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12 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13595 Monday FEBRUARY 3, 2020 Bahman 14, 1398 Jumada Al thani 8, 1441 Tehran to Tehran welcomes Bijan Heydari Overseas musicians host EU’s Borrell naming of new to officiate to perform at on Monday 2 Iraq PM 2 Tehran derby 11 Fajr Music Festival 12

India doubles budget for Chabahar development project Nation to keep resisting TEHRAN — India has doubled the al- at a time when the situation in the region located funding for the development of is delicate, suggests India’s commitment Iran’s Chabahar port in its national budget to the Chabahar development. bill for 2020, Times of India reported on Following several rounds of negoti- Saturday. ations and discussions with New Delhi, enemies’ pressure: Rouhani As reported, the Indian government the U.S. administration has exempted the See page 2 has allocated Rs100 crore (nearly $14 Chabahar project from the new round of million) for the Chabahar port project sanctions the country has imposed on Iran. (in southern Iran) in the 2020 budget, Iran has awarded the development while the allocation in the last Budget project of this port to India, and the South was Rs45 crore. Asian country committed $500 million to The increase in the allocation this year, build two new berths in this port. 4

New IRGC Quds Force chief reaffirms support for Palestinians TEHRAN — Commander of the IRGC phone conversations with leader of the Pal- Quds Force has reaffirmed Iran’s support estinian Islamic Jihad Ziyad al-Nakhalah for Palestinians and their cause in the face and Chairman of the Hamas Political Bu- of U.S. declaration of a new pro-Israel reau Ismail Haniyeh. Ghanni said nothing plan days earlier. has changed in Iran’s policy with regard Iran supports Palestinians to foil plots to the Palestinian resistance forces, even which have targeted their rights and backs after the assassination of General Qassem their confrontation against Donald Trump’s Soleimani, his predecessor. so-called “Deal of the Century”, IRNA quot- The U.S. assassination of General ed Esmail Ghaani as saying on Sunday, Soleimani was a preparatory measure citing Palestinians media. to orchestrate the so-called “Deal of the Ghaani made the remarks in separate Century” plot, Ghaani said. 3

Iranian rural landscape wins prestigious TO DO Award 2020 TEHRAN — Esfahak village in Tabas, ures, products and services. Involvement eastern Iran, has won TO DO Award 2020, and co-determination ensure broad-based a prestigious prize which is annually pre- participation – e.g. through information,

sented by the German Institute for Tourism surveys and discussions among the pop- and Development. ulation when finding ideas and making Judiciary chief says Iranians elected resistance The award is aimed at taking into ac- decisions, according to its website. 3 count the various interests and needs of Esfahak was assessed last November president.ir by huge turnout at Soleimani funeral the local population in the planning and by an expert from the German institute, implementation of tourism projects, meas- IRNA reported. 8 PERSPECTIVE Iraqi president appoints new prime minister Protesters outside Javad Heirannia Iraqi President Barham Salih has appointed There was no formal announcement from the parliament approved his resignation in early U.S. embassy in political analyst Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi as the Arab coun- Salih or other government bodies. December, but he had retained the position ever try’s new prime minister after political parties The development came after Iraq’s divided since as caretaker prime minister. Lebanon decry in the parliament failed to name a candidate in parliament missed a February-1- deadline set Under the Iraqi constitution, Allawi now has two months since former premier Adel Abdul by Salih to nominate someone for the post. The one month to form his cabinet, which would re- Trump plan The examination Mahdi stepped down under pressure from an- Iraqi president had earlier told the lawmakers quire a vote of confidence from the parliament. More than 200 Lebanese and Palestinians ti-government protests. that he would appoint his own candidate if they He was quoted by state television on Saturday as held a protest Sunday near the U.S. Embas- of the map that On Saturday, 65-year-old Allawi, an ex-com- passed the deadline. warning that he would “leave this nomination” sy in Lebanon against a White House plan munications minister, said in a Twitter video Since early October last year, Iraq has been if political blocs sought to impose candidates for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Trump released for message that the president had nominated him the scene of growing protests, pressing the for different ministries. Protesters waving Palestinian flags for the post to form a new government and that government to bring in reforms that would root Back on December 26, President Salih also Palestine gathered on a road leading to the embassy he would do so in line with demands sought by out corruption and alleviate the Arab country’s submitted his resignation to the Iraqi parlia- northeast of Beirut amid tight security protesters during the past three months. economic woes. ment after refusing to designate the nominee look at the map released by U.S. by Lebanese troops and riot police. “After the president appointed me to form a The rallies, however, soon turned violent for premiership, Assad al-Eidani. President Donald Trump reveals “Death to America! Death to Israel! We new government a short while ago, I wanted to – amid reports of foreign interference – with He said at the time that since the consti- that the West Bank and the Gaza will die and Palestine survive,” some of A talk to you first,” Allawi said, addressing the Iraqi hundreds of people killed, including members tution of the Arab country did not give him Strip are surrounded by the lands occu- the demonstrators chanted, AP reported. nation. “I will ask you to keep up the protests, of the security forces. the right to reject a nomination, he would pied by Israeli. The U.S. plan heavily favored Israel, because if you are not with me, I won’t be able Amid the anti-government demonstrations, rather resign than pick a new PM rejected Following the unveiling of the Deal of granting the Palestinians limited self-rule to do anything,” he added. Abdul Mahdi stepped down in November and by demonstrators. the Century, a map was released by Trump 10 in parts of the occupied West Bank while that worsened the situation. allowing Israel to annex all its settlements Below we will review the details of there and keep nearly all of east Jerusalem, the map. Sudanese promised jobs in UAE but taken to war in Libya, Yemen which Palestinians claim as the capital of - The West Bank will have no border a future Palestinian state. with the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. Sudanese youths have revealed that the UAE in the center of the Sudanese capital that had youths to protect oil refineries and strategic loca- Around noon, the protesters removed Only two bridges to Jordan than cross pledged them jobs with high salaries in the Per- placed the advertisement. tions in the area held by Haftar, he told the MEE. the barbed wire and reached a metal fence through the Israeli territories will connect sian Gulf small country, but instead took them He was told the work was for the Emirati se- The UAE is among several countries supporting set up by security forces. Police used what the West Bank with the outside world. to Libya which is embroiled in a war between curity firm Black Shields and would be located Haftar in his campaign to oust the UN-recognized appeared to be pepper spray to hold back - A 24-kilometer tunnel will connect rival groups. in Abu Dhabi or another UAE city. government in Tripoli. The Arab country is also a key some of the demonstrators who were on the West Bank with Gaza. The United Arab Emirates is the key sup- Following several job interviews, Alzaki paid party to a Saudi-led coalition waging war on Yemen. the fence, with at least three protesters - The Israeli army will be in charge of porter of renegade general Khalifa Haftar which around 80,000 Sudanese pounds ($950) to Aman- Around 3,000 Sudanese are believed to have being carried away. Later in the day, the safeguarding the West Bank. is leading a grueling military offensive against da after he was told the salary had been confirmed been deceived by Black Shields, which sub-con- protesters dispersed from the area without - The West Bank will be like an archi- the government in the Libyan capital of Tripoli. and that the travel agency would transport him tracted companies such as Amanda advertising for any serious clashes, apart from some stone pelago with the Israeli territories located Several Sudanese youths have told the Middle to the UAE. the Emirati company. throwing at security forces. in it. In fact, Israeli settlements have de- East Eye that they were promised to work as He traveled to the Emirates, but his dream “When we reached the Emirates we real- On Saturday, Palestinian President stroyed its entirety. security guards in the UAE on a salary of around soon turned into a nightmare after he discovered ized that we had been cheated, as the company Mahmoud Abbas threatened to cut se- - A number of settlements will be inside $2,175 per month, but were instead sent to hostile that he would in fact be receiving three months had taken our passports, mobile phones and curity ties with both Israel and the U.S. the Palestinian Territory that are linked areas in Libya. of military training and then be sent to Libya everything, and sent us to a military training in a speech at an Arab League meeting in to the Israeli territories and the Zionist Abdul Rahman Alzaki, a 34-year-old IT en- or Yemen. camp called Zayed Military City” in Abu Dhabi, response to the U.S. plan. Arab foreign regime’s army will be authorized to enter gineer, went to visit the Amanda travel agency The UAE wanted him and other Sudanese Alzaki said. 10 ministers there joined in criticizing the them. These settlements are apart from plan and calling it a setback to Mideast those in the West Bank and some other peace efforts. areas where Israel has annexed (since Lebanon is home to tens of thousands of 1967). Tehran hosting Palestinian refugees and their descendants. - The West Bank will have no border There have been protests in the coun- with the Dead Sea and Palestinian residents intl. building, try’s 12 refugee camps since President of the West Bank can only use a part of Donald Trump unveiled the proposal in the sea’s coast, which is under the Israeli Washington. sovereignty. In fact, their tourist use is property expo Protesters against Trump’s limited and no part of the coast belongs TEHRAN — The first edition of Iran’s international deal march in Tel Aviv to Palestine. Meanwhile, protesters carrying Pal- - Palestinian residents of the West exhibition of building and property (Iran Build and Property Show 2020) kicked off at Tehran Perma- estinian flags marched through Tel Aviv Bank will have no access to Tel Aviv’s Ben on Saturday, protesting against the so- Gurion Airport, and only two bridges to nent International Fairgrounds on Sunday, IRNA reported. called ‘Deal of the Century,’ presented by Jorden through the Israeli occupied lands U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed connect them to the outside world. The In this four-day exhibition, engineering, designing, it would facilitate a peaceful resolution of Amir Mohammad Bridge links Nablus industrial and manufacturing companies are pre- senting their latest designs, services, and products. the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. to Jordan and the King Hussein Bridge People marched through the streets, connects the city of Jericho with Jordan. The event covers a variety of areas pertaining to the construction and property sectors, including building holding a portrait of Trump and Israeli - 70% of the West Bank (967) is actually Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hug- given to Palestine and the remaining 30% materials, construction machinery and equipment, Nazanin Kazemi ging, with banner, reading, “Don’t make is given to Israel. Instead, two (industrial elevators and lifts, prefabricated homes, drawing and design, water treatment systems, heating and apartheid great again.” “We came today and agricultural) areas added to the Gaza to demonstrate against [an] annexation Strip, which is less than the 30% that Israel IRNA/ cooling, tools, safety equipment, doors and windows , glass and related machinery, 4 plan of Trump and Netanyahu. has annexed in the West Bank. 10 (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS FEBRUARY 3, 2020

