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16 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13524 Sunday NOVEMBER 10, 2019 Aban 19, 1398 Rabi’ Al awwal 12, 1441 Tehran ready Unidentified drone Iran squad named for Iran grabs to scrap JCPOA was downed by Mersad Iraq match in World Berlinale Spotlight if need be 2 missile system 3 Cup qualifier 15 16

See page 15 Iran’s intl. auto parts exhibition hosting 80 foreign companies TEHRAN — Tehran Permanent Inter- The event also provides a platform for Iran crowned national Fairgrounds is hosting 700 Ira- auto part makers to showcase their latest nian and 80 foreign companies from nine achievements and products. countries in the 14th Iran International Automotive parts and assemblies, ma- Auto Parts Exhibition during November chinery parts and equipment, engineering 9-12, IRIB reported. research and design, raw materials and Intercontinental Beach According to the organizers, the ex- accessories, trading and after sales servic- hibition is aiming for presenting the ca- es, car decorating, car maintenance, car pabilities and capacities of Iranian auto cleaning products, as well as specialized part manufacturers and to direct their publications for the automotive industry Soccer Cup champions products toward foreign markets. are some of this year’s major categories. Araqchi: Lifting oil, banking sanctions to please Iran to fulfill JCPOA undertakings TEHRAN — Deputy Foreign Minister under the JCPOA (the Joint Compre- Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday that his hensive Plan of Action) if sanctions country is ready to return to pre-modifi- imposed on Tehran during this period cation of the nuclear deal’s obligations if are lifted.” the oil and banking sanctions on Tehran “Our priorities are removal of oil and are lifted. banking sanctions on Iran,” Araqchi said Talking to reporters in Moscow, on the sidelines of the International Araqchi said, “Iran is ready to return Non-proliferation Treaty Conference to pre-modification of undertakings in Moscow. 2

Iraqi PM says electoral reforms to be announced in a ‘few days’ Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi di said. “However continuing protests must has said that ongoing protests are impor- allow for a return to normal life, which will tant in bringing about reform, but must lead to legitimate demands being met.” allow for a return to normal life. Since October 1, Iraqis have been pouring In a statement on Saturday, the 77 year onto the streets to protest against corruption old also said that new electoral reforms and the government’s failure to deliver basic would be announced in the “coming few services and economic opportunities. The days”, but fell short of giving further details. protesters’ demands have since widened to “The protests have helped and will help include the resignation of the government

Beach Soccer Worldwide pressure political groups, the government ... and a complete overhaul of the country’s to reform and accept change,” Abdul Mah- political system, 13 ARTICLE Everybody has a role to combat global poverty: Abhijit Banerjee ARTICLE Mahnaz Abdi By Javad Heirannia What do you think is the operational solution all classes of society to tackle poverty? Yuram Abdullah Weiler Head of the TehranTimes TEHRAN (MNA) — Prof. Abhijit Vinayak to reduce global poverty? A: I think the poor need direct attention. Analyst and journalist Economy Desk Banerjee, the winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize A: Global poverty has been going down. You cannot just rely on helping the rich and in economics, says “everybody has a role for Not as fast as it could, given how cheap it then trickle-down. combating global poverty.” is to relieve extreme poverty, but still it has In development studies, the focus was Establishment of Banerjee, who teaches economics at the been going down. The current attempt by primarily on economic development and polit- Hitting brick Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the U.S. to undermine global trade might ical development. Nowadays in development trade offices abroad tells the Mehr News Agency that “the govern- slow that down. discussions we are talking about participatory walls: Iran brooks ment, multi-laterals, NGOs, INGOs, private What is the task of combating global development. That is, all people in society on agenda firms and donor organizations” should help poverty in the first place? Sub-state in- should be involved in the development of another year of U.S. stitutions, governments or international society. What do you think of this? t has been proven that the U.S. alleviate poverty. institutions? A: Absolutely. Participation is important economic terrorism cannot achieve its target of driving To alleviate poverty, he says, the govern- A: Everybody has a role. The government, both for economic and political development. Iran’s oil exports to zero, but there ment is central though, since it has “typically We have now, for a full year, tried I the most resources, the most influence on multi-laterals, NGOs, INGOs, private firms Is your project on eliminating global is no doubt about the Trump adminis- to find banks that are able and and donor organizations. The government poverty focused on political development tration’s maximum pressure strategy critical inputs for development and the most willing to transfer money from boots on the ground.” is central though, since it has typically the or economic development? “ toward Iranian economy. donors to support our work for Af- most resources, the most influence on critical A: Both. They have the potential to feed To minimize the sanctions pressure Following is the full text of the interview: ghan refugees and disaster victims inputs for development and the most boots into each other--good politics can help good on the national economy, the Islamic Your project has been to tackle global in Iran, but we are hitting brick walls on the ground. economics and vice versa, as we argue in our Republic has adopted a policy of the poverty. The importance of the issue seems to on every side.” Do you focus just on the poor class or book Poor Economics. least reliance on the oil revenues and to have become increasingly clear to the world. —Secretary-General of the materialize this objective the country Norwegian Refugee Council Jan is focusing more and more on boosting Egeland non-oil exports. UAE running secret prison at Total gas facility in Yemen A year has passed since the despotic Trump regime re-imposed punitive eco- In fact, Iranian economists and also The United Arab Emirates is running a secret confirmed that the prison inside the Yemeni gas Citing victims and witnesses, the AP reported nomic sanctions on Iran, forcing ordi- those active in different economic sec- prison in a gas facility operated by the French complex had held detainees until the middle of that the detainees, who are held without charge, nary Iranians to endure unconscionable tors of the country believe that promo- group Total in southern Yemen, according to this year. have been sodomized, raped, probed and stripped personal hardships, including watching tion of non-oil exports is the only way information confirmed by France’s Le Monde The French newspaper says it has drawn in- down in at least five prisons. loved ones die due to shortages of crucial to tackle the sanctions. daily. formation from testimonies collected by Amnesty Amnesty International said it had also docu- drugs. While the U.S. claims to have made More non-oil exports not only will The detainees of the prison -- which is International, as well as a group of UN experts mented “systematic grave violations” in UAE-run exceptions for humanitarian goods such provide required foreign currency for located in the industrial port town of Balhaf on Yemen. jails in Yemen. The group called the AP report as food and medicines, in practice, banks the country, but it also will promote -- have suffered inhumane treatment and Various non-governmental organizations “shocking,” saying U.S. officials “continue to refuse to risk provoking Washington’s domestic production and employment; endured acts of torture with the knowledge and Yemeni activists have also confirmed the dismiss these credible allegations.” wrath and being fined on account of and it is why Iran has paid special at- of the UAE forces, the French newspaper existence of the prison inside a military base set Militants backed by the UAE have reportedly secondary sanctions. tention to this issue both in its Sixth reported Friday. up by the UAE in the same place. kidnapped and tortured hundreds of people in The coercive unilateral economic Five-Year National Development Plan Total owns 39.6% of the gas liquefaction Last year, a report by the Associated Press southern Yemen. sanctions imposed by the United States (2016-2021) and outlook plan for the complex in the southern Balhaf region. revealed that hundreds of detainees have suffered The kidnapping spree took place under the on the Islamic Republic of Iran were Iranian calendar year of 1404 (March Le Monde obtained testimonies from a former torture and sexual abuse by Emirati officers at pretext of clearing out suspected al-Qaeda-linked 2025-March 2026), and also in its pol- relaxed to some degree under the JCPOA, prisoner and a relative of another detainee, who the jails which the UAE runs in war-torn Yemen. elements. 13 icies of Resistance Economy. the so-called Iran nuclear deal, but U.S. In the way of promoting non-oil exports, president Trump rashly pulled out of Iran has adopted various approaches and is the agreement on May 8, 2018. The taking different steps, among them target- former reality TV host then gleefully ing the markets of neighboring countries Military unveils announced that these harsh measures, is the most important one. which are illegal under international Another strategy is active presence in home-made law, would be re-imposed in two 90- the foreign exhibitions and also holding day increments, and fully in effect by more international exhibitions inside November 4, 2018. President Rouhani the country and exclusive exhibitions of tank did not mince words, and calling the Iranian products in the other countries. sanctions for what they are, declared, Iran’s Five-Year National Devel- transporter “The U.S. pressures on firms and banks opment Plan has envisaged an export to halt business with Iran is one hundred growth of 21.7 percent and holding ex- Iran on Saturday unveiled a new home- percent a terrorist act.” hibitions both inside and outside the made tank transporter named “Kian 700” “We are not looking for regime change,” country plays some significant role to in a ceremony participated by Chief of Staff Trump has insisted emphatically, “We are this end, according to Bahman Hossein- of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General not looking for that at all.” Yet despite his zadeh, the managing director of Iran Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, Fars reported. prevaricating pontification, the intent of International Exhibitions Company. The tank transporter has been manufac- U.S. economic terrorism against Iran is And now, a new approach has been tured by the Army’s Ground Force experts regime change, as was made abundantly recently focused on mainly by Iran’s and enjoys 700/hp engine power and 200 clear by secretary of state Michael Pompeo. “Things are much worse for the Iranian Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Hosseein Mersadi tons of tensile strength. and also Iran Chamber of Commerce, It is also able to carry two 60-ton tanks people,” exuded the corpulent politician, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (IC- on the ultra-heavy home-made “Soleiman “and we are convinced that will lead the FARS/ CIMA). It is setting up trade offices 3” towing vehicle. 2 Iranian people to rise up and change the abroad. 4 behavior of the regime.” 2 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS NOVEMBER 10, 2019

Army official says Iranians’ Tehran says ready to scrap resistance has disappointed Washington

POLITICAL TEHRAN – Deputy Army Commander for deskCoordination Affairs Habibollah Sayyari said JCPOA if need be on Saturday that resistance by the Iranian people against the U.S. hegemonic policies has disappointed Washington. Sayyari also cautioned ‘Iran able to enrich uranium to 5, 20 or 60 percent’ the enemies against military POLITICAL TEHRAN – The Atom- trifuge machines on Sunday before making threats against Iran, saying, deskic Energy Organization of Kamalvandi says Iran won’t allow sabotage a verification report regarding enrichment “The enemies have already Iran (AEOI) spokesman says Iran is ready to act at its nuclear sites at the nuclear site. taken some measures…, but scarp the nuclear deal if need be, emphasizing Under the JCPOA, the Fordow nucle- they do not dare to do even that the AEOI has the potential to enrich ar site was supposed to exclude nuclear the least against the Iranian uranium to 5, 20 or 60 percent, while noting materials for 15 years, but Iran resumed interests,” IRNA reported. that Iran will not tolerate any act of sabotage enrichment activities in the fourth step of The rear admiral said against its nuclear facilities. reduced commitments to the nuclear deal though arrogant countries “If the country’s interests necessitate that and transferred a cylinder to the Fordow have taken the fate of certain we set Barjam aside, this will be definitely site containing around 2,000 kilograms of countries in the Persian Gulf implemented, and the Atomic Energy Or- UF6, the spokesman added. region into their hands, they ganization and Foreign Ministry will not He said enriching uranium at Fordow is are unable to do anything be the sole decision-makers in that regard, going to reach at full capacity in the coming against Iran. but it will be up to the entire country to de- days, and that it would raise the country’s About renewed U.S. mil- cide,” Behrooz Kamalvandi said at a press level of uranium enrichment capacity to 9,500 itary threats against Iran, conference at the Fordow nuclear facility SWUs (Separative Work Units), close to the Sayyari said, “The great Iranian nation is well aware of their on Saturday, using a Persian acronym for capacity before the JCPOA. weaknesses, so anyone who violates ‘our borders’, his fate the nuclear agreement Iran and six world On Wednesday, Reuters reported that will be determined by Iran.” powers struck in 2015 and later ditched by Iran had held an IAEA inspector and seized Sayyari, who was Navy chief for long years, went on to say the United States. her travel documents. Iran later confirmed that the Iranian armed forces are recognized as powerful in Kamalvandi said Iran waited patiently for the report, saying the inspector was carrying both the region and the world, so they are well-prepared to a year after the U.S. withdrew from the Joint dangerous materials that could threaten the strongly respond to any threat. Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and security of its nuclear facilities. then took strategic decisions to reduce its “When the inspector was entering the Na- commitments to the JCPOA, Tasnim reported. tanz facilities, our detectors identified that Putin signals he won’t turn If the Europeans want to continue the she could be carrying dangerous materials, his back on Iran amid U.S. cooperation with Iran, they need to make Iran took the first step to scale down nu- Kamalvandi said inspectors from the In- and several actions took place afterwards,” changes to their actions, he said, hinting clear commitments on May 8, 218. The other ternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s ambassador and hostility at the European countries’ inaction to save two steps were taken two months later each. are scheduled to verify the resumption of permanent representative to the Vienna-based the JCPOA. In the first step, Iran removed cap on its nuclear enrichment at the Fordow nuclear international organizations, said on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin is heading to Iran to sign a Kamalvandi said the AEOI has been tasked stockpile of nuclear enrichment which had site on Sunday. “This is an alarming signal for us and we joint statement with the country‘s leaders Wednesday, Moscow with enriching uranium to 5 percent and been limited to 300 kilograms. In the second, He said the IAEA has been monitoring the can’t ignore this issue easily,” he said, adding said on Friday — a move that signals the Kremlin is prepared “the organization has the potential to enrich Iran started enriching uranium beyond 3.67 process of nuclear material injection into the that the detectors only sounded for her and to remain close to the increasingly isolated state. uranium to 5, 20 or 60 percent.” percent. And in the third, Iran removed ban centrifuges, and its inspectors are scheduled not the other inspectors. Putin is due to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani On Wednesday, Iran started to inject urani- on nuclear research and development. to analyze the samples taken from the cen- Commenting on the issue, Kamalvandi and the country‘s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei um gas into centrifuges at the Fordow nuclear said Iran has always welcomed inspections, with talks expected to deepen the countries’ economic and facility under the supervision of inspectors Kamalvandi said inspectors from the but at the same time, Iranian authorities political ties. from the UN nuclear watchdog, officially International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are fully aware of the possibility of an act of Azerbaijan‘s President Iham Aliyev will also be present at going on with the fourth step since it began sabotage on Iran’s nuclear sites which could the meetings, according to Stock Daily Dish. responding to Washington’s abandonment are scheduled to verify the resumption of harm its nuclear industry. The Kremlin told CNBC that the meeting was at Rouhani‘s of the nuclear deal and an inaction by the nuclear enrichment at the Fordow nuclear The Islamic Republic of Iran is after obtain- invitation and was the second time that the presidents had met, remaining parties, including Europeans, to ing its rights and will not allow any problem their last get together being in August 2016 when a trilateral shield Iran from sanctions. site on Sunday. to occur in its nuclear industry, he added. summit was held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The topics for discussion will range from trade and eco- nomic cooperation to political issues, including the “the fight Iran: U.S. human rights claims nothing Indigenized civil defense industries against terrorism, drug trafficking and discussions on regional conflicts,” the Kremlin said in an emailed statement. but shameless hypocrisy exhibition opens Energy links, transport and the Rasht-Astara railway route, part of the international North-South transportation corridor, POLITICAL TEHRAN – The POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iran’s Civil desk desk would also form part of the talks. spokesman for the Defense Organization Moscow said the leaders would sign a joint statement later Iranian Foreign Ministry highlighted on chief Brigadier General Gholamreza Jalali Wednesday, signaling that deals could be agreed. Saturday a number of anti-human rights inaugurated the 6th indigenized civil de- Russia‘s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov con- dossiers filed against Washington, adding fense industries exhibition in Tehran on firmed this, telling reporters on Wednesday: “I am confident that the White House’s claims in defend- Saturday. that today‘s visit by the Russian president to Tehran will be ing human rights can only be named as The inauguration ceremony was also marked by new important agreements, and we will soon learn “shameless hypocrisy”. attended by Head of the Trade Promotion about them,” Russia‘s TASS news agency reported. Seyed Abbas Mousavi’s remarks came Organization Hamaid Zadboum; Head of in reaction to his American counterpart Industrial Development and Renovation Morgan Deann Ortagus, who had ques- in the exhibition),” Mousavi wrote in his Organization Mohammad Baqer Aali; and country’s knowledge-based companies had Araqchi: Lifting oil, banking tioned Iran’s achievements demonstrated Twitter account. Managing Director of Saipa Group Seyed produced hundreds of new defensive prod- in a human rights exhibition organized “This, as a real meaning for a single word, Javad Soleimani. ucts in the field of cyber space. sanctions to please Iran to by Tehran. is shameless hypocrisy,” the spokesman The exhibition which started on Saturday “We have managed to make nearly 200 “Organizing a U.S. human rights reiterated in response to Ortagus’ remarks. will display capabilities of domestic indus- new defensive products in the cyber space fulfill JCPOA undertakings exhibition will drastically be excellent. Iran has inaugurated an exhibition at the tries and knowledge-based companies in by the knowledge-based firms and all these 1 He further said, “Iran’s conditions, which once were Downing a passenger plane, discrimina- venue of the United Nation’s headquarters cyber, biological, chemical and radiative products have successfully passed the hard explained by President Hassan Rouhani, are completely clear.” tion against the blacks, bombardments in Geneva since November 4 to display the defense fields till next Tuesday. tests in the field of cyber defense,” Jalali said. “If the banking and oil sanctions are lifted it will be possible against civilians from Vietnam to Iraq and country’s achievements in human rights. The exhibition is held at the 10th, 11th, Elsewhere, he added that Iranian ex- for us to resume talks about Yemen and providing full supports for the Ortagus had on Friday claimed that 12th and 13th halls of the Tehran Interna- perts also managed to use fully home-made perfect implementation of the wildest and the most inhuman terrorist Iran is among the most notorious human tional Permanent Fairground. systems in the energy fields, including gas JCPOA,” Araqchi explained. regimes in the region (should be displayed rights violators worldwide. Last month, Jalali announced that the dispatching system. “As long as Iran’s demands are not materialized, reduction of obligations under the deal will continue,” he reiterated. Zarif hopes southern neighbors would join ECO Araqchi said on Friday that POLITICAL TEHRAN – Foreign Min- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajik- also join the economic bloc. many areas such as education, trade, technol- maintaining his country’s deskister Mohammad Javad istan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. “We hope this cooperation can be welcomed ogy, culture, cultural and political dialogue. interests is more important Zarif, who had participated at the Economic “In keeping with Iran’s foreign policy that by neighbors to our south, too.” The meeting will conclude on Sunday. than saving “an “agreement”, Cooperation Organization’s foreign ministerial posits our neighbors should always come first, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu “As a founding member and the chair of the meaning the 2015 nuclear deal. meeting in Turkey’s Mediterranean resort city regional cooperation remains a priority,” Zarif chaired the 24th ECO meeting on Saturday. organization, we will continue in an effective “No country is uncertain of Antalya on Saturday, said in a post on his wrote. According to aa.com.tr, at the opening manner activities of the ECO which aims at about Iran’s goodwill in saving Twitter page that Iran prioritizes cooperation Zarif expressed hope that Iran’s southern speech Cavusoglu said Turkey will develop a increasing cooperation and well-being in our the JCPOA … however no one with neighbors. neighbors, which includes countries lying on new initiative in Asia during its presidency, and region,” a statement by the Foreign Ministry should have any doubt that if ECO includes Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, the southern shores of the Persian Gulf, would increase the dynamism in Asia by working in said on Thursday. Iran cannot reap the JCPOA benefits, it will continue scaling down commitments,” the senior diplomat underscored. Hitting brick walls: Iran brooks another year of U.S. economic terrorism Despite the U.S. exit from the JCPOA, Tehran remained fully compliant with the international document for a whole 1 The Iranian Foreign Ministry, however, disagreed. economic terrorism,” Iranian Ambassador and Deputy Perma- cidal” is not at all extreme, consider the case of dietary formula year, giving time to the remaining co-signatories to fulfill “The unlawful sanctions imposed by the US will not bring about nent Representative to the UN Eshaq Al-e Habib pointed out, for infants with food allergies. In May 2011, the price of this their legal undertakings and protect Iran’s economy against the results it is looking for,” wrote the ministry in a statement, “Within the last four decades, the U.S. has imposed unilateral formula skyrocketed 14 times, so the Ministry of Health and the reinstated U.S. bans. “But they do harm economies, and they do harm people, both coercive measures on the Iranian people at an increasing rate.” Medical Education, taking a lesson from the previous round Iran, however, began to gradually reduce its JCPOA com- Iranian and others.” And why has Iran been subjected to this ongoing U.S. attempt of U.S. sanctions, set up a database to register those infants mitments after the European Union, especially its big three Refugees, for example, are particularly vulnerable, and at economic asphyxiation for more than 40 years? The reason needing special formula so as to ensure a sufficient supply for at – Germany, France, and Britain – which are signatory to Iran, much more so than the U.S., has done a yeoman’s job is simple: because the Iranian people had the audacity to over- least ten months. However, the two-month supply of ordinary the agreement, failed to put their verbal support for the deal of caring for refugees ever since its inception. Iran has hosted throw Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the U.S.-imposed dictator. infant formula, anticipated to be adequate by officials, was into action. more than 3 million Afghan refugees, who had been forced The same holds true in the case of Cuba, where U.S. sanctions sold out in four days due to buyers’ fears of future shortages. The reciprocal measures are in compliance with Articles to flee their homeland as a result of U.S.-incited wars in Af- have been in effect since Fidel Castro ousted the U.S.-backed While Iran subsidizes essential medicines and dietary prod- 26 and 36 of the JCPOA. ghanistan beginning with the CIA’s Operation Cyclone in dictator, Fulgencio Batista, in January of 1959. While Trump’s ucts, and has near universal health care, administrators cannot July 1979, and continuing to this day. “Refugee families are thugs have pushed unrestrained U.S. unilateralism to record be expected to plan for every contingency that could arise as a already skipping meals due to the growing economic crisis,” levels, previous Washington regimes have done their part to result of Washington’s genocidal whims. Helicopters are vital Military unveils home-made said Secretary-General of the NRC Jan Egeland, “They are destabilize and create chaos in the Middle East and much of to rescue flood victims and a severe shortage of serviceable selling the few assets they have to cover basic costs.” In ad- the rest of the world, for that matter. In sharp contrast, the aircraft due to U.S. sanctions has severely hampered relief tank transporter dition, the Islamic Republic has had to deal with the victims Islamic Republic of Iran strives to be a responsible state and operations in the flood-stricken regions of Iran. Seyed Alireza 1 Kian 700 weighs 17,799kg and runs in 12 gears. of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, which in a stabilizing power in the region. Marandi, M.D., President of the Academy of Medical Sciences Iran had in 2016 unveiled another ultra-heavy tank trans- March 2019 affected tens of thousands of Iranians. However, On Thursday November 7 and again on Friday, earthquakes of Iran, in a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres porter named Pouria and Fallagh optimized tank. because of the economic terrorism of the U.S. sanctions, the have once again struck Iran in the country’s East Azerbaijan in November 2018 asked, “When will the lives of children, The two new army achievements were unveiled during Iranian Red Crescent was unable to receive €3million in cash Province northeast of Hashtrud, resulting in at least six deaths and women and men across the globe be protected from the the Beit ul-Muqaddas 28 wargames in the central province donations to aid flood victims. and over 300 injured. Two years ago in November 2017, before criminal behavior of the United States?” of Isfahan. Sharply condemning this criminal behavior perpetrated by Trump shredded the JCPOA, a far more lethal earthquake struck We have indeed hit the brick walls of U.S. economic terrorism. “Pouria ultra-heavy tank carrier and Fallagh tanks were the U.S., Idriss Jazairy, the UN Special Rapporteur concerned Iran in Kermanshah Province near the town of Sarpol-e Zahab, These brick walls, which have been under construction since unveiled during the Beit ul-Moqaddas drills,” General Mas- with the negative impact of sanctions, stated, “The resort by killing over 500 Iranians and injuring some 7,400 others. Even the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, must be soud Reza Zawarei, the head of the Iranian Ground Force’s a major power of its dominant position in the international then, the criminal U.S. regime prohibited individuals from demolished using any and all means before another year passes Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad, told reporters at the financial arena against its own allies to cause economic hardship donating money directly to non-U.S. charitable organizations by. How many more outrages committed by Trump and his time. to the economy of sovereign States is contrary to international for the specific purpose of using the money in relief efforts to henchmen will it take for us, the concerned and caring people He said that Fallagh was equipped with automatic and sta- law, and inevitably undermines the human rights of their citi- aid Iran’s earthquake victims. of nations of the world, to join together and put an end to this bilized Dushka weapon which is controlled by the crew inside. zens.” Denouncing what he rightfully termed “U.S. genocidal To demonstrate that categorizing U.S. sanctions as “geno- criminal regime in Washington? I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 10, 2019 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 Army chief: Unidentified drone was Iran says U.S. coalitions root downed by Mersad missile system cause of insecurity worldwide POLITICAL TEHRAN — Chief of duced air defense system. POLITICAL TEHRAN — The spokesman for the Iranian deskthe Iranian Army Ma- “This decisive move and the firing of deskForeign Ministry said on Saturday that the jor General Abdolrahim Mousavi says the a missile were a reaction to the intrusion U.S.-led coalitions have only ended in more insecurity and in- unidentified drone which was flying over by a foreign drone into our country’s air- stability across the world. the Iranian southern port city of Mahshar space,” he added. Al Jazeera reported on Friday that a U.S.-led naval coalition on Friday was downed by the homegrown The senior military commander did not officially launched operations in Bahrain on Thursday to protect Mersad defense missile system. specify which country the drone belongs to shipping in the troubled waters of the Persian Gulf, following a In remarks on Saturday, General Mousa- but emphasized that Iran has repeatedly string of attacks that Washington and its allies blamed on Iran. vi said the origin and target of the aircraft warned that it is fully prepared to give a firm The coalition, supposedly aimed at warding off the perceived is still unknown, Fars reported. response to any violation of its airspace. threat to the world’s oil supply, has been in the making since June. “We cannot yet certainly identify the Meanwhile, governor of Khuzestan “The history has proven that the U.S.-formed coalitions have origin and main target of this drone since Gholam Reza Shariati told IRNA that the always been a futile title and have thus far not created security; we have not retrieved parts of the drone wreckage of the aircraft has been recovered instead, they have brought about insecurity and instability to to make our graphs and date complete, and is being investigated. the world,” Mousavi remarked. but the drone was certainly flying at low He stressed that the downed drone Noting that Washington abuses other nations’ name in coa- altitude and was targeted by the homegrown “definitely belonged to a foreign coun- litions to portray its unilateral measures as legal, Mousavi said, Mersad system,” he explained. try” and said the results of investigations “This measure, via which the U.S. hides its own interests and The general also said that the downed would be announced soon. objectives behind a rare number of countries, is a testament to drone was intercepted and destroyed in Back in June, the Islamic Revolution the U.S. weakness and lack of international legitimacy.” spite of its low radar cross-section (RCS), Guards Corps (IRGC) shot down an Amer- He further called on the regional countries to rely on their adding that the incident displayed one ican spy drone in the country’s southern own and neighbors’ capacities to restore sustainable and all-out of the capabilities of the Mersad missile coastal province of Hormozgan. security to the region. system. In a statement, the IRGC said the U.S.- “Iran as a country with the longest coastline along the Persian “Any other aggressor in any size will that was violating Iran’s airspace near the Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard said made Global Hawk surveillance drone was Gulf will strongly seek its own security and economic interests in- naturally be hit and destroyed as well,” port city of Mahshahr in the southwest- the intruding unmanned aerial vehicle brought down by its Air Force near the cluding safety of shipping,” the Foreign Ministry official pointed out. General Mousavi asserted. ern province of Khuzestan on the Persian was brought down early on Friday before Kouh-e Mobarak region — which sits in Iran, which has denied any responsibility for the suspicious The Iranian Army announced on Friday Gulf coast. it could reach “sensitive areas” thanks to the central district of Jask County — after attacks, has put forward its own proposals for boosting the Persian that it had shot down an unidentified drone Chief of the Army’s Air Defense Force the precision of Iran’s domestically-pro- the aircraft violated the Iranian airspace. Gulf security that pointedly exclude outside powers. Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, joined the Inter- national Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) in August. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) followed suit in September. Europeans doing nothing to salvage JCPOA: MP Australia and the UK are the main Western countries to have POLITICAL TEHRAN — Chairman of the Majlis Nation- of economic and financial sanctions. agreed to send warships to escort the Persian Gulf shipping. The deskal Security and Foreign Policy Committee Following the U.S. withdrawal, Iran remained fully commit- newest member, Albania, joined on Friday. Mojtaba Zonnour said on Saturday that the European parties ted to the JCPOA for a year, but announced on the anniversary Vessels will be escorted through the Strait of Hormuz, the to the 2015 nuclear agreement, also referred to as the Joint of Washington’s bellicose move that its “strategic patience” strategic chokepoint at the head of the Persian Gulf and the main Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), are doing nothing is over and would gradually reduce its commitments to the artery for the transport of Middle East oil. to save the deal. deal at 60-day intervals, which were designed as deadlines Pointing to Iran’s fourth step in reducing its commitments for Europe to protect Tehran’s interests under the deal. under the accord, Zonnour said Iran’s Supreme National Security In the first step, Iran removed cap on its nuclear deal Council (SNSC) takes decisions on the issue in its meetings stockpile which was limited to 300 kilograms enriched to Ambassador: Iran’s attended by Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, Tasnim reported. purity of 3.67 percent. In the second step, which started “In every step of reducing commitments under the JCPOA, in July 7, Iran started enriching nuclear fuel to more than membership in NPT at risk the administration’s policy is to give Europe an opportunity 3.67 percent. In the third step, which fell on September 6, if Europeans fail to meet to review their decisions and policies,” he stated. Iran removed ban on nuclear research and development Iran’s steps in scaling back its commitments should be Washington withdrew from the internationally-endorsed (R&D). And in the fourth step on November 6, Iran start- JCPOA commitments such that Europe would be forced to act, he argued. nuclear deal with Iran on May 8, 2018, reimposed the tough- ed to inject uranium gas into centrifuges at the Fordow Iran on Wednesday took the fourth step in reducing its est-ever sanctions against the country and started a plan to nuclear facility. TEHRAN (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to London Hamid commitments under the JCPOA in reaction to the continued zero down Tehran’s oil sales. Tehran has repeatedly said its measures will be revered Baeidinejad has warned that in response to failure by European failure of the European parties to meet their obligations to Under the nuclear agreement, Tehran undertook to put as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the Iranian signatories to fulfill their obligations under the Joint Comprehensive the agreement. limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the termination economy from unilateral U.S. sanctions. Plan of Action (JCPOA) and crippling sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, influential figures in Iran are advocating leaving the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in response. Senior analyst proposes security system similar to OSCO for Persian Gulf According to The Independent, the ambassador said resumption of uranium enrichment will be followed by similar steps every two POLITICAL TEHRAN — Seyed Hos- contradictory and opposing interests, they also months unless European states do more to save the nuclear deal. desksein Mousavian, a Middle have vital mutual interests. In fact, they share The ambassador spoke as Iran stopped an International Atomic East security and nuclear policy specialist more common interests than contradictory Energy Authority (IAEA) inspector to enter a facility at Natanz at Princeton University, proposes a regional ones. Hence, the neighboring countries must because he was “tested positive for explosive nitrates”. security system for the Persian Gulf similar be willing to invest more on common interests Following the incident U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the OSCO. rather than on those that are contradictory. accused Iran of positioning itself for a “rapid nuclear breakout.” “Sustainable peace and security in the Coexistence and cooperation between the Tehran has said Britain, France, and Germany -- who have Persian Gulf require a regional cooperation GCC, Iraq and Iran would lead to fundamental remained in the nuclear deal along with Russia and China after system similar to the Organization for Security changes in the relations that Sunni Muslim the U.S. pulled out -- are failing to establish an adequate finan- and Co-operation in Europe,” Mousavian communities have with their Shiite coun- cial structure to enable companies to trade with Iran in face of wrote in al-Monitor on Friday. terparts in the world of Islam. It would lead American sanctions. The suggestion by Mousavian comes as to more solidarity and brotherhood, which Iran, said Baeidinejad, has been fulfilling its obligation under Iran proposed the Hormuz Peace Endeavor would then lead to better prospects of secu- the JCPOA since Washington reneged on it and brought in pu- (HOPE) for security in the Persian Gulf region rity, stability and economic development on nitive sanctions, and was now taking from steps as a “wake-up in late September. a global scale. call” to the other signatories. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has In 1987, under UN Security Council Res- The decision to inject uranium gas into centrifuges in the written letters to leaders of Saudi Arabia, olution 598 on the Iran-Iraq cease-fire, the underground Fordow facility was the fourth move Iran has made the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Iraq council asked the secretary-general to ex- as part of this policy. “We cannot continue to fulfill one-sidedly to join the security plan. amine measures to enhance the security and so we have taken these decisions. If the other does not take the Following is the text of the article by stability of the Persian Gulf in consultation warning seriously, maybe through the use of INSTEX we shall Mousavian titled “Is it time for a historic with Iran, Iraq and other states of the region. be in a very difficult situation, all of us. But we hope with these paradigm shift in the Persian Gulf?: This was a key task for the secretary-general, steps we are conveying a strong, real and serious message to After the recent attempt by the United but unfortunately no efforts were made to implement the nuclear deal” Baeidinejad said. Arab Emirates to reduce tensions with Teh- carry out this essential mandate. INSTEX is a payment channel set up by the UK, Germany ran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sent a The new model for sustainable peace and Sustainable peace and security in the Per- and France to trade with Iran and circumvent the U.S. sanctions. letter proposing a peace plan to heads of the Gulf sian Gulf require a regional cooperation system Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, security should leave no place for anyone’s similar to the Organization for Security and Qatar, the UAE, Oman and Bahrain) and Iraq. hegemony. I call this the “zero dominance Co-operation in Europe. Such a system would Since the 1979 Revolution, Iran and its and hegemony” model. include the six members of the GCC plus 95 out of 111 countries laud Arab neighbors have never been able to forge Iran and Iraq to deal with common security a deep and sustainably friendly relationship. by the Trump administration to declare Je- vs. Arabs. Hence the old formula to ensure concerns, including terrorism, extremism, Iran’s human rights record In fact, they have been trying to maintain rusalem the capital of Israel and recognize peace, security, and stability is obsolete and sectarianism, organized crime, asymmetric minimalist diplomatic ties with each other, the Golan Heights as part of Israel could not we need a new one. threats/warfare and drug trafficking. Delegates to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on viewing the status quo as the most effective have come at a worse time for a Middle East * The second point comes as a result of This regional cooperation system should Saturday praised Iran during a mandatory human rights review mode of relations. experiencing mounting tensions. the time and energy I have spent in recent take responsibility to guarantee safe maritime that all UN member states undergo every five years. Over the past few years, however, the de- With the new wave of turmoil in Beirut and years studying — in dialogue with experts passage of energy exports through the narrow Mohammad Larijani, secretary general of the High Council gree of hostilities between Iran and Saudi Baghdad, where determined demonstrators of the Middle East and North Africa — both Strait of Hormuz and security for a quarter for Human Rights in Iran, on Saturday presented the country’s Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain has reached have occupied streets for many weeks calling the contemporary and past history of the of the world’s international energy exports report at the UN Human Rights Council. unprecedented levels, to the extent that ob- for the removal of the entire political class, the Arab world and its relations with Iran. It and production with stability in pricing of While the review is meant to scrutinize governments and servers saw prospects of military confrontation Middle East is desperate for a serious reconsid- has been obvious to me that there are three the region’s oil and gas resources. The mem- thereby strengthen the basic rights and freedoms of their citi- in the region. eration of policies by all parties involved in the main varieties of “fear of hegemony” among ber states could establish a task force to deal zens, according to a UN Watch count, 95 out of 111 countries, or The reasons behind the increasing tensions region. While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict the smaller states in the Middle East, namely, with regional crises such as in Yemen, Syria, 85%, praised Iran for its human rights achievements. are worth discussing. After the Saudis waged remains the most vital point of contention in the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. Iraq and Afghanistan through multilateral Only a small minority of 16 nations used their brief speaking war in Yemen starting in 2015, the UAE and the Middle East, resolving rivalries among the The “blatant fear” is about Iranian hegemony. diplomacy and cooperation with influential time to apply real scrutiny to Tehran’s human rights record. Bahrain became parties to the conflict on countries around the Persian Gulf, especially The “hazy fear” is about Iraqi hegemony. And foreign and regional players such as the United Below is a selection of the statements expressed by the ma- the Saudi side, whereas Iran supported the Iran and Saudi Arabia, would have a substan- the “subtle fear” is about Saudi hegemony and States, the European Union, China, Russia, jority of delegates: Houthis. In 2016, Saudi authorities executed tial impact on resolving crises in Yemen, Iraq, dominance in the region. The new model for Turkey, Egypt and the United Nations. Qatar: “My delegation commends the legislative and executive Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr — a popular Shiite cleric Syria and Lebanon. But for such efforts and sustainable peace and security should leave With a United States willing to reduce development made by Iran to ensure the development of social critical of the Saudi government — which was a reshaping of policies to be effective in the no place for anyone’s hegemony. I call this its presence in the region, such a regional and human rights.” followed by an attack on the Saudi Embassy Persian Gulf, attention needs to be paid to the the “zero dominance and hegemony” model. cooperation system could facilitate a grad- Belarus: “We highly appreciate these results (the progress in Tehran by an angry mob. As a result of the following points. * Third, all members of the GCC along with ual withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign of Iran), knowing at the same time that the country is forced to attack, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain cut diplo- * First, for the decades following the 1979 Iran and Iraq have complaints about the lack military forces from the region by taking overcome the difficulties associated with the application of illegal matic ties with Iran, while the UAE reduced Revolution, the countries of the Gulf Cooper- of respect for their sovereignty, interference responsibility for security in the Persian unilateral coercive measures against it.” its diplomatic relationship. Last but not least, ation Council (GCC) have been allied against in their domestic affairs and the tendency for Gulf region. State of Palestine: “We commend Iran’s commitment to pro- President Donald Trump’s policy of maxi- Iran, which has added much to the ethnically sectarian policies to be bolstered. Therefore, The time has come for a new and inno- mote and protect human rights.” mum pressure against Iran was supported belligerent dichotomy of Arab vs. Persian. the foundations of the new model for sustain- vative model for peace in the Persian Gulf. Malaysia: “Iran’s effort to improve the livelihood of its people by U.S. allies in the region, namely, Saudi Over the past few years, tensions between the able peace and security should be based on Oman and Kuwait have already made good is commendable.” Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Israel. neighboring Arab countries also increased seven factors. These are non-interference; efforts toward achieving friendly relations Indonesia: “We commend the progress made by Iran in the While rivalry between Iran and Saudi dramatically. Greater tensions began when respect for national sovereignty; mutual and now the role of the UAE could be de- development of human rights.” Arabia has taken hold all over the region, Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq invaded respect; commitment to abandon sectarian finitive. Some sources have confirmed that Iraq: “We recommend that Iran continue efforts to implement including in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Syr- Kuwait in 1990; more recently, a high point and pan-nationalist policies; commitment Tehran has received a positive response from the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social ia, news about improvement of diplomatic ties in hostilities between GCC countries took maintaining the geographic status quo of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to Rouhani’s letter and Cultural Rights”. between the Arab states of the Persian Gulf place when Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bah- the region; commitment to secure mutual on a peace plan with neighbors. In all of this, Haiti: “We recognize Iran’s effort to improve living conditions and Israel shook Iran. Ongoing Israeli attacks rain cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017. interests among states; and commitment to the UN Security Council must play a more for people living in the country despite sanctions applied to it”. on Syria and Iraq — including on Iran’s bases Thus, hostilities in the region are not just collective security. robust role to ensure that security and peace Oman: “We commend Iran in the field of human rights pro- in these two countries — and the decision limited to Arabs vs. Persians, but also Arabs While Iran and its neighbors have both are achieved in the region. tection and promotion.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY NOVEMBER 10, 2019

