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12 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13613 Tuesday FEBRUARY 25, 2020 Esfand 6, 1398 Rajab 1, 1441 Iran does not deserve Iran sustains military Iran men’s IRIB to make series on to be blacklisted spending in face of U.S. team sabre qualify Persian polymath by FATF 2 ‘maximum pressure’ 3 for Olympics 11 Nasir ad-Din Tusi 12

TEDPIX notches record high of half See page 10 million points TEHRAN — TEDPIX, the main in- TEDPIX went up 19,675 points to dex of Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE), 478,754 in the past Iranian calendar Trump posted a record high on Monday when week (ended on Friday), which was the it climbed 4,831 points to 503,735, last week of Iran’s eleventh calendar month IRNA reported. of Bahman. As reported, over 6.354 billion secu- As previously reported, TSE wit- rities worth 49.299 trillion rials (about nessed the highest ever weekly rise of $1.1 billion) were traded at TSE. The first its main index in the Iranian calendar market’s index rose 3,003 points and the week ended on January 17, which was covetous second market’s index went up 12,098 the last week of Iran’s tenth calendar points. month of Dey. 4

Iran’s airspace safe for domestic, of Indian international flights: air defense chief TEHRAN – The deputy chief of the our airspace,” Brigadier General Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base (the Ghader Rahimzadeh said while central headquarters of Iran’s Air Defense) paying a visit to the air defense said on Monday that Iran’s airspace is units deployed in the northeastern safe and secure for both domestic and part of the country. international flights. “The Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base dollars “The country’s airspace is com- is now at the highest level of defense power pletely safe. We will severely re- to counter foreign military threats,” he spond to any aggression against added. 2

Palestinian rockets fired into Israel following Gaza border clash Israeli jets have bombed several locations ian resistance were also targeted west across the Gaza Strip after Palestinian of Khan Yunis and in the Rafah area in resistance groups fired rockets towards southern Gaza. Israel in retaliation for the murder of a According to initial reports, at least Palestinian earlier in the day. half a dozen Palestinians were wounded The Palestinian Information Center in the strikes. reported early on Monday that strikes The bombings happened as the Israeli

happened north, west and east of the military announced on Twitter that it was enclave. targeting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad AFP Positions belonging to the Palestin- resistance movement in Gaza. 10 ARTICLE Russia urges against talk of disaster with Turkey over Idlib ARTICLE Ramin Hossein Abadian Russia to conduct surveillance flight over Turkey Mohammad Homaeifar Mehr News Agency Tehran Times journalist Russian-Turkish relations should not be depicted agreement between Turkey and Russia had failed “According to the head of Russia’s National journalist as in crisis even after an escalation in political to drive extremist fighters from the province. Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, Sergei Ryzhkov, tensions over Syria’s last rebel-held enclave of Sixteen Turkish military personnel have the Russian Federation plans to carry out an Idlib, Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov been killed in shelling by Syrian government observation flight on Russia’s TU-154M-LK-1 Trump seeks to said, according to TASS news agency. forces over the past two weeks, prompting Tur- observation plane over the territory of the Re- The Guardian A renewed military campaign by the Syrian key to tell Russia to “stand aside” while its public of Turkey under the Open Skies Treaty,” dominate Syria’s government, backed by Russian airpower, against forces bombard dozens of Syrian army targets Russia-based Sputnik news agency quoted the should not silence oil route rebels in Idlib has raised tensions between An- in retaliation. statement as saying. my voice on Iran, kara and Moscow, which back opposing sides Moscow has warned Ankara to fulfil pledges The flight is expected to start from Eskisehir he U.S. government’s moves to in the conflict. made to disarm Islamist fighters it depicts as Open Skies airfield with a flight range of up to says Guardian seize Syria’s oil and gas resources “Certainly, we would not like to plunge into terrorists. The two sides held talks in the Russian 1,900 kilometers. and deprive Damascus of its rev- this gloomy mood and in fact to make extremely capital last week to help diffuse tensions. Signed in 1992, in Helsinki, the treaty enables journalist T negative scenarios, but the week has really hap- Surveillance flight all 35 participant states to have short-notice, enues have increased as Syrians have confronted U.S. troops. pened to be absolutely restless,” Peskov said in Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry an- unarmed, reconnaissance flights over the others’ aeed Kamali Dehghan, a Guardian American moves in Syria has re- a televised interview, TASS reported. nounced on Monday that the country will conduct territories with an aim to collect data on military journalist who used to cover Iran, has cently intensified, and Washington Syrian government began a fresh military push a surveillance flight over Turkey on Feb. 25-28 forces and activities. Sleveled strong criticism against the appears to be pursuing its dreams, into Idlib in December, saying a 2018 de-escalation in accordance with the Open Skies Treaty. (Source: agencies) Guardian, saying the top British newspaper especially in terms of seizing Syria’s “should not silence my voice on Iran.” resources and wealth. Recent remarks “A decision by the Guardian to impose by the U.S. president on the sending a defacto ban on me writing about Iran Malaysia’s Mahathir resigns but is asked to stay as interim PM has led to my current severe mental health new troops to Syria to protect the oil Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad night that his party was planning to form a new coalition he defeated to try to form a new gov- fields in the outskirts of Deir ez-Zor status,” Kamali Dehghan said at the be- has announced his resignation but was asked to government that would exclude his anointed ernment. ginning of a series of tweets on Monday. indicate Washington’s intention for stay on as interim leader by the country’s monarch. successor, Anwar Ibrahim. When asked if Mahathir was responsible for stealing the country’s oil. U.S. troops Back in November 2018, Kamali De- Mahathir said in a two-line statement that The king accepted Mahathir’s resignation the current political turmoil, Anwar blamed “those hghan revealed that Jamal Khashoggi – began building a new military base in he had informed the country’s king of his resig- after meeting with him later on Monday, within my party and outside using his name.” Al-Hasakah Governorate earlier this who was murdered on October 2, 2018 at nation at 1pm Kuala Lumpur time (05:00 GMT) Chief Secretary Mohd Zuki Ali said in a “And he [Mahathir] reiterated what he had the Saudi consulate in Istanbul – lost his month to prevent Russian forces from on Monday. statement. said to me earlier, he played no part in it. He reaching the Rmelan oil field. life because of disclosing Saudi Arabia’s Mahathir also reportedly resigned from his “However, His Highness has given his assent made it very clear, that in no way would he work funding of an anti-Iran TV channel. The Syrian oil and gas re- own party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, to appoint Mahathir Mohamad as interim prime with those associated with the previous regime.” sources and Trump’s greed “I can confirm that Jamal Khashoggi according to Reuters news agency, citing three minister, while waiting for the appointment of Collapse of coalition was killed because of speaking to me on the During a news conference, U.S. sources. Mahathir’s party also announced that the new prime minister. Hence until then, (Ma- On Sunday night, allies of Mahathir, some President Donald Trump recently phone from Istanbul in the morning on 26 it was quitting the ruling government coalition, hathir) will manage the country’s affairs until a renegade members of Anwar’s People’s Justice September, revealing that London-based rervealed his intention to plunder Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope), casting doubt new prime minister and cabinet are appointed,” Party (PKR), and a slew of other Parliament Syrian oil and gas resources, spe- Iran International TV was funded by Mo- on the future of the partnership. Mohd Zuki said. members, including those from the opposition, hammad bin Salman and Saud al-Qahtani,” cifically those that are located east Mahathir’s decision follows a weekend of po- Anwar also said that Mahathir has no plans UMNO, held talks in the outskirts of the capital, of Deir ez-Zor, and said, “What I he tweeted on November 9, 2018. litical wrangling, after it was reported on Sunday to join with anyone from the previous ruling Kuala Lumpur. 10 intend to do, perhaps, is make a deal The journalist later suggested he felt with an ExxonMobil or one of our threatened by his revelation. great companies to go in there and “My request to all family and friends do it properly...and spread out the is not to contact me at this moment, wealth”. except very trusted one. My mum Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Schools being knows how to contact me. I trust my Mark Esper made a ridiculous claim mum and a few people here,” he said without mentioning U.S. obvious role in another tweet. in the creation of the Takfiri terrorist disinfected However, the tweets were deleted soon group and ISIS, saying “Our mission afterwards. Then, there were no new arti- in Syria today remains the same as cles by Kamali Dehghan on the Guardian for when we began operations in 2014: against months. Finally, he resumed his activities to enable the enduring defeat of ISIS” in the daily on April 26, 2019, however, he he added, “We are now taking some COVID-19 has not covered Iran ever since. But now actions … to strengthen our position he says the Guardian has been insisting at Deir ez-Zor to ensure that we can Schools in the city of Tehran are being dis- to “keep a gag on me writing on Iran.” deny the -- deny ISIS access to the infected in order to curb the outbreak of On Saturday, Kamali Dehghan disclosed oil fields” the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19. for the first time after the Khashoggi reve- Esper threatened Syrian and Rus- As a preventive measure, authorities have lation that he was in Nightingale hospital sian forces that would face a “decisive” ordered a week-long closure of educational after experiencing serious mental health response by the U.S. if they approached and cultural institutions across 14 provinces problems. the oil fields. as of Sunday. “I busy myself reading Quran and

The remarks by U.S. officials indicate Mona Hoobehfekr Spokesman for Tehran’s Department of Hafez - both have replaced a long list of that Washington has taken steps this Education, Masoud Saqafi, said the decision ‘friends’ who deserted me and abandoned time on the pretext of preventing ISIS me over the past two years when I needed IRNA/ was made to “prepare schools” which have control over Syria’s oil fields and will to be disinfected and sanitized. them most. Quran & Hafez have proved remain in Syria to seize them. 10 loyal,” he said in a tweet. 3 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Coronavirus outbreak should not be politicized: Iran does not deserve to be government

