦ ﮔﺮﻭﻩﻫــﺎﻯ ﺳــﻨﻰ ﻣﺨﺘﻠــﻒ ﺩﺭ ﺍﻳــﻦ ﺷــﺎﺧﺺ ﺩﺍﺭﻧــﺪ. concierge: hotel employee that helps guests deluxe room: hotel room, better than standard groups, he added. receipt: paper showing payment details (Source: irlanguage.com) ENGLISH PROVERB PHRASAL VERB ENGLISH IDIOM One swallow does not Build something up into Have a ball Every action has make a summer Meaning: to make something develop or form Explanation: to have a very good time a reaction. We For example: He’s built up the family firm into a For example: The party was great. We had a Explanation: One good event does not mean that multinational company. ball. have one planet; everything is alright For example: Amanda: I got a good grade on one chance. this quiz! My troubles in school are over. Nancy: One swallow does not a summer make. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 28, 2016 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 Syria pushing to retake key area Russia: Syrian government and opposition in talks near capital ‘U.S. move to better arm Syrian The Syrian army has escalated the push rah, also known as al-Tabqah, which lies to retake from militants a strategic area approximately 55 kilometers west of the rebels a hostile act’ near Damascus where a spring supplies northern city of al-Raqqah, and killed a the city with much of its water. Kuwaiti national identified as Abu Jandal. 1 The RIA news agency cited an unnamed diplomatic Syrian Air Force fighter jets carried out Also on Monday, Syrian military air- source as saying that representatives from the Russian and a number of airstrikes against militant craft bombarded an ISIL supply line link- Turkish militaries were holding consultations with the Syri- positions in the Wadi Barada Valley, lo- ing Aqirbat region in the western-central an opposition in Ankara about how a possible nationwide cated about 18 kilometers northwest of province of Hama to the ancient city of ceasefire might work. the capital, and artillery units shelled the Palmyra. Hostile act of the U.S. area. Additionally, a number of Takfiri mili- Meanwhile, Russia said on Tuesday that a United States Local residents said Syrian military tants and their families fled the western decision to ease some restrictions on arming Syrian rebels operations focused on Baseimeh Village flank of the liberated northern city of had opened the way for deliveries of shoulder-fired anti-air- at the edge of the valley. Army soldiers Aleppo toward the Turkish border. craft missiles, a move it said would directly threaten Russian and allied fighters from popular defense A Syrian army unit also discovered a forces in Syria. groups launched a major offensive last major cache loaded with a considerable Moscow last year launched a campaign of air strikes in Friday to recapture the village after ter- amount of munitions in an Aleppo neigh- Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad and government rorists refused to surrender and leave borhood. The military later released foot- forces in a conflict with rebels, some of whom are supported the mountainous area near the Lebanese age of the weapons depot. by the United States. border. Several militants were also killed and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the The Takfiri militants earlier contami- wounded when they engaged in fierce policy change easing some restrictions on weapons supplies nated Damascus’s drinking water supply tremists polluted the al-Fija spring in the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) terrorist group has clashes with government forces near an to rebels was set out in a new U.S. defense spending bill and with diesel. The water authority had to Barada Valley. been killed in an airstrike by the U.S.-led oil pumping station on the western out- that Moscow regarded the step as a hostile act. cut supply to Damascus and resort to Separately, a high-ranking militant coalition. skirts of Palmyra. U.S. President Barack Obama signed the annual defense using water reserves on Friday after ex- with the Islamic State in Iraq and the The strike targeted the city of al-Thaw- (Source: Press TV) policy bill into law last week. “In the administration of B. Obama they must understand that any weapons handed over will quickly end up in the Ruling Saenuri party splits over Park Geun-hye scandal hands of jihadists with whom the sham ‘moderate’ opposi- Dozens of politicians have split from South Korea’s ruling into the scandal surrounding Park, who has been accused tion have long acted jointly,” Zakharova said in a statement. party over the corruption scandal involving impeached of colluding with a longtime confidante to extort money “Such a decision is a direct threat to the Russian air force, president Park Geun-hye. and favors from the country’s biggest companies, and al- to other Russian military personnel, and to our embassy in Their move on Tuesday could shape presidential lowing the friend to manipulate government affairs. Syria, which has come under fire more than once. We there- elections that might take place in just months. The team led by special prosecutor Park Young-soo fore view the step as a hostile one.” The 29 anti-Park MPs who left the Saenuri Party plan was planning to summon the president’s jailed friend, Zakharova accused the Obama administration of trying to create a new conservative party that observers say Choi Soon-sil, on Tuesday afternoon, following their first to “put a mine” under the incoming administration of Presi- might try to recruit outgoing United Nations Secre- interrogation of her on Saturday. dent-elect Donald Trump by attempting to get it to continue tary-General Ban Ki-moon as its presidential candidate. The outgoing UN chief is seen as the best hope for what she called Washington’s “anti-Russian line.” There is a possibility of more MPs leaving Saenuri in conservatives to win back the Blue House after Park’s During his election campaign, Trump said he was keen to coming weeks over rifts with Park loyalists who continue collapse complicated politics for her party. try to improve relations with Moscow and spoke positively to occupy the party’s leadership. Recent opinion polls put Ban slightly ahead of liberal pol- about President Vladimir Putin’s leadership skills. A back-and-forth exchange between Trump and Pu- Choung Byoung-gug, who left Saenuri, accused the itician Moon Jae-in, who conceded the presidential race to would run for president. tin over nuclear weapons last week tested the Republican’s loyalists of “neglecting the values of real conservatism” and Park four years ago, as the favorite to win a presidential vote. South Korea’s opposition-controlled parliament vot- promises to improve relations with Russia. “shamelessly defending the infringement of constitutional val- In a recent meeting with South Korean reporters in ed on December 9 to impeach Park over the scandal (Source: agencies) ues” as they continued to support the scandal-hit president. New York, Ban said he was ready to “burn” his body in that drew millions of protesters in recent weeks. The split came as investigators widened their inquiry devotion for South Korea, his strongest hint yet that he (Source: agencies) Taiwan warns of increasing Corporate cover-up: The suspicious death of Karen Silkwood threat as Chinese warships 1 In