STOCK MARKET Iran’s Q2 foreign TEDPIX 305858.9 IFX 3894.08 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir investment up CURRENCIES USD 42,000 rials 20% on year EUR 46,281 rials ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian cial said: “We have not reached the desired GBP 53,658 rials deskfinance and economic point yet, but despite the sanctions that were affairs minister said the foreign investment imposed on us, we have managed to stand AED 11,437 rials attracted into the country during the current on our own feet.” Source: cbi.ir year’s summer period (June 22-September Dejpasand noted that over the past six 22) increased by 20 percent compared to years, the figure for foreign investment the last year’s same period, ILNA reported has only been positive for two years and on Saturday. to change this situation special attention As reported, the figure showed a 60-per- according to Afrouz Bahrami, the director COMMODITIES According to Farhad Dejpasand, in the should be paid to investment and production cent rise in comparison to the same period general of Foreign Investment Office of the mentioned three-month period which is the in the country. last year. Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade. Brent $62.51/b second quarter (Q2) of the Iranian calendar In late August, the industry ministry Iranian industry, mining and trade sectors As previously reported, Iran expects a WTI $57.24/b year, 840,000 direct job opportunities were announced that $554.4 million of foreign attracted $3.5 billion of foreign investment 10-fold increase of foreign investment in also created. investment was approved by the ministry in the past Iranian calendar year (ended on industry and mining sectors by the end of OPEC Basket $62.32/b Mentioning the fact that the country’s during the first four months of the current March 20), which indicates a 75-percent the Sixth Five-Year National Development Gold $1,461.15/oz economic condition is improving, the offi- Iranian calendar year (March 21-July 22). growth from the figure of its preceding year, Plan (2021). Silver $$16.89/oz Platinium $891.10/oz Conference on Iran-Syria trade opportunities slated for Nov. 12 Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com ECONOMY TEHRAN – A Hamid Zadboum, Hassan Danaeifar, the ties. The two sides have exchanged final stages and it will be opened in the deskconference on advisor to Iran’s first vice president and numerous trade delegations in the past next three months, maximum,” he said. introducing Iran and Syria’s trade and also the chairman of the Iranian committee few months and Iranian private companies In August 2018, a delegation comprised business opportunities is going to be on development of economic relations are investing in various fields of Syrian of Iranian economic experts traveled to Khazaie appointed as secretary held at Tehran Permanent International with Syria and Iraq, Syrian Ambassador to economy like providing construction Syria to explore investment opportunities general of ICC Iran committee Fairgrounds on November 12, Trade Tehran Adnan Hassan Mahmoud, and the materials especially cement and working and finalize the reconstruction plans of Promotion Organization (TPO) of Iran Chairman of Iran-Syria Joint Economic on several reconstruction projects. the war-stricken country. ECONOMY TEHRAN – Mohammad Khazaie was appointed announced. Committee Keyvan Kashefi are scheduled In late October, Kashefi said an Iranian Also in January, the 14th preparatory deskas the new secretary general of Iranian com- Iranian Deputy Industry Minister to deliver speeches in the event. trade center in Damascus is going to be meeting of Iran-Syria high joint technical mittee of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the portal Hossein Modares Khiabani, Head of Trade Iran and Syria have been taking major opened within the next three months. committee of economic cooperation was of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO) steps for expansion of their mutual trade “Equipping the trade center is in the held in Damascus. (ICCIMA) reported on Saturday. Value of trades at IME rises South Africa doesn’t have a revenue 47% in a week problem, but rather a spending problem ECONOMY TEHRAN — During ing IME brand as some of the mentioned What Tito Mboweni’s Medium-Term produce longer term benefits, but to do deskweekdays ended on No- macro plans. Budget Policy Statement proved again it in perpetuity is fiscally irresponsible. vember 7, while 597,258 tons of commodities Soltani-Nejad has previously announced is that pinning our hopes on inflated rev- Sadly, we now see an expected R300 bil- worth over $619 million were traded at Iran that IME accounted for 39 percent of the enue targets is unrealistic, says Steven lion budget deficit in 2020 versus R200 Mercantile Exchange (IME), the trading vol- value of the total trades in the Iranian capital Nathan, founder and CEO of disruptive billion in 2019,” Nathan said. ume and value experienced a growth of 35 market during the past Iranian calendar year. asset manager 10X Investments, who It is not just that we spend well be- percent and 47 percent, respectively. He put the value of IME trades at 1.78 insists that we have to change the way yond our means, we spend badly, Nathan According to the report from IME Inter- quadrillion rials (about $42.3 billion) in we spend. continued citing the education sector. national Affairs and Public Relations De- the past year. As per businesstech.co.za, South Africa In school education we are spending in The former deputy economy minister was appointed by Head partment, last week, on the domestic and The value of trades at IME rose 52 percent collects around R1.5 trillion in revenue the region of R260 billion a year. Divide of ICCIMA Gholam-Hossein Shafeie to occupy the position pre- export metal and mineral trading floor of in the past calendar year from its previous year. annually that is a lot of money. Our tax that by 14 million learners (which includes viously taken by Mohammad-Mehdi Behkish. IME, 218,400 tons of various products worth Over 24.84 million tons of commodities receipts to GDP, at almost 30%, is high 6% privately educated) and you get almost Khazaie has extensive experience in international affairs and close to $256 million were traded. valued at 884.3 trillion rials (about $21.05 by international standards and around R20,000 a year per pupil. diplomacy. Senior advisor to the minister of economic affairs On this trading floor, 208,880 tons of steel, billion) were traded at the physical market double Sub-Saharan Africa’s 15%. Yet Nathan pointed to the top government and finance, deputy minister of economic affairs and finance, 800 tons of copper, 3,600 tons of aluminum, of IME, showing seven percent fall in the we are always hearing about missing schools, Model C schools where they have head of Organization for Investment, Economic and Technical 120 tons of molybdenum concentrates, as amount and 77 percent rise in the worth of our revenue targets and our ballooning a 100% pass rate for five years or more: Assistance Of Iran, member of the Economic Relations Coor- well as 3 kg of gold bullion were traded by trades year on year. budget deficit. they are spending R20,000 to R30,000 a dination Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, member of the customers. Applying new financial instruments in So where are we going wrong? year per pupil with less than 1,000 pupils OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), vice chair- The report declares that on domestic Iranian capital market was one of the achieve- “For a start, government has been way per school. man of the Investment Committee at OFID, Iran’s ambassador and export oil and petrochemical trading ments of the country’s exchange markets too optimistic over the years in increas- “In other words, with no economies and permanent representative to the United Nations could be floors of IME, 378,296 tons of different during the past year. ing revenue targets. In some instances, it of scale several Model C schools deliver mentioned as some of his previous occupations. commodities with the total value of $366 In this due, IME launched “option” in has forecast double digit growth, which quality education and achieve positive million were traded. early March 2019 in an approach to diversify is completely unrealistic,” said Nathan. outcomes. Imagine what SA as a whole On this trading floor, 127,222 tons of bi- financing methods for agricultural products. “We know the economy hasn’t grown could achieve with a R260 billion school Establishment of trade tumen, 102,500 tons of VB feed stock, 61,493 Option is a contract which gives the much in the last five years. We know that education budget managed in a public-pri- tons of polymer products, 59,500 tons of lube buyer (the owner or holder of the option) the two main sources that generate tax vate sector partnership with proven skills offices abroad on agenda cut oil, 21,267 tons of chemical products, the right, but not the obligation, to buy or revenues – companies and consumers – from Model C Schools, the private sector 1,090 tons of insulation, 1,426 tons of argon sell an underlying asset or instrument at a are under enormous pressure. and government,” he said. 1 During a meeting with the members of Khorasan Razavi as well as 3,360 tons of sulfur were traded. specified strike price prior to or on a speci- “We know that the tax base has been This approach, Nathan said, would Province’s Chamber of Commerce held in the city of Mashhad last Furthermore, 562 tons of commodities fied date, depending on the form of the option. eroded with wealthy people emigrating dramatically improve the country’s ed- week, ICCIMA Head Gholam-Hossein Shafei said the chamber were traded on the side market of IME. And in mid-October, IME launched and companies investing and spending ucation outcomes over the medium to is ready to establish five trade offices in five countries to boost On June 24, during the meeting of IME “futures contract” for the pistachio deals. less in the country. You don’t have to be longer term. “This could also serve as a test the private sector’s role in the national trade. shareholders, IME Managing Director Hamed Futures contracts (more colloquially, fu- too insightful to conclude that increased case for other government departments.” The official noted that neighboring countries would be the Soltani-Nejad said that this exchange has tures) are financial contracts obligating the tax revenue is unlikely to be the silver “So, we have the money and we have priority for this program and the first office is to be established prepared ten macro plans to improve its buyer to purchase an asset or the seller to bullet to close the budget deficit.” the skills, we just currently lack the will. in Russia. performance during the current Iranian sell an asset at a predetermined future date In this context, spending R200 billion Let’s hope the government takes the time “In the wake of Iran’s joining to Eurasian Economic Union calendar year (ends on March 19, 2020). and price. per year that we don’t have, as we did to consider these types of initiatives and (EAEU), the first trade office will be set up in Russia,” Shafei He mentioned development of under- Addressing the ceremony to launch this in 2019, makes no sense, the financial embraces workable solutions that will said, adding that the office will be completely supported by the lying assets through existing instruments, financial instrument, Soltani-Nejad said, lead said. benefit all South Africans. The alternative, Iranian government. development of financial instruments for “There is no futures contract for pistachio Longer term benefits to repeat our past behaviors, is likely to “Given the successful experience of institutes such as Japan commodity-backed securities, expansion of deals in any mercantile exchange in the world “Maybe you could do it for a year or produce the same dismal fiscal results External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Korea Trade-Invest- market size and depth, increasing cooperation and it is the first time that such contract is two in a time of crisis if you had a clear with continued low growth and high un- ment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in boosting the countries’ with other organizations, and strengthen- launched in a mercantile exchange.” strategy on how this over-spending will employment,” Nathan concluded. trade, we proposed the establishment of national trade offices to be able to promote the market for the Iranian goods,” the ICCIMA head highlighted. Also on October 23, the chairman of Iran-Syria Joint Trade Committee said the Iranian trade center in Damascus is going Asia’s big trade pact will hurt the global economy to be opened within the next three months. From a political perspective, India’s decision overnight to about 5.15%, a lower average rate than Australia or Canada “Equipping the trade center is in the final stages and it will be walk away from immediate involvement in a trade zone imposed in the mid-1990s. opened in the next three months, maximum,” Keyvan Kashefi encompassing half the world’s population and a third of Still, the effect of harmonizing standards at the region- announced. its economy is good for almost everyone. al-agreement rather than global level is the opposite of an According to hellenicshippingnews.com, the government opening of trade. The objection to the original TPP — that it of Prime Minister Narendra Modi no longer needs to make resulted in the U.S. imposing its standards on other economies Latin America’s top difficult concessions on agricultural trade. Other members of within the bloc — comes with the territory in such deals. the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership group, The standards that are established across the zone in- economies add to streak or RCEP, won’t need to open their home markets to India’s evitably resemble those of its largest member. That would of low inflation thriving, and low-cost, services sector. be fine in a global agreement, but in a regional deal the China, the linchpin of a zone that also includes the As- effect is to raise barriers to nations outside the bloc with Brazil’s and Mexico’s annual inflation rates remained subdued sociation of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, South Korea, different rules. in October as central banks in both nations plan fresh interest Australia and New Zealand, will be able to move forward In the case of RCEP, that means smaller and lower-in- rate cuts. faster with an agreement that was at risk of being jeopardized come countries in Southeast Asia are likely to become more According to bloomberg.com, consumer prices as measured by India’s foot-dragging. closely entwined with China, while their links with potential by Brazil’s benchmark IPCA index rose 2.54% in the 12 months The U.S., meanwhile, can take satisfaction from the fact partners outside the zone will fall behind. through October, while Mexico’s annual inflation reached 3.02%, that its key regional ally in New Delhi is remaining outside The reformed TPP, likewise, will bind those nations according to government data published on Thursday. The South of Beijing’s orbit. closer to each other than to the rest of the world. Only the American nation targets annual inflation of 4.25% this year, while A stronger RCEP that included India would almost cer- handful of countries in both blocs — Japan, Australia, New Mexico’s goal is 3%. tainly have revived politically fraught question of whether now falling at the fastest pace since the 2009 financial crisis. Zealand and Singapore — stand a chance of benefiting as Cost of living increases in both countries remain tame amid Washington should rejoin the rival Trans-Pacific Partnership Both the RCEP and the pared-down, U.S.-free version much as China. weak activity and wavering confidence. Brazil has struggled to agreement or TPP, which died in Congress under the Obama of the TPP are better understood as attempts to harmonize The result suggests that trade is moving in a similar lower double-digit unemployment rates, while Mexican President administration and was formally killed off by President trading standards than reduce tariff barriers. direction to tech, with the world bifurcating into separate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s policies have eroded investor Donald Trump. Non-tariff barriers zones as tensions between China and the U.S. force nations trust in the economy. Policy makers in both nations are injecting That’s precisely the problem, though. Trade agreements In part this is a result of the success of previous trade to take sides. stimulus via their central banks. are hard precisely because deals that are worthwhile eco- agreements, which have lowered border levies to the point It’s a path that’s grimly reminiscent of the aftermath of Amid tight fiscal policy, Mexico’s monetary authority is stepping nomically tend to be politically hazardous, and vice versa. where the more potent restraint on commerce is often non-tariff World War II, when the U.S.-led Marshall Plan and Sovi- in with easing, which is expected to continue in its next scheduled India’s pause on the RCEP isn’t the cause of the parlous barriers, governing areas such as food safety, licensing, and et-centered Comecon developed into rival trading blocs. decision on Nov. 14. Policy makers are forecast to cut Mexico’s state of international commerce in 2019, but it’s another rules of origin. Even within the more protectionist RCEP That division split the global economy for the duration of key interest rate a quarter point to 7.5%. telling symptom of a global trading system where volumes are zone, the median trade-weighted tariff had fallen in 2017 to the Cold War. We shouldn’t welcome its revival. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 10, 2019 ENERGY 5

