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16 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13503 Tuesday OCTOBER 8, 2019 Mehr 16, 1398 Safar 9, 1441 Leader told Assad in 2011 Iran to launch second Iran U23 Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel that Syrian people were phase of Arak reactor in football team publishes travelog of Iran’s redline 2 one or two weeks 3 announced 15 Arbaeen pilgrimage 16 Turkey seeking ways to boost Iran wants peace, trade with Iran: envoy TEHRAN — Turkish Ambassador to Teh- tries and emphasized the need to continue ran Derya Ors said his country is looking and develop bilateral cooperation despite for ways to improve its trade ties with Iran the pressure imposed by the U.S. sanctions. despite the U.S. sanctions, the portal of The Turkish ambassador also an- Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Indus- nounced that his country is seeking ways prosperity for neighbors tries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) to continue purchasing oil from Iran. reported. Referring to the determination of the The official made the remarks in a two countries’ presidents for developing See page 3 meeting with TCCIMA Head Masoud economic relations, Ors voiced the read- Khansari in Tehran on Monday. iness of the Turkish private sector for co- In the meeting, the officials discussed operation with Iranian firms despite the the trade relations between the two coun- American sanctions. 4
Iran to legally seek reparations caused by JCPOA violation TEHRAN — Laya Joneidi, the presidential efforts to document the damages and aide for legal affairs, has said that Iran provide the situation for the violators to will legally seek reparations caused by the make up for damages,” she told ICANA U.S. violation of the JCPOA, the official in an interview published on Monday. name for the 2015 nuclear deal. She added, “We have asked the “The legal body of the government seeks country’s major economic sectors to for compensation of damages caused by assess the damages and pursue the violation of the JCPOA. We are making issue precisely.” 2 Zionist, Arab regimes agree to advance ‘alliance’ TEHRAN — Persian Gulf Arab states two weeks ago, the report said. and the Zionist regime have agreed to As a follow-up to the meeting, teams advance an alliance no matter what hap- would be formed to discuss the plan, pens to the Zionist-Palestinian conflict, which would forge relations between the Tel Aviv-based Channel 12 television sides “irrespective of what occurs with the network reports. Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the Jerusalem The agreement was reached between Post reported. the regime’s foreign minister Israel Katz The newspaper said Katz’s spokesper- and his Arab counterparts who met on son confirmed to the Jerusalem Post that padafand.aja.ir the sidelines of the UN General Assembly the report was accurate. 13 PERSPECTIVE Iraqi protests, spontaneous or conspiracy? PERSPECTIVE Hanif Ghaffari By Hossein Amiri this the Iraqi people’s welcoming to Ayatollah occupied territories to form a cabinet. Fatemeh Salehi Head of the Tehran Times TEHRAN — Iraq witnessed protests in recent Sistani’s 2014 fatwa to mobilize people to fight Iraq is one of those countries that has an Mehr News Agency Politics Desk days about the inadequate public service situa- against ISIL terrorism. On the other hand, the independent foreign policy and opposes the journalist tion, lack of job opportunities and corruption, government in Iraq has won the elections and Saudi war against Yemen and it is also against but these protests have turned violent and have its people have voted for Shia groups to form a the normalization of the ties between some Arab Trump concerns killed and injured dozens. government. countries with the Zionist regime. Tel Aviv’s proposal There are shreds of evidence indicates that Second, the demonstrations in Iraq coincid- On the other hand, the Popular Mobilization Texas and Ohio polls what is happening in Iraq is a “goal-oriented-con- ed with the Arba’een Trek. It seems that these Forces (PMF) “al-Hashd ash-Sha?abi” has close for non-aggression spiracy”. There are several reasons for this. demonstrations have targeted Arb’aeen’s Trek. relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Due .S. President Donald Trump is in First, there are pictures on social networks from The goal is to prevent the Grand March being held to these ties, Iraq has been targeting by the Ar- pact with Arabs a political deadlock. Recent state Iraqi protesters that are both fake and completely in Iraq, on the one hand, and to prevent people ab-Israeli-Western axis. Uand state polls show that Trump suspicious. Some images of the protesters have from other countries, especially Iran, to go to Secretary-general of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Qais n the shadow of current changes in has lost the chance to win again not only slogans against the Shia clerics and Ayatollahs. At Iraq to attend the indelible event. This is one of al-Khazali an Iraqi Shi’a paramilitary group, said the region, Netanyahu revealed a new in states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and the same time, there are mottos in which people the reasons behind the anti-Iranian slogans in last August that some political opponents in Iraq IZionist regime’s plan for striking an Michigan, but also in states like Florida demanding the overthrow of the Iraqi government. demonstrations in some Iraqi cities. are preparing to hold demonstrations with the agreement with the Arabs against Iran, and Ohio. Many international affairs an- This is while the Iraqi people deeply believe in Third, the demonstrations in Iraq coincided support of foreign powers because they are un- which sends important messages. alysts believe that if the US presidential Shia’s religious authority and its constructive with the Yemeni hegemony against Saudi Ara- happy with Iraqi foreign policy. The problem is It seems that while all media outlets and public opinion are focused on recent election were held today, Trump would role in the country, and the best example for bia as well as with the political stalemate in the “Deal of the Century”. 13 certainly be defeated by Joe Biden, Eliz- protests in Iraq, Israeli officials are trying abeth Warren or Bernie Sanders. This is to contact Arab states of the Persian Gulf the worst possible situation for Trump. that are too reactionary. The Tel Aviv re- A review of recent polls in key, sensitive, Iran’s coup de grace gime also is seeking to reinforce its hidden and decisive Ohio states clearly shows that By M.D as is and ultimately departure of foreign forces from lead while continuing to brutally discriminate against relations with the Arabs in the wake of the US president is in the most dangerous SANA’A — In a Washington round table in May the oil rich Persian Gulf. Can the Saudi or any Arab its own Shia minority. Except for its oil wealth, Saudi regional developments. situation possible. 2012 I was asked what I thought about Iran’s role regime offer any of these and make it stick? Arabia, in every other endeavor, has failed to set itself Over the last few days, Iraq witnessed As Newsweek reported ,The survey, con- in our region. I said, when the U.S. and Iran reach a Despite an 8 year destructive war, 4 decades of as a world player deserving attention. disturbances that initially started with civil ducted by Emerson Polling from September coexistence arrangement, we will all sleep peacefully. embargo and political, media and cyberwarfare launched There is a reason that efforts to resolve the current and anti-corruption protests, but soon 29 to October 2, found that former Vice Although an indigenous exclusive regional se- against it, Iran has emerged as the regional superpower crisis in our region are centered on bringing only after turned into anti-Iran slogans. The President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie curity arrangement must be our aim, the reality is whose adversaries have been forced to reckon with. the Iranian and U.S. presidents together without any protests are being led by social media and Sanders had the biggest leads (6 points) that these arrangements can only be accomplished In that same period, and despite our wealth, vast real mention of Saudis just across the waters. foreign elements. over Trump in the swing state. Fifty-three between nations that have ownership of their sovereign estate rich in resources, a population of more than 400 Saudi Arabia is not able to fight Iran nor does it By a review of the world news, we will notice percent of voters said they would support decisions. Unfortunately, on the Arab side, we have million and hundreds of billions spent on U.S., British have the required sovereign independent decision that that the protests have become their headline. Biden or Sanders over the president in a mortgaged our sovereign decisions to the U.S. for and French weapons, we on the Arab side have failed enables it to negotiate with Iran and deliver. Yemen is a Contradictory analyses and news regarding head-to-head matchup. Elizabeth Warren protection that is increasingly proving elusive and to come anywhere close to Iran’s military superiority case in hand where the coalition it summoned under its these events are spreading across Iraq. also beat Trump in a hypothetical matchup for expensive defensive weapons that have failed the or free our sovereign decisions from U.S. hegemony. leadership has not only failed to achieve any of its stated In the meanwhile, on the anniversary by 4 percentage points — above the survey’s test. Which brings us to the question, when Saudis While Iran has managed to create alliances within goals but, despite its vast military resources, is now on of the October war (the 1973 Arab-Israeli margin of error of 3.2 percent. Fifty-two offer to negotiate a political solution with Iran, what Arabia that go beyond sectarian and ethnic divides, the verge of one of the most humiliating defeats in the war) Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz percent of Ohio voters backed the Mas- can they bring to the table that would entice Iran? Saudi Arabia, instead of matching Iran, has created hands of a comparatively poorly armed military and claimed that he has presented a plan to sachusetts lawmaker compared to the 48 Iran wants all sanctions lifted, return to the JCPOA sectarian animosity within the Sunni house it claims to economically impoverished nation. 3 Persian Gulf Arab states to reach an percent who supported Trump. agreement with Tel Aviv and put an end A new Michigan poll shows top 2020 to existing tensions. Democratic contenders beating President Katz, as Netanyahu’s right-hand man, Trump in a key battleground state that the presented the plan during a meeting with president flipped in 2016. The EPIC-MRA Team Melli some these countries’ foreign ministers survey shows former Vice President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the recent annual UN beating Trump 51 percent to 41 percent in a conference. The plan also has been present- hypothetical match-up.Sen. Elizabeth Warren train for ed to Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s special (D-Mass.) would beat Trump 49 percent to envoy for the Middle East. 43 percent, while Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), According to the reports, the plan has who won Michigan in the 2016 Democratic Cambodia four articles: the first one is about devel- primary, led the president 48 percent to 44 oping friendship and cooperation between percent, according to the poll. Israel and Persian Gulf Arab states based What do the two polls really mean for match on the UN Convention and the principles Trump and his companions? The fact is TEHRAN — Iran national football team start- of international law. that the President of the United States of ed training camp for Cambodia match at the The second article states that “necessary America has lost his political balance! He 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and AFC Asian and effective measures” will be taken to will do everything for his victory in next Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers. ensure that none of the parties engage in year’s presidential elections. Iran will host Cambodia in Group C on activities such as war, hostility, sabotage Finally, Donald Trump today has be- Thursday in Tehran’s Azadi stadium. and incitement against one another. come a symbol of failure, despair, and Marc Wilmots’s team started the campaign According to the third article, neither confusion in US domestic and foreign with a 2-0 victory over Hong Kong. party shall involve in coalition, organiza- policy. Trump will no doubt be doomed The Belgian coach has invited 23 players to tion or alliance with a third country with to failure. What remains after Trump will be Team Melli for two matches against Cambodia military or security nature. Neither party the destroyed community and government and Bahrain. should cooperate with or promote these of the United States of America. coalitions and organizations. 13 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y OCTOBER 8, 2019 POLITICSANALYSIS & INTERVIEWOCTOBER 8, 2019 2
Leader: Enemies unable Pressure and sanction against to drive wedge between Iranians, Iraqis
POLITICAL TEHRAN — Leader of the Islamic Revolution desk Iran have failed, Jahangiri says Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has said that the enemies tried hard to disunite Iranian and Iraqi nations but failed. POLITICAL TEHRAN – Thanks to “We are resisting an unprovoked aggres- deskpeople’s unity, pressure sion by the United States. I can assure you and sanction against Iran have failed, First Vice that the United States will not be able to bring President Es’haq Jahangiri said on Monday. us to our knees through pressure,” he noted. “Imposition of pressure and cruel sanc- Zarif also told CGTN in an interview aired tions against the Islamic Republic of Iran by on September 22 that Washington’s policy heads of hegemons have failed through the of sanction and pressure against Iran has people’s unity and the efforts of officials,” not worked. he said during a ceremony in Birjand, South “The United States is running out of op- Khorasan. tions. It is desperate. The policy of maximum He added, “Despite the United States’ pressure has not worked,” he said. economic war against our country, the country Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is moving fast on the path of development.” has called policy of “maximum pressure” on The vice president also expressed hope Tehran bankrupt. that the people’s living standards would be “We have been pressuring them. Maxi- improved and the country’s economic sit- mum pressure… we’re seeing the unfolding “The enemies tried to sow discord (among Iranian and Iraqi uation would become stable. of really a bankruptcy of approach,” he told nations) but failed and their plot will be ineffective,” the Leader’s Jahangiri said on October 1 that Iran has CBS News. official Twitter account quoted Ayatollah Khamenei as saying succeeded to defeat the United States’ policy Trump quit the 2015 nuclear deal in May late on Sunday. of “maximum pressure”. 2018 and introduced the harshest ever sanc- “Iran and Iraq are two countries whose people’s hearts and “We have defeated the United States’ tions on Iran as part of “maximum pressure” souls are tied together via faith in Almighty God and love for Imam policy of maximum pressure and they are against the country. Hussein and the progeny of holy prophet of Islam (PBUH). Their aware that this plan does not work against “The Iranians will get out of the troubles September 22, Foreign Minister Mohammad Talking in a press conference in New York bond will grow more firm day by day,” the Leader underscored. Iran,” he said at the time. caused by the United States and anti-Iran Javad Zarif said that Iran will not succumb in late September, President Hassan Rouhani Iraq has been rocked by a new wave of protests over economic Elsewhere in his remarks, the vice presi- countries. It is just essential to protect unity to economic pressure by Washington. urged the U.S. to quit policy of maximum hardships and joblessness since October 1. dent attached great importance to national and integrity inside the country,” he remarked. “Abandon the illusion that Iran can be pressure and pursue a policy of dialogue In a stark contrast with claims that the demonstrations are unity and integrity. In an interview with NPR published on defeated by pressure,” he said. and logic. popular and spontaneous, new analyses have recently revealed that 79% of hashtags provoking protests in Iraq on Twitter orig- inate from Saudi Arabia and only 6% are from Iraq. The timing of the start of the protests with the great march Iraqi minister: Baghdad utilizing entire capabilities to host Arbaeen pilgrims in safest way possible of Arbaeen arouse suspicions, as new findings show that Riyadh is resorting to the cyber space where it is stimulating the public POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iraqi Interior Minister Yaseen drones at the Iraq borders to ensure the security of pilgrims on social media. deskal-Yaseri has announced that his govern- visiting Iraq for the Arbaeen march. ment has done its best to guarantee Iranian pilgrims’ security “The army is closely watching all (Iran-Iraq) borders while participating in the Imam Hussein Arbaeen march through different methods to ensure the borders’ security,” Amir Abdollahian: Leader and mourning ceremony. Admiral Sayyari said. Al-Yaseri made the remarks while he paid a visit to the He added that the army had been providing other services told Assad in 2011 that Syrian Shalamcheh border crossing in the southwestern province of to the pilgrims as well. Khuzestan. He was accompanied by Iranian Consul-General The Arbaeen march, which is the largest religious gathering people were Iran’s redline in Basra Ahmad Siyahpoosh. in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom The Shalamcheh passageway, which is located 15km west anniversary Imam Hussein (PBUH). POLITICAL TEHRAN — Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a of Khoramshahr city, is one the most important borders Each year, millions of people travel on foot to Karbala, desk senior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian for the Iranian pilgrims while crossing into Iraq for the where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein is located, to perform parliament speaker, has said that Leader of the Islamic Revolu- Arbaeen march. mourning rituals. tion Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had told Syrian President Bashar Al-Yaseri further voiced satisfaction over traffic of pil- Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli al-Assad in 2011, when the riots first broke out in Syria, that the grims from Shalamcheh into Iraq, adding that Baghdad predicted last week that more than three million Iranians Syrian people are Iran’s redline. has also prepared required facilities to hold the ceremony would visit Karbala. Amir Abdollahian said the message was relayed to Assad as glorious as possible. This year Arbaeen falls on October 19. throughout history.” through IRGC Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani. As the ceremony is very important for both Iran and Iraq, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khame- He added, “We cannot find such a gathering and move- In the message the Leader told the Syrian president that if Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy army chief for coordination nei said on September 18 that “the Arbaeen march is an ment that takes place every year more enthusiastically than he showed leniency toward the killing of the Syrian people then affairs, said on Sunday that the army has employed military extraordinary phenomenon not only in our era but also the previous years.” he “could not count” Iran’s help, Farheekhtegan quoted Amir Abdollahian as saying, citing an interview published by the Of- fice for the Preservation and Publication of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s Works. “When the Syrian crisis started in 2011, it was among the first Iran’s policy is expanding ties with neighbors: government advices of the Leader of the Revolution to Mr. Bashar Assad, which was conveyed by General Soleimani, that the ‘people are POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian government partners and different markets for our products when our redline. Do not count on us if you become indifferent towards deskspokesman Ali Rabiei said on Monday the country is under sanctions and economic terrorism killing of the people’,” explained Amir Abdollahian who served that the government’s “very important” policy is expanding and when our old economic partners are under pressure as Iran’s point man for Arab affairs at the time. ties with the neighboring countries. by the United States.” Amir Abdollahian added, “The Leader of the Revolution did “All of us and also littoral states to the Persian Gulf “Being a member of the Eurasia Union is a very good not just focus on strategic and major levels of the region. In fact, must be aware that there are ill-wishers who seek to harm opportunity for our businessmen,” he noted. he was concerned about the people of Syria.” any success in bridging differences,” he said during a Vaezi also said that Iran’s participation in the Eurasia press conference. Union will prove to the U.S. that it has failed to “isolate He added, “Today, our people are well aware that Iran economically”. Official: U.S. toiling to drive enjoying friendly relations with neighbors and deepening “They imagined that they could make us surrender them are the most effective instrument to counter bullying through imposing maximum pressure and blocking wedge into Iran-Iraq ties and unilateralism of extra-regional powers.” international business to us. However, we have not had Pointing to President Hassan Rouhani’s participation in let them achieve their objectives in a diplomatic move TEHRAN (FNA) — The U.S. is doing its best to ruin the strong and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) summit in Armenia we have taken in the past months,” he said. friendly ties between Iran and Iraq, said Deputy Head of the Political on October 1, Rabiei said the president’s visit was in line ‘Poisoned propaganda will not separate Studies at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Salim Khatibzadeh. with expanding relations with neighbors. the framework of economic and political blocs such as Iranians and Iraqis’ The United States is striving to sow seeds of discord between Iran “At the current juncture, this visit has been of great the EEU, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Rabiei also said that “fake” and “poisoned” propaganda and Iraq, Khatibzadeh warned on Sunday, adding, “Social, political, importance. It plays an important role in ties with and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). will not separate the Iranian and Iraqi people. religious and historical ties between Iran and Iraq are inseparable.” neighbors,” he said. Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi has said Iran has always been ready to stand beside the Iraqi He made the remarks in a local ceremony on “Role of Arbaeen During a speech at the summit, Rouhani called for that Iran will start economic interaction with the EEU government and people, he added. March in Relations between Iran and Iraq”, and said, “Iran’s most forming a special task force for joint investment. from October 27. The remarks by the government spokesman comes natural relations are formed with Iraq.” “I welcome any kind of financial and banking “Iran’s economic interaction with this union will be as certain Iraqi cities, including Shia-populated ones, Over the past few decades, regional rivals and enemies of the two cooperation with member states to Eurasian Union. started on October 27. In the first phase, 502 items of were the scene of protests. countries and also global arrogance have tried to tarnish amicable So, I suggest the formation of a special task force for our commodities will enter the union’s member states Most analysts and officials firmly believe the protests relations between the Islamic Republic and Iraq, he noted. joint investment,” Rouhani told the delegates at the with preferential tariff near to zero,” he told ISNA in an were provoked from outside Iraq to undermine the He said that Arbaeen is the manifestation of power of Islamic EEU summit. interview published on Sunday. incoming great Arbaeen March in which hundreds of Republic of Iran and Iraq. He also noted that Iran supports cooperation within He added, “It is obvious that we should search for new thousands of Iranians also take part. “We have a duty to help Iraqi people and our amicable relations should be expanded with a long-term perspective,” he added. Elsewhere in his remarks, Khatibzadeh termed reopening of Bukamal border crossing in Iraq which gives Iran access to the Mediterranean Sea via Iraq and Syria a “very strategic” measure. Arbaeen march will foil plots: police chief His remarks come as millions of pilgrims from Iraq, Iran and around the world are preparing to travel to the holy Iraqi cities of POLITICAL TEHRAN — Police Chief In an interview with ISNA published on Satur- desk INTERNATIONAL Najaf and Karbala to attend Arbaeen, marking the 40th day after Brigadier General Hossein day, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a member of the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam, Hussein ibn Ali (Peace be Ashtari said on Monday that participation of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy upon him). pilgrims in the Arbaeen march will foil ene- Committee, said that the Arbaeen march will AUCTION The gathering usually attracts more than 20 million participants mies’ plots. defeat divisive policies in Iraq and the neigh- every year. The remarks by police chief came after some boring countries. Hereby Sirjan Jahan Steel Complex announces Iraqis take pride in hosting pilgrims participating in Arbaeen, cities in Iraq were the scene of violent protests, “The reality is that the Arbaeen march has many of which are from Iran. The event has consequently turned which many politicians and analysts believe defeated many divisive policies in Iraq and neigh- selling and export 30,000 STEEL BILLET( Size into a symbol of unity between the people of the two countries who were incited from outside the country. They boring countries. Many countries have taken deeply venerate Imam Hussein. say the protests were provoked to undermine actions against the Arbaeen march, however, 130 x 130 mm ) on basis of FOB, Interested bidders The comments also come against the backdrop of several days Iran-Iraq relations on the eve of the great Ar- their plots will backfire. This year’s Arbaeen are invited to get documents with send an email of protests against mismanagement and corruption in Iraq, with baeen march in which three million Iranians march will be the symbol of unity between the certain demonstrations descending into violence and bloody are expected to participate. Iranian and Iraqi people,” he said. to [email protected] clashes. During a meeting with Grand Ayatollah Hos- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah sein Nouri Hamedani in Qom, Ashtari also said, Ali Khamenei said on September 18 that “the All the documents will be sent VIA email. “Police forces will have an active participation in Arbaeen march is an extraordinary phenomenon Iran to legally seek reparations the Arbaeen march and more than 30 thousands not only in our era but also throughout history.” All bids on conformity to tender instruction should of the police staffers will serve the pilgrims.” He added, “We cannot find such a gathering caused by JCPOA violation Arbaeen marks an end to a 40-day mourning and movement that takes place every year more be submitted no later than Wednesday, October period following the martyrdom anniversary of enthusiastically than the previous years.” 1 U.S. President Donald Trump quit the JCPOA in May Imam Hussein (AS) and his loyal companions Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, chief of Iran’s As- 16, 2019(2019-10-16) 2018 and returned the sanctions on Iran that had been lifted at the Battle of Karbala on Muharram 10 in the sembly of Experts, said on September 30 that For more information, please contact us at: under the agreement. Trump also ordered new sanctions. In year 61 AH (680 CE). the Arbaeen march is symbol of unity between May, he introduced a total ban on Iran’s oil exports. Millions of pilgrims from Iraq, Iran, Pakistan the Iranian and Iraqi people and also shows Tel: (+98 21) 86084642 In October 2018, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and some other countries head to Karbala, where power of Islam. ordered the U.S. to lift sanctions on Iran. The ruling was made the shrine of Imam Hussein is located, by foot. “The people’s participation in the Arbaeen Mobile: (+98) 9901212678 in response to a plea from Tehran after the Washington with- It is considered the greatest march in the world. march prevents divisive policies by the ene- drawal from the JCPOA. This year, Arbaeen falls on October 19. mies,” he added. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y OCTOBER 8, 2019 IRAN IN FOCUS 3
Venezuelan envoy advises Iran Khosravi border crossing reopens to against ‘talks under pressure’ pilgrims visiting Iraq POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Ven- to gain their own benefits.” POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Khosravi border crossing, deskezuelan Ambassador to U.S. President Donald Trump quit the deskwhich is the nearest border to the Iraqi cap- Tehran, Carlos Antonio Alcala Cordones, nuclear deal in May 2018 and restored sanc- ital of Baghdad and the holy city of Karbala, was reopened on has advised the Islamic Republic against tions that had been lifted under the accord Monday morning. entering talks with the United States under and added new harsh ones. The border crossing had been closed at the request of Iraqi the pressure of sanctions, saying Washington On May 8, exactly one year after the U.S. officials due to the curfew in Baghdad which came after protests is after undermining independent countries. abandoned the deal, Tehran began to partially in Iraq turned violent. The White House is pursuing plots to reduce its commitments to the agreement “We sought to find a new route that, if curfew continued in dominate the independent states and plunder at bi-monthly intervals. Baghdad, would allow pilgrims to pass and this has been done,” their energy resources, Cordones said, the In the first stage, Iran announced that Tasnim quoted Kermanshah Province’s Governor Houshang Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday. it will not limit its stockpile of the nuclear Bazvand as saying on Monday. He said the U.S. has imposed sanctions fuel to 300 kilograms allowed under the Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged all pilgrims from on both Iran and Venezuela and tries to un- deal. However, on that date (May 8) Iran’s the country to postpone their visit to Iraq until calm is restored. dermine the nations that advocate progress. Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) “Stressing the importance of the great march of Arbaeen and Elsewhere in his remark, the Venezuelan said if the remaining parties to the JCPOA, the necessity of holding this magnificent congregation, the For- envoy said his country would never approve especially Europeans, devise a mechanism eign Ministry calls on the Iranian faithful ... to postpone their of talks with the U.S. with preconditions, to protect it from the sanctions effect in visit to Iraq until calm is restored to the country, and to pay close stressing that any dialogue needs to be held the two-month deadline it will reverse attention to the warnings of political and security officials,” the under the UN Charter and without conditions its decision. Foreign Ministry said in a statement. imposed by the White House. But since European parties missed the Iran is confident the Iraqi government and nation will work He said the Americans do not recognize deadline, on July 7 Iran announced that it with all groups, parties and personalities, especially the top clerics the national sovereignty of others and has started enriching uranium to a higher and other religious authorities and political leaders to calm the do not respect the results of elections in purity than the 3.67%, thereby starting the current tense situation, it added. other countries. policy of carrot-and-stick and its push to White House does not honor any commit- second step. Arbaeen, which is the largest religious gathering in the world, “So it is illogical to hold talks with the force Iran and Venezuela to negotiate under ment or treaty. As Europe missed the second 60-day comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the United States under imposed conditions,” the pressure of sanctions, Cordones said the “The Americans always seek to impose deadline, Iran moved to take the third step, third Shia Imam. the ambassador added. U.S. administration’s withdrawal from the their own measures, to impose hegemony, removing ban on nuclear research and de- Each year, a huge crowd of Shia Muslims flock to the Iraqi Asked by Tasnim about Washington’s Iran nuclear deal last year revealed that the and to seize the interests of other countries velopment (R&D). city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rituals. In August, Iran and Iraq signed an agreement in Tehran to Guardian Council to form expert group to supervise legislation policies reopen the Khosravi border crossing and remove visa require- ments for Iranian pilgrims. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Spokesman for Iran’s Guard- olution has been issuing some ratifications on which the Iran and Iraq also agreed to raise the level of services and deskian Council Abbas Ali Kadkhodayee an- Guardian Council’s supervision or monitoring are not facilities for the pilgrims and enhance border security during nounced on Monday that the legislative vetting body is duty specified,” he pointed out. the Arbaeen season, which will culminate in a large gathering bound to form an expert group for studying and directing Kadkhodayee added that the above-mentioned expert in Karbala on October 19. general legislation policies in the council. group is a subset of the Guardian Council and decision The four border crossings of Khosravi, Mehran, Chazzabeh, In a specialized meeting over necessities of materi- about its establishment was made in a meeting among and Shalamcheh are open to Arbaeen pilgrims. alization of general policies of legislation system held representatives of the Parliament, the Expediency Council at the venue of Law and Political Science Faculty of the and the Guardian Council. University of Tehran, Kadkhodayee said such an expert The Guardian Council is an appointed and constitu- group is supposed to study and direct general legisla- tionally mandated 12-member council. Army chief: Iran wants tion policies to pave the ground for more confidential The Iranian constitution calls for the council to be composed execution of law nationwide. of six Islamic faqihs (expert in Islamic Law), «conscious of peace, prosperity for “There are some ratified bills that do not enjoy any “We must do our best to minimize the cases of parallel the present needs and the issues of the day» to be selected by guarantee for their execution. Law must solve the coun- laws because such deficit will make difficult implementation the Leader of Iran, and six jurists, «specializing in different neighbors try’s problems but it must not exacerbate the situation,” of laws,” Kadkhodayee pointed out. areas of law, to be elected by the Parliament from among the the spokesman went on to say. “As an example, the Supreme Council of Cultural Rev- Muslim jurists nominated by the Judiciary chief. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Army Chief Abdolrahim Mousavi desksaid on Monday that Iran wants peace and prosperity for neighboring countries, according to Mehr. Zarif rejects rumors of biological MP: Ground must be paved for national “We wish security and safety for all regional countries and Muslim nations, and we want everyone to live in peace, tranquility assassination against Iran’s envoy to UN dialogue ahead of upcoming elections and prosperity,” Major General Mousavi asserted. He said the Islamic Republic does not intend to invade or attack any country, but will not tolerate bullying. “We will never succumb to bullying and will continue to stand up for our rights,” the army chief said. “We have no doubt that we will emerge victorious some day and that day is not far-off.” Mousavi pointed to the eight years of successful defense in the face of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussain’s war against Iran, saying, “Today, as well, we are standing up to any plot and threat.” He said Iran will defeat the enemy in the economic war. “This is God’s promise.” U.S. President Donald Trump has adopted a maximum pressure policy against Iran since he walked away from the Iran nuclear deal, which is also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The policy includes sanctions on Iran’s economy, especially its oil exports, and bans on top Iranian figures and organizations. At POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian ment in Iran,” Zarif emphasized, adding POLITICAL TEHRAN — Moham- pate in the upcoming election as a national the same time, the U.S. president has pushed for talks with Tehran. deskForeign Minister Mo- that the medical team in New York called deskmad Reza Tabesh, dialogue which in turn will reinvigorate The sanctions were imposed regardless of Iran’s full com- hammad Javad Zarif has dismissed as for Takht Ravanchi’s immediate surgery. representative of Ardakan’s people in capability of our nation and establishment pliance with its commitments under the (JCPOA), which was fake news that biological assassination In late September, Iranian Deputy For- the Parliament, said on Monday that it is in the world.” struck between Iran and six major powers, including the United has taken place against Tehran’s Ambas- eign Minister for Political Affairs Seyed necessary that people take part massively The next round of the parliamentary States, in July 2015. sador to the United Nations Majid Takht Abbas Araqchi, in a message on his Insta- in the upcoming parliamentary elections, elections and the mid-term election of Iranian officials describe the sanctions as an “economic war” Ravanchi, who is now under treatment in gram page, lashed out at Washington for calling the election a kind of “national the Assembly of Experts will be held on and “economic terrorism”. a hospital in New York. inhumanly preventing Zarif from paying dialogue” which would lead the nation February 21, 2020. Last week, President Hassan Rouhani said the United States’ Zarif said that Takht Ravanchi was a visit to Takht Ravanchi at the hospital. towards prosperity. There are currently 290 seats in the use of dollar as a weapon will lead to economic terrorism. not aware about his disease till he took Araqchi expressed regret that the U.S. Tabesh, deputy head of the parliamen- Iranian parliament, known as Majlis, elect- “U.S. hostile moves and its use of dollar as a weapon will lead office as the country’s UN envoy, add- administration is holding humanitarian tary Hope (Omid) faction, and a member ed by direct vote of people in nationwide to economic terrorism and affects the ordinary lives of people,” ing that his cancer was diagnosed in issues hostage for political aims. of the Parliament Budget and Planning election for four years. Rouhani said at the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) summit New York. The reaction came after American Committee, said, “Election can be regarded The Assembly of Experts is a high-rank- in Yerevan, Armenia, on October 1. He further said that the ambassador authorities forbade Zarif from visiting as the people’s language while talking to ing body that elects and oversees the activi- “The Islamic Republic of Iran expects signatories to the JCPOA has undergone surgery in New York and Takht Ravanchi. each other and to ruling system, and it is ties of the leader of the Islamic Revolution. to take actions in line with implementing it. Under the current is now under chemotherapy treatment. The U.S. State Department had said also the language of ruling system while Members of the assembly are directly sensitive situation, it is essential to support this achievement of “If we had been aware about his cancer it would allow the hospital travel request addressing people and political parties. elected to office by people for an eight- multilateralism in order to improve international cooperation, problem before his departure to New York, only if Iran released one of the U.S. citizens “So, we must pave the ground for all year term. It holds biannual meetings to security and stability,” he added. we would have certainly begun his treat- claimed to be «wrongfully detained» in Iran. walks of the life and also elites to partici- appoint a new chairman. Iran’s coup de grace Iran to launch second phase 1 When Saudi Arabia threatened retaliation to what policy has a shelf life of 4 to 8 years, although the damage can triumphs he hoped to take to the voters in 2020. Two have of Arak reactor in one or it claims to be Iranian attacks on Aramco, it depended on be longer, as in the case of Bush’s Iraq war. Beyond the 8 years failed, so far. The JCPOA is his only remaining hope. Hence two weeks America to strike Iran. America, under Trump, will not fight it is the legacy American presidents want to leave behind that his desperation to meet the Iranian president, even for a photo Iran. Trump might strike a defenseless country like Syria determines America’s policies. Therefore, it is what the Amer- op. Iran, portrayed as another “bad guy”, can give Trump which cannot strike America back. But not Iran which has ican president needs and not what America needs that will the real success he desperately craves. What Iran can take in POLITICAL TEHRAN — Ali Akbar Salehi announced on demonstrated the ability to deliver regionally devastating determine America’s relations with Iran. More so, considering return, apart from the immediate need to lift sanctions, is the deskMonday that the Atomic Energy Organization retaliatory strikes if attacked. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mo- that the U.S. Congress has abdicated oversight of foreign policy beginning of a friendship that could ultimately lead to that of Iran (AEOI) will start launching the second part of the Arak hammad Javad Zarif warned that Iran’s retaliation will be to whoever is in the White House, creating serious questions grand prize, helping Trump get re-elected and starting with heavy water nuclear reactor “within one or two weeks”. “all-out war”. This warning is taken seriously by America about America’s long-term credibility. Within this timeframe, him a process that will disengage America from the region Salehi, the vice president and the AEOI chief, broke the story and its regional allies. The advice given to Trump by his mindset and credibility issues lie both: the opportunity and the and keep his “no-war” promise, while taking his troops home. in a meeting with members of the Parliament Education and military commanders following the downing of America’s danger through which Iran must navigate. Trump is coming For Trump, the Saudis have outlived their usefulness. Their Research Committee, the IRIB reported. most expensive and sophisticated spy drone acknowledges up for re-election. This is a president who campaigned on a economy is in tatters. The Yemen debacle, though coming to The announcement by Salehi falls within Iran’s strategy to this reality. The fact that Iran downed the drone is proof “no more stupid war” platform, even claiming he opposed the an end, will still prove difficult if not impossible to recover partially remove limits on its nuclear activities in retaliation for that Iran has the means and the resolve. war in Iraq. He promised to bring home American troops. from. Whether the Saudi regime will survive the destructive the revocation of the multilateral nuclear deal by the Trump The reality is that the U.S., as the party that walked out of He is also obsessed with undoing or outdoing Obama. His policies of Salman’s reign and the internecine wars it un- administration and a failure by the Europeans to honor their the JCPOA, has all the keys needed to diffuse the crisis its action biggest campaign promise is taking back from foreigners, leashed within the ruling family, is anybody’s guess. What obligation to compensate Iran for the sanctions effects. provoked. The direction this crises will take, war or negotiations, including even America’s allies, what they “shortchanged” is certain, these policies have given Iran opportunities only Salehi also said the stockpile of Iran’s nuclear fuel enriched will be determined by America and Iran, not Saudi Arabia. America and to keep foreigners out. He needs a success story close allies or foolish adversaries, can give. For all the wars above 3.5 percent has gone up highly so that every day 5-6 kilo- Therefore, to resolve these crises we need to look to solu- against foreigners, a “very bad” foreigner at that. He has so launched against Iran in the past forty years, Iran’s patience grams are added to the stockpile. tions that address the fears of both, the U.S. president and far failed to get from North Korea anything beyond a photo and this crisis might prove to be the coup de grace against “This means that we have reached to the pre-JCPOA era,” Iranians. For the Iranians, to imagine they can hold out until op and a few remains of America’s war dead. Moreover, Deal Iran’s adversaries. stated Salehi, a nuclear physicist. either Trump is removed by impeachment or election will be as of the Century conference in Bahrain turned out to be a very The writer is a Yemeni political activist, former Presi- Under the 2015 nuclear accord, known as the Joint Compre- folly as Trump thinking he can sanction Iran to its knees. Iran bad circus forcing his son in law to go into hiding. These dent of TAWQ, a non-partisan democratic movement that hensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran was allowed to just keep has survived wars and sanctions for forty years and emerged two and re-writing the JCPOA were the three foreign policy includes members of various Yemeni political groups and 300 kilograms of nuclear fuel enriched to 3.67 percent. powerful. Iran is the best evidence of the poison that doesn’t was also a businessman. He is now retired and lives in The nuclear chief also said by next month his organization kill you but makes you stronger. For Iran, Trump will probably For Trump, the Saudis have exile. The opinions in this article are his own and do not will add 2,500 SWU (separative work unit) to its current 5,060 prove to be a better deal for them than previous administra- reflect the opinions of any organisation that the writer has SWU and “this means that our enrichment capacity will increase tions. What Iran needs to bear in mind is that American foreign outlived their usefulness. been or is currently affiliated with. by 40 percent.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY OCTOBER 8, 2019
STOCK MARKET National Exports Day aims to TEDPIX 320909.7 IFX 4213.11 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir promote Iran’s exports: TPO head By Mahnaz Abdi 10.5 percent drop in value, and imports at $21.221 billion with 5.5 percent fall in value CURRENCIES TEHRAN— Iran’s National Day of Exports and 0.5 percent increase in volume during USD 42,000 rials (October 21), which has been celebrated over the first six months of this year. the past 22 years, is aimed at promoting the The official also noted that TPO is improving EUR 46,117 rials country’s exports status, Hamid Zadboum, the roadmap for expansion of the country’s GBP 51,775 rials the new head of Iran’s Trade Promotion non-oil exports. Organization (TPO), said in a press conference Supporting domestic production AED 11,437 rials on Monday. He further referred to the issue of Source: cbi.ir “Every year, this day is celebrated to honor supporting domestic production and said the Iranian exemplary exporters in a bid to that in this year, which is the year of pickup promote the culture of exports throughout in production, the major part of the Industry, the country”, the official stressed. Mining and Trade Ministry’s plans and Briefing the press on the procedures measures are toward this objective. COMMODITIES conducted by TPO for selecting the exemplary Different desks have been set up in the Brent $58.94/b exporters, who will be honored during a ministry in this due and noticeable measures ceremony in the National Exports Day, he are being taken to support domestic producers, WTI $53.46/b said that 302 exporters had submitted their he added. OPEC Basket $57.96/b documents to the related committee, among “Given the integrated work being done them 265 participants were selected at the for supporting domestic production, we can Gold $1,501.30/oz first stage, of them 106 ones could come to witness the targeted $10-billion drop in our the next stage, and finally 40-50 exporters Budget Organization (PBO), and Standards and suggestions of the exporters. Silver $$17.55/oz non-oil imports by the [Iranian calendar] will be announced as exemplary. Organization. Non-oil imports fall 5.5 percent year of 1400 (March 2020-March 2021)”, Platinium $883.60/oz The exemplary exporters will receive The TPO head mentioned serious in first half Zadboum highlighted. their trophies from president or the first participation of ICCIMA, Exports Guarantee Elsewhere in his remarks, the TPO head Industry, Mining and Trade Minister Reza Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com vice president, he added. Fund of Iran, and Exports Development Bank released some data on the country’s non- Rahmani had said on Saturday that the ministry Zadboum further announced that the of Iran for organizing the event as a distinctive oil trade during the first half of the current plans to reduce the country’s imports by $10 committee for selecting the exemplary feature of this year’s ceremony. Iranian calendar year (March 21-September billion by the Iranian year of 1400. exporters consists of representatives from He further announced that concurrent with 22) and said the neighboring countries are Making the remarks in a specialized MINEX 2019 hosting 130 TPO, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, the National Exports Day ceremony, TPO will still the major export destinations of Iranian roundtable on promoting domestic production Iranian, foreign companies Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), Iran launch the organization’s mobile app, and non-oil products, accounting for more than in the country’s auto industry, Reza Rahmani Chamber of Cooperatives, Islamic Republic also two online systems on its website, one 50 percent of the exports. said “Achieving this goal requires $2 billion ECONOMY TEHRAN — The 8th International Investment of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), for commerce consultation, and the other He put the value of exports at $20.948 plus 200 trillion rials (about $4.7 billion) deskOpportunities in Iran’s Mines and Mining In- Central Bank of Iran (CBI), Planning and one for survey and receiving the viewpoints billion, with 22.5 percent rise in volume while worth of investment.” dustries Exhibition and Conference (MINEX 2019) kicked off on Monday in Tehran, hosting 130 Iranian and foreign participants. As reported by IRNA, exhibitors and participants from 18 countries including Italy, Germany, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Iran, Germany stress reinforcing trade ties China, South Korea, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, ECONOMY TEHRAN – Board of directors of Iran Iran-Germany trade relations are based on mutual interests Spain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Canada, Pakistan deskChamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and should be kept as such,” he said. and India are showcasing their latest equipment and services in and Agriculture (ICCIMA) and Germany-Iran Chamber of Further in the event, ICCIMA Deputy Head Karbasi noted this three-day event. Commerce and Industry (AHK Iran) held talks on Sunday that the main purpose of the meeting was to coordinate the and emphasized the need to increase coordination in order activities of the German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce and to strengthen trade relations between the two countries. Industry with ICCIMA, adding that “One of the most important As reported by the portal of ICCIMA, the event was demands of the private sector is the establishment of an attended by the officials from both sides including AHK Iran-Germany joint chamber in accordance with domestic Managing Director Dagmar von Bohnstein, ICCIMA Head law. A subject that has been raised many times but hasn’t Gholam-Hossein Shafeie and ICCIMA Deputy Head for been realized.” International Affairs Mohammad-Reza Karbasi. Von Bohnstein for her part expressed he government and Speaking in the meeting, Shafei considered the Germany- the German-Iranian chamber’s support for the two countries’ Iran Chamber of Commerce to be one of the most important traders, saying “since the start of the new round of U.S. joint chambers of commerce in the country and said “Since sanctions on Iran, some German companies have stopped its establishment, this chamber has pursued very positive operating in Iran, but the government and the Chamber of saying “the level of economic cooperation between Iran plans for development of trade between the two countries.” Commerce and Industry of Iran and Germany have always and Germany is currently in balance but this balance is not “Germany has long been one of Iran’s major trading been supportive of trade between the two countries.” stable. The members of the board of directors of ICCIMA The exhibition covers three areas of discovery, mining and partners, so if there is an issue in economic relations between She further urged Iranian officials to take necessary should take necessary measures to maintain and strengthen processing in which exhibitors from a variety of areas such as the two countries, it must be dealt with as quickly as possible. measures for supporting the two sides’ private sectors, this balance.” mining equipment and machinery, mining industries, various investor companies, financial institutions, credit and consulting engineers are participating. Presenting the achievements of producers and introducing No decision made on rationing Turkey seeking ways to boost trade investment opportunities as well as discovery of new export mar- kets are some of the objectives of the conference and exhibition. subsidized gasoline: Majlis speaker with Iran: envoy Along with the exhibition, the 8th International Conference ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iranian will mention in the national budget bill. 1 He further pointed to the target of through this bank. on Materials Engineering and Metallurgy is also being held deskparliament (Majlis) “The parliament is not to make a $30 billion annual trade set by Iran and Turkey, Khansari for his part pointed out that Iran which covers seven major areas of engineering materials, phys- speaker Ali Larijani said the parliament rapid decision, because we have time saying that the level of bilateral trade exchange and Turkey are not only trying to maintain ical metallurgy, extractive metallurgy, industrial metallurgy, has not still made any decision about for investigating the next year’s budget is expected to rise in light of mutual efforts. the current level of economic relations despite casting and freezing, simulation, strategic management and rationing the subsidized gasoline, Tasnim bill, but it is important that everyone Ors also mentioned the two countries the pressure of sanctions, the two sides are environment. news agency reported. knows that Majlis is determined that banking relations, noting that despite the aiming to boost it to $30 billion. Some 30 scientific and specialized workshops are also planned Addressing the press after a closed- no pressure will be put on the people, pressures and threats from the U.S., Tur- “Although the $30 billion trade targeting to be held on the sidelines of the exhibition and conference. door session of Majlis on Monday morn- and if such decisions is to be made it key’s Halk bank has continued to cooperate of the two countries has not yet been achieved, ing, the official said that there are dif- should be completely in the interest of with the Iranian market so that currently the ways for developing economic ties are not ferent viewpoints in this regard and the the low-income people”, Larijani further about 85 percent of the financial transac- closed and the two neighboring countries can Global ad spending dented by government has its own suggestions that emphasized. tions between the two countries is running expand their cooperation,” he said. weaker British, German economies
Global advertising spending in 2019 is expected to grow lower than a previous estimate, hurt by recession fears in Iran, Iraq capable of increasing bilateral trade to $20b by 2021: industry min. the United Kingdom and Germany, despite strong growth ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian Minister of Industry, exhibition in Iraq, and an increase in the exchange of Iraq has increased significantly in the past few years and in digital ad budgets in the United States. desk As per euronews.com, industry forecaster Zenith cut Mining and Trade Reza Rahmani says visit the two countries’ officials, are on the agenda of the two neighbors are seeking ways to facilitate financial its forecast to 4.4% growth from 4.6%, blaming a weaker Iran and Iraq have the potential to increase the value of the Industry Ministry to increase the volume of trade transactions and boost their trade ties. trading globally and slowdowns in Europe and Asia. Global their bilateral trade to $20 billion dollars by 2021. between the two countries.” Back in August, Iraqi Ambassador to Iran Sa’d Javad ad spending rose 6.7% in 2018. Speaking to the press on Sunday, Rahmani put the value He further referred to the increase in the number of Qandil said his country and Iran are considering mech- With major European economies teetering on a recession, of trade between the two countries at $12 billion in the past border crossings on the shared borders with Iraq, describ- anisms to use local currencies in their bilateral trade to owing to trade tensions and the uncertainty around Brexit, Iranian calendar year (March 2018-March 2019), adding ing the launch of Shalamcheh-Basreh railway as a good reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar. businesses have tightened their purse strings, in turn hurting that the figure will rise to $20 billion by the year 2021. opportunity to develop Iran-Iraq bilateral trade relations. Iran’s exports to Iraq have increased by 37 percent in advertising budgets. The official said developing relations with neighbor- The industry minister further noted that there are the last Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20) and Zenith, owned by French advertising group Publicis
‘Over 3800MW of new power plants Wind energy and solar power push renewables to come on stream by next summer’ Renewables will close a bright 2019, the best of the last four years. According to the latest forecasts of the International Energy Agency (IEA), 12% of installed capacity will be added worldwide. Thus, a ENERGY TEHRAN – Some 3,864 efficiency of the country’s power plants will double-digit rate returns, after the downturn that it suffered in desk megawatts (MW) capacity increase 2.1 percent from the current 37.9 2018, essentially due to regulatory changes in China and which of new power plants are planned to be added to percent. was the first and only negative exercise that this sector has suffered Iran’s electricity network by the next summer’s The nominal capacity of electricity since 2001. peak consumption period, IRNA reported, generation at Iranian power plants currently According to evwind.es, the push of renewables is produced quoting the Managing Director of Thermal stands at nearly 85,000 megawatts [84.795 thanks to the small boom in solar energy, which this year will pick Power Plants Holding Company (TPPH) as gigawatts (GW)]. up 17%, reaching 115 GW. “There is a dramatic decline in the cost saying. Iran’s total power generation capacity stood of solar energy, as well as a sharp increase in the capacity installed Speaking in TPPH’s general assembly on at 80,000 MW in the past Iranian calendar in wind power. Sunday, Mohsen Tarztalab noted that last year 1397 (March 2018-March 2019), up The real difference from last year is the critical ability of governments year (March 2018-March 2019) over 1,200 from the 78,484 MW of its preceding year. to change the trajectory of their energy policies,” said IEA Director MW capacity of new thermal power plants According to a report by Tasnim news General Fatih Birol. This organism, based in Paris, which for years were inaugurated across the country. agency, the country’s power generation has been dedicated to studying fossil fuels, already incorporates “Thermal power plants have had a capacity is set to reach 85,695 MW by the more and more alternative energy in its analysis, a sign of the times. significant share of the country’s energy end of the current Iranian calendar year The International Energy Agency puts Spain as an example of production over the past few years, so that (March 2020). the increase in solar energy. last year, more than 92 percent of the country’s Currently, a total of 478 thermal power The event occurs at a time of extreme tension for fossil energies, electricity needs was supplied by thermal plants are operating throughout Iran which following the uncertainty experienced in the Middle East, with the units,” he said. include both gas power plants and combined attack on Saudi Arabia refineries that have cut global supplies. According to the official, the country’s cycle plants. Renewable energy capacity thermal power plants are more and more With a total generation capacity of 25,083 However, these increases are totally insufficient to combat the leaning toward using cleaner fossil fuels like MW (nearly 31 percent) combined cycle power climatic emergency. Indeed, about 300 GW of renewable energy natural gas. plants account for the biggest share in the capacity should be added every year until 2030 to meet the objectives “The amount of natural gas used by power country’s thermal power plants are powered development initiative foreseen in the country’s total power generation capacity set in the Paris Agreement. plants has also increased over the past few by natural gas,” he said. country’s Sixth Five-Year National followed by gas power plants generating To get an idea, this year has reached 200 GW as a whole, which, years, so that currently over 90 percent of the He further noted that following a Development Plan (2016-2021) the average about 30 percent. in order to respect these parameters, in 2020 a 150% stratospheric increase would have to be recorded. The good news is that producing solar energy is getting cheaper. Costs have fallen 80% since 2010, making technology more and more competitive. The sun already represents, for the third consecutive Iran to establish LNG park to develop energy sector: Zanganeh year, more than half of the total of renewables that are added every year to the productive park. ENERGY TEHRAN – Iranian Oil Minister Bijan vestors in this project and the government will also support desk IEA sources point out that Europe, and in particular Spain, have Namdar Zanganeh said his ministry is the construction process. contributed to accelerating its development (the effects of the end planning to gather mini-LNG complexes with a total capacity “We also had discussions with MAPNA Group, a knowl- of the so-called sun tax are noted). On the other hand, China, which of three million tons in an LNG park, Tasnim news agency edge-based company that could enter into the construction until now has been the locomotive of this industry, is undergoing the reported on Monday. of LNG plants, and the company is going to conduct a review transition from a system of subsidized rates to a more competitive Zanganeh noted that the ministry plans to develop the and report the results to the Oil Ministry,” he added. model and is putting the brake. country’s LNG sector in collaboration with the private sector Iran holds the second largest natural gas reserves in the Also the wind turbines travels wind in stern. Onshore wind farm and with the aid of domestic companies. world. Despite this advantage, the country controls less than facilities will grow 15%, also the highest pace since 2015, thanks to “At first, the plan is to engage only small-scale companies one percent of the world’s natural gas market. Nevertheless, the strong development in the U.S. in view of future fiscal facilities. in the program,” Zanganeh said. Iran is the third largest gas producer and, over the past few The propelling force Asked about the details of the mentioned LNG park, the years, has focused on increasing its share of the global gas If the trend is upward in the short term, it remains the question minister noted that private companies will be the main in- market. of whether this propelling force can also extend in the following decades. In this sense, the forecasts – with all that this implies in such a distant horizon – of Bloomberg’s latest New Energy Out- look point out that yes, by 2050 the solar and wind energy will represent 50% of the energy produced by the planet. If you add Oil prices up as U.S.-China trade talks loom, supply issues mount the hydraulics, only a third would be in the hands of fossils by this Oil prices were up on Monday, buoyed by hopes of progress “Any oil production disruption would occur at a time date. As for coal, it should reach its peak in 2026 (Asia especially), in U.S.-China trade talks and supported by challenges to when Saudi Arabia has lost a significant part of its energy and then undertake a progressive decline. supply facing major exporters. system redundancies (spare capacity),” he said. Now, for this to happen, new investments are needed. Spe- Brent crude rose 34 cents or 0.6% to $58.71 a barrel by The major Buzzard oil field in the British North Sea cifically, these sources point to about 10 billion dollars. A huge 0840 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was also shut for pipe repair work, China’s CNOOC said figure, which will be disbursed before the possibility of increasing crude was at $53.16, up 35 cents or 0.7%. on Friday. returns in this industry. Solar energy should represent up to 80% Both futures contracts ended last week with a more Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Sunday of Europe’s energy mix by 2050. But, in order to reduce warming than 5% decline after dismal manufacturing data from it would close the Faregh oil field at Zueitina port for at the limit of two degrees Celsius, says the study, the big step the United States and China, with the trade row between scheduled maintenance from Monday until Oct. 14. will have to be taken: “Assume the electrification of heating and the world’s top economies undermining global economic But analysts said the resumption in Saudi Arabian transport”. We are ready? prospects. production after the Sept. 14 attacks could undermine Renewables will close a bright year, the best of the last four. U.S. and Chinese officials meet in Washington on Oct. a price rally. According to the latest forecasts of the International Energy Agency 10-11 in a fresh effort to work out a deal. The “Saudi attacks have quickly been forgotten about (IEA), 12% of installed capacity will be added. The double-digit pace On the supply side, deadly anti-government unrest and global growth is back to being the main driver of returns after the downturn in 2018, essentially due to regulatory has gripped Iraq, the second-largest producer among oil markets,” said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst changes in China, in which it was the only negative year since 2001. the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. at OANDA. 20% from the 2019 peak of $75.60 a barrel recorded in April. The news comes at a time of extreme tension for fossil energies, Iraq’s oil exports of 3.43 million barrels per day (bpd) “Such complacency could come back to bite oil traders OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo said following the uncertainty experienced in the Middle East, with the from Basra terminals could be disrupted if instability as another aggressive spike will likely accompany any it was still too early for the group to discuss deeper oil attack on the refineries in Saudi Arabia that have cut world supply. lasts for weeks, Ayham Kamel, Eurasia Group’s practice further escalation in the region.” output cuts to support prices, Russian news agency TASS The push of renewables is produced thanks to the small boom head for Middle East and North Africa, said in a note. Despite Monday’s gains, Brent is still down more than reported on Monday. in solar energy, which this year will pick up 17%.
