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16 Pages Price 20,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13267 Sunday DECEMBER 2, 2018 Azar 11, 1397 Rabi’ Al awwal 24, 1440 Politicizing OPCW Iran only expresses You will regret invading Jalal Hosseini could lead to spiritual support Lebanon, Hezbollah bids farewell to

its collapse 2 to Yemenis 2 warns Israel 3 international football 15

See page 16 10 new stem cell products unveiled SOCIETY TEHRAN — Ten new Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri and deskstem cell products were Vice-President for Science and Tech- unveiled during the closing ceremony of the nology Sourena Sattari, ISNA reported 3rd National Festival and the International on Saturday. Congress on Stem cells and Regenerative Laser scanning microscope, confocal Medicine (November 28 to December 1) microscope, 3D printer, skin cell therapy in Tehran. devices for skin regeneration and wound The ceremony took place with First healing are some of the products.

Iran urges UN to condemn Pompeo’s ‘irresponsible’ remarks Iran’s mission to the United Nations has the UN Eshaq Al-e-Habib on Tuesday, urged the UN Security Council to condemn the Iranian mission said, “Such remarks the recent “irresponsible” and “provoca- are part of the U.S. policies of exerting tive” remarks by U.S. Secretary of State pressure and issuing real threats in order Mike Pompeo, who openly threatened to wage an economic war against the to “starve” the Iranian people, Tasnim people of Iran.” reported on Saturday. The letter also slammed Pompeo’s “Lost Strait”, In a letter to the Security Council move as “a collective punishment for a president and the UN secretary general, nation” and a “clear violation of the basic signed by Iran’s deputy ambassador to principles of international law”. 2

“Midday Event” BRICS slam protectionism as China- U.S. spat overshadows G20 talks best films at Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders for two-thirds of the world population - faces of major developing economies condemned questions over its ability to deal with trade protectionism at a G20 summit in overshad- tensions, which have roiled global markets. owed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Hanging over the summit in Buenos Maryam Kamyab Resistance threat to escalate tariffs on China. Aires is the trade dispute between the This year’s two-day gathering is a major United States and China, the world’s two test for the Group of 20 industrialized largest economies, which have imposed nations, whose leaders first met in 2008 tariffs on hundreds of billions of dol- to help rescue the global economy from lars worth of each other’s imports after

Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ festival the worst financial crisis in seven decades. Trump launched an effort to correct what With a rise in nationalist sentiment in he views as China’s unfair commercial A Hashd al-Shaabi member Seyyed Abbas Musavi accepts the award for the Resistance Figure of the Year on behalf of his commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. many countries, the G20 - which accounts practices. 13 REPORT ‘Khashoggi murder has hardened resistance in Congress to nuclear deal with KSA’ ARTICLE Ramin Hossein Abadian EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW activities. Some believe that this is a message ment with the United States under the terms Syed Zafar Mehdi Mehr News Agency Journalist By Javad Heirannia from SA to the U.S. that it will advance its of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, which Congress journalist nuclear activities even without U.S. What do can block if it is not satisfied with the terms of from New Delhi TEHRAN — Daryl Kimball, executive director you think of this? the agreement. of the Arms Control Association in Washington, A: Saudi Arabia has already concluded nuclear Saudi Arabia insists on having Uranium The Golan Heights says “I do not believe the Congress will approve a cooperation agreements with France, Argentina, enrichment and its reprocessing while the U.S. Kartarpur project: civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi South Korea, and Kazakhstan. Some of these wants “Gold Standard” in it agreement with front to reopen; Arabia if it does not meet the ‘Gold Standard’.” states need but do not have authorizations from Riyadh which doesn’t include enrichment and Imran Khan’s He adds that “murder of the journalist Jamal the United States for the transfer of nuclear ser- reprocessing. Based on 123 treaty, will U.S. finally the Zionists fear of Khashoggi has hardened resistance in Congress to vices, technology or assistance to Saudi Arabia. give up to Riyadh demand? diplomatic any nuclear agreement, especially one that would Saudi Arabia currently has a Comprehensive Safe- A: The U.S.-Saudi negotiations are not go- attrition warfare allow for the transfer of sensitive enrichment or guards Agreement with the IAEA, they have not ing well. U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry has masterstroke reprocessing technology to Saudi Arabia.” concluded an Additional Protocol arrangement been pressured by many members of Congress he advancement of the Syrian army in Kimball tells the Tehran Times in an exclusive with the Agency. to ensure that Saudi Arabia agrees not to pursue t a time when sabre-rattling be- the south of the country in the battle interview that Saudi Arabia probably will not The Nov. 6 groundbreaking recently announced uranium enrichment technology or plutonium tween the two South Asian es- Tagainst the U.S., Zionists-backed accept a nuclear agreement with the U.S. like the by the Saudis does not necessarily mean that separation technology, also known as the “gold Atranged neighbors has escalated Takfiri terrorists has been a matter of grave one the U.S. has signed with the UAE. this is ground being broken for the two nuclear standard.” The Saudis are, according to our sourc- to alarming proportions, Pakistan has concern for Tel Aviv officials. Following is the full text of the interview: power reactors which the Kingdom is getting bids es, are steadfastly opposed to any restrictions quite remarkably managed to score a The liberation of southern part of Syria Saudi Arabia started its research nucle- on from the U.S. and other countries. To do so, along these lines and they do not want to give big diplomatic victory over India with from the Takfiri group by the Syrian army ar reactor in Abdullaziz city while it has not Saudi Arabia needs to conclude its negotiation the IAEA inspection authority under the terms the Kartarpur Corridor project. is frightening to the Zionists as the area is reached an agreement with the U.S. on nuclear on a bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agree- of the Additional Protocol. 7 Prime Minister Imran Khan once in close proximity to the Golan Heights, again extended an olive branch to New where the Syrian officials have said time Delhi. But the Narendra Modi led right- and again to rid the area of the Zionists. At Geneva summit, Afghan government presents ‘roadmap for peace and prosperity’ wing government in India did not re- This is while the Zionists have made every spond too warmly. In cricketing parlance, POLITICS TEHRAN — The much-await- eral, Tadamichi Yamamoto. Reaffirming its commitment to rebuilding effort to expand buffer zones in the area by desk captain Khan bowled a vicious yorker keeping the Takfiri terrorists in the region. ed two-day Geneva conference The conference, which came at a crucial time, and reconstruction efforts in the war-ravaged that clean bowled Modi’s diplomacy. The occupied Golan Heights, a rocky on Afghanistan, co-hosted by the Afghan govern- after the parliamentary polls and before the presi- country, on day one of the conference, the Euro- On Wednesday, the much-anticipated plateau in south-western Syria, have special ment and United Nations, was held this week, dential election, sought to measure progress made pean Union signed a financing agreement worth groundbreaking ceremony of Kartar- importance for the Zionist regime and attended by delegations from 61 countries and by the Afghan government in using billions of millions of euros, mainly focused on development pur corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar they will never be willing to return the 35 international organizations. dollars in foreign aid for education, health care, and economy. Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur, the final area to its rightful owner, Syria. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who delivered infrastructure, and fighting corruption since the The 474 million euros ($535m) aid agreement resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Golan Heights is considered one of the a keynote address, made passionate appeal to last donors conference in 2016. is to support state building and public sector re- Nanak, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in most strategic areas for Syria, Lebanon, the world community to see the war-torn coun- According to a source, the participants noted forms, health, justice as well as tackling the issue India’s Gurdaspur district, was done and the Zionist regime. It is one of the try from the perspective of “investment” rather with grave concern the deteriorating security of migration and displacement in the country. by PM Khan in the presence of political main passages overlooking the occupied than “charity”. situation with spate of terror attacks across the “The EU stands side by side with Afghanistan dignitaries from both the countries. Palestinian territory. The area allows the The conference was co-chaired by Afghan For- country in recent months. The delay in announcing and its people to build a stronger future for the Pakistan has decided to open the Zionist regime to spy on Syrian military, eign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and Finance the results of parliamentary polls and the possible country,” Neven Mimica, commissioner for In- corridor for Sikh pilgrims, allowing electronic and telecommunication facil- Minister Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi, and delay in holding presidential election next year, ternational Cooperation and Development, said them to visit the holy site without a visa. ities as it is a lookout to the outskirts of Special Representative of the UN Secretary-Gen- source said, also came up for discussion. at the summit. 6 When the corridor, which includes a Damascus. road and a bridge, becomes operation- In addition, the Zionist won’t leave a al next year, around the 550th birth land rich with gas and oil. Iran launches anniversary of Guru Nanak, Sikhs will In 2013, upon providing an oil explora- have visa-free access to the site first tion license to an American-Israeli com- time since the partition of erstwhile pany, the Zionist regime began to exploit radar evading British India in 1947. oil from the Golden Heights. In 2014, the Although Indian government en- Israeli drilling company, Horizon, set the destroyer dorsed the project and sent two jun- stage for the start of exploration of oil ior ministers for the groundbreaking in area. Israel is seeking to exploit more TEHRAN — On Saturday, the Iranian Navy ceremony, the overall response has than a billion barrels of oil from the Golan was delivered a radar-evading destroyer been halfhearted, much to the chagrin Heights. called Sahand. of peaceniks on both sides. Since it is Exploration operation has begun in It is the most advanced of its kind in election season in India, Narendra Modi 10 bases and estimates indicate the oil West Asia. led government is understandably tread- exploited will suffice Israel’s need for years The destroyer, designed and built by Ira- ing cautiously to keep its loyal Hindu to come. Therefore, it is clear that the Zi- nian experts, joined the Navy at a base in the vote bank in good humor. onists are eager to seize the oil resources port city of Bandar Abbas, at the mouth of The relations between the two in the Golan Heights and seek to plunder the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Army Chief countries have always been marked the valuable resources which originally Abdolrahim Mousavi was present at the by acrimony and mistrust. During the belonged to the Syrian government. Rahbar Emamdadi ceremony. previous government in Islamabad, the It is not just Israelis, but Americans, The destroyer is able to navigate oceans ties between them had touched a new too, fear the loss of the Golan Heights. for 150 days along with a logistic vessel. low, with a series of ceasefire violations Al-Yaum newspaper writes, “The Donald It has a flight deck for helicopters, torpedo on the border and a few terrorist at- Trump administration, Israel’s partner, launchers, anti-aircraft and anti-ship guns, tacks in India. India accuses Pakistan supports the Israeli army and exploitation Tehran Times/ surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, of proxy war, a charge Islamabad has of oil in the Golan Heights. 7 and electronic warfare capabilities. 2 denied vehemently. 6 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS DECEMBER 2, 2018 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS ‘Islamic unity Politicizing OPCW could lead to meeting marked defeat for U.S., Saudi’ its collapse, Iran warns POLITICS TEHRAN – Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, POLITICS TEHRAN – An Iranian of chemical weapons, condemns use of desksecretary general of the World Forum for deskForeign Ministry official these weapons by anyone and anywhere Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, has said the recent on Friday warned that politicization of the and remains committed to the agreement Islamic unity conference in Tehran marked a big defeat for Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical and spares no effort to create a world without the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Weapons could lead to its collapse. chemical weapons,” he insisted. In an interview with Tasnim published on Saturday, Aya- Reza Najafi, who was speaking at the 4th The diplomat added that Iran is ready tollah Araki said the U.S. and Saudi Arabia had launched Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons to have “constructive interaction” with the extensive attempts to hamper the conference, but failed to Convention in The Hague, blamed the U.S. OPCW’s member states. achieve their goals. for a failure by the intergovernmental Elsewhere, he said that the U.S., as the Despite the hostile attempts, the conference attracted more organisation to agree on a final document. biggest user of mass destruction weapons, than 350 foreign guests from 100 countries, the cleric said, Najafi, director general of the Department is not in a position to talk about actions of adding that the high turnout of participants from Muslim of International Peace and Security at the OPCW members. nations marked a big defeat for ill-wishers. Iranian Foreign Ministry, cautioned that According to Fars news agency, Najafi certain Western countries have adopted released a statement on November 23 saying a politicized approach and seek to dictate that the U.S. accuses Iran of being secretive Impeaching their will to the OPCW and have caused about the issue of chemical weapons which Zarif ‘not division in the organization which can led is a “groundless” claim to its collapse. The Foreign Ministry official added desirable at “Given failure of the conference, future Washington has not yet completed the of the organization [the OPCW] is the most destruction of its chemical weapons all’: Aref important issue. Iran, as the biggest victim stockpile. POLITICS TEHRAN – The chairman of the pro- deskreform Hope faction in the parliament has criticized the motion to impeach Foreign Minister Mohammad There is evidence of Saudis subversive plans against Iran: diplomat Javad Zarif, saying the impeachment at the current situation is “not desirable at all”. POLITICS TEHRAN — Es’haq Al-e- Habib, the of Saudi Arabia. Mohammad Reza Aref lauded the foreign minister as a deskIranian deputy ambassador to the UN, The recent media reports regarding the Saudi con- “revolutionary figure”, saying Zarif as the chief diplomat has said that there is evidence about the subversive plans spiracy to sabotage the Iranian economy and assassinate has brought honor to Iran in the international community, of the Saudi kingdom against the Iranian security and Iranian officials by recruited terrorists confirms other ISNA reported on Saturday. economy. relevant available intelligence and data. This should Aref also expressed the hope that the current parliament In a letter to the UN Security Council, the diplomat certainly be considered part of the larger plan of Saudi will be able to help the administration in dealing with Iran’s said, “This includes its publicized plan to ‘work so that Arabia to destabilize the whole region. problems. the battle is … inside Iran’.” Only one example of such an adventurist policy of Following is full text of the letter published by the Saudi Arabia is within its widespread systematic crimes Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website: in Yemen, including the deliberate targeting of mosques, Navy planning Upon instruction from my Government and pursuant hospitals, schools and historical sites, attacking wed- to send to letters dated 4 May 2017 (S/2017/393), 8 June 2017 ding and funeral ceremonies and school buses, killing (S/2017/489) and 3 October 2018 (S/2018/891) from - both of which were condemned by the Security Council defenseless women and innocent children, destroying the destroyers to the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the short-sight- - are linked to, sponsored or encouraged by the Kingdom basic infrastructure of the country, spreading contagious ed policies of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to promote diseases and famine, as well as displacing millions of South America extremist and terrorist groups in the region, I have the The recent media reports civilians. To prevent the continuation of such crimes, POLITICS TEHRAN – Iran’s Navy plans to send honor to bring the following to your attention: regarding the Saudi the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must be compelled to stop deskits Khark and Sahand destroyers toward There is enough evidence about the subversive plans conspiracy to sabotage its brutalities and be held accountable for committing South America, Navy Deputy Chief Amir Hassani-Moghadam of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against the Iranian se- war crimes and crimes against humanity. has said. curity and economy. This includes its publicized plan the Iranian economy and The international community of States has a re- In an interview with Mehr published on Saturday, Has- to “work so that the battle is … inside Iran”. It has sup- assassinate Iranian officials by sponsibility to adequately address such destabilizing sani-Moghadam said the destroyers will be dispatched in ported terrorist groups and criminal activities inside behaviors of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reject the near future the Islamic Republic of Iran as part of such a plan. The recruited terrorists confirms its criminal activities, especially its plans to assassinate Their mission may last up to 5 months, he added. terrorist acts that have occurred in Iran in recent years, other relevant available Iranian officials. He also said the Navy is tasked with protecting Iran’s including those in the city of Ahvaz on 22 September 2018 intelligence and data. I should be grateful if you would have the present national interests in international waters. (S/2018/891) and Tehran on 7 June 2017 (S/2017/489) letter circulated as a document of the Security Council. So far Iran has sent destroyers to the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab-el-Mandeb. Iran launches radar evading destroyer Putin 1 “The first feature of the Sahand is Jihad of the Navy, told the Fars news agency. “Also the number of its radar and weapons navy shipyards that built the destroyer, also told reiterates that its radar-evading capability has increased He said that the capacity of the Sahand’s store, system has at least been doubled and new IRNA that the vessel is “the result of daring and up to 30% and the form of its hull makes its deposit and stock rooms has been increased in a electronic war systems have been mounted creative design relying on the local technical support for detection by radars more difficult,” Rear Admiral way that it can continue sailing distances twice on it,” Qolamzadeh explained. knowledge of the Iranian Navy... and has been Iran deal Ali Qolamzadeh, director of the Self-Sufficiency farther than what the Jamaran could traverse. Rear-Admiral Alireza Sheikhi, head of the built with stealth capabilities.” POLITICS TEHRAN – Russian President Vladimir deskPutin reaffirmed support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during the G20 Ambassador says Tehran, Seoul to expand ties Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Friday. POLITICS TEHRAN — In an inter- will overcome the problems. “Ties between from President Rouhani, I assured him that we Preserving the JCPOA will help prevent new wave of deskview with IRNA published the two countries are strong. In the crisis of will definitely stand by Iran and get through tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, therefore, all on Saturday, South Korea’s ambassador to Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, we stood beside these difficulties together since—as the saying necessary measures should be taken to maintain the JCPOA, Iran Yu Jang Hian said that South Korean Iran, and we have had close and friendly goes—a friend in need is a friend indeed.” Putin said, IRNA reported. companies will continue their partnership cooperation with Iran in economic areas in The Korean ambassador also pointed to Despite warnings by the international community, U.S. with Iranian sides, and that economic and recent years.” the great trade turnover between the two President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear commercial cooperation between the two Yu said that South Korea has been granted countries that amounted to a total of 12 billion deal with Iran on May 8. He imposed two rounds of sanc- countries will expand. an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Iran and dollars during last year, saying that the trade tions on Iran, the second of which came into force earlier Yu said that relations between Iran and therefore it is planning to develop a framework will certainly increase despite the sanctions. in November. South Korea are facing problems which have for cooperation in order to be able to expand Commenting on the possibility of the exten- nothing to do with bilateral ties as such and mutual interactions with Iran accordingly. sion of Seoul’s sanctions waiver on oil imports majorly stem from the renewal of U.S. sanc- He reiterated that Iran and South Korea after six months’ time, Yu stressed that he German court tions against Iran. will successfully cope with the vicissitudes. will make his utmost efforts to strengthen Tehran-Seoul ties are deep enough to stay rules in favor He expressed hope that the two countries “When I received my letter of credence bilateral relations. strong regardless of sanctions, he added. of Iranian bank We only express spiritual support to Yemenis: defense chief POLITICS TEHRAN – A court in Germany has or- POLITICS TEHRAN – On Saturday, Defense Hisham Sharaf, the Yemeni minister of foreign affairs, deskdered Deutsche Telekom, a partly state- deskMinister Amir Hatami reiterated Tehran’s said on Wednesday that Yemenis got their missiles from owned telecom provider, to reactivate phone and internet long held policy that Iran’s support for the Yemenis is the Soviet Union many years ago and they are not getting service for the Hamburg branch of Bank Melli Iran, Press purely “spiritual”. any support from Iran. TV reported on Friday, citing Der Spiegel. “We proudly defend all the oppressed nations, but our “I can tell you that we are not getting any support The German telecoms company abruptly cut off phone and support is spiritual and advisory help against terrorists,” from Iran,” he said in an interview with CNN aired on internet services for Bank Melli Iran and two other Iranian Hatami said at a conference in the Defense Ministry. Wednesday. banks earlier this month over doubts with regard to the U.S. Yemen has been under aerial and ground offensive by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sanctions on Iranian financial institutions. the Saudi-led coalition since the March 2015. reiterated on Friday that Iran’s four-point plan is still The Hamburg district court ordered Deutsche Telekom Analysts say the U.S. and some other countries including the only viable option to resolve the Yemeni crisis. to reactivate the services for Bank Melli, arguing that the Saudi Arabia are unable to understand that the Yemenis “I said this on the crisis in Yemen in April 2015. Today, justification was not sufficient for a termination without are culturally resistant. after untold human suffering & war crimes by the Saudi notice, especially as the bank has so far fulfilled its obligations “Today, the U.S. levels accusations against Iran, claiming coalition & its U.S. accomplices, & efforts to whitewash and has sufficient resources. that Iran have not let their actions yield results in Yemen. their crimes with absurd allegations against Iran, our They do not understand the Basiji spirit and ideology (of four-point plan still remains the only viable option,” Zarif Iran, Russia have Yemenis). What results in victory is ideology of resistance U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook unveiled tweeted on Friday. which helps them not to surrender to oppression,” Hatami on Thursday pieces of missiles, rockets, drones and other The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and end of great capacity remarked. weaponry at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington all foreign military attacks, humanitarian assistance, a He also noted that Saudi Arabia attacked Yemen with D.C., claiming that Iran is involved in supplying the Houthis resumption of broad national dialogue and establishment to expand ties: the U.S. “green light”. with weaponry. of an inclusive national unity government. Putin envoy POLITICS TEHRAN – There is great capacity to deskdevelop relations between Iran and Rus- Tehran urges UNSC to condemn Pompeo’s stances sia, the Russian president’s special representative for the 1 “Pompeo’s comments are an- “The White House’s measures are a which threaten the foundations of the Caspian littoral states said on Saturday. other indication of the US’ bullying poli- clear instance of crime against human- UN and multilateralism. In an interview with IRNA, Ramazan Abdullatif said the cy, which knows no limit and principle,” ity,” it added. It also called on the world to hold the determination of the leaders of Iran and Russia will help the letter said, adding that Washington “Iran has shown resistance against US accountable for such irresponsible boost relations between the two sides. has no hesitation in penalizing other the US’ bullying behavior and illegal policies and measures, and force it to Abdullatif said Russia has always called for solving ac- countries when punishing the Iranian measures within the past 40 years, and remain committed to the UN’s principles cumulated problems in a way which will be in the interests nation, according to Iran Press. will manage to do so against Washing- and objectives. of both sides. It also reiterated the fact that the ton’s recent wrong policies as well,” the In an interview with BBC Persian on He also said in order for the transportation system to re-imposition of US sanctions against letter added. November 7, the US secretary of state develop, economic exchanges between the two countries Iran prevents Iranian people from having The UN and its member states must said Iranian officials must listen to should expand. access to their basic requirements, such condemn such bullying remarks by Amer- to the UN said, urging the international Washington “if they want their people as medicines and medical equipment. ican officials, Iran’s diplomatic mission community to stand up to such policies, to eat.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 2, 2018 INTERNATIONAL MbS sidelined in G20 summit You will regret invading Lebanon: Hezbollah warns family photo Israel Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed conversation was being recorded. bin Salman has been sidelined during the The Elysee Palace also said Macron official “family photo” of world leaders and stressed the need to find a political solution other dignitaries at the two-day G20 summit to the war in Yemen in his conversation with in the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires. bin Salman, whose country’s brutal military On Friday, the 33-year-old de facto ruler campaign has left thousands of Yemenis dead of the Arab kingdom only managed to secure over the past four years and pushed the im- a place at the far edge of the group portrait poverished nation to the brink of famine. and failed to garner any attention among Additionally on the sidelines of the summit, the leaders in the family photo on the first British Prime Minister Theresa May told bin day of the 13th summit of the forum. After Salman that he should take firm action in a the shot, he quickly left the stage without bid to prevent the recurrence of incidents shaking hands or talking with other leaders. like the murder of Khashoggi. The young Saudi prince’s political future “The prime minister stressed the impor- is still being haunted by the consequences tance of ensuring that those responsible for of the gruesome murder of dissident Saudi the appalling murder of Jamal Khashoggi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi are held to account, and that Saudi Arabia The Hezbollah resistance movement has issued a warning video consulate in Istanbul some two months ago. takes action to build confidence that such a to Israel, saying that the regime will “regret” invading Lebanon. Khashoggi, 59, a one-time royal insider deplorable incident could not happen again,” The video, which was released on Friday, shows satellite im- who had been critical of Mohammed bin said May’s office in a statement. ages and precise map locations of various strategic sites in the Salman recently, was killed after entering Meanwhile, hundreds of people, in- occupied territories, including Israeli air force bases, military the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. cluding protesters from anti-capitalist and headquarters in Tel Aviv, an oil refinery and the Dimona nuclear For weeks, Riyadh denied any involvement in relations with the West and battered bin being part of the probe into the murder of rights groups, held multiple rallies against weapons center. the journo’s disappearance but under grow- Salman’s image abroad. Saudi Arabia claims the ill-fated journo. the summit, slamming U.S. President Donald It also features Hezbollah fighters preparing to fire rockets ing pressure from international community that the prince had no prior knowledge of Furthermore, the English-language Saudi Trump, among other key figures, for what while Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, head of the resistance group, is eventually acknowledged that was killed and the murder. Gazette shared a video of the meeting report- they called failing to address a broad range heard as saying, “There will be a response to every Israeli attack dismembered in a premeditated murder. ‘I am worried,’ Macron tells bin Salman edly showing a cryptic exchange between of issues, including climate change, poverty in Lebanon.” However, the Saudi regime has sought to Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel the pair on the killing of Khashoggi. In the and immigration. The video - that has Hebrew subtitles - ends with the warn- distance the heir to the Saudi throne from the Macron met with Mohammed bin Salman on video, the Saudi prince can be heard telling The demonstrators also accused the G20 ing, “If you dare attack, you will regret it.” assassination despite the emerging evidence the sidelines of the summit and had a short the French president “Don’t worry”, to which group of countries of concentrating too much Earlier this week, an Israeli commander called on Tel Aviv to alleging otherwise. A recent report by the exchange with him. According to officials at he replies, “I am worried.” on financial interests and globalization, while resort to the policy of “targeted killings,” arguing that the assas- U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said the Elysee Palace, the French leader conveyed Later in the one-minute clip posted on condemning austerity measures proposed by sination of Nasrallah would deal a fatal blow to the resistance that it had concluded that bin Salman had a “very firm” message to the Saudi prince Twitter, Macron is heard saying, “You never Argentina’s government and backed by the movement. been behind the gruesome crime. over the killing of Khashoggi. listen to me,” to which bin Salman replies, “I International Monetary Fund, a dignitary Hezbollah was formed following the Israeli regime’s invasion The killing of Khashoggi, a Washing- Reuters quoted Macron as saying that will listen, of course”, as they were standing at the summit. of Lebanon and the ensuing occupation of its southern parts in ton Post columnist, has strained Riyadh’s Europe would insist on international experts close together and apparently unaware their (Source: Press TV) the 1980s, and currently constitutes Lebanon’s de facto military power. Since then, the movement has helped the national army retake Suu Kyi to be stripped of freedom of Two jailed Catalan separatist leaders the occupied regions from Tel Aviv and thwart two Israeli acts of aggression in 2000 and 2006. Paris award start hunger strike The movement has also been playing a significant role in the Syrian army’s fight against Takfiri terrorist groups, including Daesh and al-Nusra Front, thus preventing the spillover of the war into Lebanon. Since the end of the 2006 war, Israeli forces have regularly violated Lebanon’s sovereignty, with the regime’s officials even threatening another offensive against the Arab country. Back in September, a senior Israeli commander said that the regime would not distinguish between Hezbollah and the Lebanese army in the next military confrontation. “The distinction made between Hezbollah and Lebanon during the Second Lebanon War was a mistake,” he said. “In the next war, we will not make this distinction. We will hit Lebanon and any infrastructure that would contribute to the fighting.” Nasrallah, however, warned that the balance of power in the region has changed in favor of the anti-Israel axis of resistance and that the Tel Aviv regime has failed in all of its attempts to prevent Hezbollah from achieving precision rockets. (Source: Press TV)

