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16 Pages Price 20,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13283 Thursday DECEMBER 20, 2018 Azar 29, 1397 Rabi’ Al thani 12, 1440 Powerful ‘Expenses reduced Infantino offer “Sheeple” wins big at resists pressure in next year’s condolence over death Celebration of Iranian Cinema

2 budget bill’ 4 of Iraj Danaeifard 15 Critics and Screenwriters 16

Zarif: West finally compelled to accept Iran’s political solution to Syrian crisis Rouhani lauds Erdogan’s POLITICS — Irani- the makeup of the Syrian constitutional deskan Foreign Minister committee. Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday Zarif suggested that in this political that “the West has now been compelled process the West should help “facilitate” to accept” Iran’s political solution to the rather than “dictate” its views. stance against sanctions Syrian crisis. “In alongside Russian & Turkish Zarif made the remarks after he and counterparts to move fwd on a constitu- See page 2 his Russian and Turkish counterparts met tional committee to resolve # crisis. with outgoing UN Special Envoy Staffan de We always insisted on a political solution Mistura in Geneva on Tuesday to discuss led and owned by Syrians. 2

India plans to pay 5 Iranian banks for oil purchases India will use escrow accounts of five said, asking not to be identified because the Iranian banks held with UCO Bank Ltd. information isn’t public. All spending will to deposit money for oil purchases from be in Indian rupees. the producer to overcome Continued supplies is crucial for India, U.S. sanctions, according to people with a country that imports nearly 80 percent knowledge of the matter. of its annual crude requirement, as Teh- Iran will use part of the deposits for pur- ran offers better credit terms than other chasing essential goods from India and to Middle East oil producers and, in the past, meet expenditure incurred by its diplomatic has accepted payments in Indian rupees, missions in the South Asian nation, the people rather than U.S. dollars. 4

U.S. preparing for ‘full’ and ‘rapid’ withdrawal from Syria Planning is underway for a “full” and tweeted, “we have defeated ISIS (ISIL/ “rapid” withdrawal of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Daesh) troops from Syria, a U.S. defense official in Syria, my only reason for being there told CNN on Wednesday. during the Trump Presidency. The decision, which would be a reversal Even though the U.S. will continue to from previously stated U.S. policy, was maintain troops in Iraq with the capability of made by the U.S. President Donald Trump, launching strikes into Syria, a U.S. withdrawal

president.ir who has long signaled his desire to get of ground forces would fulfill a major goal of out of Syria, the official added. Syria, Iran and and risks diminishing President Hassan Rouhani is welcomed at Ankara airport in , on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. On Wednesday morning, the President the U.S. influence in the region. 13

EDITORIAL Saudi-led coalition makes mockery of Yemen truce ARTICLE Mohammad Ghaderi By Syed Zafar Mehdi war-mongers feel anxious and threatened every have landed in Hodeida`s residential areas, sending Martin Love Tehran Times editor-in-chief TEHRAN — After week-long marathon peace time peaceniks come together. They are averse to clear message to the peace negotiators that the ‘deal’ Political analyst from @ghaderi62 talks in Sweden, facilitated by the United Na- peace and stability because they have vested interest reached in Sweden is not acceptable to Saudi royals. North Carolina tions, Yemen’s warring parties agreed to an in chaos and mayhem. They want to see Yemen On Saturday, fierce clashes broke out on the Merkel’s ultimatum immediate in Hodeidah city and the burning and the people of Yemen starving. outskirts of Hodeida, after attempts by Saudi-led ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Saleef, in a bid Soon after the peace agreement was inked and coalition troops to advance into the city, using At bottom, what to British prime to resolve the country’s humanitarian crisis and negotiators walked back to their hotels smiling, the cover of airstrikes. Residents had to run for scale down fighting. deafening sounds of coalition jets echoed through cover as airstrikes pounded the battered and ails the U.S. looks minister The landmark agreement was announced by the war-ravaged province of Hodeida. It seems bruised city. UN chief Antonio Guterres on Thursday. Pictures the news about the ‘deal’ had reached and A day later, Saudi-led coalition warplanes, like mental illness the ‘merchants of death and destruction’ decided according to reports, targeted residential areas he Chancellor of Germany is still of Yemen’s foreign minister Khaled al-Yamani to welcome it in their own characteristic manner. in Dreihimi district, 15 miles south of Hodeida, trying to play the role of a senior and rebel negotiator Mohammed Abdelsalam requently, if a person in America has According to reports, since Thursday when dropping deadly cluster bombs, which resulted official in the Europe’s foreign shaking hands with Guterres looking on made friends in Iran, one must address T it to front pages of newspapers across the world. the truce was announced, Saudi-led coalition has in dozens of civilian casualties. The message was policy. Currently, Angela Merkel is those friends with empathy when violated the ceasefire at least 50 times, launching loud and clear: war will continue, no matter what F trying to end the negotiations with the It certainly was an extraordinary moment that they write directly or on social media 50 deadly airstrikes. More than 300 mortar shells the stakeholders decide. 6 British side over the Brexit. “With less rekindled hopes of a peaceful future for Yemen. But, about their dismay and even fear of U.S. than four months left until the United policies and actions in the Middle East. It Kingdom is due to leave the EU on March hardly warrants repeating what the dis- 29, May’s premiership and her deal to “Afghanistan deadliest country in world for journalists in 2018” may consists of and why it exists because stave off a disorderly departure or a bid By Syed Zafar Mehdi drone strikes, and IED blasts. targeted attacks on journalists in the run-up to almost everyone knows already. It’s been to stop Brexit are hanging by a thread”, TEHRAN — Journalists in Afghanistan, where They are sometimes caught between the elections had threatened “the Afghan people’s obvious for years, especially after Bush announced . the foreign-imposed war has now stretched into devil and deep sea, facing threats from armed sovereignty and democratic choice.” invaded Iraq. Now, with the British Parliament its 18th year, continue to walk a tightrope, liv- insurgents, foreign forces, government officials, The war imposed by the Taliban and ISIS, and One response that ought to provide postponing the vote on the Brexit, and ing dangerously while trying to report the daily warlords and criminals. Journalists in Afghani- facilitated by Western powers led by U.S., have some balm, if not real relief, for Ira- the possibility of the parliament’s neg- incidents. stan are soft target. had ominous consequences for media freedom nians is the fact that while Iran has ative vote to the final plan presented by Reporting in the war-ravaged country can According to a latest report by Reporters in Afghanistan. been the prime focus of U.S. hostility Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, be a daunting task. Over the years, many lo- Without Borders (RSF), Afghanistan has been Afghan government led by President Ashraf under Trump (so far in Iran’s case the Europe and are both stuck in a cal and foreign journalists have been killed the world’s deadliest country for journalists in Ghani has come under severe censure for failing hostilities have been mostly economic) political dead end. Despite these con- or wounded in various incidents of violence 2018, where it says 13 journalists and 2 media to protect journalists from violence. is that it seems NO country, not even flicts, it’s not really difficult to formulate across the country. workers were killed, all before the October par- In October this year, at the re-launch of European ones that want to continue the existing crisis between Europe and But, despite ominous threats and heavy odds, liamentary elections. Journalists Support Fund in Kabul – a fund trade with Iran and some other coun- Britain! they have upheld the principles of free and fair- Nine of them, including senior photojournalist meant to help members of the Afghan media tries, and augment trade with Russia, The fact is that Theresa May has claimed less journalism under extremely challenging Shah Marai, were killed in twin blasts in April fraternity including families of those killed have escaped threats of sanctions or that there is no better plan than the deal circumstances. this year, the most deadly attack on the media while covering war President Ghani said his some other kind of attack by the U.S. which was previously made between Britain Security is the biggest challenge for journalists in Afghanistan since 2001. government was not at odds with the media The U.S. is throwing “sanctions” around and Europe. And “Exiting the EU with in Afghanistan who have to report from highly Reza Moini, the head of RSF’s Afghanistan and the two should work together because they like confetti at a wedding. An estimated no deal” is the worst option for London. volatile areas, mostly about suicide bombings, desk, was quoted saying that the increase in have “shared goals”. 6 30 percent of the world’s population is This is while some British MPs from both operating under some kind of harmful Conservative and Labor Parties have called U.S. sanction. for a negative vote on the deal achieved No country but a few exceptionally between London and the EU. unpleasant exceptions such as Israel They’re now focusing on another option Shab-e Yalda: and , have managed to called “holding a second Referendum” on evade the ire of the U.S. government Brexit, which May apparently claims to A golden as it is currently composed. This al- be impossible! However, some analysts of most beggars belief, that this could be. the Europe and Britain affairs argue that opportunity to But it also suggests that no Iranian or through their apparent disagreement, the Russian or citizen of any other country British government and parliament are disapproved of by the U.S. government trying to direct the British citizens towards come together should imagine that this ire necessarily participating in another referendum in By Afshin Majlesi rests upon any fault of theirs or of their this regard. own government. Anyone knows that For Iranian families and friends, Shab-e Meanwhile, both Labor and Con- there is no “perfect” government any- Yalda (Yalda Night), has long been a treas- servative parties (in spite of their dif- where, but the primary U.S. complaint ured time to come together and celebrate ferences) are in fact completing the of sanctioned countries is simply, and in honor of the longest night of the year! same puzzle. incredibly, that they won’t be U.S. sub- On that graceful night, the winter chill On the other side, the European officials jects or pawns, as Iran was from 1953 is vanquished and the warmth of love em- are also helping the British authorities to to 1979 under the ridiculous, almost braces the entire family. Hearts move closer put the pieces of this puzzle together. On buffoonish Pahlavi “Shah”. to one another in the company of loved the one hand, they emphasize that Brexit, The fact is that the U.S. is a sick country, ones on Yalda. without the deal made between London or the majority of its “leaders” are sick The event, which falls on December and Brussels is the worst possible option, and have managed to influence too many 21 this year, also presents an excellent and on the other hand, they insist that it is Americans, or the government has not opportunity for Iranians living abroad to impossible to hold any other negotiations yet literally repelled or disgusted enough

File photo include people from different nationalities between Britain and the European Union Americans to foment some kind of revo- and cultures. 10 on this issue. 7 lution. 7 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS DECEMBER 20, 2018 MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Shamkhani says Iran won’t keep silent about Iran will wipe the floor with Trump JCPOA violations: Kharrazi POLITICS TEHRAN — Kamal trade on a barter model, rather than using POLITICS TEHRAN — Ali Shamkhani, the secre- deskKharrazi, head of the normal banking transactions. desk tary of the Supreme National Security Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, European officials have said that the SPV Council, said on Wednesday that Iran will wipe the floor says Iran would not remain silent if the can be implemented by the end of 2018. How- with Donald Trump, who has imposed sanctions against remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal ever, so far Europe has been unable to find Tehran after exiting the 2015 nuclear agreement. fail to fulfill their commitments. a country to host the mechanism. Relying on domestic capacities, the Islamic Republic In an interview with ISNA pub- Kharrazi said if such efforts fail, it does will successfully fend off the U.S. pressure campaign, lished on Wednesday, Kharrazi said not mean Iran will leave the JCPOA, but it which is aimed to overthrow the Islamic Republic from implementation of the special purpose will be up to Iran’s top leadership to decide within, ISNA reported. vehicle (SPV) will depend on European what to do. The U.S. is seeking to foment discord between the countries’ determination. The veteran politician suggested that Iran Iranian leadership and the people, but its plot has clearly “They have taken some steps in this should become self-sufficient in the face of backfired and led to a greater national unity against U.S. regard and in the dialectic and political U.S. sanctions in order to get through the bullying, he added. arena they have done good things,” he said. era of maximum pressure by the bullying “This has made them angry, and that’s why they behave “But these steps will be deemed notable U.S. government. irrationally,” noted Shamkhani. only when the [SPV] is implemented.” Pointing to Iran’s cooperation with other The U.S. reimposed economic sanctions countries, the former foreign minister said Powerful Iran on Iran after it unilaterally withdrew from Tehran is in constant talks with other coun- the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action tries to develop its ties. resists pressure, (JCPOA) in May. The sanctions affect Iran’s He also described the JCPOA as a source general says oil exports and most other trade in addition of security and a prelude to expand ties be- to banking transactions. tween different countries, some of which are As a result, major European countries suffering from the tyrannical government of POLITICS TEHRAN — Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top have promised Iran to set up the SPV to allow the United States. deskmilitary aide to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said on Wednesday that Iran is a powerful coun- try in various areas which will resist all kinds of pressure. Araqchi meets Finnish officials in Helsinki During a ceremony, he said unlike the current U.S. ad- ministration, the Obama administration were aware that it ‘U.S. undermining global efforts for non-proliferation’, Iranian diplomat warns should compromise with the powerful Iran, an open reference POLITICS TEHRAN — Iranian Deputy Foreign of diplomacy and security, has been seriously challenged to the 2015 nuclear deal clinched during Obama’s presidency. deskMinister for Political Affairs Abbas Ara- and threatened as a result of the U.S. withdrawal,” the top The former IRGC chief expressed hope that the U.S. qchi, who was on tour of Finland, held separate meetings Iranian diplomat said. presence in the region would come to an end in one year. with a number of Finnish officials in Helsinki, according By leaving the nuclear deal, he said, the U.S. is “under- to the Foreign Ministry website. mining not only the JCPOA but also the independence and ‘Zarif has On Tuesday, Araqchi met Finnish Secretary of State for sovereignty of other countries as well as the global efforts the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Matti Anttonen and Un- for non-proliferation.” no eyes on der-Secretary of State Anne Sipilainen. He also hailed the EU for its “praiseworthy” political presidential He also held talks with Pertti Salolainen, the vice support for the nuclear pact. However, he said, “The EU’s chairperson of the Finnish Parliament Foreign Affairs political support is valuable, but not enough. European coun- post’ Committee, who is also the head of Finland-Iran par- tries must take operational steps to safeguard the JCPOA.” liamentary friendship group. Araqchi also pointed to the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions POLITICS TEHRAN — Foreign Ministry spokes- During the meetings, the two sides conferred on the against Iran, saying the policy of sanction is a failed one. deskman Bahram Qassemi has said Foreign latest developments regarding the 2015 Iran nuclear “Iran has lived with sanctions for years, and has even Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has no intention to run deal, regional issues, and mutual cooperation between made considerable achievements under sanctions. The for the post of president in the 2020 election. promoting cooperation with the Islamic Republic. However, Tehran and Helsinki. language of respect must replace the language of sanc- Qassemi’s comments came as response to criticisms over they said, companies are waiting for the European Union The Finnish officials underlined Helsinki’s full support tion and threat.” Zarif’s attendance at the annual gathering of pro-reform to prepare the grounds. for the nuclear agreement, officially known as Joint Com- He added that Tehran welcomes the Finnish government’s Neda-ye Iranian Party (Voice of Iranians) held on Friday. In addition, they said, the Finish government is trying to prehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), describing it as a great political resolve to continue and expand all-out cooperation Qassemi said that Zarif’s participation at the gathering provide facilities for small- and medium-sized companies in Iran. political, diplomatic, multilateral, and security achievement. with Tehran, expressing the hope that further efforts will be does not mean he is a member to the party or has factional Araqchi, for his part, highlighted the significant role the They also expressed the Finnish government’s resolve to made to develop mechanisms and proper solutions in order tendencies. JCPOA plays in developing Iran’s cooperation and transac- develop cooperation with Iran, noting that Finnish companies to facilitate the presence of Finnish companies, especially Zarif is not affiliated to any of political parties or groups, tions with other countries, including Finland. are still interested in being present in Iranian market and the small- and medium-sized ones, in Iran. he added. “The fate of the JCPOA, which is a great achievement Mogherini: JCPOA Europeans have new offer about SPV: MP has opened new POLITICS TEHRAN — Morteza that a judicial body in one of the Euro- newly reimposed U.S. sanctions. in May and ordered sanctions against Iran. deskSaffari Natanzi, a member pean countries host the SPV to prevent European Union foreign policy chief The first round of sanctions went into force channels to engage of the Majlis National Security and Foreign the U.S. impediments. If this happen, this Federica Mogherini has said that the SPV on August 6 and the second round, which with Iran Policy Committee, has said that the Europe- mechanism will be implemented soon,” the meant to help companies do business targets Iran’s oil exports and banks, were ans have offered that a judicial body in one Mehr news agency quoted Saffari Natanzi with Iran will be completed by the end snapped back on November 4. POLITICS TEHRAN — The Iran nuclear deal has of the European countries should host the as saying on Wednesday. of the year. Iran and the European side have been deskcreated new channels for engagement special purpose vehicle (SPV). SPV is a European Union’s initiative in- President Donald Trump withdrew the discussing ways to conduct non-dollar trade with Iran, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said “A new proposition has been offered tended to protect trade with Iran against U.S. unilaterally from the 2015 nuclear deal in order to offset the U.S. sanctions. on Tuesday, addressing a meeting with members of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium. “Thanks to the nuclear deal, we now have new channels to engage in a constructive manner as some recent develop- Rouhani lauds Erdogan’s strong stance Zarif: West finally compelled to accept ments in Yemen have shown with Iran to discuss regional against sanctions as he visits Turkey Iran’s political solution to Syrian crisis issues and to discuss also the security matters,” Mogherini said, according to IRNA. POLITICS TEHRAN — President cooperation in areas of oil, gas and energy. 1 The West has now been compelled of refugees to return to their homeland. “As the European Union, we want to definitely address deskHassan Rouhani on The president added the current value to accept this. But it needs to facilitate; not According to The Guardian, the UN Iran’s ballistic missiles and we want to address the arms Wednesday praised Turkey and President of trade ties between the two counties is dictate,” Zarif tweeted. said Russia rejected five names that De proliferation in the region but to do so we need the nuclear Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “decisive stance” around $10 billion which is not low in view Iran, Russia and Turkey as guaran- Mistura wanted to add to the list. deal to be preserved,” she remarked. against the U.S. sanctions on Iran, Mehr of the capacities enjoyed by the two sides. tors of the agreed The Geneva agreement was signed reported. “Our emphasis over the recent years that the new constitutional committee off by Zarif, Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Economic Rouhani made the remarks at Mehra- has been to increase trade ties to 30 billion should convene early next year, kicking Minister Mevlut Cavuoglu. bad airport before departing for Turkey dollars and we will insist on this figure in off a viable political peace process. The Guardian said the move under- disrupter nabbed to chair the Iran-Turkey high council of this trip,” the president explained. In a joint statement, read out by lined how the West has lost control of the strategic cooperation with Erdogan. Rouhani also said that during his trip, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lav- Syrian crisis to the trio of countries in the in a neighboring The Iranian president described Turkey the two sides will discuss the security of rov, they said that the work of the new so-called Astana Group. country as an important and influential friend in the the region, fight against terrorism. body “should be governed by a sense of In a statement, De Mistura said there region, with which Iran shares historical, Iran and Turkey have taken good meas- compromise and constructive engage- was an extra mile to go in the marathon to POLITICS TEHRAN — Intelligence Minister ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. ures in boosting security at common bor- ment,” Reuters reported. construct a credible and balanced constitu- deskMahmoud Alavi said on Wednesday that “Our neighbors have told the United ders, the president added. Lavrov added the three countries be- tional committee, and his successor would an Iranian economic disruptor who had fled the country has States that the era of dictating policies Elsewhere, he said the ongoing trilateral lieved the committee could start to meet have to take up the task in the New Year. been arrested in a neighboring country and returned to Iran. has come to an end, and that America talks involving Iran, Russia and Turkey, in Geneva early next year and would lead De Mistura stands down at the end of The intelligence chief refused to fully reveal the fugitive’s cannot dictate [its policies] to the region which are aimed to put an end to the Syr- to “a viable and lasting Syrian-owned, Syr- the year after four years as special envoy. family name. Alavi also did not mention the name of the and relations between the great regional ian crisis, have reached a “crucial stage”. ian-led, UN-facilitated political process”. The U.S. special envoy for Syria, James country she was caught. countries and nations from thousands of The president stressed that the fate The UN-backed constitutional com- Jeffrey, speaking on Monday at the At- He said in a complex intelligence operation, Iranian agents kilometers away,” he asserted. of Syria must be decided only by the mittee will include 50 members chosen lantic Council think tank in Washing- managed to arrest Shirin N. for embezzling over 800 billion In his two-day trip to Turkey, Rou- Syrian people. by , 50 by the opposition and ton, said the official ’s tomans (about $200 million) from one of Iran’s banks and hani was accompanied by foreign, econ- The foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey 50 by the . stance represented “a huge problem for fleeing abroad, Mehr quoted Alavi as saying. omy, energy, oil, and industry ministers, and Russia met with UN special envoy The 50-member group, chosen by the De Mistura”. She had fled Iran with a fake identity and was illegally presidential chief of staff, chairman of the for Syria in Geneva UN, is critical since it will hold the political On Sunday, Cavuoglu said he could en- living in one of the neighboring countries with a fake passport chamber of commerce, and a number of on Thursday. The three countries, known balance of power. visage Turkey accepting Assad remaining for more than a year, he added. businesspersons. as the Astana Group, agreed that the new The 150-strong committee, due to start as president if he was elected in free and Rouhani said the main focus of the talks Syrian constitutional committee should work next year, could pave the way for fair elections. Turkey, along with Saudi with the Turkish side will center on eco- convene early next year, kicking off a viable UN-supervised elections and a possible Arabia, has done the most to support the Advisor predicts nomic, banking, and trade ties as well as political peace process. peace process that would encourage millions severely weakened opposition. U.S. sanctions won’t last long prepares to launch Iran payments channel Swiss initiative rivals EU plan to bypass sanctions POLITICS TEHRAN — The new round of the uni- desklateral U.S. sanctions against Iran cannot Switzerland is close to launching an initiative to let trade with Tehran, U.S. officials have denounced the not comment further. “To our knowledge no concrete last for long because sanctioning all of the countries that are companies sell food, medicine and medical devices to EU for its efforts to defy reimposed U.S. sanctions on proposals have been made,” it said. willing to cooperate with Iran is impossible for the United Iran using a payments channel that would be the first industries ranging from oil to finance. The EU hopes its payments channel for non-dollar States, a senior advisor to the president said on Wednesday, such mechanism to win Washington’s approval since it The Swiss economic affairs department told the Fi- denominated Iran trade could be in place as soon as the the Borna news website reported. reimposed sanctions against Tehran. nancial Times it was “striving” to set up the humanitarian end of this month, Federica Mogherini, the bloc’s foreign “The U.S. is alone in [imposing] sanctions and has not Berne’s humanitarian supplies plan — which is the subject payments channel “as soon as possible” but could not policy chief, said last week. been able to engage the world and create a consensus against of delicate ongoing talks with the U.S. and Iran — comes as give a start date. “Discussions are still ongoing with U.S. The initiative — led by France, Germany and the UK Iran, and as a result, many countries that were in favor of leading EU powers hope within weeks to set up a much-touted authorities, Iran and Swiss companies,” it said. — has struggled to make headway because of technical Iran sanctions in the previous round (prior to the JCPOA) mechanism to finance broader trade with Tehran. Switzerland — which is not an EU member and has a large problems, notably a reluctance by countries to host it are now unwilling to impose sanctions against Iran,” Hes- The simultaneous efforts highlight the transatlantic pharmaceuticals sector and a tradition of neutral diplomacy because of a possible U.S. backlash. amoddin Ashna commented. schism since President Donald Trump pulled out of a — has strong credentials to be a base for the mechanism. EU diplomats say it is likely France and Germany Ashna further emphasized that those countries are seeking landmark international nuclear deal with Iran in May. Roche, the Swiss pharmaceuticals company, said will shoulder the biggest burden, including hosting to challenge Washington’s economic hegemony in the world. While Switzerland’s work is consistent with Washing- it was aware of “discussions on a potential alternative the channel. ton’s insistence that it will continue to allow humanitarian financing channel for humanitarian purposes” but could (Source: FT) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 20, 2018 INTERNATIONAL