First Gen plans to lease floating storage regas unit for LNG by Q1 Second Announcement Aria Banader Iranian Chabahar By Victor V. Saulon for example, Malampaya is not enough,” he said. Marine and Port Services Development Company “It also allows us to expand quicker, like build International Public Tender Notice First GEN Corp. targets to lease a floating storage more capacity potentially.” regasification unit (FSRU) for liquefied natural The current market situation gas (LNG) early next year when it has determined He said the FSRU would allow the company to Tender Subject: Manufacturing, Shipment, Training and Delivery the volume that it needs to import fuel to existing take advantage of the current market situation of Four Units of Ship to Shore Gantry Crane (STS) for Shahid power plants and potential capacity expansion, where the price of gas is “cost competitive.” Beheshti Port of Chabahar its top official said. “At some stage, we’re hoping that we can even “Until we know what we need, that’s when we import gas at a price that is at least equal if not No. PE/1014/98 can contract. So when we do that, is probably cheaper than the existing Malampaya. So that’s It is hereby notified that Aria Banader Iranian Chabahar Marine and Port Services sometime first quarter of next year,” said First also good for the consumers,” he said. Development Company as the company in charge of procuring equipment for Gen President and Chief Operating Officer Francis The existing gas contract with Malampaya only phase 1 of Shahid Beheshti Port of Chabahar development plan is calling for Giles B. Puno in an interview. has the Santa Rita and San Lorenzo plants under a He said the standard storage size of an FSRU “firm” deal. For the San Gabriel and Avion plants, tenders for the international public tender of Manufacturing, Shipment, Training is about 120 metric tons (MT) to about 150-160 the contract is “flexible.” and Delivery of the above mentioned equipment in a two-stage manner, after MT. But the volume should also factor in the MW Santa Rita power plant, the 500-MW San Mr. Puno said plants under the flexible contract the quality assessment. number of times transport ships will be bringing Lorenzo, the 414-MW San Gabriel, and the 97- would “potentially” use the imported LNG. “Or All manufacturers with the experience of manufacturing the above-mentioned in LNG from foreign sources, and the volume of MW Avion power plant. maybe new capacity. That’s one. And secondly, gas used by the existing power plants. Mr. Puno said site preparations for the onshore we also have Ilijan, ‘yung sa San Miguel (Corp.), equipment are invited to receive the CD containing the quality assessment forms “There are international service providers that terminal had been completed. which will expire in 2022, I believe. So in two and the tender documents by presenting a written introduction letter and the can provide the floating storage regas unit itself. “Then we’ll build the jetty — the reconfiguration years’ time, they will need more gas as well.” original bank receipt of 5,000,000 IR Rials deposited to the bank account no. There are many vendors that do that,” he said, of the existing jetty. So now that’s going through “Right now, we’re also in discussion with them adding that the company is in talks these vendors. detailed studies,” he said. (San Miguel) on being able to sell gas to Ilijan,” 0203568843007 in the name of Aria Banader Iranian Chabahar Marine and Port “That discussion has been there for some time Feasibility studies will help configure the jetty he said. Services Development Company with Bank Day, at the latest two weeks after the already as well.” to accommodate the FSRU, which is a big vessel First Gen has identified “numerous” LNG date of the first announcement at the below address. Mr. Puno said the “base case” today for First that will be permanently docked. suppliers, which are kept engaged in the discussions, The deadline for submitting the documents, evidences and the completed quality Gen remains the construction of an onshore LNG “We’re studying that to see if there’s any fatal Mr. Puno said. He said locking in a contract at import terminal. flaw, technical specification that needs to be done this time would be premature. assessment forms is at the latest by Thursday, November 21, 2019; 10:00 A.M. The power generation to essentially adjust the existing jetty that we Mr. Puno also said that the company’s dollar (local time) In December last year, the company signed a have. So that will determine also the size of the commitment for imported gas is an even bigger - Purchase and delivery address of the tender documents: ship that we can bring in,” he said. number than the investment for the regasification joint development agreement with Japan’s Tokyo No. 40, Kish St., Nelson Mandela Blvd., Tehran, IRAN, Postal Code: 1518814111, Gas Co., Ltd. to build the terminal within the First Gen targets to start using the FSRU in infrastructure, but did not disclose figures. Lopez-led company’s power generation complex 2021, although it has an existing contract with “Once the demand is already firmed up then Phone: +982188190677-9, FAX: +982188190679 in Batangas City. the consortium behind the country’s Malampaya we can contract. And contracting really is not Email Address: [email protected]. In September this year, First Gen named Japan’s gas until 2024. that difficult. The question really is do we have JGC Corp. as the engineering, procurement and Mr. Puno said there are times when Malampaya the infrastructure to bring in the gas and then - To keep the date of the documents delivery, any question is allowed until 72 construction contractor. The immediate focus gas capacity is “maxed out” thus the need to buy utilize that,” he said. of the partnership is to complete a detailed imported LNG towards the end of the concession He said First Gen is looking to initially contract hours before the deadline of the documents delivery. study to modify the existing jetty in Batangas to when there might be uncertainty on the reliability with gas suppliers for the FSRU, which is a smaller - All manufacturers are obliged to abide by the Maximum Utilization of Local accommodate large- and small-scale LNG vessels, of the home-sourced natural gas. volume than that for the onshore facility. Capabilities Law. “They (Malampaya consortium) need to “Anyway, the contract for Santa Rita and San while continuing to receive liquid fuel. - The cost of the advertising is undertaken by the tender winner. First Gen, the country’s leading gas power reinvest. So whereas before we were planning Lorenzo will only expire in 2024. We don’t need as generation company, has around 2,000 megawatts to construct and hopefully start operating the much gas today than in 2024. In 2024, definitely - After the quality assessment the qualified companies will be invited to provide (MW) in operating gas facilities comprising of onshore terminal by 2024, the floating storage we’ll need the gas,” he said. the technical and commercial documents. four gas-fired power plants, namely: the 1,000- allows us to accelerate that sooner just in case, (Source. bworldonline.com I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 8, 2019
By Saeed Sobhani family meeting to make sure the tight-knit Biden The battle of two politicians continues clan was ready. TEHRAN –The President of the United States “They’re not naïve,” Biden would say of his continues to decline in opinion polls. However, family members after that get-together. “From according to public opinion polls in the United the time they were born,” they have “been in the States, more and more people are in favor of public eye.” He said they understood that “the Trump’s impeachment in Congress. On the other Trump and Biden fall primary will be very difficult. And the general hand, Joe Biden’s famous Democratic nominee election running against President Trump, I has lost his place in the latest opinion polls! More don’t think that he’s likely to stop at anything Democratic supporters now doubt that they will in whomever he runs against.” continue to support Biden. The same issue has Now, longtime confidants of the former vice raised the votes of Elizabeth Warren and Bernie multaneously! president say that even he could not have an- Sanders, two other Democratic candidates. ticipated that the president would escalate his Trump’s target is Biden for now. attacks so dramatically, or so early. And his re- Democrats fear others could face the luctance to discuss his family in the campaign is same playbook a major reason why he has chosen not to respond As NBC reported, President Donald Trump more forcefully to Trump’s current assault until currently faces an impeachment probe over his recent days.“It’s way beyond anything I quite private and public calls, despite no existing ev- frankly thought he would do,” Biden said during idence of any crime, for foreign investigations a candidate forum last week. into former Vice President Joe Biden and his The current onslaught is threatening to over- family.But Biden’s Democratic rivals know that whelm Biden’s candidacy at an already difficult while it’s the former VP who has Trump’s atten- time, with his frontrunner status in the Demo- tion today, there’s no telling who it might be cratic presidential field imperiled by tightening tomorrow: the president has such a long history polls, slower fundraising and now a full-fledged of making unfounded charges about opponents assault by Trump and his allies.Biden’s third that any of the other Democratic presidential White House bid had already endured a series candidates could be the next to be tarred with of trials, beginning before he even launched his a conspiracy theory. candidacy in April: accusations of inappropriate In the past week, Trump has called for the physical contact, heightened scrutiny on his Senate Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence record, and at times halting debate performanc- Committee to be arrested “for treason” for para- es.Through it all, his campaign has pointed out phrasing a readout of his Ukraine call in a hearing that his status as the frontrunner in a crowded instead of quoting it — treason being a capital primary field had proven remarkably enduring, charge with no relevance to their dispute.Last especially on the question of which Democrat month, for no clear reason, he called for inves- voters think could best take the president on in tigations into former President Barack Obama’s a general election. post-White House deals with Netflix and his book Advisers say that growing support for impeach- publisher. Earlier this year, he made a baseless ment in the polls shows that the public is focused demand for an investigation into Rep. Elijah on the developing White House scandal.”This Cummings, D-Md.Previously, Trump claimed he campaign will continue to focus on the issues personally funded investigations into Obama’s that impact people’s lives while simultaneously birth certificate and publicly called on hackers hammering Donald Trump for his unprecedented to find his college records. He pushed a National Omar story and another conspiracy theory the He is blatantly lying about him. He and his de- Beast’s Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng abuse of power and correcting the record on the Enquirer story falsely alleging Sen. Ted Cruz’s president had retweeted about Bill Clinton at fenders are spreading a conspiracy theory that wrote on Sept. 26 how Bannon, Schweizer and mountain of lies Trump and his allies continue father was involved in the John F. Kennedy as- a White House event on Friday, inviting him to is the precise opposite of the truth.” others were trying to “open a new front” around to spread about Joe Biden,” deputy campaign sassination and demanded the press investigate speak.Rick Tyler, an MSNBC analyst who worked Muddying the waters is a strategy which worked the China allegations, though “their efforts have manager Kate Bedingfield said in a memo Satur- further.Trump’s long record of similar accusa- on Cruz’s presidential run, said that the campaign for Trump in 2016 against Hillary Clinton and come as almost all of the national political at- day.Still, the scope of the challenge appears far tions — and his apparently heightened interest in was caught off guard by Trump’s infamous JFK appears to be part of the playbook against Biden. tention is focused” around Ukraine. greater now. As one longtime Biden associate put pushing his administration to advance them — are smear in part because they assumed it would Joshua Green, a Bloomberg Businessweek writer In “Secret Empires,” Schweizer looked at it: “If he survives this, he should be president.” one reason the impeachment inquiry has taken be treated as “ridiculous” by voters.This time, and author of a 2017 biography of Trump ally Hunter Biden’s role in investment fund BHR The campaign has been buried in free ad- on such urgency for Democrats, some of whom with Trump’s words carrying the power of the and former Breitbart chief Steve Bannon, wrote Partners, which struck a deal with the Chinese vice from a vast network of allies — most of it fear that what Biden faces now could descend presidency and a well-established pattern of Wednesday how Bannon sought to get potential- government-owned Bank of China shortly after encouraging a more aggressive response by the on any number of 2020 contenders should they behavior, Democratic campaigns are less like- ly damaging storylines about Clinton out of the Hunter Biden and his daughter accompanied candidate himself to the president. get close to the nomination. ly to be surprised if they face tactics similar to conservative media echo chamber and into the Joe Biden on a 2013 trip to meet President Xi But while his headquarters has been working “Every single candidate in this race is going to what’s befallen Biden.“It’s like watching from mainstream press. And “as Bannon had intended,” Jinping.In a July profile in The New Yorker, overdrive to push back on a false Ukraine narrative have their time in the barrel, that is the way that the window while a crane swings a wrecking ball Green wrote, “the whiff of corruption attached Hunter Biden acknowledged meeting with a and almost daily escalations by the president, Trump and his allies work,” said Zac Petkanas, in the opposite direction of a building you’re in,” itself to Hillary and became a major theme of the BHR representative, though dismissed it as Biden himself has been reticent to respond in a Democratic strategist who ran the Hillary Tyler said. “We don’t have to wonder whether media’s coverage, poisoning her image.” a social call. “How do I go to Beijing, halfway kind, given that his son, Hunter, is squarely in Clinton campaign’s rapid response team. “His the wrecking ball is going to hit the building. In 2015, Bannon promoted the findings of around the world, and not see them for a cup the middle of Trump’s attacks. ability and willingness to manipulate the levers It’s going to hit the building.” “Clinton Cash” by Peter Schweizer, a Breitbart of coffee?” he said.The New Yorker also noted His longstanding aversion to discussing family of power to his personal and political benefit is Trump wins the chyron war with Biden editor and president of the Government Ac- that Hunter Biden “became an unpaid member matters publicly — influenced greatly by the grief a huge concern going into the 2020 election.” But Politico reported that Donald Trump’s countability Institute, a nonprofit that’s received of BHR’s board but did not take an equity stake he’s borne publicly since his earliest days in the Petkanas recommended Democrats develop shocking request Thursday on the White House significant backing from the right-wing Mercer in BHR Partners until after his father left the Senate — has been an obstacle for advisers to a careful plan to debunk attacks in broad terms lawn that not only Ukraine, but also China, should family. The New York Times struck an “exclu- White House.” overcome as they pushed for a stronger voice.”As without repeating the details, a tactic Biden investigate the Bidens, may have shown his open sive agreement” with Schweizer, resulting in a Such nuance was missing from Trump’s a father myself, I think any of us in public life has employed at times by broadly citing out- defiance of impeachment threats, but it also gave front-page story highlighting potential conflicts unfounded claim that “what happened in Chi- who have to face groundless accusations against side sources who’ve found Trump’s allegations major air time to the innuendo the president of interest involving the Clinton Foundation. na is just about as bad as what happened with our families it makes us defensive, it makes us against him baseless. and his allies have been trying to spread about Schweizer is now making his mark on the Ukraine” — a line that immediately became part angry, it makes us unhappy. But I know Joe is “The intent of misinformation is not to prove Hunter Biden’s links to a company funded by a presidential election cycle with “Secret Empires,” of the Fox News chyron: “Trump: China Should motivated by a calling to solve this problem and to people whether it’s true or not, it’s to create Chinese investor.While the substance of news a 2018 book that examined how “the American Investigate Bidens, What Happened There Just move us forward and help bring the country a debate around the issue,” he said. reports focused on the brazenness of the presi- political class hides corruption” and highlighted About As Bad As What Happened In Ukraine.” together,” Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said in an Republican allies of Trump, including Vice dent’s publicly calling on foreign governments to the business activities of Biden’s son Hunter Nonetheless, that was only a little more amped interview with NBC News. President Mike Pence, have argued Biden’s es- investigate a rival, their headlines and chyrons in Ukraine and China.“As with ‘Clinton Cash,’ up than what viewers saw on liberal MSNBC: Still, it took until Thursday night in Reno, tablished family entanglements with Ukraine often communicated a simpler message: “Trump: Schweizer didn’t allege in his book on the Bidens “Trump Calls For Ukraine, China To Investigate.” Nevada, for Biden to offer his most forceful re- — namely his son’s work for a Ukrainian energy Ukraine & China Should Investigate Joe Biden that any laws were broken,” Green writes. “Instead, And while news organizations continued to sponse yet to Trump, telling an audience that company — deserve to be scrutinized. and Son,” as CNN put it. his reporting laid out a suggestive timeline that work the story throughout the day, focusing he “will put the integrity of my whole career in But the particulars of the Biden case, while While the media’s interest was sparked by led readers to the inescapable conclusion that mainly on Trump, Biden felt obliged to issue a public service to this nation up against his long not unimportant on their own, are largely irrel- the possibility of wrongdoing by Trump, the what had transpired reeked of influence-peddling stinging defense of his family, thereby shifting record of lying and cheating and stealing any evant to the question of whether it’s appropri- casual reader watching TV with the sound off and moral, if not legal, corruption — the sort of at least some of the spotlight to him, which is day of the week.” ate or legal to push for investigations, at home or scrolling the headlines on a news site might self-dealing voters despise.” probably what Trump sought to provoke in the “Let me make something clear to Mr. Trump or abroad, into political rivals. The lack of any well have assumed the greater scandal was about It’s fair to question Hunter Biden taking a first place.Trump’s strategy, concluded journalist and his hatchet men and the special interests incriminating evidence behind the calls for an Biden.The media’s reaction to Trump’s China high-paying directorship at Burisma Holdings and author Michael Weiss on Twitter Thursday, funding his attacks against me: I’m not going investigation into Biden and the timing in the comments is a particularly dramatic example in Ukraine, or conducting other international was to sell “debunked lies to the base” and force anywhere.” election cycle also raise the specter that the pres- of what some writers and media specialists business, while his father was vice president, “the media to keep mentioning and re-litigating “We gotta get something straight. All this talk ident could seize on thin or false claims to target have discerned as a key to the president’s suc- as journalists did several years ago. Former Biden/Burisma (and now China) while denounc- from the president about corruption comes from other candidates.There will be no shortage of cessful communications: He understands that New York Times reporter James Risen wrote ing the media as enemy agents.” the most corrupt president we’ve had in modern fringe figures looking to push conspiracy theories readers no longer consume entire articles or in 2015 how the son’s business relationships Biden said he was prepared for Trump history, he’s the definition of corruption,” he said. into Trump’s orbit that could provide grist for watch lengthy news discussions. Rather, they could undermine his father’s “anticorruption attacks, but now he’s struggling to respond And Saturday, the campaign turned his re- future calls for such probes. pick up stray impressions from what they see or message” in Ukraine. NBC reported that Joe Biden launched his marks in Reno into a television ad, part of a $6 This week, a far-right pro-Trump personal- hear on the go, which then add up to concrete But Risen didn’t accuse Joe Biden of impro- presidential bid with a clear message to his par- million buy up against a larger media blitz by ity facing a felony indictment sought to spread ideas that may not fully comport with facts or priety, as is now being alleged. Risen last week ty: no one was more equipped to take the fight the president’s campaign. a baseless claim about Sen. Elizabeth Warren, reality.Even if media organizations go to pains wrote that Trump, his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, directly to Donald Trump. The array of challenges Biden now faces D-Mass., after being caught spreading an easily to describe Trump’s allegations about Biden as and allies of having “twisted, perverted, and But the last two weeks have tested just how threatens what had been his biggest asset: the debunked smear against South Bend, Indiana, “unsupported” or “unsubstantiated,” it may not turned” his journalism into “lies and poison- ready the Democratic frontrunner really was appearance of strength, and his own contention Mayor Pete Buttigieg earlier in the race. be enough to prevent those impressions from ous propaganda.” for the kind of all-out assault the president has that he was the Democrat with the best chance Warren laughed it off with a tweet that indi- being made — as New York Times columnist Trump and Giuliani have mentioned China in launched against him, and his family. of defeating Trump. rectly referred to the story, but there’s a history Michelle Goldberg argued this week. connection to the Bidens several times in recent Biden had always expected, and close allies His response to the adversity, especially the of similar figures sending claims upwards from “It suggests more muddiness in the factual weeks, though the story hasn’t gotten significant had long warned, that Trump and his allies nearly daily assaults by the president and his online message boards to the president himself. record than actually exists,” she wrote. “Trump traction beyond conservative media ecosystem, would try to make his family an issue. One of allies, is shaping up as the ultimate stress test “Within 24 to 48 hours, something can push isn’t making unproven charges against Biden. which includes Fox News opinion hosts.The Daily his final hurdles before joining the race was a for his candidacy.Reflecting on his possible 2016 from 4chan or Reddit to individuals on Twitter, campaign in his recent memoir, “Promise Me, then they end up putting them on TV,” Benjamin Dad,” Biden said that had he run, it would not T. Decker, a researcher who specializes in disin- have been “a cautious, trim-around-the-edges formation and the founder of digital investigations campaign,” but would instead “go big. Because firm Memetica, said. “In that regard, it’s easy to frankly, at this point in my career and after all hack Trump’s attention, because it’s very clear my family had been through, anything less just what his media consumption points are.” wasn’t worth it.” This dynamic has already played out in the The Biden 2020 campaign has, though, at current scandal. In the same call with a Ukrain- times felt constrained by the frontrunner position ian leader in which Trump pressed for an in- he began with, in the most crowded Democrat- vestigation into Biden, he called for a separate ic field in a generation and with a Democratic probe into what seem to be a confused web of electorate that has changed since he and Barack false conspiracy theories that migrated from Obama won the White House in 2008.At times the online message board 4chan to Fox News he’s joked about the new reality, as when he was hosts, intended to absolve Russia of the 2016 asked in August about a dynamic within the Democratic National Committee hack.Trump’s GOP. “I’m still trying to figure out my party!” former Homeland Security adviser, Tom Bossert, he quipped.“He’s in a new world,” said Philipe expressed concern this week that the president Reines, a longtime adviser to Hillary Clinton. and his aides appeared fixated on these “com- “He can litigate every day that the world should pletely debunked” series of claims.As an example be like it was 10, 20, 50 years ago, but he’s not of how this phenomenon might end up targeting going to win that fight.” a political rival, Decker pointed to last month, “The environment he’s in doesn’t require when a video falsely claiming to show Rep. Ilhan him to be as nasty as Donald Trump,” Reines Omar, D-Minn., celebrating on the anniversary of said, “but it does require him to stand up for 9/11 moved through pro-Trump users on Twitter himself quickly and forcefully and out of his and into the president’s own feed. mouth. And if he does that, then he is proving As if to illustrate the point, Trump personally his argument of the case, that he’s the best to feted the supporter who had spread the false take him on.” 7 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y OCTOBER 8, 2019 ANALYSIS & INTERVIEW 7