Iran’s special envoy meets Tehran welcomes naming Ashraf Ghani

POLITICAL TEHRAN – Mohammed Ibrahim Taherian deskFard, the special envoy of Iran’s Foreign Minis- try, met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul on Sunday. of new Iraq PM The two sides highlighted the importance of fighting terrorism POLITICAL TEHRAN – Foreign and brotherly nation,” he stated. and extremism. deskMinistry spokesman After two months of political deadlock, Abbas Mousavi issued a statement on Sunday Iraqi President Barham Salih on Saturday saying Iran welcomes the appointment appointed Mohammed Allawi to replace of Mohammed Allawi as the new prime Abdul Mahdi. minister of Iraq. The prime minister-designate has Allawi is replacing Adel Abdul Mahdi a month to form a government, which who resigned in late November due to must be approved by the parliament. He anti-government protests but served as is tasked with running the country until caretaker prime minister until the new an early election is held, for which there replacement. is no set date. “The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes Allawi in a formal address to the nation the appointment of Mr. Mohammed on state television late on Saturday pledged Tawfiq Allawi as the new prime minister to built a “state of freedom and justice” and of Iraq in line with its continued support to work to meet protesters’ demands for for independence, national sovereignty, jobs and services and an end to crippling According to IRNA, Taherian Fard and President Ghani also territorial integrity and the consolidation and widespread corruption. said expansion of economic cooperation is essential. of democracy in the country as well as the “I pledge to protect peaceful protesters Taherian Fard also met with Afghanistan’s Chief Executive legitimate demand of the Iraqi government and release innocent prisoners ... told hold Officer Abdullah Abdullah on Sunday discussing relations, re- and nation that U.S. troops withdraw from early elections ... and protect Iraq from all gional developments and Afghanistan’s peace talks. its territory,” Mousavi said in a statement, foreign interference,” he said, according Iranian diplomat also met Afghan National Security Advisor Tasnim reported. to Reuters. Hamdullah Mohib and former Afghanistan president Hamid The spokesman further wished Allawi Allawi, who served as communications Karzai on Saturday. success and expressed hope that by forming minister under former Prime Minister Nuri a new government, he would be able to fulfill Iraq’s President Barham Salih instructs newly appointed Prime Minister Mohammed al-Maliki, said he would resign if political the legitimate demands of the people and Tawfiq Allawi, in Baghdad, Iraq February 1, 2020. blocs attempted to impose candidates for Salehi calls Islamic Republic the religious leadership and help create a cabinet jobs, and called on protesters to a ‘turning point’ in history stable Iraq with an important regional status. government and people with all its capacity ultimate goals in the critical situation continue demonstrating until their demands “Iran is ready to help the Iraqi to overcome the problems and achieve their facing the government and the friendly are met. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Ali Akbar Salehi, director of the deskAtomic Energy Organization of Iran, said on Sun- day that the Islamic Republic is a “turning point” in human history. “The Islamic Republic is a turning point in human history which Iranians to keep resisting enemies’ pressure: Rouhani will be shown with the passage of time,” Salehi told reporters after POLITICAL TEHRAN — President Hassan Rouhani The visit to the Imam Khomeini shrine took place on the face of challenges, saying, “Surrender and abjection are not visiting the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, founder of the Islamic desksaid on Sunday that Iranians will strongly second day of Ten-Day Dawn. in our policy.” revolution, along with other members of the Rouhani cabinet. resist against arrogant countries’ maximum pressure campaign The Ten-Day Dawn refers to the date that Imam Khomeini On Saturday, Feb. 1, Leader of the Islamic Revolution He added, “International to ultimately foil their plots. returned to Iran from exile on Feb. 1, 1979, until Feb. 11, when Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei also visited the mausoleum of developments have been deep, Rouhani made the remarks while visiting the mausoleum of the victory of the Islamic Revolution was officially declared. Imam Khomeini. The Leader also paid homage to martyrs comprehensive and fast after the Imam Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, along with Talking at the mausoleum, Rouhani said, “Imam Khomeini laid to rest in Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery in southern Tehran, revolution.” his cabinet team. taught us that we can establish religious democracy with the help including the martyrs of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war and the The visit to the shrine took Rouhani was openly referring to Donald Trump’s economic war of people; he taught us that we can fight the [arrogant] powers 1981 bombing in Tehran in which 72 top figures, including place as Iran is celebrating the against Iran under his proclaimed “maximum pressure” policy. and resist their pressures with the help of people.” chief justice Mohammad Hossein Beheshti, were martyred. Ten-Day Dawn which reaches The president and his cabinet team also pledged allegiance “Our people are well aware that today, we do not have any Every year, Iranians mark the anniversary of their Islamic its climax on Feb. 11, the day to the ideals of Imam Khomeini at his mausoleum. Rouhani choice but to resist against the oppressors,” he stressed. Revolution from February 1 to 11. The final day is known as marking the victory of the 1979 paid tribute to Imam Khomeini by placing a bouquet of flowers Stressing that Iran has never sought conflicts with any Bahman 22nd as Iranians take to the streets to mark the victory Islamic Revolution. on his grave. other country, he reiterated Tehran’s strong resistance in the of the Islamic Revolution. The Ten-Day Dawn started on Feb. 1, the day marking the anniversary of the arrival of Imam Khomeini to Iran after 15 years 19 MPs sign letter to Deal of the century is example of bullying in exile. Imam Khomeini, who led quit NPT and is treacherous, party chief says the Islamic revolution against POLITICAL TEHRAN — Majlis POLITICAL TEHRAN — Asadol- minimum rights and aspirations of Pales- the Pahlavi regime, passed away in June 1989. deskNational Security and desklah Badamchian, sec- tinian people.” Salehi, who is also the vice president, said what Imam Khomeini Foreign Policy Committee has received a retary-general of the Islamic Coalition Sabah Zangeneh, former Iran’s repre- did made people see the truth as it is. plan to study Iran’s possible withdrawal Party, said on Sunday that the so-called sentative at the Organization of the Islamic Talking on the sidelines of the visit to the Imam Khomeini shrine, from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty United States’ peace plan for the Israe- Cooperation (OIC), has said that the so- First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri also told reporters that “inde- (NPT). li-Palestinian conflict, titled “deal of the called peace plan does not enjoy interna- pendence” and “freedom” are main ideals of the revolution. The plan has so far been signed by 19 century”, is a clear example of “bullying” tional support. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei MPs, ISNA reported on Saturday. and is “disconcerting”. In an interview with IRNA published on also on Saturday visited the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini to pay The Iranian government is duty bound “The Muslim people and the Palestinians, Saturday, Zanganeh described the deal of tribute to the founder of the Islamic Republic. to immediately quit the NPT and stop all who are the main owner of their lands, will century as “dangerous” which can throw Judiciary officials also visited the shrine on Sunday. cooperation with the International Atom- not accept the devil plan of the deal of the international order into disarray. ic Energy Agency if Iran’s nuclear case is century,” he said in a meeting of the Islamic Expressing concerns over the conse- U.S. maximum pressure referred to the United Nations Security mechanism triggered by the three European Coalition Party. quences of the plan, he said, “Apparently, Council under the dispute mechanism Union trio, also referred to as E3. He also described the plan as “treach- this plan is supposed to boost economy in campaign against Iran to of the JCPOA triggered by the European “There is agreement that more time is erous”. the region. However, in fact, it will cause sides, the MPs said in their letter to the needed due to the complexity of the issues U.S. President Donald Trump announced challenges to regional economy.” continue as before: official parliament speaker. involved. The timeline is therefore extend- the general provisions of the plan at the In a series of tweets, Iranian Foreign Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad ed,” Borrell said in a statement. White House with Israeli Prime Minister Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif castigated (Press TV) — The United States’ recent de-listing of a Chinese Zarif has warned that Iran will raise the Borrell said the joint commission that Benjamin Netanyahu at his side on Tuesday. the plan. tanker company from the long catalogue of its sanctions against issue of quitting the NPT if the Europeans regulates the Iran nuclear deal will meet The White House claimed that the plan “The so-called ‘Vision for Peace’ is simply Iran does not signal any policy change on the part of Washington, refer Iran’s nuclear case to the UN Security in February but did not give a date. is the most serious, realistic, and detailed the dream project of a bankruptcy-ridden says a senior U.S. administration official. Council. The Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas plan ever presented, one that could make real estate developer,” Zarif said. “Our maximum pressure campaign continues as before; we “If they (Europeans) take any action, Mousavi announced on Sunday that Borrell Israelis, Palestinians, and the region safer The foreign minister added the plan will sanction any sanctionable activity,” the official told Reuters the issue of quitting the NPT will be raised plans to pay a visit to Tehran on Monday for and more prosperous. was a “nightmare for the region and the on Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity. based on the letter of the President dating talks with Iran’s senior officials, including “This Vision is just the first step and pro- world and, hopefully, a wake-up call for “This administrative de-listing should not be misinterpreted May 2018,” Zarif told ICANA in an interview Javad Zarif. vides the basis for historic progress toward all the Muslims who have been barking up as a change in policy,” the official added. published on January 20. U.S. President Donald Trump quit the peace. The United States hopes this Vision the wrong tree.” U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on September France, Germany and the United King- nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint will lead to direct negotiations between Israel Zarif also said the plan is “sleepwalking 25 blacklisted two units of giant Chinese tanker company Cosco, dom, the three European states signatory Comprehensive Plan of Action, in May 2018 and the Palestinians,” it added. into a catastrophe” and likened it to “high- named after the northeastern Chinese port of Dalian to the JCPOA, issued a joint statement on and introduced the harshest ever sanctions Palestinians took to streets in Gaza and way to hell”. On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department waived the bans it January 14, announcing they have formally in history on Iran as part of his admin- the West Bank to protest the plan. The foreign minister also said Muslims had imposed on COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Co for trans- triggered the dispute mechanism which istration’s “maximum pressure” strategy During an emergency meeting in Egypt’s must “wake up” to this plot as the United porting Iranian oil. could bring the issue before the UN Se- against Iran. capital on Saturday, the Arab League com- States has proven that it has never been an It, however, said it continues to blacklist the second unit -- COSCO curity Council. Mojtaba Zonnour, chairman of the Ma- pletely rejected the plan, saying it would “honest broker” in mediation between the Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Seaman & Ship Management Co Ltd. The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Bor- jlis National Security and Foreign Policy not lead to a just peace deal. Palestinians and the Zionist regime of Israel. Washington has taken its pressure against Iran to unprece- rell said on January 24 that he had extended Committee, had warned earlier that Iran In a statement, the pan-Arab bloc said “We Muslims need to wake up: The U.S. dented levels under Trump. the time available to discuss ways to save will mull leaving the NPT if the Europeans it “rejects the U.S.-Israeli ‘deal of the cen- never was—and can never be—anything re- As part of the policy, the U.S. left a historic nuclear accord with the nuclear deal with Iran under the dispute failed to salvage the pact. tury’ considering that it does not meet the sembling an honest broker.” Iran and world powers in 2018, defying its multi-party nature and the fact that it has been ratified in the form of a United Nations Security Council resolution. The U.S. then returned the sanctions that were lifted under the deal, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Tehran to host EU’s Borrell on Monday Plan of Action (JCPOA). It has also been forcing other countries POLITICAL TEHRAN - The Foreign Ministry spokes- deal in May 2018 and introduced the harshest ever sanctions U.S. Senator Chris Murphy said in January that Trump to follow suit. deskman Abbas Mousavi announced on Sunday in history on Iran as part of his administration’s “maximum quit the JCPOA, just because it had President Barack Oba- Most recently, Washington sanctioned the Atomic Energy that European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is pressure” strategy against Iran. ma’s name on it. Organization of Iran (AEOI) and its chief Ali Akbar Salehi. scheduled to pay a visit to Tehran on Monday for talks with In response to this move, on May 8, 2019, Iran announced “The Iran deal was working, but Trump ripped it all up just AEOI Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, however, asserted on Iran’s senior officials, including Foreign Minister Moham- that its “strategic patience” is over and started to gradually because it had Obama’s name on it,” Murphy said in a tweet. Thursday that the move bears no effect on the Islamic Republic’s mad Javad Zarif. reduce its commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan Ben Rhodes, former Obama’s adviser, also said in July 2019 resolve to continue its nuclear energy program. In late January, Borrell said that he had extended the of Action (JCPOA) at bi-monthly intervals. At the time Iran that Trump quit the JCPOA, because Obama negotiated it. Tehran, for its own part, has begun a set of nuclear counter- time available to discuss ways to save the 2015 nuclear deal announced if the European parties to the deal take concrete “Did anyone really need a leaked document from the UK measures in retaliation for the United States’ departure from the with Iran under a dispute mechanism triggered by France, steps to shield Iran’s economy from the U.S. sanctions it will Ambassador to know that Trump pulled out of the Iran Deal JCPOA and restoration of its bans. The measures also seek to Germany and Britain. reverse its decision. because Obama negotiated it?” Rhodes tweeted. retaliate for failure by Britain, France, and Germany – the three “There is agreement that more time is needed due to the However, seeing no action by the Europeans, on January The Daily Mail reported in July 2019 that Kim Darroch, European signatories to the deal -- to retain their business inter- complexity of the issues involved. The timeline is therefore 5 Iran took the last and final step by removing all limits on the former British ambassador to the U.S., had said Trump actions with Iran despite the sanctions. extended,” Borrell said in a statement at the time. its nuclear activities. discarded the nuclear deal for “personality reasons,” as the As part of the retaliatory steps, Iran stopped recognizing the Borrell met with Zarif on the sidelines of a conference in Iran’s moves are based on paragraph 36 of the JCPOA deal had been agreed to by Obama,. limits set by the deal on the level of its uranium enrichment ac- India on January 16. which “allows one side, under certain circumstances, to stop Darroch said the Trump administration was “set upon tivities and the volume of its heavy water reservoir. On Jan. 14, Borrell was notified by Paris, London and complying with the deal if the other side is out of compliance.” an act of diplomatic vandalism” in its decision to abandon On January 5, the country said it would no longer observe any Berlin that they had triggered the dispute mechanism, in Despite taking the last step, Iran has reminded the Europeans the JCPOA. operational limitations on its nuclear industry, whether concern- theory starting a 15-day process to resolve issues with Iran. to fulfill their commitments in order to keep the deal alive. Former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw also told ing the capacity and level of uranium enrichment, the volume of However, in practice it is not clear when the 15-day period The JCPOA was reached in July 2015 between Iran and the IRNA in an interview in October 2019 that Trump quit the stockpiled uranium or research and development. should start because Iran has not formally recognized the P5+1 (permanent members of the United Nations Security nuclear deal because Obama signed it. The decision came two days after a set of U.S. drone strikes consultation process, officials said. Council -- the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, He said that the U.S. must admit that it made a wrong assassinated senior Iranian commander and the most revered Borrell said the joint commission that regulates the Iran France and China, plus Germany) to find a long-term compre- decision, urging the White House to return to the pact. anti-terror military figure in the Middle East, Lieutenant General nuclear deal will meet in February but did not give a date. hensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. It was endorsed Straw said that the United States’ withdrawal from the Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad. U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally quit the nuclear by the UN Security Council and supported by the EU. JCPOA had “no logic”. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 3, 2020 IRAN IN FOCUS 3

Iran says to Judiciary chief says Iranians elected resistance by huge advance nuclear turnout at Soleimani funeral POLITICAL TEHRAN — Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi desksaid on Sunday that the Iranian nation elected the path of resistance and perseverance by their huge turnout at program the funeral processions of General Qassem Soleimani. The Judiciary chief made the remarks while visiting the shrine with more of Imam Khomeini along with other top judicial officials. determination POLITICAL TEHRAN — The AEOI chief does not have assets in the United Speaking to Fars on Thursday, Kamal- ly reduce its commitments to the JCPOA deskspokesman for the Atom- States, the sanctions are futile in practice. vandi said the move only reflects Wash- at bi-monthly intervals. At the time Iran ic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has He also said Iran’s nuclear program will ington’s desperation. announced if the European parties to the said Iran will advance its nuclear program not be shaped according to other countries’ Kamalvandi also reacted to remarks by deal take concrete steps to shield Iran’s with more determination, describing as measures and policies. “We will do whatever Brian Hook, the U.S. special representative economy from the U.S. sanctions it will “worthless” and “ineffective” the recent U.S. is in the country’s interests.” for Iran, who has claimed that Washing- reverse its decision. sanctions on AEOI Chief Ali Akbar Salehi. The U.S. Treasury Department an- ton has sanctioned the AEOI and its chief However, seeing no action by the Eu- “The Americans attempt to create a psy- nounced on Thursday that Washington because Iran had started new violations ropeans, on January 5 Iran took the last chological atmosphere, but in reality, they has imposed sanctions on the atomic or- of its 2015 nuclear agreement with the and final step by removing all limits on The Islamic Revolution occurred as a result of a series of will not achieve any success,” Behrooz Kamal- ganization and its chief, Salehi. remaining parties. its nuclear activities. events in 1979 that involved the overthrow of the last monarch vandi said on Sunday, pointing to the recent However, sources said the U.S. will Given its withdrawal from the deal and Iran’s moves are based on paragraph of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and the replacement of his sanctions which also target the AEOI itself. once again waive its sanctions on Russian, its violation of its commitments, the U.S. 36 of the JCPOA which “allows one side, government with an Islamic republic under the leadership “The Americans do not have a correct Chinese and European firms that work at “is in no position” to comment on the man- under certain circumstances, to stop com- of Ayatollah Khomeini. understanding of the conditions and at- four Iranian nuclear facilities, Press TV ner in which Iran adheres to its nuclear plying with the deal if the other side is out “The message of perseverance and resistance is heard in mosphere of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reported, citing Reuters. obligations, the spokesman pointed out. of compliance.” this country and the message of resistance was conveyed to the and basically, they not only lack a correct The U.S. Treasury will issue waivers U.S. President Donald Trump unilat- Despite taking the last step, Iran has world in a referendum which was people’s turnout,” Raisi said, understanding of Iran, but also lack a cor- to sanctions that bar non-U.S. firms from erally quit the nuclear deal in May 2018 reminded the Europeans to fulfill their according to ISNA. rect understanding of major international dealing with the AEOI, the sources told and introduced the harshest ever sanctions commitments in order to keep the deal alive. On January 3, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered strikes issues,” Kamalvandi said. Reuters on condition of anonymity. in history on Iran as part of his adminis- France, Germany and the United King- that martyred General Soleimani, chief of the IRGC Quds Force, He continued, “That’s why they take The waivers will allow those countries tration’s “maximum pressure” strategy dom, three parties to the nuclear deal, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s measures in the political sphere that are to continue working at the heavy water against Iran. issued a joint statement on January 14, Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). strange and also ineffective.” reactor in Arak, the Fordow enrichment In response to this move, on May 8, announcing they have formally triggered Millions of mourners took to the streets in Ahwaz, Mashhad, The AEOI spokesman further pointed to facility, the Bushehr nuclear power plant 2019, Iran announced that its “strategic the dispute mechanism that may lead to Tehran, Qom, and Kerman – Soleimani’s hometown – to attend the sanctions against Salehi, saying since the and the Tehran research reactor. patience” is over and started to gradual- the snapback of UN sanctions against Iran. the top general’s funeral procession. In the early hours of January 8, the IRGC attacked the U.S. airbase of Ain al-Assad in Anbar province in western Iraq as part of its promised “tough revenge” for the U.S. terror attack. In his remarks, Raisi said since the victory of the Islamic Rev- New IRGC Quds Force chief reaffirms support for Palestinians olution 41 years ago, the enemies orchestrated many conspiracies 1 Meanwhile, Al-Nakhalah thanked Iran for its stance Under the plot, the U.S. would continue to recognize and seditions, one of which was the eight years of war imposed in supporting the Palestinians, saying the Palestinian Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “undivided capital,” Trump on Iran by Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. people and resistance groups will foil the new U.S.- said, endorsing his 2017 move concerning the city. “Today, the determination of the nation, government and all orchestrated conspiracy as well as all plots against the He also said the deal featured an economic portion that authorities of the establishment is to counter the enemies,” the rights of the state of Palestine. earmarks $50 billion in monetary allocations to Palestinians, top judge remarked. In his conversation with Ismail Haniyeh, Ghaani Jordan, and Egypt, with Palestinians denouncing the move underscored the Islamic Republic’s opposition to the U.S. plot. as a means of bribing them into selling their rights. He also highlighted continuation of Iran’s support for The U.S. president said the Israeli settlers, who have the Palestinian people and resistance groups. been housed in illegal apartment blocks since Israel’s A team of MPs to visit For his part, Haniyeh praised Iran’s support for occupation of the West Bank in 1967, would not be moved the Palestinians and its opposition to U.S. President under the deal – something that amounts to annexation nuclear sites in late Donald Trump’s plan. of the land on which the settlements have been built. al-Nakhalah Ghaani Haniyeh February: Zonnour Trump unveiled his one-sided plan during an event He also alleged that Israel would be freezing its at the White House alongside Israeli prime minister were absent at the ceremony given their vociferous settlement activities for four years “while Palestinian Netanyahu in Washington on Tuesday. The Palestinians opposition to the plot. statehood is negotiated.” TEHRAN (MNA) — Chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Mojtaba Zonnour announced on Sunday that a delegation of MPs will commence a new round of Grand ayatollah urges Muslims to fight Tehran customs police seize 41 kg of their visits to nuclear facilities in late February, after the parlia- mentary elections. Washington’s anti-Palestin plot opium destined for Germany The visits are meant to get informed of the procedures of reducing Iran’s JCPOA commitments, he said. According to him, the MPs will pay visits to nuclear sites in Natanz, Fordow, Arak and Bushehr and will prepare a report to be submitted to the Parliament’s presiding board. “The U.S. supposed that by lack of its commitment to and unilateral withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal, it can impede our nuclear program but we are moving forward in this sector,” Zonnour said. On November 18, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported said that Iran has accumulated more than 130 tons of heavy water in continuation of its cuts to JCPOA commitments. “On 16 November 2019, Iran informed the Agency that its stock of heavy water had exceeded 130 metric tons,” the In- ternational Atomic Energy Agency said in a report to member states, Reuters reported. “On 17 November 2019, the Agency verified that the Heavy Water Production Plant (HWPP) was in operation and that Iran’s stock of heavy water was 131.5 metric tonnes,” the report added. Iran took the fourth step back from its commitments to the POLITICAL TEHRAN — Top Ira- the Palestinian cause. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Two con- last year, the spokesman explained. nuclear deal earlier this month at the end of a 60-day ultimatum desknian Grand Ayatollah U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled desksignments of drugs were Iran is at the forefront of the fight against to remaining parties to the nuclear deal to live up to their own Hossein Nouri Hamedani has condemned “a vision for peace” in the Middle East on seized by police in two separate operations, drug trafficking. The drugs are mainly des- commitments to the JCPOA ended while they did not take any the United States’ so-called “Deal of the Tuesday which permits Israel to annex a spokesman for the Islamic Republic of tined to lucrative markets in Europe and practical steps to meet Iran’s demands. Century” plan, calling on the Muslim much of the occupied West Bank immedi- Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Persian Gulf Arab states. Iran demands European countries make up for its losses after nations to stand up to Washington’s an- ately, offering the Palestinians only local said on Saturday. The drugs originate from neighboring the U.S. withdrawal from the accord and help Iran with its oil ti-Palestinian plot. control in isolated Bantustans surrounded The spokesman said that the Tehran Afghanistan. sales and banking relations. Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani emphasized by Israeli territory. customs police discovered one consignment, John F. Sopko, U.S. special inspector that Muslims across the world should not keep Observers argue the timing of the an- which included 41 kilograms of opium. He general for Afghanistan reconstruction, silent on the enemies’ sedition, Tasnim reported. nouncement, just hours after Israeli Prime said the drug was destined for Germany. said at the Wilson Center in Washington, He made the remarks while speaking at Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indict- “In the meantime, the police seized 4,476 DC, in November 2019 that the counter- a meeting with a number of Indian Muslim ed on corruption charges in Jerusalem, grams of crystal in the Special Economic narcotics effort in Afghanistan “has just scholars in the shrine city of Qom. looked like an effort to boost his bid to Zone of Dogharoon in Khorasan Razavi been a total failure”, the Business Insider “The only way to foil the enemies’ hos- win reelection in March, his best hope province,” he went on to say. said on December 5. tilities is the unity of Muslims,” he said, for avoiding prison. The amount of methamphetamine Opium cultivation covered 263,000 adding, “Muslims have a serious duty re- The Palestinian Authority (PA) has cut trafficked from Afghanistan to Iran has hectares in Afghanistan, according to garding the Islamic world’s developments.” all ties with the United States and Israel, reached 10 tons in the first 10 months of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. That He further said the Muslim communi- including those relating to security, after the current year (March 21, 2019- Jan. 21, was down from 328,000 hectares in ty, especially the Islamic scholars, should rejecting the U.S. plan, Palestinian Pres- 2020) which shows a ten-fold increase in 2017 but still more than any other year confront the plot, which aims to destroy ident Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday. comparison with the corresponding period since 1994.