No worries over stable gas Finnish and Swedish HDV fleet owners see environment-focused supply during cold season: NIGC mindset as permanent Gasum survey results demonstrate heavy-duty vehicle fleet owners ENERGY TEHRAN — National National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and desk in Finland and Sweden see an environment-focused mindset as Iranian Gas Company Power Generation, Distribution and Trans- a permanent phenomenon. (NIGC)’s dispatching director said with mission Company (known as Tavanir) will The customers’ environmental expectations have increased the recent increases in South Pars gas field also be held to ensure sustainable energy in both Finland and Sweden, with 82% of fleet owners in both output and new lines and pressure boosting supply across the country, Jamshidi Dana said. countries agreeing that an environment-focused mindset is a units going on stream along the national gas Back in September, NIGC managing di- permanent phenomenon and not a passing trend. network, NIGC is ready for sustainable gas rector said the country’s two western gas supply during the cold season. pipelines, namely the sixth and ninth pipe- As reported by Shana on Saturday, ac- lines, would soon be officially inaugurated. cording to Mehdi Jamshidi Dana the annual “Five gas pressure boosting stations have overhaul program for the gas network’s refin- been established along the pipelines which will eries and transmission lines is underway since ensure both gas exports and supply stability,” the beginning of the current year (March 21) Hassan Montazer Torbati said. and has progressed more than 95 percent. The sixth line of Iran’s national gas network “The program is expected to be completed is more than 1200 kilometers long, carrying by mid-November based on the schedule,” gas from South Pars field in the Persian Gulf he added. through the provinces of Bushehr, Khuzestan, As per lngindustrey.com, the survey results also demonstrate He further mentioned NIGC’s preparation Lorestan, Ilam and Kermanshah to the city that 60% of fleet owners that have over 16 HDVs see biogas as a meetings prior to the cold season, saying of Dehgolan in Kurdistan province. The viable fuel option in Finland in the near future, and 33% of Swedish “Like previous years, weekly meetings are 5-inch-diameter pipeline carries 110 million large-fleet owners agree. In both countries, large-fleet owners see going to be held for coordinating different cilitating and resolving possible problems In addition to the mentioned meetings, cubic meters of gas from the south to the biogas as a more viable option than hybrid or electricity solutions. sectors of the gas supply chain and for fa- during the winter.” coordination meetings with authorities of northwest of the country on a daily basis. The use of LNG and LBG in road transport is based on proven and reliable technology and results in significant cuts in carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate and noise emissions. Jukka Metsälä, Vice President, Traffic, Gasum, said: “I’m OPEC looks ahead and sees oil’s plateau very happy that already today the large-fleet owners of Finland and Sweden see the benefits of LNG and LBG in road transport. By Nathaniel Bullard growth, though, aviation is tops, with almost a one-third If a company with 16 HDVs switched from conventional fuels growth in demand from 2020 to 2040. to gas, this would mean significant reductions in greenhouse The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Road transport might be the king of oil demand, but OPEC gas emissions as the annual emissions of one HDV are equal to (OPEC) this week published its annual World Oil Outlook, is changing its tune on cars, even if slightly. Its expected those of 40 – 50 passenger cars. I strongly recommend that also a reliably huge and dense examination of the future of the passenger vehicle fleet size, almost 2 billion in 2040, is hun- small-fleet owners consider making the switch. This would be cartel’s main product, as well as the markets that will drive dreds of millions of vehicles more than my BloombergNEF a great solution for hauling companies to stand out in a highly its growth and compete against it. Bloomberg Opinion’s colleagues expect. competitive logistics market.” Liam Denning referred to this year’s outlook as “dour” and, The OPEC’s consistency According to the survey, fleet owners consider LNG and LBG’s in the medium term, even despairing of its members’ contri- More interesting, though, is OPEC’s consistency in re- strengths to be the fuel cost savings, emission reductions and the bution to the global supply of crude oil, natural gas liquids ducing its expected fleet size each year. constantly expanding filling station network. and other liquid fuels. It doesn’t look like much year on year, but since 2014, The results also show that more than half of all fleet owners in Let’s examine OPEC’s views on hydrocarbon demand, OPEC has reduced its expected number of new cars on the Finland and Sweden have seen an increase in environmental ex- key sectors and the future of energy in general. road by nearly 200 million. For comparison, there are just pectations from their customers over the last few years. In addition While the global oil market is reliably huge, in OPEC’s over 250 million passenger vehicles in the U.S. today. to this, nearly 60% of Finnish and 82% of Swedish respondents view, parts of it are soon to be ex-growth, and by 2040 — the OPEC’s vision of total demand growth — less than 10% believe that some of their HDVs will be using a low-emission fuel end of its forecast — global demand will hardly grow at all. in two decades — reveals another finding: Oil is not the in five years’ time and are interested in introducing alternative Starting in 2020, oil demand growth in OECD countries biggest contributor to meeting growing energy demand. fuels in their operations. turns negative. That would be natural gas. But oil also trails wind, solar could be a significant replacement for hydrocarbons in the Jani Arala, Senior Manager, sales, Traffic, Gasum, said: “Our India and China are reliable growth markets throughout, and geothermal energy. energy system (as well as a new investment opportunity for observations align with the fleet owners’; there’s increasing demand though to a declining degree, while demand from Organiza- Here’s an update to a data set Denning and I explored in oil and gas firms), and “climate.” “Hydrogen” is on its way for environmentally friendly solutions in heavy transportation. tion for Economic Cooperation and Development countries our take on OPEC’s 2018 outlook: the number of appearances up, while “climate” is at nearly the same level as “electric It’s also clear from the results that this will not change soon, as continues to erode. The net result is that oil demand is ex- of keywords or concepts over time. Last year, we noted that vehicles” and “tight oil.” It’s worth watching these same only 18% believe that caring about the environment is a tempo- pected to grow by only 100,000 barrels per day in 2040, in the number of mentions of “electric vehicles” and “tight oil” terms again next year, and in years after. rary phenomenon.” a market with daily demand in excess of 110 million barrels. were exactly the same. This year, given that the outlook is OPEC’s latest World Oil Outlook looks at the future of Ambitious emission targets A 0.09% growth rate is very close to no growth at all. significantly shorter than it was last year, I’ve adjusted the the cartel’s contribution to energizing the global economy, As Gasum points out in the statement, road transport emis- Demand growth is also highly concentrated in just a few number by page count. In 2019, “tight oil” is narrowly ahead and finds an ever-flattening trajectory. It’s not calling the sions is a highly topical issue, as the European Union has set sectors. Road transport, the largest chunk of oil demand of “electric vehicles” for mentions. top on oil demand, but it’s not far from it, either: It looks ambitious emission targets for HDVs. The legislation dictates today, and petrochemicals, the second-largest, also account Hot on the heels of both of these significant drivers of ahead, and it sees oil’s plateau. that emissions of new HDVs must be reduced by 15% by 2025 for almost 60% of total demand growth. In terms of relative system change are two other concepts: “hydrogen,” which (Source: bloomberg.com) and by 30% by 2030 compared to 2019. Gasum claims that it is expanding the gas filling station network in the Nordics to help meet these targets. According to the statement, the survey also asked fleet owners about the most important factors that influence their choice of Brazil emerges as a threat to OPEC, but must reform its oil development model fuel partners. Both Finnish and Swedish respondents agreed that the three most important factors are competitive pricing, ease of By Robert Boslego debating — and in the end it was a no-show.” State-run Petroleo Brasileiro SA (NYSE: PBR), also known use and a comprehensive refuelling station network. After years of disappointments, Brazil’s offshore produc- as Petrobras, has long dominated Brazil’s upstream oil Mikael Antonsson, Director, Traffic, Gasum Sweden, said: tion potential is scaling up. Production has climbed about sector, having been founded in 1953. It had a privileged “We’re taking determined steps in building a comprehensive filling 300,000 b/d and total liquids have increased by 480,000 position in the bidding system and won rights to produce station network in the Nordics. We’re aiming to build around 20 b/d year-over-year in August to a record 3.1 million barrels in fields in which it already operates. filling stations for HDVs in Sweden and Finland by the end of the per day ((mmbd)), an all-time high, with crude oil rising by In the offshore production year and to build a total of 50 new filling stations in the Nordics 220,000 b/d in August. The IEA expects Brazilian output Brazil is starting to live up to its potential in the off- by the early 2020s. This will increase the availability of gas and to rise to 3.22 million b/d by the end of 2019, and the South shore production. And its recent and projected growth will allow even more fleet owners to choose low-emission LNG American country is expected to increase output by another is a negative for Aramco’s IPO and the OPEC+ efforts to and LBG as a fuel and, at the same time, make significant fuel 460,000 b/d by the end of 2021. limit world supplies. But the country is committed to free cost savings.” Brazil Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque markets, and there is little risk that it will suddenly join To date, Gasum has a network of approximately 40 gas filling said on Wednesday that the country could produce 7 mmbd. OPEC and limit its production. stations in Finland and Sweden, of which 11 LNG and LBG stations Pre-salt reserves are forecast to drive oil production to The TOR auction should have taught the country its also serve the long-haul HDV segment. In addition to this, other that level by 2030. OPEC as a major producer and exporter,” Barkindo said lesson. It does have attractive offshore “pre-salt” fields, operators are expanding the filling station network in Europe, First oil is expected from offshore Guyana in December. at a press briefing in Vienna. but if it wants to attract the international oil companies to and, according to NGVA Europe, there are now approximately And PDVSA, the national oil company of Venezuela, has Bolsonaro reportedly surprised local oil industry offi- develop them, it must reform its model for development. 218 HDV filling stations in operation, and around 6000 LNG recently budgeted a rebound in its oil production to 1.2 cials. He has a history of making off-the-cuff comments in If it makes its oil industry more competitive, it should see trucks across Europe. mmbd in 2020. That is almost double recent production public appearances that have caused rifts with members its production growth significantly in the future, another estimates. of his own administration. headache for OPEC. These developments in South America come at a time Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, who leads a plan to Are you pleased with your energy sector returns? Renewables can bridge when the demand for OPEC oil in 2020 is expected to open Brazil’s economy, said, “We believe in democracy, To guide investors who are interested in profiting from power gap for half a billion drop further. And so it comes as no surprise that Saudi market economies, cooperation and global integration. Our outstanding opportunities in the energy sector, I provide Arabia invited Brazil to join OPEC when President Bol- concepts as a part of Western, liberal democracies would a service on Seeking Alpha’s Marketplace oriented toward Africans: IEA sonaro recently attended the Future Investment Initiative never be to use cartels or strengthen cartels as a way to individual investors, Boslego Risk Services. A long/short Conference in Riyadh. corner democracies that depend on oil.” Model portfolio is continuously updated, along with on-go- Renewables led by solar would play the biggest role in meeting To be a member of OPEC The massive transfer-of-rights (TOR) auction was held ing analysis of the oil market. Africa’s soaring power needs under a trajectory mapped by the Bolsonaro said, “I personally would like Brazil to be a on November 6 and the 6th production sharing round took I am now accepting new members to Boslego Risk Ser- International Energy Agency (IEA) out to 2040 that would help member of OPEC, the potential is there.” place on November 7. The results were a total disaster. vices and invite you to sign-up. There are monthly and hundreds of millions more people get access to electricity. OPEC’s Mohammad Barkindo said Brazil would be According to Guedes, “We undertook an enormous chal- annual pricing options as described here. You may also As stated by rechargenews.com, the most ambitious ‘Africa “most welcome” in the producer group. “Brazil is a very lenge to, in the end, sell to ourselves. We spent five years read reviews posted by members here. Case’ scenario in the IEA’s latest outlook for the continent sees important producer. They deserve to have a seat within talking about it. We made a spectacular effort, studying, (Source: seekingalpha.com) power demand almost tripling to 2,300TWh by then, with re- newables accounting for three quarters of the new generation added to meet it. The IEA sees solar overtaking gas and hydro to become the GE signs 715 megawatt wind deal in China, puts world’s most powerful wind turbine into service largest generator by installed capacity, with an average annual deployment of PV of almost 15GW. General Electric used to be a world leader the Henan Provincial Government to bring kWh of electricity. It is currently located on- Wind also makes a significant contribution, expanding rapidly in coal-powered electrical generation, but our technology, people, commitment and shore in Rotterdam in order to simplify the “in several countries that benefit from high quality wind resources, the company has fallen on hard times as clean wind power to Henan Province, as Chi- testing phase, during which GE will perform most notably Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa”. demand for that technology has shrunk. na continues to work toward its renewable different types of measurements to obtain a But the IEA said supporting the huge deployment would need But the company is fighting hard to tran- energy goals. Type Certificate for the Haliade-X in 2020. a “more reliable power system and greater focus on transmission sition to a wind turbine powerhouse. This GE has a long history in China, and John Lavelle, CEO of Offshore Wind at and distribution assets.” week, GE began testing its first Haliade-X we are excited to have this opportunity to GE Renewable Energy, said “This first kWh The IEA said the ambition is badly needed as “current plans 12 megawatt offshore wind turbine. It also continue to learn locally and grow together, is a critical achievement for our whole team, would leave 530 million people on the continent still without signed a deal to supply the turbines for a GE will provide 286 of its 2.5-132 turbines with technology specifically developed for bringing to fruition our vision and all the access to electricity in 2030, falling well short of universal access”. 715 megawatt (MW) wind farm in China’s with 130-meter soft steel towers for the wind the region.” His presentation was reported hard work put in place. Innovation is part of “Africa has a unique opportunity to pursue a much less car- Henan Province. farm. These turbines were designed specifi- by Energy Central. GE’s DNA, and having successfully powered bon-intensive development path than many other parts of the GE Renewable Energy and China Huaneng cally for the unique low wind speed needs in China’s power generation company the world’s first 12 MW wind turbine, this world,” said Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director. To “achieve Group signed an agreement this week at the Henan province and will be manufactured China Huaneng is one of the largest illustrates it perfectly. this, it has to take advantage of the huge potential that solar, wind, China International Import Expo to build by GE in China. state-owned power generation companies There are more than 500 GE women and hydropower, natural gas and energy efficiency offer. a 715 MW wind farm in Puyang, Henan When completed in the middle of next in China and is known for being a leader in men behind this great success, who have “For example, Africa has the richest solar resources on the Province, China. year, the wind farm will supply enough elec- clean energy. been working for a year and a half to make planet but has so far installed only 5GW of solar PV, which is less The agreement represents GE’s largest tricity to power 500,000 homes. Also this week, GE Renewable Energy this possible, and I’m taking this opportunity than 1% of global capacity.” wind turbine order in Asia to date. It is also Jerome Pecresse, head of GE Renewable announced its Haliade-X 12 MW prototype to thank all our partners and suppliers for While the North African region in countries such as Egypt and the biggest contract ever granted to a non-Chi- Energy, said “We are delighted to be working — the world’s most powerful offshore wind their commitment and support.” Morocco is pressing on with large-scale renewables deployment, nese wind turbine manufacturer in China. with the China Huaneng Group Co. Ltd. and turbine — has successfully produced its first (Source: cleantechnica.com) sub-Saharan Africa has lagged. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL NOVEMBER 10, 2019