One year after Khashoggi’s brutal Trump and Biden fall multaneously! murder: Business as usual? 6 The Biden campaign insists that Trump’s clear focus on him is an asset in the campaign, and has helped rally Democrats to By Medea Benjamin his side. They saw an influx in online donations in the final days of ANTIWAR — Heinous. Savage. Ghastly. It’s hard to find the fundraising quarter, pushing him over the $15 million mark. the words to describe the act of luring journalist Jamal But that figure was still short of hauls from Sen. Elizabeth War- Khashoggi into a Saudi consulate in Istanbul, suffocating ren, D-Mass., as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and South Bend, him, chopping him up and dissolving his bones. Yet a year Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg.Meanwhile, a national poll released later, governments and businesspeople around the world by Monmouth University Wednesday was the latest to show Warren are eager to forgive and forget – or already have. out front of the Democratic pack. Biden’s lead over the Democratic So far, not a single Saudi official has been found guilty field in the Real Clear Politics polling average — once as high as 26.8 or punished for this crime. The Saudi government has put points — is now down to 1.7. 11 officials on trial but these trials, which began in January And in a potentially ominous sign, the Monmouth poll released and drag on behind closed doors, are a mockery of justice. Wednesday also showed that 43 percent of respondents believed The government is prosecuting lower-level officials but not Trump’s claim that Biden pressured Ukrainian officials not to investi- the top guns who are truly responsible. The defendants have gate his son’s business dealings, while 37 percent did not. One-in-five not been named but it is known that Saud al-Qahtani, a voters said they weren’t sure. former top aide to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman But another longtime Biden confidant insisted that the former vice (MbS) and the alleged mastermind of the murder, is not a president would not be knocked off stride, and said his willingness defendant and the government refuses to say where he is. to endure the crucible was a testament to how motivated he was to And what about the crown prince himself? In a September defeat Trump.“He has been hit with everything but the kitchen sink,” 29 PBS interview, MbS accepted responsibility for the kill- the Biden ally said. “He knew this was going to be awful but he just ing because it happened “under his watch” – but he denied couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t run and Trump went on to win.” having prior knowledge. The CIA, however, concluded in Trump is dragging down Biden with him November that the prince, who maintains tight control in Business insider reported that The Ukraine scandal and related the kingdom, likely ordered the killing. A report by United whistleblower complaint pose an existential threat to Donald Trump’s Nations Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard said there was presidency.The revelation that Trump urged a foreign power, in this “credible evidence” linking him to the murder and cover up case Ukraine, to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden has of what she said was undoubtedly a “state killing.” Still, the sparked an impeachment inquiry in Congress.But the controversy trials continue even though they do nothing to indict the also has the potential to sow doubts and suspicion around Biden, person who gave the orders. despite no evidence of wrongdoing on his part, and there are already When Khashoggi was murdered, the outrage had a major signs that it’s begun to. Trump seems to be looking to his 2016 play- effect on US congressional support for the Saudis, manifested book in this regard. Throughout the 2016 campaign season, Trump by growing opposition to the US support for the catastrophic treatment of women, the LGBTQ community and freedom lead a robust US delegation. Big banks and investment firms, sought to malign former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, his top Saudi war in Yemen. Several key Republicans turned against of expression. Freedom Forward was successful in getting including Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, CitiGroup, are once opponent, by constantly focusing on her use of a private email server. MbS, not in response to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen but the New York Public Library to cancel its “Youth Forum” again lining up to attend. It seems the money to be made in Biden is a top contender for the 2020 Democratic nomination in response to the public outcry against Khashoggi’s horrific with MbS’s charity, the Misk Foundation. the anticipated initial public offering of the world’s wealth- and an unapologetic critic of Trump, and the president appears to be murder. A broad-based coalition of peace, human rights and Still, the Saudis have been investing huge sums of mon- iest company, the Saudi oil company Aramco – valued at employing a similar tactic as he seeks to divert attention away from humanitarian groups was able to convince a majority in both ey in companies and notables to “rebrand” the Kingdom, between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion – is just too enticing. the impeachment inquiry and discredit the former vice president. the House and the Senate to cut off support for the Saudi war prompting CODEPINK to launch a full-blown Boycott Saudi Khashoggi himself was critical of the international com- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (L) and Demo- in Yemen, a necessary step to hold MbS accountable for his campaign in January. The campaign includes urging enter- munity’s unwillingness to take substantive steps to hold the cratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton complete disregard for human life. Even some of the most tainers not to perform, asking Vice Media to stop producing Saudi regime accountable. In a column about the need for during the town hall debate at Washington University on October hawkish Republicans stepped up in response. Lindsey Graham, promotional/propaganda videos for the Saudis, encouraging freedom of speech in the Arab world, he remarked that the 9, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. Getty for example, called MbS a “wrecking ball” and voted to end Lush Cosmetics to close their Saudi stores, and pushing the repression by Arab governments “no longer carry the con- Though the FBI characterized Clinton’s use of a private email support for the war, explaining in a statement, “I changed G20 nations to reconsider their decision to hold their 2020 sequence of a backlash from the international community. server as “extremely careless,” it concluded she did not commit any my mind because I’m pissed. The way the administration meeting in Saudi Arabia. The campaign’s long list of targets Instead, these actions may trigger condemnation quickly criminal wrongdoing. To this day, Trump has not let the issue go, had handled [Khashoggi’s murder] is just not acceptable.” shows just how much money Saudi invests in whitewashing followed by silence.” The sad irony is that in response to his and even alluded to it in the phone call with Ukraine at the heart of The bills were vetoed by President Trump but Congress is its crimes and how overreaching its influence is. own murder, governments and private interests are proving the whistleblower complaint. And he really hammered Clinton on it still trying to force the President’s hand by including an While human rights groups work to hold the private his point. during the campaign, at one point suggesting he’d jail her if elected. amendment in the must-pass military funding bill (NDAA). sector accountable, the biggest obstacle to holding Saudi One year later, their silence has allowed MbS to tighten It’s hard to know exactly how much of an influence the focus on On the heels of Khashoggi’s death, businesses, embar- accountable is the Trump administration continued support. his grip on power and increase repression against political Clinton’s emails ultimately had in her 2016 loss to Trump, which rassed by their Saudi connections, started pulling out of Trump has focused on Saudi Arabia’s key role as a purchaser rivals and women activists. It has given the green light for was a product of a convoluted array of factors and occurred despite deals. Dozens of companies and notables, from the New of US weapons and an ally against Iran. In the wake of the governments around the world to sell weapons to the Saudis her winning the popular vote. York Times to Uber CEO to the head of the World Bank, September 14 attacks on the kingdom’s oil infrastructure, to destroy Yemen. It allows businesses to rake in billions in But when Clinton left her post as Secretary of State in 2013, she decided to skip the major annual Saudi Future Investment Trump announced the deployment of 200 troops and Pa- petrodollar investments and foreign entertainers to pro- had a whopping 69% approval rating. Within just a few years she Initiative, also known as Davos in the Desert. Talent agent triot missiles to Saudi Arabia to bolster its defenses against vide a veneer of normalcy and modernity to the kingdom. would go on to become the second-most unpopular major-party Endeavor returned a $400 million investment from Saudi Iran. It is also Trump who vetoed legislation to end military Far from being held accountable for Khashoggi’s murder, presidential nominee in modern US history, surpassed only by Trump Arabia. Several think tanks, including the Brookings Insti- assistance for the Saudi war on Yemen on three different MbS is thriving – thanks to his rehabilitation by an inter- in this regard. And polling during the 2016 campaign season showed tution and the Middle East Institute, announced that they occasions and went so far as to declare a state of emergency national community that cares more about money than it that Clinton’s handling of the email scandal was hurting her with would no longer accept Saudi funding. In the past year, five to sell $8 billion in weapons to the Saudis while bypassing does human rights.In times like this, it’s difficult not to ask voters — including Democrats. PR firms – Glover Park Group, BGR Group, Harbour Group, Congressional disapproval. oneself: Who is more evil – the maniacal Saudi crown prince Biden could potentially suffer similar consequences as Trump seeks CGCN Group and Gibson, Dunn & Crutche – have severed Trump has not only stood by MbS but pushed for his responsible for Khashoggi’s murder and the murder of tens to make the Ukraine scandal a story about the former vice president ties with the kingdom. At the behest of groups including rehabilitation on the world stage. With the “Davos in the of thousands of Yemenis, or the mendacious world leaders rather than his efforts to have a political opponent investigated.US the Human Rights Foundation, singer Nicki Minaj canceled Desert” Future Investment Initiative taking place against and businesspeople who continue to embrace what should President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with former US Presi- her performance in Saudi Arabia, citing concerns about the this year, on October 29-31, Jared Kushner is expected to be a pariah state? dent Barack Obama (C) and former vice-President Joe Biden after being sworn in as President on January 20, 2017 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images The whistleblower complaint centers around a July 25 phone call Children are still dying in Afghanistan between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. On TEHRAN (FNA) — The past four years is now to call on the US-led coalition to the call, Trump urged Ukraine to investigate Biden regarding the were among the deadliest for children in immediately put an end to the suffering former vice president’s role in seeing a prosecutor fired at the same Afghanistan since the US-led invasion of of children. time that his son, Hunter Biden, served on the board of a powerful 2001, with nearly 13,000 youngsters killed The growing civilian death toll has Ukrainian gas company, Burisma Holdings.Trump’s primary allega- and injured in that period. mostly come as a direct consequence of tion is that Biden squeezed Ukraine into firing its top prosecutor to According to a new report by UN Secre- US-led aerial attacks since 2015. Since the benefit of his son, but there’s no evidence of this. It’s true Biden tary-General António Guterres on children the beginning of that year, some 1,049 pressured Ukraine to fire the prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, and as part and armed conflict in Afghanistan, 12,599 children were killed or injured in attacks of these efforts he at one point threatened to withhold $1 billion in youngsters were killed or injured by fighting from the skies. In one extreme case, US loan guarantees from Ukraine if Shokin wasn’t pushed out. between 2015-2018 - 82 percent more than helicopters in April 2018 fired rockets and But the former vice president was actually among a large number between 2011-2014. The report serves as a heavy machine guns at an open-air grad- of US and European officials to push for the ouster of Shokin — and potent reminder that while so-called peace uation ceremony at a madrasa in Dasht-e the European Union hailed his dismissal — as he was widely viewed talks between the US and the Taliban are Archi district of Kunduz province, killing as far too soft on rampant corruption in Ukraine. Moreover, by the claimed to have made some progress, life at least 30 children and injuring 51 oth- time Shokin fired there were no active investigations into Burisma. for ordinary Afghans remains blighted by ers.While the protection and well-being Long story short, Trump’s allegations against Biden are without and violence and hardship. The global community of children can only be reached through evidenced foundation. should be disturbed by the scale, severity long-term peace, the world community Even still, more Americans seemingly believe Biden probably and recurrence of these grave violations must seize all available opportunities to pressured Ukraine to fire Shokin to help his son than those endured by boys and girls in Afghanistan improve right now the protection of boys who say he probably didn’t, according to a recent Monmouth over recent years. The 17-page study, which and girls in Afghanistan. The report comes University poll, which suggests the narrative Trump is pushing is taking hold. bears Guterres’ name but was compiled by after US and Taliban negotiators struck any sense good, useful, or even in con- enforced solution to Afghanistan’s woes, Monmouth found 42% of Americans say Biden “probably did exert his special envoy on children in wartime, a draft peace deal last month aimed at formity with the will of the people they and indefinitely prolonging US occupation this pressure” and 37% say this probably did not happen.Meanwhile, Virginia Gamba, says that youngsters made leading to drawdowns of the 14,000 US ostensibly represent. cannot and will not change that. The US the new prosecutor general in Ukraine on Friday announced he is up almost a third of all civilian casualties in troops and thousands of NATO troops President Trump, like President Obama government is trying to bomb and spend reviewing past investigations into the owner of Burisma. This raised Afghanistan. in the landlocked, South Asian country. before him, campaigned on shuttering reck- Afghanistan into a political order that can the possibility of inquiries into the gas company tied to Biden’s son This includes those who were killed in Still, the country is better off without US less wars of choice, lambasting mission only be achieved by those who must live being restarted. The Ukraine scandal is rapidly escalating, and a second schools by US-led airstrikes and bomb- occupation and terror. creep and the ineffectual nation building with the outcomes, both through promising whistleblower with first-hand knowledge of some of the allegations ings. They were also killed or maimed This is a reckless strategic failure that it so often entails. Yet neither president diplomatic efforts led by the United Nations outlined in the complaint has also come forward. by fighting on the ground, improvised benefits no one - are no less applicable now has pushed past the inertia of what’s been and through conversations among various Trump’s presidency is in serious trouble. But as this controversy explosive devices, suicide bomb blasts, than they were in 2001. Just as then, those called the foreign policy “blob”. While the factions of the Afghan people themselves. drags Trump down, he appears determined to take Biden with him and from unexploded weapons that det- against withdrawal show no sign of ever rest of the country is past ready to move on, Whatever course and time frame those via an endless stream of attacks on Twitter and in statements to the onated unexpectedly after they were de- wanting this war to end. That stagnation the locus of Washington’s foreign policy negotiations may take, the business at media. And there are growing signs that if Biden isn’t able to mount ployed.Sadly, children in Afghanistan is a telling indictment of what passes for conversation about Afghanistan is about hand for Washington remains the same: a potent counteroffensive, Trump might succeed. ‘If someone says have known nothing but heart-breaking foreign policy in Washington. Too many the scale at which military intervention US military intervention and occupation something enough, people will start to believe it’ realities as a result of violence and US- policymakers seem incapable, if not un- should continue forever, not whether it in Afghanistan must come to an end. It’s Family members gather for a road naming ceremony with U.S. led war and occupation. The number of willing, of considering the big picture, of should continue at all. the only way to save children from dying Vice President Joe Biden, centre, his son Hunter Biden, left, and his child casualties is appalling, and the time asking whether continuing this war is in There is no US-imposed, militarily in the war-torn country. sister Valerie Biden Owens. AP Before Biden even officially entered the 2020 race, he was at the top of the polls for months. After he officially announced in April, he Scottish court rejects bid to force UK PM to seek Brexit delay continued to lead the pack for weeks and well into summer. But in the past two weeks, his numbers have begun to dip and A Scottish court has rejected a bid by cam- “The government accepts that in execut- if he fails to agree a deal by October 19 Anti-Brexit campaigners, who believe other candidates like Sen. Elizabeth Warrenhave pulled ahead of paigners seeking an order to force British ing its political policy it must comply with unless he has legislators’ approval to leave Johnson will use a legal loophole or send him in multiple state and national polls. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ask for the 2019 Act,” the judge, Paul Cullen, said without any agreement. a second letter, threatening to sabotage Whether or not this is linked to the Ukraine controversy is difficult a Brexit delay if he has not struck a deal in his ruling. With the clock ticking down to Britain’s EU processes if they grant a Brexit delay, to measure, but there is evidence that Trump’s baseless allegations with the European Union in less than two “That being the government’s clearly stated departure on October 31, Johnson has con- asked Scotland’s Outer House of the Court against Biden are beginning to shape voter perceptions about the weeks’ time. position before the court, there is no need sistently said he will not ask for a Brexit delay of Session to issue an order compelling him whistleblower complaint and ensuing scandal. And some of his cam- The court on Monday concluded there for coercive orders against it or against the and that he would rather be “dead in a ditch” to comply with the Benn Act. paign advisers are getting worried.Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond was no need to take any pre-emptive action prime minister to be pronounced.” than seek any further extension. But the judge said assurances given by of Louisiana, who serves as a Biden 2020 campaign co-chairman, against Johnson because he had given legal Last month, the United Kingdom’s But he has also said he will not break a law the government’s top legal officer in Scotland for example, recently told The New York Times, “If someone says assurances that he would abide by a law com- Parliament passed legislation, known as that forces him to request one if no withdraw- not to frustrate the Benn Act meant it was something enough, people will start to believe it, and this president pelling him to ask the EU for an extension if the “Benn Act”, which requires Johnson to al agreement deal has been agreed without unnecessary to do so. gets in his zone of telling a lie over and over again. You have to make no divorce deal had been agreed. send a letter to the EU asking for a delay explaining that apparent contradiction. (Source: Al Jazeera) sure people don’t believe in it.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 ADVERTISEMENTS OCTOBER 7, 2019
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+9821 430 51 450 www.tehrantimes.com I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y OCTOBER 8 2019 SCIENCE 9
The center of the Milky Way exploded This is how a ‘fuzzy’ universe may have looked when ancient human walked the Earth Dark matter was likely the starting ingredient for brewing up the very first galaxies in the universe. Shortly after the Big Bang, particles The supermassive black hole at the center of the Way is a much more dynamic place than we of dark matter would have clumped together in gravitational Milky Way triggered a “cataclysmic” explosion had previously thought. It is lucky we’re not “halos,” pulling surrounding gas into their cores, which over recently enough to occur as our earliest ancestors residing there.” time cooled and condensed into the first galaxies. walked the Earth, scientists believe. In 1996, astronomers became aware of a Although dark matter is considered the backbone to the structure While astronomers have suspected such strange glow radiating from the Magellanic of the universe, scientists know very little about its nature, as the an event took place for years, new research Stream. Scientists began to hunt for a cause particles have so far evaded detection. dates the blast to just 3.5 million years ago and Sagittarius A became the prime suspect. Now scientists at MIT, Princeton University, and Cambridge – 63 million years after an asteroid wiped The team first described the evidence of University have found that the early universe, and the very first out the dinosaurs. this explosion in 2013, when they identified galaxies, would have looked very different depending on the Two cone-shaped nuclear flares sliced the black hole as the cause. nature of dark matter. For the first time, the team has simulated through the Milky Way in opposite directions Their latest work, published in the what early galaxy formation would have looked like if dark matter for at least 200,000 light years, bursting out Astrophysical Journal, builds upon and were “fuzzy,” rather than cold or warm. into deep space and impacting the trail of reinforces their previous findings. In the most widely accepted scenario, dark matter is cold, gas partially circling the galaxy known as Based on a recent analysis of the data made up of slow-moving particles that, aside from gravitational the Magellanic Stream. gathered by the Hubble Space Telescope, the effects, have no interaction with ordinary matter. Warm dark Scientists allege such a powerful blast researchers calculated the massive explosion matter is thought to be a slightly lighter and faster version could only have been caused by nuclear took place 3.5 million years ago and lasted of cold dark matter. And fuzzy dark matter, a relatively new activity associated with Sagittarius A, the around 300,000 years. concept, is something entirely different, consisting of ultralight black hole at the center of our galaxy, which The question of how black holes evolve, particles, each about 1 octillionth (10-27) the mass of an electron is 4.2 million times larger than the sun. influence and interact with galaxies “is an (a cold dark matter particle is far heavier -- about 105 times “These results dramatically change our outstanding problem in astrophysics”, the more massive than an electron). understanding of the Milky Way,” said the researchers added. In their simulations, the researchers found that if dark matter study’s co-author Dr. Magda Guglielmo, of Black holes are places where matter is is cold, then galaxies in the early universe would have formed in the University of Sydney. “We always thought compressed by gravity to a point where the nearly spherical halos. But if the nature of dark matter is fuzzy about our galaxy as an inactive galaxy, with normal laws of physics break down, bending or warm, the early universe would have looked very different, a not so bright center. ape-like Australopithecines, were already Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 and distorting space and time. with galaxies forming first in extended, tail-like filaments. In a “These new results instead open the afoot in Africa, releasing a burst known as Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) described it as a By definition, they cannot be seen in the fuzzy universe, these filaments would have appeared striated, possibility of a complete reinterpretation a Seyfert flare. “titanic, expanding beam of energy”. conventional sense, making them hard to study. like star-lit strings on a harp. of its evolution and nature. The flare event Study leader Professor Joss Bland- Professor Lisa Kewley, director of ASTRO Their presence is inferred from radiation emitted As new telescopes come online, with the ability to see further ... was so powerful it had consequences on the Hawthorn, of the University of Sydney, 3D, said: “This is a dramatic event that as gas and debris swirl around them. back into the early universe, scientists may be able to deduce, surrounding of our galaxy. We are the witness said: “The flare must have been a bit like a happened a few million years ago in the In another contrast to its “sleepy” persona, from the pattern of galaxy formation, whether the nature of dark to the awakening of the sleeping beauty.” lighthouse beam. Milky Way’s history. last month researchers discovered Sagittarius matter, which today makes up nearly 85 percent of the matter in Sagittarius A tends to be a relatively stable “Imagine darkness, and then someone “A massive blast of energy and radiation A was “growing hungrier”, eating far more the universe, is fuzzy as opposed to cold or warm. “sleeping dragon”, researchers said. switches on a lighthouse beacon for a brief came right out of the galactic center and into interstellar gas and dust than it had ever “The first galaxies in the early universe may illuminate what type But the study suggests the black hole woke period of time.” the surrounding material. been seen doing before. of dark matter we have today,” says Mark Vogelsberger, associate up dramatically as our ancient ancestors, the His team at Australia’s ARC Centre of “This shows that the center of the Milky (Source: The Independent) professor of physics in MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. “Either we see this filament pattern, and fuzzy dark matter is plausible, or we don’t, and we can rule that model out. We now have a blueprint for how to do this.” NASA invites bids from firms to build lunar lander for 2024 mission Vogelsberger is a co-author of a paper appearing in Physical Review Letters, along with the paper’s lead author, Philip Mocz There can be no doubt that NASA is serious about trying to on the second Artemis landing mission in 2025. of Princeton University, and Anastasia Fialkov of Cambridge land astronauts on the moon by 2024. In order to reduce the cost and meet the tight deadline University and previously the University of Sussex. Even though the Artemis program has yet to be of a workable spacecraft by 2024, NASA has significantly While dark matter has yet to be directly detected, the hypothesis fully funded, NASA has issued a call to US companies decreased the number of interim reports that it will expect that describes dark matter as cold has proven successful at for a lunar landing spacecraft that will place the first the contractors to file. describing the large-scale structure of the observable universe. As woman and the next man on the moon’s surface. The To maintain safety and quality, however, NASA’s a result, models of galaxy formation are based on the assumption call has been sent out in draft form twice already this engineering workforce will be made available to work that dark matter is cold. year, allowing private companies to comment and help alongside the companies, and each proposal must include “The problem is, there are some discrepancies between NASA shape the request. Now those companies have a plan for how that collaboration will take place. observations and predictions of cold dark matter,” Vogelsberger until 1 November to submit their finished proposals. Artemis aims to establish a “sustained” human presence points out. “For example, if you look at very small galaxies, From these, two companies will be contracted to provide The first one to complete its spacecraft will be the one on the moon by 2028. the inferred distribution of dark matter within these galaxies the landers. that makes the first landing in 2024. The runner-up will fly (Source: The Guardian) doesn’t perfectly agree with what theoretical models predict. So there is tension there.” Paralyzed man walks using Massive filaments fuel the growth of Enter, then, alternative theories for dark matter, including warm, and fuzzy, which researchers have proposed in recent years. mind-controlled exoskeleton galaxies and supermassive black holes “The nature of dark matter is still a mystery,” Fialkov says. “Fuzzy dark matter is motivated by fundamental physics, for instance, string theory, and thus is an interesting dark matter candidate. Cosmic structures hold the key to validating or ruling out such dark matter modles.” Fuzzy dark matter is made up of particles that are so light that they act in a quantum, wave-like fashion, rather than as individual particles. This quantum, fuzzy nature, Mocz says, could have produced early galaxies that look entirely different from what standard models predict for cold dark matter. (Source: Science Daily)
We just got new information on the first-ever plant sprouted by china on the Moon