Iran to utilize cutting-edge equipment in fight maritime smuggling: border guard chief Tehran says its countermeasures are in accordance with the POLITICAL TEHRAN — The commander of Iran’s Brigadier General Rezaei said 14 million liters of fuel total of 8,755 kilometers of common border with its paragraphs 26 and 36 of the nuclear deal, and that it will reverse deskborder guards said on Saturday that his have been seized from smugglers in coastal and deep waters neighbors, Rezaei said at the time. the steps once its demands are met. forces will soon use state-of-the-art equipment to counter in the current Iranian year, which ends on March 21, 2020. Iran shares land and sea borders with 15 countries. As a first step, Iran increased its enriched uranium stockpile drug and fuel trafficking in the country’s southern waters. The figure shows a 2.5 increase in comparison to the “Given the characteristics of countering the arrogant to a level above the 300 kilograms set by the JCPOA. Brigadier General Ghasem Rezaei pointed to Iran’s corresponding time last year, he explained. power (an indirect reference to the U.S.), no country is In the second step, Tehran began enriching uranium to purity long coastal borders and the need to fight against fuel The commander went on to say that drug trafficking facing peripheral threats as much as the Islamic Republic rates beyond the JCPOA-limit of 3.76 percent. smuggling and said, to Europe and the U.S. via Iran’s southern waters has of Iran,” he added Furthermore, Tehran lifted all restrictions on nuclear re- “Border guards have always adopted necessary meas- also increased. One of the main problems that Iran was facing over search and development and announced it would use advanced ures to fight against maritime crimes and the process “Necessary precautions have been taken to identify the past years was on the borders with Pakistan, he said, centrifuges as its third step. will be intensified using up-to-date equipment in the illegal consignments in Iran’s southern waters”. stating since the security situation in Pakistan’s Baluchistan In the 4th step, the Iranian nuclear agency resumed urani- future,” Ghasem Rezaei stated as he pointed to Iran’s In May 2019, Rezaei said that Iran has increased co- region was in a bad shape terrorists and criminals used um enrichment to 4.5% at Fordow nuclear facility by injecting long coastal borders. ordination with border guards of Pakistan and Turkey to this weak point to infiltrate into the region. gas into advanced IR6 centrifuges, while Iran had agreed in the Since oil derivatives such as gasoline and diesel stem the flow of drug trade. The commander added that Iran has no concerns over JCPOA not to conduct enrichment in the underground facility. are heavily subsidized in Iran, they are very tempt- Iran is the third country, after China and Russia, in common maritime and land borders with the neighboring Each time Iran gives a 60-day deadline to the other parties ing targets for smugglers. terms of the number of neighbors in the world, with a countries despite the threats close to the borders. before taking its next step. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY FEBRUARY 3, 2020

STOCK MARKET Iran to build over 30,000 TEDPIX 428217.0 IFX 5415.00 Sources: tse.ir, Ifb.ir housing units in Syria

ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran’s Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) in CURRENCIES deskTransport and Urban Tehran on November 26, Abdullatif said USD 42,000 rials Development Ministry has signed an the Syrian government would offer all agreement with Syria’s Ministry of Public necessary facilities to Iranian companies EUR 46,600 rials Works and Housing based on which Iranian for cooperation in the reconstruction of GBP 55,463 rials companies are going to construct over Syria so that these companies will enjoy 30,000 housing units in the neighboring investment opportunities in his country. AED 11,437 rials country. He said the agreement signed during Source: cbi.ir According to Iran’s Deputy Transport the first meeting of Iran-Syria Joint Trade and Urban Development Minister Committee includes the establishment Mahmoud Mahmoudzadeh, based on of Iranian-Syrian joint companies that the mentioned agreement, three state- can do activity in all provinces of Syria. owned from the two countries will make the “We can use Syrian state-run companies COMMODITIES necessary arrangements for the presence to this end”, the minister said, adding that Brent $56.62/b of qualified Iranian companies in the the joint companies can take the projects WTI $51.56/b fields of construction, infrastructure, directly without taking part in any tender. transport, and roads, as well as consulting Iran and Syria have been taking major OPEC Basket $47.50/b and engineering, in Syria. steps for the expansion of their mutual Speaking in the opening ceremony trade ties. The two sides have exchanged Gold $1,591.40/oz of the Build and Property Show 2020 in numerous trade delegations in the past few Silver $18.11/oz Tehran, Mahmudzadeh noted that Iran is months and Iranian private companies are not going to make any investment in the Minister of Public Works and Housing reconstruction projects in Syria. investing in various fields of the Syrian Platinium $964.25/oz mentioned projects and all the funding Suhail Mohammad Abdullatif had said Making the remarks during an Iran- economy like providing construction will be provided by the Syrian side. materials especially cement and working Sources: oilprice.com, Moneymetals.com that his country puts the top priority on Syria business forum held at the place of Back in November 2019, Syrian Iranian companies for implementing Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, on several reconstruction projects.

India doubles budget for NIMA supplies over €25b for imports Industrial producer inflation Chabahar development project of goods, services since April 2018 turns negative ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’s ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran’s in- 1 In the recent meeting of the India-Iran joint eco- desk desk nomic commission, held between External Affairs Minister S. domestic Forex Man- dustrial producer infla- Jaishanakar and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, the two agement Integrated System (locally known tion has dropped to -2.3 percent in autumn sides have promised to expand cooperation. as NIMA) has supplied over €25 billion for (September 23-December 21, 2019) for imports of goods and services since it was the first time in four years, the portal of launched in April 2018 up to February 1, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, 2020, IRNA reported. Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) reported. NIMA, which seeks to boost transparen- According to the data released by the cy, create competitiveness among exchange Statistical Center of Iran (SCI), among shops and a secure environment for traders, Based on the directive, for the petrochemi- the various industrial sectors, the lowest marks the end of the tenth Iranian calendar is a new chance for importers to supply their cal sector, the exporters should present at least seasonal inflation was attributed to the month of Dey, stood at 38.6 percent. required foreign currency without specific 60 percent of their foreign currency incomes “Coal industry and oil refineries” (-10.7 The SCI said that the inflation rate fell problems and for exporters to re-inject their into NIMA, and a maximum 10 percent could percent), followed by “Paper and paper 1.4 percent in the mentioned time span from earned foreign currency to the domestic forex be injected into the financial system in the products” (-4.6 percent), and the petro- the twelve-month period ended on the last market. It was inaugurated to allow exporters form of hard currency and the rest could be chemicals (-2 percent). day of the ninth Iranian month of Azar. of non-oil commodities to sell their foreign used for importing necessary goods. The highest inflation rates were report- The center also announced that the currency earnings to importers of consumer As for other exporters, at least 50 percent ed to be related to “office and computing point-to-point inflation rate dropped 1.5 products. of the total earnings should be presented appliances” (26.6 percent), “garment percent to 26.3 percent in the tenth month at the NIMA system and a maximum of 20 of this year from the same month in the The budget allocation is a message that India is serious about According to the Governor of Central production, processing, and dying”. (9.5 percent could be distributed in form of hard previous year, while it has risen from the its commitment. As it comes at a time when alternative routes to Bank of Iran (CBI) Abdolnasser Hemmati, percent) and “transportation equipment currency and the rest can be used for imports. figure of the last month. Afghanistan will be essential, the question to fulfill the promise establishing direct communication between production” (7.8 percent). The instructions aimed to lead the export As previously announced by SCI, the remains to be seen. importers and exporters has significantly As reported, the Point-to-point inflation increased the volume of exchanges in the revenues from the non-oil exports back into in the mentioned sector also reached 27 inflation rate in the twelve-month peri- NIMA system during the past few months. the country’s economy through NIMA, man- percent, to register a 33.6 percent decrease od ended on December 21, 2019, which Tehran hosting intl. building, In late May 2019, CBI unveiled a directive date all the exporters of goods and services compared to the figure for the last year’s marks the end of the ninth Iranian calendar package that provided the country’s export- to guarantee to bring back to the country the same season. month of Azar, stood at 40 percent, falling property expo ers with guidelines about how they should foreign currency amount allocated to them In late January, SCI announced that 1.1 percent from the twelve-month period re-inject their foreign currency incomes into by the government at lower prices than the Iran’s overall inflation rate for the twelve- ended in the last day of the eight Iranian 1 architecture, decoration, facades, ceiling and wall coverings, the country’s economy. free market. month period ended on January 20, which month of Aban. flooring, pipes and fittings, ceramic tiles, electrical and electronic equipment, water and gas infrastructure, engineering and services, sound and thermal insulation, as well as landscaping and interior design. India announces measures to revive sputtering economy Introducing investment opportunities in Iran’s residential By Anjana Pasricha billion people who are coping with dwindling incomes and and construction projects, introducing the capacity and record unemployment is hurting the economy, which unlike capabilities of the country’s mass builders, introducing India will spend billions of dollars to revive the farm sector, most of Asia’s export-driven economies, depends heavily industrialization methods for enhancing quality, increasing increase spending on infrastructure to create jobs, and slash on domestic consumption. speed and reducing costs, as well as creating a platform for taxes — all in a bid to boost its sputtering economy, which The government said it would spend about $40 billion the presence of knowledge-based companies and introducing has posted its worst growth in a decade. on various measures that could improve rural incomes. new equipment and methods in the construction industry are This is a budget to boost incomes and enhance purchasing It will help farmers set up solar power generation units reported to be the most important goals of the exhibition. power,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Saturday and establish cold storage facilities to transport perishable in parliament as the nation’s 2020 budget was laid out. “We commodities, such as fruits and vegetables that farmers UK businesses expect wanted to make sure money is in the hands of the people, often are forced to sell at low prices. particularly for the middle class and lower middle class.” Although the farm sector accounts for only 15 percent strongest output growth Indians buy vegetables early morning at a whole sale of India’s gross domestic product, it sustains two-thirds of market in Lucknow, India, Jan. 27, 2020. Rising food and the country’s population. since September 2018: CBI vegetable prices have taken retail inflation for the month Tax cuts for individuals also are expected to persuade of December to its highest level in over 5 years, according consumers to open their wallets and buy more cars and British businesses predict the strongest rebound in output in to news reports. homes. The government also plans to push big infrastructure more than a year over the next three months, after a weak end Economists warned, however, that a quick turnaround a year ago, India has witnessed a sharp slowdown as its projects to create jobs – unemployment is at its highest in to 2019, adding to expectations of a post-election pick-up in the is unlikely for Asia’s third largest economy (after China and growth plummets to less than five percent in recent months. more than four decades. economy, a survey showed on Sunday. Japan). “I don’t see this economy reviving for at least one year, A government survey however has forecast the economy A slowing economy has put more pressure on Modi as his not a chance, and that, too, is an optimistic assessment,” said will pick up the pace and expand next year to between six government grapples with the biggest backlash it has faced Santosh Mehrotra, an economics professor at New Delhi’s and six-and-a-half percent. since taking office. Jawaharlal Nehru University. The “situation continues to The country’s GDP is at its lowest point in six years and Widespread protests have been sparked by a new be grim.” growth across multiple key industrial sectors has shrunk. citizenship law that critics have slammed as divisive because Political analysts say rebooting the economy is critical Growth in the 2019 financial year (April 2019 to March it excludes Muslims from immigrants from Pakistan, for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who swept to power six 2020 in India) is projected to be less than five percent. The Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who will get citizenship. years ago promising to take India’s economy to new heights last quarter for which figures are available was the July to Political analysts warn the upheaval witnessed in the past and create millions of jobs, but is facing criticism for focusing September quarter in 2019 when growth was 4.5 percent. six weeks risks taking the government’s attention away on a Hindu nationalist agenda during his second term. Unemployment hurting the economy from the economic slowdown. The world’s fastest growing major economy until just A massive slowdown in spending by the country’s 1.3 (Source: voanews.com)