Paris city will strip Aung San Suu Kyi of of favor in the West over her inaction in the Two jailed Catalan separatist leaders await- other Catalan separatist leaders jailed in her honorary freedom of the French capital face of the crackdown on the mostly Muslim ing trial in a Spanish jail over their role in the Lledoners penitentiary near Barcelona 113 inmates escape from over her failure to speak out against a crack- Rohingya. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled last year’s failed independence bid by Cat- would later join the hunger strike. down on Myanmar’s Rohingya minority, a violence in the Buddhist-majority country alonia began a hunger strike on Saturday, Spain’s Supreme Court in October or- Indonesian prison during mayor’s spokeswoman said Friday. last year, mostly to neighboring Bangladesh. their lawyer said. dered a total of 18 former Catalan sepa- Mayor Anne Hidalgo decided to revoke A U.N. rights team found evidence of Jordi Sanchez, the former head of ratist leaders to stand trial over last year’s prayer time the honor because of the “multiple violations widespread murder, rape, torture and the influential grassroots ANC inde- declaration of independence. of human rights recorded in Myanmar and arson and called for top generals to be pendence movement, and Jordi Turull, Prosecutors are seeking jail terms of the violence and persecution by Myanmar’s prosecuted for genocide, war crimes and a former minister in the Catalan region- up to 25 years on charges of rebellion or security forces against the Rohingya mi- crimes against humanity. al government, are taking this step to misuse of public funds over the failed se- nority,” the spokeswoman told AFP. Hidalgo’s office said the mayor wrote “raise awareness” of their plight, lawyer cession bid. The move, which follows similar deci- to Suu Kyi late last year to “express her Jordi Pina told a news conference in The sensitive trial is expected to start in sions by Glasgow, Edinburgh and Oxford, concern and call for respect for the rights Barcelona. early 2019 -- more than a year after Catalan would make Myanmar’s de facto leader of the Rohingya minority,” but that the “I did not recommend this action, it is leaders attempted to break away from Spain the first person to lose the freedom of the letter went unanswered. a decision of my clients and they have my in October 2017 by staging a referendum French capital, a purely symbolic award. Suu Kyi’s supporters argue that she has full support,” he added. despite a court ban and subsequently pro- The move will be finalized by the city no powers to rein in the army. In a statement read by Pina, the two claiming independence. council at a meeting in mid-December, the She has already been stripped of her men accused Spain’s Constitutional Court Nine of the separatists remain in spokeswoman said. Nobel peace laureate honorary Canadian citizenship and her of blocking their appeals against their im- preventive jail while they await their Suu Kyi, once feted as a democracy icon in the Amnesty International’s “Ambassador prisonment from reaching the European trial, including the seven at the Lle- mold of Nelson Mandela for leading opposition of Conscience Award.” Court of Human Rights. doners jail. to Myanmar’s military junta, has fallen out (Source: AFP) Pina said he did not know if the five (Sucre: AFP)

Another UK govt minister quits over Brexit deal Indonesian soldiers and police joined a manhunt for 87 inmates still on the run after escaping from a prison in the western British government minister Sam Gyimah quit over Prime province of Aceh, officials said. Minister Theresa May’s “naive” Brexit plan, dealing her The break occurred when all 720 inmates were let out of another blow in her fight to pass it through parliament. their cells to take part in evening prayers, said Trisno Riyanto, The universities and science minister is the seventh mem- police chief in Banda Aceh, the capital of the province. ber of May’s government to quit since she brought back the The 113 inmates who escaped from the Lambaro prison draft Withdrawal Agreement from Brussels. in Banda Aceh late Thursday had hurled water bottles laced Gyimah, who voted to remain in the EU, said the deal with chillis at guards, and used barbells to smash windows, was “not in the British national interest” and that voting for said Sri Puguh Budi Utami, Indonesia’s director of prisons. it would set Britain “up for failure”. He said that the inmates, who were mostly convicted of “Britain will end up worse off, transformed from rule drug charges and apparently had planned their escape in ad- makers into rule takers,” he wrote on Facebook. vance, cut through the wire and iron bars using barbells and “It is a democratic deficit and a loss of sovereignty the crowbars in the reception room and made a dash through rice public will rightly never accept,” he added. fields in front of the prison. He did not rule out the possibility of supporting a sec- The guard’s injuries were not serious, police said. ond referendum, saying “we shouldn’t dismiss out of hand At least 26 prisoners have been recaptured and police set the idea of asking the people again what future they want”. up roadblocks across Banda Aceh to search for the 87 others. Gyimah said Britain’s exclusion from the EU’s Galileo Aceh provincial police chief Rio Septianda Djambak called on program because of Brexit was a “clarion call”, saying it was the escaped prisoners to surrender within three days and urged “only a foretaste of what’s to come” in negotiating a future their relatives to support authorities in bringing them back. relationship with the bloc. “We will not hesitate to take firm action to force them to “I have seen first-hand the EU stack the deck against us obey the law,” Djambak said. time and time again,” he said. Jailbreaks are common in Indonesia, where overcrowding Britain in June revealed that it had been formally excluded has become a problem in prisons that are struggling to cope from future contracts for the program that is intended for praised May’s “grit and determination”, but his resignation warned that voting against the deal could scupper the with poor funding and an influx of people arrested in a war on commercial uses such as logistics as well as for armed forces highlights the daunting task of getting the deal through par- whole process. drugs. Most prisoners have been convicted of drug charges. and emergency services. liament, with both Remainers and Brexiteers in her own “It’s time for all of us to put our personal perfect plan Last year, more than 440 prisoners escaped from a pen- Brussels has said it will deny London access to Galileo’s party vowing to vote it down on December 11. to one side, recognize the reality of the choice we face, and itentiary in neighboring Riau province when they also took encrypted signals after Britain’s EU departure next year, May commands a wafer-thin majority in parliament, start to bring the country back together again,” he wrote in advantage of Friday Muslim prayers. In July 2013, about 240 despite its estimated £1.2 billion ($1.5 billion, 1.3 billion and around 100 of her own MPs have already promised the Daily Mail. prisoners, including several convicted terrorists, escaped dur- euros) investment. to rebel. “Get this wrong and we may put in peril the Brexit the ing a deadly riot at a prison in Medan, the capital of North May has said Britain would look to build its own system. She did, however, receive backing from senior minis- British people voted for and want us to deliver.” Sumatra province. Gyimah, a former aide to prime minister David Cameron ter and prominent Brexit supporter Michael Gove, who (Source: AFP) (Source: Daily Star) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY DECEMBER 2, 2018

STOCK MARKET Over 434m tons of TEDPIX 159853.8 IFX 1717.61 commodities worth Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir $381m traded in CURRENCIES USD 42,000 rials EUR 47,813 rials IME in a week GBP 53,941rials ECONOMY TEHRAN — During were traded. deskweekdays ending up to On this trading floor, 15,500 tons of AED 11,430 rials November 29, approximately, 434,387 sponge iron, 122,244 MT of steel, 4,525 Source: iribnews.ir million tons (MT) of commodities worth MT of copper, 3,500 MT of aluminum, over $381 million were traded in Iran 25,000 MT of zinc soil, 940 MT of zinc in- Mercantile Exchange (IME). gots, 9 MT of precious metal concentrates According to the report from IME In- and 140 MT molybdenum concentrate ternational Affairs and Public Relations were traded by customers. million were traded. sulfur as well as 2,150 MT of insulation COMMODITIES Department, last week, on the domestic The report declares that on domestic On this trading floor, 128,120 MT of were traded. WTI $50.93/b and export metal and mineral trading and export oil and petrochemical trading VB feed stock, 28,720 MT of bitumen, Moreover, on the agricultural trading Brent $59.46/b floor of IME, 146,858 MT of various floors of IME, 229,937 MT of different 39,958 MT of polymer products, 29,634 floor of IME witnessed trading 32,000 products worth close to $172.6 million commodities with the total value of $214 MT of chemical products, 2,140 MT of MT of wheat was traded by customers. OPEC Basket $58.09/b Gold $1,222.90/oz Silver $14.22/oz Pakistan determined to complete IP ‘Iran-EEU free trade agreement can Platinium $804.10/oz gas pipeline: petroleum min. boost Iranian exports to Russia’ Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com ENERGY TEHRAN — Pakistani ECONOMY TEHRAN — The Iran’s export to Russia is currently low. deskPetroleum Minister deskagreement for the Russia’s President Vladimir Pu- Ghulam Sarwar Khan announced on Friday establishment of a free trade zone tin has endorsed a much-awaited NEWS IN BRIEF that his country is resolved to complete between Iran and the Eurasian Eco- agreement for the establishment of a Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, nomic Union (EEU) is an opportunity free trade zone between Iran and the IRAN TRANS IRNA reported. for Iran to boost its exports to Russia, Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) thus EXPO 2018 to be “Pakistan will implement the project,” according to the Iranian head of Iran- facilitating the process for the Islamic the Pakistani minister vowed. Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce. Republic to join the Moscow-led re- held in mid-Dec. I have received an invitation letter from Hadi Tizhoush-Taban said that the gional economic bloc. Iranian oil minister but the trip’s itinerary as the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline agreement also makes it possible to According to a Kremlin announce- has not been planned yet, he told IRNA. project, and despite the fact that Iran export some goods to Russia that are ment, the agreement became a federal Regarding the imposed U.S. sanctions has completed its part of the pipeline in not already exported to that country, law after Putin’s endorsement and was ECONOMY TEHRAN — The 3rd edition of Iran’s on Iran, Sarwar Khan said that Pakistan’s its territory, Pakistan has fallen behind the website of Iran Chamber of Com- accordingly forwarded to the relevant deskLogistics, Transportation, and Related decisions would merely base on the the target to take delivery of gas, initially merce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture institutions to be implemented. Industries Exhibition (IRAN TRANS EXPO 2018) will country’s interests. scheduled for 2014. (ICCIMA) reported. Apart from authorizing the crea- be held on December 16-18 at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini He also informed that an Iranian expert The IP pipeline, would cover a distance The head of Iran-Russia Joint Cham- tion of a free trade zone between Iran Mosalla, IRIB reported. delegation has visited Islamabad to resume of 1,900 kilometers, initially it would bring ber of Commerce further commented and the EU, the document would be The international exhibition seeks to present the latest negotiations on IP project. 750 million cubic feet of gas per day, which that the chambers of commerce of Iran’s meant to support their cooperation achievements, capabilities and transportation technologies Near 20 years after the initiation of could later be enhanced to one billion cubic northern provinces can expand trade over a wide range of economic and in Iran besides providing a good opportunity for introducing talks over the peace gas pipeline, beginning feet per day. ties with Russia and lamented that commercial areas. domestic production in this sector. As reported, above 200 well-known companies in transportation sector will take part in the event. Exports to Armenia grow IOSCO elevates SEO’s membership status 30 railway 48% in 10 months stations under ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’ million, while the figure stood at $144 ECONOMY TEHRAN— The Inter- bringing more trust for foreign investors to deskcommercial attaché million in the end of October, 2017,” desknational Organization of make investment in Iran’s capital market. construction to Armenia announced that regarding Mohsen Rahimi said. Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has elevated IOSCO is the international body that the released data by the Islamic Republic “The 211-million-dollar trade between the membership status of Iran’s Securities brings together the world’s securities of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), the two sides in 2017, and the current year’s and Exchange Organization (SEO) from as- regulators and is recognized as the global exports to Armenia has increased 48 $297 million shows 40 percent growth sociate to ordinary, SEO Public Relations standard setter for the securities sector. ECONOMY TEHRAN — Some 30 railway stations percent in terms of value from January in bilateral trade,” he added. Department announced on Saturday. IOSCO develops, implements and promotes deskare under construction throughout the to October, 2018, the portal of Trade Iran exported $175 million of goods in SEO Head Shapour Mohammadi said adherence to internationally recognized country, Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, a director in Islamic Promotion organization of Iran (TPO) 2017 to Armenia and in case the announced this elevation is the result of team works in standards for securities regulation. It works Republic of Iran Railways, announced on Saturday, IRNA reported on Saturday. 48 percent growth would remain stable, his organization. intensively with the G20 and the Financial reported. “The total value of Iran’s export to the figure will hit $250 million by 2018 This status will lay the ground for more Stability Board (FSB) on the global regulatory As previously reported, 10 railway stations were inau- Armenia is estimated to stand at $212 yearend, the same report confirmed. attraction of foreign investment to the country reform agenda. gurated in the country during the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20, 2018). Cost of constructing those stations was over 350 billion Steel and aluminum tariffs remain a headache despite Trump’s trade deal with Mexico and Canada rials (about $8.33 million). The United States might have a new North American trade Canada but maintains the integrity of the president’s steel deal in place, but the Trump administration’s tariffs on steel and aluminum programs which have been very successful and aluminum continue to be a headache for businesses, for the U.S.,” he said. lawmakers and America’s neighbors. Some policy watchers predict that the tariffs will be Gold prices fall for the week, Despite expectations to the contrary, the 25 percent tariffs lifted soon. on steel and 10 percent duties on aluminum are staying put “USTR Lighthizer today carefully acknowledged that gain for the month for now. They remain such a big point of contention that the three countries will negotiate on the tariffs. Once Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took aim at the they agree that there are demonstrably changed circum- Gold prices fell Friday to settle lower for the week, but scored tariffs Friday during a signing ceremony for the United stances on metals issues, the metals tariffs on Canada a second straight monthly gain. “We can come up with a lot States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. and Mexico likely cease, our instinct is early in the New of theories, conjectures and ‘what ifs’ but at the end of the Trudeau tied the tariffs to the layoff plans at General Year,” Terry Haines, an analyst at ISI Evercore, wrote day, gold remains pretty much a dollar-driven storyline,” said Motors announced earlier this week to the chagrin of lead- in a note to clients. Stephen Innes, Asia Pacific head of trading at Oanda. February ers and workers in the U.S. and Canada. “Donald, it’s all But businesses and farmers are growing impatient. An gold GCG9, -0.21% fell by $4.40, or 0.4%, to settle at $1,226 an the more reason why we need to keep working to remove agricultural coalition group formed to oppose tariffs said ounce. The contract lost nearly 0.3% for the week, but based the tariffs on steel and aluminum between our countries,” that U.S. exports targeted with retaliation, including beef, on the most-active contracts, prices rose roughly 0.9% for the the Canadian prime minister told U.S. President Donald Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said the tariffs are “doing more harm pork and apples have faced more than $1.1 billion in new month, according to FactSet data. Trump, who was standing directly to his right. than good.” He added that Commerce Secretary Wilbur tariffs, leading to a 21 percent drop in exports. (Source: The MarketWatch) The tariffs were first put into place on March 23 under Ross said over the summer that the tariffs would be lifted “While USMCA offers exciting opportunities for market the Commerce Department’s rarely used national security as part of the larger trade negotiation. access into America’s largest and closest ag export markets, authority, known as Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act “Our objective is to have a revitalized NAFTA, a NAFTA any gains will continue to be offset by the losses farmers are of 1962. Mexico and Canada were initially exempt pending that helps America and as part of that the 232s would logi- experiencing from retaliatory tariffs as long as they are in Italy needs to diverge the outcome of the renegotiation of the North American cally go away both as it relates to Canada and to Mexico,” place,” Brian Kuehl, executive director of Farmers for Free from EU fiscal parameters, Free Trade Agreement. The exemption was removed June Ross told the Senate Finance Committee in testimony on Trade, wrote in a statement. 1, however. June 20. The influential Business Roundtable also called for a Savona says Several lawmakers expressed their dismay that the tariffs Speaking to reporters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, U.S. “prompt resolution” of the tariff issue and said it would on our key allies have not been lifted. Sen. Rob Portman, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the tariffs are review the USMCA against the objective of increasing the Italy needs to move away from European Union fiscal R-Ohio, and Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., separately said working, but that negotiations were continuing. competitiveness of U.S. companies. parameters agreed to by previous governments to guarantee they were “disappointed” there is still no resolution. Sen. “We want an agreement that is fair to Mexico and fair to (Source: CNBC) economic and political stability, European Affairs Minister Paolo Savona wrote in a letter to Il Messaggero. “The proposal would reasonably allow us to return in three years to the path of the readjustment of the Bitcoin price ends Nov. with worst Deutsche Bank slashes structural budget deficit and the reduction of the public monthly decline in 7 years GE price target to $7 debt to gross domestic product,” Savona said. An essential step in this strategy must be the revival Bitcoin just ended its worst-performing it comes to price performance. Deutsche Bank slashed its General Electric DeBlase said, but Deutsche Bank will “ig- of public and private investments, he wrote. “This would month in seven years in terms of month- As a result, the broader market suffered price target to $7 a share on Friday, saying nore the bull case for now since it probably strengthen the confidence of the markets on the solvency over-month price declines. substantial losses in November, with just revenue for the conglomerate’s struggling wouldn’t be viewed as credible.” of our public debt, already solid because of the existence The world’s largest cryptocurrency be- one of the world’s largest 25 cryptocurren- power business “remains flattish but does In Deutsche Bank’s base case, or most of considerable financial wealth available to Italians,” gan November at an average price across cies able to post a monthly gain. not continue to decline.” likely, scenario, GE would see about 34 Savona continued in the letter published Saturday. exchanges of $6,341, but as of 0:00 UTC The outlier was bitcoin SV, a fork off of “We think the key debates can be boiled cents per share of free cash flow in 2019 Savona also reiterated that Italy needs to be part of on December 1 is trading at just $3,964, the original bitcoin cash blockchain, yet it down to the trajectory of GE Industrial and 25 cents per share in 2020. DeBlase a single market at the European level and that requires according to CoinDesk’s Bitcoin Price Index. has only existed long enough to accrue 22 [free cash flow] and whether the company said upside for GE under Deutsche Bank’s a single currency but that the current “institutional As it stands, the near $2,400 drop in days of pricing data on CoinMarketCap. is headed for a liquidity crisis,” Deutsche base case comes down to: “Positive trends architecture on which they are based doesn’t meet the bitcoin’s price has created a -37.4 percent As can be seen in the above graph, double- Bank analyst Nicole DeBlase said in a in the company’s Power business, upside to objectives we had set ourselves with the Maastricht Treaty monthly performance, which is its worst on digits losses were common among the world’s note to investors. The firm’s base case debt reduction targets, improved margin and, therefore, must be corrected.” record since August 2011, when it fell from largest cryptocurrencies in November. Tezos assumes “an economic downturn does dynamics in the company’s renewable en- The Italian government, which has been in office roughly $8 to $4.80 to print a -40 percent (XTZ) was the worst performer of the month, not happen” through the end of 2021, ergy business, general economic strength.” since June 1, has been struggling to balance its populist monthly loss, according to data from the reflecting a 61.5 percent loss with bitcoin DeBlase said. DeBase said the firm sees “execution program with the reality of limited financial resources. CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (BPI). cash (BCH) just 3 percent behind. Even in Deutsche Bank’s bear case, mishaps” from GE Chairman and CEO Italy has suffered from years of near-stagnation and the Since bitcoin is the largest cryptocur- What’s more, the average performance DeBlase said the firm does “not forsee a Larry Culp’s strategy review as a key risk European Commission says it expects the country to have rency in terms of market capitalization by a of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market liquidity crisis.” moving forward, as well as outside factors the slowest growth rate in the 19-nation euro region this considerable margin, now comprising 53.5 capitalization was -30 percent, while the av- GE shares fell 4.3 percent in trading. like an economic downturn or “geopoliti- year and next. percent of the total market, all other cryp- erage performance of all 25 was -37 percent. The firm laid out “new detailed base cal instability.” (Source: Bloomberg) tocurrencies tend to follow its lead when (Source: coindesk) and bear case” free cash flow analyses, (Source: CNBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 2, 2018 ENERGY 5