When China’s Chang’e-4 spacecraft landed on the lunar far side A French man paralyzed in a nightclub there’s just nothing to carry them out.” An international group of scientists led with the Atacama Large. on 3 January 2019, it made history. It was the first spacecraft to accident has walked again thanks to a brain- A team of experts from Grenoble by the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Their observations are based on visit that part of the Moon, and among its payload was a 2.6 kg controlled exoskeleton, providing hope to Alpes hospital, the biomedical company Research have used observations from the detection of what is known Lyman (5.7 lb) mini-biosphere called the Lunar Micro Ecosystem (LME). tetraplegics seeking to regain movement. Cinatech and the CEA research centre the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer alpha radiation -- ultraviolet light that The sealed, cylindrical biosphere is only 18 cm (7.1 in) long and 16 The patient trained for months, began the procedure by implanting two (MUSE) at the ESO Very Large Telescope is produced when neutral hydrogen gas cm (6.3 in) in diameter. The LME carried six lifeforms, kept in mostly harnessing his brain signals to control a recording devices either side of Thibault’s (VLT) in Chile and the Suprime-Cam at is ionized and then returns to its ground Earth-like conditions except for micro-gravity and lunar radiation. computer-simulated avatar to perform head, between the brain and the skin. the Subaru telescope to make detailed state -- using the MUSE instrument. The LME carried cotton seeds, potato seeds, yeast, fruit fly basic movements before using the robot These read his sensorimotor cortex, which observations of the filaments of gas The radiation was found to be intense eggs and Arabidopsis thaliana. device to walk. Scientists described the controls motor function. connecting galaxies in a large, distant -- too high to be from the ultraviolet This ground-breaking work by China is the first biological trial results as a breakthrough. Each decoder transmits brain signals, proto-cluster in the early Universe. Based background radiation of the universe. growth experiment on the Moon. Only the cotton seeds produced Doctors who conducted the trial said which are translated by an algorithm on direct observations they found that, in Their calculations indicated that the high positive results.This experiment took place back in January 2019 though the device was years away from into the movements the patient has accordance with the predictions of the cold radiation was likely triggered by star- when the lander made it to the Moon. At that time, the team being publicly available, it had the potential thought about. It is this system that dark matter model of galaxy formation, forming galaxies and forming black holes. behind this experiment thought that there was only one leaf, to improve patients’ quality of life and sends the physical commands the the filaments are extensive, extending over According to Hideki Umehata of the but now data indicates there were two. autonomy. exoskeleton executes. more than 1 million parsecs -- a parsec RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research The image is a 3D reconstruction based on data analysis and The patient, identified only as Thibault, Thibault used the avatar and video game being just over three light years -- and are and the University of Tokyo, the first author image processing, and it clearly shows two leaves. 28, from Lyon, said the technology had to think about performing physical tasks providing the fuel for intense formation of the paper, “This suggests very strongly None of the other organisms produced any results. given him a new lease of life. Four years such as walking and reaching out to touch of stars and the growth of super massive that gas falling along the filaments under The LME was unheated, so after the first lunar day – about 14 ago his life was permanently changed when objects. Using the avatar, video game and black holes within the proto-cluster. the force of gravity triggers the formation Earth days – the cotton sprout died when the temperatures plunged he fell 40ft (12 meters) from a balcony, exoskeleton combined, he was able to cover The observations, which constitute of starbursting galaxies and supermassive to minus 190 Celsius (-310 F.) But the experiment continued, to severing his spinal cord and leaving him the length of one and a half football pitches a very detailed map of the filaments, black holes, giving the universe the structure test the longevity of the LME itself. paralyzed from the shoulders down. over the course of many sessions. were made on SSA22, a massive proto- that we see today.” The leader of the experiment is Xie Gengxin of the advanced “When you are in my position, when Several studies have used implants cluster of galaxies located about 12 billion “Previous observations,” he continues, Technology Research Institute at Chongqing University. While you can’t do anything with your body … I to stimulate patients’ muscles but the light years away in the constellation of “had shown that there emissions from there will be no scientific papers published from the experiment, wanted to do something with my brain,” Grenoble research is the first to use brain Aquarius, making it a structure of the blobs of gas extending beyond the Xie hopes to build on this work. Thibault said. signals to control a robot exoskeleton. very early universe. galaxies, but now we have been able to During the planning stages there was talk of sending a small He trained using a video game avatar Experts involved in the study said it The findings, published in Science, clearly show that these filaments are tortoise to the Moon, but mission constraints prevented it. system to acquire the skills needed to could potentially lead to brain-controlled give new insights into galaxy formation. extremely long, going even beyond the In an interview with IEEE Spectrum Xie said, “The weight of operate the exoskeleton and had to relearn wheelchairs for paralyzed patients. “This The dominant belief at one time was that edge of the field that we viewed. This adds the Chang’e-4 probe demanded that the weight [of the experiment] natural movements from scratch. “I can’t isn’t about turning man into machine but galaxies formed and then organized into credence to the idea that these filaments can’t exceed three kilograms.” go home tomorrow in my exoskeleton about responding to a medical problem,” clusters, in a bottom-up way, but now it are actually powering the intense activity It would have been a hard, brutish life for any tortoise that but I’ve got to a point where I can walk. I said Benabid. “We’re talking about ‘repaired is generally believed that filaments in the that we see within the galaxies inside made the trip. Not only would it have died when the temperature walk when I want and I stop when I want,” man’, not ‘augmented man’.” universe fueled the formation of clusters the filaments.” plunged, but oxygen would’ve run out in about 20 days. Thibault said. In a comment piece on the study, of galaxies and galaxies at places where Co-author Michele Fumagalli from It wouldn’t have been the first tortoise in space. That honor goes Cervical spinal cord injuries leave about Tom Shakespeare, professor of disability the filaments crossed, creating dense Durham University, UK, said: “It is to the two tortoises on the Soviet Union’s Zond 5 mission in 1968. 20% of patients paralyzed in all four limbs research at the London School of Hygiene regions of matter. In accordance with very exciting to clearly see for the first Alongside the two turtles were fruit flies and plants. (The two turtles and is the most severe injury of its kind. and Tropical Medicine, said the exoskeleton this, the group found that the intersection time multiple and extended filaments were deprived of food as part of the experiment, and they suffered Alim Louis Benabid, professor system was a long way from usable clinical between the enormous filaments they in the early universe. We finally have a from starvation when they returned to Earth, but they were alive.) emeritus at Grenoble and lead author possibility. identified is home to active galactic way to map these structures directly, But while the Zond 5 mission was the first mission to carry of the study published in the Lancet But Thibault said the trial offered a nuclei -- supermassive black holes -- and and to understand in detail their role in any Earthlings beyond Earth’s orbit, the Chang’e-4 mission was Neurology journal, said: “The brain is “message of hope to people like me … This “starbursting” galaxies that have very regulating the formation of supermassive the first to carry some to the Moon (other than astronauts, of still capable of generating commands that is possible, even with our handicap.” active star formation. They determine black holes and galaxies.” course.) And it won’t be China’s last. would normally move the arms and legs, (Source: The Guardian) their location from observations made (Source: Science Daily) (Source: sciencealert.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 HERITAGE & TOURISM OCTOBER 8, 2019
Over 43,000 people tour 30,000 Iranians obtained visas UNESCO-tagged ensemble of Sasanian cities in H1 for Spain in 2018, envoy says TOURISM TEHRAN — Some 43,650 travelers toured deskthe UNESCO-registered Sasanian-era (224– TOURISM TEHRAN — Some 30,000 Iranians got 651) Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region in southern deskvisas for Spain in 2018, Madrid’s ambas- Iran during the first half of the current Iranian calendar year sador to Tehran has said. (started March 21). Eduardo L?pez Busquets told Mehr in an interview re- leased on Sunday that some 15,000 Spanish travelers arrived in Iran in 2018 while some 30,000 Iranian nationals were granted visas for Spain in the same year. Spaniards mostly visited the cities of Isfahan, Shiraz, Kashan and Yazd, the ambassador said, adding that Span- ish people used to arrive in Iran generally for trade and business but nowadays they mostly visit the country for tourism purposes. “I have visited various Iranian cities from [southern coasts of the] Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf, cities such as Asaluyeh, Shiraz, Tabriz, Kish, Isfahan, Yazd, Mashhad, Kashan.” The one scheme that can help the tourism industry in this country is [following] tourist routes [for instance the one that] connects Mashhad to Kerman and other tourist cities so that they arranged in the same path, Busquets explained. Commenting on traveling in the country, the ambassador noted one of the major challenges Iran’s tourism is facing The ensemble comprises several ruined royal palaces, is the shortage of quality hotels. strongholds and fire temples in Bishapour, Firouzabad and Here the private sector plays an important role and the Sarvestan, which are located in Fars province. It embodies country cannot make progress in this regard until it wants political, historical, cultural and artistic developments of to wait for foreign capital, the top diplomat added. the mighty Sasanian Empire that at the time was one of In a late September interview with ILNA, Busquets stated the leading world powers alongside its arch-rival the Ro- that Iran is an amazing and wonderful country for tourists. man-Byzantine Empire. Iran is an amazing and wonderful country for tourists A Spanish couple poses for a photo during a visit to the UNESCO-registered Persepolis, which was once the Under the Sasanians, Iranian art experienced a general and [some] ninety percent of Spanish cultural tourists are ceremonial capital of the Persian Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330 BC). renaissance. Architecture often took grandiose proportions, willing to visit the country at least for once, he said. such as the palaces at Ctesiphon, Firouzabad and Sarvestan. “Iran is home to the most genuinely hospitable people change their minds about the country after a visit to Iran,” 300 objects, some of which dating for millennia. who greet foreign tourists with open arms.” the ambassador stated. The exhibit is in return for a landmark Iranian exhibit “Most of these tourists are attracted to monuments Presently, a loan exhibit from Spain’s Archeological titled “Iran, Cradle of Civilization” that the Spanish museum and culture of Iran. Although they may have been given Museum of Alicante (MARQ) in on show at the National had hosted from March 14 to September 1, pulling in 101,108 History threatened as Turkey a different picture of Iran in the media, tourists certainly Museum of Iran. The large-scale exhibition features around visitors Spain and other nationalities. prepares to flood ancient city
Hasankeyf, Turkey - The rumble of heavy machinery is a back- Iran temporarily lifts visa requirement for Iraqi nationals ground cacophony as the call to prayer rings out over this ancient TOURISM TEHRAN — Iran’s in the hope of increasing the number of town on the banks of the River Tigris in southeast Turkey. deskembassy in Baghdad tourists to help boost local economies and The crash of rocks being shifted to prepare for the filling has announced that Iraqi nationals can bring their peoples closer. of a hydroelectric dam - that will see the town submerged - visit Iran without a visa from October 24 Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani reminds residents that they face eviction in the coming days. to December 27, 2019. Fazli said last week that the number of The preparation work, which coats the 12,000-year-old The embassy noted that this measure is Iranian pilgrims visiting Iraq this year for settlement in dust, has neared completion and locals now an appreciation to Iraq which has scrapped Arbaeen was expected to reach three million. face the uncertainty of not knowing exactly when they will visa requirements for Iranian pilgrims in Arbaeen pilgrimage, aka Arbaeen trek, is be forced from homes and businesses that have been in their the current lunar months of Muharram and a characteristic spiritual exercise in which families for generations. Safar, Mehr reported on Monday. hundreds of thousands of Shia and Sunni “Everybody is traumatized by this,” said Bulent Basaran, The Iranian mission expressed hope Muslims, even Christians and Zoroastrians, 50, from his restaurant overlooking the river. “We feel like that the measure would further cement etc. from various nationalities participate. we’re in a coma. I don’t see any light, just negative things ties between the two countries and also it The long treks will be destined to and problems.” would more fertile grounds for permanent Karbala, where Imam Hussein (AS), the For years, the people of Hasankeyf have lived with the threat removal of visas between the two neighbors. grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), of their town being swallowed by waters behind the $1.3bn Iraq has removed visa for Iranian pil- is laid to rest. Ilisu dam, which lies 75km (47 miles) downstream. grims who visit the country during Mu- The event marks an end to the 40-day Although they were given until Tuesday, October 8 to leave, harram and Safar to attend mourning mourning period following martyrdom of the town’s market and streets showed little sign of an impending ceremonies of Imam Hussein (PBUH). Iranian pilgrims go on a long trek towards Karbala, where Imam Hussein (AS) the Imam and his loyal companions at the evacuation over the past few days, despite a lack of customers Iran and Iraq earlier in March agreed is laid to rest, to pay tribute to the third Shia Imam who was the grandson of Battle of Karbala on Muharram 10 in the at the stalls and shops selling local rugs and crafts. to waive visa fees in a mutual approach Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). year 61 AH (680 CE). “There’s no date to leave now,” Basaran said. “I guess it will be at the end of the tourist season next month. The district governor has threatened to cut off the electricity and water if we don’t leave in a month.” IKIA schedules 676 extra flights for Arbaeen Hasankeyf is one of the world’s oldest settlements and has TOURISM TEHRAN — Imam Khomeini Interna- at over 500, expecting more than 90,000 passengers to been the center of numerous cultures and empires since the desk Bronze Age, including the Assyrians, Romans, the Ummayad tional Airport is scheduled to operate be transported to Iraq through the airport in order to and Abbasid caliphates, and the Turkic Seljuks and their Ot- 676 extra flights in order to make the best use of air attend the religious rituals. toman successors. traffic during Arbaeen pilgrimage. Arbaeen marks an end to the 40-day mourning period (Source: Al Jazeera) In close cooperation with Iran Civil Aviation following martyrdom of the Imam Hussein (AS) and his Organization, the IKIA have received permits for loyal companions at the Battle of Karbala on Muharram 676 extra flights for Arbaeen, which will be oper- 10 in the year 61 AH (680 CE). ated from October 9 to November 2, connecting For the Arbaeen pilgrimage, aka Arbaeen trek, which is ROUND THE GLOBE Tehran to Najaf and Baghdad, Ali Rostami, the a characteristic spiritual exercise, hundreds of thousands managing director of Imam Khomeini Airport City of people from various nationalities head for Karbala, Old City of Luxembourg, its said on Monday. where the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), quarters and fortifications Rostami had earlier put the number of extra flights is laid to rest.
The Old City of Luxembourg is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Petrusse Rivers, on a very steep rocky outcrop How to travel using an e-bike or scooter which is somewhat of a natural fortification that only needed to manufacture them, aren’t necessarily ally will show you where to find a vehicle, for helmets, but Morgan Lommele, direc- to be completed on the west side. By Lauren Sloss offset by the “green-ness” of the ride itself how to unlock it, the range on a device and tor of state and local policy of the nonprofit If you follow the safety precautions, an elec- (many companies buy carbon offsets to bal- the rates for your ride. The vast majority of PeopleForBikes, recommends traveling with tric bike, scooter or motorbike is an easy ance charging emissions). Still, while not a bikes and scooters are dockless, meaning your own — a growing number of collapsi- and cheap way to tour most urban centers. perfect option, these vehicles are markedly you don’t have to drop them at a specific site ble options make this an increasingly more Curious about those electric bikes, scooters more environmentally sound than driving, or docking station, but instead, you must packable option. and mopeds scattered across city centers these and have become wildly popular with locals leave them in designated zones (leaving Rules of the road days? There’s been an explosion of electric and tourists alike. your device outside of that zone will result Rules and rider culture can differ by city vehicles-for-hire in cities worldwide, pro- Considering e-bikes and scooters into in a fee). Most apps only allow you to rent and country, as does the availability of bike viding alternatives to public transport for your next trip? Here’s how to get started. one vehicle per account, save Lyft’s bike lanes and routes. Ms. Lommele highly encour- getting around town. Find a ride share partnerships (Lime is also currently ages riders to do some research beforehand. These app-based options — most with one- Mobile-based apps make finding bikes, testing a new Group Ride feature in Europe “Do a little homework the same way you’d word names like Lime and Bird — are largely scooters and even motorbikes incredibly easy and Latin America). find a great restaurant or hotel or concert,” designed to support locals in their day-to-day for riders 18 and older, without the hassle of Safety first she says. “Slow down. Really pay attention travels, but hopping on the e-transit wagon finding a rental shop (and potentially negoti- The apps will use images to demonstrate to what’s going on around you.” can be seamless for visitors, too. ating rates in a foreign language). One of the how to safely use your bike or scooter; many In addition to researching optimal routes, The rapid adoption of these new vehicles major players in the space, perhaps unsur- also offer maps and information specific to the understanding a city’s rules is key. Prelim- Due to its exceptional strategic position, the City of Lux- hasn’t been without issue. Two years ago, prisingly, is Uber, which runs Jump (bikes city in which you’re renting. Scoot requires inary research helps, but Michael Keating, embourg was one of the largest fortresses of modern Europe three companies in San Francisco dumped and scooters in 32 cities and 10 countries) that you watch an orientation video before founder and president of Scoot, has another which was constantly strengthened and reinforced as it passed 2,000 scooters on the city sidewalks with and recently partnered with Lime (scooters riding one of their motorbikes (you can go good rule of thumb when he’s riding in a new successively into the hands of the great European powers. neither permits nor permission. Sidewalks in 100 cities and 25 countries). In the United to their San Francisco headquarters for an place: do what the locals do. Originally, the City of Luxembourg comprised only a small were impassable, crosswalks blocked and States, the Uber competitor Lyft is also in in-person orientation if you’d like). “If locals are riding in bike lanes, parking fort (the castle) built shortly after the middle of the 10th cen- wheelchairs couldn’t navigate ramps. The the scooter game (20 cities) and operates All operators recommend that, when first their bikes in a certain place, do that! And tury on an almost inaccessible rock. city quickly banned the operators and created city bike shares in eight cities. trying a vehicle, you do so in a less congested don’t do your first ride at rush hour.” In the 12th century, the settlement that developed near regulations to better integrate e-scooters and Other common operators to look for area. Stick to protected bike lanes when avail- City rules differ, but generally, you should the castle was protected by a stone fortification wall, which bikes into the transportation infrastructure include Bird (scooters in 100-plus cities), able (other than motorbikes, which should be not be riding bikes or scooters on the sidewalk. was extended in the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1443, the city (Paris is dealing with similar issues after al- which recently acquired San Francisco-based ridden in car lanes). Be very aware of traffic. Enjoy the ride was taken by the troops of Burgundy. lowing 12 separate e-scooter companies to company Scoot (scooters, bikes and mo- “This is new technology, and there’s One of benefits of getting around a new The city also retains the layout of its streets and many operate in the city simultaneously, and in New torbikes, in various combinations, in San definitely a learning curve,” says Andrew city on a bike, scooter or moto? It’s fun. public buildings, important testimony of its origins and its York City, the introduction of 1,000 Revel Francisco, Barcelona and Santiago). Most of Savage, Lime’s vice president of sustain- “When you’re on a scooter or a bike, you development since the 10th century. mopeds earlier this year in two boroughs these companies have both a United States ability. “We are sharing the streets with can see the sites, and you can actually stop Inside and at the foot of the ramparts, quarters where has raised concerns over safety). and international presence, and are growing cars, and these vehicles haven’t dealt with and enjoy them easily,” says Rachel Holt, people lived and engaged in trades or crafts developed. They The companies’ universal promise — of fast — scope out availability through com- scooters until recently.” Uber’s head of new mobility. also kept places of worship, such as the Church of St. Michel, an environmentally friendly transportation pany websites before an upcoming trip, and While many e-bike or scooter companies Mr. Keating agrees. now a veritable museum of sacred art, or the Church of St. option — isn’t clear cut, either. A study pub- download apps as needed. If you’re already an will give away helmets around a launch, de- “When you’re traveling, the journey is Nicolas, subsequently transferred to the sanctuary of the lished last month in the journal Environmental Uber or Lyft user, you’ll be able to access bikes vices don’t come equipped with helmets (save really the destination. You get this fun, rich Jesuits, the present cathedral. Research Letters found that the resources and scooters through your existing account. Scoot’s motorbikes and Revel’s mopeds). You way to see a place.” (Source: UNESCO) required to collect and charge scooters, and App interfaces differ slightly, but gener- can seek out bike shops and rental services (Source: The New York Times) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y OCTOBER 8, 2019 INTERNATIONAL 11 Sky News Arabia cuts away live UNGA coverage for Saudi Arabia as the Arab anti-UAE speech, further tarnishing its reputation media capital? What a joke By Madawi al-Rasheed By Mehrdad Ferdows regional rival Qatar with false information MEI-The personality cult of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed that aimed to “harm the Kingdom and un- bin Salman needs soft power as much as it needs repression. TEHRAN — Sky News Arabia cut live cov- dermine its high status in the Arab, Islamic The latest initiative to consolidate state propaganda is the erage of the 2019 UNGA after the foreign and international communities”. creation of the Saudi Media Forum, which aims to bolster the minister for the fugitive president Abd-Rabbu “Since the disappearance of the Saudi country’s reputation. In conjunction with the Saudi Journal- Mansour Hadi started censuring the UAE role journalist in Istanbul earlier this month, ists Association (SJA), the international conference is set to be in the Yemen conflict, further damaging the Qatari and Doha-funded media outlets have held this November, a year after the murder of journalist Jamal reputation of the UAE-based channel that published dozens of reports containing false Khashoggi and the detention of several writers. has already been hurt due to the network and contradictory information about the case,” The conference will summon local and international journalists siding with Saudi Arabia on Khashoggi’s case. Sky News Arabia reported mid-October. to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, The surprise cut came during a speech by The channel’s presenters have also taken and hand out awards. SJA chair Khalid al-Malik said it would Mohammed Abdullah al-Hadhrami before up the Saudi cause on screen. In a piece to become an annual event “to cement Riyadh’s name as the Arab the United Nations General Assembly on camera last week, Saudi commentator Ab- Media Capital” and to boost its political and economic reputation. Sept. 29. dullah al-Bander said reports from Turkey Social media trolls After lambasting Iran that “wrought hav- that Khashoggi was killed and dismembered The impulse behind this suspicious initiative is perhaps the oc in the Arabian Peninsula” by launching had “no proof and it is all from one source”. utter failure of Saudi media to contain and counter the bad pub- “this Iranian-Houthi coup d’etat in Yemen”, He branded them “lies” and said that “all licity that rightly followed Khashoggi’s murder. Al-Hadhrami took aim at the UAE and cen- this information was broadcast by the media Saudi domestic media and pan-Arab satellite television utterly sured the country for supporting a coup at- belonging to Qatar in recent days, but has failed to shift public opinion in favour of the regime, as it was clear tempt by Yemen’s southern separatists against no proof”. from the beginning that Riyadh had orchestrated Khashoggi’s the Hadi government in Aden in August. “This proves that the goal was only to gruesome murder inside the consulate in Istanbul. But a few seconds after he started lash- attack [Saudi Arabia], and not to discuss the A deluge of lies, official statements and amateur legal defence ing out at UAE’s support for the separatist real issue,” he said. fell short of convincing an educated global audience of the re- Southern Transitional Council against the Al-Bander’s views were not challenged gime’s innocence, even as social media trolls circulated these Saudi-supported Hadi, the channel cut Mohammed Abdullah al-Hadhrami, the foreign minister for the fugitive president on air and packaged as a tweet to Sky News lies online, aiming to bewilder observers and create confusion coverage and an anchor repeated previous Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi Arabia’s 4.2 million followers on Twitter. over who might have been responsible. remarks by Al-Hadhrami blaming Iran for As overwhelming evidence emerged that the instability in Yemen. the stability of our homeland and in this way The channel was strictly following the Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, Sky Emerging rifts in Yemen the Emirati aggression has undermined the shifting line from Riyadh since Khashoggi News Arabia’s reporting focused on praise Abu Dhabi, the most powerful of the seven noble goals of the coalition.” disappeared on a visit to the Saudi consulate for the official response, with a report titled constituents of the UAE, is united with Saudi In his speech, al-Hadhrami thanked Saudi in Istanbul on October 2. as “The welcome of Saudi Arabia’s actions Arabia in many fronts. Arabia for helping Hadi’s government in its The London-based Daily Telegraph noticed on the issue of Jamal Khashoggi continues.” A Saudi-led military coalition involving fight against Ansarullah, who control the cap- the biased coverage at the time, publishing Impartial journalism? the UAE invaded Yemen in 2015 to restore ital and many of the country’s urban centers. an article lambasting Sky News Arabia. Sky News Arabia is a joint venture between to power the fugitive president Hadi. Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and their Yemeni allies “In a review of Sky News Arabia coverage Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation, Since then, tens of thousands of people have long accused Iran of backing Ansarullah of the killing of Mr Khashoggi, The Daily owned by the Emirati royal Mansour bin have been killed and millions driven to the and supplying them with weapons. Telegraph was unable to find any reporting Zayed Al Nahyan, and the UK’s Sky. brink of famine in what the UN describes the But both Ansarullah and Iran reject such that questioned or challenged the various Mansour is the deputy prime minister of globe’s worst humanitarian crisis. claims. Tehran says its backing for the Houthis versions of events offered by Saudi Arabia,” the UAE, owner of Manchester City and son of As the anti-Saudi forces resist and inter- is limited to advisory support, and denies the newspaper wrote. the former emir of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed national humanitarian criticisms aggravates, providing them with any military aid. Following is an excerpt of the Daily Tel- bin Sultan Al Nahyan.At its 2012 launch, rifts between Saudi Arabia and the UAE are Pushing Saudi propaganda egraph article: Sky News Arabia vowed to set itself apart in being highlighted, threatening to open a new This is while just last year, the channel The Saudi government initially claimed the the region with “independent and impartial” front in the Yemen conflict. was drawn into the propaganda battle in the Washington Post columnist left the consulate journalism. A protestor wears a mask of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Amid the fighting between separatists and Middle East over the murder of Washington alive and well. Sky News Arabia reported that The Arabic-language channel broadcast Salman next to people holding posters of slain Saudi journalist Hadi forces in and around the port city of Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Riyadh was facing a “systematic attack” from mainly in the Middle East, designed as a ri- Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul on 25 October, 2018. Aden in late August, the UAE staged air raids val to al-Jazeera, the rolling news network While reporting on the Khashoggi case descended into trivial on Hadi’s forces, killing dozens of people. Sky News Arabia was strictly following the funded by the Qatari state. propaganda in favour of the regime, in an attempt to absolve “Our army has unfortunately had to face But such editorial policies could bolster the crown prince of any responsibility, the war in Yemen - now myriad direct military attacks in violation of shifting line from Riyadh after Khashoggi allegations that Sky News Arabia is only into its fifth year - remains a thorny adventure, garnering in- international law,” al-Hadhrami said. disappeared on a visit to the Saudi consulate spewing state disinformation, destroying ternational criticism and condemnation. “These attacks were mounted by Emirati in Istanbul in October 2018 the channel’s reputation as a trusted source Images of starving children, total devastation, and the targeting air assets. These attacks have undermined of news and commentary. of civilians have overshadowed the glorious regime propaganda prioritising Saudi relief operations. Nobody expected Saudi media to show how missiles went astray and killed hundreds of civilians, or how air strikes targeted a Doctors Without Bor- Trump is about to become the right-wing smear machine’s greatest unintended casualty ders treatment centre catering to patients afflicted by cholera. Overtures to Israel ALTERNET — It’s commonly said that the “wheels of Ukrainian sources, Solomon pumped out a string of eye-catch- Revamping Saudi media is an urgent matter, given the justice turn slowly,” and that’s usually true. But once in a ing stories echoing those sources’ claims about the Bidens. controversial drive to conclude the “deal of the century”, a while those wheels suddenly pop into reverse, jolting the car This appears to have been no coincidence. According to NBC, Saudi-backed US initiative to reach peace with Israel without backwards and crushing whoever happens to be standing the Giuliani documents show that Solomon’s columns were involving those most affected by occupation, deportation and behind the truck. part of the Trump team’s strategy. (The New Yorker was bombardment - namely, the Palestinians. In what is truly the richest of ironies, Donald Trump unable to reach John Solomon, and a question e-mailed to Riyadh’s overtures to Israel have become an open secret, is now poised to become just another piece of right-wing the editor of The Hill, about whether the publication stood reported primarily in the Israeli, rather than Saudi, media. roadkill, an unintended casualty of his own disinformation by Solomon’s stories, went unanswered.) While news of trips to Israel by Saudis flood the internet, Sau- machine, the exact same machine that cemented his electoral She explains how the story was churned by Solomon di media often ignores or dismisses them. Official meetings victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016. By extorting foreign and Schweizer, with lots of mutual dick-sucking apparent and Saudi purchases of Israeli surveillance technology remain leaders to manufacture dirt involving Vice President Joe on both sides: unreported and even dismissed as counter-propaganda to Biden’s son, Trump stupidly fell into the trap of believing In Solomon’s April 1st column, he cited Schweizer’s book. undermine the Saudi regime and its reputation in the eyes of his own team’s propaganda, a result that those who created Two days later, Schweizer sent “kudos” to Solomon during its own people. the Biden/Ukraine fairy tale in the first place completely an interview on Breitbart News, and added, “We’re talking Respected foreign journalists Despite an failed to foresee. And now he’s looking at impeachment for about potentially legal jeopardy involving the Vice-President’s should not be lured to accept believing their lies and taking them to their logical conclusion. realized that, though mainstream reporters were suspicious family.” Schweizer opined that it was “all the sort of thing an invitation by a regime that upcoming The warning signs for Team Trump were there from the of partisan opinion, they were open to damning facts about that needs to be investigated and looked into by a grand has shown zero tolerance for conference start, but they went unheeded. It’s well-documented that public figures, regardless of the sourcing. He set out, with jury,” and added, “it’s pretty clear that you have a pattern free speech Trump the politician (as opposed to Trump the phony media Schweizer, to produce material that would generate main- that the for-sale sign was open with the Biden family . . . and Finally, there is the media aimed at creation) is at his core a deeply stupid, credulous man whose stream coverage, and right-wing outrage. that in itself demands investigation in the United States.” empire of Qatar, which Saudi bolstering ”agenda” and worldview are shaped entirely by what he In 2016 Schweizer published the book “Clinton Cash” which Republican state television (also known as Fox News) Arabia has failed to match or Riyadh’s sees on Fox News. Couple that with a tendency to surround made the baseless accusation that Hillary Clinton, as Secre- then proceeded to run twelve or more segments hyping this undermine and is now deter- himself with sycophantic “yes-men” who assure him that tary of State, had essentially traded away American national wholly in a single month, seeding it into the right-wing mined to counter by positioning journalistic all his actions are examples of some titanic genius, and it security by selling uranium mines to Russia in exchange swamp. Of course, dumb Donald was watching like any itself as the Arab Media Capital reputation, should have been predictable that this president, watching for contributions to the Clinton foundation. By hawking other addled fool, slurping up every word. Sean Hannity - a project destined to utterly the Khashoggi dumbly as his Hannity-fed heroes droned on and on about this over and over through their mouthpieces on Fox News, mentioned it on seven separate shows, prompting Trump fail and degenerate into lies, supposedly nefarious dealings by the one political opponent Mercer, Bannon and Schweitzer had no trouble convincing to respond personally to his hero with this Tweet, praising counter-lies and cheap political affair shows he feared the most, would do something extraordinarily susceptible viewers eager to believe any right-wing drivel Solomon’s reporting: propaganda. just how far idiotic with that information at some point. spoon-fed to them that the Clintons were wholly, unimagi- If Trump was capable of generating a hard-on, it must Saudi media is neither effec- Jane Mayer of the New Yorker explains how the “Biden/ nably corrupt. The fact that these insinuations were totally have happened during April of this year, as measured by tive soft power nor a trusted this notion is Ukraine” hoax was invented and spread by the same people false was beside the point. As it turned out, several govern- the rapid, subsequent merging of the White House and Fox source of news and analysis. from reality who invented the “Uranium One” fiction which Fox News and ment agencies having nothing to do with Hillary Clinton News, first by Giuliani, then of Trump himself, who called This applies to all govern- other Republican sludge generators spawned in order to approved the deal, which ultimately involved a “negligible” the network to declare that further action was needed, and ment-sponsored Arab media, including Qatar’s media empire smear Hillary Clinton in the 2016. The cast of characters amount of uranium. in particular, that he wanted to involve his stooge William and the UAE’s Sky News Arabia. All governments who think for both smears is remarkably similar. Just as with the “Clinton Cash” fable constructed to in- Barr in the investigation. that media can be deployed as an arm of foreign policy end Anyone trying to track the Ukrainian conspiracy sto- flame a drooling base of Fox News knuckledraggers, we now By this time, the stodgy New York Times had become up disappointed, as today, social media is the main source of ries that were eventually embraced by President Trump is have practically the exact same cast of characters behind the involved in “covering” the “controversy,” and even though information for Arab and global audiences. When governments likely to get mired in the same echo chamber of right-wing latest baseless smear against Joe Biden—that he somehow the Times threw in a casual disclaimer–nineteen paragraphs try to control this new media format, they are exposed and their news purveyors that misinformed voters in 2016. A pivotal intervened with Ukraine to protect his son’s profits. into their own story– confirming that the entire farce was propaganda debunked. source of the allegations against the Bidens, for instance, is In March of 2018, Schweizer and the Government Ac- bullshit (”No evidence has surfaced that the former vice There is yet a media war to be won among the warring factions the Government Accountability Institute, a Florida-based countability Institute once again produced a book that was president intentionally tried to help his son by pressing in the Gulf and beyond. Arab media narratives are only good opposition-research operation that was founded by the for- perfectly timed for the Presidential campaign. “Secret Em- for the prosecutor general’s dismissal.”), as far as Bannon, as windows, from which to observe the ramblings of repressive mer Trump political adviser Stephen Bannon—the same pires” devoted a chapter to the subject of “Bidens in Ukraine,” Schweizer and Mercer were concerned, they had already won regimes and their futile attempts to mask this repression. conservative nonprofit that ginned up questionable stories which laid out the conflicts of interest posed by the wheeling the battle. Nevermind that several credible news sources spent Controlling the media about the Clintons during the last Presidential campaign. and dealing of Biden’s son Hunter. the next few months confirming that it was all an invented Attempts to control the media and to award prizes to the most In both instances, much of the coverage of the scandal was Even though Schweizer conveniently omitted the fact that hoax—the damage was done, and high-fives and clinking loyal Saudi, Arab and international journalists will prove to be a kicked off by Peter Schweizer, a longtime conservative po- there was no prove to his insinuations about Ukraine and Joe shot glasses were doubtlessly being exchanged all around. counterproductive endeavour. Even the most esteemed journal- litical writer who is an editor-at-large at Breitbart News and Biden, that didn’t stop the conservative media from jumping Except no one stopped to consider what an irrational, ists in the West who initially succumbed to Saudi propaganda the president of the Government Accountability Institute. on the bandwagon like flies on the proverbial shit. And, just power-mad sociopath like Trump would do with this infor- about reform and transformation have abandoned these illusions. The “Government Accountability Institute” or GAI is as before, again we had the same hawking on Fox News of mation, swirling around busily in his brain. As it turns out, Thomas Friedman of the New York Times and David Igna- funded by a “libertarian” (i.e., I’ve got mine so fuck you) a shabbily-source tome of lies that every credible media he went with his instincts, which, unlike the arc of history, tius of the Washington Post initially wrote rosy pieces on the billionaire named Robert Mercer, a major donor to Trump’s source has shot down. But this time an attention-whoring do not bend towards justice but towards extortion. And his alleged reforms of bin Salman, only to discover how such words campaign, whose interests apparently lie in shaping Amer- sleazebag named Rudy Giuliani became involved, traveling attempt to extort Ukraine by withholding Congressional aid were supporting a bloody regime that would later murder one ican society in tandem with his grotesque social whims. As to Ukraine under the guise of being Donald Trump’s “private until they manufactured some non-existent dirt about Joe of their own, namely Khashoggi. Stephen Bannon himself acknowledged in an email to Mayer, attorney,” and attempting to solicit Ukrainian acquiescence Biden has ended up biting him squarely in the ass. He’s going For Saudi Arabia to truly become the media capital of the Arab the GAI acted as the primary source for the Biden/Ukraine and participation in the scam. And as Mayer points out, a to be impeached, something he existentially has dreaded world, it needs freedom of speech in a democratic and transparent “story.” Mayer’s article describes the purpose of the GAI couple new characters were now recruited by the Trump since he assumed office, because it will forever leave a stain political system. No conference will alter this important condi- as intended to generate baseless smears and worm them campaign itself to stoke the phony story. In particular, John on his presidency that people will use to compare his tenure tion; the event in November will be an opportunity for invited surreptitiously into the “mainstream” media where they Solomon, formerly a respectable reporter for the Hill but to that of an untarnished, impeccable, Barack Obama. foreign journalists to enjoy a short trip with lavish hospitality. can be repeated by more “credible” sources, even if those now entrenched in the more lucrative occupation of churning Thanks to his slavish devotion to the right-wing prop- Respected foreign journalists should not be lured to accept sources are simply busy debunking them. out right-wing trash for profit, was tapped to spread the aganda machine, Donald Trump is about to become just an invitation by a regime that has shown zero tolerance for Bannon designed the organization as a means of trans- manure around. another piece of collateral damage. And he has no one but free speech, going so far as to murder one of its own outspoken mitting partisan dirt-digging to the mainstream media. He As Giuliani conspired this past spring with questionable himself to blame. journalists, while many others linger in prisons. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 12 SOCIETY OCTOBER 8, 2019
Fifth women’s park opens National in Tehran SOCIETY TEHRAN — The fifth park exclusively for Children’s deskwomen was inaugurated in Tehran on Mon- day, ISNA news agency reported. In order to bring about justice and equality for all the cit- izens, women-only parks have been built to provide them with safe recreational spots without the need to wear hijabs, Week underway Zahra Sadr-Azam Nouri stated. Accordingly, five special parks have so far been created for SOCIETY TEHRAN — The National last year’s to keep “hope for a bright future” women so that they could use the sunlight without coverings deskChildren’s Week is under- for Iranian children. and thus increase their health, she added. way from October 5 to 11 under the theme of The poster designed for the children’s A study conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2001 showed an “We must build up the future”, Mehr news day is depicting a sense of hope, freshness alarming growth in the number of women developing osteoporosis. agency reported on Saturday. and energy while putting emphasis on the Stretched over 35 hectares, the newly inaugurated park is named Each day of the week is dedicated to a importance of games and imagination in after Marzieh Hadidchi to commemorate the first woman who com- theme which is interwoven with different children’s lives and future. manded a military division during the Iran–Iraq war, she noted. issues such as health and safety, environment, Children’s Day around the world It is planned to expand the number of parks in other parts of cultural heritage, peace, communication, Children’s Day is a day to engage in fun the city, she highlighted. Behesht-e Madaran (literally meaning media and family. and frolic. But it is not just that. This day mothers’ paradise) was the first women-only park which opened Accordingly, October 9 is dedicated to reminds everyone to renew their commit- in the capital in 2008. Three others were later built in the city. children who will make the country’s future ment towards the well-being and welfare of and how to treat them in a way to form a bright all children. It is an opportunity for all of us future either for themselves or the country. to reflect on our responsibility to ensure that Various recreational and educational our children are able Iranian mothers allowed to programs centering on the topic similar to The day also offers each of us an inspi- the day’s theme are held on each day which rational entry-point to advocate, promote pass on citizenship to children have been coordinated by the Intellectual and celebrate children’s rights, translating Development of Children and Young Adults SOCIETY TEHRAN — The Iranian parliament (Majlis) into dialogues and actions that will build a (an Iranian institution with a wide range of deskon Monday declared a law to the government better world for children to grow up in a safe, cultural and artistic activities in the field of allowing children of an Iranian mother and foreign father to sustainable, and prosperous world. mental and cultural development for children get Iranian citizenship. So, in this regard, Children’s Day is recog- and young adults). According to the law, children of Iranian women and non-Ira- nized on various days in many places around Different programs such as storytelling, nian men who were born before or after the law can be an Irani- the world, to honor children globally. It was role playing and book reading are held on an citizen in case the Iranian mother requested if they have no first proclaimed by the World Conference for Tuesday which is called «Child, Peace, Play security problem before the age of 18. the Well-being of Children in 1925 and then and Joy» Day, with UNICEF representative These children, after reaching the age of 18, can apply for established universally in 1954 to protect in Iran in attendance. Iranian citizenship if not requested by the mother, then will an “appropriate” day. Museums are free of charge for children be granted Iranian citizenship in case of no security problem. The World Conference for the Well-being of on Tuesday. Children in Geneva, Switzerland, proclaimed Moreover, United Nations has established November 20th is an important date as Several workshops including photogra- June 1 to be International Children’s Day. Universal Children’s Day in 1954, which is it is the date in 1959 when the UN General phy, drawing, creative skill, and crafts will After the conference, different governments celebrated annually on November 20th to pro- Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Populations of UK’s most be held during one-week celebration along around the world decided to declare a day as mote international togetherness, awareness Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 with unveiling movies and books. Children’s Day to draw attention to children’s among children worldwide, and improving when the UN General assembly adopted the important wildlife have This year’s motto is chosen the same as the issues, which many of them chose June 1. children’s welfare. Convention on the Rights of the Child. plummeted since 1970 Iran marks World Food Baby turtle starved to death with over Populations of the UK’s most important wildlife have plummeted by an average of 60% since 1970, according to the most compre- Week 2019 100 bits of plastic in stomach hensive analysis to date. SOCIETY TEHRAN — Iran cel- A dying baby turtle that washed up The State of Nature report also found that the area inhabited by deskebrates World Food on a beach in Florida had 104 pieces officially designated “priority species” has shrunk by 27%. The spe- Week on October 12 to 18 under a national of plastic in its stomach. cies are those deemed most important and threatened, and include theme of “Improving the nutrition pattern Experts say it was one of just dozens hedgehogs, hares and bats, many birds such as the willow tit and to maintain healthy and promote health”, of young turtles that have starved to the turtle dove, and insects such as the high brown fritillary butterfly. IRNA reported on Monday. death in the area after eating microplas- The report finds the losses to all animals, plants and marine life World Food Day (WFD) is celebrated tics in the sea this year. show no sign of letting up, despite some successes in protecting every year across the world on 16th October. The Gumbo Limbo Nature Cen- individual species. It found that 41% of species have decreased It’s an annual celebration in the honor of tre posted a photograph on Facebook in abundance, while just 26% have increased. the founding date of the Food and Agricul- of the loggerhead sea turtle and the A quarter of UK mammals and nearly half of the birds assessed ture Organization launched by the United fragments of plastic found in its stomach are at risk of extinction, according to the report, which was pro- Nations in the year 1945. after it died. duced by a coalition of more than 70 wildlife organisations and WFD was established by the member sticker, special and useful food products, Emily Mirowski, a turtle rehabil- all had plastic in their stomachs, CNN government conservation agencies. When plants, insects and fungi countries of Food and Agriculture Organi- and promotion of consumer awareness in itation assistant, told CNN that the reported. are added, one in seven of the 8,400 UK species assessed are at zation (FAO) in November 1979. Since then, the field of food. turtle, which was small enough to fit Turtles suffering from malnutri- risk of being completely lost, with 133 already gone since 1500. the WFD is been observed in more than 150 According to FAO, a combination of un- in the palm of a hand, was weak and tion due to plastic consumption are (Source: The Guardian) countries every year; raising consciousness healthy diets and sedentary lifestyles has sent emaciated. so common that the nature centre, in and knowledge of the problems and reasons obesity rates soaring, not only in developed “It was really heartbreaking. But it’s Boca Raton, put a cool box outside its behind hunger and poverty. countries, but also low-income countries, something we’ve seen for several years building for residents to safely drop WORDS IN THE NEWS Since 1981, World Food Day started where hunger and obesity often coexist. Now and we’re just glad people are finally them off for rehabilitation. adopting different celebration theme each over 670 million adults and 120 million girls seeing this image, and hopefully it’s Some survive but many are too weak Cheap AIDS drugs for year for highlighting common areas of con- and boys (5-19 years) are obese, and over 40 raising awareness.” and emaciated. Nigeria cerns which needed attention and action. million children under 5 are overweight, while When babies hatch between March “We give them a small amount of This year the theme is “Our Actions Are over 820 million people suffer from hunger. and October each year, they head to- fluids every day to get them hydrated,” (December 12, 2001) Our Future” which refers to healthy diets. An unhealthy diet is the leading risk wards floating seaweed called sargas- Ms Mirowski said. “Then we hope they’ll Nigeria today becomes the first African country to start Hossein Azizi, an official with the Food factor for deaths from non-communicable sum, where they live for their first few pass the plastic naturally. The important using cheap imported non trademark drugs to treat AIDS and Drug Administration, said that specifi- diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascu- years. thing is getting them hydrated to get and HIV infection. Ten-thousand patients will be treated cally, on World Food Day different programs lar diseases, diabetes and certain cancers. “The issue is that with all the plastic their appetite back.” in selected hospitals with drugs imported from India. This will be implemented focusing on improving Linked with one fifth of deaths worldwide, in the oceans, that’s where the plastic The problem won’t end until people report from Elettra Neysmith: nutrition patterns to promote health. unhealthy eating habits are also taking a sticks,” Ms Mirowski said. “All the mi- stop buying plastics and disposing of The AIDS pandemic in Africa has been likened to a runaway Over the one-week celebration different toll on national health budgets costing up croplastics stick to the seaweed, and them improperly, she said. train ripping through the continent. The figures are programs and events will be held centering to USD 2 trillion per year. it looks like food to the baby turtles.” “We have to reduce plastic use as staggering. Out of an estimated forty-million people living on seven main themes, he added. Obesity and other forms of malnutrition The plastic in their stomachs makes much as possible,” she said. with HIV or AIDS worldwide, twenty-eight-million are in sub- He further explained that the programs affect nearly one in three people. Projections turtles feel full, so they don’t eat or re- “Not just recycling, but eliminating Saharan Africa. Around ten-million children have lost one or planned include salt and fat reduction in indicate that the number will be one in two ceive the nutrition they need to survive. plastic out of daily use. Every piece of both parents; while in South Africa, fifteen-hundred people food and beverage, nutrition labels to pro- by 2025. The good news is that affordable This season, members of the public plastic that’s ever been made is still are infected each day. mote consumer knowledge, food safety and solutions exist to reduce all forms of mal- have dropped off at the centre dozens of out there. It never goes away, it just The result is a human landscape that has been permanently health indicator, fighting with the smuggling nutrition, but they require greater global washbacks – babies that have washed breaks down to smaller pieces.” scarred. Almost everyone has been affected in some way. of health products, product authenticity commitment and action. back ashore after just a few weeks – and (Source: The Independent) The crisis has been exacerbated by the fact that AIDS hits at the very infrastructure needed to tackle its effects. Doctors, nurses, and teachers have all fallen victim, weakening the ENGLISH IN USE public health systems of some of the world’s poorest countries just when they are most needed. While anti-retroviral drugs have revolutionized treatments LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION in the west, the United Nations joint programme on AIDS estimates that only thirty-thousand people have benefitted in Africa. Even with the advent of cheaper medicines -- FDA to penalize manufacturers سازمان غذا و دارو با محصوالت تراریخته فاقد access is still likely to be limited and expensive. But although the continent has been the worst affected by AIDS -- it also producing unlabeled GM foods boasts some of the world’s most spectacular success stories. برچسب برخورد می کند In Uganda, HIV infection rates have fallen by around two- Iran’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will penalize food manufacturers thirds over the last ten years; while in Senegal, the rate is who have not labeled genetically modified (GM) food products, Vahid مدیــرکل فــرآورده هــای غذایــی و آشــامیدنی ســازمان غــذا و دارو، وحیــد مفیــد در گفــت و گو با below two percent. The emphasis has been on prevention; Mofid, the caretaker of the FDA department of food and beverages has خبرنــگار ایرنــا اعــام کــرد: تمــام محصــوالت تراریختــه در ســطح عرضه کنتــرل می شــوند و در .and it’s taken tremendous political will, and huge education announced ً campaigns. There’s been no magic formula -- but their All food products containing ingredients derived from GMOs must be صورتــی کــه تراریختــه باشــند امــا برچســب نداشــته باشــند، حتمــا برخورد مــی کنیم. example at least offers some hope to those still waking up labeled, including soybean and corn oil, rapeseed and cottonseed, he وی اضافــه کــرد: برخــی محصــوالت در کشــور مانند ذرت، ســویا و کلــزا از نوع تراریخته وجــود دارد و فــرآورده .to the true cost of AIDS also noted. Words هــای غذایــی در صــورت اســتفاده از ایــن محصــوالت تراریخته بایــد آن را روی برچســب خــود اعلم کنند. & He went on to say that eight laboratories in addition to the Energy مفید افزود: هشت آزمایشگاه علوه بر آزمایشگاه مرجع در کشور می توانند تراریختگی را تعیین کنند. pandemic: a disease affecting people over a wide geographical area Power Industries Laboratories Company can test the products in terms مدیــرکل فــرآورده هــای غذایــی و آشــامیدنی ســازمان غــذا و دارو گفــت: درج تراریختگــی در .runaway train: a train that no-one can stop of containing GM organism برچســب جلــوی ترکیبــات، صرفــاً احتــرام بــه مشــتری و فراهــم کــردن قــدرت انتخــاب بــرای ripping through: to move very powerfully through a place Labeling the products is merely done out of respect for the customer مص رفکننــده اســت و هیــچ ارتباطــی بــا ایمنــی و ســامت آن فــرآورده نــدارد. or building, destroying it quickly and providing the consumer with different choices and has nothing to staggering: deeply shocking do with the product’s safety and health, he concluded. a human landscape that has been permanently scarred: a population, and a way of life that has been damaged forever exacerbated by: made worse by PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM fallen victim: in this case, infected with HIV/AIDS with the advent of: with the development of “chloro-, chlor-” Pan out Crystal clear boasts: has achieved political will: determination by politicians and decision-makers Meaning: green or chlorine Meaning: to happen or develop in a particular way Explanation: to understand or has an obvious meaning magic formula: an easy, quick solution For example: This is the fundamental process by For example: We’ll have to see how things pan out. For example: There was no need to repeat the in- waking up to: realizing which chlorophyll ‘captures’ the energy of sunlight. structions. They were crystal clear. (Source: BBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y OCTOBER 8, 2019 WORLD IN FOCUS 13 U.S. gives green light to Turkey to launch Zionist, Arab regimes agree military operation in north Syria to advance ‘alliance’ 1 Katz also presented the plan to U.S. special envoy for the Middle East Jason Greenblatt. U.S. troops start pullout in Syria The initiative calls for developing “friendly relations and co- TEHRAN — The United States has given September to come up with concrete results operation,” preventing hostility or incitement to hostility against the green light to Turkey to launch a military on the development of the zone. each other, and eschewing any military or security alliance with operation against Washington’s long-time The two sides are reportedly at odds over other parties against each other. Kurdish allies in northern Syria. the depth of the militant-free buffer zone The occupying regime has full diplomatic ties with only two The decision came after a phone con- and who should control it. Arab states - Egypt and Jordan - but reports suggest Tel Aviv versation between U.S. President Donald Turkey expects the creation of a 32-kilo- is working behind the scenes to establish formal contacts with Trump and his Turkish counterpart Recep meter (20-mile) safe zone in northern Syria, such countries as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday. and has stressed that it wants the U.S.