Washington, D.C. Karen met and poor monitoring of radiation. She alpha radiation from her hands and right Silkwood’s car claimed he saw papers with Tony Mazzocchi, then the union’s even noted the finding of uranium dust forearm, neck and face. Once again, she inside the vehicle. Unfortunately, since conduct drill legislative director. According to him, in the lunchroom. was decontaminated, while subsequent neither the car nor any of its contents Silkwood explained about the appalling By November 1974, Silkwood had checks of her locker and car for radioac- showed signs of contamination, the Taiwan warned on Tuesday that “the threat of our enemies is lack of safety at the Cimarron plant and gathered enough evidence detailing her tivity proved negative. On November 7, NRC had no authority to retain the growing day by day”, as Chinese warships led by the coun- said that she had even worked in a con- employer’s lackadaisical safety practices she turned in body fluid samples, which auto, which, along with personal prop- try’s sole aircraft carrier sailed towards the island province of taminated room without a respirator, ap- to fill an entire manila folder. Not only did turned out to have extremely high levels erty inside, was released to Silkwood’s Hainan through the South China Sea on a routine drill. parently not made aware of the danger she have 17 incidents of plutonium expo- of radiation. Her hands, arm, chest, neck boyfriend, Drew Stephens. Contra- China has given few de- posed by plutonium exposure. “When I sure involving 77 employees document- and right ear also showed significant lev- dicting the NRC investigator, former tails of what the Soviet-built explained the connection between pluto- ed, but also she had discreetly obtained els of contamination. Oklahoma trooper Rick Fagan, who Liaoning aircraft carrier is up nium exposure and cancer, it took Karen micrographs of defective welds on fuel Silkwood’s apartment was then also investigated the crash, claimed, to, save that it is on a routine by surprise,” said Mazzocchi. “She was rods that had been ground down and checked and found to have significant “I don’t remember any documents.” exercise. Taiwan has said the angered at how Kerr-McGee was taking re-welded. The government contract levels of radioactivity in the kitchen, bed- Both agreed there were no documents aircraft carrier skirted waters workers’ lives into its own hands.” required the fuel rod tubes to be free of room and bathroom; even her room- found at the crash site. outside of its eastern air de- On September 27, 1974, Silkwood surface grinds, so as not to obscure the mate had areas of contamination. As a Silkwood had accused Kerr-McGee of fense identification zone. and two other OCAWU officials met quality of the weld. result, Silkwood was sent to Los Alamos retouching fuel rod weld x-rays, and sub- The carrier is expected to with representatives of the U.S. atomic Then, something unusual happened. National Laboratory, where she was ex- sequent investigation by the U.S. govern- arrive at a Chinese military energy commission (nuclear regulatory On November 5, 1974 just about a week amined on November 11 by Dr. George ment following her death confirmed the base on the southern Chi- commission, NRC after January 1975) to before her fatal automobile “accident,” Voelz, who, after taking numerous radia- validity of her accusations. Of course, nese island of Hainan late discuss their allegations against Kerr-Mc- Silkwood was grinding and polishing plu- tion measurements, assured her that she Kerr-McGee officials were quick to stand on Tuesday, Taiwan’s defense Gee. Among the contentions made by tonium pellets in a glovebox located in need not worry about developing cancer by the quality of their fuel rods and the ministry said. her was one involving the falsification of the metallography laboratory at the Ci- or dying from radiation poisoning. U.S. department of energy (DoE) bought The drill comes amid re- quality control records specifically those marron facility. Pausing to check herself Silkwood returned home on Novem- them all, including the defective ones. newed tension over Taiwan, which China claims as its own concerning defective welds on fuel rods. with a radiation detector after withdraw- ber 12 and, after working the next day, The DoE even claimed that the rods pro- and says is ineligible for state-to-state relations, following the As a result of the meeting, Karen was ing her hands from the glovebox, she attended a union meeting in nearby duced from 1972 to 1974 were among United States President-elect Donald Trump’s telephone call placed on the point of a campaign to ed- discovered the right sleeve and shoulder Crescent, Oklahoma. At the meeting the best performers. with the island’s president that upset Beijing. ucate workers on the dangers of plutoni- of her coveralls were irradiated to a fairly attended by other union members, she Despite the DoE’s glowing report, “The threat of our enemies is growing day by day. We um. It was at this time that Kerr-McGee, high level. carried her thick folder full of evidence scientists remained skeptical about should always be maintaining our combat alertness,” Taiwan with the collusion of local police, began She immediately went to the health of Kerr-McGee’s safety and quality con- Kerr-McGee’s fuel rods, however. Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan said. “We need to strength- to have her followed almost continuous- physics office, was checked for contam- trol violations and then left at 7 p.m. for Massachusetts Institute of Technology en the training (of our soldiers) so that they can not only ly and arranged for her telephone to be ination, and found to have a fairly mod- Oklahoma City to meet with a New York physics professor Harry Kendall, and survive in battle but also destroy the enemy and accomplish wiretapped. Unfortunately, such practic- est level of exposure. The gloves she Times reporter and OCAWU legislative a spokesman for the Union of Con- the mission.” es had almost become routine for nu- had been using in the glove box were assistant, Steve Wodka. cerned Scientists, said, “I tend to be Feng’s remarks were given in a speech on Tuesday at a clear energy firms, which often had their checked and found to be leak free, but, Silkwood never made it due to the fa- skeptical of these sorts of claims until ministry event marking the promotion of senior military of- own intelligence sections, usually known suspiciously, the side of the glove in con- tal car crash. While the Oklahoma state time has had a chance to sort things ficers. by euphemisms such as “risk manage- tact with her skin was contaminated, yet police declared the accident resulted out.” Kerr-McGee did not wait long to China’s air force conducted long-range drills this month ment.” no other contamination was found in the when “she fell asleep at the wheel,” a sub- see, however, and closed their Cimar- above the East and South China Seas that rattled Japan and After the Washington, D.C. meeting room. It was as if someone had delib- sequent private investigation concluded ron plant in 1975. Taiwan. China said those exercises were also routine. with Mazzocchi, Silkwood returned to erately contaminated the gloves she was that the dent in the rear of her car