POLITICAL TEHRAN — Ali Rabiei, the government deskspokesman, condemned any move to politicize blacklisted by FATF: Rouhani outbreak of COVID-19, calling on political groups, parties and media outlets to refrain from accusing baselessly the country’s POLITICAL TEHRAN – President “The performance of the central bank Health Ministry officials. deskHassan Rouhani said on over the last year has given this assurance Rabiei pointed out that outbreak of coronavirus is a health Sunday that Iran has been a forerunner in to the people that such events will not create issue and “we must trust the physicians.” fighting money laundering and did not deserve problems for Iran’s foreign trade and stability to be blacklisted by the FATF (the Financial in foreign exchange market,” Hemmati wrote Action Task Force). on his Instagram page. “The great Iranian people and the Islamic Hemmati said such “political and Republic of Iran did not and do not deserve unprofessional” behaviors toward Iran to be placed on an international body’s has been continuing against Iran since the countermeasures list while it [the country] summer of 2016. is forerunner in fighting terrorism and money He said the representatives of the U.S. laundering,” he said during a cabinet meeting. and its allies at the FATF had been focused He added, “We made efforts to prevent on undermining expert reports about the being introduced by the United States and the great steps taken by Iran in line with the Zionist regime as violator of these measures FATF requirements. while we are forerunner in fighting terrorism The FATF said in October 2019 that it has and money laundering.” given Iran a final deadline of February 2020 Being blacklisted by the FATF is against to tighten its laws against money laundering the Iranian people’s interests, the president be held accountable. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas in compliance with the global watchdog’s remarked. “Those who impeded procedure of joining Mousavi said on Friday that the blacklisting financial standards. “As it was expected, it made the United the FATF must be accountable for pressure of Iran is “politically motivated”. “If before February 2020, Iran does not He added, “I have called on the entire political parties, groups States happy and will justify intensification and the future situation and be responsible “Unfortunately, what happened is enact the Palermo and Terrorist Financing and media outlets to refrain from politicizing coronavirus outbreak.” of cruel and inhumane sanctions. Now, those for being blacklisted,” he said. politically motivated which exists in the Conventions in line with the FATF Standards, He said people should help the health sector more than ever who gave pretext to the United States must Kourosh Ahmadi, an expert on international mechanisms by the United then the FATF will fully lift the suspension of and observe Health Ministry’s instructions in their daily life be accountable for their unprofessional international affairs, has said that the way States, Saudi Arabia and the Zionist regime counter-measures and call on its members and and social activities. position,” Rouhani asserted. to get removed from the FATF blacklist is of Israel. They have influence on these urge all jurisdictions to apply effective counter- Touching upon the government’s firm will to control and The FATF on Friday placed Iran on its open to Iran. mechanisms and make efforts to politicize measures, in line with recommendation 19,” root out coronavirus in the country, Rabiei said, “The session of blacklist after Iran refused to comply with “Removal from the FATF blacklist is open them,” Mousavi said. the FATF said in a statement. anti-coronavirus headquarters, presided by President Hassan the all requirements of the body. for Iran. It is not necessary to start everything He noted that Iran can never be labeled In November 2019, Gholamreza Rouhani, will be held on Tuesday.” According to Reuters, the FATF appeared from the beginning. We can just continue the with money laundering and financing of Mesbahi-Moghadam, a cleric member of Coronavirus, known officially known as COVID-19, appeared to leave the door ajar for Iran saying “countries job from where is was stopped. One case is terrorism. the Expediency Council trained in economy, first in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December and has since should also be able to apply countermeasures joining the CFT and the Palermo bill,” he told The U.S., the Zionist regime and Saudi said, “In a situation in which the country spread globally. The World Health Organization has declared independently of any call by the FATF to do so.” IRNA in an interview published on Sunday. Arabia had made great efforts to pressure the is under the most severe sanctions, joining it a global health emergency. Diako Hosseini, director of the World He noted, “The FATF has mentioned six international body to blacklist Iran. such conventions is (synonymous with) self- By Sunday, the number of people diagnosed with the novel Studies Program at the presidential points to remove Iran from blacklist and one Abdolnasser Hemmati, Iran’s central bank inflicted sanctions. In the situation in which coronavirus in Iran increased to 61, of whom 12 have so far lost Centre for Strategic Studies, told IRNA in of them is joining the CFT and the Palermo governor, said the move by the FATF will not the United States seeks to limit the country’s their lives. an interview published on Monday that bill. Other points includes technical and legal affect the Iranian foreign trade and stability financial relations, it is not beneficial to join opponents of joining the FATF must now issues with which Iran has no problem.” in foreign exchange market. institutions like the FATF.” Sanctions hampering Iran’s access to coronavirus test kits: Businessman Larijani says EU just keeps talking about preserving nuclear deal POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian Parliament Speaker power of the United States, but also from the power of (Press TV) — Growing economic pressure on Iran has hampered deskAli Larijani has criticized Europe for the dollar and America’s capacity to legally or factually the country’s efforts to confront an outbreak of coronavirus as failure to take practical actions to save the 2015 nuclear control financial transaction systems.” health bodies face restrictions importing test kits to detect the deal, saying the European Union just keeps talking about “One key, then, to Europe obtaining ‘strategic auton- infection. preserving the agreement, officially known as the JCPOA. omy’ in international relations, is obtaining a capacity A board member at Iran’s Association of Medical Equipment “The situation around the JCPOA shows that Europe for independent financial transactions. Which brings Importers said on Sunday that US sanctions as well as restrictions has just kept talking for about one year but Iran’s economic us back to INSTEX,” it added. newly imposed on Iran by a global money laundering watchdog benefits in the nuclear deal have not been safeguarded,” “INSTEX — stay with me here! — is part of a barter have made it increasingly difficult to access highly-needed test he said during a meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister system that is intended to avoid payments being exchanged kits for coronavirus. Alexander Schallenberg in Tehran on Sunday. directly between European and Iranian companies when “Multiple international companies are ready to supply Iran Larijani also said that the Instrument in Support of they do business with one another, in order to avoid set- with corona (virus) test kits but we can’t send the money to Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) is ineffective and useless. ting off American sanctions. Under this barter system, them,” Ramin Fallah told the ILNA news agency. Schallenberg, for his part, said that any effort must money doesn’t have to ‘cross’ the invisible line between Under mounting pressure from Washington, the Paris-based be made to keep the nuclear deal alive. Germany and the United Kingdom in January 2019,” Europe and Iran: INSTEX and its Iranian counterpart Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decided on Friday to place INSTEX has been designed by the European Union to read the statement, published by the Foreign Ministry record the value of shipments from Europe to Iran, and Iran on its blacklist, making it more difficult for Iranian banks facilitate legitimate trade with Tehran. It was introduced of Finland. vice versa, and organize the exchange of the appropriate to settle payments with foreign counterparts. on January 31, 2019, by France, Germany, and Britain, Iran has likened INSTEX to a beautiful car which amount of funds among exporters and importers on the Fallah said the FATF decision had caused more problems the three countries party to the nuclear deal. has no gasoline. same side of the line.” for the Iranian health sector as the country struggles to contain INSTEX is supposed to be a financial channel and a In an article published by The New York Times on “Sound complicated? It is. And while it works on a coronavirus that has caused deaths for eight people while in- special mechanism for transferring money in spite of February 10, it is said that INSTEX is a prime example of paper, it’s proved extremely hard to realize in the real fecting dozens more across the country since earlier this week. U.S. sanctions on Iran. Its objective is to facilitate Iran’s the futility of Europe’s struggle for strategic autonomy world. Policymakers in Berlin admit freely today under However, the businessman said that Iran would find a way transactions with European companies. from the United States the condition of anonymity that they had underestimated to get round the new bans and have the test kits imported into In late November 2019, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ever since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the technical difficulties,” the article said. the country in the upcoming two weeks. the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden issued a joint from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in May On May 8, 2019, exactly one year after President The United States has repeatedly claimed that its unilateral statement announcing becoming shareholders of INSTEX. 2018, European countries have struggled to come up Trump abrogated the JCPOA, Iran said its “strategic sanctions on Iran, which began two years ago following Wash- “In light of the continuous European support for the with an appropriate response, says the article. patience” is over and started to gradually reduce its ington’s withdrawal from a major nuclear deal with the country, agreement and the ongoing efforts to implement the The European Union, including Germany, has pledged commitment to the JCPOA at bi-monthly interval. Fi- have had no impact at all on Tehran’s access to food and medicine. economic part of it and to facilitate legitimate trade to uphold its commitment to trading with Iran, it added. nally, on January 5 Iran took the last and final step in However, recurrent reports have suggested that Iranian pa- between Europe and Iran, we are now in the process of “But Europe has had a hard time living up to this reducing its commitments to the JCPOA. tients have suffered as a result of restrictions imposed by the US becoming shareholders of the Instrument in Support promise,” the paper said. However, Iran has insisted that it will reverse its on export of certain medication into Iran. of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) subject to completion of It also said, “The enormous impact of America’s decisions if the EU abides by its obligations under the Washington was even forced to issue a special authorization national procedures. INSTEX was established by France, secondary sanctions comes not just from the market multilateral pact. for the Swiss government last month to launch a financial channel with Iran that could settle payments related to humanitarian items. Iran’s airspace safe, secure for domestic, international flights: air defense chief Iranian, Turkish top 1 The commander further said his Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard same way and it was air defense which would diplomats discuss visit was aimed at reinvigorating coordi- made the remarks on the sidelines of an definitely determine the fate of intruders. nation between air defense sites of the air defense drill in the central province Iran has conducted major military drills coronavirus epidemic Army and the IRGC. of Semnan. in recent years to enhance its defense capa- “Creation of an impenetrable safe air- “As we have successfully materialized bilities and to test modern military tactics TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad space via a united coordinated defense our objectives during the ongoing mili- and state-of-the-art equipment. Javad Zarif and his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in network is the main mission of the base,” tary drill, if the enemies are mulling over Each year, the country inaugurates a a phone conversation on Monday talked about a host of issues, Rahimzadeh underscored. a dream (attack on our country) we will host of new military projects and hard- including the latest efforts to control the coronavirus outbreak. In November 2019, the Army’s Air make them regret in the battlefield too,” ware developed with reliance on domestic Zarif and Cavusoglu exchanged views about the outbreak of Defense Force commander warned that the general stated. capabilities. The Islamic Republic main- the infectious disease in the Islamic Republic. enemies must not even think of attack on He further said the enemies were well tains that its defense power is based on The two top diplomats also discussed the deadly earthquake Iran, asserting that Tehran’s harsh response aware that they might enter the Iranian deterrence and poses no threat to any that hit an area near the common borders between Iran and would make invaders to regret their action. airspace, but their exit won’t be done in the other country. Turkey on Sunday. The magnitude 5.7 earthquake in northwestern Iran on Sunday killed nine people, including children, in neighboring Turkey and injured dozens on both sides of the border, authorities said. Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki on Monday said the Iran calls on Pakistan to detain and hand over Sistan attackers number of people who have died from the coronavirus in the POLITICAL TEHRAN — Chief of Iran’s Border According to police, the border guards noticed several country has risen to 12 and the total number of confirmed cases deskGuard Qassem Rezaei, in a press terrorists who had advanced towards Iran seeking to to 47, according to an MP. conference on Monday, called on the relevant Pakistani attack border units on Friday night. In an interview with Tasnim, the spokesman for the Iranian bodies to arrest and hand over those who were involved The police said the border guards immediately parliament’s presiding board said the Health Minister has an- in killing two Iranian soldiers in the southeastern part countered the terrorists’ heavy fire and made them flee nounced in a closed-door session of the parliament on Monday of Iran. to the neighboring country. that the number of cases admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 “We have managed good relations with Pakistan. Some The counterattack caused fatalities among members infection has reached 47 and the death toll has risen to 12. Pakistani units have also been deployed in border region, of the terrorist outfit. The minister has also noted that two coronavirus cases have but we are witnessing terrorist operations (in the region),” Sergeant Major Ahmad Rahmani-Fard and Private been detected in capital Tehran, both of whom had traveled to the Rezaei told reporters in Sanandaj in western Iran. Ahmad Tavakoli were killed in the clashes. city of Qom, where the first cases of coronavirus were reported “In addition to providing security for the elections in Elsewhere in the press conference, Rezaei pointed to in Iran, Asadollah Abbasi said. the recent days, our guards countered terrorist attacks carrying goods from borders with neighboring countries The lawmaker said families in the province of Qom are being at the borders. Our guards inflicted casualties on the by regional porters and said, “A porter who is piggybacking given free packages including masks and detergents. terrorists and unfortunately two of our soldiers were goods via legal paths is supported by our forces, but, the The Health Ministry says the source of contagion in Iran were killed too,” the commander added. one who moves along valleys (illegal routes) has committed the individuals returning to Iran from Pakistan, Afghanistan, “According to our new investigations, the assailants a crime; if he carries a weapon he has committed another and China, some of whom have crossed the border illegally, the had used new U.S-made weapons in their attack against crime; if he carries illegal goods he has committed another MP added. our border guards,” Rezaei went on to say. crime and will be considered as a smuggler.” loads on their backs in mountainous regions. China had 150 new confirmed coronavirus deaths on Sunday, The border guards were killed in clashes with High level of joblessness has led to the dismal job In the Sardasht-Piranshahr region between 8 to 10 the National Health Commission announced on Monday, pushing members of a terror outfit in the border province of market in Kurdistan province, forcing the citizens to thousands households make their living by working as the death toll nationwide to 2,592. Sistan-Balouchestan. resort to such hazardous jobs such as carrying heavy porters. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 25, 2020 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 Iran sustains military spending in face All Islamic Republic bodies elected by people: of U.S. ‘maximum pressure’: general government POLITICAL TEHRAN — Former deskDefense Minister Brig- POLITICAL TEHRAN — Government spokesman Ali Ra- adier General Hossein Dehqan has rejected deskbiei lauds people’s participation in the Friday claims by the Trump administration that parliamentary elections, saying all of the Islamic Republic’s bodies Tehran had cut its defense budget due to are directly or indirectly elected by the people. the United States’ “maximum pressure” “Given the elections that were held, it is necessary to say that policy against Iran. the government and the Majlis are for all Iranian people,” Rabiei Iran has sustained its military spending said on Monday, according to Mehr. in the face of debilitating U.S. sanctions, Dehqan said in an interview with the Fi- nancial Times published on Monday. Over the past years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and at- tained self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and hardware despite sanctions and economic pressures on the country. The Islamic Republic maintains that its military power poses no threat to oth- er countries and is based on its military doctrine of deterrence. “Militarily, today we are definitely in a better situation than three years ago when Mr. Trump came to power, in all aspects — from staff, organization to equipment. And we will be better in five years if Mr. Trump is re-elected,” said General Dehqan. “The government made every effort so that the elections would “In the region, since the formation of be held in a healthy and secure state,” he added. ISIS and the rise of insecurity, we have The nationwide votes for the parliament and the midterm used all our capacity to organize, train and elections of the Assembly of Experts officially were held on Friday. consult our allies.” last month after Qassem Soleimani, Iran’s and empowering its allies. But he added that Tehran would not stage A total of 7,148 candidates, including dozens of religious mi- Trump administration officials have most powerful commander, was killed in an The U.S. strategy “is costing them and it attacks against the U.S. “unless America norities, ran for the 29-seat parliament. claimed one of their key successes has American drone strike. Soleimani’s Quds costs us. But who is the winner now? Today, does [against Iran]”. In capital Tehran, 1,453 candidates competed for 30 seats. been to force Tehran to reduce Iran’s Force, the wing of the guards responsible we believe our influence in the region has General Dehqan reiterated that Iran did Runoff elections will be held on April 17. military spending by almost 30 percent, for overseas operations, has led Iran’s fight increased despite all this pressure,” said not want a “full-blown war” with the U.S., On Sunday Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali including cuts to the Islamic Revolution against ISIS. General Dehqan. “We will never abandon but said negotiations would be pointless. Khamenei thanked Iranian nation, who responded positively to Guards Corps (IRGC)’s budgets. General Dehqan hinted at Tehran’s sur- our regional allies...? We are not players, “The U.S. thinks we are in a weak position the call for participation in the parliamentary elections. The standoff between Iran and the U.S. vival strategy: No retreat from sponsoring we are revolutionaries.” and need to negotiate,” he said. “The U.S. Addressing a session of advanced Islamic Jurisprudence began after Trump unilaterally withdrew regional resistance groups or developing On Iran’s retaliatory measures against wants to negotiate with us to say ‘why do (kharej–e Fiqh), Ayatollah Khamenei expressed gratitude to from the 2015 nuclear deal that Tehran its missile program; no talks with Wash- the U.S. for Soleimani’s assassination, the you have missiles, why are you present in the Iranians for their high turnout in the elections, describing sealed with world powers, and imposed the ington but avoid all-out war; and a bet that former defense chief said “complimenta- the region and why do you have military it as another great victory for the nation and another failure for most severe sanctions ever on the Islamic Mr. Trump’s policies will ultimately serve ry blows will happen over time” with the capabilities?’ What kind of negotiations the enemies. Republic. Iran and the U.S. came close to war Iran by fueling anti-American sentiment aim of driving U.S. forces from the region. are these?” Referring to the widespread negative propaganda campaigns by the enemies that were aimed to disappoint people and dis- courage them from taking part in the elections, the Leader said such propaganda had started a few months ago, and the foreign Closure of border crossings with neighboring countries is temporary: Iran media increased their negative propaganda in the past days under POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Iranian Foreign Min- “The Foreign Ministry has started to contact with sen- He said people should help the health sector more than the pretext of the outbreak of a new virus. deskistry spokesman announced on Monday ior officials in the neighboring countries to assure them ever and observe Health Ministry’s instructions in their daily Leader added, “The God Almighty has determined to make that closure of border crossings has been coordinated that no healthily-concerning person will not be allowed life and social activities. the Iranian nation victorious despite all those vicious efforts.” with the neighbors to narrow down the possibility of to cross the borders,” he added. Touching upon the government’s firm will to control and coronavirus outbreak, noting such moves are normal Ali Rabiei, the government spokesman, on Monday con- root out coronavirus in the country, Rabiei said, “The session in such situations. demned any move to politicize outbreak of coronavirus, of anti-coronavirus headquarters, presided by President “The World Health Organization issues normally an emer- named COVID-19, calling on political groups, parties and Hassan Rouhani, will be held on Tuesday.” People are winners of gency situation in certain regions (to control outbreak of media outlets to refrain from making baseless accusations Coronavirus, known officially known as COVID-19, ap- elections: Judiciary chief diseases), accordingly, anti-coronavirus measures should against the country’s Health Ministry officials. peared first in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December and also be pursued collectively,” Abbas Mousavi stated. Rabiei pointed out that outbreak of coronavirus is a health has since spread globally. The World Health Organization TEHRAN (Tasnim) — Iran’s Judiciary Chief Hojatoleslam “The measure (closure of border crossings to Iran by the issue and “we must trust the physicians.” has declared it a global health emergency. Ebrahim Raisi praised the presence of the people in the Friday neighboring countries) has been carried out as a pre-cau- He added, “I have called on the entire political parties, By Sunday, the number of people diagnosed with the elections and said they were the real winners of the polls. tionary action which is also temporary. Also Iran is mulling groups and media outlets to refrain from politicizing coro- novel coronavirus in Iran increased to 61, of whom 13 have “The winners of the elections were the great nation of Iran, not a reduction of issuing visa for foreigners,” Mousavi explained. navirus outbreak.” so far lost their lives. particular faction or party,” Hoja- toleslam Raisi said, addressing a meeting of the supreme council of the Judiciary in Tehran on Monday. JCPOA Joint Commission to meet in Vienna on February 26 The top official further POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Joint steps in preserving the JCPOA. emphasized that now, it is the deskCommission of the Joint Tehran’s moves to ramp-up its nuclear elected candidates’ turn to take Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will program in the past few months are re- action to resolve the people’s hold a meeting in Vienna on February 26. versible “providing that Europe takes steps problems. “A meeting of the Joint Commission of that are meaningful,” Zarif told reporters The final result of the the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the sidelines of the Munich Security parliamentary elections was (JCPOA) will take place in Vienna on 26 Conference, according to AP. announced on Sunday, show- February. The Joint Commission will be Borrell has said that Europe must ensure ing that principlists, the main chaired on behalf of the EU High Repre- Iran’s benefits from the nuclear deal if it rivals of the reformists, had sentative Josep Borrell Fontelles by EEAS wants the deal to survive. won the polls. Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid “If we want the Iran nuclear deal to The nationwide votes for the and will be attended by representatives of survive, we need to ensure that Iran ben- parliament and the midterm China, France, Germany, Russia, United efits if it returns to full compliance,” he elections of the Assembly of Experts officially began in Iran Kingdom and Iran,” the official website of wrote in an article in the Project Syndicate on Friday morning and closed at midnight. the European Union said in a statement. published on February 8. Voting hours were extended four times. The deadline was The previous meeting of the commission Borrell was notified in January by Paris, initially set at 6 p.m. but finally, voting was prolonged until 12 a.m. was held in December 2019. London, and Berlin that they had triggered Having gone through a formal qualification process by Iran’s “All participants emphasized the key the resolution dispute mechanism. Guardian Council, a total of 7,148 candidates, including dozens importance of full and effective imple- He has said that the EU will extend in- of Iranians from the religious minorities, ran for the parliament. mentation by all sides as well as their definitely the time limit to resolve disputes There were 290 seats in the parliament up for grabs. The determination to pursue all efforts to sanctions on Iran. commitments to the JCPOA at bi-monthly in the nuclear deal to avoid having to go lawmakers are elected for a 4-year term, with no limitation for preserve the agreement,” read the state- EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell intervals in response to the abrogation to the UN Security Council or triggering the incumbent or former parliamentarians to run again. ment published on the European Union said on February 16 that he will remain of the pact by the U.S. coupled with the new sanctions. official website after the meeting of the committed to keep the JCPOA alive. European Union’s inaction to shield Iran’s “There is an agreement that more time JCPOA joint commission. “As coordinator I remain committed economy from sanctions. is needed due to the complexity of the U.S. President Donald Trump quit the to listen to all sides and keep the #Nucle- Zarif said on February 14 that Iran’s issues involved. The timeline is therefore IRGC says ready to help fight nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, in May arDeal alive,” he said in a tweet. decisions to reduce JCPOA commitments extended,” Borrell said in a statement on 2018 and introduced the harshest ever In May 2019 Iran started to reduce its are reversible if Europe takes “meaningful” January 24. coronavirus outbreak POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Islamic Revolutionary Guard deskCorps (IRGC) is ready to cooperate with the The Guardian should not silence my voice on Iran, says Guardian journalist Health Ministry to combat and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, IRGC Commander Hossein Salami said in a phone conversation with Health Minister Saeed Namaki on Monday. Years of covering Iran for the Guardian finally took its toll: Saeed Kamali Dehghan According to Mehr, Salami pointed to the role of Basij forces 1 On Sunday, he posted a photo of his medications, Jamal Khashoggi – as saying that the Saudi prince is the I am particularly upset by a long list of colleagues in polio vaccination across the country as a successful experience. saying, “To be able to sleep, I have to take all these at night force behind Iran International. in the newsroom whom I considered as family in my here at Nightingale hospital. Years of covering Iran for the He said Khashoggi had told the Guardian that Saud prolonged life in exile but except one or two none cared Guardian finally took its toll.” al-Qahtani, who served as media adviser to Mohammad about the agony I went through over the past two years Back in October 2018, Kamali Dehghan revealed for the bin Salman and was among several senior officials removed and have been largely silent about the newspaper si- first time that Iran International, an anti-Iran television in connection with Khashoggi’s murder, was involved in the lencing me. channel, was being funded through a secretive offshore funding of Iran International. The moment of truth has come for the Guardian, its entity and a company whose director is a Saudi Arabian “It is money coming from the royal court,” he quoted management and its NUJ structure on the eve of its 200 businessman with close links to Saudi Crown Prince Mo- Khashoggi as saying, referring to the Saudi crown prince. years anniversary to see who stands up in ‘free London’ hammed bin Salman. In his Monday Twitter thread, Kamali Dehghan said, over silencing of a journalist and his voice on Iran at a very He cited a source – which he would later claim to be “I’ll ask NUJ colleagues for support when I’m discharged critical time in the Middle East.” from Nightingale Hospital.” “Over past year the Guardian “Just to clarify, I am still a staff journalist with Guardian None of my colleagues and an NUJ member but over past year the Guardian has has exacerbated my mental exacerbated my mental health status rather than helping “cared about the agony I Salami went on to say that all the medical facilities and staff health status rather than me by insisting to keep a gag on me writing on Iran. It’s time went through over the past of the IRGC are ready to provide medical services to citizens. Guardian management reviewed its wrong policy. According to the latest report by the Health Ministry, by late helping me by insisting to I raise my voice because I care about the Guardian’s rep- two years and have been Monday 61 people in the country had been diagnosed with coro- keep a gag on me writing utation on the eve of its 200 years history and I thank @ largely silent about the navirus and the death toll stood at 13. KathViner for her support for me at all times but not everything On Monday Namaki reacted to fake resignation letter posted on on Iran,” the Guardian at the Guardian is decided by the very good editor it has. In newspaper silencing me,” social media, saying, “How is it possible to leave the government journalist lamented. fact I am a big fan of Kath’s editorship. says Kamali Dehghan. and the dear Iranian people alone in difficult days.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY FEBRUARY 25, 2020

STOCK MARKET Facilities provided TEDPIX 503736.0 IFX 6552.42 to advanced Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir

CURRENCIES industries up over USD 42,000 rials EUR 45,447 rials 50% in 11 months GBP 54,338 rials AED 11,437 rials ECONOMY TEHRAN – The facilities According to the data, 16 of the men- Source: cbi.ir deskprovided by the Advanced tioned facilities, worth 163.75 billion rials Industries Research and Development Fund (about $3.9 million) was provided to the (AIRDF) of Iran to the country’s advanced information and communications technology industries has increased by 52 percent in (ICT) sector, 14 loans, worth 73.45 billion COMMODITIES the first 11 months of the current Iranian rials (about $1.7 million) were paid to ba- calendar year (March 20, 2019-February sic industries, automation and precision Brent $55.56b 19, 2020) year on year. instruments, while four facilities were pro- WTI $51.22/b Based on the data released by the In- vided for the field of medicine and medical The value of the issued guarantees in- several programs for promoting domestic dustry, Mining and Trade Ministry, AIRDF treatment and another four were given to crease by 25 percent in the mentioned period production and increasing exports in the OPEC Basket $58.94/b provided a total of 58 loans worth 491.28 the auto industry. compared to the figure for the last year’s current Iranian calendar year. Gold $1,681.55/oz billion rials (about $11 million) to the ad- As of the February 19, the mentioned fund same time span. Coming under seven major axes, the vanced industries in the mentioned period, has also supported 60 companies and 170 AIRDF holding is a subsidiary of Iran’s ministry’s programs mainly focus on devel- Silver $18.82/oz compared to the last year’s 323.43 billion projects through guarantees at the value of industry, mining and trade ministry. oping and supporting domestic production rials (about $7.7 million), IRNA reported. 649.240 billion rials (about $15.45 million). The industry ministry has been following Platinium $970.60/oz in various industrial sectors. Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com Majlis rejects general outlines of budget bill ECONOMY TEHRAN – The Iranian Parliament rate of 42,000 rials), with a 14-percent rise from the TEDPIX notches record high desk(Majlis) on Monday rejected general current year’s approved budget. of half a million points outlines of the national budget bill for the next Iranian The bill has estimated the government’s budget at calendar year 1399, which starts on March 20, ISNA 5.63 quadrillion rials (about $134.04 billion), 8.2 percent 1 On Monday, Iran’s over-the-counter (OTC) market, reported. higher than the figure in the present year’s budget. known as Iran Fara Bourse (IFB), witnessed its main index, IFX, The bill was rejected during the open session of the According to the submitted bill, revenues from exporting climbing 90 points to 6,552, as 2.606 billion securities valued at parliament with 67 votes in favor, 114 votes against and oil, gas and gas condensate are estimated at 454.9 trillion 26.926 trillion rials (about $641 million) were traded at this market. 3 abstentions. rials (about $10.83 billion), down 66 percent from 1.37 On December 8, President Hassan Rouhani submitted quadrillion rials (about $32.61 billion) approved in the the administration’s draft of the national budget bill for current year’s budget. the next Iranian calendar year to the Majlis. The government has envisioned various strategies The proposed budget amounted to about 19.88 for compensating the next year’s budget deficit due to quadrillion rials (about $473.3 billion at the official the fall in oil revenues.

Iran-Syria Joint Chamber of Commerce’s board members selected ECONOMY TEHRAN — During organizations aiming at investigating the Back in November 2019, Syrian official said there are many working and deska session of the hurdles in the way of exporting constructional ambassador to Tehran expressed his investments opportunities for Iranians in establishment assembly of Iran-Syria materials, plastic products, and minerals to country’s readiness for providing facilities Syria, including building housing units, Joint Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, Syria and finding the ways to boost exports to Iranian companies which contribute to infrastructure, rebuilding the Syrian factories the new board members of the chamber to the Syrian market. Syria’s reconstruction. as well as providing raw materials to them. were selected. The participants explored the latest status “The country is fully prepared to provide Addressing the same seminar, chairman During the session, which was held at of trade between Iran and Syria, mentioned facilities for Iranian state-run and private of Iran-Syria Joint Economic Committee IFB is one of the four major stock markets of Iran, the other the place of Iran Chamber of Commerce, the extant problems and it was decided that the companies to participate in reconstruction of delivered his speech in which he noted that three markets are Tehran Stock Exchange, Iran Mercantile Ex- Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), related organizations take necessary follow-up Syria and also in other joint venture projects,” considering the two sides’ determination, change (IME), and Iran Energy Exchange (IRENEX). Keyvan Kashefi was reinstated as the chairman measures to remove the discussed barriers. Adnan Hassan Mahmoud said in a seminar reaching $500 million - $1 billion of trade of the board, ICCIMA website published. Iran and Syria have been taking major on Iran-Syria’s business opportunities in turnover within the next two years is On January 20, Iran’s Trade Promotion steps for expansion of their mutual Tehran hosted by TPO. completely plausible. Global stocks hammered as Organization (TPO) held the first meeting of trade ties. The two sides have exchanged Currently, the condition is ripe for the “Over the past year, more than 10 its Commodity-Country Desk on trade with numerous trade delegations in the past few presence of Iranian state-run and private economic delegations have been exchanged coronavirus cases surge in Syria, Farzad Piltan, the director general of months and Iranian private companies are companies to carry out joint venture projects between Iran and Syria, however lacking South Korea and Italy TPO’s Office of Arabian and African Countries. investing in various fields of Syrian economy all across Syria, Mahmoud said. enough information and knowledge about The official said that the meeting like providing construction materials Mentioning the long-term strategic the other side’s market is one of the biggest Stock markets are falling around the world after the num- was participated by the representatives especially cement and working on several cooperation agreement which was signed problems for Iranian economic activists,” ber of coronavirus cases surged in Italy and South Korea, from related governmental and private reconstruction projects. between the two countries in 2018, the Keyvan Kashefi said. putting two more major economies at risk from a virus that has already caused widespread disruption in China. South Korea’s Kospi (KOSPI) index closed down nearly 3.9% on Monday, its worst day since October 2018, after G20 finance heads eye impact of coronavirus Actual UK construction GDP is “almost coronavirus cases in the country surged past 800. In Italy, outbreak on growth, see modest pickup double” official measure, report says the main market index was down more than 4% in early trading after the number of cases there topped 150 and By Marwa Rashad, Francesco Canepa The epidemic, which originated in China, The latest report from the Chartered importance as an employer and driver authorities started shutting down schools and museums Finance chiefs of the world’s top 20 economies has since spread to nearly 30 countries and Institute of Building (CIOB) puts the of prosperity in each area. in parts of the country. vowed to monitor the impact of the coronavirus territories. economic influence of the UK construc- The UK construction industry U.S. stocks were poised to open sharply lower. Dow outbreak on global growth and act if needed, South Korea raised its infectious disease tion sector at almost double that of the The CIOB is calling for a better measure (INDU) futures were down more than 800 points, or more as they said loose monetary policy and easing alert to its highest level on Sunday but the Eu- officially recorded figures by the Office of the construction industry that includes than 2.7%. S&P 500 (SPX) futures declined 2.7%, and Nas- trade tensions would prompt a pick-up in 2020 ropean Union saw “no need to panic” over an of National Statistics (ONS). all aspects of the design and construction daq (COMP) futures were off 3.3%. The Dow closed 228 and 2021. outbreak in Italy. The report, Real Face of Construction process, not just the assembly on site. The points lower on Friday, and all three indexes recorded a The Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers and “In our current baseline scenario, announced 2020, sets out the sector’s giant reach into report also draws on brand new research weekly loss. central bank heads faced a sober presentation policies are implemented and China’s economy the economy, which officially accounts that gauges the public’s attitude towards A growing number of companies are warning that the by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), would return to normal in the second quarter,” for about 6% of economic output of the the industry and their aspirations for the coronavirus will prevent them from meeting sales or profit which predicted the epidemic would shave IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva UK and provides employment for 2.3 built environment. It makes the point targets for the first three months of the year. Reduced de- 0.1 percentage points off global growth. said on Saturday. million people. that the UK construction industry has not mand for goods and services, and factory closures in China, “We will enhance global risk monitoring, “As a result, the impact on the world econo- However, the narrow ONS definition reached its full potential and will only do are also expected to knock the global economy and weigh including of the recent outbreak of COVID-19. my would be relatively minor and short-lived.” of the industry ignores the work of archi- so if it operates in an environment with on trade at a time when Japan and Germany are already We stand ready to take further action to address Growth consequences more pro- tects, engineers, and quantity surveyors a clear vision, with an understanding teetering on the brink of recession. these risks,” the statement from the financial tracted as well as manufacturers dedicated to the of different regional needs, and with a The stock market reaction leaders said, using the medical acronym for the “But we are also looking at more dire sce- sector and many other firms that support focus from policymakers armed with good The stock market reaction to the outbreak had so far disease caused by the new coronavirus. narios where the spread of the virus continues construction, such as builders’ merchants quality data and information about this been muted. But the spike in the number of cases in Italy “Global growth is expected to pick up modestly for longer and more globally, and the growth and plant hire providers. economically important sector. and South Korea, the world’s eighth and twelfth largest in 2020 and 2021,” they predicted. The “recovery consequences are more protracted,” she added. Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive of The report argues that by including all economies, raises fears of a pandemic and ups the stakes is supported by the continuation of accommo- The ministers and central bankers also the CIOB, said: The “quality of our built aspects of the design and construction for investors. Italy reported its fourth death from corona- dative financial conditions and some signs of encouraged further work by the Organization environment affects every member of process, construction GDP could be close virus on Monday. easing trade tensions.” for Economic Cooperation and Development society; our work influences productivity to double in size. Understanding the Investors across much of the developed world sold stocks U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (OECD) on global rules to tax digital giants like and wellbeing at home and at work. It is data is crucial, because if policymakers and rushed into safe haven assets such as gold. The United said central bankers would look at options to Google, Amazon and Facebook. both far reaching and life-shaping. Our and experts do not have access to the Kingdom’s FTSE 100 (UKX) dropped 3.3% in early trading respond to the epidemic if needed, while Bank Intergovernmental group the OECD is to purpose for this report is to help educate full picture then bad decisions and, in and Germany’s DAX (DAX) shed more than 3.5%. In France, of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda said he prepare technical assumptions by July that would policymakers about the true value of the turn, bad policy based on incomplete the CAC 40 (CAC40) dipped 3.7%. was ready to ease policy if necessary. allow governments to tax digital companies where built environment and the need to work data is likely to be made. By showcas- In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSI) dropped 1.8%, The G20 meeting and China they do business, rather than where they are in closer partnership with the industry ing the true reach of the industry this while China’s Shanghai Composite (SHCOMP) fell 0.3%. China was represented at the G20 meeting registered for tax purposes. to realize its full potential, particularly should also lead to greater attention Oil prices tumbled, too, on fears that reduced economic by its ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as senior The group’s efforts were stalled late last year at a regional level where it can rebalance from policymakers. activity will hit demand for energy. U.S. futures fell 3.6% to officials stayed away due to the growing crisis by last-minute changes demanded by Washing- local economies and offer people a quality Sir James Wates CBE, Chairman of trade at $51.47 per barrel. Brent crude, the global oil bench- over the virus. ton, including a proposed “safe harbor” regime career unlike many others.” Wates Group and chairman of the CBI mark, also lost about 3.6% and was last trading at $56.37 Chinese state television quoted China’s Pres- which critics say would let multinationals choose The regional economy is important for Construction Council welcomed the report per barrel. Shanghai crude futures, China’s oil benchmark, ident Xi Jinping as saying on Sunday Beijing whether to abide by the new set of rules or stick any sector, and the CIOB report breaks and said: “We in the built environment sank 4% to 400 yuan ($56.91) per barrel. would step up policy adjustments to help cushion to existing regulations. down the value construction has on a sector know that we have a broader and Investors meanwhile piled into gold, sending prices the blow on the economy from the outbreak. “I told my counterparts that Japan is very regional level. It demonstrates the wide more profound impact than we’re often up 2.6%. The Swiss franc, another traditional safe haven, The “outbreak of novel coronavirus pneu- concerned about the ‘safe harbor’ proposal,” variations in regional performance and given credit for. We are a network of con- strengthened against the U.S. dollar. monia will inevitably have a relatively big impact Japan’s Finance Minister Taro Aso told reporters, output that have occurred since 2013, tractors, architects, engineers, quantity Coronavirus-related deaths have risen to 2,465 world- on the economy and society,” Xi said, though joining a chorus of criticism by France and other indicating the need for careful, integrat- surveyors, specialists, facility managers, wide, with 23 outside of mainland China. There are at least he added the effects would be short-term and nations over the U.S. proposal. ed policymaking at a local, regional and and many others – all working as a team to 78,800 confirmed cases globally. controllable. “It would extremely diminish the regulatory national level. create spaces, infrastructure and buildings Italian authorities have announced sweeping closures Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al- effect of what we’re trying to do. That is a view The report includes regional data that improve people’s lives and make the in the country’s north as they scramble to contain Europe’s Jadaan told a news conference at the meeting: expressed by various countries,” he said. examining the number of construction economy work better. biggest outbreak. Italy’s confirmed cases surged from three “We have discussed the outbreak of coronavirus Mnuchin warned, however, that he opposed businesses, output from the industry, We’re economic multipliers, and this on Friday morning to more than 150 on Sunday. The out- in China and other countries and all the G20 discriminatory taxes on digital services, the pro- stock of buildings, number of people em- new CIOB report helps us to articulate break is the biggest so far outside Asia. countries agreed collectively on being ready to viders of which are mostly from the United States. ployed by sector, annual earnings and key just how that’s so.” (Source: edition.cnn.com) intervene with necessary policies.” (Source: reuters.com) projects, demonstrating construction’s (Source: globalconstructionreview.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 25, 2020 ENERGY 5