Oil skids to worst loss in 10 years Windy weather carries Britain to renewable as market waits on OPEC+ cut energy record Storm Diana brought travel chaos to road, rail and airports, but Oil closed out its worst month since the delivery fell 52 cents, or 1 percent, to $50.93 a the clouds did have a silver lining: the strong winds helped set a global financial crisis a decade ago, as all barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange renewable energy record. eyes turned to this weekend’s G-20 summit Friday. Windfarms supplied about a third of the UK’s electricity between for signs that Saudi Arabia and Russia can Brent crude for February settlement 6pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday, a time of peak energy demand. head off a worldwide supply glut. dropped 45 cents to $59.46 on London’s Output hit a high of 14.9GW, beating a previous record of 14.5GW. Crude futures made up some ICE Futures Europe exchange. The January The milestone coincides with the official opening on Friday ground Friday after an OPEC advisory contract for the global benchmark, which of E.ON’s Rampion windfarm off the coast near Brighton, which committee recommended a 1.3 million expired Friday, traded at a $7.78 premium is the first in the Channel and can power about 350,000 homes. cut to the cartel’s daily output. Still, prices to WTI for the same month. Blustery weather has buoyed wind output in the past few days, finished down 22 percent for November, Russian and Saudi officials are scheduled with National Grid reporting thousands of wind turbines were the deepest slide since October 2008. That to meet in Moscow over the weekend, the UK’s No 1 source of power across Wednesday and Thursday, capped a volatile month beset by worries signaling that an agreement on production at about 32% of generation. Gas power stations are usually top. about booming production and the impact cuts is possible if talks between Russian Windfarms have moved from a niche source of electricity gen- of international trade tensions. President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown eration a decade ago – when they supplied less than 2% – to a Investors are now focused on the G-20 Prince Mohammed bin Salman go well in cornerstone of Britain’s power mix, at nearly 15% of supply last year. summit in Argentina, where leaders from the Argentina, according to people briefed on The 400MW Rampion project is one of four big offshore wind- U.S., Russia and Saudi Arabia -- the world’s the discussions. farms to come online this year, along with a 92MW windfarm three biggest oil producers -- will gather “As things stand, the Russians and Saudis in Aberdeen Bay, a 353MW windfarm off the Suffolk coast and in a prelude to a key OPEC meeting next are still far from being on the same page a 659MW windfarm off Cumbria, which is the world’s biggest. week in Vienna. Russian Energy Minister over the finer details of looming output More vast schemes are in the wings, with a 588MW windfarm Alexander Novak said earlier on Friday restrictions,” Stephen Brennock, an analyst in the Moray Firth due to become fully operational next year. The that he was comfortable with prices where at PVM Oil Associates in London, wrote in title of world’s largest windfarm will be taken by a 1,218MW project they currently are, adding to uncertainty either contradictory or reinforcing “It’s the kind of to-and-fro that creates a report. “Against this backdrop, the most off east Yorkshire a year later. about what top oil exporters can agree on. leading up to the OPEC meeting,” said volatility because people’s expectations likely outcome of next week’s OPEC meeting Emma Pinchbeck, the executive director of the industry body “You’re going to have a ballet and Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity can’t be anchored.” is a fudge.” RenewableUK, said: “It’s great to see British wind power setting concert of various statements that are markets strategy at BNP Paribas in London. West Texas Intermediate for January (Source: Bloomberg) new records at one of the coldest, darkest, wettest times of the year.” Onshore windfarms are cheaper and provide more power than those offshore, but the government has blocked them from com- OPEC meeting marks the ‘toughest test yet’ for Saudi-Russia energy alliance, analysts say peting for subsidies. (Source: The Guardian) The energy alliance note published Friday. very least.” Mohammed bin Salman in the face of between OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and It leaves the de facto OPEC leader and Russia has also warned the Middle East- allegations that he had ordered the killing non-OPEC heavyweight Russia faces its allied non-OPEC producer facing its “toughest dominated group that it must be careful of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Vietnam proving fertile “toughest test yet” next week, analysts have test yet” to find a compromise, Brennock to ensure it does not end up changing its Trump publicly thanked Riyadh for helping told CNBC, ahead of a much-anticipated added. course by 180 degrees whenever it meets. to keep a lid on oil prices. ground as China’s solar giants meeting between the influential oil cartel Riyadh vs. Moscow “OPEC is grappling over how to manage But, the U.S. president has called on Saudi plug domestic hole and its allies. Saudi Arabia has been leading calls for the the expected weaker fundamentals in the oil Arabia to push prices even lower over the OPEC and non-OPEC members will meet oil cartel to trim output in a bid to alleviate market next year, yet the uncertainty about coming months. Vietnam is proving to be an increasingly lucrative market for in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday, with the aim concerns of oversupply. Yet, while the oil- what the group will do at its meeting next week “Against this backdrop, the most likely Chinese solar manufacturers looking to compensate for the sur- of reaching an accord over possible output rich kingdom has recently warned it would is causing markets to be more anxious,” Peter outcome of next week’s OPEC meeting is a prise hiatus in their own domestic market. cuts in order to prop up tumbling oil prices. not be prepared to cut crude output alone, it Kiernan, lead energy analyst at the Economist fudge. Russia and Saudi Arabia will agree to In May, Beijing paused support for large, utility-scale solar Crude futures have fallen more than has previously promised to do “whatever it Intelligence Unit, told CNBC via email Friday. curb production but by less than is needed to projects capping development at a level 25% below the previous year. 25 percent since climbing to a four-year takes” to prevent the return of a supply glut. “Saudi Arabia sees the need to cut output, prevent a supply imbalance in early 2019,” peak in early October, amid intensifying However, Moscow does not share Riyadh’s but it wants co-operation from other OPEC PVM Oil Associates’ Brennock said Friday. oversupply concerns and worries over enthusiasm for a reversal in production members and Russia to do so, while also “Christmas is unlikely to come early for slowing economic growth. This collapse strategy. avoiding any conflict with the Trump beleaguered oil bulls,” he added. in prices has ratcheted up the pressure on Simmering global trade tensions and U.S. administration over the direction of oil About two dozen exporting nations began OPEC and its allied partners to orchestrate sanctions against Iran have helped Russia prices,” he added. capping their output in 2017 in a bid to drain a fresh round of production cuts at its final consolidate its leading position in China’s OPEC alliance likely to ‘fudge’ a global crude glut. meeting of the calendar year. energy market in recent months. crucial meeting The group relaxed this strategy in June, “As things stand, the Russian and Saudis So, it is little surprise Russia has been President Donald Trump — who is but in September, some of the world’s leading are still far from being on the same page reluctant to sign off on a fresh round of publicly in favor of low fuel prices — has oil producers were talking about pumping over the finer details of looming output supply cuts, analysts said, with the non- urged OPEC not to reduce crude production extra oil onto the market in order to help Manufacturers, who had been bulking up their production restrictions,” Stephen Brennock, oil analyst OPEC heavyweight instead preferring to next month. soothe intensifying supply shock fears. capacity and updating their equipment for a more powerful and at PVM Oil Associates, said in a research maintain current production levels “at the A day after standing by Crown Prince (Source: CNBC) efficient iteration of panel, were caught cold. Since the announce- ment companies such as LONGi Solar, Jinko and JA have been working hard to secure new business overseas. Jinko secured a 240MW supply deal in Vietnam in August. Trina Russia’s oil minister: Bad weather closes Libyan oil ports, Solar a 258MW order in the same month. Today, Risen Energy and JA oil prices are good where they are 150,000 bpd output shut in Solar secured separate deals of 62MW and 257MW respectively. Competition in Vietnam and other large emerging solar markets “In my view, the current price range of Several crude oil terminals in Libya have like Mexico and Brazil and Europe’s re-emerging markets in Spain, the oil is comfortable for both producers and been closed due to inclement weather, with U.K. and Germanyis likely to hot up. consumers,” said Russia’s Energy Minister oil production in the country already down Speaking in June, just weeks after the Chinese government’s Alexander Novak in an interview with news by 150,000 bpd and likely to drop by a announcement, Li Zhenguo, president of the LONGi Group was agency TASS. further 50,000 bpd, Libya’s National Oil philosophical about the changes. The official added that the $80+ Brent Corporation (NOC) said on Friday. “It will make the industry develop in a faster and [more efficient] crude prices we saw earlier this year were a The state oil firm confirmed that four oil way for solar adoption. China might be reduced by 10GW but the temporary thing that had to do mostly with ahead of the Vienna meeting with OPEC, port terminals—Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Zawiya, violence, as it happened in June and July, resulting price declines will stimulate other markets. What we don’t the uncertainty surrounding Iran, which declining to suggest any size of production and Es Sider—are currently non-operational when armed groups attacked the eastern have is detailed numbers that tell us whether this will be enough prompted a lot of speculative oil buying. cuts if Russia agrees to them. due to high waves. The Brega oil terminal oil ports in Libya, forcing a large part of to offset the decrease in China,” he said adding that developing Now the price has corrected, although To finalize this position, Novak said, may also have to suspend operations as Libya’s oil production to shut in and NOC overseas markets was a must. uncertainty around Iran remains. Moscow will take into account factors such of Friday afternoon local time, NOC said to declare force majeure for several weeks. “Energy consumption in China was 25% of the global total but Novak’s interview comes on the heels as global oil supply as of end-November, in a statement. Loading schedules at the Following severe production and export it was 50% of solar installs. That means there is greater potential of a Reuters report citing sources from production in different countries, Iranian currently closed oil terminals have been disruptions in the early summer, Libya’s in other countries to deploy solar. It’s not just LONGi, everyone the oil industry speaking on condition exports, and the latest developments in postponed, the company noted. oil production has been steadily rising over needs to develop a strategy to develop markets outside of China.” of anonymity that said the Kremlin had the U.S.-China trade spat. Libya’s current oil production has the past three months. For markets where the cost of financing a solar project might be accepted the need to reduce production Yet it seems Russian companies are ready already fallen by 150,000 bpd and is likely In August, production recovered higher, every cent that can be reduced from the up-front cost can again at a meeting between government to start cutting if OPEC+ reaches an agree- to be cut by another 50,000 bpd, due to to average 955,000 bpd, while Libya’s increase the viability of its economics. officials and representatives of local oil ment at next week’s meeting. According lack of additional storage capacity at the production in September further jumped A meeting in early November between Chinese officials and the companies. to Reuters, if the cartel agrees a cut of 1 closed ports. by 100,000 bpd to average 1.054 million industry offered no definitive answers on what the future holds “The idea at the meeting was that Rus- million bpd, Russia’s portion would come “Projections based on the new bpd, and then by yet another 60,000 bpd for the country’s domestic policy. This might offer some hope to sia needs to reduce. The key question is in at 166,000 bpd. That’s a little more than production level indicate that Es Sider to average 1.114 million bpd in October, as developers and investors that they can exploit lower pricing. The how quickly and by how much,” one of half of what Russian producers agreed to tanks will be full within two days. Should per data from OPEC’s secondary sources. National Energy Administration (NEA) is keen to see the country’s the Reuters sources said, adding “Most cut in 2016. That cut represented a sixth bad weather persist, 150,000 barrels of As of last week, Libya was pumping close grid infrastructure improved. Many projects, especially in China’s people agreed that we cannot reduce im- of Russia’s total, but, one of the Reuters’ Sharara production could also be affected,” to 1.3 million bpd, and NOC’s chairman western deserts had their output curtailed as the network couldn’t mediately, it needs to be a gradual process sources said, “It was also said [at the meet- NOC said. Mustafa Sanalla said that he hoped Libya cope with the levels of generation. like last time.” ing with companies] that reducing by one Although it will disrupt Libya’s oil would be exempted, again, from any new Developers from Vietnam to the U.S. have seen prices fall but According to Novak, the Energy Ministry sixth this time is a big ask.” production and loading schedules at the OPEC-wide production cuts. the demand for premium solar modules is on the rise, which could has yet to finalize its position on the cuts (Source: oilprice.com) key ports, this time the closure is not due to (Source:oilprice.com) widen the gap between the cost of the best and the price of the rest. (Source: Forbes) Next year’s challenge for Canada’s oil patch comes from the Sea China to further reduce Just when relief was in sight for Canada’s beleaguered heavy average about $20 a barrel below West Texas Intermediate retail oil price oil producers, a new threat is emerging. for most of next year, about equal to the cost of rail trans- A new rule taking effect in 2020 aimed at reducing pol- port, said Wood Mackenzie’s Oberstoetter, lead analyst for China on Friday announced a third straight cut in retail prices lution by cutting the sulfur content of maritime fuel will Canadian upstream research. Gains from Line 3 will almost of oil products in this month, the largest reduction since 2008, make sulfur-heavy oil sands crude less desirable. That may be canceled out by losses from the IMO ship fuel rules. the top economic planner said Friday. dampen the impact of an Enbridge Inc. pipeline expansion During the first year, the ship-fuel standard will make Starting Saturday, the prices of gasoline and diesel will be and additional rail capacity that oil producers are counting WCS crude about $7 or $8 a barrel cheaper relative to West lowered by 540 yuan (about 78 U.S. dollars) and 520 yuan per on to ease a transportation glut from Alberta. Texas Intermediate futures than it would normally be, IHS ton, respectively, according to the National Development and Heavy oil prices sank to less than $15 a barrel, as rising Markit’s Barrow, vice president of the oil markets for mid- Reform Commission (NDRC). production swamped existing pipelines and rail routes, forcing stream and downstream energy, said by phone from Houston. Under the current pricing mechanism, if international crude some producers to shut in output. Some companies have WCS traded at $29 a barrel less than futures on Friday, data oil prices change by more than 50 yuan per ton and remain at called for Alberta’s provincial government to mandate supply compiled by Bloomberg show. that level for 10 working days, the prices of refined oil products cuts across the industry. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said CERI’s forecast is direr. Heavy Canadian crude could trade in China will be adjusted accordingly. she is studying the concept and announced that the province at $33 a barrel below WTI for the long term because of the Global oil prices went down due to increased output from Saudi will buy rail cars to help ship more crude. lower sulfur rule, Fogwill said in a presentation Wednesday. Arabia, forecast-beating U.S. stockpile and softer-than-expected “We’ve got challenges with respect to pipelines, we’ve got At that price, as much as 570,000 barrels a day of oil sands U.S. sanctions against Iran, the NDRC price monitoring center challenges with respect to rail and now we’ve got challenges Organization 2020 rule starts to impact local crude prices, production is “at risk” of becoming unprofitable. said, predicting the weakness will continue. with respect to our demand market,” Allan Fogwill, chief according to analysts including CERI’s Fogwill, IHS Markit’s To make things worse, oil supply in Western Canada will The NDRC has asked major Chinese oil companies, includ- executive officer of the Canadian Energy Research Institute Kurt Barrow and Wood Mackenzie’s Mark Oberstoetter. increase by 236,000 barrels to about 4.78 million barrels ing China National Petroleum, China Petrochemical and China said at a presentation in Calgary Wednesday. The producers most exposed to these steep discounts include a day, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum National Offshore Oil, to ensure a stable supply and implement Next year, rail exports could almost double from a re- oil companies with limited or no refining operations such Producers. That will exceed the estimated 4.5 million-barrel the pricing policy. cord 270,000 barrels a day in September, according to com- as Cenovus Energy Inc. and MEG Energy Corp. and Athabasca pipeline capacity, even with Enbridge’s Line 3 addition. The economic planner said it would closely monitor the effects pany announcements. In the second half of 2019, Enbridge’s Oil Corp., Royal Bank of Canada Analyst Greg Pardy said last “We are at an historically crucial point in terms of how of the current pricing mechanism and make improvements in Line 3 will add 375,000 barrels a day of extra pipeline ca- month. tight this infrastructure is,” Oberstoetter said. response to global fluctuations. pacity. That’s around the time the International Maritime Western Canadian Select, the main oil sands grade, may (Source: Bloomberg) (Source: Xinhua) ساعت: 17:00 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL DECEMBER 2, 2018 NEWS IN BRIEF U.S. India, China, Russia hold first airstrike kills 23 in trilateral talks in 12 years at G-20 Afghanistan INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — After a gap mon interest and similar development goals, INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN —Compounding the misery deskof more than a decade, re- and bear great responsibility for the future of deskof war-weary Afghans, the U.S. forces gional giants India, China and Russia held the region and the world as a whole, he added. are carrying out deadly aerial operations in Afghanistan, a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the He called on the three countries to further resulting in the killing of innocent civilians. G-20 summit on Friday. advance trilateral cooperation in the face In a latest incident, the U.S. led airstrike in southern Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of fresh challenges and suggested that they Helmand province on Tuesday killed as many as 23 civil- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian advocate a new type of international relations, ians, most of them women and children, the United Nations President Vladimir Putin held the trilateral keep consolidating political mutual trust, confirmed. Civilian casualties from U.S. aerial attacks have meeting after a gap of 12 years to discuss establish partnerships instead of alliances, surged since the Trump administration announced a new cooperation in various areas. and strive for a virtuous cycle in major-country Afghan strategy last year. The anger and outrage among Leaders of the three countries called for relations and win-win cooperation. Afghans has been growing with increase in these aerial strikes. reforms in multilateral bodies, including the Russian President suggested holding Trump administration committed more troops to America’s United Nations (UN) and the World Trade regular meetings in the Russia-India-China longest war and increased aerial strikes claiming to target Organization (WTO), as they underlined the format, including on the sidelines of major hideouts of Taliban and ISIS fighters. significance of a multilateral trading system summits and international events. On the other hand, the two sides have been holding ‘peace and an open economy for global growth. “We believe that the Russia-India-China parleys’. U.S. recently appointed veteran Afghan-American “Excellent meeting of the RIC (Russia, India, format of talks is very promising. The coopera- diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad as its pointsman to holds talks China) Trilateral. President Putin, President Xi tion between the three countries may become with the insurgent group. Jinping and I discussed a wide range of subjects effective supplement to bilateral cooperation In April, an attack by the Afghan Air Force - which is that would further cement the friendship be- between our countries and [the cooperation] trained and equipped by the U.S. - killed 30 children in tween our nations and enhance world peace,” under BRICS,” Putin said. north-eastern Kunduz province at a graduation ceremony, PM Modi said following the meeting. He invited Xi to next year’s St. Petersburg which evoked strong condemnations. “Deepening engagement with valued international forums, and to encourage greater to address global challenges such as terror- International Economic Forum by becoming development partners. President Vladimir interaction among the three countries. ism and climate change, and to encourage the event’s main guest. Xi also invited him Putin, President Xi Jinping and PM @nar- The three leaders agreed to have regular peaceful resolution of all differences, the to attend the second edition of the Belt And Farmers’ endramodi participate in the RIC (Russia, consultations to jointly promote international statement said. Road Summit in late April 2019. protest rocks India, China) trilateral in Buenos Aires. @ and regional peace and stability, to strengthen Xi pointed out that China, Russia and The Russia-India-China meeting came KremlinRussia,” PM Modi’s office tweeted. cooperation through BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India are all major countries of important hours after PM Modi, his Japanese counter- Indian In a statement, India’s external affairs India, China and South Africa), the SCO influence, and they are each other’s important part Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald ministry said the three leaders exchanged (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and strategic cooperation partners. Trump held their first trilateral meeting on capital views on expanding mutual cooperation in the East Asia Summit (EAS) mechanisms, The three countries have extensive com- the margins of the G-20 summit. INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — At a time when Indian Prime deskMinister is attending the G-20 summit, India’s capital city has been rocked by farmers’ protest. At Geneva summit, Afghan government presents ‘roadmap Thousands of farmers from across the country took to streets in New Delhi on Friday, demanding relief from debt, higher prices for their crop and a session of parliament dedi- for peace and prosperity’ cated to their demands. The unprecedented rally in New Delhi, experts believe, 1 “Through joint efforts we intend to reduce aid- that peace in Afghanistan must be based on a broad political shows the growing unease and frustration among Indian dependency and invest in democratic governance for the consensus across the society.c farmers towards the BJP government for ignoring the needs of benefit all citizens of the country,” she said. Participants welcomed the report of progress achieved farmers, who contribute massively to the country’s economy. Addressing the summit, Afghan leaders said the country by the government since the Brussels Conference of 2016, The crowd, report said, comprises more than 200 farmer is on the path to economic self-reliance and it won’t be in including on enhanced public financial management and groups created after police shot to death six farmers at a need of foreign assistance in five years. streamlined national budgeting; reviewed remaining chal- similar protest in 2017, in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. President Ghani laid down his government’s road map lenges; called for increased efforts to fight corruption and Modi has promised to support farmers, and insists they for peace and prosperity and said a 12-member negotiat- illicit narcotics, and promote peace, stability and the rule of get a fair deal under his BJP rule. He has also accused op- ing team has been formed to seek a peace agreement with law; and, adopted the Geneva Mutual Accountability Frame- position parties of using the farmers’ plight for political gain. the Taliban. work. They also agreed to support policies strengthening In the run up to general election in India, observers be- “We seek a peace agreement in which the Afghan Taliban national and subnational governance, regional economic lieve these protests can hurt the chances of Narendra Modi would be included in a democratic and inclusive society,” cooperation and connectivity. Efficient and transparent led government to retain power as farmers make the vast he told the audience. monitoring and review of reform will further strengthen percentage of voters. But President Ghani warned that implementation of any mutual accountability. o talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. “We The participation of many opposition leaders in the march peace deal will take at least five years. They agreed that holding parliamentary elections in Oc- must not miss it,” Guterres said. has further made situation worrying for the ruling party. Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said the peace tober 2018 was an important step in the consolidation of process would have five phases starting with an intra-Afghan The European Union foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogh- democracy, much awaited by the population of Afghanistan. dialogue, followed by discussions with Pakistan and the erini, welcomed Afghan government’s peace plan, saying, Presidential elections scheduled for April 2019 and future Pakistan, United States, then regional actors, the Arab Islamic world, “It is time for concrete talks about peace to begin.” elections need to draw on the lessons learned in order to and finally NATO and non-NATO countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who attended the continually enhance the transparent, credible and participa- China to “The aim of each and every effort by our partners has conference, said all the countries need to facilitate the intra- tory process to the benefit of all citizens. to be to encourage the Taliban to come to the negotiating Afghan dialogue. He also expressed concern over cross-border Participants called on all concerned to seize this oppor- bolster military table with the Afghan government and put everything on drug trade and presence of foreign military forces, which tunity for an Afghan-owned and led peace process as the ties the table,” he said. he said “has never brought stability in our region and has only viable path to satisfy the citizens’ desire for an end to In his message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres historically provided a recruiting ground for extremists.” I conflict, sustained and broad-based economic growth, and INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Taking their relationship to said there was a rare opportunity to move to direct peace In a joint communiqué, the conference participants agreed a more prosperous tomorrow. deskthe next level, Pakistan and China have agreed to bolster cooperation in the military sector. Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang announced that China will further advance Kartarpur project: Imran Khan’s diplomatic masterstroke its military ties with Pakistan, as a part of joint efforts of 1 After the new government took over Islamabad is interested in initiating a dialogue promoting their defense capability. in Islamabad, the two sides made subtle peace to resolve outstanding issues. There have Addressing a media briefing in Beijing, Guoqiang said overtures, which unfortunately fizzled out been mistakes on both sides in the past, but Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic cooperative sooner than expected. India canceled the we will not be able to move forward until we partners and the two militaries have been keeping a high- Foreign Minister level talks on the sidelines break the chains of the past,” he said at the level defense and security cooperation. of the UNGA Summit in New York, accusing Kartarpur ceremony. Guoqiang said Chinese and Pakistani Air Forces will begin Pakistan of killing policemen in the disputed Even the Pakistani army chief, who is seen their 7th Shahing Joint Air Force Exercise in Bholari Air Kashmir territory. as a de-facto ruler in Pakistan, termed it a Force Base in Pakistan this week. It followed words of words between Imran step towards peace that the region needs. China is sending fighters, fighter-bombers and early Khan and Narendra Modi, in which Khan Barbed wire at borders is measure by a sov- warning aircraft to the exercise, which is in the annual co- had a clear edge. ereign state to check/deny illegal crossings. operation plan between the two countries and is a model of But the damage done was not irrevers- Corridors and Gates are for legal peaceful Pakistan-China Air Forces’ cooperation, he said. ible, as PM Khan proved it. His government visitors. So is the case for all our neighbors, To a question, the spokesperson said, at the domestic front, decided to open the Kartarpur corridor, and General Bajwa said. China has been stressing training for combat-readiness and went a step further by inviting India’s Foreign Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Pakistan’s joint-operation and has conducted training in theatre com- Minister Sushma Swaraj and Punjab Chief Minister for Information, said Isalamabad mands and quality training in different arms and services. Minister Amarinder Singh, besides other through its conduct has once again showed Indian politicians for the groundbreaking who stands for peace in South Asia. Sherry ceremony. It was unarguably a diplomatic Rehman, senior Pakistan Peoples? Party Deadliest masterstroke and New Delhi was caught (PPP) leader, hoped the two countries can month for unawares. build similar bridges to help people-to-people Both Swaraj and Singh turned down the contact, especially to ease travel and humani- militancy in invite. But, the cricketer-turned-politician of peace, of prosperity, of opening up of trade Swaraj saying that bilateral dialogue cannot tarian causes. Navjot Singh Siddhu, who is credited for mak- relations, Sidhu told media persons in La- take place till the time Pakistan puts a curb With Kartarpur initiative, Pakistan has Kashmir ing the project possible owing to his friend- hore. I feel that this corridor will be a bridge on terrorist activities emanating from its not only taken a massive lead over India in INTERNATIONAL THERAN— As an indicator of worsen- ship with PM Khan, accepted the invite and and erase enmity. It will increase people to soil, adding that the Kartarpur initiative by terms of diplomacy, but it has also warmed desking security situation in Indian controlled became a cynosure of all eyes in Pakistan. people contact and bring peace. Pakistan cannot be a sole path to resump- hearts that bat for peace in the two countries. Kashmir, this month has been the deadliest so far this year Despite being slammed at home for shaking Pakistan played its cards well. Going a tion of dialogue. Captain Khan, batting on the front foot, has with increase in casualties. hands with the enemy, Siddhu won the battle step further, Islamabad unofficially sent an While India remains adamant on not played a beautiful, well-timed and calculated According to reports, November has been the deadliest of hearts across the divide. invite to PM Modi for the upcoming SAARC shaking hands with Pakistan, Imran Khan shot, piercing the gaps to bring up his hun- month in the Kashmir valley with 39 militants killed, the This is a corridor of infinite possibilities, Summit. India turned down the invite, with has sent a clear and categorical message that dred days in office. highest in comparison to previous months. One of those killed earlier this week was Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Naveed Jatt, who had been eluding security forces since few years. Jatt was alleged to be the master- French police fire tear gas at protesters in Paris, arrest 107 mind of the attack that killed prominent Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari in July. French police have fired tear gas to disperse anti-government prices to encourage a transition towards greener energy. police fired tear gas and used water cannon against some The security forces have so far killed 233 militants this protesters marching on the Champs-Elysees in the capital Previous protests have ended with violence, with two 300 demonstrators. Police said at least 60 people were ar- year, much higher than the total count of 213 last year. Paris. The so-called yellow vest protesters opposing diesel people killed and over 600 injured. rested in possession of box-cutters, smoke bombs or tear A report in Economic Times said security forces are ex- tax hikes and the high cost of living gathered at the top of Over the past year, the cost of diesel, the most commonly gas canisters. It also said that protesters torched two police pecting more action in the coming days, having received the grandest avenue in Paris on Saturday morning. used fuel in cars in France, has risen by 23 percent. vans and disrupted traffic in Brussels. inputs on most of the terrorists being concentrated in certain Police already blocked access to the avenue, and strictly Many people, however, are now say that they are protest- They were also seen throwing rocks at the office building areas of south and central Kashmir. conduced identity checks and bag inspections. Riot police ing against President Macron, whom they consider as part of Prime Minister Charles Michel. The report further stated that following Jatt’s killing, used tear gas and water cannon against protesters as they of an elitist coterie that neither understands, nor cares how Demonstrators were asking for lower taxes and more security forces are searching for Hizbul Mujahideen militant were trying to break the blockade and force their way through. they live. “And then there’s the disdain — he openly mocks purchasing power. Some also demanded the prime minister’s Zeenat-ul-Islam, the group’s chief operational commander At least 107 people have been arrested during the Saturday people,” said a protester. “We called him the ‘president of resignation chanting “Michel, resign.” in Kashmir, Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo, besides Zakir Musa of the clashes, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said. the rich’ from the beginning.” “We are slaves; we work so that they can live like kings,” group called the Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind. Speaking at the Paris police’s command center, Philippe Macron took office last year with a pledge to revitalize he said. The Belgian prime minster has pushed ahead with The three are locals of Kashmir and have been catego- also said 36,000 people were protesting across France, in- the economy; but many voters ranging from conservative an unpopular reform plan under which he will raise the rised by the forces as ‘A++’ terrorists, which is the most cluding 5,500 in the capital. pensioners to low-income workers complain that his pro- retirement age to 67 from the current 65 and the retiring notorious level. The protests initially began last month after President business policies have mostly benefit companies and the rich. workers will see the retirement wage reduced even further. Emmanuel Macron announced controversial hikes in diesel Protests have also spread to the Belgian capital, where (Source: Press TV) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 2, 2018 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 Murder of Khashoggi hardened resistance in Congress nuclear agreement with KSA: Daryl Kimball The Golan Heights front to reopen; the Zionists fear of 1 There have been many statements reactors to Iran. of concern from Congress this past year, but Furthermore, the Nuclear Suppliers Group attrition warfare most recently of interest includes reports of (which includes Russia and South Korea) has legislation to be introduced by Democratic a set of voluntary guidelines that prohibit its Rep. Brad Sherman would require a “gold member’s states from transferring sensitive standard,” and would also amend the pro- uranium enrichment or plutonium repro- cess of approval for civil nuclear coopera- cessing technology to be transferred to any tion agreements to make it more difficult state in a region of proliferation concern, to pass Congress. See: https://www.vox. such as Saudi Arabia. com/2018/11/9/18072660/saudi-arabia-nu- U.S. always expresses its concern clear-deal-congress-123-agreement-sherman about the issue of non-proliferation which will Furthermore, some members of Congress be contradictory to U.S. possible agreement have called for the U.S.-Saudi negotiations with Saudi’s enrichment. If Trump adminis- to be suspended altogether. A letter sent tration agrees with Saudi demand, will the to President Trump on Oct. 31 signed by congress approve it? five Republican Senators (Marco Rubio A: I do not believe the Congress will ap- (R-FL), Todd Young (R-IN), Cory Gardner prove a civil nuclear cooperation agreement (R-CO), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Dean Hel- with Saudi Arabia if it does not meet the ler (R-NV) https://www.rubio.senate.gov/ “Gold Standard.” public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=8F7C- Some say that the U.S. will never What is important is that former U.S. ambassador FEEC-998A-472C-AD87-C664404C4CD7 agree with granting a strategic concession like 1 to UN, Nikki Haley, voted in favor of the Zionist regime, and and a similar letter by Democratic Senator enrichment to Saudi Arabia that can change against the annual resolution that condemned the occupation Ed Markey (D-MA) https://www.markey. balance of power against Israel. What do of Israel of the Golan Heights.” senate.gov/news/press-releases/sena- you think of this? To hang on to the Golan Heights, one of Israel’s goals is to tor-markey-calls-for-suspending-all-civ- A: The Israelis have been vocal about intensify the tension in Syria, prolong Syria’s crisis and con- il-nuclear-cooperation-with-saudi-arabia electricity production. Domestic uranium include firm and serious terms in possible their concerns regarding an expansion of sequently, deter the resistance forces and distract the Syrian suggest suspending the talks. enrichment is not necessary to exploit nu- agreement with Saudi Arabia, this may result the Saudi nuclear program, and have raised government from wanting to regain control of the area. Naturally, In recent weeks, the murder of the jour- clear energy production. Plutonium is not in Riyadh’s tendency to have nuclear cooper- their concerns multiple times with the U.S. Israel enjoys the U.S. support that believes in strengthening nalist Jamal Khashoggi has hardened resist- needed for civilian nuclear purposes and is ation with Russia and China or South Korea. administration. However, Israel realize the Zionist regime’s power in the region. ance in Congress to any nuclear agreement, well-suited for nuclear weapons. How will Washington solve this problem? their ability to stop the deal is limited, and One of the influential figures in the resistance axis against especially one that would allow for the trans- We and many others will oppose any A: Even if Saudi Arabia chose to go with so have presented to administration their Israel and the U.S. is Secretary General of Hezbollah Hassan fer of sensitive enrichment or reprocessing U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement a South Korean firm, it would still need con- preferred parameters for a deal. For more Nasrollah, who believes in the return of the Golan Heights to technology to Saudi Arabia. that does not include the “Gold Standar” sent by the United States for various nuclear on that, see: https://www.axios.com/isra- the Syrians as well as the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Will Saudi Arabia accept a nuclear and certain additional nonproliferation technology transfers. el-united-states-red-lines-demands-sau- Al-Yaum newspaper says, “For decades, Hezbollah has agreement with U.S. like the one U.S. has safeguards. Our more detailed assessment Also, Russia and China may not be appeal- di-arabia-nuclear-deal-d010de3e-69ad- the Golan Heights at the top of the agenda, and has lost two signed with UAE? of the risks and the options is described in ing partners for Saudi Arabia because U.S. 4de1-bc5e-0387dd5b91dc.html While many great people Samir Kuntar and his assistant jihad Mughniyah. A: Probably not. Responsible states this Arms Control Association report from technology has a better record of safety and members of Congress have been very vocal Hizbullah’s circles are now concealing the identity of the new should--as the UAE did—pledge not to April 2018: https://www.armscontrol.org/ reliability than what Russia and China have about retaining a 123 agreement that adheres commander who replaced Kuntar.” pursue uranium enrichment and plutonium issue-briefs/2018-04/risks-nuclear-coop- available for export, and another reason the to strong nonproliferation standards, few, However, any reopening of the new front in the occupied reprocessing, and ratify the additional pro- eration-saudi-arabia-role-congress kingdom may not desire Russian systems is if any, have used a balance of power against Golan Heights will come after the liberation of Idlib, because tocol. There is a glut of uranium for nuclear U.S. knows very well that if it tries to because they are the top supplier of nuclear Israel as a justification for their beliefs. all political talks and focus are now on that Syrian province. In any case, if a new front opens up in the occupied Golan Heights by resistance groups and Hezbollah, there will be Demonic Bin Salman in Buenos Aires undoubtedly a war of attrition for the Zionists; a war that may repeat the same defeat for Zionists in southern Lebanon In 2002. The crown prince’s nightmare is Khashoggi The point is the Zionist regime won’t be able to fight in many fronts, as they are already involved in three fronts: By Saied Sobhani India, so is the Saudi’s giant oil company Aramco to invest in large refinery projects in India. The two leaders also agreed one in northern occupied territories with Hezbollah, one in TEHRAN — Buenos Aires hosted the 2018 G20 summit on investing in solar energy. southern occupied territories with the Palestinian resistance on Friday while the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi James Dorsey, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School groups in Gaza, and the other in the east of the occupied lands national journalist who was horrifically murdered in the of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological with the Syrian and Hezbollah groups. That is why the pos- Saudi embassy in Turkey, was expected to have an impact University, has called that the G20 summit the final trial for sibility of future struggle in the Golan Heights is undeniable on the assembly. the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, protesters for the Zionist. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, MBS, who held rallies before the Argentinean embassy in Washington, is in the eye of a storm over alleged role in the killing of calling for the arrest of Mohammed bin Salman for initiating journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Is- the war in Yemen. tanbul, also participated in the summit as the head of the Mauricio Macri, President of Argentina before the meet- Saudi delegation. ing, had announced the impact of the Khashoggi’s case on Why U.S. senate won’t end French President Emanuel Macron saw the presence of the bilateral meetings in the G-20 summit. MBS an opportunity to discuss the issue of Khashoggi’s case. Bin Salman a hated figure whose residence Saudi war on Yemen The U.S. and German leaders announced that they were British Prime Minister Theresa May also announced to resembles a military garrison not planning a meeting with MBS during the summit. sit with MBS over Khashoggi’s case and the war in Yemen. Undoubtedly, bin Salman, who has the blood of Yemenis, TEHRAN (FNA) — The U.S. Senate has voted overwhelmingly The participation of MBS in the 2018 G20 summit is She also said that London seeks a thorough and transparent Khashoggi and innocent people on his hands, was an un- to support a resolution to get the U.S. out of the war in Yemen his first presence in the international community outside investigation into the murder of Khashoggi. likeable person in Buenos Aires from the media and public by stopping U.S. military support for Saudi Arabia. of Saudi Arabia after the murder of Khashoggi in October. The meetings were held while Kenneth Roth, the execu- perspective. This new political charade does in no way mean that the U.S. MBS faces hard criticism from the international community tive director of Human Rights Watch, had already warned Although MBS has diplomatic impunity, the widespread will now switch sides and stop the ongoing Saudi-led assault on particularly the United Nations human rights watchdog on the heads of the G20 of meeting with bin Salman, saying protests won’t leave him alone be it in a hotel or the Saudi the poorest country in the Arab world. Far from it, this is only his role in the Yemen War and murder of Khashoggi. in a statement, “World leaders would do well to think twice ambassador’s residence in Argentina that turned into a mil- intended to limit the pressure of global community on Wash- Based on reports, only five world leaders met with the before posing for pictures next to someone who may come itary garrison for the arrival of MBS in Argentina. ington for its ongoing support of Saudi atrocities in Yemen and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia including the president of under investigation for war crimes and torture.” According to Aljazeera, in addition to his many securi- to ‘punish’ Riyadh for murdering Washington Post journalist Argentina, the host county. Mohammad bin Salman met with Indian Prime Minister ty forces, four heavy armored vehicles were escorting bin Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October French President Macron was the first European presi- Narendra Modi in his residence in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Salman in Buenos Aires. 2 - by ‘milking’ it more. That’s all really. dent to announce that he would meet with MBS and Russian The meeting primarily focused on cooperation between the In any event, MBS is facing difficult times ahead for On the other hand, the decision by some Western governments, President Vladimir Putin was first to confirm his meeting two countries in the areas of political, security, economic Khashoggi’s murder. In other words, he is trying to over- including the Trump administration, to impose travel ban on 15 with the Saudi crown prince through his adviser Yuri Vik- and energy investment. Mohammed bin Salman said Saudi come the storm that he was exposed for his involvement in to 18 Saudi agents and officials who were directly involved in the torovich Ushakov. Arabia is ready to meet the oil and petrochemical demand of the murder of the Khashoggi. grisly murder of Khashoggi is all there is to it. They will never hold the Saudi regime and Crown Prince MBS to account. They will never change their mind and seek a full accounting of the murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi. Gaza War aftershocks for the Zionist Regime After all, they don’t want to lose their lucrative arms contracts By Ghazal Golzar should not abandon the operation after two with Saudis worth billions of dollars. It’s bad for their arms trade. days, but that there should be a serious war Besides, if they stop the war, the Saudis will have to stop their TEHRAN — The two-day Gaza war after- against the Palestinians, but Netanyahu and bombing campaigns and they won’t need new Western arms as shocks are still there for the Zionist regime. others believed that they could not do it in they would have nowhere else to drop them. This has now become a political challenge the current situation. In the prevailing environment, it is up to the international for the Zionists. This situations indicates The truth is the Israelis didn’t take the community and the United Nations to step in to end this madness. that what happened in Gaza, was of great attack on the Gaza Strip seriously, and they The good news is that the UN aid chief has done just that. UN importance. Salman Razavi, an expert on always stated that the northern front was the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emer- Palestine and Zionist issues, while pointing real battleground and the main problem, not gency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock has appealed for a halt to the resignation of Lieberman, the Zionist the southern front or Gaza Strip, but this to fighting in Yemen amid intense diplomacy to end the ongoing regime’s secretary, speaks of the possibility time they felt that the situation was different. Saudi aggression that has pushed millions to the brink of famine. of Netanyahu’s cabinet collapse and says: The fact is that the status of resistance in Lowcock made appeal during a press briefing after arriving in There are currently several cases for Ne- the region has improved. Palestinian militant the Yemeni capital Sana’a on Thursday. He said, “I’d like to see a tanyahu and his wife, known as the 1,000, groups based in the Gaza Strip can, in their cessation of hostilities, especially around the key infrastructure, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 cases, and police time, also act as aggressive forces, and this especially around Hudaydah.” have already had several inspections to them, is what they showed in the operation. These are fine words but they need to be backed by a firm but first their political immunity should be Under such circumstances, it’s unlikely resolution at the UN to force the Saudis to stop the fighting and removed so that there can be an official trial. that Netanyahu can continue as the prime the ongoing humanitarian tragedy in the war-ravaged Arab Netanyahu’s accusations are such that, if minister of the Zionist regime for a long time. country. Such resolution should also force the U.S. and other known guilty, he has to spend several years Regarding the resignation of the two min- Chief participants to the conflict to end their military support of his life behind the closed bars, just like isters, Netanyahu’s coalition cabinet can’t and complicity in the Saudi war crimes. The resolution should the former Israeli Prime Minister, Olmert. Netanyahu’s ignorance of the commitments the other hand, the political consequence last with only 61 seats (out of 120 seats in further call for a halt to fighting in the vital aid port of Hodeidah, One of the problems with the current Israeli made between the Zionist Regime and the of this operation was the resignation of the the Knesset). By the loss of one single seat including lifting the blockade. political system is that, on the one hand, the Palestinians, as well as violations of inter- two ministers and the escalation of disputes the cabinet will collapse. Yemen is dying and there is no hope for peace because it is still leaders of the parties and politicians of the national law with, has made other countries’ within the Zionist regime government. Now that the Yisrael Beiteinu has stopped a low priority for the world community, and because pro-Saudi Zionist regime are tired of Netanyahu’s policies leaders, such as the former U.S. President In this framework, Netanyahu stated that to support Netanyahu, other Israeli parties, lobbying groups have been able to buy politicians and govern- and decisions, and are willing to replace him Barack Obama, not to have a positive relation instead of fighting inside the cabinet, the especially religious ones, pursue their de- ments in Europe and the United States through lucrative arms with another official, and on the other hand, with him. Even in a simple review, one can Occupying regime of Quds should face the mands from Netanyahu with more courage. deals and ‘political’ contributions. They have received financial the structure of the government is such that it highlight the ups and downs of Trump with presence of Iran in the region. Lieberman’s Netanyahu will therefore be more vulnerable. contributions from firms representing Saudi interests as well, doesn’t simply let them to realize their wish! the Zionist Prime Minister. For example, in remarks are also interesting. No one can over- Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister seeks to according to a recent investigation by the Centre for Interna- Netanyahu is basically opposed to any his recent speech, Trump raised the issue of a throw Hamas by force. These statements ensure that early elections are not held there. tional Policy, and they have all voted against UN and national peace process and real reconciliation. Abu two-state solution that surprised Netanyahu underscore the political and military defeat of Because the consequences of the failure resolutions, which, if passed, would have forced the U.S. and the Mazen, who according to many analysts is and his entourage. Israel and the serious internal disagreements in the Gaza Strip will probably lead to the EU to end their support for the Saudi war on Yemen, the world’s a person that can easily agree on the com- Now the recent operation in Gaza was existing within the cabinet. defeat of the Likud Party, which is to Net- largest humanitarian catastrophe. promise, has never been able to negotiate considered both political and military defeat Two members of the cabinet, Lieberman anyahu’s loss. That’s why they do not want Which is to say, there is only one expeditious way for Saudi with Netanyahu. As a result, the PA and the for the Zionist regime. On the one hand, the who is also the leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, early elections. But it seems to me that this Arabia to end this counterproductive war, and that is for the UN compromise process have always faced a operation of kidnapping Sheikh Nur Baraka and the minister of defense of the Zionist will happen. It is quite likely that the early to sanction and force the regime to stop its military campaign. deadlock during Netanyahu’s time. in Khan Younis was followed by the death of a regime, resigned. The reason for Lieberman’s elections would be held before the next De- Doing so will not end all of the suffering inside Yemen. But it will Another problem with Netanyahu is the senior Israeli commander and the wounding resignation should be taken into considera- cember, which will result in the desolation create the conditions necessary for peace talks and reconstruction mistrust of foreign leaders and personalities. of other members of the terrorist team. On tion; he believed that The Israeli authorities of Netanyahu’s cabinet by %99. efforts to gain traction. 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NIK TEBRID PARS Co. Commissioner of rebuilding and renovating administrative and residential places, installation of HVAC & Cryogenics, Electricity, Water, Gas and Sewage Facilities PER 02188073853 ENG 09025892818 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 2, 2018 HEALTH 9 Social genetic project to screen World AIDS Day 2018: ‘Know Your Status’ wide range of disorders HEALTH TEHRAN — The theme for the 2018 World deskAIDS Day commemoration is “Know Your Sta- HEALTH TEHRAN — The Ministry Razavi, Qazvin, Hamedan, Mazandaran, tus” which brings into spotlight the importance of urging people desk of Health has announced Alborz and Yazd. Each of these provinces to know their HIV infection status by getting tested. plans to screen a wide range of common and are supposed to run the project in one of Based on the latest data by rare genetic disorders under “the social ge- their cities and expand it to all their cities by UNAIDS 36.9 million people netic project”, ISNA reported on Saturday. the yearend (March 20, 2019),” she added. globally were living with HIV in According to Ashraf Samavat, the minis- Screening of rare genetic 2017. However, about 9.4 mil- try’s genetics department head, the project disorders lion people did not know that aims to expand genetic screening services all According to Samavat, in screening for rare they were living with HIV. 75% of over the society, so all the people can benefit genetic disorders two plans are devised. One all people living with HIV knew from it according to their real needs. is the congenital screening for new couples, their HIV status in 2017. “The social genetic project begins with which is being gradually carried out across Some 21.7 million people a screening package. After screening, the the country and each province is tasked to were accessing antiretroviral people who get a positive result must un- apply it to all of its cities by the year end. therapy in 2017. Approximately dergo a confirmation test, if the existence “The other plan targets all age groups. To 1.8 million people became newly of a genetic disorder was confirmed, proper this purpose, we have made an agreement with infected with HIV in 2017 and preventive measures or a treatment process the Office of Population and Family Health, sadly 940, 000 people died will begin,” Samavat explained. so that they include our genetic screening in from AIDS-related illnesses Common genetic disorders the health packages that they have devised in the same year as they might The genetic screening consist of two parts; for different age groups,” she noted. not know they have HIV, aren’t one for screening common disorders and the Genetic testing is a type of medical test on treatment or start treatment Dr. Christoph Hamelmann, the other for rare ones, Samavat said. that identifies changes in chromosomes, too late. WHO Representative in the Is- “In targeting common genetic disorders, genes, or proteins. The results of a genetic Since the start of the epi- lamic Republic of Iran, during a three main screenings are conducted on gen- test can confirm or rule out a suspected demic in 1981 about 77.3 million surprise visit to a Drop-in Center eral population. Screening of chromosome disorders.” the procedure will apply to other areas if the genetic condition or help determine a people have become infected “We have been screening infants for one pilot was successful.” in Kerman on November 28 took disorders like Down syndrome which is person’s chance of developing or passing with HIV and 35.4 million [25.0 a HIV test to highlight this year’s conducted during pregnancy, screening of metabolic disorder, Phenylketonuria (PKU), “The screening for chromosomal disorders on a genetic disorder. million–49.9 million] people for 10 years now, so we are going to adopt the such as Down syndrome, Trisomy 18 and Tri- theme of World AIDS Day 2018 inherited blood disorders like Thalassemia According to World Health Organization, have died from AIDS-related as “Know Your Status”. conducted before marriage and screening of same outline to pilot the screening of other somy 13 is being conducted in nine provinces The application of genomic research to public illnesses in the same period. metabolic disorders in some provinces and including Tehran, Fars, Isfahan, Khorasan (Photo by Mehdi A. Jovini, WHO inherited metabolic disorders conducted on health services in the last decades has led to Earlier in April the chair- Iran) newborns,” she added. more accurate and faster diagnostic tests, the woman of HIV/AIDS depart- “However, such large-scale programs need “We have been screening infants for one development of new drugs and to the early ment at the Health Ministry Parvin Afsar Kazerouni explained to be piloted first, so that their shortcomings metabolic disorder, Phenylketonuria (PKU), detection of genetic disorders. that some 36,571 were diagnosed with HIV virus up to late will be revealed before their complete im- But while wealthier countries have long December 2017. She further regretted that the number only plementation,” she added. for 10 years now, so we are going to adopt the been able to screen for the more common constitute 40 percent of those who are actually suffering the “Screening of inherited blood disorders same outline to pilot the screening of other congenital disorders, low- and middle-income disease and the rest are still undiagnosed while they might not like Thalassemia has already been conducted countries have been slower on the uptake. even know they are having the infection. in a national scale and has made tremendous metabolic disorders in some provinces and Lack of resources, lack of data on the true She also said that some half of those diagnosed with the success,” she said. the procedure will apply to other areas if the magnitude of the problem and lack of trained infection are aging 21 to 35. ”Our next goal is to screen newborns for pilot was successful.” health professionals are only parts of the People can be at risk of HIV if they have unprotected sexual 22 different types of inherited metabolic reason for this slow uptake. relations, receive unsafe blood transfusion, and are exposed to contaminated injecting equipment. The virus can be also transmitted from mother to child. Regular blood donors raise share of donation According to World Health Organization 1 in 4 people with HEALTH TEHRAN — Iranian Mehr news agency reported on Saturday. providers of donated blood, composing 30 HIV don’t know they have it, so know your risk and know your deskBlood Transfusion Organi- Regular blood donor is a person who percent of total donations, he noted. status. zation (IBTO) announced the blood provided donates blood at least twice a year, said According to World Health Organiza- by regular donors hit a new high in the first Haji-Beigi. tion, the safest blood donors are voluntary, 8 months of the current Iranian calendar In the past 8 months, 2,346,882 units of non-remunerated blood donors from low- year (March 21, 2018- November 21, 2018), blood and blood products including packed risk populations. The World Health Organ- New brain region ‘could be making up 60 percent of total donations. red blood cells, plasma, and platelet were ization’s goal is for all countries to obtain what makes humans unique’ According to IBTO Spokesperson Bashir distributed among hospitals and medical all their blood supplies through voluntary Haji-Beigi, the safety and health of the blood centers, he said. unpaid donors, in accordance with World A neuroscientist has just found a previously unknown brain provided by regular donors is 8 times higher Over this period, three provinces of Teh- Health Assembly resolution 28.72, which area. The newly identified brain region could inform scientists’ than those provided by first time donors, ran, Fars, and Khorasan Razavi were the top was adopted back in 1975. efforts into curing neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s or motor neuron disease. New research uncovers a previously unknown brain area Regular exercise can keep Cancer cells’ use of sugar holds that may control our fine motor skills. Due to technological advancements in recent years, medical the body decades younger the key to their destruction science has made huge leaps — many with vast implications for medical and neuroscientific research. For instance, scientists devised an innovative method that allowed them to record a million neurons at once, as well as to decode neural activity in real time. The techniques gave researchers access to meaningful data within milliseconds. Cutting-edge data processing techniques such as these mean that we are able to dive deeper into the depths of our brains — an organ with 100 billion neurons and an astonishing processing power that we are only beginning to understand. A new discovery has revealed a part of the human brain that was unknown until now. Prof. George Paxinos, an anatomist with Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) — an inde- pendent medical research institute in Sydney — has suspected the existence of a new brain area for 3 decades. The researcher, who specializes in brain mapping, has only now been able to confirm his suspicions, with the help of In a new study involving people over 70 combined total of about 7 hours. Scientists have suggested a way to improve it over 50 years ago. innovative staining and brain imaging techniques. who have exercised regularly for years, At one stage, the investigators sought treatments that use viruses to attack cancer. Exploiting this uniqueness in cancer cells Prof. Paxinos has called the brain area Endorestiform Nucleus, scientists discovered that the partici- to determine the participants’ aerobic It exploits the fact that cancer cells need a could open fruitful avenues for research and he detailed his discovery in his book Human Brainstem: pants’ hearts, lungs, and muscles were endurance by evaluating their VO2 max lot of glucose and must metabolize it rapidly into new treatments. Cytoarchitecture, Chemoarchitecture, Myeloarchitecture. in equivalent shape to those of people measurements. This assesses the maxi- to survive. It may be possible, for instance, to de- New region may control fine motor skills in their 40s. mum amount of oxygen that an individual Cutting down cancer cells’ sugar sup- velop drugs that target and disable glucose The Endorestiform Nucleus is located in the inferior part Regular exercise could help keep the can use during bouts of intense aerobic ply could make them more vulnerable to metabolism in cancer cells without stopping of the inferior cerebellar peduncle, which connects the cere- body young, new research shows. exercise. The researchers did so by asking treatment. healthy cells from making energy. Trials of bellum to the underlying brainstem. Researchers from the Human Perfor- the participants to cycle on indoor bikes. Oncolytic viruses specifically target and experimental drugs that aim to do this are The inferior cerebellar peduncle is “responsible” for in- mance Laboratory at Ball State University The marker is important because, as enter cancer cells and use the cells’ machinery already under way. tegrating spatial and motor infromation to regulate our fine in Muncie, IN recently assessed the physical the team explains, VO2 max tends to de- for their own multiplication and spread. One of the advantages that oncolytic motor skills. condition of people in their 70s who have cline by approximately 10 percent every They destroy tumors from the inside viruses have over drugs is that once they Fine motor skills include movements of the hands and fin- been exercising regularly for decades. 10 years after a person reaches the age without harming nearby healthy tissue. are inside the cell their dose increases with gers, such as pinching or grasping, as well as fine movements The team compared the health meas- of 30, and this reduction corresponds A recent study proposes that restrict- time, whereas with drugs it decreases. that enable us to control our posture and balance. When we urements of these participants with those to an increased risk of disease. ing the cancer cells’ supply of glucose, and Viruses ‘more effective’ around tie our sholeaces, button up our shirt, or type on a keyboard, of their more sedentary peers and with The researchers also performed muscle altering their ability to metabolize it, may less glucose for instance, we are using fine motor skills. the measurements of healthy people in biopsies on the participants to assess the strengthen the power of oncolytic viruses. When scientists store and grow cells in Prof. Paxinos deduced the function of the newly found En- their 20s. formation and distribution of small blood The research team, at the University of the laboratory, they give them lots of glucose. dorestiform Nucleus based on its location. He says, “I can only Specifically, the investigators measured vessels in the muscles and to evaluate Oxford in the United Kingdom, used mouse In the human body, however, the cell envi- guess as to its function, but given the part of the brain where heart and lung capacity, as well as muscle aerobic enzyme activity, which drives the models and cells from ovarian, lung, and ronment is much less rich in glucose. Also, it has been found, it might be involved in fine motor control.” fitness. They have published their findings metabolism of oxygen at the cellular level. colon tumors in order to demonstrate the due to poor circulation, tumors typically “The region is intriguing because it seems to be absent in in the Journal of Applied Physiology. At another stage of the study, the team effect. have even lower levels of glucose. the rhesus monkey and other animals that we have studied “’Exercise wins’ is the take-home mes- split the male participants into two groups: Cancer Research UK sponsored the In their work with oncolytic viruses, Dyer [...] this region could be what makes humans unique besides sage. We saw that people who exercise the performance group, which trained to study, and a paper on the work features and his team decided to alter the laboratory our larger brain size.” regularly year after year have better overall compete, and the fitness group, which in the journal Cancer Research. conditions to better match those of real life. Prof. George Paxinos health. These 75-year-olds — men and exercised for leisure. “Our research in the lab,” says lead study They reduced the glucose levels. He specializes in brain mapping, and neurosurgeons now use women — have similar cardiovascular They found that “For some of the var- author Arthur Dyer, who is currently a They found that the oncolytic viruses his “brain atlases” regularly. Having a detailed understanding of health to a 40–45-year-old.” iables, the performance group had some Ph.D. student in the university’s oncology were much more effective at attacking cancer the architecture and neuronal connectivity of the human brain Leisure exercise can keep you metrics that were superior to the fitness department, “showed that restricting the cells when there was less glucose around. is vital for coming up with better treatments for neurological young people, and cardiovascular capacity was amount of sugar available to cancer cells The viruses replicated faster under the new conditions. The researchers worked with three one of those,” as Trappe notes. makes these cancer-attacking oncolytic conditions. In this particular instance, discovering a brain area that types of participants: seven women and 21 “But things like muscle health and viruses work even better.” They suggest that this finding could regulates fine motor control may have significant implications men in their 70s who exercised regularly, capillaries to support blood flow, they Cancer cells need lots of glucose also improve laboratory testing of candi- for neurodegenerative conditions that affect a person’s motor 10 women and 10 men in their 70s who were equivalent between the two groups. All cells need glucose as a source of energy. date drugs. skills, such as Parkinson’s disease and motor neuron disease. led sedentary lifestyles, and 10 women Higher intensity didn’t necessarily take Normal cells use tiny internal “powerhouses” Further investigation revealed that adding Peter Schofield, a professor from the University of New South and 10 men in their 20s, who were all them to a higher place,” he adds. called mitochondria to convert glucose into a drug that hampers the cancer cells’ glucose Wales in Sydney and the CEO of the NeuRA research center, places healthy and who exercised regularly. The researchers suggest that the health units of chemical energy. metabolism strengthened the viruses’ ability the findings in the larger context of Prof. Paxinos’s expertise. Participants in the first category measurements of the physically active However, to meet their higher demand to kill cancer cells even further. He explains, “[Prof. Paxinos’s] atlases showing detailed reported having exercised throughout participants in their 70s look like those for energy, cancer cells have a faster pro- Plans are currently under way to test the morphology and connections of the human brain and spinal their lives, and they described enjoying of healthy people decades younger and cess for metabolizing glucose that does not “glucose-limiting” approach in clinical trials cord provide a critical framework for researchers to test hy- frequent physical activity on a leisurely that these benefits seem to apply to women involve mitochondria. to find out whether it could be effective in potheses from synaptic function to treatments for diseases basis. Each of these participants worked and men alike. This is called the Warburg effect, after human patients. of the brain.” out, on average, 5 days per week for a (Source: Medical News Today) the scientist Otto Warburg, who observed (source: medical news today) (Source: medical news today) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM DECEMBER 2, 2018 Iran attracts more travelers as Some 1m Azeris visit Iranian province in 8 months medical tourism gets boost TOURISM TEHRAN – The number doubles as vice president. deskof foreign travelers to Iran Elsewhere in his remarks, the official said, has seen a considerable year-on-year growth “In the sphere of medical tourism, Oman is as medical tourism gains momentum in the one of our targets for whom Iran has unilat- country, tourism chief has said. erally waived visa requirements.” “During the first seven months [of the year, “Revoking visa requirements for Chinese starting March 21], some 4.7 million foreign travelers is also on the agenda,” he said. tourists arrived in the country that shows a Medical tourist arrivals in the country significant progress compared to the same has nearly doubled in the first three months period last year,” Ali-Asghar Mounesan said of the current Iranian calendar year, corre- on Wednesday, CHTN reported. sponding to spring 2018, from a year earlier, “We can say that we have improved in all an official with the Ministry of Health said arenas of foreign tourism, however, medical in September. tourism has achieved the highest growth.” The 2019 Travel Risk Map, which Iran hosted some three million inbound shows the risk level around the world, TOURISM TEHRAN — Around 950,000 Azerbaijani na- passengers during the same period last year, puts Iran among countries with “insig- desktionals arrived in Iran’s northwestern Ardebil the official added. nificant risk”, a category where the UK, province during the first eight months of the current Iranian “The country is also thriving in the field Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, and calendar year which began on March 21. of domestic tourism,” said Mounesan who A view of Shah-e-Cheragh Shrine in Shiraz, Fars province Finland are placed in. “The figure accounts for nearly 25 percent of inbound trave- lers to the country,” said Nader Falladi, the provincial tourism chief, CHTN reported. The Azerbaijani travelers entered the country from Bileh Savar Iranian, intl. experts to discuss UNESCO border city, the report added. The number of Iranian nationals visiting Azerbaijan dropped by 5.4 percent in the first four months of 2018 over the same nomination of Silk Roads period last year, according to AzerNews. TEHRAN — Experts nating committee whose members are Iran, A total of 99,158 Iranians visited the neighboring country HERITAGE deskfrom Iran and 13 oth- Afghanistan, China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, during the first three months of 2018. er countries will come Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Republic of together in Turkmenistan for possible in- Korea, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and scription of the ancient Silk Roads on the Uzbekistan, as well as Bhutan as an observer. UNESCO World Heritage list. The participants will exchange views on Fars province reports sharp The Silk Roads were an interconnected ways to improve working methods, coor- web of routes linking the ancient societies of dination and management of the property, rise in number of eco-lodges Asia, the Subcontinent, Central Asia, West- and undertake further work on the thematic ern Asia and the Near East, and contributed studies of the land-route of the Silk Roads. to the development of many of the world’s Together with five Central Asian countries great civilizations. and China, the World Heritage Centre has They represent one of the world’s preemi- coordinated the preparation of the serial nent long-distance communication networks transnational World Heritage nomination stretching as the crow flies to around 7,500 of the Silk Roads since 2003. km but extending to in excess of 35,000 km Central Asia and China have supported along specific routes. They served principally the project through organizing regional and to transfer raw materials, foodstuffs, and sub-regional consultation meetings, the es- luxury goods. tablishment of the inter-governmental co- The UNESCO World Heritage Centre ordinating committees regrouping the 14 and the UNESCO Cluster Office in Tehran, Main routes of the Silk Road participating countries, and the elaboration in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign National Commission for UNESCO, are Ashgabat from December 3 to 7. with ICOMOS and the World Heritage Center Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen organizing the event, which will be held in It would be the 5th meeting of a coordi- of a Thematic Study on the Silk Roads. Iranian-German team studying TOURISM TEHRAN — Fars province’s tourism depart- deskment general has announced a rapid increase in the number of eco-lodges across the province, CHTN reported prehistoric climate of Iran on Saturday. “The number of eco-lodges has been jumped from 50 to 80 HERITAGE TEHRAN archaeologist Morteza Hesari “Considering such factors, it units in the current Iranian calendar year from a year earlier, desk— A team of who heads the survey. is possible to identify the paths which shows 60 percent increase,” a provincial tourism official Iranian and German research- “Many happenings couldn’t of the ancient rivers and possible said on Saturday, CHTN reported. ers has commenced a survey in be addressed to or be analyzed settlements on the margins of For the time being, French passengers constitute the lion’s the plain of Varamin, Tehran without providing in-depth them, which could be usually share of Europeans visiting the province and Omani nationals province, to uncover clues about research in the field of ancient submerged beneath sedimentary constitute the most arrivals among the Persian Gulf littoral states, Iran’s climate in the prehistoric weather.” By the means of deposits.” Seyyed Mo’ayed Mohsennejad said. times, IRNA reported on Sat- sampling and documentation The Free University of Berlin Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization urday. Familiarizing with an- of findings, basic information is contributes to the survey, which said in May that a total of 2,000 eco-lodges are to be constructed cient climate and its associated provided to identify the climate, is supervised by Iran’s Cultural until 2021. changes is necessary for many environment and morphology Heritage and Tourism Research significant historical events, said of the land, Hesari explained. Center. ROUND THE GLOBE Five tips to make traveling with a food allergy easier Historic Centre of Bukhara placement options on your trip, if you can. By Shivani Vora Consider nonperishable snacks that are The Historic Centre of Bukhara, situated on the Silk Roads, Managing a food allergy is tricky when you carry-on safe, like powdered protein shakes is more than two thousand years old. It is one of the best travel, but these precautionary steps can help (go for pea protein powder if you can because examples of well-preserved Islamic cities of Central Asia of you explore culinary culture and stay healthy. it’s easy to digest and the least allergenic, the 10th to 17th centuries, with an urban fabric that has re- I am severely allergic to gluten and also compared with other, usually whey-based, mained largely intact. have a mild dairy allergy, and even though powdered proteins), low-sodium jerky, low-so- Located in Uzbekistan, Bukhara was long an important I’m a frequent traveler, it’s not always ob- dium powdered soups that can be rehydrated economic and cultural center in Central Asia. The ancient vious to me which dishes have either (or with hot water, roasted chickpeas, nuts (as both!) when I’m in a new place and eating long as you’re not allergic to nuts!), and dried unfamiliar foods. fruits or crunchy vegetables. Dr. Alyson Pidich, the medical director Consider a hotel room or a Air- of the Ash Center, in New York City, and a bnb with a kitchen food allergy specialist, is allergic to shellfish Having access to a kitchen means you can and, like me, knows firsthand that even so- prepare some meals for yourself. This also called “safe” foods can have trace allergens cuts down on the stress of not being able to that can make you ill. find allergy-safe food to eat. So what’s a food allergy sufferer and world Take your allergy card with you when you traveler to do? Here are some of Dr. Pidich’s go food shopping so that the people working tips, all of which she keeps top of mind for at the supermarket or farmers’ market can her own travels. you steer you clear of anything you’re allergic Carry a food allergy card in mul- to, and make sure to follow our general tips tiple languages to stay healthy while traveling. Have a card handy that lists your food Don’t forget your allergy med- Persian city served as a major center of Islamic culture for allergies in the language or languages spoken icine (but carry it legally) many centuries and became a major cultural center of the at your destination. You can create your own Even if your food allergy isn’t severe, you Caliphate in the 8th century. cards with simple notecards or sturdy pa- shouldn’t leave home without your allergy With the exception of a few important vestiges from before per, or order them from Allergy Translation, medicine. Sure, you’ll want it just in case you the Mongol invasions of Genghis Khan in 1220 and Temur in which charges $8 to create one card through few years ago simply said in Spanish that she such as wheat, nuts, dairy and shellfish. have an uncomfortable reaction like hives 1370, the old town bears witness to the urbanism and archi- its app or website. (You can print as many was allergic to shellfish, but she was served Restaurant cooks often use flour to or itching, but you shouldn’t assume you tecture of the Sheibani period of Uzbek rule, from the early copies of each card as you want once you a dish with shrimp and ended up with hives thicken sauces, for example, while soups can buy what you need locally, depending 16th century onwards. The citadel, rebuilt in the 16th century, place an order.) all over her body. can have shellfish broth, and salad dress- on where you go. has marked the civic center of the town since its earliest days Make sure that your cards clearly list Order with an abundance of ings are blended with soy sauce or nut oils. In most common destinations you can, but to the present. which foods you can’t eat, rather than just caution Ask any vegetarian or vegan what it’s like Dr. Pidich said that it’s better to pack some Important monuments that survive from early times in- stating what you’re allergic to. For example, This may sound obvious, but in an ideal to be surprised when their salad dressing in your carry-on that you already know and clude the famous Ismail Samanai tomb, impressive in its my allergy cards don’t just say that I’m aller- scenario, you always travel with food allergy has cheese in it or the vegetable soup has have used. If you have a travel companion, sober elegance and the best surviving example of 10th cen- gic to gluten and dairy, they say that wheat cards and the people serving you understand been prepared with chicken broth, and have them carry an extra dose or two of the tury architecture in the whole Muslim world. The Ulugbek and wheat-based products such as soy and what you’re not allowed to eat. you’ll understand what it’s like. In short, medicine in case you lose yours. The same medresseh is a surviving contribution from Temurid. anything containing milk, including yogurt, But say you forget your cards, or think “oh, even if you think you’re being cautious, be goes for an Epi-Pen, if you use one. Finally, The real importance of Bukhara lies not in its individual are off-limits. this looks fine” because your trigger foods extra cautious. make sure you familiarize yourself with your buildings but rather in its overall townscape, demonstrating Similarly, Dr. Pidich’s cards say that she aren’t on the ingredient list. Dr. Pidich said Travel with a food stash destination’s rules and regulations about pre- the high and consistent level of urban planning and architec- can’t eat clams, shrimp and lobster. She that you still shouldn’t assume that what you’re There’s nothing worse than going hungry scription (and nonprescription) medication, ture that began with the Sheibanid dynasty. learned the hard way how important it is to eating is safe. Certain foods and drinks, in on your trip because you can’t find enough safe so you’ll make it through customs with your (Source: UNESCO) be super specific on her cards: her allergy particular, including sauces, salad dressings, food to eat. Dr. Pidich highly recommended medicine. card when she traveled to Tulum, Mexico a soups and cocktails hide common allergens packing plenty of snacks and a few meal re- (Source: The New York Times) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 2, 2018 SCIENCE 11