Tensions continue to rise in Russia- Russia says it won’t let U.S. see missile at heart of Israel relations over Hamas, Ukraine nuclear dispute Fresh tensions have broken out in ties between The vote came less than two weeks after Moscow and Tel Aviv, already entangled in Russia voted against a United States-drafted Russia said on Wednesday it would not let the United States a row over the downing of a Russian aircraft UN General Assembly resolution condemn- inspect a new nuclear-capable cruise missile at the heart of a in Syria, this time over the Palestine issue ing Hamas. The motion failed to muster the dispute between Washington and Moscow that risks unraveling and the Ukraine conflict. two-thirds majority needed to pass. a landmark arms control treaty. Recently, the Gaza-based Palestinian Crimea voted for reunification with Russia Washington has threatened to pull out of the 1987 Interme- resistance movement Hamas said that its in 2014, following deep political changes in diate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), alleging that the new Political Bureau Head Ismail Haniyeh would Kiev where a pro-Western movement staged Russian missile, the Novator 9M729 (called SSC-8 by NATO), travel to Moscow in late December upon an weeks of street protests that led to the ouster violates the pact, which bans either side from stationing short official invitation from the Russian Foreign of the pro-Russia government. and intermediate-range, land-based missiles in Europe. Ministry. People in Crimea, a Black Sea peninsula Russia says the missile’s range puts it outside the treaty alto- During the visit, Haniyeh would discuss mainly populated by ethnic Russians, effec- gether and is not as long as Washington alleges, meaning that it is bilateral relations and the political develop- tively refused to endorse the new adminis- fully compliant with the INF. It has accused the United States of ments in Palestine with the Russian leadership, tration in Kiev and decided to separate from inventing a false pretext to exit a treaty it wants to leave anyway Hamas added. Ukraine and rejoin the Russian federation so as to develop new missiles. Palestinian Authority (PA) Foreign Min- in the 2014 referendum. The United States issued Russia a 60-day ultimatum earlier ister Riad Maliki has also been invited to The West and Kiev view the reunification as this month to come clean about the alleged missile violation and Moscow, but it is still not clear whether he annexation of the territory by Russia. Moscow, return to “full and verifiable compliance.” That means Moscow would sit down with Haniyeh. however, strongly dismisses the allegation. is under pressure to scrap the new missile and its launchers. The invitation extended to Haniyeh has Ties between Moscow and Tel Aviv have However, Russia said on Wednesday it had no intention of infuriated Tel Aviv, with Channel 10 report- been tense since Russia’s delivery of the S-300 letting the U.S. inspectors look at the missile, which it said had ing on Tuesday that Israel’s Ambassador to missile defense system to Syria following not been tested at the longer range that Washington alleges. Moscow Gary Koren had sent a sharp protest the September downing of a Russian aircraft “We don’t feel right now that such a step would be justified to Russian officials over the issue. during an Israeli airstrike. from either a political or a technical point of view,” Deputy Foreign Separately, senior Israeli officials have Russia blamed Israel for the incident, Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with the Kommer- confirmed that a similar protest was con- which killed 15 Russian crew members. The sant daily newspaper published on Wednesday. veyed to the Russian Embassy in the occupied Defense Ministry said Israeli jets had used Ryabkov accused Washington of “extremely intrusive” territories. the Russian plane as cover to attack Syria. attempts to shine a light on Russian rocket manufacturing Russian officials, however, have rejected Israel is also unhappy with Russia’s co- and said that Washington had in the past rebuffed Russian the complaints, arguing that Israel is itself operation with regional power house Iran in requests to look inside the U.S. submarines under another holding talks with Hamas, albeit indirectly. the fight against the Takfiri militants in Syria. arms control treaty. According to Channel 10, during a conver- Tel Aviv has repeatedly asked Moscow Any such inspections - if they were to happen - should not sation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei to have Iran withdraw its military advisors be unilateral but should take place in both countries, he added. Lavrov on the issue, Koren stated that Israeli from regions near the occupied side of Syria. The U.S. Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would to Haniyeh was part of efforts to prevent an favor of a United Nations General Assembly Russia, however, praises Iran’s crucial on Nov. 30 that Russia has already deployed multiple battalions like to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. escalation in the Gaza Strip. (UNGA) resolution that voiced “grave concern role in counter-terrorism efforts in Syria, of 9M729 missiles and that they posed a direct threat to most of Reacting to the overture, Lavrov only nodded Russia has already hosted several rounds over the progressive militarization of Crimea” saying Tehran’s presence in the war-torn Europe and parts of Asia. and did not comment. of talks aimed at forging reconciliation be- and urged Moscow to “end its temporary country – like that of Moscow -- is legal un- Russian military experts asked their U.S. counterparts several In a meeting with Jewish Agency head tween Hamas and the Palestinian Fatah party. occupation of Ukraine’s territory.” der international law and thus it cannot be days ago to hold consultations on the missile dispute, but had Isaac Herzog on Monday, the top Russian Israel backs anti-Russia bid at UN The resolution was approved by a vote of forced out. not yet received any response, Ryabkov said. diplomat stressed that Moscow’s invitation In a rare move on Monday, Israel voted in 66-19, with 72 abstentions. (Source: Press TV) Putin: Nothing to stop new states joining nuclear pact with U.S. & Russia Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tues- day that there was nothing to stop Russia and the United States 100 days to Brexit, businesses and EU ramp up holding talks with other countries about the possibility of them joining a landmark arms control treaty that is at risk of unraveling. The United States delivered Russia a 60-day ultimatum earlier this month to come clean about what Washington says is a vio- no-deal planning lation of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty between Moscow and Washington. With just 100 days until Brexit, businesses and the European Goldman Sachs (GS.N), have cautioned that Brexit could The pact keeps intermediate-range U.S. and Russian missiles Union (EU) ramped up planning for the risk that Britain will complicate their businesses. out of Europe. Washington has spoken of quitting the treaty leave without a divorce deal, the nightmare scenario for many Business leaders fear additional checks on the post-Brexit altogether unless Russia returns to what it calls “full and veri- companies which are now planning for an economic shock. Britain-EU border will clog ports, silt up the arteries of trade fiable compliance.” British Prime Minister Theresa May’s failure to find a deal and dislocate supply chains across Europe and beyond. Moscow denies it is in breach of the treaty and accuses the the British parliament will approve means the world’s fifth “Firms are pausing or diverting investment that should be United States of violating it. largest economy now faces three main choices: agreeing a boosting productivity, innovation, jobs and pay, into stock- Both sides have noted that other countries remain free to de- last-minute deal, halting Brexit or leaving the EU without piling goods or materials, diverting cross border trade and velop weapons banned under the treaty, and the United States has a deal. moving offices, factories and therefore jobs and tax revenues in particular raised concerns about with the U.S. National No deal means there would be no transition so the exit, out of the UK,” the business groups said. Security Advisor John Bolton warning Moscow that Chinese set in law as 2300 GMT on March 29, would be abrupt. Bank The British government said on Tuesday it would im- missiles have the capability to strike the Russian heartland. of England Governor Mark Carney said leaving the EU with plement plans for a no-deal Brexit in full and begin telling (Source: agencies) no transition could be akin to the 1970s oil shock. businesses and citizens to prepare. May is yet to win the support of a deeply divided parlia- May has delayed a vote on her deal until mid-January, ment for the deal she struck last month with EU leaders to prompting some lawmakers to accuse her of trying to force maintain close ties with the bloc. parliament into backing her by running down the clock as But British politicians have been unable to agree any the March 29 exit day approaches. New pictures emerge of alternative Brexit course, deepening concerns that Britain May will on Wednesday urge the leaders of Scotland, will, as May has warned, drop out of the world’s biggest Wales and Northern Ireland to “listen to business” and back Khashoggi hit squad trading bloc without a deal. into the EU, live animals would face border checks and Brit- her deal. Without a deal, Britain would trade with the Euro- “Businesses of all sizes are reaching the point of no return, ons travelling with pets would find their EU passes were no pean Union under World Trade Organization (WTO) terms. Turkey’s official news agency has circulated new pictures of the with many now putting in place contingency plans that are a longer valid. The British government’s post-Brexit plans will not include members of the 15-person Saudi Arabian team that Turkish of- significant drain of time and money,” the heads of Britain’s Pro-Europeans fear Britain’s exit will weaken the West as a specific target to reduce annual net migration, the interior ficials say murdered a prominent Saudi dissident journalist in five biggest business lobby groups said. it grapples with the United States President Donald Trump’s minister said on Wednesday, appearing to abandon one of Istanbul in October. “The risk of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit is rising,” said the bosses unpredictable U.S. presidency and growing assertiveness the Conservative Party’s main election promises. Anadolu news agency posted the pictures in the form of a of the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation from Russia and China. It weakens Europe’s economy and Brexit, a portmanteau of “British exit”, is the impend- photo clip on its YouTube channel on Wednesday. of British Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses, the removes one of its only two nuclear powers. ing withdrawal of Britain (the United Kingdom/UK) from The pictures showed the Saudi hitmen at airport gates and Institute of Directors and the main manufacturers’ organ- No deal for real? the European Union. It follows the referendum of 23 June during their entrance into the Saudi regime consulate in the city, ization EEF. Brexit supporters say while there may be some short-term 2016 when 51.9 per cent of those who voted supported with- where Jamal Khashoggi was murdered on October 2, as well as The EU said it would avoid interruption of air traffic, disruption, in the long-term Britain will thrive outside what drawal. Withdrawal has been advocated by Eurosceptics, into the Saudi consul’s personal residence. keep financial and other trade open and respect British they cast as a doomed experiment in German-dominated both left-wing and right-wing, while Pro-Europeanists (or Various reports have verified that some on the team were citizens’ residency rights in the bloc if Britain left without unity and excessive debt-funded welfare spending. European Unionists), who also span the political spectrum, drawn from among the personal bodyguards of the House of a deal in March. The world’s biggest corporates, ranging from Apple have advocated continued membership. Saud regime Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS), But it said British trucks would lose rights to carry goods AAPL.0 and Toyota (7203.T) to J.P. Morgan (JPM.N) and (Source: agencies) whom Khashoggi would repeatedly criticize before his murder. Al-Assiri made clandestine visits to Israel to discuss purchase of spyware Meantime, a report reveals that a high-ranking Saudi regime Chaos on French highways as “yellow vests” torch toll booths intelligence official, who was fired over the murder of Jamal French “yellow vest” protesters occupied as 75,000 euros. Khashoggi, made clandestine trips to Israel on behalf of Crown highway toll booths, setting a number on “Even wrapping a radar in plastic or a Prince bin Salman over the purchase of an Israeli spy tool that is fire and causing transport chaos in parts of yellow vest... without destroying it is an of- said to have helped the kingdom track dissidents abroad. the country just days before the Christmas fense,” a ministry official said. Citing informed sources, the Wall Street Journal reported on holidays getaway. Vinci estimates the damages since the Tuesday that Major General Ahmed al-Assiri, the former deputy France’s biggest toll road operator, Vinci start of the protests will cost it “several tens of chief of Saudi regime intelligence visited Israel on a number of Autoroutes, said there were demonstrations at millions” of euros, not including lost revenue, occasions to discuss the purchase of Pegasus, a patch of highly about 40 sites along its network and that some as the protesters have allowed thousands of complicated software used for hacking and espionage. highway intersections had been damaged, motorists onto the highways for free. Assiri, an aide to the crown prince, was sacked in Oc- notably in tourist towns such as Avignon, It dropped a plan to send invoices to mo- tober for playing a role in the gruesome assassination of Orange, Perpignan and Agde. torists who drove through toll booths without Khashoggi, which is widely believed to have been ordered Protesters set fire overnight to the Bandol paying and whose license plates were captured by bin Salman. toll station, forcing the closure of the A50 on cameras following government criticism. The report said that another of bin Salman’s closest aides, highway between Marseille and Toulon, said Taiwan’s ‘yellow vests’ protest Saud al-Qahtani, who was also sacked over the same case, had Vinci, whose network is mainly in southern against unfair taxation been part of the covert Saudi outreach towards Israel. and western France. The Manosque station Meantime, thousands of protesters wear- Sources told the Journal that Qahtani, the crown prince’s was also torched. ing yellow vests demonstrate in front of the media adviser, was working on softening Israel’s image in the Some 20 people were arrested on Tuesday Taiwan Presidential Palace, calling for tax Saudi press. He was also involved in Riyadh’s purchase of spyware following the blazes, while four others remain and judicial reform. technology from Israeli firms. in custody following fires on Saturday. Taiwan’s “yellow vest” movement started “Qahtani was the key player in all of this,” said one Saudi “Motorists should take utmost care as in 2016, and like the French version of the official. “He wanted the best and he knew that Israeli firms of- they approach toll gates and motorway ac- movement it has been against unfair taxation. fered the best.” cess ramps due to the presence of numerous Taiwanese supporters of the movement Neither Qahtani nor al-Assiri provided comment for the story, pedestrians, Vinci said in a statement. Radars-auto.com estimated that by the on average 84 million euros ($96 million) demand that the government stop using fines said the Journal. Several people have died in roadside ac- middle of last week some 1,600 – about per month. and taxation as a means of political persecu- Saudi-Israel backchannel takes hit after Khashoggi’s murder cidents at yellow vest roadblocks in recent half of all French traffic radars – had been The Interior Ministry declined comment tion against anti-government organizations. Sources told the Journal that a secretive U.S.-backed in- weeks, mostly at the many roundabouts damaged. More than 250 have been entirely on the number of radars damaged, but said They say even though Taiwan has im- itiative to forge closer ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel blocked by groups of demonstrators. destroyed, it said. that minor damage cost on average 500 eu- proved tremendously in the political arena, faces setbacks after the crown prince, who spearheaded the Protesters angry about high fuel costs The French state will also lose several ros per radar to repair, with major damage the government has been using taxes as a effort, was implicated in Khashoggi’s killing, which sparked and new speed limits have also damaged or tens of millions of euros in revenues, it said, costing up to 200,000 euros. form of intimidation against rivals. global outrage. torched hundreds of traffic radars. adding that in 2017 the radars had yielded Fines for damaging radars can run as high (Source: agencies) (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY DECEMBER 20, 2018

STOCK MARKET NIOC to award TEDPIX 156083.2 IFX 1790.99 exploration Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir

CURRENCIES projects to domestic USD 42,000 rials EUR 47,826 rials companies GBP 53,210 rials

AED 11,380 rials ENERGY TEHRAN— National pressure on foreign companies to operate desk Source: iribnews.ir Iranian Oil Company in Iran”, Shana quoted Saleh Hendi as (NIOC) will transfer exploration saying in a press conference. “The details of the discoveries will be country’s sixth five-year development projects for oil and gas fields to domestic “At least three exploration blocks will revealed by the Oil Ministry”, he said. plan (2016-2021), NIOC have had very companies, the director of NIOC’s be awarded to domestic firms in the near According to the official, there are good achievements in exploration of new Discovery Department announced on future,” the official said. currently about 40 newly discovered and oil and gas reservoirs. COMMODITIES Tuesday. Hendi also announced on Monday already developed reserves across Iran “The U.S. sanctions haven’t had a WTI $46.72/b “Plans are underway to award that new oil and gas fields have been which is an indication of significant work significant impact on NIOC’s discovery Brent $56.35/b exploration projects to domestic discovered in the country during the past done by NIOC’s Discovery Department. activities and we are proceeding on companies now that the U.S. is putting two years, IRNA reported. He furthered noted that following the schedule”, he added. OPEC Basket $58.24/b Gold $1,248.25/oz Iran Agri Show 2019 to ‘Expenses reduced in next year’s Silver $14.68/oz be held in mid-Jan. budget bill’ Platinium $796.50/oz ECONOMY TEHRAN – The ECONOMY TEHRAN— Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com deskthird edition of deskPresidential chief of Iran’s International Exhibition of staff Mahmoud Vaezi announced that the Agriculture, Agricultural Machineries predicted expenses have been reduced in NEWS IN BRIEF and Equipment, Inputs, Irrigation the budget bill for the next Iranian calendar Systems and Mechanization (Iran Agri year, which begins on March 21, 2019, Free Zones High Show 2019) is due to be held at Tehran IRNA reported on Wednesday. Council breaks Permanent International Fairgrounds The budget bill, which was to be sub- on January 11-14, 2019. mitted to the parliament last Sunday, has ground on According to the exhibition organizer, been prepared by the Budget and Planning Mirjaveh SEZ the number of domestic and foreign Organization and affiliated organizations participation has increased by 10-15 Germany, Italy and France are going to but regarding the ongoing conditions of the cated to Imam Khomeini Relief Founda- percent in this year’s event. be participating in Iran Agri Show 2019. country, the heads of the three branches tion, State Welfare Organization of Iran ECONOMY TEHRAN — The secretary of Iran’s Free “So far 170 exhibitors have registered The four-day exhibition is going decided to make some amendments on it. and Civil Servants Pension Organization desk Zones High Council Morteza Bank broke the to participate in the exhibition and the to be a platform to present various The modifications include reducing the (C.S.P.O) have been reduced in the bill,” ground on Mirjaveh special economic zone (SEZ) on Wednes- number is expected to reach 240.” achievements and products in ongoing expenses of the government in Vaezi told reporters. day, IRNA reported. Alireza Sadrzadeh said. agriculture, irrigation and mechanization the next Iranian year. The budget bill will be submitted to “Mirjaveh is one of the strategic regions in domestic trans- As reported companies from China, equipment. “All the expenses except those allo- the parliament on Sunday. portation and good facilities have been provided for its devel- opment,” Bank said on the sidelines of the ground-breaking ceremony. Iranian private sector contributing to Syria’s reconstruction projects Mirjaveh is a city and the capital of Mirjaveh County, in Sistan -Baluchestan Province in southeast Iran. ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian private sector has investing in different areas like providing construction materials deskstarted cooperation with Syria in order to especially cement. rebuild the country’s war-damaged infrastructures, ILNA “There are good investment opportunities in Syria, and reported on Wednesday quoting Iranian deputy minister the only problem is that the channels of communication India plans to pay 5 Iranian of roads and urban development. between the investors and the Syrian government are not According to Amir Amini, Iranian investors and enterprises strong enough,” he added. banks for oil purchases are eager to play a key role in Syria’s potential $600-billion Earlier in August, a delegation comprised of Iranian 1 The south Asian nation purchased crude worth about $9 worth of projects. economic experts traveled to Syria to explore investment billion from Iran in the financial year ended March 31. “The Iranian government is not going to allocate any opportunities and finalize the reconstruction plans of the The payment mechanism will allow India to continue oil purchases resources to the reconstruction projects but it will guarantee war-stricken country. despite sanctions. Washington has also granted an exemption for the investments through the Central Bank of Iran (CBI),” Many urban areas across Syria, particularly around India. Refiners such as Indian Oil Corp. and Mangalore Refinery Amini said. Damascus, have been hard-hit by war, and President Bashar & Petrochemicals Ltd. will make payments after the mechanism is He further noted that the Iranian private sector is already Assad said this month that rebuilding would be his “top priority”. officially notified, the people said. Also, payment into multiple escrow accounts will reduce the risks of Iranian bank accounts being frozen in case the U.S. brings new banks under sanctions, the people said. Italy reaches budget breakthrough after the 100 days to Brexit, businesses and India and Iran followed a similar mechanism previously when the U.S. imposed sanctions in 2012. At that time, 45 percent of the EU initially rejected its 2019 spending plans EU ramp up no-deal planning dues were paid into escrow accounts in India of Iranian banks and Italy and the European Commission, the With just 100 days until Brexit, businesses the remaining settled in euros through an overseas bank. EU’s executive arm, have announced a new and the European Union ramped up plan- Under the exemptions granted last month, U.S. allowed India to budget deal after weeks of wrangling over ning for the risk that the United Kingdom import as much as 300,000 barrels a day of Iranian oil for 180 days. the country’s 2019 spending plans. will leave without a divorce deal, the night- That’s less than Iran’s average daily exports to the nation of about Italy’s government said last week that it mare scenario for many companies which 540,000 barrels this year, and almost 450,000 barrels in 2017, ship- would lower its deficit target for next year to are now planning for an economic shock. ping data compiled by Bloomberg show. 2.04 percent, down from an original target Prime Minister Theresa May’s failure Exports to Iran stood at $2.65 billion during the last financial year, of 2.4 percent. The target was confirmed to find a deal the British parliament will including rice, spices, tea, yarn, medicines and various industrial by the Commision on Wednesday. approve means the world’s fifth largest products, according to India’s Directorate General of Commercial Intel- “The Italian government has come a economy now faces three main choices: No deal for real??? Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte ligence and Statistics, an arm of Ministry of Commerce and Industry. long way, only a few weeks ago there was agreeing a last-minute deal, halting Brexit Brexit supporters say while there may poses with European Commission (Source: Bloomberg) confrontational rhetoric,” the European or leaving the EU without a deal. be some short-term disruption, in the long- President Jean-Claude Juncker ahead Commission’s Vice President Valdis No deal means there would be no tran- term the UK will thrive outside what they of a meeting at the EU Commission Dombrovskis said Wednesday, meaning sition so the exit, set in law as 2300 GMT cast as a doomed experiment in German- headquarters in Brussels, Belgium that the Commission can avoid launching on March 29, would be abrupt. Bank of dominated unity and excessive debt-funded Dollar falls as investors brace December 12, 2018. disciplinary measures against Italy, he told England Governor Mark Carney said leaving welfare spending. for expected Fed caution reporters. yields on all its short-term (two, five and the EU with no transition could be akin to The world’s biggest corporates, ranging “The solution is not ideal but it allows us 10-year) bonds fell with the yield on Italy’s the 1970s oil shock. from Apple AAPL.0 and Toyota (7203.T) to The dollar weakened on Wednesday as investors bet that the Federal to avoid an ‘Excessive Deficit Procedure’ at benchmark 10-year government bond at May is yet to win the support of a deeply J.P. Morgan (JPM.N) and Goldman Sachs Reserve would signal plans to slow its pace of interest rate rises at this stage … One important positive element 2.8 percent Wednesday. divided parliament for the deal she struck (GS.N), have cautioned that Brexit could a keenly-watched meeting later in the day. is that the new budget is based on a plausible The deal comes after an impasse last month with EU leaders to maintain complicate their businesses. Fed policy makers are widely tipped to raise rates for a fourth time economic scenario,” he said. between Italy’s coalition government, close ties with the bloc. Business leaders fear additional checks this year and to express caution about future monetary tightening “Credible and sustainable budgetary made up of the right-wing Lega party and But British politicians have been unable on the post-Brexit UK-EU border will clog due to concern about slowing global growth. policies cannot be planned on over-optimistic anti-establishment Five Star Movement to agree any alternative Brexit course, deep- ports, silt up the arteries of trade and dis- Expectations of a pause from the Fed amid a U.S.-China trade forecasts,” he added, alluding to Italy’s (M5S), and the European Commission ening concerns that the United Kingdom locate supply chains across Europe and conflict and global financial market volatility has led some inves- original draft budget. over the country’s controversial 2019 will, as May has warned, drop out of the beyond. tors to question if the dollar’s stellar run will continue into 2019. Although Italy has made revisions to spending plans. world’s biggest trading bloc without a deal. “Firms are pausing or diverting invest- U.S. President Donald Trump has berated the Fed repeatedly and its spending plans, Dombrovskis stressed Italy got into trouble with the “Businesses of all sizes are reaching the ment that should be boosting productivity, on Tuesday said in a Tweet it was “incredible” for the central bank that the composition of the spending still Commission because its budget had point of no return, with many now put- innovation, jobs and pay, into stockpiling to even consider tightening given global economic uncertainties. raised concerns, particularly the main envisaged increased spending and lower ting in place contingency plans that are a goods or materials, diverting cross border “A hike is still likely, regardless of Trump’s displeasure, but there’s expansionary measures — the citizens’ taxation in order to fulfill key election significant drain of time and money,” the trade and moving offices, factories and a very good chance that they will reduce the number of hikes in 2019 income and rollback of pensions reforms promises, including the introduction of heads of Britain’s five biggest business lobby therefore jobs and tax revenues out of the to two (from three),” said Kit Juckes, global head of FX strategy at (including lowering the retirement age). a basic income (called a “citizen’s income”) groups said. UK,” the business groups said. Societe Generale. “When these measures will fully come for the poor, a lower retirement age and “The risk of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit is rising,” The British government said on Tuesday The safe-haven yen and the Swiss franc both strengthened as an into force they will result in higher costs for a proposed flat tax rate. said the bosses of the British Chambers of it would implement plans for a no-deal overnight plunge in oil prices provided a stark reminder of dimming the years to come. In 2020 and 2021, Italy These plans would have meant that Commerce, the Confederation of British Brexit in full and begin telling businesses prospects for the global economy. intends to compensate the costs by … raising Italy’s budget deficit (the amount by which Industry, the Federation of Small Busi- and citizens to prepare. Risk sentiment has been soured by weaker-than-expected eco- value-added tax (VAT). However, we know its spending exceeds its revenues) would nesses, the Institute of Directors and the May has delayed a vote on her deal until nomic data out of China and the eurozone. that in the past Italy has not activated this have hit 2.4 percent in 2019. main manufacturers’ organization EEF. mid-January, prompting some lawmakers The yen JPY=ebs and the Swiss franc CHF=EBS each added a kind of safeguard. If this happens again large While this is within the official EU limit The EU said it would avoid interruption to accuse her of trying to force parliament little more than 0.1 percent on the dollar, changing hands at 112.33 resources will need to be found elsewhere.” of 3 percent, Brussels rejected the budget of air traffic, keep financial and other trade into backing her by running down the clock and 0.9916 respectively, building on three consecutive days of gains. The new measures also contain higher because it goes against EU rules which say open and respect British citizens’ residency as the March 29 exit day approaches. The dollar index .DXY was down 0.3 percent at 96.75, hover- taxes on companies and cuts in planned that states should work towards lowering rights in the bloc if Britain left without a May will on Wednesday urge the leaders ing near a one-week low as it extended losses into the second day. investments, Dombrovskis added, which their budget deficits (Italy’s previous deal in March. of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Elsewhere, the euro EUR=EBS hit a one-week high of $1.1414, he said “are not growth-friendly steps, government had already agreed to a lower But it said British trucks would lose rights to “listen to business” and back her deal. gaining 0.3 percent. The single currency has enjoyed a rare uptick however these could be offset by better budget deficit of 0.8 percent) and debt to carry goods into the EU, live animals would Without a deal, the United Kingdom in the past three sessions as the dollar grappled with lower yields use of available EU structural funds.” piles (Italy has the second highest debt pile face border checks and Britons traveling would trade with the European Union and monetary policy risks. Italian markets rise in the euro zone of 133 percent of GDP). with pets would find their EU passes were under World Trade Organization terms. The same reasons gave the Australian AUD=D3 and New Zea- Reports that a deal with the Commission Italy’s deputy prime ministers, the no longer valid. The British government’s post-Brexit land dollars NZD=D3 a lift, with both of them gaining 0.2 percent could be imminent gave Italian financial leaders of Lega and M5S, had appeared Pro-Europeans fear Britain’s exit will plans will not include a specific target to to $0.7195 and $0.6864 respectively. markets a boost Wednesday morning and unrepentant about the budget while weaken the West as it grapples with Don- reduce annual net migration, the interior The euro was also supported by news that Italy had struck a deal that rally continued after it was confirmed. Economy Minister Giovanni Tria and ald Trump’s unpredictable U.S. presidency minister said on Wednesday, appearing with the European Commission over its contested 2019 budget, Italy’s FTSE MIB was trading 1.9 percent Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte were more and growing assertiveness from Russia and to abandon one of the Conservative Party’s signaling an end to weeks of wrangling that had shaken financial higher Wednesday late morning with its malleable to changes. China. It weakens Europe’s economy and main election promises. markets. (Source: Reuters) bank stocks up 3.6 percent. Meanwhile, the (Source: CNBC) removes one of its only two nuclear powers. (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 20, 2018 ENERGY 5