sug- In any case, the truth surrounding China claims most of the South China Sea, through which the Cimarron plant and began carrying using. Following decontamination, she gested that the 28-year-old had been run the “accidental” death of Karen Silkwood about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. around a notebook in order to document did no further work that evening in the off the road by another vehicle. Strange, is unlikely to be revealed in this corpo- Neighbors Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vi- dangerous conditions, safety violations gloveboxes. how for this alleged single-car crash in rate-dominated world of ours. Nev- etnam also have claims. and hazards, which she did for some The next day, November 6, Silkwood the rural countryside 30 miles north of ertheless, the available evidence and The Pentagon did not directly comment on the latest drill seven weeks. Among the deficiencies she returned to work, but despite only doing Oklahoma City, NRC investigators arrived strange sequence of events point to cor- but said that the United States recognizes lawful use of sea recorded were a lack of employee train- paperwork and no work in the glovebox- at the scene within two hours. porate culpability and possible govern- and airspace in accordance to international law. ing, failure to minimize contamination es, she once again found herself emitting A NRC investigator who inspected ment collusion. “We continue to closely monitor developments in the re- gion. We do not have specific comments on China’s recent naval activities, but we continue to observe a range of ongo- China, U.S. will suffer if ties worsen: ex-CIA official ing Chinese military activity in the region?” Pentagon spokes- man Gary Ross told Reuters. jing’s determination about the one-China policy. Keep- 1 Given the economic dependency of the Trump has selected Rex Tillerson - a figure who The Liaoning has taken part in previous exercises, includ- ing the understandings about Taiwan that date back to U.S. on China, what is the right approach toward Bei- has a warm relationship with Russia – as his secre- ing in the South China Sea, but China is years away from per- the 1970s would be the wisest course. In the meantime, jing by the United States? tary of state. How can this affect the U.S.-Russia re- fecting carrier operations similar to those the United States there are opportunities for selective cooperation with A: China and the United States are both economically lationship on one hand and the U.S.-EU relationship has practiced for decades. China on matters such as climate change and handling dependent on each other, and both sides would suffer on the other? Last December, the defense ministry confirmed China was North Korea. if relations worsened in a way that disrupted that eco- A: Mr. Tillerson has shown some of the skills that building a second aircraft carrier but its launch date is unclear. Some are of the opinion that Trump’s contact nomic tie--particularly with a military clash. The highest would enable him to negotiate effectively with the Rus- The aircraft carrier program is a state secret. with Taiwan’s president was intended to exert pres- priority on both sides must be to avoid any such clash. sians. What is uncertain is what set of interests will be in Beijing could build multiple aircraft carriers over the next sure on China. What is your analysis of the Trump China’s expansive claims and activities in the South Chi- the back of his mind when he does the negotiating. This 15 years, the Pentagon said in a report last year. administration’s policy toward China once he is offi- na Sea will continue to be the most troublesome subject in turn depends on whether he can and will sever his ties China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, cially sworn in as president? for China’s relations not only with the United States but to the oil industry, including divesting his financial inter- when Mao Zedong’s Communist forces won the Chinese civil A: Almost everything about Mr. Trump’s foreign pol- also the rest of the world. The United States should as- est in Exxon Mobil. How this set of questions is resolved war and Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists fled to the island. icies while once in office remains uncertain, and this in- sert and exercise its maritime rights, but probably there also will affect U.S. relations with the European Union, Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force cludes policy toward China. Presumably when in office is not much else that can be done to resolve the terri- where one of the principal worries about the Trump ad- if necessary. he will become more educated about the one-China torial disagreements in that area. It would be a mistake ministration is that it will relax sanctions on Russia that (Source: Reuters) to try to use Taiwan as a source of leverage, given Bei- issue and its implications. were imposed in response to events in Ukraine. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORT DDECEMBERECEMBER 228,8, 22016016

Menotti: The 2006 World TTenen JJanuaryanuary wwindowindow ttransferransfer Cup has transformed German football ttargetsargets – ffromrom LLindelofindelof ttoo UpamecanoUpamecano Cesar Luis Menotti believes hosting the 2006 FIFA World As the January transfer window is about to open, we pick Cup™ was the catalyst in Germany becoming entertainers 10 players from around Europe who could be the subject and winning Brazil 2014. Die Mannschaft were at a low ebb of big-money deals heading into the 18th edition of the tournament, but finished Victor Lindelof, Benfica as its top scorers and in third place, losing to Italy in extra- Benfica still owe the tiny Swedish club Vasteras €250,000 time of an exhilarating semi-final and beating Portugal 3-1 from purchasing the defender back in 2012 but the for bronze. Portuguese side could be cashing in to the tune of more The 78-year-old, who guided Argentina to glory in 1978 than 200 times that figure next month. Lindelof began his and was called upon for advice by Germany coach Jurgen career in Portugal as a right-back or in central midfield Klinsmann during the 2006 instalment, told DFB.de: “Jorge but has emerged as a dominant central defensive force Luis Borges, a great Argentinian writer, was asked one day: over the past two years, so much so that Benfica have ‘What characterises the philosophy of a great artist?’ Borges lost only once when he has started a domestic league or answered: ‘To be a great writer you must possess three cup match. Manchester United had a bid of around £30m things: talent, order and adventure.’ The Germans have, rejected in the summer but instead opted to sign Eric Bailly throughout their history, always had order, but the jump in from Villarreal. This time they look like getting their man. quality came with players like Franz Beckenbauer, Wolfgang Estimated value £40m Overath and Gerd Muller. Virgil van Dijk, Southampton Manchester City and Liverpool, given their defensive travails this season, are in desperate need of reinforcements. Luckily for both the answer may be staring them in the face. City turned down the chance to sign Van Dijk when he moved to Southampton from Celtic in September 2015 for £13m because of concerns over whether he could make the step up from Scottish football but the 25-year-old who came through Groningen’s youth system has shown he is one of the best defenders in the country since then. Manchester United and Chelsea may also enter the fray yet it seems Pep Guardiola’s side are the firm favourites given Vrij. The Algerian international made his name at St Etienne has not exactly had a conventional career. The striker left the they have scouted Southampton repeatedly this season, before earning a move to Italy in 2014 and has been second-tier French side Amiens in 2014 for the Tunisians with Claude Puel recently denying Van Dijk has a release repeatedly linked with a move to Chelsea in recent months. Espérance but was then sold to Marítimo in Portugal. A clause of £25m. In reality suitors are likely to have to stump Reports suggest it may take as much as £30m to secure him, successful season caught the eye of Sporting Lisbon and up closer to double that figure. Estimated value £40m however, with Manchester City among the other clubs to Marega had looked set to join them last January before Mahmoud Dahoud, Borussia Mönchengladbach have scouted the 25-year-old in the past, while Manchester Porto hijacked the deal and signed him on a contract with “Since 2006 they’ve been playing daring football, they’ve The German international born in Syria has continued United have also been linked with Holland international De a €40m release clause. He was then loaned out to Vitória been collectively adventurous. One could also say that his meteoric rise for The Foals but, with his contract set Vrij. Estimated value £25m de Guimarães at the start of this season and has not looked German football begun to discover the beauty of the game, to expire in the summer of 2018, Gladbach may decide Leon Bailey, Genk back, scoring 10 goals from nine appearances to lead the to go with the efficiency they’ve always possessed. Germany finally to cash in on their prized asset in January. Liverpool Born in Kingston, Jamaica, the speedy 19-year-old had Primeira Liga scorers. He is quick and dangerous in the air, have always been different from other football nations. tried to persuade them to sell in the summer but after an unusual start to his career. Having arrived in Belgium at Tottenham, Liverpool and Sunderland are among the clubs “Germany have not developed further in recent years losing Granit Xhaka to Arsenal the German side were the age of 13, he was forced to leave having been deemed to have been linked and Porto can expect a quick return because of failure, but have, despite winning important always unlikely to do business. Yet Dahoud’s reluctance to to be living in the country illegally when his agent returned on their investment if Marega continues in the same vein. matches, continued making changes. This is key to success sign a new contract – the 20-year-old has turned down penniless from Mexico after faking his own kidnapping. Estimated value £15m for international teams – making changes even when you’re several offers in the past few months – shows he views his Bailey moved to the Slovakian side Trencin before returning Dayotchanculle Upamecano, Red Bull Salzburg successful. They have succeeded in doing something that long-term future elsewhere and Jürgen Klopp will hope to Belgium in 2015 and has since established himself as His full name may be a bit of a mouthful – the 18-year- I’ve never seen before in this form in Germany. the fact he shares an agent with Emre Can puts Liverpool one of the Jupiler League’s outstanding players alongside old is usually known as “Dayot” to his friends and family “I felt the buzz at the 2006 World Cup. Although they in pole position. Juventus have also been monitoring his team-mate Wilfred Ndidi, who looks set to join Leicester – but there is no doubt the defender is on the wishlist didn’t become world champions, the Germans were proud his situation closely and their interest could push up the City. Bailey is comfortable on either flank or as a false nine of most sporting directors in Europe at the moment. of their team. All the new, beautiful stadiums were full, the price significantly for one of Europe’s most promising and Genk, who have told Manchester United, Leicester and Upamecano moved to Austria in July 2015 for only £1.9m German flags in windows and cars. That was the moment midfielders. Estimated value £25m Paris Saint-Germain they must pay at least £20m for him, despite offers from Manchester United among others but when Germany fell in love with the football spectacle and James Rodríguez, Real Madrid could insist he is loaned back to them until the end of the such has been his progress since making his league debut no longer relied just on its efficiency. I’ve never seen such a One of the stars of the 2014 World Cup has endured season as part of any deal. Estimated value £20m for Salzburg in March that they are expected to demand huge street festival. I believe that, since then in Germany, it a stop-start season so far, starting just four league games Alassane Pléa, Nice in excess of £15m to allow him to leave. RB Leipzig, only hasn’t just been important to see Germany win. People also due to a combination of injuries and lack of form. But while While all the attention at the start of the season was just unseated at the top of the Bundesliga, may have an go to the stadium to experience a spectacle.” Madrid’s transfer ban could end up scuppering his hopes on a reinvigorated Mario Balotelli the real driving force advantage given their close ties to his current club but Jogi the brave of leaving in this window, the Colombia international has behind Nice’s ascent to the summit of Ligue 1 has been the Barcelona and Manchester City could enter the fray for a Menotti also credits Joachim Low with turning Germany a number of clubs keeping tabs on his situation including 23-year-old signed from Lyon for £450,000 in 2014. Having player who has represented France at every youth level into an exciting side, and thinks others are trying to copy Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus. Any offers in begun his career as a winger, Pléa represented France at since under-16. Estimated value £15m their formula. advance of £50m could persuade them to sell, however, several junior levels but has been successfully converted Kasper Dolberg, Ajax “Sometimes there is a generation of players with a with Internazionale also thought to be considering an to a more central role of late, finding the net 10 times The latest in a long line of Danish starlets to emerge from Maradona or Messi who ensure a jump in quality. But in approach for a player whose contract expires in 2020. this season to sit behind only Edinson Cavani, Alexandre Ajax’s academy, Dolberg shot to prominence in November this case, it seems the improvement of Germany is down Still just 25, Rodríguez has played just 48 minutes in the Lacazette and Radamel Falcao in the goalscoring charts. after scoring a hat-trick against NAC Breda in 37 minutes, to a revolution of good taste. Germany don’t have this one Champions League so far this season and is therefore cup- With only 18 months of his contract remaining, it may not including an impudent flick header that drew comparisons excellent individual, but they have many good players