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said its monthly China to inject $173b into economy as virus deaths top 300 output expectations gauge - based on responses to its surveys of manufacturers, retailers and the service sector - rose to +12 in China’s Central Bank said Sunday it would pump 1.2 trillion “sufficient credit resources” to hospitals and other medical Russia said Thursday it was closing its frontiers with China January from +1 in December, its highest since September 2018. yuan ($173 billion) into the economy as it ramps up support organizations, among other measures. in the Far East, while Kazakhstan has halted cross-border But the measure estimating output over the past three months for a nationwide fight against a deadly virus that is expected The move to inject liquidity into its financial system comes bus and passenger train services to China. remained very weak at -16, up only a bit from December’s reading to hit growth. as the virus threatens to take a toll on an already slowing Mongolia has closed its border with China to cars, while of -20, the weakest since the 2008-09 financial crisis. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said in a statement it economy. North Korea – an isolated nation that relies heavily on its “It’s great to see business confidence improve but it remains would launch a 1.2 trillion yuan reverse repurchase operation China saw economic growth of 6.1% last year, the slowest links with China – banned foreign tourists. to be seen whether this will feed through to activity,” Rain New- on Monday to maintain “reasonable and abundant liquidity” in around three decades. Analysts are warning this could Papua New Guinea went further than the others: it shut ton-Smith, the CBI’s chief economist, said. in the banking system, as well as a stable currency market, weaken further if the spread of the SARS-like virus goes on its air and seaports on Wednesday to all foreign travelers Last month the CBI predicted the economy would grow by during the epidemic. for an extended period. coming from Asia. The impoverished nation also shut its 1.2% this year, slowing from 1.3% in 2019. It added that the overall liquidity of the banking system To take drastic measures only land border with the Indonesia-controlled province of Britain formally left the European Union at 2300 GMT on would be 900 billion yuan ($129 billion) more than in the As of 1600 HK time, the coronavirus outbreak had killed West Papua. Friday, starting an 11-month transition period during which same period last year. 305 people and infected 14,591 in mainland China and beyond, Singapore has stopped issuing all types of visas to Chinese Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to negotiate a trade deal. The move will kick in the day that China’s financial markets forcing governments around the world to take drastic measures. travelers, while Vietnam – a popular destination for Chinese While Johnson aims to avoid tariffs on goods, businesses reopen, following an extended Spring Festival break. The only foreign nationals exempted from the ban are tourists – has halted tourist visas. that are part of complex cross-European supply chains fear new The virus has now infected over 14,000 people in China immediate family members of American citizens and permanent Russia, a close Beijing ally, announced Saturday it border checks will make them uncompetitive. and claimed over 300 lives. residents. would halt visa-free tourism for Chinese nationals and The “government must work quickly to establish a future On Saturday, the PBOC also announced a range of measures New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and also stop issuing them work visas. It had already stopped relationship with the EU that can deliver prosperity across the to step up monetary and credit support to enterprises that Mongolia have announced similar restrictions on people issuing electronic visas to Chinese nationals that allowed whole economy, as well as refocusing its attention on important are helping in its fight against the virus epidemic, such as traveling from China. them to cross the border in parts of the Far East and domestic priorities,” Newton-Smith said. medical companies. Some nations have closed their borders with China in a western Russia. (Source: in.reuters.com) China’s Central Bank urged financial institutions to provide bid to protect their territory from the outbreak. (Source: asiatimes.com) 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 FEBRUARY 3, 2020 ENERGYFEBRUARY 3, 2020 5ENERGY 5 China shipped in over 295,000 bpd of Is Egypt’s energy hub dream falling apart? ENERGY Iranian oil in 2019: customs By Cyril Widdershoven desk The discoveries offshore in the Nile Delta at the end of ENERGY TEHRAN – China and six world powers. the 20st Century, that kick-started the LNG boom sparked deskimported 295,400 barrels Since April 2019, when the United States hope, but regional and internal conflicts which led to the per day (bpd) of Iranian crude oil on average announced that buyers of Iranian oil should removal of president Husni Mubarak and the rule of the during 2019, despite U.S. pressure to wipe stop purchases by May 1 or face sanctions, Muslim Brotherhood have significantly slowed down the out oil exports from Iran to the country, China has been constantly opposing Wash- country’s energy industry. IRNA reported, citing Chinese customs data. ington’s policies toward Iran and Chinese However, new discoveries made in the last couple of years, The Asian country imported around officials have repeatedly announced that combined with strong results offshore Cyprus, Israel and 405,000 tons of crude oil in December they will continue purchasing oil from Iran. possibly even the coming years in Lebanon have brought while annual volumes totaled 14.77 mil- China imported about 494,000 bar- new hope. The so-called East Med Gas Forum, in which lion tons, about half the imports of 2018, rels a day of Iranian crude in the first five most littoral states are participating is seen as one of the the data showed. months of this year, compared with more main drivers of new energy developments. As reported by the South China Hong than 660,000 barrels a day in the same Led by Egypt-Israel and the Greece-Cyprus quartet, a Kong newspaper, despite all the U.S. ef- period in 2018. new start was made to reshape the region’s energy market, forts, China is still one Iran’s biggest trade The United States on Friday lifted sanc- with as crown jewel, Egypt’s LNG liquefaction capacity in partners. tions on one of two units of the Chinese Idku and Damietta. The combined reserves of the partic- China has remained Iran’s top oil buy- tanker company COSCO, the U.S. Treasury ipants, especially Egypt’s elephant-sized fields Zohr and er despite sanctions Trump unilaterally said, partially reversing its punishment on Noor, combined with Israel’s offshore wealth, could supply re-imposed on Tehran’s oil exports in 2018 the company for transporting Iranian oil the European market. after withdrawing the United States from after China complained about the measure The EU and even the U.S. promote the so-called East Med the 2015 Iran nuclear deal between Tehran in trade talks with Washington. Offshore Gas Pipeline project connecting the East Medi- terranean with the Balkans and possibly Italy. The region is optimistic and strategies are being implemented at a remarkable speed. Even with Turkish military and political 133 major energy projects inaugurated across Iran obstruction constraining or even threatening some of the ENERGY TEHRAN – Iranian Energy Minister is pursuing seriously. projects, progress is made. By Luke Burgess deskReza Ardakanian said on Saturday that Under the A-B-Iran scheme [the acronyms A and B stand However, politicians and energy operators have maybe 133 major energy projects have been inaugurated across for water, electricity in Persian], during the current Iranian underestimated the environment they are working in. A the country in recent months, IRNA reported, citing the calendar year (March 2019-March 2020), 10 trillion rials global gas glut is emerging, threatening not only LNG ex- portal of the Energy Ministry (Paven). (over $238 million) of projects will be inaugurated in each porters such as Australia, Qatar, Mozambique and others, Speaking in a ceremony on the occasion of the Ten- of the country’s provinces, on average. but also the East Med Energy Hub dreams of the EMGF. Day dawn celebrations which marks the victory of the Based on this program, Energy Ministry plans to Some of the region’s projects are already facing headwinds. Islamic revolution in 1979, Ardakanian said more than inaugurate some water, electricity projects across the In a remarkable move, Cairo has cancelled several tenders 194.4 trillion rials (about $4.6 billion) has been invested country every week. in 2019 as market prices offered were below expectations. in the mentioned projects. Elsewhere in his remarks, Ardakanian noted that every Analysts stated that some bidders even offered prices which According to the official, 227 projects, with 300 trillion week 30 villages are getting connected to the country’s were below the break-even cost prices of production. Still, the rials (about $7.85 billion) of investment, are also planned to national water supply network and this is a significant members of the forum are not yet concerned at all it seems. be inaugurated in the remaining two months of the current achievement for the government. Egypt believes that operational costs as its LNG plants Iranian calendar year (ends on March 19). Back in August 2019, Ardakanian had announced that by should be very low, regarding the fact that the plants are All the mentioned projects have gone on stream as part of the end of the current Iranian calendar year over 1,440 villages already paid off, and all capacity is installed. If global LNG a major program called A-B-Iran which the energy ministry will be supplied with drinkable water through pipelines. landing prices fall below Cairo’s production costs, the nation will have a real issue. The Egyptian Oil Ministry Turkish wind farm to triple capacity with $37mn from EBRD Turkey’s renewable energy production will farm located on the west coast of the Black a step towards the government’s objective of The bank has previously financed, both directly receive a boost with a European Bank for Sea in the Kirklareli province, EBRD said installing 27 GW of renewable energy capacity and through local banks, 3 GW of installed Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in a statement. other than hydropower by 2023, of which 20 capacity, or seven percent of the total installed loan of $37m to finance the expansion of In parallel, the Industrial and Commercial GW is expected to be wind energy. renewable energy capacity in Turkey. the Kiyikoy wind farm in the northwest of Bank of China (ICBC) Turkey is providing The Kiyikoy extension will also help save Aida Sitdikova, EBRD director, Energy the country. a loan for the same amount. The funds will approximately 99,700 tons of CO2 emissions Eurasia, said: “Renewables in Turkey represent The bank’s loan will be used for the also refinance a leasing facility provided by a per year. not only a viable, but also a financially development, construction and operation local leasing firm for the original wind farm. Supporting Turkey’s sustainability goals is attractive investment opportunity.” of a 72 MW extension to the 28 MW wind The extension of the Kiyikoy wind farm is among the EBRD’s priorities in the country. (Source: evwind.es)

World’s first ‘solar The position taken at present by the Egyptian oil ministry Call for Participation dome’ desalination to sell LNG under term agreements with a target selling At 3rd “Fintech Innovators” event price of $5/MMBtu, rather than on the spot market, is a plant planned for risky one. With a market able to get all volumes needed held by “Informatics Financial Innovation Center” (ifinc) on the spot market, where prices are much lower, the real Saudi’s Neom megacity question is, if there will be any bidders interested in the prices as announced in the tender. Saudi Arabia plans to use new solar technology to Globally prices have plummeted. Large Asian buyers such Monetary and Banking desalinate seawater at Neom, a mega-city that it is as China, Japan and South Korea are enjoying much lower Research Institute developing along the country’s northern Red Sea coast. prices. The JKM benchmark for Asian LNG spot prices has The city’s developer has signed a deal with UK- fallen by 50% since the beginning of 2019 from around $8/ based Solar Water Plc to build its first-ever ‘solar dome’ MMBtu to a little over $4/MMBtu. desalination plant. Long-term deals such as Egypt is offering are a risky It is claimed that the technology generates no carbon proposition for any buyer. For example, selling an 18-month Groups to Be Evaluated: emissions, produces less brine than facilities using FOB deal at $5/MMBtu is very challenging at present. East conventional reverse osmosis technology and will Mediterranean nations can count on stiff competition from - Owners of idea process drinking water more cheaply than traditional Qatar, Australia and others. And by now, most analysts - Holders of business plan and MVP plants. expect that global gas and LNG markets will see a “lower Neom’s developer has signed a deal with UK-based for longer” price environment. - Commercialized projects within the Solar Water Plc to build its first-ever ‘solar dome’ The coming months will be decisive for Egypt’s LNG desalination plant. industry. The only parties interested at present could be framework of startup companies The technology involves a dome – a hydrological new entrants to the market, or parties looking for some sphere – constructed from glass and steel into which structural deals. If these, however, are not available, Egypt sea water flows. The energy to heat the continuous and its East Med partners could be facing a scenario in inflow of water and to create a constant water cycle is which LNG exports will be low or maybe even non-existing. produced by concentrating solar radiation, from a large In the meantime, Egypt’s gas production increase is im- number of parabolic mirrors (heliostats) surrounding pressive, the country produces more from its Zohr field than the domes, onto the glass and superconductive steel it can physically export. LNG exports from Egypt more than frame structure. doubled year on year in 2019 to 4.8 Bcm of gas equivalent. Through this process, the sea water evaporates, On top of that, Cairo has started to import Israeli gas. condenses and is precipitated as fresh water. Egypt’s local market demand is still too low to absorb the The brine gathers at the bottom of the dome’s basin, current glut, and pipeline exports to Jordan are still very low. is extracted and sold commercially for industrial use in To counter the influx of Israeli gas (6 million cubic meter lithium batteries, grit for roads, fertilizer or detergents. per year), Egypt is forced already to consider restarting its According to Solar Water, 90 percent of desalination 2nd LNG plant in Damietta (5 million metric tons/year). plants dispose of brine through ocean discharge, causing A joint venture damage to marine ecosystems. A restart is currently being discussed by the operator Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of Neom, said: “Easy Union Fenosa Gas (UFG), a 50-50 joint venture between access to abundant seawater and fully renewable Eni and Spain’s Naturgy. energy resources means Neom is perfectly placed to The LNG global market glut situation needs to be ad- produce low-cost, sustainable fresh water through dressed not only by Egypt but all EMGF parties the coming solar desalination. months. The immense volumes available now and need to This type of technology is a powerful reminder of our be monetized soon. commitment to supporting innovation, championing Egypt would do well to focus Eastern European markets environmental conservation and delivering exceptional (including the Balkans). In this market, it will have to find a livability. way to compete with, Russia, Norway and Qatar. Price levels Working together with the Saudi Ministry of could be plummeting even further in the short term, so Cairo Submission: Prospective participants should apply in www.isc.co.ir. Environment, Water and Agriculture we can expand must make sure to sell its existing LNG inventory soon. the implementation of this technology beyond Neom.” The Forum’s parties should take a realistic view on their The deadline is February 9, 2020. For further information, please Neom is the vision of His Royal Highness Crown offshore gas wealth, and dreaming about a major multibillion check www.ifinc.ir. Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and is central to Saudi treasury trove like Qatar’s is maybe not realistic. Arabia’s 2030 Vision plan to grow and diversify the A long-term vision is much needed, and Cairo needs Saudi economy. to develop a clear understanding of its potential markets, The $500 billion project has promised everything which might not just be North or West, but possibly even In case of any problem during the application process, please do from robot workers and flying cars to beaches with in the East. glow-in-the-dark sand and an artificial moon. However, OPEC’s main oil producer, and Egyptian ally Saudi Arabia not hesitate to send an email to [email protected] or call many have questioned whether the initiative is realistic is still in dire need for additional gas volumes. Redirecting politically or economically. the former Arab Gas Pipeline (AGP), which was meant to 021-72351500 (office hours). Solar Water Plc says it will start work on the first export Egyptian gas to Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, to Saudi dome in February and the project is expected to be Arabia could be hitting two birds with one stone. Integrating completed by the end of 2020. regional energy and security while monetizing reserves. (Source: utilities.me.com) (Source: oilprice.com) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 ADVERTISEMENTS FEBRUARY 3, 2020 TEHRAN TIMES Iran’s Leading International Daily Modern Stadium of Advertising Dept Martyrs of Khuzestan Football Club (KSC)

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Ideal Iranian Tobacco Company intends to supply Brazilian and Italian tobaccos for the IRAN TOBACCO COMPANY FACTORIES in the year 2020. All the qualified suppliers [email protected] are hereby invited to confirm their readiness for the supply of the same and to send their resume to Ideal Iranian Tobacco Company, 2th floor Setadi building, Iranian Tobacco Company, Qazvin Ave, Qazvin square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran P.O.Box : 1331838734, Phone No: 0098 21 51261935-4 Fax No : 0098 21 51261921. Exact and complete information of seller and representative in Iran should be indicated in the resume. The offers are receivable until09/02/2020 . For more information and to collect Technical Specification Sheet contact with phone number: 0098(21)51261934-35 Ideal Iranian Tobacco Company I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 3, 2020 ANALYSIS 7