Oil steady after sell-off but Libyan oil in jeopardy as peace talks fail

Libya’s National Oil Company NOC has once again shocked the oil market by officially declaring force majeure on its operations at the oversupply still drags El Sharara oilfield, the largest oilfield in the country. After months of Oil stabilized on Wednesday after one of its week, while gasoline inventories increased. continued optimism in the media and political statements coming biggest falls for years, but remained under If the build in U.S. crude stockpiles is out of Paris and Rome about a possible peace deal between the pressure from oversupply and concern that confirmed by U.S. government data on two competing governments, led by Libyan general Haftar and his a slowing global economy would depress de- Wednesday, it will be the first increase in counterpart El Serraj, the situation on the ground is looking even mand for fuel. three weeks. worse than before. Benchmark Brent crude oil was up 30 The Organization of the Petroleum Ex- The eagerly awaited oil production increase from Libya, which cents at $56.56 a barrel by 0840 GMT, after porting Countries and other oil producers could supposedly mitigate the effects of falling production from Iran dropping 5.6 percent on Tuesday and at one including Russia agreed this month to curb and Venezuela, now seems unlikely to happen. NOC officials stated point hitting a 14-month low. output by 1.2 million bpd, equivalent to more that the production of the 315,000 bpd field, which is located in the U.S. light crude was 20 cents higher at than 1 percent of global demand, in an attempt south of Libya, has been blocked by protestors and militias in the area. $46.44, after plunging 7.3 percent in the to drain tanks and boost prices. A group of tribes, armed protestors and guards took over the previous session when it touched its lowest But the cuts will not happen until next field on December 8, asking for salary payments and additional since August 2017. month and production has been at or near financing. Until now, Libyan government officials have been unable Both benchmarks have fallen more than record highs in the United States, Russia to quell the protests. NOC officials have reiterated that the financial 30 percent since the beginning of October as and Saudi Arabia. demands will not be met, as this could set a precedent for other oil crude supply from the Middle East, Russia Russian oil output is at a record 11.42 and gas operations in the country. and the United States has outstripped de- million bpd so far this month, an industry It is still unclear who the real culprits behind the current blockade mand, filling oil tanks. source told Reuters. and seizure of the field are as sources are blaming different groups “The market is experiencing price carnage, The U.S. government has said shale pro- or militias. NOC claims that the field has been taken over by a militia maximum pain and considerable downside duction should climb to over 8 million bpd that is reportedly trying to get on the payroll of the field guards. No pressure,” said Robin Bieber, analyst at Lon- for the first time by the end of December. indication at present can be given as to when the field will come back don brokerage PVM Oil. “The trend is down.” In Libya, the state oil company declared onstream. NOC’s chairman Mustafa Sanallah has called for the force Tuesday’s sell-off was encouraged by a force majeure at its largest oilfield. That came majeure in a move to provide security to the workers at the field. sharp fall in world stock markets after signs U.S. growth. 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT). a week after the firm announced a contractual In recent weeks, several other fields have also been occupied, that economic growth, and hence demand for The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to Adding to worries about oversupply, the waiver on exports from the field following blocked or taken over – but production has not been significantly energy, was slowing. There were also worries raise interest rates on Wednesday. The cen- American Petroleum Institute said on Tuesday its seizure by protesters. impacted at those fields. Tribal representatives and several militias that higher U.S. interest rates could slow tral bank is due to announce its decision at that U.S. crude stocks rose unexpectedly last (Source: Reuters) have indicated to the press that the current blockade is a protest against marginalization and shortages of electricity, fuel and money. It is the UN-EU backed Libyan government GNA that is feeling the brunt of the pain from these protests. The militias and tribal S.Korea’s 2018 LNG imports UK Solar households expected to groups are currently targeting GNA operations as the Tripoli-based to hit record high give away power to energy firms government has been accused of marginalizing the southerners. Libya’s oil and gas fields and infrastructure, including the export South Korea’s imports of liquefied natural & Nuclear Power Co. As of now, six reactors The British government has said households and Industrial Strategy said it was ending ports, such as Zawya, have been the main targets in the ongoing civil gas (LNG) are set to reach an all-time high are shut down. that install solar panels in the future will be the export tariff, which provides a guaran- war between the two competing governments after the removal of over 42 million tons in 2018 thanks to robust South Korea’s nuclear utilization rates expected to give away unused clean power teed price for all unused solar electricity, Libyan leader Muammar Ghadaffi. At the same time, several ma- power generation demand, but next year’s dropped to just 63.6 percent for the first for free to energy firms earning multimil- to minimize costs to all consumers. The jor extremist fundamentalist groups, such as Daesh/ISIS and AL shipments are likely to ebb on increased coal three quarters of 2018, the lowest rate ever, lion-pound profits, provoking outrage from policy did not align with its industrial Qaeda are also very active in parts of the country. For months, the and nuclear power. according to the Korea Hydro & Nuclear green campaigners. strategy, it added. power struggle between the GNA and the forces of General Haftar South Korea, the world’s No.3 LNG im- Power data. The mayor of London, big energy firms The government is understood to be has been concentrated around Libya’s main economic artery, its oil porter after Japan and China, typically takes Coal and nuclear together produce about and environmentalists had urged ministers preparing to announce a market-based and gas fields. Haftar, supported by , Saudi Arabia, the UAE between 33 million and 37 million tons of 70 percent of South Korea’s total electricity not to end the “export tariff” for solar panels replacement to the export tariff early in and Russia, appears to be winning this struggle, slowly but steadily LNG a year, mainly for heating, power gen- needs, although the country is trying to lower under the feed-in tariff scheme, which is the new year, which would write the rules taking over more of the country. eration and cooking. its dependence on those two fuels to shift closing next year. for how energy suppliers could buy the Haftar has been able to tighten his hold also over the so-called This year, a volume of 42.8 million tons of its energy policy towards cleaner and safer But officials confirmed that anyone excess power, though they would not be Petroleum Facilities Guard, a para-military security force tasked LNG is the expected intake, up 13.8 percent energy in the long term. who adds solar from April 2019 will not mandated to do so. with securing oil and gas operations. At the El Sharara field, the from 37.6 million tons last year, according This year, gas power’s share of the coun- be paid for any excess power they export However, there is expected to be a hiatus main occupying force at present seems to be the same Petroleum to ship-tracking data from Refinitiv Eikon. try’s power supply mix outstripped nucle- to the grid. between the export tariff’s demise at the Facilities Guards. That would top 2013 LNG import lev- ar-produced electricity over January-October, Climate change charity 10:10 said the end of March and any new regime, meaning In addition to the force majeure at the oilfield, security forces els of nearly 40 million tons, the country’s according to calculations on data from Korea decision was bizarre and urged a rethink to new solar households will be giving power in Libya’s Tobruk Port said to the press that the port was closed customs data showed. That was the year Electric Power Corp (KEPCO). avoid pushing solar “off a cliff” next year. away for some time. indefinitely for security concerns, a statement that was followed South Korea faced a series of nuclear re- Gas-fired generation through October “It’s hard to fathom the government’s The Solar Trade Association said the by gunmen storming the port on Sunday. In October 2017 the port actor shutdowns due to a safety scandal accounted for 26.7 percent of electricity logic here. Solar has been a huge success move was a blow to the industry, and it was closed for a long period due to pressure from General Haftar’s over faulty parts, which led to an increase produced, up from 20.3 percent last year, story, seeing 1m homes and 1,000 schools was wrong the government had made the so-called Dignity Operation. in gas power generation. while nuclear made up 23.1 percent, down taking clean energy and climate action into decision before setting out its new plans. Overall, Libya’s political and oil future is a shambles. Even after “Gas usage for power generation sharply from 27.6 percent. their own hands,” said Neil Jones, a cam- Around 90 percent of people responding high-level meetings in Paris and Rome, where the French and Italian rose this year because the country’s nuclear Looking ahead, South Korea’s LNG de- paigner at the group. to a government consultation had opposed government tried to set up their own security and governmental utilization rate was the lowest so other power mand growth for power generation is expected Green peer Jenny Jones said the step the changes, arguing they were unfair, would arrangements between the fighting factions, the is no end in sight sources like gas had to fill the void,” said to hover around 1 percent in 2019, down was a “very bad call”, while people took setback climate change efforts and hurt to the fighting on the ground. Currently, another round of violence Shin Ji-yoon, an analyst at KTB Investment from nearly 20 percent this year, robbed of to social media to brand it “absolutely industry. is brewing in and around Tripoli, where several militias are looking & Securities in Seoul. room to grow as more coal and nuclear power outrageous” and “shocking”. The change is one of a double whammy to expand their control over parts of the city, weakening the power of In the six months of the year, an average plants are still coming online despite the plans The change will not affect the 800,000- for solar power in the UK, with energy reg- the Western-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). Since of almost half of the country’s 24 nuclear for a long-term shift in policy, according to plus homes that have already fitted solar ulator Ofgem also announcing measures a brokered ceasefire in September, most militias have been pulling reactors were offline for planned mainte- a report by state-funded think-tank Korea panels since the feed-in tariff scheme on Tuesday that will see solar households back, but the tensions at present point to a willingness for a new nance, according to Reuters calculations Energy Economic Institute. launched in 2010. pay more for their energy. round of conflict. The UN-GNA approach to either include the based on data from state-run Korea Hydro (Source: Reuters) The Department for Business, Energy (Source: The Guardian) militias in security forces or demobilize them is under pressure. Still, some hope remains, as analysts indicate that militia leaders are willing to cooperate, largely in a move to protect their (illegal) income. Stability - in the end - will depend on the willingness of Novak sees Russia’s 2019 crude oil output at 11.165m bpd the GNA forces to put their foot down if needed Russian energy minister Alexander Novak Novak said. commitment, Russia has pledged to reduce Novak added that he will discuss output Even if the Tripoli situation can be resolved, the future depends expects his country’s crude oil output in 2019 A figure of 552 million mt would be output by 228,000 bpd, although it plans to plans with Russian producers Wednesday. largely on General Haftar. Haftar is looking for any opportunity to to be around 555-556 million mt (11.145-11.165 equivalent to around 11.085 million bpd reach this target gradually. Russia produced a “A meeting is scheduled with oil companies, expand his powers to the western parts of Libya, having already million bpd) but said this figure could be revised according to calculations by S&P Global Platts, record level of 11.41 million bpd in October 2018. we will discuss the situation, including how secured most of the east. Haftar still openly pushes his pledge downwards due to OPEC+ agreements to cut based on a conversion rate of 7.33 barrels to Novak said Tuesday that Russia may reach the domestic market will develop up to the to “liberate” Tripoli by forging alliances in the west. Arab coun- production, the Prime news agency reported a metric ton. its target in the first quarter. Previously he end of the year, the traditional question of tries, such as the UAE and Egypt, are supporting Haftar to make him as saying Tuesday. Earlier this month OPEC and non-OPEC predicted that output will fall by 50,000-60,000 operations next year taking into account new a deal with western Libyan militias to stabilize the whole country. “A lot can change over the course of a year, countries agreed to cut crude output for six bpd in January. legislation and also of course we will discuss NATO-member Italy has also shown a preference for the Haftar depending on decisions on coordinated joint months from January 2019, pledging to take Russia is cutting output gradually, as freezing the situation on international markets and option, especially after Moscow openly stated its support of the action... Next year the forecast is 555-556 million a combined total of 1.2 million bpd off the winter temperatures in the country make a company actions in regard to decisions that Libyan general. mt, but that may be adjusted downwards by market, using October 2018 production levels rapid reduction impractical. The group is to have been taken,” Novak said, according to Even French president Macron pushed the position of Haftar 3-4 million mt... to I think 552 million mt,” as the baseline. Of the 400,000 bpd non-OPEC meet in April to review the progress of the deal. the report. (Source: Platts) during the Paris meeting of the GNA and Haftar militias. In Paris Haftar and his counterpart Al Serraj agreed to a ceasefire and Spring elections, but the general declared hours later that he has no intention of sticking to that agreement. Past attempts to ne- U.S. shale juggernaut will stomp on OPEC’s oil plans gotiate peace in Libya have been undone by splits within each OPEC and Russia started the year cutting oil production, OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, and Russia decided at the faction, which are often made up of loose alliances of convenience spent the middle of the year raising production and have start of this month that it was better to cut production and among brigades of former rebels more loyal to cities, regions or ended the year by agreeing to cut it again. prop up prices than trying to sweat the shale industry with tribes than to the idea of a Libyan nation. Haftar now seems to That, in a nutshell, is the narrative of the oil market in 2018. a period of lower revenues. Having tried that in 2014, Saudi have the upper-hand, after partially defeating IS led militias and But while it is the time of year for looking backwards, what Arabia was in no mood to repeat the experiment given the other extremists. (Source: oilprice.com) it tells U.S. about what lies in store for 2019 may be causing impact $40 a barrel oil had on its economy. a few sleepless nights in Riyadh and Moscow. But while most traders think the decision to remove 1.2m Oil prices may still be on course to average near $70 a bpd from the market will be enough to prop up prices in the barrel for the first time since the market crashed in 2014, but short run, at the same time shale is going to be growing at a Germany’s power to be 38% they are exiting this year at a lower level than they started tremendous rate. renewable in 2018 on January 1. It will take a brave trader to bet that crude will That threatens countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia finish 2019 above $70 again. with the specter of an endless round of cuts that simply result Germany is expected to achieve a 38 percent renewable energy The reason, when you strip away all the geopolitical noise in them making way for shale, as long as production outside share in gross electricity consumption this year, up by 2 percentage that roiled oil prices this year — from Iran sanctions and waiv- their control is growing faster than global demand. points from 2017, but reaching 65% percent by 2030 would not ers, Venezuela’s meltdown, U.S. president Donald Trump’s That additional U.S. oil, alongside higher output of natural They may get a reprieve around the middle of 2019, if the be possible at the current pace of capacity additions. tweets and Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the killing of Jamal gas liquids, starkly illustrates what happens when prices are at U.S. moves to stiffen sanctions against Iran’s oil exports, as Renewable power plants are expected to produce almost 229 Khashoggi — boils down to one simple point: the U.S. shale a level that can start to refill OPEC members’ depleted coffers many expect — especially if prices moderate around current billion kWh of electricity in 2018, according to the Centre for Solar juggernaut is back to travelling at such a pace that it is flat- — the U.S. shale industry starts to expand at an incredible rate. levels near $60 a barrel. Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wuerttemberg (ZSW) and tening all other developments in its path. To put it in context, the U.S. production increase in 2018 Other OPEC countries may also continue to struggle to stem the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW). That, away from all the messy political drama, is key to is roughly equivalent to adding half of Iran’s oil output to the the decline in their own output, making space for better-run Onshore wind is the main green power source in Germany with understanding oil’s underlying trend, and it suggests next market in one year. The year-on-year increase alone is larger members to benefit. Angola, for one, has seen its output fall an estimated 2018 output of 94 billion kWh, followed by biomass year could be difficult for oil-dependent countries to navigate. than the individual output of eight of OPEC’s 14 member 10 per cent in the past two years. Venezuela remains a basket with 52 billion kWh and solar power with 46 billion kWh. At the start of 2018 the U.S. was predicted to add slightly less countries, or nine if you include , which plans to quit case, and few will bet against its output declining further, BDEW chairman Stefan Kapferer warned that Germany has than 1m barrels a day of production over the year, according OPEC next year as relations with its Arab neighbors sour. with its production already down almost half in two years to to do more to meet its 65 percent renewable power target by to a forecast made by the Department of Energy’s statistical The output surge means the U.S. has ended the year as the little more than 1m bpd. 2030. Announcing new offshore wind tenders, enhancing plan- arm. Other bodies such as the International Energy Agency undisputed top crude producer, with output approaching 12m But the big story remains shale’s growth and how the big- ning and investment security for onshore wind, and prioritizing and OPEC were forecasting similar amounts. bpd, pulling it comfortably ahead of Saudi Arabia and Russia. gest producers can respond. The countries and companies the expansion of the network are possible steps in that direction. Instead, the U.S. shale patch has not just surpassed those For U.S. energy security and the myriad companies, large that stuck with the mantra of lowering costs during oil’s brief “Now, in addition to a growing share of wind and solar power, expectations but smashed straight through them, with the and small, who now make up the shale patch this is good news. recovery in 2018 are likely thankful now. we also need to expand flexibility options so that the growing supply U.S. Energy Information Administration now seeing crude But for those that depend on a higher price — either to Next year does not look like a time to be betting on the of green electricity can be optimally aligned with demand,” said oil production having grown by an average of 1.53m bpd or fund national budgets or, in the case of some energy majors, price getting much stronger given the long-term shift U.S. Frithjof Staiss, CEO of the ZSW, calling for measures to increase more than 50 per cent more than they had anticipated. Year to fund high dividends at a time of great investor uncertainty shale has now cemented in this market. the use of energy storage, demand-side management and the like. on year, production in early December was up 1.9m bpd. about their industry — it is a reason to worry. (Source: Financial Times) (Source: Renewable Now) 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 20, 2018 NEWS IN BRIEF U.S. offers to include Taliban representatives The West supports militants involved in caretaker Afghan government in chemical INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — U.S. govern- earlier warned that no meetings between the attacks: Russia deskment and Taliban officials Taliban and the Afghan government would engaged in two-day hectic negotiations in take place during the two-day consultations INTERNATIONAL The Russian Security Council dismissed UAE, during which the two sides reportedly in . deskclaims on Wednesday about information discussed six-month ceasefire in Afghanistan On Tuesday, he repeated the warning, manipulation regarding Aleppo noting that militants involved in and the withdrawal of foreign troops. hours after it was announced that President chemical attacks in Syria were acting under Western patronage. The meeting in Abu Dhabi, facilitated by Ashraf Ghani’s recently appointed chief ne- The statement comes after US State Department spokes- the UAE government, with the participation gotiator, Abdul Salam Rahimi, had arrived person Robert Palladino claimed on 7 December in a press of officials from UAE, Saudi Arabia and -Pa in Abu Dhabi. “No chance,” the Taliban release that the Bashar Assad government and Russia had kistan – three countries that have close ties spokesman said. falsely accused opposition and extremist groups of conduct- with the Taliban – was the third time U.S. The Taliban delegation was led by Sher ing a chlorine attack in Northwestern Aleppo. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad met Taliban Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, head of the The Russian Defence Ministry, for its part, rejected the representatives in recent weeks. group’s political office in Qatar, and included allegations, noting that this statement was “nothing more According to reports, quoting Taliban senior Taliban leaders based in Pakistani than an attempt to whitewash the international terrorists officials, the U.S. delegation insisted on a city of Quetta. operating in Idlib and associated with the pseudo-rescuers six-month truce and an agreement to name Mohammad Taqi, a Pakistani political the White Helmets, who have put their Western patrons in a Taliban representatives to a future caretaker commentator, writing in The Wire said these bad light with their provocation”. government in Kabul. talks inspired little hope for a breakthrough. Syria has been in a state of war since 2011, with the However, the reports said, Taliban nego- “Pulling off in four months something that government forces fighting against numerous opposition tiators resisted the ceasefire proposal as they has remained elusive for two Afghan and groups and militant and terrorist organizations. Russia, believe it will give the Afghan government three US presidents, and nine administra- along with Turkey and Iran, is a guarantor of the ceasefire an upper hand at a time when the insurgent tions among them, will be truly miraculous,” in Syria. Moscow has also been providing humanitarian aid group is clearly negotiating from the posi- he said, adding that the Taliban would be to residents of the crisis-torn country. tion of strength. back in the battlefield by spring. (Source: FAN) In a statement issued late on Tuesday, the Meanwhile, the reports about Taliban rep- Taliban said the talks had mainly concentrated resentatives being part of the future ‘caretaker on the “U.S. occupation”, adding: “Nothing government’ in Kabul, as proposed by the Conflict-torn about interim government, ceasefire, election U.S. delegation, has raised many eyebrows Kashmir or other internal issues has been discussed”. in Afghanistan. Experts call it a “sell-out” as “Talks revolved around withdrawal of oc- it will provide a platform for the Taliban to set for cupation forces from Afghanistan, ending the delegation was completely sidelined as the ernment spokesman Haroon Chakansuri said regain power in the war-ravaged country. oppression being carried out by the United insurgent group, which considers the govern- in a statement. “It means the Taliban will be back, President’s rule States and her allies,” the group’s spokes- ment in Kabul “puppet” of U.S. – refused While Khalilzad was holding talks with the and all the years of fighting have been INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — As the governor’s rule comes man Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement. to engage with it. Taliban delegation in one hotel in Abu Dhabi, a waste,” said Abdul Haamid, a Kabul- deskto an end in Indian-controlled-Kashmir An Afghan government delegation had The team had traveled to Abu Dhabi “to Afghan delegation was waiting in another. based activist. “If this is what the ‘peace on Wednesday, the region reeling under violence is set to also traveled to UAE with a hope to be part begin proximity dialogue with the Taliban By late evening, the Afghan officials were deal’ looks like, then Afghanistan’s future come under President’s rule from Thursday. of deliberations between the U.S. and Tali- delegation and to prepare for a face-to-face still waiting, reports stated. is doomed, and U.S. will be completely According to a report in IANS, quoting government sources, ban officials but according to sources the meeting between the two sides”, Afghan gov- Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid had responsible for it.” the center recommended President’s rule following a report submitted by state’s Governor Satya Pal Malik on Tuesday. A communication from Governor’s office was sent to the “Afghanistan deadliest country in world for BJP government in New Delhi which gave its approval to the President’s rule in the troubled state. Meanwhile, the security situation remains tense in the conflict-torn region following the killing of seven civilians journalists in 2018” last week. All commercial establishments, schools and 1 Meanwhile, in Syria, the RSF report said, 11 jour- year, and the situation is now critical.” offices remained closed for three days in protest against nalists were killed while covering the deadly war this year. Deloire further said that the increased violence reflects the killings. Overall at least 63 journalists around the world were “the hatred of journalists that is voiced, and sometimes very The killings were condemned by politicians across the killed on job in 2018, with Afghanistan being the deadliest openly proclaimed, by unscrupulous politicians, religious political spectrum, who urged the security agencies to exercise place for journalists worldwide. leaders, and businessmen.” restraint in dealing with people’s protests. The Paris-based organization, which advocates freedom He said social-media networks also “bear heavy responsibil- Militancy in the troubled state, which is claimed by both of press, said the violence against journalists had increased ity” for amplifying “expressions of hatred” against journalists India and Pakistan, has gained momentum in last few years by 15 pecent compared to the previous year. that “legitimize violence” -- undermining “journalism, and especially since the killing of young rebel commander Burhan “The hatred of journalists that is voiced ... by unscrupulous democracy itself, a bit more every day.” Wani. politicians, religious leaders and businessmen has tragic RSF annual report also highlighted the killings of consequences on the ground, and has been reflected in this prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the Pakistan disturbing increase in violations against journalists,” RSF young Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak, saying their deaths Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said in a statement. highlighted “the lengths to which press freedom’s enemies second worst More than half of the journalists killed during the year are prepared to go.” in gender were “deliberately targeted,” the statement issued by RSF Khashoggi’s murder, ordered by the Saudi crown prince said, adding that the overall death toll does not include 10 Mohammed bin Salman, has been the defining story of this parity deaths that RSF is still investigating. worldwide” and that no perpetrators have been convicted year, which has hogged headlines for months. The brutal The report reinforces the findings of Committee to Protect in more than 85 percent of those cases. crime was carried out in Saudi Kingdom’s Istanbul con- INTERNATIONAL Pakistan has earned a dubious distinc- RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said “violence desk Journalists (CPJ), which said in October that 324 journalists sulate, which led to tremendous uproar around the world tion for itself, becoming the second worst during the past decade have been “silenced through murder against journalists has reached unprecedented levels this and brought into focus Saudi regime’s horrendous crimes country in the world in terms of gender parity. Pakistan is ranked 148 out of 149 countries in the ‘Global Gender Gap Index 2018’ report released by the World Eco- nomic Forum (WEF) on Tuesday. Saudi-led coalition makes mockery of Yemen truce According to the report, four Muslim countries — Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Pakistan­ — are the four worst- 1 Brig. Gen. Yehia Sari, spokesman since Friday, followed by intensive artillery performers in the world where the number of women holding for Houthi Forces, in a statement said that and missile fire. managerial positions is the lowest. Saudi mercenaries, with the help of heavy The ceasefire agreement reached between The Geneva-based organization’s annual report tracked artillery and rockets, had tried to break into the warring parties in Sweden called for im- disparities between the genders in 149 countries across four Dreihimi from many directions, barely a day mediate end to fighting in Hodeida and its areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political after the ceasefire agreement. three ports, followed by a mutual redeploy- empowerment. Pakistan’s scorecard showed that in terms Yemen’s army spokesman Brigadier Yahya ment of forces to locations outside the city of economic participation and opportunity, it ranked 146th, Sare’e said Saudis fired more than 100 mortar and ports, within a maximum of 21 days from while in health and survival, its rank was 145. In terms of shells at Hudaydah’s residential areas in viola- the ceasefire. political empowerment, Pakistan was positioned at 97. tion of the ceasefire. Yemen’s armed forces, The parties, the agreement clearly said, With an average remaining gender gap of 34.2pc, South he said, are willing to create an atmosphere shall abstain from dispatching any military Asia was the second-lowest scoring region on this year’s for the success of peace efforts but they also reinforcements to the city and ports. It also Global Gender Gap Index, ahead of the Middle East and remain prepared for any scenario and will said that the UN will monitor ports and en- North Africa and behind Sub-Saharan Africa. respond to any violations by the enemy and sure that humanitarian aid gets delivered to its mercenaries. millions of Yemenis who are on the brink of Houthi chief negotiator Abdulsalam, who famine. But what we have witnessed since Security was pictured with Yemeni government officials Thursday is exactly the inverse, which once beefed after the deal was signed on Thursday, said again calls into question Saudi regime’s in- there was “no sign the Saudis were going to volvement in Yemen. They don’t want Yemenis up for stop their aggression against the innocent to be at peace. people of Yemen despite the ceasefire deal.” Pertinently, Saudi-led war in Yemen has Bangladesh polls He urged people to remain vigilant and sup- stretched into its third year now, killing more port the Yemeni army and resistance groups. worse situation than today,” he remarked on than ten fronts east of capital Sana’a. Bom- than 10,000 people and paving ground for a INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Ahead of general election UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that Sunday, after Saudi-led coalition resumed bardments and ground battles still continue humanitarian situation termed “catastrophic” deskin Bangladesh, more than 20,000 para- much worse lay in store for Yemen next year its operations. across the country. In Nihm region alone, a by aid agencies, with millions of children military forces have been deployed across the country to unless the peace deal is implemented. “With- According to fresh reports, Saudi-led residential locality in the suburbs of Sana’a, acutely malnourished. And the world has prevent incidents of violence. out peace, we will be facing in 2019 a much coalition has intensified attacks on more at least 40 airstrikes have been carried out chosen to be a mute spectator. In recent weeks, deadly violence has claimed the lives of at least six people and left scores injured which has raised concerns ahead of December 30 election. Many clashes have been reported in the past week as U.S. envoy on North Korea to visit South Korea campaigning between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling The United States’ envoy on North Korea is to start a four- Subsequent diplomacy between Washington and Pyong- Awami League and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist day visit to South Korea in an apparent effort to kick-start yang has, however, made little progress in recent months, Party (BNP) gathers momentum. stalled nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang. mainly because the U.S. refuses to lift harsh sanctions on Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) spokesman Mohsin Reza Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for the the North. The North has taken several steps toward denu- was quoted saying that 1,016 platoons had been deployed North, is to arrive in the South’s capital, Seoul, on Wednesday clearization; it has suspended missile and nuclear testing, in a bid to reinforce campaign security. Officials said there afternoon, according to the U.S. State Department. demolished at least one nuclear test site, and agreed to allow were about 20 guards in each platoon. The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Biegun would international inspectors into a missile engine test facility Election Commission secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed told on Friday attend a meeting of the South Korea-U.S. working and another nuclear testing site. media that thousands more troops would be deployed from group on North Korea, which was established last month to A planned meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Saturday. The opposition BNP says its candidates and support- work toward the demilitarization of the South-North border. Pompeo and senior North Korean official Kim Yong-chol ers have been attacked by ruling party followers and accused “Close discussion over various pending issues related to was abruptly canceled in November. The two sides have yet the election commission of failing to ensure proper security. the North Korean nuclear issue… including inter-Korean to reschedule a meeting. The party has blamed police for the death of one cam- relations will (also) be held,” the ministry added. Nevertheless, there has been talk of a second Trump-Kim paigner in Dhaka who fell to his death from a rooftop. Police The U.S. envoy is scheduled to hold talks on Thursday meeting for early next year. Trump’s National Security Adviser have denied any involvement. with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Do-hoon. He will U.S. special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun (R) John Bolton has said the president wants to hold the second BNP leader Khaleda Zia, a former prime Minister of also meet Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon on Friday. South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon. summit with Kim because the first has yielded no progress. Bangladesh, is languishing in jail over charges of corruption. It is unclear if Biegun will be meeting with any officials Meanwhile, South Korea has advanced its relations with Around 100 million voters will be casting their votes in from the North. in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). North far more since a sudden rapprochement began be- the election that comes at a critical juncture in Bangladesh’s It was previously said that head of the CIA’s Korea Mission U.S. President Donald Trump met with North Korean tween the two neighbors — which had been adversaries for history. Center Andrew Kim was scheduled to secretly meet with leader Kim Jong-un in earlier this year, when the decades — in January. North Korean officials at the truce village of Panmunjom two agreed to work toward demilitarization. (Source: Press TV) ساعت: امضاء صفحه آرا: ساعت: امضاء مسئول صفحه: ساعت: امضاء ادیتور: ساعت: امضاء سردبیر:

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 20, 2018 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 Nigeria says soldiers who killed marchers Merkel’s ultimatum to were provoked, video shows otherwise British prime minister

By Dionne Searcey and Emmanuel “cause a lot of disruption,” he said. “They Akinwotu destroy other people’s cars. They block the traffic.” ABUJA — The message sent on Twitter was “When they attack the military, what do clear: When Nigerian soldiers opened fire you expect soldiers to do?” he said, adding on rock-throwing protesters in late October, that the military had retrieved weapons from Nigerian officials swiftly defended them, saying protesters, including knives and homemade their forces had simply done what President firebombs. “Of course, there will be a neces- Trump told American soldiers to do in the sary course of action.” same situation. Amnesty International disputed the The Nigerian military justified its actions military’s statements, saying its allegations by including a video clip of Mr. Trump’s re- against marchers were an attempt to justify marks about migrants heading toward the unlawful killings. The military’s actions ap- American border, in which he warned: “They pear to violate international laws, according want to throw rocks at our military, our mil- to Human Rights Watch, which said that itary fights back.” Nigerian officials had a pattern of repression Nigeria’s defense came after its soldiers against the Shiite group. had shot at protesters — members of a mi- Muhammed Sani said he had watched nority Shiite organization — marching on the soldiers shoot to death one of his brothers, outskirts of the capital, Abuja. The military who had attended the Oct. 29 protest with 1 European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker ac- insisted that the soldiers had taken action him, and later learned that another broth- cordingly said: “The deal we achieved is the best possible. It’s the only after being provoked by the protesters, er had also been killed. He said he had lost only deal possible. There is no room whatsoever for renegotiation. who hurled rocks at them. Ten soldiers were friends that day, too. “But of course there is room enough to give further clarifica- injured in the melee, it said. The military “Our protests are peaceful, but they kill tions and further interpretations without opening the withdrawal also said a total of six protesters were killed against separatists in the southeast, where expert on Nigeria for the State Department. us anyway,” he said. agreement” he added. during marches. the president has launched major military “Nigerians’ growing frustration with The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, found- In other words, the European authorities are emphasizing But a close review of video from the largest operations. It has used excessive force in the insecurity — whether it be kidnapping, ed about four decades ago and inspired by the possibility of a better agreement (for the UK), which will and most deadly of the protests, as well as northwest, where he has scrambled fighter armed robbery, communal violence or ter- the Iranian Revolution, has been repeat- provide a ground for holding a referendum on the Brexit. As interviews with more than a dozen witnesses, jets against gangs roaming the forest. rorist attacks — outweighs the disgust they edly labeled a terrorist threat. In the city noted, Angela Merkel plays an essential role in this equation. clearly shows the military opening fire on Islamic Movement of Nigeria members feel about human rights abuses by security of Kaduna, where many of the members As Reuters has recently reported, Merkel has explicitly em- unarmed demonstrators, sometimes shooting praying near the bodies of marchers who forces,” he said. live, the group is barred from protesting or phasized that there will be no other talks between European indiscriminately into the crowd at close range were killed when security forces opened fire Officials have taken a tougher stance assembling. Its places of worship, schools and British officials on Brexit, but efforts were being made to as people turned and tried to flee. during the Shiite group’s protests last month against the Shiite marchers, who belong and community centers have been demol- give Britain reassurances. Photos and videos recorded that day in Mararaba. to a group called the Islamic Movement in ished by officials who say the group wants Of course Merkel did not mention these efforts, but the British show at least 26 bodies. The group said it At the same time, Mr. Buhari’s campaign Nigeria, than it has against almost any other to spark a Shiite revolution and could turn prime minister has told Merkel that it was in nobody’s interest had collected a total of 49 bodies during four against Boko Haram, the terrorist group that organization in the country. to terrorism. for Britain to leave with no accord, and that it will have its own days of protests. has been at war with the nation for nearly Nigeria is a mix of Christians and Muslims, The recent killings are the latest in a long economic and political consequences. The killings are the latest example of a a decade, has suffered crippling failures on but officials say the group is financed and history of clashes, including a more deadly In any case, Theresa May tries to show the deal made between military that for years has been accused of the battlefield. influenced by Iran. Most Muslims in Nigeria, episode in 2015, when soldiers opened fire Brussels and London over the Brexit as a possible option, but human rights abuses, with rarely any pun- In recent weeks, more than 100 Nigerian including Mr. Buhari, are Sunni. The group on members of the group blocking a road the joint plan of the British government Parliament, and the ishment or action taken, despite President soldiers have been killed in at least 20 attacks does not believe the Nigerian Constitution for a religious ceremony. European authorities, is such that it complicates this equation. Muhammadu Buhari’s promises to crack down against military installations, one of which applies to it — largely because its members Nearly 350 people were killed, their bod- As it turned out, Theresa May has so far opposed the referendum. on military violations and restore security was captured on video and posted online by do not feel protected by the rule of law. That ies buried in a mass grave, and the group’s But there is no guarantee that this opposition will persist for- in the country. a Boko Haram faction. sentiment has angered officials. leader was imprisoned. He is still in jail on ever. Besides the German Chancellor, Donald Tusk, the chairman Since Mr. Buhari came to office in 2015, Parts of neighboring countries that have The military said it had killed three people terrorism charges, despite a federal court of the European Council has also stated that European officials Nigerian security forces have detained scores been peaceful for years have suffered attacks who were blocking the road and trying to steal order demanding his release. will never accept a resumption of negotiations on the Brexit and of children and babies, raped women living by militants, who have emerged armed from military equipment, and then another three Many of the marchers on Oct. 29 were the UK withdrawal from the European Union. in camps for displaced people and carried their new victories with heavy military equip- at the Oct. 29 march who were throwing fuel protesting his detention. out civilian massacres. ment confiscated in raids. bottles and large rocks at soldiers. On a recent visit to a hospital in Abuja, Despite the documented abuses, Mr. Soldiers fighting Boko Haram have com- Mourners gathered before the burial of more than 40 injured protesters, all in their Trump has strengthened ties with Nigeria. plained of low food rations, shoddy equipment slain marchers. The unraveling security situ- late teens or 20s, lay on thin mattresses in This year, he allowed the sale of warplanes and no days off in more than a year, the local ation has rattled citizens across the country. a dimly lit ward. At bottom, what ails the U.S. and other equipment to Nigeria that had news media has reported. But the video from the march clearly Umar Shittu, a 20-year-old student from been blocked by the Obama administration On Friday, the military suspended the contradicts those claims. The melee began Kaduna, sat silently on a bed stained by damp looks like mental illness over concerns about human rights abuses. operations of Unicef in the areas most affected that day as more than 1,000 marchers ap- blood and urine, rocking back and forth, his by Boko Haram, saying that the organiza- proached a military checkpoint. Soldiers face badly drooped. A bullet had pierced the Before leaving office, President Barack 1 But this is interesting because if one reads social media Obama had been prepared to resume the tion trains and deploys spies to help Boko arrived to block off the road. An armored top of his skull and lodged in his neck. and reactions to various news reports about any sort of conflict sales. But then the Nigerian military bombed Haram because it offered programs to help vehicle with high-caliber weapons patrolled Fatima Muhammed Sani, 16, was also with countries outside the U.S., it is those countries like Iran a camp for displaced people, killing dozens spot human rights abuses by the military. the highway. After soldiers began to fire, wounded. She had trailed her mother on and Russia, and leaders like Vladimir Putin, who often seem of civilians and prompting Mr. Obama to The military later rescinded the suspension. they targeted protesters fleeing the chaos. many marches in the past and was in the to be more respected and believed than American “leaders” keep the restrictions in place. Mr. Buhari recently traveled to the war Many of the injured were shot in the back middle of the crowd at the Oct. 29 march despite media propaganda to the contrary. Now Mr. Buhari is facing re-election in zone to rally troops, but he has yet to address or legs. when she heard gunfire. She said she had Anyway, one can say that the U.S. is a “sick” country because February, and his critics are pointing to a new the military abuses. Brig. Gen. John Agim, the spokesman run and suddenly felt a strange sensation either its “leaders” are especially obtuse and ignorant and unraveling of the security situation across The shooting deaths of Shiite marchers for the Nigerian military, said soldiers had in her left thigh. A bullet had fractured know no better, or it is “sick” in the exact same manner that Nigeria that has rattled citizens in all corners six weeks ago generated little outrage in the abused no one during the recent marches. her bone. Her movement is likely to be individuals can be “sick” with an intractable mental illness of the country. country. Mr. Buhari did not condemn the He said he had not seen video of the events restricted forever. that makes them virtually impossible to deal with, frightful The Nigerian president has struggled to killings, nor did his rivals. but was certain that whatever existed had “If I could walk right now, I would go back and possibly dangerous to others. address a broad range of problems in the The president’s “turn-a-blind-eye approach been manipulated to make Nigerian soldiers to protest again,” Ms. Sani said. “I’m ready For example, a friend was once under attack by a family military. Its abuses have been carried out has bolstered the military’s culture of im- look bad, calling it “stage managed.” to sacrifice my life for my leader.” member of his, and this person could have gone to prison not only against protesting Shiites, but also punity,” said Matthew Page, a former top The protesters from the group generally (Source: New York Times) for the unwarranted charges. He consulted an attorney for help and was asked to describe the threatening relative. He so described and the attorney asked him to pull a nearby book from his office shelf. The book was titled “The Diagnostic and Statistical Man- Forum strengthens stand against Saudi Arabia ual of Mental Disorders”, an internationally recognized and By Fatemeh Salehi and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees compiled tome of various mental ailments and their descrip- on the sidelines of the Doha forum. tions. The attorney opened the book immediately and found The international Doha Forum 2018 kicked off Saturday The UN and Qatar also signed a memorandum of un- the page he wanted and showing it to his client, asking: “Is in the Qatari capital under the banner, “Shaping Policy in derstanding (MoU) on Sunday, endorsing cooperation this the person and disorder you described?” It was, exactly. an Interconnected World” with the attendance of Amir between both parties, which includes the establishment of Thus, it was suddenly clear to client and attorney just what Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. a Junior Professional Program and a multi-year non-ear- they were going to have to deal with – a severe mental illness. The event is being attended by a host of high-profile marked contribution of $500mm to fund UN agencies. Now it’s debatable whether entire countries like individu- political, private-sector and civil-society figures, including The four new UN offices to be opened in Qatar are for als can be infected with some dominating mental illness, but Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration one can imagine so leafing through history and reading about United Nations Secretary- General António Guterres, (IOM), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), insane “leaders”. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, president of the Gen- and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Af- So, what is the U.S. illness? It’s hard to say exactly, but eral Assembly at the UN, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh fairs (OCHA). extreme, Grandiose Narcissism might be the best descrip- Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Turkey’s foreign Saad al-Kaabi, minister of state for energy affairs and tion. The next question: how does one deal with a Narcissistic minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the prime minister of Somalia, CEO of Qatar Petroleum told the Forum : “Qatar is looking aggressor who derives pleasure from the suffering of others? Hassan Ali Kheyre, foreign minister of Japan Taro KONO, to invest at least $20 billion in the United States over the Perhaps by not acting ruffled, by remaining self-assured and Oman’s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf By holding the important forum in Doha and gather- coming few years.” confident. (Leaders like Zarif have shown these traits.) And bin Alawi, Alistair Burt, the Foreign Office’s Middle East ing outstanding international figures from Iran, Turkey, Saad al-Kaabi, who holds the energy portfolio of the perhaps one should suggest that not being threatening back minister, and Nobel peace prize winner Nadia Murad. A Russia, Qatar and elsewhere, the meeting showed that world’s top liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer, also may win the moral high ground. Russia delegation was also present at the Forum. it could be more widely recognized in the international said on Sunday QP aimed to announce its foreign part- Most would agree that Donald Trump is an immoral man Participants presented specific messages from their arena despite the hostile actions of the Persian Gulf Arab ners for the new LNG trains it is building by the middle and “leader”. He is grotesquely immoral and without real sub- countries. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani af- states and the Doha blockade. of next year. stance as a human being. So are many of the people he has firmed that his country’s position regarding the ongoing The presence of Turkey’s foreign minister at the Doha Meanwhile, the Saudi and UAE-affiliated media have chosen for his administration, particularly people like John crisis in Persian Gulf has “not changed”. He reiterated Forum is also noteworthy because relations between An- been trying to demonstrate that the proximity of Qatar Bolton and Mike Pompeo. calls to end the “siege” imposed on Qatar by a Saudi-led kara and Riyadh have been severely diminished after to Turkey and Iran is very dangerous in the wake of the The supreme irony, or the ultimate absurdity, is that these bloc of states (including Egypt, and the United the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in prolongation of the Persian Gulf crisis, which could be people and the bulk of their fans amid the general U.S. public Arab Emirates), saying the crisis should be “resolved Istanbul. Turkey has repeatedly demanded the extradition at the expense of Saudi Arabia. like to think of themselves as good “Christians” – “People of through dialogue”. of those participating in the crime, but Riyadh has said The media claimed that Qatar had created a place for the Book” to Muslims – Ahl al_Kitaab -- when in fact they Qatar’s foreign minister expressed a host of grievances that no Saudi citizens will be handed over to Ankara. Iran to promote its missile program. Emirati and Saudi are irresponsible losers and imposters who have latched on over his Persian Gulf counterparts’ regional activities on Qatar’s sudden withdrawal from the OPEC Organization officials also expressed dissatisfaction at the meeting, to evangelism and magical thinking that absolves them from Sunday, calling out Saudi Arabia and the UAE in particular in the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis has shown that Doha is as UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar ever taking responsibility for the outcomes of U.S. policies. — and not just for their blockade of his country. Qatari not in a position to deal with the crisis and will also examine Gargash, said that Qatar follows Iran and Turkey. And to make matters worse, Trump and minions don’t even foreign minister criticized U.S. sanctions on Iran and the possibility of withdrawing from the Persian Gulf Coop- One of the emirate analysts, Mishal al Harbi, claimed care about these losers except to extract support from them. said: “We are disagreeing with [Saudi Arabia] currently eration Council. Qatar tries to show more and more that it a massive article about reality in the context of the media But they don’t know this. They are deluded. when they are blockading Qatar, when they continue the is not a supporter of Saudi Arabia’s hegemonic policies, war against Qatar. Qatar paid the participants and bought In any case, the U.S. financial markets are beginning to war on Yemen without reason, the way they kidnapped and despite its very small area, it can stand against Riyadh. their positions to speak in support of Qatar’s policies. unravel. Trump claimed his policies in September had resulted the Lebanese prime minister.” From the outset of the crisis, Qatar has been working Popular Egyptian TV host Amr Adib expressed dissat- in record equity market prices and a relatively strong economy. The Doha International Forum occurred with the to create a specific economic plan against the sanctions isfaction by providing false and misleading analyzes of Now, he is looking like a fool and is literally pleading with the high-profile presence of Qatar’s, a few days before the imposed by Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia. By signing the Doha summit on the presence of Iranian and Turkish U.S. Federal Reserve Bank not to raise interest rates this week Persian Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Riyadh with very significant economic agreements with the United delegates alongside Qatar’s foreign minister and their by 25 basis points. the small presence of representatives of some Arab coun- Nations, Doha shows that, despite Saudi sanctions, the criticism of Saudi Arabia. Also, U.S. debt and fiscal deficits continue to explode higher. tries but not the Emir of Qatar. The PGCC meeting failed Doha economy has not been shaken. Finally, it may be said that the victor in the Persian It’s just a matter of time before Trump and his mentally deranged to reach its preset goals, and ended with the intensification The Qatari government and the UN High Commissioner Gulf region is in fact Qatar, which, without breaking its minions are vanquished, and the only worrying question is of members’ disputes on various issues, including Iran, as for Refugees signed an agreement to build shelters for positions and not responding to the demands of other what more damage to other countries they and the apartheid well as the critical situation of Saudi Arabia in the matter more than 26,000 Yemeni refugees. The agreement was Arab countries, has been able to strengthen its overall loving Israelis and corrupted, bloody, medieval Saudis will of the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. signed on Sunday between the Qatari Development Fund position without isolating itself. do before they are gone. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS DECEMBER 20, 2018

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Iran, Germany to collaborate on Recalled ‘weight history’ can predict heart failure risk disaster, accident management Asking older adults how much they weighed in the past can help to predict their risk of heart failure, according to HEALTH TEHRAN — Iranian constructing training centers for specific recent research. desk Emergency Medical areas in the country. New research found that asking seniors how much they weighed Services Organization and German Designing a trauma network and in their 20s and 40s accurately predicted heart failure risk. Björn Steiger Foundation have signed trauma registration center for Irani- Ideally, doctors treating older people would have ready ac- a memorandum of understanding (MOU) an hospitals with drawing on German cess to accurate weight histories from lifelong medical records. on disaster and accident management. successful models in order to improve In reality, however, medical records tend not to accompany The MOU was signed in a meeting emergency care and enhance special- people as they change their primary care doctors. attended by Pir Hossein Kulivand, the ized medical knowledge are among other After studying more than 6,000 older adults, researchers director of the Iranian Emergency Med- areas of collaboration between the two from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, ical Services; Pierre-Enric Steiger, the organizations. concluded that just asking older individuals how much they president of the German Björn Steiger According to the MOU, Iran and weighed when they were 20 and 40 years old could help predict Foundation; and Michael Klor-Berchtold, Germany will also set up a joint re- their risk of heart failure. the German ambassador to Iran, IRIB search-training center for providing “Self-reported lifetime weight,” they write in a report reported on Monday. help in emergencies and crises, risk of the study that features in the Journal of the American The Björn Steiger Foundation is a management of accidents and disasters Heart Association, “is a low-tech tool easily utilized in any charity which assists in providing fund- as well as promotion of medical emer- clinical encounter.” ing for emergency services, and rescue gency care services. While unlikely to be as accurate as clinically recorded organizations. In June, director of Emergency So- weight, they found that self-reported weight, over and above The MOU proposed plans for inte- cial Services Organization Reza Ja’fari current body mass index (BMI), could be a good predictor gration of all emergency and rescue announced some 70 new centers for of heart failure risk. centers in Iran and setting up a unified emergency social services would be Obesity and heart failure emergency call center, running support launched and developed nationwide by Previous studies have shown that the more years that in- programs, establishing communication The Björn Steiger Foundation is a the end of the current Iranian calendar dividuals spend with obesity, the more likely they are to have networks between all centers, managing charity which assists in providing year (March 20, 2019). a higher risk of heart failure. disasters and accidents in pre-hospital funding for emergency services, and Currently, there are 17 centers pro- “That is why,” explains senior study author Dr. Erin D. and in-hospital stages, providing emer- viding the citizens with emergency social Michos, who is an associate professor of medicine, “measur- gency staff with training programs and rescue organizations. services in Tehran. ing a person’s weight at older ages may not tell the whole story about their risk.” There is mounting evidence that individuals who have only Prototype prostate cancer drug New hopes for EB patients with recently developed obesity are overall in less danger compared with counterparts who have a history of obesity, she adds. produced in Iran plasma therapy Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a severe condition. It develops when heart muscle gradually weakens and stiffens until it cannot pump enough oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body’s organs and tissues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that around 5.7 million people have heart failure in the United States, where the condition contributed to 1 in 9 deaths in 2009. Around half of those diagnosed with heart failure do not live more than 5 years following diagnosis. A practical way to obtain weight history In the routine assessment of heart disease and heart failure risk, doctors bring together measures of cholesterol, blood pressure, diet, BMI, and family history of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Michos notes that while it is useful to have the current BMI measure when making such an assessment in older adults, having a weight history would be even more helpful. So, she and her team set out to investigate if there might a practical way of obtaining a weight history that is good enough to inform routine clinical assessment. HEALTH TEHRAN — The in- remission of the disease,” said the expert. HEALTH TEHRAN — Plasma- by its antiseptic effects, by stimulation of desk desk They used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atheroscle- dustrial production Many prostate cancers have a substance Derm, a new device that proliferation and migration of wound re- rosis (MESA) on 6,437 people living in six different states in of Lutetium-177, a prototype drug for on their cell surface called prostate specific can improve wound healing in Epidermol- lating skin cells, by activation or inhibition the U.S. The individuals, of which 53 percent were female, treatment of prostate cancer has now membrane antigen (PSMA). Lutetium-177 ysis bullosa (EB) patients, was piloted in of integrin receptors on the cell surface or had joined the study during 2000-2002 when their average started in Atomic Energy Organization is a radioactive molecule that, after injection Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital in Tehran. by its pro-angiogenic effect. age was 62 years. of Iran in collaboration with Mashhad into a vein, specifically attaches to cells with The device was established by re- The Plasmaderm device was also used Regarding ethnic composition, the cohort was around 39 University of Medical Sciences, the Uni- high amounts of PSMA on the surface of searchers of Shahid Beheshti University, in Razi hospital for treatment of diabetic percent white, more than 26 percent African-American, 22 versity’s professor and a member of drug’s the cells. This allows the radioactivity to said a member of university’s Laser and wounds and displayed some successful percent Hispanic, and just over 12 percent Chinese-American. research team announced. be delivered mainly to the prostate can- Plasma Research Center, ISNA reported results in 15 patients, he further noted. At the start of the study, the participants had filled in ques- According to Kamran Ariana, mass cer cells wherever they have spread, while on Tuesday. The research on this new device is con- tionnaires that asked them about their weight when they were production of the drug will begin in two sparing most normal tissues, according to Mohammad Reza Khani announced tinouing in knowledge based companies 20 and 40 years old. to three months and it will be distributed Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. that Shahid Beheshti University started and we look for investors to begin the mass During an average follow-up of 13 years, there was a total in atomic energy research centers that Deputy Health Minister Reza Malekza- its research on plasma technology in 2010. production, he concluded. of five in-person visits that included weight measurement. are capable of admitting patients, ILNA deh said in April that “population-based EB is the name for a group of rare inher- Jamshid Kermanchi, an advisor to The investigators converted the weight measurements into reported on Monday. cancer registry of the Islamic Republic of ited skin disorders that cause the skin to the health minister said in April that BMI by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the “Lutetium-177 is an expensive drug and Iran” shows a cancer incidence rate of 158 become very fragile. Any trauma or friction Iran has allocated a substantial budget height in meters. They classed BMIs under 25 as normal, be- its domestic mass production will cut the per 100,000 of the population and 143 to the skin can cause painful blisters. to improve services for patients suffering tween 25 and under 30 as overweight, and 30 and above as expanses of prostate cancer patients in per 100,000 of the population (excluding The PlasmaDerm device has already from EB. being in the obesity range. half,” Ariana added. non-melanoma skin cancer) in 30 provinces been used in some Iranian hospitals for Referring to the huge cost of EB treat- “Lutetium-177 is currently used in the of Iran annually. skin rejuvenation, said Khani, adding that ment, Kermanchi highlighted the impor- world for treatment of some tumors and According to World Health Organization cold plasma was used in it formulation. tance of preventing the disease via pre-birth resistant prostate cancer; the results in- cancer is the second leading cause of death According to National Center for Bio- genetic tests available. dicate that putting patients on this drug, globally, and is responsible for an estimated technology Information, cold plasma also Currently, some 600 EB patients have prolonged their life and enhanced the quality 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Globally, about known as non-thermal atmospheric-pres- been diagnosed in Iran while it is expected of their life and in many cases it resulted in 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer. sure plasma can support wound healing that some 800 patients live in the country.