and, tied, although that would not put off Antonio Conte if he is take much more than £15m to lure him from the Cote with Marco van Basten. “I see many similarities,” said his above all, a great team. looking to find an immediate replacement for China-bound d’Azur although, with Nice aiming to win their first title since father Flemming immodestly. “If he goes like him that’s very “For me the main contributor to the recent development Oscar. Estimated value £50m 1959, they will be desperate not to allow him, their up- good, of course. They are the same size, same speed and of German football has been [Joachim Low], because he Faouzi Ghoulam, Napoli and-coming midfielder Wylan Cyprien or the Ivorian Jean both have a good shot.” Everton have been strongly linked had the courage to make it happen. That deserves all my The market for defenders has spiralled over the last few Michaël Seri – who currently has the most assists, eight, in with an approach for the 19-year-old in January but the respect. months, with Napoli turning down a bid in excess of £50m Ligue 1 – to jump ship. Estimated value £15m bad news for Ronald Koeman is that bigger fish are starting “The spectacular football that, for example, Germany and for Kalidou Koulibaly in the summer from Chelsea. It looks Moussa Marega, Vitória de Guimarães – loan to circulate for him and the talented midfielder Riechedly Barcelona play is changing the culture. Italy, for example, are as if they will face another battle to keep the other key from Porto Bazoer, with Manchester City, Juventus and Napoli all ready to change their way of playing football because they members of Serie A’s second meanest defence with several Born in Les Ulis – the same tough Paris neighbourhood sending scouts to recent matches. Estimated value £10m see that Germany and Barcelona have won everything. And big clubs looking at either Ghoulam or Lazio’s Stefan de as Thierry Henry, Patrice Evra and Anthony Martial – Marega (Source:Guardian) Catenaccio is practically in the Italians’ DNA.” Germany sit top of Group C in European qualifying for Russia 2018, five points clear of nearest challengers Danny: Portugal are more Henrikh Mkhitaryan proud of ‘best goal Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan. I’ve ever scored’ in Man United win (Source: FIFA) feared now

Man City duo join Girona on loan deal

Pablo Maffeo and Angelino have completed loan moves to Girona, Manchester City have confirmed. Maffeo, 19, played 13 times for the Spanish second-tier club last season and has returned to Catalunya until the end of the season. Left-back Angelino, who will turn 20 on January 4, is looking to build on the first-team experience that he gained with New York City FC last year. “Pablo Maffeo and Angelino have joined Spanish Danny, who was ruled out of UEFA ligaments in April, is hoping to get back Henrikh Mkhitaryan hailed his “I was expecting the ball to be in front side Girona on loan from EURO 2016 through injury, believes into the Zenit team in time to earn an stunning goal in Manchester United’s of me and then I realised I was in front Manchester City until the end his Portugal team-mates’ triumph has international recall. 3-1 Boxing Day win over Sunderland of it. As the ball was behind me, the only of the season,” the Premier made them more respected. “If things go well, I’ll be back training as the best of his career. thing I could do was a backheel so I did League giants confirmed. “Portugal won and they won with the team in January,” said the The Armenian, on as a substitute, that and I succeeded.” “Both deals begin on well!” Danny told Zenit-TV. “We’re all 33-year-old playmaker. “Maybe not at met a Zlatan Ibrahimovic cross with Earlier, United boss Jose Mourinho had January 1 and run until the deserving of congratulations. In truth, 100 per cent, but I expect to be at least a brilliant improvised finish, flicking a hailed Mkhitaryan for playing well overall, end of the current campaign. it’s lifted our morale and now we’re 75 per cent.” ball that was behind him into the net in addition to his “phenomenal” strike. “Everyone at Manchester more respected off other national Danny, who was born in Venezuela with his heel. “I think he scored in the right goal, City would like to wish Pablo teams. “ but grew up, like Ronaldo, on the island Although it appeared the goal should the Stretford End, with the people very and Angelino well on their Portugal are second in Group B of Madeira, has scored four goals in 38 have been ruled out for offside, it put the enthusiastic just behind,” Mourinho said. loan moves and we look in European qualifying for the 2018 internationals. seal on a convincing win for Manchester “It was a great moment and for him forward to welcoming them back.” FIFA World Cup Russia™, three points Ronaldo is vying with Antoine United’s men. important because he was going up and Maffeo has played three times for Pep Guardiola›s side this behind Switzerland – to wahom, without Griezmann and Lionel Messi to become Mkhitaryan said on MUTV: “That was up and then the injury comes. season, against Steaua Bucharest and Celtic in the Champions Cristiano Ronaldo, they lost 2-0 in The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2016, while the best goal I’ve ever scored. “He was out of two matches and he’s League and in October›s EFL Cup exit to Manchester United. Basel – and two points above Hungary. Fernando Santos is up for The Best FIFA “I was very excited. The first thing I back. And to be back not just [with] the Angelino has featured against Steaua as well as Swansea City Fernando Santos’s side entertain the Men’s Coach honour alongside Claudio did was look at the assistant and I saw it goal, I think he also brought quality with in the EFL Cup. Hungarians in late-March and Danny, Ranieri and Zinedine Zidane. was not ruled as offside so I just started his performance. I am obviously happy.” (Source: Goal) who hasn’t played since rupturing knee (Source: FIFA) to celebrate. (Source: Soccernet) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DDECEMBERECEMBER 228,8, 22016016 SPORT 15

DDon’ton’t letlet youryour disabilitydisability defeatdefeat Jose Mourinho: Manchester United will see the best of yyou,ou, ZahraZahra NematiNemati sayssays Paul Pogba next season Manchester United fans can expect to see the very best SPORTS Iranian para-archer Zahra Nemati desk of Paul Pogba next season, Jose Mourinho has told SFR says that sport is the best means to Sport. defeat disability. Pogba, 23, provided an assist in United’s 3-1 Boxing Just weeks after making her Olympic debut, Zahra Day defeat of Sunderland, his third of the Premier Nemati won a second consecutive recurve women’s League campaign, a tally he has matched in top-flight gold medal at the Paralympic Games, adding goals this season. His improved statistics suggest the Paralympic gold in Rio to the historic gold she secured world’s most expensive footballer seems to finally be in London with a dramatic, 6-4, win over World Archery settling into life at Old Trafford after the upheaval of last Para Champion Wu Chunyan in the Sambodromo. summer’s switch from Juventus. She was one of just two athletes competing in both Mourinho, however, feels 2017-18 will be the season Games – but the only one to go home with gold. in