-backed Last month, Katz tweeted that he had held talks in New York “Turkey will soon be moving forward with YPG cleared from the region. with an unnamed counterpart from an Arab country with which its long-planned operation into northern Syria has reiterated its rejection of the Tel Aviv does not have formal relations. Syria,” the White House said in a statement. so-called safe area, and dismissed all pro- They discussed “ways to deal with the Iranian threat” and a On Monday, Erdogan spoke of imminent jects aimed at undermining the unity and process for boosting “civilian cooperation,” he said. army perations against Kurdish militants territorial integrity of the country. In July, the regime’s top diplomat traveled to the UAE cap- in Syria. Turkey set to begin offensive ital on his second public visit to a Persian Gulf country in eight “There is a phrase that we always say: Commenting on the White House months after visiting Oman in November 2018. we can come any night without warning. statement on the imminent offensive, Later that month, he shared a photograph with Bahraini For- It is absolutely out of the question for us Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavu- eign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifah during an event in to further tolerate the threats from these soglu said on Monday that his country Washington. terrorist groups,” Erdogan told reporters. was determined to clear its border with Last week, Zionist ambassador to the UN said the regime and Ankara views US-backed YPG militants Syria of militants. various Arab countries have been working together at the UN as terrorists affiliated with the homegrown He claimed that Turkey’s plan does not and elsewhere against Iran. Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant violate Syria’s territorial integrity. In a phone interview with the Jerusalem Post, Danny Danon group. “Since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, said Tel Aviv was planning a number of actions against Tehran at Turkey said it was ready to carry out an Late last year, Washington stopped a Turkey’s border. we have supported the country’s territorial the UN, adding that although Arab states were not co-sponsors, air and ground operation to push back YPG Turkish offensive against Kurdish militants Footage aired on Kurdish news agency integrity, and we will continue to do so from there was “cooperation” between them. militants from border areas after a deadline after Trump announced a plan to withdraw Hawar purportedly showed U.S. armored now on,” Cavusoglu said in a tweet. to jointly establish a so-called safe zone with troops from Syria. vehicles leaving positions near the towns Ankara says it wants to settle up to two the U.S. passed. Trump told Erdogan in their December 14 of Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad in the border million Syrian refugees in the “safe zone.” Tel Aviv’s proposal for non- On the issue of Daesh prisoners in the phone conversation that the U.S. was “done” region. State broadcaster TRT Haber said last month aggression pact with Arabs region, Erdogan said he would work with with Syria and that “it’s all yours.” “The American forces did not fulfill their that Turkey planned to build towns within British daily The Guardian said on Mon- European states to resolve the issue. commitments and withdrew their forces from the zone at a cost of $27 billion. 1 As the fourth article states all disagreements between “There are (Daesh prisoners) from France, day moving U.S. forces out of the area “will the border areas with Turkey, and Turkey is Ankara’s official Gazette reported on parties regarding the agreement shall be resolved by consultation. Germany, other countries. They say ‘We don’t in effect abandon Washington’s longtime now preparing for an invasion operation of Friday that Turkey’s Gaziantep University The Israeli regime is pursuing several goals by presenting want to have control over them.’ We can’t allies, the Kurds.” northern and eastern Syria,” the SDF, which would open three faculties in small towns the plan. First, to stop Arabs from joining Iran’s peace initiative look after them. What can be done about “Allowing Turkey to move into northern holds much of the area, said in a statement. in northern Syria. to secure the Persian Gulf with the participation of the regional this? They are going to work on that and I Syria is one of the most destabilizing moves SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali accused the UN voices concern countries, since it is considered as a danger for Israel. instructed our colleagues to work on that we can do in the Middle East. The Kurds will U.S. of leaving the area to “turn into a war The United Nations has also said that it is Second, to not allow Arab countries to form a coalition against too,” he noted. never trust America again,” Ruben Gallego, zone,” adding that the SDF would “defend “preparing for the worst” in northeast Syria, itself and hold these countries responsible for the actions of the Washington has said that Ankara would an Iraq war veteran and Democratic con- northeast Syria at all costs.” stressing that there are “a lot of unanswered resistance groups. be responsible for the Daesh militants cap- gressman from Arizona, tweeted. In August, the U.S. and Turkey agreed questions” about the consequences of the The third goal is speeding up the process of normalization of tured in the area over the past two years. Kurds slam Washington to set up the so-called safe zone to the east operation. political and economic relations and formalize them. The White House said U.S. troops would The so-called Syrian Democratic Forces of the Euphrates River between the Turkish “We don’t know what is going to happen... Fourth, maybe the conditions would be better provided for withdraw from the border between Turkey (SDF) of Kurdish militants said on Monday border and Syrian areas controlled by U.S.- we are preparing for the worst,” the UN’s the implementation of the American Deal of the Century project and Syria and wouldn’t be involved in the morning that their U.S. partners had already backed militants. humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Panos to completely eliminate Palestine. offensive. begun withdrawing troops from areas along Erdogan had given the U.S. until the end of Moumtzis, said in Geneva. Fifth, the Zionist regime will no longer be recognized as the number one enemy of the Arabs and Islam. This time, Iran will be regarded as an imaginary enemy for the region and the Arabs. It seems that the regime is trying to form a coalition by taking Germany warns EU of refugee wave Iraq says all evidence points to ‘malicious advantage of political and natural disagreements between Iran bigger than 2015 if it fails to take action hands’ in protests and some Arab countries in the Persian Gulf. Israel knows that some reactionary states in the Persian Gulf are at odds with Iran, TEHRAN — German Interior Minister TEHRAN— Iraqi officials say there and is trying to secure itself by highlighting these disagreements. Horst Seehofer warns that Europe may are “malicious hands” behind the killing Netanyahu claimed that the plan is a “historic measure” that soon face a refugee crisis “even greater” of both protesters and security forces during would end the conflicts between the Zionist regime and Arabs. It than the one that hit the continent in 2015 the recent spate of unrest in Baghdad and should be noted that the main reason of the conflict between Israel if the European Union fails to develop the some other cities. and Arabs is not the question of Iran, rather it is the question of “strength” to contain the rising numbers Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan the Israeli occupation of Palestine. of refugee arrivals. confirmed for the first time on Sunday However, we should wait and see which countries will agree “We must do more to help our European that 104 people had been killed, including with the Zionist regime’s plan that has targeted security and partners with controls on the EU external eight security officers, and more than 6,000 peaceful co-existence in the region. The public opinion in Arab borders. We have left them alone for too wounded in the protests. He made the comments following visits been shot in the head or heart, a sign that countries will not easily get along with formal agreement between long,” the minister told German Bild am Maan said the ministry was working with last week to Greece and Turkey, where he skilled snipers had carried out the killings. their governments and the Zionist regime. It is likely that just Sonntag newspaper, referring to Greece, other government institutions to find out discussed a deal on refugees and border Officials say there are attempts at “se- like what happened in the Deal of the Century project, the plan Turkey, Spain and Italy. who was behind the killings. According to controls. dition” from “unidentified snipers” who will not reach its desired goals. “If we don’t, we will once again see a medical sources, the majority of protesters In an unprecedented refugee influx, shot police and protesters indiscriminately. Those Arab leaders who have assisted the Zionist regime to refugee wave like in 2015 — maybe even killed were struck by bullets. over one million refugees arrived in the “We can’t accept the continuation of the promote Anti-Iranian sentiment without paying attention to the greater than four years ago,” he added. The protests began last Tuesday, with European Union in 2015, most of them situation like this,” Prime Minister Adil Palestine issue, have not been popular in the history. Seehofer also warned that in case Eu- demonstrators calling for better living fleeing conflict zones in the Middle East Abdul-Mahdi told his Cabinet late Saturday. rope fails to find the “strength to solve this conditions. The rallies soon turned into and North Africa, Press TV reported. “We hear of snipers, firebombs, burning problem” it could see a “loss of control” in riots as some protesters started vandalizing A year later, Turkey became Europe’s a policeman, a citizen.” the face of such a crisis. public properties and attempted to enter Iraqi protests, spontaneous gatekeeper after signing a deal with the EU Parliament speaker Mohamed al-Hal- In a separate interview with the Welt the Green Zone in the capital Baghdad aimed at controlling the inflow of refugees bousi echoed the premier’s remarks, saying am Sonntag newspaper, the minister drew -- which houses government offices and or conspiracy? into the continent. The agreement ended that “infiltrators” were wreaking havoc. attention to Turkey, saying Ankara needs foreign diplomatic missions. the influx, bringing the number down to He said the parliament had formed a com- 1 They want to obey the Iraqi government ... so we more assistance in dealing with millions On Saturday night, armed elements and around 30,000 annually in the following mittee to investigate the matter. will see demonstrations in Iraq again. The demonstrations are of refugees that have entered the country violent rioters attempted to take over local years. Iraqi security officials have made it clear that scheduled to begin in October. since the start of militancy in neighboring TV stations in Baghdad after the govern- The refugee deal is, however, in trouble, their forces would not use lethal force against Fourth, the demonstrations in Iraq also coincided with the Syria in 2011. ment removed a days-long curfew. with Ankara accusing Europe of failing protesters unless their lives were in danger. government announcing an inquiry’s output into the bombing “Turkey is doing a great deal in welcom- Maan said protesters burned 51 public to honor its economic pledges. Under the On Sunday night, at least 13 people were of PMF’s garrisons and Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s ing refugees,” Seehofer said. “It is also in buildings and eight political party head- agreement, $6.5 billion was pledged to help killed in clashes with security forces in a emphasis on the direct role of the Zionist regime in the incident. our interests, but it is clear that we cannot quarters but Iraqi security forces did not Turkey host 3.6 million Syrian refugees, district of capital, where the military ad- Meanwhile, in the ongoing violence in Iraqi, Western and manage the future with the resources of confront them. According to the spokes- but as of June, only $2.4 billion had been mitted some forces had violated the rules Arab media focused on inducing PMF as a force against the the past.” man, most of those killed on Friday had paid to Ankara. of engagement, Press TV reported. protesters. The behavior of the main media stream also shows that what is going on in Iraq is a “concerted conspiracy”, which is aimed at weakening the Iraqi security and military forces, especially the PMF. Fifth, the protests in Iraq were backed by some elements Tunisian election gives few clues to shape of next government of the Ba’athist regime. As the protests began, the daughter of TEHRAN — Tunisia faced political deadlock Monday af- The parliamentary vote comes amid a separate presidential Iraq’s ousted dictator Raghad Saddam, tweeted in support of the ter Sunday’s election delivered a fragmented parliament election in which one of the two candidates who advanced to protests, calling them “the generation of Qadisiyah” and writing and no obvious path to forming a government that must next Sunday’s runoff vote is being held in detention on cor- “The whole of Iraq is with you” and “God bless our martyrs.” urgently address chronic economic and fiscal problems. ruption charges, entailing a possible challenge to that result. It is real that the economic problems and corruption exist Sunday’s exit polls showed the moderate Islamic En- Eight years after ending autocratic rule, many Tunisians in Iraq and that is undeniable, but the violence that occurred nahda as the largest party, but its modest projected vote are disillusioned by the failure of repeated coalition govern- during the recent protests and the way the Western and Arab share means it would need to bring many other parties into ments to address economic problems and their rejection of media reported and covered the protests suggests that Iraqis any workable coalition. Official results are not expected major parties threatens a new period of upheaval. should be vigilant. until Tuesday. If official results confirm Ennahda’s first place, it has “The task will be very difficult and complicated to reach two months to form a coalition. After that the president an agreement to form a government,” said Yamina Zoglami, can ask a politician of his choice to try. If that also fails a senior Ennahda official. after two months, Tunisians will go back to the ballot box. U.S. federal judge says Trump Several of Ennahda’s rivals have already said they will not Next week’s presidential runoff pits Kais Saied, an inde- join a government it leads, and Tunisians are confronting pendent, against Nabil Karoui, a media mogul detained on must produce tax returns the prospect of protracted negotiations and the possibility corruption charges that he denies. If he loses, he might appeal TEHRAN — A U.S. federal judge in New York Monday dismissed of another election if no coalition can be agreed. to overturn the result citing his detention< Reuters reported. President Donald Trump’s efforts to block access to years of his personal and corporate tax returns, saying sitting presidents are not immune from criminal investigations. In a 75-page ruling, Judge Victor Marrero rejected Trump’s Climate change protests snarl up central London, 135 arrested argument, saying such vast immunity would “operate to frustrate TEHRAN — Climate change protesters come to the capital from across Britain to children a future unless we act now.” not doing enough on the climate emergency,” the administration of justice” by putting the president’s personal blocked traffic across London’s govern- join the two-week protest, which is part of a Banging drums and chanting, they took said protester Lizzy Mansfield. “We only and professional affairs off-limits. ment district of Westminster Monday as coordinated international movement. There over the tourist hotspot of Trafalgar Square get one planet and so we’re here to try and “This court cannot endorse such a categorical and limitless asser- they launched two weeks of peaceful civil were similar climate protests on Monday and marched down the Mall, the broad tree- defend it.” tion of presidential immunity from judicial process,” Marrero wrote. disobedience to call for urgent action to curb in Berlin, Vienna, Amsterdam, Madrid and lined avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace. Extinction Rebellion rose to prominence Trump had filed suit against Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus carbon emissions. other cities around the world. According to Reuters, some activists glued in April when it disrupted traffic in central Vance Jr, who had subpoenaed the accounting firm Mazars U.S.A., Police said they had arrested 135 activ- Large crowds of protesters blocked some or chained themselves to cars parked in the London for 11 days. More than 1,000 activists seeking access to the president’s tax returns dating back to 2011. ists from the Extinction Rebellion group of Westminster’s largest and busiest roads, middle of roads or to street lamps, making were arrested, of whom 850 were prosecuted Vance is investigating payments made by Michael Cohen, Trump’s by 11:30 GMT. bridges and squares, carrying banners with it hard for police officers to detain them. for various public disorder offences. So far, former personal attorney, to Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have The group expects 10,000 people will slogans such as “Climate change denies our “We’re here because the government is 250 have been convicted. had an affair with Trump before he ran for president, AFP reported. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS OCTOBER 8, 2019
Liverpool’s Salah escapes Breaking Bolt’s record, 10 with twisted ankle
Mohamed Salah sustained a twisted ankle in Liverpool’s late victory over Leicester according to reports on Monday, but the Egyptian could still return for the Premier League leaders’ clash at Manchester months after giving birth United on October 20. Salah hobbled off in added time during the 2-1 win over the Becoming the most successful athlete in times as likely to die during childbirth and Foxes on Saturday after being caught on the left ankle by a lunge World Championships history - as she twice as likely to suffer complications. from Hamza Choudhury. did in Doha - would once have been all- Introducing herself as “Camryn’s Mom”, The England under-21 international was booked, but Liverpool consuming for Allyson Felix. The past 12 Felix began her speech with the words: boss Jurgen Klopp believed he should have seen red for a challenge months have changed her beyond measure. “I would like to share the story of the two he branded “dangerous as hell”. Having a baby has also given birth to most terrifying days of my life.” Looking Salah had already been excused from Egypt’s friendly against the activist hidden inside her. Felix is no back now it is no less raw. Botswana on October 14 with Pharaohs head coach Hossam El Badry longer a willing participant in the “culture She says: “When I was in the hospital, saying his star player “must rest”. of silence” around maternity rights in elite it was such a scary situation. I feel like I The Liverpool Echo reported: “Salah suffered a twisted ankle athletics. She has found her voice. am someone who is privileged and I was in the challenge, and while there is no timescale set on his return, Felix the mother is running late. in that situation and was kind of aware but Liverpool are hopeful there is no long-term damage.” We meet on the 42nd floor of her hotel not fully educated. And if I am not fully After Salah had been withdrawn, Liverpool struck late through overlooking the Persian Gulf. educated then there are a lot of women James Milner’s penalty to open up an eight-point lead at the top of With the World Athletics who aren’t fully educated as well. Speaking the Premier League. Championships in town, these plush to Congress had to happen in order to (Source: Goal) surroundings are perfect for a six-time save lives. It is way bigger than sport.” Olympic sprint champion, but not for Then Felix took on sportswear 10-month old daughter Camryn it seems. superpower Nike over maternity rights Bayern boss Rummenigge Her body clock has yet to adjust to the for athletes. She was involved in contract Middle East and as a result Felix, 33, has negotiations with them while dealing with angered by France call-up for been up all night. her life as new mum. Nike wanted to pay injured Hernandez It is not a new experience for somebody Felix “70% less than before”, which she who spent most of last December sleeping hospital, Felix gave birth by emergency supposed to be so happy was happy, but said at the time she was willing to accept. Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has spoken out in a chair in a children’s intensive care unit. Caesarean to Camryn. it was also really scary and uncertain.” “What I’m not willing to accept is the against the world champions France after they called up the in- Camryn was born on 28 November Ten months and one day later, Felix Out of that uncertainty Felix found enduring status quo around maternity,” jured defender Lucas Hernandez for their Euro 2020 qualifiers 2018, weighing just 3lbs 7oz. Felix had secured a record-breaking 12th World purpose. Primarily through a commitment she wrote in a powerful New York Times with Iceland and Turkey. gone into hospital for a routine check- Championships gold medal in the 4x400m to her daughter in the here and now that article published in May. “I asked Nike to Rummenigge had told the French football federation last week up at 32 weeks only to be told that both mixed relay in Doha, surpassing Usain saw her spend every waking moment in contractually guarantee that I wouldn’t that Hernandez was unavailable because of the knee injury but the she and her baby were in mortal danger. Bolt. On Sunday’s closing day she added the intensive care unit. But in addition, she be punished if I didn’t perform at my best French have asked the defender to report for a medical examination. Felix was suffering from pre-eclampsia - gold number 13 as USA won the women’s began a two-pronged campaign of activism. in the months surrounding childbirth. I “I want to point out that Lucas Hernandez did not play for us in a potentially life-threatening condition for 4x400m relay. May saw the normally shy Felix address wanted to set a new standard. If I, one the Champions League against Tottenham nor in the Bundesliga both mother and baby. Her blood pressure “Last Christmas when I was in the a House Ways and Means Committee in of Nike’s most widely marketed athletes, on Saturday,” Rumminegge said in a press release. was rising while Camryn’s heart-rate was hospital I could not have believed at all the US Congress, highlighting the issue of couldn’t secure these protections, who The former striker, now the chief power broker at Bayern, is said decelerating. that I would be here in Doha winning maternal mortality among black women. could? Nike declined.” to be irritated by comments from the French national coach Didier And so, 10 hours after arriving at medals,” she says. “This moment that was In the USA, black women are nearly four (Source: BBC) Deschamps, suggesting the defender would be happy to play on one leg for the national cause. “Didier Deschamps’ suggestion ... has stunned us,” he said. The World Cup holders face Iceland in Reykjavik on Friday, Manchester United board to blame for James Harden apologizes as October 11 before entertaining Turkey at the Stade de France on club’s on-field woes: Neville controversy grows: ‘We love China’ Monday, October 14. Les Bleus are level with Turkey at the top of Group H on 15 points from six games, with Iceland three points back. The top two qualify automatically for the final tournament. (Source: AFP) Osaka returns to top three after seeing off Barty in Beijing
Naomi Osaka’s win over world number one Ashleigh Barty in Beijing at the weekend lifted the Japanese player back into the top three in the new WTA rankings released on Monday. It meant back-to-back WTA Tour titles for the 21-year-old, who won the Australian Open in January, but then failed to match those high standards at the next three Grand Slams. French Open winner Barty retains top spot and even extends her lead following the failure of Karolina Pliskova to get past the first round in China. Manchester United’s struggles are the pounds ($308 million) along the way in Houston Rockets star James Harden has Shenzhen, China. Osaka’s rise to three means Elina Svitolina, quarter-finalist in result of poor planning by the club’s board each manager, you’re going to have big offered an apology as the controversy over “We appreciate them as a fan base,” Beijing, slips to four. and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs problems.” general manager Daryl Morey’s tweet of Harden said. “We love everything there US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, who lost a thrilling quarter- time and money to get the team back on Solskjaer, who sanctioned the support for Hong Kong protesters contin- about them, and we appreciate the support final to Osaka last week, also climbs a place to number five pushing track, former defender Gary Neville has departures of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu ues to grow at a crucial time for the NBA that they give us individually and as [an] Simona Halep down to six. said. Lukaku in the close season, is trying to in China. organization.” (Source: AFP) United, once the dominant force in rebuild the side with a greater emphasis on Harden spoke while standing with team- The strong reactions to Morey’s tweet English football, have made their worst youth, and Neville said the board would have mate Russell Westbrook at a practice in underscore Beijing’s sensitivity about for- start to a Premier League campaign in 30 to be patient with his former team mate. Tokyo on Monday, three days after Morey eign attitudes toward the ongoing Hong Lyon duo under pressure years and dropped to 12th in the table, The club signed centre back Harry posted a now-deleted tweet that read: “Fight Kong protests that have lately grown into two points above the relegation zone, after Maguire, right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.” violence in the semiautonomous territory. after derby loss Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United. and winger Daniel James before the season “We apologize. You know, we love China. China has accused foreign parties in the Coach Sylvinho and sports director Juninho are under tremendous Solskjaer is the fourth permanent started, but need to bring in another “five We love playing there,” Harden said. “For United States and elsewhere of encourag- pressure after Olympique Lyonnais were beaten 1-0 by bitter rivals St manager to take charge since Alex Ferguson or six top players”, he added. both of us individually, we go there once ing the demonstrations. Etienne, stretching the club’s Ligue 1 winless streak to seven games. retired in 2013, with the 20-times English “Solskjaer needs... the opportunity to or twice a year. They show us the most Nets owner Joe Tsai, a co-founder of The duo were named after Bruno Genesio’s contract was not champions enduring mixed fortunes under spend the money the others have had to important love.” Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, posted renewed last season, and the return of club darling Juninho, a fan David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose spend. If United recruit well in the next The incident has come at a particularly a 736-word open letter on his Facebook favourite during his 2001-08 stay, had raised hopes that OL would Mourinho despite spending heavily on three or four windows, they’ve got the awkward moment for the league, whose page late Sunday night saying that Mo- challenge Paris St Germain. players. bones of something. If they recruit badly, players have often been outspoken about rey stepped on what he described as “a After scoring nine goals and conceding none in two opening “United are getting the pain they they’ll end up suffering,” Neville said. social issues in the United States. third-rail issue’’ when it comes to China victories, Lyon looked like a decent challenger for the title, but things deserve for poor decisions at board level,” “There’s no quick fix and it has to be China has teams playing preseason and Hong Kong. unravelled quickly. Neville told Sky Sports. “The board (is) done methodically. I hope, because of the games in the U.S. this week, the Rock- “By now I hope you can begin to un- Since then, they have picked up three points from seven matches responsible for this with poor recruitment, poor results, they don’t come off the path ets are about to play two games in Japan derstand why the Daryl Morey tweet is and look a far cry from the aggressive team they had been under poor selection of managers, going with they’re on which is to develop a young, and the Los Angeles Lakers -- with one so damaging to the relationship with our Genesio and his predecessors. them and then pulling off them. progressive team but they do need some of the biggest global sports stars, LeBron fans in China,’’ Tsai wrote. “I don’t know Lyon now lie 14th in the standings on nine points, 12 points “If you change direction as a board quality and experience in there.” James -- are set to play the Brooklyn Nets Daryl personally.’’ from champions PSG. every two years, investing 250 million (Source: Reuters) on Thursday in Shanghai and Saturday in (Source: ESPN) Last week’s 2-0 win at RB Leipzig in the Champions League bought the staff some time, but their loss in France’s fiercest derby has put Sylvinho and Juninho back in the crossfire. (Source: Mirror) Liverpool in pole position to end title drought as Man City falter Liverpool have lived through enough near misses in 30 Slack defending also cost Pep Guardiola’s men in a 3-2 Lloris out for the rest of the years not to take anything for granted in October, but defeat at newly promoted Norwich last month and the an eight-point lead in the Premier League gives Jurgen fear for City is that the gap to Liverpool will only grow year, says Deschamps Klopp’s men a golden opportunity to end that long wait. over the coming months. The European champions came agonisingly close to Defender Laporte will not be back until after the New Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will “almost certainly” fulfilling their title dreams in May, losing out to Manchester Year and City may have to act quickly in the transfer be out of action for the rest of the year after his horror injury at the City by just one point, despite posting the third-highest market in January after failing to fill the void left by weekend, France coach Didier Deschamps said on Monday. points tally in top-flight English football history, with 97. former captain Vincent Kompany’s departure at the end “It is difficult to say exactly how long he will not be available,” But they bounced back quickly to lift the Champions of last season. said Deschamps as France players gathered for their next Euro League in June and have shot out of the traps with eight But two seasons of near-perfection have emboldened 2020 qualifying matches against Iceland on Friday and Turkey straight league wins to take a commanding lead. Guardiola to believe that anything is still possible. three days later. Liverpool have not always shone this season. Their “I know these guys, they can still do it,” said the Cata- “What matters to us right now is that he will not be with us for past three league wins have come by a solitary goal, but lan coach on Sunday. “We are in October and there’s a this round of games or for the next.” they have shown the tenacity and hunger to get the job long way to go.” France face Albania and Moldova in November. done at the same time as an injury-hit City, going for The sides still have to face each other twice, offering Lloris suffered a dislocated elbow in conceding the opening goal their third title in a row, have lost their edge. “It looked like they had never won a game before and City the chance to eat into that gap. of Spurs’ 3-0 defeat by Brighton on Saturday, dropping a cross before High-flying Leicester’s visit to Anfield on Saturday I love that fact.” Their clash at Anfield next month is increasingly looking falling backwards and landing badly. offered City hope they could cut the five-point gap sepa- City feel Laporte loss like a must-win for the champions, but even Guardiola The Spurs goalkeeper was given oxygen and morphine as he was rating the sides heading into the weekend. A day later, City failed to find the same kind of response has failed to win in his prevous four visits there as City carried from the field before being taken to hospital. Deep into stoppage time, the Foxes seemed set to do as Wolves emerged from the Etihad 2-0 victors after soak- boss and the blue side of Manchester have not won away “Almost certainly, he won’t be back on the pitch in 2019,” said the champions a favour with the sides locked at 1-1, until ing up the hosts’ pressure and hitting relentlessly on the to Liverpool since 2003. Deschamps. Sadio Mane tumbled in the box and James Milner coolly counter-attack. Five times Liverpool have finished second since they Steve Mandanda will take over in goal for France against Iceland slotted away a 95th-minute penalty. City’s defensive problems without the injured Aymeric last won a top-flight title in 1989/90. while Paulo Gazzaniga, who replaced Lloris on Saturday, is likely “They didn’t look for a second like a team who won Laporte were ruthlessly exposed as Wolves missed three Rarely in that time have they ever had a better chance to continue in the role for struggling Spurs. so many games that they don’t have the desire anymore glorious first-half chances before finally landing a blow to end the long wait to be crowned champions of England. (Source: Independent) to win another one,” said Klopp. with two Adama Traore goals in the final 10 minutes. (Source: AFP) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y OCTOBER 8, 2019 SPORTS 15
Iran U23 football team Iran’s women’s 3x3 basketball move up to 7th
IRNA — Iran’s women’s 3x3 basketball team have moved up to 7th place in the FIBA ranking. announced Russia are the first team in the ranking followed by SPORTS TEHRAN — Newly-appointed coach China, Romani and France. deskHamid Estili has invited 35 players to The top four teams on the men›s and women›s rank- Iran U23 football team on Monday. ings will atomically qualify for Tokyo 2020 and will be Iran are preparing for the 2020 AFC U23 Champion- announced by FIBA on November 1. ship, where the team have been drawn in Group C along The 3x3 basketball will make its debut on the Olympic with titleholders Uzbekistan, China and South Korea. program at Tokyo 2020. The 2020 AFC U23 Championship will be held in Thailand The first Olympic Qualifying Tournament is due to be from Jan. 8 to 26 and the top three teams of the tourna- staged in March 2020 and will feature 40 teams, 20 for ment will qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics men›s each gender. football tournament in Japan as the AFC representatives. Iran have not been in the Olympics since the 1976 games in Munich. On Sunday, Estili replaced Farhad Majidi as new head Persepolis can win Iran’s coach of Iran U23 football team. Estili, who is mostly remembered for his memorable title: Branko Ivankovic goal and goal celebration against the U.S. at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, has already worked as head coach in PLDC — Former Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic says Iranian football teams namely, Persepolis, Steel Azin, Persepolis have the chance of winning Iran Professional Shahin Bushehr and Malavan. League (IPL) title. Squad: In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Ivankovic Goalkeepers: Mehdi Nourollahi (Saipa), Habib said that after only six weeks, it’s too soon to predict who Farabbasi (Naft Masjed Soleyman), Meraj Esmaeili (Zob win the title. Ahan), Ali Keykhosravi (Sepahan) Defenders: Mohammad Moslemipour (Machine Sazi), Taha Shariati (Saipa), Aref Gholami (Esteghlal), Sina Khadempour (Esteghlal), Ali Shojaei (Nassaji), Aref Aghasi (Foolad), Abolfazl Razaghpour (Paykan), Saadat Hardani (Foolad), Mohammad Aghajanpour (Shahr Kho- dro), Ramin Davoudi (Esteghlal Khuzestan), Omid Dorreh (Saipa), Abolfazl Jalali (Saipa) Midfielders: Omid Noorafkan (Sepahan), Moham- Zamehran (Shahr Khodro), Mohammad Sharifi (Saipa), Roostaei (Persepolis), Sajad Aghaei (Esteghlal), Rahman mad Khorramalhosseini (Machine Sazi), Reza Shekari Esmaeil Babaei (Fajr Sepasi) Jafari (Nassaji), Younes Delfi (Charleroi), Mohammad (Tractor), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Saipa), Mohammad Strikers: Amirhossein Bagherpour (Foolad), Meh- Reza Azadi (Tractor), Jafar Salmani (Sanat Naft), Vahid Khodabandehloo (Paykan), Reza Jabireh (Sanat Naft), Sina di Abdi (Persepolis), Mehdi Ghaedi (Esteghlal), Amir Namdari (Foolad)
Dembele could be suspended Barcelona confirm Victor Valdes from El Clasico departure from youth team role “They have failed to get good results and this needs more analysis. I cannot talk about that because I’m not in On Sunday, Barcelona star Ousmane Dem- Barcelona have sacked under-19 team coach the team and have not seen their matches in the previous bele was sent-off by the referee during their Victor Valdes less than three months after matches. So, I have no exact information about the team’s La Liga game against Sevilla, as he said bringing him back to the Camp Nou fol- situation,” Ivankovic said. “you’re very bad”, in response to teammate lowing several disagreements with club Ex-Al Ahli coach says that Persepolis can return to the Ronald Araujo’s red card. executives and club workers, sources have title race. The above-mentioned incident happened confirmed to ESPN FC. “First of all, I have to say Persepolis have good team in the 87th minute of the match – a minute Last Friday, ESPN FC reported that and good players but they need more time to coordinate. earlier, Araujo – who also marked his debut Valdes had already said goodbye to his Persepolis are now five points behind leaders Sepahan for Barcelona during the game – had been players after Barca announced the former but there is 24 weeks left. So, there is too soon to predict “It’s a mystery. It’s hard to get a phrase management of star player Ilaix Moriba shown a red card for his foul on Sevilla star goalkeeper was not going to travel to the who will win the title,” the Croat added. out of him in Spanish. It won’t have been and Valdes’ failure to turn up for important Javier Hernandez. Saturday’s game against Gimnastic in Asked him if there is any chance to return to Persepolis, a long phrase, for sure,” he said. meetings with other coaches at the club. Samuel Marsden, an ESPN and Diario Tarragona. Ivankovic said, “Not at all at the moment. I have to solve And now, Daily Mail reports that he is Barca’s U19s are unbeaten in the league Sport reporter, later revealed that Lahoz Barca made the announcement on my problems here in Saudi Arabia. I had four outstanding likely to miss out on the upcoming La Liga but dropped points against Cornella and confirmed in his report that he sent the Monday morning and have immediately years in Iran and had good relationship with Persepolis clash against Real Madrid, as his offence in- have lost both of their Youth League games, former Borussia Dortmund star off for telling replaced him with Franc Artiga, who was fans, the club and the players. It was the best career in my volves direct interaction with a match official. against Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan. him he’s “very bad” while gesticulating the the coach of the under-19 B team and part life. However, I cannot return to Persepolis now.” Earlier last season, Atletico Madrid’s Valdes completed his UEFA Pro license same with his arms. of the youth set up at La Masia since 2010. Under Gabriel Calderon, Persepolis have won three Diego Costa received an eight-game ban for alongside former teammate and friend Xavi Meanwhile, Ernesto Valverde the man- Sources close to the club told ESPN FC matches and lost three in six matches. ager of Barcelona, explained that it is dif- allegedly insulting the referee, and later, Valdes was given a dressing down on Friday Hernandez, who is working in Qatar, and ficult enough to get much out of Dembele Deportivo La Coruna’s Michael Krohn-De- by Patrick Kluivert, who is the director of the two have been linked to Victor Font in Spanish, while also admitting that he hli was given a two-game suspension for youth football. who is a candidate for the 2021 club pres- is astonished at how the entire incident saying the same thing as Dembele. There have been clashes over a range of idential elections. Iran handball team to hold turned out. (Source: ESPN) issues, including the team’s formation, the (Source: Daily Mail) camp in Qatar
Father-daughter duo proves ‘no’ is not the final answer TASNIM — Iran national handball team will travel to Doha Para alpine skier Ally Kunkel knows firsthand that not taking Turning heads on Tuesday to hold training camp, where the team will ‘no’ for an answer is easier said than done. Kunkel’s milestone medal did not go unnoticed by Team play friendly matches with Qatar. Taken off the United States national team after the USA’s staff. Her former teammates cheered her on while Team Melli are stepping up preparations ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, the teen- the coaches offered encouraging words. Asian qualifications for the Tokyo Olympic Games next year. ager spent last season proving why she deserves to train “It doesn’t matter where you’re sitting right now, Iran will prepare for the 2019 AHF Men’s Asian qual- alongside the nation’s best. if you’re on the podium or you’re not, it’s all about ification event, which will be held in Doha from October After a slew of gritty races and a silver medal at the if you’re improving with each and every single run,” 17 to 26. World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup, Kunkel has been Kunkel recalled their advice. “That’s what I’ve just Iran have been drawn in Group A, which also features welcomed back on the team and will be skiing in national been trying to do and focus less on results.” Bahrain, Kuwait and South Korea. colors once again in the upcoming season. While her medal inspired cheers in the USA camp, Group B includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India and Hong “It was slightly disappointing, I’m not going to lie, but I one person was noticeably composed - her father. As Kong. think it was what needed to happen and I’m really thankful throughout all of competition, Larry Kunkel remained The top two teams will qualify for the semi-finals. I got the opportunity to step back a little bit and focus on on the sidelines, never shouting or giving loud advice. fundamen-tals,” Kunkel said. “I’m trying to be everything - coach, dad, equipment “I get a little embarrassed,” Kunkel said with a Do it better tuner. It’s just a balance of everything,” said Larry Kunkel. laugh. “Every teenager is embarrassed of their parents Junior wrestlers shine Kunkel was 16 when she qualified to her first Winter “It’s not a cheap thing. We try to do it as inexpensively a little bit so I make him stay a little bit more low key, Paralympics. In PyeongChang, she finished seventh as possible, but it’s a considerable cost. But she’s dedicated but he’s basically doing everything for me. He’s my in Azerbaijan Grand Prix and eighth in the women’s standing super-G and giant to doing it and we’re going to support her in any way we tech, my sports psych, my coach, everything.” slalom, respectively. can,” added Kunkel. Now that his daughter is back on the national team, Once she heard she was off the national team, Kunkel The investment to travel more than 8,000km to the Larry Kunkel is anticipating an even stronger perfor- IRNA — Iranian junior wrestlers received two gold, two set to work on becoming a better skier. As a first step, Spanish ski resort paid off as Kunkel blazed to a silver finish mance in the 2019/20 season. silver and five bronze medals in 2019 Grand Prix held in she moved from Colorado to Park City, Utah to train in the competition’s second giant slalom race. “I hope she can take away some confidence that Shamakhi, Azerbaijan. with the National Ability Center. She was the only athlete from USA to reach the podium she can perform at a high level even as an independ- The event was held in the attendance of 340 wrestlers There she skied up to five hours every day, in addition in La Molina with the exception of Thomas Walsh, who took ent,” he said. from Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azer- to strength work at the gym. a bronze in the men’s standing giant slalom. “Hopefully with the support of the national team baijan and Kyrgyzstan. Exam day “It didn’t even hit me until I was taking my boots off in she can do even more because they’re going to have Iranian athletes Ali Gholizadegan in the weight category All that training was put to the test at the World Cup in the van and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I was on the podium! more resources than we’re going to have on our own.” of 55 kg and Amir Ali Sabouteh in 80 kg category received La Molina, Spain in March, where Kunkel competed as an Wow!’,” Kunkel said. Kunkel will join another seven skiers in the national gold medals. independent athlete. The solo mission would have been “I’ve collected a few medals over the years through my able-bod- team announced on Thursday, including PyeongChang Amir Hossein Khosronejad (65kg) and Abbas Khalaj impossible if not for the commitment of her father, who ied racing and Para racing but this one is definitely going to be 2018 gold medalist Andrew Kurka. (110 kg) snatched silver medals. accompanied Kunkel on the trip. really special for me. It’s my first World Cup podium ever.” (Source: Paralympic) Saeed Parvaneh, Yusef Jaberi, Behnam Ebadollahi, Omran Salegi and Omid Abbasi grabbed bronze medals. Azerbaijan ranked first and Iran and Russian stood on Japan limited to one automatic 3x3 basketball place at Tokyo 2020 the second and third places respectively. Only one 3x3 team from Japan will automat- If Japan fail to seal an Olympic berth while Russia, China, Romania and France ically secure a place at next year’s Olympic at the event, the country will compete at are on course to claim the automatic berths Games in Tokyo after the International the last-chance universality qualification in the women’s tournament. Gary Hooper linked with Basketball Federation (FIBA) confirmed competition. Three places in each of the men’s and the qualification criteria. Japan’s men are currently in line to be women’s competitions will be on offer at Iran’s Esteghlal FIBA revealed Japan would be given a spot awarded the sole automatic spot for the the Olympic qualification tournaments, the in the men’s and women’s 3x3 tournaments Olympic host nation as they are ranked exact dates and locations of which have not TASNIM — English forward Gary Hooper has been linked at Tokyo 2020 earlier this year, pending final ninth, two places above the women, who yet been revealed. with a move to Iranian football club Esteghlal of Tehran. approval from the International Olympic sit 11th on the FIBA standings. One spot per gender will be up for grabs The 31-year-ol striker has most recently played for Committee (IOC). The top four teams on the men’s and at the Universality Olympic Qualifying Tour- Sheffield Wednesday. But an automatic ticket will only be granted women’s rankings will qualify for Tokyo nament. The Iranian media reports suggest that he has reached to the highest-ranked Japanese team under 2020 and will be announced by FIBA on The first Olympic Qualifying Tournament a final agreement with Esteghlal of Tehran. criteria published by FIBA. November 1. is due to be staged in March 2020 and will Esteghlal signed Cheick Diabaté in the summer transfer The other Japanese squad will be provid- If Japan fails to get into the top four on of Mongolia, currently fourth on the men’s feature 40 teams, 20 for each gender. window but the Malian striker has not met the expectations. ed with plenty of opportunities to qualify, either list, they will replace the fourth best standings. 3x3 basketball will make its debut on the Hooper started his career at English club Grays Ath- however, as they will be entered into the team on the rankings. Serbia, Russia and China are set to join Olympic program at Tokyo 2020. letic and has also played at Southend United, Celtic and Olympic qualification tournament. It means they are likely to take the place Japan in the men’s event at Tokyo 2020, (Source: Insidethegames) Norwich City. Prayer Times Noon:11:52 Evening: 17:57 Dawn: 4:42 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:05 (tomorrow) OCTOBER 8, 2019 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 Gholam-Ali [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Haddad-Adel Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. Tel: 88911433 Webmaster: [email protected] Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 publishes Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran travelog of P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Zip Code: 1599814713 Arbaeen pilgrimage CULTURE TEHRAN – Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, the director deskof the Academy of Persian Language and Literature, GUIDE TO has published his travelogue of the Arbaeen pilgrimage in a book. SPIRITUAL AWAKENING The book “I Went to the Desert and Found a Downpour of Love” has been published by the Islamic Culture Publishing House, and has been He who calls God but does not obey Him, is translated into English, Urdu and Arabic. The English version has been like an archer who wants to shoot with a bow released by Shahriar Fasih. without a bowstring. The three books will be introduced during a ceremony at The Central Library of Tehran Park-e Shahr today. Imam Ali (AS) In this book, Haddad-Adel recounts his personal memories and experience of the Arbaeen pilgrimage 2017. He also gives a report of this spiritual journey, the feelings of the people attending the annual ritual and mawkib keepers and the Chicago festival to screen “Just organizers, who host and serve the people on the way to visit the shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) in Karbala during the Arbaeen gathering. 6.5”, “The Role” Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions were martyred in Karbala on Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, standing against the injustices ARTTEHRAN — Iranian director Saeid Rustai’s of the oppressive Umayyad dynasty in 680 CE. deskacclaimed drama “Just 6.5” and his fellow Iranians and Shia Muslims from other countries embark on a journey filmmaker Farnush Samadi’s short movie “The Role” will compete to the Iraqi city of Karbala to observe the day of Arbaeen at the holy in the 55th Chicago International Film Festival. shrines of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of the Shia, and his brother, Hazrat Abbas (AS). Arbaeen, which will be commemorated on October 19 this year, marks the end of the 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of the Front cover of the Persian version of “I Went to the Desert and Found a Downpour of Love” Imam and his loyal companions on Ashura. by Gholam-Ali Haddad- Adel. “Gray Body” from Iran to compete in LA Iran-French co-production “Kömür” Femme festival goes on screen in Tehran
Babak Hamidian and Mina Sadati act in a scene from “The Role” directed by Farnush Samadi. In “Just 6.5”, detective Samad takes on a powerful drug kingpin in a fierce battle to stem the rising tide of drug addiction in Iran. Opening with a high-octane roundup of suspects and addicts that culminates in a punishing finale, the film tracks Samad as he tries to bring in top dealer Nasser. But landing him in jail is just the beginning. The movie will be screened in the New Directors Competition that features bold works from emerging talents. “Just 6.5” received a special mention at the 15th Zurich Film Festival in Switzerland on Sunday. American filmmaker A scene from “Gray Body” by Iranian director Samaneh Shojaei. A scene from “Kömür” by Iranian director Esmaeil Monsef. Oliver Stone presided over the festival’s jury composed of ARTTEHRAN — Iranian anymore. ARTTEHRAN — “Kömür”, charcoal producer, Gheirat, who lives in Italian screenwriter Laura Bispuri, Colombian director Ciro deskdirector Samaneh “Gray Body” has also been selected to deska co-production a village in northwestern Iran. Guerra, German actor Sebastian Koch and Swiss producer Shojaei’s short animation “Gray Body” go on screen at the 30th edition of the New between Iran and France by Iranian When his son is sentenced to jail, he does Tiziana Soudani. will go on screen at the 15th edition of the Orleans Film Festival, which will be held director Esmaeil Monsef, hit silver screens everything to set him free. Gheirat, who is In “The Role”, a marriage is tested when a woman LA Femme International Film Festival in in the U.S. city from October 16 to 23. on Monday at Iran’s Art and Experience known as an honest man, starts smuggling accompanies her husband to an audition and discovers her Beverly Hills, California, the U.S. The LA Femme International Film Cinemas, which are dedicated to screening goods, which leads him to a tragic ending. own talent for acting. The film is about a doctor who is visiting Festival, which aims at empowering documentary and art films. Monsef and Saeid Asadi from Iran and The film will compete in Women in Cinema, a program that with one of his patients, while there is women working behind the camera as The Azerbaijani-language drama Etienne de Ricaud from France are the producers elevates women creators and promotes films by and about a room full of psychiatric patients, who directors, producers and writers, will “Kömür”, which means charcoal in of the film, which premiered at the 37th Fajr women, making space for new kinds of stories and new voices. are waiting for him and cannot be calm run from October 17 to 20. Azerbaijani, tells the story of a modest International Film Festival in Tehran in April. The Chicago International Film Festival will open with a screening of American director Edward Norton’s “Motherless Brooklyn” and will come to an end with American filmmaker Jim Farrell’s documentary “The Torch”, about Buddy Guy, Iranian sculptors taking part in the Chicago legend who remains the standard-bearer for the blues at 83. Beirut symposium ARTTEHRAN — Iranian sculptors The completed sculptures will then be situated in deskMohammadreza Zabiholahzadeh, the courtyard of the university. New president appointed to Shahriar Rezai and Mehdi Salahshur are taking part The University of Beirut in Lebanon and the Lebanese in the 2nd International Sculpture Symposium now artistic association Murex d’Oriente are the organizers Fajr Intl. Film Festival underway in Beirut, Lebanon. of the symposium. The symposium is taking place on the campus of the The director of the Italian Cultural Institute in University of Beirut and will be running until October Lebanon, Monica Zecca, and the Iranian cultural ARTTEHRAN — Cinema Organization of Iran desk(COI) director Hossein Entezami appointed 15, Iran’s Visual Arts Office has announced. attaché in Beirut, Abbas Khameyar, were among the filmmaker Mohammad-Mehdi Asgarpur the new director of An artist works on a statue during the 2nd International Also attending are three Italian sculptors Michele participating guests at the opening ceremony of the the Fajr International Film Festival. Sculpture Symposium in Beirut. Sassi, Luca Prandini and Pierluigi Portale. symposium on October 1. Iranian, Italian architects to display new designs in Tehran ARTTEHRAN — A Objet is a design platform, which be on view at the exhibition, which will desknumber of Iranian and provides people with opportunities to be organized at the Niavaran Cultural Italian designers and architects will discover the relationship between space, Center. showcase their latest designs during objects and the environment. Elnaz Tehrani is the curator of the A view of the 2017 exhibition of Objet at the the 3rd edition of the Objet exhibit in Designs of desks, tables, practical exhibition, which has put its spotlight on Niavaran Cultural Center in Tehran whose Tehran on Friday. sculptures and many other objects will designs made with the material of stone. title was “Light On, Light Off”. New York library exhibit to pay tribute to JD Salinger Mohammad-Mehdi Asgarpur in an undated photo NEW YORK (AP) — An upcoming exhibit at the New J.D. Salinger, who died in 2010, published no books after (Mehr/Majid Haqdoost). York Public Library will offer a look into the very private the 1960s but continued to write during the following decades. Asgarpur replaced Reza Mirkarimi who had held the life of J.D. Salinger. Fans have long obsessed over what he had been working on. position since 2016. From Oct. 18 to Jan 20, 2020, the library will show The exhibit will help mark the 100th anniversary of Asgarpur was the director of the 20th and 21st editions of materials ranging from family photographs to letters to the Salinger’s birth. In a statement Monday, Matt Salinger said the festival in 2002 and 2003. original typescript for his classic “The Catcher in the Rye.” that he hopes to lift “the veil a bit” on his famous father, whom Entezami also appointed Mirkarimi as a member of the The exhibit is called “J.D. Salinger” and was organized by he acknowledged avoided public scrutiny in his lifetime. Policymaking Council of the festival, which also includes In this Jan. 28, 2010, file photo, copies of J.D. Salinger’s the library in partnership with the author’s widow, Colleen “But I’ve learned that while he may have only fathered Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Musavi, cineastes Alireza classic novel “The Catcher in the Rye” as well as his volume Salinger, and son, Matt Salinger. two children there are a great, great many readers out there Shojanuri and Nader Talebzadeh. of short stories called “Nine Stories” are seen at the Orange Matt Salinger said that while he plans to release his father’s who have their own rather profound relationships with him, The 38th Fajr International Film Festival will be held in Public Library in Orange, Ohio. A photo of Salinger is at unpublished writings at some point, the library will not be through his work, and who have long wanted to get to know Tehran in April 2020. left.(AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File) showing any unpublished material. him better,” Matt Salinger said.