Paul Pillar:Latest U.S. sanctions meant to make Bases, Bases, everywhere, humanitarian trade with Iran more difficult and not a base in sight TEHRAN (FNA) — Paul R. Pillar, a retired CIA officer, says the latest US moves against Iran have been designed to make By Nick Turse and Tom Engelhardt attention – including Combat Outposts and it even harder than before to conduct humanitarian trade Fire Support Bases. Even more types are with Tehran, including the supply of medicine and foodstuff ANTIWAR — In January 2004, Chal- noted in various official publications and to the nation. mers Johnson wrote this about what he military news releases, often with conflicting Washington has in recent called America’s “empire of bases” or its definitions. The Army’s Ranger Handbook, days started a new set of re- “Baseworld”: for instance, defines a “patrol base” as a quirements for the supply of “As distinct from other peoples, most “security perimeter” set up when a squad humanitarian goods and prod- Americans do not recognize – or do not or platoon is “conducting a patrol,” but ucts to Iran, asking all banks want to recognize – that the United States notes that it should “not be occupied for across the world to provide dominates the world through its military more than a 24-hour period (except in it with all the information of power. Due to government secrecy, our an emergency).” An Army counterinsur- any kind of trade with Iran, citizens are often ignorant of the fact that gency manual, on the other hand, states including details of the ac- our garrisons encircle the planet. This vast that a “patrol base can be permanent or count holders and payments. network of American bases on every conti- temporary.” And a 2008 CENTCOM news While the US administration nent except Antarctica actually constitutes release mentioned that soldiers with the has claimed that it will intro- a new form of empire – an empire of bases 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment duce a mechanism of its own in with its own geography not likely to be had been stationed at Iraq’s Patrol Base unspecified future to do such taught in any high school geography class. Copper for seven months. trade with Iran, experts across Without grasping the dimensions of this While Mission Support Sites are men- the globe, including those in globe-girdling Baseworld, one can’t begin tioned in a few Pentagon publications, they the US, believe the rules are to understand the size and nature of our are also poorly defined. When asked just meant to deter banks and companies from doing humanitarian imperial aspirations or the degree to which bad for sure.” let alone more detailed information about what an MSS actually is, an official at CENT- trade with Iran and defuse an International Court of Justice a new kind of militarism is undermining Bryant was just one of many to decry such outposts, significant numbers of COM offered this none-too-illuminating (ICJ) ruling that required the US administration to remove its our constitutional order.” the abandonment of most of Washington’s which exist across the region. The media response: “Mission support sites, or bases, sanctions on the supply of humanitarian cargoes to Iran, and Grimly enough, 15 years later, as Tom- Syrian outposts. “U.S. troops and their operations staff of CJTF-OIR responded are sites that temporarily exist to provide that Washington’s vague words about a new mechanism are Dispatch managing editor Nick Turse makes allies feel humiliated after abandoning in an email to a TomDispatch request on support for as long as a mission requires.” only meant to be a sweetener to hide the US real intentions. clear today, not a word of what Johnson their bases in Syria to be taken over by the subject this way: “Due to operation- That same official went on to note that Some others believe Washington also means to extract infor- wrote isn’t applicable to this moment as gleeful Russians,” read the headline of al security reasons, a total number and the U.S. and its allies had “opened and mation from the world banks to make its sanctions against well. The United States remains, in the a Business Insider article, while a New locations of the various mission support closed numerous bases throughout the Iran more efficient. phrase of another TomDispatch author, York Times piece put it this way: “Pullback sites are not available.” campaign in Syria and Iraq,” but refused Speaking in an exclusive interview with FNA, Pillar, who David Vine, a base nation. Millions of Leaves Green Berets Feeling ‘Ashamed,’ And keep in mind that such Military Sup- to provide details or even a simple count is now a nonresident senior fellow at Georgetown Universi- Americans have been to or served at one and Kurdish Allies Describing ‘Betrayal.’” port Sites only begin to scratch the surface of how many bases had been closed, let ty’s Center for Security Studies, said, “Banks would have to or more of those garrisons scattered in an A Base by Any Other Name… when it comes to the Pentagon’s inventory alone opened. The CJTF-OIR media team report in detail which individuals or organizations in Iran historically unprecedented way across, as After President Trump abruptly ordered of non-base outposts. So when else is a was a bit more forthcoming, explaining they are doing business with. The US Treasury can use this Johnson said, every continent but Ant- the withdrawal of most U.S. forces from military base not a military base? When, that a mission support site is “comparable information in selecting targets for additional sanctions.” arctica. In recent years, in every size and Syria earlier this month, a Turkish military for example, it’s an Initial Contingency to an initial contingency location (ICL) Below is the full text of the interview: shape those bases have, as Turse points incursion into the area those troops had Location, which, according to a Pentagon or a patrol base” and that such facilities Under the new US sanctions humanitarian trade with out, only multiplied across the Greater Mid- previously occupied set off a humanitari- “Contingency Basing” manual, is character- support up to 200 personnel for a “total Iran becomes harder in comparison with what it was before. dle East and increasingly parts of Africa, an catastrophe – sending nearly 200,000 ized by austere infrastructure and limited duration of operations lasting less than That’s why the US has notified that it has to be done based on thanks to Washington’s never-ending war civilians fleeing from the Syrian frontier, services. Or when it’s a Temporary Contin- six months.” the financial mechanism it creates. What do you think of it? on terror. Yet coverage of them, discussion about one third of them children. President gency Location, which provides “near-term Winter Is Coming for U.S. Military A: The latest US moves regarding finance and Iran will of them, debate about them in this country Trump implied the troops were coming support for a contingency operation” and Castle Black is now officially shuttered. make it even harder than before to conduct humanitarian is essentially nil. America’s Baseworld, a “back home,” but his secretary of defense is characterized by “expedient infrastruc- Despite its closing and that of its sister trade with Iran. Although the US administration ostensibly looming reality of the twenty-first centu- promptly contradicted him and indicated ture.” Or even when it’s a Semipermanent outposts, as part of Donald Trump’s “with- has provided a channel for financing such trade, the new re- ry, remains no part of any conversation, they would simply be redeployed in the Contingency Location, which provides drawal” from Syria, American troops remain quirements it has slapped on foreign banks give those banks not in the mainstream media, not on cable region. After being abandoned by their U.S. support for prolonged contingency oper- in that country. “CJTF-OIR continues to additional reason to be afraid of facilitating any commerce news, nowhere – not, at least, until Donald allies, the SDF struck a deal with Syrian ations and is characterized by “enhanced maintain a presence in Syria and Iraq as with Iran, and to fear being sanctioned themselves by the Trump recently withdrew perhaps 1,000 dictator Bashar al-Assad and Syrian and infrastructure.” Or when it’s a full-fledged part of our mission to achieve the enduring United States. U.S. military personnel from a number of allied Russian troops moved into the area Contingency Location – a “non-enduring defeat of Daesh,” spokesperson Col. Myles Do the United States’ new sanctions rules, that Washing- small bases in northeastern Syria (even if as well. In the chaos, some Islamic State location outside of the United States that Caggins III told TomDispatch, using the ton claims will be accompanied by a humanitarian financial new ones are soon to return to Southern prisoners escaped from SDF prisons. supports and sustains operations during Arabic acronym for ISIS. mechanism which is yet to be introduced, aim to facilitate Syria) to the shocked reaction of national Back in the United States, rare bipartisan contingencies or other operations.” Commander Sean Robertson, a Pentagon food and medicine supply to Iran or extract information for security types everywhere.In other words, outrage erupted as members of Congress Such U.S. non-bases also include For- spokesperson, was even more specific. “U.S. future sanctions? an overwhelming fact that shapes the U.S. lambasted the president for his decision. ward Operating Sites (FOSes), which are forces continue a deliberate, phased, and A: Certainly most of the foreign banks involved will con- role in the world (and the forever wars that Vice President Mike Pence was then dis- officially defined as “scalable” locations orderly withdrawal from Syria, with the clude that the mechanism is mainly one for gathering infor- go with it) is generally absent from American patched to Turkey to try to mitigate what intended for “rotational use by operating exception of the al-Tanf garrison,” he told mation, including information that can be used to impose thinking about that very role, which is why was widely hailed by the Washington es- forces.” While “rotational use” might make TomDispatch. While Robertson refused further sanctions. today’s Turse piece couldn’t be more timely. tablishment as a foreign policy disaster. such a place sound like a distinctly tempo- to “discuss operational details such as What information can the US get out of this kind of trade? Winter Is Coming: Castle Black, the Then, in the wake of a Pence-negotiated rary location, possibly one abandoned for numbers or timelines,” it has been wide- A: Banks would have to report in detail which individuals Syrian Withdrawal, and the Battle of the “ceasefire” that Turkey didn’t agree to long stretches, that’s hardly the case. Camp ly reported that al-Tanf, a small base in or organizations in Iran they are doing business with. The Bases They called it Castle Black, an obvious and that failed to fully materialize, Pres- Lemonnier in the sun-bleached Horn-of-Af- the south of Syria, is still home to about US Treasury can use this information in selecting targets for homage to the famed frozen citadel from ident Trump took a victory lap after which rica nation of Djibouti, for example, is not 150 U.S. forces. (It, in turn, is supported additional sanctions. the HBO series Game of Thrones. In the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan only an FOS, but also America’s largest from across the Jordanian border by a As you know, non- European financial exchanges have fantasy world of GoT, it’s the stronghold vowed to “crush” the heads of America’s base on the African continent and the quick reaction force, additional troops, to be informed to the US. Then, would non-US banks risk for of the Night’s Watch, the French Foreign abandoned Kurdish allies if they didn’t headquarters for Combined Joint Task and artillery.) The CJTF-OIR media team such trade with Iran? Legion-esque guardians of the northern ethnically cleanse themselves from the Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), which also added that the “Kobani Landing Zone A: Yes, they would be exposed to such risk, which is why border of the Seven Kingdoms.This Castle area. In the end, the withdrawal of 1,000 includes soldiers, sailors, and airmen, some and other sites remain open to facilitate many of them will decide not to become involved in any trade Black, however, was all too real and occupied U.S. military personnel turned out to be of them members of the Special Operations the additional movement of troops and with Iran, even of a humanitarian nature. by U.S. Special Operations forces, America’s largely illusory, as an influx of new forces forces. The camp – which also supports equipment outside of Syria.” Reports now most elite troops. In its location, at least, to a different part of Syria left troop levels CENTCOM – couldn’t be less temporary, indicate that U.S. troop levels will stabilize it was nearly as remote as its namesake, almost unchanged. having expanded from 88 acres to 600 at around 900, just 100 troops less than Jamal Wakim: US, Israel Attempting even if in far warmer climes – not on the In the midst of this chaos, however, acres, while the number of troops stationed before the announced withdrawal. to Exacerbate Lebanese Economic northern fringe of Westeros but at the far something strange occurred. Just as Amer- there has jumped by more than 500%, to The abandonment of about a dozen out- edge of eastern Syria. ica’s Syrian bases, including its two main 5,500, since 2002. posts across northeastern Syria likely con- Problems to Rattle Gov’t, Hizbullah Today, the real Castle Black and most headquarters – Advanced Operational Base Another type of outpost is a cooper- stitutes the largest mass closure of military of the archipelago of U.S. outposts only West and Advanced Operational Base East ative security location, or CSL, which bases of the Trump presidency. (Since the TEHRAN (FNA) — Lebanese University professor Jamal recently arrayed across the Syrian frontier – the Lafarge Cement Factory, and a fa- is supposedly neither “a U.S. facility or Pentagon refuses to provide an accurate count Wakim says the political elites’ neglect of industry and ag- are emptying out, sit abandoned, or are cility at Manbij were being abandoned, in base.” According to the Pentagon’s official of overseas outposts, however, there’s no riculture as well as their focus on banking have led to the occupied by Russian and Syrian troops. another sense entirely they suddenly came definition, it has “little or no permanent way to make certain of that.) Still, while this economic crisis in his country, stressing that the US and Israel At least one – located at the Lafarge Ce- to exist (at least in news reports anyway). United States presence” and “is maintained reduction of outposts in Syria is significant, are making utmost efforts to exacerbate the crisis in a bid to ment Factory – lies in partial ruins after This is something that Castle Black, in its by periodic Service, contractor, or host it hardly constitutes a substantial drawdown destabilize the state and strike at Hizbullah.Speaking in an two U.S. Air Force F-15 jets conducted an relatively brief life, never officially did. nation support.” This, too, is completely of U.S. forces in the region (especially at a exclusive interview with FNA, professor Wakim mentioned airstrike on it. The purpose, according to When I asked about its status in late Au- disingenuous. A CSL in the remote smug- moment when President Trump may be send- the US’s destabilizing role in Lebanon, and said, “It wanted Colonel Myles Caggins, a spokesman for gust, for example, Combined Joint Task gling hub of Agadez, Niger, for example, is ing tanks and armored vehicles, with all the to cause problems in Lebanon so that it could be a source of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Force-Operation Inherent Resolve refused the premier U.S. military outpost in West necessary supporting forces, into the area destabilization to Syria in order to undermine its national Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), the U.S.- to even acknowledge the existence of such Africa. That drone non-base, located at around Syria’s oil fields). With the president security; and the same applies to Iraq to keep Iran busy.” led military coalition fighting ISIS, was to a base. Now, the outpost and its status are Nigerien Air Base 201, not only boasts a either reshuffling troops in Syria or merely Jamal Wakim is a Professor of International Relations at “destroy an ammunition cache, and reduce no secret at all. “Castle Black is closed,” $100 million-plus construction price tag relocating them elsewhere in the Middle East the Lebanese University. Also, he has worked as a reporter the facility’s military usefulness.” CJTF-OIR’s media team told TomDispatch but, with operating expenses, is expected and a new contingent of American forces and correspondent for various Middle East media outlets, “Only yesterday they were here and more recently. to cost U.S. taxpayers more than a quarter deploying to Saudi Arabia, there will actually including Dubai Television, Azzerman Kuwaiti Magazine and now we are here,” a Russian journalist According to the Pentagon’s official in- of a billion dollars by 2024 when the 10- be a net gain in U.S. troops in the region at New Television Beirut. He has published a number of articles announced after taking selfies at the aban- ventory of bases, the Department of Defense year agreement for its use ends. this moment of supposed reduction. on topics related to Syria and to the history of Arab-Islamic doned base at Manbij where U.S. forces (DoD) “manages a worldwide real property The primary types of places that the Perhaps the only true end result of the Civilization.Below is the full text of the interview: had served since 2015 alongside allied Syr- portfolio” that spans 45 foreign countries. Pentagon will actually call “bases” are huge drawdown in Syria – given that the finale of The protests which began over the taxes for WhatsApp ian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition All told, there are 514 official “DoD sites” World War II and Cold War legacy sites like Game of Thrones ran earlier this year – is have morphed into wide protest in the country, representing of mainly Kurdish and Arab fighters. “It overseas, the majority of them in Germany Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Kadena the likely demise of U.S. military outposts years of economic grievances that the Lebanese have had. appears as though the U.S. servicemen (194 sites), Japan (121 sites), and South Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, and Camp named for that HBO show’s fictional re- Why and how did it get to this point? fled in their armored vehicles,” said an- Korea (83 sites). This list, however, has Humphreys in South Korea. These they doubts. With the real Castle Black gone and A: This was only the straw that broke the camel’s back, but other reporter with RT’s Arabic service, never included mention of even one base call “Main Operating Bases.” Humphreys, the fictional one consigned to the dustbin the Lebanese economy has been facing structural problems as she walked in front of American tents in Syria – or, for that matter, any of the for example, began its existence in 1919 as of pay-for-play streaming services, tomor- for 3 decades due to the political elite’s neglect of produc- and equipment at the hastily abandoned well-known U.S. garrisons, large and small, Pyeongtaek Airfield, a product of the brutal row’s bases will undoubtedly be named for tive sectors like industry and agriculture and its focus on the outpost. Photographs show that when U.S. in Afghanistan or Iraq. Japanese occupation of Korea. Since the emerging cultural touchstones, not last banking sector and financial speculations, accumulating debts troops bugged out, they also left behind The common estimate of foreign U.S. Korean War (1950-1953), the U.S. military season’s leavings. which reached 200 percent of national GDP, and corruption other standard stuff from American bases military bases is actually around 800. Such has occupied the site, transforming it into Still, given Washington’s penchant for of the political elite. All this caused an economic crisis that abroad: “crude dick drawings,” a football, a count is little more than an educated America’s largest overseas military base. Middle Eastern military missions, the like- got aggravated in the past few years and touched the middle fridges stocked with Coca-Cola, an open guess because of the cloak of secrecy the The Pentagon refers to Forward Operating lihood of yet more U.S. bases across the class and poorer sections of society. package of animal crackers, a can of Pring- Pentagon has thrown over the subject. To Sites, Cooperative Security Locations, and region (whatever their official designa- Secondly, the United States knew well the precariousness les, and a paperback copy of The Girl With obfuscate things further, the military em- Main Operating Bases as “enduring loca- tions), and talk of several Game of Thrones of the Lebanese economic situation, and now that things got The Dragon Tattoo. ploys a plethora of euphemisms to avoid tions” which are meant to afford “strategic prequels still to come, there may be ample almost stabilized in Syria, it wanted to cause problems in “I see a big problem with it. And it shows calling U.S. military outposts like Castle access” to American forces and support opportunities for the next set of off-the- Lebanon so that it could be a source of destabilization to just how unplanned and half-assed this Black precisely what they are. Washington’s security interests for the books military bases to carry the names Syria in order to undermine its national security; and the ‘withdrawal’ is,” U.S. Marine veteran An- Officially, Castle Black was never a base. “foreseeable future.” of even more ancient Seven Kingdoms same applies to Iraq to keep Iran busy.A third reason is the derson Bryant, who – in 2016 – fought It was, instead, a “Mission Support Site” Despite these and other euphemisms for castles, keeps, and citadels. pressure exerted on the Lebanese government to undermine alongside the SDF after leaving the Corps, or MSS. And while U.S. Central Command bases that appear in the Defense Depart- Nick Turse is the managing editor of Hizbullah and isolate it on the Lebanese political scene, by told Military Times. “Though ISIS doesn’t (CENTCOM), which oversees United States ment’s 2019 edition of Joint Publication TomDispatch and a fellow at the Type Me- destabilizing a government that is much supported by it and have the infrastructure to take and hold military operations in the Middle East, 4-04 “Contingency Basing” and its most dia Center. He is the author of Next Time by its ally the Free Patriotic Movement headed by MOFA territory or bases anymore, just leaving acknowledges the existence of MSSes, it recent “Base Structure Report,” many They’ll Come to Count the Dead: War and Gibran Bassil. 13 equipment to be taken after a retreat looks won’t provide even a basic count of them, other types of smaller baselets get scant Survival in South Sudan. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 10, 2019 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7 The war between the Democrats and the White House continues Trump is confused! By Saeed Sobhani that Ukrainegate, like Russiagate before Secretary George Kent next Wednesday, it, overshadows. The day after the House November 13. Former U.S. Ambassador to TEHRAN — U.S. President Donald Trump impeachment vote also coincided with the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch will testify before is still working to prevent a decline in his end of the comment period for a Trump the committee two days later. popularity in important and decisive states. administration plan to cut food programs “Those open hearings will be an opportu- However, the news of his impeachment and for low-income Americans. According to nity for the American people to evaluate the Ukraine Gate story seems to have had a bad government estimates, around 3 million witnesses themselves,” House Intelligence impact on his popularity! Some analysts believe recipients face the loss of food stamp benefits Chairman Adam Schiff told reporters at the the process will continue to the detriment of and close to 1 million children are at risk Capitol. -- Paula Reid contributed reporting. Trump until next year’s presidential election. of losing automatic placement in federal Mark Zaid, the attorney for the whis- Here is an overview of the analysis of recent school lunch programs. tleblower, has sent a cease-and-desist letter political conflict in the United States: “Instead of declaring a war on pover- to White House counsel Pat Cipollone, saying Trump’s impeachment lures democrats ty, this president has declared war on our the president’s “rhetoric and activity” has put into a cold war mentality most vulnerable citizens,” Representative his client and their family in danger. Zaid Ouline reported that Last week’s vote by Marcia Fudge (D-OH), the chairwoman of provided a copy of the letter to CBS News.The House Democrats to formally open an im- the House Agriculture Committee’s sub- letter lists statements made by Mr. Trump peachment inquiry of President Donald Trump committee on nutrition, said last month. on September 26 as well as other later com- followed testimony that appeared to boost their That is undoubtedly correct, which makes ments that Zaid says “seek to intimidate my case. Several US officials told Congress that the it all the more puzzling that Democrats are client -- and they have.” CNN first reported Trump administration sought to leverage US preoccupied with an impeachment scandal the letter.Zaid says those comments amount military aid to pressure Ukraine into opening that overshadows Trump’s attacks on the to “tampering with a witness or informant,” politically tainted investigations. But liberals vulnerable and encourages him to escalate which is a violation of the law. cheering on these developments should be wars abroad. The same goes for their stance “It goes without saying, although it ap- mindful of their limitations—and their potential on Syria, which saw bipartisan opposition pears that it must be said, that the Office of consequences. The available testimony does to an announced US withdrawal but next to the President is the most powerful elected not strike me as being as damning for Trump no opposition to Trump’s sudden reversal office in the nation,” the letter said. “The oc- as it is being portrayed. More importantly, the investigations.” Nor was the aid freeze in office. Obama feared, as The New York with the explicit aim of stealing Syria’s oil. cupant of the office is often referred to as the even if that proves to be a faulty interpretation, mentioned in Trump’s July 25 phone call Times noted in 2015, that US weapons sent to It is true that polls currently show that a “Leader of the Free World”, representing the the impeachment frenzy is enrolling liberals with Zelensky. Ukraine “would only escalate the bloodshed” majority of Americans support impeach- principles and ideals of liberty and freedom. in a dangerous Cold War mentality that could Yermak, reached via WhatsApp, did not in the Donbass and possibly “[end] up in the ment. It is also encouraging that Democratic As the leader of the world’s remaining global threaten their own election chances in 2020. respond to The Nation’s request for comment. hands of thugs” (a likely reference to far-right presidential candidates are sidelining the superpower, the words of the President carry The Democrats’ theory of the case is plau- His testimony will now be critical. As will Ukrainians, which proved prescient). impeachment drama to focus on serious great weight and have the ability to change sible: At the same time as Trump’s chosen follow-up testimony by Sondland. Perhaps In refusing to send that US military aid, policy issues on the campaign trail. At the the course of history.” point man, EU Ambassador Gordon Sond- Taylor and Morrison are accurately recounting Obama rejected intense pressure from the same time, it appears that Democrats are House Intelligence Committee subpoenas land, pressured Ukraine to launch politically Sondland’s words. Or perhaps Sondland will bipartisan DC foreign policy establishment. not moving the needle in the battleground acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney beneficial investigations, the president froze contradict them, or claim that they are conflat- This includes Taylor himself, who, as he notes in states that will decide the next election. A 10:45 p.m.: The House Intelligence Com- military aid as a tool of added leverage. But ing the investigations that Trump sought from his opening statement, unsuccessfully lobbied new New York Times/Siena College poll mittee subpoenaed acting chief of staff Mick although the available testimony helps the Ukraine. As I’ve argued previously, demanding Obama to arm Ukraine. Taylor’s contempo- of the six closest swing states that went Mulvaney for a previously scheduled depo- impeachment case so far, we have not un- an investigation of documented (and openly raneous view is captured in a December 2014 Republican in 2016 finds that Trump’s “ad- sition on Friday, an official working with the covered a smoking gun. acknowledged) Ukrainian meddling in the letter he wrote to The Washington Post. Taylor vantage in the Electoral College relative to impeachment committee confirmed to CBS Bill Taylor, the top US diplomat in Ukraine, 2016 elections is different from demanding denounced an opinion article, co-authored by the nation as a whole remains intact or has News. It is unlikely Mulvaney will appear on says that Sondland told him that the military one of a political rival.All of this positions us a former Obama State Department official, that even grown since 2016.” Friday. assistance was conditioned on a Ukrainian for a “he said, he said” impeachment scandal: had opposed sending US arms to Ukraine and With 2020 on the horizon, the dangers “Mr. Mulvaney has the opportunity to up- pledge to open investigations into Burisma, the The question of whether or not Trump is guilty advocated an agreement between NATO and of the Democratic establishment’s priorities hold his oath to the nation and constitution by company where Hunter Biden got his lucrative of attempting to extort Ukraine could come Russia to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. Backers cannot be emphasized enough. testifying tomorrow under oath about matters board seat, and alleged Ukrainian interference down to which US bureaucrat, one chooses of such steps, Taylor wrote, are “advocating As CNBC reported, During a White House of keen national importance,” the official said. in the 2016 US election. Taylor also offered to believe. that the West appease Russia.… Now is not press briefing in October, Mulvaney appeared “We hope Mr. Mulvaney does not hide behind the first known testimony that this demand There is no reason to put faith in Sondland, the time for appeasement.” to admit the administration had in fact en- the President’s ongoing efforts to conceal the was made explicit to the Ukrainian side: Ac- who, in line with a longstanding tradition The very fact that Ukrainegate now has gaged in a quid pro quo with the government truth and obstruct our investigation.” cording to Taylor, National Security Council in US diplomacy, owes his plush diplomatic Democrats advocating a policy that Obama of Ukraine. Axios first reported the news of the sub- aide Tim Morrison told him that Sondland posting to a lucrative campaign donation rejected should be enough to spark consider- “[Did] he also mention to me, in the past, poena.On Tuesday, the chairs of the three directly communicated the quid pro quo to to the winning presidential candidate. But ation of whether briefly not arming Ukraine that the corruption related to the DNC serv- committees conducting the impeachment Andriy Yermak, an aide to Ukraine’s prime before we embrace bureaucrats Taylor, Mor- is really the issue on which to pin remov- er?” Mulvaney told reporters, referring to the inquiry sent a letter asking Mulvaney to ap- minister, Volodymyr Zelensky, at a meeting rison, and another key witness, NSC official ing a president from office. Moving toward president. “Absolutely, no question about that. pear before the committees on Friday, No- in Warsaw in September 1. Alexander Vindman, as liberal heroes, it impeachment over Ukraine policy also has But that’s it. And that’s why we held up the vember 8.”Based on evidence gathered in the Morrison corroborated Taylor’s testimony is worth taking stock of their impartiali- potential electoral consequences: In 2016, money.” impeachment inquiry and public reporting, in his appearance last week. But we do not ty and espoused views. Despite efforts to voters rejected the neoconservative worldview Earlier Thursday, multiple sources told CBS we believe that you possess substantial first- yet know whether Morrison witnessed the portray them as nonpartisan civil servants, that national security bureaucrats like Taylor, News that President Trump wanted Attorney hand knowledge and information relevant Sondland-Yermak conversation that he told the trio’s opening statements show them to Vindman, and Morrison now espouse. Trump, General William Barr to hold a news confer- to the House’s impeachment inquiry,” the Taylor about, or is relying on his recollection be Cold Warriors devoted to continuing the after all, campaigned on improving ties with ence saying he didn’t break any laws during letter said. of what Sondland told him. This would allow US-Russia proxy war in Ukraine. As their Russia and falsely presented himself as an his July 25 call with the Ukrainian president. Mulvaney, who is also director of the Sondland to claim that Morrison misinter- testimony makes clear, that proxy war was opponent of the hawkish legacy that these Barr ultimately declined to do so, although Office of Management and Budget, previ- preted him. imperiled by the very action that Trump star impeachment witnesses embody. On this the Justice Department did release a statement ously defied a subpoena for documents. What is certain is that Morrison left took—briefly freezing the military aid that note, the fact that John Bolton may become alongside the release of a rough transcript During a White House press briefing in some wiggle room for Trump. His opening they all unabashedly support. the Democrats’ next star witness might also summary of the call saying that the Office October, Mulvaney appeared to admit the statement says that he and Taylor “had In the case of Taylor, arming Ukraine was hasten some reflection. of Legal Counsel had found no evidence of administration had engaged in a quid pro no reason to believe that the release of a condition of his willingness to serve in the The Cold War mindset that liberals have wrongdoing. However, an anonymous whistle- quo with the government of Ukraine.”[Did] the security sector assistance might be job. When the Trump administration asked embraced threatens not just their own po- blower submitted a complaint to the govern- he also mention to me, in the past, that conditioned on a public statement reo- him to take the position in Kiev, Taylor recalls litical fortunes but also global peace. Lost ment expressing concern about the call, and the corruption related to the DNC server?” pening the Burisma investigation” until thinking, “I could be effective only if the US in the outrage over Trump’s potential—and that complaint prompted the impeachment Mulvaney told reporters, referring to the he spoke to Sondland in Warsaw on Sep- policy of strong support for Ukraine… were to ultimately unrealized—interruption of US inquiry of the president. president. “Absolutely, no question about tember 1. “Even then,” he added, “I hoped continue.” Taylor even told Secretary of State military assistance to Ukraine is that Zelen- The president’s desire to publicly be cleared that. But that’s it. And that’s why we held that Ambassador Sondland’s strategy was Mike Pompeo, “If US policy toward Ukraine sky, the new Ukrainian president, openly by Barr was first reported by The Washington up the money.” exclusively his own,” and not Trump’s. changed, he would not want me posted there campaigned on ending the war with Russia Post. Mr. Trump called the Post story a “fake Mulvaney later tried to walk back his re- According to CNN, Morrison testified that and I could not stay.” No wonder then, that that this military assistance fuels. Zelensky Washington Post con job” in a tweet Thursday marks. -- Rebecca Kaplan he tried to find out whether Sondland was Taylor was upset when he began to hear rum- is now under heavy pressure from Ukraine’s morning. He also called it “pure fiction” about State Department to offer aid for legal bills to relaying demands to the Ukrainian side blings that US military assistance to Ukraine far right to abandon his pledge to make “Bill Barr & myself,” and said, “We both deny employees testifying in impeachment inquiry on Trump’s behalf, or was “going rogue” was in jeopardy. peace with Moscow. It does not bode well for the story.” However, Barr has not yet denied 6:35 p.m.: The impeachment inquiry is as a “free radical.” The fact that Morrison Another star witness, Vindman, offers a Zelensky’s chances if the official opposition the story, and the Justice Department has likely to cost taxpayers more than expected.A suspected that Sondland’s “strategy was similar outlook. Russia, he says, “has man- party of his US patron is effectively joining not responded. State Department official told CBS News State exclusively his own” means that his tes- ifested an overtly aggressive foreign policy” hands with his country’s own right-wing A top State Department official told the Department Reporter Christina Ruffini on timony did not directly implicate Trump. necessitating “a deterrent.” To Vindman, forces to continue the war. House committees conducting the impeach- Thursday that the federal agency will offer And it leaves Trump with the leeway to that deterrent is “a strong and independent The dangers extend beyond Ukraine’s bor- ment inquiry that Rudy Giuliani waged a financial aid to its employees who have in- claim that Sondland, and perhaps Rudolph Ukraine,” which, he believes, is “critical to US ders. The day after the House impeachment “campaign of slander” against a former am- curred legal costs because of the impeachment Giuliani, were indeed “going rogue.” national security interests because Ukraine is vote, Russia warned that there is not enough bassador to Ukraine, one that was “without hearings. It is perfectly reasonable to deduce from a frontline state and a bulwark against Russian time left to renegotiate the New START Treaty, basis, untrue, period.” It’s unclear whether the aid will extend all of this that what Sondland relayed—if aggression.” Morrison concurs, declaring that the last remaining accord limiting the US and George Kent, according to a transcript of to former as well as current employees or to that is what he did—is exactly what Trump the administration’s policy “was to make sure Russian nuclear arsenals, before it expires his testimony before Congress released today, those who have refused to testify. While 14 intended. Or indeed that Sondland was acting the United States’ longstanding bipartisan in 2021. The treaty’s demise, The New York said other officials were “engaged in an effort officials have given closed-door testimony on Trump’s orders. But a case that can only commitment to strengthen Ukraine’s security Times notes, would leave the world’s top two to undermine her standing by claiming that so far, 13 others rejected requests to appear be made from inference may have limited remained unaltered.” In his view, “security nuclear powers “free to expand their arsenals she was disloyal” as far back as 2018. before the impeachment committees. Most impact beyond those who have already made sector assistance… is, therefore, essential to without limits” on “the most powerful weapons By March 2019, Kent said Giuliani’s “cam- of the witnesses have been current or for- up their mind. Even if Trump knew exactly Ukraine.” both sides can launch.” According to Vladimir paign of slander” against Yovanovitch was mer State Department officials. -- Christina what Sondland was doing, Morrison’s tes- Given their open dedication to ensuring the Leontyev, Russia’s top arms control official, the “almost unmissable,” as the former New York Ruffini. timony leaves him with the opportunity to continuation of US military aid to Ukraine, it Kremlin hopes to renew or revise the accord, mayor used TV appearances and his Twitter A top State Department official told the throw Sondland under the bus. For his part, is reasonable to question if the trio’s interpre- but “the US administration is silent about it.” account to attack the ambassador. He said House committees conducting the impeach- Sondland has said through his attorney that tations of decisions and conversations about The Russians’ impression, Leontyev added, is Giuliani’s accusations were “without basis, ment inquiry that Rudy Giuliani waged a he rejects Taylor’s characterizations and freezing military aid were colored by their own that the Trump White House “is organically untrue, period.” “campaign of slander” against a former am- does not recall the Warsaw conversation policy preferences. As The Washington Post against any restrictions being imposed on Kent also testified that three officials de- bassador to Ukraine, one that was “without that Taylor (and now Morrison) claim to put it, Vindman “told lawmakers that he was the United States.” clared they were in charge of Ukraine policy basis, untrue, period.” have heard about. deeply troubled by what he interpreted as an The Russian warning, the Times adds, is after a White House meeting in May: Sond- According to the transcript of his testimo- For Taylor and Morrison’s testimony to attempt by the president to subvert U.S. foreign “the latest in a sobering list of signals that the land, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and special ny before the joint committees, the deputy prove dispositive—and to make a convincing policy.” While undoubtedly many Democrats great powers appear headed for a new arms envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker, a career foreign assistant secretary of state for European and case to the broader US public and the Sen- and Republicans share Vindman’s foreign race,” following Trump’s earlier withdrawal service officer. Eurasian Affairs, George Kent, said Rudy ate Republicans who will decide Trump’s policy views, it should be up to the president, from another critical nuclear accord, the INF The House Intelligence Committee an- Giuliani’s campaign against the former U.S. fate—corroborating testimony or evidence not unelected bureaucrats, to decide US for- Treaty. It is also the latest in a long list of Trump nounced the first public hearings in the im- Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, will have to emerge that Trump explicitly eign policy. administration policies that have escalated peachment inquiry will take place next week, went back as far as 2018, while she was the linked the military aid to investigations of Even if their recollections are accurate, tensions with nuclear-armed Russia—includ- featuring testimony from three witnesses. ambassador. Biden and that this demand was explicitly the consequence of embracing their collec- ing authorizing the US military assistance to The committees released a transcript of By March 2019, Kent said Giuliani’s “cam- communicated to the Ukrainian side.That tive worldview is worth considering. We do Ukraine that Obama once opposed and that closed-door testimony by Bill Taylor, the top paign of slander” against Yovanovitch was corroboration has yet to come from Ukraine. not need wade far into the intricacies of the Democrats now seek to impeach him over. The American diplomat in Ukraine, on Wednes- “almost unmissable,” as the former New York The Ukrainian government has said that it Russia-Ukraine conflict to know that the posi- fact that this list includes increasing the threat day. Taylor repeatedly raised concerns about mayor used TV appearances and his Twitter did not feel pressured. The New York Times tion of Taylor, Vindman, and Morrison—and of nuclear conflict should be sobering to any linking U.S. military aid to investigations into account to attack the ambassador. He said reported that Ukrainian officials were made by extension, the entire liberal political and liberal who continues to push the falsehood the president’s rivals. Giuliani’s accusations were “without basis, aware that US military aid was on hold by the media establishment now cheering them—is that Trump does Russia’s bidding—all the “That was my clear understanding: security untrue, period.” first week in August, earlier than previously well to the right of what the Democratic Party more so given that the propagation of this assistance money would not come until the Kent said the situation “was clearly a cri- known. Yet communications between US and embodied just one administration ago. falsehood helps worsen, rather than reduce, president [of Ukraine] committed to pursue the sis” that was “threatening to consume” the Ukrainian officials, the Times writes, “did The very US military assistance that Trump those tensions. investigation,” Taylor said under questioning, U.S. relationship with Ukraine, particularly not explicitly link the assistance freeze to froze is the same that President Barack Oba- There is another list worth being mindful according to the transcript.The committee after Donald Trump Jr. tweeted an attack the push by Mr. Trump and Mr. Giuliani for ma refused to provide during his last years of: The many Trump administration scandals will hear from Taylor and Deputy Assistant on Yovanovitch. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS NOVEMBER 10, 2019