Coronavirus: Can people Making India more Hindu, recover? And other questions

There have now been almost 10,000 cases of coronavirus, which has been declared a global health emergency. The disease has spread to one step at a time? at least 17 countries. What is the incubation period for the coronavirus? 1.9m Muslims in limbo due to exclusion from citizenship list in Assam The World Health Organization says the incubation period, which is the time before symptoms appear, ranges from two to 10 days. By Salman Parviz of its border with Assam, the most populous These estimates will be narrowed down as more data becomes of India’s northeastern states. Because of all available. Citizenship is at risk for millions of Mus- the uncertainties many Bangladeshis, who had Knowing and understanding the incubation period is very im- lims, many born in India in northeast Assam sneaked into India in recent years, have opted portant. It allows doctors and health authorities to introduce more state, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh. to go back. The Indian Express reports that effective ways to control the spread of the virus. All the 33 million residents of Assam had to Inspector General of South Bengal Frontier, It means, for instance, that they can introduce more effective provide, with documentary evidence, that Y.B. Khurania said the force apprehended quarantine systems, isolating those suspected of carrying the virus their ancestors were Indian citizens before 268 illegal Bangladeshis trying to cross back. from others. 1971, when Bangladesh was established after “There has been a substantial increase in Do people who have contracted coronavirus return to full health? breakaway from Pakistan. outflow of illegal Bangladeshi nationals in Yes. Many of those who contract coronavirus will experience only Many indigenous Assamese, who are past one month. In January alone, we have mild symptoms. These include fever, coughing and respiratory prob- mostly Hindu, have resented immigrants apprehended 268 illegal Bangladeshi mi- lems. Most people are expected to make a full recovery. from Bangladesh, saying that the Bengalis grants when they were trying to sneak into But it can pose a particular risk for elderly people and those with are coming into their state and taking away the neighboring country,’’ said Khurania. pre-existing problems like diabetes or cancer, or weak immune systems. their jobs and land. In 1983 Assamese villagers Assam – Tehran As of 31 January, Chinese health authorities said that 213 people had slaughtered 1,000 ethnic Bengalis, who were No official of the Islamic Republic has died from the virus. The number of confirmed cases stands at 9,962. Muslims mostly. In 2012 another smaller so far made any comments regarding the An expert at China’s National Health Commission has said that wave of violence erupted. citizenship crisis in Assam. The two coun- it can take a week to recovery from mild coronavirus symptoms. In 2013, India’s Supreme Court set in mo- tries enjoy cordial trade ties and Iran is the Can the coronavirus be transferred through items bought from tion a process for a large scale registration of largest exporter of tea from India after CIS Wuhan? citizens, using documentary proof that their countries (led by Russia) and Assam is India’s There is no evidence this is a risk. Some diseases - including the ancestors were Indian citizens. the largest producer of tea. coronavirus that causes Sars - can spread through surfaces contam- Though this issue predate Indian Prime That is why the tea estate owners in Assam inated by people coughing or sneezing on them. Minister Narendra Modi’s taking reins in were closely watching the development in the It has not been shown this new coronavirus can do that. Even if 2014, BJP has aggressive backed the process. People showing their acknowledgement receipts after checking their names in first draft for Persian Gulf following the Iran-U.S tensions it could, there would still be questions about whether international Last December, a day after Modi said there National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Guwahati on January 1. (Photo: Outlook Magazine) in the region because in April 2020 new con- shipping would be a major problem. are no detention centers being made for illegal tracts for fresh season are to be worked out. immigrants in Assam, India Today TV found inside jails so that people who were declared Assam’s Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Tea cultivation in Iran started by Haj Mo- out the construction of the biggest detention as immigrants do not go missing. Sarma said in January that he is awaiting for hammed Mirza who smuggled 4000 tea plants center at Matia in Assam’s Goalpara district. The preliminary Assam citizenship, pub- direction for next steps regarding NRC list from northern part of India to Iran in 1882. At present, Assam has six detention centers, lished in 2018, effectively stripped off 1.9 from the Supreme Court. Once the people He started the cultivation of tea in region the TV report found out and added it was million people of citizenship as their names are given reasons for non-inclusion, they can of Gilan, south of the Caspian Sea. The rest the then Congress government in 2009 that were excluded from National Register of Cit- move their tribunal to contest the exclusion. is history as Iranians today are one of the decided to organize these makeshift camps izens (NRC) on July 30, 2018. Bangladesh shares several hundred miles largest per capita tea drinkers in the world. ASSAM (NRC) CHRONOLOGY: Bengalis, who were Muslims mostly. This culminated in for a large scale registration of citizens, using documentary Assam Accord of 1985, which stipulated March 24, 1971 as proof that their ancesters were Indian citizens. 1947: Partition of India into India and Pakistan; the cut-off date for entry of foreigners; 2014: Supreme Court ordered federal government 1951: A register of citizens was set up in Assam; 2008: Assam-based NGO approached Supreme Court to update NRC. Update list defines as Indian citizens as 1955: Citizenship Act of 1955 (amended many times; of India claiming 4.1 million illegal immigrants had been those residents of Assam before March 25, 1971, and their The novel virus belongs to a family called coronaviruses. (Photo: Gopal latest version emerged in 2019 winter session of parliament. registered as voters. Also this year saw the first detention residents. In keeping with this criterion, the NRC asked for Murti Getty Images) It was announced the government would bring a nationwide center in Assam under orders of the Gauhati High Court. certain legal documents to be submitted as proof of citizen- Cold viruses tend to survive less than 24 hours outside the human NRC asking every resident to prove her Indian citizenship. Today Assam Detention Camp are a group of immigration ship – including voter lists of all Indian citizens up to 1970. body although norovirus (a severe stomach bug) can last months March 24, 1971: Bangladesh formed after a brutal detention centers for “foreigners”; July 30, 2018: 32.9m people screened at a cost of outside the body. war, sending millions of refugees to Indian states of Assam 2011: According to 2011 census 10.67m Muslims in $178m to ascertain which residents of Assam are citizens. The most reassuring fact so far is that cases seem to require close and West Bengal; Assam, including immigrant Muslims; Bureaucrats running NRC accepted 28.9m claims, rejecting contact with another person - say, a family member or healthcare 1979-85 Assam Agitation: The six-year-long agitation 2012: Another wave of violence against Bengalis some two million. worker - in order to spread. against illegal Bangladeshis. erupted in Assam; Jan. 2020: Assam waiting for Supreme Court direc- Is there any reason such viruses are emerging more from China? In 1983 Assamese villagers slaughtered 1,000 ethnic In 2013, India’s Supreme Court set in motion a process tion on NRC Yes - large populations of people living in close proximity to animals. This coronavirus almost certainly came from an animal source, with one suggestion being snakes. Sars, another coronavirus that originated in China, came from bats and the civet cat. U.S. missile defense system a joke: American analyst The early cases of this new infection were traced to the South TEHRAN — An American geopolitical analyst said Iran’s the attack and said, “All is well”? Why do you think the China Seafood Wholesale Market. Live wild animals were also sold retaliatory missile attack against a U.S. base in Iraq U.S. failed to respond? including chickens, bats and snakes. on Jan. 8 proved that the U.S. missile defense system A: I think it’s simple, the idea of another large war How did Sars spread? How did it originate? is a “joke”. in the Middle East is extremely unpopular to the point Sars, another form of coronavirus, started off in bats and then “U.S. missile defense is a joke. A total fabrication. which Trump himself ran on ending U.S. involvement infected the civet cat, which in turn passed it on to humans. We have studies from as early as the first (Persian) Gulf in the region. I definitely think Trump wants some big Some people were infected by direct contact with civet cats. war (the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait) where the majority of publicity victories as impeachment goes on (although But it was also able to spread from one person to another through U.S. Patriot missile defense systems failed to intercept most people don’t care besides his supporters) and as coughs, sneezes and contaminated surfaces. ancient Iraqi scud missiles. The U.S. continues to sell he faces an election which may end up being against an Is it possible to vaccinate in order to prevent this respiratory these systems to allies, however, with a guarantee that actual left-wing candidate who could actually challenge illness? they can stop the majority of incoming threats...,” James his empty anti-war, anti-corporate, and anti-globalization At the moment, there is no vaccine that can protect people Carey told Tasnim. promises. A lot of Americans consider Daesh and Iran against this type of coronavirus, but researchers are looking to James Carey is editor and co-founder of Geopolitics basically the same so the killings of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi develop one. Alert and an activist based in Pontiac, Michigan. and Soleimani were meant to be portrayed as “victories” It is a new strain that hasn’t been seen in humans before, which Following is the full text of the interview. in the war on terror but since nobody really cares about means doctors still have lots to learn about it. On January 8, Iran’s Armed Forces launched missile Daesh anymore, and like I stated above, nobody wants (Source: BBC) strikes on a U.S. base in western Iraq in retaliation a giant conflict like a potential war with Iran, these only for the U.S. assassination of the prominent Iranian significant missile attacks coming from Yemen. Israel resonate with the parts of Trump’s voters that would’ve Australian lab first to grow commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani. also uses similar systems which also somehow always get just voted Republican anyway, worship him personally, What is your take on the attack? foiled by Hamas rockets made with very basic technology. or the Christian and hard-right Zionists. The majority new virus outside China A: I think it was an embarrassment for the U.S. but I think the idea that the Patriots or even the iron dome of average Americans oppose war with Iran, they may The team plans to share the virus to spur there’s no way the Trump government didn’t know that can protect anyone is starting to wear thin and you’ve not be in the streets demonstrating but they’re also not Iran would retaliate. I do think the U.S. got lucky that seen even American allies like Turkey opt instead for signing up to go to the Middle East so I think the idea development of diagnostics and vaccines this was a limited operation because that’s what they the new Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems. of telling us “all is well” was meant to avoid any larger MELBOURNE — Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, are the were hoping for. There was no way Iran wasn’t going to That said, I think the one country that could shatter conflict after Trump had realized what he’d done and first outside China to announce that they’ve grown the new coro- retaliate for the assassination of Gen. Soleimani which the idea of U.S. technological superiority and missile what popular anti-U.S. passion he’d stirred in Iraq and navirus in cell culture. The group at the Peter Doherty Institute had to be known when Trump’s military advisers offered defense is Iran. So far U.S. missile defenses are relied Iran could actually do to U.S. assets. for Infection and Immunity says it isolated the virus from the first the option to strike the General’s convoy at the airport. on heavily by allies but haven’t been used by the U.S. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed person diagnosed with the infection in Australia, on 25 January. What I don’t think they predicted was the level of itself in quite some time. Whether its radar, missile Ali Khamenei said on Friday, “The day the missiles of The team will now share the virus with research labs around the hostility they received from Iraqis after there had been defense batteries or high powered ship-based automatic the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps crushed the U.S. world recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to such a recent round of (likely U.S.-backed) anti-Iranian weapons, U.S. technology has not had to go up against base is one of the days of God. The Guards’ response help the development of more accurate diagnostic tests and vaccines, protests. While the U.S. probably thought that made them a military as prepared for war as Iran’s. While Saddam was a major blow to America’s fearsome superpower says Mike Catton, a deputy director of the institute. “There are some safe, I don’t think Trump accounted for the reverence may have fired off a few scuds at U.S. troops, U.S. image”. What do you think? Do you believe that it was things that are much easier to do when you have the virus,” says Catton. of Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, or the PMUs regional and naval defenses are not prepared for the a historical turning point as it was the first and only Although scientists in China say they’ve been able to grow the in Iraq for their role in defeating Daesh (which we also sheer volume of advanced missiles (along with things direct attack on the U.S. since World War II? virus in the lab, they have not yet shared samples with international know the U.S. and it’s regional allies fueled). Even the like small speed boats in the Persian Gulf) Iran could A: I think the reason that we don’t want war is because researchers—they have shared only the virus’s genetic sequence, basically U.S.-allied Kurds suddenly rejected the U.S. throw at them simultaneously. U.S. defenses are still we’ve already proven we aren’t a superpower. The 2003 says Julian Druce, head of the Virus Identification Laboratory at presence in Iraq and threw an embarrassing wrench made for a ground war the Cold War military-industrial invasion of Iraq against the skeletal Baathist state the Doherty Institute. He says he and his team had heard that labs in U.S. designs to stay in Iraq to further antagonize complex assumed would occur in Europe and haven’t and the subsequent regime changes and fight against outside China had struggled to grow the virus, but they found it Iran. Now we see the U.S. responding by trying to make changed much since thanks to the corporate interests Daesh have shown many Americans the incompetence quite easy. He thinks the success was due to the lab’s combined excuses to stay in Iraq and sending more troops to the controlling and selling arms to Washington. This still of our military, intelligence, and civilian leaders. The expertise in diagnosing infections as well as isolating and growing region as a whole by proposing ideas like a breakaway relies on antiquated ideas like deterring soviet planes strike by Iran is just another large checkmark on the viruses in culture. “We’ve got two parts of the puzzle together in Sunni nation where allies like the Saudis and the UAE and fighting for air superiority in a world where the list of why there’s no massive outcry for war like there one laboratory,” he says. would come to us to fan sectarian flames. However, I U.S. is the only real air power. was in 2003, we simply can’t handle it. With the regime Catton says having samples of the virus will enable scientists to highly doubt the possibility of something that extreme We’ve seen how U.S. missile defense can barely changes in places like Libya, the attempts in Syria, and create tests that can detect specific immune cells—antibodies—that happening without causing a larger war again which I cope with 12 Iranian missiles or even inferior missiles even those in Latin America in the last nine years under indicate whether a person has been infected with the new virus. do think the U.S. is trying to avoid, which is why they in other countries where U.S. technology is deployed, both Trump and Obama have spectacularly failed. Such tests are especially useful for people with mild or no symp- covered up a lot of damage done to the U.S. base hit by now imagine hundreds of them from multiple locations What I think is historic about the Iran attack is it has toms. Making a test for antibodies is difficult without samples of the Iranian missiles. across the region at the U.S. and allies like Israel and shown how much this country has changed since 2003. the virus, he says. Iran fired 16 ballistic missiles. U.S. forces failed Saudi Arabia. The U.S. couldn’t even take on the task Our government is still bloodthirsty but the more you A study of a family in Shenzhen, China, identified a child who to intercept them and could only watch and wait for of protecting one base in Iraq they had to know was a actually expose Americans to what it means to be an was infected with the virus but showed no symptoms. The WHO impact, according to American websites and reports. The potential target from a dozen missiles, they’re not going empire, the more sick of it they become. A war with has also reported that three people with the infection outside China attack highlighted U.S. missile defense vulnerability. to be able to stop hundreds. If a full scale war with Iran Iran would bring this to the front even more and could have been asymptomatic. How could this change equations in the future? were to start, people would quickly realize how easy it throw off the entire bipartisan Washington consensus Ian Mackay, a virologist at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, A: U.S. missile defense is a joke. A total fabrication. is to overwhelm U.S. defenses as long as you have the that we must remain the sole superpower, which I think Australia, says the Melbourne group’s announcement is fantastic We have studies from as early as the first (Persian) Gulf resources to just overwhelm them by simply having the the government knows and is why they avoided more news. He says lab-grown samples are essential for research into the war (the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait) where the majority of number of offensive missiles to do so. retaliation against Tehran following the missile strike. behavior of the virus in culture or in animal hosts. Although virus U.S. Patriot missile defense systems failed to intercept Later, U.S. officials confirmed that 50 American Most people here realize that almost all of our imperial samples can also be used to validate molecular diagnostic tests, ancient Iraqi scud missiles. The U.S. continues to sell troops were injured in the strike despite prior claims endeavors since World War II have failed and I think most labs have moved away from using whole viruses in favor of these systems to allies, however, with a guarantee that by Washington that no one was hurt. The scope of the anti-war reaction to Trump’s saber-rattling with synthetically producing parts of the virus from partial genomes, they can stop the majority of incoming threats. Saudi destruction was so extreme and is now becoming clear. Iran makes that very clear. says Mackay. Arabia already uses Patriots and has yet to stop any Why did President Donald Trump attempt to downplay (Source: Tasnim News Agency) (Source: The Nature) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 HERITAGE & TOURISM FEBRUARY 3, 2020

Tehran archaeology Trump is clear manifestation of symposium to convene experts from around the globe cultural terrorism, Iranian envoy says HERITAGE TEHRAN – A number of international cultural deskheritage experts, historians and archaeologists TOURISM TEHRAN – Tehran’s ambassador to have been invited to attend the 17th Annual Symposium on the deskRome Hamid Bayat has said that U.S. Iranian Architecture, which will be held on February 18-19. President Donald Trump’s threat to target cultural Several specialized meetings are scheduled to be held on the sites in Iran is “a clear manifestation of global cultural sidelines of the two-day event to review various archaeological terrorism.” projects conducted during the Iranian calendar year 1397 (March “The United States president’s (recent) threat to 2018 – March 2019), IRIB reported. destroy Iran’s cultural and historical sites is a clear Experts from Denmark, Italy, Austria, China, Germany and manifestation of global cultural terrorism and is in Iran have so far announced readiness to take part in the event, continuation of the violation of law by the United the report said. States to break the Iranian people’s resistance.” The National Museum of Iran will be hosting the symposium The envoy made the remarks in the Italian capital that is organized by the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage on Friday during a cultural meeting with a number and Tourism. of international historians, orientalists and cultural Amongst chief archaeological excavations of the year was heritage experts, IRNA reported. dozens of tombs and catacombs discovered in Liar-Sang-Bon, On the one hand, the U.S. administration is an archaeological site in Amlash, northern Iran. Radiocarbon committing economic terrorism through explicitly dating tests indicated that the tombs, which came in various targeting sources of food and medicine supply for the shapes, date back to Parthian (247 BC–224 CE) and Sassanid people of Iran and, on the other hand, it is launching (224 CE-651) eras. military and cultural threats, Bayat added. Paying respect to cultural sites is [in fact] paying Scientists develop new way respect to human dignity and, on the contrary, attacking historical and cultural sites is attacking humanity, to extract, analyze DNA from history, and the spirit of mankind, he emphasized. In another part of his remarks, the Iranian museum specimens ambassador pointed to the time-soaked cultural relations between Iran and Italy, saying that the The answers to questions about the origins and evolutionary richness and deeply-rooted-in-time culture and history of a variety of plant and animals, living and extinct, are civilizations of the two nations, has led in many cases hiding in the DNA strands of museum specimens. to [a kind of] cultural diplomacy through promotion of Scientists in the United States and Australia have developed mutual understanding aimed at strengthening peace a new way to extract and analyze DNA from samples stored in and friendship between the two nations and their formaldehyde, which can damage genetic material. governments. Tehran’s ambassador to Rome Hamid Bayat in an undated photo For their proof of concept In January, Trump said on Twitter that his military study, researchers extracted would strike “very important” targets related to Iran crime. said “the President of the United States should never DNA from an American lobster if the Iranians attempted to take retaliatory action Ryan Goodman, a former special counsel at the threaten on Twitter or anywhere else to target another preserved in formaldehyde. against the U.S. for the assassination of senior military U.S. Department of Defense emphasized that targeting country’s non-military cultural sites.” Their technique relied on a commander Qassem Soleimani in the Iraqi capital “the clearly-recognized historic monuments, works Oscar-winning American actor and film narrator vortex fluidic device, which Baghdad on January 3. of art or places of worship” was a war crime. Morgan Freeman also lashed out at Trump for breaks apart proteins, freeing This is while the Geneva Convention Protocol 1 Colin Kahl, former deputy assistant to President threatening to target Iranian cultural sites, stressing previously trapped DNA bans “any acts of hostility directed against the historic Barack Obama and national security adviser to ex-vice that Trump was not his president. fragments. monuments, works of art or places of worship which president Joe Biden said that “the Pentagon would “Targeting cultural sites is a WAR CRIME and “DNA extraction is achieved constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples.” not provide Trump targeting options that include makes you no better than the terror you claim to be by processing the preserved Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Iranian cultural sites.” fighting,” Freeman wrote in a tweet. tissue in an enzyme solution reaction to the threat said such a move would be filed John G Hertzler, an actor, and an author, reacted Iran embraces hundreds of historical sites such as in the VFD,” Jessica Phillips, as a war crime and another breach of international law. by saying that the American people “are not” behind bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, doctoral student at Flinders Trump’s threats also provoked criticism by some Trump in response to a Twitterer, who said he backed madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and University in Australia, said in international celebrities and social media users that the president. mansions, of which 22 being inscribed on the UNESCO a news release. “This enzyme deliberately attacking cultural sites would be a war Eugene Gu, a politically active user on social media, World Heritage list. breaks apart the proteins, Flinders University researcher releasing the DNA which can Jessica Phillips poses with the be analyzed. By using the VFD vortex fluidic device that helped we are able to accelerate this scientists extract and process process from days to hours.” Iranian rural landscape wins prestigious TO DO Award 2020 DNA strands from tissue samples “For 150 years these 1 enjoys a mild climate that is perfect for samples have been preserved The award will be presented to stored in formaldehyde. Photo growth of any crops so while visiting it in formaldehyde which can representatives of the village during a spe- by Flinders University almost everywhere looks magnificently damage the DNA and also make cial ceremony, which will be held on the lush. DNA difficult to recover,” Phillips said. “We used mechanical sidelines of the ITB Berlin 2020, March Village houses are often built on a energy in a vortex fluidic device to accelerate the extraction 4 to 8, as one of the world’s leading travel floor with domed roofs and small win- by processing the preserved tissue in an enzyme solution in trade shows, CHTN reported on Saturday. dows. Old houses were often built by the the VFD.” The original texture of Esfakak was means of bricks and mud and are mostly Traditional methods for rescuing DNA from tissue samples completely brought down to earth in a one-story. Traditional bathrooms, locally stored in formaldehyde are quite slow and inefficient. The 7.4 earthquake in 1978, according to local called Khazinehs, are still standing tall in use of the mechanical energy of a vortex fluidic device boosts tourism officials. the corners of the village. Local music is the catalytic activity that fuels reactions between the enzyme A new village was built following the particularly important for the people of proteinase K and the proteins that have become tangled with quake next to the rocked old one with the village. Performing local songs and DNA strands as result of exposure to formaldehyde. the participation of people who have now playing Tar is inseparable in celebrations “The results provide a roadmap for exploring DNA from refurbished it as a tourist destination with in the village. millions of historical and even extinct species,” researchers wrote [abundant] eco-lodge units. Dates and saffron from Esfahak village in their paper, published this week in the journal PLOS One. Esfahak is a village located about 38 km are tasty make sure not to miss trying (Source: UPI) away from Tabas with hardworking and diligent people who are mostly engaged them. You can also test different types of ROUND THE GLOBE with agriculture and animal breeding. It local soup and potage while in Esfahak. Hwaseong Fortress