Scientists reveal substantial water loss in Curiosity finds a golden rock global landlocked regions on Mars NASA’s Curiosity rover is investigating a strange ‘golden rock’ A new study reveals that water storage declines to such short-term natural variability. This on Mars. in global landlocked basins has aggravated contrast may suggest a profound impact of local water stress and caused potential sea longer-term climate conditions and direct level rise. human water management, such as river Along with a warming climate and inten- diversion, damming and groundwater sified human activities, recent water storage withdrawal, on the water balance in the in global landlocked basins has undergone dry hinterlands. a widespread decline. A new study reveals Thermal expansion of sea water this decline has aggravated local water stress This endorheic water loss has dual ram- and caused potential sea level rise. ifications, according to the researchers. Not “Water resources are extremely limited in only does it aggravate water stress in the arid the continental hinterlands where stream- endorheic regions, but it could also contribute flow does not reach the ocean. Scientifically, to a significant factor of global environmen- these regions are called endorheic basins,” tal concern: sea level rise. Sea level rise is a said Jida Wang, a Kansas State University result of two main causes: thermal expansion geographer and the study’s lead author. of sea water as a result of increased global “Over the past few decades, we have temperature, and additional water mass to The space agency said the rover is being sent for a close up seen increasing evidence of perturbations the ocean. look at the strange object. to the endorheic water balance,” said Wang, The “hydrosphere is mass conserved,” said Looking at rocks and soils from a distance, ChemCam fires an assistant professor of geography. “This Chunqiao Song, researcher with the Nan- a laser and analyzes the elemental composition of vaporized includes, for example, the desiccating Aral jing Institute of Geography and Limnology, every year from the arid endorheic regions. continental surface and are home to many of materials from areas smaller than 0.04 inch (1 millimeter) on Sea, the depleting Arabian aquifer and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a co-lead Surprisingly, this amount of endorheic wa- the world’s greatest rivers, such as the Nile, the surface of Martian rocks and soils. retreating Eurasian glaciers. This evidence author of the study. “When water storage in ter loss is double the rate of concurrent water Amazon, Yangtze and Mississippi. An on-board spectrograph provides detail about minerals motivated us to ask: Is the total water storage endorheic basins is in deficit, the reduced changes across the remaining landmass except Wang noted that the signature of water and microstructures in rocks by measuring the composition of across the global endorheic system, about water mass doesn’t disappear. Greenland and Antarctica, Wang said. Opposite storage changes in exorheic basins resembles the resulting plasma - an extremely hot gas made of free-floating one-fifth of the continental surface, under- Despite an observation period of 14 years, to endorheic basins, the remaining regions are some prominent oscillations of the climate ions and electrons. going a net decline?” the endorheic water loss equals an addition- exorheic, meaning streamflow originating from system, such as El Niño and La Niña in The camera can resolve features 5 to 10 times smaller than al sea level rise of 4 millimeters, the study A net water loss these basins drains to the ocean. multiyear cycles. However, the water loss those visible with cameras on NASA’s two Mars Exploration Using gravity observations from NASA/ found. The researchers said this impact is Exorheic basins account for most of the in endorheic basins appears less responsive Rovers that began exploring the Red Planet in January 2004. German Aerospace Center’s Gravity Recovery nontrivial. It accounts for approximately 10 ‘One of the samples that we try to get a better look at is ‘Little and Climate Experiment, or GRACE, satel- percent of the observed sea level rise during Colonsay’, NASA said. lites, Wang and his colleagues quantified a Exorheic basins account for most of the the same period; compares to nearly half of ‘The planning team thinks it might be a meteorite because net water loss in global endorheic basins of continental surface and are home to many of the concurrent loss in mountain glaciers, it is so shiny. ‘But looks can deceive, and proof will only come approximately 100 billion tons of water per excluding Greenland and Antarctica; and from the chemistry. year since the start of the current millennium. the world’s greatest rivers, such as the Nile, matches the entire contribution of global ‘Unfortunately, the small target was missed in the previous This means a water mass equivalent to five Amazon, Yangtze and Mississippi. groundwater consumption. attempt, and with the information from that, Curiosity will try Great Salt Lakes or three Lake Meads is gone (Source: Science Daily) again. ‘ Operators will use the six-wheeled NASA rover’s Chem- Cam to study the rock. Looking at rocks and soils from a distance, ChemCam fires a laser and analyzes the elemental composition of vaporized Light triggers gold in unexpected way, team finds materials from areas smaller than 0.04 inch (1 millimeter) on Rice University researchers have discovered a fundamentally attached to a glass substrate would create an evanescent field, the surface of Martian rocks and soils. different form of light-matter interaction in their experiments an oscillating electromagnetic wave that rides the surface of An on-board spectrograph provides detail about minerals with gold nanoparticles. the glass and traps the light like parallel mirrors, an effect and microstructures in rocks by measuring the composition of They weren’t looking for it, but students in the lab of Rice known as a total internal reflection. the resulting plasma - an extremely hot gas made of free-floating chemist Stephan Link found that exciting the microscopic They also knew that circularly polarized light is com- ions and electrons. particles just right produced a near-perfect modulation of posed of transverse waves. Transverse waves are perpen- Curiosity has been working at Vera Rubin Ridge, investigating the light they scatter. The discovery may become useful dicular to the direction the light is moving and can be the Highfield outcrop, a unique patch of grey bedrock. in the development of next-generation, ultrasmall optical used to control the particle’s visible plasmonic output. (Source: Daily Mail) components for computers and antennas. But when the light is confined, longitudinal waves also The work springs from the complicated interactions occur. Where transverse waves move up and down and between light and plasmonic metal particles that absorb side to side, longitudinal waves look something like blobs 600 million years ago, the and scatter light extremely efficiently. Plasmons are qua- being pumped through a pipe (as illustrated by shaking siparticles, collective excitations that move in waves on the a Slinky). first scavengers lurked in surface of some metals when excited by light. C-shaped gold The Rice researchers were studying pinwheel-like plas- They discovered the plasmonic response of the C-shaped dark ocean gardens monic structures of C-shaped gold nanoparticles to see how gold nanoparticles depends on the out-of-phase interac- they responded to circularly polarized light and its rotating tions between both transverse and longitudinal waves in The bizarre organisms of the Ediacaran Period have long puzzled electric field, especially when the handedness, or the direc- off?’ That’s not supposed to happen.” the evanescent field. researchers. Fossil discoveries suggest these ecosystems may tion of rotation of the polarization, was reversed. They then Circularly polarized light delivered at a particular an- For the pinwheel, the researchers found they could change have been more complicated than once thought. decided to study individual particles. gle to C-shaped gold nanoparticles produced a plasmonic the intensity of the light output by as much as 50 percent by Some 635 million years ago, as the Earth shook off massive Single arm of pinwheel response unlike any discovered before, according to Rice simply changing the handedness of the circularly polarized shrouds of glacial ice, an alien world blossomed on the ocean floors. “We stripped it back into the simplest possible system University researchers. When the incident-polarized light light input, thus changing the relative phase between the No complex animals prowled the seas of the Ediacaran Period. where we only had a single arm of the pinwheel, with a was switched …more transverse and longitudinal waves. Instead, the depths held microbial mats and strange, frond-like single incident light direction,” said Lauren McCarthy, a She and co-lead author Kyle Smith, a recent Rice alum- The “fact that the half-ring has a 100-nanometer radi- creatures that resembled nothing alive today. Paleontologists graduate student in the Link lab. “We weren’t expecting nus, had to go deep to figure out why they saw this “giant us of curvature means the entire structure takes up half a have suggested that this was a sort of Garden of Eden, a simple to see anything. It was a complete surprise when I put this modulation.” wavelength of light,” she said. “We think that’s important ecosystem wiped away by the more vibrant fauna of the following sample on the microscope and rotated my polarization from At the start, they knew shining polarized light at a particular for exciting the dipoles in this particular orientation.” Cambrian Period. left- to right-handed. I was like, ‘Are these turning on and angle onto the surface of their sample of gold nanoparticles (Source: phys.org) But recent research is complicating this view, suggesting that Ediacaran ecosystems were more complex than previously thought. Fossils also hint at the beginnings of a massive shift: scavenging that later evolved into predation. Snowpack declines may stunt tree growth and forests’ ability to store carbon emissions “It’s the beginning of a major change in the ecosystem of the Researchers conducting a 5-year-long study found that soil frost depth reached over Earth, an irrevocable change,” said Mary Droser, a paleobiol- examining snow cover in a northern hardwood 30 centimeters in areas where snow cover ogist at the University of California, Riverside. The “ability to forest region found that projected changes in had been removed compared to roughly eat another animal is a big deal, and is a major ecological and climate could lead to a 95 percent reduction 5 centimeters at control plots. biological innovation.” of deep-insulating snowpack in forest areas A cascade of responses The fossils of the Ediacaran, found in desolate locations like across the northeastern United States by the The severe frost caused damage to tree Namibia and South Australia, have been notoriously controversial end of the 21st century. The loss of snowpack roots that triggered a cascade of responses, and difficult to interpret. They include strange, quilted blobs; would likely result in a steep reduction of including reduced nutrient uptake by trees, stationary filter-feeders; and organisms like enormous ferns, forests’ ability to store climate-changing shorter branch growth, loss of nitrogen from some up to eight feet long. carbon dioxide and filter pollutants from soils into nearby waterways, and decreases (Source: NYT) the air and water. in soil insect diversity and abundance. The new findings, out today in Global Scientists collected sample cores from Change Biology, highlight a growing un- sugar maple trees on their research plots A natural wonderland on derstanding of the broad impact of climate and measured the width of the cores’ rings change across seasons on forest ecosystems, to reconstruct growth rates. They found that Australia’s iconic coast is in according to scientists who leveraged six growth declined by more than 40 percent decades of data showing declining winter in response to snow removal and increased danger of oil exploration: snowpack at Hubbard Brook’s forest. soil freezing. The trees also were unable new study Hardwood forests to rebound even after snowpack removal The 7,800-acre research forest in New ceased. The unseen depths of the Great Australian Bight are absolutely Hampshire is heavily populated by sugar “These experiments demonstrate the teeming with life, a new study has revealed. But soon enough, maple and yellow birch trees, and has been significant impact that changes in winter even these deep-sea creatures could be subject to the probing used for over 60 years to study changes in Center, CUNY, and with Hunter College’s significantly reduces growth of the iconic climate have on a variety of environmental fingers of the oil industry. northern hardwood forests -- an ecosystem Department of Geography. sugar maple trees.” factors, including forest growth, carbon se- The Great Australian Bight is a 1,160-kilometer (720 mile) covering over 54 million acres and stretching “Our study advances our understanding The researchers’ 5-year-long exper- questration, soil nutrients and air and water open bay that takes a sizeable chunk out of the southern coastline from Minnesota to southeastern Canada. of the long-term effects of this trend on iment consisted of removing snowpack quality,” Reinmann said. “Left unabated, these of the continent. The region is home to a diverse array of marine “We know global warming is causing northern hardwood forests -- which are from designated plots during the first changes in climate could have a detrimen- species, many of which could be put at risk by oil exploration. the winter snowpack to develop later and critical to North America’s environmental 4-6 weeks of winter each year between tal impact on the forests of the region and Yet even though the Australian government has handed out melt earlier,” said the paper’s first author health and several industries. The exper- 2008 and 2012, and then comparing the livelihoods of the people who rely on nearly a dozen permits for oil exploration in the region since Andrew Reinmann, an assistant professor iments we conducted suggest snowpack the resulting condition of the soil and them for recreation and industries such as 2011, the environmental impact of offshore drilling has gone and researcher with the Environmental declines result in more severe soil freezing trees (all sugar maples) in those plots tourism, skiing, snowmobiling, timber and largely unstudied. Science Initiative at the Advanced Science that damages and kills tree roots, increas- to the soil and trees in adjacent plots maple syrup production.” “Decisions like (oil exploration) can’t be made when you don’t Research Center (ASRC) at The Graduate es losses of nutrients from the forest and with natural snowpack. Their analysis (Source: eurekalert.org) have any information about the local environment, and it was identified that we knew nothing about the Great Australian Bight,” lead author Hugh Macintosh told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). A mystery seismic wave just swept Earth — but scientists can’t work out why With oil exploration on the horizon, it’s about time that we Scientists are baffled by a strange seismic ripple that traveled quakes alongside other higher-frequency waves. But there in Africa near where the signal began. But that storm has update our ignorance and fill in our blind spots. Without a baseline around the globe the morning of November 11. was no major earthquake that morning to set off the ripple. declined in ferocity since a magnitude 5.8 tremor struck knowledge of diversity in the region, we will have no idea how Seismic waves buzzed sensors from Africa to New Zealand Stranger still, the waves were monochromatic, stripped in May. the bight will be impacted by oil expansion. and Hawaii for about 20 minutes, but it seems no humans of the fuzzy noise that multiple different frequencies create. The French Geological Survey (BRGM), National Ge- Although it was partially funded by BP, an oil company, Mac- felt the bizarre ripple, National Geographic reported. “I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it,” Göran Ekström, a ographic stated, suspects a new center of volcanic activity intosh says the new study was independently designed, surveyed Twitter user matarikipax spotted the strange motion on seismologist at Columbia University, told National Geographic. could be emerging near the island. Magma might be on the and reported, with zero pressure from any stakeholders. U.S. Geological Survey graphs. He noticed a “most odd and “It’s like you have colored glasses and (are) just seeing move deep below the ocean some miles from the shores. The research focused on fauna that lives between 200 meters unusual seismic signal” on data from Kilimambogo, Kenya; red or something,” added Anthony Lomax, an independent An incredibly slow earthquake, which released stress over and 5 kilometers deep (that’s between 656 feet and 3 miles). Lusaka, Zambia, Mount Furi, Ethiopia; San Pablo, Spain; seismology consultant. a long period of time, could also have caused the strange Between 2011 and 2017, the team of researchers conducted six and Wellington, New Zealand. Seismic storm ripple, Ekström told the publication. Such events, often large-scale surveys, trawling the ocean floor to scoop up untold The signals, National Geographic reported, resembled Some scientists think the weird ripple might be something linked to volcanic activity, can last from minutes to days. mysteries from the depths. the long-period surface waves that rumble out from earth- to do with a seismic storm lashing Mayotte, an archipelago (Source: Newsweek) (Source: sciencealert.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY DECEMBER 2, 2018