What is the secret to women’s longevity? Migraine tied to lower diabetes risk Women tend to live longer than men, a Dr. Dena Dubal Women with migraine had a lower risk These findings are in line with obser- difference that seems to apply to female Not just about the genes of developing type 2 diabetes, French re- vations from clinical practice, observed versus male individuals across the animal In the new study, the research team searchers reported. Amy Gelfand, MD, MAS, of the University kingdom. Why is this the case? used a mouse model to try to understand In a prospective longitudinal study, of California San Francisco, and Eliz- What gives women their longevity? what might give females an advantage in women with active migraine had a 20% abeth Loder, MD, MPH, of Brigham Genetically, most women have two X terms of lifespan. reduction in the risk of developing pharma- and Women’s Hospital in Boston and chromosomes, and most men have one X The researchers genetically engineered cologically-treated type 2 diabetes -- which Harvard Medical School, in an accompa- and one Y chromosome. mice so that they would belong to one of rose to a 30% reduction in multivariate nying editorial. “Headache practitioners Weight history tied to heart failure risk X chromosomes contain hundreds of four categories. Thus, some of the mice had modeling -- than women without a history have long discussed the rarity of patients During the follow-up, 290 individuals had developed heart protein-encoding genes, while Y chromo- XX chromosomes and developed ovaries, of migraine, according to Guy Fagherazzi, with type 2 diabetes in headache clinics,” failure. Another 828 had experienced heart attacks, strokes, somes, although poorer in genetic material, and some had XY chromosomes and devel- PhD, of the Center for Research in Epide- they wrote. or other conditions due to arterial plaque buildup, or had died carry the gene that determines male traits, oped testes, which is what would usually miology and Population Health in Villejuif, But the reason for the link is uncer- because of one of these conditions. such as the development of testes. This happen in nature. The remaining mice had France, and coauthors. tain: “One plausible biological explanation Dr. Michos says that, as they expected, there was a link gene is called “SRY.” either XX chromosomes and testes or XY And, among women who developed involves calcitonin gene related peptide, between the weight measures that came from the follow-up Existing research has shown that, chromosomes and ovaries. incident diabetes during the study, the which is involved in energy metabolism in visits and the risk of developing heart failure. on average, women tend to live longer Dr. Dubal and team were able to achieve prevalence of active migraine declined animal models,” Gelfand and Loder wrote. For every 5 kilograms per square meter of extra BMI, the than men, and many mammals show this by moving the Sry gene from the Y in the years leading up to a diabetes di- “Calcitonin gene-related peptide is also risk of developing heart failure went up by 34 percent. This this same pattern, with females out- chromosome to another chromosome that agnosis and plateaued after, they wrote clearly involved in the pathophysiology of was after accounting for other possible risk factors, such as living males. does not determine sex. This meant that in JAMA Neurology. migraine. It is possible that the development smoking, age, exercise, diabetes, and blood pressure. No one is yet sure exactly why this is mice would be able to inherit it whether “Our results may suggest a potential of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia However, further analysis also revealed that reporting having the case, but a new study by research- or not they inherited the Y chromosome. role of both hyperglycemia and hyper- result in damage to sensory neurons that had obesity at age 20 was linked to an above threefold risk of ers from the University of California, The researchers found that all the mice insulinism on migraine occurrence,” produce this peptide.” heart failure. Reporting having had obesity at age 40 was tied San Francisco (UCSF) may now offer with the XX chromosomal pairing tended Fagherazzi said. “Because plasma glucose It’s also possible that a migraine trigger to a twofold risk. an explanation. to survive longer than those with XY chro- concentration rises with time up to type could be nutritional, hormonal, or met- These risks were in comparison to those who reported having Their findings, which feature in the mosomes, regardless of whether they had 2 diabetes occurrence, the prevalence of abolic in some people, Fagherazzi and BMIs in the normal range at those two ages. journal Aging Cell and are available to read ovaries or testes. migraine symptoms may decrease. Con- co-authors noted. Doctors should ask about weight history online, reveal that the XX chromosomal However, when it came to enjoying a sequently, tracking the evolution -- and In this study, Fagherazzi and his group The team notes that self-reporting can be subject to bias pairing comprises genetic material that can truly prolonged lifespan, only the mice who especially the decrease -- of migraine analyzed data from the E3N-EPIC cohort, from imperfect memory, but they suggest that most older adults extend lifespan, but only in the presence had both XX chromosomes and ovaries frequency in migraineurs at high risk a French prospective study of women have a reasonable ability to recall how much they weighed of corresponding female hormones, which experienced extended life. This implies of diabetes, such as obese individuals, born between 1925 and 1950 who are when they were younger. the ovaries secrete. that both genetic makeup and hormonal irrespective of age, could be the sign of insured by a health insurance plan that They propose that just asking about weight history can be a “We’ve long wondered what causes profile played an important role in ensur- an emerging increased blood glucose covers mostly teachers. help. And yet, while it is an easy thing to incorporate into rou- female longevity,” says senior author Dr. ing longevity. levels, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes,” In this study, participants completed tine clinical assessments, most doctors don’t ask the question. Dena Dubal, an associate professor of “This suggests that the hormones pro- he told MedPage Today. self-administered biennial questionnaires Dr. Michos calls for further research on how best to include neurology at UCSF. duced by female gonads increase lifespan “The linear decrease of migraine prev- since 1990, and the health insurance plan self-reported weight history in clinical practice and electronic “One can imagine nature has driven in mice with two X chromosomes, either alence long before and the plateau long provided information about all outpatient health records. females to evolve this way. When you’re by influencing how the mouse develops or after type 2 diabetes diagnosis is novel,” reimbursements for health expenditures “Our findings emphasize the importance of lifelong main- living longer, you can really ensure the by activating certain biological pathways he added. “The association deserves to since 2004, including dosages and dates tenance of a healthy weight, as greater cumulative weight from well-being of your offspring and maybe during their lives,” explains Dr. Dubal. be studied in other populations, and in of drug purchases. young adulthood is more risky to heart health.” even their offspring.” (source: medical news today) men, as well.” (source: MedPage 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 20, 2018

Iran, UNWTO call for Shab-e Yalda: A golden increased cooperation opportunity to come together

1 Sharing traditions and customs is first forty days of winter that are often the a way to forge lasting connections and to coldest and toughest to bear. foster better mutual understanding in our In the ancient Iranian calendar, winter interconnected world. is divided into two parts, Chelleh Bozorg A peek into the bustling streets, grocery (literary meaning the bigger forty) from and confectionery stores show that people 22nd of December to 30th of January and from all walks of life are preparing in advance Chelleh Koochak (the smaller forty), which to have fun. starts from 30th January to 10th of March. People on Yalda Night are usually served Narratives say that Yalda Night marks the with fresh fruits and colorful Ajil (a mixture of birth of winter and the eventual triumph of dry fruits, seeds and nuts) in floral bowls. To the sun as the days grow longer. The word Iranians, fruits are reminders of abundance Yalda, meaning birth, was imported from in summer. Watermelon and pomegranates, Syriac into the Persian language by the Syriac as symbols of bounty, are the traditional fresh Christians. fruits of this night. It is believed that eating Though it is not even an official holiday, TOURISM TEHRAN – United Nations World Tourism watermelon before the arrival of winter can Yalda still stands head and shoulders above deskOrganization Secretary-General Zurab Polo- immunize the body against illness. some other ancient traditions. By the way, likashvili and Iran’s Ambassador to Spain Hassan Qashqavi have Following a hot dinner, many people television and radio programs fully cater to called for increased cooperation on tourism. often recite poetry, narrate stories, chant, it by airing special programs. The officials explored ways for deepening mutual assistance play musical instruments or just chat cozily The story of Yalda may be interpreted in a Tuesday meeting in Madrid, IRNA reported. until midnight or so. as a tale of courage and effort during dark- The Iranian envoy also elaborated on Tehran’s strategic pol- The feast is also famous as “Shab-e- ness, a triumph of light and human warmth icies in the field of tourism as he pointed to existing facilities for Chelleh”, literally meaning the night of the that ultimately causes the spring to bloom simplification in the visa regulations. forty. In fact, “Shab-e-Chelleh” refers to the in hearts. Active presence of Iranian companies in the FITUR tourism trade fair and holding various cultural exhibits were among ex- Iran to host intl. conferences on 10% slump in hotels occupancy amples the Iranian official set to highlight tourism ties between Iran and Spain. health tourism rate in Iran Pololikashvili, for his part, said the UN body is ready for contributing to development of the industry. He hailed Iran’s tourism attractions as well. Earlier this month, Pololikashvili held a meeting with Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Di- rector Ali-Asghar Mounesan, discussing the issue of establishing a handicrafts academy. In November, Pololikashvili paid a visit to Iran. He made a keynote speech at the 40th UNWTO Affiliate Members Plenary Session held in the city of Hamedan.

Historic city of Mardin enjoys tourism revival

With its historic architecture, characteristic city landscape, diverse cuisine and a culture of coexistence of Muslims and Christians, TOURISM TEHRAN – Iran will in the northwestern city of Ardebil, after a TOURISM TEHRAN – Average last year.” Mardin has become one of the fabulous tourist destinations in deskplay host to two inter- gap of five years, the report added. deskoccupancy rate of Irani- “In the previous year, we experienced Turkey, especially after calm that has replaced conflict between national conferences on health tourism in Back in May, the official announced that an hotels has tumbled by around ten percent the same year-on-year decline as well,” the Turkish security forces and the PKK following the collapse of 2019, a senior official with the Ministry Iran has capacity to annually earn $7 billion since the beginning of the current Iranian he added. a peace process in the summer of 2015. Around 3 million tourists of Health said on Tuesday. in medical and health tourism, noting “the calendar year (March 21) in comparison Some 2 million Iraqi nationals visited visited the city in the last 11 months of this year, a considerable “The 5th Conference on Health Tourism sector now brings in only one-seventh or to the same period last year, head of Iran Iran during the first seven months of the hike in the numbers. in Islamic Countries” and “the 2nd Con- even lesser of the sum.” Hotel Association has said. year, turning the country into Iran’s largest A candidate awaiting registry as a UNESCO World Heritage ference and Exhibition of Health Tourism Lack of sufficient direct flights to some “Though the number of Iraqi passengers source of tourists, said CHHTO deputy site, Mardin is located in Turkey’s ancient southeast overlooking for Economic Cooperation Organization countries, somewhat booked-up hotels in to Iran has increased but the matter is director Vali Teymouri earlier this month. Syria and Mesopotamia’s plains. It has found a place for itself (ECO) countries” will be held in the country, high seasons are amongst other issues that that they [usually] prefer private lodging Iran played host to over 4.7 million among the most visited tourist sites in the country, as new hotels said Mohammad Jahangiri who presides should be addressed, the official explained. houses to hotels,” Jamshid Hamzezadeh travelers during the 7-month period, he open and replace the ones once closed down because of a decline over the International Healthcare Associ- Tens of hospitals have so far been told ISNA. Tourism statistics that the Cul- added. in the number of visitors. Despite the winter season, the streets ation, Mehr reported. Started in 2010, the granted special licenses and are running tural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism People from Iraq, Republic of Azer- of Mardin are full of tourists, both domestic and international. northeastern city of Mashhad hosted the international patient departments across Organization provides are very general baijan, Afghanistan, Turkey and Pakistan Numbers speak for itself. In 2016, the number of tourists was four previous editions of the Conference on the country. Wallet-friendly and quality and they do not include stays in hotels, constituted the highest travelers to Iran 90,000, of whom 5,000 were foreign visitors, while the figures Health Tourism in Islamic Countries. The treatment services are what Iran is globally Hamzezadeh explained. respectively that visited the country for rose to one million, including day-trippers, in 2017. This year, conference is mainly aimed at addressing famous for when it comes to medical travels. “Therefore, we cannot talk about ap- medical, pilgrimage and cultural heritage the number reached 3 million. the challenges, upper-level strategies and The 2019 Travel Risk Map, which shows proving or denying the tourism statistics of purposes, Teymouri explained. (Source: Hurriyet Daily News) development plans for prioritizing health the risk level around the world, puts Iran the country but surveys and reports from Experts say U.S.-led sanctions against tourism among the Islamic countries. among countries with “insignificant risk”, hotels show 10 percent decrease in occu- Iran along with Dramatic changes in the The second edition of health tourism a category where the UK, Denmark, Swit- pancy rates from beginning of the year value of rial [the Iranian currency] have had ROUND THE GLOBE conference by ECO countries will be held zerland, Norway, and Finland are placed in. up to now compared to the same period a significant impact on the tourism sector. Antique town of Tyre Works to relocate historical mosque in Hasankeyf continue Works to relocate the last section of the 610-year-old Eyyubi “Works are continuing for the artifacts not to be damaged tation of the other historical artifacts and the protection of Located on the southern coast of Lebanon, 83 km south of Mosque (or K?zlar Mosque) in southeastern Turkey to its due to the [flood] waters. The ancient artifacts will come the immobile ones in their place. , the antique town of Tyre was the great Phoenician city new site have started. together in the [Hasankeyf] Culture Park near the new res- The transportation process has already been completed that reigned over the seas and founded prosperous colonies The relocation is taking place to prevent the historical idential area,” said Hasankeyf Mayor Abdulvahap Kusen. for a number of artifacts including Zeynel Bey Shrine, ?mam such as Cadiz and Carthage and according to legend, was the mosque from flooding when a new dam opens in the Hasan- The ancient town of Hasankeyf will soon be submerged Abdullah Zaviye (a small Islamic monastery), Artuklu Bath, place of the discovery of purple pigment. keyf district of the Batman province. by the floodwaters of Turkey’s fourth biggest dam. and Orta Kap?. From the 5th century BC, when Herodotus of Halicar- As part of the relocation works, some buildings located Accordingly, authorities are moving the town’s historical Hasankeyf, 32 kilometers southeast of the provincial nassus visited Tyre, it was built for the most part on an on the road through which the last section of the mosque, artifacts. Critics opposing the dam’s construction, however, capital Batman, was declared a conservation area in 1981. island reportedly impregnable, considered one of the old- weighing 2,500 tons, will be transported have been demolished. have said the dam will destroy a history spanning centuries. There are nearly 6,000 caves around the town that contain est metropolises of the world, and according to tradition The other three parts of the ancient mosque were previ- Following a two-kilometer transportation of the 650-year- the remnants of Christian and Muslim worship, as well as founded in 2750 BC. ously transported to the new Hasankeyf Culture Park above old Zeynel Bey Shrine to the Hasankeyf New Cultural Park a Byzantine fortress. the water line. Field in 2017, works have been continuing for the transpor- (Source: Hurriyet Daily News) Five strategies for stress-free travel By Geoffrey Morrison That gives you enough time to get the feel and decide if you want to stay, or go somewhere else. Everyone has their own Keep these tips in mind for your next trip and you’ll travel best pace, but if you’re changing accommodations every more smoothly, spend more time enjoying your destination, other day, you’re going to be exhausted. and maybe even relax a little more. Keep your phone working I travel a lot. I spend months every year living and working Turn off your work email and notifications, but keep around the world. I’ve also fine-tuned my process so that I your internet access. Google Maps, Google Translate, travel feel as comfortable on the road as I do at home. booking sites, plus messenger apps to keep in touch with But it wasn’t always this way. Like most people, I used people at home will all be at your fingertips. to take once-a-year vacations, with a massive suitcase and If you have Sprint, T-Mobile, or Google Fi, your phone Crumbling archaeological ruins in the ancient city of Tyre, a rigid itinerary, hopping from hotel to hotel stressed about will probably work outside the US much as it does at home. Lebanon train connections and tour reservations. AT&T and Verizon may not, and can be expensive to use Tyre succumbed to the attack of Alexander of Macedonia It was all unnecessary stress on the two weeks a year I outside the US. For tips to make the transition seam- who had blocked the straits by a dike. First a Greek city, and was supposed to be relaxing. So while working for years as less, check out this guide to using your phone overseas then a Roman city were constructed on this site, which is a digital nomad, I’ve figured out a few ways to minimize that at Wirecutter. now a promontory. stress. Here are a few of them. Install the right apps Tyre was directly associated with several stages in the his- Pack less I only have a handful of what I would call “travel” apps tory of humanity, including the production of purple pigment I’ve spent 4 and a half months away from home with a that I can’t do without. Google Maps and Translate are ob- reserved for royalty and nobility, the construction in Jerusalem backpack barely larger than a carry-on suitcase. I’ve met men vious ones. Both also largely work offline, if you download of the Temple of Solomon, thanks to the material and architect and women that pack far less (most of my luggage bulk is making your next stop. certain content ahead of time. sent by the King Hiram of Tyre; and the exploration of the work related). If you’re gone for more than a week, budget a Sure, keep a list of things you want to do, but allow for Booking apps like Booking, Orbitz, Hostelworld, and so seas by hardy navigators who founded prosperous trading few hours to do laundry, or a few dollars to pay for a laundry lots of flexibility. You’re not going to see everything, so enjoy on are handy too. One very useful service is Rome2Rio. The centers as far away as the western Mediterranean, that ulti- service. Being more mobile is wonderfully freeing. If you’re what you can and don’t rush. Less planning allows you to app can help you get virtually anywhere from anywhere, by mately assured a quasi-monopoly of the important maritime not sure what to leave behind, we have some suggestions. stay longer in spots you like, and leave early from places whatever means available: Bus, ferry, train or airplane. It commerce for the Phoenician city. The historic role of Tyre Plan less you don’t. offers a far more complete look at available travel options declined at the end of the period of the Crusades. This is another seemingly counterintuitive tip, but if you Slow down and their costs than even Google Maps. When you’re trying The site of the town comprises important archaeological plan less you’ll be less stressed. Sure, having a per-second This is a hard one. It may come across preachy and I’m to get from Thessaloniki to Dubrovnik or from Hakodate to vestiges such as baths, a residential quarter and a cathedral. itinerary may seem like a gift for your future vacation self, sorry, but cramming 15 cities into 14 days is going to make Nagano, it’s invaluable. (Source: UNESCO) but once there you’re going to feel rushed and anxious about you miserable. I try to spend at least three days in each place. (Source: The New York Times) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 20, 2018 SCIENCE 11

Researchers say greener days Planets that contain oxygen don’t necessarily support life