Hwaseong is a piled-stone and brick fortress of the Joseon How to plan your first safari Dynasty that surrounds the center of Suwon City, of Gyeo- By Steve Bailey antelopes and almost countless kinds of birds. All of nggi-do Province. these are in Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana. Gorillas It was built in the late 18th century by King Jeongjo for To get the food, shelter and safari experience you want, are in Rwanda and Uganda. defensive purposes, to form a new political basis and to house you need to research your trip. Here’s a thorough list of Accommodations the remains of his father, Crown Prince Jangheon. The mas- the details you should consider. Lodges, from hostels to luxury hotels, are found near sive walls of the fortress, which are 5.74 km in length, enclose A safari vacation in Africa is probably the most organized some game-rich areas like the Ngorongoro Crater in an area of 130 ha and follow the topography of the land. The vacation you’ll ever take. While it is possible to simply fly Tanzania and Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sands Suwoncheon, the main stream in Suwon, flows through the to a few places — Arusha, Tanzania, or Maun, Botswana Game Reserve in South Africa. In the Kalahari Desert and center of the fortress. — and rent a car to take off into the countryside, few the Serengeti you’ll find tented camps, which are clusters The walls incorporate a number of defensive features, most people want to risk being alone on unmarked dirt roads of individual cabinlike tents and one or two large tents for of which are intact. These include floodgates, observation patrolled by hyenas, cheetahs and lions. the dining room and staff operations. The individual tents towers, command posts, multiple arrow launcher towers, No, you use professionals to help you choose an itinerary usually have real beds and attached private bathrooms firearm bastions, angle towers, secret gates, beacon towers, and arrange transportation. Your travel company will with heated showers and flush toilets. There are also bastions and bunkers. have a driver waiting for you, and from the time you mobile camps, which move to follow game, especially land, you’re in the hands of people who will feed and the migration in the Serengeti. All your meals will be shelter you and take you amazingly close to fearsome at the camp. Most camps supply the usual toiletries as beasts. To get the food, shelter and safari experience well as sunscreen and insect repellent. you want, you need to research your trip. Guides Time Some safari agencies will hook you up with a guide Plan on at least two weeks. That should allow for at who will go with you from camp to camp. We had the least three different camps in different areas, for three same guide for two camps and he relied on radio contact nights each. Generally, you get an early morning game with other guides to find game. Elsewhere we had guides drive and a late afternoon game drive each day, so two supplied by the camps. All knew their areas and the full days in each camp almost guarantees that you’ll see the local currency and are given upon departure. wildlife. With camp guides, you can pay extra to have your a lot. My wife, Jane, and I went on safaris in January and The travel company own vehicle, or you can share a vehicle with other guests. February in Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia and South My wife and I used African Portfolio, a Connecticut- Do the latter. Your fellow riders are likely to enrich the Africa. It was the wet season in some places, but it wasn’t based company, when we spent six weeks in Africa in 2016. experience with their knowledge and camaraderie. And particularly rainy. Although the vegetation was lush, We started planning our trip with a different company, listen when the guide in your open-air vehicle tells you There are four main gates at the cardinal points. The we saw elephants, hippos, giraffes and baboons beyond but it ignored our budget concerns and other requests by not to stand or move. There’s nothing but air between Paldalmun Gate in the south and the Janganmun Gate in the counting. In the drier Serengeti, Kalahari and Sabi Sands, giving us an itinerary of super-deluxe camps. You also you and that hyena. north are impressive two-storey wooden structures on stone we saw a lifetime’s worth of cheetahs, leopards and lions. could simply deal directly with a company that operates Clothing bases, flanked by gated platforms and shielded by half-moon We also got to see the Serengeti’s great migration of multiple camps, such as Asilia Africa or Wilderness You will need fast-drying nylon clothes. Your ravelins built of fired brick. They are linked to the main road wildebeests and zebras. Safaris. Cultural and educational organizations offer luggage may be limited to a small duffel bag. Camps running through the complex. The west (Hwaseomun) and Cost safari packages. African Portfolio got us to the Asilia and generally provide laundry service, usually washed by east (Changnyongmun) gates are single-storey structures, A doctor friend who lived and worked in Malawi Wilderness camps that really intrigued us, as well as to hand and dried in the sun. Guests may be expected to also protected by ravelins. until recently says that the best thing you can have on camps operated by other companies. Whoever helps plan wash their own underwear. You don’t need an all-beige The Hwaseong Fortress has had a great influence on the a safari is a generous parent to pay for it. Daily costs your trip will take care of getting you from one remote wardrobe. Most of the animals can hardly distinguish development of Korean architecture, urban planning, and per person range from $200 to well over $1,000, and camp to another, often in small airplanes. colors, but you should avoid white because it attracts landscaping and related arts. It differed from the fortresses typically include travel, including airplanes, between The animals attention. Black and other dark colors attract tsetse in China and Japan in that it combined military, political and different camps. It would not include airfare from the The Big Five — lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and flies. Popular safari areas can be chilly mornings and commercial functions. United States. Tips are suggested and expected at each Cape buffalo — were the most challenging game animals late afternoons and very hot at midday, so dress in (Source: UNESCO) camp. A couple should figure on up to $50 per day total for hunters on foot in another era. They’re still worthy layers (and wear a hat). for guides, drivers and food service. Tips should be in targets for your camera, but so are zebras, giraffes, exotic (Source: The New York Times) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 3, 2020 SOCIETY 9

WHO sends novel coronavirus Educational projects worth $330m to be inaugurated

SOCIETY TEHRAN — A total of 1,015 educational projects test kits to Iran deskworth 14 trillion rials (nearly $330 million) will SOCIETY TEHRAN — Novel people and infected 14,300 in China, and be inaugurated across the country, Mehrollah Rakhshanimehr, deskcoronavirus detection about 100 cases have been confirmed in director of the organization for renovation, development, and kits have been shipped to Iran in collabo- 21 other countries. equipment of schools, has announced. ration with the World Health Organization According to the World Health Organiza- (WHO), Kianoush Jahanpour, head of the tion, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family Iranian health ministry’s public relations of viruses that cause illness ranging from department, has announced. the common cold to more severe diseases There are three stages to diagnose coro- such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome navirus, Jahanpour said, adding that the (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory last stage is for the novel coronavirus, ISNA Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus reported on Sunday. (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been Any person suspected to coronavirus in- previously identified in humans. fection initially undergoes a standard poly- Common signs of infection include res- merase chain reaction (PCR), then if the test piratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness was positive, the novel coronavirus test will of breath and breathing difficulties. In more be conducted on the patient, he explained. severe cases, the infection can cause pneu- The projects will be inaugurated by the next 10 days, on the Plane dispatched to bring 80 monia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, occasion of the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, he Iranians from China kidney failure, and even death. stated, ISNA reported on Sunday. Jahanpour further stated that an aircraft Standard recommendations to prevent According to Rakhshanimehr, the projects include 4,168 with quarantine equipment was dispatched infection spread include regular hand wash- classrooms, 11 swimming pools, and 32 gyms. to return 80 Iranians from Wuhan, China. ing, covering mouth and nose when cough- About 14,000 classrooms have been built so far this year After returning to the country, they are ing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat (started March 21, 2019), compared with some 10,000 last year, quarantined in a hotel in Tehran for a period “Most of them are students studying in ing around the world after originating at and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone he concluded. of 14 days with the help of a medical team China,” he concluded. a seafood market in the central Chinese showing symptoms of respiratory illness In December 2018, Rakhshanimehr said that there are 530,000 and full facilities, he added. An outbreak of the disease is spread- city of Wuhan; which killed at least 304 such as coughing and sneezing. classrooms nationwide, 160,000 of which are dilapidated, not meeting safety standards.

Iran to carry out cloud seeding project within two weeks Cheetahs could return to ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — A cloud seeding project Isfahan and Yazd provinces in the center, and Fars and deskwill be carried out within the next two Kerman provinces in the south. India after being ‘hunted to weeks in some northern, central and southern provinces The first cloud seeding project was launched in the extinction’ 70 years ago of the country, Farid Golkar, head of Iran’s National Iranian calendar year 1395 (March 2016-March 2017), Cloud Seeding Research Center, has announced. he stated, adding that, each operation can lead to a 10-15 Cloud seeding, a form of weather modification, is a percent increase in precipitation. India could see its first cheetahs return to the wild following seven method to change the amount or even type of precip- He went on to highlight that this year, a total budget of decades of extinction, according to local media. itation. Rainfall occurs when super cooled droplets of 70 billion rials (about $1.6 million) has been earmarked The Supreme Court has reportedly ruled that the animals – a water – those that are still liquid but are at a tempera- in this regard. vulnerable species whose population is declining - can be moved ture below the usual freezing point of zero centigrade The latest statistics released by the Meteorological to the country from Namibia as part of an experiment. – form ice crystals. Now too heavy to remain suspend Organization shows that the country received 136.9 Jairam Ramesh, the former environment minister, said he in the air, these then fall, often melting on their way millimeters of precipitations since the beginning of was “delighted” at the decision, after he initiated a push to rein- down to form rain. the current water year (September 23, 2019), which is troduce cheetahs a decade ago. Even in dry areas the air usually contains some water. 4.9 percent more than the same period a year before. He said the animal is the “only mammal hunted to extinction This can be made to come together and form ice crys- Moreover, the long term average rainfall was esti- in modern India”. tals by seeding the atmosphere with chemicals such as crystallizes to form ice. The ‘seeds’ can be delivered by mated at 109 mm, demonstrating a 25 percent raise in The project will be monitored to see whether African cheetahs silver iodide or dry ice. They work to promote rainfall plane or simply by spraying from the ground. the rainfall this year. However, some provinces of the can adapt to the Indian habitat, according to local media. by inducing nucleation – what little water is in the air Golkar explained that the operation will be carried country are dealing with rainfall shortages and cloud The animals are considered a threatened species, with a popu- condenses around the newly introduced particles and out on the Zagros and Alborz Mountains in the north, seeding may be a way to ease precipitation scarcity. lation of less than 7,000 in the wild, according to conservationists. The vast majority of cheetahs now live in Africa, while the Asiatic cheetah subspecies has a population of around 100 in Iran and is considered critically endangered, according to the International Why were whales increasingly caught in crab lines? Because of the climate crisis Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has now When humpback whales began to appear of California at the time. Heat waves alter Crab lines are far from the only challenges won their challenge to reintroduce the species to India and has in large numbers off the California coast the ocean’s upwelling – the process in which humpback whales face in coastal waters. its sights set on the Kuno Palpur sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, in 2015 and 2016, people celebrated the deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the It’s clear that climate breakdown driven a central Indian state, for the cheetahs’ potential new home, comeback of the whales after a near-miss surface. The upwelling in 2015 and 2016 by human activity is causing our oceans according to the Times of India. with extinction. shrunk to just a narrow band along the coast, to get warmer – marine heat waves have (Source: The Independent) However, the excitement was quickly met causing organisms to cluster there. Due to doubled in frequency since 1982, Santora with new worries – the whales increasing- a heatwave-related decline in krill, whales says. “Increasing climate variability means ly got caught up in fishermen’s crab ropes. switched to feeding on anchovies in shal- increased uncertainty. This is the new nor- By 2016, there were more than 50 recorded lower and shallower waters. In addition, the mal: not having any vision of what is ahead. WORDS IN THE NEWS entanglements that left whales injured or crab fishing season – an $88m industry on And that’s really scary.” killed. Whales got ropes tangled around their the US west coast – had been delayed from embedded scientific advisor, spending three But for now, the whale populations off Rescue efforts after mouths, making it difficult for them to eat. Crab November to April, and came to coincide years studying and listening to the concerns the west coast are thriving. “We got here Cyclone Zoe lines cut through tissue and caused infections. with the whales’ presence. of the group’s members. because of successful management and acts Although whales and fishing had coex- “It’s like when only one restaurant is open Entanglements are down now, and the put in place in the 1960s and 1970s like the (January 06, 2003) isted for decades, this was a new problem. in a town, and everyone ends up piling in scientists are helping to build a data-driven Endangered Species Act and the Marine Diplomats in the Solomon Islands have said the resilience of So what was driving it? around that restaurant,” Santora explains. website that can predict when and where Mammal Protection Act,” says Santora. South Pacific islanders, battered by Cyclone Zoe, has saved A new study published in the journal “And that can cause conflict. There were the whales are likely to be feeding off the “The grey whales are the highest they’ve hundreds of lives. The islands of Tikopia and Anuta were hit by Nature Communications points at climate thousands of whales and thousands of crab west coast. At the same time, crab fisher- ever been, and humpback whales have re- gale-force winds and waves up to eleven metres high. There’s breakdown as a factor in the mass entan- pots going out, so was a perfect set of events men are experimenting with new ways to markably rebounded.” Seals and sea lions still been no contact with Anuta but rescue teams have reported glements. to cause entanglements.” log their movements using solar-powered are also close to their maximum numbers, no major injuries on neighbouring Tikopia. From Honiara, When the situation was unfolding in In September 2015, conservationists, vessel tracking information systems that and all those bodies need to eat. Phil Mercer reports: 2015 and 2016, it surprised most people, wildlife managers and fishermen came to- record boat positions every few seconds. Armed with better data, Santora is opti- This remote part of the South Pacific has found itself in the eye but not Jarrod Santora, an ecologist at the gether to form a working group to address And there’s the development of ropeless crab mistic the problem of whale entanglements of some of the fiercest storms nature can generate. A diplomat at University of California, Santa Cruz and the issue. Santora joined the group at a time traps, which can be dropped and come up can be solved – and that managers can be the New Zealand High Commission here, said the ability of the the lead author of the paper. when emotions were running high on both on their own. These technologies cost two more proactive in anticipating potential population of Tikopia to withstand Cyclone Zoe was the result Santora was studying the ecosystem sides of the issue. “It was a great opportunity to six times more than traditional crabbing issues that pop up between humans and of years of experience and a resilience built up over generations. effects of the marine heat wave, known as to bring in a scientific view of long cycles in gear, making them a hard sell in an industry marine creatures. It’s almost certainly saved many lives. “the blob”, that was happening off the coast the ocean,” he said. He began to work as an with already razor-thin margins. (Source: The Guardian) The islanders took shelter in mountain caves to escape the on- slaught. When the storm had passed they emerged to find most of their homes had disappeared, either buried under sand, or swept ENGLISH IN USE out into the ocean. Barely a tree was left standing, and crops were ripped from the ground. The fate of hundreds of people on the volcanic island of Anuta, however, is still unknown, most than LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION eight days after the cyclone hit. A navy patrol boat is expected to set sail soon from Tikopia to assess the damage there. Despite their hardiness, these islanders will need much outside help to get back on their feet. Martyr Soleimani made efforts to bypass A second relief boat, the Isabella , has arrived on Tikopia, and with it the first major shipment of food, water and shelter. Aid وزیر بهداشت: شهید سلیمانی برای U.S. medicine sanctions: health minister agency workers on board have said all the supplies have been -handed out to the fifteen hundred residents. A few minor inju شکستن تحریمهای دارویی تالش کرد Over the past year, martyr Qassem Soleimani supported and made ries have been treated by Australian nurses, who’ve also made .the long journey from Honiara ســعید نمکــی وزیــر بهداشــت گفــت: شــهید قاســم ســلیمانی در یــک ســال اخیــر بســیار ما efforts to bypass the sanctions imposed by the U.S. so that people do The rescue teams are expected to stay in the region for at least را همراهــی و حمایــت کــرد تــا توانســتیم از مســیرهای مختلــف حلقــه تحریم ها را بشــکنیم not feel lack of medicine and medical equipment, Health Minister Saeed Namaki said on Monday. another week. On their return, a long-term strategy to help these isolated communities get back to self-sufficiency will be تــا مــردم در خصــوص دارو و تجهیــزات پزشــکی بــا مشــکل زیــادی روبه رو نشــوند. considered. Officials from the country’s national disaster نمکــی در گفتوگــو بــا ایســنا، افــزود: بعــد از اینکــه آمریکاییهــا تحریمهــای جدیــدی After the U.S. government imposed new sanctions on Iran, despite their lies -council are to meet Australian, New Zealand and British dip را بــه مــا تحمیــل کردنــد و علیرغــم دروغشــان مبنــی بــر تحریــم نبــودن دارو، غــذا و about not sanctioning medicine, food and medical equipment, they put the .lomats to discuss a rescue package تجهیــزات پزشــکی، امــا بیشــترین فشــار را بــه مــا در زمینــه تهیــه دارو و تجهیــزات .highest pressure on us to procure medicine and medical equipment, he lamented Words پزشــکی آوردنــد. -I wrote two letters to the World Health Organization (WHO) Director“ withstand: if you withstand a great force you are not destroyed by it “در همیــن زمینــه نیــز مــن دو نامــه بــه آقــای تــدروس - دبیــرکل ســازمان جهانــی General Tedros Adhanom to inform him of the American crime against resilience: the strength to recover quickly from a problem took shelter: stayed there to be protected from bad weather بهداشــت نوشــتم کــه ایــن کار آمریکاییهــا جنایــت علیــه بشــریت اســت. شــهید قاســم .humanity onslaught: a fierce or destructive attack ســلیمانی یکــی از افــرادی بــود کــه بــه شــدت کمــک میکــرد کــه ایــن حلقــه تحریــم However, General Soleimani was the one who helped greatly to import assess the damage: look at all the facts and work out what را بشــکنیم و از هــر راهــی کــه م یتوانیــم بــرای مــردم دارو تهیــه کنیــم.” .medicine in different ways,” he explained the main problems are outside help: aid from other countries shipment: the sending of cargo PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM minor injuries: damage done to people’s bodies - here, not too serious “hol- or holo-” Play something up Day in the sun long-term strategy: a plan to decide what should be done over a long time Meaning: complete, whole Meaning: to emphasize something, sometimes Explanation: to get long-awaited attention or some national disaster council: the organization responsible for For example: we were interested in updating in- making it seem more important than it really is. form of well-deserved appreciation planning what should happen if a disaster hits the country formation on an uncommon migratory seabird with a For example: Play up your strongest arguments in For example: Dave finally got his day in the sun when rescue package: measures which will help the country to recover Holarctic distribution the opening paragraph. an article was published about his research. (Source: BBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 3, 2020