Siberian crane ‘Omid’ Implementing law on persons returns to Iran, brings hope

ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — While there were growing deskspeculations among environmental lovers with disabilities needs $3b as to whether the Siberian crane ‘Omid’ will wing his way back to Iran or not, the crane returned to spend the winter SOCIETY TEHRAN – The full pension fees, he said that in the Iranian in Fereydunkenar, northern province of Mazandaran, once deskimplementation of the calendar year 1396 (March 2016-March again 10 days ago. law concerning the rights of persons with 2017), some 530,000 pensioners were Omid (literally meaning hope in Persian), has been flying disabilities requires a budget of over 120 among the individuals under the Organ- to Fereydunkenar, for about 10 years in the first week of the trillion rials (about $3 billion), of which ization’s coverage, of which 80 percent eighth Iranian calendar month of Aban falling on the last some 20 trillion rials (nearly $500 mil- were suffering disabilities, adding, the week of October, but this year he has not shown up yet until lion) for the first year of implementation pensioner’s population has currently risen the last day of Aban on November 21. is proposed to the Planning and Budget to 1.3 million, out of which some 800,000 Organization, the Welfare Organization’s are living with a disability. caretaker has said. He went on to say that there are 2,200 The law on the rights of persons with centers offering care and treatment services disabilities has been approved on December to 120,000 people suffering physical and 27, 2017, by the Majlis [Iranian parliament], mental disabilities in the country. which provides better living conditions for “Care centers are turning into rehabil- persons with disabilities to no longer feel itation and caring services at homes, in a isolated, development of disability-friendly way that services are provided at home by cities, health insurance and employment. family members or trained caregivers,” The budget amounting to 20 trillion rials he added. (nearly $500 million) has been demand- He further explained that one of the ed for the coming year, and the Plan and other welfare initiatives for people with Budget Organization agreed to cooperate disabilities is stablishing small houses for in this regard, IRNA quoted Pahbod Poor the ones with mental disabilities not to be Shabanan as saying on Saturday. left isolated in the community, some of Budget will be earmarked for the pen- which have been constructed in different Public relations director of Mazandaran province de- sions, rehabilitation equipment, employ- provinces since two years ago, accord- partment of environment Kamyar Valipour told ISNA news ment and training, which has been approved ing to a plan implementing in developed agency that the lonely crane has arrived in Iran 4 days earlier There are 2,200 centers offering care by the Plan and Budget Organization, he countries. compared to last year. said, adding that enforcement of the law and treatment services to 120,000 people Also, job creation workshops for people The bird has flown to Fereydunkenar for the past 10 years to protect the rights of persons with dis- with minor disabilities have been held, except for the year 2009, and the locals are very much fond suffering physical and mental disabilities abilities is the Organization’s priority. which have been very successful in Khorasan of him and call him Omid as it brings hope with himself, Referring to the plans to increase the in the country. Razavi province, he concluded. Valipour explained. The Siberian crane has been taking a two-month fly of great distance of 5000km from Uvat in western Siberia to Fereydunkenar for the past few years. Last year Omid flew to Iran 45 days late and left Ferey- Blame-shifting keeps air pollution continuing: councilor dunkenar earlier than normal. ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN – Different themselves to standardizing their products, According to the International Crane Foundation website deskbodies and organizations or city officials also develop public trans- this critically endangered species is now only found in one constantly try to shift the blame for the port infrastructure, and make green spaces main population in East Asia, with a few birds remaining in country’s severe air pollution to each other, with the country’s climate, the emissions the historic Western/Central population. keeping the current situation of air pollu- will be restricted. The Eastern population breeds in northeastern Siberia tion alive, Tehran city councilor has said. Meanwhile, among the aforesaid of- and winters at Poyang Lake in the Lower Yangtze River Ba- Some say that the Oil Ministry must ficials, Tehran’s Municipality is at the sin in China. In the Western/Central population, a single supply proper fuel, another group believes forefront of reducing air pollution, as it crane [Omid] continues to winter along the south coast of that automakers must produce standard is capable of taking urgent measure to the Caspian Sea in Iran. This population bred just south of cars, others say the government should contain pollution, while standardization the Ob River in Russia. sponsor, while some other say that only of fuel and vehicles might need longer With the height of 140 centimeters and weight of 6 kilo- a two-billion-dollar budget can resolve period, she highlighted. grams there are only 3,600 to 4,000 cranes left in the world. the issue, YJC quoted Zahra Sadr-Azam The municipality can promptly reform The Eastern population is stable, but the Western/Central Nouri as saying on Saturday. urban infrastructure in favor of public population almost extirpated. “Air pollution, annually afflicting a transport, in addition to facilitating it, as Habitat loss, especially due to changing hydrology caused large number of citizens and causing se- a way to encourage public to use the fleet, by water diversions and conversion of wetlands, illegal take rious damage to them, is one of the major she stated, adding, increasing the number including hunting, trapping and poisoning, pollution and challenges facing Tehran and metropolitan of public transport fleet vehicles along environmental contamination are threatening this endan- areas, which must be considered seriously”. with the development of subway network gered species. She went on to say that air pollution is the best reason to persuade citizens not impacts and finding solutions to resolve to use a private car, in addition to reduce it are related to the Tehran City Council. air pollution. LEARN ENGLISH “There are two main types of air pol- “It is planned to add 2 thousand trains lution sources, mobile sources including Over 80 percent of Tehran’s air pollu- and executive bodies tasks to combating to the metropolises’ subway networks, of The 7 Wonders of The World cars, buses, planes, trucks, and trains, and tion is due to cars and vehicles traveling and eliminating air pollution. which 1,000 trains will be granted to the stationary sources such as oil refineries, across the capital, among those, clunker Providing water right of the wetlands, capital,” she stated, adding that buses as A: Have you seen this news article? Apparently an organization industrial facilities, and factories,” she noted. buses running in public transport fleet supplying high quality fuel, developing re- a public transportation vehicle must be has made a list to name the new seven wonders of the world Some 20-30 percent of the emission produce the highest amount of sulfate newable resources, setting up early warning equipped and standard, so electric buses and people could vote for them online. is produced by stationary sources, while contamination, she lamented. systems for dust storms, fighting deser- will be very efficient. B: Wow, that’s really interesting. So who won? 70-80 percent of the pollution is generated She further noted that equipping the tification by land-use planning, seeking Elsewhere in her remarks, Sadr-Azam A: Well, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal in India. from mobile sources, so to eliminate pol- public transport fleet with diesel partic- and fostering regional and international Nouri said that trees from long ago have B: I’ve been there! It really is an amazing work of architecture lution, containing emissions produced by ulate filters, especially the buses, is the cooperation, and developing monitoring been a major source of oxygen production and art. The entire complex is made of white marble and in the vehicles must be the priority, she further first step in mitigating an important part equipment and to fight air pollution are combating air pollution, provided that the interior of the tomb, the walls are covered with gems and emeralds! highlighted. of the issue, adding, unfortunately, over some of the articles of the law. plant species to be compatible with the A: Cool! Also amongst the winners is Petra, in Jordan, Machu Elsewhere in her remarks, she explained the past years, the issue has not been taken Although many related organizations region’s ecosystem, for instance not re- Picchu in Peru and the pyramid in Chichenitza in Mexico. that carbureted vehicles and diesel cars seriously and only less than 100 buses are are shifting the blame for air pollution else- quiring much irrigation. B: Wait a minute! It also says that the Christ Redeemer statue are the major contributors to air pollution, equipped with the filter. where, referring to Ministry of Petroleum She further added that many plants, in Brazil and the Colosseum in Rome are wonders. I would while the existence of a variety of vehicles “Based on clean air bill, all buses aging for standard fuel production, automak- such as grass are not well situated in our love to go to Italy and see the Colosseum, stand in the middle not meeting the required Euro 5 standards 8 years or above must be removed from the ers for standard cars, as well as a budget country, due to the high consumption like a gladiator! also exacerbates air pollution. public transport fleet, however, there are amounting to 80 trillion rials (nearly $2 of water and no significant effect on the A: Well, let’s see if we can find some cheap airfare and we can go “Electric motorcycles must supersede no signs of enforcement of this legal decree billion), the issue stands unsolved yet, cleanliness of the city. towards the end of the year. carbureted ones, which emits 15 grams or fleet renewal, and currently more than Sadr-Azam Nouri stated. “Another approach to the City Council B: Good idea! of pollutants per kilometer,” Sadr-Azam 3,000 clunker buses are running in the The fact is that each of these different is conservation and protection of gardens, Key vocabulary Nouri added. country’s metropolis,” she also explained. organizations play a significant role in many of which have been destroyed and wonder: a monumental human creation that is amazing Pointing out that heavy-duty diesel ve- Given the persistent and choking air curbing air pollution, and if any one does placed with offices or residential build- Great Wall: an extensive wall in China that kept invaders at bay hicles are the main sources contributing pollution causing great discomfort to the its duty properly, then the problem will ings,” she regretted. Taj Mahal: mausoleum located in India made entirely of white to air pollution, she said that when the city dwellers, the Department of Environ- definitely be overcomed, she added. Although, the municipality prepared marble air pollutants were measured, the high- ment has put forward the clean air bill, She went on to explain that, if the Pe- useful plans if goes into effect, the members architecture: the art and science of designing buildings est amount of pollutants were reported which have been approved on October 23, troleum Ministry fulfills its obligations of the council are aware that eradicating tomb: grave or other place of burial at 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., when heavy vehicles 2016 by Majlis (the Iranian parliament), regarding standard fuel and Euro 5 petrol air pollution requires inter-sectoral co- Petra: a historical city in Jordan which was carved out of the commonly move around the cities. and assigned responsible organizations production, and car companies commit operation, she concluded. mountain, Machu Pichu: An Inca ancient city set high in the Andes moun- tains in Peru pyramid: a structure where the outer surfaces are triangular ENGLISH IN USE and converge at a point Colosseum: an ancient amphitheater located in Rome LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION gladiator: a person trained to entertain the public by engaging in mortal combat Supplementary vocabulary 200 tons of medicine, medical ارسال 200 تن دارو و تجهیزات پزشکی به عتبات world heritage site: an area or structure designated by UNESCO as being of global significance equipment sent for Arbaeen pilgrimage برای خدم ترسانی به زائران اربعین mausoleum: an external free-standing building constructed as رئیــس مرکــز پزشــکی حــج و زیــارت جمعیــت هــال احمــر از ارســال ۲۰۰ تــن دارو و تجهیــزات a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has dispatched some 200 of a deceased person tons of life-saving medicine and medical supplies to Iraq for Arbaeen مصرفــی پزشــکی بــه منظــور خدم ترســانی زائــران حســینی در عتبــات عالیــات عــراق خبــر داد. ,temple: a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities بــه گــزارش خبرنــگار تســنیم، ســیدعلی مرعشــی اظهــار کــرد: امســال بــرای اربعیــن حــدود 14 تریلــی .pilgrimage, an official with the IRCS has said such as prayer and sacrifice “Some 14 trucks carrying 200 tons of medications and medical equipment شــامل 200 تــن دارو و اقــام و تجهیــزات مصرفــی پزشــکی درنظــر گرفتــه شــده اســت کــه بــه عتبــات ruins: the remains of human-made architecture: structures that are dispatched to Karbala,” Ali Mar’ashi stated, YJC reported on عالیــات ارســال م ی شــود. were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete deterioration Wednesday. ancient: having been of long duration; of great age; very old. (Source: irlanguage.com) PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM Every action has a “-cline, -clinal” Lift off Clip someone’s wings reaction. We have Meaning: slope Meaning: if an aircraft or spacecraft lifts off, it leaves Explanation: to do something to restrict someone’s one planet; one For example: The present surface of anticlinal the ground and rises into the air freedom sandstone ridges and synclinal limestone hollows thus For example: Thousands of people had gathered For example: Taking away his credit card is a sure chance. began to arise. at Cape Canaveral to watch the rocket lift off. way to clip his wings. ساعت: 19:40 امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 2, 2018 WORLD IN FOCUS 13