3rd platform of South Pars phase NIDC digs 100 oil, gas wells in 10 months

ENERGY TEHRAN— National Iranian Drilling Company desk(NIDC) dug and completed digging operation 13 installed on offshore spot of 100 oil and gas wells during the first ten months of the current ENERGY TEHRAN — Platform operations related to the connection of the Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2019-February 19, 2020), the desk13A, the third platform platform to the well (hook up) would be the company’s deputy head for drilling operation announced. of phase 13 of Iran’s South Pars gas field’s last steps to be taken for the platform to go Hamidreza Khoshayand said the drilled wells consisted of development project was installed on its operational,” he added. two exploration wells and 35 development/appraisal wells as designated offshore spot on Monday, Public The first platform of phase 13 (namely 13B) well as 63 workover ones. Relations Department of Pars Oil and Gas was installed on its designated offshore spot Company, which is in charge of developing in early December 2018 and the mentioned the gas field, announced. platform along with the second one (13D) Earlier this month, this platform, along became operational in late January 2019. with Platform 13C, was loaded at Sadra yard Phase 13 of the South Pars field is aimed in the southwestern province of Bushehr to at the production of 56 mcm of gas, 75,000 be shipped toward their designated offshore barrels of gas condensate and 400 tons of place. sulfur per day in addition to one million tons Payam Motamed, the operator of phase of ethane and one million tons of propane 13 of developing South Pars, put the physical and butane per annum. progress of the nearly 2,500-ton structure at South Pars gas field, which Iran shares more than 98 percent, saying that the men- with Qatar in the Persian Gulf, covers an area tioned platform was designed and built totally of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 square by Iranian experts and the major parts and kilometers of which, called South Pars, are equipment have been supplied by domestic in Iran’s territorial waters. The remaining producers. transferring and installation of the platform’s bridges, will begin soon.” 6,000 square kilometers, called North Dome, The official noted, “The operations for side structures, including the flare jacket and “After the installation of the equipment, are situated in Qatar’s territorial waters. NIDC has dug 124 oil and gas wells across the country during the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20, 2019). The drilled wells consisted of one exploration well, 52 ap- praisal/development wells and 70 workover/completion wells. Daily gas supply to power plants at 120 mcm Some 170,270 meters of digging has been conducted for the ENERGY TEHRAN — National Iranian Gas had hit a record high of 592 mcm a day due to heavy mentioned onshore and offshore wells. deskCompany (NIGC) Dispatching Director snowfall across the country. NIDC, a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Mehdi Jamshidi Dana says NIGC is currently supplying Iran is currently producing over 810 mcm of natural gas undertakes most drilling operations across the country and has 120 million cubic meters (mcm) of natural gas to the on a daily basis which is mostly used inside the country for drilled 4,489 onshore and offshore oil and gas wells in the past country’s power plants on a daily basis and there is no the domestic sector and also as fuel for the power plants four decades after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. problem in this regard. and a small portion is also exported to the neighboring Holding 70 onshore and offshore drilling rigs as well as equip- “The national gas grid’s pressure is at an all-time high, countries like Iraq. ment and facilities for offering integrated technical and engineer- and gas supply to power plants now has reached 120 million Currently, about 30,000 villages with 4.6 million ing services, the company accounts for a major part of drilling cubic meters per day,” Jamshidi Dana told IRNA. households as well as 1,148 cities with over 18 million exploration as well as appraisal/development wells in the country. Mentioning the recent surges in the country’s domestic gas households are connected to the national gas network consumption, the official said: “since the gas consumption in Iran. by the households reached 600 mcm due to the extreme Back in January 2019, the NIGC’s managing director UAE’s latest natural gas cold weather, gas supply to the power plants was reduced had announced that 93.6 percent of Iran’s population discovery is a game changer to 40 million cubic meters just for two days.” gas has been supplied, on average, to the country’s power enjoy natural gas. The national gas network is in optimal condition and plants during the previous Iranian calendar month of Gas is supplied to 97 percent of people in the urban areas By Vanand Meliksetian NIGC is prepared for facing any critical situation, he said. Bahman (January 21-February 19). and 82 percent of people in the rural regions, according The Persian Gulf is, without doubt, the most prominent oil and gas According to Jamshidi Dana, some 80 mcm/day of In late January, Iran’s daily natural gas consumption to Hassan Montazer Torbati. production area in the world. After decades of intensive explora- tion and production, the region still amaze persistent explorers. Even well-explored countries such as the UAE still hold surprises. Booming Australian gas exports countering Why renewable energy is a technical The Emirates are already one of the world’s largest producer and exporter of oil. In 2019 on average 2.9 million barrels per efforts to cut emissions in Australia and globally reality but an economic disaster day were extracted, which generates approximately 30 percent of the country’s GDP. By Jack Snape By Salvatore Babones of scale. Despite its impressive production capacity, the UAE remains With a coal-fired power plant, as you strongly dependent on imported natural gas to meet domestic Australia’s booming gas sector is becoming 2020 may turn out to be the year of the build bigger, your power gets cheaper, demand. A third of the country’s gas is provided by neighboring a drag on efforts to cut greenhouse gas battery. The Trump administration has smoother, and more reliable. With wind Qatar. The majority is exported through the Dolphin pipeline. emissions. made grid-level battery backup a focus of or solar, it’s exactly the opposite: the bigger The fraught political relations between Qatar and the UAE due Three of the five largest-emitting sectors its Energy Storage Grand Challenge -- an you build, the more expensive, more volatile, the latter’s support of the Saudi-led blockade create an awkward — electricity, agriculture and transport — all effort to create an all-American supply and more unreliable your power supply commercial relationship. recorded reductions in carbon emissions chain for advanced battery technologies. becomes. No one ever heard of battery Therefore, the discovery of a massive gas field on the border of in the year to September 2019. Meanwhile, Texas, which is the only state backup for coal-fired baseload power. Dubai and Abu Dhabi could become a significant game-changer. The other two, known as “stationary to run its own electricity grid, is offering up Replacing gas and diesel models Becoming self-sufficient improves the country’s energy security energy”, which includes industrial and to $9000 a megawatt-hour for peak summer Renewables need batteries, and lots of and potentially transforms the regional geopolitical environment. residential uses, and “fugitive emissions”, battery power. And on the other side of the them. But from a technical as well as from At the start of this month, the UAE announced the discovery which includes leakages from fossil fuel world in South Australia, Tesla has been an economic standpoint, it makes no sense of the largest single gas field since 2005. production, both recorded increases. The “increases in LNG exports con- asked to up the capacity of its mammoth to pour resources into giant batteries that Dependent on imported natural gas The Department of Industry’s quarter- tributed 1.4 million tons of carbon dioxide battery in the desert to 193.5 megawatt- might only be needed a few days a year. According to the authorities, the Jebel Ali field contains 80 ly update on greenhouse gas emissions equivalent (Mt CO2-e) to the 2.6 Mt CO2-e hours, or about double the storage capacity And if grids are already under pressure trillion standard cubic feet of gas. It has the potential of making linked increases in both to the booming increase in stationary energy (excluding of the entire Texas state grid. from intermittent renewables, how will the Emirates self-sufficient. However, the gas field’s development LNG sector. electricity) emissions and 3.7 Mt CO2-e Why are utilities and governments they cope when millions of electric cars could take years during which the UAE is dependent on imported Overall, emissions were flat in the year to fugitive emissions due to flaring and sinking so much money into giant replace gas and diesel models over the natural gas (both piped and LNG). to September 2019, and 13 percent below the venting and leakage of methane and batteries? In two words: wind and solar. next decade? Even though they’re on track to achieving self-sufficiency emissions in 2005. carbon dioxide.” Renewable energy sources like wind and You can think of the electric car as a somewhere in the middle of the 2020s, the UAE is contractually Energy Minister Angus Taylor described LNG exports have grown rapidly since solar are notoriously fickle. Back when they power-guzzling mobile monster that has obliged to keep buying natural gas from neighbor Qatar. the performance as a “very strong result”. 2015, and reached a new record high in contributed only a tiny percentage of the the potential to break the grid. But if you The Emirates signed an export deal with the Qataris before “When you take out our exports, take September. They are now worth around total power available on a grid, that wasn’t turn things around to look on the bright tension rose due to the Saudi-led blockade. However, that could out our farming exports for instance as well $50 billion annually. so much of a problem. side, you can see it as a roving battery on become an advantage if the UAE decides to enter the global LNG as our LNG exports, domestic emissions Japan is the largest LNG purchaser for But when a state gets half of its electricity wheels that can plug into tomorrow’s 5G market. are dropping by over 2 percent.” both Australia and the world. from renewables, as South Australia does, smart grid at a moment’s notice, whether According to Samer Mosis, a senior analyst with S&P Global Labor’s energy spokesman Mark Butler Mr. Taylor argues that whatever the intermittency becomes a real problem. to pick up power that the grid needs to shed Platts Analytics, “while the discovery has the potential to bring said Mr. Taylor had “washed his hands” increase is in emissions locally, the use of Before Elon Musk was called in to build for pennies a kilowatt-hour or to give back the UAE one step closer to gas self-sufficiency, significant un- of responsibility to reduce Australia’s Australian gas overseas is bringing global its desert battery bank, South Australia power at exorbitant rates at moments of peak knowns remain around development costs and volumes.” This emissions, citing rising emissions linked emissions down. suffered a statewide blackout triggered demand. That’s right, your car could soon could mean that self-sufficiency is more difficult and expensive to growing LNG production. “Our LNG (liquefied natural gas) exports by a storm-induced failure of wind farms be playing the energy markets, Tesla-style. to achieve than currently anticipated. The “only reduction we’ve seen has are reducing global emissions by displacing gone wild. It all comes down to automation, the Although Qatar has remained a reliable exporter despite the been driven by the effect of the drought more emissions-intensive fuels overseas,” Thanks to the batteries, South Australia 5G internet of things, and the smart grid. blockade, energy dependency is not sustainable and desired even and the final investment to meet Labor’s he said. now has more reliable power, but at a price: Install a stationary back-up battery, and among friendly nations. Therefore, the Emirates have been pur- Renewable Energy Target.” A report in June last year from the office it has the most expensive power in the most of the time it just sits there, a stationary suing a diversification policy. The goal is to develop alternative The federal government has pledged of the chief economist noted that “LNG is country, costing roughly twice as much sunk cost. Take advantage of the widely sources of energy production such as renewables and nuclear. to reduce emissions by 26 percent on the expected to face increasing competition in as the U.S. national average for 2019. This, distributed batteries in an autonomous Doubling the number of projects 2005 level by 2030. the electricity generation sector from both in a country that is (by far) the world’s electric vehicle ecosystem, and you can According to ADNOC CEO Sultan al-Jaber, the UAE are on The Labor Party wants to achieve net nuclear and renewable power generation” largest exporter of coal and tied with Qatar have your battery and use it, too. track to double the number of renewable energy projects until zero carbon emissions by 2050, but it is in Japan. as the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied Right now, renewable energy is a 2030. During the previous 10 years, the renewable energy portfolio yet to confirm a 2030 target. Australia has reduced fugitive emissions natural gas. technical reality but an economic disaster. already grew by more than 400 percent. Increases in LNG exports associated with coal production (orange The problem for South Australia (and Couple it with distributed batteries, and Also, the Emirates have ordered the construction of the Arab The quarterly update found “emissions in the chart below), but the reduction is other aspiring renewables powerhouses) you get a technological ecosystem that can world’s first nuclear power plant built by Korea Electric Power from total export industries increased by dwarfed by the growth in the LNG sector is that the economics of renewable energy go head-to-head with coal on both price Corporation (KEPCO). 3.5 percent, mainly reflecting the increases (blue). get worse and worse as you scale them up. and reliability. The Barakah plant is a massive undertaking which should in LNG exports”. (Source: abc.net.au) That’s the opposite of traditional economics (Source: nationalinterest.org) generate 5.6 GW when it’s completed. The facility was originally due to open in 2017, but delays have extended its opening and therefore also the UAE’s dependence on gas imports. Oil prices slide on demand concerns as virus spreads globally Assuming that the Emirates’ energy policy bears fruit and the intended goals are reached by the end of this decade, the massive Oil prices tumbled by 3% on Monday, as the improving statistics with the coronavirus, eight deaths, with most of the infections in gas field could be redundant for domestic purposes. When that rapid spread of a coronavirus in several coun- financial markets will remain on edge until the Shi’ite Muslim holy city of Qom. Afghan- happens, the gas could be employed for other purposes such as tries outside China left investors fretting about we start seeing the situation improve in Iran, istan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey export. a hit to demand. Italy, South Korea and Japan.” imposed travel and immigration curbs on the Currently, the majority of the UAE’s income is derived from Brent crude was down $1.78, or 3%, to South Korea’s fourth-largest city, Daegu, Islamic Republic. oil exports. Electrification of vehicles is a significant threat to $56.72 a barrel by 0755 GMT, after falling to grew increasingly isolated as the number of “We should not underestimate the economic oil-exporting countries. The UAE acknowledges the threat imposed an intraday low of $56.53 earlier. U.S. crude infections there rose rapidly, with some airlines disruption as a super spreader could trigger by the changing attitudes towards oil production which has led futures fell by $1.53, or 2.9%, to $51.85. suspending flights to the city until March 9 and a massive drop in business activity around to an ambitious economic diversification plan. “Demand destruction for crude is likely March 28 respectively. The country reported the globe of proportions the world has never Natural gas could become an important pillar of growth in the to intensify as travel restrictions will likely its seventh death after raising its infectious dealt with before,” Stephen Innes, chief market adjust policy to help cushion the blow to the short and medium long term. increase as the coronavirus outbreak becomes disease alert to its highest level. strategist at AxiCorp, said in a note on Monday. economy from the virus outbreak. While the consumption of oil is slated to peak somewhere a global threat and not just contained to Chi- In Paris, French Health Minister Olivier Oil prices received some support after local In the United States, the oil rig count, an around 2030, natural gas’s share will remain growing. Therefore, na,” said Edward Moya, senior market analyst Veran said he would talk with European coun- health officials in China said on Monday that indicator of future production, rose for a third a domestic LNG industry could become an important part of the at OANDA. terparts soon on how best to tackle a possible four provinces - Yunnan, Guangdong, Shanxi straight week. Drillers added one oil rig last UAE’s energy portfolio. “Oil prices will remain vulnerable here as epidemic, after Italy reported a third death from and Guizhou - had lowered their virus emer- week, bringing the total count to 679, the highest Regardless of the possible financial windfall, the Emirates energy traders were not pricing in the coro- the flu-like virus and 150 infections, versus just gency response measures. since the week of Dec. 20, energy services firm need to double down on their diversification policy to improve navirus becoming a pandemic. three before Friday. Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sun- Baker Hughes Co said. energy security and reduce dependence. “While some parts of China are seeing Iran said it had confirmed 43 cases and day the world’s largest energy consumer will (Source: reuters.com) (Source: oilprice.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 ADVERTISEMENTS FEBRUARY 25, 2020

TEHRAN TIMES International Tender No.: 98.T/856 Modern Stadium of Security Printing and Minting Organization (SPMO) of Central Iran’s Leading Bank of I.R. of Iran intends to purchase 100 pieces of numbering Martyrs of Khuzestan boxes for banknote numbering machine through a public tender International Daily from eligible companies, according to the specifications and conditions stated in the tender documents. Football Club (KSC)

A: Required documents: 1- Bid Bond Guarantee will be issued by participants, according to the received documents in favor of SPMO, marked as Tender Guarantee. Advertising Dept 2- The bidders are requested to submit their company profile, articles of association, turn over including list of supplied goods, client list, etc. for the last three years. 3- It should be noted that the priority for bidders is given to the domestic participants in equal conditions.

For receiving tender documents, please contact us via the following address, fax or e-mail till March 30, 2020. Head of Foreign Commercial Dept. Security Printing & Minting Organization 191, Pasdaran Ave. Tehran, Iran Tel: P.O.BOX: 1664647111 021 - 430 51 450 Fax: +9821 22840053 Tel: +9821 23733222 E-mail: [email protected] 4104

- 1 - Advertising Dept: [email protected]

+9821 430 51 450

www.tehrantimes.com II NN TT EE RR NN AA TT II OO NN AA LL DD AA II LL YY FEBRUARY 25,25, 20202020 ENERGYANALYSIS 7 An empty grave in Kashmir

later, they entered the so called Azad Kashmir, secret sentences and learnt 10 years later that remains released and bury him in the grave awaiting where they had been arrested by Pakistan. As a the British and Indian governments conspired his body. The people of Jammu Kashmir mark result of public protest, they had been released. to keep us in prison until death. We challenged Maqbool’s death anniversary every year on 11 of In 1976, Maqbool Butt along with young com- this in the European Court of Human Rights, February all over the world and they did it again panions Hameed Butt and Riaz Dar reentered where my co-defendant Riaz was released after this year. If the purpose to hang and bury Maqbool Kashmir. He knew the situation was now more 19 and me after 22 years. Butt inside the jail and get us sentenced in the risky as he had 8 years earlier escaped from the Back to the hanging of Maqbool Butt, neither UK secretly, was to scare the people of Jammu Indian prison, where he was about to be hanged. his family nor his lawyers were allowed to see Kashmir, then, it has badly failed. Instead, it is Maqbool Butt gave precedence to the movement him before the hanging. The Indian government now India that is frightened of the empty grave of over his own life. His daughter and two sons were ruthlessly refused to hand over his body to his a SHAHEED Maqbool Butt who has become the below the age of 12 years, whom he left to his wife family. Maqbool Butt remains buried inside Tihar Father of the Independence Movement. India is in Peshawar. Maqbool Butt was by now a popular jail, New Delhi. The people of Jammu Kashmir also scared of every walking Kashmiri child on political figure in Kashmir and he knew his arrest continue their campaign to get Maqbool Butt’s streets perceived to be Butt’s follower!

نوبتنوبت اولاول was a matter of days. Although all three of 1398.7361 1398.7361 National Iranian them, Maqbool Butt, Hameed Butt and Riaz N.I.O.C National Iranian Drilling Company First Announcement Dar were arrested at the same time from the First Announcement same place in Srinagar in 1976, Maqbool Call for public tender (First/Second publish) Call for public tender (First/Second publish) Butt had been taken to the notorious Tihar One-StagesCall for public (semi tender compressed) (First/Second publish) tender jail, New Delhi, while the other two were N.I.O.C Subject of Tender: P/F: CPT-N4One-Stages CEMENTING (semi compressed) TRAIKERS tender HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Subject of Tender: P/F: CPT-N4 CEMENTING TRAIKERS HYDRAULIC SYSTEM National Iranian kept in Kashmir. 1398.7361 National Iranian Subject of Tender: P/F: CPT-N4 CEMENTING TRAIKERS HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Drilling Company In early January 1984, the leadership of the Subject of Tender: P/F: CPT-N4 CEMENTING TRAIKERS HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) told Tender descriptions: senior party members that India was going Tender No. Estimated value to hang Maqbool Butt secretly. A few days Registration No. through national Tender No. Estimated value By Quayyum Raja Born on 18 February 1938 in a beautiful town The Tender holder Registration No. through national The Tender holder electronic tendering system Tirigam, Kashmir, Muhammad Maqbool Butt later, the Kashmir Liberation Army (KLA) /Indent/Indent No.No. (Rial/Euro) KASHMIR — Thousands of innocent man, wom- graduated from Srinagar, Kashmir and post- arrested an Indian diplomat in Birmingham, en, young and children have been martyred and graduate from Peshawar, Pakistan, where he UK and demanded the release of Maqbool 3/229/837 Tender No.:FP/20--98/191 National Iranian Drilling Company 66.000.000.000 buried in various cemeteries in Jammu Kashmir was a working journalist. Maqbool Butt was Butt and other prisoners. India and Britain Indent No.: 08--22--9845079 during the ongoing Independence Movement, concerned more about the plight of his people refused to negotiate with the KLA , which but one grave in Srinagar cemetery is awaiting its than his own professional life and family’s live- threatened to kill the diplomat if India ex- Qualitative evaluation of tenderers shaheed since 11 February 1984. The Shaheed is lihood. He trained some youths both politically ecuted Maqbool Butt. As part of the circle Qualitative evaluation of tenderers named Muhammad Maqbool Butt, who had been and militarily as he concluded that invaders were of the central leadership of the JKLF, it was Method R Based on minimum scoring (50) made in award criterion reflected in the tenderers pre--qualification forms. hanged by the direct order of the then Indian unlikely to free his homeland without a struggle. decided that the diplomat would not be killed Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The dead body of Maqbool Butt did not accept the restrictions of , but to my amazement, the diplomat was Purchasing & Submitting Maqbool Butt was supposed to be brought back to movement imposed by the Indian and Pakistani shot dead just 3 days after the kidnapping. Purchasing & Submitting Kashmir and buried in this grave, but the callous armies dividing Jammu Kashmir forcibly between The killer and kidnappers escaped and the The distribution of the documents will be started one day after thethe publishingpublishing ofof secondsecond Tender Document Distribution by Company Indian government buried Maqbool Butt inside themselves. He returned to Kashmir, where his British Police arrested me and another two advertisement and ended on the following tenth day thereof.

st Tihar jail. The people of Jammu Kashmir still young companion Aurangzeb belonging to Gilgit Kashmiris. The governments concerned with Hall No.:113, 1st floor,floor, ForeignForeign Procurement Dept., National Iranian Drilling Company, believe that they would one day be able to get had been martyred by the Indian army. Maq- the issue were less interested in truth and Airport square, Ahwaz, IRAN 061--34148707 -- Distribution Place th their HERO’S body and bury him in this grave. bool Butt along with his two fellow Kashmiris more in using us for political gains against Room No. 431, 4th floorfloor ,Oil,Oil centralcentral buildingbuilding No.8,YaghmaNo.8,Yaghma alley,alley, JomhoriJomhori IslamiIslami st.,st., TehranTehran – The sitting prime minister of India was killed by had been arrested by the Indian army. He was each other. They just tried to force us to con- IranIran her own Sikh body guards six months later when charged, tried and sentenced to death in 1966, fess and cooperate to meet their respective Submitting one original Bank Fund Receipt in the amount of 190,000 Iranian Rials under she issued another dictatorial order to storm the but 2 years later in 1968, Maqbool Butt and his agenda. We refused and the British court account number 4001114004020491( Shaba No. IR 520100004001114004020491) in Submitting Method name of “NIDC Incomes Centralized Fund” issued by I.R. of Iran Central Bank. Sikh Holy Temple in Amritsar. companions escaped from prison. Several days sent us to prison secretly. We challenged the Submitting Method name of “NIDC Incomes Centralized Fund” issued by I.R. of Iran Central Bank. Submitting formatformat RequestRequest forfor thethe purposepurpose ofof receivingreceiving TenderTender Documents.Documents.