Pompeo, in Kazakhstan, Protesters outside U.S. embassy warns of China’s growing reach in Lebanon decry Trump Plan U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Kazakhstan pressing authorities to be wary of Russian and Chinese More than 200 Lebanese and Palestinians held a protest investment and influence. Sunday near the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon against a White Bringing a message similar to one he has delivered House plan for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. repeatedly to other countries, Pompeo was telling sen- Protesters waving Palestinian flags gathered on a road ior Kazakh officials on Sunday that the attractiveness leading to the embassy northeast of Beirut amid tight se- of such investment comes with a cost to sovereignty curity by Lebanese troops and riot police. and may hurt, instead of help, long-term development. “Death to America! Death to Israel! We will die and Pompeo began a brief visit to the country by meeting Palestine survive,” some of the demonstrators chanted, with ethnic Kazakhs whose families have gone missing AP reported. or been detained in China’s crackdown on Muslims and The U.S. plan heavily favored Israel, granting the Pales- other ethnic and religious minorities in western Xinjiang tinians limited self-rule in parts of the occupied West Bank Province. while allowing Israel to annex all its settlements there and Pompeo was also congratulating Kazakhstan on its re- keep nearly all of east Jerusalem, which Palestinians claim patriation of Islamic State fighters from Iraq and Syria. as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Kazakhstan has taken back nearly 600 fighters and family Around noon, the protesters removed the barbed wire members detained in areas formerly controlled by the group. and reached a metal fence set up by security forces. Police (Source: AP) used what appeared to be pepper spray to hold back some of the demonstrators who were on the fence, with at least three protesters being carried away. Later in the day, the protesters dispersed from the area Sudanese promised jobs without any serious clashes, apart from some stone throwing in UAE but taken to war in at security forces. On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Ab- Libya, Yemen bas threatened to cut security ties with both Israel and the U.S. in a speech at an Arab League meeting in response to the U.S. plan. Arab foreign ministers there joined in criticizing 1 The MEE said it visited the Amanda travel agency the plan and calling it a setback to Mideast peace efforts. Arab citizens and taking away their citizenship,” said Hila ry” during an event at the White House alongside Israeli in downtown Khartoum on Wednesday, but the agency was Lebanon is home to tens of thousands of Palestinian Aloni Ochaion, one of the protesters. prime minister Netanyahu in Washington on Tuesday. closed and phone calls to the manager and other employees refugees and their descendants. There have been pro- Trump recently unveiled his much-hyped plan, a set of The only Arab ambassadors present were from the UAE, of the agency went unanswered. tests in the country’s 12 refugee camps since President proposals to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, alongside Bahrain and Oman —all members of the Arab League that Dozens of job seekers were waiting outside the agency in Donald Trump unveiled the proposal in Washington. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Washington DC. are also among Washington’s closest allies in the region. order to try to get their money back, the online website said. Protesters against Trump’s deal march in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the plan The diplomat said the White House had urged those Boraey Mohamed Ahmed said he and other Sudanese Tel Aviv with “a thousand no’s,” as being one-sided in favor of Israel. Arab countries to attend the event, sending them a docu- youths had been subjected to extensive cheating by mafia Meanwhile, protesters carrying Palestinian flags marched Arab envoys present at U.S. Mideast plan un- ment of general statements about “a Palestinian state and companies working between the UAE and Sudan. through Tel Aviv on Saturday, protesting against the so- veiling were misled: Diplomat a capital” in East Jerusalem al-Quds. Circulation of the story on social media has ignited called ‘Deal of the Century,’ presented by U.S. President An Arab diplomat says ambassadors from the UAE, However, he added, “when they got into the minute de- protests against the UAE and its policies in Sudan and Donald Trump, who claimed it would facilitate a peaceful Bahrain and Oman who attended the unveiling ceremony tails of the plan, we understood that there is no Palestinian in the region. resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. of a contentious U.S.-devised Middle East proposal were state in practice and there is no capital in East al-Quds, Thousands of Sudanese protesters have waged a wide People marched through the streets, holding a portrait not briefed on the details of the scheme. and more importantly, that there is an attempt to divide campaign on social media against UAE policies, calling on of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanya- The unnamed diplomat told Israel’s Haaretz newspaper al-Aqsa Mosque.” the government to maintain the dignity of the Sudanese. hu hugging, with banner, reading, “Don’t make apartheid on Saturday that Washington did not disclose the full details The Arab diplomat said the disappointment with the On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters demonstrated outside great again.” “We came today to demonstrate against [an] of its so-called peace plan to the three Persian Gulf Arab states details of the U.S. plan led the three Persian Gulf countries the UAE embassy and the Sudanese Foreign Ministry in annexation plan of Trump and Netanyahu. ahead of its release, but only presented them with a vague to join the other Arab League member states in voting to Khartoum, demanding the return of the Sudanese youths. This plan is very bad for both Israelis and Palestinian and outline of the initiative. reject the U.S. scheme. Chanted anti-Emirate slogans, the protesters also called one of the worst things about it is that it enables deporting Trump unveiled his self-proclaimed “deal of the centu- (Source: agencies) for the return of Sudanese soldiers from the war in Yemen. Protester Marwa Hassan criticized the policies of the UAE on Sudan and the region as whole. U.S. envoy briefs Afghan president on Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan denounce Trump’s “Why do they want to use our people as mercenaries in Yemen and Libya, we have nothing to do with their interests peace talks with Taliban expanded U.S. travel ban in these countries, why are they exploiting the poverty of our youth to use them badly like this,” she shouted. The United States’ special envoy Zalmay Eritrea and Kyrgyzstan have denounced (Source: Press TV) Khalilzad has told Afghan President Ashraf U.S. President Donald Trump’s controver- Ghani that there has not been any significant sial travel ban which targets prospective progress in his peace talks with the Taliban. immigrants from six additional countries. However, Khalilzad said he was hopeful Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh The examination of the of reaching an understanding with the group Mohammed said on Saturday that the gov- on reduction of hostilities, but did not offer ernment saw the ban as a political move map that Trump released for any timeframe, according to a statement that would hurt the country’s relations Palestine issued by the presidential palace on Saturday. with the U.S. After concluding talks in Doha, “We find this move unacceptable,” he 1 These two areas will have no border with Egypt. The Brussels and Islamabad, Khalilzad ar- told Reuters news agency by telephone. new areas in the Gaza Strip are agricultural and industrial rived in Kabul on Saturday where he “We will, however, not expel the U.S. am- settlements, likely to be secured by Israel. The first area separately held discussions with Ghani quarter of 2019 compared with previous bassador,” Mohammed said. ing of their inclusion on the list before it is in fact the current Gaza Strip that borders Egypt for 12 and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdul- years, according to a report by the Special Kyrgyzstan hit out on Saturday at appeared in the media. kilometers by the Rafah border crossing. lah on U.S.-Taliban talks Inspector General for Afghanistan Recon- the immigration restrictions that will Emmanuel Buhohela, spokesman for According to Ghani’s office, Khalilzad struction (SIGAR) released on Friday. apply to its nationals, stating that they the Tanzanian ministry of foreign affairs hoped the peace talks to end the 18-year There were 8,204 attacks between Oc- had been applied selectively and had said: “We don’t have official communication war will reach a conclusion. tober and December last year, up from damaged relations. from the U.S. government. We haven’t re- “We are waiting for a clear response 6,974 in the same period in 2018 and the The two countries were among six that ceived a formal diplomatic communication, from the Taliban about a ceasefire or a highest in the same quarter of any year were added to an expanded version of the which is the official way of communicating significant and lasting reduction in violence since SIGAR recording began in 2010. U.S. visa ban, announced on Friday in a between governments.” based on a practical mechanism which is Stepped up bombings by the U.S. and presidential proclamation. Acting Homeland Security Secretary acceptable to the people of Afghanistan and operations by CIA-trained Afghan special Under the proclamation, which will Chad Wolf told journalists the visas affected the U.S. government,” the palace quoted forces - several of which resulted in civilian take effect on February 21, the U.S. will are distinct from non-immigrant visitor Khalilzad as saying. casualties - have also been criticized by suspend the issuance of visas that can lead visas, which will not be impacted by the ban. Afghan government leaders remain rights groups and some Afghan officials. to permanent residency for nationals of Immigrant advocates and rights split on the issue of a brief “reduction in Last year, the U.S. air force dropped 7,423 the affected countries. groups have also slammed the expan- violence” or a comprehensive ceasefire be- bombs on Afghanistan, up from 7,362 in 2018, Immigrants from Nigeria and Myanmar sion of the controversial travel ban, fore a final agreement is reached between according to the data provided by the U.S. Central will no longer be eligible for visas allowing saying it weaponries “immigration the U.S. and Taliban. Command Combined Air Operations Center. them to live in the U.S. permanently, while law to advance [the administration’s] Last week, Abdullah said no precondi- In comparison, 4,361 bombs were citizens from Sudan and Tanzania will not xenophobic agenda”. tions should be set for peace talks, while dropped in 2017, while 2016 saw 1,337 be eligible to enter a lottery to apply for The original travel ban - issued during Ghani continued calling for a ceasefire. such attacks, according to the data. immigrant visas. Trump’s first week in office in January - The two agricultural and industrial zones annexed Earlier on Saturday, the U.S. embassy in The United Nations blames the increased ’We don’t have official com- 2017 - barred nearly all immigrants and to Gaza have no border with Egypt and are linked by a Islamabad said Khalilzad was in Pakistan U.S. bombings as one of the reasons for the munication’ travelers from seven Muslim-majority na- narrow strip. The annexation of these areas, which are to on Friday to rally support for getting an rise in civilian casualties in Afghanistan. Nigeria’s government said it had cre- tions. It caused widespread outrage and be handed over to the Palestinian state is vague. agreement with the Taliban to reduce their For the first time since the U.S.-led in- ated a committee to address the issues chaos at airports across the U.S. - The Palestinians will not be allowed to establish attacks as the first step towards peace. vasion in 2001, the UN said Afghan gov- that prompted the ban, while Tanzania The policy was revised amid court a port on the Gaza border along the Mediterranean Sea. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it ernment forces and its U.S. allies killed said it had not been officially notified by challenges, but the US Supreme Court - Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza must be supported a quick peace deal with the more civilians in the first three months of the U.S. about the travel ban. ultimately upheld it in June 2018. disarmed. Taliban and repeated Washington’s call last year than the armed groups. “Nigeria remains committed to main- The existing version of the ban includes - Al-Quds (Jerusalem) will be the capital of Israel, for a reduction in violence. According to Abdullah’s office, Khalilzad taining productive relations with the Unit- the Muslim-majority nations of Iran, Libya, and a small area of East al-Quds will be considered as But attacks by the Afghan government forces told him the U.S. is committed to reduction ed States and other international allies Somalia, Syria and Yemen. North Korea Palestine’s capital. and its U.S. allies have also raised concerns. in violence “with a specific and acceptable especially on matters of global security,” and Venezuela also face visa restrictions, Spike in violence and deaths definition and mechanism” as a precon- a Nigerian presidential statement said. but those measures affect relatively few Meanwhile, violent attacks in Afghan- dition for signing a deal with the Taliban. Nigeria’s information minister Lai Mo- travelers. istan jumped to record levels in the last (Source: al Jazeera) hammed told Reuters they had no warn- (source: agencies) Iraqi president appoints new prime minister Sadr endorses naew PM designate Allawi 1 Salih also stressed that the protest movement made expired on Saturday, prompting Salih to appoint Allawi. it imperative that politicians look at the interests of the However, a group of Iraqi protesters took to the streets public over personal or political considerations. in Baghdad to reject Allawi, accusing the former communi- Sadr endorses Allawi cations minister of being a member of Iraq’s corrupt elite. Iraq’s Shia cleric Muqtada Sadr, the most influential Allawi, the son of a wealthy Iraqi industrialist who educated in the Arab country’s political system, has endorsed the at the American university of Beirut, is a cousin of pro-Western designation of a technocrat as prime minister, saying it is Shia politician Ayad Allawi, a figure who has been at the heart a good step after months of political turmoil. of many political disputes in Iraq for the past years. Sadr said in a tweet on Saturday that President Barham Mohammad Allawi has a reputation of repeatedly clash- - The West Bank will be completely surrounded Salih’s appointment of Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi as Iraq’s ing with Nouri Maliki, a key political figure known for his by the Israeli occupied territories and will be controlled new prime minister could draw the support of people who have anti-American positions who led two governments in Iraq by the Israeli military. The only area of Palestine that will been demanding change in the way the country is governed. after the U.S. invasion of 2003. have border with the outside world is the Gaza Strip that “I hope the president’s appointment of Mohammad Allawi However, the new PM designate said on Saturday that he stretches 12 kilometers along the Mediterranean Sea and is acceptable to the people and that they have patience,” prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned in the face of would try to maintain his political independence as a head Palestinians are unlikely to be allowed to establish a port read part of Sadr’s Arabic statement on Twitter, adding, mounting unrest and protest against corruption in Iraq. of government and would oppose any external pressure for there. The Rafah border crossing has already been under “This is a good step”. The Iraqi parliament, where Sadr’s bloc is the largest, appointment of ministers in his new cabinet. Egypt’s control. Allawi’s appointment came two months after former had been supposed to name a new premier but the deadline (Source: agencies) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 3 2020 SPORTS 11

Bijan Heydari to officiate Iran’s Akrami to officiate at AFC Cup

IRNA — Iran’s Hassan Akrami has been appointed to referee Tehran derby a match at the 2020 AFC Cup. He will whistle a match between MUST CPK of Macau and SPORTS TEHRAN — Bijan Hey- Taiwanese Tatung in Group I. deskdari has been chosen to Akrami will be assisted by his countrymen Saeid Alinejadian officiate Tehran derby between Persepolis and Ali Mirzabeigi. and Esteghlal. The match will be held at the Estádio Campo Desportivo in The match has been scheduled for Thurs- Macau on March 11. day in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. The 2020 AFC Cup group stage will be played from February Tehran derby is widely considered the 10 to June 17. major crosstown derby in the Persian Gulf A total of 36 teams will compete in the group stage to decide Pro League. This match was declared as the the 11 places in the knockout stage of the 2020 AFC Cup. most important derby in Asia and 22nd most important derby in the world in June 2008 by World Soccer magazine. This battle between two teams that share Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawon to an 80,000-capacity stadium is considered the biggest derby in all of Asia. host Persepolis in Kuwait It is considered as one of the world›s most intense derbies. Despite being a derby TASNIM — Al Taawon of Saudi Arabia have chosen Al Kuwait between two teams from Tehran, the match Sports Club Stadium to host Iran’s Persepolis. has been played in other Iranian cities as Al Taawon have been scheduled to meet Persepolis on April well. Taking place at least twice during the 7 in Group C. year via the league fixtures, this cross-town Persepolis have already announced that they will host the rivalry has extended to the Hazfi Cup, Super Saudi Arabian club in Dubai, the UAE on March 2. Cups as well as in minor tournaments and The 2020 AFC Champions League group stage will be played friendlies. The largest victory belongs to from 10 February to 6 May 2020. Persepolis with winning 6–0. A total of 32 teams will compete in the group stage to Esteghlal and Persepolis have played decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2020 AFC against each other 91 times, with Estegh- Champions League. lal winning 26 games, Persepolis taking 24 victories, and 41 matches ending in a draw. Persepolis, who are looking for the fourth consecutive title, sit top of the a loss in the match could cost them the title. suffering a foot injury in the match against deh will also miss the match due to one-game Iranian athletes to table with 40 points. Esteghlal football team striker Cheick Naft Masjed Soleyman. suspension handed after the 1-0 win against Esteghlal are fourth with 32 points and Diabate will likely miss Tehran derby after Persepolis iconic defender Shoja Khlaliza- Sanat Naft on Saturday. participate at Istanbul Cup

IRNA — Following the World Indoor Championships’ cancela- Carlos Queiroz sends message to Iran B futsal team beat Tajikistan at tion, Iran will send athletes to Istanbul Athletic Cup. World Athletics has decided to postpone the World Cham- Iranian fans Thailand tourney pionships in Nanjing, China, because of the rapid spread of the coronavirus. The championships were originally scheduled to take place on March 13-15 but will be postponed for March 2021. Istanbul Athletic Cup will be held from February 16 to 20 in Istanbul, capital of Turkey. Iran is going to send 11 athletes to the event.