A team of scientists from John Hopkins University simulated are ahead for carbon fuels the atmospheres of different planets outside of the solar system. They report that they have successfully created both organic For decades, scientists have searched for propanol. The researchers theorized that if compounds and oxygen inside the lab, but no life. effective ways to remove excess carbon active sites in copper were actually product- To create a simulation of a planetary atmosphere, the team dioxide emissions from the air, and recycle specific, they could trace the chemicals’ used Planetary Haze (or PHAZER) chamber to test nine different them into products such as renewable fuels. origins through carbon isotopes, “much gas mixtures that are consistent with predictions for types of But the process of converting carbon dioxide like a passport with stamps telling us what exoplanets that are most common within the Milky Way Galaxy. into useful chemicals is tedious, expensive, countries they visited,” Ager said. The researchers then exposed these mixtures to temperatures and wasteful and thus not economically or “When we thought of the experiment, ranging from about 80 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. environmentally viable. we thought that this is such an unobvious After three days, the research team measured and identified Now a discovery by researchers at the U.S. idea, that it would be crazy to try it,” Ager the resulting gasses and found multiple scenarios where oxygen Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley said. “But we couldn’t let it go, because we and organic molecules that could build sugars and amino acids. National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and also thought it would work, as our previous “Our experiments produced oxygen and organic molecules Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis research with isotopes had enabled us to that could serve as the building blocks of life in the lab, proving (JCAP) shows that recycling carbon dioxide discover new reaction pathways.” that the presence of both doesn’t definitively indicate life,” stated into valuable chemicals and fuels can be A series of experiments Chao He, an assistant research scientist and the first author of economical and efficient — all through a So for the next few months, Lum and the study. “Researchers need to more carefully consider how single copper catalyst. Ager ran a series of experiments using two these molecules are produced.” When you take a piece of copper metal, isotopes of carbon, carbon-12 and carbon-13, Oxygen on Earth is abundant. Oxygen makes up 20 percent it may feel smooth to the touch, but at the as “passport stamps.” of the atmosphere and is considered to be one of the most robust microscopic level, the surface is actually According to their methodology, the biosignature gases on the planet. bumpy — and these bumps are what scientists researchers reasoned that the ratio of However, the human race can thank plants and cyanobacteria call “active sites,” said Joel Ager, a researcher carbon-13 versus carbon-12 found in a for Earth’s oxygen-rich atmosphere. Without biology, there will at JCAP who led the study. Ager is a staff product would determine from which active be no oxygen. scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Materials Sciences sites the chemical product originated. Little is understood about how different energy sources Division and an adjunct professor in the before arriving at your final destination — want from the desirable products, because The researchers’ new methodology — initiate chemical reactions and how chemical reactions can create Department of Materials Science and the chemical end-product. that’s expensive and environmentally what Ager describes as “straightforward biosignatures — like oxygen — in other planets. He said that, Engineering at UC Berkeley. The “goal of ‘green’ or sustainable undesirable. chemistry with an environmental and while similar studies have been conducted in the past, theirs is Turning carbon into products chemistry is getting the product that you Previous studies had shown that economic twist” — is the beginning of what the first that was conducted in the lab. Ever since the 1980s, when copper’s want during chemical synthesis,” said Ager. “oxidized” or rusted copper is an excellent they hope could be a new beginning for green A separate study also refuted the axiom that oxygen in the talent for converting carbon into various “You don’t want to separate things you don’t catalyst for making ethanol, ethylene, and chemical manufacturing, where a solar cell atmosphere is a definitive sign of alien life. The researchers argued useful products was discovered, it was always could feed electrons to specific active sites that an oxygen-rich atmosphere might have been caused by red assumed that its active sites weren’t product- According to their methodology, the within a copper catalyst to optimize the dwarfs, which are very common within the Milky Way Galaxy, hot specific — in other words, you could use production of ethanol fuels. enough to vaporize a nearby planet, with the hydrogen escaping copper as a catalyst for making ethanol, researchers reasoned that the ratio of “Perhaps one day this technology could into space. ethylene, propanol, or some other carbon- carbon-13 versus carbon-12 found in a make it possible to have something like an (Source: techtimes.com) based chemical, but you would have to go oil refinery, but powered by the sun, taking through a lot of steps to separate unwanted, product would determine from which active carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and residual chemicals formed during the sites the chemical product originated. creating a stream of useful products,” he said. intermediate stages of a chemical reaction (Source: tunisiesoir.com) Salmon may lose the ability to smell danger as carbon Team finds gender separation affects sense of smell emissions rise A University of Wyoming researcher and his ceptors. As a result, they may perceive odors Biology at Harvard University; and Catherine known to differ substantially in their chemical team have discovered that separating male differently.” Dulac, the Higgins Professor of Molecular compositions between males and females. The ability to smell is critical for salmon. They depend on scent and female mice, over time, changes the way High-quality research and Cellular Biology and department chair “Human males and females smell differ- to avoid predators, sniff out prey and find their way home at they smell. The new study, titled “Sex Separation Induces at Harvard University, and a scientist at the ent, too. Men give off odors from testosterone the end of their lives when they return to the streams where The study investigates how the olfactory Differences in the Olfactory Sensory Receptor Howard Hughes Medical Institute, were con- metabolites, for example,” Santoro explains. they hatched to spawn and die. sensory receptors in mice change as a function Repertoires of Male and Female Mice,” was tributing authors. “There are genetic differences in being able to New research from the University of Washington and NOAA of exposure to odors emitted from members published Dec. 4 in Nature Communications, an Santoro is the paper’s corresponding au- detect this. Some people would say the smell is Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center shows this pow- of the opposite sex, says Stephen Santoro, an open access journal that publishes high-quality thor. He began this research as a postdoctoral good, while others find it unpleasant or cannot erful sense of smell might be in trouble as carbon emissions assistant professor in the Department of Zo- research from all areas of the natural sciences. researcher in Dulac’s lab at Harvard before detect it at all. These differences in perception continue to be absorbed by our ocean. Specifically, higher levels ology and Physiology. Papers published by the journal represent im- bringing his work to UW. are related to genetic differences in people’s of carbon dioxide, or CO2, in the water can affect the ways in The “idea is that our experiences change our portant advances of significance to specialists The “olfactory system of mice and humans receptors. Some researchers speculate that which coho salmon process and respond to smells. sensory system in a way that is semipermanent. within each field. is very similar,” Santoro says. “Mice are a very these kinds of molecules might function as “Salmon famously use their nose for so many important This is probably true in humans as much as Carl van der Linden, a graduate student good model to understand how neural systems pheromones in humans.” aspects of their life, from navigation and finding food to de- mice,” Santoro says. “We found that mice that from Santa Ynez, Calif., in the UW Neurosci- work, in general. Unlike most neurons in the mammalian nerv- tecting predators and reproducing. So it was important for us are housed with the opposite sex all of the ence Program, was the paper’s lead author. Volatile and non-volatile chemicals ous system, olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) to know if salmon would be impacted by future carbon dioxide time have olfactory sensory receptors that Pooja Gupta, a postdoctoral researcher in the Sensory activity plays pivotal roles in the are continually born and replaced throughout conditions in the marine environment,” said lead author Chase are similar in composition because they are Department of Zoology and Physiology and development of the nervous system. Mouse life, a process that normally replaces damaged Williams, a postdoctoral researcher in Evan Gallagher’s lab smelling similar smells. On the other hand, who works in Santoro’s lab, was a contributing odors are a complex mixture of volatile and neurons in humans when we have a cold or use at the UW Department of Environmental and Occupational mice that were housed separately by sex have author. Susanne Jakob, a preceptor in the non-volatile chemicals derived from skin secre- a zinc nasal spray, Santoro says. Health Sciences. sex-specific differences in their olfactory re- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative tions, urine, tears, saliva and feces, which are (Source: phys.org) The study also takes a more comprehensive approach than earlier work with marine fish by looking at where in the senso- ry-neural system the ability to smell erodes for fish, and how Fossils suggest flowers originated 50 million years earlier than thought that loss of smell changes their behavior. The discovery in China of fossil specimens of a flower called to have a cup-form receptacle and ovarian roof that together “Our studies and research from other groups have shown Nanjinganthus from the Early Jurassic shakes up widely accepted enclose the ovules/seeds. This was a crucial discovery, because that exposure to pollutants can also interfere with sense of theories of plant evolution. Scientists suggest flowers bloomed the presence of this feature confirmed the flower’s status as an smell for salmon,” said Gallagher, senior co-author and a UW in the Early Jurassic, more than 174 million years ago, according angiosperm. professor of toxicology. “Now, salmon are potentially facing a one-two punch from exposure to pollutants and the added to new research in the open-access journal eLife. Structural features burden of rising CO2. These have implications for the long-term Before now, angiosperms (flowering plants) were thought to Although there have been reports of angiosperms from the survival of our salmon.” have a history of no more than 130 million years. The discovery Middle-Late Jurassic epochs in northeastern China, there are The research team wanted to test how juvenile coho salmon of the novel flower species, which the study authors named structural features of Nanjinganthus that distinguish it from these that normally depend on their sense of smell to alert them Nanjinganthus dendrostyla, throws widely accepted theories other specimens and suggest that it is a new genus of angiosperms. to predators and other dangers display a fear response with of plant evolution into question, by suggesting that they existed Having made this discovery, the team now wants to understand increasing carbon dioxide. around 50 million years earlier. Nanjinganthus also has a variety whether angiosperms are either monophyletic -- which would (Source: eurekalert.org) of ‘unexpected’ characteristics according to almost all of these and Paleontology, China. “Studying fossil flowers, especially mean Nanjinganthus represents a stem group giving rise to theories. those from earlier geologic periods, is the only reliable way to all later species -- or polyphyletic, whereby Nanjinganthus Angiosperms are an important member of the plant kingdom, get an answer to these questions.” represents an evolutionary dead end and has little to do with and their origin has been the topic of long-standing debate among The team studied 264 specimens of 198 individual flowers many later species. evolutionary biologists. Many previously thought angiosperms preserved on 34 rock slabs from the South Xiangshan Formation The “origin of angiosperms has long been an academic Almost 100 dinosaur could be no more than 130 million years old. However, molecular -- an outcrop of rocks in the Nanjing region of China renowned for ‘headache’ for many botanists,” concludes senior author Xin footprints discovered after clocks have indicated that they must be older than this. bearing fossils from the Early Jurassic epoch. The abundance of Wang, Research Professor at the Nanjing Institute of Geology Studying fossil flowers fossil samples used in the study allowed the researchers to dissect and Paleontology. “Our discovery has moved the botany field storms: new study “Researchers were not certain where and how flowers came some of them and study them with sophisticated microscopy, forward and will allow a better understanding of angiosperms, into existence because it seems that many flowers just popped up providing high-resolution pictures of the flowers from different which in turn will enhance our ability to efficiently use and look Scientists have discovered a vast haul of dinosaur footprints in the Cretaceous from nowhere,” explains lead author Qiang Fu, angles and magnifications. after our planet’s plant-based resources.” lurking in the cliffs of East Sussex in the UK Dating back to the Associate Research Professor at the Nanjing Institute of Geology In the current study, the reconstructed flower was found (Source: Science Daily) Lower Cretaceous epoch, researchers think the prints were squashed into the ground between 145 and 100 million years ago. Some 85 footprints point to an array of different dinosaurs that made impressions on the landscape beyond the shape of Mines, Metal Ores Account for One-Fourth of Capital Market: IMIDRO Chief their feet. Scientists think the massive creatures may even have Khodadad Gharibpour the New Chief Execu- duction ceremony held in the presence of cement share at the capital market.” 70,000 billion tomans worth of stock belongs altered the path of rivers with their heavy tracks. tive of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Reza Although basic metals has15 percent share to the metal ores and basic metals, the issue The footprints — which range from less than an inch to Development and Renovation Organization Rahmani, head of Parliament Mines and in stock market, it [basic metals] has allo- of which shows the significant status of IM- more than 23 inches across — belong to dinosaurs including (IMIDRO) said that mines and metals account Mineral Committee and also head of Mines cated 23 percent share of dividend to itself, IDRO in economy as a leading organization Iguanodon, Ankylosaurus, probable sauropods and theropods. for one-fourth share of capital market, the Engineering Council and said, “statistics show accounting for eight percent more than their which has the developing and facilitating “As well as the large abundance and diversity of these prints, Public Relations Dept. of IMIDRO reported. that half value of the stock market belongs to market share. role, he added. we also see absolutely incredible detail,” University of Cam- One-Fourth of capital market value of the two groups of basic metals and metallic ores.” Of total 45,000 billion tomans profit of Creating infrastructures for the develop- bridge researcher and study author Anthony Shillito said in a country belongs to the basic metal ores, the He reiterated, “the updated statistics show the capital market, 16,000 billion tomans ment of mining and mines sector is one of statement. “You can clearly see the texture of the skin and scales, issue of which signifies the leading role of that half of value of stock market, valued at of which belongs to the basic metals. Also, the main tasks of IMIDRO, he said, adding, as well as four-toed claw marks, which are extremely rare.” IMIDRO in providing development terms 627,000 billion tomans, belongs to two groups 33 percent of profit is allocated to the metal “cooperating with private sector and interacting Several harsh winters, which saw storms batter cliffs near the and conditions to a great extent. of metal and basic metal ores as well as petro- ore sector. with the activists of this sector is one of the town of Hastings, slowly revealed the ancient tracks. Scientists He made the above remark in his intro- chemical sector, so that this rate is except the Generally speaking, between 60,000 and main duties of this development organization.” found the large collection of prints between 2014 and 2018, alongside fossilized plants and invertebrates. The “patchy” distribution of the prints may indicate “gre- A Glance at Refah Kargaran Bank’s Active Attendance in Various Social Fields garious behavior” — or in other words, social living — among the dinosaurs, the authors wrote. Art, Courtesy, Soundness and Family under Refah Kargaran Bank’s Umbrella of Support Ancient tracks give scientists a glimpse into the communities Refah Kargaran Bank is Iran’s oldest social bank and has shrine of Imam Reza, and Iranian-Islamic art used in its archi- of Switzerland, the achievements and scientific discoveries of of dinosaurs that lived in particular places at particular times. supported the publishing of two fine literary works namely tecture and the role of literary devices in Iranian-Islamic art Professor Patrick Ringinburg about Iranian-Islamic culture “You can get some idea about which dinosaurs made them “Mashhad Holy Shrine” and “The Role of Literary Devices in published by the financial support of Refah Bank. and civilization was described for university students. from the shape of the footprints — comparing them with what Iranian-Islamic Art” with the aim of an active participation in In order to introduce Iranian –Islamic culture and civiliza- The principals of Refah Kargaran Bank had already unveiled we know about dinosaur feet from other fossils lets you identify the field of social responsibilities and performing the deeds of tion to the world and register the related events at universities, these fine works in the holy shrine of Imam Reza. However, the important similarities,” Shillito explained. “When you also a good citizen company. Refah Kargaran Bank held book-introducing and donating in their unveiling ceremony in Europe, besides introducing look at footprints from other locations you can start to piece As the public relations of the bank reports, these two pieces of tours around Europe which experienced a passionate welcome them in EPFL University and Popular University of Switzer- together which species were the key players,” he added. work of literature are the result of more than 7 years of research by the readers. land, the two books were dedicated to the Iranian Embassy in The footprints reveal these dinos likely had an impact on by Professor Patrick Ringinburg, a famous Swiss philosopher In the introduction tour of the book in , Nyon Switzerland and Iran’s permanent representative in the United their environment, trampling new channels from rivers, just who is interested in Oriental studies, which are about the holy and Geneva and in EPFL University and in Popular University Nations Organization. like hippopotamuses do today. (Source: Newsweek) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY DECEMBER 20, 2018

Brain science center to open Annual dusty days up day-and-a-half in Tehran’s Book Garden ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — A center for brain science in Khuzestan over 3 decades deskfor students, aiming to promote scientific ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — The number 80.6 millimeters of rain since the beginning study of the brain, will be opened in Book Garden, northern desk Tehran, in the month of Bahman (January 21-February of dusty days in southern of autumn which almost quadruples last 19), IRNA reported on Tuesday. province of Khuzestan have increased by year’s precipitation. Secretary for Cognitive Sciences Technologies Council day-and-a-half over a 30-year period per Over the same period the province of Kamal Kharrazi explained that the project to set up the annum on average, the provincial mete- Khuzestan received 233.5 millimeters of center requires 12 billion rials (nearly $285,000). orological organization director has said. rain while last year’s precipitations in the The number of dusty days is different area amounted to 41.9 millimeters. in different seasons, but on average over Sabzehzari also explained that if it doesn’t a 30-year period sand and dust storms rain for a month, due to the special char- hit the area 63 days annually, IRNA news acteristics of the soil and high evaporation agency quoted Mohammad Sabzehzari as rate in the rea the chance of sand and dust saying on Wednesday. storms increase once again. However, some years the number of Elsewhere in his remarks he highlight- dusty days surged to 115 days over a year, ed that in fighting sand and dust storms he regretted. forecasting them in advance is of great The years 1386 (March 2007-March importance. 2008) to 1388 (March 2009-March 2010) Last year a national center for fight- were among the years with highest incidence ing sand and dust storms was set up in of sand and dust storms, Sabzehzari added. Khuzestan province and is working in The main reason behind the sand and association with Barcelona Dust Forecast dust storms during the aforesaid years Center, he stated. were dust originated from hotspots in Now we can at most forecast sand and Iraq and also low precipitations which dust storms three days before the strike, The budget is allocated by the Vice presidency for Sci- had given rise to crippling sand and dust he concluded. ence and Technology, Tehran Municipality as well as the in the region, he explained. This year with increased rainfalls in the Asian and Pacific Centre for the De- Cognitive Sciences Technologies Council, he said. He went on to say that sand and dust province of Khuzestan sand and dust velopment of Disaster Information Man- Tehran Municipality has also allocated the space for storms have adverse effects on the peo- agement (APDIM) was opened in Tehran the center in the Book Garden, Kharrazi added. ple’s lives and health and the lower the storms only struck the areas one or twice on Wednesday. Students can actually learn the science of brain by seeing precipitations are the more the sand and during the first month of autumn According to the head of the international the brain of the human beings and even touching brain dust storms occur. affairs at the Department of Environment tissues at the center, he noted. “Nonetheless, this year with increased strong and turbulent winds blowing over let the wind to blow the loose soil or sand Naser Moqaddasi, APDIM as a regional He went on to say that establishing such centers would rainfalls in the province of Khuzestan sand loose soil or sand and sweeping up large and hence decrease the chances of a sand institution of the United Nations Economic play a key role in teaching students science as books cannot and dust storms only struck the areas one quantities of sand or dust particles from and dust storm, he said. and Social Commission for Asia and the be much effective in this regard. or twice during the first month of autumn.” the ground, clouding the air and reducing According to data released on Saturday Pacific (UNESCAP) can play a significant Saeed Ohadi, head of cultural and art organization of A sandstorm or duststorm is a meteor- the visibility drastically. by the National Drought Warning and Mon- role in reducing the risks of natural disasters, Tehran Municipality, for his part, said that the center ological phenomenon usually caused by But once rain falls on the soil it won’t itoring Center the whole country received including sand and dust storms. is comprising 5 main halls introducing the structure of the brain, molecular cell biology of brain, brain diseases, Bikes allowed to be carried on subway Water ambulances to join medical future brains and cognitive sciences. Ohadi further highlighted that the center would be “first trains in Tehran emergency fleet of its kind in the Middle East” putting on display different ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Folding SOCIETY TEHRAN — Five water parts of the brains for visitors of various age groups. deskbikes can be taken on deskambulances will be add- trains at the southern section of Tehran’s ed to the current medical emergency fleet subway during off-peak hours at 9:30 am to in provinces neighboring the Persian Gulf, LEARN ENGLISH 3:00 pm on weekdays, director of Tehran southern coast of the country, head of Iran’s Urban and Suburban Railway Operations Emergency Medical Services Organization Movie Review Company announced. Pir Hossein Koulivand, said on Wednesday. Peak hours for subways are from 6:30 Since air emergency fleet have been de- A: Welcome back movie lovers to another “Premier Movie am till 9:30 am and between 4 pm and veloped, the Organization is looking forward Review”. My name is Richard Clarke and I am joined today by 7 pm on weekdays. There are no peak to develop the marine medical fleet, he said, hours on weekends. allowed in metro as long as they can be adding that in recent years, there were only Bushehr, Khuzestan and Hormozgan to the very erudite David Watson. Launching the scheme, cyclists will folded and stored in luggage racks, while five helicopters in service of the Organization, provide medical services to the surrounding B: Thank you, Dick. Today we are going to talk about the movie also able to use the subway, while ordinary ordinary bikes can enter the trains only on which have already added to 40. islands, Koulivand explained. “Lion King”. Tell me Dave, what is your impression of this film? bikes are only allowed to enter wagons weekends and holidays, he stated. The first two water ambulances launched He lamented that there is a significant lack A: Well, I think this film is simply afable , depicting man’s marked with labels on the train, IRNA Riding bikes is prohibited on the in the country are currently operating in of forces in the country’s Emergency Medical eternal greed for power, and in my opinion, it’s a very quoted Farnoush Nobakht as saying on subway stations and suburban trains, the province of Hormozgan, and five more Services Organization, and called on the re- fine film. Even despite the accusations of plagiarism Wednesday. as well as using elevators and escalators marine ambulances are being purchased, sponsible bodies to take serious consideration traditional folk tales from other countries. The musical score During non-peak hours, bikes are while riding, he added. which will be situated in provinces of and urgent measures in this regard. was amazing, the animation was very well done, and the story was simply enchanting. B: I think otherwise. Even though the animation was technically London’s black cabs ‘up to thirty times as toxic as personal cars of same age’, research reveals strong, and as you say, the score and songs performed by Elton Some of the most common models of London’s world-famous The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s John were great, the film lacks a certain originality; it lacked black cabs are emitting up to 30 times as much pollution as air is so toxic it damages children’s lung growth, causes heart. And I would dare to say, it was too predictable. personal cars the same age, research has found. thousands of premature deaths and increases the risk of A: Predictable! How! Come on, It’s a G-rated movie! It’s for the Measurements of nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter asthma and dementia. kids! It’s not a thriller! and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from over 100,000 “We know that dirty vehicles are responsible for half B: Well, that’s just it. It did have some very dramatic and intense vehicles in London have revealed the “disproportionate of our NOx air pollution – and this new data from True scenes. For example, when Mufasa dies, or the dark, grim impact of black cabs on London’s streets”, The Real Urban and ICCT reveals the stark health impact of polluting portrayal of Scar. Even so, the film is linear. Mufasa dies, Emissions (True) initiative report said. diesel taxis on our streets.” Simba runs away thinking it’s his fault. Falls in love and returns Some newer models of the black cabs were found to emit He added: “We all need to play a part in cleaning up our to retake what is rightfully his. It’s just too cliché. even more pollution than older models. toxic air and while I am encouraged that almost 1,000 taxi A: How can it be cliché? It’s a fable! It’s telling a time-honored The Chinese-owned London Electric Vehicle Company, drivers have switched to cleaner electric taxis, this damning story! The movie makes a point of how the hunger for power formerly known as the London Taxi Company, based near report really highlights why we need to accelerate their uptake.” leads to corruption, and teaches children the value of respect, Coventry, was the maker of the TX4 Euro 5 model which “The issue of dirty air is seen in cities across Europe, A spokesperson for the London EV Company (LEVC), which was found to produce at least 50 per cent more NOx than particularly as a result of a policy focus on diesel vehicles no longer makes the Euro 5 diesel vehicles and manufactures life and love. either of the company’s earlier Euro 3 or Euro 4 models. over petrol.” London’s first electrified black cab told The Independent it B: You have always been so soft, Dave! This means the average NOx emissions from black cabs She added: “Cities like London have been working to has invested £500m “to achieve the best-possible emission A: Open your heart Dick. Don’t shut us out. have risen, per kilo of fuel used, over the past five years. improve air quality for years, with limited success as they standards in developing the latest generation of London taxis. B: Anyway... That’s all for today folks! Join us next time as we The research shows Euro 5 models along with older models haven’t had the data to address the real emissions on the “Recognizing the growing challenge of inner-city con- talk about a movie; How to lose a guy in 10 days; I’m sure you’ll are responsible for about 60 per cent of greater London’s streets. The whole point of supporting this remote sensing gestion and pollution, we have been the industry leaders in love that one Dave! NOx emissions from passenger cars. work, is that it brings information and data to the policy developing ultra-low emission electrified taxis, symbolized Key vocabulary Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel cars are on average produc- arena which is not currently available. That data can only by the new electric taxi TX eCity.” erudite: having a lot of knowledge; especially gained from ing six times more NOx than equivalent petrol cars, the help policymakers, consumers and even manufacturers to “More than a thousand LEVC electric taxis are now on studying research adds. understand better what is happening on our roads. the road in the UK and we are confident of further significant impression: the feelings one has after a specific event Sheila Watson, deputy director of the FIA Foundation “The data does show a worrying trend in regards to black expansion of the fleet over the next few years. These new fable: beautiful story about animals that has a moral or lesson which works with the True initiative, said: “Dirty vehicles, cabs in London to make a disproportionate impact on Lon- vehicles will gradually replace existing diesel taxis and we depict: describe, show, especially in art or pictures have been clogging the air with their toxic exhaust fumes, don’s air quality.” have tabled a number of proposals to the Mayor’s Office eternal: lasting forever and taking a huge toll on the health of Londoners, especially True used the International Council on Clean Transpor- aimed at speeding up this transition so we can meet the accusation: action of claiming something is wrong children, for too long. Both policy makers and consumers tation’s (ICCT’s) methodology to create a traffic light rating Mayor’s target to have 9,000 electric taxis in London by plagiarism: practice of copying others› ideas have not seen the improvements in emissions which they system which grades cars based on their real-world nitrous the end of 2020.” should have based on the measured emissions of vehicles. (Source: The Independent) score: written work showing notes of music oxide (NOx) exhaust emissions. enchanting: attractive, holding one›s attention dare to say: have the confidence to say ENGLISH IN USE predictable: easy for others to foresee what is going to happen grim: unpleasant LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION portrayal: the act of showing or describing something, especially in art linear: moving in logical way, from start to end rightfully: according to law Supplementary vocabulary Over 300 plains nationwide prone بیش از 300 دشت کشور؛ مستعد پدیده فرونشست screen play: the written words from a film performance: the activity of an actor in a play to land subsidence: geologist محمدجــواد بلورچــی، ز مینشــناس و ســخنگوی ســابق ســازمان ز مینشناســی central character: the main person in a movie Over 300 plains in Iran are at high risk of experiencing land subsidence, and plot: story in a movie or book اظهــار داشــت: باوجــود آنکــه وضعیــت 300 دشـ ـت کشــور ازنظــر پدیــده فرونشســت as long as there is virtually no reduction in illegal overuse of groundwater بهشــدت نگــران کننــده اســت، امــا ًعمــا هنــوز کاهــش برداشــت از ذخایــر زیرزمینــی cinematography: used to describe the camera work in a movie triumph: a great success or achievement a person has/ triumph resources, curbing subsidence will coincide with depletion of aquifers, انجــام نشــده و بــا وضعیــت فعلــی، پایــان پدیــده فرونشســت همزمــان بــا اتمــام عمــر (Source: irlanguage.com) آبخوا ن هاســت. .geologist Mohammad Javad Bolourchi has said Without water, PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM everything “dextro-, dextero-, dextr-” Make something up Collect one’s thoughts Meaning: right Meaning: to pretend that something is true in order Explanation: try to think calmly and clearly in order withers For example: A good handyman is skillful, dexterous to deceive someone to prepare yourself mentally for something and proficient in whatever it is he is doing. For example: I think they’re making the whole For example: Anne stopped to collect her thoughts thing up. before calling back the customer. 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 20, 2018 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 Saudi fighter jets attack international U.S. preparing for ‘full’ airport, airbase in Yemeni capital and ‘rapid’ withdrawal Yemen’s warring sides accuse each other of violating ceasefire from Syria 1 The U.S. has about 2,000 troops on the ground in The House of Saud regime military aircraft deployment the country, where they are primarily training local forces have carried out a string of airstrikes against Elsewhere, Yemen’s popular Ansarullah to combat the ISIL terrorist group. The U.S.-backed and the Sana’a International Airport and al-Dai- movement has condemned Sudan for seeking Kurdish-led (SDF) have had some lami airbase in the Yemeni capital city as to retain and even increase its troops in a recent success against the terrorist group and are on the Riyadh presses ahead with its atrocious Saudi Arabian-led coalition that has invaded cusp of capturing the last major town held by the ISIL east aerial bombardment campaign against its the impoverished Peninsula country. of the Euphrates. impoverished southern neighbor. “The decision by Sudan’s administration Estimates vary as to how many ISIL terrorists are left in Syria. An unnamed military source, speaking on to send more forces to Yemen indicates the In the town of Hajin, the terrorist group’s last redoubt, the coa- condition of anonymity, told Yemen’s Ara- Khartoum government’s opposition to the lition estimated some 2,000 ISIL terrorists were present. But a bic-language al-Masirah television network establishment of peace and security in Yem- Defense Department inspector general report put the number that the Saudi regime jets launched three at- en,” Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the chairman of ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq as high as 30,000. tacks against the strategic sites on Wednesday of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee of The U.S. has forces in Iraq ready to launch attacks in Syria afternoon, without providing any information Yemen, said on Wednesday, Unews Agency if necessary. In the last few weeks, the U.S.-led coalition about the extent of damage caused. reported on its website. purportedly fighting ISIL has carried out hundreds of air The Saudi regime-led coalition fighting Ansarullah formed the committee in 2015 and artillery strikes targeting ISIL in Syria. Some of those on the side of former Yemeni president Abd to run Yemen’s administrative affairs after strikes were launched from neighboring Iraq, where the Rabbuh Mansur Hadi claimed in a state- the former government resigned and its head, U.S. has over 5,000 troops. Hundreds of the U.S. troops ment, carried by Saudi Arabia’s state-run Hadi, fled to Riyadh as he faced increasing have also been training local forces at At Tanf in southern al-Ekhbariya television news network, that popular discontent. Syria, where Russia-backed pro-regime forces are seeking it had targeted an unmanned aerial vehicle, The Yemeni official said Sudan wanted to oust the U.S. presence. and “destroyed the aircraft that was in the to send reinforcements to Yemen while “its Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning told CNN that, “at process of preparing to be launched.” claimed the lives of around 56,000 Yemenis. Ansarullah movement says army soldiers president, Omar al-Bashir, was being sought this time, we continue to work by, with and through our partners The airstrikes are the first of their kind ever The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy and allied fighters from popular committees internationally on charges of terrorism and in the region.” since delegates from the Ansarullah (Houthi) toll on the country’s infrastructure, destroying have managed to frustrate a large-scale of- committing some crimes and atrocities in The U.S.-led coalition recently denied any change to the U.S movement and Saudi-backed Hadi loyalists hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN fensive by Saudi-sponsored militiamen loyal his country, and the Sudanese ruling es- .presence in Syria. agreed on a truce for the port city of Huday- has already said that a record 22.2 million to Yemen’s former president Abd Rabbuh tablishment cannot defend him against the “Any reports indicating a change in the U.S. position dah following the United Nations-sponsored Yemenis are in dire need of food, including Mansur Hadi in Hudaydah, hours after a charges.” with respect” to the U.S. military presence in Syria “is false peace talks in Sweden last week. 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. UN-brokered ceasefire started at midnight Sudan’s Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Awad and designed to sow confusion and chaos,” the coalition Also on Wednesday, a Saudi regime re- According to the world body, Yemen is suf- in the strategic port city. Mohammed bin Oaf had on Tuesday told a said in a statement earlier this month. connaissance drone was seen hovering in fering from the most severe famine in more Ansarullah, in a statement released on visiting Saudi military delegation in Khar- Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the skies over al-Tuhayat district in Yemen’s than 100 years. Tuesday, said Yemeni troops and their allies toum that his country intended to keep up Staff, said this month that the U.S. needed to train thousands western coastal province of Hudaydah. A number of Western countries, the engaged in fierce clashes with Saudi merce- its cooperation with the Riyadh-led coalition of local fighters to ensure a lasting defeat of the terror group. Separately, Saudi regime warplanes United States and Britain in particular, naries in the Hays district of the province, and even enhance its contribution. The U.S. forces were recently directed by Secretary of Defense mounted four airstrikes against al-Mazraq are also accused of being complicit in the leaving scores of them killed and injured, Thousands have died and Yemen has been James Mattis to establish observation posts along the Syria-Turk- area in the Harad district of the northwestern ongoing aggression as they supply the Ri- Yemen’s Arabic-language al-Masirah tele- pushed to the edge of an all-out famine as ish border as part of an effort to reduce tensions between Turkey Yemeni province of Hajjah. There were no yadh regime with advanced weapons and vision network reported. a result of the war. and America’s Kurdish allies in the fight against ISIL. immediate reports about possible casualties military equipment as well as logistical and The United Nations said on Monday that UN to convene meeting via Turkish military convoy heads in direction of and the extent of damage caused. intelligence assistance. a ceasefire would take effect in Hudaydah, video-conference Syrian border Furthermore, Yemeni army soldiers Ceasefire violation located 150 kilometers southwest of the Also on Wednesday, the UN will convene Meantime, a convoy of Turkish military trucks passed by the and allied fighters from Popular Commit- Meanwhile, Ansarullah and forces loy- capital Sana’a. the parties to Yemen’s conflict by video link town of Islahiye on Wednesday, heading in the direction of the tees carried out an offensive against several al to the Yemeni fugitive government have The truce was agreed at the UN-sponsored to discuss the redeployment of all forces from Syrian border. positions of Saudi mercenaries in the Nihm accused each other of violating a ceasefire peace talks in Sweden last week. Hudaydah’s provincial capital of the same The convoy follows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s district of Sana’a province, leaving scores of in the western city of Hudaydah, less than The two warring sides have welcomed name, and three other ports, under the deal. announcement, made on December 12, that a new operation the militiamen dead and injured. 24 hours after the UN-brokered agreement the ceasefire in Hudaydah, and said they It will be the first meeting of a Redeploy- against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG/Yekîneyên The House of Saudi regime and a number came into effect. would comply with it. ment Coordination Committee that oversees Parastina Gel) east of the Euphrates would be launched within of its regional allies launched a devastating Residents reported shelling for nearly one The truce is supposed to be followed by the ceasefire and the withdrawal of forces, the next “few days.” military campaign against Yemen in March hour on the eastern and southern outskirts of the withdrawal of Ansarullah fighters as well said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Erdogan claims the YPG threatens Turkish national security. 2015, with the aim of bringing the govern- the Ansarullah-held city on Tuesday, whose as pro-Hadi militiamen. “It will include military/security repre- (Source: agencies) ment of Hadi back to power and crushing strategic docks are the point of entry for 70 A prisoner swap, involving some 15,000 sentatives from the two sides,” he explained. Ansarullah movement. percent of imports for millions of Yemenis. detainees, is also planned and a “mutual The two sides have agreed to meet again According to a new report by the Armed Al Masirah TV network accused forces understanding” to facilitate aid deliveries in late January for more talks to define the Conflict Location and Event Data Project backed by the Saudi-United Arab Emirates to the southwestern coastal city of Ta’izz framework for negotiations on a “peace EU: U.S. plan on Palestine- (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research coalition of shelling several sites, including has been reached. settlement.” organization, the Saudi-led war has so far areas east of the airport. Ansarullah blast Sudan for planned war (Source: agencies) Israel conflict must respect 1967 lines