Closing date 14 Days after the last time of Purchasing.

st Hall No. 107, 1st floor, Tender Committee, Operation building, National Iranian Drilling Documents Receiving Method Hall No. 107, 1 floor, Tender Committee, Operation building, National Iranian Drilling Sanders’ 2016 movement now has political machine to push it Company, Airport square, Ahwaz, IRAN. Address Company, Airport square, Ahwaz, IRAN. By the fall of 2018, when Democrats were pro- to excite young people, including Latinos who did things very differently. We knew we were a Address Tel: +98-61-34148580 +98-61-34148569 moting a slate of centrist candidates to topple came to call him “Tio” (uncle) Bernie. front-runner.” Tel: +98-61-34148580 +98-61-34148569 Republicans in Congress, Bernie Sanders was And, most importantly, he was sure he’d have Now everyone else knows it, too. Sanders’  seeing a very different picture. the money, enough consistent financial backing lopsided win Saturday in Nevada caps his re- Tender Guarantee The Vermont senator and avowed democratic built on mostly small donations made online from markable transformation from political insur- Value of guarantee Value of guarantee 3 288 000 000 Rial / 24 243 Euro socialist was convinced his most fervent sup- around the country, to finish what he started gent to possibly even a favorite to face off with 3,288,000,000 Rial / 24,243 Euro porters were as energized as ever, ready to rally in 2016, rising from an unknown nationally to Trump in November. Both have campaigns built Bank guarantees or guarantees issued by non--bank institutions that obtain activity license from the central bank of the Islamic around the political insurgency flag he planted in a credible challenger to Hillary Clinton for the on mobilizing die-hard loyalists but also disaf- Republic of Iran.

Type of guarantee  2016. He could keep stoking the deep frustration Democratic presidential nomination. fected voters - even though their politics are Submitting one original Bank Fund Receipt under account number 4001114006376636 ( Shaba No. IR and mistrust of the political system and attract This time, Sanders’ movement has a political polar opposite. 350100004001114006376636) inin namename ofof “NIDC“NIDC savingsaving account”account” byby thethe centralcentral bankbank of IslamicIslamic Republic of Iran. backers who had felt too disillusioned to bother machine to propel it. “The Trump Democrats are people that got Duration of credit & quotation voting in the past - much like President Donald “Last time, we really did not know how this abandoned by the Democrat Party and Bernie was Duration of credit & quotation Tender Guarantee and quotation should be valid for 90 days and extendable maximum for one time in initial validity duration. Trump had on the right. would go with our fundraising model,” said Jeff straightforward about that,” said Jim Hightower,

Sanders, 78, the oldest candidate in the race, Weaver, Sanders’ senior adviser. “It ended up a populist former Texas agriculture commission- (Foreign Procurement Dept.) (Name of department) also saw his unwavering commitment to universal being $240 million, but we had no way of know- er who endorsed Sanders in 2016 and remains More of this & other tenders are accessible by click on: www.nidc.ir http://sapp.ir/nidc_pr More of this & other tenders are accessible( Foreign Procurement by click Dept.t.) on: www.nidc.ir http://sapp.ir/nidc_pr تهران تایمز نوبت اول http://sapp.ir/nidc_pr 6/12/98نوبت دوم health care, combating climate change, canceling ing that in the spring of 2015, so we were very loyal to him. 98/12/7www.nidc.ir تهرانتهران تایمزتایمز نوبتنوبت اولاول 6/12/98نوبتنوبت دومدوم student debt, and tuition-free college continuing slow to staff-up in early states. This time, we (Source: AP) 98/12/7

INVITATION TO RENEWAL OF ONE STEP INTERNATIONAL TENDER INVITATION INVITATION TO RENWEAL TO A RENEWAL OF OF ONE ONE STEP STEP INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL TENDER TENDER INVITATION TO A SECONDRENEWAL ANNOUNCEMENTOF ONE STEP INTERNATIONAL TENDER SECONDSECOND ANNOUNCEMENTANNOUNCEMENT SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT SECOND 55 ANNOUNCEMENT/98/29787 55/98/2978755/98/29787 55/98/29787 25/02/2020 Agricultural Support Services Company 25/02/202025 02 2020 Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture Agricultural Support Services Company 25/02/2020 Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture / / AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT SERVICES COMPANY AGRICULTURAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT SUPPORT SERVICES SERVICES COMPANY COMPANY AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT SERVICES COMPANY

Agricultural Support Services Company, hereinafter will be referred as ASSC, a subsidiary of Agricultural Support Services Company, hereinafter will be referred as ASSC, a subsidiary of Agricultural Support Services Company, hereinafter will be referred as ASSC, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad of I.R. of Iran, is considering the purchase of 3×35000±5% the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad of I.R. of Iran, is considering the purchase of 55×40000±5%×40000±5% the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad of I.R. of Iran, is considering the purchase of 3×35000±5% MTS of Granular Potassium Sulphate (GSOP) in bulk through renewal of one step international MTS of Granular Triple Super Phosphate (GTSP) in bulk through renewal of one step MTS of Granular Potassium Sulphate (GSOP) in bulk through renewal of one step international international tender. tender.

All of the qualified and interested companies are invited to receive tender documents from All of the qualified and interested companies are invited to receive tender documents from Monday dated 24/02/2020 until Tuesday dated 03/03/2020 ((77 working days) from our Monday dated 24/02/2020 until Tuesday dated 03/03/2020 (7 working days) from our th purchasing committee (located at the 9th floor, no. 1, fourth alley, Gandhi st., Tehran, Iran). purchasing committee (located at the 9 floor, no. 1, fourth alley, Gandhi st., Tehran, Iran). The bidders are requested to submit their letters of introduction, along with remittance bill of The bidders are requested to submit their letters of introduction, along with remittance bill of I.Rials 1,200,000 to ASSC's account no. 4001039704005791with SHEBA no. I.Rials 1,200,000 to ASSC's account no. 4001039704005791with SHEBA no. IR250100004001039704005791 at ththee Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran through IR250100004001039704005791 at ththee Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran through payment order of SATNA or PAYA with the 30 character identification code of payment order of SATNA or PAYA with the 30 character identification code of 358039782263500650000000000006. 358039782263500650000000000006.

The bidders are required to submit their sealed and stamped envelopes containing offers latlatestest The bidders are required to submit their sealed and stamped envelopes containing offers latest on Wednesday dated 15/04/2020 (during official working hours) to our security office, located on on Monday dated 20/04/2020 (during official working hours) to our security office, located on th the 8th floor. Meanwhile the meeting for the opening of the envelopenvelopeses will be on Saturday dated the 8th floor. Meanwhile the meeting for the opening of the envelopenvelopeses will be on Tuesday dated 18/04/2020 at 2:00 PM with the presence of bidders’ representatives in our purchasing 21/04/2020 at 2:00 PM with the presence of bidders’ representatives in our purchasing committee (9th floor, no. 1, fourth alley, Gandhi St., Tehran, Iran). committee (9th floor, no. 1, fourth alley, Gandhi St., Tehran, Iran). .

The bid bond value should be € 309697 or in equal value of that in any other foreign currencies, The bid bond value should be € 362109 or in equal value of that in any other foforeignreign currencies, except US dollars, based on exchange rate of CBI on 1919/2/2/ 2020 for each lot of 4400000000 MT ± 5% in except US dollars, based on exchange rate of CBI on 19/02/ 2020 for each lot of 3350005000 MT ± 5% in bank guarantee. bank guarantee.

– The bidders are permitted to submit the bid bond in Iranian Rial. Therefore, the value of bid bond – The bidders are permitted to submit the bid bond in Iranian Rial. Therefore, the value of bid bond for each lot of 4400000000 MT ± 5% will be IR 14046000000, which must be only submitted by the for each lot of 3350005000 MT ± 5% will be IR 16423000000, which must be only submitted by the bidders. bidders.

- After approval of ASSC 's Financial Manager, the bidders are permitted to use their previous and - After approval of ASSASSCC 's Financial Manager, the bidders are permitted to use their previous and definite outstanding claims as bid bond. definite outstanding claims as bid bond.

For more information, you may refer to our website www.assc.ir, and For more information, you may refer to our website www.assc.ir, and For more information, you may refer to our website www.assc.ir, and http://iets.mporg.ir or http://iets.mporg.irFor more information, you may or contactrefer to our us bywebsite phone www.assc.ir no. 00982188776325., and http://iets.mporg.ir or http://iets.mporg.irFor more information, you may or contactrefer to our us byweb phonesite www.assc.ir no. 00982188776325., and http://iets.mporg.ir or http://iets.mporg.ircontact us by phone no. 00982188776325. or contact us by phone no. 00982188776325. http://iets.mporg.ir or contact us by phone no. 00982188776325. contact us by phone no. 00982188776325. contact us by phone no. 00982188776325. PR & Intel Affairs Dept. of Agricultural Support PR & Intel Affairs Dept. of Agricultural Support

Services Company (ASSC) Services Company (ASSC)

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 HERITAGE & TOURISM FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Travel sentiment for Iran-Turkmenistan border European destinations on the rise The European Travel Commission (ETC), the European crossing to host Noruz celebration Tourism Association (ETOA), Eurail B.V. and the European Commission, have released the latest Long-Haul Travel HERITAGE TEHRAN – Iran and Turkmenistan Barometer (LHTB), which indicates that the sentiment for deskare scheduled to celebrate Noruz, the travel to Europe between January-April 2020 is positive Persian New Year traditions shared between the two nations, in six key overseas markets - Brazil, China, India, Japan, during a joint event at their border crossing on March 27, Russia and the US. CHTN reported. The barometer provides the European tourism sector with Iran and Turkmenistan are scheduled to celebrate early indications of the travel interest in these markets and Noruz at one of their border crossings, [which is situated sheds light on potential travelers’ preferences, motivations in Razavi Khorasan province], provincial tourism chief and barriers related to holidays in Europe in the short-term. Abolfazl Mokaramifar said on Sunday, CHTN reported. Insights are based on data collected in December 2019. The neighbors will cherish the occasion in order to Europe’s vastly rich history, gastronomic culture and deepen friendship and cultural commonalities long been natural scenery are sparking the travel interest of many existed between the two, the official said. Brazilians who plan to visit Europe this year. Roughly a Noruz, which usually falls on March 21st every year, third of Brazilian respondents (34%) say they estimate to marks the beginning of spring across a vast geographical spend more than 200 euros per day on these activities, area. The feast was initially registered on the UNESCO while about a quarter estimate to spend between 100-200 List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in euros or 50-100 euros. 2009, as a common tradition for Iran, Azerbaijan, India, Half of the Brazilians intend to spend between 7 to 14 Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. However, nights in Europe, and prefer to visit less countries, an the five other countries put in requests officially to be added average of 2.3 countries. Portugal remains high on the to the list during a meeting held in Tehran in January 2014. destination priority list with 44% of respondents intending In December 2016, Iran and 11 other countries registered to visit the country. Noruz as a common tradition during the 11th session of As for travelers from the U.S., respondents indicated the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding that France (36%), Italy (30%), Germany (19%), the UK of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Addis Ababa, (18%) and Spain (15%) make up their top five destinations Ethiopia. of choice to experience Europe’s history, culture and natural Noruz, according to UNESCO, promotes the values scenery. Most Americans intend to spend up to two weeks in of peace and solidarity between generations and within Europe with 63% of travelers planning to explore an average families, as well as reconciliation and neighborliness, thus of 2.4 countries. In terms of expenditure, 62% anticipate contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among that they will spend between 50-200 euros per day. peoples and various communities. Russian respondents show a growing interest in getting Noruz traditions, however, vary from place to place, immersed in a destination’s local lifestyle, favoring “slow” ranging from leaping over fires and streams in Iran to adventure experiences that will allow them to explore tightrope walking, lighting candles at house doors, traditional remote places in Europe. According to respondents, the games such as horse racing or the traditional wrestling vast majority (70%) of Russian trips to Europe in the next practiced in Kyrgyzstan. Colorful yurts at Noruz (Nowruz) festival four months are likely to last between 7 to 14 days and include visits to 2 European countries. The anticipated daily budget varies, with 32% of respondents intending to spend between 50-100 euros per day, 27% expecting to Arts of ancient Iran: Chlorite tableware in the 3rd millennium BC spend more than €200 per day, and 21% planning to spend HERITAGE TEHRAN – Being kept at the Louver architectural motifs, apparently a house with windows between 100-200 euros per day. deskmuseum in Paris, this double cylin- and doors with concave lintels. Architecture appears This winter/spring season, Indian travelers are planning drical vase is typical of the chlorite tableware made to have been one of the major sources of inspiration to head to destinations famous for nature and winter sports in eastern Iran in the 3rd millennium BC. Chlorite for craftsmen working with chlorite. This form of dec- activities. Based on these interests, Austria (40%), Germany quarries have been found in the province of Kerman. oration is sometimes combined with decorative motifs (33%), France (32%), Italy (20%) and Switzerland (16%) The two parts are decorated differently. One side of such as loops, braids, scales and cabling. Some of these top their destination wish list. Another strong motivation to the vase is sculpted with a wickerwork motif, the other vases are also decorated with a “brick” pattern. The visit Europe is the possibility to undertake a multi-country features architectural motifs. Although a number of vases found at Susa rarely feature an animal decor. The trip. Over the next four months, most Indian respondents these vases have been found in Mesopotamia, they are double form of the vessel is also very rare. (67%) plan to spend up to 2 weeks in Europe and visit an of Iranian origin, and are an indication of the complex Vases found in Iran and Mesopotamia average of 3 countries. Nearly half of the respondents (47%) commercial exchanges between these two regions, ac- These objects were long thought to be of Mesopo- intend to spend between 100-200 euros per day, including cording to Louver website. tamian origin, since the first specimens were found accommodation, dining and leisure activities. Chlorite tableware at Tello, Ur and even Mari. They represent an exotic, Famous for their own unique cuisine, it is no surprise that Chlorite is a soft, green stone that is easy to work. apparently trans-Elamite culture, that is to say, one that Japanese tourists have indicated their interest in European It was at times replaced by serpentine. The objects to light in the region of Jiroft. originated in regions beyond Elam. This importation culinary experiences. The cultural and historical heritage, made in this material were luxury items. The craftsmen Architectural motifs of this object shows that complex exchanges between natural landscapes and city life are also among Europe’s were semi-nomadic Iranian sculptors. A number of The low relief decoration covering much of its sur- the various regions of Iran and even with Mesopotamia best assets in the eyes of travelers from Japan. About half their workshops have been explored at Tepe Yahya in face places this vase among the “old” series of these had been established. The particularity of Susa is to (48%) of the respondents who intend to visit Europe in the southeastern Iran, where chlorite quarries have been works. Each pot is decorated in a specific manner: have copied this craft in chlorite by transposing it to next four months, plan to stay for up to 14 nights, while discovered. Several examples were recently brought one is covered with wickerwork motifs, the other with a local material, bitumen mastic. 43% expect to stay less than 7 nights. On average, Japanese tourists are considering visiting 2 European destinations during their trip. As to their daily budget, 39% foresee spending between 100-200 euros, 28% 50-100 euros, and 21% plan to spend more than 200 euros. The most popular Sets of enameled pottery on display at Tehran exhibit destinations to visit are Germany, Italy, Austria and the UK. HERITAGE TEHRAN – Sets of Their innovative works have so far (Source: Travel Daily News) deskenameled pottery, been displayed in Iraq and Armenia handcrafted by Iranian artisans as well as several shows in Tehran, ROUND THE GLOBE in Hamedan province, have been Isfahan and Shiraz, the report added. put on show at the headquarters of Iran’s handicrafts exports reached the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, $289 million in the past Iranian The Trulli of Alberobello Handicrafts and Tourism in Tehran. calendar year 1397, showing three The exhibit, which will be running percent growth year on year, based The trulli, typical limestone dwellings of Alberobello in the through February 26, features some on data released by the Ministry southern Italian region of Puglia, are remarkable examples 500 pieces produced under supervision of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and of corbelled dry-stone construction, a prehistoric building of sisters Sara and Maryam Khalaj who Handicrafts. technique still in use in this region. have held several domestic exhibits Traditional ceramics, pottery These structures, dating from as early as the mid-14th in the country and abroad, CHTN vessels, handwoven cloths as well century, characteristically feature pyramidal, domed, or reported. as personal ornamentations with conical roofs built up of corbelled limestone slabs. The entrepreneurs have employed precious and semi-precious gemstones some 120 people in their two workshops are among Iranian exports to Iraq, both located in Hamedan, west-central Afghanistan and Germany, the U.S., Iran. the UK, and other countries.