which Pogba’s talent truly flourishes. Nemati shot a perfect 30 in the fifth set of the quarterfinals “The Premier League is very difficult. You play three, to see off Elisabetta Mijno – then delivered another 30 when four years in Italy and you come to the Premier League she needed it to level the match in the fourth set of the final and the world is completely against Wu, worldarchery.org reported. different,” Mourinho said. “There was just a feeling that I had that I knew I was “He’s doing well, he’s going to win today,” Nemati said. “That’s why I was very doing more than well. His calm and relaxed. I just knew I could do it.” evolution is clear. So I can Nemati’s amazing story, from taekwondo champion imagine that next season to double archery gold medallist, spread much further for Paul will be top.” around the world in 2016, on top of being chosen to Pogba came 14th in the carry the flag for Iran in the Olympic opening ceremony. Ballon d’Or vote for 2016, The Brazilian crowd chanted her name whenever she some way behind his appeared at the Paralympic competition. France teammate Antoine Her unwavering message was never to be defined by Griezmann, who finished injury: “My goal is to do my best to tell everybody: it’s third, and winner Cristiano not over, they can still fight with the situation and do Ronaldo. great things. Don’t let your disability defeat you. Sport is Very few of the players the best means to defe who finished ahead of him are not strikers, and Mourinho believes Pogba will only fulfil the ambition of winning the Ballon d’Or Sosha Makani set to join Saipa if footballers’ contributions to their team are judged SPORTS Former Persepolis goalkeeper Sosha last night and we’ll see what happens in the future,” differently. deskMakani is set to join Saipa on loan Makani said. “At the moment, if you’re not a goal scorer, you cannot until the end of the season. “According to the OBOS-ligaen we have a four- win the Ballon d’Or. But if the perception changes, then The 30-year old keeper, who is under contract with month time until the start of the next season and I need Paul can win it, because Paul is not a goal scorer. “ Norwegian second division side Mjøndalen, is eager to join an to keep my form while there is no official club game in “Paul is a midfielder who will score more and more Iranian team to keep his fitness for the start of OBOS-ligaen. Norway so moving to Saipa in Iran Professional League goals, because I think he has good conditions to score “I have a contract with Mjøndalen but if they agree is the best option,” he added. goals. Paul is a midfielder, in my opinion, the best, the I could join Saipa on loan until the end of the season. Makani joined Mjøndalen for a one-week trial. After best in the world. Obviously, he’s young, he can still I had my best days with Foolad working under Hossein a successful trial Makani signed a two-and-a-half-year improve, he wants to improve, which is even better. Faraki and I’d love to reunite with him. We had a meeting contract with the club on 30 June 2016. “He has an agent who, in my opinion, is great for the player, because he’s not the typical agent who puts the player on the moon. He demands a lot from the Radostin Stoychev close to Iran Iran girls U-18 volleyball team holds player. He wants the player to be better and better all the time. So I think he has everything around him to be volleyball hot seat camp in Slovenia a great player.” (Source: ESPN)

Iraq wants to play friendly with Iran

Iraqi national football team has reportedly shown interest in playing a friendly match with Iran. Iraq head coach Radhi Shenaishil is going to prepare his team for two crucial matches against Australia and Saudi Arabia scheduled for March 23 and 28 respectively in Group B of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification. SPORTS Bulgarian coach negotiation with the Iranian volleyball Iranian Girls U-18 volleyball team start- Slovenia. Carlos Queiroz’s men will have to play Qatar deskRadostin Stoychev federation is in progress. I think, we have ed its 11-day training camp in Slovenia The Iranian delegation traveled to and China on March 23 and 28 respectively in the will likely take charge of Iran national no problem to reach an agreement,” on Tuesday. Slovenia on Monday. qualification. volleyball team. Stoychev told sportowefakty.wp.pl. Iran is preparing for the 11th Asian The team is headed by Slovenian The Iraqi federation wants to arrange a friendly match Stoychev is the only available option to Iran will not renew Raul Lozano’s Girls U-18 Volleyball Championship coach Majda Cicic. with Team Melli on March 18. take charge of the Iranian team after Italian contract. which will be held in Chongqing, China She will be assisted by Iranian Iran national football team is supposed to play a Andrea Anastasi rejected to head the team. Under tutelage of the Argentinean from March 5 to 13. coaches Fatemeh Abdollahi, Nazanin warm-up match with Morocco at the Al Ain Stadium in “I will make a decision about coach, Iran finished in fifth place in the The training camp is being held Fatollah and Mahsa Arasteh. Dubai on January 6. coaching Iran as soon as possible. My 2016 Olympic Games. in Maribor, second-largest city in (Source: Tasnim) (Source: Tasnim) Iran’s Siamand Rahman tantalizes the world by lifting 310kg SPORTS In the build up to the Rio 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November 2013. But he was not finished. Taking the opportunity Simone Biles named AP deskParalympic Games, Iranian powerlifter That left Rahman with the 2014 World Championships to make another attempt on the world record, the Siamand Rahman had tantalized the world with one of to aim for. He would indeed reach 285kg to claim the powerhouse registered a 310kg attempt with the judges. Female Athlete of the Year the most exciting stories of ‘will he or will he not’ ever world title and world record, kick starting a swirl of Nobody was expecting this. after gymnastics gold rush seen in the Paralympic Movement. intrigue about how high he could go. “During the last one and a half year, enjoying the On breaking the men’s over 107kg world record no The intervening years would see the Iranian edge assistance and support of the Iran’s Sports Federation at Rio Olympics less than nine times in two years before Rio 2016, the ever closer to 300kg, with his final world record (296kg) for the Disabled and the IR Iran NPC [Iran National question on everyone’s lips was clear: can he reach the ahead of Rio 2016 set in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in Paralympic Committee], I hit my best results in the American gymnastics star Simone Biles has been named the mystical 300kg mark? February 2016. training camps, when I was aiming at setting a historical Associated Press’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2016. The incredible answer, with Rahman setting and In Rio, the last day of competition could not come record,” Rahman recalled. The 19-year-old sensation picked up four gold medals then exceeding the mark to finish with a 310kg world soon enough for many. “Such trainings and also the promise to make history and a bronze at the Rio Olympics earlier this year, record, enters at No. 5 in the International Paralympic The 28-year-old world champion, who weighs 169kg, for my people, created such a feeling within my body making her the most decorated American gymnast in Committee’s Top 50 Moments of 2016. established an early lead with a lift of 270kg on his first I felt I had to keep going, that I could go for more.” the country’s history. It all began at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. attempt, Paralympic.org wrote. As he made his way out onto the platform, the crowds The multiple World Champion has dominated the sport Rahman had stormed to gold in the then men’s over With tension building in the Riocentro Pavillion 2, he fell silent. They were about to witness one of the greatest since her emergence in 100kg, beating teammate Mansour Pourmirzaei with lifted the historic 300kg on his second attempt and then performances ever seen at a Paralympic Games. 