BRICS slam protectionism as China- The CIA’s evidence linking MbS to Khashoggi killing U.S. spat overshadows G20 talks Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent about a dozen messages to the leader of the team that killed dissident 1 Global financial markets will take him for human rights abuses. journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in the hours before and after the their lead next week from the outcome of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and journalist’s death in October, according to a top secret CIA as- talks between Trump and Xi over dinner on Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir dis- sessment. Saturday, aimed at resolving differences that cussed the importance of making progress are weighing on global economic growth. in the investigation into Khashoggi’s killing Xi and other leaders from the BRICS group during talks in Buenos Aires on Friday, the of leading emerging economies - Brazil, Rus- U.S. State Department said. sia, India, China and South Africa - issued British Prime Minister Theresa May told a statement calling for open international the prince that the killers of Khashoggi should trade and a strengthening of the World Trade be held to account, her office said after the Organization (WTO). two leaders met. Saudi Arabia said the prince “The spirit and rules of the WTO run had no prior knowledge of the murder. counter to unilateral and protectionist meas- French President Emmanuel Macron ures,” they said. “We call on all members to told the prince in a separate meeting that oppose such WTO-inconsistent measures, Europeans will insist on international ex- stand by their commitments undertaken perts being part of the investigation into in the WTO.” Khashoggi’s killing. Beijing hopes to persuade Trump to Oil markets were awaiting a bilateral meet- abandon plans to increase tariffs on $200 ing between Putin and Prince Mohammed on billion of Chinese goods to 25 percent in Saturday afternoon for any sign that Russia According to the highly classified CIA report cited by The Wall January, from 10 percent at present. will participate in a production cut by the Street Journal (WSJ) on Saturday, Saudi Arabia’ de facto leader, U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday on OPEC oil cartel next month. known by media as MBS, sent Saud al-Qahtani, a top servant who hopes that a deal could be reached. failed to issue a joint statement for the first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was the only leader to exchange a was later sacked, at least 11 messages at the time of the crime. Trump said there had been some pos- time after the U.S. delegation clashed with Putin, where they had been expected to dis- warm greeting with the prince, high-fiving Bin Salman had instructed his men back in August 2017 that itive signs. China over trade and security. cuss the U.S. leader’s threat to withdraw him when he entered the main summit room. “we could possibly lure [Khashoggi] outside Saudi Arabia and “We’re working very hard. If we could However, delegates to the Buenos Aires from the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Trump and trade make arrangements,” if the crown prince could not convince the make a deal that would be good. I think they talks said good progress had been made on Nuclear Forces treaty. One bright spot before the summit opened dissident Saudi journalist, who was living in the United States, want to. I think we’d like to. We’ll see,” he said. economic sections of the final communique. Moscow said U.S. domestic politics may was the signing of a revised U.S.-Mexico-Can- to return to Saudi Arabia. according to the classified CIA report A Chinese foreign ministry official in Argentina’s presidency voiced cautious op- have been the real reason behind the cancel- ada trade pact to replace the North American as quoted by The Hill political website from WSJ. Buenos Aires said there were signs of in- timism that consensus would be reached, lation after Trump’s former personal lawyer Free Trade Agreement. The report states that the communication “seems to foreshad- creasing consensus ahead of the discussions, but a White House official said the United pleaded guilty on Thursday to lying to Con- Signing the agreement alongside Canadian ow the Saudi operation launched against Khashoggi,” according although differences remained. States would walk away from any statement gress about a proposed Trump Organization Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican to the Journal. Seeking common ground that prejudiced U.S. interests. skyscraper in the Russian capital. President Enrique Pena Nieto, Trump said Another excerpt reportedly states that the CIA has “medi- On the eve of the summit, G20 nations Highlighting the deep rifts within the G20, A White House spokeswoman denied this he looked forward to working with the U.S. um-to-high confidence” that Prince Mohammed “personally were still trying to reach consensus on word- European Council President Donald Tusk and Trump said on Friday the ships’ seizure Congress to complete the terms of the deal targeted” Khashoggi and “probably ordered his death.” ing for the summit’s communique on major said the European Union would extend its was the “sole reason” he scratched the meeting. and did not anticipate problems. “To be clear, we lack direct reporting of the Crown Prince issuing issues including trade, migration and cli- economic sanctions on Moscow in Decem- A Kremlin spokesman said Putin was The three countries agreed a deal in a kill order,” according to the excerpts reported by the Journal. mate change, which in past years have been ber, after Russian ships fired on Ukrainian ready to continue talks with Trump. principle to govern their trillion dollars The adviser in question, Saud al-Qahtani, was sanctioned by the worked out well in advance. vessels in the Sea of Azov last week, seizing Lonely Saudi prince of mutual trade after a year and a half of White House last month for his involvement in Khashoggi’s death. Officials hammering out the communique, the boats and sailors. The presence of Crown Prince Moham- contentious talks concluded just an hour The CIA has reportedly concluded that the crown prince ordered known as “sherpas,” said they expected to “As this is a difficult moment for interna- med bin Salman at the summit also raised before a deadline on Sept. 30. Khashoggi’s killing. However, U.S. President Donald Trump has work into the night. tional cooperation, I would like to appeal to an awkward dilemma for leaders, and Saudi Trudeau still had a few barbs on Friday. cast doubt on the CIA report. “This has been an unprecedentedly long the leaders to use this summit ... to seriously Arabia’s de facto leader cut a lonely figure He called the deal by its old name NAFTA, The Senate on Wednesday advanced a resolution that would drafting,” said Russia’s sherpa, Svetlana discuss real issues such as trade wars, the standing at the edge of the G20 family photo. prodded Trump over U.S. steel and alumi- end U.S. military support for the Saudi-led campaign in Yem- Lukash. “It’s very complicated,” she said, tragic situation in Syria and Yemen and the Prince Mohammed arrived under swirling num tariffs and said General Motors Co’s en’s civil war, issuing a rebuke to Trump after the White House adding that differences remained on all the Russian aggression in Ukraine,” Tusk told controversy over the murder of Saudi jour- decision to cut production and its North opposed the bill. The resolution advanced even as the adminis- key issues. a news conference. nalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate American workforce, including in Canada, tration vowed to stand by Saudi Arabia following global outcry Earlier in November, officials from coun- Trump cited Russia’s seizure of the ships in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Human Rights Watch was a “heavy blow.” over the killing of Khashoggi. tries attending a major Asia-Pacific summit as the reason he canceled a planned bilateral asked Argentine prosecutors to investigate (Source: Reuters) Khashoggi was killed on Oct. 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain marriage documents for his upcoming wedding. (Source: WSJ) Netherlands halts arms export to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt over Yemen war With the ongoing deadly campaign led by Riyadh against The House of Saud regime and a number of its re- Palestine thwarts efforts Yemen, the Netherlands has said it will halt arms export to gional allies, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, by U.S. to question its Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt. Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, Qatar, and Bahrain, launched Dutch Foreign Trade and Development Minister Sigrid the campaign in early 2015 with the aim of bringing the membership in OPCW Kaag said on Friday that “restrictive conditions for the government of former Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh export of weapons applied to Saudi Arabia” had been Mansur Hadi back to power and crushing the country’s Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki says the Palestinian expanded to include Egypt and the UAE. Ansarullah (Houthi) movement, which has been running delegation at the Conference of the States Parties to the Organi- “There will be no arms exports from the Netherlands state affairs from the capital Sana’a in the absence of an zation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as well to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE unless it is proven effective government. as the Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention that they will not be used in the Yemen war.” According to a new report by the Armed Conflict (CWC) managed to frustrate U.S. bids to question Palestine’s In November, Finland and Denmark stopped exports Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit membership in the international organization. of military equipment to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the conflict-research organization, the Saudi-led war has so murder of prominent Saudi dissident journalist Jamal far claimed the lives of around 56,000 Yemenis. Khashoggi as well as the campaign in Yemen. The conflict has also taken a heavy toll on the country’s The European Parliament said in the same month infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and facto- that the European Union’s arms exports to Saudi Arabia ries. The United Nations has already said that a record were stoking the war on Yemen, calling for sanctions 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including believed to have been ordered by Saudi Crown Prince on the countries that refuse to respect the EU’s rules on 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. According to Mohammed bin Salman. weapons sales. the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe There have been numerous calls over the past weeks Many governments have promised to stop arms exports famine in more than 100 years. for the U.S. and its allies to end military support for to the Saudi regime, but only Germany has suspended its A number of Western countries, the United States and the Saudis. sales until clear explanations are made about the murder. Britain in particular, are also accused of being complicit Earlier this week, the International Rescue Committee, Britain, France and Spain have all signaled that they will in the aggression as they supply Riyadh with advanced Oxfam America, CARE U.S., Save the Children, and the continue business as usual. weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and Norwegian Refugee Council said in a joint statement According to figures compiled by the Middle East intelligence assistance. that 14 million people are at risk of starving to death Eye, European countries have since 2015 approved The war in Yemen has been the focus of international in Yemen if the parties to the conflict do not change arms sales worth over 86.7 billion to Saudi Arabia and attention since the assassination of Khashoggi at Riyadh’s course immediately. the UAE. consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, in October, which is widely (Source: Press TV) Maliki, in a statement released on Saturday, announced that the Palestinian delegation had participated in the conference for the first time as a State Party after gaining full membership in Female victims come clean about ‘torture’ in UAE jails The Hague-based organization. A new report has revealed the extent al-Wathba prison in Abu Dhabi as a assistance for four months. along while staying at the luxury Conrad “Our delegation rejected an American attempt to add an item of torture and violent instances of mis- venue that needed to be investigated. She blamed Emirati Crown Prince Hotel in the Belgian capital for several to the final statement questioning Palestine’s membership in [the] treatment practiced against women in One woman, who introduced herself Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for months back in 2007 and 2008. OPCW, which was … supported by the vast majority of member UAE (United Arab Emirates) prisons. as Maryam, said she was detained in issuing the decree enabling the inmates’ In February 2016, a report by The states that defended the right of the State of Palestine to equal The New Khalij - an Arabic-language 2015 and held in “secret detention” for torture. Guardian said two Americans and a representation like other Member States and were dismayed by news website covering the human rights five months in a row, noting that she This is not the first time the Emi- Canadian, all holding dual Libyan cit- the American actions which disrupted the work of the Conference situation in the Persian Gulf’s littoral had been faced with insult in addition rati royalty have been associated with izenship, and two other Libyan nationals for several days,” the statement pointed out. Arab states - in an audio report pub- to torture. torture. had faced grave torture while in custody Maliki said that Palestinian delegates engaged in a successful lished on Friday studied several cases in Elsewhere in the audio, the females Last June, the Brussels criminal in the UAE. legal and diplomatic battle, during which they acted on the prin- which of sufferings by female detainees described the situation in their prison court handed eight Emirati princess- United Nations experts noted back ciples of international law and the procedural rules adopted at in UAE prisons. cells as “inhumane,” complaining about es -- a mother and her seven daughters at the time that the men had been tried such conferences. The broad support of the majority of member The audio report provided oral testi- “overcrowding, unsavory food, and ab- -- suspended sentences of 15 months for “terrorism” based on a law enacted states for Palestine also forced the United States to retreat from monies of the victims, themselves, who sence of medical services.” for human trafficking and degrading after their arrest, given limited access its illegal and hostile stance. called on the United Nations and human Some have fallen victim to life-threat- treatment of their servants. Sheikha to lawyers, adding that the confessions He went on to say that the membership of the State of Palestine rights organizations to investigate the ening diseases such as cancer. Hamda al-Nahyan and her daughters signed during detention could have been in international organizations had become a reality, adding that situation. Maryam said one had contracted colon were accused of abusing more than 20 the result of torture. countries must live with this legal, political and diplomatic reality They specifically mentioned the cancer, and was left without medical female servants, whom they had brought (Source: Press TV) in respect of the principle of multilateral diplomacy. Maliki then stressed the need for membership in the OPCW as one of the most important disarmament organizations, say- ing the Palestinian delegation would spare no effort to hold the Thousands demonstrate in Madrid for Spanish unity occupying regime of Israel to account for the use of chemical weapons against Palestinian people. Thousands of people waving Spanish flags rallied in whose far-right, anti-immigrant Vox party is predicted to The Palestinian foreign minister concluded that the Ramal- Madrid on Saturday in support of national unity and win its first seats in a Spanish parliament in regional elec- lah-based Palestinian Authority would request the OPCW to against Catalonia’s ongoing campaign to secede from tions in Andalusia on Sunday. send experts to the occupied territories to inspect Israel’s use of Spain. “We are here for our country and but also against some- banned chemical substances there. The Catalan secession crisis and Prime Minister Pedro thing too: a legal but illegitimate government supported by The Conference of the OPCW States Parties, which sought to Sanchez’s decision to take a more conciliatory tone with the enemies of Spain, those who organised a coup d’etat in oversee the implementation of the CWC, promote the treaty’s pro-independence parties, whose votes are crucial to the Catalonia,” Abascal told the crowd. objectives and review compliance with the treaty, kicked off on legislative agenda of his minority government, has angered Sanchez came to power earlier this year with the support November 19 and wrapped up the following day. many conservatives in Spain. of Catalan nationalist parties who voted with him in a no The Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Protesters carried signs reading “Stop Sanchez. confidence motion against former Prime Minister Mari- which served as a forum for the assessment and evaluation of the Elections now!” at the protest in Madrid’s central ano Rajoy, whose conservative People’s Party (PP) was CWC’s implementation and setting long-term views by providing Plaza Colon. embroiled in a corruption scandal. strategic guidance to the OPCW, was held on November 21-30. Among those to address the crowd was Santiago Abascal, (Source: Reuters) (Source: Press TV) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS DECEMBER 2, 2018

Italian side Palermo sold to Euro 2020 draw offers unique London company for £8.75

Palermo have been sold to a “London-based company” for the incentive for 12 host nations price of 10 euros (£8.75), the Italian second division side’s owner For the first time 12 nations will head into Sunday’s qualifying has announced. draw (1100GMT) for Euro 2020 with the extra incentive of Maurizio Zamparini said he has sold “100% of the club” at a playing on home soil should they make it to the 24-team “symbolic price”. tournament in two years time. Zamparini, 77, bought Palermo in 2002 and last year stepped Amsterdam, Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Budapest, Copen- down as president. However, his replacement resigned as a take- hagen, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and Saint over fell through. Petersburg are the 12 cities that will host matches across He made around 45 managerial appointments during his the continent to celebrate the 60th anniversary since the time in charge. first European Championships. Zamparini said he was “profoundly sad” to finally be leaving The draw in Dublin will see UEFA’s 55 nations split into but is “thinking of the club’s future”. 10 groups with the top two in each section making up the In an open letter to fans, he added: “The objective for some first 20 teams to qualify. time has been to find someone to continue my work with more However, a maximum of two of the hosts nations can financial power, capable of investments that I was no longer able be paired together in each group to give all 12 the chance to make. “The new London-based owners will put into action of experiencing a home tournament with a guarantee of at the construction of the stadium and training ground. least two home games in the group stages. “I have, with a lump in my throat, signed my departure.” England stand to gain most from home advantage with When Zamparini took over, Palermo had not been in the both semi-finals and the final, as well as three group games Italian top flight for 30 years. and a last 16 tie set to be played at Wembley. They returned to Serie A for the 2004-05 campaign and com- The Three Lions have enjoyed argubly their best year peted five times in the Uefa Cup and Europa League under his since winning the World Cup on home soil in 1966 as Ga- ownership. reth Southgate’s side reached the semi-finals of the World Players such as Edinson Cavani, Paulo Dybala and Javier Cup in Russia and then beat Spain and Croatia to reach Pastore featured during the years before relegation to Serie B in the inaugural finals of the Nations League next summer. 2013-14. They returned immediately to the top flight as second Southgate is well aware of the extra inspiration of playing division champions, but were relegated again in 2016-17. in a major tournament at home as he was part of the England Palermo are currently top of Serie B, three points clear of side that reached the semi-finals at Euro ‘96. earlier this month. “I can’t remember the new Wembley like Loew needs to bounce back in qualifying with Munich playing Pescara. “What the players are going to experience is close to that. We have exciting players that give them excitement.” host to five matches, including a quarter-final. (Source: BBC) what we experienced in 1996 and in ‘66. That’s incredible England, Switzerland, Portugal and the Netherlands are But Loew has no doubt the four-time world champions for everybody,” said the England manager. guaranteed to end up in a five-team group to free them up will qualify. “Of course we would have wished for a different The Wembley factor could be key to ending England’s half from qualifiers for the Nations League finals in June. set-up for the draw, but we face the situation and accept it,” century without winning a major tournament with Southgate’s ’Germany will qualify’ said Loew. “I’m looking forward to next year. We have a exciting young squad having renergised a nation’s support. World champions France, Belgium, Croatia, Italy, Poland team with good prospects and we’ll qualify for the European Villa joins Iniesta, Podolski “I think the most pleasing thing of the year has been the and Spain make up the rest of the top seeds, as Germany’s Championships.” at J.League club Kobe connection with the fans and being able to share brilliant relegation from their Nations League group with the French For those who fail to qualify in the top two of their group, experiences with them,” added Southgate after exacting and Dutch means they slip into pot two. there may still be the safety net of a playoff via the Nations some measure of revenge for defeat to Croatia in the World After also crashing out at the first hurdle at the World League. Former Barcelona forward David Villa announced on Saturday Cup semi-finals in a thrilling Nations League group finale Cup for the first time in 80 years, Germany coach Joachim (Source: AFP) he will be joining Spanish compatriot Andres Iniesta and Ger- man World Cup winner Lukas Podolski at J.League club Vissel Kobe next season. The 36-year-old, who won the 2008 European IOC sets up committee to assist on Cameroon stripped of right to host Championship and the 2010 World Cup with Spain, said he would be leaving New York City FC after scoring 80 goals in 124 games human rights 2019 African Nations Cup for the Major League Soccer side. Villa made the announcement on YouTube and the move was later confirmed by Kobe in a statement. “It’s decided,” he said in a video. “I have a new destination. A great challenge awaits. New country. New culture. New team-mates. Hello Japan. Hello Vissel Kobe.” Villa was Iniesta’s team mate during a very successful pe- riod for the Spanish giants and won two La Liga titles and the Champions League in 2011. Iniesta scored on Saturday as Kobe wrapped up their J.League season with a 3-2 victory over Vegalta Sendai, finishing 10th in the 18-team league. (Source: Reuters)