Esteghlal forward Diabate doubt for Tehran derby

TASNIM — Esteghlal football team striker Cheick Diabate will likely miss Tehran derby. Esteghlal will meet Persepolis on Thursday and a loss against their archrivals could cost them the title. In the match against Naft Masjed Soleyman, the Malian striker SPORTS TEHRAN — Former in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in January. SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran B The tournament was supposed to be was forced to leave the field after 15 minutes due to a foot injury. deskTeam Melli coach Carlos “One year after leaving Iran I want to deskfutsal team defeated Ta- played with six nations into two groups “The MRI showed that he has suffered a minor quadriceps Queiroz has sent a message to the Iranian express a message of gratitude to all players, jikistan 3-2 at the SAT International Futsal of three. Then, due to the Coronavirus strain,” Esteghlal’s doctor Kaveh Sotoudeh announced. fans one year after his departure. staff, fans and Iran Football Federation. It Championship Hat Yai Thailand 2020. concern both Turkmenistan and Kuwait Persepolis sit top of Iran Professional League with 40 points Queiroz was named as Colombia coach in was a great honor and privilege to serve Ira- The Iranian team will meet Malaysia withdrew from the event, being replaced after 18 weeks. last year’s February after parting company nian Football. I will keep forever in my heart on Monday. by Myanmar and Thailand “B”. Esteghlal are fourth with 32 points. with Iran national football team. all the memories and wonderful moments SAT International Futsal Championship Finally, also Myanmar withdrew and The Portuguese coach failed to bring an shared with Team Melli and Iranian Fans,” Thailand 2020 is being held in Hat Yai, the challenge was reorganized in a unique end to Team Melli’s 43-year title drought Queiroz posted on his Instagram account. Songkhla from Feb. 2 to 8. group of five teams. Cavani representatives Kylian Mbappe scolded by Thomas Tuchel ‘shameful’ in transfer dealings - Atletico chief PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe has been warned by coach and goes on. These are not good images as they negatively a distraction, obviously, and I always protect my players. I Thomas Tuchel that he needs to recognize that he is part affect the state of mind. We are playing football -- not tennis. love them lots and prefer to talk internally. If there are hard of a team after the France international was visibly upset Kylian is intelligent and has a good mentality, so we do not truths to be said, I prefer to do it internally.” Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has spoken out after to be substituted during the 5-0 Ligue 1 win over Mont- need this sort of situation. Neymar, who teed up Mbappe’s goal and was booked by the club failed to land Edinson Cavani during the January pellier on Saturday. “It is not good as it opens discussion and distracting the referee late in the first half as tempers flared because of transfer window. Mbappe, 21, was substituted after 68 minutes after scoring subjects that affect our spirit. Together, with Kylian, we the Brazil international’s use of skill, revealed via Instagram “I think it’s shameful the situation of some players with PSG’s fourth of five goals just 10 minutes earlier. have shown a very professional and concentrated spirit. post-match that he and Leandro Paredes had signed a PSG their agents and relatives” he said, speaking after Atletico’s The former Monaco man and Tuchel were locked in This topic always gives the impression that it is not like shirt for Andy Delort. 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Madrid derby on Saturday. conversation as the change was made as part of a dou- that, which is a shame. I am not angry, just sad as it was The Montpellier attacker was vocal in his criticism of “We’re not here to be robbed.” ble substitution that saw opening scorer Pablo Sarabia unnecessary.” both players in the build-up to the match after a heated also withdrawn and Mauro Icardi, as well as Edinson Also quizzed about Neymar’s early birthday celebrations meeting towards the end of 2019, declaring that “at Cavani, sent on. planned for Sunday, Tuchel admitted that he was not thrilled least Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] was very respectful” during Speaking after the match with Canal+, Tuchel urged about the idea two days ahead of their match with Nantes. their clashes. Mbappe to recognize that he is part of a team. “Sunday is not good [for Neymar’s birthday party],” he Angel Di Maria and Layvin Kurzawa joined Mbappe “Handling dressing room egos is demanding,” said the said. “However, I am neither his father, nor handler, nor and Sarabia on the score sheet, while Daniel Congre add- German. “Not difficult but demanding. It is not good, nor was agent -- I am just his coach. ed an unfortunate own goal and Cavani had a late sixth it going too far. We are a team and that must be respected. “I will not say if I am going [to Neymar’s party] or not. ruled out for offside. “I am coach. Somebody has to decide who comes off You can wait until Sunday. It is off-topic. Neymar’s night is (Source: ESPN) Djokovic edges Thiem in thriller to clinch eighth Australian Open MELBOURNE (Reuters) — Novak to end the Big Three domination, was con- a shellshocked Djokovic lost six games in a Djokovic endured a fierce challenge to his signed to his third defeat in a major final row as Thiem, blasting winners virtually at Sources have told ESPN that Atletico were unwilling to meet Melbourne Park reign before overhauling following losses in the last two French Open will, roared to a 4-0 lead in the third. Paris Saint-Germain’s €20 million asking price for the Uruguayan Dominic Thiem 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 on Sunday deciders to Nadal. Something was amiss with the Serb and center-forward, who is out of contract this summer. to clinch an eighth Australian Open crown “Unreal what you are doing through all he called for the trainer after holding serve. PSG would have let Cavani, 32, go in January if Atletico could and reclaim the world number one ranking. these years. You and two other guys have But he underwent no treatment and resumed have gone a little further, but the Ligue 1 club’s sporting director While Rafa Nadal rules Roland Garros brought men’s tennis to a completely new after an exchange of words. Leonardo was unwilling to compromise, and the Uruguay inter- with 12 titles, Djokovic holds sway in the title level,” the 26-year-old told Djokovic at the He made a fist of digging in, saving three national’s brother ultimately left Madrid with no deal complete. match at Rod Laver Arena having never lost trophy ceremony. set points but a wayward forehand on the Later in the day, Cavani’s brother and agent Walter Gugliel- a final in Melbourne Park. Yet on Sunday the “Well I fell a little bit short but I hope I fourth gave Thiem the lead. mone responded to the accusations of the the Atleti president. Serb was under siege for much of the thriller. can get revenge soon.” It looked gloomy for Djokovic, who had “The most important is what Edi did to leave,” Guglielmone For the first time in eight Melbourne While Thiem started heavy-legged after destroyed Nadal in three sets in the 2019 final. said. “Do you think he went one month without playing so that finals, Djokovic was forced to come back spending a total of eight hours beating Al- But the match turned again when Thiem I could capsize the whole thing over a commission and stop his when trailing after three sets, rocked by the exander Zverev and Nadal in his previous gave up a double-fault to concede two break dream from coming to fruition? power and determination of Thiem. two matches, Djokovic charged out of the points, then blasted a forehand long to fall “What about all the fuss we made with PSG? If it was a ques- But as he so often does, the Serb found to hold this trophy again,” said Djokovic after blocks to take the first set. 5-3 behind in the fourth set. tion of money, Edi would have gone to England -- Chelsea or a way. being presented with the Norman Brookes But the match turned on its head at 4-4 in In a flash, Djokovic had served out the Manchester. Atletico could not support the economic cost of He captured the decisive break in the Challenge Cup by 2005 winner Marat Safin. the second when Djokovic became flustered set to love, sealing it with an ace. the operation and PSG would not budge from their demands. third game of the final set, then held firm as Four months after Nadal stopped Russian after being called twice for breaching the Having spent about six hours more time Neither party could reach an agreement.” Thiem made desperate assaults on his serve. Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final, the service clock. on court than Djokovic through the tourna- When that deal broke down, Atletico turned to former player Going for broke in a nerve-shredding Serb’s 17th Grand Slam title continued the He returned to his chair fuming and ment, the strain of a long campaign began Yannick Carrasco as a short-term solution to their goalscoring final game, the fifth seeded Austrian went ‘Big Three’s’ reign over the majors. paused to sarcastically pat chair umpire to tell on Thiem but he refused to crumble crisis, bringing the Belgium international in on loan until the for the lines but missed on the first cham- Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer have Damien Dumusois’s sneaker, telling the in the fifth. end of the season. pionship point to hand Djokovic one of his now won 13 Grand Slam titles in succes- Frenchman: “Great job man, you made He had two chances to break back in Cavani came on as a substitute in PSG’s 5-0 win over Montpellier most hard-earned triumphs. sion, dating back to Federer’s 2017 win at yourself famous in this match, especially the fourth game but Djokovic nervelessly on Saturday and thought he had netted his 199th goal for the club “This is definitely my favorite court, my Melbourne Park. for the second one. Well done.” canceled the threat before holding firm in in a rare appearance this season, but it was ruled out for offside. favorite stadium in the world and I am blessed Thiem, seen as one of the greatest hopes Conceding the set with a terrible backhand, the nerve-jangling finish. (Source: ESPN) Prayer Times Noon:12:18 Evening: 17:37 Dawn: 5:52 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:03 (tomorrow) FEBRUARY 3, 2020 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Ghaderi “Puff, Puff, Pass” pictures plight of Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 family trapped in drug trade Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. ARTTEHRAN — Director Tel: 88911433 deskSaman Salur has said that Webmaster: [email protected] his new film “Puff, Puff, Pass” shows how a Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 family could collapse when one engages in the drug trade. Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily Speaking during a press conference during the 38th Fajr Film Festival at Tehran’s No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran Mellat Cineplex on Saturday, he added, “This P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Zip Code: 1599814713 film can be considered as a warning to a society trapped in drug addiction, which is increasingly expanding.” The film is about a man who enters into drug trafficking to strike it rich. However, all his dreams go wrong and his family collapses. “The film’s target audience is ordinary people, and I hope officials and decision- makers consider the film’s message, because our society is exhausted by unhappy news,” GUIDE TO Salur noted. SPIRITUAL AWAKENING He said that he began making the movie three years ago, before any of the other films on drug addiction, which have since been produced in the Iranian cinema. God never opens the door of benediction without He noted that his film examines addiction opening the door of fulfillment. from a different point of view. Imam Ali (AS) In this movie Mohsen Tanabandeh co-stars with Parinaz Izadyar, who played a leading role in “Life+1 Day”, director Saeid Rustai’s movie on drug addiction and poverty in the slums of Tehran. She also made a cameo appearance in Overseas musicians Rustai’s latest acclaimed drama “Just 6.5”, Director Saman Salur and “Puff, Puff, Pass” cast members Mohsen Tanabandeh and Parinaz Izadyar attend to perform at Fajr Music which centers on a true story on the drug a press conference during the 38th Fajr Film Festival at Mellat Cineplex in Tehran on February 1, 2020. trade in Tehran. (Honaronline/Mohammad Namazi) Festival

ARTTEHRAN — Celebrated musicians from seven deskcountries will be performing at the 35th Fajr Hamoon launches theater Iran’s “Yalda” wins grand prize at Music Festival in Tehran, the organizers announced on Sunday. festival Sundance Film Festival Tunisian composer, singer and oud player Dhafer Youssef, Belgian pianist Florian Noack and Italian jazz trumpeter Luca Aquino are among the musicians.

Italian jazz trumpeter Luca Aquino in an undated photo.

Sketchbook Quartet from Austria, featuring Andi Tausch on Hamoon Theater director Hadi Hejazifar attends a press conference in Tehran A scene from Iranian director Masud Bakhshi’s movie “Yalda, a Night for guitar, Leonhard Skorupa on saxophone, Daniel Moser on bass on February 2, 2020 to brief the media about the Hamoon Theater Festival. Forgiveness”. clarinet and Konstantin Kräutler on drums, will give several performances during the festival ARTTEHRAN — Hamoon non-competitive, killing the motivations ARTTEHRAN — Iranian Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, both Violinists Daniel and Barbara Auner, members of Auner deskTheater, a private hall and hopes of the youth,” he added. deskdirector Masud from the U.S., and “The Reason I Jump” Quartet from Austria, will also perform at the event. in Tehran under the auspices of Hadi Hejazifar said that he was surprised Bakhshi’s movie “Yalda, a Night for by Jerry Rothwell from England. Turkmen dotar player Palvan Hamidov, Azerbaijani singer Hejazifar, the star of the acclaimed to see some of the plays attending the Forgiveness” received the Grand Jury Prize Earlier in January, Bakhshi announced Zabit Nabizadeh, accordionist Vincent Peirani and his fellow Iranian movies “Standing in the Dust” Hamoon festival and added, “One of of the World Cinema Dramatic section of that he had withdrawn his movie from the French saxophonist Emile Parisien will give concerts. and “The Midday Event”, has launched our main goals is to establish a friendly the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, festival in protest against the hostile U.S. The ensembles and musicians will give their performances at a private theater festival. atmosphere where the participating Utah on Saturday. actions against Iran. Tehran’s various halls, including Vahdat Hall, Rudaki Hall and Twenty-two troupes will be troupes help one another.” The film is about a young woman, In a letter published by the Persian Niavaran Cultural Center. competing in the first edition of the The festival will select and honor five Maryam, who has been sentenced to death service of ISNA at that time, Bakhshi The 35th Fajr Music Festival will be held in Tehran from Hamoon Theater Festival. plays in five categories of best directing, for murdering her husband, Nasser. Iranian said that he wouldn’t attend the festival February 13 to 19. “The festival aims to introduce talented best play, best actor, best actress and best law allows for the victim’s family to forgive and he would stay with his people who theatrical figures,” Hejazifar said in a press performance. her and spare her life, so Maryam’s fate will be have been suffering from sanctions, conference in Tehran on Sunday. “Theatrical figures Farhad decided by Nasser’s daughter, Mona, on the pressures, discrimination, deprivations “We are actually looking to find and Mohanddespur, Ali Sarabi, Jaleh Sameti, country’s most popular televised reality show. and prohibitions imposed by the crazy 14th Fajr Poetry Festival support those who cannot easily rent a Payam Larian and I will be judging the In front of millions of viewers during warmongers for years. hall to perform since they are not well- plays,” he remarked. Yalda, the winter solstice celebration, The withdrawal was announced honors winners known,” he noted. Hejazifar hopes to hold the next editions Maryam and Mona discover that forgiveness following the assassination of Quds Force “The Fajr theater festival used to do of the festival with international troupes can be difficult as they relive the past. commander Lieutenant General Martyr CULTURE TEHRAN — Winners of the 14th Fajr Poetry desk its task the best way possible introducing in attendance. The grand jury prizes in other sections Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. military Festival were honored Saturday during a several new talents every year over the past The festival will be held from February were presented to “Minari” by Lee Isaac attack in Baghdad by Trump’s order in ceremony at Helal Cinema in the southeastern Iranian city of editions, however, it has recently been 4 to 15. Chung and “Boys State” co-directed by early January. Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchestan Province. The honoring ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi. Iran’s UNESCO to organize art exhibition to promote humane values ARTTEHRAN — The Iranian National The exhibit tries to create a beautiful dream for the future deskCommission for UNESCO announced on of the earth and also to create motivation and hope among Sunday that it plans to organize an exhibition of art named people in order to think of a beautiful future for the world. “Art for Humanity” to promote humane values. The showcase also intends to assist visitors in buying Interested artists are asked to submit their artworks of high quality artworks. digital paintings and new media with the central themes The exhibit will open at the Economic Cooperation of peace, children, natural sources and the environment Organization Cultural Institute in Tehran on February 28. to the organization. The top selected works will later go on view in a UNESCO The works will be selected from among the submissions gallery in France. by a group of artists composed of sculptor Taha Behbahani, Amir Roshani and Hoda Yusefi are members of the A poster for Iranian National Commission for UNESCO’s graphic designer Qobad Shiva and cartoonist Kambiz policymaking council of the exhibit, which will be running exhibition “Art for Humanity”. Derambakhsh. until March 5.

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi makes a speech during the closing ceremony of the Sundance Film Festival names Tabitha Jackson new director 14th Fajr Poetry Festival at the Helal Cinema in Zahedan on February 1, 2020. NEW YORK (AP) — The Sundance Film Festival head the annual Park City, Utah, showcase women. Keri Putnam is the chief executive choosing Jackson for her close connection has found its new leader from within, promoting for independent film. and executive director of Sundance Institute, to independent artists. In the Adults’ Poetry section, the books “In the Color of Danube” Sundance Institute documentary program director “All of these things make up part of my the nonprofit organization founded in 1981 “From my perspective, putting Tabitha and by Vaheh Armen and “Ra Ra” by Pantea Safai shared the top award. Tabitha Jackson to festival director. fabric,” Jackson said in an interview ahead by Robert Redford that puts on the festival. Kim at the helm is the future,” said Putnam. “Four Line Book” by Ali Mirfazli was named the best in the Jackson’s appointment was announced of the announcement. “I suspect that the Since 2018, Kim Yutani has been the festival’s “And I’m really excited for where they go.” About Poetry section. Saturday night during the festival’s awards symbolism of it, in so far as it is inspiring to programming director. The completed leadership team, along No winner was picked in the Children’s Poetry section. ceremony. others who may feel they have permission to “It’s powerful and also about time,” said with Cooper who transitions into an emeritus However, the books “Your Heart Won the Bet” by Fatemeh Jackson takes the reins of the premier go for these big jobs, is helpful. But I hope Jackson. director role, will be tasked with steering Salarvand and “Do Lips Have Zipper” by Gholamreza Baktash American film festival whose previous the appointment was made on the basis of Putnam oversaw the search process, along Sundance into one of the festival’s most received honorable mentions. director, John Cooper, last summer said substance rather than symbolism. But at with a selection committee that included Jason challenging new chapters. Redford, the A large number of Persian poets attended the festival, which he would step down following the 2020 times like these, in this political climate, it Blum, founder of Blumhouse Productions face and founder of Sundance, is stepping opened in Isfahan on January 2. edition of Sundance, which wrapped is worth noting.” and a member of the Sundance board. She back. Now 83, Redford is mostly retired. The organizers of the festival launched a campaign to collect Sunday. Jackson becomes the first woman, Jackson’s appointment means that the top said the festival received 700 applications and This year, Redford did away with his usual books to donate to the flood-stricken people in Sistan-Baluchestan. the first black person and the first Brit to three positions at Sundance are all filled by considered many outside candidates before opening-day press conference.