Traditional skills of carpet weaving in Kashan astonish all Traditional skills of carpet weaving in Kashan is one of the goods. Writings and books in the 17th and 18th centuries most fabulous Iranian fine arts. UNESCO has inscribed showed that the traditional skills of carpet weaving in this skill representing the symbol of “city weaving style Kashan had been specialized for royal carpet initially and Persian weaving style” as an intangible cultural her- ordered by Shah Abbas. The oldest Kashan carpets re- itage of Iran in 2010. mained till today date back to the 17th century. It’s kept From an artistic point of view, the people of Kashan in Carpet Museum of Iran. Although rural trulli can be found all along the Itria Valley, have been famous for carpet weaving, Qelyabkeshi (dis- Persian carpets in museums all over the world their highest concentration and best preserved examples solving silk resin) and silk weaving. These expressions In fact, one can say this intangible cultural heritage of of this architectural form are in the town of Alberobello, are originally from Kashan although they are known all Iran is the related to the arts and skills of producing tex- where there are over 1500 structures in the quarters of over the world today. Foreign art lovers and handicraft tiles, braid, taffeta, velvet making and atlas fabric making Rione Monti and Aja Piccola. enthusiasts are mesmerized by natural dyeing, special that have gained the reputation as “Hormozi materials” The property comprises six land parcels extending and breathtaking Persian weaving texture and unique all over the world for many years. over an area of 11 hectares. The land parcels comprise two design of the carpet presented in different sizes. Today, some examples of “hunting-design carpet” are districts of the city (quarters or Rione Monti with 1,030 Sialk historical mound, the origin of tradi- available at the Carpet Museum of Iran and the Metro- trulli; Rione Aia Piccola with 590 trulli) and four specific tional skills of carpet weaving in Kashan politan Museum of America. Nevertheless, there is no locations (Casa d’Amore; Piazza del Mercato; Museo Storico; The historical monuments of this region have revealed exact information whether these carpets were woven in Trullo Sovrano). that Sialk mounds date back to Hammurabi era. First, Kashan, Isfahan or Tabriz. The extent and homogeneity of those areas, the persistence people living in the region were known as Kaso or Kasho, Some researchers have reached the conclusion that An Iranian woman weaves a carpet with keeping an eye of traditional building techniques, together with the fact that which were later changed to Kasyan and Kashan. Some a number of old Polish carpets are also woven in this on a pattern attached in her carpet loom in Kashan trulli are still inhabited make this property an exceptional historians believe that Harun al-Rashid’s wife, Zubaidah region. The well-known carpet of Sheikh Safi Mausoleum Historic Urban Landscape. bint Ja’afar ibn-e Mansur ordered to build Kashan which has been a master of Kashan carpet weaving. This carpet velvety texture of Merino wool in the design of the carpet. Trulli (singular, trullo) are traditional dry stone huts with is now famous for its traditional skills of carpet weaving. known as Ardebil Carpet is now kept at the Victoria and In addition to Australian Merino wool, Kashan carpet a corbelled roof. Their style of construction is specific to Kashan, from the viewpoint of the tourists Albert Museum. Also “Shah Abbasi carpet” embellished weavers also use Khorasan, Kermanshah, Azerbaijan and the Itria Valley in the region of Puglia. Trulli were generally The great world travelers of all time who have traveled by coarse Shah Abbasi flowers is produced in this period. Tehran wool threads. constructed as temporary field shelters and storehouses to this region have noticed that Kashan had been the center The skill of interweaving warp and weft for Before weaving starts, the designers prepare some or as permanent dwellings by small-scale landowners or for the production of precious fabrics and cloth. Sir John “Persian weaving” patterns comprising branches, flowers, leaves, animal agricultural laborers. Chardin and Anthony Shirley stated the inhabitant of Carpet weavers generally make the warp and weft of hunting grounds and historical battle scenes. Then, the The trulli of Alberobello represent a dry-stone building Kashan weave some specific fabrics and cloth including Kashan carpet out of cotton, and silk is only used in very weavers start creating the Persian carpets using dyed tradition, several thousand years old, found across the plain silk fabrics, damask silk fabrics, or silk mixed with fine and delicate carpets. They use particular Kashan yarn and silk. Persian weaving style, also known as the Mediterranean region. gold and silver. yarns called “urban” and “Esfahani” cotton threads for “asymmetric knot”, is a knot which has a distinct twist. (Source: UNESCO) In 1600, Cartwright praised carpet and rug weaving in under-weft which is thicker than on-weft. At the first One can see its equal knots on the back of the carpet. Kashan and called this region the trading place for such sight, one can notice the delicate and short wool and the (Source: Destination Iran) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 25, 2020 SOCIETY 9

Iran allocates $125m to Urials, proposed by Iran, added to UN global wildlife agreement

ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — The Thirteenth Meeting of the counter COVID-19 outbreak deskConference of the Parties to the Convention SOCIETY TEHRAN — The Plan ures have been taken and comprehensive on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS deskand Budget Organization plans are underway to get rid of the virus COP13) has approved Iran’s proposal to include urials in the has allocated 3.5 trillion rials (nearly $125 in the country. United Nation’s list of endangered animals. million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) to The country has put in place a set of The CMS COP13 was held February 15 - 22 in Gandhinagar, the Ministry of Health in order to prevent contingency plans, including the tempo- India, with resolutions and decisions adopted to help conserve and combat COVID-19. rary shutdown of schools, universities and migratory species globally. Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, head of cultural centers, in an effort to curb a coro- the Plan and Budget Organization, wrote navirus outbreak that has already claimed on his Twitter account on Sunday that eight lives in the country. after coordinating with Health Minister “With regard to the past experience, I say Saeed Namaki and the chancellors of that we will defeat the coronavirus before Qom, Gilan and Shahid Beheshti uni- long,” the minister stressed. versities of medical sciences, a total of “As a veteran soldier in the Iranian 3.5 trillion rials (nearly $125 million) has health front, I have taken the responsibility been allocated to the Ministry of Health of removing measles, tetanus, and polio for preventing and confronting the novel which astonished the World Health Or- coronavirus, ISNA reported. ganization as the country is grappling with Asadollah Abbassi, spokesman of the Ma- sanctions with no international support. jlis (Iranian parliament)’s presiding board, So, I [definitely] say that we will defeat quoted the health minister as saying that the coronavirus.” 47 people in the country have been infected He went on to say that the nation has The meeting approved a proposal submitted by Iran, Tajik- with the virus, of whom 12 died so far. been mobilized against the virus and “we istan, and Uzbekistan to include urials in the United Nation’s Previously, Namaki said effective meas- will announce its defeat soon.” list of top ten endangered animals for conservation, IRNA reported on Sunday. In addition to Asian elephants, jaguars and great Indian bus- tards, all slated to receive the strictest protection under Appendix Fossil fuels’ impact on planet ‘vastly underestimated’ I, Bengal floricans, little bustards, antipodean albatrosses and oceanic white-tip sharks also made the cut. The oil, gas and coal industries are emitting “vastly” the fossil fuel industry will have the potential to reduce the ancient air from the bubbles in order to study its Meanwhile, urials along with smooth hammerhead and tope more of the potent greenhouse gas methane than was future global warming to a larger extent than previously chemical composition. sharks were listed as migratory species that would benefit from previously thought, and curbing these emissions could thought,” said Dr Hmiel. The researchers focused on measuring the composition enhanced international cooperation and conservation actions. provide rapid benefits to the planet, a study has found. The contribution of biological methane in the atmosphere of air from the early 18th century – before the start of the Maintaining and restoring ecological connectivity is a top After carbon dioxide, methane is the second biggest can be detected by a chemical signature – the presence Industrial Revolution – to the present day. CMS priority, especially in managing migratory species and their contributor to global warming, and levels in the atmos- of carbon-14 – a rare radioactive isotope. Humans did not begin using fossil fuels in significant habitats – as evidenced by the newly adopted Gandhinagar Dec- phere have increased by about 150 per cent since the But in fossil fuels, the hydrocarbons required to leave amounts until the mid-19th century. laration, which was affirmed by 130 party countries. industrial revolution. this signature have all broken down – as the organic Measuring emission levels before this time period The Declaration calls for migratory species and the concept of Though there is less of it than CO2, methane’s green- matter has spent millions of years underground, so no allows researchers to identify the natural emissions “ecological connectivity” to be integrated and prioritized in the house effect is around 80 times more potent. And unlike carbon-14 isotopes are left. present at the time without the fossil fuels in today’s Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which is expected CO2, which can remain in the Earth’s atmosphere for While scientists are able to accurately measure total atmosphere. to be adopted at the UN Biodiversity Conference in October. around a century after it is emitted, methane lasts for amounts of methane in the atmosphere, the carbon-14 There is no evidence to suggest natural fossil methane The urial (Ovis orientalis vignei), also known as the arkars less than a decade, meaning the impacts of reduction signature, or lack thereof, provides an indication as to emissions can vary over the course of a few centuries. or shapo, is a subspecies group of the wild sheep Ovis orientalis. could be felt relatively quickly. how much methane is coming from fossil fuel extraction. By measuring the carbon-14 isotopes in air from more Noticeable features are the reddish-brown long fur that fades “If we stopped emitting all carbon dioxide today, high In order to more accurately separate the natural and than 200 years ago, the researchers found that almost all during winter; males are characterized by a black ruff stretching carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere would still persist anthropogenic components, Dr Hmiel and his colleagues of the methane emitted to the atmosphere was biological from the neck to the chest and large horns. for a long time,” said University of Rochester researcher turned to the past, by drilling and collecting ice cores in nature until about 1870. The urial is found in western central Asia from northeastern Benjamin Hmiel. from Greenland. At this point the fossil fuel methane component began Iran and western Kazakhstan to Pakistan’s Balochistan and Chi- “Methane is important to study because if we make The ice core samples act like time capsules, containing to rise rapidly. The timing coincides with a sharp increase tral, and in Ladakh, India. To the east it is replaced by the bigger changes to our current methane emissions, it’s going to bubbles with small quantities of ancient air trapped inside. in the use of fossil fuels. argali and to the southwest by the Asiatic mouflon. Its habitat reflect more quickly.” The researchers used a melting chamber to extract The researchers said their findings indicate levels of consists of grassy slopes below the timberline. Levels of methane in the atmosphere are still rising, biologically released fossil methane – by natural processes The conservation status of the urial is threatened as their but until now it has been difficult to determine exactly such as venting – are about 10 times lower than previous habitat is perfectly suitable for human development; however, where the emissions are coming from as methane can research reported. the urial population has been recovering in recent years. be emitted in two distinct ways. Meanwhile the burning of fossil fuels by humans is These are: through biological activity on the surface contributing between 25 – 40 per cent more methane of the planet – such as agriculture, from wetlands, from than previously reported. WORDS IN THE NEWS paddyfields and landfill – and it is also produced by in- The research indicates the energy sector is failing to dustrial burning of fossil fuels. account for the levels of the colourless, odourless gas it is Mystery illness The new research has allowed scientists to unpick pumping into the atmosphere, helping to heat the planet. the difference between the methane produced by burn- Dr Hmeil said the findings were positive. (March 17, 2003) ing fossil fuels, and the methane produced biologically, “I don’t want to get too hopeless on this because my Health authorities all over the world have been warned about allowing us to see for the first time the extent to which data does have a positive implication: most of the methane a mysterious form of pneumonia. It is believed that the illness fossil fuels are to blame for introducing damagingly high emissions are anthropogenic, so we have more control. may have killed around ten people in the last few weeks, but levels of methane into the atmosphere. If we can reduce our emissions, it’s going to have more the cause of the disease is still unknown. This report from The research has considerable implications. of an impact.” our science correspondent, Richard Black: “Placing stricter methane emission regulations on (Source: The Independent) The World Health Organization does not issue global health alerts lightly, and its warning, issued at the weekend, that this mystery illness presents a worldwide threat, is being taken seriously by health authorities. G20 sounds alarm over climate emergency despite U.S. objections In terms of the number of people affected, the disease, named The G20 group of the world’s wealthiest nations ment of priorities included the importance of by the climate crisis was dropped. economy fail to adapt. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS, isn’t yet have agreed for the first time to collectively examining the implications of global heating Concerns about the economic damage The International Monetary Fund in- serious - a couple of hundred people ill, possibly ten dead. sound the alarm over the threat to the financial for financial stability, as part of the work of the from rising global temperatures and extreme cluded climate-related disasters in a list of But what’s worrying doctors and scientists is that the cause system posed by the climate emergency. G20’s Financial stability Board, the steering weather events have risen up the agenda the risks facing a highly fragile recovery in is still unknown. Overcoming objections from Donald group for international banking industry rules. among world leaders, central bankers and the global economy this year. However, the Disease-causing organisms entirely new to science are Trump’s U.S. administration, G20 finance The language represented a compromise financiers in recent years. The financial system increasing focus comes as U.S. officials resist rare, but they do occasionally turn up. In recent times both ministers and central bank governors meeting to overcome opposition from U.S. officials continues to fund activities that are incon- naming global heating as an economic risk, HIV and the prions which cause mad cow disease are in Saudi Arabia over the weekend agreed to issue at the first major meeting of Saudi Arabia’s sistent with meeting climate targets, paving following Trump’s move at the outset of his examples. A much more likely explanation for SARS is that their first ever communique with references to year-long presidency of the G20, according to the way for trillions of pounds of financial presidency to withdraw the world’s largest it’s caused by a new form of a well-known organism, such as climate change, according to reports from Reuters. the sources. An attempt to include references losses in the future and catastrophic envi- economy from the Paris climate accords. the influenza virus or one of the bacteria which commonly Sources told the news agency that the state- to the downside risks for global growth posed ronmental consequences should the world (Source: The Guardian) cause pneumonia. Patients are now being treated with both anti-bacterial and anti-viral drugs, and some hospitals report that the treatment seems to be working. But paradoxically this may be hindering ENGLISH IN USE the search for a cause. If you give a patient ten different drugs, you can’t tell which one is curing the infection. LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION Laboratories in Japan and the US continue to examine samples from the affected. Words does not issue [...] lightly: if you do not issue something Families with multiple births to lightly, you publish it only after very careful thought global health alerts: emergency warnings about dangerous خانوادههای دارای چندقلو کمک ماهانه receive monthly allowances situations that might affect the health of people anywhere in the world معیشتی میگیرند In line with population growth policies, families with triplets or more will respiratory: related to breathing – a scientific word organisms: very small living things prions: small protein molecules found in some animals including در راســتای سیاســت هــای افزایــش جمعیــت، بــه خانوادههــای دارای ســه receive monthly allowances of up to 5 million rials (nearly $120 at the cows, which can, in some circumstances, cause disease قلــو بــه بــاال ۵۰۰ هــزار تومــان بــه صــورت ماهانــه بــه عنــوان کمــک .official rate of 42,000 rials), head of Welfare Organization has announced mad cow disease: informal, non-scientific name for a هزینــه معیشــتی پرداخــت می شــود. ,The allowances would be paid when the children are born till the age of 6 disease called Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, which affects the brain of some cows بــه گــزارش ایرنــا، وحیــد قبــادی دانا، رییــس ســازمان بهزیســتی روز جمعه بــا .IRNA quoted Vahid Ghobadi Dana as saying on Saturday virus: a kind of germ that can cause disease بیــان ایــن کــه کمــک هزینــه از ابتــدای تولــد تــا ۶ ســالگی پرداخــت مــی شــود، Some 17,000 households with three or above births will receive the .bacteria: very small organisms that can cause disease ادامــه داد: تعــداد خانــواده هــای دارای فرزنــد ســه قلــو بــه بــاال نیارمنــد کمــک .government support across the country, he stated Bacteria can exist in isolation, but viruses need a host body in order to live معیشــتی دولــت، ۱۷ هــزار خانــوار در کل کشــور هســتند. He went on to say that since the Iranian calendar year 1393 (March anti-bacterial and anti-viral drugs: drugs that can be قبــادی دانــا اظهارداشــت از ســال ۹۳ تــا ۹۷ هــر ســال تقریبــا یــک میلیــون 2014-March 2015) till 1397 (March 2018-March 2019), nearly 1.5 million used to destroy bacteria and viruses paradoxically: you describe a situation as paradoxical و ۵۰۰ هــزار نفــر تولــد ثبــت شــد، و بیــش از ۳ درصــد ایــن تولدهــا دوقلــو births were registered in the country per year, 3 percent of which have when it involves two facts and you would not expect it to be بــه بــاال و حــدود نیــم درصــد از آن ســه قلــو بــه باالتــر بــود. .been twins and 0.5 percent triplets or more possible for both of them to be true (Source: BBC) PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM “amphi-” Think something out Cut to the chase !Be kind to me Meaning: both or around Meaning: to think about all the parts of Explanation: to reach the most important points For example: A good museum in the castle is something carefully before deciding or plan- quickly stuffed with antiquities, while a Roman amphitheater ning exactly what to do For example: Come on, cut to the chase already—what overlooks all. For example: He went for a walk to think things out. exactly are you trying to ask me? I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Palestinian rockets fired into One country, two governments: Ghani & Israel following Gaza border clash