Liverpool eye Merseyside The International Olympic Committee said work. There is enough to do within our Cameroon has been stripped of the right five stadiums proposed for the tournament. derby boost after Euro flop on Saturday it will form a new committee spheres of work.” to host the 2019 African Nations Cup fi- “After having heard from representatives to advise the executive board on human The first day of the meeting was dom- nals due to delays in preparations for the of the governmental and sports authori- Jurgen Klopp must lift Liverpool’s shattered spirits as the Reds rights issues within sport, including the inated by the IOC’s decision to freeze all tournament and security concerns. ties of Cameroon, and reviewed the latest aim to bounce back from their latest European setback in a crucial requirements for all future Olympic Games planning for boxing events at the 2020 The Confederation of African Football progress on preparations, CAF notes the Merseyside derby against resurgent Everton on Sunday. host cities. Olympics amid an ongoing investigation (CAF) confirmed the unanimous decision gap between the requirements of hosting Marco Silva takes Everton to Anfield with the blue half of The new advisory committee will be into the sport’s governing body AIBA for after a meeting of its executive committee the AFCON and realities on the ground,” Merseyside looking for their first victory on their hated neigh- headed by former United Nations High issues related to governance and finance. in Accra on Friday. the CAF statement said. bours’ turf since 1999. Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Bach said his number one priority was Morocco is the favorite to take over the “Furthermore, after hearing the conclu- Everton enter the weekend in sixth place in the Premier League, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein of Jordan, and the to ensure the athletes who want to compete hosting of the expanded 24-team tourna- sions of the CAF Security Inspection Team having recorded five victories and just one defeat in their last composition of the committee will be an- at the Olympics were not punished. ment, which is being held from June 15- during their most recent visit to Cameroon, seven games. nounced at the Executive Board meeting “We want to have one (boxing at Tokyo July 13, with the preferred candidate to be CAF concludes that the Africa Cup of Na- Their optimism stands in contrast to the first real signs of in March 2019. 2020) and this is why we will work hard for named by Dec. 31, CAF said in a statement. tions could not be exposed to any issues problems in Klopp’s camp this season. At the conclusion of the two-day execu- the athletes,” said Bach, who refused to be Cameroon’s ability to host the finals was that could impact on the success of the While Liverpool remain unbeaten in the league, and stood tive board meeting in Tokyo - the hosts of drawn on what the alternative was for the first questioned when CAF announced in most prestigious African competition.” two points behind leaders Manchester City ahead of the week- the next Olympic and Paralympic Games - IOC if the AIBA loses its Olympic backing. July last year that the tournament would When CAF President Ahmad went to end fixtures, successive away defeats in their Champions League IOC President Thomas Bach said all Games “Because here, again, it is always the same; have eight additional teams and only coun- Cameroon in October he told the country’s group at Red Star Belgrade and Paris Saint-Germain have raised host city candidates beyond 2024 will have we do not want athletes to suffer due to mis- tries capable of putting on world-class President Paul Biya in front of assembled questions about their trophy-winning potential. to meet strict human rights criteria. behavior of officials or people to which they tournament, with complete facilities and reporters: “CAF has no Plan B, nor have Roberto Firmino was the latest member of last season’s im- “This commitment and this committee, are not related and with the misbehavior of extensive infrastructure would be allowed we ever considered taking the Nations Cup pressive Liverpool forward line to come in for criticism following of course, will concentrate on the spheres of whom they have nothing to do.” to stage the event. Morocco immediately away from Cameroon.” a 2-1 defeat in Paris on Wednesday which leaves his team facing work of the IOC that means, in particular, The two remaining candidate cities for said it was ready to replace Cameroon, But last week he criticized Cameroon’s an anxious final group game against Napoli as they seek to guar- the organization of the Olympic Games the 2026 Winter Olympics — Stockholm beginning more than a year of claims and inability to regularize the affairs of its foot- antee progress to the knock-out stages. and the Youth Olympic Games,” Bach told and Milan-Cortina — made presentations to counter-claims that CAF intended taking ball federation, which has been under the The Brazilian forward has managed to hit the net only three reporters. Bach and other delegates at the Association the tournament away from Cameroon and control of a normalization committee for times in 13 Premier League games to date this season and, in “We can, we will, not pretend that the of National Olympic Committee general giving it to the north African country. more than a year while it struggles to adopt a comparison to his 15 last term, Firmino’s productivity has cer- IOC or the Olympic Games can solve hu- assembly in Tokyo on Wednesday. CAF sent several inspection teams to new constitution and elect a new executive. tainly dipped. man rights issues beyond our spheres of (Source: Reuters) check on the progress of the construction of (Source: Eurosport) Among many factors put forward for Liverpool’s slight drop off in attacking prowess, fatigue seems one of the most obvious, with Klopp adamant that he will maintain strong bids for success in both the Premier and Champions Leagues. Argentina humiliated by ‘Copa Conquistadores’ final Liverpool have played 18 games in both competitions to date, The first ever Copa Libertadores final between Argentina’s rejected on Thursday. with Firmino and Mohamed Salah having featured in every one two most popular clubs was supposed to be the “match of CONMEBOL, which is headquartered in Paraguay, de- of them. Sadio Mane has missed just one. the century” and a football festival that would propel the cided Argentina was in no fit state to host such an important (Source: AFP) country back into the spotlight following yet another World match and ordered it played elsewhere, with Real president Cup debacle. Florentino Perez jumping on the opportunity and offering Well, Argentina is back in the spotlight but for all the use of the Bernabeu for free. wrong reasons and the decision to play the twice-postponed ’Everybody lost’ “superclasico” final second leg between Buenos Aires arch “Why did they accept so easily that this match wouldn’t Season over for German ski rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors in the homeland of Latin be played in Argentina?” asked analyst Alejandro Wall on America’s colonizers, is a painful humiliation. the Tiempo Argentina website. racer Dressen All over social media, the prestigious competition -- the “What they’re doing is stealing from Argentine football. most important club tournament in South America -- has And those who are punished are the 60,000 people who German racer Thomas Dressen will not compete again this season been rechristened the “Copa Conquistadores de America.” waited” in the Monumental stadium, not once but twice after tearing his cruciate ligaments and dislocating his shoulder In one meme on social media there is a picture of Chris- for hours on end hoping to watch the historic match, but to in the World Cup downhill in Beaver Creek, the German ski topher Columbus landing in South America to initiate the no avail. For sports newspaper Ole, “River lost, Boca lost, federation said on Saturday. European colonization of the Americas and holding aloft ond leg clash at River’s Monumental stadium -- the first leg the country lost the possibility of having a party and we The 25-year-old who won last season’s prestigious Kitzbuehel the Copa Libertadores trophy, whereas he’s usually depicted finished 2-2 at Boca’s Bombonera ground -- was called off lost the fans: they took away the dream, the desire and the downhill fell at speed after 44 seconds of the first run in Beaver with the flag of Spain’s Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella after Boca players were injured when their team bus came enthusiasm.” Argentine great Diego Maradona, who won Creek on Friday and careered into the safety netting. of Castille and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. under attack from their rivals’ fans. the league with Boca in 1981, was enraged. The race was halted for 15 minutes to allow the stricken Dressen “It’s as if we weren’t allowed to dance the tango. We’re Windows were shattered, spraying players with broken “If the family of a fan wants to see the match, how does to be carried away on a stretcher and taken to hospital. destroying football,” lamented Gustavo Alfaro, the coach glass while police fired tear gas to disperse the troublemakers, it pay to go to Madrid?” he said. He claimed seventh place at last weekend’s opening World of Argentine team Huracan. “We don’t want hooligans or but that entered the team bus and left Boca’s footballers Evidently, some people have the means. Argentina’s am- Cup event in Lake Louise and finished fifth in the event at the complicit authorities. They’ve no right to take River-Boca suffering from smoke inhalation. bassador to Spain, Ramon Puerto told TyC Sports channel Pyeongchang Olympics. away from us.” For the first time ever, a Copa Libertaodres Boca refused to play the match and it was postponed 24 that “two airlines sold all their seats in three hours.” When the race resumed, it was won by Beat Feuz of Switzer- final will be played outside the continent, with Real Madrid’s hours, only to then be called off indefinitely the next day. As for the match ticket price, it’s expected to cost be- land, the Pyeongchang downhill bronze medallist. Santiago Bernabeu stadium picked as the unlikely venue. Boca petitioned South American football’s governing tween $100-$300. (Source: AP) It all came about because last weekend the original sec- body CONMEBOL to be awarded the trophy but that was (Source: AFP) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 2, 2018 SPORTS 15 Jalal Hosseini bids farewell to Tractor Sazi edge international football Pars Jonoubi: IPL SPORTS TEHRAN — Long-serv- desking and highly valued member of Iran national football team Jalal Hosseini finished off his international career. With less than 40 days to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Hosseini announce his retirement on Saturday. Was it right he was being handed another cap at all? Not at all, because Hosseini quit Team Melli. Persepolis captain Hosseini bade farewell after a glittering 11-year career in national team. His international career began back in February 2007 when he debuted Team TEHRAN — Tractor Sazi football team earned an important Melli in a friendly match against Belarus. away match against Pars Jonoubi in Iran Professional League Hosseini made 116 appearances for Iran (IPL) on Saturday. national football team and scored eight goals Mehdi Mehdipour scored the winner in the 77th minute from as a center back. a set-piece in Takhti Stadium in Abadan. He represented Iran in three AFC Asian Tractor Sazi moved up to third place, surpassing Persepolis Cups (2007, 2011, 2015) as well as 2014 World with 26 points, two points more than the team. Cup in Brazil. Persepolis are fourth with 24 points, with two games in hand The 36-year-old defender was named in compared to Tractor Sazi. Iran’s preliminary squad for the 2018 World “We did not deserve to be on a losing team. We started well the Cup in Russia but did not make the final 23. match and managed the game but they were more experienced Hosseini was surprisingly dropped from than us,” Pars Jonoubi coach Mehdi tartar said in the post-match the 2018 World Cup due to conflicts between news conference. Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic and Team “I would like to excuse our fans because we could not make Melli coach Carlos Queiroz. them happy,” he added. Hosseini helped Persepolis advance to Sepahan and Padideh sit top of the table with 29 points. the 2018 AFC Champions League, where the Reds came second after losing to Japan’s Kashima Antlers in two final matches. He also played vital role in steering Persepolis to back-to-back titles in Iran Professional League. Iranian basketball superstar Iran beach soccer move to second at world ranking joins Chinese team SPORTS TEHRAN — Following a Portugal and just one behind world champions deskremarkable campaign in the Brazil. IRNA — Iranian professional basketball player Hamed Haddadi Intercontinental Cup in Dubai, Iran surpassed The Russians also move up one place in the joined Xinjiang and will continue to play for the Chinese League. Portugal’s place to move into second spot in the rankings, into fourth position, reclaiming the The most valuable Iranian and Asian basketball player signed beach soccer world rankings, at the same time spot that Italy took from them after winning a contract to attend the Chinese League and will play for Xinjiang. claiming the November Movers of the Month title. the Euro Beach Soccer League in September. The 2.18-meter Haddadi has been attending in Chinese Bas- Marco Octavio’s men cruised through the Italy slip back into fifth position, while Por- ketball Association (CBA). group stages in the UAE, seeing off compe- tugal also drop by one into third. He has had other offers as well, but reached an agreement tition from three-time winners Russia, the Elsewhere in the rankings, the U.S. moved with Xinjiang. team that they would eventually meet in the up by an impressive eight places, leapfrogging final and who also ended Brazil’s 66-game teams such as Argentina, Nigeria and Belarus, unbeaten streak. as a result of their best ever finish (fifth place) Iran topped the group with nine points, saw in the Intercontinental Cup. off Egypt in the semi-final and then handed a There were few big drops down the table 4-2 defeat to Russia in the final to repeat their this month, but China, Vietnam and Uzbekistan Iran lose to Kazakhstan at 2013 success in Dubai. slid down a few places as a result of a period of Asian Women’s Handball They gained 162 points to take them above inactivity, beachsoccer.com wrote. C’ship

Official: Afshin Ghotbi named Foolad coach TASNIM – Iran national women’s handball team lost to Ka- zakhstan at the 2018 Asian Women’s Handball Championship. TEHRAN — Afshin Ever Bright. “I want to qualify for the AFC SPORTS On Saturday, Team Melli were defeated against Kazakhstan deskGhotbi has been officially Champions League with Foolad, that’s why 41-26 in Group A at the Yatsushiro Gymnasium in Yatsushiro, named as new head coach of Foolad Khuz- I am here. I received a warm welcome from Japan. estan football team on Saturday. the Foolad fans and it can be a good sign. I Team Melli are scheduled to meet Australia on Sunday. Ghotbi has penned an 18-month contract would also like to thank Habibollah Rezaei Iran will also play Japan and New Zealand on Tuesday and with Ahvaz based football team, replacing (Foolad general manager) for his trust. Wednesday. Aziz Farisat in Foolad. Ghotbi started his coaching career in UCLA Group B consists of South Korea, China, India, Hong Kong The two-time Iran league winners part- Bruins in 1984 and was assistant coach of and Singapore. ed company with Sirous Pourmousavi in the U.S. and South Korea national football The 2018 Asian Women’s Handball Championship is the 17th September following poor start to the Iran teams from 1997 to 2002. edition of the Asian Women’s Handball Championship, is being Professional League (IPL) season. In 2007, Ghotbi was named as head coach held from 30 November to 9 December 2018 in Kumamoto, Pourmousavi’s Romanian assistant Ilie of Persepolis and led the team to title after Yamaga and Yatsushiro, Japan. Stan took charge of Foolad but he was also six years. The tournament is held under the aegis of Asian Handball sacked after two months. He also took charge of Iran national foot- Federation and will act as the Asian qualifying tournament for Farisat also failed to meet expectations ball team in 2009 and headed Team Melli the 2019 World Women’s Handball Championship. and Foolad opened negotiations with the in 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. 54-year-old coach. Ghotbi has also coached Shimizu Ghotbi was without a team since parting S-Pulse of Japan and Thailand’s Buriram company with Chinese club Shijiazhuang United. Iran beat Turkmenistan Iran hosts Agitos Foundation’s Organizational Capacity Program at AFC U-20 Futsal SPORTS TEHRAN — The Agitos Foundation’s people have been engaged in national workshops from 39 deskOrganizational Capacity Program (OCP) NPCs in all five regions. Championship qualification Level 2 three-day seminar was hosted by Iran National Level 2 started in June 2018 and aims to provide more Paralympic Committee (NPC Iran) from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1. in depth knowledge and support to NPCs in the areas of Iran defeated Turkmenistan 6-3 in Group A of the Central Zone The Agitos Foundation’s Organizational Capacity Pro- governance, marketing/promotion and athlete development. of the 2019 AFC U-20 Futsal Championship qualification on gram supports National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) to The long term aim is to increase the ability of NPCs to Saturday. understand their mission and priorities their work. manage and diversify their funding streams. Hamid Shandizi’s boys will face Afghanistan on Monday. Through a two-year mentoring process, the program is “NPC Iran takes sports for disabled people into con- Group B consists of host Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. encouraging increased professionalism, more local support sideration. We celebrate the National Paralympic Day on The top three teams will book their places in the 2019 AFC from governments, corporates and development agencies, 16 October with Para sport exhibitions and educational U-20 Futsal Championship. new local partnerships and better visibility. workshops across all 31 provinces throughout the week,” The 2019 AFC U-20 Futsal Championship qualification is the The OCP is a unique combination of learning how to Iran NPC Secretary General Masoud Ashrafi said. qualification process organized by the Asian Football Confeder- make a project successful, knowledge and mentoring, re- “We try to get involved the family of the para athletes ation (AFC) to determine the participating teams for the 2019 quiring ongoing commitment from the NPC, training ex- because we deeply believe that it has positive effects on AFC U-20 Futsal Championship to be held in Iran. pertise from the IPC Academy and mentoring from Agitos children and parents. We are ready to help the NPC for de- Of the 47 AFC member associations, a total of 23 teams entered Foundation staff. veloping the Paralympic Movement in the region,” he added. The OCP Level 1 started in 2014 and so far over 1,000 the competition. The qualification process is divided into four zones: ASEAN Zone, Central Zone, East Zone and West Zone (no teams from South Zone entered qualification). FIFA investigating sex abuse claims on Afghanistan women’s team (Source: the-afc) Football’s world governing body FIFA is team who said the abuse had taken place in looking in to claims of sexual and physical Afghanistan, including at AFF headquarters, abuse on the Afghanistan national women’s and at a training camp in Jordan last February. team, it confirmed in a statement Saturday. It quotes former captain Khalida Popal, The allegations against officials includ- who fled the country after receiving death ing the Afghanistan Football Federation’s threats and has spoken out previously about Iran unchanged in futsal president Keramuddin Karim were reported the discrimination women face in Afghani- world ranking in Britain’s Guardian newspaper. The AFF stan, as saying male officials were “coercing” has “vigorously” rejected claims. female players. “The serious subjects mentioned are being “The story is not true,” Sayed Alireza TASNIM — The Iranian national futsal team remained unchanged looked in to by FIFA,” the global body said Aqazada, secretary general of the AFF, in the sixth place in the latest world ranking. in a statement, adding that it has a “zero told reporters in Kabul Saturday, adding: Team Melli sit in sixth place with 1649 points. tolerance policy” on such violations. “No sexual harassment has been committed that Danish sportswear company Hummel Afghanistan has made strides to promote Brazil remained top in the world with 1897 points, followed by Given the sensitivity of the allegations, against any girl football player.” had withdrawn its sponsorship due to the female football -- as well as the national side, Spain (1789), Russia (1680), Portugal (1679) and Argentina (1663). particularly in deeply conservative, patriar- “It is easy for us to cancel or eliminate allegations. Hummel has not responded to four years ago it launched its first all-wom- Asian teams Japan and Thailand are 14th and 18th with 1366 chal Afghanistan, it said it was addressing the the girls football team due to the presence queries from AFP. en’s football league that ran in parallel with and 1317 points respectively in the ranking. matter in a “do no harm” way and working of the Taliban, but we don’t want to go back- In a statement on its Facebook page, the the men’s. Iran national futsal team started its 11th training camp ahead with reputable entities to establish the facts. wards, we support the girls football team,” AFF also said it had not been directly con- In 2017 the female teams were sidelined of Slovakia tournament on Friday. The Guardian cited what it described as he continued. tacted by the accusers and been given no by a lack of funding. Team Melli are scheduled to participate at a three-a-side futsal senior figures associated with the women’s He also disputed the Guardian’s claim information to investigate the allegations. (Source: AFP) tournament with Slovakia and Russia in Slovakia. Prayer Times Noon:11:54 Evening: 17:11 Dawn: 5:28 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:57 (tomorrow) DECEMBER 2, 2018 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Ali Asgari Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi “Lost Strait”, “Midday Event” Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 best films at Resistance festival www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 Webmaster: [email protected] Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis crowned Resistance Figure of the Year Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 ARTTEHRAN – Moham- No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran deskmad-Hossein Mahdavi- P.o. Box: 14155-4843 an’s political drama “The Midday Event” on the Zip Code: 1599814713 terrorist atrocities of the Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization and Bahram Tavakkoli’s “The Lost Strait” about the true story of an epic battle by Iran’s Ammar Battalion during the last days of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, both from Iran, won the awards for best films at the 15th International Resistance Film Festival, the organizers announced on GUIDE TO Friday evening. One of the two awards for best direc- SPIRITUAL AWAKENING tors in the international competition went to Álvaro Brechner from Uruguay for his It is not right that a creature should be sure of drama “A Twelve-Year Night” during the two things: health and wealth. For, when you feel closing ceremony of the event at Tehran’s Milad Tower. certain of your health, you fall ill, and as soon as Kim Druzhinin and Andrey Shalopa from you are wealthy, you go towards poverty. Russia won the other best director award Imam Ali (AS) for their collaboration on the war drama “Panfilov’s 28 Men”. “The Father” directed and written by Basil Al-Khatib from Syria received the award for best screenplay. The film depicts the attempts German photographer being made by a man in the Syrian war to save his family. Gunther Riehle in focus with “Women with Gunpowder Earrings” by Iranian filmmaker Reza Farahmand, which Iran migrant birds is about Nur, a female journalist who covers stories about Syrian and Iraqi women and ARTTEHRAN – German wildlife photographer children in the war against the ISIS terror- deskGunther Riehle embarked on a journey to ists, was picked as best documentary film. Producer Saeid Malekan speaks after receiving the award for best film for “The Lost Strait” at the 15th International Resistance Film northern Iran on Saturday to build up a collection on migrant “Killing Gaza” co-directed by American Festival at Tehran’s Milad Tower on November 30, 2018. (Fars/Hossein Mersadi) birds travelling to the region to spend autumn and winter. journalists Dan Cohen and Max Blumenthal by Yemeni director Khadija Al-Salami. The also won an honorable mention for his “On the Resistance Figure of the Year. about Israel’s 2014 war on Gaza received the documentary is about the ravages of the Yemen a Knife Edge”. Al-Muhandis could not attend the awards second best documentary award. war being reported by a brother and sister Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a high-ranking ceremony and a Hashd al-Shaabi member The award for third best documentary aged 11 and 8, and their nine-year-old nephew. commander of the Popular Mobilization Units Seyyed Abbas Musavi received the award was presented to “Yemen: Children and War” American documentarian Jeremy Williams – Hashd al-Shaabi in Iraq, was selected as on his behalf.

Cinéma Vérité publishes Werner Ayenedar music festival Herzog remarks on Iran opens in Tehran

German wildlife photographer Gunther Riehle in an undated photo. He is scheduled to visit the Miankaleh peninsula and the Alagol lagoon, which are home to flocks of migrant birds such as flamingos and swans during his three-day stay in these regions, the Persian service of MNA reported on Saturday. Riehle is one of the jury members of the 6th edition of the Khayyam International Exhibition of Photography, which will open in Tehran on February 24, 2019.

Tehran gallery to showcase German film director Werner Herzog poses for photographers during a photocall A poster for 5th Ayenedar Regional Music Festival. African masks, sculptures at the 66th Venice Film Festival September 5, 2009. (Reuters/Tony Gentile) ARTTEHRAN – The he added. ARTTEHRAN – The “You will visit these wonderful people desk5th edition of the The ceremony went on with screening ARTTEHRAN — An exhibition of traditional desk12th Cinéma Vérité, with 5000 years of high culture and 5000 Ayenedar Regional Music Festival was a video featuring a selection of concerts deskAfrican masks and sculptures by artists Iran’s major documentary film festival, years of poetry,” he added. inaugurated at Tehran’s Rudaki Hall performed during the previous editions from Ivory Coast will has published some comments made by “I feel very jealous that you can stay there,” on Friday. of the festival. open at Tehran’s CAMA – celebrated German filmmaker Werner he concluded. The opening ceremony was attended Ensembles from different regions and Contemporary and Modern Herzog about Iran in an email sent to Spitzer-Marlyn has worked with Herzog by a number of cultural officials, artists cities including Lasht-e Nesha, Astaneh, Art Gallery on December 7. Austrian composer Eric Spitzer-Marlyn, as a sound engineer on several film projects. and musicians. Minab, Torbat-e Jam and Azarbaijan Thirty masks and 20 the organizers announced on Friday. Herzog’s 2004 documentary “The White Speaking at the ceremony, the director gave performances during the first day sculptures created by “Please pass on my best wishes to the Diamond” about the history of aviation, will be of the festival, Ali Maghazei, said that of the event. different tribes living in the people there,” Herzog wrote to his close screened during Spitzer-Marlyn’s workshops, the musicians who work in this field This year’s festival, which has put West African country will be friend Spitzer-Marlyn, who is scheduled which will be held on December 11 and 12. have a strong bond with their past. its spotlight on the folk performances put on display at the exhibit to be in Tehran during December to hold The Cinéma Vérité festival will take “Folk music is transforming to from the northern provinces of Gilan, entitled “Côte d’Ivoire”. workshops on soundtracks in documentary place at Tehran’s Charsu Cineplex from something new and modern but we Golestan and Mazandaran, will come The exhibit is organized films at Cinéma Vérité. December 9 to 16. try to maintain its pure perfection”, to an end on December 4. in collaboration with the cultural section of the Embassy of Ivory Coast in Kites, dancing penguins and magic: “Mary Poppins Returns” Tehran. The exhibition will be LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Flying through the clouds that’s just full of feeling and full of joy.” running until December 17 at with a black parrot umbrella and holding her signature “Hamilton” rap musical creator Lin-Manuel Miranda A poster for the Côte d’Ivoire the gallery located at No. 44, carpet bag, whimsical British nanny Mary Poppins made her takes on the role played by Van Dyke in 1964, but as a exhibition. 10th Golestan, Pasdaran St. “practically perfect” movie comeback on Thursday, more young lamp lighter rather than a chimney sweep. Van than 50 years after first charming audiences worldwide. Dyke, 92, who was given a standing ovation by the Hol- “Mary Poppins Returns,” set some 20 years after the lywood audience on Thursday, has a cameo as a kindly, film that made Julie Andrews a star, had its world premiere tap-dancing banker. Sandra Bullock plays against in Los Angeles, featuring a new cast and new music but Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns” marks the first time with a nostalgic nod to the original. in 54 years that the character, who was created in books type in dystopian thriller The 1964 film “Mary Poppins” starring Andrews and written by P.L. Travers in the 1930s and 1940s, has been Dick Van Dyke as a cheerful chimney sweep brought a revisited on film. The story was turned into a Broadway “Bird Box” best actress Oscar for Andrews and an award-winning and London stage musical 15 years ago. BERLIN (Reuters) — Best known for romantic comedies, score of songs like “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Super- Director Rob Marshall said he got involved in the sequel Oscar winning actress Sandra Bullock has to fight for survival califragilisticexpialidocious” that have become classics. because he felt the world needed some Poppins magic. in dark, dystopian thriller “Bird Box”. In “Mary Poppins Returns,” Emily Blunt plays the firm “The world’s in a fragile place you know,” he said. “I but kind singing nanny who descends on London in the feel it personally and I know that everyone on our film Bullock, known for “Miss Congeniality” as well as dramas “The Director Rob Marshall poses on the red carpet at the world early 20th century to take care of the children of the now felt it, the entire cast.” Blind Side” and “Gravity”, plays Malorie, a woman desperate premiere of Disney’s movie “Mary Poppins Returns” in Los adult Banks siblings from the 1964 film. “Mary Poppins Returns” also stars British actors Ben to keep her two children safe from an unseen threat that leads Angeles, California, U.S., November 29, 2018. (Reuters/ Like the original, “Mary Poppins Returns” features Whishaw and Emily Mortimer, and Meryl Streep in a people to commit suicide. Mario Anzuoni) Premiering the film in Berlin, the 54-year-old said that while fantasy sequences and plenty of dance numbers. It even cameo role. she was not usually a fan of scary movies, she enjoyed adding brings back the animated dancing penguins. that are so representative of everything we remember as The movie begins its worldwide rollout on Dec. 19. and the genre to her portfolio of work. “It really is a trip down nostalgia lane and paying homage children,” Blunt told reporters on the red carpet. is expected to take a healthy $65 million in its first week “Here we had a journey that couldn’t have happened without to these incredible movies that we all grew up watching “Yet we’re doing something new, and I think it’s a film in North America alone, according to box-office analysts. this deep complex, intricate love story about a family and social commentary on what we all feel is the state of the world,” Bullock Oscar winner Cuaron pays personal tribute in new film “Roma” told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. “Everyone has a different thought about what’s happening in LONDON (Reuters) — After winning an “The film is focusing on the life of Cleo who tipped as an Oscar contender, is an intimate next month, is Cuaron’s first directorial project the world today so those two blending together is a rare thing.” Oscar for space film “Gravity”, director Alfonso is a domestic worker in a home,” Cuaron told portrait of strong and resilient women. since he won a best director Academy Award Based on the 2014 novel by Josh Malerman, “Bird Box” sees Cuaron chose to tell a touching personal story Reuters while promoting the film in London “That’s my experience...of the women that for 2013’s “Gravity”, starring George Clooney Malorie take her children on a dangerous trip into the wild, all for his next movie, “Roma”, looking back on his last month. raised me. I don’t know if this film was ever and Sandra Bullock. blindfolded, as they try to escape an “ominous unseen presence”, childhood memories growing up in Mexico City. “But it’s really the story of one of the human attempting to create statements,” Cuaron said. Asked if he felt pressure in making the which if seen, leads to devastating consequences. Set in 1970s Mexico and named after a beings that I love the most. One of the women “It’s more an approach to this family and to film after his Oscar triumph, he said: “I “I found I became very agitated, very angry, very frustrated, neighborhood in the capital city, the black-and- that raised me.” these people.” mean you don’t think in terms of pressure short tempered and I didn’t realize it was a result of having been white film in Spanish focuses on one household, The Netflix film, which won the Golden Lion “Roma”, which is being shown in some you just do whatever you think is the right blindfolded until like halfway through,” Bullock said. namely the women who raised Cuaron. prize at the Venice Film Festival and is being cinemas before hitting the streaming service thing to do.