Belgian PM quits two weeks after coalition partner bails Eight European Union (EU) member states have warned that Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel announced his ed the Marrakesh migration pact, saying it presented the United States President Donald Trump’s plan on the Israe- resignation on Tuesday, less than two weeks after his main an “opportunity for better European and international li-Palestinian conflict, which is yet to be unveiled, will not be coalition partner quit in a row over migration, leaving him cooperation.” successful if it fails to take into account internationally-agreed leading a minority government. The non-binding UN accord, which would promote a parameters for peace, namely a two-state solution along the pre- Michel, who took office in 2014, lost the backing of the common global approach to migrant flows, was initially 1967 boundaries. New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) over his support for the Unit- supported by all four parties in Belgium’s coalition. Britain, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden – which ed Nations migration pact, a cause celebre for European But the N-VA changed its mind in late October and pulled are all member states to the United Nations Security Council anti-immigration parties. The resignation comes two days out of the coalition the day before Michel flew to Morocco (UNSC) - as well as Belgium, Germany and Italy released a joint after demonstrations against the pact in central Brussels to sign the deal. statement on Tuesday, saying the so-called Middle East peace descended into scuffles, with police forced to use tear gas The Belgian government had to be revamped last week plan should support the Palestinian statehood and end the Israeli and water cannons to restore order. because the biggest coalition party opposed Michel’s de- occupation. The statement was published following the UNSC’s After a debate in Parliament where opposition parties cision to sign the pact. monthly Mideast meeting. refused to lend their support to allow his government to NGOs (non-governmental organization/s) have also The EU countries reiterated their “strong continued commitment keep working until legislative elections in May next year, voiced doubts about the deal’s implementation. to the internationally agreed parameters for a just and lasting Michel announced he would quit. Pope Francis has voiced his support for the agree- around 1,000 people to another Brussels district, according peace in the Middle East based on international law, relevant “I have taken the decision to submit my resignation ment and urged the international community to show to police. Police in Brussels say some protesters became UN resolutions and previous agreements.” and it is my intention to go to see the king immediately,” “responsibility, solidarity and compassion” in dealing violent when they were asked to disperse from outside the “The EU is truly convinced that the achievement of a two-state Michel said. Belgium’s royal palace later said that King with migrants. European Union building. Police fired tear gas and water solution based on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem [al-Quds] Philippe has not taken a decision on whether to accept the The pontiff stressed the pact was designed to secure cannons on demonstrators who had congregated around as the capital of both States, that meets Israeli and Palestinian resignation offered by Premier Charles Michel. “safe, ordered and regular migration.” But its provisions the EU’s headquarters in Brussels. security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and The Flemish nationalist N-VA, led by powerful Ant- are not legally binding and detractors warn it could might Local authorities initially banned both marches for fear sovereignty, ends the occupation and resolves all final status werp mayor Bart De Wever, had made political demands encourage uncontrolled people flows. of violence but Belgium’s high court overturned the ban, issues, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2334 and which Michel judged “unacceptable” - notably on possible About 5,000 people demonstrated against the deal in citing the right to protest peacefully. previous agreements, is the only viable and realistic way to end constitutional changes. The liberal steadfastly defend- Brussels over the weekend. A counter-demonstration drew (Source: Daily Star) the conflict,” read the statement. UNSC Resolution 2334, which was approved in December 2016, states that Israel’s establishment of “settlements in the Pal- China warns U.S. against ‘weaponizing’ space estinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, China said on Wednesday it opposed the On Tuesday, Trump ordered the crea- approval. concept has met with some skepticism from has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under “weaponization” of space as it criticized the tion of “Space Command,” a new organ- It is not the first military space entity lawmakers and defense officials wary of the international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the United States President Donald Trump’s izational structure within the Pentagon proposed by the U.S. president this year. cost and added bureaucracy. two-state solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.” orders to create a new command center for that will have overall control of military In June, Trump said he wanted to create China has also bolstered its space capa- Israel occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem) during the Six-Day controlling military space operations. space operations. “Space Force,” an entirely new branch of bilities in recent years. War in 1967 and later annexed the city in a move not recognized “China has consistently proposed the SpaceCom, as it will inevitably come to be the military, alongside the Navy, Marine Earlier this month, the country launched by the international community. peaceful usage of space, and opposes the known, will be on equal footing with other Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. a rover heading to the far side of the moon, Israel lays claim to the whole city, but the Palestinians view weaponization of space and a space arms U.S. military commands, such as Central He insists such a move is necessary to a global first that could boost Beijing’s am- its eastern sector as the capital of their future sovereign state. race,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokes- Command in the Middle East or Indo-Pacific tackle vulnerabilities in space and assert bitions to become a space superpower. Trump recognized al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the Israeli “capi- woman Hua Chunying at a press briefing. Command in Asia, and will require a new the U.S. dominance in orbit. In 2013, China landed its first probe on tal” last December and moved the American embassy from Tel “We oppose even further turning space headquarters as well as a commander and But its creation is not a done deal, as it the moon, Yutu or “Jade Rabbit.” Aviv to the ancient city in May, sparking global condemnations. into the new battleground,” she added. deputy commander who will need Senate needs to be approved by Congress, and the (Source: AFP) Speaking at Tuesday’s Security Council session, the U.S. Am- bassador to the UN Nikki Haley said that Washington’s plan, dubbed the “deal of the century,” has a lot both sides will like ‘Thousands’ of EU diplomatic cables hacked and things they won’t like. Hackers have spent years eavesdropping on the diplomatic a report released later Wednesday. the U.S. President Donald Trump. She also claimed that the initiative takes advantage of new communications of European Union (EU) officials, a United The hackers apparently gained access to the diplomatic One such document appeared to capture a senior Eu- technology and recognizes the changing realities on the ground. States cyber-security firm said on Wednesday, an operation communications network after a simple “phishing” cam- ropean official in Washington recommending that envoys Israel under fire over settlements, crimes disrupted only after researchers discovered hundreds of paign targeting EU officials in Cyprus. from the EU’s member nations work around Trump by against Palestinians intercepted documents lying around on the internet. EU officials are taking the report “extremely seriously” but dealing directly with Congress. Meanwhile, the UN Special Coordinator to the Middle East The documents were discovered a few months ago after it is “impossible to comment on leaks,” European Commission In another apparent message, European diplomats Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov expressed concerns over a malicious email was caught by the Redwood City, Cali- Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters in Brussels. described a recent summit between Trump and Russian “the weakening of international consensus and the absence of fornia-based Area 1 Security firm, according to company “All communication systems have vulnerabilities, so President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, as “successful collective efforts to achieve an end to the [Israeli] occupation co-founder Blake Darche. we’re constantly dealing with this challenge,” he said. [at least for Putin].” and the realization of a negotiated two-state resolution of the He said the firm followed forensic clues in the message Dombrovskis identified the system hit by the leaks as Another gives a detailed account of a meeting with Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” back to an unsecured server that had some 1,100 EU diplo- one managed by the European Council’s secretariat, which Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which he rails against “At the end of 2018, we are nowhere closer to reviving efforts matic cables. Darche said he believed that tens of thousands represents EU member states in Brussels, rather than the Trump’s trade tactics, saying the U.S. was “behaving as if for a negotiated solution,” he told the UNSC meeting. “Without a more such documents have been stolen. commission itself. In an email, the council acknowledged it was fighting in a no-rules freestyle boxing match” and political horizon, all our collective and individual efforts merely “We estimate that the ones we found are a small fraction what it described as “a potential leak of sensitive information” vowing not to give in to “bullying.” contribute to managing the conflict rather than resolving it.” of the overall operation,” he said. “From what we can see, and said it was investigating. It offered no further comment. There are extensive reports on the situation in Ukraine, Palestinians have already rejected Trump’s plan, with Abbas the EU has a significant problem on their hands.” The New York Times, which first reported on the breach, where a conflict rumbles on between government forces calling it “the slap of the century.” Darche said the hackers are working for China’s People’s published excerpts of the diplomatic cables after obtaining and pro-Russian separatists, including a warning dating Elsewhere in his remarks, Mladenov condemned illegal Is- Liberation Army, a judgment he said was based on eight them from Area 1 ahead of time. from February that Moscow may already have deployed raeli settler units, saying Tel Aviv has taken “no steps” to end all years spent observing the group. He declined to provide Some of the messages appeared to capture European nuclear warheads in Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. settlement construction activities in the occupied Palestinian further details, saying technical data would be provided in officials struggling to deal with the erratic movements of (Source: AFP) territories as Resolution 2334 requires. (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 20, 2018

Emery expects Pochettino Solskjaer handed caretaker to stay at Spurs amid United links manager role by Manchester United Manchester United have turned to former Gunnar and in Molde FC,” the Norwegian Arsenal manager Unai Emery believes Mauricio Pochettino is striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to steady the club, who begin their new season in March, “very happy” at Tottenham Hotspur and has questioned the notion ship until the end of the season, confirming said in a statement. of the Argentine leaving north London to take over at Manches- the Norwegian as in the “We’re happy to lend them Ole Gunnar ter United next season. Following Jose Mourinho’s sacking as wake of Jose Mourinho’s sacking on Tuesday. and wish both him and the club success,” United boss after the side’s poor start to the season on Tuesday, Solskjaer, who leaves his role as manager it added. Pochettino has emerged as the bookmakers’ favourite to become of Norwegian club Molde, will be joined by First team coach Erling Moe will take the next full-time manager at Old Trafford. as assistant manager. Phelan temporary charge of Molde, who finished Pochettino has been viewed as a long-term target for the club previously carried out that role under former second in the league last season. because of his attacking style and development of youth, traits United boss Alex Fergsuon for five seasons Following the loss to league leaders Liv- synonymous with the successful United sides under before leaving in 2013. erpool, Manchester United (26 points) are 19 but largely absent since the Scot retired in 2013. United parted company with Mourinho points adrift of their rivals after 17 matches “I think he’s (Pochettino) very happy at Tottenham,” Spaniard with the club in sixth spot in the Premier and 11 behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Emery told reporters ahead of Arsenal’s League Cup quarter-final League having made their worst start to a Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio clash against third-placed Spurs on Wednesday. season for 28 years, culminating in a limp Pochettino has emerged as the early favour- “I think he’s coaching a very big team with very big players 3-1 loss to bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield ite to take over as United’s permanent boss and now they are in the Champions League, they are also in a on Sunday. next season and the Argentine did little to better position in the than Manchester United. The appointment of Solskjaer to inject quell speculation during a news conference “I don’t know if he’s thinking to change for another club, but some life into United in some ways mirrors on Tuesday. I am looking at him with a very big commitment to Tottenham his playing career at the club where he scored “Like always in football nobody can guar- who were relegated from the top flight on Solskjaer, who won six Premier League titles and he’s creating a good performance a good idea at Tottenham.” 126 goals between 1996-2007, often as an antee anything. What’s going to happen in his watch in 2014 — on Saturday. and two FA Cups to go along with the 1999 Pochettino himself has dismissed the links to the United job impact sub. the summer? What is going to happen tomor- CLUB LEGEND Champions League triumph at United. as “rumours”, saying he was committed to delivering results in His most memorable contribution came row? Nobody knows, The most important “Ole is a club legend with huge experience, Solskjaer was given the blessing of Molde, his current job. The 46-year-old has guided Spurs to three con- in the 1999 Champions League final victory thing is to enjoy the journey,” Pochettino both on the pitch and in coaching roles,” who he steered to two Norwegian titles in 2011 secutive top-three finishes in the Premier League, but is yet to over Bayern when he netted a stop- told reporters. United executive vice chairman Ed Wood- and 2012, and even earned some plaudits from win a major trophy. Despite failing to make a single close season page-time winner. The 46-year-old Pochettino, who joined ward said. “His history at Manchester United Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who signing, Spurs are third in the league after 18 games, hot on the “Manchester United is in my heart and Tottenham from Southampton in 2014, has means he lives and breathes the culture here tweeted: “FINALLY CONFIRMED! Great day heels of leaders Liverpool and defending champions Manchester it’s brilliant to be coming back in this role,” guided the London club to three consecutive and everyone at the club is delighted to have for Norwegian football. Good luck keeping City. Manchester United are sixth, 19 points adrift. the 45-year-old former Cardiff City manager, top-three finishes in the Premier League but him and Mike Phelan back. control of the Red Devils” . (Source: Reuters) said in a statement. is yet to win a trophy. “I’m really looking forward to working “We are confident they will unite the play- Molde said that their manager’s ‘tempo- However, his attacking style and youth with the very talented squad we have, the ers and the fans as we head into the second rary’ departure to United was an endorsement development are traits that were synony- staff and everyone at the club.” half of the season.” of the team’s success. mous with the dominant United sides under Coincidentally Solskjaer’s first task will and Kieran McKenna, “The fact that Manchester United asked Ferguson but largely absent since the Scot German football boss blasts be to try and guide United to a much-need- both part of Mourinho’s backroom staff, to borrow Molde’s manager is in itself a hap- retired in 2013. Infantino over lack of ed three points away at Cardiff — the club will be retained at the club to work under pening, and a vote of confidence in both Ole (Source: Mirror) transparency With Olympic boxing on the ropes, Russia’s Mutko resigns as Football Japan fighters fear dashed dreams Union chief German Football Federation president Reinhard Grindel has launched a withering attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino over a lack of transparency on proposals for new competitions in an interview with Sportbuzzer.de published on Wednesday. “With this lack of transparency on these questions he is rein- forcing the prejudices against FIFA,” said Grindel. “It is why I am insisting with my UEFA colleagues in the FIFA Council on the creation of a task force where all the information can be laid out on the table and we can determine with honesty if we need other competitions and if so what format they should take.” Infantino has long envisaged the creation of an international nations league and a Club World Cup expanded to 24 teams. In November he told AFP that it was the best way to fight the possibility of a breakaway Super League. The vague proposal to sell FIFA rights for $25 billion over 12 years to finance the club tournament also concerns Grindel. “I would be satisfied if FIFA launched an open process of discussion and if the principals concerned, that is the clubs, the leagues and the federations were involved in the discussions,” he said. Grindel’s concerns echo those made by UEFA president Yudai Shigeoka has long dreamed of be- issue seriously, with its president warning Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mut- CAS has yet to set a hearing Aleksander Ceferin at the start of December. coming a world boxing champion, but a of “major damage” to the boxing world if ko, a long-serving sports official entangled date. “We still have a lot of difficulties with these two proposals,” decision that could see the sport excluded the sport is excluded from the 2020 Games. in allegations of state-sponsored doping, Mutko served as Russia’s sports minister said Ceferin who was particularly ambivalent about the Club from the 2020 Olympics might deal his “The number of boxing athletes could resigned as head of Russia’s Football Un- from 2008 to 2016 and was then put in World Cup which would be “financed by a fund whose origins hopes a knockout blow. decline because of this,” president Sadanobu ion on Wednesday, the soccer body said. charge of sport as deputy prime minister. and names of supporters are unknown.” The International Olympic Committee Uchida told AFP. The announcement followed a string In May, just a month before the World (Source: AFP) said last month it was suspending prepara- There are currently about 5,000 amateur of decisions that recently have rolled back Cup opener, he was made a deputy prime tions for boxing at the Tokyo 2020 Games boxers -- mostly men -- in Japan. Mutko’s formal involvement in Russian minister overseeing construction. over governance concerns, leaving Japanese “Athletes train for years for the Olym- sport as the country faced additional scru- Mutko also stepped down as head of boxers in limbo. pics, saying it’s their childhood dream... tiny over its doping scandal and its role as Russia’s World Cup Local Organising Com- Barcelona’s Rafinha ordered “All of us have been practising for the The Olympics is such a special event for World Cup host. mittee six months before the tournament. Tokyo Olympics,” the 21-year-old told AFP them,” he said. The Russian Football Union will elect President Vladimir Putin has staunchly by court to wear Adidas or after an evening training session at the And because boxers often have a shorter a new president on Feb. 22 and Sergei defended Mutko, saying that it had been Takushoku University gym in the Tokyo career than other athletes, they have fewer Pryadkin, vice president of the Russian impossible to dismiss him after he became pay fine suburb of Hachioji. chances to qualify for the Olympics, which Football Union and president of Russia’s the target of unfair attacks related to the “Honestly, it’ll be shocking for boxers takes place every four years, he added. Premier Leage, will serve as head of the doping scandal. if a dream that is right in front of us just The federation has warned its coaches union until then, executive committee Despite phasing out his formal involve- disappears.” to pay close attention to the decision’s ef- member Igor Lebedev wrote on Twitter. ment in Russian sport, Mutko has remained The IOC took the decision over con- fect on athletes, fearing they may become Mutko, who oversaw sport at the height close to the field. cerns about the sport’s troubled governing demoralised and lose motivation. of Russia’s doping scandal, had temporarily He attended World Cup matches, reg- body, the International Boxing Association “We really hope boxing tournaments stepped down from his role as president of ularly dropped in on the Russian national (AIBA), which is now under investigation will be held. I have faith they will be,” Russia’s Football Union last year after the team and met with former FIFA president by the Olympic committee. Uchida said. International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sepp Blatter in Moscow during the tour- IOC President Thomas Bach declined Boxing has an ancient Olympic tradition banned him from the Olympics over alle- nament. to promise that boxing would be part of and has featured at every modern games gations of state-sponsored doping at the When asked by Reuters in what capacity the 2020 Games, though he pledged at a since 1904, with the exception of the 1912 2014 Sochi Games. he was attending a Russia training session Tokyo press conference to “make all efforts Games in Stockholm because Swedish law Russia has denied the allegations, and during the World Cup in June, Mutko said: to protect the athletes, as we always do”. at the time banned the sport. Mutko has appealed the IOC’s decision at “In the capacity of a person.” Japan’s boxing federation is taking the (Source: AFP) the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). (Source: Eurosport) Barcelona midfielder Rafinha must honour his contract with Adidas and wear the German company’s sportswear or pay a fine of up to €1 million ($1.14m), a Dutch court said on Tuesday. Adidas had sued the 25-year-old Brazilian after Rafinha had Hamilton deserves more recognition, says Wolff started to wear Mizuno shoes in July, contesting the German Lewis Hamilton may be the greatest Formula One driver tachment to Lewis, for me the greatest sports person that company’s unilateral extension of a sponsorship deal that had of all time but ‘negativity and envy’ are denying him the is in his career in Britain.” finished at the end of June. recognition he deserves, according to his Mercedes team Wolff said Hamilton was fully motivated to chase his sixth Rafinha has been paid by Adidas to wear their boots and clothing boss Toto Wolff. title next season and that the Briton, who leads a jet-setting since 2011, but his lawyer said in court earlier this month that Comparing the five-time world champion to retired Ferrari celebrity lifestyle with interests in fashion and music away he wanted to break free from his contract as his sponsor had not great Michael Schumacher, Wolff suggested people might from the racetrack, would also not be the champion he was offered him enough support when he suffered serious injuries not appreciate the 33-year-old Briton’s achievements un- without dividing opinion. “Everybody wants to be recognised, in 2015 and 2017. til he too had left the scene. “Not everybody recognises a particularly in their own country and in order to achieve the Rafinha’s legal team also said Adidas had hidden the extension great career, a great sportsman or greatness overall while success he has, you need to be sensitive,” he said. clause in the contract and should have made it clear to the player it’s happening. There is a lot of negativity and envy whilst “He is that exceptional sports personality also because he that it could add another five years to the deal. it happens,” Wolff told Reuters in a telephone interview. polarizes. And I think at the end of the day, he’s thinking that Rafinha was represented at the negotiations with Adidas by “It’s only being recognised once a career has ended as he’d rather polarise than be just in the middle and boring. his father, former Vasco da Gama and Valencia player Mazinho, having been really great and I don’t know why that is. We “He stays true to himself and his values and that is the who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994. are extremely privileged in following a career of maybe the most important thing.” “Although he is no legal expert, he knows how sponsor deals greatest racing driver of all time. the third driver ever to win five titles or more. Mercedes have won both titles for the past five years, some- work,” the judge said. “Obviously Michael has set the records and was un- RUNNER-UP thing only Ferrari had ever done previously, and the German The district court in Amsterdam, where the original sponsor- believable but Lewis is on a similar trajectory,” he added. Last Sunday, he was runner-up in the BBC’s Sports Per- manufacturer has enjoyed the best year of its motorsport his- ship deal was signed, ordered Rafinha to pay a fine of €10,000 “Also with Michael, it was only recognised after he retired sonality of the Year awards — a public vote — to Tour de tory. Their British driver George Russell won the Formula Two for each day he continued to refuse to honour his contract up to and even more when tragedy struck. And I think it’s a pity.” France winner Geraint Thomas. title, Schumacher’s son Mick was European Formula Three a maximum of €1m. Schumacher, who turns 50 in January, has not been seen He was condemned on social media for ‘slum’ comments champion in a Mercedes-powered car and Mercedes also won The ruling was a new blow for Rafinha, who is out of action in public since the German suffered severe head injuries in about his boyhood town Stevenage, words he later clarified, the DTM (German Touring Car) championship. for the rest of the season after tearing cruciate knee ligaments a skiing accident five years ago. Hamilton has set a string of and has been criticised for moving to the tax haven of Monaco “I think we have achieved records this year which I think during a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Nov. 24, which records on his way to his fifth title this season, and could go where many other Formula One drivers reside. the sport has not seen,” said Wolff. required an operation. on to match Schumacher’s seven championships and 91 wins. “We are live spectators, live witnesses of a great racing “We have exciting new challenges ahead with Formula This, however, did not make Adidas’ case less urgent, the The Briton, now on 73 victories, has won 51 of the 100 driver at the peak of his abilities,” said Wolff. “In the U.S. E that we are going to embark on in season six (2019-20), judge said, as the player has also promised to promote Adidas grands prix in the V6 turbo era that started in 2014 and four you are very much inspired by success. In Europe it triggers replacing DTM, and in the same way Formula One provides off the pitch and through social media. of the last five championships. much more envy and negativity. its own challenges about staying relevant. (Source: ESPN) Hamilton also has a record 83 pole positions and is only “I am certainly biased because I have an emotional at- (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y DECEMBER 20, 2018 SPORTS 15