1 The bombings come after Israeli media reported up Abdullah – who will first swear in President? to three rounds of Palestinian retaliatory rocket attacks targeting localities and cities close to the Gaza Strip, notably INTERNATIONAL TEHAN — As Af- The commission will announce the date Ashkelon and Sderot city. deskghanistan incumbent and place of the program, according to According to a statement published by the Islamic Jihad, the president Ashraf Ghani announced the source. rocket strikes were in response to the murder of Islamic Jihad will swear as new president in coming According to Afghanistan Times, Abdul- member Mohammed al-Naem, 27, who was shot dead along days Abdullah Abdullah announced he lah has already introduced some people as the fence east of Khan Yunis by Israeli forces, earlier in the day. will swear on same day too. provincial governors to replace the govern- Viral images from the incident showed an Israeli bull- A perennially acrimonious rivalry over ment-appointed governors. dozer speeding towards the scene and preventing other a controversial presidency has just aggra- “We plan to hold the swearing in cere- Palestinians from retrieving Naem’s body before crushing vated after the incumbent president Ashraf mony after some works,” said Fazl Ahmad and taking away the corpse. Ghani and the self-proclaimed Abdullah Manawi, from Abdullah’s team. The Palestinians were forced to withdraw after coming under Abdullah both announced their plans on He said that the government would start fire from Israeli soldiers. Four Palestinians were injured from Sunday for a victorious oath-taking cer- work after the ceremony and would appoint gunshot wounds during the incident, according to the Interna- emony before weekend. ministers and other officials. tional Middle East Media Center (IMEMC). President Ghani would take oath of office Abdullah appointed Abdul Hai Hayat Images from the scene aroused much anger in Gaza. within the next five days, an official who did as the new governor for Jawzjan province The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement later issued not want to be named said. on Sunday. a statement describing retaliatory Palestinian rocket fire as a Moreover, Abdulla is preparing to shape He has so far appointed people as gover- “natural result of the continued crimes of the occupation and its his government with his teammates saying nors for the provinces of Panjshir, Sar-e-Pul violations against our besieged people and the people of Gaza”. that he would be sworn in soon. and Baghlan. (Source: agencies) Last week, the Independent Election The United Nations expresses concerns Commission unveiled the final results from over the political tensions in Afghanistan and the September 2019 presidential polls after the United States envoy for Afghan peace is delays due to rigging claims. as the winner of election by the Independent parallel government. apparently in Afghanistan to mediate the Malaysia’s Mahathir resigns Abdullah failed to secure enough votes of Election Commission. Sources close to Abdullah said Sunday two sides. the last year’s presidential polls and his rival Abdullah rejected the commission’s that a commission was appointed to hold He met Abdul Rashid Dostum and some but is asked to stay as and incumbent Ashraf Ghani was announced announcement, threatening to form a the swearing in ceremony. other influential figures. interim PM

1 The meeting fuelled speculation of an impending collapse of Trump covetous of Indian dollars the coalition government, and a political realignment in Malaysia. INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Donald Trump, who has to the Indian people,” al Jazeera reported. The intrigue hanging over Mahathir, 94, and Anwar, 72, is deskcome under severe criticism by the public Trump was welcomed with a hug from Prime the latest chapter in a long-running political saga between two and Democratic figures for his unwise foreign policy deci- Minister Modi. of the country’s most prominent political figures. sions, is trying to present a better image of himself in the Last week, India’s cabinet cleared $2.6 billion purchase Anwar and Mahathir united ahead of the 2018 election to drive remaining time to the November presidential elections. from Lockheed Martin Corp. of 24 multi-role MH-60R Se- out the UMNO-dominated Barisan Nasional coalition that had President Trump, who had bet his reputation on stopping ahawk maritime helicopters to Indian navy. ruled the Southeast Asian country for six decades in a surprise the flow of Chinese goods to the U.S. in campaign trails, The State Department has also approved a potential sale victory that led to the removal of then-Prime Minister Najib Razak. finally started a trade war with China. to India of $1.8 billion in arms, including air-defense radars Mahathir has also repeatedly promised to hand over power And in line with this policy, Trump visited India on and missiles, rifles and other equipment, the U.S. Defense to his former foe. Monday for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Security Cooperation Agency announced. But tensions between the two in their Pakatan Harapan al- reinforce his anti-China stance first by signing lucrative In a commentary published on Feb. 20, the Wall Street liance had been growing, as Mahathir resisted setting a specific arms contracts with New Delhi as a rival to Beijing and then Journal said when Trump makes his first visit to India as timetable for keeping his promise to hand power to Anwar. taste India dollars after Arab petrodollars. president, there will be one thing keeping U.S.-India rela- The coalition’s political fortunes have been waning with defeat At the start of his two-day state visit to India, Trump tions on track: China. in five recent by-elections. said the U.S. will sign military deals worth more than $3 Bipartisan support for India has weakened in the U.S. In a side development, Anwar also had a split with party mate, billion with India on Tuesday. Congress since the Modi government’s hardline Hindu Mohamed Azmin Ali, the economic affairs minister, who was “We make the greatest weapons ever made. Airplanes. Modi, Bloomberg reported. nationalist turn last year, and trade squabbles between among those who joined the meeting on Sunday night. On Monday, Missiles. Rockets. Ships. We make the best and we’re “I believe the United States should be India’s premier Washington and New Delhi continue. But geopolitics still Anwar’s PKR announced the expulsion of Azmin as a member. dealing now with India. But this includes advanced defense partner, and that’s the way it’s working out,” Trump binds the U.S. and India together even as economics and For his part, Azmin announced that he had quit Anwar’s party, air-defense systems and armed and unarmed aerial ve- said, according to nbcnews.com. human rights threaten to drive them apart, the WSJ said. taking with him 10 renegade members of PKR, which until Monday hicles,” Trump told a crowd at the western Indian city of Trump also said, “America loves India. America respects The Financial Times said Trump extols U.S.-India ties was the dominant partner of the ruling coalition. Ahmedabad as he shared the stage with Prime Minister India, and America will always be faithful and loyal friends as counterweight to China. At least 112 votes from members of the 222-seat parliament are necessary to form a new government. Anwar was Mahathir’s deputy when the latter was prime minister during his first stint from 1981 to 2003. But Mahathir Syrian air defenses confront Israeli South Korea seeks ‘speedy resumption’ sacked him in 1998 after they disagreed on how to handle the country’s financial crisis. missile attack of U.S.-N. Korea nuclear talks Soon afterwards, Anwar was jailed for sodomy, charges he says were trumped up. They later reunited in 2018 in a political alliance that ousted Najib. (Source: al Jazeera)

Trump seeks to dominate Syria’s oil route

1 Russian reaction to U.S. movement “Since the beginning of 2020, 13 military convoys have arrived from Iraq to Syria, which included over 80 armored vehicles and more than 300 trucks loaded with various types of weapons, ammunition and materiel”, Rear Adm. Oleg Zhuravlev said in a South Korea’s foreign minister called on “And we will do so adhering faithfully daily briefing, according to Sputnik News Agency. Syrian air defenses have intercepted A few hours later, Islamic Jihad released Monday for a quick resumption of stalled to the international sanctions regime on At the same time, Sputnik also reported that despite U.S. Israeli missiles targeting the capital a statement saying that two of its members U.S.-North Korean nuclear talks, adding the DPRK,” Kang added. claims over the gradual withdrawal of its troops from Syria, the city of Damascus. had been killed in the airstrikes. that her government stood ready to engage North Korea has been subjected to country had recently sent a convoy of armored vehicles from Syria’s official news agency SANA re- Israel has frequently launched airstrikes with Pyongyang to facilitate dialogue. U.N. sanctions since 2006. They have Iraq to the oil-rich Al-Hasakah province in northeastern Syria. ported that Israeli warplanes launched against Syria while the country has been Kang Kyung-wha, addressing the been strengthened by the Security Council The news source quoted some posts on Facebook as saying that the attack from above the occupied Golan preoccupied with fighting a nearly nine- U.N.-sponsored Conference on Disar- over the years in a bid to cut off funding at least 55 armored vehicles, tanks and engineering equipment Heights shortly before midnight on Sunday. year foreign-backed militancy which had mament, said the goal remained com- for Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic had left Iraq for al-Hasakah province. “Most of the enemy missiles were shot once swept over large parts of the country. plete denuclearisation on the divided missile programs. Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu slammed the US down before reaching their targets,” SANA Tel Aviv has long despised the Syrian Korean peninsula. North Korea continued to enhance its for occupying Syrian oilfields, calling it a major obstacle to the quoted a military source as saying. government, led by President Bashar “A speedy resumption of the U.S.-DPRK nuclear and ballistic missile programs last reconstruction of the country after the conflict. The Russian de- The report added that the military al-Assad, for its support for Palestinian negotiations is critical so that all stakehold- year in breach of United Nations sanctions, fense minister said, “The oil fields… are controlled by the US. was still verifying possible outcomes of and Lebanese resistance groups coun- ers maintain and build upon the hard-won according to a confidential U.N. report There is shameless, impudent pillage of the wealth that belongs the Israeli attacks. tering Israel. momentum for dialogue. We stand ready seen by Reuters in New York this month. to Syria and the Syrian people taking place”. The Israeli military also released a state- The missile attacks against Damas- to engage with the North in a way that fa- North Korea told the Geneva talks last Bashar Jaafari Syrian Permanent Representative to the UN, ment claiming that its fighter jets struck cus come as Israel also launched multiple cilitates and accelerates the U.S.-DPRK month that as the United States had ignored said earlier that the U.S. has occupied Syria’s oil wells and is targets belonging to the Palestinian Islamic airstrikes against what it claimed were dialogue,” Kang told the Geneva forum. its year-end deadline for nuclear talks, it no looting oil renews in the shadow of the Security Council›s silence. Jihad movement south of Damascus. Islamic Jihad positions in Gaza early South Korea was promoting projects longer felt bound by commitments, which Brokers who buy land for Americans to build a “In the Adeliyah region, outside of Da- on Monday. with the Democratic People’s Republic of included a halt to its nuclear testing and the military base mascus, an Islamic Jihad compound was At least half a dozen Palestinians were Korea, she said, using the formal name of firing of inter-continental ballistic missiles. Al-Akhbar newspaper wrote U.S. moves aim at seizing oil wells struck, used as a hub of Islamic Jihad’s reportedly injured in the attacks. the isolated country. (Source: Reuters) in Syria and daily transfers between Al-Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor, as activity in Syria,” it said. (Source: Press TV) well as the transfer of equipment from Iraq to Syria are carrying for this purpose. According to information that Al-Akhbar has received, Washington is buying land in Tell Brak in northeastern Syria through Yemen says Saudi Arabia tried to eliminate pilots of downed jet local brokers to build a military base. The brokers are taking steps A senior Houthi official says Yemen will reveal “in due age” during a “search and rescue operation” at the site of the for the introduction of more sophisticated systems in order in favor of the U.S. and find land in the towns of Tel Hamees and course” information about the fate of two Saudi pilots downing, which left the fate of its crew uncertain. to engage enemy targets,” Mashat said. Al-Hawl to Americans can build their military base there. whose Britain-made Tornado was shot down in Sa’ada Yemen’s Houthis released footage of what they called Bukhaiti said Sunday, “Each time we have tested a new The Lebanese source stated that the U.S. is trying to gain lands province earlier this month. the launch of their “advanced surface-to-air missile” and system, we have announced it in order to highlight Yemen’s in Tell Brak, Tel Hamees and Al-Hawl because of the connection A statement carried by the Saudi state news agency the moment it struck the warplane in the night sky, sending defensive capabilities in deterring the enemy.” of these areas to Ash Shaddadi and the northeastern outskirts of SPA after the downing said that the kingdom had con- it crashing down in a ball of flames. Back in January 2018, Yemen’s missile defense units Deir ez Zor. The sources related to Syrian opposition said that ducted a special operation to evacuate the pilots who “The downing of a Tornado in the sky above al-Jawf is a shot down a Tornado and a U.S.-made F-15 belonging to Saudi-American talks is carrying out in Al-Hasakah with the aim allegedly survived the incident, but no more information major blow to the enemy and an indication of remarkable the so-called Saudi-led coalition. The Yemeni forces have of financial support by Riyadh for Washington-backed groups. has emerged since then. growth in Yemeni air defense capabilities,” Houthi spokes- also shot down numerous combat and surveillance drones Saudi Arabia has agreed with backing Al-Sanadid Forces and On Sunday, Houthi politburo member Mohammed man Mohammed Abdelsalam tweeted. as well as a number of helicopters so far. armed group led by former President of the Syrian National Coalition al-Bukhaiti revealed in an interview with London-based The downing of the Saudi warplane marks another set- Saudi Arabia launched its war on Yemen in March 2015, Ahmad Jarba. The American security company will also take charge al-Mayadeen TV that the Saudi air force had tried to eliminate back to a military alliance known for its air supremacy and with the goal of bringing back to power the government of of training the two groups and encourages Arab youth to join them. the two pilots after their aircraft was shot down on Feb. 14. signals Yemen’s increasingly potent military arsenal. former president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and crushing It is obvious that Washington is seeking to steal Syrian oil. Due “The Saudis intended to kill the pilots with their airstrikes On Sunday, Yemen’s armed forces unveiled four domesti- the Houthi movement. to the blows dealt by terrorist groups to the Syrian infrastructure, on the wreckage of the downed fighter jet,” he said. cally-built long-range, surface-to-air missile defense systems The U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Damascus is in severe need of oil revenues to reconstruct and “Saudi fighters targeted every movement in the area in what is seen as a game changer in the war. Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organiza- develop the country. The Americans, who are well aware of this where the aircraft had been shot down, which resulted in the Head of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council and command- tion, estimates that the Saudi war has claimed more than issue, are attempting to prevent Syria from achieving this revenue martyrdom of dozens of Yemeni civilians,” Bukhaiti added. er-in-chief of the armed forces Mahdi al-Mashat identified 100,000 lives over almost five years. and occupy its oil fields. In fact, ISIS had previously occupied oil According to the United Nations, 31 civilians were killed in the systems as Fater-1 (Innovator-1), Thaqib-1 (Piercer-1), The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire need fields and now Washington is stealing Syrian oil. On the other Saudi airstrikes that hit al-Hayjah area in al-Jawf province. Thaqib-2 and Thaqib-3. The systems have entered service of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from hand, the U.S. describes the protection of Syrian oil fields from Yemeni officials said the bombings took place as local people following successful tests, he said. extreme levels of hunger. ISIS as a reason for its military presence, while the Syrian army gathered to have a look at the wreckage of the downed plane. “The new defense systems will change the course of the (Source: Press TV) is able to protect its oil and gas resources. Saudi Arabia conceded the “possibility of collateral dam- battle against the coalition of aggression, and pave the ground I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 25, 2020 SPORTS 11

Iran still have two direct Ex-Iran coach Bauermann appointed head coach of Tunisia slots in 2021 ACL Tunisia on Saturday introduced Dirk Bauermann as the head SPORTS TEHRAN — According coach of their men’s national team. deskto the latest Asian Foot- The 62-year-old German takes over from Mario Palma, ball Confederation (AFC) club competitions whose contract expired in December 2019. Palma re-joined ranking, Iran will have two direct slots in former Tunisian champions Club Africain. the group stage and two others in the pre- Bauermann has a long history in international basketball, liminary rounds for the next season of the having coached his country at three editions of the FIBA AFC Champions League. Basketball World Cup (1994, 2006 and 2010), he also mas- The AFC Club Competitions Ranking terminded Germany at four straight EuroBaskets from 2005 is a ranking system launched by the Asian to 2011, he coached Poland at EuroBasket 2013 and his most Football Confederation (AFC) in 2014. The recent national team job was at the helm of Iran in 2015. ranking is based on the results of teams The German play-caller arrived in Tunis Saturday, and participating in the last four years of the is expected to lead the reigning African champions at the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup, upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Split, as well as the member associations’ FIFA Croatia, where they have been drawn in Group B against the ranking. The ranking is used for exam- host country and Brazil. ple to decide who play who in the Asian Talking to the local media, Bauermann expressed his grat- Champions League preliminary rounds. itude for the opportunity: “I feel really honored by the offer. The two top member associations in It’s always a great privilege to be the national team coach of both East and West zones of Asia get three a country because it’s more than just about basketball. You direct slots in the group stage of the AFC represent the country with the team that you’re coaching. Champions League plus one slot in the To be the head coach of a great country of Tunisia is just a play-off rounds of the competition which wonderful honor.” will have 40 clubs in 2021, with an increase “I have watched a number of games, winning the African from the previous 32. Championships, qualifying for big international tournaments Iran, dropping down one place, stand 6th like the Olympics in 2012 and the World Cup last year. overall and third in West Zone with 81.724 “We all know how difficult that will be... African basket- total points in the latest club competitions ball is getting stronger and stronger. When you have won ranking issued by AFC. Qatar and Saudi medals before everybody wants to beat you. It’s going to be Arabia ranked first and second in West challenging but I am looking forward to it.” Asia, respectively. Later in the year, Tunisia will open their qualification The 2021 AFC Champions League will campaign for a place at next year’s FIBA AfroBasket in Ki- be the 40th edition of Asia’s premier club gali, Rwanda. football tournament organized by the (Source: FIBA) AFC, and the 19th under the current AFC Champions League (ACL) title. The 47 AFC team’s FIFA World Rankings no longer slots in group stages of the AFC Champions Persepolis, Esteghlal, Sepahan, and member associations are ranked based on considered). League and the second and third teams Shahr Khodro are four Iranian teams com- their clubs’ performance over the last four Persian Golf Pro League champions and represent Iran in the preliminary rounds peting in the group stage of the current American Gauff breaks into years in AFC competitions (their national Hazfi Cup winners will take Iran’s two direct of the ACL. season of ACL. top 50 at the age of 15