2013, specialising in the vault a 280kg lift. upped the record with a lift of 305kg. Ensuring a good grip on the bending bar, Rahman let and floor, while also excelling In an interview with Paralympic.org in December the “As soon as I realized I had broken the 300kg out a cry before lifting it aloft and using all his strength on the beam. following year, Rahman claimed he had regularly lifted I thought about my countrymen, and also about to control its descent to his huge chest. One more push, But Biles lifted her 300kg in training. His comments came after Pourmirzaei’s the sports fans all around the world. It was a magic two white lights. standard to new heights in world record of 276kg in the new 107kg weight category moment,” Rahman said. He had done it. Rio de Janeiro, becoming the first American gymnast to win four gold medals at Rosbergb hhaving no secondd thoughtsh h aboutb retirement a single Games. A member of the much- Formula One drivers’ champion Nico “My mission is fulfilled,” he told planned to spend more time with his wife moment and “that was cool.” heralded gold-winning USA Rosberg has said that a month after his the German broadsheet “Frankfurter and young daughter. Although Rosberg said he still stood team, nicknamed the ‘Final final race he has no regrets about retiring Allgemeine Zeitung” Asked about his relationship with behind his decision to retire just days Five’, Biles steered the group from the sport. The German former “I am going out at the pinnacle of my Hamilton, who in recent seasons had been after winning the title, he conceded that to the team title, before driver also said he was already working performance and will now be working his bitter rival but had also been his best the move had put his former Mercedes bagging her own golds in the vault, floor and all-around on his future career plans. on new projects,” he said, without going friend in their younger days when both team in “a difficult situation.” competitions. A bronze in the beam was her only relative In an interview published in one month into details. were racing go-karts, Rosberg didn’t rule Mercedes have yet to decide on a disappointment to the day since he clinched the drivers’ title “Maybe it will be in the world of business. out a thaw in their relations. replacement for 2017 for Rosberg, but Awarded the honour of carrying her nation’s flag in by finishing second to his British teammate, I have some ideas,” he said, before adding “Maybe we’ll get closer again, if it Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas is reported to be the closing ceremony in Rio, Biles’ engaging and friendly Lewis Hamilton, at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, that nothing concrete had been decided. happens by chance, I’d like that.” He said a leading candidate - assuming his current attitude has helped her garner fans from outside the world Nico Rosberg said he was convinced that his The 31-year-old native of the western that he had also spoken to Hamilton team, Williams, are willing to let him go. of gymnastics. decision to leave the sport was the right one. German city of Wiesbaden also said he about his resignation in a personal (Source: DW) (Source: Eurosport) b

Managing Director: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Hassan Lasjerdi Poem of the day Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98(21) 88808214 [email protected] I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 O brother, the world remains with no one. Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 [email protected] http://www.tehrantimes.com/culture Bind the heart to the Creator, it is enough. Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Sadi Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran Webmaster: [email protected] P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Prayer Times SINCE 1979 Printed at: Kayhan - ISSN: 1017-94 Zip Code: 1599814713 Noon:12:06 Evening: 17:19 Dawn: 5:44 tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:13 (tomorrow) DECEMBER 28, 2016

Georgian version of “The Expatriate designer Sadegh Colonel” unveiled in Tbilisi Roushani plans Iran image remake CULTURE TEHRAN — A Georgian version of deskprominent Iranian author Mahmud Dowlatabadi’s novel “The Colonel” was unveiled at the Ivane 1 Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia last week. In his first project that began after the A number of Georgian establishment of Roushani Design, he Iranologists, literati and was inspired by the details of the patterns cultural figures attended the used in the decorations of some ancient unveiling ceremony held religious sites in Isfahan, Shiraz and at the Oriental Club of the several other Iranian cities. university. He took photos of the patterns on Si- Tamar Lebanidze, the o-Se-Pol, a historical bridge with 33 arches director of Diogene Publishing in Isfahan, and the ruins of Persepolis near House, which is the publisher Shiraz to use them on the garments being of the book in Georgia gave a produced by his company. speech at the ceremony. He set his sights on attracting the The book has been interest of those tourists who visit Iran translated by Tea Shurgaia, every year. who also made a short “The tourists take these products speech about Dowlatabadi as souvenirs to their homes and they and his novel. become promoters of Iran when they “The Colonel” is the story of a highly decorated officer have them on,” he said. in the army of Iran’s last monarch Mohammad Reza. Now He wishes he would be allowed to after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, on the night of the pursue this work in his homeland. burial of his young daughter, he remembers his past, his wife “It is really sad to see Iranian youth and his career. wearing T-shirts and dresses that bear “The Colonel” was first published by Haus in Germany crude motifs and foreign inscriptions in 2009. An English version came out a few years later. irrelevant to their native culture,” said Dowlatabadi has not yet received Iranian cultural officials’ Roushani, who left Iran in 1992 to start a permit to publish the Persian version in his homeland. new life in Greece. However, he moved to In 2013, “The Colonel” received the 2013 Jan Michalski Australia after living about seven years in Prize for Literature in Switzerland. Greece. “I wonder if they know what is written on them and what it means. Meanwhile they could wear clothes related to their native culture