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NASA unveils its first electric New measurement yields smaller proton radius airplane - a work in progress Using the first new method in half a century for measuring the size of the proton via electron scattering, the PRad collaboration NASA, most prominent for its many “We’re focusing on things that can help has produced a new value for the proton’s radius in an experiment Florida-launched exploits into space, the whole industry, not just one company,” conducted at the Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson showcased an early version of its first all- he told Reuters in an interview at the National Accelerator Facility. electric experimental aircraft, the X-57 research center. “Our target right now is The result, recently published in the journal Nature, is one of “Maxwell,” on Friday at its lesser-known to fly this airplane in late 2020.” the most precise measured from electron-scattering experiments. aeronautics lab in the California desert. The final modification, or Mod IV, of The new value for the proton radius that was obtained is 0.831 fm, Adapted from an Italian-made Tecnam the aircraft will feature narrower, lighter- which is smaller than the previous electron-scattering value of 0.88 P2006T twin-engine propeller plane, the weight wings fitted with a total of 14 electric fm and is in agreement with recent muonic atomic spectroscopy X-57 has been under development since engines - six smaller “lift” props along the results. 2015 and remains at least a year away leading edge of each wing, plus two larger from its first test flight in the skies over “cruise” props at the tip of each wing. Edward Air Force Base. The lift propellers will be activated for But after attaching the two largest of 14 take-off and landings, but retract during electric motors that will ultimately propel the flight’s cruise phase. the plane - powered by specially designed Because electric motor systems are lithium ion batteries - NASA deemed the more compact with fewer moving parts Maxwell ready for its first public preview. than internal-combustion engines, they NASA also showed off a newly built are simpler to maintain and weigh much simulator that allows engineers, and pilots, less, requiring less energy to fly, Cobleigh to get the feel of what it will be like to explained. They also are quieter that maneuver the finished version of the X-57 conventional engines. in flight, even as the plane remains under Armstrong before he joined the Apollo according to standards that commercial One challenge is improving battery development. moon team. manufacturers can adapt for government technology to store more energy to extend The Maxwell is the latest in a proud The Maxwell will be the agency’s first certification. the plane’s range, with faster re-charging. crewed X-plane to be developed in two Those will include standards for line of experimental aircraft the National Due to current battery limitations, “We are happy that years of hard work of our collaboration decades. airworthiness and safety, as well as for Aeronautics and Space Administration has the Maxwell’s design is envisioned for is coming to an end with a good result that will help critically While private companies have been energy efficiency and noise, Brent Cobleigh, developed over many decades for many use in short-haul flights as an air-taxi toward solution of the so-called proton radius puzzle,” says Ashot developing all-electric planes and hover- a project manager for NASA’s Armstrong purposes, including the bullet-shaped or commuter plane for a small number Gasparian, a professor at North Carolina A&T State University craft for years, NASA’s X-57 venture is Flight Research Center at Edwards, about Bell X-1 that first broke the sound barrier of passengers. and the experiment’s spokesperson. aimed at designing and proving technology 100 miles (160 km) north of Los Angeles. and the X-15 rocket plane flown by Neil (Source: Reuters) All visible matter in the universe is built on a cloud of three quarks bound together with strong force energy. The ubiquitous proton, which sits at the heart of every atom, has been the subject of Study finds brains of girls and boys are similar, producing equal math ability numerous studies and experiments aimed at revealing its secrets. In 1992, Teen Talk Barbie was released with the controversial of Early Mathematics Ability, a standardized test for 3- to Yet, an unexpected result from an experiment to measure the voice fragment, “Math class is hard.” While the toy’s release 8-year-old children, from 97 participants (50 girls) to size of this cloud, in terms of its root-mean-square charge radius, met with public backlash, this underlying assumption persists, gauge the rate of math development. They found that has united atomic and nuclear physicists in a flurry of activity to propagating the myth that women do not thrive in science, math ability was equivalent among the children and re-examine this basic quantity of the proton. technology, engineering and mathematic (STEM) fields did not show a difference in gender or with age. Nor did Prior to 2010, the most precise measurements of the proton’s due to biological deficiencies in math aptitude. the team find a gender difference between math ability radius came from two different experimental methods. In electron- Jessica Cantlon at Carnegie Mellon University led a and brain maturity. scattering experiments, electrons are shot at the protons, and the research team that comprehensively examined the brain This study builds on the team’s previous work that proton’s charge radius is determined by the change in path of the development of young boys and girls. Their research shows found equivalent behavioral performance on a range of electrons after they bounce off, or scatter from, the proton. In atomic no gender difference in brain function or math ability. The mathematics tests between young boys and girls. spectroscopy measurements, the transitions between energy levels results of this research are available online in the November Cantlon said she thinks society and culture likely are by electrons are observed (in the form of photons that are given off by 8 issue of the journal Science of Learning. steering girls and young women away from math and the electrons) as they orbit a small nucleus. Nuclei that have typically “Science doesn’t align with folk beliefs,” said Cantlon, STEM fields. Previous studies show that families spend been observed include hydrogen (with one proton) or deuterium the Ronald J. and Mary Ann Zdrojkowski Professor of more time with young boys in play that involves spatial (with a proton and a neutron). These two different methods yielded Developmental Neuroscience at CMU’s Dietrich College cognition. Many teachers also preferentially spend more a radius of about 0.88 femtometers. of Humanities and Social Sciences and senior author time with boys during math class, predicting later math In 2010, atomic physicists announced results from a new on the paper. “We see that children’s brains function After numerous statistical comparisons, Cantlon and achievement. Finally, children often pick up on cues from method. They measured the transition between energy levels of similarly regardless of their gender so hopefully we can her team found no difference in the brain development their parent’s expectations for math abilities. electrons in orbit around lab-made hydrogen atoms that replaced recalibrate expectations of what children can achieve of girls and boys. In addition, the researchers found no “Typical socialization can exacerbate small differences an orbiting electron with a muon, which orbits much closer to in mathematics.” difference in how boys and girls processed math skills between boys and girls that can snowball into how we treat the proton and is more sensitive to the proton’s charge radius. Cantlon and her team conducted the first neuroimaging and were equally engaged while watching the educational them in science and math,” Cantlon said. “We need to be This result yielded a value that was 4% smaller than before, at study to evaluate biological gender differences in math videos. Finally, boys’ and girls’ brain maturity were cognizant of these origins to ensure we aren’t the ones about 0.84 femtometers. aptitude of young children. statistically equivalent when compared to either men causing the gender inequities.” In 2012, a collaboration of scientists led by Gasparian came Her team used functional MRI to measure the brain or women in the adult group. This project is focused on early childhood development together at Jefferson Lab to revamp electron-scattering methods activity in 104 young children (3- to 10-years-old; “It’s not just that boys and girls are using the math using a limited set of math tasks. Cantlon wants to continue in hopes of producing a novel and more precise measurement 55 girls) while watching an educational video covering early network in the same ways but that similarities were evident this work using a broader array of math skills, such as of the proton’s charge radius. The PRad experiment was given math topics, like counting and addition. The researchers across the entire brain,” said Alyssa Kersey, postdoctoral spatial processing and memory, and follow the children priority scheduling as one of the first experiments to take data compared scans from the boys and girls to evaluate brain scholar at the Department of Psychology, University over many years. and complete its run following an upgrade of the Continuous similarity. In addition, the team examined brain maturity of Chicago and first author on the paper. “This is an Cantlon and Kersey were joined by Kelsey Csumitta at Electron Beam Accelerator Facility, a DOE User Facility for nuclear by comparing the children’s scans to those taken from a important reminder that humans are more similar to the University of Rochester on the study, titled “Gender physics research. The experiment took electron-scattering data group of adults (63 adults; 25 women) who watched the each other than we are different.” Similarities in the Brain during Mathematics Development.” in Jefferson Lab’s Experimental Hall B in 2016. same math videos. The researchers also compared the results of the Test (Source: medicalxpress.com) “When we started this experiment, people were searching for answers. But to make another electron-proton scattering experiment, many skeptics didn’t believe that we could do anything Heart cells change during Moon-bound astronauts get nifty sleeping new,” says Gasparian. “If you want to come up with something new, you have to come up with some new tools, some new method. spaceflight bags for snoozing in space And we did that -- we did an experiment which is completely different from other electron-scattering experiments.” The collaboration instituted three new techniques to improve the precision of the new measurement. The first was implementation of a new type of windowless target system, which was funded by a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation grant and was largely developed, fabricated and operated by Jefferson Lab’s Target group. The windowless target flowed refrigerated hydrogen gas directly into the stream of CEBAF’s 1.1 and 2.2 GeV accelerated electrons and allowed scattered electrons to move nearly unimpeded into the detectors. “When we say windowless, we are saying that the tube is open to the vacuum of the accelerator. Which seems like a window -- but in electron-scattering, a window is a metal cover on the end of the tube, and those have been removed,” says Dipangkar Dutta, an experiment co-spokesperson and a professor at Mississippi State University. “So this is the first time that people actually put a gas-flow target onto the beamline at Jefferson Lab,” says Haiyan Gao, an experiment co-spokesperson and Henry Newson professor at Duke University. “The vacuum was good, so that we could have electron beam going through our target to do the experiment, and we actually have a hole in the entrance foil and another in the exit foil. Essentially, the beam just passed through directly It sounds scary, but the changes are only triggers changes in heart function, including Astronauts gotta catch some zzzs. built-in openings to fit camera lenses so to the hydrogen gas, not seeing any window.” temporary: Researchers report that heart slower heart rate, lower arterial pressure and NASA plans to send Artemis-mission astronauts can snap the world outside while The next major difference was the use of a calorimeter rather cells grown in space showed altered gene increased cardiac output, but relatively little astronauts to the moon and back by minimizing glare from the sun. than the traditionally used magnetic spectrometer to detect expression. is known about how microgravity affects 2024. The multi-day journey means the The lights inside the capsule are scattered electrons resulting from the incoming electrons striking But just 10 days after being returned to human cardiac function on the cellular level. crew will need to get comfy and stay dimmed during sleep. “I’ve been asked the hydrogen’s protons or electrons. The repurposed hybrid Earth, the heart cells returned to normal. “We’re surprised about how quickly rested while traveling. NASA’s Orion why we don’t just have the crew wear calorimeter HyCal measured the energies and positions of the Once stem cells grew into heart cells human heart muscle cells are able to adapt team just showed us how they’ll do it. sleep masks,” Hutt wrote. “The reason is scattered electrons, while a newly built gas electron multiplier, aboard the International Space Station, to the environment in which they are placed, The Orion Twitter account shared fairly straightforward. For the baseline the GEM detector, also detected the electrons’ positions with their exposure to microgravity changed including microgravity,” Wu said. a look inside the spacecraft where four design, we try not to force the crew to even higher accuracy. the expression of thousands of genes. The research was published Nov. 7 in blue sleeping bags are arranged around have to wear something. Not everyone The data from both detectors was then compared in real time, “Our study is novel because it is the first the journal Stem Cell Reports. the capsule. Four is the max number of can sleep with a sleep mask.” which allowed the nuclear physicists to classify each event as an to use human-induced pluripotent stem cells “These studies may provide insight crew members it’s designed to hold. The bags themselves can be positioned electron-electron scattering or an electron-proton scattering. to study the effects of spaceflight on human into cellular mechanisms that could “Orion astronauts will be happy campers in various places around the capsule. They This new method of classifying the events allowed the nuclear heart function,” said senior study author benefit astronaut health during long- as they sleep under the stars 240,000 miles have arm holes that allow astronauts to hold physicists to normalize their electron-proton scattering data to Dr. Joseph Wu, from Stanford University duration spaceflight, or potentially lay away from Earth,” the Orion team tweeted. a tablet while reclining. The bags are able electron-electron scattering data, greatly reducing experimental School of Medicine in California. the foundation for new insights into NASA doesn’t just hang sleeping bags to accommodate almost anyone. uncertainties and increasing precision. “Microgravity is an environment that improving heart health on Earth,” Wu from REI inside a spacecraft. A considerable “From a design standpoint, bag needs The last major improvement was placement of these detectors is not very well-understood, in terms of said in a journal news release. amount of design and engineering work to fit 99th percentile male in height,” extremely close in angular distance from where the electron beam its overall effect on the human body, and The researchers plan to conduct further goes into making the crew comfortable Hutt tweeted. struck the hydrogen target. The collaboration was able to get that studies like this could help shed light studies with different types of heart tissue. for space snoozing. Jason Hutt, NASA’s NASA’s ambitious Artemis timeline distance down to less than one degree. on how the cells of the body behave in “We also plan to test different lead for Orion Crew Systems Integration, hinges on quite a few factors, including “In electron scattering, in order to extract the radius, we have space, especially as the world embarks treatments on the human heart cells, to went into more detail in a Twitter thread. funding and overcoming delays in the to go to as small a scattering angle as possible,” says Dutta. “To on more and longer space missions determine if we can prevent some of the Orion has six windows and each one is development of its Space Launch System. get the proton radius, you need to extrapolate to zero angle, such as going to the moon and Mars,” changes the heart cells undergo during equipped with a shade to block out light. At least we know the sleeping bags are which you cannot access in an experiment. So, the closer to zero Wu explained. spaceflight,” Wu added. These are essentially the spacecraft version progressing smoothly. you can get, the better.” Past studies have shown that spaceflight (Source: UPI) of blackout curtains. The shades have (Source: msn) (Source: Science Daily) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM NOVEMBER 10, 2019

IranAir to resume flights to Foreign arrivals in Aran-Bidgol Rome after ban on rival airline

TOURISM TEHRAN — Iran’s flag carrier Homa, known deskinternationally as IranAir, is scheduled to resume jump 50% in 7 months on year flights to the Italian capital Rome after rival airline Mahan Air was TOURISM TEHRAN — The number of banned from the European country’s airspace, Press TV reported. deskforeign arrivals in Aran-Bidgol Homa’s public relations office said on Thursday that flights soared 50 percent in the first seven months of the between Tehran and Rome will be launched after a hiatus as of current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) December 2 to respond to demands of the Iranians living abroad. from a year earlier, governor of the Iranian oasis town said on Saturday. Some 12,000 foreign travelers visited natural and historical attractions of Aran-Bidgol during the first seven months of the current year, which shows a 50 percent hike compared to the same period last year, IRNA quoted Esmaeil Baybordi as saying on Saturday. The official noted that less than 8,000 foreign- ers had arrived in Aran-Bidgol in the same period last year. Aran-Bidgol is the gateway to Maranjab desert and caravansary, which also draws thousands of domestic travelers each year. The desert, which is a top destination for off-roaders, lead to salt lake Flights between Tehran and Rome are scheduled for Mondays from the north, Band-e Rig and Desert National and Thursdays each week, said the statement, adding that Ho- Park from east, Masileh Desert, Hoz-e sultan and ma’s schedule for flights to Milan in northern Italy, conducted Moreh Lakes from west and eventually Aran and on Tuesdays and Fridays, will remain unaffected. Bidgol from the south. The announcement comes several days after Iranian aviation Situated in Isfahan province, the town is sur- authorities confirmed that the Italian government had banned rounded by desert from the north and east, and Mahan Air, Iran’s second largest airline, from the country’s air- thus it has a typical climate of hot and dry in sum- space under direct pressure from the United States. International female travelers pose for a photo while visiting a religious shrine in Aran-Bidgol, central Iran. mer, cold and dry in winter, and very little rainfall They are clad in chadors, shapeless gowns that cover their entire bodies, to respect a dress code required for Italian officials said earlier this month that flights by Mahan during the year. to Rome and Milan would stop in mid-December. The ban comes female pilgrims. nearly two months after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a visit to Rome urging Italian government to comply with Washington’s unilateral sanctions on Iran and to stop accom- modating Mahan flights. Khorramabad festival featuring The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on Mahan Air, accusing it of providing services to the IRGC, Iran’s elite military tribal lifestyle, crafts and arts force which has also been blacklisted by Washington. HERITAGE TEHRAN — Various life- the exhibit that also embraces local cous- Germany and France have both already banned flights by desk the airline. However, no similar decision has so far been made style, rituals, crafts and in contests, live music performances, and against the IranAir. arts of Iranian tribespeople and nomads demonstrations of culinary art are amongst are under spotlight in a five-day exhibition, other cultural programs. which is underway in Khorramabad, the The festival runs through November 11 capital of western Lorestan province. at a park near the historical Falak-ol-Aflak Ancient Roman, Greek Amidst highlights are handicrafts made fortress, a Sassanid era (224–651) monu- by 100 artisans who are natives of the prov- ment that seems particularly imposing and cemetery discovered in Egypt ince, provincial tourism chief Seyyed Amin dramatic when floodlit at night offering pic- Qasemi said on Friday, IRNA reported. turesque views of its encircling crenellated Exhibitors from all over the country have battlements. Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities has announced the discovery been invited to take part in the event, which Bisheh Waterfall, Snow Tunnel, Pol- of an ancient cemetery in Ismailia, dating back to the Roman, will also reflect a variety of tourist attrac- dokhtar ponds, Soltani Mosque of Borujerd, Greek and pre-dynastic eras. tions, natural sceneries and historical sites. Shapouri Bridge, and Shirez Canyon are “The Ministry of Antiquities’ mission working in Ismailia, Hassan Some 60 stalls and 20 Siah-Chadors (“vast amongst other tourist sites of the moun- Dawood archaeological area, revealed a part of a multi-layered traditional black tents”) have been set up for tainous province. cemetery dating back to the Roman, Greek and pre-dynastic eras,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The discovered site is a multi-layered cemetery. Its upper layers consist of mass graves of mud-bricks from the Greek and Roman eras, while the lower layers consist of burials from Visit ‘Owpart’ where jungle borders desert in Iran the pre-dynastic era. TOURISM TEHRAN — Amongst wan- “The Tal Hassan cemetery is rich in funerary deposits in- deskders of the nature is sudden cluding stone and alabaster vessels. climate change when you pass Iran’s northern The first discoveries in the site revealed inscriptions featur- Mazandaran province for Semnan in its south. ing the name of a king from the First Dynasty, which indicates Here the Owpart region acts like an elevated that this area was occupied at the beginning of the dynasties, natural barrier, dividing lush jungles from the at the time when King Mina united the southern and northern harsh, sun-scorched desert lands. regions of Egypt. Due to the high altitude of the region, dense This also means that Sinai that had witnessed an Egyptian clouds are usually stopped in the northern presence since the beginning of history, and the valley was a slops, which is always covered with fresh veg- region of stability on the trade route leading to Asia and the Ara- etation but the southern side turns to yellow bian Peninsula,” Ayman Ashmawy, head of Egyptian Antiquities due to less rainfall. Sector told Asharq Al-Awsat. Owpart is also neighboring some other (Source: Asharq Al-Awsat) attractions including Badab-e Surt that is well-known for having picturesque trodden, ROUND THE GLOBE limestone formations shaped over the span of thousands years by the flowing and cooling of water from hot mineral springs. Imperial palaces of the Iran is a country that sceneries could dramat- Ming and Qing dynasties ically change. It is very common to hear from people living all around the world, especially the As the royal residences of the emperors of the Ming and Qing ones who have not visited the country so far, that dynasties from the 15th to 20th century, the imperial palaces Iran is a country with hot and arid weather condi- of the Ming and Qing dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang were tion. Such attitude stems from the fact that about the center of State power in late feudal China. one-third of Iran is desert. There are two main The imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties in deserts and many smaller ones in the country. Beijing known as the Forbidden City was constructed between However, if you look at the map of Iran more 1406 and 1420 by the Ming emperor Zhu Di and witnessed carefully, you will understand that in addition the enthronement of 14 Ming and 10 Qing emperors over to the deserts, about one-third of the country the following 505 years. is mountains. There are also jungles, lakes and many rivers in different corners of the country. Why you cannot afford to miss Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas of Ramadan every year when all the guests of Allah are welcomed by Iftar. JAKARTA (MNA) – Sure there are many After some forty years of its inauguration must-see destinations in Indonesia but one and for the first time, the mosque is being special mosque in Jakarta is a visit that will renovated. Personnel are working 24/7 to never be forgotten. polish the marbles and steels and make the Back in the 1950s, Indonesian leaders mosque ready by March, before the arrival were seeking to build a monument to both of the next Ramadan. mark their revolution and their national motto Due to the renovation project, some parts The imperial palace of the Qing dynasty in Shenyang was which is tolerance among different religions. of the mosque are out of service right now built between 1625 and 1637 by Nurgaci for the Nuzhen/ A brilliant idea led to the construction of but this doesn’t affect its grandeur. Entering Manchu forebears of the Qing dynasty, which established one of the biggest mosques in the world, the the ground floor, you cannot have the same itself in Beijing in 1644. Istiqlal Mosque. feeling you had outside. The glory of the high Also known as Houjin Palace or Shenglin Palace, it was President Sukarno led the efforts to dome and ceiling offers a special calmness then used as the secondary capital and temporary residence build the Istiqlal (meaning ‘independence’) to all, even to non-Muslims. Many foreign for the royal family until 1911. The Imperial Palaces of Beijing mosque in a garden near the Presidential tourists visit the site every day as they know and Shenyang were inscribed on the World Heritage List in palace, Jakarta Cathedral, and Immanuel skipping this visit will make them feel regret 1987 and 2004 respectively. Church. A competition was held to obtain in the very near future. The Forbidden City, located in the center of Beijing is the the best designs and against all the odds, Just like Indonesian people, the pub- supreme model in the development of ancient Chinese palaces, a Christian architecture named Friedrich lic relations staff of the mosque are very providing insight into the social development of late dynastic Silaban (from Indonesia) was announced friendly and eager to help and show dif- China, especially the ritual and court culture. the winner. ferent parts of the mosque to visitors in The imperial palace of the Qing dynasty in Shenyang while The construction began in August 1961 ence, fitly-included in the design that will high stainless steel pinnacle on top of the case a guide is needed. following the traditions of palace construction in China retains and it took some 17 years before Sukarno make you admire the architecture’s work. Minaret to mark 30 Juz), and many others. Union and tolerance of different religions typical features of traditional folk residences of the Manchu inaugurated the national mosque in 1978. Symbols such as the year of the Indonesian The five-floor mosque can host some here can be a great role model for all other people, and has integrated the architectural arts of Han, Man- The architecture has some unique features Independence Proclamation (the diame- 200,000 people which makes it the biggest of countries. One truly feels peace when coming chu and Mongolian ethnic cultures. that you may hardly find anywhere else. ter of the dome is 45m to mark 1945), the its kind in the Southeast Asian region. Istiqlal out of the mosque and see others attending (Source: UNESCO) There are many symbolic numbers, both oneness of Allah (with building just one mosque only hosts this huge Muslim crowd a church on the opposite side with no stress related to Islam and Indonesian Independ- Minaret), number of Quran Juz (30-meter from across the country during the month and in full harmony. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 10, 2019 INTERNATIONAL 11