Iran men’s team sabre qualify Iran suspends football matches American teenage sensation Coco Gauff made her top 50 for Olympics over coronavirus fears debut in the updated WTA rankings released on Monday, becoming the first 15-year-old in 15 years to achieve the feat. Gauff, who continued her dramatic rise by reaching the fourth round on her Austral- ian Open debut before losing to eventual champion Sofia Kenin, emulates Bulgarian Sesil Karatantcheva, who made the top 50 at the same age in Aug. 2005. Florida-based Gauff has enjoyed a sensational run on the professional circuit since July last year when she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in her first major championship appearance. She also advanced to the U.S. Open third round before lifting her first WTA title in SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran Germany won the bronze medal after SPORTS TEHRAN — A top offi- matches but Mombeinis says that there will Linz, Austria at the end of the 2019 season. deskmen’s team sabre defeating Italy 45-38, with Iran taking fifth deskcial of the Iran Football be no football matches in the next 10 days. (Source: Reuters) booked a place at the 2020 Olympic ahead of Hungary and Russia defeating Federation said that the matches in the On orders from the Ministry of Sport Games in Tokyo. China in a tight match 45-44 to secure country’s league have been canceled for and Youth, an emergency committee was The Persians came fifth in the Inter- seventh place. the next 10 days due to coronavirus. formed on Saturday to deal with coronavirus national Fencing Federation (FIE) World This is for the first time Iran’s team Hedayatollah Mombeini, a member of the in sports in Iran. Real Madrid lose Hazard Cup on Sunday. sabre advance to the Olympics. Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran’s Health Ministry said the total In the men’s team sabre competition in The sabre is one of the three disciplines said on Monday that the league’s matches number of infections have risen to 61 while for season Varsovie in Poland, seventh seeds France of modern fencing. The sabre weapon is have been postponed in the next 10 days. deaths stood at 12. caused a surprise as they won gold by beating for thrusting and cutting with both the Authorities in Iran had previously sus- On Sunday, two matches were held Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard will be sidelined for the top seeds South Korea 45-43. cutting edge and the back of the blade. pended all sports competitions except football behind closed the doors. remainder of the La Liga season, Belgium national team coach Robert Martinez has said. Hazard, who returned on Feb. 16 from an ankle injury Athletes leave Iran for Karate 1-Premier League – Salzburg that had kept him out of action since November, suffered a SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran sent nine karatekas becoming the big names of the tournament this year thus fracture to his right distal fibula during Real Madrid’s 1-0 deskto Austria for third stop of the season of far since the three current Grand Winners have won the loss at Levante on Saturday. Karate 1-Premier League. two first events of the season. All eyes will be posed on the Madrid have not commented on how long Hazard will The competition will be held in Salzburg from February three stars to see if they can claim a third consecutive crown. be out for, but when asked about the Belgium captain’s 28 to March 01. The participants aim at earning the points at Over 600 competitors from 88 countries are registered latest injury, Martinez told reporters: “We are very sad, stake to take the top positions in Karate’s Olympic standings. to compete at the 2020 Karate 1-Premier League Salzburg. because this injury will leave him out of action for at least The first Karate athletes will win the qualification for This tally represents a considerable increase with the pre- three months. Tokyo 2020 on April 6, 2020. The top four-ranked kara- vious event since 513 competitors from 79 countries took “A footballer like Eden should always be on the pitch. We tekas in each one of the Olympic categories will earn the part in the Karate 1-Premier League Dubai. have an excellent communication with Real Madrid’s medical ticket to the Olympic Games. As the anticipated date nears, Salzburg hosted a Karate 1-Premier League event for staff and we are anxious about Eden. the competitors travel to Salzburg to make their Olympic the last time in 2016. With nearly 600 athletes from 51 “It’s a shame, because it has also happened before an im- dreams come true. participating at the event, Japan topped the medal table portant game as that of Manchester City.” Additionally, the Karate 1-Premier League Salzburg will of event with 10 medals and 5 golds. Hosts of Austria and Injuries have limited Hazard to only 15 games in all com- be another opportunity for karatekas to take a step forward Serbia also registered successful performances in Salzburg. petitions since joining Los Blancos from Chelsea in a £150 in the quest to become the new Grand Winners. After two The tournament starts on Friday, February 28 at 09:00 million move last summer. events, stars such as Sandra Sanchez of Spain, Serap Ozce- (local time). The finals are scheduled on Sunday, March 1 Madrid host City in a Champions League round-of-16 first lik Arapoglu of Turkey and Steven Dacosta of France are from 14:30 (local time). leg on Wednesday. (Source: ESPN) Coronavirus hits Italian sport hard Sport in Italy is being heavily disrupted by Minister Vincenzo Spadafora saying the national football team, which was to feature South Korea suspend a surge in the number of new coronavirus government had “a duty to be prudent the coach of the senior team, Roberto Mancini, cases but Napoli’s Champions League match and responsible”. was postponed on Monday. domestic league over against Barcelona in the south of the country Napoli’s last 16 Champions League match In the latest development, two Pro 14 coronavirus fears on Tuesday is not at risk. against Lionel Messi’s Barcelona side will rugby union matches due to be played this Italy reported its fifth death from the virus go ahead on Tuesday as southern Italy is weekend have been rescheduled. on Monday and it has the most confirmed currently unaffected. They are Zebre’s clash with Welsh club South Korean football authorities have indefinitely postponed cases in Europe. European football body UEFA said they Ospreys in Parma, and Irish side Ulster’s the start of the 2020 domestic season, due to fears over the A surge in infections at the weekend forced were monitoring any change in that situation. visit to Treviso-based side Benetton. coronavirus outbreak. the postponement of four Serie A football “UEFA is following the situation closely That followed the postponement of the The K League made the announcement after an emergency matches in the north of the country where and is contact with the clubs and the author- women’s Six Nations rugby clash between events in the Lombardy and Veneto regions meeting in Seoul on Monday as the country grapples with the the outbreak is concentrated in two regions. ities concerned,” a spokesman said. Italy and Scotland, that had been scheduled would be postponed. viral outbreak that began in China and has infected more than The game between Torino and Parma in A medical taskforce met at the Italian to take place in Legnano, north of Milan, “We agree and align with the govern- 79,000 people globally. The number of reported cases in South Turin was called off as well as the matches Football Federation’s headquarters in Rome on Sunday. ment’s provisions,” said CONI president Korea reached 833 on Monday, including seven deaths. Mainland between title-chasing Inter Milan and Samp- on Monday to plot a way forward, but it “To ensure the safety of our players and Giovanni Malago. China has reported 2,592 deaths among 77,150 cases. doria, Atalanta and Sassuolo, and Hellas seems likely that the high-profile Serie A spectators PRO14 Rugby fully supports the “I believe that at this moment the world While the majority of infections in South Korea have been Verona and Cagliari. clash between Juventus and Inter on Sunday preventative measures taken in Italy and will of sport should not go its own way. Health recorded in the southeastern city of Daegu, there are concerns AC Milan also announced the postpone- will be played behind closed doors. adhere to the directives from the World Health is the primary concern.” the virus could spread nationwide. ment of their women’s team’s match against Inter’s home Europa League match Organisation (WHO) and local authorities,” Eleven towns -- 10 in Lombardy and On Friday, the K League postponed the opening games of Fiorentina on Sunday. scheduled for Thursday against Bulgarian a statement on the Pro 14 website said. one in neighboring Veneto -- are under the season for Daegu FC and nearby Pohang Steelers, scheduled The government announced on Sunday club Ludogorets could also be played in an Other sports were also hit with the Ital- lockdown, with some 50,000 residents to be held this Saturday, but now all games will be suspended that all sporting events in two northern empty stadium, according to reports. ian Olympic Committee (CONI) confirming prohibited from leaving. until further notice. regions would be suspended, with Sports A planned get-together of Italy’s under-19 that in line with government instructions, all (Source: AFP) (Source: AP) Prayer Times Noon:12:17 Evening: 17:15 Dawn: 6:13 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:39 (tomorrow) FEBRUARY 25, 2020 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 MK2 Films to release Kiarostami’s [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 Koker Trilogy in France www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. ARTTEHRAN — The Paris-based Tel: 88911433 desk Webmaster: [email protected] distributor MK2 Films will Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 release Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami’s The Koker Trilogy on April 7, Nasrin Mirshab, the Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily director of the DreamLab Films, the France-based international distributor of the film, has announced. No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran The trilogy is composed of “Where Is the Friend’s P.o. Box: 14155-4843 House?”, “And Life Goes On” and “Through the Zip Code: 1599814713 Olive Trees”, which all were shot on location in the rural northern Iranian town of Koker. “Poised delicately between fiction and documentary, comedy and tragedy, the lyrical fables in The Koker Trilogy exemplify both the gentle humanism and the playful sleight of hand that define the director’s sensibility,” the Criterion Collection, the American distributor of the collection, wrote. “With each successive film, Kiarostami takes us GUIDE TO deeper into the behind-the-scenes ‘reality’ of the film SPIRITUAL AWAKENING that preceded it, heightening our understanding of the complex network of human relationships that God has set the reward for him who is able to show sustain both a movie set and a village. The result devotion to Him, and punishment for him who sins. is a gradual outward zoom that reveals the cosmic Imam Ali (AS) majesty and mystery of ordinary life,” it added. Mirshab also said that MK2 Films also plans to release director Mehdi Shadizadeh’s documentary “Along with the Wind” about the life of Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami and his artistic IRIB to make series on career at the same time. “The film skillfully depicts the various aspects of Persian polymath Nasir Kiarostami’s career and its eloquence that captured MK2 managers’ attention,” Mirshab said. ad-Din Tusi The film was screened at the Art and Experience ARTTEHRAN — Islamic Republic of Iran Cinema halls on June 22, 2019, concurrent with Mohammad-Ali Keshavarz and schoolgirls from Koker act in a scene from “Through the Olive Trees”, one of deskBroadcasting (IRIB) plans to produce a TV the late director’s birthday. Abbas Kiarostami’s movies from The Koker Trilogy. series on the Persian philosopher, physician and astronomer Abu Jafar Mohammad Tusi, better known as Nasir ad-Din Tusi, IRIB’s Public Relations Office announced on Monday. The members of the crew haven’t been selected yet, but the Geneva human rights festival picks script will be ready in late March. Nasir ad-Din Tusi (1201-1274) had a wide range of interests, in which he was encouraged to indulge, particularly the Iranian films sciences and philosophy. ARTTEHRAN — The Iranian films “Yalda, a Mehrdad Oskui is the director of the documentary He also studied mathematics, natural sciences, Avicenna’s deskNight for Forgiveness”, “Sunless Shadows” “Sunless Shadows”, in which he builds a remarkable philosophy and medicine. His significant works in literary, theological and “Coup 53” will go on screen at the International Film relationship with a group of adolescent girls who are and scientific disciplines later earned him the title of Mo’allem-al- Festival and Forum on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. serving their sentence for the grave crime of murdering thalith, i.e., the third teacher, following Aristotle and Farabi. Directed by Masud Bakhshi, “Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness” their father, their husband or another male family member is about a young woman, Maryam, who has been sentenced in an Iranian juvenile detention center. to death for murdering her husband, Nasser. Iranian law The documentary “Coup 53 “ by Taqi Amirani is a decade- allows for the victim’s family to forgive her and spare her long investigation into the U.S.-designed 1953 coup against life, so Maryam’s fate will be decided by Nasser’s daughter, the government of Mohammad Mosaddeq in Iran. Mona, on the country’s most popular televised reality show. The International Film Festival and Forum on Human In front of millions of viewers during Yalda, the winter Rights, which is one of the most important international A scene from “Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness” by Masud solstice celebration, Maryam and Mona discover that events dedicated to cinema and human rights, will be held Bakhshi. forgiveness can be difficult as they relive the past. from March 6 to 15. Director of Indian Cultural Center visits Farabi A portrait of Nasir ad-Din Tusi. Cinema Foundation He is also the founder of Maragheh observatory, an astronomical ARTTEHRAN — The director of the Indian He expressed his hope that the Indian filmmakers would observatory established in 1259, with a library, which is said at deskCultural Center at the Embassy of India have a stronger participation in the Fajr International Film one time to have held over 400,000 volumes of literature related in Tehran, Abhay Kumar Singh, visited the Farabi Cinema Festival and other Iranian film festivals. to astronomy and astrology. Foundation on Sunday. Tabesh also on his part said that the Indian cinema has a His birthday, which falls on February 24 this year, is celebrated He also held a meeting with Farabi CEO Alireza Tabesh large share of the film market in the region and emphasized as Engineers’ Day in Iran every year to discuss the expansion of cinematic cooperation between the need to develop bilateral cinematic ties between the the two countries, the foundation announced in a press two countries. release published on Monday. He also noted that collaboration with neighboring countries Turkish cultural delegation Plans to screen films at the countries’ festivals based is Iran’s top priority in the film industry. on mutual agreements were also discussed at the meeting. Tabesh said that several film and TV series have so far cancels visit to Iran over Singh pointed to the long relationship between Iran been co-produced between Iran and India and added that and India and said that Iranian films are popular among Singh’s proposal to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations Farabi Cinema Foundation director Alireza Tabesh (L) and coronavirus filmgoers in India and that Iranian cinema has attracted between Iran and India during the Fajr International Film Indian Cultural Center director Abhay Kumar Singh pose great attention in the country. Festival will be examined by Iran. after a meeting in Tehran on February 23, 2020. (FCF) CULTURE TEHRAN — A Turkish cultural delegation that deskwas scheduled to arrive in Tehran on Sunday canceled their visit due to the new coronavirus epidemic. AmDocs to screen “Echo”, “Khatemeh” ARTTEHRAN — The The story of the animation “Echo” with her family. deskIranian films “Echo” and by director Barzan Rostami is about She is forced to marry the husband of her “Khatemeh” will go on screen at the American understanding wildlife and the consequences late sister who died by suicide, but after a Documentary and Animation Film Festival of environmental abuse on the human race. while, she escapes from home to save her life (AmDocs), which will take place in Palm Directed by brothers Hadi and Mehdi from her husband and her brother’s torture A poster for “Khatemeh” by brothers Springs, California from March 27 to 31, the Zarei, “Khatemeh” is about a 14-year-old and takes refuge in the Welfare Organization Hadi and Mehdi Zarei. organizers have announced. Afghan girl named Khatemeh living in Iran of Shiraz.

The delegation led by the general-director of the Libraries and Invader’s ‘Rubik Mona Lisa’ beats “Parasite” star hopes film will help Publication of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture, Hamdi Tursucu, was scheduled to discuss details about Turkey as the guest of honor estimate at Paris auction Japan-Korea cultural ties at the 33rd Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF), which will PARIS (Reuters) — A French street TOKYO (Reuters) — One of the since last year when a diplomatic be held from April 14 to 24. artist’s interpretation of the Mona Lisa stars of “Parasite” said on Sunday he row over Japanese compensation The director of the public relations team for the fair, Seyyed made of 330 Rubik’s Cubes sold for hoped the film would help improve for forced World War Two laborers Mohammad Tabatabai, announced on Sunday the organizers 480,200 euros ($520,680) on Sunday cultural ties between Japan and was exacerbated by a trade dispute. are considering the postponement of the event. at a modern art auction in Paris, well Korea, which have been strained by Japanese filmgoers have embraced The organizers also announced on Saturday that they have above presale estimates of up to 150,000 disputes including a trade row that “Parasite” since it opened in the suspended China’s presence in the event in an attempt to prevent euros, organizers Artcurial said. ignited between the Asian neighbors country on Jan. 10. The film rode its the spread of the new coronavirus. The 2005 artwork by anonymous street last year. Oscar bounce to the top of the Japanese The new coronavirus, known officially as COVID-19, appeared artist Invader uses the plastic puzzles’ Actor Song Kang-ho, who in the box office last weekend and has now first in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December and has since squares to create a mosaic of the Mona Oscar-winning film plays the father become the top-grossing South Korean spread globally. The World Health Organization has declared Lisa and her famous smile in garish colors. of the basement-dwelling Kim family, film in Japan of all time. it a global health emergency. The sale coincided with the closure of a said he was happy about the warm “I’ve come to Tokyo because I want blockbuster Leonardo da Vinci exhibition welcome Japanese fans had given to express my appreciation for the at the nearby Louvre museum, the home “Parasite” and hoped relations would interest that all the filmgoers have “A Tale Dark & Grimm” of the real Mona Lisa. That show marked continue to improve. shown,” the film’s director Bong Joon- the 500th anniversary of the death of the “I hope we can go back to the early ho told the same news conference. Renaissance master. 2000s, and have an interest in each “Parasite”, a dark social satire about published in Persian The Rubik Mona Lisa (2005) by French Invader is known for his mosaic tile other’s works,” Song told reporters at the disparities between rich and poor street artist Invader is displayed at CULTURE TEHRAN — A Persian translation of American works featuring pixilated versions of the Japan National Press Club. “Japan in Seoul, made history this month by ArtCurial in Paris, France, February deskauthor of children’s books Adam Gidwitz’s “A the 1978 Space Invaders video game and Korea are close countries and becoming the first foreign-language 3, 2020. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes) Tale Dark & Grimm” by Shohreh Nursalehi has recently been characters, which “invade” cities around can relate to each other’s cultures.” film to take Hollywood’s top prize. published in Persian, publisher Peydayesh has announced. the world. and insists on his face being pixilated for “Looking at how ‘Parasite’ has been The film, which won the Palme d’Or “In this mischievous and utterly original debut, Hansel and The Rubik Mona Lisa was created his rare appearances on camera. received even in Japan, I hope we at the Cannes Film Festival last year, Gretel walk out of their own story into eight other classic Grimm- in 2005 and is the first in Invader’s He has a large following of fans who can have a mutual interest in each also scooped up three other Academy inspired tales,” writes Amazon. “Rubikcubism” series, in which he recreates use a Smartphone app, “Flash Invaders”, other’s cultures.” Awards including best director for “As readers follow the siblings through a forest brimming with well-known Old Master works. to snap pictures of his mosaics if they’re Song did not directly reference Bong, who beat out Hollywood royalty menacing foes, they learn the true story behind (and beyond) the Invader, who defines himself as an UFA, authentically his, rack up points and current relations, but the two countries including Martin Scorsese and Quentin bread crumbs, edible houses, and outwitted witches,” it adds. an Unidentified Free Artist, wears a mask compete with other players. have been going through a rocky patch Tarantino.