Infantino offers Ali Gholizadeh doubtful for condolence AFC Asian Cup SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran international midfielder deskAli Gholizadeh looks set to miss his country’s 2019 AFC Asian Cup due to a foot injury. over death of The Charleroi midfielder suffered an ankle sprain after a duel with Antonio Milic in Anderlecht match on Dec. 9. Iraj Danaeifard Gholizadeh left Belgium to join the Iranian delegation in Doha after consulting with SPORTS TEHRAN — FIFA Presi- World Cup. the doctors. deskdent Gianni Infantino ex- Danaeifard equalized the match in the “Ali went to Qatar to be tends his deepest sympathies to the family second half and secured Iran’s first ever World treated in a world-renowned and friends of Iranian football player Iraj Cup point, and their last for 20 years till a center, where his national Danaeifard who passed away last week. famous win over the United States. team is currently staying to Danaeifard died of a cardiac arrest in After the Asian Cup in in 1980 he prepare for the Asian Cup,” Shiraz’s Namazi Hospital at the age of 67. announced his retirement from international Pierre-Yves Hendrickx, Gen- “I wish to extend my deepest sympathy football with 17 caps and 3 goals for Iran. eral Secretary of Sporting to Danaeifard’s family and Iranian football Danaeifard played for Iranian football Charleroi told dh.be. fans. Our thoughts and prayers go out to giants Taj from 1970 to 1972. He also Gholizadeh must be fit two weeks before the start of the his family,” said Infantino in a letter to Iran played for Iranian football clubs Oghab tournament. Football Federation President Mehdi Taj. and Pas. Iran national football team have been drawn with Iraq, Yemen Danaeifard was the scorer of the first In 1980, he moved to the United States and Vietnam in Group D of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. official goal for Iran national football team and started playing for the NASL team, the The competition was scheduled to take place from Jan. 5 to in the FIFA World Cup. Tulsa Roughnecks. He remained in the club Feb. 1 in the UAE. He scored against Scotland at the 1978 until 1984 when the league folded. Siamand Rahman decided Branko Ivankovic praises Iranian not to go for world record: celebration of Yalda Paralympic SPORTS TEHRAN — Persepolis football team Year) have their roots in ancient traditions,” Ivankovic desk TInternational Committee Paralympic (IPC)’s website has pub- head coach Branko Ivankovic praised told Tehran Times. lished an article about the world’s strongest powerlifters who the Iranian festival Yalda Night, saying the feast brings “These kinds of traditions have always brought the secures slots for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. the Iranians together. Iranian families together and make sense of friendship,” The world’s strongest Paralympian Siamand Rahman decided “Yalda,” a Syriac word which means birth was incor- the Croat added. not to go for the world record this time but still easily won the porated into the Persian language. A celebration of the Persepolis are going to win the Iran Professional men’s over 107kg after clearing the bar at 285kg. Winter Solstice according to the solar calendar which League (IPL) for the third time in a row, Ivankovic said, Rahman finished first at the Asia-Oceania Open Pow- this year falls on Friday, Dec. 21, considered the shortest “I’ve already said Persepolis want to win all the trophies. erlifting Championships which took place in Kitakyushu, day of the year. We’ve previously won IPL twice and want to defend it Japan in September. “Iranians have preserve their customs and traditions for the third time. We’ve won Super Cup and we want to The 30-year old Paralympian broke the 300kg barrier in the for thousands of years. Yalda and Nowruz (Persian New win Hazfi Cup and AFC Champions League.” men´s over 107kg at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, lifting an unprecedented 310kg. Al Somah: This is Syria’s time to shine (Source: Paralympic.org) has urged his Syrian netted over 100 times in four seasons with tralia might not be important, but we always teammates to make the most of a once Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli club. play to win in every match.” in a generation opportunity and produce “We started a new era, a more serious one. Unable to play matches on home soil, Iranian woman cyclist Dehghan a performance to remember at the AFC Everyone knows the importance of the Asian Syria have struggled somewhat in friendly Asian Cup UAE 2019. Cup and we are not there just to participate, matches staged in West, East and Central joins MEXX–Watersley The Qasioun Eagles have never survived we want to compete for the title. Asia during their build-up to the Finals, with the group stage at the Continental Finals, “The team has developed and become recent wins in Bahrain and Kuwait their TEHRAN — Mandana Dehghan from Iran joined the Nether- but the current Syrian side is one with ample better since the World Cup Qualifiers, espe- first since Stange’s appointment in January. land’s MEXX–Watersley International Women’s Cycling Team. reason to believe they are capable of going cially with the new coach. Everyone noticed But, with four international goals to his She is the first ever female Iranian rider to join a European team. to the knockout stage and beyond. that during the friendly matches. name in 2018, there have been few complaints Mandana has joined MEXX–Watersley from the UCI Wom- Prolific striker Al Somah and 2017 AFC “The team is complete, no one is missing, the World Cup. They have developed from about Al Somah’s individual contribution, en’s Team, Al Asayl Cycling Team. Player of the Year Omar Khribin are the and we promise our fans that we will play the match we played against them, but also and the goal machine said there are no ex- She finished in 7th place in the 2018 Asian Games held in spearheads of a talented Syrian squad, which in a way to make our country proud and our team has developed a lot, it is not the cuses for his team come January. Jakarta, Indonesia. went within 180 minutes of qualifying for happy, and we will not settle for less than same side who played against Australia in “Our team is complete, we are not missing “MEXX–Watersley is happy to announce we have signed the 2018 FIFA World Cup before losing a the semi-finals.” Malaysia and Sydney (in September 2017),” anything,” he declared. “We thank the Syr- Mandana Dehghan. We are proud to support her to develop play-off thriller to reigning Asian champions Syria’s Matchday Three clash with the he explained. ian Football Association who hired a good as a rider in 2019,” the Dutch club announced on its website. Australia 3-2 over two legs. Socceroos is the one which leaps off the page “Our schedule will be against Palestine, international coach who has a modern style Syria are set to face the Australians again when assessing Group B, which also features then Jordan, then Australia, so our concen- of play and has developed the team a lot in in the UAE but Al Somah isn’t interested Jordan and Palestine. tration will be on the first match, then after a short time.” in looking back, preferring to focus on a Head coach has said Syria’s that the second match, and we hope we will “As I said, we are not going to play just Mohammad Naderi close to competition he believes his side are capable World Cup exit will serve as extra motiva- go to the match against Australia with six for participation, but also to compete for of winning. tion in that clash, but Al Somah stressed points, and already qualified. the title.” joining Persepolis in January “The match against Australia in the the important of remaining focused on one “The coach knows the team, and the most Syria’s AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 cam- World Cup qualifiers is from the past, game at a time. important thing is to qualify to the second paign begins against Palestine on January 6. PLDC — Iranian center back Mohammad Naderi has been re- it is gone,” said the star striker, who has “Everyone saw the Australian team in round. At that stage, the result against Aus- (Source: the-afc) portedly linked with a move to Persepolis football team. The 22-year-old defender currently plays in Belgian club K.V. Kortrijk. India said no to Iran friendly match, says coach Constantine Persepolis should pay 70,000 euros to the Belgian first division India national team head coach Stephen Constantine has who are playing in the Asian Cup,” said Constantine. team to sign him on loan. claimed that he turned down a request from Iran head “We couldn’t manage more matches, but it wasn’t for Iranian media reports suggest that the player’s agent has coach Carlos Queiroz for a friendly match between the the lack of trying,” he said explaining how such practice reached an agreement with Persepolis and the 22-year-old two sides ahead of the AFC Asian Cup 2019. matches are scheduled. “Most of the times, it is the coaches player will most likely join the Iranian giants in the January India will make an appearance in the Asian Cup at who let know if they are interested. I had a call from Iran transfer window. the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after missing out on coach Carlos Queiroz asking me if we were interested in Naderi has started his playing career in Tractor Sazi in 2016 the 2015 edition held in Australia. And Constantine’s playing them on December 30,” Constantine said. and has also played in Nassaji Mazandaran. Blue Tigers are set to fly to Abu Dhabi for two weeks of “But we already had scheduled on December 27 and intense training ahead of their opener against Thailand December 30. And hence, couldn’t. But we still played on January 6. strong teams like Jordan and will play the likes of Oman However, a lack of practice matches has been a concern in the buildup to the tournament,” said the India coach. World chess official for the Indian team and the English coach addressed India are also expected to play Syria in another friendly the issue during a press meet held in New Delhi after before the tournament. meets head of Iran’s the launch of the national team’s new kits for the up- The former Nepal and Rwanda coach also said that chess federation coming competition. qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup 2019 is in itself a major be proud,” he said. “We will have two weeks in Abu Dhabi to acclimatize to achievement for India. “I remember the exact moment Constantine also reported that defender Jerry Lalrin- the conditions. As far as preparations are concerned, we we mathematically qualified for the Asian Cup after a zuala has joined Nishu Kumar on the injury table for the IRNA — Special Assistant to the President of the World are okay. But, we could have had a few more matches. We 2-2 draw with Myanmar. It is a fantastic achievement Blue Tigers. Chess Federation (FIDE) Berik Balgabayev met in Tehran tried contacting a lot of teams and wanted to play nations and everyone associated with the national team should (Source: Fox Sport Asia) on Wednesday the president of Iran’s Chess Federation Mehrdad Pahlavanzadeh. During the two-hour meeting, the two sides discussed bilat- The retired legends who will be missed at AFC Asian Cup 2019 eral cooperation. The meeting follows an agreement reached between FIDE and FOX Sports Asia football editor Gabriel Tan say-die attitude endeared him to many a fan, giants to the final of the AFC Champions a greater impact at the World Cup than the the Asian Chess Federation two weeks ago to join three Iranians looks at five iconic players who will be sorely even those in the opposition camp, and he League, having netted a couple of crucial Asian Cup but still played a key role in their to the World Federation Commissions. missed at AFC Asian Cup 2019 after they re- finished his international career having played goals in the knockout round against Al Jazira 2011 triumph. cently called time on their international careers. in four World Cups and three AFC Asian Cups. and Al Duhail. Honda has shown he still has plenty to offer Asian football’s biggest competition has The last of those saw him help the Soc- 3) Taisir Al-Jassim (Saudi Arabia) with the storming start to life he has made in the arrived once again with 24 of the continent’s ceroos win their maiden Asian Cup title on A true legend of Saudi Arabia, Taisir A-League with Melbourne Victory, although Three Iranian Greco-Roman best teams set to converge in United Arab home soil in 2015, and his departure – al- Al-Jassim has spent his entire career at his international involvement now comes in Emirates for AFC Asian Cup 2019. though he still plays at club level with Indian Al Ahli apart from three loan spells at Al the form of being Cambodia coach after he teams to attend in World The tournament has long served as a plat- outfit Jamshedpur – has left a big hole to Gharafa, Qatar SC and Al Wehda. ended his Japan career after Russia 2018. form for Asia’s finest players to shine but, fill in the Australia attack. The visionary playmaker made his Asian 5) Makoto Hasebe (Japan) Wrestling Clubs Cup with a four-year gap since the last edition in 2) Jalal Hosseini (Iran) Cup debut in 2007, where he played a key Where Honda provided the spark for 2015, some all-time greats have since retired Having won 116 caps over 11 years, Jalal role as a 22-year-old in helping the Green Japan in the past decade, Makoto Hasebe IRNA — Three Greco-Roman teams from Iran are scheduled and will not be gracing the stadiums in Abu Hosseini retired from international football Falcons reach the final. certainly provided the spirit. to attend the upcoming World Wrestling Clubs Cup, according Dhabi, , Al Ain and Sharjah. as Iran’s fourth highest-capped player behind Al-Jassim was part of a formidable genera- The central midfielder was always a calm- to the director of Sports and Youth Department of Iran’s north- Here, FOX Sports Asia looks back at five three illustrious names in Javad Nekounam, tion of Saudi Arabian talent, which also included ing influence in the middle of the park and western province of Ardebil. Asian legends that will be sorely missed at Ali Daei and Ali Karimi, which should be Yaseer Al-Qahtani, Salman Al-Faraj, Osama still gets the job done in the Bundesliga with Speaking to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on United Arab Emirates 2019. testament to how good he was even if he Hawsawi and Mohammad Al-Shalhoub, that Eintracht Frankfurt, even as he is about to Tuesday, Bahram Aghakhani said that the Iranian teams attending 1) Tim Cahill (Australia) never made the move to Europe. will be sorely missed in the years to come. turn 35 in January. the event are Ardebil’s Bimeh Razi, Ardebil’s Defenders of Holy Arguably Australia’s greatest-ever foot- At 36, Hosseini is still going strong even 4) Keisuke Honda (Japan) Hasebe’s finest hour for the Samurai Blue Shrine and Izeh’s Sina San’at. baller with 50 goals in 108 caps, it is a shame if he just failed to make the final cut for the Although Japan have had no shortage of came in 2011 when he captained them to the He added that six non-Iranian teams from Turkey, Russia, that Tim Cahill did not get to star at one final 2018 World Cup, having been included in outstanding talent throughout their history, Asian Cup, but he also showed he can match Georgia, Ukraine, Serbia and Kyrgyzstan will also be present at major tournament after being restricted to Carlos Queiroz’s preliminary squad. Keisuke Honda will undoubtedly go down it with the world’s best in three consecutive the competitions. a bit-part role at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Persepolis centre-back enjoyed a as one of their all-time greats. World Cups from 2010 to 2018. 2018 World Wrestling Clubs Cup will be hosted by Ardebil Cahill’s all-action style of play and never- strong finish to the year by guiding the Iranian Interestingly enough, he arguably made (Source: Fox Sport Asia) on Dec 20-21. Prayer Times Noon:12:02 Evening: 17:14 Dawn: 5:40 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:10 (tomorrow) DECEMBER 20, 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 “Sheeple” wins big at Celebration of Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Iranian Cinema Critics and Screenwriters Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 ARTTEHRAN – Hooman www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. deskSeyyedi’s tragicomedy Tel: 88911433 “Sheeple” has won coveted awards in six Webmaster: [email protected] categories, including best film and best Printed at: Rooztab - ISSN: 1017-94 director, at the 12th edition of the Celebration No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran of Iranian Cinema Critics and Screenwriters. P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Elites of Iranian cinema came together Zip Code: 1599814713 on Tuesday evening at Tehran’s Eyvan Shams Hall to take part in the gala, which is organized every year by the Society for Cinema Critics and Screenwriters. “You critics are not the faint stars of cinema, but you show the way to us and I always follow the reviews you write about my movies,” Seyyedi said after accepting the awards best director and screenwriter. GUIDE TO “Sheeple” tells the story of a family of SPIRITUAL AWAKENING three brothers and a sister living in the slums of Tehran. The elder brother owns a drug- Most of those who lose their wisdom, do so producing kitchen and presides over the group, like a shepherd for sheep. because of being dazzled by greed, and shutting The film also brought the best actor award their eyes against fact. to Navid Mohammadzadeh who won the same award for his role at the Tallinn Black Nights Imam Ali (AS) Film Festival in Estonia in early December. “By this award, you don’t know what a weighty responsibility you put on my shoulder,” Mohammadzadeh said after receiving his award. Iranian films honored Farhad Aslani also received the award at Indian festival for best supporting actor for his role in the movie. Director Hooman Seyyedi holds the awards won for his tragicomedy “Sheeple” during the 12th edition of the Celebration of Iranian ARTTEHRAN – Two Iranian films won the main Seyyedi and Mehdi Sadi also won Cinema Critics and Screenwriters at Tehran’s Eyvan Shams Hall on December 18, 2018. (Fars/Mehdi Marizad) deskawards at the 2nd edition of the LIFFT India the award for best editor award for their Filmotsav-World Cine Fest in the Indian city of Lonavala on collaboration in the film. you for acknowledging my efforts,” she drama “The Lost Strait”, which also brought revolution cinema were also celebrated during December 10. Sara Bahrami was selected as best actress mentioned. Mohammadreza Shojaei the award for best set the gala as Abbas Kiaroatmi’s acclaimed 1987 for the portrayal of an isolated drug addict This year’s Best Creative and Promising designer. The film’s cinematographer Hamid movie “Where is the Friend’s Home” was in “Axing”, also known as “Woodpecker”, Filmmaker Award, which is presented to a Khozui was also honored with an award. picked as best children’s film. by Behruz Shoeibi. first-film director, went to Nima Eqlima for The best composer award went to Baharam Beizai’s 1989 drama “Bashu, “I really happy to receive an award from his debut film “Amir”. Sohran Purnazeri for “Flaming” by Hamid the Little Stranger” was named best young film critics,” she said. “I feel like a schoolchild who has just Nematollah, while the award for best sound adults’ film. Sahar Dowlatshahi celebrated 18 years received his first ‘good job!’” Eqlima recording engineer was presented to Taher The award for best director in the section of her career in cinema by the award for exclaimed. “I’m really happy to receive my Pishvai and Alireza Alavian for “Damascus was presented to Kiumars Purahmad for best supporting actress for her role in first Iranian award from this celebration.” Time” by Ebrahim Hatamikia. “The Stories of Majid”. “Cold Sweat”. “This year marks the 18th Saeid Malekan won the award for best Abbas Kiarotami still lives This section was organized to celebrate the anniversary of my activities and I thank makeup artist for his collaboration in the war Forty years of Iranian children’s post- 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Iranian National Commission for UNESCO Scholars win Iranian Cinematic Research A scene from Iranian director Nabi Gholizadeh’s “Ako”. honors Rumi expert Mohammad-Ali Movahhed Awards honorable mentions “Ako” by Nabi Gholizadeh was picked as best feature film, while “Breathing” by Farshid Ayubinejad received the best short film award. “Ako” tells the story of a teenage porter in Tehran’s bazaar, who has a secret and tries to keep it. “Breathing” is about a number of workers at a stone quarry who have to hide from an insurance company investigator. Eight more Iranian films including Abbas Rafei’s acclaimed movie “Oblivion Season” were also screened at the festival. “No Exit” by Azadeh Masihpur, “Gloomy Green” by Foruzan Jalili, “Balance” by Barzin Rostami and “Blindness” by Navid Nikkhah-Azad were among the films. “You Do Not Perceive” by Payam Qorbani, “A Gift for a Gloomy Day” by Behzad Khodaveisi and “Are You Volleyball?” by Mo- hammad Bakhshi also went on screen.

Nigerian festival to screen Rumi expert Mohammad-Ali Movahhed speaks during a ceremony held by the Ira- Iranian documentarian Mohammad Tahaminejad (L) receives his lifetime Iranian shorts nian National Commission for UNESCO at the University of Tehran on December achievement award from the acting-director of Cinema Organization of Iran, 18, 2018. (IRNA/Mojtaba Mohammadlu) Hossein Entezami, during the 2nd Annual Iranian Cinematic Research Awards ARTTEHRAN – Two Iranian short animations desk ARTTEHRAN – The Movahhed, if we are interested in Iran and at the Iranian Academy of Arts in Tehran on December 18, 2018. (Mehr/ will compete in the 1st In-Short Film Festival, desk Majid Asgaripur) which will open today in Lagos, Nigeria. 96-year-old Rumi Islam, we should respect him,” Ayyubi stated. ART “Pet Man” by Marzieh Abrarpaydar and “Dash Akol” by Hajar expert, Mohammad-Ali Movahhed, was In his brief speech, Movahhed said that he TEHRAN – The 2nd Babai received honorable mentions. desk Mehrani will go on screen at the international section of the fes- honored by the Iranian National Commission was preparing himself to attend a ceremony edition of the Annual In the research plan category, Alireza tival, the Documentary and Experimental Film Center (DEFC) for UNESCO during a special ceremony at scheduled to commemorate De Fouchecour. Iranian Cinematic Research Awards was Einifar for his project on the development announced on Wednesday. the University of Tehran on Tuesday. “Mr. Ayyubi played a trick on me,” he joked. held at the Iranian Academy of Arts on and reconstruction of movie theaters Pet Man” is the story of an The ceremony was organized to celebrate He called the Iranian education system Tuesday. While the jury did not choose in Iran, and Siavash Salavatian for his animal dealer who falls asleep his lifelong career in the study of poet and inefficient and asked cultural officials to get winners for the three main categories, top project on financing in cinema were in his shop and has a nightmare mystic Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi and his people to be rid of it. scholars did receive honorable mentions. honored. in which he finds himself caught mentor Shams. “By striving, everybody can achieve “Techniques of Selecting Films to In addition, Iranian documentarian in an animal cage. He manages Speaking during the meeting, Iranian whatever he/she wants,” Movahhed said Screen in Iranian Theaters in the 2000s” Mohammad Tahaminejad received a to escape and seeks to rescue National Commission for UNESCO director and added, “Rumi, who was the outstanding by Mohammadreza Rasuli and “The lifetime achievement award. other animals, but every time Hojjatollah Ayyubi said that Movahhed had faqih (Islamic jurist), reached the highest Analysis of the Concept of Genre in The awards have been established by he is faced with an obstacle. He already rejected their call to organize the mystic eminence by his endeavors,” he Iranian Cinema” by Vahidollah Musavi the Cinema Organization of Iran (COI) finally awakes from his night- ceremony. concluded. were honored in the thesis category. to honor top research centers, works, mare but still feels surrounded He asked the organization to hold Last December, a new corrected copy of Amir-Reza Tajvidi also won an honorable articles and theses on cinema. with uncertainty and fear of the meetings instead to commemorate French Rumi’s masterpiece Masnavi-ye Manavi by mention in this section. Speaking at the awards ceremony, animals. Orientalist and Hafez expert Charles-Henri Movahhed was unveiled at the Academy of In the article category, “Folklore Hossein Entezami, the acting-director “Dash Akol”, an adaptation de Fouchecour or Shams, Ayyubi added. Persian Language and Literature in Tehran. and Its Impact on the Kolah-Makhmali of the Cinema Organization of Iran, of prominent Iranian writer Movahhed finally agreed to attend after He has also authored books on various Genre of Filmmaking in Iran” by Seyyed expressed his hope that the event would Sadeq Hedayat’s short story, the organizers assured him that the ceremony subjects, one of which “Tant De Doute Pour Ali Ruhani and Puyan Ghafari, and continue for years to come. is about a middle-aged man, will be in memory of De Fouchecour. Une Evidence” on the Persian Gulf was “Construction of a Special Intellectual He also asked universities and Dash Akol, who falls in love with “If we want to celebrate mysticism and published in France by the London-based Woman in Iran’s Post-Revolution research centers to collaborate with A poster for “Pet Man” by Iranian a 14-year orphan girl, Marjan. literature, we should acknowledge master publisher Candle and Fog this year. Cinema” by Sareh Amiri and Ehsan the event. director Marzieh Abrarpaidar. The festival will come to an end on December 22. Emily Blunt’s terrifying moment as the new Mary Poppins NEW YORK (Reuters) — She takes on a beloved movie my close-up.” “A Quiet Place” and comedy “The Devil Wears Prada.” Jeff Bridges to receive character and dances with penguins, but what really terrified “We did about four takes and then I was like, ‘Rob - please Like the original, “Mary Poppins Returns” features fantasy lifetime achievement honor British actress Emily Blunt was descending slowly from say you have it now. Have you got it? Just say you have sequences, dance numbers, animated dancing penguins. the clouds as the new Mary Poppins. it’,” said the actress, best known for her roles in thriller There’s even a cameo for a tap-dancing Dick Van Dyke, at Golden Globes More than 50 years after it first charmed audiences 93, who played Bert, the cheery London chimney sweep, worldwide, Blunt stars in the sequel “Mary Poppins Returns” in the 1964 film. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges as the magical English nanny with a no-nonsense demeanor However Andrews, 83, who won an Oscar for her will receive a lifetime achievement award at January’s Golden but a twinkle in the eye. performance as Mary Poppins, has placed herself outside Globes ceremony for his wide range of work, from Western “True The Walt Disney Co movie, starting its global roll-out the spotlight, with no role in the sequel and no appearances Grit” to comedy “The Big Lebowski,” the Hollywood Foreign this week, is set 20 years after the musical fantasy that at red carpet events. Press Association said on Monday. made Julie Andrews a star. Blunt, 35, said Andrews has been supportive of her Bridges will be honored by the HFPA with the Cecil B. DeMille Despite new music, a new cast and new director Rob taking on the role. Award, an annual accolade given to a person who has made a Marshall, “Mary Poppins Returns” pays homage to the “I was very moved that she wanted this just to be my lasting impact on the world of film. original 1964 film, including the arrival of the singing nanny version of Mary Poppins and embraced as that, rather The 69-year-old actor has been nominated for five Golden from the skies above London. than her coming in at some point and being a distraction,” Globes and won once for his role as a faded country music star This time, however, Poppins floats down holding a she said. in 2009 drama “Crazy Heart.” That performance also earned battered kite rather than her parrot umbrella but with “I hear she’s just seen the film and loved it, so that Bridges an Oscar. He also famously played the slacker known her signature carpet bag still in hand. means a lot to us,” Blunt added. as “The Dude” in 1998’s “Big Lebowski.” Blunt said she was “terrified” filming the scene while “Mary Poppins Returns,” which has been nominated for “Bridges’ brilliant body of work across diverse genres has cap- hoisted high up on a crane. “It’s very high. Rob (Marshall) Actor Emily Blunt attends the European premiere of “Mary four Golden Globe awards, also stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, tured the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide for more than wanted to do one shot where I start in the air and I come Poppins Returns” in London, Britain December 12, 2018. British actors Emily Mortimer and Ben Whishaw, and six decades,” HFPA President Meher Tatna said in a statement. down and the cameras are here and I walk straight into (Reuters/John Sibley/File Photo) Meryl Streep in a cameo role.