Boycott of Chinese goods Microsoft should not fund Israeli undermines quality of life By Hu Weijia GLOBALTIMES — Singles’ Day, a major shopping event in spying on Palestinians China and the world’s biggest consumption spree, shouldn’t be met with a broad boycott of Chinese and US products in By Ramzy Baroud different markets. According to Hong Kong media reports, radical protesters The act of Palestinian activists covering their faces in the city are calling for a boycott of Chinese e-commerce during anti-Israeli occupation rallies is an old prac- portal Taobao during this year’s Singles’ Day shopping festival, tice that spans decades. The masking of the face, also known as Double 11, which will take place on Monday. often by Kufyias – traditional Palestinian scarves No one is sure whether a boycott of Chinese products will be that grew to symbolize Palestinian resistance – is seen in other markets on Singles’ Day, especially in the US. far from being a fashion statement. Instead, it is a Since Washington launched the trade war against China, survival technique, without it, activists are likely there has been no shortage of examples when it comes to to be arrested in subsequent nightly raids; at times, economic issues being politicized. It seems that China’s even assassinated. Singles’ Day may be the next target. In the past, Israel used basic technologies to If sales across Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms decline this identify Palestinians who take part in protests and year on Singles’ Day, it may hurt confidence in the Chinese mobilize the people in various popular activities. TV economy. In the third quarter, the economy grew 6 percent news footage or newspaper photos were thoroughly year-on-year, the slowest pace in about 30 years. We need deciphered, often with the help of Israel’s collabora- confidence to get through these hard times. tors in the Occupied Territories, and the “culprits” A boycott of Chinese products will be a double-edged would be identified, summoned to meet Shin Bet sword for both China and the rest of the world. It’s almost intelligence officers or arrested from their homes. impossible to calculate the proportion of goods labeled “Made That old technique was eventually replaced in China” in global consumer spending. Why do those have by more advanced technology, countless images such a large market share? The reason is simple: most of transmitted directly through Israeli drones – the them are cheaper than their counterparts. Cost-effective flagship of Israel’s “security industry”. Thousands Chinese goods have made a major contribution to reining in of Palestinians were detained and hundreds were inflation in the global economy and benefiting low-income assassinated in recent years as a result of drones consumers. data, analyzed through Israel’s burgeoning facial A boycott of Chinese products really means a boycott recognition software. of a comfortable and affordable material life. If you want If, in the past, Palestinian activists were keen on to look at the country of origin on your shoes and all the keeping their identity hidden, now they have much spite of the tech giant’s public pledge to avoid us- asserting that he/she “saw no evidence that ethi- other things you buy, and choose according to this label, more compelling reasons to ensure the complete ing the technology if it encroaches on democratic cal considerations drove any business decisions” go ahead. But be ready to spend a lot more. secrecy of their work. Considering the information freedoms”. at the firm. sharing between the Israeli army and illegal Jewish AnyVision had developed an “advanced tactical The alarming reports invited strong protests by settlers and their armed militias in the occupied surveillance” software system, dubbed “Better To- human rights organizations, including the American West Bank, Palestinians face the double threat of morrow” that, according to a joint NBC News-Haaretz Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).Alas, Microsoft carried being targeted by armed settlers as well as by Is- investigation, “lets customers identify individuals on with supporting AnyVision’s work unhindered. raeli soldiers. and objects in any live camera feed, such as a secu- This is not the first time that Microsoft is caught True, when it comes to Israel, such a grim reality rity camera or smartphone, and then track targets red-handed in its support of the Israeli military or is hardly surprising. But what is truly disturbing is as they move between different feeds.” criticized for other unethical practices. the direct involvement of international corporate As disquieting as “Better Tomorrow’s” mission Unlike Facebook, Google and others, who are giants, the likes of Microsoft, in facilitating the work sounds, it takes on a truly sinister objective in Pal- constantly, albeit deservingly being chastised for of the Israeli military, whose sole aim is to crush estine. “According to five sources familiar with the violating privacy rules or allowing politics to in- any form of dissent among Palestinians. matter,” wrote Solon, “AnyVision’s technology powers fluence their editorial agenda, Microsoft has been Microsoft prides itself on being a leader in corpo- a secret military surveillance project throughout left largely outside the brewing controversies. But, rate social responsibility (CSR), emphasizing that the West Bank.” like the rest, Microsoft should be held to account. “privacy (is) a fundamental human right.” “One source said the project is nicknamed ‘Google In its “Human Rights Statement,” Microsoft The Washington-State based software giant Ayosh,’ where ‘Ayosh’ means occupied Palestinian declared its respect for human rights based on in- dedicates much attention, at least on paper, to the territories and ‘Google’ denotes the technology’s ternational conventions, starting with the United Hopefully everyone can enjoy the shopping spree on subject of human rights. “Microsoft is committed to ability to search for people.” Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Singles’ Day. There have also been concerns over whether respecting human rights,” Microsoft Global Human Headquartered in Israel, AnyVision has several In occupying and oppressing Palestinians, Israel Chinese shoppers will boycott US goods during the event. Rights Statement asserts. “We do this by harnessing offices around the world, including the US, the UK violates every article of that declaration, starting It’s understandable that some observers think China will the beneficial power of technology to help realize and Singapore. Considering the nature of AnyVision’s with Article 1, which states that “All human beings fight back against US tariffs on this day to safeguard its and sustain human rights everywhere.” work, and the intrinsic link between Israel’s tech- are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” and interests. However, we don’t want to see a boycott of US In practice, however, Microsoft’s words are hardly nology sector and the country’s military, it should including Article 3: “Everyone has the right to life, products. in line with its action, at least not when its human have been assumed that the company’s software is liberty and security of person.” Import Expo to change West’s opinion rights maxims are applied to occupied and besieged likely used to track down Palestinian dissidents. It will take Microsoft more than hyperlinking to The Second China International Import Expo (CIIE) will Palestinians.Writing in the American news network In July, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz pointed a UN document to show true and sincere respect open in Shanghai on Tuesday. French President Emmanuel NBC News on October 27, Olivia Solon reported on out that “AnyVision is taking part in two special for human rights. Macron will join the opening ceremony with top Chinese Microsoft funding of the Israeli firm, AnyVision, projects in assisting the Israeli army in the West Indeed, for a company that enjoys great popu- leaders. Macron is the first leader of Western developed which uses facial recognition “to secretly watch West Bank. One involves a system that it has installed larity throughout the Middle East and in Palestine countries to attend the CIIE. Although the US has no plans Bank Palestinians”. at army checkpoints that thousands of Palestinians itself, an inevitable first step towards respecting for “high-level government participation” in the expo, Amer- Through its venture capital arm M12, Microsoft pass through each day on their way to work from human rights is to immediately divest from Any- ican companies have shown great interest in participating has reportedly invested $78 million in the Israeli the West Bank.” Vision, coupled with an apology for all of those in the fair. They occupy the largest exhibition area in the startup company that “uses facial recognition to Former AnyVision employees spoke to NBC News who have already paid the price for that ominous hall, with Japan in that position at last year’s CIIE. surveil Palestinians throughout the West Bank, in about their experiences with the company, one even Israeli technology. The holding of the CIIE is an important declaration of China’s policy to further open up. It is China’s true will and determination to actively participate in the wave of globalization and closely integrate its economy with the outside. And this has even become a belief in Chinese so- A Tight grip On Our nuclear toys ciety. China’s expanding consumer demand has laid the foundation for the country to continue increasing imports. By Robert Koehler are “challenging American hegemony.” China is the only country to hold import expos on a Add to this the transnational, national level, which is beneficial to foreign enterprises. “Everyone wants to play with the big corporate interest in militarism. There’s Some Western public opinions do not take CIIE seriously boys, and the only way to become one no money in peace, which is seen mostly and regard it as China’s “political show.” This reveals little of the big boys is to have nuclear toys.” as a black hole, the lull between wars. understanding of China. Attention Planet Earth! Attention Money doesn’t start to flow until the The sense of ceremony often has a special significance in Planet Earth! It is time to grow up. bullets and the bombs start to fly. If China, which helps promote the formation of forces to break The words are those of Mohamed you’re opposed to war, the real enemy through. In addition, the expo is not only a ceremony, but ElBaradei, then director general of the isn’t Russia or China’ it’s the military- also a hypermarket that the Chinese government has built International Atomic Energy Agency, industrial complex (which can smell, and endorsed for foreign enterprises. Needless to say, foreign from a 2005 interview, several months for instance, the trillion-plus-dollars enterprises need to increase the comprehensive competi- before he and the agency were awarded earmarked for an upgraded nuclear tiveness of their products in the Chinese market. With the the Nobel Peace Prize. They remain arsenal). development of China’s industry, the country has established eerily relevant in 2019, summing up So what we have right now is a world the most complete production system in the world, and the as they do the puerile recklessness that in which the public’s natural desire quality of its products has been constantly improving. is in the process of regaining its grip on for peace is diverted to the status of It has become increasingly difficult for foreign products geopolitics. Nuclear weapons treaties are impossible, at least until we destroy to stay attractive to Chinese consumers, which all countries withering on the vine and proliferation our enemies and secure our hegemony; need to realize. threatens a triumphant return. and the growing global peace movement Such a phenomenon has emerged: While enterprises of a Hello, omnicide. We may not be remains utterly marginalized. How much country are striving to expand exports to China by actively as lucky as we were in the Cold War global instability and anxiety about new missiles, and other countries like time do you think will be devoted to the participating in the CIIE, the country’s public opinion con- era, when the consequences of nuclear nuclear proliferation,” Steven Erlanger Saudi Arabia are thought to have access issue of denuclearization, let us say, in tinues to criticize China. This has exposed the egoist nature accidents and political brinkmanship wrote recently in the New York Times, to nuclear weapons or to be capable of the looming presidential race? of Western public opinion. The Chinese people don’t have were relatively contained and the victims referring to the Intermediate Nuclear building them. All of which leads me back to the Kings to take this seriously. It’s more important for us to do our of nuclear development were limited Forces Treaty, signed by Ronald Reagan “The consequence, experts say, Bay Plowshares 7, the seven courageous own things well than care about Western public opinion. to the people who lived near test areas and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987, which is likely to be a more dangerous and peace activists who were arrested last Expanding opening-up is China’s own demand as well as like the Marshall Islands, Kazakhstan the Trump administration pulled out of. unstable environment, even in the near year after they cut through the fencing an important way to promote mutual benefits and win-win or the Nevada Test Site in the western Since then. Trumpica has also term. . . .” around the Kings Bay Naval Base, in St. results with the outside world. The world welcomes China United States. Nuclear stockpiles have indicated it wants to dump the New He then quotes Joseph Cirincione, Mary’s, Ga., the Atlantic home port of to actively help foreign enterprises share the dividends shrunk, not grown, and nuclear-armed START Treaty, brokered by Barack a nuclear analyst and president of the the country’s Trident nuclear missile- of the ever-expanding Chinese market through the CIIE. nations number nine. Obama with the Russians in 2011, which Ploughshares Fund: “If there’s not carrying submarines, and entered the Americans also welcome China to do so, although their This is still insane, of course. That expires in February 2021, shortly after nuclear disarmament, there will be base without permission. There, they government didn’t send a high-level delegation. number should – must – find its way the inauguration of whoever is the next proliferation. If big powers race to build poured out vials of blood (their own) on Macron’s attendance and the growing number of American to zero, as declared by the Treaty on president. New START limits the two up their arsenals, smaller powers will the grounds, hung up signs and issued enterprises participating in the expo show the CIIE’s vitality. the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, countries’ “strategic arsenals” (not their follow.” an indictment of the U.S. military for The expo will become more reputable, enjoy unprecedent- which was passed by a United Nations “tactical arsenals”) to 1,550 weapons In other words, global leadership violating the 1968 UN Nuclear Non- ed success and create a huge spillover diplomatic effect. vote of 122-1 in 2017 but still awaits each – still enough to, uh, destroy the is adolescent in nature. Big boys rule Proliferation Treaty. What’s most important for China is to further improve actual ratification by 50 countries (32 world and all, but . . .at least they bring and lust for power takes control of the Their trial, during which they were its economy and continue to increase the contribution of have ratified it so far). Hope-inspiring the concept of limits into the nuclear brain, especially power in a competitive not allowed to present their case on consumption to economic growth. Expanding consump- as that treaty is, the big boys – who discussion, putting, you might say, a context. If you represent the interests of the global danger of nuclear weapons, tion will fundamentally change China’s position in world boycotted the U.N. vote two years ago parental check on the big boys and their a nation-state, you could easily become recently ended. To no one’s surprise, they trade and make the outside world lose their leverage and – still control the game, and led by the nukes. consumed by the hostile environment were found guilty and await sentencing. impetus to fight a trade war with China. Aside from an USA, they are pulling out of the treaties Thus, writes Erlanger: “The in which those interests are trying to “. . . and they shall beat their swords economic issue, it also has profound international political that constrain them. dismantling of ‘arms control,’ a Cold establish themselves. And the interests into plowshares, and their spears into significance. “After the recent death of the treaty War mantra, is now heightening the risks of the planet as a whole (e.g., survival, a pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up We should keep holding the CIIE. By doing so, we will covering intermediate-range missiles, a of a new era when nuclear powers like future) could easily disappear as anything sword against nation, neither shall they see subtle changes in international public opinion and the new arms race appears to be taking shape, India and Pakistan are clashing over but idealistic, ignorable abstractions. learn war anymore.” attitudes of some countries toward China. These chang- drawing in more players, more money Kashmir, and when nuclear Israel feels Disarmament? Give me a break. Not when And Isaiah 2:4, the 3,000-year-old es will be positive and constructive, which we must have and more weapons at a time of increased threatened by Iran, North Korea is testing regional powers, as Erlanger also writes, cry for peace, remains irrelevant. confidence in. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY NOVEMBER 10, 2019

Mustafa Prize 2019 goes to International contribution ‘not Iranian, Turkish scientists