and history,” he added. Isfahan Room at Sadegh Roushani’s house, Gold Coast, Australia Aligarh conference Although his work can be viewed as and it’s my gift to my homeland Iran.” who made them,” he added. to get the Iranian government to see its on Oriental studies to a business, Roushani doesn’t consider Everything is natural in the photos Roushani did the job all alone, but importance,” he said. himself as a businessman due to the Roushani takes for his works. He does not now, he is ready to collaborate with Roushani advises his fellow artists, “You commemorate Bidel Dehlavi noble goal he seeks. use software to alter the images imprinted experts in his homeland to pursue his don’t need money or support, God gives “I don’t look at my photography and on his company’s garments. goals in Iran. you everything. Never give up. Have a CULTURE TEHRAN — The 2nd International designing as a business. That’s my love As a result, he sometimes has to wait “I have designs lined up for the next five goal, have a dream.” desk Conference on Oriental Studies, Iranian hours and days for the right moment with years. Mashhad is my next destination,” he Studies and Commemoration of Bidel Dehlavi will be held the perfect light to take a photo. added about his future plans. at the Persian Language Research Centre in Aligarh Muslim “It took me several years to learn when He described his house in the Gold University, India from March 1 to 3, 2017. to take a photo of Persepolis or Si-o-Se- Coast as a small Iranian museum displaying The conferenced has been organized in collaboration Pol with the right light, which can happen his artworks as well as handicrafts from with Yerevan State University in Armenia and Khujand State only once a year,” he explained. Iran. He even has a room dedicated to University in Tajikistan, some Persian media announced on Roushani spends about seven weeks showcasing artworks from Isfahan. Tuesday. preparing a photo to be imprinted on He welcomes anyone interested in Ilia State University in Georgia, Herat University in fabric. Designs are selected based on visiting his house. “The door is always Afghanistan and the Safiran Mobin Cultural Institute in Iran whether the garment is intended for men open. I give them a small gift, a piece of are other organizers of the event. or women due to gender differences. Iran’s art,” he said. The meeting will be held with the scientific support of the “I make clothing with quality materials Roushani calls his New Zealander wife Department of Iranian Studies at the University of Hamburg. and I am proud of my work because it “a big supporter of” his work. “When I get Persian poet and mystic Mirza Abdul-Qadir Bidel Dehlavi focuses on my country,” he said. tired she backs me up because she is also (1644-1721) will also commemorated at the conference. “I really love to see young Iranian men in love with Iran,” he stated. Bidel Dehlavi was born in Azimabad (present day Patna, and women in the clothes, walking along “We can advertise Iran in a way that India). He mostly wrote ghazals and quatrains in Persian and Sadegh Roushani clad in a T-shirt made by Roushani streets with pride in their own heritage doesn’t require language. Everybody A model wears a Roushani Design’s creation in an was the author of 16 books of poetry, which contain nearly Design poses in an undated photo. and culture, as well as in that crazy man loves and understands the arts. I just need undated photo. 147,000 verses. The organizers are also scheduled to hold workshops PICTURE OF THE DAY Honaronline/Masud Mirmiri on the studies of manuscript books in India during the conference. Indian NEWS IN BRIEF festival “A Minor Leap screening Down” wins awards at Iranian films Moroccan festival ARTTEHRAN — A lineup CULTURE TEHRAN — Iranian director deskof feature and short deskHamed Rajabi’s debut feature “A films produced at Iran’s Art Bureau Minor Leap Down” was crowned best while its star, are on screen in various sections Negar Javaherian, won the best actress award at of the 6th Kolkata International the 13th Trans-Saharan International Film Festival, Children’s Film Festival, which is which was held in Zagora, Morocco from December currently underway in the Indian city, 22 to 25. the bureau announced on Tuesday. The film is about a young woman who has lost “Parole” by Hossein Mahkam and her baby but her family offers no support. “Mobarak” by Mohammadreza Najafi will be screened in the feature film section of the festival, which will run until December 31. “Like a Balloon” by Marjan Esmaeili, Khwaju Kermani’s “Valad” by Amir-Abbas Rabiei and “Man and a Child” by Seyyed “Homay and Homayun” Mohammadreza Kheradmandan will published in Italy be shown in the short film section. “The Children of the Rain” by CULTURE TEHRAN — An Italian version of “Homay Danesh Eqbashavi and “Alamak” by desk and Homayun”, a collection of 4435 Tannaz Tabatabi acts in a scene from “Love Letters from the Middle East” by writer/director Kiumars Moradi at Tehran’s Paliz Theater on December 26, 2016. Hossein Darabi are also among the couplets of love and adventure from medieval Persia by films competing in this section. Persian poet and mystic Khwaju Kermani (1290-1349), has recently been released in Italy. Iran’s cultural days open at National Library of Malaysia Translated into Italian by Nahid Noruzi, an Iranian lecturer and a professor of Persian at the University of Bologna, the ARTTEHRAN — Iran’s reported on Tuesday. and peace, and in order to achieve peace photos and books have been set up at the book was published by Mimesis Publications in October 2016. deskcultural days opened at Speaking at the ceremony, Afkham and friendship we need to get to know library. The photos have been selected by Professor Johann Christoph Buergel, former Director the National Library of Malaysia (PNM) in said that the event helps people of each other more,” she remarked. the Iranian Young photographers Center, of Islamic Studies at the University of Bern, has written the Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. Malaysia and other citizens residing in For her part, Nafisah Ahmad also whose director Rasul Oliazadeh is also a introduction of the book. The ceremony was attended by the country to get to know more about emphasized that the event will help guest of the event. The book has also highlighted the position of the poet in Iran’s Ambassador in Malaysia Marzieh the art, culture and civilization of Iran. develop cooperation between the two The film “Songs of Sparrows” (Majid Persian literature. Afkham and Nafisah Ahmad, the Director She added that Iran hopes and tries countries, adding that the art exhibit and Majidi), and “Azar, Shahdokht, Parviz and Khwaju Kermani was born in Kerman and died in Shiraz, of the National Library of Malaysia, and to take further steps to reinforce and film screening sessions will help Malaysians Others” and “Day of Satan” both directed where his tomb is still in situ at the Quran Gate near the ambassadors of several countries in expand relations with the Asian countries. learn more about Iran and Iranians. by Bahruz Afkhami will also be screened Allaho-Akbar Pass. Malaysia, the Persian service of IRNA “Today the world needs more dialogue Exhibition of Persian handicrafts, during the three-day event.