SOCIETY sufficient’ for Urmia Lake restoration TEHRAN — Three Iranian and two Turk- desk ish scientists were announced winners of ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Internation- The participants were briefed on the the Mustafa Prize 2019 during a ceremony which was held at deskal contribution to revive rationale, procedures and methodology Alzahra University in Tehran on Wednesday. Urmia Lake is not sufficient, as only Japan employed to develop CDI. They further The winners will be granted cash prizes on November 11, ISNA has provided an annual financial assistance discussed different potential variables, news agency reported. amounting to $1 million since the past six components, and indices that can be tak- The Mustafa Prize is awarded years, National Wetlands Conservation Project en into consideration in following steps to in four categories of informa- manager, Ali Arvahi, has said. fine tune the CDI. tion and communication sci- “We have so far received 6 million dollars Mr Gianluca Franceschini, the FAO Senior ence and technology, life and from Japan to restore the valuable lake,” Land Resource Information Management medical science and technology, he told IRNA. Expert who co-led the workshop said, “Today, nanoscience and nanotechnol- The fund is spent on the four pillars the first results of drought assessment and ogy and all areas of science and of sustainable water and soil manage- drought measurement methodology were technology. ment, economic empowerment of national presented and discussed in details.” In the field of life and medi- communities, continued management He added, “This was the first attempt for cal science and technology, the of Urmia Lake’s biodiversity, and using the country to provide such information which Mustafa Prize 2019 was shared restoration experience elsewhere in the looks at this phenomenon from different me- between Ugur Sahin, a Turk- country, he explained. teorological, agricultural and hydrological ish professor of experimental The program is currently being imple- dimensions.” oncology and founder of TRON mented in 150 villages in the Urmia Lake Praising the efforts made by the National GmbH, Mainz, Germany, and basin, the main goal of which is to elicit Drought Center, Mr Rao Matta, the FAO Chief Ali Khadem Hosseini, an Iranian professor at the University people’s participation for the revitalization Technical Advisor emphasized, “Drought of California-Los Angeles who holds a multi-departmental of Urmia Lake, he noted. measurement is an important component professorship in bioengineering, radiology, chemical, and He went on to say that the plan on pro- for overall basin management in Urmia Lake bimolecular engineering. viding sustainable income for villagers has catchment area and we need to identify what Sahin receives the award for his seminal work on individual- been implemented in 30 villages in Urmia kind of variables need to be incorporated ized cancer immunotherapies, in particular for the development Lake basin, adding, economic empower- However, decades of long-standing drought as a way came efficient in the lake conserva- into the CDI.” and clinical testing of mRNA-based vaccines that are tailored to ment of farmers, wetland vulnerability as- spells and elevated hot summer tempera- tion, he added. According to Dr Behdad Chehrenegar, each patient’s mutation profile. sessment systems and online monitoring tures that speed up evaporation as well as FAO takes step forward to assist the Head of Hydroinformatics Division of In field of all areas of science and technology, three system, are among other measures to help increased water demands in the agriculture Iran the ULRP, a well-developed CDI assists the other scientists shared the prize, namely, Umran Inan, a revitalize the Lake. sector shrank the lake drastically. In 1999 In the line of the Integrated Programme Country “to have a vulnerability assessment Turkish scientist at Koç University and Stanford Univer- By the end of the last year (March 19), more the volume of water which was at 30 billion for Sustainable Water Resource Management of the whole Urmia Lake basin to see the sity; Hossein Baharvand, an Iranian professor at Royan than 35 trillion rials (around $833 million) cubic meters drastically decreased to half a in the Urmia Lake basin, the Food and Agri- effect of the changes in climate variables Institute, and Mohammad Abdolvahed, a faculty member was spent on restoring the lake; this year, billion cubic meters in 2013. Moreover, the culture Organization of the United Nations on the livelihood and socioeconomic pa- at the University of Tehran. despite the government’s economic problems, lake’s surface area of 5,000 square kilometers in collaboration with Iran’s Atmospheric Sci- rameters in the area.” According to the head of Mustafa Prize scientific committee, over 7.2 trillion rials (nearly $166 million) in 1997 shrunk to one-tenth of that to 500 ence and Meteorological Research Center “The process we followed in this project Hassan Zohour, 202 research centers and 512 scientists from 52 has been allocated in this regard, he stated. square kilometers in 2013. (ASMERC) held a validation workshop to not only have the potential to be applicable countries have been invited to submit projects. Urmia Lake is projected to reach its The level of water at Urmia Lake has in- examine the newly developed Combined to different basins of the Country, but also Some 1,649 had attended the nomination process of the 2019 ecological level within 10 years within the creased by 1 meter in the current water year Drought Index (CDI) for Urmia Lake basin, – as a successful prototype project – to be Mustafa Prize which have been assessed by 500 jury members framework of its headquarters plans started (began on September 23) compared to the according to FAO website. beneficial for other Middle Eastern countries,” and 200 universities from 35 countries. since 4 years ago. same period last year. The workshop convened on 05 Novem- the Head of National Drought Center, Mr The Mustafa Prize 2019 programs host over 100 scientists All Iranian and foreign experts believe This is a while, deputy environment chief ber 2019 at ASMERC office in Tehran and Ahad Vazifeh said. and academics from different countries. that the participation of local communities Masoud Tajrishi told Khabaronline in July that was attended by the experts and researchers Funded by the Government of Japan and Meanwhile, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Sharif Uni- along with the implementation of various rainfall is not the only reason behind Urmia from FAO, ASMERC, the Ministry of En- jointly implemented by FAO and ULRP, versity of Technology, Alzahra University, Imam Sadiq University projects play an important role in revitalizing Lake coming back to life. Thus, restoration ergy, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Iran Integrated Programme for Sustainable and Iran Broadcasting University (IBU), will host the 6th Science and the valuable lake. measures turned out to be effective, unlike Meteorological Organization, the National Water Resource Management in the Ur- Technology Exchange Program (STEP) meetings on November 10. Shared between West Azarbaijan and East the previous years of high rainfall poured Drought Center, the Urmia Lake Restoration mia Lake basin supports the efforts of the Winners of the Mustafa Prize receive the Mustafa Medal, Azarbaijan provinces in northwestern Iran, over the lake but did not raise the lake level. Program (ULRP), the University of Tehran, Country in improving its institutional and a Diploma and $500,000 financed through the endowments Urmia Lake, was once the largest salt-water The effort put into properly dredging and Sharif University of Technology and Iran knowledge capacities to restore this unique made to the prize. lake in the Middle East. clearing of weed and vegetation in river beds University of Science and Technology. biosphere reserve. Mustafa Prize Mustafa Prize, the Iranian version of the Nobel Peace Prize, was launched in 2013 with the mission to promote science and technology in the Islamic world. October was hottest in Earth’s recorded Red deer show first evidence of animal evolution In 2015, the first edition of the prize was held in Tehran and history, say scientists in response to climate change, study reveals professors Jackie Y. Ying and Omar M. Yaghi were the two win- ners of the 2015 Mustafa Prize. Last month was the hottest October on A population of red deer on a Scottish is- The Mustafa Foundation seeks to encourage education and record globally, with temperatures “well land are providing scientists with the first research and is set to play the pioneering role in developing above average” in many regions, according evidence of wild animals evolving differently regional relations between science and technology institutions to European Union scientists. due to man-made climate change. working in member states of the Organization of Islamic Countries. October 2019’s global surface air temper- A new study into the deer living on the As the name of the event suggests, the Mustafa Prize is held ature was 0.69C warmer than the average small Hebridean island of Rum reveals biennially during the Islamic Unity week in Iran, which is an- between 1981 and 2010, the Copernicus Cli- genetic changes believed to be related to nually celebrated between two dates of the birthday of Prophet mate Change Service said. It narrowly edged a warming climate mean the animals are Muhammad (PBUH) by Sunnis and Shia. out October 2015 as the hottest on record. giving birth slightly earlier each year. The prize will be granted to the works which are deemed to In Europe, the month was 1.1C hotter than Using data from previous research have improved human life and made tangible and cutting-edge the average October over the same period. southern Africa, western and southern going back to the 1970s, the team, which Dr Timothee Bonnet, of the Australian innovations on the boundaries of science or have presented It comes after 2019 saw the warmest Australia, and most of eastern Antarctica. includes scientists from the University National University, who led the study, new scientific methodology. September and June on record global- Earlier this year Jean-Noel Thepaut, the of Edinburgh, found average birth dates said: “This is one of the few cases where ly, as well as the second hottest August head of the Copernicus programme, warned were getting earlier at a rate of about three we have documented evolution in action, and joint-warmest July, according to Europe was “likely to see” more extreme days per decade, partly due to the effects showing that it may help populations adapt WORDS IN THE NEWS Copernicus data obtained by satellites weather events due to the climate crisis. of warmer temperatures on the deer’s be- to climate warming.” and ground sensors. The release of October data came on haviour and physiology. Professor Josephine Pemberton, of Indian novelist jailed The findings mean the year is almost the day 11,000 scientists from across the Now, scientists have revealed that genetic the University of Edinburgh’s School of certain to be one of the hottest on record world published a joint letter warning “un- changes caused by natural selection – the Biological Sciences, who was also involved (March 6, 2002) overall, continuing a trend of global warm- told human suffering” will be unavoida- theory of evolution developed by Charles in the study, said: “Long-term studies of India’s Supreme Court has sentenced the Booker Prize ing which scientists say is being caused by ble without huge shifts in way of life. Darwin – are also involved. individual lifetimes are one of the few ways winning author, Arundhati Roy, to a symbolic one-day increased greenhouse gases. “Despite 40 years of major global ne- Female red deer – called hinds – give to understand how populations respond to prison term and a fine, finding her guilty of contempt of Over the last 12 months the global sur- gotiations, we have continued to conduct birth to a single calf each year, and those environmental change and how to manage court. This report from Adam Mynott: face air temperature has averaged above business as usual and have failed to address that reproduce earlier in the year have more its effects.” The diminutive figure of Arundhati Roy strode into the Supreme the 1981-2010 average across most of the this crisis,” said William Ripple, professor offspring over their lifetime, researchers say. Sally Thomas, Scottish Natural Herit- Court surrounded by dozens of her supporters. Many expected world, and far higher in the Arctic. of ecology at Oregon State University, who Their findings show that this is partly age’s director of people and nature, said: that the Court would stop short of sending her to prison, but Copernicus scientists said October 2019 spearheaded the letter. because of an association between the “These findings are a fascinating example two hours later she was driven away to jail, sentenced to a temperatures were “markedly above aver- Eighteen of the 19 warmest years on genes that make hinds give birth earlier of the impact climate change may be hav- day’s symbolic custody for contempt of court. age” over parts of the Arctic, eastern North record have occurred since 2001, with and higher overall reproductive success. ing on wildlife. More and more research is The author, who won the Booker Prize in 1997 for her novel, America, the Middle East, and much of North 2016 the hottest since monitoring began As a result, genes for breeding earlier have demonstrating climate change is influenc- The God of Small Things, was also fined two thousand Africa and Russia. Temperatures were also 169 years ago. become more common in the Rum deer ing species across the UK and the world.” rupees, about forty dollars. If she doesn’t pay the fine she well above average over southern Brazil, (Source: The Independent) population over time. (Source: The Independent) faces three months in jail. She’d been in a crowd outside the Supreme Court in October 2000, protesting about the building of a dam. Contempt proceedings taken against her were dismissed, but in her ENGLISH IN USE affidavit to the Court she described the charges against her as absurd, despicable and entirely unsubstantiated. LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION She was accused of scandalizing and lowering the Court’s dignity, and this led to a second contempt charge, for which she was sentenced. After the hearing her lawyer read her کمــک ۵ میلیاردی برای تامین لباس statement outside the Court, saying anyone who criticizes $1.2m donated to provide the the Supreme Court, does so at their peril. زمســتانی کودکان در مناطق کم برخوردار Words underprivileged with warm clothing diminutive: very small (a formal word) Iran’s Welfare Organization has managed to collect a contribution of بــه گــزارش خبرگــزاری تســنیم ســازمان بهزیســتی کشــور بــا هــدف تامیــن تهیــه لبــاس گــرم بــرای stop short of: if you stop short of doing something, then you nearly do it but you do not actually do it 50 billion rials (nearly $1.2 million) to provide the underprivileged with کــودکان مناطــق کــم برخــوردار مبلــغ ۵ میلیــارد تومــان جمــع آوری کــرده اســت. .sentenced: if you are sentenced by a court then you are warm clothing, Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday رئیــس مرکــز مشــارکتهای مردمــی و توانمندســازی ســازمان بهزیســتی کشــور بــا اشــاره بــه اتمام given a punishment for a crime that you have been found Within the framework of a campaign dubbed “kindness smile” from پویــش لبخنــد مهربانــی بــا هــدف تامیــن تهیــه لبــاس گــرم بــرای کــودکان مناطــق کم برخــوردار guilty of (in this case, a day in prison) December 10, 2018 to January 9 some $1.2 million was solicited from the symbolic: here, the sentence is described as ‹symbolic’ اظهــار کــرد: ایــن پویــش از 19 آذر بــا مشــارکت خیریــن و نیکــوکاران آغــاز شــد و تــا 19 دی ماه public for procuring warm clothing for the financially struggling children because the judges considered it important, although it in underprivileged areas, an official with the Organization has said. ادامــه داشــت و در ایــن طــرح یــک مــاه ۵ میلیــارد تومــان جمــع آوری شــده اســت. had very little practical effect Mohammad Ali Kozehgar explained that some 50,000 packages of محمــد علــی کــوزه گــر گفــت: 50 هــزار بســته لبــاس گــرم بــه ارزش 5 میلیــارد تومان تهیه شــده contempt of court: the criminal offence of disobeying an instruction from a judge or court of law warm clothing were obtained by the money and distributed among اســت و در اختیــار کــودکان قــرار گرفت. .fined: if you are fined, then you are punished by being the children forced to pay a sum of money dismissed: if something is dismissed, then it is seen as not being good enough or important enough to think about affidavit: a written statement which you swear is true PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM and which may be used as evidence in a court of law “-oid” Tear at somebody/something See eye to eye unsubstantiated: something that is unsubstantiated has not been proved true Meaning: a word ending that indicates resembling Meaning: to pull violently at someone or Explanation: if two people see eye to eye, they agree at their peril: if people do something at their peril, then For example: The robot was humanoid in something with each other they do it knowing that it is dangerous and that it could appearance. For example: The children were screaming and For example: I don’t always see eye to eye with my harm them tearing at each other’s hair. father. (Source: BBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 10, 2019 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 Hezbollah will have proactive role in future Jamal Wakim: US, Israel Attempting to Exacerbate Lebanese government: Sheikh Naim Qassem Lebanese Economic Hezbollah will have a ‘proactive presence’ by forming a government capable of resolving in the future Lebanese government, says the [country’s] issues,” adding that the pop- Problems to Rattle Gov’t, Sheikh Naim Qassem, the deputy sec- ular protest movement will greatly influence Hizbullah retary general of Lebanon’s resistance the formation of such a government. movement. “What existed before the popular 6 “Hezbollah will fulfill its role in following movement differs from what will come The government reforms, which also included a cut up with the demands of the people, imple- after it. The demands of the movement in salaries in half and the return of money to the treasury, menting reform, and fighting corruption and must be prioritized over [that of] the have failed to appease the protesters at this point. Do you will have a proactive presence in the future rich,” he said. believe if Prime Minister’s resignation will do any better government,” Lebanon’s official National The economic protests come as growth to the status quo? News Agency reported Qassem as saying in the country has plummeted in the wake A: I believe that the reforms proposed are short of during a meeting on Friday. of endless political deadlocks and economic achieving any tangible result, because these reforms do “Hezbollah will be part of the future woes of a remarkable scale in recent years. not touch the core of the problem which is the structural government since it is part of the people, The country hosts 1.5 million Syrian refu- deformation of the Lebanese economy whose GDP relies hence it will strive to allow for the voice gees, and their presence is often blamed for heavily on remittances from Lebanese people abroad, and on of the people to be heard and their pains putting pressure on the already struggling getting foreign loans, in addition to financial speculations. healed,” he added. economy. I believe that the new person who will be nominated as Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his Unemployment stands at more than 20 prime minister will follow the same pattern in economy resignation at the end of October following percent, according to official figures. with minor reforms that will heavily rely on further pri- two weeks of huge nationwide economic The Lebanese Finance Ministry says the vatization and shrinking of the public sector. This might and anti-corruption protests. national debt is hovering around $85 billion, serve in cutting public expenditure but it will lead to further taking place mainly in major city squares. factions and political figures in a bid to form The protests have since receded with which accounts for more than 150 percent problems as the private sector would not be able to absorb Qassem said Hezbollah was negotiating a future government. Lebanon experiencing a return to relative of the gross domestic product (GDP). the work force moving from the public to the private sector. with leaders of the country’s parliamentary He said reform in Lebanon would “begin calm despite continued demonstrations (Source: Press TV) The economic situation will be aggravated by spring 2020 which would lead to chaos in Lebanon unless extreme measures are taken. 17 rockets land near Iraqi airbase India, Pakistan contacts at ‘zero’ How do you believe the domestic chaos would lead to harms to Lebanon’s foreign policy? housing U.S. forces despite border cooperation A: I definitely believe so as the USA and Israel would benefit from chaos to implicate Hizbullah in it and divert A barrage of 17 rockets have come down allies, presumably seeking to uproot the Contacts between India and Pakistan “The founder of Sikhism was born here. its attention and resources away from Israel, and away near an Iraqi airbase housing American Takfiri terror group of Daesh. The outfit are “zero”, Pakistan’s foreign minister This is our real home,” said Surpreet Singh, from supporting the Palestinian resistance groups as to forces in the Arab country’s north, causing had risen amid the chaos and volatility said, even as a border crossing opened a 32-year-old pilgrim from New Delhi on help pass the deal of the century aiming to liquidate the some material damage but no casualties. resulting from the first U.S.-led invasion. on Saturday for Indian pilgrims to visit his first visit to Pakistan. Palestinian cause and the Palestinian national rights. Iraq’s Armed Forces released a state- Qayyarah was liberated by Iraqi gov- a Sikh temple in one of the most signif- “I have wanted to come here for a long In addition, they will benefit from chaos to keep Syria ment, saying the incident took place near ernment forces from Daesh control in 2016 icant acts of cooperation in decades by time. The people here are very friendly busy in a neighboring unstable region and forbid Lebanon the outpost in the town of Qayyarah in as they were marching towards Daesh’s the old rivals. - they are familiar to us,” he added as from playing the role of the channel between international Iraq’s Nineveh Province on Friday. so-called capital of Mosul. The border crossing pact between Pakistani and Indian Sikhs, who wore capital and Syria in its reconstruction phase. No person or group has claimed respon- The Iraqi military’s effort against the the neighbors allows visa-free access different lanyards, mingled inside the sibility for the incident. terrorists was being boosted by Iranian mil- from India to the Pakistani town of temple complex. The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 itary advisory assistance and Shia-majority Kartarpur, home to a temple marking Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on the second leg of its so-called war on paramilitaries. The U.S.-led military would, the site where the founder of Sikhism, said in a statement the border crossing Iraqi PM says electoral terror, which had it first stage a no-holds- meanwhile, carry out, what has been con- Guru Nanak, died. pact was a “testimony of our commitment barred attack against Afghanistan. demned as indiscriminate attacks against Hundreds of Indians including mem- towards peace of the region”. reforms to be announced Unremitting violence continue to plague the city and its population under the pretext bers of the opposition Congress Party However, Pakistani Foreign Minister both countries since then, with anti-Ameri- of targeting Daesh. crossed the border for opening ceremo- Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday in a ‘few days’ can sentiment and U.S.-led foreign presence Iraq and its allies cleared Mosul of ny, though there was no representation relations had not been as strained as they 1 which was established after a US-led invasion being blamed for much of the plight. Daesh’s presence in the following year, from India’s ruling Hindu-nationalist are now since the two sides battled on their that critics say has allowed certain individuals and groups Washington staged a renewed whole- with Washington trying to claim credit Bharatiya Janata Party. Prime Minister border for months in the northern area of to enrich themselves and expand their influence. sale operation in Iraq in 2014 at the head for the victory. Narendra Modi held his own ceremony Kargil in 1999. In his statement, Abdul Mahdi promised that the govern- of a number of its Western and regional (Source: Press TV) over the border in India. (Source: Reuters) ment and judiciary will continue to investigate the deaths, adding that all detainees who have been arrested in the past several weeks would be released. “Anybody who was assaulted, kidnapped, or anybody Pompeo calls on NATO to grow against ‘threats’ from Russia, China who participated in assault, kidnap, or arrest outside of U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has unleashed new “Seventy years on... it needs to grow and change. It the legal framework, will face trial,” it read. attacks against two military powers, Russia and China, needs to confront the realities of today and the challenges Abdul Mahdi’s statement came almost a week after he calling on the NATO military alliance to grow and confront of today,” he added. had appealed to protesters to suspend their movement, “the challenges of today.” He was apparently responding to French President, Ema- which he said had achieved its goals and was hurting the Speaking on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the fall of nuel Macron, who said recently that NATO was “brain dead.” economy. The prime minister has previously promised a the Berlin Wall in the German capital, Berlin, Pompeo said Pompeo said, “We thought we could divert our resources number of reforms, including stipends for the poor, more the U.S. and its allies need to “defend what was so hard- away from alliances, and our militaries. We were wrong.” job opportunities for graduates and pledges to punish a won... in 1989” and “recognize we are in a competition of “If nations believe that they can get the security benefit handful of corrupt officials. values with un-free nations.” without providing NATO the resources that it needs, if Earlier this month, Iraqi President Barham Salih said He accused China of using “tactics and methods to sup- they don’t live up to their commitments, there is a risk that Abdul Mahdi was willing to resign once political leaders press its own people that would be horrifyingly familiar to NATO could become ineffective or obsolete,” he added. agreed on a replacement. He also called for a new electoral former East Germans.” The top U.S. diplomat was echoing demands by Presi- law and said he would approve early parliamentary polls Pompeo also accused Russia of invading its neighbors dent Donald Trump, who has long been accusing European once it was enacted. and crushing dissent. NATO members of failing to provide their fair share of Abdul Mahdi’s statement did not mention the resigna- “Western, free nations have a responsibility to deter military spending and of relying too heavily on the U.S. tion. Meanwhile, even if the new electoral law is quickly threats to our people” Pompeo said, adding, “We can never for their defense. approved, the process of holding elections and forming a take ... things for granted.” (Source: agencies) new government could take several months. “Many [demonstrators] … say when they hear Iraqi politicians speaking, it’s like they’re on a separate planet … Like they’re disconnected from reality,” Jamjoom said. Meanwhile, internet returned briefly in most parts of India top court rules in favor of Hindus in dispute over mosque land Iraq on Saturday after being largely shut down for three India’s top court has ruled in favor of the and had displaced a previous temple. decide whether to ask for a review after they time and opportunity to express differing days. Authorities have heavily restricted internet access construction of a Hindu temple at the site They allocated a separate “prominent” had read the whole judgment. points of view. This verdict will further in- during the protests. of a mosque that had been demolished by five-acre piece of land, not far from the Authorities deployed thousands of police crease people’s faith in judicial processes,” (Source: Al Jazeera) Hindu mobs three decades ago. contested site, to the Muslim community patrols in the city ahead of the verdict. They Modi tweeted. In a unanimous judgment on Saturday, to construct a mosque. also arrested hundreds of people in the city. Hindus and Muslims have been locked in the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hin- The court also ruled that the demolition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some a conflict over the site for 150 years. On the dus regarding a plot of land in Ayodhya in the mosque was against the rule of law. The other officials have appealed for calm. The site of the demolished mosque, Hindus con- UAE running secret prison at northern India, where a 16th Century Babri destruction of the mosque triggered religious premier hailed the verdict, saying it had structed a tent that resembles a temple. mosque stood before it was demolished in riots in which about 2,000 people, most of “amicably” ended a decades-old dispute. The ruling party of Prime Minister Modi, Total gas facility in Yemen 1992 by Hindu extremists. them Muslims. “The halls of justice have amicably con- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), rose to The five Supreme Court judges said that A representative for the Muslim litigants cluded a matter going on for decades. Every power on a wave of Hindu nationalism. 1 Last month, head of Yemen’s National Commit- the mosque was “not built on vacant land” said that they were not satisfied and would side, every point of view was given adequate (Source: Press TV) tee for Prisoners Affairs (NCPA) Abdulqader al-Mortada blamed Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for obstructing prisoner swaps with Yemen’s Houthis. The agreements had been agreed upon during UN-spon- UN envoy: Syria’s talks have ‘gone much better’, new round to be held on Nov. 25 sored Yemeni peace negotiations in Sweden last year, but United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen says “very painful” but said the delegates to the committee from The formation of Syria’s constitutional committee and its Mortada said Riyadh was insisting on the release of Saudi the opening round of talks aimed at finding a political solu- the government, foreign-sponsored opposition and civil inception in Geneva on October 30 was the culmination of over troopers only. tion to the ongoing conflict in Syria has been “better than society addressed them with professionalism. two years of efforts by the three guarantor states of the Syria “The UAE is concealing the fate of hundreds of our pris- expected”, with a new round due to be held in Geneva later “The next round of discussions will start on November peace process - Iran, Russia, and Turkey - who initiated the oners, and preventing many parties in southern (Yemeni) this month. 25,” Pedersen added. Astana Process in January 2017 on the back of a Syria-wide provinces from exchanging prisoners with us,” Mortada said. Speaking at a news conference at the end of the first The members of the constitutional committee, which ceasefire between the government and armed groups. “Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, has dismissed all round of the Constitutional Committee on Friday, Pedersen took almost two years of consultations to be formed, In a joint communiqué released at the end of a meeting proposals put forward by the UN envoy (Martin Griffiths) said, “I believe it has gone much better than most people are tasked with reforming the Arab country’s consti- with Pedersen late last month, Iran, Russia and Turkey and stopped many parties, particularly in Ma’rib and al- would have expected.” tution before it is put to the vote of the Syrian people. stressed that Syria’s long-awaited constitutional committee Jawf and Ta’izz, from conducting prisoner swaps with us.” He added that the committee discussed many key is- The UN envoy has said reforming the country’s consti- must work independently and far from any foreign inter- Mortada said the fate of an estimated 15,000 people, sues, including Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and tution is the first step toward the beginning of a political ference in order to draw maximum support from all walks from both Saudi-backed Yemeni militia forces and the fighting terrorism, without elaborating. process that will lead to UN-supervised elections under of the Syrian nation. Houthis, remains unclear, adding they are believed to have The UN envoy noted that discussions were sometimes UN Resolution 2254. (Source: agencies) either gone missing in action or been kept as prisoners. The United Arab Emirates is Saudi Arabia’s key partner in its deadly war against Yemen, which was launched in March 2015, with the goal of bringing the government of Germany celebrates 30th anniversary of Berlin Wall’s fall Hadi back to power and crushing the Houthi movement. The U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Germany on Saturday marked the 30th an- by the reunification of Germany in 1990. the Czechs and Slovaks, the peaceful revo- to cross freely into Austria, paving the way for Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organiza- niversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall that “Together with our friends, we remem- lutions in Eastern Europe and Germany’s the fall of the Berlin Wall three months later and tion, estimates that the Saudi war has claimed more than separated East and West Germany, with ber with deep gratitude the events 30 years reunification would not have been possible,” with it the end of the Iron Curtain. 100,000 lives over the past four and a half years. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanking ago,” Steinmeier said during a ceremony at Steinmeier said. Steinmeier pointed out, however, that Besides playing a significant part in aerial assaults and Eastern European neighbours for enabling a the Bernauer Strasse Berlin Wall Memori- During the ceremony, Steinmeier and the the historic event did not mark the “end of deploying troops to Yemen, the UAE has been training the peaceful revolution. The toppling of the wall, al, which was also attended by Chancellor presidents of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and history” as U.S. historian Francis Fukuyama pro-Saudi militants fighting on the ground against the which had divided the Communist-ruled East Angela Merkel and heads of state from the Czech Republic placed roses in a small gap stated. The struggle of political systems had Yemeni armed forces. and the capitalist West in Berlin for nearly Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech in the remains of the wall at the memorial. continued and the future was more uncertain Yemen’s southern regions are mostly controlled by three decades and became a potent symbol Republic.“Without the courage and the will In August 1989, Hungarian border guards for than ever before, he added. UAE-backed militants loyal to the former government. of the Cold War, was followed a year later to freedom of the Poles and Hungarians, the first time allowed people from East Germany (Source: Reuters) (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS NOVEMBER 10, 2019 Liverpool vs. Manchester: Premier League Ozil, Kolasinac attacker jailed for 10 years rivals face off in title race too tight to call An armed mugger has been jailed for 10 years after attempting to rob Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac of luxury watches worth £200,000 ($257,000, 231,000 euros). If you were planning on going out on Sunday, team has never done, in fact, that no Liverpool Harrow Crown Court heard that Ashley Smith and his accomplice you might want to take a rain check. team has ever done: win the Premier League. did not count on the bravery of Bosnian defender Kolasinac in fighting There’s only one thing you need to think Indeed the last time Liverpool won England’s back during the attack in London in July. about on Sunday and that’s Liverpool vs. top-flight title was in 1990. Ozil then drove them from the ambush as the would-be robbers Manchester City -- the game that pits the It is by no means a trivial statistic, as pursued them on a stolen moped and threw stones, the court heard. European champion against the English plenty of gifted Liverpool sides have led the Smith, 30, was described by judge Ian Bourne QC as a prolific title holder, a contest that is no stranger to title race in the past and wilted in the heat; “career criminal” who was well known to police. hyperbole. the pressure of that elusive Premier League A second man, Jordan Northover, has also pleaded guilty to the That hyperbole, however, is probably weighs heavy on the shoulders of everybody attempted robbery just feet from Kolasinac’s home, and will be sen- deserved given the astonishing form of these at the club. tenced at a later date. two teams over the past year. We witnessed it again last season, as a Smith and Northover were “armed and dangerous” with a knitting With Liverpool sitting top of the Premier run of four draws in six matches after the needle and a pointed screwdriver as weapons, according to the judge. League, six points clear of second-place City, mentally draining Christmas and New Year “Between them they produced these weapons which they threat- we asked two of our CNN Sport writers for period handed the lead back to City, one it ened Mr Kolasinac with, a long pointed blade which was thrust in the their views on the Anfield clash and where the never looked like relinquishing. victim’s direction and made contact with him. title might end up at the end of the season. That run of costly dropped points could “The two of them had not counted on Mr Kolasinac fighting back We might be just over a quarter of a way perhaps be put down to a narrow defeat to and he behaved incredibly bravely.” through the season but defeat for Manchester City a couple of weeks earlier, a defeat by The court heard that footage showed Kolasinac attempting to City at Anfield on Sunday will more than likely the narrowest of margins. engage with the culprits, but he was able to get in the car which was spell the end of the Premier League title race. An effort from Sadio Mane’s was hooked then driven away by Ozil. Even the most ardent City fan will tell you away by John Stones at the second attempt, Both players and Ozil’s wife were able to flee despite being pursued a nine-point lead is probably insurmountable. before goal line technology confirmed the ball by the defendants, who threw stones at the car. Though Liverpool did let a 10-point lead was a mere 11.7mm away from crossing the Officers were able to trace the defendants and arrest them after a -- seven once City had won its game in hand line -- the equivalent to nine grains of sand. robbed Pep Guardiola of the chance to play Guardiola is again likely to field one of member of the public later saw the moped being parked in Boreham -- slip last season, Jurgen Klopp’s team this City went on to win the match and cut a full-strength defensive line for much of Fernandinho or Rodri in central defense, while Wood and called police. term is an entirely different beast. Liverpool’s lead to four points, then, two the current campaign, fielding at least one first-choice goalkeeper Ederson is a doubt The judge stated that Smith has “an appalling criminal record” of 20 Where it would once stutter and stumble games later, came the start of the collapse. midfielder in central defense for 10 of the after picking up an injury in Wednesday’s convictions from 38 offences dating back to when he was 14 years old. against inferior and defensive sides, Liverpool So often a jolly caricature when things last 12 matches. draw with Atalanta. (Source: Goal) has found a useful knack of snatching victory are going well, Klopp’s mask quickly slips -- or at least a draw -- from the jaws of defeat, There is also now a clear, effective blueprint His replacement, Claudio Bravo, has when results no longer go Liverpool’s way as evidenced by its three most recent Premier for defeating Manchester City -- as Norwich seen his career in Manchester defined by and that jittery, ill-tempered mood seeps U.S. women’s team granted class League matches. and Wolves have recently demonstrated -- several high-profile errors and won’t instill into the squad. City, conversely, is perhaps not quite the though executing it is another matter entirely. total confidence in the traveling fans inside If City do get the better of Liverpool on action status in equal-pay lawsuit feared, unstoppable juggernaut it was last Liverpool is unlikely to adopt such a Anfield. Sunday, don’t be surprised if another lead season. defensive, counterattacking strategy at But Guardiola’s side -- and City sides before is quickly whittled away. The members of the U.S. women’s national soccer team who sued An unfortunate catalog of injuries has Anfield but City’s defensive frailties remain. him -- has done something this Liverpool (Source: CNN) the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) in March over allegations of gender discrimination can pursue their claims as a class action, a California court ruled on Friday. The decision comes two months after the group filed a motion Spain’s millionaire Super Cup Klopp rules out move for Mbappe for class certification seeking to include all women called up to the national team over the multi-year period specified in the lawsuit, in addition to those originally named. “This is a historic step forward in the struggle to achieve equal pay,” Molly Levinson, a spokeswoman for the players, said in a statement. “We are so pleased that the Court has recognized USSF’s ongo- ing discrimination against women players - rejecting USSF’s tired arguments that women must work twice as hard and accept lesser working conditions to get paid the same as men.” The decision comes two months after the group filed a motion for class certification seeking to include all women called up to the national team over the multi-year period specified in the lawsuit, in addition to those originally named. “This is a historic step forward in the struggle to achieve equal pay,” Molly Levinson, a spokeswoman for the players, said in a statement. “We are so pleased that the Court has recognized USSF’s ongo- ing discrimination against women players - rejecting USSF’s tired arguments that women must work twice as hard and accept lesser working conditions to get paid the same as men.” (Source: Reuters) It’s raining money at the Supercopa De take place on Wednesday January 8 and French star Kylian Mbappe is out of Liv- who can buy Kylian Mbappé from PSG. Espana which will take place in Saudi Ara- Thursday January 9, with the final on Sun- erpool’s price range, the Premier League “I don’t see any club. That is how it is. Wenger contradicts Bayern’s bia between January 8 and 12, with both day January 12 over a weekend when LaLiga leaders manager and long-time admirer And we are involved in these clubs who finalists set to pocket 12 million euros each Santander will not take place, instead with Jurgen Klopp says. cannot do it. Easy as that. claim they turned him down with 8.9 million euros for the two beaten Copa del Rey fixtures being played with the The 20-year-old Paris Saint Germain “OK, from a sporting point of view, there semi-finalists. four Supercopa finalists exempt. striker -- who was instrumental in France’s are not a lot of reasons to not sign him. Arsene Wenger has contradicted a claim by Bayern Munich that What’s more, that is in addition to the The draw will take place on Monday lifting of the 2018 World Cup -- has been “What a player he is. It is about the they turned him down for the vacant head coach’s job and accused money that the RFEF will earn for the November 11 at 16:00 at RFEF headquarters linked with Real Madrid. money of course. No chance. Absolutely, the defending German champions of a lack of discretion. organization of the tournament in Saudi in Madrid with Valencia and Barcelona as This gathered momentum earlier in the no chance. Sorry for killing that story.” Bayern need a new coach after Niko Kovac was sacked last Sunday Arabia, which will be invested in grass- the champions of the Copa del Rey and week when Real’s coach Zinedine Zidane Klopp, whose side have a six point lead with former Germany assistant Hansi Flick appointed interim boss roots football, taking the figure to almost LaLiga respectively, and Atletico Madrid remarked that Mbappe had always said it over champions City heading into their for Wednesday’s win over Olympiakos and Saturday’s home league 50 million euros. and Real Madrid as second and third placed was his dream to play for the Spanish side. match at Anfield, said the minimalist level game against Dortmund. The difference compared to the old model in LaLiga Santander last season. Klopp, speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash of activity from him in the transfer market On Thursday, Bayern put out a statement claiming Wenger had is stunning, from the economic factors to There will be no seeding or any way of with second-placed Manchester City, had in the close season was down to the money called club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to express inter- the sporting ones. influencing the draw. been keen to sign Mbappe in 2017 and met being asked for their targets. est in replacing Kovac, but said the former Arsenal boss had been Previously, the teams who took part in The host city is Jeddah, the second larg- with the player and his entourage. The Champions League holders signed turned down. the game, which was the first of the season, est city in Saudi Arabia and 60 kilometers However, he opted to join PSG for £158 teenagers Harvey Elliott and Sepp van den However, Wenger, 70, rejected those version of events and criti- earned what they sold in terms of tickets away from Mecca, with Jeddah being the million ($202 million). Berg whilst bringing in goalkeeper Adrian cised Bayern for leaking “rumours from everywhere”. and a percentage of the television money commercial center of the country. PSG are seeking to extend his present on a free transfer. “My name came out of nowhere,” said Wenger in an interview as the rights belonged to the RFEF. It will also be the starting point for Dakar contract and if they were reluctantly to “The players we thought about to make with beIN Sports on Friday. Even in the best of cases, with Real Ma- 2020 on January 5 and has hosted exhi- allow him to leave are believed to want this team better were really expensive and “On Wednesday, Rummenigge called me, I called back out of drid vs Barcelona, the clubs would not earn bition tennis matches and international more than the record fee of £198 million we could not spend the money,” said the courtesy. more than three million euros. football fixtures for Brazil. they paid Barcelona for Neymar in 2017. 52-year-old German. “We talked for four or five minutes, maximum, and he reported The sporting format is also new, taking The RFEF has made demands about “Buying this calibre of player is diffi- “To see a player better than him, or that they signed Flick (as interim coach) for the next two games. place with a final four, much like basketball certain situations in Saudi Arabia, such as cult,” Klopp was cited in Saturday’s The with potential to be better or play exactly “He asked me if I would be interested, because they are looking has done for many years. the presence of women at football matches. Times as saying. the same as him is really difficult. for a coach.” Kicking off will be the semi-finals will (Source: Marca) “I don’t see any club at the moment (Source: AFP) Wenger says he told Rummenigge that he would think about it and “we decided together” to talk again “next week because I am in Doha until Sunday night. This is the true story.” After a decade as Bayern’s president, Uli Hoeness will step down James’ triple double streak ends but Lakers win 7th straight on Friday and Wenger said Bayern are at a “turning point” with Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined for 51 points as three-point attempts and 15-for-15 from the free-throw line. Rummenigge also set to quit as chairman within the coming year. the Los Angeles Lakers won their seventh straight game with In New Orleans, Pascal Siakam equaled his career best Between them, Hoeness and Rummenigge have helped grow a 95-80 victory over the Miami Heat. with 44 points as the reigning NBA champion Toronto Rap- Bayern into one of the most successful clubs in Europe. Davis finished with a team-leading 26 points and eight tors dominated in almost every aspect of the game and beat (Source: Mirror) rebounds and James scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth the New Orleans Pelicans 122-104. quarter for the Lakers who are also 4-0 at home. The Raptors scored the first 15 points of the second quar- Khabib says Conor needs 10 James had his streak of triple doubles snapped at three ter for a 75-53 halftime lead to seize control of the game and games as he finished with six assists and four rebounds. improve to 6-2 on the season. wins before rematch “I just wanted to be aggressive and see if I could make it Siakam finished 17 of 28 from the floor and had 20 rebounds count,” said James, who registered his 1,000th career double for the Raptors, who dominated despite missing guard Kyle Khabib Nurmagomedov said Friday that Conor McGregor would double. Lowry and Serge Ibaka, who were both injured. need to win 10 straight fights to earn a rematch for his UFC title. His three triple doubles in the previous three contests made Fred VanVleet had 12 points and 11 assists, and OG Anunoby McGregor hasn’t fought since Nurmagomedov beat him by sub- him the first to do it since Magic Johnson accomplished the contributed 21 points and seven rebounds. mission for the UFC lightweight title in October last year. feat 32 years ago. Also, Nikola Jokic hit a 20-foot jumper with two seconds The Irish fighter last month outlined his plan for two fights lead- James previously led the Heat to two NBA titles before Elsewhere, Spencer Dinwiddie came off the bench to score left, and the host Denver Nuggets clawed their way out of a ing up to a rematch with the Russian. leaving to rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. a team high 34 points as the Brooklyn Nets overcame Damian 21-point deficit to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 100-97. That’s not enough for Nurmagomedov. “We are very resilient. We bounce back and we don’t get Lillard’s 60-point performance with a 119-115 win over the Jokic scored 16 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth “As for a rematch, to fight for a belt in the UFC, I remember I had rattled,” James said of the Lakers. “That’s not common for a Portland Trail Blazers. quarter and also had 11 rebounds. something like nine or 10 fights. If he wins 10 fights in a row, then team that has only been together a short period of time, but Lillard became the first NBA player this season to score Joel Embiid had 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight turnovers that’s completely possible,’’ Nurmagomedov said. it is a good trait.” 60 points after the league featured three in 2018-19. Houston before fouling out for the Sixers. Nurmagomedov added that he’s in negotiations to fight Tony Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 22 points after scoring 34 Rockets guard James Harden had a pair of 61-pointers, while In Dallas, Luka Doncic scored a career best 38 points but it Ferguson next, but wants it in New York rather than the UFC’s in his previous game. Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker also scored 60. wasn’t enough as the New York Knicks snapped a four game preferred venue of Las Vegas. Backup point guard Goran Dragic came off the bench to Dinwiddie and Kyrie Irving combined to score 10 three skid by holding on for a 106-102 win over the Dallas Mavericks. That’s because he disagrees with the Nevada State Athletic Com- score 19 points for the Heat who shot just 35.0 percent from pointers which was enough to counter Lillard’s one-man Marcus Morris equalled a season high with 29 points as mission’s decision to fine and suspend him for a postfight brawl the floor and made just six of 35 three point attempts. performance. the visiting Knicks, who bounced back nicely from consecutive after his bout with McGregor. Miami, who were playing on a short rest after beating Phoe- One man show blowout losses to Sacramento and Detroit that dropped their “They offered me to fight in Vegas in March, but I told them that nix 124-108 the previous night, had their lowest-scoring and Lillard nailed a running 34-footer at the final horn, allowing record to a league-worst 1-7. if Vegas officially apologizes for wrongly fining me for that incident poorest-shooting game of the season. him to surpass his previous career high of 59 points set two Doncic set a career high with 38 points while collecting 14 on Oct. 6, 2018, then I’ll fight there,’’ he said. The Heat were without starting forward Justise Winslow, years ago against Utah. rebounds and 10 assists, but he also committed eight turnovers. (Source: ESPN) who has now missed four straight games with back problems. Lillard finished 19-of-33 from the field, seven-of-16 on (Source: Eurosport) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 10, 2019 SPORTS 15

Iran crowned Intercontinental Shot putter Olad takes gold at World Para Beach Soccer Cup champions Atheltics C’ships SPORTS TEHRAN — Iranian shot putter Mahdi Olad SPORTS TEHRAN — Title-hold- deskclaimed a gold medal at the Dubai 2019 World deskers Iran defeated Spain Para Athletics Championships. 6-3 at the 2019 Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup final match at Jumeirah’s Kite Beach on Saturday . Iran won the competition for the third time. The Persians had already won the title in 2013 and 2018. Mostafa Kiani (penalty), Saeid Piramoun, Mohammad Mokhtari, Hamid Behzadpour, Mohammad Ahmadzadeh and Mohammad Masoumizadeh scored for Team Melli. Llorenç, Eduard and Adrian (penalty) were on target for Spain. Earlier on the day, the UAE defeated Russia 2-1 in the third-place playoff. Iran are the best ranked beach soccer team in Asia and sit fifth in the world behind Brazil, Russia, Portugal and Italy. Iran have won the AFC Beach Soccer Olad established a new Asian record in the men’s shot put Championship a record two times (2013, F11 taking gold with 14.44. 2017). Croatian athlete Miljenko Vucic won the silver medal with a Team Melli have also appeared in the throw of 14.42 meters and the bronze medal went to Brazilian FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup seven times, Alessandro Rodrigo da Silva with 13.99. reaching the quarterfinals on three occasions The event has brought more than 1,400 athletes from 120 (2013, 2015, 2017), and finishing in third nations together from Nov. 7 to 15. place once (2017). The Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup is an international beach soccer tournament which is held in Dubai, the United Arab Iran will likely host Hong Kong Emirates every November as the finale of the competitive international beach soccer at Mashhad season. The invitation-only tournament has been held annually since the inaugural PLDC — Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran edition in 2011. It will continue until at (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj said that Iran and Hong Kong match least 2020. in the 2022 World Cup qualifier will likely be held in Mashhad. The Intercontinental Cup is second only Team melli will host the East Asian country on March 26 in to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup as the international beach soccer circuit, featuring national teams from each continent. Since this event is now the most important annual Group C of the competition. largest and most prestigious event on the an exclusive assembly of the world’s very best the World Cup is a biannual competition, international beach soccer tournament. “Emam Reza Stadium has a good potential of hosting the international matches. Iran could host Hong Kong in Mash- had,” Taj said. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has recently written to the Iran squad named for Iraq match in World Cup qualifier Iranian football federation expressing his intention to travel to Iran and watch a game with women present. SPORTS TEHRAN — Marc Wilmots has named for the remaining 12 slots in the 24-team AFC Asian deskhis 23-man squad for the forthcoming Cup China 2023. “We have been in contact with FIFA and they thanked us for international against Iraq at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Iran Squad allowing women to attend Iran and Cambodia match. They have Qatar and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers. Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), asked us to allow the Iranian women to attend the Iran league Iran will face Iraq on Nev. 14 at the Amman Interna- Rashid Mazaheri (Tractor), Payam Niazmand (Sepahan) matches and we answered them the women could come to the tional Stadium in Amman, Jordan in Group C. Defenders: Ramin Rezaeian (Al-Shahania SC), stadiums after providing the conditions,” he added. Brighton winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Eupen Majid Hosseini (Trabzonspor), Milad Mohammadi Belgian media has reported that Iran coach Marc Wilmots midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi have been dropped from (Gent), Siavash Yazdani (Esteghlal), Mohammadhos- is on the verge of terminate his contract since the Iranian fed- Team Melli since they could not keep places in their sein Kananizadegan (Persepolis), Morteza Pouraligan- eration has not paid his salary, but Taj says that the coach will teams’ starting XI. ji (Al-Arabi), Mohammad Naderi (Persepolis), Vouria continue his job in Iran. The group will meet up at Iran football’s camp on Sun- Ghafouri (Esteghlal) “We had failed to pay his wage but we paid him his salary day in preparation for the important match against Iraq. Midfielders: Omid Ebrahimi (Al Ahli, Qatar), Ma- and there is no more problem,” the Iran football chief stated. Team Melli have been drawn in Group C alongside soud Shojaei (Tractor), Ahmad Nourollahi (Persepolis), “Wilmots will return to Iran and will announce the national Iraq, Bahrain, Cambodia and Hong Kong. Ali Karimi (Esteghlal), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Ehsan team players for the match against Iraq on Saturday,” he added. The eight group winners and four best runners-up will Haji Safi (Tractor) Iran will play Iraq on November 14 in Amman Stadium advance to the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Finals and the Strikers: Mehdi Taremi (Rio Ave), Sardar Azmoun and Jordan’s referee Adham Makhadmeh had been originally final round of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. (Zenit), Karim Ansarifard (Al-Sailiya), Mohammad Mo- chosen to officiate the match. The next best 24 teams from the second round of the hebbi (Sepahan), Ali Gholizadeh (Charleroi), Kaveh “We protested the Asian Football Confederation’s deci- joint qualifiers will compete in a separate competition Rezaei (Charleroi) sion because Makhadmeh is an Arab referee. The confed- eration accepted our complaint and changed the referee. Hettikamkanamge Dilan Perera from Sri Lanka will officiate 3rd Place Play-off: Dominant Korea Republic seal World Cup spot the match,” Taj concluded. Korea Republic beat Australia 9-1 on Saturday to finish Worse still was to come for Australia as the first half drew third at the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship Thailand to a close, this time Hyun Seul-gi rifling an effort into the far Shahriari selected as match 2019 and, in the process, seal their place at next year’s corner to bag Korea Republic’s fourth on what was proving FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. to be a distinctly productive outing for the East Asians. commissioner at Beach Despite having their title hopes dashed in the semi-fi- By way of contrast to what had gone before, and with Soccer World Cup nals, a commanding performance throughout saw Hur Australia steadfastly refusing to buckle further, chances Jung-jae’s charges finish their Continental campaign in were at a premium following the break, although Kang came some style at the Chonburi Stadium. within inches of netting a fifth courtesy of a venomous strike TASNIM — Paria Shahriari from Iran will officiate as a match Korea Republic’s success ensures they will join tournament which fizzed past Grove’s right-hand upright on 66 minutes. commissioner in the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. finalists DPR Korea and Japan as Asia’s third representative Kang duly repeated her near miss with 19 minutes The competition will be held in Luque, Paraguay from No- at the 2020 global extravaganza in Nigeria. remaining, before the rampaging striker registered her vember 21 to December 1. There was little to choose between the two sides in the fifth goal of Thailand 2019 with a ferocious finish which Match commissioners are the official representatives of a game’s opening skirmishes, with the first genuine opportunity flew past Grove. governing body at a game and are responsible for ensuring that falling to Australia midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross whose A mistake from custodian Kim Su-jeong allowed Mary the match is properly organized and runs smoothly. drilled 10th minute shot following a neatly worked corner Fowler to net a late consolation for Australia, but it little Shahriari, who is head of Beach Soccer at the Iran Football was smartly saved by goalkeeper Kim Su-jeong. roll the ball past Annalee Grove and double her side’s ad- mattered as a Kang scored an 84th minute penalty to record Association, had been already chosen as match commissioner at Korea Republic were, though, to break the deadlock mo- vantage on 24 minutes. the competition’s first hat-trick. the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics for the futsal competitions. ments later, Noh Jin-Young rising highest at the far post to Grove then produced a fine stop to deny Choo a second, With full-time approaching, further goals from Choo, the head home Jo Min-ah’s pinpoint free-kick. only for Kang Jo-woo to add a third for Korea Republic, the seemingly omnipresent Kang and Cho Mu-jin rounded off With Korea Republic in the ascendancy, Choo Hyo-Joo livewire striker reacting quickest to fire home after Choo’s a dominant display by a World Cup-bound Korea Republic. seized on a defensive error from Chelsea Blissett to calmly firmly struck attempt had rebounded off a post. (Source: the-afc) Miso Krsticevic shortlisted for Shahin Bushehr job

Amir Ghafour grateful for lessons learned IRNA — Croatian football coach Miso Krsticevic has been A key player for club and country, opposite 2019 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World better on the court.” nominated to coach Iranian top-flight football team Shahin Amir Ghafour took some time out from Championship in Betim, Brazil from De- For Ghafour, learning never stops but Bushehr. Iran’s successful run at the 2019 FIVB cember 3 to 8.“A lot of Iranian players are he says his most valuable lesson came from The team are without a coach after parting company with Volleyball Nations League last summer in major European leagues and that has Julio Velasco, the first person who gave Abdollah Veisi in mid-October. to talk about his teammates gaining ex- helped us to broaden our experience,” him an opportunity to play for the senior Krsticevic has most recently worked at Iranian First Division perience from different club leagues and Ghafour explained. “It has had a positive national team. Mes Rafsanjan. influences on his own career. effect on our game for the national team.” “I’ve learned a lot from different coach- Shahin Bushehr sit top of Iran professional League (IPL) table. Ghafour made his debut in the men’s Twenty-eight-year-old Ghafour has estab- es, players, friends and even the spectators. The Bushehr-based team have two points from 10 matches. national team in 2011 and helped them to lished himself as one of the top players in the They all can teach you something that can back-to-back Asian Championship titles in men’s game and his inspiring performances positively affect the way you play. 2011 and 2013. Iran became a mainstay in at this year’s VNL helped Iran qualify for the “But if I were to choose just one in vol- international competitions and Ghafour’s Finals in Chicago, USA in July. leyball, I would absolutely choose the great Iran down Nepal at AFC U-19 contribution helped his country earn its first “From last year’s performance to the pres- Julio Velasco, because he taught us valuable ever qualification for a volleyball tournament ent, we’ve seen our team grow and become lessons that helped me both in my career C’ship 2020 Qualifiers at the Olympic Games. After Rio 2016, he better and better. We were well-organized and in my personal life. guided Iran to a bronze medal finish at the in play this year,” he said. “He helped us change the way we see and Iran defeated Nepal 4-0 at the AFC U-19 Championship Uz- 2017 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Grand Ghafour’s success can be attributed to play the game. One lesson that he would bekistan 2020 Qualifiers on Friday. Champions Cup. hours of hard work in training and learning repeat again and again and that changed Mohammad Mehdi Ahmadi opened the scoring in the 75th At a club level, Ghafour’s career began from some of the best coaches in the sport. our outlook on volleyball was that all big minute in Tehran’s Dastgerdi Stadium. playing for Iranian clubs. He played his “As you grow older you evolve as a player. players make mistakes. What is important Ahmad Reza Jalali extended Iran’s lead in the 82nd minute. first season abroad in 2018-2019 at Italian You gain more experience from playing, and is that you learn from those mistakes and Alireza Monazami scored the third goal in the 85th minute World Championship. The competition will club True Volley Monza, before moving working with different coaches provides do not make them again, because if you do and Arya Barzegar was on target in the 90th minute. feature many of the VNL’s top players from to another Italian club team, reigning you learning on a number of techniques in then that is a bigger mistake.” Kyrgyzstan also defeated the UAE 2-0 in Group D. December 3-8 with the Women’s Club World Italian and European champions Cucine training. I was inexperienced and imma- Ghafour’s club Cucine Lube Civitanova Iran will play the UAE on Sunday, while Nepal meet Kyrgyzstan. Championship taking place at the same time Lube Civitanova. Runners-up in 2018, the ture as a young player but you gain more will join hosts Sada Cruzeiro Volei, Russians The competition is being held in Tehran, Iran from Novem- in Shaoxing, China. Italian club will hope to improve on that experience as time goes by and you add Zenit Kazan and Qatari club Al-Rayyan at ber 6 to 10. (Source: FIVB) performance when they take part in the better techniques that help you perform this year’s edition of the FIVB Men’s Club (Source: the-afc) Prayer Times Noon:11:48 Evening: 17:09 Dawn: 4:20 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:36 (tomorrow) NOVEMBER 10, 2019 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Iran grabs Berlinale Spotlight Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 ARTTEHRAN — The 70th desk Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Berlin International Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 Film Festival announced on Thursday that www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Berlinale Spotlight, the festival’s special Tel: 88911433 program arranged for outside of the festival Webmaster: [email protected] period, will be held in Iran and South Asia. Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 The Tehran International Short Film Festival, which will be held from November 10 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily to 15, will present a lineup of four short films in the program titled “Berlinale Spotlight: No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Berlinale Shorts”. Zip Code: 1599814713 The four films have been chosen by Simone Späni, a member of the festival’s selection committee. She will also attend the Tehran festival to talk about the Berlinale Shorts profile, the selection process and working with the short film format. The lineup includes three films from France, which are “Planet Sigma” directed by Momoko Seto, “Catching Fire” by Michaël Soyez and “The Tasmanian Tiger” by Vergine Keaton. GUIDE TO “Wishing Well” directed by Sylvia SPIRITUAL AWAKENING Schedelbauer from Germany will also be reviewed during the program. Berlinale Spotlights in Iran and South Asia Go along with pain as far as it takes you. invites audiences to discover the diversity Imam Ali (AS) and artistic innovation of Berlinale Shorts,” said Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck, head of the Berlinale Shorts competition “Short film has always had a special significance within the Berlinale. It captivates Overseas cultural centers to viewers with its radical complexity in both “Catching Fire” by Michaël Soyez. observe Iran Book Week content and formality. The works overcome patterns of thought,” she added. South Asia also consists of presenting four festivals in the South Asian region this year boundaries, genre conventions and established Berlinale Spotlight: Berlinale Shorts in short films that will be reviewed at various and next year. CULTURE TEHRAN — Iran’s cultural offices in Italy, deskBelarus, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uganda are scheduled to observe the 27th Iran Book Week, which will be held across the country from November 14 Iraqi poet Adnan Al-Sayegh’s to 21, the organizers announced on Saturday. Book fairs, reading “Carrying an Exile” published in Persian workshops and meetings with CULTURE TEHRAN — Iraqi poet Adnan Al-Sayegh’s “I am proud that my poems have been translated into writers and translators will be deskcollection “Carrying an Exile” has recently a language in which Hafez, Sadi and Khayyam composed organized during the book week. been published in Persian. poems,” he noted. Ahmad Dehqan, the The book was introduced during a special meeting at Born in 1955 in Al-Kufa, Iraq, Al-Sayegh has been living Iranian author of “Bearing Tehran’s Faramushi Café on Thursday, the Persian service in exile since 1993, after being sentenced to death in Iraq 270 Degrees”, a novel about the of MNA reported on Saturday. for his poems about injustice and oppression of the ruling 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, and Nazdiktar Publications in Tehran is the publisher of regime led by Saddam Hussein. M. Marelli, the translator of the the Persian version of the book, which was originally Al-Sayegh has used words as a weapon to decry the Italian version of the book, will published in Sweden in 2001. devastation of war and the barbarity of dictatorship. He attend the book week in Italy. The meeting was attended by a number of Iranian literati has transported not only the reader but himself, from the An Urdu version of Iranian and the translator of the book, Asghar Alikarami. darkness into light and from the sinister to smiles. children’s book writer Mehdi Speaking live from London through a video call, Al- He believes that nations and mankind, which have been Azar Yazdi’s popular series Front cover of the Persian version of Iraqi poet Adnan Sayegh expressed his appreciation for Alikarami’s efforts divided through religious extremism, dictatorship and war, A poster for the 27th Iran “Good Stories for Good Children”, Al-Sayegh’s book “Carrying an Exile”. in translating the book and gave his thanks to Persian readers. will one day be united by a bond of fellowship and freedom. Book Week. translated by Abdulqayyum Bidar, will be unveiled during the book week in Pakistan. The 27th edition of the Iran Book Week will be held with the motto of “The Good Mood of Reading”. Fourth Baran Auction set for Friday ARTTEHRAN — The “The inscription weighing 65 kilograms deskfourth edition of contains over 8 kilograms of turquoise and Whitaker St. Louis festival picks the Baran Auction, an annual sale of 18.5 kilograms of opal stone,” she said. calligraphic paintings and calligraphy The artworks will be showcased in a four Iranian films works, will be organized at the Rayzan two-day exhibition, which will open on International Conference Center in Tuesday. ARTTEHRAN — Four Iranian films are competing in Tehran on Friday. The organizers dedicate the Baran deskthe 28th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Over 70 works, some of which date Auction to a famous calligrapher every Film Festival (SLIFF) now underway in the American city. back to 100 years ago, will be put on sale year. This year’s sale will be dedicated to “The Spinning Top” by Shiva Momtahan and “Starvation” at the auction, Baran CEO Mahbubeh calligrapher Mohammad ibn Seyfi Qazvini by Zahra Rostampur will be screened in the Narrative Shorts: Kazemi Dulabi said in a press release (1553-1615) known as Mir Emad who was International Animation category, the organizers have announced. published on Saturday. the titan of the nastaliq script, a unique A child searches through his dreams and memories for his “A miniature calligraphic painting and ornate Iranian style of calligraphy. spinning top in “The Spinning Top”, and a hungry wolf finds herself depicting the portrait of the wife of an A metal engraving featuring verses of the stuck as the stereotype of the big bad wolf in the “Starvation”. Indian king inscribed by an Indian artist is Holy Quran fetched 77 billion rials (over “Greyish” by Eqbal Shirzai portraying the life stages of an old man among the highlights of the artworks that $1.8 million) during the third edition of is an entry to the Narrative Shorts: International Comedy category. will be offered at the auction,” she said. the Baran Auction in February. “Tattoo” by Farhad Delaram is on screen in the Narrative “Also a beautiful calligraphy of the Cyrus The engraving was created by Ali- Shorts: International Drama category. Cylinder inscribed by Hossein Niktalab Akbar Khanzadeh on two gold-plated The film is about a young woman who wants to renew her created over a period of eight years will This image shows a selection of artworks to go under the hammer at the fourth bronze sheets, each of which measures driver’s license but she is sent to the traffic police center for be auctioned,” she added. edition of the Baran Auction. 180 by 147 cm. her tattoos. The festival, which opened on November 7, will be running until November 17. Hidden Banksy mural to be uncovered Olympics: Placido Domingo pulls out of in heart of London’s Notting Hill cultural event, cites ‘complexity’ Turkmenistan book fair honors Iranian publishers in Ashgabat

CULTURE TEHRAN — Iranian publishers have been deskhonored at the XIII International Book Fair and Conference in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Seven Iranian publishers, including Al-Huda, Silk Road, Astan Qods Razavi and the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, took part in the exhibit, which was held on November 5 and 6, the Persian service of IRNA reported on Saturday.

A Banksy mural known as “The Painter”, which first appeared in 2008, Opera singer Placido Domingo speaks during an event at the Manhattan before it is officially unveiled in Notting Hill. (Reuters) School of Music in New York, U.S., May 11, 2018. (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton) LONDON (Reuters) — A Banksy mural, Chief Executive Simon Lyons told Reuters. TOKYO (Reuters) — Opera singer statement, issued by the Tokyo 2020 covered up by builders’ hoarding and “One of the reasons I bought the Placido Domingo has withdrawn from a Organizing Committee. scaffolding for the past few months, will building was that there was a Banksy pre-Olympics theatrical event set for next The panel added that after consultation, it be uncovered on Monday in the heart of there - it gave it that iconic profile. So spring, he said in a statement issued by had accepted Domingo’s decision not to take London’s Notting Hill area. while I think the prices for Banksy are Tokyo Olympics organizers on Friday, citing part in the April program, part of a “Tokyo 2020 People visit the XIII International Book Fair and Conference The work - known variously as the nonsensical, you could say I was a fan the “complexity” of the project. Nippon Festival” to promote Japanese culture. in Ashgabat on November 5, 2019. Graffiti Painter, The Painter or Velazquez in some ways.” Domingo, who had been set to This year more than three dozen singers, The Iranian publishers displayed a variety of 1,100 books in - shows an artist, thought to be Spanish Enstar originally wanted to move the participate in an event fusing opera and dancers, musicians, voice teachers and Persian, English, Russian and Turkmen at the exhibition. painter Diego Velazquez, with an easel Banksy but decided it would have been Japan’s traditional kabuki to kick off a backstage staff said they had witnessed Books on Iranian historical sites, tourist attractions as well writing “Banksy” in large red letters. too risky so it remains in the same place cultural festival, resigned last month as or experienced inappropriate behavior as culture and history were also offered at the fair. Drawn on the corner of Acklam and and is covered by glass and is floodlit. general director of the Los Angeles Opera, by Domingo toward women at different The publishers were honored for the variety of books showcased Portbello Road in 2008, it was covered after Luxury flats at the property are worth saying accusations of sexual misconduct opera houses over the last three decades. at the fair as well the good design of their pavilions. developer Enstar Capital began refurbishing at least 950,000 pounds ($1.2 million) had compromised his ability to continue. He has disputed the accusations. Some 60 companies from 16 countries including Austria, the property to make luxury flats. for a one-bedroom, Lyons said. “After thoughtful consideration I have In September, Domingo pulled out the U.S., China, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and France operating “It is a lovely feature for the building and “Would I love it if Banksy came and did made the decision not to participate in the from a performance at the Metropolitan in the area of book production and printing attended the a lovely feature in Notting Hill which has it on the building where I live? Probably kabuki-opera event due to the complexity Opera in New York at the last minute, and fair this year. retained its Londonness,” Enstar Capital not,” Lyons said. of the project,” Domingo said in the said he would never perform there again.